TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 111 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
CULTURE | HISTORY
City protects cemeteries Plots include prominent figures from surrounding communities By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter
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t is almost easy to forget you are in the middle of Tuscaloosa when walking through Evergreen Cemetery. It’s quiet, and the trees almost block out the football stadium looming overhead. Without the tombstones, it would be another park. In fact, the cemetery is designed as a garden cemetery, a design that became popular in the 1830s. It was a place to spend time in, like a park or garden. Ian Crawford, director of the Jemison-Van der Graaff Mansion and part of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, said it used to be common for people to spend time in a cemetery and even prepare for death. “They used to send out catalogs that people would look through that sold headstones, as well as cemetery furniture,” Crawford said as he pointed out a chair in front of one of the mausoleums. SEE CEMETERIES PAGE 10
CW | Austin Bigoney Many notable Tuscaloosans are marked by gravestones sprawled across the quiet landscape of Greenwood Cemetery across from Bryant-Denny Stadium.
TODAYON CAMPUS MFA exhibition WHAT: Virginia Eckinge: ‘How Things Are, How Things Were’ WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery
SPORTS | FOOTBALL
Jackson sustains injury to knee Sophomore cornerback to miss rest of spring practice By Charlie Potter | Sports Editor
Local eats WHAT: Taco Tuesday WHEN: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Jim ‘n Nick’s Bar-B-Q
Campus lecture WHAT: The REEL Story of Sexual Assault at Florida State University WHEN: 5-7 p.m. WHERE: 120 Lloyd Hall
The Crimson Tide hit the practice field under a gloomy Tuscaloosa sky Monday afternoon for the team’s ninth spring practice. The atmosphere was fitting considering the news that surfaced about one of Alabama’s defensive backs, who was having a successful spring. Sophomore cornerback Eddie Jackson underwent an MRI on Sunday which confirmed he had ligament damage in his knee that will require surgery, Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced in a release from UA Athletics. SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 13
CW | Austin Bigoney Defensive back Eddie Jackson practices a coverage drill with the team on March 19.
NEWS | POLITICS
Community fundraiser
Panel discusses political polarization
WHAT: Relay for Life fundraiser WHEN: 5-9 p.m. WHERE: Sweet CeCe’s
Honors College Town Hall hosts Jo Bonner, professors
Music scene
By Adam Dodson | Contributing Writer
WHAT: University Chorus Spring Recital WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building
Over the years, Americans’ trust in their own government has consistently fluctuated. Decline in trust and lagging public opinion ratings were the main topics of the most recent Honors College Town Hall event “Polarized Politics: Restoring Faith in Government.” Monday night, former United States representative and current vice chancellor for government relations and economic development for UA system Jo Bonner served as moderator for the event. George Hawley,
Theater and Dance WHAT: ‘The Birthday Party’ WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Allen Bales Theatre
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an assistant professor of political science, and Alan Abramowitz of Emory University made up the rest of the event’s panel. The event primarily focused on how the political climate in America has negatively transformed into what it is today and what actions need to take place in order for American citizens to reclaim their trust in the government. Most of the discussion centered on the idea that party politics dictate everything in the U.S. government today, including the president, who now receives more votes for political affiliation rather than his stance on key issues. Bonner opened up the discussion about how Alabama is not the only state
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INSIDE briefs 2 opinions 4 culture 8 sports 16 puzzles 15 classifieds 15
SEE POLITICS PAGE 2
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CW | Austin Bigoney Former U.S. representative Jo Bonner speaks on the national political divide.
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CAMPUSBRIEFS
Tuesday April 8, 2014
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Masquerade to feature live DJ Honors College will host Moonlit Masquerade on Thursday from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. at Cypress Inn Pavilion. The semi-formal event will include music from DJ Proto-J, and food will be available. Masks will be provided for the first 250 people to arrive.
SCENEON CAMPUS
Compiled by Mark Hammontree
UnlockED to visit local school UnlockED will host a school visit to the Tuscaloosa Magnet School on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The visit will include classroom observations and discussions with classroom teachers and the school principal. For more information about UnlockED and to access the sign-up form, visit unlockedua.com. Only 15 spots are available for the visit, and students must sign up to attend. Compiled by Mark Hammontree
UA addresses discrimination The University of Alabama recently released a new document “UAct: Working together to create an ethical community defined by respect and civility.” The document details reporting channels for incidents of illegal discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, retaliation, threat assessment or fraud. Students, faculty and staff have been encouraged to use information available to learn about resources and assistance available from University officials. According to uanews.ua.edu, the document was created to follow through on the University’s commitment to providing a safe environment for students, employees and visitors. For more information or to see a copy of the document, visit ua.edu/uact. Compiled by Andy McWhorter
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
CW | Lindsey Leonard Freshmen Rob Halmi and Clara Balestrieri take a study break outside of the Lakeside residential areas at Palmer Lake.
TODAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
WHAT: ‘Alabama Equestrians vs. Auburn WHEN: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. WHERE: Ray C. Jenkins Equestrian Arena, Sokol Park
WHAT: Relay for Life Fundraiser WHEN: Until 4 p.m. WHERE: Zoe’s in Bryant-Denny Stadium
WHAT: ‘Katherine Bradford: The Golden Age of Exploration Exhibition’ WHEN: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, Garland Hall
WHAT: ‘African-American English: Race, Grammar and History’ Lecture WHEN: 4:30 p.m. WHERE: 120 Farrah Hall
WHAT: ‘How Things Are, How Things Were’ - Virginia Eckinger MFA Exhibition WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery, Woods Hall
WHAT: Student Recital: Ben Carrasquillo Trombone WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building Recital Hall
WHAT: Blend Days Lunch WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Ferguson Dining Area WHAT: ALLELE Lecture: Lawrence Krauss, ‘A Universe from Nothing: Cosmic Evolution, Natural Selection, and How to Get Something from Nothing’ WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Biology Building Auditorium
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
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LAKESIDE
LUNCH
DINNER
Barbecue Grilled Turkey Baked Sweet Potatoes Grilled Zucchini Squash Cream of Mushroom Soup Vegetable Enchilada Verde
Grillades and Grits Meatball Stromboli with Marinara Roasted Garlic Potatoes Corn on the Cob Peas and Pearl Onions
LUNCH
Grilled/Crispy Chicken Tenders Chicago-Style Hot Dogs Rotini Marinara Italian Green Beans Corn
Elizabeth Lowder Lauren Robertson
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BURKE
Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068 Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Keenan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper
The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2014 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.
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: Documents pertaining to the murder investigation of Paula Lee Ellis, including the names of investigating officers; incident reports; police reports; correspondence regarding the investigation between UAPD and the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Northport Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation; any correspondence regarding the conveyance of evidence and any photographs related to the investigation. WHO REQUESTED IT: Lauren Ferguson FROM WHOM WE REQUESTED IT: UA Media Relations on behalf of UAPD WHEN WE REQUESTED IT: March 18, 2014 STATUS: Pending
FRESH FOOD LUNCH
DINNER
Stuffed Pork Loin with Pork Gravy Grilled Cheese with Bacon Baked Potato Wedges Capri Blend Vegetables Squash
Panel says political divide increasing POLITICS FROM PAGE 1
suffering from polarization. Bonner said playing party politics hurts all people because nothing can get done, but no one party is to blame. Everyone is equally at fault for not making a difference over key issues, he said, and many people are not involved or do not care, which is concerning for many others due to the importance of issues such as health care and the national debt. Abramowitz, a presidential campaign predictor, spoke next on the issue of a partisan government and took a step back to take a look at the 2012 presidential election. The 2012 election shows how deeply divided the country has become, where only four states had margin of victories of under 5 percent, meaning the other 46 states were decided in a landslide depending completely upon what political party ruled the area. Abramowitz said there is a growing racial division determining political affiliation. Armed with statistics and charts, he showed how the number of non-whites voting for Democrats is as big as it has ever been. “This growing divide of race, ideology and cultural values has had huge consequences on campaigns and elections,” Abramowitz said. Th i s partisanship,
Steak Baked Potato Bar Glazed Carrots Vegetable Linguine Alfredo Minestrone Soup Four Bean Salad
Abramowitz said, was one of the key reasons Obama won re-election by keeping his strong support from Democrats. Abramowitz also said Republicans keep campaigning for “flaky and radical candidates.” The University of Alabama’s George Hawley then spoke about the debate over how corrupt and polarized our nation really is. Hawley said the statistics show that “straight ticket” voting, meaning voting completely on political affiliation, is increasing. Much like Abramowitz expressed, Hawley said politics have become radicalized, and he showed a person holding a sign calling Democrats “You damn Socialists!” to illustrate his point. Although not all citizens are radical, this radical attitude shown by some members of both parties leads to an increase in party politics and extreme distaste for the other party, Hawley said. “The argument goes that Republicans will learn about Democrats through Fox News, and Democrats learn about Republicans through MSNBC, which is not fair to either party,” Hawley said. Hawley said one of the most negative effects polarization has on America is the decreasing competition in political campaigns, which could then lead to apathy and even further corruption. “Don’t use party to decide whether or not you like the policy,” Hawley said.
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Lecture to focus on Civil War environment By Emily Sturgeon | Contributing Writer In a twist on the typical discussion of battles and military strategy, Megan Kate Nelson, visiting assistant professor of history at Brown University, will deliver a lecture focusing on the space between the battles, looking at how soldiers in the Civil War lived and made their homes when they were not fighting. The lecture “Home Sweet Home: Felling Trees and Building Camps during the American Civil War” is part of an ongoing series hosted by the Frances S. Summersell Center for the Study of the South, a research center based in the UA history department. The series commemorates the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, and each year since 2011 has focused on a particular element of the war. This year’s theme is death and destruction. Nelson, author of “Ruin Nation: Destruction and the American Civil War,” concentrates on environmental and cultural aspects of the Civil War, a theme that is generally less apparent in the broad study of the 19th-century war. “I want people to leave thinking, ‘Wow, I never knew that before,’ because this is something that not a lot of Civil War historians talk about,” Nelson said. “Environmental history of the war is something sort of new.” Nelson said she will specifically focus on the time of year between mid-November and mid-March and will look at the activities that occupied soldiers in their day-to-day lives. Nelson said she hopes to emphasize the fact that soldiers spent as much time making homes for themselves as they did making war
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Home Sweet Home: Felling Trees and Building Camps during the American Civil War WHEN: Wednesday, 6 p.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library against the enemy. “We should pay a lot of attention to the actual battles that the soldiers engaged in because those are important. That is what war is about, armies fighting one another,” Nelson said. “But I also think war is much larger than that as an experience, so we have to consider what soldiers were doing when they weren’t fighting and when they weren’t marching. What were their lives actually like? If we truly want to understand the past, we have to find ways to engage with those experiences and try to understand them from the soldier’s point of view.” She said college students would be able to relate to the idea of a home away from home and that there are many similarities that can be seen in the lives of soldiers. “I think you’ll see a lot of parallels with Civil War soldiers who were doing the same kinds of things to make themselves comfortable in this situation that was very different from their ordinary lives or the lives that they had growing up,” Nelson said. Nelson said she uses primarily visual culture to share the stories and experiences of soldiers, finding insight through photographs, newspaper illustrations and sketches sent by soldiers
Submitted Guest speaker Megan Kate Nelson of Brown University will discuss how Civil War soldiers constructed their temporary homes during the war. in their letters home. While she uses many of the standard sources, like letters, diaries and battle records, she said her use of visual sources is somewhat unusual and nontraditional. Joshua Rothman, director of the Summersell Center and professor of history and African-American studies at the University, said many people thinking about the Civil War have an unrealistic visual of the event.
“I think that a fair number of people have a sense of the Civil War as this sort of romantic and glorious cause, whether Union or Confederacy,” Rothman said. “For the Union, they were fighting for emancipation or freedom; for the Condeferacy, people see them as fighting for Southern independence. Whatever it is, what they don’t come away with is the fact that the Civil War is not romantic. It’s not pretty. It’s not glorious. It is bloody and
horrible and destructive, and that is a lesson about war that often gets lost among people who are really interested in military events.” Nelson said she encourages anyone interested in the time period, military history or what soldiers do when they’re not fighting to attend. The lecture will be held at 6 p.m. in Room 205 Gorgas Library on Wednesday and will be open to the public.
p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
COLUMN | SGA ELECTIONS
Student safety on UA campus largely ignored By Erynn Williams | Staff Columnist
MCT Campus
COLUMN | CLASSROOM DECORUM
How to deal with offensive professors By Zachary McCann | Guest Columnist In their time at the University, students have good professors, bad professors, amazing professors, and every once in a while everyone has a professor they can’t stand. Regardless of how you feel about a specific professor, they all deserve respect. For the most part, they have the highest degree in their fields and have chosen to use that distinction to help expand the minds of students. Professors, however, are human and thus not infallible. Sometimes, professors will make in-class comments or remarks that are discriminatory in various ways, shapes or forms. Oftentimes, professors don’t know or, at the very least, don’t acknowledge that they are making comments in class, but it certainly happens. While it is certainly a professor’s job to educate students to the best of their ability, it is not a professor’s job to conjecture about the world outside of their area of expertise. Especially when these conjectures are based on personal opinions instead of facts. When anyone, professors included, discusses political views in class, it is almost inevitable that someone will
Whil it is certainly a professor’s job to eduWhile cate students to the best of their ability, it is not a professor’s job to conjecture about the world outside of their area of expertise.
say something that is out of line. In most cases, the statement will be ignorant but benign. There are cases where someone will say something that is egregiously offensive and deserves to be reprimanded. If it is a student who says something out of line, it should fall on the professor, as the leader of the class, to curtail the discussion in order to keep things in the classroom civil. An issue arises, however, when it is the professor making discriminatory statements. When a professor starts to make discriminatory statements, it puts students in a strange spot. As students, we don’t have the authority to tell professors what they can and cannot say. As members of The
University of Alabama, we have a responsibility to help ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our fellow members of the Alabama community, regardless of our political and social beliefs. This means that as students, we are required to do something when a professor makes constant discriminatory remarks in class. It’s hard to say that we need to stop a lecture in order to confront a professor about their language, since not only does this take up class time but can quickly become awkward for everyone in the class. While it is hard to say what the “best” solution is, talking to the professor after class or via email certainly can’t hurt. After all, professors did choose to teach for a living. It’s unlikely they are actively trying to offend students. If this doesn’t work, talking to the head of the department could also be a viable solution. Ultimately, one of the most important things about the classroom is that everyone feels comfortable being there, and, as students, we have to make sure that every class achieves that goal. Zachary McCann is a senior majoring in philosophy.
COLUMN | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Nation needs more birth control options, access By Michelle Fuentes | Senior Staff Columnist While browsing Facebook yesterday, I came across a picture of somebody I used to know marrying a, I’m sure, very lovely woman who happened to also be very, very pregnant. After the initial shock of taking in the situation, I have been thinking a lot about sex education and shotgun weddings. Who knows, maybe newlyweds are now choosing to wear white with a bun in the oven just to ironically stick it to heteronormativity with a wedding that can double as baby shower. Who knows — and with my only source of information being my Facebook newsfeed, I totally don’t know. But, with the often simultaneous pronouncement of “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl,” I’m going out on a limb to say that most shotgun weddings are not yet designed as radical protests to shrug the heavy oppression of gender roles and the patriarchy. But here’s the deal, which is important to everyone else beyond me and my therapist: Men and women of all ages need greatly increased awareness, education and access to long-term forms of birth control. It seems to me that boys and girls and adults mess up the most accessible forms of birth control, condoms and the pill, more often than we can count. I would like to see an expansion of access
So, as a society that is concerned about bringing children into homes where they can be not only loved, but also cared for, we need more solutions.
to long-term contraceptives including hormonal- or non-hormonal-based intrauterine devices (IUDs) or the hormonalbased arm implant. Why don’t we encourage high school girls and their parents, as well as college women, to consider these long-term options that have a much lower user error rate and a much higher success rate of avoiding pregnancy? (Clearly, these long-term devices do not protect against sexually transmitted disease, so those of all ages need to make wise personal decisions about their partners, the use of condoms and getting tested on a regular basis if they choose to be sexually active.) Consider the fiscal implications of these suggestions as well. Currently, a single birth, including prenatal care, can range from a cost of $9,000 to more than $250,000. The arm implant only costs between $400 and $800 and can last up to
EDITORIAL BOARD Mazie Bryant editor-in-chief Lauren Ferguson managing editor Katherine Owen production editor
Anna Waters visuals editor Christopher Edmunds chief copy editor John Brinkerhoff opinion editor
three years, or between $1,200 and $3,200 over 12 years. And best of all, IUDs cost between $500 and $1,000 and can last up to 12 years. Proponents of abstinence-based education will, of course, remind us that abstinence is free, and it is always 100 percent effective. Of course, that is true until, well, it just isn’t used. Personally, I have never been more happy to be “dating but waiting” than the moment I saw that photo, because that dude, apparently, is very fertile. But, that’s not a decision that is going to work for everyone, and it might not even be a decision that will always work for me. So, as a society that is concerned about bringing children into homes where they can be not only loved, but also cared for, we need more solutions. And for the love of science, can we please get working on a form of long-term birth control that men can be responsible for? Seriously. Birth control, along with having babies and rape, has been called a women’s issue for entirely too long. Men must, and should, demand responsibility in this sphere and put money and effort into creating long-term forms of birth control that men take or otherwise implant. Dudes, this is your call to action. Michelle Fuentes is a Ph.D. candidate in political theory. Her column runs weekly.
W h i l e attempting to relax this spring break I came across a video titled “UA is Home.” This video by Spectrum presented stories of six students who do not feel safe on the very campus that they call home. While Erynn Williams this is just a taste of what goes on for many students every day, this video was an awful reminder of how little is done by the administration to ensure that students have a safe environment on the campus that they choose to pay to live on. Lately, the University has had a mountain of negative press and not enough changes to fix that. It almost seems as though people do not want change. When faced with the issue of segregation in the Greek system, the administration stayed quiet for as long as they could before coming up with a quick-fix solution, continuous open bidding, to allow the opportunity for more diverse girls to be admitted into Alabama panhellenic sororities. The Student Government Association remained silent also, well until the last meeting of the Senate. Headlines such as “U of Alabama Sororities Win Right To Ban Blacks” decorated the newsfeeds of various social media outlets during break. And although racist allegations on campus are nothing new, it was extremely disheartening to see these articles after all of the “efforts” to integrate the Greek system. I think it was truly careless of the former members of the Senate to choose against supporting legislation that supported continuing in efforts toward further integrating our campus, which would in turn have helped make students feel more comfortable on campus. While I know that, had the legislation passed, it would not have forced the Greek system nor the administration into action, this piece of legislation would have been a definitive sign to students that the leaders of the student body care about the issues of the students. Silence is an answer, and non-action is action. When the SGA remained silent during the allegations of racism and segregation, they sent a message to students that they do not care; and choosing not to pass Resolution #R-XX-14 confirmed that. In the past month alone, students have been harassed verbally, mentally, electronically and physically. Alabama’s 13 News (WVTM Birmigham) reported that on Election Day students were spit at, yelled at and slandered on social media. A University spokesperson stated, “The University is aware of the allegations surrounding the recent Student Government Association election.” These allegations are being investigated by the UA Elections Board. At this point, it is too early to know who might be involved or how many people might be involved in any alleged Election Day violation. But weeks later, students have yet to see anything done about this. How can students feel comfortable on a campus where this kind of behavior is condoned? Again, non-action is action. When nothing is done to reprimand those committing hateful acts, what will stop more from happening? It’s time to stop sweeping problems under the rug and waiting for them to just fade away as we sit in silence. It is time for the University, students and administration alike, to hold people accountable for their actions and stop letting hateful acts continue to damage relations within our student body. It is time for a change on campus. Erynn Williams is a sophomore majoring in dance and international studies. Her column runs biweekly.
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS
Last Week’s Poll: : Do you plan on attending any festivals this year?
Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns less than 800. Send submissions to letters@ cw.ua.edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.
(Yes: 53%) (No: 47%) This Week’s Poll: Do you agree with SGA Election Board’s decision to give VP for Student Affairs Stephen Keller 75 hours of community service after he was found guilty of violating election rules? cw.ua.edu/poll
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
SPJ, USA Today promote reading Students who ‘Get Caught Reading’ newspapers can win prizes By Mark Hammontree | News Editor In order to promote the College Readership service and to encourage students to read newspapers, The University of Alabama’s chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists will partner with USA Today and The New York Times for Get Caught Reading Day. Throughout the day on Tuesday, students across campus can tweet photos for an opportunity to win prizes. In past years, the campaign has consisted of SPJ members canvasing campus to take photos of students reading newspapers, but this year, Get Caught Reading will rely on students to submit their own photos. “We decided this year, instead of walking all over campus on a specific day and finding people reading either The Crimson White, The New York Times or USA Today and giving out prizes, we’d have people send in photos,” President of SPJ Casey Voyles said. “Since we have such a big campus, and it’s growing everywhere, it would take so many of us to spread
all over campus all day long, and so it’s just more effective and more efficient if we have people just tweet in pictures.” Voyles said any student can participate by simply tweeting their photos using the hashtag #getcaught and tagging @UASPJ and @USATODAYcollege. “It’s pretty short and simple; they could be reading USA Today, The New York Times or The Crimson White, just reading some sort of newspaper,” Voyles said. “USA Today, of course, likes the Twitter idea because they can track it throughout the day, too. It may put a little bit more pressure on us, but it’s kind of encouraging, too, to make it bigger and better than it was in previous years.” The best submitted photos in a variety of categories will be chosen by SPJ leadership, and the winners will be announced Wednesday. “The New York Times and also USA Today have donated us prizes to give out,” Voyles said. “We’ll be looking for the funniest pictures, the best visual pictures and the best group pictures, all that sort of stuff.”
Other u n ive r s i t i e s and campuses will hold their own Get Caught Reading events on other dates, but Voyles said Tuesday’s event is specific to the University. The University, the journalism department and SPJ have long had a good relationship with USA Today, and Voyles said she sees this campaign as an example of that connection and an opportunity for SPJ to express gratitude for the College Readership program that provides students free copies of USA Today and The New York Times at newsstands across campus. “USA Today has been a great partnership with UA and the journalism department and all of us,” Voyles said. “They encourage us each and every year to try out for things, you know, each competition and scholarship that they have, and it’s important that since they support us, we support them and show them that we’re grateful for the ability that we have to get these papers every day. It’s kind of a luxury that not every campus has, and we’re very thankful for our partnership with them.”
CW | Austin Bigoney Students can win prizes by submitting photos of themselves reading newspapers on campus Tuesday.
New SGA staff begins transition into Bloom administration By Katie Shepherd | Contributing Writer With the start of April comes the official transition of the Student Government Association from the outgoing Jimmy Taylor administration to that of newly inaugurated SGA president Hamilton Bloom. On Tuesday, April 1, the newly elected executive officers for the 2014-15 academic year were inaugurated in front of the Gorgas House as part of Honors Week tradition. This week, all incoming officers are expected to conduct transition meetings with the outgoing officers in their positions. This will ensure that each officer will be able to pick up where the last left off and is meant to leave the incoming officers ready to start strong next semester.
Monday night marked the first official meeting of the incoming executive officers. Though the semester is quickly coming to a close, these officers are sure to be busy. Bloom said during the meeting that executive officers will soon take on many new, exciting projects to get things rolling early. “This year we will be focused on larger, more wide-scale projects,” Bloom said. Mary Wills, SGA chief of staff, said the main focus for the duration of the semester wil be on recruiting applicants for cabinet positions. Wills said they are currently contacting student organizations and relying heavily on word of mouth to help encourage students to sign up. Wills said the online applications opened last Friday and are set to close Sunday at
noon. Anyone interested in joining the SGA is strongly encouraged to apply. As of 5 p.m. Monday, 59 director applications have been received, with 150-200 expected to be received by Friday. Interviews for cabinet positions are to be conducted by SGA officers from April 16 to 18. Final decisions on next year’s cabinet will be decided at the meeting Monday, April 21. Those accepted will receive emails by Wednesday, April 23. Bloom said there will be a press release by the end of the week outlining any upcoming projects the SGA hopes to take on for the remainder of the semester and into next year. Official appointments of new officers will occur at a Tuesday night meeting,
followed by a meeting on Thursday to discuss the approval of the cabinet, Bloom said. As for the recent vote in the final session of the 2013-14 senate to end a proposed resolution to support Greek system integration, Bloom said his administration plans to revisit the issue. “I will be presenting a new version of the resolution tomorrow at the session,” Bloom said. Though there are many new faces, and therefore new schedules to work around, SGA Senate meetings are expected to be conducted at the same time next semester: Mondays at 7 p.m. Because of the SGA’s recent move into Russell Hall, the location of the meetings has yet to be determined.
p.6
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Nursing majors practice skills with simulation By Sammy Eastburn | Contributing Writer When veterans return from combat, some develop multiple and chronic illnesses that require a range of treatments and are often treated by nurses who need a background of training equipping them to properly handle these demands. Graduate students gained experience at the Capstone College of Nursing by performing live medical simulations on theatre students who took the roll of veterans suffering from multiple conditions Monday. Leah Yerby, professor of community and rural medicine for the Institute for Rural Health Research, helped the students on the medical side of the simulations. “They are graduate students in nursing, medicine, social work and nutrition,” Yerby said. The simulations were made possible by two grants given to the University. The Capstone College of Nursing received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a grant from The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Rural Health, said Alice March, associate professor of the Capstone’s College of Nursing. The Department of Veterans Affairs grant works specifically with teaching students how to take better care of veterans suffering from chronic conditions, March said. “I want to thank everyone,” March said to all of the participants after the simulation. “This teaches students to work together to train students particularly about patients of multiple conditions. Our simulation was for teamwork.” During an open discussion, students who took part in the simulation said they felt stage fright while diagnosing the patient but enjoyed collaborating with one another. March said there were eight groups consisting of four or five students. These students worked together as a team to diagnose the patients in order to make a plan of action to cure the “veterans.” Michael Witherell, a second-year graduate student in the theatre department, said he enjoyed playing a veteran and was impressed by the students who “treated” him in the simulation. “I thought it was great communication-wise,” Witherell said. “The teams gave leeway to each other, which made me feel comfortable.” David Bolus, a first-year graduate student in the theatre department, also played the role of a veteran during the simulation. “Both groups made a very clear plan of action, and I think the students worked together very well,” Bolus said. Through the teamwork, students were able to properly diagnose their patients, which will help prepare them for the professions they will soon enter. “It was a great experience working as a team to take care of a patient, which is the number one goal,” Rebecca Mays, a first-year nurse practitioner student said.
Student studies salamanders Submitted Graduate student Nicholas Caruso’s research shows salamander body size has reduced over the years due to climate change. By Samuel Yang | Staff Reporter When Nicholas Caruso, a graduate student in the biological science department, dissects a salamander, he cannot find its lungs. That is disconcerting, but it’s actually not terribly surprising – they are, after all, lungless salamanders. What Caruso has also noticed, researched and published is that salamanders are getting smaller. “There used to be much more bigger salamanders. For these guys, bigger is better,” he said. “We’re just not seeing big salamanders anymore.” Caruso is lead author on “Widespread rapid reductions in body size of adult salamanders in response to climate change,” which was published in March in science journal Global Change Biology and recieved extended media coverage. “Having this paper with my name on the front is great,” he said. “The press that it’s receiving is probably even better.” Caruso works in the lab of Leslie Rissler, an associate professor and curator of herpetology. Rissler said Caruso’s doctoral research in her lab will be important work. “Nick’s Ph.D. work in my lab will be focused on determining whether the body size changes are truly evolutionary,” Rissler said. “Publishing research is one of, if not the, most important jobs of a scientist, and to have such an extraordinarily high press article at his early stage is fantastic.” Outlets like NBC, Nature, The Weather Channel and BBC Nature have picked up Caruso’s research and its implications. “It just seemed to snowball,” Caruso said. “A few days ago, I found it mentioned on Buzzfeed.” Caruso said he thinks the story’s popularity might be due in part to how adorable salamanders are and how catchy the idea of “shrinking salamanders” is, but he also knows climate change is a hot topic issue and said the findings of his research indicate something may be happening or has already happened in the natural world. “Unfortunately, I think the consensus now is that if amphibians are responding, it might be too late,” he said. “They’re indicating something, but we probably should have done something about it beforehand.”
The salamanders Caruso studied have thinner skin and respond more quickly to environmental changes, but they also have growth rings in their femurs. That’s the next step for Caruso, investigating whether the salamanders are smaller because they are dying younger or because they are not putting as much energy into growing. “Hopefully, that will get at, ‘Is this a mortality issue or a growth issue?’” he said. “And then genetics [of it] is a whole other can of worms.” Rissler said one of the paper’s unknowns is whether the change is due to true evolution or plasticity, the ability of species to adapt. But, she said, it does show that salamanders are smaller now than they were a few decades ago. “We can see this because specimens from natural history collections – museums – of the same species from the exact same geographic regions exist,” Rissler said. In fact, Caruso travelled to see an extensive collection of salamanders at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum Service Center. In addition to the Smithsonian, Caruso gives credit to members of the Smithsonian Institute and the paper’s three co-authors: Dean Adams of Iowa State University; Karen Lips of the University of Maryland; and Michael Sears of Clemson University. Caruso said he also thanks the field assistants who joined him in collecting current data, camping and traveling in his truck through Appalachia, where they encountered rain and hail. “All that good stuff – all just running around, measuring salamanders,” Caruso said. “All of those people are pretty awesome.” What he saw there may have seemed normal to him, but as he suspected, it actually reflected a noticeable change – something that didn’t escape the attention of 2 biologist he met with early on at the Smithsonian, who didn’t yet know the subject of Caruso’s research before asking him about salamanders. “He was like, ‘You know, when I’ve been going out, I just haven’t been seeing big salamanders anymore. Do you think there’s something to that?’” Caruso said. “I just started laughing.”
p.7
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Get involved with the Alabama International Justice Mission When?
Where?
Tuesday 4-7 p.m.
Wednesday 7 p.m.
What?
Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house
THREADS: a pop up thrift store with clothes,
Quad
STAND FOR FREEDOM: 24-hour event partnering with
Strip
Ferg
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House
Thursday 4-7 p.m.
accessories, art and other knick knacks
Sleep Out on the Quad to raise awareness about human trafficking
CRAWFISH BOIL CW | Emily Young
AIJM events raise awareness for cause By Andy McWhorter | Assistant News Editor Victims of human trafficking and modern day slavery rarely get a chance to speak for themselves, but Alabama International Justice Mission is hosting a number of events this week to raise awareness and money to fight on their behalf. Through partnerships with Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Sleep Out on the Quad and other campus organizations, AIJM will host events Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week for students to learn more about injustice and do something about it. Katherine Jordan, a junior majoring in food and nutrition and president of AIJM, said the group is working to raise money and awareness for their parent organization. “Alabama International Justice Mission is the campus chapter of International Justice Mission, which is a worldwide organization that is just hoping to raise awareness about human trafficking,” Jordan said. “They also have rehabilitation programs put in place for men and women that they rescue [from] sex and labor slavery.” AIJM will host three events throughout the week. On Tuesday, from 4 to 7 p.m., the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority house will host Threads, a pop-up thrift store, with all proceeds going to IJM. A number of items will be available, including clothes, accessories and art.
CW | Austin Bigoney Alabama International Justice Mission events will be hosted by various campus organizations Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. “Some people have made jewelry for it. There are pieces of artwork, little knickknacks,” Jordan said. Madalynn Young, a sophomore majoring in music therapy and philanthropy chair for Alpha Gamma Delta, said members collected donated items from UA sororities and will price them from $5 to $10 at the event. She said the event is open to everyone on campus, not just Greek students. “We repriced everything really cheap, so it’s just kind of like a thrift shop,” Young said. Starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, AIJM will host Stand for Freedom in partnership with Sleep Out on the Quad. For 24 hours, students
will stand on the Quad, the Strip and in the Ferguson Student Center to raise awareness for sex trafficking and other injustices. After Sleep Out on the Quad, Stand for Freedom will move to different areas around campus for a total of 24 hours. “The event is going to move around,” Jordan said. “Sleep Out on the Quad starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, so we’ll be with them on the Quad until they go sleep around 2 a.m., and that’s when we move to the Strip by Moe’s and Coldstone. We’ll be on the Strip probably all throughout the night. Starting on Thursday morning, we will move to the Ferg.” Wherever they stand throughout the event,
members of AIJM will have information on human trafficking and tip jars for those who want to donate to the cause. After the Stand for Freedom, Beta Theta Pi fraternity will host a crawfish boil Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at its house on campus. “On Thursday afternoon, we’ve partnered with Beta, Alpha Gam, Alpha Chi [and] ATO, and we are doing a crawfish boil that also those fraternities and sororities kind of put on, and then they’re also giving the proceeds of that cookout to IJM,” Jordan said. Young said her sorority partnered with AIJM because members care about the issue. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, their national philanthropy, tends not to affect members’ day-to-day lives, but everyone in the sorority feels some connection to human trafficking and sex slavery, Young said. “I just am really passionate about it, and I think a lot of girls are passionate about the issue, so I just thought it would be really fun,” she said. Young said through events like these and other initiatives, AIJM and her sorority hope to bring awareness and affect change for these issues. “We’re trying to make connections with the Wellhouse, which is a sex trafficking rehabilitation center in Birmingham,” Young said. “We’re hoping to really bring it to the forefront of campus and get everyone really involved.”
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p.8 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Succulents make gardening easy By Abbey Crain | Culture Editor When gardening becomes trendy, you know it must be easy. Succulents, plants with thick leaves for water storage such as cacti, are popping up on Instagram accounts and Tumblr posts as accessories to thick sock-wearing, cat-cuddling models. But their unique aesthetic coupled with almost no required maintenance make them the perfect potted accoutrement for any dorm windowsill or dining room centerpiece. Home Depot and Lowe’s in Tuscaloosa both have a fair share of succulents to choose from. Materials: three succulents (I chose three plants with similar coloring but opposing shapes), one terracota pot with holes in the bottom and a bag of soil designed for cacti/succulents.
1.
3.
2. Water only when soil is dry. Plants will rot and die if overwatered. Succulents thrive outdoors but can also be placed indoors near a window.
CW | Emily Young
Pour soil into pot, about 3/4 full.
CW | Lindsey Leonard
Arrange plants, and dig out holes for each succulent.
Spring 2014
NO COVER 21 and up! Happy Hour 4-9
TUES
YouTube Tuesday
WED
Pandora Sex
NIGHTLY Drink Specials
$4 whippets, babybombs, YGNNU Ć‚ TGDCNNU EVERY NIGHT
THURS
Brandon Wooley
FRI
Pre-game for Brantley Gilbert Concert 5-8 with Zach Baker, then Southern Comfort onstage
SAT
Mon. 9 - until $1 draft beer & Bingo Tues. 9 - until $1 tequila shots $5 Margaritas Wed. Happy Hour all day Thurs. 9-12 $3 32oz. well drinks Frid. & Sat. & Sun. $4 double Bloody Mary’s $2 Mimosas Happy Hour 3-9 Everyday 1/2 off domestics, well drinks & bushwackers $9 32 oz. Margaritas
Please drink responsibly.
NEVER
drink & drive! Call 205-348-RIDE to be picked up from a location on or near campus.
Happy Hour: 4-9 EVERY NIGHT
TUESDAY
Tequila Mockingbird
$1 shots, $2 tallboys
SUN
$1 draft beer & $3 shots
Pajama Sunday & Dart Tournament
Must be 21 in order to drink.
WEDNESDAY
$3 THURSDAY
$3 cocktails ALL NIGHT
FRI. & SAT.
$1 Bud Light draft & $2 Roll Tide shots (open - 9:00)
SUNDAY $2 tallboys
Monday:
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Half - priced wines Wednesday:
Half - priced Martinis Thursday:
$3 pint night Sunday:
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p.9
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
COLUMN | HEALTH
COLUMN | FOOD
CW | Austin Bigoney While students may be eager to work out after spring break, jumping into an exercise routine can come with certain risks.
Ease back into spring workouts with caution By Katherine Metcalf Spring break is a time for relaxation, and students take time off from not only the books but also their workout routines. Taking time off from exercise may be a good temporary choice, but now that class is back in session, it’s time to take the sneakers out and head to the gym. One’s body does not drastically lose its fitness capabilities within the span of just a week. Two weeks is the least amount of time it takes for people to lose gained fitness even if they have been exercising every day for the last year. Although it is possible for muscles to get into the groove again, doing strenuous activities too soon after a break can hinder performance and may lead to injury. Even though some students may want to dive right in after spring break, they have to listen to their bodies first. The body sends important signals such as excessive sweating, abnormal breathing patterns and even stomach pains when it is overexerted. Exercising your body for about half the time you did before the break is ideal to get it back into a routine, and alternating between different activities will
give different parts of the body time to heal while other parts of the body are working to become fit again. If you do not listen to the warning signs, it can lead to an increased risk of illnesses and injuries. Another tip to remember when returning to your exercise routine is to practice healthy habits as well. Exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle, but it is only one component in overall wellbeing. Eating right and sleeping well are important because they help the body recover, repair and rejuvenate muscles. When the muscles are rested and refueled, they are ready to conquer anything. The most crucial time for fueling is before and after exercise. Think of sleep as the body’s medicine after a workout session. In order to feel good, the body needs its medicine every day. Otherwise, everything else will be unbalanced. Students often end up returning from spring break ready to conquer anything, but it is important to realize the body is adaptable only if it is cared for with respect. Eating, exercising and sleeping can make the body a well-oiled machine, able to take on the world.
MCT Campus Cereal, which dates back to 1863, remains an important American food staple.
Case for cereal: America’s late night snack By Tara Massouleh
Frosted Flakes) began serving his version of Granula, called granola, at his health retreat. Eventually the food caught on, and suddenly everyone was producing their own versions of Kellogg’s granola, which would later become cereal. By 1911, there were more than 107 different brands of corn flakes being sold in the town of Battle Creek, Mich., alone. According to research by the NPD Group, a market research company, as of 2012, 92 percent of American households purchased cereal at least once a year, making cereal the fourth most sold packaged good in U.S. retail stores. Cereal sales reached more than $7.7 billion, and a total of 2.7 billion boxes of cereal were sold. Grocery stores on average carry 30 different types of cereal, but the possibilities in the cereal department are truly endless. To put things in perspective, you could eat a different type of cereal every day for a year and never have to eat the same one twice. It’s not just the perfectly crunchy, sweet taste of cereal or its ubiquity as a staple on everyone’s kitchen table that make it so irresistible. Cereal has found its way into our homes and done nothing short of infiltrating every part of our daily lives. You know how there are often cereal commercials when you’re watching your favorite cartoons? Those shows don’t just happen to advertise for cereal. Ad man Leo
It’s late at night or maybe even the wee hours of the early morning. All that’s on TV are infomercials for Magic Bullets and instant hair removal. You’re deciding whether to move on to the next episode of whatever show you happen to be binge-watching on Netflix or escape the dull glow of your laptop and go to bed, when all of a sudden you realize you’re starving. You stumble over to the kitchen to find something to eat. You open and close the refrigerator door several times before moving on to the pantry. You open the pantry door, and it hits you. You know what you want. You want a big bowl of Cap’n Crunch with ice-cold skim milk. Or at least that’s what I want. You might switch the Cap’n Crunch out for Cinnamon Toast Crunch and the skim milk out for 2 percent, but, any way you look at it, there’s no denying – cereal is America’s most popular late night snack and arguably America’s favorite food. The history of cereal dates all the way back to 1863 when Dr. James Jackson invented the first readyto-eat, grain-based breakfast food, Granula, to promote America’s growing vegetarian movement. Shortly after, renowned health guru and surgeon Dr. John Kellogg (yes, the same Kellogg who makes Froot Loops and
Burnett created television programs and characters such as Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstone specifically to sell cereal. Today cereal companies are still the second-largest advertiser on television. America is so obsessed with cereal that we’ve started devoting entire restaurants solely to cereal. “R U Cereal?” in Albuquerque, N.M., offers an allyou-can-eat cereal bar with more than 25 varieties of name–brand cereals and even more toppings, from fresh fruit to chocolate to nuts and everything in between. At “Cereality: Cereal Bar and Cafe” in Richmond, Va., customers choose their cereal and toppings and watch as cereologists put their creations together in a cardboard container a la your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant. Personally, I think cereal bars are a fairly useless concept and total waste of money. I can’t justify paying $5.99 for an all-you-can-eat cereal bar, when I could just buy a couple boxes on sale at Wal-Mart for the same price and enjoy several bowls from the comfort of my own home. Despite the witless fad known as the cereal bar, cereal has remained in my top five favorite foods for as long as I can remember, and there are no signs of that changing any time soon, especially when I can take a BuzzFeed quiz that answers the age old question: If you were a cereal, which cereal would you be?
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Local cemeteries preserve history of well-known Tuscaloosa, UA figures CEMETERIES FROM PAGE 1
Crawford has given tours of some of the cemeteries around Tuscaloosa. This past weekend the Preservation Society gave a tour of Tuscaloosa’s oldest cemetery, Greenwood. As he walked around, Crawford recounted some of the stories of the historically significant people of Tuscaloosa buried right in the middle of where many UA students live. Evergreen was probably first laid out in the 1830s, but Crawford said it was most likely not used as a burial ground until the mid 1840s, when it became more clear that Greenwood would soon be filled as the town was expanding toward campus. Walking around the cemetery, it is not hard to find names that students would recognize, such as Amelia Gayle Gorgas, the Kilgores, the Hargroves and the Alstons. “There is so much history located right next to the significant landmark in town,” Crawford said. “It’s almost like when you are in here, these small monuments overshadow even that of Bryant-Denny.” Crawford pointed out one of his favorite grave-markers in Evergreen, a very large headstone inscribed with “Henry Watkins Collier! Born January 17th, 1801 Died August 28th, 1855.” It’s the exclamation point that Crawford said he loves. Collier was a governor of Alabama and a well-known, influential member of the community. “It’s almost like he was telling people, ‘All you need to know is my name! What else do I need to say?’” Crawford said. Each tombstone is like a house, Crawford said. The bigger the stone, the bigger the home they probably lived in when they were alive. The tombstones mimic the taste and style of the family, as well as the culture. Tombstones of the 1950s have a sleeker style than the byronic, gothic style of earlier years. Bernard Friedman, Linka Friedman and their son, Victor Hugo Friedman, are buried in the corner across from Rama Jama’s. The Friedmans were known for being philanthropists. They built several buildings on Alabama’s campus, but under the condition that their name not be on them. “They would build a building for the athletic department and say, ‘Let’s name it for the dean of such and such, not for us,’” Crawford said. “I think Little Hall, currently the social work building, was actually built by Bernard Friedman. Little used to have a gymnasium in it, and the Friedmans were very involved with the athletic programs at UA.” Friedman Hall, originally an athletic dormitory, is actually named for the Friedmans but was not given the name until after the death of Bernard Friedman. Victor Hugo Friedman was also involved in the athletic department. “One year we were not going to be able to go to the Rose Bowl because of money,” Crawford said. “We won the games, but wouldn’t be able to go, which is of course humorous now because that would never be a problem today. Victor Hugo went to the team and paid for their
CW | Austin Bigoney The Evergreen Cemetery, located by Bryant-Denny Stadium, holds on to local history with its many tombstombs marking the names of those in the University and Tuscaloosa community. trip as well as the band’s trip. Coach Bryant was good friends with Victor, and they spent a lot of time together. It’s a cool friendship between the son of a Hungarian immigrant and famous football coach. It kind of speaks to how sports brings people together.” Several people are also buried in Evergreen, which is associated with the University, and some students have discovered their own relatives in the cemetery. Ann Marie Coley, a junior majoring in social work, was told by her father that her great-grandfather was buried in the cemetery. Marion Luther Coley was a bookkeeper in Tuscaloosa and then owned and operated a motel called Colonial Court in Alberta City, Ala. Coley has never been into the cemetery to see the grave but said she thinks she might go and visit some time before she graduates. “I think that it would be interesting to go,” she said. “There is so much history there, including beyond my family. It’s kind of like standing in a place Abraham Lincoln stood. It’s just cool, and it reminds me that the world is a much larger place than just me.” Caroline Lassiter, a senior majoring in elementary education, has not been inside Evergreen Cemetery either but, like Coley, said she has a new interest to go and visit now. “I feel like I learned a lot about my family by just
COLUMN | FASHION
Modest dresses more flattering, sensible than revealing options By Abbey Crain What is the proper ratio of flesh to cheap polyester in a cut-out bandage dress from Wet Seal? How short should one’s skater skirt be when paired with a cropped sweater? What about paired with a lace tank that is strategically seethrough on one’s love handles? Who knows, but I’m at a loss when flattering ensembles are tossed out the door for pieces that presumably exude sex appeal. I don’t know about you, but when I’m walking out of the door, dressing to impress, I first want to flatter my body. Usually less fabric means more room for error, so I typically will not be caught dead in a dress with under-bust cutouts. I’m not even sure when that area of the body became flattering. This season’s plethora of modest
dresses are a great way to flatter all body types. A-line is in, and floor-length and midi-skirts are here to stay. Rebecca Minkoff played with the midi-skirt on the runway, pairing it with sexy sandals. Just because the pieces cover more surface area does not mean they take away sex appeal – I mean, if that’s what you’re going for. Everyone loves a streamline hourglass figure that hints at shape with flattering seams. Plus, they’re much easier to move in. You don’t have to worry about flashing everyone on the dance floor at Rounders, or wherever people around here go to dance. I certainly have not found it. You can move without fear of wardrobe malfunctions and love-handle sweat dyeing the mesh of your fitted tank. You can prance without inhibition and sit down and not be conscious of cellulite squeezing through the gap between your cropped top, skater skirt combo.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m walking out of the door, dressing to impress, I first want to flatter my body.y
Littering Place all waste materials in trash receptacles, to ensure they do not make their way into our local bodies of water.
For questions, concerns, or to report potential stormwater violations, contact the Office of Environmental Safety at 348-5905
asking my mom about a tombstone,” Lassiter said. Lassiter’s great-grandmother’s sister and her husband are buried in Evergreen cemetery on the side opposite the stadium. Agnes and Charles Richardson lived in University Circle, the white houses across from Calvary Baptist Church, whiche they attended. Charles Richardson restored old furniture and did chair caning. “I don’t know why I haven’t gone yet to see their graves,” Lassiter said. “It’s part of my family, and it’s only less than a mile away from my apartment. I have had a lot of family come through this town, so it feels like a legacy.” When Lassiter’s mother was in school at Alabama, she used to go and eat lunch with her great aunt, Agnes Richardson. “My mom said she was a great cook,” Lassiter said. “She was also a penny-pincher and would send my mother all over town to pick up her groceries. She apparently needed glasses, too, but refused to wear them, so she would just squint.” Crawford said he would recommend students take the time to walk through the cemetery. “Don’t be afraid, but be respectful,” he said. “Come and explore, just not at night. This place is the story of people, though, and it can definitely spark curiosity and exploration of history.”
p.11
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
COLUMN | TV
MCT Campus, Rotten Tomatoes The popular television show “Game of Thrones” takes viewers on an adventure every Sunday night, an escape from reality for many fans.
Shows such as ‘Game of Thrones’ provide imaginative escape By Hannah Widener According to Buzzfeed, my “Game of Thrones” name would be Lady Hannada Baelish, Defender of the Vale. A few years ago I would have thought it was ridiculous to have even uttered that sentence, but, alas, it is a new age: an age where dungeons and dragons are becoming cool again, and my inner nerd gets to rejoice every Sunday night. After The Red Wedding left fans in disarray, “Game of Thrones” made a promise that this season would be back with a vengeance. I’m not going to give away what happens in the first episode of the fourth season of “Game of Thrones,” since most people probably haven’t had a chance to catch up on Sunday’s episode, but it is worth noting how Hollywood is finally using its imagination again. When I’m sitting in my history class, listening to my professor go on and on about the past, I like to imagine it as if it were an episode of “Game of Thrones.” In my mind
Hollywood is taking a step back from reality TV and investing in imaginary TV.
I’m traveling with famous revolutionaries and fighting great wars. As a kid it was cool to be a knight or princess, but at what age did it stop being cool to slay the dragon and save the day? All of a sudden school became so important, and games of make believe ceased to exist because homework needed to be done.
I have this theory that the reason we watch so much television is because it’s the only outlet our imaginations get to have anymore. We can’t storm the castle, so instead we storm the living room in our attempt for an intellectual escape. It’s in the comfort of our own rooms that we can see dragons breathe fire and sorcery come to life. There is so much monotony during the day. Wake up and check the five different types of social media before the day starts because you’re afraid you may have “missed something.” Go to school and take notes in class as you pretend to go through the motions. By the time class is over, the exhaustion hits and procrastination takes over. Finally, once you’re in bed and checking those same five social media sites one last time, that’s when it hits: Today was the same as every other day. I believe that’s why people look forward to “Game of Thrones” so much on Sunday. It is the one day that your imagination
gets to run wild and see sights it has never seen before. All that monotony gets to be broken up for one hour. Hollywood is taking a step back from reality TV and investing in imaginary TV. In a trend that I have seen lately, locations are becoming expansive, and it now takes “Game of Thrones” an entire year just to film all of its beautiful sets. All of those children who stopped playing dungeons and dragons finally get the chance to build something purely out of their subconsciouses. “Game of Thrones” is not filmed on a small scale, but rather a “Lord of the Rings” movie kind of scale. No more are CGI sets, but real live sets that look fit for a king. Once school is over and I have to return to the Shire (New Hampshire), I will no longer be just Hannah Widener, boring old college student. Instead, I will finally have time to catch up with my imagination on “Game of Thrones,” and I will be Lady Hannada Baelish, Defender of the Vale. For at least a little while anyway.
CULTUREIN BRIEF Event features local music
ONE Campus hosts event
Tuscapalooza, a celebration of local music that first began in 2009, will return Thursday to the Bama Theatre from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. The event will feature local band The Doctors and The Lawyers with other performers including The Golden Monica, La Goons, Junkyard Kings and ZB Savoy. Admission to the event is $5, and it is open to all ages.
The University’s ONE Campus group will host “Powwow for Power” on Friday to raise awareness for the issue of energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. ONE Campus Alabama is a student chapter of the ONE Campaign, a nonpartisan campaign and advocacy organization committed to fighting against extreme poverty and preventable disease. Attendees at the “Powwow for Power” event will be asked to write a letter to their member of Congress to support legislation that would help bring electricity to sub-Saharan Africa for admittance. T-shirts will be sold with profits going toward the student organization budget for administrative costs. Panhellenic points will also be available for attending. “Powwow for Power” will be held Friday at the Pi Kappa Phi house from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information about the ONE Campaign, visit one.org.
Band offers country sound Sundy Best, a country music band from Kentucky, will bring their Southern sound to Gallette’s on Thursday. The band formed after its members Kris Bentley and Nick Jamerson graduated from their respecting colleges. Their first album “Bring Up The Sun” was released March 4, with all 15 songs on the album written or co-written by Sundy Best. It is now available at all digital and retail outlets and reached No. 11 on the Billboard Country Album charts.
Compiled by Deanne Winslett
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Students profit using Etsy By Francie Johnson | Staff Reporter The “starving artist” archetype is nothing new. In fact, many of the world’s most celebrated artists fell victim to it. In his lifetime, Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting. When Johannes Vermeer died, he left his family in debt. Claude Monet lived much of his life in poverty. Luckily for today’s “starving artists,” the Internet has made it easier than ever before for them to become entrepreneurs, develop a following and sell art without ever leaving their homes. Heading this online art-selling movement is a website called Etsy. “Etsy has given a lot more people access to the Internet and social media for their small businesses,” Kerry Kennedy, owner of Fire Horse Pottery, said. “It has provided a great platform for so many, for better or worse, to get out there.” Etsy, an online marketplace based in Brooklyn, N.Y., combines the one-of-a-kind feel of craft fairs with the convenience of sites like eBay and Amazon. With the click of a button, users can open their own online shops to sell handmade goods, vintage items, craft supplies and –thanks to an October 2013 policy change –certain factory produced items. Since its June 2005 launch, Etsy has grown to include about 1 million shops, and the site reaches an audience of more than 30 million members worldwide, according to the company’s blog. In 2013, the site sold $1.35 billion-worth of creative goods and received anywhere from 1 to 2 billion page views each month. For Kennedy, Etsy is just one of many artselling platforms; most of her art-selling experience has been offline in more traditional settings such as events, art fairs, farmers markets, galleries and her shop at the Kentuck Art Center in Northport, Ala. However, after noticing a friend and fellow potter’s success on Etsy, Kennedy said she decided to expand her business into the virtual world. “We have not used Etsy for a primary income source but more of an additional chance to buy from us and learn about our work,” Kennedy said. “It has mostly been a small, vital part of the whole Fire Horse Pottery business plan. I like the way it works with Facebook to gain new exposure for us.” By opening an Etsy shop, whether it’s a sole business venture or just one component of a larger business plan, an artist instantly gains millions of potential customers. But not only does having an online art-selling platform expand an
[Having an Etsy shop] makes it easier to get my pieces out on the Internet. — Jo Morrison
artist’s audience, it expands their advertising and marketing opportunities as well. Shop owners can create a business page on Facebook, and apps like OrangeTwig and Wishpond even let users sync their Etsy shops with their Facebook pages. Other apps, such as Promotesy, make it possible to integrate Etsy with a variety of social media sites, including Twitter, LinkedIn and more. Jo Morrison, a sophomore majoring in operations management, said she originally found Etsy through another social media site: Pinterest. After six months of browsing other artists’ work, she opened her own shop CrimsonDixie, in which she sells acrylic paintings. “[Having an Etsy shop] makes it easier to get my pieces out on the Internet, into categories on Etsy and other things like Pinterest,” Morrison said. However, while Etsy can increase an artist’s exposure, it eliminates the intimacy of a oneon-one interaction between buyers and sellers. Morrison said she hopes to eventually be able to sell her paintings in craft fairs and art shows. “The downside [of Etsy] is, because it’s over the Internet, the social aspect of business is small,” Morrison said. “There’s no actual personal interaction with customers outside of the computer.” Though Etsy has helped her business grow, Kennedy said she still prefers selling her artwork in person. “I prefer in-person sales because of the connection [between artist and patron],” Kennedy said. “[Also], it’s much easier than packing and shipping pottery after the work of listing and managing the shop.” While opening an Etsy shop is free, selling
artwork isn’t. Etsy charges 20 cents for each item listed, and if an item hasn’t been sold after four months, it will be removed from the shop, and the artist has to pay another 20 cents to relist it. Etsy also claims 3.5 percent of each item’s sale price. For Morgan Brown, a junior majoring in advertising, this small investment is well worth the benefits of managing an Etsy shop. “I spent so much time crafting and making stuff for myself and my friends before I was on Etsy,” Brown said. “I bought stuff on Etsy all the time, but I didn’t even think about selling any of my stuff on there until a few of my friends convinced me, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.” Brown’s shop BraceYourselfDesigns sells customizable canvases, with her most popular piece being a state outline canvas with a heart over the customer’s desired city. Because Etsy provides the option of creating custom orders, Brown said the site is much more practical for her business than it would be to sell her work in person. “I think Etsy is really good for starting a business,” Brown said. “If mine ever does get big enough and successful enough, at some point I would try and do something on my own. But for people like me, who didn’t know much about business before, Etsy is a really good site. It really does a lot of the work for you but helps you learn how everything works along the way as well.” While Brown, Kennedy and Morrison all said they consider Etsy to be a side project, it has the potential to be much more. According to a report released by Etsy in October 2013, 18 percent of Etsy users consider running an Etsy shop to be their full-time job and primary source of income. “I hope my small business will grow and become something I can actually use as my basic income one day,” Morrison said. “I plan on using Etsy long-term. I can see myself making this my full-time career after school, so I can dedicate more time to it and make it more efficient and personal, so it can grow in the art community.” By transporting the arts-and-crafts world to an online marketplace, Etsy diversifies the art buying and selling experience for both artists and patrons, Kennedy said. “Etsy is fascinating because it has allowed so many to sell their own unique wares,” Kennedy said. “Whether they are handmade, hand-picked, good or bad, you can bet they are represented in one form or another. I love the possibility of that.”
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Jackson injured in weekend scrimmage FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 1
Jackson sustained the injury in the team’s first scrimmage Saturday on a non-contact play where he jumped for the football and “came down funny” on his knee. He will miss the remainder of spring practice. “We have a great medical staff here, and he will have the full support of everyone in the organization as he goes through the rehab process,” Saban said in the release. “We are confident Eddie will make a full recovery and be ready to go this fall.” Jackson, who did not attend Monday’s practice, appeared in seven games for the Crimson Tide in the 2013 season and tallied 19 tackles and one interception. He earned four starts at cornerback and earned the praise of his head coach this spring for his strong play on the field. “Eddie was having a great spring and probably our best corner, most consistent,” Saban said after Saturday’s scrimmage inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Jackson’s teammates said they felt the same as Saban. “Eddie, he’s a real talented corner,” wide receiver Amari Cooper said. “Hopefully he comes back real soon, but for the spring, other guys have to step up. He was a starter.” Alabama’s secondary was one of its weakest links a season ago, and the pressure now turns to veteran corners Cyrus Jones and
Bradley Sylve, who are the only two corners who have meaningful playing time under their belts. With the team’s “most consistent” corner going down, other players will have to step up in the Crimson Tide’s secondary. “We still got guys that can come in and play the same way he did,” linebacker Reggie Ragland said. “But it’s still a loss. We’re losing a brother and a teammate.” Alabama will return to practice Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Other notes from Monday’s practice: - Early enrollee cornerback Tony Brown was a full participant in Monday’s practice, despite his shoulder being heavily wrapped. Saban said Brown recently re-injured his shoulder while competing for Alabama’s track and field team and was limited in practice. - Linebacker Reuben Foster, who sustained a neck stinger in Saturday’s scrimmage, was working with the inside linebackers behind Trey DePriest and Reggie Ragland. - DePriest and Ragland appeared to be working with the first-team defense during 7-on-7 drills. The pair of linebackers lined up with cornerbacks Jones and Sylve and safeties Landon Collins and Geno Smith, while Jarrick Williams worked at the Star position. - Former Alabama star and current Cincinnati Bengals corner Dre K i r kp at r i c k wat c h e d Monday’s practice from Eddie Jackson will miss the remainder of spring practice after sustaining a knee injury Saturday. the sidelines.
CW | Austin Bigoney
COLUMN | BASEBALL
Young roster provides Atlanta Braves with potential for success By Keegan Elsner | Contributing Writer At 4-2, the Atlanta Braves are off to a great start for a season that began with some bad luck. The Braves lost starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to season-ending Tommy John surgeries. Another pitcher, Mike Minor, suffered an injury in the offseason that has forced him to miss some time. To replace them, young Atlanta pitchers needed to step up, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. At age 23, pitcher Julio Teheran has taken the reins as the ace and is off to a good start with a 2.77 ERA after two starts. The future also looks great for young pitcher Alex Wood. After a standout career at the University of Georgia, Wood has taken on responsibility as the Braves’ second starter. Wood has posted a 1.93 ERA after his first two starts. But stellar young pitching isn’t the only thing that’s fueling Atlanta this early in the season. At age 24, Andrelton Simmons has taken Atlanta by surprise after winning a Gold Glove last season. Having arguably the best fielding shortstop in the game never hurts, and Simmons is also hitting well with a .300 average so far this season. Simmons isn’t the only 24-year-old leading the Braves in 2014. First baseman Freddie Freeman has become a household name in baseball and is now considered an MVP candidate. Freeman is one of the best hitters in the game and signed a big contract for the Braves in the offseason. Freeman is leading the Braves in average, batting .421 through the first six games. Stud outfielder Jason Heyward is also 24 years old. Heyward is battling leadoff for Atlanta this season and hopes to have similar offensive production as Freeman had in 2013. Heyward, also a Gold Glove winner, is off to a slow start offensively this season, but the Braves don’t expect that to last for long. With all the young offensive talent in Atlanta, it’s still a pitcher who may be the most impressive. At age 25, Craig Kimbrel is already considered the best closer in baseball. This season, he has already racked up three saves and has yet to give up a run. Kimbrel’s domination has fueled the Braves the past few seasons. There is no doubt the Atlanta Braves have a bright future. But for the team’s veterans, it’s time for a championship. Fans in Atlanta hope the youthful Braves can get it done in 2014 and lead the team back into the postseason for a run in October. As it shows right now, they definitely have the talent to do so.
Y Young Atlanta pitchers needed to step up, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Photo Courtesy of Kyle Robinson The Outdoor Adventures Club hosts trips similar to that of the Outdoor Rec including rock climbing and hiking.
Students create adventure club By Tara Massouleh | Staff Reporter As days get warmer in the spring semester and schedules become free without the pull of Alabama football, many students begin looking for alternative ways to spend their weekends. Students Kyle Robinson and Cole Felix have found their outlet through the unofficial Outdoor Adventures Club they started on Facebook a month ago. “A couple of my friends and I had been going out hiking and rock climbing on the weekends, and we started doing it a lot more this semester because we have more free time now that football is over,” Robinson said. “We were just looking to invite more people to come.” Robinson, a freshman majoring in biology from Houston, Texas, said before he started finding places to climb and hike around Tuscaloosa, he thought the city was really boring. As a fellow out-of-state student, Felix, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, said he felt the same pull to become plugged into outdoor life in and around the University. “[The group] is a way for outdoorsy people who don’t know what to do around here to have the ability to go find things to do,” he said. “I did a ton back home, but then once I got here, I went hiking maybe once my freshman year. I didn’t know where to go or who to go with. Since there are so many out-of-state people, a lot of people don’t know where to go in Alabama for the fun stuff.”
The group can be found on Facebook under the name “Unofficial University of Alabama Outdoor Adventures Club.” Members of the group were initially just friends of Felix and Robinson, but since then the group has grown to where Felix and Robinson now only personally know about one-third of its current 33 members. Rather than going on trips planned through Outdoor Rec, Felix said he prefers to plan his own trips so he can fit them into his schedule and spend less money. Trips organized by Outdoor Rec can cost anywhere from $30 for a day trip to $150 for a weekend trip. Members of the Outdoor Adventures Club spend far less. “I think we ended up spending $5 per person,” Felix said. “Instead of having to rent stuff through the Rec, we all just borrow gear from each other, and that makes it a lot cheaper.” Since forming, the Outdoor Adventures Club has taken two trips to hike and climb at the Preserve in Hoover, Ala., and Palisades Park in Blount County, Ala., just north of Birmingham. The group plans to take a weekend trip to Sand Rock in northeast Alabama to climb, hike and cave before the semester ends. Although both Robinson and Felix have been climbing since high school and regularly practice at the indoor climbing wall in the Student Recreation Center, members of the Outdoor Adventures Club do not have to have experience in rock climbing to
come on trips. “I wouldn’t even say I’m all that experienced,” Robinson said. “I learned as we went along this year. The first time we went to Palisades, I had never set up safety gear or anything, and I kind of just picked it up from watching people.” For first-time climbers, Felix said there isn’t much that can be taught. “If they’re on the wall and we’re belaying for them, there’s not anything they can do that’s dangerous,” he said. “Climbing is intuitive, so we just let them do it.” Robinson said he enjoys climbing because it is challenging for both the mind and body. “Climbing is kind of like puzzle-solving,” he said. “You get better at it pretty fast, so it’s cool to see your progress. It’s also a good way to work out without even realizing you’re working out because it’s so much fun.” Robinson and Felix said they plan to keep the group unofficial in order to encourage more people to join. They hope it will eventually become a place where they can not only plan trips for themselves, but others can organize their own trips and spread the word about good places to hike, climb and camp. “We’re really not trying to make a huge organization, just a group of people to meet up and do fun stuff,” Felix said. “If anyone is even remotely interested in doing outdoor stuff, they should just join it.”
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
BASEBALL
Alabama baseball team hits with more power By Kevin Connell | Staff Reporter
CW | Lindsey Leonard Wade Wass steps up to the plate in the season opener against Georgia State.
More times than not last season, the Alabama baseball team had to rely on the arms of its pitchers and the gloves of its fielders to help bail out the bats of its hitters. This season, that is no longer the case. The Crimson Tide’s pitching has become even more dominant, and its defense remains sharp, but it’s the offense that has given Alabama its best start to a season since 2006. Through 31 games this season – roughly half the amount of the 63 games it played in 2013 – Alabama has scored 177 runs, more than half of the 325 runs it scored all of last season. Why? Power. Collectively, Alabama has 20 home runs, 51 doubles and a .387 slugging percentage
this season, ranking them third, fifth and sixth in the Southeastern Conference, respectively. Last season as a whole, the Crimson Tide hit 26 home runs (10th in the SEC), 85 doubles (8th SEC) and had a slugging percentage of .344 (13th SEC). Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said the reason for that can be answered in two parts: new player personnel and the strength and conditioning program. “We played a lot of freshmen last year, and those kids are stronger, more physical in year two than they were in year one,” Gaspard said. As freshmen, current sophomores Mikey White, Kyle Overstreet, Georgie Salem, Chance Vincent and Daniel Cucjen, combined for three home runs, 25 doubles and a
.309 slugging percentage. This season, that group already has seven home runs, 17 doubles and a .360 slugging percentage. The increase in offensive power has been more than just for show, however. The Crimson Tide is now No. 9 nationally, just two weeks after it was unranked. That number, though less important than the ones produced by the offense this season, is a good sign of where the team stands moving forward, Gaspard said. “For our program, I think it’s really important to have high rankings,” he said. “I think it helps in a lot of areas, and it gives you credibility of what’s going on. And if you’re moving up, that means you’re continuing to play good baseball.”
COLUMN | FOOTBALL
College football player unionization creates complicated issue By Sean Landry Some of you might not have noticed, but football is a very popular game at The University of Alabama. I don’t have numbers to prove this, but I suspect the game of football is probably more popular than the concept of unionization. However, those two might soon be one and the same. After a now well-publicized decision by the National Labor Relations Board, football players at Northwestern University are now considered employees of the university and are entitled to form a union. Now, you might ask, what does this mean for The University of Alabama? Not much, really. As a state university, the decision of the NLRB doesn’t apply to Alabama, which is subject only to state labor
laws. Those state laws do not designate athletes as employees or uncompensated labor. In Alabama, public employees are not permitted to strike or collectively bargain (with the exception of firefighters.) So, while Alabama head coach Nick Saban has voiced his support of a football players’ labor union, it doesn’t seem like such a confederation is in the offing at the Capstone. But academically speaking, what would happen if a union was formed, and the Alabama players were represented by it? First off, and most importantly, this unionization is about a lot more than “pay-forplay.” The ethics of paying college athletes is a nuanced and complex debate. Suffice to say the National College Players Association hasn’t made salaried payment a significant part of its platform.
For Alabama, the most interesting focus of the NCPA is the Crimson Tide’s propensity for oversigning. Each NCAA football team is permitted 85 scholarship spots on its roster and 27 signees each spring. Frequently, signing that full class puts Alabama above the scholarship limit, forcing them to put players on medical scholarships, encourage players to transfer schools – which forces most players to lose a year of eligibility – or quit the team entirely, or cut players. The NCPA would eliminate the loss of eligibility, ensure a player’s right to transfer once and make certain that players in good standing who lose their athletic scholarships receive an equal-value scholarship to finish their education. The NCPA would also raise scholarship amounts to cover the full cost of an education. This would certainly cost the University
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more money. The football program produced $21 million in surplus last year, however, and by my math, those simple adjustments would cost approximately an extra $900,000 in football expenses at most. The benefit most likely exceeds that cost. These changes give players found surplus to requirements more freedom, allows Saban to ensure that every athlete he’s charged with has the chance to graduate somewhere and fixes a competitive recruiting advantage lost in recent years. Many pundits would have their audience believe the unionization of football players is a black-and-white issue: pay-for-play vs. scholarship only, University vs. football players. Quite simply, the issue is anything but simple. And even though Alabama won’t be faced with the controversy of a players union any time soon, would it be such a bad thing?
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (04/08/14). This year of creative fertility begins with an Aries Mercury bang. Communications uncork your thriving. Home roots strengthen as your circle widens. Resolve past conflicts with compassion. Review structures, plans and priorities before 5/20. Make repairs, and release clutter. Summer brings a fun game. A personal revelation in autumn sparks a passion for freedom and truth. Play with artistry and finesse. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -Today is a 6 -- You’re especially lucky in love today and tomorrow. It’s your light-hearted demeanor. Talk about what’s most important to you, and discover something new about yourself. Play with friends and family, and learn a new game. Share your appreciations with the ones who’ve earned them. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 5 -- Household issues demand attention today and tomorrow. Fix something that doesn’t work as you’d like. Desires align with the energy to fulfill them. Dig in the garden, and sow seeds for future beauty and sustenance. Someone’s happy to help if you ask. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -Today is a 6 -- Get into the books today and tomorrow. Study new developments, and check all angles. Compare financial notes. A new assignment’s coming. Watch out for hidden agendas or a misunderstanding. Present confidence in your communications. Talk, rather than action, gets farther. Get your data together. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Today and tomorrow could get profitable... gentle persistence works better than force. Enlist some help with a project. Lay a new foundation. Stay out of somebody else’s argument. Your efforts could seem blocked... try a charm offense. Move slowly and prepare. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Consider the consequences of actions before taking them. Use your power responsibly and with compassion. Don’t strain or push too far. Keep your goals in mind. Avoid expensive distractions and time-sucks. Go for practical, achievable outcomes. Say what you want and your network provides.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Stick close to home today and tomorrow, and take time for quiet contemplation. Consider a loved one’s wishes. Handle old jobs to make way for new. Let go of some distracting baggage you’ve been carrying around. Pick it up later if you want. Or not. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -Today is a 6 -- Your efforts could seem stuck. Push too hard and there’s breakage. Your friends are a big help today and tomorrow; they come to the rescue. Align your new course with your core values and principles. Rely on the team to help sort it all out. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Work takes priority today and tomorrow, but circumstances may not follow plans. You could overstep bounds if you force the action. There’s still a way to win. Flexibility and a sense of humor advance your cause. Anticipate changes, and roll with them. Rest and relax. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Make time for an outing over the next few days. It’s a good time to set long-term goals. Rather than launching into action, consider different strategies and directions first. Study, research, and enjoy fascinating conversation with someone who enjoys the same subject. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- For the next two days, track calls, orders, and income carefully. Review financial arrangements, keep paperwork current, and rely on your schedule and budget. Consider an investment in your own education. What would you love to learn about? Speculate, and get feedback from a partner. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Today is a 6 -- A new associate could become a valuable partner. Keep your promises, and plug away to get the work done. Avoid office scandals, gossip or controversy. Someone’s willing to help, so create a win-win situation. Trade, barter and negotiate for creative solutions. Collaborate. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 5 - Actions could seem blocked or thwarted. Huddle up and put your heads together. Take it slow. Focus on making money today and tomorrow. Make note of what works (and doesn’t). Review what needs to be done before the pace quickens. Breathe deep.
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p.16 Charlie Potter | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
FOOTBALL
Wide receiver Cameron Sims impresses in 1st scrimmage By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter Of the three high-profile recru recruits Alabama signed from the Monroe area in Louisiana, Lou one was not recruited very heavily by the LSU Tigers. It wasn’t becaus Cameron Sims from for lack of talent, but because Schoo had already decided Ouachita Parish High School col where he wanted to play college football. mi set by my sophomore “Me, I already had my mind Nation Signing Day. “So I just year,” Sims said on National had my mind made up to come here.” Sims seems to have m made the right choice, as Crimson Tide personnel have raved about his abilities this spring. saf “Cam is great,” fifth-year safety Nick Perry said. “Cam g is a big threat downfield. He has good speed, has great hands and can use his body real well. I th think we’re going to be able to use him this year.” Alabam is returning plenty of talent Similar to last year, Alabama to the wide receiver position. Junior Amari Cooper returns with huge expectations after struggling with nagging injuries for most of 2013. Cooper showed that he might have turned the corner fir scrimmage on Saturday, as in the Crimson Tide’s first 1 catches for 190 yards and two he led all receivers with 10 touchdowns. ho Second on the list, however, was the surprising Sims, wi two receptions. who notched 48 yards with bene Sims, no doubt, benefits from his size, as his 6-foot-4mi inch frame creates mismatches against smaller defensive backs. That receive receiver type, Sims said, is right up new
Cam is a big threat downfield. He has good speed, has great hands and can use his body real well. — Nick Perry
offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin’s alley. “I just had a talk with him [on signing day],” Sims said. “He said he likes my body and about how when he was at USC, he had a lot of tall receivers and stuff like that.” Wide receivers from Louisiana are no stranger to the Crimson Tide program, either. Sims will compete with Raheem Falkins, a redshirt sophomore from New Orleans who also boasts a slender, athletic build. Sims spoke with another Louisiana product, recently departed wideout Kenny Bell, about adjustment from high school to college. As one of eight early signees, Sims was forced to make an abrupt transition to Alabama. “I keep in touch every day, and he just tells me the ropes and stuff like that,” Sims said. “He told me it’s going to be hard and to keep your eyes on the prize, get your school work and stuff like that.” The receiver rotation will be deep in 2014, but Sims has already shown he has the ability to make an impact in his freshman season.
SPORTSIN BRIEF
CW | Austin Bigoney
Gymnastics team gets draw
Webb receives SEC honor
The Alabama gymnastics team will compete in the second session of the NCAA Championship Semifinals in Birmingham on Friday, April 18. The other teams in the evening session are Utah, UCLA, Penn State, Nebraska and defending NCAA Champion Florida. The session will start at 7 p.m.
Alabama left fielder Hunter Webb was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after starting all four games for the Tide and hitting .417 for the week. Webb is hitting .317 on the season. Last week, he went 5-for-12 with at least one hit in every game. He had two doubles, three runs scored and two RBIs.
Compiled by Kelly Ward Compiled by Kelly Ward
$5 $3 $1
April 17th and 18th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Ferguson Center Plaza Clearance items will be marked down further during this two day event.
$10 $2 $1