UAB’S OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOLUME 58, ISSUE 9
BLAZERS DOWN GOLDEN EAGLES, MOVE TO 5-3 Running back Spencer Brown breaks his own single-game record in UAB’s 30-12 win. Read more on page 4.
The
Kaleidoscope CELEBRATING OUR
50th YEAR OF PUBLICATION
SPOOKY STORIES IN THIS EDITION Weekend Events
Horrifying Histories
From parties to haunted trails, Birmingham knows how to celebrate Halloween. Learn how music, food and tradition shaped the weekend before Halloween. Read more on page 5.
Hotels, hospitals and historic sites top the list of Birmingham’s creepiest locations with haunting accounts of paranormal activity. Read more on page 6.
Harvest-time Horrors Halloween. A holiday of pumpkins, candy corn and scary stories. Children travel house to house in hopes of finding their favorite candy bars, but tales of ghosts, vampires and werewolves grab the attention of many. Some claim they are proposterous. Others think they are true. Professors and students recount their fondest Halloween memories, complete with hay rides, parties and all the spooky stories that Halloween brings to mind. Read more on page 3.
Happy Halloween LOCAL POLITICS
New era begins with Woodfin Mayor-elect talks campaign, plans for better Birmingham Bella Tylicki Community Reporter In November, Birmingham will inaugurate a new mayor after seven years under the leadership of Mayor William A. Bell. Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin, 36, promises change. A Magic City native, Woodfin always knew he would return to serve his hometown. Raised in North Birmingham, Woodfin graduated from Shades Valley High School and then attended Morehouse College, an all-male, historically African-American liberal arts school in Atlanta, where he earned his degree in political science. It was when Woodfin
served as the student government president at Morehouse that his aspirations to one day become the mayor of Birmingham began to materialize. “I just knew I wanted to come home and make a difference,” he said. Woodfin took a year off after he graduated from Morehouse and returned to Birmingham, where he would attend Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. He graduated with several internships under his belt including, most notably, one with the Law Department of the City of Birmingham. “I never wanted to be at a law firm,” Woodfin said. “If I was going to practice law, it would be in the pub-
PHOTO BY IAN KEEL/PHOTO EDITOR Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin stands proudly in his 3rd Avenue North campaign office, where he oversees the transition into elected office.
lic sector.” Woodfin has served as president of the Birmingham City School Board and assistant city attorney, but his first job was at Western Market when he was just 15 years old.
His duties at Western were “really rooted in customer service and a person’s experience when they walked into the store,” Woodfin said. He hopes to translate this practice to a more
people-centered approach at City Hall. To Woodfin, a city official’s job is to provide services that promote a good quality of life for their citizens.
See WOODFIN, Page 6
OPINIONS
Page 2 October 31, 2017
HOLIDAYS Fall 2017 Editorial Board Chandler Jones Editor-in-Chief chanj1@uab.edu
Wallace Golding Managing Editor wsgoldin@uab.edu
Sufia Alam Campus Editor sufia@uab.edu
Kristina Balciunaite Life & Style Editor kribal@uab.edu
Ian Keel Photo Editor iankeel@uab.edu
Connor Gentry Sports Editor zcgentry@uab.edu
Will Harris Asst. Sports Editor willhrrs@uab.edu
True terror of Halloween
Elliott Greene Opinion Columnist
allowing commercialization to spread the holiday into stores worldwide. The scariest time of the Whether losing religious year has arrived, and slasher elements made the holiday flicks, haunted houses and better falls to personal opinghost stories are enjoyed by ion, but it could never have anyone looking for a fright. become widely practiced while While these can be fun adrenmaintaining them. Placing aline rushes, those looking decorations and eating canfor true horror should dy instead of holding consider the most terriwakes and communing fying experience of all: with the dead allowed learning! for outside cultures to Under the layers of participate. masks and candy, HalWhile Halloween loween offers a window receives fewer comGreene plaints about commerto the culture of Britain and Ireland. The holicialization than Christday’s roots are not precise, but mas, it has suffered the same the celebrations mix elements fate. “All holidays are over of traditional Irish, Welsh and commercialized,” says Alex Scottish paganism with early Dawson, senior in Biology. Christianity. Critique of the mass The holiday shed its relimarketization of holidays has gious practices and became existed since mass markets a secular occasion celebrated began, often focuses on profit throughout Europe and North motive stripping holidays of America by the 1800s. The meaning. These concerns are 20th century sterilized the revalid, but the question bemaining Christian undertones, comes whether a holiday can
be popular without losing this deeper meaning Corporations appropriating religious holidays to increase consumer spending deserve their criticism, but they are not the reason for this. The watering down of holiday festivities results from an increasingly global culture. Holidays historically were tied to small ethnic groups, but modern society integrates diverse people more than ever before, necessitating holidays lose their cultural roots for everyone to participate. Carving faces into pumpkins makes for a fun family activity, but warding off evil spirits with a grimacing gourd has implications that drive away believers of other faiths. Séances or divinations can only be fun if participants do not actually believe in ghosts. This realization reveals the true terror of Halloween. Holidays cannot be enjoyed by everyone and keep their existential insight. In order to
broadly appeal to all cultures and backgrounds, holidays must trim their religious undertones. This agnosticism does not have to be a bad thing, however. Halloween has become popular in America partly because people of all faiths can participate. The holiday might now be pointless to the devout, but it has become meaningful to millions more as a time to have fun with friends. Holidays ultimately possess the meaning people celebrating want them to have. Getting mad that Christmas or Halloween or Easter has become an excuse to party instead of pray misses the point. Holidays are important because they bring people together. The reason for celebration has always been less important than the opportunity to celebrate with friends. Elliott Greene can be reached at elliottg@uab.edu.
Marie Sutton Advisor masutton@uab.edu
Patrick Johnson Production Manager plj3@uab.edu
ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/ILLUSTRATOR
FINANCE
Consumer credit laws you should know Stephanie Yates Contributing Columnist
Letters to the Editor can be submitted to Chandler Jones, Editor-in-Chief, at chanj1@uab.edu. The Kaleidoscope functions as a memeber of UAB Student Media in association with UABTV, BlazeRadio and Aura. Website: UAB.edu/kscope Twitter @UABkscope Facebook facebook.com/uabkscope/ Instagram instagram.com/ uabkscope/ The Kaleidoscope is produced in the office of UAB Student Media. Suite 130 Hill Student Center 1400 University Blvd. Birmingham, 35233 (205) 934-3354
There are two laws regarding consumer credit that you should know. These are the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Both pieces of legislation protect consumers from unethical practices related to credit. The ECOA protects applicants for credit from discrimination while the FDCPA primarily protects debtors from harassment. The Department of Justice may file a lawsuit under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act when there is a pattern or practice of discrimination against credit applicants. This pattern or practice may be based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, sex, because the applicant receives public assistance or because the applicant has exercised his or her rights in good faith under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. This law was enacted in 1974, because, at that time,
women were asked embarrassing questions when applying for credit and frequently were required to have cosigners or extra collateral as compared to men. For example, divorced or single women applying for credit were asked about their life choices, sexual habits and other personal information that men were not required to provide. Minorities were often not permitted to apply for loans. Banks would also not consider public assistance, child support or alimony as sources of income. If female or minority applicants were able to overcome these obstacles, banks would often drag out the process in the hope that the applicants would withdraw their application. Now, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination against credit applicants, asking about marital status or plans for having children except for in certain situations and disallowing regular sources of income. In addition, lenders must inform applicants if they
have been granted or denied credit within 30 days and give the specific reasons for any adverse actions. Creditors must also give specific reasons for any adverse actions related to existing lines of credit such as closing accounts or reducing lines of credit. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act contains specific rules regarding what information debt collectors can gather from you and how they can communicate with you. It even provides for statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages and attorney’s fees for consumers victimized by a debt collector’s illegal tactics. Before the act, the debt collection industry was routinely engaging in abusive behavior. Debt collectors would call debtors at all hours of the day or night, subject them to streams of cursing and name-calling and even discuss their debt with children, neighbors and employers. Debt collectors frequently misrepresented themselves as attorneys and often threatened legal ac-
tion that they did not have the power to initiate. They often attempted to, and did, collect debts that either never existed or were long unenforceable because of statutes of limitation or bankruptcy. It is important to be familiar with these two key pieces of consumer protection legislation, because unethical lenders tend to prey on the uninformed. When applying for credit, be aware of your rights and demand to know a lender’s reason for denying you credit. If you are denied credit, be sure to check out your credit report for accuracy. If you should fall behind with your debt obligations, do not let bill collectors intimidate you. The bottom line is that consumers have rights and should not be afraid to exercise them. If you have specific questions about managing your money, please send your questions to us at RIFE@ uab.edu. You just might see your question answered in the next edition of the Kaleidoscope! Happy budgeting!
CAMPUS
Page 3 October 31, 2017
HOLIDAY TALES
Hayrides and haunted cows Professors share stories of their dearest Halloween recollections Sufia Alam Campus Editor Pumpkins, skulls and ghosts are some of the things associated with Halloween. However, everyone has their own connotation to the holiday. Dark nights, big dinners and family activities are just some of the memories UAB professors recall about their festive-filled, scary Halloweens from the past. Ron Guthrie, an instructor in the department of English, recalls his most haunting and embarrassing Halloween memory from autumn 1981. Guthrie, then 15 years old and a freshman in high school, was walking home from his girlfriend’s house one night after spending the day with her and her family. About midway through the two-mile walk, Guthrie said he heard something moving through the underbrush and dead leaves to his left. “I stopped and peered into the woods to see what it was,” Guthrie said. “It had also stopped. When I started walking again, it started walking again. I stopped. It stopped. I started. It started. After about the fourth or fifth time of that, I decide that the prudent thing to do was, well, run! I’m pretty
to this day.” As someone who dislikes scary movies, haunted houses, the color orange, dressing up in a costume and sure that was the fastest all things pumpkin flavored, mile I’ve ever run in my Lizzy Kroeger, Ph.D. student life. Luckily, I made it home and a research assistant in without being bitten, eaten the Department of Nutrior having my heart explode tion, said most would think from the exertion.” she hates Halloween. The next day, Guthrie “This couldn’t be further went back at his girlfriend’s from the truth,” Kreoger house telling them the said. “I don’t have story of his encounone favorite memory ter from the night from Halloween, but before. Guthrie said a favorite set of memhis girlfriend’s father ories.” and future father-inKroeger said her law was determined favorite Halloween to solve the mystery. Kroeger memories came from He decided to go back her college years to the route with Guthrie, when should come home this time in daylight, when every Halloween. they came upon the spot “That day, my mom where Guthrie first heard would make a huge deal the beast. Guthrie and his of me coming home,” said future father-in-law then Kroeger. “She decorated the saw an older man get out of house, and she would make his pickup and head toward all my favorite treats and the woods. They asked make a large dinner why he was there. spread where every“My heart was racone had their own ing,” Guthrie said. “I little Cornish hen, just knew he was gostuffed with wild rice. ing to tell us of some I looked forward to kind eerie howling in this meal more than the night or, perhaps, Plaisance I did Thanksgiving. something even more Looking back, there sinister, a something that wasn’t really a reason why had stalked me on my walk we did this, it was just a home. I really was lucky to tradition that started when I be alive. That was when he went away to college.” told us that his pasture borEric Plaisance, Ph.D. and dered the wood and that one assistant professor of exerof his cows had gotten out cise science recalls his fondthe night before. My fatherest memories of Halloween in-law’s laughter haunts me consisting of hay rides on
Izaan Rizwan Associate Justice 1)What is your position in USGA this year? I am one of the associate justices part of the Judicial Branch this year. 2)What are your responsibilities as an associate judge? There’s not much of an individual responsibility because we all function as a team and share all the same responsibilities. For example, we all advocate for student rights as a Judicial Branch. We make sure students know what they are in for and what their rights are and how they can proceed in that manner. 3)What qualities are necessary for students who are part of the judicial branch? We need students who are passionate about student rights and are rational thinkers that want to make a change. If students can advocate and stand up for students, then they can bring real change. 4)Are there any initiatives you or the judicial branch would like to push this semester? Our attorney general and chief justice have planned multiple events. We plan on hosting a voter registration table the first week of November. We want to let students know that it’s very important that the entire students body votes. We also plan on doing a Know Your Rights Event
10 IN 10 collaborating with the social justice advocacy council. 5)Why is voting important enough for the judicial Branch to advocate for? In today’s political climate motive is more necessary than usual. We saw in the election last year there were definitely people who did not vote which made an impact on the election results. We live in a country that wants our decision, so we should all exercise that right. 6)What are all the positions in the Judicial Branch of USGA? We have a chief justice, who is Ayo and is our head. Then you have your attorney general and one student advocate. And then the rest of us are associate justices. 7)What is your role in student conduct hearings? As a branch we are responsible for these hearings. We have a student advocate who advocates for the specific student’s rights. In conduct hearing, UAB requires two undergraduate representatives and we feel like we’re the best people to best serve them. Essentially, we sit in on a hearing, it’s very similar to a court hearing and we make sure students
know their rights throughout their conduct hearing and help them go from there. 8)How do students benefit from the Judicial Branch? I actually don’t think many students are aware of our branch within the student body. Not many students know what their rights are on campus. We updated our website and added multiple spots for students to learn what the most appropriate reactions are in certain situations. 9)Can students get more involved in the judicial branch? The best way to get involved I would say is to get on the board. Applications come out in the spring semester. We would love more students to join especially because we have a number of seniors in the Judicial Branch who will be leaving us this year. 10)What are you most excited about for this semester? I really like how proactive we have been. I feel like we are slowly making a bigger presence on campus I am also very excited for our collaboration with SJAC and getting most of the student body involved with our initiatives.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY RON GUTHRIE Ron Guthrie and his wife, Tanya, dress as citizens of the Renaissance for Halloween in the 1980s.
his grandparent’s farm in Louisiana during his childhood years. “My grandparents had nine children and over 30 grandchildren,” Plaisance said. “So for Halloween the entire family would get together and we would have hayrides on the farm, bob for apples and exchange candy. Plaisance said his uncles
would dress up in scary costumes to scare him and his siblings and cousins which always became the highlight of the night. “Halloween was one of many occasions that would bring our large family together for good food and fun,” Plaisance said. Sufia Alam can be reached at sufia@uab.edu.
SPORTS
Page 4 October 31, 2017
FOOTBALL
HOCKEY
Blazers herd the Bisons Two hat tricks aid in home blowout Will Harris Asst. Sports Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMP FENDER/ UAB ATHLETICS UAB running back Spencer Brown runs the ball past Southern Miss’s LaDarius Harris in the game at Southern Mississippi.
Grounding the Eagles Blazers pitch second half shutout, one win from bowl eligible Connor Gentry Sports Editor The UAB Football team traveled to Hattiesburg, MS to take on long-time rival Southern Mississippi in a Conference USA match-up. Southern Miss is UAB’s most played opponent in football with 16 meetings, and UAB has won five of the last six meetings between the two teams. The last time these two teams met, UAB won their sixth game of the season 45-24 in Hattiesburg, MS on Nov. 29, 2014, days before the program would be shuttered. Southern Miss scored a touchdown in the first 20 seconds with an 84-yard pass from Keon Howard STAT CORNER UAB USM Score 30 12 First Downs 21 14 208 Passing Yards 266 209 Rushing Yards 81 417 Total Offense 347 Turnovers 0 1 33:44 Time of Poss. 26:16
to Ito Smith. The point after would be blocked by Shaq Jones to give Southern Miss a 6-0 lead. On UAB’s ensuing drive the Blazers marched 79 yards down the field to score a touchdown on a two-yard run by Spencer Brown. The Golden Eagles answered the Blazer touchdown with a 25-yard field goal by Parker Shaunfield. Southern Miss held a 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The only score in the second quarter was a 31yard Southern Miss field goal to give the Golden Eagles a 12-7 lead at the half. UAB attempted a field goal to end the half, but the snap was bad and the holder was tackled to end the half. UAB received the kickoff to start the second half and drove 75 yards down the field to score a touchdown on a one-yard run by A.J. Erdely, his 10th of the season. The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, but the Blazers
regained a 13-12 lead. “We always want a quarterback that is athletic and Erdely is tough and can make plays,” said Bill Clark, UAB Football head coach. “He can be a running back when he has to.” UAB struck once again in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard pass to Hayden Pittman from Erdely. The score was set up by a 50yard run by Brown. The extra point was good, and this pushed the Blazer lead to 20-12. Five minutes later, the Blazers struck again on a 43-yard field goal by Nick Vogel after the UAB offense stalled. The final score of the game came from the defensive side of the ball when UAB’s Darious Williams intercepted a pass from Kwadra Griggs and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. The Blazers outscored the Golden Eagles 23-0 in the second half to win the game 30-12. UAB has now won six of the last seven against Southern Miss. UAB improved to 5-3, 3-2 to be one win from bowl eligibility. Southern Miss fell to 5-3, 3-2 for the season.
Erdely completed 16 of his 29 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown. Brown finished the game with 209 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. Brown’s performance broke current Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard’s freshman rushing record of 881 yards set in 2013. Brown now has 909 yards on the season with four games remaining. “I see some similarities between Spencer Brown and Jordan Howard,” Clark said. “Both are really quiet kids but are intelligent and strong.” UAB returns to action at home against the Owls of Rice University on Nov 4th at 2 p.m. The Blazers will be honoring servicemen and women with their Salute to Service game and will be playing for bowl eligibility. “It is going to be great being back home and this being our Salute to service game,” Clark said. “We are looking forward to a big win.” Connor Gentry can be reached at zcgentry@uab.edu and on Twitter @Kscope_sports.
On Friday night the UAB club hockey team faced off against the Lipscomb Bisons. The Blazers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal by Ryan Kalson. UAB forward Blake Hand added a goal assisted by Cam Dickinson with 8:50 left in the first period to lead 2-0. A late first period UAB penalty gave the Bisons a power play. Dickinson scored a shorthanded goal for UAB assisted by Patrick Flanagan to lead 3-0. Lipscomb remained on the power play and netted a goal from Conner Saucedo assisted by Phil Faragelli to trail 3-1. UAB’s Kyle Feeney ended the period with back-to-back goals. UAB led 5-1 at the end of the first period. The Blazers extended the lead with a goal from Kalson assisted by Yves Cordeau, for a 6-1 advantage. 55 seconds later, the Blazers struck again with a goal from Steven Stevens assisted by Adil Patel to lead 7-1. UAB’s Jakob Hornsby added to the Blazer lead with a goal assisted by Dickinson to lead 8-1 with 14:44 left in the second period. Late in the second period, UAB’s Cameron Fulgenzi added a goal assisted by Ian Maisonville to lead 9-1. With 22 seconds remaining in the period, Feeney added another goal to give UAB the 10-1 lead. Less than a minute into the final period, Hornsby added a goal for the Blazers to lead 11-1. Stevens added his second goal of the game off of an assist from Dickinson to take a 12-1 lead. Lipscomb answered the UAB goal with a goal to cut the lead to 12-2. In the final minute of the game, Lipscomb had a man advantage after a UAB penalty. Hornsby and Mullady added two shorthanded goals to give UAB a 14-2 win. Hornsby and Feeney finished with three goals each earning hat tricks. “Our game plan was to use our speed,” said UAB head coach Steve Cagle. “They were big and strong, but we used our speed tonight and it worked perfectly.” UAB has not lost a home game this season. “It’s always good to win at home,” said Steven Stevens. “It’s nice to stay undefeated at home the entire season. I’d like to keep it that way.” Will Harris can be reached at willhrrs@uab.edu and on Twitter @Kscope_sports.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Showdown between mythical beasts Women clinch the No. 3 seed in Conference USA tournament Sarah Oetken Sports Reporter The UAB Women’s soccer team seized a spot in the Conference USA Tournament by winning 2-1 against Middle Tennessee this past Friday. The Blazers now sit in fifth place in the league standings and will be playing for the first time since 2013 for a hand in the championship. The Blazers ran into the first 11 minutes hard and hooked the first goal of the match. Sophomore Natalie Presedo thundered down the middle of the field and caught the attention of teammate Jamiera Lunsford. Presedo sent the ball through towards Lunsford and the ball found its target at Lunsford feet. As Lunsford tricked the defender, she shot at far post and far past the keeper of the Blue Raiders. “Working through each
other….making sure we are one hundred percent staying in tuned for the 90 minutes is important,” said Erica Demers, UAB head coach. “It is the details...what they’re doing off the field is going to reflect on the field.” The Blazers were met with an enemy goal in the 27th minute of the first half when the Blue Raiders found a way around the Blazers defense and fired a shot in the home team’s net. “The backline got laxed there for a little bit,” Demers said. “For 15 minutes in the first half when we scored we became really laxed. We did not pick up our marks well enough and we were in too deep, it became an easy goal for them.” The Blazers won one back in the second half when senior Amy Brewer headed the third and final goal of the match in the 52nd minute. “Seeing a win tonight as
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKYN SHEPARD/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER UAB’s Megan Hudgens (left) and MTSU’s Casey Riemer (right) fight for the ball on Oct. 27.
team and playing as team, defending as a team, and attacking as a team-everything that we did today was a team effort,” said senior Amy Brewer. Freshman Lucy Thrasher kicked off the second half with a corner kick that flew in Brewer’s direction, where Brewer decided to head the
passing ball right over the keeper and into the back of the net. This goal would make Brewer’s 10th goal of the season and allowed her to make UAB history. It was senior night at the Blazer soccer home ground and it became a special night for Brewer as she scored that final goal.
“It’s really exciting,” Brewer said. “It’s Friday night under the lights, it’s been my dream pretty much.” The Blazers clashed with the Blue Raiders throughout the game. Both team were aggressive and brush up against each other gaining a few yellow cards in between. “Middle is similar to the way we play,” Demers said. “They want to play which is exciting too.” Although both teams had the same number of shots on goal, Middle Tennessee had 13 fouls while UAB had only 11. “I’m just a relaxed person in general,” Brewer stated. “I’m also a aggressive person on the field, but if I get knocked down I get back up and I don’t go after anyone, unless they come after me.” UAB which is now 13-33, 7-2-1 will be heading to the first game of conference tournament in Boca Raton, Florida on Nov. 1. Sarah Oetken can be reached at sarahoak@uab.edu.
LIFE & STYLE
Page 5 October 31, 2017
LOCAL EVENTS
Festivities awaken the city Fall traditions, attractions and celebrations in Birmingham Kristina Balciunaite Life & Style Editor The sun is setting sooner, the air is getting colder and midterms are due. The end of October is synonymous to semester fatigue for many students and is just a tiring time for people in general. However, for Birmingham it is the time when the city life is revived and people come together to celebrate seasonal festivities. The annual BOO Halloween Party at B&W Warehouse by Railroad park hosted yet another Halloween success last Friday, Oct. 27. In 1995, the party started out as a recreation of college fraternity parties, according to Michael Walton, one of the original founders of the annual party.
Now it has grown to become one of the largest Halloween events in Birmingham, averaging 1200 people per year. “It’s a fun energy,” Walton said. “It became much bigger than we thought it would be.” Apart from hitting the dance-floor to DJ Mark AD in the Disco Skeleton Cellar or clapping your hands to the local band Gentleman Zero in the Brick Room, guests could receive henna tattoos, palm readings and even re-watch some classic scary flicks. “Things like this are important,” said Nordan Dembitsky, guitarist in Gentleman Zero. “There’s a lack of community here in Birmingham. Now people are coming from the suburbs, downtown to be here.” The Rotary trail was satu-
PHOTO BY KRISTINA BALCIUNAITE/ LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Costumed hot dog dancing to Gentleman Zero performance at the BOO Halloween Party.
PHOTO BY AUSTIN SIMPSON/ PHOTOGRAPHER Traditionally dressed children celebrate the Day of the Dead event at the Rotary Trail.
rated with ‘papel picado’, altars for the dead and a strong scent of tacos last Saturday, Oct. 28, where the Alabama Multicultural Organization hosted a celebration for the Day of the Dead. Attendants of the expansive celebration saluted the deceased with community altars, local artists and latin food. “To share our culture in the South is an eye-opener,” said Randy Ballenger. “It’s all about moving forward.” Families decorated altars made of hay to show respect to their family members who had deceased. Decorations used were flowers, banners, flags and even food and candy, to symbolize the care the family has for their loved one. “We feel closer to the
dead,” said Tyana Veth-Li, a student who came from Georgia to experience the event. “Instead of seeing death as dark and unhappy, we celebrate our loved ones.” October is when Sloss Furnace turns its reputation about being haunted by the deceased James Wormwood (aka “Slag”), the foreman of the so-called “graveyard shift” who died at the site, into an elaborate haunted house attraction. Using effects that went above $300,000 and was constructed by the Hollywood Special Effects team, visitors go through the full haunted Sloss experience. First, they are taken through a replica of Wormwood’s house, where he allegedly started going mad.
Next, they are taken through the Boiler Room, where many have experienced unexplained chills, even during the hottest times of the year. Then the visitors are led through the furnace while being “attacked” by monsters and zombies. An outside movie theater screened horror classics, while the occasional monster surprisingly attacked the audience. “Sloss Haunted Furnaces was one of the best haunted houses I’ve been to,” said Reed Linam, sophomore in public health. “The actors employed a variety of scare tactics to maximize our experience.” Kristina Balciunaite can be reached at kribal@uab.edu
EVIL LAUGHS Why can’t two spirits stay in a relationship? They just ghost each other.
What do you call a pumpkin that is late? A pumpkin spice latte.
How much does heavy metal weigh? A pentagram.
What’s a ghost’s favorite data type? Boolean.
Why did Kim Jong Un threaten a pumpkin? He mistook it for Donald Trump.
ECONOMY TIPS
Best places to shop on a low budget Stores, restaurants and services that offer discounts for students Allie Milton Life & Style Reporter Often, students experience negative feelings when spending money in what they deem unnecessary ways. The fun and excitement of getting new clothes or eating out off-campus can be overshadowed by that looming student debt and all the expenses that are hard to cover while managing the full-time job of being a college student. To alleviate some of financial burden, various locals offer student discounts. “It’s nice because, especially if you’re on a budget, you can use the discounts to your advantage and save money,” Hannah Kindervater, freshman in sociology. However, not many students are aware of what stores, services and restaurants offer student discounts. “To my dismay, I have never gotten the chance to utilize these student dis-
counts,” said Caleb Probst, freshman in African American studies. “If I only knew about what places used these discounts, I would indubitably increase my knowledge and utilization of these said student discounts.” Madewell offers students 15 percent off their total purchase if the student presents them with their student ID and has an email on file with the store. Madewell offers a wide variety of clothing and accessories, including jewelry and canvas tote bags, but is best know for its jeans and other denim products. Though H&M does not offer any student discounts, it does provide a 15 percent off coupon for bringing in used clothes as part of their material recycling program. This environmentally conscious initiative provides a reward for people recycling their old clothes and accepts clothes of any brand and in any condition. After shoppers bring in
their used clothes, they will receive a coupon voucher that can be used on their next purchase. Express Oil on University Boulevard near UAB’s main campus offers $5 off an oil change when presented with a valid UAB student ID. For students with cars, this is an exciting prospect. “I have not used any student discounts yet, but I am excited to start by getting my oil changed,” said Hannah Goymer, freshman in neuroscience. Al’s Mediterranean Deli and Grill, located next to the 16th street parking deck, gives UAB students a free drink with their meal. The location, featuring a menu that offers both chili cheese fries and baklava, also accepts BlazerBucks. The Golden Temple Café provides UAB students with 10 percent off their meal or drinks. Incorporating healthy and natural ingredients at its location at Five Points South, the café boasts being Birmingham’s only exclusively vegetarian dining option. They also offer organic, fair
ILLUSTRATION BY LEISHA CHAMBERS/ ILLUSTRATOR
trade coffee. Students can also seek discounts outside of Birmingham through some online providers. For a discounted price of $4.99 per month, the music provider Spotify offers students their Premium plan and provides additional access to television provider Hulu’s limited commercials plan. Regularly, access to Spotify Premium without access to Hulu would be $9.99 per month. The
only requirements are for the student to be 18 or older. Though this is by no means a comprehensive list, these locations and services are among many offering discounts to attract students. To know if a location not mentioned in the list offers a student discount, all the student needs to do is ask. Allie Milton can be reached at miltona@uab.edu
COMMUNITY
Page 6 October 31, 2017
HISTORIC LOCATIONS
Ghost tales of the city Local buildings and sites where unexplained presences appear Parker Rose Community Reporter
Rife with history, Birmingham is home to some of the South’s most haunted places. A few locations are infamous for their reputed paranormal Tutwiler Hotel Unknown to many, the Tutwiler Hotel that sits on Park Place is not the original. The hotel originally stood as Ridgeley Apartments, which were built at the same time as the original Tutwiler and funded by E.M. Tutwiler’s dime. E.M. Tutwiler lived in the apartments, and legend has it that his ghost still haunts the space today. “It is definitively one of the most haunted hotels in Birmingham,” said Wolfgang Poe, owner of the Birmingham Historic Touring Company and the Birmingham Ghost Walk. “Major Tutwiler is thought to occupy the area that is currently the hotel’s
restaurant and kitchens. In the 1990s the bartender was having difficulty closing and turning off lights one evening. Every time he turned them off and headed for the door, they would come back on.” Upon hearing this, the head chef decided to close by himself one evening to see what was going on. The next morning, the staff returned to discover not only that the lights and the stove were on, but sitting on the kitchen table was a full meal and a bottle of wine. Ever since, legend has it that the staff has made sure to say “Thank you for visiting us, Major Tutwiler. Please turn off the lights and don’t leave a mess.” They haven’t had any trouble since. Redmont Hotel Just down the street from Tutwiler is another spooky location – the Redmont Hotel. The ghost of Hank Williams Sr. is said to occupy
Woodfin From Page 1
Woodfin wants his tenure as mayor to be an extension of his people-oriented campaign. He contributes his victory to the campaign’s boots-onthe-ground approach. “Bell was a seven-year incumbent who had every organization endorse him, but we knew that going into it,” Woodfin said. “We knew we would face resistance. We knew it would be an uphill battle.” Woodfin acknowledged the contributions his predecessor made to Birmingham, but he would like to see two primary changes in city government. “The mayor and the council have to work together,” Woodfin said. “If we work together, and we have one mission, one goal, which is to help people, we will figure out a way to get beyond [our] differences.” Another thing he wants to change is the sense of urgency to help people. “The City of Birmingham is in
PHOTO BY AUSTIN SIMPSON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sloss Furnaces is said to be haunted by a former furnace master, who faced a brutal death in an accident at the site.
The Redmont. “Everyone knows that Hank Williams died in a car on the way to his last concert Jan. 1, 1953,” Poe said. “What is less known is that he spent his last night on Earth in the Redmont Hotel.” On Dec. 31, 1952, an ice storm hit central Alabama, and Mr. Williams and his group were forced to wait out the storm in Redmont Hotel. “He had [become] so intoxicated [that night], when
the space of a $428 million budget,” Woodfin said. “Honestly, all [the city government] is supposed to do is provide services. I’m looking forward to being very efficient and effective in how we spend tax dollars and making sure the adults who are employed by the City of Birmingham are held accountable.” To overcome Bell’s incumbency and make these changes, Woodfin knew an unconventional strategy would be imperative. “We knew it would be a David and Goliath moment,” Woodfin said. “We chose to be extremely strategic with our slingshot and rocks up against a giant who had all the financial resources, all the organizational backing, all the weight of an incumbent. We planned it out, and we marched up the hill. Our strategy was to treat the campaign as if we couldn’t raise one dollar, so we knocked on doors.” Woodfin attributes a large part of his campaign’s success to the strong college-student presence and support at the polls.
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they dragged him across the lobby and poured him into a room he [was] barely functional,” Poe said. “The next morning they dragged him across the lobby and poured him back into a 1952 Cadillac and headed North. When they [stopped to] put gas in the car they discovered that Mr. Williams [was] cold and stiff in the back seat.” Sloss Furnaces One place to get a good
“It was the young people that were the faces of the campaign,” Woodfin said. “They were the lead organizers out on the streets. They were the warriors. Our entire campaign was retrofitted with young folks.” He also expressed his “unconditional support” for UAB as a university and research institution, harkening to familial ties to its Southside cam-
scare in Birmingham is Sloss Furnaces. It is said to be the home of the ghost of a former furnace master named Theophilus Calvin Jowers. “Mr. Jowers was working one evening and a piece of equipment became jammed,” Poe said. “He was using a long, iron bar to pry it loose and it broke out of the mechanism that moved it around the furnace [when the pry bar] fell into the furnace. A jagged piece of metal snagged his pants leg and [dragged] him into the furnace as it fell. His coworkers attached a shovel to a long iron water pipe and they managed to fish out his burnt bowels, his burnt hipbones, and a family says they got his heart.” Legend says that after a week had passed the ghost of Mr. Jowers appeared out of the molten steel and smoke. “All the dark corners, cobwebs, old catwalks and hatches are real,” said Mikayla Peterson, freshman in biology. “That’s what made it creepy.” Parker Rose can be reached at pdrose@uab.edu.
pus. “I’m loyal to UAB,” Woodfin said. “I want our students from Birmingham City Schools to attend UAB. I love UAB, bottom line.” Woodfin will be sworn into office Nov. 28, 2017. Bella Tylicki can be reached at btylicki@uab.edu and on Twitter @_belty_.
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It was the young people that were the faces of the campaign. They were the lead organizers out on the streets. —Randall Woodfin
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