FOOTBALL The Crimson Tide football team begins spring practice SPORTS PAGE 11
Monday, March 18, 2013
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 119, Issue 105
CULTURE | WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Athlete returns for 5th year to win at nationals
SPORTS | MEN’S BASKETBALL
Grant’s team misses the mark Alabama’s NCAA bubble bursts, Tide secures No. 1 seed in National Invitation Tournament
Student doesn’t let disability define him
By Charlie Potter | Staff Reporter By Abbey Crain Staff Reporter
“
We felt like we needed to play our way in, and we weren’t fortunate to do that. So we’re thankful to have a chance to
“
participate in the postseason. — Head Coach Anthony Grant
For the third time in four years under head coach Anthony Grant, Alabama was left on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the Crimson Tide (21-12) will compete in the National Invitation Tournament for the second time in three years. Alabama was selected as a No. 1 seed for the NIT, joining Kentucky, Southern Mississippi and Virginia. The Tide will host the No. 8 seed Northeastern Huskies Tuesday In Coleman Coliseum. “We’re thankful to the NIT committee for giving us the opportunity to participate in the tournament this year, to receive a No. 1 seed and get a chance to play here at home,” Grant said on a teleconference Sunday night. Alabama had a shot at making the NCAA tournament, but a Southeastern Conference semifinal loss to Florida on Saturday closed the door on the Tide’s chances of being penciled in the big
dance’s bracket. ded to play “We felt like we needed ren’t fortuour way in, and we weren’t nate to do that,” Grantt said. “So we’re thankful to have a chance to ason. We’re participate in the postseason. looking forward to the challenge of astern.” going up against Northeastern.” er to the NIT Alabama is no stranger arden, where or Madison Square Garden, the semifinal and final rounds of the d. Earlier this tournament will be held. ed two games season, the Tide played n the 2k Sports in the storied arena in Classic. miliar with that “Our guys are familiar venue,” Grant said. “But that’s something ght now the focus that’s down the road. Right ng prepared for has got to be on getting g it one game at Northeastern and taking a time.” SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 13 CW | Austin Bigoney
Mark Booth enjoys traveling. He has visited all 50 states, 17 European countries, Australia and Honduras. He has two national championship titles and will graduate in May. He was born with spina bifida, but said his wheelchair doesn’t define him – sarcasm does. “I’ll open up a door for my self and some old lady will be like ‘you’re doing so good, just good job’ and I’m like, ‘thank you, I appreciate that, I can juggle too,’” Booth said. A Los Gatos, Calif., native, Booth came to The University of Alabama to play on the wheelchair basketball team. “When I was like 7, I was a bum, and my parents needed to get me involved in something to get me off the couch, so they entered me into this junior wheelchair sports program in San Jose, California,” Booth said. “I kind of just liked basketball, that was my thing.” When he was in eighth grade, his wheelchair basketball team won the junior national championship, possibly foreshadowing UA’s wheelchair national championship last week. Edward Gray, a senior majoring in history and French, is one of Booth’s best friends after rooming together freshman year. Gray said he is very
CW | Alaina Clark
Mark Booth, a senior majoring in history and political science.
happy to know Booth, by the “blind luck” that is potluck roommates. “None of my friends are particularly remarkable in the same way Mark is,” Gray said. “None of them are national champions in wheelchair basketball. Mark in that game, I mean, he had ice in his veins.” Miles Thompson, UA’s men’s wheelchair basketball coach, said the recruiting class of seniors Mark Booth and Jared Arambula changed the culture of wheelchair basketball at the University, giving them a competitive edge.
SEE BOOTH PAGE 2
NEWS | GREEK LIFE
‘Party Smart’ guide requires make-shift fences for events Fencing provides help with security, privacy By Sarah Elizabeth Tooker Staff Reporter The black tarp fences seen all across fraternity row in the spring are a requirement of UA’s social events regulations and have been for many years. Despite appearance concerns, Cathy Andreen, UA spokeswoman, said the fences help provide
have musical entertainment, etc., must be registered with the Office of the Dean of Students,” Andreen said. Once a party is registered, the organization is required to follow the guidelines outlined in the department of Student — Will Patton Affairs’ Party Smart guide. According to the standards and restrictions for social events security and privacy for parties found in the guide, all outdoor where alcohol is being served. “All social events meeting social events must be held certain criteria, including those within the enclosed areas with a that involve more than 50 people, monitored entrance. Permanent
“
I understand the concept of wanting to hide what’s going on, but the fences are usually very unattractive and inefficient.
fencing is preferred. However, temporary, quick-removal fencing may be accepted. Also, fencing must be a minimum of 6 feet tall. Because most fraternities do not have 6-foot high, all-encompassing fences, they are forced to create the makeshift fences built each spring for the famous day party season. Will Patton, a junior who serves as house manager for Kappa Alpha, said constructing these fences can take anywhere
from one to three hours. “I understand the concept of wanting to hide what’s going on, but the fences are usually very unattractive and inefficient,” he said. “You can always count on some fraternities’ fences falling down and looking pretty terrible.” Patton said despite their appearance, these fences are actually quite pricey and most can only be used one or two times. “In the end, I have mixed
reviews about the fences,” he said. “It can be good to hide a spring party, but it’s not like the public doesn’t know what is going on behind the trash bag type material anyway.” Ryan Cechovic, a junior and member of Phi Gamma Delta, said the fences were important because not everyone on campus drinks, and if the general public were to see people openly drinking, they might find it offensive.
SEE TARPS PAGE 6
NEWS | STUDENT GROUPS
Students for Fair Labor promote fair trade clothing on UA’s campus Group lobbying for alternatives to Nike By Kyle Dennan Staff Reporter A new group at The University of Alabama wants to provide a fair-labor alternative to the Nike products that fill the University’s Supply Store. Mark Ortiz, a sophomore majoring in biology and New College, said his group, Students for Fair Labor, is pusher • Plea s
er • Plea
ap
“
ecycle this p
ap
er
likely to get clothes [from] Nike, which is a serial human rights You can’t raise children on a abuser, as are a lot of the other minimum wage that is not a brands that we see in a lot of college bookstores,” Ortiz said. living wage; you can’t afford Students for Fair Labor said childcare. they would like to have Alta Gracia, a sweatshop-free brand — Amanda Reyes which pays workers a living wage, stocked in the Supply ing back against the popular Store alongside more traditional brand for its reported human brands in order to provide consumers with an alternative. rights abuses. Ortiz said there are practi“Right now when you walk cal benefits to stocking Alta into the bookstore, you’re
INSIDE today’s paper
Gracia, aside from strictly ethical considerations. “The great thing about Alta Gracia is that it is actually cheaper than Nike or Adidas,” Ortiz said. Amanda Reyes, a master’s student in women’s studies and a member of Students for Fair Labor, said a living wage is different from a minimum wage, because it allows workers to provide for their families in a way that the minimum wage does not. “You can’t raise children on a
Briefs ........................2
Sports ..................... 10
Opinions ...................4
Puzzles.................... 15
Culture ...................... 7
Classifieds .............. 15
minimum wage that is not a living wage; you can’t afford childcare. You can’t afford to buy your children clothes or to send your children to good schools,” Reyes said. Ortiz said the living wage accounts for the actual cost of living, which is different from place to place. “A living wage is essentially just a wage that calculates the cost of living for a standard family – the cost of food, the cost of clothing, the cost of shelter – it is
WEATHER today
a wage that essentially holds the employer responsible for ensuring that his or her employers can actually live,” Ortiz said. The University has also committed to fair labor practices. In a 2010 press release announcing the University’s $30 million licensing agreement with Nike, the University said Nike would manufacture its products in factories that provide fair labor conditions.
Chance of T-storms
77º/46º
SEE LABOR PAGE 6
Tuesday 70º/39º Clear
cl e recy this p se
GO ON THE
ONLINE
ON THE CALENDAR TODAY What: Movie Night: The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman
VISIT US ONLINE AT CW.UA.EDU
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @THECRIMSONWHITE
Where: 135 B.B. Comer Hall
When: 6 - 9 p.m.
When: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
When: 2 - 3 p.m.
What: Desegregation Now,
What: Art Speaks
What: The Annual National
Where: Nott Hall
Showcase for the Alabama Forensic Council
Desegregation Forever
Where: 328 Lloyd Hall When: 7 - 9 p.m.
LUNCH BBQ Pork BBQ Baked Beans Mexi-Corn Fried Okra Pasta Pronto (Vegetarian)
DINNER Yankee Pot Roast Potatoes Steamed Brussel Sprouts Vegetables
Will DeShazo 348-8995 Advertising Manager cwadmanager@gmail.com Tori Hall Territory Manager 348-2598 Classified Manager 348-7355 Coleman Richards Special Projects Manager osmspecialprojects@gmail.com Natalie Selman 348-8042 Creative Services Manager Robert Clark 348-8742 Emily Diab 348-8054 Chloe Ledet 348-6153 Keenan Madden 348-2670 Camille Dishongh 348-6875 Will Whitlock 348-8735 Amy Metzler osmspecialprojects3@gmail.com Jake Morrow osmspecialprojects2@gmail.com 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 © 2013 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.
Where: Moody Concert Hall
When: 7 - 8:30 p.m.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Pork Loin Vegetable Lo Mein Ginger Sesame Asian Salad Apple Crisp Cheese Pizza (Vegetarian)
FRESH FOOD DINNER
LUNCH
Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein Ginger Sesame Asian Salad Cauliflower Au Gratin (Vegetarian)
Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Steamed Carrots Sautéed Green Beans Chips & Guacamole (Vegetarian)
Student stays for 5th year to play for title
questions and talk to people about his wheelchair, because he said most people “just don’t know.” “I don’t like when people go so far out of their way to help me, like they’ll follow me around and race me to the door to get the door for me and I’m like ‘thank you, but you know I could do it, I promise,’” Booth said. “I wouldn’t go out in public if I couldn’t open a door on my own.” Booth pointed to his car in a nearby parking space when asked about possible “perks.” “I like being able to park up front, I’m spoiled,” Booth said. “I get to skip lines of security at the airport. Life is easier. I’m telling you, if you want to cut off a toe; just like that, the world opens up.” Booth joked it would be helpful to have a girlfriend not in a wheelchair. “I have a theory, girls are a pain in the ass and people in wheelchairs are a pain in the ass. You put them in together and it’s just like ‘oh my gosh, I’m not getting anywhere, I’m not getting out the door,’ so I try to go for girls not in wheelchairs because also it’s not like I can’t do anything, but it’d be nice to have someone to help me get the chair in the car mostly because I’m lazy.” Booth will graduate in May with a degree in political science and history, but he said hopes to take a break from school for a while and play professional wheelchair basketball in Europe. He said he wants to travel and find a nice girl. “[Mark is] a one-of-kind, kind of guy,” Thompson said. “He travels by himself, all over the world and he lives life on life’s terms and enjoys life as only he can.”
ON THE RADAR MCT Campus
ADVERTISING
Where: 335 Lloyd Hall
LUNCH
John Brinkerhoff opinion editor
Alex Clark community manager
What: Trumpet Choir
BURKE
LAKESIDE
GOP senator announces support for gay marriage
Whitney Hendrix lead graphic designer
Against Sweatshops Movie Screening
ON THE MENU
Marquavius Burnett sports editor
Anna Waters lead designer
What: UA United Students
calendar@cw.ua.edu
Lauren Ferguson culture editor
Shannon Auvil photo editor
Where: Ferguson Theater
Submit your events to
Adrienne Burch Chandler Wright assistant news editors newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Ashanka Kumari chief copy editor
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 235 Lloyd Hall When: 7 - 9 p.m.
Will Tucker editor-in-chief editor@cw.ua.edu
Melissa Brown online editor
Information Sessions
Where: 120 Farrah Hall
Club presents ‘Ben-Hur’
EDITORIAL
Mackenzie Brown visuals editor
What: Study Abroad
series
When: 7 - 9 p.m.
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
Stephen Dethrage production editor
What: Town Hall: lecture
WEDNESDAY
Where: 118 Graves Hall
What: Movie Appreciation
Page 2• Monday, March 18, 2013
Ashley Chaffin managing editor
TUESDAY
WASHINGTON — Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio has become one of the most prominent elected Republicans to announce his support for same-sex marriage, a “change of heart” that he said began when his son told him that he was gay. Portman, who was on Mitt Romney’s shortlist of potential running mates in 2012, told CNN on Thursday that he views his new stance as consistent with his political philosophy, “including family values, including being a conservative who believes the family is a building block of society.” “This is something that we should allow people to do, to get married, and to have the joy and stability of marriage that I’ve had for over 26 years. That I want all of my children to have, including our son,” he said. Portman’s announcement, which he also explained in an op-ed article in the Columbus Dispatch, comes as the GOP is in the midst of a post-election period of introspection and just a week before the Supreme Court is to hear oral arguments on whether to uphold Proposition 8, California’s 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex unions. Ohio also has a voter-passed measure that bans same-sex marriage. The state was one of the major battlegrounds in
a 2004 effort by Republicans to raise the profile of the issue by putting measures on state ballots that party strategists hoped would draw conservatives to the polls. But in the intervening years, a rapid change in public opinion has shifted the issue from being one that may have helped conservatives to one that appears to work against them. Portman told Ohio reporters Friday that he might support a new attempt to overturn the same-sex marriage ban in his state, depending on its wording. Portman said he revealed his change in position now, two years after his son first came out to him and his wife, in part because of the pending Supreme Court case. The announcement also comes as American Conservative Union holds its CPAC conference in suburban Washington, one of the largest gatherings of conservatives annually. Speaking at that conference Thursday, another leading Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, addressed the issue by saying: “Just because I believe states should have the right to define marriage in a traditional way does not make me a bigot.” Portman also stated that the process of changing laws regarding marriage “should come about through the democratic process in the
states.” “Judicial intervention from Washington would circumvent that process as it’s moving in the direction of recognizing marriage for same-sex couples. An expansive court ruling would run the risk of deepening divisions rather than resolving them,” he said. Until recently, many conservatives backed measures to take that decision away from states. Last year’s Republican platform, for example, called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in all states. It was only last May that President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, just after he began officially campaigning for re-election. “I think that the same evolution that I’ve gone through is an evolution that the country as a whole has gone through,” Obama said at a news conference last month, noting that more states have extended rights to same-sex couples. In the interview with CNN, Portman said that as Romney considered him as a potential running mate last year, he told the Republican presidential candidate and his team about his son’s sexual orientation. When Romney chose Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the GOP nominee told Portman that the revelation about his son had no effect on the decision, Portman said.
BOOTH FROM PAGE 1 “[Booth] could have graduated in four years, but he came back,” Thompson said. “He really wanted that fifth year for the right to earn a championship and for us to win a championship where he scored 18 points and Arambula scored 21 points, and that combo of them to see them go out like that, there was some poetic justice involved there.” Booth said he has not had any problems getting around the UA campus and commends the Capstone’s Office of Disability Services for helping plan class schedules. “Occasionally I’ll have a class where the room isn’t handicapped accessible, but really I can go and get that fixed pretty quickly,” Booth said. “[ODS] will move the class or switch me to another class. I’ve actually never had a problem.” Booth spoke lightheartedly of the cards he was dealt, and said he wants people to know that people in wheelchairs aren’t any different from any other students on campus. “We’re really not that much different from everybody else,” Booth said. “There’s a reason why we are able to go to college and be independent and we don’t really need the extra help. It’s nice, thank you in advance because I know it will happen, but we’re just people doing our thing, it’s not a big deal.” Booth said he doesn’t get offended easily because most people do not have the experience with a close friend or family member that cannot walk. He is eager to answer
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
NEWS
Page 3 Assistant Editors | Chandler Wright and Adrienne Burch newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Monday, March 18, 2013
UA to build $1.8 million fountain near Shelby By John Burleson Staff Reporter The University of Alabama plans to build a $1.8 million fountain in the courtyard of Shelby Hall. Once built, the pentagonal courtyard will feature a circular fountain with a surrounding area of vegetation and seeding. Dan Wolfe, UA planner and designer, said the project was started to give students more areas to congregate and hang out. “We want to accent that area, which is such a great place. The Shelby quad is great because no cars are visible and there is little noise due to construction and passing cars,” Wolfe said. “It is a great and friendly space for people to hang out, and it also gives us the opportunity to create more people space on campus. We want campus to be a nice and friendly environment.” Wolfe also said the fountain is a response to increased
recruiting and part of the project is more traditional in Campus Master Plan building architecture to better accent the strategy, which, according to traditional architectural style of the 2012 Campus Shelby Hall. Master Plan “With the Ferg Update, “unifies fountain, we the campus as a wanted untraCertainly as we intend to complete learnditional. The grow, we need more opporing environment, architect worked interwoven into with a fountain tunities for people to be able a gracious and design company to come together. hospitable setand with our colting that nurlective input we — Dan Wolfe tures the soul came up with and inspires the the Ferg founmind.” tain. We didn’t “Certainly as want to have a we intend to grow, we need raised concrete fountain, but more opportunities for people also not a large pool of water to be able to come together,” at the base,” Wolfe said. “With Wolfe said. “It is also a part the Shelby fountain we wanted of the Campus Master Plan. traditional, we have designed a Shelby Hall is the largest aca- circular fountain with a raised demic space we have ever bed of seeding and landscaping added to the campus at one around it. All the way across time, and we want to add on it will almost be as big as the to the places where people Shelby Hall rotunda.” can hang out on that part of Wolfe said the Shelby campus.” Hall fountain project costs Unlike the Ferguson Center the University a total of fountain, the Shelby fountain $1.8 million.
“
“It is tied into a number of other projects, such as lighting, landscaping and the fountain itself,” Wolfe explained. “The entire project does cost $1,800,000 in total though.” Morgan Long, a graduate student in the romance languages program, said she thought the money could be better spent elsewhere. “Engineering and science have experienced major updates in terms of technology and facilities but A&S programs at UA are exponentially larger than other programs and we are being left behind. B.B. Comer is the home to the Department of Modern Languages and Classics, a department which most students are required to take at least two classes, there are rooms which still do not have access to the same technology,” Long said. “Some classrooms still even have chalk boards. Ten Hoor is only just now getting an update and look at the amount of students who have passed through that building.
CW | Austin Bigoney
The fountain on Palmer Lake. UA’s new fountain near Shelby hall will be more traditional than other fountains on campus. That money could be used better elsewhere.” Mark Edwards, a graduate student in the electrical engineering program, has no problem with the new additions and beautification of campus. “My office is in the new South Engineering Research Center and that is only a few years old. We also have a number of
new buildings and even a new construction which is attached to H.M. Comer,” Edwards said. “Having new additions and areas to hang out on our side of campus will definitely help with recruitment and give people a greater enjoyment in just being in the science and engineering side of campus, especially to younger students.”
Town Hall lecture to address education in Alabama Event will focus on state’s controversial Accountability Act, core curriculum standards, education budget By Jessica Smith Contributing Writer The next Town Hall lecture will focus on the theme “Educating Our Children: Where We Are and Where Are We Going?” It will take place Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Farrah Room 120. Town Hall was the idea of Robert McCurley, retired director of the Alabama Law Institute, who wanted to give students an outlet for
expressing ideas, asking questions and proposing real life solutions. “Town Hall is basically about making a difference,” McCurley said. Town Hall is unlike other lecture series in the sense that it tries to put into action the ideas of the students. This particular Town Hall came about because of the recent controversy over the Flexibility Act. Town Hall coordinator, Ellie Friedman, said students
expressed a concern for the future of education, and Town Hall organized a setting to have these concerns voiced. Students not only want to be heard, but they want to see their ideas having an impact. Students are just as capable of making informed decisions as politicians, doctors or lawyers, she said. “Town Hall is not all talk; it’s action, and that’s what students are looking for,” Friedman said. Students will ask about
CAMPUS ministries
TUSCALOOSA
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SERVICES
SUNDAY AT 9 &11 AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL 10-10:50 AM LOCATED IN PARKER FIRESIDE ROOM (#110) (205)345-7261 800 GREENSBORO AVE. WWW.FUMCT.ORG
First Presbyterian Church
UKirk Ministries
Join us Monday nights at 6:00pm for dinner followed by worship (or Convo as we call it!) at 7:00 pm
Conversation Community Connections 1127 Eighth St.
the Flexibility Act, Core Curriculum, education budgeting, the state of zip code education in Alabama and the future of education for Alabama. The moderator is Shelley Jones, a former teacher, principal and chair of the Tuscaloosa City School Board. Other speakers include J.W. Carpenter, Alabama director for “Teach for America,” and Isaac Espy, principal of Northridge High School. Town Hall is an Honors
College program run by student coordinators to discuss critical issues facing not only students but Alabamians at large. “By hearing from the experts in the field asking them questions they can help be a part of the process of making Alabama better,” Friedman said. Town Hall is free to students and the public, but it’s primarily for students to ask questions and be involved. For more information, email Ellie Friedman at eafriedman@crimson.ua.edu.
IF YOU GO... • What: Town Hall lecture series • When: Tuesday, at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. • Where: Room 120, Farrah Hall
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
OPINIONS
Page 4 Editor | John Brinkerhoff letters@cw.ua.edu Monday, March 18, 2013
EDUCATION
Alabama’s education reforms are a welcome change to past failures By Tray Smith Senior Staff Columnist
MCT Campus
STUDENT SPEECH
Student criticism at Alabama must have purpose By John Brinkerhoff Opinion Editor Criticism is common at the Capstone, especially when it is directed at the UA administration. A visitor would not have to go far to find a student willing to speak out on perceived issues with parking, drug enforcement or tuition rates. This is particularly true on this page, which often functions as the focal point for debates on campus issues. This semester has seen a battery of concerns leveled against the administration, ranging from its hyper-focus on recruitment to Bonner’s similarities with a “Harry Potter” villain. This criticism is healthy, for the most part. It empowers the student body and sheds light on problems facing campus. It educates students on citizenship and promotes engagement within the UA community. However, criticism risks being counterproductive and damaging if it is not presented within the greater context of University change. Just as issues with this University deserve to be discussed, the progress that Alabama has made should also be highlighted. I will be the first to say that
John Brinkerhoff
looping around my parking zone for 30 minutes to find a spot and having to take a series of completely unnecessary one-way roads to do so is unacceptable; however, that reality has not destroyed my collegiate experience. On the whole, I love this University and all that it has given me. Too often, it is easy to be entirely consumed by what we want to change without recognizing why we are proud to be students at this University. Unfortunately, when placed in the context of the student perspective on the direction of campus, this limited view inhibits a healthy debate and invites a one-sided perspective on the direction of this University. Take the Opinions page as an example. In the past, this page has proven itself to be an incredible facilitator of discus-
sion, but only when the con- ideas from administrators that tent placed in it can reflect a can assist and, most importrue diversity of opinion. One tantly, is apt to be ignored. columnist’s appraisal of the This is not to say that critiUniversity’s view towards tra- cism should be blunted or dition and race drew sharp that student concerns should criticism from the greek com- remain unstated. Students munity, and led to an actual in- should hold the administration person conversation between accountable for its actions; two very different people. however, it should be done Beyond conversations, while recognizing the dediappreciating the progress that cation to students required this University has made is a of their position. It should be proven avenue for converting done in search of common criticism into ground and actual change. without assumWhether it was ing evil inteneliminating a tions behind a Criticism risks being counterproposal to have disagreeable metered parkdecision. It productive and damaging if ing on campus should be done it is not presented within the or establishwith respect. greater context of University ing Creative If students change. Campus, change concerned on this camabout the direcpus has largely tion of the been enacted Capstone truly in partnership want to see with faculty and administra- change, realities on campus tive groups, with the mutual demand that they examine understanding that both sides which avenue can best procare about the Capstone and duce it. Criticism is healthy, have its best interests at heart. but it must have a purpose. Anything less than an actual Without this purpose, critidesire to discuss issues reduc- cism is nothing more than holes the power of the student low complaining. body into an ineffective megaphone that lambasts decision John Brinkerhoff is the opinion makers as opponents, severs editor of The Crimson White. talented students with big His column runs weekly.
“
Alabama Republicans have found a welcome distraction from their immigration witch hunts and casino raids in the new school accountability law that Gov. Robert Bentley signed last week. The significance of the law is revealed by the intensity of the state teachers’ union’s oppoTray Smith sition to it, which is continuing its long tradition of obstructing meaningful education reform. Alabama Education Association executive secretary Henry Marbry said the law, which would give parents in failing school districts a tax credit to send their children to private schools, as Marbry does, would cause “irreparable harm” to the state’s school systems. Unfortunately, our school systems have already been irreparably harmed by decades of politically-driven mismanagement inspired by the AEA. The union is responsible for the tenure laws preventing low-performing schools from firing bad teachers, certification requirements preventing schools from hiring good teachers with nontraditional backgrounds, and Alabama’s refusal to authorize charter schools. After fighting with all the political weight of its 100,000-plus members to prevent any reforms that would give poorly performing schools a chance to turn themselves around, the AEA is outraged that state lawmakers are giving parents another choice. Currently, everyone pays taxes to support public education, and if parents can afford private school tuition on top of their tax bill, they can send their children to a private school. Under the new law, parents in failing school districts will receive a rebate of around $4,000 from their income taxes to apply toward private school tuition if they choose. The credit is refundable, so families owing less than $4,000 in taxes will receive a rebate to make up the difference. Additionally, the law creates generous tax deductions for those who donate to a scholarship fund for poor students to help bridge the gap between the value of the tax credit and private school tuition. In rural areas of the state, though, most private schools already charge less than $4,000 a year in tuition, meaning the tax credit alone may be enough for families in some of the poorest and worst school systems to find another choice for their children. The impact of the credit could be tremendous, as lower-income families would finally have the means to send their children to the majority-white private schools that sprang up after integration. If the racial and socioeconomic divisions between public and private schools begin to disappear, then schools will be forced to distinguish themselves by performance instead of demographics. The AEA and Alabama Democrats allege instead that the tax credits will deprive public schools of revenue, even though the value of the credits is only 80 percent of average public school spending per-student. For every student who leaves a public school because of the tax credits, the public school system will still keep 20 percent of the money needed to educate that student. This targeted program is not going to harm education, but it is going to harm the AEA’s monopoly over Alabama’s parents. It is true that even with scholarships and credits, some private schools may still be unaffordable for some families. That is not an argument for nixing the tax credits; however, it is an argument for increasing them and expanding the program in the future. These education reforms are a welcome change for the state, regardless of whether or not the AEA likes them.
Tray Smith is a junior majoring in journalism and political science. His column runs weekly on Mondays.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Ohio senator’s gay marriage reversal is a signal for impending legalization
By Maxton Thoman Staff Columnist
Love and support are all that a father can give his children. His unyielding devotion and absolute affection are inherent within the connection that is paternity, and yet, the limits of their universality can be tested. For Ohio Senator Rob Portman, two years ago marked one such test. After he spent 20 years serving as an outspoken Republican United States congressional member and a strong voice on conservative platform issues, including everything from budgetary and economic concerns to the divisive gay marriage and abortion debates, one instant forced Portman to qualify the importance of faith, career, politics, love and family. Portman’s son is gay. That’s why when, two years ago, his son came out to his
Maxton Thoman
parents, the news galvanized a series of introspective reflections in Portman that all culminated in the events of last Friday, where the junior Senator said, “I’m announcing today a change of heart on an issue that a lot of people feel strongly about that has to do with gay couples’ opportunity to marry.” Ultimately, Portman made the decision based not solely on the morality of the subject, but also on the basis of equality and human rights.
EDITORIAL BOARD Will Tucker Editor-in-Chief Ashley Chaffin Managing Editor Stephen Dethrage Production Editor Mackenzie Brown Visuals Editor
Melissa Brown Online Editor Alex Clark Community Manager Ashanka Kumari Chief Copy Editor John Brinkerhoff Opinions Editor
“I’ve come to the conclu- majority of attacks have not sion that for me, personally, come from within his own I think this is something that party. Rather, many liberal we should allow people to do, bloggers and commenters to get married, and to have the have posted about the bias joy and stability of marriage saying that he displayed by that I’ve had for over 26 years. only realizing the fault of his That I want all of my children ways when Portman himself was faced with to have, includthe issue. ing our son, When it had who is gay,” no personal Portman coneffect on him, tinued. When the President of the Portman was Sounds to United States has voiced his fine limitme like the opinion against bans on these ing the rights quintessenof other tial story of a rights, acceptance is coming. Americans. proud father But when protecting and it came supporting his down to it, a proud son. father’s love But to othd evo t i o n outers, this is a story of what a n d drives intolerance and bigotry: weighed that of his party affiliation. personal circumstance. Portman has since been And maybe this does attacked for making the deserve some criticism. switch over from a hard-line Maybe the fact that the conservative stance on the LGBTQ+ community is so distopic, but surprisingly, the respected by our nation’s gov-
“
ernance should be duly noted by this senator’s transition. I mean, suddenly, after a lifetime of seeing a large sector of Americans as undeserving of these rights to marriage – and seeing the issue as one of a religious association – Portman can now stand up for this population because marriage is a right for all to enjoy. The fact that Portman was unable to separate his own religious preconceptions from the rights of the general public is disheartening and common – and that’s the scariest thing of all. Don’t get me wrong, I support Portman completely, and I think that his realization is a beneficial one for not only him personally, but for the United States as a whole. He now joins the ranks of a select group of Republicans openly supporting gay marriage, and he now stands as a role model to spark future ideologues to make such a transition. I hope
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS
TWEET AT US
Letters to the editor must be less than 400 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.
@TheCrimsonWhite The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.
others follow suit. However, I have to question the basis of his metamorphosis. The fact is, in a time when we are seeing an increasing amount of states legalizing gay marriage and when the President of the United States has voiced his opinion against bans placed on these rights, acceptance is coming. Portman is a prime example of this. Still, I can’t help but notice that some people are stuck behind. Some are lagging. Some of us are still discriminating. And, unfortunately, not everyone is going to have a personal encounter with this topic – not everyone will have a change of heart. But still, all I can hope is that people see the love and support of this father and begin to fall in line accordingly.
Maxton Thoman is a freshman majoring in biology. His column runs weekly on Mondays.
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Monday, March 18, 2013 | Page 5
CAMPUS POLITICS
Machine madness to blame for this year’s low SGA election voter turnout By SoRelle Wyckoff Senior Staff Columnist Another SGA election has come and gone – one much quieter than most. Only 17 percent of the student body even bothered to log on to myBama and cast a vote. There was an absence of Election Day mania, mostly because there was no need. All but one executive position went unopposed. Last year, the turnout was almost double that of 2013. There was a sense of urgency and energy in the 2012 election; every position was contested by two or three viable candidates. But this drastic change is no shock. Last year, the first-time coalition Advance UA paired a formidable candidate against seven candidates backed by the Machine. Every one of the
SoRelle Wyckoff
Advance UA candidates lost, and every Machine candidate won. So it’s no surprise that (almost) no one bothered to run against any Machine candidates this year. When candidates as respectable as last year’s Advance UA ballot lose resoundingly, there’s little hope for others. Last year’s voting results reminded those unaffiliated
with the Machine, “don’t bother,” and naturally, apathy about SGA as a whole spread over the whole campus. No one bothered to run and no one bothered to vote because an underground voting block already decided for us. This sentiment is worrisome. Ideally, SGA is supposed to be representative of the student body. The current system prevents that, ruining our market place of ideas by squashing any potential outliers. Admittedly, there are some positives to the voting powers of the Machine. They are able to get leaders elected that they feel will best answer their needs. And usually, these candidates truly are legitimate. There is a large pool of candidates; many will vie for Senate positions against members of their own house.
“
Without opposing voices in Senate or Executive offices, most SGA decisions become unanimous, unopposed and void of discussion. This void results in no stimulating conversation happening in the SGA office, no potential for thinking “out of the box.
But because there is not a force to answer and oppose the Machine, this voting block has gained total power of campus elections. They essentially make all decisions for the student body, without their permission. And this is where I believe the Machine fails the student body – in stifling competition. Without opposing voices in Senate or Executive offices, most SGA decisions become unanimous, unopposed and void of discussion. This void results in no stimulating conversation happening in the
SGA office, no potential for thinking “out of the box.” The voices within the SGA will become increasingly similar; most will have similar views, be involved in similar organizations, and have similar priorities. This will prevent change on our campus because new issues will be unwelcomed or most often, not even introduced. There have been admirable tasks accomplished by our student representatives in the Ferguson Center – but there could be real good done in new, creative ways if student
opinion was properly represented. This year’s new executive office I’m sure will do a respectable job. However, their impact has been diluted by a weak election turnout. Unfortunately, despite oncampus apathy about SGA, they are the liaison between the administration’s requests and student needs. A word to administration though, our current SGA is not representative of all students’ concerns. It will take a four-year cycle to flush out current apathy. New students will arrive, eager to change a broken system. Hopefully, the UA community they address will be more open to change and improvement.
SoRelle Wyckoff is a senior majoring in history and journalism. Her column runs weekly on Mondays.
LIFE EVALUATION
Creative Campus event with Marc Bamuthi Joseph encouraged introspection By Tara Massouleh Staff Columnist Last week, I attended a creativity and spoken word poetry writing workshop with Marc Bamuthi Joseph sponsored by Creative Campus. Despite some initial reservations, the workshop proved to be an incredible experience that not only further developed my writing skills, but also truly challenged my perception of writing and life in general. We started with one word – “hate,” which branched off into ignorance, greed, neglect, racism and more. Each new word elicited a different meaning from each person in the room, yet every definition uncovered truth about history as well as
Tara Massouleh
the future of mankind. Following performances, we were all asked to write our own genealogy. As I sat with the pressure of a five-minute time limit paralyzing the pen I had poised over a clean sheet of notebook paper, I began to get nervous. While it seems irrational for
a writer to get nervous when asked to write, the intense introspection necessary for the assignment was truly daunting. In order to proceed with the writing, I would have to contemplate my actions, my emotions and the purpose for my existence on a much grander scale than I ever had before. After I had finished struggling to pull-together a couple of measly paragraphs, many students fearlessly shared what they had written. There was one piece in particular that stood out. It cut hard, far beyond the surface of a beautifully written piece of prose. It delved deeper, approaching the core of man where pain and distress are universal and innate feelings of passion – love
“
For most college students, including me, our daily thoughts are dominated by insignificant issues that become irrelevant in less time than it takes for them to be resolved. In short, it is uncomfortable, humbling and painful to examine one’s own life, and so for the most part, we simply try to avoid it.
and hate, devastation and exuberance – lie. I looked down at my own paper full of shallow, misguided attempts to express myself without any sort of real introspection, and I was ashamed at how superficial it now all seemed. For most college students, including me, our daily thoughts are dominated by insignificant issues that become irrelevant in less time than it takes for them to be resolved. In short, it
is uncomfortable, humbling and painful to examine one’s own life, and so for the most part, we simply try to avoid it. However, moving past all the negatives that often render us incapable of introspection, the beauty, truth and intrapersonal understanding that we stand to gain from introspection should be enough for us to all forge into our deepest selves. We are all expected to progress, grow and achieve some
sort of existential breakthrough while in college; however, we can not expect to obtain this without working toward it. We all want to know where we’ll end up and what we’ll become, but we forget that the only way to know is to look within ourselves. Bamuthi left us with one phrase: “Everywhere I’ve been tells me all I’ll eventually be.” That served as the ultimate reminder that if we don’t call upon our inner selves and past experiences, we’ll stand no chance at figuring out who we are or where we’re going.
Tara Massouleh is a freshman majoring in journalism and English. Her column runs biweekly.
YOUR VIEW IN RESPONSE TO:
“Minimum wage increase could hurt workers, consumers and economy” “Instead of spewing the same old Republican rhetoric, long on ideology but short on facts, it would be helpful if you actually had proof for your unfounded assertions.” –Pantagruelle
“Your argument would suggest that we’ve either achieved the perfect paradigm of minimum wage or that paying employees less is better for the economy. Both of which are rather odd stances to take.” –Sean
Page 6 | Monday, March 18, 2013
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Crimson Culture performers showcase artistic diversity By Ashanka Kumari Chief Copy Editor
CW | Shannon Auvil
The Afro-American Gospel Choir sings at Crimson Culture, and representatives from the Turkish Student Association perform a dance at Crimson Culture, a Festival of the Arts March 17 in the Ferg Theater. The event was sponsored by the South Asian Society and SGA Engagement.
In an almost packed Ferguson Center Theater Sunday night, 13 multicultural student organizations from across campus and the Tuscaloosa community performed songs, dances and poetry as part of the first annual Crimson Culture Festival of the Arts. Okha Patel, president of The South Asian Society and Student Government Association deputy director of engagement, said she hopes future leaders will continue to premiere Crimson Culture. “Tonight’s event showed that hard work does pay off,” Patel said. “This event gave students, faculty and the Tuscaloosa community a little taste of diversity at UA. There are so many multicultural, talented organizations that people aren’t aware of. Our ultimate goal was to start a cultural hype on campus. I feel we achieved all of our goals and more. Attendance was absolutely phenomenal, and we hope students will be interested in new cultures.” Chase Burnham, SGA director of engagement, said Crimson Culture was designed to bring a variety of diverse organizations together. “It’s not a competition,” Burnham said. “We just wanted
to incorporate all parts of campus and get everyone together.” The showcase was hosted by TSAS and the SGA Office of Engagement and included performances from the AfroAmerican Gospel Choir, Phillip Sims, Bollywood Groove and KadeshFlow among others and concluded with a performance from the Taiko Drummers, a group from the Japan-US Cultural Exchange Club. Ryan “KadeshFlow” Davis performed a piece from his new Nerdcore collection and said he felt this event was a chance to showcase this up-and-coming style of hip-hop. “It’s rap using nerd and geek themes, technology, anime and video games,” Davis said. “It’s a relatively new genre and a counter-cultural history movement. [This event] was a chance to perform some of my Nerdcore stuff.” Elizabeth Schweers, a junior majoring in geography, said she thought the showcase was great because it introduced the community to a variety of cultures to which they may not have been previously exposed. “These kinds of events are great because they foster a sense of community that makes our campus stronger,” Schweers said. “This event was especially interesting because it showcased a lot of Asian culture. There were singers and dancers
from China, a Bengali singer and Turkish dancers. … These are areas in the world that are very important, but you don’t often learn about them in school.” Schweers said she believes cultural events allow students to learn about other cultures outside of a classroom. “I believe that understanding different cultures and environments is instrumental in the creation of a more peaceful and more cohesive international society,” she said. “Cultural events are a great way to experience other cultures without the stuffy classroom atmosphere. That is why this event was fun.” Before the show began, guests were given the chance to try a variety of Asian-themed foods including empanadas and yakitori. Rachel Kasson, a junior majoring in environmental science, said she felt this aspect of the event was lacking. “I’m glad the event was put on, it was an interesting opportunity to see a variety of acts from different cultures,” Kasson said. “The Japanese [Taiko] drummers were the best. Overall it was enjoyable but some parts of it were slow. Apparently they ordered just enough food to feed the gospel choir and other performers, so they ran out before the actual guests arrived at 6 for a 6:30 show.”
Minors can help students master alternative subjects By Benjamin Clark and Ashley Tripp CW Staff The two most common questions college students get asked are about their name and major, but rarely do students get asked about their minor. For most college students, picking a minor to accompany their major is an afterthought. However, according to The New York Times, “Minors, along with double majors, are increasingly popular as students try to master multiple subjects on the way to flexible
careers or future education.” Having a minor expands students’ knowledge of their field and can even help separate them from other job candidates down the road. While not all majors require a minor at The University of Alabama, those that do require that a student’s chosen minor be outside the department of his or her major. The University requires this to avoid an overlapping of classes required by a student’s major. Wendy McMillian, director of academic advising for the College of Arts and Sciences, said when helping students
Group asks to meet SUPe Store managers
“
In the Dominican Republic, where Alta Gracia is located, the living wage which Alta Gracia workers get paid is over three times the minimum wage for their respective area.
LABOR FROM PAGE 1 “Alabama Athletics and Nike have affirmed their strong commitment to fair labor pracitices, a commitment that falls in line with the University of Alabama’s labor standards,” the release read. Ortiz, however, said Alta Gracia pays workers this living wage, which is much higher than the minimum wage that might be earned by sweatshop workers. Nike’s Code of Conduct only ensures at least the minimum wage in the countries that host their factories. “The living wage differs from state to state and country to
— Mark Ortiz country, but typically the minimum wage is vastly lower than a living wage,” he said. “In the Dominican Republic, where Alta Gracia is located, the living wage which Alta Gracia workers get paid is over three times the minimum wage for their respective area.” Ortiz said large corporations participate in a “race to the bottom,” in which they use
F A DC April 6th, 2013
decide on choosing a minor, the key factor is to find one that complements his or her major. “In the College of Arts and Sciences, the way we approach minors is to help you develop additional skills for your career or graduate school plans after your undergraduate degree,” McMillian said. “How a student chooses a minor is typically determined on an individual basis with conversations between the advisor and student based on the student’s interests, goals and strengths.” While choosing a minor
is important and can benefit one’s major, some professors also advise double majoring. Dianne Bragg, a professor in the department of journalism, agrees adding a double major is beneficial. “I strongly urge students to look at Degreeworks and see how many hours it would take to turn that minor into a double major,” Bragg said. “Many times, it doesn’t take but 2-3 more classes to earn a double major, which is great for a resume, and gives you more opportunities in your career.” Scott Leary, a sophomore with a double major in Spanish
and biology, recognized the additional benefits the double major provided. “I’m a pre-med student, so I wanted to take more upper level biology courses to prepare me for the classes I’ll be taking in medical school,” Leary said. “As a freshman, I wasn’t certain that I’d be able to finish both majors in four years, but I managed get ahead in my Spanish major and planned out a schedule that allowed me to add on an additional major.” While Leary feels double majoring is slightly more difficult than just having a minor,
he says it will pay off when he reaches medical school. For other UA students, the decision to double major may not come as easily as others. Katelyn Reichardt, a junior with a double major in dance and nutrition, says adding the nutrition major meant her course load would be crippling each semester. “There are many more courses that I have to take, which has caused me to take a lot of summer classes,” Reichardt said. “But, dancing isn’t really a money maker, and I can’t dance my whole life, so I needed a back-up plan.”
workers in countries with lax labor regulations to avoid paying those workers decent wages. “Corporations are planting factories in developing nations that don’t have the same labor protections we have,” he said. “Their form of competition is finding which nations provide the most opportunities for exploitation, so they can pay their workers very little, they can deprive them of benefits.” Reyes said she agreed a systemic problem existed. “They target countries that have policies in place that discourage worker organizing,” she said. She also said the U.S. has encouraged policies that lead to the lowering of labor standards.
“The way that we choose to exercise our influence around the world has created situations where these things can happen,” she said. Ortiz also said everyone has a part to play in reducing the number of sweatshops worldwide by choosing to buy from companies that do not produce their products in this way. “Consumer responsibility plays a huge role in this,” he said. “The consumer must be aware of where he or she is getting these clothes from and what human rights abuses might be involved.” He said the management of the Supply Store has so far refused to meet with Students for Fair Labor about getting Alta Gracia products placed in stores on campus.
Tarp fences protect University’s image
college kids.” Margaret Coats, a senior and member of Phi Mu, agreed the fences are necessary because they provide a safer environment for the fraternity parties. “The fences also keep people driving by from seeing a party that are sometimes a little wild, and the University doesn’t need people driving around seeing college kids drinking all day,” Coats said. “While there’s nothing wrong with college kids drinking at a party, it’s not something that the University needs to advertise.”
TARPS FROM PAGE 1 “I think they’re a good thing because the University allow us to pretty much do our own thing and have a good time as long as it doesn’t offend others and the fences are what allows that to happen,” Cechovic said. “Plus, the University probably doesn’t want visitors to remember their trip to Tuscaloosa as a bunch of drunken
® TAKEOUT & DELIVERY 3) (24733) (2 D (247 RD IR BIRD BIR .BIR 34222.B 34 05.342 205
GAIN THE COMPETITIVE EDGE STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD Attend This Program To Learn From Top Professionals...
Special Guest Speakers: Dave Cohen, Former NFL Executive with the Atlanta Falcons Mike Shepherd, Former National Dir. Of Sales, 3rd Largest Global Pharmaceutical Co.
Contact your Ad Rep to place an ad!
LIMITED LIMIT IMITED ED D TI T TIME ME ONLY O
In our Program, You will Learn the Critical Skills Needed to Differentiate Yourself from the Competition ➢Networking tips that get you in front of hiring managers ➢Framing up your experience so that your resume tells a compelling story ➢Interview strategies proven to differentiate you and get you hired ➢Leveraging Social Media to your advantage
WWW.CAREERPATHSEMINARS.COM .CAREERPATHSEMINAR
Space is Limited!
The Career Path Team is Coming to the University of Alabama!
Snack $3.99 | Half $5.99 | Full $10.99
ONLY
$99 Cost: $249
$99 w/student ID Date: Monday, March 18th Time: 6:00-8:00pm Location: Russell Hall, Room 159 If your campus organization (fraternity or other school group) would like to pay by check, please contact Dave Cohen (404-606-2530) or Mike Shepherd (404-680-4574)
What’s YOUR Flavor? TAME BUFFALO BLISS SM HOT SHOT SM NUCLEAR HABANEROSM SMOKIN’ Q SM TOKYO DRAGONSM RAGIN’ CAJUNSM THAI CHILI SM GARLIC PARM SM SM
1241 McFarland Blvd E
HEAT INDEX = Mild
= Hottest
BLEU BUFFALOSM KICKIN’ RANCH SM HONEY Q SM SWEET SAMURAI SM LEMON ZINGER SM M LIQUID GOLDSM
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
www.wingzone.com
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
CULTURE
Page 7 Editor | Lauren Ferguson culture@cw.ua.edu Monday, March 18, 2013
Libraries’ move to digital poses risk, benefits By Becky Robinson Staff Reporter Archive libraries, such as the Hoole Special Collections on campus, are increasingly converting their content into digital copies. But what may be a convenience for students can be problematic for archivists. As archives are digitized, there is concern that the technology which records are stored on will become out of date - just look at the floppy disk. “That’s where our difficulty lies more than anything else is that, how do you keep a permanent or long-term record in a digital format when you can’t guarantee its lifespan?” Tom Land, the institutional records analyst at Hoole, said. “We know what paper will do and we know what microfilm will do, but the digital stuff is
different; our technology is changing about every year and a half.” Donelly Walton, interim university archivist and curator of Southern History and Culture Collections, shared Land’s concern. “Losing information due to obsolete technology is a concern,” Walton said. “Those of us who have been in the archives field for more than 15 years remember when the only way to find information about many archival collections was through publications that listed or described a repository’s holdings.” While losing records can be cause for worry, there are also many benefits to digitizing records and archives. Digitization offers the public the convenience of being able to pull up information anywhere they are instead of
having to trek to a library. Land said digital archives have been very helpful for people working on genealogies. Often, they are able to research their family trees from the comfort of their own homes. “In terms of reference rate, it’s great,” Land said. The process of digitizing records can be a long one. “Although viewing the digital version of one our items online may appear simple, users are unaware of the many levels of data and work by numerous people that made it all possible,” Walton said. The Special Collections Library first catalogues the document or archive and saves the data on a spreadsheet. Next, Digital Services receives the data and uploads it to its website. From there, University faculty and
staff can add additional data to the archives, which are then available for students. “In addition to making sure that the images and data function properly online, we also take steps to ensure that the digital image is preserved properly,” Walton said. There are certain records, such as student transcripts or medical records, that are protected by federal laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, but are still digitized for quick reference. The quantity of these private records can be problematic for archivists. “It doesn’t matter what form a record is in if it’s restricted,” Land said. Money also plays a factor in what can become a digital record.
CW | Alaina Clark
Austin Dixon, Hoole Libraries Digitization Technologist, prepares a book to be digitized. “If we went back to all our records to digitize them, that’s a lot of money,” Land said. “The federal government has a better budget and more expertise. It’s kind of hard for an average university to stay with [digitizing].”
Even though many records are now becoming digital, Walton said all original copies of archives are kept. “By offering online access, we are making these unique materials available to a much wider audience,” Walton said.
Author previews graphic novel about 1960s Marion By Bianca Martin Contributing Writer Often studied, taught and explored, the civil rights movement of the 1960s is the subject of many books. But author Lila Quintero Weaver presents the time period in an alternative way – through the eyes of an immigrant. Weaver, who is originally from Argentina, spoke at The University of Alabama on March 14 about her experience moving to Alabama during the beginning of desegregation and how she tells her story through her graphic novel, “Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White.” “It started off as a senior
project for my New College degree,” Weaver, who attended the University to finish her degree in 2005, said. “I was inspired by graphic novels that I had recently encountered, like ‘Persepolis’ [by Marjean Satrapi]. I was inspired to write my life story through that medium since I’m an artist.” Weaver moved from Argentina to Marion, Ala., with her family when she was 5 years old. “Darkroom” is her personal account of what she witnessed during the civil rights movement. “I was generally aware that things were miserable for black citizens,” Weaver said in her speech.
Cameron Parsons, a junior majoring in American studies and history and an attendee of the speech, said the historical aspect sparked his interest. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Parsons said.“This is fascinating to me. I’m a history major, and I love stuff like this.” During her presentation, Weaver showed pages of her book and gave a preview to what it entailed. It included memories ranging from her family first moving from Argentina to her first black classmate to the first laws of desegregation. One-story she told was of a little-known mob attack on peaceful protesters in Marion, and the murder of Jimmie Lee
Jackson. These events led to the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. The attackers destroyed all photographic evidence of the event, making the attack relatively unknown. Some audience members, such as Cassidy Ellis, said they were surprised by the story. “I learned a lot today about the situation in Marion,” said Ellis, a senior majoring in history. “I wasn’t aware of it. I’m from Montgomery and I had always heard the stories, but never that one.” Growing up in Alabama in the 1960s, Weaver witnessed many examples of racial prejudice, many of which are described in “Darkroom.”
“Before 1964, when federal laws were passed that barred the ‘whites only’ signs, I remember seeing [the signs] as a child,” Weaver said. “For example, there was a drug store that [only whites] could go into and order ice cream and such. When the new law was passed, that drug store and many like it just took the counter down because they didn’t want to serve black people at all. So instead of having to serve everyone who came in, they just did away with it. That’s just one tiny example of many.” Weaver said though she witnessed racial prejudice, she was not directly affected by it, as she was considered white.
“I would say that whatever kind of prejudice that I experienced was not about race as much as it was about being a foreigner, being an outsider, being someone who did not quite fit in,” she said. Weaver said she hopes anyone who reads the book will relate and learn from it. “I hope that [readers] will find a point of identification somewhere,” Weaver said. “Either they were the person discriminated against or maybe the person who kind of perpetuated discrimination or racial hatred towards someone else. Or perhaps they will just learn the history of our state and some of the hard things that happened.”
Page 8 | Monday, March 18, 2013
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Alabama students, alumni create popular web series Filmmaking trio in talks with Hollywood film studio about feature film based on ‘Marble Hornets’ By Courtney Stinson Staff Reporter
When Tim Sutton, Troy Wagner and Joseph DeLage set out to make the web series “Marble Hornets,” they never dreamed it would become an Internet sensation, but four years and millions of views later, they are talking with a Hollywood film studio about creating a feature film based on the web series. “Marble Hornets” is a found footage documentary about a student filmmaker named Alex who is working on a film that shares the web series’ title. After three months of shooting, Alex abandons his film with the intention of burning all the footage. Alex’s friend convinces him to allow him to keep it. As he begins to watch the footage, it becomes clear that Alex was being followed by a mysterious paranormal figure known as “the Operator” and now he is falling victim to a similar fate. The series was created in response to a thread on somethingawful.com titled “Create Paranormal Images” where people could post edited images of ghosts and other paranormal happenings. User Victor Surge posted a picture that involved the slender man, a now-prominent paranormal figure in Internet horror. The slender man was the inspiration for the Operator, “Marble
Hornets’” paranormal villain. There is a lot of mythos surrounding the slender man, who has become one of the most prolific monsters of Internet horror. The slender man is typically depicted as a tall, faceless male figure wearing a dark suit. The slender man is known for stalking his victims for years and subjecting them to mysterious psychological torture, just as the Operator does the characters in “Marble Hornets.” It is unclear what the Operator does to his victims, but the creators of “Marble Hornets” said the uncertainty is what adds to the overall creepiness. “I think people are attracted to [the slender man] for a lot of reasons. I think part of it has to do with what it isn’t as much as what it is. It isn’t a grotesque monster. It doesn’t involve a lot of gore,” DeLage, a sophomore majoring in music performance, said. Sutton, a senior majoring in telecommunication and film, agreed the mystery of what the villain does is where the horror thrill lies. “You never really see it do anything, but when it’s around something bad tends to happen,” Sutton said. The “Marble Hornets” creators never thought anything would come of their web series other than the chance to share their spooky idea until they were approached by their
producer Kirill Baru three years ago. Since then, ideas about what the series would become have evolved from possibly turning the series into a TV show to a feature film. Throughout the process, DeLage said their studio, Mosaic, has remained true to the original concept. “The people over at Mosaic have been very receptive and great throughout everything. They definitely take note of our input, which is something we were frightened about at first,” DeLage said. “The main creative team behind [the film] are some fairly fresh faces with previous experience in the genre, so I think they can bring some great stuff to the table,” Sutton said. “Marble Hornets” is not the only YouTube series that has gained recognition outside of the Internet. The popular web series “The Annoying Orange” is now a Cartoon Network show and others such as “The Guild” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” starring Neil Patrick Harris, are filmed with nearTV quality. With the improved production values of some web series, “Marble Hornets” may represent a growing trend of web series being picked up by mainstream media. “It’s getting easier and easier to make something that, at the very least looks pretty,” Wagner, a UA graduate, said.
BY THE NUMBERS
73 280,921 48,369,507 | Videos
| Subscribers
| Video Views
Scan the code to watch the web series “Marble Hornets”
“It’s easier than ever to get your work out there and I think Hollywood is definitely starting to take notice of that.” Though professional level equipment is, in some ways, leading to better quality web content, the simplicity of “Marble Hornets” demonstrates the storyline is still key to quality content. “We didn’t have a ton of professional equipment at our disposal,” Wagner said. “We had a Handycam and a weird idea, that idea being a guy making a bad movie with his Handycam that also happens to involve this supernatural element in the background.” As for web videos, “Marble Hornets” may not be the last we see of Sutton, DeLage and Wagner. The trio said they
YouTube
Marble Hornets follows a student-filmmaker that is being followed by a mysterious paranormal figure.
have over a hundred ideas ably be posted on their other for individual videos, which if YouTube channel youtube. they pursue them, will prob- com/Troyhasacamera.
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Monday, March 18, 2013 | Page 9
COLUMN | FILM
Hollywood’s tendency to remake films makes sense, but stifles creativity By Matt Ford
Rotten Tomatoes
Remakes like The Great Gatsby are easier for producers and the film industry to support than new ideas.
With the success of Sam Raimi’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” come new ideas about the state of the film industry and the future of movie making. The newly released Disney film, starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams, is a prequel to the beloved 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” and earned over $80 million in its opening weekend. It is also the latest in a series of films I’ve noticed following the same trend: remakes and adaptations are performing better at the box office than films with new worlds and characters. We live in an age when producers and other film officials are hesitant to risk creating movies with original content, but rather build onto already established franchises. Just consider the recent Hollywood trend of superhero movies, each of which was based off of a comic book series with an already existing fan base: “Thor,” Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” series, “The Green Lantern,” and both of
the “Spiderman” sagas, to name a few. And there are the remakes the studios are cranking out of older films, such as “The Great Gatsby” and the new “Star Trek” series. Filmmakers creating stories around movies people are already familiar with appears to be a smart strategy. Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” a quasi-sequel to Lewis Carroll’s novel and Disney’s cartoon adaptation, grossed over $1 billion worldwide. “Footloose,” the 2011 remake of the 1984 musicaldrama film of the same name, earned more than $15 million in its opening weekend. It makes sense, considering the familiarity audiences have with these preexisting stories. Who didn’t grow up watching Dorothy trek to Oz in her ruby slippers or exploring Wonderland with Alice as she followed the Cheshire Cat? We already feel a connection with these stories from our childhoods, and it is a testament to the evolving art of storytelling that we can experience the same universes we’ve seen before in new,
exciting ways. However, we cannot always be visiting the same universes with their old conflicts; we need new content, even though it’s financially insecure. Of course, there are always risks that pay off. The Wachowskis’ “The Matrix” and James Cameron’s “Avatar” come to mind, but those are the works of directors with whom the studios have longstanding relationships who consistently produce profit. There are still original films that impress audiences, but it seems the number is dwindling as opposed to adaptations and offshoot movies. Every studio is afraid of producing a box office bomb, and nobody wants to deal with a “John Carter.” Overall, the studios need to accept the risk and make aweinspiring movies that no one has previously envisioned. Adaptation and remakes are successful and entertaining, but there is a noticeable lack of high quality, original films because of the emphasis on the former. Visiting old territory is nice; foraging new territory is nicer.
COLUMN | FASHION
Denim cutoffs, lightweight cardigans, common sense essential for stylish spring breakers By Abbey Crain The week before spring break is pretty useless, considering most of our brains are stuck turning between spring break plans and packing. To make your packing lists a little simpler, I went ahead and made a few optional spring break outfits that can easily transition your look from sandy toes to drunken woes or city walking to dinner talking.
Let’s start with the basics. Every girl needs denim cutoffs. The frayed edges and high waist allow you to keep insecurities secure and look great over a swimsuit or paired with a flowy chiffon top for nighttime festivities, which brings me to the flowy top. Said shoulder pieces also double as a swimsuit cover-up and give you a chance to flaunt your base tan courtesy of Palm Beach Tan. Whether you’re spending your break on the coast or
sightseeing in the city, you’re going to need a good flat shoe. Wedges are not for walking and they aren’t comfortable after 30 minutes, so invest in a printed tennis shoe or statementmaking sandal. You should probably just pack both. Your feet will thank you. As for all you fashion forward gals, your Isabel Marant knockoff wedge sneakers will be perfect for gallivanting around cities so as not to look like a tourist. Sundresses are great for
e g a r o t S Need SpaceWe? Got It! SELF STORAGE
3 Locations
35th St. & I-359 752-7649 North Commons 349-0050 Rice Mine Rd. 349-0907
Climate Control Available 24 hour Security Cameras Pin Code Access Moving Supplies Convenient Hours
Features
Start reserving today!
walking around during the day with said flats. A lightweight cotton dress is ideal when temperatures rise and comfort is at the top of your list. Target always has plenty of cotton sundresses in a multitude of prints and styles. However, you should save the bondage skirt for nighttime. You don’t want to worry about anything riding up when trying to catch a bus or whatever else you might have to run toward. A lightweight cardigan will
come in handy when the temperatures drop at night. Your newly bared shoulders just won’t know what to do after being bundled in months past. Depending on your personal style, be it vintage swagger or a preppy variety, a classic button front cardigan will always complement a daytime ensemble. Don’t forget accessories. A large leather bag can double as a beach tote or camera case and leaves ample room for the essential spring break neon
hat (because you should take it off) and spring break drink. Sunglasses and a lightweight scarf are also essential to any pleasant weather excursion. Don’t bring your favorite Ray Bans – they’re bound to get lost or stolen or broken, so try a Target look-alike, No one has to know. Finally, please pack common sense. Don’t go alone, wear sunscreen, don’t leave your drink unattended and all that jazz.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
SPORTS
Page 10 Editor | Marquavius Burnett crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com Monday, March 18, 2013
WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Athlete has 3 titles with Tide, Paralympic gold By Danielle Walker Contributing Writer The Alabama women’s wheelchair basketball team fell short of winning their fourth title in five years earlier this month, but Annika Zeyen said she is still happy with the outcome. “We worked hard and did everything we could,” said Zeyen, a senior majoring in advertising from Hennef, Germany. “We came together and worked hard. I’m proud of everything.”
Zeyen has been with the Alabama wheelchair basketball team for four years, winning three national championships with the team. She said she was introduced to wheelchair basketball during rehabilitation after an injury. “In 1999, I did a lot of horseback riding and was looking for a horse to buy. The horse I was riding was wild and crazy and threw me off. I fell on my back and broke my spine,” Zeyen said. Zeyen has been playing wheelchair basketball
“
We worked hard and did everything we could . We came together and worked hard. I’m proud of everything. — Annika Zeyen
ever since. She is a member of the German national wheelchair basketball team and has competed at the Paralympics in Beijing, China, and London, England. She and her teammates won gold during the 2012 Paralympics
in London, England. “It was amazing, a dream come true. We worked for so, so many years,” Zeyen said. “At Worlds two years before, we lost in the gold medal game by 2 points.” She was recruited while
playing for the German national team by the head coach at the time, Brent Hardin. The German team traveled to Birmingham, Ala., for a game, when Zeyen was invited to the campus where she fell in love. “I really liked the campus and the basketball team. There were other international players and it was a strong team that I could better myself by playing with them,” Zeyen said. Being so far away from her family hasn’t been easy for Zeyen, but she said they make it work.
“It has been tough. I wish I could see them more often. My parents are important to me,” Zeyen said. “When I had my accident, they said we have to make the best of it and make it work. They supported me in everything-driving me to practices and games.” Zeyen said she is excited for her parents to come to her graduation in May. “I’m happy with my life. I’ve had a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said. “It’s not always easy or great, but I’m happy.”
WOMEN’S ROWING
MEN’S GOLF
Rowing team caps off opening weekend at Oak Ridge
Tide wins Schenkel Invitational 2 years in a row with 10-shot victory Sunday
CW Staff
CW Staff
The Alabama rowing team capped off its opening weekend at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invite Sunday morning at Melton Hill Lake. The Crimson Tide earned one win against stiff competition on the second day of races. “The girls rowed well today,” Alabama head coach Larry Davis said. “Obviously we were up against tough competition. The good thing in regards to the way the girls rowed was we didn’t let the fact that we went against two very high level teams intimidate us. I think we made progress in the area of how we are competitors and what we need to do to improve to the next level.”
“
We didn’t let the fact that we went against two very high level teams intimidate us. —Larry Davis
The Tide was highlighted on the day by the first novice 8 that took second, ahead of Duke with a time of 7:36.15. The victory for the Tide came in the third varsity 8 race where the Tide raced past the Blue Devils with a time of 8:05.70. “We did notice that the installation of our race plan is probably about a week or so behind the other teams that have already raced a couple times,” Davis said. “Given that we have had
a chance to win some races up here and have strong performances on the weekend we are looking forward to next weekend when we go up against Clemson.” In the first varsity 8 race, the Tide finished third behind top-ranked Virginia and Duke with a time of 7:02.74. In the varsity 4, Alabama finished third with a time of 8:05.55. In the second varsity 8 competition, the Tide finished third with a 7:19.10. The second varsity 4 saw the Tide place third with an 8:36.26. The Crimson Tide will return to the water next weekend when it heads to Clemson to face off against the Tigers and Marist. The three teams will participate in a oneday event on Saturday at Lake Hartwell.
The second-ranked Alabama men’s golf team cruised to a 10-shot victory and sophomore Justin Thomas won medalist honors Sunday in the final round of the Schenkel Invitational on the par-72, 6,947yard Forest Heights Country Club. It was Thomas’ sixth career tournament victory, breaking a tie with former Tide and PGA Tour great Steve Lowery. His record-setting win came in just his 20th career tournament. Lowery’s previous mark of five was set in 44 career tournament starts. The Crimson Tide carded a 3-under-par round of 285 on Sunday to finish at 16-under-par 848, 10 shots ahead of Texas,
“
I am really proud of the guys and their efforts this weekend. It was a difficult prep week with the quick turnaround from the Southern Highlands Masters in Las Vegas. — Jay Seawall
who shot 5-over 293. North Florida moved past Florida for third place with a 5-under round. The Gators finished at 9-over 873 in fourth with Central Florida fifth at 877. “I am really proud of the guys and their efforts this weekend,” Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. “It was a difficult prep week with the quick turnaround from the Southern Highlands Masters in Las Vegas. It was good to see the team manage difficult situations and find a way to
win here this weekend.” Thomas, from Goshen, Ky., shot 70 on Sunday for a 9-under 207 and a three shot victory over the Longhorn’s Brandon Stone (-6, 210). UA junior Bobby Wyatt finished tied for third place at 5-under 211 after a 1-under 71 in the final round. “Justin has struggled a little this year, not bad, but he hasn’t been spot on,” Seawell said. “He really worked hard this week to get back to basics – just back to being himself. It was
great to be able to see him get the fruit from his labor, but there is still some work to do.” Junior Cory Whitsett finished seventh at 3-under 213 after carding an even-par 72 on Sunday as all five Tide golfers were within three shots of each other. Scott Strohmeyer also shot 72 and was The Tide’s final counting score. Strohmeyer tied for 22nd individually at 4-over 220. Tom Lovelady’s 73 was dropped from Alabama’s score in the final round, and he finished tied for 30 at 6-over 222. The Tide has now won back-to-back team titles at the Schenkel Invitational Alabama returns to action next weekend looking to win its third straight Linger Longer Invitational title.
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Monday, March 18, 2013 | Page 11
CW | Austin Bigoney
The football team hit the field Saturday for its first spring practice.
FOOTBALL
New talent practicing with seasoned players By Marc Torrence Assistant Sports Editor AJ McCarron saw a crowded group of quarterbacks behind him when Alabama opened its spring practice Saturday. McCarron is entrenched as the starting quarterback, but he was joined by six quarterbacks who are all vying for the backup quarterback job behind him and a chance to take the reigns after McCarron plays his final season
in 2013. “We haven’t been around each other long enough, so I help them when I can or whenever they ask,” McCarron said. “It helps getting a break. It’s fun to sit back and watch the younger guys compete, watch them grow. It’s going to be a fun spring.” At running back, early enrollee Derrick Henry, a fivestar athlete from Yulee, Fla., stood out among the group –
literally. At 6-feet 3-inches and 242 pounds, Henry drew a scary comparison from linebacker C.J. Mosley. “We were talking about it on the sideline me and a couple of the players, how Henry looked like a bigger version of Trent Richardson,” Mosley said. “But you have to do what you have to do. So we’ve got to make him better and he’s got to make us better. He came in and killed the first quarter
program. So I’m excited to see what he’s gonna do when we start our first scrimmage.” The running back group was a little more spread out than it will be in the fall, when the Crimson Tide will welcome three other highly-touted backs. The running backs will run behind a re-tooled offensive line in 2013. Alabama is looking to replace left guard Chance Warmack, center Barrett Jones and right
tackle D.J. Fluker. Ryan Kelly is expected to step in at center, while Arie Kouandjio lined up next to his brother, Cyrus at left guard and Austin Shephard went through drills with the first unit at right tackle. The wide receiver group was thinner than usual with Cyrus Jones and Christion Jones working out with the defensive backs during the media viewing period of practice. Kevin Norwood sat out drills in a black jersey
after having toe surgery in the offseason, while DeAndrew White went through drills in a no-contact jersey. “When I go in, Christion’s still with us when we go Blue,” McCarron said. “Other than that, I have [Kenny Bell] and [Amari Cooper] out there, so I’m not really throwing to anybody different out there. All the newer guys are with the other QBs, so I’m still with my same old guys I’ve been with.”
FOOTBALL
Crimson Tide practices with defensive position changes By Marquavius Burnett Sports Editor The two-time defending national champion Alabama football team began spring practice on Saturday and the biggest news from the 20-minute media viewing period were the position changes on the defensive side of the ball. Running back Dee Hart and wide receivers Christion Jones and Cyrus Jones worked out
with the cornerbacks during the session. But head coach Nick Saban noted that these and other changes are nothing more than experiments. “That’s all they are, is experiments,” Saban said. “Just to see how they can do. There’s two things that you need from experimenting with a player, whether a guy can do something if you need him in the fall and if something bad happens at a position in the fall, you have some basic knowledge of what he
would have to do to be able to fill in for you if you need for him to. These are not permanent moves, none of them They’re experiments.” Hart, recruited as a five-star running back, wore a black nocontact jersey and is recovering from his second ACL tear. Christion Jones, who continued to wear a white jersey and split time at wide receiver on Saturday, has seen substantial time at wide out and in the return game during his two
years at Alabama while Cyrus Jones saw time as a punt returner as a freshman last season. Saban said he isn’t sure if the team is looking to make any of the changes permanent, but noted that each player had played defensive back before. “We’re looking to see if any of those guys can help us, and if this would be a better circumstance for how much they would be able to contribute to our team,” Saban said. “The
first thing you’ve got to do to determine that is, ‘Can the guy do it? Does he have the physical attributes to be able to do it and help you in some role?’ “I’ve been encouraged by all those guys,” Saban said. “And I don’t think there’s any way that all those guys are going to end up on defense. Maybe one. Maybe two, if they both have roles. It gives you a little bit of an insurance policy when a guy can make that transition
because he’s learned it at some point in time before. That’s part of what we’re trying to do as well.” Linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive back John Fulton wore black no-contact jerseys as well. Fulton is recovering from offseason toe surgery. Saban said he is “pretty questionable” for contact during spring practice but should be ready for the summer drills and fall practices.
BASEBALL
In first conference series, Bama beats Tennessee 15-1 on Sunday By Kevin Connell Staff Reporter The Alabama baseball team
concluded its opening weekend afternoon. seven of its first eight to begin the in Southeastern Conference With the win, the Tide (11-9, 2-1 month of March. play with a 15-1 win against the SEC) has now won three out of “It’s huge,” senior catcher Tennessee Volunteers Sunday its last four games after dropping Brett Booth said. “When you got a chance to win a series at home, you got to win it.” In the series opener on Friday night, Alabama bested the Volunteers in a 12-1 win led by senior right-hander Charley Sullivan, who allowed three hits in a complete game. The Volunteers returned the favor with a 7-6 victory in game two on Saturday after a late-inning rally from the Tide fell short. “I thought all weekend we had really good energy, very competitive throughout,” Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard said. The Tide offense exploded with a season-best eight runs in the first inning that saw six different Tide batters drive in a run. After Tennessee left-hander Andy Cox retired two of the first three batters he faced, the Alabama bats came to life, scoring all eight runs in the inning with two outs. With the exception
Food · Sports
Spirits · Music
Join Us For $3 Midnight Munchies With The Most
Crafts Drafts On The Strip Follow
@CrimsonTavern
at
Sp eci als
&
re G e For Mor
M onday All All You You Can Eat Wings Monday 2pm-Close
Tuesday $6 Burger Specials + Side Cajun Wednesday Thursday All You Can Eat Catfish 2pm-Close Friday Fish Tacos
of sophomore right fielder Ben Moore, every batter in the Tide lineup scored a run in the inning. “Zero, one runs in the first inning compared to eight makes the game a heck of a lot easier,” freshman center fielder Georgie Salem said. Sophomore right-hander Spencer Turnbull (1-1) was credited with the win after allowing only one earned run in seven innings of work. Gaspard said Turnbull had a “serviceable” performance but still needs to work on his pitch placement in the strike zone and his command of all three of his pitches. With the loss, the Vols (10-9, 1-2 SEC) have now lost two out of their last three games after riding a five-game winning streak coming into the series. The Tide finished with 20 hits Sunday – the most by the team in a single game since April 7, 2009, against Troy – and the combined 43 hits on the weekend was a season-best for the Tide over a three-game
series. After its eight-run first inning, Alabama tacked on four more over the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. In the eighth inning, the Tide scored an additional three runs. Salem was 3-for-5 with a career-high four RBIs at the plate. He also provided the Tide with the highlight of the game after throwing a runner out at home from his outfield position. “It’s always cool to throw somebody out at the plate like that, but driving in runs helps the team more than throwing somebody out,” Salem said. Booth had a career-high four hits in six plate appearances with an RBI. Senior third baseman Kenny Roberts, freshman shortstop Mikey White and freshman pinch hitter Chance Vincent each registered two RBIs apiece. The Tide will travel to Birmingham, Ala., this Tuesday to play Samford at 6 p.m., followed by a Wednesday match up against Jacksonville State at 6:05 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.
Page 12 | Monday, March 18, 2013
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
GYMNASTICS
Alabama gymnasts topple No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners By Caroline Gazzara Staff Reporter
CW | Shannon Auvil
Junior Kim Jacob scored a 9.9 on the floor exercise.
The No. 4 ranked Alabama gymnastics team closed out its regular season with a 197.525196.900 win over No. 1 ranked Oklahoma in front of 11,776 fans in Coleman Coliseum on Senior Night. It was the Crimson Tide’s fifth consecutive 197-plus score. “I thought that we did a great job in a lot of different areas, but there is still a lot of room for improvement,” head coach Sarah Patterson said. “Our fans were incredible again tonight, and I think our ladies rose to the occasion.”
Alabama started strong, tying its season-best score on the vault, going 49.525 behind 9.95s from sophomore Kayla Williams and freshman Lauren Beers. It was a career-best score for Beers. Senior Ashley Sledge paced Alabama with a career-best 9.95 en route to a season-best 49.425 on the uneven bars. “Sledge’s bar routine was phenomenal,” Patterson said. “She set the tone for the night. I think good judges reward you whether you are first or sixth in the lineup and I think they recognized what an awesome bar routine that was.” Junior Kim Jacob scored a
MEN’S TENNIS
Men’s tennis team wins 4-3 over Auburn CW Staff
Freshman B e c ke r O’Shaughnessey came up big for the Crimson Tide men’s tennis team, outlasting sophomore Lukas Ollert to clinch Alabama’s 4-3 victory over Auburn on Saturday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. With the win, the Tide improves to 12-5 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference while the loss drops the Tigers to 10-5 on the season and 2-3 versus league foes. Alabama began the day with a strong performance in doubles where the Tide’s No. 2 and No. 3 teams beat their Auburn counterparts to take the first point of the match. Junior Daniil Proskura and O’Shaughnessey picked up a late break to beat out Tiger senior Lucas Lopasso and junior Dennis Lengsfeld, 8-6. Sophomores Stuart Kenyon and Philippe Tsangarides secured the doubles point moments later, beating out freshman Joseph Van Dooren and Ollert, 8-4, on court three.
The Tigers evened the score at 1-1 when senior Andreas Mies held on to beat Tide senior Jarryd Botha, 6-4, 6-3, on court one in singles. From there, Alabama won two straight singles contests as Kenyon cruised past Van Dooren on court six, 6-4, 6-3, while Proskura downed junior Daniel Cochrane, 6-3, 6-3, on court two. Auburn would then win the matches on courts four and five, setting up for the clincher to come on court three. O’Shaughnessey edged out Ollert to take the first set, 7-6,(3), but Ollert would bounce back to even the match and one set all with a 6-4 win in the second. O’Shaughnessey, however, came out blazing in the final set with a dominant 6-1 decision to take the match. Alabama returns home next weekend for a pair of SEC matchups as it is slated to host Florida and South Carolina. Friday’s match against the Gators will begin at 3 p.m. CT while Sunday’s contest with the Gamecocks will start at 1 p.m. CT.
March Madness missing truly dominant frontrunners By Billy Whyte Contributing Writer Ah, March Madness. With apologies to Christmas, this really is the most wonderful time of the year. I love the NFL Playoffs and the SEC college football conference game schedule, but nothing can match the excitement, intensity and unpredictability that the NCAA Tournament brings. Unlike all other sports, with a 68-team single elimination tournament, any team really can win it any given year. What other sport’s playoff can supply 32 games in two days and 48 games total in the first four days? And best of all is the bracket. Filling out a bracket every year is an American tradition on par with Opening Day in baseball and the hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July. And the madness all starts with Selection Sunday, when the selection committee every year picks all the teams, seeds and match-ups of the
No. 2 women’s golf team wins out at Gator Women’s Invitational Alabama’s second-ranked women’s golf team staged another comeback on Sunday to capture the team title at the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational by three shots on the par-70, 6,002-yard Mark Bostick Golf Course. The Crimson Tide made the turn at 7-over par and had slipped into third place behind fourth-ranked Oklahoma and fifth-ranked Florida. However, Alabama swung the momentum back in its direction by shooting 2-under par over its final nine holes for a three-shot win over OU and a five-stroke margin over the host, Gators. “It was another great comefrom-behind win,” Alabama head coach Mic Potter said. “We started very slowly, again, and dug ourselves a very sizeable hole. To the girl’s credit, they never gave up and kept
grinding. In the end, we were able to capitalize on mistakes from Oklahoma and Florida along with several good finishes from Hannah [Collier] and Jennifer [Kirby], who was steady all day.” Collier, from Birmingham, Ala., started her round on the second hole Sunday and struggled out of the gate, falling to 4-over-par after 10 holes. The junior then turned her game around and keyed the Tide comeback. Collier made five straight pars before making birdie on No. 17, a par on the 18th and a closing birdie on the par-4 first hole for a 2-over par round of 72. She tied for 13th at 8-over 218. Kirby began her final round on the fourth hole and quickly moved to 2-under with birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. A double bogey on No. 8 moved her back to even par as the senior from Paris, Ontario,
“
right now.” For the season, Alabama drew 13,422 fans per meet, the second highest average in school history and the second highest average among collegiate women’s programs in the nation this season. Alabama posted its 34th consecutive home win on Friday, a streak that includes a 24-0-0 regular season mark and a 10-00 record as host of the 2009 and 2011 NCAA regional championships. The Tide’s last home loss came midway through the 2009 season. Alabama returns to action for the SEC Championships in Little Rock, Ark., on March 23.
COLUMN
WOMEN’S GOLF
By CW Staff
9.9 on the balance beam to lead regular-season home meet. the Tide to a 49.150 team score. Alexin, Gutierrez and Sledge Alabama closed have never lost a out the night on home meet during the floor exercise their four years, Oklahoma came in undewith a 49.425, led while Priess, a by 9.9s from Beers fifth-year senior, feated. Every team that they and Jacob. It was has lost just once have competed against has Jacob’s ninth conin the Coliseum. lost. For us to beat this No. secutive 9.9 or “Tonight was 1 team – we are over the better floor exerhuge for us, espemoon right now. cise score of the cially going into season. the SECs,” Sledge — Ashley Sledge Both before said. “Oklahoma and after the came in undefeatmeet Alabama ed. Every team honored seniors Becca Alexin, that they have competed against Marissa Gutierrez, Ashley Priess has lost. For us to beat this No. and Sledge in their last 1 team – we are over the moon
made par on the final 13 holes to help the Tide rally for the win. She finished tied for 16th individually at 9-over 219. Junior Stephanie Meadow was Alabama’s leading scorer, finishing tied for fourth at 4-over par 214. She shot 72 in the final round with a 1-under par total on the back nine. Freshman Emma Talley also carded a 72 on Sunday to tie for ninth place at 7-over 217. Sophomore Daniela Lendl shot 75, but her score was not counted toward the team total. The Tide shot 6-over par 286 in the final round to finish at 25-overpar 865. Oklahoma posted a 28-overpar total of 868 with UF at 870. Oklahoma State and Virginia tied for fourth at 37-over 877. Alabama is now idle for four weeks before teeing it up in the PING ASU Invitational on April 12-14 at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz.
tournament. Before I discuss anything else, let me say that even though some people still may feel slighted that Alabama didn’t make the tournament, the Tide didn’t deserve it this year. Quite frankly, Alabama had too many bad losses and not enough good wins. The Tide had its chances against tournament teams like Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, Cincinnati and VCU, and it didn’t get the job done. In fact, in the end Alabama only had two wins against NCAA tournament teams, and that was against ninth seed Villanova in the 2k Sports Classic, and its first win of the season against 13th seed, automatic qualifier South Dakota State. It doesn’t help that the SEC just wasn’t that good this year in basketball. Along with Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky were also exiled to the National Invitation Tournament. On the plus side, if the cards work out, the Tide may be able to exact our revenge on the evil Mercer
(does anyone even know where Mercer is located?) in the NIT. With that said, expect this to be one of the wildest, upsethappy tournaments in a long time because of the parity this year and a lack of truly dominant teams. With the exception of Gonzaga (the college basketball equivalent of an undefeated non-BCS conference team), every single team has at least five losses. We have head coaching giants like Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino all in the same side of the bracket (meaning we have plenty of opportunities to root against Duke). There are higher seeded teams like eighth-seed Pittsburgh and ninth-seed Missouri that legitimately could make the Final Four. There are midmajors like St. Louis, VCU and Creighton that can cause some major damage this year. And if we learned anything in the last three years, it’s that you can’t bet against Brad Stevens and sixth-seed team, Butler, under any circumstances.
Not that it really matters what any of us think will happen. Really, the less you know about college basketball, the better off you may be when predicting the brackets. Some years the bracket is all chalk (which means top seeds always win) and President Obama’s bracket will be way better than all of ours, and some years like in 2011, the final four will consist of a third, fourth, eighth, and 11th seed. Your bracket is as likely to unravel like a little kid eating a fruit roll-up as it is to strike gold on the first weekend. As of now, I’m picking Louisville to win it all (who I swear was my choice before conference tournament week played out) while trying to find a way to skip all my classes for the first round on Thursday even though I have two tests that day. But it doesn’t matter to me if Louisville wins or not, because it’s not about the end result, but the journey along the way that makes the NCAA tournament so special.
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Monday, March 18, 2013 | Page 13
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Alabama falls short in SEC Tournament semifinals By Charlie Potter Staff Reporter The Alabama men’s basketball team seemed to be on its way to an appearance in the Southeastern Conference tournament final. But a second half collapse against Florida on Saturday sent the Crimson Tide back to Tuscaloosa with a disappointing end to its championship hopes. Alabama (21-12) entered the conference tournament as the No. 4 seed and faced No. 5 Tennessee in the quarterfinal round on Friday. The Tide and Volunteers battled all afternoon, but Alabama took advantage of Tennessee’s poor shooting and escaped with a 58-48 victory. “We were prepared to go out to do the things we needed to do,” head coach Anthony Grant said. “Just really proud of our guys today for handling everything that came at them. It was a
“
Tough loss. Obviously, our focus coming in was to try to play for an SEC Tournament championship, and we fell short today. — Anthony Grant
highly contested game, a physical game, a game of inches. But we answered the bell. It was a good win.” Poor shooting was the ultimate downfall for Tennessee. The team completed 32 percent (18-56) of its shots from the field and 22 percent (5-23) of its 3-point attempts. Alabama, on the other hand, shot the ball well in a critical game. The Tide completed 41 percent (19-46) of its shots from the floor and 50 percent from behind the arc. “I thought we got great effort out of everybody that went on
CW | Austin Bigoney
Head coach Anthony Grant. The Alabama men’s basketball team fell to the Florida Gators 61-51 in the semifinals of the SEC tournament March 16 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. the court today,” Grant said. “We talked about the experiences that we had gained over the course of the season and what we needed to do from a scouting report standpoint, a preparation standpoint.
And I thought everybody did a great job.” Sophomore guard Levi Randolph led the offensive charge with 15 points and five rebounds. But he wasn’t alone in his scor-
ing effort. Junior guard Trevor Releford tacked on 14 points, while freshman guard Retin Obasohan posted nine. With the win, Alabama advanced to a semifinal match up with No. 1 Florida on Saturday. The Tide built a 28-25 lead at halftime, and the momentum was in Alabama’s favor. The Tide jumped out to a 10-point lead early in the second half, but three quick fouls from sophomore guard Rodney Cooper forced Grant to change his defensive game plan from man-to-man to zone coverage. That’s when the Gators came alive. Senior guard Kenny Boynton was held scoreless in the first half but finished the game with 16 points, leading all scorers. “Boynton stepped up to the plate and made some big plays for his team; give him credit for that,” Releford said. “He just gave them
that spark, and they just kept feeding off it.” Alabama hung tough but couldn’t slow down Florida’s attack or Boynton. The Gators defeated the Tide 61-51. Releford paced Alabama with 12 points. Trevor Lacey and Nick Jacobs each tallied 11 points. The Tide averaged 45 percent (19-42) from the field, while converting 50 percent of its 3-point attempts. Florida shot 44 percent (23-52) from the floor but struggled from behind the arc, shooting 18 percent (3-17). Alabama coughed up 10 turnovers and did not record a steal in the game. “Tough loss,” Grant said. “Obviously, our focus coming in was to try to play for an SEC Tournament championship, and we fell short today. Florida, give them credit, I think they’ve been the best team in the league all year.”
Bad losses sink Tide’s hopes for NCAA trip BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 1
In 2011, the Tide also made the NIT as a No. 1 seed but fell in the championship game to Wichita State. Alabama was unable to overcome its 1-5 record in December. The handful of bad losses ultimately came back to haunt the Tide and resulted in its NCAA bubble bursting. The SEC placed three teams in the NIT: Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Volunteers are a No. 2 seed. The Tide faces a quick turnaround from the SEC tournament, but Grant said his team is lucky to receive an invitation. “We’re thankful to have an opportunity to continue to play,” he said. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
CW | Austin Bigoney
The Tide repeatedly found themselves desperately searching for an open man as they played a tough Florida defense.
The Student Government Association & The Office of the Dean of Students will honor the memory of
Natalie Ann Baine Dwight C. “Doc” Reel, II with a * Denny Chimes Memorial Tribute
March 18, 2013 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Family members, friends and the University Community are invited to gather on the Quad around the Denny Chimes *In the event of rain, the location will change to the top steps of the Gorgas Library Building.
Page 14 | Monday, March 18, 2013
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Club lacrosse team ranked No. 4 By Danielle Walker Contributing Writer
Submitted
Senior Natalie Owens takes the ball down the field, looking for open players to pass to.
Florida, already have varsity teams. I don’t want Alabama to fall behind and be one of the The No. 4 Alabama women’s last schools to get a varsity lacrosse club faced off against women’s lacrosse team.” Kennesaw State University in The game against KSU got its last home game of the seaoff to a slow start with the son Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Tide having difficulty placing winning 20-8. shots in the net. After an early —Megan Monroe The club is in its 10th year as timeout from the Tide, head a member of the Southeastern coach Jason Sanderson and Women’s Lacrosse League a coach, and we’re improving team captain Natalie Owens and is hoping to take its each year.” were able to put fire underThe club team is also hoping neath the team and things 8-1 record to this years to become an NCAA recog- started clicking on the field. championship tournament. “The team has really pro- nized sport at the University. Sanderson also told the team “In the future, I would love during the huddle to place its gressed in the past few years,” club president Megan Monroe to see lacrosse become a var- shots on the ground, making said. “Two seasons ago we lost sity sport,” Monroe said. “It it difficult for the KSU goalie every single game and didn’t is the fastest growing sport in to block. have a coach. Now we’re 8-1, the U.S., and other southern “We’re a fast team. The team undefeated at home, we have schools, like Vanderbilt and was a bit shell shocked at first,
“
The team has really progressed in the past few years. Two seasons ago we lost every single game and didn’t have a coach.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
but they made adjustments,” Sanderson said. “I couldn’t be happier right now.” Freshman Morgan King led the team with six goals and Megan Coddington had four goals and one assist. “It was a really well-played game but we wanted it more,” King said. Senior goalie Julia Miller had 10 saves with 17 shots on her goal. The Tide will continue to defend its championship tournament hopes April 13 in Martinsville, Va. If the team wins its remaining games and is ranked eighth or higher in SWLL, it could be eligible for the national tournament in Colorado Springs in early May.
SOFTBALL
Tide rallies past Auburn, wins 4-3
Alabama softball team fights for a 7-6 win in series at South Carolina, secures Tide’s weekend sweep
By Andrew Clare Contributing Writer
CW Staff
The Alabama women’s tennis team extended its winning streak to nine matches with a comeback victory over in-state rival Auburn Friday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. The Crimson Tide beat the Tigers in another match that went down to the wire. Alabama was 2 points away from losing the match but fought back to win 4-3. “Our team will not quit,” head coach Jenny Mainz said. “We have talked repeatedly about our backs being against the wall, being in challenging situations, and we continue to not quit and give up.” The Tide stumbled in the doubles portion of the matches, failing to win one of the three matches and trailed Auburn 1-0 headed into the singles portion of the match. Alabama needed to win four of the six singles, matches to win the overall team match and keep its winning streak alive.
The Tide received early contributions in the singles matches as seniors Alexa Guarachi, Antonia Foehse and sophomore Emily Zabor all won in straight sets. Guarachi won her match 6-3 and 6-1, Foehse won 7-6, 6-4 and Zabor won 6-1, 6-3. “There were a lot of commendable performances we had,” Mainz said. “Foehse found a way to win. Alexa Guarachi had a quick boost in the arm, just the way we play is contagious.” With Guarachi, Foehse and Zabor winning, Alabama was tied with Auburn 3-3 with only one match still in progress. The overall team match came down to freshman Natalia Maynetto. Maynetto won her first set 6-3. She went on to lose her second set 6-4. She entered the third and final set with stakes being higher than ever. Maynetto won the first game of the final set leading her opponent from Auburn 1-0. After winning the opening game of the third set, Maynetto was
trailing 5-1 and was two points away from being defeated. Maynetto rallied to win six straight games over her opponent, winning 7-5 and helping Alabama clinch the match. “I was fighting so hard in the beginning and then things did go my way in the second set,” Maynetto said. “In the third set I got a little bit of confidence and fought like crazy. I knew it all came down to me and I was trying not to think about it.” Mainz said what Maynetto did was beyond remarkable, especially considering she is only a freshman. “For her to be down 5-1 and fight her way back into that match is more than clutch,” Mainz said. “For a freshman to do that with the poise and maturity is commendable.” Mainz said a win like this is huge for the Tide and it showed great resilience and battled until the very end. “It was a complete team effort,” Mainz said. “I’m really proud of this team because it would have been easy to quit and we didn’t.”
The Alabama softball team held off a late South Carolina rally to earn a 7-6 victory to earn the series sweep, Sunday afternoon at the new Carolina Softball Stadium. With the victory, the Tide improves to 26-3 overall and 4-2 in Southeastern Conference play. It took four innings for the Tide bats to get going, scoring all seven runs in a two-inning span, with four in the fourth and three in the fifth. Alabama banged out 12 hits, led by senior Kayla Braud, who batted 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Jadyn Spencer batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Jackie Traina (12-2) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three in 5 1/3 innings. Traina also added a solo home run, her second in as many games. Once again the Tide had to fight its way back into the ballgame. After facing a 2-0 deficit entering the fourth inning, Alabama plated four runs, all
with two outs to seize a 4-2 lead. Braud got the Tide on the board with a two-run single to center that scored Spencer and sophomore Danae Hays. Both started the inning with singles and moved into scoring position on a walk to freshman Leona Lafaele. The Tide then took the lead when a slow grounder off the bat of freshman Haylie McCleney was thrown away, allowing Lafaele and Braud to score. Traina helped her own cause by leading off the fifth inning with a solo shot. The blast, that nearly hit the lights in left-center, gave the Tide a 5-2 lead. The home run was her seventh of the season. UA added two more, to make it 7-2, when sophomore Chaunsey Bell plated Spencer on a single to left and a hard single from Braud scored Bell to cap the Tide runs. Alabama will return home after being on the road for two weeks to play four games next week at Rhoads Stadium. The Tide will start off the week Wednesday against Georgia State, and then host rival Auburn for an SEC series starting Friday.
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
Monday, March 18, 2013 | Page 15
MARKETPLACE
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.
HOUSING LOFTS TUSCALOOSA AND NORTHPORT 2 bedroom, 1 bath. $1150-$900-$750. Roof-deck 205 657 3900-205 752 9020 LEASING FOR FALL 16 Beverly Heights off University Blvd. & only minutes from campus. 3 bdrms, 2 bths. 2 yrs. old. $1500. 205-7921793. Available August 1st. 3 BEDRM HOUSE, 10 min from campus, Claymont Subdiv., wood Àoors, $1050/mo, 535-4573. CAMPUS EFFICIENCY APTS. beside Publix. $425/ mo. water included. No pets. 1 year lease and security deposit required. Call (205)752-1277 CAMPUS 3 BLOCKS away, 1 bedroom apartment, Hackberry Place $450/mo water & garbage included. Lease and deposit required. No pets. Fall 2013 Call (205)752-1277 ONE BEDRM APT near stadium in older home; some utilities, screen porch, w/d, xtras, $725/mo, 535-4573 BRAND NEW LUXURY APTS 1 & 2 Bedrooms. Downtown across from Innisfree Pub. ~5 blocks from campus. Visit www. tiderentals.com for more information. (205)752-1277
RATES
Best Commercial Rates:
4-8 days is $.50 per word. 9 plus days is $.35 per word.
Student/Faculty Rates:
$.35 per word. You must register with a Crimson Mail address to get this rate. If you enter your ad under student rate without a Crimson Mail address your charge will be adjusted to regular price.
DEADLINES: Classified line ad deadline is the previous business day by 4:00 p.m.
JOBS EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads. www.FreeCarPay. com STUDENTS NEEDED for the Crimson Tide Hospitality Team. Hiring responsible UA students to assist in Skybox/ Club operations at all home football games. Email HospitalityOf¿ce@ia.ua.edu for an application and more info. SOUTHERN FOODSERVICE Looking for catering servers and captains for upcoming April catering events and 2013 Football Season at Bryant Denny Stadium. $10 hourly. Resumes: SFMBDS105@gmail.com TELLER- Part time position with large credit union in Tuscaloosa. Great for less experienced candidates. Work Monday, Friday and one other weekday. Email resume to: Jobs1@apcocu.org Need female roommate for May through Fall semester! Townhouse by VA on Loop Rd, 15 min from campus. Master bedroom w/ bath available. Spacious and clean. Rent/utilities will not exceed $500/mo! Please call/ txt Becca (573)979-0448.
Sudoku
HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (03/18/13). Happy times at home start the year off right. A May 25 career spotlight could lead to a raise around November. Creativity percolates by summer, and travel calls after that. Immerse yourself in learning about something you love with others who share your passion. 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 9 -- Your wishes are easier to achieve for the next few weeks. Keep your objective in mind. Go full speed ahead, avoiding distractions. Don’t overspend on toys. Communication flows, equipment works as planned. Finish early and go play. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- You have more than enough in the realms of both money and love. Soak it up and be grateful. Together, you’ll score double. Change your mind, if you need to. There’s more work coming in. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re a superhero right now. And you’re basking in abundance. It’s not about having more toys, but about what you’ll do with your powers. You have plenty to protect. Share your love. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- It’s a very lucky moment for scoring great household items. Luxury is a viable option. You have more than expected, and there’s this lucky break. But study’s still required. Get antiques appraised later. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -There’s a lot on your list, so you’d better get help. You’re luckier than you think. You can’t produce on optimism alone, but it sure helps. Find what you need nearby. Don’t skip over any details. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Improve your position. Big games
offer big prizes. There’s an interesting development, but more study is required. You can succeed on whatever you set your heart to. Believe in yourself. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re very persuasive now, and communications flow with ease. Joy inspires you. Use your own good judgment, with confidence. Don’t make promises you won’t keep. You have more resources than you knew. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- You have what you need to do the job. There could be a temporary sense of overload. Complete negotiations. You’re surrounded by love. You have more friends than you thought. Great abundance is available now. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re gaining confidence. Let go of old baggage so you can move more freely. You’re very popular now. Be respectful. You have access to whatever you need. Consider how best to serve. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- You discover wisdom and compassion. You have more than you let on, anyway. Your new status leads to new friends. Another has lots of needs for you to fill. Set long-range goals. A theological insight reveals clarity. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- There are so many places you’d like to visit and study. Tap into another source of funds, and you’ll get farther than expected. Discover wonderful things. Insight comes from contemplation. You’re gaining status. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Get outside your normal view of things to see new opportunities. Toss the ball to a teammate and share the love. Stash away the surplus. Expand your circle. Travel beckons; take care.
Addicted to pain pills? Suboxone is the answer. 3ULYDWH DQG FRQðGHQWDO treatment with respect.
West Alabama Psychiatric
“When other jewelers say no Tom says yes”
Hours: 9am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday 4804 Alabama HWY 69 Northport, AL 35473 (205) 330-7700
2300 McFarland Blvd. East (205) 758-2213
Leasing NOW & Falll 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms Minutes from Campus & Malls
*Monitored
Security System
*Gas Logs/Fireplaces *Tanning Beds Fitness Center; 2 Resort Pools
Onsite Management
S AV E I N T U S C A L O O S A
3201
Hargrove Road East
205-554-1977
palisadesapthomes.com
Look out for
Rip N Strip & Denny Deals
INTERESTED IN RUNNING YOUR AD IN ADAY? CONTACT YOUR AD REP TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Changing Seasons TANNING: Minutes Special 300 Minute Package $33.00
Eye Brow Waxing $12.00
Check out RIP N STRIP Every
Tuesday!
Foil Special/10 Foils- $25.00
Eye Lashes $25.00 Color $55.00 507 Hargove Rd. E.
758.6119
$48.99
Page 16 | Monday, March 18, 2013
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS