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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Walk-off homerun lifts Tide to victory in extra innings
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
SGA | VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Vol. 115, Issue 94
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Taylor, Fowler seek office Right of way
only secure in crosswalks
CW | Marion R Walding Collin Taylor, left, and James Fowler, right, are the two candidates running for the office of vice president of external affairs.
Taylor sets sights volunteer work, lobbying state, communtity growth By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter
Anyone who is a first year student or has studied late during finals with the “Study or Die” initiative has felt the effects of Collin Taylor on campus. Taylor, the current director of recruitment for the SGA, said he helped to improve the recruiting programs and started the “Study or Die” initiative to serve the student body. Now, Taylor, a sophomore majoring in secondary education and social science, is
vying for the position of vice president of external affairs, which he said he became interested in through his work with the SGA. “I want to seek continued growth [in the community]. As current director of recruitment I feel that I was always in the community seeing different needs and getting to talk to other students about what they would like to see going on campus. That’s what really encouraged me to run,” Taylor said.
See TAYLOR, page 2
Fowler proposes railroad quiet zones, Sunday sales, Dining Dollar Reform By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter James Fowler has been busy. As a senator for the College of Commerce and Business Administration, Fowler has had his hand in many programs on campus, including the Ideas to Action initiative and student affairs. Now, as a sophomore, Fowler is seeking the position of executive vice president of external affairs. Fowler said his experience is what propelled him to run for the position. As a freshman, Fowler par-
ticipated in First Year Forum. During his sophomore year he serves as a senator for the business college, where he was appointed to the position of protempore. Fowler is also a chairman for the student affairs committee, and helped to establish the Ideas to Action initiative. “Through my experience, it became a passion of mine to see results. I like working with administrators and city officials to build relationships and make plans for the future. These are all things that make
See FOWLER, page 2
By Patty Vaughan Contributing Writer
Fast Facts
Over the past few years, Alabama’s student population has increased by thousands of students. With this increase came a growing number of cars, and an increase in the odds the two will collide. “Students cross the street at any place they want to and they assume people will stop for them,” Ronnie Robertson, director of transportation services, said. “It’s difficult for us to make students aware that that is not always the case.” If a pedestrian enters a crosswalk, then they have the right away and cars are obligated to stop, said Robertson. However, it is common sense for the pedestrian crossing to make eye contact with the driver before they step out into the street. “If they [the driver] doesn’t see you and there is not eye
• If a pedestrian enters a crosswalk then the pedestrian has the right of way
• Cross at crosswalks, when the crosswalk says “WALK”
• Pedestrians not using crosswalks must yield to oncoming traffic
contact, I would be very hesitant to step out in a crosswalk,” Robertson said. According to the State Codes of Alabama, pedestrians are obligated to use the signs “WALK,” and “DON’T WALK.” The codes also said that when there are no traffic-control signals, the driver should always
See SAFETY, page 2
CW | Norman Hunyh Rachel Hester, a sophomore majoring in marketing, and Garrett Henderson, a freshman majoring in vocal performance, use the crosswalk outside the Moody Music Building.
UA earns ‘C’ on Green Report Card By Patty Vaughan Contributing Writer The University’s grade on the Green Report Card for 2009 went up a letter from last year. In 2008, the Capstone received a D+ rating. However, this year the University was given a C. The report card is published by an the College Sustainability Report Card, an independent organization that assesses many universities, said Kristina Hopton-Jones, the director of the University Dining Service. Some of the categories included in the report are administration,
UA weather
TODAY
climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, student involvement and transportation. In the past, the University was only graded on the information that was offered on the Web. However, this year different departments at the University were actually contacted by the organization to gain more information that may not be on the Web. Bama Dining and Student Involvement were the categories that received the highest grades. “Bama Dining has improved and expanded the recycling program to include all kitchens and all
INSIDE Today’s paper
Ad Team takes on binge drinking ...................3 Opinions: CW endorses Fowler for VP spot ...4
Cloudy
72º/54º
Friday
72º/52º
Scattered thunderstorms
Saturday
59º/36º
Scattered thunderstorms
Innisfree moves to new location ...................6 Baseball pulls out win in extra innings............9 Morgan gets pitching wisdom from dad ... 10 Bankhead brings in Jean Thompson .............. 13
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
operations,” Hopton-Jones said. “We serve more than 927,000 meals per year, and in the summer alone, food waste has decreased 25 percent.” Bama Dining has set up so that all of their fryer oil goes into a biodiesel and all used ink cartridges go to local schools so they can receive money for recycling them, Hopton-Jones said. Trays from the all-you-can-eat dining halls have been removed, which decreases food waste by 6,000 pounds per week and conserves about 12,000 gallons of water per week, HoptonJones said. “We have implemented a
composting program in partnership with UA ground and arboretum,” Hopton-Jones said. “We send about 6,000 pounds of pre-consumer waste to the composite pile every week.” Bama Dining has been working close with the SGA to help promote and educate the benefits of removing trays from the dining halls, HoptonJones said. “We also worked with the SGA’s Office of Environmental Concerns and UA Recycling for Game Day recycling drive this fall on the Quad and in the stadium,” Hopton-Jones said. Other SEC schools such as Auburn
University, University of Florida and the University of Georgia received grades such as B-, B+ and C-. The University received a B in transportation. “I think there are a lot of great things underway on campus by various groups and departments that have not been widely publicized,” Hopton-Jones said. “I think all areas will continue to be innovative and begin considering the best way to tell their stories.” To read more and learn more about the Green Report Card one can visit the Web site at greenreportcard. org.
Candidates debate diversity, qualifications By Martha Gravlee Contributing Writer On Wednesday evening, the concert hall in Moody Music Building was filled with the voices of candidates for the upcoming SGA elections rather than those of vocal performance majors. Wednesday’s event, according to moderator and Crimson White Assistant Photo Editor RF Rains, marked a return to tradition for the Mallet Assembly. “We used to have the last word debate every year,” Rains said. “It gives us good visibility and helps us stay true to the spirit of Mallet.” Candidates for each of the executive SGA positions participated, including the three who are running unopposed. Each candidate introduced him or herself and defined what they believed the duties of their chosen office to be, as well as their qualifications. The debate followed a question-and-answer format in which Rains posed a series of questions to each set of candidates in the contested races, giving both the opportunity to answer the question or rebut their opponent’s answer.
At the end of the debate, each candidate asked his or her opponent a question. The debate lasted about for two hours, going nearly half an hour over the estimated time limit. Rains said she didn’t think it was a big problem. “We got all of our questions answered,” she said. “I feel like it went over a bit, but overall, I think it went well.” During the final segment of the debate, presidential candidate Kendra Key asked her opponent, Steven Oliver, what he thought the roots of a lack of diversity in the SGA were and how he would combat it should he be elected. “I’m not really sure why,” he said. He spoke of implementing an application process for appointed positions, which would allow students of all races, sexual orientations and social groups to be a part of the SGA. The question Oliver posed to Key expressed doubt that she is qualified to represent students in all areas of campus life, pointing out that she spoke often about her work in environmental and international student affairs. Key replied by mentioning extensive work with other
Check out cw.ua.edu for video coverage of the debate
areas of the University, such as expanding parking spot choices. The candidates for the position of vice president of student affairs were given the most popular questions among audience members. The room filled with laughter when Rains asked questions about the availability of birth control and abortion counseling, as well as whether excessive drinking is a problem on campus. “I believe that if we were using condoms to promote student safety, we’re knocking out two birds with one stone,” said candidate Tyler Valeska. On the subject of binge drinking, opponent Austin Creel said it was a choice. “We’re from Alabama, we like to drink, we like to get drunk,” he said, a statement that Valeska later referenced, asking students to stay sober when voting. SGA elections will be held March 3 and 4.