1.16.2012 Vanguard by The Vanguard

VANGUARD

THE

USAPD apprehends bounty hunter on campus: pg. 8

“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”

JAN 16, 2012

VOL. 50, NO. 1

Renovations: Student Center and The Market

ROTC makes difference on campus BY PATRICK HERRING Staff Reporter

The Terrace door is propped open during renovations to the USA Student Center and The Market. The new food court is set to open in a week, according to Dining Services.

MATT WEAVER / SENIOR REPORTER

Inside the construction: pg. 18

There is an organization on campus that helps you gain valuable leadership and organizational skills, keeps you in peak physical condition and pushes you towards getting your degree. On top of that, they can even pay for your school sometimes. The organization is called Reserve Officer Training Core, or ROTC. According to Captain William Hurd, recruiting operations officer at USA, it is designed to be a commissioning program for the military. “The ultimate goal of the ROTC program is to train recruits to become military officers while they are getting their degree,” Hurd said. The ROTC program on campus currently consists of 141 students. These students are going through training and learning what it takes to be an officer in the military. But at the same time, they are being productive members of the society that is USA. They can be seen all around see ROTC page 4

USA student killed at residence on University Blvd. BY CAREY COX Copy Editor

Andrew Saxon Biology major

A man who went to USA was found dead on Jan. 12. His body was discovered at a house across the street from the ILB Building at University Boulevard and Mary and William

Street. According to a Mobile Police Department press release, Mobile police

responded to the 400 block of North University Boulevard at 4:30 a.m. for a report of a man lying in the carport of a residence. Mobile Fire Rescue responded, and the victim was pronounced dead on the scene. Andrew Levi Saxon, a 25-year-old biology major, was identified as the victim. He was found with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest in the carport next to his residence. Chelsey Ruth, an anthropology student and friend of the victim told The Vanguard that Saxon “was very loved and will be sorely missed.” see KILLED page 5

find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”

COX / COPY EDITOR

Saxon was killed in what authorities call a homicide adjacent from campus off of University Boulevard on Thursday, Jan. 12. It is the fifth murder of the year in Mobile.

check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

in this issue (pg 14): Life (pg 25): Opinion /(pg 21): Sports

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

PAGE three

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

editorial editor in chief associate editor senior reporter copy editor life editor sports editor web editor

Cassie Fambro Genny Roman Matt Weaver Carey Cox Bailey Hammond Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter

weather forecast >> January 16 - Jan. 21

mon

69 57

tue

71 42

wed

58 34

distribution distribution manager Johnny Davis

advertising advertising manager Wesley Jackson graphic designer Brittany Hawkins

management adviser James Aucoin accounting Kathy Brannan

thu

61 40

fri

67 44

sat

65 41

sun

64 40

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: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. or editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com 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, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, 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 editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com. 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.

University police blotter

We’ll start off the week with partly cloudy skies and highs near 70. A cold front will move in on Tuesday and bring with it showers and thunderstorms, highs will be in the low 70s and overnight lows will drop to the low 40s as the cold air arrives behind the front. A few showers may hang around for Wednesday morning but, clouds and showers will be leaving later in the day. Highs will be slightly cooler with upper 50s and nighttime lows in the mid 30s. On Thursday and Friday, will be warming up to the mid to upper 60s as warm gulf air move into the area. We could see a few isolated showers throughout the weekend but we should remain mostly cunny with highs in the mid 60s and overnight lows near the low 40s.

for the latest on your forecast, severe weather updates, and what’s going on in the tropics, find us on Facebook search “StormTeam4Gamma9Wx” you can follow us on Twitter, too search “stormteam4g9wx” and find Patrick on Twitter search “metwxpatrick”

1/4 Burglary of Auto 11:49 a.m. University Library

USAPF Personal Safety Tips:

1/5 Unlawful Breaking and Entering 11:06 a.m. Stadium Blvd

1. Walk with a friend whenever possible. 2. When walking at night, stick to welltraveled, well-lit areas. 3. If you are being followed, walk to a populated area and call the police. 4. When going out with a new acquaintance let someone you trust know where you are going and when you expect to return.

A vehicle was reported as broken intooutside of Stanky Field.

USAPD Property Safety Tips:

A vehicle was reported as broken into at approximately 11:49 a.m. Damage to the dashboard was reported after the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to remove the vehicle’s radio.

1/5 Outdated Firearms Permit 5:21 p.m. USAPD Office A bounty hunter was arrested for failing to produce current firearms paperwork. The bondsman was transported to metrol jail. 1/12 Off-campus Murder 4:30 a.m. N University Blvd A USA student was found dead under a carport at his neighbor’s home. He was shot in the chest. 1/13 Unlawful Breaking and Entering 11:06 a.m. North Dr. parking Lot A vehicle was reported as broken into at the Humanities Building North Lot.

1. Always lock your vehicle no matter how long you will be gone. 2. Make sure all valuables inside the vehicle are either in the trunk or well hidden. 3. Do not leave personal property unattended in a public place, even for short periods of time. 4. Do not display large sums of money. 5. Report any suspicious behavior that you may observe.

USAPD Car Safety: 1. Always lock your vehicle no matter how long you will be gone. 2. Don’t play your radio loud before you park somewhere - it attracts attention from everyone (including thieves). 3. Don’t leave your car unattended in neutral gear. It can roll out of a parking space and hit people or other cars. 4. Do not display large sums of money. 5. Report any suspicious behavior that you may observe.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

ROTC heavily involved at USA ROTC, from page 1

campus helping out with fun activities and supporting the athletic programs. Any student can join ROTC beginning in their freshman year. This year, 65 new recruits joined the program. By their junior year members must be able to pass the physical fitness test and be in good medical condition in order to continue advancing in ROTC. There are GPA requirements for ROTC just like with many other student organizations. You must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 in ROTC curriculum. To receive scholarships, your GPA must be 2.5 or higher. ROTC is designed to be a progression program. Beginning in freshman year, recruits are only required to take basic course instruction and a lab that introduces and gets them familiar with the program and its traditions, while also teaching them about leadership, goal setting and teamwork. As recruits progress through their training and make it to their junior year they are eligible to become contracted to the U.S. military. This is contingent on passing medical physicals and physi-

cal fitness tests. One can become eligible prior to their junior year by either being awarded a scholarship or doing the Simultaneous Membership Program as a part of the Army Reserves or Army National Guard. Once recruits become contracted, they are eligible for a monthly stipend ten months out of the year beginning at $300 for freshman and going up to $500 for seniors. Beginning in their junior year, members begin taking advanced ROTC courses that teach them more about being a productive member of the military. Some of the topics covered in these upper level courses include proper use of weapons, law of war, team dynamics, ethical decision making and military operations. Following their senior year, if they have passed all of their courses and conditioning tests, members may enlist in the military, if they haven’t already done so. Senior Jeff Aldridge joined the ROTC program after he was offered a scholarship. Coming from Oregon, it allowed him to see another part of the country and get an education while he prepares to join the Army. Following graduation, Aldridge plans to receive a commission to become a second lieutenant in the Army.

“I plan to take all that I have learned about leadership and working with others, as well as fundamental Army skills ROTC has taught me, and apply it to my future career as an officer in the U.S. Army,” Aldridge said. ROTC also has a few clubs inside the organization that are open to its members: Ranger Challenge, Scabbard and Blade, Color Guard, Push-up Team and Jaguar Joggers. Participation in these clubs is optional. They are meant to keep members in peak physical condition and build closer bonds with their fellow members. It also affords them the opportunity to reach out and connect to other ROTC members from campuses around the country. Ranger Challenge members compete with ROTC programs from other universities in tests of physical abilities and leadership. As the ROTC brochure states regarding this club, “You must show a willingness to push and motivate your peers.” Scabbard and Blade is the honor’s society of Army ROTC. To be a part of this club one must have a 3.5 or greater GPA. At football games, members of ROTC Color Guard participate in the pregame festivities by opening the game day ceremonies and presenting the colors before

the playing of the national anthem. The Color Guard also participates in the University’s commencement ceremonies. If you’ve been to one of USA’s home football games and sat in the student section, then you might have seen the PushUp team. This club comes with the perk of sideline passes to all home football games. Their job is to do push-ups every time the team scores. It is one of the many ways ROTC members show their school spirit. Jaguar Joggers is a great club for those who want to stay in shape over the semester. Members get to travel all over Mobile and Pensacola and compete in various charity events and long distance races. ROTC also helps out other on-campus organizations put on events. For some events they will bring out an 18-wheeler trailer full of games and simulators that showcase some of the latest military technologies. One of the events they bring their trailer to is Jaguar Productions’ Annual Welcome Home Block Party, of which they are also a co-sponsor. This year ROTC held their first golf tournament for alumni and supporters of the ROTC program. They hope that the tournament will become a long-running event.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

USA student killed KILLED, from page 1 “He was super cool, friendly, a sweetheart and by far the best guitar hero player I’ve ever met.” Dozens of posts on Saxon’s Facebook page mirror Ruth’s sentiment. Public Relations notified USA students in the early afternoon on Thursday via the campus email system. As to why it took several hours past Saxon’s discovery, officials states that they wanted to gather as much information as possible before sending the

email. In the event of a direct or time-sensitive threat to the campus, the warning would go out immediately. Homicide detectives will continue the investigation into Saxon’s death; no suspect has been apprehended. If anyone has information about the incident, please call the Mobile Police Department at 208-7211, Crime Stoppers at 208-7000 or text CRIMES (274637) and include the keyword CRIME 411.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

Martin Luther King Day: 9 Facts GENNY ROMAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR 1. Nov. 2, 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor MLK, which was observed for the first time on Jan. 20, 1986. 2. MLK was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN. He traveled to Memphis days before to show solidarity with striking sanitation workers. 3. In a 1965 Playboy interview, MLK denied having any connections to the Communist party. Allegations had spread because of J. Edgar Hoover’s and the FBI’s findings that Stanley Levison, an NYC attorney and one of King’s most trusted advisers, had been involved with the Communist Party USA. 4. In 1963, MLK wrote his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” arguing COURTESY OF BILLBOARD.COM that it was his moral responsibility to Dr. Martin Luther King speaks to thousands of listeners in 1963, with words that are largely disobey unjust laws. attributed to assisting the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

5. In 1955, MLK received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University. 6. One of his most famous quotes is from his “I Have a Dream” speech given at the march on Washington (Aug. 1963): “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” 7. In 1964, MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize for his message of change through non-violent acts. 8. In 1964, King became the first black American to be honored as Time magazine’s Man of the Year. 9. In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity, its operational techniques from Gandhi.

Interested in working for The Vanguard? Paid positions: -Opinion Editor -Advertising Assistant* Send resume, availability and three writing samples to editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com *For Ad. Assistant: Send resume, availability to usavanguard@gmail.com

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USAPD arrests bounty hunter concealing weapon

Early in January, USAPD apprehended a suspect without proper registration for a gun. BY MATT WEAVER Senior Reporter

Zeke Aull Chief of Police

USA Police took a bounty hunter into custody after the bondsman failed to produce registration for a pistol, according to Chief of Police Zeke Aull.

Carlos Black, a bounty hunter with Best Bonding Co., was arrested at the University police station on Jan. 5 after inquiring about a student. Black had initially misrepresented himself as a police officer, and the University declined to provide him assistance once they learned that he was a bounty hunter. “[Black] walked into the station and requested information about a student, a warrant that he was investigating and insinuated that he was law enforcement,” Aull said. “We were

unable release the information he re- lice’s diligence. quested due to FERPA, and that’s be“I have no doubts in the capabilifore we learned his true identity.” ties of the police department at South The Family Educational Rights and Alabama,” said Chase Krebs, a foreign Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) prevents language student. “I think they folschools from relowed protocol, leasing a student’s and because of “There are often people personal informathat, there is one tion. less potentially on this campus that After learning dangerous person shouldn’t be.” that Black was a on campus.” bounty hunter, The event did deputy chief W.D. leave Krebs with Christian noticed some questions. – Chase Krebs Foreign Languages a bulge beneath “I think that fact Black’s sweatshirt. that the guy made Christian asked Black if he was con- it into the police station should not go cealing a firearm and he told them that unnoticed. There are often people on he was not. campus that shouldn’t be.” Just before leaving the police staThe responsibility doesn’t fall comtion, Black dropped a pen and exposed pletely on the police. the pistol when leaning down to pick USAPD requests that if students or up the pen. faculty see something suspicious on Black was immediately taken into campus, they should report it immedicustody and transported to metro ately by calling 251-460-6611. where he was processed and released on bond. Most students appreciate the po-

COURTESY OF FOX 10

Many students were left asking, was “Dog the Bounty Hunter” on campus? No such celebrity. Carlos Black was the offender, misrepresenting himself to USAPD which were not fooled. Editor’s note: Even when school isn’t in session, The Vanguard’s Facebook will keep you posted of breaking news like this.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

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thevanguardonline.com who all’s seen the new website say yeaaaah

Also “like” us on Facebook. For breaking news and more. “The Vanguard: USA’s Student Newspaper”

Check out Twitter for play-by-play sports coverage. “@USAVGSports”

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

Jags news in brief >> what you need to know in 2 minutes before class starts USA makes susbstantial donation to United Way The University of South Alabama’s United Way Campaign recently held a reception to celebrate total giving of $275,254, making USA the largest employee-funded campaign for the United Way of Southwest Alabama. This total exceeded both the 2011 annual goal and the 2010 total. USA United Way Campaign Chair Elmer Sellers, assistant hospital administrator for the USA Medical Center, was assisted by Dr. Richard Hayes, dean of the College of Education. The USA United Way contributions came from 2,477 employees, and a larger number of leadershiplevel gifts of over $500 were committed this year. The number of leadership-level donors rose to 160 from 156 in 2010. In addition, an effort to increase the number of female donors in the $1,000-and-up level netted 37 participants in the “Women’s Initiative,” which was led by Becky Tate, chief executive of the USA Health Services Foundation, and Senior University Attorney Jean Tucker.

That was up from 31 participants last year. The United Way has been serving the community for 84 years, tackling issues by partnering with 52 agencies in Mobile, Clarke, and Washington counties. Approximately 700 companies and organizations run an employeegiving campaign to support more than 125,000 individuals each year. (Briefs courtesy of USA Public Relations)

SH Enterprises featured SH Enterprises Board Chair Sheila Hodges will speak at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business as part of RBC Bank’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Hodges’ lecture is part of the RBC Distinguished Lectureship Series at the USA Mitchell College of Business, the first lectureship at the Mitchell College of Business. The bank covers the costs of two annual lectures on banking or a related field.

Hanna Scholarship awarded The department of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Alabama has announced Amber Beasley Day and Bryan Bolin as the 2011 recipients of the Dr. Michael S. Hanna Endowed Communication Scholarship. The $1,000 award is named in memory of Hanna who was a respected professor, mentor and communication practitioner who served USA and the Mobile community for more than 25 years. Hanna also served as chair of the department for five years and co-authored six books. He received numerous awards, such as “Best Faculty Member” for Outstanding Service to International Students at USA. She has also completed an internship with Mobile Bay Monthly magazine, and she did an internship with the USA College of Medicine Public Relations Office this past summer. Day learned the basics of freelance writing in advanced news and feature writing with her mentor Dr. Michele Kimball, assistant professor of communication. Day was inspired by Kimball to become a staff writer for The Vanguard, USA’s student newspaper. Day also volunteers

at the Mobile Museum of Art’s Annual Art Blast Camp, Mobile Botanical Gardens and with the Murphy High School Band and Color Guard. Bolin, is a senior communication major with a concentration in digital cinema and television. He is also seeking a second degree in anthropology. He has assisted classmates with producing films, and worked as a production assistant, actor, an grip on four movies including, “Raw Justice” and “The Dangerous.” Following graduation, Bolin hopes to work in documentaries and motion pictures, or commercials for consumer and educational interests. One of Bolin’s favorite courses is advanced video field production, taught by his mentor Dr. Richard Ward, associate professor of communication at USA. The Michael S. Hanna Endowed Communication Scholarship is open to fulltime students enrolled at USA. For more information, call the department of communication at (251) 380-2800.

Have something for News-inBrief? E-mail editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com by the Wednesday before the following publishing week.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

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jagLIFE

BAILEY HAMMOND, JAGLIFE EDITOR life.editor@usavanguard.com VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

Most anticipated releases of 2012 The Movies “Snow White and the Huntsman” Set release date: June 1 Retelling of the Snow White fairytale with a dark twist... IMDB.COM

“The Hunger Games”

Matt Ivester started out his career with social networking as the founder of JuicyCampus.com and used that experience to write his book.

BAILEY HAMMOND JagLife Editor IMDB.COM

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Set release date: Dec. 14

IMDB.COM

JUICYCAMPUS.BLOGSPOT.COM

This book is a great resource for college students trying to create a clean resume for post-graduation job hunting.

What employers see online may not have them laughing

Set release date: March 23 Film adaptation of the popular dystopian book series. It’s a Panem-demic.

JUICYCAMPUS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Finally, Bilbo gets his tale on the big screen. Tolkien fans unite!

“The Grey” Set release date: Jan. 27 A survival thriller set in the frozen depths of the Alaskan wilderness. Basically, Liam Neeson versus a pack of wolves. IMDB.COM

College students are no strangers to technology and the dangers that can occur when the gadgets and websites they use go sour. Reputations are made and broken on the World Wide Web, and depending on how you market yourself, you may find that getting a job after graduation is harder than you thought. In today’s fast-paced society, you can never be too careful about what you make available to the world via social networking sites or other forms of media. Someday those innocuous videos or text messages may come back to haunt you. Matt Ivester, author of “lol…OMG!,” warns against the pitfalls of folly and gives college students some great advice for crafting an online presence they won’t be ashamed of. “The Internet is only about 20 years old, and, much like a college student, its identity is still being shaped,” Ivester states at the end of chapter one. Everything we do, whether we Tweet, post pictures on Facebook or videos on YouTube, contributes to the growth of the Internet. And everything is there to stay. It’s nearly impossible to remove anything once it’s been posted. There will always be traces regardless of deletion. This can translate to a nightmare once you’re in the job market and potential employers decided to Google you or do a background check. That is why Ivester encourages a proactive approach to monitoring your own digital trail content and offers seven steps toward cleaning up your act now. 1. Google yourself. Turn off the customized search materials option and scour the Internet for anything unacceptable and then try to fix the issues.

2. Clean up your accounts and content. Edit, edit and then edit some more what is seen until your profiles are shiny and free of troubling photos, page likes, or dubious associations. 3. Update your privacy settings. Unfriend people you don’t know or who may be questionable, create lists to manage what friends see what content and vice versa, and adjust the settings for posted material. Then view your profile as an outsider to see the effect. 4. Ask for content to be removed. This is referring to content that may be on a friend’s profile or if it’s a site that you’ve posted on, sometimes asking nicely will get the job done. 5. Update and strengthen your passwords. Never give your passwords out, create a strong password using uppercase and lowercase letters and symbols, and try not to use the same password for everything. 6. Set up a Google Alert for your name. This will allow you to know if anything new has been posted on the Internet involving your name. 7. Claim your name. By registering your name as a username on sites and claiming your name .com domain, you can prevent people from impersonating you. These seven tips are just a few ways to ensure that your digital trail doesn’t get the best of your reputation. Matt Ivester’s book, “lol…OMG!” offers much more in the way of dealing with online issues and managing an online presence and is a useful addition to anyone’s bookshelf in this age of digital transparency. Even if you only employ one or two of those tips, you’ll be on the track toward to creating a digital portfolio that you won’t be ashamed to show your grandchildren.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

In the Jag spotlight: Penelope House Deckhead here and all the way across the page and all the way across the page. JAKE HOWELL JagLife Writer Willy Wonka needs to watch out because on Feb. 4 he won’t be needed to satisfy Mobile’s chocolaty cravings. The fourth annual Mobile Chocolate Festival brings wizards of chocolate from all over the Gulf Coast together to perform feats of confectionary magic. The Festival, held in the Expo Hall of the Mobile Civic Center, boasts booths ranging from the unexpected to the traditional, with chocolate mustaches and chocolate dipped strawberries. There’s even a children’s area. The Festival also hosts a competition similar to Project Runway called “Project Yum Way.” According to the Mobile Chocolate Festival’s website, Project “Yum Way is your chance to display your own chocolate inspired fashions.” The works can be composed of candy wrappers or candy products, and can include any sort of fashion, such as a bikini made of Tootsie Roll wrappers. The Chocolate Challenge, a competition for bakers of all ages and skill levels, is another highlight of the festival. This competition’s main rule is that chocolate must be one of the main ingredients in whatever is being cooked or baked. Information on entering these competitions can be found online at the Mobile Chocolate Festival’s website, mobilechocolatefestival.com. While tons of chocolate will inevitably find their way to the festival, the chocolate is only a vehicle for the festival’s main purpose.

weekly lowdown mon > jan 16 MLK Day of Service

9:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. at Dumas Wesley Community Center 126 Mobile Street “A free t shirt and lunch will be provided to volunteers.” Sponsored by SGA and Jaguar Productions.

tue > jan 17 Welcome back! PENELOPEHOUSE.ORG

Penelope House works to provide a safe place for women and children of abusive homes. Proceeds from the Mobile Chocolate Festival go to help those affected.

The Mobile Chocolate Festival is hosted by Penelope House, a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence regain social and economic independence. All of the proceeds from the Mobile Chocolate Festival benefit the Penelope House Family Violence Center, which was established in 1979 by the Daughters of Penelope. This shelter is the only place in Mobile where battered or abused women and children can find the protection and safety they need to start rebuilding their lives. Penelope House maintains a 24-hour crisis hotline that provides services such as counseling to families. At the shelter, families are fed, housed and supported through counseling, court advocate services and vocational counsel-

ing. An onsite medical clinic provides families with free medical care during their stays. This extraordinary organization is familiar to many students at the University of South Alabama. Organizations such as Alpha Epsilon Delta, or AED, regularly volunteer for Penelope House, but more help is always needed. Information on volunteering at Penelope House is available on their website at penelopehouse.org. The Mobile Chocolate Festival is only a few weeks away so make plans to attend or participate. Chocolaty goodness awaits!

First day of classes for spring 2012 Women of Excellence Applications Available

10 a.m. at OMSA Office room 1345 in the Academic Support Center.

wed > jan 18 Jags v. Florida InternationalWomen’s Basketball

7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

thu > jan 19 Westminster Fellowship Volunteering @LOV

2:30 p.m. Faculty Court South Room 8 Jags v Florida InternationalMen’s Basketball

7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

sat > jan 21 Jags v Middle Tennessee- Women’s Basketball

5:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center. Jags v Middle Tennessee-Men’s Basketball

7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 7 words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com. Include “Weekly Lowdown” in the subject line. E-mails must be received at least 7 days before the event. PENELOPEHOUSE.ORG

AL.COM

In a chocolate festival past, visitors participate in chocolate handprinting and Azalea Trail Maids mingle.

In 2011, Murphy High School students created this dress out of Dove chocolate foil wrappers for Project Yumway.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

‘Skyrim’ wins top accolades BAILEY HAMMOND JagLife Editor

MINECRAFTFORUM.NET

Skyrim’s dragon logo has now become an icon for “Dovahkiin” (Dragonborn) gamers everywhere, who likely see the emblem behind their eyelids as they pass those hours called sleep between stretches of game play.

I was going to finish packing so I could move back into my dorm, but then I took an arrow to the knee and decided to write this article instead. If that meme sounds familiar to you or you know what it’s like to fight off a Draugr, then odds are you’ve either heard of “Skyrim” or played it for yourself. Actually, playing is too loose a term for the “Skyrim” experience. “Skyrim” is one of those blackhole games that sucks players in and spits them out reluctantly hours—maybe even days—later as battle-hardened warriors of the frozen land of the Nords. What is “Skyrim”? I forgot that some of you might not speak the lingo. It is a role-play game (RPG) developed by Bethesda Studios and the fifth installment in the Elder Scrolls series, and it is available for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. In fact, due to the pure win of “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim”, the game has been deemed Best RolePlaying Game by Game Informer magazine, as well as reader and editor pick for Game of the Year. “Skyrim” beat out the newest “Star Wars: The Old Republic” and other favorites with gamers, such as “Assassin’s Creed Revelations”, “Call of Duty: MW3” and Batman: Arkham City”, for the honors. It’s only been out since November, but in the gaming industry, that may as well be a decade. Games rise and fall in the matter of weeks depending on gamer reviews and—worst of all—lackluster performance in the market. However, “Skyrim” has met the tests of both time and players, and it well deserves its place as High King of the Games for the year despite the acknowledgement from Bethesda Studios that there are some problems with glitches that not even their fixes could fix.

But even with those rare glitches, the game is fantastically crafted. The plot of “Skyrim” is fairly simple. You, or rather, your character, are the Dragonborn, a hero who can devour the souls of dragons that ravage the land. The Dragonborn is fated to stand against the destroyer of worlds, the great dragon Alduin who has returned from the vast reaches of time. Along the way you can embark on multitudes of other quests, some just as interesting as the main storyline, and basically enjoy the wonder that is “Skyrim”. Each gamer’s experience is completely unique, and I mean that literally. There are so many options just to customize your character that the odds of someone creating a character exactly the same as another gamer’s character are not likely to be very high. Not only is the physical aspect under your direct control, but you also have an opportunity to create your own story. Sure, there are certain quests that you “have” to do in order to progress along the story arc, but you can choose when to do them. Travel the world of Skyrim and experience the thrill of shooting an elk and then taking on an entire fort of bandits. Or switch that around and throw in a dragon intent on swallowing you whole after destroying a town. The choice is up to you. The beginning of the game starts like a movie, lush graphics and a gorgeous musical score that places you directly in the heart of “Skyrim”. It’s a wild world; equal parts harsh and beautiful. With so much control in the hands of the gamer, “Skyrim” is poised to take over the lives of any willing to play it. And yes, I am speaking from experience.

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The classic Nordic hero, horned helmet included, stands atop the mystic mountaintop, quite possibly in order to do some dragonslaying.

The graphics in Skyrim are simply breathtaking. The scenery is alive and interactive. Things are always changing, including the seasons, weather and animal life.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

The Vanguard’s and USA’s own Jayson Curry wins 3rd in Wintzell’s Oyster Shucking Contest

CASSIE FAMBRO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jayson Curry (bottom right) is busy shucking oysters in an intense competition against 10 other master shuckers for the chance to compete in the Sixth Annual International Boston Seafood Show’s Oyster Shucking Contest held March 11-13, 2012.

The shuckers draw quite a crowd to Wintzell’s Oyster House restaurant in downtown Mobile on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. The first Oyster Shucking Contest was sponsored by Organized Seafood Association of Alabama.

One lucky puppy BAILEY HAMMOND JagLife Editor Over the holidays, one lucky puppy caught a break. He is shown on the left at the feet of his savior, Carla of USA Parking Services. Carla found the puppy in a storm catch on campus on Dec. 16. Thankfully, Carla found a student willing to adopt the pup. The rescue was just in time for Christmas. Great work, Carla! It’s news of good deeds like this that make life worth living. COURTESY DARREN PARKS

Carla poses with the puppy she found in the storm catch.

If you hear of anything or anyone worth praising, please contact me at life. editor@usavanguard.com.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., go out and volunteer your time for the benefit of others. It’s only one day, but what you do could make a difference in someone’s life. MLK Day of Service Monday, January 16, 2012

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

Food Court Renovations: Before and After

The long-standing Quiznos Sub food court location received an overhaul during the fall semester and winter break. The location is the same but the dining area has a completely new and student-friendly feel and should be a popular study option for years to come. (Top/Bottom | Matt Weaver)

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

The University’s new Chick-Fil-A location in The Market just weeks before its grand opening. (Above-left | Cassie Fambro). Aramark’s Burger Studio will feature a touchscreen menuto-order kiosk. Orders will be customizable and delivered based on what customers have entered into the kiosk. (Above-right | Matt Weaver).

The Market Scheduled for January Launch

The former Market kitchen sink and dish room was littered with mold (above | Cassie Fambro) before receiving a power wash and repainting during the December renovations. (Below | Matt Weaver).

Renovations to The Market, the University of South Alabama’s food court are nearly complete with a tentative launch date of next Monday, Jan. 23. The Market has been closed for repairs since the summer of 2011 as part of the student center renovations. The overhaul includes Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut joining Quiznos Subs in The Market. Craig Stephen, the University’s Director of Food Service has previously stated that the pricing for Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut will match the region’s restaurant prices. For example, students should expect to pay similar prices to those found at other Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut locations. Hours have yet to be set for the restaurants. “The food at each restaurant in the food court will be made to order here on campus, just like it would be at any one of those chains other locations,” Stephen said in the Apr. 11th issue of The Vanguard. The redesigned dining room will also feature a laptop bar and several four-seat tables, making it an excellent lunch and study location. The Market will also feature Aramark’s Burger Studio, a futuristic burger joint that will allow students to customize their orders via a touchscreen. All four establishments will honor USA Bonus Bucks. -Matt Weaver, Senior Reporter

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

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SPORTS 21

JAYSON CURRY, SPORTS EDITOR sports.editor@usavanguard.com VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN. 16, 2012

Know your other Ammons The Vanguard recently sat down with South Alabama basketball siblings Mychal and Taylor Ammons to test how well one sibling knew the other. We asked them individually to name the other’s favorite basketball player, sneaker, food, and musical artist and the following contains our findings. Mychal guessed the following about his sister: Favorite Player: Derrick Rose Favorite Sneaker: Nike Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese Favorite Musician: Kerry Hudson Mychal went 1-for-4 accurately guessing Nike as his sister’s favorite sneaker but gaffed on favorite player, food, and artist. Mychal guessed Derrick Rose as his sister’s favorite player when the answer was actually Mychal himself. He guessed Taylor’s favorite food as macaroni and cheese but the answer was actually chicken. Mychal guessed Kerry Hudson as his sister’s favorite artist when the answer was actually Rihanna. Taylor guessed the following about her brother: Favorite Player: Ray Allen Favorite Sneaker: Nike Favorite Food: Fried Chicken Favorite Musical Artist: Frank Ocean Taylor went 1-for-4 but conceded that it’s not because she doesn’t know her brother. She does. “Mike and I are just really open people,” Taylor said. “It’s really hard to just pick one or two favorites because we enjoy such a wide variety of things. We’re such diverse people.” Just like her brother, Taylor also accurately guessed Nike as Mychal’s favorite sneaker but gaffed on the remaining three categories. Taylor guessed Ray Allen as her brother’s favorite player when the answer was actually Kobe Bryant. She guessed Mychal’s favorite food as chicken but the answer was actually pork chops. Taylor guessed Frank Ocean as her brother’s favorite artist when the answer was actually Drake.

COURTESY OF TAYLOR AMMONS

South Alabama basketball siblings Mychal and Taylor Ammons share a moment off the court. Mychal is a freshman guard for the men’s team while his older sister is a senior for the women’s squad.

Family first for USA basketball siblings MATT WEAVER Senior Reporter There’s a lot to like about South Alabama basketball right now. Chief reason among them is the play of two siblings from Vicksburgh, Miss. – Mychal and Taylor Ammons. Taylor is a second-year veteran senior who has led her team to an 8-6 (6-0 at home) record while Mychal is a highly-touted freshman who might be the best-kept secret of a men’s team currently sitting at 8-5 (1-2, Sun Belt Conference). Taylor is an offensive cannon for women’s head coach Rick Pietri, scoring 6.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. More importantly, she’s the personification of Pietri’s high-energy playbook. Much of the same can be said for her younger brother, a catalyst on both sides of the ball for men’s head coach Ronnie Arrow. Mychal was recruited as a top-30 small forward but has seen most of his minutes come off the wing or as the first option off the bench. Bottom line: The Ammons siblings are essential to their respective teams.

Pietri first recruited Taylor in 2010 and has watched her grow beyond her potential ever since. It was also this signing that indirectly led to Ronnie Arrow successfully recruiting Taylor’s equally talented brother. Some experts have even pegged Mychal as a star in the making with NBA size and physicality. “We like to call him MC for Man Child,” Arrow said. “There are a lot of guys in Division I that go all four years and don’t end up with the body type that he has, and he’s just a freshman.” Major basketball programs like Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgetown and South Carolina State arrived at the same conclusion and heavily recruited Mychal before the younger Ammons opted to stay close to home and sign with South Alabama. In choosing the Jaguars, Mychal gave credence to the adage that ‘families who play together, stay together.’ Mychal has even been spotted at several women’s games rooting for his sister, while Taylor cites Mychal as her favorite player. Their mother, Katie, even moved to Mobile when Mychal graduated from high school. With Taylor’s family near-

by, the upcoming Senior Day has taken on even greater importance. “My older brother came to a game earlier this year, and I’ll have my whole family attend Senior Day,” Taylor said. “That’s going to be really special.” Mychal will be there too, but it won’t be his first game. He’s been spotted watching the women play several times. “I really appreciate the way that they approach the game,” Mychal said. “Taylor plays very hard. She knows how to crash the boards. I try to play the game with that same sort of explosive energy.” Does Taylor feel any additional pressure or confidence when someone from her family attends a game? “I try to keep myself level-headed so I don’t think about my family while I’m on the court,” Taylor said. “My older brother came to the North Texas game, and I nearly allowed myself to get psyched out. But at the end of the day, I know they’re proud regardless of how I do – win or lose because I’ll have a smile on my face.” After all, there’s been a lot to smile about lately.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN 16, 2012

Peterson leads Lady Jags to Conference win HANNAH BLACKBURN Sports Reporter The first half of the season is drawing to an end, and the Lady Jags continue to push toward more victories as the rest of the season continues. One cannot be too disappointed with how the season has gone so far. The Jags are 11-6 with a 4-1 record in conference play. In one of their last conference games against Denver, Camille Reynolds once again came through with terrific defense in the last two minutes and also led in scoring with 13 points. Also showing star power in the game were Sarda Peterson and Mary Nixon with 11 points each and Taylor Ammons with nine rebounds. With the win, the Jags continue to be perfect from home with a 7-0 record at the Mitchell Center. The Lady Jags’ other home conference game, against West Division leader North Texas, also brought victory as the Jags defeated the Mean Green 69-60. Mary Nixon shined in this game by ending the night with a career-high 17 points while also grabbing six rebounds. Veronica Cherizol was also perfect in shooting, making five of five with a career high of 10 points, and Mansa El and Sarda Peterson also finished with double digits.

The Lady Jags Mary Nixon taking a shot agaist Denver

The Lady Jags’ latest victory came Wednesday when they took on UL-Lafayette and defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns in the conference matchup 72-68. Sarda Peterson dominated from the floor as she made a seasonhigh 23 points, including five from behind the arc. She now ties in second place for all-

JAYSON CURRY/ SPORTS EDITOR

time on the career three-pointer list at USA with Shakira Nettles. Peterson was six of six from the charity stripe and six of 11 from the field. Mary Nixon and Taylor Ammons once again had great performances by both scoring in double figures. Ammons had 15 points on six of eight

shooting, while also grabbing 12 rebounds to give her fifth double-double of the season and seventh of her career. Nixon struggled some throughout the game, but finished strong with 13 points. The victory from this game was the eighth in a row for USA. Nixon has now recorded double figures in her last three games, and on the other side UL-Lafayette’s Krystal Motely made a career-high 36 points. The Lady Jags faced Troy Saturday, and Peterson finished with 23 points for the second straight game leading USA to a 53-46 win. Sarda went eight of 14 from the field including five three-point shots. “We are 4-1 today and moving forward every game is winnable or losable,” head coach Rick Pietri said. “We just need to win enough games to put ourselves in an advantageous position to finish in first or second to get first round buys in the conference tournament.” Following that game, the Jags have a pair of home matchups against Florida International and Middle Tennessee. With 12 more games ahead of them, the Jags have plenty of opportunities to grab more wins before the Sun Belt Conference Championships which begin March 3.

Goldstein breaks USA record, Jags win J.T. CRABTREE Sports Reporter

COURTESY OF JAYSON CURRY

USA’s Freddie Goldstein takes a shot from behind the three point line.

Heading into Saturday’s game against Troy, the Jags had more behind them than to look forward to this season. Entering the weekend, the Jags sported a record of 9-6 overall, while going 1-3 in conference play. And just as any other team in the NCAA, the Jags have faced their own version of adversity, heartbreaking losses, injuries and also pulling off an occasional upset win. Four of the first five games of the season were against teams from the SEC or ACC, both powerhouse conferences in college basketball. South Alabama opened with a loss to Mississippi State on the road and a disastrous loss to No. 24 ranked Florida State, a game in which South set an NCAA record by going 0-24 when attempting a three point shot. However, just three days after the FSU game, the Jags turned it around and stunned LSU in overtime 79-75 the day before Thanksgiving. South continued their improved play at home, defeating a UAB team that made it to the NCAA Tournament last year 55-47. Following the loss to FSU, the Jags went 7-1 in the remainder of their out-ofconference schedule, the lone loss being to Southern Miss 54-67. Most of these games were played without shooting guard Xavier Roberson, who broke his foot prior to the Southern Miss game.

Conference play started on Dec. 31 against Sun Belt leaders Middle Tennessee State, and inconsistency followed. Roberson, who was expected to be out for nearly two months, came back early in hopes to give the offense a spark against their conference foe. The Jags would go on to lose 52-68, and in their conference home-opener against North Texas, the injury bug returned. Forward Augustine Rubit injured his back and remained out for the rest of the game. Forward Antione Lundy injured his knee but returned. The biggest blow was Xavier Roberson, who re-broke his foot and will be out for the remainder of the season. The Jags are hoping to receive a Medical Redshirt for him this season. The Jags lost 73-78 in overtime, and lost again to Denver 50-67. South Alabama rebounded from the losses with a 70-65 win against UL-Lafayette on the road. USA has 12 games remaining this season, and things need to turn around quickly. With a 1-3 conference record, the Jags currently sit in the bottom half of the Sun Belt standings. Only one of South’s remaining games is against a team with a winning record. South currently ranks 10th out of 342 Division I teams in rebounds, averaging 40.5 boards a game. The Jags have also out-rebounded their opponent in 12 straight games. Senior forward Javier Carter leads the Sun Belt in blocks, averaging 3.2 a game.

Since the injury to Roberson, guard Trey Anderson has stepped up, putting up double-digits in points every game since. During their three game losing streak, the Jags averaged a 60.5 percent free throw and 20 turnovers per game. In their win against UL-Lafayette, the Jags shot 66 percent on free throws and had 16 turnovers. The Jags faced off against Troy Saturday and won the game on the back of Junior guard Freddie Goldstein. The Junior broke the South Alabama record for made three point shots in a game with nine, including scoring 18 points making 6-10 from behind the arc in the second half. The Jags were also helped to a win by Augustine Rubit, who scored 17 points, and Javier Carter, who blocked four more shots moving him into third in the USA record book with 112 total blocks. The Jags appear to have passed through their roughest patch of their conference schedule, and if they can continue the improvement shown in the UL-Lafayette game, they should be able to once again contend for the Sun Belt title. This all depends on Trey Anderson and Dallas Jones stepping up in place of Xavier Roberson and taking care of the ball in the back court. Freshman Mychal Ammons will also be called on to help take some of the pressure off of Rubit and Lundy on offense.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN 16, 2012

JAYSON CURRY / SPORTS EDITOR

The past six BCS Championship football coaches taking the best showers of their lives after winning the BCS championship game

Can anyone stop the SEC? JAYSON CURRY Sports Editor When the final 2011 Bowl Championship Series rankings came out this December, everyone knew the Southeastern Conference would be bringing home its sixth BCS National Championship in as many years. Parts of the country were distraught but other parts, in particular Alabama, rejoiced. Over the past six seasons, the SEC has absolutely dominated the college football world. And as cliché as it may sound, the numbers really do not lie. Not only has the SEC won six BCS Championships in a row with Alabama beating LSU Jan. 9, no other conference has won three total since the BCS began. Over the past 13 years, the SEC has won eight BCS championships. Starting with Tennessee in 1999, the SEC has been on an unprecedented run of winning. In 2004, LSU beat Oklahoma. In 2007 and 2008, Ohio State lost to Florida and LSU in the BCS championship game. In 2008, Florida was back beating the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2009, Alabama and head coach Nick Saban went to California and defeated Texas. Last

year, Cam Newton led his Auburn Tigers to a victory over the Oregon Ducks. And with this season, the SEC took dominance to a whole new level. Although it did take teams like Oklahoma State, Stanford and Oregon tripping up, Alabama and LSU replayed what many people dubbed “the game of the century.” The SEC finished 2011 with three teams in the top five with Alabama at number one, LSU second and Arkansas finishing fifth in the country. Also South Carolina finished ninth and Georgia 19th giving the SEC five teams in the top 25. Many people point to the fact that the SEC was the first conference to play a conference championship game as the reason for the dominance. The game started in 1991 when the SEC added Arkansas and South Carolina expanding from 10 to 12 teams. ESPNU even made a documentary called “The play that changed college football.” The documentary focuses on the first SEC Championship game in which Alabama beat Florida 28-21. The advantage of having the extra game has been a key in getting many SEC teams into the BCS Championship game.

Other reasons for such dominance can be the fact that the Southeastern corner of the United States is absolutely football crazy. One slogan says “most places they play football, here we live it,” and that could not be more true in the SEC. For 365 days a year, the most important thing in a majority of people’s lives in football. From little league to college, people in the South just can’t get enough of it. That type of love for the sport is part of the reason the Southeast is the biggest hotbed of football talent in the country. The most highly sought after recruits are from the Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. And the colleges in those states that play in the SEC dominate every year in recruiting. Last year, nine of the top 12 college football recruiting classes went to universities in the SEC. That type of talent has led to the SEC having 263 current players in the National Football League, which is more than any other conference in the country. And it takes more than just having talented athletes to win like the SEC has. You have to have the best coaches, and the universities in the SEC are willing to pay to have them. This season, nine of

the top 20 paid coaches in the country were in the SEC. Starting from lowest to highest there is Dan Mullen, Houston Nutt, Steve Spurrier, Mark Richt, Will Muschamp, Gene Chizik, Bobby Petrino, Les Miles and, lastly, Nick Saban. These coaches’ salaries with incentives range from $2.5 million to $4.8 million per year, and for some of these schools, the money is well worth it. After all of this, the question still remains. Can anyone stop the SEC? With all SEC has going for it, it’s hard to imagine the run ending anytime soon. With the talent stockpiling at these universities, the conference is setting up for a long dynasty, longer than just six years. Next season the projections show that the SEC may start the season with LSU ranked No. 1 in the country and Georgia in the top five as well, and not far behind will be reigning BCS champ Alabama. The one thing we can count on is that no matter what happens next year or in the near future, we can always count on football to be the top news in the South. And if the SEC dominance continues or not, it will certainly be entertaining.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN 16, 2012

Athletics updates DOUBLES VICTORIOUS AT DAY TWO OF FGCU INVITATIONAL Different combinations in doubles proved to be a successful change for the University of South Alabama’s men’s tennis team on day two at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. The Jaguars picked up five wins in doubles matches. “Once again we had a great showing in doubles,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “We won five out of eight matches. We were aggressive and had great team chemistry.” WEIGHT THROW RECORD SHATTERED BY JAGS’ JOHNSON AT BLAZER DAY TWO

COURTESY OF JAYSON CURRY

USA’s Men’s basketball team huddles up during a game at the Mitchell center

COURTESY OF JAYSON CURRY

South Alabama’s Mansa El dribbles past a screen during a game against Denver

Weekly Sports Schedule Wednesday Jan. 18 Women’s Basketball South Alabama VS Florida International

Tip Off 7:05 pm

Thursday Jan. 19

Saturday Jan. 21

Men’s Basketball

Doubleheader

South Alabama

Florida International

Middle Tennessee

Tip Off 7:05 pm

Women Tip Off 5:05 Men Tip Off 7:05 pm

Latifah Johnson set a new University of South Alabama record in the indoor weight throw with a 16.70-meter heave on the Jags’ final day of competition at the Blazer Invitational on Friday. The mark surpassed Bobbie Williams’s 2011 record, which Williams set 356 days ago in her first appearance for USA at the ASU Invitational. Head coach Paul Brueske commended Johnson’s effort, saying “It was a good opening for Latifah. This was her first meet coming back from a high ankle sprain; she will continue to throw far.” Also finishing in the weight throw Friday for the Jags was sophomore Adam Patterson, who placed seventh in the men’s division on a mark of 16.42m (53-10.50). Patterson threw just 0.24 meters off the program’s third-place all-time record set at December’s Birmingham Ice Breaker. “This was a decent early-season meet for us; however, we do have some work to do,” Brueske stated. SMITH SOLIDIFIES POLE VAULT RECORD WITH THURSDAY CLEARANCE AT BLAZER INVITE Sophomore Connor Smith cleared 4.65 (15-03.00) meters in the men’s pole vault on Thursday at the UAB Blazer Invitational to claim sixth place and extend his record on the all-time Jaguar indoor performance list. The Cottage Hill Christian graduate was tied with Eric Frawley on the indoor pole vault records list, but his effort on Thursday gave him the position outright. As a freshman last season, Smith was crowned the Sun Belt Conference outdoor vault champion after clearing 4.78 meters to defeat Arkansas State’s Jon Ellis.

-Wire Report

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN 16, 2012

Our view >>

a staff editorial

Basketball at the Mitchell Center: Talent, beer too With college football over since the Tide rolled, there’s another ball in our own backyard to watch. It’s free with a student ID, there are dollar hot dog nights and there’s beer. If those three reasons aren’t enough to go hang out at the Mitchell Center and support the basketball team, the talent exhibited by the players should cinch your Wednesday and Thursday night plans this week. On Wednesday and Thursday respectively, both basketball programs play Florida International, and if you enjoy those two games, there is a double header on Saturday against Middle Tennessee State University. The entire schedule including teams that the Jags will be playing is located at usajaguars.com. The women’s team has the powerhouse guard Camille Reynolds, a junior originally from Idaho. The men have Sun Belt Conference preseason player-of-the-year Augustine Rubit and top-30 power forward Mychal Ammons. This time of year is especially crucial to the Jags; it’s the middle of conference play. A student spirit section is often eligible for awards including the loudest fan, dance for your dinner and freethrow shooting prizes. A three-point free throw could get free fries for a year, thanks to the ideas of associate athletic director of marketing and public relations Travis Toth. There’s no reason not to take advantage of the perks offered as incentive to get fans out to the Mitchell Center. The pep band is often there as well, taunting rivals and holding provoking signs for entertainment. And just so you know, no one is going to strike you down if you say “south in your mouth.” Take a break from the stress of the school week and go yell for our talented basketball team. Enjoy a cheap hot dog and a beer, and make a night out of it, USA.

OPINION

CASSIE FAMBRO EDITOR EDITOR.IN.CHIEF@usavanguard.com

Tebow a beacon of character in dark era Tim Tebow has been vastly critisized for a multitude of reasons. From allegedly shoving religion down football viewer throats to lacking in skill as a Cassie Fambro quarterback, many Editor-in-Chief were quick to condemn Tebow. I wasn’t raised to be a bully. I was raised not to even boo an opposing team because it isn’t sportsmanlike. They have dreams, too, and that doesn’t make yours better than theirs. In a collective mass, throngs of what can only be described as “haters” took to social media this NFL season to ridicule Tebow in a bullying manner. One might argue that it’s just football, and thick skin is required to toss the pig skin. Tebow cried when he lost to Alabama in the national championship and that makes him too weak to be a star anyway. A man crying after football, can’t have that. Pitted against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, one sports columnist stated that Tom Brady was the man every boy wants to be and Tim Tebow is the man every mom wants her son to be. So every boy wants to leave his pregnant girlfriend for a supermodel? Is it a sign of weakness and demascuilinty to remain a virgin until marriage? Since when in our culture, where we stand up so tall for the right to disagree with organized religion, have we turned to bashing morality as a whole? I’ve been outspokenly in favor of a woman’s right to choose, but I still respect Tebow’s story. His mother made a very difficult decision, and I think it reinforces that a woman should have the right to choose. She chose life, at the risk of her own. She gave birth to a son that wants to touch the world that he knows he is lucky to have been brought into. The Tim Tebow Foundation partners with programs such as Cure International, benefitting children around the world

Editorial Board

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow shouldn’t be bashed for standing up for his morals.

with developmental disabilities. “Timmy’s playroom” creates playrooms in children’s hospitals. He supports orphanages and children with terminal illnesses. In fact, Tebow picks someone suffering or often dying and flies the person and family out to Denver where he treats them to tickets and spends time with them before kickoff and after the game. In his post-game speeches, he credits spending time with those people as his inspiration. In regards to the game of football, Tebow says “I’ll give 100 percent of my heart to win, but in the end, the thing I want most to do is not win championships or make a lot of money, it’s to invest in people’s lives and make a difference.” Here is an athlete that I want my little brother to look up to. This is a person I would want him to emulate characteristically.

Cassie Fambro > Editor in Chief Genny Roman > Associate Editor

Sure, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, David Beckham, are all winners. But what do they stand for? Adultery, lust, greed and elitism. In a time where presidential candidates stand for what will get them elected and our idols are celebrities, there can’t be anything wrong with a dose of sincerity and humility. This is an athlete that is first and foremost a human being. He gives his heart for others and spreads so much love and hope into the world. And people condemn him for it. When did so many people willingly become bullies? One doesn’t have to accept his beliefs or his religion. But we can all have a little faith. We all need a little light in the world. Tim Tebow is a beacon of light, and a great example of a man to person to look up to.

Matt Weaver > Senior Reporter

Bailey Hammond > Life Editor Jayson Curry > Sports Editor

This week’s Facebook poll: How do you feel about the Alabama Immigration law? To find us > search “The Vanguard USA”

POINT COUNTERPOINT Ron Paul: Worth listening to or should his race be finished?

Editor’s introduction: Ron Paul has long been considered a divisive candidate in the presidential race. Plagued by accusations of racism among other humanitarian issues, Paul has faced both scrutiny and praise for his generally more radical approaches to policy both domestically and internationally. The P/CP explains why he is contentious.

Point >> Listen to Paul; his ideas are worthy BY IMRAN MOHIUDDIN I first heard about Texas congressman Ron Paul during the 2008 political election. Back then, he was regarded as a fringe candidate at best, a politician with an almost cult like group of followers but no mainstream appeal. The media ignored him, his political opponents on the left and right dismissed him, and America forgot about him once the political primaries were over. But that was back in 2008. Barack Obama had already begun to enchant the majority of Americans, myself included, with his message “Change we can believe in,” and his vow to fight political corruption resonated strongly with those of us who felt that democracy was slowly taking the backseat to corporate interests. Now, with the 20/20 vision of hindsight, it’s obvious that President Obama couldn’t live up to all the promises that he made. His oath to end excessive corporate domination in Washington was fundamentally flawed because as the Federal Election Commission data from 2008 reveals, some of Obama’s largest contributions come from the political action committees of corporations like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Citi Group. Moreover, Obama’s track record for ensuring freedom is less than inspiring. He didn’t do anything to support those occupy-

ing Wall Street even after various instances of police brutality surfaced, nor has he taken a hardline against the Stop Online Piracy Act that threatens to destroy the internet as we know it. Guantanamo Bay is still up and running, and what’s worse is that though he promised he wouldn’t, Obama recently signed into law a piece of legislation that allows for the indefinite detention of American citizens. Senator Ron Paul, on the other hand, has taken a stance on all these issues, developing himself as the candidate of liberty. In his mind, nothing trumps the constitution, and he has spoken out against the pieces of legislation that have eroded our freedoms. Essentially, Ron Paul isn’t the candidate I necessarily want, but he’s candidate this country needs more than ever. Though I don’t support every policy he advocates, especially when it comes to laissez-faire capitalism, abortion and social safety nets, he still has my support. Why? Because those issues are irrelevant in a country that isn’t free. After taking third place in Iowa and second in New Hampshire, Ron Paul is now slated as one of the frontrunners in the GOP primary. However unlike Mitt Romney, who has flip-flopped repeatedly on certain issues, Ron Paul is still preaching the same message he’s always preached. Luckily this time, we’re all more poised to listen.

USA: A broken family GENNY ROMAN Associate Editor If you see how South Alabama treats its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, you’re probably not seeing anything. Within the past year, a lot of talk and little action have taken place over the NonDiscrimination policy. In fall 2010, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance (GLBTA) wanted to see the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression included in the non-discrimination policy. Since then, the 2010-2011 SGA, acting as a major advocate, passed a resolution which was presented to the administration, and what they have to show for the effort was almost nothing. Yes, the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence policy was changed to include sexual orientation in one of its clauses, but that’s only a foot in the door for the GLB-

TA (now USA Spectrum) and last year’s SGA. But is there really supposed to be a foot in the door? A question left unanswered is whether USA would have included that language in either the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence policy or Non-Discrimination policy if the Dept. of Education and Office of Civil Rights hadn’t sent the Dear Colleague letter about Title VII (prohibiting sex discrimination in education) compliance. Of course the University has to worry about being compliant with federal law to receive funding, but what if that letter had never come? Seeing the stagnancy of the Non-Discrimination issue at the moment, USA more than likely wouldn’t have budged if the federal government hadn’t come knocking. While including sexual orientation in the harassment policy is an important step, it’s hardly bold. According to the Transgender Law and Policy Institute, 415 public and private universities in the United States, like

Counterpoint >> Let’s get to the bottom line BY GENNY ROMAN In every election year Ron Paul runs for POTUS, he seems to gain new followers from both the left and the right. What I hear the most from Paul supporters are two undoubtedly important views that paint him as the better option of many evils: his view on the war on drugs and the U.S.’s military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he wants the war on drugs to end (because prohibition doesn’t work) and views the United States’ intervention in Afghanistan and other occupied countries unfavorably, his platform is generally disagreeable and incoherent. First, Paul focuses on state’s rights as a cure-all for most of America’s social issues. “Leave it up to the states to decide!” should be Paul’s motto. This particular view appeals to liberty-lovers and anti-big government folk alike. One major issue that falls into this camp would be gay marriage. Paul believes individual states should define marriage how they like and that it’s not a federal matter. Apparently, Paul supports gay marriage (even though it should totally be a state’s right issue and not a federal one) as long as they “don’t impose” their relationship on anyone else. But this con-

trasts with Paul’s view on abortion. He’s vehemently pro-life, and as such introduced a bill for a federal (yes, FEDERAL) law which defines life as beginning at conception. That sounds like a great idea, right? Let’s protect the freedom of the unborn while states like Mississippi are allowed to sponsor personhood bills that effectively ban all types of abortion, even in cases of medical emergencies, and emergency contraception! Oh, and forget women’s reproductive rights and how bills such as that would limit their autonomy and choice! Freedom! Liberty! Yeah! The problem with both of these views is that Paul is willing to leave women’s and LGBT people’s rights to the states, some of whom are willing to do anything they can to make sure these groups stay oppressed. It’s doesn’t align with his message of strict constitutionalism (I’m pretty sure the constitution doesn’t say anything about life beginning at conception) and individual rights. Now, a huge issue I have with Paul is his view on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He does not support it, simply enough. He cites its failure to promote racial harmony and diversity and its imposisee COUNTERPOINT page 28

Editor’s note: This is an article that did not print in its entirety in the 12/5 issue. It is re-printed here in its complete version. Our apologies to the author.

University of Florida and Yale, have policies including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Multiple universities in the state of Alabama (public and private, like University of Alabama-Birmingham and Auburn) include protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. What is South Alabama’s excuse? Over and over again, South uses the excuse “we’re in compliance.” It’s a tired old phrase that signifies one thing: if South Alabama doesn’t have to go the extra mile, it won’t. Another excuse is that all students, faculty and staff are protected from discrimination and adding the language is “symbolic,” as a discussion between the SGA senate at the Nov. 14 meeting revealed. But it’s not symbolic; it’s a completely tangible form of discrimination that a countless number of Americans, and members of the USA community, have faced. Just because

powerful entities at the University, such as SGA and the administration, choose to ignore it doesn’t mean it’s not there. While it doesn’t appear on the surface that this type of discrimination takes place at South Alabama, there is no guarantee that it has not and will not happen. A comprehensive non-discrimination policy that includes this underrepresented group will, without a doubt, grant them protection and create a much friendlier campus climate. While the Faculty Senate is working on the issue of employment and discrimination, doubt is cast on whether the administration will take it upon itself to look at the policy. Will it give the issue some agency, or ignore it altogether? Ignoring the issue sends a powerful message: we call the community at South Alabama the “USA Family” but it’s not much of a family if this is how it treats its members.

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Counterpoint: Ron Paul COUNTERPOINT, from page 26 tion on private entities as the problem. Companies were prompted to create racial quotas for hiring, Paul states. Hm. Interesting. Philosophically, this falls in line with Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief that big government should not expand or but its head in to the private realm. The issue Paul completely ignores is a bigger problem with society: racism and sexism are institutional problems that will not go away just by letting corporations run wild. Racism and sexism run deep in

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American society; frankly, Paul ignoring that fact is disturbing. Some say Paul is at least better than most candidates. If heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our best bet for POTUS, I say we really have to examine ourselves as a nation because our best bet is dismal.

VOL. 50, NO. 1 / JAN 16, 2012

Distractions

Student Health Sudoku For Student Health appointments, please call 460-7151 For Counseling and Testing, please call 460-7051

Weekly Quotable Quote The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. ~Henry Ward Beecher

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