October 8 2012 Issue of The Vanguard by The Vanguard

VANGUARD

THE

VOL. 51, NO. 11

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

OCT. 8, 2012

INSIDE

SGA spends 22k on homecoming

Cassie Fambro | Editor-in-Chief

STUDENT SHOT BY USAPD OFFICER

By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

USA plays Ark. State Saturday The first presidential debate left a lot of people wondering exactly what happened. See student reactions. See Opinion, page 12 Lifeline app aims to help precent sexual assault. See why this app and issue is important. See Life, page 7 Major League Baseball is changing up their game by introducing a new format. See Left of Center, page 11

CASSIE FAMBRO | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

USA Director of public relations Keith Ayers stands alongside USAPD chief Zeke Aull at the press conference on Saturday.

18-year-old Gilbert Collar of Wetumpka, Ala. was killed around 1 a.m. Oct. 6

Man arrested for sexual abuse By CASSIE FAMBRO editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

aquoub Awaid Almehthel , 28, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse last Wednesday at USA. Almehthel was acquainted with the victim, according to USAPD Chief Zeke Aull. “The suspect knew the alleged victim, and it wasn’t a stranger jumping out of the bushes,” Aull said. Aull told The Vanguard that Almehthel allegedly made unwanted sexual advances to the victim in a dorm room. Almehthel was released from Mobile Metro Jail and will face the charges in court at a later date.

By CASSIE FAMBRO editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

18-yearold student is dead and a USAPD officer is on paid Gilbert Collar Student shot administrative leave after a tragic sequence of events which began around 1:30 a.m. on October 6. Gilbert Collar of Wetumpka, Ala., was shot by a USAPD officer, who has not been identified. Collar was allegedly acting erratically and attacked the officer, who responded to noises outside of the USAPD station on Stadium Drive. USAPD and public relations

find us on Facebook “Facebook.com/ TheVanguardUSA”

worked together to compile a timeline, which was presented to the public at a 3 p.m. news conference. According to the statement, Collar was nude and acting extremely erratic. Collar knocked on the glass outside of USAPD around 1 a.m. When an officer emerged to see what the sound was, Collar confronted him in a reportedly hostile manner. Collar “verbally rushed and challenged the officer in a fighting stance,” according Keith Ayers, director of public relations. That’s when the officer drew his weapon and ordered Collar to stop. Collar did not stop, according to the statement, and the officer shot him in the chest. After being shot, Collar rose from the ground once more and tried to attack the officer before collapsing. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation that extends beyond

Check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

USA to include the district attorney’s office and the Mobile Police Department. The entire incident has shocked the USA community. USA SGA president Parker Chastain told The Vanguard that he’s hoping this brings unity to campus. “As we continue to receive more information on recent events, our thoughts and prayers are with the Collar family. The loss that we have experienced is a great misfortune, and I hope that the USA family will join together in remembering the life that was shared with us. As we move forward during this time of hardship, please be respectful and remember we are all jaguars,” Chastain said. In the search for answers, the story of Collar’s death has garnered international attention. CNN spoke with Collar’s mother. “The first thing on my mind is,

USA’s Homecoming 2012 is fast approaching and SGA and Jaguar Productions are going above and beyond this year in light of the university’s 50th anniversary. At the SGA’s second and last budget meeting of the year on Monday, October 1, quite a large sum of money was allocated specifically to homecoming festivities. Considering the significance of this year’s homecoming, Jaguar Productions approached SGA this summer about putting on a larger and more expensive event. Instead of the traditional 8,000 dollar homecoming budget, SGA and Jaguar Productions will both contribute $22,000 for a total of $44,000 for a homecoming carnival. The carnival will feature local band Cornbred as well as a magician, mechanical bull, mini golf, rides, a euro bungee, free food and much more. “We wanted to make this year special, and we tried to come up with lots of activities we think the students will enjoy,” said Paula Duke, the Director of University Programs and advisor to Jaguar Productions. The carnival will take place on Thursday, October 18th at the Mitchell Center from 6 p.m. until midnight. Mass appropriations at the October 1 SGA budget meeting added up to approximately 14,000 dollars as second round appropriations. First round appropriations took place at the first SGA budget meeting on Monday, September 24 and added up to an approximate total of 46,000 dollars. Approximately $8,600 were allocated to co-sponsorships. In an interview with the Vanguard, SGA President Parker Chastain expressed his wish that students and campus organizations be informed on how to sign up with campus involvement and maintain a

See STUDENT SHOT Page 4

Life, Page 7

See SGA Page 5

In this Issue: Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 12

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

PAGE three

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Weather for Oct. 8 - 14

Editorial Editor in Chief Associate Editor Copy Editor Life Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center Senior Reporter Web Editor

Cassie Fambro Aaron Etheredge Bailey Hammond Jake Howell Noah Logan Patrick Herring JT Crabtree Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter

Distribution Distribution Bobby Faulk Manager

Advertising Advertising Wesley Jackson Manager Advertising Mohammad Al-Zarrad Graphic Designer Rex McKay

Management Advising J. Sellers J. Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan

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 surroun ding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

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. 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

Twitter: StormTeam4g9wx Facebook: Facebook.com/StormTeam4Gamma9Wx

of the Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, 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 offcampus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. Freelance writers will receive payment at the discretion of the section editor and will be notified accordingly.

See Something suspicious? Report it to USAPD.

SGA plans carnival Continued from pg. 1 student organization. “Many organizations forget to re-register with The Office of Campus Involvement for active status every semester, especially when seniors graduate,” President Chastain commented. “Students in charge of these organizations need to check their Emails constantly and be on point and on time with their paperwork, emails, and contact information if they want appropriations and cosponsorship,” SGA President Chastain added. At the October 1 budget meeting, SGA President Parker Chastain and Treasurer William Pearson made it very clear that following directions and being punctual on the part of the student is crucial to the SGA’s ability to appropriate as much money and co-sponsor as many organizations as possible. Although the deadline has passed for appropriations, student organizations can apply for co-sponsorships throughout the year. “Everyone is encouraged to

spread the word about co-sponsorships and get more money out there. Any money that we can give we will,” said Treasurer Pearson at the October 1 budget meeting. Students are encouraged by the SGA to attend SGA meetings as much as possible in order to stay informed about campus issues and activities. There is a special section at each meeting, the student forum, in which students can bring forth topics to the senate. SGA meetings take place every Monday at 8 p.m. at the Fresh Food Co.

Visit facebook.com/ thevanguardusa for more information.

Student killed Continued from pg. 1

freshman kids do stupid things, and campus police should be equipped to handle activity like that without having to use lethal force,” she told CNN. Questions and controversy have arisen over the use of lethal force, and Ayers confirmed the existence of a video camera outside of USAPD that caught the entire incident on camera. The tape has since been turned over to investigating authorities. USAPD officers are not issued tasers. USAPD Chief Zeke Aull, said in an interview earlier this year that officers are issued mace or pepper spray. The unnamed officer reportedly shot Collar with a standard issue .40 caliber Glock. The Mobile County Medical Examiner’s office will perform an autopsy. Toxicology results will be made available as soon as they’re released. In the meantime, USA and Collars’ off-campus friends are grappling with the loss of their loved one. Melissa Mims, a friend of the Collar family, told The Vanguard “Gil” was a kind spirit. “He really was a great guy and had very many friends. He lived a great life and showed God’s love to everyone every single day,” Mims said. One of Collar’s high school teachers reflected the sentiment. “He was a very sweet, respectable, fun, dedicated and well-liked guy,” Wetumka High science teacher Jessica Holbert said. With some facts not yet known, student reactions have been varied. USA acting student, Carleton Warnberg, was quick to admonish premature speculation. “No one knows exactly what happened, and until we do, it is all speculation,” Warnberg said.” The Vanguard posted the video of the press conference in its entirety on its Facebook page and will continue to update this story as details emerge.

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Letters to the Editor Campus Quarters apologizes Editor’s note: The Vanguard Viewpoint in the October 1 issue addresses the complains that Campus Quarters addresses below.

We are sending this statement in response to your editorial which ran on October 1, 2012. Campus Quarters began strictly enforcing the parking rules and regulations agreed to by all tenants of Campus Quarters on Friday, September 28, 2012. Due to the large number of guests at our brand new property, management felt it was in the best interest of the site to enforce our parking regulations in an effort to provide adequate parking to the tenants of Campus Quarters. We can assure everyone that no tenants or guests were illegally towed from Campus Quarters, only cars that did not follow the parking rules & regulations of our property; including but not limited to decal

placement on vehicles. Management’s main goal is to provide a safe and comfortable living environment to all of our tenants throughout their stay at Campus Quarters. We believe that adhering to our policies is the best way to provide said environment and we are confident our residents are appreciative of such enforcement. We would like to make certain all readers are aware that the management group and owners of Campus Quarters never approved additional parking to be advertised as an option across the street on University grounds, and we apologize if false information was relayed to any student, tenant, and guest of Campus Quarters. We encourage all residents and

guests to contact our office for more information regarding our site policies; it is a priority of ours to make sure everyone is informed and happy when residing or visiting Campus Quarters. Alison Collins Property Manager

If you want to submit a letter to the editor, simply email editor.in.chief@ usavanguard.com by Wednesday before the week you’d like to see it published.

USA students need to find Mr. Dignity Samuel E. Dignity, of Mobile, Alabama died Saturday, October 7, 2012 on the University Main Campus after an altercation with University Students. He lived a long, fulfilling life that was brought short in the midday hours on Saturday, October 7th. A band of unidentified students, highly agitated about the controversial actions of a campus police officer and the tragic death of a member of the student body, had begun to turn on each other in their differing opinions. Back and forth they argued. Spite, pride, and misguided self-righteousness compelled them and their words as they rode upon their collective high-horses. Pained by this, Mr. Dignity attempted to intervene.

He stepped in to the arguments, but to no avail. The students took no heed, and they ignored Mr. Dignity as he was caught in the crossfire. Born in the hearts of mankind, Mr. Dignity was an excellent human characteristic. He drove those around him to conduct themselves with an air begetting great nobility and self-respect. Dignity helped others to appreciate the gravity of situations in life for which vulgarity and disrespect were grossly inappropriate. Mr. Dignity allowed us to treat our fellow man well, and helped us all live better lives as individuals worthy of higher education.

Samuel Dignity enjoyed many pastimes, such as Football, leisurely reading, and the occasional Chess game with friends. He was an avid patron of the arts, and could often be seen at many of the various concerts put on in the University’s Performing Arts Center and browsing galleries in the Studio Art Building. It could be said that Mr. Dignity Certainly enjoyed the finer things in life. Dignity is survived by his wife, Compassion, his son Humility, and his daughter Empathy—whom we must hope will grow in the hearts of University Students as they reflect on what they have lost.

Robert Faulk rdf1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

jagLIFE

JAKE HOWELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR life.editor@usavanguard.com

New Lifeline app aims to prevent sexual assaults By KATELYN GAINES kag1105@jagmail.southalabama.edu

ost students on the University of South Alabama’s campus have heard about the recent sexual abuse arrest and the robbery of a student in the Delta 6 dorms. These were both very real, scary situations that could’ve happened to any person on this campus. Prevention is the best way to keep things like this from happening to begin with, but how can sexual assault or a mugging be actively prevented? According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime and 10 percent of sexual assault victims are actually male. Abuse of any kind can happen to anyone, and could even be by someone the victim knows well. Each year, USA students come together to speak out and educate against sexual abuse at the annual RAINN Day. According to RAINN’s website, the RAINN Days are “a grassroots program designed to empower college students to raise awareness of sexual violence and recovery resources on their campus.” Even though the 2012 RAINN Day was held on Sept. 27, there are ways that

students can educate and protect themselves and their peers each day. One such opportunity is the Lifeline Alert App, a new smartphone app that is designed to help prevent such violent crimes and sexual assaults. For illustration purposes, say a student just got out of a night class and is walking through the parking lot alone when they start to hear crunching leaves. This sounds like the part in the movie when the audience is screaming for the victim to run, right? With this app, all the student would have to do is put in a security code and hit “Thumb Mode” After this feature has been initiated, the student must hold his or her thumb on the phone screen. If the thumb leaves the screen a 20-second countdown will start. After 7 seconds it will set off an audio and visual distress alarm that everyone nearby will see or hear. It will continue to countdown until it hits zero, at which point it will contact a Lifeline Alert Response center whose staff will talk to you so they can assess the situation and pinpoint your location using GPS. The police will also be notified as well as your “Lifelines,” or your emergency contacts, in the event of an emergency.

COURTESY OF LLRESPONSE.COM

Lifeline could potentially save lives by helping authorities to more quickly respond to assaults.

All the data is transmitted in real time in the event that your phone gets broken during a possible altercation. While this app would be beneficial to some people, after asking a few students at USA, it seems that not everyone thinks it’s necessary. “I don’t really think I need it,” says Sarah Stanley, an education major. “If I feel uneasy walking to my car alone on campus, I just call the campus police, and they are happy to walk me to my car. Our campus police are really nice, and I feel safe with them,” Stanley continued.

Stanley’s thoughts are echoed by other students. They don’t see the need to pay for a service the school is already providing, and the cost seems to be putting some students off as well. A monthly subscription costs $3.99, while an annual subscription runs for $21.99. “That is way too much to pay,” says Patrick Morrison, a graphic design major, “Especially since we already have cops on campus that already do what this app does for free.” This app isn’t exclusively for college students, though, and is available to anyone who wants it. It would be an excellent investment for someone who lives alone or who walks home at night from work. For those who would like to feel a little safer walking at night, the Lifeline Alert App is something to consider. It’s also beneficial to look into even for those who already feel safe with the campus police. For more information about the Lifeline Alert App, visit LLResponse. com. This app is available for purchase for iPhones and Android phones at the Apple App Store and Google Play. For more information about RAINN, visit RAINN.org.

Carson’s “The Crown of Embers” burns bright By BAILEY HAMMOND blh803@jagmail.southalabama.edu

ften, a sophomore novel has a sort of dread about it for writers and readers alike. Will it live up to the first book in the series or will it leave us disappointed? Fortunately, in the case of Rae Carson’s “The Crown of Embers,” her second novel in the young adult series “Fire and Thorns,” the reader need not fear being disappointed. “The Crown of Embers” picks up where “The Girl of Fire and Thorns” leaves off. After the turbulent events prior to “The Crown of Embers,” Elisa is the newly crowned Queen of Joya d’Arena and yet again she is faced with major issues in the form of wars from within and without the borders of Joya d’Arena. Murder, intrigue, spies, exploding sorcerers, a giant hurricane, tunnels, ancient languages and so much more

BAILEY HAMMOND | COPY EDITOR

Carson’s heroine, Elisa, proves that, while magic is a powerful weapon, it’s nothing compared to the strength found within herself.

crams the pages and simply begs you to immerse yourself in the richness that is Elisa’s world.

If you’ve read the first book in the series, then you know all about the apparently evil nation of Invierne. While the Inviernos do still play a role in this novel, “The Crown of Embers” shows Carson’s skill at creating suspense. You don’t quite know who the enemy is or when they will strike next. The novel, though, isn’t all daggers and bloodshed. Carson weaves a balanced tale with humor and budding romance as Elisa searches for the legendary “gate” to the source of magic: the zafira. On her journey, Elisa goes through another period of transformation, much different from the one in the first book. Instead of a physical transformation from an overweight and insecure princess to a battle-hardened young queen, Elisa undergoes an attitude adjustment and discovers an inner strength she never knew she had.

She has the power within her to be a good queen and isn’t dependent on the magic of her Godstone. In addition to the addictive quality of the storyline, Carson’s writing style is very easy to follow, and the pace clips along nicely. This reviewer read the 295-page book in less than two hours, but wonderfully, the flow of the plot never felt rushed. It’s usually easy to tell if an author had a difficult time connecting the pieces of their own novels, but with each of Carson’s books, this hasn’t been an issue. Reading “The Crown of Embers” is a process of immersion. Although you may feel like shaking the characters every once in a while, the tale is always plausible. Nothing happens that seems out of place. The only incredulity you feel is when you run out of pages to turn and you’re left with an ache and yearning for more.

Weekly Lowdown Wednesday > Oct. 10 • •

•

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Save A Life Tour in the Student Center Mall 12 - 2 p.m. - Alpha Kappa Alpha HopeLine drive for domestic violence awareness in the Student Center Food Court 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. “What’s On Wednesday” Leadership Forum in the Fresh Food Company Meeting Room 7 - 9 p.m. - “Rock the Vote” Coffeehouse featuring Roman Street at the Mitchell Center Globe.

Thursday > Oct. 11 •

7:30 p.m. - Peter Wood, Faculty Trumpet Recital with pianist Robert Holm in the Laidlaw Recital Hall. $5.00 USA Students/Faculty/Staff

Saturday > Oct. 13 •

•

7:30 p.m. - Mobile Ballet “Bad Boys of Dance” at the Mobile Civic Center. Discounted tickets available at the Academic Support Center ticket desk Outdoor Adventures: Paddle on Sepulga River. $25 for USA students and $30 for faculty.

Sunday > Oct. 14 •

6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Homecoming 2012 “Fun Fest.” There will be a balloon artist, a mechanical bull, miniature golf, live music, food, and much much more.

Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 7 words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com.

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Lotus blossoms at Alabama Music Box By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

s far as the regulars were concerned, the night was young even at 9 p.m. in downtown Mobile. After being hugged by an appallingly inebriated skater, who incessantly called me “Stewie” as if we were pals from high school, I validated my media credentials at the Alabama Music Box on Dauphin Street and proceeded to Serda’s Coffee Co. on Royal Street with my friends for a cool drink to complement the warm night. We had time to kill. Lotus wasn’t set to take the stage until 11 p.m. Opening for Lotus was The Juice: a four-piece band out of Philadelphia that effectively fused funk, jazz and infectious dance beats. The crowd, still sparse at around 10 p.m., responded to their tunes with rhythmic swaying and nods of appreciation. One girl, clad in cut-off jeans, a midriff-revealing tube-top and curious tattoos, embraced an open space near stage with interpretive dancing, The Juice as her muse. Visiting the upstairs balcony of the Alabama Music Box before headliners take the stage has slowly but

STUART SOX| STAFF REPORTER

Incredible light displays accompanied Lotus’ performance.

surely become a tradition I share with my friends. Even from our vantage point there, Dauphin Street seemed endless. Mobilians milled about under the glow of streetlights and in between French-inspired edifices, searching for a good time. Loud applause rang from inside the Music Box, signaling to us that Lotus was setting up. Back inside, there was excited chatter and a distinct sense of anticipation. With little less than an hour before midnight, the dancers, clubbers, hipsters, druggies and everyone in between were finally going to see the show they came for.

Lotus, a four-piece band who got their start playing shows at Goshen College in Indiana in 1999, have played at some of music’s biggest festivals, including Bonaroo and Rothbury. Naturally, Lotus commanded the Music Box stage with confidence and prowess. Ever-changing rays of multi-colored lights engulfed the room as their music swept over the crowd and gave way to unabashed dancing and shouting. The instrumental and experimental melodies of Lotus were a mix of electronic, jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll, an interesting yet irresistible synthesis. We danced continuously for hours that passed like minutes as Lotus regulated the intensity of the crowd with the ebbs and flows of their beats. I left the Alabama Music Box that night with sore legs, ringing ears and an appreciation for the musical gifts and creativity of Lotus. My friends and I strolled down Dauphin Street, fully satisfied with the night, excitedly discussing and musing all of the experiences we would inevitably share on other beautiful nights like this one in downtown Mobile.

Late professor to be honored with “Swaranjali” concert By ALEX WHATLEY

ajw701@jagmail.southalabama.edu

free concert featuring renowned sitar player Alif Laila is coming to the Laidlaw Center of Performing Arts on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. The native of Bangladesh will be joined by tabla player Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee. The concert is being held in memory of the late Dr. Satya Mishra, a statistics professor at USA who passed away in 2010. The concert is hosted by the Mishra family, including his widow, Nutan Mishra. She is currently an assistant professor of statistics at the University of South Alabama. Dr. Mishra joined the USA faculty in 1983, and helped organize a dozen conferences at the University over the years, including an international conference on statistics in 1999. Swaranjali, a combination of the words Swar, meaning “music,” and Anjali, meaning “an offering of a handful of flowers,” is Mishra’s way of honoring him through classical Indian music that they both loved. “He has touched the lives of several students,” said Nutan Mishra, who met

her husband in 1998 at USA. “He inspired students to pursue their studies.” She describes the impact he left on others as going beyond being just a professor, and called him more than just a husband to her, but a mentor as well. Besides his work at the University, he also had a positive influence in the Indian community of Mobile, acting as one of the few Hindu priests in the area. His widow still recalls how he always asked for any money offered to him for his priest work to go to charity instead. Alif Laila, the sitar player to be featured in Swaranjali, currently resides in Maryland, and has performed in venues such as The Smithsonian in Washington, and the National Museum of Bangladesh. She will also be performing at Harvard University prior to her show in Mobile. Her instrument, the sitar, is similar to a guitar, but typically has up to 23 strings and is as important to classical Indian music as a guitar or violin is to Western music. She will be aided by the tabla player, or drummer, Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee, who is a disciple of tabla legends. Unlike most of their shows, there will be

JAKE HOWELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR

Laila’s music will be a treat for both those who knew Dr. Mishra and those who didn’t. Those interested in attending may R.S.V.P. at nutan.mishra@ gmail.com

no vocals to make it more relatable to an American audience. Mishra says that USA students unfamiliar with Indian music will find it “calming and meditative,” and thinks the concert will be great exposure for Indian music to South students of all backgrounds. Whether you knew Dr. Mishra or not, expect Swaranjali to be a free chance to hear a beautiful showcase of music that knows no national boundaries.

COURTESY OF EDWARD APPLEBY

Appleby’s new EP seeks to capture the magic of Disney’s Magic Kingdom through music.

Appleby frees “Fantasyland” By BAILEY HAMMOND baileyh803@gmail.com

t’s become somewhat of a tradition for Edward Appleby to alert me of any impending or already released albums of his, and so it comes as no surprise that I received a message with a link to his new EP, “Fantasyland (Magic Kingdom Vol. 1).” In fact, Edward Appleby is such a wonderful musician that he’s put his newest EP on Noisetrade.com and anyone can download it for free! Just go to noisetrade.com/edwardappleby to get a copy. If you like what you hear, then Noisetrade.com gives you the option of “leaving a tip” for Appleby. It’s actually a very neat concept, and in my humble opinion, he’s worth tipping. The tracks themselves are perfect indicators of his indie classical style. Combining multiple instruments and soft vocals, Appleby creates a magical feel, which I’m sure was his intent. Appleby has a tendency to veer from convention and mix sounds that “mainstream” artists keep separate. In one song alone, you could hear at least six different instruments, and what is amazing is he does all of this solo. The first track, “Promises of Old,” begins with a rockin’ feel and then quickly settles into steady strumming and Appleby’s signature vocals. There is an understood sense of urgency for “the one to break the spell.” With “Fire Walk with Me” Apple-

by continues the strumming guitar but introduces the listener to a more introspective and darker protagonist. The song builds and grows like a fire left unchecked, reaching a high point, and then mellowing back down under the eyes of an overseer. This constant build-then-retreat creates a nice flow leading into the next track. “Is My Face Glowing” captures the upbeat and hopeful ideology of the dreamer. The protagonist is braver and not worried about facing the dangers of his world. Soft strings, strumming and percussion punctuates the track in varying tempos, lending to the otherworldly feel of the track. The last track, “I Am Not a Man,” has a choral introduction, then quickly translates into a Celtic sound with the flute taking center stage, and Appleby’s soft voice crooning, “I am not a hero/ I am but a man.” The song gains power as the seconds tick by, but just past the halfway point, slows down again for dramatic effect and they ultimate build. At times, “I Am Not a Man” feels like a battlefield anthem calling us to the front line. According to Edward’s website (edwardapplebymusic.com), “Fantasyland (Magic Kingdom Vol. 1)” is “dedicated to the different sections of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World” and he “hopes to make a short film that coincides with all of these EPs.” I’m not sure what that short film will look like, but I am positive it will be interesting, and I’m likely to get a message about it once it’s done.

SPORTS

PATRICK HERRING, SPORTS EDITOR sports.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Baseball opens fall practice By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Ross Metheny (2) gets another start this week against conference opponent Arkansas State.

BY PATRICK HERRING|SPORTS EDITOR

USA to face defending Sun Belt champion Arkansas State Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Liberty Bank Stadium as the Jaguars take on the Red Wolves By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com

fter a much needed week off, the USA football team returns to practice and on Saturday they’ll travel to Jonesboro to face the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Jags suffered a loss to instate rival Troy in their last contest. The game against Troy was frustrating for the Jaguar team which committed 15 penalties and turned the ball over numerous times including a red zone interception. This week the Jags face Sun Belt conference foe Arkansas State. The Red Wolves come into the game with a 3-3 overall record including a 1-1 record in the Sun Belt conference after defeating Florida International Thursday night. Arkansas State came into this season as reigning Sun Belt cham-

pions and was one of the favorite teams during the preseason with new head coach Gus Malzahn at the helm and last year’s starting quarterback Ryan Aplin returning. Malzahn came to ASU from Auburn where he was the offensive coordinator under Gene Chizik for three seasons. Aplin has thrown for over 1,300 yards this season and has eight touchdowns to only two interceptions. For his career, Aplin has over 8,700 yards and 51 touchdowns. He will be the second veteran quarterback the Jags have faced in as many games. The Red Wolves bring their rushing offense, which is ranked fifteenth nationally, averaging over 239 yards a game led by starting running back David Oku. Oku transferred from Tennessee

and has compiled over 600 yards of total offense with six touchdowns so far in the 2012 season. The Jaguars come into the game Saturday with a vet starting at the quarterback position for as long as most fans can remember. Although CJ Bennett has started or played in every game the past three seasons, Ross Metheny has been named the starting quarterback by USA head coach Joey Jones. The Jags will attempt to avoid what they have done on offense for so long by sticking with one quarterback and avoid rotation at the position. Metheny brings in 354 yards through the air and one touchdown to Saturday’s game. The key to the game for the Jaguars will depend mostly on Metheny and the ability of the USA offense to

put points on the board, which has been difficult thus far this season. The Jaguar offense ranks 121st in the country with only 13.4 points per game this season. On the other side of the ball, the defense will have to continue to force turnovers in order to keep this game close. The Jaguar defense has already intercepted seven passes through five games this season after totalling only eight all of last year. Tyrell Pearson leads the team with two picks, which he has returned for 53 yards. Fumble recoveries haven’t been as plentiful this season, as USA has only recovered three of the six fumbles forced. The offense will also have to capitalize on those turnovers too, which they haven’t done well this season.

outh Alabama Jaguar baseball has started their fall practices, with scrimmage games going on every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday at Stanky Field. The Jags finished 23-34 last season, the first under head coach Mark Calvi. They also had a 15-15 Sun Belt Conference record, good for fifth in the conference. “We have a lot of returners back, and a couple of guys in key positions who are newcomers,” said head coach Mark Calvi. “There will be competition all over the field. The returners seem to be bigger and stronger.” Last year, the Jaguars were led on offense by Whitt Dorsey, who hit .337 with 31 RBIs. Returning junior Jordan Patterson led the team in home runs with eight, and shared the team lead for RBIs with Nick Zaharion. Both players had 44. The pitching staff was led by Anthony Izzio, who had a 3.04 ERA in eight games started. Andrew Fonzi was a close second with a 3.41 ERA in 34.1 innings. Opening night starter Jarron Cito led the team in innings pitched, with 82.2, and strikeouts, with 69. The team was plagued by injuries last year, and it never had a chance to fully play to their potential. The Jags will have starting second baseman Logan Kirkland returning this year. He missed most of last season with a broken foot, which occurred when he was hit by a pitch in an early season series against Samford. At the end of last season, several South Alabama players did receive All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Designated hitter Whitt Dorsey was named to the First Team All-Sun Belt. Outfielder/pitcher Jordan Patterson and pitcher Jarron Cito were named to Second Team All-Sun Belt. Andrew Fonzi was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team as the starting pitcher after his strong performance against Western Kentucky.

VOL. 51, NO. 10 / OCT. 8, 2012

Jones is building a football program, not a birdhouse By PATRICK HERRING

few days after the USA football team fell 31-10 at the hands of the in-state rival Troy Trojans, fans were calling in to the WNSP sports talk radio show Morning Sports Drive upset over the team’s recent struggles. Some called for the firing of head coach Joey Jones. Others, brainwashed by Nick Saban’s lingo, insist Jones is failing to instill the mental toughness the players need to succeed. In a word, these ramblings are ridiculous. What it boils down to is that the fans of this state and this area are spoiled. Before the University of South Ala-

bama created its football program, these fans were neck deep in the winning ways of in-state powers Alabama and Auburn. Some of these fans split their allegiances to support the Jaguars, but they didn’t leave that winning mentality at the door. These Alabama fans have put Nick Saban on a pedestal so high that no other coach can reach it. Yet they use him as a measuring stick for how Jones should be performing at USA. Nick Saban has been a head coach for the past 22 years. He’s been around the block a few times, learned from some of the best in the business. Comparing Joey Jones to Nick Saban in terms of coaching success just isn’t fair. Jones is in his third year coaching an upstart program. USA is only his second

head coaching stop at the college football level, with his first being at D-III Birmingham-Southern College. Give him some time. These fans also fail to realize that the University of Alabama and Auburn University have each had a football program since 1892. By my calculations, that gives them a 117-year head start on USA. That’s 117 years to build a tradition. 117 years to establish a fan base. 117 years to put together a winning formula. My guess is that by the year 2129, if the South Alabama football program is still around, it will be doing better than it is now. As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is a college football program.

BY PATRICK HERRING|SPORTS EDITOR

sports.editor@usavanguard.com

Head coach Joey Jones is 24-8 at the University of South Alabama

Want us to follow you? Tweet us @USAVGSports

Drew Dearman @DrewDearman: Offensive Lineman Why do all the cool shorts only go up to 2xl? :( man that chaps my backside Ryan Onkka @Big_Onk: Tight End Sure teacher pick an essay question I know nothing about that’s worth 40% of my test

Want play-by-play tweets of USA football games and other sports info? Follow @USAVGSports

Ben Whiteside @B_Whiteside88 Wide Receiver: Odds are I’m not following you if your bio states “I’m a princess, and that’s all you need to know” and the rest is set as private.. Brittany Fowler @FowlerPower6 SHORTSTOP (Sorry Brittany!)* Literally throwing every type of Chinese at the house in a bowl and heating it up! Starving athlete!! #needfood Chris May @CmayFive5: Offensive Lineman

College Football Predictions Editor’s Note: During the 2012 football season, we here at The Vanguard Sports Section will be doing weekly predictions of South’s football game, popular in-state games and one or two nationally significant games. We will keep a running tally of who’s “winning” the prediction game, and may from time to time include a guest picker. Week Three Season Totals

Patrick Herring Sports Editor (18-6)

USA vs. Arkansas State

South Alabama hasn’t won a road game in a calendar year. Unfortunately that streak will continue. Arkansas State 38-13.

#1 Alabama vs. Missouri

Saban getting an extra week to gameplan never bodes well for the opponent. The long road trip will affect the Tide though. Alabama 41-21.

Auburn vs. Ole Miss

Hugh Freeze has the Rebels moving and shaking early on and will get rolling again with a win over this conference foe. Ole Miss 34-20.

LSU vs. South Carolina

LSU is coming off of a huge upset, USC is coming off of a huge victory. The Gamecocks keep rolling. South Carolina 31-20.

British lit- 52 me-0 This class gets the best of me everytime...... Jake Howton @Jake_Snake86: Wide Receiver The feeling when you know you’re screwed after a test<<<<

Jayson Curry Senior Reporter (18-6)

JT Crabtree Sports Editor L.O.C. (14-10)

Arkansas State brings in a powerful offense with Ryan Aplin and David Oku. The Jags fall on the road again. Arkansas State 36-14.

The Jags have had 2 weeks to get ready for this game, and having a solidified starting QB should help bring consistency to the offense. It’ll be close. Arkansas State 24-17.

Bama is well rested after a week off and Mizzou gets another tough test in their first season in the SEC. Alabama 38-7.

The Crimson Tide should have no problem rolling over Mizzou, who has been blown out by Georgia and South Carolina already this year. Alabama 42-20.

Rush Hendricks @_RusHen_: Tight End

The Ole Miss offense has been improved this season and Auburn struggle to score. Ole Miss 32-17.

With Moseley and Frazier now splitting time at QB, things are not looking good for the Tigers. Ole Miss 31-14.

* In last week’s edition of Jag Tweets, we mistakenly identified Miss Fowler as a pitcher. However, she is a shortstop.

Another great SEC game with LSU vs South Carolina. Marcus Lattimore helps upset the Tigers. South Carolina 24-23.

South Carolina looks like a team that could make a run at a national title after dismantling Georgia so easily. LSU still hasn’t lived up to their preseason potential. USC 34-14.

Brandon Bridge @Air_Canada_7: Quarterback Paying international fees is the only reason why I hate being canadian. #SonOfABrick

I schedule my day around when Boy Meets World comes on MTV2

@USAVGSports

LEFT OF CENTER

JT CRABTREE, LOC EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCTOBER 8, 2012

Chipper leaves a hero By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

The MLB Postseason will look different than in past years with the addition of the fifth playoff team.

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

MLB Postseason begins with new format The addition of the second wild card team adds another game to the schedule

By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

The MLB regular season has wrapped up and the postseason is now in full swing. The MLB postseason looks a little different this year, with there now being five teams from each, as opposed to the four team system that has been used since 1995. The new system will feature a one game playoff between the two wild card teams, with the winner going on to face the top team in their respective league. This year, the teams getting a chance to play in the “Fall Classic” are the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals from the National League, who has home-field advantage in the World Series. From the American League, the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers have all made it to the postseason. The Atlanta Braves have made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2010, when they were defeated by the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. The Braves will be playing their wild card playoff against the St. Louis Cardinals, a game that is viewed as revenge for the Braves, after they experienced a historic collapse at the end

of the 2011 season and ended up losing their wild card spot to the Cardinals. The Braves are led by 3B Chipper Jones, who is on his farewell tour after playing for the Braves since 1993. The Braves also have one of the top pitching staffs in the league. The Braves have won 23 straight games Kris Medlen has started, an MLB record. Medlen will be starting the one game playoff. The Cincinnati Reds are the Central division winners for the second year in a row. They are led on offense by 1B Joey Votto and RF Jay Bruce. Votto on the mound, the Reds have Cy Young Award candidate Johnny Cueto, who is 19-9 this year with a 2.78 ERA, both are good for fifth best in MLB. The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to win back-to-back championships after winning the 2011 World Series. The subtraction of All Star 1B Albert Pujols had many wondering if the Cardinals could return to the playoffs this year, but with USA Alumni 3B David Freese continuing his good play, the Red Birds have found themselves in the thick of it again. The San Francisco Giants are back in the postseason for the first time since 2010, when they won their first World Series since moving out west from Brooklyn. On offense, they were led by OF Melky Cabrera, who was suspended

for 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs and still has not rejoined the team. In the meantime, MVP candidate C Buster Posey has returned from his nasty broken leg from last season to win the National League batting title. The sturdy Giants pitching staff is not led by Tim Lincecum, but by Matt Cain, who paced the staff with his 16-5 record and 2.79 ERA. The Washington Nationals are in the postseason for the first time since the team moved to Washington in 2004. Their offense is led by a number of players, including 3B Ryan Zimmerman, 1B Adam LaRoche, and 19-year-old OF Bryce Harper. Their pitching staff is led by Gio Gonzalez, who is leading candidate to win the NL Cy Young award with a 21-8 record and 2.89 ERA. In the American League, the New York Yankees hold the best record in the league. They are led on offense by CF Curtis Granderson’s 43 home runs and 106 RBI, 2B Robinson Cano’s 33 home runs and SS Derek Jeter’s 216 MLB leading hits. The pitching staff has been led by newcomer Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte, who came out of retirement after a year off to rejoin the Yankees. The Oakland Athletics are in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and won the division away from the Texas

Rangers on the last day of the season. The offense is led by OFs Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes, who was brought in from Cuba this past offseason. The pitching staff is led by rookies Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker, each with 13 wins. Midseason callup A.J. Griffin has been a shot in the arm for the rotation as well. The Baltimore Orioles are in the postseason for the first time in 15 years. They are led by OF Adam Jones and DH Chris Davis, who have 32 HRs, 82 RBI and 33 HRs, 85 RBI, respectively. The pitching is led by Wei-Yin Chen’s 12 wins. Chen was a free agent signing from Korea this past offseason. The Detroit Tigers were favored before the season to win the division, and they didn’t disappoint. The offense (and the league) was led by 3B Miguel Cabrera, who won the first Triple Crown since 1967. The pitching staff is paced by Justin Verlander, the reigning 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP award winner. The Texas Rangers are in the postseason for the third straight year, and are looking to go to their third straight World Series. The offense is led by OF Josh Hamilton, who had 43 HRs and 128 RBIs. The pitching staff was led by Matt Harrison and his 18 wins to go along with a 3.29 ERA.

It all started in 1990, when he was drafted first overall in the First Year MLB Player Draft as an 18-year-old shortstop from DeLand, Fla. Three years later, he found himself in Atlanta taking a spot on the roster with Braves legends Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Ron Gant and David Justice. He would be the only one to stay with the Braves throughout his entire career. Chipper Jones quickly became an icon in Atlanta. The Braves organization knew he was destined for greatness, but they had no idea how much he would accomplish in his 19 years with the Braves. A torn ACL in 1994 slowed the start of his career, and he was moved to 3rd base to protect him from further injury. He would make 3rd base his home in Atlanta. Even when the Braves were interested in signing 3rd baseman Vinny Castilla in 2002, Chipper volunteered to move to left field to make room for Castilla. He would return to the infield after two seasons. Chipper is the epitome of a team player, playing through countless injuries that plagued him during the later part of his career, changing positions to better the team. Perhaps the most important thing he did was be a presence in the clubhouse. He won the 1999 NL MVP, with 45 home runs, 110 RBI, a .319 batting average, 126 walks and 25 stolen bases. He was unreal. I grew up watching the Braves and Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox win division after division. Two years ago, Bobby Cox retired. Now Chipper has finished playing his final season at the age of 40. There will be a new 3rd baseman next year. No more “Crazy Train” playing when he comes to bat. The Braves of my childhood are gone. Chipper was my hero growing up. You have to admire his determination to play through injuries for so long, putting the team before himself and the future of his career. The baseball world will miss you, Chipper. Next time we see you, it will be at the podium in Cooperstown.

Opinion 12

NOAH LOGAN OPINION EDITOR opinion.editor@usavanguard.com VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Vanguard Viewpoint Editor’s note: Due to the sensitive nature, we wanted to acknowledge that this viewpoint is authored by Cassie Fambro.

Don’t be so quick to judge You know what they say about assumptions. “They make an ass out of you and me.” Judging the situation with Gilbert Collar and the unnamed officer is a natural human reaction. But condeming either party is not the right thing to do. Since when did social media commenters become the judge, jury and executioner? Given that all of the facts are not yet available in this case, decision to hang or not to hang is more than a little premature. What we know is that a kid died. This was a kid that had a bright future and regardless of what happened to end his life, he is gone. He was a part of the USA family and he is no longer with us. There is a tape of what happened that we haven’t seen yet but will likely become public record in the weeks or months to come. Then we will all know for sure if

the fatal gunshot was warranted. Until then, we don’t know. The Vanguard will follow this story to the end and if it comes out that the officer was wrong, we will hold USAPD accountable. If mitigating circumstances warranted the officer’s action, we will stand by what we learn then as well. In the meantime, we weren’t there. We weren’t the ones being attacked by an 18-year-old that got back up after a gunshot and charged at an officer like nothing happened. We also weren’t inside of Collar’s head to understand what was going on with him when this tragedy happened And none of the commenters on social media passing judgment were either. This is time for mourning and it should demand a mature dialogue instead of a petty uninformed blame game. Watch out for assumptions, USA.

SGA hopefuls should take note With the start of the presidential debates, SGA hopefuls have a great opportunity to learn how to capitalize on undecided voters. By NOAH LOGAN

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Noah Logan Opinion Editor

o r anybody who owns a TV, uses any social media networking or doesn’t live under a rock, the first debate

was a bittersweet night. The first presidential debate happened last week and that means a whole plethora of things depending on who you talk to. For people like me that have political science majors, it is one of the most exciting times in all of politics. The candidates take off the gloves, rub oil on their bodies and go at it. Debates in the past have provided some of the most memorable moments for elections. Politics lovers everywhere relish moments such as the famous Kennedy v. Nixon debate in 1960, the introduction of a guy name John F.

JagPulse People are terrible at driving on campus. What are your tips or issues? Daeshen Smith The traffic circle isn’t a two lane road Ameya Es to the walkers (all students are occasionally pedestrians) - pedestrians ONLY have right of way if you are IN a crosswalk marked area. Kaci Stokley You should seriously consider looking behind

you before you back out of a parking space. It kind of is your responsibility. When I or someone eventually smashes your car because you hit the gas without looking behind you, don’t get mad!! Kim Lynn when parking your car you park between the lines not with the white line in the middle of your car no matter how new or expensive

it is Janet Davis If you’re not handicapped, don’t park there. Even for just a few minutes because you’re picking someone (able-bodied) up. Ashley Marrie Baumann A yield is not a full stop. A blinker is required. A yellow light does mean speed up as fast as you can to make it. A red light means stop. And a tip

Kennedy and one of the most crucial pivoting points in American political history. Debates are crucial for lesser known candidates to capitalize on a national audience and bring their campaigns to the national spotlight. On the other hand, debates also symbolize the coming out parties of the “undecided voters” or people who haven’t bothered to educate themselves in the past year and now they feel the need to run their mouths and have strong opinions. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook became unusable last night as everybody and their mother decided to analyze everything from answers and policies to tie choices and handshakes. Everyone is now an official expert on politics. One particular group of people who should be paying extra attention to the debates are hopefuls for SGA next year. I know that SGA elections seem extremely distant right now (March of 2013), but time will take leaps and bounds forward and before we know it, Facebook will be blown up by events and groups that are advo-

cating Joe Schmoe for this and Joe Schmoe for that. After all, does it feel like registering for Spring classes should be starting in a week? Serious candidates who plan to run for the high glamour offices like President should already be considering platforms, publicity statements and especially debate strategies. Elections can be won or lost on the debate stage. Just go ask Rick Perry how devastating a poor debate performance can be to a campaign... “Oops...” Last year proved that you don’t have to be Greek in order to be SGA President at South and future candidates should be taking notes on how to properly promote your own campaign and exploit fallacies in another campaign. Undecided voters should go as long a way in deciding the SGA races as they do for Presidential election and the candidate who best learns how to work the emotions of this interest group will definitely see great success come election time.

motercycles park closer to the back or in the middle so we know you are there. I would hate to run over your very nice bike.

Uriel Galvan Stop when pedestrians are trying to cross the street. Common sense!!

Jennifer Bartle One way means ONE WAY! No matter the inconvenience follow the marked arrows and signs. Catherine Stalvey Pedestrians: pick up the pace! I know you have that crazy heavy bookbag, but c’mon now, KNEES TO CHEST. I have somewhere to be too! Leah Garvens The pedestrians sprinting across the traffic circle is definitely an issue.

Lacey Rough Pedestrians: If you need to get across Stadium Blvd near the traffic circle please use the crosswalks! Teddy Pendergrahams People should pull into parking spaces, not back into them. Tabitha Perry When there is a crosswalk 10 feet from you, USE IT. I HATE it when I have to stop every 5 feet along the traffic circle because people are too lazy to walk to a crosswalk.

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

POINT COUNTERPOINT Did Mitt Romney win the presidential debate?  After the first presidential debate this past Wednesday, it seemed as if Mitt Romney had outperformed President Barack Obama on what is the most important platform for this year’s election: the economy. Did Mitt Romney really win and will this help his recent low poll numbers?

Point: Round one for Romney

“

Even correct facts from Obama failed to demonstrate policy successes on the President’s part.

Ryan Wallace

Counterpoint: American people lost

ow rough was President Obama’s outing during the first debate of the presidential campaign season? At one point, my wife turned to me on the couch and said, “Obama does want to win, right?” Her quip was an apt description of the President’s night. Ever since the country contrasted the youthful, sun-baked John F. Kennedy with the old, pasty-faced Richard Nixon in their 1960 debates, our country has grown accustomed to choosing a winner and loser in a debate based largely on presentation and appearance. Based on that rubric, the President had what was probably his worst debate as a politician. This point was agreed upon by viewers from both sides of the aisle, with liberal journalist Andrew Sullivan proclaiming the night a “disaster” for Obama and conservative National Review editor Jonah Goldberg asserting that “Romney simply dominated and deflated Obama.” The difference between the two hopefuls was obvious even to someone who doesn’t frequent debates. The President chose to address the vast majority of his remarks to the moderator or the audience, including the cameras. I think this would have been a fine tactic, if Romney had done the same. Instead, the challenger surprised the President by addressing his remarks directly to Obama. Once Romney began to hammer away with point after point (in a very calm, even tone that managed to avoid drifting into an overbearing hounding of the President), Obama responded with something that, frankly, shocked me. Instead of responding to Romney in kind, the President seemed to steadily wither as the night wore on. He began to direct his gaze downward towards the podium and sporadically issue little sighs of frustration. This was a massive departure from the energy and personality that played such a large role in winning him the Presidency in 2008. The President has always been a widely-recognized skilled campaigner, but his

”

chief attribute of charisma was rarely on display Wednesday night. Obama needed to reinforce his campaign’s narrative that Romney is a rich, out-of-touch basket of bad ideas, but Romney succeeded again and again at seizing the topic at hand and forcing the President to debate the parts that Romney wanted to talk about. Where was mention of the “47 percent” comment? Where was mention of Bain Capital? If something was going to save Obama, it needed to be the facts. However, Romney succeeded in taking the edge here too by maneuvering the discussion towards statistics that favor his bid and shed a bad light on the President’s policies. The best dissimilarity between the two candidates’ nights was the portion dedicated to taxation issues. Discussing the reforms of the Simpson-Bowles commission that Obama appointed to explore means to reduce the national budget deficit, Romney correctly harped on the President for ignoring the proposals of the committee, saying, “Simpson-Bowles, the President should have grabbed that.” Obama retorted that “we’ve…made some adjustments to it, and we’re putting it before Congress right now, a $4 trillion plan.” The problem with the President’s fact is that those recommendations that he HAS adopted were included in some truly disastrous budget proposals, which have (very publicly) failed to even come close to being passed in Congress, making them worthless. Unfortunately for the President, the debate was rife with these kinds of episodes, where even correct facts from Obama failed to demonstrate policy successes on the President’s part. The first debate of the campaign was just short of a disaster for the incumbent, and it is a certainty that the time between Wednesday night and the next debate will be filled with triumphant speeches from the challenger and much practice for the President.

He has no great sense of gusto. I support him, but only begrudgingly. If he is the best America can produce, America has nothing to be excited about.

Colin Al-Greene

U.S. PUBLIC DOMAIN

RESEARCHPIPELINE.ORG

U.S. PUBLIC DOMAIN

ednesday night saw the first debate between current President Barack Obama and Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. The event took place in Colorado at the University of Denver. The location was significant because this year, Colorado is seen as a key swing state. The electoral environment is so competitive that Obama and Romney have each visited Colorado eight times since June, focusing on Denver suburbs. The candidates adorned navy blue suites and their respective blue and red ties. Obama opened the debate announcing that it was his twentieth wedding anniversary, and he was later greeted on stage by First Lady Michelle Obama. Mitt Romney was also later greeted by his wife Ann, and their children and grandchildren. The reason my introduction sounds so boring and disengaging is because I am trying to recreate the debate enviroment as closely as possible. I am a political junkie, an avid voter and long time scenic. This is the first election I have observed where the first debate had very little emotional response. I am a fiscal conservative, on most days. I like for all budgets to balance. Well, we haven’t had a balanced budget in years, but you get my drift. If we take in $10 in revenue, I would prefer to spend $10; or $12 max, but that’s absolutely it. The fact that our deficit is now well over $16 Trillion makes me a little antsy to say the least. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are making the claim that they will bring the deficit under control. I believe them. I have read part of Ryan’s budget, and it appears to be the most fiscally disciplined plan I have seen in a long while. So why am I complaining? Like I said earlier, I’m just not excited.

”

Romney has done very little to make undecided voters look at topics like balanced budgets. Instead he is constantly having to explain flops and gaffes like his recent “47 percent” video. At the conclusion of the debate Wednesday, the general consensus is that Romney bested his opponent. Romney was on point the entire night. He had an answer for every challenge. He even had a couple zingers. If you watched on CNN, you saw that the audience positive and negative tracker was in support of Romney for the majority of the night. In a recent CBS report covering the debate, in discussing the subject of the government’s role in education, President Obama claimed he has provided assistance to millions of students and kept low interest rates on student loans, to which Mitt Romney responds, “Mr. President, you’re entitled as the president to your own airplane and to your own house, but not to your own facts.” President Obama, on the other hand, was tragically out of practice when it came to the art of the debate. He stumbled over his words, and he was irritated at several points. As much as anything, he was not used to being addressed in such a challenging and aggressive way. In one of his more snippy moments, Mr. Obama berated the elderly moderator saying, “I had five seconds left before you interrupted me.” Mr. Romney is far from a George Washington, a Teddy Roosevelt or a Bill Clinton. He is hardly a legendary leader. He has no great sense of gusto. I support him, but only begrudgingly. If he is the best America can produce, America has nothing to be excited about. The real loser in this boring and lifeless excuse of a debate was the American people.

distractions 14

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Student Health u d o k u

Picture of the week

Thanks to John Sibley for this meme of the microphone mishap. For Student Health appointments, please call 460-7151. For Counseling and Testing, please call 460-7051.

VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012

Write for The Vanguard. Email editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com with writing samples. Slots available in all sections. The giraffe is irrelevant.

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VOL. 51, NO. 11 / OCT. 8, 2012