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Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 116, Issue 41
UA busy with pomping By Kelsey Hendrix Staff Reporter With most of Sorority Row and the lawns of several academic buildings covered in weatherproof tarps and building materials, it is clear that the tradition of Homecoming pomping is underway. Pomping is a weeklong process that student organizations go through to make festive lawn decorations each year during Homecoming week. The process begins with each group making a wooden frame covered in chicken wire and continues throughout the week as members of the organizations roll up tissue paper into balls to stick in the chicken wire in the shape of a specific design. “Groups use the theme each year to make a big production,” said Mary Cypress Howell, executive director of Homecoming. “Something that has become popular in the past few years is small pomping, where groups roll the tissue paper up into even smaller smalls and glue it onto cardboard cut-outs that can later be attached to the chicken wire.” There are two divisions in the lawn decoration contest, which include large groups with more than 100 members and smaller groups with fewer than 100 members. Although all groups make lawn decorations, they are judged separately. “The large groups make lawn decorations that are a maximum of 30-feet-wide by 14-feettall, while the smaller groups make decorations that are a maximum of 15-feet-wide by 10-feet tall,” Howell said. “The lawn decorations are judged based on creativity, how well the design relates to the theme, and on how visually appealing and artistic the decoration looks.” Groups were allowed to begin building the decorations on Sunday and are required to CW | Jerrod Seaton be finished by Friday at noon Kalen Berry, a senior majoring in biology, Daniel Gerber, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, and Cameron Bott, a sophomore majoring in M.I.S. prepare the Computer Based See POMPING, page 2 Honorsʼ lawn decorations.
CW file Students wait in line to enter Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Florida International game. Student ticket donations are up from last year.
Student ticket donations rise Students give tickets at nine times the rate of last season By Karissa Bursch Staff Reporter A significantly larger number of football tickets are being donated this season compared to last football season, according to an SGA news release. After the first three home games, 6,939 tickets were donated this season. Last season, only 732 tickets were donated after the first three home games, according to the news release. These tickets are donated through the Action Card’s My Football Ticket system instead of upgrading them, transferring them or not using them at all. According to ACTcard activity statistics given to the SGA, the majority of the tickets are donated on gameday and after kick-off.
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For the Arkansas game, 81 percent of donated tickets were donated on the Saturday of the game and 67 percent of the tickets were donated after noon when the gates opened, according to the statistics. The student ticket waiting list goes down to zero because of donated tickets by the end of every game, according to the statistics. For the North Texas and Arkansas game the waiting list went down to zero by the end of the third quarter. Tyler Valeska, the vice president of student affairs, said in the news release he was hapy about the usage of the My Ticket system. “We’re pleased that so many students are using the My Ticket system,” Valeska said. “It has been our goal to
See TICKETS, page 2
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“It has been our goal to give all students tickets to all who try to get them.” — Tyler Valeska, vice president of student affairs
Alabama rebuts UA alum runs for treasurer seeks NCAA sanctions Sherer state office as By Spencer White Assistant Sports Editor
By Amanda Peterson Editor The last time Jeremy Sherer ran for office, he found a wife in the process. This time, he’s hoping to win instead. Running as a Democrat in 2006 in Alabama House District 34 — a Republican stronghold — Sherer lost badly. But during the campaign, a business professor at Judson College who helped Sherer during his campaign introduced him to one of her former students, Christy Ross. During his campaign, Sherer asked her out and was turned down. He tried again, but got the same answer. By the third try, she said “Yes,” and within a month of dating, Sherer said they both knew they wanted to get married. After the campaign they were married on Dec. 29, 2006.
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what I do in that two to three leaning political affiliations. The difference between months between getting electRepublican and Democrats ed and taking office,” he said. comes down to one question, he said. Political Base “The first question man asked of God in the Bible was, He knows it is a dig at ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?” Wallace, but Sherer says that Sherer said. Republicans in this campaign, he can’t would say that every man is tread on his father’s name. responsible for himself, he Sherer, who put himself said. through school and graduated “I answer that question from the University with a ‘yes,’” he added. political science degree in 2001 and a law degree in 2004, grew Disruptive up in Corner, the descendent of farmers and steel mill workschedule ers. As an undergraduate, he Had his wife not supported interned in the D.C. office his campaign, it never would of Rep. Spencer Bachus, have left the ground, he said. a staunchly conservative “I could not and would not Republican. have done this without her But because of his family’s support,” he said. background, Sherer said he is Ross stays home raising an FDR-style Democrat who their 3-year-old daughter, still believes in government Ryland, and 5-month-old son, as an advocate for the people Finn, so his campaign limits it represents. While working how often he can step in to give in Bachus’ office, Sherer said her a break, Sherer said. he could see the differences in His alarm goes off at 5 a.m. Republican and Democratic policies and firmed up his left- See TREASURER, page 2
INSIDE today’s paper
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The University released its rebuttal to the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions Tuesday concerning a ruling made over the summer that placed the Tide’s football program on three years of probation, fined the University $43,900 and forced Alabama to vacate 21 victories from the 2005-2007 seasons. The vacated wins are the only sanctions challenged by University officials. The ruling concerned violations of textbook reception policies that were self-reported by the University and found to involve more than 200 UA athletes in 16 different sports. The University is contending that the NCAA’s punishment is unprecedented for a case of this nature, that the Committee on Infractions did not take into account the cooperation of Alabama officials and that the punishment does not fit
the crime. “Such a penalty is clear abuse of discretion in this case,” the rebuttal stated. “It involved the application of incorrect legal standings, misapprehended substantive legal principles, was based in part on erroneous factual conclusions; failed to consider material factors… and was based on irrelevant and improper factors.” Alabama also took issue with the committee’s assertion that the program had an “abysmal infractions track record” that was “unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA.” The University’s rebuttal pointed out that one quarter of the schools classified in the Football Bowl Subdivision had as many or more major infractions cases than the Capstone. The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee, a separate entity from the Committee of Infractions, will rule on the appeal.
One wife, two children and t h r e e years later, he is back on the campaign Jeremy Sherer trail for a second shot. This time, the 30 year old with little name recognition and even less political experience hopes to become Alabama’s next state treasurer. First, he will face Charley Grimsley, former state conservation commissioner, for the Democratic nomination, but Sherer is looking ahead to the general election against the leading Republican. Likely running against former Republican state treasurer George Wallace Jr. — the son of the infamous segregationist Democratic governor — some see him as the longshot candidate who still has a chance. Come next November, Sherer is certain what he will be doing. “I’m more concerned about
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
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Opinions ...................4
Classifieds ............... 17
Sports ..................... 12
Arts&Entertainment .. 18
WEATHER today Chance of rain
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NEWS
NEWS in brief
TICKETS Continued from page 1
CAMPUS | WRC holds cell phone drive For the month of October, the Women’s Resource Center is participating in the HopeLine Project program, which puts wireless phones and services to work to prevent domestic violence. Give survivors of domestic violence the chance to make a lifesaving call by donating your old wireless phone to HopeLine. Drop off locations are at 3rd Floor Russell Hall (Women’s Resource Center), 104 Manly Hall (Women’s Studies), Ferguson Center Room 230 (Dean of Students office), Residential Hall Tutwiler and Rose Towers .For more information, please visit verizonwireless.com/ hopeline.
CAMPUS | Register for 5K by Monday Stomp Out Domestic Violence will be held on Nov. 8 checkin beginning at 1 p.m. at the RISE Center. The race will begin at 2 p.m. and will follow a course through the campus. All proceeds for this event will go to domestic violence awareness and prevention, and it is sponsored by Alpha Chi and Lambda Chi. The registration fee is $20, which includes a t-shirt if you sign up before Monday. If you would like to sign up, please email Jessica Boyd at jessicakboyd@gmail.com for a registration form.
CAMPUS | New time for homecoming parade The UA Homecoming parade will be held Saturday at a new time, 11:30 a.m. The parade route will remain the same, beginning in downtown Tuscaloosa and proceeding down University Boulevard. The time has been adjusted to coordinate with the 6:45 p.m. Alabama vs. South Carolina football game kick off. Parade participants will begin lining up at 10 a.m. and must be in their designated position by that time for check in with the UA Homecoming Committee. For more information about the schedule, contact Chad Clark of the UA Student Involvement and Leadership Office at 348-5137 or cclark@sa.ua.edu.
LOCAL | Speech on Separation Thursday
Church-State
give all students tickets to all who try to get them. ACTion Card Services and the Athletics Department have been working with us to maximize student attendance and the numbers s far reflect that.” Brittany Sanders, a College of Communication and Information Sciences senator and a junior majoring in public relations, said she is authoring an SGA Senate resolution based on these numbers. The resolution will encourage the continued practice of donating tickets in order to promote game attendance, Sanders said. Sanders said the original idea for the resolution was to encourage students to attend the games in general, but then she was able to look at the numbers provided by the Action Card office and changed the premise of the resolution. “It started when my friend and I were talking at a football game and realized that hardly
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anyone was there,” Sanders said. “At first I just wanted to encourage people to come, but these ticket donation numbers are so different from last year. It’s really drastic. With continued donations it will encourage attendance at the football games.” Sanders said the reason for the increase in donated tickets is because of the increased visibility of the program. “It’s been well publicized and easy to use,” Sanders said. “People are figuring they might as well donate. Tickets haven’t been selling very well.” Sanders said students should take advantage of going to football games while they can. “The waiting list for Tide Pride season tickets after you’re out of college is five years long,” Sanders said. “Students should go while you’re here and have the chance.” Sanders said her resolution encouraging students to donate their tickets will be proposed and most likely passed in Senate on Thursday.
TREASURER Continued from page 1
By 5:45 a.m., he’s out the door to make the 45-minute commute from his home in Oneonta to downtown Birmingham, where he works as a consumer protection lawyer with the firm Whatley, Drake and Kallas. He gets back home by 6 p.m. on a good night, just in time for him and Ross to take a run around 7 p.m. Their son goes to bed between 9:30 and 10 p.m. before they put their daughter down, going to sleep by midnight. At 5 a.m. the next day, the alarm goes off again to start the cycle over. Without his family and knowing what it is like to be the breadwinner for a single-income household, Sherer said he would not be as smart of a politician. After about three months of handshaking, stump speeches and political picnics, he said he has been lucky to get to bring his family with him on the campaign trail about 30 to 40 percent of the time. One Tuesday in September,
1215 University Blvd. roundersonthestrip.com *19 AND UP
THURSDAY 10/15 Ryan Kinder
FRIDAY 10/16 Steven Padilla & Brother 2 Brother
Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, will speak at Samford University in Birmingham in the Moot Court Room Thursday at 7:00 PM. Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and currently serves as executive director of the Americans United’s Washington D.C. office. Lynn’s speech is entitled “A Day Without Separation of Church and State,” and will address threats to church-state separation and its importance. Lynn’s speech will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The event is free and open to the public.
Send announcements and campus news to cwnews@sa.ua.edu
SATURDAY 10/17 Live Entertainment Before Game Matt Ramsey & DJ Proto
Try the RTR and receive a souvenir cup. $2 DRAFTS AND $3 WELLS ALL WEEK LONG!!! *ple ase dr i n k re sp o n s i bl y
CAMPUS
this week
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
• Bollywood Film Fest at Riverside: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Riverside Community Center
• Dance Alabama! Fall Concert: 12 p.m. •Gymnastics vs Georgia: 2 p.m.
For more events, see calendars on Arts & Entertainment and Sports.
he had an afternoon meeting with community bank leaders in Shelby County before heading to Auburn for a Save PACT event Thursday. That was followed by meeting in Mobile the following Monday to talk to more families who had invested in the PACT plan. He said his office is not overly dressy for work, but campaign events call for a different dress code. Extra ties can be found in his office and car, and even on days he dresses slightly more casual, he said he keeps a blazer in his office — just in case. Campaigning does not include casual Fridays, he said. When he came to Tuscaloosa with several state politicians at the end of September to speak to people who had invested in Alabama’s Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, Sherer apologized. “As possibly your future treasurer, I give you my apology for the situation you’ve been put in,” he told the participants that night. Sherer said that he faces a long campaign season going up against his competitors as well as the legacy of Kay Ivey, the state’s current treasurer and manager of PACT. Ivey has become the public face many Alabamians associate with the near-bankruptcy of the PACT system, but depending on the outcome of the Republican primary, Sherer also could face PACT’s creator — Wallace. At the meeting in Tuscaloosa, Wallace also spoke to the families. While trying to recall a specific statistic about PACT, he turned to Sherer to see if he knew it. Those in attendance laughed. Wallace introduced Sherer again. “He’s my opponent, a good man,” Wallace said, grinning. “He’s my second choice.” As state treasurer, Wallace started the program with Jim Folsom, who served as lieutenant governor at the time. Wallace is running against Alabama businessman Terry Dunn. Sherer said he thinks the system was flawed from its inception and doubts if Wallace will get a chance to improve it. “If you wreck something, people generally bring in someone new and don’t give you a second chance to fix it,” he said. Bill Stewart, Alabama political analyst and UA professor emeritus, said voters might want someone new to run the program, but it will be up to Sherer to convince them he is the one. The Wallace name on any ballot in Alabama would be hard to beat, Stewart said, but not impossible. To do it, Sherer would have to campaign all over the state to make people aware of his name, Stewart said. “For Jeremy, in terms of predicting his victory, no, I wouldn’t,” Stewart said, “but I wouldn’t predict his defeat either.”
POMPING Continued from page 1
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 • Jerrod Seaton, photo editor • Katie Bennett, assistant 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 • Emily Ross & John Mathieu, 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.
in order to qualify for the competition. The judges are varied and include members of the community, people related to SGA, and some who have been judging the lawn decorations for years. Codye Hunter, a senior majoring in communication studies and a member of the College of Communication Ambassadors, said they pomp at Reese Phifer Hall every year. Each member of the organization is required to work on pomping 15 hours during Homecoming week. “We do it because it’s a tradition and it’s our chance to bond with each other,” said Jennifer Hallock, a senior communication studies major and a Communication Ambassador. “Lawn decorations are a great way to celebrate Homecoming and show school spirit,” Howell said. “They also let people know what the theme for the year is and get them excited about Homecoming and the game.” In addition to the participation of the sororities and fraternities on campus, several student organizations like the Computer Based Honors programa, Wesley Foundation and Baptist Campus Ministries also get involved in pomping during Homecoming week. “[Pomping] is just a part of the homecoming experience and we do it to participate in student and campus life here,” said Nate Young, campus minister for BCM. “We have been doing lawn decorations for Homecoming for over 20 years. I was a freshman here in 1993 and we were doing them then, and had been for awhile, and we’ve been doing it ever since.” All Homecoming lawn decorations will remain up throughout the weekend.
The Crimson White
NEWS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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Inmate: ex-Ala. judge McNair conference spanked, groped him to be held today By Phillip Rawls The Associated Press
MOBILE — A former Mobile jail inmate testified Wednesday that then-Circuit Judge Herman Thomas spanked his bare bottom severely three times, rubbed it once and, on another occasion, grabbed his crotch while clothed. Under questioning by Thomas’ attorneys, the former inmate also said the judge found him a job, which he never reported to, and got him into a drug treatment program, which he fled. Thomas, 48, is in the second week of a trial for allegedly paddling or sexually abusing 14 present and former
inmates in return for leniency. He is charged with kidnapping, extortion, sodomy, sex abuse and assault. He resigned in 2007, ending a 17-year judicial career, after being accused of violating judicial rules for judges. The witness Wednesday said Thomas took him to his home, where he met the former judge’s family, and invited him to attend ball games and play tennis. He said he refused those invitations because he didn’t want to be seen with the judge. “I didn’t want to appear in public with him — period,” the man said The Associated Press does not normally use the names of victims of alleged
sexual abuse. The former inmate, now 26, started getting into trouble at 12 and ran up a string of offenses, including assault, drug possession and giving a false name to police. He said he got the first paddling in exchange for the judge helping him with an assault conviction in Montgomery County when he was 18. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Gene Reese testified that Thomas called him and asked him to put the defendant on probation in a program in Mobile County, which was the defendant’s home. Reese said he agreed because Thomas said “he could help him obtain employment and mentor to him.”
By Haley Namie Staff Writer The McNair Scholars 10th Annual Research Conference will be held today from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 322 of the Ferguson Center. Barbara Godorecci is the guest speaker of the evening. The 2009 McNair Scholars will also be presenting their research. About 120 people are expected in attendance for the event, organizers said, which includes faculty mentors to the 2009 McNair Scholars and anyone who is interested in the research conducted. Twelve McNair Scholars will give 15-minute presentations based on year-long research they have conducted to receive the McNair Scholars Internship. “Completing a research year, which consists of designing, implementing, analyzing, and presenting their research . . . is the heart of the McNair Scholar’s experience,” Nancy Campbell, director of the McNair Scholars program, said in an e-mail. Campbell said this year’s conference is a significant landmark in the program. “We have succeeded in maintaining federal funding into our third grant cycle, and in our first decade on campus, the program has flourished, most notably in the form of the success of UA’s
McNair Scholars,” she said. The program was founded in honor of Ronald E. McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle accident. The McNair Scholars Program is based in the graduate school and is partnered with the McNair Scholars Advisory Board. In addition, Campbell said the purpose of the McNair Scholars is to prepare students to receive doctoral degrees. “McNair Scholars are known for their talent, dedication, knowledge of graduate school expectations and track record of success as scholars,” Campbell said. “Graduate programs are catching on and heavily targeting McNair Scholars in their recruiting efforts.” Faculty mentor and geology professor Fred Andrus has worked with McNair Scholars several times over the years. “It has been a very rewarding experience,” Andrus said. He said he is privileged to have the opportunity to work with the McNair Scholars. In fact, one of the McNair Scholars is now one of his graduate students, Andrus said. “Her McNair experience gave her a head start in that she already knows what it takes to design new research, conduct field work, perform complex laboratory analyses and then publish a final product,” Andrus said.
IF YOU GO ... • What: The McNair Scholars 10th Annual Research Conference presents twelve graduate student’s year-long research
• Where: Ferguson Center, Room 322
• When: Today 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. John Giggie, a history professor involved with the program, said his favorite part of the McNair Scholars program is getting to work with various students over the course of a year. “You have the chance to supervise research closely, suggest and encourage new pathways of analysis and revise student writing without the pressure of arriving at a finished project within one semester,” Giggie said. Campbell said many students show interest in becoming a McNair Scholar, but not all have the dedication it takes to complete the process. Of the several hundred who apply each year, 60 applications are completed, 25 students are interviewed as finalists and 12 are selected into the program.
The Crimson White is online at cw.ua.edu
Graduation Celebration Today, Thurday October 15th 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. University Supply Store - Ferguson Center Friday, October 16th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. University Supply Store - Ferguson Center
OPINIONS
OUR VIEW
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Committee vote is a good start
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Ignorance reigns in Texas
Editor • Alan Blinder
By Paul Thompson
letters@cw.ua.edu
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say there was a blizzard in Hell on Oct. 2 as Texas State District Judge Tena Callahan ruled that Texas’ prohibition of same-sex-marriages violated the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection, according to a Dallas Morning News article. What’s more, Callahan was exactly right. It should come as no surprise, though, that the Texas attorney general’s office responded with a predictable lack of understanding of the meaning of civil rights. Greg Abbott, the attorney general, even fails to comprehend the significance of the full faith and credit clause which, according to the transcript of the Constitution provided by the UA Archives, states, “Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.” With his keen legal mind, Abbott wrote in a filing with the District Court that “[The full faith and credit clause] does not require Texas courts to recognize or give legal effect to marriages between persons of the same sex under the laws of other jurisdictions.” Is that so, Mr. Abbott? I’m certainly no lawyer, but it seems as though anyone with a basic understanding of the English language can tell the difference between what the Constitution mandates and what Abbott says Texas has the right to do. And the last time I checked, the
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{ YOUR VIEW } DO YOU THINK UA SHOULD BE ABLE TO DENY BENEFITS TO DOMESTIC PARTNERS? “No. I think that if people are gay, then they should be able to be that way — thatʼs how they are. I feel like people are born the way they are. Itʼs not their choice.” — Sheila Martin, junior, dance
“I donʼt personally agree with it, but for us to be a public institution and deny it, I donʼt think that would be technically right.” — Nick Hardy, sophomore, elementary education
“No, I donʼt. Theyʼre people too. I donʼt think they should be treated any worse than everyone else just because theyʼre interested in the same sex.” — Jessica Aguilar, freshman, English
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.
On Tuesday, the Senate Finance In short: While the C o m m i t t e e health care bill approved a longis not perfect, awaited proposal to getting it out of reform health care committee is a in the United States. step in the right One Republican direction. joined the committee’s 13 Democrats in recommending the bill for floor debate, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced will begin the week of Oct. 26. Senator Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee’s chairman, authored the proposal, and he spent a number of months attempting to work with colleagues across the aisle to craft a bipartisan bill. While partisanship eventually seeped into the picture, as it so often does in Washington, Baucus deserves some credit for making an effort. While his work, in some respects, was naïve, it was an honorable attempt to bring cooperation back into the Capitol. The proposals pending before Congress are long, complex ones. On some days, it seems neither Democrats nor Republicans actually understand the bills they are considering. And that is exactly why we should not rush the process. We are thrilled with the progress of Tuesday – moving a bill out of committee is a significant step – but while we believe there is a need for reform of our health care system, we think there must be careful deliberation and consideration of a broad array of solutions. Congress must take pains to not do what is usually politically expedient: To pass a bill quickly. The 2001 PATRIOT Act is one example of Congress acting too quickly and regretting it later. To do health care reform right, to better ensure we won’t be debating this within a few years, we should take the time to do it right. Slow and steady will not only win the race, but it will also maintain and preserve a win for the American people. Congress is making progress. Don’t rush it. Think about it.
Constitution’s Article VI states that all actions of the federal government, including the Constitution, supersede state and local law. Given that, it is impossible to conclude any other way than Callahan did in her Friday ruling. A state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage can only be enforced as long as every other state complies with it. A same-sex couple married in Massachusetts has just as much of a constitutional right to be married in Texas, according to the full faith and credit clause. Admittedly, I have been dodging the Defense of Marriage Act, which Bill Clinton signed in 1996 and defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The same logic Callahan used to rule the Texas constitutional amendment unconstitutional applies on the federal scale, too. By its own writing, DOMA denies the same legal rights to same-sex couples, and even expressly refuses them the federal benefits of marriage, making it a law denying rights that, in other circumstances, might not be questioned. By looking at DOMA like that, it becomes clear that treating opposite-sex couples differently from same-sex couples violates the equal protection provision of the Fourteenth Amendment. Callahan made the right decision by ignoring DOMA as part of her ruling. The duty has traditionally fallen to the courts to enforce the laws and make decisions that are sometimes unpopular. Callahan made what can only be described as a tough call in declaring Texas’ same-sex marriage ban unconsti-
tutional, but critics of her decision will be forced to concede that she made the right decision not only morally but legally as well. When sound legal reasoning failed to make his case, Abbott said, “The laws and constitution of the State of Texas define marriage as an institution involving one man and one woman. Today’s ruling purports to strike down that constitutional definition — despite the fact that it was recently adopted by 75 percent of Texas voters.” Abbot clearly doesn’t understand the fact that just because 75 percent of his constituent voters agree with the ban, that doesn’t make it legal, or even moral. Just look to the Civil War if you need another example. The vast majority of Southerners wanted to maintain slavery, but did that mean they were right? By the same token, if 75 percent of modern voters wanted to return to slavery or Jim Crow, would it be right, legal or moral to do so? What Abbott must realize, along with the rest of the antisame-sex marriage camp, is that just because they are the majority does not mean that they can trample over the constitutional guarantees and protections for the minority, no matter who the minority might be. Black, immigrant or homosexual, the fact remains that the Constitution provides for their protection, and Texans, or anyone else for that matter, have no right to trample on those rights. Paul Thompson is a former opinions editor of The Crimson White and is a junior majoring in political science and philosophy.
Marriage equality for Alabama By Michael Dewar In the course of my adult life, I long to attain what so many others hope for: a happy, stable, fulfilling marriage to the person I love. But there is one inexorable problem. I live in Alabama and I’m gay. A disturbingly ironic feature of the gay marriage debate (or any debate of social issues) is that each side appears to strive for what they consider to be the morally correct position. To determine your own beliefs, it is helpful to hear the most common debating points, so here I will attempt to counter, as concisely as possible, some of the points I have found to be most commonly invoked by those in opposition. First, it would be true to say that historical tradition in most human societies has been to associate the concept of marriage with the procreative relationship between a male and a female. But not all marriages can or will result in children, and precedent does not always confer the best path for the future. Slavery has been a fundamental component of civilizations throughout history, and yet we have changed. Women through history have been coerced into roles of subjugation and second class citizenship, yet we have changed. Tradition can sometimes be an impediment to progress. Secondly, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:13. One should also note that Leviticus commands you not to eat meat containing blood, not to trim the
edges of your beard, not to ever get a tattoo, and commands you to put adulterers to death as well. Though I do not deny the influence of Christianity on the ideas of morality in the United States, this is not the source of our collective legal code. America is, and has always been, a religiously pluralistic nation with a distinctly secular system of governance. When it comes down to it, the religious beliefs of a majority should not be able to so easily obstruct the fundamental human rights of a minority by a popular vote. A government should protect the equality of all of its citizens, no matter their sexual orientation, race, religion, etc. Thirdly, opponents will ask, “So why claim the word marriage?” and “Why can’t gay couples just be satisfied with civil unions?” I think a better question for the opponents would be, “Why do you, in particular, believe there should be separate terms to define these relationships? The difficulty is less legal and more social. The creation of separate terms suggests an inequality in how the relationships are viewed by society. Separate but not equal. Are gay marriages somehow less official, less meaningful or less real than marriages of straight couples? The language of those in opposition suggests that they believe so. Why else would they propose to “defend” and “protect” the institution of marriage, unless they considered gay marriage to be a defiling attack upon the institution’s sanctity or a dilution of the values it represents. If they truly wished to strengthen and uphold the institution of marriage, then I couldn’t agree more. Remember
that I wish to be married one day, and I fully accept the responsibilities of that commitment with my future spouse. I desire in no way to diminish its significance. Lastly, concerning the issue of that ever so ominous slippery slope, I would politely nudge forward the idea that perhaps it is not so terrible a notion as initially suggested and that issues should be examined on an individual basis. In the end, though you may not personally agree with the way other consenting adults decide to live their personal lives, I believe it can often be more just and more compassionate not to impose legal limitations on that freedom of choice. I love the state of Alabama, but there is a serious injustice taking place through the complacent consent of its people. Alabama passed a law in 2006, in the form of amendment 774 to the state constitution. Eighty-one percent of the electorate voted in favor of the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment. Eighty-one percent of my fellow citizens have written into law that I will never be allowed here to legally marry the one I love or have any state recognition of our relationship whatsoever (including civil unions). What hope do I have in the face of such opposition? The average age of marriage for a citizen of the U.S. is in their middle to late 20s, and for me, that time is fast approaching. Life is fleeting. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. The only thing I ask for is equality, equality here and equality now — because I am here and I am now. Michael Dewar is a junior majoring in biological science.
Get the shot
The University has received its first shipment of the nasal spray vaccine for H1N1, better known on Facebook as swine flu. The Student Health Center is the campus entity responsible for vaccinating students. In accordance with recommendations from a variety of organizations representing medical professionals, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we urge students to consider making an investment in their health by getting the shot. While there have been some concerns about the safety and efficacy of this particular shot, we feel, as the professionals do, that the potential benefits far outweigh the risks. Flu is contagious. Help yourself, and, in that, help others by seeking the shot.
Our View is the consensus of The CW’s editorial board.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Goldstone report on Israel flawed in its conclusion By Miriam Fry
Last week, the United Nations published a report blasting Israel for being inhumane in its efforts in Gaza earlier this year. From the start, the Goldstone Report was extremely biased and flawed, and the U.N. assumed from the beginning that Israel was at fault. The Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, was quoted as saying, “Israel basically was the equivalent of being summoned to a court in which its guilt was already presumed, in which one of the jurors had already declared Israel guilty, and which the witnesses for the prosecution were, in fact, the murderers. I can’t think of any country in the world which would participate in such a farce of justice.”
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From the start, the Goldstone Report was extremely biased and flawed, and the U.N. assumed from the beginning that Israel was at fault.
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British Col. Richard Kemp, an expert in counterinsurgency warfare who commanded British troops in Afghanistan, has said of the IsraelHamas conflict that “the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.” Israel’s defensive actions were viewed as “aggressive” and the report fails to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend herself against terrorism and other external threats. A country’s right to defend itself is a right of all U.N. members under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. Israel is not being taken seriously and it is time that something be done.
Miriam Fry is a junior majoring in political science and is a member of Alabama Friends of Israel.
The Crimson White
OPINIONS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
5
Please, no more Nobel talk When it comes to meds,what’s in it, doc? I was watching TV the other day when a commercial discussing a recently released asthma medication lit up the screen. It showed a wide open field with people basking in the glow of a radiant sun, enjoying the fresh air. Though I was doing homework at the time, the side effects listed at the end of the ad grabbed my attention. Among those listed, the most intriguing was “may cause shortness of breath.” So now, a person suffering from asthma can safely take a substance that will treat his or her breathing problems, with a side effect of potentially problematic breathing. Well, that helps. As an asthmatic myself, I found the commercial slightly shocking and amusing at the same time. I understand the pain and frustration of airway constriction and find it hard to believe that any other person with the condition would purposefully want more difficulties. After hearing that minor crusade against free breathing, I decided to pay closer attention to the negative symptoms of other medical products presented in television advertisements. If you can believe it, I tried to disregard all of the medications whose side effects were simply worse than the ailment supposedly being treated in the first place. In my search, I found an acne cream that may cause redness and irritation, a PMS pill that may cause moderate to severe cramping and depression meds that may increase suicidal thoughts. Contemplating the moral and ethical issues of such ads — thank you, Philosophy 101 — I remembered a scene from the 2001 comedy, “Joe Somebody.” An unhappy A/V specialist working for a large pharma-
ceutical c o mp a ny, Joe, sullenly walks through h i s house while one of his comDebra Flax m e r cials for a new drug audibly murmurs in the background. In the commercial, the announcer says, “Possible side effects may include: depression, general discomfort, headaches, blurred or distorted vision, loss of balance, dry mouth, numbness, periodontal disease, lock jaw, tremors, heart palpitations, varicose veins, liver damage, kidney failure, loss of taste, loss of smell, loss of sight, early Alzheimer’s, cardiac arrest, and in extremely rare cases...death..Volomin. Making you better than you really are.” The advertisement, though exaggerated for comedic effect, does show a bit of reality within the ridiculousness. I’ll be the first to admit that
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I find medical practitioners somewhat terrifying, I get why they’re important. And I get why their extensive knowledge is helpful when it comes to the public’s health. What I don’t get is how those doctors and scientists, with all their knowledge and experience, can allow people to take drugs seemingly working against the greater good. It almost seems as though these “may cause” side effects are used to keep people sick, needing more medical attention and prescriptions. Passing the buck, the patient, as well as the doctor, should be held accountable for any medicinal shortcomings within their prescribed regiment. People responsible enough to be in control of their own well-being should consider any larger scale, long-term results before mindlessly popping a quick fix pill. Not having personally taken any of the above medications, I’m probably missing the positive outcomes of those meds still on the market. However, from the outside looking in, I fail to see how solving a problem with other and/or bigger problems is effective.
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“In my search, I found an acne cream that may cause redness and irritation, a PMS pill that may cause moderate to severe cramping and depression meds that may increase suicidal thoughts.” - Debra Flax
going to see the doctor is not a beloved activity. I dread those occasional visits to the ominous, egg-colored facility filled with confusing charts, sharp needles and cold-handed nurses. But I’m also not one to deny the benefits of prescription medications-the ones that work, anyway. The bottom line is, although
Ungrateful as it may be and with respect to the researchers trying to make a difference, if that’s the best there is, I think I’ll take my chances with what nature “may cause.” Debra Flax is a sophomore majoring in journalism. Her column runs weekly on Thursdays.
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Everyone seems to be going crazy over President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, even a week later. People are still calling for him to return it because he didn’t deserve it. I don’t think he deserved it, but, for a few reasons, I don’t think he should reject it. First, if Obama has to return something that he didn’t deserve, shouldn’t other presidents be treated the same way? For example, should Bill Clinton publicly rescind the title of “first black president” that Toni Morrison gave him? It seems a little silly saying that now. Perhaps presidents like Teddy Roosevelt didn’t deserve their Nobel Prizes. I mean, really, was negotiating an end to the Russo-Japanese War that big of a deal? Since we’re on the topic of presidents returning stuff they didn’t earn, George W. Bush has to give America back eight years of its life. It’s startling how easily we attack a president for getting an award he may not have deserved when, less than a decade ago, a president took office who not only didn’t win the most votes nationwide, he may not have gotten the most votes in the state that took him over the top. In one of the greatest ironies of American history, a president who would spend his career trying to force democracy upon other countries was elected quite undemocratically. In 2000, if you remember, the only Americans whose votes really counted were the nine members of the Supreme Court. If you want to talk about someone who needs to return something, start with the Decider. Secondly, it would be rude of Obama to reject the prize. I know it has been a while since we had a president who was respected around the world, but there are other countries out there. Then again, if Obama turned it down it would not be with-
out precedent. In 1935, German journalist Carl von Ossietzky turned d o w n the prize because Jonathan Reed H i t l e r forced him to do so. Hitler didn’t think he deserved the prize because der Fuehrer didn’t agree with von Ossietzky’s ideas. In 1973, Vietnamese diplomat Le Duc Tho rejected the prize on the grounds that peace had not been achieved in Vietnam, while Henry Kissinger accepted it for the same treaty. Although Obama has yet to really accomplish something peace-wise, he hasn’t been completely devoid of impact. The protests over the election in Iran may have had
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decision is bound to be completely arbitrary and invariably controversial. That isn’t to say that the accomplishments of its winners are pointless, but the prize is purely symbolic. The winner is decided by a small group of people. This year’s jury had just five members. Even sports awards have a voting base far larger than that. Can you imagine if the BCS only had five voters? Washington could end up playing Boise State in the championship. I, personally, don’t care too much about the opinions of five Norwegian politicians. It doesn’t really affect my quality of life or reflect the real impact of Obama’s policies or anything like that. If the Nobel Prize were awarded on the pages of The Crimson White, it would be on this page — the opinions page — because it’s entirely based on somebody’s opinion. So while most Americans don’t believe Obama deserved
“Since we’re on the topic of presidents returning stuff they didn’t earn, George W. Bush has to give America back eight years of its life.” - Jonathan Reed
something to do with the fact that Obama presented a possibility for diplomatic relations beyond shotgun diplomacy. Unfortunately, the anti-American Ahmadinejad took over in a tight, contested and possibly corrupt election (see, Iran did learn something from us about conducting “fair” elections). Obama brings the prospect of worldwide respect rather than worldwide antipathy. To turn down the Nobel would be just another example of American arrogance and presumptiveness. It’s like telling the world, “We don’t need your awards and praise, no thank you. We’re America, we decide what our president deserves, not you.” My final reason has less to do with whether or not Obama should turn down the award and more to do with why it really doesn’t matter. The Nobel Peace Prize is “pointless” in that any
Homecoming vs. South Carolina
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the prize (over 80 percent in a Facebook poll, for what that’s worth), the issue isn’t worth the millions of Facebook statuses, groups and opinion columns it’s spawned (including this one). Such a hubbub over the opinion of an arbitrary panel just makes me think of a more important misappropriation of awards: How did Sam Bradford beat Colt McCoy for the Heisman last year? McCoy definitely completed an NCAA record 77.6 percent of his passes and simultaneously led his team in rushing. You can’t get much better than that. Because after all, football awards affect me just as much, if not more, than this Nobel Prize does.
Jonathan Reed is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism. His column runs on Thursdays.
6 Thursday, October 15, 2009
NEWS
The Crimson White
Medical scholars receive money for education By Tayler Reid Staff Writer
The Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Theta Xi Endowed Scholarship awarded $1,000 scholarships to eight UA College of Community Heath Sciences’ Rural Medical Scholars. According to the program’s Web site, Rural Medical Scholars are college seniors and graduate students from rural Alabama counties. Each year, 10 students are chosen for the scholarships based on academic achievement, character, leadership qualities and interest in rural health care. Dr. John Wheat founded the program in 1990. In 1996, he was designated by the School of Medicine as the director of the program. His goal was to build a special program to help students with rural backgrounds become physicians in rural areas.
“This has been a crisis for many years now,” Wheat said. “There is still a great need in rural Alabama for good family physicians.” Several students from rural Alabama counties discovered the program and are now taking advantage of it. “This program gave me the opportunity to be better prepared for medical training,” said John McDaniel, a Rural Medical Scholar. “The emphasis on putting physicians in small towns matched my career goals well.” According to a news release, the program was created about 15 years ago. The Alpha Lambda Chapter of Theta Xi Endowed Scholarship was established in 2006 by Theta Xi alumni. Its purpose was to support undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in rural health care programs offered through the University.
The students who participate in the program are part of the class of students who spend their third and fourth years of medical school at the University after starting at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They begin their program with a premedical year of studies that include biostatistics, behavioral medicine, epidemiology, community clinical processes and rural environmental and occupational health, according to program information. Rural Medical Scholars participate in special seminars, field trips and community service projects in addition to their medical studies. The state of Alabama provides a full scholarship to any medical student who is willing to sign a contract to perform as a physician in rural Alabama for four years. The state has found that Rural Medical
Scholars are more likely than other students to sign this contract. This scholarship pays for the student’s entire education, not including the one year of master’s education required. The $1,000 scholarship from Theta Xi was intended to help cover the cost of that one year. “I am very appreciative of the dean of the college and the fraternity that made this scholarship money available,” said Wheat. “I know it eases the students’ worries when they can study without stressing over finances as much.” Students in the program said they shared Wheat’s enthusiasm about the scholarship. “It’s nice to know that the faculty and surrounding community is supporting us not just verbally but financially,” McDaniel said. “It provides another incentive to continue in our studies.” “This scholarship came
UA Media Relations College of Community Health Sciences Dean Eugene Marsh, center, stands with 2009-10 Rural Medical Scholars, who each received scholarships to pay for their first year in the program. very unexpectedly to all of the members of the program,” said Brittney Anderson, a Rural Medical Scholar. “While financial assistance is always a plus, this scholarship award was most important because it
showed that there are organizations, like the Alpha Lambda chapter of Theta Xi who have a sincere interest in what we are doing for our communities and for the state.”
Please drink reponsibly.
Group keeps tradition alive Anderson Society sells Homecoming T-shirts this week By Ashley R. Alexander Staff Writer
The Anderson Society has sold several hundred T-shirts so far for Homecoming 2009, and they hope to sell more. The Anderson Society, an honor society for students who have made tremendous contributions to the University, has kept the annual tradition of selling Homecoming T-shirts to the UA community. “Alabama’s tradition represents our expectations for the year to come with the football season,” said Kendra Key, a senior majoring in political science and a member of the Anderson Society. Expectations for the society
members are to be involved with their community, and part of that involves selling the T-shirts and giving the proceeds to local charities. All proceeds from the T-shirt sale will go to Tuscaloosa’s One Place Family Resource Clinic and the Good Samaritan Clinic. “[It’s a] great way to make an influence and impact on the community in which we reside,” Key said. Although the selling of T-shirts go to a good cause, they have a deeper meaning than just selling them. The process of designing the T-shirt started at the beginning of the summer and the society discussed possible designs for the T-shirt. “We collaborated and brainstormed on ideas,” said Matthew May, a senior majoring in political science and president of the Anderson Society. “Sometimes, we build
off old ideas.” “Not a question of whether… but when… the Tide will rise again” is the slogan on the back of the T-shirt with pictures of flags with the year of all the University’s national championships written on them. May, who helped design it, said the T-shirt reflects the way the University feels about this football season. “We feel like we’re getting back to national prominence,” May said. “We built off that idea, that football is no question.” The Anderson Society is not the only organization selling Homecoming T-shirts, and the SGA is also selling Homecoming T-shirts as well. Organizers said there is no competition between SGA and the Anderson Society. Anderson Society T-shirts are on sale until Saturday for $10 in the Ferguson Center.
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The Crimson White
NEWS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
7
Law professor campaigns for state House By Katie Koenig Staff Writer A UA law professor is perfecting her juggling act this fall as she balances teaching with campaigning. Susan Pace Hamill announced her candidacy for the Alabama House District 63 seat in July, which will be vacated by Rep. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, who is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Hamill is running for the House seat as a Democrat. At the same time, she is also maintaining her position as a professor at the law school this fall where she teaches two classes. Hamill said she went through a formal permission process at the University before she announced she would run. Hamill said she usually teaches just one course each
semester, but this year she is teaching two upperlevel foundation courses w i t h almost Susan Pace Hamill 100 students in each class. She said this is her heaviest load in 16 years of teaching. However, she said she has been balancing teaching with campaigning nicely so far. “I am happy to report that the classes are going fine,� Hamill said. Hamill said she sees nothing strange about her bid for legislator while teaching. “It’s really just changing a form of service you could say,� Hamill said. “A lot of profes-
sors do different things when not teaching, whether it is speaking or practicing law.� She said the campaign has not affected the amount of research she is doing, either. She has nine research assistants this year, and she said they are working on projects currently. Hamill said if elected she hopes she can see a lot of great issues that she would be able to bring back to Tuscaloosa to spawn great research at the law school. “My running has impacted my publications in terms of what I find interesting, but in terms of shutting them down, no,� Hamill said. Hamill said several factors helped her decide to run for the legislative seat. She has two children, the youngest of which would be in her last semester of high school when Hamill had to report to Montgomery if elected,
so the timing seemed right with her family. She also said she has been a vocal critic of many state policies for years and thought it was time to do more. “Instead of going around talk about improving policy, it might be nice to offer to help,� Hamill said. William Andreen, a fellow professor at the law school, expressed support for Hamill’s bid for the seat. “I was pleased to see her commitment to social justice and fairness enter that campaign,� Andreen said. Hamill said she has handled her hectic schedule so far by turning down any out-of-district or out-of-state speaking engagements. She said most of her campaigning this fall has been at meetings with members of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, industrial development board mem-
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“What’s different about me than virtually anybody else is there’s so much public record on me ... so you don’t have to guess what my views are.� — Susan Pace Hamill
bers and other community leaders. According to her Web site, Hamill supports cutting state income taxes, repealing the grocery tax and cutting sales taxes. Hamill also has a master’s in theological studies from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. Hamill’s thesis proposed an overhaul of the current tax system based on Christian principles. Hamill said her Web site expresses that her view on public policy is shaped by her morals and she does not see that changing any time soon. She said she does not have the
ability or the desire to change her moral viewpoint. “What’s different about me than virtually anybody else is there’s so much public record on me. I’ve lost count of how many articles, op-eds, and I have published a lot, so you don’t have to guess what my views are,� Hamill said. Hamill said that to her knowledge no one else has stepped forward to announce that they are running for the seat yet. If they do, Hamill said voters will have, “a rare opportunity to support somebody, if that’s how they choose, that is as transparent as they come.�
Ideas to Action hosts long drive competition Sunday By Jennie Kushner Staff Writer
One UA junior wanted to incorporate philanthropy with leisure when he proposed the idea for a Long Drive Competition to benefit the First Tee of Tuscaloosa, a program that provides young people with essential golf skills while building character. Tyler Rudman, a junior double majoring in finance and
accounting, is a member and operations director of the SGA’s Ideas to Actions program. ITA is a forum for students to present fun ideas to benefit a cause, and make that idea a reality, Rudman said. “This event was my idea, I had proposed it last year kind of as a joke, but kind of being serious,� Rudman said. “I played golf my whole life, and I knew there wasn’t that many intramural events for golf, and
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I wanted to see more golf-based activities on campus. I thought it would be a fun event and we could link it to a good cause to raise money.� The contest will be held Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Ol’ Colony Golf Course. The dark of the night will be offset by the lights on the driving range to intensify the atmosphere, Rudman said. Admission fees are $10 for an individual and $15 per every four-man team. The contest will last three hours, and participants are invited to arrive thirty minutes prior to hit free range balls. “Every participant has the opportunity to hit a minimum of three balls, plus range balls,� Rudman said. “The reason it costs more if you are on a team is because you have the chance to win the individual prize as well as the team prize.�
The winner of the individual contest will receive $150 worth of merchandise from The Pants Store. The Locker Room, Alabama Book Store, Chipotle and Mexican Grill are all sponsors. “I was drawn to participate in this because I am a golfer, and I like to compete,� said Jordan Carter, a junior nursing major. “This is an affordable event for students, and it will also benefit the kids involved in the First Tee Program.� Rudman said they are still figuring out what will be the team prize for the competition but that the prizes are very good. “We have some pretty big cash donations from Northwester Mutual Financial Network and North River Ophthalmology,� he said The format of the event will consist of rounds. Everyone
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will hit three drives, and in the first round, the participant will have the chance to buy two Mulligans for $5, Rudman said. Then the field will be cut in half and everyone will hit three balls again, then the longest drives from each round will be added together. The top four people will make it to the final round, and that will be bracket style, Rudman said. “For one, this event will be a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy golf,� Rudman said. “For two, this event is for a good case, the First Tee Program is great program, it has had great success, and participating in this event will help the program build a three hole par three course at its local home base of Ol’ Colony.� Rudman said women, competing in a seperate division, are invited to play in the event
IF YOU GO ... • What: Long Drive Competition to beneďŹ t the First Tee of Tuscaloosa
• Where: Ol’ Colony Golf Course
• When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
• Sign-ups: Register at the SGA OfďŹ ce, the Intramural OfďŹ ce at the Student Recreation Center or any fraternity house.
Sign-up sheets are located in the SGA Office, the Intramural Office in the Student Recreation Center and at all fraternity houses. Due to the time frame, there is a 75-person limit.
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8 Thursday, October 15, 2009
NEWS
The Crimson White
Harcrow expands Project Health program UA ofďŹ cial works with students to improve, grow organization By Mary Margaret McCord Staff Writer Project Health is a student organization that has been on the UA campus for some time, but it has been a small, internal program. Michelle Harcrow, assistant director of health education and promotion, has made it her goal to build this program and promote health and wellness throughout the campus and community. “There’s no reason that this can’t be an awesome program,â€? Harcrow said. “The sky is the limit.â€? Harcrow said her goal for the program is to provide col-
lege students with peer support, education and awareness on important health issues. Even though the organization is a small part of her job, she said she has made it a priority. Harcrow said after research into programs at other institutions she is working to organize Project Health based on a national model used by other major universities. To promote Project Health, Harcrow said she first focused on the greek system because they would be able to share information through pre-existing channels. This led to the idea for Gamma. Gamma will consist of two to four delegates from each
sorority who act as liaisons between Project Health advisers and their chapter. Chapter representatives will be selected this fall. Pa n h e l l e n i c d e l e g at e Jordan Cochran learned about Gamma through Harcrow and her work with the greek system. “I think this program is going to increase everyone’s awareness on health issues that they might be faced with,� Cochran said. Harcrow said she is also working to spread Project Health to other student organizations. “Anyone who is a student can benefit from peer education,� Harcrow said. Currently, Project Health consists of eight officers and over 40 active members. Ultimately, Harcrow said she
Students invited to attend Homecoming block party By Turney Foshee Staff Writer
There will be a Homecoming block party complete with free food and a live DJ for students searching for something to do on campus tonight. Free food and a live DJ is enough to pull in most students, said Jahmir Jones, associate director of campus outreach. But for fans of Alabama athletics, there is one more reason to consider attending the event. “We’re also going to have the women’s volleyball team and the women’s basketball team at the party,� Jones said. “They’ll be there to hang out, sign autographs and have fun with the fans.� The event, which is open to all students, will be held in the north courtyard of Ridgecrest
South from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Homecoming event organizers chose the moniker of block party because they wanted to make the name simple and refrain from alienating any student from the event, Jones said. “This party is an outlet for students who don’t participate in other homecoming events like pomping or rehearsal to come out and have fun,� Jones said. At a block party, people know what to expect, Jones said. “People understand that it’s just a party that anyone can go to and have fun,� he said. Block parties are not typically themed. Instead, he said they are meant to draw a local neighborhood together on one “block� to inspire a closerknit community. Jones said he hopes the Homecoming block
party will do this for UA students. “Homecoming week is a fun week for most students, but I think some students end up feeling left out,� Jones said. “So, this party is a way to get them involved and inspire a sense of community among students.� Students are encouraged to show up early for the food and stay late for the fun, Jones said. The courtyard in Ridgecrest South is open-air, and in the event of inclement weather, Jones said the party would either be rescheduled or moved indoors. Students unfamiliar with Ridgecrest South will be able to get there, Jones said. “The party won’t be hard to find at all,� he said. “You’ll know where to go.�
hopes to have athletic, student and greek subsets and to create groups in different areas of health awareness through these major organizations. Project Health tackles seven areas of college health: nutrition, eating disorders, alcohol and drugs, tobacco, mental health, healthy relationships and sexual health and financial health. Within these seven areas, students are able to choose which subject they want to learn more about. This will create a group of peer educators on campus who are trained by health professionals. Lesley Reynolds, a senior majoring in food and nutrition, said she the program is going to continue to impact our campus. “This is a very beneficial group because the members
T URGEN
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“There’s no reason that this can’t be an awesome program. The sky is the limit.� — Michelle Harcrow, assistant director of health education and promotion
act as liaisons to campus on health issues from the state and national levels,� Reynolds said. “As more students become aware of this program, more will use Project Health as a resource for healthy lifestyle information and reference.� In the last two years, Project Health has expanded. Harcrow said the program will have a positive impact not only on the health of students but also on the environment and culture. “Ultimately, it will produce better graduates that are more
}
informed and aware,� Harcrow said. “They will have skills that will be very beneficial to the rest of their lives.� She said she hopes students will strive to learn something new and be leaders in their own community. Harcrow’s work for Project Health proves how passionate she is about spreading her knowledge about health issues to others. “If we truly want change, then we have to be that change,� Harcrow said. “One person at a time, one act at a time. We have the ability to do that.�
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The Crimson White
NEWS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
9
Groups compete in the Homecoming week dodgeball tournament Left: Alpha Gamma Delta works hard to beat their opponent in the Homecoming dodgeball tournament. Below: An Alabama student plays in the dodgeball turnament at the Student Recreation Center during Homecoming week on Wednesday night.
Above: Students from Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Chi Omega play in the dodgeball tournament on Wednesday. Far right: Students cheer on their team from Alpha Phi during Homecoming Week. Right: A student throws a ball at the opposing team during a dodgeball game.
CW | Tori Gordon
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10 Thursday, October 15, 2009
NEWS
The Crimson White
UAPD K-9 unit searches Students encouraged to Bryant-Denny Stadium spay and neuter pets By Veronica Olah Staff Writer
By Brittney Knox Staff Writer
FAST FACTS
There is a lot more to Alabama football than watching the Crimson Tide play in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Before gameday arrives, the University of Alabama Police Department’s K-9 unit searches every inch of the stadium Thursday and Friday. Sgt. Rusty Romine and dog Benny staff UAPD’s K-9 program. Romine, who has been with UAPD for 11 years, said he became interested in being a police officer in 1994 while he was a still a UA student. Now, Romine is on call 24/7, because he’s the “dog keeper.” Benny, a yellow Labrador retriever from Czechoslovakia, weighs in at 100 pounds. He was placed in patrol service in June 2006 when he was a year and a half old and is trained to detect explosives. Breeding overseas is superior to the United States, Romine said. “It’s a business over there. It’s a sport over here,” he said. A K-9 runs from around $8,500 to $13,000, depending on the level of training. Romine first met Benny in Daytona, Fla. where Southern Hills Kennels trained him for 14 weeks. While there, Romine trained with Benny for an additional two weeks so they could get acquainted. Even now, Romine said he and
• UAPD has one dog in its K-9 unit.
• For gameday preparation, six to 10 bomb-sniffing dogs join Benny to search the stadium.
• The dog Benny is trained to search for explosives.
Northport Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff ’s Office, Birmingham Police Department and the Hoover Police Department. Starting Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m., the officers and their dogs begin searching Bryant-Denny Stadium, putting the stadium on lockdown. They average around four hours to search the structure, perimeter and content of the stadium. “We search every vehicle, tent, bush and trash can,” Romine said. “There is nothing we don’t check.” Because of their short attention span, dogs can only work a maximum of 20-30 minutes at a time. Romine said the dogs need rest or they will begin to get distracted and uninterested. Benny and the other canines have never found any explosives in Bryant-Denny, but they have found firearms. “He’s just like any other thing I bring to work,” Romine said. “Benny’s not a pet. He’s a tool.”
Benny still train every day. Selecting a dog that can find explosives is a difficult process, Romine said. They must have instinct-driven traits and be willing to do anything for a toy. Canines also have to be used to a loud environment, not become easily distracted and recognize odors upon receiving a reward. As a training measure, Benny’s trainers put an explosive in a box and make Benny smell the explosive in the box. Once Benny smells it, a toy pops out of the box. This is called “passive alert,” Romine said. “You do that over and over again until it becomes a routine for the dog,” Romine said. “Now, Benny knows that when he goes out to search, he’s trying to find his toy.” Because Benny is the only K-9 dog the University has, UAPD calls in reinforcements to make the search process easier. The University brings in six to 10 dogs from the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff ’s Office,
Students running or playing fetch with their pets on the Quad is not an uncommon sight. But keeping their pets exercised is not the only responsibility students have as pet owners. When it comes to being a pet owner, students should think about all of the responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is getting their pet spayed or neutered, said Mary Nelson, a Tuscaloosa transportation volunteer for a spay and neuter clinic in Birmingham. “People should get their pets spayed or neutered, because this is a huge factor in many animals being euthanized each year, which is horribly inhumane,” Nelson said. Nelson also urged students to not abandon their animals, which can result in stray animals and many unwanted babies, contributing to the overpopulation problem. “When students go home for the summer or move into an apartment when they can’t have pets, they tend to abandon the pet,” Nelson said. She recalled one such instance. “There was a student from the University that came to
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— Mary Nelson
the Quad almost every day to play Frisbee with his dog,” Nelson said. “They were obviously very close, and it was great to see them together. After a while, the dog started to come to the Quad alone for a few days, and it was later found out that the student graduated and left the dog behind.” Nelson said she works with the Metro Animal Shelter and the city of Tuscaloosa to help spay and neuter pets in the area. The Metro Animal Shelter does what it can for the animals, and works closely with T-Town Paws, a local pet adoption agency, and other rescue groups as other options, said Kelly Strickland, manager for the Metro Animal Shelter. “We take in about 8,500 animals a year, and about 65-70 percent of those are euthanized,” Strickland said. Strickland said the cost of spaying and neutering depends on the animal, and the gender as well as the veterinarian.
Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic in Birmingham offers a transport system to get your pet spayed or neutered, and their prices range from $40 to $60 for cats and $60 to $100 for dogs, depending on weight. Students who may not be able to adopt can still help out. Marie Marshall, advisor for Bama Paws, a UA organization that works alongside T-Town Paws, said students could help by checking out animals and taking them for walks, or by working with the Shelter. Students help to give the animals a little “tender loving care” when they come and play with them. The organization may also take one or two animals out and do a mini-adopt-a-thon, to try and find the pet a permanent home. “The other people that work there are busy cleaning the cages and trying to keep them healthy so they really don’t have time to play with them, so the students help a great deal,” Marshall said.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW*
Stadium Access Map Tailgating is an art form, a well-honed, celebratory practice that takes years to refine. But who’s got that kind of time? Here’s what you need to know now: Yes, you need a special sauce and, no, you should never underestimate the wet wipe. While we’re at it, here’s something else: there’s really no need to wait for your team to suit up–for that which we call a tailgate on any other day would taste as sweet. So stock up on supplies and head for an empty parking spot. Bring something to throw around if that makes it better.
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“People should get their pets spayed or neutered, because this is a huge factor in many animals being euthanized each year, which is horribly inhumane.”
The Crimson White
NEWS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
11
American studies professor to speak tonight By Amanda Bayhi Staff Writer
Alicia Schmidt Camacho, the Sarai Ribicoff associate professor of American studies at Yale University, will give the Rose Gladney Lecture for Justice and Social Change tonight at 7:30 p.m. in 205 Gorgas Library. Mike Innis-Jimenez, assistant professor and director of graduate studies for American studies, said the lecture this year will specifically deal with Latino immigrants. InnisJimenez said that is why the lecture was scheduled during Hispanic Heritage month. Camacho’s lecture is titled “Migrant Suffering and the
Event Without Witness.” Camacho said she would discuss a number of topics, such as the issue of immigrant human rights in the U.S. and Mexico, the costs of not passing an immigration reform bill and the effects of the current immigration policy on civil rights in the U.S. Camacho said people should know the effects of Mexican and Central American policies. “It is important for people to realize what’s happening in Mexico and Central America,” Camacho said. Camacho said she would also discuss her travels and experiences in Mexico, as well
as the conditions that force Mexicans to migrate to the U.S. Jessica Lacher-Feldman, curator of rare books and special collections, said she has been a part of organizing the lecture for several years and enjoys bringing new speakers to campus. It is important for students to learn and experience new things outside of the classroom. “I hope that students will take advantage of this opportunity,” Lacher-Feldman said. Refreshments will be provided following the lecture and books will be available for sale, including Camacho’s book, “Migrant Imaginaries: Latino
Cultural Politics in the MexicoU.S. Borderlands.” She will be available to sign books. Lynn Adrian, chair of the American studies department at the University, said the lecture this year would be different from the past four years, as past lectures commemorated specific anniversaries of the 1960s Civil Rights movement and were held in the spring. In contrast, Adrian said the lecture this year will focus on current issues and has been moved from spring to fall to allow more people and speakers to attend. Lacher-Feldman said another change this year is the move from Hoole Library to Gorgas
Library for more space. Adrian said the Rose Gladney Lecture for Justice and Social Change was named after former faculty member Rose Gladney, a social justice activist. When Gladney retired, her friends created the lecture series in her name as a gift. Gladney was instrumental in the design of both the master’s program in women’s studies and the minor in African American studies. Gladney also taught the first Gay and Lesbian Studies class at the University in the early 1990s. Gladney also won the first Arthurine Lucy Foster Award, an award created to honor
IF YOU GO ... • What: Rose Gladney Lecture for Justice and Social Chance
• Where: Gorgas Library room 205
• When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
those who improve race relations and diversity on the University of Alabama’s campus. “We would love to have everyone come,” Adrian said.
Worries persist despite retail sales increase By Martin Crutsinger The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Retail sales outside of autos showed surprising strength in September, but economists worry the rebound in allimportant consumer spending will be short-lived as American families contend with rising unemployment and tight credit. Removing autos, sales rose a better-than-expected 0.5 percent, led by gains at furniture stores, general merchandise stores and specialty clothing stores. Many economists saw that as a sign that Americans are starting to spend again, a critical development for any recovery since consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of total economic activity. “American consumers look like they are making their way back. They are cautious but they are no longer panicked,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s economy.com. “They are not spending with abandon, but they are spending enough to ensure that the
nation’s recovery will continue.” Retail sales actually fell 1.5 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, a plunge that reflected the end of the government’s popular Cash for Clunkers program. Still, that drop was less than the 2.1 percent fall economists expected. On Wall Street, the betterthan-expected retail sales figures and surprisingly strong earnings reports from Intel Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. spurred investors to push the Dow Jones industrial average above 10,000 for the first time this year. The Dow added nearly 145 points, or 1.5 percent, to 10,015.86. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 18.83, or 1.8 percent, to 1,092.02, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 32.34, or 1.5 percent, to 2,172.23. Sales at gasoline stations jumped 1.1 percent last month. Even with recent increases, gas prices are still well below the peaks of 2008. Compared with September 2008, consumers spent an estimated $3.25
billion less per week to gas up their cars, giving them money they can spend elsewhere. Those margins have begun to narrow because at this time last year, retail gasoline prices were in free fall. Prices right now have stabilized around $2.50 per gallon. Still, Americans are spending $1.8
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by falling employment, declining real incomes and tight credit, we doubt that consumption will continue to grow at such rates,” said Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics. The overall economy, which slumped into a recession in December 2007, likely emerged
“American consumers look like they are making their way back. They are cautious but they are no longer panicked.” — Mark Zandi
billion less per week now on gasoline. But economists cautioned that consumer spending is unlikely to jump in coming months as households contend with rising unemployment, which now stands at a 26-year high of 9.8 percent, as well as tighter standards on bank loans and credit cards. The national jobless rate is not expected to peak until reaching 10.3 percent or higher next summer. “With household finances likely to remain constrained
}
from the downturn during the summer, helped by government stimulus efforts, including the clunkers program. The economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, likely increased at an annual rate of around 3 percent in the July-September quarter. Many analysts expect similar growth in the current quarter before it tapers off to half that amount in the first half of next year. Analysts had expected increases at general merchandise stores following
reports last week from the nationwide retailers that sales grew in September at stores open at least a year compared with activity in September 2008. It marked the first year-over-year rise in sales after more than a year of declines, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. The data from ICSCGoldman Sachs, however, represents a sliver of spending, excluding business from autos, gasoline and building materials. With Wal-Mart Stores Inc. no longer participating in the industry roundup, it’s also becoming more of a gauge of discretionary spending than the economy overall. Shoppers are hungry for markdowns, looking for sales signs at stores, while cashing in on a tax credit for first-time homebuyers and low mortgage rates and home prices. A late Labor Day and delayed school openings also helped retailers last month because consumers purchased some items in September that they would normally have bought
in August. The big boost in sales at stores opened at least a year in September, however, was mainly because the figures are being compared with a year ago when sales went into freefall. Kohl’s Corp. department store chain, Limited Brands Inc., which runs Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, and accessories chain The Buckle Inc. all said their September sales rose at stores open more than a year. J.C. Penney Co., Macy’s Inc. and Target Corp. reported their same-store sales fell, but not as much as they had expected. Also Wednesday, the Commerce Department said businesses slashed their inventories 1.5 percent in August, the 13th straight decline, the longest stretch of inventory cutbacks since the 2001 recession. Economists, however, believe businesses will soon switch to restocking, which will mean higher factory production in coming months, another development expected to support a recovery.
SPORTS
Tide prepares for novel defensive scheme
Page 12 • Thursday, October 15, 2009 Editor • Jason Galloway crimsonwhitesports@ gmail.com
SPORTS
this weekend FRIDAY • Women’s Volleyball v. Tennessee: Home, 6 p.m •Women’s Soccer v. Kentucky: Home, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY • Football v. South Carolina: Home, 6:45 p.m. • Women’s Cross Country: PreNationals, Terre Haute, Ind., All Day
By Jason Galloway Sports Editor Just as Alabama uses the “Jack” linebacker position to help with its pass rush, South Carolina uses a hybrid linebacker position to its advantage. Unlike the Crimson Tide, however, the Gamecocks’ “Spur” linebacker possesses the coverage skills equivalent to the “Jack’s” pass-rushing ability. “They have to have one guy that’s sort of… part defensive back, part linebacker, who can really sort of do both,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. “They’ll make a 4-3 out of the same scheme… when he becomes a part of the front seven, as well as playing him more like a nickel back.” Saban said Virginia Tech, the Tide’s season-opening opponent, had someone who played the same role as South Carolina’s hybrid linebacker. Antonio Allen is the Gamecocks’ starting “Spur,” a 6-foot-1, 202-pound sophomore who is technically a strong safety. Allen’s size and athletic ability, however, allow him to play linebacker when South Carolina plays a regular 4-3 defensive scheme while remaining in the game as a nickel back in passing situations. “It really is a good scheme in this day and age because it allows you to adjust the formation,” Saban said. “Instead of having to go to nickel to adjust to formations, you can just play the people you have in the game, because [the “Spur”] is used to making adjustments that a linebacker might not feel comfortable with.” Senior tight end Colin Peek, who has nine catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in his last two games, said he is not concerned about a possible matchup problem in the pass-
ing game, where Peek would likely never see a true linebacker man-to-man. “You just see [the “Spur”] as another player on the field,” he said. “You really don’t think about his type of skills because you have to worry about how you’re going to play. It’s just how you carry your game plan out and just executing.”
Two Tide players named Lombardi Award semifinalists
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CW | Bethany Martin Tight end Colin Peek goes up for a pass against Ole Miss Saturday. Peek has emerged as a dangerous weapon in the passing game the last two weeks, but it could be tough for the senior to exploit matchups this week against South Carolinaʼs “Spur” linebacker.
given annually to the nation’s top lineman. “We’re always happy to see players, coaches and people in our organization get recL i n e b a c ke r R o l a n d o ognized for all the good work McClain and nose tackle that they do for our team and Terrence Cody were two of our university and represent12 players named semifinal- ing it in a first-class way,” ists for the Lombardi Award, Saban said.
• Men’s Cross Country: PreNationals, Terre Haute, Ind., All Day
SPORTS in brief
Tide finishes third at Tar Heel Invitational From Staff Reports
Nico vs. Jerrell With sophomore linebacker Jerrell Harris back from suspension this week, the role of filling the starting “Will” linebacker position after Dont’a Hightower’s seasonending injury is now a tossup between Harris and true freshman Nico Johnson. Johnson got the start last week while Harris was still injured, and Saban said Harris has been showing some rust in practice this week. “Jerrell is getting back into it,” Saban said. “He’s certainly doing a good job, but I think there’s a little bit of rust there in terms of assignment relative to not being with us for a few weeks.” Although Harris is shaking off some rust, Saban said the starter for Saturday’s game against South Carolina has yet to be decided. “Both guys are doing a good job,” he said. “I think both guys have a role on the team. We haven’t made a decision as to who would do what in this game yet.”
WOMEN’S GOLF
Saban also said the Tide’s success goes a long way in creating award opportunities for players. “I think it’s interesting that teams that have success seem to have more guys that get opportunities for positive selfgratification to these kinds of awards,” he said.
The No. 12 Alabama women’s golf team shot an 8-overpar 296 in the final round of the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C., Sunday to finish in third place behind top 10 teams Auburn and Michigan State. The Crimson Tide posted a 54-hole score of 875 (+11) on the par-72 Finley Golf Course. Michigan State took the team title with a three round score of 860 (-4), while SaraMaude Juneau from Louisville took medalist honors shooting 206 (-10) for the tournament. Three Alabama players finished in the top 20 led by Camilla Lennarth, who narrowly missed her third straight top 10 finish, ending up in a tie for 11th at 218 (+2). The Stockholm, Sweden, native slid a little in the final round with a 75 (+3) after two rounds of par or better to start the tournament. Freshman Jennifer Kirby climbed the leader board on the final day to finish in 19th after posting the best round of the day for the Tide with an even-par 72. Kirby knocked in four birdies on her round and finished the tournament with a score of 219 (+3). Sophomore B r o o ke Pancake took 20th place after a final round 74 (+2) to finish up with a 54-hole score of 220 (+4). Senior Rhea Nair had a tough final round shooting 82 (+10) after two straight par or better rounds to finish tied for 48th. Junior Courtney Harter shot her best round of the tournament in the final round, a 75 (+3) to finish tied for 53rd. Alabama will play its final fall tournament, the Landfall Tradition, Oct. 23-25 in Wilmington, N.C.
The Crimson White
SPORTS
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Saban, Spurrier share friendship, Southeastern Conference success By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — They are national championship coaches, innovators on each side of the ball who’ve excelled in perhaps the country’s most difficult conference. In 12 seasons with Florida, Steve Spurrier dominated the Southeastern Conference with a wide-open passing game. His Fun-n-Gun was like nothing SEC defenses had ever dealt with before. As LSU’s coach from 2000-2004, Nick Saban’s defenses locked down opponents with unrelenting pressure. Both left the SEC for the NFL, only to return having realized college football was more their speed. Now in their second SEC jobs, South Carolina’s Spurrier and Alabama’s Saban face each other for third time in their brilliant careers when the second-ranked Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0) take on the No. 22 Gamecocks (5-1, 2-1) on Saturday night. The first two meetings of two of the most astute minds in college football resulted in Spurrier-style blowouts, with Florida beating LSU 41-9 in 2000 and 44-15 in 2001. As different publicly as the two appear — Spurrier with his wisecracking bite compared with Saban’s stoic, plainspoken edge — they share a friendship and respect. So much so that Spurrier once hitched a ride with Saban on the LSU plane after coaching together in the EastWest Shrine Game nine years ago. “How about that?” Spurrier said with a chuckle this week. Saban joked that LSU fans about “blew up the Gator plane up in Baton Rouge when it was waiting there to pick [Spurrier] up and take him home,” Alabama’s coach said. “I’ve known Steve for a long time,” Saban said. “I know his wife [Jerri] as well and so does Terry and we have a good relationship with them.” Maybe it’s the similar paths they’ve traveled or each one’s unwavering drive to succeed. Spurrier blitzed through the SEC for six conference titles and the 1996 national crown at Florida from 1990-2001. Thinking he could take his high-flying offense anywhere, Spurrier stunned his alma mater when he left for the Washington Redskins in 2002. After two forgettable NFL seasons, Spurrier walked away and sought anoth-
er chance at the college game, which came in 2004 at South Carolina. While there haven’t been championships, Spurrier’s steadily built the Gamecocks into potential contenders. Earlier this season, South Carolina gained their first victory over a top-five team in 28 years, defeating then-fourthranked Ole Miss 16-10. Saban also built an SEC power at LSU, winning the BCS title in 2003. He, too, felt a longing to try the NFL and took over the Miami Dolphins in 2005. But after going 6-10 in 2006 — Saban’s only losing season as a head coach — he returned to college with the Crimson Tide. Saban’s team was No. 1 in the country for much of last season and is again in the running for a national title. “I put him in the top four or five coaches in the country,” Spurrier said of Saban. Spurrier said Saban’s a success because he attracts the best prospects. “He’s one of the best recruiters in the country and that’s why he’s one of the best coaches,” Spurrier said. Alabama’s defense might be the best Saban has had. As Spurrier put it, “they don’t want to concede a 2-yard run.” Saban’s former defensive coordinator at Alabama, Kevin Steele, said his old boss is relentless at chasing excellence. “He’s demanding,” said Steele, who holds a similar position at Clemson. “But what people perceive as a war zone, a dictator, that’s not it at all. It’s a huge misnomer.” Saban is certainly loud and tough with players and coaches. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know where people get the idea that you have to apologize for being committed to excellence and you demand it and you expect it of other people and you demand them to strive for it and if they let up, you call them out on it,” Steele said. Spurrier has his critics, too. In his Florida days, he routinely made headlines with cracks like calling Florida State “Free Shoes University” or that “you can’t spell Citrus without U-T” when the Vols struggled to keep up with the Gators. Spurrier, less brash at 64, said his focus is on improving South Carolina’s young players in perhaps the biggest matchup of his five seasons. Spurrier commands as much respect as ever, Crimson Tide linebacker Cory Reamer said. “He’s really turned this South Carolina program around,” Reamer said. “He’s still doing some great things up there.”
13
Top: Alabama coach Nick Saban watches from the sidelines during a game against North Texas at BryantDenny Stadium. South Carolinaʼs Steve Spurrier and Alabamaʼs Nick Saban share a passion for college football and a reputation as the best at what they do. The two coaches face each other for the first time since 2001 when the 22nd-ranked Gamecocks take on the No. 2 Crimson Tide Saturday. Bottom: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier looks on during the first half of a college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C.
AP
14 Thursday, October 15, 2009
SPORTS
The Crimson White
USC’s Stafon Johnson returning home Greg Beacham The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Just 16 days after Stafon Johnson’s neck was crushed in a weightlifting accident, the Southern California tailback is heading home. Johnson expressed thanks and optimism with his eyes and smile at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday during his first public appearance since the accident. He was scheduled to be released later in the day. Wearing a black USC sweatshirt and a red cap with the Trojans’ helmet logo, Johnson easily walked through the hospital and exchanged teasing gestures with friends. He also smiled at his mother, Kim Mallory, who hasn’t left his side since Johnson accidentally dropped a weight bar on his neck, crushing his throat and larynx. Tearing up along with her 21-year-old son, Mallory expressed gratitude for a worldwide outpouring of support in
cards, flowers and posters — even some from UCLA fans. “They sent everything you can possibly think to show Stafon the love, and that meant the world to get us to go along with that process,” Mallory said. Johnson’s uncle, Kregg Anderson, read a message written by Johnson. “I am just so filled with joy, as if I am graduating from one stage of life and on to the next obstacles,” Anderson read. “I greatly appreciate everything, and at this point, everything counts. ... This is not the end of anything. This is the beginning of things to come. I’ll be back soon. We are fighting on.” Although he still has a breathing tube in his throat and can’t swallow, Johnson clearly has made a remarkable recovery from an accident that would have killed most people. He underwent seven hours of reconstructive surgery Sept. 28 to repair his throat, but his rehabilitation has been swift because of his tremendous
physical condition. “As an athlete, Stafon already has the mental ability to push through many obstacles,” said Dr. Jason Hamilton, a throat specialist who’s part of Johnson’s medical team. “I think he’s done that thus far. He’s made extreme progress to this date, and we expect him to continue to make progress.” Doctors don’t know when Johnson will be able to speak. His right vocal cord was torn away from its mooring, and his larynx was separated. He also still has a tracheostomy tube in his throat which will be there “as long as he needs it,” Dr. Ryan Osborne said. Osborne and Hamilton believe Johnson’s ability to play football again largely will depend on his own desire to return, either to the Trojans or the NFL. “I think that the majority of that is in the hands of Stafon,” Osborne said. “I don’t think any physician can tell a player if they’re going to play again.” USC coach Pete Carroll said
Tuesday it’s possible Johnson could qualify for a medical redshirt that would give him a sixth year of eligibility. Essentially the Trojans’ entire team and coaching staff have visited Johnson in the hospital since the injury occurred. With a lengthy rehabilitation still in front of him, Johnson is content to be a Trojans fan for now. He watched USC’s victory at California on Oct. 3 on television with his mother. “It was overwhelming for him,” Mallory said. “He was pushing in bed like he was out there trying to get that touchdown in. The whole game, it was like he was in there. He got kind of emotional toward the end.” While his doctors spoke, Johnson wrote another message with red marker on a sheet of paper, plugging his Twitter account and leaving his teammates with a message for their weekend trip to Notre Dame. “Fight on. Beat the Irish,” Mallory read.
AP University of Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson waves after a news conference at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Wednesday. Johnson has been hospitalized since Sept. 28 after suffering a serious weightlifting accident when the weight bar fell out of his grasp.
SEC notebook: Georgia looking to finish strong By Mark Long The Associated Press
you live it out,” Richt said. “I was pretty proud of that team considering what they went Mark Richt hopes he can through and how we finished. look back at the end of the sea- Even that last ballgame I think son and draw some promising we were down 15 or 18 at the parallels to a difficult stretch half to the No. 1 defense in Georgia endured three years America. It didn’t look like we had much of a chance, but we ago. After dropping four of five found a way, and there is a lot in 2006, including losses to to be said about that.” Vanderbilt and Kentucky, Richt wondered how his playFlorida’s job not ers and coaching staff would respond. The Bulldogs closed finished with three straight wins over Auburn, Georgia Tech and Florida is nearly halfway Virginia Tech. through the season, but the Georgia (3-3, 2-2) has lost top-ranked Gators feel like three games this season and they’ve already faced a seamust face No. 1 Florida and No. son’s worth of adversity. 19 Georgia Tech before it ends. There was quarterback Tim “You just never know how Tebow’s much-chronicled conclose you are to success until cussion. There was the flu bug
that affected Tebow, receiver Riley Cooper, tight end Aaron Hernandez, running back Jeff Demps, cornerback Joe Haden, safety Major Wright, defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, linebacker A.J. Jones, assistant coach Billy Gonzales and others. There were season-ending injuries to offensive tackle Matt Patchan (knee) and highly touted receiver Andre Debose (hamstring), and significant setbacks to safety Dorian Munroe (knee), cornerback Jeremy Brown (back) and receiver Carl Moore (back). Throw in Deonte Thompson’s slow recovery from a hamstring injury and linebacker Brandon Spikes’ tendinitis in his Achilles’ tendon. Could the Gators (5-0, 3-0
SEC) be done? “No! I’ve been in this league, I’ve been in other leagues, I’ve been around it long enough to know,” Addazio said. “You’re only halfway, man. We’ve got a long way to go.”
sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown, but the senior hasn’t had a tackle in the past two games. Chizik doesn’t think his star defender is necessarily playing poorly just because he’s not getting tackles. A.C.’s struggles “The stat sheets don’t tell Auburn defensive end the story,” Chizik said. Antonio Coleman isn’t airing out his frustrations publicly. Tug-of-war: Coleman, who has been playing with a cast on his Although Les Miles was right hand, still was bothered quick to concede that No. 1 enough by his recent play Florida outplayed LSU last to visit with Gene Chizik on Saturday, the Tigers’ head Monday to talk about “him coach isn’t sure the Gators’ personally and just production lone touchdown should have and things of that nature,” the counted. coach said. Miles said he has sent to Coleman’s overall numbers the Southeastern Conference are hardly worrisome: 2.5 video evidence of a missed
offensive penalty on Tim Tebow’s 24-yard scoring pass to Riley Cooper, which helped Florida emerge with a 13-3 victory. The coach added he was “savoring” the opportunity to talk to the SEC about it. After LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins was beaten for the score, he motioned at the side judge and to his own coaches that he had been tugged by Cooper from behind. Indeed, replays showed Cooper grabbing the back of Hawkins’ jersey to slingshot himself into the end zone wide open. Hawkins, meanwhile, wound up being benched in favor of Jai Eugene for the rest of the game. “That was an inadvertent coaching decision, to be honest,” Miles said.
Graduation Celebration Thursday October 15th 10:00am-6:00pm at the SUPe Store Tent on the Quad Location Change Due to Inclement Weather
Now Located in Ferguson Center lobby Just OutsideThe SUPe Store Can’t make it Thursday? Come by the Ferguson Center lobby outside the SUPe Store Friday or Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Caps and Gowns, Announcements Official Class Rings, Diploma Frames Photographer on Site to Take Cap & Gown Photos, Free Refreshments, Register for Great Door Prizes
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 15, 2009
15
Wrestler, music S.C. board pardons 2 black video performer men executed 94 years ago Albano dies
Radio host Tom Joyner gestures as Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. looks on during a hearing with the South Carolina Dept. of Pardon, Probation and Parole Wednesday in Columbia, S.C.
By Seanna Adcox The Associated Press
By Cristian Salazar The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Captain” Lou Albano, who became one of the most recognized professional wrestlers of the 1980s after appearing in Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” music video, died Wednesday. He was 76. Albano, whose real name was Louis Vincent Albano, died in Westchester County in suburban New York, said Dawn Marie, founder of Wrestlers Rescue, an organization that helps raise money for the health care of retired wrestlers. He died of natural causes, Marie said. Wo r l d Wr e s t l i n g Entertainment called him one of the company’s “most popular and charismatic legends.” With his trademark Hawaiian shirts, wiry goatee and rubber bands hung like piercings from his cheek, Albano was an outsize personality who, in a career spanning nearly five decades, was known as much for his showmanship as for his talent in the ring. His fame skyrocketed when he appeared in Lauper’s landmark 1983 music video, playing a scruffy, overbearing father in a white tank top who gets shoved against a wall by the singer. Partly because of the success of Albano’s partnership with Lauper, the entity then known as the World Wrestling Federation forged ties with the music industry. That helped bring it to a wider national audience in the mid1980s, known as the “Rock n’ Wrestling” era. “When the Captain hit the screen with the video, it gave us a whole new audience,” said “Irish” Davey O’Hannon, a pro-
Lou Albano
AP
fessional wrestler who knew Albano since the 1970s. “When that came out, let me tell you, it just rocketed.” It was a time when wrestlers such as Albano, Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Andre the Giant were so popular that they could headline a television cartoon series and appear in movies. Albano later had a role in the music video for Lauper’s 1984 song “Time After Time,” and he appeared in episodes of the TV series “Miami Vice” and in the 1986 movie “Body Slam.” He played Mario in “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show,” a live-action animated show, from 1989 to 1991. His career in the ring began in 1953 in Canada, and he went on to form the “The Sicilians” tag team with Tony Altimore. They were known for wearing fedoras and talking about the Mafia in interviews, according to the book “WWE Legends” by Brian Solomon. Albano also coached popular tag teams such as The Wild Samoans, The Executioners and The Moondogs. He retired from the WWE in 1996. Albano was born on July 29, 1933, in Rome. After moving to the U.S., the family settled in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Survivors include his wife, Geri, four children and 14 grandchildren.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina pardoned syndicated radio host Tom Joyner’s greatuncles Wednesday, nearly a century after they were sent to the electric chair for the 1913 murder of a Confederate Army veteran. Officials believe the two men are the first in the state to be posthumously pardoned in a capital murder case. Black landowners Thomas and Meeks Griffin were executed 94 years ago after a jury convicted them of killing 73-yearold John Lewis, a wealthy white veteran living in Blackstock, a Chester County town 40 miles north of Columbia. Two other black men were also put to death for the crime. “This won’t bring them back, but this will bring closure. I hope now that they rest in peace,” Joyner said. “This is a good day.” Joyner, who lives in Dallas, and his attorney made a presentation to the state parole and pardon board on Wednesday, then left the room while the board voted. Family members who flew in for the hearing included his wife and sons, of Dallas, and brother and his family, from Jackson, Miss. Though he talks to roughly 8 million listeners on the radio daily, Joyner said facing the seven board members “scared me to death.” When he was told how they voted, he said he waved his hands and hugged family members in a flood of relief and joy. He also called in to his radio show. Joyner learned about his uncles’ fate two years ago during filming of the PBS documentary “African American Lives 2,” which traced his lineage and 11 others’ through the research of Harvard scholar
AP Henry Louis Gates Jr. The talk show host, Gates and legal historian Paul Finkelman then began to work to clear the Griffins’ names because records indicated they were framed by another man who was linked to the victim’s stolen pistol, but claimed he was only the lookout. “These were hardworking, outstanding community citizens,” Joyner said, noting the family owned about 130 acres. “Out of nowhere it seems, they were accused of murder.” John “Monk” Stevenson, who was known to be a smalltime thief, testified against the others in exchange for a life sentence. According to sworn statements, he later told fellow inmates and a detective the four men had nothing to do with the crime, but he pointed his finger at them to save himself. Stevenson told at least one inmate he chose the Griffin brothers because he thought they were wealthy and could afford a lawyer. The Griffins had to sell their land to pay for their defense. After the execution, Joyner’s
grandmother fled to Florida, but did not say why. Joyner said even his father knew nothing of his uncles until Gates uncovered the family secret. The case was about class and economics as much as race, Gates said. “They were framed because they were the richest black people in the county,” he said. “I as a historian am honored to see something rectified in the present.” Joyner believes an illicit affair and the desire to protect the elderly veteran’s reputation also played roles in his uncles’ indictment. Records show police initially focused on Anna Davis, a black woman Lewis was reportedly intimate with. Anna and her husband Bart Davis were arrested with their suitcases packed. Bart Davis was seen at Lewis’ home the morning of his death, and Stevenson initially said he got the pistol that tied him to the murder from Bart Davis’ brother. One theory was that Stevenson and the Davises worked together. The Griffins and the two other men were indicted July
7, 1913, and the trial began two days later. With only a day to prepare, defense attorney W.H. Newbold asked for a delay, but the request was denied. The state Supreme Court later deemed that denial insignificant. When appeals failed, Newbold asked the governor for a pardon hearing. Some white residents in Chester County agreed. More than 120 people signed a petition asking then-Gov. Richard Manning to commute the men’s sentence, including Blackstock’s mayor, a former sheriff, two trial jurors and the grand jury foreman. Manning gave the four a temporary reprieve while he considered it, but ultimately they were sent to the death chamber. The pardon is not only a family victory, but a step toward the healing of racism nationally, Joyner said. Finkelman, an Albany Law School professor, said the Griffin brothers stand for thousands unjustly convicted. He plans to do more research on the case and possibly write a book. Gates said it’s exciting that an interracial coalition existed in both the 1915 effort to save the Griffins’ life and in their pardon Wednesday. “Racism is alive,” Joyner said. “We can’t move forward until we” confront the past.
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16 Thursday, October 15, 2009
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Crimson White
Art gallery hosts evening of arts and autism By Steven Nalley Arts & Entertainment Editor
IF YOU GO ...
Tonight, every ornament on the tree at Harrison Art Gallery is a present for autistic children. In a practice similar to the Salvation Army’s Angel Trees, visitors to Harrison Art Gallery can pick up an ornament to donate money toward an activity for children in the Arts n’ Autism program. This “Giving Tree” will be coming to Harrison Art Gallery as part of “An Evening of Arts… and Autism,” which runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors can also donate through an auction of drawings, sculptures and other art created by the children in the program. They will also be able to purchase t-shirts as well as cards featuring art from the children. “There are many opportunities for people to make donations,” said Jan Sikes, the program director. “All of the art pieces were custom framed by The Frame Shack and The Downtown Gallery.” While the children would get to preview the art on display and auction, Sikes said only their parents would be at the event. Covenant Presbyterian Church is providing childcare for the children and their siblings. “Our Arts n’ Autism staff, support and our Arts n’ Autism board will be there, and Arts n’ Autism volunteers will be there,” Sikes said. “If a parent would like to talk to another parent, it would be a great opportunity for that.” The program is a mission of Covenant Presbyterian, and Sikes said it began five and a half years ago at the suggestion of the pastor there. “I’m a teacher in the Tuscaloosa school system, and I had parents telling me that there weren’t any afterschool activities for their children,” Sikes said. “One night at church, I had mentioned that to my pastor.”
• What: “An Evening of Arts...and Autism”
• Where: Harrison Art Gallery
• When: Tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sikes said the program began with five staff members and ten children in elementary school, and now the program serves 53 children ages 3 to 18. She said the after-school program has grown from one to three days per week, and 25 volunteers work with the program now, most of whom are UA students. Sikes said the program expanded through word of mouth, local school systems, pediatricians, support groups, Head Start, United Cerebral Palsy, the Department of Human Resources and other local organizations. However,
{
Left: Austin Cannon is a student in the Arts nʼ Autism program. Above: Brian Brownʼs artwork of cats will feature in “An evening of Arts... and Autism.” Courtesy of Arts nʼ Autism
she said new membership also the program’s activities. depends on availability of pro“It’s not really who got on grams, and what applicants the list first,” Sikes said. “It’s sign their children up for is where we have an opening.” actually a waiting list for one of Activities in Arts n’ Autism include martial arts, ballet, art, music, swimming lessons, community field trips, stepping, “The supporters are typically those who have ballet, movement therapy and been touched by autism in their families or in their more. lives. You go in and see this program, you want Carolyn Weldon, secretary of to support it.” Arts n’ Autism, said funding is always an issue with the activi— Carolyn Wedlon, secretary of Arts n’ Autism ties.
}
“We’ve broken down what the cost per hour of all our activities are to an hourly rate,” Weldon said. “So on our tree, we’re putting ornaments to represent how many hours are spent on the program. As an example, Weldon said visitors could pick up an ornament to help fund the program’s swimming lessons. “$25 pays for a couple of hours of swimming lessons,” Weldon said. “Swimming les-
sons are particularly important because autistic children tend to not have a fear of danger.” Weldon said her autistic granddaughter was enrolled in the program, which led her to become involved. “The supporters are typically those who have been touched by autism in their families or in their lives,” Weldon said. “You go in and see this program, you want to support it.”
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Today’s Birthday (10/15/09) You’ll have to adjust your thinking today. Change is in the air and you probably can’t avoid it. Remember that change can be a really good thing, especially if you identify the subtleties in the situation. 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 -- You’re more persuasive when you go with the flow. Tune in to your partner’s desires. Teamwork! Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Use your personal magnetism to draw your partner close. Be prepared for the thorns that come with roses. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Your psychic antennae are electrified today. You get more information than you can possibly use, but store it anyway. Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Don’t let anyone push you around. You know what you want. You can have it all. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Romance could occupy the entire playing field if you allow it. If that’s what you want, go for it. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Dreams take over your awareness. These could be dreams from last night, or long-term plans. Positive action is needed. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- What’s going on inside your head can translate into brilliant action. Persuade the ladies in the group first. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Are you tired of being in charge of all the fun? Let someone else plan today’s events. Sit back and enjoy.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Your psychic abilities come into play when someone challenges your authority. Figure out what they really want. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- You get a bright idea that you’re sure will work. Others aren’t so certain. As time passes, they come around. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 6 -- Actions are needed throughout the day. Others try to tell you what to do. They can’t force you. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- You can persuade others more effectively with soft words. Make new ideas seem familiar. (Daily Horoscope Alerts Subscription. $9.99/mo. Text your sign to 94847. Std msg charges apply. Txt HELP for info, STOP to cancel. Cust. Svc: 1-866663-3313.)
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From
Grammar mistakes, jokes lead to book deal
By Sharon Nichols
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 18 • Thursday, October 15, 2009 Editor • Steven Nalley smnalley@crimson.ua.edu
Flicksto catch COBB HOLLYWOOD 16 • Law Abiding Citizen (R) • Where the Wild Things Are (PG) • Couples Retreat (PG-13) • Paranormal Activity (R) • Toy Story 1 &2 in 3D Double • Feature (G) • Zombieland (R) • Fame (PG) • Surrogates (PG-13) • Cloudy with a Chance of • Meatballs (PG) • Cloudy with a Chance of • Meatballs 3-D (PG) • Sorority Row (R) • Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself (PG-13)
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Chief Copy Editor
ome great inventions have come out of sheer boredom. Peopleofwalmart.com? Brilliant. Buffalo wings? Delicious. I stumbled into Facebook fame while I was bored at work. Here’s how it happened. I went to College of Charleston in South Carolina as an undergraduate and worked as a runner at a law firm. I was delivering a piece of mail to an office on King Street, one of the higher-traffic areas of Charleston, and one of my favorite stores had a prominently displayed sign reading, “NOW EXCEPTING APPLICATIONS.� “’Excepting’? How embarrassing,� I thought. Somebody really should have caught that. I started noticing similar mistakes in other places — misplaced apostrophes, misspelled words and the ever-tricky “they’re,� “their� and “there.� During a slow period back at work, I went on Facebook and created the group “I judge you when you use poor grammar.� I thought it would make a few of my friends laugh, get maybe 20 members and provide some distraction from the monotony of class as a senior. I was incredibly mistaken. I’m now a third-year law student at the University, and the group currently includes almost 400,000 members. When I first started the group, I encouraged people to take pictures of grammatically incorrect signs and post them to the Facebook page. The members responded with enthusiasm, and now we have almost 7,000 pictures in the original group. We even had to create a second group to hold all the pictures. All this happened in my senior year at College of Charleston. When I came to law school at the University, the group really gained momentum. I received a phone call from Bob Morris who wanted to interview me for a New York Times article, and then a call from Peter Lattman at the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, who wanted to do a similar piece. Shortly after that, Neil Salkind, my future agent, called and said he thought we could make a book out of the pictures. We wrote a book proposal that featured the best pic-
S
tures from the group and placed funny captions underneath. After shopping the proposal around to several different publishers, St. Martin’s Press offered us a deal. During this time, several other things happened. I developed T-shirts with a company named Teeful.com to sell with the group name and logo printed on them. I also had a blog that was filled out by the grammatical material as well as my experiences as a first year law student at Alabama. The blog, titled Thank You Ma’am (thankyoumaam.blogspot.com), shot up in traffic and was nominated as the best student law blog by the American Bar Association in 2008. Much to my surprise, it won. I also had the chance in my first year of law school to write for the gossipy legal blog Above the Law (abovethelaw.com), where I learned innumerable lessons about writing for the Web. St. Martin’s Press officially released the book, titled “I judge you when you use poor grammar,� on Sept. 29. Perhaps the strangest moment of this whole adventure came when my publisher sent a box of copies of the book for me to autograph. People wanted my autograph? Seriously? I became chief copy editor of The Crimson White this year, but I don’t consider myself an authority on all things grammatical. I have good instincts, but I rely heavily on my Associated Press Stylebook and the advice of the people who work around me. I also realize that creating a group advertising my disdain for careless language ge gives other people full license to judge me when I slip up. I’m acutely aware of that fact act whenever I have to speak in public — and in law school, that happens on a semi-regular ar basis. But hey, mistakes happen. Nobody’s pererfect. The point of the Facebook group is that words are important. They’re the founndation of how we communicate with each ch other. Take your time before you say somemething, especially if it’s going to be printed in a public forum. And here’s the best advice of all: hire a good copy editor.
ose h t o d y l act x e t a h W n? w o s o e r fried O
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FRIDAY • Mellow Mushroom —
Get that?
Bloodkin, doors open 9 p.m. • Little Willie’s— Down Loa, 9 p.m. • Egan’s— The Back Row Baptist, 11:30 p.m.
The sided road is closed.
SATURDAY • Mellow Mushroom — Blow Your Head, doors open 9 p.m. • Little Willie’s — The Bangtail Cats and the Blue Party, 9:00 p.m. • Innisfree — Lowdown Throwdown, 10:30 p.m.
CW | Aaron Gertler
STUDENT SPECIAL! 24/7 For
$24
17975
Unlimited Tanning Available Daily Group Fitness Classes Sauna / Steam Room
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