3.9.09 by The Crimson White

LIFESTYLES

SPORTS

‘Watchmen’ ﬁlm stays true to the book

Monday, March 9, 2009

Tide goes 3-1 on the weekend

Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Vol. 115, Issue 100

Buzzer Beater

SENATE WINNERS College of Arts & Sciences (13 seats) Joseph Clayton Benson, Nicole Bohannon, Janie Burke, Jimbo Dawkins, Miriam Fry, Ashley E. Getwan, Dorothy Grifﬁth, Crystalline Jones, Sean Keeler, Sara Papadelias, Amanda Reyes, Ian Sams and Cadeann Smith College of Communication and Information Sciences (4 seats) Corderrol Harris, Brittany Sanders, Clayton Williams and Lizzie Yarbrough Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business (10 seats) John Anselmo, Christy Boardman, Lexi Campbell, Peyton Davis Falkenburg, Jacob Alexander Gray, John Heﬂin, Mark David Kennedy, Laura Pope, Jimmy Screven and Boris Shilkrot College of Education (3 seats) Kelsey Kurth, Stephanie Prickett and Jonathan Rummel College of Engineering (4 seats) Marcie Atchley, Ben Baxter, Grant Cochran and Treston Whitaker Graduate School (6 seats) Aaron Adams, Richard Brophy, Jim Bullock, Alyson Finley, Rebecca Rose Lutonsky and Creshema Murray College of Human Environmental Sciences (4 seats) Stacey Stewart, Julio Jones, Billy Zerillo and Jody Watson School of Law (2 seats) Hunter Hill and Matthew Copeland Laney

Anthony Brock hits a game-winning shot from half court at the buzzer to give the Tide a 70-67 win over Tennessee Sunday. Brock had to be driven to the game by his cousin after missing the team flight in order to attend his grandmotherʼs funeral.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Capstone College of Nursing (2 seats) Emily McLaughlin and Katie Leigh Milligan School of Social Work (2 seats) Emerald Lea Autrey

Economy may toughen job search By Josh Veazey Senior Staff Reporter In the face of recession, UA counselors advise students preparing to enter the work force to embrace short-term opportunities, resume-building and, above all, optimism. “I cautioned people on the ‘What-ifs.’ Don’t ‘What-if’ the bad things,” said Jerry Paschal, executive director

See JOBS, page 3

UA weather

TODAY

INSIDE Today’s paper

Fourth annual ALLELE lecture tonight ..........2

Partly cloudy

77º/58º

Tuesday

Partly cloudy

Wednesday

79º/56º 67º/47º

Chance of thunderstorms

Opinions: SGA election response page .........5 Opinions: A request for the new SGA ...........6 Auburn and UA work together for camp ....7 Lifestyles: Bankhead Series hosts Millet ....9 Tide gymnastics beats No. 3 Stanford ...... 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

UA employees ‘Scale Back’ More than 500 participate in weight loss program By Kellie Munts Contributing Writer Through Scale Back Alabama, a statewide weight loss program, staff and faculty members at the University have had the opportunity to build relationships with colleagues and make choices that promote the healthy lifestyle that the program advocates. The final weigh in will be held this week for more than 500 employees who participated in the program through the University. Participants have been working toward their

weight loss goals since Jan. 13 and the program will come to a close on March 11. At the beginning of the program participants were encouraged to join teams of four. Those teams are designed to bring the individuals together through the common experience, explained Molly Grimes, Coordinator of the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness. Participants were encouraged to attend weekly weight check-ins held in various locations on campus. The checkins encouraged them to track their progress and assessed which areas may have needed improvement, Grimes said. In order to best aid participants in attaining their goals, the Scale Back program provides tip sheets to those who attend the weigh-ins. The information on the tip sheets varies each week and advises

FAST FACTS • More than 500 UA employees are participating in Scale Back Alabama.

• The ﬁnal weigh-in will be held this week, and the program will end March 11.

• The 10-week program has a minimum goal of 10 pounds lost per person. individuals on making healthy choices in their daily lives. “On different weeks we have different tip sheets for them. On one week we showed them different exercises they can do while they’re at the office or while they’re watching TV at home,” Grimes said. The program emphasizes

weight loss with those who participate, but more importantly focuses on lifestyles choices that can greatly impact longterm health. Office associate Sonya Jones emphasized that the variety of advice that the Scale Back Alabama program offers been beneficial to those working toward their goals. “We focus on a lot of things and we like them to be strong and healthy,” Jones said. “Our whole focus is to get to move, whether that’s in the office or anywhere else. We want to teach them how to keep moving and keep their blood flowing.” On alternating weeks, nursing students from the University assist at the weigh-ins by taking the blood pressures and heart rates of individuals and performing other routine tasks. Grimes explained that during February, because it was hearth month,

See SCALE, page 2

Spring break feels effects of recession have to adjust their plans,” Students’ plans may Students make he said. “You may not go at all, or you may squeeze more peonot changed ple into a room.” plans to serve Spring break is traditionally as a time for students to By Sydney Holtzclaw by economy known unwind far away from school, By Martha Gravlee Contributing Writer Next week, classes will be suspended and residence halls closed for a week of vacation, leaving students free to roam with friends or do laundry at their parents’ houses. This year, more students are expected to opt for the latter, as spring break falls in the midst of economic tension brought on by a worldwide recession. Paul Pecorino, an economics professor at the University, said some students will be affected more than others. “Obviously, if people’s families are feeling a pinch, they

spending money on plane flights, hotel rooms and nights out on the town. Though they have noticed that the mood of spring 2009 is gloomier than that of 2008, students reported that their plans were not affected much by the economic downturn. Russell Stephens, a freshman majoring in musical theatre, is flying to New York with friends for the week. “I know that it’s affecting people broadly in general, but it didn’t affect my decision to go,” Stephens said. “In fact, it kind of made it a little easier. It

See BREAK, page 3

Contributing Writer

FAST FACTS • Many service opportunities are available for those wishing to spend less this spring break.

• Live United AlternaThis spring break, several students will be packing tive Spring Break will be their bags with work gloves, taking students to Gulf jeans and closed-toe shoes in Port, Miss. to rebuild and preparation for a week of serrepair homes. vice through church groups as well as community service • Students with Alabama organizations. Navigators will be visitRusty Smith, a team ing Vera Beach to help leader for the Live United rebuild elderly womens’ Alternative Spring Break, homes. will be taking several UA students to Gulfport, Miss. to rebuild and repair homes get Gulfport’s Boys and Girls impacted by the last hurri- Club ready to reopen. “The amount of students cane season as well as recent flooding. Students will also be painting and working to See SERVE, page 2

14 Monday, March 9, 2009

SPORTS

The Crimson White

SPORTS

Monday, March 9, 2009

MEN’S TENNIS

Myneni, Tide down LSU 5-2 UA Athletics

BATON ROUGE, La. | The Alabama men’s tennis team (11-1, 2-0) won its eighth match in a row Sunday as it defeated LSU (4-4, 0-2) 5-2. Among the wins for the Tide was a battle of ranked opponents at No. 1 singles where Crimson Tide junior Saketh Myneni, currently ranked No. 66 nationally, dominated No. 9

Michael Venus 6-1, 6-3. “Saketh played a great match today as did Michael Thompson,” head coach Billy Pate said. “They both got off the court quickly, putting us up 3-0 and set up the win for Mertz at No. 3. We jumped out to a great start and were able to hold LSU off. This is a tremendous win for our team today.” Alabama started off with

a bang in doubles as seniors Mathieu Thibaudeau and Dan Buikema edged the No. 13 pair of Venus and Neal Skupski 8-6. Senior Billy Mertz and Myneni, currently No. 27 in doubles, downed James Cluskey and Mark Bowtell 8-3 in the No. 2 spot to award the Tide the doubles point. Alabama jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after Myneni and freshman Michael Thompson

wasted no time taking care of their opponents. First off the court at No. 1 singles was Myneni followed by Thompson at No. 4 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gauthier. That set things up at court three for Mertz, who clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Skupski. Thibaudeau would give Alabama one more point with a victory at the No. 2 spot defeating

Cluskey 6-3, 2-6, 1-0(4). LSU’s only two points came at the end at No. 5 and No. 6 singles. Carlsson, after losing the first set 6-4, came back to win his second in a tiebreak 7-6(2) and a super tiebreak in the third 10-1 against Buikema. Tide Senior Michael Jung suffered his first loss of the dual match season as the Tigers’ Bowtell came out on top 7-6(4), 6-4.

“We gained added confidence today and have got to keep this momentum going as we get ready for next weekend as well as the rest of the season,” Pate said. “We’ve got to take it day by day and keep making improvements as we go along.” Next up, Alabama hosts Ole Miss on Friday at 2 p.m. followed by Mississippi State at home on Sunday.

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12 Monday, March 9, 2009

SPORTS

The Crimson White

GYMNASTICS

Tide resilient in win over Stanford The Alabama freshman claimed she was unaware of the Crimson Tide’s dwindling lead when she took the floor against No. 3 Stanford Friday night, but Geralen Stack-Eaton performed with a sense of urgency anyway. Halfway through the final rotation, Alabama’s comfortable lead had tightened, and three routines appeared to likely be enough for the Cardinal to make up the remaining deficit of 0.125. That was until Stack-Eaton stuck a near-flawless 9.925 on her floor routine. The

performance was perfect enough for one judge to hand out a 10, and the other to be showered with loud boos from the 9,284 fans in Coleman Coliseum for deeming it anything less. “I was just so unbelievably excited for Geralen,” freshman Ashley Priess said. “We’re roommates, so we kind of pump each other up before meets. It was motivation for me to step up and do my job as well.” Although not much room remained to top Stack-Eaton, Priess found a way to do it, scoring a 9.95 on Alabama’s very next routine. The result was already determined before junior

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All-American Morgan Dennis finished the meet with a 9.925, giving the Tide a commanding 197.15-196.775 victory. “You have to have athletes that can score in the 9.9 range,” head coach Sarah Patterson said. “I think when [Stack-Eaton] hit that routine it just ignited the rest of them. I know that Ashley and Morgan were so excited [after that].” No. 5 Alabama got 9.9s from Stack-Eaton and Priess in the first rotation to leap out to an early lead, tying a season-high 49.425 on the vault. It was the third time in the Tide’s last four meets that it scored a 49.4 or better on that event. The Tide’s second-ranked balance beam team provided a bit below average score of 49.050 in the third rotation, allowing for Stanford to close the gap, but the resilience of Alabama’s final three floor exercise competitors sealed the victory. Friday marked the second time in three meets that the Tide scored higher than a 197. “I’m just really pleased with the consistency that we have shown,” Patterson said. “In the last three meets we’ve had one sub-par event, and that was the floor exercise at Penn State. I think tonight the ladies stepped up and did a great job for us and erased that.”

Alabama relied on the consistency of four all arounders for the second highest score of its season on Friday. Priess was spectacular throughout, tying a career high 39.525 to win the all around. Junior Ricki Lebegern recorded nothing lower than a 9.825 and finished third with a 39.4. Stack-Eaton (39.325) would have been in the 39.5-range had it not been for a slight stumble on the beam that dropped her to a 9.675 on the event, and Dennis put together a solid 39.375. This was not the first time this season that Alabama has needed every routine to keep up with the competition. Three of the Tide’s meets this year have been decided by a tenth of a point or less, and two of those were decided by .025. With the postseason rapidly approaching, Patterson said that this atmosphere will greatly benefit her team in the near future. “I just don’t think that anything will rock us,” she said. “It’s a little nerve racking sitting on the edge of your seat, but from a competitive standpoint, being in that environment will help them down the road. We will be prepared [for the postseason].” Alabama will stay home for its final meet of the regular season Friday as the Tide hosts a CW | RF Rains three-team meet against No. 7 Freshman Caitlin Sullivan performs on the balance beam during Oklahoma and North Carolina Alabamaʼs win over Stanford. Sullivan and the rest of the freshin Coleman Coliseum at men played a big role again for the Tide. 7:30 p.m.

TENNIS Continued fro page 11

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was once again clinched by the lone Alabama senior in the No. 5 position. Godwin struggled in the first set, dropping it to Spencer 6-3. However, Godwin would manage to battle through several long rallies in the second, winning the set 6-2 and forcing a third set. The Tide senior, having been in the same position just two days ago, came through with nearly a flawless performance in

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the third set. Godwin managed to break Spencer and open up a 2-0 in the final set. With Spencer clearly tiring, Godwin was content to settle into extended rallies and wear down her opponent. Spencer did not put up much of a fight down the stretch, and Godwin took the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The day closed with yet another three set match, as Hedberg defeated McLane at the No. 2 spot. McLane won the opening set 6-4, but Hedberg managed to hang tough and claim the second set 6-3. McLane’s game became

filled with errors in the third set, allowing Hedberg to take the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. “I thought LSU played a great match,” added Mainz. “They fought hard. This was a great start to the SEC schedule for us and gives us more momentum as we go through the season.” Next up, Alabama steps out of conference for a home match against Marquette University on March 11. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and will take place at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium. Admission to all matches is free.

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By Jason Galloway Senior Sports Reporter

The Crimson White

SPORTS

Monday, March 9, 2009

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Brock caps emotional day with game winner By Beth Rucker The Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Anthony Brock missed his flight from Little Rock, Ark., to Knoxville on Saturday after attending his grandmother’s funeral. Good thing he didn’t miss the game. Brock hit a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure Alabama’s 70-67 upset of Tennessee on Sunday. “We had a flight for him ... and he missed it so he drove all night to get here,” head coach Philip Pearson said. “The first time I saw him was about 8:30 this morning and he said, ‘Hey, what’s up coach?’ His cousin drove him all the way to Knoxville. “I’ve got to meet this cous-

in.” The win was the Crimson Tide’s fourth in the final five games of a regular season that included the midseason departure of coach Mark Gottfried, who resigned on Jan. 26 amid criticism of both the team’s play and departure of a star player. Alabama (17-13, 7-9) had been picked to win the SEC West but instead finishes as the No. 4 seed in the division, setting the Tide up for a matchup with Vanderbilt in the conference tournament on Thursday. Tennessee (19-11, 10-6) had already clinched a share of the SEC East title after winning three straight, including Thursday’s victory at South Carolina, but the loss means a shared title with the

Gamecocks. “We wanted the outright SEC East title,” Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl said. The Vols had grabbed a 67-65 lead on a fast break dunk by Scotty Hopson with 1:43 left. The Tide called a timeout, and Alonzo Gee hit a jumper from the free-throw line to tie the game at 67 with 1:15 left. Tennessee’s Bobby Maze missed a 3-pointer, but the teams tied the ball up on the rebound and Tennessee retained possession. The Vols ran the clock down, and the game appeared headed to overtime when Tyler Smith missed a shot with five seconds left and let the rebound go out of bounds. Brock plowed through traffic

out of Alabama’s timeout and hit the game-winning shot — his only of the second half — as he tripped near the top of the key. He finished with 11 points. “I was shocked. I’ve never hit a game-winner before,” Brock said. Senario Hillman led Alabama with 16 points and Mikhail Torrance added 12 points. JaMychal Green grabbed 10 rebounds. Wayne Chism led Tennessee with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Smith added 11 and Maze finished with 10. The Tide dominated the first half after scoring eight straight points. A jumper by Alonzo Gee gave the Tide a 29-18 lead with 5:20 left before halftime, and Alabama took a 39-29 lead

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Tide beats LSU, stays unbeaten

TUSCALOOSA | The 37thranked women’s tennis team (10-0, 2-0 SEC) took down its second top 30 opponent of the weekend, defeating the 18th-ranked LSU Tigers (7-4, 0-2 SEC) by a score of 4-3. Senior Shelley Godwin came through with the clinching victory at the No. 5 singles position for the second consecutive match. The win moves the Tide to 2-0 in SEC play, the team’s best conference start since the 2003 season. Alabama also extended its winning streak to 10, which ties the school record for most consecutive wins. The Tide last won 10 straight matches during the 1980 season. “This was an ultimate team effort today,” said head coach Jenny Mainz. “Paulina stepped up big on court three. We really needed to put that one away. Shelley losing her first set set up the stage for another comeback. She makes it hard to beat her. Taylor and Meritt also took care of their courts. Everyone competed hard.” Doubles action once again lasted over an hour, and once again the Tide found itself on the losing end. Alabama looked to be in control of the doubles point, with junior Paulina Bigos and freshman Taylor Lindsey, ranked No. 79 nationally, cruising to an 8-3 victory over junior Hannah Robinson and freshman Whitney Wolf in the No. 2 position.

The other two matches would go deep into the set, with LSU taking both by the score of 8-6. The match at No.1 featured two nationally ranked teams. Seniors Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg, the No. 17 duo in the nation, found themselves in quite a battle against the No. 64 team of sophomore Tiffany Welcher and freshman Courtney McLane. All four players struggled to hold serve due to the windy conditions, but the Tide pair looked to be in control after securing a 6-5 lead. However, the Tigers’ lived up to their ranking, fighting back to break serve at 6-6 and serve out the match. With each team taking a doubles match, all eyes focused on court three. Sophomore Meritt Emery and Godwin started off strong, taking an early 3-1 lead. The LSU pair of junior Nicole Kantor and senior Staten Spencer quickly bounced back, winning four games in a row to move ahead 5-3. The Alabama tandem would not go away quietly, taking the next two games to even the score at 5-5. The Tigers took advantage of shaky serving due to the windy conditions, earning a break for a 6-5 lead. Emery and Godwin would put the pressure on Kantor to serve it out at 7-6, which she did so easily, holding at love to win the match 8-6 and clinch the doubles point for LSU. The Tide found itself down 2-0 after a straight sets at the No. 1 position win by Falcon, ranked

“It was tough. We just didn’t come out with any energy,” Smith said. “That’s the way we had come out in the last three games — with energy — and we just didn’t tonight.” Alabama is one of only two SEC schools that leads its alltime series with Tennessee, and now holds a 72-63 advantage after winning eight of the last 11 against the Vols. It’s the Tide’s 20th win in Knoxville. Pearson finishes the regular season 5-6 after Gottfried opened the season 12-7. “It was big for us to get this win so we have our confidence (in the tournament),” Gee said.

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CW | Babatunde Ajilore Junior Paulina Bigos got the first win of the day for the Tide when she knocked off Nicole Kantor 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Bigos earned an early break 12th nationally in singles, over Welcher, currently No. 82 nation- in the third and was able to ally, 6-3, 6-3. In a repeat of Friday’s make that last throughout the performance, Alabama took the set, taking it 6-4. The dual win next two matches to even the overall score at 2-2. Lindsey continued her stellar singles play, See TENNIS, page 12 breezing by Nicole Smith 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 6 spot. Emery also posted a straight sets victory in the No. 4 position, taking the first set easily 6-3 before grinding out a tough 6-4 win in the second set. The Tide took its first lead of the day thanks to Bigos, who got back on the winning track with a three sets win over Kantor at the No. 3 spot. Bigos took the first set 6-3, but Kantor was able to battle back and claim the second set 6-3.

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into the break. “We just never got out of bed,” Pearl said. The Vols used an 11-0 run early in the second half to cut the Tide’s lead to 43-42 with 16:07 left. Back-to-back 3s by Chism and Cameron Tatum gave the Vols a 52-48 lead with 4:44 left and the teams remained neck-and-neck for the rest of the game. Tennessee could have grabbed control of the game with better free throw shooting. The Vols could only manage 10-of-22 from the charity stripe compared to the Tide’s 16-for-19 performance at the line.

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SPORTS

Monday, March 9, 2009

Greg Ostendorf • Editor

crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com

SOFTBALL

Tide splits with Huskies, cruises past Baylor By Will Barry Senior Sports Reporter

The No. 1/4 Alabama softball team hosted the Easton SEC/ Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge over the weekend, finishing 3-1 as the No. 3/1 Washington Huskies, No. 24/26 Baylor Bears and Georgia Bulldogs came to Tuscaloosa. The Tide split their two game

face-off with the other No. 1 team in the nation, topping Washington 6-0 on Friday with the Huskies returning the favor with a 6-0 victory of their own on Saturday. With the loss against Washington behind them Saturday, the Tide topped Baylor 4-0. Alabama ended the weekend on a high note crushing Baylor

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In the top of the sixth inning, Larsen hit an RBI-single to second base scoring Morgan from third base and bringing the Tide’s lead to 5-0. Next up, senior Lauren Parker, who transferred from Baylor after her freshman year, hit a two-run single to centerfield against her former team, scoring freshman Jennifer Fenton and Larsen as the Tide climbed to a 7-0 lead. With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Baylor freshman pitcher Whitney Canion was replaced by senior Brittany

Turner after giving up eight hits, seven runs, two walks and striking out five in five and twothirds innings on the pitching circle. The Bears finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Alex Colyer hit a solo home run to left field cutting the Alabama lead to 7-1. In the top of the seventh inning, the Tide answered back when Fenton hit a three-run home run to left-center bringing in Montalvo and Morgan to make it 10-1.

Morgan finished the game giving up one hit, one run, no walks and striking out one in five innings of work from the pitching circle. Larsen led the Tide at the plate with three hits, two runs, one walk and five RBIs for the game. Fenton added two hits, two runs and three RBIs. Alabama will travel to Birmingham to take on UAB Tuesday night at 6:30 before returning home on Thursday to host Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m.

Tide wins Whataburger Classic

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CW | Drew Hoover Sophomore Whitney Larson hits a grand slam in the first inning of the Tideʼs 10-1 route over Baylor. Alabama split with the other No. 1 team, Washington, and finished the weekend 3-1.

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10-1 Sunday in convincing style. Senior Brittany Rogers, sophomore Whitney Larsen and sophomore Kelsi Dunne made the Easton SEC/Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge all-tournament team. “I think it definitely was, to me, the strongest four-team tournament in the country this year,” head coach Patrick Murphy said. “And for us, we were disappointed that we lose at home and get shutout. I told the team before, those were the two most disappointing things is to lose one at home and then get shutout at home.” The Tide bounced back on Sunday with their bats in full swing against Baylor. In the top of the first inning, Larsen hit a grand-slam to left field that brought home Rogers, Kelley Montalvo and Lisa Elizondo to give the Tide a commanding 4-0 lead. “We needed to set the tone early to be able to win this game,” Larsen said. “It was a great weekend after all the good competition.” In the bottom of the third inning, junior Charlotte Morgan came in to relieve Dunne who gave up no runs, three hits, one walk and had no strikeouts in two innings of work.

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the 2009 Whataburger Classic Saturday night. Senior Kent Matthes went CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas | Alabama scored multiple runs 3-for-4 with two home runs and in each of the first five innings five RBIs, and Brandon May and cruised to a 16-2 victory went 4-for-5 with two doubles, over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, two RBIs and four runs scored to to clinch the championship at pace the Tide’s 21-hit attack. Junior Jake Smith was 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs, and junior Clay Jones was 3-for-6 with two extra base hits and four RBIs in the win. May brought a .154 batting average to Texas this weekend, but went 6-for-8 with eight runs scored and two RBI in wins over Texas Pan American and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to raise his season average to .294. “I got off to a slow start, but I never panicked,” May said after Saturday’s game. “I had enough confidence that things would click. It was a timing thing because of my [injured] wrist, but I knew once I got my timing down, I’d start hitting. I’m playing catch-up [with these guys]. I

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was just trying to be aggressive and get a good pitch to hit.” Alabama (8-3) scored in each of the first five innings and scored in eight straight innings in the tournament, dating back to the seventh inning of Friday’s win over Texas Pan American. In those eight innings, the team scored 26 runs. The Tide picked up where it left off Friday night, scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore shortstop Josh Rutledge opened the game with a single to left and scored on May’s RBI double into the right field corner. Matthes ripped a one-out double into the left field corner to score May with the second run of the inning. Alabama put three more runs on the board in the second inning on Alex Kubal’s RBI single and a two-out, two-run triple by Jones to put the Tide in front 5-0. Smith’s three-run home run off the video board in left field

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gave the Tide a comfortable 8-0 lead in the third inning. It was his second home run of the tournament. Matthes joined the long ball parade with a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Tide a 10-1 lead. The Tide plated five, two-out runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 15-1. Matthes capped the inning with his second two-run home run of the game. The senior went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in the win. He recorded his fourth career multi-home run game of his career and second of the season. Matthes leads the NCAA with nine home runs this season. “He has been unbelievable,” May said. “I told him tonight, he was putting up Gordon Beckhamtype numbers [Georgia’s 2008 SEC Player of the Year] from last year. I am happy for Kent, and I hope he keeps it up. He has done very well.” Alabama freshman left-hander Adam Morgan held TAMU-CC to one unearned run and six hits over 5 2/3 innings for his second straight win. He added a seasonhigh six strikeouts and walked two batters. Alabama closes out its fivegame road trip at the 2009 MAX Capital City Classic against Auburn on Tuesday at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. The Tide returns home on Wednesday to face Samford at 6:35 p.m.

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LIFESTYLES

Monday, March 9, 2009

Visionary author to read at the Bama By Brett Murph Contributing Writer

Imagine a world where the makers of the atomic bomb serve as prophets to the generation of tomorrow. Envision a man whose greatest confidante is an endangered species. Students will get a chance to explore realms of this magnitude when the Bankhead Visiting Writers Series presents Lydia Millet tonight at the Bama Theatre at 7:30. Millet will serve as a guest speaker and will read from one of her novels. Kate Bernheimer, coordinator of the Bankhead Series, said the Bama Theatre was the perfect place for Millet to speak since it’s an independent theatre dedicated to supporting and celebrating arts in Tuscaloosa. Bernheimer explained that Millet is an independent thinker, an original voice, and “like the Bama’s marquee,” she lights up a room. “Lydia Millet’s apocalyptic fiction features narcissists, pornographers, environmentalists, gardeners, librarians and dead physicists,” Bernheimer said. “She is an important, visionary contemporary American author who is basically fearless, who is a stylist and thinker many critics across the country admire.” Millet dropped out of an MFA program in creative writing to work for “Hustler” and “Fighting Knives” before attending a competitive program in environmental policy and going on to publish five novels in her 20s and 30s. She added that Millet received the 2003 PEN-USA Award for “My Happy Life,” describing it as a “very beautiful and sad novel.” Bernheimer said Millet was a

WATCHMEN

finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel “Oh Pure and Radiant Heart.” “We think her work shows remarkable range and is very exciting,” Bernheimer said. Bernheimer said that Millet’s fiction will bring her audience into contact with the sublime: awareness that life is beautiful, horrible, stupid and rare. She described Millet as a “surgical thinker,” explaining that her sentences are precise and that she doesn’t waste time. Bernheimer noted that students who attend will discover a form of writing unafraid to face up to some pretty hard facts of our time, but also not afraid to be ridiculous. She listed topics such as climate change, poverty, genocide, overpopulation and the rapid pace of species extinction. “I feel American fiction, in particular, needs to be less personal and self-oriented and look more at big things that subsume the personal,” Millet said, directing attention to morality, politics, philosophy and imagination. Bernheimer proceeded to describe how the venue’s format will run, explaining that visiting readers are introduced by graduate students from UA’s MFA program in creative writing, followed by the visitor reading for about 35-40 minutes from a work of fiction. She added that popcorn, soft drinks, wine and beer will be on sale before the reading. Bernheimer said Millet will likely read from her most recent novel, “How the Dead Dream,” a book about a man referred to as “T,” who has a childhood obsession with money and begins to sleep with

endangered species at the zoo after losing his wife in a freak accident. Bernheimer said it’s also possible Millet may read from “Love in Infant Monkeys,” a recently completed novel and collection of stories. From all the selections, Bernheimer said she could not pick a favorite because “each of her novels is so exciting and new.” Bernheimer said there may be time for a question and answer forum, but even if not, audience members can still linger and speak with the author after her reading. In the event of a question and answer forum, Bernheimer added that it’s possible that someone will ask Millet about her work with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group in Tucson, Ariz., and how that work informs her visionary and deeply felt fiction. Millet said she carries a passion for animals and hopes that comes through in her work. “Animals are the world and I love the world,” Millet said, adding that she tries to reflect that through her work. “My dream is that in the course of reading my stories, other people may have moments, however fleeting, of recognizing their own love for the world and feeling that love deeply.” Bernheimer said Millet is also fascinated by people and their dark and often peculiar leanings, referencing an interview the author did with the Los Angeles Times last year, talking about her characters in “How the Dead Dream.” Bernheimer recalled a passage where Millet stated that “it may look extreme on the page, but they’re not really that extreme.”

parents. This is a hard R-rated film. So unless you’re cool with your kids seeing graphic disContinued from page 8 embowelment, explicit sex and nudity, attempted rape, child conventionally classify as “good Editor’s note: For some reason, murder, lots of bad language guys?” And then, in the case of the presence of superheroes in and a dude getting a cleaver in Dr. Manhattan, who has gained a film seem to offer comfort to the head, leave them at home. the powers of a god, what happens when you increasingly find yourself unable to relate to humanity? The screenplay from Alex Tse and David Hayter raises all of these questions, and there are never any easy answers. The ending, while different, retains the thematic weight of the original ending. And as you might expect from a $150 million production, its tech credits are top-notch, particularly the production design from Alex McDowell, the ’80s-synth music from composer Tyler Bates and Snyder’s, intuitive direction, bringing out excellent performances from pretty much all of the primary cast and a few aweinspiring moments. What problem could I possibly have with such an admirable adaptation? Perhaps in its reverence, the film feels a bit like Dr. Manhattan himself; marvelous but detached, emotionless and a bit cold. I never felt as involved with the film as I did with the graphic novel. I highly recommend the film for fans and nonfans alike, and it’s as good of an adaptation as “Watchmen” is likely to get, but I haven’t fully come around to it myself. The story’s beats are there, its characters are faithfully reproduced, but something is missing, something that feels a bit like the spark of life.

Millet described her three scientist characters in “Oh Pure and Radiant Heart” as morally complex, adding she likes complicated characters and is interested in examining the ways in which people are unaware of themselves. “All of us have blind spots, and I find blind spots compelling,” Millet said. Although she hopes to reach her audience through her characters and passions for animals, Millet said she will not deliver a specific message, noting that each member of the audience will be free to choose his or her own focal point. Millet then stressed the importance for her readers to utilize their critical thinking skills when interpreting her work. “People need to do the work of thinking what I mean,” Millet said. “That’s the whole point of saying things that aren’t com-

FAST FACTS • What: Bankhead Visiting Writers Series presents Lydia Millet

• When: Tonight at 7:30 • Where: Bama Theatre pletely obvious.” Bernheimer said one thing she observed when reading the author’s work was an obsession with the self, including selfhood, self identity, self improvement and self love. She theorized Millet’s novels create possibility, adding that “they make sense out of a nonsensical, terrible time.” Bernheimer suggested one plausible interpretation for “T’s” visits to the zoo at night is that he’s learning to love the

world. She further stated that he’s “trying to figure something beautiful and terrible out,” which he does by impulse and intuition. Bernheimer reflected that this is as valid a way of interacting with the world as having “goals,” “missions,” and “objectives.” Bernheimer listed isolation as another theme in the story, explaining that it reaches the audience through Millet’s dialogue, including sense, sound and image. Bernheimer said each reading in the Bankhead Visiting Writers Series is free because the organization believes that anyone interested in contemporary writers should have access to their readings. Bernheimer said they are interested in creating a public space that supports and celebrates the literary arts for all.

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LIFESTYLES Ryan Mazer • Editor

ryan.mazer@cw.ua.edu

MOVIE REVIEW | ‘WATCHMEN’

Comic adaptation as reverent as possible By Corey Craft Editor-in-Chief

a very good movie that doesn’t exactly inspire backflips or anything (like “The Dark Knight,” “Watchmen,” the new comic for example), but it’s dense, book adaptation from director cerebral and gorgeously shot. I Zach Snyder, is a movie. If the just wish I could tell you it was film doesn’t inspire the most great. This is especially surprising fervent responses from me, as a longtime fan of Alan Moore and considering the film’s clear revDave Gibbons’ seminal graphic erence to the source material; novel, I can’t figure out why; it’s like “Sin City” and Snyder’s

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previous film “300,” the film uses the graphic novel as a very close guide. Lines are lifted almost verbatim, with minimal changes (there are some truncations). More importantly, the novel’s extraordinarily complex history, fractured timeline and weighty deconstructionist themes are more or less intact — which should automatically make “Watchmen” a monumental achievement in this genre’s history. There are a few changes: an alternative power subplot is expanded from the novel (presumably to give the film a modern resonance) and the ending is, shall we say, streamlined. But to have so faithfully adapted this dark tale is praiseworthy by itself. And make no mistake: “Watchmen” is not your traditional superhero tale. It is dark indeed. Set in an alternate history 1985, “Watchmen” takes place on the brink of Armageddon. Tensions between the United States and the USSR are on the verge of leading to nuclear war.

‘WATCHMEN’ Runtime: 163 minutes MPAA rating: R Release date: March 6 CW critic’s rating:

Bottom line: “Watchrottentomatoes.com Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson star in “Watchmen.” Richard Nixon (played in the film by Robert Wisden) is in his fifth term as president. And the masked vigilante has been outlawed, save for those under the employment of the U.S. government. If this sounds complicated or overwhelming, it may be, but a bravura opening credits sequence helps viewers get up to speed. And fair warning: this

is not a film you can watch idly, lest you want to miss all sorts of pivotal details. The film opens as an old man (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is brutally murdered in his apartment. As we come to find out, the man, Edward Blake, was in fact the government vigilante The Comedian, and his death is merely the beginning of a plot that touches the lives of the surviving masked vigilantes: the psychotic Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), a brutal crimefighter with a Manichean sense of right and wrong who still operates in the shadows of New York; the emasculated Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson); the smartest man in the world, Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), who after going public turned his adventuring days into a profitable business enterprise; Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman), who lives as a kept woman by the U.S. government; and finally (and most significantly), Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), a glowing blue godhead who gained near-omniscience after a freak lab accident, and whose

men” is an absurdly faithful adaptation of a dark graphic novel, with strong performances and top-notch direction.

mere presence keeps America’s strategic superiority in the world, in spite of his growing detachment from humanity. The plot weaves throughout time, as key flashbacks to The Comedian’s early days, the emergence of the first masked vigilantes and a few key origin stories add context to the growing fear of the end of the world. Above all, Watchmen is a look at this world and how the presence of these so-called heroes have dramatically changed history mostly for the worst. This is foremost among the questions Moore and Gibbons raise in the graphic novel: What kind of person dresses in a costume to fight crime? What effect would that have on politics, on international relations? On whose authority do these people fight crime? And what if — as in the case of Rorschach and The Comedian — these aren’t the sort of people you’d

See WATCHMEN, page 9

The Crimson White

NEWS

Monday, March 9, 2009

ILLINOIS CHURCH SHOOTING

UA, AU work Pastor blocked gunshot with Bible together on summer camp By Jim Suhr The Associated Press

By Hannah Mask Contributing Writer The University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development is co-sponsoring a three-day summer camp where Auburn University faculty members teach participants how to build environmentally friendly communities, according to Kay Argo, administrative director at Auburn. “Your Town Alabama” is held at Camp McDowell, located near Nauvoo. The camp will run from 9:30 a.m. on June 3 to noon on June 5, Argo said. Your Town consists of workshops and projects designed to promote community building practices that are not only environmentally friendly, but economically friendly as well. It also deals with Alabama’s changing physical and cultural landscape. “[Participants] work in groups and make presentations on different subjects related to communities, such as development and design, and then take what they learn and apply it to projects,” Argo said. The workshops are all handson, Argo said the 50 to 70 Your Town participants work together in one room at first, then split into groups in separate locations. She said they make presentations on communities’ cultural and natural resources and economic development strategies. “There’s also some graphic design work involved, so participants learn how to illustrate their community,” Argo said. Most of the attendees are professional developers, but Argo said anyone who has an interest in being proactive in directing his or her community’s future is welcomed to participate. “Even though it’s not designed as a student workshop, they can

FAST FACTS • “Your Town Alabama” is a three-day summer camp teaching participants to build environmentally friendly communities.

• The camp will run from June 3 through 5

• The application is due by April 30. For more information, visit yourtownalabama.org absolutely attend,” she said. “A student who has an interest in making a difference in [his or her] community would love the experience. It’s not so much an academic experience, it’s a reallife hands-on, make-a-difference experience.” There is very little technology available outside of the workshops, so participants won’t have access to devices like TVs and computers. “It’s very difficult to get cellphone coverage, and there are very few telephones or radios,” Argo said. “That’s intentional. It keeps participants focused.” Participants are required to stay in single or double occupancy cabins, which cost $215 and $180, respectively, per person. All fees and meal costs are included in the cabin cost, according to the Web site, yourtownalabama. org. The application, which is due by April 30, is available on the Web site. For more information, those interested may call Argo at 205-323-3592 or e-mail Martha Whitson at Martha@yourtownalabama. org.

MARYVILLE, Ill. | A pastor shot and killed during his Sunday sermon deflected the first of the gunman’s four rounds with a Bible, spraying a confetti of paper into the air during a horrifying scene that congregants initially thought was a skit, police said. The gunman strode down the aisle of the sprawling First Baptist Church shortly after 8 a.m. and briefly spoke with The Rev. Fred Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and shooting at the pastor, Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent said. “We thought it was part of a drama skit ... when he shot, what you saw was confetti,” said congregant Linda Cunningham, whose husband is a minister of adult education at the church. “We just sat there waiting for what comes next, not realizing that he had wounded the pastor.” The weapon jammed before the man could fire again, Trent said. The attacker then pulled out a four-inch knife, stabbing himself and two men who tackled him, he said. Winters was pronounced dead at Anderson Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Natalie

“Right now all we know is that the suspect said something to the pastor and the pastor said something back,” he said. The gunman and one stabbing victim, 39-year-old Terry Bullard, underwent surgery at St. Louis University Hospital, spokeswoman Laura Keller AP said. Bullard was in serious condition, she said. People stand outside of First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill. Keller did not release details on Sunday after a man killed a pastor and injured others. of the gunman’s condition or injuries. The other victim, guy’s motives were,” Jones Keith Melton, was treated Head said. Authorities didn’t know said outside the church. and released from Gateway Trent did not have details of Regional Medical Center, whether Winters, a married father of two who had led the Winters’ conversation with the spokeswoman Kate Allaria church for nearly 22 years, and gunman. said. the gunman knew each other. No one at the church seemed to recognize the 27-year-old gunman. Police would not release his name pending possible charges. “We don’t know the relationship [between the gunman and pastor], why he’s here or what the circumstances came about that caused him in the first place to be here,” said Illinois State Police Master Trooper Ralph Timmins. The Rev. Mark Jones, another pastor at First Baptist, said he briefly saw the gunman but not the shooting, though he heard a sound like miniature firecrackers. “We have no idea what this

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6 Monday, March 9, 2009

OPINIONS

The Crimson White

Dear SGA — let us pay Congratulations to the victors in the SGA struggle. As it was close, especially for the position of president, you may guess that not everyone is happy with the results. Happiness aside, however, I think all students, disappointed or not, can agree on one thing: We still want to see stuff get done. Particularly stuff we want and perhaps even need. Which brings me to my first request of the SGA, something I’ve recently realized there’s a problem with. I request that you get the University to let us use our money. To explain, I refer to the money we have available on our ACTion Cards: Bama Cash and Dining Dollars. Most are probably confused by what I mean, since we can certainly spend Dining Dollars and

Sean Randall Bama Cash, so I’ll explain even further (as this column would be rather pointless if I didn’t). I think that we, the students, should be allowed to withdraw money from those accounts. To the best of my knowledge, there

is no easy way to do that. In fact, as far as the University has let me know, there is no way whatsoever to do that. If there is one, it’s far more difficult than it needs to be, not to mention completely absent from the ACTion Card Web site. I think that’s troublesome. It’s my money, and suddenly I can’t use it anywhere not in Tuscaloosa? Gift cards are nice and all, but I prefer crisp Jacksons to them. Perhaps a Bama Cash ATM or something similar would be useful. Then, we find the problem of getting money into the Bama Cash account. When making a deposit online, you are required to deposit at minimum $10. Sounds like nothing big … unless you’re poor. Kind of like I am,

and kind of like I’m sure many students are. When I simply need to do one load of laundry, I need at most $3 in my Bama Cash. That’s all. But I’m required to put $10 in … which, depending on how close I am to pay day and how much grocery shopping I’ve done recently, I may not actually have. Or I may have a measly $11 in there. Enough to pump into Bama Cash, but now I can’t use that $10 I put in anywhere outside of Tuscaloosa. I don’t like having my funds so suddenly limited just because I need a particular outfit for a class or a few more shirts and pants before going home. The solution to this problem comes from Dining Dollars. Dining Dollars are useable in even fewer places than Bama

Cash, and they simply sit there all term. Most students drain them rapidly at their local Ferg Food Court, but some of us don’t use them for much beyond vending machines. I think it would be nice to be able to withdraw money from the Dining Dollars I’ve paid for and put it into my Bama Cash. That would eliminate the problem of being too poor to want to put money into Bama Cash from your bank account, it would eliminate the extra money you didn’t need just sitting there … And it’s all money on your “Tuscaloosa Gift Card” anyway. In fact, any extra Dining Dollars at the end of the year go straight into your Bama Cash account. So what’s the problem with doing some of that a little early? And if there are problems

with that, maybe they should be looked into. So, you have heard my humble request, newly elected Student Government Association. I would remind you that you are a student association, and would hope that in that remembrance you take requests like these from your fellow students seriously and will look into them earnestly. What with the financial problems of this nation and of many of the students, I should think that problems dealing with finances would be a high priority. If not, then perhaps we should make it so.

Sean Randall is a junior majoring in theatre and philosophy. He is a regular contributor to The Crimson White.

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I first learned of the incident from a friend’s Facebook status early last week. My friend was warning all women in Tuscaloosa to watch out for a man posing as a maintenance worker, who had allegedly sexually assaulted a UA student. I was shocked and afraid. I immediately called a few friends to find out more about the crime and to warn them if they had not heard. Most of my friends had heard and were also scared. But fear has a funny way of coming and going. Last Thursday, The Crimson White published a report of the alleged assault, but then a few days later I had almost forgot about the incident. Like many other students I feel very safe on campus and where I live, a gated apartment complex. I have also lived in Tuscaloosa since I was only a year old. Growing up I never heard stories about rapes, robberies or assaults. Tuscaloosa seemed like the ideal safe, small town that my parents had dreamed of — the complete opposite of where my family moved from — New Orleans.

But my image of Tuscaloosa as a crime-free, small town was completely changed when I moved away from my parents and onto campus. During my sophomore year, two men robbed a friend of mine at gunpoint. My friend and two others were walking into her apartment close to campus when it happened. After the men took all of their belongings, one hit my friend on the head with his pistol. She had to be taken to the hospital for numerous stitches. Last year, my friend’s sorority sister was raped. She was sitting on the porch of her home on campus when the man attacked her. Hearing of a crime is much different from experiencing one, of course. Without that experience, we hold on to the belief in our invisibility. We think, it can’t happen to me, because it hasn’t happened. It’s reasonable not to expect the unexpected. But the stories should make us afraid. And that fear should not come and go, but always reside in the back of our minds. Too many students feel too safe on campus, including myself. A few of my friends carry

Mace. One of my friends has a registered pistol in her car. When she first told me of her “pistol for safety,” I laughed because I assumed she was joking. But there it was, on the inside of the driver’s door, a shiny handgun. Should we all start carrying guns? I don’t know. I’ve never been a pro-gun kind of girl. Guns have a high risk of accidents and misuse. But wouldn’t it be nice to know you could always protect yourself? The bottom line is we should not feel 100 percent safe on campus. Because bad things do happen, and although it may not have happened to you, it has happened to other students. Since the reported assault last week, I’ve thought about the crimes that have happened on or near campus during my three years here. I have finally decided to listen and to remember — to let the fear really sink in. I hope other students will do the same. And maybe, as a result, we will all be more cautious, more aware and, ultimately, safe.

Megan Menard is a junior majoring in journalism and history.

The Crimson White

OPINIONS

Monday, March 9, 2009

SGA ELECTION RESPONSE PAGE

The other ‘Machine’ By Thaddeus Parker

“machine,” and only one is going to win. You can say that Oliver’s supporters used unfair tactics to secure the SGA presidency, but I can’t think of anything more unfair than using a newspaper with thousands of readers in order to sway voter opinion. Greeks only make up 25 percent of the student population at the University. The CW, on the other hand, is offered for free to 100 percent of the student population. That is truly a disparity. To tell you the truth, I’m surprised Oliver won to begin with. Although I wouldn’t expect a fraternity member to march up to his brother and refuse to vote for Oliver, I also wouldn’t expect a journalist of The CW to march into the editor’s office and refuse to vote for Key. Both persons would be met with resistance. My mom has always said that there are two types of people in this world: cheerleaders and cheerleader wannabes. In a way, there are greeks and greek wannabes. The greek system represents something that many people are jealous of. And some people will not rest until it is destroyed. Apparently, we live in a society where certain forms of racism and classism are politically correct and welcome. It’s not right to go against someone because of their race, but it’s equally not right to despise someone because of their level of success and financial standing. So while the investigative team that is “not affiliated with any campaign” is collecting evidence of campaign fraud, they should make sure to include an issue of The CW. Heck, the evidence is in writing.

Above all other articles covering the SGA elections, the one titled, “Key concedes election” was the crux of them all. The article cites example after example of how Oliver’s campaign competed unfairly, breaking several violations in the process. I don’t doubt that any of these regretful acts happened, but to say that the Oliver campaign is the only one guilty of unjust campaign practices is absurd. It has been rumored that Key supporters were positioned near computer terminals, insisting that people vote for Key. Perhaps there should be a clause addressing “campaigning too close to the polls” for online elections? Matt Ferguson’s Friday column titled “Why so serious, Key supporters?” was the top note of The Crimson White’s SGA election coverage. In response to Key’s defeat, Ferguson lashes out at the so-called “Machine,” cursing its existence. To pretend that fraternities and sororities don’t have an influence on elections would be ridiculous. But to pretend that The CW doesn’t have an influence would be just as absurd. Furthermore, you cannot completely associate the “Machine” with every “unclean” act supposedly carried out by Oliver’s campaign. Therefore, the only crime the “Machine” appears to be guilty of is swaying voter opinion. And yet, perhaps the “Machine” isn’t alone. If swaying voters is a crime, The CW is guilty as charged. They openly supported Key, offered nothing but unbiased coverage of the SGA elections. What we have here is a sequel to “Transformers.” Thaddeus Parker is a senior It’s “Machine” against majoring in advertising.

Salute, nudge to Elections Board By Carl Bacon The Elections Board is a product of campus expectations, and this week they fulfilled their mission to our campus and to our students. They receive few accolades and they serve without pretentiousness — they embody the laudable characteristics of servant leadership. Let’s look at facts: • 55.91 percent campus voter participation; an increase of more 300 percent over last spring’s election • Undergraduate voting increased more than 200 percent • Graduate school and Law school voting increased more

than 500 percent • More than 9,000 off campus student votes cast • Double digit voting increases in every college and in every student classification • A new online process that experienced virtually no complaints, thanks to our Office of Information Technology (OIT) • A new application that performed well Clearly, the Elections Board met and exceeded all campus expectations in its delivery and application of an online voting system. And, the Board accomplished this task while remaining accessible, visible and, most of all, vigilant throughout the election process.

As we celebrate the good work of the Elections Board and the tremendous voter turnout, we must also acknowledge the work we have ahead of us — each of us. It is the type of work that will involve the Elections Board, the SGA and the general student population. Currently, the Elections Manual provides only guidelines; it is meant to work in conjunction with the Code of Student Conduct and other UA policies. This document must be reexamined and updated to include changes brought about by electronic campaigning. We acknowledge this fact and we will work fervently to address this issue and we will involve students in the process.

Additionally, while the Elections Board does not relish or acclaim power, they will act on any and all campaign violations and they will attempt to do so swiftly. And finally, as citizens of the University, let’s take the opportunity afforded us by this election to continue to foster civic responsibility and the unabashed pursuit of excellence. Let us always act with fairness, honesty, and respect toward our fellow students. And let us demonstrate consistently and with unwavering conviction that these moral disciplines are central to the University of Alabama. Carl Bacon is the director of the Ferguson Center.

Don’t just blame the Machine By Ryan Davis Unless you have been living beneath Mt. Everest, you know that Steven Oliver squeaked by and won the SGA presidential election by a mere 261 votes. While this had a lot to do with a last ditch door-to-door desperation voting drive, Oliver still won, and he was, in fact, a good candidate. To Steven Oliver and campaign crew, I sincerely congratulate you. Also, congratulations are due to Kendra Key, Ian Sams and their crew for running an outstanding, outside of the box campaign. The idea that these people were able to mobilize so many independent students is absolutely incredible. So here’s a quick thought for you to ponder: you gripe because of the obviously inexcusable way that the greek system forces some of its members to vote for Machine backed candidates. But did you vote Key because you believed in her, or because you hated the Machine? Personally, I am a very strong supporter of Key. She has an incredible resume, sets

her mind to something and gets it done. Period. So, as you can imagine, the election results infuriated me, especially when I thought about how many pledges mindlessly voted for Oliver simply because they were told to do so. However, despite my obvious qualms with the system, I am a bit blown away by the overwhelming amount of unrealistic, over exaggerated Machine hating that I have seen via text messaging and Facebook status. All the cards have been thrown out, such as campus terrorism (which has definitely taken place in the past), racism (which, sadly, is still a huge and undeniable aspect of a great deal of things that take place at the Capstone), Satan worship, baby killing and plotting to take over the world. You get my point. While intimidation and despicable tactics were used by some of Oliver’s supporters, and while an inexcusable and deplorable amount of racism was obvious during the course of this campaign, it seems to me that we are forgetting a very, very important issue here: The margin of victory was

less than 300. Let us not focus on how insanely close this margin is, since, quite frankly, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the fact that approximately 14,380 students voted in this election. Wait a second. How many students attend this University again? More than 27,000? For the math experts out there, this means that at least 12,000 plus students didn’t vote, and I am positive that it would not be too overly presumptuous to assume that the majority of those 12,000 are not Greek in the least bit. So basically, apathy did it to us again. This is not a statement that is meant to blame anyone in particular for Key’s loss in the election, and this is in no way condoning the car tagging, door to door campaigning, defacing of property, racist remarks and the like. On the other hand, I am asking that you direct your frustrations more towards reality. Completely blaming the Machine is horribly unrealistic now, since the campus

population is far too large and is quickly becoming a tad bit too diverse to be controlled by a mysterious council of elitist greeks. If one-twelfth of the population of apathetic nonvoters had, in fact, voted, we would be looking at different election results today. In other words, for an independent candidate to win, more of the non-greek students are going to have to care. Kendra Key did and absolutely fantastic job of mobilizing students, making a very clear statement that the Machine candidate can be challenged, and even beaten, without the heavily organized unions and groups that were needed to lead to the victories of the seven major candidates who managed to outmaneuver their greek adversaries in the past. In years to come, I truly hope that the student body takes this message and runs with it, ensuring that the best candidate is the candidate who wins. It can be done.

Unity needed after SGA election

felt passionate about their right to vote, many for the first time. We need to keep that passion alive, regardless of the candidate people voted for. To do that, let’s try working together, rather than ripping each other apart. Our new SGA president deserves a chance from all students, so rather than complaining about problems, let’s all help him make the University the best it can be. We all have a stake in this campus, so let’s take it seriously. We can unite behind our common thread, our University; let’s all get involved and help Steven Oliver make this campus better for all of us.

Ryan Davis is a sophomore majoring in interdisciplinary studies.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Underhanded election disappoints By Elissa McIntyre

the staff. However, Oliver’s campaign team then proceeded to sneak into the men’s restroom with their laptop and campaign while patrons tried to use the restroom. Even more disturbing was Tuscaloosa’s bar scene that night. Again, Oliver’s campaigners showed up with their laptops and even allegedly bought drinks for people while asking them to vote for Oliver. Whether the allegations are true or not, the negative perception is already there. Knowing that our SGA president was elected with the help of such underhanded tactics is disappointing. The University can only hope for a more fair and respectful election next year.

There are many opinions flying around about the recently posted results of the SGA election. I fully accept that the candidate I supported did not win and hope the best for Steven Oliver. Just as with other elections, we must learn to support whichever candidate fairly received more votes. On the other hand, I am appalled by the campaign tactics of Steven Oliver’s supporters. Campaigners from both sides attempted to sway votes while providing a laptop to vote on inside the Student Recreation Center, and both Elissa McIntyre is a graduate sides were asked to leave by student in mathematics.

CW biased towards Key supporters By Amanda Kelly

by those in support of Steven Oliver. I did not see one line admitting any error on the part of Key’s supporters. So much for balanced reporting. For those of you who don’t know, journalists are meant to stay objective on the subjects they are reporting on, unless the articles they are writing fall on the opinions page. In this case, this would have meant listing specific violations on both sides, or not listing them at all. The CW claims to have “served the University Of Alabama since 1894.” In my opinion, though, badmouthing a large number of students on this campus serves no one.

I am disgusted. The ballots are cast, the election is over, and The CW will still not drop its crusade. Friday’s article, “Key concedes election,” caught my attention because I thought I was about to read an article about Key’s campaign and her post-campaign plans for her platform. I was even excited when I read a group was forming to investigate campaign violations, as the article stated they occurred on both sides of the election. Instead I was blasted in the face with a half page essay list- Amanda Kelly is a junior ing every violation committed majoring in public relations.

By Lakin Laird

As a senior, who happens to be an independent and someone who has been involved in the SGA throughout college, I would like to share my opinion on the recent SGA elections. Congratulations to both Steven Oliver and Kendra Key for a hard fought election and for inspiring more students to vote on this campus that ever before. That is an amazing accomplishment, and one that we shouldn’t forget. We need to stop focusing on election problems and start focusing on what went right. What went right? Students on Lakin Laird is a senior majorthis campus got involved and ing in political science.

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OPINIONS

Monday, March 9, 2009

Paul Thompson • Editor

cwopinions@gmail.com

Alabama — a state in crisis Reevaluate the By Don Wallace In the past few months, there has been no doubt that our nation and state have been experiencing an economic recession that has impacted many of our citizens negatively. This recession, which might be more aptly described as a strong correction, has led many to describe our national economy in the worst crisis since the Great Depression. In Alabama, many of our own leaders have described our budget woes similarly in light of recent declarations of proration and cuts in almost every area of state government. While it appears the national government is going to bail out the big banks, state budgets, etc., at least temporarily, with nearly $2 trillion of new debt financed by China and others, the question remains as to how the state of Alabama finds itself in such a difficult financial position when state tax revenues have swelled in recent years. By being in such a financial morass at the state level, our share of the federal stimulus money will only be used to shore up existing shortfalls as opposed to what could have been an unprecedented opportunity to advance our state in ways many others could not have. The obvious question is “how could that be” in light of the negative media coverage and “doom and gloom” about state budgets we have heard from every hall in Montgomery.

Well, a quick look at the state’s own financial reports shows us that current year revenues are only down 4.43 percent, coming off a 2.72 percent increase during the most recent fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008. Another comparison of total state revenue from fiscal years 2003 to 2008 shows an increase of 42 percent from $6.1 billion to $8.7 billion. Even more substantial was a nearly 48 percent increase in the state’s Education Trust Fund budget during the same fiveyear period, which is funded primarily through income and sales taxes. Despite this increase, Alabama voters have twice been told that we had to raid the Alabama Trust Fund to shore up our education system, and are now facing double-digit proration. One has to look no further than the plague of corruption charges and convictions in the halls of state government to find out why our state budgets are in the mess they appear to be. Several Democratic legislators, senators and education officials have been thrown out of office for using their positions for personal financial gain, resulting in strong ethical reforms being fought by many of the same leaders that perpetuated a system that has robbed our education system of millions of dollars. Even after 23 of 24 jurors and a second trial resulted in the most recent conviction of a state legislator, one of them remarked that it was an

injustice. The fact that so many of them are still oblivious to the corruption and graft is the biggest injustice, which must be fixed by the voters who care about making sure that state government works to provide the best education and services to the people, not the best perks and money laundering for legislators, lobbyists and special interests. One example of the disconnection between the legislative leadership and the people might be the increase in the budget for the clerk of the house. After Governor Bob Riley submitted a budget request for level funding of the office, the legislators rejected the proposal and implemented a one-third increase of $400,000 when everyone already knew the budgets would be tight. And, lest you question why the governor couldn’t veto these budgets, remember that the legislature already voted by simple majority to override Governor Riley’s veto of a previous state budget. As the parent of two, soon to be three, school age children, it is past time that our state got serious about how we budget our tax dollars. A few years ago, one analysis demonstrated the state could have had up to $6 to $7 billion in funds available to fix crumbling roads, schools, and other functions, had the state adopted prior-year budgeting ten years earlier. With the huge increases in state revenues in recent years, which far surpassed the revenue increases of most small

businesses or local governments, one can only wonder what the reserves could have been to get through the current economic slowdown. There would have been absolutely no need to double-dip into the state’s trust funds. In 2010, the people of Alabama will have another opportunity to begin correcting the problems plaguing our state budgets. We will have a chance to ask candidates where they stand on issues like prior-year budgeting, bans on doubledipping and earning double-pay for the same work, as well as streamlining the myriad levels of state taxation and regulation that all too often are an impediment to economic growth. For much of the past two years, we have weathered the economic storm pretty well as a state. We could have managed much better with the passage of sound budgets, based on realistic revenues. There would be no dealing with double-digit proration, or having to depend on preposterously expensive federal bailouts to keep teachers in the classroom and others on the job. Like many of the problems facing society today, the answers seem simple. While they may not be so simple, they will not be found when too many of our elected leaders are looking the other way or have their hands stuck in the cookie jar. Don Wallace is a Tuscaloosa County Commissioner.

Isreal conﬂict By Suzann Palmour

establishing large communities within these boundaries and enjoy luxuries that are untouchable for neighboring Palestinians. These luxuries within the Jewish settlements include establishments where the few sources of water exist and community pools, cutting off the water supply to Palestinians who are dying of thirst; paved roads and highways which only Jewish settlers can use. These establishments threaten the future of a twostate solution, and if they continue to grow then Israel can use these settlements to justify claiming that land for Israel as well. “60 Minutes” recently did a special on this issue, and it can be seen under the title “Israeli Settlers Trying to Prevent Peace Deal” in two parts on YouTube. For more information visit ifamericansknew.org. It’s for these reasons, and so many more that Israel’s control over Palestine is referred to as an apartheid. One might question why so many Orthodox Jews and Israeli citizens protest Israel’s injustices towards Palestine and why a growing number of Israelis refuse to draft into the Israeli Defense Forces. Standing against the injustice Israel wreaks on its neighbors does not equate to antiSemitism (by the way, Arabs are Semites too, so you might want to pick another term).

The only thing more dangerous than a lack of knowledge is the illusion of knowledge. So why is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sometimes referred to as an apartheid? One reason might be due to the hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks the Israeli Defense Force has set up and controlled in Palestine, making the daily commute for Palestinians a huge burden. Children have a difficult time getting to school, adults to work (of the few that are employed) and the ill to a hospital. There have been several instances where women in labor have been blocked from getting to a hospital. These checkpoints and roadblocks are not along the borders between Israel and Palestine, but are within Palestinian territory. Can you imagine having to stand in line for hours to present a passport and legal documents to foreign military officials every day on your way to school, work, the grocery store or any place for that matter? This is what we like to call an occupation. The land Israel has now used to belong to the Palestinians! It’s the Palestinians who are being controlled by Israel and whose land has been taken away more and more in the past several decades. With what little land the Palestinians now have, Jewish Suzann Palmour is a junior settlers have been illegally majoring in social work.

Week demands end to occupation of Palestine By Chapin Gray

MCT Campus

Opposing Israeli settlement not anti-Semitic By Alexander Perry I have a hard time knowing where to begin with Friday’s atrocious column by Cody Smith declaiming Israel Apartheid Week as everything in it is untrue. First of all, Smith claims that any move against Israel is an act of anti-Semitism. There are many Jewish organizations (IJSN, Jews not Zionists, etc.) that oppose Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the abominable war crimes the nation has committed. This is not a religious issue. This is a political issue of Israel’s violation of borders set by the U.N. and their breach of international laws. Refusing to support a nation that commits war crimes and occupies a neighboring country is not an act of religious intolerance. Secondly, Smith implies that Israel grants full civil rights to Palestinians under occupation.

This is untrue. Palestine is currently under a military occupation, where armed Israeli forces patrol their streets. Furthermore, the Israeli government pays its citizens to settle Palestinian land taken by the Israeli government. These settlements and the highways connecting them are Israeli only. The only Arabs granted any rights are those who have shed their previous national identity and become Israeli citizens. These citizens are not treated equally, as Smith’s article claims. Arabs are discriminated against in employment and housing and frequently banned from participating in elections. The idea that Palestinians have any rights in Israel or the occupied territories is absolutely ridiculous. Recently, Israel violated rights granted to Palestinians by international law when they attacked Gaza.

One thousand ten Palestinians were killed — among them 315 children and 95 women. A total of 4,700 were wounded during the massacre. Smith says no real apartheid exists in Israel and we should instead turn our attention to Muslims. I cannot comment on just how untrue and horrible this statement is. Israel has ignored the borders set by the U.N. and begun a military occupation to suppress the Palestinian people and take their lands. According to the BBC: “All Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory are regarded as illegal under international law.” The UN has moved to condemn Israel for it’s crimes many times in the past, and on Nov. 11, 2008 they did so again. For the 38th time since 1972, the U.S. used its veto power to defend Israel and protect them from war crime charges. Other

nations around the world condemn Israel for these crimes. This is not anti-Semitism. The Israeli government has committed war crimes, violates international law and suppressed and murdered the citizens of neighboring Palestine. In the midst of an economic crisis, the effects of which you and I readily see in climbing tuition and budget cuts here at the University, our government shelled out $2.55 billion to Israel this year. That amounts to $6.9 million every day. And you’re going to call me an antiSemite for agreeing with most of the free world in saying that this is egregious and, furthermore, wrong? Like Smith, I would encourage you to research this matter on your own, though probably not at CAMERA’s Web site. Alexander Perry is a junior in New College.

Palestinian men, women and children by Israeli soldiers. High concrete walls separating people from their hospitals, farms, schools, and workplaces. The wall in particular is a stark reminder that the Palestinians are living under a system of apartheid. Many refer to Gaza as the “world’s largest open-air prison.” Cody Smith writes in Friday’s issue of The CW as if Palestinians were some small minority that get innocently overlooked in the democratic process. In many areas, Palestinians (both Muslims and Christians) are the majority. Yet, as Palestinians, they have no rights and live daily under the heel of occupation. Smith writes that Israel should not be criticized because it “gives its land away to smaller warring factions in pursuit of safety, protection and diplomatic relations for its citizens,” completely ignoring that since the Zionist movement began, land has been forcibly taken from Palestinians, that millions of Palestinians languish in refugee camps, not allowed to return to their homes, that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is in brazen defiance of international law and countless U.N. Resolutions. I wish there were educational events going on this week at the University of Alabama to educate the student body on the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Judging from Smith’s recent editorial, some basic understanding of the issue is sorely needed.

To start, I’d like to salute the cities and campuses across the world that participated in Israeli Apartheid Week. Especially after the recent slaughter in Gaza by the Israeli military, it is of utmost importance to stand in solidarity with Palestine and to demand an end to the Israeli occupation. Denouncing the human rights violations, war crimes and discrimination that is part-and-parcel of the Israeli occupation of Palestine is not “hateful” or anti-Semitic. Judaism is a religion. Zionism is the belief in a Jewish-only state. Recognizing that the brutal occupation of Palestine does not at all reflect the values of Judaism, both Israelis and Jews are an integral and outspoken part of the international Palestine solidarity movement. Israel is a democracy only for its Jewish citizens, much like South Africa upheld the democratic rights of only its white citizens. Palestinians suffer daily from apartheid, from “political, economic and social discrimination and segregation.” Not only was the “Jewishonly” state established on their land and without their input or consent, but Israel, since 1967, has been illegally occupying the West Bank and Gaza. What does the occupation mean? Palestinian homes demolished. Military checkpoints impeding movement. Illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Jewishonly roads. Thousands of Palestinians languishing in Chapin Gray is a graduate Israeli prisons. The killing of student in English.

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

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Continued from page 1

• UA counselors offer ad-

of the UA Career Center. “Always look at the best thing to do. Plan for the economy to rebound — because it will.” Right now, job security varies in the state of Alabama — engineering is more stable than, for example, business — but Paschal emphasized the important was to realize “the job market is bad, period.” “This is probably the most catastrophic recession that I’ve seen in terms of companies going out of business, and employers not hiring,” Paschal said. “Even in bad economies before, I didn’t see a great impact on, for example, teacher’s jobs.” During a recession, students should think of shortterm employment opportunities. “When the job market is such that you can’t really launch your career, then look at getting a job. It may not be that job that’s even in

vice for students looking for work in the recession.

• Government jobs are often retained despite recessions. the area that you want to go in, but it will give you experience,” Paschal said. “Many organizations that would have positions available in a good economy, they still need some work done sometimes, but they’re concerned about that commitment that you make to hiring a fulltime employee.” Going to graduate school helps especially in areas such as research and education, but Paschal cautioned not to go to graduate school just because you can’t find a job. One place that often retains its jobs during a recession, Paschal said, is government work. He recommended organizations like the Partnership for Public Service and the Washington Center for intern-

ships and seminars that allow students to work and learn valuable skills for both governmental and private sector work. Jim Oakley, a career counselor for Tisch Student Services in Reese Phifer, said he’s noticed a pattern while lining up jobs for young journalists — smaller, daily newspapers seem to be doing better and retaining more workers than large publications. “I think this is true of every occupation we train for [at CC&IS]. For years we thought bigger was better. But I think during this particular crisis we are in right now, the smaller market people are having a better go of it,” Oakley said. “Most of these big major PR and advertisement companies they handled GM Motors, Ford, Chrysler and others like that, and when they cut back, everyone hurts all the way down the line. But these smaller agencies, like the ones in Birmingham or Montgomery, they’re not handling those major accounts. They’re handling smaller accounts. The

Monday, March 9, 2009

trickle-down effect will probably get to them too, but I don’t think it’s as devastating as it is for huge companies.” Paschal said smaller businesses may provide more opportunities during the recession. “In terms of opportunity when the economy is bad, smaller to medium businesses sometimes are able to survive better because they are more flexible and can adjust to a hit in terms of income much easier,” Paschal said. “There’s more independence to take a new direction.” As an example, Paschal cited last November’s congressional hearing with the “Big 3” auto CEO’s, who were chastised by the media for flying in private jets to Washington to ask for taxpayer money. It may have never crossed their mind that that would be inappropriate, Paschal said — and after all, they were probably only following company protocol, he said. A job at a smaller company, however, can be a two-sided coin, he said. At larger, pub-

licly owned companies, the competition is numerous and stiff, and only the best get noticed for their individual skills and get to move up the ladder. At a smaller business, you will have more and quicker opportunities to showcase yourself. However, smaller businesses are often family-owned and show familial favoritism, whereas the impersonality of a large corporation may allow you to move up more on merit. Above all, both agreed that remaining optimistic and finding work experience, however humble the pay, are key as the economy recovers. Economists have noted a cyclical pattern to the economy. Many theorize that a recession and subsequent boom happen every one and a half to two and a half years. Paschal said he thinks the economy will be much better in 12 months, and the job market usually lags about a

year behind. “You just have to continue what you’ve always done,” Oakley said. “If I couldn’t find an entry level job right away, I’d definitely do an internship and beef up your resume. I personally feel like things will begin to get better in the last quarter of this year. And the sharp ones will survive.”

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made our airfare go down $125 overnight and made the hotel room considerably cheaper.” Once he is in New York, Stephens said he will be conscious of where his money goes. “You don’t need steak dinners just because you’re in New York,” he said. “I’ll probably be at McDonald’s most nights.” Amelia Nuwer, a sophomore majoring in biology, plans to go to Panama City, Fla. “I just put my efforts into finding the cheapest hotel I could get,” Nuwer said. She suggested that students who are strapped for cash shop around on Web sites such as Orbitz and Expedia to compare prices on hotels and flights. Shannon Boswell, a freshman majoring in dance, said students affected by the economic downturn should start saving money now and try to

make frugal decisions. Jordan Cochran, a sophomore majoring in finance and pre-pharmacy, is going on a trip with Habitat for Humanity. If she wasn’t going to work with Habitat, she said, she would stay at home to save money. The overwhelming majority of students interviewed had adopted a “the more the merrier” approach to spring break, packing cars and hotel rooms so the costs could be split. Aside from doing away with the idea of a trip altogether or finding ways to take the same trips more cheaply, students have found more creative journeys to make. On March 1, the New York Times published an article about college campuses as travel destinations. Sophomore English major Maggie Espino said she had not planned on focusing the entire week around this, but that it seemed like a good idea. “I would like to go visit my friends, and this would really work out since none of them

have the same spring break as me,” she said. There are many economic benefits of going on a trip to another college. “I can stay with my friends, which is infinitely cheaper than a cruise, renting a house, or staying in a hotel,” Espino said. “Also, it would be nice to see them and how they live at college.” Many students joked that, as stereotypical “poor college students” they never spent much money anyway.

“I think that is a common attitude,” Stephens said. “People are used to living kind of cheap in college.” “Just decide what you do wisely,” said Eryka Tucker, a freshman majoring in dance. “If you only have money for so much you can only do so much.”

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TODAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

• Tuscaloosa Winds band concert — 7:30 p.m., Moody Music Building Concert Hall

• Paul R. Jones Artist Lectures presents Aimee Miller — 5 p.m., 205 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library

• Graduate Student Association general meeting — 6:30 p.m., 309 Ferguson Center

• Collegiate Politicians present “B.E.T. ... W.T.F.” Forum — 7 p.m., 20 Alston Hall

March 9, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Earthfest Art Celebration The University of Alabama Environmental Council is accepting applications for artists to display their work at Earthfest 2009. Earthfest, which will be held April 19, is a preliminary Earth Day celebration on the Quad that seeks to unite members of the Tuscaloosa community. We invite University students and faculty, as well as area residents to apply. For more information, contact akmabry@gmail.com.

Creative Campus intern applications due soon The Creative Campus Initiative is accepting applications for its 2009-10 Intern Class. Creative Campus seeks interns representative of all 13 UA colleges and schools and is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Interns are hired to serve UA and our community by developing innovative ways of approaching art, education, economy and leadership through collaborative student-driven project development and implementation. Applications are available at creativecampus.ua.edu

QUOTE OF THE DAY “I personally feel like things will begin to get better in the last quarter of this year. And the sharp ones will survive.” — Jim Oakley, career counselor for Tisch Student Services

BIRTHDAYS Charles Harrison Davis, freshman majoring in business

THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY 1959: The first Barbie doll goes on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who cofounded Mattel, Inc. with her husband in 1945. Source: 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

ADVERTISING • Drew Gunn, advertising manager, 348-8995, cwbiz manager@sa.ua.edu • Jeff Haas, territory manager, 348-8044, territorymg2@ sa.ua.edu • Joe Greenwood, zones 3, (McFarland), 348-8735, smcwzone3-7@sa.ua.edu • Lance Hutchison, zone 4 (Northport), 348-8054, zone4@sa.ua.edu • Chris Green, zone 6 (15th Street), 348-6876, chrispgreen1@gmail.com • Jake Knott, zone 7 (Skyland Blvd.) 348-8742, jknott23@gmail.com

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Evolution lecture tonight at annual series By John Bryant Contributing Writer

The ALLELE series, or Alabama Lectures on Life’s Evolution, is now in its fourth The University of Alabama year and has taken the responwill host geologist Donald sibility of making everyone Prothero tonight at 7:30 p.m. in aware of the beliefs of the evothe Biology Auditorium for the lutionist community. It consists fourth annual ALLELE series of a professor from the departments of anthropology, biology, on evolution. Prothero will be speaking geology, and psychology. “[ALLELE] is a lecture on his view on the origin of life and will be promoting his new- series open to the public to est book. Students can hear raise awareness of the beliefs Prothero’s speech and can get on evolution,” said Fred Andrus, a professor here at a signed copy of his book.

SCALE

the University. “We have been going for four years now and we hope to have many more,” he said. Prothero, a paleontologist specializing in all kinds of fossils, is coming to the University this year as a guest speaker of the ALLELE series from the Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif. “I will be speaking on the origins of life and proving evolution using fossils mainly from the Ice Age,” said Prothero.

FAST FACTS • What: Fourth annual Alabama Lecture on Life’s Evolution with Donald Prothero

• When: Tonight at 7:30 • Where: Biology Auditorium

money. While that incentive is effective for participants it can be very difficult to attain according to Grimes. “A lot of times it can be difficult to win those drawings because over 50,000 people in the state participated last year,” Grimes said. “Because it’s so hard to win those drawings we decided to have our own drawing here at the University.” In order to encourage participants at the local level, the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness chose to make the goals more attainable. Through the University program, Scale Back Alabama participants are eli-

gible for many more prizes than those that are involved solely on the state level. Grimes explained that by attending weekly weighins participants are entered into drawings for a wide variety of prizes, ranging from iPods to massaging chairs. Additionally, in order to be eligible for the $200 per group prize drawing at the University each team is required to lose 20 pounds instead of the 40pound goal set by the state program. The slightly lower weight loss goal is intended to encourage the team members to maintain their accomplishment. “Well, 10 pounds to lose in nine

weeks can be a lot, especially if they’re going to maintain it, and that’s really our goal,” Grimes said. “We encourage slow and steady weight loss instead of trying to lose it fast.” Grimes emphasized that the main goal of the program is more than weight loss. She hopes to see a big lifestyle change for those that participate because of the long-term benefits that it can provide for them. According to Grimes, the program gained about 100 more participants in 2009 than it has had previously, and she hopes to see Scale Back Alabama continue to impact the lives of fac-

Spring Break just shows that are so many opportunities to do good in a community,” Continued from page 1 Smith said. “With the econowho spend their spring break my the way it is, people can’t participating in programs such make as many monetary donaas Live United’s Alternative tions as they’ve been able to in the past. However, people are always able to donate their time and there are so many opportunities and places that their time can be well spent.” Stephanie Glaze, a freshman majoring in Spanish and sociology, said she usually visits family for spring break, but this year she’ll be heading to Gulfport. “I decided that since I would be spending my whole summer at home with my family, I should go do something worthwhile over spring break,” Glaze said. 1301 University Blvd. Glaze, who said she has contributed to several com“On the Strip” munity service projects in the 750-0203 Tuscaloosa area, has never

been on a service trip before. “I am very excited about Live United,” Glaze said. “I have volunteered a lot with underprivileged kids as well as adults but have never helped through construction or rebuilding. It will definitely be an experience like none I’ve had before and will be a great chance to give back to the community.” While Glaze and Smith head to Gulfport next week, 70 students involved with the Alabama Navigators will be headed to Vera Beach, Fla. “While we can definitely go to Florida and spend our break with friends and have a good time on the beach, we really tried to encourage our students to give up their week free from school to learn about the rewards and joy of serving,” said Navigator staff member Caitlin Kochanasz. Over the past several years, the Alabama Navigators have worked to provide a spring break trip for UA students. Typically these trips are mission focused; however, every four to five years the Navigator staff plans a trip that is more focused on a vacation and fun. “Last year we took a group to Colorado to go to a Christian conference and to go skiing over spring break,” Kochanasz said. “Though the kids had a good time; they kept asking if we could go to inner city Denver to find some community service work to do. It was amazing to me to see these students who were in Colorado skiing asking for us to find mission work to do. So, this year we decided to really

focus more on giving and go on a service trip.” During the break the Navigators will be working with the mission “Every Dream Has A Price” to help two elderly women rebuild their homes after sustaining damage from hurricanes. “Even though we are going to be dealing with hard conditions like sleeping on the floor of a church, we’re going to have the opportunity to help rebuild these two women’s lives and really bond as a group through the whole experience,” Kochanasz said. “I’m really excited about this trip,” said St. Clair Drennen, a sophomore majoring in elementary education. “The Navigators have created such a sense of community for me and my friends. I can’t wait to get away from school and start serving.” Kochanasz echoed Drennen’s wish saying she thinks the whole point of the experience is to learn the meaning of serving while making lasting friendships. “During the day we’re going to be working to help the two women as much as we can, but at night we’ll be able to fellowship with each other and really get to know one another,” Kochanasz said. “I know for myself, the first Navigator trip I went on was a blast. I learned so much and made friendships that lasted throughout my four years at UA.

Continued from page 1 the program placed emphasis on heart health through the tip sheets and other mediums. Through the tip sheets and support of the small groups, Grimes hopes that participants reach their personal goals, as well as the goals set by the program itself. The statewide program expects each member of the team to lose 10 pounds during the 10-week program. By reaching this goal, the team members become eligible for prize drawings of varying amounts of

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