February 7, 2011

Vanguard The

Serving USA students and the University community since 1963

February 7, 2011 |VOLUME 48, NUMBER 21 CAMPUS POWER OUTAGE

Admin yet to determine outage’s cause, costs

www.usavanguard.com

University of South Alabama’s student newspaper

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Behind the Scenes of ‘Dralion’

University officials say that right now they know neither what caused last week’s campus-wide power outage nor how much repairs could end up costing USA.

By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR

After receiving feedback from both students and faculty regarding fall break, Saturday exams and dead days, the calendar committee has revised the 2011-12 academic calendar.

The new calendar, which is based on SGA recommendations, includes a two-day fall break with no dead days.

There will also be no Saturday exams, except for those classes that meet on Saturdays.

Although this calendar has no dead days, this isn’t a major concern, especially considering that many calendars

inside

OPINION EDITOR

see POWER | 5

Academic calendar revised

see CALENDAR | 5

By Cassie Fambro The last day of January went out with a bang at USA. At about 1:15 p.m. Monday Jan. 31, the small power substation located near the Physical Education Building and old Student Recreation Center suffered what University officials called a “massive power failure.” The blowout, which had rumors swirling around campus that it would take days to repair, took about six hours to fix.

Although that day’s classes had been canceled – with the exception of classes held at University Commons, which remained unaffected by the blowout – power was restored to the University and classes resumed the following morning.

The official cause of the failure has yet to be determined, along with the damage cost estimate, Director of Facilities Management Chris Willis said, adding that the University is investigating the matter.

“There was a fire that burned equipment in the switches,” Willis told The Vanguard. “We had to shut down the entire substation to work to fix the problem.”

University officials used the Campus Alert system to notify students about the power outage. They also sent out a campus-wide mass e-mail to Jaguar1 e-mail accounts informing students and staff that classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

Administrators also used the campus intercom system to spread the

To stay up to date with campus news, friend The Vanguard on Facebook and follow USAVanguard on Twitter.

Opinion | page

7

Standardized Testing Are standardized tests an accurate measure of a student?

Etc. | page 12 Colin McGee | Photo Editor

The USA Mitchell Center came alive Feb. 2-6 when “Dralion,” a Cirque du Soleil acrobatics show, came to campus. See photos from one of the rehearsals on pages 10 and 11.

USA spokesman discusses staying informed with University notifications After last week’s campus-wide power outage, USA’s PR director says students should program USA’s emergency notification number into their phones and register their number with the University.

By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR

After the recent transformer failure that resulted in campuswide power outages, The Vanguard wanted to know exactly what was involved in alerting students to potentially dangerous situations on campus.

InPolice Blotter p. 2

Happenings p. 2

According to Director of Public Relations Keith Ayers, there are actually five different systems in place for notifying students.

The main system with which students are most familiar is the campus-wide bulk e-mail system.

While the e-mail system’s primary use is notifying students about upcoming events and acCampus Pulse p. 6

tivities, emergency information is also sent this way.

USA is also equipped with a loudspeaker system, which is meant for “immediate, short bursts of information,” according to Ayers.

The lack of power during this most recent incident did affect this system, however. see ALERTS | 8

Distractions p. 18

Leave Your Lights On? Sustainability Council announces a new energy conservation initiative.

Arts & Entertainment | page 15

Kinect Crazy Xbox’s new Kinect has given students a new way to blow off some steam.

Sports | page 16 Football 2011 Class The 2011 Jaguar football class looks to be the best it has been in its three year history.

Classifieds p. 19

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NEWS

February 7, 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 Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, 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.

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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 1/28- Theft of Lost Property A student lost her wallet in the Humanities building, and it has not been returned. The wallet and its contents were estimated at a $65 value.

vidual was turned over to another agency for an outstanding warrant.

USAPD Traffic Crash Reports

1/28- A vehicle traveling North on Stadium Bou1/28- Theft of Proper- levard with the right of way was hit on the drivty, 3rd Degree A victim had two money er’s side door by a vehicle coming from the temorders stolen while in porary u-turn lane made the women’s restroom available while construcat the Student Center.

The items were valued at tion of the entrance portal was underway. $270.

2/1- Criminal Mischief, 2nd Degree A victim’s vehicle was damaged by an unknown object that caused a long scrape from the front to the rear of the vehicle on both sides. The damages were estimated at $750.

1/31- A vehicle was stopped at a yield sign on Aubrey Green Drive at the traffic circle when another vehicle collided with the rear of the stopped vehicle.

2/1- A vehicle was stopped at the stop sign 2/3- Theft of Property, turning right onto University Boulevard from 2nd Degree USA South Drive when A victim’s bike was stoanother driver misjudged len from a bike rack in between the Engineering the stopping distance and struck the stopped buildings. The item was vehicle. valued at $500.

2/4- Contempt of Court-Failing to Appear Officers responded to a report of a suspicious individual at the University Commons. The indi-

2/2- A vehicle stopped on USA North Drive while waiting to turn right onto University Boulevard was rear-ended by another driver.

The

Vanguard

happenings USA Show Choir Premier Performance What: In its premier show, the USA Show Choir will perform a mixture of fast-paced songs and slower ballads ranging from rock and “hip pop” to show tunes.

Where: Laidlaw Performing Arts Center When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.

How much: $3 students/children, $5 general admission For more info: Call the Department of Music at (251) 460-6136 or visit www.southalabama.edu/music.

USA Gender Studies Program Presents: Cool Lectures on Hot Topics What: How to find a mate?

Solving the mate shortage dilemma.

Peter Jonason, Assistant Professor of Psychology Where: HUMB 150 When: Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m.

How much: Free For more info: Contact Martha Jane Brazy, Director of Gender Studies at 460-7540 or mjbrazy@jaguar1.usouthal. edu

Spring Career Expo What: USA Career Services will sponsor a job fair for the USA community featuring representatives from various companies and organizations.

When: Feb. 8 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

How much: Free For more info: Contact USA Career Services at (251) 4606188 or visit www.southalabama.edu/careerservices

The

Vanguard

NEWS

February 7, 2011

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February 7, 2011

The

NEWS

Vanguard

State flu levels way up

New Dining Services director shares plans, vision

By Carey Cox

Region), Stephan, who worked as Food Service Director at Florida State University for five years, stepped into the position.

Craig Stephan, the new director of Din- He has a B.A. in Hospitality from FSU ing Services, makes his rounds through the and a degree from the Culinary Institute Fresh Food Company, located in South of America, and he has worked as an exAlabama’s new Dining Hall. He loves to ecutive chef.

Since he arrived at USA in August, showcase the variety of fresh food his 200 Stephan has yet to unpack his moving employees create every day.

Appearance is what it’s all about, ac- boxes in his office.

“The least of my concern is what’s in cording to Stephen. Fresh fruit and vegetables decorate the eating bars. Chefs at those boxes,” he said with a chuckle. “I the Mongolian Grill sauté sizzling dishes have all this stuff on my desk to take care before a student audience. Making his of.”

He keeps neatly organized note cards way down the pizza bar, Stephan notices a piece of hot, gooey cheese dangling off the on his desk, each with a written task on it. Prioritizside of it. Without ing is the key hesitation, Stephto improving an waves someone the facility, over to clean it. about being the best; how can according to “It’s about behim. ing the best; how we do this better?”

The notecan we do this cards can better?” Stephan -Craig Stephan move from said.

Director of Dining Services one side to After a quick the other, run through the higher or lunch line, Stephlower on his an brings his plate of fried fish, one of his favorites, to a small table sitting under- desk, depending on what task he is able to neath the rotunda on the east end of the accomplish on any given day.

“It’s a challenge; I don’t have a boring Dining Hall for some lunchtime conversajob,” he said. tion.

The main challenge Stephan faces is After former Dining Services Director Adam Nevill was promoted to Aramark’s how to satisfy a student population that Director of Business Development (South see DIRECTOR | 8 SENIOR REPORTER

By Blake Barnes/ Deidre Molin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

“It’s

Write for The Vanguard!

Send Writing Samples to USAVanguard.

Editor@Gmail. com

Once again, it’s the time of year when a muffled cough in the back of the room sounds like a bomb going off.

Officially starting in October, flu season puts most people on the lookout for sneezing, coughing and fever. Flu activity is quite mild when the season begins, but it is quite vicious when it peaks from January to March.

A flu report issued Jan. 21 by the Centers for Disease Control stated that the levels of influenza-like diseases in Alabama are at their highest.

The Vanguard asked Dr. Cannon, one of the physicians at the Student Health Center (SHC) on Campus, about what she’s seen this flu season.

According to Cannon, the number of students with flu or flu-like symptoms visiting the SHC this year has been about average.

She’s seen fewer students this year than last year, when she saw an increase due to the H1N1 outbreak, she said.

On average, the SHC sees five students with flu or flu-like symptoms each day.

Flu shots daily are offered in the SHC for $20 and are the best way to prevent the flu, according to Cannon. Besides the shot, Cannon said, the best ways to prevent the flu are constant usage of alcohol hand sanitizer or washing your hands with antibacterial soap.

Cannon suggests seeing a physician immediately as soon as students feel any flulike symptoms (fever, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, chills and fatigue).

If the virus is caught within the first 48 hours, medication is available to combat the virus better than if it is allowed to reach a more mature stage.

The Vanguard also asked Beverly Kellen, practice director at the SHC, about flu prevention and vaccines.

“I am not aware that we have been in a position to offer free flu shots in the past.

We pass along the cost of the vaccine at the lowest cost possible which has been $20 for the last several years,” Kellen said after being asked if there was any way to provide vaccinations with no charge to students for a day in the student center. Greater Mobile Urgent Care was able to offer free flu shots in the Student Center over winter break.

At least 300 of the $20 flu vaccinations have been issued this year, and there are still many available. Kellen suggests avoiding crowded areas once flu-like symptoms begin developing to keep from spreading the virus.

According to the SHC website, annual outbreaks of the seasonal flu usually occur during the late fall through early spring.

Most people have natural immunity, and a seasonal flu vaccine is available. In a typical year, approximately 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the seasonal flu, and approximately 36,000 flu-related deaths are reported.

The

Vanguard

NEWS

February 7, 2011

Calendar

It may be possible for future academic calendars to start the spring semester from page 1 earlier, but Johnson and the calendar in the past have also included no dead committee want more feedback from the days. Johnson also pointed out that the community before pursuing this route. first day of exams are on a Friday, which The back way to provide feedback, gives students the weekend to prepare for according to both Johnson and Proctor, the rest of their exams. “This lessens the is through the Stuharm of not having dead days,” Johnson dent Government said.

Association (SGA).

USA President Gordon Moulton has Students can proapproved the calendar, which has already vide this feedback been published online. The Vanguard by speaking with met with Senior Vice President for Acatheir senators or by demic Affairs David Johnson and SGA going to the SGA’s President Kim Proctor to discuss the homepage: http:// changes. www.southalabama.

“The No. 1 complaint [regarding the edu/sga. calendar] was about Saturday exams,” There, students Johnson Johnson said. “This is a response to those can click on the “Exconcerns.” ercise Your Right to Rant” button to give Much of the scheduling conflict has re- their thoughts on any campus issue, insulted from trying to balance a fall break cluding the calendar. All of this informawith the week-late start in the fall semes- tion is then passed on to the appropriate ter. The main reason for this late start, administrative department, according to according to Johnson, has to do with Proctor. academic integrity and making produc“SGA would like to commend Presitive use of class dent Moulttime. on and Dr. Without the Johnson for week-late start, developNo. 1 complaint [regarding there would ing a calonly be two the calendar] was about Saturday exams. endar that class days after works for This is a response to those concerns. ” the Thanksgivstudents,” ing break. The Proctor -Dr. David Johnson worry, accordsaid. Johning to Johnson, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs son also acis that a short knowledges week at the end the SGA’s of the semester could result in those class key role in working with administration days being wasted. The fall break helps to solicit and provide feedback from the with that, but the additional week added USA community. on to the end of the semester results in a more productive academic schedule.

“The

Courtesy of StormTEAM 4 / Gamma 9 Weather

The above photo was taken Monday after a substation near the Physical Education Building blew, causing most of USA’s main campus to lose power. Although classes that day were canceled as USA officials and employees worked to turn the electricity back on, classes resumed the next morning.

Power from page 1

news, although the message sounded muffled.

Soon after, automated phone calls from Campus Alert were made to student and staff phone numbers that the University has on record.

Buildings that had generators – such as the Dining Hall, the new Student Recreation Center and the Mitchell Center – became places of refuge for students. The Vanguard spoke with some workers at The Grove that afternoon and learned that the housing complex had not suffered electricity loss in the blowout.

Despite the situation, students took advantage of the available electricity on campus.

SGA College of Education Senator and Education Administration graduate student Alan Sells set up camp at the Dining Hall because it had functional Wi-Fi, he said. Sells is also a resident adviser in the Delta housing area.

All resident advisers were put on active status, and USAPD made plans to patrol constantly if the power was not restored before evening.

Students were still not allowed to burn

candles for light in the dorms as per standard University rules.

Director of Facilities Management Chris Willis said the substation’s fire was attributed to one of the switches, which subsequently caused damage to other equipment. By alternating broken feeds to working ones, Willis said, USA was able to restore power.

Alabama Power assisted in checking for electrical damage at USA. The sudden loss of power caused maintenance crews to check buildings around campus for damage Tuesday.

A little before 7 p.m., power was restored to the campus amidst cheers of students who saw the lights come back on, according to some Dining Hall staff.

An intentional 10-minute power outage happened again in several main campus buildings at 6 a.m. Wednesday as an attempt by administrators to “complete the restoration of power to Stanky Field, Soccer/Softball Fieldhouse, Soccer & Softball fields,” according to a mass e-mail Construction Process Coordinator Angela Smith sent the University.

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Opinion

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February 7, 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

Campus power outage a reality check for students

I

t’s all too common to see how bad emergency plans really are when they are, unfortunately, tested in real situations. Fortunately, our University has devised an emergency alert system that has proven itself in such a situation.

During a massive power outage that left most areas on the main campus in the dark for several hours this past Monday, the University did everything in its power to notify all students and faculty of the outage and the ensuing class cancelations for the remainder of the day. Notifications came in the forms of an email sent via the University’s mass email system, a message announcing class cancellations played over the campus intercom system, automated phone calls and a notice on USA’s main website.

The University’s successful application of the emergency alert system in this instance makes us at The Vanguard confident that the University is ready for an emergency, but we as students must make sure we are prepared as well.

It is our responsibility to regularly check our Jaguar1 e-mail accounts. Yes, a plethora of mail that you don’t care about comes through there, but it is necessary to check it just in case of emergencies such as this power outage.

Embrace Technology “You can't use that laptop in my class, you will just get on Lynn Ellis Facebook and not pay attention.”

This is something many of us have heard at least once in our university career, even if we did not intend to use a computer ourselves.

Although there are plenty of professors who do not have a problem at all with their students using computers to take notes in class, there are always a select few each semester that do not allow it.

To be sure, teachers only want what is best for their students, and these teachers genuinely feel that by removing laptops from their classrooms they are doing what is best for their students.

The single most common argument I have found for keeping

Another simple measure to take is to make sure your emergency contact information is updated through your PAWS account. A current phone number could make all the difference in a situation where the University needs to contact you.

Aside from doing these two things (which you should already be doing anyway), you should know the University’s emergency hotline number (251460-6999). When you can’t visit the USA Web site or check your Jaguar1 e-mail, you can always call the emergency hotline for the latest information on an emergency situation.

Whatever your preferred method of receiving information from the University, make sure you know all of the ways to get the information you need beforehand. Without the proper preparations, emergency situations can go from bad to worse in no time.

If you haven’t already, click on the emergency hotline link at the bottom right corner of USA’s home page. There you can register to receive emergency phone calls, find the hotline phone number and view the University’s emergency response plan.

laptops out of the classrooms is that having access to computer games and the Internet will provide too much of a distraction for the students. “They will just get on Facebook.” I spoke to Dr. Strange from the College of Education who has been tasked by the University to teach future educators the art of using technology -- such as laptops -- in the classroom to enhance learning.

What he has to say on the matter is bold: “I assume my students are there to learn. If I am wrong, it does not matter what tools they have with them. Sleep and daydreaming require no tools!”

Students can doodle and daydream and work on homework from other classes just as well without the physical use of a laptop.

There may be students who come to class and get on Facebook, but the students who come to class to learn will benefit greatly from having a laptop available to them.

Another common complaint is that when students are buried behind a laptop they do not interact as much with teachers during class discussion. This can lead to professors who feel discouraged by the lack of interest, which makes a class silent. It is a vicious cycle, and it's technology’s fault, right?

Actually, the same lack of participation can occur with students who bury themselves behind their notebook and take continuous notes in order to avoid the class discussions.

A laptop in no way hinders students from speaking up in class if they want to. Laptops are much easier to take notes with and to access the notes for study later.

We now have at our disposal great new tools to aid us in our study efforts and new programs aimed at helping us use these tools even better.

Technology changes all the time, and professors should embrace it instead of barring it. see TECHNOLOGY | 13

How were you kept up to speed on the Great USA Power Outage?

“A recording called my cell phone via Campus Alert. I did notice that they had called my husband an hour before me on his phone also.”

Gina Deckard Senior Anthropology

“My RA let us know in the dorms and I learned information from Facebook statuses from friends.”

Lauren Linder Junior Spanish./Psych

“I saw the power flicker in the Computer Service building, then heard from the IT students that power was down throughout the campus.”

Duncan Cassidey IT Senior

“I was notified not only by the darkness that surrounded me but also by e-mail sent by USA officials.”

Brandi Cauley Junior Anthropology

“I was notified by status updates from Vanguard editors and The Vanguard’s Facebook page.”

Rachel Hoadley Senior Psychology

The

OPINION

Vanguard

February 7, 2011

7

POINT COUNTERPOINT Are Standardized Tests Raising the Bar or Coming up Short?

Editor’s Introduction: Standardized tests are a normal part of id perception of what level each school district is on relative to another.

education, from public school well into professional life. Benchmark Tests like the ACT are used to determine a student’s value to a college tests start as early as second grade and continue yearly. Subject area by their aptitude. The GRE judges an undergraduate in a similar fashtesting is introduced later in a state-test format that seeks to form a sol- ion. Though internationally accepted, are these tests the best way to measure individual potential?

Standardized Tests a Fact of Life

Account For External Factors Too

In nearly all contexts, test scores With something as important “You have 45 minutes. You the worst tool in education. have incremental usefulness beyond as evaluating student performay begin.” Those words haunt When I was a junior in high high school GPA. mance, I believe there is no tool many a person’s nightmares, school my one thought revolved This could be no more evident more important than standardbut for high school and prearound taking the ACT and doing than here at USA. ized tests. graduate students across the well enough on it the first time that With a minimum ACT score of Tests like the ACT can provide nation, those words haunt their I would never have to take it again.

19 for admissions and an average of an accurate insight to our uniwaking hours. I’m talking about I was that terrified of taking the 22, it’s no wonder that our retention versity’s admissions department standardized tests such as the test. rate for freshmen is only 66 percent. on how a student will handle ACT and GRE. Not only is the test itself terrifyUC Berkeley’s average ACT score the academic rigors of college How many of us honestly ing, but the way students perceive Andrew Bailey is 28 and its retention rate is over and how well the student was looked forward to taking any the rank of grades has changed as Schneider 95 percent.

Hammond well: 49 percent of students polled prepared in high school. of the Now I The ACT provides informamany tests no longer considered a ‘B’ a good understand that USA tion that a high school GPA simply cannot required of grade, according to campuscalm. is not meant to be do. Even in our own county, a 3.0 GPA us in high school? com. a super competitive can mean two entirely different things.

Testing anxiety What has changed? Wasn’t it once institution, so I know Take Williamson High School for has risen in recent considered socially acceptable to be an not much can be example. In 2008 it had a 79 percent years to a point where average student with C’s? When did we done about the retengraduation rate and only met 77 percent some students fail to become a society dominated by a desire to tion rate. However, of the goals needed to meet adequate perform well on stanbe all A’s all the time? the school has made AYP (annual yearly progress, a measure dardized tests or even Personally, I feel sorry for those students an effort to distribute of performance) as dictated by the county fail to see the point who can’t slack off because of expectaits $44 million in school system. at all if they “know” tions from parents, colleges, etc. I’m an annual financial aid Then look at Satsuma High School. In overachiever, or at least I try to be. Someneylij.blogspot.com they won’t do well. responsibly by using 2008 it had a 99 percent graduation rate Consider the ACT, for times I just reach the point where I can’t The jury is out on whether standardized tests ACT scores to decide and met 100 percent of its AYP goals. over-achieve any longer, and I have to are the best way to judge students on their abil- example. That beast, It seems obvious that a 3.0 GPA student how much a student along with the PSAT stop. But it’s my choice. It’s not simply that ities and aptitude in the academic world. deserves to receive. from one school might be better prepared and SAT, dominates the standardized tests are stressful.

Even after admisthan the other for academic life at South. the minds of high I think that much can be understood; sion to an undergradMany studies have supported the same school students to the point where they but what about the structure of the test? uate program, standardized tests become idea. In a study published by the ACT are either frantic about raising their scores Let’s examine the ACT again. It consists incredibly important.

Research Report Series titled, “Usefulness (“only one more point”) so they can get a of four parts: English, Math, Reading and One test I’ve become all too familiar of High School Average and ACT Scores better scholarship to such and such school, Science. There are 215 questions total; with is the MCAT. Medical schools rely in Making College Admission Decisions,” or else they throw their #2 pencils in the and including the breaks between sections, on this test to make sure its students can the author Richard Sawyer states, “test air in defeat at the insurmountable task. it takes over 4 hours to take the test in its handle the difficulty of medical school. scores are more useful than high school No, I don’t think that standardized tests entirety. For one, the ACT is long. You’re Similar to high schools, a GPA from one GPA in situations involving high selectivare “the best.” In fact, they might just be see MEASURE | 19 see FACT | 19 ity and high academic performance.”

Cassie Fambro Opinion Editor

Smoke on the Water

Red Fords and Humanity

On Wednesday nights I go to my favorite class, which is the first night class I have ever taken. I heard about how night classes can really try a person’s attention span, and it can be dangerous to be in the parking lots at dark and such.

So, for the first time in three years, I went ahead and signed up. It turns out that I have no problem focusing on the class. The bit about the danger is very true though. I ride my bike around campus

this semester, and I must have seen my life flash before my eyes a good few dozen times in these short three weeks.

This past Wedneseday night was the worst. Parked on a crosswalk, a red Ford pickup blocked my path to go across the designated white lines. I did the typical bike gesture of waving so he would see me and I went around.

As I went to cross the crosswalk at humanities, the same red Ford truck barreled at me, revving his engine as I was a quarter of the way across. I threw my bike to the side to avoid being hit and let out a string of obscenities.

A girl in an ROTC uniform kindly stopped to help me and I sat there, shaking because I had almost been hit. This brought to my attention just how severe the safety issues are on campus. We’ve run articles about pedestrian safety, the need for bicycle lanes or parking garages.

There is not, at this time, much South can do about foot or bike traffic. What should absolutely not be missed is that each pedestrian, bicyclist and driver has a responsibility.

My dad always told me that when you get behind the wheel, you aren’t behind a shield, you’re within a weapon. Pedestrians always, without fail, have the right to go. A person stands no defense against a car or truck.

What shocked me the most last Wednesday was the disregard for human life. If he had hit me and say I had broken my leg, there would have been many witnesses that saw him not stop at that crosswalk for me.

What consequence may that have had for him? Certainly, he may have been charged for reckless driving and he would have had to report to his parents that his pride had come before his respect of others.

I got to thinking about this issue of

disregarding each other’s safety. Sure, I see many people dart across the road where there are no crosswalks.

That’s irresponsible and foolish.

Cars are still oblgated to stop though.

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.

I have even encountered JagTran drivers that stop directly upon the crosswalks. It seems that no party or side is immune in this disregard for safety while commuting to and from class. I don’t know what the red Ford’s driver was thinking; in fact, I imagine he wasn’t.

I have wondered if perhaps I should suggest that cops sit at crosswalks or install stop sign outside of the humanities crosswalks at least. The issue though, would

see FORDS | 19

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The

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February 7, 2011

Director from page 4

demands the best.

“It’s all about giving the students what they want,” he said. Stephan said he is able to tailor the menu to the students’ preferences by analyzing what food is popular and what food students ignore on the dinner line.

If an item is not selling well, it will be removed from the menu. If students are flocking to the nacho bar, then more nachos it is.

“I care so much about the University and the students and doing what is right for this campus,” Stephan said as he glanced across the Dining Hall rotunda.

Stephan is already working on what he calls his vision for the University. Right now, he has his eye on the Delta Deli.

Alerts from page 1

“Some heard [the announcement] clearly, and some didn’t,” Ayers said. “But we can use this information to improve the system.”

Students can also find information online at the University of South Alabama home page, www.southalabama.edu. Important information is made available at a quick glance, although this information can only be accessed where power and Internet access are available.

USA also uses a third-party phone alert system called WARN – Wide Area Rapid Notification.

According to Ayers, anyone who has registered a phone number with the University will receive a phone call with a recorded message

Changing the deli’s concept or giving it a face lift are possibilities, Stephan said.

“I’d like to [make changes] but if it’s a tradition, I won’t touch it,” he said.

With The Market located in the central portion of campus and the new Dining Hall in the Housing area, Stephan said he hopes to create dining areas around the middle loop of campus as the school grows.

“It needs to be the right concept in the right place, where the students utilize what’s there,” Stephan said.

Stephan said he believes meal plans are one way to get the students to “utilize what’s there.”

The mandatory meal plans for residents help create a community environment within the dormitories, he said.

The Dining Hall provides a place for students to socialize and enrich their col-

alerting them to the situation on campus.

Although the WARN system is not affected by power and Internet outages, the information it provides cannot be disseminated immediately. With close to 20,000 phone numbers to process, the system takes roughly 30 minutes to alert everyone on the call list, according to Ayers.

The most important of the information systems, Ayers said, is the USA Emergency and Weather Hotline, which can be reached at 251-460-6999. The information available by calling that number is posted immediately and can be accessed in almost any situation.

Ayers suggests that students have this number programmed in their phone and call it to get the most up-to-date information available.

When threatening weather or other emergency situations could potentially affects students,

lege experience, according to Stephan.

The new director aims to provide students with the best possible dining experience, and Stephen says he takes his work personally.

Stephen added that if anyone has a complaint, he will try to handle it himself.

Despite his busy schedule and dozens of daily tasks, Stephen said he can make time for customer service.

His philosophy is this: Everyone has to eat, so why not discuss ways to make the campus community better over lunch?

www.usavanguard.com

Go there. it is Ayers’ office that ensures important information reaches students, faculty and staff.

“The idea is to get all the information up at one time,” Ayers said. “When we do alerts, we want to make sure all the information is available.”

Ayers has two pieces of advice for all members of the USA community: get the USA Emergency and Weather Hotline number, and register your phone number with the University.

Students who want to update their emergency contact information, which Ayers strongly recommends, should follow the Emergency Hotline link at the bottom right corner of USA’s home page. There, anyone can find out information about USA’s emergency response plan, and register or update their contact information.

Part of Ayers’ responsibility is making sure the emergency system works and is effective.

“I take this job seriously and personally,” Ayers said.

Ayers is always looking for feedback from both students and faculty about the emergency alert system. Anyone who has concerns or suggestions are welcome to call or e-mail Ayers’ office. Ayers said any feedback on any of these systems is good information for future improvements.

FYI

Program the USA Emergency and Weather Hotline Number into your phone: (251) 460-6999

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February 7, 2011

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10 February 7, 2011 To see an online gallery of pictures from the rehearsal, visit www. usavanguard.com.

The

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An Inside Look at Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Dralion’ Quebec-based artistic and acrobatic act Cirque du Soleil brought ‘Dralion,’ a show replete with elaborate choreography and mind-blowing stunts, to the USA Mitchell Center Feb. 2-6. At a rehearsal before one of the shows, The Vanguard caught up with some of the people behind the colorful and riveting performance for an interview about what makes the show exceptional.

Article by Brett Williams, Etc. Editor Photos by Colin McGee, Photo Editor

A

side from being great performers, the cast and crew of the Cirque Du Soleil are also a group of traveling companions.

Being on the road all year, it’s no wonder that they’re all so close, but that doesn’t make Cirque performers any less remarkable.

A fusion of cultural elements symbolized by the East's dragon and the lion from the West, Dralion combines the variety show style of Cirque du Soleil with passionate, rhythmic performances from around the globe. Attempting to find harmony between humans and nature, Dralion displays the 3,000-year old style of Chinese acrobatics with agility and grace even from behind the scenes.

Dralion shows the audience each of the four mystical elements in human form. The costumes these elements wear are every bit as stunning from the crowd as they are functional behind the scenes. Each costume is tailored specifically to the body of each performer. Because no two performers are built identically, no two costumes are the same.

Each cast member has their measurements taken from everything like the length of their nose to the size of their feet in order to be sure that there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

see DRALION | 19

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February 7, 2011

Photos by Colin McGee | Photo Editor

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Etc.

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February 7, 2011

The

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

www.usavanguard.com/etc

Sustainability Council announces Roadmap new energy conservation initiative to a wellrounded social circle

Learn how to make the most of people in Career Services who can help you achieve success in your career.

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

Career Services does a fairly decent job of presenting students with opportunities to broaden their horizons and meet new people.

But how do you capitalize on that friendship or take advantage of the fact that you and someone else share similar ideas about how you want to be successful? You treat these people as if they’re the only friend you know with a car.

You’re trying to go places. It’s why you’re here, why you’re possibly accumulating debt as we speak and why you sit through an hour and fifteen minutes of lecture every Tuesday and Thursday. How do you get there if you don’t know the way or have the means of transportation? You find someone going in the same direction. I’ll never understand how a student goes through four years of college and not know the names of some of the people they’ve spent four years sitting beside. You’re literally wasting space and time.

Luckily, through your major, you’re privy to a wealth of professors who have experience and fellow students who have the same drive that you do. You’re pretty much standing at the dealership at this point.

So, you pick a class, find a social club to join that deals with the same issues or you just simply sit next to the one person you’ve noticed in all the classes related to your major that seems to know what they’re talking about. This is you test-driving the car. Does it fit? How far do you see yourself going in this? These are the questions you want to be asking yourself. If the answer is either “it’s not” or “not very far”, I suggest you try something else or meet someone new.

Once you’ve found what works, though, you just hit the road. Get a map first though.

Talk to someone who knows. Seek out professors, grad students or whoever else seems to know more about your field than you do, and consult them frequently. Here’s your GPS, Guided Professor Services.

You’ll want to take a stab at some things for yourself, which is fine, too. Expect setbacks though. Use social clubs to explore career fields and meet people. Like if you’re see GUIDES | 19

The electricity-powered TESLA Roadster, which will be showcased at the You Have the P.O.W.E.R. event Thursday.

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

Did you leave your lights on? Ever since that little light bulb, bumblebee hybrid started singing songs of energy conservation in the 80’s, Alabama Power has been working to help the citizens here become more mindful of the energy they waste on a daily basis.

Alabama Power’s latest commercials aren’t as flashy, but they’re just as informative, and the University of South Alabama’s Sustainability Council hopes that this week some of that will rub off on students.

Most people know the Sustainability Council for their efforts at promoting recycling on campus. Since approximately 2009, they and several other organizations have been collecting plastic bottles from various recycling bins they introduced. Thursday, the Sustainability Council hopes to start another movement on campus, the You Have the P.O.W.E.R. Extravaganza.

Thursday, representatives from the Sustainability Council, Alabama Power, Keep Mobile Beautiful and the Exploreum will

be showing students how to be more energy-efficient. There will be free t-shirts, an “eco-arts and crafts” table where students can learn to create shopping bags from old T-shirts, and other eco-friendly activities. All the activities will take place in the downstairs area of the Student Center.

Aside from funding the event, Jeffrey Gill, an engineering student and acting Water and Energy Chair with the Sustainability Council confirmed that Alabama Power is bringing flyers so that students can learn more about reducing their energy output, a bicycle-powered generator and the electric TESLA Roadster, the world’s first electricity powered-sports car.

Although students probably shouldn’t expect rides in the TESLA, they can ride the bicycle-powered generator and find out how much energy their body produces per second while riding.

In addition, Gill also confirmed that the Exploreum will bring an EKG machine so that students can learn about their “electric potential” and give out a limited number of free passes to the Exploreum. USA facilities is also sponsoring the design of a light-

teslamotors.com

switch decal with the motto, “You Have the P.O.W.E.R.” placed over switches throughout the campus.

Gill says he hopes the event opens students’ eyes to areas that need attention like recycling and energy conservation. He says that by recycling one aluminum can, students are being at least “twenty times more efficient.”

Imagine what would happen if students were more aware in other areas. According to Gill, the aluminum used to make the cans we drink from originates from former Russian satellites in the Eastern Block of what used to be the Soviet Union. Each aluminum can has to be mined, melted down into a can shape, and painted to look like a coke can or green and yellow for Sprite.

“Imagine the amount of energy we’re conserving by simply reusing or saving one can,” Gill said.

The You Have the P.O.W.E.R. Extravaganza is scheduled to last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and is free and open to the public. For more information, students can visit Facebook.com and search for “You Have the Power.”

Chinese ‘stiltbus’ solution for JagTran?

By Gabe Grimes STAFF WRITER

A company in southern China, Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment, has designed a road-straddling “bus on stilts.”

The bus is tall enough to allow traffic to pass underneath it as if it wasn’t there, and it’s wide enough to allow traffic to have the entire width of the road. Like the JagTran, it runs a fixed route, carries a large number of passengers, but won’t hold up traffic flow or be held up by traffic jams.

These electrically-powered stilt-buses also have solar panels on the roofs of the buses and at bus-stops, so as to mitigate the energy required to power them.

It does, however, look like any electricity that doesn’t come from solar panels has to come from the rails.

geek.com

USA's JagTran might have met its match with the "bus on stilts" currently emerging in China.

Granted, there are some drawbacks: the Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment’s “stilt bus” is really long. It can hold up to 1200 passengers and would still get held up by foot traffic.

This could be a big problem if you’re at the Student Center circle waiting for the red or blue line right after classes are out. Cost is another concern. The bus rides on rails that are 20 feet apart and have no wooden ties between them.

Because it costs $7.5 million for one bus and one bus needs 25 miles of routing equipment, it is not going to fit into most budgets. However, it is a more eco-friendly and probably more cost-effective solution over the long run.

With all this construction going on, now may be the perfect time to add rails to each side of the road.

The University paid over $39 million in construction expenses in the last fiscal year, $280 million in payroll expenses and $14 million in utilities, according to www. spending.southalabama.edu.

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February 7, 2011

Technology from page 6

In addition to the wonderful new ways of taking notes, the internet is a wealth of information. As Dr. Strange says “We now live in an era when almost all information is in all places at all times."

A student can take notes and use the internet to enhance their learning experience.

If an American Literature teacher is talking about the writings of Cabeza de Vaca, a student in the class could quickly run a Google search and find more information on the man himself and thereby have a richer educational experience.

Laptops bring so much to the proverbial table, the use of technologically enhanced mediums such as laptops, voice recorders, and netbooks will further a student's education rather than hold it back.

The student has to commit to paying attention and participating in class, if they choose not to the laptop cannot be blamed.

Ultimately, I hope that each professor at the University of South Alabama will make it their goal to allow the use of technology like laptops in their classrooms this semester.

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Looking Back

Black History Month: A Week In Review

South Alabama students, faculty and guests discuss negative affects of a lack of pride within the African-American community.

Photos by Brett Williams | Etc. Editor

Left (in order from left to right) Moderator Carl Cunningham (standing), DJ Rodski, Dr. Denise McAdory (sitting) engage students in discussion about what they should do in case they're ever unsuccessful (Right - from left to right) Dean of Students Michael Mitchell, CNN.com Associate Producer Robert Johnson, OMSA administrator Carl Cunningham. and CNN.com Senior Producer Wayne Drash.

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

There’s nothing more profoundly interesting than knowing who you really are. At least, that’s the message that panelists and guests attempted to pass on to students in the first week of Black History Month. When it comes to discovering Black History, it seems that an entire generation of experiences may have been lost. The first week of Black History Month at the University of South Alabama was spent attempting to bridge the divide and recover what was lost.

Students met Thursday with CNN.com Senior Producer Wayne Drash and Associate Interactives Producer Robert Johnson who shared an interesting and emotional story about Drash’s family history. They listened as Drash told them while putting together his family history, he came across a startling piece of family history that would

lead him to the man that had been working for his family for over 70 years, James “Little Man” Presley.

Little Man had been employed to pick cotton for Drash’s family for 73 years in the Mississippi Delta and was finally retiring.

Drash’s great-grandfather had hired Little Man when he was only six years old, and his grandfather had actually picked cotton alongside Little Man. He told Drash in an interview on CNN.com that he’d started out making only 50 cents a day working from sun up to sun down.

He had gotten the name “Little Man” from how he had to literally “step-up” after his father passed away. Over the last 73 years, Little Man has only ever picked cotton. In that time, he had married a woman named Eva Mae. They have been together on the same piece of land for over 50 years and raised 13 children and 6 grandchildren, none of whom had any ill-will toward

Drash.

When Drash asked one of Little Man’s children how they could hug him, he was told that “they’d only ever been taught to love. Their daddy didn’t teach them hate.”

The story really drove home what students had already learned from panelists Tuesday who talked about how important it was for students to take pride in their history.

Earlier that week, panelists DJ RodSki from 93 WBLX, Dr. Denise McAdory, Ms. Kim Pettway who works in Human Resources for Sara Lee Bread Company and former collegiate-football player Joe Hunter led a forum on “Overcoming the Slave Mentality.” The Slave Mentality, as it was described by panelists, is anything that keeps [students] from succeeding immediately or believing that they can’t do something like graduate in four years, dress nicely for class or seek help from people.

Dr. McAdory, a professor at the Univer-

sity of South Alabama who teaches Social Problems, Social Gerontology and AfricanAmerican Health and Aging, spoke about how she tries to take every day to educate her students about who they are and what it means to be African-American. In the midst of thunderstorms, students and faculty gathered to listen as Dr. McAdory and the panel discussed how essential it is to the AfricanAfrican people that they find strength as a community again and discover pride in their race and themselves.

Finding someone on whom you can thoroughly rely is perhaps the most important thing about making sure you graduate from college and overcome that “five-years-untilI-graduate” theme, according to the panel.

“You won’t graduate on your own,” Pettway said. “You need to find someone like Dr. McAdory or Dr. Cunningham [in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs].” Howevsee IN REVIEW | 19

Facebook offer can support college entrepreneurs

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

In one of its latest developer’s blogs, Facebook announced it will support the Startup America Partnership to “foster entrepreneurship” in America.

Since Facebook is an independently owned business with strong entrepreneurial roots, the social networking giant said it’d be pleased to offer the technologies and resources needed for people to create the next big businesses.

Everyone eventually is presented with their chance to succeed. We are all granted our share of opportunities to do what we believed would never be possible. On Monday, the White House announced one such opportunity for ages 18 to 35.

Because the majority of Facebook’s millions of members are more than likely in this age range, it’s possibly the closest thing to a gold rush this generation has ever seen.

It is coming at a great time, too. According to an article from Alexander Cain of

the Atlanta Post published in early January, more college students are seeking to launch their own businesses in lieu of facing a tough job market especially in contests such as the Startup America Partnership.

According to the Facebook’s Developer’s Blog published by spokesperson Douglas Purdy, Facebook will host 12 Startup Days in 2011. These startup days will be monthly events, Purdy writes, that Facebook intends to provide engineering and design support for companies in the early stages of development.

The plan is for Facebook to essentially open its technology to the general public over the course of 12 days.

Facebook users interested in participating will then be able to “hack” with Facebook and sort of splice Facebook’s latest social networking technologies into their small businesses.

By allowing users to access this technology, Purdy writes that Facebook hopes to become an instrument for growth for entrepreneurs.

Users that take advantage of these technologies will be able to create new, innovative applications and websites using the Facebook platform.

Also, Purdy notes that Facebook plans to keep up with its open-source communities that share technology and work closely to continue to help scale and grow small businesses. Companies like Zynga, publisher of Farmville, are just the tip of how successful businesses can use the social networking technology Facebook has to offer.

After seeing that success in online gaming, more industries like news, entertainment, music and education are following suit and it appears Facebook hopes to pave the way for the next big gold rush.

The Startup America Partnership was founded in Washington, DC. Chaired by Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, CEO of Revolution LLC and chairman of the Case Foundation, the Partnership was initially funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Case Foundation, according to its Facebook page.

The info section of the Facebook profile says that the partnership works closely with the White House to help bring together the country’s best entrepreneurs, brightest ideas and most innovative concepts and match them with the top funders, foundations, CEOs and other local and national leaders so that these companies can start and grow.

Facebook’s support places them in the commitment’s list that includes companies like IBM, HP and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance.

There’s been no limit placed on the total number of businesses the partnership hopes to support, so it is safe to assume that the White House hopes to serve as many potentially successful ventures as possible.

For more information on the Startup America Initiative and Facebook’s involvement visit the Developer’s Blog on Facebook. com or startupamericapartnership.org.

Arts & Entertainment

The

Vanguard

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

Le Boeuf: Hypnotized

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February 7, 2011

www.usavanguard.com/etc

Students Kinect-ing in more ways than one

There is a new craze hitting campus as students come together to go head-to-head in all out dance battles. Skills are tested, heroes are born, and the Xbox Kinect is at the heart of it all.

By Rodney Thompson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

I woke up with a giant headache. I had too much to drink last night.

It was like a pounding drum in my temples beating out one of those crappy Ke$ha songs.

Hot and dangerous? I do not really feel like it.

Wait, significant portions of my evening are blurry. I am having difficulty recalling what happened.

My heart races as I begin to slightly hyperventilate. What happened last night? It is like a bad sequel to the Hangover.

Flashes of light blinded me. I remember laughter and lots of it. I was on a stage.

Sitting, wait, no. I was dancing. I was slow dancing with the most attractive woman I have ever seen. Why were we on a stage?

Was this all a dream? I remember something else. I was half naked. I think she was too. Yes, this must have been a dream.

More details begin to come into focus.

Still on the stage, but now, this attractive woman and I were making love. We were grinding to some raunchy rap song as the crowd cheered us on. This was definitely a dream.

I called up my buddy to inquire about our evening out. He burst into laughter at the recollection of my dream. Apparently, it wasn’t a dream at all. Apparently, the hot girl I was dancing with was an overweight, aging bald guy wearing a condom on his head. The girl I was making love to, she was a chair. I was the victim of HypNaughty.

Pure the Experience on Azalea road is giving Mobilians a new and exciting reason to go out on a Friday night. The first Friday of every month is now dedicated to hypnotist Thom Kaz and his show HypNaughty.

As the name would suggest this show is strictly 21 and up. Kaz is the real deal. This is coming from a volunteer. Kaz uses a very real and medically tested form of hypnosis that involves relaxation techniques and sub-conscious suggestion. Everyone experiences the effects differently. The more you are willing to give yourself into the idea of being free and uninhibited the greater you will succumb to the hypnosis.

Of course, I would not be a good A&E Editor if I was not willing to gleefully volunteer for Kaz’s social experiments. So, the first Friday of February, I joined a handful of other volunteers as that night’s entertainment.

I will not ruin the experience for future patrons, but I will simply state that the shows are being taped for an HBO special see HYPNOTIZED | 19

Photos Courtesy of Brandy Cooke

Some of the best and brightest students and alumni are finding the innovative new Xbox add-on, Kinect, to be a great way to blow off the stress of everyday life. More and more students are turning to this new fad as a way to unwind and have a great time with friends.

By Rodney Thompson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Remember the Wii? It is that little white box collecting dust under your friend’s television. Everyone had to have one, even if they did not consider themselves a gamer. It was fun to stand up and bowl, or play tennis, maybe box a round or two. We cannot forget Just Dance, that amazing group party game that tested your ability to coordinate. We all know that you really only had to move the controller around, though. The Wii does not know the difference.

Enter the Xbox Kinect, the newest addon device for the Xbox 360. The Kinect brings a whole new world of game play to the rather standard Xbox 360. If you have not played it yet, well it is only a matter of time until you do.

The Wii made it cool to be a casual gamer. The Xbox Kinect is just plain cool. Just Dance looks like a child’s game, well actually it is, but compared to Dance Central for the Xbox Kinect, it is truly a joke. For those who have not had the opportunity to jive to Dance Central, imagine having a dance battle against your friend to “Crank That”

by Soulja Boy. The Kinect watches you, your arms, your legs, your entire body. If you are not doing the Robocop then you lose points.

How does it work you may be asking yourself ? Well there are three separate cameras that are built into the motorized unit.

These cameras work together to map out the room as a three dimensional space. There is some computer magic involved and before you know it the game is disrespecting your dance moves. How the Kinect works is not essential in enjoying it, just know that it is an incredibly powerful and sophisticated piece of equipment that has an untold amount of

untapped potential.

As with anything cool, it is only a matter of time before everyone is doing it. The disease has already begun to spread around campus, at the Grove and the dorms. Students are getting down on Dance Central, working out with Fitness Evolved, and exploring the various other titles that are available for the Xbox Kinect.

“It’s definitely a workout, and made for those who have rhythm, but there is never a dull moment in playing the games or learning the dance moves!” Molly Vosicky, senior level public relations major, said this about the Kinect and Dance Central. Vosicky

and her friends like to get together for huge Dance Central parties that usually involve up to ten people getting funky to Lady GaGa’s “Poker Face.”

“Before Kinect, I always assumed that I was too white to dance; now I definitely know that I am,” commented fellow Kinect enthusiast, junior in education, Brooke Broadus.

Xbox Kinect has definitely become a staple for a good time. As long as Microsoft can manage to keep the game library updated with fresh and exciting titles, South students will be kinect-ing in more ways than one for quite some time.

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February 7, 2011

Sports

The

Vanguard Matt Weaver, Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.com

www.usavanguard.com/sports

Football National Letter of Intent Day Jaguars 2011 Class Best in Program’s Three Season History

By Jayson Curry SPORTS REPORTER

Club Rugby taking sports to new heights

By Vanguard Staff STAFF

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. With its fast pace, full contact, and with little to no stoppage time, how can it not catch someone’s attention?

Many people say that the best way to describe it is that it’s a combination of football and soccer.

It’s similar to American football due to its full contact nature and the similar shape of balls. It also shares similar qualities to soccer in that you’re allowed to kick the ball at any time and the clock is always running.

So how is rugby a different sport in itself ? The main difference is that you can only pass the ball backwards. No forward passes are allowed. Also, unlike football where play stops once a player is tackled, rugby allows the play to continue unless the referee blows the whistle to stop the play.

Now the question you may be wondering is how can you become part of this fast paced, 80 minute game.

Well, for the first time in 20 years, the University of South Alabama has put together a rugby club. Absolutely no experience is necessary.

The team began play in the fall but still has positions and teams availiable for the spring.

The squads practice Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the club intramural fields.

There are also two home games coming up on Feb. 19 and 26, respectively.

Those not interested in playing but still wanting to support rugby can do so by cheering on the Jags.

For those wanting more information about South Alabama club rugby, visit www.southalabamarugby.com.

For additional information contact the men’s team head coach, Wes Darwin at wesdarwin1@yahoo.com and call or text 251-604-6891.

For more Vanguard coverage of South Alabama Rugby, visit usavanguard.com/ sports and search “Rugby: South Wales to South Alabama.”

There was a lot to celebrate for Joey Jones and South Alabama football given a second-straight undefeated season. But don’t think the program is slowing down in its effort to improve.

As soon as the season ends, the recruiting period begins in full, important for a program starting only its third season.

The Jags also stocked up on four more key transfers, the foundation of their successes since their initial season.

Bringing in players with previous college experience is a huge benefit and one that USA has taken full advantage of. One of the more prominent transfers is running back and linebacker Demetre Smith.

Smith comes to Mobile from the University of Georgia after red-shirting last season at Athens. He comes in at 6’1”, 210 lbs. and should be a great fit in USA head coach Joey Jones’ defense. Smith should see time as a linebacker due to his plusspeed and agility for a large player. He should be excellent at covering tight ends and receivers.

Another transfer and easily the most touted recruit ever to be on campus is B.J. Scott. Scott was ranked the third best player in the state of Alabama in 2008 and he was rated five stars by most recruiting services.

Many fans will remember Scott for his

Vanguard Archives

South Alabama football head coach Joey Jones. The Jags signed 18 players Feb. 2.

days at nearby Vigor High School where he led the Wolves to the Alabama 5A State Championship. The red-shirt junior

will arrive in Mobile as a cornerback but could see playing time all over the field as his athleticism warrants. Scott will suit up alongside former Vigor teammate and friend Ken Houston in winning games for USA in 2011.

South Alabama is securing a reputation in beating some Division I programs including the SEC for the services of several players. One such player is linebacker Maleki Harris, who is 6’2”, 200 lbs. and was rated the 36th best linebacker in the country by ESPN. The Jags also picked up J.J. Keets from Florida Air Force Academy to play running back after being named as the the 38th best back in the nation.

Local favorites will also be represented at Ladd as E.J. May (McGill Toolen High) and Ameriol Finley (Spanish Fort High) suit up at South Alabama. May was a defensive back originally committed to Kentucky but instead opted to play near his home. Finley led the Yellowjackets to the 5A Alabama State Championships last season and played quarterback. Finley was recruited on athleticism and could see time in the defensive backfield in 2011.

South Alabama finished with an impressive recruiting class and appeared to cover each of their needs moving forward. The level of talent at South Alabama has never been higher.

This class should be the pillar of a winning program for many seasons to come.

NASCAR predictions and highlights

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

Six things to look forward to in 2011? It’s not easy to predict given so many changes to NASCAR this season. With a new points-paying system, race weekend layout and tracks, this season may become the most interesting in quite some time.

Nothing is a sure thing in the modern NASCAR, but I’m confident that the following will herald me as the next Nostradamus following Homestead in November.

The Sprint Cup season officially kicks off on Feb. 20 with the 53rd Annual Daytona 500.

Even then, the 500 is a series of races within a race. Speedweeks leads to the Budweiser Shootout exhibition on Saturday followed by Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday.

Qualifying will set the front row while Thursday’s Duels at Daytona will set the other 41 starting positions.

35 teams are guaranteed a starting spot under the NASCAR rulebook. The Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series will run on Friday and Saturday respectively.

A resurgent Jeff Gordon... Jeff Gordon will look more like the champion of the mid90’s rather than the often-listless driver of the 2000s. Gordon has had moderate success with former crew chief Steve Letarte, winning six races and capturing 30 top-tens in 2007. But the next three seasons produced only one victo-

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images for NASCAR Jimmie Johnson with all five of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship trophies.

ry, at Texas in April 2009. Gordon’s always preferred a picky car setup and Letarte often strug-

gled to adjust the car to his liking. The switch that brings new crew chief Alan Gustafson to Gordon and Letarte to Dale Earnhardt Jr. is good for all parties involved. Gordon fought illhandling cars to top tens all season in 2010 and could finally capture his fifth championship under Gustafson. At a minimum, Jeff Gordon will visit victory lane four times in 2011.

Junior Returns to Victory lane but misses Chase for the Championship...

There’s no easy way to say this. Dale Earnhardt Jr. needs a psychologist, and Steve Letarte is exactly what the doctor ordered. Letarte has fallen under a lot of scrutiny from Jeff Gordon fans for his inability to make in-race adjustments.

And rightfully so, most of Letarte’s Chevrolets went backwards during a race rather than forward in 2010.

But you’ve got to fix the driver before you can fix the car, and Junior needs fast fixing.

Luckily for ‘Junior Nation,’ Steve Letarte is an excellent communicator. Dale won’t win a championship under the current team but this is upward progression for June-bug. I suspect that Earnhardt returns to victory lane in the spring at Texas and finishes the season just outside of the Top 12.

Tony Stewart wins the Daytona 500...

Smoke is quickly approaching Dale Earnhardt territory with his lack of success in the Great American Race. Much like Earnhardt in the 1990s, Stewart has had so much success at Daytona. And yet, he’s never won the big one.

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Nascar from page 16

In fact, it’s more likely that he’s been caught up in the race’s other big one, the large multi-car crashes associated with restrictor plate racing.

The bad luck will finally run out for Smoke in February as Stewart will need and receive a last lap push from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to overtake a dominant Jeff Gordon to win the Daytona 500.

Kyle Busch captures first Sprint Cup Championship... Kyle Busch has had the talent to win the past five Sprint Cup Series championships, but his own youth continued to get in the way. This season is finally the one where he puts it all together and breaks through. “Mr. Win or Crash Trying” finally turns into “Mr. Consistency”, winning five races and taking the Sprint Cup title by 14 championship points.

The Best of the rest: 2. Jeff Gordon 3. Jimmie Johnson 4. Mark Martin 5. Carl Edwards 6. Tony Stewart 7. Juan Pablo Montoya

8. Jeff Burton 9. Kevin Harvick 10. Kurt Busch 11. Denny Hamlin 12. Matt Kenseth Sam Hornish will run at Indy and Charlotte... My best guess is that Sam Hornish Jr. will be relegated to a Nationwide Series ride by April and will convince Roger Penske that running the May Double is a great idea.

Hornish will test at Indianapolis during the month of May, giving him a great chance to win the Indianapolis 500. Instead, he just loses to race-winner Will Power. With the IndyCar Series starting Indianapolis at 11 a.m. CST, Hornish can make the post-race flight just in time to start the NASCAR Coca Cola 600.

Hornish won’t win either half of the double but will open the door to future NASCAR participation in the Biggest Spectacle in Racing.

NASCAR 2011 The Game Fails... Most video games based on NASCAR largely have been poorly constructed and unpurchased since the start of the last decade. When discussing the genre, the bar will always be Papyrus’ NASCAR Racing 2003. Previous publisher Electronic Arts never understood that fans

February 7, 2011

preferred simulation over arcade-style racing.

New Developer Eutechnyx knows this already if they’ve done their homework. Yet I’m guessing they haven’t. Codemaster’s excellent F1 2010 and Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 (with a playable NASCAR mode) will still be the racing simulation of choice in 2011.

New Nationwide Series Will be a Huge Hit... The Nationwide Series, NASCAR’s minor league series, has always been criticized for the “Buschwackers,” Sprint Cup Series stars dominating the league dating back to its days as the the NASCAR Busch Series.

The last time a non-Sprint Cup Series regular won the Nationwide Series title was in 2005 when Martin Truex Jr. captured his second consecutive crown for DEI. In response, NASCAR mandated that each driver must pick a series in which his points will be tallied toward in 2011. Sprint Cup series drivers may still race in the Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series but the Cup drivers will no longer be able to run for a championship in seveal leagues.

This will transform the Nationwide Series into a true ladder system with its own identity separate from the Sprint Cup Series, and the sport will be stronger as a result.

Super Bowl XLV

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Sports Briefs Men’s Basketball Splits Road Swing Against WKU and MTSU Middle Tennessee opened the second half with a 9-1 run and never looked back in an 85-62 win over the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team Saturday afternoon at the Murphy Center.

The Blue Raiders win for the third straight game and the fifth time in their last six outings to go to 12-12 overall and 7-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars drop to 10-12, 4-7.

“We just have to go back and work,” Arrow said. “We won one on the road and they say that when you win one on the road you’ve done good, so we have to protect our home court, which we haven’t done a good job of. We’ll have some time to prepare and get ready for Troy.”

USA redshirt freshman Augustine Rubit set a new career high himself with 26 points and recorded 13 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. Nine of his 13 boards came on the offensive end.

Senior Gary Redus was the only other USA player in double-digit scoring with 10.

On Thursday, South Alabama senior Gary Redus had 26 points—19 in the second half—and junior Allyn Cooks (Bryan, Texas) hit a key bucket with 34.9 seconds remaining to give the Jaguars an 80-76 win at Western Kentucky Thursday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Hilltoppers dating back to the 08-09 season. WKU had also won four in a row coming into the contest.

Women’s Tennis Fall to Louisiana Lafayette on Home Opener

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Green Bay Steals Super Bowl, 31-25 Packers Force Three Turnovers To Win Fourth World Championship

A lot of talk will be made of the no-flag on Pittsburgh’s fourth and 5 with less than a minute left. The Steelers have a lot more to think about following the Packers 31-25 victory at Cowboys Stadium. The Packers won because they were more fundamentally sound.

Three turnovers-to-none is the real story of Super Bowl XLV. The Steelers made plenty of mistakes, and Aaron Rodgers capitalized.

Rodgers was an excellent 29-of-34 for 304 yards with the Pack choosing to run the ball just 11 times.

Ben Roethlisberger needed to go 87 yards in two minutes and couldn’t even make it to midfield, victimized by yet another characteristic misstep. The Steelers lost this game.

-Matt Weaver, Sports Editor

The super bowl began and ended the way many predicted it would. The Super Bowl Champion Packers faced the same adversity in the game that they did all season long: Injuries.

Yet they defied the odds and pulled it out.

The game was not pretty by any stretch of the imagination. The two teams showed respective moments of brilliance and explosive offense but the defense and turnovers ruled in Dallas.

As usual, winning the turnover battle wins you the game.

Everybody expected the Packers to buckle to Big Ben and the Steelers, but the Lombardi trophy. goes to Green Bay. The mark of real champions.

-Jayson Curry, Reporter

The Green Bay Packers took the knee in Texas and won Super Bowl XLV, 3125. Ben Roethlisberger tossed two interceptions in the first half, putting Pittsburgh behind 21-10 at halftime.

After the first half it looked as if Green Bay had been in their third Super Bowl rather than the six-time champions.

In the third quarter, the Steelers looked to recreate their last Super Bowl comeback, but the Packers held on to their lead throughout the entire contest.

Green Bay notched their thirteenth championship, and Aaron Rodgers claimed MVP honors and his World Championship-style belt.

-Jake Wasdin, Reporter

The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team dropped their 2011 spring opener to Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana at Lafayette 6-1 Sunday at Cajun Courts in Lafayette, La. “Louisiana at Lafayette is a good team,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “They were too strong for us today. We need to focus on getting healthy and getting better.”

At No. 1 doubles USA’s Chane Hines and Alina Volman fell to Aubrey Woodland and Julie Mazinova 8-5. Jess Courtnell and Bridgette Gale dropped an 8-2 decision to Milou Israel and Briggitt Marcovich on the No. 2 court.

The Ragin’ Cajuns earned wins at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles by default.

Women’s Basketball Fall to MTSU 71-48 The inside game of Middle Tennessee post players Ebony Rowe and Icelyn Elie proved to be too much for the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team Saturday evening as the Lady Jags fell 71-48 at Middle Tennessee at the Murphy Center.

The duo combined to record 45 of the Blue Raiders’ 71 points. Rowe led all scorers with 24 points on 11-of-20 shooting, while Elie finished the contest with 21 points and was 8-for-13 from the floor.

Rowe and Elie each just missed posting a double-double, pulling down eight and nine rebounds, respectively.

-Wire Reports

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February 7, 2011

Distractions

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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!

Caption Contest Results

Winner: “Screw the flags, let’s play Patty Cake!”

-T money

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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February 7, 2011

Hypnotized

Measure

and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of the DVD. That is right, Mobile, Alabama, our little town at the bottom of the Bible belt is being taped for an HBO comedy special.

If the footage continues to be as great as I am told that night was, then I am sure it will be the most epic special ever.

It is quite possibly one of the most entertaining and exciting things I have ever done.

Whether you are brave enough to join the ranks on stage or you just want to laugh your ass off at the hilarious things people will do under hypnosis, then Pure the Experience and Thom Kaz are the perfect prescription for that ailment.

given 45 minutes to answer 75 multiple choice questions in the English section.

That is 36 seconds per question. Is that enough time to thoroughly consider and think about how to answer a question?

I don’t mean to downgrade the importance of some testing - as I’m sure my counterpart has stressed - but why take a test for four hours?

Now, take into consideration that research has consistently shown that the average attention span of teenagers is five to 20 minutes.

A four hour test is way beyond the limits of the on-the-go lifestyles of today’s students.

In addition, the questions on the tests are borderline elementary, and biased towards students of a certain background: namely, white middle class.

This means that if a student has been given the opportunity to “learn” all that he or she needs to know for the test, his or her chances at making above the national average is decidedly higher than a student from a lower income bracket.

Some students just don’t have the money to pay for pre-test classes and have to get by on what they can scrounge up from going to regular school classes.

The result is a test that in neither fair nor standardized.

from page 15

Fact

from page 7

college can be completely different from another depending on the difficulty of the college as well as the undergraduate degree the student chose.

Some argue that GPA plays a more important role in student ability than standardized tests because it evaluates a student’s work ethic.

This idea has some truth to it, but without the comprehension skills and knowledge needed to understand college level material, (both of which are evaluated by standardized tests) all the work ethic in the world won’t help a student graduate.

More importantly, standardized test are something we won’t be able to escape later in life, so we might as well prepare for them now.

Take the MCAT for example. A medical student may be able to learn everything in class, but if he or she doesn’t perform well on standardized tests, the student will never pass part one of the USMLE to actually become a licensed doctor.

Even after medical school, doctors must retake their board exams (another standardized test) every ten years to maintain board certification.

The same is true for future law students.

The LSAT is multiple choice so learning early to master standardized tests is crucial.

In conclusion, I don’t see how standardized test could ever be replaced. The people that disagree with the use of standardized test are often the same people that can’t do well on them.

There has to be a way for universities to identify good students as well as potential problem students, and a standardized test is the best way to do it.

Fords

from page 7

not be solved. It is up to the individual to drive like you’re within a weapon.

It is up to the individual to walk or ride defensively, and for each of us to set our pride aside and realize human life matters far more than thirty seconds of our time. Don’t stop on crosswalks, wait for people to cross, and pay attention to your surroundings.

Maybe then fewer red Ford drivers will feel so entitled to risk human life.

from page 7

Guides from page 12

part of the Civitan Club and are majoring in social work, it may not be such a bad idea to suggest an event where you help underprivileged or at-risk youth.

The wonderful thing about South is that there are so many different places that offer so many different opportunities for students willing to give a little time.

Remember, all of this is supposed to help you build experience and network, so use everything you get involved with to collect business cards, shake hands and get a little bit of insight into your career field.

In the end, you’ll find that your four year journey may not have prepared you adequately if all you did was read about what your work was like. So, volunteer if you have to while you can. Get some experience and contacts under your wing and they’ll take you the rest of the way.

In Review from page 14

er, according to Hunter, it is not always so simple. In the minds of African-American students they can’t just seek out their elders because they fear being judged, Hunter added.

Hunter who attended West Virginia University, a predominantly white school, says that he had been helped more by his white teachers than the blacks he knew in college.

So, does race really matter when you talk about success in and outside of college?

Based on their experiences, Dr. Cunningham and Dr. McAdory said that compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, African-American students at the University of South Alabama seem to be more timid and more likely to just “go with the flow” of things so they end up un-

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Contact The Vanguard’s Advertising Department at (251) 460-6898.

Dralion from page 10

Each person’s name is written in their costumes and respective headwear and footwear. However, wardrobe still carries with it perhaps more than 1,000 odds and ends to fix any costume malfunction, should it ever arise.

According to the Artistic Director Shaun McKeown, the cast of the Dralion consists of approximately 23 people. The group normally works on 12-month contracts, but McKeown says some people have been with the show for close to 15 years.

In addition to the cast that plays in Dralion, there are several musicians and costume designers, including one person brought in locally and stage managers who made the trip to Mobile.

The cast originally hails from performing arts academies from around the globe and are handpicked for Dralion after years of studying at their prospective schools. Many of the hoop divers come from the Chinese Performing Arts Academy while others like Amanda Orozco studied here in the United

prepared for the real world and taking longer to graduate.

McAdory says she’s amazed at how students of all races on campus expect to graduate in five to six years. Perhaps, these expectations arise from the nonchalant manner in which students approach classes. Pettway says that she recalls going to class in pajamas or sweatpants with her hair in a ponytail and that no one told her that it was wrong.

An Auburn University graduate, Pettway says she didn’t realize how closely monitored or how easily she could be passed up for a job opportunity just because of how she was dressed. She found out the hard way. Now that she’s in Human Resources, though, she says she sees how all of that contributes to being adequately prepared.

For the most part this is true. Students on campus don’t generally approach their

States and in Montreal before joining the cast of Dralion in 2010.

Some even came to join Cirque without much formal training like Orozco’s partner in the Ariel de Pas, Lorant Markocsany of Hungary who taught himself almost everything he knows before joining Cirque in 2010.

Their acrobatics portion of the show is is a passionate love story where the two meet and are quite literally “swept off their feet,” Orozco said.

When asked about being afraid of performing at such heights every night, Markocsany said that he was actually afraid of “being at a computer for eight hours.” He said he wouldn’t choose to do anything else, and if you’ve seen the show, you could easily agree that he made the right career choice.

“Each night is something different.

No two shows are alike,” McKeown said. This show is the second Cirque Du Soleil show to visit Mobile in the past three years.

classes as business meetings, don’t see teachers as references and portals into the workforce until they need references and don’t seek out opportunities to take that next step in getting out of school immediately.

Dr. Carl Cunningham, the forum’s moderator, brought up that the type of nonchalant attitude students at the University of South Alabama exhibit would not have been acceptable at a school like Jackson State University. “Everyone knew each other. Your grades went straight to your parents.

Your teachers probably knew your parents. And they knew your grades before you did. You had to be on point.”

Dr. Cunningham and Dr. McAdory said that it was just the culture at an HBCU that you had to be great because everywhere you looked you saw excellence.

Continued at www.usavanguard.com.

20 February 7, 2011

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