09 05 13 The Crimson White by The Crimson White

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 19 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894 NEWS | DENNY CHIMES

Photo Phot Ph ootto IIlIllustration llu lust sttraatit oonn by by Austin Auussti stitin Bi B Bigoney iggoonneey igo

TODAYON CAMPUS Commissioned by Bonner, doctoral student composes popular tune By Rachel Brown | Contributing Writer

Art scene WHAT: Beverly Semmes: Starcraft WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: Garland Hall

Community art WHAT: Umoja: The Spirit of Unity WHEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. WHERE: Paul R. Jones Gallery

Art on campus WHAT: Defining Place – Dominic Lippillo & Mark Schoon WHEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. WHERE: Woods Hall

Professional prep

While “Celebrating Achievement” is a common tune to many students at The University of Alabama, for one, it is more than just familiar. Amir Zaheri, a doctoral student, is the man behind the music. Aside from being a doctoral student, Zaheri is an instructor of music composition and theory in the School of Music and the director of the University’s contemporary ensemble. He came to the University in fall 2011 because he was drawn to the School of Music for its renowned instructors and excellent academics. “First of all, I came [to UA] because of Dr. Craig P. First – the composer with whom I study. I was a very big fan of his music long before I had the chance to meet him,” Zaheri said. “Having the opportunity to work with him and having his mentorship has been amazing. Second, I chose to come to UA because of the incredible music academics and the strong performance areas. The composition, theory and musicology faculty is exceptional. Add to this a large number of remarkably talented and SEE ACHIEVEMENT PAGE 13

WHAT: Resume Review WHEN: 1:15-2:30 p.m. WHERE: 259 Nott Hall

CW | Austin Bigoney Student instructor Amir Zaheri enjoys the musical opportunities he has found at UA, dedicating time to many works including “Paean to a Summons,” or the tune for “Celebrating Acheivement.”

NEWS | HOUSING

Buy fresh, buy local WHAT: Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market WHEN: 3-6 p.m. WHERE: Canterbury Episcopal Chapel

Task force addresses student housing Housing development boom raises concerns By Ellen Coogan | Staff Reporter

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tomorrow

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released next month, we will be in the fortunate position of providing factual data,” Grayson Glaze, director of ACRE, said. “With that being said, UA’s recent enrollment growth along with Tuscaloosa’s

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of the job opportunities they would bring for citizens, but now they are reassessing these policies. The Alabama Center for Real Estate is looking into these concerns of over-construction. “With ACRE’s multifamily market survey that includes student housing due to be

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WHAT: Culverhouse School of Accountancy’s Fall Career Fair WHEN: 5-7 p.m. WHERE: Bryant Conference Center

WEATHER

Career fair

CW | Hannah Glenn

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WHAT: Art Night WHEN: 5-9 p.m. WHERE: Downtown Northport and Tuscaloosa Galleries

Concerns about continuous construction of student housing in Tuscaloosa have led Mayor Walt Maddox to create the Student Rental Housing Task Force, which met yesterday at City Hall. “I’m a 50-year-old guy who sits on the planning commission, and I’m worried sick about this community,” Steven Rumsey, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, said during yesterday’s meeting of the task force. In the wake of the financial crisis of 200709, Rumsey said the board was more optimistic when it came to approving large student-specific housing complexes because

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CAMPUSBRIEFS

Thursday September 5, 2013

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Students to participate in pageant The reigning Miss Alabama Chandler Champion, a junior majoring in dance and broadcast journalism, and Miss Michigan Haley Williams, a public relations major, will take the stage in hopes of winning a $50,000 Miss America scholarship. Champion, who has already earned nearly $55,000 in pageant scholarships, said her time here at the University in the dance program has prepared her well for the competition. Williams, a former Crimsonette, Diamond Doll and UA ambassador, also said her experiences while on campus helped polish her pageant skills. Both women plan to take some time off from school while they prepare but will return to complete their degrees after the competition is over.

SCENEON CAMPUS

Senator applications due Friday ely The deadline to apply to become a Hall Council senator with the Association of Residential Communities is Friday, Sept. 6 before 9 p.m. The ARC acts as a coordinating body for students living in residence halls on campus and provides a channel for the residence halls and apartment communities to Student Affairs and administrative offices, specifically, the Housing and Residential Communities. Hall Council senators represent their residence halls in the ARC and advocate for all students living on campus. For more information and the application, students can send an email to uaarc@sa.ua.edu.

Researcher writes on fantasy sports Andrew Billings, a sports researcher at The University of Alabama, will release a book he calls the “first true survey” of fantasy sports leagues in the United States. The book, “The Fantasy Sport Industry: Games within Games,” which was co-written by University of Cincinnati professor Brody Ruihley, discusses fantasy sports as an industry game changer. “Fantasy sport tips the scales for media consumption,” Billings said in a UA press release. “At the most fundamental level, why do people watch sports? They watch to see who wins. In fantasy sports, that’s not the case. You’re rooting for individual players and may not even care at all about which team wins. That changes the most basic equation of sports media research.” The book will hit stores Sept. 9.

P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355

CW File A clear autumn afternoon provides perfect walking weather for a student girl and her canine companion.

FRIDAY WHAT: Umoja: The Spirit of Unity WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: Paul R. Jones Gallery

ON THE

WHAT: International Coffee Hour WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. WHERE: 121 B.B. Comer

TODAY

WHAT: Beverly Semmes: Starcraft WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: Garland Hall WHAT: Resume Review WHEN: 1:15-2:30 p.m. WHERE: 259 Nott Hal

WHAT: Seven Handle Circus WHEN: 10 p.m. WHERE: Green Bar

WHAT: Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market WHEN: 3-6 p.m. WHERE: Canterbury Episcopal Chapel

WHAT: Mojo Trio WHEN: 10 p.m. WHERE: Rhythm and Brews

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WHAT: The Color Run WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: Munny Sokol Park WHAT: Tailgate Dance WHEN: 7-10 p.m. WHERE: Calavry Baptist Church WHAT: Captain Green WHEN: 10 p.m. WHERE: Green Bar

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SATURDAY

WHAT: Skyler Foster & Ashton Shepard WHEN: 10 p.m. WHERE: Rhythm and Brews WHAT: Afro-American Gospel Choir Car Wash WHEN: All Day WHERE: O’Reilly’s on 15th Street and Arby’s on McFarland Blvd.

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The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2013 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.

First teaser of CW film on desegregation available online The Crimson White has released the first of several previews for its upcoming original documentary, “Stepping Through,” by CW Video Editor Daniel Roth. The documentary will take an in-depth look at the desegregation of The University of Alabama in 1963 and the legacy of those events today, 50 years later. “Stepping Through” is the story of desegregation at the University through the stories of those who experienced it first-hand and have lived in the aftermath as the University continues to evolve half a century after Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled for classes. The first preview video, which features Hank Black, the editor-in-chief of the CW at the time of desegregation, can be found on the CW website at cw.ua.edu/ steppingthrough.

CW | Daniel Roth The first teaser of the CW documentary, “Stepping Through,” features part of an interview with Hank Black, the 1963 CW editor.

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Fewer renters worry complexes HOUSING FROM PAGE 1

positive economic profile and post-tornado related business opportunities have certainly attracted new development and the concern of future oversupply is ripe for analysis at this time.” Some members of the community have expressed concern over the rapid expansion of the student housing market, but there is currently no process for controlling the rate of development, John McConnell, director of planning and development services, said. “It’s all about your zoning use rights. We don’t tell people when they can build, or anything other than what they can build on their property,” McConnell said.

Student apartment complexes have begun to feel the hit. While three-year-old student housing complex the Woodlands managed to reach 100 percent occupancy this year, it took until July to reach that point, whereas it was full by May in 2012, Jennifer Lauth, a representative from the Woodlands, said during the meeting. Crimson Student Living, formerly Sterling Crimson, which had 93 percent occupancy last renting season, was down to 84 percent this year, even with a 3 percent bonus from taking over leases at a complex that was not finished in time for the school year, Amy Vernor, a representative from Crimson Student Living, said during the meeting. “In many cases, it took longer, and in some cases they had to employ incentives to

Fraternity Belts and Key Fobs

fulfill their goal. That could be discounted rents, discounted fees and deposits. That could be flat screen televisions or iPads, depending on whatever the marketing department decides on,” Jim Andrews, publisher of the Tuscaloosa Apartment Guide, said of Crimson Student Living’s occupancy struggles. Andrews said Tuscaloosa’s construction rate of student housing developments is among the highest in the nation. “For the inventory available today, we have one of the highest volumes of development in the pipeline than anywhere in the country,” Andrews said. Development in the pipeline refers to developments that are under construction, approved or in the approval process. “Within a 24-month period of time, we’re going to have somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 beds added to the inventory,” Andrews said. That flood of available beds could potentially hurt the health of the housing

PLAN TO GO WHAT: Task force meeting WHEN: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ferguson 204A CW | Austin Bigoney New housing communities offer competitive amenities including this cafe-style common area at Crimson Student Living. market, some members of the task force said. “I do think they [the City Planning and Zoning Committee] ought to adhere to the rules, whether that’s zoning ordinances or codes and try to minimize variances or alterations to the existing code. First and foremost, just in the interest of fairness, and I think they do that,” Andrews said. While competition may drive rent prices down and incentives up, there could be other real costs for renters.

“The students – they want healthy occupancy levels because the properties operate at a higher level and are maintained at a higher level,” Andrews said. “Anecdotally, when occupancy levels fall too low, the pool doesn’t get relined, the parking lot gets patched instead of repaved.” Students interested in asking questions or giving input to the Student Rental Housing Task Force can attend a meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Ferguson Room 204A. “It’s mostly geared toward

what students want, and what the future looks like for students and where they’re going to live and how that affects them,” said Madalyn Vaughn, a senior accounting major and student representative on the Task Force. “They talk about the amenities that come with the new places, but I think that the most important factor, at least for me as a student and for other students is what the rent price is at the end of the day.”

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OPINION

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IN YOUR

John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu

Thursday, September 5, 2013

COLUMN | TEXTBOOKS

Lifting the textbook burden off of students By John Brinkerhoff | Opinion Editor

CW | Kevin Pabst

COLUMN | TRANSPORTATION

CrimsonRide transit system not convenient By Erynn Williams | Staff Columnist In this third week of classes here at The University of Alabama, I’d say just about all of us have gotten a chance to develop some sort of routine as to how we travel from class to class and to and from campus. If any of your routines include the CrimsonRide transit system, then you’ll know just as well as I do that the convenience of the bus system has heavily decreased. From overcrowded buses to horrendous traffic at certain times of the day, taking CrimsonRide to class has become more and more of a burden on the student population here at the University. The buses run on a continuous loop, and with the TransLoc app (available for most phones and other mobile devices), predicting the time a bus will arrive at a certain bus stop shouldn’t be that hard. But

knowing whether or not the bus that is just around the corner will actually arrive in five minutes or 15 minutes can become frustrating. Now I understand there are many different variables that can attest to how a bus driver drives – road signs, traffic lights, pedestrians, etc. – especially on main roads for bus routes, like University Boulevard. None of the street lights on University Boulevard by the Quad are synchronized, and the distance between the lights is not even close to half of a mile. The result is a backup of cars and buses all along the busiest part of the boulevard with pedestrians trying to make their way through. Not only does this pose a delay for students on the bus, but also the traffic delays students trying to cross University Boulevard. Despite the wonky traffic lights and other mild traffic disturbances, there

From overcrowded buses to horrendous trafﬁc at certain times of the day, taking CrimsonRide to class has become more and more of a burden on the student population here at the University.y

is still no reason that what should take a five- to 10-minute drive instead takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It also doesn’t help that the population is so high at the University, as the bus stops are usually very crowded and the buses fill quickly. While developing my daily commuting routine, I’ve tried leaving both close to an hour before my class and a half hour before. Leaving 30 or so minutes before my class, I would arrive to class late. However the days that I left 50 minutes to an hour early, I arrived on time. During the timely experiences I’ve had so far, I’ve

also sat back and watched drivers take smoke breaks, pick up lunch from fraternity house workers, and, let’s be honest, it should not take five minutes to switch drivers. The bus system as a whole has proven to be slow and actually less of a convenience to students. As far as reliability, I would recommend using the bus system only if you feel like leaving home an hour before your class starts. Otherwise, get a bike. Erynn Williams is a sophomore majoring in dance and international studies. Her column runs biweekly.

Recently, this page has raised questions about the rising costs of textbooks for students, the practices of the SUPeStore, and the ethics of textbook publishing companies. While these concerns are understandable, I am not an economist or a SUPeStore employee, and can’t propose solutions to pricing; however, I am a student and I can address an issue that exacerbates the already difficult situation for students: when the required textbooks for a course are posted. Over the past seven semesters, I have registered for dozens of courses. For some, I knew what books to buy in late spring. For others, it was the middle of summer. Regardless of when I found out what books were required, all courses posted the books long after registration had filled up for most classes, forcing me to register without knowing what books were required. As such, I was completely incapable of factoring cost into my course decisions. Even if the book list came out in the late spring, it was often too late to switch into a different class. For me, this was highly inconvenient, particularly when I was be surprised by multiple threefigure textbooks in a nonrequired course; however, for other students, such as a peer of mine who is working through college and whose teacher added eight additional books a week before school started, it is just plain wrong. Fortunately, Jake Eigner, an SGA senator and member of the Delta Chi fraternity, has given The University of Alabama an opportunity to rectify this situation. His proposal, which will be voted on in Senate this week, is simple: require the University to post textbook prices alongside course listings when students register. Obviously, this plan would not stem rising textbook costs, nor would it be a silver bullet for the funding woes of college students, but it would be a fantastic step in the right direction. It would enable students to financially plan for the next year through course selec-

John Brinkerhoff tion and reduce the number of sticker-shocked students who come to class without textbooks. Also, Eigner expressed hope that this policy would make faculty more sensitive to the cost of textbooks. As someone who has had to buy textbooks for a course only to find that they were never even used by the professor, I am in wholehearted agreement. This new policy could not be entirely rigid. Exceptions would have to be made for last-minute changes in instructors and other extenuating circumstances. It would also require some adaptation from faculty. However, these issues pale in comparison to the greater good that could be done in enacting Eigner’s policy as the rule and making anything else the exception. Textbooks are expensive tools to be wisely used to further education, not a whimsical decision that can be made on the fly. On that merit alone, deciding which textbooks to use after registration is, with a few exceptions, unreasonable. Furthermore, with students taking on mountains of loans, working fulltime, and patching together savings and scholarships to pay for rapidly increasing higher education costs, the University should take every opportunity it can to let students control their expenses. Eigner’s proposal clearly has merit and holds the potential to help nearly every student on this campus. The SGA Student Senate and the UA administration would do well to seriously consider its implementation on campus. John Brinkerhoff is the opinion editor of the Crimson White. His column runs weekly.

COLUMN | ACADEMICS

Personalized student advising shouldn’t suffer from growing pains By Nathan James | Senior Staff Columnist Some things can be adequately handled with flowcharts. In fact, flowcharts have the potential to fill many important roles. They can be used to outline safety protocols, describe programming processes and identify species of birds, among other things. They are inadequate, however, for the purposes of advising. Around registration periods, many of you saw a lot of flowcharts. It seems that the new trend for helping students select their courses is to simply give them a sheet of paper showing the linear progression from one class to another,

Nathan James culminating in graduation. Oftentimes, these charts are given out at group “advising” sessions, which include 30 or more students in a single room, receiving paperwork from a stranger. Other times, there’s no

real advising structure at all. Students in this situation are left to look up their major requirements on DegreeWorks or sign up for a meeting with a professor on their own initiative. Obviously student enrollment has grown lately, and that comes with pros and cons. One of those is a higher student-to-teacher ratio, which necessitates larger class sizes and time-saving measures. But I believe that when it comes to advising, these measures have gone a little too far. The current paradigm for student advising seems rushed, impersonal and insufficient for the complex needs of students. Anyone can go online, register for the required cours-

EDITORIAL BOARD Mazie Bryant editor-in-chief Lauren Ferguson managing editor Katherine Owen production editor Anna Waters visuals editor

Mackenzie Brown online editor Larsen Lien chief copy editor John Brinkerhoff opinion editor

es, and then take those courses. Advising should be about each student’s specific circumstances, which will often be influenced by that student’s personal traits. Here are the kinds of questions advising should answer: What electives will best synergize with my major? Should I drop a difficult minor, or stay the course and risk my GPA? How can I get involved in research projects to fill out my resume? Taking into account my personal monetary resources, will the benefits of taking a fifth year outweigh the financial liabilities? All of the above questions could be crucial to a student’s success at the University. And none of them can be answered

by a stranger, much less in a room full of other students with their own questions. Under the University’s current system, undergraduates are largely flying blind. They may know what courses they need, but the University doesn’t have any plan for getting them past that. And when they graduate, many students’ GPAs, resumes, portfolios and prospects are going to suffer for it. Ideally, advising staff should know each student they work with personally; they should have an advising relationship that is persistent over many semesters, not a matter of hours; and they should have the time to discuss each student’s situation in some

depth. If the University doesn’t have the staff resources to fulfill these basic roles, then it needs to look hard at recruitment paradigms and decide if it’s time to back off on campus expansion. Overcrowding is one thing; not having the manpower to provide students with basic guidance is another entirely. In the past, I’ve defended the University’s recruitment policies, but when roles as fundamental as advising are left unfulfilled, that’s my tipping point. Nathan James is a junior majoring in public relations. His column runs weekly on Thursdays.

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NEWS

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IN THE

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Mark Hammontree and Sarah Elizabeth Tooker | Assistant Editors newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

TODAYON CAMPUS UA ranked in Most Frat-tastic list Her Campus, an online community for college women with a team of over 3,000 students at more than 200 colleges, announced their non-traditional college rankings this week. The University of Alabama, according to Her Campus’s online platform, ranked No. 5 in “The Most Frat-Tastic Schools.” Their explanation is as follows: “Bama boys know how to reap the benefits of Greekhood. UA frat guys always get priority for block seating at football games right behind the end zone, instead of in the student section with their less fratty peers. With almost 60 different frats and sororities made up of about 7,000 students, it’s no wonder the UA Greeks rule the social scene. UA even took over the title as the nation’s largest Greek community in 2012, a title that it still holds today. Bama frat guys not only act the part, but they look the part, too. ‘Alabama fraternity men dress in the Southern preppy style that melts your heart,’ says UA student Jessica Johnson. ‘You cannot walk around campus, or Tuscaloosa for that matter, without noticing the fraternity men.’”

The 49 to hold 1st meeting tonight Out-of-state students who would like to connect with other students who do not live in Alabama can attend the first meeting of The 49, the official out-of-state student organization. An informational meeting will be held today in Gorgas 205 from 6 - 7 p.m. The group will also have a meeting for its mentoring program, foUndAtion, on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 5 - 7 p.m. in the Mortar Board room on the third floor of the Ferguson Center. The foUndAtion program was started by The 49 to help out-of-state freshmen and transfer students transition to life at The University of Alabama. Upperclassmen who are interested in becoming mentors can contact Kaylyn Johnson at kaajohnson5@crimson.ua.edu. The 49, in conjunction with Yell Crew, First Year Experience, and Housing and Residential Communities, will host a viewing party for the Texas A&M football game Sept. 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. Students can watch the game with other students while partaking in games, free food and a photo shoot with Big Al.

GTAs balance teaching, classwork, research CW | M Morgan FFunderburk d b k Giraj Kandukuri is getting his doctorate in civil engineering while working as a GTA in the department. By Morgan Funderburk | Contributing Writer Many graduate teaching assistants lurk inconspicuously in the recesses of our lecture halls; however, GTAs do more than leave red grade marks strewn across student assignments. They provide necessary support and research for the University. GTAs, who are pursuing either a doctoral or master’s degree in their field, must balance teaching duties alongside coursework of their own each semester. Neil Tindell, currently a GTA for the Anatomy 215 lab, is pursuing his master’s in biological science. “My week is probably divided 20/20/20,” Tindell said. “About 20 hours teaching, 20 doing classwork and about 20-40 hours doing research.” Tindell became a GTA after getting his undergraduate degree in biology from The University in 2012. His decision to become a GTA weighed heavily on his desire to do research in developmental biology. “It’s all about funding,” Neil said. “If your project you’re working on as a

graduate student hasn’t been funded yet, you’re either paying for your tuition or you’re getting a TA-ship.” Giraj Kandukuri, originally from India, is pursuing his doctorate in civil engineering and said he chose the University based on the research opportunities available. “They have hired a lot of new faculty and they are hungry to do research,” Kandukuri said. Outside of research, grading and teaching take up much of Kandukuri’s time; however, the amount of GTA work involved greatly varies from class to class. Preparation and performance of the experiments make classes with labs a particularly large commitment for a GTA. “CE 262 takes more commitment because of the lab,” Kandukuri said. “Then, actually doing an experiment takes time.” Outside of classes and labs, GTAs still find themselves among the culture at the University, with access to student facilities and tickets to football games. Much to Tindell’s dismay, when buying football tickets, first-year graduate stu-

dents begin again from square one. “You would think you would have accumulated hours,” Tindell said. “But when you graduate, you lose all the built up hours that you had.” Becoming a GTA benefits graduate students as well as the professors for whom they work. GTAs get to hone in on their teaching and lab skills and become stronger in their field because of it. This, in turn, can benefit the undergraduate students they oversee. Jacob Valleroy, a junior majoring in musical theater, often uses his GTAs more than the professors during his biology lab. “Most of my questions I asked my TAs instead of my professor,” Jacob said. “They were much more readily available.” Interaction between students and GTAs occurs mostly in labs or when a professor is unable to attend lecture. Kandukuri said he enjoys being a GTA here at the University and has had only good experiences. “The students are really easy-going,” Kandukuri said. “I really like being a TA here.”

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NEWS IN THE

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Growth comes to UA greek system By Chris Kowalski | Contributing Writer

CW | Hannah Glenn

The Sorority Row Expansion Plan is set to unfold in 3 phases, involving 7 houses to date

As the fall semester begins at The University of Alabama, the Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic Association have welcomed new growth to the greek system by means of construction and the intake of new groups on campus. Since 2002, the greek community has seen continued expansion, Kat Gillan, director of Greek Affairs, said. “The community hopes to continue that trend, adding new chapters and councils to best fit the needs of our students,” Gillan said in an emailed statement. Currently, there are a number of construction projects taking place on the campus. The cluster of new houses going up along University Boulevard and Paul W. Bryant Drive stem from a need for larger houses to accommodate student growth and to remain compliant with current safety and fire regulations. Cathy Andreen, director of media relations, provided renderings of the new sorority houses. They show multistoried buildings with the red brick and white roofing synonymous with the architecture of the campus. IFC groups undergoing construction include Delta Chi, Pi Kappa Phi and Theta Chi. All three of these projects are expected to be completed and open in various parts of 2014 or early 2015. The Sorority Row Expansion Plan is divided into three different phases. Phase one consists of the Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega projects, with construction of these projects either already underway or beginning soon with a estimated completion date of fall 2014. The second phase will include the Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Phi Mu projects, which currently remain under planning and will begin upon the completion of phase one. Phase two, Gillan said, has a preliminary expected completion date of fall 2015. No details of phase three have been released, but the segment will be dependent upon completion of the previous two. While most of the greek houses on campus are owned and operated by local housing corporations, the University maintains a handful of small group houses that allow for smaller organizations to live together without purchasing a house, Gillan said. For newer greek organizations, the University has secured a master lease with an apartment community near campus to help provide communal living as part of the fraternal experience. This model will allow for groups to be able to live in blocks of apartments specifically allotted for their organizations. Any group that is interested should contact housing and residential communities to learn more about this opportunity.

SUPe Store increases staff for 4 locations By Richard Howatt | Contributing Writer With the fall semester underway, the demand for school supplies on campus, including textbooks, has risen significantly. The University Supply Store, commonly known as the SUPe Store, is The University of Alabama’s one-stop shop for everything incoming freshmen and returning upperclassmen need to prepare for class. The store currently has four locations: the Ferguson Center, Tutwiler Hall, the Bryant Museum and the School of Law. Teresa Shreve, director of the SUPe Store, said all locations have varying hours to accommodate students. The main store at the Ferguson Center will be undergoing expansion and renovation this year, Shreve said. As the University grows, the back-to-school rush has resulted in long lines and crowding. To decrease the checkout time for students, the SUPe Store has increased its normally 48-person staff across the campus. “The store hires extra staff to assist with preparing for the book rush as well as

assisting customers at the start of each semester. We enjoy assisting the students and parents, answering their questions and welcoming them to the Bama family, and we see how the store plays a vital part in the University’s mission of serving students,” Shreve said. While some students still experience long lines and sold-out books depending on what times of the day they visit the store, other students have found that the lines were manageable. “It was wonderful; I didn’t have to wait in any lines,” said Alexis Edwards, a freshman majoring in communication studies. “I came in and the woman was very helpful. She helped me get all my books, then I got in line. It was very quick. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.” Some students also found the process for buying books at the SUPe Store simpler than other alternatives. “It was really easy. I just looked for them myself, and I did not need any help or anything. It was OK,” Laurie Williams, a first-year graduate student in human development and family studies, said. “It was really simple and straight forward.”

One criticism of the SUPe Store for some students is the prices and how they compare to other retailers. “I think that it is a great

place. It is probably a little expensive. A girl just bought a binder for $5, and it was probably $1 at Wal-Mart, but other than that it is a cool place,”

Edwards said. Antonia Hoye, a freshman majoring in nursing, said she was pleased overall with her experience at the SUPe Store.

“It seems really nice,” Hoye said. “I am glad they have different supplies other than just books and things other than just supplies. It’s a nice store to shop at.”

CW | Hannah Glenn

CULTURE

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Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu

Thursday, September 5, 2013

COLUMN | MUSIC

2013 still awaiting albums By Francie Johnson

We’re more than halfway into 2013, but some of the year’s best albums have yet to come. Here’s a look at some of the soon-to-bereleased and just released albums that I’m most looking forward to

FRANZ FERDINAND: “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action”

MGMT: “MGMT”

Chances are, you know Franz Ferdinand by the iconic single “Take Me Out,” from the band’s 2004 eponymous debut album. It’s been almost 10 years since the Glasgow-based quartet released that alt-rock goldmine, and more than four years since its released an album at all, but the wait will soon end. Franz Ferdinand’s fourth studio album, “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action” just dropped on Aug. 27. In an interview with Stereogum, the band members said they took a more purposeful approach with this album than they had in the past. “We had a lot of discussion before we made this record,” lead vocalist Alex Kapranos said. If the funky, high-volume single “Right Action” is any indication, Franz Ferdinand still has the same bombastic sound that made the band famous, and the wait has been well worth it.

Formed in 2002 by thenWe s l eya n - f r e s h m e n Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, MGMT has become somewhat of a posterchild for psychedelic indie-pop. The band has released two studio albums thus far, with a slew of hits including “Kids,” “Time To Pretend,” “Electric Feel” and many more. Sept. 17 marks the release of MGMT’s third, self-titled album. As if MGMT’s music isn’t trippy enough, this new album also comes with “The Optimizer,” which features video and computer-generated imagery to add a visual element to the listening experience. In a day and age where it’s altogether too easy to listen to music passively, this enhanced auditory and visual experience is a welcome change.

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ROOTS: “Wise Up Ghost” What began as a single performance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” has blossomed into a full-on collaboration between British pop artist Elvis Costello and alternative hip-hop band the Roots. If this pairing seems unusual, one listen to the single “Walk Us Uptown” will change your mind. Featuring Costello’s soulful, crooning vocals against the Roots’ irresistibly funky orchestration, this song can only be described one way: just plain good. “Wise Up Ghost,” the supergroup’s first studio album, doesn’t drop until Sept. 17, but I’m already crossing my fingers that there’s more to come.

PEARL JAM: “Lightning Bolt” I have to admit, I was less than impressed with Pearl Jam’s newest single “Mind Your Manners” off the band’s upcoming album “Lightning Bolt.” “Lightning Bolt,” out Oct. 15, will be Pearl Jam’s 10th studio album and the first since 2009’s “Backspacer.” Despite my initial disappointment, Pearl Jam is still Pearl Jam, so I’m naturally eager to hear what these 1990s grunge icons have come up with in the last four years. Brendan O’Brien, who produced the album, told Rolling Stone, “I guess there are a few longer, more devoted songs [than there were on “Backspacer”]. I don’t know if the word ‘depth’ is right, but some of the songs kind of take you down a road for a while.”

THE AVETT BROTHERS: “Magpie and the Dandelion” It seems like just yesterday that the Avett Brothers released their 2012 album “The Carpenter” and that’s because, in the music world, it basically was just yesterday. Scott, Seth and the gang are set to release their eighth full-length album, “Magpie and the Dandelion,” on Oct. 15th, just 13 months after the release of “The Carpenter.” However, these songs have been a long time in the making; the brothers have said that “Magpie” is somewhat of an unofficial continuation of “The Carpenter.” “The Carpenter” didn’t capture my heart quite the same way that other Avett Brothers albums have, but it still had the mix of poignancy and lightheartedness that I’ve always loved about the band. This album may end up being more of the same, but for the Avett Brothers, that’s never a bad thing.

CULTURE IN BRIEF Tuscaloosa named Lebowski-friendly

University Programs

Charity sale, silent auction

Estately, a real estate search site and licensed real estate brokerage, named Tuscaloosa as one of “The 11 Most Lebowski-Friendly Cities.” The list was based off of the character The Dude in “The Big Lebowski.” It was composed based off a formula that measured the number of bowling alleys within the city and compared it to Lebowski’s via the phone book, price of homes and frequency of festivals and events that were related to “The Big Lebowski.” Favorable laws and the enforcement for marijuana users, as well as the availability of White Russian ingredients that could be found at local grocery stores, were also considered. Tuscaloosa Abides, a festival event held in honor of Lebowski in March, and Tuscaloosa’s three bowling alleys – AMF Bama Lanes, Bama Bowl and Leland Lanes – were also cited as contributing factors.

University Programs has partnered with The Color Run to provide free transportation to the event. The run will take place Saturday in Munny Sokol Park at 8 a.m. University Programs will shuttle students from the Ferguson Center Plaza to the event, and will also be offering free refreshments. This will be the second time the self-proclaimed “Happiest 5k on Earth” has come to Tuscaloosa. The run is non-competitive and registration information is available at thecolorrun.com/tuscaloosa.

Buy for Rise, a charity sale event and silent auction, will be held Friday at the Rise School. All proceeds will go directly directly to the school. The event will be held from 5-8 p.m. and $10 pre-sale tickets are available at Bow Regards and Rise. Tickets will also be sold at the door Friday for $15. All items will be 75 percent off of the lowest marked prices. The event will also carry over into Saturday with free admissions that day from 8-11 a.m. in the morning and 90 percent off the lowest marked prices. For more information on the event and the Rise School, call the school at (205) 348-7931.

COLUMN | FASHION

Amp up your nighttime look without being intimidated By Abbey Crain When it comes to “going out” clothes, I stand mostly clueless. You want to go out for drinks? I don’t own any of those skin-tight bandage dresses; none of my shirts have side cut-outs, and all my

skirts are knee-length and A-line. By day I own the sidewalks and command attention, but as the sun goes down, so do my wardrobe options. I guess you could say my nighttime clothes are my daytime clothes, therefore I don’t look like I want to flirt with you. My

clothes need daylight not dub step. On the rare occasion I do decide to venture downtown, I often end up wearing the same dark jeans-tank top combination I’d wear to lunch with my grandmother. But lately, I’ve discovered the power in simple silhouettes and androgynous sartorial combinations. My go-to nighttime ensemble usually includes a structured short and statement shoe. For those of us with a penchant for commanding the dance floor, shorts are perfect for prancing without fear of flashing, not to mention heels give you instant gams. To amp up the trouser-like

bottoms, pair them with a light chiffon shirt. This is a good way to include a print or a bright color. Prints are everything in my book. I chose to button mine up all the way for the nerdy-chic look that was all over fall 2012 runways like Marc by Marc Jacobs and L.A.M.B. A leather T-shirt would be another great option to transform your look from summer to fall. Cropped tops are great for the bar scene if your confidence is soaring and your shorts are navel-grazing. Just be weary of the stretchy material’s tendency to ride up and deter dancing abilities. To break up the boyish look of shorts and collared shirts,

add a sexy shoe and a swipe of bold lipstick. Shoes and lipstick make an outfit and break up the androgyny emanating from my buttoned-up collar and middle part. The strappy black sandal is perfect for the going-out clothes rotation. Plus, now that Zara has a cheaper version, we can all have a pair. Just be you when dressing for nighttime activities. Don’t be intimidated by the neon chevron, one-shouldered dresses spanning the length of Rounder’s new dance floor; dress in what makes you feel comfortable. CW | Abbey Crain You’re probably going to get Try feminine heels with strucbeer spilled on you anyway. tured shorts for a night out.

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Video apps vie for users By Courtney Stinson | Staff Reporter When the video-sharing app Vine was released in January, the app had the edge on mobile video sharing with its simple interface though its videos were limited to six seconds. However, months later, the already popular photo-sharing app Instagram added a video component to its service. Despite the initial fear that Instagram video would run Vine out of business, many Vine users have remained loyal to their platform. Avid Vine user Katie Johnson, a senior majoring in graphic design, said Instagram video is typically used to document personal events, while Vine is often used to create entertainmentoriented content. “My favorite thing about Vine is the creative aspect of the videos,” she said. “I think a lot of Vine users use Vine as a sixsecond narrative, not just a way of documenting events.” Ben Pockstaller, a senior majoring in history, also said Instagram video is used more

for personal documentation than narratives but said that is why he prefers Instagram to Vine. “Instagram is more kind of a personal thing,” Pockstaller said. “On Instagram, instead of just taking a picture of a coffee, you can video yourself drinking it, and Vine - it’s just like people dancing around and throwing plungers at each other and crazy stuff.” While Pockstaller said he enjoys Vine, he also said he found some of the content over the top and off-putting. “I feel like Instagram is more artistic, whereas Vine, while there are artistic people on Vine, I felt it was more just people doing funny things,” he said. “That’s fun in its own way, but it was kind of loud and I feel Instagram is more tame.” Taelor Lather, a junior majoring in advertising, like Pockstaller, said she prefers Instagram but has both of the apps. “I generally use Instagram to show funny things I or someone

I’m with is doing,” Lather said. “I also love to post cool events I’m at, or pretty places I’m going to.” Lather said she thinks the difference in the way people use Vine and Instagram is because of their associations. Before the video feature was introduced, Instagram was already used by many for personal documentation. On the other hand, Vine’s YouTube integration amps up the entertainment feel of the app. “I think [the difference in usage] is because we associate Vine with YouTube but much shorter videos,” she said. The video-making process differs with the two apps as well. On Vine, users simply hold down a finger on their phone’s screen to begin recording and remove it to stop; however, Instagram video offers more features to allow users increased creative options and fewer limitations. Instagram video offers 13 filters that users can apply to add more style to their videos. Users also have the option to delete

takes of their video without deleting the entire video. Vine users, on the other hand, have to start their entire video over if they want to redo a take. Despite Instagram’s greater number of features, Johnson prefers the simplicity of Vine because she says the constraints push users to be more creative. “I personally prefer Vine over Instagram because I think filters are a crutch that people sometimes use when they do not make the effort to create visually appealing videos,” she said. Vine and Instagram may appeal to different users for different reasons, but Pockstaller said that really the choice depends on the user. “I think [creativity] really depends on the person using [the app],” Pockstaller said. “I think Instagram has more potential for creativity because the video is longer and it does have filters, but the people who make dumb videos on Vine can make dumb videos on Instagram, it’s just longer.”

CW I Austin Bigoney Both Vine and Instagram maintain their popularity but for different reasons.

Garden party partners local farmers, restaurants

Submitted Local farmers are given the chance to show off their homegrown produce. By Bianca Martin | Contributing Writing Local is the theme of this year’s Garden Party hosted by Druid City Garden Project, where Tuscaloosa residents will be given a rare chance to sample meals made with local ingredients from the

city’s most renowned restaurants. The event will take place at the Tuscaloosa River Market on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 5-8 p.m. Guests will be able to try buffet-style, locally-made dishes from different restaurant and farm pairings and

beer from Good People Brewing Co. and Druid City Brewing Co. Lindsay Turner, executive director of Druid City Garden Project, said she believes the Garden Party will be a fun event for everyone. “It’s an event to celebrate some local food and for us to come and enjoy what has been produced and created locally,” Turner said. There will be a variety of meals featured, including Jim N’ Nicks’ whole heritage hog, Cypress Inn’s duo tomato plate with tomatoes from Burnett Farms, and Epiphany Cafe’s spiced winter squash soup featuring squash from Snow’s Bend Farm. Mary’s Cakes and Pastries will try its hand at vegetable and oatmeal cookies with okra, eggplant and squash

from Snow’s Bend Farm. Owner Mary Cesar said her store has always bought locally and that it is important for her to support Alabama’s local farmers. “[Farmers are] the people that care,” Cesar said. “You know you’re supporting someone that lives down the street from you. You actually talk to the people who grow your food. You can find out from them why they grow what they grow and what motivates them. It makes the whole experience more than just eating because you’re hungry.” Cesar said she looks forward to showing people how fruits and vegetables can be used for desserts. “It’s fun to be part of that cutting edge of raising awareness of how you can use local

things,” Cesar said. Along with promoting local farmers, the Garden Party is also meant to support Druid City Garden Project. The nonprofit organization is using the event to bring awareness and raise money to eat locally and implement gardens in schools’ backyards. “Our mission and our

work is in Tuscaloosa City Schools,” said Turner. “So we love to have folks come out and learn more about our mission and our program.” Tickets for the Garden Party cost $40 for general admission and $55 for the All-Star Level. Ticket prices increase by $5 at the door. All proceeds benefit Druid City Garden Project.

Make your last call, the right call. This message is brought to you by NHTSA and the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs

CULTURE Service group lends hand to Black Belt

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By Megan Miller | Staff Reporter With community service programs and initiatives rampant on campus, the Honors College has developed a new program that targets the needs of Alabama’s Black Belt region. Black Belt Action, a subset of Honors Action along with Alabama Action and Outdoor Action, was envisioned to provide freshmen with community service opportunities outside the Tuscaloosa community. “Honors Action provides incoming freshmen a great transition onto campus and a chance to meet likeminded students, all while beginning their college careers by serving communities,” said Chris Joiner, staff sponsor for Black Belt Action. Joiner said Black Belt Action exists under 57 Miles, the Honors College initiative born from its five-year relationship with Perry County, Ala., and experienced a very successful first year. “Black Belt Action specifically worked with the community of Marion, Ala., through physical improvements to one of three Berean Baptist Head Start

Pre-Kindergarten locations,” Joiner said. Maxton Thoman, a student leader for Black Belt Action and a sophomore majoring in biology and Spanish, said the program effectively introduces freshmen to the area. By immediately teaching them about the social, economic and historical issues facing the Black Belt. “It also provides them with insight into the incredible community system that has been built up there for generations in an attempt to spur involvement and interest in the Black Belt from the start of their college careers,” Thoman said. Joiner said guest speakers and discussion groups focused on Alabama’s Black Belt region, which stretches across the middle of the state, to help participants become familiar with the area they are to be serving. “Each day of the week represented a theme of community: education, economics, community engagement, or how they as students can get involved,” Joiner said. Erin McMinn, a junior majoring in biology and Spanish, also served as a student leader for the program. Her responsibilities included trav-

Submitted Freshmen participate in community service in the Black Belt through the Honors College program, Black Belt Action. eling with the students to Marion, Ala., daily and acting as a point of reference when there were questions about projects. She said the program’s organization and size also differ much from that of Alabama Action. The students worked as one group rather than breaking into groups of 10, as is done with Alabama Action.

“This allowed all 25 students to interact and also allowed us, as student leaders, to form a relationship with all of the participants,” McMinn said. Joiner said the largest benefit to students that participate in Black Belt Action is the smooth transition it offers them as they head into their freshman year.

Although Black Belt Action does not participate in service projects throughout the school year, freshmen in the Honors program can begin applying in the spirng. “Our hope is that the experience will inspire the new students to continue serving the community of Tuscaloosa, Marion and beyond,” McMinn said.

Smith Hall home to ancient, rare artifacts By Kevin Brophy | Contributing Writer Built in 1909 and named after Eugene Allen Smith, appointed state geologist in 1873, The University of Alabama’s Smith Hall has housed the Alabama Museum of Natural History for more than 100 years. The museum is home to some of Alabama’s rare pieces of history. It has items that date back millions of years ago, including Basilosaurus cetoides, Alabama’s state fossil and a shrunken human head. “A museum is like a library, where people go to learn, or like a park, where people can go to enjoy,” Randy Mecredy, director of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, said. “It’s a great source of natural history and a great timeline for the rich history of Alabama,” Dalton Bryant, a sophomore and museum employee, said. One of the most noticeable attractions is the full Basilosaurus fossil hanging from the ceiling in the main gallery. “A lot of the times people stop in here

to see the Basilosaurus fossil, which is one of the most popular attractions,” Bryant said. Along with the Basilosaurus, the museum also has the largest collection of Mosasaur, an ancient swimming reptile and a set of 300-million-year-old Cincosaurus footprints. The Hodges Meteorite, another artifact in the museum, is the only meteorite confirmed to ever strike a human. In 1954, Sylacauga, Ala., resident Ann Hodges awoke when a meteorite smashed through her roof and hit her leg, leaving only a bruise. Because the museum is set up as a self-guided tour, information about the historical artifacts is available throughout the museum. “We try and put things on display that allow the viewer to be intellectually stimulated,” Mecredy said. “Often times, people don’t realize that Alabama was covered by the ocean. With all of our fossils of marine life, viewers will get a sense of how Alabama was like many years ago.”

Photo Courtesy of Hoole Special Collections Library A shrunken head is a top attraction in the Alabama Museum of Natural History.

Submitted The Hodges Meteorite located in Smith Hall is the only meteorite to hit a human.

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Local ﬂavors found in diners, cafes Tuscaloosa is a metropolis of restaurants, dining halls, coffee shops, diners and cafes. Choosing what and where to eat can seem quite daunting to students given the plethora of options. Tuscaloosa’s diners come in many shades: classical and sophisticated, family-oriented, southern homestyle, relaxed and causal, and even retro. From breakfast nooks to Italian cafes, we explored some of the area’s best diners and cafes to narrow down the selection process. EPIPHANY CAFE

DEPALMA’S ITALIAN CAFE

519 Greensboro Ave.

T-TOWN CAFE 500 14th St.

2300 University Blvd,

HAVE TO TRY: Their mouth-watering short ribs. Located on Greensboro Avenue, Epiphany Cafe is an elegant contrast to the typical idea of a cafe. Epiphany caters to slightly more specialoccasion atmosphere than the average restaurant. Prices may seem high but the food is fixed accordingly. Epiphany is stocked through local vendors such as Homegrown Alabama, giving its dishes a local flair. Epiphany has a full bar and smoking areas.

HAVE TO TRY: The chicken and dumplings. Easily the baby of the group, T-Town Cafe is only one year old. Located on 14th Street where the Bottomfeeders Restaurant once was, T-Town Cafe is the realized ambition of its owners David Ryan and Jamey Graham. Though new, T-Town Cafe is growing a steady customer base. With local artwork covering its walls, T-Town embraces its local roots and invites college students to stop by to sample its various dishes ranging from seafood to

HAVE TO TRY: The homemade bread pudding. If you are in the mood for Italian, Depalma’s Italian Cafe has you covered. Located on the corner of University Boulevard and 23rd Avenue, Depalma’s has become a staple of Tuscaloosa cuisine to its daily customers. Depalma’s has embraced its oddity with mis-matched tables, archaic Coca-Cola signs and little cupid figurines. Depalma’s even invites you to become a part of its history by signing one of the empty wine bottles lining its walls.

CW | Pete Pajor

WAYSIDER RESTAURANT

15TH STREET DINER

1512 Greensboro Ave.

1036 15th St.

HAVE TO TRY: The biscuits and honey. Located on Greensboro Avenue, Waysider is a little red nook that you could miss if you blinked. Despite its size, Waysider is a part of Tuscaloosa tradition. Specializing in southern homestyle breakfast, Waysider promptly bombards patrons with Alabama history through its many photos and paintings lining its walls. Over the years, Waysider has welcomed many different faces, including coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who was a frequent

HAVE TO TRY: Any of their ever-changing daily specials. Celebrating 20 years of service, 15th Street Diner, located on its namesake 15th Street, is reminiscent of those old 1950s cafes popularized by “Happy Days” that seem to have vanished nowadays. Yesterday’s musical hits blare overhead, beckoning patrons back to days past. 15th Street Diner is a melting pot of new and old ideas, bringing a classical era of the early 1900s into a contemporary time for patrons to enjoy.

COLUMN | TELEVISION

Embrace your nerdom in a society that now deems it as ‘cool’ Hannah Widener | Contributing Writer The day I moved into my freshman dorm, my dad took one look at my giant Marvel Universe poster, another at my brand-new roommate and told me, “Maybe you should wait a while before you put that up.” He made it appear as if I had this burdening secret that I should hide from my roommate and be ashamed of, when in fact he himself is the one who introduced me to comic books as a kid. A week later Spiderman and the rest of the gang were staring down upon our new room. The secret was out: I am a nerd. Luckily for me, however, the nerd is on the rise. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes or, in this case, Agent Phil Coulson from the grave, this fall, my nerdom dreams are coming to life. ABC will be premiering the new show “Marvel’s Agents of

Stay in the know.

Get Social. cial

MCT Campus ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ bringing cool nerdom to t.v. S.H.E.I.L.D.,” directed by Joss Whedon. Whedon directed “The Avengers” in 2012, which crushed its opening weekend at the box office, earning an estimated $200.3 million, and is the third highest grossing film of all time. With seasons 1-7 of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” sitting on my shelf at home, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve been a fan of Whedon’s work for quite some time.

Despite my unabashed love for Buffy, Whedon has not always had good luck in bringing comic books to life on the small screen. In 2009, he directed the show “Dollhouse,” based off the “Dollhouse Epitaphs” comic books. The show couldn’t gain the fan base that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” once had and was cancelled later that year. The rise of the comic book

nerd has been long in coming. It began in 2000 with the release of “X-Men.” A new breed of cool Hollywood actors were beginning to surface and take on the roles made great by Christopher Reeves and Adam West. Suddenly, special effects became bigger; CGI allowed audiences to see Spiderman swing through the streets of New York City and the claws of Wolverine to look more razor-sharp than ever. Comic-Con became the “it” place to be if you wanted to see big stars and get a first look at the new movies. After the lull in 2007 with movies such as “Spiderman 3” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” it was time to bring in the big guns. For those of you who have been hiding under a rock for the last five years, I’m referring to the one, the only, Mr. Robert Downey Jr. “Iron Man” was the catalyst that allowed all the following Marvel movies to weave in and

out of one another’s story lines and made the franchise what it is today. Instead of the once-a-year Marvel movie that fans had come to expect, it became once every few months with “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Thor” and “Iron Man 2.” It all eventually built up to the one movie that would bring them all together: “The Avengers.” The T-shirts, action figures and whole body armored suits are now being sold in almost every Target, Wal-Mart, Macy’s and comic

book store in America. What was once a closeted, geeky thing is now being proudly worn down the streets for all to see. Being a “comic nerd” has become cool. So come fall, when I’m sitting on my bed in front of my TV and watching “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” with my Marvel Universe poster still waving a friendly hello to all who see it, I can take comfort in one thing: everyone around the country will be watching it and geeking out too.

SPORTS

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COLUMN | SOCCER By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter

Alabama to play in Colorado invitational

CW | Austin Bigoney The Tide look to recover from a 2-1 loss to Mercer Sunday by winning an invitational in Denver, Colo.

The University of Alabama soccer team will travel this weekend to Denver, Colo., for the Denver Invitational. The Crimson Tide will play the University of Colorado first, then move on to face another team during the twogame invitational. This will be the second weekend the Crimson Tide will play back-to-back games. Last week, Alabama defeated Georgia State but fell to Mercer. “Well it’s still early in the season, and even though the results didn’t go our way on Sunday, it doesn’t define us,” coach Todd Bramble said. “If anything, from what I’ve seen from our players this week, it has strengthened our resolve to continue to stay focused and work hard and compete as a team. I’m very happy with how the players have trained this week in practice. I’m very confident in how we’re going to go out and compete really well with both of these teams this weekend. We’re excited.” Having two games backto-back may seem daunting to most, but senior Molly Atherton is keeping a calm

PLAN TO GO WHAT: Alabama at Colorado WHEN: Friday, 5:30 p.m. CT

WHERE: Denver, Colo. RADIO: Listen online at rolltide.com approach to the upcoming weekend. Despite the challenge, Atherton said it is important to recover and get ready for the next game. “It’s tough,” Atherton said. “We’re right in the beginning of the season, so our bodies are getting used to the process again. By playing two games a weekend you’re not getting a lot of rest, but it’s important to regenerate and take care of your body and make sure you’re fueling your body with the right food and recovery– just mainly getting your legs back.” This is the first time Alabama will travel to Denver, Colo., and play any of the competing teams. Atherton said she isn’t

worried about not knowing a lot of information about the opponents. “I think at this point we are just focusing on ourselves,” Atherton said. “We know our opponents, but we can’t put too much worry into them. Right now we are in the process of establishing our identity, so if we can worry about ourselves, then things will take care of themselves.” Compared to Alabama, Colorado has an extra game under its belt. The Buffs are in the same predicament the Crimson Tide is in by playing a second two-game weekend. The first game against Colorado will set the stage for the Sunday game. If the Crimson Tide performs well Friday, Atherton said it will help the team on Sunday against the unknown opponent. “Sunday is the more important day,” Atherton said. “We’re trying to reach the next level and be able to perform well on Sundays and finish games because at that point your body is really tired, and mentally you aren’t all there like you are on Friday night. So there is a lot more importance on Sunday, so we’re just trying to be ready for that.”

COLUMN | VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore volleyball setter rebounds from ankle sprain By Kelly Ward | Staff Reporter Injury is no excuse for setter Sierra Wilson; she has been playing through the pain since her preseason ankle sprain. This past weekend at the Black Knights Invitational, she earned her eighth career double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs. “My ankle’s getting better, but my view is you just have to do what you need to do, so I’m going to play if I can,” Wilson said. “You just ignore it, I guess. You play

like you’re not injured. That’s my view on things. No matter what, don’t look like you’re injured.” Even with a sprained ankle, the sophomore managed a season high in assists. She said she’s planning on playing in the Florida International Tournament this weekend. “I just do whatever the team needs me to do,” Wilson said. “If they need me to take a seat and rest and cheer them on, I’ll do that. If they need me to play, I’ll do that too.”

Head coach Ed Allen said the team is looking forward to Wilson’s full recovery. “We’re still looking for Sierra Wilson to get healthy,” he said. “She’s been dealing with an ankle sprain since the fourth day of preseason. … She was pretty sore [after the tournament]. I mean, she actually wasn’t able to practice yesterday because of it. It’s been a long haul back for her, so we’re not sure when exactly she’s going to be at 100 percent.” Wilson started playing vol-

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leyball when she was 10 years old after watching the 2004 Olympics. “I watched Misty May and Kerri Walsh win a gold medal in beach volleyball in the Olympics that year,” she said. “That was really inspiring to me, and I knew I wanted to play volleyball then.” Her teammates admire her competitive attitude and ability to move plays forward. “Sierra’s great,” middle blocker Krystal Rivers said. “She’s a quarterback. She knows how to take charge.”

PLAN TO GO WHAT: Alabama at Florida International WHEN: Friday, 2 p.m. CT

WHERE: U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami, Fla. RECORDS: Alabama 2-1, Florida International

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WHAT: Alabama vs. Houston Baptist WHEN: Friday, 8 a.m. CT

WHERE: U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami, Fla. RECORDS: Alabama 2-1, Houston Baptist 3-1

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SPORTS W H AT ’ S U P I N

Thursday, September 5, 2013

ROWING

Blackington sees bright future for Alabama rowing team

CW | Alaina Clark By Charlie Potter | Assistant Sports Editor Caroline Blackington watched Alabama’s rowing team make strides last season, but she knows the team must improve on one thing: speed. The Crimson Tide will participate in three regattas this fall, one of them being the Head of the Charles in Cambridge, Mass. It will race against some of the best boats in the world, and Blackington knows any additional speed will be beneficial to the team’s success. “We’ve been progressing in speed as a team over the past few years since our

We’ve been progressing in speed as a team over the past few years since our program started back in 2006. — Caroline Blackington on

program started back in 2006,” Blackington said. “What we want to accomplish is to get a little faster, have more of an edge than we did last year, which is going to be very easy to do because we have a good incoming class. Last year, the majority of our athletes were all underclassmen –

freshmen and sophomores. Now we have a little bit more experience, and we’re starting to take that with us.” Blackington, a junior majoring in health studies, has emerged as one of the leaders on the team, and head coach Larry Davis has taken notice. Davis, who is entering his eighth year as head coach at The University of Alabama, said he’s been pleased with his rowers’ mentality during the offseason and toward the upcoming year. “I get the impression from what I’ve seen so far and based on what the girls told me they did this summer – we had a number of

them rowing for boat clubs over the summer – that we had the right attitude over the summer, and that’s a good starting point for what we want to do this year,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to it, and I think the girls are too. I think the juniors are ready to step up and be really good leaders.” Blackington said having a year of experience is beneficial toward the team taking that next step, and with the same schedule for 2013, that step should be even easier to accomplish. “I’m very excited to race some of the same races that we did last year and see how we stack up,” Blackington said. “I’m very excited to

go out and race against Tennessee again because last fall was the first we had ever beat them [in team history] at the Chattanooga Head Race. We got third at the Head of the Charles, which is the biggest regatta in the world. I’m excited to go out and try to beat our times from last year.” The rowing team will begin the season at the Chattanooga Head Race in October, and the student athletes are excited to get the boat back into the water. But Blackington said one of the best things about rowing is the camaraderie and trust that is established within the boat. She said so much can go wrong in an

instant that it is important for her crew to trust one another at all times. The rowers come from all over the United States, so building a relationship can take some time. But Blackington said just being in the boat with them forces you to learn quickly. “It makes it easier to create a bond,” Blackington said. “You can be from completely different corners of the country, but we can bond so much easier by learning more from them, learning from them inside the sport, learning from them outside the sport as people and values and everything. It helps with the bonding process.”

SPORTSIN BRIEF Nation’s No. 1 recruit chooses UA

Smith, Drake back in good standing

Kenny Bell returns to practice

Five-star offensive tackle Cameron Robinson committed to Alabama Wednesday, bringing the Crimson Tide’s number of commitments for 2014 to 20. The West Monroe, La., native announced his decision to attend Alabama over LSU on ESPNU. Robinson is the No. 1 recruit of the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.

Cornerback Geno Smith and running back Kenyan Drake are back in good standing, Nick Saban said on the SEC coaches’ teleconference Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. Smith returned from a one-game suspension after a DUI arrest, and Drake will look to rise up the depth chart past freshmen like Altee Tenpenny and Derrick Henry. “We have other players that played in the game in their place,” Saban said on the teleconference, “So it’s up to them to sort of prove that they’re better than those players and can do a better job.”

Wide receiver Kenny Bell returned to practice Wednesday and was back working with the receiving corp. Bell announced on his Twitter page Tuesday he was both leaving and rejoining the football team.

Compiled by Charlie Potter

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