vanguard
the
Mardi Gras schedule see page 6!
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
feb. 20, 2012
vol. 50, no. 6
USA, Mobile under ‘rabid’ raccoon alert
Happy Mardi Gras 2012 >>
by genny roman Associate Editor
Courtesy of Kim Proctor
Current SGA President Colin Al-Greene (left) and former SGA President Kim Proctor (right) show support for USA at Higher Ed Day in 2010.
Higher Ed Day calls for increased funding by Genny roman Associate Editor On March 1, USA students, faculty and staff will head to Montgomery to rally for increased higher education funding from state legislators. Held once a year, Higher Education Day is an event where students from Alabama’s four-year universities gather to ask representatives for more higher education funds. Karen Peterson, co-director of the USA Center for Academic Service Learning and Civic Engagement (CASLCE), believes the event helps students understand how higher education funding works. “Students may not realize that their tuition is subsidized from state funds,” she said. “So when USA’s funding is cut, some allowances have to be made in order for the University to remain in the black.” For Peterson, this is where Higher Education Day steps in. “It makes [students] a part of that process.” Currently, the Alabama state legislature is considering the budget for fiscal year 2013. Happy Fulford, director of governmental relations, stated that Gov. Robert Bentley’s recommendation for USA’s state appropriation for the fiscal year 2013 is $98.3 million, a $4.1 million decrease (4 percent) from last year. For the fiscal year see Higher, page 4
courtesy of twila tschan
Technical theater senior Tara Gebhard joins in the festivities in downtown Mobile for a themed parade. Some of the throws included cereal and, of course, MoonPies.
Last week, the USA community was put on alert for raccoons that may appear “lethargic, sick or tame,” according to an email sent by Susan Malone, a safety and training specialist for the University. In the email, Malone stated that raccoons are being picked up by the Mobile Animal Shelter and tested by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife for canine distemper and rabies. Director of Public Relations Keith Ayers said public health authorities released warnings about sick raccoons in the area, but there have been no reports of rabies. According to Ayers, the issue is county-wide. On Feb. 15 the Press-Register reported that 260 raccoons were captured see RACOONS page 4
Jags4Jags assists students with meals SGA partnered with Dining Services and Academic Affairs to help with student budget crunches by patrick herring Staff Reporter Jags4Jags allows for students who are running low on funds to have access to meals from the Fresh Food Co. Through student donations, other students in need are able to receive up to seven meals at a time from the program. The meal bank currently has more than 100 meals just waiting to be used. The only stipulation is that you are a student in need who doesn’t currently have a meal plan. Two summers ago a group of SGA senators went on a tour of other colleges and universities in the state looking to bring back some ideas for ways to enhance the lives of USA students. The idea for the meal donation program came from the University of Alabama, which also uses Aramark for their dining services.
find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”
/
Courtesty of Dr. Michael Mitchell
Upon their return to campus, SGA teamed up with the Office of the Dean of Students to create Jags 4 Jags. It was officially started in the fall of 2011. The program works by having students donate meals from their meal plan through a collection drive done by SGA. The Office of the Dean of Students is then responsible for distributing the meals. SGA held a meal drive last spring and more than 120 meals were donated. Dean of Students Dr. Michael Mitchell hopes the program will gain notoriety
check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com
/
through word of mouth and campus wide emails so that the students will take advantage of Jags 4 Jags. “So far it has been pretty quiet,” Mitchell said. “We need more people to know about the program so it can be utilized by the students who need it most.” That being said, he emphasized that this is not meant to be another meal plan or a permanent, semester-long solution. “This is for the student who is out of see JAGS page 4
in this issue (pg 6): Life (pg 12): Opinion (pg 9 ): Sports
2
vol. 50, no. 5/ Feb. 13, 2012
3
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 layout editor
Cassie Fambro Genny Roman Matt Weaver Carey Cox Bailey Hammond Jeff Gill Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter Aaron Etheredge
weather forecast
University police blotter
Feb. 20 - Feb. 26
Editor’s note: Have a question for USAPD? Email us at editor.in.chief@usavangaurd.com
weather forecast >>
mon
63 48
tue
70 50
wed
71 55
thu
75 49
fri
68 40
sat
64 42
sun
65 45
distribution
distribution manager Johnny Davis distribution Angela Davis
advertising
advertising manager Wesley Jackson graphic designer Rex McCay advertising Mark Crawford
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.
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
We’ll start off this week mostly sunny with highs in the low 60s with lows in the upper 40s. Mardi Gras will be nice with highs in the low 70s with mostly sunny skies but clouds will be increasing throughout the day. Lows will be near 50 with isolated showers. Scattered T-Storms will move through on Wednesday and Thursday as a cold front moves through. Highs will be in the mid 70s with overnight lows in the mid 50s on Wednesday night and upper 40s for Thursday night. We could still see thunderstorms on Friday with highs in the upper 60s with lows in the low 50s. Your Saturday looks great with highs in the mid 60s with mostly sunny skies. Lows on Saturday night will be in the low 40s. Another system looks to move though on Sunday bringing thunderstorms with it. Highs will be in the mid 60s with lows in the mid 40s. for the latest on your forecast, severe weather updates, and what’s going on in the tropics, find us on Facebook search “StormTeam4Gamma9Wx” you can follow us on Twitter, too search “stormteam4g9wx” and find Patrick on Twitter search “metwxpatrick”
From USA Parking Services: Standard rules of the road for the city, county and state will be observed on campus. Vehicles are to be parked in a designated parking space only. Yellow lined areas and curbs are considered no parking zones. Vehicles are not to travel or be parked on sidewalks, tram paths, lawns, grassed/landscaped areas or curbs. The speed limit on campus roadways is 20/30 MPH (as posted) and 15 MPH in parking areas. Pedestrians and persons riding bicycles on campus will comply with Title 32 of the Alabama Code. Pedestrians must cross roadways within a marked crosswalk. Motorists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a crosswalk. Vehicles are not to be parked within 15 feet of designated fire exits, fire department connections or fire hydrants. Red curbs and/or red lined areas are fire lanes and must not be blocked at any time for any reason. Any street or roadway on campus where vehicles operate is considered a fire lane. Regulations affecting fire lanes are in effect at all times. Vehicles parked in fire lanes may be towed or wheel locked without notice day or night and charged an impounding/ immobilizing fee in addition to the parking violation fine.
USAPD: 460-6601
4
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
Higher Ed Day Higher, from page 1 2012, USA’s appropriation was $102.4 million. “All universities are currently cut at 4 percent in the recommended budget,” said Fulford. Fulford hopes that the cuts to education will be reduced, but he does not expect the budget to move in committee for several weeks “due to the challenges the governor and legislature face in managing the budget with reduced tax revenues.” In an effort to curb reductions to the higher education budget, CASCLE and the Student Government Association (SGA) are organizing for South Alabama’s appearance at Higher Education Day. At a meeting on Feb. 14, Peterson, SGA President Colin Al-Greene and SGA Governmental Affairs Chair Stephen Purnell discussed specifics for the event, such as
providing buses and refreshments for attendees. Purnell thinks Higher Education Day can make an impact for South Alabama students, but it will probably take time. “Regardless of the immediate impact, the long-term effects are what we’re here for.” He also believes that bringing a large number of USA students will make a difference. “We’re there [in Montgomery] to say ‘we’re here and we’re hurting. The more students we have up there, the bigger impression we have on the legislators,” Purnell said. Sponsored by the SGA and Office of Governmental Affairs, the event is free for all students, faculty and staff. This includes transportation and food. Students can register for Higher Education Day at www.caslce.org/now, and receive an official excuse letter for any missed classes on March 1.
Jags4Jags
Raccoons
JAGS, from page 1
Raccoons from page 1
money at the end of the month or is waiting for a loan check to come in or something to that effect,” Mitchell said. SGA will be holding another meal donation drive at Fresh Food Co. sometime this semester, though a date hasn’t been set. To apply for the program or to donate a meal, contact the Dean of Students office or go to their website, southalabama. edu/deanofstudents, to download an application.
by the Mobile Animal Shelter and sent to the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. None of the raccoons have tested positive for rabies. If students see any raccoons that appear ill, they are asked to contact the University’s Maintenance department at (251) 460-7111. The department will contact Mobile Animal Control for further assistance.
thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com
“Like” our page on Facebook.
Jags news in brief >>> When you have two minutes before class starts
USA hosts event to sharpen interview skills USA students and alumni can sharpen their interview skills during the USA Career Services’ Mock Interview Week, Feb. 27-March 2. The even will match students and alumni with employer representatives from business, industry, education and government in mock interview sessions, providing participants with job interviews and networking experience, and immediate feedback. Each interview will be 30 minutes in length, allowing 20 minutes for the interview and 10 minutes for evaluation and review. Those wishing to take part in a mock interview need to register by Feb. 22. Mock interviews will take place at the
USA Career Services Center, Suite 2100, Meisler Hall. For registratio and more info, contact USA Career Services at (251) 460-6188, or visit online at southalabama.edu/careerservices.
Intergeneration recreation class meets on campus Interested in joining a recreation and wellness class with students of all ages? Every Friday, senior adults from all around Mobile meet at the USA Recreation Center for a program that is planned, organized and implemented by students. Dianna Carlin from the department of health, physical education and leisure studies states the program, established in 1996, “is one of the most fun-filled and exciting programs this campus offers.”
The class meets every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.at the Student Rec Center. Anyone interested in attending may contact Dianna at dcarlin@ usouthal.edu.
Alabama and more. The presentation will be Thursday, Feb. 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Life Sciences Building, Room 119.
‘Reptile Night!’ brings creepy critters to South Alabama
Outlaws host free cookout at Jag Baseball game
The Gulf Coast Association of Reptile Keepers (GCARK) are presenting “Reptile Night!” Members of GCARK will discuss various topics related to the study of reptiles and amphibians, including general issues regarding responsible pet care, and the importance of wild species and the roles they play in their native ecosystems. Throughout the presentation there will be live reptiles on display, including large snakes, tortoises, lizards, species native to
The Outlaws will be having a free cookout for students at the Jags vs. Samford baseball game on Friday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cookout will be held on the new three-layer party deck in right field if construction is completed by Friday. Students and alumni can bring their own grills and coolers. If the deck is not finished by Friday, the cookout will be held under tents down the right field line.
5
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
Jag baseball loses in opening series by jt Crabtree Sports Reporter
The Mark Calvi Era started on a sour note this past weekend. South Alabama was swept in a three-game series vs. College of Charleston, losing 5-2 Friday night, and 6-3 and 3-0 in the doubleheader on Sunday. Jarron Cito was the opening night pitcher for the Jags, pitching 5 and 1/3 innings while striking out 9 and allowing one run. South Alabama had a one run lead in the sixth inning after an error by the College of Charleston shortstop led to two runs. Nick Zaharion was credited with 2 RBI on the play Jags held the lead into the eighth inning with two outs, when pinch hitter Cody Martin hit a giant threerun homer to right to give College of Charleston the lead. They extended the lead in the top of the ninth with another run off pitcher Jordan Patterson. The Jags
would lose the opener 5-2. “You saw two quality Division I pitchers go out there and battle it out,” head coach Mark Calvi said afterward. “Tonight wasn’t our night. They were a little better out of the bullpen than we were.” South Alabama played a doubleheader on Sunday after their second game on Saturday was rained out. In the first game of the doubleheader, South opened a quick threerun lead over College of Charleston. Pitcher Peyton Gardner held onto the lead through 4 2/3 innings, as he struck out five and walked four along the way. Andrew Fonzi came on in relief and was credited with the loss after giving up 4 runs in 2/3 innings pitched. Phillip Byrd followed him by pitching 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Jags were held to only four hits all game by the Charleston pitching staff. They would go on to lose 6-3, allowing six unanswered runs. The second game of the double-
header was not much better for the Jags’ bats. South Alabama was only able to muster out two hits, and got no runs out of College of Charleston, in spite of earning five walks all game, including four by the College of Charleston starter. Dillon Buhrkuhl gave up two runs through five innings and struck out four. Whitt Dorsey and Robby Campbell had the only two hits for the Jags, as they would lose 3-0. “Give them credit, they did a good job. I thought we left too many runners on base, as a whole all weekend,” said Calvi. “I thought we took some good pitches and swung at some bad ones. I felt they were evenly played games, but I thought they played better than us for three games.” South Alabama returns to the field on Tuesday as they host Jackson State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field, looking to win their first game of the season.
Editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com
THE VANGUARD HAS A SPORTS PAGE TOO... FOLLOW FOR SPORTS UPDATES! CHECK OUT LIVE ACTION TWEETS @ USAVGSPORTS
jaglife
6
Bailey Hammond, jagLife Editor life.editor@usavanguard.com vol. 50, no. 6 / FEB. 20, 2012
King of “Shatter Me” splinters barriers the cakes The debut novel gets:
S
ugary goodness waits in the windows of local bakeries. The gold, green and purple crystals adorn those round bread-cakes coated with icing, and bailey hammond somewhere inJagLife Editor side that mass of deliciousness is a plastic baby, just waiting to be found. It’s the ultimate sinful delight and it only happens once a year on the Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras season brings out the sugaraholics in droves. Their one craving: the king cake. Since the beginning of Mardi Gras mayhem, king cakes have reigned supreme as the herald of the season to the reveling masses. As soon as February rolls around each year, king cakes appear in stores across the South, letting shoppers know that the bead-throwing season has arrived once again. Kids go crazy at the sight, and everyone can remember the first time he or she tasted a king cake. Dr. Michael Doran, Director of the USA Honors Program, is a Mardi Gras expert, and he gave us the lowdown on all things king cake related. “King cakes are tied to the Catholic feast of Epiphany or Twelfth Night on Jan. 6. It is the tradition that the three Kings visited the Christ child and ends the Christmas season of 12 days--just like the song,” Doran stated. According to tradition, whoever finds the baby has to either purchase the king cake the next year or host the next Mardi Gras party. Making light of this tradition is not recommended. “During the season of Carnival we feast before the fast and penance of Lent. Starting on Jan. 6 we eat king cakes to help celebrate the season while attending the parades and parties,” explained Doran. The king cake itself is a fairly simple affair. The bread is likened unto a cinnamon roll and can be filled with a va
see king page 8
bailey hammond JagLife Editor
T
ahereh Mafi’s debut young adult novel “Shatter Me” splinters the barriers between accepted and unaccepted in society and the written word in a minimalist style seeping with emotion barely held in check. Based in a world run by The Reestablishment and bringing to mind the controlled masses of “A Brave New World” and the action of the popular series “The Hunger Games,” “Shatter Me” is a lively tale of love and survival. The plot revolves around the story of Juliette Ferrars, an outcast in her own home, shunned by family and strangers alike, and her struggle to maintain control over her uncontrollable ability. For Juliette has a terrible secret: she can drain the life away from anyone she touches, causing the victim extreme agony. Juliette is a strange mixture of vulnerability and strength, never crumbling completely but always on the verge of some sort of breakdown, whether mental, emotional or physical. She has been kept for years in isolation with no contact with others and little food because of some accident in her past that we later learn has colored her perception of her own abilities. Within the context of the novel, one sees Juliette emerge from the gray world that is suppressed beyond recognition from our own as the reluctant super heroine. In a way, it’s like the X-Men version of a dystopian world, replete with corrupt leaders and a resistance that wants to save the world from itself. Whatever Juliette does, she does for
courtesy taherehmafi.com
courtesy goodreads.com
Tahereh Mafi (left) author of “Shatter Me” (right) has made a splash in the young adult literary scene with her X-Men version of a dystopian society.
love and acceptance from others, even if there is a chance that she will be rejected like so many other times in her past. The book questions the bonds between family and friends and brings into focus the dilemma of the human condition. What determines your fate? Who deserves to die? What does it mean to be human? Juliette is the foil for this line of questioning, allowing readers to get a glimpse of a life without the love and affection that psychology tells us we need to be fully functioning members of society. In fact, Juliette’s persistence in surviving despite this lack of attention and love is a testament to the indomitable spirit
some have for beating the odds. By all reckoning, Juliette should have grown up to be a bitter individual in a world beset with issues ranging from environmental disasters, chemical spills, and governmental crackdowns. Most would not blame her if she had. However, it is through this first part of her story that we get that taste of the unknown and due to the un-put-downable nature of “Shatter Me,” it’s difficult not to get swept up in the dark and twisty paths that fill the pages from cover to cover. More information about “Shatter Me,” the next books in the series and the author, Tahereh Mafi, can be found at www. taherehmafi.com.
Mardi Gras parade schedule
Monday
Fairhope Order of Mystic Magnolias @ 7 p.m. Mobile Infant Mystics Parade @ 6:30 p.m. Arrival of King Felix III @ 11 a.m. King’s Parade and Floral Parade @ 12 p.m. MLK Monday Mystics Parade @ 3:30 p.m.
Northside Merchants Parade @ 4 pm. Orange Beach Wharf Mardi Gras Parade @ 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Gulf Shores Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade @ 10 a.m. Mobile Order of Athena @ 10:30 a.m.
Knights of Revelry @ 12:30 p.m. King Felix @ 1 p.m. Comic Cowboys @ 1:30 p.m. Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association @ 2 p.m. Order of Myths @ 6:30 p.m. Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade @ 2 p.m.
7
vol. 50, no. 6 / FEB. 20, 2012
Peace Corps offers world view
Joining the Peace Corps right out of college is a chance to make a difference. jake howell JagLife Writer
tue > feb 21 FAT TUESDAY Univerity Closed No Classes
A
t some point in our college careers, we will all be forced to face the mystery of where our lives will take us after graduation. Will the path lead to a job? Graduate school? Or will life’s path lead somewhere we never dreamed it would? The Peace Corps offers the world. Established in March of 1961, the Peace Corps has given thousands of Americans the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others around the world. As stated on peacecorps.gov, in an everchanging world, Peace Corps volunteers have met new challenges with innovation, creativity, determination and compassion. From AIDS education to emerging technologies to environmental preservation to new market economies, Peace Corps volunteers have helped people build better lives for themselves. For those who want to gain real world experience, help others or simply see the incredible world in which we live, the Peace Corps is an excellent opportunity. Imagine helping administer anti-malarial drugs to villagers in Africa, or teaching English in Ecuador. Dr. Jack O’Brien, an assistant professor in the Biology department, volunteered in the Philippines. “I applied to and was accepted to a Peace Corps Program working with the Philippine Malaria Eradication Service. This assignment was extremely engaging and I extended my tour with two one-year extensions. I met all kinds of people. I had dinner with the mother of President Ferdinand Marcos…as well as spending the night with mountain people who moved into caves during the rainy season,” O’Brien said. Working with the Peace Corps, however, comes with benefits other than helping others and traveling. The Peace Corps offers its volunteers two programs, the Master’s International and Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship programs, which enable students to get academic credit for their service.
Jags Baseball versus Jackson State
6:30 p.m. Stanky Field.
wed > feb 22 The Cooperative Education and Internship Program Orientation Seminar
10:00 a.m. in Career Services, 2100 Meisler Hall. global.usf.usouthal.edu
The Peace Corps offers opportunities for evolution of a person’s world view, as well as being a community-oriented program.
The Master’s International program allows students to earn academic credit at one of 80 different institutions for graduate school before and during their service. As stated on the Peace Corps’s website, “students will study on campus, usually for one year, and then spend the next two years earning academic credit while working overseas in a related Peace Corps project.” The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship, however, offers returned Volunteers financial aid, such as scholarships and stipends, and professional internships at more than 60 partner schools. Master’s and doctoral degrees combined with substantive internships in underserved American communities prepare volunteers for their careers in a wide range of disciplines. Volunteers will serve in the Peace Corps for 27 months, being paid, and, in addition to the incredible career experience, a monthly stipend to cover living costs. Those serving also receive complete medical and dental coverage during their 27 months abroad. Another benefit provided by the Peace Corps is that many student loans are eligible for deferment and some for partial
cancellation. The Peace Corps, however, should not be done on a “what will I get out of this” mentality. There are so many people in the wide world of ours who need help and who don’t have access to even basic necessities, such as clean water. Dr. O’Brien added, “My experience had a tremendous impact upon my life, not only did it influence my chosen profession (I am an ecological parasitologist who has accepted evolution into his heart), it gave me a standard of reference from which I could judge the relative importance of the things that life forces you to deal with. For example, the deaths of my mother and father were important; whether or not my college has a winning football program. not so much.” Peace Corps volunteers help provide these things. They become part of the community in which they spend their two years service. They build relationships with the people, people who, without the Peace Corps, they never would’ve met.
Interested in writing for the JagLife Section? Just send a writing sample to life.editor@usavanguard. com! You can be on your way to publishdom!
Weekly Lowdown
Come to the JagLife side
We drink coffee
thu > feb 23 “The Help” Film screening and discussion
6:00 p.m. at the Allied Health Auditorium. FREE.
fri > feb 24 “The Seagull”
7:30 p.m. at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices range from $10 through $14. USA students, faculty and staff get a discount.
sat > feb 25 “The Seagull”
7:30 p.m. at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
sun > feb 26 “The Seagull” Matinee Performance
2 p.m. at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 7 words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com. Include “Weekly Lowdown” in the subject line. E-mails must be received at least 7 days before the event.
vol. 50, no. 5 / feb. 13, 2012
King cakes part of long Mardi Gras tradition
8
king cont. from page 6
riety of fillings, some of the most popular being blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, apple or pecan praline. Cream cheese is also used in conjunction with any of those flavors to add to the overall richness. “I bring a couple back for Honors or CIS and have now gotten both groups to only want one from
cake of my dreams. We’re going to be besties!” And we were. Growing up in a part of the country that celebrates Mardi Gras like plastic beads and moon pies are going out of style, it’s pretty easy to take something like king cake for granted. However, for many students at the University of South Alabama, king cake is something of a novelty, and they encounter the Southern enthusiasm for this treat with wonder and confusion. “King cake?” they ask with obvious skepticism. “What’s so good about this king cake?” Their questions are met with exclamations of disbelief and avowals from their Southern friends that they will soon know just what the big deal about king cake is. And that’s when those foreign mouths taste king cake for the first time. It’s a proud moment for the Southern hearts. Sharing king cake is a large part of Mardi Gras and christening newbies is just added fun. “Last week was my first time trying it! It was cream cheese flavor and it was delicious!” admitted JaceyBlaire Chandler, sophomore special education major. So, whether you get your king cakes at a mom and pop bakery or from your local supermarket, all that matters is that you’re letting the good times roll and eating cake. Bailey hammond / jaglife editor And that’s the way the king cake crumbles. The King Cake has long been a tradition of Mardi Gras
Manny. We have even used them for fund raising projects for UMS band and the KC at church. You can also order then from the bakery and pay for Fed Ex to get them any time before Mardi Gras,” Doran added. It’s easy to overeat when it comes to king cake. Trust me. In preparation for this article, this editor went to her local bak-
ery, Heavenly Creations Bakery in Fairhope, Ala., and bought every flavor they had. What resulted was a little internal dialogue that went something like this: “Apple cinnamon? I think yes.” “Raspberry cream cheese? Don’t mind if I do…” “Come to mama, blueberry filled
sports
vol. 50, no. 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
Early bird gets the worm
USA football starts spring practice earlier than most schools
jayson curry / sports editor
USA football huddles after the first spring practice of the year. jayson curry Sports Editor
T
he USA football program has been busy of late. Head football coach Joey Jones was featured on ESPN to talk about the Jaguars signing class. USA vs. Hawaii football tickets were shown on the CBS show Hawaii Five’O last week. And, to top it all off, the football program started spring practice. The team had a short, one-hour practice Wednesday and a full twohour practice Thursday. Wednesday’s practice featured a lot of separate drills for the offense and defense. With changes all over the field this season, the Jaguars will sue spring as a comfort builder. The offense for USA will be under direction of new offensive coordinator Robert Matthews who came to USA from Southern Miss. Last season the offense was based on power runs, and this season the Jaguars will transition to a spread offense that has become popular around the country. All offensive players will have to learn a new playbook and hope to master it to position themselves for starting positions or playing time. “I thought the effort and attitude was extremely good. Now, offensive-
starting running back Brandon Ross back this season after a knee injury. On defense, the coaching staff has been shuffled around at position coach. Defensive coordinator Bill Clark will now also coach the linebackers. Coach Kurt Crain will switch from linebackers coach to the defensive tackles position coach. The defense returns many of their leaders from last season including Linebacker Jake Johnson and safeties B.J. Scott and Ken Barefield. “It’s good to get back out here. The season ends kind of early since we don’t play in a bowl or playoffs,” USA linebacker Jake Johnson said. “It’s going to be good. Coach Clark is going to hands on with us, the linebackers,” Johnson said. “And then you have coach Crain who is moving to defensive tackles and I think he will make them some mean [players].” USA was supposed to practice for the third time this past Saturday but due to the poor weather rescheduled for Monday starting at 5:30 p.m. USA will have its first practice in full pads Thursday. All other practices have been in shells.
ly we probably made 400 mistakes, but that was to be expected, the deal from here is to keep chipping away at those,” USA head football coach Joey Jones said. “Their heads were swimming. We were calling formations and plays, and they were looking around trying to find out what they were supposed to do. We expected that. “It’s just a matter of being patient, of coming in every day and studying what we are doing and getting better. It’s just going to take some time.” Fortunately for the USA offense, they have depth at positions like quarterback, with returning starter C.J. Bennett and backups Myles Gibbon and Trey Fetner as well as transfer Brandon Bridge. Also the Jags return almost every player at the running back and receiver position and courtesy of CBS will have former South Alabama vs Hawaii football tickets shown on national T.V. show this week.
jayson curry, sports Editor sports.editor@usavanguard.com
9
Athletics updates BIG BATS LIFT JAGS TO 16-0 SHUT OUT OF SIU BEFORE RAINOUT
F
our University of South Alabama home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI and 16 hits helped the Jaguars shut out Southern Illinois 16-0 Saturday afternoon in five innings of work at the Jacksonville State Invitational held at University Field. “I can’t say enough about the job our hitters did,” Said USA head coach Becky Clark. “They knocked the starting pitcher out in the second inning and then got to the next kid and knocked her out. They did a great job with that. They stayed balanced at the plate. They waited for something they could drive, and when they got it they put a good swing on it. We hit a couple of long balls today. That’s always exciting. Overall, it was a great day. You can’t ever complain after a game like that. It was a great day for us as a team.” After the shutout, South Alabama evens its record at 3-3 on the year, while SIU drops to 4-2.
COUGARS SCORE FOUR UNANSWERED RUNS TO KNOCK OFF JAG BASEBALL
C
ollege of Charleston’s Cody Martin hit a three-run pinch-hit homer in the top of the eighth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead as the Cougars knocked off University of South Alabama baseball 5-2 Friday night at Stanky Field. Jaguar left-hander Kyle Bartsch retired the first two Cougars in order in the top of the eighth before two hit by pitches moved the tying run into scoring position. Martin then hit a 2-0 pitch over the right-center field wall to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead. College of Charleston added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Daniel Aldrich. Cougar right-hander Kyle Owings (1-0) earned the win in 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief and struck out two. David Peterson earned the save in two shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three and issuing two walks. Jaguar starter Jarron Cito went 5 1/3 innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits with nine strikeouts and two walks without factoring in the decision. Bartsch (0-1) suffered the loss in 2/3 innings pitched. -Wire reports
10
vol. 50, no. 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
USA’s Freddie Goldstein plays big for Jaguars Patrick Herring Sports Reporter
O
n campus you’d probably pass him without a second glance, but if you see him on the court you, may have to do a double take. Freddie Goldstein isn’t the prototypical basketball player, standing at just 5’10”, but he certainly makes up for it when the ball is in his hands. Born in Honolulu to a set of athletic parents, Goldstein grew up with a love for the game. His mother and father both played intercollegiate sports at Hawaii Pacific. Goldstein was raised in Milwaukee and played basketball from a young age. “I played in one of those little leagues when I was 5 or 6 years old,” Goldstein said. “And I’ve been playing ever since.” Growing up, he admired NBA star Allen Iverson, who has a similar build standing only six feet tall. Goldstein drew inspiration from Iverson’s success at the highest level. In high school his talents began to flourish. As early as his freshman year he knew he had the ability to take his skills to the next level. Goldstein played with the D.W. Wildcats and Amateur Athletic Union developmental teams, which helped mold his game. Following high school he attended Motlow State Community College where he became the school’s first and only twotime National Junior College Athletics Association All-American. Goldstein cites
this as his favorite moment in sports. “Being a two-time All-American is an accomplishment, but being the first person in school history to do it is pretty special,” Goldstein said. He ranks second in MSCC history with 136 career 3-pointers, including one game where he sank eight from behind the arc. After spending two years at MSCC, he committed to play basketball at South Alabama. “I came here because I liked the location,” Goldstein said. “And because the players seemed like a good group of guys to play with.” This season, in his first year on campus, he leads the team in 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted and 3-point percentage in starting 20 of 24 games thus far. He is also second on the team in scoring and scoring average behind Augustine Rubit. Head coach Ronnie Arrow is impressed with Goldstein’s production this season. “Freddie is one of the hardest workers on the team and he takes pride in what he does,” Arrow said. “He plays with the heart of a guy that’s 6’10.” Goldstein attributes his play to the amount of training he does. “I’d say I train more than 24 hours a week,” Goldstein said. His training paid off when he scored a career high 33 points, including a school record tying nine 3-pointers, and hit the game winning shot in a victory over the
Lady Jags, seniors win jayson curry Sports Editor
T
jayson curry / sports editor
USA senior Taylor Ammons (right) practices a free throw as senior Lauren Walker (center) looks on.
he crowd was not disappointed Saturday night as the South Alabama women’s basketball team beat Western Kentucky 70-33. The Lady Jags celebrated Senor Night in front of the home crowd at the Mitchell Center. “I’m flabbergasted, but in a good way,” USA head coach Rick Pietri said. “They [Western Kentucky] have been playing very well coming in here, and I expected this to be a last possession game.” Four of the Lady Jags would play their last home game during Saturday’s game. Guard Sarda Peterson, guard Lauren Walker and forwards Cylenthia Kennon and Taylor Ammons received a plaque and rose from head coach Rick Pietri before tipoff. All four seniors led the team to their last victory at the Mitchell Center with Ammons, Peterson and Walker scoring in double digits and Kennon adding 8
jayson curry / sports editor
USA’s Freddie Goldstein runs through fans diuring introductions at a home basketball game thi season. Goldstein has become a fan favorite for the Jaguars. University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Feb. 11. Freddie’s got one more season of eligibility left at South, and he hopes to help lead the team to a conference title and a
berth in the NCAA tournament. Following graduation, he plans to play basketball professionally overseas and one day become an ESPN anchor. Pretty good for a guy who was always told he was too short to play.
points. Ammons finished the game shooting 60 percent scoring 14 points and bringing in eight rebounds. Peterson scored all 12 of her points during the game from behind the 3 point line going 4-8 and added four assists. “Tonight was very emotional,” Peterson said. “ My parents were here tonight to watch me play and I haven’t seen them in over a year.” And Lauren Walker was 4 of 9 shooting, 3 of 8 from 3-point range finishing with 11 points. “I talked to the seniors about this being their last time out on this court and they let it all out,” Pietri said. “All four seniors played well offensively, and they truly carried us into the win.” USA also had a big game from Mansa El who scored 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. At half time, the Lady Jags were shooting 40 percent from the field while holding Western Kentucky to just 31 percent. The difference in percentages led to a 3522 lead for the Lady Jags at the half. The game was no different after the
half as the Lady Jag defense only allowed the Hill toppers to make four of their 20 shot attempts. The USA came up big against Western Kentucky as the Lady Jags forced 28 turnovers and only allowed nine assists and 14 steals. The Lady Jags improved their shooting during the second half going 14 for 27 ending the game with just over 45 percent. “We didn’t expect to win by this margin but I am very proud of everybody,” Peterson said. “Everybody felt very comfortable and confident. We shoot on this floor every day. Everybody was hot tonight.” The win puts USA in a tie for second place with Florida Atlantic in their division of the Sun Belt. If the Lady Jags can solidify the second place finish with a win over FAU, they will receive a first round bye in the SBC tournament. “It’s basically a playoff game,” Pietri said. “The winner of that game gets second place.” USA and FAU will play Wednesday in Boca Raton, FL at 6 p.m.
11
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
Jeremy Lin ‘Linsanity’ good for sports jayson curry Sports Editor
U
nless you live under a rock, you have probably heard of him and his story. A few weeks ago he was struggling to find and keep a job, and a week ago he was sleeping on a friends couch. This week his jersey is selling out of stores, and his name is being used in every possible way it can be. I’m talking, of course, about the New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. After graduating from Harvard, where he played basketball, Lin found his way into the NBA and has finally landed himself in a starting role for a team. That team just so happened to be the Knicks in New York, possibly the biggest sports town in the world. After injuries and poor play by the guards on the Knicks team, they picked up Lin, and he has done more than anyone could have imagined. It’s hard to imagine a Harvard graduate struggling to find a job. It’s a lot easier to imagine when you’re talking about a job in the NBA. Before Jeremy Lin entered the NBA, there had only been two other Harvard players to ever reach the
NBA. Over the past week and a half, Jeremy Lin has become the talk of not just the town, but every town across the country and even parts of the world. Lin has gone from relative unknown to being the top selling jersey in the NBA. How did this happen? There isn’t just one reason for any of this. Lin was released by two different teams, the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. Also, due to poor play and injuries, the New York Knicks were in need of a solid point guard and stumbled upon Lin. Lin had led the Knicks to seven straight wins before a loss Friday, but that 7-1 record is amazing in itself. And then you add in the fact that Lin has scored 20 or more points in seven of the eight games. In the only game he didn’t score that many points, Lin had a career high 13 assists. He has made every pass you need, outscored Kobe Bryant, crossed over John Wall, hit a game winner and it has only been 8 games. And don’t forget his name has created a million different nicknames ranging from Linsanity to Super Lintendo. But after all of this, there is one even more important thing to understand
about Lin. He is a real person and a different style of athlete. He is in one of the biggest sports cities in the world, if not the biggest and has gotten more attention than anyone else in the past week and a half, but he remains humble. He has never said he is the reason the Knicks won seven of their last eight games. And in their loss Friday, he said he deserved all the blame. When asked what nickname he likes most, he said simply, “I just like Jeremy.” It is a cliché, but Lin’s story is a movie script. To most people, Lin should not be doing what he is doing. He has been related to Tim Tebow because of the improbable story line, but unlike Tebow, Lin is putting up better numbers than almost anyone in the league. He is proving that the impossible or improbable can happen. That seems to happen every year in sports. Lin is the underdog in the March Madness tournament; he is the 1980’s USA men’s Olympic hockey team. Most of all he is himself, and he is part of why sports are so special. Whether you’re a fan of him, or sports at all, its hard not to root for a person like that.
courtesy of nbadunks.org
Knicks guard Jeremy Lin shooting the game winning shot against the Raptors
12
Opinion
V
vol. 50, no. 6 / FEB. 20, 2012
anguard iewpoint
Clean up Mardi Gras
A staff editiorial Attendance should not be mandatory for adults
A
n informal poll of the staff showed that we all received a syllabus with an overbearing attendance policy. A student can miss two days and be docked a letter grade or some other stringent punishment suited to the individual professor’s doctrine. Students cherry pick professors based on attendance policies. In essence, a policy that is intended to motivate learning, only coddles students and dissuades them. If a student can master the material outside of class, he or she should not be punished for not sitting in a chair and wasting their time. It’s psychologically proven that people learn in different ways. Lecture doesn’t always work. Going home and sitting down with a Powerpoint and a book is more conducive to retention for some, and that should not be punsihed. In fact, it shouldn’t even be the professor’s responsibility that a student come to class. It’s college. We’re
Jeff Gill, Opinion Editor opinion.editor@usavanguard.com
adults. It’s about time adults make their own decisions. Much like Darwin’s Natural Selection, some will survive. Others won’t. Being babied as adults will only further cripple students when they enter the job market. The students that want to be in class will be there, and they’re the same ones that are going to show up to work on time later on. Students should understand the brevity of an absence and the disrespectfulness of a tardy arrival. But should a professor dictate a point-based attendance policy? No. How is that representative of a student’s acadamic aptitude? If the student shows up only on test days and makes an A, then power to them. Learning has to be desired, not forced. A reward for attendance is a far better option than a punishment, USA. We’re adults. Given the chance, some of us will prove it.
M
ardi Gras is trashy. Really. For a few years, I worked for the Downtown Mobile Alliance’s clean team, k e e p i n g Alicia Bures downtown Contributing Writer pretty and litter free. Mardi Gras was definitely our most important and busiest season. For those of us on the clean team, it was a hectic blur: emptying trash cans, making trip after trip to the sanitation yard, weeks of rushing to clean the streets before the next parade and the next onslaught of trash. All of this would finally culminate on Ash Wednesday, the mad morning when, no matter what the weather, every employee was out on the street to make downtown look as though Mardi Gras never happened. It was a lot of work. There was so much trash, even af-
ter the city street sweepers had done their part. It may seem like I’m pointing out the obvious here: of course there’s a lot of trash. But if you have experienced the aftermath, you know how revealing it is to see it all piled up as opposed to scattered along the parade route. And that’s just the trash that gets collected. A lot of trash falls into and clogs the storm drains, or ends up in our waterways. Mardi Gras is an important part of our economy and our culture, but the health of our waterways is much more important than a holiday so Bacchanalian and trivial. I’m not proposing we do away with all the festivity of Mardi Gras, but we should be more conscientious of the contents we throw. Pick up the beads that fall on the ground around you. If you see a broken plastic cup, pick it up to make sure it doesn’t end up in the storm drain. Recycle your beads this year! Give them to someone who can use them in next year’s parade. Otherwise, they’ll end up in your closet. And for anyone involved in parading organizations, consider spending less money on cheap plastic throw aways, and more money on things like food. Peanuts are my favorite item to throw, for example.
EditorialBoard
The
Jag Pulse » Opinion Poll
Does the university of South Alabama need more diverse dining options? “No, they will tempt me to break my lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet.”
“We just got a new food court. No.”
“A frozen banana stand would be good for competition with Einstein Bagels in Humanities.”
“They got rid of the sushi stand, which was a majority of my diet.”
Imran Mohiuddin Biomedical Sciences Sophomore
Shivam Amin Biomedical Sciences Freshman
Grant DeFrancisco History Junior
Sarah Naylor Mechanical Eng. Senior
“There are plenty of options with the addition of the new food court. Other places are very close to campus. There are a lot of options at or near USA.” Dustin LaPointe History Senior
Cassie Fambro Genny Roman Jeff Gill Matt Weaver Bailey Hammond Jayson Curry
> > > > > >
Editor in Chief Associate Editor Opinion Editor Senior Reporter Life Editor Sports Editor
Find us on Facebook! Search “The Vanguard USA” No outlet for your opinions? Contact Jeff Gill.
13
vol. 50, no. 6 / FEB. 2012
point
Counterpoint
Should religious institutions be forced to pay for women’s contraception? Point » Religious cannot be forced to pay
P
George Colbourne Contributing writer
resident Obama’s decision to compromise with Catholic institutions on the issue of contraception for women has become a political free-for-all, pitting women’s rights groups in opposition to Catholic institu-
tions. The Catholic Church holds the position that President Obama’s plan to mandate Catholic institutions, including Catholic affiliated universities and hospitals, to provide the option of contraceptive coverage to their female employees is directly contradictory to one of the tenets of Catholic teachings. Once the uproar of resistance from the Catholic Church had begun, President Obama compromised over the discontent with the mandate and decided to exempt Catholic institutions and in his words “taking the employer out of the equation” by making it a requirement of the insurance company, not the employer, to provide the free contraceptive options without a co-pay or a deductible. Though this satisfied the demands of the Church initially, it opened the questions of what constitutes a religious institution and who defines it? These questions aren’t easily answered, and it shouldn’t be the job of the government to do so.
This is not an issue of religious intolerance, or government oppression of religious freedoms, if that were the case, issues like Mormon polygamy should’ve been defended instead of despised. However as much as the initial stance was not an attack on religion, the compromise is not an attack on women as women’s rights groups have stated. Marcia Greenberger is the co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington and believes contraception is a right and is “essential for women’s health and ultimately the health of their whole family.” The Institute of Medicine agrees with the effectiveness of women’s health in relation to contraception. Women’s access to free contraception through their employer or insurance agency is in no way a “right”, but a benefit of coverage and should not concern the federal government. To federally mandate that any, not just religious, employer should be forced to offer coverage of contraception or the like is not the job of the federal government, or any of the 28 states that already have such mandates in place since as early as 2000 in Iowa. Don’t believe that President Obama is attacking religion or that women have a right to contraception. Instead, believe that both have a choice. If a business wants to provide contraception coverage, that is their decision. There is also the decision of the female to choose whether she wants to work at a place that does or doesn’t cover contraception. In this case, the choice of free market economics, not government mandates, should be responsible for the outcome.
South needs to crowdsource for input Jeff Gill Opinion Editor
O
pen communication between planners and students is paramount. When I walk in between classes, I sometimes feel like I am suddenly transported to an urban Indian street. Pedestrians see the cars halt and take advantange by crossing the street. A scene of chaos erupts, and the drivers miss the first minutes of class. It’s ridiculous, especially in the morning. I’m sure there are several other places on campus that experience the same problem. When this happens, the issue of commuting and parking graduates from a task to a ma-
jor ordeal. The layout of South’s roads is confusing to navigate and even worse for giving directions. There is a new development coming for every portal entrance: a kiosk with maps and information. This will solve the navigation dilemma for visitors, but the daily dangers and traffic jams from pedestrian-automobile interaction will continue. This campus needs a professional audit of the traffic and solutions to these problems need to be addressed. Unfortunately, there isn’t a formal outlet through which I can report. I suggest crowdsourcing as an alternative to
Editor’s introduction: The most recent flare up in the controversy surrounding birth control stems from President Obama’s decision to require faith-based employers to provide access to contraceptives, a decision that, while almost universally praised by Democrats, has split the Republican party in half. The P/CP explains.
Counterpoint » Churches too dogmatic
S
ince its creation, birth control has been the target of many witch hunts. While society has made several progressive strides, the pervasiveness of contraceptives is still a topic that Imran Mohiuddin polarizes AmeriContributing writer cans everywhere. Opponents of the measure argued that forcing religiously aligned businesses, particularly catholic-affiliated ones, to provide birth control undermined these businesses’ rights to freedom of religion, and that with his proposition Obama was undermining one of the fundamental tenets that governs this country. Still, proponents saw Obama’s declaration as a major victory for women everywhere because it better enables a woman to control what happens to her own body. Initially, the matter was one that rallied most Catholics, progressive and conservative, against the president, and I can easily see why they were angry; forcing a business to subsidize a measure that goes against their religious beliefs has huge implications for the future of religious freedoms. However, this changed on Wednesday when Obama compromised and absolved the employers from the costs of birth control. With this change most open-minded Catholics dropped the is-
sue because it wasn’t going to act to the detriment of religiously aligned businesses. For example, according to an article by the Huffington Post, Stephen Schneck, director of Catholic University of America’s Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, stated that the compromise had “by and large resolved” his concerns. Likewise, Sister Anne Curtis, a spokeswoman for the order Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, reported that “We were pleased when adjustments were made in the new requirements that would ensure conscience protections for religious institutions such as ourselves.” Nevertheless, the debate over birth control rages on, only this time the argument of the Catholic Church has devolved from one of understandable concern and rational skepticism to one that is becoming increasingly insular and dogmatic. Statistics consistently show that birth control is the most reliable way to prevent pregnancy, and that up to 68 percent of Catholic women currently use contraceptive measures despite the fact that the Catholic Church does not condone the use of birth control. In this era of increasingly casual sex, the Catholic Church needs to learn that they can’t fight sexual liberation and expect to win. Instead, they should reevaluate their positions like they did during Counter-Reformation of the 1500s, and realize that inflexibility will earn them nothing but emptier pews on Sundays.
administrative near-sightedness. If there were an outlet for students and/or faculty to fill out a report, it would be easier to facilitate what improvements need to be made. Using incentives behind submitting a report, such as a number of dollars of credit for the new food court, would multiply a survey’s effectiveness. A system like this is already in place for the City of Mobile, called ‘Mobile 311.’ This system allows the user to address a problem in a surveyor’s neighborhood and have it promptly visited and remedied. Another system is on campus, with Aramark’s “Fishing for Feedback” form. It is a
form in which responses can be made on, well, anything in the Dining Hall. I’ve seen minute changes come of it, but changes nontheless. The Student Center, the library, and the Student Health Center also have online feedback forms. Even SGA is an outlet. Most students at the University would probably not care enough to really interact with the system, but having a minority that do still will bolster USA’s efficiency. With several parts of the University already asking for feedback, it would be an easy and effective way to gage what is going on where the University administration doesn’t have eyes or ears.
14
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
tthevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com thevanguardonline.com
“Like� us on Facebook.
vol. 50, no 6 / feb. 20, 2012
DISTRACTIONS
Picture of the week
Patrick herring/Staff reporter
university of South alabama students dance in the John Counts room at the Mitchell Center at Mardi gras Mayhem on Feb. 16, 2012
Weekly Quotable Quote People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one ďŹ nds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz
Student Health Sudoku For Student health appointments, please call 460-7151 For Counseling and testing, please call 460-7051
15
vol. 50, no 6 / Feb. 20, 2012
16