Vanguard The
Serving USA students and the University community since 1963
January 24, 2011 |VOLUME 48, NUMBER 19
Engineering professor suing USA
MISS UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA 2011
Hilliard Named 2011 Winner
By Carey Cox
SENIOR REPORTER
Former assistant professor for the Civil Engineering Department Akhter B. Hossain is suing the University because the school denied him tenure in May 2009, a decision that he claims was based on his race. The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Mobile names John W. Steadman, dean of the College of Engineering, and USA’s Board of Trustees individually as defendants in the lawsuit. Hossain and his attorney could not be reached for comment as of print time Sunday evening. According to the lawsuit, Hossain’s tenure portfolio was returned the College of Engineering because it only contained one external review when it was reviewed by the Departmental Committee of Civil Engineering and the Committee of the College of Engineering. USA’s faculty handbook provides that there must be three external reviews of a candidate’s scholarship. The handbook also states that obtaining the reviewers is the responsibility of the department chair. Hossain’s application for tenure was returned to the College of Engineering with instructions to obtain the two external reviews that had not arrived and to reconsider his tenure portfolio, according to the lawsuit. Hossain claims that he “met the requirements for tenure and the Committee of the College of Engineering recommended him for tenure when it reconsidered his portfolio.” However, according to the lawsuit, Steadman see PROFESSOR | 3
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Jags’ Comeback Undermined see p. 13
inside
Opinion | page 6 Women in Combat
Should women in the armed forces be allowed to serve on the front lines of war zones?
Etc. | page 8 2011 Job Outlook
Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief
Miss University of South Alabama 2010 Hillary Bosarge (right) crowns Alexandria Hilliard as the 2011 winner Saturday night at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, where 13 young women attending USA competed for the title and scholarship money. SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 4.
Construction projects approaching completion By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR
With all the construction taking place on campus, this summer should mark the beginning of a return to normalcy. Several projects are slated for completion over the summer, while others will soon be kicked off. The Vanguard spoke with Chris Willis, director of Facilities
Inside
Management, about on campus construction. All of the current projects on campus, according to Willis, are either being handled by the University or through the SA Group construction firm. Two of these major projects are scheduled for completion in June: the entrance portals and the bookstore. For the past few semesters, the USA Bookstore has made its home in the UCOM. But the doors will
Police Blotter p. 2
Opinion p. 5
open in June to the bookstore’s original location next to the Student Center, according to Willis. Willis declined to comment on the timeline for the entrance portals, saying he was unsure if the timeline met USA President Gordon Moulton’s expectations. According to an e-mail from the SA Group the scheduled date for complete is June 2011. The group did not comment on if date was on-schedule. Etc. p. 8
A&E p. 10
Also scheduled to open this summer is the new dormitory building, which should be opening in August. According to Willis, this is a “tight schedule” but should be ready on time. There has been talk of additional parking to accommodate the new residence hall, which was confirmed by Vice President of Student Affairs John Smith. According to Smith, what was see CONSTRUCTION | 3
Sports p. 12
The job market is trending upwards, but students shouldn’t rest on their laurels.
Arts & Entertainment | page 10
Fonz of Photography The Vanguard sits down with Joe ‘Cool’ Dunn for a look at his art and words of wisdom.
Sports | page 12 Senior Bowl 2011 The annual North vs. South showdown in Mobile brings in the NCAA’s top seniors.
Distractions p. 14