03 20 14 The Crimson White

THURSDAY MARCH 20, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 106 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894

NEWS | DRUG USE

Lethal injection Student heroin use increases

CW | Austin Bigoney A recent increase in heroin availability and quality creates a local epidemic as new users, unfamiliar with the drug in pure forms, overdose more easily than ever before.

By Taylor Manning | Staff Reporter As heroin use has grown across the country in recent years, the Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama communities have been no exception.

Wayne Robertson, commander of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, said narcotics, such as heroin, are playing an increasingly significant role in student life.

“We are seeing a big rise in heroin use among students,” Robertson said. “[It] is probably one of the most powerful

TODAYON CAMPUS Track and field WHAT: Track and Field/Cross Country Relays WHEN: All Day WHERE: Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium

drugs there is. We’ve seen more college kids on it in this area than any other group. The problem that we’re having is so many overdoses.”

The purity of heroin is characterized by how much it is mixed or “cut” with other, generally non-lethal, substances, such as sugar or starch. Typically, users buy heroin with a purity level of 20 to 30 percent, Robertson said. However, the average purity rate of heroin in Tuscaloosa is a dangerously high 50 percent, and neighboring Jefferson County officials have confiscated some with purity levels as high

as 90 percent.

“They’re selling it to the kids, and the kids just don’t know what they’re getting,” Robertson said. “If you’re an addict, you want that drug so badly. You’re willing to take the risk.”

Heroin overdoses rose in Jefferson, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties from 15 in 2008 to 83 in 2012, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.

SEE HEROIN PAGE 13

SPORTS | TRACK AND FIELD

UA sprinters win 2 national titles Burchell, Batson break records in 60-meter, 200-meter dashes

By Kelly Ward | Assistant Sports Editor

Diversity lunch WHAT: Blend Day Lunch WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ferguson Food Court

Music scene WHAT: Whiskey Dix WHEN: 4 p.m.

WHERE: Rhythm & Brews

Junior Remona Burchell did everything she could not to cry when she saw her 60-meter dash time of 7.11 seconds.

“I jumped so high,” Burchell said. “I screamed. I was almost crying, but I didn’t want to cry. Everyone would stare at me.

‘Why is she crying?’ But it would be tears of joy, but I didn’t cry. I almost did.”

It wasn’t just the winning time at the NCAA Indoor Championships; it’s the second fastest time in NCAA history for the SEE TRACK PAGE 14

UA Athletics Track and field athletes look to continue success from the NCAA Indoor Championships as the Tide hosts the Alabama Relays this weekend.

CULTURE | THEATER

Student recital WHAT: Taylor Webb, trombone WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Music Building recital hall

Theater students audition for Broadway Industry professionals seek new talent at NYC showcase

By Laura Testino | Contributing Writer

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Sports Puzzles Classifieds

Thursday

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Briefs Opinions Culture

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SEE THEATER PAGE 14

CW | Austin Bigoney Raphael Crystal, assistant associate professor and director of the musical theater program, works with students as they prepare for auditions in New York City.

s

WHAT: Xpress Night with the Spoken Word WHEN: 7-9 p.m.

WHERE: Ferg Starbucks

WEATHER

Honors College

Relaying the depth of one’s study and understanding to a potential employer can be a daunting task. Doing all of this in two minutes through a scene from a movie or a song from a musical may seem impossible.

Students in Bama on Broadway, the senior showcase featuring these twominute auditions, have the opportunity to make their first impressions on industry professionals in New York City before leaving college. The students

recycle thi

WHAT: Martin King, horn WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Music Building concert hall

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Student recital

email

editor@cw.ua.edu

website cw.ua.edu

CAMPUSBRIEFS

Thursday March 20, 2014

p.2

Greece Initiative to host lecture The University of Alabama Greece Initiative is hosting a lecture by Greek geologist Spyros Pavlides, dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Friday at 3 p.m. in Room 205 of Smith Hall.

The lecture, “The Southern Aegean Volcanic Arc, the Volcano of Santorini and the Minoan Civilization,” will touch on geodynamic characteristics and volcanic activity in the southern Aegean Sea. The presentation will consist of images of structures within walls of calderas and other active volcanic centers of historic eruptions. He will discuss the largest volcanic eruption of the last 5,000 years and the Minoan eruption of 1613 B.C. Pavlides’ lecture is part of his week-long visit set up through the collaborative relationship between the two universities, more specifically between AGI and AUTH. With the help of professors who have traveled internationally, like Tatiana Tsakiropoulou-Summers in the department of modern languages and classics and the liaison to the College of Arts and Sciences Russell McCutcheon, collaboration between international research universities in Greece is possible.

“I hope that students who are interested in this topic really come out,” McCutcheon said. “Students can grasp a better understanding of work done by an expert in the field.”

Pavlides has degrees in natural sciences and geology, and a doctorate in neotectonics. He has conducted research on active faults and earthquake ground deformation in areas around Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Italy, Taiwan, Southern China, Turkey and parts of Anatolia.

In 2011, the AGI brought Danae Stefanou, a musicologist and pianist from AUTH, to hold a concert on experimental music in Greece along with New College and School of Music professor Andrew Dewar.

“It was really great for students to see how experimental musicians worked in other countries, not just this one,” Dewar said. “A great way to expand the aesthetic boundaries of students.”

The AGI is a collaboration of resources that is striving to bring international expansion to university students with various interests. AUTH has a campus population of 80,000 students and is the largest research university in Greece.

“Any student in interest of international studies will enjoy the meet and greets with this professor,” McCutcheon said.

“This is a multi-pronged initiative that has been taking students overseas for a long time now.”

SCENEON CAMPUS

CW | Austin Bigoney Student John Aluiso watches a gubernatorial debate between candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis from his home state of Texas on his iPad at Gorgas Library on Wednesday.

TODAY

WHAT: Student Recital: Rose WHAT:McDowell, Student Recital: flute Martin King, horn WHEN: 8 p.m.

WHEN: 7 p.m.Recital Hall WHERE: Moody WHERE: Moody Music Building concert hall

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

WHAT: Southern History of Education Society Annual Conference WHEN: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

WHERE: Graves Hall

WHAT: Meet Your Maker pottery lesson WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: The Makers Market

WHAT: Women’s tennis vs.

South Carolina WHEN: 5 p.m.

WHERE: UA Tennis Stadium

WHAT: Suds of the South WHEN: 4 p.m.

WHERE: Wilhagen’s

Compiled by Sophia Fazal

IN THENEWS Google grant to University of Minnesota funds indoor 3-D building map project MCT Campus P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355

EDITORIAL editor-in-chief

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Charlie Potter

opinion editor chief copy editor

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Austin Bigoney

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for Massachusetts research firm IDC, said Roumeliotis may be right about the significance of 3-D mapping. Besides its use on smartphones, the University of Minnesota software is likely to play a major role in 3-D imaging for Google Glass, the company’s wearable computer that has a tiny display above the right eye, Strawn said.

For Glass, the software could create much better 3-D “augmented reality,” a name used today for overlaying a camera image with explanatory information. One of the key features of the University of Minnesota software is that it creates a map almost instantly without slowing down the phone’s other operations or drawing much battery power, Roumeliotis said. To do that, the University of Minnesota team had to try some novel design ideas.

It’s not unusual for Google to reach out to universities for help in creating new technology, Strawn said.

“There’s a lot of valuable brainpower in the university system, and that’s what Google needs to move these projects forward,” he said.

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ADVERTISING advertising manager

The view from the basement laboratory is breathtaking. Not the one out the tiny windows of the half-underground office. It’s on a smartphone that computer science Professor Stergios Roumeliotis is using while walking around the depths of the University of Minnesota’s Walter Library.

On the screen, a three-dimensional map of a nearby hallway has taken shape. The map was made by holding the smartphone’s camera while moving. The camera and the phone’s motion sensor worked together to create a grid of data points that became a 3-D image. It’s a radical new ability for smartphones and promises to enable consumers to create 3-D maps on the fly.

The software development is being handled by UM graduate students who are funded by a $1.35 million grant from Google Inc. The work is part of the company’s recently announced Project Tango, a cellphone optimized for 3-D mapping.

“We will soon be able to get smartphone directions for how to go from one

place to another in a building, such as how to go from the entrance to my classroom,” Roumeliotis said. “We’ll also be able to ask the phone questions, such as, ‘Where is the closest place within the airport where I can get coffee?’”

In addition, homeowners could use the software to create a virtual tour of their houses before putting them up for sale, Roumeliotis said. The software could also help the blind walk through a building or aid a drone aircraft in navigating.

While the software is being designed to work on a prototype of the new Google smartphone, it will also work on existing smartphones.

Notably, it doesn’t use much processing power, about as much as the game “Angry Birds,” Roumeliotis said.

“I think this is as big a revolution as when Google Maps first came out or even bigger,” said the professor, who is 43 years old and has been working on map technology since 1995. “It has the potential to become the Google Maps of the indoor world, and this is where we spend most of our time.”

Scott Strawn, senior Google analyst

Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068 Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Keenan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper

The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

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OPENRECORDS REQUESTS “Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.”

From statute 36.12.40 of the Code of Alabama

“The term ‘public records’ shall include all written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer.”

From statute 41.13.1 of the Code of Alabama

WHAT WE REQUESTED: List of applicants considered for vice chancellor of government relations, email correspondence between Judy Bonner and Robert Witt correlated to ‘vice chancellor for government relations’ and ‘Jo Bonner’ between April 1 and July 31, 2013.

WHO REQUESTED IT: Lauren Ferguson FROM WHOM WE REQUESTED IT: Kellee Reinhart, vice chancellor for System Relations WHEN WE REQUESTED IT: Feb. 10, 2014 STATUS: March 5, 2014, response from Reinhart: “There are no public records that are responsive to your request. I can confirm that Congressman Bonner was interviewed on May 3, 2013.”

WHAT WE REQUESTED: All receipts (airplane ticket and car rental) and travel vouchers for the four members of the executive branch and their advisor who attended the SEC Exchange at the University of Missouri. Copies of all emails between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, 2014 addressed to and/or from SGA President Jimmy Taylor, Chief of Staff Brennan Johnson, Vice President of Financial Affairs Chris Willis and/or Program Assistant/Office Manager Carolyn Fulmer containing the words “Missouri” and/or “ticket.”

WHO REQUESTED IT: Mackenzie Brown FROM WHOM WE REQUESTED IT: Leela Foley, SGA director of media relations WHEN WE REQUESTED IT: Jan. 15, 2014 STATUS: Filled Jan. 23, 2014

Veterans benefit from Post-9/11 GI Bill MCT Campus In the year since Clemson University launched its Student Veterans Success Center, its volunteer staff has worked to transform the small alcove in the School of Computing into a place where those transitioning from military to civilian life can connect with their peers.

“It’s not just a physical space for vets; it’s a place they can come and relax, they can meet other vets, they can create that social support network,” said Benjamin Curtis, president of the Clemson Student Veterans Association in Clemson, S.C. “Coming back from a social network that’s so strong with the military, you kind of lose all that.”

The need for such support centers has jumped in recent years as every U.S. state has seen a rise in the number of veterans using education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was fully enacted in 2009, South Carolina, for example, saw the number of such students increase 89 percent, according to an analysis of VA data.

Nationwide, the increase from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2012 – the last year data was available – was 67 percent, from 564,487 students to 945,052.

Nearby states also saw increases: North Carolina, 71

percent; Florida, 73 percent; and Georgia, 76 percent.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was originally passed in 2008.

It extended education benefits to service members who have been on active duty 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001, or who were discharged with a service-related disability after 30 days. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following release from active duty.

A provision of the Post9/11 GI Bill also allows veterans and service members to transfer unused benefits to their children or spouses, but about 79 percent are benefits used by veterans or service members themselves, according to VA data.

Curtis Coy, VA’s deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity, called the Post9/11 GI Bill the most generous veterans benefit program since the original 1944 GI Bill, which provided benefits for returning World War II veterans. He said the program’s generosity is likely fueling the big increases.

“Centers like this also create a sense of community among a student population whose members often live off-campus and may not be as involved with other campus organizations,” he said. “It makes life so much easier to have a place and somebody who can guide you through it,” he said.

p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

Thursday, March 20, 2014

NEWSIN BRIEF Blackburn director steps down Philip Westbrook, the current director of the Blackburn Institute, announced Tuesday that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of the current academic semester.

Westbrook is the longest-serving full-time director of the Institute, and he is leaving to return to a full time faculty position in the College of Education’s school administration program.

Westbrook came to the University as a faculty member in 2007 and became involved with the Blackburn Institute when he was approached about speaking at some of the institution’s events concerning educational policy issues. “It’s been a very rewarding experience and privilege to serve as the director,� Westbrook said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many passionate people who are committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens in the state of Alabama.�

Landon Nichols, a senior majoring in advertising and the incoming chair for the Blackburn Institute, joined the organization in 2012 and has since worked directly with Westbrook. While Nichols said he is sad to see Westbrook leave the organization, he supports his decision. “Dr. Westbrook has definitely been a guiding light of the institution. He’s provided us with great direction and really worked hard to revamp our curriculum and work with the advisory board to get our new bylaws in place,� Nichols said.

Westbrook said he still intends to be a part of the Institute and support the program after he steps down. While an official timetable has not been established for recruiting a new director, Westbrook said he expects a decision to be made on his successor over the summer term. “Leadership needs to be active and not something that is just complacent,� Westbrook said. “People move into roles, they accomplish goals, and they pass it to someone else for awhile. You come in with specific skills, and then you’re able to achieve specific objectives, and then it’s time to set the next objectives and find the person who has the skills to do what those things might be.�

Compiled by Deanne Winslett

Lung Cancer

OfďŹ ce helps plan student events

By Samuel Yang | Staff Reporter It might be surprising to some that the Ferguson Center Movie Series, International Expressions, Hot Topics discussion series, Discovery Series classes and On the Town with the Ferg come from the same place, but LaToya Scott, director of University Programs, wants students to know University Programs is home to multiple forms of student participation and programming. “We don’t just do one thing,�

Scott said. “There’s nothing that we can’t focus on.�

Scott said University Programs, which provides event programming to the campus, encourages connection and community among students because it is studentled and student-driven. “I think that what makes the programs stand out is, they’re for students, by students and because they represent so many different groups on campus. That’s why they speak to students,� Scott said.

Each program takes about 30 days to plan and goes through a process that covers everything from risk management to contracts to promotion. The board of University Programs took home awards at last year’s Association for the Promotion of Campus

Activities and will return this year to compete in the graphics and programming board categories, as well as to present on recruitment and organization structure.

The key to their success, Scott said, is collaboration with campus partners. “I think that our students do a great job of taking the pulse of the campus, whether it’s through social media [or] going to classrooms,� she said.

Bonnika Ashley, event programmer for the Discovery Series, said collaboration is just one of the four core values that shape their programs and make them successful.

Successful programs must also have a curricular aspect and student development aspect and promote education, service or life skills, she said. Feedback and evaluation are the final step to a program’s success.

Ashley said University Programs is able to produce unifying programs because its staff is diverse and chooses topics that benefit students from all walks of life. “I am an out-of-state student myself, and the wonderful thing about University Programs is that we are able to connect students from all backgrounds,� she said. “We conduct and host all of these events specifically to establish

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CW | Austin Bigoney Students participate in the University Programs Game Night in February. and help students’ relationships flourish amongst different groups on campus.�

University Programs h o st s International Expressions events, including International Food and Flair, a multi-cultural food tasting and fashion show. Naz Syed, a junior majoring in secondary math education, displayed her Pakistani heritage by wearing a lengha for the event. “It was an amazing experience and I felt so proud to be a student from a different culture that night,� Syed said.

Syed said student-led programming ensures that events are fun and interesting, and in this case promoting diversity gave stu-

dents an important chance to personally interact with other cultures.

Applications to join University Programs as an event programmer, intern or graduate assistant are due Friday. Scott said students who are excited about their campus and want to be involved should apply.

University Programs will provide classes and training for students, to help qualify them for the position. “If that’s what you want to do, we are the place on campus for you. All you have to do is have an interest and want to work in programming,� Scott said. “If that’s all you have, we can take it from there.�

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p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu

Thursday, March 20, 2014

COLUMN | UKRAINE

Romney, Palin wrong in comments on crisis in Crimean peninsula

By Nathan James | Senior Staff Columnist

MCT Campus

COLUMN | UA ATHLETICS

A modest proposal for student football seating

By John Brinkerhoff | Opinion Editor Despite the fact that our football team has become a highly coordinated and (mostly) winning machine over the past few years, other aspects of the program are far less than ideal.

Every year, major issues arise like clockwork for the student football experience.

During the season, student attendance is beyond abysmal. As anyone with a television knows, the lower bowl student section is largely empty even before the start of the fourth quarter. Even the sage advice of our SGA President and Verne Lundquist cannot convince students to stay for four quarters.

Following the season, the opposite problem occurs.

Students can’t get inside the stadium. The few tickets that UA provides to students are allocated based on hours, meaning that the only undergraduate students who receive them are those who love the Capstone so much they decided to stay for a few extra years after their peers graduated.

In fact, the hour requirement for these postseason games is often higher than the number of hours

John Brinkerhoff required for graduation.

Obviously, uproar occurs around the fact that students who graduate on time never get to see a postseason game.

Let’s kill two birds with one stone and ensure not only that students stay for four quarters during the regular season, but also that those who finish in four can attend games after it ends.

Last year, when students were ignoring the pleas of UA administration to stay, a swipe-out system was suggested: Students would record their attendance via ACT card readers at the end of games. Those who leave early would not be able to swipe out and receive credit for attending.

The University should actually implement it and link it to postseason tickets.

The students who have stayed for the most games

should get tickets. To com- of the student football pensate for the lack of pre- experience. Fifth (or sevcision, credit hours could enth) year seniors will still be used as a tiebreaker benefit from their extrabetween the students long commitment to educawho attended the mini- tion over traditional fourmum number of games for year students, and there is tickets. certainly no guarantee that A swipe out system would a thus far defiant student provide a merit-based section will change course method for allocating valu- and remain until the end of able postseason tickets. games.

Students, who previously Still, it’s a start, which is had a valid excuse that fin- much better than the alterishing their native of degree on simply praytime should ing that next not preclude season will A swipe out system would be better. them from attending a B o t h provide a merit-based championproblems ship, will be are embarmethod for allocating forced to put rassing to their money valuable postseason tickets. our school. where there Other than mouth is. the small They will cost of havh ave to ing stadium attend games for all four staff man the gates at the quarters, mitigating our end of games, there are no problem with students leav- drawbacks to implementing early. ing a swipe out system. It As an added bonus, only is time to take action and the most dedicated fans will make our football program be in attendance for high- the best it can be. pressure postseason games.

Oh, and while we are at Alabama will be represent- it, let’s link this system to ed outside of the SEC by block seating applications. the best fans, not those who complete the most classes.

John Brinkerhoff is the This system is obviously Opinion Editor of The not a panacea for the woes Crimson White.

“Thanks, Obama!” is apparently a very dangerous phrase to use satirically. But for Republicans throughout the country, it’s a rallying cry with fewer boundaries each day. For proof, look to Romney and our own Andrew Parks, who have Nathan James recently blamed Russia’s invasion of Crimea on our president.

Thanks Obama, indeed!

In his column earlier this week, Mr. Parks claimed that many of Russia’s land grabs and military expansions can be attributed “to one fact: This administration has failed to deal with Russia, and much of the world for that matter, from a position of strength.”

Really, Mr. Parks? We can attribute Russia’s invasion of Crimea exclusively to the actions of Obama? It has nothing to do, I suppose, with the fact that Russia is a powerful empire half a world away with little regard for international opinion or any moral code. If Obama had only been stronger, Mr. Parks suggests, none of this would have happened.

Neither Mr. Parks nor Mitt Romney, who recently wrote an op-ed closely paralleling Mr. Parks’ in the Wall Street Journal, seem to consider Obama’s economic and political sanctions an adequate expression of strength.

In response, I posit the following: America has tried imperialism. It has tried policing the world. And we have learned, time and time again, that it is not only immoral, but also wildly impractical to rely on one’s military to dictate the policies of other countries.

We can and should use force to defend our nation, but we should not presume to use force to shape other countries in our image. And while we must join a community of nations to stop Russia, it would be both wrong and self-destructive to fight them with violence because of something that happened a world away.

America is and should be strong, but Republicans have the wrong idea of what our strength is. They also don’t understand where it comes from. They think that we are a strong nation because we can beat other countries in a fight, failing to realize that this is not even strictly true in a post-nuclear world.

What makes America strong is our economy and our principles. What makes America strong is that we have the respect of the global community. And in the past, we’ve sacrificed all of these things for ill-begotten ideological wars.

Look at the last one. We thought we could reform the Middle East with boots and bullets, in accordance with the Republican view of “strength.” Our economy is still recovering from that engagement. Our country broke rules we never even thought about. By 2008, Pew Research reported that fewer than a dozen countries had approval ratings of the U.S. higher than 50 percent.

Pew reports that since then, citizens in Israel, South Korea, Japan, France, Spain, Germany, Australia, Russia, Mexico and almost every other country on the planet now have higher opinions of the U.S. Do Republicans think that doesn’t bring us strength?

I say to those who call Obama weak that there is no military that can fix Russia’s problems. The world would be ash first. But a united community of nations, strengthened by mutual resolve to enforce laws of human decency? That could change Russia, and America’s leadership within that community represents our real strength.

I hope to God that the Democrats get their way in 2016.

Nathan James is a junior majoring in public relations. His column runs weekly.

COLUMN | SGA

It’s time to dissolve our worthless Student Government Association

By John Speer | Senior Staff Columnist Earlier this week, one of my fellow columnists wrote about the need to get rid of the Student Government Association. As someone who has been on this campus for six years and will earn both my undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Capstone, I could not agree more.

A Student Government Association ideally aims to enhance the University environment by providing programs, activities and leadership to the student body. This leadership ideally reflects the groups and interests of the larger student body, and the governing organization is accountable and attentive to the needs of students.

Our duly elected representatives should proactively develop and support the student voice to the administration and work for the improvement of campus life for current and incoming students. Unfortunately, our SGA never functioned this way, and most likely never will. Consequently, given its limited utility and high budget, I

John Speer can only recommend that we dissolve an organization no longer relevant to students or reflective of the diversity of student groups and needs.

Our SGA is compromised by rampant nepotism, corruption and greed.

These are not debatable characteristics. They simply are representative of our SGA and the machine that runs the election process (pun intended).

Independent and apathetic students alike are aware of this fact, and many chose not to vote because of it.

Yet, I contend that it is not out of

disenchantment that voter turnout remains low or because students are tired of not hearing their voice in the SGA plans. It’s sheer and simple disinterest. The SGA no longer serves any purpose beyond grooming brown-nosers and silver-spoon political hopefuls for future offices in the state. They are a microcosm of our present corrupt and useless legislature.

The SGA works strenuously to facilitate “Better Relations Day” to bring unity between Auburn University and Alabama, but what do they do to foster unity among the diverse groups of University of Alabama students?

More importantly, why do they need our tuition money and fees to do it?

They sponsor trips to Montgomery so students can see our legislature at work, but so do many high schools and other student organizations. They rigidly maintain block seating and design elaborate ticket allocation systems, but whose interests do these programs serve?

The SGA proclaims many great

“victories” on behalf of championing the student interest, but many of these “wins” only reveal to the student body the extent of their folly and our own despair at being represented by a lot of fools. Their victories are little more than illusions and platitudes designed to allow the senior representatives hollow words to pontificate in their senior columns.

Our SGA’s real accomplishments lie in their ability to herald national embarrassment when their inherently racist structure is plastered in major media organizations or when their corruption dares to taint a city election and meddle with the futures of parents with children in public schools.

What do we need from an organization which proves time and again that the only interests they serve are their own?

The SGA long ago became destructive of the ends which it was designed to achieve, and it does not derive its power from the true consent of those it governs. Accordingly, we should not alter it, but instead abolish its

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existence and remove the stains that corruption and negligence nurture and grow like weeds.

Much of what the SGA does can easily be handled by coordinated efforts from the division of Student Affairs and The SOURCE Board of Governors.

Alabama is already composed of hundreds of student organizations in which students work to achieve their goals and pursue their interests. This is why so few students care for the activities of the SGA. Beyond the FAC, which allocates money to student organizations, the SGA offers no legitimate function.

Let us institute a new organization whose principles are founded on ideas we share and whose powers work effectively to secure our safety, productivity and happiness here at the Capstone.

We have functioned well without an SGA before. We would be well-advised to consider doing so again.

John Speer is a graduate student in secondary education. His column runs weekly.

Last Week’s Poll: Should chalking be allowed for campus campaigns and student organizations?

(Yes: 77%) (No: 23%) This Week’s Poll: Do you agree with The Crimson White Editorial Board’s SGA election endorsements? cw.ua.edu/poll

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

History of education conference presents speakers, research

By Taylor Manning | Staff Reporter Academics throughout the Southeast will converge at the University of Alabama College of Education’s Southern History of Education Society Annual Conference this weekend to discuss various topics in the field.

“The event is important because it allows faculty members and students to share ideas and conclusions about the hundreds of years of education and schooling in the United States,” said Philo Hutcheson, head of the department of educational leadership, policy and technology studies.

Also known as the SHOES conference, the event will include presentations from several professors and students on historical topics in education. Established in the early 1970s, the conference usually attracts graduate students who can explore ideas for paper topics, theses and dissertations.

“There are many issues, for example diversity, that we take for granted in looking at schools,” Hutcheson said. “The research presented at SHOES offers new ways of understanding how we got where we are today.”

Kagendo Mutua, an associate professor in the College of Education, will co-present a paper at the conference with UA graduate student Olivia Robinson. The presentation will trace the historical names of intellectual disabilities. Mutua said historical narratives often do not account for the experiences of people with disabilities.

Mutua said there is a history of marginalizing, excluding and segregating people with intellectual disabilities that can be seen in schools today and that the topic highlights the importance of understanding and comparing historic and present-day educational practices.

Submitted

PLAN TO GO

GSA aids graduate students

WHAT: Southern History of Education Society Annual Conference WHEN: Friday – Saturday WHERE: 102 Graves Hall and Bryant Conference Center

By Kailey McCarthy | Contributing Writer

“The learning of history should inform what we do and also point out some things that we should not be doing,” she said.

The conference allows participants like Mutua and Robinson to present works-in-progress and receive feedback from academics in attendance.

“I love the fact that you can do a work-in-progress and be able to have critique and input,” Mutua said.

“That way, as you’re going forward, you’re able to incorporate some of the insights that you get from participants.”

Mutua said the conference also allows graduate students to network with other scholars in history and education.

“We are creating a community of learners among the graduate students, and also an opportunity for them to be able to speak in a smaller, intimate context [and] interact with big names in academia,” Mutua said.

Hutcheson described the usual conference atmosphere as informal and energetic. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of the College of Education, said that anyone with an interest in education should attend.

The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in 102 Graves Hall and from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Saturday in the Bryant Conference Center. It is free and open to the public.

The University of Alabama Graduate Student Association acts as an advocate and resource for all graduate and professional students on campus, and in recent years, the association has been influential in lobbying for health care for graduate assistants, reform of parking policies and equity in campus dining options.

Robert Herron, GSA president, said it is hard to gauge all student feelings because graduate students are spread out across campus and academic disciplines.

“Each college and department treats us all so differently,” Herron said. “Some students do feel overlooked. However, we as graduate students are partially to blame for that. Graduate students do not fill our SGA senate seats. We represent about 20 percent of the student population, but also earn 33 percent of the diplomas granted by The University of Alabama.

We, like all students, have to take responsibility in recognizing that things do not change overnight, and people have to be willing to put in the time and effort to keep improving.”

Herron said there are many undergraduate student options that aren’t offered to graduate students. He said these issues include financial support, parking, housing, academic resources, student-toteacher ratios, athletic tickets, job prospects, social opportunities, evolving job requirements and debt.

Lindsey Smith, a graduate student studying political science, said graduate students have to work to find supportive environments in their individual departments.

“As a graduate student, there is a real need to develop different types of community for supportive conversations for students,” Smith said. “As a graduate student you are in a weird place, especially a year or two after you begin. It is so important that the department you are in encourages community building events.”

Matt Whitman, a GSA executive committee member, said the group has launched five subcommittees in the past year to discuss issues related to housing,

health, networking, parking and technology. “[These committees explore] access to and affordability of graduate student housing, expansion of and communication about graduate student health insurance as well as campus health issues, such as access to care and services, availability of networking opportunities for graduate students, availability of parking spaces specifically to graduate students and access and availability to technology for graduate students,” Whitman said.

Joseph Meany, another GSA executive committee member, said GSA seeks to fill the gaps that graduate students might not be able to address as individuals.

“Graduate students’ interests and cares are as varied as the backgrounds they come from,” Meany said. “Graduate students as individuals have a lot of responsibilities on their plates and don’t often have time to look around at their situation and actuality.”

Meany said he thinks the needs of graduate students and their families need to be kept in mind as the University grows and changes.

“We also aim to improve this lifestyle by seeking areas of improvement that aren’t necessarily problematic yet,” Meany said. “Making it easier to find housing off-campus, tackling opinions on parking or getting graduate parents as socially involved as their single peers, are all areas of interest that the GSA focuses on through its network of committees and connections to other campus groups.”

Although academics is a big part of graduate students’ experiences, Smith said finding supporting programs is also a significant part of being succesful.

“It should not just be about academics, but about supporting students to facilitate professionalization in their respective fields,” Smith said.

Herron said recently the group has made tremendous strides in getting involvement from all of the graduate program departments.

“With the help of the graduate school, we have made progress in getting graduate student representation on most all campus committees and hope our ‘Town Hall’ format can keep the dialog going,” he said.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

FILMFESTIVAL University of Alabama TCF students will travel to the Telluride Film Festival.

Telluride, Colo.

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

CW| Hannah Glenn

Travel course sends TCF students to Colorado New class will take students to Telluride Film Festival, offer networking, learning opportunities

By Jason Frost | Contributing Writer Since 1974, the Telluride Film Festival has brought filmmakers and moviegoers to the Colorado Mountains to screen new films and pay tribute to Hollywood superstars and unknowns alike. Kristen Warner, assistant professor of the telecommunication and film department, is jump-starting a new travel course to take students to the festival.

Warner, along with Rachel Raimist, a professor in the TCF department and co-director of Creative Campus, have run a number of film festival courses over the past few years.

Warner said she plans to take some students to the Atlanta Film Festival, which lasts from March 28 to April 16.

Warner helped to start TCF 444, Film Festivals and Independent Cinema, in 2013.

The class takes a trip to the Sundance Film Festival to network and learn about how the film industry operates. Alexis Butler, a senior majoring in TCF, was part of the class last year.

“Park City was really nice in terms of weather, and the festival wasn’t too crowded because we arrived the second week,” Butler said. “This was my first film festival, so I was really pleased with the films I got to see.

Going to the festival as a student has many advantages, especially networking.”

The new class, TCF 380, counts as a onecredit travel course and will be capped at 10 students. Warner said she was convinced to attend Telluride this year after discussing the festival with one of her mentors, Mary Beth Harallovich, a film historian from the University of Arizona who attends the festival every year.

“There was always an expectation that if Sundance went well, we could expand to other festivals,” Warner said. “I was thinking about festivals domestically that would give a slightly different experience than Sundance, and [were] manageable, and Telluride was something I always wanted to try. It’s a small festival in the mountains of Colorado and it’s all about people who love movies.”

Students will be expected to blog about the festival, write about panels and meet professionals. Drawing from her Sundance class, Warner will also set up a scavenger hunt in which students to participate. At the end of the course, students will devise a marketing concept as if they were pitching a film.

“The number of the people who attend Telluride is smaller than those that attend Sundance or Toronto,” Warner said. “The size

It gives them so much courage and so much confidence that when they get back they have this new fire that burns and they want to be a part of that film industry.

— Kristen Warner of it makes it more personal for these filmmakers, these journalists who are there. It doesn’t make it easier, but it makes the films a lot more acceptable. The passes that come with the class cover opening night parties, where all these film festival people are going to show up, and it gives us access to this barbecue on Labor Day where, in my mind, they turn Main Street Telluride into a long picnic.”

Amy Tippit, a UA alumna with a degree in TCF, was involved in Warner’s Sundance classes last year, which helped get her an internship with the Cannes Film Festival. Tippit said Warner’s classes are heavily focused on discussion, and the class itself was structured

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similarly to a festival. She now works for the Atlanta Film Festival.

“The reason I have my job is because we have classes like this,” she said. “They were like ‘This is amazing, we have to have you.’

When I got to Atlanta, I was like, ‘Hey, let’s set up something with the University of Alabama,’ and now Dr. Warner and some students are coming up to the Atlanta Film Festival. They didn’t know this class existed, and now we want to encourage them to keep this class going.”

Students interested in any of the film festival classes can email Warner at kwarner@ ua.edu for an application. Costs for the trip will include airfare, lodging, festival passes and miscellaneous expenses. The courses are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

“When students get there, they realize what they were thinking of was too small,” Warner said. “By the time they leave, it clicks. Like, ‘Oh, I should have talked to this film producer or this marketing person’. It gives them so much courage and so much confidence that when they get back they have this new fire that burns and they want to be a part of that film industry.

It’s exciting to see people changed by a film festival.”

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Program promotes research Tuscaloosa PARA looks to expand disc golf courses

By Greg Ward | Contributing Writer

EMERGINGSCHOLARS

The Emerging Scholars Program, a two-semester research program geared toward educating freshmen on research processes, has been around for six years. The program seeks to give freshmen a taste of how research is done.

Professor Ann Webb, director of the Emerging Scholars Program, Emerging Scholars was has been onboard since day one. founded with “I was on the planning committee members. for Emerging Scholars in 2008 when it began, and it has been growing since then,” Webb said. “We actually got the idea for the program from the University of Michigan.

They have a similar program that has been working for over 25 years Out of 400-450 applications Emerging Scholars choose now.”

Webb said the Emerging Scholars Program not only helps the freshmen students, but it helps the faculty as well. Webb also said members. the program lets faculty members and the students build a relationCW| Hannah Glenn ship, so the student always has someone to turn to in the future.

“Interest is rising in undergradu- ond semester. The first semester is last year, and she said it taught her ate research all over campus, and it lecture-based and is designed to let how to do research and approach is good for students to get involved faculty members get to know the professors. early,” Webb said. “If students students, learn about them and see “The Emerging Scholars start getting into research junior what they want to research. The Program taught me so much about and senior year, it is too late by second semester is when students not only how to do research, but then. Getting these students into pair up with a professor and take how to approach professors with research early is part in research. ideas for research,” Bowman said. key.”

Anna Moyer, a “I did research with Dr. Emily The program has junior majoring Wittman of the English department. seen membership in biology, was in We did a creative project titled skyrocket over the the program and ‘Confronting Ghosts: Seeing the past couple of years said it helped her Past in the Present.’ We explored since Webb took immensely. the ghost stories of Tuscaloosa and over as director in “I worked with a UA, reading about and responding fall of 2010. In 2009, graduate student to to, through a creative journal, the the second year of study how glial cells idea of ghosts and how they shape the program, there migrate in fruit fly the local history.”

— Ann Webb were 14 particiembryos, and after Webb said the Emerging Scholars pants. The following two semesters, I Program is not just for students in year, that number realized I loved my traditionally research-heavy fields jumped to more than 200. research and wanted to continue like science and engineering, but “All I did was send out a few with it,” Moyer said. “Starting for undergraduates of all colleges emails, revise the website and put research so early in my college and all majors. everything online,” Webb said. career really made it possible for “Students don’t think all our “That seemed to really help things me to present at a conference my faculty do research, but every facout.” sophomore year and to pursue a ulty member does some type of Webb said the program counts graduate career.” research,” Webb said. “We just for three credit hours: one for the Jamie Bowman, a junior major- need to get students to realize first semester and two for the sec- ing in English, was in the program that.”

2009

By Greg Ward | Contributing Writer

14

Disc golf as a casual afternoon fad has been around since the 1960s, but its popularity has risen in the Tuscaloosa area for the past few years.

The Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Authority leaped into the disc golf world a few years ago. Now it has three courses in Tuscaloosa, with a possible fourth being developed soon.

“We are excited about the use that all three of our courses get on a daily basis,” Gary Minor, executive director of PARA, said.

“We have noticed that many more people are using the courses around town, and we might need another course sooner rather than later.”

Disc golf is similar to regular golf. The object of the game is to get the disc in the basket in the least number of throws. There are many different discs to throw, varying in size and weight. Sokol Park, Ol’ Colony and Palmoore Park all have public disc golf courses which range in distance, size and basket placement.

Dalton Dismuke, a sophomore at Shelton State Community College, said he loves to play any time he can.

“Disc golf is pretty fun. It takes some getting used to at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can be fun,” Dismuke said. “It is just as frustrating as regular golf sometimes, but the good days you have make up for all the bad ones.”

Dismuke, who lived in Birmingham before coming to Tuscaloosa, said he noticed the disc golf community is growing there, as well. He said there were many courses in Birmingham to play, all of them ranging in size and

2013

200-250

If students start getting into research junior and senior year, it is too late by then.

difficulty.

Zach McCall, a freshman at The University of Alabama, often plays at the courses in Tuscaloosa, which he said he enjoys.

“Disc golf is a really fun sport that challenges you and makes you think,” McCall said. “You have to think and strategize, just like you would in any other sport, and that is what originally drew me to it.”

Minor said PARA is hoping to recruit a big name in the disc golf world, course designer John Houck, who could put Tuscaloosa’s disc golf courses on the map.

Houck is a legendary disc golf course designer who has been in the disc golf community since the 1980s. He said Houck has created some of the most fun and challenging courses all over North America. More than 80 courses have been built under his watch, and PARA executives hope he will bring his design and expertise to Tuscaloosa.

“It would be great to get Houck here to help us. He has the background and knowledge we need to help possibly build the new course and to add to the old ones,” Minor said. “With his help, we could get Tuscaloosa on the map in the disc golf world.”

Bringing in Houck carries a large price tag, though. PARA and Tuscaloosa would have to collectively put forth about $65,000 to hire Houck and to build the courses. Minor said he feels it would be money well spent.

“Our courses are great right now, but getting Houck here would make it that much better,” Minor said.

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p.8 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu

Thursday, March 20, 2014

COLUMN | MUSIC

Spring break playlist important for successful vacation, long road trips

By Amy Marino

PLAYLIST | SPRING BREAK 2014

Spring break is in sight, and for many of you, so is a long road trip ahead. Road trips with friends are enjoyable themselves, but in my opinion, the highlight of any road trip is the playlist that accompanies it. If you’re looking for some new music to listen to, or just to save some time and effort, here’s a 15-song playlist that will hopefully guarantee a quick ride to your much-awaited (and needed) vacation.

To start off strong and maintain the high spirits that come with a freshly packed car and visions of freedom, listen to “Time To Run” by Lord Huron as your first song. With the urgent opening lyrics of, “It’s time to run, they’ll string me up for all that I’ve done,” you’ll be convinced it’s your obligation to leave town too. This whimsical, feel-good song was made to be played with the car windows down.

For your second song, “Ways To Go” by Grouplove will trick you into being excited about the many hours ahead. This indie-dance beat concoction is infectious. You’ll soon be singing, maybe even screaming, the repetitive lyrics, “I’ve got a little bit longer, I’ve got a ways to go,” to each other while head-bobbing like it’s your job. It’s okay to press the replay button. I know I did.

You may not be headed anywhere near Morocco, but Moon Taxi’s groovy “Morocco” as song No. 3 will embody the feeling of a needed change of scenery we each know all too well, and “Moneygrabber” as No. 4 by Fitz and The Tantrums will kindly remind you of the catchy “Come On Eileen” with its chanting lyrics and ‘80s sound.

Because you will be most likely headed for the sun, and even if you’re not, “Sun Hands” by Local Natives is the perfect momentum-building No. 5. If “Sun Hands” doesn’t get you pumped up about life enough, a funky, experimental “Diane Young” by Vampire Weekend as No. 6 will surely do the trick with its essence of carpe diem.

“Rill Rill” by Sleigh Bells, “Young Fathers” by Typhoon and “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim as seven, eight and nine will take you on a progression from bubblegum catchiness to orchestral-pop and then finally to funk-electronica. Although significantly different, thanks to their invigorating beats, each song will be equally prone to be stuck in your head or hummed later on.

For that one friend who has probably fallen

Scan the QR code to the right to listen to The Crimson White’s Spring Break 2014 playlist on Spotify.

asleep, “Song For Zula” as No. 10 by Phosphorescent is what a dream would sound like with its airy melody, delicate vocals and gentle violins. After those six minutes of rest are up, appropriately enough, in comes “Like A Mighty River” by the up-and-coming Alabama band, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, as No. 11. Lead singer Paul Janeway’s soulful voice will hit you straight in the chest and remind you there’s no place quite like home.

Song No. 12, “Heart It Races” by Dr. Dog is filled with vocal harmonies, quirky lyrics and even some clapping. This unique song is an instant favorite and belongs on every driving playlist.

Not only is song No. 13, “Atlantic City” by The Band, the anthem of my freshman year spring break experience, it is an all-around timeless song that deserves to be heard by all spring-breakers. A somewhat-melancholy Bruce Springsteen original, The Band’s version of the song is full of life, however contrary to the “everything dies” lyrics that may exist.

Tribal drums and all, Yeasayer’s “Sunrise” is next at No. 14. The screechy vocals and strange rhythms are intriguing and make for a strong almost-finish. “Put the world upon your shoulder/ I’ll stay young while I watch everyone getting older” and “I want to get in the sunrise” are lyrics celebratory of both youth and light and become almost impossible not to sing along to.

Last but most certainly not least, “At The Beach”

by The Avett Brothers, No. 15, enters joyfully with whistling, banjo, cello and guitar alike. The stressrelieving lyrics, “Sand beneath our feet, big blue sky above our heads/ No need to keep, the stressing from our everyday life on our minds” have never rung more true. Successfully simulating the bliss of reaching your hypothetical beach destination, this song makes for a happy ending to the long road trip.

CW | Belle Newby

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Admiral Snackbar to play at Moe’s BBQ

By Kinsey Haynes | Contributing Writer

on words of the Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar, but is also When Wes Martin went to Gulf derived from a joke made by one of Shores in the summer of 2013, he their friends. never expected to return home as “When this idea came to us for a the new drummer band name, my inifor Tuscaloosa tial thought is that band Admiral this is a band that Snackbar.

The lucky thing about doesn’t take itself Martin’s focus seriously,” pursuing a passion is that it’s too for the trip was to Butterworth said. listen to music and “The lucky thing supposed to be fun. have fun. Instead, about pursuing a out of an act of pure passion is that it’s — Liam Butterworth luck and timing, he supposed to be fun, met singer and guiand a name like tarist Steven Lane, [that] sounds pretand bassist Liam ty fun to me.”

Butterworth for Admiral Snackbar.

The group started out as a cover The band name comes from a play band, playing songs like “Good

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CW | Hannah Glenn Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin, “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. Now, they have expanded to writing songs like “Your Own Fever” and “Control.”

The band will head to the studio this summer to record an EP. “I’m most excited to really find our initial identity,” Lane said.

“These are our songs, something we created together for the

first time.”

The band said they are excited about being able to truly collaborate and write with each other. It creates a certain chemistry, Butterworth said.

“The kind words people reciprocate when they like what they hear gives me a sense that I’m providing people with something they really enjoy,” Lane said. “It justifies pursuing a pretty unconventional

career choice.”

Martin said he enjoys entertaining people because it gives him a sense of joy that he cannot find anywhere else.

“Our sound can definitely relate to a distorted Southern swagger,” Lane said. “It’s rock and roll, and ‘We built this city on rock and roll.’”

Admiral Snackbar will play at Moe’s Original BBQ on Friday, at 10:30 p.m.

COLUMN | GAMING

‘Titanfall’ action proves exhilarating for Xbox One

By Matthew Wilson Bullets rip through the air as the player moves toward a full-scale assault. The army of six pilots and many expendable grunts charge to take out the enemy.

Dodging shots from the right, the player takes out a couple grunts with a tap of the trigger.

Feeling accomplished, the player moves further into the heat of battle when it appears – the giant weaponized mech, called a Titan, stomping toward him.

Letting off a shot from his rifle, the player recklessly charges at the Titan.

Leaping off a nearby wall, he lands on the back of the Titan. As it jerks around, trying to throw him off, he rips off the cover of the control panel, exposing the inner wires of the Titan. Aiming his gun, the player fires into the exposed armor.

The enemy pilot ejects from the Titan’s k as the Titan explodes, sending him flying

to the ground among a pile of rubble.

Such moments make up the bulk of “Titanfall,” an online multiplayer first-person shooter that was released for Xbox One last week.

Developed by Respawn Studios, “Titanfall” casts players as pilots and soldiers who can control mechanical Titans.

Playing as a pilot is an exercise in mobility. With the ability to run up walls, jump across rooftops and quickly traverse the chaos of battle, “Titanfall” offers many options for players.

They can choose to cloak themselves and take out enemies from afar with a sniper rifle, or they can equip quick mobility with a shotgun amidst the heat of battle.

After a two-minute cool down period, the Titans can be called in, changing the landscape of battles. Watching a Titan spiral downward and crash into the ground is an awe-inspiring experience that shows

‘Titanfall’ casts players as pilots and soldiers who can control mechanical Titans.

Amazon.com Respawn Studios’ “Titanfall” for Xbox One provides exciting matches and will soon feature a greater variety of game modes.

just how small the pilots are in comparison. When controlling the Titan, players are given the opportunity to stalk down the opponents’ pilots and grunts. Armed with missiles and a force field, playing as the Titan feels appropriately balanced, and balance is an important part of the game.

Pilots come armed with rocket launchers that can destroy Titans with carefully placed shots, and the other team has Titans ready for use.

The real excitement of the game is when multiple Titans fight each other. Ripped from the pages of a B-movie, watching these giant robotic mechs duke it out is exciting and vivid. Titans can rip each other’s arms off, project bullets back at their shooter and even self-destruct in a fiery explosion.

The aim of “Titanfall” is laudable, and the fast pace of its matches is exhilarating. While its game modes can be somewhat lacking in variety, Respawn plans on adding more content to the game over the coming months. “Titanfall” showcases the early potential of the Xbox One through its speed, enhanced graphics and towering mechs.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

5 more minutes: where to snooze

By Reed O’Mara | Staff Reporter

Sleep is a commodity many of students don’t get regularly. It’s rare and cherished. To get the “zzz”s that are so elusive, sometimes it’s best to disregard embarrassment and just pop a squat, or a nap. From the libraries to the Quad, many corners of campus are ideal for a quick catnap, because apparently sleeping in class is frowned upon.

THE QUAD

FARRAH HALL Tucked away by sorority row, on Farrah Hall’s ground floor lies a halo of curved couches. Great for the arch of a tired back, pushing two or three together makes a bed similar to Snow White’s at the dwarves’s cottage.

Farrah is also pretty quiet, so set an alarm.

Weather permitting, lying down against a tree or against one’s backpack is sublime and perfect for warming up and getting rest. The key is to not be in the way of other students. No one wants a guy running for a Frisbee and accidentally trip on their ankles.

CW | Austin Bigoney

CW | Reed O’Mara

LLOYD HALL When the weather is dreary and students have to remain centrally located on campus, they can hit up Lloyd’s inset couches. The foot traffic is pretty bad, but just pop in some headphones.

Honors College students can head next door to Nott Hall for the quieter equivalent.

CW | Austin Bigoney

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

BRUNO LIBRARY AND GORGAS LIBRARY The libraries are not just for studying or reading.

The second floor of Gorgas is relatively quiet, so try to score one of the couches.

Journey to the silent floors to hibernate.

THE STUDENT RECREATION CENTER From the couches in the front to the long seats in the locker rooms, the Rec has it all. Go pro and grab some towels to use as pillows or even as blankets.

CW | Reed O’Mara

CW | Austin Bigoney

SOUTH ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER For the engineers recovering from allnighters, the SERC has it covered. Collaboration rooms, often left unlocked, provide quiet and secluded locations.

BIDGOOD LOUNGE At the bottom of Bidgood, just off from the Subway in Mary-Alston Hall, lies a crimson lounge filled with couches and tables. Cozy up in the corner and fall asleep to the clicking of business m a j o r s ’s calculators.

Students demanded a place to sleep; the school supplied.

CW | Austin Bigoney

CW | Austin Bigoney

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

COLUMN | TV

‘Modern Family’ shows exaggerated version of family misadventures

By Hannah Widener

Amazon.com While the family vacations in “Modern Family” may not be typical, the comedic mishaps along the way capture that of many American families.

There are two vacations in my household that will go down in infamy ‘til the end of time.

One summer, my dad was allowed to pick where we went on vacation, and the following summer my mom decided. My dad picked a cruise to the Bahamas, and my mom picked a trip to Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Needless to say, Dad’s vacation ended up being the more exciting one, but not without its pitfalls. That was the year I learned the meaning of “trashed” from my sister. When we went to dinner, the two older ladies we normally sat with had spent all day on the boat drinking.

For a fourth grader with Bahamamama braids and blocked tear ducts from all the sunscreen I had slathered on my ginger body, this was a lot to take in.

Prince Edward Island ended up being the perfect place to take your kids, if they loved “Anne of Green Gables.” The only redeeming quality about it was that there was an indoor pool with a water slide. All week I had begged my sister to go

with me, but she was 15 years old and way too cool to be seen with me. When she finally did go, after 20 minutes, she told me she was leaving. That’s when catastrophe struck.

Grabbing onto her, I meant to just pull her back, but I was much shorter, and what I had grabbed on to was her bathing suit bottoms. I had pantsed my sister, and I had pantsed her good. The gray chest-haired men sitting in the hot tub behind us all got a show. The next thing I knew I was looking up at my sister underwater as she was trying to drown me.

My parents had banned me from the pool, and as fate would have it, it rained for the rest of the week. Over the years our vacations have become fewer and fewer, but it wasn’t until I saw that “Modern Family” was shooting in Australia that I realized their family really isn’t that modern after all.

What family do you know that can afford vacations to both Hawaii and Australia? I could understand if maybe it was a small family, but this is a family of 11 people. Last time I checked, unless Phil Dunphy is selling Justin Beiber’s house, then they shouldn’t be able to afford a week-

long trip to Australia.

Granted, this is a TV family, and it’s not as though the “Partridge Family” was all that realistic either.

A family band? Really Partridges?

Really?

“Modern Family,” however, is supposed to be the closest thing to today’s family. During their first season ABC even promoted them as “One big (straight, gay, multicultural, traditional) happy family.”

While I may have a problem with how the show depicts the average family the one thing “Modern Family” does get right are the ridiculous things that happen on vacation. Losing Lily in an elevator in Hawaii, or Claire and Phil treating their vacation as the honeymoon they never had. These are things all families can relate to and laugh about because nothing ever goes perfectly on a family vacation.

My pantsing days may be over, but I’m sure if I ever have kids or if my family goes on vacation together in the future, some things will be bound to go wrong. That’s what makes us a real modern family. We’re not afraid to laugh when we’re caught with our pants down.

Project Health provides safety tips for spring break travelers

By Peterson Wellford | Contributing Writer Project Health, a student organization dedicated to educating students on different health topics each week, is dedicating an entire week to promoting its spring break campaign to students at The University of Alabama.

“Project Health is really pushing for a fun, safe spring break,” said Kenya Donovan, director of health advocates for Project Health. “We know that students go on spring break and drink,

but we want them to really watch what they are doing and know their limits.”

Donovan and the Health Advocates have a table set up for students to sign the safe spring break pledge in the Ferguson Center and the Health Hut around campus.

“Students can sign saying that they will be safe and more conscious of what they are doing this spring break,” Donovan said.

Safe Spring Break Week is not just for students who are going to drink on their trip. Project

Health is promoting sun safety, alcohol safety, sexual health and travel safety tips.

“We really just want students to be as prepared as possible,” said Jessica Vickery, the advisor for Project Health. “We have the pledge encouraging students to not drink and drive, drink water and make sure to protect their skin from the sun.”

Reale Snorton, the director of public relations for Project Health, said she would like to see more college campuses push this kind of positive influence to students.

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“From what I have seen, we have had a great turnout at our events this week for safe spring break,” Snorton said. “I think that we can set an example to other colleges to promote this same type of influence.”

When students come to the table events or the Health Hut during this week, they can win a free T-shirt by answering a few questions intended to help educate them on how to be safe during the break. One of the main practices Project Health wants to promote is safe sex.

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likely to be promiscuous when they are drinking, leading to issues like unprotected sex,” Vickery said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of college students are more likely to engage in sexual activity while drinking than they would normally. Project Health urges students to be aware of such statistics.

“We just want everyone to have the best spring break while they are being safe,” Snorton said. “I hope to set an example while I am on break.”

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Tuscaloosa County, region see increase in heroin use Typical heroin purity rate:

HEROIN FROM PAGE 1

The heroin landscape has changed since the 1960s and ’70s, when it was generally seen in lower-income areas of big cities, Roberts said.

Starting in 2012, the drug became more prevalent in the community, mostly among the middle to upper class.

The task force seized heroin totaling a street value of $16,000 in 2012 and $19,000 in 2013.

Robertson said local college students used OxyContin and oxycodone until a few years ago, when heroin became the more popular drug.

Oxycodone, an active ingredient in the prescription drug OxyContin, is an opiate that has an effect similar to that of heroin, Robertson said. Heroin is more accessible because it does not require a prescription or prescription forgery.

The number of heroin users in the U.S. has increased by almost 80 percent from 373,000 in 2007 to 669,000 in 2012, according to the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

“It’s easier to get heroin; it’s cheaper, and it’s a better high,” Robertson said. “I think this is what’s caused the rise in the use of it. It’s a very powerful, very addictive drug.”

Robertson said in addition to college-age students, the task force is now seeing heroin users as young as 16. The drug is mostly being distributed out of Jefferson County.

Despite this recent uptick in heroin distribution, though, marijuana is still the most common narcotic in the area, Robertson said. He said he has also seen why it has a reputation as a gateway drug to more lethal substances.

“I know people consider marijuana a drug that is not dangerous, and some people say it ought to be just like alcohol,” Robertson said.

“But at every [heroin] overdose I’ve been to, and I’ve been to quite a few, we found evidence of marijuana usage.”

According to the University’s Annual Campus Security and Fire Report, 72 arrests were made on campus in 2011 for drug violations, which jumped to 103 in 2012. The task force arrested 179 students off campus in 2013. Robertson said campus police arrests mostly involve misdemeanor charges, while the task force handles all felony drug arrests.

“We deal with more students off campus than we do on campus,” Robertson said. “We deal with a lot of students from The University of Alabama, but they’re living outside the campus area.”

Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of 20-year-old Baker Mims, a UA student who died from a heroin overdose at The Woodlands student apartment complex.

Mims’ mother, Beverly Mims, said her son’s

20-30%

Heroin users in the U.S. 2007: 2013:

373,000 669,000 Average Tuscaloosa heroin purity rate:

UA Student Arrests for Drug Violations:

2011: 2012: 2013:

72 103 179

50% CW | Hannah Glenn

small physical size could not handle the potency of local heroin.

“If he had weighed more, he could’ve lived,” she said.

College students often take risks and experiment with drugs, but those who die from heroin overdoses never get a chance to learn from their mistakes, she said.

“I want heroin dealers off the streets,” she said. “I want them to think of all the lives they are ruining just because of greed.”

Mims said she hopes her son’s story can still have an impact.

“He was humble, [and] he had so many gifts,” she said. “So it’s debasing to us because he’s our child. Debasing I think, to the world. But I can tell you that God’s definitely still using him to make an impact.”

One UA graduate and former heroin addict, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the drug made him feel like a different person.

“I was doing stuff like stealing from my parents and breaking into cars,” he said. “That was kind of a sign. The fact that I would do just about anything to get it was a reality check after a while.”

After experimenting with LSD, ecstasy and cocaine, he said he tried heroin for the first time

and instantly became addicted. For months, he wore long-sleeved shirts to hide the track marks on his arms from injecting the drug. After surviving an overdose, he decided to quit.

“It was hell coming off of [it],” he said. “I was feeling nauseated and having mental breakdowns because I needed the drug so bad. I would sleep 10 to 12 hours a day.”

He said he felt like he was in control of his life while using heroin but that he was lying to himself.

“There’s only a few options that can happen when you’re using it frequently: death, rehab or jail,” he said. “That’s pretty much all it can lead to.”

The Student Health Center offers treatment for students with substance abuse issues through “Drugs, Alcohol and You” programs that provide individual and group therapy, as well as group classes.

“We know that substance abuse is a concern nationally, and we are confident that we have a reasonable array of options within the Student Health Center and other partners on campus, such as the Counseling Center and Psychology Clinic, to help address these concerns,” Delynne Wilcox, assistant director of health planning and prevention, said.

your adventure starts here at Campus Way

Photo Courtesy of Beverly Mims UA student Baker Mims died from a heroin overdose one year ago Thursday.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Theater students travel to NY for Broadway auditions

Burchell, Batson set NCAA records

BROADWAY FROM PAGE 1

TRACK FROM PAGE 1

will perform the showcase audition in New York City on Monday, and they will spend the rest of their spring break in the city participating in workshops and callbacks.

Choosing the perfect combination of material from scenes, monologues or songs begins in the fall of senior year, in a showcase preparation class led by Seth Panitch, associate professor and director of MFA and undergraduate acting programs.

“The individual student has to first figure out where is their personal sweet spot, what’s that seed of personality that makes them so interesting and so compelling on stage,” Panitch said. “Then they choose material that reflects that, instead of choosing material just because it happens to be a great scene.”

About two-thirds of the 15 students in the showcase were enrolled in the onehour class in the fall, and Panitch led rehearsals for the showcase with the start of spring semester.

“It’s a lot of work for two hours of performance,” he said. “But that two hours of performance has the potential of being the first step – sometimes a small step, sometimes a large step – for our students in the industry.”

The showcase setup requires the student auditions be sewn together in what seems more typical of a performance than an audition. Panitch therefore added entertaining transitions between each scene, monologue and song that included music played by Raphael Crystal, associate professor and director of the musical theatre program.

While Panitch aided students in selecting a scene or monologue for their audition, Crystal provided assistance to students who were interested in highlighting their vocal talents with a song.

“It’s the hardest thing in the world,” Crystal said. “How can you really fit your whole self into a couple of minutes? First we say, it has to show what you do best.

Then, it’s got to give people an idea of how they could cast you.”

Panitch and Crystal emphasize to the students that while they may not receive immediate results, the opportunity to experience New York City and make a first impression with casting directors and agencies is a success in itself.

For Allison Heinz, a senior majoring in musical theatre, the experience has been something that initially drew her to study at the University, as she hopes to live out

women’s 60-meter dash.

It’s the fastest time at Alabama.

“When we recruited her and brought her here, we knew that she was a very special athlete, but to actually run the second fastest time for the 60 in NCAA history – there’s only been one other person who’s run it faster than her – that’s a pretty amazing standard and a tremendous performance,” head coach Dan Waters said.

Burchell’s finish was only one hundredth of a second faster than the second-place finisher, Kentucky’s Dezerea Bryant. The two had previously met in the SEC Indoor Championships where Bryant and Burchell finished first and second, respectively.

“It was very close,” Burchell said. “I thought that the other girl [Kentucky’s] Dezerea [Bryant] got it over me, but when I crossed the line, I heard the commentator say, ‘Burchell from lane two’ so I was like, ‘I probably did,’ but I was just waiting to see if I really did. So I was really happy. I screamed so loud.”

It’s been 25 years since the last national indoor title by an Alabama woman. Burchell is the first to win one in the 60-meter dash.

“Never knew I could do it, never knew I could run this fast my first year here, but I did, so there’s much more to come,” Burchell said.

Senior Diondre Batson didn’t have time to celebrate his 200-meter dash title with a time of 20.32 seconds, a school record.

He didn’t have time to celebrate putting up the sixth fastest time in NCAA his-

her dreams in New York City.

Heinz has involved herself heavily in preparing for the audition and has gathered a variety of acting experiences through performing and attending many other auditions.

“The busier I am, the better I work,” Heinz said. “I directed two shows last semester, was in a show as an ensemble member and was in a two-person show – all of them were completely different types of theatre, and it’s all educational.

You learn something from all of it.”

Motell Foster, a senior majoring in theatre, said he has plans to live out his dreams in New York City as well, beginning with attending the graduate acting program at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in the fall. While already having a plan for the fall alleviates some of the stress of the audition, Foster said he is still excited to have the opportunity to meet the professionals and showcase the hard work and collaborative efforts that have gone into Bama on Broadway.

“It’s been really fun, it really has,” he said, “just because you’ve been with these people for four years, and now you’re seeing what all they can do, as opposed to what they could do when they first came here. And you get to really notice the growth that has happened, and that’s always special.”

Adam Vanek, a senior majoring in musical theater, said he has also enjoyed the process of working alongside his classmates, receiving feedback from both his peers and professors, despite the challenging preparation.

“I picked material that isn’t really a stretch acting-wise, meaning it’s very relatable and it’s very me, because that’s ultimately what the agents at showcase want to see,” Vanek said. “They want to see who you are and how you act and how you move. I think a lot of us picked our material with that in mind.”

The showcase rehearsals will

a

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CW | Austin Bigoney The 15 team members warm up to sing and act out two-minute auditions that may result in Broadway opportunities.

The group will perform the showcase audition in New York City on Monday and attempt to showcase themselves with musical theater pieces of their choosing. culminate in the New York City theater space early Monday afternoon before the actual audition for the casting directors and agencies occurs later in the day.

University alumni are invited to attend the final rehearsal Jessica May, a musical theater student who graduated in May 2013, plans to be in attendance.

May participated in the showcase her senior year and has been living in New York for the past six months. She said she is looking forward to seeing the students audition in an experience that was instrumental to her own career as well.

“Once you’re up here, you’re auditioning every single day,” she said. “So it’s good that during your final semester you audition a lot, for conferences, for semester shows, outside shows, stuff for the summer, you go to workshops. So it just really helps you get in the mindset of auditioning.”

PLAN TO GO WHAT: John Mitchell Alabama Relays WHEN: Thursday – Saturday WHERE: Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium tory and the fastest time in the world in 2014. He had to prepare for the men’s 60-meter dash.

He placed third in the 60-meter dash after putting up the then-best collegiate time in the nation 6.54 seconds in the preliminaries.

“So 60-200 double is a very challenging double for a sprinter, and to be able to run the fastest time in the nation for the 200 meters and then run the second fastest time in the nation for the 60 is pretty amazing stuff,” Waters said.

It isn’t enough to just be fast.

It takes hard work and technique to win a national title at the NCAA Indoor Championships. And that’s just what Batson and Burchell had.

“Felt like part of their goals were achieved,” Waters said. “Not all of them, but one of their main goals was achieved. That feels really good.”

Their titles helped propel the men’s and women’s track and field teams to sixth and 19th place finishes, respectively. The men’s finish is the highest since 2002, when it placed fourth.

The women’s team’s 19th place finish is its first top20 finish since 1995.

Alabama begins its outdoor season this weekend with the John Mitchell Alabama Relays on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

ROWING

GYMNASTICS

CW | Austin Bigoney The Alabama rowing team races Michigan State in an exhibition regatta.

Rowing team heads west

By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter The Alabama rowing team continues its spring schedule in Sacramento, Calif., this weekend, a markedly different setting than the Southeast, which has been home to the last three events for the Crimson Tide.

Much of head coach Larry Davis’ motivation to take the Crimson Tide to California has to do with the race site and its significance for NCAA competition.

“The race course we’re going to be on at Lake Natoma is one that’s been used quite frequently by the NCAA committee to have the national championships on,” Davis said.

“I wanted the girls to have a chance to get out there, see what it’s like, get a feel for the area and see what it’s like to row on a championship course.”

Another reason is the level of competition from the teams, which compete against Alabama in Conference USA. “Two of the teams will be in the conference championship – San Diego State and Sacramento State – this year,” he said. “One of the reasons I wanted to get out there is to get a chance to see them early, see what they’re like and how fast they’re moving, as well as the fact that as a program, when we grow, our goal is to make it on a regular basis to the NCAA Championships.”

St. Mary’s is the third team Alabama will face.

Last weekend at the Oak Ridge

Invitational, the Crimson Tide’s second Varsity 4, or “D” boat, carved out a victory over Tennessee in a Saturday session. The third Varsity 4, or “E” boat, finished just four seconds behind Minnesota for second place in Sunday’s race.

Davis said the strong showings from the lower-tier boats reflect the progress made by some of the underclassmen.

“The seniors have done a good job, but it helps to have a few more than one or two leaders, and there’s a number of the girls on the junior team who have stepped up, and we’re proud of that,” he said.

Davis also mentioned the elements he’s recently added to the overall game plan and said he hopes to see his rowers execute that this weekend.

“Part of that race plan is to try to get more comfortable and fluid, I guess you could say,” Davis said. “In certain cases, that will be important for us as we get into the latter part of our racing season going into the conference championship.”

Much of that, he said, will pay dividends when Alabama welcomes SMU and Eastern Michigan on April 5 and the rest of the season going into the conference championship.

“We’ve been pretty aggressive in being good competitors, but I want to see us get a little more boat speed,” Davis said. “Some of that’s going to come not necessarily working harder but working more efficiently with a better rhythm.”

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CW | Austin Bigoney Freshman Katie Bailey performs a floor routine at Auburn Arena in February.

Gymnasts return to BJCC Arena

By Sean Landry | Staff Reporter The last time Alabama’s senior gymnasts stood on the floor of the BJCC Arena in Birmingham, they were crowned the Southeastern Conference champions. That was back in 2011.

Their names are familiar to fans now, but even at the time then-freshmen Kim Jacob, Sarah DeMeo and Diandra Milliner were vital to the team’s success.

Now tumbling headlong to the end of their careers, those seniors will be hoping history repeats itself when the team returns to the BJCC Arena this weekend for the 2014 SEC Championships. This year, the roles of freshman phenoms have been played by Amanda Jetter, Aja Sims and especially Katie Bailey, who posted a 39.4 all-around last weekend against Auburn.

Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said Bailey has reminded her of a young Milliner.

“We wanted her because of her skill level and because of her mental toughness capacity, and the fact that she loves to compete,” Patterson said. “The one thing you can say to Katie is ‘If you don’t do this, this will impact your ability to compete,’ and [Bailey] will make the change.

That’s just the way she is, and that’s why we recruited her. It’s the same reason why… we recruited [Milliner]. She doesn’t necessarily have the elite lines of some of the world champions and Olympians, but I’d take [Milliner]’s competitive spirit just like I would [Bailey’s].”

Milliner extends that comparison to Alabama’s all-around anchor, Jacob.

“I think it’s awesome that a freshman could come in and challenge upperclassmen for spots in the lineup,” Milliner said. “That shows that we’re doing our job and allowing the coaches to recruit some of the best talent in the country. She definitely reminds me a lot of [Jacob], coming in and competing in three or four events almost every meet. We’ve heard

PLAN TO GO WHAT: 2014 SEC Championships WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.

WHERE: BJCC Arena in Birmingham a lot about her being a mix of me and [Jacob], because she does do all-around, and that’s more like Jacob. She is very competitive, and that’s a great quality to have, especially in a collegiate team.”

Junior Kaitlyn Clark said Bailey’s ability to compete so early in her college career is commendable.

“It’s definitely a really hard transition, so when a freshman comes in and can compete all-around for us and do it so well, it’s definitely impressive,” Clark said. “She just works so hard every day, and she definitely deserves it.”

Bailey owes some of the ease of that transition to Clark, Milliner and the other upperclassmen on the squad.

“I think all of the upperclassmen, not just the seniors, have encouraged all of the freshman and lowerclassmen to do what they need to do,” Bailey said. “They’re always there for advice. … They always speak from experience.

They don’t try to tell you and yell at you. They say, ‘Look, I’ve been there, I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there and this is what I do to help it.’”

When the 2011 team won the conference championship, it kicked off a run that would produce back-to-back national championships.

This year’s team will be looking to replicate that kind of success starting this Saturday.

“I think this team has been working really hard and I think I’ve done the job for my team,” Bailey said. “I think I’ve done what they wanted me to do, and we have a bright future ahead of us.”

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

FOOTBALL

Alabama wears pads in 3rd practice

By Charlie Potter | Sports Editor

CW | Austin Bigoney Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin works with quarterbacks in the Tide’s first practice in pads.

The Alabama Crimson Tide donned full pads for the first time this spring as the team headed outdoors in the 65-degree afternoon for its third practice of the season Wednesday.

“Our first day in pads is always a little more challenging, a little more difficult,” head coach Nick Saban said. “It tests everyone’s mettle a little bit. Obviously, it makes it easy to see the guys that can overcome a little adversity and continue to execute, do their job, have the discipline to pay attention to detail.”

The players said they were happy to strap on the pads after two practices in shorts and helmets.

“It’s awesome,” senior tight end Brian Vogler said. “The two days we had, the first two practices in just helmets were just a little overwhelming. I think being in pads just

sort of set us back to what it feels like to be in the season and just fly around and have that energy going throughout the practice.”

Junior center Ryan Kelly said it was fun to finally get to hit the defense, instead of going easy on their teammates wearing shirts, shorts and helmets.

“It’s always an exciting one,” Kelly said.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all had pads on, so [there was] a little extra weight. It was really important that we came and played physical.”

Saban said the players’s attitude toward practice had a positive outcome in the team’s performance Wednesday afternoon.

“I really like the progress that the players are making,” Saban said. “They’ve got a really good attitude about what they’re trying to do.”

Alabama will practice again Friday at 3:30 p.m. before the team is off for the week of spring break.

Other notes from practice: •Redshirt freshman wide receiver ArDarius Stewart was back with the receivers after two practices of working with the defensive backs. Saban said it was an experimental move, and it looks like the experiment is over.

•Early-enrollee cornerback Tony Brown saw split time with what appeared to be the first-team secondary during defensive back drills. Brown split snaps at the left cornerback position with sophomore Eddie Jackson. Cyrus Jones and Bradley Sylve split time at the other corner spot.

•Junior linebacker Dillon Lee saw practice time at two positions during Wednesday’s media availability of two periods. Lee worked with the outside linebackers, leading the drills for one and a half periods but switched over to inside linebacker drills for half a period.

MEN’S GOLF

Tide looks to excel after long break from competition

By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter After taking a few days off from practice and tournaments, the Alabama men’s golf team will head to the Linger Longer Invitational this weekend feeling refreshed and ready to compete at a familiar event. The Crimson Tide is a three-time champion of the invitational located at the Reynolds Landing Golf Club in Greensboro, Ga. Alabama coach Jay Seawell said there is a comfort level going into the Linger Longer Invitational.

“We like the golf course a lot; it sets up good for us,” Seawell said. “So we like the tournament. It’s a relaxed atmosphere; it’s completely different atmosphere than your standard tournament week. We have private housing so it’s a bit more relaxed than in the past. And that’s why I think we’re successful.”

Having almost two weeks off from a tournament, Seawell gave his team the time off to refocus on things other than golf. Seawell said his team needed the

break to get back into the right mindset.

“They needed to catch up on their schoolwork and also clear their minds,” Seawell said. “Especially in golf, where you do it over and over, your mind needs to be relaxed just like your body needs to relax. We did most of it for mental relaxation but a little of it for physical.”

Tying in fourth place in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters two weeks ago, the disappointing ending caught the Crimson Tide off guard.

Seawell said his team learned a lot from the loss.

“We learned that you don’t win because you show up,” Seawell said.

“And we’re very good, but there are also very good teams that are going to be successful. We have to get back to the things that make us successful from worrying about our day-to-day preparations to what we can control.”

Seawell also said he believed his team has learned from their past mistakes and can improve now that they are entering the championship

crunch time.

“I think if you start to look in the direction of what you have done, you’re looking improperly,” Seawell said. “So I do believe we have positive feelings when we go there because we’ve success. We will rely on our successes to help guide us in the present moment.

Basically in athletics, you better stay in the present. If you live in the past or the future, you can have some difficult things happen.”

After having the past two weeks to rest and practice the basics, Seawell and the team are confident they can perform at its highest standard.

“I think they will be nice and ready,” Seawell said. “I think they understand what is in front of them. We understand that we’re getting to that time that I call an urgency. We’re getting closer and closer to the championships. We really only have two more tournaments to play in, prepare for [the postseason] and we need to start doing that and get back into some good habits and create good results.”

UA Athletics Alabama travels to the Linger Longer Invitational this weekend where the Tide is a three-time champion.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

BASEBALL

Tide wins 2-game sweep over Alcorn State

By Kevin Connell | Staff Reporter

CW | Shelby Akin Daniel Cucjen’s RBI in the eighth inning sealed the Tide’s 12-0 victory over Alcorn State.

A whole day’s wait did nothing to cool down the Alabama bats Wednesday.

The Crimson Tide baseball team scored double-digit runs for the second consecutive night in a 12-0 win over Alcorn State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

“Really good to see the offense on back-toback nights really respond, and a lot of good quality at-bats were able to put runs on the board,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said.

“We’re really starting to drive the ball, and that’s good to see.”

Alabama (14-6, 2-1 SEC) picked up right where it left off Tuesday night with a multirun inning in the first to take the early 4-0 lead. But the scoring didn’t stop there.

Sophomore center fielder Georgie Salem hit his first home run of the year with a solo shot in the fourth, and the Alabama lineup plated three runs, in the fifth and sixth innings. The offensive outbreak didn’t end

until Daniel Cucjen’s RBI groundout in the eighth inning made it 12-0.

In all, the combined 29 run by Alabama against Alcorn State the highest scoring output in consecutive games for Alabama since it scored 30 in a two-game stretch against Tennessee and Samford in March of last year.

“There was nothing cheap about it,” Gaspard said. “I thought we really hit the ball hard and created more offense for ourselves by the way we swung the bat. That was good to see because I think that was the area coming in that we really wanted to focus on for the Tuesday, Wednesday games was putting together good at-bats, and we were able to do that in the lineup in both of the games.”

Senior right-hander Tucker Hawley (1-1) allowed only three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work in his first start of the season for Alabama. The Crimson Tide pitcher now has a 1.29 ERA in five midweek games this season.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of arms. Our

pitching staff has done really well,” Hawley said. “Everybody comes out, pounds the [strike] zone, works the hit for the most part.

I feel like it’s definitely one of the strengths of our team.”

The Crimson Tide has now won 10 of its 11 games heading into its first SEC road series of the season against Arkansas (117, 1-2 SEC) this weekend.

Junior right fielder Ben Moore said the streak started after a team meeting, following a game-two loss against then-No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette on March 1.

“Ever since then, it’s been a different feeling around the park,” Moore said.

“Guys being more positive, more confident and just letting the game come to us. We decided we were going to start attacking the game, and it made the world of difference.”

Last season, the then-No. 9 Razorbacks took two out of three from Alabama in a three-game set in Tuscaloosa.

SOFTBALL

Alabama softball team wins 8th straight game

By Kelly Ward | Assistant Sports Editor The game was a little too close for the team that swept two conference opponents.

It took three Alabama pitchers and seven innings to put away Georgia State in a 3-1 win. No. 7 Alabama (25-4) had a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning before allowing the Panthers’ only run.

“They really need to treasure or value a shutout,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “I mean, really got to want it.”

Leslie Jury (11-2) earned the win with 5.1 innings pitched. She notched a season-high 10 strikeouts. She left with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, and freshman Sydney Littlejohn finished the inning.

“I thought Leslie did a really good job,” Murphy said. “I mean, the strike zone was all over the place, but you’ve got to adjust to it.”

Senior Jaclyn Traina earned her first save of the season after pitching the seventh inning and allowing one run on one hit.

Alabama scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning.

Sophomore Haylie McCleney singled with two outs. Sophomore Andrea Hawkins hit a triple to bring her in.

In the fifth, junior Chaunsey Bell singled. After securing an out, Georgia State switched pitchers from Eron Milton to Kaitlyn Medlam with McCleney at the plate. Two pitches later, the center fielder hit a two-run home run

over the right field fence.

“The first pitch was an off-speed up and in,” McCleney said. “The second pitch was the same exact one, so the timing was there.”

“This was a game that we won with two hits, a triple and a tworun home run,” Murphy said. “And this weekend it could be similar, where you get one pitch, and it’s the pitch you want. You’d better hammer it because you’re not going to get it again.”

This weekend, Alabama travels to face No. 2 Florida for a threegame series. The Crimson Tide is a perfect 6-0 in SEC play this season, while the Gators are 4-2.

“We usually get a good crowd,” Murphy said. “We get all the people above our dugout, but it’s always a challenging atmosphere.

They pack them in, and you’ve got to love that. You’ve got to want the people yelling at you. It just prepares you for the future.”

In 2013, the Gators took two games from Alabama, one in March for the Crimson Tide’s first loss of the year and the other in the SEC Tournament in May. Alabama is 30-25 all-time against Florida.

“I guess you could compare it as like the Alabama-Auburn series in football,” junior Danae Hays said. “It’s just hard-nosed. I mean, they’re good. We’re good. And this is going to be my first time going down to Gainesville, so this is my first experience, and I’m just very, very excited because you want to compete against the best. You want to see how good you really are.”

CW | Austin Bigoney Sophomore Haylie McCleney scored the Tide’s first run in the bottom of the third inning.

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