UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOLUME 60, ISSUE 7
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018
! A P O Read on page 6
Annual Greek Festival fills 20th st with dance, music and baklava
BLAZER NEWS
Students’ thoughts on sobriety p.2 Diverse counseling opportunities p.3 Avoiding test anxiety p.4
CITYLIFESTYLE Halloween event and activity guide p.8
PHOTOS BY DREW CRENSHAW/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
OPINION Race should not influence judgement p.9 Educators need to catch up with technology p.10
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blazer news
PARTY CULTURE
Students share their sober thoughts College drinking may not be that popular Myah Clinton Staff Reporter mkc16@uab.edu Oftentimes, in popular media, college students are depicted at parties holding red solo cups full of liquor, giving the impression that drinking is a core aspect of the college experience. Noah Shaner, sophomore in music technology, said he drinks and that he thinks students at UAB drink a lot. “I know very few people here who don’t drink,” Shaner said. “But also, I could just be enclosed in a group of people that do.” Catheryn Orihuela, Ph.D., a postdoc fellow in the UAB Department of Psychology, said that students often overestimate their peers’ drinking habits. “Although alcohol consumption, and especially binge drinking, is a prominent aspect of college life, students tend to overestimate how frequently and how much students are drinking,” Orihuela said. According to Campus Answers, 74.4 percent of respondents to the U.S. Department of Education’s Core Alcohol and Drug Survey showed that alcohol breaks the ice with their peers, and 61.7 percent said that it helps them form connections with their peers. Although some of Matt Earwood’s, senior in criminal justice, friends drink,
he said that he does not feel any pressure to do so. “They usually don’t drink around me,” Earwood said. “They know that they can if they wanted to, but I think, out of respect for me, they choose not to.” Kody Erhart, junior in biomedical sciences, said drinking is a personal decision, and that students who do drink don’t perceive their non-drinking peers any differently. “It’s your choice,” Erhart said. “Only you can decide how to have the best time.” Jayda Marable, freshman in early childhood education, said she does not drink because she does not think it is safe. She said she has more creative outlets to combat stress, such as singing and dancing. “Not only should you have friends or family that can support you and help you think through and ABOVE: ILLUSTRATION BY MARCUS TAYLOR/CONTRIBUTOR. process anything that you’re going through whether good or bad, there’s BELOW: ILLUSTRATION BY LAKYN SHEPARD/ART EDITOR - DATA FROM counseling services on campus,” Ear- KALEIDOSCOPE TWITTER wood said. Earwood said that alcohol is not a necessity for a positive college experience. “You can still enjoy college without drinking,” Earwood said. “It’s better to remember the bad times instead of drinking them away and not remembering them at all. Because, there’s never a part of your college experience you want to forget, whether it’s good or bad.” Earwood said alcohol is not a necessity for joy. “Find something you love to do,” she said. “You don’t have to drink to be happy.”
It’s better to remember the bad times instead of drinking them away and not remembering them at all. - Matt Earwood
TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018
BLAZER NEWS
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MENTAL HEALTH
UAB Student Counseling Services have introduced new counseling groups for the Fall 2018 semester.
PHOTO BY AMY LAWHON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Diverse counseling opportunities New groups provide students with outlets for stress and anxiety Mallorie Turner Staff Reporter maturn31@uab.edu In trying to juggle school and other priorities, students may find themselves feeling isolated or lonely throughout the semester. UAB Student Counseling Services has introduced new counseling groups for the Fall 2018 semester to help combat this and to help give students a sense of community on campus. “I think the student counseling groups are extremely beneficial to students who may feel like they’re alone in something they are struggling with,” said Zena Banker, junior in biomedical engineering. “But when
they are able to come together with other people who are similarly struggling, they see that they are not alone.” #flow is a therapy group centered around the creation of art as a way for students to express the subconsciousness through creativity. Students who wish to participate do not need any artistic background, and all the supplies that they need will be provided to - Georgie them. “Art has always been important to me, but I haven’t really done much with it since high school,” said Georgie Walburn, junior in psychology. “I think having a counseling group for students where making art is the central focus is really important. It gives
students a unique way to connect and express themselves.” Resilience After Loss is a support group for those struggling with grief from loss. The group provides a safe space for students to process their emotional pain. Doing Better Together, a group based off of the concept of cognitive behavioral therapy, serves to help students in building in handling Walburn skills overwhelming emotions and gaining mindfulness. Two groups, Hey Sis Hey! and Fella Let’s Go, related to the black student experience established a space where black students can bring up complex issues that intersect race and gender. Their aim is to connect
I think having a counseling group for students where making art is the central focus is really important.
black students through shared experiences of identity, vulnerability and attending a PWI. Emily Deng, junior in psychology, said she is excited that these groups have been created. She sees how they can benefit those of different backgrounds when they need a space where they can express their feelings with those who can relate. “By forming these new groups, Student Counseling is creating not only a safe space, but also a community for people who are going through similar experiences,” Deng said. “When going through hard situations, it can make you feel as if you’re alone. But, with these new groups, you can know that you don’t only have a counselor supporting you, but an entire group of people.”
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MIDTERMS
Lessons in low-stress test taking Workshop gives tips to combat anxiety during exams Lea McMillian Staff Reporter leaamcm@uab.edu
Devon Goodwin, junior in psychology, said she considers herself like any other normal college student. When midterm exams approach Goodwin said she feels the pressure to ace all her exams, as well as test anxiety. However, on top of her usual stresses , Goodwin also battles with MDD. “Often, there is the feeling of failing and uncertainty that floods my brain,” Goodwin said. “Anxiety is a disability that seems little, but it triples over time.”
After Goodwin attended the Test Anxiety workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Hill Student Center, she said she felt that she could take what she had learned and apply it to her everyday practices. Laura Beth, graduate intern in education, hosted the event to help students like Goodwin’s lives be less stressful, she said. “A lot of students suffer from test anxiety, they think it hinders their ability to succeed,” Beth said. “It’s important to take each test as an individual
PHOTO BY AMY LAWHON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, ILLUSTRATION BY LAKYN SHEPART/ART EDITOR
Students often find themselves overwhelmed with anxiety-riddden thoughts as midtern exams come into view.
TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018 event and not spiral. Focus on one test at a time and remember one test does not affect your academic career.” Upon entering college, Natalia Duran, freshman in public relations, said she quickly realized that procrastinating was a game from the past, and that college was a different kind of playground. “High school was a wakeup call and I learned from my failures,” Duran said. “By coming to the workshop, I learned new methods that I can add to my college experience.” While attending the workshop, students learned about different side effects of anxiety, such as headaches and nervousness. Students also learned helpful tips to make their lives less anxious, like making sure that they study a week prior to an exam rather than cramming for it the night before. However, workshop-goers were also advised not to over study for exams. Beth said that when students over study, they are cramming unnecessary information in their heads, resulting in their likely forgetting everything on the day of the exam. UAB will be providing various academic workshops for the rest of the semester to help students meet their full potential in college. The workshops also give students a chance to realize that their classmates are likely struggling with many of the same issues as they are.
BLAZER NEWS
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HISTORY UNABRIDGED WAYS TO LESSEN TEST ANXIETY • Study in advance for exams • Focus on one test at a time • Log into BlazerNET > Engage to find out about upcoming workshops *Information provided by Laura Beth, graduate intern in education
Rashad Andrews Contributor rashada@uab.edu In 1985 the city of New York was swept with a new form of cocaine called “crack” and was available for sale in 28 different states by 1986, according to The Village Voice. By 1988 the crack epidemic had grounded itself in East Harlem, where 17-year-old crack addict Leslie Torres was charged with five counts of second-degree murders and injury of six people during a seven-day slaying, along with being charged with nine counts of first-degree robbery that began on New Year’s Eve. All victims were executed randomly with no connection to any previous altercation between them and Mr. Torres, according to the New York Times. The total amount of money accumulated over the week of New Year’s Eve was about $2,000 which Torres said he intended to purchasing crack cocaine with. Defendant Torres contended that his crack addition made him insane for the time being and that he was not guilty of any charges due to mental disease or a Cocaine Psychosis Asserted, according to the New York Times. Ever since the national crisis of crack abuse reached New York it contributed to an uprising in East Harlem’s crime rate and went upward with a 14 percent rise between 1985 and 1986, which lead to one of America’s most violent drug related crimes.
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citylifestyle GREEK FESTIVAL
Birmingham City Council Highlights
From FRONT
Bella Tylicki Staff Reporter btylicki@uab.edu -The A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club will move to a new four-acre site across from the 5 Points West Library and near the Birmingham Crossplex, leasing the property from the City for $1 per year for 95 years. The current Clubhouse at 2900 Park Dr. is outdated and too small to facilitate the program’s average daily attendance. Expected to open in 2020, the new facility will increase the capacity of the program, allowing for up to 450 youth. Through the Building Their Future campaign, cochaired by Condoleezza Rice, the AGGBGC has raised more than $7 million dollars to contribute to the development. According to the AGGBGC, the new Clubhouse will feature a teen center, a café with a commercial kitchen and a performance space. - The Council will appoint a new representative for District 7 on October 23 following interviews of each of the 13 candidates by the Council. The election of the Council President Pro-Tempore will be delayed until after this appointment so that the new representative may have input.
PHOTOS BY DREW CRENSHAW/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CITYLIFESTYLE
TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018
Myles Womack Staff Reporter mjw3@uab.edu
“I was president of this community and it was my regime that started this around 1970. We give a lot of our proceeds to UAB and then of course we need some to keep us running but we are very charitable with our money. We’ve taken this from about the size of a room at a motel to what you see today. I may be under-cutting it by saying so, but they may serve about 6,000 people a day and maybe 50,000 over the 3 days. It gives Birmingham a taste of Greece and even though we serve a little wine and beer, it is a fun and family-oriented event.”
“Birmingham has a strong Greek-American community. This event is a fundraiser to help fund some of the charities that our church puts on in the Greater Birmingham area so it ties in with our mission as an Orthodox church but also is sharing our Greek heritage with the Birmingham who took in a lot of Greek Americans and made it home for us.”
“I heard about the Greek festival last year and I have been wanting to come. I think it is great to bring a bunch of people together for fellowship and really good food. You get a real sense of community and experiencing a different culture which is really cool.”
John Saad
Nick Manakides
Bookstore Manager
Volunteer Cook
Claudia Deason
John Paul Luckett
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Volunteer Baker
UAB Alumni
“Last year when I was doing my away rotation at UAB, the Greek festival was going on towards the end of my rotation. I came by myself but really enjoyed seeing everyone out together and the food was just really good. When I heard it was coming back again I was like, ‘we’ve got to go back.’ Overall it’s really cool, both the community and the food.” Katy Luckett UAB Alumni
“We have been baking all of these wonderful pastries and we will sell out. The day before we actually bake we come to the church and do 30 double recipes, measure out all of the ingredients and put them out on trays. The next day we come in and mix everything and there will be from 10 to 20 women that will put it all together. Mine, the little spice cookie, are actually one of the lesser sold of the pastries and we still baked almost 5,000 pastries and about 25,000 pieces of baklava. It is something to see, to watch and be done.”
Daniel Staursk Volunteer at the Greek Import Store and Market
“I have been with the church for a long time and with the bookstore for two years. I think for the church it just means showing our customs with everyone and introducing them to what exactly our faith is. In a lot of ways people are not too familiar with the Greek Orthodox church and this is a good way for us to build community by sharing our customs and teach people about what exactly our church does. It is a way for us to also generate a lot of charity donations for the local community too.”
Connie Kanakis Local Restauranteur
“I cook the lamb kabobs at the grill, in Greek their called Souvlaki. I have been cooking the lamb for 15 years and working the festival for 30 years. The festival helps showcase the Greek community. We’ve got a big Greek community in Birmingham and it helps showcase our food, culture, our dance, and of course our church too. Greeks are Orthodox and this event helps show our faith to the public.”
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TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018
EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS
Magic City Halloween
A guide to a spooky season in the city Ceri-Lune Renneboog CityLifestyle Editor cerilune@uab.edu
21+ EVENTS Witches Ball 2018 October 20 Workplay $10 The 15th annual Witches Ball takes place at Workplay, where all of the concert halls are transformed and the venue turns into one of Birmingham’s biggest and most notorious Halloween parties. The event hosts several DJs in different entertainment areas throughout the venue, assuring plenty to do for Halloween party-goers. This year, the Witches Ball is Pirate themed while the proceeds are benefitting the Lone Warriors Charity for Birmingham’s local veterans. The event costs ten dollars for entry and starts at 7 p.m. Boo 23 October 26 B&A Warehouse $25 Birmingham’s biggest Halloween party since 1995, Boo 23 will hold its 23rd annual Halloween party from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The event hosts live music, including both bands and DJs, magic shows, and even offer party-goers a chance to cool down in their Horror Movie Lounge. Tickets include the entry fee, a free T-shirt, unlimited photo booth pictures, fortune telling, entrance to the costume contest, and karaoke. The party, set in Birmingham’s B&A Warehouse, benefits all of the ticket proceedings to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
HAUNTED HOUSES Atrox October 1-31 Leeds, Alabama $20 Atrox Factory is currently the largest indoor haunted house in the Southeast. The attraction offers more than a quarter mile of scares, ensuring customers leave wanting to sleep with the lights on. A new experience Atrox is offering this year is Altered State: 4D Experience, where, according to their website, “customers will be strapped in and subjected to experiments like never before.” Sloss Fright Furnace October 1-31 $20 One of Birmingham’s most notorious landmarks, as well of one of the Southeast’s most haunted sites, transforms into a terrifying maze every October. Walk through the haunted hallways and passageways of Sloss Furnace and experience the reason many past workers complain of the hauntings at the furnace. Sloss hosts three distinctive haunted house experiences: the Furnace trail, Zombie Outbreak, and the recently installed Wormwood House. Tickets usually cost $20 per person, but give blood during their Blood Drive October 11-13 and get in for free. Gates open at sundown. Boo at the Zoo October 11-14. 18-31 $10-18 Birmingham’s residence family-friendly haunted house, Boo at the Zoo is spooky yet fun for all ages. The zoo transforms and hosts carnival games and themed rides throughout October Bring the whole family to Trick or Treat Lane in
search of candy and other goodies, or ride around the zoo on the Eerie Express Train. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes.
OTHER EVENTS Hocus Pocus October 26-31 AMC Theaters In celebration of one of the best Halloween movies, AMC theaters is bringing the Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus” back to the theaters. The 1993 horror cult classic, starring Bette Middle and Sarah Jessica Parker, will return for select showings throughout the week of Halloween night as an homage to the movie’s 25th anniversary. Bring in your UAB OneCard to any AMC theater for $1 off any movie.
Rocky Horror Picture Show October 19 Alabama Theatre $25 Join hundreds of movie-goers at the Alabama Theatre on October 19th as Birmingham’s favorite theatre turns into Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s castle. Be sure to dress your best for the costume contest held before the movie showing, and don’t forget to pack your poncho. The cult classic has inspired interactive showing across the country, during which participants throw props like toilet paper, rice, party hats and toast, imitating the events in the movie. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018
EQUALITY & EQUITY
opinion
PAGE 9
Actions should bring equal consequences What is the difference between Bill Cosby and Brett Kavanaugh? One is in a maximum-security prison and the other just got voted in the running for a seat in the Supreme Court. Thigpen In September, Bill Cosby got convicted and sentenced three to ten years in prison for sexual assault. On the other side, Brett Kavanaugh was just voted into the final vote on his Supreme Court nomination. Both men are guilty of these crimes but only Cosby is paying an actual consequence. Both men are powerful in their avenues but there was no hesitation to dismantle Cosby’s legacy. The fact that Kavanaugh might still have a chance to do his job is appalling. If Kavanaugh was a man of color, there would be no question. Most likely he would be found guilty by default. This is not a random notion on racial disparities in the judicial system, they have always been there as a form of institutional racism. I am not excusing Cosby’s behavior but Kavanaugh, along with every person who is accused of sexual assault, should suffer the highest consequences. In the MeToo movement, no one should be safe, and everyone should be subjected to the same punishment. If these women are brave enough to come out and tell their story, it should be a direct consequence for the actions in which they are being accused of. If these men are not going to face the same repercussions for their crimes, then we must examine the true meaning of the MeToo movement. As we speak, Bill Cosby is in a maximum-security prison, while Kavanaugh, who had actual
ILLUSTRATION BY SAVANNAH DONALD/ STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
Kameryn Thigpen Opinion Columnist cchs2017@uab.edu
people to corroborate his behavior, still passes his vote to be on the country’s highest courts. The hypocrisy of this is action is staggering. The fate of these men should be in the hands of men without bias of color or power. A man who has been accused of assaulting someone may be representing justice on our most important court although it is apparent that the story is not being told the right way. Kavanaugh will most likely not face any jail time for his crimes although the evidence is abundant. Bill Cosby was instantly labeled a sexual predator that needs to be locked away. No one is safe, unless you are a white man in power or backed up by the President.
We welcome your opinions! If you have an idea or opinion about something and would like to possibly see it featured in an upcoming issue, please email kribal@uab.edu Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. The Kaleidoscope reserves the right to edit all guest columns. Guest opinions do not reflect the position of the Kaleidoscope Editorial Board.
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OPINION
TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Discussion boards are anti-social
while also being required to defend or further explain their thoughts in class. I have seen this done in classes before, and it works well for several reasons. For one, if everyone in the classroom has read a particular facet of the discussion, such as a post from a particular student, then that means that everyone has that in common. Moreover, seeing as most student posts are more accessible than the course readings which professors often assign, students are more likely to have formulated an opinion. While this issue may not seem like a pressing issue, it is just one example of how educators are going to have to shift their approaches to pedagogy in light of technological advancements and culture. This applies whether you think that education is for personal growth or job preparation. Computers have us beat in a lot of areas. As a student, you can either learn code or become skilled in the areas in which computers haven’t caught up yet. I’d like to see which way educators would swing.
Parker Rose Opinion Columnist pdrose@uab.edu
If you’re a student, it’s likely that you have come in contact with the universe of online discussion boards. Specifically – the online discussion boards where you are given the opportunity to connect with other students through an online interface in discussion of the course material. Except there isn’t much actual connection going on. It is sort of an inside joke that rarely do students actually write their opinions, but rather some chopped up, “I’m gonna use some big words so my professor will leave me Rose alone” version of such. In short, it isn’t a place that I would recommend to someone like Ariel from the Little Mermaid – it just doesn’t seem to be where the people are. However, many studies point to the effectiveness of online discussion boards. By examining the behavior of classes of Canadian pre-service teachers, a 2003 study by the Journal of Science Education and Technology revealed that online discussion boards assist in raising issues and points of debate that would otherwise have not been brought up in class. Moreover, students were more likely to bring up their own personal beliefs or be more argumentative in ways they would likely be too intimidated to in class. However, there’s another side to this. Yes, no one likes being put on the spot in front of their peers. Pressure from professors can be even worse. But isn’t attempting to substitute in-class discussion for online forum only encouraging anti-social behavior, or dulling social skills necessary to participate in a group?
ILLUSTRATION BY MARCUS TAYLOR/STAFF ILLUSTRATOR Many could argue that getting rid of online discussion boards or all online interfaces for classes will not solve the problem of society’s general loss of social/collaborative abilities, and I would agree. Making students speak up in class is not going to solve this problem. But simply allowing the educational experience to be subsumed by our surrounding culture without considering the implications might leave a lot of students worse for wear. Perhaps the way to prepare students to live within a purely technological society is not simply by making sure that they are well-
versed in the language of code or online society, but by improving the skills that artificial intelligence will likely not be able to master in their lifetime: social and communication skills. Moreover, learning to socialize and communicate well in groups of other human beings. So maybe there’s a way in which we could both reap the benefits of online discussion boards while also resisting the damage done to these soft skills, like an integrated approach. In this approach, students might be able to express and ruminate over both their opinions and others using the online platform,
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Kaleidoscope family! Going on our 51st year of operation, the Kaleidoscope team is as strong as ever. Every week during the semester, our reporters, photographers and designers create a newspaper that reflects and observes what matters most to UAB and to Birmingham. Our family can never get too big. We are always accepting new members who share our passion for storytelling, design and photography. Join our community and help us share the story of the Magic City!
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TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2018
PAGE 12
CROSSWORD
Editorial Board
Previous issue’s crossword solutions:
1.
Fall 2018
1. Octoberfest. 2. Charlotte. 3. Kavanaugh. 4. Sofar. 5. Pinning. 6. Midterm. 7. Poverty.
2. 3.
Kristina Balciunaite Editor-in-Chief kribal@uab.edu
4.
Sufia Alam Managing Editor sufia@uab.edu
5.
Lakyn Shepard Art Editor layshep@uab.edu
6. 7. 1.. Comedian and actor who recently
5. Westernized celebration of a Celtic
received jail time for sexual offences.
Harvest festival.
2. Part of NYC, famous for intimate jazz
6. Intense feeling of being over-pow-
clubs, soul food and African-American
ered.
heritage, and victim of the crack epi-
7. What kind of planet is the newly dis-
demic in the 1980s.
covered “Goblin” ?
Lauren Moore Blazer News Editor lrm33@uab.edu
JOKES not even your dad would tell
What is the cat’s favorite color? Purr-ple
Ceri-Lune Renneboog CityLifestyle Editor cerilune@uab.edu
Why did the scarecrow get promoted? He was out, standing in his field.
3. Bird that is delicious when fried. 4. Active ingredient in beer, wine and liquor.
EVENTS CALENDAR Lecture Series: Tarana Burke - The Power of Me Too Alys Stephens Center 7 - 8:30 p.m. Alexander Shunnarah - Bill Board King how he did it Innovation Depot Inc 6 - 7 p.m.
Rickmobile appearance Sanctum Tattoos and Comics 5 - 10 p.m.
Boo at the Zoo The Birmingham Zoo 5 - 9 p.m. until Oct. 18
Free MOOYAH Double Cheeseburger Day 3439 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Barktoberfest Cahaba Brewing Company 6 - 8 p.m.
Pumpkins & Pizza UAB MakerSpace 6:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Acoustic Show: The Stolen Faces Avondale Brewing Company 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Art/culture: Changeover Party! The Jaybird 7 - 10 p.m. Birmingham Art History Exhibit Sneak Preview ART TOWN at East Lake Station 5 - 9 p.m. Lil Duval Stardome 9 p.m.
Woodlawn Street Market 1 55th Pl S, Woodlawn 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Comedy: Theme Show - Spooky Doings 4
Vintage Extravaganza
Fall History Festival Oak Hill Cemetery 12 - 4 p.m.
Manitou Supply 12 - 5 p.m. Harvest Festival Manitou Supply 12 - 5 p.m.
Rojo 12 - 5 p.m.
Magic City AIDS Walk Avondale Brewing Company 3 - 6 p.m.