BASEBALL Tide falls to Memphis, 6-0 SPORTS PAGE 12
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 119, Issue 104
NEWS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT
NEWS | VETERANS
Wills wins only contested race
Sequester means cuts to financial aid for veterans
Less than 17% of UA votes in president race By Stephen N. Dethrage Production Editor Mary Wills defeated her opponent Emily Passwaters Tuesday by more than 3,000 votes to become executive secretary in the only contested race for a Student Government Association executive position. Jimmy Taylor received 5,624 votes to win his uncontested race for the title of SGA president. Each
of the five candidates for vice presidential races also won their unopposed races with more than 5,600 votes. Kelli Knox-Hall, an elections official, said winners in Senate elections were not announced Tuesday night because of a large number of write-in votes. The process of contacting students who earned enough write-in votes to land a Senate seat, verifying their eligibility and asking for their acceptance of the position could not be completed Tuesday night, Knox-Hall said. She estimated the election results would be announced Wednesday.
Total votes in SGA president election, 2011-2013
10,115 votes in 2012
10.55%
decrease
increase
9,150 , votes in 2011
41.94%
5,873 , votes in 2013 CW | Ashley Thomas
NEWS | RESEARCH
Where the wild things are
debt issues. Walter said the other 60 percent of his tuition is covered by the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which is not affected by sequestraBy Kyle Dennan tion cuts, and he came to the Staff Reporter University expecting that his After J.C. Walter served in educational expenses would be Afghanistan and enrolled at covered. “Coming in to The University The University of Alabama, he expected to be able to pay all of Alabama, I knew that I didn’t of his tuition with assistance have to worry about taking from the post-9/11 G.I. Bill and out a loan to pay for education additional aid from the U.S. because I had the G.I. Bill and tuition assismilitary. tance on my His senior Cutting these benefits is side,” he said. year, though, J o r d a n making it harder for that will come with Carpenter, a a price tag he soldier to go to school, to resenior majoring didn’t expect: ceive that education that he in environmen$4,500. The or she rightly deserves. tal science and junior majoring a veteran, said in criminal jus— J.C. Walter these cuts are tice is set to lose unfair to sol40 percent of his diers who were veteran’s tuition promised tuition assistance. aid because of sequestration. “You have someone who “You’re taking away from a soldier’s education,” he said. might have set up their life in “Cutting these benefits is mak- a certain way because of proming it harder for that soldier ises that were made about to go to school, to receive that tuition assistance,” he said. education that he or she rightly “The recruiter might have said ‘you have access to $4,500 in deserves.” Beginning this fall, the mili- tuition assistance, so sign up tary’s tuition assistance pro- for eight more years.’ Someone gram for members of the Army, has agreed to give up that much Air Force and Marines will be of their life, and now you’re cut as part of the federal cuts changing the terms. I think to defense and social programs anyone would be rightfully mandated by President Barack upset with that arrangement Obama and Congress because being changed.” of a failed attempt to reach SEE SEQUESTRATION PAGE 2 compromise on the nation’s
Returning soldiers at UA lose $4,500
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NEWS | DRUG RAIDS
Students, professors discuss implications of Feb. 19 drug raids
CW | Austin Bigoney
Above: Professor Stephen Secor stands in front of an interesting collection of animal remains in his office. Right: “Carlos” an alligator basks in artificial light in a nearby room. of Alabama campus. And according to one lab supervisor, it’s inevitable that the creepy crawlers will get out of their cages from time to time. “You know, there are just two guaranBy Mark Hammontree and Ellen Coogan tees when you’re working with snakes,” CW Staff Stephen Secor, an associate professor of An alligator, an entire colony of biology, said. “One is that you’ll eventupythons and worms that have been ally get bit, and two, they’re going to get genetically modified so that they glow, out at some point. Neither is a big deal packed in labs smaller than some though, at all.” dorm rooms— it’s not science fiction, SEE ANIMALS PAGE 6 it’s day-to-day life on The University
Campus labs house gators, python colony, dead bees
NEWS | DANCE ALABAMA!
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Dance Alabama! spring show features hip-hop, tap Students write, lead original dance pieces By Kristen Feyt Contributing Writer Dance Alabama!’s tradition of choreography, costumes, music and lighting has danced its way back to the stage for this spring’s concert. Th e a l l - stu d e n t - c h o reographed show will be
unveiling a variety of performances featuring multiple genres of dance, ranging from ballet to hip-hop, as well as modern and tap. The majority of the choreographers chose music without any lyrics to help heighten the mood of the piece, as well as to not distract the audience from the message that the work is portraying. SEE DANCE PAGE 3
PICTURES | Dance Alabama! Scan the code to the right with the QR Reader for iPhone or Android to see more rehearsal photos online. er • Plea s
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INSIDE today’s paper
CW | Alaina Clark
The all-student-choreographed Dance Alabama! premiered Tuesday night and will be performed every night this week until Saturday.
Briefs ........................2
Sports ..................... 14
Opinions ...................4
Puzzles.................... 13
Culture .................... 10
Classifieds .............. 13
a little concerned with the extent and nature of the coverage because none of the individuals had yet to be convicted of any crime, and By Sarah Elizabeth Tooker he strongly suspects most Staff Reporter cases will be reduced in Following the Feb. 19 charge. Half of our students arrests of 61 University of now come from out of state, Alabama students on vari- Lanier said, and some come ous drug charges, several from states where these opinions across campus marijuana charges are legal have made the University activities or are not actively enforced by law the a marketenforcement. place of ideas. It cannot make Alabama “We have M a r k much more look progressively appealing Lanier, crimidiversity on nal justice to students who might choose this campus department to engage in what is legal than e ve r chair, said he activity in their home state. before, have believes the actively sought large number — Mark Lanier that diversity, of warrants but with that served at one diversity must time for often minor charges led to sensa- expect varied norms and social practices,” Lanier tionalism. “We are lucky to have said. “It cannot make excellent local law enforce- Alabama look progressively ment, who might focus on appealing to students who more serious violent crime,” might choose to engage Lanier said. “Crimes against in what is legal activity in women, DUIs and crimes their home state, but front committed against UA stu- page sensational news in dents, rather than on minor Alabama.” marijuana-related offenses.” Lanier explained he was SEE RAIDS PAGE 3
Lanier, Calderone talk impact of busts
WEATHER today
Clear
55º/34º
Thursday 61º/46º Clear
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