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February 14, 2011 |VOLUME 48, NUMBER 22
www.usavanguard.com
How To (Not) Mess Up That Perfect Valentine’s Date (see p. 10)
University of South Alabama’s student newspaper
Show Choir Shines in Concert
SGA appropriates almost $49k By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR
The SGA held its spring budget meeting last week with $48,994.84 appropriated to student organizations. An additional $25,000 was allotted for the Campus Readership program, which provides newspapers for students, and $2,000 for SGA office supplies. The money for the latter two was drawn from the operating budget, however. This is a little less than half of the $100,000 available for appropriations, but there are still late appropriations packets and co-sponsorships that must be reviewed and voted on. These requests will be considered next week, as this week’s SGA see SGA | 19
inside
Opinion | page 7 Teachers With Guns
Colin McGee | Photo Editor
Should teachers be allowed to carry concealed weapons for protection?
The USA Show Choir gave its premier concert Feb. 7 in a packed-out Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The group, the first of its kind at USA, sang and danced to a program laced with fast-paced songs and slower ballads ranging from rock and “hip pop” to popular show tunes. To read the review, turn to page 12.
Etc. | page 8 Strokes on the Rise New research shows you are twice as likely to have a stroke between ages 15 and 35 than at age 51.
New USAPD chief talks plans, policy By Cameron Adkins ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Transparency. Interaction. Community policing. These are the key concepts new USA Chief of Police Zeke Aull said he’s bringing to the table. “Transparency is going to be our key word,” Aull said. “I want [students] to feel very much open to come sit in my office ... and tell me what’s on their minds. “If you have some ideas that you feel like, if you come in and talk to me could promote South and promote our department, our interaction with our faculty and staff, I’ll welcome that.” Aull, who was previously the police chief at Centenary Col-
InPolice Blotter p. 2
lege in Louisiana and worked “So South is where I feel like as an officer at Louisiana State I’m going to have my strengths. University prior I’m glad to to that, feels that be here.” South will be a Accordgood place for his ing to Aull, want [students] to strengths. a real com“[At Cente- feel very much open to munity ponary] I was re- come sit in my office ... licing effort sponsible for will result parking, police, and tell me what’s on their in students, risk manage- minds.” faculty and ment, and I.D.s. I staff having am the Chief of an easier -Zeke Aull Police here. To time interUSA Chief of Police me, that’s why I acting with bought into law officers. enforcement: for “So, I the police aspect think if of it and for the parking aspect you were out and you were reof it. ally doing community policing
“I
Happenings p. 2
Campus Pulse p. 6
then I think that your trust levels with your students, faculty, staff and visitors is built, making it stronger,” Aull said. “Therefore, crimes that weren’t previously reported, necessarily, will make your public feel more confident in reporting that crime, that you will handle it and handle it professionally.” The biggest obstacle Aull feels he will encounter is the parking situation on campus. According to Aull, in an interview he had with students before being hired it was clear that the complaints were not the department or the officers but parking and the parking permit process. “We’re working on that pro-
Distractions p. 18
Arts & Entertainment | page 12
Show Choir Shows Potential The first ever Show Choir performance packed Laidlaw’s Recital Hall to the brim.
see CHIEF | 4
JagLife p. 19
Sports | page 14 Men’s Hoops Rejected The Jags drop another conference game to in-state rival Troy at The Mitchell Center.
Classifieds p. 19