October 11, 2016 Kscope

October • 11 • 2016

Volume 56 • Issue 52 UAB’s Official Student Newspaper

A Father's Legacy and a Community Icon: Fat Sam's Closes Doors

Interview with openly gay NFL player Michael Sam p. 3 In loving memory: A tribute to Molly Wilson p.11

2 EDITORIAL

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

Dear readers,

Fall is in the air. Leaves are turning, the air is getting a little colder and pumpkin spice lattes once again haunt our coffee shops. On the downside, it also means midterms, so I hope you’re not reading this issue when you should be studying.

This is my first letter from the editor because, to be perfectly honest, I prefer working behind the scenes to acting as the public face of our paper. All that said, I’m proud to get the opportunity to introduce this issue to you, because we’re covering some issues close to the heart of the UAB community.

If you’ve been a UAB student for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the phrase “UAB community” a lot. Chances are, you probably haven’t given it much thought, or maybe even thought it was a little cliché. As for myself, I didn’t really consider myself part of the “UAB community,” being a transfer student and living off campus. I missed most of the stuff going on at UAB, besides the classes.

But the UAB community is more than Welcome Week. It’s more than USGA, or football or navigating dorm life. It’s even more than Homecoming. It’s ALL of those big things but it’s a lot of little things, too.

The UAB community are the folks who hold the elevator open for you when you’re five minutes late to class. They’re the stranger who sits next to you in class, who’s happy to tell you what was covered the day you missed. They’re the restaurants where you grab a bite to eat after class. They’re your RAs, always there to help you with any crisis, big or small.

Every year the UAB community has a lot of gains - this year we’ve had the largest incoming freshman class on record. But we have losses, too. Some of these can be fairly benign, if sorely felt - at the end this week Fat Sam’s, which has been part of the UAB community for more than 25 years, will be closing for the last time.

Others can be more devastating. A few weeks ago we lost a member of our community that was very near and dear to a lot of students. Molly Wilson was one of the best examples of what the UAB community has to offer. Kind, caring and helpful, always quick with a laugh. I know her loss is felt even by those who didn’t get the chance to get to know her.

As always, life goes on. And on a thankfully lighter note, we’ve got a range of articles for you from different corners of the campus and beyond. UAB researchers are working to regrow heart tissue, while the School of Business is offering a challenge to our budding entrepreneurs. Globalfest has come to a close, and we even have a dispatch from the trenches on dealing with your roommate wars.

So, as always, thanks for reading - and thanks for your tweets, your letters and your Facebook likes. We hope you’ll keep them coming, and we’ll keep bringing you all the UAB news that’s fit to print. Because we’re all part of the UAB community, through the ups and downs, through the big things and the small.

STAFF Sarah Faulkner editor@insideuab.com Tamara Imam managing@insideuab.com Corey Bright art@insideuab.com Tessa Case news@insideuab.com Surabhi Rao features@insideuab.com Ian Keel photos@insideuab.com Mark Linn copy@insideuab.com Chandler Jones chanj1@uab.edu Dabney Bragg socialmedia@insideuab.com Loren Gilbert online@insideuab.com Melvin Griffin Jared Chestnut Chad Freeman Marie Sutton info@insideuab.com Patrick Johnson plj3@uab.edu

Editor-in-Chief Managing & Sports Editor Head Illustrator News & Science Editor Features & Opinions Editor Photography Editor Copy Editor Visual Content Manager Social Media Editor Online Editor Distribution Team

Advisor Production Manager

Have a great week, and blaze on.

With love,

Mark Linn Physical Address Suite 130, Hill Student Center 1400 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35205 Mail HSC 130, 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294-1150 Phone (205) 934-3354 Web UABkscope.com Email editor@insideuab.com

The Kaleidoscope is the official student newspaper of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Unsigned editorials and the opinions of the Kaleidoscope’s columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of individual student writers, editors, Kaleidoscope advisers or university administrators. Signed columns and letters reflect the opinion of the writer and serve as expressions of fact and opinion to Kaleidoscope readers.

Letter Policy: Letters to Kaleidoscope are always welcome. Unless otherwise directed, all letters will be forwarded to the editor. Letters must be no longer than 200 words and must be typed. A name and a phone number must accompany each letter. Letters will appear at the discretion of the editorial staff and can be sent by mail, fax or electronic mail.

All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2016 by Kaleidoscope and protected under the U.S. Copyright Laws.

Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of the Kaleidoscope.

NEWS

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UAB LECTURE SERIES

First openly gay NFL player shares his experiences Jack Ryan Staff Writer jackryan@uab.edu he Kaleidoscope sat down with T Michael Sam, defensive end for the St. Louis Rams, who spoke on campus

on Tuesday, Oct. 4 as part of the UAB Lecture Series.

Sam was a defensive end for the University of Missouri from 2009-2013 and a unanimous All-American athlete, as well the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He became the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL when he was selected in the 7th round by the St. Louis Rams.

How did your Missouri teammates take it?

Sam: Well, when I had come out to my teammates my senior year, most of them had already known about it.

For me to actually tell them that for the first time, I think our chemistry as a unit grew and that led from the previous year record of 5-7 to a 12-2 Cotton Bowl champions record. It was great and I really love those guys.

Can you describe what your coming out moment was like in the NFL and Missouri communities

It has been two years now since you officially came out. What has the response been from the fans and NFL community?

Sam: My actual coming out day was August of 2013 to my team. That was really me becoming comfortable with who I am. Ever since I came out to the public, which was February of 2014, it was a shocker for someone to do it before their career had even started.

I earned a lot of respect from current players, past players, everyone. There’s haters out there that will always hate, but the haters pay my bills. [Generally], overall, it was very positive.

Sam: So when I came out it was not entirely my decision, I mean it was ultimately my decision, but I would have done things differently if I had it my way. I would have done it like I did at Missouri. I wasn’t going to going to go back in and do it over. I didn’t have to tell anybody, I know who I am.

Instead of listening to my advisers I would have done it my way.

Do you feel like that influenced the NFL in any way, through your signing or when you got to the Rams?

Sam: Well, I would like to think so because the NFL knew when they were scouting me my senior year that I was gay. So they already knew it would come out. Since how I handled it, things kind of changed for me.

What was your support network like?

Sam: I will say my Missouri family has been my biggest supporters. Of course, the LGBT community has been really big, but if I wanted to pinpoint it, my Missouri family has been a big support.

You said in an interview with the New York Times that coming out has allowed you to live your truth. How has that changed how you have been able to live?

Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL player, spoke at the Hill Student Center as part of the UAB Lecture Series.

Sam: I can date whoever the hell I want to now.

So clearly in college, when I was gay, but still in the closet, I couldn’t clearly date who I wanted.

I did end up dating a guy, but because I was still in the closet, we couldn’t really go do things together as a couple.

Now I can do that. I don’t care if I go walk Photo by Giani Martin down the street,

go to the movies, kiss my boyfriend, I don’t give a damn. I am going to live my life and that is what is important to me.

Do you think that being a pro athlete in the national spotlight gives you a unique opportunity to give support to the LGBTQ community?

Sam: Yes, I would like to think so because there are a lot of stereotypes around the community and especially the black LGBTQ community. I think by showing you are who you are you can show the world who you are. I am black and gay, but there are a lot of stereotypes surrounding gay guys that they should be or act feminine and I don’t [think] this is me. When I came out, I would like to be breaking stereotypes and barriers.

What do you suggest to people who are too scared to come out to their family and friends?

Sam: Well, when you come out, you come out, it’s your own journey. I would never encourage someone to come out before they are ready. I was ready in August of 2013, which made it easy to come out to the public because I was already out for a couple of months. Just be patient. It’s going to be scary. Even when my teammates knew, it was still scary, but you have to know your time.

Don’t let anyone influence you and know when you are ready.

How was your experience on Dancing with the Stars?

Sam: They are some tough competitors and it is really serious. I did not know I had muscles in certain places. These little muscles in my ankles and legs. It is a tough sport. After that, I really respect those athletes because they are athletes.

What plans are you working on right now?

Are you looking to go to the NFL or more speaking obligations?

Sam: I just hung up and made peace with the NFL when I wasn’t invited to any camps this past summer. Now I am kind of in a limbo. Right now I am doing speaking engagements in the fall and spring. In between those– everyone knows my story, but not everyone knows about that kid from Mobile, Alabama- so I want to go nationally and get their story out so everyone can listen. Maybe later I can go back into football coaching, I don’t know yet.

4 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Far-right group seeks to spread ideology Connor McDonald Contributor theconmcdon@uab.edu

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white-nationalist group has been making its presence known in Birmingham and the surrounding areas for the past year by putting up posters around the city and UAB’s campus.

The group, known as “Identity Evropa,” describes itself as an “identitarian organization dedicated to promoting the interests of People of European Heritage.”

The group is led by Iraq War veteran and convicted felon Nathan Damigo. Damigo is the former leader of the National Youth Front, the youth division of the neo-nazi American Freedom Party which itself is associated with the Golden State Skinheads.

On their website, Identity Evropa describes themselves

as “a generation of awakened Europeans who have discovered that we are part of the great peoples, history and civilization that flowed from the European continent.” The organization is part of the “identitarian” movement, which is a far-right pan-European movement that originated in France and promotes opposition to multiculturalism, often taking the form of anti-Muslim xenophobia, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The organization usually operates in the public eye by putting up posters in cities across the U.S., which started with their campaign “Fash the City,” an effort to increase public awareness of their organization that occurred in 17 U.S. cities.

Recently, the organization has begun a new campaign known as Project Siege that specifically targets university campuses, including UAB.

“Project Siege is the beginning of a long term cultural war of attrition against the academia’s Cultural Marxist narrative that is maintained and propagated into society through the indoctrination of the future managerial class,” Damigo said on his website.

Their goal is to create a space for their ideas at universities across the country by speaking with students and letting their ideas be known in opposition to the traditional “liberal” teachings of universities.

Posters were put up across campus around late September.

Through advertising on social media that they had successfully targeted UAB, the organization revealed the locations of many of their posters and stickers.

Their actions were met with opposition as almost all of the posters and stickers put up around UAB’s campus

were taken down by a group or person under the name Antifascist Action, a defunct anti-fascism group based in the United Kingdom. The unknown party took the time to find all the posters and replace them simply with pieces of paper with Antifascist Action’s logo.

The Identity Evropa posters usually depict European statues with the organization’s name at the top and a short quip such as, “OUR FUTURE BELONGS TO US.” While some students disagree with the group’s message, they do not believe in censoring their message.

“I think they have every right to advertise on campus, but I think they’re bad people,” said Elliott Greene, a junior biology major. “I hope that someone would raise awareness against them, but censoring them isn’t the answer.”

Others believe that messages

like Identity Evropa’s have no place being publicly broadcasted on UAB’s campus.

“Well within UAB’s buildings, UAB should have the right to remove anything they feel shouldn’t be up,” said Asad Ghori, a sophomore biology major. “If UAB allows this to go on it makes UAB look bad. I feel a little mad that it exists but more confused and sad that a group like this is allowed to be.”

UAB policy seeks to maintain an environment free of discrimination and prohibits actions that could be considered unwelcoming. According to UAB’s Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy, any harassment that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment, educational or living environment is strictly prohibited.

GlobalFest spices up Celebración to honor Latino community Destiny Hosmer Staff Writer drhosmer@uab.edu

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he Alys Stephens Center’s annual GlobalFest offered the public a taste of Latin art, culture and dance on Oct. 3-5 as part of a month long celebration of the Latino community.

This year, GlobalFest was part of Celebración which is a collaboration among the ASC, UAB and other Birmingham art partners to offer one month of events honoring the Latino community in Birmingham.

Amy Miller, ASC director of engagement, said that GlobalFest is a way to celebrate other cultures.

“Something that we are working on building is the local and global connection here in Birmingham and here at the Alys Stephens Center,” Miller said. “UAB is a very international hub of

studies, and we want the Alys Stephens Center to reflect that.”

GlobalFest consisted of three lunchtime lectures, each free to the public and approximately one hour long.

On Monday, Oct. 3, visual artist Tres Taylor and designer and visual artist Lillis Taylor, a UAB artist-in-residence, shared their passion for Mexican art.

Their lecture focused on the folk art of the Oaxaca region and the works of Frida Kahlo.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, a lecture on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain was given by John K. Moore, Ph.D, an associate professor of Spanish in UAB’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.

During his lecture, Moore shared stories from his own pilgrimages and highlighted the hospitality he and his groups received on their journeys.

On the final day of GlobalFest, Oct.

5, the Dancing Doctors gave a live demonstration and lecture on the history of the Argentine tango.

Samantha McDonald, a foreign languages major, attended the Argentine tango demonstration and said that she found the lecture both interesting and informative.

“It was interesting learning about the culture behind it and the dances, and knowing that it’s a part of not just the language, but the whole culture,” McDonald said. “I learned that their movements actually have meaning just like a literal conversation.”

Celebración will continue through Wednesday, Oct. 26, and there are several events remaining for those interested in learning more about the Latino community.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will present “The Five Senses: A Tango Celebration”

with Raul Jaurena at 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama Jr. Board will host a meet and greet/interest meeting at Cahaba Brewing Company at 5 p.m.

For students who would like to get involved with the ASC, Miller said that she is currently working on establishing an ASC Student Advisory Council to attract more students to the venue.

“The whole idea is to have a committee that will advise us on what students want, what various generations are looking for, and trying to really invite UAB students into this space, because it’s their space,” she said.

For more information on these events and Celebración, visit alysstephens.org/ events/celebracion/.

Those who are interested can contact Amy Miller at acmill@uab.edu.

NEWS

Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., is the chair of the UAB department of biomedical engineering and heads a study to help heal and protect against heart failure.

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Photo courtesy of UAB Image Gallery

$3M grant engineers remedy for broken hearts A research team will use regenerative methods to heal damaged tissues Sufia Alam Staff Writer sufia@uab.edu

A

$3 million grant will give UAB the ability to engineer new cells to heal damaged heart tissue.

Jianyi Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded the grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to conduct his study, which will create new tissues to replace or protect damaged portions of the heart, such as in patients who have suffered a heart attack.

This new technology follows one of Zhang’s and his colleague’s most

recent accomplishments, which was protecting pigs from post heart attack heart failure. The research team used a fibrin map over the area where muscle had died and injected three different types of cardiovascular cells which helped prevent further damage, according to UAB News.

Zhang, who has a background in biomedical engineering, has taken a novel approach in which he plans to place an entire layer of cells on top of the damaged heart rather than injecting individual cells into the damaged tissue of the heart. To do this, he will use a custom 3-D printer and a robot arm.

According to the American Heart Association, when a patient has suffered a heart attack, cardiac cells die and the one portion of the heart, the left ventricle, is forced to compensate by working harder.

This leads to enlargement of the

left ventricle which can cause heart failure if repeated heart attacks occur. To combat this, Zhang plans to use his technology to place a mat of new cells on top of the previously damaged or dead cardiac cells which will prevent the left ventricle portion from having to compensate and enlarge. This will also prevent the left atrium from expanding, which can prevent heart failure caused by heart attacks, according to the UAB School of Medicine’s website.

5.7 million people are diagnosed with heart failure annually and about half of the people who have developed this died within five years of receiving their diagnosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Additionally, heart failure has cost the nation $30.7 billion due to health care services, medications to treat heart failure and missed days of work.

Zhang’s work has not gone unnoticed

by biomedical engineering students at UAB. “It’s definitely a growing need that needs to be satisfied in the future,” Kareem Alexandra, a junior BME major said. “And it’s very smart engineers, like Dr. Zhang, who are looking to fulfill that need by means of his research.”

Dania Mallah, another junior BME major, appreciates the new approach to the problem. She said that Zhang’s research is innovative and it is inspiring to her to be able to see use of the technology that she is learning about in her classes.

According to UAB News, the trials must first be conducted using a pig model, but Zhang is optimistic about the prospect of clinical trials.

“We want to take it to clinical practice in seven years,” Zhang said. “That’s why I came to UAB.”

6 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

COLLAT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Competition inspires innovation S

tudents interested in finding innovative solutions to problems they are passionate about are being offered the chance to do so through a new competition by the UAB Innovation Lab. The Blazer Innovation Challenge, hosted by the Innovation Lab in the Collat School of Business and sponsored by IBERIABANK, offers students the chance to win up to $5,000 in prize money as well as the opportunity to obtain resources and mentoring from the Innovation Lab. “The whole purpose of the innovations challenge is really to do two things. One is to raise the awareness of opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship on campus,” said Joel Dobbs, entrepreneurin-residence for the Innovation Lab. “The second thing is to give students the opportunity to take ideas that they may have and give them the resources in terms of both money and coaching and assistance to try to turn those into something that’s real and tangible.”

Working individually or as part of a team, students can submit an application form along with a one-minute video explaining the problem they seek to address, why that issue is important and how they might go about addressing the problem. Entrants must intend to continue pursing the development of their idea and how it could be implemented as a business or nonprofit organization.

“It’s not a traditional business plan competition,” Dobbs said.

“The idea could be turned into a business, it could be a nonprofit or a volunteer organization that solves the problem, we don’t restrict it that way.”

The deadline for the initial

It’s not a traditional business plan competition.

The idea could be turned into a business, it could be a nonprofit or a volunteer organization.

-Joel Dobbs with the Innovation Lab

submission is Oct. 19. After that, five finalists will be selected and will receive coaching and workshop training to help refine their ideas. They will also receive help on crafting a three-minute final video which will be due Nov. 7. On Nov. 13, finalists will show their final video to a panel of outside experts recruited by the Innovation Lab and will participate in a 15-20 minute Q&A session.

The first place prize is $5,000, while second place is $2,500 and third is $1,000.

Winners will receive half the prize money at the start of the spring semester and agree to work in the Innovation Lab on implementing their ideas.

The winners will submit two progress reports throughout the spring semester, as well as present their progress to contest sponsors in April.

Students will also apply to present their concepts at the Kauffman Foundation 1 Million Cups program sometime in the spring.

Although only a few entries have been submitted so far,

Dobbs said that he would not be surprised to see submissions that attempt to tackle common issues that students face.

“I don’t really know what to expect, but I suspect that one of the things that, if the classes that we teach where we ask students to come up with problems to solve are any indicator, I would not be surprised if we don’t get a number of things that relate to issues that students face,” said Dobbs, citing issues such as parking or campus safety.

The competition is open to all UAB students who plan to be enrolled throughout the 201617 academic year. Submitted ideas cannot be the result of anything that UAB would have the intellectual property rights to, such as funding from grants or employment at the university.

“They really don’t need any formal business training, in fact, I would expect that we may get a lot of submissions

from a lot of other [schools] other than business,” Dobbs said. “I think the only thing [you need] is some problem or opportunity that you see that you would like to spend time solving or coming up with a solution to it, regardless or whether it could be turned into a business or whether it could be turned into a nonprofit.”

Students can find out more about the competition and submit their applications at uab.edu/ innovation challenge/.

Illustration by Corey Bright

Mark Linn Copy Editor copy@insideuab.com

SPORTS

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MEN’S SOCCER

Senior defender William White carries the ball away from the Blazers’ half of the field during the game against conference opponent No. 15 Kentucky.

Photo by Giani Martin

Blazers tame nationally ranked Wildcats Trinity Dix Staff Writer tri915@uab.edu

T

he UAB men’s soccer team scored two goals to upset the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats in front of a sizeable home crowd on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The Blazers improved to 6-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in Conference-USA. “I thought it was a really good performance tonight,” said head coach Mike Getman.

“Kentucky’s a terrific team, but I thought tonight we outplayed them and deserve the result.”

In the first half of the game,

the Blazers gained a twopoint lead against Kentucky, who remained scoreless in the first half before scoring their lone point in the second half.

Senior midfielder Henrique Sposito scored both goals for the Blazers.

UAB’s defense continued to block potential shots on goal from the Wildcats, effectively preventing the nationally ranked team from scoring another point and ultimately winning the game 2-1.

“I don’t know if there’s lot of improvements [to be made],” Getman said. “I think we need to

keep this level of intensity, this quality of play. If we can keep everybody healthy, I think we’re gonna be in pretty good shape.”

Two players were downed on the field: No. 20 Tarnue Tyler and No. 5 Andrew Nkpolukwu.

Tarnue Tyler — whose “two goals and 19 shots rank second on the team,” according to uabsports.com — was injured during the first half of the game, and sat out for the rest of the first half. Freshman midfielder No. 5 Andrew Nkpolukwu was also injured during the game and sat out for the rest of the second half.

“Well, I think they’ll both be okay,” Getman said. “You know, both, I think, got more tired than anything else. They were cramping, so we expect that both will be okay and ready for the next match.”

Despite the two players being injured during play, the team came out on top.

“I thought tonight was a fantastic game for us,” Getman said. “But everybody played well.

The defense was rock solid. We scored two goals against a team that has given up six goals all season. So I thought it was really, really good performance.”

Saturday’s game was part of Fall Family Weekend, during which the players’ families were in attendance.

“It’s really nice to have such a good result in front of everybody’s parents,” Getman said. “I think we had close to 50 family members here to watch their sons or brothers or sisters play. But again, I thought it was a great performance in front of a great crowd and in front of our families. It’s really nice.”

The Blazers travel to Nashville, Tenn. to face Lipscomb on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The game is set to begin at 5 p.m.

8

Savoring th

After a q

A

fter almost 30 years of s UAB and the Southside o Birmingham, local favorite F Sub Station is closing its doo good on Saturday, Oct. 15.

For the past fewmonths, eldest son, Mitri, a current f time history student at UAB graduate in the spring, has b running the restaurant with of his longtime employees s passing of his father and be owner Salman Shatara in M to complications following a accident.

The story of Fat Sam’s goe 26 years ago when Salman “ Sam” Shatara first moved fr Francisco to Birmingham in 1990. S. Shatara bought wha be “Bob’s,” according to Mit and opened what would qui become an iconic Southside and staple of the UAB comm Over time, the deli became l with sports memorabilia fro

Mitri Shatara has been running his father’s restaurant for the past several months. Continued to right: Fat Sam’s has remained busy since M. Shatara announced its closing last week.

Above photo by Ian Keel

Story by Tamara Imam // Managing Editor // managing@insideuab.com

he last bite

9

quarter century of service, the beloved Fat Sam’s will close Oct. 15

serving of Fat Sam’s ors for

Shatara’s fullB set to been h the help since the eloved May due a car

es back “Fat rom San n March of at used to tri Shatara, ickly e eatery munity. littered om

the early days of UAB Athletics.

Dragon-themed items, such as the Dragon’s Belly and Dragon’s Delight, eventually made their way to the menu.

“Over time he fell in love with the community and the people and the school and the sports. He always said Gene Bartow is who got him into UAB sports,” M. Shatara said.

For M. Shatara, when it came to whether or not to stay in business, it was ultimately a lack of time that solidified the difficult decision.

“It was just a decision that had to be made. You know, at the end of the day — my family was involved in the decision — but at the end of the day, it was mine. I don’t have the time to invest into this restaurant anymore,” M. Shatara said. “I’ve been doing it for seven months, I’m a full-time student and I also have a career that I’m working on and I don’t have time for this restaurant.”

While M. Shatara says people have

pushed him to sell his father’s famed restaurant, he remains firm in his decision not to do so.

“Some people have been asking me if I’ll sell, what I want to do, why I won’t sell, yes,” M. Shatara said. “I don’t care about the money. It’s my father’s legacy; I don’t want anyone else to ruin it.”

For lovers of Fat Sam’s, their devotion goes beyond adoration for just the restaurant and its acclaimed Dragon’s Belly sandwiches; to many, Salman Shatara himself was an invaluable member of the Birmingham and UAB communities.

“We love Sam, and miss his talks when we go into the restaurant. He loved the Blazers and we mourn his loss still,“ UAB sports fan Sharon McGinnis Stump said.

Ralph Harbison, an alumnus of UAB, recalled many meals eaten at Fat Sam’s as a student while Salman Shatara was working there.

“I first had Fat Sam’s in 1991, my

first year at UAB,” Harbison said. “We used to walk over from the Honor’s House. The place was a little different back then. The counter wasn’t as close to the door. Sam sat on a stool when he wasn’t taking orders, in the corner, and dropped fries, talking to everyone. His mom was often there, too. I tried everything on the menu once through the years, but I was partial to the Philly cheese steak.”

Harbison also recalled a moment that he feels embodies Salman Shatara’s personality.

“One night, I was in a wreck in front of the BEC. Sam was leaving work and saw the cars, and he pulled over and check on everyone, staying with me for a while. In 2015, after football had been ended, I went by for old time’s sake. Sam recognized me after all those years. The food was always good, and there was always more than you should eat (but we always ate it all).”

To Harbison, Salman Shatara was

“the epitome of the UAB family.”

“He loved the school and those of us who were there,” he said.

Community support hasn’t slowed down since M. Shatara’s announcement on Oct. 4, as customers have made their way to Fat Sam’s in droves to savor the last bites.

“The response has been huge.

We’ve stayed constantly busy since I announced on Tuesday,” he said.

Despite the restaurant’s final days approaching, he believes that his father’s memory will remain etched in Southside.

“His legacy is what it was,” M. Shatara said of his father. “People will remember Fat Sam’s and they’ll remember my dad, and that’s his legacy.”

Fat Sam’s will be open for business on Saturday, Oct. 15. M. Shatara hopes to have a band perform at the storefront to celebrate the last day of business.

Photos by Patrick Johnson // Production Manager // plj3@uab.edu

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 , 2016

A tale of survival: Freshmen roommates Aaron Stuber Opinions Columnist abstuber@uab.edu

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oommates — you have to live with them, and you can’t live without them — lest you go bankrupt financing your own place.

With the first slew of exams finishing up, everyone is probably getting a handle on the ins-and-outs of their particular roommate. For the freshmen on campus, learning that the public face of your roommate is different than the one at home probably comes as a shock.

For the older students, you’re probably immune or jaded by the crippling previous years of school and roommate drama. If you are lucky enough, you can find someone to room with who you wouldn’t want to absolutely murder if a Purge scenario broke out; or you could be brave and try the luck of the draw and pray that you find one that doesn’t make you sleep with one

Illustration by Corey Bright

eye open.

If you are ever having quarrels with your roommate, the first thing not to do is run to your resident assistant.

I’ve heard of this happening before in the dorms, but I wasn’t even sure that adults still tattle-tale for stupid things like: “He left an empty pizza box on the table,” or “His friends made a mess and he hasn’t cleaned it up within the last 20 minutes.” (I would like to add: if you are having serious issues with your roommate, please seek help.)

Yes, you should be responsible and considerate because you are living with other people, but being a

snitch over an empty pizza box makes you look petty. Alas, as my freshman year experience would have it, I was placed in Blazer Hall in one of the coveted six person rooms. While the eighth-floor suite had a large family room, kitchen space and beautiful window looking out of the Green, I am still doubtful this made up

for the hassle of having to deal with not three other people, but five. From this living situation, I learned what not to do in a disagreement.

I remember there was an incident in our room where one suitemate had a couple of lady-friends over, and a fellow suitemate became jealous and ended up lashing out about it.

I was completely unaware of what was going on because, at this time, I actually had motivation and was doing my homework, so I simply locked my paper-thin door and prayed that it was sound-proof enough to protect me from whatever was happening in the family room.

The next morning, I happened upon the suitemate who had friends over and another of our roommates spreading peanut butter under the bed of the jealous suitemate.

“Peanut butter,” you ask? Yes. He had a peanut allergy, so you know where this is going (see my opinion on EpiPen).

Fortunately, the roommate smelled the peanut butter, but it made him sick and he ended up running out of the building.

He later returned unharmed, and I learned that he only has a reaction when he eats it. So, it was that day I learned I had psychopaths for roommates and that I would have to Katniss Everdeen my way to the end of the year.

From my time as a freshman, I could probably write a survival guide on how to determine if your roommate is trying to kill you.

While everyone might not agree on everything, it is important that you respect differences of opinion and remember that the situation isn’t permanent. It is better to have open lines of communication and ensure everyone is atleast aware of what others are going through.

You’ll have more fun as roommates when you can binge-play League of Legends until 5 a.m. and still make your 8 a.m. class, or watch horrible comedy flicks such as “Sharknado” together.

You could also get lucky and have a roommate who is low-key alcoholic, and then every weekend turns into a party.

So just remember, college is a time for learning and growing, and working with people is just one of those many facets.

Make the best of it because fun late nights are more memorable than fights.

FEATURES 11

Molly Wilson, a true friend to every Blazer People who knew her spoke of her selfless and loving nature above anything else Surabhi Rao Features Editor features@insideuab.com

“To be honest if anything, the way she

treated others is probably how we should all treat each other. Just imagine what the world would be like if that were true — I think that to myself all the time,” said Trevor Hauenstein, friend of Molly.

Molly Wilson was a senior, double majoring in psychology and neuroscience with a minor in philosophy.

She was a resident assistant at Blount Hall, an involved member of Active Minds, a member of the Philosophy club and a volunteer at Crisis Center.

Wilson, age 21, died on Friday, Sept. 30.

Her signature greeting was “What up, fam?” Molly was well-known for this phrase, as she was known to go out of her way for the Blazer family that she believed in.

“It was raining outside, and I was in my wheelchair on The Green,” said Tim Alexander, a UAB alumni.

“I heard someone yell from across The Green, ‘Tim, you good?’ I had no clue who it was, but I replied ‘Yeah!’ I didn’t even know her, but it was Molly. She ran over and said ‘I got you, fam’ and wheeled me over. ‘Hold on now, I don’t wanna push you off!’ After she helped me, she ran off to her class or wherever she needed to go.”

Former resident assistant Spencer Porch reflected on his time with Molly, as he designed the image that many students have shared on Facebook as their profile pictures to represent their love for her.

“Molly and I worked together for a year when I was an RA in Blount last year.

I can say, without a doubt, that Molly made it much more survivable. I think the one thing that anybody could ever say about Molly is that she is probably the most loving person that you would ever meet. She cares so much. On the way to her funeral, we talked about how if this was one of us, she would’ve been at the funeral home already camped out and

Students gather on The Green to honor Wilson’s memory at a candle-light vigil.

Molly Wilson

Photo courtesy of Emily Farmer

ready.”

Molly and her best friend, Brittni Cullifer, met freshman year in their bioethics class and have been inseparable ever since.

“There’s just so much about Molly.

She was the most selfless person that I’ve ever met. It didn’t matter if it was 3 a.m. and you called her with a problem.

She wouldn’t complain. She would do everything in her power to make sure you were laughing by the time she got done talking to you. In my opinion, she was the heart of UAB. A lot of people know Molly or know of Molly. Every time I walked around with her, she would run off to talk to people and say hey to them. Just by taking the time to say hey to somebody she knew you could see she brightened somebody’s day. She always had a smile on her face.”

She was also known for playing the guitar. She played “Wonderwall” by Oasis often, and rewrote the song to use for her RA application video. Molly liked to play video games and binge watch Netflix with her friends. She enjoyed photography as well as motocross.

She would often times go around Birmingham to take pictures.

Molly was a strong advocate for

mental health awareness and worked with Active Minds to decrease the stigma surrounding mental health illnesses.

As a friend and president of Active Minds, Emily Farmer spoke of Molly’s work for the organization.

“Molly was a special kind of person.

She always had a smile and even though she was struggling herself, she never ever wanted anyone else to struggle. She played an active role in Active Minds to prevent people from feeling the way she was feeling.”

Molly was pivotal in organizing Send Silence Packing Day on The Green in 2015, a traveling exhibit of 1,100 backpacks that were laid out to represent the amount of students that are lost to suicide each year, according to Active Minds, Inc. “She was just that type of person that was for everybody else. As a friend, she did tell us she did enjoy reducing the stigma of mental health disorders because she herself was depressed,” said Farmer.

“Molly lost a friend to suicide her freshman year of high school. She was just that type of person that she didn’t want people to struggle like she did, and I think that’s why she was such an advocate for suicide prevention,” said Cullifer on Molly’s passion for Active Minds.

“She wanted people to know that there are resources out there, and that you are not alone. She was big on getting rid of the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses.”

A vigil was held on Sunday, Oct. 2 on the Green to celebrate Molly’s life and honor her memory.

Photo by Ian Keel

Hundreds of students, faculty, family and friends gathered to share a few words about Molly. Tim Alexander held the microphone and facilitated the event, and attendees were asked to talk about her.

The vigil was organized by Alexander and De’Eria Wimbley. Wimbley did not know Molly personally, but was impacted by her death.

“I heard and contacted Tim about tying the event together. We used social media platforms to reach out to students.

I had a best friend for eight years who went through the same thing. She was killed in 2011. I’m now an advocate to destigmatize depression. A lot of people think it’s just that someone is crazy or that they’ll get over it, and I know how it feels. The main part is to kill the stigma of mental illness because it is something that is real and it’s important to help,” said Wimbley.

“One of the first things Molly said to me was, ‘If you want to work here at the desk with me, you have to be funny,’” said Darius Armstead, Blount Hall RA. “You know how people say that you have that one person that is perfect for every situation? That person was Molly.

She was just a good-hearted person. She kept everyone happy. What person didn’t want to be a friend of Molly? She was loving, caring, compassionate and sweet.

She was that person that everybody was like ‘Damn, she has it together.’ When we finish mourning, this campus will have more Molly’s here to let the light that she shone through them shine again. She touched them and since she’s gone, they are now touching other people,” he said.

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FEATURES

13

FREE FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Pushing stereotypes of immigration Group offers safe place to foster open conversation

WANT FOOD FOR THOUGHT? • “Most immigrants are here illegally.”

• There’s a way to enter the country legally for anyone who wants to get in line.

• Undocumented immigrants cause crime rates to go up.

• Undocumented immigrants don’t pay taxes, but still get benefits.

• Today’s immigrants don’t want to blend in and become “Americanized.”

• The U.S. is being overrun by immigrants like never before.

• Anyone who enters the country illegally is a criminal.

Gavin Gilliland Contributor gjgill@uab.edu

F

ree Food for Thought is a lecture series dedicated to open discussion and dialogue about current events and controversial topics. Every semester is centered on a theme, with Fall 2016 being Race and Crime: An Investigation of the Legal System. On Oct. 4, the discussion was Building Walls: Immigration in the US. During the meal, opendiscussion facilitators introduced themselves and set some ground rules. FFFT facilitator Katy Joy Vaughn, senior social justice major, had a few words about the structure of the lecture.

“Free Food for Thought aims to create a safe space for productive dialogue on campus,” Vaughn said. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk about important social issues because of how polarized our society is. Our entire lives we’ve been taught to debate, from presidential elections to fights with our parents. Free Food for Thought is working toward conversations that are more openending. We want students to listen instead of just hear.”

During the event, protocol dictates that everyone has the right to express their own ideas and thoughts, and all ideas are welcome.

Participants are asked to refrain from derogatory

FROM LEFT: Tia Davis, Sid Chandra, Ash Nanda, Imaan Mir and RJ Alcantara work to eliminate stigmas.

language and other language that could be considered hurtful.

Shortly after the foundations of discussion, attendees broke into small groups for a more intimate setting.

Statements were read to the groups that centered on immigration, immigrants and noncitizens, such as: “illegal immigrants are taking all of the good jobs.”

Participants were asked to talk about whether certain statements were true or untrue, where they thought the statement originated and who the statement benefits.

Statements included a wide range of remarks.

The discussion continued for an hour and a half. Many of the participants had similar opinions on the matter but some dissent occurred, resulting in a discussion with varied opinions, where more people were engaged.

Nathan Larinde, postbaccalaureate and an aspiring medical student, was excited to attend the

discussion and talk about immigration, as someone who has been through the immigration process successfully.

“The first thing I was trying to get out of the discussion was that I was trying to know what natural born Americans’ view of immigration and if immigrants are wanted in the states,” Larinde said. “I was surprised by the amount and the way that most everyone there was open-minded, and I was not expecting that.”

Vaughn had a few final words to share.

“I hope those that couldn’t make it try and come to one of our future events. The more opinions and narratives, the better,” Vaughn said.

“I know these are tough topics. It’s hard to have a conversation about race, crime, or politics in light of our current social conditions. However, I challenge students to see that the history being written right now isn’t just happening around them. It’s also a part of each person’s narrative.

Photo by Gavin Gilliand

We live in this world and our actions have implications. Invest in

difficult conversation and create the atmosphere you want to see in the future.”

Free Food for Thought is an organization working to inspire

conversation between groups of people, no matter their opinion.

FFFT sessions work to provide eye-opening, thought provoking discussions.

we get out what you put in,

put that recycling in the right bin.

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

14 FEATURES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

CHEAP DRINKS: SAIGON NOODLE HOUSE

New locale, new vibe, same flavor Tessa Case News Editor news@uab.edu

I

t’s a sentiment well shared amongst responsible, stressed out, of legal-ageto drink college students: “Man, I need a drink.”

I shared the same sentiment earlier this past week as I trudged through the beginning of midterms. However, I knew I had to make a kind and loving decision in the interest of my wallet or else I would just be adding on to my pile of worries. I scoured through pages and pages of Happy-Hour specials on Google, until one caught my eye: Saigon Noodle House, located in Avondale at 3719 3rd Ave. S. As a loyal customer of the original Saigon on 280, I was eager to try the new Avondale location. I had been there several times, but never for a drink other than some delicious boba tea.

I perused their menu briefly before deciding to give their self-described “tiki bar” a try. Fortunately, I live barely five minutes away, which was another economical decision down the line.

Upon entering, I was greeted with several smiling faces and the awesome, contemporary décor. A mural on the back wall portrays some of the highlights of Birmingham. It was welllit, relaxing and there was plenty of room at the bar.

When I had been looking at the menu, I had just assumed that Saigon would be offering reduced prices on their specialty cocktails. However, I was wrong and the bartender politely told me about the specials and went out of her way to give me as many details as possible.

Happy Hour at Saigon is from 3-6 p.m. (so you can get your nice, relaxing drink early and then get back to that mound of homework you’re avoiding!) and features two specialty frozen cocktails, $4 draft beers and half price wine bottles. The price on a wine bottle ranges from $17 to $33, which isn’t bad if you’re sharing among friends who are commiserating with you. Four red wines are available and five whites are as well.

The bartender was extremely pleasant

Berliner Weisse beer rests on the counter of the bar at Saigon Noodle House, which also offers a variety of Japanese food items.

and let me try both of the frozen drinks.

Every day features a Jack and Coke slushy and a daily special. I am the first to say that I am not a fan of slushies or any frozen cocktail; in my experience, it’s usually just a quick and easy way to skimp out on the alcohol and barrage you with sugar. These two were pleasant surprises, though.

The Jack and Coke is a classic, and, despite my doubts, even in a frozen version was delicious. Tennessee whiskey is a no-brainer, and my good buddy Jack was an absolute delight.

The second choice was their specialty of the day. In keeping with the seasonal flavors, it contained bourbon,

cinnamon, peaches, ginger and lemon juice. I have never called a slushy bright and refreshing, and probably never will again. There was a great taste of bourbon present, the cinnamon was super fall-oriented and the ginger and lemon at the end was the perfect touch to keep it light and bright. No syrupy residue, no horrible stomach ache due to an inhuman amount of sugar, just a nice, really well done cocktail. Did I mention that they were only $5?

I ultimately settled for Trim Tab’s Raspberry Berliner Weisse, which, again, was $4. On draft, supporting local breweries, and no tears for my lost dollars as I succumbed to my craft beer

Photo by Tessa Case

addiction. I am no beer expert, but I know a good one when I taste one and I applaud Saigon’s choice to include many different types of local beers on their draft and bottle list and making them budget friendly for the broke college student.

All in all, I genuinely enjoyed my experience and I’m glad I’ve found a new spot for an early evening beer or somewhere to go with a few friends and enjoy a cheap bottle of wine in some killer ambiance. The people are friendly, the establishment is beautiful and clean and it’s a chance to eat and drink locally. Really ask yourself, why wouldn’t you go?

CALENDAR TUESDAY

Oct. 11 -17

WHAT’S UP

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY Women’s Soccer vs.

North Texas

SATURDAY

15

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Fall History Festival

Foreign Languages & Literature Open House

Women’s Soccer vs. UTSA

Last Will & Testament of William Shakespeare

Sin Nombre

Grad Student Support Forum

Cyber Security 2020

Downtown After Sundown Concert Chris Janson

Interviewing Workshop

Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot

Fastathon Donut Run

Barktoberfest

Letter Writing Club

Kemba Smith

Purre Barre in the Gardens

Back to the 90’s Party

Great House Pumpkin Festival

Dodging for Degrees

Campus Rec. Center 4 p.m.

Sterne 163 5-7:30 p.m.

Brews, Blues & BBQ

Love Jones the Musical

Neuroscience Cafe

Girls Who Code

Homewood Library 4 p.m.

Rogue Tavern 6 p.m.

Bevill Building 170 12-1 p.m.

HSC 230 5-6 p.m.

Desert Island Supply 6 p.m.

Yom Kippur Celebration

Beth Hallel B’ham 7 p.m.

Hill Student Center 7:30 a.m.

Civil Rights Institute 6 p.m.

HSC Alumni Hall 6:30 p.m.

B’ham Botanical Gardens 6 p.m.

ARTS& Salon: Art in the Public Sphere Humanities Building 6-7:30 p.m.

Hoops on the Green

The Campus Green 7 p.m.

BBVA Compass Field 7 p.m.

The Campus Green 4:30 p.m.

World of Beer Five Points 8 p.m.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust

Alys Stephens Center 8-11 p.m.

BY PHONE: 205.934.3354 BY EMAIL: masutton@uab.edu ONLINE: www.uab.edu/studentmedia

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Linn Park 8 a.m.

Helena Amphitheater 10 a.m.

Homewood Park 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bands of Brothers Brewing Co. 1 p.m.

Oak Hill Cemetary 12 p.m.

BBVA Compass Field 1 p.m.

BJCC Concert Hall 7:30 p.m.

Humanities Building 2 p.m.

Hoover Public Library 2-3:30 p.m.

Hoover Public Library 6:30 p.m.