MONDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 87 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
CULTURE | HEALTH INSURANCE
The cost of coverage Students weigh drawbacks, benefits of University health insurance plans UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
BLUE ACESS GOLD
overall cost per year
overall cost per year
$1,200
$1,632
overall
inpatient procedure out-of-network
Blue Cross Blue Shield Alabama
COVERAGE
80%
60% of cost
overall
inpatient procedure
80%
out-of-network 50% of cost
outpatient procedure
outpatient procedure in-network
in-network
80%
100% after copay OUT-OF-POCKET
prescription copay
$5-$40 at SHC
$15-$60
deductible per year
$250
$500
$500
$1,000
in network
out of network
in network
out of network
By Mark Hammontree | News Editor
H OSPITAL CW | Hannah Glenn
By Cole Booth and Dylan Walker | CW Staff Sara Garzi came to The University of Alabama in Fall 2013 and opted to be covered under the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources health care plan for international students. But after a trip to the hospital, Garzi, an exchange student from Italy, was still billed for more than $14,000 after the UHCSR plan did not cover the visit. “I was very scared because it was my first week in the United States, and I was alone,” Garzi said. “Even now, it’s not finished. There’s some amount of money that I don’t know if I need to pay or not.” For many college students, when it
comes to health insurance, staying on their parent’s insurance may be the best option, said Chris Kissell of Insurance.com in a December 2013 ABC News article. But when this option is not feasible, Kissell listed insurance offered through the student’s university as the second-best option. The University of Alabama offers two health insurance plans through UHCSR: one for domestic graduate and undergraduate students and the other for international students and sponsored graduate students. Both plans are $1,200 per year for an individual, $2,811 for their spouse and $1,568 for each child. The drawback of the plan is that some students have to pay out-of-pocket for
BSFL protest removal of anti-abortion poster board Activist to speak at Wednesday night meeting on First Amendment rights
prescription copay
deductible per year
NEWS | FREE SPEECH
services that are not covered out of network. This issue can be further complicated for international students due to government regulations. The UHCSR plan covers 80 percent of costs incurred within in-network clinics, which would be the Student Health Center at the University. One hundred percent of preventative services are covered; however, no coverage is offered for routine dental treatment, eye glasses, hearing aids and tests and elective abortions. “The No.1 benefit that you would see is that we actually have a connection with the insurance company,” Charter
A widely known free speech and anti-abortion advocate will be speaking at the Bama Students for Life meeting Wednesday night, as part of the group’s response to the removal of an anti-abortion poster from a display case in the Ferguson Center. The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a Christian social and political activist, will spend Wednesday and Thursday in Tuscaloosa and will take part in public events, including a speech at BSFL’s Wednesday night meeting. Joanna Robinson, treasurer for BSFL, said the group had reserved the display case from Jan. 8 through Feb. 7, but the poster had been removed when group members checked on Feb. 6, a day before the reservation expired. Robinson also said that no Ferguson Center staff had screened the poster before the group put it up. “Our display provided factual information about the harms abortion causes to women and developing pre-born human beings,” Claire Chretien, the SEE BSFL PAGE 9
NEWS | SGA
Tide sees 108th win against Auburn
UA SGA Student Senate meets to approve funding, new resolutions
UA gymnastics team posts highest score of 2014 season
Grounds use policy, sustainability among many resolutions discussed
By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor
By Jason Frost | Contributing Writer
The Auburn gymnastics team did everything it could with visiting Alabama in the house. But the Crimson Tide turned its best performance of the season and pulled away at the end to get another big win in a season in which Alabama is getting better each meet. In front of a loud and raucous Auburn Arena crowd, the No. 5 Crimson Tide posted its highest team score of the season for the second meet in a row, taking down the No. 12 Tigers in the process. “[Coach] Sarah [Patterson] told us before the meet started that it would probably come down to the last routine, so we expected it, going in,” senior Sarah DeMeo said. “We’re going to give it our all. That’s what
Last Thursday, the Student Government Association Student Senate met to approve Financial Affairs Committee funding to campus organizations and consider a number of resolutions about everything from judicial affairs to apologizing to Auburn. Senator Chisolm Allenlundy proposed a resolution urging the University to ease restrictions found in their Grounds Use Policy that, according to the bill, restricts free speech. As cited, the resolution was authored in response to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ranking the University as one of the nation’s “Worst Colleges for Free Speech” last December. Allenlundy also introduced a bill encouraging the school to erect a monument to enslaved persons related to the University, which was sent to committee. Allenlundy declined to comment on either piece of legislation.
SEE INSURANCE PAGE 9
SPORTS | GYMNASTICS
SEE GYMNASTICS PAGE 9
CW | Austin Bigoney Junior Kaitlyn Clark celebrates with teammates following her beam routine in the fourth rotation in Auburn Arena Friday night.
SEE SGA PAGE 2
TODAYON CAMPUS
Ple a
Rain
Partly cloudy
66º/41º
67º/56º
per •
Tuesday
pa
10 13 13
Monday
recycle th i se
s
INSIDE
Sports Puzzles Classifieds
tomorrow
per • Ple a
2 4 7
today
WHAT: Late Night Game Night WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Presidential Village, 7th floor ballroom
pa
Briefs Opinions Culture
WHAT: Lettuce WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: The Jupiter Bar
s
today’s paper
WEATHER
WHAT: Night Mountain Bike Ride WHEN: 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Munny Sokol Park
Fun and games
recycle thi
WHAT: Shakespeare Adapted: A Reading of “Paint” and “The Turquoise Ring” WHEN: 5 p.m. WHERE: 301 Morgan Hall
Music scene
CONTACT
Night biking
se
Campus theater
editor@cw.ua.edu
website cw.ua.edu
CAMPUSBRIEFS
Monday February 17, 2014
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Peace Award nominations close Nominations for the Lahoma Adams Buford Peace Award are due Friday. The award is presented every year to a University of Alabama faculty member who has shown exemplary skill in promoting peace and justice in their teaching and professional careers. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000 and will be recognized at a ceremony in the spring. Anyone can submit a nomination, and those previously nominated may be nominated again with an updated nomination form. For more information, contact Liz Dykes at 205-348-5384 or eadykes@sw.ua. edu.
SCENEON CAMPUS
Peer Leader applications available Peer Leader applications are due Thursday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. Upperclassman students can apply to be partnered with a UA staff or faculty member to lead a freshman compass course. These courses aim to assist first-year students with their transition to college by providing resources and academic support. For more information about the position, contact Litsa Orban at leorban@sa. ua.edu or 205-348-8404.
Scholarship application due The UA Away Scholarship application for interim, summer and fall programs is due Saturday, March 1. Students participating in work, study or service abroad programs are eligible to apply. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded based on need. Note that all applications will now be electronic. For more information about the UA Away scholarship application process, contact Mollie Landers at mslanders@sa.ua.edu.
Career fair to be held Wednesday Two career fairs will take place in the Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center. The General Interest and Business Career Fair will be Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Technical and Engineering Career Fair will be Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dress is business professional. Those attending should bring their Action Card as well as several copies of their résumés. Visit career.ua.edu for career fair preparation advice, and for questions contact Amanda Ingram at aingram@sa.ua.edu or 205-348-3091.
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
CW | Austin Bigoney Students Christa McCrorie and Brittany Allums finish a picnic on the Quad while watching the sunset Sunday evening.
TODAY WHAT: West Alabama Food Bank community service WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: 346 Ferguson Center WHAT: Shakespeare Adapted: A Reading of “Paint” and “The Turquoise Ring” WHEN: 5 p.m. WHERE: 301 Morgan Hall WHAT: Lettuce WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: The Jupiter Bar
Lauren Ferguson
production editor
Katherine Owen
online editor news editor
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ADVERTISING
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account executives
WHAT: Student Recital: Heiki Palm, cello WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building
BURKE
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photo editor
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WHAT: Alabama Legislative Update WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: 120 Lloyd Hall
WHAT: Student Recital: Daniel Western, saxophone WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building WHAT: Contemporary Ensemble WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building
Mark Hammontree
sports editor
community managers
WHAT: Downtown T-Town Mixer with CP 2700 WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Jim ‘N Nick’s
Mackenzie Brown
culture editor
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WHAT: Black Masculinities: From Mandela to West WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
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opinion editor
WHAT: Reading College Textbooks workshop WHEN: 4-6 p.m. WHERE: 230 Osband Hall
Mazie Bryant editor@cw.ua.edu
managing editor
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WHAT: Microsoft Tech Talk WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 1000 Bevill Building
WHAT: Bama Art House: The Best Offer WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Bama Theatre
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY
Tori Hall 251.751.1781 cwadmanager@gmail.com Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 territorymanager1@gmail.com 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.
LUNCH
LAKESIDE DINNER
Rigatoni and Meatball Roast Beef with French Casserole Au Jus Bistro Chicken Sandwich Chicken Fresca Garlic Toast Quesadilla Brussel Sprouts Horseradish Mashed Vegetable Enchilada Potatoes Fried Okra Cajun Pizza
SGA act to expand RecycleBama bins SGA FROM PAGE 1
Gregory Poole, chair of the Senate Financial Affairs Committee, introduced and authored Act A-20, which provides up to $700 to purchase recycling bins for the newly-constructed North Engineering Research Center as part of their involvement in the RecycleBama initiative. Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sam Gerard, who started the program, will oversee RecycleBama’s efforts in working with building management to furnish bins for all three floors of the building. “It’s important that we start our buildings’ lives out strong with recycling cans,” Gerard said. “Leaves us less time playing catch up.” Poole also sought to restructure some FAC policies regarding funding student organizations. “B-37 was authored by Senator [Stephen] Keller and I after some disagreements with B-32. Both came after the administration expressed some concerns with Senate being able to unilaterally override the votes of nonSGA members on FAC,” Poole said. “However, both Senator
LUNCH
Sloppy Joes Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sandwich Steamed Broccoli Florets Grilled Vegetable Skewers Garlic Potato Chips
Keller and I wanted to ensure that Senate could reserve the right to ask further questions about allocations of which members were unsure.” Poole said Bill B-37 allows the Senate to issue a summons to leaders of an organization who are requesting funds to explain what they need the money for. If they fail to appear to the summons, their request is automatically denied as a penalty. Poole also introduced B-38, which works a Sustainability Investment Program into the SGA Code of Laws. “This program has been in development over the past year with over $1 million going towards eco-frontfriendly projects over the next five years,” Poole said. “Our goal is to establish The University of Alabama as the leader in sustainability among public universities in the Southeast.” B-38 sets up a committee of nine members, drawn from faculty, students and administrators. It functions similarly to FAC, with three students from SGA and one from the UA Environmental Council. This council will consider project proposals submitted by anyone who works for or attends the University. “Eco-friendly projects can be those that improve the buildings and grounds of UA,
DINNER
Country-Style Meatloaf with Beef Gravy Chicken and Swiss Sandwich Delmonico Potatoes Steamed Brussel Sprouts Barley and Vegetable Ragout
raise awareness of sustainability issues, among others,” Poole said. Poole said he hopes to see the project last longer than its pilot program, which ends in 2019. Other resolutions introduced included R-45, which encourages mid-semester student opinion of instruction surveys, and R-46, which issues a formal apology to Auburn University for the SGA’s absence at the James E. Foy, V-Omicron Delta Kappa Sportsmanship Trophy Ceremony. The weather was cited as the reason for the absence. Senator Sam Barnes also introduced Bill B-36, primarily authored by Chief Justice Benjamin Sleight. “It’s a bill to establish the Judicial Canons of Ethics, which basically holds the Student Judicial Board to higher ethical standards,” Barnes said. “Ben approached me with the idea, but it’s a bill that the Alabama and U.S. Senate have, so I think he wanted to model ours at Alabama after those.” Vice President of Student Affairs Hamilton Bloom introduced a bill which would require SGA members to attend Safe Zone training, described by the Safe Zone website as national LGBT Ally Development Training.
FRESH FOOD LUNCH
Grilled Curried Chicken Reuben Panini Crispy Zucchini Basmati Rice and Peas Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
IN THENEWS Powerball jackpot jumps to around $400 million From MCT Campus The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing has risen to an estimated $400 million, one of the largest prizes in lottery history. The prize soared after no one matched all six numbers in Saturday’s jackpot drawing, according to lottery officials. California joined the multistate game in April, and, since then, enormous jackpots have become more common. About a month after the state joined the $2 game, a Powerball jackpot climbed to about $600 million, setting a record for the game. Officials say that with Powerball’s $2 tickets, jackpots in that game can rise faster with fewer tickets sold than in a game like Mega Millions, which costs $1 per play. The odds of winning Wednesday’s big Powerball prize are about 1 in 175 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. Drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by 7 p.m.
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Monday, February 17, 2014
STUDY ABROAD | OXFORD
By Heather Buchanan | Contributing Writer
Humanities focus of program in Oxford
Every summer, 45 University of Alabama students participate in an interactive learning experience at the University of Oxford in the U.K. as part of the UA in Oxford faculty-led study abroad program. Entering its 35th year, the 33-day program offers students the opportunity to earn credit for English, history and honors courses at Worcester College in Oxford. Harold Selesky, associate professor of history and program director, described the program as multi-faceted in that it can cater to anyone. “Not everybody has the same interests,” Selesky said. “It’s not a program designed or exclusively limited to English or history. It’s not even limited to Honors College.” Recently, program administrators have been trying to reach out to students from all areas of study. Robert Halli, dean emeritus of the Honors College, has been teaching literature with the program since 2002 and described how they have broadened the program’s focus to attract a wide variety of students. “We put in these courses that are core curriculum courses, and the upside of that is we get chemical engineers coming over because they need the nine hours in humanities and fine arts,” Halli said. Julia Wachs, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, participated in the program during the summer of 2012 and took honors and English courses. Wachs said the availability of core classes allowed her to study in Oxford while also completing her engineering degree. “I know a lot of engineering students don’t think they can do both [study abroad and co-op], but I was able to do both and I’m still graduating in five years,” Wachs said. “Those two classes I took, they counted towards my major.” Tricia McElroy, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and UA at Oxford instructor, praised the program’s ability to succeed in creating courses that present a strong correlation between the material and location of study.
Photo Courtesy of Tricia McElroy
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Morel For the 35th summer, students study abroad at the University of Oxford.
“Our faculty work very hard to make sure that their courses are anchored in Oxford, or at least the surroundings,” McElroy said. “We tend to choose history and English courses [so] that the teachers can draw on the cultural resources.” In this vein, Halli said his honors British literature coursed focuses heavily on authors with a link to the surrounding area. “My class, Honors English Literature II, concentrates as much as I can on authors from Oxford, authors who wrote about Oxford, authors who have Oxford in their works,” Halli said. The group takes many excursions and field trips to get a closer look at the material which they are studying. Kelsey Curtis, a junior majoring in English, Spanish and philosophy, took a Shakespeare course enhanced by live performances of his plays. “We read ‘Macbeth’ before we came, and then we saw ‘Macbeth’ at the Globe Theater. We read ‘Hamlet’ while we were there, and then went and saw ‘Hamlet,’” Curtis said. “I think it was different really being in the story, more than just reading it and talking about it.” The UA in Oxford program also boasts a close relationship with the Oxford faculty. McElroy has taught English courses alongside Oxford faculty since 2007. She said it adds another dimension to the program. “We’re trying more and more to hire Oxford tutors as well, so almost every year of the program we hire at least one tutor or one faculty member from Oxford to teach a course,” McElroy said. “These are particularly rich for the students because they’re getting to work with the Oxford faculty.” Amanda Morel, a senior majoring in English, said her time at Oxford altered the way she thought about studying. “The atmosphere is so academic, so it really made me want to explore other options in academics here and write more or study more,” Morel said. “It really opened my eyes to different things to study.” This year, the UA in Oxford program will take place during the Summer II term.
Coffee Hour provides opportunities outside curriculum By Jacqueline Visina | Contributing Writer Whether it’s discussing scientific research with professors Guy and Kim Caldwell or playing ping pong with Vice President for Student Affairs Mark Nelson, Honors College’s weekly coffee hour gives students the opportunity to interact with professors and peers outside of their usual academic setting. The Honors College Assembly began the weekly coffee hour this past fall. Each week, around 50 honors students and faculty meet in the Ridgecrest South lobby over free doughnuts and coffee.
It’s not hard to get to know people here, and once you do, you’re going to want to come to everything. — Kindle Williams
No two coffee hours are alike. Each one offers an opportunity to partake in open discussion on a variety of topics in an
informal atmosphere. “Even though students have their own space in Ridgecrest, this is an opportunity for students to come out, get to know each other and be a part of that single Honors community,” Neil Adams, recruiting specialist for the Honors College, said. The coffee hour has gained momentum since its inception in August. The event is meant to provide a level of consistent and meaningful dialogue within the Honors College. Honors College puts on a number of events over the course of the year, including tailgates, service projects, research
talks and dances. “It is possible that some students think that there is too much to do in the Honors College, but if they come to events like this they will see that Honors is not this big monolith,” Kindle Williams, Honors College ambassador, said. “It’s not hard to get to know people here, and once you do, you’re going to want to come to everything.” Coffee Hour is at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Ridgecrest South lobby. “We are trying to show students that we’re here, the Honors College loves you, so come stop by and talk with us,” Victoria Sheesly, a recent UA graduate, said.
p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Monday, February 17, 2014
TOPIC | FIRST AMENDMENT
The First Amendment struggle at Alabama By John Brinkerhoff | Opinion Editor Colleges are melting pots for diverse views, and The University of Alabama is no exception. From a constant schedule of scholars representing a variety of ideologies to the abundance of student organizations representing a wide range of viewpoints, free speech is an integral component of the Capstone. However, recent events have challenged that notion. Last week, a poster was removed from a display case in the Ferguson Center after receiving complaints that it violated the Ferguson Center policy against “offensive or graphic material.” The post-
er, displayed by Bama Students for Life, featured the headline “Not Safe, Not Rare, just legal” and contained, among other items, photos of aborted fetuses and women who died from abortion-related complications. Bama Students for Life responded by receiving representation from The Alliance Defending Freedom and filing a formal complaint to the University regarding the removal. This controversy raises questions regarding not only the proper administration of First Amendment rights to student groups, but also to the nature of the University’s policies. Last spring, the University allowed Bama Students for Life to proceed with its
COLUMN | BSFL
Genocide Awareness Project, a display that featured similar images. At the same time, they denied a request from the Alabama Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive to protest the event. In a controversy that touches on multiple sensitive issues and holds ramifications far beyond one organization’s poster, there is not a simple answer to the question: Was the University justified in removing the display? There are passionate views on both sides. John Brinkerhoff is the Opinion Editor of The Crimson White
COLUMN | BSFL
Drawing a line in the sand about The University arbitrarily silenced offensive and grotesque speech free speech for students, groups By Nathan James | Senior Staff Columnist Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of not walking past aborted fetuses on my way to lunch. For some time, a yellow tri-fold display, covered with vague moral assertions and images of underdeveloped, disembodied limbs, had resided in a display case near the stairs in the Ferguson Center. Every time I walked past it, I was filled with a rush of nausea – both from the display’s graphic imagery and its tone. So when I found the display gone, I was relieved. But predictably, not everyone was as happy to see it go. When the display was removed due to complaints, Bama Students for Life wrote a letter to the Ferguson Center demanding an apology and the return of their poster to its case. According to BSFL, the removal of the display was unlawful because administrators cannot “ban offensive speech,” and because other organizations are allowed to post “offensive” material in the Ferg, regarding “women’s health, safety issues and the consequences of sex.” Let’s examine the content of the BSFL display: First, starting in the top left, were photographs of women who had died of abortion-related procedures. There was no accompanying statistical information, of course, because actual facts about abortion tend to show that it’s a relatively safe procedure. But I suppose BSFL didn’t think it would be advantageous to mention the .05 percent complication rate of legal abortions. Below the photos of dead women were two other pictures: one of Kermit Gosnell, labeled a “Philadelphia
Nathan James abortionist and MURDERER,” and a second depicting a “‘house of horrors’ abortion center.” Elsewhere on the poster were the words “Not safe, not rare, just legal,” and numerous images of dissected fetuses. Above the display was hung babies’ footwear, reminiscent of images from the Holocaust. Nowhere on the display was there any statistical or scientific fact, unless you count a reporting of the number of abortions that have been performed since Roe v. Wade. Clearly, the informative value of this display w a s substantial. But that’s irrelevant. More centrally, the Ferguson Center didn’t “ban” anyone’s free speech. Space in the displays is a limited resource allocated by UA, and I know from experience it’s hard to get. BSFL still has the right to say whatever it wants; it simply lost a selective medium through which to do so. As to other “offensive” speech in the Ferg, BSFL cited advertisements for the play “Blood Wedding,” which features – brace your-
selves – illustrated blood. They also mentioned an ad which featured frontal male nudity, because the only thing more offensive than photographs of dissected body parts is a penis. Abortion is a complex topic deserving of meaningful debate. We deserve a pro-life group that will have debate, instead of the dishonest and vacuous spew from BSFL. I know people in BSFL who are intelligent and impassioned. The group has the capital and the inspiration to enrich the University’s political culture. So please, stop showing us dead fetuses. Stop telling us that abortion is more dangerous than it really is. Stop defending vulgar, mindless displays by misrepresenting the First Amendment. BSFL can make this campus better. Please stop making it uglier. Nathan James is a junior majoring in public relations. His column runs weekly.
By Claire Chretien | Staff Columnist Last week, The University of Alabama recently displayed a chilling willingness to completely disregard students’ rights to free speech just because some UA students found Bama Students for Life’s display about abortion in the Ferguson Center “offensive.” Earlier this month, I filmed a university official citing a nonexistent policy that forbids “offensive or graphic material” in the Ferg display cases. She explained to me that if they “receive complaints,” they “have to take it down.” The display provided factual information about mothers killed by legal abortion, lateterm abortion in the United States and the harm abortion causes to pre-born humans. It also contained small photos of abortion victims – photos of which the authenticity can be confirmed via an affidavit
CW | John Brinkerhoff
Claire Chretien from a former abortionist. Bama Students for Life understands that abortion is often a painful experience for the mother. Our display case memorialized abortion’s forgotten victims, women who have been killed by legal abortions, as well as the pre-born humans it kills by poisoning or dismembering them. It wasn’t erected to shame anyone, but rather to express the truth about abortion. We have a right to express this truth, particularly to peers who are considering making the lifeending decision of abortion. The notion that anyone has the right to silence another’s opinion simply because he or she is offended by it is nothing short of absurd and, thankfully, has been struck down by many major court cases related to free speech. Many posters in the Ferg could arbitrarily be labeled “offensive” or “graphic.” Bulletin boards in the Ferg have displayed posters related to the consequences of sex and an ad for UA dance and theatre’s “Blood Wedding” program that featured bloodstained glass super-
imposed over a picture of a bride and groom. Last year, the Ferguson Center theater hosted a performance of The Vagina Monologues. Auditioning for this play required parental permission for students under 19 due to its “strong content.” Students at public universities have a right to express their beliefs, whether by distributing literature, hosting events or putting up a display case. It’s deeply unsettling that the University is claiming it has the right to censor what it wishes if someone complains. Imagine the outrage that would ensue if I claimed that the gory nature of the “Blood Wedding” advertisement upset me and demanded the Ferg remove it. If students complained about every single poster or display case in the Ferg, would the University then remove every single one? As a practicing member of the Roman Catholic Church, events or posters on campus frequently offend me and my beliefs, but my feelings are not, nor should they be, the criteria for what kind of expression is allowed on a public university campus – the First Amendment is. Free speech isn’t a right reserved for liberal elites or school clubs that focus on uncontroversial issues. It doesn’t exist so we can talk about the weather. It exists to protect the “offensive” speech that the University is so desperately trying to censor. Claire Chretien is a junior majoring in American studies and is the president of Bama Students for Life. Her column runs biweekly.
COLUMN | BSFL
Clarifying the legal mess surrounding the BSFL poster removal By Matthew Bailey | Staff Columnist The First Amendment right to free speech is not absolute, and this is especially true when discussing students’ rights. The Supreme Court’s decision in Tinker v. Des Moines makes clear that administrators must have “comprehensive authority” within constitutional limits to control school conduct. However, the case also makes clear that “it can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” While it is not clear under what justification The University of Alabama has for choosing to remove the poster that Bama Students for Life put up in the Ferguson Center, the school has the possibility of continuing the trend of losing over speech codes. The best guess that I can make as to what justification in the rules that the
Matthew Bailey University would make is the student handbook prohibits organizations from displaying any “posters, signs and bumper stickers” that are not “in good taste.” The handbook states that “any questions that arise concerning the interpretation of good taste should be directed to the Auxiliary and Support Services Office.” This is a very vague description. The Supreme Court has held that “a more stringent vagueness test” should apply to laws that interfere
with the right of free speech. Because of the rule’s vagueness, the University has reason to be nervous. This would also be true if they merely chose to remove it for being “offensive,” as the official states in the video. The Supreme Court explicitly refused to extend the ability for school officials to regulate “offensive” speech in Morse v. Frederick. In that case, a student was punished for unfurling a banner that stated, “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS.” Chief Justice Roberts held that previous cases should not “be read to encompass any speech that could fit under some definition of ‘offensive.’” This is especially true when, as he points out, “much political and religious speech might be perceived as offensive to some.” They held that the free speech right did not exist because the student could be seen to advocate illegal drug use. The Supreme Court has also recognized many times that government
restrictions on free speech must be narrowly drawn to address only the specific evil at hand. Specifically, the Supreme Court declared in NCAA v. Button that “First Amendment freedoms need breathing space to survive” and that “government may regulate in the area only with narrow specificity.” Because of these limitations in the ability to limit free speech, there have been a number of cases where university speech codes have been struck down for being vague. This is even in cases of hate speech and sexual harassment claims. All of that does not mean that the University cannot have any student rules against certain forms of speech on campus. Tinker found that students have a broad right to free speech, but the Supreme Court has found three exceptions. Schools can regulate all lewd and indecent speech, speech that can be seen as schoolsponsored and speech that can be
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
understood to advocate illegal drug use. Additionally, hate speech and action regulations have been greatly expanded upon in recent cases. The Capstone has been an interesting place for free speech since I’ve been here. It has had the Westboro Baptist Church come to protest and BSFL has caused controversy before with its actions. Despite allowing those, the University chose to remove a poster from the Ferguson Center. I can honestly say that I’m not sure that I looked in that area of the Ferg more than maybe five times in my entire undergraduate career at Alabama, but instead of just letting the poster stay there, regardless of the offensiveness or accuracy of it, they expose themselves and their vague speech codes to criticism and more. Matthew Bailey is a second-year law student. His column runs biweekly.
Last Week’s Poll: What is your favorite locally brewed beer? (I don’t drink beer: 34%) (Black Warrior Brewing Company: 26%) (Druid City Brewing Company: 26%) (None of the above: 14%) This Week’s Poll: Do you believe the University should have removed the Bama Students for Life poster from the Ferg? cw.ua.edu/poll
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NEWSIN BRIEF Object X discusses the dollar Creative Campus is presenting the third lecture in the Object X series Monday at 7 p.m. in 30 ten Hoor Hall. The lecture will examine the dollar from many different perspectives through a diverse set of speakers. Chip Cooper, Honors College artist in residence; Lauren Lock, Panhellenic community member; Hannah Rath, former president of Project Health; Kristen Warner, assistant professor of telecommunication and film; Phillip Weaver, owner of Buffalo Phil’s and Craig Wedderspoon, associate professor of art, will all speak at the event. There will also be a spoken word performance by Eric Marable, a theater student. The speakers will provide different perspectives on the dollar from their various fields. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.creativecampus.ua.edu or email objectxua@ gmail.com.
CW | Austin Bigoney The University of Alabama Equestrian Team hosted its first IHSA show at Munny Sokol Park Sunday morning.
Equestrian team looks to join NCAA By Kailey McCarthy | Contributing Writer With growing involvement since its founding in 2010, The University of Alabama’s Equestrian Team, which is part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, intends to become a varsity sport next fall. Taylor Templin, president of the equestrian program, said she is proud to call herself a member of the team. “The equestrian program is composed of an extremely passionate group of individuals who work to be the best horsemen and women we can be,” Templin said. “We strive to turn a traditionally individual sport into a team atmosphere while representing our school to the best of our abilities.” The team was founded in the fall 2010 by a small group of students. The ISHA levels of competition range from beginner walk-trot through the most advanced open level. Elizabeth Allen, secretary of the team, has been with the team since its founding.
“The equestrian team has gradually changed since its start,” Allen said. “Every year the team grows and becomes more competitive. I look forward to competing in NCAA competitions soon. The equestrian team allows me to continue doing what I love while representing my school with people who are now like family. It is a fantastic combination.” Haley Mapes, equestrian team vice president, said her participation on the team has been an integral part of her college career. “The people I’ve met through this program and the experiences we’ve had together are irreplaceable,” Mapes said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Being a part of this team has not only helped me grow as a rider but as a person as well. The team has come such a long way and continues to improve with each year. My team is like my family. Whether we are at a competition or not, weekends are best spent with my teammates.” In the midst of competition season,
the team practices throughout the week and competes on weekends. “We practice two to three times a week at Westminster Farms in Northport, Ala.,” Templin said. She said Sunday’s competition was the very first time The University of Alabama has hosted an IHSA competition. Following their competition this past weekend, Templin said the team will travel to Athens, Ga., in March to compete in the regional competition. “You must have qualified sometime throughout the year in order to be eligible for this competition,” Templin said. “If you advance from there, you may go on to compete at Zones and then onto Nationals.” The Equestrian Team encourages beginning riders to try out for a spot. “The team holds tryouts each fall, and anyone from beginning riders to advanced riders are encouraged to tryout,” Templin said. “We try to keep the team at a manageable number of 25, so spots are limited.”
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CW | Hannah Glenn
Medical center acquires new Northport branch By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter The University Medical Center, a primary care practice connected to the College of Community Health Sciences, has hired a new physician and is accepting new patients at its Warrior Family Medicine branch, acquired by the University this year. Dr. Jennifer Clem practiced at a Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona for four years before moving back to Alabama and joining the Warrior Family Medicine practice. She specializes in women’s health and pediatrics. “I’ve had a good experience so far,” Clem said. “I’ve been slowly seeing more and more patients, which has been nice, being the new doctor in town. I’m looking forward to building my practice. I like to see a wide variety of patients all ages, men and women, kids and adults.” The Warrior Family Medicine branch is run by Dr. Joseph Fritz, who has been practicing in Tuscaloosa since 1978. Clem said the small size of Warrior Family Medicine allows for increased access between physicians and patients. “One thing that we really are interested in is being available and that our patients have access to us. So we have what’s called a patient portal system, so that patients can use a secure email account to communicate with their physicians,” Clem said. “Since so many people are online, that’s really a nice benefit, so they’re not calling in talking to the nurse, sending a message to the provider and then there are things there that can be interrupted. So if you’re sending in an email message that goes directly to the physician, that’s nice to be able to communicate that way. So we’re really going to try to improve that service and I think that will be a benefit.” Leslie Zganjar, director of communications for the College of Community Health Sciences, said the University Medical Center
offers a variety of specialized services, such as a pediatric clinic, an internal medicine clinic, an OB/GYN clinic, a sports medicine clinic and a psychiatry clinic. “What it offers to the community is increased access to care and particularly increased access to primary care, which in health care is becoming more and more important as people live longer and as they need care for chronic diseases,” Zganjar said. “I think there is always a need for this kind of health care. With the Affordable Health Care Act, there will be an even greater need and with how medicine is moving toward the future, there’s much more of an emphasis on preventive care and chronic disease management, and that’s what primary care physicians and family care medicine provide.” The on-campus branch of the UMC provides a residency program for recent medical school graduates, as well as a select few third-year medical students at UAB. This provides additional training, as well as a chance to practice in a functioning doctor’s office. Fritz said he would like to expand this program to the Warrior Family Medicine clinic. “Right now we are not too involved in teaching,” Fritz said. “We would like to have young doctors who are still in training be able to come into our facility and see somewhat different patients than they see at University Medical Center.” In the future, Fritz said he would like to continue expanding his practice by identifying the areas with the greatest need. “There are definitely parts of Tuscaloosa and parts of West Alabama that are underserved, where people have difficulty getting a primary care physician,” Fritz said. “So if this model works, then perhaps this is something that can bring service to other people.” The University Medical Center – Warrior Family Medicine is located at 971 Fairfax Park in Northport.
Auto Care Use a commercial car wash that treats its wastewater or wash your vehicle in a yard. Dispose of used fluids and batteries at designated recycling facilities. Clean up fluid spills immediately. Properly maintain vehicles to prevent oil, gas, and other fluids from being washed into the storm sewer system. For questions, concerns, or to report potential stormwater violations, contact the Office of Environmental Safety at 348-5905
Tornado damage to the College Hill Baptist Church may have been a burden, but the Rev. Kelvin Croom, pastor of the church, described all other repercussions as a blessing. In 2011, a rampant tornado swept through Tuscaloosa, wiping out a large portion of the surrounding area. Of those places affected, the College Hill Baptist Church is still working toward recovery almost three years later. “It destroyed the church,” Croom said. “Everything was destroyed but the office.” Croom took over his position in the church for his father in 1993. He said the church had planned to do an addition in 2008, but the trustees kept putting off the plans. By January 2011, the church still had not undergone the addition. A week before the storm, Croom spoke to his congregation regarding the weather predictions. “I told them that God had shown me there would be a storm we have never seen before,” he explained. “I didn’t think I would make it through.” When the storm hit Wednesday, April 27, 2011, Croom was unable to make it to the site to survey the damages until the following Saturday. “There were just remnants left,” Croom said. Fortunately for the members of College Hill, the University Church of Christ opened the doors of their Campus View Auditorium, and the congregation was able to continue meeting through December 2013. At this time, the scheduling between the two churches was no longer coordinated, and College Hill moved to its current location, the Belk Center off Bowers Road. However, holding services in a gymnasium did not stop the members from coming to worship. “I think we’re doing good about moving from place to place,” Diane Lee, a member of College Hill, said. “Wherever the church goes, I’m going.” With a temporary location established, the main goal shifted to rebuilding a church for permanent use. The board established a financial plan and sought help from friends of Croom’s father, the late Rev. Sylvester Croom, Sr. However, aid arrived sooner than expected. “Unbeknownst to us, we had a
Relationships have been built and friendships have been made, all because of a storm. — The Rev. Kelvin Croom
benefactor that heard our story and has given $3.25 million to build the church,” Croom said. The next step was finding the right architect for the job. Croom said the architect needed to capture the vision for the church that he and the trustees saw. After one unsuccessful attempt, the board asked about a Dallas-based architect. “We told the gentleman that God would give him the vision,” Croom said. “And he did.” The new architect presented his plans and received unanimous approval from the board. College Hill will rebuild on the site of the old church off University Boulevard in Alberta. With only one correction to make on the plans, construction could begin within six weeks. “I’m excited for the new church,” College Hill member Shirley Lee said. “With each transition, the people have recognized each church as home.” The construction is predicted to take around eight months with three different phases. The new church will be community-based, hopefully to include a facility specifically designed for accomodating autistic children and their parents. Members also hope to add a school component for kids and safe rooms for extreme weather. Croom said the church looked to Exodus on multiple occasions after the tornado, finding a special connection to Moses and traveling. He added that although there were people who lost faith in that period, the tornado brought together churches that were normally secluded because of denomination and race. “Relationships have been built and friendships have been made, all because of a storm,” he said. “I’m proud to be an American but more proud to be an Alabamian.”
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ARDT combines sculpture with original compositions By Laura Testino | Contributing Writer
CW | Austin Bigoney Dancers rehearse among two hundred fiberglass sculptures on stage at Morgan Hall Sunday.
Dancers in Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre will sync with more than just the music in “aeolian,” a piece by professor Sarah M. Barry, in the ARDT Spring 2014 Concert. Barry’s piece integrates nearly 200 fiberglass sculptures in the manifestation of its theme and concept. The sculptures, titled in their entirety as “cresente,” are the work of Kelly Shannon, an master’s student studying studio art with an emphasis in sculpture. After seeing Shannon’s work in a gallery over the summer, Barry was inspired as a choreographer and quickly approached Shannon about collaborating with ARDT. “If you think about creative personalities, there’s no real reason to have set and regimented delineations between the arts – between theater or dance, or music or sculpture, or painting and drawing,” Shannon said. “There’s so many similarities between them that a lot of those divisions seem pointless.” Shannon and Barry have both been pleased with the way this collaboration of art media has transferred to the stage setting. “Something that’s really interesting about … the way the sets are placed on stage is that, depending on where you’re sitting in the audience, you’re going to have a really different perspective of the dance,” Barry said. “So you’re really kind of viewing the movement almost through the sculptures. … Sometimes you really mostly see the sculpture, and sometimes you see more the dancing. Also, this piece has become more of a visual experience than a kinetic experience, which is a little different for me.” Barry began “aeolian” – which means “wind blown” – by pulling words from the artist statement and thesis paper Shannon wrote about the sculptures, using those as roots from which movement could then grow. The choreography is the final combination of phrases composed by both Barry and her dancers. “It was really exciting for me to see some of the early rehearsals where the dancers would start out on the floor, where they would be eventually screened by the sculptures, and then have an arm pop up that was just sort of doing this growing, popping up
out-of-nowhere thing … [Barry] definitely was trying to be inspired by the things that inspired me, and it’s been really exciting to see that transformation,” Shannon said. Scott O’Toole, a second-year master’s student studying percussion performance, also took inspiration from Shannon’s sculptures in order to compose “Nautical,” original music for the piece. O’Toole has been an accompanist for Barry’s modern classes for almost two years, and will be playing his music live on stage during “aeolian.” “Dancers, I think they like having live music because they can manipulate it more than a recording; it’s like you’re actually talking to a person, working with a person. You’re adjusting things on both sides, instead of constantly feeling like you need to adjust to a recording that never changes,” O’Toole said. “The hierarchy is broken down; it’s more like this third energy is created between two people.” Hilary Schaff, a senior majoring in dance, has worked with Barry multiple times over the past four years, and said she enjoyed being a part of this collaborative experience for her last semester in ARDT. “We’re using live music, adding in more depth to the stage, and really using every facility that’s around us, and incorporating more artistic viewpoints. … You can tell the faculty are trying to push themselves even more and push us to incorporate new things into our works,” she said. While Barry initiated the idea of creating movement to accompany the themes evoked by Shannon’s sculptures, she values the artistic interpretations of the dancers in her cast. “I like for the dancers’ movements and ideas to be a part of the piece, because I think it gives them a different sense of ownership with the performance and with the material,” Barry said. ARDT will include Barry’s modern piece, as well as dances of other styles choreographed by the dance faculty. Performances will be Feb. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at ua.tix.com.
COLUMN | FASHION
Channel New York Fashion Week trends from home By Abbey Crain New York Fashion Week concluded last week with hoards of cropped pant-wearing, heeled sandal-tromping bloggers stealing the majority of the press. If you didn’t know, it’s snowing up there. And they’re still wearing heeled sandals. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m here in Tuscaloosa, again, not at NYFW, trying to take part in the biannual fashion event that defines the trends each year. This Sunday, in my overwhelming sense of spite and jealousy directed toward everyone who walked into Lincoln Center last week, I decided to spice up my own dreary-day ensemble. Overalls are no new trend, but what’s a fashion risk without implementing a staple and
twisting it a bit? I paired my stable-girl jumpsuit with my 60-percent-off-sweater from Madewell. The Madewell in Birmingham is worth the trek. They always have sales. I topped my look off with Sam Edelman stilettos. The tortoise print and industrial heel just seemed like the perfect contrasting element to bite the proverbial farm quality of overalls. Maybe you don’t like overalls or like wearing heels in general, but join me. Join in celebrating the great fashion foray that only happens twice a year to determine the trends of six months into the future. Let’s all pay homage to the predetermined trends of fashion by sporting our most enviable ensembles worthy of the unnecessarily peacocked press of the petty, posing blogger type. Oscar played with volume, Mr. Kors high-
lighted furs and fringe, and everyone tipped their hats to plaid. Rally the troops, stop trolling weather.com and instead fix your eyes on the NYFW trend forecast via style.com. You won’t regret it. Don your most effervescent ensemble to spite the lucky few allowed to sit front row at Oscar de la Renta. The freezing drizzle circa last week has come and gone. The sun is out, just in time to put away your rain boots that were beginning to stink of the damp, unnatural fertilizers that drench the once-green Quad. The time has come to shave legs and flaunt the midi-skirt trends of the aforementioned Oscar’s runway show. Let Fashion Week reignite the fashionista in all of us, because the over sized sweater look won’t last forever.
CW | Daniel Roth Abbey Crain
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Radio show offers look at mental health ‘Brain Matters’ airs casual conversations on stress, depression Submitted BJ Guenther, a staff therapist at the UA Counseling Center, hosts “Brain Matters,” a weekly radio show on 90.7 The Capstone. By Matthew Wilson | Contributing Writer BJ Guenther chose her career in psychology because she excelled at it in school and found it fascinating. It wasn’t until later she learned the difference she could make in people’s lives. In graduate school, she realized she had the skills to connect with people and help them. Joining The University of Alabama’s Counseling Center in 2002, Guenther now spends her days helping students with stress and other mental health problems and her nights planning her radio show, “Brain Matters.” “Brain Matters” is broadcast on 90.7 The Capstone and deals with matters on mental health, stress and similar topics. Hosted by Guenther, the show first started in January 2013 and ran for 15 weeks. Guenther discussed various mental health topics, including suicide, sleeping problems and depression before the show took a hiatus in April. The radio program is now back, broadcasting regularly on its Tuesday 6 p.m. time slot. “I think a lot of people don’t talk to people about what they’re feeling or what they’re thinking,” Guenther said. “I hope some of the topics we choose to talk about will give people ideas to get themselves help or
A lot of people are still embarrassed about trying to seek counseling, and I’m trying to break that wall down. — BJ Guenther
talk about what is going on in their lives. I remember back in the spring, I thought we had a riveting show about suicide. I’m hoping people heard that show and were able to reach out.” Guenther said her goal for “Brain Matters” was to get people to talk about their feelings and even get help from the counseling center if they need it. Guenther said she hopes that hearing her voice would make people feel more comfortable opening up to counselors. “A lot of people are still embarrassed about trying to seek counseling, and I’m trying to break that wall down,” Guenther said. Natalie Beck, one of Guenther’s producers on the show, said “Brain Matters” is one of few mental health radio shows. In
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the beginning, Guenther talked with other mental health radio hosts and gathered ideas before she launched her own program. “We’re trying to have casual conversations about these issues that are somewhat taboo. Mental health is not spoken about a lot, and it’s not spoken about in a very positive light when it is spoken about,” Beck said. “We’re trying to normalize it, humanize it. It’s important to have a conversation about those issues in a dialogue.” While “Brain Matters” currently lacks an option for listeners to call in to ask questions, Guenther intends to transition the show to a call-in format sometime during the semester. For now, she said she is content with the guests in her upcoming shows, including the director of Hand in Paw for a segment about pet therapy. Guenther and her team come up with topics for shows at the beginning of the semester, and Guenther ultimately decides on the topics for the show before she searches for guests based on those topics. “I know someone who can make a connection for me, but it takes willingness to ask that person, ‘Will you help me get in contact with this person?’” Guenther said. Beck and her sister function as co-producers on the show. While Guenther is the voice on the air, they perform many of the back-
ground tasks for the show. “BJ is the one that’s the voice. She’s the personality, and she’s on air. My sister and I are on the sound board. We coordinate the songs, commercial breaks and all that good stuff you never see people doing,” Beck said. One of the main things Guenther said she hopes to accomplish with “Brain Matters” is breaking down the stigma and stereotypes people have associated with mental illness. She said she hates the term crazy and the belief that only crazy people visit counseling centers. “That is such a myth, and the only thing I can say to counteract that is there are about 19 therapists here. We see five or six students a day, so you multiply five or six by 19 times five. That’s a week, and that’s how many students we’re seeing,” Guenther said. “Brain Matters” has helped Beck to stay updated in the mental health field. Beck said creating questions to ask guests on the show has helped her gain more relevant knowledge on a variety of issues. For Guenther, getting people to take mental health seriously and talk about it openly have been some of her main goals for “Brain Matters.” “I’m confident that if I could get someone to buy into the counseling setting, it would be successful,” Guenther said.
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Oz to feature local soul By Grace Hagemann | Contributing Writer Local record store Oz Music will transform from an everyday music shop to a live music venue Tuesday for a concert featuring St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Paul Janeway, lead vocalist of St. Paul and the Broken Bones, said the band’s sound is soul music. Janeway said his progression out of gospel music helped him find his true passion in the music he makes now. “I went back to my roots where I was comfortable; and that, without the religious side, kind out puts you in soul music,” Janeway said. “And that’s where I ended up now. For me it was a natural progression. It felt seamless.” The band, originally from Birmingham, believes in supporting local institutions. The artwork for their recent Vinyl LP release was created by Yellowhammer Creative, a Birmingham business. “I think there’s a lot of quality work being done in the state of Alabama, done by people that are from here or that have transferred here,” Janeway said. “I think its important to keep those people involved and as we grow we want to do what we can to stay in the state of Alabama.” Jason Patton, owner of Oz Music, said he also believes in the power of staying true to your roots and local community. “I think it’s multiple things. It’s a way to give
PLAN TO GO WHAT: St. Paul and the Broken Bones WHEN: Tuesday, 6 p.m. WHERE: Oz Music back to the community by having live music. I think it also kind of puts us in the community, also supporting local artists,” Patton said. Patton cites Alabama-based bands who started off playing local venues and are now drawing musical attention to the state for paving the way for future local bands. “You have bands like the Alabama Shakes, John Paul White from the Civil Wars and now Saint Paul,” Patton said. The Alabama music scene is changing, embracing a new youthful face that brings an original style to the scene, Patton said. “It’s a younger crowd that’s getting involved, which is a good thing, and they are also developing more original music,” Patton said. “If you’ve got a younger crowd into live original music, I think it will help foster that in the future also.” St. Paul and the Broken Bones will perform Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Oz Music. Those who Photo Courtesy of Dave McClister pre-order their CD or LP will receive a priority Birmingham-based band St. Paul and the Broken Bones will play at Oz Music Tuesday. line wristband.
COLUMN | GAMING
Quality, creativity of video games suffer from forced annual editions By Matthew Wilson
MCT Campus Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag follows a trend among video game franchises of producing lower quality annual editions.
University removes anti-abortion poster BSFL FROM PAGE 1
BSFL president, said. “The display roughly coincided with the anniversary with Roe v. Wade.” On Tuesday, BSFL sent a letter to the director of the Ferguson Center, Carl Bacon, requesting that their poster be returned to the display case and an apology be issued to the student organization. The letter asks for a response to be issued by Monday. While neither the Ferguson Center staff nor The University of Alabama has directly responded to the requests issued in the letter, UA Director of Media Relations Cathy Andreen said the University is currently reviewing its policies. “The University of Alabama respects our students’ First Amendment rights to express their opinions,” Andreen said. “As a result of this incident, we are reviewing our guidelines for the display boards in the student center.” After the display was taken down last week, Chretien vid-
UA UHCSR provides coverage to students INSURANCE FROM PAGE 1
Morris, director of Capstone International Services, said. Morris oversees 1,670 international students, 1,600 of whom are on the University’s health plan as of Fall 2013. Morris cited a situation where UA staff interceded for a student who was denied hospital coverage after a car accident. He said they secured the student’s benefits due to their knowledge of the insurance company’s policies. “When there is an issue or a claim that’s not being processed, we can actually get in touch with the insurance company,” Morris said. “The Student Health Center can reach out to them on behalf of
Activision recently announced that new developer Sledgehammer would develop this year’s annual installment in the “Call of Duty” series. Activision has long been criticized by fans for its business model of annualizing the series and often for the lack of change within each installment. This raises a pressing issue in the future of video games: The rise of shorter annual installments encourages video games that lack depth. Compared to the long development time of the “Grand Theft Auto” series – a span of five years between installments – the shortcomings of Activision’s business model become apparent. Even as sales have flourished, the amount of creativity has dwindled. A comparison in the film industry would be the annual installments of horror movies that are churned out relentlessly every year. For instance, “Saw,” an initial clever, if not entirely original, movie, suffered a significant
eotaped a conversation she had with Donna Lake, an event coordinator at the Ferguson Center. In the video, which Andreen said Lake did not know she was being recorded, Chretien and Lake can be heard discussing the removal of the display. Lake said the poster had been removed after Ferguson Center staff had received complaints from students about images on the display, including pictures of aborted fetuses and the body of a mother who had died during an abortion procedure. Lake told Chretien that the guidelines for use of the display cases could be found online and included restrictions against offensive or graphic material. However, the policy on the Ferguson Center website lists no such requirement and does not mention “offensive” or “graphic” material. Additionally, BSFL’s letter cited other displays in the Ferguson Center with questionable content that had not been removed in the past. “The Ferguson Center permits all kinds of speech by other students and student groups that many people would find ‘offensive’ or ‘graphic,’” the
the student. We can’t do that when we don’t have a relationship with the insurance company.” Other benefits of the coverage include maternity and pregnancy care, medical evacuation and post-mortem repatriation. UHCSR waives the $250 annual deductible when students see doctors at the Student Health Center, John Kasberg, senior insurance officer at the University, said. International students, who are required to have health insurance comparable to the UHCSR plan, are drawn to these benefits. Enrollment in the coverage plan averaged 1,400 to 1,600 domestic students since Fall 2010. Kasberg said international enrollment increased from 500 in Fall 2010 to 1,100 in Fall 2013. Under the Affordable Care
letter read. “For example, on one bulletin board is an ad for the UA Theatre & Dance program’s presentation of ‘Blood Wedding.’ The poster states that the event is ‘For Mature Audiences’ and features blood stained glass superimposed on a picture of a bride and groom. A few months ago the Ferguson Center Art Gallery displayed student artwork and one painting showed male full frontal nudity. “Other student groups are also permitted to display information about women’s health, safety issues, and the consequences of sex. All of these problems were addressed in our pro-life display that provided facts and information on the harm caused by abortion - both to the infant who is killed and to the mother.” Chretien has been interviewed by various conservative and mainstream news outlets, including “Fox and Friends” on Saturday, Feb. 15. The group has also retained legal counsel from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a faithbased legal and advocacy group based out of Phoenix. Matt Sharp, an ADF lawyer from the
Act, students may remain under their parents’ insurance until age 26. Kasberg said this has not decreased enrollment because the act also requires everyone 19 and older to have health insurance. According to Healthcare.gov, the act has exclusions, including religious groups and persons under 65 making less than $10,000 per year. Morris said that while coverage gaps exist for any plan, all students should have health insurance. He said domestic students should also research their health care yearly to make sure they choose a plan that fits their needs. “Is it worth it? I would say so,” Morris said. “We’ve had numerous incidents with students who’ve really needed coverage, with tens of thousands in medical bills.”
loss in quality as each installment came out each year. Likewise, Activision and other publishers risk running their franchises into the ground if they adopt similar practices. One of the problems is the risk of overexposure rather than practicing moderation. Often, less is more when it comes to developing a stable and safe source of income. Rather than giving a brief respite in between games, studios like Activision are flooding the market with yearly upgrades on top of bimonthly downloadable content. Instead of allowing the anticipation and excitement to build and grow, these studios have made their games a staple, a constant in the year. Fans of “Grand Theft Auto” were at a fever pitch after five years of waiting, resulting in the largest-selling launch day for a video game ever. Likewise, an important selling point for the “Grand Theft Auto” series was the amount of change and depth the developer brought to the series between installments. “Call of Duty” has recently felt stagnant on the creative front. Sure, certain things have
been changed and rearranged, but for the most part each game has felt identical. Not that a massive overhaul is needed, but some spark of creativity or inventiveness would be a nice change for the series. Activision alone cannot be blamed as the only publisher to follow this model. The “Assassin’s Creed” series has moved toward annualized installments, and I feel that it has harmed the series as a whole. The “Assassin’s Creed 3” storyline felt disjointed and didn’t really follow the narrative arc of the past games. Likewise, “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag,” which came out a year later, almost felt like a different series completely. Rather than feeling like the natural progression the series would have taken, the annualizing of the series feels more like a cash grab. While the annualizing of video game series certainly makes sense in a short-term business plan, I think that it will ultimately be more harmful to the industry, resulting in a flooded market with very similar games and little creativity.
organization’s Atlanta office, is working with Bama Students for Life to discuss legal options if the University does not satisfy the requests in the letter. “Our hope is, of course, that The University of Alabama will do the right thing and allow Bama Students for Life to have their display up again and then take some steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Sharp said. “That’s what we’re hoping will happen, and then you know, if Alabama refuses to do that, refuses to treat Bama Students for Life the same as any other group, then we’ll go from there and decide what next steps to take.” The University has received criticism in the past for what some have called restrictions against students’ right to free speech. Recently, the University was included on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s list of “The 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech.” The designation was in part due to the restrictions to assembling and protesting on campus as part of the UA grounds use policy. The policy requires groups to apply for a permit if they wish
to assemble for a protest or host an event on any area of the campus. The University does not have any free speech zones on campus where students can assemble without having to apply for permits, Andreen said. “Rather than ‘free speech zones,’ UA’s decisions regarding requests to use our grounds and facilities are based on reasonable time, place and manner considerations,” Andreen said. “The grounds use permit process is one of the tools UA uses to gather information prior to a proposed event so that UA can make appropriate decisions regarding the reasonable time, place and manner considerations applicable to the proposed event.” Andreen said the grounds use policy is used to prevent disruption to the daily operations of the University and the education and safety of students. “The University regularly reviews the grounds use policy to be sure that it continues to meet our needs,” Andreen said. Sharp said he does not think the policy regarding display case use had any concerning restrictions, but the problems
arose in staff members’ misunderstanding about the policy with regards to content. “The only restrictions I saw in there is that it can be something that’s flammable, you know, more of a real safety issue, something that’s going to harm the building,” Sharp said. “So there were no restrictions on the type of content anywhere in there, but our concern is when you’ve got obviously a University official that thinks, according to her statements, that the policy prohibits offensive speech. In my view, I think it would be wise for the University to take steps to put something in there specifically directing its staff that they will not discriminate based upon the content or the viewpoint of the message in the display.” Mahoney, the campus advisor for Students for Life of America, will be coming down from Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. He is an anti-abortion activist who was arrested twice in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics for protesting the right to public displays of religion. Mahoney will speak at the Wednesday night meeting in 107 ten Hoor at 7 p.m.
Auburn Arena has 2nd-best attendance
The Crimson Tide faced some adversity right off the bat. Freshman Aja Sims couldn’t get up on one of her handstands on uneven bars, but the team finished strong behind her. Sims bounced back with a 9.875 on floor and 9.925 on beam. “When she made that mistake on bars, I went over to her, and I said, ‘They got your back,’” Patterson said. Alabama also had the help of some of its own fans. The meet garnered an attendance of 7,123, the second-best for a gymnastics meet in Auburn Arena’s history. Part of that was a small yet vocal Alabama section, bussed down courtesy of the UA gymnastics booster club. “I loved the energy. It’s so loud,” Sims said. “Even though we’re not at home, we
still had a lot of good people from home that could cheer us on.” However, it started with teams trading the smallest lead possible. The Tigers took a .025 lead after the first rotation, with just sophomore Amanda Jetter cracking the 9.9 mark on uneven bars. On the next rotation, the Tigers’ first four bar routines set or tied careerhighs for their gymnasts, but Alabama countered by tying its season-high score on vault to take the .025 lead back for itself. Alabama extended its lead in the third rotation to give it some breathing room. Jacob led the way with a 9.95 and DeMeo was right behind her with a 9.925. Every gymnast scored at least a 9.8. The Crimson Tide closed with a season-high 49.325.
GYMNASTICS FROM PAGE 1
we did. Each event, we built on it, and that’s what helped us.” Patterson didn’t hold back on Friday in regard to her lineup. She put DeMeo, fellow senior Kim Jacob and freshman Katie Bailey on the allaround. DeMeo responded by winning the all-around with a career-high 39.5. Alabama’s 197.5 tied its season-high from last week’s meet against Georgia. “The performance was better,” Patterson said. “I thought we were better on bars, our routines were. I’m not talking scores, I’m talking performance. All the things that we worked on this past week in the gym, the ladies did it.”
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Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S TENNIS
UA Athletics Freshman forward Ashley Williams scored 19 points in the Crimson Tide’s loss to Texas A&M.
CW | Austin Bigoney The No. 16-ranked Crimson Tide women’s tennis team defeated No. 10 Virginia at home.
Aggies blast Alabama Women’s tennis defeats on home court, 71-46 Cavaliers in final match By Caroline Gazzara | Contributing Writer
By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter An anemic shooting performance by Alabama (11-14, 4-8) conceded the team’s second loss this season to the No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies (20-6, 10-2) in Foster Auditorium on Sunday. The Alabama women’s basketball team lost to the Aggies, 71-46. The point total was the second-lowest for the Crimson Tide this season, save for the 39-point effort against Auburn on Jan. 16. Freshman Ashley Williams led all players with 19 points and nine rebounds, going 6-of11 from the field. Daisha Simmons was second on the team with 10 points, despite fouling out with 2:32 to go. Aggie coach Gary Blair, who coached his team to the 2011 NCAA Championship, praised Williams’ play in particular after the game. “Williams is a heck of a recruit,” Blair said. “She’s definitely one of the top-five recruits in the league.” Alabama was 0-7 on three-pointers in the first half as the Aggies’ zone dared the Crimson Tide to shoot long jumpers. Open shots were plentiful, but Simmons (0-4) and Sharin Rivers (0-3) were unable to knock one down in the first 20 minutes. For the game, the Crimson Tide went 1-13 from behind the arc, with Simmons and Rivers finishing a cold 0-5 from deep. Shafontaye Myers’ three with 1:37 to go was the only made by the Crimson Tide and her only points that afternoon. “You cannot come out and shoot the ball from the foul line and the perimeter the way we did and have an opportunity to be successful,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. Texas A&M shot just over 53 percent from the field, while Alabama finished at a 28.6 percent shooting mark.
The Crimson Tide kept it close early, holding Texas A&M to a slim 10-9 lead. Midway through the first half, the Aggies broke through for a 7-0 run, widening their lead. Over the next several minutes, Texas A&M would go on a 17-5 run and settle into a 37-22 halftime lead. Forward Nikki Hegstetter was on a tear early, scoring seven of the team’s first nine points. However, the field would not be kind to the Crimson Tide for much of the rest of the first half, as Hegstetter finished with nine points. “We just had a scoring drought, and it’s just one of those nights,” Hegstetter said. “We had good shots, and we had good looks. They just couldn’t throw it in.” Overall, the Aggies outscored the Crimson Tide 44-26 in the paint. Alabama switched between man and zone throughout the afternoon but did not have an answer for the Aggies’ inside game. As in the Arkansas game Thursday, the Crimson Tide struggled with turnovers, surrendering 17 possessions, which the Aggies turned into 12 points. “It was a credit to their defense, but also our lack of awareness, I think would be the best way to say it,” Hegstetter said of the turnovers. The bench points were heavily tilted in the Aggies’ favor as well. The Crimson Tide’s reserves went scoreless, while Texas A&M scored 14 points off the bench. With four games left in the regular season, Alabama must win out in order to have a winning season, which hasn’t happened since the 2010-11 season, when the team compiled an 18-15 record. The Crimson Tide will next face Mississippi State on Thursday and then travel to Vanderbilt and Auburn before the final regular season game against LSU at home on March 2.
SPORTSIN BRIEF UA softball team gets blown out by Arizona The University of Alabama softball team started its stretch of games off strong in the Hillenbrand Invitational, going 3-0 in its first three contests in the weekend tournament held in Tucson, Ariz. The Crimson Tide defeated Grand Canyon 13-5 and Tennessee State 12-0 on Friday, Feb. 14 and downed New Mexico 9-1 on Saturday. The Tide faced its first ranked opponent in the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats on both Saturday night and Sunday at noon. The Wildcats handed Alabama its first loss of the season 3-0 on Saturday and ousted the Crimson Tide 8-0 on Sunday. The UA softball team now holds an 8-2 overall record heading into its Easton Bama Bash tournament in Tuscaloosa this coming weekend, as it hosts Virginia Tech, UCF and McNeese State. Compiled by Charlie Potter
With the team score tied 3-3, it came down to junior Emily Zabor to finish the match. Tied in the third set, Zabor and her opponent volleyed back and forth, unable to get a firm lead. As the crowd got quiet, Zabor kept pumping herself up with inspirational thoughts. “I just kept telling myself, ‘You can do this. I believe in you,’” Zabor said. “And then technical stuff – good feet and swing through. I think it’s really hard in situations like that, when you’re the last person on the court and you might’ve been down … Tennis is such a mental game that stuff, negative things, can creep in really easily.” One quick serve and the match was over. The No. 16 Crimson Tide upset No. 10 Virginia 4-3 on Saturday at the Baumgartner Indoor Tennis Facility. Alabama (5-2) faced Virginia a week ago but lost 4-1. Compared to last weekend in Virginia, Alabama came out fast and made each point count. The Crimson Tide won the doubles point quickly, then finished two singles matches. Alabama was up 3-0 before Virginia caught momentum. Coach Jenny Mainz said the lead didn’t mean much because she wanted her team to keep fighting. “It’s deceiving. The match score can be very deceiving,” Mainz said. “We won the doubles
point in a very well-fought doubles point. I thought we executed really well, did a very good job of finishing. We didn’t get sloppy, and that gave us momentum, and [we] stepped it up big time. “I thought we did a really good job at just staying the course, not getting too excitable. After we won the doubles, I said it’s 0-0. They’re a really good team, well-coached. … We knew it was going to be a very close, hard-fought match.” Conceding one point early in the singles matches, three players were still battling: Maya Jansen, Erin Routliffe and Zabor. Routliffe fell first, while Jansen and Zabor battled on. Jansen struggled to control the court and left Zabor the last one standing. “I knew my game plan in the first set, and I executed it. But I went away from it and started to get frustrated,” Jansen said. “I knew what I was supposed to do, but I wasn’t doing it. I wasn’t getting frustrated with my shot selection, but the fact that I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing.” Zabor said it wasn’t her win, but it was an “Alabama win.” “If we put the work in, it’s going to pay off,” Zabor said. “I think it’s sometimes hard to see tangible results, but getting the win this weekend really helped us. As a team, we can beat anybody.”
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BASEBALL
CW | Lindsey Leonard The Alabama baseball team scored seven runs in the seventh inning Sunday to win the weekend series against Saint Louis.
Tide claims season-opening series against Saint Louis By Elliott Propes | Contributing Writer After one-run games on Friday and Saturday, the No. 21 Alabama baseball team looked like it was going to be in another late-inning game until the seventh inning Sunday. Alabama scored seven runs in that inning and took control of the game to earn a 9-3 win, taking the season opening series over Saint Louis. “We needed it big,” sophomore Chance Vincent said. “We lost Friday, but we bounced back Saturday and Sunday.” Senior Austin Smith drove a single through the center of the diamond for Alabama’s first two runs. The two-run lead did not last long though. Saint Louis put two runs of its own on the board in the next inning. Alabama starter Ray Castillo was taken out quickly after three innings of work and replaced by sophomore Jon Keller. He recorded four scoreless innings, giving up one hit in the process. “The key to the game was Jonathan Keller coming out of the pen,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard. “He did a great job
and settled things down.” Zach Girrens came in for Saint Louis starter Josh Moore after five innings. He hit two batters to start the seventh inning and then gave up a two-run double to Vincent. He hit one more batter and was pulled. For Vincent, they were his first two RBIs of the season. “It felt good,” Vincent said. “I put a good swing on it.” Vincent’s double was just the start of a huge inning. The Crimson Tide batted around and scored a total of seven runs. Junior Ben Moore, sophomore Kyle Overstreet and senior Austen Smith all joined the party with RBIs of their own. “It gave us confidence,” Vincent said. “We came as [a] team and put good swings on everything.” The last time Alabama scored seven or more runs in an inning was 44 games ago on March 19, 2013, at Samford in a 15-7 win. The offensive explosion was the first offensive burst of the series. Friday, Alabama lost 2-1 when an hour-and-45-minute rain delay took all the momentum away from Alabama. The Tide claimed revenge Saturday. It was another nail
SPORTSIN BRIEF Men’s basketball team falls to South Carolina The Alabama men’s basketball team lost on the road Saturday to South Carolina, 67-66. The Crimson Tide is 0-8 in road games. Senior guard Trevor Releford led all scorers with 27 points. Alabama is now 10-15 overall and 4-8 in Southeastern Conference play. The UA basketball team’s next game is another road game at Texas A&M on Thursday.
Batson wins 200-meter for UA track and field Senior Diondre Batson won the 200-meter dash at the Tyson Invitational, hosted by the University of Arkansas, over the weekend. Alabama’s track and field teams won three events and saw several top-ten finishes against a field consisting of teams from the SEC and Big 12. The Crimson Tide will next compete at College Station, Texas, on Feb. 27 for the SEC Indoor Championships. Compiled by Charlie Potter
biter and wasn’t decided until the bottom of the ninth when Wade Wass hit a walk-off single. The bullpen was a big part of success for Alabama this weekend. The bullpen pitched 17 innings and gave up only one run. Keller, freshman Nick Eicholtz and freshman Geoffrey Bramblett all pitched three or more innings in relief. “We have some really good arms in there,” Keller said. “The bullpen is one of the strengths of our team.” The team struggled with offense and starting pitching. Starting pitchers gave up seven earned runs in 10 innings of work over the weekend. Besides the seventh inning in Sunday’s game, the offense scored just five runs. The offense Sunday also benefited from walks and hit batters. The Crimson Tide only recorded five hits but had nine runs. “Overall as a weekend, we got better,” Gaspard said. “But there is certainly plenty we can improve on.” The next time Alabama takes the field will be next weekend. Alabama will host Stephan F. Austin for a three-game series in Tuscaloosa. First pitch for Friday is set for 6:05 p.m.
COLUMN | NBA
NBA needs to return to basics with annual slam dunk contest By Matthew Wilson | Contributing Writer
Saturday night, John Wall, the Washington Wizards point guard, took home the coveted prize of All-Star in Saturday’s dunk contest. On his first attempt, Wall effortlessly grabbed the ball from the outstretched hands of G-man, his team’s mascot, while leap-frogging over him to slam the ball into the hoop in a reverse dunk. This dunk easily made him a clear winner in a night that was plagued by mixed reception of the event, from both fans and certain players alike. During a moment like Wall’s dunk, it’s easy to forget the backlash from fans over the NBA’s formatting choices for the contest. The crowd went wild, cheered, and yelled at the spectacle they had just seen. In hindsight, the dunk was a highlight in an otherwise lackluster night. The NBA decided to include a team concept that grouped the dunkers by their conference. The team of East dunkers consisted of Wall, Indiana’s Paul George and Toronto’s Terrence Ross, who faced off against the West team, composed of Golden State’s Harrison Barnes, Sacramento’s Ben McLemore and Portland’s Damian Lillard. The East, led by Wall, ultimately won, and some fans were left feeling confused. Some critics have compared the first part of team dunking to synchronized swimming. Others complained about the judging process that felt like it was copied from a reality show such as American Idol. A general census seems to be that the gimmicks imposed by the NBA detracted from the point of the contest, which is watching the best dunkers in the NBA square off. Others felt the new format didn’t allow a buildup of tension and excitement toward
Both the fans and the NBA seem to be chasing the ghost of the slam dunk contest of yesteryear.
an explosive finale like the old format allowed. The opening freelance segment lacked the excitement that it needed or should have had. While a couple dunks, such as the aforementioned one by Walls, elicited some reaction from the crowd, the event came off as lackluster and underwhelming. While the NBA deciding to shake things up and change the format can certainly be appreciated, its overall efforts were seen as negative and detracted from what might have been an even more explosive night. In retrospect, both the fans and the NBA seem to be chasing the ghost of the slam dunk contest of yesteryear. The NBA has employed several gimmicks over the years to try and recapture its former glory. Fans hold such events to the standards of their predecessor, and the whole event has fallen stagnant. If the NBA wants to improve the event, it should strip the slam dunk contest back down to its purity and focus on the actual dunks like Wall’s Dunk of the Night.
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Submitted Alana Nichols, a 2008 UA alumnus, played for the University’s wheelchair basketball team and will compete with the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Alpine Skiing team March 7-16.
Paralympic skier prepares for Sochi competition By Kelly Ward | Staff Reporter Her story doesn’t start with what people thought was a career-ending injury at 17. It doesn’t start with a dislocated shoulder the summer before Sochi. Those are only pieces of her story. Alana Nichols has won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. She is the first American woman to win a gold in both the summer and winter games. She’s been to three games and served as an alternate in another. She’s also a Paralympic athlete. She wasn’t always a Paralympic champion. A snowboarding accident at 17 left her paralyzed from the waist down, but it didn’t stop her from competing. “The first two years after my accident, I was really – I guess the word would be really hesitant – to get back into life, Nichols said. “And once I learned about wheelchair basketball and the possibilities of playing for a team and being an athlete all my life – I was really lost without sports – so when I found out about wheelchair basketball and all the potential I had there, it kind of changed my attitude about life in general.” Two years after the accident, Nichols bought a truck. It didn’t have any hand controls. She didn’t know how to drive with hand controls at the time. But two years after the accident while attending the University of New Mexico, she decided she needed to drive. “She just came out of the blue and said she was going to get a car, but she actually ended up getting a truck, but for her, it was just a thing that needed to happen, and she found a way,”
Nichols’s older sister Jovan Heusser said. She did eventually put the hand controls in before she transferred to the University of Arizona to play wheelchair basketball. “I’ve always been a risk taker, and I was just kind of throwing caution to the wind in a lot of way,” Nichols said. “So I basically just went and bought the first truck I found – it was like $2,000 – and I hadn’t even learned how to drive with hand controls, but I got some [controls] put in and drove out to the University of Arizona that following week and started an entirely different life there and started playing basketball and going to school,” . Heusser said she was confused when Nichols transferred because she didn’t see the grand plan and the success she would have. “The really interesting thing about Alana is that she’s got this vision where she can see kind of beyond practicality,” Heusser said. “You know, for me, it didn’t make sense to me that she would stop going to UNM when she was in the middle of getting a degree so she could go and pursue adaptive sports, but she has this vision that she can pass all that. So I don’t think any of us ever thought that this would happen. I don’t think Alana ever thought that it wouldn’t. I think that’s why she made all of those decisions.” After the University of Arizona, she played at The University of Alabama, but she wasn’t sure about Tuscaloosa initially. “I really feel like my life has been defined by the risks that I have taken both good and bad, and moving to Arizona from New Mexico is one of the biggest risks but also one of the most fruitful decisions that I’ve ever made,” Nichols said. “And moving from the University
of Arizona to Alabama, even though I thought to myself, ‘Alabama of all places, why would I go there?’ I just had no idea what it would be like, and it turned out to be a great decision as well.” She played for the wheelchair basketball team until 2008 when she graduated with a master’s degree in kinesiology. In 2008 she also had her Paralympic debut with the U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team in Beijing. The team took home gold. Nichols wasn’t done winning gold. She moved from wheelchair basketball to alpine skiing. Her sister said she wasn’t surprised by the switch. “You know, probably towards the end of her masters degree, I could kind of see her getting more interested in skiing, not necessarily more than basketball, but more than she had been since her injury,” Heusser said. “When she would come home to visit us in Albuquerque, she would go to the mountain at Santa Fe, N.M., … and they have an adaptive sports program there. And so I could kind of tell that when she was home in the winter time, she wanted to ski, and I kind of thought that might be a next thing for her.” At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, she took home two golds, a silver and a bronze medal. Her golds were in the downhill and the giant slalom. She earned her silver and bronze medals in the super-G and the super combined, respectively. Everything was set for Sochi until she dislocated her shoulder in June. “You can imagine that was the last thing I wanted to do being an Olympic year, and I can’t even describe the amount of pain I had to go through because of a dislocated shoulder, but I was really lucky to have surgery and do my
rehab at the Olympic Training Center,” Nichols said. “I got treatment every day, twice a day, and they got me back on the mountain in November, not even five months later, so pretty amazing to have been able to work with those people.” It’s not necessarily where she wanted to be going into Sochi, but she said she feels like she is in good shape despite not having the mileage on the mountain that she wants. “It’s been more difficult for her because she has to be sure that she doesn’t damage her arm again, but I think she’s very anxious to get going into competition,” her grandmother Joan Vilven said. “She realizes that she has more people that will be competing against her, that maybe will be more difficult than it was in 2010.” Skiing fast is something of a forte for Nichols. She’s been clocked going as fast as 65 mph but said she thinks she’s skied faster. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, and I really do love to go fast,” Nichols said. “It’s something that I was born with I think, and that’s part of it. It’s part of why I really love to do what I do is the thrill of it, but also part of it is just pushing the boundaries and seeing what I’m capable of.” Nichols was named to the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team on Feb. 5. Coming into Sochi with four medals from Vancouver has put a target on Nichols’s back. “I don’t like to say that I’m not defending my gold medals from Vancouver because those will always be mine, but I definitely have a big target on my back from people that absolutely want to beat me. That’s neither here nor there, though.I’m just going to ski as fast as I can,” Nichols said. And if she repeats her gold medals, that’s just icing on the cake.
Monday, February 17, 2014
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