THURSDAY MARCH 6, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 98 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
no
rm al
se at
in g
SPORTS | BASEBALL
General admission outfield seating draws fans to games By Charlie Potter | Assistant Sports Editor Casey Hughston blasted two home runs into right field in Alabama’s 8-0 win over Stephen F. Austin State University on Feb. 22. Before the 2014 season, those baseballs would have bounced off the pavement of the parking lot between Sewell Thomas Stadium and Coleman Coliseum. In the game against the Lumberjacks, however, they sailed into a sea of outstretched arms, thanks to the new outfield seating created by the Sarah Patterson Champions Plaza. The freshman outfielder from Mobile tossed his bat aside and trotted around the bases. As he made his way around first base, he threw both arms in the air, pointing toward the raucous right field section. “It’s awesome,” Hughston said. “I love it out there. They bring a lot of good atmosphere for us and make it
They bring a lot of good atmosphere for us and make it more fun for us to be here and play. — Casey Hughston more fun for us to be here and play.” The right field plaza was built during the offseason and was created to commemorate the non-football championship-winning teams at The University of Alabama. Each sport is represented, along with the current head coaches from gymnastics, softball and men’s and women’s golf, who are immortalized in bronze. On the opposite side of the plaza,
TODAYON CAMPUS Campus conversation WHAT: Blend Day lunch WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Ferguson Center Food Court
facing the baseball diamond of Sewell Thomas Stadium, is a free admission sitting area for Crimson Tide baseball fans and students. Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson said she had the baseball team in mind when the plans were drawn up for the plaza in her name. “Anything that energizes your fans and your student body, it makes a difference for your team,” Patterson said. And it has made quite the difference. Since the first home game of the season against Saint Louis, the right field section has been crowded with fans and students. They can come out to the game without worrying about a ticket – or in students’ cases, an ACT card – and enjoy an afternoon or evening of baseball. They can bring tents SEE BASEBALL PAGE 14
rules of the RIGHT FIELD Restrooms available at the right field gate only onl (west side of stadium.) No grills allowed. 10x10-foot tents allowed on top two rows only. If crowding occurs, they may move down from the top. No glass allowed. Alcoholic beverages may only be consumed in disposable cups (no drinking directly from beer cans or bottles.) Interfering with gameplay or dropping items into playing field may result in ejections from arena. Police yourselves. Bad behavior by one person or group will result in policy changes affecting all. Guidelines for this area will be examined throughout the year and policies may change at any time. Please have respect for your surroundings and those around you; the plaza will include people of all ages.
CW | Photo by Austin Bigoney; Graphic by Belle Newby, Hannah Glenn
SPORTS | BASKETBALL
Releford ends final season at UA Despite size, senior holds school records, leads team By Sean Landry | Staff Reporter
History lecture WHAT: Southern History as Spatial History lecture WHEN: 4-5 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
Student music WHAT: Student recital: Kevin Canada, piano WHEN: 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building
When senior guard Trevor Releford chose to come to The University of Alabama, he turned down offers from then-Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, then-Oklahoma basketball coach Jeff Capel and someone unusual – Bob Stoops, coach of the Oklahoma football team. “Bob Stoops came up and watched him at basketball practice and said ‘I’ll sign him right now,’” Rick Zych, Releford’s high school basketball coach, said. “[Releford] knew he wasn’t going to play football, though. SEE RELEFORD PAGE 12
CULTURE | STUDENT FEATURE
Student spends final semester hiking
INSIDE
12 17 17
Thursday
Friday Rain
Partly cloudy
51º/40º
64º/44º
recycle th i se
per • Ple a
Sports Puzzles Classifieds
tomorrow
pa
2 4 8
today
SEE HIKING PAGE 6
s
today’s paper
Ple a
WHAT: The Artcade WHEN: 5-9 p.m. WHERE: Student Recreation Center
WEATHER
Video game exhibit
Most seniors are trying to pass their classes, enjoy their last semester of college and just get by until graduation, but not William Wells. He is spending his final semester as a student at The University of Alabama away from campus, classes and friends. Friday, he stood outside of an Ingles grocery store in Hiawassee, Ga. He hitched a
CONTACT
By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter
per •
WHAT: Cooter Brown WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Rhythm & Brews
and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern end at Springer Mountain, Ga., to the northern end at Katahdin, Maine. It is estimated that 2-3 million people visit the trail each year, and about 1,800 to 2,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the trail. Wells will be one of the thousands attempting to thru-hike the AT, and he will spend his final semester as a student at the University doing it. “It’s pretty cool because I am a full-time
pa
Music scene
ride into town from the Blueberry Patch Hostel, where he stayed that night. Just a couple of nights before, he was staying in a three-walled, square shelter in Stover Creek, Ga., with several mice for roommates. In a few days, Wells should reach the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina. Linking each of Wells’ stops is the Appalachian Trail, commonly referred to as the AT. The AT, roughly 2,180 miles in length, is one of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world. The trail passes through 14 states along the crests
s
Senior attempts to ‘thru-hike’ Appalachian Trail for credit
recycle thi
WHAT: Wine Down with Rotary WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
se
Rotary club
Briefs Opinions Culture
CW | Austin Bigoney Trevor Releford may finish as the school’s all-time leader in steals and place in the top 5 in scoring and free throws made for Alabama players.
editor@cw.ua.edu
website cw.ua.edu
CAMPUSBRIEFS
Thursday March 6, 2014
p.2
Honors requirements to change The University of Alabama Honors College announced last week a policy change that will take effect beginning with the May 2014 graduating class. The Honors College still requires a total of 18 honors credits: six honors seminar credits and 12 honors electives. The difference is that in the past, the seminar requirement only included UH 100-300 level courses, excluding all 400 - level courses. However, the seminar requirement will now include all UH courses, 100-400 level. In addition to this change, the Honors College has renamed the seminar requirement the Honors foundation requirement. “The change reflects the Honors College’s awareness that there are multiple aspects that serve as the foundation of an Honors experience beyond seminar courses and allows all Honors students to pursue independent studies, leadership experiences and thesis research while still fulfilling the core Honors requirement,” assistant professor Jim Bailey said. While UH 100-300 level coursework completed still counts toward the overall 18 - credit graduation requirement, they will also count as prerequisites for 400level courses, collectively completing the Honors College graduation requirements. “I think it’s a great idea to give students more of an opportunity to complete the requirement.” Molly Chu, a sophomore in the Honors College, said. “What about the students that graduate sooner rather than later?” Students graduating in May 2014 are not affected by the policy change. According to an email sent to Honors College students last week, there is a possibility that the courses still needed to take to complete the Honors College requirements are no longer the same. For those who are worried about having the right courses for graduation, the Honors College implemented the change in DegreeWorks prior to notifying students so they would be able to determine the impact on their coursework as soon as possible. Bailey ensured student services staff in all of the primary colleges and alerted them of the change in advance to handle any questions or concerns that did not go directly through the Honors College. “While there are no ‘average’ Honors students, as all students have their own diverse passions, abilities and curriculum paths, the change will increase the opportunities students have to complete the Honors College requirements, as additional courses now count towards the previous honors seminar requirement,” Bailey said. Complied by Amy Voorheesr
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
Lauren Ferguson
production editor
Katherine Owen
online editor news editor
Marc Torrence John Brinkerhoff Christopher Edmunds
video editor
Daniel Roth
photo editor
Austin Bigoney
lead designer
Sloane Arogeti Elizabeth Lowder Lauren Robertson
ADVERTISING advertising manager
territory manager
Tori Hall 251.751.1781 cwadmanager@gmail.com Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 territorymanager1@gmail.com
special projects manager
Taylor Shutt 904.504.3306 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com
special projects account executive
Kristen Morrow 205.873.2190 osmspecialprojects92@gmail.com
creative services manager
account executives
WHAT: Cooter Brown WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Rhythm & Brews
VISIT US ONLINE AT CW.UA.EDU FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @THECRIMSONWHITE
WHAT: Baseball vs. Mississippi Valley St. WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
WHAT: Men’s basketball vs. Arkansas WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum WHAT: Whiskey Myers WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: The Jupiter Bar
WHAT: Gymnastics vs. Stanford WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum
WHAT: “Seussical” WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Bama Theatre
WHAT: “The Consul” opera WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Bryant-Jordan Hall
WHAT: Tuscaloosa HalfMarathon WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Jack Warner Parkway/28th Avenue intersection
WHAT: GA Recruitment Day WHEN: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library WHAT: If Disney Ran Your Hospital WHEN: 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m WHERE: 1008 Nursing building
WHAT: 2014 Panhellenic Preview Day WHEN: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m WHERE: North and South Zone in BryantDenny Stadium
Mark Hammontree
sports editor
community managers
WHAT: Wine Down with Rotary WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
SATURDAY
Mackenzie Brown
culture editor
chief copy editor
TODAY
FRIDAY
Anna Waters
Abbey Crain
opinion editor
CW | Lindsey Leonard Blood donations are accepted in a “Bloodmobile” outside of Gorgas Library on behalf of the West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Mazie Bryant editor@cw.ua.edu
managing editor
visuals editor
SCENEON CAMPUS
Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068 Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Keenan 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.
BURKE LUNCH
LAKESIDE DINNER
Steak Thai Red Curry Chicken Sautéed Zucchini and Honey Mustard Grilled Tomatoes Chicken Grilled Vegetable Rotini Orange Spiced Carrots Salad Lemon Sugar Snap Steamed Mixed Vegetables Peas
FRESH FOOD LUNCH
LUNCH
DINNER
Country-Style Meatloaf with Gravy Chicken and Broccoli Cheddar Panini Mashed Potatoes with Corn Glazed Carrots
Baked Chipotle Orange Chicken Steakhouse Potatoes Steamed Peas and Onions Gazpacho Salad
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: 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: March 5, 2014, response from Reinhart: “There are no public records that are responsive to your request. I can confirm that Congressman Bonner was interviewed on May 3, 2013.” 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
Steak Basa Slider Steakhouse Potatoes Carrots Quinoa and Red Pepper Slider
IN THENEWS Mike Cassidy: Women miss out on lucrative careers in computer science From MCT Campus The stubbornly low number of female computer science students in the United States has generated a pile of academic studies, ample hand-wringing and a wide-ranging discussion in tech and education circles about what can be done to boost the number of women choosing computing careers. This raises a fair question: What difference does it make if women don’t join the tech workforce in the same numbers that men do? It turns out it makes a huge difference. The dearth of women in computing has the potential to slow the U.S. economy, which needs more students in the pipeline to feed its need for more programmers. It harms women by excluding them from some of the best jobs in the country. And it damages U.S. companies, which studies show would benefit from more diverse teams. Quite a trifecta. “Today, two and a half billion people are connected to the Internet,” said David Culler, chair of the University of California-Berkeley’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department. “There are more cellphone users than toothbrush users. You look at how intrinsic information technology is to all aspects of (soci-
ety) and all aspects of modern life. Would you want any demographic group to be left out of shaping something that is so important to our future?” This column, part of the “Women and Computing: The Promise Denied” series, looks at the ways the dramatic gender imbalance in computing is a problem not just for women, but for everyone. The damage starts with a problem that is already being confronted by the tech industry and other companies that rely on computing talent (which means practically all of them): The economy is creating far more computing jobs than U.S. schools are creating computer science graduates. True, not all computer scientists work in computing jobs and not all computing jobs are filled by computer scientists, but the mismatch illustrates the potential problem. Based on current trends, U.S. universities will produce about 400,000 computer scientists between 2010 and 2020, a decade during which 1.4 million U.S. computing jobs will open up, leaving a gap of about 1 million computing jobs. Together those 1 million jobs would pay $500 billion in wages, said Hadi Partovi, co-founder of Code.org, a nonprofit working to encourage computer science education in K-12 schools.
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, March 6, 2014
NEWSIN BRIEF Tuscaloosa to host half marathon The second annual Tuscaloosa Half Marathon will take place Saturday. Four miles of the race will be run on the University of Alabama campus. The Tuscaloosa Half Marathon began when a race committee was established in 2012, leading to its first race in 2013. All proceeds from the inaugural event went directly to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa and ReadBAMARead. A total of 1,016 registered participants and 250 fun runners raised $60,000 in donations. The race will be the third-largest half marathon in Alabama. All participants should plan to be at the starting line 30 to 45 minutes before the race, as the event will start promptly at 8 a.m. This year, the starting line will be at the corner of Jack Warner Parkway and 28th Avenue. There will be six water stations, food and medical teams to keep the participants moving. Participants are advised to check the weather to dress appropriately. All clothing dropped along the course will be donated to a local organization. Sports in Motion Photography will be at the event to capture the excitement of the entire day. There will be an Adult Half Marathon, a Fun Run and a Children’s Half Marathon. Compiled by Kailey McCarthy
525 GREENSBORO AVE. DOWNTOWN 752-6931 www.TheShirtShop.biz
$54.99
8 Colors
STORE HOURS: MON. - FRI. 7-6PM SAT. 9-5PM
2 Lengths
CW | Austin Bigoney The Culverhouse Investment Management Group, pictured with its first-place trophy from the Southern Classic in Atlanta, will travel to Denver to compete in another competition.
Investment group to compete in Denver By Emily Sturgeon | Contributing Writer The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse Investment Management Group will travel to Denver, Colo., to compete in the American regional CFA Institute Research Challenge after its first-place victory in the Southern Classic competition in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 22. Five members of CIMG, a studentrun investment group, worked as research analysts of the real-world stock of Mohawk Industries, a flooring manufacturer based in Calhoun, Ga. They were judged based on their abilities in financial analysis and, to demonstrate their proficiency, the team prepared a written report on its assigned company and gave a presentation reporting the results of the research and defending the thesis. The team included junior Forrest Hames, junior Kevin Whitney, sophomore Jeff Priester, junior Zac Adams and sophomore Daniel Smith. “We did hours on hours of just reading over what we were gonna say and getting our presentation down,” Hames, vice president of
investment strategy, said. Hames said CIMG began its work at the beginning of the school year, collaborating on the research over the fall semester and putting together the report in December. “We watched the videos of the teams last year. We read the reports of the ones that won the global competition, just kind of scouting out what winners have done in the past,” Hames said. The UA team was the only team to receive an A on its presentation and one of two teams to receive an A on its written report. Coming off a middle-ofthe-pack finish during its first appearance at the challenge last year, CIMG was awarded the Ridgeworth Cup over UAB, Georgia State and Georgia, who previously held the title. Whitney, vice president of public relations, said the experience was made more valuable because they were able to get reactions from veteran experts in the field. “It’s just cool to be able to present in front of them and get their feedback as someone who’s been doing this for 30 years and is managing billions of dollars,” Whitney said.
Adams, committee head of health care and financials, said many of the 13 teams that CIMG competed against in Atlanta were MBA students. “They were like 26, 27 years old and had investing experience, while we were just a bunch of young whippersnappers,” Adams said. Members of the team said their most memorable moment at the competition was getting to talk to UA President Judy Bonner. CIMG advanced to compete in Denver on March 18 and 19, where they will face the same challenge but on a much larger scale – against a pool of 49 teams from across the Americas. Hames said they are excited to encounter teams much different from the ones they have seen in the South. Adams said the audience during their presentation could reach more than 1,000 people, as opposed to the 50-person crowd in Atlanta. “If we win, we would be like the best team in the western hemisphere, which is a crazy thought,” Adams said. “We’re one really good day away from being the best team in the hemisphere.”
p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, March 6, 2014
SPECIAL TOPIC | SGA ELECTIONS
SGA election coverage: External and Student Affairs By John Brinkerhoff | Opinion Editor
previous Executive Vice Presidents have often taken on additional projects, such as RAGE, that directly benefit students but do not fit within the other offices. While the Executive Secretary is not as visible to the student body as other positions, it still maintains an important role in maintaining open lines of communication within and between all three branches of the SGA. It also carries the responsibility of holding other branch members accountable for the completion of their constitutional duties. The importance of this role is also likely to change
Today, Chris Willis, the uncontested candidate for Executive Vice President, and Khortlan Patterson and Polly Ricketts, candidates for the position of Executive Secretary, present their platforms for the Student Government Association. The Executive Vice President serves as the head of the SGA Senate during formal events, oversees the election of SGA Senate’s speaker, manages the First Year Council and often acts as a representative of the SGA President at functions. Additionally,
GUEST COLUMN | EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
this year, as both candidates have unveiled platforms for overhauling the branch’s internal operations, including implementing programs to change the way SGA interacts with students. Ultimately, both of these positions will directly affect the student body on this campus, and, as such, engaged students should read the platforms of these candidates closely. The impact of these candidates will be noticed next year. John Brinkerhoff is the Opinion Editor of The Crimson White.
GUEST COLUMN | EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Executive Secretary should act If elected, transparency, diversity as a conduit for student body will be a high priority in the SGA By Polly Ricketts From the beginning of my experience at the Capstone, I knew the Student Government Association was the perfect fit for me. Last year, I had the honor of serving as the Secretary of First Year Council, and currently I am serving as the Associate Executive VicePresident. I have learned through my time in SGA that a resilient, sustainable relationship with the student body is invaluable. Further, these positions have given me much-needed experience to run for the esteemed position of Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary’s role within the SGA is to provide accurate documentation of events and initiatives and to keep updated records for students to easily access. For collaboration to occur with SGA and the student body, it is imperative that students can access this information. If elected, I will make this my utmost priority. I will communicate clearly with students and work to increase the transparency between SGA and the student body at large. One of the first initiatives I would implement if elected would be a program titled “Let’s Talk.” This program would allow students to immediately communicate their concerns or suggestions with the SGA and, more specifically, with myself, through a link on both the SGA website and myBama. These concerns could be as small as wanting to place more ACT card scanners on vending machines around campus or as large as wanting to lower the transportation ticketing charges. As well as voicing concerns, students would be encouraged to submit ideas for projects or events they would like to see developed, such as bringing a local legislator to the University. Oftentimes, students have brilliant ideas but do not know where to begin or what resources to utilize. As soon as a student submits a concern or idea, I would respond immediately and begin a collaboration process in order to make their concern a solution or to turn their idea into a sustainable project for the University. This initiative would open that door for the students at The University of Alabama and would give the students a stronger, more powerful voice. In addition to “Let’s Talk,” I recently organized the Alabama Legislative Update that
was sponsored by SGA, College Republicans and College Democrats. Through organizing this event, I was able to fully understand that collaboration of organizations Submitted around campus is vital. I was Polly Ricketts able to utilize the resources of the other organizations in order to create a successful experience, which attracted a diverse and large group of students. As Executive Secretary, I would like to grow the Alabama Legislative Update even more by creating events with local legislators to dents how current legislation inform students and policiess are affecting them as students at the University. If elected as Executive Secretary, I promise that I will make it o keep a priority to an open and tmofriendly atmothin sphere within hat the SGA that encourages students to onvoice any coneas cerns or ideas that they may ves have and gives onfithem the confidence that I will be there to listen, rate to collaborate and to help. Thank you all so much ur for your support, and I would be honave your ored to have vote. Polly Ricketts is a candidate for the position of SGA Executive Secretary.
By Khortlan Patterson My name is Khortlan Patterson, and I am running for the position of Executive Secretary within the Student Government Association. I am a sophomore student currently serving as Vice President of Internal Affairs within the Honors College Assembly. I am also a moderator with Sustained Dialogue and a Member At Large representative of the Student Leaders Council. As an SGA Executive Secretary candidate, I feel charged to use this position to provide a greater sense of transparency between members of the Student Government Association and the student body it represents. I firmly believe that the first step in empowering our student body and giving that body a voice is to make available detailed information about the proceedings of the SGA. Furthermore, wi provide publicizing this information will some accountability for the members of the SGA to adhere to the voices of tthe student body. elec If elected, I will implem implement a plan to develop and maintai tain a digital ar archive conta taining digita recordtal in ings of all t the meetin ings of the S SGA. The im importance of recording the meetings as opposed to keeping a written r e c o r d cannot be o v e r e m p h a size sized, as wi it will ensure th that the meetings in their e entirety be available made available. A policy of strict transparency is one part of my broader passion for inclusiveness
Facebook.com Khortlan Patterson
on campus. It is important that we have an SGA that is representative of the entire student body, not just a select demographic. To this end, I have devoted my campaign efforts toward reaching out to groups who have not been adequately
represented in the past. In my college career thus far, I have had many experiences and managed responsibilities that make me a highly qualified candidate for Executive Secretary. One unique experience came during the fall semester of 2013, as I helped plan and lead a peaceful demonstration on the Capstone dubbed “The Final Stand in the Schoolhouse Door.” The demonstration included students, faculty and members of the University of Alabama community standing unified to speak out against racial discrimination on campus. The effort was crucial to our campus because it empowered students to exercise their ability to change the dynamics of campus. This is the same ability that I hope to recognize if elected to serve as Executive Secretary. As current Vice President of Internal Affairs of the Honors College Assembly, my responsibilities include, among other duties, documenting meeting minutes and serving as a source of historical information for members of the Assembly. I have every intention of using this same integrity and diligence as Executive Secretary. It has been said of me that I am “a woman with a heart of her peers.” I am deeply devoted to inclusiveness and do not take lightly my responsibility to act as a change agent within the positions I currently hold. It is these qualities and on-campus involvements and endeavors that have prepared me to truly act as the voice of the entire student body as Executive Secretary of the Student Government Association. Khortlan Patterson is a candidate for the position of SGA Executive Secretary.
GUEST COLUMN | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Building on successes and improving failures to better serve campus By Chris Willis I have had the privilege and honor to serve in the Student Government Association for three years, serving as a First Year Councilor, as a senator from the College of Commerce and Business Administration and, most recently, as the Vice President for Financial Affairs. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in SGA, developing a passion for bettering our University and students. Because of this, I am running for Executive Vice President to serve the students and University that have given so much to me. I am very proud of what the Financial Affairs office has accomplished this year. Our team put in a lot of hard work, and the results speak for themselves. Over the course of the school year, we have increased the number of need- based scholarships awarded each month to students
CW File Chris Willis in need and have increased the principal of the SGA Endowment fund by approximately 20 percent. In addition, the Financial Affairs Committee is on pace to allocate the entirety of its budget to student organizations by the end of the fiscal year. If elected Executive Vice President, I will build on the successes we have had this year and
work to better campus life here at the Capstone. Over the years, I have seen the SGA at high points and low points. While I love to talk about the high points, one cannot pretend that the low points never happened. These events have shaped our current student government leaders, teaching by example what methods of leadership work best and how previous mistakes can be used as learning experiences. Learning from mistakes is one reason we have seen an immense increase in efficiency across SGA in the past year. If elected, I would strive to continue increasing efficiency and to save money when possible. The savings could be used for additional projects or scholarships, giving a greater benefit to the campus. It is pivotal that SGA is relevant to all students on campus. Although it is great to implement projects with focused goals, it
is also important for us to work to benefit campus as a whole. Should I be elected, one particular goal that I would place a high priority on would be the reinstatement of a commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. The Capstone has not had a commencement speaker in several years, and bringing back this tradition would benefit not only our current students, but also students for years to come. Another focus over the next year will be on the spring concert, formally known as RAGE. While the event has lacked success in recent years, I believe that the right mindset and good planning can lead to a spectacular event. One thing in particular that I plan to do is send out a survey to students via email or The Crimson White with artists of various genres. The right artist is imperative for the concert to be successful, and I think that letting the students have a voice
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
in the choice of artist will go a long way to making the concert a success. The University of Alabama is more than a college to me. It is like home. My bed in Bryce Lawn now feels more comfortable than my bed at home in North Carolina. I have lost touch with many high school friends, but I have gained countless lifelong friendships at the University. My experiences here have made me the person that I am today. There aren’t many things in life that one can say that about. I would be honored to be your next Executive Vice President, and should I be elected, I promise to work tirelessly to make every student feel as much at home at The University of Alabama as I do. Chris Willis is a candidate for the position of SGA Executive Vice President. He is running uncontested.
Last Week’s Poll: Coke or Pepsi? (Coke: 80%) (Pepsi: 20%) This Week’s Poll: Do you plan to vote in the SGA elections March 11? cw.ua.edu/poll
p.5
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Student engineers prep for conference By Emily Sturgeon | Contributing Writer Members of the University of Alabama chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers insist that engineers do, in fact, have fun, recounting times they raced concrete canoes and visited the largest construction site in the history of Alabama. Every year the student chapter at Alabama attends the ASCE Southeast Student Conference. There, they show off their year-long projects, such as a concrete canoe and steel bridge, built by students. “It was cool to be able to meet everybody that was in the ASCE and drive down there and have a fun time doing engineering things,” Preston Jutte, vice president of operations at ASCE, said. “I guess that sounds nerdy, but it was really fun.” The students began working in August on their concrete canoe and were graded on a technical design
paper, oral presentation, visual display, final product and, of course, the actual races, during which the chapters set up tents along the beach and cheered on their fellow students. “It’s just a lot of fun, win or lose,” Brittany Shake, vice president of communications at ASCE, said. This year the team’s theme is “Save the Amazon Rainforest,” so the boat is suitably named “Bamazon.” The display is made of 100 percent recycled material. Last year in Miami, the Alabama ASCE chapter placed top 10 in both the concrete canoe competition and the steel bridge contest. The steel bridge team scored second in “Stiffness” for its 2013 bridge. For the upcoming 2014 conference in Tampa during spring break, the ASCE team of 26 students designed a 17-foot long bridge onto which it will load 2,500 pounds. “It’s a big chance for the ASCE student chapter to get together and
show off the hard work that we’ve done through our chapter,” Jutte said. In 2016, the UA chapter will host the conference in Tuscaloosa. “It’s going to take a lot of planning, but basically a 1,000-person conference will be planned by us and a handful of other people,” Jutte said. “It will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it.” When the group isn’t working on conference projects, the ASCE is attending local job sites. Local contracting company Brasfield and Gorrie will give ASCE a tour of the Grandview Medial Center site, a hospital being built in Birmingham, on April 11. The organization also participates in community events like E-day, hosted by the UA Engineering Department for high school students interested in engineering and Science Olympiad, where middle and high school students compete
Bring your lunch and join us for
March 6, 2014 Noon - 1:00 pm Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library - Room 205
R. Scot Duncan author of
Southern Wonder: Alabama’s Surprising Biodiversity
in math and science-based contests. Jutte said one of the central objectives of ASCE is to build relationships with other engineers and network with professionals. He said hearing about the careers of current engineers helps members decide what route of engineering to pursue. “Even if it’s not about getting jobs or the futures, it’s just getting to know people that are in the industry and what they did to get there,” President Clayton Dodd said. The group has expanded drastically, growing almost four times its size in two years. Two years ago, there were 40 members, but now the group is composed of around 150. “The future is wide open,” Dodd said. “We’ve gone from having one chapter meeting a semester to site visits and socials.” The ASCE invites anyone interested in engineering to attend their next chapter meeting March 11 in 240 H.M. Comer at 6 p.m.
CW | Austin Bigoney The UA chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers placed top 10 for their concrete canoe in last year’s competition.
NEWSIN BRIEF Public Speaking Program to launch presentation lab Alexa Chilcutt, assistant professor in the department of communication studies and director of the Public Speaking Program, is currently planning a new resource for University of Alabama students to be launched in fall and located in Reese Phifer Hall. The “Practically Speaking” presentation lab will be much like the Writing Center, except it will specialize in oral communication and public speaking skills. “People will be able to log in and create appointment times,” Chilcutt said. “It’s going to be a resource for faculty, staff and students as well as members of the Tuscaloosa community to receive real–time feedback on presentations and speeches.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 74 percent of Americans suffer from speech anxiety. The lab will provide a place for students and faculty to find their comfort zone in public speaking. The objective of the presentation lab will be to provide trained instruction to individuals or groups to help develop more confident, effective oral presentations and personal communication skills, according to Chilcutt’s
agenda. The lab will allow students to get professional critiques from those who specialize in communication. “I want people to realize we would be the best source of knowledge for those types of issues,” Chilcutt said. “I feel like it can give our college and department a little more visibility on campus.” The lab will be housed in Reese Phifer Hall. “Hopefully it will be housed in [Alabama] Public Radio, where they have recently moved out of the studios,” Chilcutt said. They are currently working on locating a space for the lab, but it will function somewhere in Reese Phifer, Chilcutt said. Beth Bennett, department chair of communication studies, is also working on the presentation lab with Chilcutt. “We did a pilot run of the lab last year to test its feasibility. Assuming that we get the facility for it this summer, our plan is to launch the service in August 2014,” Bennett said. “Our intent is to offer this lab to help students campuswide, not just our college, as well as to help the larger community.” Compiled by Samantha Eastburn
LIVE. LIKE. THIS. Bent Tree 1 & 2 Bedrooms 8 Blocks from Campus 205.391.6070
Fountain Square 1 & 2 Bedrooms 8 Blocks from Campus 205.391.6096
Regal Pointe Studios,1,2 & 3 Bedrooms 4.8 Miles from Campus 205.391.6055
Canterbury 2 Bedrooms 2 Blocks from Campus 205.391.6075
Mountain View Studios, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms 4.9 Miles From Campus 205.391.6026
Rivermont 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms 3 Miles From Campus 205.349.1797
Forest Trail Studios,1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms 6 Miles from Campus 205.391.6084
NorthBrook Studios, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms 3 Miles from Campus 205.391.6060
Stone Creek Studios, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms 4 Miles from Campus 205.391.6040
SealyRealty.com
p.6 Student hikes for New College credit HIKING FROM PAGE 1
student at Alabama, but I am actually not going to any classes,” Wells said. Instead of sitting in a classroom, Wells will be outdoors taking in the sites of the Appalachian Mountains. Instead of spending his time with teachers and students this semester, he will be surrounded by other hikers and learning from them. Wells’ depth study is wildlife and land management through New College. He was able to save all of his independent study hours for this trip. His hours come from the time he spent creating a detailed plan for the trip, more than 40 pages long, and for the actual hike itself, which he is estimating will take him about four months. “I have always enjoyed the outdoors, from backpacking to climbing to caving,” Wells said. “My passion for the outdoors landed me a job as a trip leader for the University’s Outdoor Recreation Center. Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail has been a dream of mine for years.” This dream did not start to take form until the spring semester of Wells’ sophomore year. That semester, he took a creativity class where his final project was a short planning paper on thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. At the beginning of his junior year, Wells began talking with his advisor and (creativity) teacher, John Miller. Miller helped Wells turn his final project for his creativity class into credit for independent study hours. “William took my creativity seminar a couple of years ago and was struggling to come up with a final project for the class,” Miller said. “So, I suggested that he combine his enthusiasm for outdoor leadership with creativity and create a trip plan for a hypothetical trip to important natural attractions around the world. He did
Thursday, March 6, 2014 a great job with the project, so when he came to me to discuss a real-world version for hiking the AT, I knew he would bring his skills to the project.” In 2013, Wells started this process working with professor Mike Steinberg, Wells’ advisor in New College, Miller said. Steinberg is a geographer who has done fieldwork in sites ranging from Belize to Iceland. “All I did was to help William structure the work-product associated with the project when professor Steinberg left on his sabbatical,” Miller said. “I love the outdoors, but not like William and professor Steinberg do.” Miller said hiking the AT is a fun adventure, but it is by no means an easy one. “It’s one thing to plan a day or weekend trip,” Miller said. “A thru-hike of the AT is both a physical and a mental challenge. Even planning for it makes someone consider what their strengths and weaknesses are. [It] forces them to consider what the difference is between the way they want to think of themselves and the reality of who they are. In many ways, that’s the point of experiential learning, to give students the opportunity to personalize, to internalize the lessons of their education in hands-on or applied contexts.” Wells is already experiencing pain and soreness, and he is just more than 70 miles into the trip. Carrying about 28 pounds and hiking up and down the Appalachian Mountains takes a toll on the body. “A lot of people believe hiking up mountains is the hardest part,” Wells said. “They are definitely wrong. Really, it’s going down that is the hardest part. My muscles have tightened up a lot, and my joints are sore from all the pressure.” When Wells gets to rest for the night, he is usually staying in shelters or hostels along the trail. The shelters are usually three wooden walls with an open front and a wood or tin roof. Wells said the hikers are not the only creatures staying there, though. “The first night I went to
sleep and realized there was a nest of mice in the shelter,” Wells said. “I could feel them running over my sleeping bag all night.” Many of the hikers have made a game out of killing mice in the shelters. “There are tally marks on the walls that hikers have made whenever they kill a mouse,” Wells said. Despite the difficulties involved the experience, he said he has enjoyed meeting new people on the trail. “The best part so far has definitely been the people,” Wells said. “Everyone I have met has been awesome. There were a couple girls from Maryville and a couple of ex-Marines. There have also been a lot of weekend backpackers. I hiked for a while today with a guy known on the trail as Tumbleweed.” Wells said he hikes much of the day by himself. Sometimes he catches up to some people and hikes with them for a while or camps with other (backpackers.) Wells said the long four months will be well worth it when he comes to the end of the trail in Maine in July. “Personally, I hope that William can deepen his appreciation for the natural world and think about whether the kinds of things that tend to occupy a lot of mental and emotional space in day-to-day living merit the attention that we give them culturally,” Miller said. “William has mentioned that he wants to better understand who he is and what he wants from life, and I think this will give him the tools to do that and more.” From an academic perspective, Miller said he hopes that the experience of hiking the AT will also serve to underscore the importance of Wells’ preparation and his training. “Managing a process as complex as this and thinking through various eventualities in a clear-headed way is both an educational and characterbuilding experience,” Wells said. Wells said he hopes this experience will turn into a
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Hiawassee, Ga.
Stover Creek, Ga.
CW | Belle Newby career path for him in the future. “I love backpacking,” Wells said. “I will get so much more experience from this trip, and it’s a good chance to trust my knowledge of being outdoors. It will be great to come away with an even greater trust in my skills, and hopefully I will eventually be able to work in the backcountry someday.” Steinberg said hiking the Appalachian Trail is much like a microcosm of the real world. This is Steinberg’s third student to hike the AT. “The AT thru-hike is more than a hike, and it prepares you for more than just a physical experience,” Steinberg said. “The AT requires a great deal of planning, a great deal of resilience and the ability to set goals. In the context of the AT, these are all critically important because they could be the difference between running out of food and water far from a town or sleeping in the rain instead of a shelter, or even a failed trip altogether. Beyond the AT, these sort of exercises are important because there isn’t a career out there that doesn’t require you to make good planning decisions, be resilient and set goals.” To follow Wells’ trip, visit his blog, travelerbytrail.com.
LEASE NOW for Fall 2014 t 2 Bed / 2 Bath t 1,400 Sq. Foot Units! t Only $675/Bedroom! Gretaiton! t Huge Walk-In Closets Loca t Includes Wi-fi, W/D, and Kitchen Appliances
Win an
iPad Mini! Enter to WIN by Touring The Gates!
www.TheGatesAtCedarCrest.com
345-1440
p.7
Thursday, March 6, 2014
You can preload funds to an online account accesible with a swipe of your ACT Card
Dining Dollars help determine business success
Can be used at more than a 100 locations on- and off-campus
Bama Cash
Add funds to your Bama Cash account at actcard.ua.edu Additional funds cannot be added to Dining Dollars accounts Do
Dining Dollars
Money from student ACT cards can make or break restaurants
Use Us U e at Bama Dining locations, Rec Center Smoothie King, most on-campus vending S m machines, all Tuscaloosa-area Domino’s m a and Buffalo Phil’s llocations oc $300 automatically charged with nine $30 credit hours CW | Emily Young, Belle Newby
By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter Since 1996, businesses in Tuscaloosa have been partnered with Bama Dining and the Action Card Office to allow students to use their ACT cards as a form of payment. However, the partnership has proved beneficial for some businesses and harmful for others. Rhett Madden, the former owner of Crimson Café on the Strip, said accepting Dining Dollars severely hurt his local business. “I took Dining Dollars for over 13 years and had to reposition the business into a nighttime business because we could not make a fair-trade profit accepting them,” Madden said. “With Dining Dollars, we had to pay a 21 percent commission off every single Dining Dollar we accepted. We tried for a semester without Dining Dollars to see if we could make it work without them, but we couldn’t get enough non-Dining Dollars business because of the $30 million per-year daytime student food business monopoly it creates.” Madden said his business could not keep up with the competition from on-campus food vendors because so many students eat on campus. He said other schools that do not have required meal plans for freshmen, the University of Georgia in particular, have many more off-campus coffee shops that are thriving. “I finally just ended up selling the business, getting a job and starting over after
being self-employed for over 18 years,” table and eating it by themselves, they Madden said. “It was a case of being at the come in here and they actually have an wrong place at the wrong time, and I am experience,” she said. very glad it is all behind me now.” Childress said the only negative effect One restaurant, just down the street of accepting Dining Dollars and Bama from the former Crimson Café, has seen Cash is that it puts a damper on their bar success with Dining Dollars and Bama business, because students cannot buy Cash. Erin Childress, the general man- alcohol with ACT cards. ager of Buffalo Phil’s, said between 85 “We’re trying to build our bar business and 90 percent of her busiand our late-night business, ness during spring and fall and I think that people come comes from students using in here with that card, they Dining Dollars or Bama think it’s a place where they Cash. start, and then they go out “We have a great relaand go to bars,” she said. tionship with the Action “So it’s good and bad for us, Card Office and the people and we’re working as hard there,” Childress said. “I as we can to make sure that think that it definitely benwe’re trying to retain that efits us with the amount late-night bar business.” of business that we do Childress said it is the with Dining Dollars; we’re owner’s policy not to — Erin Childress actually coming out betdiscuss the percentage ter off than we would if we commission they pay the didn’t take Dining Dollars. University, but Kristina We don’t really have any Hopton-Jones, director of negative experiences at University Dining Service, all because we follow procedure like the said 7.5 percent of earnings from Dining University tells us to.” Dollars come back to the University. Childress said Buffalo Phil’s has not Jeanine Brooks, director of the Action been hurt by competition from on-campus Card Office, said the percentage is generdining locations; in fact, January was its ally 3.5 for Bama Cash. busiest month by far. “The vendor actually submits a pro“I think people come here for the atmo- posal, so there are a few paying more,” sphere, instead of going to the Ferg and Brooks said. “We do charge an annual getting their food and sitting down at a reader maintenance fee of $500.”
We have a great relationship with the Action Card Office and the people there.
@AS_Stuservices
Enter between february 25, 2014 and march 21, 2014. Must be 18 or older to enter. Must be an arts and sciences student to enter. visit facebook.com/as.stuservices for details.
Vendors are paid weekly for sales minus commission on Dining Dollars and twice a month for Bama Cash. While Dining Dollars is only accepted at Buffalo Phil’s and Domino’s Pizza, Bama Cash is accepted by many businesses around Tuscaloosa. Some of the biggest off-campus partners are restaurants like Buffalo Phil’s, Moe’s and Domino’s, but Bama Cash is also accepted at Cleansing Tide Laundromats, Publix, CVS, OZ Music and some gas stations near campus. “We strive for businesses who provide services students would benefit from rather than targeting on volume,” Brooks said. “Small, local vendors are part of our community and welcomed to the program as much as the large chain operations. That said, grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants located in areas heavily frequented by students, like the Strip, do well.” While many student use Dining Dollars and Bama Cash at vending machines and restaurants on campus, they may not have a big impact on their meal choices off-campus. Haley Brantley, a freshman majoring in biology, said that while she uses Dining Dollars at least every other day on campus, she rarely uses them off campus. “I mainly use Dining Dollars; I don’t use Bama Cash ever,” Brantley said. “I have [used them at restaurants], but whenever I’m thinking about going out to eat, I’m not thinking about using Dining Dollars.”
facebook.com/ as.stuservices
p.8 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, March 6, 2014
COLUMN | THEATER
COLUMN | GAMING
Oscars showcase Broadway talent Modern games can lose uniting factor for families, friends By Luke Haynes
With the Olympics over, every TV in America tuned in to watch a different kind of athlete vie for a different kind of “gold.” That’s right, the 86th Academy Awards were Sunday, and like the rest of America, I was itching to see how the star-studded event would turn out. Unlike many of the spectators, I wasn’t watching to see what everyone was wearing or what hilarious shenanigans Ellen DeGeneres would get herself into. I was looking to see which artists would be awarded for their work and what the lasting effect might be on cinema – and theater – in future years. Yes, Broadway and Hollywood seem like they’re often competing, but in many ways, what’s good for movies is good for theater, too. So while I was very happy for all the winners, I was even happier to see some magical moments that were great for theatre. If there was one movie that everybody in the theater community rallied behind, it was without a doubt “Frozen,” Disney’s recordbreaking animated musical based loosely off Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.” There are several reasons theater lovers everywhere wanted to see this show succeed, the biggest of which being that a stage version of the show is already in development. By winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (Let it Go), “Frozen” has proven to its producers that it deserves to be put on stage and proven to its audience that the stage version deserves to be seen. of Speaking “Frozen’s” awards, the happiest moment for MCT Campus me during the Oscars Idina Menzel performs “Let It Go” from was watching Mr. and Disney’s “Frozen” during the 86th annual Mrs. Lopez win for Best Academy Awards on Sunday.
Orig Original Song. Not only because I legitimately love “Let it Go” or because they gave the cutest accep acceptance speech ever, but because this couple has b been a force in the theatrical community for seve several years now. Yes, the duo who wrote the musi music to “Frozen” and “Winnie the Pooh” are also the songwriters behind two of Broadway’s bigge biggest smash hits: Tony Award winning “Avenue Q” a and Tony/Grammy Award winning “The Book of Mormon.” M This means that anybody who loved the ““Frozen” soundtrack and wants to hear more musi music from its writers will be introduced to some of Br Broadway’s best music and possibly become theat theater fans for life. Robert Lopez also brought some recognition to the theatrical community by beco becoming the youngest man ever to win an EGOT (Emm (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award). Of all o of these prestigious honors, the Tony Award (Bro (Broadway’s Oscar equivalent) is probably the least well-known. An Another great part about the Oscars this year was all the Broadway talent present. Not only was the entire e leading cast of “Frozen” comprised of Broa Broadway alums, but other stars such as Meryl Stree Streep, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dame Judy Dench, Bene Benedict Cumberbatch, Tracy Letts and Angela Lans Lansbury are all award-winning stage actors. Even though Oscar night was devoted to their cinemat ematic achievements, they are all advocates of the theat theater, and many of them have expressed interest in re returning to the theater soon (and bringing busses o of their fans with them). In addition to all the nominees, the ceremony itself served as a good commercial. For one thing, it inc included several live performances in its broadcast. Even the best and brightest people in the movi movie business realized that if you need to entertain an audience, there’s no substitute for live perform formances. Some of these performances featured Broa Broadway stars (like the singer of “Let it Go,” who defin definitely was not named Adele Dazeem), others celeb celebrated movies that later became Broadway show shows (such as “The Wizard of Oz”), but all of them were live, and, I think most will agree, they also made up many of the most entertaining parts of th the show. Su Sunday was a great night for Hollywood, and it wa was also a great night for Broadway, but most of al all, it was a great night for excellence. People who were the best at their respective fields were honored for their hard work and talent, and it’s that hard work and talent that will keep people coming back to stages and movie theaters for years to come.
By Matthew Wilson Video games have made leaps and bounds technologically from their ’80s arcade origins, but often the human element is lost among conversations about graphics, rivalries and online functions. It is important to remember why people play video games in the first place and why video games are now so ingrained in our culture. One of the reasons that video games remain so popular is the human connectivity and bonding that they promote. From the dawn of the industry to current day, video games have been a way for family and friends to spend time together. Video games foster competitiveness and cooperativeness in ways that films, music and books never can. With the rise of the Internet, video games in today’s time largely focus on the online multiplayer aspect. This further increases the connectivity that binds people together by allowing friends hundreds of miles apart to play together. The double-edged sword to the rise of online functionality is the decline of local multiplayer. Many games lack the ability to be played with just a couple people sitting down on the couch. This is a travesty. Some of the best moments I’ve had playing video games came from playing in a room together. Whether it be clashing against my friends and roommates in sports games or playing four-player platforming games with my family, it’s hard to replace local multiplayer without losing something vital to video games. As the video game industry has bloomed and expanded, it seems more people are focused on hardware, software and rivalries, but sometimes it’s more important to state that the real reason we play video games is to have fun and connect with people.
p.9
Thursday, March 6, 2014
COLUMN | MUSIC
Death of Paris to play Yoko Ono rumors regarding The Green Bar Thursday Beatles completely undeserved By Kinsey Haynes | Contributing Writer Every time singer Jayna Doyle’s heart has been broken, she has written about it. She channels her failed relationships into catchy pop songs that represent how her life could have been. Her songwriting for the band Death of Paris of Columbia, S.C., says what others are thinking but are afraid to say. Doyle and guitarist Blake Arambula both attended the University of South Carolina. Shortly before graduating, Doyle and Arambula’s previous band fell apart, and they both found themselves wondering what to do next. “In the meantime of ‘not knowing what’s next,’ we began working on unfinished songs from our old band,” Doyle said. “Those finished songs became demos, and we were soon contacted by a [Los Angeles] based producer we knew in college.” They formed Death of Paris and added rhythm guitarist Patrick Beardsley and drummer Bryan Lee Bass. In 2013, the band went to Atlanta to record their next album with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, both who have worked with bands such as Jimmy Eat World and Mayday Parade. “We really wanted to work with someone who had a distinct way of producing,” Doyle said. “We were drawn to the off-the-wall way that they record drums, like hanging mics from a sunroof and then slamming car doors to add a different type of sound with the bass drum, or like crushing light bulbs in a trash bag as an extra crash cymbal.” The sound of Death of Paris has changed
since its inception in 2010. Its first album was a mix of Doyle and Arambula’s writing styles. Arambula said on the band’s latest release, “Gossip,” they were able to incorporate everyone’s writing styles. “On this record, we also were able to try out many of the new songs live before recording them,” Arambula said. “That process let us tweak the sounds more and really keep our live show in mind while recording.” Growing up, Doyle and Arambula were both heavily influenced by music. Doyle started taking cello lessons when she was 6 years old, but at 4 years old, she told her parents she would be a singer. She attended every show that came through the local House of Blues, wanting to play on the same stage as them. Arambula’s mother was really big in the local karaoke scene. When he was allowed, he would watch her. He was fascinated by seeing crowds enjoying music and people performing on stage. “I wanted to become a part of that somehow,” Arambula said. Death of Paris will play Thursday at Green Bar. Doors open at 9 p.m, and there is no cover. The show is a launch party for a local clothing label, Live, Grind, Love! which aspires to donate to arts-based groups and charities, promote underground artists. This will be the band’s first time in Tuscaloosa. “Most of the dates during this tour will be in new cities we’ve never played before. Hopefully we can make Tuscaloosa a new stop on our future tours,” Arambula said.
Weekend Band SCENE
BARS
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
RHYTHM & BREWS Rexton Lee
MissUsed
Snazz
GREEN BAR
Death of Paris
N/A
N/A
INNISFREE
CBDB
OutShine
Alpha Groove
JUPITER
N/A
Velcro Pygmies
Whickey Myers
ROUNDERS
The Doctors and The Lawyers
Soul Tide
Sean Rivers Band
CW| Hannah Glenn
@
By Francie Johnson About three weeks ago, I mindlessly shared a photo from Rolling Stone’s Facebook page wishing Yoko Ono a happy birthday. More than 50 Facebook comments later, I found myself headfirst in a debate in which I was Ono’s sole defender against an onslaught of criticism. Although I was mildly annoyed, I can’t say I was surprised. Hating Ono is basically a rite of passage into the magical, mystical world of Beatles fandom. An extremely ridiculous rite of passage, but a rite of passage nonetheless. Now, I wouldn’t by any means call myself a Yoko Ono fan. I suppose the best way to describe my feelings toward her would be to say that I passionately tolerate her. I don’t like her, but I think all of the hatred directed toward her is completely undeserved. So here’s a list of some of the most common complaints I’ve heard against Ono, followed by a short description of why they’re wrong and stupid. “She broke up The Beatles.” Stop. Just stop. Yoko Ono did not break up The Beatles. Do you really think that one woman could break up a 10-year union? Does it really seem possible that the disintegration of perhaps the most famous and influential band in history could be traced to one single root cause? Of course not. The Beatles broke up for a variety of complex reasons that had been bubbling under the surface for years before the group’s 1969 demise. The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, and according to a six-page Rolling Stone cover story on the band’s breakup,
MCT Campus Yoko Ono Lennon later said, “That’s when I really started considering life without The Beatles – what would it be? And that’s when the seed was planted that I had to somehow get out of [The Beatles] without being thrown out by the others. But I could never step out of the palace because it was too frightening.” Lennon was already imagining life without The Beatles in 1966. It wasn’t until 1968 that Lennon and Ono became serious about their relationship. So although Lennon’s relationship with Ono may have caused some distress between the band members, to blame the band’s breakup entirely on her doesn’t even begin to tell the entire story. “She was a bad person.” I won’t argue with you that some of Ono’s decisions are questionable at best. I’m certainly not a fan of how she treated Cynthia and Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s first wife and son. Isn’t it a bit hypocritical,
though, to hate Ono for being a “bad person” and not hold the same opinion of Lennon himself? If you read up on some Beatles history, you’ll discover that none of the Beatles were particularly nice people, at least when they first started out. It’s well known that John Lennon, in particular, cheated on and abused Cynthia Lennon. We still love the Beatles, despite their wrongdoings, so why should we use Ono’s as an excuse to hate her? “Her music is awful.” Seriously? Yoko Ono’s talent and artistic vision surpass that of all four Beatles combined, and to say anything otherwise is completely absurd. Just kidding. Ono’s music sucks. I’ll give you that. Her voice sounds like the rare combination of a dying chimpanzee and a garbage disposal with a fork jammed inside. However, is that really a reason to hate her? Hating a person’s music and hating the person are two entirely different things. If you’ve read this far and you still hate Yoko Ono, consider this: John Lennon loved her with all his heart, and that’s all that should matter. I’ll leave you with this final Lennon quote, the one that originally inspired my own change of heart about Yoko Ono. “They want to hold onto something they never had in the first place. Anybody who claims to have some interest in me as an individual artist, or even as part of The Beatles, has absolutely misunderstood everything I ever said if they can’t see why I’m with Yoko. And if they can’t see that, they don’t see anything.”
Your Ad could be HERE! Contact your Sales Rep today!
p.10
Thursday, March 6, 2014
UA Opera Theatre to perform ďŹ rst show in renovated venue By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter
CW | Lindsey Leonard Several hand-made items at Alabama Goods are labeled for clearance upon the decision by owners to close the University Boulevard location.
Year-old Alabama Goods closes Tuscaloosa store By Elayne Smith | Contributing Writer Alabama Goods closed its doors at its Tuscaloosa location on University Boulevard after one year of operation. The store featured local vendors selling handmade items and was modeled after its flagship location in Birmingham. The Tuscaloosa store was an attempt to expand the company but did not get a necessary volume of sales. Sherry Hartley, one of the owners, said when making the decision, they looked at the population and hoped The University of Alabama would help bring customers to their store. They tried looking for a location with a collection of shops and boutiques. Hartley knew there was a lot of traffic on the Strip and hoped parking near the store would attract customers. “We hoped that we would be a go-to store for residents there who wanted items that were interesting and unique and made in Alabama,� Hartley said. “We know what our niche is and the type of area where we need to be: It’s in a shopping destination where there are other unique stores appealing to upper-end clientele.� Alabama Goods has found more locations that fit the niche in other states but not in Alabama. Hartley said their next plan is to open similar stores in other states and have reserved the website names for 40 other states, such as Georgia and Tennessee. Hartley said they plan on launching the websites first, following up with retail locations. Other local businesses have experienced the challenges Alabama Goods faced in Tuscaloosa. In October 2012, David Milis and his wife opened The Maker’s Market, a craft store in downtown
Tuscaloosa that supports the 100 crafters. He said they struggle to spread word about the store and have relied on social media activity, such as supporting other businesses and joining groups like Downtown T-Town, which promotes downtown Tuscaloosa. “We try to support other businesses,� Milis said. “Some things businesses can do to really help themselves is embrace other businesses around and understand that if everybody gets their welcome mat out and everybody talks about everybody else, eventually it will trickle down to everybody.� Competing with chain businesses is a challenge for local businesses. Mary Cesar, owner of Mary’s Cakes & Pastries bakery in downtown Northport, has sold specialty cakes and a variety of pastries for eight years. She said competition with big-box stores is hard when people are used to walking in and getting what they need. Cesar cannot mass produce anything for her bakery, because there’s no certainty everything will be sold. “People are used to being able to buy goods at reasonably cheap prices, and I think a lot of people maybe don’t appreciate what actually goes into making something from scratch and making it by hand,� Cesar said. Even with this risk, Cesar keeps baking. She said the experiences people gain from local businesses have more depth, with more personal attention, individual atmosphere and a certainty in the production process. “People want to spend as little money as possible, but people don’t appreciate what goes into making a small product,� Cesar said. “There’s more to life than eating grocery store food.�
When Jen Stephenson first read lines for UA Opera Theatre’s performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul,� she cried. The emotional 1950s opera, set in the mid-20th century in an unnamed totalitarian country, addresses themes seen throughout history that can move modern humanity as well. Stephenson, a second-year doctoral student at the University, and Paul Houghtaling, director of “The Consul,� both said this performance will be one the community will not want to miss. “It’s so realistic,� Stephenson said. “When I am reading about people in the Ukraine, I can’t help but think about Magda and her story.� Stephenson will be singing the lead role of Magda in “The Consul.� She said not only has the role been demanding as a singer, but Magda is probably one of the most demanding acting roles in the school’s repertoire. “Most of the opera, Magda is bordering
hysterical,� Stephenson said. “As an actor, you have to put your emotions close to the surface.� Houghtaling said he chose the opera for three reasons. He felt it would be well-suited to showcase his students in the program; he always chooses his operas based on the type of singers he has in his program. The other reasons that went into the decision were more aesthetic, he said. “The past two years we have done comedies, and so this year I really wanted to do a drama,� Houghtaling said. “And since we were partnering with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, I wanted something with lush, rich music.� The opening performance of “The Consul� will be Friday at 8 p.m. in the newly renovated Bryant-Jordan Hall, in collaboration with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra directed by Maestro Blake Richardson. The performance will be followed by a reception where attendees can meet the singers and production staff and enjoy refreshments. There will also be a matinee performance Sunday at 3 p.m.
Click on the Tech Tab in myBama to set-up your UA + Box account today!
What is UA + Box :
Denny Deals are on the racks NOW!
Pick one up today to start saving money with all the great coupons inside!
• UA + Box allows every current UA student, faculty, or VWDII WR VWRUH ÀOHV RQOLQH LQ WKH FORXG • $FFHVV \RXU ÀOHV DQ\ZKHUH DQ\LPH IURP DQ\ GHYLFH GHVNWRS ODSWRS WDEOHW RU SKRQH • $SSV FRQQHFW \RXU %R[ GDWD ZLWK RWKHU DSSOLFDWLRQV DQG VHUYLFHV • &ROODERUDWH VKDUH LPSRUWDQW FRQWHQW ZLWK DQ\RQH DQ\ZKHUH • (QJLQHHUHG E\ %R[ DQG ,QWHUQHW IRU VHFXULW\ XVLQJ HQFU\SWLRQ GRPHVWLF VWRUDJH DQG PRUH • 6HH WKH ODWHVW YHUVLRQV RI UHFHQWO\ XSGDWHG ÀOHV ZKLOH \RX¡UH RQ WKH JR • 5HFHLYH UHDO WLPH XSGDWHV VR \RX NQRZ ZKHQ GRFV KDYH EHHQ YLHZHG RU HGLWHG • 6HQG SURMHFW ÀOHV MXVW E\ HPDLOLQJ D OLQN • )DFXOW\ VWXGHQWV FDQ TXLFNO\ DQG HDVLO\ VKDUH DV VLJQPHQWV LQ D IHZ FOLFNV • %R[ 6\QF HQVXUHV ÀOHV IURP \RXU ORFDO KDUG GLVN DUH DOZD\V DYDLODEOH IURP RWKHU FRPSXWHUV DQG GHYLFHV
p.11
Thursday, March 6, 2014
FIRSTFRIDAY n lee Lur
d Blv ce alla W . B
.
Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center Paul R. Jones Gallery Sella-Granata Art Gallery Kentuck Arts Center
Queen City Ave.
arner Jack W
lvd.
rsity B
Unive
Pkw y
Paul W. Bryant Dr.
NE
CW | Hannah Glenn
First Friday promotes downtown galleries By Cokie Thompson | Contributing Writer On the first Friday night of every month, art galleries in downtown Tuscaloosa buzz with excitement as artists reveal new works. Many shops stay open late for those who wander out of an opening reception and don’t want to go home just yet. You might even hear a saxophone or two on the corner of Sixth and Greensboro. This event is called First Fridays, a national event geared towards the revitalization of urban areas. In Northport, a similar event occurs the first Thursday of every month. A graduate student approached Sandra Wolfe, the executive director of The Arts and Humanities Council with the idea for First Fridays. Until then, both Tuscaloosa and Northport held their opening receptions on Thursdays. “It was hard to get to all of them,� Wolfe said. “Now that the two have separate events, it’s easier for community members to attend more receptions. You get pulled into one venue, and it’s hard to get away.�
GORGAS HOURS
EXTENDING
Gorgas Library will remain open on Friday and Saturday evenings until 9 pm March 7 - April 19, 2014 The Music Library and the Sanford Media Center will not be open late hours during this period. Gorgas will not be open late hours during spring break. For a complete listing of all Library hours visit:
www.lib.ua.edu/hours gorgaslib Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library
Although “First Fridays� is the term art galleries across the country use, “Downtown T-Town� is the phrase that Tuscaloosa businesses have adopted to promote their side of the event. Wolfe said the idea is to direct traffic from the gallery openings to surrounding shops and restaurants. “I’ve lived here 21 years. When I first moved here, you didn’t go downtown for anything,� Wolfe said. Since then, Wolfe said she has seen a drastic change in the city, and First Fridays are an opportunity for people to see what’s happening downtown. Katie McAllister, director of the Paul R. Jones Gallery, said she hopes the event continues to help with the efforts to make the Tuscaloosa experience about more than just football. She said the organized effort to coordinate receptions has increased traffic dramatically. First Fridays is just getting started, but it has already seen success. In December, students exhibited and sold their work alongside an exhibition by Tony Bratina, the graphics editor at The Tuscaloosa News.
“You’re gonna see something different every time you walk in the door,� Wolfe said. In Northport, the Kentuck Art Center still participates in Art Night on the first Thursday of every month. “The cool thing about Art Night is it’s happened so much, it happens naturally,� Holly Roberts, program manager at the Kentuck Art Center, said. Thursday, Kentuck will host an exhibit of mixed media works by Barry Graham and Laura Brookhart. Members of their clay co-op will be on site as well, and the gallery shop will be open. The Voodoo Saints will play in the courtyard as pizza bakes in a new cob oven. Keeping with the community theme, the dough will come from Mary’s Bakery, just down the street. Like in Tuscaloosa, Northport’s downtown merchants agreed to stay open late one evening to foster a community feel. Billy’s Sports Grill and The Southern Letterpress will be open, among other local vendors. Receptions both Thursday and Friday are from 5 to 8 p.m., with many galleries participating in First Fridays opening at noon.
CULTUREIN BRIEF Brew night fundraiser to help benefit Secret Meals The Black Warrior Brewing Company will host Ales to Fight Hunger, a fundraiser to benefit Secret Meals For Hungry Children, next weekend. Alabama Credit Union supports Secret Meals, which provides food to children in the Tuscaloosa community so they may have something to eat over the weekend. Teachers and school officials identify children in their classes who have a need for these secret meals, and when the children are not in the classroom, volunteers distribute the food into their backpacks. Ales to Fight Hunger will be held at Black Warrior Brewing company Thursday, March 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be door prizes and appetizers. Additionally, a percentage of each beer sold will go toward Secret Meals. There will also be a $5 suggested donation at the door. Members of the Greek community will be able to sign in at the door for a Panhellenic point. For more information, visit the Ales to Fight Hunger page on Facebook or contact Black Warrior Brewing company.
Statewide German Day competition returns to campus The German Program will host its 19th annual German Day competition Friday in the Bryant Conference Center. More than 250 students from nine different schools throughout the state of Alabama will gather to participate in events ranging from skits, songs, poetry recitation, spelling bees, oral and written contests and more. Mercedes-Benz USI will present a $1,000 scholarship to an eligible high school senior planning to study German at The University of Alabama. For more information, visit mlc.ua.edu. Compiled by Deanne Winslett
The Pants Store is an RXWÀWWHU RI IDVKLRQDEOH social, and outdoor OLIHVW\OHV :H¡YH JRW WKH KRWWHVW IDVKLRQV DW VWXQQLQJ SULFHV
2223 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, AL 205-210-4012 Mon-Sat: 10:00 - 6:00 Sunday: 12:00 - 4:00
www.pantsstore.com
p.12 Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Releford creates enduring legacy of leadership at UA RELEFORD FROM PAGE 1
CW | Austin Bigoney Releford ranks in several statistical categories and is also known as a team leader.
{} REACH A LARGE, DIVERSE AUDIENCE DAILY.
Advertise with
He said [football players] were too big.” Releford has battled the impression that he’s too undersized, even for basketball, for much of his career. At 6 feet, Releford is the shortest player on Alabama’s already small team. “Maybe, at the next level, I think what might hold him back is his size, a little bit,” Zych said. “But they can’t measure his heart.” Despite his small stature, Releford has emerged as one of the all-time great players in Cr i m s o n Tide history, and Saturday will be his final game in a crimson jersey. Releford will face Arkansas on Senior Day, Alabama’s-final regular season game. He said he has no regrets concerning his decision to play in Tuscaloosa. “I’m blessed to be in a position to even play at this level of basketball. That’s what I think about,” Releford said. “I know we’ve had a couple of losses, but I’m just grateful to play at The University of Alabama. I don’t have any regrets on this season.” Still, Zych said Releford’s career has been frustrating for the player at times. Postseason hopes have not gone as expected, and this season, following the unexpected loss of three key players, Releford carries the load for a 12-18 team that has failed to meet expectations. Zych said he occasionally reminds Releford of the impact his play will have on the program. “I told him, ‘You might be in their hall of fame,’” Zych said. “‘You’ll be one of their career-scoring leaders. Grant said you lead in steals. You made your mark at that program, that’s for sure.’” When Releford finishes his career at
the University, he will be the all-time school leader in steals. The senior guard could finish in the top 5 in scoring and free throws made, top 10 in shots made, field goal percentage and assists. He’ll be relevant in as many as a dozen statistical categories. By the time all is said and done, the Kansas City, Mo., native will have played more basketball games for The University of Alabama than any other player in the program’s 101 year history. While it remains to be seen exactly where he will finish, Releford has had a career that rates as one of the top in Alabama history, and a season that’s in contention fo r S o u t h e a st e r n Conference Player of the Year. “Without question, he’s had a Playerof-the-Year-caliber year,” Grant said. “When you look at what’s been asked of him to do on our team night-in and night-out, and from a scouting standpoint, the emphasis that’s been on trying to contain and control him … At the end of the day, if you ask any coach in the league, they’ll tell you from the time he stepped on campus he’s gotten better as a player.” Releford is the SEC leader in steals and steals per game, and ranks in the — Trevor top 5 for field goal percentage, threepoint field goal percentage, points and points per game. Even more important than his on-court statistical greatness, however, has been Releford’s leadership ability in the locker room. Releford said, more than anything, that he appreciates the chance to be the leader for the Crimson Tide. “Being a senior on the team, being a point guard, you always want to be the leader on floor and in the locker room,” Releford said. “I always wanted to be in that role, and I’m thankful for it, and I’m thankful for coach [Grant] believing in me.” Grant said Releford’s leadership skills have blossomed along with his on-court skills. “I think Trevor’s always been that leader on the court, in games,” Grant said. “But I think he’s really emerged
and matured over the course of this season into that guy on a daily basis.” But in the big picture, Releford has shown his leadership skills since the early days of his career, Zych said. “You knew early his sophomore year he was gonna be a special player,” Zych said. “The biggest thing about him is he’s such a great competitor. [Releford] was always more of a spokesperson, a vocal leader. He was our leader from day one.” Releford’s senior season, which has him averaging 18 points, three assists and two steals per game, has many wondering what his future holds. NBA front offices have scouted the player, and it remains to be seen if the guard will play in NBA or overseas like his brother Travis, a former guard for the Kansas Jayhawks. Releford’s two coaches, however, are more concerned with a different definition of success. “I want to see him graduate. I want to see him make a living in basketball or out of basketball,” Zych said. “He’s great working with kids. He’s got a lot of people skills … I hope he can be a good father and a good mentor for some other young kids … A lot of people went out of their way to help him. I hope he Releford can do that for some other kids.” To Grant, Releford is prepared to take whatever chance he might be offered. He said they have worked on Releford’s ability to be prepared, mentally and physically, for the opportunity to play professional basketball. “I think, if given an opportunity, he’s as good as any guard out there to make money playing the game,” Grant said. Regardless, he’s gonna walk out of here with a degree and a maturity level where I think he’s ready to succeed, whether in the NBA, overseas or doing whatever it is his heart desires as he becomes a man and starts his own family.” [Releford] has really grown. I’m really proud of him, and he’s gonna be successful in whatever life has planned for him.”
I’m blessed to be in a position to even play at this level of basketball. That’s what I think about.
p.13
Thursday, March 6, 2014
SOFTBALL
SPORTSIN BRIEF NCAA receives 10 from UA Ten UA track and field athletes have been accepted for entry into the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Seven men and three women will compete March 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M., led by SEC Champions Diondre Batson (60 meter and 200 meter dashes), Jeremiah Green (triple jump) and Charodd Richardson (weight throw).
Lang to be honored in Duluth Former Alabama golfer Martha Lang will be honored as the Crimson Tide’s SEC Legend during halftime of the women’s basketball game on Thursday 5p.m. in the SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga. Lang earned AIAW All-America honors in 1975 as a senior and finished third at the AIAW Championship. She helped Alabama finish seventh in the program’s first season as a varsity sport. Compiled by Charlie Potter
Leslie Jury leads team in ERA, wins By Kelly Ward | Assistant Sports Editor Before the softball season started, coach Patrick Murphy laid out what he saw from his pitchers in the fall season. In 2013, junior Leslie Jury finished the season 18-7 with a 2.56 ERA. She started in 19 games and threw 12 complete games and six shutouts. “I think Jury’s going to be a totally different kid,” Murphy said. “Mentally, so much better. Just a totally different outlook, a lot more confident. Work ethic was probably the top maybe three on the team last fall.” This season, Jury leads the team in ERA with 1.74. She’s 8-2 with 10 starts. She has also thrown a team-high eight complete games and five shutouts. Jury has a bit of swag to her on the mound, but fellow junior
PLAN TO GO WHAT: No. 11 Alabama vs. South Carolina WHEN: Friday, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Rhoads Stadium
Jadyn Spencer said she would choose a different word. “I like to say fierce because L.J. just has this fierce presence about her on the mound,” Spencer said. “She just looks like there’s no possible way that she’ll ever give in, and that’s reassuring as her teammate to know that she’s got your back. It’s easy to have hers.” Former South Carolinian Marisa Runyon said Jury helps
her adjust to life at Alabama. “We talk about it all the time ,like we’re from South Carolina, we’ve got to represent and kind of stick together, and we really want to represent South Carolina proud for sure,” Runyon said. This weekend, a familiar opponent is in town for both Jury and Runyon. No. 11 Alabama will host South Carolina for a threegame series. It’s not so much a homecoming series as it is a rivalry series. “I guess I don’t really think about that as much, but her being from South Carolina, I’m sure there’s an extra little fire that’s going to be within inside of her this weekend, so she’ll look extra fierce on the mound,” Spencer said. The South Carolina lineup won’t be unfamiliar to either Jury or Runyon, who know many
of the names on the roster. “It’s a big weekend,” Jury said. “South Carolina’s a great program, and there’s quite a few girls on that team that I’ve played with and against, so it’s always fun to play against them. They’re a great softball team, so we’re looking forward to them this weekend.” Batters have hit .170 against Jury in 2014. She has 14 earned runs in 56.1 innings pitched. On Sunday she took the loss, her first since Feb. 16. In that span, she had five wins and three straight shutouts. “I just want to continue to do what I’ve been doing,” Jury said. “I always want to win, so I might get a little more pumped since I’m playing the home state, but I’m going to keep the same game plan I’ve always had and stay with my guns.”
ROWING
Rowing team to face Michigan State By Matthew Wilson | Contributing Writer After an offseason hiatus, the University of Alabama rowing team will kick off its spring season with a scrimmage against Michigan State on Saturday. It is by chance, however, that the scrimmage against the Spartans is happening. The site for Michigan State’s spring training froze over, forcing the team to migrate down to the South. Alabama coach Larry Davis said he jumped at the opportunity to face Michigan State. “It’s a bit of a challenge to play someone that difficult of an opponent within the first weeks of the season,” Davis said. “It’s still a good opportunity to test our [mentality], and it’s also good to have a team of that level come down and compete in our own water.” Davis said the scrimmage will test Alabama as a team.
“Any time you can test yourself against some of the best teams in the United States, it gives you a good idea as to where you are as a team,” Davis said. “Assuming we’re doing well and competitive with them, it gives us an idea that we’ll try to do what we need to do for the season.” Davis said the team has worked on trying to be competitive throughout the entirety of the race. “You have to have a complete race. You can’t have half a race, three-fourths of a race or even nine-tenths of a race,” Davis said. “You’ve got to have a complete race, and we’re certainly going to be excited to see how we do against Michigan State in that aspect.” Davis said while the holiday break in between seasons might have hurt a different team, he’s
seen the athletes on his team make strides to stay in shape and active over the winter months when they are away from practice. “It looks like so far this year they were able to do a fair amount,” Davis said. “I think as the team grows a little more mature, they are understanding to make that personal responsibility. When away from the direct supervision of coaching, they continue to work on their fitness and come back to be ready to go. I think we made a step forward in that mindset.” Alabama spent the break between seasons recruiting six new rowers for the 2014-15 season. Charlotte Adkins, Erin Hayes, Margaret Gillespie, Meghan Hampton, Olivia Miller and Nicole Lane will join the team next fall. Davis said recruiting has motivated the current rowers to be competitive in maintaining their seat
UA Athletics Freezing weather at Michigan State’s training site creates an otherwise unlikely opportunity for the teams to meet and test each other. on the team. “We’re expecting to push the ladies that are here,” Davis said. “We’re going to have that internal competition where we always try to be faster, stronger and better.” As for the championship at the
end of the season, Davis said the team is focusing on one competition at a time. “We’re not looking that far ahead yet,” Davis said. “There’s still a lot we still need to put into place.”
Top Floor of Glory Bound
NEXT WEEK
Tuesday: $5 Gyro Wednesday: $5 Salad Thursday: College Night $2 Pints $5 Gyro
Thirsty Thursday Karaoke $2 Wells $2 Btls Friday Welcome X1 March. 14 Private Party Soul Session Saturday
Free Good Vibes
Space Capone St. Patrick’s Day Party 205.349.0505 2325 University Blvd www.gloryboundgyroco.com
@GB2bound @theGB2
Tuesday - Trivia 8:30, $5 pitchers till 9 Wednesday - $6 Baskets, $6 pitchers Thursday - $6 Poboys, Karaoke Friday/Saturday LIVE Music, Late Night Menu Late Night Raw Oysters
p.14
Thursday, March 6, 2014
CW | Austin Bigoney A mass of fans fills the stands for a Saturday game against Stephen F. Austin State University.
Outfield rules create tailgate atmosphere BASEBALL FROM PAGE 1
and chairs and simply kick back in the outfield grass. Justin Ulmer, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering, sat in a lawn chair as Alabama warmed up to face Stephen F. Austin. His border collie, Sydney, sat at his feet, as dogs are welcome to attend the games. “It’s just a different environment, different feeling than sitting up in the stands. There’s people out here obviously enjoying themselves, unlike up there,” Ulmer said, pointing to the student section along the third baseline. “It just kind of looks like squares sitting together.” One of the rules of the outfield that separates it from the actual stadium is that alcoholic beverages may be consumed but only in disposable cups. Glass is not allowed in the area, so drinking directly from beer bottles and cans is prohibited.
This rule, however, has turned some of the attention away from the actual game and turned the terrace into a tailgate party. Fittingly, the fans in the section have been called various nicknames, but the Right Field Ragers has emerged as the team and fan favorite. They are loud. They are annoying to opposing teams. And they are at the game to have a good time. “In the outfield, we can kind of misbehave a little more and be a little more obnoxious and rowdy,” J.B. Costello, a sophomore majoring in public relations, said. But not every student feels that way. Allender Doggett, a sophomore majoring in social work, said the rowdiness brought about from alcohol makes it hard to enjoy the game. “It was fun,” Doggett said, “but you almost couldn’t watch it because there were so many people just standing up.” Still, the large mass of fans in right field has been behind the team in every game this season. Two UA students, Costello
and Maggie Owens, started a Twitter account for the right field seats called Right Field Ragers (@BamaRightField). It has gained more than 2,000 followers since it was created at the start of the season. The baseball players tweet at the account and about the fans who fill the newly formed section. “It’s really nice to see the players are so supportive of us, as much as we’re supportive of them,” Owens, a senior majoring in management, said. The Crimson Tide players and coaches feel the same way about their outfield cheering section. They feed off its energy and even benefit from its loud cheers that force opposing right fielders to drops fly balls. “It’s been outstanding,” Alabama baseball coach Mitch Gaspard said. “You can’t say enough about the outfield terrace and what they’re providing. They’ve really changed the total atmosphere of the ballpark this year. I know myself, I appreciate it, and our players CW | Austin Bigoney appreciate it as well. Spectators bring food, drinks and even pets to watch the Tide play, adding a tailgate aspect to “It looks like they have a hell the baseball games not available inside the stadium. of a time out there.”
LARGE PIZZA $ 95 $ Cheese or Pepperoni
WE DELIV DELIVER!
CAMPUS AREA
1211 University Blvd. across from Publix
366-1500
205
5
Specialty Pizza
10
Veggie, Howie Maui, Meat Eaters or The Works
40155
p.15
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ Ą Ă ă Ć
Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ
rates as low as
ĺĆĆċ
ŶĔŶ Ŷ ŶĆĊ Ŷ Ŷ ĺ ă Ă Ă Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ
Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ ň Ŷ Ų Ŷ Ŷ Ī Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ ī Ų Ŷ Ŷ ň Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ ň Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ ň Ŷ Ŷ
Č Ŷ ē Ŷ Ą Ă ć Č ć ć Ć Čă ć ć Ĉ Ŷ ē Ŷ ą Ă ă Ŷ Ŷ Ŷ
LIMITED TIME ONLY | RATES, FEES, AMENITIES & UTILITIES
INCLUDED SUBJECT TO CHANGE
p.16
Thursday, March 6, 2014
GYMNASTICS
SPORTSIN BRIEF Alabama baseball team to face Mississippi
CW | Austin Bigoney Senior Diandra Milliner performs a floor exercise against Auburn in February.
Milliner vital leader for Alabama gymnastics team
The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team will return to a place this weekend that has been kind to them in recent years, and this season – home. This weekend’s series against Mississippi Valley State, which begins Friday, is the start of a nine-game home stand, where the Crimson Tide has won nearly 250 games over the last decade, including a 4-2 mark so far in 2014. But through 10 games this season, Alabama has scored the least number of runs of any team in the Southeastern Conference (39) and owns the third-worst batting average in the conference (.254). On Sunday, though, the Crimson Tide posted new season highs with 12 runs on 21 hits in a win over No. 10 LouisianaLafayette. Mississippi Valley State, which plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, has not won a game this season and has a team-wide batting average of just .209 and an 8.73 ERA from its pitching staff. In last season’s lone meeting on May 7, Alabama topped the Delta Devils 8-3 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s expected starting rotation this weekend will see junior right-hander Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 0.61 ERA) on Friday, junior lefty Justin Kamplain (1-1, 3.60 ERA) and sophomore right-hander Ray Castillo (0-0, 6.10 ERA). Compiled by Kevin Connell
By Sean Landry | Staff Reporter Halfway through Friday’s gymnastics meet against Florida, senior Diandra Milliner, filling in for the injured Sarah DeMeo, fell hard from the uneven bars. Backed by her teammates and coach, the NCAA vault champion was able to bounce back, posting a leadoff 9.875 on balance beam and clinching the victory for Alabama with a 9.95 on floor exercise. Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said that kind of response is exactly what the team has come to expect from one of its senior leaders. “[Milliner’s response] didn’t surprise me,” Patterson said. “That was the one thing I said to her the minute she fell on bars. I said, ‘It’s over. [Your teammates] will have your back. Move on. We need you to set the tone on balance beam.’ “I always tell people, if you’re the leadoff on beam, in my eyes as a coach, that’s one of the most important routines in the entire meet.” But just like Milliner, her teammates shook off her fall on beam and moved their focus to the next rotation. “We always focus on forgetting about the last event and moving on to the next event,” sophomore Lauren Beers said. “I think she did a great job with that. She obviously completely forgot about her bar routine and went and nailed probably her best beam routine of this season, if not her career. ” Beers said Milliner’s leadership has helped the team remain relaxed in high-pressure situations. That levity will be important as the team takes on No. 10 Stanford this Friday and moves
PLAN TO GO WHAT: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 10 Stanford WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum forward to championship season. Patterson said Milliner matches that lightheartedness with a strong sense of competition. “I think the biggest thing about [Milliner] is she’s so competitive,” Patterson said. “In the fall, I had to push her a little bit, but I know when the competition comes out that she’s going to shine. She doesn’t get nervous. That’s one of the reasons we recruited her years ago, because she’s a fierce competitor. You can have a great athlete that can be great at what they do, but the mental toughness of getting in that pressure situation – sometimes they don’t handle it as well. We look for those kids that want to compete. It’s like that football player that wants the ball.” While the team and Patterson look to Milliner for leadership, perhaps nobody’s expectations are higher than the athlete’s own. “I think my expectations are to lay it all out on the line,” Milliner said. “This is the last chance I get for me and my team. I think that we all kind of know that it’s special that we get to end this season in Birmingham for SECs and Nationals. I think we’re gonna go out and do our best with our crowd supporting us and behind us.”
Miss an important issue? No worries.... we’ve got you covered!
For only $5 you can have a back issue mailed to your home. Visit http://store.osm.ua.edu and request the one you missed today!
(Hurry! Offer is only good while supplies last!)
p.17
Thursday, March 6, 2014
MARKETPLACE
RATES
$1.25 for the first 5 words, $0.25 for every additional word A border around your ad is an additional $0.50 per ad
IN THE
How to place a classified: For classified line ads visit www.cw.ua.edu and click on the classifieds tab. For classified display ads call (205) 348-7355 or email cwclassmgr@gmail.com for a free consultation. The Crimson White is published four days a week (M, T, W, TH). Each classified line ad must run for a minimum of four days and include no less than 16 words.
DEADLINES: Classified line ad deadline is the previous business day by 4:00 p.m.
HOUSING Efficiency & 1 Bedroom Units Available now. Also, pre-leasing for Fall 2014. Starting at $425 per month. Walking distance to campus. No Pets. Call 205-752-1277. Email: crissy@ tiderentals.com Downtown Loft Extra nice loft, downtown. 2 bed/1 bath, roof deck. (205)752-9020-or-(205)657-3900 Beautiful Beach Condo - Book Now For Spring Break 2 bedroom condo on the most beautiful and most convenient part of Panama City Beach. Treasure Island on Thomas Drive. Sleeps 8 including bunkies. Heated Swimming pool and kiddie pool. 1374 square foot plus very large balcony. FREE BEACH SERVICE Two padded loungers with umbrella. March 15 to October 15. NOW OPEN - Liza’s poolside snack and beach bar!! On the beach. Incredible views!!! FREE WIFI!!! Very nicely
DISCOUNTS:
5% off for 4 issues - 10% off for 8 issues - 15% off for 16 issues
furnished with full dining area plus full kitchen. Parking deck out of sun. Email carpesdium@aol.com. Text or call 205-260-5005 for availability Responsible adults only. Be prepared to share your GPA information and provide reverences $1900 for Sring Break with a $350 deposit Email carpesdium@aol.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS Crowdfunding seminar this April. http://uacrowdfunding.launchrock. com
JOBS Up To $5,000/Mo.- Part Time Make Money Blogging Set Your Own Hours. Start Right Away. Go To: www.dare-2-succeed.com
“When other jewelers say no, Tom says yes�
Tom’s Jewelry Repair
Sudoku
Like on Facebook & get a free cleaning! Jewelry Sales
2300 McFarland Blvd East (205) 758-2213
HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (03/06/14). Nurture creative collaborations this year. Stick to basics, revising strategies, infrastructure and action plans for efficiency. Work chugs along, while you focus on fun, home, friends and kids from now to August. Romance lights up the summer, and autumn launches your career to a new level. Balance work and play. Grow happiness by focusing on what you love. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- A schedule conflict could disrupt travels. Jupiter goes direct today, for the next eight months. Working with others gets easier. The money for home improvements becomes available. Whip up a feast and invite everyone, to celebrate. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- For the next eight months with Jupiter direct, you do best working through others, and your investments do especially well. Loved ones provide support, and the route becomes obvious. Consider consequences before issuing words or actions. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -Today is a 7 -- There’s plenty of work over the next eight months, with Jupiter direct. Prosper with a partner’s help. Romance is getting easier, too. Get the house the way you want it. A financial matter moves forward now. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -Today is a 6 -- With Jupiter direct, friends provide decisive leadership over the next eight months. Love, prosperity and home improvements grow. Make plenty of time for play. Move forward with an agreement. Adapt to another’s preferences. Cut frills. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Turn down an invitation to go out. Advance a work project. Make sure you know what’s required. It’s easier to learn over the next eight months, with Jupiter direct. Love and money come easier, too. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- It’s easier to
concentrate, communicate with clarity, and take powerful strides in projects at home and work, now that Jupiter’s direct (for the next eight months). Study your course and handle practical details before leaping into action. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -Today is a 5 -- It’s easier to advance and make money now that Jupiter’s direct. Finish old projects to clear space for new enthusiasms. Get your partner involved. Have your home support your passion and work. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- New information handles an issue. Projects that were delayed move forward, with Jupiter direct. Finances and romance grow with greater ease. Take slow, measured steps. Dance with your subject silently. Create a little mystery. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -Today is a 7 -- Take it one step at a time. For the next eight months with Jupiter direct, your dreams seem prophetic, and it’s easier to get whatever you want. Stash away as much as possible. Speak only the truth. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Cash flow improves. Career advancement gets easier (and more fun), with Jupiter direct for the next eight months. Do your homework, and don’t over-extend. Keep expenses low. Celebrate with creature comforts at home. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Today is a 6 -- Money may be tight today, but savings grows over the next eight months with Jupiter direct. Travel and new projects go well. Advance a level, as you meet important people. Let your partner lead. Share good food and home pleasures. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Discuss ways to keep costs down. Group efforts make significant gains. For the next eight months with Jupiter direct, get farther than expected. Personal and professional goals advance with ease. Upgrade your communications infrastructure. Share appreciations.
Public Intoxication? Minor in Possession? Driving Under Influence?
Leasing NOW & Fall!
Randal S. Ford, Esq. (205) 759-3232 www.tuscaloosacourt.com
“No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.�
1HZN¡V H[SUHVV &DIH %UXPILHOG¡V 5HVWDXUDQW DUH QRZ KLULQJ FDVKLHUV VHUYHUV EDUWHQGHUV OLQH FRRNV &RPSHWLWLYH ZDJHV HPSOR\HH PHDO GLVFRXQWV &DOO WR VHW XS DQ LQWHUYLHZ
1HZN¡V %UXPILHOG¡V
1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms
Minutes from Campus & Malls
*Monitored Security System
*Gas Logs/Fireplaces *Tanning Beds Fitness Center; 2 Resor t Pools
Onsite Management 3201 Hargrove Road East
205-554-1977 palisadesapthomes.com
PER M U B R to CARE E P BUM TAL CAR TO
205-556-8411 TIDE DISCOUNTS 12% OFF up to $100 Mention Crimson White when you drop off car. Other terms apply.
3017 McFarland Blvd
Gordon Miller Realty -2 & 3 bedroom homes -Fall leases! -Fenced in yards -Pet friendly -Use of swimming pools -2 minutes from campus -On the Crimson Ride route
Leasing: 205-242-0528
Sunglasses
We buy your wrecked or broken down car or truck! Call, text, or email info and pictures www.shirtshop.biz Downtown 205-752-6931 525 Greensboro Ave.
205-454-4300 webcars7077@gmail.com
p.18
Thursday, March 6, 2014
SAVE OVER
$ 850 PER LEASE* E
O
O
OA GR
JA
L
R
Y.
RIN
TU S C A
WA CK
PKW R E N
SP
IV
LK
RS
R
A RW
MAR
SA
- THROUGH MARCH 31ST -
D
TUSCALOOSA PUBLIC LIBRARY
QUEEN CITY PARK
TUSCALOOSA AMPHITHEATER
GR
EE
N
SB
UNIV
TEMPORARY LEASING OFFICE O
ERSI
TY B LV D
PUBLIX
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
RO 21S
AV E
E. T AV
CAPITAL PARK
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
BRYANT DENNY STADIUM
L E A S I N G O F F I C E X 2 107 U N I V E R S I T Y B LV D.
8 8 8 . 4 6 0. 10 82 X R I V E R F R O N T V I L L AG E .C O M *See agent for details. $850 savings based on a 12-month lease with all applicable discounts and incentives applied. Not all applicants will qualify. Offers applies to select units only. Cannot be combined with any other offers.