TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 100 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
NEWS | SGA
NEWS | DISABILITY SERVICES
Presidential candidates face off in final debate Bloom, Thompson discuss campus diversity, leadership experience
Students with
By Adam Dodson | Contributing Writer The SGA presidential debate Monday night between Hamilton Bloom and Justin Thompson covered various areas of concern for students and the candidates. Bloom, the current vice president for student affairs, spoke on the topics of SGA’s involvement on campus and the voice of the average student. Thompson, currently an SGA senator, focused mostly on the issues of diversity on campus and the changing of the current SGA system. Bob McCurley, former director of the Alabama Law Institute, mediated the debate and opened up the night by asking the candidates what they thought was the most urgent priority for the SGA. Bloom said he believes the most urgent issue is the need for a diversity caucus, which he said would get the SGA more involved on campus. “SGA doesn’t need to just get involved with Hamilton Bloom more students who are part of organizations; it needs to get involved with students who have no affiliation and get them associated with organizations, too,” Bloom said. “This will help us make sure that all students have a voice.” Thompson said he believes the most urgent issue is the need for a smoking restriction on campus, that a nonsmoking campus would lead to healthier lives and that many students would back this policy. Thompson also spoke at length about his belief that minority groups do not have enough of a voice on campus. “It is known that I am openly gay,” Thompson Justin Thompson said. “My motto is to unite this campus regardless of race, gender, sexuality, how much money you have, where you’re from or your Greek affiliation.” Thompson reiterated throughout the debate that not everyone on campus has a say in important matters, especially minorities in student government. Thompson said he saw, as a senator, the need to “change the system” to ensure transparency in the student government. “As a member of the Senate, I did not have as much influence as I expected, and my committee SEE DEBATE PAGE 7
disabilities seek
access on campus Buildings with historic designation exempt from national accessibility guidelines CW | Austin Bigoney Campus buildings such as Gorgas Library maintain a classical style of architecture that may lack accessibility features for students with disabilities. By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter
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he University of Alabama is famous for its signature Greek Revival architecture style, with towering columns and steep staircases leading to building entrances. But one thing missing from these grand facades is accessible entrances for students with disabilities. In many buildings, these entrances are around the side or in the back, hidden from view and inconvenient to access.
“A lot of the buildings are historic, and what gets me is that these buildings that are made at or around the Civil War era, those back entrances were for people of a lesser class, specifically slaves,” said Sierra Rodgers-Farris, president of the Crimson Access Alliance and a graduate student of gender and race studies. “So now we’re saying that it’s okay for everybody to use the front entrances except for disabled people, [who] still have to use the back. What are we saying about people with disabilities?”
The Crimson Access Alliance is a student organization aimed at advocating for the rights of students with disabilities and increasing awareness on campus. Rodgers-Farris said that while the Office of Disability Services provides many accommodations to students with disabilities, it’s not always enough. The syllabus for every class is required to include information about disability SEE DISABILITIES PAGE 7
NEWS | SGA
Posters may violate election policies End The Machine promotes independent SGA candidates By Andy McWhorter | Assistant News Editor In an alleged violation of SGA election rules, a number of posters endorsing nonMachine affiliated candidates were posted in residence halls around the University of Alabama campus Monday morning. The posters claimed this year is the 100th anniversary of the Machine and asked students to give the secret organization a break this year. “Show them you care, and give them this year off,” the poster read. “They shouldn’t have to run SGA by themselves forever.” Madalyn Vaughn, a senior majoring in accounting and co-chair of the Elections Board, which governs all student elections
You can’t use or put campaign materials anywhere in UA housing. That includes all of the residential dorms. — Madalyn Vaughn
at The University of Alabama, said fliers like the End The Machine posters constitute a violation of rules. “That does violate constitutional rules,”
Vaughn said. “You can’t use or put campaign materials anywhere in UA housing. That includes all of the residential dorms.” According to the SGA Elections Manual, candidates are not allowed to distribute campaign materials in on-campus buildings but may post on designated bulletin boards and, as approved, in residence halls. Henry Perkins, a senior majoring in New College; Drew Erny, a sophomore majoring in computer science; Taylor Pierson, a sophomore majoring in management information systems; Stephanie Ray, a junior majoring in international business; and Terrence Lonam, a freshman majoring in philosophy and marketing, all claimed to be involved with either creating and distributing the End The Machine posters, running SEE MACHINE PAGE 7
SPORTS | FOOTBALL
TODAYON CAMPUS Cast your vote
Student files lawsuit against former athlete Suit alleges defensive back assaulted fraternity brother
WHAT: SGA elections WHEN: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. WHERE: myBama.ua.edu
By Andy McWhorter and Kelly Ward | CW Staff
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today’s paper Briefs Opinions Culture
CW File Love celebrates after a victory over LSU in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game.
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WHAT: Spanish Movie Night: “Tesis Sobre un Homicidio” WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 203 B.B. Comer Hall
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WHAT: Alabama vs. Samford WHEN: 6:05 p.m. WHERE: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
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Attorney James D. Smith filed a civil action lawsuit on behalf of University of Alabama student Connor McKenna against former UA defensive lineman Wilson Love on Sunday, March 9. The lawsuit was filed two days before the statute of limitations would have prevented McKenna from filing one. “A civil lawsuit was filed against Wilson Love, a recent University of Alabama graduate and a former University of Alabama football player, over something that was supposed to have happened in California
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website cw.ua.edu