April 4, 2017 Kscope

UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 57, ISSUE 11

You think you know your professors?

Magical eats in the Magic City

Trivia wizard? Know everything there is to know about campus? Test your knowledge with our crossword puzzle. Solve the puzzle on Page 2.

Birmingham’s food scene is continuously growing.

Check out some of the area’s local eateries and the people behind the magic. Read more on Page 4.

The

Kaleidoscope SPORTS

PHOTO BY UAB ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS No. 85 Thair Blakes runs the ball down the field after receiving a pass from one of the quarterbacks at Saturday’s Spring Football game at Legion Field.

‘It felt like déjà vu’ Spring Scrimmage game heralds #TheReturn of UAB football at Legion Field Jack Ryan Sports Editor

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he smell of cookouts, the sound of music and the sight of the band in front of Legion Field can only mean one thing. #TheReturn of UAB Football was official as the Blazers took the field for its first spring game

in over two years.

On April 1, in front of a record-setting spring crowd, UAB played a full spring game featuring the first team offense and defense going against the second team offense and defense. The first team played in the new green Under Armour jerseys, while the second team played in the gold and white color combination.

“It goes without saying what a great and emotional feeling it was to get off that bus and see the unbelievable crowd,” said UAB Football Head Coach Bill Clark. “It was 11 a.m. on a Saturday in April, for our fans, alumni, recruits and former players to be out there it was amazing. I thought we had a great crowd with good energy,

and it was great to get the band and cheerleaders back.”

In terms of the actual game, the green team first team offense dominated the game. The green team amassed 595 total yards of offense on a balanced attack.

Quarterback Tyler Johnston connected with receiv-

See FOOTBALL, Page 7

FUNDING EDUCATION

Federal budget could spell disaster for academia Public school needs shadowed by private and charter options Wallace Golding Community Editor Only two months after his inauguration, President Donald Trump has submitted his proposed budget for the 2018 fiscal year complete with a deep cut to the U.S. Department of Education, which provides some degree of funding to nearly every American public school serving students from prekindergarten through graduate and professional

Trump’s proposal cuts into UAB’s motto

school.

The budget proposed a cut of 13.5 percent, or $9 billion, to the ED, sparking concern among teachers, school administrators and students alike. Here in Birmingham, many school systems use federal funds to provide everything from after-school tutoring to pre-K programs and even, in some cases, teacher’s salaries.

Much of the proposed cuts would affect federal Title I and Title II programs, which fund schools in underprivileged areas and improve teacher quality, respectively.

Walter Gonsoulin, Ph.D.,

Surabhi Rao Campus Editor

ing to the Birmingham Business Journal.

UAB won $328 million from federal grants in 2015. The University of Alabama at Huntsville, which came in second in the state, earned $67 million.

“For me, it’s dramatic,” said Vincenzo Guarcello, M.D., Ph.D., laboratory director of the Molecular and Cellular Analysis Core at UAB. “In the meantime, we need to see what the target is: when you cut the NIH budget, what are you

UAB’s renowned title as the hidden gem of the South may be in jeopardy.

If passed, President Donald Trump’s budget proposal will affect UAB to its very core.

The proposal Trump sent Congress decreases funding toward America’s research with the National Institute of Health by 19 percent, which is proposed to be reallocated toward defense, with a 10 percent increase in that department, accord-

See SCHOOLS, Page 7

See UAB, Page 7

INSIDE CAMPUS

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SPORTS

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OPINION

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PUBLIC HEALTH

Zika virus: Where is she now?

Duo brings epidemiology, biology to Ryals Surabhi Rao Campus Editor While Aaron Neal, Ph.D., was walking across the stage at Bartow, the Zika virus was replicating its way into the concern of NIH’s renowned scientists.

Knowledge of the Zika virus is an ongoing and limited process, but Neal and Craig Wilson, Ph.D., worked to demystify some of the details surrounding vaccines and their significance.

After the initial surfacing of the virus in 1947 in Uganda, there was not much heard about it again until 2007 in Micronesia. This huge gap, Neal said, can be attributed to the mild nature of the disease, its similarity to other conditions such as dengue fever and the high asymptomatic rate.

Zika is a replicating virus that can be transmitted via mosquito bites, from a pregnant woman to her fetus, through sex and through blood transfusions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-

PHOTO BY SURABHI RAO/ CAMPUS EDITOR Aaron Neal, PhD, speaks on the Zika virus, recent developments of vaccine projects and the relevance of research programs in our lives.

tion.

Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes and muscle pain. People rarely die from contracting Zika, and they also usually don’t feel sick enough to go to the hospital for it.

As of right now, Neal said, Zika is not of huge concern and is going to be primarily seen in the south. Still, it is prevalent enough that all donated blood is screened for it.

“I think there are still a lot of unknowns, and certain types of research keep us in our own bubbles. And that’s why it’s important to have these events and learn from one another,” said Eva Trinh, president of the Student Association for Gradu-

ate Education. This is a hot topic, and a lot of people still have questions about it.”

His discussion about Zika alongside Dr. Craig Wilson’s public health perspective on the matter produced a lecture series that described the main facets of the virus, and what we as a public should know about it.

In April 2007, the islands of Micronesia provided the perfect area for Zika to reach a wide population.

Out of 185 patients, 80 percent of people didn’t show symptoms. Six months after April, 70 percent of the population was infected and 80 percent of those were asymptomatic. Since that time in 2007, there have been few

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Zika, it’s not abstract,” Neal said. “It’s a virus that’s transmitted from mosquitoes to people. You aren’t going to breathe on somebody and give them Zika.

It’s of concern in Central and South America. Should you be freaked out in the U.S. and in Alabama? No, but you should be aware that the mosquito that transmits it is here. That doesn’t mean the mosquito has the virus to transmit, but it’s present and, in theory, it could. That’s what we saw in Florida and in parts of Tennessee as well.”

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Judge John England Jr. serves unheard voices Sufia Alam Campus Reporter

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ACROSS 4. I am not Catholic and I’m tone deaf, but I sang in a choir for Pope John Paul II. 7. Involve me, and I learn.

8. A month, and the name of a beloved chemistry professor

Surabhi Rao can be reached community@insideuab.com and on Twitter @Cityrao17.

SCHOOL BOARD SPOTLIGHT

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

to no cases of Zika there.

Neal, one of the first graduates from the Science and Technology Honors program at UAB, explained the timeframe of budget requests from the president to work on Zika, which rapidly increased from 2013 to 2016.

“I think it’s also great to see that even though we hear a lot of bad things about our government, to be able to see that there’s this kind of capacity that can scale up to do this kind of response in such a time-frame, you know that’s light-speed in terms of all that,” Wilson said.

So what is the update, then?

“When you talk about

DOWN 1. Dean of Honors College 2. Born at University Hospital, BS at UAB, PhD at UAB 3. Name of Watts’ house 5. Went to IIT in India 6. First name of Director of Honors Advising

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udge John England Jr. speaks on his sacrifice and hard work as a tribute to his parents. Now, he feels he has been given an opportunity as a judge and board of trustee member to give back to his community and to his children.

England, a native to Birmingham, was born in Unitown and started his education at Coleman High School.

After Coleman, England graduated from Tuskegee Institute with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1969.

However, after obtaining his degree, England decided his contribution to society would best be served in the field of law.

“Being from Birmingham and also having been born in the black world [and] to have significant involvement in civil rights, I thought one of the best ways to make my contribution was to try to go to law school,” England said.

England pursued that dream at the University of Alabama School of Law. England was among the first eight African-Americans admitted to the program. By the end of the first year, he was one of the only four that matriculated.

“It was pretty difficult for the African-Americans who came to fit into that environment and survive,” he said.

Although England survived his first year of law school, he was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War. He

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN ENGLAND JR. England has worked in various public offices in order to spread a message of equity and inclusion.

served two years in the U.S. Army as a military policeman.

After returning from Vietnam and completing his law degree, England began practicing in Tuscaloosa in 1974 and was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council in 1985.

England served two terms and was chairman of the Finance and Community Development Committee. England attributes his drive as a product of his admiration for his parents.

“My mother was a woman who was determined to make sure her children would have opportunities,” England said. “And I know she made many sacrifices for the sake of her children.”

England’s mother worked at a restaurant for almost her entire adult life while her husband, Mr. England worked in the steel mills for as many hours as possible to accumulate money for their children.

Both of England’s par-

ents worked relentlessly during all of England’s childhood and young adulthood, ensuring that England would have the opportunity to receive a college education As one of the 15 members of the board of trustees, England said he considers equal representation as one of the most important aspects of his job. He works to ensure that all points of view are considered before any decisions are finalized.

“I try to bring my experience as a judge and integrate it as much as possible in my role as a trustee member,” England said.

England has been serving on the board for the past 17 years. He hopes to influence the various levels of each school such that they all contain diversity.

“My daughter went to UAB, my son went to the University of Alabama and both my children went to UA’s law school, so I feel like all my service is my way of giving back,” he said.

England offered advice to young people seeking similar career paths to find a mentor willing to guide them every step of their career.

“Growing up, I didn’t see many role models,” England said. “But when I did, I finally got a chance to realize that my dreams are achievable.

I could be like George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington or Martin Luther King, as long as I strive for being the best at what I am.”

Sufia Alam can be reached at sufia@uab.edu.

1. Blanton 2. Cusic 3. Woodward 4. Atkisson 5. Kana 6. Amy 7. Motto 8. March

April 4, 2017

The Kaleidoscope

Page 3 | Campus

SPOTLIGHT ON: AMAL GOTETI Amal Goteti Contributed Report I started Photography 2 years ago, however it is something I have always wanted to do. My main style of photography is photojournalism. The beauty of telling with my work whether that what I think during an interview with an individual or documenting the story I am told is, in my opinion, unparalleled. I remember the photo that inspired me to start was a

photo taken after the Nepalese Earthquake of a Nepalese man playing with his five year old kid while being bandaged. It was from that photo that I decided that I would love to be a photojournalist. That being said, I am obsessed with writing as well as reading. I love to read poetry, especially Rumi. Sufi Poetry in general very soothing for me.

BEHIND THE CAMERA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMA GOTETI This is a major series I am currently working on. I ask my model for a story that has truly impacted them, and I document what I see and feel from their story. This photo is the story of Kevin Phan and the story of how he lost his high school boyfriend. Original photo in color.

Name: Amal Goteti Major: Mathematics with a minor in Electrical Engineering Age: 20 Art Medium: Photography/Photojournalism Favorite Color: Stark Grey Advice for aspiring artists: My advice is very simple. Stop chasing money and fame and fortune. Regardless of how hard you try to make something like that meaningful, you will fail. Chase excellence, or in other words, chase the feeling of being content with one’s work. That is more fulfilling that any amount of money or fame in the world.

Artist Spotlight is presented by Aura Literary Arts Review.

Style profile Name: Alice Grissom Year: Freshman Major: English and history Shop this look: Grissom is wearing a coral, sleeveless dress from Anthropologie, a denim, bomber-style jacket from Target and distressed Oxfords from DSW. Style Inspiration: I’m not sure that I could select a specific individual as inspiration; although I keep an eye on trends, I wouldn’t embrace any that didn’t attract me independently of their popularity. I feel inspired by unique juxtapositions of colors, textures, styles, and cuts, and often try to emulate that quality.

community

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LOCAL CUISINE

Where the Magic City eats Birmingham’s hottest restaurants and their rise to area-wide acclaim Anthony Roney Community Reporter

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elcome to Birmingham, “the Magic City,” derived from the expansive growth Birmingham saw in the early 20th century, this moniker could surly be attributed to the city’s magical food scene.

For years, downtown streets have been flooded with restaurants that push the envelope of innovative flavor and atmosphere.

“Downtown is the perfect atmosphere for opening a restaurant,” said Zach Walton, general manager of OvenBird. “The culinary scene is vibrant, diverse and consistently growing, and the average guest has already been wowed by culinary giants right around the corner. If you want to know whether your concept has merit, this is the place to test it.”

OvenBird Restaurant is the epitome of the Magic City food scene. Located in the up-and-coming and trendy neighborhood of Pepper Place, OvenBird combines classic southern recipes with dishes from Spain and South American countries. Walton mentioned that this location and partnership with Pepper Place is perfect and that he couldn’t be happier in that location.

However, with an excellent

location, there must an excellent establishment.

“The persistent pursuit of perfection in this restaurant is absolutely my favorite quality,” Walton said. “We have the pleasure of being helmed by people who are continually looking to sharpen every aspect of our service to a razor’s edge, and we have a staff of dedicated professionals with a passion for the brand and the willingness to invest in each other.”

Despite popular belief though, the Magic City culinary scene isn’t restricted to professional chefs.

Some restaurant founders and owners are just regular people who want to make a memorable experience for the people of Birmingham.

A perfect example of this would be Wasabi Juan’s in Avondale.

“We basically look at it like, ‘how would we want to step into a restaurant, how would we want to be treated and what would we want the experience to be like,’” said Jessica Hardisson, co-owner and co-founder of Wasabi Juan’s. “Of course, we want great food, but we really want to make sure that every customer feels special when they walk-in and customized to them.”

Hardisson said that her family founded the restaurant even though they are

PHOTO BY EMILY COX-OLDHAM/ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR OvenBird, on 3rd Avenue South, is Chris Hastings’, a James Beard Award winning chef, casual, live fire restaurant.

not “restaurant people.” Her father actually was an auto locksmith in Miami before coming to Birmingham to open the restaurant.

The culinary ethics that Wasabi Juan’s practices creates their success and popularity as they are about to open up a second restaurant in Hoover close to the Galleria. However, like Hardisson said, they also want great food. Wasabi Juan’s combines high-quality sushi with Mexican food creating their signature sushi burritos at relatively low prices.

“My dad, he loves sushi,” Hardisson said. “It’s a really big part of him. He doesn’t like using chopsticks and he feels dumb whenever he

uses a fork to eat sushi. So, we saw the concept of the whole of the burrito in your hand, a sushi burrito, and we decided Birmingham is at the top of the trend so, we decided to bring it over here.”

A great way to find these restaurants in Birmingham is the What to Eat in Birmingham food blog. Jessica Merlin and Scott Doty have created this popular online locale for the people of Birmingham to find great places to eat. However, they don’t design it as a prestigious food critic’s blog, they instead, write it as a regular person would. The couple felt that Birmingham’s food scene has grown immensely

in recent years.

“If you had asked people five or six years ago, if some of these authentic places would’ve worked out, there would’ve been doubt among a lot of people,” Doty said.

“But we’ve seen restaurants such as these launch and succeed.”

The Magic City has a unique and diverse food scene. However, the best way to experience this culinary magic isn’t by hearing or reading about it secondhand, it’s by going out and experiencing it. It’s time to go for a night on the town and explore the magic.

Anthony Roney can be reached at roney16@uab.edu.

CITY COUNCIL

Golf cart cabs to hit the asphalt Joyride to offer short-distance taxi services Wallace Golding Community Editor After months of debate, the Birmingham City Council passed legislation enabling golf cart cabs to operate on the city’s roadways.

The ordinance, which mandates that the vehicles cannot exceed 25 mph, allows companies such as Joyride to operate on streets approved by the city’s traffic engineer.

Months of discussion were

plagued with concerns over the safety of these vehicles.

Councilor Valerie Abbott of District 3 was one of the more outspoken opponents.

“Seeing how people drive in Birmingham, I was concerned about the slower-moving vehicles getting rear-ended,” Abbott said.

However, Abbott’s worries were largely resolved after the Council added stipulations to the ordinance requiring that passengers wear seatbelts. Additionally, the vehicles must be inspected by the Birmingham Police Department before hitting the asphalt and they must have functioning headlights, brake lights and turn signals.

“It does appear the ordi-

nance requires clearly visible signage and provides strict guidelines, so I felt better about voting for the ordinance,” Abbott said. “The problem of places being too far to walk and too close to drive applies to a fair number of entertainment areas in Birmingham with streets that can accommodate multiple types of transportation.”

Joyride, which also possesses permits to operate in Tuscaloosa, Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee, is expected to add Birmingham to its ever-growing list of locations by early May. Wallace Golding can be reached at community@insideuab.com and on Twitter @WGolding_4.

Humans of Birmingham

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want to be the first African American woman president...

My sister is nice to me.

Sometimes she’s mean and sometimes she yells, but I still love her. If she’s mad, happy or sad, I still love her always. Even if I get mad at her, still, I love her, and since we’re sisters, we’re always going to be in each other’s hearts.

– Lauren Elizabeth Hood, 3rd grader at John Herbert Phillips Academy

sports

Page 5 April 4, 2017

RUGBY

New team strives to make big name Young sport brings together individuals from across UAB members make it a point to develop a closeknit family atmosphere On a rainy Thursday throughout the team. afternoon, the UAB Babakitis says that all of Rugby Club slopped the members hang out around on the muddy together, go do commuWest Campus Fields as nity service and enjoy they prepared for their spending time with each weekend tournament at other off the field. the University of South “[We look for] Alabama. really anybody to be The UAB Rugby honest.” said Babakitis.

Club is just a baby “It’s more of a desire to compared to other play, because we have sports around campus. had guys come from all The club started in 2011 types of backgrounds. practicing with I played football the Birmingham here at UAB. I got Rugby Club done with football before coming and was looking to UAB as a true for something to club sport. get into as a team “UAB broke sport. A friend of off from BirBabakitis mine told me to mingham and come play rugstarted practicing at by, but I didn’t know West Campus Fields,” what that was. It’s a said Tommy Babakitis, team sport, [and] that coach of the Rugby appealed to me. It is Club. “Last spring was a contact sport, so we our first season of sevhave a lot of guys that ens competing against wrestled. We have a guy other college teams. that was in show choir That’s when I started that was just looking for coaching more for UAB. something to be a part Last year, we played in of.” three tournaments and This past weekend, went 1-9. This year, the Rugby Club travwe have played three eled to the University of tournaments and are 11- South Alabama to com2-1. We have had young pete in a tournament. guys stick around and The Blazers went 5-0 on develop.” the weekend. They beat The Rugby Club Florida State University,

Jack Ryan Sports Editor

PHOTO BY IAN KEEL/PHOTO EDITOR UAB Rugby junior Jake Glaser tackles sophomore Nathaniel Thomas, as freshman Prince James Story chases the play.

Loyola University, Troy University and South Alabama twice. That improved their overall record to 17-2-1. They are on a 16-game win streak.

There are two types of rugby played in the collegiate level. They are seven versus seven, commonly referred to as sevens, and 15 versus 15, commonly referred to as fifteens.

A typical weekend for the team involves traveling to a host campus, although UAB will host a tournament or two during the season. Although they are not part of an NCAA sanctioned sport such as basketball, they still are part of a conference.

“For fifteens, we are

a member of the Dixie Conference.” Babakitis said. “So that has a schedule where we set up games. Typically we will go visit that school, and then they will come visit us. For sevens rugby during the spring, it’s more [we] rely on different teams [to] host a tournament, like Tu-

lane University, Spring Hill College and South Alabama. We also hosted a small tournament.

Teams will send out an invitation. Then we sign up and pay money to be entered into the tournament.”

At the end of the year, there will be a national gathering of

teams.

They will play a large tournament just like any other sport. The winner of this tournament will be crowned as the national champion.

“Tulane will host another tournament April 8,” said Babakitis. “This is the qualifier for the National Small College Rugby Organization.

If you win that one, you move on to a more regional competition.

If you keep moving up, you can be moved into a playoff system and ultimately win a national title.”

The Rugby Club practices Tuesday and Thursday from 6:308:30 p.m. If you would like more information about rugby or how to join, please visit the UAB Rugby Club Facebook page.

Jack Ryan can be reached at sports@insideuab.com and on Twitter @kscope_sports.

Bring us your: Plastic bottles Aluminum cans Paper & Flat Cardboard *No Liquids or Foods* Learn more about our mission at www.uab.edu/recycle.

opinion Spring 2017 Chandler Jones Editor-in-Chief editor@insideuab.com

Tessa Case Managing Editor managing@insideuab.com

Surabhi Rao Campus Editor campus@insideuab.com

Jack Ryan Sports Editor sports@insideuab.com

Ian Keel Photo Editor photos@insideuab.com

Tamara Imam Branding and Outreach Manager online@insideuab.com

Emily Cox-Oldham Assistant Photo Editor emilyco@uab.edu

Kristina Balciunaite Assistant Branding and Outreach Manager asst.online @insideuab.com

Page 6 April 4, 2017

EDITORIAL BOARD

Master plan in good hands Connor McDonald Opinions Columnist

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ecently, UAB announced the release of their new and improved Campus Master Plan, as if the street view filled with cranes and the sound of construction at every hour weren’t evidence enough that UAB had plans in the works for the campus’ future already.

A big focus of the plan involves improving the streets that run through campus, which currently do not have bike lanes. The danger these intersections and the cars that drive through them present are not limited to those on bikes— pedestrian crossing isn’t any better. Currently, pedestrians can only cross at fast-paced intersections and on overpassing, unsightly concrete bridges.

To fix this, UAB has proposed reducing their thoroughfares to accommodate all modes of transportation, according to Director of Planning Design and Construction James Fowler. This is the logical next step for UAB’s campus as the school continues to grow. Not only would this improve pedestrian and cyclist

commutes on campus, but it parking. For years, UAB has would also help commutes been trying to transition itself through campus for non-UAB into a residential campus, residents of Birmingham. evidenced by plans to build yet Opening up access through another dorm building despite campus would go a long only recently constructway to further integrate ing the UAB Freshman UAB with its surroundResidence Hall. Howeving communities since er, UAB was designed to currently UAB feels be a commuter campus, more like a wall rather and the transition away than a bridge between from being commutthe Midtown-Parkside McDonald er-friendly has proven to and the Southside-Highbe a serious issue for the lands areas. administration.

Personally, I wish UAB Their solution? Eliminate would take this further by parking while improving bus eliminating the vast majorisystems and the aforementy of roads running through tioned improvements for campus and replacing them cyclists and pedestrians. This with park-like concourses. This has presented some issues, would not only lend itself to though, as almost 80 percent UAB’s “sustainable campus” of all undergraduates commute model but also create a more to campus, according to a data appealing campus that would set compiled by the Office of likely increase enrollment by Institutional Effectiveness for some margin. the 2014-2015 school year.

To be fair, though, UAB is The biggest issue is that creating something similar by UAB is not in a college town building a greenway from cam- like Tuscaloosa or Auburn. pus to Regions Field and the Instead, UAB is located withParkside district. in Alabama’s largest city. In While there are no reasuburban-style college towns, sonable objections to making campus bus systems can easily campus a safer walking and make stops at almost every biking space, the master plan apartment complex or neighis covering up one key issue: borhood, but Birmingham’s

urbanity makes this far more difficult as a lot of people around here have no affiliation with UAB. Birmingham’s terrain also strongly discourages students in the residential areas south of campus to bike to class. Because of this, commuting via car will probably always be the most convenient way to get to campus despite the already horrific lack of parking available to the current student body.

While I do not at all claim to be an expert on this subject, I think the best solution would be to set up a dedicated parking complex that is not physically connected to the rest of campus. From there, UAB could run shuttle lines constantly to a centrally located bus station on campus.

In addition, UAB could then begin to prioritize eliminating all on-campus parking in favor of more green space and buildings. No matter how UAB ends up solving the issue, I’m confident that they have the resources and the connections within Birmingham to get anything they want done.

Connor McDonald can be reached at conmcdon@uab.edu.

Sufia Alam Campus Reporter sufia@uab.edu

Wallace Golding Community Editor community @insideuab.com

Trinity Dix Sports Reporter tri915@uab.edu

Connor Gentry Sports Reporter gcgentry@uab.edu

Anthony Roney Community Reporter roney16@uab.edu

Chris St. John Opinions Columnist cstjohn@uab.edu

Connor McDonald Opinions Columnist conmcdon@uab.edu

Leisha Chambers

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Head Illustrator lei2013@uab.edu

Marie Sutton Advisor masutton@uab.edu

Patrick Johnson Production Manager plj3@uab.edu The Kaleidoscope functions as a memeber of UAB Student Media in association with UABTV, BlazeRadio and Aura.

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STUDENT LIFE

This school’s most important paper Chris St. John Opinions Columnist I had a horrific experience the other morning. I had to use the bathroom, and unfortunately it was No. 2. I know you’re laughing at this subject, but everyone defecates.

Scientific fact. We all do it, but don’t like to talk about it.

Well, I am going to talk about it.

After I was finished “doing my business,” I reached for some toilet paper. This particular roll had to be the worst paper I have ever felt in my life. After I looked in disbelief, because it was so narrow I folded it three times to be able to use it. The paper was hard and crisp, like notebook paper, and did not follow the contours of my rear end.

Again, everyone goes No. 2, but no one wants to do it

at school. Most people will you dropped off a load, and do anything they can to not the bathroom is giving you a have to sit on a toilet at UAB. receipt of the transaction.

I know I would much rather The paper is hard and defecate at the house than at nonabsorbent. It is just bad. school. But when you got to Toilet paper does not seem go, you got to go. like a thought-provokI pay a serious ing subject, nor should amount of money to it be a subject for an this school, as do most article. But I believe it students, why can’t we is the little things that get some soft two-ply say a lot. paper.

Toilet paper is a litThat’s a good comSt. John tle thing that says a lot. plaint to bring to your It says we appreciate student government. I bet you coming to our school, someone could win the school make yourself at home, but presidency by promising to remember you’re not at home. get the student body better Now, the bathrooms at toilet paper.

UAB are clean and the custoI called the act “doing dial crew does an awesome your business” as a polite job of doing a thankless task way of saying “sitting on the like maintaining the baththrone.” This seems an aprooms. propriate phrase because the However, one custodian toilet paper at school has the told me, he doesn’t use the texture of receipt paper. Like bathroom at that particular

building we talked at, he goes to another building on campus because they have actual toilet paper.

He didn’t want to go on the record with me, but he laughed when I told him my subject.

I understand that the paper is cheap, and that is why they use this industrial waste paper, but the paper is just not any good.

No one on campus I talked to likes the paper. I say we march to the Dean’s office and demand one small thing.

Decent toilet paper to wipe our tails with. Because, I guarantee you the people in the Administration Building don’t have to use this receipt-like paper on their rear ends. They got real nice good stuff.

Chris St. John can be reached at cstjohn@uab.edu.

April 4, 2017

The Kaleidoscope

UAB

From Page 1

cutting? It may be that the real target is to decrease indirect costs and spending, [or] the costs of administration. But, I’m not sure. For sure, UAB will be affected in a big way. You know, 19 percent is a big cut.”

Veterans will receive a 4.4 percent increase and The Department of Homeland Security is taking a 2.8 percent increase in the new budget.

Delores Stacks has a strong voice as a vision sciences graduate student that is soon to enter the workforce as a full-fledged, independent researcher.

“If he would stop pissing people off, we wouldn’t

PHOTO BY IAN KEEL/PHOTO EDITOR An empty lab in Volker Hall echoes uncertainty researchers face under Trump’s budget proposal.

need to reallocate our funds toward defense,” Stacks said.

UAB’s Strategic Plan includes a vision statement that reads “an internationally renowned research university – a first choice for education and health care.”

“For me, independent of personal ties, I still don’t

think you should be cutting money from research development,” Guarcello said. “This is the money that is best spent for the nation to grow and compete in the global market. The United States has been fantastic, driving the economic growth [toward] research. Now, if

Page 7P you cut this part, how do you want to compete?”

UAB Vice President for Research Chris Brown, Ph.D., expects cuts ranging from 18 to 20 percent in the upcoming year.

“I was disappointed that Trump won, but I really thought he is supposedly a great business guy,” Stacks said. “I was hoping maybe that it would be a new FDR situation with new jobs and more economic growth. The U.S. is kind of behind in the STEM areas. We really need to catch up with the rest of the world. I thought maybe he would take the approach that FDR took to get people jobs. It was kind of a kick in the face.”

In 2016, UAB received $360 million in funding

from the NIH. The NIH remains the largest funding source for research here, and last year, researchers were awarded $270 million in research grants.

“It’s kind of concerning for the whole state, because the one strong facet of Alabama being a real place and not the backwoods of nowhere is this,” Stacks said. “We might slip if UAB does lose funding. A lot of the money comes from the government. If 20 percent of the people, the biggest employer of the state, decreases funding and people have to walk.

Surahbi Rao can be reached at campus@insideuab.com and on Twitter @Cityrao17.

PHOTO BY GIANI MARTIN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA The gold team offense runs the ball down the field as the green team defense attempts to tackle the ball carrier at Saturday’s Spring Football game at Legion Field.

Football

From Page 1

ers eight times for 161 yards passing while quarterback AJ Erdely completed seven passes for totaling 108 yards.

Not only did both quarterbacks show off their arms, they showed they are not afraid to take off and run with the ball. Erdely rushed for 59 yards while Johnston rushed

for 33 yards.

“You got to see them run the ball a little bit, and that’s really the twelfth man we talk about all of the time,” Clark said.

“Both of these guys can keep plays alive. Having two of these guys along with [Kylen] Binn who are so athletic it really opens up our offense.”

The green team also got the ground game

going. Running back Kalin Heath carried the ball 13 times, totaling 79 yards. The Blazers also got a great performance from James Noble. Noble was just recently presented with a scholarship after walking onto the program. Noble rushed for 62 yards and scored the opening touchdown of the game.

One of the biggest performances from the

PHOTO BY GIANI MARTIN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA The Marching Blazers joined by high schoolers and alumni cheer on the Blazers in their return to Legion Field.

Schools

From Page 1

superintendent of Fairfield City Schools, says that this would be devastating to a largely poverty-stricken district such as his.

“The amount of money that we use to pay teachers just with Title II funds, we’re talking two or three teachers at a school,” Gonsoulin said. “That doesn’t even factor in paying for teacher’s professional development or anything like that.”

State funds for education are attributed based on area property taxes by using millage values. These amounts are directly tied to property values so that lower-income districts like Gonsoulin’s are often forced to bridge the gap using federal dollars. If these funds are taken away, however, schools will likely be forced to lay off teachers and increase class sizes.

“One millage in

Fairfield is worth about $57,000 but one millage in Hoover is worth $1.6 million,” Gonsoulin said. “By law, we both get 10 millages from the state, but that doesn’t mean we’re equally funded. If you keep pulling federal dollars, which we use to make up for a lack of state dollars, then there’s nothing we can do.”

Jefferson County Schools, the second largest public district in Alabama, relies on federal funds totaling about $8.5 million each year to provide after-school and summer programs for its students. Additionally, 30 of 56 schools in the district receive some degree of Title I funds to pay for technology, personnel and translators for students.

“This funding is critical for ensuring that our students are taken care of,” Craig Pouncey, Ed.D, the superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, said.

“For us to lose those federal dollars would be

devastating.”

Pouncey says that after-school and summer programs would likely be the first to be dismembered by the district to preserve the integrity of the classroom as much as possible.

“There will be tough choices,” Pouncey said.

“We’re required by law to have a balanced budget; we can’t have deficit spending, so if that money isn’t there, we have to end those programs.”

Despite the large cut to these funding categories, the president’s proposed budget calls for a $1.4 billion increase in schoolchoice programs, which benefits charter and private schools while putting public systems at a disadvantage.

“It’s just unfair,” Gonsoulin said. “I’m not trying to be a crybaby about it, but when you stack the deck against public schools like this budget does, you’re setting them up for failure.

game came from wide receiver Colin Lisa.

Lisa caught five passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, this was the first time Lisa played in Legion Field since the shutdown of the program in 2014.

“It’s huge,” Lisa said. “It felt like déjà vu from the first time I played here. I had to take a step back for a second. I’m really back now. It’s really happening.”

The Blazers continue to search for depth.

Clark said the spring game and practices were used to find battles for positions and set a lineup for the fall. Two of the biggest battles were at the forefront of this game.

In the fall, Erdely received more of the playing time, but Johnston was still recovering from a Tommy John’s surgery coming out of high school. During the spring game, both quarPeople throw around this phrase of ‘school choice’ like it’s a good thing. It’s not.”

The Trump Administration’s budget proposal provides charter and private schools with access to funds that are typically reserved for public schools, which educate more than 50 million children nationwide according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The problem lies in that anyone can start a charter school without any form of licensure but still be funded by the federal government under the new proposed budget.

“Supporting ‘school

PHOTO BY UAB ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Running back Donnie Lee carries the ball for 69 yards in his fight for a spot as starter in Saturday’s game.

terbacks received about the same playing time and both statistically were equal. Johnston’s arm looked healthy as he connected on a majority of his passes, while Erdely showed more tenacity in extending plays.

At running back, the fight comes down to three or four players. Heath, Noble and Donnie Lee combined for 209 yards on the

ground during the game. Also, Lucious Stanley was limited in the game action as he has been battling an injury.

All will be revealed Sept. 2 as the Blazers take the field for their first official game and the completion of the return of UAB Football.

choice’ is a nice way of saying ‘taking public dollars and supporting private entities,’ whether that be corporation schools or private schools,” Pouncey said.

“They are not proving any more successful that what we are doing.

It’s just a matter of people trying to make money from the public tax dollars, which is not what education is about.”

Randall Woodfin, a city attorney, former Jefferson County school board member and mayoral candidate, spoke directly to the steps that can be taken to lessen any blow that Birmingham’s school

systems could see as a result of the proposed cuts.

“We have to close the gap that would be created by [the president’s] funding priorities by leveraging other public and private resources,” Woodfin said.

“Our students can’t wait for [Washington,] D.C to figure it out, especially with the burden of the administration’s proposed cuts falling on low- and moderate-income students; they need our support now.”

Jack Ryan can be reached at sports@insideuab.com and on Twitter @kscope_sports.

Wallace Golding can be reached at community@insideuab.com or on Twitter @ WGolding_4.

Page 8

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