UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER
TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 2018
VOLUME 59, ISSUE 7
The
Kaleidoscope SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
EMERGENCY
Doctor’s orders
Blazers on alert
9th Best Medicine Show sells out the Lyric Theatre
UABPD discusses readiness preparation in event of an armed intruder situation
Kristina Balciunaite Life & Style Editor kribal@uab.edu
S
ongs about the struggles of a medical student, BuzzFeed-style videos with professors attempting to differentiate microscopic images from body tissue to toilet paper and even a remake of The Office’s lipdub video were just some features of the ninth annual Best Medicine Show. A packed Lyric Theatre audience welcomed comedians, musicians and other performers in the medicine-themed benefit event Friday, Feb. 23. “It’s tradition,” said Ashley Pettaway, a fourth-year medical student and chair of the Creative Direction Committee for the Best
“
Medicine Show. “It’s an outlet for medical students, a way to highlight our talents.” The idea behind the show is to relieve stress and sickness with laughter and fun, hence using the saying “laughter is the best medicine” in the tagline. Various videographic and theatrical skits had the audience laughing to the point of tears. “It’s the funniest night of the year,” Brooke Becker, a second-year medical student and performer of the closing act
Sufia Alam Campus Editor sufia@uab.edu
According to the Center for Disease Control, roughly half of those who commit or attempt to carry out a homicide at a school usually present some type of warning sign, such as telling others about their plan or leaving a note prior to the event. With smart planning and correct education, if a school shooting ever took place at UAB, students and faculty would have a strong chance of surviving, according to Captain Amy Schreiner from
See LAUGHTER, Page 8 Photo by Chris Dennen/Staff Photographer
the UAB Police Department. “Police officers often miss their targets 70 to 80 percent of the time in dynamic events,” Schreiner said. “If this is a stat for police officers, think about the chances of someone who isn’t in their right state of mind and never has had any training.” The Department of Homeland Security has defined an active shooter as someone with a gun engaged in killing or trying to kill people in a confined or populated place. According to the Huffington Post, the past
See UABPD, Page 4
It’s been a privilege to represent Alabama in Washington, but there’s nothing like getting home and hearing from folks firsthand. —Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.)
Thank you, Alabama Senator stops through B’ham on state-wide gratitude tour
Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) visited the Birmingham Air National Guard 117th Air Refueling Wing Wednesday, Feb. 21, to demonstrate his dedication to supporting the servicepersons of the National Guard and address hot topics such as gun control and the upcoming Alabama gubernatorial race. The event was one stop on his Alabama state tour. “It’s been a privilege to represent Alabama in Washington,
but there’s nothing like getting home and hearing from folks firsthand,” Jones said. After touring the National Guard facility, Jones climbed aboard the KC-135R aircraft to meet with a conglomeration of the base’s officers, the plane’s crew and press. “This is probably one of the most important units for both Air Guard and Army anywhere in the world,” Jones said. “I’m so appreciative and so impressed.” Captain Jonathan Russell, a public affairs officer for the base, explained the broader
come and visit and see firsthand the incredible work that our military…does for this country and for this state. I can’t emphasize enough the economic impact that this unit has on the state of Alabama and on this area. In light of the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida, Jones answered inquiries about the latest wave of the gun control debate. “I don’t think guns should be placed in teachers’ hands,” Jones said. “That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard.”
See JONES, Page 6
Photo by Bella Tylicki/Metro Editor Sen Doug Jones talks with Major Roseman L. Deas II inside a KC-135R aircraft during Jones’ visit Birmingham Air National Guard 117th Air Refueling Wing.
by Wallace Golding Managing Editor wsgoldin@uab.edu
mission of the facility. “Our main mission is air refueling, [but] we also do medical evac[uations],” Russell said. “We do some cargo missions. Every once in a while, if there’s a tornado or hurricane, we’ll actually go outside the gate and help citizens around here.” Jones pledged to be a partner of the unit and expressed a desire to upgrade facilities, such as the one in Birmingham. He specifically endorsed getting a flight simulator to the base for pilots to keep updated on the latest certifications and training. “I’m really looking forward to working with you guys as much as possible,” Jones said. “One of the joys of being in the U.S. Senate is to be able to
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
Volume 59, Issue7
here & there
2
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE
THIS WEEK IN STUDENT MEDIA
JOKE OF THE WEEK What do you call an annoying fruit? A son of a peach. - Kristina Balciunaite, Life and Style Editor
This week Aura is looking for your contribution to the Spring 2018 Issue. We’re looking for short stories, art, photography, poetry.... seriously we’ll take anything. Just submit. Check out our Instagram aura_uab for inspiration, or if you already know what to submit send them our way at auraartsreview@gmail.com.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Contact Aura at auraartsreview@ gmail.com.
PHOTO BY BELLA TYLICKI/METRO EDITOR Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) visits the Birmingham Air National Guard 117th Air Refueling Wing Wednesday, Feb. 21 as part of his statewide tour. Jones (right) is pictured here with Major Roseman L. Deas, III (left).
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Opinion
3
Some idiot wants to give teachers guns to defend their students. That idiot is our president. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Campus
4
In light of the Parkland school shooting, we sought to answer the question of what to do if UAB was ever threatened. We’ve got that answer in this issue.
Sports
5
What’s there to say about this section? It’s sports, lots of sports. Also known as “God’s gift to earth” and “the only reason worth living.”
7
Metro In case you couldn’t tell, we really like Doug Jones, which when you consider who the alternative was isn’t really saying a whole lot.
8
What: The Farewell Show Who: The Old Paints, The Burning Peppermints, In Snow, The Dirty Lungs, The Green Seed Where: The Syndicate Lounge When: 6 p.m. 2 a.m.
What: Men’s Basketball vs. Marshall Where: Bartow Arena When: 7 p.m. Watch: beIN Sports
What: Luck O’ The Crawl! Who/Where: Birmingham Art Crawl When: 5-9 p.m.
UABTV will be filming our second gubernatorial interview this week with Walt Maddox. Thursday, Hunter Drinkard will interview another candidate, Tommy Battle. We are accepting questions for the candidates to askuabtv@ gmail.com. Additionally, Blazer Talk will be releasing a new episode on tomorrow with a new look and name. This production has changed its named to “Hey Girl.”
Contact UABTV at morris95@uab.edu.
What: Baseball vs. Iowa Where: Regions Field When: 4 p.m.
What: Baseball vs. Iowa Where: Regions Field When: 1 p.m.
What: Baseball vs. Iowa Where: Regions Field When: 1 p.m.
What: Stand-Up Comedy Show Who: TJ Miller Where: The Stardome When: 7:30 p.m.
What: Men’s Basketball vs. Western Kentucky Where: Bartow Arena When: 7 p.m. Watch: Fox Sports
What: Sidewalk Salon: Oscar Watch Party Who: Sidewalk Film Festival Where: Rojo When: 6 -11 p.m.
sunday
What: Softball vs. Alabama Where: Mary Bowers Field When: 6 p.m.
What: Softball vs. South Alabama Where: Mary Bowers Field When: 6 p.m.
If you would like to be featured in our “In Your Perspective” please contact Will Harris at willhrrs@uab.edu.
saturday
tuesday
What: Baseball vs. Jacksonville State Where: Regions Field When: 4 p.m.
If you wish to see your event displayed in our calendar, please contact Chandler Jones at chanj1@uab.edu.
thursday
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
wednesday
In the incredibly busy life of a medical student, it’s important to take a minute and laugh...about yourself...and how miserable school makes you.
friday
Life & Style
Contact BlazeRadio at alex96@uab.edu.
What: DIY Petitions to Your Members of Congress Who: ONE at UAB Where: Hill Student Center When: 11 p.m.
monday
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
February 27, 1827: New Orleanians take to the streets for Mardi Gras A group of masked and costumed students dance through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the beginning of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations. February 28, 1953: Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA Cambridge University scientists James Watson and Francis Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes. March 1, 1932: Lindbergh baby kidnapped In a crime that captured the attention of the entire nation, Chalres Lindbergh III, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, is kidnapped from the family’s new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey. March 2, 1904: Dr. Seuss born Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children’s books as “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham,” is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. March 3, 1887: Helen Keller meets her miracle worker Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months. March 4, 1933: FDR inaugurated At the height of the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is inaugurated as the 32nd president of the United States. In his famous inaugural address, delivered outside the east wing of the U.S. Capitol, Roosevelt outlined his “New Deal,” an expansion of federal welfare programs. March 5, 1963: Hula-Hoop patented
This week in BlazeRadio, the DJ and Swole Show is live in the HSC for “The Billboard Game.”Also, On the Sidelines is coming back Tuesday and catch a double dose of Keepin It Real this week as well and signups are now available for March’s Lip Sync Battle.
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
Volume 59, Issue 7
opinion Spring 2018 Editorial Board Chandler Jones Editor-in-Chief chanj1@uab.edu
Wallace Golding Managing Editor wsgoldin@uab.edu
Sufia Alam Campus Editor sufia@uab.edu
Kristina Balciunaite Life & Style Editor kribal@uab.edu
Lakyn Shepard Photo Editor layshep@uab.edu
Connor Gentry Sports Editor zcgentry@uab.edu
3
NATIONAL POLITICS
Gun control is out of control Chandler Jones Editor-in-Chief chanj1@uab.edu
I can’t think of a worse way to die. With a pull of a trigger, a flick of the wrist, I would cease to exist. I question how that can be so objectified, so politicized, so modernized. It’s a right but it’s a problem. It’s an eerily gray area with deep puddles of blood on the ground. We trust everyone with guns. Everyone. We’re told we can’t trust the media or the government. We can’t trust our peers or our friends. We can’t trust ourselves.
But we can trust everyone with a gun. I read recently this tweet by @MrFilmkritik “You know, when I said I wanted the real world to be more like Harry Potter I just meant the teleportation and magic stuff, not the entire plot of book 5 where the government refuses to do anything about a deadly threat so the teenagers have to rise up and fight back.” Those screaming the loudest are the victims. Life delivered these children a tragedy, and it feels like they’re only ones putting up a fight. Remember Kent State? Remember Pulse? What about Virginia Tech and
Sandy Hook? Schools, churches, hotels, movie theaters and a McDonald’s, nowhere is safe. Yet the plan is more guns. Arm teachers. Arm school officers. Arm yourselves. When has ever fighting fire with fire actually worked? I am not asking for a mass disarming of our nation, but I’m asking that we all take a step back to look at what we allow to happen all the time. We listen to the screams of fear and respond with our own screams of rage, yet still triggers are pulled, and we still lose lives. The new norm should terrify everyone.
From here on out, it’s not if, it’s when. I don’t question the lines that draw this problem. Regardless of race, religion and culture, people die all the time, with a flick of the wrist, with the pull of a trigger. We, you and me, he and she, they and them, we must act, united in whatever form to seek justice for the death of innocence. I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but we face this danger together. We must act to fix the future or it will be lost to us. States like Washington are beginning to establish limitations on gun purchasing for
those with a history of a domestic violence. It’s already too late, but we must do what we can to ensure it’s not too little. I am far from full of answers, but the artist in me is not without hope. The realities of this pace and this direction bulldoze any idea of a prosperous and necessary Legislative assembly. If we change the conversation, we can change the legislation. If we decide together that our nation needs to be different, it will. If we show our will and show our strength, we can show the world what this democracy can do.
Bella Tylicki Metro Editor btylicki@uab.edu
Austin Simpson Visual Content Manger btylicki@uab.edu
Will Harris Social Media Director willhrrs@uab.edu
Marie Sutton Student Media Director masutton@uab.edu
Patrick Johnson Production Manager plj3@uab.edu
ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/ILLUSTRATOR
HAPPY BUDGETING
How to get help with your finances Stephanie R. Yates, Endowed Professor and Director, UAB Regions Institute for Financial Education Letters to the Editor can be submitted to Chandler Jones, Editor-in-Chief, at chanj1@uab.edu. The Kaleidoscope functions as a memeber of UAB Student Media in association with UABTV, BlazeRadio and Aura. Website: UAB.edu/kscope Twitter @UABkscope Facebook facebook.com/uabkscope/ Instagram instagram.com/ uabkscope/ The Kaleidoscope is produced in the office of UAB Student Media. Suite 130 Hill Student Center 1400 University Blvd. Birmingham, 35233 (205) 934-3354
M
anaging your money can be a challenge – especially if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, there are a number of places you can go for help.
Attend a workshop A number of companies and agencies provide free or low-cost webinars and workshops to help attendees learn more about various aspects of personal finance. On campus, many student groups host workshops on various topics. Sometimes, they even provide pizza. For America Saves Week, the Regions Institute for Financial Education provides free, daily webinars from Feb. 26 to March 2 on various aspects of saving. Then, from March 1 to March 3, RIFE is hosting its annual Financial Education Conference. The best part
is that all of these offerings are FREE for UAB students. Check it out at www.uab.edu/ rife/conference. Take a class There are several classes you can take to learn more about money management either face-to-face or online. These classes range from those that cover all aspects of money in a practical sense or shorter courses that cover a smaller range of topics such as saving and investing. Other courses are available that will give you an appreciation for money in a broader sense. How did we get from bartering to bitcoin? What does all of this mean in a global sense? There are courses that cover those questions too! The Regions Institute for Financial Education through UAB’s Collat School of Business offers FIVE different personal finance courses (FN 101 – FN 105) that give you an opportunity to take a deep dive into these and other financial issues.
See a financial counselor Do you need one-on-one help? A financial counselor can help you resolve a specific issue, create a budget or simply help you figure out where your money is going and how to use it more effectively. Many counselors have a special designation as an Accredited Financial Counselor through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education. This designation assures you that the counselor you are working with has a firm grasp of money management concepts. RIFE has an AFC on staff who can talk to you about your own issues. Contact us at rife@uab.edu to make an appointment. See a financial coach Do you need help figuring out how to handle your finances on your own? Maybe a financial coach is the financial expert you need. These professionals are just as knowledgeable as financial counselors, but are a better fit for those individuals who do not have any
real financial issues but need a little guidance to help them reach their financial goals. See a financial planner Maybe you handle your day-to-day affairs just fine but need help planning for the future. You might want to talk to a financial planner. Certified Financial Planners have been tested on a rigorous curriculum that includes ethics, estate planning, insurance planning, investment planning, retirement planning and tax planning. They can craft a comprehensive financial plan or focus on just one key area that concerns you. At RIFE’s Alabama Money Expo, you can sit down with a financial planner for free and see how they can help you get on track to realizing your financial goals. There are so many ways to get help with your finances and UAB’s Regions Institute for Financial Education can help in many of these areas. Visit www.uab.edu/rife to learn more.
campus Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
Volume 59, Issue 7
4
SYMPOSIUM
PHOTO BY DAWSON MILES/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Derrick Angermeier (left), a Ph.D. candidate of the University of Georgia, and Ari Joskowicz (middle), a professor at the Vanderbilt University and Stephanie Poiroux (right), a student from the University of Mississippi discuss how different times in history have minority groups been prosecuted throughout history while many have chosen to standby and allow injustice to take place.
Injustice through bystanders Speakers explain how different societies have inflicted injustice Lauren Moore Campus Reporter lrm33@uab.edu
Wherever there is injustice in the world, there are activists for change and those that those watch from the sidelines. UAB Alumni House held a symposium Thursday, Feb. 22, and Friday, Feb. 23, that took a look at all of these roles. The symposium, Bystanders and Complicity in Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South, hosted a number of speakers with a variety of stories, which explained how racism functions in different societies. Panel 1 sought to re-examine the role of bystanders
UABPD From Page 1
mentality regarding surviving a school shooting has been “run or hide.” However, according to new data, people who act not only have a higher probability of living, but also tend to recover mentally and emotionally quicker than people who choose to cave into the situation. Schreiner advises the best step students can do is prepare in advance. “Know your area,” Schreiner said. “What buildings you have class in, how can you get in and out of that building without taking your elevator. If it’s a building with multiple floors then knowing where the stairs are, where the windows are, is the best way to go. “ Along with knowing the basic infrastructure of a building, it is also important to be aware of what materials are between the student and the shooter. “Some building like the Hill Student Center or Heritage have a ton of glass walls,” Schreiner said. “Others, may all be wood or have small portions of the door or wall that are made up of glass.”
in the history of racism. “We want to focus our attention on a group of people that usually don’t get talked about,” said Tina Reuter, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Human Rights at UAB and associate professor of anthropology at UAB. LeeAnn Reynolds, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Samford, spoke of children and race socialization in the Jim Crow South. She sought to highlight the struggles amongst both black and white families when it came to teaching children about segregation. “Both black and white southerners remember that their parents refused to answer questions about
Schreiner advices students to act as quickly as possible once they have identified their surroundings. “Creating a barricade between yourself and the shooter is always a good idea,” Schreiner said. “Use whatever you have around you to your advantage. Trash bins, computer monitors, whatever you can pile up. If your office or classroom is made entirely of glass walls, try to go to the back offices, close the door and make it seem as if no one’s there the best you can.” Another strategy that increases your chances of survival, according to the New York Times, is constantly creating what-if scenarios in your head. “Think about what you would do if someone came into your classroom, into the dining hall, library, wherever you are,” Schreiner said. “Always have preplanned scenarios for every possible location.” In the worst possible situation, if the shooter is in the same room as you, the Huffington Post advises individuals to fight. If the student is forced into handto-hand combat, any weapon available will
segregation,” Reynolds said. “There was a high cost for thinking differently from your neighbors.” Panel 2 continued with Kiara Boone, deputy program manager for Equal Justice Initiative, who spoke of creating local space for community remembrance, unpacking the nation’s history of racial and economic injustice. “We need to ask ourselves what does it mean to be the nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world,” Boone said. Boone pointed out that the true injustice was not simply that segregation occurred in the south, but that it was regulated legally through Jim Crow laws. She also highlighted how her organization is remembering those who were lynched through erecting memorials
work. Common items such as pencils, a ruler, a book, a cell phone will work as long as it can bludgeon or jab the shooter. “Go for the soft spots. And if one person has put themselves on top of the shooter, create a swarm and everyone else can jump on top of the shooter as well,” Schreiner. “Make sure to kick the gun out of the way so he can’t get to it anymore.” However, if it’s possible to escape the building, Schreiner said under no circumstances should anyone try to confront the perpetrator. The goal should be to get out as quickly and as far away as possible. However, Schreiner also said mass evacuating an entire campus is never a good idea. “This might prevent help from arriving as well as sometimes creating a huge crowd being formed giving the perpetrator even more targets,” Schreiner said. “On that note, it is also a good idea not to pull the fire alarm. That’s only helping the shooter.” Schreiner also noted that because most of UAB’s real estate goes up, it will generally be hard to pinpoint where the shooters is coming
and collecting dirt from lynching sights. Pamela King, assistant professor of history and public history at UAB, spoke of her childhood in Albany, Georgia, during the 1960s. Her activist family allowed her unique insight as a child into the prejudices going on in the south at this time. Ari Joskowicz, Ph.D., gave a talk on Roma and Jews since 1945. Beverly Eileen Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of historical theology at Wesley Theology Seminary, gave the keynote address on white supremacy and anti-Semitism. “There are no innocent bystanders where white supremacy is concerned,” Mitchell said. This was followed by a roundtable session where teachers discussed how to teach Nazi Germany and the
from and pulling the fire alarm only makes it harder to hear. According to TIME magazine, a fire alarm was pulled the day 19-year-old Nicholas Cruz bombarded Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, leaving 17 students and teachers dead. The final step, once help arrives, is to make sure all individuals in the area put their hands up and spread their
Jim Crow south. Friday morning’s panel discussed personal agency and resistance. Speakers included Stephen R. Haynes, Ph.D., discussing church kneel-ins and Tondra Loder-Jackson, Ph.D., discussing the role of educators in the civil rights movement. In the afternoon, panelists offered their thoughts on the contemporary relevance and power of history to inspire individuals to confront hatred and promote human dignity in their communities. Student poster presentations were also presented throughout the event. Students presented a variety of topics including gender and class in Nazi Germany’s disability culture, the role southern churches played in complicity amongst bystanders and Hershel Gleenblat: Resistance in Atlanta.
fingers to allow the police officers to deduce who are the possible suspects. “Remember, at this point, the police officers may not know who is or isn’t the suspect,” Schreiner said. “That’s why it is also important that even if you have managed to take the shooter down, to not have the gun in your hand under any circumstances. You may put your life at risk by doing so.”
Schreiner said the best thing to do is to put the gun on the ground and put a trash can on top of it creating a barricade against that as well. “UAB does a very good job of making sure people who don’t have any business being here don’t have the access or the ability to get in,” Schreiner said. “Hopefully you and I will never need to use this information.”
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
Volume 59, Issue 7
sports
5
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Regular season home finale Blue Raiders swept by UAB first time in program history Savannah Snowden Sports Reporter savsno@uab.edu
UAB stuck to its shooting fundamentals to outperform MTSU this week. On Thursday, the Lady Blazers defeated Middle Tennessee 65-58. The Blue Raiders stormed back with just a minute remaining in the game, but the Lady Blazers stood strong to keep down MTSU until the buzzer. “I thought it was a gritty win, a great team win,” said Head Coach Randy Norton. “A game where we had to find other ways to score.” Neither team could gain a foothold in the first half as it was 21-21 going into the break, but both teams scored over 35 points in the final two quarters of the game. With three minutes left in the game, UAB led Middle Tennessee by 14 points. After a quick round of shots by Middle Tennessee, that lead was cut to six points with 41 seconds remaining. In those final seconds, Miyah Barnes and junior Deanna Kuzmanic shot and made 10 free throws to secure the Blazer victory. Barnes scored 19 points and has scored double digits 18 times this season. Barnes had three assists and four
rebounds. “[Miyah] Barnes played outstanding today,” Norton said. “She really stepped up to the line and hit some great points,” Sophomore forward Imani Johnson came off the bench ready to play as she scored 15 points and collected three boards. “I’m glad I could be able to help my team win, pick them up when they needed a spark. It was awesome,” Johnson said. “Usually, I would pass those shots, but coach told me if you feel like you’ve got it then go for it. That is exactly what I did.” The Lady Blazers outrebounded the Blue Raiders 37-36 and also forced 15 MTSU turnovers. “Middle Tennessee’s got a great basketball team,” Norton said. “They were the preseason pick for the league. Just to hold our own with MT was great.” The 15 turnovers turned into 14 points. UAB only managed to score three 3-pointers. “We’re not one dimensional,” Norton said. “I feel like some people think, ‘well, they just shoot the three,’ but I mean as people watch our team play, yeah we do shoot the three but we can score in a lot of other ways.”
65-58 39.6 FG% 35.1 23.1 3FG% 23.1 83.3 FT% 75 8 Assists 7 37 Rebounds 36 9 TOs 15
Player of the Week: Deanna Kuzmanic
46 Pts 7 Rebs 2 Ast
70-60 45.6 FG% 36.2 53.8 3FG% 30.4 61.1 FT% 91.7 14 Assists 15 32 Rebounds 40 TOs 21 14
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Road trip woes Blazers trounced by No. 24 Blue Raiders Connor Gentry Sports Editor zcgentry@uab.edu
The UAB men’s basketball team traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face off against conference leaders No. 24 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Blazers vied for their first win over a ranked opponent since knocking off Iowa State in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The game began with the Blazers keeping things close during the first five minutes of action, but it quickly got out of hand. The game was never closer than the 7-6 MTSU lead five minutes into the game. UAB committed more turnovers than made shots throughout the first half and paid for it on the scoreboard. MTSU held a 40-19 lead at the break, and the turnovers coupled with poor shooting sunk the Blazers before the game even got started. “Ten in the first half, I thought that was the biggest thing,” said UAB Head Coach Rob Ehsan. “And, then, we were 1-for-10 from the 3-point line in the first half. Against the No. 1 team in the conference, you can’t turn the ball
over and shoot the ball that poorly in the first half and expect to have a chance to win.” Redshirt junior Nick Norton started the second half off with a Blazer layup, but MTSU did not allow that to transfer into momentum as the Blue Raiders continued to decimate the
Leading Scorer Zack Bryant (13)
Most Boards Zack Bryant (6)
Most Assists Nick Norton (3)
Most Turnovers Nate Darling (4)
Blazer defense. Senior Chris Cokley, once again, did not start as he is fighting through back pain. Redshirt junior Lewis Sullivan started in his place and contributed nine points and three boards. Cokley managed six points and four rebounds in his limited minutes. “[Cokley] wants to finish his career at UAB strong,” Ehsan
said. “He’s fighting through and doing everything he can.” The Blazers ultimately committed 16 turnovers throughout the contest leading to 28 points off turnovers for the Blue Raiders. Only two Blazers scored in double-figures compared to four players for the Blue Raiders. Freshman Zack Bryant dropped 13 points as a starter and Junior Jalen Perry scored 10 off the bench. MTSU steamrolled the Blazers 79-54 in front of an announced crowd of 9,717 people. MTSU improved to 23-5 overall and 15-1 in conference play while UAB fell to 17-12 overall and 8-8 in conference play. UAB remains in sixth place in C-USA. “Very disappointing from our group to not come in here and play better,” Ehsan said. “It was somewhat unexpected, coming off the week of feeling good about ourselves after last Saturday’s game. For us to not play well, give them credit. When we got down, we fragmented, which is unfortunate, it’s unacceptable and we have to learn from it.” The Blazers conclude regular season play against Marshall Thursday, March 1 in the friendly confines of Bartow Arena.
Senior day celebrations, career highs overshadowed by defeat Connor Gentry Sports Editor zcgentry@uab.edu
The UAB Women’s Basketball team looked to finish their regular season at home strong against the Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech Saturday, Feb 24. The Senior Day festivities were short lived, however, as the Lady Blazers could not stop turning the ball over. The Lady Blazers found themselves in a 20-7 hole at the end of the first quarter and trailed by as many as 24 points throughout the game. However, the Lady Blazers, led by junior Deanna Kuzmanic, fought all 40 minutes of the contest as they brought the deficit to as few as six points. Despite their best efforts, the Lady Blazers could not overcome their initial deficit and fell 70-60 against the Lady Techsters. “That was a tough one, especially with it being Senior Day and it being at home,” said Head Coach Randy Norton. “We just got off to such a poor start. We had 15 turnovers in the first half, which is more than we usually play with in an entire game.” There were several bright spots despite the loss. Kuzmanic scored a career high 35 points and was the 28th player
to join UAB’s 1,000 point club. The Lady Blazers also honored three seniors in their final game at home in the green and gold. Whytney Singleton, T’erra Lewis and Kara Rawls received flowers from their families and applause from the crowd as they were recognized for their contributions to UAB and the Lady Blazers before the game began. The Lady Blazers committed 21 turnovers throughout the game which led to 19 points. “It was just very uncharacteristic of our team,” Norton said. “It has nothing to do with our girls not wanting this. They are hurting right now. They feel really bad. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but for whatever reason we just weren’t ready to get over the hump today.” La Tech improved to 18-10 overall and 9-6 in conference play while UAB fell to 22-5 overall and 11-3 in conference play. The Lady Blazers slid back into second place half a game behind Western Kentucky with just one week left in the regular season. The Lady Blazers conclude their campaign on a road trip to Denton, Texas to take on the Mean Green of North Texas Thursday, March 1. UAB’s final game will take place in San Antonio, Texas against UTSA Saturday, March 3.
Page 6 | Sports
The Kaleidoscope
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
SOFTBALL
PHOTO BY CHRIS DENNEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Senior Haleigh Sisson swings at a pitch during the Lady Blazer’s spring practices before the team’s season began. Sisson drew one walk and scored a run during the Troy Classic this weekend.
Roadtrip to Troy ends in split Team garners three wins and two losses in three-day competition Sarah Oetken Sports Reporter sarahoak@uab.edu
The first day of the event, the Lady Blazers faced off against Murray State. Senior Rachel Rogers led the Lady blazers with two hits, including her third double of the season off the left field wall. Two other Lady Blazers assisted on offense during the game. Sophomore Destini England started at the bottom of the ninth inning on second base and was moved to third off a hit by a Petree’s single to third, which then bounced off the bag, stopping the third baseman from playing the. Senior Megan Smith then helped England home with a sacrifice fly to center as the Lady Blazers cut the lead down to two. However, the Lady Blazers ultimately fell to Murray State 2-4. Later that day, the Blazers faced off against long-time foe, the Troy Trojans. The Lady Blazers first chose freshman Emily Kachel to man the mound, and she put on a splendid pitching performance. Kachel pitched UAB to a 1-0 win over Troy. Kachel only allowed one hit through the first six innings of play while also striking out nine batters to earn her first career shutout. Since Kachel was so dominant on the mound, the Trojans only got their first runner of the game on base in the third inning because of a dropped third strike, giving the Troy batter enough time to run out the throw to first base. To combine with Kachel’s pitching, the Lady Blazer’s offense came from junior Analyse Petree. In the bottom of the first, Petree marched into the batters’
box and took on a pitch that she launched over the left field wall for the solo home run. The next day, the Lady Blazers picked up a win against Tennessee Tech but fell to Southern Illinois University. In her collegiate start, freshman Bailie Barnes allowed five hits and one run as she muted the Golden Eagles offense. The Lady Blazers created an offensive outburst against Tennessee Tech that, with a dominate pitching performance, pushed the team to victory. Seniors Katelyn Prater and Rachel Rogers got the scoring started in the first inning. England drew a walk that advanced Prater to second while Rogers hit a single up the middle that pushed home Prater from second base. Petree took a pitch and sent it high over the left field wall for a two-run home run, her second homer of the weekend and third of the season. The Lady Blazers routed Tennessee Tech 8-1. In the second game of the day against SIUE, the Lady Blazers answered the SIUE scoring in the bottom half of the fourth inning as Petree got the offense underway with a single up the middle of the field. Rogers performed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Petree to second base and into scoring position. The Lady Blazers were able to draw three straight walks to start the bottom half of the sixth and load the bases with nobody out. However, SIUE got backto-back outs at and a pop up to the pitcher to end the inning and keep the Blazers off the board. The Lady Blazers could not catch up to SIUE and lost 2-5. A rematch against Murray State was the only game that UAB played, Sunday. Murray State was only able to score its
IN BRIEF Blazers return to the pitch for spring exhibition The UAB Men’s Soccer team competed in their first two of six matches and one 7 v. 7 tournament Saturday, Feb 24 at BBVA Compass Field. The Blazers faced off against the Universities of Montevallo and West Alabama.
Montevallo 2017 9-5-4 overall and 5-24 in the Gulf South Conference while West Alabama finished 16-31 overall and 10-1-0 in the GSC. West Alabama made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. None of the teams present released box scores. The Blazers will also face Rheinhardt Univer-
sity March 3 at 3 p.m., the Winstars Soccer Academy March 5 at 3 p.m., The University of Louisville March 31 at 2 p.m. and the University of Memphis April 7 at 2 p.m. The Blazers will also play host to an all day 7 v. 7 Tournament March 24. The only match away from home is against Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
first run of the game in the third inning on a passed ball. Smith got the start for the Lady Blazers and struck out the last batter of the game to secure the revenge win 6-2 for the team. She pitched a complete game and picked up her first win of the year in her first start.
The Lady Blazers will return to action playing their home opener on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against in-state foe the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Lady Blazers then take on the South Alabama Jaguars Wednesday at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Mary Bowers Field.
PHOTO BY CHRIS DENNEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Lady Blazers look to strike out the Crimson Tide Tuesday, March 27.
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
metro Jones
Volume 59, Issue 7
7
CITY COUNCIL
CIVIL RIGHTS
From Page 1
He gave President Donald J. Trump credit for taking steps toward tightening background checks and banning bump stocks, attachments that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire faster. “We’ve got some pretty strong laws on the books,” Jones said. “What we really need to do is make sure that they can be enforced.” Jones advocates for an increase in funding for conducting background checks and updating the associated technology and incentivizing municipalities, counties and military to properly and thoroughly input data to the system. “That system is only as good as the data that goes into it,” Jones said. “The second step is obviously school security. We’re going to have to fortify schools a little bit more than we’ve done now, and people are just going to have to get used to that. Protecting our children has to be the No. 1 priority.” He also commented on the nearing race for governor calling it “exciting” and “competitive.” “I want to make sure that the people in Alabama have good choices, and that they make good choices,” Jones said. Jones believes that the December special election in which he was elected was “a step forward” in proving that Alabama wants to “get things done in a bipartisan era.” Avoiding expressing whether he will be endorsing any candidate, Jones voiced a hope for respectful civil discourse and an issue-based race. Like in his campaign for Senate, he hopes that the goal for each candidate is unity. “I think there are good candidates on both sides of the aisle,” Jones said. According to the release from his team, during his State Work Period, Jones visited seven Alabama cities to “highlight key priorities for the different communities, including rural health care, defense, infrastructure, workforce development and education.”
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That system is only as good as the data that goes into it. The second step is obviously school security. We’re going to have to fortify schools ... and people are just going to have to get used to that. Protecting our children has to be the No. 1 priority. —Doug Jones
PHOTO BY DAWSON MILES /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY Police Dog Attack, a sculpture by James Drake from 1993, stands at the edge of Kelly Ingram Park. BELOW: The statue dedicated to the footsoldiers of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement stands after over two decades.
Monuments of a defining movement Symbols of history stand tall to remind city of trauma, lessons
Wallace A. Rayfield, Alabama’s first formally trained African-American architect and the nation’s second, did the design. “Another would be the Eddie Kendricks Memorial Park,” Holloway by Allie Milton said. “This memorial garden pays Life & Style Reporter tribute to singer Eddie Kendricks of miltona@uab.edu the Temptations. “ The Birmingham History Center uring any time of the year, it is temporarily closed to search for a important to reflect on history. new location. When it reopens, it will Birmingham has an extensive feature exhibits, galleries and inforand often troubling past, but it is mation for exploring Birmingham’s important to know and understand history all the way back to the its where we’ve been. founding. “The most important places I The Negro Southern League Muwould suggest visiting are the Civil seum on 16th Street South near Rights Institute, 16th Street the corner First Avenue Baptist Church and South is another BirKelly Ingram Park,” mingham mustsaid Vickie Ashsee, housing ford, director of memorabilia travel media at dating all the Greater the way Birmingham back from Convention the 1800s, & Visitors such as Bureau. Satchel “Though Paige’s the Civil used Rights District uniform, extends as far “Bullet Joe” as Bethel Baptist Rogan’s pitchChurch, those are ing jacket and the locations that Louis Santop’s bat draw the most visitors.” “Big Bertha.” The 16th Street Baptist “Everyone should Church served as an important visit the Heaviest Corner meeting place for civil rights on Earth Historic District leaders and the location of the at the corner of 20th Street tragic 1963 bombing that and First Avenue North, killed four young girls. Linn Park and Black contractors and surrounding area, architects designed Fourth Avenue and created the North Black building, and it Business Hisfeatures twintoric District, domed towers Five Points and a large South, Highstained-glass land Avenue, window of a Bush Hills black crucified Boulevard Jesus, a memorial and Redmont gift given in the Historic District wake of the 1963 at least,” said Patragedy. mela King, assistant —Pamela King The Birmingham professor of history. Civil Rights Institute, “Smithfield is also across from Kelly Ingram Park, feafascinating as Birmingham’s historic tures numerous historic and memorial middle class black suburb. South Tistatues. The Institute includes permatusville was the neighborhood where nent exhibits like the Barriers Gallery, Condoleezza Rice grew up.” which reveals physical artifacts of History is ingrained within the segregation. fabric of the city, so much so that it Birmingham’s Downtown Historic can be observed and learned from. District stretches from First to Fourth Whether strolling past informative Avenues North and contains a variety signs and statues in downtown Birof historical buildings, from old and mingham or through an important renown churches to the Carver Thehistorical center, Birmingham’s history atre and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. is ever-present and always relevant. “A must see in the Historic Fourth Avenue Business District is the Alabama Penny Savings Bank,” said Ivan Holloway, executive director of nonprofit Urban Impact, Inc. “The Alabama Penny Savings Bank was Alabama’s first African-American owned bank which also housed the African-American press and a number of professionals.” Prominent African-American builders The Windham Brothers Construction built the bank in 1913.
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The most important places I would suggest visiting are the Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park.
Last week, the Birmingham City Council greenlighted the redevelopment of a dilapidated downtown building into a 96-room hotel. They voted to authorize the mayor to apply for a $2.5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to renovate the Commerce Center at 2027 First Ave. N into a hotel. This loan program, called the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, is preferable to the city because of its flexibility. Communities can take a small portion of their Community Development Block Grant from the HUD and appeal to convert it into a guaranteed loan with few limitations on how the money may be spent. Repayment terms and interest rates for Section 108 loans are flexible too. “This is another great [Section] 108 opportunity for the city to get financing for a project in downtown Birmingham,” said Nigel Roberts, director of the city’s Community Development Department. “… It will allow us to create around 96 new jobs in the Birmingham area. Again, it will substantially rehabilitate a building that’s been standing empty for 20 years or more. The city will collaborate on the Commerce Hotel project with Rhaglan Hospitality, Inc., the company responsible for the Redmont Hotel redevelopment. The council also voted to appropriate $17,000 from sales-tax revenue to community development for various code enforcements, an attempt to curb the impact of blight in urban Birmingham by making neighborhoods safer and more appealing to the eye. To further combat the effects of blight and gentrification, the council voted to have the city enter an agreement with Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Funding from the city is not to exceed $34,000, and it will go toward urban stabilization through community and commercial revitalization. NHSB’s methods include homebuyer counseling, financial advising and economic development projects. The Alabama Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $200,000 categorical grant to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs which allocated the money to the city to help address the challenges of homelessness. The grant will support temporary housing and other resources to help individuals and families get back on their feet. Three nonprofit shelters will receive portions of the funds: Cooperative Downtown Ministries, Family Connection, Inc. and First Light, Inc.
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018
Volume 59, Issue 7
life & style
8
MOVIE REVIEW
Wakanda’say? What made the newest Marvel film achieve enourmous success Juwayriah Wright Life & Style Reporter juwright@uab.edu
The release of Black Panther over President’s Day weekend spurred plenty of excitement, evidenced by its immense success in the box office. The original estimate of $165 million was eclipsed by the $242 million made domestically. The film, directed by Ryan Coogler, features a nearly all-black cast and qualitative female-empowering roles. Many of the action-packed scenes were supported by a plot that gave prominence to Michael B. Jordan’s role as the lead villain, Killmonger, a guise that was new to him as an actor. The narrative follows his attempt to disrupt the peace of the fictional country of Wakanda, ruled by the infamous King T’Challa personalized as Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman.
Box office tops $700 million worldwide “Being an advocate for diversity and cultural appreciation, I loved seeing all of that combined into a
Laughter
From Page 1
at the Best Medicine Show. “It’s a lot of laughs and it’s really fun.” A friendly and vibrant atmosphere continued throughout the evening. For some, this show brought forth feelings of sentimentality as they near graduation. “It feels nostalgic almost,” said Ravi Jariwala, a fourth-year medical student. “I’ve been through this four or five times, and it’s my last year.” According to Abby Threet, director of the Best Medicine Show, when the skit night first started, the attendance kept growing so rapidly that they decided
single movie,” said Ashlyn Murrell, a sophomore in public health and communications. “I loved the social justice elements that were incorporated into the film, especially the overwhelming emphasis on the dichotomy between isolationism and humanitarian aid. However, I am glad that Marvel spent more time and money on an accurate representation of African culture rather than developing plot twists and juicy screenplay. To me, that is much more important than a twist ending.” The fictitious vibranium ore powers a bright Wakandan city, which is home to several tribes. Each has its own customs, attire and formalities. These customs, paired with opposing views held by each of the leaders, gives cause for apprehension between the differing groups. “No matter how different they were, they would still come together to pick one leader,” said Whitney Zeigler, a sophomore in social work. “They all unified against the one bad source. Sometimes the violence can be combated by the community. In a way, it promotes nonviolence and peaceful organizations instead of anger.” The film featured resolute and determined women. In fact, King T’Challa is protected by a group of female warriors led by Okoye, played by
to turn it into a production instead. “It was just a bunch of medical students that got together to take a break from studying and have a good time,” said Cassie Shaw, a second-year medical student and merchandise chair for the Best Medicine Show. “Now, it’s a variety show that highlights that medical students do things other than studying.” The proceeds of the show are dedicated to a charity. This year, for the second consecutive year, the receiver was Equal Access Birmingham, a clinic operated by students for Birmingham residents who do not have medical insurance. This has made the show
Danai Gurira. “They weren’t afraid to stand up for what they believed in,” said James Aguirre, a sophomore in finance. “They were with their country and knew when the leader was
90 percent of the cast is Black wrong. They did what was right for their country and the prosperity of their nation. That was impeccable.” Letitia Wright plays as Shuri, the younger sister of Black Panther. She portrays an intelligent yet humorous scientist and inventor. Many of her lines were punctuated by the audience’s laughter and beguilement. The film featured swooping shots of CGI-created Wakandan landscape. However, these were not the only locations featured. Other dynamic settings included the luminous populated city of Busan, South Korea. Many of the aerial shots featured were taken in Uganda, South Africa and Zambia. The film’s main set incorporated plenty of interesting technological advancements, all inspired directly by the original Black Panther comic books. “I feel as it should have been a little more visually much more personal for the students involved.
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It means so much to me just to see students come together and have fun and use their creative talents for greater good. —Abby Threet
informative,” said Laith Mekdad, a freshman in mechanical engineering. “I wished it was more realistic when it came to the spaceships and other sci-fi aspects. I would have liked if they stuck to the same theme of realism. The film was like a movement, though. It’s different than how other movies have portrayed the African-American community.” The soundtrack was
The album remains at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for two weeks an anticipated element of the film, indicated by the popular official playlist released in early February. However, there was some disappointment surrounding the method of application. “Kendrick Lamar’s entire album was dedicated to Black Panther, so they could have implemented more of the soundtrack than just some of the instrumentals,” said Michaia Gardner, a sophomore in biomedical sciences. “It was inspired by the movie, so they should have included more of the actual lyrics.” “This is what I have invested myself in most during medical school,” Threet said. “I’ve spent three years working with this organization. It means so much to me just to see students come together and have fun and use their creative talents for greater good.” This year, the show received a record amount of performance submissions, extending the whole show to last a full two and a half hours. “It’s become something incredible,” Threet said. “It’s both meaningful and fun. You get to see what talents all of these future [doctors] have hiding underneath their white coat.”
PHOTO BY CHRIS DENNAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A packed audience reacts to one of the sets at the Best Medicine Show Friday, Feb. 23 acts at the Lyric Theatre.
TRACK TAKES
God’s plan for Drake Alex Jones General Manager of BlazeRadio alex96@uab.edu
As years change and as time goes by, things fade away. Some entertainers do not boast as much popularity as they once did. Businesses, inventions and other things don’t thrive as much as they once did. However, one artist that has stood the test of time is Drake, who still reigns as a king of hipJones hop. I believe that it was DJ Akademiks that was the first to call Drake a “stimulus package,” meaning that any feature or song that he makes will likely garner a lot of money, streams, and top chart spots on the Billboard Hot 100. So far, the stimulus package theory has proven true for OVO’s own in 2018, and whether you like it or not, Drake may just be getting started. So far, Drake has either made or was featured in four songs this year, and each charted in Billboard’s Hot 100. When Drake released the “Scary Hours EP” Jan. 19, there were two songs on the project (“God’s Plan” and “Diplomatic Immunity”). “God’s Plan” stayed at the top on the Billboard Hot 100 charts since it was released as a single, giving Drake his fourth No. 1 throughout his career. “God’s Plan” broke many records, including the Spotify record for most streams in the first 24 hours. The associated music video has also been discussed a lot recently, as Drake took the budget for the video and donated all of it in various ways, including paying for people’s groceries and giving a college scholarship. The video received praise for Drake’s philanthropy, as well as backlash for him only doing charity on camera. “Diplomatic Immunity” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts as well, giving Drake two top 10 hits on his “Scary Hours EP.” The Toronto Native added to his stimulus package resume this year, giving Memphis Rapper Blocboy JB his first Billboard top 10 hit this week with their collaboration on “Look Alive.” He also spit a verse on Migos’ new album “Culture II,” with their collaboration on the song “Walk It Talk It.” which opened at No. 18 on Billboard Hot 100 charts, giving Drake his 70th Top 40 hit. It is clear to see that no matter how long Drake’s been gone, he will come back like he never left. He has gotten off to a great start in 2018, and no matter how you feel about him or his music, Drake’s dominance must be a part of God’s plan. Alex Jones, aka DJ Swole, is General Manager of BlazeRadio and co-host of the DJ & Swole Show, which airs every Wednesday at 10 a.m.