Vanguard The
Volume 45, Number 20
January 7, 2008
Serving USA SinCe 1965
Trustees approve NCAA Football Jason Shepard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jason.shepard@comcast.net
http://www.southalabama.edu
Members of the board of trustees hold up footballs presented to them and signed by student leaders in a show of support for the development of an NCAA Football program at the University of South Alabama. The trustees unanimously approved the addition of an NCAA-sanctioned football program at the Dec. 6 board of trustees meeting.
The University of South Alabama board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of starting an NCAA Football program and marching band at the Dec. 6 board of trustees meeting. USA President V. Gordon Moulton said the vote was a "critical decision" that will impact the University and community for many years. The University hopes to play its first game in fall of 2009. First-year costs are projected to be around $800,000 and will climb to almost $6 million during the fifth year of the program, according to the board of trustees' due diligence report on NCAA Football. Year five is the year that the program is expected to make the jump to Division I Bowl Championship Sub-Division. The "lion's share" of the cost will be supported by a $150 per semester student fee increase, according to Moulton. The fee increase will go into effect in the fall of X
see FOOTBALL, page 25
Dr. Walker named distinguished professor Hannah Skewes SENIOR REPORTER hks502@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Dr. Sue Brannan Walker, former chair of the English department, has the honor of being named the Stokes Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing. The position was named after Dr. Steven Stokes and his wife, Angelia. The couple gifted the endowment that supports the Stokes Distinguished Professorship. As distinguished professor of creative writing, Walker will conduct and direct activities at the Stokes Center of Creative Writing. The Stokes Center is meant to host seminars, readings and studies in the subject hosted by prominent authors. “I am extremely proud and appreciative of the many contributions that Walker has made and will continue to make at USA,” said Dr. G. David Johnson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USA. “Dr. Walker is truly deserving of the honor bestowed on her as the first Stokes Distinguished Professor.” “Dr. Walker is a wonderful influential teacher,” said Dr. Pat Covey, vice presi-
Inside
dent of academic affairs. “She will be a great asset to the Stokes endowment.” Walker was named Poet Laureate of Alabama in 2003 and received the honor of being First Lady of Mobile in 2007. She has also received a Pulitzer Prize nomination. She has published 18 books, poetry pieces in 79 journals and seven short stories, as well as many literary critiques and numerous pieces published in anthologies. She also started and continues to run her own publishing company named Negative Capability. Walker earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Alabama. She received two master’s degrees, Master of Arts and Master of Education, as well as a doctorate degree from Tulane University. She has taught at USA since 1980 and served as chair of the English department from 1997 to 2007. She stepped down being chair to fulfill the Stokes Distinguished Professorship. “We are deeply honored that we could support the USA creative writing department, expressed Dr. Stokes. “Dr. Walker will do an outstanding job as the Stokes Distinguished Professor.”
Complete GMAC Bowl coverage see pages 14 - 15
http://www.southalabama.edu/publicrelations
Dr. Sue Walker, former chair of the English department, was named the Stokes Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing given by Dr. Steven Stokes and his wife, Angelia.
Lifestyles pg. 8 Fine Arts pg. 10 Entertainment pg. 12
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USA awards its 60,000th degree at fall commencement Leigh Patton MANAGING EDITOR lwp302@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Courtesy of USA Public Relations
David Hughes hoists his degree in the air as he walks off stage after shaking the hands of College of Nursing Dean Dr. Debra Davis and President Moulton. Hughes also was awarded the Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Student of the Year Award.
USA hosted its fall 2007 commencement ceremony Dec. 8, 2007 at the USA Mitchell Center and awarded its 60,000 degree. This brings the the total number of degrees awarded at USA to 61,234 in history. USA awarded 886 bachelor’s degrees, 577 master’s degrees, 10 educational specialists and 34 doctorate degrees. Dr. Glenn Sebastian, a retired geography professor at USA, was the guest speaker and addressed the students at the graduation ceremony. With his inspirational and “short” speech (“I wanted to keep it short,” Sebastian said), students listened and learned as he gave guidance to their next step in life. Sebastian served40 years at the University and earned many awards in his years of teaching. In 1990, Sebastian received the Outstanding Professor Award from USA’s National Alumni Association. Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society named him Outstanding Faculty Member that same year. He was also chairman of the earth sciences department from 1981-2006. Now that Sebastian has retired, he still teaches undergraduates geography on a parttime schedule. USA President V. Gordon Moulton along with deans of the University colleges handed out degrees to all graduating seniors.
Sports pg. 16 Opinion pg. 18 Classifieds pg. 26
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