TUESDAY
SCOPE
08.25.15
Volume 49|Issue 15
CRASH COURSE
R U O T S U P M A C pg. 8 W E S TI LL H AV E
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Dear Kaleidoscope Readers, Welcome to the new school year. For many this is a time of transition: moving away from home for the first time or maybe moving back home for the first time. But, for a large quantity of your time during the week this semester, the 95 city blocks that comprise the UAB campus will be your home for at least the next semester, unless you drop before the designated drop date (August 31 by the way). In this issue, we give you a crash tour of the campus. In case it’s been a minute since you’ve been to Orientation, or you blocked most of Orientation out of your memory like I did, I hope this gives you some information on the campus that you wait in I-65 traffic every day in order to attend. For the rest of our pages (and extended online content) please read, absorb, laugh, cringe, find a typo and disagree. Send me an angry letter; send me a positive letter. Whatever you do this semester, please get involved with UAB Student Media in some way. You may have noticed a change, a reawakening, of student media and the Kaleidoscope over the past year—we’ve noticed it, too. Our advisors, our staff, our editors and our distribution team all work insanely hard to create a tangible source of UAB student pride and to keep one of UAB’s oldest traditions alive. In order to do this, we need your help. If you are a writer, an observer, a critic, come to Student Media: have your words and thoughts published. If you like radio, video editing, marketing, web development or pretty much anything, come see us at the Pita Stop Building. We will utilize your unique skills in some way. For others, our dedicated readers and fellow UAB community members, please be receptive to us when we write a story for your group. Please be transparent, please respect us as journalists, please don’t ask to “read what we have” before we publish a story. While we are students, we take our work seriously--pouring hours into a 500 word article. We ask that you take us seriously as well. None of us are here to “take UAB down” because we hate our University. On the contrary, we are here because we love our university and we want to provide a service to the students who go here. So this year, pick up a copy of the Kaleidoscope, follow us on Twitter and support Student Media. Who knows, we might quote you one day. Go Blazers,
STAFF Casey Marley editor@insideuab.com Brandon Varner managing@insideuab.com
Managing Editor
Jessica Middelton Visual Content Manager visuals@insideuab.com Mark Linn news@insideuab.com Sarah Faulkner features@insideuab.com Anna Sims copyed@insideuab.com
News & Sports Editor Features & Opinions Editor Copy Editor
Jackson Hyde Social Media Editor socialmedia@insideuab.com Kylie Hicks onlineeditor@insideuab.com Melvin Griffin Chad Freeman Mark Linn Alexandria Merrill Marie Sutton info@insideuab.com Justin Massey justinpm@insideuab.com
Physical Address Pita Stop Building 1110 12th St. South; Birmingham, AL 35294 Mail PITA, 1720 2nd Ave. S., Birmingham, Ala. 35294-1150 Phone (205) 934-3354 Web UABkscope.com Email editor@insideuab.com Place an Ad
Editor-in-Chief
Online Editor Distribution Team
Advisor Production Manager
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 © 2015 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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Dr. John Jones welcomes back students Letter to the Editor: July Issue Response T Blazers,
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elcome back and greetings from the renewed Division of Student Affairs! If you are not aware, Dr. Watts and his leadership team decided to bring back the Division of Student Affairs in response to the concerns expressed by you and the campus community. Thus, after a national search, I was selected to serve as Vice President for Student Affairs and a member of the President Executive Cabinet.
As Vice President for Student Affairs at UAB, I am excited and honored to be a member of the Blazers family and to lead the effort in enriching your co-curricular experiences. Also, I look forward to assisting and supporting you in pursuing your academic and personal goals while providing a robust campus experience. A lot has been occurring during the summer and we are excited to welcome you back with a wide variety events/ programs. Visit the Welcome Week calendar to see all the activities during the first week of the semester as well as new and
Photo courtesy of UAB News
enhanced programs throughout the fall and spring semesters. We in Student Affairs will provide you with a comprehensive, integrated student experience which embraces learning, personal and social responsibility, leadership development, healthy lifestyles, and the appreciation of diverse ideas, culture, and people.
Not only enjoy the outstanding events/ programs during the first week of your return, but take advantage of the approximately 150 student organizations, theater and the arts, the many campus activities, intercollegiate athletic events, and the service-learning & community service opportunities that are available. By taking advantage of everything UAB offers from a world-class education to a phenomenon out-of-class experience, you will make friends and memories that last forever. Stay informed with is happening on campus through Facebook and Twitter. Again welcome back and “Blaze on”!
John R Jones III, Ph.D. | Vice President for Student Affairs
he July issue posed the question “Where do we stand?” UAB, the most powerful thing in the state is being immorally, criminally controlled and directly managed by and for UAT. The phenomenal growth and restoration of the Magic City in the 50’s and 60’s startled the BOT. Their “holier than thou” attitude and disposition was solidified when Czar Bear Bryant established himself in 1957, never to be questioned or challenged until being exposed by Coach Bartow. The University had naturally colonized Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile. The Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s had to be addressed. The Czar upstaged Governor Wallace and Dr. King by integrating his ball team. Justice and equality were secondary to athletic superiority. As Masters of Malfeasance, the BOT dominance was maintained by changing the state constitution. In 1969, the word SYSTEM was inserted into the plantation title - The University of Alabama System BOT. The amendment included making UAB and UAH autonomous. Theoretically, they were to function independent of UAT. This new law makes it illegal for the BOT to interfere in the management of the FREE UAB. All UAB personnel, so asinine as to believe this state law that gave them the authority to function solely for the benefit of UAB, were simply fired i.e. Presidents Hill, McCallum, Bennett, Reynolds and Garrison. They are not criminally gagged like our last Athletic Director, Brian Mackin. Check the facts. Not one of these excellent leaders retired voluntarily. Where do we stand? We stand at attention and obey. The stark reality of our feeble existence was brutally defined with the execution of football, bowling and rifle. There was a childish attempt to justify this insanity as the conclusion of a study. This insult to academia and civility was a worthless review of a chapter in the Masters of Malfeasance manual entitled Planned Mediocrity. My evaluation of our standing, exaggerated as it may seem, has the unrestricted and unsolicited endorsement of our campus’ (metro Birmingham) political, social, economic and religious leaders. Their silence and inaction constitute a plea of guilt with motive being personal gain. Not one has stepped out front and demanded freedom for UAB. Who are the real losers as our campus flounders leaderless? Alabama has 1 million plus that live at or below the poverty level! Add another 20 percent that struggle to stay above the water level. Conversely, this segment of their
constituents has the power, the numbers, to achieve relief for themselves and the common good -- a vote. All people that are qualified but do not vote are self-destructing unknowingly. Not voting is actually a vote for the status quo which is vice, sin and corruption at their expense. The most apathetic are we UAB students and the Blazer Nation. The decision to play ball in 2017 simply authenticates our feudal submission to the BOT. This decision to remain mediocre was made by an unaccountable and unidentifiable group known as “UAB administration”. These incognitos are led by Dr. “Kevorkian” Watts and our rookie Athletic Director Mark Ingram. The immoral and criminal control by the BOT continues unabashedly. There are no rules, laws or instructions to guide the Blazers ascension from the grave dug by the BOT. This Blazer would have kicked off as scheduled Labor Day weekend 2015. The unwarranted and illogical delay to 2017 serves our mysterious and inept administration. The Blazers stand hapless and tolerant ad nauseam! As the #1 Blazer without peers, I refuse to continue being a weak, spineless victim. Where I stand is clearly defined by my written request for a full forensic investigation by the State Attorney General Luther Strange. Being realistic, I am preparing to make the same request to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. For the Blazer Nation to actually stand free and superior, the legal structure of the SYSTEM must be dissolved. The mentality of the Masters of Malfeasance that created this nightmare has not changed and will not voluntarily. We have options: - Convert the Task Force to a Citizen Jury with subpoena power. - Subject the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation to impeachment proceedings
based on their being the source of life for the Masters of Malfeasance. - Initiative and Referendum - the system readily available to the Nation to take command. - Extend the power of social media to the poverty masses. - Expose our leaders that have abandoned their constituents for personal gain. Common sense and good judgement will prevail for the Birmingham Blazer Nation campus. We will stand victorious!
T C Cannon School of Social & Behavioral Sciences
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To B- or not to B-Alert (Photo by Casey Marley)
Casey Marley Editor-in-Chief editor@insideuab.com
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015 we believe pose an active threat on campus, and when sending an alert will not adversely affect our emergency response,” he said. UAB’s B-Alert system has been under review since last October’s Parking Deck incident. Purcell said that they have improved the system’s processes by refining templates, training more
t 12:10 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, six blocks north of Rast and Blount Halls near the 1500 block of 15th Street South, two armed men carjacked a UAB student’s Honda Odyssey minivan. After the car was stolen, the victim called the Birmingham Police. While giving the police a statement, the victim spotted his van driving away down the road. Subsequently, a police chase ensued, ending in a public housing community in southwest Birmingham. The Birmingham PD apprehended one of the men, 22-year old Courtney Lewis shortly after, but the armed accomplice to the carjacker ran away and remains at large, according to AL.com. While the victim left the incident unharmed, the public was not notified of the incident until 5:12 a.m. when AL.com published a story about the early morning incident instead of a B-Alert message that usually instructs the UAB community to stay indoors or be on the look out for suspected criminals.
“The Birmingham Police responded to the off-campus 911 call and quickly apprehended the suspect following a vehicle pursuit and foot chase,” said UAB Police Chief Anthony Purcell. “When UABPD was made aware of the incident, the suspect [Lewis] was in custody.” Chief Purcell told Kscope that since the Birmingham Police quickly apprehended the suspect, “[a] B-Alert would not be appropriate as there was no active threat to campus with the suspect already in custody.” Still students that live near the UAB campus in the same neighborhood as the incident wish they could have been alerted of the carjacking. “I believe that UAB students should be notified every time there is criminal activity close to campus,” Colby Chapman, a sophomore said. “I just found out that a student was carjacked within walking distance to my house. That’s the kind of incident that I want to know about.” However in a response to a question about the criteria of a B-Alert, Chief Purcell stands by the reasoning not to issue a B-Alert. “Sending a B-Alert remains limited to those incidents
Aug. 28, Daily Mail: A group in Russia runs a “dead selfie” competition on Facebook. It offered up to 5,000 rubles ($74.67 US Dollars) for the best selfie taken alongside a deceased person. The community, called “Selfie with the Deceased” is now being investigated by Russian Police.
coming months [for example], an ‘easy button’ like the one used by Florida State,” he said.
“According to UABPD Chief, Anthony Purcell, July saw an increase in crime due to more people on campus for camps and classes. ”Whenever you have more people you have more crime....Next month, you will see a spike in the statistics,” He added in a later interview that “our institution’s most important priority is the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, patients and guests, and we will continue to work corroboratively...to prevent and deter crime.”
In case you missed it... International
staff to send alerts and addressing technical support with the vendor to create faster response times. “Our goal is constant improvement, and we are excited about additional capabilities that will be added in the
According to AL.com, a UAB student was carjacked on 15th Street S on Aug. 14.
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Erica Pettway Contributor erica205@uab.edu
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National
more than 12 years, while Aug. Fogle will serve 18, CNN: at least five. Former Subway UAB spokesAug. 18, UAB man Jared News: UAB Fogle launches a new pleads RAVE Guardian guilty to app. The app is a possession personal safety Logo courtesy of UAB News of child service availUAB released new safety App, RAVE able to anyone pornography charges. Guardian on Aug. 18. with a uab.edu As part of the deal, prosemail address. The app ecutors agreed to seek no
is considered a virtual safety escort: the user sets a timer and designates a guardian, and if the user does not deactivate the timer before it expires, an alert is sent to the guardian with the location of the user’s cell phone.
Birmingham
Aug. 19, WIAT 42: Regal Cinema Movie Theatres are now searching moviegoers’ bags as they enter
the theatres. This is a new approach to security due to the increase in movie theatre shootings across the nation.
Science
Aug. 11, Science News: A newly discovered a so called super-earth, Kepler 452b. It is about 1.6 times as big as Earth and has a 385-day orbit around a star much like our sun. Scientists believe this could be a habitable zone,
but only time and more research will be able to tell.
Pop Culture
Aug 19, Variety: N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton blew the opening weekend away. This biopic production sold $60.2 Million at the box office. The movie is the story of rappers Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Easy E, DJ Yella and MC Ren and their roots in Compton, CA.
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Medicaid cuts could hurt health system Mark Linn News Editor news@insideuab.com
I
n an attempt to craft a general fund budget, some Alabama state legislators have proposed deep cuts to Medicaid, the national health coverage for low-income individuals. A prospect that worries advocates and state health officials. A special session by the Alabama State Legislature ended on Aug. 14, failing to pass a general fund budget. The state House of Representatives included around $200 million in cuts to state agencies, a move that was nearly identical to a measure included in a budget vetoed by Governor Robert Bentley in June of this year. The proposed budget would have cut Medicaid by about $156 million. Under the Medicaid program, the federal government provides matching funds to states, so the actual loss in state Medicaid funding would be more than double the figures proposed in the legislature. Alabama health officials, however, say that any of the proposed cuts would be unfortunate for the state health system – it’s simply a matter of degrees. Those most directly affected by the potential cuts would be the substantial amount of individuals in Alabama who qualify for Medicaid support. “The important thing about Medicaid that people actually remember is that it’s a method of health payment for the poor – and there’s a lot of truth to that,’’ said Will Fernainy, Ph.D., the CEO of UAB Health Systems. “But primarily in [Alabama’s] Medicaid system are children, poor
Photo Illustration by Cooper Crippen
pregnant women, and the disabled.” In 2013 about 47 percent of Alabama’s children were eligible for Medicaid, according to figures reported by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Additionally, 53 percent of births were covered by Medicaid, as well as almost 2/3 of nursing home residents. All told, about 22 percent of Alabama’s population is eligible for Medicaid. In 2009, Medicaid paid for 16 percent of Alabama’s medical expenditures. This reliance on the program would affect the entirety of Alabama’s health system.
“But primarily in [Alabama’s] Medicaid system are children, poor pregnant women, and the disabled.” “Our economy depends on Medicaid,” said Fernainy. “The reason for that is, in Alabama we only really have three sources of payments for health care. Commercial [insurance] – primarily Blue Cross – Medicare, and Medicaid.” He likened it to a threelegged stool, and said that
if any of the “legs” were compromised, the state’s health care system simply could not function. Many hospitals and clinics have a substantial percentage of patients on Medicaid, especially in rural areas. Almost 70 percent of patients at Children’s Hospital rely on Medicaid, according to a statement the hospital released in opposition of the proposed cuts. Ferniany also noted that one of the proposed cuts to the Medicaid program involves cutting payments to physicians, who are under no obligation to even accept Medicaid patients. Alabama is already suffering from a shortage in primary care physicians again, especially in rural areas. According to a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2008. The Alabama Rural Health Association released another report stating that the physician shortage already leads to worse health outcomes in rural areas. Another special session of the Alabama State Legislature will be called some time before the new budget year, which begins Aug. 1.
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NEWS
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Crash course campus tour: GETTING TO KNOW UAB Sarah Faulkner Features editor features@insideuab.com
W
hen it was established in 1969, UAB was nowhere near the size that it is today. Originally spanning only 15 city blocks, UAB now covers 93 blocks of downtown Birmingham. With a campus this large and rapidly growing, new students, as well as veteran students, may feel overwhelmed or perhaps just curious as they traverse the campus during the first week of classes. Here’s the crash course if you need a refresher of the undergraduate campus tour: ONE STOP STUDENT SERVICES Currently located across from Blazer Hall but scheduled to move to the new Hill University Center, UAB’s One Stop Student Services is a catch-all facility that offers students services dealing with their information (such as immunization requirements, academic records, BlazerID, and changes in their name and address) financial aid (as well as Blazer Bucks, Books for Bucks, and Dining Dollars), registration (as well as student schedules and transcripts), student accounting, parking, residency, changes in majors, and ONE Card. It’s intended to make students’ lives easier and provide a place to start asking questions and more often than not, have them answered. BLOUNT/RAST HALLS Blount Hall, completed in 2001, offers two and four bedroom apartments that feature full kitchens, a lounge area and two bathrooms for sophomores and upperclassmen. Similar to Blount, slightly older Rast Hall offers four bedroom apartments for four residents. “I really liked living there compared to Camp Hall because it was really nice having a room to yourself,” said Casie Rochell, a senior. “Whenever you needed to read or do homework you could escape to your own place and focus.” “Rast Hall isn’t the newest dorm, but the attentiveness of the staff and the variety and extensiveness of the programs offered by the RA’s more than make up for any
shortcomings one might see in the rooms themselves,” said Ginny Henry, senior. HILL CENTER Scheduled to open intermittently during Fall 2015, the new student center is a full reconstruction from the former Hill University Center, which was torn down in Fall 2013. Primarily constructed for student affairs and the student community, the HUC will feature locations for students to get involved in their community, utilize student services and enjoy their time between classes. These locations include: Barnes & Noble, The Grid, Mein Bowl, Student Media, Panera Bread, Multicultural & Diversity Programs, One Stop Student Services, a new Starbucks, the Transfer Center, Disability Support Services, Full Moon Bar-B-Que and Career and Professional Development. THE ALYS STEPHENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER This site hosts the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and other performing arts events, as well as provides a home to UAB’s Theater Department. It contains multiple sections, including concert halls and theaters. “I spend a great deal of time in the Alys Stephens Center,” said Ali Ribe, a theater major.
“As a theater major, it’s like a second home. Hands down the best performing arts center in the state.” ABROMS-ENGEL INSTITUTE FOR VISUAL ARTS (AEIVA) AEIVA is a new addition to UAB, having begun construction in early 2011. It houses the Department of Art and Art History and boasts an expansive permanent art collection. Between a gallery to show the permanent and loaned collections and multiple new media and graphic design studios, AEIVA serves not only as an environment that fosters creativity for students, but also a stand-alone gallery that promotes the visual arts in Birmingham.
9 10th ave south
16th street south
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015
NEWS
Blazer Spirit still ablaze Anna Sims Copy Editor copyed@insideuab.com
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Consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing. TIAA-CREF funds are subject to market and other risk factors.
T
he decision to kill the football program at UAB affected more than just those athletes and coaches: without football, the cheerleaders, Golden Girls and the mascot Blaze were left with a lacking fall schedule. Initially, daunting questions arose in Spirit Program coaches’ heads: what would their practices consist of if not learning and perfecting game day cheers? What would Saturdays consist of if not for cheering and dancing at Legion Field? With a majority of her college cheer experience coming from her time as a cheerleader for the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa,UAB Spirit coordinator Ryan Martin has always known football to be the primary focus of school spirit in the fall. However, instead of accepting outcome of the football decision, Martin decided to get the spirit teams involved in support of UAB athletics in other capacities and in community outreach efforts. “We are so excited to have football back in 2017, but we can’t sit still until then,” said Martin. “Instead, we are using this platform and attention that UAB has gathered to encourage fans to attend soccer and volleyball games this fall and prepare for another incredible basketball season.” Several UAB Spirit Program members said that they share Martin’s optimism. “I think now more than ever UAB athletics
Photo courtesy of Ryan Martin Stephanie Irving, Tina Maenza, Breana Richardson at Dev. 4 Blackout Barrow game.
is realizing its potential and support in the community,” said Jessie Johnson, a third year cheerleader. “We are very excited about getting to lead the crowd and cheering on blazer wins.” Third year Golden Girl Breana Richardson agreed that the loss of the football program for a few years presents an “opportunity to build and strengthen [the spirit] programs while still being heavily involved on campus.” The spirit teams have also partnered with the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical System and plan to visit patients twice a month, along with other community involvement including attending alumni events, volunteering with Habitat
for Humanity and participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Along with these new events, the spirit teams will continue to cheer at home volleyball games, attend weekly workouts and evening practices and prepare to compete in Universal Dance Association and Universal Cheer Association Nationals competition in January. Like Martin said, these athletes cannot sit still; they refuse to retire from their efforts for and obligations to their university. For anyone interested in becoming part of Cheerleading, Golden Girls or Blaze, contact Ryan Martin at rmartin@uab.edu.
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Brandon’s Music Column: Something for everybody Brandon Varner Managing Editor managing@insideuab.com
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know how hard it can be to find new music that isn’t terrible. I’ll try to make it easier by bringing you two albums that I’ve been listening to a lot. A mixtape for the rap fans, and an album that will appeal to fans of everything that’s...well...not rap. Atlanta trio Migos released their album “Yung Rich Nation” on July 31, 2015. The origins of gangsta rap were in the late 80’s as a new form of gonzo journalism that would shine a light on the problems of inner-city AfricanAmericans by transforming the artist into a Black Superman, always one step ahead of their pursuers. In keeping with this outlaw spirit, their newest
Photo courtesy of
album feels like a throwback to the days of lo-fi criminal tales like those of Spice 1 and Master P. My favorite track on the entire album is “Highway 85,” a track that borrows the legendary sine-wave lead from Young Bleed’s “How Ya Do Dat” and moves Eazy E’s opening bars of “Boyz N Da Hood” from
Compton to Atlanta. I think one of the reasons I appreciated this track was because of its references to old school hip hop. I contend that Migos’ Migos official website. new album shows that hip hop’s journalistic element is still alive and well, especially in the haunting track “Cocaina.” A key line of the hook is “I don’t want to serve my people,” referring to selling drugs to the community, a central element of the gangsta rap ethos. The message never
left the music, and it colors the album in a much more desperate and regretful tone on a second listen. Overall, it’s standard Migos fare. As usual for the mixtape section, if you like trap music then this will be no different. FKA twigs’ new EP “M3LL155X” (or Melissa, for those keeping score at home) was released on Aug. 13, 2015. The album begins with the sparse rhythm of “Figure 8,” which also hosts some incredible tempo tweaking on the vocals. My favorite track on the EP is probably “I’m Your Doll,” in which twigs stabs with some of her most lonely and haunting vocals on a song that is certainly a far cry from “Barbie Girl.” The next tune sees our heroine at her most triumphant, repeating a Rihanna-esque sing/rap like
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The rhythm of the vocals is a tool employed to exceptional effect by twigs. Many times on this record, the beat will drop all the way out but you’ll find your head still bobbing to what isn’t there. Maybe it’s supposed to give you the feeling that you can go on even Photo courtesy of FKA Twigs. when the rug a mantra throughout the gets pulled out from under tune’s winding synthesizers.
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“Glass & Patron” is a hyper yet cold electro-hop number that makes dancing imperative. There’s a great command for a faceless companion to “hold her purse” that jumps up to bite and is sure to stick with you.
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NEWS
B. o. B. kicks off new semester Tamara Imam Staff Writer timam@uab.edu rammy-nominated rap and hip-hop artist B.o.B, Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr.,ushered in the fall semester with a welcome concert for students on Sunday, August 23rd. The fourth annual fall concert, presented by the University Programs Board, the Office of Student Life and the Undergraduate Student Government Association, has been a highlight of Welcome Week since it was first put on in 2012. Opening the show were student rock and rap band Greater Than Never and Huntsville rapper Wescam, followed by various artists from B.o.B’s label No Genre. UAB cheerleaders and Golden Girls put on a small pep rally in between acts. After almost 90 minutes of opening performances, students were finally greeted by B.o.B, who opened his set with “High as Hell.” Among the songs most popular with the audience were “Magic,” “Strange Clouds” and “Headband.” B.o.B solicited the help of the crowd to sing “Nothin’ on You,” the grammy-nominated hit from his debut studio album, B.o.B. presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. Senior Nicole Rodriguez was one of two students invited on stage to dance with B.o.B during his set. “I was ready and excited for this concert and I was really feeling B.o.B because I know all of his songs. His assistant saw me and asked if I knew how to twerk, so I said I’d tried my best,” Rodriguez said. “The concert was the best way to start my senior year, and it was the best concert we’ve had in my four years here.” B.o.B finished his set by giving students a taste of his brand new album “Psycadelik Thoughtz,” released just last week. However, after the audience erupted with chants of “B.o.B.,” they welcomed B.o.B. and No Genre back on stage for an encore that included 2010 US Billboard Hot 100 hit “Airplanes.” B.o.B’s appearance at UAB marks the first time a rap or hip-hop artist has performed on campus. In 2013, the student body voted to bring the
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015
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Students cheer as B.o.B. snaps a photo of the audience. Sunday’s performance marked the first UAB sponsored rap and hip-hop concert ever on campus.
rap group Travis Porter on campus for Welcome Week, but the administration opted for pop duo Karmin instead, citing Travis Porter’s vulgar lyrics as a problem. “We worked with our agent to identify artists within our budget who were available and could perform a concert within broadcast standards for a public concert,” said Caleb Rotton, Coordinator of Student Activities. “After reviewing the list with our student leaders, the students felt B.o.B would
have the best range of appeal for UAB students, while maintaining the performance expectations we have in place.” “This year is a huge success because USGA pushed heavily to bring a hip-hop artist on to campus. With B.o.B.’s ability to also make great music in other genres, he was an easy choice for everyone,” USGA President Garrett Stephens said. If UAB President Ray Watts approves a proposal put forth by the Student Task Force, a group created by the
(Photo by Cooper Crippen)
administration that met last spring, students may see more concerts on campus aside from the annual fall concert. “We are still waiting on Dr. Watts to make a decision regarding the Student Task Force proposal to fund larger events on campus. Our hope is that his office will put more money into student life so that we can have consistent large programming to enhance campus life,” Stephens said.
OPINIONS
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13 Antisocial media: Look up from your phone Ally Middleton Opinion Columnist allym95@uab.edu
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ook up from your phone for just a minute. Did you know that there is an entire world out there full of sunsets without filters and people without their imperfections edited away? Sadly, those beautiful, unedited people around you are also trapped by their smartphones and the desire to connect to everyone at once. Wherever I go, people, including myself, are walking around like zombies with their eyes glued to these thin, rectangular drugs. I worked at a restaurant for three months this summer, and it amazed me every single day to see families out eating together, but failing to be together. To enjoy an uninterrupted, truly present moment together. The children, the teenagers, the parents, even the grandparents would look up just long enough to take a bite of their food before planting their eyes back on their screens. Instead of enjoying the time they chose to spend together, they were taking pictures of their food, or tweeting or checking in to their location on Facebook.
A photo illustration of two UAB students using their cell phones while together. (Photo by Sarah Adkins)
We have been conditioned by social media to crave more, even when we are surrounded by people we love and who are more than sufficient company. Ironically, social media is making us more antisocial than ever. We have begun to hide behind our screens instead of having conversations face to face. We have begun to depend too heavily on the validation of others through likes and comments. Social media has provided the perfect platform for self-doubt and self consciousness because of how naturally it causes its users to compare their lives to the lives of others. And, inevitably enough, someone else’s life will always be more Instagram-worthy. Over half of the participants in a 2012 study conducted by the University of Salford for the nonprofit organization Anxiety UK claimed that “their lives had been altered for the worse” by social media. Even more of the participants said “their confidence fell after comparing their own achievements to those of
friends online.” But the detrimental emotional effects of social media do not stop with the posts, they also include the comments. The trend of commenting on our friends’ pictures with the scripted, overused phrases such as “body goals,” “hair goals” and “relationship goals” leads us to believe we are inadequate compared to our friends if we do not receive the same feedback on our posts. If we find someone who makes us happy, we instantly throw pictures up all over social media, sit back and wait for peer approval. Each feeling we have and every moment we experience is funneled straight to the Internet for others to enjoy and to approve of, perhaps before we even personally enjoy it. There needs to come a point when we stop looking for the right pose, the right lighting and the right backdrop and instead put down our phones, look at the person making us smile and cherish that moment through our own eyes rather than the camera lens.
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NEWS
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WHATS UP
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Multicultural Mixer
TUESDAY|08.25
UAB Inferno Ultimate Meet the Team
Part-time Career Fair
Commons Plaza and Residence Life Center of Blazer Hall 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Learn about the Multicultural Council and ways to join all culturally-based student organizations.
Campus Recreation Center, Courts 1-4 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wear business casual attire (shorts and flip flops are prohibited), and bring copies of your resume. Complete list of attending employers is available via the UAB Career Fair Plus app.
Campus Green 6 p.m.- dark Ultimate Frisbee games will take place on the Green. The games will be on Tuesday and Thursday, and the team will also be present at Student Life Day event.
Freshman Convocation
WEDNESDAY|08.26
Campus Green 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Meet Student Organizations and enjoy free BBQ from Jim ‘N Nick’s.
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Welcome Back Picnic
Campus Recreation Center 10th Birthday Luau
Bartow Arena 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. Freshmen will gather to discuss the required reading, “The Chimp and the River: How AIDS Emerged from an African Forest” by David Quammen. This event serves to “introduce entering freshmen to the concept of difficult dialogues and institutional expectations,” according to uab.edu/students/academics/freshmandiscussion.
Heritage Hall Patio 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to all College of Arts and Sciences students, faculty and staff.
Pops on the Green & T-shirt Swap Campus Green 1 p.m.- 4p.m. Cool off with a frozen treat and exchange any non-UAB collegiate shirt for a Blazers T-shirt.
UAB Police here to Protect and Serve
THURSDAY|08.27 Student Life Day
Campus Recreation Center 7 p.m.- 11 p.m. This event will feature a pig roast, traditional luau games, an inflatable surfboard and more. First 300 students will receive a free 10th Birthday Luau tank top.
The Dirty Guv’nahs
Iron City 8 p.m. The Dirty Guvs (2006-present) are doing a “Farewell Tour” before the band disassembles. The rock band from Knoxville, TN has released four albums and four singles across the nine years of existence. They play at Iron City on Aug 28. Doors open at 7 p.m., concert begins at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY|08.29 Student Leader Family Reunion Heritage Hall
1:30 p.m.- 7 p.m. UAB Student Leaders kick-off the year with a “family reunion” full of team-building, networking and fun. Registration required. Contact get involved@uab.edu for more info.
FRIDAY|08.28 Blazer Friday
Campus Green 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. Wear your green and gold Blazer gear all day and prepare to enjoy games, music and food.
This Department will be the vanguard of safety for our university community by doing anything for anybody at any time
SUNDAY|08.30 Back to School Bash
West Campus Field 4 p.m. Tailgate before the soccer matches. UAB Men’s Soccer plays Stetson at 5 p.m. and Women’s Soccer plays Memphis at 7 p.m.
The UAB Police Department strives to promote and maintain a safe campus. Ensuring the safety of the community requires a well trained, dedicated membership that is sensitive to the diverse needs of this university
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For assistance, please call UAB Police Communications Emergency - 205-934-3535 Non-Emergency - 205-934-4434
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