CW ONLINE Thursday Art Night to feature two on campus galleries. CULTURE PAGE 9
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 119, Issue 66
NEWS | STUDENT ARREST
Doctoral student charged with terrorist threats
after sending threatening messages to staff members, Media Relations Director Cathy Andreen said Tuesday. According to the Tuscaloosa By Madison Roberts and Melissa County Sheriff’s Office webBrown site, Zachary Burell is charged CW Staff with one count of making terA 28-year-old University of rorist threats and one count Alabama doctoral student is of first-degree stalking. The being held on $500,000 bond TCSO’s website refers to Burell
Zachary Burell suspended from UA
SPORTS | GYMNASTICS
No. 1 gymnastics team to face only top 25 opponents Alabama edges out Florida for top spot CW Staff
The two-time defending NCAA Champion Alabama gymnastics team is ranked No. 1 in the newly released preseason national coaches’ poll. The Crimson Tide was ranked second in the preseason poll the last two years. The preseason top 25 also includes all nine of Alabama’s 2013 opponents, including the remaining three of the top four, with UCLA at No. 2, Florida at No. 3 and Oklahoma at No. 4. The Gators and Bruins, who finished second and third last season, respectively, in the tightest championship finish in gymnastics history, are separated by a single point in the preseason poll. Utah rounds out the top five. “I had the same four teams at the top on my ballot,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said, “although I had Florida at No. 1, and I feel they are the most talented team in the country and have been for the last several years.” The Tide will face No. 8 LSU twice this season and will take on No. 11 Georgia
and No. 12 Arkansas on the road. Alabama will also face off with No. 13 Auburn at midseason and will open on the road with No. 21 Missouri. This year’s Power of Pink meet will see the Tide take on No. 25 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum. “The addition of Missouri to the Southeastern Conference this season does nothing but strengthen the nation’s premiere gymnastics conference,” Patterson said. “All eight of our schools are in the top 25, with seven in the top 15 and two in the top three.” Season tickets are on sale now through the Alabama Ticket Office in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, by calling 205-348-2262 or online at RollTide.com. “Our home schedule is incredible and will showcase college gymnastics at its best,” Patterson said. “We welcome three teams that are in the top 10 to Coleman Coliseum, while all five of our home opponents are in the top 25. Overall, our schedule is probably the toughest in the nation, but one that I feel will give us the experience necessary to be on the floor the last night of the season with a chance to win another championship.”
as ‘Zachary Burrell.’ Burell, a doctoral candidate in theoretical physics, according to his academic web page hosted on the University’s domain, was suspended for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct in late October 2012, Andreen said. According to a deposition
filed in Tuscaloosa County District Court, Burell then began sending emails that included movie clips suggesting violence toward University officials. “He was also issued a no-trespass order prohibiting him from being on campus,” Andreen said of the time period between Burell’s
suspension and arrest. “The emails did not contain direct threats to the general campus population.” Andreen would not comment on what alleged UA violations Burell committed. “Judicial Affairs records are covered by federal privacy laws, and we cannot provide any more information,”
she said. Sophomore Andrew Sbrissa, who met Burell at Bryant Dining Hall last school year, said he became friends with Burell and would see him around campus. Sbrissa called Burell an “incredibly smart guy.”
SEE ARREST PAGE 2
NEWS | ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
CW | Caitlin Trotter
Students in English professor Patti White’s Apocalypse in Literature class march near Gorgas Library dressed as zombies, advocating a “zombie bill of rights.”
The walking dead week makeup and torn clothes slouched their way to the library from four different directions on the Quad to listen to a zombie manifesto and declare their rights as law-abiding zombies. By Tori Linville As a class assignment, White Contributing Writer required each student to participate “Dead Week” took on a whole new in the walk. “Zombies are an important part of meaning Tuesday. Spawned from English profes- popular culture right now, appearing sor Patti White’s Apocalypse in in all sorts of venues – from political Literature class, students with bloody advertising to the Centers for Disease
English students march for ‘zombie bill of rights’
Control and Prevention website to charity marathons,” White said. “This makes sense to me, because zombies serve as a sort of generalized form of the Other, the embodiment of our deepest fears, whether those be of scarcity of resources, the threat of an outbreak or invasion or the deadening of our humanity. Zombies help us negotiate our concerns.” SEE ZOMBIE PAGE 13
NEWS | CAMPUS GROWTH
Foundational work on new student recreation center now underway New Student Center set to open in 2014 By Chandler Wright Staff Reporter The University of Alabama has already begun foundational work on a new 114,000-squarefoot recreational facility more easily accessible to students living in dorms on the north end of campus. “The nature of the facility, within easy walking distance of over 5,500 students who will reside on the north end of campus, makes this facility uniquely accessible and functional,” George Brown, executive director of University Recreation, said. “Additionally, the larger, more convenient access to er • Plea s
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dining options that will be present within this facility affords students a true one-stop, healthy approach to wellness.” Brown said the new center, called the Student Center, will expand on many features currently offered at the University Recreation Center, including an enhanced climbing area and designated rink area for floor hockey and other sports. The center will also feature three recreation courts and additional space for group training and club sports. “Dedicated group exercise, group cycling and personal training rooms will be available,” he said. “A large open area below the main level will allow for many small group training and club sport-related play and will greatly assist
INSIDE today’s paper
“From a planning standpoint, we have worked very closely with George Brown and We talked to students, but we all the folks at the Recreation also look at data and usage Center during the master planof the current facility, what ning process,” Wolfe said. “One was popular, etc. This dicof the many conversations we tated many design decisions. have had with them is should the rapid growth in use of — George Brown the recreational facilities be accommodated by expanding the existing recreational center these clubs that have formally or by creating more regional found space to practice and centers around campus.” play in the current student Although students provided Recreation Center very diffi- input, Brown said it was hard cult to attain.” to have conversations with Dan Wolfe, the campus mas- students about a facility that ter planner, said the University wasn’t projected to be comworked closely with Brown and pleted until 2014, so he also his staff at the Rec Center while reached out to the staff of the planning what features should current Recreation Center. be offered in the Student “It was hard to talk to a conCenter. sistent audience, because the
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Briefs ........................2
Sports ..................... 11
Opinions ...................4
Puzzles.................... 13
Culture ...................... 7
Classifieds .............. 13
University of Alabama Student Recreation Center
An artist’s rendering of the new Student Center, to be located between the two Presidential Village buildings on the north side of campus. student body changes over every four years. We talked to students, but we also look at data and usage of the current facility, what was popular, etc,” Brown said. “This dictated many design decisions. We also met with our staff and
WEATHER today
posed questions like: what are the pinch points? Where are we growing? So, we did a lot of trend analysis to determine what was popular and what wasn’t.”
SEE REC CENTER PAGE 2
Chance of Thursday 73º/54º thunderstorms Partly cloudy
72º/52º
cl e recy this p se
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Physics student Zachary Burell arrested for terrorist threats against UA administrators ARREST FROM PAGE 1 “He was always fairly talk- II, Astronomy Lab and College ative with me and the friends Physics II. I’d be with, but I could tell he On ratemyprofessors.com, a was a reserved person and fair- website commonly used by colly quiet,” Sbrissa said. “It was lege students to provide public also evident that he was a very feedback on classes or profesfocused student and always sors they’ve had, Burell has a wanted to share his passion for 3.8 out of 5 overall quality ratphysics.” ing. According to Burell’s acaIn a comment dated from demic web page and LinkedIn 2009, an Astronomy 102 stuaccount, he graduated with a dent rated Burell as ‘Average Bachelor of Science in phys- Quality.’ ics from Auburn “Zac [sic] is a University in pretty cool guy,” 2007 before the commenter obtaining a wrote. “If you He had mentioned that even Master’s of don’t underas a graduate student here Science in the stand, just ask… at UA, he had been bullied same field from and tell him to before. I wanted to get to Alabama in 2011. slow down. He know him more so that he’d He graduated knows what he have someone to talk to from Locust Fork is talking about, High School, he just doesn’t and someone to just call his located about really know how friend. 30 miles north to say it.” of Birmingham, Sbrissa said — Andrew Sbrissa Ala., in 1998. he didn’t know In addition of Burell being to working as a arrested until research assisThe Crimson tant at the Oak Ridge National White approached him for Laboratory, the Space Research comment Tuesday but was surInstitute and Alabama’s Center prised by the news. for Materials for Information “He had mentioned that Technology in the last six even as a graduate student years, Burell works as a gradu- here at UA, he had been bullied ate teaching assistant at the before,” Sbrissa said. “I wantUniversity. ed to get to know him more His LinkedIn page lists teach- so that he’d have someone to ing experience in Engineering talk to and someone to just call Physics I, Engineering Physics his friend.”
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RALEIGH, N.C. — If not for the GPS device, no one would know she’s here. A great white shark affectionately dubbed Mary Lee by scientists and adopted by thousands of online fans has been using the waters off North Carolina’s coast as a private all-you-can-eat buffet. There’s no way of telling if many boaters or tourists have crossed currents with the celebrity shark that’s as large and as heavy as a family sedan. Mary Lee’s admirers are following her movements at a safe distance – by laptop, iPad and at the office. Mary Lee is being tracked by a GPS-type device that provides real-time data as to her whereabouts. Dozens of great whites have been tracked this way, but none in the Atlantic, where they are rare, and their sub-aquatic habits are shrouded in mystery. Each time the shark’s fin breaks the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, the $1,000 device bolted to its fin signals a satellite, and the shark’s position appears on an online map. Some sharks rarely surface, but Mary Lee has come up more than 100 times, sometimes multiple times a day. The string of dots she has left resembles a hurricane tracker, showing inexplicable stops, reversals, loops and sudden bursts. Last ping: Tuesday at 9:08 a.m. EST, showing Mary Lee in a holding pattern – or is it a feeding frenzy? – just south of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Since having her dorsal fin tagged in mid-September by scientists in Cape Cod, Mary Lee has cruised between Wilmington, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla., throughout October and November. She has hugged the shore in Myrtle Beach, paid her respects to Cape Fear, and slipped in and out of inlets at Bald Head Island. “This is the real-life Jaws, bro,” said Chris Fischer, project manager at OCEARCH, the scientific organization that tagged the fish. “I believe that Mary Lee is the most legendary fish caught in history.” Shark aficionados grind their mandibles at the mention of the bestselling book and blockbuster movie that portrayed their beloved sharks as predatory monsters and maneaters. Fischer and his colleagues are tracking Mary Lee to learn where great whites breed and give birth so that she and her watery kin can be protected. A threat to humans? Mostly hype, Fischer said. Great whites don’t attack people – except when mistaking them for seals or other prey. Nothing pleases Fischer more than the viral craze and resulting news attention showered on Mary Lee. The OCEARCH site has been overwhelmed by as many as 2,000 unique visitors in one hour and 75,000 last week. Among the engrossed is Jo O’Keefe of Carolina Shores, N.C., a marine life enthusiast, who checks in on Mary Lee at least three times a day and promptly updates friends and
reporters on Mary Lee’s status. “They are thrilled to hear about Mary Lee because she’s massive,” O’Keefe said. “I wanted the public everywhere she went to share the excitement of a macrocosmic experience.” Great whites are presumed to follow two-year migratory loops, traveling thousands of miles, Fischer said, but almost nothing is known about these apex predators that rule the waterways. It’s also assumed that Mary Lee is a habitue of the East Coast, not an interloper from another part of the globe, but nothing is certain. “How big is their world? What does their neighborhood look like?” said Greg Skomal, a leading shark authority and senior scientist at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. “In essence we’re studying their life history.” The tracking device has a life expectancy of five years, plenty of time for Mary Lee to give a guided tour of her domain. “We’ve known there’s these places in the world where white sharks show up and people see them,” Fischer said. “But they have no idea where they came from, what they’re doing, or where they go to when they’re not there.” Fischer and his crew can haul a mature shark aboard their floating laboratory, take blood samples, tissue samples and bacteria scrapings, all the while calming the giant fish by covering its eyes with a wet cloth and running a water hose into its mouth.
New Student Center slated for completion in 2014; UA planned for student body growth REC CENTER FROM PAGE 1
Brown said enrollment relocation to offset some of the growth and campus expansion congestion at the current Rec led the administration to enter Center was a good idea.” into conversations about buildWolfe said the Student ing a second recreation center Center will not only address for students on campus. campus growth and expan“When we sion, but also be became aware of more accessible the dorms addito students on tions towards the north end of We also believe that addressthe north end of campus. ing growth through regional campus, I think “ We also satellite facilities is a good [former UA believe that concept that will make access President] Witt addressing for users more convenient was concerned growth through and increase usage. somewhat anecregional sateldotally about lite facilities is — Dan Wolfe the growth a good concept of campus that will make and how that access for users affects our recmore convenient reational facilities,” Brown and increase usage,” Wolfe said. “As he became aware of said. “This concept is good this, they were also moving for campus planning as well, forward with the demolition because it reduces the need of Rose Towers and the build- for additional parking at the ing of the new dorms. To my main complex and allows for understanding, they knew walkable access to about 5,000 campus was continuing to students who live in the north grow, and I think they knew a area of campus.”
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NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
NEWS
Page 3 Editor | Melissa Brown newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Winter Interim a chance to engage in new class topics By Mark Hammontree Contributing Writer There is still time and space to enroll in a class for the Winter Interim for those students interested in getting ahead, making up for lost credits or simply making the most out of their winter break. The Winter Interim is a condensed three-week semester new to The University of Alabama this year. There are
ten courses being offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level, set to begin on Monday, Dec. 17, a few days after the last Fall finals have been turned in. Denzel Evans-Bell, the SGA vice president of Student Affairs who worked with the University’s Academic Affairs office to implement the program, said the classes are about 80 percent full currently. “I believe this term is going
to be very popular, especially as students complete this very first Winter Interim term and begin to discuss the success and convenience of the courses with their peers,” Evans-Bell said. Evans-Bell said the idea to implement a Winter Interim came from student requests to the SGA, which responded by surveying for potential interest. “The University plans to implement this term every winter break so that it becomes a permanent term, like May Interim,” he said. “As the program gains more recognition, more professors and students will want to participate, which will surely result in expansion
of the term in regards to number of classes offered and students registered.” Already, the program seems to have had a favorable response from both students and faculty. “The last time I checked, I had 14 students enrolled, which is impressive because my initial goal was 10,” Robin Boylorn, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, said. The courses offered in the Winter Interim range from traditional courses, like personal finance and geography, to more creative courses, like Professor Boylorn’s “Beyond Sapphire and Jezebel: Representations of Black Women in Film.”
The condensed nature of the minimester allows professors like Boylorn to design new courses that they had been unable to offer as of yet and see how they are received. “Interim gives me the chance to ‘try out’ classes on specialized topics,” Borlorn said. “For example, the course I am teaching includes some material that is discussed in other classes I teach, but not to the degree that we can unpack it in an intensive three-week period. The classes are extremely intensive, and like the regular interim session, we will be packaging a semester’s worth of reading and assignments into a threeweek period. I think it is worth
it, though, especially when the classes are creative and the topics are appealing.” If the Winter Interim turns out to be successful, it is likely that the University will continue to offer the program in addition to the Summer Interim and Fall and Spring Semesters. “Of course, with this being the first Winter Interim, there will be a time of assessing and evaluation once the term is completed,” Brenda Hunter, the associate University registrar, said. “The response to Winter Interim has been positive, with student enrollment indicating support for an educational opportunity at this time of the academic year.”
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By Rich Robinson Assistant News Editor An initiative headed up by a handful of student groups is looking to put more women into leadership positions on campus. Elect Her is a joint effort of the Women’s Resource Center, Student Leadership Council and the American Association of University Women. The program is currently accepting nominations for its day-long training session on Feb. 2. Fifty students will be able to register and participate. Tiara Dees is the communications coordinator for the Women’s Resource Center and supports participation in the program. “Elect Her is a very unique opportunity, as this workshop trains UA undergraduate students in the skills they need to run for elected offices such
as the Student Government Association and/or pursue other leadership-oriented positions,” Dees said. “The WRC is currently looking for organizations, faculty and staff members to nominate students for Elect Her.” Jessi Hitchins, the assistant director of the Women’s Resource Center, said students at the workshop learn how to create campaign messages and communicate them effectively, as well as how to reach out and mobilize voters on campus. “Research has shown that women who run for student body elections in college are more likely to run for office as adults,” Hitchins said. “Additionally, AAUW reports that women need to be encouraged, on average, at least three times to run for an office, while most men do not require any intervention. The training addresses the disparity
between the high percentage of women in colleges and universities and their low percentage in student governments.” According to a report by the American Association of University Women, women hold just 17 percent of the seats in the U.S. Congress and 24 percent of the seats in state legislatures. On the college level, women make up approximately 52 percent of all student government representatives, but only 43 percent of student government president spots, according to data collected by the American Student Government Association. This trend also takes place at the Capstone. Out of the seven executive council members of the UA SGA, only one, Executive Secretary Brielle Appelbaum, is female. “Pinning an exact reason as to why more women do not run for executive offices is difficult.
Regardless of location, women are drastically underrepresented in elected office in this country, which is why Elect Her was born,” Zoe Storey, the student liaison for Elect Her, said. “To blame any one source as far as why women have not run is to ignore larger gender issues at play.” Storey went on to say that sometimes, women do not feel as though they are qualified to run for elected office and are more likely not to run, as opposed to their male counterparts. “As far as campus support goes, many organizations are supportive of women running for office,” Storey said. “Regardless of reasons as to why more women are not in elected SGA executive positions, Elect Her hopes to reverse that trend.” News editor Melissa Brown contributed to this report.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
OPINIONS
Page 4 Editor | SoRelle Wyckoff letters@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Rules to remember during finals stress By Mary Sellers Shaw Staff Columnist
CW | SoRelle Wyckoff
‘Outsiders’ quote should remind us to relax as semester ends By Tara Massouleh Staff Columnist The other morning, as I sat through one of my final 8 a.m. journalism classes, half listening to a group presentation while mindlessly scrolling through the “Everything” section of Pinterest, I stumbled upon a bit of unexpected wisdom. The pin was a simple picture of a page in a book with a highlighted phrase. The book so happened to be “The Outsiders,” which, upon reading in my seventh grade reading class, I immediately dubbed the greatest piece of literature of all time. I remember marveling over the book’s infinite wisdom at the impressionable age of 12, and it seems that over six years later, nothing has changed. Naturally, I repinned, but the specific passage that read, “You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There’s still lots
of good in the world” stuck with purpose. Sure, I attended (nearme. ly) all my classes, started writing As the end of the semester this weekly column, and joined draws to a close, as with any a Bible study and the Ultimate proper ending, I have begun to Frisbee team, but beyond this, reflect on the past there is so much four months of more I still want my life. And the to do, and the rapidly expanding quote from “The Too often, we get caught up sentimentalism of Outsiders” was in the things we aren’t doing, the holiday seajust the reminder rather than focusing on the son is only addI needed to tell me good that we already do. ing to the type that I still have of introspection time. and deep thinkToo often, we ing that ensues get caught up around the end in the things we of each year, leading to count- aren’t doing, rather than focusing less New Year’s Resolutions on the good that we already do. worldwide. And too often, we overemphasize And as I began to think back on the future and forget to enjoy the all my decisions in my first semes- present. Sure, focus and drive are ter of college – the good, the bad, important, but there is also someand the incredibly dumb – I start- thing to be said for patience. ed to wonder if I had wasted arguI’ve always been the type of ably some of the most critical person who wants everything months of my life simply going done right away so I can quickly through the motions without check them off my mental list of
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“things to do” and move on to my next aspiration, but unfortunately for me, this isn’t the way life works. And I need to remember that I still have time. With only one of my eight semesters in college down, there is still so much time. Time to try things I’ll like, time to try things I’ll hate, time to experiment, time to learn and, most importantly, time to become – become exactly who it is I want to be and then change my mind and become someone else entirely. So, when the additional stresses of finals and the holidays begin to pile atop that nagging feeling that you’ve somehow missed something and have fallen behind, just remember that nothing is set in stone, everything is subject to change, and you still have so much time. Tara Massouleh is a freshman majoring in journalism. Her column runs on Wednesday.
As the end of the semester comes striding towards us, many of us are left with a few questions: what do I have to make on my final to pass? How little sleep can I get and still function next week? Can a diet of coffee and vending machine snacks be considered a balanced meal? We’re all caught up in the last stretch craze, where personal health and hygiene are thrown to the wayside so we can focus on pushing through the rest of the semester. We are worn out, and everyone has hit the point where they almost just don’t even care anymore. Christmas vacation and Miami, Fla., are calling our names, so taking our finals seems to be getting in the way of our freedom. So, how do we muddle through these next two weeks? Well, for starters, plan ahead. Dust off that agenda you started leaving at the bottom of your backpack a few weeks ago. I’m all about making schedules, to-do lists and whatever else you can think of. If you plan right now all the tests, papers, and final assignments you have coming up, you’ll be able to breathe easy knowing that even if you have a lot on your plate, you at least can see what all is ahead. Find a good study space. Finals week is always the busiest time for the libraries, so be careful if you think that’s where you want to spend your life the next few days. The main floor of Gorgas is going to be popular, so try to brainstorm some lesser known areas – check out the Ferguson
Center during off hours, McClure Library or even a coffee shop. If the weather stays nice, going over to the river walk might be a good idea, too. Force yourself to change locations, though, and get out of your room – it will help you be more productive and keep away distractions. Relax. This is one we tend to forget about. It’s OK to take a few minutes to yourself as a break from studying. Hang out one night with your friends – after all, you’re about to not see them for a month. Go watch “Elf” when it plays at the Ferg Theater. Watch an episode of your favorite tv show, or maybe even just sleep a little. (Crazy, right?) Taking a bit of a break will help you concentrate more when it counts. Dead Week and Finals Week are difficult, there’s no getting around that. And sometimes, it seems like our professors don’t understand the concept of not having assignments due during the week. But your teachers are here to help you learn, so if you have questions or concerns about something, just go to them. If you can’t find a good place to study, ask the librarians if there’s another location they would suggest. No one here at the University wants you to fail, so take advantage of the resources here. Surviving these next few weeks is possible and, with a little extra effort, you can ensure that you have nothing to worry about when grades come home. Mary Sellers Shaw is a junior majoring in communications and civic engagement. Her column runs biweekly on Wednesday.
With the fiscal cliff looming, Democrats have upper hand with Republicans ‘poised to blink 1st’ By Austin Gaddis Senior Columnist In post-election America, it just wouldn’t feel right without some sort of over-sensationalized scandal, small chatter about the next presidential cycle or a looming political crisis that will inevitably result in a last-minute game of chicken between Republicans and Democrats. One month out, we’re three for three – a salacious, but rather irrelevant sex scandal leading to the resignation of the director of the CIA, a formerly celebrated general; pundits overanalyzing the every move of expected candidates; and the threat of the economy going off a looming “fiscal cliff” at the beginning of the new year, unless a staunchly divided Congress can hammer out a deal. So now, the nation places its attention and half-hearted hope yet again in the ability of Congress to simply do its job – work together and pass legislation to make America better. We’re asking Congress to do – in just a few weeks – what it hasn’t been able to accomplish in over four years. The chances of success this time around? I’d bet zero. If a deal isn’t reached, tax rates
will go up for all Americans, as the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire. Military defense spending will see drastic cuts and funding for some government programs – including food assistance and some health care and agricultural subsidies – will be significantly slashed. But the cliff isn’t really a cliff – more of a hill, I’d say. There’s not going to be some catastrophic, Depression-style collapse if a deal isn’t reached. No one will be writing a check to Uncle Sam on Jan. 2. There will still be time to still reach a deal in early 2013 and, with a new class of Congress, it might not be not be such a bad idea. Democrats certainly have the upper hand in the negotiations as they enjoy a tidal wave of momentum after a very successful election night, which left Republicans licking their wounds in the dark corners of the political arena. In their proposals to the Republicans, Democrats are seeking an extension of the current tax rates for all income brackets, except for those Americans making more than $250,000 per year. They argue that by increasing these rates, closing many unnecessary loopholes and deductions and
slowing government spending, the measures can be avoided. Republicans, however, argue a position which extends the tax breaks to all income brackets, closes some loopholes and cuts government spending as the best way to avert the looming increases in rates and cuts to military spending, both sacred cows to conservatives. Going off this so-called “cliff” could have enormous advantages for Democrats, giving them significant leverage in their message against stalwart Republicans in Congress who were willing to raise tax rates on everyone as a protest against raising rates on the highestearning Americans. They could immediately begin to pressure Republicans to address the issue quickly, before the impact could be truly felt by their constituencies. Republicans could also technically not have to raise rates on any bracket at that point, since they would be lowering the new tax rates on those making less than $250,000 a year. They just simply keep the new rates imposed on those higher-income earners. By allowing the new, slightly less conservative House to address the rates and cuts in
Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT
President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner January, the Republicans would face a caucus with less of a Tea Party influence, which could lead to more willingness by the Republican House leadership to work with Obama, who
continually says that he is willing to make concessions to address the cliff issue. So, for now, we wait and watch the familiar game of political chicken play out. This time
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around, however, Republicans look poised to blink first. Austin Gaddis is a senior majoring in communication studies. His column runs on Wednesdays.
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Flu spreads like wildfire on college campuses with close living conditions By Sophia Fazal Staff Columnist This morning, I woke up and felt horrible. My throat feels like I swallowed a whole apple, my body aches, I’m shivering, yet sweating at the same time, and I just know I’m sick. There’s only one thing that could be behind it: the flu. Despite efforts of the campaign “Making Alabama a No Flu Zone,” this year, flu season has come at its earliest in the past decade. Peak flu season doesn’t usually hit until January, but Alabama and Mississippi have been hit hard and early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Sept. 4, the University made flu shots readily available throughout campus, with stations set up in buildings and extra nurses hired to go into faculty offices. Should I have gotten a flu shot? According to the University of Buffalo, flu spreads like wildfire on college campuses because of close-knit living conditions. Getting a flu shot didn’t even seem pertinent to me when the school year started. I noticed the flu shot tents hanging around on the Quad, but I never thought I would need one, let alone even get the flu. I mean, I live by myself, take vitamins everyday and wash my hands after leaving the bathroom. The CDC, on their website, puts college students as one of the “at risks” that really need to get a flu shot every year, but it seems that still, students have the lowest flu shot rates. Now that Dead Week has arrived, my worst nightmare has come true. I have the flu. According to USA Today, most people don’t get flu shots because they hate needles, or
they feel it will make them sick. Interestingly, a study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said colleges and universities that implement day-long campaigns or give out flu shots at sporting events can increase the number of students getting the annual flu shot. It’s strange because I’m not the only “healthy” person I know who neglected the flu shot and now has the flu. Getting a flu shot still doesn’t seem like the best option, especially since there has been false information spread about the flu shot’s safety on places like YouTube since 2009, according to an
article by PRNewswire. I’ve been consistently purposeful to take very little medication and get a lot out of diet and exercise, which now seems to be not enough of an effort. But the debate remains: is a flu shot the only way to avoid the flu? Sophia Fazal is a senior majoring in anthropology. Her column runs biweekly on Wednesday.
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Page 6 | Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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Student-run ad campaign wins PRSSA award By Ashley Tripp Staff Reporter
The University of Alabama Public Relations Student Society of America chapter was recently presented the PRSSA Dr. Fredrick H. Teahan Chapter Award for University Service in San Francisco, Calif. The award is given annually at the National Public Relations Student Association Conference held for public relations student chapters and professionals. Kyle Borland, a sophomore majoring in public relations, said the award specifically recognized the University’s
LessThanUThink campaign, an effort that originated at the University to address the national problem of college age binge drinking. “LessThanUThink was honored to be acknowledged for the work we’ve done for The University of Alabama community,” Borland said. Borland and UA PRSSA’s Secretary Jacquie McMahon said they were ecstatic when LessThanUThink won the award. “Jacquie and I were so shocked to hear our campaign’s name announced,” Borland said. “We both just kind of sat there for a second
and then went, ‘Oh, wait, that’s us!’” McMahon said even before the award ceremony, the conference itself was one of the greatest experiences in her life. “It was great being able to hear from awesome speakers, like the co-founder of Twitter, and see what the PR programs at other schools have developed,” McMahon said. Borland said the conference was easily the best experience of his college career so far. “Being around so many PR students and faculty from all over the country really put me into a sort of PR high,” Borland
said. “It really solidified for me that I was in the right profession.” Borland said LTUT has more than 30 awards on every level, but this is the first time it has received this particular award. “Like every campaign, there is always room to grow, and LTUT is no exception,” Borland said. “LTUT is always evolving and definitely always growing.” McMahon said LTUT is such an important message and she is grateful it has been able to accomplish things like bringing Shaq to UA and expanding the campaign nationwide, starting in
Orange County, Calif. “LTUT is one of Capstone Agency’s best clients, so we hope to keep evolving the campaign and thinking of new ways to creatively express our message,” McMahon said. Borland said he has been appreciative of the positive results the campaign has had this past year leading up to the conference. “Students respond to the message that we are sending out because it resonates on such a personal level with so many people across the country,” Borland said. Jessica Colburn, a senior majoring in public relations,
said it was an honor to receive the prestigious award. “The honor was both a rewarding experience for me as the Firm Director of Capstone Agency, the student-led firm that manages the LTUT campaign, and as a student of our incredible APR program,” Colburn said. Colburn said none of this would have been possible without the confidence and dedication of their teachers and mentors in creating ideas. “I am blessed to be a part of such a creative and passionate campaign and look forward to the next exciting venture LTUT pursues,” Colburn said.
PHL 231 to apply classroom material into real world By Colby Leopard Staff Reporter The University of Alabama’s philosophy department will be offering a new course next semester to allow students to experience firsthand what they are learning in the classroom. Philosophy professor Rekha Nath will teach PHL 231, Social Justice in Practice. The course is being offered to students enrolled in Nath’s section of PHL 230, Political Philosophy, as a complement to the materials being covered in the course. Students in PHL 231 will spend more than 15 hours throughout the semester volunteering in the community with Tuscaloosa’s One Place, Project
Literacy and the Druid City Garden Project. Nath said the course will give students the opportunity to apply the ideas they will learn in political philosophy to the real world. “I’ll be teaching a new undergrad course that provides students with the unique opportunity to study theories of justice in the classroom while getting hands-on experience volunteering with a local community service organization,” Nath said. “The aims of the service-learning component of the course are to expose students to practical issues that they may have had no prior exposure to, as well as to draw on these service experiences to critically assess different viewpoints on social
and political issues.” According to Nath, PHL 231 is a one-credit hour course that, along with volunteering in the community, will meet bi-weekly for discussions. The first of its kind at the University, Nath said PHL 231’s goal is to bring community service into the classroom. Other University departments will be offering similar service-learning courses in the future, Nath said. “This is the first time the philosophy department will offer a course with a service component,” Nath said. “Other departments and programs, including the business school, the health sciences, gender and race studies, anthropology and telecommunication, will be
offering similar new courses in the coming semester that integrate community service projects with learning in the more traditional classroom setting.” Robert Pendley, a sophomore majoring in political science from Lacey’s Springs, Ala., took Nath’s political philosophy class in fall 2011. He said he is glad the University is moving towards offering more servicelearning courses, especially in the philosophy department. “I was surprised when I first came to Alabama that there were basically no service-learning classes dealing with the reasons why service is a good venture,” Pendley said. “PHL 231 will hopefully be the first of many courses that will start
to be offered directly related to service-learning. I think that this is a great course offering.” Jenna Reynolds, a sophomore majoring in philosophy from Atlanta, Ga., also took Nath’s political philosophy class. Reynolds said Nath is the right person to teach the course because of her engaging teaching style. “Dr. Nath will do a good job teaching this course because it is evident that she cares for her students and the community and is passionate about social justice,” Reynolds said. “I feel like she engages everyone in [her classes] on important philosophical issues and discussions without letting her own views interfere.”
Reynolds believes community service is an important part of life and is glad the University is moving to incorporate more service-learning courses into the standard course of study. “Working in your community in order to improve the lives of others around you is an essential part of being not only a college student, but also a human,” Reynolds said. “I think we should strive to make the world a better place with each action we take, and working in my community to help others makes me feel like I am making a difference. Everyone deserves to feel like they’re making a difference, and the world deserves people who try to make it a better place.”
New SGA initiative created to promote recycling on, off campus By Molly Olmstead Contributing Writer Next semester, The University of Alabama will become a little greener. In January, the Student Government Association will launch a new campaign called RecycleBama in an effort to promote student recycling on and off campus. The idea for RecycleBama was conceived by College of Arts and Sciences Senator Sam Gerard, a sophomore majoring in history and political science, and College of Commerce and Business Administration Senator Andrew Gross, a sophomore majoring in business. Gerard said the purpose of the program is not only to increase resources for recycling across campus, but also to increase student use of these resources. “Our main drive was to educate students on how to recycle, what they can recycle, and educate them on the recycling that’s being done on campus already,” Gross said. “There’s already a significant amount, but no one knows about it.” Gerard and Gross plan to spread awareness through the implementation of a series
of public awareness events, speaker seminars and other similar projects, which will begin with a tabling campaign at the beginning of next semester. This campaign will focus on spreading information about the recycling resources already available to students and general tips for recycling. Emma Buchalter, a senior in New College focusing on human-environmental relations and the Focus the Nation Chair for UA Environmental Council, said these resources are already plentiful. “The recycling department at Alabama is really great,” Buchalter said. “It has made huge strides even within the past half-decade in terms of how much they take in.” Since 2005, the University’s recycling program has become recognized as one of the most ambitious in the South. From October 2011 through April 2012, the program recycled over 1.3 million pounds of waste. Ultimately, Gross and Gerard said the goal of RecycleBama will be to extend beyond communities on campus. Their primary target, in hopes of long-run effects, will be freshmen, who will then, according to Gross,
carry the habit of recycling into future years and offcampus housing. This push will begin with the freshman dorms. “If we can implant that message in their minds freshman year – the benefits of recycling – then that’s where the community-wide recycling effort takes place,” Gross said. “It’s with those students who are now seniors, living in the actual community – and maybe even further on in life – wanting to continue recycling.” In the long-run, Gross and Gerard said they hope to have the funding to provide off-campus recycling and to hand out individual trays to desiring students for their dorms. They aim to eventually coordinate with the city and put more effort toward awareness and projects focusing on better organization of Tuscaloosa waste management. To sustain this vision, Gerard and Gross have created the RecycleBama committee from members of the SGA, the Environmental Council and other motivated students. The committee will also focus on making the campus more eco-friendly through the placement of
strategically located bins. Gerard said RecycleBama will push to have new bins placed mainly in accessible areas in academic buildings. It aims to match one recycle bin for each trash can. Joey Crowell, a senior majoring in computer science, said for college students to recycle, it must be as easy as possible for them. “It seems to be an
afterthought for most people. I think most people will drop off their… recycling if it’s handy, but most people won’t really do it if it’s not convenient,” Crowell said. In terms of funding, the SGA and the Office of Financial Affairs will divide the expenses roughly in half. Alumni and student organizations will have the opportunity to donate one of or
part of one of the larger bins on campus in exchange for a plaque on the bin. Financial Affairs will also take care of the logistics. “We want to get the message out that recycling is a very easy task to take part in,” Gerard said. “It’s a very easy way to give back to the planet and make The University of Alabama a more beautiful place.”
UA Starbucks to host holiday tasting By Katie Davis Contributing Writer University of Alabama students don’t have to wait until Christmas break to take advantage of holiday treats with Starbucks and Bama Dining hosting a Holiday Open House at the Ferguson Center Starbucks. Free samples of holiday pastries and beverages will be served at the open house on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. Eric Harrison, a junior majoring in marketing, visits Starbucks frequently and is planning to attend the event. “I always get a cup of coffee before class,” Harrison said,
“but I’m going to the Starbucks Open House because I want to try their pastries. I have always heard good things about them.” Additionally, students will be able to participate in the Starbucks Gift Exhibition. “The gift exhibition is just a display of all of the Starbucks holiday merchandise and gift bundles for people to purchase as presents,” Kelsey Faust, marketing manager of Bama Dining, said. “I am glad they are doing a gift exhibition,” Harrison said. “People in my family do drink lots of coffee. I may consider buying some of the Starbucks merchandise, depending on the price and how much I would get
for that price.” Students planning to attend the event are encouraged to bring a toy for donation. Students that bring a toy will be able to pick a card off the holiday tree, which can then be redeemed for various Starbucks products, including a free coffee or pastry. The toys collected will be donated to a local charity, not necessarily Toys for Tots. “I’ll definitely bring a toy because every kid deserves to have a toy on Christmas,” Harrison said. “I don’t remember a Christmas myself where I did not just grab all my presents and head to my room to play with them.”
Ridgecrest will convert to honors only housing By Camille Corbett Contributing Writer Beginning in fall 2013, only Honors students will be eligible to live in the Ridgecrest Community in an attempt to have a more cohesive community within Honors housing. “The goal in Honors housing, just as in other living-learning communities, e.g., the business community in Friedman Hall, is to bring together students with a college, academic major or other interest in common,” Alicia Browne, director of housing administration, said. “In Honors housing, students in the Honors College want to live together and share out-of-classroom experiences.” However, due to the housing shortage, there still will be allowances made if there are unfilled rooms within Honors housing. “We begin each fall trying to only assign students who are eligible in each LLC, meaning
only Honors students in Honors housing. That said, the numbers never work out perfectly, and we do not want to leave vacant rooms while there are students still needing housing assignments,” Browne said. ”So, if all spaces in Honors housing are not filled by Honors College students, and other students need assignments, we will fill in the few vacancies with students not otherwise eligible for that community.” This new housing situation is an attempt by the Honors College to surround their students with like-minded peers. “In this situation, you’re going to be around other people with similar classes as you,” Alex Raus, resident advisor at Paty Hall, said. Demarc Thomas, a resident advisor at Riverside East, said an all-Honors living environment will assist students in social and academic situations. “It allows Honors students to
be around like-minded people so they can focus more,” Demarc Thomas, resident advisor for Riverside East, said. However, it is still under debate if separating Honors students in residence halls will foster a great sense of community within the Honors College. “It could go along the same way as Blount [Undergraduate Initiative], but I don’t think it will,” Raus said. “I don’t think Honors has events mandated that all Honors students attend, so there won’t be any difference.” Cody Frederick, a resident advisor for Blount, said he sees positive and negative elements to a separate Honors community. “You come close to a community and intellectualism and academic rigor; however, it would also insulate Honors students from the rest of the University and, on the flip of the coin you, insulate the rest of the University from Honors,” Frederick said.
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Page 7 Editor | Lauren Ferguson culture@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Gadgets for students heading abroad in spring By Lauren Ferguson and Katherine Owen CW Staff For some students, next semester not only brings a new slew of classes, but also a new country and environment as well. For those who are leaving the Capstone behind for an experience abroad, there are several gadgets worth considering outside of the typical packing list.
Flexible tripod
Digital luggage scale
Just in case a steady, flat surface is unavailable at the time of the photo op, flexible tripods, such as the Gorillapod, allow users to contort their camera at various angles and surfaces to snap photos. The tripod features a quick release clip allowing for instant setup with the camera, more than two dozen leg joints allowing it to bend and rotate 360 degrees and rubberized ring and foot grips for enhanced stability.
ChargePod
Airlines are becoming increasingly attentive to the weight and size of carry-on and checked luggage. Some tourists are left emptying their bags and choosing between souvenirs at the check-in desk, after unknowingly exceeding their baggage weight limit. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, a digital luggage scale offers a practical solution that can keep students from packing too much. Joby GorillaPod Flexible Tripod
Between cameras, cell phones, iPods and gaming devices, travelers have a lot of electronics to keep up with, and therefore charge. The Chargepod can charge up to six devices at once and is compatible with more than 3,000 electronics. It is also lightweight, weighing less than two ounces so it’s easy to pack.
Air Weigh LS-300 Portable Digital Luggage Scale
Washable blazer
Compressed Towels
Cocoon Grid-It Organizer
Whether your study abroad experience includes expensive dinners or nights in hostels, it is often nice for guys to have a blazer on hand. For many study abroad students, packing space is limited and a washable, wrinkle free blazer can be folded up and stuffed in small spaces while still remaining in crisp shape after lengthy travels. TravelSmith Washable Wool Varsity Blazer
CallPod ChargePod
This organizer lies flat and is lined with elastic to keep all little and miscellaneous things in place. The elastic is designed to hold items firmly in place, and the grid created by the elastic allows for arrangement and re-arrangement of personal items. The Grid-It also comes in a variety of sizes, some even including a pocket for a laptop or e-reader. Cocoon GRID-IT
Coleman Travel Towels
Travel, especially when flying or the outdoors are involved, often requires extremely light packing. Compressed towels weigh only a few ounces, but can expand to a hand towel or even beach towel size. Their extremely compact size makes them packingfriendly and allows room for other necessities. Many hostels do not provide their own linens and towels, so these are an essential for students. All Photos from Amazon.com
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Page 8 | Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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COLUMN | MUSIC
UA graduate student High hopes for return of country duo pursues music for life The Civil Wars circulate around web By Noelle Brake
Roberts balances teaching, studying, performing By Deanne Winslett Staff Reporter
Most bands get their start by either working with another, more popular artist or band or relentlessly selling their music to anyone who will listen. Not all of today’s bands have to do that, though, including singer-songwriter duo The Civil Wars. The two met in the music hub city of Nashville, Tenn., and released a live performance album and four-song EP before launching their premier album, “Barton Hollow,” in 2011. Even before they paired with Taylor Swift for her song “Safe and Sound,” the band, composed of Joy Williams and John Paul White, had already made quite a name for themselves in the music world, even going so far as to pick up a couple Amazon.com Grammy awards in 2012 for Best Country Duo/Group Joy Williams and John Paul White make up the folk duo The Civil Performance and Best Folk Wars. Album. The duo hail from two com- following them around, it to be true, as I am an avid fan pletely different parts of the would seem like fame would and love the bluesy, folk and country, but both cultures follow the pair anywhere country sound of the singcome together to make the right now. But, sadly, that’s ers’ voices. I appreciate their sound of the music simple, not in the books. In the middle minimal use of instruments sweet and perfectly bal- of their European tour last and feel that adds to the duo’s anced. month, the band sound. Every song sounds like While their announced on it was performed live – even album is named their Facebook the accompaniment on the after one of the that they were tracks is limited – so there is The Civil Wars are definitely songs on the going to have a pure, raw sound. The Civil a group worth listening to, record itself, to cancel their Wars are definitely a group and hopefully, their differ“Barton Hollow” last shows due worth listening to, and hopeences can be reconciled, and was actually to irreconcil- fully, their differences can they will return, full force, not their first able differ- be reconciled, and they will with new music next year. popular sinences between return, full force, with new gle. “Poison band members. music next year. and Wine,” A New York Their album, “Barton has been feaTimes article Hollow,” is available now tured in Grey’s said the band also said on the on hard copy, iTunes, and Anatomy, and two of their page that they were hoping to Amazon. Look for the band songs appeared in the recent come back with new music for with Taylor Swift on “The film “The Hunger Games.” 2013. Hunger Games” soundtrack, Wi t h this clout I hope these rumors prove as well.
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When graduate student Jonathan Roberts began learning to play the piano at age 7, he had no idea he would make a career out of it. But, as Roberts grew, so did his passion for the keys. In high school, he realized he wanted to continue to perform for the rest of his life. “Once I got in the ninth and tenth grade, I came to find that music really was my passion,” Roberts said. “It was what I wanted to go with for college and such.” Roberts enrolled in the University of New Hampshire, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in piano performance and a bachelor of music degree in music education. Roberts pursued his love of music even further at the Cleveland Institute of Performance, earning his masters degree in piano performance. Now Roberts is a UA graduate student finishing up his requirements for a doctor of musical arts degree. “It’s been a really busy college experience,” Roberts said. Music professor
“
Once I got in the ninth and tenth grade, I came to find that music really was my passion. It was what I wanted to go with for college and such. — Jonathan Roberts
Demondrae Thurman first met Roberts in 2009. He said the first time he heard Roberts play the piano, he was overwhelmingly impressed with Roberts’ musicianship. “He is a terrific musician,” Thurman said. “A lot of times, people can play the instrument very well but aren’t necessarily great musicians, and he is a perfect combination of both. I was struck by that when I heard him for the first time.” Roberts is very interested in teaching music, in addition to performing it. He currently holds private lessons out of his home, where he accompanies many of Thurman’s students. Since they first met, Thurman has seen him grow firsthand. “He came here as a really fantastic musician,” Thurman said. “I think the progress that he’s made has
not been as much musical as it has been just managing the types of things that he’s going to have to do. Not only is he playing his own concerts at a very high level, he’s accompanying a lot of different kinds of musicians, from brass players to singers, which pose different challenges.” Roberts also teaches, in addition to everything else going on in his life. “He’s essentially living the life of a professor, but he’s still a student,” Thurman said. Roberts said his goal after graduating is to go out and perform as much as possible with his wife, Amanda, who is also currently pursuing her doctor of musical arts degree at The University of Alabama. The two met while getting their masters in 2006 and were married in 2009. In 2009, they also officially declared themselves The Stardust Duo, and they perform together often. They released their first CD, “The Stardust Duo: Debussy, Poulenc, and Franck Sonatas for Violin and Piano,” in 2009. Both are set to graduate soon. Visit their website, www.thestardustduo.com, for a complete biography, recordings and booking information.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012 | Page 9
UA exhibits included in Thursday’s Art Night ‘The 8’ will be housed in Ferguson Center Gallery, while ‘Straddled’ will be in Sarah Moody Gallery By Deanne Winslett Staff Reporter On the first Thursday of every month, Art Night takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport. This month, two University events, featuring both student works and works from earlier time periods, coincide with Art Night. “The 8,” featuring the artwork of eight current female students, will be shown in the Ferguson Gallery. Each of the eight students has their own variety of pieces in the showing, creating a blend of different artistic styles. For senior art and psychology major Mary-Coulliette Baxter, this will be her last Art Night as a student. While she said it is bittersweet, Baxter said she is excited about the work she has featured in “The 8.” Baxter blended her majors together to create her pieces. “My pieces are ‘l’existence précède l’essence,’ Gestalt, and the instinctual mark
pieces,” Baxter said. “These pieces combine what I have learned in art and psychology at The University of Alabama.” Senior studio art major Elizabeth Alexander said she is also looking forward to participating in Art Night this month as one of “The 8.” “While I have been a part of a lot of art shows, I have never been able to participate in Art Night,” Alexander said. “I have two oil paintings on paper that are featured. It will be a great show.” The second UA collection featured at this month’s event will be out of the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art’s Permanent Collection. The Permanent Collection refers to the gallery’s collection of nearly 800 pieces of modern and contemporary art. The pieces have been collected by the gallery since the mid-1960s and are taken care of by the gallery staff. Each year, a different selection of works is shown in the gallery from this collection.
“We are showing 50 pieces this year, a variety of pieces created in painting, printmaking, photography and drawing,” Bill Dooley, director of the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, said. “A number of pieces date back to the late 1930s-1940s. Most of the works date after 1970.” This year’s Permanent Collection has been titled “Straddled,” which Dooley says carries significant meaning. “Our exhibit title refers to the fact that the dates for the exhibit this year span the end of this semester and the beginning of spring semester,” Dooley said. “The word also refers to the relationship that can be made among the works on display in the gallery.” Both “The 8” and “Straddled” are only part of the overall Art Night event. For more information on Art Night and all of the participating galleries across Tuscaloosa, visit tuscarts.org/ artnight.php.
CW | Pete Pajor
One of the many pieces of art on display at “The 8”, a new art gallery in the Ferguson Gallery.
Holiday Acoustic Night to feature 4 musician lineup By Megan Miller Contributing Writer The Bama Theatre will host their fourth annual Holiday Acoustic Night to benefit the Good Samaritan Clinic this Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. “They do a wonderful job of helping people who have no health insurance and don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid,” David Allgood, manager for the Bama Theatre, said. “All artists are playing entirely for free.” Featured artists will include Sparrow + the Ghost, Blaine Duncan, Elliot McPherson, Dan Voight & Jil Chambless and Mark Hughes Cobb. “We always have a good turnout for this show; [it’s] close to capacity, about 100 people,” Allgood said. “I reach out to artists who play Acoustic Night during the year and have a good following.”
Mark Hughes Cobb, who will be playing his fourth Acoustic Night on Thursday, said this is a good event for people who like to listen to music in a smoke-free, but booze-enabled atmosphere. “Other places have occasional acoustic performances, but mostly, you’re going to hear ‘Last Dance with Mary Jane’ and Dave Matthews wannabes there,” Hughes Cobb said. “David Allgood and the Bama staff seek out musicians who want to go a little deeper, who’re trying to create something different and weird all their own.” The size and atmosphere of the room also has positive effects for Hughes Cobb. “It’s a warm, intimate room,” Hughes Cobb said. “As a musician, I love being able to see everyone. I can feel reactions immediately. If folks like something, the feedback is tremendous, like a wave of warmth.”
Submitted
The fourth annual Holiday Music Night will benefit the Good Samaritan Clinic. Blaine Duncan, who frequently plays Acoustic Night, said speaking from past experience of playing both normal Acoustic Night and Holiday Acoustic Night, this one usually has the biggest draw. “I think that the reason is twofold – one, all the artists
COLUMN | FILM
Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Anna Kendrick. Seth Rogen. These three are the key ingredients of a fantastically funny indie comedy-drama by the name of “50/50.” Set in Seattle, the movie depicts the mundane life of 27-year-old journalist Adam Learner (Joseph GordonLevitt). Despite his relatively healthy lifestyle, Adam is told he is suffering from a malignant spinal tumor, a rare form of cancer called schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma. With his hilarious best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) by his side, Adam faces the cancer with a casually collected mindset. He originally gains support from his attractive artist girlfriend, but their relationship falls short of secure as she begins to break down and lose hope, focusing more on her needs than Adam’s. Enter Katherine McCay (Anna Kendrick), Adam’s young and inexperienced therapist. Her curiously endearing awkwardness and Adam’s calm state of mind offer an interesting juxtaposition of the typical roles of therapist and patient. Upon finding out that he has a fifty-fifty chance of surviving, Adam initially shuts down emotionally. Naturally, he encounters a vast array of feelings – fear, anger, resistance and finally acceptance. Katherine encourages him to talk about
what he is going through and tries to assure him that he is not alone, despite his feelings of alienation and futility. As Adam patiently endures the chemotherapy treatments, he befriends the elderly gentlemen being treated alongside him for various types and stages of cancer. Their witty banter, reminiscent of the light-hearted barbershop conversations often seen in older films, keeps the movie going in a more positive direction. It’s difficult to imagine a movie about cancer being funny or upbeat in any way, but director Jonathan Levine somehow managed to ace it. Things go downhill from there when Adam finds out that his girlfriend has been cheating on him. After promptly ending the relationship, Adam begins spending long hours sitting alone on the couch, purely existing, numb to the world around him. Kyle, the ever-faithful best friend, keeps Adam’s spirits high by helping him shave his head in order to not feel like a victim, aiding him in the decimation of his ex-girlfriend’s paintings as an outlet for all of his pentup frustrations and suggesting that Adam use his illness to pick up women. One of the funniest scenes in the entire movie is when Adam and Kyle show up at a bar, and Adam takes Kyle’s advice to hit on every female in
standout acts of the night will be Sparrow + the Ghost and Elliot McPherson because Sparrow + the Ghost don’t perform shows as much and because McPherson of the Dexateens rarely plays solo. “Those two acts are an especially good reason for anyone to come,” Duncan said. Admission to the event is $5, and all proceeds and extra donations go directly to Good Samaritan Clinic. For more information, visit bamatheatre.org.
IF YOU GO... • What: Holiday Acoustic Night • Where: Bama Theatre • When: Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
SOUTHEASTERN CONCERTS
Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings laughs, hope to cancer-centered narrative By Dana Woodruff
for the holiday show are local, and two, there are more artists on the bill, which perhaps draws more people,” Duncan said. “Also, hopefully, people are just good-hearted and want to help.” Hughes Cobb, who has played one previous Holiday Acoustic Night, said the
Holiday Acoustic Nights tend to be more popular because there is such a diverse lineup and the proceeds support a good cause. “The Greensboro Room feels full, not just in numbers, but in intent,” Hughes Cobb said. “By that, I mean the folks who come are here to listen to the music.” Hughes Cobb also said this is the best at-one-time lineup of musicians and songwriters he’s been privileged to be part of since some of the previous Kentuck Festivals he and his old band participated in. “Elliot McPherson is a wonderful songwriter, with a lot of wit and style,” Hughes Cobb said. “And Sparrow + the Ghost blend and play off and complement each other in such a way that they really hit that one-voice sound all combos are seeking. Wonderful people and tremendous musicians.” Duncan said the
sight. Clearly inept at flirting with women, Adam awkwardly starts every conversation with, “Hey, what’s up? I have cancer.” The humor behind it lies within Adam’s carefree personality and subtle amusement at his own failures. And, of course, any movie with Seth Rogen in it is bound to be utterly hilarious. Despite the seriousness of the plot, “50/50” remarkably combines laughter and tears. The characters’ foibles are heartwarming, and you can’t help but smile at the obvious chemistry between Adam and Katherine, Kyle’s blunt, obnoxious jokes and Adam’s overbearing mother and whiny, clingy ex-girlfriend. “50/50” is not a sad story; it is a portrayal of hope, love and the things that really matter in life. The night before Adam’s big life-or-death surgery, he realizes all that he has to lose. Having never gotten his license, Adam decides that his dying wish is to drive a car for the first time, and he does. He calls up Katherine and tells her he wishes she could have been his girlfriend. He expresses his love to his heartbroken mother and his mentally unstable father. It’s a beautiful, complex depiction of life and all that it has to offer. It’s a testament to the idea that hard times should be faced with hope and a positive attitude, and that sometimes, everything works out just fine in the end.
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra at BJCC Arena Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Birmingham
• Trey Songz at BJCC Arena Friday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. • Zac Brown Band at BJCC Arena Saturday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
Atlanta
• Dave Matthews Band at Gwinnett Arena Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. • Carrie Underwood at Gwinnett Arena Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. • Indigo Girls at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center Friday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.
Nashville
• Rick Ross at Bridgestone Arena Sunday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. • Aerosmith with Cheap Trick at Bridgestone Arena Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Page 10 | Wednesday, December 5, 2012
NEWS
OPINION
CULTURE
SPORTS
APO presents ‘All in the Timing’ for last fall show Nine acts to include play-on-words, romantic relationships, perspectives on life at Allen Bales Theatre By Lauren Carlton Contributing Writer
The Gamma Gamma cast of national theatre honor society Alpha Psi Omega will close the fall semester with their performance of “All in the Timing” Alpha Psi Omega is made up of undergraduate performers and technical theatre artists and is known on campus for its late night Guerrilla Theatre shows. Written by American playwright, David Ives, “All in the Timing” was originally a collection of six one-act plays. Since its 1994 publishing it has been updated to include more. Most of the one-acts are comedies that deal mainly with play-on-words, romantic
relationships and perspectives on life. Tommy Walker, a senior majoring in musical theatre, is directing this APO production. He added three more of Ives’ shorter plays from the newer edition to accommodate the large turnout at auditions, the number of technical volunteers and membership. “We have a cast of 24, including lots of doubling characters. A huge chunk of the organization is involved,” Walker said. In preparing the show, Walker had to find a way to bring together all of the seemingly unrelated vignettes. “I had to find a cohesive tone that would bring all of these plays together as one production,” Walker said.
“I found them to all include intellectual, creepy, hysterical and over-the-top moments as I found each of them to reside somewhere floating above reality.” This perspective inspired Walker and the design team to adopt a “Dali’s Flying Circus: Starring the Looney Tunes” theme to be applied to the show’s production elements. The artist Salvador Dali and the Warner Bros. cartoon influence allowed for a suspension of belief and abstract profoundness, Walker said. “Pre-show and set changes involve acrobatics and tricks as well as fun music and a whimsical color palette. This is not to be misconstrued with a shtick of any sort however. This concept is merely
a vehicle to place these nine different plays in a universe that allows them to be isolated and focus on their story when their turn arrives, yet retain a sense of unity for the production as a whole,” Walker said. Karina Simonis, a sophomore majoring in musical theatre and APO member, is a cast member who said putting on “All in the Timing” has been one of her most challenging theatre experiences. She is double-cast in the “Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread” one-act in which the minimalist composer, Philip Glass has an existential crisis in a bakery. However, through the difficult subject matter she has appreciated the supportive atmosphere this APO
show has fostered. “It’s been very relaxed and professional,” Simonis said. “Since everyone in the show is students you get to pitch in your own ideas, and that’s been great.” As opening night approaches, Walker is confident in “All in the Timing.” “I chose ‘All in the Timing,’ because it sits in a style of theatre that not only intrigues me, but challenges me. I wanted to do something that appealed to APO by having a large cast and production value, but also I wanted to direct a show that pushed me to explore new methods, ideas and directing objectives. That and its just plain good and hilarious writing. I am still learning, so this was
my major learning experience with such a huge beast. I think we made some interesting and fun choices,” Walker said. “All in the Timing” will be performed in the Allen Bales Theatre, Dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5.
IF YOU GO... • What: “All in the Timing” • Where: Allen Bales Theatre • When: Dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m.
Last Xpress Night of semester partners with Bama Buddies Students can purchase, personalize stuffed animals to be donated to local children for holiday season By Becky Robinson Staff Reporter
Bama Buddies is partnering with Xpress Night this Thursday, Dec. 6 to promote campus unity through service during the holiday season. Bama Buddies has been working with student groups on campus for the last four years and is the official service project for the SOURCE. By hosting “stuffing events,” students can buy and personalize stuffed animals that will be donated to children during the holidays. David Phelps, a junior majoring in civil engineering and the director of organizational leadership for
the SOURCE, said Xpress Night is a great opportunity to bring together a diverse mixture of students to participate in the service project. “Our collaborative event this Thursday will be a wonderfully exciting and truly unique opportunity for students to enjoy live music while brightening a child’s holiday season,” Phelps said. In addition to partnering with Xpress Night, Bama Buddies has teamed up with student organizations like the SGA Senate, Freshman Forum and Lambda Sigma Honor Society. The cost to buy and personalize a stuffed animal is $8. There are multiple
animals students can choose from including a tabby cat, panda, penguin and frog. If a student cannot attend a partnered event, such as Xpress Night, organizations can sponsor independent builds for $10 per animal. Xpress Night is an open mic night hosted once a month at the Starbucks in the Ferguson Center. Students can perform a variety of acts including singing, rapping or poetry reading. Bret Buckler, a junior majoring in chemical engineering and the director of Xpress Night, said students are encouraged to participate in Thursday’s collaboration with Bama Buddies. “We’ve decided to partner
up this December as a way to co-promote and hopefully maximize student involvement,” Buckler said. Although Xpress Night is a night of performing, Buckler said students should not shy away. “We strive to provide a relaxed atmosphere where artists of all styles can open up and be themselves,” Buckler said, “[Xpress Night] is designed as a creative outlet for anyone who wants to show off their talents, collaborate with other performers, or just hang out and have a good time.” Kirkland Back, a junior majoring in English, is the director of awareness for the Honors College Assembly.
Her role is to facilitate Xpress Night as well as other events hosted by the Honors College. “Xpress Night is a free and open space for students to gather and share in the community of art,” Back said. “Bama Buddies and Xpress Night have decided to come together to create a one-time event that will not only help students, but the community as well.” This Thursday will be the last opportunity for individuals to participate in Bama Buddies. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Ferguson Starbucks. Xpress Night is free, and each animal provided by Bama Buddies is $8.
Student groups can register to host a stuffing event at thesource.ua.edu/bama-buddies. To submit a register to perform in Xpress Night, email hcaartsawareness@ gmail.com.
IF YOU GO... • What: Xpress Night • Where: Starbucks in the Ferguson Center • When: Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m.
NEWS OPINION CULTURE SPORTS
SPORTS
Page 11 Editor | Marquavius Burnett crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com Wednesday, December 5, 2012
FOOTBALL
Auburn hires Gus Malzahn as new head coach CW Staff Arkansas State coach and former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was hired as the new head coach at Auburn University, the school announced Tuesday afternoon. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to become the head football coach at Auburn
University,” Malzahn said in a statement released by Auburn. “It’s an outstanding institution with a storied football program that I had the pleasure of experiencing first-hand for three years.” Known for his spread, nohuddle offense, Malzahn had great success at Arkansas State this past season, leading the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record,
the Sun Belt championship and a berth in the GoDaddy. com Bowl next month against Kent State. Arkansas State ranks 17th in the nation in total offense (481.8 yards) and is tied for 21st in scoring (36.4). Malzahn served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011, including 2010, when the Tigers went 14-0 and won the 2010 BCS title – the
first national title in 53 years for the program – and quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy. Under Malzahn, Auburn was ranked 16th in the nation in total offense in 2009 and seventh in 2010, before dropping down to 100th in a down year in 2011. Despite the enormous drop from 2010 to 2011, the Tigers still managed 182.3
rushing yards per game, nearly 34 yards more than this season. Auburn averaged an SECworst 305 yards per game and finished 115th in total offense, 113th in scoring (18.67), 112th in passing (156.6 yards) and 78th in rushing (148.4 yards) this past season. “Gus Malzahn is a proven winner,” Auburn athletics
director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. “He is without question one of the brightest minds in college football, and he has won everywhere he has been. Coach Malzahn knows what it takes to build a championship program in the Southeastern Conference. He knows our state and region, and he understands what it will take to turn our program around.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Crimson Tide, Grant look to rebound against Dayton By Charlie Potter Contributing Writer After suffering its first loss of the season, the Alabama men’s basketball team (6-1) will look to bounce back when it faces the Dayton Flyers (5-2) on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in Coleman Coliseum. The game will tipoff at 8 p.m. and will be televised on CSS. This marks the second consecutive season that the two teams face off on the basketball court. Last year, the Flyers defeated the Tide 74-62 in Dayton, Ohio; Dayton has won its last six games against SEC schools, dating back to 2008. This season marks the first time the two squads will compete in Tuscaloosa. “We’re looking forward to an opportunity to get back on the court, obviously coming off of a tough loss on the road,” head coach Anthony Grant said. “I think the game in Cincinnati gave our team an opportunity to learn a lot about ourselves in terms of what we do well and areas that we need to improve.”
Grant said Dayton is extremely impressive, and his team has tremendous respect for the Flyers. “They’re an aggressive team. I think they play with great energy, a very well-coached team,” he said. “They have a system and a philosophy defensively that’s very good just in terms of how they guard. They play really good team defense. You’ve just got to be able to make good decisions and take care of the basketball.” Through seven games this season, Alabama has held its opponents to 54.9 points per game, which ranks second in the SEC. But the Tide has still struggled on the glass. “We’ve got to rebound and get all of the loose balls,” sophomore guard Trevor Lacey said. “That’s what really kills us.” Grant also said the team needs to do a better job of generating fouls from its opponents. The Tide only shot three free throws in the game versus Cincinnati. Home court advantage could help Alabama in the contest,
just as it did the Flyers a year ago. Last season, Lacey and his teammates experienced a hostile environment in Ohio that affected the game and, ultimately, the outcome. “It was very loud,” Lacey said. “I didn’t hear a play that we called. I was just out there playing like a chicken with my head cut off.” Not only did Dayton defeat Alabama last season, but it did so in Grant’s return to his alma mater. But Grant was persistent is deflating any hype surrounding this emotional matchup. “The thing I’ve always said as a coach, every time we prepare, it’s never about me,” Grant said. “For me, it’s about preparing our team for a very good opponent. Everything else is secondary.” Carl Engstrom and Andrew Steele are both unavailable. Engstrom injured his knee during the game against Cincinnati. Steele could possibly have a sports-related hernia.
The Crimson Tide is eager to return to Coleman Coliseum to face the Dayton Flyers. CW | Jingyu Wan
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Page 12 | Wednesday, December 5, 2012
NEWS
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COLUMN | FOOTBALL
Crimson Tide has another chance at history against Fighting Irish in Miami By Zac Al-Khateeb The Alabama football team has certainly done a number on the history books this year. The Crimson Tide has been doing it all year. It all began with the Tide’s first game of the season against the Michigan Wolverines. The game featured a matchup between two of the most historic programs in college football history in one of the most impressive venues in all of football, Cowboys Stadium. Jump ahead a few months, when Alabama beat the LSU Tigers in one of the most incredible comeback wins in Alabama history, when the Tide drove down the field and delivered the finishing blow
to the Tigers with a 28-yard screen pass to T.J. Yeldon. The play – and even the drive itself – has already become part of Alabama lore. Go forward another two weeks. A week after losing to Texas A&M, the Tide sealed itself as the luckiest team in the BCS era, when both of the top two teams in the nation, Kansas State and Oregon, lost on the same night to put the Tide back squarely in the national title race. The year before, the Tide was blessed with the same luck, and eventually beat LSU for the national title. Then there’s the annual rivalry against Auburn. Not only was it a monumental victory for the Tide, but it very nearly proved to be the worst beating
ever delivered in an Iron Bowl. If not the best, it was at least Indeed, the Tide was a mere one of the most record-breakfour points away from own- ing, as Alabama set a game ing the series record for most record with 350 rushing yards. points scored in It also featured a game’s biggest six lead changes, margin of victoanother game The matchups between Notre ry. Still, secondrecord. Dame and Alabama have best isn’t all that Alabama’s bad in a rivalry historic effort been historically signiďŹ cant series. this season in college football, and And who will hasn’t just been twice the teams have met ever be able to limited to the in a game that decided the forget the unbeteam, either: national champions. lievable drama individuals have that played out also set numerin the Georgia ous records for Dome in the Alabama. Eddie Southeastern Conference Lacy and T.J. Yeldon have Championship? The game is become the first running back already being heralded as one tandem in Alabama history to of the best SEC Championships both rush for over 1,000 yards. ever played. Quarterback AJ McCarron has
“
also set numerous records, including a record 26 touchdown passes thrown this year. Of course, one can’t overlook the fact that the Tide has a chance to win an unprecedented three BCS national championships in four years, making them the first Alabama team to win back-to-back national championships since 1978-79. It would also be the first team to accomplish the feat since Nebraska in the mid-90s. There’s only one thing standing in Alabama’s way to yet another historic accomplishment: the No.1 Notre
Dame Fighting Irish. Yet even the Irish provide Alabama a chance to make history. The matchups between Notre Dame and Alabama have been historically significant in college football, and twice the teams have met in a game that decided the national champions. This game will make the third. But, even with all the historic accomplishments Alabama has achieved this year, it won’t be satisfied unless it can attain that last one and seal itself as one of the greatest dynasties in Alabama, BCS and college football history.
COLUMN | HEALTH
Mental health just as important as physical health By Jasmine Cannon A couple of weeks ago, I saw a “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel� piece on concussions in college football and former college football players who had suffered traumatic brain complications from playing their sport. Even before I saw this special, I had come to the conclusion that America should pay just as much attention to mental health as to physical health. It seems as if we always want to focus on losing weight, gaining muscle mass, toning up and things of the sort, but do just as many people care if they lose their sanity or mental clarity in the process? In the wake of the recent Jovan Belcher murder-suicide, the study of mental health among athletes has increased, and there seems to
be renewed interest about the army veterans have sustained effects of sports on the brain. while serving the country and Findings from a study at Boston the horror stories where postUniversity’s School of Medicine traumatic stress syndrome has were recently released. be a factor. The brains of 50 deceased forA story on army.mil stated, “A mer football playNational Institute ers – 33 of them for Mental Health coming from study concluded the NFL – were that 26 percent of America should pay just as tested for signs adults in the United much attention to mental of brain disease States ‘suffer from health as to physical due to repeated a diagnosable menhealth. brain injuries. A tal disorder in a link was found given year.’ Despite between head that, seeking help injuries suffered still has a stigma playing football and degenera- associated with it.� tive brain disease. Only one of Football great Herschel the brains from professional Walker was also included in football players showed no that story. While his diagnosis signs of brain disease. of dissociative identity disorder Football and sports are not was not caused by playing footthe only areas where mental ball, he stressed the importance health should be taken into of recognizing the problem and heavy consideration. We all getting help. Hopefully, testimoknow the effects that many nies such as these will encour-
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age more people to get checked out and understand there is help. Belcher is not the first NFL player to commit murder or suicide, but we can only hope he is the last. None of us know exactly what was going on with him, and there is a lot of speculation. We all can only hope and pray for the families and everyone involved, and that more attention will be paid to the mental health of athletes on all levels of play. There is life outside of the stadium. As we move forward and as more reporters begin to tell stories about the mental effects of athletics, I believe it will force league commissioners, unions and coaches to improve safety conditions for athletes. I hope a change comes. However, if I have a son, I probably still won’t let him play football.
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English class ends with zombie walk ZOMBIE FROM PAGE 1 The walk was originally influenced by the theme of the class, in which students read different books over the course of the semester about the apocalypse and different scenarios in which it would be brought about, White said. “To end the semester with a zombie walk seemed like a good way to bring all of our discussions about the apocalypse – both as literary strategy and as cultural metaphor – full circle, since we started by reading ‘World War Z’ over the summer,� she said. In a way, the zombie walk served as a last celebration of the students’ hard work of the semester. Sohaila Nikoufar, a senior majoring in
CULTURE
SPORTS
international studies and English, said the “celebration� involved meeting before the walk to help each other with makeup and organize the zombies. “We looked into ‘zombie physiology,’ and we now know an awful lot more than we probably should about zombies, so we felt the need to use and share that knowledge in some form or fashion,� Nikoufar said. “I am helping with makeup, and we’re just trying to create a look of sickness and decay; since it’s Dead Week and cold season, a lot of us already look like that, but we also have some stage blood.� Although they looked the part, the student-zombies had to follow rules like regular students. They were not allowed to carry any weapon-like props, disturb classes or trample unsuspecting flower beds.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012 | Page 13
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I am helping with makeup, and we’re just trying to create a look of sickness and decay; since it’s Dead Week and cold season, a lot of us already look like that, but we also have some stage blood. — Sohaila Nikoufar
Phillip Spotswood, a senior majoring in English, explained what the zombies were to do and how they were encouraged to act. “UA authorities were pretty big about us not touching anyone, and we lurch. Both for practical reasons and tactics. I think everyone would get pretty tired of seeing us running around for an hour – plus we would get tired too,�
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Spotswood said. “In my opinion, slow zombies are the scariest. You can really get into the idea of zombie as a dead corpse when you’re stumbling around slowly.� Beginning the makeup process at Morgan Hall, students gathered together and smudged their makeup and ripped up old clothes until they got their zombie look just right. Different groups went through various buildings such as Alston and Rowand Johnson Halls and attempted to alarm onlookers around the Ferguson Center Plaza and the Quad. Rebecca Hails, a nursing major who witnessed the zombie march, said the participants seemed fairly realistic. “I’m scared, and they all have a creepy zombie walk going on – it’s that little slide along they’re doing,� Hails said. “The zombies do seem friendly, and the sound effects and costumes
definitely add to the character; I saw one of my friends who was a zombie earlier and that was a little creepy.� Stumbling, hissing and moaning about toward Gorgas, the zombies slowly gathered at the steps to read their Zombie Manifesto, or Zombie Bill of Rights. The zombies listed their demands, such as better meat processing, better tasting humans and rights to no taxation without respiration. The zombies then retired and returned to their human state. Dodson Seitz, an advertising major who was invited to join the group by a friend in White’s class, said he enjoyed getting a reaction from students on campus. “I’m not part of the class, I was just invited with a bunch of friends. It sounded like a lot of fun, and I loved getting dressed up and walking around
CW | Caitlin Trotter
Students walked from all corners of campus to Gorgas on Tuesday.
campus,� Seitz said. “I think my favorite reaction was I actually did get a girl to scream – she was kind of walking close to me, and I ran and kind of hissed, and she ran around the corner screaming.�
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (12/05/12). Home is your magnet this year. Investments, wellness and socializing are themes. Romance heats up the first half of 2013, and sparks shift to career and finances after June. Stay organized, and get a second opinion on big decisions. 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 -- The pace is picking up. Accept your greater good. Your workload’s getting more intense, as the excellence attracts attention. Release something or someone who’s leading you astray. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 5 -- Stay out of someone else’s argument, and get into relaxation mode for the next two days. You’re gaining support. Somebody nearby sure looks good. Seduction suffuses the ambiance. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Stick with the facts at work. Don’t go too far too fast. Fix up your home today and tomorrow. Use water imagery. Have the party at your house. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- A voracious learning phase begins. Practicing something you love to do goes well now. Save enough to get a special treat, after paying bills. Resolve confusion. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Work now; play in a few days. Avoid distractions. You can earn extra cash now. Glamorize your appearance. Ground a vision in reality, and resist temptation. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Assertiveness works well now, so avoid distractions. You’re more power-
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Located at 2300 McFarland Blvd. East (205) 758-2213 ful than usual for the next few days, which is useful with a difficult job. Take first things first. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Slow down and contemplate potential outcomes. Postpone a private meeting. Wrap up details today and tomorrow. Listen at keyholes. There may be a conflict of interests. Revise later. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- It’s getting fun now (and public). Ponder party possibilities, and enjoy planning music, food and diversion. Give up a fantasy, especially under pressure. Pass along what you’ve learned. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- The upcoming days require patience, as there may be a disagreement about priorities or delayed correspondence. Research the best deal. Wait for new orders. Consider assuming more authority. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Consider attending a business seminar. Plan your agenda. Build a picture of wealth in your mind. Doubts may rise. Imagine doing what you love. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Keep it practical. Figure out finances today and tomorrow, but wait until overnight to sign. Pay bills. Changes necessitate budget revisions. Bide your time. Your assumptions get challenged. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Review the instructions again. Share the load today and tomorrow, but hold on to the responsibility. Avoid backtracking. What you get isn’t what you expected. Stay pragmatic.
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The Crimson White
Page 14 | Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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