SCOPE
Oh!
The Humanities! Why is Humanities Building still the face of Arts & Sciences?
TUESDAY
01.26.16
Volume 49|Issue 31
Dear Kaleidoscope Readers, Howdy folks. This issue continues our mission to provide you with strong content and information about the future of UAB’s campus. Come on in and let’s talk about it. On our cover, we’ve got UAB’s Humanities Building. This polarizing structure is the cornerstone of the school’s College of Arts and Sciences, and though students have varying opinions on the aesthetic attraction of the building there is an undeniable need to renovate. We’ll take you through the history of the structure, up to the modern day and give you a picture of the future of the school’s fourth building.
STAFF Brandon Varner editor@insideuab.com Casey Marley managing@insideuab.com Thomas Baldwin art@insideuab.com Sarah Faulkner news@insideuab.com
The Hill Student Center is finally completely open as of this past Wednesday, and Panera is open as of yesterday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by a host of this school’s prominent figures from past and present, including former UAB President Scotty McCallum who started this school’s football program during his term. We’ve got the final word on the opening.
Jackson Hyde features@insideuab.com
This week, we start our political column written on offsetting weeks by the heads of our on-campus Republicans and Democrats. Elizabeth Earwood, chairman of UAB College Republicans, gives her view on free tuition promised by Democratic Presidential Candidates in the upcoming election.
Tamara Imam copyed@insideuab.com
Stephanie Lockhart photos@insideuab.com
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Visual Content Manager News & Science Editor Features & Opinions Editor Photography Editor Copy Editor Digital Copy Editor
With Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday this past Monday, many students participated in the day of service put on by the BSAC. They followed through the old adage of making it a day on instead of a day off and helped beautify the city with hard work in service of others, as Dr. King advised us all to behave.
Anna Sims digitalcopy@insideuab.com Jackson Hyde socialmedia@insideuab.com
Social Media Editor
We’re coming up on the end of the first month of school, so I hope y’all have been going to class and doing well. Enjoy this week’s issue, and I’ll see you next week.
Melvin Griffin Chad Freeman Mark Linn Jared Chesnutt Jamie Thrasher Marie Sutton info@insideuab.com Justin Massey justinpm@insideuab.com
Physical Address Suite 130, Hill Student Center 1400 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35205 Mail HSC 130, 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294-1150 Phone (205) 934-3354 Web UABkscope.com Email editor@insideuab.com
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The Kaleidoscope is the official student newspaper of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Unsigned editorials and the opinions of the Kaleidoscope’s columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of individual student writers, editors, Kaleidoscope advisers or university administrators. Signed columns and letters reflect the opinion of the writer and serve as expressions of fact and opinion to Kaleidoscope readers. Letter Policy: Letters to Kaleidoscope are always welcome. Unless otherwise directed, all letters will be forwarded to the editor. Letters must be no longer than 200 words and must be typed. A name and a phone number must accompany each letter. Letters will appear at the discretion of the editorial staff and can be sent by mail, fax or electronic mail. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2016 by Kaleidoscope and protected under the U.S. Copyright Laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of the Kaleidoscope.
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Relationship lessons from a dating game show host D
ear UAB Students, For the third year in a row, I will be hosting “Romantically Challenged”, an event modeled after the classic TV shows, “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game”. I have shared a stage with hopeful lovers, hopeless lovers, and soon to be ex-lovers. Romance-themed game shows provide a unique glimpse into the human heart. Contestants are in a vulnerable position—their hearts are exposed and their competition is all around. My vantage point in this game show has taught me these five insights about relationships, which I hope will help you find and keep true love while at UAB and beyond. 1. Online Dating Sucks. Whether it’s Farmers Only, OkCupid, Tinder, Grindr, Tumblr, or Harry Potter chat rooms, people seem to be getting tired of online dating. While it can certainly be great for immediate gratification, it lacks tactile romance, the sense of occasion, and mystery and wonder than only a game show environment can provide. 2. “The Dating Game” is a wonderful social experiment, because it takes physical appearance out of the equation. The beautiful woman, or the ruggedly handsome man, are only as attractive as their personalities in this courtship ritual. No one is out of anyone’s league, and this is empowering to those who aren’t 9s and 10s. In life, as in game shows, wit and charm often trump good looks. 3. Contestants who take themselves too seriously never win on the show. People who don’t have a sense of humor about themselves, who can’t laugh at themselves, have a terrible time on the Romantically Challenged stage. Longlasting partners are able to tease each other without getting their feelings hurt. If a lover (let alone a game show host) gently pokes fun at you, and you take offense, your chances of winning (in the game, or in a relationship) are greatly reduced. 4. Honesty is of utmost importance in a relationship. Any lies that may have been told, and any secrets kept over the course of a relationship will be exposed in
Reaffirmation of EO Harassment Policy eriodically, UAB re-publicizes existing policies so students, employees and P administrators are kept informed of the policies and guidelines governing UAB. On Jan. 20, 2016, UAB reaffirmed its Equal Opportunity and the Prevention of Discriminatory Harassment Policy. Read it online at www.uab.edu/ humanresources/home/hr-programs/affirmativeaction. All UAB policies are in the Policies and Procedures Library at www.uab.edu/policies.
Reaffirmation of Equal Opportunity and the Prevention of Discriminatory Harassment Policy by President Ray L. Watts (11/8/11; Reissued 1/20/16): The University of Alabama at Birmingham remains fully committed to the policies and practices of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and unlawful harassment throughout all quarters of our university and health system. We have long embraced diversity and equal opportunity as core values that foster a supportive environment in which faculty, staff and students can excel and reach their fullest potential. We maintain and promote these values not only because they are right and equitable but also because they are integral to achieving our institutional goals, our mission and our vision to be one of the most dynamic and productive universities—and the preferred academic medical center—of the 21st century. Therefore we reaffirm our full support of diversity and equal educational and employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability unrelated to job or program performance, veteran status, or genetic or family medical history. Discriminatory harassment, whether sexual or non-sexual, is strictly prohibited. So that all actions involving faculty, staff and students are initiated and administered in compliance with our commitment to fairness and nondiscrimination, all UAB administrative, managerial and supervisory personnel are required to ensure that this policy is fully implemented by enforcing only valid, position-related requirement decisions for employment, promotions, and work assignments. Our commitment to fairness, nondiscrimination and the prevention of unlawful harassment is the foundation of UAB’s Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment policy and should be the guidepost for other management decisions as well. The Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy may be accessed in the Policies and Procedures Library at www.uab.edu/policies. - the office of Haley Herfurth
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front a crowd of friends and strangers during the “Newlywed Game”. Contestants are advised to reveal anything they’ve been hiding from their partner before the show, or risk embarrassment, and a very public break up. 5. Effort must be continuously made in order to woo a lover. It is not enough to simply make a good first impression, or be a dazzling game show contestant. If a winning contestant stops performing his or her duties as “winner”, then the runner up, who is always ready when opportunity knocks, will take the winner’s place. The third annual "Romantically Challenged" game show, sponsored by Levy's Fine Jewelry, takes place at Saturn Birmingham on Wednesday, February 10th at 8pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at: http://www.saturnbirmingham.com/ event/1031953-romantically-challenged-birmingham/ The deadline for contestant applications is Monday, January 25th. Contestants will be notified on January 26th if they've been selected to compete on the show. People of all ages (well, 18+) and sexual orientations may apply. "The Newlywed Game" portion of the show is open to any couples who apply, not just actual newlyweds. Applications: (ticket charge waived if accepted onto the show) For singles: surveymonkey.com/r/RSGGVZT For couples: surveymonkey.com/r/PQYB5QV - Max Rykov
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
UAB president Ray Watts, along with other UAB leaders, poses for a photo at last week’s ribbon cutting.
Hill Student Center officially open Tessa Case Contributor tessmc@uab.edu
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n Wednesday, Jan. 20, the UAB community celebrated the official grand opening of the Hill Student Center. “There is not a more impressive student center at any university on the globe than this one that we dedicate today,” said UAB President Ray Watts. The ceremony began at 2 p.m. and featured brief speeches by President Watts, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. John Jones and USGA President Garrett Stephens. Dr. Jones described the HSC as a building committed to providing “a safe, supportive and educationally empowering campus community center
NEWS
Photo by Angela Hollowell
where students can learn, grow, and be successful.” He also described the activities that would be held within and around the center, including lectures, performances and other programs intended to help students become more involved and make the most out of their UAB experience. “This is what the UAB spirit is all about,” Stephens said. According to Stephens, the USGA has also made a lasting impact on the Hill Student Center through a fundraising effort for its Emergency Student Loan Program. The USGA sold bricks recycled from the old Hill University Center to be engraved and placed in the walkway for the new Center, to help fund ESLP, which provides interest-free loans to students in need. Bricks are still available for purchase. The grand opening ceremony concluded with Watts, Jones, Stephens, Blaze and several UAB board members cutting the ribbon to signal the beginning of the tours for the new building. While a soft opening of the building was held for
students in December, the official opening, which was planned for Fall 2015, was delayed until the spring semester. The HSC now houses One Stop Student Services, Student Media, the University Bookstore, Veteran Services, Disability Support Services and other student resources that were displaced during the construction, as well as three new campus restaurants, Mein Bowl, Full Moon BBQ and Panera Bread. Mein Bowl and Full Moon are currently open, while Panera opened this past Monday, Jan. 25.
photo by Angela Hollowell Former UAB president Scotty McCallum with Gang Green president Timothy Alexander at the ribbon cutting.
NEWS
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Bernie campaigns at Birmingham’s Boutwell Surabhi Rao Staff Writer surrao@uab.edu
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ermont Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was greeted in Birmingham with 6,000 fans and attendees overflowing from the Boutwell Auditorium on Martin Luther King Day, the night of Monday, Jan. 18. He was received with loud cheering from a crowd of varying ages and races, chanting “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie.” “We need a political revolution and it will take millions of us working together the day after the election... It ain’t Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, it’s you, you, you,” Sanders said in response. Such a large crowd came to the rally that a vast number had to gather outside the arena in Linn Park, across from the auditorium, and watch the speech on a projector. Buses from as far as Montgomery and Tuskegee ferried in nonlocals. Despite the enthusiasm of the rally-goers, the overcrowding of the auditorium led to the closing of a warming station for the city’s homeless, drawing criticism online. However, in an AL.com article, the manager of Sanders’ Birmingham campaign claimed not to know of the impact of the rally on the usage of the warming station. Reportedly, other warming stations, such as the Firehouse Shelter, First Light and the Birmingham Salvation Army were also open that night as alternatives to the Boutwell warming station. According to the article, no homeless people were harmed by the cold on the night of the rally. At UAB, there is now a Blazers for Bernie group led in part by Jared Bash, a foreign languages major. “Before this event, many said that Bernie Sanders couldn’t fill an auditorium in Alabama,” Bash said. “This is clearly not true, as the house was packed and over 1,000 people were in an overflow area watching in the cold as well. People came from all over the state on organized buses to hear him speak. Bernie’s message is consistent and it resonates with the American people, not just the millionaires and billionaires.” According to Real Clear Politics’ current poll, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Sanders’ main contender for the democratic nomination, is up by 13.2 points. Despite this fact, many students on campus are still ‘feeling the Bern.’ “If we continue to work and bring people on board with the campaign, there is a path to victory in this race,” Bash said. “Bernie is more electable than Hillary when hypothetically matched up with Republican candidates. In addition, he’s Sanders presented to a crowd of around 6,000.
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polling excellently in Iowa and New Hampshire. What’s most astonishing about his campaign is the rate at which he has raised funds. Bernie does not have a super PAC and does not [in general] get donations from the wealthiest in our nation, yet he’s catching up and surpassing other major candidates in fundraising. In addition, he’s received more individual contributions than any campaign in history up until this point.” Sanders’ rally followed presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Nov. 21st Birmingham campaign stop, nearly matching the Republican hopeful’s attendance of 10,000. According to Kelsey McClure, former student at UAB and a current volunteer for the Sanders’ Campaign, “Bernie’s presence in the South is strong. I am continually impressed that he speaks to everyone, not the elite. I also appreciate that the events are free. I think he also appeals to the younger generation by addressing issues that we are facing. I am also impressed that he has been preaching the same message since the 80s (and earlier).” Many UAB students attended. According to one among them, “He really showed me that he is an honest and trustworthy candidate and his track record shows that he won’t back down from challenging the billionaire class.” While many UAB students support Sanders, others are less impressed. “Bernie Sanders is less qualified to be president than I am to perform openheart surgery,” said a sophomore Electrical Engineering major who wished to remain anonymous. “He has a delusional view on economics and a nonexistent foreign policy. People support him because they want free s—, including free college education. But what they don’t realize is that, by subsidizing college, they effectively negate its value. A bachelor’s degree becomes about as useful as a high school diploma. At that point, graduate school becomes the new equivalent to a college degree. Not to mention his tax plan to pay for all these free programs that basically boils down to taxing hardworking people to give free stuff to people that haven’t worked a day in their lives. Bernie Sanders may have the idiotic population under his thumb, but anyone with half a brain can see that his plans simply won’t work.”
Photo by Jonathan Patrick
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
NEWS
UAB and Project SEARCH partnership provides opportunities for disabled youths
Rolanda Williams, the special education instructor at UAB, with students enrolled in the Project SEARCH program.
Mark Linn Staff Writer quiaego@uab.edu
U
AB is partnering with Project SEARCH to provide internship opportunities at UAB hospital to developmentally disabled students from the Birmingham City School System. The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a school-to-work program that seeks to help high school-aged individuals with developmental disabilities find internship opportunities and to prepare them for employment after graduation. According to Project SEARCH’s website, the program began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Erin Riehle, then director of the Emergency Department, was frustrated with the high-turnover rate and low performance among the entry-level positions such as responsibility for restocking supplies cabinets. Wondering if it would be possible to offer internship opportunities to developmentally disabled students, many of whom were served by Cincinnati Children’s, Riehle partnered with Great Oak Career Campuses and the Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Board to begin the first project SEARCH program. The program now has more than 300 sites across the U.S., as well as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, according to their website. “You’re talking about kids with disabilities who would probably be referred to supportive employment, or some type of day activity center, or maybe just sitting at home,” said the Project SEARCH instructor at UAB, Rolanda Williams. “And these
individuals are actually out in the community doing jobs just as you and I would be doing.” Project SEARCH first came to Alabama in 2013 and now has 10 host locations across the state. “The UAB hospital leadership was approached by the Birmingham City School System and they really wanted to discuss options for project SEARCH here at UAB,” said the coordinator of the AWARE Disability Management Program at UAB, Sherri Moultrie. “They were previously located at Birmingham Southern and transitioned from the Birmingham location here to UAB in August.” The program lasts for a full school year and consists of three 10-week rotations between the various participating hospital departments. Each location is staffed by one special education teacher and one to three job coaches. Rolanda Williams is the special education instructor at UAB, and Faustina Williams and Alex Faust are job instructors. The students’ time is divided between the intern work and periods of classroom education at the beginning and end of each day. “Part of the instruction will be things like we’re teaching them real life skills. We’re teaching them about resume writing, interviewing, how to work with others, how to problem solve issues,” Williams said. “Anything that’s necessary for them to be productive citizens and to live on their own without long term support. Ultimately the goal of the program is independent living as well as competitive employment.” There are currently eight interns involved in the rotation process. The process includes between 10-12
Photo by Ian Keel
students. Applicants to the program are typically students with significant developmental and intellectual disabilities whom have finished their high school coursework. The students are referred to the program by the school district, counselors or their families. The students’ ages range from 18-21, since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act allows people with developmental disabilities to attend high school until they are 21. “It’s a very hands on type process, we learn about the responsibility, duties, and really just the needs they might have their in their department so we can pinpoint and really try to identify a person for that rotation,” Moultrie said. “[The interns] work really closely with the staff there and they’re not an employee of UAB but they have the same expectations.” The Project SEARCH staff are seeking to expand the program to include more interns and other departments of the hospital. “[Our goal is] to let the hospital know that even though the interns have these special needs that they have the capabilities and skillsets to perform these competitive employment jobs and if given the opportunity,” Faustina Williams said. They also hope to get the word out to the Birmingham community and one day expand the program beyond UAB hospital. “We don’t want to leave anybody out,” Faust said. “At the end of the day we want to help as many potential interns as we can because everybody deserves the chance to have a job and be independent.”
SPORTS
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UAB sets records in back-to-back conference wins
Nick Norton dribbling down the court during the game against Rice (bottom), UAB fans carry giant cardboard cutouts of the heads of strength coach Cory Schlesinger (top left) and player William Lee (top right).
Tamara Imam Copy Editor copyed@insideuab.edu
U
AB’s men’s basketball team (17-3, 7-0) racked up numerous honors after back-to-back conference wins in Bartow on Thursday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 23. With Thursday night’s 82-70 victory over the Rice University Owls and 20 straight games won at Bartow, the Blazers secured a school record. The previous mark was established after the 2005-2007 teams beat 19 game teams in a row. This year’s squad kept painting the streak after Saturday night when the Blazers came back from a 35-33 deficit at halftime to defeat the University of North Texas Mean Green 78-57. UAB has not lost at home since falling to LSU on Dec. 28, 2014. With 14 wins in a row, UAB, second to Southern Methodist University before its Sunday afternoon loss to Temple University, currently leads the NCAA for longest winning streak. The Blazers also set a school record for the most consecutive wins, which had remained unbroken since 1992. Additionally, with a 7-0 record in conference play, the team has the best start in UAB history. However, Head Coach Jerod Haase does not dwell
on the win streak, according to senior guard Robert Brown. “He doesn’t talk about it. We try to move onto the next game, build our lead in the conference and continue to get better every day,” Brown said in a post-game interview with UABsports.com. Brown, who gained notoriety last season as the Conference USA Tournament MVP, led the Blazers to victory against Rice and North Texas with a combined 35 points. The UAB student body also broke records in Bartow Arena. The first home game back from the holiday break, Thursday night’s “Gold Rush” themed game saw a record 1,591 students in attendance, far surpassing “Operation 1072,” Gang Green’s initiative to fill all 1,072 seats in the student section of Bartow Arena for every home game. “Seeing that another record was broken by the students means one thing to me! History is in the hands of the students! We sent a major message to the university and this entire state that we are a family and that we will do what’s never been done,” said President of Gang Green Timothy Alexander. “As students [here] at this great university UAB we believe in Ever Faithful Ever Loyal! and that’s it. We will support our student-athletes. Now [Coach Haase] believes in us and so does the athletic department!”
Photos by Tamara Imam
Despite the record-breaking student attendance at Thursday night’s game, only 5,535 tickets were sold for the matchup against North Texas. Bartow Arena seats 8,508. “As a coach and as a team, we need to really get out there and spread the word that this is a team that I think people should support and would really enjoy supporting if they really started coming,” Haase said in an interview with AL.com. “When I look at long term goals for my time at UAB, I want one of them to be that we have unbelievable support for our team and be one of the few schools in the south that people first and foremost come to cheer their team as opposed to the teams they’re playing against.” The city of Birmingham answered to social media attempts to #SellOutBartow for Saturday night’s game against the Mean Green. While Bartow Arena did not actually sell out, 6,835 fans were in attendance. “S/o to the 6,835 fans at bartow last night, that was amazing and it played a huge role in the 14th straight win!! #SellOutBartow,” freshman forward Thomas Smallwood said in a tweet. UAB will face off against Western Kentucky (10-10, 2-5) on Thursday, Jan. 28 in Bowling Green. Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by Fox Sports 1.
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Oh, the Humanities Sarah Faulkner News Editor news@insideuab.com
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he Humanities Building was one of UAB’s first buildings, and remains to be one of the last that the university will renovate or replace. As many core classes required by UAB are taught by the College of Arts and Sciences, most students have at least been inside of the Humanities Building. In November of 2014, the Board of Trustees approved a new building for the College of Arts and Sciences that would replace the Humanities Building, according to a statement in UAB’s online Arts and Sciences magazine. As of April of last year, the location and plans for the building were being assessed in hopes that the College would break ground in late 2015 and complete construction in 2017-2018. However, since then, little has been mentioned about the alleged second College of Arts and Sciences building.
African Americans from entering the Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama in 1963. “[The new College of Arts and Sciences Building] has already undergone the first phase of review by the Board of Trustees and given us the go ahead to develop a financial plan and to begin consulting an architect, both of which we have done,” said Robert Palazzo, Ph.D, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in an email to Kscope. “We are hoping to garner approval for the construction of a new building with the hope of entering the building in the fall of 2018 for operations. All of the activities currently in the old Humanities Building would relocate.” Opened in the summer of 1971, the building was later dedicated, according to the cornerstone of the building, to former Governor George C. Wallace. During his most famous speech, Wallace promised segregation “now, tomorrow, and forever” and later blocked two
In addition, according to the book “City Comp: Identities, Spaces, Practices” by UAB English professors Bruce McComiskey and Cynthia Ryan, the building itself was built specifically to prevent large numbers of student protesters from assembling inside the building. “It has a unique design,” said Matt Lowry, an information systems major. “Of course, the reason no one designs buildings like this is because it’s bad. The whole reason for buildings is to escape the elements. As much as I love feeling the wind and rain, cold and warmth in every season, I prefer my buildings to be indoors.” Because of when it was built, Humanities Building is also one of the
many remaining buildings with asbestos found in the pipe insulation, floor covering and spray-applied insulation, according to UAB’s Asbestos Building Survey Summary document. The Asbestos Safety Program website states that UAB has been careful in handling the material in order to maintain a safe working and living environment; however, while the building is safe for usage, students are still eager to move facilities due to the building’s age-related disrepair. “The fact that I’m spending thousands of dollars on tuition and I have to sit in a building with water stained ceilings doesn’t make me feel like the College of Arts and Sciences is appreciated by UAB administration,” McKenzie Cavin, junior, said. “Considering how we’re at a school that gets millions of dollars in funding, it doesn’t really make sense that we still have classes in a building with known structural problems. We’re going to tear down a perfectly good student center and build a brand new one and yet not pay attention to the buildings where College
The hygenic state of the Humanities Building’s bathrooms in particular has been called into question.
9 of Arts and Science students spend most of their time learning.” However, for others, replacing the building is not as pressing. “The building is fine,” Stewart Adams, art history major, said. “It’s one of UAB’s less ugly buildings.”
“The College of Arts and Sciences is the bedrock of the undergraduate programs at UAB,” he said. “Most of the core education courses are taught by CAS faculty, and all other undergraduate degrees incorporate this learning and these courses. There is much more I can say about the CAS beyond this fundamental function in undergraduate
education at UAB, including research activity, graduate programs, entrepreneurship, and innovation, globalization, all of which are described in the CAS strategic plan, but from an undergraduate perspective the above statement is simply a fact.” Despite recognizing his pride for the college, Palazzo claims that the College of Arts and Sciences needs to continue to improve. “We are in a constant quest for excellence, which requires that we all reach for higher goals regardless of our accomplishments to date,” Palazzo said. “So we will pursue better facilities as part of our quest for excellence at UAB. [...] We have enjoyed the support of the Provost, the President and the Board of Trustees in developing these plans for a new CAS building to better
In fact, for some, the building itself is seen as creative, much like the students and faculty who utilize it.
serve the education in the humanities and arts.”
“I mean I love it,” sophomore Drew Hawkins said. “I feel like it’s the closest I’ll get to that post-war brutalist architecture. The inside’s a little drab but it’s very functional.” While the other buildings on campus, specifically those for the schools of medicine and nursing, are decorated with bright red bricks and mirrored windows, the Humanities building is grey and largely windowless. With this in mind, is the state of the Humanities building a reflection of the state of the College of Arts and Sciences as a whole? Palazzo does not think so. A picture of a row of stalls in one of the building’s restrooms.
A series of office doors line the interior hallways of the Humanities Building.
Photos by Stephanie Lockhart
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
Public indecency: Breastfeeding is not a crime Erica Webb Opinions Columnist ewebb1@uab.edu ere’s a riddle: What do you get when you mix burgers and breasts together in public? An advertisement. What about breasts and a hungry baby? A violation of human decency, apparently. There’s something wrong with this picture, America. We live in a culture that’s okay with objectifying women’s breasts to sell practically anything yet simultaneously shames women for choosing to go topless, even when breastfeeding. This essentially sends the message that you can sell breasts, but not wear them. Breastfeeding itself is the most natural thing in the world. New mothers shouldn’t have to scramble to find dirty restrooms or sketchy secluded areas to hide themselves when their infants need nutrition. Some men’s responses to breastfeeding mothers are worse than the comment section of a YouTube video about religion. They like to basically compare it to exposing themselves. I’m so sorry that you feel it’s unfair a mother can feed her child but you can’t walk around pantless. But it’s not the same thing—at all. First off, the human body is beautiful and all, but it’s just plain unsanitary for people to walk around fully nude,
especially in highly populated areas--no in depth explanation needed. Second, breasts are not sexual organs. No matter what our culture likes to portray them as, that’s not their purpose. They serve as humans’ mammary glands to provide milk for infants. If basic anatomy doesn’t convince you, look at other cultures across the world. In many societies, breasts are not heavily sexualized and women go topless quite often, breastfeeding or not. Besides, American men have had the right to go topless since the mid-1930s, according to GoTopless.org. That’s right, they had the first #freethenipple movement, mass protests and all. One protest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, even inspired city leaders to say, “We will have no gorillas on our beach!” Much of Western cultures’ mass sexualization of breasts comes from patriarchal norms of controlling women’s bodies out of “respectability.” This is a teaser to a whole other article. Eventually, businesses started thinking, “Wow, look at that perfect mix of glandular and fatty tissues—we gotta capitalize on that.” There’s a big difference between a woman choosing to go topless and a company using breasts as a focus point so you want to buy the vodka bottle
Elizabeth Earwood Contributing Writer kkirklin@uab.edu henever free food or free t-shirts are offered at UAB, the decision to attend is obvious. Of course it’s a good idea to go get free food or a free shirt! There is a student organization who has provided it just for us. Free college, though, causes me to pause. During discussions about the 2016 presidential campaign trail, Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton have made it clear this is a proposal they would make if either of them win the election. Yet, the Republican candidates believe this idea is absurd. It’s not that we would not benefit from free postsecondary education, but considering the role of government, the economy and personal responsibility, we stand to benefit the most from less government involvement and reduced tuition costs. Many UAB students are receiving financial aid from the government. In the 2014 fiscal year, UAB students received $1.5 billion from the federal government in the form of loans, grants and work study.
Republican candidates’ suggestions focus on driving down the costs of college tuition rather than offering it entirely for free. For example, Senator Cruz has said, “The way you drive down college tuition is you create more competition, you have more choices, and you create an environment where young people have a multitude of options rather than a government controlled monopoly. That’s what we need to do is try to empower young people to have a better future going forward.” Senator Cruz would like to see lower costs through competition created from less government involvement rather than government’s total control.
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OPINIONS
Breasts are often viewed as obscene or sexual, regardless of context.
without seeing them in a constantly sexualized gaze, especially to the extent that you restrict their personal freedom based on gender. Whether a woman goes topless while sunbathing, wears a burqa for religious reasons, or anything in between, she deserves to have a fair choice and be respected for it—like any man would in the same situation.
Similarly, he proposes a better way to pay off student loan debt. “I will also tie traditional loan repayment to each graduate’s income, enabling those who earn more to pay back their loans faster and those who earn less to make smaller payments over a longer period of time.” He even commented that not everyone needs a college degree, explaining that many jobs can be filled with training provided at a trade school. The writers at the Heritage Foundation, a think tank in Washington D.C., recommend the government stop guaranteeing loans to promote competition leading to falling prices. According to this foundation, if college students are not paying for their tuition, universities have no reason to offer competitive or reasonable prices. All government policy ideas, as noble as they may seem, must be funded. Senator Sanders admits that his plan could cost $750 billion. Secretary Clinton has offered a plan for $350 billion.
Who is going to pay for this? The democratic candidates may suggest a tax on the top wealthy people to get the funding. Why is it the responsibility of the wealthy to pay for everyone else to go to college? These candidates seem to assume there is a moral dilemma if some people earn more money than others. What is the harm in individual students working hard and paying to earn their degree? Regardless of how amusing Secretary Clinton’s and Senator Sanders’ plans seem, problems inevitably arise when individuals benefit without having to pay. At the end of the day, Republicans and Democrats have come up with different conclusions to cap rising college costs—either have the government take over at the expense of taxpayers or have the government become less involved to promote competition and reduced prices. Let your voice be heard by voting in the primary on March 1.
Blazing red: A Republican view on plans for free tuition W
Photo by Stephanie Lockhart
between them. The latter separates women into parts for certain uses while the former is an autonomous choice in which women represent themselves as a whole person. Look, there was once a time when people would wreck their cars over seeing women’s knees. Taboo things become normal once society lets people get used to them. I also believe you can find someone’s features attractive
Earwood is the Chairman of UAB College Republicans.
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YoCam: UAB grad brings new perspective to personal filming Erica Webb Opinions Columnist ewebb1@uab.edu oCam, a portable multi-use camera produced by Mofily, was co-created by Ray Yang, Ph. D., a UAB alumnus. Yang applied the experiences he gained from our university to help develop his team’s product. “During the past decade, I witnessed many new camera brands coming out and they are challenging traditional cameras, for example, GoPro, DropCam, dash camera, baby monitor, and so many more. But sooner or later, I found out that I have spent thousands of dollar to buy all of these for many different purposes,” Yang said. “Then I ask myself, ‘What if there is one type of camera that can do all of them at once?’ [Our company could make one] just like the iPhone does the jobs of so many devices: traditional phone, MP3 music player, portable DVD player and even part of your laptop. Why can’t we make something that can meet most of your needs for these emerging new cameras? This is why we make YoCam.” The YoCam is an extremely portable waterproof camera, which means you can use it as an action camera like the GoPro for many different type of activities. It can be used as a webcam, a home safety monitor, a baby monitor, or a dash camera.
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Image from Mofily
Yang stresses that the YoCam is simple to use for everyone and is at an affordable price. “We are also building a mobile app for YoCam that you can use to easily edit and publish your photos instantly as a story on many social media platforms. You can even use the same app to print those photo out and make it as a hard copy photo book to keep at home,” Yang said. Yang believes that the motivation behind the YoCam is his passion about electronics. Growing up, Yang was fascinated with cameras but Yang ended up earning a Ph. D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics. “Frankly speaking, what I have learned in textbooks and in the laboratory during my Ph.D. did not contribute much to YoCam. However, my Ph.D. training plays a critical role in helping me and our team in developing YoCam. During my training, I have mastered how to think critically, plan comprehensively, carry out project deliberately and present my work professionally and precisely,” Yang said. Yang and his team at Mofily have plans to continue to create and produce electronics. “YoCam is just the beginning of our company. We have so many great products coming out this year and in the future: camera, smart home appliances, drone, smart hubs, etc. We really look forward to making more great products and changing people’s life with our products,” Yang said.
Blaze Radio presents: David Bowie “Blackstar” Jared Chesnut Staff Writer redc@uab.edu
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he world and social media went supernova upon news of David Bowie’s passing earlier this month, starting a chain reaction of gratitude and homage for an artist who has influenced so many over the past 50 years. In an often-mundane world, Bowie stood out as an anomaly: something alien, different, yet somehow
Bowie’s album “Blackstar”
Image from Wikimedia Commons
relatable. It only makes sense that, in the midst of his 18-month bout with cancer, he would do something so human to almost be cliché, yet so unique that it could only serve as a symbol of the Thin White Duke’s life. It just made sense to communicate the way he knew best: the album “Blackstar,” released just two days before Bowie’s death. The album was a farewell letter to the people and world he left behind, a chance to try and say everything that time could no longer put into words. Bowie has been a bit of a chameleon throughout his time performing, trading in ballads for glam rock in 80’s synth pop and later for industrial and electronic adventures, always seeming to fit in regardless. “Blackstar” feels like an amalgamation of all his past work, as if the years spent dabbling in different genres were leading him all along to this album. The album opens with its titular track, a nineminute romp where the first half feels like “Kid A” era Radiohead was thrown into a time machine and warped through the passage of space-time. “Tis A Pity She Was A Whore” follows up with some rock-tinged jazz, as Bowie and a heavy snare put force behind a saxophone, clarinet and keys, which convey a sense of madness that he associated with World War I through brusque lyrics. It’s at this moment where, if you dig a little deeper, you catch a glimpse of a man writing his autobiography, a point driven home by the next track and single, “Lazarus.” Drums and a driving bass lead in to Bowie’s urging to “Look up here, I’m in Heaven,” with a sharp guitar sting following each utterance. As the bridge approaches, the track shifts almost to a bit of a triumphant tone, saxophone once again backing
Bowie as he “was living like a king” in New York, before everything comes back down to earth. In hindsight, the title of the track, alongside the final verse’s declaration that “I’ll be free just like that bluebird” serve as a realization that, even though the man might be gone, he anticipated this album to be the work he left behind to outlive him. “Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)” shifts towards a more manic pace in a proto-Mars Volta style where guitars, clarinet and synth stabs clash while Bowie’s fragile vocals almost blend into the background. In contrast, “Girl Loves Me” sticks to synth-heavy electronica as Bowie mutters mostly unintelligible nonsense, the one consistency in the song the wondering of “Where the f— did Monday go?” Abruptly, piano crashes through at the beginning of “Dollar Days,” acoustic guitar accompanying talk about dying to “fool them all again and again” before the dueling statements of “I’m dying to” and “I’m trying to” phase out into the beginning of the final track “I Can’t Give Everything Away.” A harmonica cues everyone in before Bowie begins behind a more upbeat accompaniment, saxophone going wild in the interim. As an ending, it feels like a proper goodbye to an album and a life that felt so complete, yet far too short. Overall, at seven tracks and just over forty minutes long, “Blackstar” is a short album with little empty space. It’s an amazing album, up there with Bowie’s best, and well worth a listen. Bowie was so willing to make art of his life that even his death speaks volumes about his vision. It has been a pleasure to be taken along his musical ride.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
BSAC hosts volunteer effort in remembrance of Dr. King
An artist’s rendition of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April Oberman Staff Writer aprildob@uab.edu n remembrance of the civil rights leader who created a nonviolent campaign, lead protests and was jailed here in Birmingham, the Leadership and Service Council partnered with the Black Student Awareness Committee to host the annual MLK Day of Service dedicated to on Monday, Jan. 18. One of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous quotes is, “What are you doing for others?” This is something the BSAC focuses on, according to Executive Director Brandon Patton. “BSAC co-sponsored the MLK Day of Service because of everything that Martin Luther King Jr. has done for African Americans. Without MLK, there is no telling where African American rights would be,” Patton said. “BSAC wanted to help with this event to show respect to him. Service
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Photo from BSAC
is very important to us and also the community, without service and giving back there is no way to move forward,”
Martin Luther King viewed service as an integral part of society. Patton said. Patton described the day as a “team event.” The BSAC helped set up the event, worked different tables, helped students register for the event, passed out food and T-shirts and served as site leaders at various locations. One of the sites students volunteered at was Red Mountain park, located near campus. Sophomore Allison Carroll signed up to volunteer at this site to help clear the mountain of privet, an invasive shrub found at the mountain.
“I really loved being able to give back to our community. Martin Luther King viewed service as an integral part of society, and volunteering in the Birmingham area helps carry on his ideals,” Carroll said. Carroll, along with close to 99 other student volunteers, helped clear privet at Red Mountain. Volunteer Manager Angela Cleary of Red Mountain was noticeably impressed with the work accomplished. She repeatedly invited the students to return to work. “We [the people at Red Mountain] joke on the war on privet because it seems like we are never going to feel like we are done cleaning it up. But having volunteers that are able to know the difference between which tree stays and which tree goes means that quality work is happening. Having hands-on volunteers totally helps with less use of herbicides and less use of machinery,” Cleary said. Red Mountain plans to use the cleared paths as space for an outdoor classroom for elementary school students. The space will be ADA accessible and will hold over 30 kids. “It is going to be one of the very first things that grabs your attention at the park. Our goal of the classroom is for visitors to come and see that we are not just “the place that has the zip lines.” We really are concentrating on education and teaching kids and upcoming generations about preserving land and showing them ways that they can get involved and help,” Cleary said.
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UAB royalty: Ruby “Archie” Stewart to be crowned Myah Clinton Staff Writer mkc16@uab.edu
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AB senior Ruby “Archie” Stewart will soon be crowned Miss Black Alabama U.S. Ambassador 2016. Stewart has competed in two other pageants before, but this will be her first time being crowned. The Miss Black U.S. Ambassador organization aims to “educate, empower, and enlighten community, states and nations,” said the organization’s state director, Jessica Alexander. “We target a lot of issues really persistent in the African-American community and we use our queens who are called ambassadors of change to pretty much champion those causes and raise funds, raise awareness, throughout their state and city throughout their reign.” The pageant is separated into two age divisions: teens and misses. The teen division includes ages 14 to 18, while the misses includes ages 19 to 28. According to the Miss Black Alabama U.S. Ambassador Pageant rules, participants must exhibit good moral character, at least a 2.5 GPA, and a willingness “to make a big change in your community,” she said. The Miss Black Alabama U.S. Ambassador Committee and Pinky Promise UAB will be holding a crowning ceremony in place of the pageant at the Hulsey Recital Hall on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. In addition to being crowned, Stewart will also receive a $2,000 scholarship. “[Pageants] give people an opportunity to develop a lot of life skills, [such as] marketing and public speaking,” Alexander said. Stewart agreed, saying that this pageant has made her a more well-rounded person. “I wanted to be a part of something dynamic and I also wanted to make a positive impact in my community on a larger platform,” Stewart said. “I want African-American girls and not even just that, but women of color in any way to know that you don’t have to fit a certain form to be in a pageant you mold it to you, you don’t let it mold you.” As the winner of the title of Miss Black Alabama U.S. Ambassador, Stewart will advance to the national competition and will have a chance to receive a $5,000 scholarship. According to Alexander, the national competition includes a community service component as well as interview presentation, fitness, on-stage question and an evening wear competition. The Miss Black U.S. Ambassador Pageant will be held in Oklahoma City July 3-9 with the competition days taking place on July 8 and July 9.
Ruby Stewart is the founder of Pinky Promise at UAB, it is the first chapter to be founded in Alabama.
Photo by Ian Keel
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
Mindfulness is a workable way to improve your mood
Weekly wellness: Saying “ohm” to meditation Jared Jones Staff Writer jrdjns@uab.edu
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can guess what you’re thinking: meditation is the thing your friend picked up one summer in Malaysia while on a yogic journey where he also began making his own granola bars (which, by the way, are really tasty). However, meditation is much simpler and more accessible than you may think. It’s a practice that promotes happiness and self-connectedness and anyone can do it. In the same way that yoga can be a spiritual practice as well as physical practice, meditation is what you put into it. There are multiple different forms of meditation, which means more opportunities to find the one that fits you. And that’s great because there are many benefits to a daily meditation practice that encourage a more centered you. For homework, read Huffington Post’s “8 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Life.” As a Type A person who wears stress on his sleeves, I can benefit from slowing my mind down with guided practices.
In fact, a Stanford university study showed that meditation and mindfulness actually rewires the brain to handle stress better. College students rejoice! One of my biggest draws to meditation is the ability to be my own leader. I set my intention and I set my goal – if I even choose to have a goal. It’s up to me. I decide the outcome. However, meditation is not something you pick up lightly. To truly reap the benefits, you need to develop a practice. Think of meditation as exercise for the brain. You don’t blindly walk into a gym, run on the treadmill for a few minutes and conclude with the thought that you’re in shape. You can’t try it once and expect inner peace. Meditation builds your mind-body connection where you learn to be mindful of who you are. It teaches you to be aware of yourself in ways that simply looking in the mirror won’t.
How to Get Started
There is a wealth of literature on meditation and its many forms from anecdotal short stories to scientific research noting the benefits of the practice. I suggest
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researching what form of meditation speaks to you and then finding material on the form. Live and Dare, a “meditation blog and non-sectarian spirituality,” published a comprehensive list of meditation types and how to try each approach. This blog can serve as a launchpad to further information about the practice. If you’re pressed for time, I suggest Headspace. It’s a free app that offers a series of meditations called “Take 10,” where the user is guided through ten 10-minute sessions in order to introduce the mind to being in the moment. And if you want, you can sign up for their subscription and have access to so much more content. According to Headspace, meditation combats stress, promotes creativity, decreases anxiety and amps up focus. Headspace is leading the pack on making meditation accessible and easy for busy people. They back up their claims with scientific studies and even have arguably cute graphics to inspire users to breathe more. So while you might be worried about staying in shape, you owe it to yourself to show your mind some love, too. Next time you’re faced with writing a 10-page paper due the next day, you might find yourself calmer and able to tackle the assignment effectively and efficiently.
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SATURDAY|01.30
UAB Women’s Basketball vs. WKU TUESDAY|01.26 Reflection on Civil and Human Rights
Sterne Library 3 p.m. A former UAB Vice President for Equity and Diversity will begin the lecture series with a presentation on civil and human rights as part of UAB Community Week.
“The Hunting Ground” Screening
Hill Student Center 6- 9 p.m. “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about rape on college campuses, will play in the theatre of the HSC. The film earned a 6.9/10 on IMDb and a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. This event is free for students.
WEDNESDAY|01.27 International Bazaar
Hill Student Center 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. The Multicultural Council will host an event featuring food, performances and information presentations from diverse culture groups on campus. The event will take place in the ballroom on the third floor of the HSC.
THURSDAY|01.28 How Does it Feel to Be a Problem?
Hill Student Center 5 p.m. Four students from the University of Alabama who created a film about racism and homophobia on college campuses will lead a panel discussion. The panel will take place in the theatre of the HSC.
UAB Women’s Basketball vs. Marshall
Bartow Arena 7 p.m. The women’s basketball team will play the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers at home.
Bartow Arena 2 p.m. The Blazers will host Marshall University.
UAB Hack-A-Thon
FRIDAY|01.29 Rebelution
Iron City 8 p.m. This self-described “California reggae” band Rebelution will play with instrumentalist group New Kingston as part of their Winter Greens Tour. Tickets begin at $22.50.
Men’s Tennis vs. UNCWilmington
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Collat School of Business will sponsor a Hack-A-Thon to train students to have entrepreneurial minds. Participants will pitch innovative ideas about how to reclaim and retain young entrepreneurs in Birmingham’s Historic Civil Rights District.
SUNDAY|01.31
Lakeshore Tennis Center 1 p.m. The men’s tennis team players will face off against the University of North Carolina- Wilmington.
Men’s Tennis vs. UNA
Lakeshore Tennis Center 1 p.m. The Blazers will play matches against the University of North Alabama Lions.
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