June 7, 2010

Vanguard The

Serving USA Since 1965

June 7, 2010

VOLUME 48, NUMBER 1

New USA After-Hours Clinic Tuition May

Increase Again

Matthew Peterson

MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Daniela Werner / Editor-In-Chief

USA’s College of Nursing has opened an after-hours, nurse-managed clinic on the third floor of the USA Medical Center. The clinic is open to the community Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 4-9 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-6 p.m. For more information, see story on page 4.

Construction Running Along Smoothly Dean Harrison

STAFF REPORTER millhaven1982@yahoo.com

Numerous construction projects are currently in progress at the University of South Alabama campus, and a few are expected to be completed by the upcoming fall semester.

The entrance portal on South Drive will be completed the earliest.

According to Chris Willis, director of Facilities Management, construction of the portal is expected to end in the middle of July, which is also when South Drive is to reopen to traffic.

“Part of the master plan of the project is to give the University a more distinct presence,” Willis said.

He added that the portal is structured to frame the road with a short duration of brick wall on each side with pavers and sidewalk work to create a more formal entrance.

The Moulton Tower, according to Willis, is nearly complete. However, there

Inside

Police Blotter p.2

Welcome back!

Be sure to pick up the July issue of The Vanguard this summer, too!

Look for the Vanny G in most USA campus buildings and select off-campus locations.

are some “final tune-ups” on the building that are currently being worked out.

“The bells are hung,” Willis said, “but controllers for sound” are still needed to make it “fully functional.”

He added that there will be a dedication for the tower in early fall semester, when it will have the biggest impact on campus. A date for the dedication has yet to be set.

The new Student Recreation Center is projected to open at the start of the 2010 fall semester. It is likely to be a “fabulous” building that “students will love,” according to Willis.

It will have a climbing wall, an indoor soccer court, a multi-purpose gym area, an indoor lap pool and outdoor recreational pool with a hot tub.

Willis added that the new recreation center will be “as good a center as any on the Gulf Coast.”

The Dining Hall, on the other hand, is said to be cutting it close. It is supposed

see TUITION | 4

Simon Reinert / Photo Editor

The South Drive and University Boulevard intersection is getting a much-needed face lift, which should be complete mid-July.

see CONSTRUCTION | 4

Day in the Life p.3

Arts & Entertainment p.6

The Real Jason Segel: One Fan’s Account See Arts & Entertainment, p.6

After a cut of less than .1 percent in state funding, administrators will propose a tuition increase at the June 10 Board of Trustees meeting to help decrease the University’s budget deficit and account for rising expenses.

“We can’t just go on with a deficit. We have to stay in business,” Wayne Davis, vice president for Financial Affairs, said in an interview with The Vanguard.

The University budgeted a $10 million deficit for the last fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

SGA President Kimberly Proctor said USA President Gordon Moulton told her that the tuition increase will likely be between 10 and 14 percent.

State funding for the University, which accounts for a roughly half of USA’s revenue, was cut from about $100.02 million to roughly $99.95 million, a decrease of $75,000, or about .075 percent.

This is about 28 percent less than the $139 million the University was appropriated three years ago. The last time USA’s state appropriations was under $100 million was fiscal year 2005, when the appropriation was $86.3 million.

“If you asked me any time in the last 15 or 20 years if we could take a 28 percent cut in our state appropriations, we would have told you how devastating that would be,” Davis said.

Along with the deficit, Davis said the tuition increase will also help alleviate some rising expenses, such as increases in health insurance, retirement expenses, and utility rates.

New facilities will also have to be staffed and maintained, increasing expenses.

The new Student Recreation Center, for example, will cost $400,000 in increased utility cost, supplies, and personnel.

The federal stimulus money will also expire after next year, meaning a loss of $10.8 million in revenue.

Sports p.7

Baseball Season Ends On A Disappointing Note See Sports, p.7

Oil Spill Help

Wondering how you can help with oil spill clean-up efforts?

See “USA Students To Help Clean Up Oil” on page 3.

Opinion p.9

Distractions p.11

Why Dirty Politics Don’t Win At The End Of The Day See Opinion, p.9

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Vanguard The

University of South Alabama’s Student Voice Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

Submission and Editorial Policies Send letters and guest columns to: Opinion Editor, USAVanguard.editor@gmail.com or The Vanguard, University of South Alabama, P.O. Drawer U-1057, Mobile, Ala. 36688. Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number.

All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer.

The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight during weekly Editorial Board meetings.

The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the Editor-in-Chief at 251-460-6442 or e-mail USAVanguard.Editor@ gmail.com.

The Vanguard is a member of Collegiate Presswire and U-Wire, which syndicates to a national audience.

The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each.

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Daniela Werner Managing Editor: Matthew Peterson Copy Editor: Johnny Davis Sports Editor: Matthew Weaver Photo Editor: Simon Reinert Webmaster: Rodney Thompson DISTRIBUTION Distribution Manager: Johnny Davis Distribution: Jolyn Picard ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager: Wesley Jackson Advertising Representative: Regi Allen Advertising Representative: Daniel Fordemwalt Graphic Designer: Jennifer Manning MANAGEMENT Adviser: Robert Holbert Accounting: Kathy Brannan

Web site: http://www.usavanguard.com Mailing Address The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala. 36688 Phone Number (251) 460-6442 Article XIV, Section 8 of The Lowdown: The editors of the student publications shall be free from any type of censorship and shall be responsible for the form, content and staff of the publication.

SPLC Statement: The Vanguard recognizes and affirms the editorial independence and press freedom of all student-edited campus media. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently bear the responsibility for the decisions that they make.

June 7, 2010

p lice bl tter

4/24 - Harassment, Appears in Public Place Under Influence Two people were arrested after responding to a disturbance call.

4/25 - Theft - Vehicle Parts A radio, valued at $120, and two Mugen gear shift knobs, worth $110, were stolen from a vehicle between 10 p.m. April 24 and 3:20 p.m. April 25.

4/25 - Theft of Property, 2nd Degree A victim reported $766 stolen from a room at The Grove.

4/27 - Theft of Article From Auto A wallet, driver’s license, debit card, and student ID were stolen from a GMC Yukon near the Intramural Field. There were no signs of forced entry, according to USA police.

4/27 - Criminal Mischief, Damage to Business Property Two panes of a dormitory window were broken out in Delta 4.

4/29 - Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree A gym locker in the HPELS building was vandalized between 4:44 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 29. The damage was estimated at $200.

4/29 - Theft of Article From Auto A victim reported their passenger side rear window was damaged and items were stolen from their car parked in the Building II parking lot at The Grove. The items included

a West purse, Guess wallet, credit cards, and a camera.

4/30 - Theft of Lost Property, 2nd Degree A victim reported their Toshiba L300 Satellite Pro laptop, power cord, 8gb iPod, and 80gb hard drive missing from the Mitchell Center, where the victim believed they left it. The items are valued at $1,130.

5/02 - Burglary, 2nd Degree A Vizio TV was stolen from a residence around 9:15 p.m.

5/02 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A Playstation 3, controllers, and a copy of “Modern Warfare 2” were stolen from a Delta 6 dorm room. The items are valued at $429.

5/02 - Criminal Mischief, Damage to Private Property The windshield of a Toyota FJ Cruiser was damaged between 10 p.m. May 1 and 10 a.m. May 2. The damage was estimated at $1,000 5/03 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A victim reported a 3G iPhone, valued at $205, stolen at 7:56 p.m.

5/03 - Theft of Property, 2nd Degree An HP laptop valued at $1,500 was stolen from a Delta 3 dormitory between 5 p.m. on April 29 and 9:50 p.m. on May 3.

5/03 Theft of Property, 2nd Degree A student reported that $80 in cash, a Microbiology text book, and a Biology book, worth a total of $580, were stolen from his Delta 2 dorm room between 11:30 a.m. April 30 and 11:20 p.m. May 3.

5/08 - Burglary, 3rd Degree A victim reported that a Playstation 3, Playstation controllers, a Nintendo Wii and controllers, and an iPod charger were stolen from their room at The Grove. The items were valued at $800. There were no signs of forced entry.

5/09 - Possession of Marijuana A person was arrested on Hillsdale Road at the traffic circle on charges of possession of marijuana.

5/09 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A person reported theft from a purse and vandalism at The Grove.

6/02 - Breaking and Entering a Vehicle A car’s window was broken in The Grove Building III parking lot and items, valued at $95, were stolen.

6/03 - Criminal Mischief, 2nd Degree A 2008 Dodge Magnum was keyed down the passenger side, and the tire was stabbed in The Grove parking lot in front of Building 17.

Football Player Suspended, Pleads Not Guilty Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

South Alabama student and football player Zach Brownell has been suspended from the team for the 20102011 academic year.

The 19-year-old freshman defensive back was arrested April 22 because Brownell Campus Police allege he damaged more than 20 vehicles in the Delta dorm parking lot.

He was charged with 22 counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of public intoxication. He was released the same day on $17,000 bond.

According to court documents obtained

by The Vanguard, Brownell waived his right to an appearance at an arraignment May 6, but his attorney Billy Kimbrough entered a written plea of not guilty. District Judge George Hardesty set a court

date of July 12.

After Brownell’s arrest, USA Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann said he was suspended from the team “indefinitely.”

On June 4, when The Vanguard asked school officials for comment on Brownell’s current status, a press release was issued saying he is “no longer on the roster of the Jaguar football team for the entire 2010-2011 academic year” and “no additional information will be disseminated by the University.”

Because Brownell’s alleged actions violate the student Code of Conduct, he could also be subject to punishment from the University Disciplinary Committee (UDC).

USA Public Relations Director Keith Ayers declined to comment on Brownell’s status. Ayers said the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents him from being able to discuss a student’s University status or even confirm that a student is going through the disciplinary process.

USA Police Chief Normand Gamache said officers were called to the Delta dorm area early in the morning of April 22, and witnesses said Brownell was being very disruptive and vandalizing vehicles

throughout the parking lot. He was arrested and taken to Metro Jail. Gamache said most of the damaged vehicles had broken or pulled-off side mirrors, though a few vehicles had broken windows.

Criminal mischief in the third degree is the charge for property damages of less than $500. The crime is considered a class B misdemeanor, and it is punishable by up to six months in jail and $3,000 in fines, according to the Alabama Criminal Code.

Though Brownell’s long-term status with the football team is unclear, the University’s statement seems to leave open the possibility of Brownell returning to the team for the 2011 season.

Brownell, a 6-foot-1-inch, 185-pound safety, played in all seven games during the 2009 season, racking up 27 tackles and five interceptions. He returned one interception 26 yards for a touchdown in a 31-3 win over Georgia Military College.

Brownell won three straight Alabama state 6A championships at Prattville High School before joining USA’s brand-new football program.

USA football will open its second season Sept. 4 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against Pikeville College of Kentucky.

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June 7, 2010

A Day in the Life

Of Assistant Director of New Student Recruitment Heather Nix

Laura Beth Calcote

STAFF REPORTER laurabethcalcote@gmail.com

Maybe you’re one of the thousands of freshmen who have come to tour the campus, or maybe you’re a transfer student who is looking for the perfect school to see you on to graduation. Either way, coming to a new school for the first time can be stressful, scary, exciting, or “D,” all of the above.

A friendly smiling face goes a long way in this whole process, and one particularly smiley face is that of Heather Nix, USA’s assistant director of New Student Recruitment.

Nix was born in Ocean Springs, Miss., but she said, “I consider Mobile my hometown because we moved here when I was 5.”

She graduated from USA in 2004 with a degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and then began working on campus, helping prospective students find their way to their own South success.

“My main responsibility is recruiting the transfer students and managing travel for all of our admissions officers,” she said. Beginning at 8 a.m. every morning, Nix spends the day answering e-mails and returning calls, as well as meeting with potential students.

When asked what sets USA apart from other schools, Nix said, “Our campus has a lot to offer as far as the location, and when they come here, it’s different.

“They’re not given an iPod and sent out to take a tour of campus,” she said. “They’re actually meeting with someone, given a real tour, and their questions are answered.”

Something else that puts South on another level is the friendly feel it keeps, despite its ever-growing campus.

“We’re a medium-sized university, close to 15,000 students and 1,200 acres,” she said, “but it still has a personal

feel.”

Heather enjoys her job, and said, “I’d like to be here for the duration of my career. It’s just a really great place to work.

“I like talking with students and meeting with them on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

The job is not without its own challenges, however. Nix said the hardest part is “the lack of scholarship money available for transfer students … because we have about 40 scholarships to award, and they are very competitive.

“It’s hard to tell someone that we don’t have a scholarship for which they are eligible. The money aspect is always tough,” she said.

On the tough day, though, Heather has a great support system, because her family is very close.

“We can tell each other pretty much everything, and we’re a very ‘huggy,’ ‘lovey’ family. My husband knows he has to go in and hug everybody in my family goodbye when we leave,” she said.

She has two younger sisters, Ashley and Erin, and she smiled when she talked of them.

Heather’s smile got even wider as she talked about Josh, her husband of two years. They met at the Soul Kitchen in downtown Mobile, and she says they are “very opposite, but opposites attract.”

They are expecting their first child in December.

“It’s one of those things that it’s all so new, we’ve never done it before, we don’t know what to expect,” she said.

“We’re excited and nervous!”

Family is important to Heather, and very influential to her life.

“My heroes are my grandmothers,” she said. “My mother’s mother has lung cancer.

“She was diagnosed last Christmas, and all of the hos-

USA Students To Help Clean Up Oil Cameron Adkins

STAFF REPORTER cja501@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

As oil continues to wash ashore on the Alabama coastline, students at the University of South Alabama are doing their part in cleanup efforts.

“I’m currently working with [the Petroleum Education Company] to schedule a day for Hazmat training,” USA student Alan Waugh, organizer of the student clean-up efforts, said. “The dates will be posted on the Facebook page as soon as I have them.”

The Facebook group “USA students help clean up Oil Spill” was created to organize student clean-up efforts by getting people signed up to help. It also informs them of what they can do in the clean-up process, according to Waugh, who is the president of USA’s Pre-Law and Government Association.

“I started the group probably about a week after the spill,” he said.

So far, members of the Facebook group have been notified of two beach clean-ups at Dauphin Island, but right now, the main thing is cleaning oil off of wildlife, which is taking place at Theodore Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Willis Road, according to Waugh.

There, the International Bird Rescue Research Center, and Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research are overseeing the facility and caring for wildlife, he said.

In order to assist with oil spill remediation, volunteers must have Hazmat training. The general public is not allowed to deal with the oil.

“We need as many students to volunteer as possible,” Waugh said.

Waugh has completed enough volunteer levels of training to be able to clean oiled wildlife as long as he doesn’t come into direct contact with crude washed up on the coast.

When he visited the wildlife rehab center last week, Waugh said, the facility had been receiving more and more oiled wildlife to clean.

Courtesy of Katie Bandy, New Student Recruitment

Meet Heather Nix, assistant director of New Student Recruitment. She’s the right person to visit if you’re new to campus.

pice workers call her their miracle patient. She has such a great spirit.

“My other grandmother is originally from Cuba, so she had to come here and make her way. It is because of these two women that my family is the way that they are,” she see DAY | 4

USA Foundation Bids on Brookley Center Daniela Werner

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF danielawerner87@gmail.com

daylife.com

Alan Waugh, a USA student who has completed training to be allowed to clean wildlife oiled by the recent Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, said more volunteers are needed every day. To receive volunteer training updates from Waugh, join the Facebook group “USA Students help clean up Oil Spill.”

“They just look at you like, ‘What did I do to deserve this?’” Waugh said. “It’s even more hurtful to know that most of these animals won’t live through this spill.”

Crude oil has continuously leaked from the ocean floor since April 20 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig contracted by BP PLC exploded and sank. There was little success in the efforts to stop the flow.

The odor of oil can sometimes be smelled on the wind in Mobile and surrounding areas. “[The smell] is only going to get worse,” Waugh said.

To get volunteer updates from the Facebook group, search for “USA students help clean up Oil Spill” and join the group.

At its May 27 meeting, the University of South Alabama Foundation’s board moved to bid $20 million for the 300 acres the University owns at Brookley Field in Mobile.

The USA Brookley Center was appraised at $19.6 million, according to Foundation Managing Director Maxey Roberts. The Foundation has been the sole bidder on the property since USA put it up for sale in March, when the Board of Trustees decided to explore selling options.

If the offer is accepted, the Foundation will pay $4 million a year to USA over a period of five years. The proceeds from the Brookley Field purchase will fund the $72 expansion planned for USA Women’s and Children’s Hospital USA administrators have planned.

Until the $20 million is paid in full, USA President Gordon Moulton said, the University will manage and is responsible for the Brookley property, which facilitates education programs, conferences, and some specific academic courses.

It’s hard to hold onto the property with this kind of an offer, Moulton told The Vanguard. If the Foundation is allowed to buy the property, USA will “reap the long-term benefit” from the property, he said, referring to the Foundation’s plans to develop the 300 acres.

The bid must first be approved by the USA Board of Trustees, and the board’s next meeting is Thursday, June 10.

Some Mobile airport representatives had previously expressed interest in the Brookley property, Roberts said. The Foundation won’t ignore any downstream offers for parts of the Brookley property, she said, The Foundation, once the $20 million is paid in full, is open to selling parts of the property to benefit USA, according to Roberts.

Moulton said he expects the board to respond positively to the Foundation’s offer.

The USA Foundation is independent of USA and was founded to fund the University’s financial endeavors.

4 New Clinic Open for USA, Community The

Vanguard

Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

There is a new after-hours, nurse-managed clinic available to the University of South Alabama community. USA’s College of Nursing has opened a fast-track/ urgent health care clinic on the third floor of USA Medical Center called Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic (ONHC).

ONHC is open to the community, including University students, faculty, and staff. The clinic is managed and operated by certified nurse practitioners in collaboration with a USA physician, though students and volunteers are also present. It is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 4-9 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-6 p.m.

Dr. Linda Roussel, a USA professor of Community/Mental Health Nursing, is the project’s coordinator. According to Roussel, the clinic’s mission is to provide high-quality health care for the community, while reducing health disparities and increasing accessibility to care. Some of the services offered include physical examinations, lab testing, referrals, and care for minor ailments.

One of the benefits of the clinic is that it can help with the overflow of the emergency room by providing non-emergent care. Roussel explained that the emergency room assigns incoming patients a severity level.

Levels one through three include major trauma, heart attack, and stroke. Levels four and five are less severe and considered non-emergent; these are the types of patients that the clinic is equipped to handle.

The clinic’s staff cannot prescribe controlled substances since there is no physician on staff, but the staff does work in collaboration with Dr. Errol Crook, professor and chair of Internal Medicine at USA. The clinic opened its doors Jan. 31 thanks to a five-year grant from the Health

Daniela Werner / Editor-In-Chief

Unlike some traditional waiting rooms that have a cold, sterile feel, patients at Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic can sit in a cozy area before being examined by one of the clinic’s nurse practitioners.

Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to Roussel, this is the first time the College of Nursing has received an HRSA grant for this type of nurse-managed arrangement.

The grant also allows a presence at two local community outreach sites: Dumas Wesley Community Center and 15 Place.

Dumas Wesley is a service center related to the United Methodist Church and the United Way. 15 Place is a service center for the homeless.

At these sites, the College of Nursing provides health assessments, risk appraisals, health promotion, and wellness education. These outreach programs are also staffed by USA nursing faculty and provide the opportunity for students to have clinical experiences.

Roussel called it a “living/learning lab where students are able to get clinical application experience, provide services, and be mentored.”

Fast-track urgent care, community outreach, and wellness promotion are the focus right now, but Roussel said she would like the nurse-managed center to eventually become a primary care provider and manage patients long-term. Other longterm goals include opening other locations throughout the community, working with industries to promote prevention and health to employees, and emphasizing management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

For the time being, the clinic primarily handles walk-ins, though the staff will take appointments. The clinic accepts cash, credit cards, and most major insurance providers. Services are also offered on a sliding scale, which according to Roussel, means the cost is “dependent on what resources are available to the patient.”

To get involved, make an appointment, or to get more information, call 251-4717944 or visit http://www.southalabama. edu/nursing/onhc.

June 7, 2010

Tuition from page 1

Further, Davis said that, eventually, USA employees will need raises, though he was quick to say that there would be no raises this year.

Despite seeing that it “must be done,” Proctor said she’s opposing the tuition increase, in line with her campaign promise not to support a tuition hike.

“I feel like it’s my job to be against it,” Proctor said. “The University has to do it to stay in business, but that doesn’t mean it’s what students want or what’s best for their wallets.”

“I think even though they have cut down on some ‘unnecessary’ spending, there’s still a lot going on,” Proctor said, citing such projects as the new entranceways.

She also said students aren’t educated enough about the reasons for the tuition increase.

“I trust that it’s happening because it has to, but most students who don’t know this, think it’s because we’re building bell towers and new buildings and all that,” Proctor said.

Day

from page 3

said.

Her parents are also very important in her life, and her mother, Suzanne, also spends her days at South, working as the administrative assistant to USA President Gordon Moulton.

When Nix is not at school, she enjoys reading lighthearted books, watching movies, watching her husband’s softball team, spending time at the beach, taking their chocolate Labrador, Chip, for walks and cooking.

Her favorite food?

“My grandmother’s traditional Cuban supper, which consists of a mojo-marinated pork, black beans and rice, potatoes, onions, avocado salad, and some Cuban bread. I only get it once a year.”

Maybe you’re visiting campus and just picked up this paper to see what this school is all about. If you need help deciding what to do next, call on Heather Nix. She’ll be glad to help!

Construction from page 1

to be completed by the first of August, but Willis said they are guardedly optimistic on that tight time frame.

“Knock on wood,” Willis said, lightly pounding the surface of his desk, “that we make it.” He added that the Dining Hall will be a 25,000-square-foot building seating slightly more than 500 students at a time.

It will have a downstairs with a Cash & Carry, Food Stop, and Java City. There will be a traditional meal plan system upstairs.

The Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Sciences building is purported to be doing extremely well.

“It’s just springing out of the ground,” Willis said. “The contractor was very sharp in executing the job.”

He added that the most interesting part about the planning is that they chose to use the big building crane that has been “towering over the trees” for the last few months.

“Usually those kinds of cranes are used on high-rise buildings,” Willis said. “The concept is brilliant because the tight logistics will help them move very fast.”

Completion of Shelby Hall is projected for late fall 2011.

The USA Bookstore is scheduled to be back on campus next summer.

While the temporary bookstore is currently located at University Commons (UCOM), the sight for the original location is getting a 5,000-square-foot addition, according to Willis.

It’s going to be re-skinned and renovated and made to look more “appropriate to the University architecture,” he

Simon Reinert / Photo Editor

The Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Sciences Building (left) is “doing well” in its construction schedule, and it should be finished by fall 2011, according to Director of Facilities Management Chris Willis. The new Student Recreation Center, right, should be finished by this fall and will have several amenities, including an indoor soccer court, climbing wall, and an indoor lap pool, he said.

said.

Knowing that changing the location of the bookstore would inconvenience some students, Willis said that doing so “simplified and shortened construction by four or five months.”

An enclosed mall-like area will also be installed between the Student Center and the USA Bookstore. It will replace the current covered alley and have air conditioning, and it’s expected to be completed around the middle of next summer.

News in Brief

Alabama Primaries Wrap Up

Alabama’s primaries concluded June 1, with a couple of surprising outcomes.

As expected, the Republican primary for governor will go into a run-off, but still undecided is who will take on former chancellor of two-year colleges Bradley Byrne in that race. As of print time, Tim James and Robert Bentley are within 208 votes of each other, in a race with more than 492,000 votes cast.

The votes still have to be certified, though, in a process Secretary of State Beth Chapman said will take until at least June 11.

Bentley was behind Byrne, James, and “ten commandment” judge Roy Moore in a number of polls leading up to election day, and he surprised many by ending up in the run-off.

The run-off will take place June 13.

On the other side of the aisle, Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks slaughtered assumed frontrunner Rep. Artur Davis by almost 80,000 votes in a race with a little more than 300,000 cast.

Sparks lagged behind Davis in many pre-election polls and was even once rumored to have considered quitting the race to avoid a humiliating defeat.

He will take on the winner on the GOP side in the November general election.

State Treasurer Kay Ivey handily defeated two opponents to be the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. Luther

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June 7, 2010

Strange bested incumbent Attorney General Troy King for Republican nomination for that office.

Young Boozer also defeated George Wallace Jr. for the Republican nomination for Treasurer, and Vivian Figures spanked Herman Thomas in the race for the Democratic nomination for Senate district 33.

Ashley Rich won the Republican nomination for Mobile County district attorney over Mark Erwin. In one of the more bizarre races, Thomas E. Jackson defeated Thomas Jackson in the Democratic primary for House district 68.

USA Medical Center Too Heavy A Burden On Surgery Department The University of South Alabama Medical Center has become a huge financial burden to the Department of Surgery, so much so that Chairman Dr. William O. Richards told the College of Medicine that his department is “on the verge of collapse,” the Press-Register reported.

The Department of Surgery’s financial woes stem from the number of indigent trauma patients whom USA’s medical center treats on a constant basis, according to the Press-Register.

Vice President of USA Health Systems Stan Hammack called this decade-old wave of uninsured patients a “nationwide phenomenon” for the U.S.

USA’s vice president of Health Sciences, Dr. Ronald Franks, said the department isn’t threatening to close the trauma service, according to the PressRegister.

Local Organization Recognizes College of Engineering For Research Leadership Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) has acknowledged USA’s College of Engineering for its “commitment to creating a more sustainable Gulf Coast” through its leadership in By-Product Synergy (BPS) Central Gulf Coast, according to a USA press release.

PEP is comprised of Mobile and Baldwin County businesses that work to achieve balance between business development, industrial growth and a healthy environment, according to the news release.

The BPS Gulf Coast is a network of PEP businesses that experiment with new reuse ideas.

It was started in July 1999 and is based on a model the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development produced.

There are only five other alliances in the U.S. like this one, according to the press release.

Dr. John Steadman, the Department of Engineering’s dean, oversaw the BPS technical team, which studied the 12 participating businesses and married their

reuse synergies.

USA Physiologist Receives Distinguished Scientist Award A USA professor of physiology in the College of Medicine, Dr. James M. Downey, was awarded the Peter Harris Distinguished Scientist Award by the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR) at its world congress in Kyoto, Japan, according to a USA press release.

Downey was given the award in recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements that have led to major advances in understanding the human cardiovascular system.

Dr. Roberto Bolli, president of ISHR, said Downey’s “pioneering” work in cardioprotection won him this prestigious award, according to a USA press release.

According to the press release, Downey has been a leader in cardioprotection research for three decades.

His research in “understanding of the mechanisms responsible for heart attacks and of the therapies to alleviate such injury” are major contributions to the field, said Bolli.

Bolli is chief of the division of cardiovascular medicine and director of the Institute of Molecular Cardiology at the University of Louisville, according to the press release.

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Arts & Entertainment

Vanguard Staff

USAVanguard.editor @gmail.com

June 7, 2010

At the Round Table with Jason Segel Rodney Thompson

WEBMASTER rodneythompsonjr@hotmail.com

The summer evening is starting to cast its warmth down Bourbon Street. New Orleans is a city of sin, culture, art – a place with its own distinct flavor. Starting from Canal Street and working your way down Bourbon Street, past the strip clubs, countless bars, eateries, and hot dog stands, just slightly further than the loud drunken rage of tourists, lays a very special place.

A small building that speaks of days long ago and hazy nights of yester year, it sits almost out of place in the row of buildings around it. A tavern that has been settled there since 1772, supposedly the oldest bar in the United States, and a National Historic Landmark: Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop.

Constant buggy and walking tours stop by, and small batches of people spill in to gaze around at the architecture, have a famous Hurricane, and point at the pictures of celebrities that line the walls. This bar is full of regulars, who tell elaborate stories of local haunts and crazy occurrences.

Sitting next to the fireplace, sort of in the way of the entrance, I find myself at the only table in the bar that is round.

No Shortage of Live Summer Music Timothy Borland

CONTRIBUTING WRITER trb903@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Summer is here at last, which also means it is festival season.

In the next few weeks, more than a few USA students will be making the long trek to a summer music festival.

Mobilians experienced the inaugural Hangout Festival in Orange Beach only a few weeks ago. Many feared the event would be overshadowed or even cancelled due to the devastation of the BP oil spill.

On top of an ecological disaster, the Hangout Festival’s website also regrettably announced the cancellation of the Flaming Lips due to guitarist Steven Drozd’s injury. In spite of all these difficulties, the Hangout Festival became one of the biggest success stories of the early festival season.

Lesser-known bands, such as the Funky Meters, managed to stand out and become the most talked-about of the weekend.

On May 16, Trey Anastasio of Phish and the Hangout Festival surprised everyone in Orange Beach by allowing all people entrance to the festival for free. This gesture of goodwill only furthered the mystique of what will hopefully become an annual tradition.

The Hangout also donated all profits to the oil relief effort, which in turn benefited all people in the coastal community.

Bonnaroo will happen this weekend June 10-13 in Manchester, Tenn. With a solid lineup including Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, the Dead Weather, and Jay-Z, many are considering swallowing the staggering ticket price in order to be in attendance of the second biggest music festival in the United States.

The Dead Weather will be taking the main stage on Sat-

johnlegend.com

John Legend rocked Gulf Shores at The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival in May.

urday. Jack White’s last Bonnaroo appearance was in 2007 on the Which Stage, which had an audience overflowing into the food vendors. Guitar gods Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds and John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame are some of the classic rock highlights of the weekend.

Among the lesser-known bands, no performance could be more anticipated than the Flaming Lips' Friday latenight performance of “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety. Bonnaroo always presents a varied lineup with something for every taste. To see the full lineup of over one hundred bands, visit www.bonnaroo.com. see FESTIVALS | 11

Online Summer Entertainment Knows No Bounds Gabe Grimes

Rodney Thompson / Webmaster

The Vanguard's webmaster, Rodney Thompson, is pictured here (far right) in New Orleans with his girlfriend and the amazing Jason Segel (far left). And yes, this photo is legit.

I also find myself at the only table that is currently occupied

by Jason Segel.

For those who might know his work better than his name, he can be found playing lead in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or “I Love You, Man.” He has been in iconic television like “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared.” Currently, he is starring as the character Marshall in the series “How I Met Your Mother.”

Jason was in town wrapping a new film called “Jeff Who Lives At Home.” It is a guaranteed gut-busting, coming-ofage tale about a guy who hasn’t quite left the nest yet. Starring with Jason are the likes of Ed Helms, Judy Greer, and Susan Sarandon.

It’s funny to imagine yourself talking to someone you admire. I remember watching “Freaks and Geeks” when I was 13. It was a show about high school rejects trying to establish their identities.

I looked up to these characters. I thought they were cool.

I wanted to be them.

Now, I was sitting at a table full of familiar faces, and one of them is Jason Segel.

So, what does one movie-obsessed fan do in this situation?

Play it cool.

That was my goal from the moment I sat down and introduced myself to him. Play it cool. I kept repeating it in my head as we all sat around the table drinking, smoking, and laughing.

It is hard to play it cool though when you want nothing more than to pick to pieces the brain of such a guy with every question and thought you have.

Jason was humble and attentive to everyone with an infinite amount of politeness. He sat with a smile on his face as see SEGEL | 11

STAFF WRITER gag701@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Well, the lazy days of summer are upon us. For those of you without classes or jobs during the summer (or with jobs that allow for a lot of free time, like mine), you’re probably bored out of your mind, trying to think of something to do.

You could go to the beach, but the weather’s only getting hotter and muggier (and traffic is ridiculous).

You could sit around watching TV, but summertime = rerun-time, so unless you’re all about plotlines and jokes you’ve heard before, you’ll be just as bored.

During the summer, there really is only one viable alternative to doing nothing: the interwebs.

The intertubes are full of things to take your mind off the fact that there’s nothing to do.

Flash games, TV, webcomics – really, there are tons of ways to kill tons of hours online, all without having to constantly check if your Facebook friends have updated their statuses (yes, Facebook; not MySpace.

You’re in college now, not junior high).

“Flash games” are online computer games created using Adobe’s Flash platform. The generic usage (“flash games”) generally refers to online games made using any platform while bearing a similarity to a Flash game’s style of gameplay.

Typically, the games have no redeeming societal value and serve only to kill workplace productivity and entertain people.

The standard bearer website for these types of games is the venerable www.kongregate.com. It has all sorts of games to help you kill a few hours of your days, from shooting games and driving games to strategy games and puzzle games.

If you’re looking for games that require more skill, look no further than www.physicsgames.net.

Some games are more involved than others (“Incredibots,” for instance, requires you to learn how to build robots in its robot-building system before you can actually play the game), but most games put

sciencedaily.com

Don't be like this girl, who has to sit out while her dude friends enjoy video games. Use the Internet to access online games that will have you entertained for hours.

you right into the action from the get-go. “Splitter,” “Demolition City,” “Blosics,” and “CCCPirates” are all fun to try out, and don’t necessarily require a huge time commitment.

TV on the internets isn’t the greatest.

It’s nowhere near as convenient as watching TV shows on an actual television (face it, the office chair in front of your desktop isn’t nearly as comfortable as a sofa, and even if you’re using your laptop while lying in bed, you still have to worry about the Internet connection, the temperature of and airflow around the laptop, the battery life, etc.) and the selection isn’t anywhere near as good as what cable can provide.

People usually watch TV shows online because they either missed last night’s episode or are really bored.

Either way, I’m here for you.

The gold standard, when it comes to watching TV over the Web here in America, is www.hulu.com. Hulu is a joint venture between Disney (ABC), Universal (NBC) and Newscorp (Fox).

see SUMMER | 11

Sports

Matt Weaver Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.co.uk

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June 7, 2010

Throwing a Screwball

Baseball Program Needs New Blood Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

In my years of covering University of South Alabama athletics, it’s become fairly clear to me that USA baseball coach Steve Kittrell doesn’t like it when someone in the media writes or says something negative about him or his program.

It’s understandable. He’s been a part of USA baseball as a player and coach for more than 30 years.

Me taking a swipe at his beloved Jags is probably comparable to someone bullying your child at school – it’s going to make you mad and make you want to come out swinging in defense.

But what Kittrell and a lot of people running the show at USA don’t realize is that while The Vanguard is part of the University, it is not the University’s public relations machine.

What we write about is not always going to be positive. We have a duty to report it as we see it – be it positive or be it negative.

If you want all flowers and rainbows, then the USA PR office puts out a publication called the “Midweek Memo” that may be a little more your speed.

We’ve got to prepare for the “real world” of journalism that we’re going to be entering soon, and I regret to inform you that it’s not always “Go team!” once we get out there.

Kittrell has coached USA since 1984, and most of the numbers are on his side. He is a member of the elite 1,000-win club. He has 25 seasons of 30 or more wins. He’s only had three losing seasons out of 28.

Several of his players have gone on to shine in the Major Leagues. He has led South Alabama to 10 Sun Belt Conference championships and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances.

But his downfall may be that he was never able to win the big one. Throughout all those seasons, he has never been able to make it to the College World Series, let alone win a national title.

And the 2010 season was a perfect example of how the Kittrell era has gone. The Jags began a promising new season and came out of the gates strong.

On April 6, the Jags had just beat a Top25 team, they were on a six-game winning streak, and they were sitting at a very respectable 22-10.

However, from there they went 10-17, ended the regular season on a six-game losing streak, and bowed out quietly in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

The award for rock-bottom moment of the year has to go to the 17-0 shellacking suffered at the hands of Troy on May 20.

Just think about the “Big 3” athletic programs at USA, and at most schools, for that matter: football, men’s basketball, and baseball.

Joey Jones’ team blew the expectations out of the water in the first year, and it appears the young football program is in good hands.

Ronnie Arrow has had a few bumps along see KITTRELL | 8

Baseball Season Wrapped Up

Kittrell’s Team Returns from SBC Tournament Looking Forward to 2011 Matt Weaver

SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

It was a wild and crazy ride for South Alabama baseball in 2010.

On April 6, South Alabama was 22-10 and riding a six-game winning streak.

South Alabama appeared to have returned to national prominence. The Jags, 10-2 in Sun Belt play at the time, sat just outside the Top 25 and had just defeated No. 22-ranked Southeastern Louisiana. The Jags were back, as was 28th-year head coach Steve Kittrell.

However, the excitement would be shortlived as the Jags cooled off down the stretch, getting swept by Florida International and Troy to end the regular season, and losing 2-of-3 in the conference championship to end the season at 32-27.

“We could never get out of that last slump,” Kittrell said. “We set our goals for an NCAA Regional, and in the end we just didn’t meet those expectations.

“This was such a fun team to coach, and our veteran leadership fought really hard.

Baseball is a streaky game, and we got cold at the wrong time.”

The core of this season’s team was composed of veteran leadership, including nine seniors playing a role for Kittrell in 2010.

“This year’s team had a lot of leaders,” Kittrell said. “That’s the type of team that we needed to get us back to the Regionals, and that almost happened.”

Seniors D.D. Hanks and Lance Baxter anchored a strong rotation, combining to go 16-10 with a 4.51 ERA. Baxter was the more versatile of the two, making 12 appearances out of the bullpen and earning five saves. Junior right-hander Garrett Harris also made

usajaguars.com

South Alabama catcher Brad Hammac stands in during the Red and Blue World Series. Hammac batted .200 but drove in 15 runs in limited action this season.

18 appearances (14 games started), going 5-4 with a 4.89 ERA. “Lance and D.D. were so consistent this season,” Kittrell said. “D.D. threw so many great games for us, and I think that the exam break really hurt his momentum. After the week off, he began leaving some pitches up in the zone, and that came back to hurt us.”

The bullpen was a real concern for the Jags in 2010. In 59 games pitched, the relief corps gave up 423 runs, good for a 6.43 ERA

with 13 wins. The best of the group was junior Carlton Paris, who in 22 appearances garnered a 4.70 ERA and a 4-2 record.

“Our bullpen wasn’t as sharp during the summer as we had hoped they would be,” Kittrell said. “Our lineup didn’t quit, and they kept up with our opponents, and we’re really proud of that. We just had problems staying hot once we won a couple of games.” see BASEBALL | 8

Golf, Softball Receive Report Cards

The Vanguard Hands Out Grades to Two of USA’s Athletic Programs Stephen Newhouse SPORTS WRITER st2new@msn.com

During the course of the summer semester, The Vanguard will provide an in-depth look at South Alabama athletics in the form of a report card. Split over two separate editions, the USA athletic report card will consider every aspect of the sports department and will issue grades accordingly.

This week provides a systematic look for two of the more unheralded, yet forwardmoving programs at USA with softball and golf receiving grades first. Football, baseball, and basketball make receive their report card next month, so keep an eye out for that.

Golf The golf teams for the University of South Alabama experienced both success and failure this season on the links. For the men, they experienced the joy of another Sun Belt Conference title, and the women experienced success in the classroom.

usajaguars.com

The South Alabama men's golf team won the Sun Belt Conference Championship in May.

The men opened their regular season at the Mason Rudolph Championship hosted

by Vanderbilt University. The Jags finished ninth out of 17 teams. Two weeks later, USA found its stride by winning the Memphis Intercollegiate. Senior Marc-Etienne Bussieres won the individual tournament by 10 shots and set a tournament record.

USA hosted the Mobile Bay Intercolle-

giate in February and finished sixth of 18.

USA captured its sixth conference title in school history with a win at the Sun Belt Championship in Muscle Shoals, Ala. However, the Jags' season came to an end in the NCAA Southeast Regional hosted by Georgia Tech.

The women’s best result came at the Samford Women’s Collegiate in which they finished second. The Lady Jaguars hosted their own tournament in March and finished sixth of 16. The Lady Jags’ season ended with a fourth-place result at the Sun Belt Championships.

However, the Lady Jags were recognized off the golf course with the NCAA APR award, which is given to teams that demonstrate excellent academic progress. That alone is enough to boost the grade up several points. Golf receives a solid “B.” Softball The fourth season of South Alabama softball was one full of ups and downs. see REPORT | 8

8

The

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Baseball

NASCAR

Vanguard Interview With 1989 Sprint Cup Series Champion

Ketchum Sports Agency

Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion working with Volusia County middle school students as part of Bank of America's STEM 500 on May 21.

Matt Weaver Looking back, I really wish I had worked SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace and Bank of America teamed up during the month of May, hosting 100 middle school students from Volusia County, Fla., in the STEM 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are the core disciplines of the modern NASCAR. Bank of America East Florida Marketing President Sam Willet activated his partnership with the NASCAR Foundation, exposing students from five Volusia County middle schools on an interactive trek that, in theory, will motivate each student to gain an increased interest and awareness in the mathematical fields.

During the campaign, the NASCAR legend and 1989 Cup Series Champion sat down with The Vanguard to discuss his involvement with Bank of America and the STEM 500 as part of the NASCAR Day festivities.

Vanguard: Hi Rusty, thanks for taking the time to visit with us today. Please talk a little bit about the genesis of your partnership with Bank of America and working on the STEM 500.

Rusty Wallace: I’ve done a lot of work with the guys at Bank of America. They’re really great people, supportive of our sport and foundations. My whole family banks with Bank of America, making it just a really easy transition VG: How important is math and science to the modern NASCAR? RW: The sport has changed in several ways over the years, and math and science has been at the forefront. It’s all about the numbers and applying them in the racing field faster than your opponents do.

With so many computer simulations and engineering tests, we felt that this was a really special opportunity to allow kids to see how important math is to what we do. It’s so critical to each of the big-budget teams like Hendrick, Gibbs, and Penske and it really makes the difference between winning races and going out of business.

harder in refining my math and science skills. It would have made my job as a driver and as a car owner so much easier. There is just so much about these cars that I don’t understand, and it’s because of the math.

VG: Does working with students and children also provide a great chance to build the next generation of NASCAR fans?

RW: Absolutely, it does. The NASCAR Foundation has been a great partner in not only having these kids excited about math and science but also in our sport.

These kids are the talk of the town right now, and they are going to take so many exciting things home with them. These kids are going to be excited about their academics, math, and science but also about NASCAR. It’s a great win-win situation for all of us involved with the Foundation.

VG: What aspects of NASCAR really have you excited moving this season?

RW: The new car definitely. Both Cup and Nationwide Cars of Tomorrow have presented a lot of changes, but it’s also a lot of fun.

I think that NASCAR finally has the car it needs, moving toward the future, and that represents a lot of positives for the sanctioning body.

VG: What’s been harder for you to grasp over the years – math and science or broadcasting?

RW: Broadcasting definitely. When driving on Sundays, you expect a certain amount of criticism. That’s racing.

But what’s surprised me the most when broadcasting is just how many people have an opinion. It’s so polarizing, and it’s often a struggle to be able to distance yourself from it and get better.

I’ve been around the sport for a long time now, and it never fails to amaze me just how much research goes into presenting NASCAR on a national telecast.

It’s really intense, and there’s a lot to learn. That said, I’m having a blast with what I’m doing right now, and it’s been a thrill to work with the NASCAR Foundation and with ESPN/ABC.

from page 7

While the pitching relied on three starters, the lineup evolved over the season.

Kittrell changed the heart of the lineup on several different occasions when the Jag lineup began to slump. The most consistent hitters were the big three of Sean Laird, Jake Overstreet, and Taylor White.

Overstreet was the Jags’ biggest bat during the season, belting 11 home runs and driving in 74.

Laird and White hit a combined .348 with nine homers and 84 driven in. The Jags remained one of the nation’s top offenses all year and almost rode that lineup to the top of the Sun Belt Conference.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Kittrell said. “I don’t want to say that we collapsed because that’s not what happened. We just lost two close games in an incredibly competitive tournament. If we pull out just one or two more runs, we have a great chance to win the tournament.”

The team needed to finish, both close games and the regular season. The Jags were 9-7 in one-run games.

“We just need to finish ballgames,” Kittrell said. “The bullpen has a lot to do with that, and we’ll be ready next year to finish what we started early this season.”

They’ll try to take that next step in 2011.

Overstreet, White, catcher Brent Tanner, infielder Taylor Vick, and first baseman Brad Hook all return for the follow-up in 2011. Kittrell also has an impressive mix of freshmen and transfers coming to South in the fall.

“This is just the start,” Kittrell said.

“We’re going to get better. It’s disappointing, but you know, no matter how far you go up when you set expectations, you’ll find disappointment somewhere along the way.

“I’m proud of our team,” he said. “I told them to have a nice summer, and we’ll come back next fall and get back to working on an NCAA Regional.”

June 7, 2010

Things I Think I Know “MLB Instant Replay” The times are a changin' early June’s near-perfect game by the Detroit Tigers’ Armondo Gallaraga.

Before his “failed” bid for perfection, I was of the mind that instant replay was an abomination and a callus on baseball’s human element.

Post-steroids era, something more had to be done to protect baseball tradition and umpires have begun to hinder games more than replay ever could.

Don't forget opening day and “Cowboy” Joe West calling out the Red Sox and Yankees, citing the game’s pace as disgraceful and slow.

Umpires are becoming more and more a vocal part of today’s game, and that’s unacceptable. Like little children, umpires are to be seen and never heard.

Instead we’re graced with braggarts like Jim Joyce, who along with his loud and diminutive strike calls, also blundered the biggest call in Detroit Tigers’ history.

For a call to be blown so badly is just inexcusable. It wasn’t just out three or 17 of a perfect game, it was the 27th and final out.

If baserunner Jason Donald was even close, Joyce has to call him out.

But as it stands, Donald wasn’t anywhere near first and was out by a full step. And the replays would show it if not for baseball’s arcane resistance to forward progress.

Baseball’s 21st perfect game was the victim, and that's just way too much for even me to deal with.

Baseball needs replay on a limited basis and needs it now. How many World Series, pennants, and perfect games need be lost before this happens?

-Matt Weaver, Sports Editor

Kittrell

Report

the way, but it looks like the men’s basketball cupboard is stocked with young talent ready to put the Jags back on the radar.

Lagging far behind is Kittrell’s baseball program. It continues to wallow in mediocrity and desperately needs some new blood injected into it as we enter by far the most important era in the history of USA athletics.

In the next five to 10 years, USA has a chance to make a name for itself in the marquee sports and start earning a little respect that might vault it up the food chain as conference realignment shakes out.

Its other option is to keep spinning tires and remain a run-of-the-mill mid-major that no one outside of the Gulf Coast has even heard of.

Kittrell’s a nice guy. He’s well-liked in the USA community. He can reel in Major League talent every now and then. He can win enough games to keep his head above water. But we’ve seen that it all adds up to an average program that can’t reach the top of the mountain.

To even speak of replacing Kittrell is frowned upon by many Jag supporters and won’t win me many friends, but if USA athletics is ever going to get anywhere near relevance, it might be time to make a tough decision and find a new leader for the baseball program.

Weather was the Jaguars’ first major opponent as they opened the regular season by hosting the Mardi Gras Invitational at Jaguar Field. Despite inclement weather, the Jags responded solidly to the misfortune by going 2-1 in their tournament.

The Jags’ first test of the season came days later with a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on the nationally ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. However, USA could not overcome a four-run sixth inning by Alabama and fell 6-3 in the nonconference contest.

The Jags’ misfortune continued as they headed back home for the USA Invitational. The Jags finished the tournament 1-3, including a 6-0 shutout at the hands of in-state foe UAB. However, the following weekend, they bounced back with a 3-1 record in the University of Georgia Invitational.

The Jaguars ended nonconference play with an 11-11 mark as they traveled to Troy to open the Sun Belt Conference schedule. The trip resulted in an 1-0 victory, and USA finished the conference regular season in fifth place. South Alabama had home-field advantage in the Sun Belt Tournament, but unfortunately made a quick exit with two straight losses.

Softball gets a “C” for steady improvement in all areas during year four.

from page 7

from page 7

Vanguard Staff Staff USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com

O U R

Opinion June 7, 2010

The

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V I E W

Oil Should Have SGA Should Be Careful With Tuition Hike Been Gone Long Ago

T

uition hikes have always been a sticky issue. We, as students, don’t particularly like them – while we pay more for our education, we’re not getting a better experience for it. In fact, our programs are being cut.

At the same time, we understand the reasons that tuition must be increased. Simply put, University expenses are going up, and revenues from the state, in the form of appropriations, are declining.

Accounting requires that something step in and fill the void, and, for the administration, that is a combination of tuition increases and cuts in expenses.

Basically, then, even though the idea of paying more for our education sickens us, we understand the rationale behind it and see that it requires us to bite the bullet with a tuition hike.

In this way, we sympathize with SGA President Kimberly Proctor’s ambivalence about it, as she expressed in the news story about the tuition hike (“Tuition May Increase Again,” p. 1). At the same time, we don’t see how it’s consistent to oppose something you see “must be done,” as she said.

We understand that the new SGA president is sticking to a campaign promise, and we applaud that (especially considering the amazing lack of such a commitment from her

Tilting at Windmills

By Matthew Peterson

Dirty Politics Doesn’t Pay

After Democratic Rep. Artur Davis was defeated handily, 62-38, in the primary for governor by Ag Commissioner Ron Sparks, the pundits all began speculating as to why.

After all, Davis had just released a statement that he was “poised for victory” and had a healthy lead in most polls, so what happened?

Though the professional, learned commentators have their own explanations, I like to think that Davis lost because the voters realized that they didn’t want a selfish politician in the statehouse and that Davis is just that.

Throughout the race for the Democratic nomination for governor, Davis has shown himself to be a politician in the worst sense, distorting his opponent’s views for the sake of political expediency.

For The Vanguard’s April 26 issue, I interviewed Sparks after a speech he gave to USA’s chapter of the College Democrats, asking him about issues I thought were important to students and faculty at USA. Among these questions was one about PACT, Alabama’s program in which parents can invest money

predecessor). But when does adhering to a promise cross the line into stubbornness?

It may sound like what an SGA president is supposed to do: oppose a tuition increase that’s unpopular with students, but we worry that taking a strong stand against something so necessary may hurt Proctor’s capital with the administration on future issues.

Opposing something she acknowledges “must be done” could cast her, in the administration’s eyes, as an obstructionist, thus carrying the chance that future, legitimate stands she takes will be lumped in under the “obstructionist” label.

Tuition may not be the best battle to pick, considering the economic climate we’re in.

Though we appreciate standing up for the voice of students, we hope Proctor treads lightly with the issue and is measured in her response to the administration’s proposal.

Student tuition accounts for less than half of the revenue for the University, meaning that the people who benefit from the education don’t pay for most of it.

Last fiscal year, state appropriations accounted for 19 percent of the total revenue for the University (hospitals included), whereas tuition and fees only paid 11 percent.

It’s hard to complain about that deal.

that will later pay for their child’s college education.

Sparks said he would save the PACT program by “refunding” it, and that “if you bought it you ought to get it.”

Davis seized on that statement, saying that Sparks meant to give the money back to parents who invested it and basically close down the PACT program. In a release, he said, “Sparks has sent a clear signal that PACT families would have much to fear from a Sparks governorship.”

This is far from a “clear signal,” though.

Sparks clearly thought that the PACT programs should be honored by saying “if you bought it you ought to get it” (which Davis, for some reason, didn’t quote in his release), but why did he say he would “refund” the program?

By later talking about how taxing gambling could fund education, Sparks signaled that he probably meant to use these revenues to put more money into, or “re-fund,” the ailing program.

In fact, this is consistent with his earlier statements.

According to a release on Aug. 20, 2009, Sparks told Save Alabama PACT that he would use gambling revenues to honor the PACT contracts.

By distorting Sparks’ view, Davis clearly expected to score some easy points with the disillusioned PACT parents and students.

Of course, most voters probably didn’t deeply analyze Sparks’ words, decide Davis was distorting them, then vow not to vote for him, but this is why I like to think he was trounced so soundly – eventually, your slick maneuvering catches up to you.

Davis announced that he’s getting out of politics in favor of practicing law, but we shouldn’t let his distortions hurt a decent candidate for Alabama governor.

In the midst of what has become the worst oil disaster in U.S. history, the April 20 explosion of the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig, the nation has found itself at a momentous crossroads, as it collectively ponders what is next to come in the future of energy production.

Many have already decided what should come next: weaning ourselves Laci off of oil and developing alternative Gagliano forms of energy.

Amen.

Oil consumption, at the current U.S. rate of over 20 billion barrels per day, has numerous inherent problems. For one thing, it’s not renewable, and once it’s gone, we’d better have a backup plan.

The fears of critics and hopeful proponents of oil exploration alike have been realized in a nightmarish scenario, as millions of barrels of oil gush into the Gulf of Mexico, despite repeated assurances from big oil that “new technology” makes for a safer oil rig.

Whoopsie.

When we extract it, we harm the Earth’s delicate ecosystems and risk disasters like the one at hand.

When we burn it, we pollute our air, ocean, and land. It gives off CO2, and contributes to global warming.

And we hastily and selfishly rely on it far beyond necessity.

We use excessive amounts of electricity, which requires the burning of fossil fuels, when solar, wind, and geothermal energy is just as realistic.

We rely on oil to mass-produce food, use it for fertilizer and pesticides, and then to deliver it across the country. Localized, small-scale, organic agriculture is a sustainable alternative.

We farm mass numbers of animals for meat or use them for household products, completely oblivious to the high costs in oil. Cutting non-free-range meat and animal products partially, if not fully, from a diet can have a tremendous effect on oil consumption.

We continue the development of suburban sprawl – an inherently oil-dependent community model, since it isolates neighborhoods from accessible businesses, thereby encouraging individuals to drive their cars rather than walk, bike, or take public transportation to places like the grocery store.

Instead of renewable resources, we use oil in excess for common household plastics and petroleum-based products. Ink, synthetic materials in shoes and clothing, milk cartons, grocery bags, and plastic water bottles all require oil. However, there are sustainable, not to mention safer, alternatives to all of these.

Even George W. Bush, whose personal involvement with big oil is well-known, conceded at a press conference May 25 that the nation must move away from oil and actively explore alternative forms of energy – what environmentalists and scientists have been suggesting for years.

While nobody could have predicted the Deepwater disaster, have we reached a point where only after irreversible damage is done do we finally look at facts and science and stop dividing ourselves on an issue that ultimately belongs to a bigger picture?

Maybe, in the face of this disaster unfolding in the Gulf, we might clear our collective heads and understand the issue of oil is not divided by party lines, but is, on the contrary, bound by human experience.

One of the great sorrows of our time is that it took a tragedy like the Deepwater Horizon oil leak for us to finally admit that a future of relying on oil for energy is simply a pipe dream.

Let us move forward into a clean, sustainable future!

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Vanguard Staff Staff USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com

Distractions

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Caption Contest

Photoshop Contest

Send us your funniest caption to the picture. Send submissions to USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com. We’ll print the funniest ones in the next issue.

E-mail us your version of this picture — photoshopped! Cut, crop and color to your heart’s delight. May the best photoshopper win!

Have a picture you think would have a funny caption?

Send it to us at USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com.

Think you can make the funniest photoshopped version of this picture?

E-mail it to us at USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com.

Rules:

Segel from page 6

he passed around drinks, shared the hilarity of his life with us, and dealt with our competition for his attention.

We chatted about everything under the sun. A topic close to heart for Jason, it was unfortunately the day that Dennis Hopper had passed away. Mourning aside, he told us epic stories of his adventures in the film industry.

I managed to talk to him about his upcoming Muppets movie, where he wanted it to go and what he wanted it to be.

One thing in particular that I found interesting was the budding music career Jason was developing. With no plans for an album anytime soon, he mentioned the opportunities that he had taken to open shows for Maroon 5 and the Swell Season. Apparently his acts were comical in nature, of course, but he said he takes his music very

Festivals from page 6

If you are a student who will be spending summer vacation at a college desk, you may not be able to make the six-hour pilgrimage to Bonnaroo. Do not fear! There are many smaller (and the experienced claim “better”) festivals throughout the Southeast this summer and fall, such as BamaJam, Wakarusa, and Bear Creek.

For the more daring, there is Lollapa-

seriously.

As the night wore on, a closer personal friend came to meet Jason, and he stepped outside to discuss dinner plans for his last night in New Orleans. Then the most exciting moment of my entire life happened.

Jason stepped back into Lafitte’s saying, “I am going to head out for dinner, I will see you guys later,” and threw his hand up in the air cueing me for a high five.

The world slowed down, I gazed at his palm, looked down at my own. This was Peter Bretter! This was Sydney Fife! This was Nick Andopolis!

I knew what must be done. I channeled every cool factor I had in my body and we connected with the most epic high-five in the history of high-fives ever. My heart briefly stopped.

Jason Segel is such an awesome guy to be around, and I am thankful for the friends I have that made this moment possible for me.

looza in Chicago, Ill., which boasts reunions from the likes of Soundgarden and the Strokes. Also, many are anxiously anticipating the Voodoo Music Experience lineup announcement.

All of these festivals and more can be found on the informational website www. jambase.com.

Ahh … visions of bubbles, body paint, and glow sticks are already dancing in my head. Support live music, USA!

Rules:

Summer from page 6

It has a ton of shows from those networks on its website, the only drawback being each show usually only has a limited number of episodes available for viewing (typically the latest episode, plus the previous three to four episodes, plus some episodes from the first season).

Go to www.tv.com when you’re looking for CBS shows.

For some reason, tv.com also has a good number of Universal shows (South Park, The Office, etc), so if you can’t find a Universal show on hulu.com, give tv.com a look-see.

Another good idea is to check out the individual channel’s website to see if the show you’re looking for is there. (TBS, Syfy, Style, G4, Spike are some good ones to Google.)

Webcomics are like newspaper comics, but without any syndication restrictions.

They can cover whatever topic they want (however broad or focused), can use whatever language they want and can be as long or as short as they need to be (although usually the established webcomics tend to stick to whatever size they’ve become comfortable with).

While you can find newspaper comics online (http://news.yahoo.com/comics), the jokes tend to feel watered-down and pedestrian.

The only drawback, really, is that webcomics aren’t lumped together on

a single website, you have to go to each individual website to see the comic.

One of the most successful webcomics is Penny Arcade (http://www.pennyarcade.com/comic). It, and imitators of it (like Ctrl+Alt+Del: http://www. cad-comic.com/cad/), tend to deal with game-related topics, be it a parody of the latest video game’s premise or a comment on the state of gaming in general.

Penny Arcade is typically good for a laugh, and has an extensive (although a bit dated) archive to peruse.

Www.xkcd.com (http://www.xkcd. com) and its imitators (like Abtruse Goose: http://abstrusegoose.com/) tend to favor geeky humor, be it jokes about Zorn’s Lemma, microSD cards, loneliness or Linux.

Then there are webcomics that are funny just for the sake of being funny, like Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal ( http://www.smbc-comics. com) and White Ninja (http://www. whiteninjacomics.com/comics.shtml).

Both of these webcomics are full of laughs, and both come highly recommended.

There you have it. Should the summertime blues hit, leaving you bored out of your mind, feel free to investigate further any or all of the stuff I’ve mentioned here.

Unless you don’t have access to an Internet connection.

Then just read a book.

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