October 13th Issue of Kscope

TUESDAY

SCOPE

10.13.15

e c a l p o n s ' There !

E M O H e lik Volume 49|Issue 22

2015 H O M E CO M IN G P G .8 - 9 LAVERNE COX PG.5

Dear Kaleidoscope Readers, In the past ten days, I’ve sprinted down 13th street pushing a gurney down the hill, watched a dorm room swell into a blazing inferno and looked out a window to see fireworks dazzle the downtown Birmingham skyline.

Why did I willingly participate in an organized sporting event and see multiple displays of exploding objects? Two words: Homecoming week.

Last week, people were surprised that Kaleidoscope did not revolve around Homecoming Week. We wrote a schedule of events and covered “Paint the Town,” but we didn’t make our spread about the occasion. Why? Honestly, I wanted to wait. I wanted to see how things turned out.

This is the first time in roughly 24 years that UAB hasn’t had a homecoming game centered around its football program. But, was there much of a difference?

Except for not taking the Blazer Express down to Legion Field on Saturday, I didn’t notice much of one. The UAB Blazers continued all of its same traditions: the Gurney Derby, Hoops on the Haasephault, Stompdown and the list goes on. Bill Clark even led the Homecoming parade.

STAFF Casey Marley editor@insideuab.com Brandon Varner managing@insideuab.com Jessica Middleton visuals@insideuab.com Mark Linn news@insideuab.com Sarah Faulkner features@insideuab.com

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Visual Content Manager News & Science Editor Features & Opinions Editor

Leonardo Carrubba sports@insideuab.com

Sports Editor

Stephanie Lockhart photos@insideuab.com

Photography Editor

While student life at UAB isn’t at its 24 year definition of “normal,” I believe that not having a football team this year has led the UAB student body to work harder at having a “fun” college experience. We don’t have the southern staple of a college football team to rally around for the next two years, so why not rally around each other?

Anna Sims asst.copyed@insideuab.com

Assistant Copy Editor

This is what UAB did this week. We proved, as we always do, that we don’t need tradition to thrive.

Jackson Hyde socialmedia@insideuab.com

Social Media Editor

Read this issue and save it as a sort of yearbook to Homecoming 2015. That’s why we’re running the “Homecoming” issue after the fact; we wanted to create a memento to this time in UAB history. I can’t wait for the UAB Football team to return in 2017, but for now, I know that as an institution we will survive this awkward time period and do so with pride.

Kylie Hicks onlineeditor@insideuab.com

Online Editor

As always Go Blazers!

Sarah Goodman copyed@insideuab.com

Thomas Baldwin art@insideuab.com Melvin Griffin Chad Freeman Mark Linn Justice Gibbs Jamie Thrasher Marie Sutton info@insideuab.com Justin Massey justinpm@insideuab.com

Physical Address Pita Stop Building 1110 12th St. South; Birmingham, AL 35205 Mail PITA, 1720 2nd Ave. S., Birmingham, Ala. 35294-1150 Phone (205) 934-3354 Web UABkscope.com Email editor@insideuab.com

Copy Editor

Head Illustrator 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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In case you missed it...

several political assassinations. The Nobel Committee said that the Quartet was instrumental in establishing “...a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief.”

Mark Linn News Editor news@insideuab.com

UAB:

UAB was named the top ranking school in Alabama by the U.S. News and World Report in their annual edition of the Best Global Universities, according to UAB was ranked 200th in the world and landed in the top 75 U.S. universities. It also ranked 25th in microbiology, 27 in immunology and 50 in clinical medicine. The Best Global Universities ranking system weighs factors that measure a university’s global and regional reputation, academic research performance using bibliometric indicators, and school-level data on faculty and Ph.D. graduates.

International:

A coalition of labor union leaders, businesspeople, lawyers, and human rights activists in Tunisia known as the National Dialogue Quartet were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 9, according to the New York Times.

The Quartet emerged during the

Cartoon by Thomas Baldwin

Science:

Infographic courtesy of UAB News

tumultuous Jasmine Revolution which began in 2011. The Jasmine Revolution was part of the broader Arab Spring, in which protests erupted across the middle east that led to the ouster of several authoritarian governments.

The Quartet was formed in 2013, during a time of social unrest and

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three chemists for their work in studying DNA repair, according to Vox. Dr. Tomas Lindahl, Dr. Paul Modrich, and Dr. Aziz Sancar studied how cells repair damaged DNA and safeguard genetic information. They discovered that DNA is damaged constantly through everyday exposure to temperature changes and UV rays from the sun. This led to the discovery the cells have means of repairing themselves at the molecular level.

These discoveries are credited with changing the understanding of the fundamentals of cell biology and DNA, as well as bringing the possibility of further research into how these mechanisms can fail and bring about diseases such as cancer and problems related to aging.

Alabama:

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An Alabama probate judge has filed a petition with the state Supreme Court that says that the federal government, and not state offices, should issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, according to ABC News. Judge John Enslen of Elmore County asked the Alabama Supreme Court to order judges statewide to not issue or recognize marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which he says violates the state constitution.

Nobel Medal courtesy of the Nobel Committee

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

NEWS

we get out what you put in,

put that recycling in the right bin.

Open for drop-offs Mondays 6:30-9:30am 3:00-6:00pm 620 11th Street South (205) 996-9043

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“Ain’t I a woman?”

Jackson Hyde Social Media Editor socialmedia@insideuab.com

Laverne Cox speaks to UAB students

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n Oct. 6 in the Alys Stephens Center, Laverne Cox said, in closing, “The truth of who you are is Cox, star of “Orange is the New Black” and trans not a joke, it’s not a fraud, and the truth of who you rights activist, spoke about her experiences as a black are is in you.” transwoman from childhood to adulthood. More than Em Wiginton, an attending junior from UAB, said, 1,000 attendants came to listen to Cox’s story, only “It’s amazing to me that Laverne’s message was able breaking their attentive silence when erupting with to reach so many people in a city like Birmingham. laughter at one of Cox’s jokes.

The fact that she used her personal narrative to talk Throughout the lecture, Cox emphasized that about trans issues as they relate to race, class and transgender people are more than just their gender, gender was such an important thing for UAB students they are multifaceted individuals with dreams that are to hear especially.” often inhibited by people that can only see them for their controversial identities.

“I am not just one identity, I am a black, transgender woman, an artist, an actor, a daughter, a sister,” said Cox. Transgender people often have to assure themselves that their identities are valid because society teaches that one’s sex is equivalent to one’s gender. As a child, after Cox fanned herself like a princess with a decorated hand fan in class, her teacher told her that because she was male she could not be a woman or do womanly things.

Cox said that when she heard French philosopher and political activist Simone De Beauvoir’s suggestion that “One is not born a woman, but rather becomes one,” it excited her. Later in the discussion she said, “It is not guaranteed that the one who becomes a woman is necessarily female. And ain’t I a woman?”

One of the reasons Cox was picked on was because she loved to dance. She wanted to go to college and focus on dancing, but her mother wouldn’t allow Photos by Ian Keel it. That didn’t stop Cox though, and soon she was practicing ballet. Cox said that doing Laverne Cox signs autographs in a meet and greet. something she was good at had a positive effect on her and that she “believe[s] if we can find something in our life that we are truly passionate about then it can be lifesaving.”

Throughout her life, Cox has had to fight against those who rejected her identity. From school bullies, to teachers, to strangers on the street, to her own mother, it was only until after she moved to New York City and visited clubs that welcomed other trans folk and crossdressers that she found acceptance and validation in her gender and aspirations. Cox said that she didn’t think she could’ve made it to where she is now if she had stayed in Alabama.

In New York, Cox said she was harassed many times, and that men catcalling her and using slurs made her feel threatened.

She said that she was lucky these situations did not become physical, but that is not always the case.

“I am not just one identity, I am a black, transgender woman, an artist, an actor, a daughter, a sister,” said Cox.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

NEWS

UAB-led study aims to reduce blood pressure in the Black Belt Tamara Imam Staff Writer timam@uab.edu

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AB will lead a collaborative effort with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and East Carolina University to begin conducting trials aimed at improving blood pressure in patients residing in the Black Belt region of the United States.

The project, titled “Collaboration to Improve Blood Pressure in the U.S. Black Belt- Addressing the Triple Threat,” received a $9.4 million grant from the PatientCentered Outcomes Research Institute to assess the effectiveness of two different strategies whose goals are to improve blood pressure control in Black Belt patients.

The Black Belt is a region in the southeast that stretches from Texas to Maryland. The region’s residents, many of which are African American, are at an increased risk for poor health outcomes due to the presence of a “Triple Threat”: rural residence, minority status and low socioeconomic status. The study will recruit people who meet these three criteria in the black belt regions of Alabama and North Carolina.

Additionally, the Black Belt is in the center of the Stroke Belt, which is a geographic region recognized for having the highest rate of cardiovascular disease mortality in the United States. Hypertension is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The trial will compare two strategies for improving

blood pressure: practice facilitation and the use of peer coaches. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, practice facilitation is “an effective strategy to improve primary health care processes and outcomes, including the delivery of wellness and preventive services, through the creation of an ongoing, trusting relationship between an external facilitator and a primary care practice.”

The study’s other strategy, the use of peer coaches, will tackle mistrust in the health care system by allowing patients to develop positive relationships with their health care providers. Researchers will use cellphones to track the number of minutes each peer coach spends on the phone with participants.

UAB Professor of Diabetes Prevention and Outcomes Research Monika Safford, M.D., will lead the study.

“I am the Principal Investigator, which means that I developed the main idea and wrote the grant application.

The Principal Investigator has the main responsibility for carrying out the study’s activities,” Safford said.

The trial will enroll 80 rural primary care practices in the Black Belt regions of Alabama and North Carolina and 25 African American patients with hypertension at each practice.

Dr. Safford believes that in addition to bringing care to patients in the Black Belt, the study will have a positive impact on UAB as an institution.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“This study will definitely be good for UAB. This was a national competition with all the big hypertension groups around the country competing. There were only 2 awards, the other going to Johns Hopkins University.

This is excellent company for UAB to keep when things are reported in the national news,” Safford said.

“More immediately, it increases the amount of NIH [National Institutes of Health] funding to the institution substantially, and this could raise UAB’s rank among research universities for the year.”

UAB Student Health and Wellness Highlight Mental Health Awareness

Luke Richey Staff Writer lrichey@uab.edu

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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

his week, along with UAB’s homecoming festivities, is National Mental Health Awareness Week. On Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, UAB’s Student Health and Wellness Center provided free depression screenings around campus.

Four stations were scattered across campus, offering free depression and anxiety screenings, along with offering information on psychological conditions

ranging from depression to managing stress in college.

In addition to free cookies, pens, and earbuds available at each of the stations, massages were available to students in the Rec Center to help relieve the stresses of their day.

Even with the thrill of homecoming, UAB did not back down from problems seen in college life, especially when it comes to students and depression. In 2014, the American College Health Association administered a study that reported that 13.5 percent of college students said that feelings of depression affected their academic performance. Within that study, UAB reported that 11.5 percent of UAB students said that they had experienced depression, which compared to the UAB student body, is just above 2,000 students. Additionally, in the same American College Health Association survey, 32.6 percent of students said that their depression made it difficult to function within the past year.

“Students need to be mindful, sleep and eat well. If necessary, interventions such as medication and therapy are used to fight depression,” said Caroline West, a counselor at the Student Health and Wellness Center.

Depression isn’t just a “down in the dumps” feeling; it is a physiological problem that has behavioral and emotional components. People experience sadness and other negative emotions in different phases of their life; however, if these feelings are still present for more than two weeks that could be a sign of depression.

Angela Stowe, Ph.D., Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center Counseling Services, said, “Nearly everyone experiencing depression has pervasive feelings of sadness. Additionally, depressed people may feel helpless, hopeless and irritable.”

Some signs to look for are a change in appetite, a change in sleep, loss of interest and pleasure and a loss of energy or general fatigue. Other warning signs can include thoughts of suicide or death, disturbed thinking, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, and physical cues such as persistent stomachaches or headaches.

“Healthy sleep habits are essential! Sleep and mood are closely connected, so be sure to get plenty of sleep. Set realistic goals for yourself and when you’re overwhelmed, ask for help. Celebrate small steps. Don’t expect big change overnight. As you focus on getting better, your depression, sleep and appetite will all improve,” said Stowe.

“When you meet with a counselor, the therapist will talk with you about your needs and learn more about what you are experiencing that has brought you into counseling. Together with your therapist, you will establish goals and identify the best strategies to help you feel better,” said Stowe.

“The first session people are nervous and scared,” said West, “But we try to build trust and connections with them.”

One stated goal of Health and Wellness’s awareness campaign is to let students know that they do not need to be afraid of counseling or therapy.

There are people and resources at UAB to help them. The services provided by the Student Health and Wellness Center are free for enrolled UAB students and are confidential.

SPORTS

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Homecoming for a basketball hero Leonardo Carrubba Sports Editor

Sports@insideuab.com

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hen Mo Finley arrived at Bartow Arena with his two-year-old son Brooks he said, “Hi. I’m Mo. Today, we’re giving Mom a break.” It may not be the most common picture of a basketball hero, but Finley is a family man. He mentions his recent retirement, after a year with Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez in the French League, was driven largely by the want to spend more time with his son and his wife, Tamera. Despite some lingering leg injuries, there is little doubt he could have played professional basketball for a few more seasons if he wanted. His European career was bursting with success.

“Since 2004, I’ve been on what my parents call a ‘paid vacation’. I’ve had the opportunity to play in several different countries in Europe.” Finley led two different European leagues in scoring, the Serbia and Montenegro League in the 2004-05 season and the Italian Serie A in the 2007-08 season. He also won a Serie A Championship with Montepaschi Siena in 2009. “It’s been a pretty cool experience,” Finley recalls. When asked about the difference between playing in Europe and the United States, he said, “There, it’s all about team. It’s all about community.

Those small towns really get behind the basketball teams because that’s one of the biggest things they have going, so it matters. Each game matters, so they take it very, very seriously.” Finley credits his time at Photo by Leonardo Carrubba UAB in helping him prepare for his career in

Europe. “From a basketball standpoint I was fortunate to play for some really great coaches,” he said. “They did everything in their power to prepare me to go off and try to be successful in whatever path I had chosen. It wasn’t just basketball. They tried to prepare you for life.”

Even in light of these professional accolades, there is a special place in Finley’s heart for the shot he is most known for at UAB. In the second round of . the 2004 NCAA tournament, he made a game winning basket to beat number one seeded Kentucky. “I think the 2004 tournament probably ranks higher than anything,” Finely said. He explained that while he had individual accomplishments in high school, it was different to contribute to a team triumph at the national level. “To have some success in the tournament and to have the whole world watching,” he glances up at the banner they raised in the arena.

“The fact that people still talk about it now, obviously you always want to do something that people can be proud of.”

Finley is looking forward to the future of the program. Last season the Blazers earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Conference USA Tournament. They made headlines when they upset ninth-ranked Iowa State, who entered the tournament with a no. 3 seed. Finley understands the sentiment that

Mo Finley and Deontay Wilder consult with Gavin Haase during the dunk competition.

comes with success in March. He recalls the sensation of late season victory, “There’s nothing like winning in March and once you do it once, you just can’t duplicate that feeling in anything else.” He sees last year’s tournament as a motivating factor in the coming year, “That’s an addictive-type feeling, and these guys are young.

They’ll want more. They’ll want three wins in the tournament. They’ll want a regular season Conference USA title as well as the tourney title. They’ll want to be all-conference,” Finley said. The Conference USA office agrees with him.

They announced the Blazers preseason favorites to win the regular season title with 11 of 14 first place votes. Robert Brown and William Lee were also selected to the preseason all-conference team. Finley believes that more achievements are ahead of the team, “I expect last year’s success to be the first of many, many successful years in a row.”

Finley looks on with pride as twoyear-old Brooks stands under the basket and babbles out a challenge to all takers. “I never, ever talk about basketball with him,” Finley said.

“I’m not even sure he can read his own name, but he’s seen ‘basketball’ written enough times to know it’s ‘basketball’.” Brooks is drawn to the sport, but Finley says he makes it a point not to push him into it.

“He doesn’t have to play,” Finley said.

When asked what he would want for his son if he decides to play, Finley said, “The things you learn on a team at any level, even if you don’t become a pro or a college athlete, there are lessons that I learned in junior high that still stick with me now, and for my son that’s what I would hope first and foremost he gets out of playing organized sports.”

Finley said he wants his son to know that discipline is a key to success in all aspects of life. “How you do anything is how you do everything,” Finley said.

“The little things you do wrong bleed

Courtesy of Kaleidoscope Archives, Jan. 6, 2004

Mo Finley during his playing days at UAB in 2004.

into other things.”

The next chapter will see Finley running his own sports consulting firm, One Finley Way Sports Consulting.

In addition to individual and group basketball skills training, Finley is occupied as a motivational speaker. He loves working with the game of basketball but looks forward to having the ability to keep his professional and private life separate.

Finley also wants to help other professional athletes with the business side of their careers as well as training. He knows how hard it can be for some players to retire, and Finley says he wants to help athletes prepare. “That’s a tough transition. You’ve been playing basketball twenty years and now all the sudden you’re not, you have to have something to do; you have to find something to be passionate about.” Finley immediately points to his family when asked about his personal transition to retirement. “I have a great wife,” Finley said. “I’ve been part of many great teams and that doesn’t stop once I leave the court. At home, my wife has been my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter.

She’s helped me figure it out.” Looking at his son running around Bartow arena Finley remarks, “Better than the Kentucky shot. Not even close. Better than anything I’ve ever done.”

“Better than the Kentucky shot. Not even close. Better than anything I’ve ever done.”

Photo by Leonardo Carrubba

UAB HOMECOMING 2015 A staff report by: Leonardo Carrubba, myself for making it as far as I did and I reminded myself that I Myah Clinton, Casey Marley and could always just try again next Stephanie Lockhart year. And then they called my ince 1991, UAB has centered name and I was overwhelmed.

[I] did not think I would cry but I its homecoming festivities around football. Except for this couldn’t contain my tears. I was just so happy and filled with joy.” year.

Mr. and Ms. UAB will hold How did a southern their titles until next year’s university celebrate its first Homecoming week in 24 years homecoming week, when the process of interviews and without a football team? student votes will start again.

According to student Whitney Woodward, not having Hoops on the Hassphalt: a football team did not mean Leonardo Carrubba students should just stay in this It was a different Hoops on the year. ““Even though there’s no Haasephalt this year. Not only football, everyone should still was it located at the Campus participate in homecoming,” Green, but it also drew a record she told Kscope at this year’s crowd of over 7,500. Freshmen Gurney Derby--a tradition were testing the waters of school where students race down 13th spirit, and alumni brought their Street pushing a dummy in kids to hospital gurney.

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Participating in Homecoming Mr. and Ms. UAB: Casey Marley

While UAB does not name a “Homecoming Queen or King” like some of its neighboring institutions, Mr. and Ms. UAB is a somewhat similar institution that recognizes students dedicated to representing the University in the best light possible.

According to UAB’s National Alumni Association website, the tradition began 34 years ago to recognize “outstanding male and female students on campus that have demonstrated scholastic achievement, leadership, campus and community involvement, and overall enthusiasm for UAB.” This year’s winners of the student-elected positions were junior Chirag Patel and sophomore Allie David.

“I kept telling myself there is no way I am [going to] get it because I’m only a sophomore,” David said. “I was just proud of

Boxing Council heavyweight show support for their Blazers. champion Deontay Wilder, Freshman Alondra who was a guest judge at two Clarke said the event definitely had her ready for of the night’s events, is familiar with the support Coach Haase the upcoming basketball season.

“I’m just excited to be part of it and is looking for. “It’s been a lot of great support here, and I’m just to go out and cheer.” looking forward to keeping Mellissa Taylor, an alumna it right here in Birmingham,” of UAB who now works for the honors college, said she is happy Wilder said. He has defended his to see the increased school pride. heavyweight title in Birmingham twice before taking part in UAB’s “I see a lot more school spirit homecoming events. and it makes me really proud,” Some of the night’s other Taylor said. Coach Haase will events included a shooting, be looking to keep that spirit dance and slam dunk going. The basketball team was wearing t-shirts with the hashtag “#Operation1072”. Coach Haase is hoping to have the Bartow Arena filled to its capacity of 1,072 for every home game.

World

competition.

The shooting competition paired a member of the men’s and women’s teams together.

The title was taken by Nick Norton, a sophomore guard, and Deanna Kuzmanic, a freshman guard. The dancing competition saw the women’s team pitted against the men.

After each team had a turn on the stage, it was left to Wilder to interpret the results from the cheers of the crowd. Wilder proclaimed the men’s team winners by

“It’s been a lot of support here, an looking forwa keeping it r here in Birmingha

- Deontay W

unanimous decision.

The dunk competition was divided into a semifinal round and a final round and was judged by James Spaan, Coach Jerod Haase’s 8-year-old son, Gavin, former UAB point guard Mo Finley, and Wilder.

Sophomore William “HaHa” Lee came out strong in the first round, posting the only perfect 40-point score of the competition, but senior Robert Brown made a strong case in the final round. The judges ultimately ruled in his favor.

Brown said he was pleased with the event. “I think this was the best one we’ve had yet,” Brown told AL.com. “It really fits what he’s trying to do here at this program.”

Towards the end of the night, a video projected onto the side of the Campus Recreation Center reminded everyone what they had in common. “Family” flashes

across the screen over highlights of the Conference-USA tournament, reminding everyone that the team and the title belong to the entire UAB family.

Taylor, who brought her daughter Emma to the event, has a special understanding what it means to call UAB family “My husband also graduated from UAB. He played football, and I cheered. So we’re very much tried and true UAB fans. We definitely support UAB in all aspects.”

She said she was happy to share the experience with her young daughter.

“I love UAB and UAB to me is family, and so it was only natural to bring Emma out,” Taylor said.

Parade: Casey Marley

On Friday, Oct. 9, the Homecoming Parade meandered its way through the UAB campus.

Starting on 14th Street and looping around the UAB Green from 10th Ave S and north on 16th Street, the UAB Cheerleaders and Marching Bands led the festive march.

Following the spirit organizations, Football coach, Bill Clark and Athletic Director Mark Ingram waved to the throng of Blazers lining the edges of the streets.

Heads of departments tossed candy to Blazer fans in vintage cars, and Blaze the mascot, Go Pro-ed the whole event using his selfie stick.

“I have never been in a parade before so I think that was definitely the highlight of my homecoming week,” Ms. UAB, Allie David said. “It was so much fun and everyone kept pointing and saying ‘look it’s Ms. UAB’ and I just smiled and waved back and thought to myself ‘I’m just Allie David’.”

Member of the Blazer Male Excellent Network, Carl Grady Jr., participated in the parade as well, passing out balloons to children as a “nice gesture” as he walked with fellow B.M.E.N. “My favorite part of the parade was passing by the hospital to see all the staff and people who make UAB one of the

great nd I’m ard to right n am.”

Wilder

best hospitals in the country.” he said.

“Marching in the homecoming parade is something that I will remember long after graduation”.

Soccer Game: Myah Clinton

Instead of watching a football game this year, UAB students had the opportunity to watch three “football”—in the global use of the term—games to celebrate the end of Homecoming week.

The UAB Women’s soccer team defeated Marshall 2-1 on Friday, Oct. 9 in their first Conference USA victory of the season.

UAB had a rocky start with Jordan Parkhurst of Marshall scoring four minutes into the first half, but Blazers were able to keep their defense up for the rest of the half. The Thundering Herd’s 1-0 lead did not keep UAB students down as they remained hopeful UAB would make a comeback.

“I’m disappointed that the other team has scored, but… I think our girls have put up a good fight and we still got a chance,” said Elizabeth Earwood, a junior.

Fortunately for UAB fans, senior Kasey Johnson, scored UAB’s first point of the night seven minutes into the second

half which tied UAB 1-1 with Marshall.

After no one scored any goals in the second half, the game went into a ten minute overtime where the team efforts of Morgan Key-Adams and Rachel Green, a junior and sophomore, scored the winning goal with five minutes left.

The crowd rushed with excitement as a result of the team’s victory.

Students were pleased with the result, including William White, a junior and soccer player for the UAB men’s team. He said that they had practiced hard and that they “showed a lot of energy and they got their win.” “The girls came out in full commitment and determination, and fought until the end,” said head coach Harold Warren in a press release. “They deserved to win.”

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

OPINIONS

Why I waited to rush

Illustration by Thomas Baldwin

Ally Middleton Opinions Columnist allym95@uab.edu efore coming to college, I never had any intention of joining a sorority. I didn’t know anything about the process, and quite frankly, I had no desire to learn.

I also knew UAB wasn’t really known for its Greek life. It’s a great place for a lot of things, but it isn’t necessarily the college someone would come to if Greek life is a priority. However, the small population of Greeks at UAB is actually what makes it so special.

It wasn’t until the second semester of my freshmen year that I started feeling like I was missing something. I watched the sorority women on campus, and I noticed they found where they belong, and that’s what everyone deserves.

The common perception of Greeks from nonGreeks is that being in a sorority means buying your friends, partying all the time and not caring enough about school. To be honest, I used to think those things too. However, when I started observing the Greek community at UAB, I noticed the emphasis on sisterhood, life-long friendships and philanthropy.

They were not paying for their friends; they were

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paying necessary dues to run the sorority, and as an incredible side effect, they were meeting all these women who share their values. Without the sorority, they may have never crossed paths.

It took me almost my entire first year here to see why so many strong women find their homes in a sorority. After all, college is a time for finding yourself, but I didn’t rush until my sophomore year because I didn’t know who I was when I first got to UAB. I didn’t know my potential or my true values.

There was no way of knowing where I would belong because I hadn’t yet figured out what kind of women I wanted to grow with, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.

Throughout that second semester I also noticed that I didn’t quite see myself in any of the existing sororities here. They are all amazing in their own way, but finding your home in a sorority is personal. This discouraged me at first, but I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

About the time I put my Greek dreams aside, I heard that Sigma Kappa was coming to colonize at UAB. I quickly started researching this sorority’s

philanthropy, history and values. Everything about it aligned perfectly with what I was looking for in the Greek community.

As the months progressed and I finally received my bid to Sigma Kappa this fall, I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if I had given up and settled for another sorority. Again, I want to emphasize that UAB already had incredible sororities, but they just weren’t the right fit for me. Similarly, I thought it would be odd to rush as a sophomore, but there were so many other upperclassmen going through the same process with Sigma Kappa. We are all on the same level as the colony class of Sigma Kappa, but we each bring unique characteristics and experiences to the sorority.

Essentially, I waited to my find my home until I found myself, and that should mean something to every college student. You don’t have to declare your major, join every organization or rush a sorority or fraternity your freshman year. There are three other perfectly good years for you to figure out your preferences and where you belong. You are not falling behind; you’re just still learning.

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Fall festival fallout: International student perspectives Jared Chesnut Ashley Hazlitt Contributor Staff Writer redc@uab.edu ahazlitt@uab.edu

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very fall, Birmingham hosts a variety of annual cultural festivals, ranging from the Lebanese Food Festival to Fiesta, the Latin food festival. For international students hailing from all over the world, this may offer a taste of home and an opportunity to meet people interested in and involved in their cultures.

Ahmed Al Sabban, a UAB exchange student who hails from Dubai and has traveled throughout the Middle East, attended the Middle Eastern festival, and felt that the event was a very accurate representation of the culture. Particularly, he mentioned that the communal dancing made the evening feel authentic and enjoyable.

Chunlei Wang, a UAB student from China, is a frequent visitor to the Coffee Hours at the UAB Smolian International House. In regards to some of the cultural events, he’s generally enjoyed them, however, he feels that they can be a bit of a “generalization” of cultures.

“There are the typical things, but it’s not all really true.” Wang said. “Just like how American culture isn’t just Hollywood or New York, culture is a much deeper thing.”

There are many more cultural events offered in the community that UAB international students can

attend in order to learn about their new friends’ culture.

The overarching thought for many in attendance was that the most effective way for cultural festivals to reach out and best represent their cultures would be to keep it simple and informal.

For people like Wang, the presentations do not offer the level of interaction that is necessary to truly experience other cultures. “Don’t just show presentations,” said Wang. “You can learn more by getting the chance to talk with people from other countries first hand.”

Dunham echoed this opinion, mentioning that a good way to improve on current events Photo by Stephanie Lockhart would be to have a spotlight on Child dancers watch the festivities at the Middle Eastern food festival. a different nation each week to students and local students gather at the Smolian “Let students from a culture have the floor for a few International House for Coffee Hour, a safe place for minutes to talk about themselves and their cultures,” the students to feel comfortable enough to meet other said Dunham. “Putting a face to the culture instead of people that are dealing with the same problems as just reading about it would have a greater impact.” them.

Every Friday at around 11:30 a.m., international

Freshmen depression in the dorms Megan Butler Contributor hithereu@uab.edu epression is a common problem in society, but it is a specific issue with college students, particularly incoming freshmen, who are dealing with the transition to college life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Depression is an illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” College depression is often caused by adjusting to a new workload, living with a roommate for the first time, being away from parents, discovering where to belong and multiple other stressors.

After surveying students who live at Founder’s Hall, it was discovered that almost half of the 80 freshmen students surveyed experience depression and anxiety. The most common causes for these feelings in the freshmen surveyed were the increased workload and adjustment to dorm life. Also, honor’s students seem to experience depression and anxiety more than the average freshman. However, around 87 percent of freshmen stated they were aware of campus resources for health and wellness.

Signs that a young adult is experiencing college depression are feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in weight and appetite, insomnia or excessive sleeping, fatigue, indecisiveness, thoughts of suicide and multiple others. A few of the best ways to combat college depression are to take things a step at a time, find activities to get involved in and seek help.

For freshmen and other students who may

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Information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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not know, there is a place to go for a list of on campus resources. Students are able to go to The Office of Student Advocacy, Rights and Conduct where faculty will help students to identify and overcome barriers to success, provide referrals for long term care, serve in consultation to staff, faculty, students, and families and much more.

According to Shawra Rainer, a case manager on campus, there are two case managers within the Office of Student Advocacy, Rights and Conduct.

“If a student is struggling with a problem – whether it’s medical, relational, psychological, financial or academic. A case manager can help find the right resources, plan next steps, and identify ways to be most successful at UAB,” said Rainer. “Case managers work closely with Student Health & Wellness and various other campus and community resources.”

The Student Health and Wellness Center Counseling Service assist students with individual and couples counseling, crisis counseling, wellness programs, group opportunities and educational resources. Counseling services are available to all students for free and psychiatric services are also available.

The Crisis Center is open 24/7 and can be contacted at 1-800-273-TALK. Students are able to contact the crisis center volunteers for anything causing them distress. The volunteers are trained to treat each caller with dignity and respect and each call is confidential.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

FEATURES

Sloss Fright Furnace in First Person

Nicholas Jessee Staff Writer najessee@uab.edu

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he Sloss Fright Furnace Halloween event began Sept. 26 and continues until Oct. 31, allowing anyone of any age to enter into a 20-25 minute tour of the abandoned factory for $20 Sunday through Thursday and $24 Friday, Saturday and Halloween Day. The factory is filled with many horrors portrayed by volunteers dressed to tap into people’s fears.

Upon arriving to Sloss Furnace for its Halloween event, I thought back on its history. Many tragedies occurred here back in the 1940’s. Once its purpose of iron and steel creation ended, Sloss became a museum of the city of Birmingham. Now this historic site draws hundreds of thrill seekers to its grounds, all eager to experience the terrifying tour through the rusted machinery and precarious walkways.

I decided to embark on a rainy, horrific adventure through the old Sloss factory with a couple of friends.

The journey began once my group, letter “J,” was called out. My friends and I drew away from watching “Insidious 3” (courtesy of Sloss Fright Furnaces) and walked towards the entrance of this haunted tour.

While I stood in line I couldn’t help but to stare at the tall, cylindrical buildings that loomed over everyone.

The security guard directed eight people to stand ready for the trail, and these eight included my two friends and me. The guard labeled us as “victims”.

Seemed appropriate since, in reality, there were quite a few victims Sloss Furnaces had taken in the past.

The guard let us into the factory and the terrors began. My friends and I just happened to be taking the lead of all eight. Many props were set up throughout the trail; some props were old shacks that held

Photo by Angela Hollowell

zombies and crazy backwoods rednecks and its halls decorated in blood, body parts and sinister cutting tools hung up while other props consisted of body bags, skeletons and many other disturbing things.

Even though I wasn’t on the verge of a heart attack from terrors that surrounded me, I was kept on my toes the whole time as creatures and crazies tended to jump out from shadows and lurk behind the pipes and furnaces.

The further I got in the trail I noticed I was way ahead of the group I came in with. At this point it was only my friends and I; that is, until I even lost track of those two. My way was blocked by a girl in shredded clothes with blood streams from her eyes and strings of long, greasy hair past her shoulders. She put both arms up against the walls within the narrow hallway. I tried to duck beneath her arm but she surged forward and backed me against a corner, growling all the while. I had no choice but to suffer her maniacal grin as she crept closer to me. Her hot breath blew into my face with every screechy word that came out; it sounded almost like a possessed Elmo doll. She asked, in that voice, if I wanted to stay and play with her. I turned my face away and she got even closer and laughed like the Wicked Witch of the West then darted away. I swear I also felt a tongue against my neck, though it might have been my imagination.

I finally reached my friends and at this point we even caught up to the group that entered before us.

Many more obstacles, that were created to instill fear, impeded our progress. Darkness, fog and even clowns were along the way. I felt relieved after the 20 minute trek through the catacomb of rusted metal. Though relieved, it was worth walking through a live horror

movie. Sloss Furnace seems to have a hypnotic aura derived from the tragedies and the unknown. Maybe the mystery of Sloss and its ominous overlooking chimneys and industrial buildings? Could people be drawn in simply by the force of the unknown? As H.P. Lovecraft, an American horror author, had once stated: “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

Some people (as well as me) get a thrill from putting ourselves through things we fear.

I asked a student in my lab class if he had ever been to Sloss and what he knew of the place.

“I have never been there myself, but I have heard about it. A few people died in the warehouses there, in the 70’s I think” Terrien Long said to me.

Even people that have never been to the old abandoned factory have heard of the name or of its history.

I stopped to ask an executive coordinator of the event, Samantha Kerzic, if the workers for the Halloween event at Sloss ever feel uneasy or seen anything out of the ordinary. “Oh yes. Workers say they have heard something, seen something, and even felt something touch them before. [...] I get an eerie feeling out here, especially by myself. I try to avoid being alone out here if possible.”

When I had walked through Sloss itself (with no Halloween event), the entire factory was blanketed by silence: no whining of gears, sizzling and searing of molten metal, or commotions of workers. Just dead machinery and silence. I could never stay there for too long, especially alone.

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Alternative spirituality: Not so spooky Ashton Cook Staff Writer atcook47@uab.edu

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Haley Edwards, a sophomore Neuroscience major, spoke about her lthough non-practitioners are experiences personally with her spirituality perfectly comfortable seeing and her comfort with outwardly expressing witch costumes on sale at Party it. “It gives me my own little space. It is City around Halloween time, those mine, because I do not know many other who actually practice alternative people that practice. So, it is my own spirituality still find themselves facing space at the end of the day,” Edwards said. discrimination.

“However, I feel like it is kind of taboo Mitchell Hagood has been the to be anything other than Christian in owner of Books, Beans, and Candles, a Alabama.” metaphysical store and cafe, for nine While acceptance for different years. He also has practiced Wicca for spiritualities has increased in UAB, numerous years. His establishment Birmingham and the state, there still is a has been considered a safe haven for lasting oppression that brings a certain discussion of numerous beliefs and uncomfortable feeling for those of such ways of life. The store tries to not practices as Wicca, witchcraft, Celtic, only allow this, but also support it by Norse, Satanism and Luciferianism, to having numerous resources for people name a few. to find, such as numerous types of On UAB campus, numerous student incense, stones, tarot decks, candles, organizations exist for different religious Crystals, tools for healing in alternative spiritualities, at Books, Beans, and Candles.

Photo by Sarah Adkins and even over 200 types of herbs. beliefs, but none exist for any of the While his store fosters a state, the South, you have to be careful,” Hagood said. many “occult” systems of beliefs, and community of acceptance and support for He also said, however, “It is getting better.” public education on the topic is lacking. Halloween practitioners of the occult, he felt the opposite about UAB has tried to also present itself as a safe approaches soon, and some think that this is either a Birmingham’s community. When asked about the place for people of numerous beliefs and lifestyles; day for partying, candy or “evil” worship, but this is community of Birmingham, Hagood spoke about however, not all students feel completely safe to not a celebration of these systems of belief. practicing spiritualities such as his. “This is not express themselves amongst other students or faculty. something you do and come out. In the city itself, the

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

FEATURES

UAB Homecoming Parade: a Proud Display of School Spirit April Oberman Contributor aprildob@uab.edu

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o conclude a heavily participated “Blazer Strong” homecoming week, the National Alumni Society sponsored their annual Homecoming Parade on the sunny Friday afternoon of Oct. 9.

Over 15 different clubs and graduate schools were represented, beginning with the cheerleaders, the Golden Girls, the marching band and football coach Bill Clark riding in a white convertible Chevrolet Camaro and ending with flying toothpaste given out by the School of Dentistry.

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center made their second appearance at this year’s parade.

“We wanted to have a dragon, so the rest [of the design] just evolved,” said Adam Stermer, Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center Technical Director. “The theme was a big factor. [We were] kind of literal-minded, so we put the barbell on the float. Since we do not have a football season this year, we decided to piggyback on Hoops on the Provost Linda Lucas throws candy to a crowd of parade onlookers.

Haasephalt by adding a basketball. It is a nice ‘Blazer Strong.’” opportunity to give another sport some attention for “The budget was small, so a lot of times the basic homecoming week.” body started out as trash bags filled with air and taped In order to create the float, Stermer and the together. The skeleton was made of conduit, a very members of the Alys Stephens Performing Arts light-weight pipe. The scales were made of bubble Center refurbished their dragon from last year. In wrap. A lot of construction foam, a little bit of spray an interview, Stermer described this year’s dragon paint and elbow grease contributed too,” Stermer said. on their float as a “trainable dragon in training to be

“Rosie the Riveter Blaze the Dragon” made an appearance on the Panhellenic float. Alpha Xi Delta member senior Katy Surrett waved and threw candy from on the float.

“Being on the homecoming float was such a great experience.

I loved being able to support the best school and show my blazer pride with my fellow Panhellenic sisters,” Surrett said.

While dodging the candy thrown by those on the floats, freshman David Plaxco enjoyed the sights the floats had to offer.

“My favorite part of the parade was finding my favorite version of Blaze on the floats and collecting candy, free buttons and magnets in the process,” Plaxco said.

The feedback received from interviews indicates an overall positive response to this year’s Photo by Ian Keel homecoming week, including the parade.

“It has been a tough year for UAB; Birmingham is going through a bit of a renaissance,” said Stermer.

“This year, since the term started, it feels like there are more people here. It feels busier. I am glad to have gotten involved [in the parade]. We are looking forward to next year already.”

Brandon’s Music Column: Something for everybody Brandon Varner Managing Editor managing@insideuab.com ast week we all went out and saw a show together, and now we can all crawl back into our computers, shielded from the indecisive weather, to pump up some jams.

This week’s album pick is—esoteric. On Oct. 2, 2015, a gentleman named Mark Davis uploaded a 56-album collection called “Attention Kmart Shoppers” to archive.org.

As the site will tell you, Davis worked at Kmart from the late 80’s to the late 90’s, back when the company would ship cassettes to its stores, first monthly and later weekly. When a cassette’s lifecycle was up, Davis would take it home instead of throwing it away. By the time the company switched from the cassette system to satellite radio in 1993, Davis had amassed the collection in question.

In addition to the many different types of music on this record, we get Kmart announcements, which I believe are the highlights of the collection. In a calm and authoritative voice, the announcer informs shoppers of deals on items like menswear and the wide variety of shotguns and ammunition that the store carries.

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Image from Chartattack.com

In addition to in-store promotions, there are sweepstakes tied to newly premiering (at the time) CBS shows.

The tagline from “Snoops,” a show involving a college professor and his wife may be my favorite. “They’re having the times of their lives, while

others are losing theirs!”

If you don’t mind that characteristic cassette hiss, you’ll really enjoy this. It’s all tagged as vaporwave, and if you’re into that mysterious so-and-so by folks like Macross Plus and my guy Daniel Lopatin, then this will do it.

Soulja Boy released his mixtape “Plug Talk” on Sept. 28. So for those of you that stopped following Soulja Boy shortly after his “Turn My Swag On” phase, he’s been constantly reinventing himself to fit into whatever is popular at the time. He usually accomplishes this goal by borrowing heavily from his contemporaries. It’s the ultimate case for rap as poetry in my opinion, as you get a clear division between the speaker and the artist himself. Consider the following: if “Crank That Soulja Boy” blew up

when he was 17 years old, when would he have time to become an international drug kingpin?

That being said, Soulja Boy is a competent rapper, but the beats on this record are where it really makes its bones. “Batman” has great drums, but there’s a massive (not sure if pun intended) synthesizer pad that really sets off the hook.

Track six, “Look at the Dab,” is probably my favorite. Soulja employs an insanely bassy instrumental that sort of sounds like a stuttering MS-DOS first person shooter that’s too busy locking up to let you play it.

To call this record polarizing is something of an understatement.

Image from datpriff.com The likes and dislikes on DatPiff as well as the comments are split pretty much exactly down the middle. There are a couple of tracks that don’t particularly ride as hard as the rest of the tape, but Chief Keef and Young Dolph fans may like it. Emphasis on may.

WHATS UP

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TUESDAY|10.13 Ryder Richards

AEIVA, Hess Family Lecture Hall 2 p.m.

Contemporary artist Ryder Richards will present his lecture on his interdisciplinary art to UAB students.

UAB Volleyball vs. Alabama A&M

Bartow Arena 7 p.m.

UAB Volleyball is set to face off against Alabama A&M University at home.

WEDNESDAY|10.14 Coming Out on the Green

Campus Green 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.

This event, with various student organizations tabling and stations for tie-dying t-shirts, will kick off OutWeek.

UAB Farmer’s Market

Outside the Den 2- 6 p.m.

Shop for produce from local farmers including UAB students at UAB’s Farmer’s Market.

Representatives from the Green Initiative, UAB Recycling and the office of Sustainability will be present as well.

Toro Y Moi

Saturn 7 p.m.

The South Carolina native will perform his self described “indiesoul” at the Avondale venue.

Tickets are $17 in advanced.

THURSDAY|10.15 Futurebirds

Saturn 7 p.m.

This Bonnaroo alum, indie-rock band from Athens, GA is set to perform at Saturn. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m.

Clybourne Park

Alys Stephens Center 7:30 p.m.

UAB’s Theatre Department will begin showing its performance of “Clybourne Park” Oct. 15. Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens.

Melinda Barlow

AEIVA, Hess Family Lecture Hall 6:30 p.m.

Historian of photography, film, video and multimedia Melinda Barlow will present her lecture, “The Scale of Imagination: David Maisel and the American Sublime.” Light refreshments will

be served from 6 p.m. until the lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. The exhibition will stay on display in the AEIVA until Nov. 12. Admission is free.

FRIDAY|10.16 Pink Up the Green

Campus Green 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

UAB supports the fight against breast cancer and plans to raise awareness for the disease through Pink Up the Green. The fountain outside the Commons will be dyed pink and students will be handing out free pink cupcakes.

UAB Volleyball vs. Florida Atlantic

Bartow Arena 7 p.m.

Come see UAB Volleyball play the Florida Atlantic University Owls at home.

SATURDAY|10.17 Bo Burnham

Alabama Theatre 8 p.m.

Comedian, singer-songwriter and poet Robert Pickering, known as Bo Burnham, is set to perform at the Alabama Theatre.

SUNDAY|10.18 Enra

Alys Stephens Center 7 p.m.

Enra is a Tokyo-based performance and production company that combines contemporary art and engaging entertainment, uniting ballet, kung fu, acrobatics, juggling and rhythmic gymnastics. Enra will only perform at 10 venues in the United States during its tour, and UAB’s ASC is one of them.

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When: Monday - Thursday 1:00p.m.

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Where: 936 19th Street South Services offered: . Career counseling . Interview practice . Resume review . Job search assistance Appointments will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

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