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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University of South Alabama’s student newspaper
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
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The
NEWS
January 24, 2011
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 251460-6442 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: Alex Whalen Associate Editor: Cameron Adkins Associate Editor: Genny Roman Senior Reporter: Carey Cox Opinion Editor: Brendan Davis Etc. Editor: Brett Williams Arts & Entertainment Editor: Rodney Thompson Sports Editor: Matt Weaver Photo Editor: Colin McGee Webmaster: Rodney Thompson DISTRIBUTION Distribution Manager: Johnny Davis ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager: Wesley Jackson Advertising Representative: Mohammad Ammar Al-Zarrad Graphic Designer: Brittany Hawkins MANAGEMENT Adviser: Jim Aucoin Accounting: Kathy Brannan Website: 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.
Vanguard
POLICE BLOTTER 1/14- Criminal Trespassing, 3rd Degree/Receiving Stolen Property A non-affiliate was arrested at USA North Dr. and University Blvd. for Criminal Trespassing in the 3rd Degree and an outstanding warrant for receiving stolen property. 1/15- Burglary, 3rd Degree At 2 p.m. a resident reported a burglary in their Delta 1 room. A TV and a DVD player were stolen. The items were valued at $210. 1/16- Burglary, 3rd Degree At 3:29 p.m. a Delta 2 resident reported a burglary in their room. An unknown subject entered the residence and stole multiple pairs of shoes. The items were valued at $130. 1/16- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/ Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs Officers were called to a Delta 3 dorm in reference to the odor of marijuana coming from a room. 1/17- Burglary, 3rd Degree A TV was reported stolen from a Delta 3 dorm. The item was valued at $221. 1/17- Possession of a Controlled Substance/Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree An arrest was made in the Delta 6 area for possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. The subject was found with multiple types of pills, an orange
powder believed to be MDMA, a partially smoked cigar believed to contain marijuana and counterfeit U.S. currency. 1/18- Burglary of Residence, No Force A Hello Kitty diamond studded necklace was stolen from Delta 3. The item was valued at $400. 1/19- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A hair dryer was reported stolen from the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. The item was valued at $125. 1/20- Burglary, No Force Multiple vehicles were burglarized in the sorority parking lot. Among the items stolen were an iPod touch and a TomTom GPS unit. The items were valued at $500. 1/20- Alias Writ of Arrest A non-student was arrested in a student’s room at The Grove and turned over to another law enforcement agency for outstanding warrants. 1/20- Theft of Article From Auto Unknown persons broke into a vehicle at The Grove and stole cash, debit/credit cards, multiple CD’s, a purse, a wallet and a key to the vehicle. The items were valued at $400. 1/20- Theft of Lost Property, 3rd Degree A victim lost her wallet while riding the JagTran.
Jag Growl (comments taken from usavanguard.com)
happenings Managing Your GroupWise Email Account
What: Attendees will learn procedures for maintaining their e-mail account including how to change your password, view and save messages, sort messages, send attachments and set up mailbox filters. Where: Career Services Center Seminar Room When:Tues., Jan. 25, 1:30 p.m. How much:FREE For more info: Contact Amy Hutchings at (251) 460-6161 or send an e-mail to seminars@ usouthal.edu
4th Annual Jag Run
What: The 4th Annual Jag Run offers a certified 5k course Spirit Run and a Fun Run. Those wishing to participate may register in person at McCoy’s Outdoor. Registration the day of the event will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. with the race beginning at 8 a.m. Awards will be given to the overall top performers and top performers in each age group. Food and beverages will be provided after the race. Where: USA Intramural Fields When: Sat., Jan. 29, 6:30 a.m. How much: Contact the USA Alumni Association at (251)4607084 For more info: Contact the USA Alumni Association at (251)4607084.
What You’re Saying About “Our View: Salary Supplements a Timely Gesture” by The Vanguard’s Editorial Board
“This article was very tasteful until, ‘Now if only USA could show this level of concern and creative problem-solving with issues that directly affect students.’ Motivating and retaining quality faculty and staff does directly affect students. It seems tacky to act appreciative and then turn around and close the article with a complaint.” -Jagfan
The
NEWS
Vanguard
Professor from page 1
did not recommend Hossain for tenure, and the Board of Trustees at the University denied Hossain tenure, according to the lawsuit. Hossain claims in the lawsuit that he was treated differently because of his race, ancestry and ethnicity, which violated his 14th Amendment rights, and not submitting three external reviews of his scholarship prior to his tenure information being submitted in the tenure process resulted in tainting the process, refusing to grant him tenure, and terminating his employment. According to the faculty handbook, tenure is based on scholarship, teaching, service and collegiality and “no reasons, oral or written, need be given for non-reappointment of untenured faculty.” Hossain is asking the court to order the University to give him his tenured job with back-pay, and for the school to pay wages and benefits lost. He is additionally asking for compensatory and punitive damages. Dr. Kevin D. White, chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, declined to comment on the case because it is against policy to discuss individual personnel matters and pending litigations. In January 2010, The Vanguard reported that civil engineering students submitted a petition on Dec. 1, 2009, roughly seven months after Hossain was notified of his non-reappointment as a faculty member, to USA President Gordon Moulton, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Johnson, Dean of Engineering Dr. John Steadman, and Dr. Kevin D. White. In an anonymous e-mail The Vanguard received in January 2010, Hossain was described as “a dedicated professor who demands excellence from his students and the termination of Dr. Hossain will have a detrimental effect on the quality of teaching in civil engineering. In addition to being an excellent class instructor, he has mentored students and demonstrated his concern for the betterment of the students. “It is very unfortunate that a member of the faculty who educates and energizes his student[s] will not be returning after this semester [Spring 2010]. “We, the students, strongly feel that Dr. Hossain is a victim of departmental politics and it would be a shame that it is the students who will suffer with his termination.” Hossain was employed as tenure track assistant professor of civil engineering in August 2003 after receiving his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. On March 10, 2006, he was nominated as a candidate for the College of Engineering’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
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January 24, 2011
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SGA leaders share plans for spring semester By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR
A new semester means new projects and goals for the SGA. Kim Proctor, SGA president, spoke with The Vanguard about their major focuses for the rest of the academic year. Typically each year, the Student Government Association (SGA) will fund one or more senate projects to benefit students and improve campus life. Senator Tim Powell presented a possible project last semester to bring a bike rental service to campus. Students could rent a bicycle to get around campus for the day. There would be several locations across campus for renting and returning. “There’s an issue of cost [for the project],” Proctor said, “but [Vice President of Student Affairs] John Smith is interested in helping out.” Proctor wasn’t sure how much
the administration could help, but takes it as a good sign that they’re interested. Proctor said the SGA is also going to focus on more activities to improve campus life. One project the SGA is working on, with the help of Student Center Director Robyn Jones, is to bring movie and video game rental kiosks to campus. “The new Rec. Center and dining hall have helped with campus life,” Proctor said. “But we’re always looking for more things for students to do on campus.” Spirit Week, which was the major school spirit event before Jaguar Football came along, has been scaled back. With so many events and commitments this semester, student run organizations would have a hard time committing to a week’s worth of events. Instead, Spirit Week will become “Spirit Weekend.” There will be promotionals and small ac-
tivities throughout the week, according to Proctor. All this will culminate in a spirit-oriented event to promote all of USA’s sports – not just basketball. Last semester proved to be a disappointment to some senators who wanted more participation from the SGA senate. Proctor hopes that with Homecoming out of the picture and a wider variety of projects, more senators will want to be involved. SGA Vice President Colin Al-Greene told The Vanguard that he is instituting a new “Senator of the Week” reward system. Each week Al-Greene will recognize a hard-working senator and at the end of the semester, the senator with the most “Senator of the Week” points will receive a prize. The variety and number of projects this semester makes Proctor hopeful that senators will be motivated to participate more.
Colin McGee | Photo Editor
Construction continues at the site of USA’s new engineering and computer sciences building, Shelby Hall, located on the edge of campus at the intersection of Old Shell Road and University Boulevard.
Construction from page 1
a club intramural field will be converted to a parking lot with 30 to 50 spaces. There is also a staging area for the construction project that, rather than being restored, will also be converted to parking. No plans have been set for this project, so the number of spaces has yet to be determined. Shelby Hall, the new engineering building, is scheduled for completion in Jan.
2012, plus any rain delays. This project, according to Willis, is on schedule. Two major projects have yet to be started, however: the Student Center renovation and a new research building near the lake. The Student Center renovation is still in the design phase, so Willis could not give any estimates on a completion date. This project, which will be taken on by the SA Group, could continue the disruption to the Student Center parking lot until summer of 2012, according to Willis.
Willis does expect the parking lot to be “mostly open” once construction starts on the Student Center, but is unsure how much will need to be closed off for construction vehicles and materials. Another project that will soon be underway is a specialized laboratory building near the lake. This research facility will not have classrooms, and the bid for the project will be awarded in February of this year.
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January 24, 2011
Vanguard
SGA Senator Wins University Scholarship Program Alexandria Hilliard, an SGA Nursing senator at USA, takes the title in USA’s annual scholarship program for exceptional female students.
er with a group of extraordinary, talented, beautiful young women who serve as ambassadors of USA,” he said. 23-year-old Hillary Bosarge won last year’s competition, and the Ocean Springs, Miss., native said she has been amazed to witness her own personal growth in the past year. “Service is a big part of the program,” said Bosarge, who studied Communication at USA and has been volunteering on and off-campus and at local health events as the 2010 winner. She sang the national anthem for numerous USA events, too. “I really know the national anthem now,” she laughed. Hilliard will compete in the Miss Alabama Scholarship Program in June, where she will have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the national competition. Hilliard said she chose “Mentor and Motivate Fallen Youth” as her platform because of the problems she saw underprivileged children face in Birmingham. “I would like to be the person … to tell that fallen child, ‘Hey, you can get back up again. You can start over,’” she said. Hilliard responded with ease and confidence to an on-stage question asking what her fellow competitors’ best qualities were; wonderful personalities and strong goals, she told the host, were what set these students apart. As Miss University of South Alabama 2011, Hilliard hopes “to uphold the wonderful standards that I have for myself, that my family has for me, that this University has for me and that I should exude to my peers.” Her plans for now? “To enjoy life and to enjoy this experience,” she said.
By Daniela Werner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandria Hilliard sits at a small table, her grin brighter than the sparkling tiara atop her smoothly coiffed hair. People in the room chat among themselves as she quietly fills out paperwork. Someone tells her to prepare for June, the “big month.” “We’re going to work on your speech delivery, eye contact, articulation …” Hilliard keeps writing and nods her head in agreement when she’s told to submit her class schedule so she can “make appearances.” “And no boys until at least August.” Hilliard looks up, her big smile still in place where a frown was expected to appear. “I know what that look means: You can handle it.” A 20-year-old Nursing sophomore and SGA senator from Birmingham, Ala., Hilliard had just been awarded a $1,500 University scholarship and crowned winner of the 2011 Miss University of South Alabama Scholarship Program, a title that she and 11 other female students competed for Saturday night. “Before [they announced my name] I was so happy for all the other girls,” Hilliard said. “My heart was beating so fast, I could hardly hear anything. “ When her name was called, Hilliard said, her mind went blank. “I believe I looked up to the heavens like, ‘God, is it me? Is it me, Lord?’” The pageant, held in a packed-out Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, featured the students’ competition in five categories: interview, on-stage question, talent, evening wear and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit.
Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief
Twenty-year-old USA student Alexandria Hilliard takes a few minutes to fill out paperwork after being named Miss University of South Alabama 2011 Saturday night at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
USA’s program is connected to the Miss America Pageant, the University’s judges looked for academic achievement and characteristics that embody what the national program is about: personal growth and academic success coupled with opportunity to
News in Brief USA Raises More Than $263,000 for United Way
The University of South Alabama’s United Way Campaign recently held a reception celebrating a total of $263,335 raised for United Way. This makes USA’s one of the largest employee-funded campaigns for United Way of Southwest Alabama. The USA United Way contributions came from more than 2,400 employees. Also, more leadership-level gifts of over $500 were committed, rising from 146 in 2009 to 156. The number of female donors in $1,000-and-up level increased for the “Women’s Initiative,” led by Becky Tate, chief executive of the USA Health Services Foundation, and Senior University
Attorney Jean Tucker. The United Way Campaign is chaired by Dr. Vaughn Milner, dean of Continuing Education and Special Programs, and co-chaired by Elmer Sellers, assistant hospital administrator for the USA Medical Center. USA’s Engineering Department Receives Gifts from Thompson Engineering, Thompson Holdings Thompson Engineering, Inc., a local engineering design firm, and Thompson Holdings Foundation, Inc. made a pledge for naming rights to two rooms within the Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Sciences building. Thompson’s pledge will support the
express “hopes and visions for the future,” according to the program’s description. Dean of Enrollment Services David Stearns called heading the scholarship program “an incredible ride.” “It’s so exciting to see it all come togeth-
College of Engineering Excellence Endowment and give them naming rights to the large multimedia classroom and the administration suite within Shelby Hall. The multimedia classroom will feature state-of-the-art technology and will seat 60 students. The dean’s, associate deans’, and administrative assistants’ offices will be housed in the administration suite. Jimmy Shumock, chief executive officer of Thompson Engineering, said his company is proud to support USA through this gift. USA Career Services Sponsors Spring Career Expo
See more photos from Saturday’s program at www.usavanguard. com/news.
USA Career Services will hold its 2011 Spring Career Expo on Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 1 – 4 p.m. in the USA Mitchell Center. The job fair will feature a variety of employers sharing information about job openings and their respective career fields. Prior to the expo, Career Services will host a number of workshops, including “Career Expo Success” on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m., “Resume Development” on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., and “Interview Skills” on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Career Services will also present a new daylong resume critique workshop called “Resumania!” on Friday, Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Opinion
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January 24, 2011
The
Vanguard Brendan Davis, Opinion Editor thater@Gmail.com
www.usavanguard.com/opinion
OUR VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD >>usavanguard.editor@Gmail.com
STAFF EDITORIAL Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief Alex Whalen | Managing Editor Cameron Adkins | Associate Editor
Genny Roman | Associate Editor Brendan Davis | Opinion Editor Carey Cox | Senior Reporter
Religion and politics are separate, Gov. Bentley
S
Ala.
o our state has a new governor, Dr. Robert Bentley, and already he has made national headlines with comments he made at a Southern Baptist church in Montgomery,
For those who have just recently awoken from a coma or who haven’t been near a media outlet for the past week, here’s the controversial comment: “Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother.” Bentley later apologized for this comment, although it wasn’t much of a surprise given his clear religious convictions. Some have called this comment an attempt to exclude anyone who isn’t a born-again Christian, but look again at the wording. Bentley clearly says that he wants “to be your brother.” Bentley was simply expressing his desire for everyone to find Jesus. It’s also worth noting that this comment took place in a Baptist church, so perhaps a comment in this kind of context is justifiable. In reality, these points are ridiculous. While the comments did take place in a church, the context of his speech was not religious – it was political. The location in this respect was incidental. And what else are people supposed to take away from these comments than a kind of ultimatum? You want us
Tilting at Windmills By Matthew Peterson mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.
Experiencing The “New South”
After the winter holiday, I began to notice these “Experience the New South” signs. I knew they had to be from USA as they had the Thundercat logo on them, so I immediately began investigating what this “New South” was. I started at the logical place: on campus. As I drove down Old Shell, I wondered what kind of great new improvements my university had undergone during the short month the students were all gone. As I drove around campus, my heart began to drop -- everything looked the same. There went my dream of having a roller coaster on campus. But, being the serious columnist I am, I
to be your brother in faith, but what if we don’t want to be? It’s troubling, to say the least, to hear these comments from someone who has promised to represent every Alabamian. Now, maybe we (like the rest of the media) are making too big a deal of this. After all, this comment does not commit Bentley to ignoring the needs of, say, Jews or atheists. But in order to convince us that he can represent the needs of Alabamians, Bentley must demonstrate that he understands our needs. For starters, this is one of the first public speeches Bentley gave after being sworn in. And it didn’t even occur to him that this comment might offend some people? Our state is already seeped in religiosity, and having the governor trying to get converts doesn’t help matters. It’s also an embarrassment to the rest of the country. We have a governor who would rather spend his time evangelizing than fixing the problems he was elected to deal with. Alabama already has a reputation for being a bunch of cousin-loving, Bible-thumping, bass-ackwards yokels. This doesn’t exactly do anything to reverse the stereotype. Next time you address the public, Gov. Bentley, make sure you say something that has to do with your job description. Keep in mind that the separation of church and state still applies.
couldn’t be satisfied with just a superficial look at the campus. I have to give my readers much more, so I delved deeper. The road next to the new Dining Hall still wasn’t open. I guess there are still some bushes that need to be added or something, the finishing touches just in time for the project to open right on schedule. Maybe they added a few more lights to the Moulton Tower. It did look slightly brighter. I thought they might have done something about that horrible neighborhood on the edge of campus, the one they had to cut off from the rest of campus at night to keep the ne’er-do-wells out. I had heard that it gotten pretty bad out there -- it was a shoot-or-be-stabbed-by-abroken-bottle environment. I thought they might have finally torn it down like they had talked about, but, no, The Grove was still there. Maybe they had finally renovated the aging Humanities Building and ILB. Though they didn’t look any different on the outside, I thought they might have redone the interior much like they did to the administration building. After all, if they could find the money to renovate their own offices, they could afford to give the two academic buildings students use most a facelift.
Unfortunately, they had not. Maybe they’re saving these buildings as relics of the ‘60s, to one day be classics. Hey, at least they reopened Stadium Drive, but that’s not enough to be considered a whole “New South,” is it? No, there must be something else, I thought, so I looked beyond the outward appearance of the campus. I decided to see if they had finally let students see all the fees on their tuition bill. Maybe The Vanguard’s sharp editorial pen had shamed them into letting students know what they, their parents or Sallie Mae are paying for. Instead, it all looked the same. At least Gordon Moulton won’t be getting any pesky complaints about people paying outlandish fees for services they don’t use. What if they had finally extricated students from the situation of having to pay increasingly high tuition while at the same time having services cut? Nope, doesn’t look like it. Maybe they had finally given USA employees a raise, at least for living expenses. The administration has been talking a lot about appreciating the faculty and staff for their hard work. I was surprised to see that they had finally done something: give each employsee SOUTH | 9
Do you ever feel unsafe on campus?
Ariel Ramirez Freshman Music Education
I had night classes last semester. It was kind of creepy. I mean, you never know who’s going to be popping out of the dark, or something like that. During the day I do feel safe, but at night I’m not so sure.
I haven’t had any bad experiences. I’ve heard about some bad experiences, but personally I haven’t had any. I’m right there across from the campus police so, I mean. If something were to happen to me I’d probably be fine.
Eillie Watson Sophomore Speech Pathology
I feel like it’s safe. There are always police out there, and they’re always watching. Sometimes there are like two cars at the same time in the parking lot. So I don’t feel that bad. Mark Jackson Freshman Physical Therapy
Now that the campus is populated again I feel safer than when it wasn’t during the break. There was a lot of stuff happening during the break that shouldn’t have been happening. Devon Johnston Freshman CIS
Jake Read Freshman Philosophy
It’s pretty disconcerting having someone get robbed at gunpoint and then someone’s room getting broken into right in the same building that I live in. I think with everyone back there are more eyes out but the police patrols are about the same.
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OPINION
January 24, 2011
Vanguard
POINT COUNTERPOINT Should Women Serve on the Front Lines?
Editor’s Introduction: A military panel has called for an end to the ban on women in the US military serving on the front lines and in combat units. The commission was established by congress two years ago and included retired and serving military officers. They saw the ban as discriminatory and said that it’s now time, “to create a level playing field for all qualified
Let those that can, do
service members.” The current band makes it difficult for women to advance in rank as a great deal of stock is put into a soldier’s experience in the battlefield. But would women serving on the front lines really harm unit cohesion? Or is the military just trying to hold on to another archaic tradition which no longer applies to a modern fighting force?
Equality Not Fair to Women
It was 1948 when the Women’s another male soldier. When considering the issue of mere soldier. That’s not to say that Armed Services Integration Act There is inherent danger, some women in combat, it is important to they would have to go into direct was signed by President Truman. say, of disrupting the unity of a comunderstand that at the heart of the combat, but the integration needed The act allowed women to serve as bat group, or their “espirit de corps.” debate is the question of equality. for women to work in combat would permanent and full-time members In the military, there is a special A primary argument for why most likely be applied to the military of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps bond that no other profession can women should be allowed into as a whole. and the young Air Force. replicate. It is a deep and empowerfrontline combat is because that is Anatomy is a serious difference It excluded women from Navy ing bond that each member much the primary way within the military between men and women. Urinary or Air Force vessels that might possess or the unit puts itself in to promote and progress through Tract Infections (UTI), Yeast Infecsee combat, and limited their danger. the ranks. tions, Pregnancy (regular or ectopic) total numbers to 2 percent of the If one cannot trust that the For those women wishing to are all serious issues that ought not Cassie Tory armed forces. It was not until after person manobtain such a be overlooked. Improper care for Fambro Albertson any of these problems can lead to the Vietnam War that this limit ning the gun position and was lifted. next to them rank, they are longterm injury for the female. The issue of putting females on the front is capable, then the severely handicapped Even a menstrual cycle, without proper lines has been brought up recently with the unit “espirit de corps” compared to their male supplies, can lead to a significant medical repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies crumbles. counterparts. emergency. inhibiting homosexuals from being in the This brings into Many feel today that These examples are not meant to point military. account the issue of the traditional arguout some sort of deficiency, which none The Pentagon states that 255,000 women women being considments against females of these things are. Instead this is to point have served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars ered physically weaker in combat are mere out the significant risk women take upon since their inception. than men. This is biohangers-on of an old themselves by going into the highly unconThe Department of Defense currently logically true and there chauvinistic devaluing trolled and hostile environment of front-line prohibits assigning women to ground combat is no debating that. of women and a direct combat. units; they are not supposed to be on the However, the milichallenge to a female’s When compared to men, the risks women front lines at all. tary requires a level of ability to hold her own face intrinsically are exponentially more. ultimatebasictraining.com In Iraq and Afghanistan, the main issue is physical fitness from in a military career and Thus, if job availability and opportunity The AP has called the the ban women serving setting. Thus underthat there are no cut and dry front lines. each sex that negates were equal and women were recognized as on the front lines, “the last major area of dis- girding rules that enEverywhere is a front line, with uncertain- the weakness claims. equal contributors on the field of battle, if crimination in the armed services” after the re- able an unequal playing they were filling out the ranks of our ground ty and danger lurking behind every hill and A woman does, and peal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell last year. building. Women are over there and fighting should have to, prove field. combat troops equally with men, the female’s just like their male counterparts. that she can physically Equality has the adactual risk in the field would still be a higher Those male counterparts are often cited as endure the requirements of the armed forces vantage that all military jobs would be made than that of the male. the source of why females are not allowed on and the call of duty. available to women. This would then allow With this in mind it seems an unconthe front lines. A frequent point of contenTrust me, the women who sign up for the for a less obstructed pathway into leadership. scionable act to force women to be treated tion is the classic paradigm of men having to military are very aware that they have to It would also open the military to female equally as men on a battlefield or in combat. protect women. compete with the boys. Women have to earn influence; which could very well be a positive A more reasonable approach seems to allow It has long been said that a woman fightthe respect of their male peers and women thing. for an exception to the rule for those women ing along side a man puts the man in more truly dedicated do everything they can do to The flip-side, however, implies that all who would willing take on the risk listed and danger because he is more likely to jump in be looked at as equals. women, interested or not, would then all the others that are inherent to ground front of a bullet for a woman soldier than become one of the guys and be treated as a see EQUALITY | 11 see DO | 9
Law Stifles Innovation
You do not own a Playstation 3. I can confidently say that, because even if you Brendan paid $300 for one and have it in your house and enjoy Davis playing the multitude of videogame and Blu-Ray movie offerings on a Playstation 3, you do not own one. At least, that’s what Sony seems to think. Earlier this month Sony filed a restraining order on a piece of jail breaking software created by George “geohot” Hotz, a security expert and cracker most well known for jailbreaking iPhone’s with the Blackra1n application. Hotz has basically figured out a way to bypass all of Sony’s convoluted security measures
to allow consumers to run custom software on the Playstation 3. So this one-trick gaming machine now has the potential to be more like a personal computer. Sony is unhappy for a number of reasons. Mainly because they invested a great deal of time, huge amounts of money, and not a small amount of pride into preventing this sort of behavior. Sony is afraid, probably with good reason, that this jailbreak will leave their system vulnerable to piracy. While that may very well be true, fighting piracy should never trump the rights of consumers to manipulate and modify electronic equipment that they have purchased. Imagine if Honda tried suing Vin Diesel for being so fast and furious. When a consumer purchases a piece of equipment, it becomes their property. At that point what is done with the equipment should be completely out of the hands of the creators. Apple is notorious for being unable to let go of their products. In fact, they have recently be-
gun using a brand new type of screw, known as the Pentalobe, to try and keep consumers from opening their iPhones and Macbooks. But consumers aren’t the only ones getting Pentalobed by corporations like Apple and Sony. When limits are placed on the extent to which a new piece of technology can be manipulated, then innovation is stifled. Just look at the amazing things being done with Microsoft’s Kinect. Hackers have managed to reverse engineer the hardware and write drivers for Windows and Mac OSX. Microsoft had no intention of providing this, but they have so far been kind enough not to sue anyway for doing it. The Kinect’s potential is only just beginning to be explored, and it is an amazing piece of hardware. While it was designed to let people wave and jump around their living room, programmers around the world have been using it to create 3D webcams, as the eyes for a robot that is able to build precise 3D virtual representations of the world around it in a computer, as an
augmented reality toy, as well as countless other applications. The world could be a much more exciting place if corporations like Sony and Apple would stop trying to legally muscle their customers out of fully enjoying their technology, and embraced it. It’s difficult to say this, given the company’s history, but Microsoft seems to finally get it. Recently the Windows Phone 7 mobile phone operating system was jailbroken by a group known as ChevronWP7. Microsoft’s response? They invited them to their headquarters in Redmond and gave them t-shirts. They engaged them in a dialogue. Rather than seeing them as an enemy, they saw it as an opportunity to learn something and engage an entire community. And this is Microsoft. Hotz’s response to this news? “Perhaps a more appropriate way to deal with jailbreakers. I’m going out to buy a Windows 7 phone.”
The
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January 24, 2011
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Etc.
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January 24, 2011
The
Vanguard Brett Williams, Etc. Editor bret_wilams@hotmail.com
www.usavanguard.com/etc
2011 Job Outlooks: Trending Upwards
Facebook disables update that gives apps access to contact information
Four days after releasing an update that allows users to grant third-party applications access to users’ contact information, Facebook releases a statement notifying developers that the update had been disabled.
USA Career Services Director Bevley Green tells students what to expect of themselves and Career Services
By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR
Now is a great time to mention that the economy is slowly trending upward. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the overall unemployment rate decreased in December and employment increased by 103,000 especially in markets like leisure and hospitality and healthcare. Since one of the leading programs of study at the University of South Alabama is in careers related to the healthcare sector that’s good news for a lot of students. However, it’s not May yet and the economy has been anything but stable. So, where does that leave you? If things continue trending upward and there are openings in the healthcare sector then you’ll probably encounter your first recruiters by participating in Career Services events on campus. The Career Services department is frequently trying to bring students and employers together using their free online service, Jaguar JobLink. Director Bevley Green says that Career Services is 72 percent ahead of where it was at this point last year when the school had completed its first semester and was just beginning its second, but she wouldn’t advise students to “rest on their laurels”. It isn’t bad advice since the Department of Labor Statistics’ latest report mentions that the lowered unemployment rates reported were for only approximately 18 percent of the people in the major worker groups. The remaining worker groups were little affected. Don’t be discouraged though. According to the National Association of College Employers (NACE), there has been growth in college hiring coming into this year. Truth is, graduating seniors can expect an uphill battle according to research from NACE. In comparing December 2010 and December 2009, overall recruiting activity has slowed from where it was this time last year. “Employers are being cautiously optimistic,” Green says, “and we’re still talking about a tight and competitive job market.” According to Green, right now students see OUTLOOKS | 9
Graphic by Colin McGee | Photo Editor
This graphic illustrates what could be if Facebook keeps capitalizing on its members' personal information..
By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR
In an update released in its developer’s blog on Jan. 14, Facebook announced that third-party applications from its developers will be allowed access to users’ addresses and phone numbers. The change was supposed to go into effect immediately, however the social networking giant has since decided to halt the addition of its latest development. At least for now. “Over the weekend, we got some useful feedback that we could make people more clearly aware of when they are granting access to this data,” Facebook spokesman Douglas Purdy said in a statement added to the blog Tuesday. Purdy’s statement temporarily quells the media buzz around the topic, but leaves room for unease in the stomachs of Facebook users who are concerned about identify theft and other privacy invasions. However, Purdy says Facebook is looking forward to re-launching the update. According to Purdy, the update was intended to help with connectivity between the third-party and the user. By allowing external sites to access addresses and phone numbers, users could potentially streamline the checkout process when shopping online through an ap-
plication on Facebook. In order for the update to work, explicit permission must be granted to individual applications. The biggest concern that’s arisen, and the primary reason for the stoppage, is that the permissions are granted in the same manner as all permissions windows for applications users’ access on Facebook. The permission request for each member’s contact information would’ve appeared as an additional bulleted item on the list of permissions. So, conceivably a user could allow access to their contact information without knowing it because they were expecting to grant access to permissions such as being able to post results to their profile in the form of a status update. Facebook’s latest developer’s release says that the update is disabled, but because these updates aren’t easily accessible, I’d read carefully what I allow each time I give permission to Farmville. In the meantime, if you’re uneasy about Facebook’s coming update, then shield yourself. Here are a few ways to ease your mind: 1. Delete your phone numbers and addresses You don’t have to worry about giv-
ing away information that isn’t there. Addresses and phone numbers aren’t required information to have an account. 2. Check your Application Dashboard You can always see what ways your information is being used in the Application Dashboard 3. Track the developer updates By clicking the word “Developers” at the bottom of the Facebook web site, you can follow the latest news releases from Facebook developers. In the end, these things are all matters of privacy and should be handled as such. Because Facebook plans to reinstate its update in the future, be on the lookout for notices in changes of policy. There are hundreds, if not thousands of independent publishers out there. Be careful about what information you have displayed for the public. Personal information like home addresses and phone numbers can also be useful in identity theft when coupled with some of the information already available on profiles
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Outlooks from page 8
should be doing all they can to enhance their skill sets by getting involved. There are a wealth of choices and opportunities for students, too. Besides what’s offered from Career Services, students can look for internships, related part-time work and opportunities to network by volunteering in their respective fields. In the meantime, it also wouldn’t hurt to take the time out to write a resume and work in an unrelated field if nothing else comes up. At the very least, you can build references. Don’t buy into the ‘weak market’ news being portrayed. If you do, you may never find a thing. Believe in yourself.
South from page 5
ee a one-time salary supplement of at least $1,000. This was a great gesture, showing that appreciation means more to the administration than just a few token words every once in a while. It would be nice to see it made permanent, though, as USA employees certainly deserve it, but band-aids are better than nothing, I guess. I couldn’t find the “New South” anywhere for you, readers. It still looks like the Old South to me. Oh! What about the portals?
January 24, 2011
Do
from page 6
Women know war is dangerous when they sign up for the military. For all the crap that the recruiters say, anyone who signs up knows the risks. Women especially know that there is a great risk of being sexually assaulted in the military, by the enemy of fellow servicemembers. Women understand that they will be pushed to their physical and mental limits just the same as men are. Mentally, women are different than men. This can be detrimental or beneficial. Women are naturally protective by nature. Maternal instincts can lead a woman to sense things that perhaps a man could not. According to the Women’s Research and Education Institute, women in the military have 6 percent higher education than men. Differing viewpoints can make a fighting force stronger and sharper. If a woman cannot go through the same physical endurance tests as men, then no, she should not be on the front lines. If a woman causes problems in her unit and distracts other service-members, she should be removed, as should apply to both sexes. Make no mistake, if women are assaulted by their peers it should be taken as seriously as it would be on home turf. It is physically sickening that anyone would say it was a woman’s fault for joining. If she has the strength, the will and the discipline, then let her go. If a woman can meet the same standards as men do, then there is absolutely no reason besides archaic gender stereotyping and sexism that a woman should not be able to defend her country on the front lines of war if that is her choice.
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Arts & Entertainment
January 24, 2011
Le Boeuf:
The
Vanguard
Rodney Thompson, A&E Editor ane.editor@usavanguard.com
www.usavanguard.com/a-e
Joe ‘Cool’ Dunn, the Fonz of Photography
Smartphones
By Rodney Thompson
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
With all the Android hype going around, a bunch of people have been asking the same question. Is the Android really better than the iPhone? That is a tough question to answer, and takes some explaining. First off, the Android isn't necessarily a phone. It is an operating system, so the real question would be is Android better than iOS? Well, again there are some things that need to be explained. The iOS is strictly limited to the iPhone, and it cannot be ported to other phones. Currently the iPhone is limited to the AT&T network. Which, and I am an AT&T subscriber so I can say this, is actually not the best service provider in the Southeast region. That title goes to Verizon, based on network strength, coverage, and adaptability. However, 2011 will see the Verizon CDMA version of the iPhone, so the AT&T limitation argument is on its way out the door. The next thing to consider is that Android is distributed on numerous types of phones from many different manufacturers and available on several different carriers. This sounds like a plus, but there is a catch. The Android application market is suffering from a phenomenon referred to as fragmentation. Not all Android powered phones work the same way, and as such not all apps available in the market work on every Android phone that has the potential to download them. For example, the popular iPhone game, Angry Birds, is being ported to the Android market, but it is suffering from a growing list of incompatible phones due in part to the large number of phones that don't have compatible touch screens. Back to the main point, if you take hardware into account and carrier networks, right now the big shot Android phones on the Verizon network pack more punch than the iPhone 4. More power, more memory options, more flexibility, better cameras, and bigger screens. The Android app market is growing exponentially allowing the Android base to do everything the iPhone does. If you are on the fence, I recommend getting one of the big dog Android phones on Verizon. iPhone was the pioneer, but the rest of the world has caught up and seems to be passing it by now.
Courtesy of Joe Dunn
Joe Dunn (left in center photo) has found great commercial success as an artist, which has attracted the attention of such stars as Jason Segel (right in center photo). Joe produces both photographic work (right photo) and paintings (left photo).
By Rodney Thompson
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
To embody the word cool is an arduous task. One must be prepared to live up to a standard of admiration and idolization that can be inexplicably exhausting. However, those who achieve this level of cool are capable of maintaining the sly stone look of Frank Sinatra while simultaneously projecting the cavalier style of James Dean. I have the privilege of knowing just such a man. While our personal relationship has been brief, I have known one of his offspring for close to six years. It was not until recent times that I have had the pleasure of actually making his acquaintance. In order to understand the dynamic that there ensued, it would be helpful to know how I perceive myself. I drink expensive liquors, smoke expensive cigars, and I fancy a Ralph Lauren sports coat from time to time. I view myself as a connoisseur of the finer things in life. Upon meeting this man, I realized I am but a childish ama-
teur playing pretend in an adult arena. Joe Dunn was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 5, 1957. He spent a portion of his childhood in the sunshine state before moving to Mobile at the age of 10. Like so many of us, a product of the Mobile County public school system, Joe attended Davidson and Theodore high schools. In 1978, Joe met and married his wife Pamela. Shortly thereafter, he became the proud father of two beautiful ladies, Brittany and Ashley. Joe Dunn is now a successful photographer and artist. These are his words: What did you do before you were a photographer? Early in my married life, I trained and became a first-class machinist working at Benders Ship Building and then at Irish & Associates. Several years back, I left Irish and went to work for a photography company here in town as their graphic designer. Have you always been interested in being an artist or did it develop later in life?
My parents gave me a camera when I was about 10 years old, and I have always loved doing photography. I took Art in high school and was on the annual staff as a photographer. My mom was an artist and she taught me to appreciate art at an early age. What inspires you to create? I love architecture and patterns of texture and light, so I would say that just about anything inanimate is fair game. What subject matter do you prefer to capture? Buildings, balconies, deserted alleys, fog, rain. Just about anything except people. With the growth and change of the digital age, where do you see art going in the years to come, and how do you plan to adapt your work to these changes? Today, I create images that could not be created even two years ago. After the advent of digital capture, technology has been advancing so rapidly that it is hard
see DUNN | 11
A book worth $5k?
By Rodney Thompson
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Glenn A. Eldridge is a difficult person to describe. As versatile as one can imagine, he has dabbled in everything from play writing and stand-up comedy to tin pressing and amateur films. Eldridge hails from a rough part of New York during a time when movies were cheaper than a dollar. He saw Elvis at Madison Square Garden and was fortunate enough to be at the original Woodstock. An eclectic soul, Eldridge has always found solace in challenging his mind with
chess, scrabble, and puzzles. These very things led him to develop the ultimate puzzle challenge with a more than inspiring prize. Glenn Eldridge is the creator of the coolest book I have ever had the privilege of perusing, the $5,000 Trivia Treasure Hunt Challenge. It is a book that combines trivia, mazes, word scrambles, Sudoku puzzles, quote falls, math, logic, and clues to form one 251 page brain teaser. You must do each section in succession as the answers to one provides the clues for the next section. In theory, once you have completed the entire book, you should have a city, state, place, and
number. Submitting these answers with a brief essay will find you $5,000 richer. The essay is for the purpose of breaking any potential ties in the event Eldridge receives multiple entries with the correct answer. All of this sounds easy enough. However, these puzzles are not of amateur quality. Eldridge encourages readers to work together with family and friends in order to complete the challenge and win the prize. The real purpose here is to share the gift of trivia and bring together people for the purpose of entertaining and delighting the masses. It doesn’t hurt that there is money see BOOK | 11
The
Vanguard
January 24, 2011
Equality
Dunn
combat. Let’s not forget the risks women take captured by an enemy. Something to consider. Women currently make up 14.6 percent of military personnel. Open to women are approximately 90 percent of all military jobs, the other 10 percent involve, direct, on the ground, frontline combat. As of 2008 there were 57 active-duty women in leadership ranks of general or admiral (according to CNN). This shows that although not in huge proportions throughout the military, women are making it into military leadership. The high level goals seem possible, and if there need to be more changes, maybe something within the structure of the promotion system ought to be changed; this, I’ll admit would be highly unlikely. However, instead of fighting for an unequal equality, it might be better to explore these alternatives rather than opening the doors to women in combat all the way.
for an artist to keep pace. I am looking forward to what the future might hold as a digital artist. What demographics do you feel your art appeals to? I believe that my work speaks to all age groups and is very main stream. I love to share my knowledge of photography and digital art with all ages. What have been some of the significant or special moments in your career? Having my own art gallery has allowed me to be in contact with a large amount of people. I have had the pleasure of meeting celebrities such as Peter Frampton, Jason Segel, Nick Cage, and various others. Tell me about your gallery. We opened our gallery in the months following Katrina in New Orleans, hoping to help rebuild the city in our own unique way. The art gallery is open daily
from page 6
from page 6
at 304 Royal St. in the French Quarter. My pieces run from an affordable $25 to as much as $5,000. Do you feel like artists are capable of being successful, or is the stereotype of a starving artist still a major part of the art realm? I was always told that I needed to be something else other than an artist, but of course, I basically disregarded that. I do feel that a person has to follow their passion. However, to be successful in the art world you need to have marketable art. For those who are starting out, or interested in becoming photographers, what advice would you give them about pursuing their dreams? Follow your passion, find out what you like to shoot, what makes you happy, and never stop learning. To contact this fantastic artist, please visit his website at www.JoeDunnArts. com.
Book
from page 6
involved. If you would like to get in on this action, the book can be ordered from TriviaTreasureHunt.com for $12.95. The contest ends November 11, 2011 with or without a winner, but more than likely there will be a lucky team of trivia nuts that claim the prize well before then.
www.usavanguard.com Go there.
11
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January 24, 2011
Sports
The
Vanguard Matt Weaver, Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.com
www.usavanguard.com/sports
2011 Senior Bowl Game Week
Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief (From left to right): University of Washingon Quarterback Jake Locker, Senior Bowl CEO Steve Hale and Texas A&M Linebacker Von Miller taking questions at Sunday's Senior Bowl Introductory Press Conference at the Renaisance Riverview Hotel in Downtown, Mobile, Ala. Locker revitalized Washington football while Miller is one of the more decorated linebackers in A&M history.
Locker and Miller Headline Sunday Press Conference By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR
Stars truly descended upon Alabama on Saturday night as the first 65 players arrived in Mobile for the 62nd Annual Under Armour Senior Bowl. On hand for Sunday’s introductory press conference was Senior Bowl CEO Steve Hale, Washington quarterback Jake Locker, and Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Many have pointed out the 2011 roster as one of the weakest ever, a byproduct of a record 56 underclassman registering for April’s NFL Draft. “We chose the players you’re going to see this week, but they chose to accept,” Hale said. “It shows that these guys want to maximize their value and do so here at the Senior Bowl.” Locker leads the North Team after a disappointing senior season at Washington in which the Huskies finished at 7-6. The Ferndale, Wash. native was questioned for staying in college after his junior season that saw the Huskies go 5-7, firmly placing the listless Huskies back on the football map. Locker finished that season with 2,800 passing yards, the third-highest single-season total in UW history. Locker is looking to repair his image during game week. “I have no regrets,” Locker said. “I graduated, won a bowl game and accomplished
each of the goals that I set in Washington. I play, I’ll do it and I’ll work hard, compete can’t wait to play with and against some of and try to be consistent.” the guys you see every week on the highlight Miller doesn’t pay attention to analysts’ predictions of his draft stock. He considers reels.” Locker hopes the NFL will get an agile his focus a key family strength. Miller’s chief quarterback capable of shifting in the pock- focus is preparing for the next play and is et and buying time for his receivers. Locker currently looking forward to the Senior Bowl disagrees with the notion that he’s just a sys- and Indianapolis’ NFL Draft Combine. “I play for my family first,” Miller said. “I tem quarterback. “I want to show a team that I can become want to make them proud and I hope that part of the community and work hard to im- an NFL team sees how valuable I can be.” Hale mentions that the Senior Bowl is not prove myself and the guys around me. I’m a team player,” limited to athleticism and the game Locker said. but rather personal“Jake is e chose the players, but they ity and intangibles. the man,” “Get to know Miller said. chose to accept. It shows that they want to these players and Locker and Miller train maximize their value and do so here at the admire them,” Hale said. They together in Senior Bowl.” have something to Irvine, Calif. -Steve Hale, Senior Bowl CEO prove. In college, and have became friends they were in a very protected environsince. “He rubs off on everyone with such an ment and it shows a lot of confidence for everyman personality,” Miller said. “You them to come here and we’re thrilled to have couldn’t help but like him even if you just them. This should be an interesting week for everyone.” met him on the street.” The Senior Bowl game will kickoff at 3 Miller is equally personable and hopes to be the missing link for one NFL team’s de- p.m. on Jan. 29 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. fense. Tickets are still available and the game will “I’ll play wherever they ask me to,” be televised on the NFL Network. Follow Miller said. “Linebacker, corner…even the Vanguard Sports Section on Twitter @ quarterback. Wherever a team asks me to USAVGSPORTS for the latest news, media
“W
and information. The Vanguard will be live at the Senior Bowl all week, leading up to kickoff of the 62nd Annual Senior Bowl. South Alabama Wide Receiver Not Included on Sunday Bowl Roster
South Alabama wide receiver Courtney Smith has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, game officials announced on Sunday night. “Obviously, we’re excited about having the first-ever South Alabama player here, and I think he’s going to be a great representative for the University of South Alabama,” Hale said. “I think it’s going to be an exciting week, not just for Courtney but for the South Alabama fans, alumni and students.” Fans of the program launched a massive campaign across social media outlets and email on behalf of Smith. “I would just like to thank all of you who played a part in the process of my being selected in this year’s Senior Bowl,” Smith said. “I’m blessed with a great opportunity to further showcase my talents, and I would not be able to do it without each of you who have supported me. I have every intention on making you guys proud. Smith is considered a breakout player amongst senior wide receivers and could go as early as the fourth round in April’s NFL Draft.
The
SPORTS
Vanguard
January 24, 2011
13
Sports Briefs Bryant Vincent Joins South Alabama Football
Senior Bowl
NORTH
SOUTH The Basics
The Basics
Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey and his staff were selected to coach the South team in the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 29 in Mobile at LaddPeebles Stadium. Gailey’s Buffalo Bills will coach a talented team also containing Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, Florida guard Mike Pouncey, Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Southern California wide receiver Ronald Johnson and Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff were selected to coach the North team in the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 29 in Mobile at LaddPeebles Stadium. Lewis’ Cincinnati Bengals will coach a talented team also featuring Washington quarterback Jake Locker, Oklahoma runningback Demarco Murray, and Boise State wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis.
Washington’s Locker Heads 2011 Class
Southeastern Conference Sends 22 to Under Armour Senior Bowl By Vanguard Staff SPORTS REPORTER
The 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl features a talented South team looking to win as well as impress head coach Marvin Lewis’ NFL coaching staff. While many fans see the South roster as an SEC all-star team, many players also come from the ACC and Big 12. The Sun Belt Conference will also be represented. Each of the following players will have one more shot on the college field to prove their worth to NFL scouts. Here are the key players to watch for Team South: Greg McElroy is the quarterback of the Alabama Crimson Tide. McElroy led the Tide to the National Championship last season after taking the starting job. As a starter, McElroy only lost three games in his career at Alabama. McElroy passed for 5,631 yards and 39 touchdowns. With a high IQ on the football field as well in the classroom, look for McElroy to control the pace of the game when on the field. West Virginia’s Noel Devine is an explosive running back who is able to make big plays with speed and athleticism. Devine is WVU’s career all-purpose yardage leader with 5,671 yards, while ranking third in school history and fourth in Big East history with 4,315 rushing yards. Look for Devine to get his touches and show his talent. This running back has 36 career carries of 25 yards or more and 12 carries of 50 yards or more. The Sun Belt’s very own, Jerrel Jernigan, from Troy looks to add more stock to his name after an impressive career at Troy. Jernigan received first team All-Sun Belt Conference as a receiver and all-purpose player and second team as a return specialist in 2010. As Troy ran the “wildcat” formation, Jernigan played four positions: quarterback,
wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner. Jernigan ranked below only A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Jonathan Baldwin and Torrey Smith among NCAA receivers. Oregon State running back Kendall Hunter is a big explosion in a small package standing at just 5’8” and 200 pounds. Hunter has rushed for 4,181 yards and 37 touchdowns, both of which rank fourth in OSU school history. Hunter, a two-time All-American and two-time All-Big 12 selection, was also consensus first-team All-American after being honored by the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp and the Associated Press. Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder led the Seminoles to a bowl victory over 23rd ranked South Carolina and added an impressive year personally. Ponder will share snaps with McElroy in the Senior Bowl. Even though the Senior Bowl is not filled with superstar quarterbacks in 2011, Ponder cannot be overlooked. Ponder threw for more than 2,000 yards for the third straight season adding up to 6,872 career yards overall, best for fourth in FSU history. Ponder’s talents could be felt immediately in the National Football League. The South team’s defense will also be a key factor for Saturday’s game. It contains several name players including Auburn’s Zac Ethridge, North Carolina State’s Nate Irving and KJ Wright of Mississippi State. Despite the South squad leading the series 29-26-3, the North squad brings in some remarkably great talent. Starting at quarterback is Washington’s Jake Locker who will look to improve his draft stock after being considered a hot commodity over the past few seasons. After a lackluster senior year Locker will hope to regain face in Mobile. For his career Locker has thrown for 7,639 yards and 53 touch-
downs. Oklahoma running back Demarco Murray is another player looking to raise his draft stock in Mobile. Murray has run for 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns over the past few seasons. Murray is a big time player with professional skills and was even as the preseason Heisman prediction by football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. The North is also equipped with the hands of two of the receivers that helped Boise State lose only two games in the past three seasons as Titus Young and Austin Pettis come to Mobile. The two guys have been lighting up college football the past four years and look to do the same on Saturday. The two Broncos combined for 5,901 yards receiving and 64 touchdowns. The North’s defense will look to shut down the South’s receivers with Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara at cornerback. Amukamara is considered to be the second best corner in the draft behind Patrick Peterson. Amukamara is a pure shutdown corner who didn’t have one interception in 2010 because most teams simply would not throw near him. Prince could easily be a high first round pick as similar cornerbacks are considered a commodity. The North will also try to control the South’s rushing attack as Ohio State’s Cameron Heyward and Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn will hold down the line of scrimmage. Heyward has 162 career tackles and Clayborn has 184. Both were considered high picks in the draft before the season began and were overshadowed by underclassmen teammates. Both defensive lineman will try to prove their worth against some of the best Senior offensive lineman in the country and could really improve their NFL Draft stock.
South Alabama football head coach Joey Jones announced Jan. 19 the hiring of Bryant Vincent as assistant coach. His responsibilities with the Jaguars will include working with tight ends and assisting with special teams duties. Vincent replaces Mitch Rodrigue, who accepted a position on the staff at LouisianaLafayette. “Bryant is a very passionate football coach, he loves the game and is an unbelievable motivator,” said Jones. “I feel those intangibles are something I always look for in coaches, and he brings those to the table. He’s also a very good football coach; he understands the game and knows how to teach it, which is another element he brings to our staff.” Men’s Basketball Splits Homestand against WKU and FIU University of South Alabama redshirt freshman Augustine Rubit had a career-high 24 points and the Jaguars broke a late 72-72 tie with eight straight points to defeat Florida International 86-78 Saturday night at the Mitchell Center. The win, No. 700 in the program’s history, broke a four-game losing streak. USA is 8-10 overall and 2-5 in the Sun Belt Conference while FIU loses its fourth straight game to fall to 8-11 and 3-4. “We found out something about ourselves tonight,” South Alabama head coach Ronnie Arrow said after the game. “Seven guys played double-digit minutes for us. We’re going to have to be a seven, eight-man pressing team. “We finally figured it out, as a coaching staff, that every time that we’ve pressed in these games, or had to press, is when we’ve scored our most points. We’ve got to continue to work hard and get better and better at what we did tonight.” The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team cut a 24-point deficit down to five, but Western Kentucky hit its free throws down the stretch and survived 84-75 Thursday night at the Mitchell Center. Western Kentucky shot 64.3 percent from the floor in building a 19-point halftime lead and hit 56.6 percent for the game. Four of WKU’s five starters reached double-figure scoring, including Sergio Kerusch, who had a game-high 20 points. Women’s Basketball Overcome Slow Start to Overtake FIU After getting off to a slow offensive start, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team bounced back to pick up its fourth Sun Belt Conference win of the season with a 60-42 victory over Florida International Saturday evening at the Mitchell Center. “One of the things that I think is a strength for our team is the fact that we have kids coming off the bench that can contribute in very positive ways,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. -Wire Reports
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January 24, 2011
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