September 4, 2018 Kscope

UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 60, ISSUE 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Blazer News

CityLifestyle

Opinion

Taste of UAB p.2 Safety on campus p.3 New intramural field p.4

Art & culture spotlight: slow fashion p.6 Bird scooters in B’ham p.7 Relaxed student hangout spots p.8

The end of a Republican era p.9 Student body positivity p.10 Stop religious stereotyping p.11

Legion lockdown UAB defeats SSU in the first game of the season Christopher Booz Sports Reporter haiti101@uab.edu Once again, the rows at Legion Field were filled with green, gold and cheers of Blazer pride. Kicking off

into the season, UAB Blazers enter another year with the reacquired football program, defeating the Savannah State Tigers 52-0, on Thursday August 30.

See FOOTBALL, Page 5

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

PAGE 2

blazer news TASTE OF UAB

Let them eat green and gold Event brings together students and city over food and fun Myah Clinton Staff Reporter mkc16@uab.edu On Friday, the smells of local food vendors and sounds of amphitheater stage performers drew students into the first-ever Taste of UAB event.

From 11 to 3 p.m. outside of the Hill Student Center, students roamed between trucks and booths among other activities intended to bring together people who call Birmingham home.

“It shows the other side of college life,” said Maya O’Neal, senior in chemistry. “Academics are very important, but it’s also important to branch out and to try new things.”

In addition to collecting goodies from each organization’s table and entering to win prizes, students could talk to the various representatives present at the event to see what their organization had to offer college students.

“This has been a great event for us because we get a lot of school groups with young kids, but we’re trying to spread the word to college age students,” said Ty

Malugani, education coordinator for Sloss Furnaces.

The Birmingham Zoo was also present to get students involved in their organization.

“I went to Montevallo,” said Lydia Clements, membership office and groups assistant at the Birmingham Zoo. “I wished we would’ve had something like [Taste of UAB] that plugs people into the community be-

cause when you’re new to school, it’s so difficult to find your footing.”

Clements said that not enough students know about the Birmingham Zoo discounts offered to UAB students, such as the $25 annual membership and $5 general admission.

“That’s what we’re really trying to do here more than anything is just to let people know the student discount exists,” Clements said.

Brittany Jennings, director of communications for Hand-In-Paw, said students were drawn to the therapy dogs the nonprofit brought.

“Tons of students have been coming up, petting our dogs and getting to learn more about our therapy teams, what we do as an organization and our partnership with UAB,” Jennings said.

Hand-In-Paw’s mission is to improve human health and well-being through animal-assisted therapy.

At iHeartMedia’s table, students could enter to win tickets to an upcoming Portugal. The Man concert or an Amazon Echo Dot from the 103.7 The Q radio station.

Willow Scott, manager of youth and family programs at the Birmingham Museum of Art, said many students participated in the Aura

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

The smells of local food vendors and sounds of amphitheater stage performers draw students into the first-ever Taste of UAB event.

BLAZER NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4, 2018

PAGE 3

SECURITY

Keep safe on campus Lauren Moore Blazer News Editor lrm33@uab.edu

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

Students play video game machines outside the Hill Student Center.

Literary Arts magazine community mural.

“Everybody has been so enthusiastic and ready to do the mural and learn about the museum,” Scott said.

Students could either paint a canvas with UAB’s name in yellow, blue or red or a Blaze-themed canvas with shades of green.

Several food trucks such as iCantina and UAB Campus Dining’s Magic City Eats circled half of the 5A parking lot. Tables in the center created a make-shift food court allowing students to taste different styles of food from the Birmingham area.

“Some people want to learn more about organizations,” said Alex Young, senior in psychology. “It’s better to meet someone face to face than just reading about it online.”

Academics are very important, but it’s also important to branch out and to try new things.

- Maya O’Neal

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

Mural painting activity was provided by Aura Literary Arts magazine.

According to CNN’s website, 23 percent of women report experiencing some kind of unwanted sexual contact in college. With UAB also being located in the city, some students feel the campus is exposed to the threats of the surrounding Birmingham area.

“Anybody could come in here with anything,” Jenesys King, freshman in art said. “The classes in the Humanities building are exposed to the outside of the building and I don’t see any security walking around. I’d give the campus a 6/10 for safety.”

Other students share in this skepticism of the campus’ security.

“I’d say a 6/10 for campus safety as well. I’ve seen maybe one police car since I’ve been here this week,” Mya King, freshman in psychology, said.

To help counteract negative statistics and opinions, UAB has implemented many safety programs and features on campus to help students stay safe.

Female students, faculty and staff can take part in the UAB police department’s Rape, Aggression and Defense (RAD) program. The free course teaches women awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance in addition to hands-on defense training.

“Our RAD program enables women to feel empowered to face the changing world around us,” said Tonya Webb, UABPD Program Coordinator.

If students download the Rave Guardian app, it allows a user’s des-

ignated guardian (such as police or previously put in emergency contacts) to provide a virtual safety escort. The Safety Timer feature will notify officials if they do not reach their locations on time. Other features include an emergency call button and geo-targeted push notifications.

“The Rave Guardian is a helpful service to take advantage of during times where you may be traveling alone,” Webb said. “It is a personal safety app and service available to anyone with a UAB email address.”

Students can also use the bus system, the Blazer Express and the Blazer Express Safety Escort for round-the-clock travel that is worry-free. While the Blazer Express only runs until midnight, the Blazer Express Safety Escort is a van service available until 5:30 a.m. that can be accessed by students, faculty and staff by calling UAB’s Parking and Transportation Services.

“My experience with the bus was great,” Joshua Scott, senior in English Marketing, said. The trip was under 10 minutes and I didn’t have to wait. I’ll give the bus system a 9/10.”

There are also over 450 emergency help phones located around campus, including outside of the Hill Student Center, Mervyn Sterne Library and inside of the 16th St. and 12th St. decks. The phones are monitored 24/7 by UABPD. Students can look for the green phones that say HELP located throughout campus if they need immediate police assistance on campus. UAB also takes steps to ensure safety of students by sending out emergency alerts of suspicious activities on campus and restricting access to certain buildings or decks with UAB ID cards.

“Our goal is to build upon the community-policing type atmosphere here at UAB that already exists so that we can flourish and remain a pillar in the community,” Webb said.

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BLAZER NEWS

New space for physical activities

PHOTOS BY AMY LAWHON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The new intramural field is on 1101 Fifth Ave. S. and had its opening during this year’s Recstravaganza, August 29.

Introducing UAB’s intramural field Mallorie Turner Staff Reporter matrun31@uab.edu Miles Grigorian, senior in biomedical engineering, has been playing soccer since he was four years old.

A member of the intramural Co-Ed Soccer team since his freshman year, he remains an avid lover of the sport.

Now, with the opening of the new Intramural Field, he sees its creation as UAB’s way of giving intramurals a chance in developing more communal relationships among students.

“UAB is a community of a lot of individuals who have similar interests,” Grigorian said. “I know this development is a chance for us to express those interests.”

As classes start back, openings for intramural recruitment have also begun. All students are welcome to join intramural teams and have around 22 active club sports to choose from.

Wednesday, Aug. 29 marked the opening of the new field located at

1101 5th Ave. S. near UAB’s softball field. The ribbon cutting ceremony was immediately followed by the annual Recstravaganza which was the first event held on the field prior to its opening. Students were welcome to play games, win prizes and enjoy catering provided by Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ Restaurant.

Director of UAB Campus Recreation, Sean Ries, stated that the idea for a new recreation field had existed since he first entered UAB in 2012.

Ries said he noticed a tremendous need for outdoor recreational space. He grew more determined to create a space for club sports when teams like outdoor soccer and rugby began getting capped due to lack of space and time for practice. Thanks to the university, enough money to build a new field was raised so that Ries’ vision could come into fruition.

“One of the things I saw as a glaring weakness in our department was our outdoor field space,” Reis said. “So that was something I started working on [because] the need was there, there were a lot of students interested in intramurals, so we couldn’t start building these other complexes without finding a new home for them.”

Homewood-based Holcombe Norton Partners Landscape, Inc. is the architect firm responsible for the nearly $3 million project.

The new field features lights that can be programed by smartphone, two all-gender bathrooms, storage space for equipment and a sheltered area where spectators can retreat to when it rains along with other additions. Another notable element is that two games can be played on the field at once by strategic rotation of the field to ensure the grass fields do not become worn as quickly.

“I think having a green space on

our campus is a big deal especially for the students being able to participate,” said Jennifer Knejfl, Coordinator of Competitive Sports and Camps. “I think it will help them have a sense of community and hopefully build their teamwork relationships with people outside of the classroom.”

“We want to be able to say that if you have a passion for something, we don’t want to stop it, we want to improve it,” Ries said. “[The new field] opens the doors for students to have all kinds of opportunities to participate in whatever sport they want to do.”

Student engages in an activity during the Recstravaganza.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 2018

PAGE 5

sports FOOTBALL From FRONT

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

Savannah Tigers and UAB Blazers line up before the snap.

The Blazers dominated through their offensive rushing and passing game, complimented by a strong defense.

Coming back from a record-setting 8-5 season in its first year, the Blazers wasted no time to show up and show out. UAB scored on a 34-yard interception return and rushed for four touchdowns. A.J. Erdely was 22-of-28 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Within the first quarter, UAB scored only a few minutes into the game after SSU elected to differ the toss, which gave UAB first possession. On the opening drive, UAB totaled 70 yards on this possession, Spencer Brown had 41 yards on five carries, and scored the first touchdown.

The Tigers attempted a comeback just for 26 totals yards and a punt. On their very next possession, they forced two turnovers, one fumble and an interception.

In the second quarter, Blazer offense showed a slight regress but not the same goes for the defense.

Linebacker Chris Woolbright had a pick-six midway through the quarter and corner Brontae Harris received his second career interception on a dropped pass.

The Blazers continued with a 19-yard run from Brown, a 12-yard pass from Erdely to Kendall Parham and a 14-yard catch by Andre Wilson for a touchdown.

In the same quarter, the quarterback completed 8-of-10 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown before halftime.

Returning to the field, UAB defense held Tigers to several more stops and scored twice on wide receiver Lisa’s 11-yard touchdown catch on the Blazers’ opening possession of the second half and another score by kicker Nick Vogel on a 23-yard field goal.

Lisa had four catches for 36 yards on the drive and Vogel shook the crowd booting the ball through the endzone, which led to no returns throughout the whole game. The Tigers began the final quarter punting to the Blazers, who drove 70 yards and capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown from Lucious Stanley.

The game was out of reach, third-string quarterback Tyler Johnston III was sent in to close for the final scoring drives that ended with Stanley’s touchdown run and a six-yard touchdown run from James Noble III. Next, UAB will go up against Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Saturday, September 8, at 6 p.m.

PAGE 6

citylifestyle ART & CULTURE SPOTLIGHT

Seasonless, sensible, slow fashion Local designer navigates the new era of ethical fashion

LEFT: Maeseele designs “season-less” fashion items in her studio at Vestavia Hills.

Hill models one of Maeseele’s signature garments.

Ceri-Lune Renneboog CityLifestyle Editor cerilune@uab.edu The fashion industry has positioned itself as one of the most polluting and wasteful industries. Due to its focus on the importance of seasoned income and fast fashion, some designers are taking it upon themselves to change the fabric of the industry to something eco-friendlier.

Julie Maeseele, Belgian-born turned Birmingham-native, is one of these designers who is currently pioneering the slow fashion movement in Alabama. The designer has a studio nestled in the garage of her Vestavia Hills home, where she showcases her unique designs and meets with potential clients to discuss the particulars of her work.

“All of our clothes, [regardless of where they are bought] are made by hands,” Maeseele said, drawing attention to the true origins of our clothing.

Slow fashion focuses on creating hand-made, durable and timeless garments with a consideration for environmental sustainability, a contrast to the industry’s adamancy on fickle and futile fashion.

Rather than designing her fashion label around the industry’s preconceived seasons, Maeseele takes a self-established alternative approach, designing instead on the basis of “season-less fashion.” Her clothes are made with leftover inventory from local and national busiABOVE:PHOTO nesses, carefully curating a few pieces of one new garment for her customers every month.

COURTESY OF GRAHAM Maeseele’s collection features abstract silhouettes, bold lines and YELTON South-Western influences, offering a range of shirts and dresses for women of all ages. The designer caters to all body types, breaking away from the stigmatization of the typical fashion model, instead paying attention to hire models of all races and sizes.

“Julie Maeseele loves what she does and it shows,” said Esme Hill, one of Maeseele’s models. “She is creative, charming, and passionate. It was nothing short of inspiring collaborating with her.”

At the moment, the designer is focused on her new project, “Garment Revival.” The project encapsulates the idea of tangible emotional significance by repurposing the donated garments of customers into new pieces ready for wear. The project, as described by Maeseele, gives new meaning to well-loved textiles and resurrects the life and meaning of a garment. Maeseele said that “Garment Revival” is the epitome of the idea of having a garment and hanging onto it for decades rather than just one season.

The nostalgia-inducing project prolongs both the lifetime of a memory as well as lending new purpose to an otherwise wasteful textile.

Maeseele said the purpose of the project is harnessed in the designer’s belief that an object “should transcend the line between an object of use and an object of art.”

At the core of her business, Maeseele said she believes that you are what you wear and that you should wear it like a heart on your sleeve. Therefore, the designer focuses LEFT: PHOTO BY on producing timeless, durable and sentimental pieces that transcend the cycle AMY LAWHON/STAFF of seasoned and recyclable fashion.

PHOTOGRAPHER

TUESDAY, SEPT.4, 2018

CITYLIFESTYLE

PAGE 7

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Bird lands in Birmingham The newest way to get from point A to B Bella Tylicki Staff Reporter btylicki@uab.edu Electric scooters appeared seemingly overnight around Birmingham last week.

Bird, an electric scooter share service, is targeting cities and college campuses to help combat traffic, parking and environmental crises stemming primarily from a lack of robust public transportation.

The company came to Birmingham as part of its University Pop-Up Tour, a six-week venture to reach 150 campuses all over the country.

“This year, as the summer comes to a close and students return to campus, they might be able to leave their cars behind by Birding,” said Travis VanderZanden, founder and CEO of Bird. “Whether it’s making it to a class on time, clocking in for work, or simply getting to campus from the nearest public transit stop, Bird will help eliminate transportation gaps so students and faculty can focus on what really matters: education.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration’s 2017 National Household Travel Survey, about one-third of vehicle trips are two miles long or less. Bird wants to help eliminate those trips by providing an affordable, convenient and carbon-free alternative.

Like Zyp Bikes that have been in Birmingham for nearly three years, Bird scooters can be located and paid for on a mobile app. What sets Bird apart from Zyp Bikes is that they can be parked anywhere, not just at designated racks.

Each ride costs $1 plus 15 cents for every minute. Intended to be ridden in bike lanes or on the road, the scooters

can reach 15 mph and travel about 15 miles on a full charge. They can be rented from 7 a.m. to sunset when they are picked up for recharging and any necessary maintenance.

Programs cleverly named One Bird and Red, White, and Bird waive the $1 base fee for veterans, active military members and riders enrolled in a state or federal assistance program, making the scooter share even more accessible to its target consumers.

“Bird scooters seem to be helping the parking issues at UAB,” said Grace Woodley, junior in kinesiology. “I have seen scooters scattered around Southside, presumably from students riding them to and from class instead of driving and trying to find parking.”

Woodley typically bikes to class but said electric scooters are a good alternative for students who are intimidated by biking up and down the hills lining the south end of campus.

However, due to the dockless-nature of the scooters, there is no guarantee that there will be one nearby.

“The app is super user-friendly…[and] the ride is also very smooth and quiet! I find it nice that the scooters don’t add to the street noise in downtown or on University [Blvd.]” Woodley said.

Not everyone is giving Bird a warm welcome to Birmingham. City Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chair of the transportation committee, criticized the company for operating without the necessary permits.

O’Quinn is not the first authority to voice such complaints. Cities including Nashville, San Francisco and Venice, Calif., the city of Bird’s own headquarters, have expressed disdain for and even taken legal action against Bird.

However, O’Quinn and his fellow Councilors exhibited openness to similar transportation alternatives when they heard a pitch from LimeBike, one of Bird’s competitors, in April.

PHOTO BY AMY LAWHON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bird scooters are not bound to docks, thus can be found anywhere around in the city.

Bird will help eliminate transportation gaps so students and faculty can focus on what really matters: education.

- Travis VanderZanden

City Council Highlights Bella Tylicki Staff Reporter btylicki@uab.edu

- Re-zoning of the previously commercial-only district including the property at 259 Lakeshore Pkwy. will allow the construction of a 280-unit residential development. The Oxmoor Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to support the development.

- Johnson Bros. Corporation and Oscar Renda Contracting donated $50,000 to offset the City’s cost of the services of Wiss, Janey, and Elstner Associates, a firm that through tests, planning and control services will help the Birmingham Museum of Art protect its collection from vibrations during the renovations to Interstates 20 and 59.

- Starting Oct. 1, Airbnb will pay lodging taxes on behalf of its hosts to the City of Birmingham under applicable ordinances.

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CITYLIFESTYLE

NIGHTTIME HANGOUTS

Student stomping grounds Myles Womack Staff Reporter mjw3@uab.edu Birmingham’s culture has drastically changed over the last year to make room for the city as a hub for the humanities in the Southeast.

The growing scene in the city has begun to expand its opportunities for younger crowds hoping to find gallery openings and music shows without the restriction of age limitations that many venues uphold.

The Loft Show The rise of regional artists wanting to showcase their talents to the public creates a demand for an expressive outlet.

“The Loft Show puts on an event each month and has recently found a new home in the MAKEbhm studios located on 3rd Ave. S” said Josh Cox, co-creator of The Loft Show.

The monthly show has created an environment for the expression of creative liberty and, as a result, a community centered on the idea of artistic exposure through the founding of The Loft Show.

The Loft Show hosts monthly events focused on the collaboration of music and art.

The Nick The live music venue and bar is located on the corner of 10th Ave. S. and 26th St. S. “It is one of the oldest bars in town and one of the last standing original venues in Birmingham” said Jess, bartender at the Nick.

“Many other places have come and gone through Birmingham, but over the last 35 years we have remained strong.”

The venue’s tattered and frayed appearance is worn proudly by its regulars, The Nick hosts events almost nightly, so be sure to check out their calendar before planning your weekend.

PHOTO BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR

The Garage Cafe has an outdoor patio garden surrounded by sculptures, fountains and tea lights.

Desert Island Supply Company The Desert Island Supply Company (DISCO) is located on 55th St N. in the evolving Woodlawn community.

The space doubles as a venue for live music at night and as a space for local literary artists who participate in live readings, poetry and writing workshops for local youth during the day.

DISCO is also a great place for students looking for an outlet nearby for their own personal work in Birmingham’s growing artistic community.

The Garage Cafe Birmingham has recently established itself as a city famed for its cuisine and its music. The Garage, located near campus in Southside’s

Highland area, combines both scenes in an unassuming salvage shop courtyard. The quiet sandwich eatery is known for its simple menu selection.

“It’s a build-your-own sandwich joint where you can choose your own ingredients,” said James Briney, cook at the Garage Cafe. The options consist of bread, cheese, meat, and vegetable toppings.

The restaurant’s outdoor patio scenery has a unique garden surrounded by sculptures, fountains and tea lights, creating a quiet ambiance often forgotten in the latenight scene.

“It never gets too wild.” Briney said. “It’s a pretty relaxed environment and great for having conversations with friends,” The restaurant is open until midnight during the week and until 2

a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, making it the perfect late-night spot.

Moonlight on the Mountain As a new student, finding new and creative activities to do off campus can be difficult. Moonlight on the Mountain hosts live music events but also offers an open mic series to the community to provide artists with a means of public artistic expression.

The venue offers a variety of other events for those less extroverted, ranging from weekly Monday night yoga sessions to gallery events showcasing local artists’ work.

Moonlight on the Mountain presents an array of events on a weekly basis, with something for every type of student.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4, 2018

PAGE 9

opinion POLITICAL SHIFT

The end of the Republican party Kameryn Thigpen Opinion Columnist cchs2017@uab.edu

On August 25. 2018, the nation lost a hero with the untimely death of Senator John McCain.

Although some did not agree with his political standpoints, there is no denying his incomparable legacy. Since his passing, there have many people ranging from politicians to celebrities here and abroad who have recognized that his death truly marks the end of an era.

In the last couple of weeks, many have named McCain as the “last good Republican.” His death marked the ending of “chivalrous Republicanism,” and the end of the good-ole” Republicans who represented the core old-fashioned values which now seems like mere nostalgia in today’s political climate. With this notion being raised, what does this say about the current political atmosphere we are now enduring?

America is living in a current state of political turmoil and McCain’s sense of unity and respect for the American will be missed.

Throughout his life, he always stood up for his beliefs in both his politics and personal life. During the 2008 Presidential campaign against Barack Obama, although they were competitors, they were never enemies or foes. McCain was never one to shy away from defending his country, having served as an aviator in the Vietnam War. It was also during this time that he was taken as a POW in Korea.

What speaks volumes about John McCain more than anything, however, is the reactions sparked by his passing. All throughout the country, people mourned his death. It brought about unity. Politicians from both Democratic and Republican parties have responded to Senator McCain’s death.

Politics are now focused on staying true to their parties and nothing else, but they have taken out the time to acknowledge Senator McCain’s life and celebrate his strong roots in democracy. This is evident in Biden’s words

BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

at McCain’s memorial service with his repeating words of “I’m a Democrat” (Biden). He does this humorously of course, but the point of this is to enhance that McCain represented the best of values despite what political party that he was in and strived for what was best for the American people.

For his funeral, he invited his former candidate Barack Obama and George W. Bush to speak, which enhanced the feeling of unity that John McCain stood for. One of the most interesting responses to McCain’s death was

the lack of response from the current President.

Donald Trump was too hesitant to acknowledge the death of Senator McCain. This says a lot about the difference in men who are of the same political party. His failure to even acknowledge McCain’s heroism reiterates our current era of politics. Even though both men are from the same party. One would think they would represent the same values, but the distinction of the two are very clear.

Trump uses his political tactics to divide and separate and McCain was all about unity. America’s politics has to now deal with the gang mentality of the political parties.

John Mccain’s heroism and his legacy transcends even after his passing. The mourning from the entire country displays a sense of loss a slight sense of despair.

Many politicians and analysists labeled Senator McCain as the “last great Republican” due to his love of his core values and his deep roots of democracy are treaded within the American soil.

His death signifies a turning point in politics and in society.

His death marks the end of the heroes of the Republican. A sense of patriotism for the country and pushing the country forward to continue to be great. John McCain was celebrated from his love of democracy and that surely will be missed. The most important thing to take from his death is the feeling of uncertainty of the climate of the present and will there ever be another John McCain?

PAGE 10

OPINION

CULTURE

Body positivity isn’t enough Parker Rose Opinion Editor pdrose@uab.edu Disclaimer: These words are my own opinions which have gone through roughly the same level of professional or medical criticism as a 2-for-1 takeout pizza coupon. My philosophical ramblings will not suffice for expert medical advice, and if you feel that you may be suffering from an eating disorder please consult a trained professional.

Eating disorders are most commonly linked with the phenomenon of bodily dissatisfaction, which is most often linked to the exceptional difference between what is considered in society as the ideal figure and what is the known average.

And while many talented clinicians have done excellent research and there has been very effective campaigns that encourage body positivity at any size – it doesn’t seem like anyone is really addressing what underlies the obsession surrounding our bodies which often leads to disordered behavior – our need for control.

As students, we are taught that our academic success is indicative of the kind of livelihoods we will be eligible for, and that choosing the wrong major could land your resume in a pile of unread applications for jobs post-graduation.

We are taught that every step, every test, every time we are asked to speak up in class contributes to how we are seen and judged by our peers and professors. As a student, trying to balance work, family, school and social life for the first time can be very daunting.

Life has always been and will

continue to be a game of balancing, events and circumstances which and oftentimes it can feel as though simply cannot be controlled. whenever something does go To satiate this hunger for power, right, something of equal or young adults oftentimes turn more importance goes surely to what is right in front of awry. To put it simply – you them – their plates. It might feel like no matter how hard begin with counting calories, you try, you just can’t gain restricting entire windows control. of time during which they So that’s why I say that are not allowed to eat, and campaigns like body positivity shaming themselves when they aren’t enough, because although inevitably do have to eat. From Rose then on, it’s a slippery slope of they have sparked an inspirational movement towards societal accepnegative personal narratives and tance of diverse body types, they disordered behavior. do not touch on what may be seen But what are we to do? Burst the as the deeper cause for disordered, bubbles of all social expectations obsessive behavior. It’s absurd – we or hard circumstantial truths? Prehave a compulsive need to feel tend that life isn’t a maze of existenin control of tial dread, full of doubts and

Tips for a healthy life by Anna Threadcraft, Director of Employee Wellness at UAB - Stop eating when you’re satisfied, not when you’re stuffed.

- Find ways to integrate healthy habits into your lifestyle; move more, walk around the Green instead of meeting up for coffee; walk downtown instead of driving there, - Make your meals representative of all healthy food groups, it’s okay to have pastas and cookies, but don’t let that fill all your plate. misinterpretations?

No. I want to point out that a more modest and philosophical approach is in order which concerns more than just acceptance of our physical bodies through body positivity.

Instead of viewing our lives and our bodies as things to be mastered or controlled – what if we focused on just enjoying it? Instead of making our bodies and our lives mean something – whether it’s beauty, power or sexual appeal – perhaps we should focus on doing the best that we can in the moment, and making sure to take care to actually feel something.

I am only saying that it might be easier to recognize that it is impossible to always be in control of all the variables. In the words of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4, 2018

OPINION

RELIGION AWARENESS

I won’t jusitfy ISIS when a Pennsylvania grand jury named more than 300 clergy in a report which found more than 1,000 children abused, I found myself seeking out the opinion of any Catholic friend I could find.

As if there was any other possibility they would do something other than condemn the acts of the men The concept of the norm of child sex abuse within who did such horrible things under the premise of the Catholic Church is a harsh reality I have always their religion. known since I decided to become an individWhen one of the most horrific events happened ual who wants to be aware of the political in American history, I choose to seek justification world around her. from my Catholic friends instead of extensive Then in 2002, the Catholic Archresearch. diocese of Boston sex abuse scanAnd that is the problem. When horrendal published by the Boston Globe dous acts of murder or shootings in Florida made it clear to me that these take place by the hands of the mentally horrendous acts not only happen ill, we don’t expect all individuals with in books and movies, but in my depression or bipolar disorder to speak own reality. Five Roman Catholic out. Yet, when, priests, rabbis or imams Priests abused their sacred title to commit a horrible act, we expect there to abuse hundreds of children. And in re- Alam be an open letter to the New York Times turn, tainted the religion forever, for many. the next day explaining radical violence has The year before, 2001, four individuals nothing to do with their religion. a part of al Qaeda, used my religion as a And that is why I will no longer justify ISIS. disgusting justification to kill thousands of I am a Muslim and I am an American. But I people in the name of Islam. am not a spokeswoman for all things related At the age of 5, I suddenly politically to either. became the poster I want to offer a more logical approach child of explaining to comprehending topics we are ourselves how Islam does unfamiliar with. Research it from the core. not equal Understand the topic as a whole. Ask me to terrorism, explain the foundations of Islam, we can have and no, a great time at any coffee shop for hours. Ask Sharia me why Americans can’t seem to reach a law is not solid stance on gun control or abortion laws, trying to take and we probably won’t speak again. I offer over the American the best advice I have learned from an author constitution to who I atrribute many of my learned life my public school lessons to; from the words of Maya classmates.

Angelou, “Always be intolerant of Now, a ignorance, but understanding of month illiteracy.” ago, Sufia Alam Managing Editor sufia@uab.edu

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 4, 2018

PAGE 12

CROSSWORD

We Are Hiring!

1. A personal safety app that students are advised to use:

Guardian.

Coffee Shop

2. Unfamiliar.

3. Former US senator who

131 A 41st Street South, Bham, AL 35222

passed away recently.

Episcopal Coffee Shop with mission in outreach and ministry is looking to hire part-time, motivated baristas with grit, stamina, and compassion.

Interested? E-mail us at TheAbbeyBham@gmail.com.

Not interested? Mention this ad and get

UAB football defeated

Kristina Balciunaite Editor-in-Chief kribal@uab.edu Sufia Alam Managing Editor sufia@uab.edu

205-703-9538 / @theabbeybham

Thursday, August 30.

5. What kind of transporta-

Last issue’s crossword solutions:

tion device is Bird?

6. What kind of field did

1.

UAB recently open for 7. An over-generalized

Fall 2018

10% off your order!

4. Mascot of the team that

students use?

Editorial Board

1. Blaze.

2. Commute.

3. Insurance.

4. Parking.

5. Angry.

6. Egg. 7. Passive.

8. Nursing.

2.

belief about a particular

3.

category of people.

Lakyn Shepard Art Editor layshep@uab.edu Lauren Moore Blazer News Editor lrm33@uab.edu

4.

Parker Rose Opinion Editor pdrose@uab.edu

5.

Ceri-Lune Renneboog CityLifestyle Editor cerilune@uab.edu

6.

7.

Kurzweil Kickoff: A better way to study HSC Alumni Theater 10 - 11 a.m.

Umoja New Student Welcome

Student Involvement Fair

UAB Hockey vs.

Tennesee

HSC Ballrooms 6 p.m.

HSC Ballrooms 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena

Concert: Terry Bozzio

International Student Welcome

7 p.m.

St. Paul & the Broken Bones album release show Saturn 8 p.m.

Saturn 8 p.m.

HSC Ampitheater 4 - 6 p.m.

Art After 5 Birmingham Museum of Art 5 - 9 p.m.

The Still Show: C1UB:A.M. Artbar, TJ Tower 9 p.m.

Birmingham Art Crawl 120 19th Street 5 - 9 p.m.

2nd Annual Magic City Mac + Cheese Festival Brookwood Village 1 - 4 p.m.

AvonFest Cahaba Brewing Company 5 - 7 p.m.

4th Annual Graze: farm-to-fork Avondale Brewing Company 5 - 8 p.m.

Yard Art Exhibition Naked art 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.