February 21, 2011

Vanguard The

Serving USA students and the University community since 1963

February 21, 2011 |VOLUME 48, NUMBER 23

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University of South Alabama’s student newspaper

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The Revelry Begins

New academic communities coming to USA

By Daniela Werner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When USA’s new residence hall opens its doors for the first time this fall, it will serve as much more than a space for about 330 more students to live in on campus.

About half of the four-story, $17-million addition being constructed by Fraternity Row and the Delta dormitories will hold four or five living-learning communities see COMMUNITIES | 7

Colin McGee | Photo Editor

Mobile’s Mardi Gras kick-off began with the Condé Cavaliers parade Friday night. The organization was the first to parade and hold a ball this past weekend.

Floats rumbled down the streets with a city police estimate of 67,500 people downtown for the festivities.

Police chief hosts first student luncheon

By Carey Cox

inside

Opinion | page

Egypt’s Peaceful Revolution Is there a way for other nations to mirror Egypt’s peaceful protesting?

Etc. | page 11 Harry, A History

SENIOR REPORTER

USAPD Chief Zeke Aull held his first student luncheon at the Dining Hall Wednesday to allow students to voice their campus safety concerns.

“My plan is to be here 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., meet with the students, [have] open easy conversation [with] no pressure and hear what they have to say,” Aull told The Vanguard. The luncheons are a part of Aull’s effort to maintain transparency within the police department.

“The students’ voices are important to me … I want to hear their concerns, complaints, appreciation, whatever it may be. I want to know so I can fix that problem, as opposed to letting it fester on us and growing into something that gets out of hand,” Aull said.

Parking seemed to be the main

see CHIEF | 5

InPolice Blotter p. 2

9

The Vanguard’s resident bookworm weighs in on Melissa Anelli’s bestseller.

Arts & Entertainment | page 14

Beavis and Butthead The 90’s cartoon duo is making a comeback on MTV with some modern flare.

Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief

New University Police Chief Zeke Aull (far right) hosts his first weekly student luncheon at the Dining Hall. Aull will be hosting the luncheon every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to give students a chance to voice their questions, concerns or praises directly to him. Aull hopes that the weekly luncheons will encourage students to voice their concerns and keep an open line of communication between the students and the University Police Department.

Happenings p. 2

Campus Pulse p. 8

Distractions p. 18

Sports | page 16 End of an Era Baseball Head Coach Steve Kittrell is set to retire after 28 seasons.

Letter to the Editor p. 6

Classifieds p. 19

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NEWS

February 21, 2011

Vanguard The

University of South Alabama’s Student Voice Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

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The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications.

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Daniela Werner Managing Editor: Alex Whalen Associate Editor: Cameron Adkins Associate Editor: Genny Roman Senior Reporter: Carey Cox Opinion Editor: Cassie Fambro Etc. Editor: Brett Williams Arts & Entertainment Editor, Webmaster: Rodney Thompson Sports Editor: Matt Weaver Photo Editor: Colin McGee DISTRIBUTION Distribution Manager: Johnny Davis ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager: Wesley Jackson Advertising Representative: Mohammad Ammar Al-Zarrad Graphic Designer: Brittany Hawkins MANAGEMENT Adviser: Jim Aucoin Accounting: Kathy Brannan Website: http://www.usavanguard.com Mailing Address The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala. 36688 Phone Number (251) 460-6442 Article XIV, Section 8 of The Lowdown: The editors of the student publications shall be free from any type of censorship and shall be responsible for the form, content and staff of the publication.

SPLC Statement: The Vanguard recognizes and affirms the editorial independence and press freedom of all student-edited campus media. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently bear the responsibility for the decisions that they make.

POLICE BLOTTER 2/11- Domestic Violence Assault The crime of domestic violence in the third degree was committed in Delta 2.

2/14- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A victim gave two dresses and two pairs of shoes to a known person. That person has not returned the items. The items are valued at $330.

2/15- Theft of Property/ Violation of Protection Order A cell phone was reported stolen from a computer lab in the gym. The item was valued at $150.

that she has such a right, inflicted damages to a vehicle in the Mitchell College of Business parking lot in an amount which exceeds $500 but does not exceed $2,500.

2/16- Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle A student reported a cell phone and a Jensen multimedia player stolen from his vehicle at the Student Recreation Center. The items were valued at $1,200.

2/17- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A student reported two missing textbooks. The items were valued at $400.

2/15- Simple Assault A female student was assaulted by a male student 2/17- Criminal Misin Delta 6. chief, 3rd Degree An unknown person 2/16- Burglary, 3rd damaged a victim’s vehiDegree cle in the Beta area. The An unknown person damages were estimated entered a room in the at $499.

Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house and stole prescrip- 2/18- Theft of Article tion pills.

A license plate was stolen from a U.S. Govern2/16- Criminal Misment leased vehicle in chief, 2nd Degree the Lafayette Lot at the A known person, with Springhill Avenue camintent to damage proppus. The item was valued erty and having no right at $100. to do so or any reasonable grounds to believe

The

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happenings SGA Athletic Spirit Days What: The Student Government Association is hosting their annual Spirit days at the Jags’ basketball and baseball games on Wednesday through Friday. The SGA is also offering prizes for organizations that participate in these events.

Where: Mitchell Center/Stanky Field When: Wednesday Feb. 23 through Saturday Feb. 26.

How much: Free For more info: Contact the SGA office at 460-7191, an SGA representative, or search for ‘SGA Athletic Spirit Days’ on Facebook.

Gender Studies Lecture What: The Gender Studies Program is pleased to announce the second lecture in our annual spring lecture series on Tuesday, February 22. Craig Dosher of the USA Department of History will present, “ ‘And let the heart of Atys at last, at last be mine’:Gay Culture in the College of William and Mary Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order, 1894-1898.”

Where: HUMB 150 When: Tuesday Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m.

How much: Free For more info: Visit www. usouthal.edu/genderstudies, or contact Dr. Brazy at mjbrazy@ jaguar1.usouthal.edu

ANNOUNCEMENT The Vanguard is teaming up with StormTEAM4 / Gamma 9 Weather Center, a USA student-run meteorology group, to bring you weekly seven-day weather forecasts. Turn to p. 4 to see this week’s forecast.

The

NEWS

Vanguard

News in Brief

Connors: Faculty Senate’s influence strengthened through new constitution

USA’s Faculty Senate (FS) has introduced a new constitution that its chairman said he hopes the Board of Trustees will approve this summer.

FS Chairman and Assistant Professor of Geology Dr. Jim Connors called the current constitution “overly restrictive and constrained.”

“There’s crazy stuff in it, like ‘Your meetings will be at three o’clock the third Wednesday of every month,” Connors said.

“That shouldn’t be in the constitution.

That should be in the bylaws.”

More importantly, Connors told The Vanguard, the FS needs a fluid document that offers protection to both administration and faculty from each other in shared governance, Connors told The Vanguard.

Connors said that one of his main goals as FS chairman this year was to institute a new constitution that would allow University faculty to partake in shared governance with USA administrators.

“In almost all of academia, there’s a

concept that this faculty group actually has a large part in running the university,” the chairman said. “In every place, it’s different.

“Older institutions seem to have more developed version of faculty governance.

“Younger institutions come from a time when you need strong management pushing the ball; I see the reason for it.”

Connors called the new constitution a “game-changer.”

“It will make us a much more effective, dynamic organization,” he said. “It’s going to give definition to what USA as a community understands as shared governance.

Both of those things are beyond significance to USA.” Connors described the current constitution as one that treats faculty more as employees of USA, while the new draft gives them a more active role in important decisions relating to academics at the University.

The FS serves as a “forum for discussion of issues vital to the academic mission of the University,” according to its Web site.

February 21, 2011

3

Sick of wasting time on Facebook?

Forget studying!

Spend your valuable time on The Vanguard’s Web site!

Visit www.usavanguard.com to comment on articles, get breaking news updates about USA, find the answers to our fun Sudoku puzzles (see Distractions, p. 18,) and much, much more!

4

NEWS

February 21, 2011

Gamma 9 Weather Research Center

Forecast for Feb. 21 - 27

Patrick Bigbie Meteorologist

A small disturbance will be passing through the area today and tomorrow, bringing us a small chance of showers. Highs will be mid 70s on Monday and will fall to the upper 60s by mid week.

We should have partly cloudy skies on Wednesday before another disturbance brings us a chance of showers and T-Storms on Thursday and into the weekend.

Highs will be in the low 70s late week and into the weekend with lows around the low 50s. Fog will still be possible in the overnight throughout the week.

Write for The Vanguard!

For more local weather information, visit facebook.com/stormteam4gamma9wx or follow Patrick on Twitter: @metwxpatrick.

Write for The Vanguard!

Send Writing Samples to USAVanguard.Editor@ Gmail.com.

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The

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NEWS

February 21, 2011

5

College of Ed launches new graduate program

By Daniela Werner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The first USA Pathway to Science scholars were recognized Wednesday at a scholarship signing in the College of Education (COE).

The 14-month program, funded by a $899,962 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, was created to train 24 graduate students to teach sciences in the Mobile County school system. It launched last spring and comes from a grant whose principal investigator was Assistant Professor of Leadership and Teacher Education Dr. Andre Green.

“This program captures the spirit of being excited about doing science,” said Dr. Richard Hayes, dean of Education.

“We are looking for people who retain that enthusiasm.”

Hayes said it reduces the barrier between studying science and becoming a teacher of it.

“We want to put the best teacher we can in front of [Mobile County school] students,” Hayes said.

The program is a collaboration between USA; the Alabama Department of Education’s Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative; and the Mobile County Public School System.

Its co-principal investigators include Dr. Fillip Feldman, associate dean of the COE, and Associate Professor of Physics Dr. Justin Sanders.

It has doubled the size of USA’s science

Courtesy of John Adams, USA Public Relations

The first class of USA Pathway to Science Scholars (pictured above) was recognized Wednesday at a scholarship signing at the College of Education.

From left to right: Candice Goff, Peter Kupfer, Elexisca Morriessette, Ashley Velazquez, Jeanell Calhoun, Alicia Butts, and Tami May.

education offerings, Green said. “[President Barack] Obama’s State of the Union address had a good focus on science and math teachers,” Green told The Vanguard, adding that this pro-

gram’s aim to equip science undergraduate degree-holders to instruct in school goes hand-in-hand with Obama’s mission to improve the quality of math and science education in the U.S.

Chief

from page 1

concern of students at the luncheon.

Aull provided a possible solution for the issue of parking permits.

Instead of waiting in line at the Mitchell Center, Aull proposed having parking passes mailed to students before the semester begins.

Aull said there would be a monetary implication for mailing permits, but he added, “I would pay $5 bucks more to not have to stand in line for two hours.”

This plan is still in the works, and the cost has not been fixed ($5 is just an estimate).

Nursing sophomore Alanna White inquired about what the parking situation will look like after the new dorm is complete.

Aull said a gravel holding area near the construction area will be developed into a parking lot, and residents will be able to park in either the main delta parking lot or the lot near the new dorm.

“I’m glad to hear there’s going to be more parking,” White said.

Political Science junior Will Breitfelder addressed his concerns about lights in the Delta One parking lot not working.

Aull said although the police department does not repair the lights, the department needs to hear about it so it can forward the information to the right department.

Aull also talked about using the department’s Facebook page as a way to get important information to students as an alternative to campus-wide e-mails.

The Housing officer program, where officers focus on patrolling the housing area,

Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief

will continue to be utilized to improve campus safety, according to Aull.

“Just the sheer presence of that officer, not necessarily being in the patrol car all the time, being out on foot, is a huge plus to prevent crimes,” Aull said.

Aull said he hopes the weekly luncheons will encourage students to voice their con-

cerns and keep open communication between students and the police department.

“My goal would be to interact more with the students, provide programming that would benefit the students… We want to be part of that education opportunity outside the classroom,” Aull said.

All seven scholars hold biology degrees from USA, according to a University press release. These students are Alicia Butts, Candice Goff, Peter Kupfer, Tami see SCIENCE | 6

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The

NEWS

February 21, 2011

Vanguard

Lecture series brings gender issues to light Four USA professors are part of the 2011 Gender Studies Lecture Series that will cover gender issues from different perspectives.

By Amber Beasley

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The 2011 Gender Studies Lecture Series is in full swing at USA. The series will not only take a look at how society reacts to specific genders, but it will analyze and discuss the different perspectives held within each gender. Four different professors are giving the lectures.

“We have a range of topics and academic disciplines represented such as psychology, history, art history and nursing,” Dr. Martha Brazy, associate professor of history and director of Gender Studies at the University of South Alabama, said.

“Many of those perceptions become the stereotypes, if you will, about how we perceive men and women to be, or what constitutes such labels or categories as ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine,’” Brazy said. “A common example that comes to mind is that women are ‘naturally’ or inherently more emotional than men, or that men are inherently more competitive than women.”

The first lecture, “How to Find a Mate?

Solving the Mate-Shortage Dilemma,”

was given Tuesday, Feb. 8, by Dr. Peter JoThe first lecture brought out a large nason, assistant professor of psychology in group of students and faculty to particithe College of Arts and Sciences at USA. pate.

Jonason discussed how gender can effect “There was an excellent response to the dating and mate selection.

Jonason lecture-- it was filled to capacity, “In my lecture, I discussed ways people so about 70-75 people attended,” Brazy try to find mates and why this creates a said. shortage,” Jonason said. “One example to Craig Dosher, a USA History instrucface the shortage is to travel further when tor, will present the next lecture within the looking for a partner.” series Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. Dosher’s Lauren Linder, a USA student double lecture will cover “‘And let the heart of majoring in Spanish and psychology, re- Atys at last, at last be mine:’ Gay Culture in flected on the the College of turnout of stuWilliam and dents to the first Mary Chapter lecture. of the Kappa definitely enjoyed the lecture. I “There was a Alpha Order, thought it would be a bunch of singles good mixture of 1894-1898.” guys and girls,” “My talk eyeing out for dates, but it was actually a Linder said. will discuss lot of fun in a more educated way.”

“There were gay culture not just psycholspecifically in ogy majors that the Kappa Al-Amanda Kohn showed up.” pha Order at Radiology major While some the College of students may William and have assumed the Mary between lecture would be 1894 and filled with singles looking for a relation- 1898, but it will also be about gay culture ship, the lecture turned out to offer more. in the United States more broadly in the “I definitely enjoyed the lecture,” late nineteenth century,” Dosher said. “I Amanda Kohn, a radiology major, said. “I will discuss how gay youths responded to thought it would be a bunch of singles eye- the dominant heterosexual world around ing out for dates, but it was actually a lot of them in terms of alternative ideologies and fun in a more educated way.” patterns of behavior and dress.”

“I

Letter to the Editor

Problem lies in the law Dear Vanguard,

I am writing to take issue with the situation upon which Cassie Fambro’s excellent piece about bicycle and pedestrian safety (February 7, 2011 issue) is premised. First, I would like to say that pedestrian safety is a serious concern to anybody who uses the roadways on USA’s campus, and I applaud Cassie’s efforts to raise awareness for this subject. However, she promulgates some advice and misinformation that conflicts with Alabama state laws.

Cassie begins the piece by explaining how she was riding on the sidewalks and attempting to cross at a crosswalk when a truck nearly hits her. Later, she provides some advice to bicyclists

who have similarly encountered safety issues on campus: “I’ve seen many bicyclists drive in the roads next to sidewalks. This is plain stupid. I understand your speed tires are flimsy, but you’re in Alabama. You will encounter mud and rock. Get better tires.”

As a fellow bicycle rider, I share and empathize with Cassie’s sentiment that, often, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk provides better safety options than the road.

This is, unfortunately, illegal in the state of Alabama. The Code of Alabama states in very clear terminology that a bicycle (a “humanpowered vehicle”) must be driven on the far right side of the road unless there is a designated bike path (Sec 32-5A-52/60/63/66).

As part of my research before writing this, I drove (in my car) around campus, looking for sidewalks that may be “duly authorized” for bicycles as the Code requires—no sign, anywhere.

Certainly, this must be a mistake!

The USA Police website actually offers similar advice to Cassie’s (an obvious rebellion against the man). What was even more striking is that much of USA’s campus has no sidewalks at all, much less authorized bike paths. So, if you are a bicycle commuter, and you choose to obey Cassie’s advice by riding on the sidewalks or on the dirt, you will be in plain violation of the Code of Alabama.

What is a bicyclist supposed to do with the cards stacked so heavily against her? What I say to Cassie is this: your article is premised on a situation in which you were in the wrong. Riding your bike on the road is not stupid— it’s the law. What is stupid is the law that requires you to do so. If you really want to raise awareness for bicycle safety, you will petition the law to be changed rather than encouraging people to break it.

Best regards, Will Sweeney

Dr. Elizabeth Richards, assistant professor of Art History at USA, will give the third lecture Wednesday, March 30 at 3 p.m. on “Women and War: Materializing Blame on the Homefront.”

“Professor Richards will look at the dynamics of gender during wartime through the lens of art,” Brazy said.

The final lecture will be presented by Dr. Alethea Hill, clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing, on Tuesday, April 12 at 3 p.m. Hill will speak on “Perceived Stress and its Effects on Women’s Health.”

Even if some students and faculty are unable to attend any of the lectures in person, there are alternatives to partaking in the series.

“Dr. Jonason’s lecture will also be playing on JagTV in the coming week and for those who missed that lecture or any of our other lectures, there will be a link to the lecture video on the Gender Studies Program website,” Brazy said.

For more information, visit www.usouthal.edu/genderstudies.

Editor’s note: The remaining lectures are dated as follows: -Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m.: Craig Dosher, lecturer -March 30 at 3:30 p.m.: Elizabeth Richards, lecturer -April 12 at 3:30 p.m.: Alethea Hill, lecturer

Science from page 5

May and Ashley Velazquez, all from Mobile. Also in the group are Elexisca Morriessette from Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, and Jeanell Calhoun of Pensacola, Fla. Each of them will receive a scholarship award of about $27,000 in tuition and fees, professional development support and stipends.

After the signing, Kupfer told The Vanguard that he is excited about teaching and that Obama’s address touches on “exactly what this country needs for democracy [to thrive]” – a higherquality science and math education for children.

“I like to engage students, and I think I can make a difference,” he said.

The seven scholars had already completed a graduate-level pre-residency program through the COE and interned for 10 weeks at local schools, Green said.

These internships provided the candidates with field experience and showed them whether they wanted to pursue science education, Green said.

May said she’s excited to think that she’ll be teaching in local schools.

“It’s an awesome opportunity and something I’ve wanted to do,” she said.

After the internships were completed, a committee interviewed the candidates and selected these students as the first class of Pathway to Science scholars.

After they complete the program, the scholars will be placed as teachers in Mobile County schools, where there has been a math and science teacher shortage, according to Green.

The

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Communities from page 1

(LLCs) that will provide a new kind of educational experience at USA for lower and upper classmen alike, according to Dr. Nicole Carr, director of Student Academic Success and Sociology professor.

A little less than 20 LLCs are in the works for USA, Carr said, and they represent a new type of academic program that USA’s never seen before. The LLCs will be supervised by live-in faculty who already work at USA, and some students functioning as peer academic leaders will be available to assist students. These mentors will be hired by the University with weekly pay, but Carr said specific pay information for these leaders will be finalized in the coming weeks.

The LLCs will all have different community themes. Some of these, like the Engineering, Business and Nursing LLCs, are academically focused.

Other communities are less academic in nature. One LLC will focus on teaching students to be globally minded citizens, and it includes a mix of History and International Studies courses. One LLC, “Time Detectives,” offers a mix of archaeology and geology classes. Another LLC will be set up for student athletes, where Carr said she hopes athletes will realize their role on campus as ambassadors of the University. “[Student athletes] represent [USA] not only on the field but they represent in the classroom,” Carr said. “They’re a leader in the classroom.

I’m hoping that, in addition to making sure they have academic skills and make friends across sports, they realize their importance as an academic leader on this campus too.

“They have a chance to be a student leader here, and that can translate into lots of opportunities for them.”

Enrolling in an LLC is of no extra cost to students, Carr said, but the University is targeting

NEWS the upcoming freshman class for LLC recruitment. The students part of these communities aren’t required to live in the new residence hall, either, but Housing will try to group members of the same community in the same dorm area on campus, Carr said.

LLC coursework won’t add that many extra courses to what is already required in an undergraduate track, Carr said, adding that she expects LLC leaders to put on at least one “community event,” or special academic activity, outside of regular class time every semester.

“Every community includes a first-year exCarr perience class,” Carr said.

“There are academic standards involved, things that freshmen need to know, but there’s freedom for instructors to bring in things that are interesting to those students.

Assignments like learning how to peer-review a classmate’s paper will be incorporated into the curriculum, according to Carr.

The marketing materials Housing will soon send out to prospective students will target freshmen, but the Health and Wellness LLC could see some upper classmen enrollment, Carr said.

Carr said she’s looking for energetic, outgoing USA students who enjoy interacting with diverse people to hire as peer academic leaders. These leaders won’t be required to live in their respective LLCs and will be required to take a class this summer titled “Peer Academic Leadership: Teaching and Learning Seminar” to train them for the job. Some of the responsibilities these leaders will hold include attending their LLC’s first-year experience class, keeping some office hours, and answering student e-mails.

For more information, visit http://www. southalabama.edu/academicsuccess.

February 21, 2011

7

Opinion

8

February 21, 2011

The

Vanguard Cassie Fambro, Opinion Editor edgeofthisworld@Gmail.com

www.usavanguard.com/opinion

OUR VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD >>usavanguard.editor@Gmail.com

STAFF EDITORIAL Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief Alex Whalen | Managing Editor Cameron Adkins | Associate Editor

Genny Roman | Associate Editor Cassie Fambro | Opinion Editor Carey Cox | Senior Reporter

Aull on right track with direct communication

A

n open line of communication between the University community and the force that is charged with protecting that community is vital.

Police officers are there to protect and to serve, but how are they supposed to serve when they don’t know what the people want?

USAPD Chief Zeke Aull has made it clear in his first few weeks as chief that his goal is to know what the students’ public safety concerns are so any problems can be addressed before they get out of hand.

He has already begun weekly luncheons at the Dining Hall to hear students’ “concerns, complaints, appreciation, whatever it may be.”

A program like this is great for the University community, and it is something that must continue. It is imperative that University police hear students’ concerns and opinions in order to better protect and serve the student body.

At times it can be a daunting task to work up the courage to talk to a police officer because of the type of authority that comes with the job, but by going out and simply having lunch with the students, Aull has broken the ice.

Having a luncheon every week and constantly being seen interacting with the students will only strengthen the line of communication.

Students must realize the opportunity they have to help

Tilting at Windmills

By Matthew Peterson mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

The Crooked Society The homeless problem runs rampant across America, with more and more people becoming homeless every day. It’s even reached the small town of Mobile, Alabama, and it’s becoming a problem, because, quite frankly, homeless people are just really annoying.

They smell bad, they try to talk to me and one is probably using this paper right now as a blanket. Just disgusting, simply despicable. Let me give you an example.

The other night, my girlfriend and I were walking downtown, about to enjoy a nice dinner at a local restaurant. As we were walking near Bienville Square, this homeless man approached us. To begin with, he was dressed like he had just stepped out of a time capsule. Denim jacket, man?

the USAPD help them. There is only so much Aull and his officers can do if students don’t give them the information they need to protect everyone to the best of their ability.

During the first luncheon, students approached Aull with concerns about parking permit distribution. Because this has been an issue numerous students have wanted addressed for some time, Aull has suggested the possibility of mailing parking permits instead of distributing them at the Mitchell Center.

Though mailing parking permits would require a small fee, it would be worth it to not make new students and their parents stand in line for hours. Aside from being inconvenient for returning students, that line, which at one point stretched to Old Shell Road from the Mitchell Center at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester, was the first experience new students and their parents had at USA. That is not the type of treatment people need to experience at a university that they are paying heftily to attend, much less the first impression they should get of what they are paying for.

So, Chief Aull, it is our challenge to you to keep this line of communication open. Doing so will make things easier on everyone.

Yeah, Kirk Cameron from 1994 called -he wants his jacket back. Second, he just smelled really bad.

I was like, dude, c’mon, go take a shower or something. This is something participants in society must do, and if you can’t, then I have no choice but to consider you outside of our society and, simply, not a person.

“The homeless

problem runs rampant across America, with more and more people becoming homeless every day.”

Not only that, but he had the gall to ask us for money. Thinking that he was probably gaming us, I refused to help him out.

“Why don’t you get a college education and get a good job instead of mooching off other people?” I said.

See, I’ve heard about this new scam people have going on. See, they dress up like homeless people, don’t shower for a couple of weeks, then ask people downtown for money.

Every once in a while, they catch some bleeding heart, then, bam! One dollar added to their slush fund. Yeah, they have

to deal with degrading conditions and horrific poverty for weeks on end, but then they hit the jackpot and get rich off of hard-working Americans.

With these kind of horrific conditions for Americans walking down the street -- being asked for money, having to smell these homeless people, and deal with their outrageous fashion decisions -- something must be done. And it starts and ends with the homeless people themselves.

Here’s a modest proposal for you: Why don’t they stop being homeless? After all, it was their choice to begin with. They were the ones who chose to be born into a situation that virtually prevented them from being productive members of society, or they chose to simply be subjected to a series of accidents that resulted in a spiraling fall into homelessness.

Or they simply chose to have a physical condition that prevents them from finding successful employment and leading a normal life, and then chose to have a government that could not care less about their plight.

Or they just woke up one day and decided that, instead of leading a normal life, they want to be homeless. It’s all about choices, and homeless people simply made all the wrong ones.

We normal people who choose to be a part of civilized society shouldn’t have to suffer because of their wrong choices.

Should foreign language be mandated as a general education requirement?

Stuart King Political Science Junior

Yes, it is good for cultural knowledge.

We cannot limit ourselves to things directly around us.

In a rapidly globalizing economy and political scene, it’s necessary to know more about culture besides our own.

Yes because it benefits you in the workforce. With Spanish or another foreign language, you expand your customer base and can meet more needs. With pharmacy, it is great to have because I can help more people.

Kassy Seale Freshman Chem/Pre-Pharm

Teachers should take foreign language.

My dad says people who are bilingual speak two languages, people who are trilingual speak three.

People who speak one language are Kathleen Cosgrove American. It’s unique to our culture to only Elem. Ed/English speak one language.

Junior I think they do because a lot of business involves foreign relations. It is easier to find a job especially with a background in Spanish. With sociology, it helps with research to have foreign language knowledge.

Daniel Robinson Psychology Junior

Ashley Powe Sociology Senior

It benefitted me a lot, but it should not be required for everyone. A lot of people have severe difficulties with learning a language.

Depending on your major, you may not need it. I took German and loved it.

The

OPINION

Vanguard

February 21, 2011

9

POINT COUNTERPOINT Egyptian Revolution: Can it be Replicated Peacefully?

Editor’s Introduction: The turmoil in Egypt has ignited a fire storm of issues ranging from cultural abuse of women, the capricious nature of protesting and the use of the media to spur violence. With President Mubarak ending his reign to the relief of the Egyptian people, the debate rages on if this could hap-

Success Unique in Egyptian Uprising

pen in other oppressed countries. While Egypt found a way to use technology to communicate with the world, other countries such as Iran may not be able to overcome the oppression there in order to overthrow their government. Will peaceful protesting work outside of Egypt and within the tumultuous middle-east?

Potential for Other Oppressed Counties

Once it was started, the revoluIt was pretty hard to miss The current revolution in semination and receipt of information grew through the snowball efthe blaring headlines about the Egypt is a landmark moment in tion a simple and extremely multifect and despite the loss of internet, trouble in Egypt the past two Middle Eastern History. faceted process. the gathering in Tahrir square weeks.

Like other significant and These multiple facets make the continued to grow and attract atWhat started out as a simple thorough shifts of power and restriction of informational flow ever tention. gathering of unsatisfied citiphilosophy, this is one to be more difficult to do by local governIt must also be taken into aczens grew into a massive mob learned from. ments. count the army’s presence when exof people declaring the end of Some key components to be As shown by the unprecedented amining why the Egyptian revoluEgyptian President Hosni Mubanoted are the universal unrest complete shut down of Egypt’s tion ended favorably and with less rak’s 30 year reign.

Bailey Tory bloodshed than other revolutions. of the people, long term cominternet, information still got out. So The tension in Tahrir square Hammond In a way, the army was a bufin Cairo was tangible to the Albertson “in house” situations are much more mitment to the end goal, an fer between world, and it had leaders across unhealthy difficult to contain than ever before, the two sides of the the globe scrambling to make sense of government and can be exploited. revolution and it is what was happening. and commitment to Global access to information and other not surprising that But my questions are how did it start general reform, i.e., people has made the world a much smaller when Mubarak finally and why did it work? economics and social place that can be empathized with. resigned, the army The thousands of protestors who took justice.

With global technology use, we are made was given control of to the street had to have some organizaThese types of com- aware of the crisis. the Egyptian governtion. There had to have been a catalyst. ponents are ones that We might even care enough about what ment. The people The revolution in Egypt was well overtrusted the army and should be found in any is happening to take the time to understand due. are now working with Thirty years under the rule of a man successful revolution. more, and maybe even contribute to the the soldiers to clean who kept the majority of Egyptian Revolution is an “in effort. up the mess that was citizens below the poverty line—while he house” sort of issue, On the other side of the coin, informamade in the name of ladled money from the government into with true success detion is not only easier to learn from the outCourtesy of rollinsd.com democracy. private Swiss accounts—was assuredly a pending on the willingside, it is also easier to obtain from within.

The Middle East has long been a place of unIn Algeria, protescontributing factor. But what started the Thus the people of Egypt, Iran, Tunisia, rest, going back to biblical times. Countries ness of the people to tors took heart from 2011 revolution? the success of Egypt’s like Egypt and Iran are among those seeking see the process through and Yemen are able to compare their stanLook no further than your own Faceto the end; the matura- dard of living to other parts of the world. revolution and rallied liberation from oppression in their regions. book page. tion of technology has They are also able to obtain, models of to enact reforms in In this age of technology, it is only fittheir government, but changed the playing government that could provide the superting that a corrupt government is overwere met with overwhelming police force. thrown by the media of modern age. field profoundly. structure needed to bring effective reform.

The unrest is spreading. Libya, Sudan, According to CNN, the participants in It is with technology where other counWith the growth of informational access Yemen, Lebanon, Morocco and Jordan the initial protest marches were organized tries can take note of Egypt’s example and and individual expression, governments like are all seeing protests.

by Facebook messages. learn from it. that of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak are now beLike a domino effect, tension is spreadIt was through use of social networking General availability of technology to the ing placed under the magnifying glass. ing across the already unstable Middle sites that the protestors stayed cohesive globe has effectively shrunk it’s inhabitants Gone are the days of a government East. and managed to gather such large numperspective of the world. Making the disbers. see POTENTIAL | 12

see UNIQUE| 12

Cassie Fambro Opinion Editor

SMOKE ON THE WATER

Tigers, stop casting stones

Passions have undoubtedly been stirred up by the poisoning of the Toomer’s corner oak trees. The trees are estimated to be 130 years old and have become a staple of Auburn campus pride.

When the Auburn Tigers win games, students and alumni flock to Toomer’s corner to roll the trees in celebration. South Alabama’s new homecoming tradition was inspired by the corner.

I’ve been known to state how ridiculously wasteful I believe rolling anything is, but that takes away from the issue at heart.

Harvey Updyke, a 62-year-old man was charged with using a lethal herbicide in order to ruin this time-honored landmark.

Updyke has been charged with Criminal Mischief in the 1st degree which could warrant him up to ten years in prison as well as having to pay restitution on the damage. Full costs at this time are unknown.

If the water supply was affected, then the crime would become much more serious, although Auburn officials say there is little threat to the water supply, contrary to what you may see in social media. Time will tell.

Updyke phoned into a radio sports show to confess his crime, and university officials were prompted to sample the soil.

Results came back positive for Spike80 DF,

an EPA-controlled herbicide.

He informed the radio station that the trees will definitely die, and ended his phone call with “roll damn tide.” He never attended Alabama, nor was he a season ticket holder.

Personally, I doubt the man’s sanity. I think he is a sick individual that carried out a malicious act based on some past associated with Auburn or an alumni and sought revenge in a horrific way.

I understand that this landmark is the holy grail of tradition to many Tigers, but what I do not understand is the reaction of the fans.

Pride is a temperamental weapon. Tiger fans went to the internet on WSFA’s Facebook wall to call Updyke a “loser”, “inbred hick”, and “idiot.” He may be stupid to have done this, but this negative energy is wasted. Fans are calling for him to be jailed for as long as Austin’s Treaty Oak

poisoner was in 1990.

That’s right, this isn’t the first time this has happened. For the Austin incident, Paul Cullen received 9 years in prison because he had a previous conviction for a felony, according to the New York Times.

So, I ask, is it really necessary to spend taxpayer money on a man who didn’t hurt people, and instead took psychotic anger out on trees?

Child molester David Earls of Oklahoma City received one year in prison for raping a 4 year-old girl in 2009.

Yet, Auburn fans call for Updyke to be locked up and the key thrown away. Pride has obscured reality, and reality is that this is not as big of a deal as it’s being made.

They are trees, not people. Updyke did not bring a gun on campus and shoot students. Updyke did not burn buildings down. see TIGERS| 12

Etc.

10

February 21, 2011

The

Vanguard Brett Williams, Etc. Editor btw702@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

www.usavanguard.com/etc

7 mistakes MCOB students get graded on giving employees back to Ronald McDonald House make when job searching

ETC Editor Brett Williams reviews the techniques mentioned in How to Find A Job in the 21st Century

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

Things aren’t so easy on the outside. I’ve been saying it for weeks now because I just don’t think that we’re preparing ourselves for what’s to come in the near future.

Seniors, the clock is ticking down, and many of you have no formal work experience to back up that bachelor’s degree you’ll so proudly list on your resumes this summer.

In my constant search for persons with considerably more knowledge than myself on the subject, I’ve come across a piece of literature that could prove very useful to you now and after graduation.

I give you seven mistakes employees make when they are job hunting, and they are as follows: 1. Ignorance about the impact of Social Media Networks Recruiters and hiring managers are saying that up to 45 percent of the applicants they review are being rejected because of what they found out about them online.

The warning that all social media experts give is: “If it’s online – it isn’t private.”

2. Ineffective use of Social Media Networks.

Getting hired today is moving in the direction of being found by employers rather than the traditional approach of applying for work. Employment seekers must learn how to use social media networks effectively.

3. Focusing on advertised positions.

At least 80 percent of the employment opportunities are never advertised, and employment seekers must learn how to sniff these out.

4. Too much emphasis on jobs.

If the only option you give an employer is to offer you a job, you’re making it hard for them to hire you. This is especially true for small businesses, where most of the action is. Being willing to accept parttime, temporary and contract work without reservations is essential.

5. Ignorance about marketing.

We’re a society that knows how to apply for a job. The challenge for employment seekers today is to become proficient at finding work. Anyone lacking this skill will see SEVEN | 12

Photo Courtesy USA Public Relations

From left to right: Timothey R. Sells, president Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors; Paul Giardina, RMH executive director; Dr. Marjorie Icenogle, management professor at the USA Mitchell College of Business, management student Josh Logan of Birmingham, and human resource management students Jodi Long of Mobile, Rosalyn McBride of Huntsville and Nick Taylor of Mobile. These students of USA's Employee Training and Development class wrote and produced two videos for Mobile's Ronald McDonald House. The first video reviews check-in procedures and house rules while the second demonstrates cleaning and check-out procedures. Formerly the information was delivered via information packets upon a guest's arrival at the Ronald McDonald house, which is a time when guests are often distracted due to their child's illness.

New Tech News: tomorrow’s bifocal

By Gabe Grimes STAFF WRITER

Hey, you know what I hate? Bifocal wearers complaining about their glasses. “I can’t safely go up stairs with these things on.” “My eyes get tired when I text while driving.” “I can’t find my Metamucil.”

Whatever, Grandma. Try not being so old next time.

At any rate, it seems a company called Pixel Optics heard my sighs of frustration and saw my eye rolls, as they have finally invented glasses that electronically turn bifocals on and off automagically. Hooray for science!

According to an article in Singularity Hub, the glasses are simply far-sighted-vision-correcting glasses that have a special LCD section inserted into the bifocal area

of the glass. Look straight ahead and the glasses are regular glasses. Look down at something and the LCD section magnifies whatever you’re looking at. Look back up and the bifocal part disappears again.

The glasses have a really small “tilt sensor” called an accelerometer. According to the company’s many YouTube videos recorded at the latest Consumer Electronics Show, the switch from regular glasses to bifocals takes microseconds to happen. The glasses also have manual mode, requiring the user to hit a switch when the user wants the bifocals to turn on and hit the switch again to turn them off, which can be really helpful when Grandma wants to quilt during an earthquake.

Of course, the glasses look like old-people glasses. The sides of the frames are thick and bulky, since that’s where the electronics

are stored, while the front of the frames look like they come from this century. Sorry hipsters, no Buddy Holly hornrims. The glasses also come with an induction charger, which is basically a cradle to hold your glasses while they wirelessly charge.

The glasses look like they’re going to cost somewhere south of $2000, so if you’re a senior citizen with money to burn, these are the glasses for you. If you’re the grandparent who doesn’t go on cruises every few months, you might have to stick with the regular Ben Franklin model of bifocals.

Sorry.

Granted, all this stuff is about as exciting as a polka record, but these glasses do get the ball rolling toward something that your kids will probably be real excited about: someday, real-life heads-up displays. Yes, just like in Halo.

The

Vanguard

ETC.

February 21, 2011

11

Behind ‘Harry’: Before the saga ends From the Field: ETC’s favorite bookworm Hannah Bailey reviews Melissa Anelli’s best-selling book, ‘Harry, A History’ and shares her thoughts on the series’ final feature before it hits theaters this summer.

Cryptozoology

gettyimages.com

The infamous Surgeon's Photo of the Loch Ness Monster later proved to be ficticious.

Student Cryptozoologists Patrick Senn and Travis Brewer explore the methodology behind the most infamous cryptids and other secrets.

By Patrick Senn Cryptozoologist

harryahistory.com

Fans at an Anelli book reading gather in droves to find out more about Harry Potter and the pandemonium behind the scenes.

By Hannah Bailey

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

What do a blockbuster movie franchise, the most popular book series of all time, a rock genre and millions of fans across the globe have in common? One name: Harry Potter.

Fans across the world have followed the Harry Potter mania with, well, a mania.

Perhaps I should be truly honest and be the first to admit that I’m not the ultimate Harry Potter fan. I thought that I was, but after reading “Harry, A History,” I can give that title to the author Melissa Anelli.

Anelli achieved the title through sheer hard work and a tenacity that harks back to her idols in the wizarding world.

Anelli started the way all of us fans began: she read the books.

But that wasn’t enough; she needed more.

It was then that she started her journey to becoming the webmistress of the popular Harry Potter fan site, the Leaky Cauldron.

As I read Anelli’s semi-biographical narrative about the Harry Potter phenomenon, I couldn’t help but be impressed with what I didn’t know about other Potter fans.

First, there are hundreds of fan sites.

Then there was wizard rock which I didn’t know even existed. Apparently, I didn’t know a lot about my favorite book series.

At least, I didn’t know a lot about my fellow fans.

Anelli documents the growth of Potter fandom with a practiced hand, using her experience as a reporter to accurately record each step along the way towards

facebook.com

Melissa Anelli is an avid Harry Potter fan and former journalist who used her skills to compile a history that Potterheads can hold on to long after the productions are no longer in circulation.

the culmination of the Harry Potter franchise.

The part I was most impressed with was her constant attention to detail and desire to represent each aspect of Potterdom as it was.

Since she is a fan, she could understand and write about her experiences in a way that resonates with other fans.

That makes all the difference.

Not only that, but she also covers the darker side of what was happening as the

series gained popularity.

The Great Shipper Debate, the Harry Potter War, and the always-annoying spoilers threatened to overtake the Internet and ruin the books for countless fans.

There is just so much that went on behind the scenes.

It is amazing that I can reach five feet from my desk and grab my copy of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” without having to beat off an angry mob or waive my right to an attorney.

Despite the slight dryness of the facts listed in some chapters, I couldn’t help but ignore my boring-meter and keep reading.

The subject matter was too compelling.

The way she wrote about the rush of holding the books in her hands after waiting for so long made me flash back to my own memories about butterflies I had when holding my very own copy.

I laughed when Anelli mentioned her reactions to certain scenes in the books because I could remember feeling the exact same way.

These days, with the last movie getting closer and closer to theaters - I know, where has the time gone? - I thought that my last chance to feel the butterflies was coming to a close, but Anelli has given me new hope.

The fan-to-fan connection between us was tangible because I knew we had one thing in common: Harry Potter.

I may not have been able to experience some of the amazing things that Anelli did -- I won’t spoil anything for those of you who do read -- but after reading “Harry, A History,” I almost felt like I had, at least for a moment, been a part of that grand movement.

Long live Harry Potter!

Every seafaring culture has recorded encounters with strange beasts from unfathomable depths.

The mysterious Bishop Fish made the sign of the cross before disappearing into the sea; cephalopods of varying monstrous sizes have harassed countless merchant ships; and the slender necks of sea serpents have risen into our world just long enough to peek curiously and vanish.

As many secrets as the sea may hold, the land above seems to harbor just as many.

Creatures that could not possibly exist have been reported with disturbing regularity across nearly every known culture in every corner of the globe and are not limited to the murky vagaries of the past. “Cryptids” are still widely seen and recorded, even in the modern world.

The study of these cryptids, bizarre creatures that appear very real but defy classification and explanation, is called “cryptozoology.” Cryptozoologists investigate sightings of cryptids on nearly every continent, from the famous long-necked lake monsters of Lake Champlain and Loch Ness, to the gigantic Mokèlé-mbèmbé lizards of Africa.

Unfortunately, out of all the areas of anomalous and paranormal research, no field is more rife with fakes and hoaxes than the field of cryptozoology. From misidentification of local fauna to outright malicious forgery, cryptozoologists must navigate a sea of lies to find the truth.

To put things into perspective, consider that the photograph that kickstarted the entire Loch Ness Monster craze, the famed “Surgeon’s Photo” taken in 1934 by Dr. Robert Kenneth Wilson, was revealed in 1994 to have been a revenge-motivated hoax. Also, every seasoned cryptozoologist is familiar with the countless “man-in-a-monkey-suit” fakes associated with Bigfoot, perpetrated for an equally countless number of reasons.

Still, the fact remains that creatures like these are a cultural staple across the world, even today. Regardless of whether or not you may believe in Bigfoot, there is no denying that people in the heavily wooded wilds of Canada and the northern U.S. still run see CRYPT | 13

12 February 21, 2011

The

Vanguard

Tigers

Unique

The Alabama Department of Corrections claims that as of 2009, it costs over $15,000 a year to house a prisoner. So, supporters are calling for spending $150,000 on this guy for criminal mischief (the maximum sentence) for poisoning trees.

With all the rest of what is going on in our world, that is a damn shame. More people are talking about the Toomer’s Trees instead of Egypt, health care or the lack of educational funding.

Priorities are beyond skewed. Pride has been wounded, and it needs to be overcome. Re-plant your trees, Auburn fans.

Band together and make this something you build from, create new traditions. Updyke should serve some time, do extensive community service including work at Auburn amidst heckling and embarrassment, and then work the rest of his life to pay off the damages he caused.

There are better ways to treat criminals than just throwing them in prison and costing us money. There are better ways to discuss and mourn the loss of your tradition than blaming others and being vicious and immature, and there are more positive than negative things that can come of this.

Start a student coalition to protect the trees, maybe recycle your alcohol bottles.

Donate to an environmental charity. But get past it sooner than later, because at the end of the day, be grateful he didn’t kill irreplaceable people; he killed replaceable trees.

The threats of revolution are not met as favorably by the military in other regions.

Brutal massacres and beatings accompany revolutions, and it is hard to find peaceful protesting that actually works. Some governments are responding with arrests and tear gas.

Others are using the military and police to disperse the crowds.

In Iran, the government is taking an intolerant approach to the protestors.

Several alleged political protest leaders have been slated for execution in addition to the 66 executions already made in January as reported by CNN World online.

According to once source, protestors in the capital Tehran were battled by police forces with batons and tear gas on Monday, Feb. 14.

from page 9

from page 9

Potential from page 9

hiding its dirty laundry from the world. If acceptance in the global community is desired, playing by humane rules is becoming ever more necessary.

Revolution can be enhanced and supported from remote location more effectively.

Consider those Twitter users who provided remote access for those in “unplugged” Egypt.

This enables individuals, not only governments, to provide actual hands-on help.

Technology is an ever maturing tool for an exponential number of uses. For Egypt, that use has been revolution. They have used this technology very well, and those

Iranian police officials blame the protests on the United States, England, and Israel.

What happened in Egypt was a fortunate combination of mostly peaceful citizens led by well-organized masterminds and met by an understanding military.

Without either of the two parts, the revolution might not have had as fruitful an ending as it did.

What about the other countries beset with oppressed citizens? .

It’s hard to stop the protesters without the might of the military, as Mubarak discovered.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that the Iranian protesters will find the same is true for them.

For the sakes of all involved, I hope the leaders of those other countries take a lesson from Mubarak and “let their people go.”

in Yemen, or Iran should be able to learn much from them.

Faced by those in Iran is that the government, lead by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is still very much under his dictatorial, totalitarian hand.

Here though, Iran has already proven an adept implementation of technology during the unrest throughout their 2009 elections.

Iran’s example serves to underscore an important note; however, technology is only a tool. It is not an end, or even the reason a revolution has been, or will be successful up to this point.

Technology has enhanced the efforts and effectiveness of the revolutionaries, but the staying power of this endeavor will be found in their guts and principles.

Seven

from page 10

be unemployed for a long time.

6. Too much focus on resumes.

Employment seekers must learn how to create a variety of tools that are marketing oriented and focused on the needs of the employer.

7. Living in the past.

We keep waiting for the Great Recession to be over and lots of jobs to come back. It’s not going to happen. For a growing number of workers the era of the traditional job and all the stability that came with it is over. In trend-setting California, only about 30 percent of the workforce have traditional jobs. That’s where we’re all headed. Accept it, adjust to it, and move on.

Perhaps the book’s best feature is that it raises your awareness of your own situation - especially if you consider yourself trying to play catch up with time you have lost playing video games and sleeping away weekends.

The author, Ron McGowan, is a career coach who travels the nation speaking to college graduates and sharing the insight he’s gained on careers over a ten year span.

He uses words current college students and recent college graduates can easily identify and phrases things with enough urgency to get your gears turning. Plus, the e-book is available at the Self Counsel Press website for less than $25.

The

Vanguard

February 21, 2011

13

Crypt

from page 11

across it with frequency. Those residing in the mountains of Tibet still record sightings of the Yeti; the Yeti are even known to occasionally attack and vandalize settlements there.

Sometimes cryptozoological phenomena are reported as part of larger paranormal trends. For example, Point Pleasant, West Virginia was the primary site of the “Mothman” craze of the late 1960s. Witnesses reported a tall, winged human shape with reflective red eyes set into its chest that took to the air to chase vehicles. But other, more varied paranormal events also occurred in Point Pleasant simultaneously, such as rampant UFO activity, poltergeist outbreaks, telepathic contact with entities claiming to be extradimensional, and the appearance of the mysterious “Men in Black.”

Mothman and the events in Point Pleasant will be investigated in further detail in a future article by USA PSI. In the next article in our cryptozoology series, USA PSI will describe our own investigation into Slidell, Louisiana’s very own cryptid, the Honey Island Swamp Monster, a Bigfootesque creature which has become a mainstay of local folklore.

In January 2010, USA PSI spent three days in Honey Island Swamp in search of its resident monster. We conducted interviews, set traps, and trekked through one of the largest swamps in Louisiana to determine whether the creature may truly exist and, if it does, what its origins may be. We will describe in detail how to conduct a cryptozoological expedition on even the tightest budget!

And, as always, if you have a paranormal experience to report or wish to view our full body of research, visit us on Facebook or email us at USAPSI@Gmail.com.

www.usavanguard.com

Go there.

Afraid to ask your doctor?

Ask Dr. Cannon!

E-mail your health questions and concerns to Dr. Cannon at usavanguard.editor@gmail.com.

Heather Cannon, M.D. is a USA Student Health Center physician. Anonymous e-mails are welcomed.

14

Arts & Entertainment

Rodney Thompson, A&E Editor ae.editor@usavanguard.com

February 21, 2011

Le Boeuf: Beavis & Butthead

The

Vanguard

www.usavanguard.com/a-e

‘Ballyhoo’ Hits USA Theatre

The Southern American play ‘Last Night of Ballyhoo’ is in full swing at USA’s Department of Dramatic Arts.

By Rodney Thompson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

They are coming back! No, I do not mean that infestation of roaches you found in that week old Papa John’s box. I am referring to one of the most iconic cartoon duos of the nineties.

Beavis and Butthead have been green lighted by the big wigs at MTV, and Mike Judge, show creator, is pissing his pants with excitement for his beloved knuckleheads.

For those too young to remember the pair or those of you that had extremely strict parents, Beavis and Butthead dominated the minds of jaded youth from 1993 to 1997 with over 195 episodes, a couple of movies, some specials and quite a few guest appearances.

The show had a solid routine with the boys spending significant amounts of time com-

Photos by Daniela Werner | Editor-in-Chief

Famous Southern playwright Alfred Uhry’s ‘Last Night of Ballyhoo’ is showing at USA’s Department of Dramatic Arts. While the play depicts a Southern Jewish family living in 1939, the work still speaks to modern familial relationships, according to the show’s director, Keone Fuqua. For showtimes, visit www.southalabama.edu/drama.

http://www.beavisandbutthead.net/

Will the return of the dynamic duo spell trouble for Family Guy and South Park ratings, or will the show flounder from the start?

menting on popular music videos that played on their living room television set a la “Mystery Science Theater.” The commentary was interjected with the random and mostly idiotic adventures of the two outside of their home.

Beavis and Butthead made quick work of mid-nineties culture, similar in practice to what Family Guy and South Park have been doing today. Judge promises to bring this same charm back, but with a much sharper edge. This time Beavis and Butthead will be enjoying everything from music videos and reality shows to the all too popular world of YouTube.

“I personally think that Beavis and Butthead will have a significant opportunity to enjoy the see BUTTHEAD | 19

“The characters are rich and filled with complexities and dynamics ...”

-Keone Fuqua Director

The

Vanguard

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Cometry: Bringing poetry and comedy together

By Rodney Thompson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

This Wednesday, February 23, is guaranteed to be full of laughter, crying and inspiration as Jaguar Productions brings a very unique form of motivational speaking to South Alabama. The stage is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom as Iggy Mwela and Chad Songy present their dynamic show, “Laugh. Learn.

Cometry.”

Cometry is a poignant word; well at least it would be if it were an actual word.

A combination of the words ‘poetry’ and ‘comedy,’ Cometry is characterized as a performance that uses these two forms of entertainment to inspire people with laughter and thought provoking concepts.

Just as interesting as the show itself, are the background stories of the duo behind its creation.

Iggy Mwela’s family was exiled from Malawi. Growing up homeless during his youth, Mwela excelled when the opportunity came to attend college.

Through chance, Mwela found himself at the sour end of a bet that resulted in his attendance of an open mic poetry show.

From that point, Mwela was hooked on poetry, so much so, that he went on to win the 2009 Grand Slam Championship and is a member of Chicago’s Mental Graffiti poetry team. Mwela is a revered poet and powerful performer.

Chad Songy has always been in the business of making people laugh. Songy founded the Laugh 4 Kids Charity Comedy show in Jackson, Mississippi in 2007.

Comedy, however, is not his only skill set.

Songy graduated Magna Cum Laude in Business and had a very prosperous college basketball career, even being

15

Rod’s Weekly Planner

Arts & Entertainment activities on- and off-campus that are guaranteed to keep you busy without sending you to the Battleship.

http://www.wallpaperweb.org

http://www.cometry.org

The Cometry stylings of Iggy Mwela and Chad Songy are sure to touch students at the core and tickle their funny bones.

nominated for the 2009 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.

Mwela and Songy came together out of a desire to entertain but also with a drive to empower and improve people’s outlook on life. The pair regards their show as being, “geared towards the most disinterested, unmotivated students.” The point of this target audience is to inspire

those students to do better by relating to them with comedy and poetry.

Mwela and Songy’s show is very promising in both entertainment value and inspirational potential. Do not pass up the opportunity to check them out this week.

Videos of their live performances as well as more information can be found at http://www.cometry.org.

Comedian Jasper Redd leaves them laughing

By Madison Murphy CONTRIBUTING WRITER

South Alabama students were treated to the hilarity that is standup comedian Jasper Redd this past Wednesday night in the Student Center ballroom. The show was produced

by Jaguar Productions and generated an excellent turnout.

Redd, who is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, was named one of the New Faces at the Just for Laughs Festival in 2005. Redd has toured with Zach Galifinakis, Patton Oswalt, and Daniel Tosh, just to name a few.

Redd has also been featured on several Comedy Central programs such as “Def Comedy Jam” and “Premium Blend” and films like “National Lampoon’s Totally Baked” and “Frankenhood.”

Redd’s acting roles have been clear reflections into his stand-up routine.

Redd’s set was anything but conservative, and the jokes were filled with crude humor and language that would not be appropriate for a cable television broadcast. He threw punch lines concerning marijuana use, Barack Obama or O’Beezie as Redd calls him, sexually transmitted diseases, the Ku Klux Klan and his experi-

February 21, 2011

What: 127 Hours, the struggle of one man to survive against all odds..

Where: The Crescent Theater in Downtown, Mobile When: Feb. 18 to Feb. 24th with showings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

What: Giant Insects, an exhibit featuring six oversized robotic bugs, a live insect zoo, and much more bug-related fun.

Where: The Gulf Coast Exploreum When: Jan. 22 to May 22

What: Special Screening of Zeitgeist: Moving Foward, a documentary.

Where: The Crescent Theater in Downtown, Mobile When: Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.

What: Laugh. Learn. Cometry, a combination of comedy and poetry.

Where: Student Center Ballroom When: Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

What: USA Academy Awards Party, celebrating the 2011 Academy Awards.

Where: Student Center Ballroom When: Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

What: Live music provided by the Uglistick Where: Soul Kitchen in Downtown, Mobile When: Feb. 25 at 11:00 p.m.

http://comedians.jokes.com

Jasper Redd's performance proved to be more than hilarious as he left the audience quoting him for days.

ences with past gay roommates.

Several of Redd’s jokes mocked cliché racial stereotypes. Redd compared McDonald’s Hamburglar character to the Latino community, and he accused laundry of being racist because, “you separate the whites from the colors.”

The crowd loved his remarks that, “People should not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the color of their teeth, white power!” Redd compared African Americans to the penny by saying, “They’re the only coin that is a different color and see REDD | 19

What: Order of the Polka Dots Parade Where: Streets of Downtown, Mobile When: Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.

What: Order of the Inca Parade Where: Streets of Downtown, Mobile When: Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Have an event you want featured in the A&E section? E-mail A&E Editor Rodney Thompson at ae.editor@ usavanguard.com!

16

February 21, 2011

Ray Allen Underrated as NBA Star

By Jayson Curry SPORTS COLUMNIST

“Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”

There is no other sentence or phrase that better describes the Boston Celtics’ Ray Allen.

Allen might be the most laid-back and under-the-radar star the NBA has ever had.

And yet, don’t let the smooth taste fool you Allen is an absolute assassin. He is one of the more cold-blooded players in NBA history.

You may never see Allen headline ESPN for controversy, but when you’re watching a Celtics game or highlight, you certainly can’t miss him. He’s the bald guy constantly chewing gum and killing opponents with the prettiest jump shot in the NBA. Allen crafted his shot in high school before landing in UCONN and in the NBA for the Boston Celtics.

Early birds to the Boston Garden can even see Allen practicing that shot while teammates are still in street clothes.

It’s that sort of dedication that has driven Allen to the point of legend. Fueling the fire, he recently passed Reggie Miller for most three-pointers in NBA history.

While some discount the three-point shot citing it as a cheap trick, Allen is now leading some impressive company. Just look at who ranks third on the list. It’s none other than Jason Kidd.

Despite being a Hall-of-Fame candidate, Kidd is more than 800 shots behind Allen and Miller. That’s a testament to Allen’s dedication and consistency.

Not only does Allen lead the league in threes but he’s also one of the more accurate free throw shooters in the history of the league. And that’s after spending almost his entire career in a subpar franchise.

Don’t forget what Boston was like before the creation of the Big Three.

Allen finally teamed up with veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the 2008 Celtics to win his first NBA Championship.

Allen was a bigger piece to that puzzle than many give credit for.

Ray Allen is the stereotypical and ideal NBA player and is the epitome of a great person .

As his career winds down, it is my hope that fans and media both understand what Allen has brought to the game over the past 15 seasons.

It will be the end of an era when he hangs up his boots for good. Hopefully, when that day comes, people will recognize that we saw one of the greatest ever and a player who did it the right way.

Sports

The

Vanguard Matt Weaver, Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.com

www.usavanguard.com/sports

End of an Era for Baseball’s Kittrell South Alabama Head Coach Set to Retire After 28 Seasons

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

A legend will make his final stand in 2011 as South Alabama is set to begin the 2011 baseball season at Eddie Stanky Field.

South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell enters the season having announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 campaign. His replacement-to-be is the current pitching coach and head coach-inwaiting, Mark Calvi. Calvi comes to Mobile by way of the University of South Carolina where he is a reigning College World Series Champion with that program.

Calvi will be responsible for a pitching staff that largely underperformed in 2010 and blew numerous leads late into the contest.

“We’ve got to win games in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings,” Calvi said.

The plan is to beat our opponents in those innings and then focus on the rotation - a rotation that we are confident in.”

Kittrell and Calvi will share a potent lineup that remains largely unchanged from last season. Center fielder Taylor White is expected to lead off in front of first baseman Brad Hook and third baseman Jake Overstreet. The latter was named to all conference this preseason after batting .346 with 11 home runs and a Sun Belt conference leading 74 runs batted in. The latter stat was additionally good for 23rd in the nation.

“We’re proud of what Jake has accomplished at South Alabama and we like our lineup this year,” Kittrell said. “The newer bats have less of a sweet spot on them and we’re going to have to play more small ball with hits and runs and bunting. But our lineup is more than capable.”

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South Alabama baseball head coach Steve Kittrell.

The Jags hope to capitalize on a late season surge from the end of last year.

Despite their good showing in the conference tournament, USA was picked to only finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll.

Florida Atlantic, last season’s regular season co-champion, was selected to finish first.

Florida International was picked to finish second, while Louisiana-Lafayette was

picked third. but received two first-place votes.

“Preseason polls are based largely on what happened last season,” Kittrell said.

“We have a good group on young men and I know that they are ready to compete.”

For South Alabama to compete in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt, the infield must stay healthy -- especially Overstreet.

The Jags lost their top two starters from 2011 but return Garrett Harris as Friday starter for 2011. South Alabama has a talented set of arms should Calvi figure out how to best use them.

South Alabama also begins play on a renovated Stanky Field. The stadium now competes with many of the best stadiums in the NCAA with expanded dugouts, a warning track and pennant flags. Former players and honored guests also have a porch behind the left field wall in which they may enjoy their visits to USA. “We have a real nice home here and Dr. Erdmann is the one responsible for all that’s been done here,” Kittrell said. “He’s really made Stanky Field a priority and we have a lot to show our opponents and fans who are new to the South Alabama experience.”

South Alabama began the 2011 season at home over the weekend and swept a three-game series over UT-Martin. South Alabama continues the season on Feb. 22 before returning home for the weekend’s Coca-Cola Classic. The 2011 Classic also features Southeastern Lousiana, Alabama and Central Florida.

“This is a real athletic team and a real good bunch of guys,” Kittrell said. “I can’t wait to get out there and see where we stand against our schedule.”

South Alabama 2011 Softball Primer

By Jake Wasdin

SPORTS COLUMNIST

On Friday, The Vanguard interviewed Becky Clark, South Alabama’s softball head coach. Clark, in her fifth year as head coach, has led the Lady Jaguars to a 7-3 record this season. The Jags started off with an impressive 4-1 record, which posted USA softball’s best start since the program’s inception.

When asked if the fast start was surprising to both her and the team, Clark replied, “No, we were not surprised about the start, we were very optimistic coming into the season.” She also added, “This may be the best team I’ve coached since I have been here.

“The girls are all business when it comes to the game, which makes my job easier and a ton of fun.”

According to Clark, the Lady Jags are a squad that does not focus on just one player, but they function as a whole and the offense looks solid.

With good fundamentals and a great pitching staff, look for the Jaguars to make a heavy run in a tough Sun Belt Conference.

Clark also emphasized opponents out-

Colin McGee | Photo Editor

South Alabama's SS keeps an eye on the ball during Sunday’s game against Southeastern Louisiana. The Lady Jags defeated SLU 7-1.

side of the Sun Belt.

This season South Alabama will face off against Ohio State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Alabama and Auburn. Alabama, who played USA at the beginning of the season, was ranked #3 in the nation when they defeated the Jags 0-6. Ohio State came to Mobile on Friday for the Lady Jaguars’ first home game of the season. The Jaguars walked away with a win 8-5, which increased their record to 5-2.

As far as wins go, USA has beaten Alabama A&M, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Samford, Alabama State, and Ohio State. South Alabama’s three loses came against Alabama, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a close game against Southern Mississippi.

On the season, the Lady Jaguars have seventeen home runs, seventy hits, and brought in fifty-four runs.

The Jags, as a team, are hitting .372 while holding their opponents to .212.

As the offense and defense look solid, look for the Lady Jaguars to make a deep run into the Sun Belt Tournament. The Lady Jaguars have proven that they can compete with higher competition, so their season is in their hands..

SPORTS

The

Vanguard

February 21, 2011

17

Sports Briefs Basketball Edges Denver After Big Comeback

Daytona 500

Bayne wins at Daytona

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images for NASCAR

Trevor Bayne lifts the Harley J. Earl trophy with the No. 21 crew in victory lane after winning the 53rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Trevor Bayne has gone from “Trevor Who” to “Mr. Daytona 500 Champion” all in one day.

Bayne won Sunday’s Great American Race in just his second Sprint Cup Series start and first overall at Florida’s famed 2.5mile oval.

Even Bayne’s Twitter page has exploded from 6,000 followers to 19,000 following the 20-year old’s historic victory.

“What,” Bayne asked. “I was at 6,000 this morning and now I’m at 18,000 - in all in one day? I’ve been working at this for a long time! It kinda makes me mad!”

The now-youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500 is obviously joking.

Bayne may have gone from NASCAR’s best kept secret to its newest breakout star overnight.

For a driver who barely expected to make the race, Sunday is a dream come true.

“I’ve won the Daytona 500,” Bayne said.

“Where’s victory lane?”

Earnhardt Sr. tributes getting old

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

I’ve grown sick of Dale Earnhardt.

I appreciated the anniversary buildup to Speedweeks and taking the opportunity to remember a legend.

And yet, this is the last I want to hear of him.

I respect Dale, his legacy and what he means in 2011 to fans across the country.

But to those in the stands and media who made the 2011 Daytona 500 about Dale Earnhardt, you were but a disrespectful slap in the face to the 43 athletes who actually made Sunday’s race.

The starting lineup even included Earnhardt’s own son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Even Junior, who finished 24th, would have none of it. He would rather talk about the future more than his own past.

He’s ready to move forward and his eccentric fan-base should follow suit.

Friday was a fitting tribute. Ten years to the day was an excellent bookend to the “Earnhardt Edition of Speedweeks”.

As was “The Day,” an excellent SPEEDtv documentary and “In the Blink of an Eye,” Michael Waltrip’s bestselling autobiography.

It was just unfair to race-winner Trevor Bayne, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin. Ditto the over 250 drivers who participated in some parts of Speed-

ing Friday night’s Truck Series broadcast when he simulated nearly word-for-word his 2001 Daytona 500 call, as brother Michael won in similar fashion to the 2001 Cup Series event in which Earnhardt perished.

At what point did we lose clarity and spontaneity for what Sunday’s race was all about?

Sunday should have -- and in many ways still was -- a celebration of the current and future NASCAR product.

But the Sanctioning Body insists on trying to regain the lost southern fanbase who quit watching after Earnhardt’s demise.

At the end of the day, numbers, colors and a memory will not bring these fans back.

The sport has passed them by. They won’t settle for anything less than the surrender of west coast events and the dismissal of female and foreigners in their sport.

Some may see it as a stereotype but I’ve lived it.

I’ve reported from Talladega and talked with the exiled fanbase. It’s illogical fanaticism. NASCAR is better off without many of them, and I have no reservation in sayGetty Images for NASCAR ing it.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. following his historic 1998 To the truest Dale Earnhardt fans, seize this moment. Live it and enjoy it. Another Daytona 500 victory. weeks in 2010. may never come.

Darrell Waltrip sealed my opinion durBut let go and let’s move on.

USA rallied from a 15-point deficit in the first half to defeat the Pioneers 48-47 Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena.

The Jags snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 11-14 overall and 5-9 in the Sun Belt Conference, while the Pioneers drop to 13-14 and 9-5.

The last time the two teams met, on Feb. 25, 2010 in Mobile, South Alabama came back from 22 points down in the second half to win 54-52. Sunday’s comeback wasn’t quite as large but just as effective.

“They’re such a different team to prepare for, our guys did a really good job,” USA head coach Ronnie Arrow said after the game. “That was a team effort. It was a great win for us.”

USA shot 50 percent (11-22) from the floor in the second half after hitting just 20.8 percent (5-24) before halftime. The Pioneers went 5-for-20 from the floor after halftime.

Baseball Sweeps Three-game Set Versus UT-Martin Trailing 10-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, University of South Alabama baseball rallied to score two runs in its final at-bat to defeat UT-Martin 11-10 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

Jaguar third baseman Jake Overstreet led off the USA rally with a single to center field, and advanced to second base on Brent Tanner’s ground out to second.

Nolan Earley then drilled an 0-1 pitch from UT-Martin right-hander Alec Mills down the left field line for a double that scored Overstreet from second base to tie the game 10-10.

USA catcher Brent Mitchell then worked the count from Mills to 2-0 before lacing a grounder to third that was mishandled

by Skyhawk third baseman Matt Haynes and found its way into shallow left field, allowing Earley to score the game-winning run from second base.

With the win South Alabama (3-0) secured a three-game sweep of the series, marking the first time the Jaguars have swept a three-game season-opening series since 2002 when they took three games from Mississippi Valley State at Stanky Field.

Softball Defeats Southeastern Louisiana in USA Invitational Finals The University of South Alabama scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and held on to win, 7-1 over Southeastern Louisiana Sunday afternoon in the final game of the South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field.

Lindsey Croft (3-0) earned the win after going the distance in the circle and striking out six.

Sophomore center fielder Britany Campbell led the Jags at the plate going 3-for-4 and scoring one. After today’s game Campbell has a team-leading three doubles and two triples. She also leads team in stolen bases (6-6).

-Wire Reports

18

February 21, 2011

Distractions

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Vanguard Vanguard Staff usavanguard.editor@Gmail.com

www.usavanguard.com/distractions

Caption Contest

Do hilarious things come to mind when you see this photo? E-mail your funniest caption to usavanguard.editor@gmail.com. The winner will be published in the next edition!

Have an idea for Distractions?

E-mail Editor-in-Chief Daniela Werner at usavanguard.editor@Gmail.com.

Caption Contest Results

Winner: “If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it!”

-Rynn Toifel

Sudoku Sudoku puzzles brought to you by USA’s Student Health Center.

To make an appointment, call 251-460-7151.

Rules: Fill each row, column, and square of nine boxes with the numbers one through nine without repeating any. Answer keys provided at www.usavanguard.com/distractions.

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Butthead from page 14

same target audience as Family Guy and South Park while also appealing to those who enjoy watching idiots on television like Jersey Shore,” said Nathan Crews, a senior in the history department, during an impromptu discussion of the show’s renewal.

Being a part of a generation that devours sarcasm for breakfast and loves when stupid stuff happens to stupid people, I feel I can speak for most when I state that I am extremely excited to see what the renewal of Beavis and Butthead will be like. Besides, who wouldn’t want to see what those two would have to say about Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress.

February 21, 2011

Get Your Opinion Published!

Redd

19

CLASSIFIEDS Computer Services: Consulting/Virus Removal/PC Tune Ups/ Software Installs Free Analysis Please call Rob @ 251-622-2265 for complete details Ask about Student/Faculty Discount when calling.

from page 15

they’re not accepted in parking meters, vending machines, or pay phones. That’s the world’s way of saying ‘We don’t serve your kind.’”

As any good performer should do, Redd encouraged crowd interaction, which made his time on stage that much more memorable. Several days after Redd’s performance, students are still jokingly quoting his performance.

Students were overheard in the library retelling his jokes and laughing. Emily Carlson, a junior in International Studies, described Redd’s act as hilarious, saying, “It was the hardest I’ve laughed in quite a while.” Jasper Redd’s outrageously entertaining performance was truly unforgettable.

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