The Crimson White - 08.20.2009 by The Crimson White

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Thursday, August 20, 2009

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Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Vol. 116, Issue 12

Flu season comes early

UA welcomes students

By Lindsey Shelton Student Life Editor “Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.” This is one point that John Maxwell, director of the UA Student Health Center, is emphasizing to prevent the spread of the flu. According to an e-mail sent to students Tuesday night, the University has at least 21 confirmed cases of students with flu-like symptoms. None of them have been confirmed as H1N1, according to UA officials. “We’re seeing students with both type A flu and

{ A special DJ and the Target dog entertained students Tuesday night as a part of the Week of Welcome. By Jessica Ghioto Staff Writer

of activities as they took their first steps at the Capstone. With over 40 events, the The University held a series Week of Welcome provided a of programs on campus this little something for everyone. Total Health Peer 2 Peer, week to give incoming freshmen and transfer students a which aims to promote a healthy and safe living for colwarm welcome to the campus. The Week of Welcome, also lege students, was just one of known as WOW, used the the many events that Week of motto “One Week, Endless Welcome had to offer. “I think the Week of Welcome Possibilities” to ensure that first-year and transfer students is very informative, people seem remained busy with a number really helpful,” said Marissa

Carden, a freshman majoring in computer and electrical engineering. Other events included Beauty Fest, which gave students information about various salons and venues in Tuscaloosa and Crimson SCVNGR, a text message scavenger hunt that gave away a variety of prizes. Although many students did not have a chance to attend all of the events, mandatory floor meetings were held across

CW | Jerrod Seaton

campus to give students living on campus a chance to meet their resident advisors and floormates. “My mom printed out the events the University would be holding, but I didn’t really have time to attend anything except my residence hall floor meeting,” said Matt Swarts, a freshmen living in Rose Towers. Residence hall floor meetings let students

See WELCOME, page 2

Move-in goes smoothly on campus By Danielle Drago Staff Reporter Over 7,000 students moved into a number of dormitories for the fall semester, but there are still some vacancies to be filled. Housing and Residential Communities spokeswoman Alicia Browne said students who are still showing up to move in may account for these vacancies, so the number of unoccupied dorms has not been determined. “There are some vacant spaces in a few residence halls, but we will not know exactly where all of our vacancies are for several days,” Browne said. Students who wish to live on campus can still apply for housing at the HRC offices. “It’s great that we still have some space to meet students’ last-minute

housing needs,” Browne said. Despite a larger campus population, Browne said the move-in days were the smoothest the campus has ever seen. “We heard a lot of compliments, particularly from parents, during move-in, and we’ve had several follow up e-mails offering positive feedback since,” Browne said. Browne said cooperation was key, due to the heavy flow of students and traffic. “The move-in was a real campus effort. UAPD and Parking Services did a great job assisting with traffic and crowd control, and there were faculty, staff and student volunteers at many residence halls, helping unload students’ belongings and get them into the rooms. That really helped relieve congestion,” Browne said. The Student Health Center set up

booths in several residence halls to help students who did not have their required immunizations. “The great thing about this community effort was that it helped relieve much of the stress of move in and got students off to a positive start,” Browne said. With the addition of Ridgecrest South, the total capacity of housing on campus was pushed to 7,800 beds. Ridgecrest South has 968 beds within its five stories along with a 950-spot parking garage underneath the building, according to UA System Board of Trustees documents. The $73.1-million building opened on Aug. 8. “[Ridgecrest South] certainly adds to our campus community,” Browne said. “It also continues to add to our choices for students.”

Ridgecrest South open on time By Wendy Wong Staff Writer After many months of construction, Ridgecrest South is complete. However, some students have noticed some drawbacks to the new building. Students first began arriving during early check-in two weeks ago. Within the first week, a number of students saw a number of features missing from the new dormitory, such as furniture in the lobbies not assembled until this week, a lack of basketballs and volleyballs at the front desk, the delayed arrival of keys necessary to turn on the gas-powered BBQ grills and no TVs in the multi-purpose rooms.

Will Kirby, a freshman from Decatur majoring in business, noticed that the B and C suites of Ridgecrest South were smaller than the A and D suites. In addition, only the first and second floors had lobbies that connected the North and South Towers. Liz Kent, a freshman from Michigan majoring in communications, said the dorm was pretty quiet, but very nice and different from the other dorms. She said the only drawback was that it was hard to remember where you parked in the parking deck. In addition, residents living on the upper floors who want to go between the two towers means walking back down to the lower levels.

As of now, Ridgecrest South is the second largest dormitory on campus, behind Tutwiler. Despite the vastness of the building, some students said they are not intimidated by it. Andrew Lloyd, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering, said he was surprised, but grateful for the extra help he received from volunteers during move in. Richard Rabello, a freshman majoring in business, said despite the roof in his suite not being fully completed when he arrived and paint hurriedly put over to hide unfinished parts, he is still enjoying his time in the new dorm. “Everyone here is really nice because everyone is new and wants to make friends,” Rabello said.

INSIDE today’s paper P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-4116 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifieds: 348-7355 Letters, op-eds: letters@cw.ua.edu Press releases, announcements: news@cw.ua.edu

Briefs ........................2

Sports .......................6

Opinions ...................4

Puzzles......................9

Arts & Entertainment 10

Classifieds .................9

a nurse if they have flu-like symptoms. The hotline number is 348-9184. At Mississippi State University, there are 84 probable cases of H1N1. To combat more possible cases, the University set up the MSU Flu WATCH, a campaign providing students with information about H1N1 and precautionary measures to avoid the flu. MSU is currently monitoring developing conditions daily, has formed a response team and is in close contact with local and state emergency and health officials, according to flu. msstate.edu. Student opinion on the

“I consider myself pretty healthy, I wash my hands a lot. I try not to let people breathe on me.” — Melanie Gray

type B flu,” said Maxwell. “With type A, there is a possibility you could have swine flu, but with type B flu, there is no chance that you have swine flu.” Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health have told the SHC to treat cases of both type A and type B flu the same as seasonal flu, Maxwell said. Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur but are more common in children than adults, according to cdc.gov. Maxwell said students who have the flu should stay home and not go to class so that they don’t give the flu to anyone else. The Student Health Center has created a flu hotline for students to call to speak with

}

severity of this year’s flu season is mixed. Colby Nicholson, a sophomore majoring in biology, said he thinks the flu could spread if people who have it go to class. Melanie Gray, a senior majoring in public relations, said she is not that worried about getting the “swine” flu. “I consider myself pretty healthy,” Gray said. “I wash

FEELING SICK? • UA ﬂu hotline: 205-348-9184

• prepare.ua.edu • cchs.ua.edu/shc my hands a lot. I try not to let people breathe on me.” Students can find more flu information and the UA pandemic flu plan that has been prepared at prepare. ua.edu.

UA lands on top 50 public colleges list By Drew Taylor Administrative Affairs Editor In the 2010 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2010,” the University was, once again, ranked in the top 50 public universities in the nation, but the campus slipped in this year’s rankings from 2009. This year, the University ranked 43rd among public universities and 96th among both public and private universities. Last year, however, the University ranked 37th among public universities, the highest rank it has received, and 83rd for both public and private higher learning. Despite the drop in rank, Judy Bonner, executive vice president and provost at the

University, said she remains mindful of the fact that the University is growing at an exponential rate due to its academic prowess. “Our record applications and growing enrollment are clear indicators that students and their families recognize the quality and value of a University of Alabama education,” Bonner said in a written statement. “We are pleased with this external recognition, but we are even more excited about welcoming another excellent freshman class to campus and continuing to provide the best education possible to all our students.” This is the ninth year that the University has ranked in the top 50 public universities by U.S. News and World Report.

WEATHER today Chance of Friday 86º/70º thunderstorms Chance of thunderstorms

88º/72º

2 Thursday, August 20, 2009

NEWS

NEWS in brief CAMPUS | Door prize winners from Plaza Live have been chosen Check your ticket for the matching number. Pick up your prize Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Ferguson Room 356. 1 GB Flash Drive 1. 003714 2. 003666

Full Moon Card 1. 003909 2. 003629 3. 003629 4. 003960

Gift

CiCi’s Pizza Gift Card 1. 003955 2. 003936 3. 003841 4. 003997 5. 003657

CAMPUS | Crossing guards to work first week of school For the third year in a row, the UA department of parking services has hired several crossing guards to oversee various crosswalks around the campus. “They will be out there to help direct traffic and ensure student safety,” said UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen. There will be eight guards stationed at various points of the University, including Bryant Drive near Tutwiler Hall, Campus Drive and McCorvey Drive. They will only work the first week of school.

CAMPUS | Canterbury hosts farmersʼ market today Canterbury Episcopal Chapel will host the Homegrown Alabama Farmers’ Market today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Matt Mackey and the Still Guns will provide live music. Canterbury is on Hackberry Lane between University Boulevard and Bryant Drive. August 26 is the last farmers’ market of the season. For more information, e-mail homegrownalabama@gmail.com

CAMPUS | Julio Jones declines Senate position

Garrison unchallenged Longtime Councilman has no opponent in municipal election By Eryn Phillips Staff Writer So far, District 4 City Councilman Lee Garrison said he has had a “very enjoyable four years serving on the city council.” And as an uncontested candidate, Garrison has another four years ahead of him. Garrison will be entering his 4th term as councilman of District 4, which includes the UA campus. He currently serves as chairman on the city council’s finance committee, as well as vice president of Wells Fargo Insurance Company in Tuscaloosa. While serving on the council, Garrison said he has led several projects including the opening of Riverwalk, an outdoor walking trail located on the banks of the Black Warrior River. He has also worked to generate the funding for an outdoor amphitheater to be added to

By Sue Lindsey The Associated Press ROANOKE, Va. — Recently

We accept Dining Dollars and Bama Cash

Send announcements and campus news to cwnews@sa.ua.edu

1301 University Blvd. “On the Strip” 750-0203

this week

TODAY

FRIDAY

•Farmer’s Market: Canterbury Episcopal Church Lawn, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

•School of Music convocation: Moody music building, 12 p.m.

For more events, see calendars on Arts & Entertainment and Sports.

EDITORIAL • Amanda Peterson, editor-in-chief • Will Nevin, managing editor • Avery Dame, metro/state editor • Drew Taylor, admin affairs editor • Lindsey Shelton, student life editor • Alan Blinder, opinions editor • Steven Nalley, arts & entertainment editor • Tyler Deierhoi, assistant arts & entertainment editor • Jason Galloway, sports editor • Spencer White, assistant sports editor • Brandee Easter, design editor • Emily Johnson, assistant design editor • Norman Huynh, photo editor • Jerrod Seaton, photo editor • Sharon Nichols, chief copy editor • Aaron Gertler, graphics editor • Andrew Richardson, web editor

ADVERTISING • Drew Gunn, advertising manager, 348-8995, cwbiz manager@sa.ua.edu • Jake Knott, account executive, (McFarland and Skyland boulevards), 348-8735 • Dana Andrezejewski, account executive, (Northport & downtown Tuscaloosa), 3486153 • Andrew Pair, account executive, (UA Campus), 3482670 • Rebecca Tiarsmith, account executive, (The Strip and Downtown), 348-6875 • John Bouchard & Ross Lowe, account executives, (Non-traditional advertising), 348-4381 • Emily Frost, classifieds coordinator, 348-7355 • John Mathieu & Emily Ross, creative services, 348-8042 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 on the first floor, Student Publications Building, 923 University Blvd. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. 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 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2008 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.

Riverwalk. The City officially broke ground for the venue last month and is scheduled to open next fall. “It will bring more business opportunities and culture to our city, and give students another place to enjoy the city,” he said. Garrison has also worked with the UA SGA to add a Tuscaloosa Police Substation on the Strip, according to the council’s Web site. “There is still a lot of work to be done, and I want to see it through,” he said. Due to current economic climate and decreasing sales tax revenue, Garrison said the city is facing its toughest budget ever, and cuts will have to be made. “Obviously payroll is top on the list to avoid cuts,” he said. “There will be an increase in the existing cost of living budget next year. There will also

be no sales or property tax increases. “Luckily all of our equipment is also up-to-date, so we don’t have to worry about that,” he said. Garrison said he is looking forward to facing these new challenges and also plans to bring an IMAX theatre and a cultural art museum to Tuscaloosa. If his plans are accepted, he said it would be the only facility in the West Alabama and East Mississippi areas, and bring in revenue from these surrounding areas “This would be a huge success,” Garrison said. “It’s ashamed the amount of artwork around the city that is not on display.” Tuscaloosa will be home to the Super 6 High School Football Championships at Bryant Denny Stadium in November. The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to

approve a $5,000 marketing budget for the event. “People will be coming in from all over the state,” Garrison said. “We need them to be spending.”

IF YOU GO ... • What: Local election • Where: District 4 polling place at Calvary Baptist Church

• When: Tuesday

VT records fail to predict bloodshed

Alabama football wide receiver Julio Jones declined his SGA position as a College of Human Environmental Sciences senator Wednesday. SGA Executive Vice President Meg McCrummen said she does not know the details of the situation but heard Jones felt it would be difficult to balance classes, football and SGA obligations. At a news conference after practice last week, Jones said he intended to keep the position. He won the seat in March’s SGA election by receiving the most write-in votes. In the election, Jones also placed third for SGA president with nine votes, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the 14,000 votes cast. In 2008, while still a senior at Foley High School, Jones received 17 votes for SGA president.

CAMPUS

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discovered mental health records released on Wednesday contain no obvious indications that the Virginia Tech gunman was a year and a half away from committing the worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history. The records contain previously unseen handwritten notes from three separate counselors who talked to Seung-Hui Cho in 2005. In one report Cho denied having any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. On April 16, 2007, Cho killed 32 students and faculty members on the Blacksburg, Va., campus and took his own life. University officials have said Cho talked to two different therapists during telephone triage sessions in the fall, then made one court-ordered 45-minute in-person visit that December.

AP Mark Owczarski, director of news and information in the ofﬁce of University Relations at Virginia Tech, speaks to members of the news media on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va.

Cho denied the homicidal the meeting with counselor thoughts in the 45-minute Sherry Lynch Conrad on Dec. telephone sessions and in 14, 2005. Cho met with her at Cook Counseling Center after being detained in a mental hospital overnight because he had expressed thoughts of suicide to people he lived with after a girl told him to stop leaving her messages. However, Conrad, after speaking with him wrote: “He denies suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts. Said the comment he made was a joke. Says he has no reason to harm self and would never do it.” The forms filled out were based on statements Cho made about the way he was feeling. They indicated he said he was depressed and had feelings of anxiety, but the records don’t contain any evidence that they saw serious warning signs to believe Cho would commit violence. On the hospital evaluation form, it said: “There is no indication of psychosis, delusions, suicidal or homicidal ideation.” Relatives of the victims, however, said the counseling center files showed he slipped through the cracks and that therapists didn’t discuss the case. “They definitely weren’t paying attention, and that’s what led to April 16th,” said Suzanne Grimes, whose son Kevin was wounded but survived. “It just sounded like he was going through a McDonald’s,” said Michael Pohle, whose son Michael Pohle Jr. was killed. “It just looked like he was passed through from one person to another person and there was no collaboration going on.”

WELCOME Continued from page 1

voice their programming ideas for their floor, while learning about safety procedures and policies for the upcoming school year. Students who missed the Week of Welcome events held earlier this week still have time to visit the Alabama Farmers’ Market at Canterbury Episcopal Chapel and a movie night at St. Francis Catholic Church. The Week of Welcome will end with the Alabama’s soccer season opener versus UAB. Free Alabama sunglasses will be given out to the first 500 fans in attendance to the game.

The Crimson White

NEWS

Thursday, August 20, 2009

UA sees biggest summer for construction By Drew Taylor Administrative Affairs Editor Among the construction projects completed before the start of the semester are the long-awaited Ridgecrest South dormitory and the new Science and Engineering Complex, according to the University. Ridgecrest South opened its doors to students on Aug. 8, while the Science and Engineering Complex was completed last month. Tim Leopard, assistant vice president for design and construction at the University, said over the last two months at Ridgecrest South they mainly worked on completing the exterior, from installing the siding to landscaping around the building. “The majority of the work was on the exterior, finishing up the roofing and getting the interior completed,” Leopard said. The principal construction on the site was completed in

late July, narrowing the number of construction workers to less than 100 workers during the last few weeks before opening, Leopard said. In addition, a connector road that was originally used by construction crews to facilitate traffic flow around the site is now available for public use. First began as a construction access road back last September, it sat between Jack Warner Parkway and McCorvey Drive. Renovations at Lloyd Hall continue on the first and second floors, Leopard said. The next phase of the project will be finishing work on the bottom floor basement computer lab, in addition to masonry work on the roof, restaurants sites and modeling inside the building and classroom work. “We’ve been in there with heavy-duty construction all summer long,” Leopard said. “It’s down to the wire.” In other news, construction work on the new Pi Kappa

Alpha fraternity house will begin in a few weeks. Leopard said with many factors that must be taken into consideration in preparing a construction project, the first phase has been to relocate a drainage ditch to collect storm and dirty water, which will lie diagonally across from the site. The new building will be located on the corner of University Boulevard and 2nd Avenue. Work on the new Capstone College of Nursing was also accelerated with concrete framing of the building already complete. Currently, construction crews are erecting steel frames around the building and framing the walls. Leopard said progress on the building has seen some “dramatic changes in the last two to three months.” Major work on the site is scheduled to go on for the next six to eight months. By adding recently finished and ongoing construction projects to the overall University

CW | Alden Jones The Capstone College of Nursing building is located across from Druid City Hospital on University Boulevard. The estimated cost of the new building is $20 million. expansion plan, Leopard said University. “This summer has been the he is excited for all the things that are being done at the culmination of a lot work over

Rep. Frank lashes out at protester The Associated Press

DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Rep. Barney Frank lashed out at protester who held a poster depicting President Barack Obama with a Hitler-style mustache during a heated town hall meeting on federal health care reform. “On what planet do you spend most of your time?” Frank asked the woman, who had stepped up to the podium at a southeastern Massachusetts senior center to ask why Frank supports what she called a Nazi policy. “Ma’am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table. I have no inter-

est in doing it,” Frank said. Frank noted that her ability to deface an image of the president and express her views “is a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated.” Frank, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, sought to assure more than 500 people attending the rowdy meeting that the average taxpayer wouldn’t be hurt by plans currently under consideration in Congress. Some of those attending the meeting organized by the Democratic Town Committee of Dartmouth shouted and booed as Frank and others addressed the crowd.

Curtis Yule of Madison, N.H. holds an anti-Obama picture as he and others sit at a senior center in Dartmouth, Mass., Tuesday. AP

a lot of years,” Leopard said. “This has been the biggest summer yet for construction.”

OPINIONS

OUR VIEW

Notice, not panic

{

MCT Campus

Black Belt effort crucial

Thursday, August 20, 2009 Editor • Alan Blinder letters@cw.ua.edu Page 4

{ YOUR VIEW } SWINE FLU: ARE YOU WORRIED? “I donʼt really think itʼs as big as they make it out to be.” – Leah Moffet, senior, production

“Kind of, yes — but I donʼt know anyone who has it.” – Laura Langely, junior, social work “Not really, but being in the community shower does kind of make you think about it.” – Justin Watters, freshman, mechanical engineering “Until it gets to my dorm, Iʼm okay.” – T.J. Ford, freshman “Iʼm kind of over that whole deal.” – Michelle Martin, freshman, chemical engineering “Not worried about it, not at all.” – Brandon Flynn, sophomore, pre-physical therapy

EDITORIAL BOARD Amanda Peterson Editor Will Nevin Managing Editor Alan Blinder Opinions Editor

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Letters to the editor must be less 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. For more information, call 348-6144. The CW reserves the right to edit all submissions.

When the In short: We should H1N1 virus, more commonly all be aware of the called swine flu, health risks of swine first appeared in ﬂu. But that doesn’t April, there was mean we should an international panic. outpouring of concern and fear. Talk of hundreds of thousands of deaths flooded the airwaves and front pages, and emergency rooms grew crowded as patients with a sore throat feared the worst. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of doctor’s visits for flu-like illnesses more than doubled the week the warnings came out. But swine flu has not nearly been as catastrophic as the tabloids predicted. To date, there have been less than 500 deaths in the United States from swine flu, far less than the Armageddon-like figures some news outlets projected. While incidence rates for flu have been atypically elevated, they are declining. Indeed, less than one in five flu tests for the week ending Aug. 8 yielded a positive result. Compared to a few weeks ago, when two in five flu tests were positive. Later this year, a swine flu vaccine will come out as a part of the government’s strategy to contain the disease. The American strategy of purchasing 600 million doses, about two per person, for $8 billion is somewhat risky. The vaccine will not have been tested as thoroughly as other drugs, due to time constraints. We do not want 2009 to be remembered the same way as 1918, when one-third of the world’s population suffered from the flu. Besides the apparent reason to take action to save lives, there is another motive to avoid slowing down the economy yet again. With the international community in the midst of a recession, a worldwide flu pandemic would cost billions of dollars at a most inopportune time. At this point, the best prevention strategies are the same tactics used to prevent an infectious disease, namely hand washing. The CDC also says those with confirmed cases of flu should stay away from others. Please, take their advice. In a fast-moving crisis or potential crisis, the least beneficial action is to panic. University administrators seem to have made a concerted effort to avoid exactly that. It is our hope that the University will continue its forthright, rapid communication with the community about the effects of the flu. We also hope you’ll wash your hands and cover your mouth and nose. We will.

By Angela Armstrong Ask any third-year University Fellow how he or she would sum up the Black Belt Experience, and you’d get answers like “a pivotal interface with dignity, strength and sincerity.” While I thank Will Thomas for the conversations his article stimulates about the nature of service and civic engagement, I have to point out that his dismissive depiction misunderstands the heart of both the Black Belt Experience and the University Fellows program itself. Although the fellows’ stay in Marion only lasted for three weeks in May, the students involved in the program began a multifaceted study of the Black Belt region in August 2008. The then-sophomore University Fellows met weekly not only to glean insights on relevant political, socioeconomic, historical and cultural aspects of the region, but also to cultivate strong partnerships with the Perry County Chamber of Commerce and the local community center director. It was through the cultivation of relationships in this preparation period the University Fellows investigated the desires of the Perry County residents themselves in an effort to fuel precisely the “right to determine [their] own destiny” and the “self-determination” that Thomas claims the Black Belt Experience over-

looked. (For the aforementioned columnist’s general knowledge on the residents’ interest in developing cultural tourism, I urge him to read an article entitled “19 Counties in Black Belt Seek Designation as a Heritage Area” — one of 54 articles that were required reading for all of the sophomore University Fellows in the preparation period.) The year of planning that preceded the May sojourn included visits to schools, local stores, restaurants and community centers. It encompassed countless calls back and forth to ensure that each project was being developed in a direction guided by the people and embodied a type of communication that ensured the Marion residents were very much “at the helm of their own fate.” Once in Perry County, the University Fellows spent the entire first week engaging in the community and gaining an appreciation for the culture, history and geography that makes the Black Belt a richly unique region. If laughing together with the Gees Bend Quilters and relishing in their joyful gospel songs, sweating through a nature trek in Old Bluffport and attending Sunday services and fellowship with the parishioners at Selma’s Brown Chapel is not “see[ing] the value in their way of life,” what exactly is? For those of us who went, this was a beautiful time to absorb, enjoy and reflect. This experience was an exchange

— not some thunderous arrival of clueless, self-aggrandizing University Fellows on a pack of high, white horses ready to save the day. Given that respect emerged as the central feature of the planning and initial visiting stages of the Black Belt Experience, what strides towards empowerment were born out in the projects themselves? Each and every one of the projects was either at the specific request of Marion community members — the Housing Rehabilitation Project, the Owning Your Financial Future Sessions at the job training center, the ACT Prep Class at the high school to name a few — or greeted with open arms as an idea that the residents would love to see take flight, like the “Strength of the Individual” Photojournalism Project, the Vaiden Field Fly-In and Family Festival. At the end of the day, the Black Belt Experience is intended as a time of personal growth for each new class of University Fellows and of continued investment in community growth in those areas that community members have themselves identified as important. The Black Belt Experience gives empowerment on both sides in a process of exchange. Angela Armstrong is a University Fellow and a junior majoring in biology and Spanish.

“Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” It has been over four decades since Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel warned us of the hazards of closed-mindedness in “The Boxer,” and we still haven’t learned. The constant reluctance of many Americans to question not their government but their sources is leading the country away from an honest debate on health care. When the debate is about issues that range from the misguided — the over-60 non-care “issue” — to the ludicrous, “Canada’s life expectancy is higher because they have fewer people,” it isn’t about the facts. It isn’t about health care. It’s about politics. Full disclosure: I should note I have a vested interest in the passage of health care reform that does not ration care based on pre-existing conditions. Then again, this column also isn’t about health care. There are many elements to the anti-health care deception campaign. Bias, somewhat like my own, is one of them. Betsy McCaughey, whose writings on health care stirred up much of the “no health care for those over-60” hype, sits on the board of a medical research firm. She has a complete interest in maintaining the status quo since it pays her. Many who oppose Obama’s healthcare proposal take McCaughey’s writings as the truth. They get passed along in e-mails, casual conversation and even spread by other writers. Those who pass along what she says are betraying the trust of the American people. The nonpartisan, nonprofit Web site FactCheck.org, run by

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“Bookmark these pages and check them often because there’s nothing less patriotic than an uninformed citizen.” — Jonathan Reed

the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, has debunked McCaughey’s myths. Each article on FactCheck. org includes links to the resources used in exposing the lies including — get this — the bill itself. If you don’t believe the work of these fact checkers, you can check for yourself. Bookmark these pages and check them often because there’s nothing less patriotic than an uninformed citizen. One even more blatantly disturbing trend is that many people believe the idea that Canada’s higher-life expectancy is because it has fewer people and therefore fewer “accidents and crimes,” according to Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly. The concept of population having a direct impact on life expectancy isn’t just limited to prime time on Fox News as many others have reflected the sentiment in the same matter-of-fact manner. Life expectancy is calculated as an average. Canada may have one tenth the accidents, cases of cancer, pollution and the like, but that number is also divided amongst a population one tenth the size. It doesn’t skew the life expectancy in any way. Sorry folks, Canadians just live longer on average. It doesn’t matter how many of them there are — well they do have fewer deaths from crime, but that’s because they shoot each other much less often than we do. Blatant lies like these keep us from having an intelligent debate on health care. Rather than

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Thomas should do some research before he ridicules By David Kumbroch

Deception is never dialogue By Jonathan Reed

Our View is the consensus of the Crimson White’s editorial board.

}

emphasizing the details of how a “public option” would work, many opponents emphasize non-issues designed to galvanize opposition around oversimplified hyperboles. The majority of people don’t care about the details of how to run an insurance company or minor details of increasing efficiency. None of that sells as well as talking about waiting in lines for heart surgery and the government killing Grandma. It’s a sad day when something that had the potential to make the lives of so many Americans better is scuttled based on lies. It would be like failing a class because the rest of the students didn’t like you. It’s as if they said, “He couldn’t have gotten an A on that test. He doesn’t look smart enough,” and so you failed. Forget your own merits as those are irrelevant. That isn’t to say the bill is perfect. It isn’t to say debate is wrong. That’s far from what I’m saying. A lot of times, people see the idea of questioning authority as going against the government, but sometimes you have to question those who tell you the government is wrong. Do those you really trust have your best interests at heart? Is it OK to believe everything you hear just because it goes along with your political leanings? It’s perfectly OK to disagree with something, but make sure it’s for a good reason. Jonathan Reed is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism. His column runs weekly on Thursdays.

I write in response to Will Thomas’s aptly titled column “Good heart, but flawed execution.” The article, in fact, fits that title better than the program it describes. If the University Fellows’ approach to the Black Belt and its issues was somewhat limited, the author’s approach to the University Fellows programs in the Black Belt is even more so. Thomas makes a number of unfounded accusations that he bases on one article he read in Mosaic. The lack of depth illustrated is actually in Thomas’s willingness to research and learn about the program he criticizes, not in the program itself. In fact, while the Black Belt Experience program only lasted three weeks, it was planned, both by students and administrators, for an entire year. Students participating in the program were put through a gauntlet of meetings, both on the region and civil service. A number of guest speakers were brought in specifically to discourage such notions as “the assumption that the people of the Black Belt live in a way that, while not unacceptable, is fundamentally flawed.” However, Thomas’s assertions about treatment of the Black Belt are not entirely off base. In many ways, communities have lost their autonomy. But the University Fellows programs that were implemented only helped to reaffirm and promote autonomy, not rob it. The economics group discussed in the article helped members of various Black Belt communities tell their own versions of local ghost stories, which were then put into podcast form to encourage tourism. Another economics group did local presentations on money management, while the healthcare group took surveys to collect health data on the region. The education group tutored students for the ACT. All of the projects executed by the University Fellows helped to promote and strengthen local communities, not make decisions for them. I would encourage Thomas to seek the opinion of anyone involved with the University Fellows Black Belt Experience. He’d be hard pressed to find anyone, from the students to the local community members involved, who did not feel a deep, personal connection to the projects. While I respect Thomas’s notion that often service projects are misguided, I think his article more represents the problems of precursory examination and judgment than the problems with the University’s approach to the Black Belt. David Kumbroch is a junior majoring in telecommunication and film.

The Crimson White

NEWS

Thursday, August 20, 2009

DIY cigarettes? Smokers start growing tobacco By Steve Szkotak The Associated Press

Average cost per pack: $4.35 Homegrown cost for an amount equal to a pack:

AP Scott Byars compares the drying conditions of some of his homegrown tobacco leaves in a drying shed behind his home, in Corinth, Miss. on Aug. 6. Byars says that the leaves take 6-8 weeks to fully dry before they can be rolled. “Cigarette smokers say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to die of cancer, but do we have to die of poverty as well?’” said Jack Basharan, who operates The Tobacco Seed Co. Ltd. in Essex, England. Virtually all of his increased tobacco seed sales have been in the U.S., he said. Provided the tobacco isn’t sold or traded, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate homegrown tobacco. Most people grow for cigarettes, but some blend their own cigars and chew. The FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture don’t keep statistics on home growers, though seed suppliers and Internet buzz suggest strong interest. Seedman.com has sold more than 100,000 packets of tobacco seeds this year, compared with

22,000 in all of 2008, president Jim Johnson said. The Gautier, Miss.-based company offers 40 varieties of tobacco from around the globe and packages various flavor blends for firsttime growers. A grower who purchased one of Johnson’s Oriental and Turkish blends for $24.50 could satisfy a pack-a-day habit for more than three years, according to Johnson’s calculations. However, growing and processing tobacco can challenge even the best gardeners. The nearly microscopic seeds must initially be grown inside and transplanted after the threat of frost has passed. The plants are susceptible to an army of pests; must be topped, or pruned, to encourage leaf growth; require rotating every few years; and require the proper chemical

soil balance. The leaves must be cut and hung to dry. A seed started in March can be ready to smoke as soon as October. Some anxious growers have been known to microwave leaves to hasten the drying. For purists, the leaves can be cured, or aged, like a fine wine for up to three years. “It’s actually very labor intensive,” said Ed Baker, general manager of Cross Creek Seed Inc. in Raeford, N.C., the No. 1 tobacco seed supplier in the U.S. “There’s a reason why cigarette companies make all that money. If it was that easy, everyone would be growing their own tobacco.” Cross Creek has seen a big increase in seed requests from home growers but it sells in volume. It’s smallest seed offering is 90,000 seeds for $170. Novices and veterans can

CBS News pioneer Don Hewitt dies By David Bauder The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Don Hewitt, the CBS Newsman who invented “60 Minutes” and produced the popular newsmagazine for 36 years, died Wednesday. He was 86. He died of pancreatic cancer at his Bridgehampton home, CBS said. His death came month after that of fellow CBS legend Walter Cronkite. Hewitt joined CBS News in television’s infancy in 1948, and produced the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. He made his mark in the late 1960s when CBS agreed to try his idea of a one-hour broadcast that mixed hard news and feature stories. The television newsmagazine was born on Sept. 24, 1968, when the “60 Minutes” stopwatch began ticking. He dreamed of a television version of Life, the dominant magazine of the mid-20th century, where interviews with entertainers could coexist with investigations that exposed corporate malfeasance.

“60 Minutes” won 73 Emmy Awards, 13 DuPont/Columbia University Awards and nine Peabody Awards during Hewitt’s stewardship, which ended in 2004. After Cronkite’s death at age 92 on July 17, Hewitt said, “How many news organizations get the chance to bask in the sunshine of a half-century of Edward R. Murrow followed by a half-century of Walter Cronkite?” Hewitt often said the accepted wisdom for television news AP writers before “60 Minutes” was to put words to pictures. In this Feb. 2, 1976 photo released by CBS, "60 Minutes" He believed that was backward. creator and producer Don A Sunday evening fixture, Hewitt poses on the set in New “60 Minutes” was television’s York. top-rated show four times, “The formula is simple,” most recently in 1992-93. While he wrote in a memoir in 2001, no longer a regular in the top “and it’s reduced to four words 10 in Hewitt’s later years, it every kid in the world knows: was still TV’s most popular newsmagazine. Tell me a story. It’s that easy.” Upon the launch of “60 Hard-driven reporter Mike Wallace, Hewitt’s first hire, Minutes,” Hewitt recalled that became the journalist those in news executive Bill Leonard power did not want on their told him to “make us proud.” doorsteps. Harry Reasoner, “Which may well be the last Morley Safer, Ed Bradley and time anyone ever said ‘make us Diane Sawyer also reported for proud’ to anyone else in television,” he wrote in his memoir. the show.

“Because Leonard said ‘make us proud’ and not ‘make us money,’ we were able to do both, which I think makes us unique in the annals of television.” As executive producer, Hewitt was responsible for deciding each week which stories would make it on the air. Correspondents and producers alike would wait nervously in screening rooms for his verdict on their work. Among his other jobs, Hewitt directed the first network television newscast on May 3, 1948. He originated the use of cue cards for news readers, now done by electronic machines. He was the first to “superimpose” words on the TV screen for a news show. Before the 1960 presidential debate, Hewitt asked Kennedy if he wanted makeup. Tanned and fit, Kennedy said no. Nixon followed his lead. Big mistake. “As every student of politics knows, that debate — like a Miss America contest — turned on who made the better appearance, not with what he said but with how he looked,” Hewitt recalled later. “Kennedy won hands down.”

find smoker-friendly havens like howtogrowtobacco.com, a Web site that offers growing and curing tips, often including angry posts over ever-increasing taxes and smoking restrictions. Many would not discuss their crops with The Associated Press, fearful a high profile would invite government scrutiny and taxes. Others proudly share stories and post photos. Arthur Skora, 42, records his success growing and curing in Greenwood, Wis., on a how-to DVD he sells online. “Most of the people who are ordering are just getting fed up with prices and basically they’re not going to take it anymore,” Skora said. Saving money wasn’t the only motivation for Matt Schoell-Schafer, a landscape architect in Kansas City, who has 50 plants growing in his urban garden. “It’s not being a victim to their manipulation of this product,” said Schoell-Schafer, 34, who enjoys an occasional cigar or cigarette. “So I’m sort of liberating myself by growing it myself.” Some growers contend their tobacco concoctions are safer than commercial products, which have a stew of additives ranging from colorings and oils to ammonia. “The quick answer to that is no,” said Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends at the American Cancer Society. Glynn knew of only one study of the health risks of

about 30 cents

homegrown and commercial blends — and it concluded no difference in safety between the two. Homegrown tobacco can also contain fungus and mold, which can cause chronic bronchitis and other ailments, Glynn said. Philip Morris USA, the nation’s No. 1 cigarette maker, and other big companies are unlikely to shudder. Philip Gorham, a tobacco industry analyst with the investment research firm Morningstar, said he had no data on smokers who switched to homegrown. But he doesn’t see it as a mass movement. “It’s one thing to switch from a premium brand to a discount one. It’s quite another to switch from buying a manufactured product to roll your own,” Gorham said. At VirtualSeeds.com, Joyce Moore said she typically sold tobacco seeds as ornamental plants to gardeners who appreciated their elephantine leaves. This year, her Astoria, Ore.-based company was overwhelmed by orders from tobacco users slammed by “the market collapse, the recession, then getting hit with exorbitant tobacco taxes.” Moore doesn’t use tobacco herself but has no misgivings about her business. “If I sold doughnuts in a bakery would I feel guilty because fat people come in and buy them?” she asked. “It just happens to be a very good year for tobacco seeds.”

Banker admits bribes to Langford By Jay Reeves The Associated Press TUSCALOOSA — An investment banker pleaded guilty Tuesday to bribing Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the second co-defendant to admit funneling cash and gifts to Langford in exchange for $7.1 million in bond business. William Blount, a former state Democratic Party chairman and head of a Montgomery investment bank, admitted giving Langford about $235,000 in bribes in return for Langford’s influence in sending the bond financing business to Blount. Langford was on the Jefferson County Commission at the time, and Blount’s firm was among those paid to handle billions in Jefferson County sewer bonds. Standing in the middle of the courtroom beside his lawyer, Blount pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy. For his help, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of four years and three months in

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RICHMOND, Va. — Something unusual is cropping up alongside the tomatoes, eggplant and okra in Scott Byars’ vegetable garden — the elephantine leaves of 30 tobacco plants. Driven largely by ever-rising tobacco prices, he’s among a growing number of smokers who have turned to their green thumbs to cultivate tobacco plants to blend their own cigarettes, cigars and chew. Byars normally pays $5 for a fivepack of cigars and $3 for a tin of snuff; the seed cost him $9. “I want to get to where I don’t have to go to the store and buy tobacco, but I’ll just be able to supply my own from one year to the next,” Byars said. In urban lots and on rural acres, smokers and smokeless tobacco users are planting Virginia Gold, Goose Creek Red, Yellow Twist Bud and dozens of other tobacco varieties. Although most people still buy from big tobacco, the movement took off in April when the tax on cigarettes went up 62 cents to $1.01 a pack. Large tax increases were also imposed on other tobacco products, and tobacco companies upped prices even more to compensate for lost sales. Some seed suppliers have reported a tenfold increase in sales as some of the country’s 43.3 million smokers look for a cheaper way to get their nicotine fix in a down economy. Cigarettes cost an average of $4.35 a pack, home growers can make that amount for about 30 cents. It’s the latest do-it-yourself movement as others repair their own cars, swap used clothes and cancel yard work services to save money.

COST OF STORE VERSUS HOMEGROWN

prison. Blount will also forfeit $1 million. Langford is set for trial on federal bribery charges Aug. 31. He says he is innocent and vowed before Blount’s hearing not to resign as mayor, a job he has held since 2007. “The last time I checked, I am still here,” Langford said during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Langford has acknowledged that money changed hands, but he contends the payments were loans and gifts between friends. The bond deals financed work on Jefferson County’s sewer system but went sour during the credit crisis. The deals have helped push the county to the brink of filing the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Recently, Jefferson County had to lay off about 1,000 workers after an occupational tax was ruled unconstitutional, creating long lines for routine business like renewing a driver’s license. A new tax was recently put in place to help rescue the county.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL

Page 6 â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, August 20, 2009 Editor â&#x20AC;˘ Jason Galloway crimsonwhitesports@ gmail.com

SPORTS

this weekend FRIDAY â&#x20AC;˘ Soccer vs UAB: 7 p.m.

More than just a return man Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arenas takes pride in defense By Jason Galloway Sports Editor If a player was simply known as one of the best return men in the nation, most would soak in that label with pride. Alabama senior cornerback Javier Arenas, however, saw it as disrespect. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a cornerback since I was six,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If a guy calls me just a return man, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disrespect.â&#x20AC;? During Arenasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; freshman and sophomore seasons with the Crimson Tide, he made a name for himself as a shifty and elusive punt returner. Over the past three seasons, Arenas has electrified Bryant-Denny Stadium on opponentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fourth downs. As if he even needs motivation, the Alabama faithful replaced the typical â&#x20AC;&#x153;block that kick!â&#x20AC;? chant with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ja-vy! Ja-vy! Ja-vy!â&#x20AC;? tribute when the punt return team takes the field. Fearless to contact and, rarely relying on a fair catch, Arenas knows exactly where to go and exactly who to chal-

lenge, without even a hint of hesitation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I came [to Alabama] to play cornerback,â&#x20AC;? Arenas said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come here to return punts. [The media] was calling me a return man. I hated it.â&#x20AC;? Last season, the country met the real Javier Arenas. Although Arenas continued to front the Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special teams with his return skills by setting the Alabama records for punt return touchdowns in a career (6) and punt return yards (650) in a season, 2008 saw Arenas emerge as one of the best defensive backs in the SEC. At an undersized but stout 5-foot-9, with a body chiseled out of stone, Arenas can muscle up with anyone and stands as one of the surest tacklers on the team. Just like his return skills, Arenas always knows what to do on the field. His understanding of position, angles and defensive terminology make up for his lack of height. As a starting cornerback last season, Arenas was hardly ever thrown at, the true mark of a good coverage man. Although he only intercepted one pass (which was returned for a touchdown), Arenasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shutdown mentality earned him respect as one of the top

players in the SEC. Now, entering his senior season at Alabama, Arenas simply needs to look at the preseason All-SEC team to know he has successfully shifted the perception of himself as a player â&#x20AC;&#x201D; second-team selection as a return specialist, first-team selection as a defensive back. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a cornerback the whole time,â&#x20AC;? Arenas said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing 7-on-7, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go kick with the punters and catch punts all day. I go and work.â&#x20AC;? Now that Arenas has proven himself at two different positions, the thought of a third has come up. With his quickness, big-play ability and an unknown pair of sticky hands, Arenas also has the skills set to be effective on the offensive side of the ball. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that we have talked about before, but I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if we will consider doing that in the future or not,â&#x20AC;? Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a pretty full plate with what he does.â&#x20AC;? As shown by his already multiple contributions to Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, Arenas simply wants to help the team in any way he can. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyway I can make an impact,

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m more than happy.â&#x20AC;?

CW|Tori Gordon Javier Arenas participates in a recognition drill at WednesdayĘźs practice. Arenas was lauded as an All-SEC cornerback for the 2009 preseason.

Tide walk-ons hit the practice ďŹ eld By Spencer White Assistant Sports Editor

ers for the Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SEC schedule. The swollen numbers provide the additional benefit of giving The Alabama Crimson more players more reps in drill Tide football team took to the work, as was demonstrated Thomas-Drew Practice Facility during the individual position fields with a few extra mem- drills available during media bers Wednesday, composed viewing. of walk-ons from the student body. Head coach Nick Saban said Replacing a leader in Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s press conference that as many as 25 of the new Several members of the lineadditions would stay on the ros- backing corps, namely Rolando ter, providing depth and bodies McClain, Dontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a Hightower and for scout team work to help Cory Reamer, spent time with prepare the scholarship play- the defensive backs working on

DJ Tryouts

coverage recognition drills in the base 3-4 defense. Sophomore Mark Barron spent time opposite Justin Woodall at safety, and it appears Barron has made significant strides from his freshman season at the position. The position in question, what is normally called the free safety, was vacated by AllAmerican Rashad Johnson, who was drafted at the conclusion of his senior year by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the NFL draft. The Tide player who will fill the position is a question that fans have spent countless days in the offseason debating, one that will likely not be answered until the squad prepares to hit CW|Tori Gordon the turf of the Georgia Dome on A walk-on quarterback throws a pass during route drills in Sept. 5. WednesdayĘźs practice. The ďŹ elds at Thomas-Drew Practice Facility were ďŹ&#x201A;ooded with new players from the student body who practice with the team without scholarships.

Hitting his stride

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Redshirt junior Greg McElroy continues to look sharp and crisp during timing drills with the wide receivers, consistently hitting the players in stride and chest high. McElroyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body language, too, appears to be much more confident than in his limited time in the 2008 season before his magnificent late touchdown to Marquis Maze in the 36-0 defeat of Auburn last November. How much the score had to do with the surge in his development, or whether it has been

his increased role in a leadership capacity since the departure of three-year starter John Parker Wilson, is the $64,000 question. Whatever the answer is, it appears the question of replacing Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time statistical leader at the quarterback position has become the least of Tide fansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worries.

Revolving door Of more immediate concern to Tide fans appeared to be the constant shuffling of personnel along the offensive line,

though, as Saban said in a press conference early in fall camp, most of the rotation is intended as developmental work for players and is not necessarily indicative of a player moving permanently or another player being replaced at a position. With the absence of a depth chart until a date yet to be determined, all speculation on the part of the media is purely that, speculation. Limited access to practice will give a limited viewpoint on the part

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The Crimson White

SPORTS

Thursday, August 20, 2009

PRACTICE Continued from page 6

of those covering the Tide, but will no doubt create a building sense of excitement on the part of Alabama fans across the state for opening day.

Other Notes • Freshman Kellen Williams was at practice today for the first time at fall camp. It was speculated that Williams would be a gray shirt for the 2009 season due to a knee injury suffered in high school. • Stud freshman cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who has received favorable reviews from some of the upperclassmen on the Tide squad, was in a black non-contact jersey at practice. This likely indicates some injury that the 6-foot-2 corner has sustained, and Saban will likely address the issue at Thursday’s CW| Tori Gordon news conference. Junior Greg McElroy prepares to hit a receiver in stride during a route drill at Wednesdayʼs practice. McElroy has looked sharp The Tide will hold practice throughout camp and appears to have taken on a more deﬁned again tomorrow afternoon. All leadership role. practices are closed to the public.

CW| Tori Gordon Sophomore Jerrell Harris keeps his eyes on inside linebackers coach James Willis during a drill. Harrisʼs move to the inside group on the second day of fall camp has been one of the most discussed storylines of the preseason.

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CW| Tori Gordon Offensive lineman work on an explosion drill during Wednesdayʼs practice. The unit has been one of the most ﬂuctuating groups during fall camp.

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8 Thursday, August 20, 2009 THE CRIMSON WHITE ASKS: WHERE DO YOU GO OUT IN TUSCALOOSA? “I like Mugshots. My sister works there, and I enjoyed the food.” – Connor Wise, business, freshman “El Rincon would have to be my favorite because of the half-price margaritas.” –Jonathan Holden, marketing, senior “Moeʼs—they have the best burger in town.” –Cortnee Howard, public relations, junior

“The Bama Theatre and Acoustic Nights because of the music and hanging out with everybody.” –Josh Sawyer, anthropology, junior “Café Venice, for the half-price pizza and hanging out with friends.” – Erica Rutherford, elementary education, graduate student

ENTERTAINMENT

The Crimson White

MOVIE REVIEW | ‘PONYO’

‘Ponyo’ not Miyazaki’s best By Tyler Deierhoi Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor I’ve long appreciated the works of Hayao Miyazaki, from the first time I watched “Princess Mononoke” with my cousins to the time I caught “Spirited Away” on HBO one night. Miyazaki is widely heralded as a visionary filmmaker whose films are known for their visuals, storylines and impact. Unfortunately, his latest film did not have the same appeal as his prior works. “Ponyo” tells the story of two children, an average human boy and a little girl who began her life as a fish. The American dub of the film features several big name actors, including Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, Matt Damon and Liam Neeson. Neeson was by far my favorite voice actor due to the seriousness and familiarity of his voice. He also seems to have taken a liking to playing the role of overprotective father, with his appearances as the Vault Dweller’s father in 2008’s “Fallout 3” and as the main character of the 2008 film, “Taken,” which features Neeson as a father who leaves a trail of bodies through Paris on the search for his daughter. I’ll start out on a positive note and say that the visuals were my favorite part of this movie. From the hand-drawn backgrounds and landscape of this coastal town, “Ponyo” continues Miyazaki’s tradition of presenting beautiful scenery and visual imagery while telling a story. Unfortunately, that was the only part of the movie I was impressed with. The film suffers from a convoluted plot, hindered by a mismatched soundtrack and a theme slightly distressing to my

that magical fish people cause global superstorms and that apparently five-year-olds can harbor true love, even if one of Runtime: 100 minutes them was a fish girl. I understand that I’m not the MPAA rating: G target audience for this film. Release date: ??? It’s meant for young children and their parents, but even CW critic’s rating: then, this bizarre film lost its message on me. Maybe this was the one film that Miyazaki wanted to be nothing but a story, with no real message on the environment or human Bottom line: The movie nature. has great visuals but less A child might appreciate impact that other works of this movie more, but it fell flat Miyazaki’s. with me. If you want to see a movie with lots of cute visuals like small fish children and cutesy wholesome American values. voice acting, maybe “Ponyo” Ponyo is the daughter of is for you. I’ll take “Princess Fujimoto (Neeson), a for- Mononoke” with its environmer human who has been mental and antiwar messages tasked with maintaining the and the chance to see a man balance of the ocean, and get decapitated by an arrow. Granmammare (Blanchett), who appears to be some kind of fish/woman/water goddess. After escaping from her father, Ponyo, voiced by Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter, Noah, meets Sõsuke, voiced by Frankie Jonas, the younger sibling of the Jonas Brothers. Fujimoto eventually recovers Ponyo, much to the dismay of Sõsuke, and returns her to his aquatic laboratory or hideout of some sorts. Ponyo escapes again and, in one of the most selfish moves I’ve seen from a character in a film, upsets the natural balance of the ocean to become human. Her actions start a storm of global proportions that will only apparently be calmed after Ponyo either becomes fully human or turns to sea foam. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of a story that tells of the strength of friendship, but that’s not what I pulled from this movie. I learned

‘PONYO’

Above: The title character peeks out from underneath a bubble on the American release poster for “Ponyo.” Left: Sosuke and Ponyo meet again after Ponyo becomes a little girl.

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“I like how numbers are easier to text,” Bigbie continued. “People will say, ‘where are you at,’ and instead of saying Gallete’s they’ll say G-spot, they won’t say the full name of the bar, so 1831 is convenient for people to text.” Bigbie said he also spreads word about 1831 by liberally

giving away the free items the bar gets from liquor representatives, allowing the customers who walk away with them to tell friends they got them at his bar. He said he’s equally liberal about decorating the bar itself. “We put a bunch of random stuff in there because I like it when people come in and they say, ‘You know, I’ve never seen that before,’” Bigbie said. “If you had something you want-

rottentomatoes.com

ed to put in the bar, you could come in and you could give it to us and we could put it up.” Bigbie says he has seen success as a result, with 1831 surviving the summer season’s slow bar scene. He said different people visit 1831 each night, along with regulars. “I have yet to have anyone tell me they’ve had a bad experience here, “ Bigbie said. “I’m really good at trying to protect our image.”

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Today's Birthday (08/20/09) You're most effective early this year, so push your agenda now. Do take other people's advice; they're smarter than they look. Even a person you don't usually turn to can help. 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 7 -- A pleasant surprise frees you up for a new project. You won't know how to do it at first; be patient with yourself. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -You want to give your family what they want, but that's not always good for them, or for you. Be the sensible one. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Family always comes first, especially now. Focus on them through the weekend. That other job can wait until Monday. Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -Stay out of someone else's argument. Be all apple pie and cookies. You'll do more with good food than with words. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- You could make a fortune now, or lose one. Guess what? It's not preordained. It's up to you.

3 BEDROOMS, 1 bath - 1218 14th Street $825/month - deposit required. Call Michael Jacobson Real Estate, 205-553-7372. 3 BEDROOM, 1 BATH, near Campus23 Parkview Dr- $850/ Month. Available August 1st. Call Jones & Assoc. at 205-394-1111 2/3BR REASONABLE RENT near DCH, Mall, and campus; in a desirable neighborhood. Call 469-9270 or 239-4365 ALL RENT NEGOTIABLE! HOUSES ON CAMPUS 3BD/3BA; 4BD/4BA & 5BD/5BA STILL AVAIL. ALL IN WALKING DISTANCE TO STADIUM & CLASSES. SEC

GUARD, SEC SYSTEM, PARKING, PEST CONTROL & YARD MAINT PROVIDED. WESLEY PROPERTIES (205) 339-7033 OR (205) 3619623 2BR/1BA HOUSE available now/ Home Depot area. Clean/ new paint/ separate garage unit $590/ month +deposit. 799-4697 HOUSES FOR RENT NEAR CAMPUS CALL 345-2235 OR 3454207

CAMPUS- Behind the University Strip. Small Efficiency Apartments. $300-350/ mo. Utilities included. Lease and deposit required. No pets. Call 752-1277.

CAMPUS-DOWNTOWN 4 blocks from strip. 1 BR Apts. $375/ mo. Lease and deposit required. No pets. Broadstreet Apartments. Call 752-1277 CAMPUS 1 BLOCK 1 and 2BR apts $550$1200. Fall 2009, lease and deposit required. No pets Weaver Rentals 752-1277 LIVE FREE HALF OF TWO MONTHS! Central Air/Heat; Ceramic Baths & Carpet; Close to UofA Campus! On Trolley Line. CLAYMONT-2602 Claybrook Dr. www.delview.com 556-6200 AFFORDABLE-WALK TO UA (Lease Now, Sept, Oct) $225-$525. www.delview.com 3454600 425 8TH AVE. NE-6 MINUTES to UA Rec. Center. Washer, Dryer, Dishwasher! WATERBANK. $450-$525. Walk to class-1309 1/2 8th. Ave. $310. www.delview. com 345-4600

FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC

1 BEDROOM - WALK TO CLASS huge rooms, 9 ft ceilings/ crown molding, individual security system, washer/dryer connections, gated, exercise room, pool. Call Cindi 750-2135. MOVE IN SPECIAL! Harbrooke Downs 2 bdrms leasing at one bedroom prices...$550 a month for 2 bdrm/2 bath, water and washer/ dryer. Not many of these left. For more information, contact Candace at (205)345-4494. WILLOW WYCK 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 960 square feet, perfect for roommates, swimming pool, fireplace, five minutes from Campus. FIRST MONTH FREE. Pre-leasing Available. 391-9690 MORRISON APARTMENTS 1 BDRM halfway downtown and UA. $495/month. Call 7580674 GARAGE APARTMENT near campus. Quiet, clean. Air conditioned,

stove and refrigerator included. For more information 752-7977 HARBROOKE DOWNS still has 2 bdrm units for lease $650-$695. Includes water, washer/dryer...one unit is available furnished! Call Candace (205)345-4494. 1 BR, 1 BA @ University Village Apts. Gated, new, great amenities. www.university-village. com (256)509-2342 UNIVERSITY VILLAGE Brand New 2 br apt, 1 br avail to sub lease. $475 colinnn@me.com (256)468-5151

ROOM FOR RENT! seeking male roommate for nice 3 bdr/ 2 bath house on 16th st. near new college store. $350/mth plus utilities. great roommates. call (678)925-7422 OWNER OF AMAZING house 10 minutes drive from UA’s campus. Looking for female roommate for Fall semester. (205)292-8772

(205) 349-CARE Open Daily 32 15th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 emergicareclinic.com

Established in 1983

ROOM 4 RENT Vestavia Hills, Northport. Seeking graduate, law, medical student. Furnished bedroom with private bath, Clean & safe. Call Chris 205-310-6210 ROOMATE NEEDED Female graduate student needed to fill bedroom in 3 BR/3 BA condo at The Traditions. $400/month + utilities. If interested please email cox001@crimson. ua.edu. ROOMATE NEEDED! Male graduate student seeks roommate, 2-bedroom apartment on Hargrove Road. Everything already furnished. Room should be ready after Aug. 10. If interested, call or email me at sargoncargon@hotmail. com. (731)446-5154 ROOMMATE NEEDED August 1 - 4/2.5 House <2 miles from UA $350/ mo + utilities deposit required 832-385-9869 michael.h.edgar@gmail. com WANTED CLEAN ROOMMATE to share very nice large 5BR house with 2 male students. Great neighborhood just off campus. Internet, W/D furnished. Utilities split. Available Aug 1. One year lease. $450 mo Call 205 516 0037 or 205 296 2347

Free Month’s Rent at Forest Lake

Available Now For Fall 2009 1Brm studio $450 1 Brm/1 Bth $550 No Application Fee Deposit $300 www.alliedrealtyinc.com www.uagamedayrentals.com For more information call: Clayton Hudson 205-799-7093 hudson@alliedrealtyinc.com

RIVERBEND COMMONS Condo For Sale 2 bedroom 2.5 bath, 1.5 miles from campus. $94,000.00 (205)3442762 HARBROOKE DOWNS 1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath CONDO with study for $525. Pool, other amenities. Lease for 12 Months and get 1st

Place Your Ad TODAY! www.cw.ua.edu

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- This time the flimsy idea has greater opposition. You figure out a way to shore it up, saving the day for all. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- The argument goes back and forth as others decide what you should do next. Let them. It turns out well for you. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- You'll get by with some help from your friends. This could be more expensive than planned, but also a lot more fun. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Strong personalities clash. Wait 'til they decide what you must study to reach your goal. This may take a bit. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- You'll be happy you stuck with the safest investments and are keeping close track. If you're not, begin now. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- After arguing back and forth, you can reach a compromise. Determine what's most important for each of you. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- You won't be able to do it all. You'll need a partner to help. Make sure that person knows exactly what you need.

Tired of Campus p Living?g

Palisades Leasing & Now

for the

Stop looking today. Call Manager for specials. Just minutes from campus. •2 BR Apartments •Starting out at $555! •Move-in ready •Short-term leasing welcome mrdapartments.com 205-554-1725 month FREE. (251)2094300 (251)209-4300 CONDO FOR RENT in Midtown. 3BR/3bath; $1450/month. Please call (205)886-7228. OK to Leave Message.

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR OUR CLIENTS ON BEHALF OF OUR COMPANY . ABILITY TO DO MULTI-TASKING AND WILLING TO WORK LONG HOURS.18YRS OR ABOVE NEEDED AND YOU MUST HAVE COMPUTER SKILLS. ANY JOB EXPERIENCE NEEDED . YOU WILL EARN UP TO $3000 MONTHLY .INTERESTED APPLICANTS SHOULD SEND THEIR UPDATED RESUMES TO andrewmike123@ gmail.com FOR MORE DETAILS AS PART OF OUR EXPANSION, Matrix Med Corporation is looking for Store Managers, Assistant Managers, Payroll Rep and Payment Clerk to work at their own flexible schedule. It pays $1000-$1400 every 2 weeks plus benefits and takes only little of your time. Please contact us for more details. Requirements - * Should be a computer Literate. * 1-2 hours access to the internet weekly. * Must be 21 yrs and above of age* Must be Efficient and Dedicated. If you are interested and need more information, Please send your resumes to {nlowematrixmedcorp02@gmail.com}

Fall

• 1, 2, and 3 Bedrooms • Monitored Security System Provided • Gas Log Fireplaces • 2 Pools • Fitness Rooms • Tanning Beds Visit our website: www.palisadesapthomes.com

3201 Hargrove Rd. East Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 205-554-1977 BABYTALK STORE (MATERNITY, baby, nursing). PT, flexible hours. Help needed for walk-in store and Internet business. More information email: babytalkstore@gmail.com. HOTEL CAPSTONE Banquet & Restaurant Servers Please apply in person or email resume: angela.lamp@hotelcapstone.com EOENO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE PART TIME HELPPainting, grass cutting, light maintenance, clean up. Flexible hours. $7/ hour.752-9020/657-3900 STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers needed in Tuscaloosa. 100% FREE to join! Click on Surveys. SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com

EARN SERIOUS CASH! INDEPENDENT SALES REPS WANTED TO INTRODUCE HEALTHY ALL NATURAL ENERGY DRINK TO CAMPUS MARKET. SELF-MOTIVATED, ENTREPRENEUR TYPES ONLY. CALL 1-800-3423083 www.theactiondrink.com/zilli

NEED FOOTBALL TICKETS? STUDENTS: Place your ad here FREE for one month! Call Emily at 348-7355.

DOWNTIME

Today’s Horoscope

Page 9 • Thursday, August 20, 2009 Classifieds coordinator • Emily Frost 205-348-SELL (7355)

THE CRIMSON WHITE CLASSIFIED RATE • Open Line Rate: 50¢ per word

• Student/Staff Line Rate: 35¢ per word • Display Rate: $8.15 per column inch

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS AT WWW. CW.UA.EDU/SELL *The Crimson White places these ads in good faith. We are not responsible for fradulent advertising.*

2006 Bobcat Toolcat 5600, 4X4, Loader, Forks and Dumb Body, Heat/ AC Cab, price $4200 ask questions: dd567n@gmail.com/ (504)2085590 TRACTOR 2002 John Deere 5205 Diesel, price $4300, Mower, Loader, 4WD, pictures and details at robb4r@gmail. com, (205) 705-3699. 1962 MASERATI 3500 GT Vignale Spyder, $4850,00 coupe cabrio, 57016 miles, manual,6 cylinder, blue color with black interior, rare factory ht. more details at:503-2133247 or email: kimvernos@gmail.com

Page 10 • Thursday, August 20, 2009 Editor • Steven Nalley smnalley@crimson.ua.edu

Flicks to catch COBB HOLLYWOOD 16 • “(500) Days of Summer” (PG13) • “A Perfect Getaway” (R) • “Bandslam” (PG) • “District 9” (R) • “Funny People” (R) • “G-Force” (PG) • “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (PG-13) • “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard” (R) • “Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince” (PG) • “Inglourious Basterds” (R) • “Julie & Julia” (PG-13) • “Ponyo” (G) • “Post Grad” (PG-13) • “Shorts” (PG) • “The Time Traveler’s Wife” (PG-13) • “The Ugly Truth” (R) • “X Games 3D: The Movie” (PG)

Night life THURSDAY • Jupiter Bar & Grill — Lynam with Within Reason

• Little Willie’s — Glen Butts and Libba Walker

• The Booth — Gravy FRIDAY • Jupiter Bar & Grill — Wrong Way

• The Booth — Southern Hauler • Rounders — Ryan Kinder and DJ Proto-J

• Little Willie’s — South Paw Bandits with The Motions

SATURDAY • Jupiter Bar & Grill — The Gnomes

• The Booth — Evil Rico • Rounders — Money$hot • Little Willie’s — The Electric Experiment

Alabama graduate owns 1831 bar

&Pleasure

By Steven Nalley Entertainment Editor

At 1831 Bar, if you don’t know where to look, it’s not that easy to spot owner Tyler Bigbie. Bigbie could be the man at the front door, stopping everyone who comes near the door to check their IDs. He could be bartending or mingling with students. And he would remain invisible, because like many of the students, bartenders and doormen, he is still in his early 20s. Bigbie became owner of 1831 less than a year after graduating from the University, and he still fits right in with the other students at his bar. He said he mixes business and pleasure on a daily basis without compromising either. By day, Bigbie sells television commercial slots for Charter Media, allowing a day manager to handle his bar while he works. Janet Sherman, a marketing representative at Charter, said Tyler’s two sides blend together well, allowing him to easily reach the UA crowd. “Tyler brings the youth into our business,” Sherman said. “He’s kind of like the little brother. He’s kind of fun. he’s very enthusiastic.” Sherman also praised Bigbie’s work ethic. “I would call him a go-getter,” Sherman said. “Once he decides on a project, he’s really quick to follow through.” Bigbie chose to start 1831 after graduating from Alabama in public relations and receiving a job offer with the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team with a salary of $15,000 per year. For a location, he looked at both a former Dog Pound and the former location of The Booth before settling on 2304 4th Street, an address Johnny’s Pub and Grub once occupied. He said he bought 1831 on October 31, 2008, just five months after graduating, in collaboration with a silent partner. However, he said he had difficulties when the city of Tuscaloosa lost his liquor license application. “I had to do the whole process over again, so we haven’t been open that long,” Bigbie said. “You would think in the times of economic trouble that we live in, they would be bending over backwards for people to open businesses.” Bigbie said he had not always been the type to visit bars, let alone own one. He waited until the Spring Break before he turned 21 to start drinking, and before that he was a student at a Christian high school planning to attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. He said he changed his mind to avoid expensive outof-state tuition at a private university, applying at Alabama on the last day he could. “I actually used to be a goodie-goodie, didn’t drink, didn’t cuss,” Bigbie said. His high school friend and patron, Hunter Rayfield, has a different story. A senior at Alabama majoring in geography and biology, he said he remembers several misadventures with Bigbie involving light-up lawn reindeer at Christmastime. “We’d go pick up one deer and put it on the back of another deer and make it look like they’re humping,” Rayfield said. “Now he’s totally business. He’s trying to run this bar the best he can and still have a good time.” However, Rayfield said he likes the way Bigbie runs his bar. “It’s basically what you want in a bar. It’s not dirty, it’s not too clean, so it’s all right,” Rayfield said. One reason for this atmosphere is Bigbie’s insistence on keeping anyone under 21 out. Sometimes, he remains by the door and checks IDs himself. CW | Tori Gordon “I tell my door guys, ‘If you let someone Top: Tyler Bigbie mixes a drink. At 1831, Bigbie holds many jobs, from in who’s under 21, are they really worth you bartender to bouncer. losing your job?’” Bigbie said. “When people Below: Bigbie stands behind 1831ʼs bar. He bought the establishment come in and they’re not 21, they’re not worth less than a year after his UA graduation. $750 or whatever the ticket is.” Another principle Bigbie holds vehemently is a fierce opposition to charging cover. “Once you’ve turned 21, you’ve earned the right to come into bars. You shouldn’t have to pay to come into bars,” Bigbie said. “I can understand if you’re going to see Kenny Chesney, but you’re going to see bands that are college bands.” And Bigbie is always keeping an eye out for business opportunities, especially opportunities for free advertising. He said that’s one of the reasons why he chose to name his bar after the year the University was founded, a year that appears on diplomas, t-shirts, and class rings. “I get free publicity whenever people wear their Alabama stuff, because it usually says, ‘Established 1831,’” Bigbie said. “But being from Montgomery, there’s a bar there called 1048, and I like the number.

See 1831, page 8

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