MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 91 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
CULTURE | CAMPUS DINING
The soda wars: Pepsi vs. Coke
University holds contract with Buffalo Rock for dining halls, Pepsi dominant option on campus By Tara Massouleh | Staff Reporter he war between Coke and Pepsi has been raging since the two products were created in the latter half of the 19th century and continues to be hotly debated by consumers today. However, for The University of Alabama, the dispute between Coke and Pepsi was settled in May 2008 when the University signed a contract with Buffalo Rock, effectively securing Pepsi as the dominant soft drink on campus. As part of the contract, all UA vending machines, selling both drinks and snacks, are restricted solely to Buffalo Rock products. The contract does allow alternate soft drink fountains in places where there is more than one fountain available for use. “Although the contract gives Pepsi preference, UA wanted to give customers in dining halls and retail locations a choice in soft drink purchase,” said Shirley Darr, Although the contract gives assistant director of auxiliary services. This adds up to a 2:1 ratio of Buffalo Pepsi preference, UA wanted Rock to Coca-Cola fountains in Lakeside to give customers in dining Dining, a 3:1 ratio in Fresh Food Company, a 3:1 ratio in Burke Dining, a 1:1 ratio halls and retail locations a in Bryant Dining and a 2:1 ratio in the choice in soft drink purchase. Ferguson Center food court. Alex Jones, a sophomore majoring in marketing and advertising, said she pre— Shirley Darr fers Coke to Pepsi and always goes that extra step to get Diet Coke from the less prevalent Coke fountains. Jones said she proved her allegiance to Coke by taking the Pepsi challenge, a blind taste-test conducted by Pepsi’s marketing meant to prove people prefer the taste of Pepsi to the taste of Coke. “I took the test three times at Taste of Chicago last summer, and I correctly chose Coke all three times,” she said. Other students, such as Katharine Buckley, a junior majoring in studio art, support the University’s contract with Buffalo Rock because they prefer Pepsi to Coke.
T
The ratio of Pepsi to Coke in UA dining halls:
Pepsi
Coca-Cola
2:1 3:1 1:1 2:1
Lakeside Dining
Burke Dining
Bryant Dining
Ferguson Center Food Court
79,726,876 2,324,371
31,497,373 2,479,518
SEE PEPSI PAGE 8
CW | Belle Newby; Information obtained Sunday, Feb. 23
TODAYON CAMPUS Art scene WHAT: “Suspension” Art Exhibit Opening WHEN: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Exhibit, Woods Hall
NEWS | LECTURE
St. John speaks on Saban profile New York author explains experience reporting for GQ By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter
Campus theater WHAT: William Inge’s “Picnic” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Marian Galloway Theatre, RowandJohnson Hall
Student government WHAT: Free Coffee and Doughnuts with SGA WHEN: 8-10 p.m. WHERE: Bruno Library
Warren St. John left Birmingham to attend Columbia University in New York City, but that hasn’t stopped him from returning to Alabama. “You get something from leaving and coming back. There are a lot of amazing stories right in front of you,” St. John told a group of about 200 students in Reese Phifer Hall Thursday night. St. John, a Birmingham native and former New York Times reporter, gave a behind the scenes look at his research and writing process on his recent profile of Nick Saban, published in GQ magazine. “The most fun thing about journalism is the excuse it gives you to learn,” St. John
The most fun thing about journalism is the excuse it gives you to learn. — Warren St. John said. “You can learn your way out of any situation. I like to be thrown into something new over and over again.” It is this curiosity that drove St. John to go beyond the stoic post-game reactions and temperamental press conferences to
investigate the real Nick Saban. St. John spent almost three weeks trying to get an interview with the coach but found it difficult to get Saban to open up. So he let other people say what Saban wouldn’t. He interviewed friends, family, Saban’s long-time golf buddy and his work associates. After days of following Saban around, St. John was eventually able to make a connection with the coach over a shared taste in music. He said the “small human moments” that occurred outside the office provided the most interesting and compelling details in the story. St. John went on to discuss his writing process, telling students to embrace free writing in order to remove the pressure of self-judgment. He said the hardest part of writing anything is sitting down and starting to write. He suggested students write SEE ST. JOHN PAGE 8
SPORTS | BASKETBALL
Randolph secures victory over Mizzou
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WEATHER
Levi Randolph’s name echoed throughout Coleman Coliseum more than ever Saturday night. The junior guard scored a career-best 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 on three-point attempts. He set career highs in three-point attempts, field goals made and field goals attempted. “Coach [Anthony Grant] always tells us to be aggressive and play with confidence, take open shots when they’re there,” Randolph said. “When we swing the ball around and a shot comes, you’ve got to be ready to take it.”
tonight,” Grant said. “He gave our team great energy, great lift. It’s great to see him come out and play with that type of confidence.” Collectively, the Crimson Tide shot the ball well, hitting 57 percent (27-of-47) of its shots from the field and 48 percent (10-of21) from beyond the three-point line. Alabama also took advantage of Missouri’s mistakes, scoring 19 points off 16 turnovers. “I thought Alabama played with a lot more passion, a lot more toughness than we did,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said. “We didn’t defend at all.” Senior guard Trevor Releford was the only other Alabama player to score in double digits. Releford tallied 18 points on 7-of-12
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By Charlie Potter | Assistant Sports Editor
Randolph’s efforts helped the Alabama men’s basketball team to an 80-73 victory over the Missouri Tigers, increasing its record to 11-16 on the season and 5-9 in the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide walked out of its ALABAMA home arena with a much-needed win after falling flat on the road against MISSOURI Texas A&M 63-4, Thursday. Thanks to Randolph’s hot hand, the Alabama players walked off the court with broad smiles stretched across their faces. “I thought [Levi] was tremendous
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Tide junior guard sets new career high with 33 points
THE CRIMSON WHITE UNVEILS OPEN RECORDS REQUEST SYSTEM ON PAGE 2 AND DETAILS REASONS FOR INITIATIVE ON PAGE 4.
editor@cw.ua.edu
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CAMPUSBRIEFS
Monday February 24, 2014
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State of the Black Union Tuesday The University of Alabama Black Student Union will host its State of the Black Union address Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the ten Hoor Hall auditorium. The event will focus on challenges facing the black community at the University. Utz McKnight, chair of the department of gender and race studies and associate professor of political studies, will be the keynote speaker at the address. For more information about the address, contact Alvin Lockett at allockett@crimson.ua.edu.
SCENEON CAMPUS
Undecided advising available Freshmen and students who are undecided on their majors can attend an express advising session from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday in 205 Gorgas Library. Students will be able to meet with advisors to have their Summer and Fall 2014 schedules approved and the hold on their registration lifted. Students are asked to come prepared with a tentative class schedule and any questions they might have. For more information, contact Nancy Shockley at nancy.shockley@ua.edu or (205) 348-9171.
Faculty to discuss study abroad A study abroad interest night will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday in the first floor classroom of Ridgecrest South. Faculty members will discuss the different aspects of each faculty-led program they organize and will be available to answer any questions students might have. Snacks will also be available for attendees. For more information, contact Gianna Ceophas at gnceophas@ crimson.ua.edu or (205) 580-5854.
UA Away applications due The UA Away scholarship application for May Interim, summer and fall trips is available online through March 1. The scholarship funds students to be able to study, work or serve abroad. Both domestic and international programs are applicable, and awards are based on need. For more information, contact Mollie Landers at mslanders@sa.ua.edu. Compiled by Andy McWhorter
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
CW | Lindsey Leonard Students Jenny Sears, Grace Hagedorn, Jim Bedsole, and Grant Hagedorn study for midterm exams at the Ferguson Center Plaza Sunday.
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
TODAY WHAT: “Suspension” Art Exhibit Opening WHEN: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Exhibit, Woods Hall WHAT: Multiple Abilities Program Info Session WHEN: 4 p.m. WHERE: 214 Graves Hall WHAT: William Inge’s ‘Picnic’ WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Marian Galloway Theatre, RowandJohnson Hall
WHAT: FYE Meet and Eat WHEN: 12:30-2 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
WHAT: Memory Techniques Workshop WHEN: 4 p.m. WHERE: 230 Osband Hall
WHAT: Sue Rankin on Queer Theory and Identity Development WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: 328 Graves Hall
WHAT: Ladies Night with DJ Proto J WHEN: 4 p.m. WHERE: Rhythm & Brews
WHAT: Student Recital: Sandy Draper, soprano WHEN: 4 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building Recital Hall
WHAT: Stormy Weather: The Influence of Campus Climate on Building Inclusive Communities WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 222 Lloyd Hall
WHAT: Defining Myself for Myself: Perceptions of Black Femininity WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
WHAT: Models and Bottles Party WHEN: 9 p.m. WHERE: 4th and 23rd
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
Mazie Bryant editor@cw.ua.edu
managing editor
Lauren Ferguson
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The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 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
Sloppy Joe Chicken Fajita Pizza Garlic Potato Chips Steamed Broccoli Florets Barley and Vegetable Ragout
LAKESIDE DINNER
Country-Style Meatloaf with Country Gravy Chicken Fajita Pizza Cheese Pizza Delmonico Potatoes Steamed Brussel Sprouts
LUNCH
DINNER
Kung Pao Pork Pot Roast with Tomato Brown Rice Gravy Steamed Yellow Squash Bacon Tomato and Mushroom and Onion Cheese Sandwich Quesadilla Creamy Mashed Mu Shu Tofu Potatoes Carrots Broccoli and Mushroom Quiche
OPENRECORDS REQUESTS “Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.” From statute 36.12.40 of the Code of Alabama
“The term ‘public records’ shall include all written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer.” From statute 41.13.1 of the Code of Alabama
WHAT WE REQUESTED: All receipts (airplane ticket and car rental) and travel vouchers for the four members of the executive branch and their advisor who are attending the SEC Exchange at the University of Missouri. Copies of all emails between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, 2014 addressed to and/or from SGA President Jimmy Taylor, Chief of Staff Brennan Johnson, Vice President of Financial Affairs Chris Willis and/or Program Assistant/Office Manager Carolyn Fulmer containing the words “Missouri” and/or “ticket.” WHO REQUESTED IT: Mackenzie Brown FROM WHOM WE REQUESTED IT: Leela Foley, SGA director of media relations WHEN WE REQUESTED IT: Jan. 15, 2014 STATUS: Filled Jan. 23, 2014 WHAT WE REQUESTED: List of applicants considered for vice chancellor of government relations, email correspondence between Judy Bonner and Robert Witt correlated to ‘vice chancellor for government relations’ and ‘Jo Bonner’ between April 1 and July 31, 2013. WHO REQUESTED IT: Lauren Ferguson FROM WHOM WE REQUESTED IT: Kellee Reinhart, vice chancellor for System Relations WHEN WE REQUESTED IT: Feb. 10, 2014 STATUS: Pending
FRESH FOOD LUNCH
Rigatoni and Meatball Casserole Bistro Chicken Sandwich Brussel Sprouts Garlic Toast Vegetable Enchilada
IN THENEWS Americans exercise less each day “We’ve engineered physical activity out of our Americans are stuck in daily lives and that’s causing chairs and on the couch, the health disparities that spending eight hours a day we have in this country,” with their metabolic engines said the study’s lead author, barely idling, according to Edward C. Archer, a data from sensors that nutrition and obesity scientists put on nearly researcher at the University 2,600 people to see what of Alabama at Birmingham. they actually did all day. The data part of a study The results were not testing whether an indirect encouraging: Obese women measure of energy averaged 11 seconds a day expenditure, based on at vigorous exercise, while metabolism of water, stood men and women of normal up to other measurements weight exercised vigorously in the field – or on the couch, (on the level of a jog or brisk as it turns out. uphill hike) for less than two It did, and depressingly minutes a day, according to so. For the obese, the study the study published in Mayo confirms what has been Clinic Proceedings. known for some time – they If you included moderate are stuck in a “vicious cycle” exercise, such as yoga or of inactivity and weight gain, golf, people of normal said Archer. weight logged about 2.5 to 4 Although socioeconomic hours weekly, according to data were not included in the data. In part, that’s good the paper, previous news: Federal recom- research has shown that mendations for adults l o w - i n c o m e people, include 2.5 hours of particularly single mothers, moderate-intensity aerobic are most likely to fall into a activity coupled with low-exercise lifestyle. muscle-strengthening Studies have shown that exercise. maternal obesity leads to Still, the data sketch a obesity in children, he nearly supine population noted. But the lifestyle of all profile, with days marked by children could use some long hours of sedentary changes, to keep the cycle behavior, particularly for of inactivity and obesity those who are overweight from perpetuating itself, he or obese. added. From MCT Campus
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Monday, February 24, 2014
NEWSIN BRIEF WRC hosts talk on black femininity The Women’s Resource Center and the department of gender and race studies will present a lecture titled “Defining Myself for Myself: Perceptions of Black Femininities” on Tuesday. The event will focus on issues of typecasting and is part of the African-American Heritage Month events. The lecture will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in 205 Gorgas. For more information, contact Eric Patterson, wrcgrad3@sa.ua. edu, 205-348-5040.
Business competition to hold finals The finals for the Edward K. Aldag Jr. $50,000 Business Plan Competition will take place Thursday at The Edge. The competition hosted by the Culverhouse College of Commerce gives students an opportunity to compete for funding for their business startup ideas. Those proceeding to the final round are required to participate in a 10-minute mentoring session and a 15-minute pitch prior to the live finale. Three students will be chosen, with the winning business plans recieving startup funding and in-kind services. The competition is made possible by the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Culverhouse alumnus Edward K. Aldag Jr., founder and CEO of Medical Properties Trust, Birmingham. For more information visit mycba.ua.edu/businessplan. Compiled by Mark Hammontree
525 GREENSBORO AVE. DOWNTOWN 752-6931 www.TheShirtShop.biz
STORE HOURS: MON. - FRI. 7-6PM SAT. 9-5PM
Submitted The second phase of the three-phase cleanup period brings 37 students to Lake Tuscaloosa, keeping shores trash-free.
Students help with lake cleanup By Greg Ward | Contributing Writer University of Alabama students, professors and a few Tuscaloosa city workers spent five hours cleaning up Lake Tuscaloosa’s shores Friday, Feb. 21. Mary Pitts, professor and director of undergraduate studies in the geography department, helped organize the event. She said the cleanup is funded by a grant under the Clearwater Act. This is the cleanup’s second year, making it phase two of a three-phase period. Pitts said they have seen student interest increase each year. “We’ve had growth and interest in the cleanup every year since it started. The first year we had about 10 students or so, last year we had about 20, and this year we almost doubled it at 37,” Pitts said. “First we opened it up to Club Geography. Then we opened it up the geography and biology department, and we even have some psychology students out here. One thing that is key is I added the clean-up
to SLPro. This way, it just makes things easier for students to log their hours and get credit for the work they do.” Scott Sanderford, Lakes Manager for the city of Tuscaloosa water department, said February is a vital time for a cleanup. “Doing a winter cleanup is a must. It’s the perfect time because we can get students out here, to a private area with no public access, and take them out to different parts of the lake to clean the shores,” Sanderford said. “During February, there is no vegetation starting to grow yet and there is less bugs, snakes and insects getting in the way.” Sanderford, who has worked for the city for seven years, has been working on the Lake Tuscaloosa cleanup for six years. While people in the community were coming out to help clean, Sanderford said he wanted more of a student presence. He said the department wanted a day committed for students to participate in cleanup efforts, so he teamed up with Mary to create the event.
People don’t realize that most trash actually comes from them. — Scott Sanderford
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He said the efforts are twofold. First, he said, is getting young people out to help who really care about the environment and want to make a difference, and the second is generating awareness out about how dirty our lakes and shores can get. “People don’t realize that most trash actually comes from them,” Sanderford said. “It doesn’t come from the boats on the lake or any place like that, most comes from the back of pick-up trucks, roads and from daily life that people just don’t realize. This creates awareness that it’s actually all citizens that create this trash.” In the past six years, Sanderford, along with the Tuscaloosa community and the student community, has picked up more than 80,000 pounds of trash along the shores and that number grows daily. Sophomore Archie Creech, one of the students at the clean-up, said the experience was eye-opening. “It was an incredible experience. My team which was made up of four of us students, filled seven bags of trash in a matter of a few hours,” Creech said. “We only covered a small shore of the lake, and it was kind of disheartening seeing really how much trash is around the lake.”
p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Monday, February 24, 2014
OURVIEW
Transparency is necessary
MCT Campus
COLUMN | SGA ELECTIONS
SGA should include electoral college By Cruise Hall | Staff Columnist Campaign season is upon us, so prepare to be bombarded with quarter sheets and handshakes from kids who know your facebut can’t quite recall your name. Enjoy the jubilee while it lasts, though. A season of post-election grief always follows the disappointing, yet predictable, results. In fact, the tradition of Greek students winning elected office is almost as strong as the tradition of non-Greek students bemoaning the results of the SGA election. Apathetic voters, corrupt fraternity guys and the menacing administration typically bear the blame for spoiling the democratic process. Are they the true culprits, though? We’ve made voting easier than ever and leveled the playing field to a heap of regulatory minutia, yet the Greek voting bloc continues to carry the election year after year. In light of our feeble victory-by-plurality election, we shouldn’t be surprised. The SGA election doesn’t require an executive candidate to win most of the votes, just more than the other guys. With such a low bar for victory, the election becomes a contest to turn out the vote, and social clubs happen to perform exceptionally well at that game.
In essence, the 13 colleges could operate like a system of levees, allowing students to cast their votes in local, autonomous pools.
If we want the SGA election results to reflect the broader interests of campus, we have to design an electoral process that effectively incorporates the diversity of our student body. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, though. The framers of the U.S. Constitution understood how large voting blocs had historically dominated popularvote democracies. To avoid this snare, they crafted the Electoral College system, which effectively balances the diverse interests of the minority against the collective will of the masses. An electoral college system could work here, too. Without picking apart the structural technicalities, it’s easy to see how an electoral college
system would dilute the influence of the Greek voting bloc and incorporate the diversity of the entire student body in the SGA elections. In essence, the 13 colleges could operate like a system of levees, allowing students to cast their votes in local, autonomous pools. If a flood of voters dominates one college, the electoral votes of the remaining 12 colleges would remain insulated from their influence. An electoral college system would drive candidates to adopt new strategies that appeal to colleges, not cliques. As in national races, we could see “battleground colleges” develop as independent candidates, both Greek and non-Greek, gain influence among their academic peers, whose votes carry more weight in smaller pools. In this way, an electoral college system would open new channels for students to express their interests in the SGA election. Any prudent election reform should aim to make the election process meaningful and worthwhile. By driving election politics down to a more local level, an electoral college system would do just that. Cruise Hall is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. His column runs biweekly.
COLUMN | CAMPUS FACILITIES
UA’s quality of life will disappoint graduates By Patrick Crowley | Senior Staff Columnist Since none of my fellow columnists have written about the issue of rapid growth on campus in recent weeks, it is thus incumbent on me to write about how this immense change affects the students at the University. I could complain about the lack of parking spaces, the ever-increasing size of campus buildings and the just plain ridiculousness of getting lunch at the Ferg during the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but those issues have been written about more than Michelle Obama’s arms in national newspapers. Surprisingly few students at The University of Alabama acknowledge just how great their lives are during their tenure here, and even fewer realize that this quality of life will quickly evaporate after graduation. We, as students, will be lucky to have the same housing quality, access to food, social opportunities and avenues for learning at any point later on in our lives. Indeed, part of the allure of attending The University of Alabama, or any university now for that matter, is the world-class facilities. Because when all else fails at recruiting students for academic reasons, we might as well show them the new recreation center and dining halls. Now, the problem is that students
Patrick Crowley become adjusted to such a great standard of living without realizing it. And when the median pay for UA graduates is around $32,000, some students will face abject poverty that the University does not prepare you for. (Note: Different majors and colleges have different incomes, but the median for all UA graduates who secure work is around $32,000.) The question becomes: Is the onus on students or the University to prepare ourselves for a seemingly brutal awakening to postgraduation life? The answer to that question depends on how one views the roles of The University of Alabama and the students that attend the Capstone. Still, The University of Alabama’s
growth model is fundamentally focused on attracting more out-of-state students and slowly increasing the tuition rate for all students. The University is quite apt at strategically targeting students from suburbs of major cities – Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Orlando, etc. – because those students are more than likely able to pay the tuition. So, as the University continues to raise and receive more tuition and issue more debt bonds, the first-class amenities will continue to be built to satisfy the standards of living of students. It’s a pretty vicious cycle if you ask me: We pay more in tuition and fees every year for amenities so the University can recruit more students in the years to come only to raise tuition and fees on these future classes. Welcome to the business of higher education, though, and if you have not noticed, business is booming. The business, however, is based on providing a transient four years of unequal happiness and then quickly letting students go into a nightmare of bills, student loans and low income jobs. Enjoy these four years and relish in the memories because it will all change soon, and so, too, will your standard of living. Patrick Crowley is a junior majoring in mathematics, finance and economics. His column runs weekly.
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
Over the past several years, The University of Alabama has lost sight of the importance of a marketplace of ideas. The University’s actions against both the Alabama Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Justice and Bama Students for Life are indicative of a troubling mentality among the leadership on camIN SHORT: In our pus that disagreement demand for and confrontation are transparency, we, too, things to fear. The must be transparent. University has become a brand, protected by a tight grip on information and a reliance on the student body’s compliance. What has resulted is a calamity of the intellectual possibilities on a college campus. In the past, controversial speakers have visited the University, providing students with a variety of opinions and thoughts to shape their own ideologies they would later take out into the world. Now, we no longer have commencement speakers, and any demonstration a student may want to organize must first be approved well in advance by administrators. The protection of the University brand has left students with the short end of the stick. A culture has been created that discourages questioning and open debate, and students leave campus often blindly following what they are told, accepting the status quo without question. This compliance is unhealthy for our generation. On Oct. 31, 2012, then-President Guy Bailey announced his resignation from his position at the University, only two months after his hiring. Much speculation surrounded the announcement. The Crimson White, sent Deborah Lane, assistant to the president and associate vice president of University Relations, several open records requests: • “access to and a copy of all receipts (including documentation of the date the purchase or order was made) for orders or purchases for/of furniture or decorative items for the President’s Mansion’s private residence made by Guy Bailey, Jan TilleryBailey or any members of the staff provided them by the University to maintain the home between Oct. 1, 2012 and Nov. 1, 2012.” • “access to and a copy of any and all email correspondence between you, Assistant to the President and Assistant Vice President for University Relations Deborah Lane, and Chancellor Robert Witt between Oct. 16, 2012 and Nov. 1, 2012.” • “access to and a copy of all email correspondence between former President Guy Bailey and you, his former chief of staff at UA, between Oct. 16, 2012 and Nov. 1, 2012.” The response from University Relations to all three specific records requests was short: “The University has no public records that are responsive to your request.” A plain reading of this response suggests that Guy Bailey never emailed his own chief of staff, and University relations, which directly works with the University over its image, never contacted Chancellor Witt during the transition. The United States Constitution gives the public the right to free speech and to hold government officials accountable for their actions, and federal law provides for the full or partial disclosure of government documents. Furthermore, on the state level, the Alabama Code Public Records Law gives its citizens the ability to uphold these rights, stating, “Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.” The request for this information is colloquially referred to as a FOIA, derived from the federal Freedom of Information Act. The emails and financial records we requested from the University last fall, including emails between UA officials, fall into this category of public information, and, as such, the public has a right to see them. Yet, our request was essentially ignored by public officials. As a state school, The University of Alabama must comply with these laws. Without our community – students, faculty and staff – demanding accountability, the legal foundations that ensure transparency and public trust are rendered nonexistent. Page 2 of today’s The Crimson White presents a box titled “Open Records Requests,” and The Crimson White website holds a similar page. Spurred by an initiative from The University of Oklahoma’s student newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily, this new system provides details on the information requested, the staff member who requested it, the person the information was requested from, the date it was requested, the status of the request and the reason for the status, if applicable. This box will become a permanent fixture in The Crimson White in order to inform the public of the requests. Quietly requesting information and only hoping to get that information as we have done in the past will no longer satisfy our role as a watchdog of this campus and community. Unmonitored decision-making and unanswered questions will no longer be acceptable. In our demand for University transparency, we, too, must be transparent. By rolling out this new system of records requests, we seek timely University compliance and openness to meet our own. Our View is the consensus of The Crimson White Editorial Board.
Last Week’s Poll: Do you believe the University should have removed the Bama Students for Life poster from the Ferg? (Yes: 50%) (No: 50%) This Week’s Poll: Coke or Pepsi? cw.ua.edu/poll
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Monday, February 24, 2014
The Crimson White staff honored at SEJC
By Chandler Wright | Assistant News Editor
Final Barrier’ and the newspaper’s follow-ups represented the very best in reporting this Staff members of The Crimson White won past year, not only in college journalism, but four first place awards and placed in 12 other far beyond it. What this Crimson White staff categories this weekend at the Southeast has accomplished will be remembered years Journalism Conference in Lafayette, La. from now.” The newspaper won the Best Public Service Additionally, News Editor Mark Hammontree Journalism award, and Abbey Crain was named won a first-place award for Best News Writer, 2013 College Journalist of the Year in the annu- and Photo Editor Austin Bigoney took home al “Best of the South” contest. first place for Best Press Photographer. Crain, a senior majoring in “I am so proud of all of our journalism, was awarded for work that was recognized at her work on the “The Final the Southeast Journalism Barrier,” detailing discrimiConference this past weeknation in the recruitment end,” Mazie Bryant, editor-inprocess of The University of chief of The Crimson White, Alabama’s traditionally white said. “The Crimson White has sororities. had an incredibly strong year “I am honored to have because of the hard work and received this award from determination from every SEJC,” Crain said. “To be conmember of our staff, and I am — Mark Mayfield sidered the top in my field, so pleased to see that people especially by other journalists are taking notice.” across the country, is probThe Crimson White also ably one of the coolest things finished second in the Best that’s ever happened to me.” College Newspaper categoIn conjunction with her award, Crain received ry, among more than 40 member universities a $1,000 cash prize. across the Southeast. The Crimson White’s Best Public Service “I’ve had a chance to see firsthand just Journalism first place award was also for “The how hard The Crimson White journalists Final Barrier.” have worked. They absolutely deserve these “I’m especially thrilled at Abbey Crain’s honors. I’m so proud of them,” Mayfield said. selection as College Journalist of the Year and “The SEJC awards underscore the depth of the at The Crimson White’s first place finish in the newspaper’s coverage, from news, sports and Best Public Service Journalism category,” said culture to photography and design. This is a Mark Mayfield, associate director and editorial strong staff, and I think the wide range of the advisor of the Office of Student Media. “‘The awards they received proves that.”
What this Crimson White staff has accomplished will be remembered years from now.
Submitted Staff members of The Crimson White receive 16 awards at the Southeastern Journalism Conference in Lafayette, La. Friday, Feb. 21.
JOSHUA allows undergrads to publish pre-med work By Emmalee Molay | Contributing Writer Many scientific academic journals are wellknown in the professional research world, but there are fewer options for undergraduate students wishing to get their work published. Started in 2002, The Journal of Science and Health at The University of Alabama, more commonly known as JOSHUA, has grown throughout the years. The journal showcases articles from all areas of science and health, with work from all fields of undergraduate research, in its annual editions. “I view JOSHUA as a means by which students can set themselves apart from the crowd,” Guy Caldwell, professor of biological sciences and faculty advisor for the journal, said. “Every pre-med shadows a doctor, they have a good GPA, they do volunteer work, but not all of them have published a scientific article in a journal.” Caldwell created the journal after he
started a similar one, The Washington and Lee Journal of Science, at his alma mater when he was in college. After becoming faculty advisor of the Honors Biology Club, Caldwell said he thought that would be a good place to start the journal. He said the first couple issues of JOSHUA were heavily biology-based, but the journal now covers a broad spectrum of science and health as more people get involved. Caldwell said one of the big decisions he made early on was to not copyright JOSHUA. Caldwell said he did this so articles in the journal could be expanded and revised in the future. Jonathan Belanich, a senior majoring in biology and anthropology, is the current editor-in-chief. Since Belanich has served for two years, JOSHUA’s next edition, coming out in May, will be his second issue with the journal. “It was overwhelming the first time,” Belanich said. “When the entire thing was
finished, I had the tangible copies, I was like, ‘Wow, I’ve done this completely.’” Belanich said anyone can submit a piece for publication, as long as it is a review or research article pertaining to science or health. Submissions are done online. He said after the deadline, editors sit down for a review process to pick anywhere from seven to 10 articles. The main aim was to make the journal as broad as possible to give all students in these areas the opportunity to publish an article. Belanich said last year, undergraduates from other universities, including Brown and Davidson, submitted articles. After the review process and designing is over, the journal gets sent to the publisher, who prints approximately 1,200 hard copies. Copies of JOSHUA are also available online. “Just the reading of it, it shows what UA undergraduate research and sciences can
do,” Belanich said. “Science and research is all well and good, but if it’s not published, or it’s not out there, then it’s really nothing more than data in a book.” Belanich and his editors do all they can to spread the word about JOSHUA in hopes of encouraging students to submit and get involved. They visit classrooms, professors with labs and speak to the heads of different departments, he said. Paula Adams, a junior majoring in biology and anthropology, is an editor with JOSHUA. She said the publication is beneficial to the University because it’s a way to show high school students who visit a way they could potentially get involved. “It’s just a really great opportunity for undergrads to get published,” Adams said. “This is a way for them to start making a name for themselves.” The deadline to submit for this year’s journal is Friday.
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STUDY ABROAD | CHINA
Trip focuses on media in China By Heather Buchanan | Contributing Writer Students interested in learning more about international communications and media might consider applying for the University’s three-week study abroad program in China, which focuses on Chinese international media. Shuhua Zhou, professor and associate dean of graduate studies in the College of Communication and Information Sciences, led a small group of students on a study abroad trip to China in 2009. He said he hopes to revive the program this summer with 15 spots available. He highlighted the chance to have a rare glimpse into Chinese media, as well as other aspects of the culture. “The program offers unique opportunities to get inside Chinese news media, normally not accessible even to the Chinese,” Zhou said. “Students can talk to producers, reporters, directors and even engineers and get first-hand perspectives. Outside the class activities, they have tons of fun exploring a culture that is so mysterious, rich and fascinating.”
The program is based out of three universities in China: The People’s University in Beijing, Shanghai Jaiotong University in Beijing and Xi’an Jiaotong University in Xi’an. Students take a mass communications course in international media as well as a digital media course relevant to their major. They also have the chance to get a closer look at Chinese media outlets, including China Central Television, the Xinhua News Agency and Sina Corportation, which is a Chinese online media company. Ashley Atwell, who participated in the program in 2009, currently works in digital media for the NBA. The NBA has a partnership with Sina, and Atwell said the early look at the company as well as Chinese culture has given her a leg up in her current position. “On our study abroad trip we visited Sina, so I was familiar with the media company,” Atwell said. “At the NBA, we worked with Sina to build all 30 team sites on their platform in China and are currently working to get all teams on Sina Weibo [similar to Facebook and
Twitter]. It was valuable for me to have visited China and to understand the culture because there are millions of NBA fans there, and it helps me to best serve the fans.” The program also makes time for excursions to many notable Chinese locations, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. Melanie Gray, a 2009 participant, said the trip to the Great Wall was one of her favorite memories. “We met the Harlem Globetrotters on the Great Wall of China,” she said. “They were filming all over the world to advertise their new tour. It was so random, but they climbed the wall with us and taught us some of their tricks.” Gray also praised the program’s destination as a benefit to her recent work in the hospitality industry. “I think China is definitely a less traditional country to choose [for study abroad], but China is going through a major development boom,” Gray said. Photos Courtesy of Melanie Gray Applications for this year’s China As part of the program, UA in China participants visit famous monustudy abroad trip are due March 1. ments like the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China.
SGA meeting discusses worker rights, UA slave memorial By Adam Dodson | Contributing Writer Among the key issues discussed at Thursday’s SGA Senate meeting was the need for The University of Alabama to join the Worker’s Rights Consortium, a formal apology to Auburn University for the nonappearance of SGA to present the ODK Sportsmanship trophy, and an encouragement to create a memorial in honor of the slaves who helped build this university. Out of all the topics discussed, the University’s need to join the Worker’s Rights Consortium dominated most of the conversation. The University of Alabama has grown into one of the largest producers of college apparel, and this increase in production has raised concerns over the ethics in which the apparel is produced. The bill discussed at the meeting
dealt with the University joining the Worker’s Rights Consortium, which would actively monitor all factories that produce Alabama apparel at home and abroad. If any ethical or safety standard is in question or not being met, the WRC would report any wrongdoing to the University immediately. Mark Ortiz, a junior majoring in religious studies, was present at the meeting to lobby for the University to join the WRC. “We need to make sure that the workers in these factories are being treated fairly,” Ortiz said. “Factory collapses have been on the rise recently and we need to protect the workers.” Ortiz’s concerns are justified, as the largest factory collapse in history occurred last year on April 24, 2013. The collapse of a garment
factory in Savar, Bangladesh killed 1,129 people and injured thousands more. Many students have attempted to contact President Judy Bonner about joining the WRC instead of staying with the Fair Labor Association. University of Alabama organization United Students Against Sweatshops brought attention to the Senate for the passing of this bill to encourage President Bonner to join the organization. The resolution was resolved and passed unanimously on the floor. Another important order of business for the Senate was the decision to formally apologize to Auburn University for the non-attendance of SGA at the Alabama-Auburn basketball game. The Foy-ODK Sportsmanship trophy is awarded each year to the winner of the Iron Bowl, and it is tradition for the SGA
president from the losing school to present the trophy at the home basketball game of the winning school. SGA President Jimmy Taylor and other members of SGA did not show up at the game because of the weather. After this, a resolution for the formal apology to Auburn University was discussed and then put on the agenda for the Senate. The resolution passed on the floor unanimously. “The weather wasn’t great, but they could’ve made the trip,” Thomas Yerby, a senator for the Graduate School, said. “It is good showmanship to show that SGA is sorry.” Many students have also been pushing for the erection of a memorial to honor the slaves who helped build and run the school in the belief that the construction of this
memorial would shine a light on the University’s acknowledgement of its past. Supporters said giving credit to the enslaved members would show how far Alabama has come in promoting racial integration. The University of Alabama Faculty Senate has already apologized for the role slavery played in the creation of the University, showing Alabama’s commitment to advancing from the dark past that played a key role in the establishment of this University. The resolution to encourage having a memorial built in the honor of the slaves at The University of Alabama was passed unanimously on the floor. “I would like to think we are very informed,” A.J. James, a senator in Arts and Sciences, said. “Many of the resolutions we pass have a lot of background that go into it.”
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create a sense of mystery and a “journey narrative.” The one element St. John said he felt he didn’t fully explore ST. JOHN FROM PAGE 1 was Saban’s sense of humor. “You’re never really going to an email to themselves to clear get all of someone, and that’s their heads and always going get the writing to haunt you,” process started. he said. In addition to Finally, St. research and Jo h n g ave writing, St. John a dv i c e to also emphasized all aspiring structure. He said writers in the that his Saban audience. piece was some“ W r i t e . what chronologiDon’t wait for cally based on inspiration. the time he spent Don’t wait for in Alabama, but the perfect the piece’s drivassignmen. — Alaina Upman ing force was his Just write. Just personal quest get bylines,” to find out more he said. “Write about Saban. about things He included the details of his that you love and care about.” setbacks and negotiations to Alaina Upman, a freshman
St. John advises young writers to explore topics
The most interesting thing for me was when he said ‘Don’t wait for inspiration ... Just write.’
Vending commissions go to scholarship fund PEPSI FROM PAGE 1
“I grew up drinking Pepsi,” Buckley said. “To me, it tastes better than Coke. It’s more balanced and less sweet. Also, Beyoncé is an endorser of Pepsi, so I can’t argue with that.” Darr said the results of 2008 surveys and focus groups showed Buffalo Rock products scoring higher among students at the University and that Gatorade, Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew were preferred over their Coca-Cola counterparts. Outside of student preference, the University chose Buffalo Rock over Coca-Cola to be its primary soft drink distributor because Buffalo Rock offered to pay the University a higher percentage of commission than the previous Coca-Cola contract. All vending commissions are given to the general scholarship fund, and Buffalo Rock also makes a $30,000 contribution each year, according to a 2008 Dialog faculty and staff newsletter article. On a greater scale, Coke seems
to win the battle for the world’s favorite soft drink. Regular Coke has been the market’s leader for years, and as of 2010, Diet Coke became the second-most popular soft drink. However, PepsiCo, who owns Frito-Lay, is the world’s largest snack food company. On social media, the two companies are tied. Pepsi wins the Twitter war with almost 200,000 more followers than Coke, but the Coca-Cola Facebook page has 78 million likes, which more than doubles the 31 million likes of the Pepsi page. In a May 2008 Tuscaloosa News article, Gina Johnson, vice president of the University’s auxiliary services, said Buffalo Rock was chosen to become the University’s primary soft drink provider because the company was up to the challenge of changing to suit the developing needs of Alabama’s ever growing campus. In the 2008 Dialog article, Warren Austin, vice president of customer development, sales and service at Buffalo Rock, said the company looks ‘forward to cultivating and maintaining a great partnership for years to come.”
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majoring in journalism who attended, said she found the session inspiring. “The most interesting thing for me was when he said ‘Don’t wait for inspiration ... Just write,’” Upman said. “I have a blog, and I often times won’t write something for a couple weeks because I don’t have inspiration, but I should just pedal through it and push through it and just go for it, because eventually it will come.” In addition to his work for GQ and The New York Times, St. John is also the author of two books. “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania,” is what he calls “an exploration of fandom as a phenomenon,” and “Outcasts United: An American Town, A Refugee Team and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference” is the story of a soccer team for refugees in Georgia.
I grew up drinking Pepsi. To me, it tastes better than Coke. It’s more balanced and less sweet. Also, Beyoncé is an endorser of Pepsi, so I can’t argue with that. — Katharine Buckley
With the University’s current contract with Buffalo Rock not expiring until May 2018, it seems that, for at least four more years, Pepsi will hold the coveted position of The University of Alabama’s most popular drink.
CW File Junior guard Levi Randolph scored a career-best 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 on three-point attempts.
Releford leaves game early after knee injury BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 1
shooting and a game-high six assists. But it did not appear to be a positive night for Releford, who exited the game early, favoring his right knee. He took a hit from an opponent to his lower thigh, just above his own knee. “Trevor played completely on guts and heart tonight,” Grant said. “… He was nowhere near 100 percent.” Earnest Ross and Jabari Brown led the way offensively for Missouri. Ross scored 25 points,
while Brown tacked on 23 of his own. The Tigers (19-8, 7-7 SEC) also managed to out-rebound the Crimson Tide 36-24. Grant said he was pleased with his team’s effort, saying the team deserved this win with the up and down season it has been through. “It’s great to see them be rewarded with a win,” Grant said. “Missouri’s an awfully good team. It’s really just a great character win for our guys to step up and be able to come out with a victory.” Alabama will travel to Oxford, Miss., to face Ole Miss on Wednesday. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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Engineering professor makes name for himself in musical world
CW | Austin Bigoney Alan Lane, an engineering professor, is also a singer and songwriter by the name Doobie “Doghouse” Wilson.
By Elayne Smith | Contributing Writer Alan Lane is not the typical chemical engineering professor: He doubles as Doobie “Doghouse” Wilson, singer and songwriter. With a head of gray hair and a face framed by a matching beard, Lane started performing for audiences late in his life. Having learned guitar in middle school, he kept music tucked away for his spare time and developed a career in chemical engineering. Lane realized, late in life that if he didn’t start performing for an audience before turning 50, he never would. That moment 12 years ago, Lane decided to take his performances beyond his basement. “I just enjoy playing,” Lane said. “At age 48 I started going to open mikes. It’s just a way to get out, enjoy playing, meet other musicians and that sort of thing.” Lane’s first performed at the songwriter’s night at Hales Tavern, which is no longer on The Strip. After a few visits over the summer, he found the crowd small and comfortable enough to try playing. The audience gave Lane a positive response, and he’s been performing for people ever since. “It takes a lot to get up in front of a group and do anything where you’re putting yourself on the line,” Lane said. “I was not sure that the patrons of these bars around town, who are mostly students, would appreciate the older songs that
Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu
PLAN TO GO WHAT: “Don’t Be a Starving Artist” WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Ferguson Center Starbucks I play. But when I went to start listening to these bands and soloists at the bars, they’re not playing modern music. They’re playing the Beatles, James Taylor and all this old stuff. So I [thought,] okay, the music I’m playing fits right in. It was mostly about getting the courage up to do it.” After getting out, Lane decided he wanted a stage name. There was an 8-year-old neighborhood boy who always went to Lane’s house whose nickname was Doobie. Lane took that name and adopted a nickname for his stage name as “Doghouse,” because he always felt like he was in the doghouse at home, and Wilson just rolled off his tongue. And so Doobie “Doghouse” Wilson was created. The first time he used the name, the crowd was more amused than he expected. He didn’t understand the crowd’s reaction, and his wife had to explain to him that doobie was a marijuana term. “I’m about as straight as they come, but here I’ve chosen a name that has marijuana implica-
tions, and I guess they made assumptions,” Lane said. Not only is Lane a singer who covers other artists, but he also writes his own songs. From personal experiences to political issues to chemical engineering to random encounters, his songs have a wide variety of topics. His song “She’ll Fly Away” is about his daughter growing up. The song “Savin’ Room for Dessert” came to him when his friend denied a second helping of dinner. His latest album, “Ride the Bus,” is celebrating the Freedom Riders. All of his songs are put online for free download because Lane said it is more important to him that people can listen to them. “I make too much money as an engineer to worry about it,” Lane said, “I would rather have more people listen to my songs than earn money from it.” Although Lane creates a full band sound with technology like a looper that allows him to record himself in real time, he also helped create band PhD’Licious. The band started at a Christmas party when Lane overheard other university professors talking about the possibility of creating a band. Norman Baldwin, political science professor and lead singer for PhD’Licious, said Lane gave him an opportunity to sing. Six years ago at age 56 and with the start of the band, Baldwin began
singing. Baldwin said he admires Lane’s songwriting ability and how his songs offer a variety of emotions for people. “I think that people can take away something uplifting and fun,” Baldwin said. “But then he plays music that is very emotionally moving. I mean, he wrote a song about his daughter. I think anyone that hears it is touched by it. He wrote a song about Martin Luther King, and if you hear it, you’re moved by it.” Lane said he tries to play as often as possible, going to various venues around town. On rare occasions, Lane will even play on the stairwell in his building during his lunch break, inviting people to bring their food and listen. He said people are typically surprised and amused to find out about his singing. “I think the first time, especially students who know me as a professor, they are amused by me, that their professor would do something like this,” Lane said, “As an older musician, people are used to seeing younger guys unless it’s one that you’ve been seeing for a long time. For somebody to be new on the scene and older is different.” As part of Bama Dining’s “Don’t Be a Starving Artist” program, Lane will perform at the Starbucks in the Ferguson Center on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. He will play a mix of rock ‘n roll, blues and funk.
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Student travels to Sochi to work Winter Olympics
By Hannah Widener | Contributing Writer
It’s 1 a.m. when Sophie Rhodes gets home to her apartment after working a 14-hour shift. The laptop she brought with her no longer works, so she must use her iPad to do her homework, which is due in the next few hours. It’s only 4 p.m. in the United States, but Rhodes is half a world away at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Rhodes began working with the International Olympic Club during the London 2012 games, when she worked in the VIP lounge. A junior majoring in American studies, Rhodes is only attending The University of Alabama for one year, but when the opportunity arose to work at the Winter Olympics, Rhodes knew she could not turn it down. “Working at two Olympic Games has really been a privilege,” Rhodes said. “Both experiences are something that is unique.” During the past few weeks reports have surfaced depicting Sochi as overrun by stray dogs, lacking space for Olympians and having poor hotel accommodations. Rhodes, however, has not had any problems with her living condiPhoto Courtesy of Sophie Rhodes tions. “Living quarters for me are actually Sophie Rhodes (right), a junior at the University, previously fine,” Rhodes said. “I am sharing a room worked at the London 2012 Olympics before working Sochi.
with a colleague, and the room is pretty small, but I am not really there a lot, so it’s really manageable. I think Sochi has really struggled with space, though. Lots of people have had problems getting accommodations. They even had to bring in a cruise ship for people to stay on.” Margaret Peacock, professor of European history, specializes in Russian history and lived in Russia for many years. Although she never traveled to Sochi, she said she heard from many residents of its beauty and said the negativity Russia has received is not a good depiction of Russia as a whole. “I think that the bad press is far more reflective of the people who are writing the news than the people who are running the events,” Peacock said. “The silly complaints about having to put your toilet paper in the garbage are a reflection of people’s lack of knowledge of how sewage systems work in the vast majority of the rest of the world. In fact, it’s not just in Russia. I think that’s how it works in all of Asia and most of Latin America, and it’s not thought of as being how they’re uncultured. It’s just the way the sewage systems are built.” Besides the language barrier, Rhodes has experienced other difficulties communicating. The idea of a man not
shaking a woman’s hand because of her race or sex may seem outdated, but it is exactly what happened to Rhodes. “Russian men, particularly in the work place or in a professional setting, won’t shake a woman’s hand, as they perceive them to be inferior in this environment,” Rhodes said. Through cultural adjustments, Rhodes has continued to maintain her responsibilities while balancing her normal class load. Many of her professors have been understanding about the time constraints Rhodes is under, and they work with her schedule to accommodate her. One of Rhodes’ teachers, Steven Bunker, professor of Latin American history, has been working closely with Rhodes and has been giving her lecture outlines, reading quizzes and notes taken by a colleague during class. Bunker said his own journey to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics has allowed him to better understand what Rhodes is going through. “I took my family to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics because that’s where I’m from, so I took some time off as well,” Bunker said. “I think it’s very important for students to travel and see more of the world, and if you’re able to be responsible, I’m happy to work with them.”
COLUMN | FASHION
Neutral colors can adapt into spring wardrobe By Bianca Martin The much-anticipated season of spring will be upon us in just a few weeks. We all know what that means: sunny weather, afternoons outside and longer days. But for many of us, it also means swapping out our heavy winter colors for bright pastels. If you are someone whose closet is full of neutrals, having 50 shades of pink, mint and other spring colors might not sound very appealing. Seeing a bright yellow sundress may bring back memories from the Easter dress your mother made you wear. At least it does for me. If neutrals and dark colors are your thing, do not let the new spring lines bully you into buying a pair of vibrant jeans you will never wear. I believe that for every brightly
I believe that for every brightly colored garment, there is a neutral option to match.
colored garment, there is a neutral option to match. While stores such as Gap and Old Navy love to throw loud yellows and reds in their spring lines, they also have garments for those of us who just do not feel right in such palettes. If you are like me and love dresses, you can look at stores such as H&M and Forever 21. They always have plenty of black
and white dresses to choose from. Try pairing a black and white dress with a black cardigan from the fall season. Since spring is cool first, try adding a pair of combat boots with the dress for an edgy, masculine touch. There are also plenty of neutralcolored spring tops available. If you like a more feminine look, find an off-white lacy blouse or peasant top. Pair it with a pair of light-wash jeans and wedges. And even though I love neutrals and gravitate towards anything black, I believe in throwing in a pop of color. If you want to ease into wearing more color, try a powder pink or pale yellow blouse. That way, you have some color but are not overwhelmed. Be a little daring and try to throw in a bright color every once in a
while. Add an accessory, such as a scarf or statement necklace. These are perfect additions if you want to work a little bit of color into your outfit. When I wear all black or white, I like to throw on an infinity scarf in a green or light pink color. It instantly keeps my outfit from looking drab. This spring, do not feel overwhelmed by the instant blow up of bright reds, pinks and oranges. Look around town and you will find plenty of neutral colored tops and dresses that will be just as perfect for the season. But if you want to shake things up and add some color, just ease into it with muted and pale spring colors. Trust me, it is hard for me, too, but you may be surprised by how you like the change. Just take one (colorful) step at a time.
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Wingler Bianca Martin
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Black Warrior Film Festival accepting student submissions By Phoebe Rees | Contributing Writer
CW | Austin Bigoney The UA Opera Theatre has a new venue with the renovation of a 1969 chapel on the Bryce campus.
Opera Theatre finds new home By Laura Testino | Contributing Writer With the ushering in of the Spring semester came the final renovations to a 1969 chapel on The University of Alabama’s Bryce campus that transformed the building into Bryant-Jordan Hall, the new home for the UA Opera Theatre. The renovated building is a culmination of long-time growth for the opera program, inspired by Paul Houghtaling, associate professor of music and director of opera theatre at the University. Houghtaling said he has been striving to expand the opera program since his arrival in 2007. He credits the assistance and support of former University president and current chancellor Robert Witt, President Judy Bonner, Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Olin, University professor Tom Wolfe and Associate Dean Tricia McElroy for making the new opera space possible. “It’s really a lovely performance venue. It will seat around 225, has nice dressing rooms, and there will also be a stateof-the-art recording studio in there,” Houghtaling said. “The opera program is really honored to be its major tenant.” Students began rehearsing in the new space last week, and Andrew Nalley, a junior majoring in vocal performance, said he is excited about the implications of having a new building for opera theatre. “I think this space is a really good
thing. It seems like the opera program, it’s been kind of under the radar,” Nalley said. “It needs a landmark, and it’s like this building is kind of a landmark. Now that we have this opera theatre, it’s kind of this landmark that shows, ‘Hey, this is actually a big thing that’s going on at the University.’” Nalley will play a leading role in the first opera held in Bryant-Jordan Hall, opening March 7. The opera “The Consul,” by Gian Carlo Menotti, will be a collaborative event, featuring both the Opera Theatre and the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, directed by Blake Richardson, director of orchestral studies. Houghtaling said he wanted to “pull out all the stops” for the first production in the new space and believes incorporating the orchestra in “The Consul” will do just that. “It’s a natural pairing of the orchestra and the opera program – we should really be doing it much more frequently – and now a space like this will facilitate that,” he said. “It’s a nice, exciting collaboration, and it really makes perfect sense to be as flashy and as colorful as possible on this very first production.” Jen Stephenson, a doctoral student studying vocal performance, plays a leading role in “The Consul” and said she is looking forward to performing with the orchestra in the new facility where the new stage space allows for more creativity in set design.
“When we have a show coming up, we previously could only have the set built that week,” Stephenson said. “That makes it difficult, because then we’re working with an imagined set, but we don’t know how that will affect our movement, if there’s stairs or doors or whatever. But with a space that’s more of a space that not everybody’s using all of the time, we can have the set up for longer, so we can really work with that and be rehearsing exactly as the performance space will be.” The new building includes a backstage area with dressing rooms for performers and improvements in lighting, sound and set design techniques that previous opera productions did not have in the old space in Moody Music Building. Houghtaling said he believes the transition from a classroom performance setting to the stage provides enticing opportunities for everyone involved. “What it means for the audience, then, is to see a joyful increase and development or moving forward in our ability to be storytellers with much more elaborate, and also therefore more expensive and detailed, scenic design and lighting design.” Houghtaling said. “So it’s all sorts of win-win. Opera wins, design students win, the audience wins, the students win. Experiences are greater, and the learning experience is that much more enhanced. The learning experience through performing is that much more enhanced by all that the space affords.”
In its second year, the Black Warrior Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the student-run competition in April. The festival takes place over three days, culminating in an awards ceremony at the Bama Theatre. Some of the awards will include Best Film, Best Narrative and Best Documentary. Student filmmakers must submit their projects by Friday if they wish to participate in the festival, which takes place April 11 to 13. The festival is accepting entries from undergraduate, graduate students, and students who are one year out of college. The requirements state that narrative films must be no longer than 30 minutes, and documentaries no longer than 40 minutes. Danny Ryan, a junior majoring in telecommunication and film, co-founded the festival last year with Leigh Rusevlyan and is overseeing the planning of this year’s event. “I wanted students to have a reason to make films outside of class and have an opportunity for them to showcase their talents in front of a large audience,” Ryan said. This year, the Black Warrior Film Festival is accepting submissions from several different schools in the Southeast, including Florida State University, the University of Texas and Wake Forest University. “The festival will be more competitive this year because we have more schools involved,” Ryan said. “But I think that UA has a lot of talented filmmakers and will represent well.” Rusevlyan, a senior who is
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Black Warrior Film Festival submission deadline WHEN: Friday, Feb. 28 WHERE: Submit films to blackwarriorfilmfest.com majoring in telecommunication and film, said film festivals prepare them for more competitive festivals and are really important for student filmmakers if they plan on going down the independent route. “Our goal from the beginning was to grow in some way each year,” Rusevlyan said. “We have a larger committee this year as well, so we have a lot of great new input and ideas circulating.” Ryan and Rusevlyan said they were inspired by film festivals such as Sundance, which TCF students can attend each January, and said they decided to set up a smaller-scale event in Tuscaloosa. “Those attending film festivals really appreciate film,” Ryan said. “They are there to celebrate filmmakers, rather than just passively watching a movie.” The team said they are encouraging participants to submit all films they have made to increase their chances of success. “We’re looking for films that have strong stories and that are visually captivating,” Ryan said. “We want to see submissions that are creative and original and hope that students will have fun making them.” Students who wish to participate can submit their films to blackwarriorfilmfest.com by Friday for review.
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COLUMN | FILM
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Films such as “American Hustle,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity” and “12 Years a Slave” compete for Academy Awards Sunday, March 2.
Oscars come down to close race between shoo-ins, dark horses By Drew Pendleton With one week left until the film industry’s top event, the Academy Awards, hands out its first award, some categories already have their winners set in stone and are just waiting to hand the Oscar statue out to seal the deal. Others, however, are still up in the air, with possible upsets looming in the background. The race for Best Picture has become a battle between “12 Years a Slave” and “Gravity.” Both films have won their share of awards, and with the buzz for “American Hustle” cooling off considerably, it’s becoming clear that either the slavery opus or the sciencefiction space survival story will take home the top prize. While the widespread acclaim for “12 Years a Slave” may be enough to give it the win, the awards already garnered by “Gravity” director Alfonso Cuarón in the Best Director category could tip the scales in its favor. Like Best Picture, the Best Actor category is still far from locked in. While Matthew McConaughey’s comeback performance in “Dallas Buyers Club” has cemented him as the frontrunner, earning him Best Actor from the Golden Globes, Screen Actors’ Guild, Critics’ Choice and several other
While the widespread acclaim for ‘12 Years a Slave’ may be enough to give it the win, the awards already garnered by ‘Gravity’ director Alfonso Cuarón in the Best Director category could tip the scales in its favor.
associations, two other actors have hit the campaign trail hard and picked up a few awards to keep themselves in the race. “12 Years a Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor, who has benefitted from the film’s massive overall acclaim, took Best Actor at the British Academy Film Awards, and has won over McConaughey at several other smaller associations’ awards. At the same time, Leonardo DiCaprio’s ferocious, unhinged turn as a Wall Street stockbroker in “The Wolf of
Wall Street” earned him a BAFTA nomination over McConaughey and a Golden Globe. DiCaprio has ardently supported the film at industry screenings, which may give him the leverage he needs to take home his first Oscar. As for Best Actress, the winner is unquestionable. Having essentially swept the awards season and reached “overdue” status to win her second Oscar, Cate Blanchett only has the Oscar statue left to take home before the awards season ends. Barring a last-minute upset from Amy Adams for “American Hustle” or Sandra Bullock for “Gravity,” Blanchett’s remarkable performance as a Manhattan socialite on the verge of a nervous breakdown after losing everything should earn her yet another much-deserved Oscar for “Blue Jasmine.” Best Supporting Actor is also locked up, with McConaughey’s co-star Jared Leto poised to take the golden statue. Except for a missing BAFTA nomination, Leto has been nominated for every major guild and critics’ association, and, like Blanchett, has essentially swept them all. With “Dallas Buyers Club” bringing Leto back to the big screen for the first time after a six-year hiatus, the attention he’s received for this performance – and impending Oscar triumph – may bring
him back to Hollywood. Finally, in Best Supporting Actress, the race is pared down to two: newcomer Lupita N’yongo in “12 Years a Slave” and last year’s Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle.” While N’yongo emerged as the critical favorite for her role as a young woman who becomes the object of a plantation owner’s (Michael Fassbender, a Supporting Actor nominee) attention – winning the Screen Actors’ Guild and Critics’ Choice prizes, among others – Lawrence has won her fair share of hardware for her follow-up to her Oscar-winning role in “Silver Linings Playbook.” Playing an unpredictable Long Island housewife whose loose-cannon antics put her husband (Best Actor nominee Christian Bale) in danger, Lawrence tears up the screen and steals “American Hustle” right from under the other members of the star-laden ensemble. Her BAFTA and Golden Globes wins show support for her performance, but N’yongo has matched her at every turn. This is a race that will come down to the wire. All questions will be answered as the race for the Oscars comes to a close March 2. With possible upsets waiting in the wings, the ceremony is sure to be an entertaining and potentially surprising one.
CULTUREIN BRIEF Guest lecturer to discuss LGBTQ communities Sue Rankin, associate professor in education policy studies at Penn State University, will talk about welcoming diverse groups of students on campus in her talk, “Stormy Weather,” Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in 222 Lloyd Hall. Rankin’s presentation will focus on the “invisible” identities of queer and transgender communities.
Theatre department to present ‘Picnic’ The University of Alabama department of theatre and dance will present “Picnic,” a 1953 play by William Inge, in the Marian Gallaway Theatre in Rowand-Johnson Hall beginning Monday. “Picnic” explores the relationships cultivated between one man and a plethora of women during one Labor Day Weekend. “Picnic” will be performed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at ua.tix.com.
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BASEBALL
SPORTSIN BRIEF Tide men finish 4th in SEC The Alabama men’s swimming and diving team placed fourth in the SEC Championships this weekend in Athens, Ga. The fourth-place finish was the Crimson Tide’s best since 1995. Freshman Anton McKee won and set an SEC record in the 200 breaststroke. The women’s team finished eighth in the tournament, an improvement from last year’s 10th place finish.
Men’s golf team starts strong The Crimson Tide men’s golf team finished with a fiveshot lead over Georgia and Georgia Tech in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Classic on Sunday. Alabama scored a 15-under-par 273 to start the tournament, led by senior Cory Whitsett and freshman Robby Shelton, who each shot a 67. The Crimson Tide has won three straight trips to Puerto Rico. CW | Austin Bigoney The Alabama baseball team defeated Stephen F. Austin, 3-2, on Sunday to give the Crimson Tide the series win at 2-1.
Wass hits walk-off to claim series By Kevin Connell | Staff Reporter For the second time in six games, Alabama saved its best hitting for last. Wade Wass hit a pinch-hit single on the final at bat of the game for the second week in a row to give No. 21 Alabama a 3-2 walk-off win in 10 innings in the series finale against Stephen F. Austin on Sunday afternoon. “It was almost the exact same. High fastball, and I just got my hands inside and pulled it,” Wass said. On Saturday in the season-opening series against Saint Louis, Wass hit a walkoff single through the left side just as he did Sunday to lift the Crimson Tide to its first win of the season. “I’ve been feeling really good up there, kind of just slowing everything down and just having fun pretty much,” Wass said. Alabama (4-2) opened the series this weekend with a 2-1 loss in 13 innings Friday night in a game in which the Crimson Tide left runners in scoring position in five straight innings with a chance to win. On Saturday, freshman Casey Hughston
hit two solo home runs to right field – the first home runs ever hit into the new right field section at Sewell-Thomas Stadium – in his first career start to power Alabama to an 8-0 win that evened the series at 1-1. Sunday’s game featured aspects from the two previous games. Alabama struggled for much of the game to score runs, leaving runners in scoring position in the second and fifth with a chance to take control of the game. But in the bottom of the eighth inning, sophomore second baseman Kyle Overstreet tied it up at 2-2 with his first career home run, a solo shot over the leftfield wall. In the 10th inning, Overstreet, who was hitting .143 for the season coming into Sunday, recorded his second hit of the game with a single up the middle on what would prove to be the winning run. “One thing about Overstreet is he’s good in big situations. That’s the one thing he proved last year as a freshman,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said. “When the game’s on the line, you need his best at bat in those spots. He has that ability to give
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you that great at bat just when you need them.” Junior left-hander Jon Keller (2-0) picked up the win for the second straight Sunday coming in as a reliever for sophomore starting pitcher Ray Castillo. Keller got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, walking in only one run, and stranded runners on second and third in the eighth. For the day, he gave up only two hits and one walk, while striking out six. “That’s two really good outings for Jon, and he did a lot of that for us as a freshman, where he pitched real consistent,” Gaspard said. “We need him. He’s a guy that we do trust … so we need him to be a force in that bullpen like he’s been.” Alabama had a chance to win it in the ninth when sophomore shortstop Mikey White came up to bat with the bases loaded with two outs, but he flew out to right field to send the game into extra innings at 2-2. The Crimson Tide will hit the road for the first time this season when it travels to Southern Miss on Wednesday, followed by a weekend series at No. 14 LouisianaLafayette beginning Friday.
Tide wins at Vandy for 1st time The Alabama women’s basketball team got its first win in Memorial Gym on Sunday with a 66-62 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Crimson Tide was led by junior Daisha Simmons, who scored 21 points. The Crimson Tide will face Auburn on Thursday in the final road game of the season.
Women’s tennis team beats Rice The UA women’s tennis team defeated Rice 4-3 on Sunday to win the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. The Crimson Tide also upended Illinois on Friday 4-0 and Texas Tech on Saturday 4-2. Alabama advanced to 8-2 on the season.
Men’s tennis team finishes strong After falling to Boise State 4-0 on Friday, the Alabama’s men’s tennis team turned things around and closed out the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic with a pair of victories. The Crimson Tide defeated Princeton 4-0 on Saturday and in-state rival Auburn 4-1 on Sunday. Alabama improved its overall record to 6-5 over the weekend. Compiled by Keegan Elsner and Charlie Potter
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SOFTBALL
McNeese State ends Tide’s winning streak By Kelly Ward | Staff Reporter The Alabama softball team almost pulled out needed runs in the seventh inning, but it couldn’t capitalize on missed opportunities in the 5-3 loss to McNeese State. There wasn’t a walk-off error that could save No. 7 Alabama in the final game of the Easton Bama Bash, and the Crimson Tide’s four-game winning streak came to an end Sunday afternoon. Alabama (12-3) stranded 11 on base to McNeese State’s three. “That’s tough to win a game when you do that,” coach Patrick Murphy said. “And it seemed like I don’t know if both home runs were with two outs, and we just didn’t continue an inning, and then when we did get people on, we didn’t get that key hit.” First baseman Leona Lafaele and second baseman Kaila Hunt contributed two runs for Alabama with two solo home runs in the second and fourth innings, respectively.
“We just couldn’t get the hit when we needed it,” Hunt said. “They took advantage of their opportunities, and … we just didn’t get the hit when there were runners in scoring position when we needed them.” Senior Jaclyn Traina earned her second loss of the year after six innings pitched. Traina is 3-2 on the season with a 2.35 ERA. “I expected a little bit more,” Murphy said. “At least, let us score first. And Leslie [Jury], that was a prime example of that last night, where she holds them for seven innings. If she has to do it for 12, we have to do it for 12.” Lafaele was thrown out at third in the bottom of the seventh on third baseman Danielle Richard’s RBI double for the second out of the inning. “Just trying to be too aggressive when I should’ve known that it was the seventh inning, not to be so aggressive but to be smart on the bases,” Lafaele said. The Crimson Tide had nine hits to the Cowgirls’ seven.
“The key was the 11 left on base I think,” Murphy said. “Regardless of whether it was 7-7 hits going into the seventh inning, one error apiece and the only key for them was they got the two-out hit, and we hadn’t, and that’s made the difference.” Alabama had no trouble getting the bat on the ball. The team hit 10 fly balls for easy outs in the loss. The team wasn’t trying too hard to knock the ball out of the park, Lafaele said. “All of us are hitters,” Lafaele said. “We want to hit the ball. We’re not going to get cheated on our cuts. That’s why we take good cuts. That’s why we’re here, because he wants us to hit, and so we just have to make better adjustments.” The loss is the team’s first at home. “It just fuels the fire,” Lafaele said. “Just onto the next game. We can’t dwell on this because if we bring this to the UAB game, it’s just going to kill us. We’ve just got to learn from it.” CW | Austin Bigoney Alabama will travel to UAB Wins over UCF and Virginia Tech had the Tide rolling until Sunday’s game against on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game. McNeese State, giving the Tide their third loss of the season.
COLUMN | NBA
First openly gay athletes should be judged solely on performance By Matthew Wilson Jason Collins, NBA center, made the rounds on sports news outlets Saturday for signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. What made this signing so noticeable is that Collins will be the first openly gay active player in any United States sports leagues. Collins started his professional career with the Nets in 2002 playing for six years before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Collins then spent several years playing for different teams in the NBA, including the Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards.
In July 2013, shortly after announcing his sexual orientation, Collins became a free agent, but that no longer appears to be the case. After Glen Davis opted to join the Los Angles Clippers, Collins made his decision to return to the team that started his career. This is a watershed moment for the LGBTQ community and its fight for equality. Clearly change is on the rise in sports organizations, but the argument can be made that his sexual orientation shouldn’t matter. Former Missouri defender Michael Sam made headlines earlier this year announcing himself
as being openly gay before the 2014 NFL Draft. Many media outlets saw him as the first player to break down a stigma and lead the way for acceptance. While this is obviously a step forward in the rights of humanity against discrimination and prejudice, the argument can be made that the focus should be on the players’ skills on the field or court and not on their sexual orientation. For instance, Collins has a career total of 713 games played in the NBA before his public announcement. Sam told media outlets recently he wished people would focus on
his abilities as a football player on the field rather than his personal life. Yes, there will be those that will be unable to look over it. There might be those who might see this as an opportunity to harass or haze these individuals. Hopefully not, but there will be those who won’t accept it. It shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter to the fans or to the team. What matters is the buzzer beater, the sacking of a quarterback before he can throw a touchdown pass. What matters is the moment in the game where these athletes do something exceptional to rally
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the team and secure the win. Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether Jackie Robinson was white or black. What mattered was what he did when he stepped onto a baseball field. Those days haven’t arrived yet. There are still hate crimes based on nationality, race, sexual orientation and gender. There is still discrimination and prejudice, and terms such as “equality” and “acceptance” remain lofty ideas, but change is coming everyday. While this moment can be seen as noteworthy for its step forward, society will be better off when it’s not.
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (02/24/14). Focus discipline towards your creative passion, and there’s no stopping you this year. An inventive burst of fun collaboration excites and boosts your career and status by August. Strengthen networks and organizational structures to manage the pace. Partnership and teamwork provide balance, at work and especially at home. Each family member plays a part. Share love without reserve. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Emotions match the mood from a dream. Make a career power play today or tomorrow. Take photos of your experience, and keep a journal. Don’t jump the gun; wait for the final decision. Anticipate changes. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Polish your career image. Watch the big picture today and tomorrow. Call ahead for what you need to avoid running all over town. Align with another’s vision for truth and justice. Imagination soars. Cheer up others. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Friends help you get farther, especially for the next two days. A trip is in your future. Plan a winning strategy. Attend to finances to make it happen. The competition is sharpening your skills. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -Today is a 9 -- Negotiations resume. Be careful where you put your hard-earned cash. Handle a squeaky wheel. You and a partner can stir things up today and tomorrow. Share your dreams, and find ways to collaborate to realize them. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Get a lot done today and tomorrow. No fair cheating. Put in the elbow grease. Consider preposterous suggestions. Refocus on career priorities. Someone may try to fool you. Avoid scams, cons and predators. Opt out. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Set
long-term goals with your sweetheart or family, today and tomorrow. Add a touch of elegance and glamour. Imagination is a big help, too. Get something you’ve always wanted. Imagine a fun opportunity into reality. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Reconsider sacred cows today and tomorrow. Review beliefs and assumptions. Discuss your theory with a scientific type. Household issues require attention. Authorize improvements that could involve water. Puppies always love you. Find an animal to play with. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Study for the next two days. You love doing what you know how to do. Seek help from a higher source. Allow extra time to deliver packages or communications. Invest in home, family, land or real estate. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Today and tomorrow could potentially get expensive. You could also profit financially from disciplined efforts. Your morale gets a boost. You’re learning quickly. Make up a plan, and keep the budget. Have faith in your own imagination. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Think about your future needs. Assess whether or not you’re on track for your best life today and tomorrow. Improvements you’re making are valuable. Have your budget reflect your dreams. Get yourself a special treat. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Get introspective today and tomorrow. Your goals get closer, with practice. Learn as quickly as possible. Your inspiration facilitates action. Watch out for surprises, and set priorities. Invent and share your vision for the future. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Discuss finances today and tomorrow. Your friends are your inspiration. They help with a household project. Get something delicious for the team. A dream figure reveals a hidden door. Take time out for relaxation in hot water.
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