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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2013 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 42 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894

NEWS | INTEGRATION

145 women accept bids, 23 minority Video statement reveals UA greek system progress during past month

By Mark Hammontree | News Editor Fifty years after the desegregation of The University of Alabama and two months after several black students were dropped from formal recruitment, 12 of the University’s 18 Panhellenic sororities have at least one black member.

In a video statement sent to students Tuesday morning, President Judy Bonner gave an update on the continuous open bidding process that has been in place since Sept. 16. In Tuesday’s video, Bonner said sororities had issued a total of 200 bids, 145 of which had been accepted.

Of those students who accepted bids, 23 were minorities, including 14 black students.

Bonner did not give the number of bids that were extended to minority students, and UA Director of Media Relations Cathy Andreen told The Crimson View Dr. Bonner’s White that the University does not have those video at: numbers.

“You can be assured that the Office for Greek thecw.co/ Affairs will continue integrationupdate to work with both local chapters and national organizations to provide support for all members, and we continue to develop plans for the spring 2014 and fall 2014 recruitment periods, so our progress will translate into lasting change in the months and years to come,” Bonner said in the video.

The Crimson White attempted to get clarification on the plans for the spring and fall 2014 semesters, but Andreen said further information was currently unavailable as plans are still under development.

“Sororities may participate in continuous open bidding and pledge new members at any time through the academic year as long as their total chapter membership is below chapter total,” Andreen said in an emailed statement.

Tuesday, afternoon, the faculty senate met to, among other agenda items, elect its two faculty senate representatives to the task force that will convene to address the issue of discrimination and corruption on campus.

Before the senate attended to the voting and regular business, Bonner addressed the body in two parts: the first concerning the updates to the bidding process and the second concerning financial and budgetary issues facing the University.

The first part of Bonner’s statement almost matched the transcript of her video message. After speaking, Bonner left the meeting and did not offer time for senators to respond or ask questions.

Toward the end of the senate meeting, Faculty Senate President Steve Miller opened the floor for senators to voice their opinions and bring any issues to the body. Senator Jennifer Purvis, an associate professor of women’s studies, said Bonner’s representation of bid numbers was not an accurate measure of solving the issues.

“Clearly, whoever is writing the president’s speeches is not fully cognizant of the issues that the faculty and students are concerned about, because that was just a bean count. I’m sorry,” Purvis said to the other senators. “As if the numbers of people who are offered bids who have accepted is a sure sign of progress.”

Purvis said she thought a new non-discrimination policy would be a better sign of progress on the administration’s part.

In the video statement, Bonner also said other schools have contacted the administration seeking advice on taking similar actions at their own institutions.

“As you might imagine, we have received

ONLINE

SEE INTEGRATION PAGE 5

CW | Austin Bigoney Topics discussed during Tide Talk’s fourth installment included community-wide revolutions, recycling, sense of self and genetically modified organisms.

NEWS | TIDE TALKS

Tide Talks sparks conversation Group promotes sharing of student ideas, platforms

By Abbey Crain and Brooke Garner | CW Staff Sam Gerard, Timothy Keele, Tiara Dees and Emily Broman filled the Ferguson Center Theater Tuesday night with talk of community-wide revolutions and genetically modified organisms, sense of self and recycling in the fourth installment of Tide Talks.

The event focuses on getting students to understand they are able to start a

revolution as long as ideas are thought through and shared.

“Every revolution starts with a single snap … but that snap doesn’t just stop with you,” David Phelps, president of Tide Talks said.

SGA senate member Sam Gerard kicked off the night discussing the importance of recycling on campus. Gerard started the One-On-One project, later coined as Recycle Bama, pairing a recycling bin with every trash can on campus.

Timothy Keele then took the stage,

Every revolution starts with a single snap…but that snap doesn’t just stop with you.

— David Phelps

SEE TIDE TALKS PAGE 2

SPORTS | ADAPTED ATHLETICS

Adapted sports searches for new coach Miles Thompson accepts coaching job in Great Britain

By Benjamin Clark | Contributing Writer The University of Alabama’s adapted athletics department will soon begin the search to replace a head coach who won two national championships in two different sports.

Miles Thompson, who coached both the men’s wheelchair basketball and the wheelchair tennis teams to national titles in 2013 will leave to become the coach of

Great Britain’s national women’s wheelchair basketball team at the end of the basketball season.

Thompson became the first coach of the men’s wheelchair basketball team when it was formed in 2006, and his team won its first national championship this year. He helped launch the wheelchair tennis program this year as well, also serving as its first head coach.

Last weekend, his first-year team won the team national championship, finishing four points ahead of the University of Texas-Arlington at the national tournament held at the NorthRiver Yacht Club in

Tuscaloosa.

“Of course, it was a hard decision to leave,” Thompson said. “You want to be able to follow these student athletes through this process, and I won’t be able to [do] that with some of them, and that is what makes it difficult.”

However, he will see the journey from beginning to end for players such as Ryan Hynes. Hynes has played for the men’s wheelchair basketball team for the past four years, and now the senior and Thompson will share their SEE THOMPSON PAGE 5

TODAYON CAMPUS

Chance of Rain

77º/64º

72º/54º

CONTACT

Rain

per •

Thursday

recycle th i se

pa

Wednesday

Ple a

tomorrow

s

INSIDE

today

WHAT: Jazz Standards Combo w/ Crimson Slides WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Music Building

per • Ple a

10 9 9

WHAT: Taste of Germany WHEN: 6-8 p.m.

WHERE: Parham Hall Community Room

pa

Sports Puzzles Classifieds

Student concert

s

2 4 8

WEATHER

WHAT: ‘Overdraft’ Film Showing WHEN: 5:30-7 p.m.

WHERE: Ferguson Center Theater

today’s paper Briefs Opinions Culture

Foreign food

recycle thi

WHAT: National Fossil Day WHEN: 4-6 p.m.

WHERE: Smith Hall

Film on campus

se

Paleontology celebration

email

editor@cw.ua.edu

website cw.ua.edu

CAMPUSBRIEFS

Wednesday October 16, 2013

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UA museum to host free ghost tour The University of Alabama’s Museum of Natural History will host a free ghost tour Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6-8 p.m.

The event is open to all ages and will feature guided, candlelit ghost walks around the Quad, various children’s activities, a scavenger hunt and ghost stories at the museum.

The tour will have five stops with a story for each location.

These locations include: the steps to nowhere at Madison Hall, Gorgas Library, Franklin Hall, the Round House and Gorgas House.

SCENEON CAMPUS

Votes called into question in court In a hearing Tuesday morning, Kelly Horwitz’s attorney requested that the court subpoena some of the 397 votes called into question in the recent District 4 Board of Education elections. Cason Kirby’s attorney responded, saying Horwitz’s attorneys were attempting to “turn the law on its head” and disenfranchise greek voters.

“We expect that we would call the voter by subpoena and establish whether or not they were eligible,” James Anderson, Horwitz’s attorney, said to Judge James Roberts.

Anderson claimed many of the students who voted in the municipal elections did not meet eligibility requirements. He mentioned greek students who had registered under false addresses, changed their registration at the last minute or had never lived in the district.

Andy Campbell, Kirby’s attorney, objected to calling any students to testify before the court, saying the prosecution does not have enough evidence to justify such an action. Campbell said eligibility is assumed and cannot be challenged without specific evidence, which he claimed the prosecution had not produced.

Anderson went on to say that voters had been “tainted” by offers of free drinks and concert tickets from greek organizations. Furthermore, voters had been coerced to vote for Kirby in a number of emails sent by greek organizations.

Campbell said the free drinks had never actually been supplied and therefore did not constitute a bribe. Even if they had, he said, nothing had ever been offered by Kirby himself, making bribery a moot point. The emails, on the other hand, constituted freedom of speech under the First Amendment.

Campbell also accused the prosecution of engaging in “trial by ambush” motivated by a desire to disenfranchise what they “perceive to be an evil greek system.”

Judge Roberts said he would decide what evidence he would allow into a possible trial as soon as possible. The next hearing date, when students would be subpoenaed, is currently set for Oct. 31, which coincides with fall break for UA students.

Compiled by Andy McWhorter

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

CW | Mackenzie Brown A squirrel perched on a tree waits patiently for a break in foot traffic to collect acorns and frollic along the Quad.

TODAY WHAT: tobacco FREE WHEN: 12:15-1 p.m.

WHERE: Russell Hall Conference Room WHAT: Heather’s Story WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m.

WHERE: Room 205 Gorgas Library WHAT: After Dark WHEN: 8 p.m.

WHERE: Coleman Coliseum

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

WHAT: Headshot Fundraiser hosted by UA PRSSA WHEN: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

WHERE: Reese Phifer Hall

WHAT: William Willis: A Span of Painting WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Garland Hall

WHAT: Homegrown Alabama Farmers’ Market with UA African Drumming Ensemble WHEN: 3-6 p.m.

WHERE: Canterbury Episcopal Chapel

WHAT: Hey Y’all Campaign WHEN: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

WHERE: 2nd Floor Ferguson Center WHAT: Druid City Garden Project Farm Stand WHEN: 2:45-3:30 p.m.

WHERE: University Place Elementary School

WHAT: Xpress Night WHEN: 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: Starbucks in Ferguson Student Center

WHAT: Huxford Symphony Orchestra WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Music Building

WHAT: Honors College Fall Festival WHEN: 7-10 p.m.

WHERE: Robertson Farms

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LUNCH

DINNER

LUNCH

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Collard Greens w/ Onions Fried Okra Macaroni & Cheese Penne with Summer Vegetables

Grilled Barbecue Pork Chop w/ Chipotle Honey Barbeque Sauce Bacon, Okra, Tomato & Corn Salad Pinto Beans Broccoli & Cheddar Soup

Steak Baked Potato Bar Steamed Green Beans Sautéed Mushrooms Fresh Garden Bar

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

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Tide Talks focuses on human element TIDE TALKS FROM PAGE 1

Timothy Keele then took the stage, explaining the facts behind science “fears” like nuclear radiation and genetically modified organisms. Keele suggested foods with GMOs have health benefits and reduce famine.

Tiara Dees shared her passion for breaking down walls of discrimination and sexism in the gaming culture.

“No matter what interests you, awesome communities start with you,” Dees, a founder of UA gaming club ABXY, said.

Emily Broman rounded out the night talking about her involvement with Art to Life, a group devoted to giving elderly patients with Alzheimer’s a new sense of self through artful expression.

Giving students a platform in which to reach their peers and make them believe even the smallest of ideas are revolutionary may be Tide Talks’ mission, but at the center of the organization lies what Alec Owen, a member of

the executive Tide Talks team, calls the human element.

“I went to the first meeting, and I realized how much energy David Phelps had, and I was like, ‘Can I please get involved?’”

David Phelps, co-founder of Tide Talks and a senior majoring in civil engineering, said his goal is to make people aware they are “awesome.”

“I grew up with the understanding that we’ve all been blessed by God by these gifts and skills, and people just need to leverage them for the greater good instead of thinking they can’t do it,” Phelps said.

Phelps and the seven other executive members of Tide Talks come from all corners of campus for one purpose – to empower students. The diversity of the group, Phelps said, helps to bring a variety of student speakers to the event.

“People just think that our campus isn’t progressing, that there’s maybe 10 or 15 people on campus that have great leadership skills and are going to go off and run banks, run companies and that kind of stuff, and do awesome stuff, but that’s not

FRESH FOOD LUNCH

DINNER

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast w/ Gravy Roasted Butternut Squash Cornbread Dressing Cauliflower Au Gratin Seasoned Fresh Spinach

Grilled Chicken Salisbury Steak Vegetable Bacon Soup Sautéed Green Beans Spinach Rolls

“For the longest time I wanted to change things and for people to remember my name, but after Tide Talks, it’s not about me.”

— Katerina Peña me,” Phelps said. “That’s not the narrative that Tide Talks wants to tell. That’s not the narrative that I believe in.”

Daniel Roth, a senior majoring in telecommunication and film, said Tide Talks meetings, which often include dance breaks to ease tension, help to propel each others’ ideas, in turn, giving students across campus the opportunity to spark ideas within the community.

“For me, it’s just about the community and just the way we are with each other,” Roth said. “New people come in, and the second they’re there, I feel like we’ve known them.

Everybody’s so open, and nobody judges, and everybody has such an open mind.”

Katerina Peña, a senior majoring in advertising and public relations and co-founder of Tide Talks, is a member of the speech

team – an opportunity she said is often taken for granted.

“You’re actually influencing someone,” Peña said. “Even if it’s just one little spark of an idea – you have done something.”

The core of Tide Talks is students. Their personalities and talents acquired from diverse backgrounds make up a group with one mission: to build up others.

“For the longest time I wanted to change things and for people to remember my name, but after Tide Talks, it’s not about me,” Peña said. “It’s making people think different, even if they don’t remember my face or my name.

That’s definitely what I’ve learned from this.”

All of Tuesday’s Tide Talks speakers’ messages can be found on the website tidetalks.ua.edu. The next Tide Talks event will take place Nov. 25 in the Ferguson Center Theatre.

p.3 Wednesday, October 16, 2013

NEWSIN BRIEF Alleged assault victim hospitalized The University of Alabama Police Department is investigating the alleged assault of a former United States Marine and student at the Alabama Fire College.

AL.com reported that the victim, Joseph Zebrowski, is currently being hospitalized at DCH Regional Medical Center.

According to statements emailed to AL.com by the victim’s mother, Robin Edwards of Huntsville, Ala., Zebrowski had been at a bar with friends before getting lost walking home and was assaulted after asking for directions outside the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house on University Boulevard.

In a police report obtained by the CW, the incident, listed as 3rd degree assault, took place at 2 a.m. Oct. 11. The report was originally filed at 4 p.m. Oct. 12.

University Director of Media Relations Cathy Andreen confirmed to the CW that the victim was not a UA student and UAPD was investigating the incident but provided no further information.

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Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

Honors thesis challenges students

By Samuel Yang | Staff Reporter Joey Gamble, a senior majoring in English, estimates that he has written somewhere around 30 papers for his major.

That’s not counting his Honors thesis, a 35-page work he wrote last year about post-9/11 poetry.

“I plan on [writing papers] after I graduate here,” Gamble said. “It just made sense for me to go ahead and start flexing the muscles I need.”

The Honors thesis, which is required for students interested in majoring with Honors in departments like English, philosophy and psychology, required Gamble to do his own research, formulate his own argument and back it up. It also gave him a chance to work personally and closely with faculty members.

“With a thesis, the field is completely open,” he said. “In English, if you’re not writing a thesis, you learn a lot of the tools graduate students and professors might use in research, but you’re not necessarily asked to use them in the same way a graduate student or professor might be using them.”

The program’s co-coordinator Deborah Weiss said the skills needed and developed for and during the process would be useful at and beyond the graduate level.

“The idea that you have to come up with an original analytical argument about a piece of literature is a real exercise in intellectual ingenuity,” she said. “That’s a skill you can apply not just to Shakespeare, but to the world around you.”

Weiss said the English department developed the program in response to student population growth.

“We wanted to make sure the students who wanted to have more challenge … didn’t get lost as the University got bigger and bigger,” she said. “Even for the best, most-focused students, it’s really a challenge to put together something of this length over many months. Being responsible for a long-term project that’s made up of many parts is extremely helpful.”

Though being a thesis advisor can often mean extra work for a faculty member, Weiss said she and several other members had done undergraduate theses and felt it was a valuable experience.

“Our faculty do it because everybody’s very committed to this idea of furthering undergraduate education,” she said.

“We wanted our students to be able to have that option.”

The skills needed for writing a thesis are important to research in any field, Weiss said, and the department has developed a 300-level seminar that serves as a mandatory prelude and preparation for the process.

“Learning to do research in any discipline that you’re in, I think, is an important step towards more advanced work,” she said. “[The class is] always an intensive research-based seminar. We have that class so we can help students develop the kinds of skills they need writing the thesis.”

Peyton Moss, a senior majoring in English, took the class last spring and is now preparing for her own thesis, which she will write this spring.

“It put me out of my comfort zone … we read a lot of like critical theory, which is something I’d never dealt with in any of my other classes. It was a lot more in-depth [and] required a lot more concentration,” Moss said. “I think I am in a lot

HONORS THESIS This is the 4th year of honors thesis.

The program has averaged about 10 students per year.

The paper is 30-50 pages.

The seminar is EN 399.

The thesis is EN 499.

CW | Belle Newby better position to [write my thesis] now that I’ve taken [EN 399]. It was a struggle for me at the beginning, but seeing that I was able to make it through … kind of reassured me that I was able to write my thesis.”

Moss said the thesis could be a sort of litmus test for her future. In the meantime, it will also stretch her beyond what has so far been required of her, she said.

“It’ll help assess whether or not I’d like to do grad school or whether it’s not for me,” she said. “It’ll be good for kind of taking on more responsibility and learning a lot of skills I wouldn’t necessarily have if I hadn’t chosen to write it.”

For Gamble, who is planning on attending graduate school, the paper was not just an extension of his undergraduate career but the beginning of a professional career.

“I can certainly see this being the origin of my master’s thesis and maybe even ultimately a chapter in my dissertation,” he said.

Gamble said the paper could even be the source material for things like publications and presentations in the future.

Weiss said the thesis is a glimpse of the future for students who think graduate-level English might be for them.

“The writing of the long paper is the standard vehicle of communication in the field,” she said. “That’s what we do.

That’s what we as professors do.”

She said the process required high-achieving students to stop and evaluate whether the process is for them. Past that, however, students should come with just ideas.

“I find that it’s mostly students are really intrigued and excited about the idea of doing something that will really stretch them,” she said. “Actually, it’s very unusual that they come with a real clear idea of the author that they want to work on.

Mostly they came with the idea that they want to do this thing – this new thing, this challenging thing, this exciting thing.”

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

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

COLUMN | POLITICS

A normal, closed-minded day in America

By Maxton Thoman | Staff Columnist

MCT Campus

COLUMN | PRISON SYSTEM

Public defenders serve as vanguards of justice

By Rich Robinson | Staff columnist The interview room is small, probably 9 feet by 9. Neglected light green walls, one blue door and large smash resistant windows. A plastic table and chairs sit in the middle.

Fluorescent lights hover overhead. A box filled with disregarded medical records and paperwork sits to my right. It is quiet and cold to keep them docile, like lions at the zoo.

No phones allowed; all you have to do is think and sit. The guards snicker when they hear I’m going to the ninth floor. So do my co-workers who warn of incoherent speech and creepy feelings – the mental health wing. A hellish mixture of unmedicated paranoid schizophrenics who smell blood and feel shadows overtaking their souls, freshly arrested people whose despair dips dangerously close to suicidal action and elderly men who require increased medical attention and protection. But it also

Rich Robinson seems like they can put you up there for just about anything if they deem it necessary.

My thoughts race, and I slink to base fears and ideas.

Just then, the outer door zaps open. A white guard leads in a tall, slight, black man with an accent hard to pinpoint. His green suicide prevention vest is hanging on his body, backside exposed as he is chained to the wall. The man starts talking, and I lean in to listen.

I tell him I’m from the public defender’s office. He’s relieved and says that I’m the first per-

son he can talk to about what happened to him. He’s been in jail for more than two days with no real prospect of getting out soon.

The bail was set too high, and he’s not sure anyone knows where he is. I can’t really help him with any of that, but he is soothed to talk to someone who’s “not crazy.”

The small interview room, much like the public defender system, serves as a damaged shark cage during a feeding frenzy. It’s a refuge and the best chance for survival, but it is always in incredible danger from the predators who want an easy kill.

Most people don’t think about jails much. They are seen as places reserved for the fringe, the evil element of society, where we put the scourges, the lazy and refused of our tattered race. The lies and falsehoods about the system that feeds and sustains our ever-growing and deteriorating criminal justice

network allow for increased abuse and shame. Jail is not just for bad people. Anyone can end up there after one bad night or misunderstanding.

While it’s true that most people incarcerated probably deserve to be so, there are countless tales of people serving time for crimes they never committed. Sometimes, the only people looking out for the innocent are those in the local public defender’s office.

Our legal system is based on the idea of justice before the law. There can be no justice if the accused is not given a chance for effective counsel.

Every American deserves that, no matter who they are or if they can afford it. The price is too high otherwise.

Rich Robinson is a junior majoring in telecommunication and film. He spent the past summer as an intern for the Early Representation Unit of the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office.

COLUMN | CITY CULTURE

Experience Tuscaloosa’s charm before it is lost

By John Speer | Senior Staff Columnist Last Sunday, I missed lunch.

Ordinarily, this casual observation serves no purpose and would not affect my routine or my feelings with regards to lunch. I assumed I could always go again. However, I skipped lunch at the 15th Street Diner, which will close its doors in December.

Now, restaurants come and go; it is an inevitable fact of the economic tide, but what will replace this restaurant infuriates me. In lieu of the delicious Southern cooking (which we all know makes you good-lookin’), apartments will more than likely stain the space once reserved for an authentic dining and communal experience.

As a Southerner, I enjoy stories, the easy familiarity, the hospitality and the magnificent taste surrounding a great meal. The 15th Street Diner facilitated the continuation of a great Southern experience. Unfortunately, the same problem which moved or annihilated other great establishments affects the owners of the 15th Street Diner. They are selling the property – probably to a condo real estate developer.

John Speer I’ve resided in Tuscaloosa for more than half a decade now. I’ve seen it develop, and I’ve witnessed a fantastic rise in the number of apartments with prices comparable to a loft in San Francisco or New York (highest housing costs in the country).

Unfortunately, as a migrant to this great city, I am part of the destruction of its character. I came here for school just as 20,000+ other students chose to do. That choice created consequences for a smaller city with a relentless juggernaut of a university, hell-bent on increasing its enrollment.

The results of these choices are not changeable. The University thrives off the dollars and the prestige it attracts with its plethora of students from assorted back-

grounds. The Tuscaloosa community experiences an annual swell of new and target market-aged consumers ready to try new commodities and experiences. Instead of bemoaning this sad reality, I encourage my fellow students to go out and experience the city that will be your home for four years or more.

When you plan your calendars, don’t limit yourself – look up the Druid City Arts Festival, learn more about Kentuck and visit some of the surrounding campgrounds of the Black Warrior and Lake Lurleen.

As you head down 15th Street, take a turn and visit the Waysider for breakfast.

For lunch, try the little shack on MLK Boulevard called Archibald’s, and then visit its brother establishment, Archibald and Woodrow’s on Greensboro Avenue. You will definitely get food, but go for the experience. As you stroll about downtown for Mugshots or Tacogi, take a look at some of the stores, visit the park and ask about the history of some of these establishments. Don’t simply find a place to eat or a cute little store you may visit once.

Discover a place you want to

patron and which offers an experience you would share with others.

Move on past Chipotle, Yogurt Mountain and Moe’s, and examine the establishments spread across Tuscaloosa and Northport.

Travel north of the river and hit up Broadway Pizza – literally heaven on dough, and stop frequenting McFarland and University boulevards, try Nick’s in The Sticks, past the West End. Once you are done there, make sure to try Mr. G’s in Northport.

Why have I provided you with a list? Because these are more than places to me.

I shared many of these experiences with friends close to me. As a result, we gained a measure of wisdom about the experiences and the people that transform a residence into a home. Don’t wait because you think you might have time later. Don’t blow it off because it is outside of your comfort zone – try it.

If you don’t, it might not be there when you find the time or the courage.

John Speer is a graduate student in secondary education.

His column runs weekly on Wednesdays.

EDITORIAL BOARD

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS

Mazie Bryant editor-in-chief

Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns less than 800. Send submissions to letters@ cw.ua.edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.

Lauren Ferguson managing editor Katherine Owen production editor Anna Waters visuals editor

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

In medieval England, prisoners were often designated to receive the worst possible punishment for their crimes – a sentence that was as much a spectacle as it was grisly, and all that was needed were two horses and a bit of rope.

The act of drawing and quartering was outlawed.

However, you might be interested to hear that it still exists today.

Of course, customs have changed a little bit. Rather Maxton Thoman than a bit of rope, we now use red tape, and rather than the two horses, a donkey and an elephant.

Semantics, semantics.

My point is that we – the American public – are getting pulled apart. We are being ideologically drawn and quartered into polarized states without any hope of reattachment. No suture can mend the complete disembowelment that our political structure has sustained over the past 15 years.

The fact is, we have all – and let me reiterate that – all become so closed-minded, so absolutely hell-bent on our own perceptions of the truth, that we have systematically cut ourselves off from reason. However, the scariest part about our current political climate isn’t even our narrow-mindedness on the issues. It’s our tunnel-vision definition of the term openmindedness.

While I agree that it is necessary to be open-minded, what is absolutely pivotal at this time is the redefinition of the perception of open-mindedness into a more realistic ideal.

The way I see it, the basic quality of openmindedness has recently been linked to the liberal agenda, which is an understandable relationship considering that oftentimes liberalism strives for change, and to initiate change, one must be open to new ideas.

However, at the same time, this one-sided definition is diverging our national political structure, undermining potentially necessary conservative thought and closing our minds from balanced perspectives in favor of left-wing ideals.

Not to mention, it has gone straight to Nancy Pelosi’s head.

Open-mindedness is not progressivism.

But essentially, what we have done by identifying these terms as synonymous is given the Democrats diplomatic immunity from anything at all, because they are always – albeit, ironically – in the right.

The way they see it, they can’t be beat.

Liberals are now able to freely paint themselves as political arbitrators due to their “progressive open-mindedness,” even if they have no intention of living up to their title.

The problem is that no one is willing to compromise – in fact, we would rather shut down the government than do so. And you know why? It’s because we have such a farfetched and egotistical approach to politics here in the states.

The Democrats won’t compromise because they have become the literal definition of open-minded by trying to get us meagerly thrown-together “Obamacare,” and the Republicans won’t compromise because they feel so disenfranchised by the public’s stereotypical view of them as never-changing that they have been forced to fit this unyielding mold to save face and get re-elected.

The fact is, open-mindedness isn’t an acceptance of radical change; it’s the methodical analysis and mature reception of various ideas.

Still, without anyone trying to redefine this notion, especially not in our national government, don’t be too alarmed if you see an elephant running down McFarland Boulevard with half the populous’ dreams trailing behind. It’s just a normal, closedminded day in America.

Maxton Thoman is a sophomore majoring in biology. His column runs weekly on Wednesdays.

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Yes (54%) No (46%) This Week’s Poll: Do you ride your bike on campus? cw.ua.edu/poll

p.5

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bonner, UA release progress statement INTEGRATION FROM PAGE 1

encouraging calls, emails and letters from all across the nation,” Bonner said. “In fact, we have also heard from other universities, who have watched what The University of Alabama has done in the span of less than a month and who have asked for suggestions about ways they can

follow our lead.”

Andreen declined The Crimso White’s request for the names of the colleges to which Bonner was referring.

“These universities contacted UA in confidence and we are not identifying them,” Andreen said in an emailed statement.

Bonner also noted the diversity of the Interfraternity Council fraternities and said seven IFC fraternities have black members and all have minority members.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to zero in on some tangible steps that can be taken to keep progressing — Meredith Bagley “We are pleased to report that the fraternity presidents met and reaffirmed their commitment to

diversity and inclusiveness with a resolution signed by every fraternity president,” Bonner said in the video.

Andreen provided The Crimson White with a copy of the resolution signed by the fraternity presidents.

“It is our goal to work towards the betterment of the greek community and the University as a whole,” the resolution reads. “We will create an environment that is open and accepting to all members of the Capstone

community, regardless of background or ethnicity.”

The resolution also commends the Alabama Panhellenic Association for its efforts over the past few weeks and states that the IFC will find proactive steps to progress the greek community and the University.

“We appreciate all the opportunities The University of Alabama has afforded us and will make a concerted effort to ensure that these same opportunities are

available to everyone,” the statement reads. “It is our hope to continue to strengthen the foundation and reputation The Capstone has built over its storied history.”

The IFC resolution offers no specifics as to how the goals will be achieved. Similarly, other than continuous open bidding, the University has given no details as to any other plans or active steps taken to ensure a permanent end to the discrimination present in the greek community.

Meredith Bagley, an assistant professor of communication studies and one of the senators elected to the new task force, said she hoped the task force would be able to find more concrete ways to hold the administration accountable.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to zero in on some tangible steps that can be taken to keep progressing,” Bagley said. “We will have to continue to keep the administration to their word.”

Coach prepares for last season at UA THOMPSON FROM PAGE 1

final year together.

“I have had him as a coach for so long, and I respect him so much,” Hynes said. “I just couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else besides Miles at this point.”

While Thompson looks forward to the challenge of the Paralympics, he still secondguesses himself about leaving.

“I cherish this opportunity because I want to compete on the highest level. I want to compete for Paralympic gold. That’s the pinnacle,” Thompson said. “But I still on a daily basis say, ‘What am I doing? This is a great job here.’

But I’m an egomaniac coach that believes I can get it done on the highest level.”

Adapted Athletics Director Brent Hardin will now begin the search to find two separate coaches to fill the void left by Thompson, which will not be an easy task, Hardin said.

“As soon as we get permission from the University, we will advertise, and we will see who applies,” Hardin said. “I can think of some candidates that we feel really good about, but we will just have to wait and see.”

Hardin said the search committee will have more time to find a new tennis coach, but it hopes to have its new basketball coach by the end of the season.

“Whoever they hire will be top-notch,” Thompson said.

“This is a destination job for any young coach, or really, any basketball coach.”

Thompson said he knows his last season will be tough, both physically and mentally, but his departure will never affect his focus in a game.

“My focus will always be on the game, but it will be difficult outside of the game,” Thompson said. “I will be mindful of things when we are on the bus, laughing or when we are breaking bread together. Those are the moments that you really cherish.”

Add it to your list of apps to check daily.

available for download now!

p.6

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

UA professor INOSITOL: urges further research into animal cell study

an essential nutrient which plays a role in cell growth and regulation

Inositol Chemical Structure

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Undergraduates help with experimenting inositol, an essential nutrient for cell growth, regulation

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UAB hospital administers inositol to alleviate birth defect problems in premature babies

*information obtained from chemistry.about.com

CW | Belle Newby

By Alyx Chandler | Contributing Writer For the last four years, Margaret Johnson, associate professor in the department of biological sciences, has led undergraduate students at The University of Alabama in cell research on inositol, an essential nutrient which plays a role in cell growth and regulation.

The research began when a former Ph.D. student from Jordan, Hana Dawood Ali Alebous, convinced Johnson that the mechanisms of inositol were worth seriously investigating.

Inositol has been used in therapy treatments for pregnant women and people with cancer, but Johnson’s research focuses on how the chemical affects birth defects like spina bifida. UAB hospital administers inositol to alleviate birth defect problems in premature babies. But despite its positive applications, Johnson said she believes the nutrient needs to be studied more.

has been used in therapy treatments for pregnant women and people with cancer

It’s a fantastic molecule, but we need to ask questions first.

— Margaret Johnson

“It’s a fantastic molecule, but we need to ask questions first,” Johnson said.

Over the summer, Johnson began teaching undergraduate students in her research lab to first understand the basics of inositol. In the process, they set out to determine how inositol affects two mutant phenotypes, one of which is involved in the expression of spina bifida.

“Even in the past few weeks, I’ve learned the importance of accuracy and having integrity in your research – you always have to keep yourself honest,” Lauren

Loeb, a sophomore in Emerging Scholars, said.

Spina bifida is a defect in the neural tube of babies that can cause physical and sometimes mental damage. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 2,500 births per year in the United States is affected by it, with even more in other countries.

Even though animal cell research is expensive, Alebous wrote to the Jackson Laboratory, a leading genetics research lab, and explained her hypothesis. They then sent her 77 mouse

brains, each of which she dissected into three regions. Newborn, young and adult curly tail mice were tested, until they discovered that spina bifida only appeared in adults.

“We all thought that just because everything looked normal in the brain, it was normal, but that was not the case,” Johnson said.

They saw that of two mutant phenotypes in the mouse brain, one had the ability to regulate levels of inositol while the other did not and eventually developed spina bifida.

“That sent us on the hunt for the exact factor,” Johnson said.

In a computer program that predicts factors that will affect phenotypes, the factor HES-1 was predicted to regulate inositol.

After Johnson received a gene plasma from a group in Canada, undergraduate students began testing whether the factor binds with different controls to regulate the nutrient.

“This semester I have fantastic undergraduates that are providing controls to see if the factor predicting the bind on the computer program is right,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s students are preparing a presentation for spring semester about what they’ve learned in the research labs. She said she plans to publish a paper about her findings as soon as they finish testing all the controls to determine if HES-1 is truly the factor that regulates inositol.

“You can have your hypothesis, but let the data speak for itself,” Shymeria Toombs, a postgraduate working with Johnson on undergraduate research, said.

Alebous is now studying a prominent outcrop of spina bifida in Jordan, but her interest in inositol stays with Johnson and her students. They hope to be able to better understand how the chemical works so that it can be safely administered and, hopefully, alleviate the effects of spina bifida.

Honors class to hold discussion on news credibility

By Jessica Smith | Contributing Writer Town Hall, a seminar class sponsored by the Honors College, will host its first meeting of the semester titled “Cronkite to Colbert: What is News to You?” Monday, Oct. 21. Eric Alsobrook, a member of Town Hall, said this meeting will focus on the credibility of news sources today and how pop culture is gaining more news than international problems.

“If I watch a story on MSNBC and someone else watches it on FOX, they will get a completely different story,” Alsobrook said. “We talked about how pop culture is catching more headlines than actual news, like Obama talking about Syria. We don’t know if that’s because the demographic of 18- to 35-year-olds is changing.”

The meeting will host Jennifer Greer, interim dean for the College of Communication and Information Sciences; Rick Bragg, Cason professor of writing in the department of journalism; and Terri Brewer, award-winning journalist for WBRC FOX6 News Tuscaloosa.

Last fall, the Honors College started the seminar class with the goal of focusing on issues relevant to students on campus.

Fifteen students run Town Hall and are required to put on a certain number of events

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PLAN TO GO WHAT: Town Hall first meeting WHEN: Monday Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ferguson Center Forum

each semester. The course is an Honors College seminar course, but it is open to anyone in Honors College regardless of classification.

Alsobrook, a senior majoring in communication studies and political science, said he thinks this year’s topics are the most interesting yet.

He said the panel of speakers are experts in their fields and will provide students with a platform to speak out.

“The majority of people get their news from nontraditional sources like Steven Colbert or Jimmy Kimmel,” Alsobrook said. “I thought it was kind of interesting that people are turning away from traditional news sources.”

Derek Carter, a sophomore majoring in economics and mathematics, has been a part of Town Hall from the beginning and is working with Robert McCurley, Town Hall’s coordinator,

to take a meeting to the University of Alabama in Huntsville and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“I am responsible for taking Town Hall on the road to our sister schools UAB and UAH,” Carter said. “We will be recreating our media Town Hall at those campuses. I have been in contact with the honors programs there and have been working to get them involved in the program.”

McCurley said he saw problems in the legal system and wanted to have a way for students to talk about them.

“I saw many issues that should be addressed but weren’t being addressed, and this class is addressing these issues that are being overlooked by our legal system,” McCurley said.

The next meetings will be Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 and will be “Student Debt” and “Where We Were and Where We Are: The University and Tuscaloosa, Always Moving Forward.”

Submitted The honors seminar course hosts a panel of speakers in a forum open to the public.

p.7

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

‘Bama Laughs’ comedy night to feature student videos

By Jason Frost | Contributing Writer For those interested in original comedy, students from the department of restaurant, hotel and meetings management will be hosting Bama Laughs, a night featuring comedic short films and Vines by University of Alabama students.

The event will be held Monday, Oct. 21, in the Ferguson Theater at 7:30 p.m.

Jade Wyatt, assigned by University Programs to front public relations for the group, said the group is expecting a large turnout for the new event.

“It’s the biggest event for the RHM group ever,” Wyatt said. “We have 100 seats confirmed, but we hope to fill the room with 400.”

Bama Laughs originated as a group project assigned to one RHM group as part of regular coursework. Senior Meghan

Moore and junior Clay Welch are two of the members, who admitted they had no idea how to work with their given topic – comedy.

“One of our group members had a boyfriend in the TCF department who gave us the idea, and we just ran with it,” Welch said.

After coordinating the event with the Ferguson Center and numerous campus organizations, the group began distributing fliers and speaking around campus to build awareness of their project.

“When I started this, I knew nothing about films. This helped me get rather knowledgeable,” Welch said.

Though Vines are pouring in, the main feature of the night is the short video contest. Students from around campus can submit comedic five- to seven-minute short films to compete in one of two competition categories: “Campus Adventures” and “What

Greek students hold fundraiser, raise money for cystic fibrosis

Submitted Wilson King and Gracie Davis, organizers of the “Rock Out to Knock Out CF” fundraiser, pictured with Thomas Plott.

UA Means to You,” with $150 in scholarship money going to the winner of each contest, provided by the University. The best Vine will receive $50.

“Our advisor says if this goes well, we can do it every year,” Moore said.

Short film submissions are being accepted until Friday, and Vines are being accepted until Sunday afternoon by using the hashtag #UASTUDENTPROBLEMS. Short films can be sent to bamalaughs@ gmail.com.

“We’ll have free refreshments and popcorn available,” Wyatt said. “Big Al will be there too.”

Greek students will receive one Panhellenic point for attending and houses that submit videos as a group will possibly earn extra points, “We want the school to get involved,” Wyatt said. “Everyone is welcome.”

Submitted Members of Bama Laughs hold signs for their upcoming event featuring comical vines and a series of short video contest submissions.

By Collin Jones | Contributing Writer Thirteen greek organizations at The University of Alabama will host the “Rock Out to Knock Out CF” fundraiser Friday from 5-8 p.m. to raise money for the Thomas Plott Foundation.

Five-year-old Thomas Plott was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 10 weeks old.

After he was diagnosed, he was immediately put on various medications and several daily treatments.

“He is your typical, gregarious little boy who just happens to have CF,” Blair Plott, Thomas’ mother, said. “He plays flag football, tennis and was recently inducted into the Student Government Association at his school, Verner Elementary”.

Plott reached out to Wilson King, a senior majoring in chemical engineering and member of Phi Gamma Delta, who then began to discuss possible fundraisers with Gracie Davis, a senior majoring in nursing.

“The more we talked, the more we realized that if we worked hard enough, we could really put together something special,” King said.

Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma

PLAN TO GO WHAT: Rock out to Knock out CF WHEN: Friday, Oct. 18th, 5 p.m.

WHERE: Phi Gam and Sigma Nu front lawns Nu are now combining their front yards to accomodate everyone involved.

Davis met Thomas while involved with the RISE Center in Tuscaloosa where he attended preschool. She soon became Thomas’ full-time babysitter, which allowed her to see the everyday challenges of cystic fibrosis.

“The strength Thomas and his family display is something that I wish everyone had the opportunity to witness,” Davis said.

Blair Plott and her husband formed the Thomas Plott Foundation soon after learning about Thomas’ condition.

“My husband and I serve as the state advocates for cystic fibrosis, taking us to Washington once or twice a year to visit our elected officials and advocate for the disease,” Plott said.

With the numerous fundraisers Plott and her husband host, they have raised over $300,000 for the cystic fibrosis foundation.

Most members of the greek organizations who have pledged support are donating $5 toward the Thomas Plott Foundation.

“The Phi Gamma Delta House Corporation, Sigma Alpha Epsilon House Corporation and Sigma Chi House Corporation have also been inspired by the generosity that the greek system is showing and have pledged to make sizable donations,” King said.

The Phi Gamma Delta pledge class began a letter-writing campaign and has sent out more than 400 letters to family and friends asking for donations in support of the Thomas Plott Foundation.

“All the money raised for the organization goes directly towards essential research aimed to find a cure for better treatments for cystic fibrosis,” King said.

Davis said most of the publicity the greek system has had on campus lately has been negative.

“Rock Out to Knock Out CF is not only about to be one of the biggest individual philanthropy

events ever hosted, but it was accomplished solely by the same group of kids everyone said would never do anything positive for Tuscaloosa,” Davis said.

Greek organization members are hopeful this fundraiser may show that recent events don’t define all members involved with the greek system.

“We want people to see one of the many positives that come from the UA greek system. Most of the time, the members of greek organizations are portrayed as arrogant, snobby, wild, ungrateful and now have indirectly been called racists. The University of Alabama rarely hears about how much philanthropy comes from the greek system.

I think it speaks volumes,” King said.

Davis said the Rock Out to Knock Out CF fundraiser has brought greek students together for a great cause.

“Over the last month, Wilson and I have watched all of these houses come together, not because anyone told them they had to, but simply because they want to help save a child’s life,” Davis said.

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

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Submitted A new group of artists of many different media gather to help each other display and sell their creations and have fostered a sense of family through aiding others.

Creative Co-Op helps students show, sell art

By Reed O’Mara | Contributing Writer For those seeking to add an original flair to their dorm space or apartment while supporting University of Alabama student artists in the process, look no further than Creative Co-Op. Founded by senior graphic design and printmaking major Allyson Mabry during her junior year, Creative Co-Op serves as a group of artists helping artists, whether they be graduate or undergraduate students, sculptors or painters.

“We function a lot like a support group,” Mabry said. “We’ve just made this great open and positive community for people to ask questions about selling art and about anything.”

Mabry did not expect to find herself starting her own organization last August, but a friend’s inquiry about where she could purchase original art made Mabry realize that the University lacked a forum for students to buy and sell artwork. Creative Co-Op now serves to fill that void.

“As a printmaker, and as an art student in general, I generate a lot of work just from class that I don’t necessarily want to keep because it piles up under my bed, and I’m like ‘What do I do with all this artwork?’” Mabry said. “And

there’s the fact that it’s really expensive to be an art student.”

Lori Taylor, the vice president of Creative Co-Op and a senior majoring in studio art, said learning the business of selling art and curating is not a typically featured aspect in getting an art degree at the University. In order to compensate that gap, Taylor said she hopes Creative Co-Op can educate students on how to price their art and make sure they know how to be profitable as well as get art world experience before moving on to graduate school.

Creative Co-Op’s website now features 20 artists’ galleries and contact information. The site sells artists’ “creative wares,” ranging from book art to drawings to hair bows.

“I think it’s really important that students are aware that there is an art scene in Tuscaloosa, and having a student-based art group helps that – not only does it help the students that are in Creative Co-Op learn how to sell their own work and how to present work, but I think the main impact is on the student body, who gets to interact with Creative Co-Op,” Taylor said.

As an intern for Creative Campus, Mabry proposed her idea to her contacts there and was met with such support that by the time

COLUMN | DIETING

Students should make healthy eating choices, avoid trendy diet plans

By Tara Massouleh | Staff Reporter The first time I was introduced to the concept of dieting was in the seventh grade.

A girl who sat across from me at lunch pulled a Slim Fast meal-replacement shake out of her lunchbox. She then proceeded to unpack a sandwich, chips, an apple, crackers and cookies from her lunchbox.

Naturally as the type of middle schooler who still had a school lunch calendar stuck to her fridge, I asked what the foreign liquid in the weirdly shaped bottle was. She immediately acquired a highly condescending tone and explained to me that it was a diet shake that would help her lose weight for cheerleading tryouts.

I guess she was unaware that Slim Fast shakes are meant to be consumed in lieu of meals, rather than as supplements to them.

It’s been seven years since my ignorance to diet products made me the laughing stock of the lunchroom table, but I’m just as clueless to the world of dieting now as I was before. And I would venture to say that the girl who thought drinking a Slim Fast shake with her pack of Oreos was a good idea is equally off-base.

After four years in high school and a couple more in college, I’ve witnessed a good number of girls try outrageous diet plans designed to help them lose the maximum amount of weight in the minimum amount of time. The

cabbage soup diet, in which participants are allowed to consume only cabbage soup in addition to a couple of food items each day for a week, is particularly popular once spring break rolls around each year.

The problem with the cabbage soup diet, and those like it, is that they aren’t conducive to regular eating habits, much less an everyday lifestyle. Unless the dieter possesses Christ-like restraint, they’re eventually going to break down and inhale an entire taco 12-pack midway through the week.

The same goes for the Jenny Craig or Slim Fast diet, where participants are expected to consume only prepackaged meals or meal-replacement supplements in order to lose weight.

Undoubtedly, there are success stories of people who have stuck to these strict diets, lost weight and kept it off. However, for the vast majority of college students who are surrounded by unhealthy food options, fad diets result largely in failure and disappointment.

It’s time we get over the naivety of thinking a magic pill will instantly solve our weight issues. It’s time we embrace healthy eating habits that will last longer than just a couple weeks.

And it’s time we get smart about dieting before we end up like Regina George, munching away on our Kalteen bars while everyone else gets a good laugh.

September rolled around last year, Creative Co-Op was officially founded as a student organization. Despite current success, Creative Co-Op did have some struggles at its initial inception. From acquiring grounds permits to to getting the word out about events, Creative Co-Op has been continually under improvement and a learning experience for all involved.

“We were kind of all stumbling through it together, and a year later, now we have a good set of experiences to build off of,” Mabry said.

Creative Co-Op has grown from eight students to around 50 members representing 12 different majors. Its task of setting UA artists apart and letting them get their feet wet in the art world has been a success. Some artists have already been commissioned, one even getting to create cover art for a professor’s book.

On Oct. 24, Creative Co-Op will host an art sale at the Ferguson Student Center from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., but the biggest event this semester will be its show at the new cultural arts center downtown from Nov. 22-Dec. 18, where students will also be able to purchase original artwork from their peers.

No matter how much the organization grows, Mabry said there are three elements at the core

of Creative Co-Op: students selling art that they make, students buying and supporting fellow student artists and students raising awareness of the talent on campus in every discipline, not just art. Similarly, Taylor said the core of Creative Co-Op is creating things.

“I know that we’re advertising that this is to sell your work, and that is what it’s for, but it’s also a really good motivator to continue to make things as we continue to have spaces and venues open to people to show their work,” Taylor said.

Creative Co-Op is funded by members’ $10 dues, though a percentage of sales from the gallery show are set to go to a small scholarship fund this year. Aside from this exception, 100 percent of artist’s profits go back to the artist.

Mabry said she encourages other students to take a chance with an idea and put their footprints on campus.

“I’m growing with it, and it’s definitely become one of the more beautiful things that I’ve had a hand in creating during my college years,” she said. “If there’s an itch you feel needs to be scratched, go for it. Put yourself out there; get connected with the right people who are going to put you in a place for success.”

Vigil honors domestic abuse victims

By Dylan Walker | Contributing Writer When Debbie Norris’ daughter Heather was 20 years old, her life came to an early end as the result of domestic violence. Now, Norris travels the country, telling the story of her daughter’s murder in the hopes of motivating others to seek help if they are in an unsafe relationship.

Norris, an Indianapolis native, shared Heather’s story with the University community at the Dating and Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center.

“I’m her mom. I’m left without the one person in my life that meant everything to me,” Norris said.

The vigil, held Tuesday on the steps of Denny Chimes, honored the 24 victims killed by domestic violence in Alabama in 2012. It gave students the opportunity to learn about domestic violence resources on and around campus.

Members of the WRC Student Leadership Council were present at the event to offer peer support. All members had previously attended a training session about domestic and relationship violence. Jessica Matczak, a sophomore majoring in social work, is a member of the council who was present at the vigil.

“I think it’s one of those where everybody has this mindset of ‘it’ll never happen to me.’ We’ve heard this so many times before, and this is just 24 of how many victims? This is just 24 of thousands of people, probably on this campus, that could be involved in an abusive relationship,” Matczak said.

One in five college relationships is abusive, either emotionally, sexually or physically, and Alabama was ranked second in 2012 for incidences of men killing women in single-victim homicide. This is not just a women’s issue; in addition to one in four women, one in nine men are also affected by domestic violence, said the speakers at the vigil.

Jeremy Henderson, the associate director for housing and residential communities, was present at the vigil to emphasize the campus resources available to students who are in volatile or potentially violent relationships.

The WRC on campus offers counseling, support groups, academic

CW | Dylan Walker The Vigil on the steps of Denny Chimes honors the 24 victims killed by domestic violence in Alabama in 2012. advocacy and safe housing for victims of domestic and dating violence and their friends and family. They host outreach events to spread awareness of dating violence and the available resources.

“Personally, I’m married, and I have two daughters, so there are three women that are very important to me, but I think just by being a human being, we are affected,” Henderson said. “So I’m a member of this community, and sometimes I think we can get a really individualist focus. If something affects one of us, it really affects all of us.”

Eric Patterson, the graduate coordinator at the WRC, said he believes violence in relationships has increased with the development of social media.

He said continual efforts will be needed to further address domestic violence.

“This can’t be just one event where people get awareness. We have to continue to do outreach and re-educate our people on the dangers of dating and domestic violence,” Patterson said.

In addition to the Women’s Resource Center, Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services and the Verizon Wireless 24-hour HopeLine are working to combat relationship violence in West Alabama and the nation.

Wanda Burton, peer education coordinator at WRC, said warning signs of abusive relationships include extreme jealousy, quick involvement, isolation from friends, a quick temper and general disrespect of others.

“If you know your friend is in an abusive relationship, you can continue to be there and offer help and encouragement and resources. We also want to encourage friends of the perpetrator to let their friend know that they’re concerned about them as well. There are warning signs for both sides of the relationship,” Burton said.

Before ending her address, Norris stressed to the crowd that they should always stand up against violence.

“I cannot stress enough that if you are struck, you have to walk away, right then, and never look back, “ Norris said.

On Wednesday, Norris will share more about her daughter’s 2007 murder from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Gorgas Library, Room 205.

“It’s tragic and rocked Indianapolis to its core. They had never seen anything that happened to anybody like it did to Heather, and I hope it never hits Indianapolis or any city again,” Norris said.

p.9

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

SPORTS | COLUMN

ROWING

NASCAR track undesirable host for NCAA football game

By Nick Sellers When I first saw the headline, I thought it was from the widely known satire publication The Onion. Upon reading the initial story on ESPN, I learned it was no joke to the NCAA, Vol Nation and the Virginia Tech faithful.

In 2016, Tennessee and Virginia Tech will play a football game in the middle of Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., joining two things true Southerners can’t do without: college football and comical excess in the way of such. The NASCAR backstory fits in nicely as well.

This is not a slight to the game of college football or stock car racing. I’ve been to the infield at Talladega Superspeedway, and it was impressive. The thought that playing a college football game there would be a good idea, however, never crossed my mind.

The truth is, leaders from both universities expect a total of 160,000 live spectators to watch the contest, which was announced at a press conference Monday, complete with fireworks and confetti. If that kind of fanfare was at the press conference, all bets are officially off for the real deal.

It’s no surprise the NCAA is on board for this now. After almost all credibility for the institution has been eroded over the past several years, what could more garbage

possibly do for the reputation of CEO Mark Emmert?

The fans who plan on attending had better bring binoculars, also. It’s assumed that makeshift stands will be brought in on both sides of the end zones to supplement the existing seating, but anyone else will have to strain to see the action.

That notion goes directly against what makes the best college football stadiums so accessible and enjoyable, though: that simply there is no bad place in such confines to view the game. Diehard fans will pride themselves on being able to say “there’s not a bad seat in (name your stadium).� This peculiar matchup at Bristol won’t be able to boast those standards.

It doesn’t sound like such a great deal for NASCAR fans, either. Over the next three years, slight alterations will be made to make way for the football matchup, including the removal of the huge four-way screen currently occupying the middle of the raceway.

The game being on a neutral site is not the issue. More and more of those happen each year – how else will Jerry Jones pay off his goliath of a stadium? The problem is that well-intentioned events such as the one happening three years from now in Bristol will put a damper on college football and NASCAR fans alike.

UA Athletics The rowing team travels to the Charles River in Boston, Mass., where it previously came in third.

Rowing team to rematch against world-class competition in Boston

By Elliott Propes | Contributing Writer Bryant-Denny Stadium could only hold roughly one third of the crowd at the Head of the Charles Regatta.

At the Charles River in Boston, Mass., people from all over gather around to see the best rowers in the world. The weekend event is the largest rowing event in the world. “There is at least a quarter of a million fans going to be there,� Alabama rowing coach Larry Davis said.

The Crimson Tide will travel this weekend to face

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Today’s Birthday (10/16/13).

Creative passion shines on invention, genius and revolution with Venus trine Uranus on your birthday. The theme this year is discovery, especially around career, education and travel.

Finances thrive with organized management. Partnership grows in new directions. Take on a pursuit that satisfies spiritually. Participate in a cause you care about with all your heart.

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 doing the work; accept the rewards. Get new ideas, even crazy ones, by calling the right people.

Make them work, slowly. Savor profound conversations. Venus trine Uranus: You have everything you need. Collaborate. It’s romantic.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- An energetic partner spurs you to a creative breakthrough. Work faster and earn more. Discuss the possibilities. Share encouragement.

Compromise arrives easily. Find another way to cut costs. Travel beckons.

Love finds a way.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Accept a challenging assignment and prosper. Find another trick to work smarter. You can solve a puzzle.

Think through the logic. Add words to the melody. Cash in your coupons, too. Things get blissful.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Figure out exactly what’s necessary. Ask for feedback. Be sure you’re all on the same page. Conditions are better now for getting out. Fall in love with a new subject, situation or person. Follow this passion.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Keep track of your earnings. Establish better understanding easily now.

A new source of funding arises. Keep to moderation. Draw upon hidden resources. Use wits as well as cash for vastly improved results. Feel the love around you.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a

7 -- Invest in your home office. Make sure you have the facts. Ask questions.

The key to success and satisfaction becomes apparent. Seek love in the right places. Your own good judgment is still best. Confer with family.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Plan home improvements. Invest in success. There is more creative work coming in. Write, record or film.

Better technology increases profits.

Make a romantic commitment.

Secrets get revealed. Get advice from family. Try out an unusual suggestion.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Get somebody who already knows how to do the task you’re avoiding. Gather information and pass it to them. New technology helps you advance. Your home plans should work. Grab love when it appears. Be spontaneous.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Do the work yourself and listen carefully. Get creative. Follow a confidential tip. Romance the answers out of the material. Discover a jewel.

Share findings. Houseguests can be annoying. Family comes first. Fun grows your spirit.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- It pays to advertise. Ask for help. Reveal your dreams. Ask questions and be pleasantly surprised.

Make a commitment to listen to each other. Choose your battles carefully.

Words don’t fail you now. Your communication is golden.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Pursue all leads. A profitable plot is afoot. Use your secret weapon.

Don’t shop until the check clears. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Make sure you know what’s required. Recount your blessings. A female distracts you.

Your charisma draws others in.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- There’s more good news with a lucky break. Your words have great power now. A new idea excites. Figure out how to fix up your place. Solicit advice from an old friend. Someone fall in love.

guaranteed spot this year. The team will face two U.S. national boats and other tough competitors this year. “We have an opportunity for a medal,� Davis said. “It won’t be easy.�

He said the team’s goal was to finish in the top half to regain a guaranteed spot for 2014.

Davis said the race also helps in recruiting. “It helps us showcase what we do here at Alabama,� Davis said.

The 49th Head of the Charles Regatta will begin Oct. 19 in Boston, Mass.

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HOUSING

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teams from the Ivy Leagues, California, Canada, Europe, the Big 10 and many other places.

The regatta showcases over 9,000 athletes. Davis called it “A Mecca of Rowing.�

Spectators gather around to see these word-class athletes and create a fun atmosphere along the banks. “It’s like tailgating at the river,� Davis explains.

The rowing team is coming off a strong showing at the Chattanooga Head Race and is looking to improve in Boston.

Last year, Alabama earned a bronze medal and claimed a

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p.10 Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CROSS COUNTRY

UA cross-country team to host Crimson Classic

UA Athletics Alabama will look to improve its regional and conference standings against 23 men’s teams and 26 women’s teams at the Crimson Tide’s home opener later this week.

By Leila Beem | Contributing Writer Head coach Dan Waters said all he can ask of his runners is to go out and compete to their utmost this season.

He expects nothing less as the Crimson Tide hosts the annual Crimson Classic at the Harry Pritchett Running Park on Friday.

“They’ve all really shown that they’ve progressed well through their training throughout the season so far,” Waters said. “Now it’s just time to show that their fitness is there, to believe in what they’ve been doing, to implement their race plans and strategies and to make sure they’re running for each other as a team.”

Alabama will look to improve its regional and conference standings against 23 men’s teams and 26 women’s teams at the Crimson Tide’s home opener later this week, running against SEC rivals such as LSU, Auburn, Tennessee and Mississippi State, among others. The men’s team will

run the 8,000-meter race, while the women will take on the 5,000-meter course. The Crimson Tide women will run to defend their home turf, going for a third-straight win in the Crimson Classic, a meet that includes teams at both the university and high school levels in the region.

The 2012 season was marked by the process of giving experience to a very young team comprised heavily of freshmen. Waters said the 2013 season shows promise for harnessing young talent and putting training from last season into action.

“They all bring something unique to the team – every single one of them,” he said.

“We’ve been really pleased with their development, and we see that if they continue to follow the plans that we put forth for them, they’ll be big contributors sooner if not later.”

The Crimson Tide crosscountry team has shown significant signs of improvement over the course of last

season, with the women finishing sixth at the NCAA South Regionals last year and one runner placing in the Top 20 at the SEC Championships.

This year, Alabama has already been competitive.

At its season opener against Samford, the women took the first seven places in their fivekilometer race. At the Paul Short Invitational, in which many prominent university programs participated, the women placed 10th out of 48 teams, while the men occupied the 25th spot of 47 teams.

Waters, who has helped to rebuild and unite a previously gender-separated Alabama track and field and crosscountry program, sees great potential for this season.

“We’re very optimistic about where the program is going and where the teams are at this point in the season,” he said. “If we can get our team to come together, we think we can have a very good chance of doing some very special things – being competitive within the SEC and the region both.”

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Junior tennis star Emily Zabor demonstrates leadership on, off court

By Sean Landry | Contributing Writer Standing in the sun on a warm October afternoon, women’s tennis coach Jenny Mainz gets chills while she talks about junior Emily Zabor.

“When I recruited Emily Zabor – look at the hair on my arm – I recruited her because [of] the way she carried herself,” Mainz said. “I watched her win matches, and I watched her lose matches. It’s because of the way she carried herself consistently.

It didn’t matter if she was winning or losing, she’s the same person. She’s just out there trying to figure things out and find solutions and get better. She is

an extraordinary person.”

To Mainz, Zabor’s demeanor is an essential part of the leadership role that the athlete will occupy as one of only two upperclassmen on the team. Both coach and athlete have high expectations for the upcoming year, and Zabor’s leadership and the entire team’s preparation will be put to the test when the team travels to Auburn over the weekend for the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships.

“I’ve set big goals for this year, but you always have to have the little goals leading up to that to help,” Zabor said. “A goal for me is winning regionals. I want to

do that and make a statement, not for me, but for the team.”

Zabor clearly has lofty goals both on and off the court. A recipient of the NCAA Elite 89 for athletic and academic achievement, Zabor maintains a high GPA in pursuit of a marketing degree and is heavily involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and missionary activities, all while driving herself to improve on the courts.

Zabor said she takes lessons from every aspect of her life – athletics, school, faith – into the other arenas. “[Faith, academics and tennis] all overlap for me. With academics, with tennis, giving as

much as you can so you can get out as much as you can. With my faith – that’s the groundwork for everything.”

Rather than seeing Zabor’s focus on other activities as a detriment, Mainz thinks Zabor’s leadership skills are directly tied to the other parts of her life.

“Emily Zabor is the epitome of a team player. She is the most unselfish player I have ever coached,” Mainz said. “She has tremendous leadership capabilities, and the reason why is because she’s such a strong person. Her moral code of ethics is unwavering. She has an extremely strong faith, she believes in herself, she believes

in her abilities and she believes in other people around her. Her positivity is infectious. … She wants to serve others.”

Mainz might have summed up all of Zabor’s goals in one: serving others. Zabor relishes her role as a leader, both as a tool to improve herself and an opportunity to help those around her.

“You’re only given four years, so you’ve got to do something with it.” Zabor said. “Success for me isn’t a 4.0. Success for me isn’t winning NCAAs. Success is: Am I glorifying the Lord?

Am I reaching out to others?

With what’s presented to me, how am I helping others and making the world better?”

UA Athletics Emily Zabor, considered by many to be the leader of the tennis team, will be one of only two upperclassmen on the team.