10.29.08

LIFESTYLES ‘Saw V’ doesn’t quite make the cut

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SPORTS

Speaking up: Q-and-A with Javier Arenas

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Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Homecoming court announced

By Dave Folk News Editor Homecoming court was announced Tuesday night after voting concluded Tuesday afternoon.

In alphabetical order, the Homecoming court will be: Caroline Ball, PattyAnn Green, Caroline Gwaltney, Phillips Thomas and Maegen Wrenn.

The resolution involving the make up of the student judicial board also passed overwhelmingly.

Vol. 115, Issue 47

Class studies female VP noms

By Karissa Bursch Staff Reporter Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has become a media sensation almost overnight after the Republican candidate for president, Sen. John McCain, chose her as his running mate.

While the choice of a female vice-presidential candidate is unusual, a similar situation also happened in politics

24 years ago with the campaign of Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

Ferraro was chosen as presidential candidate Walter Mondale’s running mate when he ran against incumbent President Ronald Reagan. And here at the Capstone, a class on gender and political communications will be exploring the similarities and differenc-

Light it up

es between these two women and the treatment they each received from the media.

Janis Edwards, associate professor of communication studies in the College of Communication and Information Sciences, is leading the class in the research project titled “The Palin Watch.” She said after Palin was chosen as McCain’s running mate, it seemed like a

great case study for students in her class, which is a mix of both graduate and undergraduate students.

“There’s a lot of ways to look at media coverage of female candidates,” Edwards said.

The students are finding three common themes in the relationship between the media

See STUDY, page 2

Project Health holds annual health fair

By Sydney Holtzclaw Contributing Writer

CW | Marion R. Walding Members of the Air Force ROTC prepare wooden pallets for the Homecoming bonfire which will take place Friday night on the Quad. There will be three or four ROTC cadets sleeping in tents each night until Friday in order to guard the wood from early flames.

Project Health will be hosting its second annual UA Student Health Fair today, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Plaza to promote healthy living.

The peer educators of Project Health are working to promote a holistic approach to health.

Michelle Harcrow, Project Health’s adviser, said a holistic health approach involves wellness as a whole.

“Being healthy is more than just not having an illness or cold,” Harcrow said. “Not only

does your health relate to your physical health but also to your mental, spiritual and emotional well being. It is important for students to realize that a lack of sleep or high levels of stress [are] directly related to their immunity to colds and their health as a whole.”

Over 30 vendors from around campus and the community are going to be present at the fair featuring live music by students, games, crafts and snacks. Among the featured crafts will be coloring and face painting.

“Many students don’t

See HEALTH, page 2

‘100 Lenses’ takes a look at the Black Belt region

By Xavier Burgin Contributing Writer

Staring into the stark reality of dilapidated houses, double-chained pit-bulls and the street-savvy eyes of young, troubled black children may not seem an ideal venture for the average person, but Elliot A. Knight and the students of Greene County High School and Warrior Academy would beg to differ.

In a joint enterprise between the Black Belt Community Foundation and the University’s Center for Community Based Partnerships, a collection of racially provocative pictures will be displayed in the Crossroads Lounge of the Ferguson Center for the “Black Belt 100 Lenses, Greene County” photo exhibition, which will run throughout this

UA weather

TODAY

month in 232 Ferguson Center.

The exhibition is aimed at illuminating the customs and plight of American citizens living in rural Alabama’s Black Belt Region.

The Alabama Black Belt, a lower region of the state representing the larger Black Belt region of the southern United States, was first named for its geography, which featured a thin layer of illustrious black topsoil.

The significance of this region’s meaning would change once cotton plantations transformed into the main source of revenue for Alabama, rendering it the largest density of African-Americans within the state.

After the emancipation of slaves during the Civil War, many of their children remained on the land once

INSIDE Today’s paper

News: Bragg to discuss new book tonight......3 Opinions: Our View ...4

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Thursday

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Poetry adds twist to Homecoming ...........6 Lifestyles: Saw V movie review .....................6 Volleyball: Salstrand aggressive on court ..8 Sports: Football Q-and-A with Arenas ........... 10

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

cultivated by their parents, making “Black Belt” a name more closely associated with its racial demographic rather than geological significance.

The region suffers from a high rate of poverty, unemployment and lack of education defining it as one of the worst expanses of the United States.

Knight decided to enlighten others of this dilemma through the use of photography.

Building on the 2006 UA 100 Lenses Project at Crossroads Community Center and Black Belt 100 Lenses program in Sumter County, Knight enabled Black Belt students to use Photovoice, an intermeshing of photography and social action.

This allowed participants to publicly and intimately connect with the surroundings and people of the region, giving voice to the problems of the area.

Beverly Hawk, director of the University’s involvement in the event, expanded on the subject.

“Knight went to The Black Belt Greene County, gave cameras to high school students, and asked them to bring the developed pictures back while talking about their experience and culture in The Black Belt.”

Hawk further noted the significance of Greene County on the University. “This is a chance for all of us to appreciate the many things Greene County has given the University … everyone should come see The Black Belt through the eyes of our youth so we invite all to come by and look at the exhibit,” he said.

Knight’s colleague, Patty Submitted by Kandy Wesson Vaughn, explained why it is Samory Pruitt, vice president of community affairs, talks with beneficial for kids to express Black Belt 100 Lenses participant Joshua Finch. Finch was a senior at Greene County high school when he took photographs for the project, but he is now a freshman at the University.

See LENSES, page 2

Moral Forum finalists faced off Monday night

By Kellie Munts Contributing Writer The fourth annual tournament of the James P. Hayes Jr. Moral Forum concluded Monday with Alex Flachsbart and David Lindsay being awarded first place in the competition and a scholarship award of $2,500 each.

Flachsbart is a senior majoring in political science, economics, and international studies.

Lindsay is a senior majoring in political science and economics.

The second place winners were each awarded $1,500 scholarships.

William Bloom, a senior majoring in political science and history, and Walt Johnson, a sophomore majoring in political science competed alongside Flachsbart and Lindsay in the final stage of the competition.

“They’re all such outstanding students, in the end no one was

surprised to see either team on stage,” Research Project Coordinator Lea Bourland said.

There were 60 participants in Moral Forum this semester, comprising 30 debate teams.

The teams read countless pages related to the topic and prepared to address the resolution to be debated.

“The continuing success and expansion of Wal-Mart has led to a more just society for American citizens” was the focus of the weeks of preparation. Many of those that chose to participate had no prior experience with debate, and learned key factors of debate in this very intensive course. Increasing the challenge even further, those participating had to be prepared to argue either side of the resolution at any given moment.

“I just choose the topics each year, and I try to pick something with which very convincing arguments can be made,”

said Stephen Black, director of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility.

Throughout the semester Black said he has seen an even level of argument both on the affirmative side and the dissenting. He said he expected more discrepancy between the two sides of the argument, but saw an even split leading up to the final debate. The preparation required for this variety of debate is enormous, he said.

“Moral Forum is a normal fall semester course with a very high work load in the beginning of the semester,” Black said.

Prior to the final night of competition, the entire body of students participated in a series of debates that gradually eliminated teams until the final two pairs remained. Those teams were then prepared for a period of intense debate in front of a crowded 400-member audience in Morgan auditorium.

“I think that’s a great turnout for a Monday night academic debate,” Black said.

The focus on Wal-Mart was fodder for interest in the final round of Moral Forum.

“It’s something everybody can relate to in some way, especially with the economy sort of tanking the way it is now. We’ve all shopped at Wal-Mart, so it’s something that we all know about,” Bourland said.

Enthusiasm for the event did not end with those participating. In the moments before the announcement of a winner, Bourland said he noticed a murmur through the audience.

“The whole purpose of Moral Forum is to get people talking about the issue. Even after the debate, there was a split in the audience about which argument was stronger,” Bourland said.

See FORUM, page 2

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PAGE

TODAY • Homecoming: Rebirth Poetry Slam: Noon to 1 p.m., University Programs Entertainment Lounge at the Ferguson Center

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

• Homecoming: International Music with a UA Flavor: Noon to 1 p.m., Ferguson Center

• Homecoming pep rally and bonfire: 7 p.m., the Quad

• Homecoming Parade: 9 a.m., begins at downtown Tuscaloosa and ends on campus

• UP presents “Rocky Horror Picture Showâ€? and costume contest: 7 p.m., the Quad

Wednesday October 29, 2008

• NPHC Step Show: 7 p.m., Student Recreation Center • UP presents Homecoming Concert featuring Hank Williams Jr.: 8 p.m., Coleman Coliseum

• Homecoming Game | Crimson Tide Football vs. Arkansas State: 2 p.m., Bryant-Denny Stadium

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

UA to provide electronic pay statements Human resources/payroll at UA now has the ability to provide electronic pay statements in place of the current paper direct deposit information.

Instead of receiving paper direct deposit information on payday, employees will receive it electronically via e-mail with a PDF attachment. An employee’s campus-wide identification number, or CWID, will be the secure password for opening an electronic pay statement.

Pay statements will be sent to employees’ Bama e-mail accounts. Therefore, it is important that employees have a forward set up on their Bama account or that they review their Bama account regularly.

Employees will receive their electronic statement on the day the payroll is finalized, usually two to three days prior to payday. However, the net pay will be deposited as usual directly into each employee’s account on payday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “He doesn’t really yell at me because you can’t. �

BIRTHDAYS Daniel Campbell, senior, mechanical engineering Andy Knowles, freshman, psychology Wesley Smith, sophomore, psychology Elizabeth Wilson, anthropology

THIS DAY IN ALABAMA HISTORY 1998: Nearly four decades after he became the first American to orbit the Earth, Sen. John Hershel Glenn, Jr., is launched into space again as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery. At 77 years of age, Glenn was the oldest human ever to travel in space.

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 • Megan Honeycutt, outreach manager • Breckan Duckworth, design editor • Robert Bozeman, assistant design editor • Marion Walding, photo editor • RF Rains, assistant photo editor • Matt Ferguson, chief copy editor • Paul Thompson, opinions editor • Dave Folk, news editor • Brett Bralley, news editor • Ryan Mazer, lifestyles editor • CJ McCormick, assistant lifestyles editor • Ryan Wright, sports editor • Greg Ostendorf, assistant sports editor • Eric McHargue, graphics editor • Andrew Richardson, Web editor

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348-6875, zone8@sa.ua. edu • Dana Andrzejewski, zone 44 (downtown and downtown Northport), 348-6153, zone44@sa.ua.edu • Jarrett Cocharo, zone 55 (campus), 348-2670 • Torri Blunt, nontraditional advertising, 348-4381, smterritorymanager1@sa.ua.edu • Emily Frost, classifieds coordinator, 348-7355, smcwclassmgr@sa.ua.edu

• Ashley Brand, creative services manager, 348-8042, • Carly Jayne Rullman, zone cwadv@sa.ua.edu 8 (the Strip and downtown), The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama.

The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.

The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University.

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LENSES

Knight said he hopes this event will not only touch the students, but anyone who is willing Contniued from page 1 to set aside differences based on their lives through photogra- arbitrary assumptions. phy. “Photography allows us to “Photography is a powerful transcend our political and tool that has the ability to bridge social differences and reconnect gaps between diverse people with what we all have in comand communities,� she said. mon as human beings,� he said.

HEALTH Continued from page 1

realize it, but crafts are a great stress reliever,� Harcrow said. “We’re hoping that students who come to the fair can take a break from their busy days, get bundled up and come to have some fun while learning a little bit about ways they can improve

their health,� Harcrow said.

For student convenience, flu shots will also be available for a minimal cost. David Brown, nursing supervisor at the Student Health Center, said he recommends everyone get a flu shot. “Getting a flu shot is the next best thing you can do to prevent getting the flu, besides washing your hands,� Brown

CW | Kandy Wesson Warrior Academy students (from left) Tyreice Mack, Cori Hodge and Jamilia Robinson look at the Black Belt 100 Lenses:Greene County exhibit Tuesday afternon in the Crossroads lounge in the Ferguson Center.

said. “Those students who have chronic respiratory problems should definitely consider getting a shot.�

Brown said students who are allergic to eggs or who are immunosuppressant should not get a flu shot.

Shots will be available for $20 in the alcove by the University Supply Store. The cost will be charged to student accounts,

so there will be no exchange of money.

For more information about Project Health and the health fair, go to the Project Health Web site: www.projecthealth. ua.edu.

STUDY

Continued from page 1

said. The media tends to frame female candidates in terms of questioning their experience, the idea that the nomination was a political stunt and the idea that the nomination was a political gamble. “These are two different women,� Edwards said. “Despite the years separating the two candidates, the party differences and the cultural differences, these three themes are still recurring.�

One similarity between the women is that both were not very well-known. There were other women that could have been chosen that were more well-known than both Ferraro and Palin, Edwards said. “The presidential candidates went outside the expected and well-known field. I couldn’t think off the top of my head such an obscure vice presidential pick,� Edwards said.

Mondale and Ferraro lost the election of 1984 with 13 electoral votes to Reagan’s 525, but Edwards said that Ferraro’s loss does not predict the outcome of the present election. “I wouldn’t say that since Ferraro lost, it would not mean Palin would lose, although people say she is bringing down the ticket,� Edwards said.

Edwards said that students involved in the research project have really gotten involved and provided a lot of “helpful observations.� Their findings will be released in a public report in December. “I think it has been a fun and exciting project. Our research will not be the last word,�

Edwards said.

Homecoming Schedule of Events $ 7LGH 1DWLRQ 8QLÀ HG ZLWK &ULPVRQ 3ULGH Sunday, October 26 •20th Annual Roll Tide Run Race- Capstone Drive on UA Campus, 2 p.m.

Registration and Check-in at rear (north) of Gorgas Library Monday, October 27 •Paint the Town Red and Banner Competition 3LFN XS PDWHULDOV DW )HUJXVRQ &HQWHU 6*$ 2IÀ FH S P ‡8UEDQ &RPHG\ 6KRZ )HUJXVRQ &HQWHU 7KHDWUH S P ‡%RZOLQJ 7RXUQDPHQW %DPD %RZO S P Tuesday, October 28 •Homecoming Queen Elections, Ferguson Center and Student 5HFUHDWLRQ &HQWHU D P S P ‡%DVNHWEDOO 7RXUQDPHQW 6WXGHQW 5HFUHDWLRQ &HQWHU S P Wednesday, October 29 ‡&URVVURDGV 2SHQ 0LF &HOHEUDWLRQ RI WKH :ULWWHQ :RUG S P ‡+RPHFRPLQJ 4XHHQ 5XQ RII LI QHFHVVDU\ D P S P ‡'RGJHEDOO 6WXGHQW 5HFUHDWLRQ &HQWHU S P Thursday, October 30 ‡&URVVURDGV ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 0XVLF ZLWK 8$ )ODYRU S P ‡%DQQHU &RPSHWLWLRQ MXGJLQJ S P ‡&KRUHRJUDSK\ &RQWHVW &ROHPDQ &ROLVHXP S P Friday, October 31 ‡&URVVURDGV &HOHEUDWLRQ RI 6RXWKHUQ 0XVLF S P ‡/DZQ 'HFRUDWLRQV DQG 3DLQW WKH 7RZQ 5HG MXGJLQJ S P ‡3HS 5DOO\ %RQÀ UH S P ‡13+& 6WHS 6KRZ 8QLYHUVLW\ 5HFUHDWLRQ &HQWHU S P ‡8QLYHUVLW\ 3URJUDPV +RPHFRPLQJ &RQFHUW &ROHPDQ &ROLVHXP S P

FORUM Continued from page 1

Saturday, November 1 ‡+RPHFRPLQJ 3DUDGH /LQH XS 'RZQWRZQ 7XVFDORRVD D P •Homecoming Parade Begins, Downtown 7XVFDORRVD WR 8$ &DPSXV D P ‡$ODEDPD YV $UNDQVDV 6WDWH S P 17775

— Javier Arenas, on head coach Nick Saban’s reaction to a bad punt return

Black said he also feels strongly about the service Moral Forum offers both to those that participate in and those that attend the debates. “The goal is to develop critical reasoning and thinking skills in young people,� Black said.

By focusing on moral argument, he said, students learn the importance of “open-mindedness and conviction.�

The Crimson White

NEWS

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

3

Graduate to speak Bragg to discuss new book tonight about serving in rural health clinics

By Valerie Cason Contributing Writer

By Jessie Gable Staff Reporter There are few UA graduates that can say they used their experiences at the Capstone to travel through poverty-stricken and war-torn countries to help stop the spread of AIDS. One graduate, Trey Roden, can say he’s done all those things, and will be speaking about them at Carmichael Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 30.

The lecture is open to anyone, and Roden will also be speaking several times to groups including New College, the Alabama International Relations Club, Apwonjo and possibly a Q-andA forum for the International Honors Program.

Fran Oneal, director of the International Honors Program, said she knew Roden during his undergraduate studies.

“The faculty that knew him as an undergrad admired him,” said Oneal. “He graduated from New College with a focus on international development and the politics of food and hunger. Now he’s gone on to do work in economic development in underdeveloped countries.”

Roden graduated in 2000 with a degree in healthcare with an emphasis on biology. He went on to work in international public health where he worked with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief in Washington D.C., Kenya and Rwanda.

What: Trey Roden talks about his experience traveling

Where: Carmichael Hall

When: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30

While in Rwanda, Roden worked with the Centers for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health to improve healthcare in rural clinics.

He also served in the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Nepal where he trained teachers.

He continued to teach as a Language Arts teacher in Istanbul, Turkey.

Roden will be speaking on his travels and how he used his training to help the poor and sick. Oneal said New College wanted Roden to speak because he used alternative measures to get his work done.

Roden focused on nongovernmental programs to deal with the world’s problems.

Oneal said she hopes students will be inspired to seek out different possibilities for helping by listening to Roden.

“Trey is an example of dedication because he has spent most of the times since he’s graduated overseas helping people,” Oneal said.

The University Libraries Lecture Series will hold a book signing with Rick Bragg in 205 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library on tonight at 7. Bragg will read from and discuss his latest book, “The Prince of Frogtown,” (Knopf, 2008) which includes Bragg’s family stories about father/son relationships.

Bragg said this book will probably be his last non-fiction book about his family, but the collections of stories from his family will likely contribute to future fiction novels.

The popular American saga began with “All over but the

Shoutin’” and continued with “Ava’s Man.” “‘All over but the Shoutin’’ was most important to me,” Bragg said.

He said “The Prince of Frogtown” required more reporting and soul searching.

“The book about Dad was harder to do,” Bragg said.

Bragg won the Pulitzer Prize in 1996 for feature writing and has accumulated more than 40 awards in journalism, and is a professor of writing in the journalism department of UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences.

Bragg is on a two-month book tour in which he attends different book festivals every week-

Paint the town red

Coach builds more townhouses

By Eric Fleischauer The Associated Press

DECATUR | Earl Morris never cared much for stats while coaching the Decatur High School basketball team to victories, and his disdain continues as a developer.

The root of the housing crisis, most economists agree, is an oversupply of housing.

So what are Morris and his brothers, Jack and Howard, doing?

Building houses, of course.

In about a month, Jack Morris said, they will break ground on the first town house in Phase 2 of The Glens of Burningtree.

Coach is keeping one eye on the economy, but most of his attention is on the fact he has sold 48 of the 52 units in Phase 1 of The Glens, and he has people clamoring for more.

“If the economy will get moving, we feel very comfortable in what we are doing,” Earl Morris said.

The national economy is not hurting demand so much as it is making it tough for people who want to move to Decatur to sell houses in other regions.

“We have a ton of interest, but sometimes it hinges on them selling their property,” Earl Morris said.

Phase 2 will be similar to Phase 1, but larger lots give

buyers the ability to have larger townhouses.

Most of the townhouses will, like Phase 1, include three homes. The end units will sell in the $190,000 to $200,000 range, with middle units closer to $170,000.

People wanting to save a little can opt to leave the upstairs unfinished.

“All of that depends on what people want in them,” Earl Morris said. “We’ve got wiggle room on size and floor plan.”

The Morris brothers’ main nod to the economy is that they are trying to keep down the number of spec houses in the development. A “spec,” or speculative, house is one built in the hopes that a buyer will emerge.

Jack Morris said the brothers are hoping to develop most of Phase 2 as pre-sales, which helps on cash flow and gives the buyer the ability to customize.

CW | Emi Peters Ashley Allman, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering, paints a window outside Starbucks at the Ferguson Center as part of the “Paint the Town Red” homecoming competition.

“We’ve got several pre-sales we are working on,” Jack Morris said. “We won’t go in there and build a lot of specs.

We’ll kind of feel that out as we go.”

Most of the Phase 2 houses will have three bedrooms, although pre-sale buyers can opt for two or four. The larger lot sizes mean end units can have screened porches.

“We did it with the thought in mind of working couples, empty-nest type people who want to get rid of a house and big yard,” Earl Morris said.

Cobb Theatres is NOW HIRING! Perfect part-time job for students.

We offer: Competitive Wages, Flexible Work Schedule, Free Movie Privileges, Snack Stand Discounts, Etc. Please apply Monday thru Thursday after 1pm.

Call for Showtimes

What: Rick Bragg

discusses, signs his book, “The Prince of Frogtown”

Where: 205 Amelia

Gayle Gorgas Library

When: Tonight at 7 end all over the country.

“I’m grateful to hold an event at the University,” he said. “It’ll be a nice chance to get to talk to people on campus about the book.”

The event tonight is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow the reading by Bragg.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

OPINIONS Paul Thompson • Editor

4

paul.thompson@cw.ua.edu

OUR VIEW

Homecoming a great time for everyone Every year, hundreds — if not thousands — of students from all over campus spend countless hours decorating campus in celebration of Homecoming.

We appreciate all that work. It’s always nice to walk around campus and see the pomping, the bonfire assembling or people “painting the town red.”

This year’s theme “A Tide Nation, Unified with Crimson Pride” hopes — we think — to bring the campus together and celebrate our unity as a University community, and we completely support that.

Some non-greek students can feel left out of Homecoming, as many of

the week’s activities are targeted toward greek students.

This year’s SGA has sought to counteract that by inviting other student organizations to participate by, among other things, decorating the academic lawns.

We can all enjoy and take advantage of other events like the bonfire, concert and National Pan-Hellenic Council step show. We encourage everyone to go to at least some Homecoming Week events.

Even if you feel uninvolved, going to some Universitysponsored events can change that.

Our View is the consensus of the CW editorial board.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Racial profiling in news story

By LeeAnna Bonner

This morning, as every morning, the Today show was on in the background as I was getting ready for class.

Catching bits and pieces of the show, I usually try to pay special attention to the news segments with Anne Curry.

This morning when Curry broke the story of the two men who were arrested due to allegations that they were planning a massacre which would ultimately result in the assassination of Barack Obama, I was completely caught off guard.

She quoted the officials as describing the men as “neoNazi skin heads.”

Now, this description may be completely accurate, but it is also completely out of line.

If two men of Middle Eastern or Arab descent had planned an attack on McCain and the “officials” had described them as radical Muslim “towel heads,” regardless of accuracy, people would have been in an uproar, screaming racial profiling and accusing the officials of using derogatory racist language.

Though I doubt anyone else will be upset by the use of the term “skin heads” to describe these two white men, I felt it necessary to voice my opinion.

If we are going to attempt to be politically correct we need to apply it to all facets and races.

LeeAnna Bonner is a sophomore majoring in political science

A pedestrian campus?

By Jeremy Ekberg

experience indicates that there is an ever-present neglect on the part of drivers for crosswalks and stop signs. Motorists need to take note that they are obligated to stop at all stop signs and red lights and — just as importantly — to yield to pedestrians, especially those in crosswalks!

Failure to do so may result in an accident that could cause higher insurance payments and — in extreme cases — a lawsuit.

The problem between drivers and pedestrians isn’t only the fault of “bad driving.”

With annual increases in enrollment, there are more people walking, cycling, and driving on our campus.

Naturally there will be more accidents.

It seems that last year’s redesign of the campus and introduction of bus service to make UA a “pedestrian campus” has been a failure.

There are still several intersections on campus in which screeching tires and near misses are all-too common.

The high cost of gas is another reason our roads are so crowded. More students are cycling and walking to class. As a result, roads and intersections are more clogged with pedestrians, while drivers become more impatient to speed through these intersections.

But the news is not all bad.

There are several possible solutions to our dangerous roadways.

The first one is very simple. For the love of God, slow down! Contrary to popular belief, many accidents are caused not because drivers incessantly gab on the phone or are reaching for their phone, but simply because they are in too much of a hurry for their own good.

Second, stop not only at lights and stop signs, but yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. It seems there is a dearth of conscientious motorists willing to pause for 30 seconds to allow walkers to pass through an intersection, even at a crosswalk.

Third, perhaps a stoplight at the Ferguson intersection would increase safety for the many who pass through it on a daily basis.

The week before last’s collision between a motorist and cyclist is a troubling sign of the times on the UA campus.

As someone who has more than once narrowly escaped being hit by a car, this incident is not only cause for concern but also a clear indication that our roadways are fraught with peril.

Although motorists are not always to blame for col- Jeremy Ekberg is a graduate lisions on this campus, my student in English.

MCT CAMPUS

Why have Homecoming?

Homecoming is unnecessary here at the University, because honestly every Saturday is homecoming. I mean really, what is so special about Homecoming weekend here in Tuscaloosa? The pomping? The parade? The bonfire? Crowning a queen?

It definitely can’t be the game, because it is probably the least attended game of the year. I understand Homecoming is about tradition, but I don’t think we can cram any more into our already tradition-rich University.

Do any of you even know why we have a Homecoming?

Most everyone I have asked hasn’t had a single, legitimate answer.

Some of my research suggests that the original purpose of homecoming was to have more people attend the last home game of the season. I don’t know if any of you have checked the schedule for 2008, but the Arkansas state game is not the last home game for the Crimson Tide this year.

Homecoming is also supposed to be a venue for the alumni to return to the University to celebrate their school pride and remember their time spent here. Most

Jessie Landon alumni return every Saturday and commemorate very well, right? I just don’t understand why we make such a big deal out of the most uneventful game of the year.

I think that all of the festivities we celebrate during Homecoming week could be put to better use. Why don’t we treat the Auburn game as Homecoming? It obviously is the most important game of the year, as well as the game with the highest attendance. In reality, every other year, the Iron Bowl is the true Homecoming for Alabama fans.

So my suggestion is to

apply all of the traditions of Homecoming to the Iron Bowl.

Pomping and themes — I think the idea of pomping is crazy. Don’t get me wrong, it looks amazing. However, I just couldn’t imagine gluing tiny pieces of papier mâché to chicken wire, especially while it’s this cold outside. I think the idea of having themes of crimson glory and unity is great. Too bad they can’t unify our students for more than just one week. Maybe there is a way! Most Alabama fans hate Auburn 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That is one eternal unifying factor. Alumni, current and future students can all join in their distaste for Auburn.

Homecoming parade, bonfire, etc. — All of these events are used to create a buzz and raise morale for the team. None of this is necessary to motivate this year’s Crimson Tide to defeat Arkansas State’s Red Wolves. This year our team needs motivation to defeat our biggest rival for the first time in six years. I know I’m sick and tired of hearing Auburn fans talking about fearing a different finger every year, and I’m sure most of you are too.

Homecoming queen — This

is my least favorite aspect of the Homecoming experience. I knew Homecoming was upon us as soon as I saw “This person for Queen” scribbled all over the Quad sidewalks and car windows. Fantastic, now I know to expect a bunch of people chasing me around the Ferguson Plaza trying to hand me fliers and stickers.

No, I do not want to vote for whomever you are supporting and even if I do, I still don’t want you to harass me on my way to lunch. While I have absolutely nothing against anyone who is running for Homecoming queen, I just don’t understand the relevance.

Apparently, you are supposed to elect a queen who represents the values you want to represent our school. While this is an honorable idea, I think that this year it is more important to apply this concept to elect the right president — and I’m not going to shove any suggestions down your throats because you all know whom I think you should vote for. So for this year, let’s worry about electing a president instead of a queen.

Jessie Landon is a junior majoring in journalism. Her column runs on Wednesdays.

Go down swinging, ’Bama After a long year of reviewing candidates’ platforms, riding the fence and maintaining my position as a political moderate, I filled out my absentee ballot and cast my vote for Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday — much to the joy of my leftist friends.

But after sitting around and celebrating my decision with the typical liberal activities of munching granola and writing poetry about nature, the conversation’s mood dropped suddenly at the mention of Alabama’s heritage as a “red state.” The topic quickly turned to frustration, futility and the notion that we were likely bringing a political knife to a political gunfight.

To understand why this heritage is such a frustration to the admittedly few Alabama Democrats, one must first understand a bit about the Electoral College.

Alabama has nine of the 538 votes in the Electoral College, and along with every state but Maine and Nebraska (I guess clam chowder and corn make you non-conformist) awards all its electoral votes to the

Matt Ferguson candidate who receives the majority of the state’s popular vote.

This “winner-take-all” system is at the heart of Democratic discontent in the state, as anyone not in the majority vote (read: anyone not voting Republican) has his or her ballot summarily discarded into the ether, trapped in that strange, floating prison square with General Zod [ed. note: It’s called the Phantom Zone]. Because of this, it is easy for potentially Democratic voters to assume their vote sim-

ply won’t count and the hours of standing in line to vote will be in vain.

According to The Associated Press, 63 percent of ballots cast in our fair state in 2004 were for the Republican candidate — that’s nearly 1.18 million votes, which is about 500,000 more votes than the Democratic candidate received.

Odds like that seem discouraging and, frankly, nearly insurmountable.

But consider this: about 2 million people in Alabama — less than 60 percent of our state’s voting-age population according to the 2006 census — voted in 2004. What if that other 40 percent contains a bunch of disillusioned would-be Democrats? What if you could show them some fighting spirit and get them in the game?

This election could well be your chance to do just that.

Admittedly, Obama is unlikely to win the electoral votes here in Tide country. But you can set the stage for a political upset during the next election in Alabama by making your voice heard now.

Don’t be that whiny Democrat the Republicans make fun of for complaining about the system

without trying to change it with something as simple as a ballot, a pen and a quick trip to the Courthouse Annex.

Just remember, even if the pitcher has you vastly outplayed, it’s better to go down with a mighty swing than to just watch the ball sail by you. At least you may make the highlight reel that way, and your hurricaneforce whiff of a swing may be something for your team to rally behind. Heck, you may even get a poem written about how the air is shattered by the force of your blow as you strike out.

So though your candidate may lose the battle, you can still win the war as the non-voters at home flip through the news just long enough to see Alabama’s poll results. Close the gap between the parties, and make that formerly insurmountable gap between the ballots seem a little less daunting. Give the people hope, because hope gives Democrats the one thing they love most — change.

Matt Ferguson is chief copy editor of The Crimson White.

His column runs biweekly on Wednesdays.

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Editorial Board

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

Letters to the editor must be less than 250 words and guest columns less than 500. Send submissions to cwopinions@gmail.com. All letters must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification only. All content is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of The Crimson White. For more information, call 348-6144. The CW reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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NEWS

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

5

Soldiers bring grins through furry messages

By Elsie Hodnett The Associated Press ASHLAND | As fingers squeeze the furry paw, five heads crowd in close to the teddy bear, listening.

“I love you guys. I love ya’ll very much and I miss ya’ll. I hope you enjoy this bear, and it reminds you of your dad. Know that you are in my heart. Love ya’ll.”

The message is from Dean Lett, a member of the 128th Medical Company of the Alabama National Guard at Fort W.E. “Pete” Phillips in Ashland, who is currently serving overseas.

Across the room, two small heads are bent close to a bear, listening.

“Hey Caleb and Brent. I love both of you a lot and I’ll see you soon and I think about you a lot.”

The voice is George “Sammy”

McCrory Jr., who is also serving overseas with the 128th Medical Company of the Alabama National Guard.

The 78 red, white and blue teddy bears, each bearing messages from a loved one serving overseas, were handed out Saturday at Fort W.E. “Pete” Phillips, completing the first “Operation: I’m Already There.”

“To see all the kids jumping and smiling, it’s overwhelming,” said 13-year-old Regan Gaskin, who began “Operation: I’m Already There.”

Regan said she came up with the project as a way to help children of soldiers serving overseas. A Build-A-Bear with voice recording helped Regan cope when her parents divorced, and she thought the same idea might work for children with parents serving in the military.

Regan put her plan in

motion with the help of her mother, Susan Gaskin, the Talladega County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Zora Ellis Junior High School.

“I was looking for a project for the Red Cross,” said Pat Miller, executive director of the Talladega County Chapter of the Red Cross. “Regan came to me and told me what she wanted to do. It was a perfect fit, especially when I found out that Ashland had a battalion that was about to go overseas.”

Miller said she contacted Jennifer Edwards, who was a morning personality on Alabama 100.7. Edwards, who is dating the battalion commander, said fate worked to bring the project together.

“We held roadblocks in Ashland and Lineville and raised the money for this set of bears in two days,” Edwards said.

The cost of each Build-A-

Bear and recorder is approximately $25. The messages were recorded before the battalion shipped out, and the recorders were taken to Build-A-Bear to be placed in the teddy bears.

“Right now, we are trying to get enough money to take care of a 120-member unit from Tallassee that is leaving in November,” said Susan Gaskin.

“We have about $200, and are expecting a $1,000 donation.”

Gaskin said each recorder is $8, and they are trying to raise the funds to purchase the recorders so the soldiers can record their messages before they deploy overseas.

“It was easy to do the first group because it was local,” she said.

Gaskin said individual donations have funded most of the project so far.

“I spoke with a representative from Gov. Bob Riley’s office, who said that at the end of 2009

there would be 1,800 Alabama National Guard soldiers in Iraq,” she said.

Gaskin said they hope to be able to provide bears to each of those soldiers.

“There is no way we can keep doing this locally,” she said.

“We are hoping for more support from civic organizations and other prominent residents.

We can’t do it for all 1,800 soldiers by ourselves.”

For the families receiving the teddy bears, it was a special time.

“It means a great deal for them to be able to hear him,” said Paige McCrory, whose sons, Brent and Caleb, listened to Sammy’s voice.

McCrory said Caleb, 5, asked her when he could get a job.

“I asked him why, and Caleb said he wanted to get a job and go to work with Sammy because he missed him,” she said.

Vickie Lett said this is her husband, Dean’s, second deployment.

“I think having the bear will help them this time,” she said, referring to their five children: Nic, Morgan, Riley, Jacob, and Ethan. “Having the option to hear his voice when they want to is a plus.”

Nic, 12, said the bear means a lot to him.

“It is really meaningful for me because I miss my dad a lot,” said 12-year-old Morgan.

“It was nice of Regan to do this for us.”

Vickie Lett said her family is grateful for the bear.

“You feel so alone,” she said.

“I think people tend to forget that every day there are children who miss their parents because the parents are serving their country overseas.

“When people show their gratitude that way [with the bear], it means a lot.”

Germ hotbeds are everywhere Authorities say skinhead

By Marilynn Marchione The Associated Press

WASHINGTON | Someone in your house have the sniffles?

Watch out for the refrigerator door handle. The TV remote, too. A new study finds that cold sufferers often leave their germs there, where they can live for two days or longer.

Scientists at the University of Virginia, long known for its virology research, tested surfaces in the homes of people with colds and reported the results Tuesday at the nation’s premier conference on infectious diseases.

Doctors don’t know how often people catch colds from touching germy surfaces as opposed to, say, shaking a sick person’s hand, said Dr. Birgit Winther, an ear, nose and throat specialist who helped conduct the study.

Two years ago, she and other doctors showed that germs survived in hotel rooms a day after guests left, waiting to be picked up by the next person checking in.

For the new study, researchers started with 30 adults showing early symptoms of colds.

Sixteen tested positive for rhinovirus, which causes about half of all colds. They were asked to name 10 places in their homes they had touched in the preceding 18 hours, and researchers used DNA tests to hunt for rhinovirus.

“We found that commonly touched areas like refrigerator doors and handles were positive about 40 percent of the time” for cold germs, Winther said.

All three of the salt-andpepper shakers they tested were contaminated. Other spots found to harbor the germ: 6 out of 18 doorknobs; 8 of 14 refrigerator handles; 3 of 13 light switches; 6 of 10 remote controls; 8 of 10 bathroom faucets; 4 of 7 phones, and 3 of 4 dishwasher handles.

Next, the researchers deliberately contaminated surfaces with participants’ mucus and then tested to see whether rhinovirus stuck to their fingers when they turned on lights, answered the phone or did other common tasks. More than half of the participants got the virus on their fingertips 48 hours after the mucus was smeared.

The study was sponsored by Reckitt-Benckiser Inc., makers of Lysol, but no products were tested in the research. The study, designed by doctors with no ties to the company, was an effort to lay the groundwork for future research on germs and ways to get rid of them.

In a separate study, the university’s Drs. Diane Pappas and Owen Hendley went germhunting on toys in the offices of five pediatricians in Fairfax, Va., three times during last year’s cold and flu season.

Tests showed fragments of cold viruses on 20 percent of all toys tested 20 percent of those in the “sick child” waiting room, 17 percent in the “well child” waiting room, and 30 percent in a sack of toys that kids are allowed to choose from after being good for a shot.

“Mamas know this,” Hendley said. “They say, ‘We go to a

doctor for a well-child checkup, the kids play with the toys and two days later they have a cold.’”

There is no proof that the remnants themselves can infect, but their presence suggests a risk, said Dr. Paul Auwaerter, an infectiousdiseases specialist at Johns Hopkins University. He was familiar with the study but had no role in it.

Doctors have long advised frequent hand-washing to avoid spreading germs. Wearing surgical masks and using hand sanitizers also can help, a novel University of Michigan study found.

About 1,000 students who live in dorms tested these measures for six weeks during the 2006-07 flu season. They were divided into three groups: those who wore masks, those who wore masks and used hand sanitizer and those who did neither.

The two groups who used masks reported 10 percent to 50 percent fewer cold symptoms cough, fever, chills than the group who used no prevention measures.

Researchers note that the study was not “blinded” everyone knew who was doing what, and mask wearers may have been less likely to report cold symptoms later because they believed they were taking steps to reduce that possibility.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid for the study.

The conference was a joint meeting of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society

plot wasn’t fully formed

By Woody Baird and Andrew DeMillo The Associated Press BELLS, Tenn. | Two white supremacists charged with plotting to behead blacks across the country and assassinate Barack Obama while wearing white top hats and tuxes were likely too disorganized to carry out the plot, authorities said, and their planning was riddled with blunders.

Paul Schlesselman, 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark., and Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells are accused of dreaming up the plan. While authorities say they had guns capable of creating carnage, documents show they never got close to getting off the ground.

Among the blunders: They drew attention to themselves by etching swastikas on a car with sidewalk chalk, only knew each other for a month, couldn’t even pull off a house robbery, and a friend ratted them out to authorities.

“Certainly these men have some frightening weapons and some very frightening plans,” said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who studies the white supremacy movement. “But with the part about wearing top hats ... it gets a bit hard to take them seriously.”

Despite making sure the plot was stopped, authorities did not believe Cowart and

Schlesselman had the means to carry out their threat to assassinate Obama, said a federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Asked whether the two suspects had Obama’s schedule or plans to kill him at a specific time or place, a second law enforcement official who also was not authorized to speak publicly said, “I don’t think they had that level of detail.”

The two met online about a month ago, introduced by a friend and bound by a mutual belief in white supremacy, according to an affidavit written by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent who interviewed them. Together, they chatted about how they could carry out such a terroristic spree, officials said.

Schlesselman volunteered a sawed-off shotgun that would be “easier to manuever,” and also took a gun from his father, according to an affidavit.

The plot referenced two numbers important to skinhead culture by aiming to take the lives of 88 people, and 14 of them would be beheaded. The number 14 refers to a 14-word phrase attributed to an imprisoned white supremacist: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children” and to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H. Two “8’’s

or “H’’s stand for “Heil Hitler.”

But that may have been as detailed as it got. Last week, Cowart drove to pick up Schlesselman from his Arkansas home so the plot could begin, according to the affidavit. They decided to start with a house robbery and asked a friend to drive them. But when they got to the driveway, they saw a dog and two vehicles, and got spooked.

Armed with ski masks and nylon rope they purchased at a Wal-Mart, they tried again the next day to get started.

Authorities say they decided to fire on the windows of a church, then bragged about it to a friend. She told her mother, who alerted the local sheriff. Investigators were able to trace the shell casings to the pair, and took them into custody after spotting their car, decorated with chalk-drawn swastikas and racially motivated words, along with the numbers “88” and “14.”

Schlesselman’s family said Tuesday that it was unlikely he was seriously planning an attack, even though he expressed hatred for blacks. A high school dropout who was unsuccessful finding work, he often spent time on the computer, his 16-year-old sister Kayla said. She said she often argued with him about his racial beliefs, and he would say things like “Obama would make the world suffer.”

Victory Shirts Are In The House!

Available at Ferguson Center, Tutwiler Hall & Bryant Museum locations.

Also available online at supestore.ua.edu.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

LIFESTYLES Ryan Mazer • Editor

6

ryan.mazer@cw.ua.edu

Poetry adds variety to Homecoming

By Jessica Cheek Contributing Writer Homecoming week will bring students together not only for traditional sports tournaments and decorating contests but also in celebration of the arts. One such celebration, the Rebirth Poetry Slam, is from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Ferguson Center in the University Programs Lounge. The Poetry Slam invites students, alumni and general supporters of the University to share poetry they

find meaningful. The opportunity is open to any person who would like to participate.

“Rebirth” is a program dedicated to promoting interest in the arts across the UA campus.

Joseph Seals, a senior majoring in English and student coordinator for “Rebirth,” said the program was inspired by the Italian Renaissance in an effort to revive all art forms and to educate students about the range of arts activities on campus.

“During the duration of

the program students will be exposed to various forms of art such as music, poetry, spoken word and [visual] art,” Seals said. “It will give the students an opportunity to find their niche on campus with organizations.”

Crossroads Community Center, an organization committed to facilitating multicultural programs and experiences, is sponsoring the “Rebirth” Poetry Slam for the first time this year. Although it has not been a traditional portion of

the University’s Homecoming festivities, Seals said he hopes the event will become a standard for the week in years to come.

The Poetry Slam is not the only Homecoming activity connected with the arts. Two musical events will be held this week at the Ferguson Center. The first, an international music celebration, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, followed by a live performance on Friday at the same time. Additionally, the Black Belt 100 Lenses

photography exhibit opened Tuesday in 232 Ferguson Center and will run for the rest of the month.

There is no registration or prior approval required to take part in “Rebirth.” Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate by reading a piece or by listening to what others have brought to share.

“All that is required from the students is to show up with a piece of art and an open mind,” said Seals.

The Poetry Slam is free for

everyone, and complimentary drinks and light refreshments will be provided for those who attend.

What: “Rebirth” Poetry Slam

Where: Ferguson Center — University Programs Lounge

When: Today from noon to 1 p.m.

MOVIE REVIEW | ‘SAW V’

New director halves latest ‘Saw’ Jigsaw successor noteworthy trap victims not

By Steven Nalley Contributing Writer “Saw V” feels like two intercut movies: One dedicated to the overarching plot of the “Saw” series and one dedicated to the traps that made the series infamous. The former is the only part that works, and the latter kills the movie with undeveloped characters who keep the vaunted traps from being worth caring about.

Set after the death of the Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell), this film tells the story of his latest apprentice (Costas Mandylor) who has forced five civilians to navigate yet another series of traps designed to teach sick lessons. One of the only detectives to survive Jigsaw’s final bloodbath (Scott Patterson) suspects this new apprentice, so he conducts an investigation that takes him through

the off-screen events of past “Saw” films.

These flashbacks tell a story all their own, revealing the apprentice’s motives and the steps Jigsaw took to make the apprentice’s soul over in his own image. The outcome of this film hinges on how successful Jigsaw was and whether his apprentice will be able to perpetuate Jigsaw’s mind games.

The story of Jigsaw and his apprentice gives Bell the chance to not only return to the series, but also to demonstrate Jigsaw’s emotional complexity.

Fans who keep coming back to Jigsaw for more insight into his character and philosophy will love these segments of the movie.

However, newcomers to the series, or even those coming back after an absence, will be hopelessly lost. I had only seen the original “Saw,” and even

after reading IMDB’s synopses of the other sequels, some details were lost on me.

“Saw V” marks David Hackl’s directorial debut after serving as production designer and second unit director for past sequels in the series.

Judging his work against that of the director who started the series, James Wan, Hackl doesn’t seem to destroy the aesthetic of the series.

The atmosphere maintains the dingy surrealism of the traps and the realism outside of them. Hackl even does the series a few favors by avoiding certain aspects of Wan’s creative imprint on the series.

I hated the fast-motion sequences in “Saw;” I felt they sacrificed suspense to make the trap sequences more frantic when a series of quickening cuts could (and often did) accomplish both. Hackl only

Meagan Good attempts to escape a trap set by Jigsawʼs successor in “Saw V.”

uses fast-motion twice, once near the beginning and once near the end.

Actors are still unintentionally funny at times, with the biggest gaffe being one of the five victims (Greg Bryk) realizing he has fallen into a trap and saying, “Whoops.”

However, nobody overacts to the extent that Cary Elwes did as Dr. Gordon in “Saw.” The problem with the fivevictim scenario is that it has

no heart. The victims tell each other about their lives, but only briefly, often because they die before viewers can ever get to know them.

The details viewers do get say little about how much is at stake for the characters in the survival game. With nothing at stake, viewers can’t care who dies or doesn’t, meaning that Hackl can (and does) set new highs for gruesome gore only to have none of it be all that

www.rottentomatoes.com

See SAW, page 7

‘Saw V’ Directed by: David Hackl

Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor

Run time: 92 minutes MPAA Rating: R CW critic’s rating:

Bottom Line: While visually appealing, “Saw V” proves an emotionless affair, filled with undeveloped characters and poor acting. www.rottentomatoes.com Jigsaw finds a new victim in “Saw V,” now playing at the Cobb Hollywood 16.

The Crimson White

LIFESTYLES

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

UA Honors Choir

Amy Poehler gives birth to baby boy The Associated Press

The UA Honors Choir performs at Moody Music Building Monday night for its 21st annual concert

Hudson suspect had June drug arrest was presented during that time wouldn’t have necessarily warranted a violation.”

No one has been charged in the shooting deaths of Hudson’s mother, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, her brother, 29-year-old Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew Julian King.

The older victims were found in the family’s home Friday afternoon. Julian’s body was found in the back of an SUV on Chicago’s West Side on Monday; authorities declared his death a homicide Tuesday.

Around the time the first

bodies were found, Balfour’s parole agent had reached him by phone after Balfour missed a meeting with him that day.

Balfour told the agent he was “baby-sitting on the West Side of Chicago,” according to the documents, obtained by The Associated Press.

The agent said he thought he heard a child in the background during the call. Balfour was taken into custody later Friday.

Balfour, Julian’s stepfather and the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, served seven years for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.

parallel story. He is able to do this because he has only two back-stories to juggle, allowcontinued from page 6 ing him to use the needed scary. flashbacks.

Hackl understands this; he Unfortunately, Hackl will vividly shows viewers what probably be remembered drives both the detective and as the director who killed the apprentice he hunts in the the “Saw” series, accused

of ineptitude when he did in fact know how to make “Saw” movies work. However, Hackl only makes “Saw V” work during a half only fans can fully appreciate, and the gory yet emotionally toothless traps will probably drive those fans away.

By John O’Connor The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | The convicted felon suspected in the Chicago slayings of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew was arrested on a drug charge in June, but authorities declined to return him to prison on a parole violation, parole records show.

Corrections Department spokesman Derek Schnapp said officials who reviewed the case against William Balfour determined “the evidence that

SAW

7

CW| Emi Peters

NEW YORK | “Saturday Night Live” just won’t be the same without Amy Poehler — who delivered a baby boy hours before she was to appear on the NBC show.

The live show’s parody news anchor was missing from her spot alongside Seth Myers on “Weekend Update” because she gave birth earlier Saturday.

On behalf of Poehler and her husband, Will Arnett, “I can confirm that Amy gave

birth to Archie Arnett on Saturday,” read a statement from Poehler’s spokesman, Lewis Kay. The baby was born early Saturday evening in New York, weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce.

Mother and child were “healthy and resting comfortably,” according to the statement.

Poehler, who performed on Thursday night’s special edition of “SNL” and is known for playing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, was rehearsing the show until Friday.

8 Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SPORTS

The Crimson White

VOLLEYBALL

Salstrand brings aggressive style

By Will Barry Senior Sports Reporter

setters to be able to trust me to set me in a tough situation.

I want to be able to know that I can either kill a ball or at least put it in play or take the other team out of their system.�

A few weeks ago, after a road trip to Arkansas and Ole Miss, Salstrand didn’t feel like her hitting was up to par. She hit the gym and made some changes. “I just think that with my hitting, I just needed to get back to the fundamentals, so it was good last week to work on it a little bit more,�

Salstrand said. “I would say I want to work on getting more consistent all around, blocking and hitting.�

Salstrand said her biggest contribution to the team comes in the energy she brings with her blocks when she battles at

the net with some of the best athletes in the SEC. “I know it brings excitement,� she said. “I know how I feel when other girls get a block or kill. It just makes me feel like, ‘Heck yea, that girl’s on my team.’ It just fires me up.�

At 10-10 overall and 3-8 in the SEC, the Tide will need to improve player by player and have leaders step up in order to turn the team and the season around, head coach Judy Green said. “Liz comes in the gym, and I think every single day she gives 100 percent that she has that day. She really wants to carry a larger load for our team offensively,� Green said. “She wants to block every ball.

She wants to kill every ball, and as a coach, you appreciate

that mentality. It’s a matter of being effective in doing those things.�

Green said Salstrand’s offthe-court attributes are what impress the people who know her best since she’s been at the University. “I think she has a very strong Christian faith, and I think that she tries to do the right thing in her daily life both on the court and off the court,� Green said. “I’ve also seen her grow as a student and certainly become more committed to academics and she’s excelling very well in those areas.�

The Tide begins a fourmatch road trip starting Courtney Davies | UA Athletics tonight at 7 p.m. as they head to Starkville, Miss., to take on Junior Elizabeth Salstrand; playing here against LSU; has 1.28 the Mississippi State Bulldogs kills per set this season. The outside hitter describes herself as in a midweek game. the “spark plug� of the team.

“The quarterback play across the country has been outstandin brief ing this year and I am excited to be listed among this group of Wilson named a quarterbacks. “Our offensive line has prosemifinalist for vided plenty of time to throw Davey OĘźBrien the football and our receivers and tight ends have caught Award almost everything thrown their way. The running game has also UA Athletics been a key component that has Quarterback John Parker allowed us to have a balanced Wilson was among 13 Football offensive attack.â€?

Wilson, a native of Hoover, Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks has completed 61.9 percent of selected as semifinalists for the his passes for 1,260 yards and 2008 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, the Davey eight touchdowns this season.

O’Brien Foundation and its Wilson has thrown just three national selection committee interceptions and has two rushing touchdowns this season as announced on Monday. “This is a great honor, but well. He ranks fourth in the one that I would not be receiv- SEC in passing efficiency with ing if it wasn’t for the play of a 133.7 rating.

Wilson is Alabama’s career my offensive line and really our entire team,� Wilson said. leader in passing yards (6,911),

completions (587), touchdowns (45) and attempts (1,028). He also holds the single-season record in all four of those categories. Wilson is one of three SEC quarterbacks listed among the 13 semifinalists. He is joined

by Georgia’s Matthew Stafford and Florida’s Tim Tebow.

The Davey O’Brien Award focuses on accomplishments both on and off the field. T h e Selection Committee is asked to evaluate all candidates on their quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

Fans are able to vote for semifinalist candidates once daily at www.VoteOBrien.org. The voting will continue throughout the semifinalist and finalist rounds with five percent of the final tally coming directly from the fan vote.

The finalists will be selected on Nov. 24, and the 2008 winner will be announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN Dec. 11.

Many factors help this season’s Alabama volleyball team as it fights to get a footing in the SEC West.

One of those factors is junior outside hitter Elizabeth Salstrand, who has spent the last three seasons making key plays for the Crimson Tide.

The 6-foot-3-inch junior from Rockford, Ill. is averaging 1.28 kills per set this season and is third on the team with 0.62 blocks per set.

She has been a part of the last two NCAA tournament teams, and she said she knows what she wants to bring to the team. “Be a spark plug everyday,�

Salstrand said. “Be a go-to hitter, meaning I want my

SPORTS

Golf team ends fall season with second-place finish UA Athletics WINDERMERE, Fla. | The sixth-ranked Alabama men’s golf team wrapped up its fall season with a second place finish at the UCF-Isleworth Collegiate Invitational on Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide and the rest of the field battled difficult conditions in the third round causing scores to balloon, but the Tide made a late push to finish second. Alabama finished the tournament at 884 (+20)

after posting a 306 (+18) in the final round. Georgia took home the team title shooting 296 (+8) on day three to finish 867 (+3).

The Tide overtook Indiana, who held second place for the majority of the day, with late birdies from Matthew Swan and Spencer Cole to capture second place. Indiana finished two strokes behind the Tide at 886 (+22).

Freshman Bud Cauly led the way for the Tide in the third round, firing a two-under-par 70 to finish in a tie for fifth at 216 (E). Cauley knocked in a team-high four birdies in the blustery conditions with only two bogies. His 70 was the low round of the day in the 90-player field.

Swan also captured a top-10 finish, posting a final round 77 (+5) putting him at 217 (+1) for the tournament, good for ninth

place. Swan shot the best round of the tournament for the Tide in round one with a four-underpar 68.

Cole finished up in a tie for 28th at 226 (+10) followed closely by teammate and fellow freshman Hunter Hamrick who shot 227 (+11) and concluded play in a tie for 35th. Junior Thomas Huggins rounded out the Tide competitors and finished in a tie for 80th with a 239 (+23).

Georgia competitor Russell Henley won individual medalist honors posting a three-day score of 212 (-4).

The Tide concluded its fall season with three top five finishes in four events, including a team title at the Jerry Pate National Invitational. Alabama will return to action in February when the team competes in the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 22 to 24.

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SPORTS

Ryan Wright • Editor

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ryan.wright@cw.ua.edu

Arenas talks team rank, last week’s game

By Charity Scott Senior Staff Reporter

There’s a guy on campus who spins an entertaining yarn about Javier Arenas talking trash to some members of the men’s track team.

The story goes that he taunted guys given scholarships to run about the same speed as himself, saying he was faster than they were, until, amused and probably a little frustrated, one of the University’s sprinters challenged him to a race in the Bryce Lawns parking lot where they were hanging out.

For people who know him, the story’s end may be a forgone conclusion; Arenas talked all the way to the start line and then won the race.

For the Tide’s flamboyant junior defensive back, running his mouth comes about as easily as running towards the end zone, and he is fun to watch no matter which one he’s doing. The day before his 21st birthday, which was Tuesday, Arenas, who is known for his honesty and sense of humor, discussed a wide range of topics from his teammates’ performances to his confidence during the Monday afternoon press conference.

Q A

Why won’t the team get to go back on the field soon be affected by being after making a big defensive ranked second in the play? nation [behind Texas]?

Yeah, definitely. You’re in there comfortable It won’t be because, now. You have to still obviously, we try not to focus on it. [Head play the game, and you get a coach Nick Saban] told us that, feel for the game and feel for like you said, we’re No. 2, and making plays too, so one comes we think to ourselves that we after another. can’t lose we get nervous and … that’s that toxicity. We won’t When you make a let that affect us. We’ve been mistake, such as the in these situations before, and fumbled punt return we’ve been ranked before.

Saturday, does it motivate you too?

Do you think the Louisiana-Monroe No — well, it motivates game will come up a me, but it happens. lot this week?

You’re going to catch a hell of a lot of punts during No. I think we’re past a season, and everything won’t be perfect, so you have to have that point. a short memory. It’s just like playing DB, you’re going to When you got your get scored on, so you’ve got to sack on the Vols first have a short memory. I never offensive play of the let it affect me. game, you didn’t run recklessly towards the quarterback.

How does Saban react What was your thinking durwhen you come back ing that play? to the sidelines after making a mistake?

I thought he handed the ball off, so you He just tells you, have to go on the run “You should have fair path first, in case they run the caught that one,” or, ball. Then, if the receiver rolls “It was too deep,” or such and out, you roll out with them as such. He just calmly tells me the play develops. what would have been a better decision to make. He doesn’t You had a pretty big really yell at me because you punt return not long can’t. That would destroy after that. Does your someone’s confidence. I mean, adrenaline get going when you it won’t destroy mine, but it

A

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Drew Hoover | CW When Javier Arenas is not returning punts or defending the pass, he likes to speak his mind. On the eve of his 21st birthday; he did just that during Mondayʼs weekly press conference.

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Q

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could destroy someone’s confidence.

Q

Roy Upchurch had a big block for you during your big punt return. What have you seen from him on special teams?

A

The main thing with Roy playing punt return is that he gets after it. A lot of guys see special teams as special teams. Roy sees it as another opportunity.

You see it in practice, when you have try to come off the block and jam this guy up, he abuses them. Guys hate to go against him on the scout team.

I’m pretty sure opponents hate to go against him. He makes it a nightmare for the opponents, which is what you’re supposed to do.

Q

Is there something you look for when you’re fielding a punt that goes into your decision to go with a fair catch?

A

You have to keep looking down at the guys that are coming and then look up and keep relocating the ball, and that’s the tough thing about it, and I just try to avoid the whole thing by just catching the ball, and if I get hit then I just get hit … it’s a lot of things to consider back there, and you know, that’s why it takes a special guy to be back there, and you see me back there.