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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2013 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 61 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894

CULTURE | HOBBIES

Throwing it back Classic pastime becomes full-time hobby, talent for University students

By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter Liam Adkison stands up from his table in Starbucks to demonstrate what “mounting” is. The girls sitting at the table next to him turn and stare as Adkison moves his yo-yo through the air, catching it on the string at brief intervals. Like a magician, he moves his hands and fingers in controlled, quick motions, intertwining them with the string and sending the yo-yo soaring across the space in front of him.

This is not the first time Adkison has received attention for his hobby. He remembers going to Little Caesar’s in high school and putting on an impromptu show with his best friend, Brian Martinez. One of them pulled out a yo-yo, and it was not long before they accumulated a small audience and got their pizza on the house.

“One time we actually put out a hat and made $20, just for throwing yo-yos,” Adkison said.

The freshman, majoring in international studies and German, does not leave his dorm without his yo-yo. As he steps into the elevator at Ridgecrest West, anyone waiting on the first floor can hear him coming. That hissing sound they hear is not a result of the elevator. When Adkison walks out, he sees strange looks on the faces of students, and the looks do not stop there. He walks across the Quad, and people stop to look, mesmerized by the combination of tricks he does and the hypnotic movement of the yo-yo.

“It’s funny because some people will just kind of glance over, and then SEE YO-YO PAGE 6

VIDEO | YO-YO Scan the QR code to the right to view the video on students and yo-yos.

CW | Austin CW Aus ustin ust titin Bi B Bigoney igo gone gon ney ney Freshman Liam Adkison attracts admiration and confusion as he shows off his yo-yo skills to fellow University of Alabama students around campus, inside his dorm and across the Quad.

NEWS | HUMAN RIGHTS

TODAYON CAMPUS Interest session WHAT: RA/FA Interest Session WHEN: Noon WHERE: Large Living Room Riverside Community Center

Former miner condemns Drummond Birmingham-based company at center of rights violations

By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter

Campus exhibit WHAT: Exhibition, Film Commemorate Landmark Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking WHEN: 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library

Anibal Perez, a former employee of Drummond Company, was beaten in the streets of Santa Marta, Columbia, for speaking out against the Birminghambased company in November 2010. Perez said it was the worst day of his life and the first time he feared for his survival.

“I remember the day,” Perez said. “It was the first time in my life that I experienced true fear.”

CEO Garry Neil Drummond and his international coal company have been at

It was the first time in my life that I experienced true fear.

— Anibal Perez

the center of the ongoing Shepherd Bend mine controversy affecting Birmingham.

In 2007, the University submitted a request for proposals “to lease certain surface, mineral rights and fee simple lands to surface mine coal,” on University-owned land just 800 feet from the Birmingham Water

Works Board’s intake, which spurred concern among residents.

Although the Drummond Company did not bid on the request for proposal, they did pursue permits from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and in 2010 from the Alabama Surface Mining Commission to mine in the area under the name Shepherd Bend, LLC, according to AL.com.

Garry Neil Drummond hasn’t just been causing concern in Alabama. The CEO has been under fire outside of the United States for violating environmental and human safety, such as in Perez’s case.

Perez spoke via a translator Tuesday SEE DRUMMOND PAGE 6

Presentation competition

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McFarland Mall, opened in February 1969 as Alabama’s second-oldest enclosed mall, was once a landmark development and one of the city’s highest traffic areas.

Now, the mall is all but abandoned and has fallen into disrepair.

Local real estate developer Stan Pate plans to redevelop the mall, located at the corner of McFarland Boulevard and Skyland Boulevard, through a project

and spending millions of dollars to build another new plaza like Legacy Park does not make sense.

“I felt like [Legacy Park] was maybe poorly planned,” Weaver said. “We have a lot of areas of town that need attention such as University Mall, and we still have stores in Midtown that haven’t been occupied yet.”

Developers push to build new areas so they will get huge rebates, and they cannot get them by utilizing spaces already available, Weaver said.

“It seems like the city’s getting a lot of

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WHAT: Sonic Frontiers Presents: Judy Dunaway WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Recital Hall Moody Music Building

By Sarah Elizabeth Tooker | Contributing Writer

called Encore, calling for most existing infrastructure to be demolished. Pate will come in front of the City Council to ask for an incentive package similar to the proposed Shoppes at Legacy Park development.

The developers of the Legacy Park project requested a total of $18 million in tax rebates over the course of 25 years in turn for bringing a site that will boast six anchor stores, including Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market, behind the Krispy Kreme on McFarland Boulevard.

Some citizens, such as Amanda Weaver, who has lived in the area for 32 years, feel current retail spaces are underutilized

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Music performance

Pate Holdings to tear down second-oldest enclosed mall

WEATHER

WHAT: Study Abroad Interest Night: Faculty-led Programs WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: First-floor classroom Ridgecrest South

Shopping center to replace McFarland Mall

recycle thi

Study abroad

NEWS | BUSINESS

se

WHAT: Three Minute Thesis Final Competition WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Lecture Hall Russell Hall

email

editor@cw.ua.edu

website cw.ua.edu

CAMPUSBRIEFS

Wednesday November 20, 2013

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Series dicusses federal shutdown University Programs will continue their Hot Topics series this Wednesday, Nov. 20, with a discussion of the recent government shutdown. The event will be held in 301 Ferguson Center and will start at 6:30 p.m. Free food will also be provided to attendees. For more information, contact University Programs at (205) 348-7525 or universityprograms@sa.ua.edu.

SCENEON CAMPUS

SHC alters hours this week The Student Health Center will be closed from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Wednesday. SHC will remain open from 8-11 a.m. and from 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit the SHC website at shc.ua.edu.

3MT finals to be held Wednesday The finals of the Three-Minute Thesis competition will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in 159 Russell Hall. Fifteen doctoral candidates will each have three minutes to present their research in a way people will find accessible.

The winner of the competition will receive $1,500 and represent The University of Alabama at the Southeastern regional Three-Minute Thesis competition in San Antonio, Tex. Second place will receive $1,050, third place will receive $700 and fourth place will receive $250, while a people’s choice award of $950 will be given to a competitor chosen by the audience.

CW | Austin Bigoney Christmas lights adorn the Theta Tau fraternity house on a November Tuesday night.

Lion’s Club has meeting Thursday There will be an organizational meeting for the new Tuscaloosa chapter of the Lions Club Thursday at Shelton State Community College in Room D at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone who is interested in joining the organization.

Lions Club International is the world’s largest service organization, with more than 1.3 million members, in 208 countries. In the past, Lions Club has aided the blind or visually impaired, supported youth-based initiatives and worked on other community projects. For more information on Lions Clubs International, visit it’s website at lionsclubs. org, or call District Governor Jim Crews at (205) 388-0257 or Kathy Mason at (205) 246-9652.

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

EDITORIAL editor-in-chief

Lauren Ferguson

production editor

Katherine Owen

online editor news editor

WHAT: RA/FA Interest Session WHEN: Noon-1 p.m.

WHERE: Large Living Room Riverside Community Center

WHAT: ChBE Departmental Research Seminar WHEN: 11-11:50 a.m.

WHERE: 1014 South Engineering Research Center

WHAT: Trans* Remembrance Candlelight Vigil WHEN: 6-7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Denny Chimes

WHAT: Spanish Movie Night: ‘Reinas’ WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: 222 Lloyd Hall

WHAT: ‘The School for Lies’ WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Marian Gallaway Theatre, RowandJohnson Hall

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

WHERE: Moody Music Building

Marc Torrence

BURKE

John Brinkerhoff Larsen Lien

video editor

Daniel Roth

photo editor

Austin Bigoney

lead designer

Sloane Arogeti Elizabeth Lowder Lauren Robertson

LUNCH

Fried Chicken Black Eyed Peas Sautéed Cabbage Macaroni and Cheese Corn Salad

ADVERTISING advertising manager

territory manager

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account executives

WHAT: Dance Collection WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Morgan Hall Auditorium WHAT: [ENTER] Connect Art Show WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center WHAT: Japanese Fall Festival WHEN: 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: Ferguson Center Ballroom WHAT: Brass Choir WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Music Building

Mark Hammontree

sports editor

community managers

WHAT: RA/FA Interest Session WHEN: Noon-1 p.m.

WHERE: Parham East Living Room

Mackenzie Brown

culture editor

chief copy editor

WHAT: Great American Smokeout WHEN: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Quad in front of Gorgas Library

Anna Waters

Abbey Crain

opinion editor

FRIDAY

Mazie Bryant editor@cw.ua.edu

managing editor

visuals editor

TODAY

THURSDAY

DINNER

LUNCH

DINNER

Roasted Herbed Turkey with Gravy Breaded Dressing with Sage Steamed Green Beans Squash Tomato Soup

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

Barbecue Grilled Pork Chop Grilled Sweet Potatoes Okra and Corn Cauliflower Au Gratin Bean Burger with Wheat Bun

Tori Hall 251.751.1781 cwadmanager@gmail.com Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 territorymanager1@gmail.com Taylor Shutt 904.504.3306 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068 Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Kennan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper

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

The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided.

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Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2013 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.

FRESH FOOD

LAKESIDE

LUNCH

Crispy Breaded Pork Seasoned Wild Rice Sautéed Green Beans Peas and Carrots Black Bean

IN THENEWS White House still expects trouble for 20 percent of health website users From MCT Campus Roughly 1 in 5 visitors to HealthCare.gov won’t be able to buy insurance coverage Nov. 30 when the bulk of repairs to the troubled website are supposed to be completed, the White House announced Monday.

Presidential spokesman Jay Carney said these 20 percent of frustrated site users will fall into three categories: those who aren’t comfortable using computers, those who encounter technical problems on the site and those with complicated family situations that make it difficult to determine whether they qualify for subsidies to help pay for coverage.

The disclosure appears to confirm a weekend Washington Post report that said the Obama administration expects 80 percent, or 4 out of 5 website users, to be able to apply and enroll in health plans as of the end of the month. The 80 percent figure offers the clearest indication yet as to how the administration will measure the success of users’ experiences on the website, which has been beset with problems since its illfated open enrollment launch Oct. 1.

For weeks, the administration has steadfastly made assurances that HealthCare.gov would be functioning properly for the “vast majority” of users

by Nov. 30, but it was anybody’s guess what number that entailed since administration officials were careful not

We have a lot more work to do, but ... HealthCare.gov is getting better and improving performance and user experiences each week.

— Julie Bataille

to provide a target figure. Carney ended that mystery Monday.

“Others can decide whether or not 80 percent is a vast majority,” he said during his daily White House news briefing. “I think, in most contexts, it is.”

As the gateway to the federal insurance marketplace that serves 36 states, HealthCare.gov currently handles 20,000 to 25,000 simultaneous users, largely without problems, officials said. The site, however, was envisioned to accommodate twice that many. But when user volume climbs too high, the system slows down and problems develop. While more than 90 percent of users are able to open personal accounts on the site, as more of them move deeper into the system, more technical problems emerge, which creates a constantly changing “punch list” of high-priority repairs.

In recent weeks, the team of government and private-industry IT experts has rewritten software code, upgraded hardware and expanded the system’s capacity to handle more users.

Over the weekend, the team knocked about 40 items off the punch list, said Julie Bataille, the communications director for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Department of Health and Human Services.

“We have a lot more work to do, but as this work demonstrates, HealthCare.gov is getting better and improving performance and user experiences each week,” Bataille said in a conference call with reporters.

One of the most important repairs remaining deals with the information pages that the system provides to insurers about coverage applicants.

These so-called “834s” have been riddled with erroneous information and, despite weeks of repairs, they continue to spit out incorrect data.

“Those remain on our punch list with a few issues still to fix,” Bataille said.

On a positive note, the administration on Monday finished making email contact with the last of 275,000 website users who were unable to complete their insurance applications, she said.

Now that the site is functioning better, the administration wants those users to try again.

p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

NEWSIN BRIEF Group hosts ‘nameless’ event to promote campus issues Students for Open Doors and an Ethical Leadership will be hosting a public event in which students can come and voice the issues and topics that interest them.

At the event, titled “Nameless Change,” guests will be able to don name tags – on which they can write a campus issue they would like to see addressed instead of writing their names. Students will then be able to engage each other about the issues they wear.

The event is designed to put the issues students are passionate about before their names, and the organizers hope the name tags will serve as a way to break down barriers between students and kickstart meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing campus.

Students for Open Doors and an Ethical Leadership was started this semester with the goal of facilitating the open discussion of campus issues among students with a focus on developing

collaborative, sustainable solutions.

“SODEL was created out of a desire to ensure that all voices of campus are heard in a safe, constructive environment,” Caroline Bechtel, the executive director of the group, said. “The ‘Nameless Change’ event is our way of introducing the leaders of SODEL to the campus community, engaging students and organizations in our mission and giving a taste of the empowering dialogue we hope to ignite on campus in the spring.”

“Nameless Change” will take place Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. in Room 311 Carmichael Hall.

“We believe this will be a great opportunity for students, faculty and administrators to begin learning along lines of difference as we look to create a stronger, more inclusive community at The University of Alabama,” Adam Beg, vice-chair for SODEL, said.

For more information on SODEL or to register for the event, visit sodel.ua.edu.

Program recognizes, develops PR leaders

By Kailey McCarthy | Contributing Writer Almost every major and department in colleges around the country have their own honor societies and leadership organizations. At The University of Alabama, the department of public relations recognizes exceptional students through a program known as the Plank Center.

The center was founded in 2005 and named after Betsy Plank, a UA graduate known as the “first lady” of public relations.

Karla Gower, executive director of the Plank Center, said the mission of the program is to recognize and develop leaders in public relations and to bridge the gap between education and practice. The primary goal is to bring educators, practitioners and students together in order to benefit one another.

“Mentorship is really important to building leadership skills and developing future leaders, which is what the Plank Center is all about,” she said.

Gower said the program had its Milestones and Mentoring Gala in Chicago Nov. 14, where more than 300 public relations professionals, educators and students came together to honor five mentors in five different categories.

That day, the program also hosted the Plank Center Summit for the second time, in which professionals, educators and students presented results from three different global studies in leadership.

Gillian Richard, an undergraduate majoring in public relations, said the Summit was an incredible experience.

Three research presentations were given at the Summit, and, once the event ended, the Plank Center hosted a dinner to honor mentors and leaders in the field.

“The dinner was a wonderful opportu-

nity to meet people in the industry and to build relationships,” Richard said. “I got to meet so many leaders in the public relations field, and they were all so nice. They all want to see the next generation of PR leaders succeed and are willing to help. I was lucky enough to meet several people who I will look up to as mentors throughout my career. The whole experience was one I am grateful I got to be a part of.”

Ashton Morrow, a master’s candidate in the adevertising and public relations program, said he also benefited a great deal from the leadership summit.

“The evening was better than I possibly could have expected,” Morrow said. “Cocktail hour proved to be an amazing opportunity to network with industry professionals from powerhouse PR agencies, national and international corporations and private consulting firms. I have emailed many of these professionals to follow up and have been most impressed by their desire and commitment to engage, inspire and mentor my generation of professionals.”

Tracy Frazier, a marketing student, became involved with the Plank Center because of Morrow’s involvement.

“The leadership summit was an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful I had the chance to attend as a marketing student,” Frazier said. “I would gladly participate in future Plank Center events and hope to maintain a relationship with both the Plank Center and Dr. Gower.”

The Plank Center will host another Summit event in Chicago next October, and the board of directors will meet on campus in February. The Center also hosts webinars from time to time. Visit plankcenter.ua.edu for more information and to view the webinars.

Mentorship is really important to building leadership skills and developing future leaders, which is what the Plank Center is all about.

— Karla Gower

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

COLUMN | STATE POLITICS

Cason Kirby for Alabama governor

By Michelle Fuentes | Staff Columnist Once he has fixed Tuscaloosa’s public school system, I believe Cason Kirby should ascend to the Alabama Governor’s Mansion.

Recently expunged from that nasty fishing expedition of a scandal, Kirby’s good name has been restored.

Now, he s h o u l d ride the tide into the history books of Alabama politics.

Identified on his website biography as a Rotary Club member dedicated to making sure “every child in Tuscaloosa gets a quality education,” constituents from across the state can be sure that Kirby will judicially use his experience of governance to positively impact the lives of all Alabamians.

The one thing we can postulate about Kirby’s platform is that he is solidly in support of the groundbreaking grassroots campaign “Free the Hops.” Because, friends, as we all know, a vote for Kirby is a vote for free beer. I’m sure, with recommendations from his loyal supporters, his campaign can be convinced to set up headquarters within Innisfree or another local watering hole.

There can be no doubt that Kirby will collaboratively work with Alabama’s judicial and legislative branches. We have already seen his masterful navigation of the Alabama judicial system.

Last week’s ruling is a clear case in point. And, by the end of his first term, we can be assured that he will have the Alabama Senate running like a well-oiled machine. He will likely turn Montgomery into a fraternal atmosphere of transparency and productivity.

As a double alumnus of The University of Alabama, we

can also be assured he will remember his alma mater in his political and legislative agenda. In fact, I am under the impression that applications to support and join his campaign team can be dropped off at any fraternity or sorority house. Appointed representatives will ensure swift and confidential delivery of your ap p l i c a tion to our soon-to-be governor elect.

I imagine Kirby’s commitment to A l ab a m i a n s will begin on voting day as he once again rolls out stylish rides to various polling places. This will be his first of many initiatives to encourage young voters to begin a tradition of civic engagement. I have no doubt the Kirby campaign will take this opportunity to mobilize young voters beyond University Boulevard and Colonial Drive.

Toward the end of electing this true statesman to his next well-deserved position, I offer the following suggestion to his campaign: Utilize fall sorority and fraternity recruitment at all colleges and universities in our state as captive audiences for campaign material distribution.

Here, at UA, I imagine his campaign will be put into rotation during the first day of sorority recruitment, also known as icewater tea day. This way, the campaign can assist so many freshmen in the voter registration process prior to even pledging. (I imagine this will also reduce the legal fees for the individual organizations.)

I have no doubt that, if elected, he would join Alabama’s most illustrious past governors as beacons of progress for our fair land.

I have no doubt the Kirby campaign will take this opportunity to mobilize young voters beyond University Boulevard and Colonial Drive.

MCT Campus

COLUMN | STUDENT INITIATIVES

Students have opportunities to affect policy

By Kyle Jones | Staff Columnist Last week, students at The University of Alabama and many people across America celebrated Veterans Day. On this day we remembered the sacrifice made by all those in our armed forces to defend our liberty and our sovereignty. As someone whose father served in Kandahar, Afghanistan for 15 month, Veterans Day is always a red letter day for me with the Army National Guard. It also serves in my mind as a reminder of the importance of sacrifice and why it is so important that our community and our nation should take civics and civic engagement more seriously.

If you look at what political and social discourse has become in this nation, it’s enough to make you want to rip your hair out and scream.

Those who take civic action in the United States do so in ways that either treat the symptoms of the social and economic problems in this nation without actually solving the problem itself, or they debate the issues till they’re blue in the face without actually taking action to solve the problem.

It has become nothing more than a string of empty words and promises by those whose position in society depends on problems and the people turning to them to solve these problems. The only time

Kyle Jones now, it seems, that people can come together behind policy is when it hurts their rivals as opposed to helping the people. In Annapolis, Md., just days after electing a Republican mayor, a predominantly Democratic city council said they will revisit legislation that will strip the position of mayor of any real power.

You would think that this kind of corruption and incompetency would receive a backlash from the electorate. However, the truth is that the majority of the nation suffers from a severe case of apathy, not caring about the problems in this country so long as the problems don’t affect them directly, or an equally severe and annoying case of hegemony, desiring change but feeling that they are incapable of leading such change and as such wait on others to act in their stead.

What has happened to us? There was once a time when, while others around the world debated enlightenment ideology, our people were leading a revolution to make our ideals a reality. While others only dreamed of a better world, by our actions, we created a new world.

There are still ways for students to affect policy. Just this past week, the Student Government Association released applications for students interested in joining a UA Lobby Board, a student initiative which would allow students to actually lobby in Montgomery and in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the University and its students. There are also political organizations, such as the Roosevelt Institute, which, as opposed to playing a partisan game, actually allow students to write public policy and advocate for reforms they would like to see in the state of Alabama and within the nation itself.

The students and citizens of the United States must awaken to the truth that the only way the change they hope for will ever take effect is by taking action and leading the initiative themselves. To quote President Ronald Reagan, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

Kyle Jones is a sophomore majoring in political science and Spanish. His column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.

Michelle Fuentes is a Ph.D. candidate in political theory. Her column runs biweekly.

COLUMN | LGBTQ ISSUES

Tuscaloosa must improve, beat the curve on Municipal Equality Index

By Maxton Thoman | Staff Columnist Almost every test has a curve – a normal distribution of scores that creates a bell-shaped dispersal of grades that range to extremes, both in perfection and imperfection.

Of course, as students, we all strive to find ourselves on the right side of that curve, where we can identify success as having been “above average.” We all just want to pass, and that’s the whole point.

But, based on the 2013 Municipal Equality Index released by the Human Rights Campaign, Tuscaloosa is set on failing.

The Municipal Equality Index, or MEI, was created by the HRC in order to identify which of the largest cities and municipalities “demonstrate the ways that many cities can – and do – support the LGBTQ people who live

Maxton Thoman and work there, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so.”

These ratings represent local policies, laws, services and mandates, and the scoring process places no weight upon state politics on the topic of LGBTQ rights. Rather, this index was specifically created to isolate cities and municipalities and

allow for the identification of small areas in the United States where strides may be made and changes enforced.

Scoring a miniscule 10 points out of 100 on this Municipal Equality Index, the city of Tuscaloosa has managed to force itself down toward the very tail end of this index, as it failed to collect any of the 100 possible points or 20 possible bonus points, other than in the section of reporting hate crime statistics to the FBI. This means that our city essentially maintains no effective nondiscrimination laws, obviously no civil union or domestic partnership registries for LGBTQ relationship recognition, providing minimal equality, benefits or protections for LGBTQ employees, no services for the protection and progression of the LGBTQ community and no particular relationship with the Tuscaloosa

LGBTQ community.

On all counts, other than the mandated FBI hate crime report in 2011, we fail.

This can’t stand.

Obviously, we live in a largely conservative area and a largely conservative state, so I am not suggesting immediate and overarching conversions to a liberal agenda, but, rather, I am saying that we must afford the basic rights that all humans deserve to members of the LGBTQ community. These include anti-discrimination laws, equality insurance, establishing a foundational and functional relationship with our community, and providing civil service initiatives and task forces for the advancement of this community.

Why would we continue to maintain a culture with any less?

We are all human, and we all deserve the same basic rights, or at the very least, the right to

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

be recognized.

Tuscaloosa, according to this index, has failed to grant this community even that respect.

I can’t help but be slightly ashamed by this fact and by the fact that the only reason that we gained any points whatsoever was due to a federal mandate.

It wasn’t really even something that was up to us; it was just paperwork.

This is disgraceful to say the least, and in my opinion, we must fight this directly to the contrary.

We must define these relationships, demand more equality for the LGBTQ community and expect nothing less.

We must fight to make it to the other end of the curve, we must fight this failure, and we must fight toward success.

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

Last Week’s Poll: Do you think the court’s decision to dismiss the Horwitz v. Kirby case was appropriate?

(Yes: 42%) (No: 58%) This Week’s Poll: Do you believe post-season football ticket allotment based on UA credit hours is fair? cw.ua.edu/poll

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Tuesday, November 20, 2013

CW | Austin Bigoney Big Al’s “helpers” meet in an office weekly to discuss appearances and events. The team stays busy but considers the work a positive experience.

Meet the students behind Big Al

By Rachel Brown | Staff Reporter He is the only cheerleader whose ears double the size of his head and the only elephant tthat walks on two feet. His eyes are always gleaming, his high-five high-fives brighten your day, and no one else rocks out to the Million Doll Dollar Band quite like him. He is every child’s best friend, the Crimso Crimson Tide’s biggest fan and our favorite elephant. He is Big Al. “We like to say there is only one Big Al. He just has five helpers,” said senior Melinda Tilley, on one of the students who gives life to the University of Alabama masco mascot.

Tilley and her four teammates, teamm senior Macee Thomas, senior Justin Sullivan, sophomore Parker Branton and freshman Zack Weston, pride themselves on being Big Al’s “helpers.” To them, it is an honor and one of the most m defining experiences of their time at the University.

“You can never repla replace or replicate that gameday experience,” Tilley said. “Th “Those are the stories that you tell your kids and your gran grandkids one day. You got to be there, you were on the field, and you got to hype up the crowd.”

Becoming Big Al Becoming Big Al is no easy task. Tryouts take place every April on the Thursday before A-Day w we ekend, lasting for three days and consisting of weekend, seeries of ccuts and interviews. Contenders partica series iip pate in a ssit-down interview, learn the character ipate sign walk, signature and mannerisms and then get to th suit for the first time. On Saturday, put on the the rema remaining participants attend A-Day as Big Al to be judged on their field presence and on how they respond to a large crowd atmosphere. Applicants are slowly narrowed down throughout the weekend to the five students who will be helpers for the next year.

Team members have va various reasons for why they chose to Thom and Weston had prior experience become Big Al. Both Thomas o for the role. Thomas said this year as a mascot before trying out servin as a mascot, and for Weston, being a marks his 10th year serving p mascot was a way to stay physical. o athletics in high school,” Weston said.

“I didn’t get to do a lot of som “And so I wanted to do something physical or through an athletic mascotin in middle school, and so I just decided department. I did mascoting to look it up, figure it out a and went to tryouts.”

Tilley and Branton said they tried out because they saw Big Al and wanted to be him.

“It was totally spontan spontaneous,” Branton said.

Sullivan said he was looking for a way to get involved at the University when he ch chose to try out. d something that was bigger than me, at “I just wanted to do big a school that was bigger than me,” he said. sum During the summer, all Big Al teammates attend a national mascot camp where they practice, prepare for CW | Austin Bigoney fa and are evaluated on how well they the upcoming fall Big Al can be seen at events all over the state, from Crimson present their character. S Schools from around the region attend Tide games to the Stallings Center, home to the Rise Program. the camp, including Miss Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

On gameday Everyone on the Big A Al team agreed that gameday is an unforgettable experience experience. From running out with the team to singing the last lines of “Rammer Jammer,” there is never a dull moment

for the Big Al team on fall Saturdays.

“My first run out [with the team], that was pretty cool and one of my favorite moments because it was [at home] against Arkansas,” Branton said.

The Big Al team meets at Coleman Coliseum three hours before kickoff, and from there, they are transported to the stadium. Each team member has their own tailored Big Al suit to accommodate the rapid changes on gamedays and their personal comfort. The Big Al suit is not ventilated, so team members must be careful and make sure they stay hydrated, Tilley said.

Especially in the early months of football season, Big Al’s helpers have to be sure they are hydrating days before the game. Tilley said it is crucial to wear light clothes and stay healthy. Members must be constantly aware of their surroundings, because, should an emergency arise, Big Al has to be able to escape from the public eye before he or she can take off the suit. No one should ever catch Big Al in transition.

“You never want to shatter somebody’s illusion,” Tilley said.

Every member of the team is Big Al at some point during the day when the Crimson Tide plays in Tuscaloosa. Team members rotate through a schedule, and each person is assigned a specific time when they put on the suit and become Big Al – pregame on the Quad, the first and third quarter, the second quarter, the fourth quarter and postgame.

“I was in the suit during the fourth quarter of the LSU game, and that was a rockin’ ‘Rammer Jammer,’” Tilley said.

Two rotating members travel to away games, and should the Tide make it to a BCS National Championship game, seniority comes into effect. Students who have been a part of the Big Al team for the longest are usually the ones who travel to the game.

In the community When they aren’t cheering on the Crimson Tide, Big Al and his team are still hard at work in Tuscaloosa and throughout Alabama. Although the gameday excitement is exhilarating, the team agreed it is the community influence – making other people happy – that brings them the most joy.

“The hype of the game lasts for the game,” Sullivan said. “But the hype from the community service lasts a lot longer.”

Thomas, who has been Big Al since her freshman year, said her favorite memory from her time as Big Al took place when she visited the Stallings Center, home to the Rise Program and a popular place for Big Al appearances.

“One of the classrooms that I went to, there was this little boy there,” she said. “I’m not really sure what his disability was, but he had never responded to any kind of stimulus and never smiled or reached out for anything. He reached out for Big Al’s trunk and smiled for the first time.”

Sullivan said he remembers the team being contacted by a woman who said there was a little boy who really wished to see Big Al, and he was the helper assigned to be Big Al for the meeting.

“I wasn’t really sure what was going on, but I got there and found out this kid was going blind,” Sullivan said. “He was going blind, and his wish was to see Big Al before he went completely blind. He was going to the doctor over the next couple of weeks to see if they even had any hope of helping him. I went to his house.

It was just me and his family, and he sat in my lap and just looked at me and felt Big Al.” During the week, Big Al travels all over Alabama, making appearances in Birmingham, Montgomery and anywhere this presence is requested. Although the schedule is demanding, every member of the Big Al team agreed the effort is worth the reward.

“That’s what we do,” Thomas said. “We make people happy.”

While Weston and Branton said they both hope to continue with Big Al, it is a bittersweet year for seniors Thomas, Tilley and Sullivan. They said being Big Al has changed their college experience for the better and that it’s an adventure they will never forget.

“It’s a lot more than just the suit and just the character,” Tilley said.

p.6

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Encore project plans to bring city new businesses

Internet tutorials teach array of tricks

PATE FROM PAGE 1

YO-YO FROM PAGE 1

McFarland B lvd.

heat just from the developer companies and so forth to build, build, build and the same for student housing,” Weaver said. “They want new. They don’t want to revamp the old.”

The Encore project plans to ask for a very similar incentive package, if not larger, Pate said.

“We’ve got a 42-acre site, and we have a major anchor and a significant number of junior anchors that are coming to the site,” he said. d.

Pate said while there may be a little Skyland Blv competition over tenants, both projects have merit and advantages over the other.

“There’s certainly a lot of retail faces that aren’t in Tuscaloosa that I believe the community needs, wants and is looking forward to,” Pate said. “[Pate Holdings has] a project that some of the same tenants are looking at, but as a developer, I see it as a great project, Pate said. “And in this recession if and as a developer that has a compet- you go and look at sales tax revenue ing side, I don’t see it as a threat at all. in the city, there has actually been There’s enough interest in Tuscaloosa growth, and I think that is because we have embraced new projects and to fill up three sites.”

Pate said in Tuscaloosa, a lot of peo- new retailers, and it keeps dollars in ple are driving outside the city because Tuscaloosa.”

In a sales-tax-based state, the city they have an appetite for a retailer that does not have a store here, so the cannot ignore the importance of citimain goal should be to figure out how zens shopping at home and attracting to keep the people and dollars in town. people from the surrounding areas to Tuscaloosa, Pate said.

“If [the citizens] “You only have to want to shop at a spelook at what happens cific store, they will in the community drive,” Pate said. “And when you have a footJefferson County has ball game like LSU,” become all too conhe said. “You bring a venient, and it has significant number of become a normal people into the compart of their roumunity for several days tine to drive to the and see what it does Homewoods and the for businesses and Mountain Brooks of the — Stan Pate then what it does for world to spend their sales tax collection as a money, and then the result of that business. sales tax revenue supI mean it just makes ports that community’s schools, that community’s streets, that good business sense.”

Pate said he believes these projects community’s fire [department] and ultimately come together, across the that community’s police.”

Pate cited the recent Midtown shop- nation, when they operate as a joint ping center’s successful tax incentive effort between the community and the program as a reason to continue simi- developer.

“There is a significant number of lar plans to bring even more retailers these retailers across the country to town.

“If you look at our economic impact that recognize these SEC towns that study and the projections of the rev- are enjoying tremendous growth and enues, the city would benefit from great opportunities,” he said. “And you the development of Midtown. Our just need the community, the developprojections were conservative, and er, local government and these retailthe project has paid huge dividends,” ers to come together to have a success-

“There’s certainly a lot of retail faces that aren’t in Tuscaloosa that I believe the community needs.”

McFarland Mall

CW | Belle Newby

ful project that will pay dividends for a very, very long time.”

Whether citizens agree with the policy or not, when looking at the end results, they pay tremendous dividends, Pate said.

“The city has shown a willingness to make investments that pay dividends, some that are just pure quality of life and then some that produce significant revenues,” Pate said. “And like it or not, making that investment in Legacy and Encore and other projects will pay huge dividends.”

With the barricades already up, Pate said the Encore project has already begun, and demolition will start soon since they have the ability to work through the winter. He said the presentation of Encore’s incentive request would be in the near future as they wait for new members of the City Council to get comfortable in their positions.

Weaver said, overall, she is not against more retailers coming to town.

She is just against spending a lot of money for the development of new spaces when the city could revitalize existing ones.

“I would love to see these type of businesses come to town because Tuscaloosa really needs more restaurants, more places to shop, and I know it’s been voiced that a lot of people go to Birmingham to shop, so we need more here,” Weaver said. “But once again, we’re just under-utilizing the areas we already have. I think, fill those, and if we still have room to grow, then spend $62 million.”

some people stop and are like ‘What?’” he said. “One guy was actually like, ‘I want to tip you right now!’”

Simple yo-yos have been around for centuries, but the toy was first recognized as a “yo-yo” in the U.S. in 1916 when the Scientific American Supplement published an article titled “Filipino Toys,” according to Spintastics, a yo-yo manufacturing company. Some of the earliest yo-yos were made of wood. Now they are made of plastic, metal or aluminum. Prices range from cheap plastic for $7.99 to a titanium yo-yo for $500.

Adkison said the average price for a yo-yo is $100. He began yo-yoing with a $40 Northstar yo-yo. He now owns four different yo-yos, one being more than $70.

The Duncan Toys Company, one of the first major yo-yo manufacturers, created competitions in the 1920s and 1930s as advertising to promote sales, and competition is still prominent today.

Adkison has competed in one small competition in Birmingham, but yo-yoing is more of a hobby for him.

For some people, though, yoyoing is a competitive sport.

Although it is an obscure sport, Martinez said interest may be growing.

“There is a large Internet following, I think,” he said.

“Liam is the only other person I know personally though.”

It is through the Internet that Adkison and Martinez learned many of their tricks.

Websites like (YoYoExpert. com) and Youtube have tutorials for different tricks.

“There is a surprising number of professional yoyoers out there,” Adkison said. “I used to get trading cards with some of the yoyos I ordered online.”

Though he said he is far from a professional, Adkison has been yo-yoing

as a hobby for three years now. During his sophomore year at Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, he became friends with Martinez, who has been throwing yo-yos since he was 13 years old. Martinez brought his yo-yo to school a couple of times, and when Adkison became interested in it, he continued to bring it.

Together they would work on new tricks during breaks in class.

“It was awesome, because no one else was doing it, so I felt really cool and unique,” Adkison said. “[When I first started], I was terrible at it and pretty much did it relentlessly until I got good.”

Adkison and Martinez became well-known around their high school for yoyoing. One of Adkison’s teachers would yell “Yo!” down the hallway whenever he saw Adkison. A physics teacher would use Adkison and Martinez’s yo-yos as examples in class.

“It was cool because [Brian] would do a trick, and she would explain the physics behind it,” Adkison said.

“It was always fun.”

Matthew Byrd, a freshman on a pre-med track, has been friends with Adkison for a long time and is one of his roommates. Byrd said he has seen Adkison improve a lot since high school.

“He does it whenever he just needs something to do,” Byrd said. “Like if we are walking to Lakeside to get something to eat, sometimes he will do it while we walk.

One time we were waiting for a friend to get lunch, and some guy stopped and said, ‘Hey man, that’s pretty cool.’

[Yo-yoing] makes him stand out.”

Adkison said he likes standing out with his hobby and being part of something that is different on campus.

“I think that some of the more obscure hobbies are coming back,” he said.

“Things like juggling or unicycling are sort of becoming more popular again. But I have only seen one other guy on campus with a yo-yo.”

Open Mic Night CW | Austin Bigoney Anibal Perez describes the hazardous actions of the coal company through slides and videos.

Former Drummond employee presents dangers of coal mine DRUMMOND FROM PAGE 1

night at Lloyd Hall while touring throughout the United States, speaking out against Drummond Company and the perils workers face in Columbia, one of the many places Drummond Company mines for coal. During his presentation, Perez and his translator Jessye Weinstein talked about the violence in Columbia and the environmental damages that have taken place during the 18 years Drummond Company has mined in Columbia.

After being fired from Drummond Company in 2009, Perez said he felt it was his duty to speak out against the company. Perez left Columbia after publishing photos he received from local fishermen that showed Drummond Company dumping coal into the Santo Marta Harbor in January 2013. Perez also received death threats directed at him and his family for his actions.

“Of course it hasn’t been easy, as unions, to speak out against the many, many violations these multi-national corporations have been committing,” Perez said. “However we’ve done a lot of work going out into the community to raise awareness. One of the big groups that we work with are the fishermen in the port. They were increasingly getting more and more frustrated with Drummond [Company] as [Garry Neil] Drummond declares areas of the water where fishermen can no longer go, so it was the fishermen that took the pictures of this incident. They sent them to me in a CD, and when I received it first, I got a phone call, a threat, saying not to publicize these pictures. However, being a unionist, I’m used to receiving threats.

So then they began to offer me money not to publish it, but you can see that I didn’t.”

Perez, who presented in Spanish, showed

both pictures and videos of the devastating events that take place. Among the pictures shown, workers with lung cancer and other diseases were displayed. Perez said more than 100 cases of lung cancer had been diagnosed.

“There have been many occupational illnesses that have resulted from [Drummond Company’s] operations in Columbia,” Perez said. “Added to that is a disease not only people within the mines, but also surrounding the mines are facing lung cancer and sarcoidosis.”

Drummond Company’s mining has also made Columbia and the United Nations call a state of emergency in the surrounding areas, Perez said.

“The location where the mining is happening, the wind blows from north to south,” Perez said. “This brings a lot of that dust and pollution into the areas where the communities are living. This has caused a big negative affect for these communities. Back in 2010, the Ministry of the Environment of Columbia actually stated the severity of the communities and order[ed] Drummond [Company] to relocate. The companies totally ignored that order. This year, the United Nations had to come out and declare a state of humanitarian crisis. We’re still waiting for the government to give a response to these rulings.”

Perez said he is afraid to return to Columbia, though his family remains there. He also said he is hoping his tour will raise awareness and help stop Garry Neil Drummond from continuing to ruin countries and the people in them.

“My message is that we must confront the monster even though it has so much power because it also has its weaknesses,” Perez said. “The administration of this company is flesh and blood just like we are, and it makes it so that as a worker and to come here and tell these stories, I hope that we are able to act in ways and inform a united group through solidarity that will prevent this from being a reality that you will all have to live.”

November 21

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p.7 Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu

CW | Lindsey Leonard Students at the School of Nursing perform a variety of tasks to treat a manikin that can seemingly suffer almost any medical condition.

Manikin simulations help train nursing students

By Elayne Smith | Contributing Writer He looked like a football player suffering from dehydration propped in a hospital bed. The distorted face and plastic limbs ruined the illusion as the manikin sat lifeless, simulating short breaths and blinks.

With wires instead of veins, the manikin is one of 13 The University of Alabama’s School of Nursing owns that can suffer any medical problem, talk and give the impression of bodily functions. The manikin’s limbs cannot move, but nursing students can inject medicine, attach an IV, deal with fake blood and more. The faculty has a nearly limitless ability to create any simulation from adding wounds to burns to heart attacks – even simulating labor.

Andrea Sartain, the human patient simulation support specialist, said before each simulation, the manikins are prepped with one to two faculty members in the control room, creating the scenario on computers. One to four students will come to the hospital room replica with only some prep work for the awaiting situation. With the fac-

ulty controlling the vitals and every aspect of the patient behind one-way mirrors, students walk into the unexpected.

“Nurses have to be able to think on their feet at all times, and they have to be able to use their critical thinking skills no matter what field of nursing they go into,” Sartain said, “[The simulations] allow us to challenge our students to use those critical thinking skills and see what they can do on their own.”

The University got its first manikin in 2005.

Now, with manikins that can change gender, a female simulator that can give birth, pediatric manikins, a toddler and a newborn baby, the school has a wider repertoire to offer its students a range of experiences.

Hayley Strickland, a course leader for the fundamentals of nursing, said a large portion of nursing education is to develop students’ clinical judgment skills.

“By doing simulations, we can put them in a specific scenario they will encounter in a hospital and then critique how they perform, so hopefully when they encounter it in the hospital, they are

going to make appropriate decisions,” Strickland said.

The faculty gives students a variety of scenarios that some may never see in the field.

Caitlyn Camp and Brittany Alexander, both juniors majoring in nursing, completed a blood transfusion in their simulation. In a process that involved a complaining patient, calling the doctor, getting blood then setting it up and dealing with the patient’s allergic reaction to the blood, their scenario challenged them in a new way.

Camp said these simulations give students experience in rarer occasions.

“We see stuff you couldn’t control in the hospital,” Camp said. “There’s no way we’re guaranteed to see a blood transfusion in the hospital. In the simulations, we can see it and know what to expect.”

When entering such high-pressure scenarios with no guidance, students must apply what they learned from class. Since every patient is different, this is a challenging concept.

Alexander said although she was nervous the first time she entered a simulation, she thought in

the best interest of her future patients.

“You have to think about what is most critical to the patient’s safety and get them what they need the most,” Alexander said. “You have to advocate for the patient, because the doctor is not on the floor 24 hours a day with the patient, so you have to see what’s going on and tell the doctor.”

After each simulation, the faculty debrief the students. The scene is filmed and used it to let students see how they performed. These tools are used to ensure that students have the liberty to make mistakes. In clinical situations, faculty members hover by students to stop them from committing an error. In these simulations, students are left to think independently and can kill their patient with the ability to hit the restart button.

“We want this environment to be one where they are not afraid of failing,” Sartain said. “We want them to come in and act autonomously, and we don’t want them to fear failure, because we learn best from our mistakes, so we’d rather them make those here in a controlled environment instead of on a real patient.”

COLUMN | MUSIC

Take pride in your musical tastes, ignore music snobs

By Francie Johnson The other day, as I was driving home, something pretty rare happened: A catchy acoustic song, one worthy of looking up later, played on the Top 40 radio station I was listening to. Throughout this mystery song’s duration, I wondered what it was called and who sang it. However, after the song ended and the DJ announced the title and artist, my jaw immediately hit the floor.

Long story short, the song was “Story of My Life” by none other than One Direction, the British teeny-bopper boy band I have always prided myself in hating.

Even as I type this, I can’t help but cringe. I’m still adjusting to the fact that I actually like a One Direction song. Of course, I immediately swore never to tell a soul about my new-found discovery. How could I ever own up to the shame of sharing the music taste of a 12-year-old girl?

(Naturally, this promise only lasted about two minutes before I had to call my friend and tell her the news – but I digress.)

But then I realized, what’s the point?

Who cares what kind of music I listen to, and even if anyone does, why should I care what anyone thinks anyway? Why do I feel this uncontrollable urge to apologize for what I like?

We’ve all got our guilty pleasure songs – those songs we’ll blast at full volume when no one’s around but adamantly deny it after the fact, the songs we immediately skip when our iPod is on shuffle if anyone else is in the room, the songs we’re embarrassed to love because they tarnish our otherwise impeccable music taste.

It took an undeniably attractive, albeit not particularly talented aside from that one song, British boy band to make me realize this: There is never any reason to apologize for who you are or what you love, and music is no exception.

Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a music journalist and hope to work in the music industry someday, but I’ve always felt as though people are constantly judging the

This is as cliche as it gets, but life is too short not to do what you love. So stop apologizing for your music taste.

merit of my music taste. In the past, it seemed as if my credibility depended on liking the perfect combination of classic rock and super-underground indie bands that only six other people had heard of. Up until this year, I wouldn’t be caught dead listening to a country or Top 40 radio station.

I thought I had good music taste, but in reality, I was just a snob.

Here’s a little secret that probably isn’t even that much of a secret: Anyone who judges you for your music taste (or taste in literature or fashion sense or any personal preference you may have) is a jerk. You have no obligation to earn their respect.

This is as cliche as it gets, but life is too short not to do what you love. So stop apologizing for your music taste. Blast your Justin Bieber, your One Direction and even your Nickelback if that’s what makes you happy, or don’t if you genuinely don’t like that type of music. Either way, in the words of Kevin Gnapoor, don’t let the haters stop you from doin’ yo thang.

That being said, I definitely won’t be rushing out to buy any One Direction T-shirts or posters any time soon.

However, I’ll gladly turn up the volume and sing along whenever “Story of My Life” plays on the radio.

Just admit it: It’s a pretty good song.

p.8

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Creative Co-Op to display, sell student artwork

By Reed O’Mara | Staff Reporter In order to showcase student artwork, the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center will house Creative Co-Op’s first off-campus gallery showing titled “Branching.”

The Cultural Arts Center took the show for many reasons, including a desire to foster student artwork, which Creative Co-Op actively represents as one of the only outlets on campus for student artists looking for a support group as well as a forum to sell their creations. Katie McAllister, director of the Dinah Washington Arts Center and the Paul R. Jones Gallery, said she thinks Creative Co-Op is a good fit for the gallery.

“It’s the University-run gallery, so it’s open to the entire University and not just the College of Arts and Sciences, and we like to have a variety of shows,” McAllister said. “We like to support students and what they’re doing creative-wise. We thought it was just going to be a good match for us.”

The opening reception for the show will be held Friday, Dec. 6, from 5:307:30 p.m. From the time the gallery opens Nov. 22 to the day it closes, a Creative Co-Op member will be present to help with purchasing items.

The show will feature 21 Creative Co-Op artists and will not have an overall theme. Instead, artists’ works will stand alone, grouped only by

PLAN TO GO WHAT: Creative Co-Op’s “Branching” WHEN: Nov. 22-Dec. 18 WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center

Photo courtesy of Allyson Mabry The artwork of Creative Co-Op will be hosted at Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center from Nov. 22-Dec.18. medium. Tori Taylor, a senior majoring in print making and vice president of Creative Co-Op, said the title of the show, “Branching,” was chosen carefully to mirror this format.

“We came up with the title as a way to represent the different branches of art – that it can be functional, crafty as well as formal,” Taylor said.

Items and art pieces at the show will range from ceramic mugs and bowls to custom notebooks all the way to traditional artwork, such as paintings and sculptures. The prices will range from $5 to $700 depend-

ing on the piece. Taylor said it’s a good stop for Christmas shopping.

Besides representing the different kinds of art Creative Co-Op members produce, Allyson Mabry, Creative Co-Op president, said it also encompasses Creative Co-Op’s journey and diversity.

“We represent so many diverse media and disciplines, and then we also have 12 or 13 different majors represented, so it’s kind of like all of us coming together, but we’re all different branches,” Mabry said. “And then it’s also about how we’ve grown

our roots for the past year, ’cause we have a really solid foundation now, and we’re focusing on spreading our branches and growing a lot more.”

Many of the artists featured in “Branching” will have never had gallery experience before the show.

“It’s one thing to graduate with a degree in painting, but it’s another to have hung your own show, sold your own work, promoted your own work,” she said. “And I think the more that students get of that while they’re in school, [having] the college to get behind them and back them on that,

[is] only going to make them more successful when they graduate and actually get out there on their own.”

Until this point, Taylor said Creative Co-Op has been picking up steam as an art source for students but has recently sought to branch out to the Tuscaloosa community. The show has an aim to sell art but could also be used for the Tuscaloosa community to learn about Creative Co-Op and for Creative Co-Op to be seen as a legitimate organization supporting artists.

“It means a lot to be in the new [Dinah Washington] space because it’s such a beautiful space,” Taylor said. “And since it’s sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Arts Council, there’s going to be a specific set of people who will be seeing this work not from campus, but from the community, which gives us such a better opportunity to have our work sell and be better appreciated.”

COLUMN | FILM

Devoted movie series fans make advance-screenings flourish

By Drew Pendleton These days, it’s become a customary trend with the newest book-to-film adaptations to give some fans a first chance to see what’s new to theaters before a film’s opening day. Starting with midnight screenings and eventually progressing to the night before opening day, these box-office juggernauts owe a good portion of their profits to the fans who beat their fellow moviegoers to the punch and get the word out.

This week, that trend will most likely continue. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” a sequel to the 2012 film adaptation of the Suzanne Collins bestseller “The Hunger Games,” will be formally released to wide audiences on

Friday, Nov. 22. It’s expected to be even bigger and better than the first film, launched into box-office glory with the combined star power of Collins’ novel and its leading lady Jennifer Lawrence.

Lawrence continues to make a meteoric rise through the Hollywood ranks following 2012, which saw her take on her first go-around as “The Hunger Games” heroine Katniss Everdeen and win her first Academy Award for her magnetic performance as an unstable young widow in the romantic comedy-drama “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Despite its formal release date being Nov. 22, the film will actually hit theaters the day before, Nov. 21, to give fans their first taste of what director Francis Lawrence (“I

Am Legend”) has to offer.

The theaters will be swamped, and they certainly expect it. For instance, according to showtimes published on Fandango.com, the Cobb Hollywood 16 & IMAX theater in Tuscaloosa located on Skyland Boulevard currently has 11 screenings of “Catching Fire” scheduled for the night of Nov. 21, including two IMAX screenings. The theater has also scheduled a “Hunger Games” double feature, which begins at 5 p.m.

The amount of screens dedicated to the film indicates the theater management expects a huge turnout, and the Cobb is certainly not alone in believing so. The first film opened to $19.7 million at midnight and pre-screenings when it opened in March 2012, on its

way to a $691 million gross worldwide, so there’s no reason to believe that “Catching Fire” won’t surpass - or at least match - those totals.

While several films have also joined the advancescreening trend, the tradition of success seems to be reserved to mostly films in a series, which bodes well for “Catching Fire” and its chances. The highest-grossing midnight release of all time also came from a beloved book series: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” which hit $43.5 million in 2011.

In 2012, two superhero franchise films - “The Avengers”

and “The Dark Knight Rises” - grossed $18.7 million and $30.6 million, respectively, at midnight, on their way to box office success. “The Avengers” went on to have the biggest opening weekend of all time, with $207.4 million.

I must admit that I have never attended a midnight screening before. However, the atmosphere in general of seeing a movie on its first day of release is something special.

For instance, I saw “The Great Gatsby” on its opening day in May. The movie theater was packed, the individual theater was nearly full, and everyone waited with anticipation to

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see how Baz Luhrmann would bring a classic American novel to life. In contrast, I saw “This is the End” in June, about two weeks after its initial release.

The individual theater was nowhere near full, and most people in the entire theater, it seemed, were flocking to the newly released films.

With the advent of midnight screenings and their proven success rates, it’s clear to see that the experience of opening day has now grown into a cultural phenomenon, and one that will surely stay around as long as franchises, like “The Hunger Games,” are still drawing in their devoted fans.

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p.9

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

COLUMN | FOOTBALL

SPORTSIN BRIEF

Alabama frequently ‘comes out at’

By Sean Landry I haven’t spoken to my father – an Alabama alumnus and lifelong fan – since Alabama’s relatively narrow victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. I haven’t needed to speak to my father because I know the basics of what he’ll say: The team came out flat, played sloppy, didn’t take care of the football and generally thought they’d win the game just by showing up. They bought their own hype, rather than seeking to “impose their will on their opponent� as Nick Saban would put it or, to use my father’s favored phrase, “beat the snot out of them.�

I haven’t needed to speak with him because we’ve had this conversation before. We’ve had this conversation before because this is becoming a trend.

The Crimson Tide frequently “comes out flat� after “big wins.�

Before the Mississippi State game, Alabama rode a dominant second half to a victory against then-No. 13 LSU in their biggest test since week three. They promptly turned the ball

over four times against Mississippi State. After the game, Saban said, “We won the game, but we didn’t really beat the other team.�

Rewind to that Texas A&M game.

Alabama put up more than 500 yards of offense and intercepted two Johnny Manziel passes while converting three of six third downs.

The next week, against Colorado State, Alabama converted just two of 10 third downs and posted only 338 yards against the barely bowl-eligible Mountain West team. After that game, C.J Mosley said, “I felt like as a whole, we didn’t really execute to our full abilities ‌ So I felt like we kind of got away with a win. We didn’t really dominate that win.â€?

Last year, Alabama famously and narrowly lost to the then-SEC newcomer Aggies. To hear some tell it, Alabama was dominated on their home field, left without answers for freshman phenom Johnny Football.

Truthfully, as my dad likes to remind people, Alabama lost one quarter of that game: the first.

In short, after the historic “Rally in Death Valley� the week before,

Crimson Tide advances to face Duke Blue Devils

Alabama took the field following a huge win, and the score was 20-0, Texas A&M, “before the band had finished the fight song.� Obviously, Alabama still won the national championship but not without some help on the way. “The Process� is supposed to focus on one play at a time, one game at a time, for 60 minutes a game. Saban’s philosophy is supposed to produce a juggernaut that maintains an indomitable standard of play for every down of every contest. For the most part, it reaches that goal.

I mean, it has won three BCS championships in four years and is knocking on the door of the only three-peat in modern NCAA Division 1 history.

It’s possible that the kind of perfection it seems like Saban demands – a perfection that extends beyond 14-0 – just isn’t possible in today’s SEC. And if this team produces results, wins the BCS National Championship – the fourth in five years, the third in a row, the 16th for Alabama and the last-ever BCS National Championship – who really cares?

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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (11/20/13). Creativity flavors this year, animating your career.

Romance and partnership rise to a new level. Travel with your work around summer, when you’ve got the microphone and people are listening. Express what you love, your passions and dreams. Take inspiration from children. Rest in October for a blastoff next winter.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Stay close to home as much as you can; re-juice and restore. Keep up the good work; you’re making a good impression.

Don’t believe everything you think. Realize a domestic dream.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Dream up a juicy goal, and then make it happen. Your skills are getting more impressive. Stop for long enough to give yourself credit. Keep on learning. No gambling or shopping. Craft your message, and get it out.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- There are opportunities to make money, as well as some to lose it. Keep a clear head.

Don’t let it slip through your fingers. A little organization goes a long way. Friends succumb to your sparkling wit. Share a feast.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -Your power is intense. Don’t bowl someone over with your enthusiasm. Your dreams are achievable, and you see it. Follow your yellow brick road. Bring a friend along for company and comfort.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- It’s easier to get things done privately now.

Finish up old business with your creative touch. You’re especially sensitive, and risk taking things too personally. Think about it for a while before spending. Comparison shop.

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

Trevor Releford led all scorers with 19 points. He also recorded three steals, giving him 201 in his career at Alabama.

Releford became the first player in program history to record 1,300 points, 300 assists and 200 steals.

Sophomore guard Retin Obasohan filled up the stat sheet Tuesday night, tallying 18 points, four rebounds, four steals and a career-best three blocked shots.

Freshman forward Shannon Hale led the Crimson Tide with seven rebounds. He also scored a careerhigh eight points.

Grant said the players will get Wednesday off before returning to the court for a challenging matchup with the Blue Devils. “Duke is one of the premier programs in college basketball,�

Grant said. “They’ve got an outstanding team this year, led by an outstanding coach. It’s a privilege to have a chance to compete against them, and that’s what you want to do.

You want to play against the best.�

Compiled by Charlie Potter

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The Alabama men’s basketball team upended Georgia State, 75-58, in the South Regional final of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tuesday night.

The Crimson Tide (3-1) advances to the semifinal round to face the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils in New York City Nov. 27.

This marks the third trip in four years to Madison Square Garden for Alabama. “Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous arenas in the country, so anytime you get a chance to play there, it’s an honor,� coach Anthony Grant said. “We’re excited to have the chance to go back and compete in that arena, in this tournament.�

Alabama had a strong night on the glass and pulled down 40 rebounds.

The Crimson Tide out-rebounded the Panthers 40-24 and held Georgia State’s two best players, R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow, to a combined 10 points. “They were extremely physical,�

Georgia State coach Ron Hunter said. “This is what it’s like to play in the SEC.�

7 -- Everything seems clear. You see the changes you want to make. You’re inclined to get a lot of work done; don’t forget to play. You and your friends are just getting older. Escape routine. Seize the day.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Career opportunities arise. You must be willing to play the game. Sometimes all it takes is a bold declaration, or to sign on the bottom line. You don’t need to know how. Draw inspiration from loved ones and angels.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- It’s adventure time! Go to where you’ve never been before. And discover something new about yourself by listening intently.

Travel and romance both look good for the next couple of days. No need to be shy. Get philosophical.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Get ready for transformation, or just accept it. You feel rejuvenated and ready for action. Curiosity makes you quite attractive. Romance is part of the picture.

Do financial planning. Grow your family wealth.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re an expert at creating the right team for the task at hand now. You’re encouraging and encouraged. Together you can do more than you thought possible.

Don’t leave anything to chance. Plan the route to take.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Embark on a challenging project at work, and succeed by thinking from a different perspective than normal. Avoid distractions and focus on completion. Imagine the celebratory glass of bubbly, and the impact of the job done.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Love is definitely in the air, and serves comfort when money’s tight. Finish something you promised. Honor your dreams and make them real because you say so.

Make it fun. You’ll soon have time to relax.

Public Intoxication?

Minor in Possession?

Driving Under Influence?

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“No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.�

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Crimson Tide prepares for invitational

By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter Even after a fall to Florida two weeks ago, Alabama swimming and diving coach Dennis Pursley said his team is ready to get back up and show the rest of the teams its full potential.

“I would be very disappointed if that’s not the case,” Pursley said. “We expect them to take the bull by the horns and take advantage of the opportunity because it is a great opportunity for the team and for every individual on the team. Our expectations are that they will make the most of that.”

The Crimson Tide swimming and diving team will travel to Auburn Firday for the Auburn Invitational, taking the entire team along for the ride. This will be the first time all season the entire team has traveled to

UA Athletics Alabama’s swimming and diving team will travel to Auburn Friday to compete in the Auburn Invitational.

an away meet.

Despite coming off of a loss, Pursley said his team has to learn from it.

“There’s 20 reasons, but there’s not a good reason, and I think that’s one thing we have got to learn to do is to bring our ‘A’ game to the pool no matter what circumstances,” Pursley said. “No matter who we’re competing against, no matter what time of the year, no matter whether we’re sick or healthy, injured or not injured, no matter what the circumstances, we’re going to bring our best effort to the pool deck. I want to see us regroup and do that more effectively at the Auburn Invitational.”

Alabama will face more than just the Tigers at the Auburn Invitational.

Georgia and Florida State will also be in attendance.

The Crimson Tide previously faced FSU

more than a month ago, with the women beating the Seminoles 167-133. The men were unable to win against FSU, losing 179-121.

The three-day meet will also boast more events than a normal duel meet can offer, giving each team more opportunities.

Though Alabama will have more possibilities, the competition will also have the same amount. Pursley said the Crimson Tide has to close the gap between itself and the competitors.

“It’s the same for everybody, so we’ve got broader range, but so do our competitors,” Pursley said. “There’s four teams in this competition. Two of them are not only SEC heavyweights, Auburn and Georgia, but they are also two of the best teams in the country. The third one is one of the better teams in the country

we swam against in a competition earlier, Florida State. On paper, they’re probably stronger than what we saw in the duel meet. Again, we’re going to be challenged to see how we’re going to respond to a situation where we’re going up to teams, where we don’t stack up on paper on this point team-wise top to bottom, but what we need to do is close the gap.”

Pursley also said the team must focus on itself before hitting the pool.

“It’s all about not focusing on who we’re competing against,” Pursley said. “It’s all about focusing on your execution, on being the best that you can be, on swimming the perfect race, on supporting your teammates to the best of your ability, focusing on the things that you can control that will impact performance and not let other things get in the way.”

INTRAMURALS

Champion Sports Medicine provides variety of services

By Danielle Walker | Staff Reporter Students often walk past Champion Sports Medicine on the way to the University of Alabama Recreation Center, not realizing the benefits it offers. Champion Sports Medicine provides athletic trainers to intramural and club sporting events, along with injury prevention and free injury evaluations.

Shuler Sitsch, a junior majoring in music education, was one of many students who walked past the office door, located to the right of the main Rec Center entrance. After sustaining an injury during an intramural flag football game, Sitsch now knows exactly what is behind that door.

Sitsch tore his ACL last month and now attends physical therapy at Champion Sports

Medicine twice a week.

“It was third down, it was a screen pass,” Sitsch said. “I was running over to the side, and I tried to jump over someone to get the first down. While I was in the air, my leg got pushed, so below my leg went right and the top of my leg just stayed there, and I heard like three distinct pops, and then I landed.”

After telling teammates he was hurt and couldn’t get up, an athletic trainer was radioed to the field for an evaluation. Sitsch said they were unsure of the injury at the time but wrapped his leg in ice and scheduled an appointment for him.

Champion Sports Medicine evaluated him the next morning and scheduled an appointment at a doctor’s office later that day where they were able to diagnose him by the end of the week. Now,

Sitsch visits Champion Sports Medicine twice a week and will continue to do so until January.

“I just feel better every time I go,” Sitsch said.

“I couldn’t get into the shower the first three days, and that was terrible. And now I’m on the elliptical and doing leg presses, so it’s a quick process, and they’re really good about getting you back to where you need to be.”

Champion Sports Medicine athletic trainer over intramural sports CJ Hubauer said at least two trainers will be on the fields available for pre-game tapings and injury evaluations during games. If the injury requires immediate attention, the trainer will send the athlete to DCH or a local hospital. Before games or before working out, students can get ankles or other limbs taped for $2.

“As far as on-field evaluations, any time someone needs some sort of immediate care as far as splinting, wound care, things like that, we provide all of that,” Hubauer said.

Champion Sports Medicine is also available to students who might need an injury evaluation.

These visits are free.

“Let’s say something was to happen while they were playing intramurals, and maybe they didn’t think it was very serious at the moment. They can always come into Champion and get a free evaluation from an athletic trainer,” Hubauer said. “If we think it’s a situation where they need to see a physician, we’ll refer them to a physician, and then there are different scenarios where we can just give them advice.”