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Demetri Martin’s ‘Important things’ uninspired,shows potential
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SPORTS
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Lebegern’s consistancy sustains No. 5 Tide
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 115, Issue 85
Bike renters to face fees, higher price
Chuck D talks politics, future By Patty Vaughn Contributing Writer
Chuck D spoke Wednesday night to students about President Obama, demographics and the influence of hip-hop. Dozens of students, faculty members and Tuscaloosa residents came to the Ferguson Ballroom to hear Chuck D speak. Throughout the speech there were several breaks for applauses and inspirational moments. Chuck D began by talking about Barack Obama. He called Obama “the ultimate rapper.” Obama has earned this title, Chuck D said, through three rules. “Rule number one is that President Obama has a strong voice. Rule number two is that he means what he says, and rule number three is that he raises emotion,” Chuck D said. Chuck D has been going to college campuses to talk to students since 1991. He has been at the Capstone once before and his message has drastically changed due to the election. “Thank God for President Barack Obama because that’s a grown, responsible and accountable man,” Chuck D said. Chuck D said Obama will start to raise the standard whether citizens like it or not. He also told the audience, specifically the students, that intelligence was the way of the future. “[You had] better be a nerd every second of every day,” he said. The way to help society is to get an education and to not rely on fame, Chuck D said. One shouldn’t pay attention to the fashion statements being set by the music artists out in Hollywood, but instead should be saving their money, he said. Chuck D spoke about three words that begin with the letter ‘F’ and end in the letter ‘E.’ Fame, fade and fake. Fame will fade and in the end. It is all fake, he said. “What happened to the artists that said the things that needed to be said?” Chuck D said. Chuck D noted that in 2009 there should be
By Lindsey Holland Contributing Writer New policy changes have been implemented for BamaBike users. BamaBike • Bikes can be checked is a program that charges students a registration fee of out for three days $10 for unlimited use of bikes instead of seven until the start of a new school year. The program has a total • There will be a late fee of 36 bikes available for use of $5 per day for the and maintains them with the registration fees. first five days, then $10 The changes took effect in after that January and include shorter rental periods. The rental • If BamaBike staff finds period for bikes is now three a bike that is overdue, days instead of seven days. Students will also be they will repossess it, charged a late fee of $5 for and the user will be rethe first five days a bike is quired to return the key overdue. After five days, the fee will increase to $10. • Students can return According to the policy this was due to bikes being renttheir BamaBike to any ed and kept past their due location during or after date. check-out hours Users will also not be allowed to use a bike if they have an outstanding balance on their account, according to the policy. Users will also not be allowed to check out a bike they have just returned, the policy said. If no other bike is available at that site, students will have to go to another check-out site. Also, if the BamaBike staff finds a bike that is overdue, they
Fast facts
See BIKES, page 3
Statements of candidacy due today From staff reports All statements of candidacy and statements of intent for SGA elections are due today at 5 p.m. to sgaelections@sa.ua. edu. Candidate applications will be certified by the Elections Board on Thursday and Friday. All executive and senate candidates and their campaign managers must attend one of the SGA orientation sessions, which are Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 will be held at the Ferguson Center. Official campaigning begins Feb. 20. Candidacy announcements will be made at the Ferguson Plaza on Feb. 23 and Feb 24.
UA weather
TODAY
INSIDE Today’s paper
Opinions: Panel discusses President Obama .....2
Thunderstorms
67º/43º
Thursday
Partly cloudy
Friday
Chance of rain
67º/41º 61º/43º
Problems with political correctness ..............4 Lifestyles:Missing Ink creepy contest..........6 “Important Things with Demetri Martin”........7 Sports:Lebegern leads in gymnastics ...............8 Menʼs basketball rests takes week off......8
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-4116 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifieds: 348-7355 Letters, op-eds: letters@cw.ua.edu Press releases, announcements: news@cw.ua.edu
CW | RF Rains
See CHUCK D, page 3
Date auction raises scholarship funds By Victor Luckerson Staff Reporter Workers, coordinators and auctionees are getting geared up for tomorrow night’s Scholarship Date Auction. The event, co-sponsored by the SGA and the National Society of Black Engineers, will beat The Zone in Bryant-Denny Stadium at 6:30 on Thursday night. Terry Saban, football coach Nick Saban’s wife, will be the master of ceremonies. “We will be auctioning off 35 to 40 of the most high profile students from across a wide variety of student organizations and athletic teams,” SGA executive director James Fowler said. All the money raised will be put towards various student scholarships. Those in attendance will be entered into a
raffle to win $500 scholarships at the end of the night, and the National Society of Black Engineers will also be using some of the funds to sponsor several book scholarships. “It’s a good way to get students together to mingle and raise scholarship funds,” said Oretta Clemons, a senior majoring in civil engineering and member of NSBE. She said the event would be a good opportunity to underscore the important role of scholarships, even in the face of possible budget cuts for the University. This is the 10th year NSBE has sponsored a date auction; however, it’s the first year they’ve worked with the SGA. “The National Society of Black Engineers have played a key role in laying the foundation
If you go... What: SGA Scholarship Date Auction When: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
the SGA’s Ideas to Action program. “As I began my work with the Ideas to Action proCost: $2, which includes gram, I didn’t really know one raffle ticket, other what to expect,” Kinney said. “However, as work progressed, raffle tickets are $1, with and I came to realize we were a 10 ticket limit actually making the idea that I submitted a reality. This has been a great experience, and I to make next Thursday’s event a hope that all students will submit their ideas to the Ideas to major success,” Fowler said. The concept was presented Action program. Take credit for to the SGA by Kirby Kinney, a your ideas, and see them come sophomore majoring in psy- true to improve the campus for chology. It is the first project in all.”
Where: The Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium
UAPD releases after-dark walking routes map By Karissa Bursch Staff Reporter
Fast facts
Keeping in mind safety while walking around campus late at night has always been an important part of the precautions recommended to UA students by the University of Alabama Police Department. The lighting used to keep pathways welllit at night are a part of this safety, and though pathways around campus have been lit for years, UAPD is now promoting the map that illustrates where the most well-lit paths on campus are. The brochure that shows the map of well-lit pathways has been around for years, Officer Andy Liles of UAPD said. The after-dark walking
• After-dark walking routes map shows well-lit pathways around campus. • The map is featured in the UAPD Safer Living Guide brochure.
Library celebrates Darwin’s birthday By Kellie Munts Contributing Writer
now pushing it hard,” Liles said. The Safer Living Guide, which has information on emergency preparedness, personal safety and theft prevention, has more than 60 locations where it is
The Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering will celebrate the 200th birthday of renowned scientist Charles Darwin on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Louis Pitschmann, dean of libraries, suggested sponsoring a small program on Charles Darwin, and those at the Rodgers library brought the idea to fruition. “The birthday idea popped into our minds and then we realized it was the 150th
See LIGHTING, page 3
See DARWIN, page 3
• The map is updated every year, according to lighting changes and new walking paths. routes map can be found in the Safer Living guidebook given out by UAPD, online and in UAPD’s public reports kiosk. “We haven’t done a good job of disseminating [the recommended after-dark walking routes map] which is one of the reasons why we are
DATE AUCTIONEES Check out photos and info of auctionees Page 5