November • 15 • 2016
Volume 56 • Issue 58 UAB’s Official Student Newspaper
INSIDE THE NEWS: FALL DROUGHT SPROUTS DOUBT
FROM KOSOVO TO ALABAMA
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Former ambassador emphasizes importance of speaking out and inclusion in regular life and humanitarian crises
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As Central Alabama rounds the corner to 60 days without rain, many fear a forewarning of climate change
DIWALI: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
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Student dance teams perform at 18th annual Indian culture event to sold-out audience at Alys Stephens Center
2 EDITORIAL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
Dear Kscope reader, M
y name is Surabhi Rao and I am proud to serve as your features and opinions editor for the Kaleidoscope. I expect that you are flipping through this issue looking for some riled up responses to the election. No worries, we have that for you. With the election of president-elect Donald Trump now a reality, our city, our state and our country have seen a series of rallies, debates, social media outbursts, tears and confusion. With all of this divide and strife, now is the time more than ever to listen to another’s concerns, validate their feelings and be a safe haven for their thoughts. In our great city, we’ve seen students and community members come together to march in the very path that civil rights leaders once took to call for unity and a recognition of human rights. In this issue, we also bring you a story about Ahmet Shala, the former ambassador from Kosovo, who recently spoke to students at UAB about his home country’s plight after the break up of Yugoslavia. He called on us, as Americans, and as students, to be a guiding light for helping our fellow human beings around the world who are suffering from oppression. We also bring you a piece on the 18th annual Diwali show, which is held by the Indian Cultural Association every year to bring attention to the Hindu faith and Indian culture through dance. This year, through aptly written scripts and choreographed dances, the show highlighted the values of unity, cultural appreciation and understanding and overall positivity. In front of a sizeable crowd at Al’s on Seventh in Birmingham’s Lakeview District, UAB students from the LGBTQ community also came together to share their stories at the Out/Spoken event. They shared their hopes, fears and dreams and made their voices heard after what has proven to be a divisive election. We hope that this issue is both sobering, but also a beacon of hope for UAB students of all communities and backgrounds.
Peace, love and Go Blazers
STAFF Sarah Faulkner sfaulkn2@uab.edu 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
Regards,
Surabhi Rao
Patrick Johnson plj3@uab.edu
Creative Director of Student Media 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
Features Editor
Physical Address Suite 130, Hill Student Center 1400 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35205 Mail HILL 130, 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294-1150 Phone (205) 934-3354 Web UABkscope.com Email editor@insideuab.com
Online: uab.edu/kaleidoscope Twitter: @UABKscope Facebook: facebook.com/uabkscope
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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INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Ambassador speaks on overcoming history’s tragedies Surabhi Rao Features Editor features@insideuab.com
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Ahmet Shala discusses inclusion with students.
Photo by Fred Stephens
n Monday, Nov. 7, the former ambassador from the Republic of Kosovo to Japan brought his tale of genocide, war, crime and hate to spread a message at UAB about inclusion. Ambassador Ahmet Shala, currently a visiting professor at the James Madison University in Virginia, was hosted by the UAB Institute for Human Rights. His background in Kosovo over the past few decades has given him the opportunity to lecture on topics such as marketing models and human rights. Shala said he was in his prime during the events of the Republic of Kosovo that lead to and after their independence, and was a pivotal part of the process of improving the economy there. He established a notable school system titled “The Cambridge School.” He began the talk by describing Kosovo and its history. Kosovo is comparable in land size to about one-tenth of Alabama, with population about three-sevenths the size of Alabama’s. Kosovo is in the Balkans near Italy. In 1990, according to bbc.com, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevac stripped Kosovo of its autonomy and imposed Serbian administration on the territory, which prompted Albanian protests. After Yugoslavia was dismantled in 1991, Kosovar Albanians launched a passive resistance movement but failed to secure their independence from Serbia. In 1996, the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army stepped up attacks on Serbian authorities in Kosovo. In 1999, after efforts to resolve the conflict had failed, NATO forces began a bombardment of Serb targets and Yugoslav and Serbian forces responded with a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians, prompting an
exodus that led to a refugee crisis. Following a peace agreement the same year, a UN sponsored administration took over, and Yugoslav and Serbian forces withdrew. Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence in 2008. Serbia and several other states still protest the U.S. and other states recognition of Kosovo’s declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state, according to the CIA. “For six weeks I did not know if my wife and kids were alive or dead,” Shala said of the conflict. “Still, even if a person killed my kids and my wife, I would not kill them. I do not have it in me and then I would be just like them.” During the Serbian era of ethnic cleansing, schools and other public amenities were closed. Shala showed a video of Serbian policemen that looted Albanian houses. “We would have lectures in garages,” Shala said. “For eight years, education buildings were empty but we were not allowed to teach there.” Shala also showed a video of a silent protest in the center of a town of Kosovo on February 3, 1998. Protesters came to sit on their knees silently for one minute and call for peace and freedom, something Shala said was largely ignored. “By 1989, 400,000 people left Kosovo as a result of unbearable conditions. My brother left, too. I was offered a job in London, but I didn’t take it,” Shala said. Tina Kempin Reuter, Ph.D., the director of the Institute for Human Rights at UAB, was born and raised in Switzerland, and her mother was the mayor of Maennedorf, a town that accepted refugees during the exodus of Kosovar Albanians. “I remember driving to the train station and sharing with refugees from Kosovo, because they had nothing,” Reuter said. “At first, we just took them home because we had not prepared for them.”
Shala was the first minister of economy and finance, and made substantial progress through this platform following the country’s establishment. He established taxes lower than any other country in Europe, and Kosovo’s economy has been improving since his work began. “I was talking to a local before becoming minister, and he said he would not pay taxes if they were above 30 percent, or he would only pay some taxes. I said to him I will keep the taxes at 10 percent, but he must pay in full,” Shala said. Literature suggests that this genocide and the war were a result of differences in religious beliefs, but Shala believes that the war can be attributed to the desire to take advantage of Kosovo’s natural resources and exploit its territorial access. “The literature says whatever will benefit it. This was an economic war,” he said. “Kosovo is of interest because Montenegro, Albania, and Greece are a port for minerals.” For some audience members, Shala’s talk was their first exposure to the plight of Kosovo. “Sadly, I knew nothing about Kosovo or the genocide before this talk. All of these events occurred during my lifetime, but I never learned about them,” Rebecca Massey, a junior anthropology student, said. “The fact that an ethnic genocide took place so recently and many of us were never taught is baffling to me. I think that in such divisive times in America, it is important that we remember the importance of educating ourselves on global issues.” To conclude his talk, Shala called on students to stand up for oppressed people everywhere. “For countries that don’t fill global responsibility, we are in danger. Please stand whenever you know something is not right,” he said. “You Americans, you should know how much you mean for those that are oppressed.”
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NEWS 5 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Nonprofit group acquires DoubleTree Hotel Tamara Imam Managing Editor managing@insideuab.com
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AB announced last week that the Educational Foundation has acquired the on-campus DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton for use by the university. The nonprofit entity purchased the hotel and its adjacent parking deck for $6.7 million and plans to implement major renovations, the details of which have yet to be released.
According to a press release from the university, though, the renovations of the 298-room hotel will take up to a year and a half, during which time the building will remain open to patrons. The property where the hotel is located, on the corner of University Boulevard and 20th Street South, is owned by UAB. The DoubleTree Hotel sits directly adjacent to the Shelby Biomedical Research Building and is within walking distance of seven hospitals, including UAB Hospital, Kirklin Clinic and Children’s Health Systems, according to the hotel’s website.
The DoubleTree by Hilton is now owned by UAB nonprofit Educational Foundation who plan to implement major renovations to the 298-room hotel.
The hotel occupies an important location and is uniquely suited to meet demands of the university campus. -Jodie Mote “The hotel occupies an important location and is uniquely suited to meet demands of the university campus,” Educational Foundation treasurer and controller Jodie Mote said in an interview with UAB News. “The significant planned upgrades will transform the facility to better support UAB and the broader community’s needs.” The hotel, the first DoubleTree facility in the state of Alabama, opened in 2006 after an $11 million renovation of the former Radisson Hotel, according to a press release by a
spokesperson for Hilton Hotels. Before then, it was the Kahler Plaza Hotel, which opened in 1973. For now, Mote says it is “premature” to speculate on naming for the newlyacquired hotel. The Educational Foundation leadership hopes to gather more input from key UAB constituencies before moving forward with renovation plans. To manage the hotel after the merger, the Foundation will work with Pyramid Hotel Group. “It is important that the new investments in this property deliver the amenities most needed for the best possible experience among those who will utilize the property,” Mote said. “To that end, the Educational Foundation has retained Pyramid Hotel Group to manage the hotel moving forward. They have a tremendous reputation and will work with us to ensure goals for the property are met.” The relationship between UAB and the DoubleTree is not new, however. The facility offers a discounted rate to students, and Sigma Kappa sorority held its recruitment events at the hotel in 2015 when it was colonizing on campus.
Photo by Ian Keel
6 NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Students and community rally for unity
Mark Linn Copy Editor copy@insideuab.com
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undreds of people gathered at Kelly Ingram Park to voice their opposition to president- elect Donald Trump and solidarity among minority groups for two unity rallies that marched around downtown Birmingham. “The overall goal and message of both rallies was to create a safe and open environment for people who feel threatened or demeaned by the rhetoric used by President Trump in the election to express their frustration,” two of the rally’s organizers, Alecha Irby and Jordan Giddens, a UAB student, said in a joint statement. The first rally took place on Thursday, Nov. 10. Shortly after the organizers created
the Facebook group and event, they reportedly began receiving hateful messages and threats, several of which called for the organizers to be set upon by dogs and fire hoses, evoking infamous moments during the Birmingham civil rights movement. “The fact that the Kelly Ingram Park has statues immortalizing the very same historic act of releasing the dogs, was very indicative of why these rallies are so incredibly important,” the organizers said. “Although some of the threats were frightening and shocking, we refused to give into fear tactics. We also had incredible protection from the amazing Birmingham Police Department, who helped make sure every participant was safe.” The organizers reported that the first rally saw over 500
people, while the second rally, which occurred on Saturday, Nov. 12, was attended by almost 400 people. Participants voiced their opposition to some of Trump’s proposed policies and campaign rhetoric, and some called for the end of the Electoral College, which delivered the presidency to Trump despite losing the popular vote. Many carried signs with slogans like “Love Trumps Hate,” “Black Lives Matter” and “No Trump, no KKK, no fascism in the USA.” The rallies featured a diverse range of speakers sharing their personal experiences and fears about some of the campaign rhetoric made during the presidential election. Issues that came up included LGBT and women’s rights, racism and Islamophobia.
“I came out here tonight to show that we are not alone, that my trans brothers and sisters and non-binary folks are not alone,” said Fallon Little, a freshman social work major at UAB, who spoke at the first rally. “All of our oppressed minorities, we are here to show that we rebuke the presidential election, and [that] we in numbers are so much stronger, our love is so much stronger, than any hate [from] he, or Mike Pence, or anyone that elected him.” Several of the speakers stressed the need for the rallies to remain peaceful and promote discourse. “We cannot denounce hatred and violence with hatred and violence. It undermines our platform and stoops us down to the level of the very actions we’re denouncing,” said Nick
Community members march through Birmingham at the first rally on Thursday, Nov. 10 to promote unity between marginalized groups following the results of the Nov. 8 presidential election.
Scarantino, an author and Biblical scholar who spoke at the second rally. “We cannot yell F*** Trump and then try to stay that we’re rallying of unity and love.” Irby and Giddens plan to form a new organization with De’Marcus Pruitt, a master’s student from the University of Alabama. The organizers say that they are planning to host a town hall-style community discussion to address issues on a national and local level. “We are also looking to place an emphasis on local issues, and are looking forward to working with Conservatives and Liberals alike in order to continue empowering change in this nation,” the organizers said. “We look forward to finding ways to move forward as a united front while enacting positive change in all communities.”
Photo courtesy of Mateo Montoya, from fourteen76.com
SPORTS 7 UAB BASKETBALL VERSUS ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Head Coach Rob Ehsan, center, directs players in Friday night’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Bartow Arena. The win extended the team’s home court win streak to 26 games, which is the fifth longest win streak in the NCAA.
Photo from UABsports.com
Blazers extend home court win streak
Coach Ehsan reaches first career win in season opener victory, Norton out for rest of season Jack Ryan Staff Writer jackryan@uab.edu
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he UAB men’s basketball team defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 86-66 in the first game of the regular season on Friday, Nov. 11. Friday night’s win extended the team’s home court win streak to 26 games, which is the fifth longest win streak in the NCAA. It also marked the first time UAB has started a season 1-0 since 2013, and first year Norton Head Coach Rob Ehsan’s first career win. The UAB offense was lead by senior guard Tyler Madison. Madison totaled 16 points, shooting 5-6 from the field and 6-9 from the free throw line. “Having this team around makes it
easier for me,” Madison said. “With people like Dirk, Chris and HaHa, I can go in and do the dirty work.” Madison will be an integral part of the team going forward, according to Ehsan. “He shot nine free throws tonight, but he shot a whole lot more two years ago and that is because of his high energy,” Ehsan said. “He’s around the rim, he gets loose balls and rebounds. I mean 16 [points] and 7 [rebounds] in 15 minutes, I’m not surprised. He has just been playing like that in practice. He worked incredibly hard.” Affectionately known as the defenders of “Blockingham,” the Blazers’ defense picked up right where they left off last season, during which they averaged 6.16 blocks per game. On Friday, they bested that mark with nine blocks in the game. “The Mayor of Blockingham” William Lee had six blocks, three better than his
2.97 blocks per game last year. UAB also unveiled its new up-tempo press defense for a good portion of the game. There were a couple of types used by UAB on Friday: the first being a full court zone defense used to keep the ball towards the side of the court, and the second a trap defense used to keep two defenders on one ball handler. In the offseason, Ehsan mentioned that the team was working on these styles of defense, which aim to increase turnovers and chances for quick points. “This is something we have been practicing a lot. We want to press and get some turnovers,” said senior guard Dirk Williams. UAB wound up with 10 steals in the game, leading to 22 points off turnovers and 16 fast break points. With around eight minutes left in the first half, junior starting point guard Nick Norton came down on the floor while going for a steal, immediately clutching his right knee. As of Saturday night, a spokesperson for the team confirmed
to AL.com that Norton is out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. “It was hard to see him go down,” Williams said. “Coach tried to tell us not to back up and get down and we just wanted to play hard for him.” Earlier this week, Ehsan announced that Denzel Watts would be taking a redshirt season, but will Norton’s injury, Watts’ status has become unclear. “We will be looking into all options on how to deal with this,” Ehsan said. Friday’s game against Arkansas PineBluff and Monday’s game against Furman were part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic, the culminating event of which will be a tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. UAB will play Kansas on Monday, Nov. 21 and depending on that outcome of that game, will go on to play Georgia or George Washington. The next home game will be against in-state rival Troy on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
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Water woes dry up
What does nearly 60 days without rain mean for
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ast week, Central Alabama broke the record for most consecutive days without rainfall. Worsening drought conditions impact the state in a variety of ways, ranging from wildfires to the loss of animal and plant life, and it looks like things are not going to get much better any time soon.
The impact As of Sunday, Nov. 13, Birmingham has gone 56 days without measurable rainfall, the longest such streak since rainfall total began to be logged in 1895. Birmingham will need to see another 1.83 inches to avoid beating the previous record set in 1924. The latest Seasonal Drought Outlook compiled by the National Weather Service reports that drought conditions are likely to continue through January across Central Alabama. The extremely dry conditions evoked constant danger of wildfires across the state. The National Weather Service reports over 1,500 wildfires have burned over 18,000 acres. Governor Robert Bentley has signed a Drought Emergency Declaration that bans all outside burning in the region. The drought has severely affected agriculture, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Streams and ponds drying up have led to the loss of pastures, and the ground has been too dry to plant winter wheat. Lake Purdy, which is the main source of water for Birmingham and much of Jefferson and Shelby counties, is currently only 25 percent full. “I’m quite concerned about this long drought from the perspective of the fish and the mussels and the other invertebrates [...] that live in our small streams,” James McClintock, Ph.D. said. McClintock, a polar and marine biology professor who studies the effects of climate change on biodiversity, has been following the effects of the drought in Alabama, particularly in regard to local ecology. “Our rivers and our bigger streams are doing okay, they’ve got pools of water where the life can go and have a refuge, but I have heard reports that some small streams in Alabama have dried up, and you can actually see dead fish littering the bottom of a little stream,” McClintock said. “And you know that the invertebrates
like mussels that are down in the sediments are probably dead, because they need to have water over them to provide oxygen and food.” So what’s causing the drought? There really is not a single factor that can be pointed to. A bubble of high pressure in the atmosphere has deflected storm systems around Alabama whiling keeping temperatures above average, as reported by the National Weather Service. Another factor is that conditions brought by the drought are themselves helping to perpetuate the drought. “What’s happening with the drought is that the soils in Alabama have become very, very dry,” McClintock said. “Normally, when the soils are moist, and we’re having our regular rain events that we’re more used to, that provides more moisture to help keep the environment moist. That moisture in the soil evaporates into
the atmosphere and help facilitate the next rain event.” Although Alabama will hopefully find relief from the drought in the coming weeks or months, some scientists worry that weather events like this will become the new normal as a result of climate change. It is difficult to pinpoint any one weather event as the result of climate change, but extreme weather conditions varying between short, heavy storms and longer, dryer periods are becoming more common. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that heavy downpours have increased in regions including the Southeast, as well as increased droughts. Predicting future precipitation is growing more difficult, as the Southeast lies between the increasingly wet northern region of the U.S. and an increasingly dry southwest
region. “It’s very difficult from a scientific standpoint to say ‘this drought is caused by climate change,’ but you can say that the drought fits a growing pattern of dryer periods of weather,” McClintock said. “We can expect dryer periods of drought that last longer than we’re used to, when we do have rain events they may be more intense, and flooding may be more common.” What Alabama is doing about it One problem that the recent lack of rain has brought into sharp relief is that Alabama has no statewide water policy for addressing issues like droughts. “Alabama is one of the few states that does not have a statewide water use policy and regulations,” said Robert Angus, Ph.D., vice president of conservation
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p hope:
Need to know more? Find more tips and suggestions for water conservation at: wateruseitwisely.com
r Central Alabama?
Photo by Ian Keel
at the Cahaba River Society and professor emeritus of biology at UAB. “Right now, there’s nothing to keep an agricultural or industrial user from sucking all the water they want out of local rivers, even in a drought.” A report compiled by the National River Network in September found that the state had no statewide drought plan, no established water budget, no surface or groundwater tracking and no statewide water conservation policies. Fortunately, the state has been taking steps toward a statewide water management plan. The Alabama Water Agencies Working Group, a committee of five state agencies charged with coming up with a statewide water
management plan, is supposed to submit a formal recommendation to the governor by the end of the year. “I’m very hopeful that the state of Alabama will wake up from this experience and work on a comprehensive water plan for the state,” McClintock said. “We are going to experience more droughts, more heavy rain, more extremes. We need to start thinking about how to plan for that.” What UAB is doing about it The drought affects some operations at UAB, but ongoing conservation efforts have lessened the impact. The Water
Recovery and Reuse Program saves an estimated 84 million gallons of water annually through projects such as recycling condensate water from heating and cooling systems or capturing and reusing groundwater. “Each year we had additional water reuse and recovery sites, and we are continually looking at new and innovative ways to conserve water,” coordinator of UAB Sustainability Julie Price, Ph.D. said. “We also believe that it’s important to do these projects year-round, whether there is a drought or not, since it saves money and
helps reduce the pressure on the water system.” What you can do about it “I think individuals often don’t realize how much single acts of conversation matter — but they really do add up,” Price said. “This is especially important given UAB’s size and water needs.” These tips help reduce the strain on water resources in times of drought, but they might also help you save money on your
Story by Mark Linn // Copy Editor // copy@insideuab.com
water bill as well. Take showers instead of baths and try to keep your shower time under five minutes. You can save up to an average of 1,000 gallons a month this way. Dishwashers, especially newer ones, typically use less water than washing by hand. If you do wash by hand, let them soak in the sink rather than rinsing them continuously. Washing dark clothes in cold water helps save water and energy, not to mention helping your clothes retain their color.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
OPINIONS 10
Democrats, we failed; this is our burden to bear Aaron Stuber Opinions Columnist abstuber@uab.edu
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must decide to grow so we can be the change we want to see. “There’s too much on the line, too many years of
progress, for those who are more privileged to shrug it off and dismiss Trump’s remarks as hyperbolic or mere entertainment,” Sara Segers, a junior accounting major, said.” Now is our time to become active. We do not stop fighting for what we believe to be right. We will oppose hatred. We will oppose bigotry. But most of all, we will do our best to bridge the gap of hatred that so divides us. Maya Angelou teaches us, “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination hope. We full of all should learn and act from this in order to preserve the unity, equality, and future of our country.
t righ ey B Cor
international student, my first thought was ‘Oh god, I’m going to be deported.’ If Clinton won the presidency, we would be one step closer to gaining fast, legal residency, through any master’s program. Instead, we got Trump. He said he wants to abolish all J-1 visas, but then he expressed his fondness towards international students who enter the country legally, stay, and contribute to society,” Marie Michenkova, an international student and neuroscience major,
said. As a member of a party, it is each individual’s ethical responsibility to ensure that all members of a group remain civilized. You may believe in the fiscal plans of Trump, but your individual character will be defined by your beliefs in his social progress. To my fellow Democrats, it is time for us to band together and ask ourselves the big questions. Who are we? What do we want to do? Clearly we have a lot to account for from the discrepancy in voting history. We have a lot of corruption we need to account for at the DNC. We cannot decide to let these things reduce us, but rather we
by ion trat Illus
ear Democrats, what the hell did you do? I’ve heard accusations saying that it’s the Republicans’ fault that Hillary Clinton lost the election, but it’s not. When you can explain to me why 60 million people voted for Clinton in this election compared to the 65 million that voted for Obama in 2012, then you can start to realize why we lost. Trump won with less votes than Romney lost with in 2012, or McCain in 2008. The fact that Trump won is our fault. Why did we short Clinton over 4.5 million votes? Was the disenfranchisement and corruption by the DNC too much to bear? Did we upset our fellow Democrats so much that we couldn’t elect the status quo first, then fix the issues in the next four years? None of this matters now. Now, for better or worse, Donald John Trump is the president-elect of the United States of America. He will soon be in charge of a Republicanrun Senate and House. He is likely to appoint at least one Supreme Court justice, majorly tipping the scales in the conservatives’ favor. I’m a white boy. Nothing has happened to me. I haven’t been told by the KKK that I will be lynched. No one has asked me to hang myself by my hijab. Plastered across Facebook I see posts by people who want to eliminate the Electoral College, and in the meantime want to try and plead with the electors to vote for Clinton in December. But this simply won’t happen. Moreover, it is a disservice to our forefathers to state that the Electoral College didn’t do its job. It did. The voters didn’t. No matter how much we want to fight it, Clinton lost the election fair and square. She
became complacent. The media painted a narrative that showed Clinton winning by a landslide. Yet, Nov. 8 proved this narrative to be fiction. However, just because Trump has won does not mean that we will accept hatred. Asking us to unite under Presidentelect Trump is as futile an effort as us asking you to unite under President Obama. It is undeniable truth that Trump’s campaign has enticed the ugliest of behaviors from his cohort. We will not accept it, for if someone shows you who they are, you should believe them the first time. Yet if you find yourself defending this behavior, maybe it is time to evaluate whether or not these are beliefs you hold to be true. By voting for Trump, you might not be a bigot, but you’ve also voiced that bigotry is not a deal-breaker. You have condoned hateful behavior. “When I first heard that Trump won the election, I was terrified. As an
FEATURES
11
‘Phenomenal story tellers of the clearest kind’ Chandler Jones Visual Content Manager design@insideuab.com
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n a dark room on a multi-colored stage, seven of Central Alabama’s LGBTQ community stood to testify to a crowd of about 50. At Al’s on Seventh on Saturday, Story District presented Out / Spoken with support from the Human Rights Campaign and the National Endowment for the Arts. Host Regie Cabico took to the mic first to present the slew of artists he dubbed ‘phenomenal story tellers of the clearest kind.’ Joi Miner gave her story on pansexuality and bisexuality as she discussed her discovery of
Marc McCord stands on stage of Al’s on Seventh as one of seven speakers who shared their LGBTQ stories.
Photo by Fred Stephens
her own sexuality and her daughter’s. Her brightly colored tie dye shirt, grey pumps and purple turban contrasted with her soft speech and quiet hands. Her narrative gave life to her family’s history and empowered their struggle. “We are unicorns sliding down a rainbow,” Miner said. “Don’t make momma unicorn have to use her horn.” Matthew Pagnotti’s tale came next. In a purple T-shirt and jeans, Pagnotti told a story that was simple and powerful. He spoke of working as a canvasser for the Southern Poverty Law Center and preached tolerance and antibullying. Marc McCord, a drag queen who was raised in
‘a very conservative, navy background.’ In McCord’s story, he was readying his ‘Madonna girl’ makeup for a Pride festival in Mobile when he got a call from his mother that she and his father were nearly there. He hurried to wipe off his makeup and change his outfit. He hid from his truth and took strength from the audience. Following them was Elizabeth McCain, a southern woman whose family never accepted her or her partner, Debroah Bettis who was pivotal in the Spectrum’s work in Auburn and Tori WolfeSisson who works for the Alabama Human Rights Campaign to fight any anti-LGBT bills that might come up in Congress.
12 DIWALI FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Bringing ‘the land that speaks many stories’ to Birmingham Tamara Imam Managing Editor managing@insideuab.com
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ood triumphs over evil at the annual Hindu celebration of Diwali, and those who follow the religion spread positive thoughts and well wishes amongst their community. This triumph is portrayed through light, color and dance. In an ode to the Festival of Lights, the Jemison Concert Hall in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center and the adjacent Spencer Honors House as well as the performers and attendees were lit up in a multitude of bright
colors. The 18th annual Diwali show was set to begin at 7 p.m on Saturday, Nov. 12. By 6:20, all 1,330 seats in the concert hall were filled, some audience members were standing and to many would-be attendees’ letdown, guests without tickets were turned away from the sold-out show. “[It] would’ve been helpful to let us know we needed to get tickets ahead of time. It’s not posted anywhere on the flyer or Facebook page that we need to stop by the box office for tickets,” senior kinesiology major Brianneth Alvarado
Medina said. Although many people left the ASC in disappointment after not being let in, the Indian Cultural Association, which hosts the Diwali show annually, said that the group emphasized the limited amount of seating before the event, but did not expect it to sell out so quickly. “Every year, we expect a larger turnout from both the UAB community and surrounding Birmingham community, especially since our event is always free to everyone. Thus, we always make sure we let everyone know that ‘Seating is limited. Please arrive early,’”
Diwali Director Karan Patel said. Patel said that because of ASC’s new policy on ticketing events, which was set to prevent fire code violations, ICA had to give out tickets to attendees as they came in. Some of the attendees that did not receive tickets became upset and started to yell at the executive board, according to Patel. “From this experience, we have learned from this situation that people enjoy watching our show, so that means we will have to have it at a larger venue. The turnout just showed us how much people are eager to watch our show, so we also want to
make it bigger and better for the following years,” Patel said. Those who did get a spot were treated to a series of cultural performances from community and student dance teams, which in conjunction with banter from the masters of ceremony, were intended to help audience members understand the importance of Diwali for members of the Hindu faith. “Through different dance performances by community and UAB groups, we hope to unite everyone so that people can understand the different cultures in India itself and how each dancing style represents
13
a unique culture within India,” Patel said. The student groups, made up of members of multicultural sororities, organized dance teams and groups of friends, performed dances ranging from Bollywood-fusion, Gujurat folk dance - complete with batonlike sticks called dandiyas - and traditional Punjabi dance. The BlazaRaas, composed entirely of female students, took the stage for the second year in a row in green and gold dresses and whirled their golden dandiyas to classical Gujurati music. They were followed by Alabama Apsara,
the first year, 12-member dance team adorned in purple and gold, whose sharp movements to upbeat music elicited roars from the audience. Emily Montoya, a senior neuroscience major, has attended Diwali in the past, but for the first time performed in the show along with a group of her friends, who together made up the team Namaslay. “Last night it meant the world to hear the cheers and applause from the crowd when I was on stage,” Montoya said. “I’ve danced all my life, and you would think I wouldn’t get nervous performing anymore,
but I was so nervous, especially since I was performing original choreography. But the audience was amazing, the emcees were amazing, and all of my friends and family that came out to support us really meant everything. It was a perfect way to celebrate my last Diwali as a student at UAB.” Rangeela, a veteran team who has performed in several Diwali shows in the past, brought a twist to their past routine. The Bollywood-fusion team performed a three minute preview of a project they are currently developing: bringing social issues to light through LEFT: Beyond Measures, an acapella team, performs for the first time at the 2016 Diwali show. RIGHT: Jemison Hall overflows from a sold-out crowd before the Saturday evening event began. Photos by Giani Martin ABOVE: Rangeela brings the social justice issue of homelessness to the show with Bollywood fusion. BOTTOM, FAR LEFT: Birmingham’s Blazin Bhangra performs a traditional style of dance from the state of Punjab in India. Many of these teams will perform again in the spring at Taste of India. Photos courtesy of Suresh Grandhi
dance. The performance began with a short video highlighting the problem of homelessness in Birmingham, narrated by executive director of the Committee to Protect the Homeless Rodney Cole. The voice of Karan Jani, co-captain of the team, ended the video saying, “without a proper support network, anyone can become homeless,” and the team brought their emotional routine to life. Rangeela’s performance evoked celebratory cheers from the audience, and before exiting the stage, members of
the team embraced Cole, who was in the front row. Birmingham’s Blazing Bhangra closed the show with a combination of Punjabi folk style dance and hip-hop. At the end of the night, Jemison Hall boomed with thunderous applause, and audience members celebrated with performers. “People that come to Diwali every year see how big our community is growing and how many students, families, and friends come together to support one another,” ICA President Rachana Kotapalli said.
14 FEATURES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
CHEAP EATS: SILVERTRON CAFÉ
Fine dining with a taste of history in a living room Gavin Gilliland Staff Writer gjgill@uab.edu
T
he Silvertron Café, a restaurant unlike any other, sits quietly tucked away among the Forest Park neighborhood in Birmingham. The café has been serving customers for over 30 years. Looking around inside, it is cozy, but open. It feels like someone could be living there, and you can sense the history of the place because all the furniture is vintage. Chairs are set up so that you sit in close proximity to other customers, almost forcing you to be neighborly. Before becoming the restaurant it is today, the Silvertron was once a TV repair shop for World War II era televisions of the “Silvertron” brand name. “The name Silvertron comes from shortly after World War II. There were two television brands that hit the market and one almost died out immediately,” owner Marco Morosini said. “The second one – Silvertron – was pretty successful. Half of the restaurant was the first Silvertron TV repair shop in
the Birmingham area. It used to be one of those places to get your TV fixed so then it became one of those places that you go to get some good food.” Upon arrival at Silvertron, visitors are greeted by the understated retro exterior. String lights dangle above the large glass windows, allowing you to transport yourself back into the ‘50s. To enter Silvertron, you go through a front door which is reminiscent of a prohibitionera speakeasy, tucked away from the busy streets. Once inside, you are greeted with the original, vintage pressed tin ceiling. The walls are hung with art that outlines the history of the city of Birmingham. “When you walk in, it feels like you are walking into someone’s house or someone’s living room, and there just happens to be thirty chairs set up in the middle of it,” said psychology major Emily Johnson. When the restaurant first opened, the menu was small. Most notably, it contained their signature chicken salad, fried cheese, fried mushrooms, burgers and pot pie. These
Marco Morosini, the owner of Silvertron, presents a platter of free food in his restaurant. The cafe recently added vegetarian and vegan options to their continuing, dynamic menu. BELOW: Silvertron Cofe is about a 10 minute drive from campus and has been serving customers for more than 30 years. Photos by Gavin Gilliland
items are still offered on the menu at Silvertron today, even as the menu has greatly expanded. As times have changed and tastes have evolved, the café developed a menu that’s an inclusive, but
simplistic selection of some of the best food in Birmingham. Aside from the signature dishes, the restaurant now offers not only the signature dishes, but also includes some Mexican cuisine, pastas and their famous Sunday Brunch. Recently the restaurant has added many vegetarian and vegan options to make their menu more inclusive. “The important part is to have a menu that is affordable for everyone, fun for everyone, tastier for everyone, and simple,” Morosoni said. “I think people come to Silvertron for the comfort food that everyone wants and what they look for throughout the week.” During my visit to Silvertron, I was able to eat a sampler platter selected by Morosini himself. I sampled the chicken fingers with honey mustard, a steak slider with brown gravy, the signature chicken salad with crackers and the fried cheese served with marinara.
The chicken fingers were lightly breaded and deep fried. The steak slider was lightly peppered with a buttery toasted bun and the rich brown gravy. The chicken salad was light with notes of citrus and the fried cheese was a rich white cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried to a golden brown until the cheese inside melted. Overall, I found the food to be decent and fairly priced. Most entrées can be purchased for under $10 and have large portions. “It’s not uncommon to see a table of young teenagers next to a young couple, next to a table of young families, next to a table of grandparents, and next to a table of an LGBTQ couple,” Morosoni said. “I think that particularity to bring everyone to the restaurant makes it fun. Some customers call the Silvertron the Birmingham version of Cheers because of this closeness.”
Nov. 15 -21
CALENDAR TUESDAY Full Moon BBQ block party
Full Moon BBQ Southside location 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Human Trafficking RPH Rm. 407 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging
WHAT’S UP 15 FRIDAY
Harvest Festival
Magic City Run
Volunteers needed to help package meals for a country in need.
Kicking off the holiday season with a parade followed by a visit from Santa and a fireworks show.
Food by Big Spoon Creamery and live music by Dixeland Trio. Volunteers needed!
Half marathon, 5k and one mile runs. Tickets at magiccityrun.com
Women’s Basketball vs. Belmont
NFRH Cahaba Room 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The Summit 6-9 p.m.
Celebrating 30 years of Full Moon BBQ.
Voices for Racial Justice
Conversation and Community
Purchase with a Purpose
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
Community discussion on racial justice issues.
For women who wear hijab or headscarf, are Muslim, Middle Eastern or South Asian, to discuss the election.
Start Christmas shopping while supporting local nonprofits and ministries.
Tickets available at my.alysstephens.org
BMR Presents Galactic
Arts & the Humanities
Men’s Basketball vs Troy
The Velcro Pygmies
Tickets avaliable at public.ticketbiscuit.com/ workplay/
Final of three Arts& interdisiplinary salons
Workplay 8-11 p.m.
HSC 311 5:30 p.m.
Humanities Rm. 100 6-7:30 p.m.
North River Church 6 p.m.
Bartow Arena 7 p.m.
UAB’s ASC 8 p.m.
Iron City 8-11 p.m.
All ages. Tickets available at IronCityBham.com
Bartow Arena 2 p.m.
CLASSIFIEDS
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Personal Maid Service- Basic house cleaning. Honest, dependable, licensed, bonded, flexible scheduling, competitive & local. Very professional with “NO”criminal background. Contact “Maid 2 Serve” at (205)356-2124 or email wisewoman911@gmail.com — Twin beds complete. $199 and up. Dressers/mirrors and chest of drawers. 205-910-0512.
Regions Field 8 a.m.
MONDAY Start of
FALL BREAK
Preserve Ranger Training
UAB Basketball CRE Watch Party
Wild South is training another round of volunteer preserve rangers.
Watch UAB take on Kansas.
Ruffner Mountain 1-4 p.m.
Human Rights Award Feed Blount County Ceremony World Outreach Lyric Fine Art Theatre 7-10 p.m.
Center 6-7 p.m.
Fred L. Shuttlesworth award
Free family-style Thanksgiving Dinner.
Eleanor Holmes Horton.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEGAL
B’ham Museum of Art 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
presented to Congresswoman
BY PHONE: 205.934.3354 BY EMAIL: masutton@uab.edu ONLINE: www.uab.edu/studentmedia
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SUNDAY
Lights Up
“Human Trafficking Marginalized. Masked. Missed. Populations” panel discussion.
Beloved Community Church 6-8 p.m.
SATURDAY
Iron City Birmingham 5-11 p.m. Game states at 8:30 p.m.
Movie Night
Gardendale Public Library 5-7:30 p.m. Watch a Thanksgivingthemed movie with some free popcorn.