11.14 Vanguard

vanguard

the

nov. 14, 2011

Clery Act brings up relevant issues

Special Edition: Sexual assault investigative report pg 10-13 vol. 49, no. 16

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

USA Sports>>

by Cassie fambro Editor in Chief

Recently, the Clery Act unveiled that USA has reported 18 sexual assaults in the past six years, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The Clery Act findings covers 20052010 and reports that six of those “forcible sexual assaults” happened in 2010.

Chief Aull told the Press-Register that sexual assault numbers are high because USAPD emphasizes reporting such crimes.

USA’s official statement totes a “strong sexual assault victim’s advocacy and counseling program.”

Dr. Robert Hanks, associate director of the Counseling and Testing Center for USA, told The Vanguard that they have many resources available to students as well as victims.

“The Counseling and Testing Center is a free service to USA students. It’s safe, secure and confidential. We offer psychological as well as psychiatric services to students and have a specialized counselor for sexual assault victims.”

Psychological and psychiatric counsultations are provided by licensed counselors at no cost to students and can be reached by calling 460-7051.

USA psychology graduate and Rape Crisis Center volunteer Caitlin Wolford says that it’s important to remember that not all victims report the crime.

“College campuses create a dangerous environment for sexual assault. Not every victim discloses to the police, a counselor or advocate,” Wolford said.

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network reports that 60 percent of assaults are not reported to police.

As for how rape is viewed by society, Wolford says it’s a difficult situation.

“Our society’s tendency to vicitm-blame is one of the most difficult battles for survivors and advocates.

“A majority of our society has trouble realizing it’s the perpetrator’s decision to assault the victim, not the victim’s decision to be assaultled,” Wolford said.

see Special section, page 10

The University of South Alabama football team is directly affected by the new regulations put forth by the NCAA.

Hanne

New NCAA regulations ‘good’ for USA by patrick herring Staff Reporter In light of numerous serious allegations of pay-for-play schemes and other major recruiting violations in recent seasons, the NCAA’s Division-I board of directors acted swiftly in passing new regulations regarding student athletes. The most notable and controversial of which is a reform that gives conferences the option of adding up to $2,000 to athletic scholarships for full cost of attendance.

Student athletes are often required to dedicate the majority of their time to their respective sport. Between classes, practices, games and travel time, student athletes aren’t left with enough time to hold a steady job. This becomes a problem when

find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”

/

estimates show students on full scholarships still have to pay around $3,000 to $4,000 out of pocket in various costs. The stipends are meant to alleviate these costs.

USA quarterback CJ Bennett likes the new regulations.

“Playing a college sport is a full-time job; we aren’t left with much free time, so we can’t get real jobs. The extra money will help cover our cost of living,” Bennett said.

An underlying factor in the distribution of these funds is that the conferences have a say in whether or not the schools will be able to approve the stipends.

According to USA Athletic Director Joel Erdmann, the Sun Belt Conference (USA’s conference affiliation) embraces the legislation, but they aren’t mandating imple-

check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

see NCAA, page 4

/

Hanne

Making plays: should it pay? NCAA has its say on what athletes deserve.

in this issue (pg 7): Life (pg 15): Opinion / (pg 17): Sports

2

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

page three

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

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

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

distribution distribution manager Johnny Davis

advertising advertising manager Wesley Jackson graphic designer Brittany Hawkins Assistant Mohammad Al-Zarrah

management

adviser James 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 surrounding areas.

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

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

All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity.

Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer.

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

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

The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer.

The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each.

Police blotter 11/3 Unlawful Breaking and Entering

Special thanks to USAPD

in a grey GMC Yukon at approximately 1:10 a.m.

A vehicle was reported as broken into at approximately 11:06

11/7 Minor in Possession of Alcohol

a.m. An Apple MacBook comput-

A minor was found in posses-

er was reported as missing from

sion of alcohol near Stokes Hall

the vehicle.

at approximately 4:33 p.m.

11/4 Burglary of Auto A vehicle was reported as broken into at approximately 11:49

11/7 Unlawful Breaking and Entering

broken into at approximately

was reported after the suspect

4:33 p.m. Prescription medicine,

unsuccessfully attempted to re-

bank cards and a flash light

move the vehicle’s radio.

were reported as missing from

11/6 Building Fire A Delta 3 building caught fire at approximately 2:20 p.m. when lit incense was left burning for a prolonged period of time.

weather forecast >> November 14 - Nov. 20

We will start off the school week with showers and thunderstorms. Highs on Monday will be in the mid 70s with lows near 67°.

On Tuesday, expect more thunderstorms with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 50s.

The cold front will stall out and fade away over the area on Wednesday and Thursday, so I’m including a small chance thunderstorms on both days with partly cloudy skies and highs in the low 70s. Overnight lows in the mid 40s. Friday and the weekend looks beautiful with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s and nighttime lows in the 50s.

Patrick Bigbie | Student Contributor Chief Meteorologist | WKRC4-DT, Gamma 9 Weather

mon

76 67

tue

79 53

wed

74 45

thu

71 46

fri

72 50

sat

73 55

sun

74 58

A vehicle was reported as

a.m. Damage to the dashboard

the vehicle.

11/8 Theft of Property (Second Degree) A mesh banner was reported as stolen from the Mitchell Cen-

11/6 Attempting to Elude Police ter parking lot at approximately Officer

4:04 p.m.

Three non-students were involved in a police chase when they attempted to outrun USAPD

Follow The University of South Alabama Police Department on Facebook!

3

for the latest on your forecast, severe weather updates, and what’s going on in the tropics, find us on Facebook

search “StormTeam4Gamma9Wx”

correction In our Oct. 31 issue, the author implied that Campus Quarters would not charge students when the school year is not in session. This is not true. Please contact Campus Quarters for more information at cworner@NextCDP.com.

you can follow us on Twitter, too

search “stormteam4g9wx” and find Patrick on Twitter

search “metwxpatrick”

4

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

NCAA regulations alterations explained NCAA, from page 1 mentation. The choice to implement the stipends in the Sun Belt Conference is left with the schools themselves.

Erdmann is also a proponent of the new stipends.

“The value of athletic scholarships hasn’t changed in decades, while the cost of living has gone up significantly,” Erdmann said. “The adjustment is appropriate and well-deserved.”

One facet of the new regulation that has caused dissention between conferences is that schools must pay the cost of additional scholarship funding.

This will not be a problem for schools with abundant scholarship funds, but smaller schools may find this new regulation to be a disadvantage.

They worry this will widen the talent gap between the so-called power conferences and the smaller conferences. Another one of the regulations deals with the raising of academic standards for student athletes.

The NCAA uses a measuring stick

called the academic progress rating, or APR. This APR takes into account retention and eligibility, which research identifies as the best indicators of graduation.

The APR is a collective number for the whole team in any given sport.

Currently the required APR for schools to compete in the post-season is 900. The new regulation will increase that number to 930 by 2015.

By this standard, last year’s Division-I men’s basketball champion, the University of Connecticut, wouldn’t have qualified for the NCAA tournament with an APR of just 893.

USA’s men’s basketball team posted a score of 917 in the 2009-2010 season; but with the new standards, that still wouldn’t make the cut.USA Director of Compliance and Student Services Daniel McCarthy says this number is on the rise.

“This new regulation won’t cause us to have to change what we’re doing,” McCarthy said. “We’ve already begun taking the necessary steps to increase our graduation

rate.”

The APRs for every sport at every school are available for viewing on NCAA.org.

Another regulation that was passed focuses solely on basketball. Coaches will now be allowed to send unlimited text messages and phone calls to prospective recruits.

They can also offer recruits paid visits beginning in their junior year. During these visits, coaches will also now be allowed to conduct on-court evaluations.

The evaluation period for coaches to look at high school athletes also changes with the new regulations.

Before, coaches had two 10-day periods in July. That number has been reduced to three four-day periods in July while adding two weekends in April.

Men’s basketball coach Ronnie Arrow likes these new regulations and believes they level the playing field between all of the coaches.

“Obviously coaches that were violating the two calls per day rule had a decided ad-

vantage,” Arrow said.

“Now that there are no limits on the texts and calls, I believe it puts all coaches on an even plane.”

He also likes the extra evaluation days in April.

“Any opportunity to see an athlete more and build a stronger relationship with that athlete is a good thing,” Arrow said.

Want more USA Sports?

Follow USAVGSports on Twitter for play-by-play action.

“Like” USA Vanguard Sports on Facebook

5

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

Jags news in brief >> Initiative 26 failed in MS It was a hard fought battle, and in the end, Initiative 26, the so-called ‘Personhood Amendment,’ failed at the polls with a 58 percent defeat. It is a testament, opponent Stan Flint says, of voters wanting government out of their personal lives.

“I think Mississippians made a serious and deliberate choice about this bad, dangerous amendment,” said Flint.

The amendment would have banned abortions in Mississippi by altering the state constitution to define the term “person” as beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent there of. Its language, opponents felt, was too open ended.

Courtesy of WLBT In Alabama news: Senator Phil Williams is going to propose the same initiative.

It won’t be long before Alabama legislators are talking about the issue.

The regular session starts in February.

Alabama law currently bans abortions after 20 weeks into pregnancy.

Courtesy of WKRG

Campus power outage The University will be performing Electrical Substation Upgrades in conjunction with the Annual Electrical Power Outage in December of this year. This year the Annual Electrical Power Outage will include several power outages from 4-hour to 12-hour durations, during the time period beginning Dec. 27, 2011, at 6 a.m. until Dec. 29, at 6 p.m.

Textile fire exclusive

by Patrick Bigbie Contributing Reporter

Courtesy of Angela Smith

Gardening expert visits art program Mississippi Public Broadcasting gardening expert and author Felder Rushing visited the University of South Alabama campus recently to deliver a public lecture at the USA Main Library Auditorium.

His latest book is titled, Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and All Seasons.

Courtesy of Press Relations

Letter to The Editor Academic calendar confusion: Clearing the air

Hello, The Vanguard.

I’ve heard several people say that morning classes will be held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 23).

According to the academic calendar at southalabama.edu, that day is a half day for faculty, staff, and administration, but not students.

I’m not sure if people are confused by that or if something has changed and classes will indeed be held that morning.

Can you clear up the confusion? Thanks.

It is indeed a half day for faculty, staff, and administration. Students are out Wednesday.

Thanksgiving Holidays for Students (Includes weekend classes) From the academic calendar: November 23-27 Wednesday - Sunday Thanksgiving Holidays begin at noon on Wednesday for faculty, staff, and administration November 23-25 Wednesday – Friday The last day of classes is Dec. 8, and you can find your exam schedule by going to www.southalabama.edu and using the drop down menu to locate “Final Exam Schedule. Final grades are due by Dec. 19.

Bigbie/ Contributing reporter

The Vanguard’s contributing reporter Patrick Bigbie was in Georgia for the Swift Textile Mill fire that took place November 6.

Columbus, Ga.- On Saturday night, Nov. 6, a big piece of history went up in flames in Columbus, Ga. The Swift Textile Mill was one of Columbus’ last historic mills.

Built in 1883, it was the city’s first steam-powered textile plant.

On Saturday around 6 p.m., all that history went up in a thick black cloud of smoke that could be seen well over 20 miles away.

Columbus Fire & EMS responded to the scene with over 50 firefighters and 12 units.

Knowing they couldn’t save the building, they took a defensive strategy to protect surrounding business and locomotives in the adjacent rail yard.

An additional platform unit from Phenix City (Alabama) Fire-Rescue was called in to assist. Firefighters battled the large inferno that sent flames over 40 feet into the air for 40 minutes before retreating away for fears the building would collapse.

Five minutes later, walls surrounding the mill started to collapse onto 6th Avenue as well as the Norfolk Southern Railway behind the structure.

Pressurized gas cylinders being stored in the mill exploded when flames reached them, sending embers miles into the air.

Columbus Police closed most roads in midtown after onlookers clogged the roads, hampering re-

sponding firefighters.

The fire was contained around 10:30 p.m., but the building was a complete loss.

Firefighters remained on scene for several days putting out hotspots.

Norfolk Southern has closed the rail yard and diverted trains around the city until the rest of the walls can be brought down.

Sixth Avenue remains closed as well due to the unstable walls.

Columbus Fire and EMS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating the fire.

At this time, they do have a person of interest that they want to question. This is the third historic mill in six years to burn to the ground in Columbus.

6

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com

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

Like us on Facebook: You’re there anyway!

The Vanguard: USA’s Student Newspaper

7

jaglife

Bailey Hammond, jagLife Editor life.editor@usavanguard.com vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

‘Be Money Smart’ timothy borland Contributing Writer

College students have a shadow and a threat growing in their minds the closer graduation approaches: debt.

The loans, credit cards, car payments and lease agreements pile ever higher as students wonder whether the job they are training for will be available when they graduate.

“It is easy for students to forget about student loan debt because they aren’t required to make payments while in school. However, as college tuition and the average student loan debt increases, it is becoming more important that students start managing their student loan debt while still in school,” said Emily K. Johnston, director of the USA Office of Financial Aid. Students can continuously monitor their borrowing amounts and loan servicers and track their future monthly payments by accessing the National Student Loan Database at nslds.ed.gov.

The USA Office of Financial Aid encourages students to access this database regularly during their academic careers, and the link can be found under General Financial Aid on the PAWS homepage.

There is also valuable information about managing student loan repayment at studentloans.gov.

Students who have already damaged their credit scores or want to know more about credit policies need look no further than the USA library. The Government Documents section located on the second floor has a display up for the next month entitled “Be Money Smart.”

This display contains free government issued pamphlets to help American citizens keep debt under control. These informational guides will explain step by step how to improve your credit score and consolidate your debt.

Free public resources are invaluable tools for students. Complex contracts or companies with a vested interest can easily mislead young inexperienced adults.

By comparison, the documents in the current display are trustworthy guides printed by the United States Federal Reserve.

“Right now the economic times are so dire, and students are in need of so much help financially. Everybody needs to learn how to manage their money,” Paula Web, assistant librarian of government documents at USA University Library, said.

kalyn mcclellan / contributing writer

The lost credits on transcripts from colleges, as well as other paperwork and artifacts, add up quickly when a student wants to remain with a family member in the military who has been transferred. It’s a costly problem for the modern family to face.

Frustration on the home front

While our men and women in the armed forces are defending our freedom to pursue our dreams-like a college education--dependents face issues with the credit system. kalyn mcclellan Contributing Writer By the time I graduate, I will have credits from four different colleges listed on my transcript, but not because I chose to jump from college to college just for fun.

I’m a military spouse, and I face what many other military spouses face: disruption of education due to military transfers.

Since military members are transferred frequently, there is rarely an opportunity to stay in one location long enough to obtain a four-year degree.

Each time a military spouse begins a college program, he or she has the feeling of “this is it,” hoping this is going to finally be the year that degree is achieved.

But just as an attachment to a school grows, so does the anxi-

ety that this may not be the last stop on the road to education.

And while there are many quality online degree programs, they do not offer the “college experience” that many students want to have.

The biggest frustration a military spouse faces is transfer credit issues. Degree requirements vary from state to state, and many times credits are lost when transferring to a different school.

This isn’t a problem for the military member. Their credits are universally accepted because of their service obligations.

A spouse, however, is not considered “obligated” to transfer see spouse, page 10

8

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

‘Honk!’ if you like musicals bailey hammond JagLife Editor This may not be Broadway, but that fact didn’t stop the cast of Theatre USA from putting on a great performance of “Honk!” at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening.

The musical featured a large cast, with major and minor characters bursting into song and singing the audience through the action of the play.

Despite the cheeriness of the costumes and most of the songs, it is predominately a play with the serious matter of bullying at the center.

Ugly is the social pariah of his family, and the entire farmyard makes fun of him.

It’s the classic ugly duckling story everyone hears about in childhood.

The play itself is often humorous and that acts as a balance for the shocking rejection Ugly faces so early in his life.

The only character who cares about Ugly in the beginning is his mother, Ida, and even she admits that he’s “different,” although to her, “different” does not always mean bad.

Through the play and the songs accompanying the characters’ developments, the audience is able to see how bullying affects children, and how it can be overcome if only we try.

Of course, in the end Ugly is revealed as a swan in all his beautiful glory, and everyone who called him ugly changed their tunes.

In real life, we know that kind of thing can happen, but it’s harder to see past the current bullying situation and into the happier future, so it can seem to those who suffer at the hands of bullies like their day in the sun will never come.

“Honk!” is about more than just bullying though; there is another message, one about forgiveness.

Ugly shows us that forgiving those who deride us is part of being a beautiful person on the inside, no matter how we look externally.

Director and costume designer Rebecca Britton chose to have the characters look more human than animal, and that is part of the reason that the play has such an impact on an audience.

The veil separating the animal from man is nearly transparent, and at times it feels almost too close for comfort when Ugly is being heckled and picked on by the other “fowl.”

However, we’re always reminded of the aesthetic separation when they begin to “quack,” “gobble” and “honk!”

Ugly is played by Stephen Dunham,

weekly lowdown mon > nov 14 HONK! a musical

9:30 a.m. at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. Ticket Special: Bring a child and pay $5 for your ticket and the child’s ticket.

Reg. Prices: Adult $17, Seniors/USA Faculty $14, Students $12 USA Box Office at 460 - 6306 to reserve.

“The story of the ugly duckling, confronting the issue of bullying in a child-friendly musical form.”

tue > nov 15 USA Women’s Basketball vs Southern

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

“Honk!” draws young and old alike to enjoy the musical fun and witnes the transformation of the ugly duckling into a lovely swan.

Special Event: “Early Maritime History of the Gulf of Mexico” by Tony Zodrow, Executive Director of GulfQuest

The innuendo is fairly obvious and amusing to those audience members who can actually get the jokes, but it’s the presence of those raised-brow moments that keeps “Honk!” from being a children’s play in totality.

Yet, in a society flooded with sex, violence and drugs in the media, it’s hard to find anything--even children’s plays and films--that are completely devoid of such references.

Therefore, the fact that “Honk!” has minor references to the “birds and the bees” and some risque dancing between two cats is just further evidence of the current status of society.

And that’s OK. The play doesn’t go overboard in its use of such humor, so it’s not anything to cluck at. (No pun intended.)

“Honk!” will have performances for local school children this week, and also from Nov. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be bought at the USA Box Office by calling 460-6306. Prices vary.

“Honk!” is the last production for this semester, but in the Spring, USA Theatre will be back to perform “The Seagull” by Anton Checkov and Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”

Rebecca Britton, the director, summed the play up the best in her note to the audience in the playbill: “This show is a great moral lesson with unforgettable characters.”

7 p.m. at Delchamps Archaeology Building, South Drive (next to chemistry bldg).

“Come hear about the early explorers who charted, conquered and, in some cases, attempted to settle the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico.”

who does a fantastic job with embodying the innocence and tenderness of youth and especially in his solos does he shine with that light.

He appears to fully embrace the part, and I’m not ashamed to say when he sang “Now I’ve Seen You,” I almost started crying.

It was just so honest and contrasted well with the harshness of his situation.

Opposite Ugly is The Cat, played by Christopher P. Hill, who acts as a foil for Ugly’s journey and brings a deliciously evil, comic air to the stage.

Hill performed wonderfully, throwing himself into the posture of The Cat’s position and his appearances on stage meant something dramatic was going to happen.

Also bringing the funny to the play is Drake, played by Ben Jacobs, the reluctant father-figure whose philandering ways cause Ida, played by Marisa Jones, to fret.

Jacobs and Jones make the perfect mallard pair, with Jacobs preening for the audience in true comic fashion and Jones showing that motherly instinct is not limited to only your own species.

With 20 musical numbers, “Honk!” will capture not only the imagination but the hearts of those who open themselves up to the magic of love, forgiveness, friendship and, of course, song.

Although the setting and presentation is geared towards children, there are instances of “adult humor,” so don’t be shocked when the poultry and waterfowl talk about mating season and looking sexy.

wed > nov 16 Opening Night: USA Men’s Basketball vs University of Mobile

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

sat > nov 19 Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights “The Young and the Free Tour” w/ The Happen-Ins

8 p.m. Soul Kitchen, tickets $9.21.

sun > nov 20 Mobile International Festival presents “Homecoming” Family Day

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets: $10 (adults), $8 (seniors), $5 (7-15 years), 6 and under FREE. “Enjoy the adventure of first-hand experience of varied cultures!”

Want your event featured?

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

Include “Weekly Lowdown” in the subject line. E-mails must be received at least 7 days before the event.

9

SPOUSE cont. from page 8 due to military orders, therefore, college transfer is seen as voluntary.

Dr. Richard Hillyer, undergraduate coordinator for the English department, has witnessed the struggles of a military spouse.

“Their journey to graduation is torturous and definitely not convenient,” Hillyer said.

While the registrar’s office does have some flexibility in credit transfers, “there are many military families in this area, so there should be more provisions, counseling, and options for spouses who want to attend college,” Hillyer said.

Not only do military spouses face the challenge of college transfers, children of military members face this same struggle.

However, they have a choice of whether or not to move once enrolled in college, a choice that spouses do not have.

Senior English major Valerie DePalma, whose father is in the U.S. Navy, would not move with her parents if the decision arose.

“I would stay here and finish because I am almost done. When I was younger I didn’t have a choice, and attended four different elementary schools,” DePalma said.

There is support for military spouses who wish to go to college.

MilitaryOneSource.com offers education counseling, a list of accredited colleges and universities as well as assistance with college applications, scholarships and financial aid.

Another resource for education guidance, study tips, and tutoring is military. com/education. Both websites are free resources for military families.

For social support, spouses can go to militarysos.com, a website for spouses to communicate and offer encouragement.

This site also has a forum in which spouses can help each other with homework.

While it can seem impossible to finish college because of so many military transfers, hang in there.

Yes, you will lose credits. Yes, you will get very frustrated. But with assistance from an advisor, the registrar and the online resources available, military spouses can achieve education goals and finally earn a college degree.

Visit thevanguardonline. com!

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

Jesmyn Ward revisited in depth bailey Hammond JagLife Editor Last week we introduced Jesmyn Ward, National Book Award finalist, and her novel, “Salvage the Bones.”

She will be in New York this week, where she will read an exerpt from the book and find out, along with other authors, if her book has won that coveted title.

What follows is further discussion about Ward’s experiences writing and with the difficulties both within the novel and surrounding it.

We pick up with talk of the cenral characters of the novel.

VG: The family unit itself is an interesting one. You have the main character, Esch, two older brothers and a younger brother, and then the father, who’s kind of in and out, and no mother. In a way, it seems like the mother is the storm.

Ward: Yeah, that’s one of the central concerns of the novel, I think. How this young woman, who’s grown up in a world of men, is coming to an understanding of what it means to be a mother, like what motherhood is. Or what it means to be a female presence, maybe. It’s interesting how she has to go about figuring that out, because she is so isolated. Her family is so isolated. There are so many men where she is and no women to inform her experience. In a way, her brother’s dog, because she’s basically the only other female presence, she begins to inform the character’s understanding of what it means to be a woman.

VG: The pit bull?

Ward: Yes. The dog informs what she understands of being a woman and motherhood, and the memory of her mother, like who her mother was informs that, and the storm informs that as well. What she reads also informs her ideas, because she read Greek mythology throughout the book, with all those fabulous Greek figures. Tragic mothers, lovers, all of those things affect her understanding.

VG: That’s a whole different layer, no wonder it made it to the National Book Awards.

Ward: [Laughs.]

VG: Have you been getting a lot of people, like me, bugging you? I mean, there are only four other authors in the country right now with the same title as finalist for fiction.

Ward: Yes. [Laughs.] And it’s funny because, I find myself answering and being asked the same questions, and I don’t have my answers memorized, but I still find myself answering those questions with the same answers. I have had a lot of people contacting me. Although I think—I don’t

know. I think of myself as something of an underdog, which is appropriate, since there are dogs figured prominently in the book. Because I don’t think it is as busy for me as for some of the other fiJesmyn Ward nalists, who are not from the South.

VG: There are also a lot of other great Southern writers who were National Book Award finalists and winners—William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor for instance—so you are part of a great literary tradition.

Ward: Yeah, no pressure. [Laughs.]

VG: Who knows, we may be reading your books in a Southern literature course in a few years. Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Ward: I did not know. I loved reading when I was younger, but I didn’t begin writing until I was around 12. And then I was so in awe of what writers could do, because I loved reading so much that I didn’t think I could do what other writers did in the books I loved.

VG: How did it happen then?

Ward: I took this one-on-one tutorial class with a poet my last year at Stanford, and I asked her, like at the beginning of the course. Because even though I didn’t think that I had it in me, like I didn’t think that I was capable of being a writer, a part of me still wanted it. So I took it, and the first couple days, I asked her, “Do you think I could be a writer? Do you think that I would have the talent to do so?” Because if she had told me no, I would have quit. [pause] Sometimes you need someone to give you that permission, you know?

There are certain types of people, like myself, who, because I always—especially coming from a smaller, poorer, rural town in Mississippi and going to a college like Stanford—I just already felt like I didn’t belong, like I didn’t have the education that I needed in order to prosper there.

So, I needed someone to tell me, “Yes, you can.” And that’s what she told me; she told me that she thought that I could do it. So she basically gave me permission.

VG: Wow. Ward: I resisted it. I majored in English, I took all of the lit classes, but part of me knew that was what I wanted to do. I was just resisting it. It’s not an easy profession. You face a lot of rejection. People who really want this, they really want it and they want it as much as I do. Sometimes you just get lucky and all those years of hard work pay off. It’s like you hear fifty million no’s and get that one yes. It

can seem like the whole system is set up to weed you out. I just had to get to a point where I didn’t care about that. I had to be stubborn enough not to take no as a final answer.

VG: That’s so true. My definition of a writer is someone who’s just really stubborn. And I know I just described myself right then. Just getting an agent is an ordeal. Right?

Ward: [Laughs] Yeah. Then, even when you get an agent, you have the whole finding a publisher willing to buy your book and print it thing. And then there are the reviewers who review your book. Some will like it and some will definitely not.

VG: Shark tank.

Ward: Basically.

VG: Were there any things that you didn’t know about being an author?

Ward: I think that every time I write a book, it surprises me that I’ve written one.

Basically what happens when you’re writing a book is just a gradual accretion of work, you sitting down at a computer for so many hours a day for a year and half, and then you look up and you have an entire book. You have something and it is something. When you see it as a completed work, even a first draft, it’s always a shock, because you can never imagined sitting down in one long session doing this. And then I look back and realize it’s taken me a year and some change to create, and then you have revising for yourself and also the publishing company. That’s another something I guess I didn’t know. You really learn how important revision is an author. You go through tons and tons and tons of drafts before something is ready for submission.

VG: Oh, the revisions. I know what that process is like. I look back at old issues and see a stray apostrophe and die a little inside. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the students here at South?

Ward: What would I like to say? Just that the students I’ve had so far seem intellectually curious and eager to, you know, to read and to learn and to produce new material. That’s really exciting for any instructor or workshop leader or whatever I am. So far I’m really enjoying my time here. I’m enjoying getting to know and encounter the students’ work.

A ginormous thanks goes to Jesmyn Ward for being willing to be interviewed and also a congratulations for her position as finalist for the National Book Award.

She’ll be in our thoughts as Nov. 16 approaches and the judges make their decision. Whatever the outcome, it’s a great honor to have her as a part of our community.

SPECIAL REPORT

A closer look at sexual assault Series hopes to give voice to the voiceless

over the course of any year.

By Brett Willilams To put the preceding statistic in local There isn’t really any good way to start terms, the University of South Alabama this. lists the current student total at 15,007.

The subject matter discussed in the According to Collegetoolkit.com, the following articles isn’t the sort that female to male ratio of our student body people tend to enjoy reveling in. Rape in 2008 was 47 percent female. and sexual assault are not easy topics.

That means roughly 700 female Even the most stoic of those among us students at the University of South is made uncomfortable when pressed Alabama likely would be sexually with the issue. The behaviors represent assaulted over the course of one college humanity at its worst; a primitive mix year. Of that number, about half will of base instinct and blatant, selfish not be documented and even fewer will disregard towards fellow humans. To result in charges research and study the against attackers.

A possible 10 percent of an issue, let alone talk about it, sends the inner-self entire female student body That’s a lowball estimate. The lack of into a long and dark could be subjected to some concrete information spiral of silence and means the number form of sexual assault over shame. of undocumented According to a report by the course of any year. assaults could be the National Institute of much, much higher Justice from December than what is thought.

2005, 5 percent of all female college The reason that number could be much students will most likely report being higher comes from another startling sexually assaulted over the course of a fact reported in a National Institute of year. To some that might seem lower Justice study that said 80 percent to 90 than expected, perhaps even proof that percent of all reported sexual assaults progress is already being made, but are between two people who know each factor in the estimated 5 percent that other. is believed to go unreported and the So why aren’t more victims speaking picture abruptly changes to a much out? darker scene. A possible 10 percent of Perhaps it’s the way schools handle an entire female student body could be sexual assaults. According to the subjected to some form of sexual assault

national study, there are a number of factors that keep victims from reporting their crimes. Maybe the school has a “no tolerance” policy in regards to drugs and alcohol and the victim was participating in the recreational use of a prohibited substance, or even worse, drugged without any knowledge. Does the victim risk getting kicked out of school over reporting her assault?

Or perhaps it’s just the stigma of being outed as a victim of a crime that already seems to invoke such a sense of shame.

Even without the post-trauma stress, being forced to provide evidence to prove a crime might make the victim feel helpless enough to not even bother.

But that’s exactly why this must have a start.

And so we present this Vanguard special section on sexual assault in the hope it helps give voice to the voiceless. The best form of prevention is awareness, so this is an attempt to make some light in dark places.

We hope it will inform students, facuty and staff that it is an issue, and there are resources available.

Because, honestly, if it’s no longer an issue people feel uncomfortable talking about, then it’ll be much easier to educate potential attackers and victims and perhaps prevent future assaults.

Numbers too low compared to national trends?

Staff Report Last year, the Center for Public Integrity reported that students accused of sexual offenses on college campuses largely get away with them with little or no punishment. Consequently, the center’s report concludes, neither victims nor their assailants were given justice. A person who worked with USA’s disciplinary committee says he doesn’t think the committee or the university is shirking its duty.

Troy Shephard, former chief justice of USA’s University Disciplinary Committee (UDC), said he has little reason to believe that the UDC is not doing its job when dealing with sexual assault cases.

“The student conduct policy in the Lowdown is easy to follow to the letter.

It is written so well, that, hypothetically speaking, it would be very hard to veer away from the right course of action,” Shephard explained.

However, like many universities and colleges across the country, the University of South Alabama consistently reports extremely low numbers of sexual assaults or rapes compared to the number that could be expected to occur given national statistics and much lower than anecdotal reports from victims’ advocates and emergency room nurses.

All universities are required to report crimes to the federal government. This is called a Clery report. USA reported in 2009 that only two rapes occurred on campus.

National statistics suggest that number is unrealistic. National statistics indicate that one-in-five college women will experience

of South Alabama Police Department, sexual assault by the time she graduates sexual assaults and rapes that occur in the in four years. With an enrollment of over privately owned The Grove are counted as 15,000 students, half of whom are women, on-campus crimes. national averages, then, would suggest the number of rapes more realistically is about Sexual Assault Clearly Defined 375 each year on the USA campus.

In the USA’s student handbook, the Lowdown, the university has clearly Sexual assaults, though, are among defined what it deems as inappropriate. the least reported crimes. According to The Lowdown spends nearly twothe New York University Student Health dozen pages defining terms, laying out Center, “fewer than 5 percent of all a justice system attempted/completed and thoroughly rapes are reported With an enrollment of over explaining what to law enforcement.”

15,000 students, ... national should take place Even taking that into averages, then, would suggest in the event that an account, though, USA the number of rapes more assault occurs. should still be seeing realistically is about 375 each For starters, the 18 or so reported year on the USA campus. difference between rapes, not the five sexual harassment and sexual assault, or so each year that according to the Lowdown, revolve around are officially reported by the USA Police sexual remarks or superficial advances.

Department.

Sexual assault is defined as “forced sexual University officials were unable to intercourse that is perpetrated against the explain why the number of reported will of the victim.” rapes on campus seems unusually small For USA, whenever an assault occurs, compared to what the university could the UDC takes over. Specifically, in the expect to see given national trends. Critics case of a non-consensual sexual conduct interviewed by the Center for Public hearing, two to four faculty members Integrity, though, say the numbers of along with a hearing officer will go through reported rapes are low because of the the evidence and determine whether the way universities report the crime on accused is guilty. their Clery reports. ACritics say there If the accused is found guilty, the UDC are loopholes in the Clery requirements can choose a range of options, from that allow universities to not count sexual issuing a simple reprimand to expelling assaults as campus crimes if they occur the offender, all which is at the discretion in, say, privately owned student housing of the UDC. However, the guilty party can units, according to the Center for Public appeal on the basis of a “violation of due Integrity. process or the rendering of a decision that However, according to the University is in conflict with a University policy.”

This special report about sexual assault at USA was produced by student reporters in CA472, Senior Reporting Seminar, during the Spring 2011 semester, who worked in cooperation with the Vanguard under the direction of Dr. James Aucoin.

Advocate urges victims to seek counseling

By Ryan Franklin Dr. Darlene Dempster says she deals with sexual assault cases just about every day as the University’s point person for its response to a sexual assault on campus.

Sexual assault is an on-going problem on campus, Dempster said. She believes one reason is because many students do not have a clear definition for what sexual assault is. They might wrongly feel that they did no harm even as they are being accused of sexual assault, she said.

Dempster is an advocate for victims on campus. She says she will try and help victims any way she can if they come to her for help. For example, she and the other advocates can talk to a student’s professors if she is having problems in class because of having endured a sexual assault.

Or, if a student who lives on campus doesn’t feel safe in the dorms anymore, victims’ advocates can talk to housing authorities about moving her.

Dempster said many students tend to wrongly blame themselves for an attack, saying they should have been more careful or never should have been drinking so much. She also said that some students who do report a case will go to the campus police and refuse counseling. That’s not a good idea, Dempster insists.

Dempster said assaults could have lasting effects on a victim if she doesn’t get counseling. “My primary mission at the university is to work with the survivors and to help them to get better (emotionally),” Dempster said.

She said when a student keeps what happened to her bottled up, her grades can suffer because she may not be able to concentrate on classes.

A student might have trouble sleeping, and could develop eating disorders. Some who have been sexually assaulted can rely on alcohol or substance abuse. This is a self-destructive choice, Dempster said.

Dempster said she thinks the University does a good job of helping victims, but university officials could do a better job of educating students about sexual assault.

“I am committed to helping students,” Dempster said, “and I am sure the rest of the faculty is also.”

There needs to be some way to educate students about sexual assault so they can understand the seriousness of the issue, Dempster said.

If assaulted, a student should let a faculty member or the police know what has happened as soon as possible. Soon after that, the student should speak with the campus’ victims’ advocate office, according to Dempster.

SPECIAL REPORT

BY THE NUMBERS . . .

Some students say USA should do more to help An opinion survey of students at USA last spring found that students understand what sexual assault and sexual harassment is, but aren’t particularly sure about university policies regarding how sexual assault accusations are handled.

More than 85 percent reported they understand what constitutes sexual harassment and sexual assault, and more than 90 percent reported they understand what constitutes rape.

Nevertheless, nearly 50 percent of respondents said they didn’t know whether the University is doing all it could to protect students from sexual assault and sexual harassment. 47 percent said they didn’t know what the University’s policy was for handling accusations of sexual misconduct.

12 percent (57) reported they knew someone who had been sexually assaulted while a student at USA. Nine percent said they knew of a student who has been sexually harassed by a faculty member, and 22 percent said they know a student who has been sexually harassed by another student.

More females than males (nearly 75% to 25%) responded to the survey, which received 477 responses.

Demographics

Gender

Male Female 25.4% 73.7% Freshman 14.1% Sophomore 18.4% Junior 28.0% Senior 21.4% Graduate Student 16.5%

N=477 Numbers do not total to 100% because of rounding or “no answer”

Student survey responses by the numbers

SPECIAL REPORT

Most rapes go unreported Up to 25% of college women assaulted

By Dean Harrison The investigation, he added, is also driven by the USA’s annual crime statistics report shows that victim. She is the one who decides whether to pursue nine cases of sexual assault were reported on campus charges and go through criminal and administrative between 2007 and 2009, but police believe many proceedings. more went unreported to authorities.

According to The Lowdown, the victim must be asIndeed, national statistics suggest 20 percent to sured that participation in reporting is voluntary and 25 percent of college age women experience sexual “any and all information” received by University offiassault before they graduate. Given the number of cials will be confidential. There are also various options women students at USA, the campus could expect to from which she can choose her course of action should experience up to 375 sexual assaults a an assault occur. year.

As listed in the Lowdown, she should Victims may be reluctant to report “go to a safe place as soon as possible; try assaults because, according to USA Chief to preserve all physical evidence; contact of Police Zeke Aull, nearly all sexual University police . . . if the assault occurred assaults on college campuses occur beon campus or local police . . . if the assault tween people who know each other and occurred off campus.” usually involve the use of alcohol.

She should also get medical attention, “What pains me the most is that a contact someone she trusts for support, call tremendous number of [rape and sexual the Assault Hotline, talk to a counselor, and assault cases] go unreported,” Aull said. explore all legal options.

“People need to report it.” He said the When an assault is reported, the police department cannot secure funding for dispatcher relays all pertinent information Dean of Students training and education about response to the responding officer, or detective, on Michael Mitchell to and prevention of sexual assaults becall who then recommends that the victim cause the department’s officers “aren’t obtain medical assistance, seek counseling, getting the numbers.” and contact the dean of students.

The reason behind the low crime stat, according to The role of the dean of students, according to MitchAull, is that the majority of forcible sex offenses are ell, is to ensure that the community is protected and reported to the counseling center, not USAPD, which that the person making the complaint is in a safe place. does not have the opportunity to invesAs laid out in the Lowdown, he also oftigate if the victim wishes to keep her fers the victim various services, such as information confidential. “helping to reschedule classes or tests, And if that is the case, “law enforceproviding information to course withdrawment’s hands are tied,” Aull said. “The als, and changing living arrangements, if victim drives the investigation.” requested by the victim, and if such changMichael Mitchell, USA dean of stues are reasonably available.” dents, said there are various reasons why The dean of students may also encoura victim might choose not to report an age the victim to go to the Student Health incident of rape or sexual assault. For Center or the emergency room for medical instance, she could be acquainted with services. the suspect and feel that she is at fault.

Aull said that the University is fortunate Or she might be afraid of the process and to have what is called SANE (Sexual AsChief Zeke”Aull Jr. sault Nurse Examiners) on duty to perform fear that her identity would be revealed.

A number of factors could play into one’s rape kit analyses. decision not to report. Alcohol may be involved and The SANE program helps move the process along as the victim may not have a memory of what happened, quickly as possible for the victim, who otherwise would or not have a clear understanding of what constitutes have to wait hours in an ER to be examined after a sexual assault. sexual assault.

The Lowdown defines sexual assault as “physical In response to whether he believes the University contact of a sensual nature which is against one’s is effective at handling such issues as sexual assault, will or without consent.” Aull, however, has a more Mitchell seemed confident that the answer was yes. straight forward definition.

“We have a system that details our response in cer“Any penetration no matter how slight,” he said. tain areas and venues to a sexual assault,” he said. “We “Rape is rape.” He added that alcohol is involved in prepare fairly well in getting ready for the opportunity the majority of incidents. at dealing with a report.”

“Judgment would be impaired,” he said. “The law’s However, according to a report by Rana Sampson pretty clear that if you are unable to make a decision of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community because of alcohol then you can’t make a decision yea Oriented Policing Services, researchers believe “college or nay in a sexual encounter.” rape prevention programs, including the widely used The Lowdown defines consent as a “freely given ones, are insufficient.” agreement by a competent person . . . not incapaciAddressing the issue of prevention, Aull posed the tated physically or mentally.” question whether you address the issue of sexual asBoth Aull and Mitchell agree that the offender in sault or address the issue of alcohol consumption, most cases of sexual assault is more than likely a per- which he said is a huge contributing factor in most son the victim knows, not a stranger. cases. “Both need to be addressed,” he said, in a pre“We don’t have stranger-related occurrences,” Aull vention campaign against sexual assault. said. “Date rape is more common.” And Mitchell said Aull said USAPD handles prevention and educathe locations where sexual assault is likely to occur tion through resident hall and orientation meetings are residential areas, such as dormitories, fraternity with students. USA also utilizes the Rape Aggression or sorority houses, and apartment complexes—not Defense System, which is a program of realistic selfwooded paths.

“We do everything to protect the victim,” Aull said. defense tactics and techniques for women.

“The victim is paramount; investigation is secondary.”

Experts point to several causes

By James Guess According to several students at the University of South Alabama, there is widespread ignorance about sexual assault among the student body.

“When you ask people in the student body why things are inappropriate, they just don’t know. People just don’t know any better,” said USA student Morgan Glusman.

Sexual assault is so widespread on college campuses most studies estimate that 20 percent to 25 percent of college women will be the victims of either an attempted rape or a completed rape in their college career. Ignorance about how sexual assault is defined by law among college students is one of the main reasons that the crime is so prevalent on college campuses.

Many students, such as Brad Goldman, 20, say that USA students are lacking in knowledge about what the law defines as appropriate sexual behavior.

“I don’t think young men or teenagers in general really have any idea what sexual assault or sexual harassment is,” Goldman said.

“Our age group is more susceptible to succumbing to pressure regarding certain sexual behavior,” said Glusman. “Things like sleeping with an intoxicated person is seen as fine, common, and accepted when people don’t realize that it’s technically rape.”

A study by researcher M.P. Koss revealed that 25 percent of college men admit to having committed sexual assault. Crisisconnection.org reports that 60 percent of men admit the likelihood of raping by force in some circumstances.

The website also reports that 43 percent of men admit to using coercion to have sex. Non-forceful methods of coercion such as plying a woman with drugs or alcohol seem more prevalent among those in fraternities, according to the website.

Society received much of the blame from students for the poor perception of responsible sexual behavior among students.

“I think it’s mainly the society that we are

Sexual assaults on campus are a mixture of ignorance, culture and biology.

Carr elaborated on what she felt lies at in. It downplays stuff like this so people the heart of the issue. don’t think that it is important,” said USA “The way we teach boys and girls to grow student Dan Robinson, 21. up and be men and women. By encourStudents also criticized what they peraging certain behavior in men and then ceive to be negative influences on sexual discouraging or tolerating certain behavattitudes. ior for women we create a dichotomy,” “It’s the pressure that media and everyCarr explained. “Unfortunately one of the one have put on our age group about sex. behaviors that have been taught as beThat everyone is supposed to always want sex,” said USA freshman Alexander Brown, ing acceptable for boys is giving drinks to women because 19.

“I think people know what is you will get laid.”

USA student Cheyright and what is wrong about Students enne Bobo said “a sex. I think when you first come have the biglot of it has to do to college you sometimes don’t gest opportuwith current humor. nity to change the Even ‘Whitest Kids listen to what you know.” skewed percepYou Know’ does rape tion about sexual jokes.” assault.

Bobo also believes that biology plays a “Volunteer at the Rape Crisis Center, role in sexual assault on campus, and she see what’s going on,” Bobo said. “Educate isn’t alone. yourself, make it happen.”

“Hormones. Come on, all of us think Robinson, a current Rape Crisis Center about sex all the time,” she said. “Don’t volunteer, agrees. “I didn’t know anything even pretend it’s not true.” about it or really what constituted rape Dr. Nicole Carr, USA professor of sociolbefore I started volunteering at the Rape ogy, shares Bobo’s opinion.

Crisis Center,” he said. “Before that, things “You get a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds together with many of them having no were blurred.” supervision for the first time; it’s bound to With many students believing that stutake place a little.”

Illustration

dents are uneducated about sexual assault, South Alabama appears to be doing less to educate the student body about the issue.

South Alabama sponsors events to promote awareness about sexual assault such as “Take back the night,” an event that is part of “Violence Awareness and Protection Week,” but events that used to be mandatory for freshman such as “The Dating Game” are no longer provided. In addition, The Sex Team, a USA sex education group has also been disbanded.

Brown, though, believes students already know responsible sexual behavior.

“I think people know what is right and what is wrong about sex. I think when you first come to college you sometimes don’t listen to what you know,” he said.

Carr has a few ideas to reduce the incidences of sexual assault on campus.

“The media, the education system, the military – they are all players,” Carr said.

“If we want to change things in a big way we need to change how children are raised.

We need to treat them the same. Gender norms change is huge. It takes a long time and a lot of people.”

The Dating Game: A USA psychology professor’s perspective

By James Guess A USA psychologist says that media and culture tolerate and encourage irresponsible sexual norms among college-age people.

USA psychology professor Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling criticized dating and other societal norms that have led to the prevalence of sexual assault on campus. But a lack of education about sex is also a problem “There really isn’t any education about sex and appropriate ways of going to that level,” she said. “Children are taught abstinence and to not have sex before

they’re married, so they don’t know and many of them still don’t know.”

The dating mechanics and societal norms of college age people are also flawed, according to Langhinrichsen-Rohling.

“We have crappy norms for sexual behavior and ‘rules’ for how dating should go. Media teaches men to keep trying after a woman says ‘no.’ A woman’s ‘no’ is a challenge,” Langhinrichsen-Rohling said.

“Women are taught to play hard to get because they think that is what guys really want. There is a stereotype that resistance is to be expected.”

According to crisisconnection.org, one in

12 men admit to having committed what is the prevailing definition of rape, yet virtually none of these men identify themselves as rapists.

“There are studies to show that a certain percentage of men misread cues. And if men misread cues all night, they can feel led-on or entitled at that point,” Langinrichsen-Rohling said. “People say that the victim should have known better not to be in that sort of situation. There is a tendency to blame the victim in these cases.

People always look for ways to remove guilt because who really wants to admit to themselves that ‘I’m a rapist.’”

The National Center for Victims of Crime reports that 92 percent of sexual assault victims are female, indicating that sexual assault is a male behavior problem.

“It’s been shown that men can misread other men’s level of comfort about sexual comments and that men can become uncomfortable when sexual comments are made,” Langhinrichsen-Rohling said.

“There is a sense of hyper-masculinity and so no one wants to be seen as the woos.

But men need to be willing to stand-up and call each other out when they say things that encourage disrespectful or illegal behavior towards sex.”

14

vol. 49 no. 16 / nov. 14, 2011

Watch Jag-TV Channel 63 and southalabama.edu/ jagtv

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

JoPa: King to villain

15

opinion

imran mohiuddIn, opinion Editor opinion.editor@usavanguard.com

Our view >> a staff editorial

University needs to keep vigilant cassie fambro Editor-in-Chief I love football. It’s in my blood. I was playing football when I could stand and I didn’t want to play two-hand tackle, either.

I like knock down, drag out football.

There’s so much spirit in the game that nothing else really compares for me.

Millions of people get invested into their team, their school, their players.

Penn State is no different.

Penn State had a king. Joe Paterno was their king. A father figure even.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I believe those who are insulting the students for supporting their idol need to take a step back.

You’re all hypocrites. We’re all human.

Joe Paterno did what he was supposed to and reported to his superior. Should he have called the police? Absolutely. Should he be villified on a national stage? Perhaps.

Should he be the figurehead for this scandal?

Absolutely not.

You know who the face should be? The rapist. Jerry Sandusky’s face is not plastered over every newspaper in this country or on every TV screen.

When I asked random people if they knew what happened, they said yeah, JoPa molested some kids.

No, Paterno was not the rapist. Sandusky was. Would 9 out of 10 Americans be able to identify Sandusky?

Nope. But we can all point out ol’ JoPa. Political commentators, even my own favorite, Jon Stewart, criticized the students for being emotional over the firing of Paterno.

It’s simply the wrong track to take. The students were invested in the legacy that is JoPa. They believed in him and put faith in him. Much like what Stewart pointed out, Catholics had faith in their priests, much like we have faith in our parents.

We all make mistakes. Paterno’s rich legacy will be forever tainted by this, and Penn State will suffer the fallout for a long time.

Even worse is the carnage left behind in the lives of the boys Sandusky raped.

That’s what the story should be about.

The issue of sexual assault must not ever be taken lightly. The University’s website for Title IX certainly needs alteration to reflect that. Under the “where to go for help” webpage, the first listed phone number is University counseling.

Campus police is the fourth listed option. Better yet, the emergency room is dead last, at 11. Before going to the emergency room, it insinuates that one should contact numerous other sources first.

They’re all obligated legally to report it, regardless, but it seems to take the focus away from the crime itself.

This may be an oversight and simply a list that isn’t meant to be taken in order of importance.

It sends the wrong message.

What it says to the objective observer is that we’d rather victims get therapy instead of reporting the incident.

We’ve talked to the University police, and this is certainly not what they say they would like to happen.

In fact, public statements were released when the Clery Act results were picked up by local media that indicated students simply feel comfortable reporting assaults at USA. Without intending to, officials fell into a trap too often seen.

What everyone must adjust themselves to doing is looking through the perspective of the victim.

How would a victim feel reading that sexual assault isn’t really a big deal on campus, and that it’s just reported more than other places?

A victim is going to feel like a statistic. You absolutely cannot dehumanize victims. Rape culture dictates that the victim somehow warranted the rape. We tell women not to get raped instead of telling rapists not to rape.

If it isn’t her clothes, it’s her reputation. When she was out at night, she should have run at another time. If you were here in spring, you remember what we’re referring too.

Editorial Board

Cassie Fambro > Editor in Chief Genny Roman > Associate Editor

March 7, 2011, The Vanguard published an article explaining that a student had recanted her charges of sexual assault.

A University email was sent out telling students that “the incident did not occur, which was consistent with the findings of USAPD’s investigation.”

This caused immediate Facebook outrage. No further explanation given, it left many to speculate if the victim was pressured to recant or if she really had falsified the story. Being as bold as to say “it didn’t happen” on USAPD’s part was striking.

Do we really know it didn’t happen? The victim may have just gotten scared about the litany of proceedings associated with rape charges and the scruitiny of her life to see if she fit the image of the perfect victim.

Most rapes are acquaintance rapes according to RAINN. 15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail. Every two minutes, someone is sexually assaulted. Four of 5 victims are under 30.

Again, look through the perspective of a victim. Going to court, facing the accuser, people finding out. Confronted with the scenario of a long, arduous legal process, it’s no wonder that many would recant to avoid the process.

We have to prevent that. We have to make sure that rape victims know that scrutinizing them unfairly is not okay, and we have to stop doing it. Not a single person on this planet deserves to be raped. It doesn’t matter if the victim is wearing a miniskirt, if she is a prostitute, a drug addict, a celebrity or an honor’s student.

Police need to stand by the victim first and foremost throughout the process so that it’s worth reporting the rape.

Rape culture has to change on the smallest of levels. Dont’ say “rape” when you’re playing a video game or take a test.

Think about it from the victim’s perspective.

USAPD, USA, continue making strides to support victims. Just keep a close eye on what messages you send.

Imran Mohiuddin > Opinion Editor Matt Weaver > Senior Reporter

Bailey Hammond > Life Editor Jayson Curry > Sports Editor

Jag voice >> opinion poll

Are freshman seminars worth the time?

The things you learn in the class really weren’t that relevant to my major, and I didn’t really learn that much stuff, but freshman seminar is a good way for students to learn what’s going on and to get connected in the University.

I really don’t feel like I got much out of the class. I think if each of the sections were a little bit more specialized to what students are studying, then they would be worthwhile. Right now, there really isn’t much substance to the course.

Freshman seminar was one of my favorite classes. I learned things that people don’t normally just come out and tell you about college that for me have been very beneficial. But with any class, you get out of it what you put in.

Connor Favreau Physics Senior

Kevin Jones Undecided Sophomore

Heather Roberson Graphic Design

To find us > search “The Vanguard USA”

16

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

point counterpoint Should college athletes be able to sign endorsement deals?

Editor’s introduction: With college sports being a multi-million dollar industry, many feel that atheletes should get a cut in the industry that centers around them. They believe that endorsement deals will provide the incentive for many athletes to distinguish themselves. Still, others feel that the influence of endorsements should not enter the realm of college sports. The P/CP explains.

Point >>

Endorsements don’t change the game

It’s not hard to say that certain play- fair advantage for certain teams. Instead, ers have a way of attracting crowds. Just endorsement deals would cause players look at Auburn’s football program before to strive to distinguish themselves from those around them and become the leadand after Cam Newton.

Last year, because of Cam Newton’s ers their teams need.

Also, smaller schools leadership, Auburn won their wouldn’t be at a disadvanfirst championship since 1957, tage because of financial and Newton became an icon limitations. Even if college whose influence extended way players were allowed to have beyond football. People even endorsement deals, univerwent as far as to change their sities still wouldn’t be able Facebook profile pictures in to write out salaries to the either support or opposition of players. The distribution the athlete. would be entirely based on Now look at Auburn’s footAj Obiako player performance. In fact, ball team this year. While only if anything, this action would a year ago the Tigers finished the season with 14 wins and zero losses, probably lead some young, talented playthey now have six wins and four losses. ers to join smaller programs where they All the buzz that surrounded Auburn has can more easily shine.

In the end, it’s really not fair that colnow moved to Alabama and LSU. Auburn lege athletes aren’t able to market abiliis no longer the team to beat.

It’s undeniable the effect that star ties. If a science student used their replayers can have on athletic programs, search to develop a patent, he would be and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t entitled to the profits that resulted from be compensated for their work. Players his discovery. Likewise, if an English like Tim Tebow and Cam Newton in foot- student published a successful novel, he ball and Lebron James and Carmelo An- could take any endorsements he wants. thony in basketball have a way of drawing Why should the process be any different casual sport viewers out of their shells, for athletes? and people revolve around these players.

Allowing companies to endorse players like these wouldn’t destroy the sacredness of college sports or create an un-

Counterpoint >> Endorsements corrupt industry It’s no secret that college sports have purity. It is a growing fear that college a huge fandom. I’m sure we all can athletics is getting commercialized. name several people that prefer college This is in direct contrast to their popusports to their respective professional larity, the very reason that people supinstitutions. port college athletics over their comThis is for a multitude of mercialized professional reasons: passion, tradition counterparts. and purity are counted among It is through the great them. Due to their immense glory of amateurism and popularity, corporations have pride in their school that been seeking to capitalize on force passions to run high such an opportunity. Should during their matchups, we allow them? and as result, the games I contend that this answer end up being more entershould be a resounding no. taining watch.

Grant DeFrancisco There are several problems Furthermore, this with the idea that athletes would put schools with should be sponsored. First, should we smaller athletic departments, like ours, allow free advertisement to a company at a vast disadvantage. How could they that the players or the schools may not compete in attracting players? Their expressly support? growth would certainly be stunted if If allowed, this will allow contrac- they were unable to win a contract. tors such as Nike to put their iconic You must also question which sports ‘swoosh’ literally on the backs of the would get the sponsorship. Is it fair to players – and according to a survey all of the school’s other sports teams if conducted at Stanford University, only the football team is getting monmany students, athletes and faculty are ey? against wearing any emblem that does Athletics departments and their acnot belong to the school. tivities are expensive, I’ll admit that.

Why should the athletes themselves However, I think endorsements are not be forced to carry out a contract where the answer, and we should find another they had no choice in the decision- solution to this growing problem. making process?

A big draw to college athletics is its

>>>UC Berkeley protests: An unwarrented display of force It was Wednesday when the video of the UC Berkeley movement leaked out onto the Internet.

The shuttering IMran Mohiuddin camera showed Opinion Editor students linking arms, forming a barrier around the tents of the university’s Sproul Plaza. That was when the police descended, choosing violence as their method for dealing with the peaceful protest. With batons in their hands, officers bludgeoned the activists who chanted, “Stop beating students” and “We are the 99 percent.”

When it was all said and done, 39

people had been arrested, including 32 students and one professor, in a display of power that many have condemned as an egregious and unnecessarily brutal.

Later, in an interview with the San Francisco chronicle, University of California Police Captain Margo Bennett released a statement saying, “The individuals who linked arms and actively resisted, that in itself is an act of violence. Understand that many students may not think that, but linking arms in a human chain when ordered to step aside is not a nonviolent protest.”

Robert J. Birgeneau, chancellor of the university, reiterated the captain’s point in a public message to the Berkeley community that read: “It is unfortunate that some protesters chose to obstruct the police by linking arms and forming a human chain

to prevent the police from gaining access to the tents. This is not non-violent civil disobedience.”

After reading these comments, I was struck by the officials’ claims. They both decided to employ a strange use of circumlocution when crafting their statements, as if a smart use of rhetoric could make their actions any more permissible. The pair suggested that by linking arms and not quietly acquiescing to the administration’s demands, the protesters solicited violent repercussions.

The absurdity and rationale of these statements are what is so alarming. We live in the 21st century. In the last 100 years, we’ve witnessed the change that has resulted from peaceful protests, from the conclusion of British colonization in India, to the end of segregation here at home.

We’ve also learned the tactics employed by those who seek to maintain the status quo.

Mockery. Violence. Contempt. These are the weapons employed by those trying desperately to delegitimize a movement.

These are the forces that threaten to halt growth.

Watching the video of the Berkeley movement, it’s obvious that the group gathered in a peaceful manner. None of them were looking for a fight, and no one expected the police to react in the way they did.

All the group wanted was a venue to express their concerns and to voice their opinions, and there’s no reason why the school—or any organization for that matter—should respond with violence.

17

sports

jayson curry, sports Editor sports.editor@usavanguard.com vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

Men’s basketball tips off 2011 season Jags fall to Mississippi State but gains experience matt weaver Senior Reporter

STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the National Basketball Association still in a heated lockout, college basketball is taking center stage in the Gulf Coast, highlighted by the University of South Alabama men’s basketball squad.

The Jaguars opened up the 2011-12 campaign with an 80-65 thrashing at the hands of Mississippi State Saturday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum.

Judging by Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars are inexperienced at the guard position but may have the talent to succeed come Sun Belt Conference time if the team can gel and form chemistry by Thanksgiving.

Head coach Ronnie Arrow anticipated the guards would struggle and scheduled two NAIA exhibitions before playing three out of four games against Southeastern Conference and ACC basketball programs on the road.

The Jaguars return home on Nov. 16 to play the University of Mobile before road contests against Florida State and Louisiana State University on Nov. 20 and 23, respectively.

“We’re going to have to grow up in a hurry, and that’s why we made the schedule the way we did,” Arrow said. “We still have three or four more games just as tough as Mississippi State before we move on to conference play. I hope out guards will really start to subscribe to what we do during that road trip.”

The Jaguars pounded on NAIA Division-I Gulf Coast Athletic Association’s Spring Hill College and Dillard University, which may act as an indicator of future success for Coach Arrow’s round-ballers.

Last season, the Jaguars opened up the season against Spring Hill but struggled to put the Badgers away, holding just a 37-26 lead at halftime, eventually disposing of them 81-53.

That was the beginning of a tumultuous season that saw South Alabama go 12-16 and just 6-10 in the Sun Belt Conference.

That team was plagued by cliques forming between the players and frequent misunderstandings between them and the coaching staff.

Arrow, now in his 13th season as South Alabama head coach, feels he has the best roster of selfless players since his last NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2007-2008 season. Gone are the controversial Tim Williams and Gary Redus (graduation). Ditto Martino Brock, recently transferred to South Florida. They’ve been replaced by Trey Anderson, Xavier Roberson, Mychal Ammons and Freddie Goldstein.

Only defending Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Augustine Rubit returns to the starting lineup from a year ago.

Rubit is the team’s returning leader in points scored (13.1 ppg), rebounding (11.0 rpg), assists (25), steals (16) and blocks (31).

Arrow has high expectations for what his talented sophomore may eventually become.

“Rubit’s the type of player who can do whatever you ask of him as long has he maintains his confidence,” Arrow said. “He can make threes, he can make jumpers and he can succeed at whatever you ask of him.”

Ammons is one of the most impressive recruits the Jaguars have picked up in recent memory. The Vicksburg, Miss. native was a Rivals 3-star freshman guard/forward and a top 30 player at his position coming out of Vicksburg High School.

Ammons scored 15 points and pulled 9 rebounds in 27 minutes of play against Mississippi State and was called a “Man-Child” by Arrow during Saturday’s post-game press conference.

“I’m learning and getting more comfortable everyday,” Ammons said.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot of new things in this system and I think we can do a lot of special things once we start to feel comfortable in our roles.”

“We’ve asked Mychal to step outside of his comfort zone and he’s playing the post for us which are things he didn’t do in high school,” Arrow said.

“Once he learns everything, you’ve only seen a taste of what he can become.”

The same can be said for many of the pieces surrounding Ammons and Rubit. It’s just a matter of time and repetition.

Once that occurs, South Alabama could take their stage toward the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament.

18

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011

Behind the Arc: USA Lady Jag Lavend_ER_ Bryant Lavender- Big S/O to the vanguard for puttin the original wolfpack in the school paper @lilwaldon_81 @Eazy_E13 and myself hahaha Lavend_ER_ Bryant Lavender- Girls Bball team lookin pretty solid!

LoganKirkland Logan Kirkland- Cool the powers out.. Bout right! #BuzzKill _RusHen_ Rush Hendricks- rest of the week off... Best hump day ever _RusHen_ Rush Hendricks- Just noticed the Mitchell Center has not one but four jumbotrons better than our football field #weaksauce bennett044 Paul Bennett- People say you are what you eat, but that’s funny I don’t remember eating any sexy beasts lately?

Kevin_Michael12 Kevin-Michael Helms- Too much on the mind. I need to relax and chill. In the words of Bob Marley, “Don’t worry be happy...” #listen CJBennett15 cj bennett RT “@ JBlaire17:- @CJBennett15 IT’S ALMOST HORSE SEASON! #SWISHINYOURFACE” just say a time and I’m there JBlaire17 Jacey Chandler- 9th string fball player just said...”You come to class in track clothes like ur on a team or somethin” I AM on a team fool& it aint track DrewPac72 Drew Dearman- Stat of the day: I, drew Dearman, am the Only offensive lineman to gain weight this season.

It’s truly a gift. Id like to thank my teammates J11Jones Jereme L. Jones- South alabama football deep out here at game stop...

J11Jones Jereme L. Jones- You win some you lose some..as long as the outcome is income...

Eazy_E13 Ellis HIll- I ain’t gone lie that Beyoncé go hard! Lol “We like to party!!” #DontJudgeMe UnoDosTrey123 Trey Anderson - @ GetWrightwitit and twitterlessManChild had like 10 combined dunks last night #allthatbounce UnoDosTrey123 Trey Anderson- I hate wearing full sweatsuits, like with the top and bottom...but its too cold today so forget it UnoDosTrey123 Trey Anderson- It makes me feel like I’m wearing a onesie lol

hannah blackburn Sports Reporter The Lady Jags’ basketball season may not have started yet, but for one player, success came early. Senior guard Sarda Peterson was recently named to the preseason third team for the all Sun Belt Conference.

This is the first time in her career that she has been awarded such an accomplishment.

“This is something that I will continue to work hard for,” Peterson said. “When the season is over, I hope to become higher than third team.”

One thing that led her to this accomplishment is her precision behind the arc. She ranks sixth overall at USA courtesy of Bobby McDuffie in three-point shooting with Lady Jag senior guard Sarda Peterson 113.

Last season was a successPeterson played at Dunbar Middle, ful season for Sarda. She was second on the club, as well as 23rd overall where the team made it all the way to the in the Sun-Belt in scoring with an average state championship game only to be defeatof 10.8 points per game. She also knew how ed by two points.

One could say that playing basketball to spread the ball around, finishing the searan in her family. Alongside her father, her son with 56 assists and 20 steals.

It is evident that Peterson has talent sister and brother also had their hand at to make the ball meet the hoop. She led the sport. Unfortunately, injury and sickthe team in scoring 10 times; this was the ness befell the two, so this made Peterson second most on the team, and she also want to be the one to pursue a career in knocked down double figures on 18 differ- playing.

Peterson has an optimistic outlook and ent occasions. This included a career high many goals for this season. of 25 points in a game against Mobile.

“I would like to help make the team betHer seven three-pointers in that game against Mobile tied not only an individual ter; I’ll do anything I can to win games this record but a Mitchell Center record as well. year. I’ll play better defense, score more, Her skill of putting down the three point and be a better leader,” Peterson said. “I shot led her to be named one of the league’s would love to get a championship ring.”

With Siedah Banks no longer playing, best at doing so by making 36.2 percent.

Peterson’s motivation for wanting to Peterson, as well as Taylor Ammons and play the sport came after she was cut from Cylenthia Kennon, will all contribute to fillher middle school team. She told her fa- ing that leadership role. “Everybody has ther, who was a good player himself when something special about them,” Peterson he was younger, that she wanted to be- said. “I will be the one to lead by example. come better at the game. From then on he Taylor and Cylenthia are vocal leaders, and helped train her every day, and she entered everyone looks up to them.”

When asked what her predictions for into free-throw competitions. The training from her father paid off in the end, because this year are, Peterson simply stated, “I think we will go all the way.” the next year she made the cut.

Athletics updates

JAGUAR CROSS COUNTRY ENDS SEASON ON HIGH NOTE AT NCAA SOUTH REGIONALS Although regional rankings eluded them all season despite top-three team performances in every meet of the 2011 campaign, the University of South Alabama women’s cross country team ended the season on Saturday with a foot in the door after a 16thplace overall finish at the 2011 NCAA South Regional Championships.

Tori Lawson paced the Lady Jags, navigating the 6k course in a time of 21:36.50 to finish 30th. Magrina Chepkoech and Crystal Wachob also finished in the top 100 at 53rd and 97th, respectively.

For the men, Alex Shields led the Jaguars for the second time this postseason – he also recording the best finish for the squad at the Sun Belt Championships – completing the 10k course 81st to help the men place 21st overall. Justin Housley took 95th and Daniel Cooper crossed the line 100th.

FRESHMAN MAUREEN ROS LEADS JAGS TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER FAU ON SENIOR DAY While the University of South Alabama volleyball team honored its three seniors prior to its match versus Florida Atlantic on Sunday, it was freshman outside hitter Maureen Ros who led the way offensively for the Jags as they defeated the Owls 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-15, 25-16) at Jag Gym. Ros tied a career high with 15 kills and posted a .500 hitting percentage (15-3-24), while also adding six digs, three assists and two block assists. Junior middle blocker Olivia Mohler was right behind Ros with 14 kills and a .407 attack percentage. As a team, USA recorded a .312 hitting percentage with 60 kills on 128 attacks.

South Alabama (11-17, 6-10 SBC) closes out the season as winners of four of its last seven matches. While USA did manage to finish the season in a four-way tie with UALR, Louisiana-Lafayette and Troy for the final two Sun Belt tournament positions, UALR and Troy were awarded the final two spots as per the league’s tiebreaker procedures.

USA SOFTBALL RELEASES 2012 SCHEDULE The 2012 University of South Alabama softball schedule was released Thursday by head coach Becky Clark. The Jaguars’ spring season is highlighted by 21 games at Jaguar field, teams from 13 different conferences and nine opponents who qualified for the NCAA tournament last season.

The Jags will open the season at Jaguar field on Feb. 9 against Mississippi State before hosting the Mardi Gras Invitational Feb. 10-12 which includes Jacksonville State, Alabama, Lipscomb, Mississippi State and Memphis.

-Wire Reports

vol. 49 no. 16 / nov. 14, 2011

Crews blocks his way into USA football history

19

mAtt WeAver Senior Reporter We’re near the end of South Alabama’s football season and not one “best of 2011” compilation would be complete without mentioning Clifton Crews’ two game-deciding blocked field goals on the road against Texas -San antonio and georgia State respectively.

The blocked field goals are arguably two of the most defining moments in South Alabama’s brief football history. the other is defeating California-davis on the road after C.J. Bennett and Courtney Smith engineered a fourth quarter comeback to win, 24-21. Both utSa and gSu games were in question prior to the blocked field goals, adding an extra layer of intensity to two already action-packed football games.

In the Oct. 8 contest versus Texas-San antonio, the roadrunners had marched deep into Jaguar territory and were a field goal away from running out the clock and defeating South alabama. the roadrunners kick was 16 yards out and was blocked by Crews and special teams’ associate randon Carnathan. the Jaguars went on to win that game 30-27 in double overtime before a crowd of 32,886 at the famous Alamodome. two weeks later, the georgia dome presented a similar scenario as georgia State had

GeReMy HAnne

South Alabama’s Clifton Crews blocks his second kick of the season against Georgia State on oct. 15. Crews also blocked a kick against the University of Texas San Antonio on oct. 8. the opportunity to win on a field goal in single overtime but failed when Crews again placed a mitt on the airborne ball.

While the Panthers would not be denied in double overtime, winning 30-27, Crews left a memorable and positive impression on the Jaguar faithful that made the trip from Mobile to Atlanta.When asked what he thought about the San antonio block being called one of the greatest moments in South alabama history, Crews remained humble and con-

Lady Jags win in triple overtime hANNAh blACkbUrN Sports Reporter The Lady Jags’ 89-76 win against Central Florida was definitely a nailbiter. the triple-overtime thriller which was a lengthy 55 minutes was one that most players may never experience again. the Jags’ success came after coming back from a 16-point deficit in the second half and with the help of Camille reynolds’ game high 31 points off the bench.

Reynolds was 10-of-16 from the floor and dropped in four of five three pointers, which included a fade away shot at the final seconds of second overtime to tie the game. She was perfect at the charity stripe making 7-of-7, and she also dished out four assists and snatched five boards. reynolds’ amazing performance in scoring was just one point shy of beating the Mitchell Center’s record for most points scored by a Jag at home.

South Alabama held a 31-17 advantage in points off turnovers, forcing 31 turn-

tinually gave credit to his coaching staff and teammates.

“We were under a ton of pressure,” Crews said. “The thing about kick blocking is that you need to have peak ability and timing; everything has to go right. the defensive linemen have to give you the right push and the guys in the center have to be able to leap really high. It was a perfects storm scenario for both blocks, and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”

The 6’2/220 lb. sophomore has already

made a lasting impression on the football program but insists that he isn’t done yet.

“I want to leave a legacy,” Crews said. “And it’s not just me; the whole team. We all want to hit the weight room and get bigger, faster. each of us wants to get better and leave a legacy.” two years into his tenure at South alabama and he’s already left a lasting impression. And better yet for the Jaguars, he’s just getting started.

Weekly Quotable Quote The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Visit. Comment. Share. www.thevanguardonline.com lADyJAGBASKeTBAllCAMPS.CoM

USA basketball coach Rick Pietre

overs from uCF. the Lady Jags’ are now 1 and 0 in the young season and will be hosting Southern university on Tuesday with tip-off at 7:05 p.m.

20

vol. 49 no. 16 / Nov. 14, 2011