The Crimson White - 2/25/09

LIFESTYLES

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Column: If you love the comic, don’t see the movie

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Matthes’ cycle lifts Tide basketball to 11-4 win over Nicholls State

Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Vol. 115, Issue 93

LARRY LANGFORD LECTURE

SGA | VP OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Mayor talks race, media and poltics

Valeska, Creel fight for VP spot

By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter Surgery could not keep Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford from speaking out against the media in his lecture on campus Monday night. Despite undergoing a procedure only two hours prior, Langford ventured to Tuscaloosa to deliver his lecture, titled “Race, Politics and the Media in the Age of Obama,” which covered an extensive amount of topics from media’s role in society to the realities of being a black American to raising children.

The event was hosted by the Capstone Association of Black Journalists in partnership with the Society of Professional Journalists.

Langford’s discontent with the media was evident by the first line he uttered.

“I’m just going to go ahead and tell you that I am not a big fan of the media. I’ve had the opportunity to be in the media, so I have seen it from both sides. The media shapes our lives and what we do. I’m not a big fan of the media because the media has a way of telling stories — not how the story is but how they want to tell the story,” he said.

Langford, a former TV reporter, said he was particularly disappointed with the devolution of reporters on TV. “You can tell that [TV

“I loved when George Wallace was governor. At least you always knew where you stood.”

-Larry Langford, mayor of Birmingham reporters] put their own spin on their stories,” Langford said.

In addition, Langford said the media’s flaw is its need to dramatize stories.

“You don’t need to sensationalize three murders. The media needs to stop trying to sensationalize,” he said.

Langford pointed to his city’s newspaper, the Birmingham News, as an example of slanted media.

“The worst thing to happen to Birmingham is the Birmingham News. The philosophy of that paper is just anti-city,” he said.

Politics, specifically partisanship, also irked the Birmingham mayor, a Democrat.

“Ain’t a dime’s worth of difference between Democrats and Republicans,” he said.

While on the subject of politics, Langford detailed his plans to obtain stimulus dollars by bypassing the state of Alabama, who said would not receive any money from the president’s

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president for student affairs includes a number of responsibilities, including managing In the election for vice presi- the needs of students concerndent for student affairs, Tyler ing athletic events, entertainValeska — a sophomore major- ment, student organizations ing in English and political sci- and more. “[Student Affairs] is responence — faces off against Austin Creel — a junior in New College sible for reaching directly out specializing in education poli- to the student body to gauge cy.

The position of vice See ELECTION, page 2

By Drew Taylor Senior Staff Reporter A week ago, Jeff Drexler, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, was ending his four-month tour of Iraq, heading home to Tuscaloosa. After flying in from Fort Benning, Ga., Drexler had not been in Tuscaloosa for an hour when he stopped by to see the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Temple Emanu-El building on Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled about the progress the Temple is making,” Drexler said.

Drexler, who has been a member of Temple Emanu-El since 2006, said he came to the Temple just as it was making its residency at Capstone Church on University Boulevard.

“It’s important for the Jewish community to have their own place to worship,” Drexler said.

The ceremony began with the Temple Religious School Children singing “Shalom Chaverim,” a Hebrew greeting meaning “Hello Friends.” Rabbi Steven Jacobs followed the song with a shehechiyanu, or prayer of thanks for a special day, commenting on how far the church has come in such a short time.

“This, indeed, is an historic moment for all of us,” Jacobs

See TEMPLE, page 2

Our View: Our pick for VP of student affairs .4

By Josh Veazey Senior Staff Reporter

Lifestyles: Eating disorder awareness week ......8 Sports: Basketball preview ................. 12

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

Tyler Valeska

•

Sophomore majoring in English and poltical science

•

SGA Senator, member of University fellows, Blackburn Institute

Austin Creel

•

Junior, New College specializing in education policy

• Member of Blount Undergraduate Initiative

By Drew Taylor Senior Staff Reporter

A packed Ferguson Center Ballroom observed as Kendra Key, a junior majoring in political science, and Steven Oliver, a junior majoring in biology, commenced in the first of four debates Monday.

All 11 students running for SGA executive council were in attendance. Eli Gold, better known as the “Voice of the Crimson Tide,” served as the moderator for the debate, which lasted a little more than an hour.

Each candidate was allowed two minutes to make an opening statement. Students submitted all questions for the candidates last week.

When asked what the SGA president would do to

combat an expanding University quickly approaching 28,000 students, Key said she would like to implement group discussions to keep the student body connected with the SGA. “It’s important to maintain a small-community feel with a committee like this,” Key said.

When asked the same question, Oliver agreed with Key, discussing how, despite the growing student population, the University still maintains a personal setting in the classroom.

“I’ve never felt like a number here at the University,” Oliver said.

When asked how the SGA president-elect would deal with rising tuition costs and if he or she would reconsider the

See DEBATE, page 6

Students embark on 40-day Lent journey

Key, Oliver announce their candidacies ......3

National: Mardi Gras parade viewers shot .7

Candidate Breakdown

Temple Emanu-El Candidates battle it breaks ground out in first two debates

Motivations both secular and devout

Blackburn hosts disability discussion ................2

Mostly cloudy

By Victor Luckerson Senior Staff Reporter

See MAYOR, page 6

CW| Jerrod W Seaton “Weʼre three fries short of a Happy Meal in this state,” Langford said, criticizing Alabamaʼs resistance to legal gambling, alcohol sales on Sundays and the hypocrisy of the church.

CW | Marion R Walding

Tyler Valeska, left, and Ausitn Creel, right, are battling for SGA vice president for students affairs.

She’s been an atheist since high school, but every spring, Madison Langston, a sophomore majoring in religious studies, participates in Lent, the Christian ritual of self-discipline that leads up to Easter.

“I want to practice self-control,” Langston said. “Whether you’re religious or not, everyone needs a ritual for discipline.

Religions are good at that, but they haven’t cornered the market.”

Langston plans to go 40 days without soft drinks, fast food or meat.

“I see religion as simply a

power apparatus,” Langston said. “But this particular thing is good for anyone in a practical way. I just want to prove to myself that I can do it.”

Lent traditionally occurs for 40 days leading up to Easter, calculated differently by various sects, and begins with Ash Wednesday. Participants usually restrict their diet, perform various acts of charity and deprive themselves of something they desire, such as caffeine or alcohol, symbolic of Jesus’ fasting and being tempted by Satan in the book of Matthew.

“Lent is 40 days of preparation for the Easter season. It’s a time of fasting, alms giving and sacrificing,” said the Rev. Holloway, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish. “It’s somewhat of a journey when we go into the ‘desert’ and reflect upon our lives.”

Holloway said he thinks nonreligious people can take

something out of Lent, especially if they reflect on their own life and relationships with others. “[Lent] is a personal choice — a lot of times, it depends on what’s going on in their lives,” Holloway said. “I always encourage people to do more during the Lent season. Spend more time in prayer, spend more time serving others and spend more time just reaching out in love to others.”

Lynette Shedd, a junior majoring in human development, is giving up any food she has to go out to eat, in order to save money and eat healthier.

“I don’t know a lot about Lent, just because I grew up Baptist, and obviously it’s not something they do. But it’s an easy time to make a goal — when other people are giving up other things, it’s easier for me to stick to giving up something like that,” Shedd said. “And the only way for me to keep goals is

through Christ. He’s the reason I set goals in the first place.”

Alexandra Bruce, a junior majoring in public relations who has decided to give up alcohol, said she also grew up Baptist — without Lent. However, her Lent will be a particularly spiritual one.

“This is more of a personal decision that I think is going to help my relationship with God,” Bruce said. “There are a lot of other positive things, too. I think that my grades are going to get better, and I’ll probably lose weight, too. But the majority of it has to do with that spiritual relationship.”

Bruce said she has tried Lent and failed to make it through in previous years, but this year, she has been planning for it for three months, and said she plans to take it much more

See LENT, page 6

2

PAGE

TODAY • Henry V presented by the UA Department of Theatre and Dance — 7:30 p.m., Gallaway Theatre, runs through Sunday

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

• Evening conversations with Paul R. Jones — 5 p.m., 20 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library

•Public Night Sky-Viewing Session — 7 to 10 p.m., Moundville Archaeological Park

• Family Discovery Series Concert with the Tuscaloosa Symphony — 6 p.m., Moody Music Building Concert Hall

• Bankhead Visiting Writers Series presents Jean Thompson — 7:30 p.m., Bama Theatre

Wednesday February 25, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send announcements and campus news to cwnews@sa.ua.edu

Blackburn hosts disability talk

By Amy Castleberry Contributing Writer

QUOTE OF THE DAY “The worst thing to happen to Birmingham is the Birmingham News. The philosophy of that paper is just anti-city.”

— Larry Langford, mayor of Birmingham, in his speech to students Monday night

BIRTHDAYS Tuesday

Matt Wehner, second year MBA student

Today Reeshawna M. Caddell, sophomore majoring in psychology

We want to list your birthday here. Send your name, birthdate, year and major to cwnews@sa.ua.edu. Put “birthday” in the subject line. And look for birthday greetings from us on your special day.

THIS DAY IN U.S. HISTORY 1870: Hiram Rhoades Revels, a Republican from Natchez, Mississippi, is sworn into the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in Congress.

Source: www.history.com

THE CRIMSON WHITE EDITORIAL • Corey Craft, editor-in-chief, craft@cw.ua.edu, 348-8049 • Phil Owen, managing editor, owen@cw.ua.edu, 348-6146 • James Jaillet, production editor • Breckan Duckworth, design editor • Robert Bozeman, assistant design editor • Marion Walding, photo editor • RF Rains, assistant photo editor • Kelli Abernathy, chief copy editor • Paul Thompson, opinions editor • Dave Folk, news editor • Brett Bralley, news editor • Ryan Mazer, lifestyles editor • CJ McCormick, assistant lifestyles editor • Greg Ostendorf, sports editor • Ryan Wright, assistant sports editor • Eric McHargue, graphics editor • Andrew Richardson, Web editor

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In conjunction with the Real Talk series, Blackburn Fellow Nikki Wheelus will facilitate an informal roundtable discussion tonight titled, “What It’s Like Living with a Disability.”

The discussion will be held in the Anderson Room of the Ferguson Center at 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Blackburn Institute and Crossroads

ELECTION Continued from page 1

what can be done about them,” Valeska said.

“The biggest thing is representing all the students and making sure they have a voice,” Valeska said.

As a freshman, Valeska was on the SGA’s voter registration and education committee, which encouraged students to participate in state, local and University elections. He is

Community Center, Wheelus said she will moderate the discussion along with a representative from Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as a representative from campus’s office of disability services on the subject of living with a disability.

“The discussion will focus on different issues and hopefully allow for different perspectives,” Wheelus said. “We’re looking to encourage and make

a more cohesive student body unit on this campus, helping students relate to others who may be different from them.”

B l a c kb u r n I n st i tu t e Community Education Leader Ben Foster hopes attendees will participate actively in the discussion allowing for different points of view.

“At the Blackburn Institute, we value and hold dearly an appreciation and sense of diversity,” Foster said. ”We hope to

foster and encourage that value with our discussion and encourage students to do so throughout the campus community.”

According to their press release, the Blackburn Institute is a network of University leaders, known as Blackburn Fellows.

The Blackburn Institute provides the fellows, opportunities to explore issues and identify strategic actions that will improve the quality of life for our state and nation.

currently a senator from the College of Communication and Information Sciences, serving as a higher education liaison and lobbying to minimize higher education budget cuts.

Valeska is also a member of the University Fellows Experience and the Blackburn Institute, two scholars programs that promote community service and critical thinking.

“These are organizations that have really exposed me to a wide spectrum of ideas,” Valeska said. “I feel like a plurality of ideas is really important when you’re considering policies that affect all students.”

Creel has had minimal involvement with the SGA, but he said that was not an issue.

“I feel like my experience is not a big deal,” Creel said. “I think it’s just knowing what students want and knowing the right people to talk to [to] get that done. I don’t know if experience is really going to affect how I perform.”

Creel said low voter turnout reflected a lack of interest in SGA. “Most of the students don’t even care about the SGA,” Creel said. “They think the SGA’s pretty much useless. The real

students of UA aren’t involved with SGA and SGA isn’t involved with the students.”

In terms of ideas, the two candidates’ platforms varied greatly.

Rising tuition prices are a big concern, Valeska said.

“We’re really confident that within the next couple of months we’ll be able to get something done so that come next year, tuition increases aren’t putting too much of a strain on students,” Valeska said.

Another proposal was to increase the connectedness to campus for students that live off campus. Valeska wants to create a map of hang-out spots, dining locations, computer labs and recreational locations around campus. This map would be distributed in a digital SGA newsletter that would also include upcoming campus events and tips for students about campus life.

Valeska also proposed being more proactive in reallocating football tickets of students who buy tickets in the spring but do not enroll in the fall so that they can be put back into the waiting list pool quicker. He also hopes to create a program where tickets that have not been used 15

minutes into the game will be sent to the waiting list pool so that other students can claim those tickets.

He also proposed putting one to two copies of textbooks in school libraries.

“They will be there for students who lost their book or didn’t buy one in the first place,” he said. “We’re hoping that will ease the burden of book costs.”

Creel said he would like to host an open forum where students could present their ideas to the SGA. “It would just be this open dialogue in the Quad or somewhere,” Creel said.

He said the event might feature music to make it a more entertainment-focused campus event. He likened the concept to a more immediate version of the Ideas to Action program.

He also advocated for an expansion of freedom of speech rights on campus.

“I feel like we’re kind of limited,” Creel said. “I want to include all students and make expression easier on campus. I don’t agree with only having a small plaza to be our only place where we can fully express ourselves. I’d allow people to be able to say things on other parts of campus.”

He also recommended expanding the bus system to include off-campus apartments.

He suggested the apartment complexes might pay a fee to be included in the transit route.

He also advocated the return of a 24-hour diner.

“I feel like if Bama Dining can’t do that, they charge us way too much for the food we eat,” he said.

Local acts should be incorporated into Homecoming events, Creel said. He advocated a local battle of the bands.

Creel stressed he would offer a fresh perspective in SGA. “I’m not this political face,” Creel said. “I’m pretty much a student. Those people who don’t have a voice in SGA will now have one.”

TEMPLE Continued from page 1

said.

University President Robert Witt spoke on the University’s resolve to cater to as many students as it can in terms of religion.

“The University wants to be able to keep its students grounded in their faith, whatever that may be,” Witt said.

Ron Hood, the immediate past president of the Temple, said the Temple sold its former building two years ago after complaints of the building being too big for its congregation and decided to build a temple to its own specifications with the help of the University.

“Everyone has been so supportive in our endeavor,” Hood said. “You can’t find another place like the University.”

The Temple has resided in three different buildings since the 1880s and currently resides at Capstone Church.

In September, the Board of Trustees approved additional resolutions that were made to the final drawings of the new building. The Temple, which was approved for a ground lease in November 2007, will occupy 6,500 square feet and will be located next to the RBC Centura Bank on the corner of Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue. The Temple is scheduled to be completed later this year.

The Crimson White

NEWS

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

3

SGA PRESIDENCY CANDIDATES

Key, Oliver announce candidacy Key launches campaign

By Patty Vaughan Contributing Writer Kendra Key announced her platform Monday in the Ferguson Plaza and made it known to everyone that student involvement with the election is crucial.

Dozens of students gathered to witness her speech, including Jared Lauridsen, a junior majoring in studio art.

He sat on the Ferguson Center steps holding two signs that read, “Inform yourself,” and “All Students have a Voice.”

“I got these signs because I liked the idea behind the signs,” Lauridsen said. “The ‘inform yourself’ sign I like, because I’m completely against propaganda no matter what it’s for, and all students have a voice in our democratic system.”

In her speech, Key discussed her platform which included First Ticket Forgiveness, changing ticketing hours, lowering prices on textbooks, raising the quality of food in the dining halls and

doing anything the University can to bring the student body closer together.

“With so many people living off campus — and even those who are on campus living greater and greater distances from each other — it becomes almost impossible for some students to feel like a part of their University,” Key said. “We are a school based on tradition and one that prides itself on having a close knit community.”

Key went on to say the election was not about her but about showing that every student has a voice and that voice needs to be heard.

Key also wanted to make clear she is here to represent every student organization on campus as opposed to rumors that have been going around.

“I just want to make one thing perfectly clear once and for all,” Key said. “I am running to be the president of all students, and if you elect me, I will work every minute of every day for the next year to build bridges between all organizations on campus, not burn them.”

Ben Foster, a senior major in telecommunication and

film and political science, was there watching and rallying the crowd.

“I’ve been friends with Kendra a long time and she can produce action which produces results,” Foster said. “I know she can if she’s given the chance.”

Foster has been helping with the SGA elections for awhile and has been helping Key in any way he can.

“I think she appeals to everybody and various groups and organizations,” Foster said. “She is able to reach out to everybody and I think that’s amazing.”

Key concluded her speech by touching on the subject of unification again and making a positive future.

“No matter who you are — greek or independent, black or white, international or American — I want to be your president, and I want to hear what you have to say,” Key said. “Because with me, your voice truly is Key.” To find out more about Key or her platform visit her Web site at www.kendrakey. com To view Key speaking on issues in her platform visitwww.youtube.com/watch?v=5qnzGhetXY

Oliver holds Mardi Gras themed speech

By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter A large banner splashed with green, yellow and purple letters reading “Steven Oliver for President” stood against the backdrop of the pale, beige exterior of Amelia Gayle Gorgas library on Tuesday afternoon.

The sign, complete with a drawing of a Mardi Gras mask, was in accordance with the Fat Tuesday parade to announce Oliver’s candidacy for the SGA president.

“This is [Oliver’s] official announcement, and for his campaign kickoff and we’d thought we’d celebrate Fat Tuesday and his candidacy just like a Fat Tuesday parade. There are a lot of people here and we’re excited about the event. We wanted to make it fun for everybody,” said Anna Katherine Owen, a senior majoring in public relations.

Owen, a member of Oliver’s campaign team, said she supports his efforts wholeheartedly.

“I feel he’s the best candidate for the job. He’s so qualified. He’s also a very good friend of mine.

He’s been involved in so many different things and I feel that he truly understands students and

he knows how to represent them.

He’s also been involved with the SGA for three years, and I think he knows how to deal with the SGA as well as the faculty and administration,” said Owen.

Others watching Oliver’s candidacy parade said that Oliver had their vote.

“I think Steven’s the best candidate. He’s had a lot of experience with the SGA. He has a lot of really good ideas that are going to help the students. His ideas are student centered and his ideas are going to bring change to the University in the most positive way,” said Allison Crawford, a junior majoring in marketing and current attorney general of the SGA executive board.

Students said Oliver would bring change to the campus.

“We’re trying to build upon the progress that we are already making with the SGA. One of his main platform goals that I feel very strongly about are incorporating a mini-mester program, which would be a semester within a semester for students who drop with a ‘W’ and want to go back and get credit hours,” said Owen.

Crawford said the changes she most looked forward to if Oliver were to get elected were the libraries being open 24 hours on Thursday nights and ACTion card discounts.

The parade trailed from Gorgas Library to the Ferguson

Center Plaza, where Allen Ross, the current VP of Student Affairs, introduced Oliver.

“Steven is an advocate for the students on this campus and an example to us all,” said Ross.

Oliver, amidst applause from the large audience, stood up and addressed the crowd.

“I’m truly grateful for all of your advice and support,” he said.

Oliver said he was really appreciative of the efforts of past SGA officials, but he thinks that a combined effort between students and the SGA could surpass their efforts to better the University.

“I’ve seen the work that the SGA has done in the past.

There’s no doubt that we have an extraordinary student government, but I believe we can take it a step further,” he said.

“I’m determined to do more than continue initiatives of the past. The student government has not only the potential, but the obligation to serve all students,” he said.

Oliver detailed his goals including 24-hour libraries, online financial affair applications, safety and the mini-mester program.

Oliver stated he felt he, as well as the SGA, can make a difference in campus life.

“I am confident that Alabama’s SGA has the resources to continuously improve the lives of every student every day,” he said.

HIGHER EDUCATION DAY

Students advocate change in state congress By registering to participate in Higher Education Day on March 5, students can unite with students from other Alabama universities in an effort to directly influence state legislators.

Students may sign up for the event through March 4 in the SGA office. Those interested in receiving a free T-shirt must register by Feb. 25.

Mike Dodson, SGA Vice President for External Affairs, encourages anyone interested in making an impact in the higher education program to participate. According to Dodson, higher attendance numbers could potentially result in a greater

impact in the higher education program.

“We are getting as many buses as we need,” Dodson said.

“There is no cap on the number of students that can come.”

Students who choose to participate in the trip to Montgomery will be working to make a difference in the funding allotments in the education program for Alabama. According to Dodson, the discrepancy between funding for the public universities and for other public schools has been steadily increasing.

Through Higher Education Day, participants can assist in the effort to halt that process.

“Through this, we’re hoping to equalize that out so that more students have the opportunity to

go to school here because they will have more funding,” Dodson said.

The buses will leave campus at 7 a.m. on March 5, and will return by 5 p.m. While the students are in Montgomery, they will unite with student representatives from 13 other public universities.

Dodson believes that an impact will be made because there will be hundreds of students working together toward the same cause.

“We will be showing through support in numbers that students at the University are paying attention and that they do care about the higher education program,” Dodson said.

Additionally, students will be able to directly make a

Closing citizens’ comments lasted nearly as long as the Tuscaloosa City Council meeting itself Tuesday night.

Citizens from District One came to speak to the council about sewage problems in that area. Warren Williams spoke on behalf of the Royal Pines area and Beautiful Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

“It’s an injustice that the people of Royal Pines, Johnson Road and Taylor Road have to deal with the current sewage

situation,” Williams said.

Resident Lexi Thomas said every time it rained, raw sewage backed up into her and her neighbors’ houses.

“We can not live under [these conditions],” Thomas said.

She said she had looked for solutions, like installing another septic tank. She was told this wouldn’t solve the problem and that the sewers needed to be upgraded.

Williams acknowledged the city had taken some steps to help “areas that have not benefited from the economic prosperity of Tuscaloosa,” such as his, but claimed the city was

universities in hopes of maintaining reasonable tuition fees. The rally is held annually through the Higher Education Partnership in hopes of impacting the legislators involved.

According to Dodson, the University’s involvement has been organized through SGA and in conjunction with the Higher Education Partnership

group. The groups have been working closely together as the date of the rally approaches in hopes of having a positive influence.

“There have been definite positive results from this, and we’ve seen a significant impact from the legislators because seeing that many students advocating change is a very impactful state-

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difference by talking with legislators at the capital. Dodson emphasized that by speaking directly to individual legislators students will be able to advocate the cause on a more personal level.

The Higher Education Partnership allows students to encourage legislators to put state funding toward Alabama’s

Wednesday

Plato Jones

not working fast enough to fix the sewers in this neighborhood.

Bobby Howard, the councilman who represents District One, explained that the council had been working on the problem, but said, “it’s a long process.”

“We’re trying to get you some help,” he assured Williams and stayed after the meeting to speak with some of his twenty plus constituents that were at the meeting.

Minutes from all council meetings are posted on the Tuscaloosa City Web site.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

OPINIONS Paul Thompson • Editor

4

cwopinions@gmail.com

OUR VIEW

The CW endorses Valeska for Student Affairs As we continue our endorsement series, today we pick Tyler Valeska for SGA Vice President of Student Affairs.

It was clear to us that Valeska’s platform is one that has received a great deal of thought and is one that will improve the lives of everyday students should he find success in implementing his agenda.

In fact, Valeska has already met with a substantial number of University administrators,

pitching his preliminary plans.

We also found that Valeska was extremely prepared for his new position, should he be elected. Already serving in the SGA Senate, he authored legislation that would have encouraged the University to freeze tuition prices, before SGA President Cason Kirby vetoed the bill.

Valeska also outlines a number of ideas for reducing the number of student tickets to football games that go unused.

If elected, Valeska said he would work with the ACTion Card office to upgrade the system and allow for new and innovative programs that would alert students on the waiting list to find out if they got a ticket to the game. This is definitely a program we support, and Valeska has shown his commitment to working on this issue by doing some of the preliminary groundwork on his idea.

Valeska also outlined his

ideas for tuition increases, saying he preferred a graduated increase that placed more of the burden of an overall hike on incoming freshman, with each grade level receiving less of an increase as a result. Also, Valeska said he has already met with University President Robert Witt, who — Valeska said — was receptive to ideas on tuition increases that would come from the SGA. Valeska has other ideas, too,

including placing books for classes in some of the libraries and creating an “activities map” that would show students some things and places where there are things to do during long breaks from class.

Not to be outdone, Valeska’s opponent, Austin Creel, has some good ideas, too. Our gripes, though, were that his positions were over-generalized and lack the level of sophistication of Valeska’s. Whatever the

case, we got the sense that Creel genuinely cares about students and SGA, but we were unable to endorse him because of his lack of experience and preparedness.

Overall, we found ourselves in agreement with Valeska, which is why we endorse him in his bid for VP of Student Affairs.

Our View is the consensus of The Crimson White’s Editorial Board.

This year, vote for UA

MCT CAMPUS

Music matters in intimate situations

By M. Green

The hills are alive with the sound of music! Or, if not the hills, definitely the dorm room.

We’ve all been there: you’ve just returned from a wonderful date with your latest conquest.

Things are going fairly well: he’s cute, sweet and funny; plus, it’s Thursday night. We all know what that means. It’s time to do the horizontal hustle. The situation starts to get a little hot and heavy, when all of a sudden, your partner says, “Why don’t I put on a little music?”

This seemingly innocent proposition can tell you a lot about your potential new bedfellow. Depending on the contents of his iTunes playlist, you may have found your future husband or you might be stuck with someone who will stand outside your dorm at 3 a.m. sobbing and begging to know why you didn’t call him back. It is imperative to know the characteristics of each of these types so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Ignorance isn’t always bliss.

This handy guide (no pun intended) serves to help you

ward off any unwanted suitors. And guys, if you’re guilty of selecting any of the following tunes for your romp in the sack, just be aware of the image you’re putting out there. Read and learn: “Wait (The Whisper Song)” by the Ying-Yang Twins: He doesn’t want you for your mind, that’s for sure. Just listening to the lyrics of this kinky classic is enough to make even the most perverted frat guy blush. “Wait ‘til you see his”…ego. Hold on tight, things are about to get rough.

“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green: This guy’s got game. His personality could go one of two ways. Scenario one, he’s a womanizing jerk who knows how to coax a gal out of her Fruit of the Looms. Don’t let him fool you into thinking you’re his one and only. Scenario two, he’s looking for a girl to be his blushing bride. Either way, proceed with caution.

“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan: Aside from the obvious innuendo the title of this 1960s hit holds, this song conjures up images of smoking a peace pipe

in a teepee at Woodstock. If he tells you he wants to touch your soul, and hands you an ecstasy tablet, you should probably split faster than the Beatles after Yoko Ono made her first appearance.

“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt: Watch out; you’ve got a sensitive guy on your hands.

He’ll talk about his feelings and write you epic poems about the mole on your upper lip. While this sounds wildly romantic and worthy of a Hugh Grant movie, it may not be everything it’s cracked up to be. But if this type sounds perfect to you, by all means, let him put his iambic pentameter in your heroic couplet. Just don’t be surprised if he cries afterward.

“Runaway Jim” by Phish: This song by the popular jam band Phish lasts an exhausting fiftynine minutes. If he puts this on, prepare for a looooong night.

You might even have time to get some homework done while he performs his marathon. Oh, and don’t forget to make sure you have Domino’s on speed-dial for a mid-coital snack.

“Orgasm Through Torture”

by Cannibal Corpse: …RUN. Should your lover opt for silence, or merely turn on a fan, he obviously doesn’t mind if his roommates hear you doing the deed. In this case you’ve got yourself an exhibitionist, and that’s a topic for an entirely different column.

While obviously every demographic cannot be mentioned in this short column, I think I’ve covered the major bases. Now, boys, don’t get your boxers in a wad telling me that the fact that you love James Blunt doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a creepy weeper. (Even though it does.)

Sex is a personal experience, and everyone is different. If you want to do a striptease to Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy,” that is totally your prerogative. And who knows?

You may find a girl who is just as into the cheesy nineties techno beats as you are. I wish you the best of luck in your search.

M. Green is The Crimson White’s sex columnist. Her column runs on Wednesdays.

For the second time this school year, we reach a high point of political banter, heightened senses of surroundings and very chalky sidewalks. It is, once again, election time. This time, as people should know by now, we’re voting for our student government, the biggest and best way for students to communicate their wants and needs with the University’s administration.

That being said, I’d like to petition the students reading this not to vote based on Machine and non-Machine, but based on the good of the University, student life and living. I mean, let’s be frank.

It’s not so hard to figure out which candidate for SGA president is the Machine candidate. I mean, a coalition of all-white fraternities and sororities (reportedly added only after the 1976 election of our thus far only AfricanAmerican SGA president Cleo Thomas) picking a nonwhite non-male as candidate for president is a tough idea to swallow. It’s kind of like a “Where’s Waldo?” book, but where every page is nothing but Waldos.

Does that mean I’m endorsing Kendra Key for SGA president? Nope. Being in the Machine doesn’t inherently mean you won’t serve your University well. It may, and probably does, mean you’ll serve your frats before your fellow students, which is no good. But my point is that we should look into the candidates, not simply paint them one color or another and vote based on the color we agree with more. If a Machine candidate will be better for all of the University than the opposing candidate, so be it.

And please, don’t stop at voting for SGA president. Every member of the SGA is important in some aspect. Sure, the president is very important, but what about your senators?

I’m sure that if you’re in the College of Arts and Sciences, you want a senator who’s willing to try to get free prints back, or a computer lab usable only by A&S students similar to the CBH lab, or computers that actually work in ten Hoor Hall. If you’re in the College of Commerce & Business Administration, you probably

Sean Randall

want a senator who can get your college more money, or toilet paper that’s a little more than half-ply in Bidgood Hall.

As a student at the University, if you’re coming back next year, you have a duty to yourself to want the best situation for you, the best situation for your fellow students and the best situation for your school. Some may disagree with that, but we can at least probably agree that most people want what’s best for them. So do the research and actually find out what will most likely be best for you.

But this election keeping proper for the University goes further than just voting. We need to conduct it with dignity and respect for all candidates.

You may hate the Machine, but that’s no excuse to defame their candidate. And the reverse is true. Personally, I don’t want to see any burning crosses (which the Machine has been suspected of in the past) or swastikas (which the Machine has been suspected of in the present) used to defame or strike fear against any of the candidates, be they for president, vice president or senator.

To vote for a good life to live at the University, we need to live out a good life before we vote. Mudslinging, re-chalking and all the other juvenile attacks don’t help you get votes. They show you as desperate, pathetic and wrong.

Let’s try, this year, to make the candidates we support look right as opposed to demeaning the other one.

Sean Randall is a junior majoring in theatre and philosophy.

He is a regular contributor to The Crimson White.

Facebook, transparency and the new world

By Raymond Wachter

this issue of proprietary rights was fended off by, what else? A There were two articles user-created Facebook group.

The other article was a front in Monday’s edition of The Crimson White that caught my page news piece by Jessie eye, and they were both about Gable about the relations Facebook. One was a brief edito- between professors and sturial commenting on the “terms dents on Facebook. Let me tell of service” approach that Mark you, this is a very interesting Zuckerberg and his millionaire cultural moment we’re all witcronies tried to slip past cur- nessing right now — and it’s rent Facebook users. Ironically, not just about professors and

students — it’s about a fundamental change in human identity. Because of the density of the global population and the major changes in the fabric of American social life, the world is becoming transparent.

Before you think I’m getting all abstract and dramatic like a typical English professor, give me a moment to explain. First of all, it’s true. More and more

adults of all professions are getting on Facebook.

And let me offer you a brief explanation as to why. In my case, it wasn’t really a matter of choice. I tried to avoid all social networking sites like the plague. About a year ago I started getting routine membership requests from the Facebook platform. This happens when you don’t have a registered

account and colleagues, family, and friends try to add you as a friend through the contact importer.

I must have ignored about a half dozen requests until a friend of mine I’d had a crush on in graduate school sent me a friendship request. I’m single and when a cute girl in my age bracket friend requests me then suddenly my loathing for

social networking sites goes out the window. I had a full profile set up by the next morning.

However, most people in their thirties and above aren’t setting up their profiles based on something like this. Adults are setting up profiles — oddly enough — for the very simple reason that Facebook states on

See FACEBOOK, page 5

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Editorial Board

Corey Craft Editor Phil Owen Managing Editor Kelli Abernathy Chief Copy Editor

James Jaillet Production Editor Breckan Duckworth Design Editor Paul Thompson Opinions Editor

Letters to the editor must be less than 200 words and guest columns less than 500. Send submissions to cwopinions@gmail.com. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. For more information, call 348-6144. The CW reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Crimson White

OPINIONS

Monday, August 18, 2008

5

MCT CAMPUS

Let people make their own choices

FACEBOOK Continued from page 4 the login page: to find friends, family, and coworkers. And to share. It’s that simple.

Since I joined last summer, I’ve connected with best friends I haven’t seen since high school back in the eighties. At the same time, I’ve got old college buddies I worked with at a popular fraternity and sorority bar back in Iowa City; more recently, all my friends from graduate school and new colleagues in the English department here at

Christians around here don’t believe one should drink alcohol on Sundays. That’s awesome. I appreciate your faith, but at the same time, I don’t think it’s right for anyone to force his beliefs onto other people.

If you don’t want to drink or buy alcohol on Sundays, then don’t. I mean, we live in America. Not everyone here has the same beliefs as you. In fact, most people in this counJessie Landon try have different beliefs than you do. So if that’s your cup don’t understand how this law of tea, enjoy it. Don’t make is still in effect here. I mean everyone else drink your tea this is Tuscaloosa, the drink- too. Maybe some of us would ing town with a college prob- rather have a beer than a cup of tea. lem, right?

But the thing that makes me I know that we live in the Bible Belt and that many furious is that people apply

their beliefs to the government all the time. Isn’t there an amendment that separates church and state? That’s right, the first one — the amendment that also gives us the freedom of religion.

Here’s what I say: If you don’t want to drink, don’t. If you disagree with premarital sex, don’t have it. If you don’t think gay marriage is right, don’t get married to someone who is the same sex as you. If you think abortion is wrong, don’t get one. Just leave people alone and let them make their own decisions.

Now I know people are going to bring up subjects like bestiality and murder, but I think if you do, you are just taking

things too far.

I really wish people would just let everyone live their lives the way they want to.

The government has no right to tell me I can’t drink alcohol on Sunday, especially when they don’t have a good reason.

Neither does anyone else for that matter. We all have the right to make our own choices, and I encourage everyone to do so.

I think removing the ban will be a great step for the city of Tuscaloosa to help it compete with other major metropolises of Alabama, like Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. Just think of the money Tuscaloosa will make off alcohol sales from one day

and how that can help the city in this time of economic crisis.

According to the Tuscaloosa News, although people are running low on money, they are still spending just as much, if not more, on alcohol!

I truly hope we remove the ban on Sunday alcohol sales soon. I think we all have the right to spend our money when and where we want.

We should also be able to use our money without offending someone else’s beliefs.

Remember, if you don’t want to then don’t, but don’t be upset when other people do.

Nevertheless, a few of them did. I accepted. And here’s how that begins to change everything.

Before any students added me as a friend, I used to construct my online identity through a rather witty tone.

I had status updates about going to bars with other colleagues and grad students.

I filled in my profile information with what I thought were sophisticated and amusing comments. Imagine what things over-educated and liberal professors in the humanities like to provide for

religious and political views.

Now that I’ve had some current students add me, I’ve changed my profile. And I’ve found out something important — the entire online identity a person constructs can be playful while remaining dignified. Since I have two freshmen in my friend list, as well as my fourteen-year-old niece, I’ve quit putting in the references to my nightlife I thought were amusing. And I’ve begun to realize something fundamental: while our reputations may be in some way beyond our own control, our identity

in the twenty-first century is beginning to be much more a matter of public need rather than private wants.

Oddly enough, Facebook is doing exactly what it claims in its company overview summary: “Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.” And this can be a good thing. As I said earlier, Facebook is causing a fundamental change in human identity. Like any other big change, the point is to use it as a means to improve yourself.

There was one other quote in

Monday’s article that intrigued me. A student said she thought all teachers should set their pictures to private. And while my profile has been completely private up until now, that may change. You see, I feel that transparency — whether it’s in our government or in our social life — is probably a good thing.

Because the more open and honest we are, the better our world will be. As a matter of fact, I think I might login right now and change my profile to public.

the Capstone.

Which brings us to the big issue: students and professors on Facebook. I like what Marilyn Staffo said in Monday’s article in The CW. She suggests that faculty shouldn’t friend request their students. Good call. But what about when students friend request us? And this gets me to the dramatic statement I made earlier about Facebook catalyzing a fundamental change in human identity.

You see, at first, I didn’t think I wanted any current students to friend request me.

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Last Thursday, the CW Editorial Board wrote about their view of Sunday alcohol sales. While I completely agree with them when they say Tuscaloosa should remove the ban of alcohol sales on Sunday, I would like to touch on the subject just a little bit more.

All of you who read my column know I am not a good God-fearing conservative like many students at the University. However, I must say that this week, my point is that it doesn’t matter what anyone’s religion is.

Tuscaloosa currently bans selling all alcohol on Sundays.

That includes in grocery stores, gas stations and even restaurants. Personally, I

6 Wednesday, February 25, 2009

DEBATE Continued from page 1

was passed unanimously by the SGA Senate but vetoed by SGA President Cason Kirby, Oliver said despite the subject being very delicate, he would like to enact a town-hall style meeting where students’ opinions could be heard in that regard.

Key said she disagreed with Kirby’s actions and said as president, it would be her job to do what the students wanted to be done.

“It is my job to be that advocate to them,” Key said.

When asked what they would do if they were not elected to executive council, Oliver said he would continue to help students in any way he could with the numerous student organizations he is involved with.

“I am passionate about serving you in every way that I can,” Oliver said.

When asked the same question, Key discussed her commitment to students and how if

not elected, she will find a way to stay involved. She said when she ran for the position of vice president of external affairs, her platform included creating an office of foreign affairs. Despite not being elected, Key was able to establish International Involvement Week without being on the executive council.

“I’ve been working for you since I first set foot here on campus and I will work for you nonstop,” Key said.

With the other candidates, there were several points made concerning the SGA’s position amongst the student population. In his opening speech, candidate for Vice President of Student Affairs Austin Creel, wearing blues jeans and a Tshirt amongst his elegantly clad cohorts, said he feels there is a misconception that the student body is not represented in the SGA. Creel said he plans to change that perspective if elected.

Creel is running against Tyler Valeska, a senator representing the College of Communications and Information Sciences.

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NEWS “There needs to be more dialogue between the SGA and students,” Creel said.

The only unopposed candidates are Chris Vinson for vice president of financial affairs, Meg McCrummen for executive vice president and Katie Breaseale for executive secretary.

Debates: Round Two The second debate was held last night at Alston Hall. In the middle of a hot, crowded auditorium, both Key and Oliver answered questions that members of the audience wrote down to ask the candidates.

One question posed early on in the debate was what each candidate thought about the regularly low voter turnout for the SGA elections each year.

Taking the lead, Oliver said with voting now being available online, there is no reason why there should be a low turnout this year. “[The SGA is] the voice for the

MAYOR Continued from page 1

stimulus bill.

“I filed my own stimulus package. All [the state] doesn’t want we’ll take in Birmingham. Every dime,” he said. “Americans are allowing people to play politics with them by refusing the stimulus bill.” “[The state] is selling a political agenda,” he said.

The subject of race was also a topic among Langford’s lecture.

The Crimson White

different issues that you have,” Oliver said. “This is an important election for everyone.”

Responding, Key said that with past administrations, there were promises that remained unfilled. As an advocate for the student body, Key said, if elected, it would be her responsibility to deliver those promises.

“A new day has come,” Key said. “This is a time for new changes on campus.”

With only 5 percent of the University being comprised of international students, Key said as the founder of the UA “International Involvement Week,” she knows what students from other countries go through trying to adapt to American life.

“When they come to the University, we are the only impression of American life that they see.”

Oliver said with the growing number of international students coming to campus, it would be his goal, as president, to make sure the University does a better job acclimating these students to college life.

“I think this is one of the

major things that we must work on now,” Oliver said.

With the economy in disarray, not only are many businesses laying off many of their own employees, but many do not have enough money in their budgets to sustain internship programs. Key said it would be the point of the SGA to sell the University’s services to these companies, showing that if they invest in what the University can offer, it will see fruitful profits.

Oliver agreed, having a similar platform that says the SGA will look to other businesses that can collaborate with the University on the matter.

“When the University puts forward money, we will see significant gain,” Oliver said.

When asked what three initiatives they had been involved with as of late, Oliver said he was instrumental in developing the town hall meetings that the SGA started this year, was on the Corolla advisory board and the online voting program for the SGA elections.

Key said as an SGA representative, she is a part of the

Environmental Ambassador program, is on the Food Service Committee and was instrumental in jumpstarting International Involvement Week.

“I’m using these groups to go for what the University needs,” Key said.

In closing, Key addressed various rumors regarding her candidacy, such as wanting to abolish swap parties and bid days for greek organizations, saying she wants to be a president who represents everyone on campus.

“Everyone here is a vital part of the University campus,” Key said.

Oliver said he believes his platform reflects what a typical student at the University deals with on a regular basis.

With this in mind, Oliver said, he knows where his passion is — the students.

“My door will always be open to all of your concerns,” Oliver said.

Tonight’s debate will be at Moody Music Hall at 7 p.m. The Mallet Assembly will host the debate.

“We’re supposed to be one nation. Bull. There’s a black America and a white America…and they’re all different. This notion that we are this big melting pot is nothing but a joke because the media is going to make sure that the divisions are always there,” he said.

“Race will always be at the forefront of our minds,” he said.

Straightforwardness in media and politicians is something that Langford said he valued.

“I loved when George

Wallace was governor,” he said, amidst eyebrow raises from the crowd. “At least you always knew where you stood.”

An upfront attitude is something Langford embodies, according to Danielle Blevins, president of the Capstone Association of Black Journalists.

“I think we can all learn a lot from Mayor Langford. I think being straight-shooters with people and not trying to play both sides of the fence is one. Not being afraid to mention his faith and what

the Bible says on issues that we are still dealing with today is something that we can all admire. Whether I find someone agreeable or not, is not the issue. I like for people to let me know where they stand,” Blevins said.

The one thing Langford said should be taken away from his talk was that although our society has problems, we should be grateful to live in America.

“If you have been give the privilege to live in America, what a privilege that is,” he said.

they’re all [drinking],” Bruce said. “I’ve even thought of ordering a margarita with no alcohol.”

Jessica Mata, a nursing student who is Catholic, has given up sweets and lying in the past, and this year, decided she will spend Lent simply praying and reading the Bible more.

“I realized this semester has been particularly stressful for me, and since it’s been so stressful, I haven’t spent as much time in the word and praying as I’d like to,” Mata said. “The connotation around it has been to give up something — and giving up something is good — but you give up something in the sense that when you give it up, you remember, ‘I’m doing this because Christ gave up so much for me.’ So I wanted to give up some of my time.

That’s going to help how I interact with people, my stress level, and it’s going to give me assurance about who I am and what I’m doing.”

One specificity argued about is whether it is okay to take Sundays off from abstaining.

Some feel it is a practical way to ensure you make it through, while others think it defeats the purpose.

“I may let myself have a glass of wine on Sunday, or a beer,” Bruce said. “But I’m definitely not going to go crazy.”

“According to the church’s teaching, the Sunday is off,” Holloway said. “But many people in our tradition continue to fast even on Sunday.”

Holloway stressed that if participants give into temptation, they should start over and keep going, because Lent is an ongoing process.

“One mistake isn’t going to keep you away from God by any means. God is always forgiving,” Mata said. “You can always start again and he’ll be excited that you’re coming back, sort of like the prodigal son.”

Though she has failed in the past, Bruce said she has put more thought into Lent this year, picked something that is an important issue to her and is confident she can make it.

“If I break it, I’m definitely going to start the next day back on track. I really don’t think that’s going to happen with the extent that I have told all of my friends,” Bruce said. “If the Lord can do what he’s done in my life, I can definitely do this for 40 days. So if you read this, and see me out somewhere ordering a drink, try to stop me.”

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LENT

Continued from page 1 more seriously.

“I’ve recently even started going out some without drinking just to kind of start knowing what I have to do, how it’s going to change, because it is hard to go to a bar with your friends, and

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NEWS

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

7

Debt forgiven for woman who shot herself The Associated Press AKRON, Ohio | Mortgage finance company Fannie Mae said it is forgiving the mortgage debt of a 90-year-old woman who shot herself in the chest as sheriff’s deputies attempted to evict her.

Addie Polk’s plight was

cited by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, on Friday before the House voted to approve the $700 billion financial rescue package. Kucinich voted against the plan.

Fannie Mae announced later Friday that it would dismiss its foreclosure action, forgive Polk’s mortgage and allow her

to return to the Akron home where she’s lived since 1970.

“Just given the circumstances, we think it’s appropriate,” Fannie Mae spokesman Brian Faith said, citing Kucinich’s statement and news reports.

“It certainly made our radar screen.”

Polk remained in Akron

General Medical Center and was expected to recover from chest wounds suffered last week.

She became the home’s sole owner in 1995 when her husband died, then took out a mortgage loan in 1997 and refinanced several times, court and property records

show.

Countrywide Home Loans filed for foreclosure last year, and Polk’s home was sold to Fannie Mae at a sheriff’s auction in June. Deputies were to escort Polk from her home Wednesday when gunshots were heard inside.

Polk’s longtime neigh-

bor, Robert Dillon, climbed through her window and found her lying in bed bleeding with a gun next to her. He visited Polk in the hospital on Friday.

She said it was a crazy thing to do, now that she’s had time to think about it, Dillon said.

Toddler, 6 others shot on Mardi Gras parade route and not seriously hurt.

Dr. Jim Parry, 41, a surgeon who was with a gathering of doctors near the shooting site, ran over to tend to one man who he said had been shot in the abdomen. “He kept asking me, ‘Was I shot? Was I shot?’”

Paramedics arrived and took over for the Air Force reservist.

“I’m off to Afghanistan this summer. Damn, this is more dangerous than Afghanistan,” Parry said.

Two men, 19-year-old Mark AP Photo|Alex Brandon Brooks and 18-year-old Louis Lazone, both of New Orleans, As a truck parade drives by and revelers walk past, New were each booked with seven Orleans police officers stand guard at a crime scene where five counts of attempted firstpeople were shot and two suspects were taken into custody in a degree murder. Brooks also shooting incident that happened along the Mardi Gras parade faces a charge of possession route in New Orleans, Tuesday. of a firearm by a convicted company manager. She was felon, Young said. It was not

By Michael Kunzelman with her two children, a 2-year- immediately known if the men Associated Press Writer old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

“Everybody was petrified.

NEW ORLEANS | A Mardi Gras parade erupted into They hit the ground, the floats chaos on Fat Tuesday when stopped, everybody on the a series of gunshots struck floats ducked,” Labat said.

Labat said one man dragged seven people, including a toddler. The child was not seri- himself on the ground screamously injured and two suspects ing for help after being wounded and another man was gaspwere in custody, police said.

The shootings happened ing for air and bleeding from near the Garden District about his mouth.

Police spokesman Bob Young 1:40 p.m. after the last major parade of the celebration, Rex, said the victims — three men had ended. A stream of truck ages 50, 33 and 20, two young floats that follow the parade women ages 20 and 17 and a were passing by when gunfire 15-year-old boy — were taken to area hospitals. The condibroke out.

“It sounded like a string of tions of all the victims were fireworks, so I knew it was not immediately available, but 1301 University Blvd. more than one shooter,” said Young said the 20-month-old “On the Strip” Toni Labat, 29, a limousine baby was grazed by a bullet

had attorneys.

Three weapons believed used in the shooting were recovered, Young said. It was not immediately clear whether the gunfire was random or if the shooters were aiming for the victims or each other.

The violence along the oak-lined Uptown streetcar line marred what had been a generally peaceful day of

revelry in which hundreds of thousands of people partied in the streets on the final day of Carnival. Another shooting was reported on Friday night after an argument, but otherwise, the event was generally problem-free.

Beau Beals, 45, said he was outside a house party on St. Charles Avenue when the shooting erupted. He said he

and other revelers tossed children over a metal fence to get them to safety, but others kept waiting for beads and other trinkets being tossed from the floats as if nothing had happened.

“They had an ambulance out here picking the guy up off the street and people didn’t stop vying for throws,” Beals said.

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EATING DISORDER AWARENESS

WEDNESDAY • Information Table — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ferguson Center and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center

SATURDAY

THURSDAY • Fashion Rocks - and so does my body, Fashion Show with a performance by Unscripted — 7 p.m., Ferguson Center Ballroom

• Tuscaloosa Dietetic Association 5k Run/Walk — 8 a.m., UA Recreation Fields.

Registration on-site beginning at 7 a.m.

ALL WEEK • The Great Jeans Giveaway — Donate your old jeans in receptacles in the Ferguson Center, Recreation Center, greek houses and at select residence halls (Tutwiler and Burke).

• Information Table — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ferguson Center

UA spreads awareness of eating disorders

By Jessica Cheek Lifestyles Reporter

This week, seven campus organizations are joining forces to raise awareness about eating disorders, which affect over one-half of teenage girls and one-third of teenage boys in the United States.

Events are planned throughout the week as part of the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week campaign, including a fashion show, a 5K run/walk and a blue jean drive.

This year’s sponsors are the Counseling Center, the Ferguson Center, Greek Affairs, Housing and Residential Communities, the Student Health Center, University Recreation and the Women’s Resource Center. Over 50 students are helping to orchestrate the events.

“The goal of the week is trifold,” said Student Health Center dietician Lori Greene. “Increase awareness and education about eating disorders, promote a positive body image, and inform students of the resources that are here on UA’s campus for someone that may be suffering from disordered eating.”

The event kicked off Monday with

a screening of Darryl Roberts’ documentary “America the Beautiful,” which explores culture’s obsession with physical beauty, and a panel discussion about how to help people develop positive body images.

The next big event is a fashion show titled “Fashion Rocks, and so Does My Body.” The show will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. The first 50 people to arrive will receive a free T-shirt and Unscripted, the University’s peer education theatrical group, will give a performance on eating disorders. This is the first year for the fashion show, which Greene said strives to “highlight a diversity of women of all sizes.”

Saturday the Tuscaloosa Dietetic Association will host its second annual 5K run at the UA Recreation Field. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the run starts at 8. There is an $18 entry fee for all participants — the race benefits the Good Samaritan Clinic and the TDA Margaret Garner Scholarship Fund. Prizes will be awarded to the top three overall men and women runners as well as the top three finishers in each age category. Everyone will have the opportunity to win a door prize, and the

UA Nutrition Education and Health Services first 125 registrants will receive a Tshirt.

Another event that is ongoing throughout the week is the Great Jeans Giveaway. This event, a drive to collect blue jeans for charity, has been a tradition of Eating Disorder Awareness Week for several years.

There are bins at the Ferguson Center, Temple Tutwiler Hall, Mary Burke Hall, most sorority houses

and the Recreation Center to collect old jeans that anyone would like to donate.

In addition to the larger events, tables will be set up at the Ferg and the Rec Center every day this week to provide information on eating disorders and healthy eating, and displays around campus will compare the figures of “real” women and supermodels. Greene said the displays, located in the Ferg, the Rec Center, Temple Tutwiler Hall and Burke Hall, are traditionally one of students’ favorite parts of the campaign.

Eating disorders are a serious problem in the United States.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, very little money is given to eating disorder research in comparison to other mental illnesses, even though eating disorders are much more widespread than diseases like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

Kerry Luke, a staff psychologist from the Counseling Department, said that 91 percent of college women attempt to control their weight with some sort of dieting and that 57 percent of women age 17-19 report unhealthy eating behaviors.

Many people believe that only women suffer from eating disorders.

While it is true that most eating disorder patients are female, Luke said male sufferers often have a difficult time seeking help for their condition.

“Men with eating disorders suffer from the added stigma that it is merely a woman’s problem,” she said. “This stigma is a barrier for them to seek professional help.”

By exposing students to the facts about eating disorders, campus organizations hope that eating disorders and friends of eating disorder patients will have increased understanding and hope about the illness.

“We want this to be a week promoting a positive body image for all students, to encourage healthy behaviors and to educate students on disordered eating and the treatment resources on campus and in the Tuscaloosa Community,” Greene said.

Students who are interested in becoming more involved with eating disorder awareness can contact the Counseling Center or the Student Health Center’s Heal Promotion and Wellness Office for information on how to volunteer.

COLUMN | COMICS CORNER

‘Y’ shows one-man world

By Robert Bozeman Assistant Design Editor

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professions, an unemployed escape artist.

Oh, and his girlfriend is in Australia, and his mother is a senator. And oh yeah, he and his pet monkey, Ampersand, are the “All the men are dead.”

That phrase, on the last panel of the first last living owners of a Y chromosome on page, pretty much sums up the entirety of earth.

He has to travel around the world with writer Brian K. Vaughan’s now completed series, “Y: The Last Man” published on a secret agent known only as 355 looking for a renowned geneticist before resuming DC’s Vertigo imprint.

Vaughan and artists Pia Guerra and José their travels as they try to figure out why Marzán Jr. won an Eisner award in 2008 all the men have died, and why Yorick and for best Series for “Y: the Last Man,” and Ampersand were left.

The series spans 10 trade paperbacks, Vaughan, one of the head writers of the ABC TV series “Lost,” also won an Eisner which collect the 60 issues that make up Award for Best Writer in 2005 for his work the story. Its length gives “Y: The Last Man” the feel of a more complex novel, on this and other series.

The story starts with the introduc- compared to the shorter, more traditional tion of Yorick Brown, a seemingly cliché limited series like “Watchmen,” which is slacker type who is, of all plot-convenient 12 issues long.

The length also gives the characters more time to grow and evolve to the point that even peripheral characCobb Theatres is NOW HIRING! ters are complex Perfect part-time job for students. and well rounded. poppolitics.com We offer: Competitive Wages, Flexible Work Schedule, Free W h e r e Movie Privileges, Snack Stand Discounts, Etc. Please apply Vaughan succeeds Monday thru Thursday after 1pm. most is in his deft that occurs during the story, you get an portrayal of the amazingly diverse view of how different Call for Showtimes world after men. countries and cultures are affected.

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The Crimson White

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LIFESTYLES

The Crimson White

COLUMN

If you like the comic, boycott the ďŹ lm

By Josh Veazey Senior Staff Reporter Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell me you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t judge a film by its trailer. Come on.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what trailers are â&#x20AC;&#x201D; two-minute warnings about an upcoming film. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why most people reading this have eight crisp dollar bills in their wallet they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend seeing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bride Wars.â&#x20AC;?

Here are a few things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Watchmenâ&#x20AC;? trailer: 1. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more violence in the trailer than there is in the entire book.

2. Every shot with Dr. Manhattan looks like a screensaver.

3. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directed by Zack Snyder, famous for helming â&#x20AC;&#x153;300,â&#x20AC;? a film about chiseled, shirtless Greeks roaming an artificial landscape in search of character development. It was mindless, exploitative, overblown, implicitly homophobic and depressingly onedimensional in a time when this nation couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used a complex dialogue about war.

Snyderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film philosophy has two main points: 1. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth doing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth doing with CGI.

Rorschach is one of the main characters of ĘťWatchmen,Ęź to be released in theatres on March 6. The film is based on the comic written by Alan Moore.

2. Any human activity, from dueling tax evasion to taking a dump, is more captivating in slow motion. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it. And Hollywood gave him the keys to one of Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;100 Greatest Novels.â&#x20AC;? Why? Because Hollywood is an unfeeling

machine that runs on the tears of orphans and baby sea otters.

On March 6, the literary geeks of the world can send a loud message to Hollywood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great book, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it

shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be translated into another medium. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just turn an award-winning, multi dimensional, postmodern, metafictional story into two and a half hours of slowmotion somersaults and cleavage.

Perhaps the greatest homage to an innovative piece of art is not duplication, but merely admitting that it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;undoable.â&#x20AC;? Please figure this out soon, because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be walking somewhere two years from now and see

rottentomatoes.com

an advertisement for â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Brothers Karamazov 3-D Imax Experience.â&#x20AC;? Though I admit, seeing the Grand Inquisitor with Ben Affleck and some Michael-Bay-produced explosions would be an interesting experience.

Clooney meets with Obama to discuss Darfur trip The Associated Press

The Oscar-winning actor appeared Monday on CNNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LOS ANGELES | George â&#x20AC;&#x153;Larry King Liveâ&#x20AC;? and spoke Clooney apparently had a good of his visit earlier that mornreason for skipping out on ing with Obama to discuss the Oscar night: He had a meeting humanitarian crisis in Sudanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Darfur region. with President Obama.

Clooney said he told the president of his visit to camps in Chad where 250,000 refugees live, but he downplayed the risks he took to witness the suffering first-hand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think people should be going there and coming back and saying how it affected them,â&#x20AC;? Clooney told King via satellite from the White House lawn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think somehow we should all know that these people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth.â&#x20AC;?

Clooney, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, said he asked the president to appoint a full-time regional envoy who reports directly to the White House, and to ask China to set aside its business interests in the region and pressure Sudan to prevent atrocities.

The refugees need â&#x20AC;&#x153;what we do best, what we have done best since the start of this country â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which is good, robust diplomacy all across the world,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Clooney said he delivered 250,000 postcards gathered by the Save Darfur organization to the president and Vice President Joe Biden. The actor said both were receptive.

Fighting erupted in 2003 as Darfurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government complaining of discrimination and neglect. Nearly 2.5 million people have been displaced by a conflict that has killed about 300,000 people.

Next week, the International

Criminal Court is scheduled to rule on whether to proceed with an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur.

Clooney said his latest visit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his sixth to Darfur and Chad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was privately arranged.

He traveled with journalists, including the New York Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nicholas Kristof and NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ann Curry, but the Sudanese government denied him a visa.

Murdoch sorry for NY Post cartoon seen as racist

Connecticut last week after mauling a woman.

The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which called for a boycott of the Post on Saturday, said Murdochâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pledge to be more sensitive was welcome but did not go far enough. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Murdochâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apology comes only after almost a week of tens of thousands of expressions of outrage and disgust from people across the country,â&#x20AC;? NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The offenders are still on staff and there are no measures being taken to increase diversity in its newsroom.â&#x20AC;?

A spokesman for the Post said the paper declined to comment on the NAACP statement or questions about whether anyone would be disciplined.

The Post also apologized Thursday in an online editorial.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is urging the Federal Communications Commission to review policies allowing Post owner News Corp. to control multiple media outlets in the same market.

Britney SpearsĘź ex faces assault charge

Post is dropping Liz Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column this week to save money, leaving the legendary gossip columnist without a newspaper home in the city for the first time in 33 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very sorry that that has come to an end, and that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t valuable enough for them to keep me on,â&#x20AC;? the 86year-old Smith said Tuesday.

Smith said the daily newspaper declined to renew her $125,000 annual contract in a letter that said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;due to economic circumstances, they were the bearer of bad news and so forth.â&#x20AC;?

Col Allan, the paperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editor-in-chief, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Post is grateful to have been able to publish Liz Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary column for so many years. We wish her the very best for the future.â&#x20AC;?

Smith writes a syndicated newspaper column that she said is carried by 70 papers around the country. She also publishes in Daily Variety and in Parade magazine, and is part owner of a Web site.

Smith says sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also writing a novel and will never retire. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m busy,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m OK. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m OK for a person whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been let go.â&#x20AC;?

Thursday, Feb. 26th

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NEW YORK | New York Post Chairman Rupert Murdoch apologized Tuesday for a cartoon that critics said likened a violent chimpanzee shot dead by police to President Barack Obama.

In a statement published in the newspaper, Murdoch said he wanted to â&#x20AC;&#x153;personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.â&#x20AC;?

He said the Post will work to be more sensitive.

Murdoch said the cartoon was intended only to â&#x20AC;&#x153;mock a badly written piece of legislation.â&#x20AC;?

The cartoon, which was published Wednesday, depicted the body of the bullet-riddled chimp Travis and two police officers. The caption said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.â&#x20AC;?

The chimp was killed in

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LOS ANGELES | Prosecutors have charged Britney Spearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; former boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib, with three felonies including assault with a deadly weapon.

Ghalib allegedly struck a process server with his car outside his apartment on Jan. 30. The server was attempting to deliver papers notifying him that Britney Spearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; father and attorneys were seeking a restraining order against him.

According to a news release, the process server clung to the hood of Ghalibâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car to avoid being pinned and broke his wrist. The 36-year-old paparazzo, who has not yet been arrested, also faces battery and hit-and-run charges.

A current phone number for Ghalib could not be located. He did not appear for a Monday hearing on the restraining order.

Liz Smith column leaving NYC this week NEW YORK | The New York

LAST MAN

comparison to Tokyo, Moscow, Israel or Nebraska. Vaughan crafts believable extremist Continued from page 8 groups, small towns, foreign The most fascinating militaries and secret societaspect of the story is how ies out of these cultural differplaces like New York cope in ences and Yorick has to dance a

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fine line between all of them.

Vaughanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writing also doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shy away from any kind of disturbing or interesting ideas, and he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the direction of the art do so either. From graphic images of self-mutilation, to sex and violence, it is all captured in the lens of very well illustrated art that only adds to the story, and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t at all distract from it.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very clean, simple art style that aims for realism and high contrast. The colors are bright and the pallet appropriately varies as the scene requires. The panel arrangement is very consistent and well organized.

While the story may seem to stretch out over a long period of time, and it has a few, brief anti-climactic moments, at the end it is a very satisfying read.

You can download the first issue of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Y: the Last Manâ&#x20AC;? from Vertigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web site at dccomics. com/vertigo.

The Crimson White

SPORTS

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

11

Providence knocks off No. 1 team The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. | All Providence coach Keno Davis wanted was for his team to be part of the conversation about who will be in the NCAA tournament field.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about the Friars now.

Weyinmi Efejuku scored 16 points for Providence, which took a 20-point lead and then turned back one last rally by No. 1 Pittsburgh for an 81-73 victory Tuesday night, the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second win ever over a top-ranked team.

The victory greatly improves the at-large resume for the Friars (17-11, 9-7), who are in sixth place in the 16-team Big East, a league

considered by most as the toughest in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they made a big step to be able to continue their collegiate careers tonight,â&#x20AC;? Davis said of his seniors after their final home game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a pretty good situation: weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the top half of the best conference in the country. It puts us in the conversation. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure if we had lost, they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be talking about us anymore.â&#x20AC;?

The talking started when Pittsburgh star DeJuan Blair fouled out on an illegal screen in the final minute with the Panthers trailing 77-70.

Pittsburgh (25-3, 12-3) returned to the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press poll on Monday, its second time there this season

as the Panthers spent two weeks on top in January. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was just terrible. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play as us,â&#x20AC;? said Blair, who has fouled out in two of Pittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three losses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They deserved [it]. We gave them that game.â&#x20AC;?

Sharaud Curry added 15 points for the Friars, while Geoff McDermott had 11 points, six assists and three of Providenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11 steals.

Blair had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Sam Young had 16 points and eight rebounds for Pitt, which had won seven straight games and beaten Providence eight consecutive times.

Blair was named Big East player of the week after averaging 21 points and 20.5 rebounds in wins

over then-No. 1 Connecticut and DePaul last week. He picked up two quick fouls -- his third and fourth -- midway through the second half, then his fifth with 46 seconds left after Pitt had a chance to make it a four-point game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special player,â&#x20AC;? Davis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You look and he got 17 points and eight boards and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a down night.â&#x20AC;?

Providence led by 20 points after scoring the first basket of the second half to complete a 17-1 run. The Panthers cut it to 75-70 on Blairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s putback with 51 seconds left. After Brian McKenzie hit two free throws for Providence a fraction of a second later, Pitt brought the ball down and Blair was called for an

offensive foul.

The fans in the Dunkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Donuts Center crowded around the courtside press tables for the final minutes. Twice, the public address announcer begged the fans to stay off the court following the game; twice the crowd responded by laughing.

Sure enough, after the Friars dribbled out the last 20 seconds -- it was too far gone for Pitt to try fouling -- the fans went over the tables and chairs circling the court and celebrated one of the biggest wins in school history. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t here to get rolled on,â&#x20AC;? Providence forward Johnathan Kale said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We knew we had to win one. It happened to be Pitt. They happened to be No. 1.â&#x20AC;?

The Friars are 2-10 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams, with their other victory coming in double overtime against Michigan in 1976. They 2-5 against ranked teams this season, having also beaten thenNo. 15 Syracuse on Jan. 28. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got high standards, and we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live up to them tonight,â&#x20AC;? said Pittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jamie Dixon, who coached his 200th game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious.â&#x20AC;?

Providence opened with a 15-4 lead and led by 18 at halftime despite making just one of its first eight 3-point attempts.

The Panthers cut the deficit to 29-25 with 6:25 left in the half, but Providence scored 17 of the last 18 points before the break.

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SPORTS Wednesday, February 25, 2009

FRIDAY

TODAY

SATURDAY

• Baseball Vs. Nicholls St. 4:05 p.m.

Sewell-Thomas Stadium

• Baseball Vs. Illinois-Chicago 6:35 p.m. Sewell-Thomas Stadium

• Basketball Vs. Arkansas 7 p.m.

Coleman Coliseum

• Gymnastics Vs. Auburn 7:30 p.m.

Coleman Coliseum

Greg Ostendorf • Editor

• Baseball Vs. Illinois-Chicago (DH) 1:05 p.m., TBA Sewell-Thomas Stadium

12

crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

Tide to host ailing Matthes’ cycle helps Razorbacks tonight Tide to 11-4 win

By Will Barry Senior Sports Reporter

The Alabama men’s basketball team is looking to build off last Saturday’s 87-85 doubleovertime win against Mississippi State when it hosts the Arkansas Razorbacks tonight at 7 in Coleman Coliseum.

The Tide was on a four-game SEC losing streak when the overtime thriller got the Tide back on track.

“We have guys that had a lot of success in high school and guys who have been winners throughout their careers,” interim head coach Philip Pearson said. “Hopefully for us this is a little bit of a shot of confidence, and hopefully we can turn one into two or three and see what happens down the stretch.”

Arkansas is on a seven-game

SEC losing streak and is 1-11 in the conference but has shown determination when playing some of the league’s best teams recently.

“I think looking back over their last few games, they have played arguably the best two teams in the league, and they’ve been in the game until literally the final horn with LSU and South Carolina,” Pearson said.

“I look at the last three games they’ve played on the road.

They’ve been at Mississippi State. They were up 15 at the half. They were at Auburn, they were up eight at the half, and then they played an overtime game with South Carolina.

We’ve got our hands full. We realize that.”

The Tide handed Arkansas its only SEC win of the season in the midst of a coaching change

back in January in an 87-81 decision.

“Now we’re seven games in to the new arrangement here,” Pearson said. “Admittedly, I think we were rushing into that game, just two or three days, 48 hours or 72 hours into a new coach, and of course we had a little bit of a travel situation going out there too.”

The Tide looks to learn from its early loss to the Razorbacks and focus on key players who made a difference in the last game against them.

“I felt like Clarke — their wing guy, Rotnei Clark — was the difference in the game out there,” Pearson said. “We didn’t guard him nearly as well as we needed to, and [Michael] Washington did some nice things for them as well on the inside.”

Senior Alonzo Gee was named the SEC men’s basketball Player of the Week on Monday.

Gee passed the 1,500 career points mark last week and had a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds in the double-overtime win against Mississippi State.

“He’s more times than not the last guy to leaves our gym, working on his shooting and ball-handling, that sort of thing, every day after practice,” Pearson said. “I like his percentage, where it is over the last six or seven games. He’s really been taking his time. He’s been able to step into some three-point shots, and that’s also a credit to some other guys on our team who’ve been able to find him when he’s been open in those situations.”

By Spencer White Sports Reporter Senior right fielder Kent Matthes had a career night as the Alabama baseball team broke out of an offensive slump to the tune of 15 hits as the Tide (2-2) defeated Nicholls State (3-1) 11-4 at The Joe Tuesday night.

Matthes hit 4-for-5 on the night with five RBIs. His four hits formed the coveted “cycle” — a single, double, triple and home run all in the same game. Matthes’ was only the fifth cycle in Alabama history and the first of his career.

Matthes stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with runners on second and third and a chance to complete the cycle with a single. Matthes converted on a controversial infield single that was only ruled a hit after several minutes of deliberation. After it was decided, the crowd at Sewell-Thomas Stadium burst into applause.

“I didn’t look up at the scoreboard,” Matthes said.

“I figured I would be able to tell by the peoples’ reaction.

It’s definitely an honor and a good accomplishment. After the way we played last weekend, it was just really important to get a win tonight.”

Alabama got off to a good start as senior pitcher Miers Quigley (1-0) struck out his

first two batters of the game on his way to a quick first inning. Quigley had struggled in his opener against Southeast Missouri State, but had a solid outing Tuesday night. He earned the win while throwing five innings, giving up seven hits, three runs, and striking out eight.

The eight strikeouts were one shy of Quigley’s career high.

“It was certainly better than [Quigley’s] last outing,” Wells said.

The Tide also started out strong at the plate, as left fielder Taylor Dugas and AllAmerican second baseman Ross Wilson led off the bottom of the first inning with back to back doubles, scoring the first run of the night and giving Wilson his first RBI of the season. Wilson would later score on catcher Clay Jones’ grounder to second, as the Tide finished the first inning with a 2-0 lead.

“We put the ball in play more, and when you do that, good things happen,” head coach Jim Wells said. “It was very important. To score early is a good thing for everybody; it gives you confidence, and it makes the pitcher feel like he doesn’t have to be perfect.”

Wilson went 3-of-5 on the game, booming two doubles and a single to break out from a frustrating start of the season for the sophomore.

“He’s a good player,” Wells

said. “He’s going to swing the bat and steal some bases, make things happen.”

Alabama struck again in the bottom of the third inning when Matthes belted a 12 pitch from Nicholls State pitcher Jake Parrish (0-1) deep into left center with the bases loaded, scoring three runs.

Matthes would later score on a Brandon May ground ball as the Tide finished the third inning with a 6-0 advantage.

The four runs were the most scored by the Tide in a single inning in this early season.

“We came out hot and swinging the bats, so we just fed off that momentum,” Matthes said.

Nicholls State would answer back in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two hit batters and a Kevin Schegel double to center to narrow the gap to 6-2. After Nicholls State added another run in the top of the fifth inning, the Tide found itself in danger of turning a blowout into a close contest before Matthes stepped up once again to bomb a homer over the left field fence to push the lead to 7-3 in Alabama’s favor.

Matthes added a double in the seventh inning and later scored on a Tyler Odle single to give the Tide an 8-3 lead.

Alabama finishes the series against Nicholls State today at 4:05 p.m.