NICO JOHNSON One of the stars of the Tide’s defensive line says he didn’t go to NFL because he wants to earn his degree
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
SPORTS PAGE 10
Vol. 119, Issue 65
NEWS | SGA
Former EVP taken from Ferg by University Police Harris escorted from FYC meeting Nov. 29
the Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association,” SGA Press Secretary Meagan Bryant said in a statement. “He was asked to leave By Rich Robinson, Melissa Brown Thursday’s meeting which was CW Staff only open to First Year Councilors Officers dispatched from the and the Director of FYC.” Cathy Andreen, the direcUnivesity of Alabama Police Department removed former SGA tor of Media Relations for The Executive Vice President Matt University of Alabama confirmed Harris from a meeting of the First the police were asked to respond to the situation. Year Council Nov. 29. “UAPD was called to [the] “Matt Harris is no longer
Ferguson Center regarding an individual who was attending a meeting that he was not authorized to attend,” Andreen said. No record of arrest existed at the UAPD station. The Crimson White requested a copy of the incident report, but the request was denied. Harris was previously removed from office Nov. 13 due to “personal circumstances,” according to an email sent by SGA President Matt Calderone.
In an emailed statement, Andreen explained the differences between public and nonpublic information with regards to UAPD activities. “UAPD posts all Incident/ Offense reports on the kiosk in the lobby of the police station,” Andreen said. “These reports document criminal acts or criminal charges and are public information. Individuals may request a printed copy of the information posted on the kiosk but it may
take a week or more to obtain these copies.” Andreen went on to explain incident reports are internal documents that are part of the information gathering and information management process. “They generally involve information that is non-criminal in nature and they are not public information,” she said. Staff Reporter Madison Roberts contributed to this report.
CW File
Matt Harris
CULTURE | TAILGATING
BREWED by BAMA
Tailgaters take traditions to SEC title game
By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter
D
ruid City Brewing Company doesn’t look like much on the outside, in the back of the CitiTrends building in the Parkview Shopping Center on 14th Street, but the building’s exterior is no reflection of the creative process brewing on the inside. The company, a part of the ever-growing craft brewing movement, is now open and bringing a little more culture to Tuscaloosa.
According to the Brewers Association website, the craft brewing industry grew 13 percent by volume in 2011 and 15 percent by dollars. Despite the trend, though, craft brewing has been largely inhibited in Alabama by state laws. But in the last three years, some of these restrictions on the beer industry were changed, opening the door a little wider for craft beer lovers.
RVers brought Alabama’s pregame, postgame celebration to Georgia By Abbey Crain Staff Reporter
SEE BREWING PAGE 2
Blue Pants Brewery
500 0 Lanier Road Bldg 1 Suite A Madison, Ala.
“
Back Forty Beer Company 200 N. 6th St. Gasden, Ala.
Avondale Brewing 201 41stt St. South Birmingham, Ala.
Druid City Brewing Company 14th Street Tuscaloosa, Ala.
where they usually park at Bryce by the softball fields, but they were satisfied Here at The University with their placement durof Alabama, tradition is ing the SEC Championship used synonymously with in Atlanta, Ga. our football team. Many “There’s a lot of times, Alabama football fans especially the bowl games, keep traditions of their that they have RV parks own by traveling with the close to the venue, and team wherever they play. they’ll have a bus service The SEC Championship in so we don’t have to worry Atlanta, Ga., this weekend about driving since we was no exception. don’t tow our car,” Tina B i l l y Kitchens and Tina said. Kitchens, Although During a bowl game season ticket the majorthere’s a little bit more holders since ity of home 1987 and games are hype, but I think it’s alnatives of spent with ways a good time any time McDonough, a regular you go. Ga., have friend group always choof two or — Tina Kitchens sen to tailthree RVs, gate in their the Kitchens RV. Billy Kitchens is the enjoy the new friends they cousin of starting quarter- make at bowl games. back for The University’s “One thing about going 1995-1997 team Freddie to the bowl games, there’s Kitchens. Their lhasa a lot of people we’ve met alpso, Nick (after Nick over the years that we Saban), has come to every don’t usually tailgate with game with them for the during the home games,” past two years. Tina Kitchens said. “We “I don’t think there’s have our little group we that big of a difference usually tailgate with and between home games get to park together, but and bowl games like we love to get to see a lot today,” Tina Kitchens of new friends at bowl said. “During a bowl games like today.” game there’s a little bit The farthest they have more hype, but I think it’s been to tailgate in their always a good time any RV is California when time you go.” Alabama played UCLA in The Kitchens prefer 2000. the RV treatment at their SEE RV PAGE 2 home turf in Tuscaloosa,
Straight to Ale
3200 Leeman Ferry Road d Huntsville, Ala.
Good People
114 14th St. South Birmingham, Ala.
CW | Austin Bigoney, Graphic by Sarah Grace Moorehead, Photo Illustration by Mackenzie Brown
SPORTS | SOFTBALL
Patrick Murphy to be inducted into fastpitch coach’s Hall of Fame Coach clenched title, redifining program CW Staff Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy will be inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the organization announced during its annual convention held in Orlando, Fla. er • Plea s
er • Plea
ap
ecycle this p
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“Coach Murphy is a deserving inductee into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame,” Mal Moore, University of Alabama director of athletics, said. “Patrick has built one of the best softball programs in the country, virtually from the ground up. His commitment to his players has extended far beyond simply developing them as excellent softball players, but has
INSIDE today’s paper
helped them reach their goals academically and in other facets of their lives. I couldn’t be more proud of the job that Patrick has done for Alabama over the years. He is truly worthy of this honor.” In 15 years as a head coach, Murphy has compiled a 772218 record (.779 winning percentage) and in 14 seasons at Alabama, which culminated with its first national championship last season, Murphy
has a 744-198 (.789) record. Murphy has guided the Crimson Tide to eight Women’s College World Series berths, including three straight semifinal appearances prior to claiming the first national title in Southeastern Conference softball history in 2012. In addition to his accolades at the collegiate level, Murphy has also impacted the sport at the youth level in the state of Alabama.
Briefs ........................2
Sports ..................... 10
Opinions ...................4
Puzzles......................9
Culture ...................... 7
Classifieds ................ 9
“More important than the success Coach Murphy has earned as our head coach and the impact he has made for our University, is the impact he has made on the sport of fastpitch softball in the state of Alabama, in the South and nationally,” said Marie Robbins, UA associate athletics director and Senior Women’s administrator.
WEATHER today
CW | Shannon Auvil
SEE MURPHY PAGE 2
Chance of T-storms
73º/54º
Patrick Murphy
Wednesday 68º/39º Chance of rain
cl e recy this p se
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ON THE MENU
Will Tucker editor-in-chief editor@cw.ua.edu Ashley Chaffin managing editor Stephen Dethrage production editor Mackenzie Brown visuals editor Daniel Roth online editor magazine editor
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Amidst the large corporations of the American beer culture, a grassroots homebrew culture known as craft
SoRelle Wyckoff opinion editor
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ADVERTISING Will DeShazo 348-8995 Advertising Manager cwadmanager@gmail.com Tori Hall Territory Manager 348-2598 Classified Manager 348-7355 Coleman Richards Special Projects Manager osmspecialprojects@gmail.com Natalie Selman 348-8042 Creative Services Manager Robert Clark 348-8742 Emily Diab 348-8054 Chloe Ledet 348-6153 Keenan Madden 348-2670 John Wolfrom 348-6875 Will Whitlock 348-8735 Amy Metzler osmspecialprojects2@gmail.com Jake Morrow osmspecialprojects2@gmail.com The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students. The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are on the first floor, Student Publications Building, 923 University Blvd. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2012 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.
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Breweries in Alabama
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FRESH FOOD
brewing began emerging in the 1970s and has continued to grow since. According to the Brewers Association’s
website, Vermont, Oregon, Montana, Colorado and Maine make up the top five states in breweries per capita. Alabama
Avondale Brewing
Blue Pants Brewery
Good People
The Place: Avondale Brewing is located in the historic neighborhood of Avondale in Birmingham, Ala.
The Place: What began as a family affair in a small building in Madison, Ala., has grown into a full-fledged business on Lanier Road.
The Place: Good People Brewing Company can be found in a former beer distribution warehouse located near Railroad Park in Birmingham, Ala.
The Story: The building in Avondale was home to many different businesses over the years – a firehouse, post office, pharmacy, bank and brothel. Brothers Coby and Hunter Lake founded Avondale in 2011 along with brewmaster, Craig Shaw. All their beers are named after the folklore of Avondale.
does not even make their list, but that is what local beer enthusiasts in the state hope to change.
Straight to Ale The Place: In Huntsville, Ala., Straight to Ale brews local craft beer, and keeps the taproom open seven days a week.
Back Forty Beer Company The Place: This brewery can be found in a former Sears Roebuck appliance repair center in Gadsden, Ala.
The Story: Good People did not start out intending to be a business. They began brewing in a garage as a hobby. After getting requests from people, even strangers, for their beers, the hobby became a business and they have been brewing “ales from the heart of Dixie” ever since.
The Story: After winning a few home-brewing competitions, Dan Perry and Rick Tarvin decided to make a living out of brewing beers in 2009. On the edge of the Huntsville Municipal Golf Course, the brewery pays homage to its city by naming the beers according to Huntsville’s role in the NASA program.
The Story: Co-founders Jason Wilson and Zach Folmar teamed up with brewmaster Jamie Ray, and together they began brewing and bottling beer. Their name was inspired by the 40 acres of land furthest from the barn, known to be the most challenging to maintain. Likewise, Alabama has been know as the “back 40” of craft beer in America, but Back Forty Beer Company hopes to change that.
on Suds of the South, a local beer festival that takes place over spring break. “That’s where I get a lot of my recommendations for beers that I might not know, is through talking to different people and being adventurous and trying different beers,” Hicks said. “You exchange stories. Through the festival and going to places that have a large draft selection, you run into some of the like-minded people that really want to try new adventurous things in beer and not just the macroAmerican stuff.” Druid City Brewing will be Tuscaloosa’s first brewery since Barrett’s Brewpub closed in 1999, and it has received an overwhelmingly positive response so far. “The reception has been really great,” Roberts said. “The way most people vote is with their wallets and with their taste buds. I was joking with Bo the other day that I was sitting in Wilhagans the other day and heard the most beautiful sound in the world –
‘I’ll have another Druid City.’” Roberts said it is easy to get people to try the first one because people in Tuscaloosa want support local business. “If they are like ‘Oh great it’s local, but it’s terrible,’ then it really doesn’t do us a lot of good,” he said. “So that was the really awesome part – to hear them say, ‘Yeah, I’ll have another.’ It was also cool to hear them want to support Tuscaloosa so much.” Currently, Druid City Brewing offers two beers, a pale ale and a wheat beer. Roberts described their pale ale as a something between Sweetwater 420 and a Sierra Nevada. Hicks said they also wanted to include a wheat beer to appeal to both “beer nerds” and the “everyday person.” “I’ve always told people that Tuscaloosa is sort of a beer palette incubator,” Hicks said. “You sort of go from drinking Natural Light or macro-American style beers to learning about craft beer. So when we were formulating our recipes, we were brewing
a wheat because we were trying to brew every style possible, and because it got such a great reception from our friends who weren’t super beer nerds, we decided that we would make it. It is one I think beer nerds would be happy with, but also won’t scare away the customer.” Initially, the beers will be available on tap at Wilhagans, Egan’s, The Alcove, Downtown Pub and Corks and Tops. In the future they hope to expand the business beyond just selling beer on draft to bottling or canning their creations. They hope to be able to put out 100 to 200 bottle batches in the spring. “We are looking to do small runs of hand bottled 22 ounce bottles of some rare batch stuff that people can take for gifts,” he said. “Because Tuscaloosa is Mecca for a lot of people and a lot of students from out of town might want some to take their parents or somebody else they know that is really into beer culture, and say, ‘Hey this is where I am and this is what we are doing.’”
Hicks and Roberts said they hope Druid City Brewing can be a gateway for people wanting to learn to appreciate craft beers. “Hopefully by being here we will create an even bigger beer culture and be able to get more people interested in that aspect of it as opposed to people drinking beer for an end gain to get drunk,” Hicks said. “We want people to respect the artisan nature of making the beer.” Rowdy Spradling, a senior majoring in criminal justice and craft beer enthusiast, said he is excited about the brewery opening for that reason. “I think it is something locals and visitors can try that is unique to Tuscaloosa, and I think it is going to be cool,” Spradling said. “As a local beer connoisseur, it is definitely something to be excited about here in town.” Druid City Brewing Company will host several launch events at Egan’s, Wilhagans and The Alcove this week to celebrate their opening.
out Alabama in the public and private schools during the school year and with multiple travel teams and tournaments throughout MURPHY FROM PAGE 1 the summer.” “Today, fast-pitch softAn Iowa native, Murphy ball flourishes through- was part of the inaugural
season of Alabama softball as an assistant coach and took over as head coach just two seasons into the program’s history. Since his first year as the head coach for the Tide in 1999, Murphy has guided Alabama to 14 straight NCAA
tournament appearances. Since taking the Tide to the postseason in his first year at the helm and the WCWS in his second, Alabama has won four SEC regular season titles (2005, 2010-12), including three in a row, and four
SEC tournament championships (2003, 2005, 2010, and 2012). Murphy will join 58 other members next year when he is inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame at the 2013 NFCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.
The majority of the Kitchens’ time before the game is spent cooking for any friends who stop by. Tom Carter, a Georgia fan and friend of the Kitchens said that the money they spend just to feed everyone is unreal. He said he was excited he got to come down to be in Atlanta and have a place to tailgate. Alabama fans are not the only ones who travel with their team
to bowl games. There were plenty of Georgia tailgating groups intermingling between the Alabama RVs. Wendell Hutchins, an avid Georgia fan, has been tailgating with his RV since 1972. After seeing his sister’s RV he knew he had to join in on the tailgating festivities. Hutchins said he loves getting to know the opposing fans and makes an attempt
to get along with them at every game. “There are a lot of ‘Dawg’ motor homes that come to every game,” Hutchins said. “The best part about them is that they have bathrooms in them. We drink a lot of cold beer so we need a bathroom.” Doug Sharp, a friend of Hutchins who was at his tailgate, has been tailgating with
Georgia for the past 20 years. “It’s (RVs) more a part of the culture at Georgia,” Sharp said. “It’s all about family. But, as a general rule we welcome just about everyone.” Near and far, fans of all persuasions came out to support their team in luxury for the SEC Championship, complete with good friends, good food and a bathroom.
Druid City Brewing 1st in city since 1999 BREWING FROM PAGE 1 Elliott Roberts and Bo Hicks, the founders of Druid City Brewing Company, said they believe Alabama is making progress but still has a long way to go. “We were sort of doing the research on this,” Roberts said. “If Alabama had as many breweries per capita as Colorado, we’d have like 140 plus. When you think about how we have probably eight or 10 in the state, and when you think about how Tuscaloosa doesn’t even have one – and Tuscaloosa loves beer, clearly, always has, at least in my time here – it’s just sad. We felt like someone was going to do it here and do it well, and we thought it might as well be us.” For Hicks, the Tuscaloosa beer culture was not something he was sure existed until he visited bars like The Alcove, Egan’s and Wilhagans, and put
The Story: Named after the nicknames of Mike (Pants) and Allison (Blue) Spratley, Blue Pants started small. With the support of family and friends, the brewery has since then grown to produce 15 barrels a month and has moved to a new 10,000-square-foot-brewery. All their beers are named after different types of pants, like Corduroy Rye.
Murphy led team to 14 straight post seasons
RVs traveled to Atlanta with Tide, Bulldog fans RV FROM PAGE 1 “You get in early and leave late,” Billy Kitchens said. “I was here at 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning. It’s so easy, you get here, set up and you don’t have to worry about going anywhere.”
N EWS Students, Maddox discuss improvements to the Strip
Page 3
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
Editor | Melissa Brown newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Tuesday, December 4, 2012
By Alan Alexander Contributing Writer Honors College students met with Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and other city officials on Monday to propose five municipal planning programs concentrating on improving the functionality of the Strip. PlanFirst is a class out of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility centered on a city-student planning initiative. The course is designed to familiarize the students with general procedure and history of city planning. Students then formulate their own ideas for city improvement and work on projects that can be implemented by the city. “The proposals that I have seen today are very impressive,” Maddox said. “They get down to both short term issues of Strip security and long-term issues concerning land use.” The Façade Improvement Program focused on enhancing
the overall appearance of the bars, restaurants and businesses along the Strip. The proposal suggested enclosing garbage and recycling containers, incorporating outdoor seating and landscaping on all corner lots and avoiding the use of blank walls would make the Strip much more attractive. Krysten Harper, a senior majoring in political science, contributed to the Façade project and believes simple changes can produce huge differences. “I’ve lived here four years and the Strip doesn’t look like a very welcoming environment,” Harper said. “Just removing the dark tint, steel bars and mirrors from the windows of businesses would greatly improve the atmosphere.” The Urban Village Concept proposed changing the Strip to accommodate more pedestrians per square mile and increase the purchasing power of the area. This would require constructing more mixed-use
buildings and reducing the number of vacant lots. Liz Jasper, a junior majoring in management, headed up the Urban Village Concept proposal and said applying this concept to the Strip would create a number of benefits. “Other than the obvious monetary incentives that an urban village would bring to the Strip, taking advantage of all of the dead zones and empty lots would help unify the UA campus and the Strip,” Jasper said. Other proposals focused on making the area more pedestrian-friendly by increasing the safety of the streets and sidewalks, especially when Tuscaloosa experiences a large influx of people on gamedays. To combat this, the proposal suggests making the Strip a pedestrian-only zone on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. By not allowing cars to travel on a section of the Strip, businesses would have more room for outside seating
and pedestrians wouldn’t have to worry about traffic. It also calls for a section of the Strip from Frank Thomas Avenue to Gene Stallings Avenue to be rendered as a notraffic zone. A retractable bollard system would be installed and redirect traffic to 8th Street and reverse the one-way streets of Red Drew Avenue and Gene Stallings to circumvent the area. Emma Whitaker, a senior and one of three civil engineering majors who worked on the traffic proposal, said reserving that section of the Strip would be beneficial for both businesses and patrons. “People would be less likely to drive to the Strip if this strategy was implemented,” Whitaker said. “Businesses would have more room to accommodate more people and residents and visitors wouldn’t have to worry about traffic.” Maddox said all of these proposals will be taken into consideration by the city council.
CW | Shannon Auvil
Mayor Walt Maddox asks questions about the PlanFirst proposals. The PlanFirst class, housed under the Honors College, presented to city planners at City Hall Dec. 3. “There’s no doubt that what’s been presented today will make its way forward to our joint task force with UA,” Maddox said. “This reinforces
some of the same believes that we have and comes with a lot of credibility because these are the students who live at the University every single day.”
Spring semester begins campuswide switch to Blackboard By Madison Roberts Staff Reporter Next semester, The University of Alabama will enforce the official transition from eLearning to Blackboard for every course. Some courses are already on Blackboard this semester, and this change has caused mixed reactions from faculty and students at the University. Alexia Cadle, a freshman majoring in telecommunication and film, said she likes Blackboard because it’s easy to understand. “I like Blackboard because it’s an easy way to access your grades and find information
about all of your classes and what is due,” Cadle said. “I think it’s easy to understand, and I have never had any problems with it. Everything is just easy on Blackboard.” Isabelle Drewelow, a French professor and Language Program Director for the Introductory Language Sequence, agreed Blackboard is superior to eLearning, but is still not a fan of the new system. “You cannot upload a PowerPoint with pictures. I think it has a great infrastructure in the sense that you have the blog, the chats, the different things you can use especially when it comes to foreign languages but we can’t really use
it because the size and capacity is not enough,” Drewelow said. In Drewelow’s French 101 class, the students were assigned a Digital Story in which they were required to create a movie or PowerPoint file to upload to Blackboard so other students and the instructor could view it. Drewelow said the movie files were too large for Blackboard to handle so she had to create a page on Emodo, another file sharing website for this activity. “In my class we did digital stories and students could not upload a movie file, PowerPoint or anything because it was beyond the capacity that Blackboard could hold,”
CAMPUS
Drewelow said. “We are moving in the right direction, but I think there is still a lot of fixing to do because it still seems a little too limited as far as file sizes and going back and forth between the different capabilities goes.” Rebekah Ezzell, a freshman majoring in marketing, said she is pleased with Blackboard, but doesn’t think it’s as effective as it could be. “I like Blackboard, but a lot of teachers don’t use it,” Ezzell said. “It’s very helpful to know what your grade is in your classes, but only a few of my teachers actually take advantage of that feature.” With Blackboard comes
Ministries
new features, and new ways to avoid the old-fashioned red ink grading method. TurnItIn, an element that allows students to submit their papers online and receive peer suggestions as well as instructor feedback and their grade, has become popular with many students. Ezzell likes TurnItIn because it provides instant feedback, but recognizes that it may have a few hiccups because it’s technology, and “technology always has problems.” “I like that I can see my grade and the comments he makes on my paper as soon as the teacher grades it,” Ezzell said. “I like that I don’t have to wait until class.”
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Some teachers are required to put their courses on eLearning, depending on their department. Drewelow said putting her course information on Blackboard is necessary, but she probably wouldn’t use it if she had the choice. “I am required to put my syllabus on Blackboard,” Drewelow said. “I figure students know there is information there so I have to use it. I’m sure if it improves I would choose to put information there, but right now it creates more headaches and students stress out because their work isn’t there when it should be so I probably wouldn’t put my stuff there if I had the choice.”
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
OPINIONS
Page 4 Editor | SoRelle Wyckoff letters@cw.ua.edu Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Make the most of last few carefree days in college By Hannah Waid Staff Columnist
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Legislation on hate crimes a disservice to 1st Amendment By Henry Downes Staff Columnist Legendary Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: “If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought – not free thought for those who agree with us, but freedom for the thought we hate.” It is the duty of the Supreme Court to uphold this right to free thought for all Americans, not just those who are in the majority or the “social mainstream.” However, recent hate crime legislation – such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act – have signified a direct threat to this freedom. Hate crimes are defined by the HCPA as “the incidence of violence motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of the victim.” Recent data indicates crimes of this nature have been on the rise, with more than 6,500 incidents reported in 2009. What’s more, the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimated the true number of incidents could be as much as 31 times that figure. This data, in addition to the frightening murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. in 1998, catalyzed a social crusade which forced the collective hands of legislators to produce a tough and inclusive national hate crime
statute. Almost immediately, how- whether the offense was commitever, issues were raised by detrac- ted out of greed, racial agenda or tors who claimed the HCPA stat- any other intention. ute violated the U.S. Constitution’s Logistically, the only way to First Amendment “freedom of prove an offender intentionally speech” provisions. selected their victim by gender, When considering the consti- race or any other factor is to tutional arguments against hate allow for the criminalization of crime legislation in relation to the motive. Yet, the criminalization of First Amendment, it is critical to motive directly infringes upon the understand that penalty-enhance- First Amendment in these cases ment provisions because no matter contained in the how these statutes HCPA expressly are phrased, they We must air on the side of and separately are necessarily concriminalize the tent-based. caution here; it is imperative offender’s motive To understand that government choose during the comthe implications of the course that ensures mission of a crime. content-based hate maximum – not minimum – While purpose, crime statutes on protection of speech, thought knowledge, negfree speech, imagand belief. ligence and reckine that you’re a lessness are catjury member lookegorical mental ing for evidence states recognized of bigoted motive. by the Moral Penal Code in estab- What could be legally admissible lishing an offender’s responsibility for your analysis? Could you take for wrongdoing, motive is not list- into account the organizations to ed because throughout American which a defendant belongs, or the case law, it has been largely ren- lectures they’ve attended? What dered irrelevant in relation to sen- about the contents of their booktence-enhancement guidelines. shelves, or their Internet search To illustrate this point, imag- history? Indeed, it is hard to imagine a man convicted of murder. ine jurors becoming convinced of The jury should and will take into a defendant’s prejudiced motive consideration whether the man “beyond a reasonable doubt” withpremeditated the murder (pur- out taking into consideration such pose) or whether it was simply an protected free speech elements accident (negligence or reckless- which are not specifically related ness) in applying penalty stan- to the hate crime offense. dards. Motive may in fact be used Further, given the finding and to prove guilt or association, but subsequent application of motive in regards to sentence-enhance- is so complex and occupies a “gray ment, it usually should not matter area” in the law, it seems inap-
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propriate to expect a group of ordinary and imperfect humans to realistically or accurately make these determinations of a defendant’s true motive. In theory, the concept that social prejudices inherently necessitate legislative action fundamentally depends on the premise that prejudice is more morally reprehensible than all other criminal motives. Is this accurate? Though it might be true to say that racial bias is appalling and inappropriate, it cannot be definitively said that this bias is any more reprehensible that greed, spite or pure sadism. Therefore, it may be argued that while hate crime laws are wellintentioned and seek to create a more tolerant society on paper, in practice they ultimately fail to overcome significant constitutional hurdles and set dangerous precedents for the future of civil liberties in this nation. We must air on the side of caution here; it is imperative that government choose the course that ensures maximum – not minimum – protection of speech, thought and belief. By infringing on freedom of speech, hate crime penalty enhancements consequently encroach on the most personal and essential right guaranteed by the Constitution – the freedom of thought. Henry Downes is a sophomore majoring in economics. His column runs on Tuesdays.
Homeward bound: ‘Moving out of toy town that is the University’ By Lucy Cheseldine Staff Columnist So it’s been four months, however many days and nights. I’m not a numbers woman. And I’ve lost track of time. Sleep in my life has moved through stages. When I was little, it was an obligation. I didn’t want to leave the TV before the 9 o’clock water shed. When I was growing up, it was a necessity to fight off the fatigue produced by an extensive exercise routine. And now it’s a luxury. It’s something I just don’t have time for anymore. Whatever month, day, hour it is, it’s nearly home time. Back to the land of castles. A place where the royal wedding was, according to people here, still big news. It was just an excuse for me to have a few drinks. To be honest I’d all but forgotten it had even happened. A
country with a bit of history and eccentricity. A quaint place of green fields and Edwardian tea parties apparently. A place still littered with the remnants of Lewis Carroll’s hallucinations. Look hard enough and I’m sure you can find a rabbit hole. At least this is the Great Britain people seem to imagine I will return to. In truth I’ll be gracing the gritty Northern city of Glasgow, still intact with its working class attitude and rugged city landscape. It’s beautiful, but it ain’t what Wordsworth was talking about. It’s true that the grass is always greener. Clichéd I know, but it’s something I have always returned to when traveling. This past semester hasn’t just been a college experience, I’ve felt constantly on the move. The state tally has made it to six. Not too bad to say I nearly drowned in
novels and poems, only just about surfacing for air on weekends and holidays. But now I have tired feet and am ready for a few weeks of civilisation as I know it. That means moving out of the toy town that is The University of Alabama. Moving back to shops and cafés, home-cooked food and night clubs. The educational system here suits me. Constant assessment seems the best way to get students to actually get their teeth into the reading. Back home we had one exam at the end of each term, and I can’t deny that independent study like that lead to a pretty laid-back attitude. But living on a campus is different to the city environments I have always lived in. And the grand old symbol of America, the car, is taking its toll on the old waistline. I won’t be sorry to have a few Christmas strolls. All in all,
I feel like I’ve been through a car wash this semester. I came away needing to scrub myself up a bit. I paid my fee and closed by eyes. At first the hard bristles scrubbed me down, a little bit of a culture shock and home sickness. Then soap was applied, and I began to feel a few of the benefits. Now I’ve been sprayed with clean water, settled down and reaped the experience my new environment has to offer. I’ve come out the other side gleaming a bit more than when I went in. Learned a few things about it all. I’m ready to head home for a bit. I’ll be back in the spring, laden with tea bags and some warmer clothes. Ready to face the South again. Happy holidays, y’all! Lucy Cheseldine is an English international student studying English literature. Her column runs on Tuesdays.
My father’s father had a saying, “These are the most carefree days of your life.” He was referring to my father’s college days. And my father has been repeating the same saying to me recently. Usually in response to my venting about the stress of due dates and deadlines, to which my response is normally, “Uh huh, sure seems like it.” But when I sit back and truly think about my life right now compared to what I assume my life will look like in the future, these truly are some carefree days. Now, I know the term “carefree” is not the word most students would use for the last two weeks of the semester. But we should remind ourselves that at the end of these next two weeks, life will go on. During these next two weeks, the first things we may scratch from our busy schedules may be the things most valuable to our survival, sleep and food. We may live in Starbucks, continually pumping our bodies with caffeine in order to finish a 12-page paper. We may fall asleep with our faces in our textbooks out of utter exhaustion of studying for a cumulative final. We may depend on late night library food as our idea of a threecourse meal: a bag of chips for an appetizer, a protein bar as the meal and candy for dessert. Even though this isn’t the picture of an ideal carefree time of life, there are many things easily overlooked in the midst of the stress of school. For most of us right now, the only person we truly have to look out for is ourselves. And we are not alone in our sleepless endeavors, since college is one of the last places many of our friends will be together in the same place before moving on to graduate schools or future careers. Or the fact that it is okay to make mistakes. We are not perfect and will not always be able to make a perfect score on every paper or every test. One day we will look back on these moments that currently seem stressful and unfair and remember the friends who stayed with us at the library until 2 a.m. We will remember the Tuesday night study breaks with our roommates to watch a new episode of a favorite TV show. We will remember the friends who celebrated the special moments with us, from football games to birthdays to the end of finals. So as you go into these last two weeks of the semester, think to yourself, “These are the most carefree days of my life.” Whether you are a freshman, senior or somewhere in between, remember to take time to make the most of these moments in order to make memories.
Hannah Waid is a junior majoring in English. Her column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.
Differences between my on campus, at home self By Tarif Haque Staff Columnist
Last weekend, a family friend invited us to her home. I entered the house as I would any other invitation of this sort. I took my shoes off and placed them near her door. She greeted me in Bengali, my mother tongue, and I found a quiet room to read in. In that room, we talk in English. We go on about how good the food is. We wonder what will become of us, whether we’ll ever live up to our parent’s grand expectations, if we’ll become the doctor or engineer they hoped for and whether a decade from now we’ll be throwing similar parties filled with Bengali families in the neighborhood. My identity has been fragmented. There is a part of me that lives in college, immersed in the pinnacle of a Western education, and the other that exists within the traditions of my household, where sentences are spoken in a mixture of Bengali and English. I tell myself I come to these things for the traditional Bengali dishes, food I’ve come to crave since I’ve been in college, but the truth is, dinner parties like these are a nostalgic reminder of my childhood, when my parents would drag my brother and me to these gatherings regularly. It seems our family has traversed all of Alabama to attend these close-knit events. For my parents, assimilation did not come easily. It’s been decades since they’ve moved to the states, but on the weekends, my mother will still cloak herself in a Sari and my father will wear a Punjabi. I am the second generation. I’ve been molded in America by foreign hands. I live in a cultural tugof-war. I don’t know what will become of me, but for now, I’m comfortable not labeling it.
Tarif Haque is a sophomore majoring in computer science. His column runs on Tuesdays.
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Programs work to alleviate study abroad costs By Chandler Wright Staff Reporter Studying abroad can be costly, and to alleviate that, The University of Alabama offers many scholarship opportunities to students who are interested in saying “Roll Tide” in a far-off locale. “All students can complete the scholarship application for currently enrolled students,” said Mary Spiegel, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “This application is found on the student’s myBama account, under the academics tab.” Spiegel said this application screens for scholarships for studying abroad and typically, these scholarships are
awarded based on a student’s major and department. The deadline for the application was Dec. 1. “Once you are a currently enrolled student, you are awarded by the department of the major that you are enrolled in,” Spiegel said. Students can also apply to UA Away, a scholarship initiative created in 2010 in the division of student affairs that raises money to support students in financial need. Although it is a three-prong program, Sara Hartley, assistant to the vice president for external affairs, said one part of this is helping students study outside of the Capstone, called Study Away. “Students travel to another country, city or university
to study in their academic fields,” Hartley said. “The Study Abroad Program and the National Student Exchange Program offer these opportunities. Scholarships began being awarded last year.” Hartley said there are fall and spring application deadlines for UA Away scholarship money and students are judged based on essay questions. “The UA Away scholarship has two application cycles,” Hartley said. “One deadline is in the fall, for students traveling away in the spring. The second deadline is in the spring, for students traveling in the summer and fall. Students are judged primarily on the two essay components of the application. We ask them
to identify the correlation between the experience and their educational and professional goals. In addition, they are asked to describe their financial need for the scholarship.” Jessie Ashton, a junior majoring in kinesiology, received a UA Away scholarship to go to Ecuador in May 2013. “I went abroad May 2012, and will be going again in May 2013. I didn’t receive a scholarship for the first trip, but just received the Sandee Kirby Witt UA Away Scholarship at the Greek Excellence Awards,” Ashton said. “I went through the Panhellenic Scholarships, and filled out a few short essays, recommendations and basic information.”
Ashton said she thought the application was simple and straightforward, making it easy for students to apply and receive a UA Away scholarship. “It was simple, and completely worth it. I would do it again in a second, and really don’t know how it could be any easier,” Ashton said. “I know Capstone International is always available to help students find ways to fund their trips abroad.” Additionally, Spiegel said students with pre-existing scholarship money to help pay for their study abroad programs. “Students who have scholarships may use the scholarship dollars for study abroad with the approval of their college/school scholarship
representative,” Spiegel said. “The first step for a student would be to meet with the Study Abroad office and determine when and what program they wish to attend and then meet with their college/ school scholarship representative. Once a student has been approved by the Study Abroad office, a student can complete the study abroad form that is found under the academics page of their myBama account. Students with UA housing scholarships are not able to use their housing scholarships for study abroad.” Hartley encourages students to look into the range of scholarship opportunities offered at the Capstone to help students afford studying abroad.
Jewish UA students weigh in on Hanukkah at Capstone By Jordan Cissell Staff Reporter For Jewish University of Alabama students next week, burning the midnight oil holds far more significance than staying up late to study. The Jewish holiday Hanukkah takes place this year from Dec. 8 to Dec. 16, placing the University’s exam week squarely in the middle of the holiday period. “I have my menorah, and I’m going to light the candles each night and sing the songs and say the prayers that go along
with it, just like every other year,” said Ben Flax, a sophomore majoring in religious studies and programming vice president for the Hillel Jewish student union. “Really the only difference is I won’t be lighting the candles and singing the songs with my family.” Sammi Silverman, a junior majoring in marketing and Hillel’s vice president of public relations, said her family will be the most significant absence in her on-campus observation. “I miss being around my family during the holiday and unfortunately we can’t really
push anything back because most of the holiday revolves around lighting the menorah at sunset each night of Hanukkah, but I get to open my presents when I get home,” she said. “Not being able to be around my family is the hardest part about being in school for Hanukkah. Just imagine yourself in school or taking a final on Christmas – that pretty much sums up the feeling for me, I imagine.” Silverman said Hillel will be hosting a kickoff party, open to both Jewish and non-Jewish students, on Saturday, Dec. 8. Amy Ackerman, a sopho-
more majoring in nonprofit management through the New College, said she would not be opposed to the University cutting the semester schedule off by a week to accommodate Hanukkah observation, but does not feel the trimming is necessary. “Obviously being out of school to celebrate Christmas is very convenient for everyone else because they can be home with their families and relax,” she said. “I would love to celebrate Hanukkah for the full eight days at home, but the truth is my family is going to celebrate when we are all together, and it will be just the same for us.” Flax said it would be nearly impossible for the University to schedule around Hanukkah because the Hebrew calendar is based upon the lunar cycle, as opposed to the solar-centric Gregorian calendar, which means Hanukkah’s eight-day period can begin anytime within November and December depending on the year.
“I’ve had a Hanukkah before Thanksgiving, where I got to spend three days of it with my family,” he said. “I’ve had a two-year Hanukkah, because it began at Christmas and stretched into January.” Like Ackerman, Flax doesn’t view having Hanukkah off from school as too significant of a necessity. He said Hanukkah, despite the attention it receives, is a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, as it is rabbi-created and not outlined in the Torah. Flax said he skips school and travels home to be with family on the more important, Torahmandated holidays like Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (or Day of Atonement). “On the very first day of each class, I always approach my professors and give them a piece of paper describing the days I will have to miss and what they’re all about,” Flax said. “Usually, they’re pretty good about helping me work
around it. Plus, I’m a religious studies major, so the professors are usually understanding.” “Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews over the Syrio-Greeks in 162 B.C.E. and the rededication of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem,” Steven Jacobs, Aaron Aronov Chair of Judaic Studies, said. Flax said observers light one menorah candle each day for eight days in memory of the one-day supply of oil that miraculously kept the temple lantern burning for eight days. “Most people don’t know this, but there are actually two types of menorah,” Flax said. “The ones that stay in the synagogue all the time have seven candles, and the special ones for Hanukkah have nine candles, eight for each day of the holiday and one for lighting the other candles. And other than the fact that the one candle has to be on a different level than the eight others, really anything goes. Mine looks like a 1930s roadster.”
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Page 6 | Tuesday, December 4, 2012
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Calderone delivers state of University address By Chandler Wright Staff Reporter S tu d e n t G ove r n m e n t Association President Matt Calderone gave his state of the University address Monday night, highlighting the projects and initiatives SGA has done thus far this year. “We have made progress,” Calderone said. “We’ve come a long way. SGA in the past has been through its up and its down. There have been times when we’ve been trusted and some times when students have questioned this SGA.” Calderone said through sign-in sheets and ACT Card swipes at various events, in addition to Twitter and Facebook interaction with students, SGA has reached 16,544 students directly. “[The students] have come to our events; we’ve talked to them in our office,” Calderone said. “These are students who have heard about our needbased scholarships. These are students who come into our office on Veterans Day concerned about getting around Tuscaloosa when public transit is not in operation. Students
are now confident in their SGA and know they can go to their SGA and get help and assistance. We’ve had over 100 ideas to actions funneling through our office. We have made progress.” Calderone also mentioned SGA’s commitment to service through the Sunday service initiative in the office of the vice president of external affairs, which he helped create last year before being elected SGA president, in addition to making safety a priority for SGA. “In the office of external affairs, we’ve continued our initiative of service through the Sunday service program,” Calderone said. “We’ve also made safety a top priority on campus and beyond. We’ve been concerned mostly with safety on the Strip, focusing on the connectivity from downtown and the Strip.” Calderone said the SGA has started working closely with student groups across campus to address their needs and the perceptions they have about SGA and its programs. “We wanted to make SGA relevant to every student on campus,” Calderone said. “I can
confidently stand before you and say that we have accomplished that goal. We’ve been communicating and collaborating with students. Through our UA delegates program, we’ve met with 12 different organizations. We’ve talked about their needs financially and otherwise – groups that might need a little help. With our campus connect initiative in the office of the executive vice president, members of SGA go to different organizations to talk about SGA and what we’re doing for them.” SGA press secretary Meagan Bryant said she has been coming to state of the University addresses since she was a freshman in 2009. Bryant said this provides an opportunity to remind campus about all of the projects on which SGA is working. “With the end of the semester, a lot of people think, ‘Oh, the semester is over and SGA has stopped doing projects,’” Bryant said. “The state of the University address is a good way to show that’s not true. It’s definitely different this year. We’re continuing to work on various projects and reach out
CW | Shannon Auvil
SGA President Matt Calderone addresses students at the State of the University address Dec. 3. to students on campus. We’re all working together really well as a team and reaching out.” SGA Chief of Staff Brennan Johnson echoed Bryant’s statement, emphasizing how
important the state of the University address is in showing students what the SGA is doing for them. “It’s important for campus and students to have a
chance to see everything SGA is doing as far as projects and initiatives, so they can see how SGA can help them and what they can get involved in,” Johnson said.
Campus NAACP holds Toy Ball for underprivileged By Camille Corbett Contributing Writer A handful of UA student groups held a benefit ball for children who go without toys during the holiday season. The University’s chapter of the NAACP, the Beta Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi and the Kappa Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha hosted the 12th annual Toy Ball on Dec. 2. In addition to collecting toys, the $10 entrance fee went toward the purchase of more toys for the Tuscaloosa
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These three youth represent all that is right with the youth of today. They are the reason I try to make a difference, one child at a time. — Stephen Miller
One Foundation. “Part of the money will go towards the expenses for the event, but otherwise we’ll buy more toys with it. No organi-
zations will profit from this event,” said David Daniels, President of Omega Psi Phi, the founding fraternity of the event. During the ball there was a program hosted by Malcolm Harper, the service event chair of Omega Psi Phi and Reale Snorton, secretary of the NAACP, which highlighted the accomplishments of both the Boys and Girls Club and organizations within the university. “The event had performances by dancers, the Afro
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American Gospel Choir and a spoken word artist, as well as toys and awards presented to area children for outstanding performances during the year,” said Brett Saunders, president of the NAACP. In the effort to reach more children, this year the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was added to the group of organizations coordinating the event. “This year we reformatted the structure of the event by including live entertainment and a tribute to children from
the Boys & Girls Club,” Jahmir Jones, Scholarship Chair for Alpha Phi Alpha said. “Each organization sponsored a child from the Boys & Girls Club based on merit supported by Boys & Girls Director, Stephen Miller.” Three awards were given during the program to children within the Boys & Girls Club who were deemed exemplary. “These three youth represent all that is right with the youth of today,” Stephen Miller, senior director of the
Boys & Girls Club, said. “They are the reason I try to make a difference, one child at a time.” The main objective of this event was to bring awareness to needs that the community in and around Tuscaloosa has that organizations within the University may be able to remedy. “First of all, we recognize the kids are coming in and raising awareness about donating and things like that for the student body,” Daniels said. “Try to continue the cycle of social service in the community.”
C ULTURE Theatre Tuscaloosa’s ‘Godspell’
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makes Christ’s story interactive By Kristen Feyt Contributing Writer Theatre Tuscaloosa left audience members moved by their opening night performance of “Godspell,” as directed by Abe Reybod, at the Bean-Brown Theatre on Friday, Nov. 30. “I felt such a mixture of emotions from the performance,” said Kathleen Starke, a freshman at The University of Alabama, who attended the show opening night. “At one point I was uplifted by the wonderful musical numbers and the comedy of the play, and then I was crying my eyes out from the intimacy of the drama at the end of the show.” “Godspell,” written by Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak, tells the story of Jesus’ life according to the book of Matthew in
the Bible. The musical begins with the baptism of Jesus, and then transitions through parables that are told in the Bible, accompanied by musical numbers such as “Day by Day” and “God Save the People.” “Godspell” begins with the actors in a classroom-like setting in matching uniforms, which then changes into a downtown setting with graffiticovered walls. The cast then comes out in brightly colored costumes and begins to sing the number “Prepare Ye,” an upbeat tune that narrates the baptism of cast members by Gerard Jones, who plays John the Baptist. Jesus, played by Will Erwin, then enters the show and begins telling his followers the parables from the Bible, which are enacted by different cast members. Following each
parable is a musical number that also teaches a story from the gospel of Matthew. The actors used an element of audience participation to make the performance more interactive. “The entire show was so interactive with the audience,” Devin Valenza, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering, said. “The whole time I was so focused on the show. I completely forgot that I was watching a musical, I felt like I was a part of the production.” In the second act, “Godspell” takes on a more somber tone in contrast to the first act’s cheerful and eccentric mood. The actors set the scene of the last supper and shows Jesus’ good bye to his followers as well as Judas’ betrayal. “I could barely watch the final number of Jesus’ crucifixion,” Starke said. “It felt like
I was actually there watching it happen. The agony that the actors portrayed is what really made the scene come to life.” The play ends with the actors carrying Jesus off stage, and then coming back on to sing the closing song of the production. Dorothy Pieroni, who attended the opening night of the musical, was very pleased with the production. “Great performance, great, singers, great costumes, I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Pieroni said. “The emotion that they project, just everything they did, we have a lot of talent in Tuscaloosa.” “Godspell” runs through Dec. 9 at the Bean-Brown Theatre at Shelton State Community College. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatretusc.com
Students debate moving home after school By Margaret Wilbourne Contributing Writer For many, college represents not just the struggle to manage extracurricular commitments and academics or to decide a major and minor, but also the transition to complete independence. Competition with an ever-increasing global economy and a booming technological age is creating something of a black hole for graduates striving for self-sufficiency. Because of these new struggles in the job market, 24 percent of currently unemployed or underemployed graduates between ages 18-34 have moved in with their parents, according
to the Pew Research Center. Traditionally, being a “boomerang child” has held a negative connotation, said Hunter Stewart, a freshman majoring in civil engineering. “Personally, yes, I see it as something negative,” he said. “If I can’t support myself on my own, I’d feel extremely judged and like people would think I can’t handle the real world.” An analysis of the 2011 Current Population Survey reveals 53 percent of graduates with bachelor degrees under the age of 25 were unemployed. About 26 percent of graduates were overqualified for the median jobs they held, such as waitressing. For some,
however, the classic stigma attached to moving back with Mom and Dad has begun to lessen, and the meaning of “supporting” oneself has evolved. “I feel like moving back home after graduation is a good thing, because it allows people to save up money and get their bearings while working,” Cameron Harvey, a freshman majoring in marketing and management, said. For Harvey, heading home after graduation doesn’t seem so bad. “Moving back is definitely an option, especially if I got a wellpaying job in Atlanta,” Harvey said. Despite the convenience and chance to get one’s feet on the ground living with one’s
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parents offers, some still cannot justify the move. “Moving back isn’t an option for me – I’m very independent,” Emelie Sara Tonitis, a senior majoring in secondary education and language arts, said. To avoid circumstances that might force her to move home, Tonitis made sure to plan ahead. “If I had chosen an English major, then I probably would have had to move back with my dad,” she said. “But I chose a major that would help me get a job after I graduated.” While she is determined to avoid adopting her old address, Tonitis does see returning home as an option for others. “If you have a job and are doing something, I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” she said.
Editor | Lauren Ferguson culture@cw.ua.edu Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Student duo to release 2013 EP By Becky Robinson Staff Reporter Most musicians would do anything for the spotlight, but not Lena Dice. This UA student’s passion for music is a quieter one that began blossoming in recent months. Dice, a junior majoring in psychology, was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. Finding a love of music at an early age, Dice partnered with lifelong friend Wright Gatewood to form their group “golightly” in May 2012. “We’ve been writing songs together for about four months,” Dice said. “When it comes to writing and playing my own stuff, I’m very self-conscious, so having [Wright] to bounce ideas off of made it a lot easier.” Dice said when she’s on stage alone she often feels like she does not know what to do, especially since sharing music is very personal to her. Both Dice and Gatewood play piano, but one day Gatewood picked up a guitar and started to teach himself to play. After he showed Dice some of the songs he had been writing, the two decided to collaborate and become a duo. “We just sit down and write what we’re thinking about,” Gatewood, a junior majoring in music management, said. “We don’t have a set formula. We write together, and we write separately.” In fact, much of golightly is an experiment. Dice said she and Gatewood have been playing different instruments, such as the xylophone, spoons and kazoo, to incorporate into their music. Although Dice has not played her music live many
times, she performed with Tom Evanchuck at the Bama Theatre last year. She said the experience was amazing and a huge leap from the open mic nights where she started. Dice said she and Gatewood are not necessarily influenced by any one genre, but relate to the “singer-songwriter” genre most. Female artists like Ingrid Michaelson and bands such as Mumford & Sons or the Civil Wars also play an important role in the pair’s writing. Gatewood said he often finds inspiration for songs whenever he takes a walk or goes on a road trip. “Whenever I find myself in a new situation, I’m always inspired by that new moment,” Gatewood said. The duo also finds inspiration from the city of Tuscaloosa. “I think it helps being in Tuscaloosa because it’s not necessarily a big music town – it’s known for football – but people are very interested in music,” Dice said. “Anytime I’ve seen bands play that I haven’t heard about, it’s always interesting to go see who they are and what kind of music they play. If you’re in Nashville, that’s what everybody’s doing; it’s not really a surprise.” With an untitled EP set for release in January 2013, Dice and Gatewood are working to build a name for themselves. “We want to get as much experience playing in front of people as we can,” Dice said. “We’re just having fun, really. We’re not starting this to make it big; we just enjoy playing together.” Golightly can be found on Facebook and on Twitter at @wearegolightly.
COLUMN | HEALTH
Certain foods key to healthy brain activity By Tricia Vaughan Dead Week is upon us, fellow scholars, and adding a few provisions to your daily diet will naturally improve mental performance and productivity. Eggs: These power packed foods contain choline, a type of B vitamin that is shown to increase memory retention and energizes the body. B vitamins can also improve your mood. Preparing eggs for breakfast is a quick and good way to kick start a day of tedious studying. Fish, nuts and beans: Salmon, mackeral, tuna, sardines, walnuts, flaxseeds, kidney beans and soy beans are just a few examples. All contain main components of omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic
acid), two fundamental building blocks of the outer membrane of cells that nerve signals pass through. In order to retain information, the cells must create new membranes. Omega-3 is essential for the body because the body cannot produce them itself. Therefore, students must incorporate them in their diet to maintain optimum brain function. A steady balance of omega-6 with omega-3 is also crucial to a healthy diet. Omega-6, found in vegetable oils such as soy oil, increase inflammation, blood clotting and cell creation in the body while omega-3 counteracts these effects. Balance within the body is crucial. Nuts also contain vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that, when consumed in moderation, aids in preventing
degenerative diseases. Include fish in a meal at least twice a week (or six ounces) as well as a handful of nuts and a cup of beans a day in your diet to receive the benefits of omega 3. Green and cruciferous vegetables: Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts and cabbage (although not the most tasty) are high in antioxidants like vitamin C that protect the brain from free radicals. The free radicals, produced when cells generate energy, are the waste products emitted from energy production and are harmful to the brain. Antioxidants can disable free radicals and protect the brain, which utilizes 17 percent of the body’s energy. Try to add some to a salad or as a side to any meal.
Page 8 | Tuesday, December 4, 2012
NEWS
OPINION
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SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Tide ditches pass game, rushes to SEC title By Marc Torrence Assistant Sports Editor The formula is simple, but at times this season has seemed too complicated for Alabama. It doomed the Crimson Tide during the team’s only regular season loss against Texas A&M. After rallying from a 20-point deficit, the Tide had four chances to score from the 6-yard line and elected to throw three times. The last pass was intercepted. Saturday, though, facing an 11-point deficit with everything on the line, the formula clicked and Alabama went back to what it does best to set up a dramatic finish and a 32-28 win. “We kind of had that, I-would-not-be-denied attitude out there today,” head coach Nick Saban said. “I’m not saying we played our best football game of the year in terms of execution, but the way we were able to run the ball, especially in the second half, was probably the difference in the game.” To say Alabama ran the ball well in the second half would be an understatement. The Crimson Tide amassed 350 rushing yards total, with
223 coming in the second half. Starter Eddie Lacy was named game MVP, running a careerhigh 181 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman T.J. Yeldon was right behind him with 153 and a touchdown. From the time Georgia returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown until Amari Cooper’s game-winning touchdown grab, Alabama called 20 runs and just five passes. The stretch included 12 runs and just one pass – an incompletion that drew a pass interference penalty on the first scoring drive following the 11-point deficit – that saw Alabama score 15 points to take a four-point lead. The second of the two scoring drives featured seven runs exclusively, with Lacy and Yeldon sharing duties. “We had that long drive, it about broke me it felt like,” guard Anthony Steen said. “I couldn’t breathe at one point. I looked at D.J., and he looked at me and we knew we weren’t going to give up. We were going to do whatever it took to pull off the win.” It’s especially demoralizing for a defense to know exactly what’s coming and not be able
to stop it. Alabama swapped out Lacy and Yeldon for much of the night, bringing in a fresh body every time the Bulldog defense seemed to have the other figured out. “When you run the ball every single down in a drive, they might have thrown it once,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “They had two drives; they might have thrown it once, scored a touchdown, so that was impressive by their people up front. We were just not able to stop it.” It all led to the perfect setup, a play-action pass over the top to Cooper that put Alabama up for good. The constant grind of the Tide’s rushing attack caused the Bulldog secondary to creep closer and closer to the line of scrimmage. Cooper was left with one-on-one coverage on the outside and beat his man for the score. “You knew it was coming eventually,” center Barrett Jones said. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier opened the game with the same look Alabama gave Auburn – three and four wide receiver sets at up-tempo, no-huddle speed. Only this wasn’t Auburn.
On Alabama’s second drive of the game, Nussmeier dialed up two runs that went for 9 and 8 yards, respectively. His next three calls were passes – two incomplete passes and a sack – and Alabama was forced to punt. Much of the first half and start of the third quarter went that way for Alabama. Fans began to clamor for the return of the run game – they had seen this movie before earlier in the year and knew what not trusting them could cost. But it would not be so. It was as if Saban could was reading tweets from the field. Alabama went almost exclusively to the run, and no matter what Georgia did, when they knew exactly what was coming, it could not stop the punishing ground game of Alabama. “It makes you proud to be able to block for two great running backs. They had that mindset that I will not be denied,” right tackle D.J. Fluker said. “You don’t put your head down just ‘cause you’re down a couple points. At the end of the day, the scoreboard don’t matter. It’s about how much heart you got. What are you willing to do for it.”
CW | Shannon Auvil, Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Davis
The Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Dec. 1 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Alabama will face Notre Dame in the BCS title game in Miami, Fla., Jan. 7.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Three transfers finally suiting up for Crimson Tide By Jasmine Cannon Staff Reporter This time last year, the Alabama women’s basketball team had team members who were not able to play due to NCAA transfer rules. The Tide has turned, per se, and Alabama fans are getting to see a new side of Alabama basketball. Daisha Simmons, Briana Hutchen and Brittany Jack have all finally suited up and hit the floor for the Tide while making a big impact on the court and in the locker room. Perhaps the biggest news of last summer was when Simmons and Hutchen announced their departure from Rutgers University and arrival at Alabama. Head coach
Wendell Hudson said both were recruited by the Capstone while they were in high school and everything worked out when the two were looking to transfer. “This was one of my top five schools coming out of high school,” Hutchen said. “The only bad thing I could say about it was that it’s so hot. When I decided to leave Rutgers, I went back to my top five schools. I went on my visit here and I felt so dumb because I fell in love with the school.” “Just to come here and have a higher role and kind of a leader role, it’s just been great to have that opportunity, especially as a point guard,” Simmons said. Simmons has wowed fans with her play as a 5-foot-10-inch point guard. The Jersey City,
HERE. THERE.
N.J., native is leading the Tide in minutes played and proves to be efficient on the court. She ranks first on the team in blocks and assists while placing second in rebounds. Simmons is also the team’s third leading scorer averaging 12.7 points a game. “Daisy is a very, very good person,” Hutchen said. “I always tell her that she’s the best point guard in the nation. I tell her that everyday because she really is. I know that she’s going to lead this team to great, great places. She really is a floor general and we follow behind her.” “What sets her apart is that she knows the game of basketball,” Hudson said. “Some players think about the next play, but she’s always
thinking two or three plays ahead about what to do if this or that happens.” Hutchen is a Baltimore, Md., native and has also found herself in a leadership role for the Tide. As one of the team’s captains – along with Simmons and Kaneisha Horn – she has started all five games she’s played in and is averaging nearly five rebounds a game. Jack, a sophomore forward from Suwanee, Ga., came to Alabama from Samford University. She’s shown high energy and lots of communication while on the court.
“She gave up a full scholarship at Samford and came here having to work and not really knowing if she was going to get any [play time],” Hudson said. Jack has started one game for Alabama and provides the team flexibility with her ability to play inside and out. Alabama’s roster is comprised of other players who have made their way to the Capstone by way of transfer. Jessica Merritt, Alicia Mitcham and Meghan Perkins all transferred from junior college before making a
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splash at the University. All of these players have played ample minutes and proved to be fit for SEC competition with their play last season. With a plethora of players with multiple skill sets, Hudson said he thinks his team has more chemistry than he’s had before. Players agree and they are ready to compete with the best. “I know that our success is not by fault,” Hutchen said. “We’ve worked hard as a team to make sure that we are going to bring back great things to Alabama basketball.”
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012 | Page 9
COLUMN
‘Crimson Tide fans are as passionate about their team as major fan bases’ By Aldo Amato For the past five years, students who have attended The University of Alabama have bared witness to perhaps the greatest collegiate athletic program of all time. Whether it is football, softball, women’s golf or the always dominant gymnastics program, Alabama athletics is unmatched throughout the country. This past weekend’s epic win over Georgia in the SEC Championship defined the championship level fight the football team and other programs possess. While much of the credit goes to the coaches in their respective programs, it is the fans that have made this championship atmosphere what it is today. Not many outside state lines know what it is like to be part of a consistent championship program. Heck, not many inside state lines know what it is like to be a consistent champion. A team southeast of Tuscaloosa looking for a head coach could tell you that firsthand.
“
Despite what happens in the most highly anticipated championship games in college football history against two traditional powerhouses, Crimson Tide fans should relish every second, every minute and every hour from today up until kickoff because that is what this athletics program iss all abut.
But I digress. We are living in an era of greatness at the Capstone and it is up to Crimson Tide fans, especially students, to relish it and soak up all the crystal footballs, diamond-studded rings and wooden NCAA trophies because it has not always been this way and unfortunately will not last forever. I can tell you that firsthand. Growing up in a multicultural family, American football was a foreign concept and was not part of the household. But
like many children in Alabama are forced to do when they are young, one must pick a side to root for. Then Tigers coach Terry Bowden was doing well so I picked Auburn. For years and years I rooted against the Crimson Tide and was always happy when they lost. Even when a family member of mine chose to go here, I rooted against the Tide. Even when the Tide was supposed to beat then lowly Northern Illinois, I cheered through the streets of Tuscaloosa as a bandwagon Huskies fan after the Tide fell in one of the biggest upsets in Crimson Tide history. But after all of the seething hatred I had for a program that was coming off NCAA sanctions and that had struggled for years in the early 2000s, something about this town and this University completely changed how I viewed Alabama and college football. Some people have an “a-ha� moment in which they realize what they’ve been doing wrong all along. Mine came in a series of weekends spent in Tuscaloosa, even during the
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“down years� at the Capstone. The passion and exuberance displayed by Tide fans, even though they knew they had no shot, baffled me. How could a fan base not give up on their team despite them being terrible? Why are so many fans still packing out a stadium to watch their team lose? Those questions soon became impossible to find a clear-cut answer to. So I chose to embrace the atmosphere for a couple of weekends not knowing what to expect. What I discovered was my true college football team and the best fan base in the Southeastern Conference and entire nation. Whether it was the tailgaters or the pregame rituals, Crimson Tide fans were as passionate about their team as major fan bases like the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Lakers even during rough stretches, and I wanted to be a part of it. But now that the football team and other elite Tide programs are once again champions, it is now crucial that fans and students, like the teams,
championship games in college football history against two traditional powerhouses, Crimson Tide fans should relish every second, every minute and every hour from today up until kickoff because that is what this athletics program is all about. That is what college football is truly about.
FOOTBALL
Tide lands 9 players on 2012 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference Team CW Staff The Alabama football team had nine players selected to the Associated Press AllSoutheastern Conference Team, the AP announced Monday. Four Crimson Tide players garnered first team honors, including senior center Barrett Jones, senior guard Chance Warmack, junior linebacker C.J. Mosley and junior
cornerback Dee Milliner. Both Jones and Milliner were unanimous selections. On the second team, Alabama was represented by junior tackle D.J. Fluker, junior quarterback AJ McCarron, junior running back Eddie Lacy and senior nose guard Jesse Williams, while senior safety Robert Lester was named honorable mention.
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not get complacent. A certain sense of arrogance comes with championships. Trust me – I’m a Yankees fan. It is important to remember these teams are special, but it is the fans that make this University stand alone when it comes to championship atmospheres. Despite what happens in the most highly anticipated
The
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Today’s Birthday (12/04/12). Drink in time alone this year with a journal, your thoughts and a cup of tea. Plan for what you want and aim high. Treat yourself well. Care for one who needs it. Family comes first, and home is where your heart is. 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 -- Be respectful, and listen to another’s cries. Provide information. Passion requires commitment. Maintain objectivity. Let them know you appreciate the feedback. Say how you feel later. Postpone travel. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Conditions begin to improve, with compromise achieved. A female sets the tone and pace. Don’t ask many questions. Take coaching from an expert, and practice. It works out. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Misunderstandings are likely. Nonetheless, commit to your passions. Consult with a co-worker on a priority. Bring in more wealth. Postpone a shopping trip. Enjoy what you have. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Contentment reigns at home. On the spot creativity is required, and it’s fun and random. Help others generate necessary funds from available resources. Speak from your heart. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Intuition enters the picture. Don’t push too hard. Hammer out the details. New information dispels old fears. Test it before sealing up everything. A lovely moment is possible. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Your suggestions may not be
immediately accepted. Don’t get intimidated. Keep planning. There could be a communications breakdown, with temporary confusion. Postpone a celebration or financial discussion. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Invest in your infrastructure. Obtain the necessary materials. Don’t celebrate by spending more. Make financial talk fun. Meticulous planning pays off. Positive numbers appear on the balance sheet. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Take care not to step on toes, and connect with the group for public success. It’s not a good time to question authority, unless hiring an expert. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Use the energy others generate. Don’t gossip about work. Postpone travel and expansion. It could get tense, so relax. Keep your head down. Get money for improvements now. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Follow through on your plan. Arguing just makes it take longer. Minimize financial risks and watch for hidden dangers. Work interferes with travel. Provide information. Enjoy local cuisine. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Soak up information, and let your partner do the talking. Visualize perfection. Act on profitable ideas. Expect a visitor you haven’t seen for some time. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- You can get whatever you need, and easily avoid a mistake. You’ve earned some rest. Others are drawn to you today. Bask in the glow. Postpone an outing.
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Page 10 Editor | Marquavius Burnett crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Pursuit of degree kept Nico Johnson at Alabama By Sarah Elizabeth Tooker Staff Reporter If you know anything about The University of Alabama Crimson Tide’s legendary defensive line, chances are you know No. 35, Nico Johnson. Off the field, however, most fans do not realize Johnson has his eyes set on more than just another national championship – his goal is a degree. “That was really my only reason for coming back this season, knowing anything can happen at any time,” Johnson said. “I promised my mom I wouldn’t leave UA without a degree.” Born in small-town Andalusia, Ala., Johnson never dreamed he would one day play under head coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. In fact, sports were the last thing on his mind. “I remember going to camp as a junior thinking I didn’t even really care about sports,
because I wanted to go into the military,” Johnson said. “When Alabama gave me an offer after just four days, I had to decide between football or the military, and I chose to take advantage of the free degree.” Johnson said one of his favorite memories was when Saban paid him a personal visit to Andalusia. With offers from major football programs like Auburn, Florida, LSU and Georgia, Saban hoped to lock in a now very sought-after recruit. “It was unreal – Nick Saban sitting in my actual home,” he said. “It was weird and really special all at the same time.” Yet playing for a successful football team never caused Johnson to lose focus of the real goal – securing a degree to prepare for the unpredictable future of a football player. “You’re not guaranteed to play anywhere, and in order to be successful, why even come
here if you don’t finish your degree,” he said. “You never know when your last day of football can be.” With this driven attitude and the support of his family in mind, Johnson began thinking about choosing the right major. “I think I was sitting in my dorm watching ‘[Law and Order:] Special Victims Unit’ and thought, ‘I want to do that. I want to be able to make a difference in society,’” he said. A criminal justice degree seemed an odd choice to some of his friends from back home, but Johnson said there was no better choice. “I guess I just feel like it’s the only thing I can connect with and have an interest for, because going through high school, I just saw so many friends getting in trouble with the police, and at one point, I hated the police for it,” Johnson said. “Now – over time, the older I got – I understood how
difficult it is and the need for police.” Being the only one of his friends to make it out and go to college, Johnson said, forced him to realize he had to beat the system and do something big with his life. “I’m going to try the football thing because I think I have a good chance, but I have a degree to fall back on,” he said. “I want to be a CSI or FBI agent. [My juevenile deliquency class] talked about how difficult it is for kids these days and how being raised the right way can make a difference in a child’s life or how an abusive parent can even cause a delinquent child. I could really connect with it because I’d witnessed it growing up by hand or eye.” However, at the end of the day, being a football player on such a successful team has its perks, Johnson said. “I’ll miss the tradition of Alabama football and being
CW | Shannon Auvil
Nico Johnson speaks with media following the SEC Championship game Dec. 1. able to wear the jersey, but really just being around my teammates, walking to class or eating at Bryant [Hall] together is what I’ll miss the most,” he said. “When the crowd cheers for us when our picture comes on the jumbotron, it just shows that all your hard work pays off.” With a possible NFL future, Johnson said he and his
family would rather focus on the present. “The thing their most excited for was me getting a degree, and anything else, that is just extra,” he said. “I came here to get a championship, and I’ve done that twice. I came here to get a degree, and I’ll get that in five months, so I’d say Alabama is everything it was supposed to live up to.”
Center Barrett Jones named Rimington Trophy finalist CW Staff
CW | Austin Bigoney
Barrett Jones lines up as center where he is in contention for the Rimington Trophy. He previously won the Outland Trophy at left tackle.
Alabama senior center Barrett Jones was selected as one of six finalists for the 13th annual Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s most outstanding center, the Rimington Trophy committee announced Monday. Jones, from Germantown, Tenn., is joined by Louisville’s Mario Benavides, Notre Dame’s Braxston Cave, Clemson’s Dalton Freeman, Southern California’s Khaled Holmes and Penn State’s Matt Stankiewitch as finalists. Jones is the third Crimson
Tide player to be named a finalist for the Rimington Award, joining the ranks of William Vlachos (2011) and Antoine Caldwell (2008). Jones spent his first two years starting at right guard for Alabama, and when the Tide needed a left tackle in 2011, he moved over and won the Outland Trophy for the nation’s best offensive linemen. In 2012, Alabama needed to replace a three-year starter at center and Jones stepped up once again and has excelled at that position this year. Jones graded out at an average of 90.8 percent in the Tide’s
12 regular season games, including nine games over 90 percent. He had just six missed assignments on 656 plays while anchoring one of the nation’s top offensive lines in 49 starts over the last four years. The winner of the Rimington Trophy is selected by determining the consensus AllAmerica center pick from four existing All-America teams including the American Football Coaches Association, The Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. The center with the most first team votes will be
determined the winner. If there is a tie with first team votes, then the center with the most second team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by a majority vote from the Rimington Trophy committee. This year’s Rimington Trophy will be revealed live on ESPNU during the ESPN Red Carpet Show, immediately preceding The Home Depot College Football Awards airing live from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk at the Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Dec. 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CST).