The Vanguard 3.12.12 by The Vanguard

VANGUARD

THE

MCAT to transition to ‘harder’ format see page 5

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

MAR. 12, 2012

Googlepowered Jagmail coming soon

Student Government hosts art show

USa board of Trustees

by MaTT weaVer Senior Reporter

by JeSSIca MarDIS Contributing Writer

he days of losing a jump drive, or not having access to that important document or PowerPoint presentation, is a thing of the past for students using Google Docs. Google offers more than just email and a search engine. They have expanded Google and provided users an easy way to create documents, presentations and calendars accessible virtually anywhere. Google’s integrated system is efficiently available for universities and colleges, environments where students are already using some of its technology to make life easier. see GooGle, page 2

In honor

cAssie fAMbRo / eDitoR

the usA board of trustees convened on friday, March 9. Among the topics discussed were parking increases after new housing is built, the addition of statues in various locations around campus and possible cuts in state funding. Dr. bruce chabner of Harvard was also welcomed to lead an advisory panel for the usA Mitchell cancer instittue.

pilot lt. cmdr. Dale taylor, co-pilot lt. j.g. thomas cameron, rescue swimmer chief Petty officer fernando jorge and ﬂight mechanic Petty officer 3rd Class Andrew “Drew” knight all died in a training exercise in late february in Mobile, Ala. the usA family’s thoughts are with the coast guard family, friends and community.

he University of South Alabama’s Student Government Association is sponsoring an art show to be held on Saturday, March 30 at Alumni Hall across from the Mitchell Center on South Drive. The event is called the “Jaguar Pride Art Show” and is open to any USA student, regardless of major. All types of media are eligible, and the promotion will feature four winners. The contest is set to be judged by South Alabama faculty and will award USA Bookstore scholarships to the top four presentations. The scholarships are valued at $600, $500, $400 and $300 respectively. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and winning selections will be displayed around the campus. All projects must be Jaguar or South Alabama related and should be brought to

see SGa arT SHow, page 6

Elevator ‘bounce’ causes concern at Stokes by PaTrIck HerrInG Staff Reporter

oNTHejoBTV.CoM

vol. 50, no. 9

n the night of Feb. 29, a student resident in Stokes Hall experienced an elevator “bounce” according to a report filed with housing. Assistant Director of Housing James Bridgeforth and Director of Public Relations Keith Ayers confirmed the incident. “The student reported the incident and our night maintenance crew responded and arrived in about 15 minutes,” Bridgeforth said. Their inspection revealed no problems and the contractors responsible for constructing Stokes were also called and could find no problems. “All of our elevators on campus are licensed by the state and inspected regularly,” Ayers said. “Maintenance for our elevators is contracted out to Otis, a nationally recognized elevator maintenance

find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”

company.” Stokes isn’t the only building on campus to experience elevator issues. A library employee revealed that their building experiences problems with elevators as well. “The north side elevators get stuck often,” the employee said. “The librarians don’t even use them anymore.” The employee also said the elevators tend to get worse when they are used more frequently. “Around finals time when a lot of people are riding them, they get stuck more often,” the employee said. “We have one maintenance person that is in here almost every day to work on them.” To report problems with elevators, or anything else related to maintenance or facilities, fill out a work order form on their website at usahelp.southalabama. edu or call 251-460-7655.

check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

pAtRick HeRRing/ stAff RepoRteR

an elevator at Stokes Hall experienced technical difficulties on Feb. 28. no one was injured.

in this issue (pg 7): life (pg 13): Opinion (pg 10): Sports

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

Student Health goes online Google changing Jagmail by carey cox Copy Editor

Google, from page 1

he new web portal system for the Student Health Center, Jaghealth, makes it easier for USA students to take control of their healthcare. Jaghealth allows students enrolled at USA to look up their account balances, schedule appointments online, fill out required forms and check the status of their immunization records submission at any time. “More and more students have started to use it,” Beverly Kellen, the Student Health Center practice director, said. To make an account, students must visit jaghealth.usouthal.edu and enter their Jag number, birth date and last name, and the Health Center will then email an activation key. “It allows students to make appointments on weekends and diminishes waiting time. You can see availability and pick a time and provider,” Kellen said. The release of Jaghealth is part of a bigger initiative to improve healthcare through electronic health records. Kellen says the next component the

courtestsy of public relations

More information can be found by logging on to southalabama.edu/studenthealth.

Health Center is working on is to provide communication between the patient and healthcare provider, so the provider can send the patient messages about test results and other updates. For more information, contact the Student Health Center at 251-460-6932.

University of South Alabama staff recently began work to have a Google USA-specific site ready for students soon. USA followed the lead of several other state universities, including the University of Alabama and University of West Florida. “The transition to the new Googlepowered Jagmail system should be up and running mid-April,” Programming Assistant Manager Chris Heath said. “There will be a pilot program, and students will be able to opt in. The full transition is expected to be complete by the end of June, with all student email accounts converted to Jagmail,” Heath said. The switch to Jagmail is highly anticipated, especially among students who already use Google Gmail and calendar features to make life easier. Students will be able to merge information and contacts with from current Google accounts. “I think Google is great. I use Google documents all the time, and I am excited about the switch,” Bri-

ant Sawyer, a junior Communication major, said. Google also makes group projects easier. As many as four people can contribute to and edit a single document at the same time. “We are all excited about it, and staff and faculty are also excited,” Kathy Gradle, student information systems manager, said. “We are trying to make sure it is a smooth transition and that there are FAQ’s that will answer questions without students having the hassle of dealing with tech support,” she added. Some students are concerned the change may not be smooth from Jaguar1 accounts. “If they make the transition start with incoming students and allow current students to choose whether or not they want to change, the process might go smoother,” Amber Day, a senior Communication major said. The campus will be sporting promotional T-shirts and other goodies to prepare everyone for the April switch to Google Apps and Jagmail at USA.

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

7-Day JagCast Mar.12 - Mar. 18 Monday Mar. 12

Tuesday Mar. 13

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Thursday Mar. 15

Friday Mar. 16

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We’ll be in a disturbed pattern this week. We’ll start off the week with thunderstorms and highs in the upper 70s on Monday, with overnight lows in the upper 50s. Scattered t-storms will be likely on Tuesday, with highs reaching the upper 70s and overnight lows in the upper 50s. We’ll see southerly winds come in Wednesday through Friday, which will increase moisture levels and give us the chance foe scattered t-storms. Highs will be in the upper 70s with lows in the mid 50s. For the weekend, it looks like we may have a few isolated t-storms across the area with highs in the upper 70s with lows near 60. If you’re heading to the beaches, expect yellow flag surf along area beaches with a low to medium risk of rip currents all this week. Remember to check in with your local lifeguard on the latest surf conditions. for the latest on your forecast, severe weather updates, and what’s going on in the tropics, find us on Facebook search “StormTeam4Gamma9Wx” you can follow us on Twitter, too search “stormteam4g9wx” and find Patrick Bigbie on Twitter search “metwxpatrick”

Eight car accident revisited Editor’s note: Have a question for USAPD? Email us at editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

USAPD: 460-6312

Update on HUMB pile-up by cassie fambro Editor-in-Chief

SAPD provided The Vanguard with the official police report on the incident that took place March 1 outside of the Humanities building. A total of eight cars were involved instead of the initially believed seven. Unit 1 in the police report is the silver Taurus credited with causing the accident. As unit 1 turned left to go towards to exit of the HUMB parking lot, it struck properly parked unit 2, a Nissan Altima. Unit 1 then went underneath properly parked unit 4, a Dodge Ram. The Dodge Ram is the misaligned vehicle shown right. Unit 4 was then pushed into

properly parked unit 5, a GMC Jimmy. Unit 5 then collided into properly parked unit 6 and 7, a Mercedes 230 and a Honda Accord. Unit 8, an also properly parked Ford Fusion, was scraped by unit 6 when unit 5 impacted it. USAPD Lt. Keith West says that “excessive speed” was involved in the accident. West could not confirm that texting and driving was a factor in the accident, but if any witnesses came forward to attest to seeing the driver of the Taurus, identified to The Vanguard by a source as Wendy Augustine, texting, the police report can be amended. Fambro Editor/ USAPD police report USAPD said that no serious Image captured form the USAPD report of a injuries were sustained. representation of how the car accident occured.

Submission and Editorial policies “University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

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

Cassie Fambro Aaron Etheredge Matt Weaver Carey Cox Bailey Hammond Jeff Gill Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter

Distribution

distribution manager Johnny Davis distribution Angela Davis

Advertising advertising manager advertising graphic designer graphic designer

Wesley Jackson Mark Crawford II Brittany Hawkins Rex McKay

Management advising James Aucoin advising John Sellers accounting Kathy Brannan

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

Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. or editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is

composed of the Editor in Chief, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight during weekly Editorial Board meetings. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the Editor in Chief at 251-460-6442 or e-mail editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each.

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

Student disability services responds to feedback by kayln Mcclellan Staff Writer

s seen in last week’s Vanguard, Student Disability Services has received mixed reviews from students who are currently registered with the SDS office. Both Ryan Arnold and Anna Claire Steel expressed opinions about their experiences with SDS. Dr. Andrea Agnew, director of Disability Services, was given the opportunity to respond to these feedback, as well as provide information about the services available to students in need of help from SDS. Arnold complained that he feels like he is an inconvenience to SDS staff whenever he makes a request for service. He also said he doesn’t feel like they are there for him and that his needs are not being met. “I have decided that I’m going to stop using their services and get through college on my own,” Arnold said. In response to this complaint, Agnew stated, “whenever a student makes a request we go to all lengths to get accommodations made and issues resolved as quick as possible. We have a small staff and it takes time to meet accommodations. We only have one full-time professional aside from myself.” SDS currently has over 700 students registered with their program. Therefore, it takes time to meet every need, and they must make sure the most urgent needs are

met first. Students are highly encouraged to contact the office well in advance of the enrollment period so that qualifications can be assessed and the proper accommodations put in place before the start of the semester. Agnew also said they rely a lot on student workers to manage the front desk and do other tasks around the office. She also mentioned most of the student workers can offer mentorship because they have personal experience with disabilities, either themselves or with family members. Both Arnold and Steel also complained about the difficulty of getting to the new location of SDS. However, Agnew has had positive feedback from the move. “Students used to complain that the Student Center location was too noisy and not conducive to a testing atmosphere. Also, there was a lack of privacy, and many students who had disabilities that were not physically apparent felt uncomfortable coming to our office in such a heavily trafficked area,” Agnew stated. She also said the number of students visiting the office has greatly increased. Arnold and Steel were also discouraged by the lack of automatic doors at the SDS office. “There is a ramp, but no automatic door,” said Steel. Agnew said they are in the process of getting the door installed. “These things take a lot of time and paperwork. First a request must be made to the Dean of Students, then that request moves to Student Affairs, and finally to the

building manager. The work order is now out to bid, and door measurements have been made. However, these types of things can only be done when the budget allows.” Agnew also noted although the current door is not automatic, it still meets the width requirements established and enforced by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The act does not require automatic doors. “We have to give attention to the most pressing needs first, and the most important needs are the needs of our students,” Agnew said. After responding to the issues raised by Arnold and Steel, Agnew took time to discuss the many wonderful services offered by SDS aside from classroom and testing aid. Among services offered by SDS, coordination with JagTran is perhaps the most important. Students registered with SDS can call JagTran and request to be picked up from any location on campus, even if the location is not on a regular route. “Last year when the Tan Route was cancelled, JagTran would still run that route for a blind student who needed it,” Agnew said. SDS also coordinates with study abroad programs to ensure students with disabilities who would like an opportunity to study abroad get that chance. “This is a major process because other countries have different disability assessment processes and accommodation policies, but we have had a lot of success in

giving equal study abroad opportunities to our students” Agnew said. Agnew also mentioned a lesser-known service offered by SDS, temporary assistance for students with injuries and impairments from accidents. In an email, Agnew stated that “often, a number of students will sustain physical injuries during spring break and will struggle for days or weeks to navigate campus parking, taking notes in classes, and completing assignments. We can assist students with special parking and other classroom services during temporary impairments.” A few more services offered by SDS include letter writing on behalf of students needing certifications or licensing for their major, GRE assistance and making sure housing accommodations are met according to ADA specifications. Student Disability Services offers guided support, mentoring and educational opportunities that many students would not have without assistance from the program. Students with questions about qualifications can contact the office at 251-460-7212, by email at specialstudents@usouthal.edu, or they can visit the office, located at 5828 Old Shell Road, at Jaguar Drive. Also, students wishing to receive services need to contact the office well in advance of the start of the semester so that SDS has time to meet all necessary accommodations. For more information, visit the SDS

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

MCAT for medical students to be adjusted; ‘harder’ by Amber Day Contributing Writer

he Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recently announced that the new Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is scheduled to be introduced in Spring 2015. Updated sections will be added, the exam will be longer and the written portion of the exam will be deleted. “The MCAT revision committee surveyed thousands of people to find out what and where the field of medicine is headed,” said Dr. Ronald Franks, vice president for health sciences and interim chair of psychiatry at the University of South Alabama. “We realized the exam needed to include more material on cellular and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and social sciences.” The 2015 version of the MCAT exam will have four sections, and a separate score will be reported for each. The new test sections will be: 1. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, 2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, 3. Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior, and 4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. “The MCAT exam scores will still be

graded on a 15-point scale,” Dr. Franks, who served as vice chair of the MCAT revision committee, said. This is only the fifth time that the MCAT exam will have been revised since the first exam was made in 1928. The exam changes are being made to mirror the modifications currently seen in the health care field. “To be a good physician, doctors need to be trained to serve in an increasingly diverse community,” Dr. Franks said. “It is important for doctors to know how to adapt the health care they provide to individuals.” The 2015 MCAT exam will see a change in its natural sciences section. This portion of the exam will add a social and behavioral sciences section and a critical analysis and reasoning skills section. “I feel that the scientific inquiry and reasoning section will be a great tool to predict the future success of a medical school applicant,” Cody Penrod, a fourth-year USA medical student who serves on the USA College of Medicine admissions committee, said. “I feel this section will give some insight into the applicant’s intellect as opposed to their general knowledge. This quality allows physicians to think through complicated patient problems, make connections between multiple systems and apply this knowledge to the future treatment plan of the patient.” The written section of the exam will be

discontinued as of January 2013. “I am glad to hear they are taking away the essay,” Dianna Thomas, a fourth-year USA medical student who also serves on the medical school’s admissions committee, said. “Currently, I don’t think it is looked at very much by admissions, and no one really knows how to interpret it as a part of the score. Being able to write is important, but they need a new way of incorporating that into the test.” “The written portion of the exam is rarely used by admissions committees across the country,” Dr. Franks added. “It was helpful, however, with students that used English as a second language.” The 2015 version of the MCAT exam will be seven hours long versus the current fiveand-a-half-hour long test. “This test is generally much longer than any pre-medical student has encountered before, and making the exam even longer will almost certainly make it more challenging,” Travis Harris, a fourth year USA medical student who also serves on the USA College of Medicine admissions committee, said. “It will now be even more important for students preparing for the MCAT to train under simulated testing conditions in order to build up stamina.” A longer exam makes for a better exam, according to Dr. Franks. “The advantage of the longer exam is

that it will result in a more accurate representation of what students know in certain areas.” Some questions have been made as to whether or not pre-med students will see a curriculum change. “Eighty-five percent of students will have already taken the coursework to prepare them for the exam,” Dr. Franks said. “The new exam will be tested at an introductory level of psychology and sociology.” Dr. Cindy Stanfield, the pre-med advisor at the University of South Alabama, is planning ahead to prepare students for the 2015 exam. “So far, it looks like most medical schools are not adding to required courses, but in practicality, I would recommend students take genetics/genomics and biochemistry,” Dr. Stanfield said. “I will be working with several departments on campus to come up with a list of courses that will meet the competencies tested for in the new MCAT.” Overall, the changes to the 2015 version of the MCAT exam have been seen as a positive representation of how health care and science is currently evolving. “In general I think it’s great that the AAMC views the MCAT as a dynamic test that should change with the medical field,” Penrod said. “It shows their dedication to improvement, which should positively influence the face of physicians of the future.”

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

SGA art show SGa from page 1 Alumni Hall on Friday, March 29, no later than 5 p.m. The show was conceived by SGA Vice President Jessica Byrd and arts major Jason Guynes. The project was born out of Byrd’s desire to see USA feature additional student art on campus. She pushed the concept even harder after the English department voted to remove its longstanding student-produced mural on the second floor of the humanities building. “I first thought of the idea of over the summer but didn’t think it through until the English mural was threatened,” Byrd said. “South Alabama has some really tal-

ented and artistic students, and their work should be featured on the campus.” Geremy Hanne is a junior graphic design major and was notified of the contest by his teachers. He’s interested in participating and has already brainstormed several ideas. “I think it’s a great idea,” Hanne said. “Art students have talked for years about organizing an art contest. Now we have one that’s open to everyone, so there’s a pride issue as well - what if a non-art major comes in steals the show?” Artists are urged to keep in mind that they are representing themselves and the University while participating in the contest. For more information, contact SGA@ jaguar1.usouthal.edu.

SGA Elections process begins It is once again time for the campus to elect its Officers and Senators for the Student Government Association. Applications will be available March 19 in the SGA Office, located in the Academic Support Center, Room 1363. The deadline to submit your application is March 27 at 5 p.m. There will be a mandatory candidate meeting at 5:01 p.m. in the SGA Office. If you or your representative are not present at the meeting, you will be disqualified. Business attire is suggested as pictures will be taken. Elections will be held during the first week of April. If you have any questions, please contact Colin Al-Greene at coalgreene@comcast.net

jaglife

vol. 50, no. 9 / Mar. 12, 2012

Financial aid for students S

Time in the age of games myles kelley Contributing Writer

timothy borland Contributing Writer

pring is a time of blooming flowers, pleasant weather and new beginnings. For many college students, it is also the beginning of a seemingly never-ending series of applications, forms and documents. The pursuit of student aid is a common experience among most higher education students. The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed approximately 66 percent of college students in the United States receive aid. South Alabama students are no exception; the National Center for Educational Statistics estimates 85 percent of new students attending USA receives some form of student aid. Government programs like the Pell Grant and Stafford Loans are designed to ease the financial burden of need-based students. Any help paying off the financial burden of college is worth filling out tedious documentation; the average grant at South Alabama totals up to $5,122, with loans averaging $6,158. Help with this endeavor is available to students on campus. “There are thousands of untapped resources in Government Documents that students are unaware of,” USA Assistant Librarian Paula Webb said Federal Student Aid is the focus of a current display featured in the Government Documents section of the USA Library. This timely informational oasis features pamphlets, forms, FAFSA information and a variety of informational guides to help need-based students successfully acquire Government aid. The Government Documents staff is ready and willing to help students find the information they are looking for. The Government Documents section of the library is located on the second floor South of the USA University Library main building. For questions, contact by phone 251-460-7024 or via email docref@ jaguar1.usouthal.edu.

Bailey Hammond, jagLife Editor life.editor@usavanguard.com

our time is stolen, your attention is robbed and your test scores leave a lot to be desired. Hobbies such as electronic gaming can provide great distractions that can end in this result. However, the following time management skills may help in suppressing distractions into small bursts of healthy hobby times. Electronic gaming includes games on cellphones, computers, handhelds and gaming consoles. It is recommended that they are all turned off, at least while the student is trying to study, according to Dr. Alvah Clark of the University of South Alabama’s Counseling and Testing Services. “We can multitask, but not as well as we think,” Clark said, “for example, texting while driving.” Research at UCLA shows that studying while multitasking hinders the ability of the brain to recall information at a later time. One such student distracted by gaming is James Schroeder, a senior majoring in English. He confessed to playing Fable, a popular video game, for about 20 hours straight. “I started playing at 11 a.m. and noticed the clock said 8,” Schroeder said. “But when I went to go wash my face, I noticed there was light peeking through the window – it was 8 a.m.” To avoid that scenario, make a list of what is hoped to be accomplished for the day.

staff illustration

Some popular logos of gaming systems and games Prioritize the list in order of importance and incorporate goals for what times the tasks will be accomplished. It is also just as important to make time for fun in this list, Clark said. “Approach MMO’s (Massively Multiplayer Online games) with caution,” Cole Robison, a freshman, said. “That will be all your free time.” At the end of the day, review the list and see how much is done. Write down these results and adjust scheduling as needed. Repeat as

necessary. Use a scheduler or an electronic device to write down these activities every day and review them. Patterns will start to emerge, and you can start to see how your time is spent. Gaming becomes a problem when it prevents students from accomplishing their priorities. Setting an efficient schedule will lead to better grades and maximizing the value of your gaming experience.

Interested in writing for the JagLife Section? Just send a writing sample to life.editor@usavanguard. com! You can be on your way to publishdom!

Come to the JagLife side

We drink coffee

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

Relay for Life arrives

South Alabama unites to fight against cancer with campus relay Jake Howell JagLife Writer

Weekly Lowdown Spring Break

n March 30 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., the University of South Alabama family will be joining together at Moulton Tower to help fight cancer by taking part in Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a global event that seeks to celebrate those who have battled cancer and won, remember those who lost their battles and, most importantly, fight back against this disease. Relay for Life benefits the American Cancer Society, which funds and conducts life saving research in the search for a cure. Elizabeth Hieb, a graduate student in the Biology department and event chair for Relay for Life: Mobile Area Colleges, first participated in Relay for Life as a high school student. “My grandma battled ovarian cancer for almost 10 years before she passed away in 2008. I remember the first year we did Relay, my grandma was in the middle of chemotherapy, and we pushed her in a wheelchair around the track for the survivors’ lap. The next year, she was cancer free and walked the survivors’ lap by herself!” Hieb said. Cancer doesn’t just affect the person being diagnosed. It is a disease that can devastate the families and friends of those battling for their lives, and it changes everyone around it forever. But one thing cancer can’t do is steal hope. “I actually lost my mom to breast cancer last June, so the cause is obviously very personal to me. I miss my mom every single day, but I know I carry her with me in everything I do,” Hieb said. “The thing about my mom was for the three years from her first diagnosis, she was the most inspiring, positive person. She never felt sorry for herself; she never let the cancer stop her; I mean she taught middle school students for two years after her diagnosis. “And I see no reason why my mom’s amazing, positive spirit has to die with her. I will carry it on with me every day, and hopefully I can

staff illustration

tue > mar 13 South Alabama Baseball versus Auburn

6:30 p.m. Stanky Field

thu > mar 15 Fairhope Film Series presents “3 Idiots”

relayforlife.org/mobilecolleges

A screenshot of the team page for University of South Alabama on the Relay for Life website shows that there are already 19 teams signed up for the event. pass it on to other people who have to face this disease,” Hieb said. Relay for Life isn’t just about raising awareness and funds, however. Instead, it’s a celebration. “Relay is for the most part one big party... We also have three ceremonies designed to give hope in the fight against cancer: an opening ceremony lead by cancer survivors, a luminary ceremony in honor and in memory of those who are battling cancer or who have been lost to cancer, and a fight back ceremony celebrating our progress working toward a world with no more cancer,” Hieb said. There will be fun and games for the USA family to enjoy. Hieb mentioned karaoke, a womanless beauty pageant and games modeled after the television show “Minute To Win It.” There will also be plenty of food. Hieb has been working with South Alabama Campus Dining and several off-campus food vendors to provide food throughout the night. She also mentioned, “Any participant that raises $100 will receive a free wrist band for food all night.

Otherwise wristbands are only $10.” Relay for Life is a celebration that much is certain. Without the money raised by Relay participants, though, the American Cancer Society couldn’t survive. Already 19 teams have signed up to participate. These teams represent campus organizations, academic departments or even groups of individuals who just want to help. Each participant is asked to donate $10 as a registration fee. Participants are also encouraged to set a goal for fundraising. There is a list of fundraising opportunities that Hieb has set up for participants which can be found at relayforlife.org/mobilecolleges. Every dollar a participant raises is helping to save lives. Hieb echoed this by saying, “We are literally saving lives! Maybe we will give someone the chance to watch their kids grow up or meet their first grand-baby. What a beautiful thought! You can make a difference!”

7 p.m. at USA Baldwin County. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. With a road-trip plot, “3 Idiots” is a well-acted, smart comedy, Bollywood at its best. The material is universal, providing insight into the nature of friendship and the importance of following your dreams. Comedy PG-13.

fri > mar 16 South Alabama Baseball versus Troy

6:30 p.m. Stanky Field

wed > mar 17 South Alabama Baseball versus Troy

6:30 p.m. Stanky Field

Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 7 words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com. Include “Weekly Lowdown” in the subject line. E-mails must be received at least 7 days before the event.

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

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Write for The Vanguard. Email editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com with writing samples. Slots available in all sections. The giraffe is irrelevant.

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sports

USA Men’s Tennis

Men’s tennis looks to continue success of storied program

courtesy of usajaguars.com

Two of USA’s men’s tennis players, Christian Kuehne (left) and Cody Hall (right), swing away during a match.

patrick herring Sports Reporter

he University of South Alabama men’s tennis program has a long and storied history. Since 1981, the program has won a whopping 18 Sun Belt Conference championships, including 11 of 12 from 1993 to 2004. But the most recent title came in 2008 and that doesn’t settle well with the current crop of players. Senior Christian Kuehne, a native of Morbach, Germany, hopes to return the program to its former glory this season. “The history of the program was one of the things that brought me here, them being ranked really high,” Kuehne said. “And then the last few years we’ve been out of the rankings a couple times, and now we’re just trying to get it back where it used to be.” Head coach Nick Brochu took the reins in 2007 and continued the tradition, winning the second consecutive and most recent conference title for the Jaguars. “We are one of the best teams in the conference, and I think we proved that

last season after losing the conference championship by three little points in the final,” Brochu said. “We are traveling all over the country, and we compete at a national level.” Kuehne has a bitter taste in his mouth when recalling the loss in the championship game last season. “I still remember everyone sitting in the locker room really upset, and

The guys are really shooting for the NCAA tournament this season no one wanted to say anything,” Kuehne said. “You don’t want to be in that situation again, and especially me being a senior, you want to go out with a win, so conference is definitely our main objective.” Junior Cody Hall, a transfer from the Air Force Academy, also cites winning the conference as one of his main goals for this season.

“We haven’t had any bad losses ,and we keep winning against ranked teams; so far I’m very proud of our team,” Hall said. After a three-year drought of not winning the conference, the longest such streak since the 1990-1992 seasons, Brochu even has his team looking past the conference championship. “The guys are really shooting for the NCAA tournament this season,” Brochu said. If a team is ranked inside the top 45 of the rankings at the end of the season, they get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. USA is ranked 42 in the most recent poll. “We are in great position, but we can’t just say ‘hey we’ve accomplished our goal’ because there is still half of a season left,” Brochu said. “But I think the South Alabama tennis program is back on track.” The team currently boasts a 9-3 overall record after defeating the Governors of Austin-Peay 4-1 on Thursday night. There are two more home games scheduled for this season against Witchita State and Troy.

jayson curry, sports Editor sports.editor@usavanguard.com vol. 50, no. 9 / Mar. 12, 2012

Athletics updates UNF SECURES SERIES WITH 8-7 WIN OVER JAG BASEBALL A ninth-inning Jaguar rally that produced four runs fell just short as North Florida took an 8-7 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Harmon Stadium. USA (4-11) trailed 8-3 heading into the top of the ninth and loaded the bases with two outs after cutting the UNF lead to one run on RBI singles by Nolan Earley and Brad Hook, and an RBI double by Jordan Patterson. But with the tying run 90 feet away and the go-ahead run on second base, UNF closer Tyler Moore recorded his second strikeout of the game to clinch the win and the series for the Ospreys. UNF left-hander Michael Renner (31) tossed 7 2/3 innings and allowed three runs while scattering eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk to earn the win. Moore earned his third save of the season in 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. JOHNSON LEADS JAGUAR DEFENSE IN SECOND SCRIMMAGE OF THE SPRING After sitting out of the program’s first spring scrimmage due to illness, Jake Johnson returned Thursday and posted a team-high seven stops to lead the University of South Alabama defense in its second scrimmage in six days at the fields on campus. Deonté McDuffy and Maleki Harris returned interceptions for touchdowns for the unit as well, while Charles Watson picked off another pass; on the ground, the Jaguar defense surrendered just over two yards per attempt, allowing 142 yards on 69 carries. Jesse Kelley posted six stops, and the trio of Terrell Brigham, Cordivido Grice and Davin Hawkins contributed five apiece. Kelley was credited with 3 1/2 tackles for loss, while Johnson and Ceasare Johnson made two stops behind the line of scrimmage and Pat Moore collected 1 1/2. Six Jag quarterbacks combined to complete 18-of-27 pass attempts for 180 yards, as the USA offense finished with 322 yards on the day. C.J. Bennett paced the group, going 7-of-10 for 81 yards, while both Myles Gibbon (3-of-3) and Logan Rogers (4-of-4) completed each of their attempts to combine for an additional 56 yards. -Wire Reports

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

Women’s golf gains momentum USA women’s golf wins first tournament, Golightly honored jayson curry Sports Editor

fter hosting and winning their last tournament, the 10th Annual USA Women’s Invitational, the South Alabama Women’s gold team looks to keep momentum going at their tournament starting on March 12 in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Lady Jags have had mixed results so far in the 2011-12 season, finishing three tournaments in 10 or lower and three times fourth or higher in the final results. “Our main goal is to keep improving as a team and as individuals each day. The fall season proved that the talent that we have on the team is there with our runner-up finish in September at the ULM Fred Marx, which included a team score of +3 291 (71-71-74-75) on a challenging golf course (Bayou DeSiard CC). We put it all together with that round and have had other individuals contribute throughout the season, but there has been inconsistency,” head women’s golf coach TJ Jackson said. “Now that we’re in the midst of our spring season, the team is starting to gel with chemistry and focus, and the girls’ efforts resulted in a nice win at our home event at Azalea City GC. We will be challenged with the rest of season, but I feel we’re in a position to handle it.” The women’s team has been led this season by their two seniors Ana

n? Are you a sports fa more about ow n k u yo k in th u Do yo iends? sports than your fr ted to write Have you ever twspanorts? abou ard Contact the Vctaniognu Sports se Sports.Editor.com @usavanguard Cover USA sporintsion Share your op

JT Files ‫@ ‏‬jtfiles- I used to love RGIII, well not anymore. Thanks for ruining that Redskins #suckitRGIII Jacey Chandler ‫@ ‏‬JaceyBlurrrBlonde with a concussion=SMART. Here I come, NyQuil. Olivia Mohler ‫@ ‏‬Olivia_ Mohler12- Lady jags ate weights for breakfast!!! One more practice then SB12 with the girls!! #jagfam Trey Anderson ‫@ ‏‬UnoDosTrey123Ignorantly failing a test today?? Don’t worry because spring break is right around the corner! #optimist Mychal Lemar Ammons ‫@ ‏‬ MYKEthe13TH- you were made for me and I don’t wanna share.. courtesy of Brad puckett

South Alabama women’s golfer Kristen Golightly attempts a chip shot. Garcia and Anna Sellen-Runefjell and junior Kristen Golightly. “Our two seniors have stepped up and shown maturity and leadership with their play. Ana Garcia and Anna Sellen-Runefjell have played with consistency and seem to be peaking with their games right now,” Jackson said. “Junior Kristen Golightly just defended her victory at last year’s home event with a secondplace finish and continues to improve as she goes.” After the USA win in their hosted event, 10th Annual Women’s Invitational at Azalea City Golf Club in Mobile, Golightly was named the Sun Belt Conference Golfer of the Month. Golightly leads USA with an average stroke weight of 77 this year. “The win at Azalea City (10th Annual USA Women’s Invitational) was huge. We sat on a two-shot lead after day one

and came out the morning of day two with great focus. After the front nine we were probably five or six shots behind but we finished the final three holes as a team very strong and came away with a two-shot victory,” Jackson said. “That win should give us a boost of confidence going into Southern Miss and Augusta State, which are backto-back tournaments and very good fields.” Jackson is confident in his team and their success down the road. After the Lady Eagle Invitational in Hattiesburg, the Lady Jags will play two more tournaments before the end of the season. One of those tournaments will be held in Augusta, Ga., and starts on Friday March 16. The other tournament is hosted by Samford and will begin on April 9. “We will have to continue playing well if we expect to have success. From this point, on we will see many highly ranked teams leading into our conference championship. But our focus will be on our play,” Jackson said. “Now we’re in position to keep that momentum going in a positive direction over the next month and a half and into our conference championship the third week of April.”

Corey Waldon ‫@ ‏‬lilwaldon_81- Is it nasty to pick boogers out yo nose when no one is lookin? CJ Bennett ‫_@ ‏‬MrOneFive_- you can’t wear jean shorts in the club and expect to get play! ( Herman edwards voice) ya can’t do it JT Files ‫@ ‏‬jtfiles5- Got surgery Tuesday to take a broken bone out of my hand. Two weeks and I’m back #JAGSgoHAM #SIYM Ken Barefield ‫@ ‏‬KenBarefield- A guns like a woman son it’s all how you hold her #SouthernBoy TreyFetner™ ‫@ ‏‬Tfet16- Breast in my mouth with my bro + looking at the ocean... SB12 @_RusHen_ #hooters Drewski ︻╦╤─ ‫@ ‏‬DrewDearmanFeeling like Brian Wilson warming up in the bullpen for tmr: Then its time to unleash the RAGE Jereme L. Jones ‫@ ‏‬J11Jones- Im glad im not about to die when i call people cause nobody answer they phone.. Kolton Peavey ‫@ ‏‬OmgItsPeavzilla- Ladies and gentlemen @TaylorMalone77 has more game than any man you will ever meet. Swagggg

vol. 50, no. 9 / Mar. 12, 2012

No shortage of talent in 2012 draft Leequinton Blackmon Sports Columnist

courtesy of sbnation.com

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium at the NFL draft

ow that the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine has ended, teams are evaluating players and gearing towards the 2012 NFL Draft. The NFL Draft is important for many reasons. For fans, it’s exciting because it gives them insight about their favorite team and what moves they’ll make to improve for the future. The draft is particularly important to owners and GM’s, because the players that they draft can either hurt or help their team’s success. No other position in this year’s draft is more important than the quarterback position. Drafting the right quarterback can be a franchise-changing move. It’s becoming more and more obvious that today’s NFL is transitioning into a passing league. Last season displayed some of the highest levels of quarterback play in NFL history, with three quarterbacks finishing the season with over 5,000 passing yards and three quarterbacks passing for more than 40 touchdowns. With stats like that being the direction that the NFL is headed, it’s no question as to why college standouts like Stanford’s Andrew Luck

and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III are on the top of certain teams’ wish lists for this year’s draft. Griffin III is just as good, if not better than Luck. He’s faster, more athletic, just as accurate, and has a stronger arm. With dual-threat quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Michael Vick being the future of the NFL, Griffin III would no doubt be my number one choice with the first pick of the draft. To counter the NFL’s high powered passing attacks, defensive backs like LSU’s Morris Claiborne and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick will be in high demand during the first round. Claiborne is a game changer, and he has all of the tools to be a Pro Bowl cornerback. His talents were on display at the combine, as he showed scouts that he could have an instant impact in pass coverage. Durable running backs are also something teams are searching for, and powerful backs like Alabama’s Trent Richardson are rare. With most offenses being so pass-oriented and one dimensional, it’s important to draft a back like Richardson to help balance out an offensive attack. There’s no shortage of talent in this year’s draft, and very few players are risky picks. However, you can be sure that players from these positions won’t be around very long in the earlier rounds.

Opinion

JeFF GIll, opinion eDitoR opinion.editor@usavanguard.com

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

South Alabama’s website needs an upgrade JeFF GIll Opinion Editor

he administration is a sort of nervous system that controls the direction USA is moving. The teachers are the muscles that produce results among the students. Infrastructurally, the roads are veins and the buildings’ architecture is similar to salt and peppering hair, exemplifying the maturity or integrity of a person. So what is there to say about USA’s website? It could possibly be compared to a personality, or a first impression to new students. When people go to usouthal.edu, they see a lot. It’s cluttered, almost. It is so difficult to navigate this website, the University is probably just as disorganized. The biggest image that appears is President Moulton and a woman graduating, presented with the text, “USA Announces Enhanced Academic Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen -- Click here for more information.” The picture is outdated, and should be changed as soon as possible. When a prospective student is

traversing the website, he or she will realize the font looks juvenile, which can reflect poorly on the University. When a university is using Arial size 10 font and its whole template looks like it was designed in 2002, it’s time for an upgrade. Simple solutions could be introduced to give usouthal.edu a face lift: do a study of other universities’ websites and find aesthetically pleasing facets and incorporate them into our own. The best marketers know that simple and streamlined formats are best for drawing consumers’ attentions. All student portals should be in one place, not sprawled across the bottom with “GIVE TO USA” included. Students will end up giving to USA anyway. Create portals for the demographics that will be visiting the site, including students, faculty, parents, etc. These fixes should be simple, given the order from the top. USA’s personality and first impression on prospective students definitely need an upgrade if its growth is going to continue at the rate that our administration wants.

The Vanguard’s Viewpoint A STAFF EDITIORIAL

Cheers and Jeers: Round 1 This is a special edition of Viewpoint in honor of spring break, where we give props or demerits to different people/ places/things or ideas. We call it “Cheers and Jeers.” Cheers: Distinguished Alumni Association for making South Alabama look like an institution to be proud of. The event last week showcased USA’s academic talent, caliber of education and hospitality. Jeers: Stokes not being L.E.E.D. certified. We can do better with the future residence halls. Cheers: USA Foundation for investing in the Honor’s Program by funding Honor’s scholarships. The benefit of bringing students with high ACT scores to USA is invaluable for its future. Jeers: Any teacher who gave homework over spring break. That’s just cruel and mental torture. Cheers: Cale Gale of Mobile for win-

JagPulse: What do you think about USA’s website layout? “I don’t really use it much, but there are a lot of links. you can get pretty much anywhere from the homepage. I only use the website for the Final exam Schedule.”

“well, with all the buttons to press on the homepage, there are too many options. My eyes get crowded by information. I try to not use it.”

“not bad, but sometimes it’s too attention-grabby. The small font is also a big hindrance when I need to actually read the text.”

craig Parker civil engineering Senior

Tyler Parker leisure Studies Freshman

Jessica olson Undecided Sophomore

ning the ARCA Mobile 200 at Mobile International Speedway. Jeers: Bringing food into a night class. If looks could kill, you would be dead. Cheers: If you regularly check your JagMail. Teachers and students. Jeers: Anyone who has pimped out a Jag Bike. They are public property, and Barney the dinosaur says that means you’re supposed share, kids. Cheers: Relay for Life for intense planning and organization to host its event at USA and benefit cancer victims. See Life for an article about this. Jeers: Gas prices. Cheers: 5 percent off student Mondays at Bruno’s, and everywhere else that helps college students out. Jeers: People who write letters to the editor that personally insult other people for using free speech. Cheers: Everyone that reads The Vanguard. Thank you.

EditorialBoard

The

cassie Fambro Genny roman Jeff Gill Matt weaver bailey Hammond Jayson curry

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Editor in Chief Associate Editor Opinion Editor Senior Reporter life Editor Sports Editor

Find us on Facebook! Search “The Vanguard USA” Write for The Vanguard, why dontcha? Contact Jeff Gill.

vol. 50, no. 9 / Mar. 12, 2012

point Counterpoint Should voting tests be used in our elections process?

Editor’s Introduction: In light of the Alabama primary, the issue of voter’s rights is re-entering the spotlight through the use of voter ID cards. Some may argue that having qualifications to vote are a trespass on the democratic system, while others think the right to vote should not be given to just any person. The P/CP explains.

Point » In democracy, issues should be known Counterpoint » Don’t get testy

o d a y ’ s political game is bandwagon politics. Government is not taught thoroughly in public school and, it’s not emphasized in soRachael Safley Contributing writer ciety until election year when suddenly Selena Gomez wants to talk about issues. Anytime the mob mind shows up in history, someone gets burned at the stake. Political scientists have been warning against the dangers of mobocracy since Aristotle, long before mass media and market studies increased that danger many times over. Target Stores have market research honed so well they know women are pregnant before the women do; imagine that technology applied to political strategy. Candidates can develop arguments, find target groups and saturate the least educated with a message psychologically customized for reception. People who can’t define deficit start having unshakable passionate opinions. Challenge the logic of these new beliefs, and you find nothing but air

and the occasional “Because, this is America,” as justification. I got that, but what about the issue? How many people even know what the issues are, much less what’s involved and the best solution. How many are just swearing loyalty to whomever The Daily Show or Hannity favor? That’s the voice of the people? A meritocracy requires an informed constituency. This doesn’t contradict equality of opportunity: the vote is available to anyone willing to show their opinion is authentically theirs by satisfying a simple qualifying process. This would work in two ways: first to weed out people voting according to daily exposure to banner ads on Facebook; second, to encourage people to understand what goes into making society work. The vote would be less diluted. Those of us who care about where we go as a nation have a vote that actually counts. If a person feels so passionately, shouldn’t they know why? How is a vote cast without any understanding representative of an individual’s will? If a big kid tells a little kid on the playground to go to the teacher and say a cussword, wouldn’t you try to stop him before he got in trouble?

government by the people must be just that. Throughout the history of this country, qualifications have been set to limit participation in Josh Bond Contributing writer voting. We, as a people, have witnessed exclusion from voting with regard to race, sex, land ownership, class, literacy (or more correctly, race under the guise of literacy), age, residence, registration status, mental illness and felonies/incarceration. Fortunately, many of these disqualifications have been found to be unfair, and constitutional amendments as well as other laws have been passed to right the wrongs. Like taxes and regulations, there are no good voter disqualifications, only necessary ones. For example, the age restriction is an arbitrarily set age limit providing for an equality of opportunity to learn about citizenship and the voting process. After that given amount of time, a youth who has reached the legal age is allowed to participate in that process. But what about qualifying for voter competency? Don’t you wish that the bonehead next to you would do his/her homework on their favorite candidate and stop spouting off populist garbage?

There should be some kind of test that people have to take that proves they are savvy to the candidates’ positions, right? Wrong. The first things you would need to ask yourself are: who will make the decision on what is contained in a competency test, and how will it be administered? Politicians have been known to occasionally change their mind, and a competency test could become outdated in one breath. Also, assuming that someone in the government will make up the test, is it reasonable to put that kind of power in the hands of someone who is a representative of the people? Now you have a conflict of interest. Lastly, do we really need another bureaucracy? $16 trillion is a pretty steep bill already. Filtering voter eligibility through a political competence measure may seem like a dream come true to those in the know, but the idea is corrupt before it is put into practice. Again, it is a dumb voter’s right to place dumb votes, even though I would not blindly encourage just anyone to vote. On the other hand, it is our responsibility as citizens to try to dispel myths and inform people around us, as well as to get informed through discussion and fact checking. When it comes to improving the voting pool, we should pet the dog to get the tail to wag.

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012

Weekly Quotable Quote If you’re angry at a loved one, hug that person. And mean it. You may not want to hug - which is all the more reason to do so. It’s hard to stay angry when someone shows they love you, and that’s precisely what happens when we hug each other. ~Walter Anderson

Distractions Horoscopes Aries: 3/21 - 4/19 You will be purchasing goat cheese in the near future. Be aware, however, that goat cheese will disagree with you that evening Taurus: 4/20 – 5/20 Be on the lookout for hobbits. Specifically on the days of Monday, Friday and Sunday. It has been documented that hobbits activity spikes on these days Gemini: 5/21 – 6/21 The USAPD will once again re-raid your Delta 6 dorm on yet another anonymous tip of there being a meth lab. This time, in an effort to find evidence, they will cut open your mattress, slice your pillows, break the screen out of your TV and perform a cavity search. They will still turn up empty-handed. Cancer: 6/22 – 7/22 You’re unsure about what you want to do in life. In order to achieve your greater purpose, you must switch your major to art, quit your job for a local cult, and donate all

Picture of the Week

of your assets to the Vanguard staff. Leo: 7/23 – 8/22 Females should shave their heads and paint their faces blue in celebration of the upcoming Equirria pagen holiday. Males can go about their regular business. Virgo: 8/23 – 9/22 That one night stand that you don’t remember was with a guy who looks like a larger version Zach Galifianakis. You’ll find pictures on facebook of you using his extra fat folds as a cover during the middle of the night. Libra: 9/23 – 10/22 This week, you’ll be pulled over in a routine traffic stop. Unfortunately, when the officer looks in the back seat, all he will is a large box containing the garbage bags you bought that morning, Drano for your clogged sink, some rope, zip ties, a box of latex gloves and duct tape. Good luck explaining that one. Scorpio: 10/23 – 11/21

15 Please be aware that it has come to our attention that Pizza Hut serves pizza. You will use this information to purchase an unhealthy amount of artery-clogging grease bread. Sagittarius: 11/22 – 12/21 You’re actually a Jedi, you just haven’t tapped into your super awesome force powers. Continue your training, young Padawan. Capricorn: 12/22 – 1/19 You’re going to leave someone and go to a foreign country for the rest of your life. Avoid areas, such as Argentina, where you run the risk of waking up in a bath tub with a bloody towel and a scar on your side. Aquarius: 1/20 – 2/18 For spring break, you will be spending the majority of your time heaving over a trash can because you mixed too much vodka with your tequila. Your friends will think it’s hilarious. Pisces: 2/19 – 3/20 You show up to your lab Thursday and realize it’s spring break. You then try to go eat at the dining hall, just to be disappointed again.

Student Health u d o k u

Fambro/Editor-in-Chief

USA Professor Emeritus Dr. Glenn Sebastian was recognized Thursday with a Distinguished Service award from the USA National Alumni Association. He stands with SGA President Colin Al-Greene before the award presentation.

For Student Health appointments, please call 460-7151 For Counseling and Testing, please call 460-7051

vol. 50, no. 9 / MAR. 12, 2012