March 7, 2011

Vanguard The

Serving USA students and the University community since 1963

March 7, 2011 |VOLUME 48, NUMBER 25

Student recants sexual assault story

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University of South Alabama’s student newspaper

Portals Almost Complete

By Daniela Werner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

University officials are keeping mum about whether the student who recanted her sexual assault allegation from last month will face disciplinary action from USA. University Chief of Police Zeke Aull said the student, who Tuesday evening told USAPD the story was untrue, wouldn’t face criminal charges. Neither Director of Public Relations Keith Ayers nor Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. John Smith would comment about possible sanctions the University could impose on the student.

Ayers sent all University e-mail accounts a message Wednesday saying that the alleged victim told USAPD “that the incident did not occur, which was consistent with the findings of USAPD’s investigation. The case is now closed.”

The student never filed a formal complaint, but an investigation ensued from the account the student told to an unidentified University official, who notified USAPD. The student told the USA official she had been attacked while on an early morning run Feb. 17 at the jogging trails near Technology and Research Park Building III. Ayers e-mailed the campus that evening about the alleged incident, including information from the student’s description of her attacker: “ … A white male, approximately 5-feet-7 to 5-feet-8, medium build, with facial stubble, and light colored eyes,” according to the e-mail.

After what the chief called a “thorough investigation” that found several inconsistencies with the student’s account, campus police concluded that the incident never happened, Aull said.

No suspects were named in the investigation, he said.

Aull said he doesn’t want this to discourage USA community members from reporting any future attacks to USAPD. Campus police will do everything they can to help an assault victim, he said.

“It’s important to know that two weeks ago, our jogging trails were safe, and today they are safe,” Aull told The Vanguard. “Tomorrow they will be safe.”

see SEXUAL ASSAULT | 3

IPolice Blotter p. 2

Colin McGee | Photo Editor

Engraved stone to be used in the Stadium Boulevard portal sits outside of Stanky Field. A total of three portals are being constructed at USA, including one where University Boulevard meets North Drive and one where it meets South Drive.

USAPD to help students prep for Spring Break travels

inside

Opinion | page 7 Planned Parenthood Should Planned Parenthood be a part of federal budget cuts?

Etc. | page 8 Screaming Moonpie Courtesy of Zac Edwards

Check Your Ride is a USAPD program that will debut this Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of campus police headquarters on Stadium Boulevard. Students will be able to get their cars checked for safe fluid and tire pressure levels before jetting for Spring Break.

By Daniela Werner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

USA Chief of Police Zeke Aull wants you to get to your Spring Break destination and back safely, but he wants you to make sure your vehicle is in good shape before you hit the road.

Check Your Ride, one of USAPD’s newest programs, will debut Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. when campus police will be in front of USAPD headquarters on Stadium Boulevard checking student vehicles for normal fluid, tire pressure and oil levels free of charge.

The program is Aull’s brainchild and meant to help students – especially ones living in dorms whose cars may not get used much while school is in session – ensure their vehicles are ready to take on miles of road over the break.

Not only will students get some free car Happenings p. 2

maintenance, but officers will be there to help teach students how to check their vehicles.

“We get calls all the time [for students] to get a jump [of electricity],” Aull told The Vanguard. “What they really need is for us to show them how to [take care of their vehicles].

Officers will tell students if they see parts like belts and hoses that need to be replaced, Aull said.

Students don’t have to live on campus to get their cars checked, either.

Aull said he plans on making Check Your Ride a regular event before big vacation periods in the academic schedule, like the winter and summer breaks.

Spectrum Collision Center, located at the corner of Airport Boulevard and Cody Road, is donating supplies to help make Check Your

Campus Pulse p. 6

see RIDE | 16

Distractions p. 18

The shot Serda’s hopes will become Mobile’s signature drink.

Arts & Entertainment | page 10

Pee-Wee is Back Paul Reuben makes a return as Pee-Wee Herman on Broadway.

Sports | page 14 Jaguar Basketball Both men’s and women’s hoops fall to UALR at SBC Tournament.

JagLife p. 19

2

NEWS

March 7, 2011

Vanguard SGA Senate

The

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.

Submission and Editorial Policies Send letters and guest columns to: Editor-in-Chief, editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com or The Vanguard, University of South Alabama, P.O. Drawer U-1057, Mobile, Ala. 36688. 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, 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.

To report a mistake, call the Editor-in-Chief at 251460-6442 or e-mail editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com.

The Vanguard is a member of Collegiate Presswire and U-Wire, which syndicates to a national audience.

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.

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.

projects underway

By Alex Whalen MANAGING EDITOR

With the appropriations process complete and the remaining funds moved into the operating budget, the SGA began its discussion of senate projects.

Because the rules for funding these projects are far more lenient than those regarding appropriations or co-sponsorship requests, the SGA Senate has greater flexibility in allocating moneys for these projects.

So far, the Senate has several projects on the table, though most are still being researched.

The Council for International Student Organizations (CISO), however, was allotted $1,500 for its annual Springfest event. The money will be used to rent out the Mitchell Center, according to the funding request, where CISO will host a showcase of different countries’ cultures.

The Senate is still looking into a project to facilitate bicycle traffic on campus. This would involve bringing more bike racks to campus and possibly allowing students to rent bikes to get around campus.

The SGA is working with USA administration, who have been supportive of the

idea, to determine the demand that needs to be met and the total cost for this project.

Arts and Sciences senator Jessica Byrd also proposed a senate project, Take Your Professor to Coffee. Interested students could receive a $10 gift card they could use at Java City in the Dining Hall to take a professor of their choice (and in their major) out for coffee.

Byrd explained during the meeting that this would help build relationships between students and professors, which is especially important when it comes time for graduate school applications.

“It’s hard for a professor to write a letter of recommendation for a student they don’t know that well,” Byrd said.

Some senators expressed concern over the appropriateness of a one-on-one scenario like this and whether they (or the professor) would feel comfortable about this arrangement. Byrd, and other senators, responded by pointing out that many professors are approachable and don’t have qualms about getting to know students outside of class.

Ultimately the Senate decided to table the topic until additional pricing options were discussed and the project had the backing of the Faculty Senate.

POLICE BLOTTER 2/25- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A male reported $40 cash stolen from his Delta 1 dorm.

The victim believes a female acquaintance is responsible.

2/27- Passing Counterfeit Money Counterfeit currency was reported at the Mitchell Center. A counterfeit $20 bill was passed as fans paid to park in the Mitchell Center parking lot for the Alabama High School Athletic Association basketball regionals.

2/27- Public Intoxication/ Giving False ID to a Law Enforcement Officer A male student was arrested for obstruction of justice by providing false identification to law enforcement officers and public intoxication at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house.

3/1- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree Between 2/28 at noon and 3/1 at 1:56 p.m. a student’s bookbag was stolen out of the men’s restroom at the Dining Hall. The bag contained a graphing calculator and three textbooks. The items were valued at $400.

3/1- Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A cell phone was reported stolen from the Engineering Laboratory Building. The item was valued at $499.

3/2- Burglary, 3rd Degree An unknown person unlawfully entered a victim’s room in the Delta 6 area and stole a purse, clothes and credit cards. The items were valued at $285.

happenings Jaguar Marching Band’s First Mardi Gras Performance What: The South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band will make its first ever Mardi Gras appearance in the Order of Myths parade.

Where: Downtown, Parade Route C When: March 8 at 6:30 p.m.

How much: Free

USA Gender Studies Program Presents: Cool Lectures on Hot Topics What: Women and War: Materializing Blame on the Homefront. Elizabeth Richards, Assistant Professor of Art History Where: HUMB 150 When: March 30 at 3:30 p.m.

How much: Free For more info: Contact Martha Jane Brazy, Director of Gender Studies at 251-460-7540 or mjbrazy@jaguar1. usouthal.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENT Taking off for Spring Break? So are we. The Vanguard will be back to a weekly publication schedule March 28, which will be our annual April Fool’s issue. Safe vacationing, USA!

The

NEWS

Vanguard

Sexual Assault from page 1

USA does its best to keep University community members informed when “things of this nature are reported,” Ayers told The Vanguard.

According to USA’s student handbook, The Lowdown, “misrepresenting information or furnishing false information to the University” violates the Code of Student Conduct, which is USA’s “policy regarding nonacademic discipline of students,” according to the University’s website.

Possible punishments for code violators include community service, conduct probation, a written reprimand or expulsion.

USA offers two options to students found guilty of violating the code: the first being an informal proceeding between the student and a student conduct administrator.

Witnesses aren’t called to this discussion and “charged students waive their rights to question witnesses,” according to The Lowdown. The hearing officer decides what sanctions will be imposed on the student if he or she is found to be in violation of the code.

In the second option, a formal hearing ensues before the University Disciplinary Committee (UDC) that involves witness testimony.

If the student in question is found guilty, the UDC recommends what sanctions the hearing officer should impose.

March 7, 2011

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4

NEWS

March 7, 2011

Jag Smart to advance green efforts at USA

By Blake Barnes, Deidre Molin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Students at USA pride themselves on their school colors – red, white and blue – but how about adding another one: green. USA has been developing Jag Smart, a program that will involve the campus community in becoming environmentally conscious.

The University has been involved in sustainability long before Jag Smart but USA leaders are hoping that this will be the final push that students need to get involved.

According to Keith Ayers, director of Public Relations, Jag Smart is not an individual program, but “an attitude and a movement to enhance the involvement of the faculty, staff, students and administration in sustainability and ‘green’ living.”

The specific goal of the program is to give students access to sustainable programs that conserve energy and promote the economy.

Jag Smart will seek to meet immediate needs as well as plan for the future.

Part of the program’s plan is to help make see JAG SMART | 17

Courtesy of Keith Ayers

The official logo of Jag Smart, USA’s new sustainability program.

Stanky Field renovated for player safety, fan enjoyment

By Portia Stallworth CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Those who have attended this season’s USA baseball games may have noticed a few new and improved changes to Stanky Field.

The field was recently renovated to increase player safety and to improve the feel and enjoyment of the fans, according to USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann. The renovation began last August during the offseason and was completed at the beginning of this year.

“These improvements have increased the players’ safety, but also given the stadium a fresh look,” Erdmann told The Vanguard.

He called Stanky Field “one of the best baseball facilities” in collegiate sports.

According to Erdmann, a protective fence surrounding the players’ dugouts was added for $78,000, a 25-year-old fence was replaced

costing $55,000 and a warning track was also installed for $30,000, which put a total cost of $163,000 for renovations.

The money came out of the Athletic Department’s budget, Erdmann said. According to him, USA employees worked on the renovations, so the University didn’t hire outside workers.

The renovations also included the placement of banners at the entrance, a Sunbelt Championship wall and a home-plate collar. These projects were funded by external sources including the Dugout Club, a group of boosters for the team who during games sit in what is essentially a VIP box at Stanky Field.

An anonymous donor and former baseball player built the left field deck that was paid for through the donations of 45 donors. The area is exclusively for alumni baseball players and their guests.

The

Vanguard

The

NEWS

Vanguard

Professor talks about ‘Why Egypt Matters’

By Carey Cox

SENIOR REPORTER

Dr. Zohair Husain, associate professor of political science, presented a lecture on the current Egyptian situation with “Why Egypt Matters” Feb. 21 at the Humanities Building.

Husain, who recently returned from a Fulbright Fellowship semester in Egypt, is recognized as an expert in international relations and the Muslim World.

Egypt is an ideal laboratory in which to study the many problems of the Arab World in particular, and the developing world in general, Husain said. The pro-democracy movements in Egypt and Tunisia lit a flame that could ignite change within the Middle East.

Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, and Al Jazeera, the news station that spans through the Arab world, played important roles in accelerating these movements and spreading it around the Arab world.

“The fact is that it wouldn’t have happened as soon; things happen very, very quickly because of Facebook and Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera is seen by millions and millions of Arabs all over the Arab world… that’s what they look at, they don’t look at CNN they look at Al Jazeera,” Husain said.

The pro-democracy movement that began in Tunisia, then in Egypt, is spreading to other Middle Eastern countries. So, how will this affect the United States?

At the moment, Husain said these move-

ments are not calling America as the main culprit, and America is not being criticized or condemned. Many of these pro-democracy movements are fixated on trying to bring about democracy at home and improving economic conditions at home. Husain said America should take a more active role in supporting these pro-democracy movements.

“They’re not attacking America, but if America continues to stand by these regimes and not push hard for democratization in these countries, then America will also be criticized,” Husain said.

With increased criticism from the Arab world, the already struggling American economy will take another hit, not only at the gas pump.

“If there is a lot of anti-Americanism and more terrorism, that will increase oil prices, it will increase prices of other goods, American multinational corporations would have to leave Middle Eastern countries, Americans will be in danger of being kidnapped or killed,” Husain said.

Egypt, which occupies a strategically important position at the intersection of Asia and Africa, is a strong player in global trade.

The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas and shortens the trade route from the East to the West. Nearly two-thirds of Europe’s oil passes through the canal.

The lecture was presented by the University’s International Studies Program.

March 7, 2011

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News in Brief

The University of South Alabama chapter of Mortar Board held a banquet Wednesday night to honor those professors who were chosen for this year’s “Top Prof ” awards. Each professor was nominated by a member of Mortar Board for being someone who was had a positive impact on the student’s life. Members of Mortar Board are dedicated to superior scholastic performance, outstanding leadership and service to campus and community. This year’s recipients of the “Top Prof ” awards are:

Dr. Sinead Ni’Chadhain, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Michael Spector, Biomedical Sciences (x2) Dr. Robin Mockett, Biomedical Sciences Dr. William B. Davis, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Cindy Stanfield, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Kari Dugger, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Azin Agah, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Julio Turrens, Biomedical Sciences Dr. Phillip Fields, Cell Biology & Neuroscience Dr. Kevin West, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Dr. Jagdish Dhawan, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Mrs. Patricia Davis, Chemistry Dr. Richard O’Brien, Chemistry Dr. Kenneth Hunsader, Economics & Finance Dr. Samuel Russ, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Ms. Alice Kracke, English Dr. Zoya Kahn, Foreign Languages & Literature Dr. Larry Gurchiek, Health, PE, Leisure Services Dr. John Kovaleski, Health, PE, Leisure Services Dr. Phillip Norell, Health, PE, Leisure Services Dr. Dan Rogers, History Dr. Donald Mosley, Management Dr. Alex Sharland, Marketing Dr. Madhuri Mulekar, Mathematics & Statistics Dr. Gail Jefferson, Mechanical Engineering Dr. Kuang-Ting Hsiao, Mechanical Engineering Dr. Frances Dougherty, Mechanical Engineering Mrs. Andrea Necaise, Nursing Dr. Ellen Buckner, Nursing Dr. Rebecca Estes, Occupational Therapy Dr. Allan Hillman, Philosophy Dr. Romulus Godang, Physics Dr. Kent Clark, Physics Dr. Ethan Fishman, Political Science/ Criminal Justice Dr. Ronald Nelson, Political Science/ Criminal Justice Dr. Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Psychology Dr. Brenda Beverly, Speech Pathology Dr. Julie Estis, Speech Pathology & Audiology

Gamma 9 Weather Research Center

Forecast for March 7 - 13

Patrick Bigbie Meteorologist

We will start out the week with high temperatures around 70 with partly to mostly cloudy skies and lows around 50. Mardi Gras Tuesday will be partly sunny with a high around 70°. The weather should be fine for the parades, but showers will be arriving late Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, thunderstorms move in to the area. Some t-storms could be strong to severe. Things will start to clear out by Thursday with partly cloudy skies and highs around the 70s. Overnight lows will be in the low 50s. The weekend looks great with sunny skies on Saturday with highs in the low 70s and overnight lows in the low 50s. There will be a chance of T-Storms returning on Sunday.

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

Opinion

6

March 7, 2011

The

Vanguard Cassie Fambro, Opinion Editor opinion.editor@usavanguard.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

Transparency, accountability not unreasonable expectations

W

hen The Vanguard heard that the girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted on campus recanted her statement, we were confused. First we got an e-mail (the same one the rest of you received) from Campus Alert saying that someone was sexually assaulted. Then we learn this never happened – a finding that University leaders are saying is proved true by USAPD’s investigation.

We’re glad no one was actually assaulted, but we still can’t help but wonder what happened. How is it that such a fuss could be made over something that didn’t actually occur?

Looking at how the events unfolded, we have to conclude that there was either a lack of communication or some serious oversight on the part of USAPD and the Campus Alert System.

On the public side of things, we have a campus-wide alert sent out about an incident, yet the victim of the alleged assault never filed a police report. It also seems that the student’s contact with USAPD was limited, given that she initially told an unidentified USA official about the incident who notified campus police.

If a crime like this actually does take place on campus, then it seems reasonable and simply part of its due diligence that the University would notify the community. But we still have no official report of the now-recanted crime.

All we have is an alarming e-mail and the word of USAPD that a subsequent investigation contradicts the student’s account. The details of these events are so obscure that it’s hard to know if we should simply forget the whole thing happened.

The bottom line comes down to transparency, which can be difficult for a police unit to maintain. But it’s not unreasonable to expect a level of transparency that also protects the victim’s rights.

At the end of the day, we need to know if there’s someone out there we should be worried about, and we don’t need to be alarmed over an event that never took place. We need to know that USA is telling the truth about what happened.

Even if there was no crime, we are still left with a student who lied

Spotlight:

Shauna Charlton

Is the Media Our Mirror?

Roughly 8 million people in America suffer from eating disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

There are 12.5 million cosmetic plastic surgeries (with 734,000 from the 20-29 age group alone, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2009 statistics), and more diet fads than can reasonably be counted.

I find myself a little troubled by today’s society. As a 21-year-old female, I have seen first-hand the effects that media and the rest of society can have on someone of my gender and age in regards to weight.

I have heard friends who are skinnier than a toothpick complain about how they’re “not skinny enough and need to lose another five pounds before they can fit into that bikini from last year.”

to a USA official, which got this whole mess started.

Is there going to be disciplinary action against the person making false accusations, or does the University hide behind the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and simply tolerate these kinds of things in the interests of “student privacy”?

Sexual assault shouldn’t be taken lightly, but neither should assault accusations. And the simple fact is that we don’t know what happened and probably never will.

What is clear is that the Code of Academic Conduct has been violated, USAPD has wasted time and money chasing a herring, and the USA community was misled by one person giving a false statement.

“The case is closed” isn’t a sufficient answer for USA students, and the University should at least make it known whether the student will face disciplinary charges. USA hasn’t divulged any specific information about the student, like her name or hometown, so what would it hurt to at least assure students that the University is acting in the most just way it possibly can?

If the University backs USAPD’s findings that the incident never happened, then punishment for presenting false information to USA officials or explaining to the USA community why this move isn’t warranted are the only logical steps after publicly announcing that this student presented false information.

We acknowledge that the student could have recanted for a number of reasons: revictimization, shame or embarrassment, or pressure (and even threats) from other parties are all possibilities.

Police departments in other cities have been accused of downgrading offenses and simply not reporting others to make their crime numbers look better. We’re not suggesting this is what happened in this case, but without any information, we can’t rule out this possibility.

USAPD is responsible for the safety of every single person on campus. With that responsibility comes accountability to those people you are protecting. A balance can be struck between transparency and protecting victims, and University leaders must work at finding it.

Hearing these already-skinny girls say they need to lose weight makes me see the dangers in listening to society’s words.

It seems that to be considered beautiful today, you have to be unhealthy.

The models shown wearing the latest fashions in those glossy magazine pictures are unnaturally skinny (in my opinion), and it takes a great toll on self-image and selfconfidence for girls that are even “healthy” for their height and weight.

We have all seen the dangers of being overweight, with diets and surgeries designed specifically to lose weight.

How about the dangers of being underweight? I feel that this problem is overlooked simply because by being skinny you are beautiful in society.

However, do people know what being beautiful can do to their health?

Simply by searching for “health risks of being underweight” online, the first site that pops up shows infertility, type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis and immune system deficiencies as just a few of the health risks.

No matter how much you may desire to be beautiful, none of these problems are worth it.

Beauty is a tricky and subjective thing.

Both men and women judge each other based on looks.

In a society where being able to fit into a size 0 jean is considered gorgeous, it’s understandable that even being the same size as someone famously seen as beautiful, Marilyn Monroe, is considered almost ugly by today’s standards (she wore a size 8 pant and 12 dress, in case you were wondering).

You probably have heard that “beauty is on the inside” and “you’re beautiful the way you are,” but this isn’t about being happy with who you are: this is about being healthy.

If you have a few extra pounds, shed them, but for health reasons, not beauty.

And if you’re underweight, you can feel beautiful, but know that health risks are associated with that as well.

Society has a tight grip on young adults, from how men perceive women and how women perceive themselves.

Society’s unusual perception of beauty will probably exist throughout our lifetime.

However, we all need to realize that, when it comes to beauty, conforming to society may be more harmful than we know.

Do you value the tradition of Mardi Gras, and how do you feel about the parades?

David Armstrong Freshman Business

Being from New York state, I’ve never been to Mardi Gras. St. Patrick’s parades are our Mardi Gras, and the crowds and chaos are overwhelming there. But we do get beads, too!

I’m not originally from here, but I feel it is a tradition that provides culture and history for the local community. My first parade is coming up and I expect a lot of noise and moon pies.

I am excited to be able to take part in the tradition.

Jodi Easter Psych/Pre-Med Freshman

Elijah McLaughlin Junior Social Work

Yes, but do I agree with the behavior? No. Fights and people being rude to kids taint the parades. Adults take it to the extreme. My daughter was very upset over adults fighting her for beads, and it should be about the kids.

There should be more respect displayed.

Yes, I do value the tradition in Mardi Gras. I like going to the parades and supporting what originally began in Mobile.

The tradition in Mardi Gras matters a lot to Mobile.

Jeffrey Kalagian Freshman Chemistry

Parade Tips from Mobile Fire Department: 1. Keep up with small children; keep an ID card in their pockets 2. Be careful where you park 3. Attend parades with friends 4. Do not follow floats 5. Undercover police will be looking for underage drinking 6. No weapons are allowed 7. No pets are allowed

The

OPINION

Vanguard

March 7, 2011

7

POINT COUNTERPOINT Should Planned Parenthood Be Part of Federal Budget Cuts?

Editor’s Introduction: This year, Planned Parenthood was selected to be part of budget cuts. $327 million was cut, to the dismay of Planned Parenthood and the millions of women who use their services including STI testing, cancer screening and abortion services. The latter ignites religious and ethical debate against Planned Parenthood in the Pro-

Government Should Represent Majority

Life/Pro-Choice war. The debate on federal funding seems to fall along the front lines of that war, with some supporting independent funding and others pressuring Congress to fund the health center that claims 1 in 5 women has visited in their lifetime for one of their services. Visit plannedparenthood.org for more information on their organization.

Services Critical Nationwide

issue for anyone to debate. So much The House budget vote three The House of Representaespecially important for low-income of the debate is surrounded by weeks ago to cut $327 million tives voted last month to bar women. Many women with insurance religious convictions that it’s hard in federal funding to Planned Planned Parenthood from any don’t have to worry about paying out to see through the screaming and Parenthood has been explained federal funding for birth control, of pocket for birth control, but what shouting of different special interest to the media by some members HIV testing, cancer screenings about women who don’t have insurgroups. of Congress as simply another and other lifesaving procedures. ance because they can’t afford it?

Those that support funding armeasure in the fight to fix the The House not only voted to Planned Parenthood takes care gue that 90 percent of the services budget deficit. cut funding for Planned Parentof them by offering birth control on Planned Parenthood provides are Others have marked it as a rehood, but also to cut the entire a sliding fee scale. Or maybe these preventaligious win, ending federal fund$317 women who can’t afford to pay fully Andrew Genny tive and ing of a non-profit that engages milfor birth control should suffer the Schneider that those Roman in abortion practices. Still, others lion consequences of their decisions and funds see this event as an attack on budget go through an unplanned pregnancy it does receive women and women’s health, as Planned for Title X. with no access to prenatal care (including can’t legally be Parenthood performs many other services Title X proultrasounds). used for abortive besides simply abortions. vides funding for That’s the American way, right? Yeah, services anyway.

According to the organization, one prenatal care, I don’t think so. Besides birth control, The pro-life in five women in the United States has family planning, Planned Parenthood provides various regroups that don’t received care from one of its over 800 birth control and productive health services to both men and support funding health centers. From both a fiscal and vasectomies for women, many of whom are unable to pay on an ethical ethical angle however, I find it hard not to men, among a for these services without the help of the basis feel the support the vote to cut the funding. plethora of other organization. intentional death From a budgetary standpoint, $327 things.

75 percent of the people who use of an unborn million is an incredibly small drop in the For a branch Planned Parenthood’s services are at or befederal deficit bucket. In the grand scheme child to be morof government low 150 percent of the poverty level, which ally wrong, thereof things, having it cut will do nothing to representative of is $33,525 for a family of four in 2011, acplannedparenthood.org the people to bar fore supporting really reduce our debt. cording to the Department of Health and any group that Abortion services do not make up the majority of what access to women On the other hand, many small reducHuman Services. actively promotes Planned Parenthood does, but it causes most of the con- and men’s health tions do add up, so starting a precedent Just because a man or a woman cannot it is immoral. of never cutting small spending isn’t a pay out of pocket for reproductive health troversy over whether it should be funded federally or in- care is insanely I am among good habit to start; therefore I see nothing dangerous. care does not mean they don’t need it or dependently. this group; howwrong with funding cut to this program.

The Repubshould not have access to it. ever I’ll spare you Will people be affected? Of course. lican-controlled As mentioned above, Planned ParentHowever, some part of the population will a religious rant on why I believe it’s wrong.

House may think they’re saving children’s hood performs STD and HIV testing. It Instead, I’d merely like to point out that always be affected by any budget cut and lives, but the agenda they’re pushing is putcannot be emphasized enough how imporat this time poll numbers simply don’t cry foul. ting hundreds of thousands of women and tant these services are to the general health support funding of an organization that This is simply one of the tough facts of men in danger. of a community. promotes abortion. life when trying to balance budgets, and Planned Parenthood does not solely By performing these tests, Planned A CNN Poll in 2009 found 61 percent our congressmen and women need to get provide abortion services; it’s called Parenthood saves the lives of countless opposed tax-funded abortions and 63 perused to it. Ethically, the federal funding of “Planned Parenthood” for a reason. They men and women by stopping the spread of Planned Parenthood can be a frustrating provide birth control at a low cost, which is see MAJORITY | 16 see CRITICAL | 17

Cassie Fambro Opinion Editor

SMOKE ON THE WATER

Rape: Not to be Taken Lightly

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), a woman is sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United States of America.

That’s right, the country with its 24-hour media disgusted and outraged with the victimization of women in other much less fortunate countries has the same problem here.

RAINN states that only 6 percent of rapists will ever spend a day in jail, and that largely has to do with an estimated 60 percent of all assaults not being reported to the authorities. Rape, abuse and incest are the most emotionally dam-

aging crimes that can be committed to an individual, and should never be taken lightly.

I take issue with gamers saying that they “raped” a level or students saying they got “raped” by a test. I’ve been known to correct them and direct them to RAINN. Rape is an indisputably real issue, and I bet they wouldn’t joke about it if the victim were a relative or a significant other. Sadly, that’s what it takes for people to understand emotionally crippling crimes like rape. I was initially disgusted with reactions from students when the alleged campus rape was reported.

I was told “Well, she was walking in the woods so early in the morning, she wasn’t too bright.”

Recently on a comment section on a news site, a report about a 16-year-old girl being gang raped was reduced to “She probably wore provocative clothing, so it’s her fault, and she was asking for it.”

It was reported to students and faculty via e-mail that this alleged rape did not happen on campus after all. For whatever reason, the young lady recanted her story and told officials that it did not occur.

Many have brought up that she may be lying about lying, and perhaps was fearful of the ordeal involved. This brings up re-victimization, where she now has to endure people in halls saying that she should be arrested or even “thrown in jail to learn what rape is” among other comments.

While I am troubled that this false report will cause further scrutiny at future legitimate rape reports, I would rather have her get counseling and go before the disciplinary committee than get any jail time.

Then, on the opposing side, there are those who seek to accuse University of South Alabama Police Department (USAPD) of a cover up since the alleged rape made waves in local press.

If USAPD had a doubt about her recanting her story then they would not have allowed their reputation to be put on the line with that e-mail.

What bothers me the most about the entire incident is that the people saying that the cops are the bad guys are potentially deterring future rape victims from coming forward.

USAPD did an outstanding job in keeping her identity concealed, and I hope that they as well as school officials continue to do so. I believe that either way, the young lady is in desperate need of counseling, and should seek it.

I also encourage USAPD to step up patrols of poorly lit areas in odd hours, and set an example that they continue to look out for the student body.

What we should learn from the entire incident is that not only do we need to be safer in our daily activities, we need to look at possible rape victims with compassion instead of suspicion.

This young lady was an isolated incident, and most rape victims who go to the police are truly victims.

The women who falsely report rape to further their own agendas in an effort to get back at a relative, friend or someone they shouldn’t have been with, are a minority.

These cases are truly a black eye in our justice system, and it is that group of anomalies that make it so hard for real rape victims to go through with the painful ordeal of trying to

see RAPE | 9

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March 7, 2011

Enabling students with mental disabilities

Etc.

The

Vanguard Brett Williams, Etc. Editor etc.editor@usavanguard.com

www.usavanguard.com/etc

Screaming Moonpie returns to Mobile just in time for Mardi Gras

Etc. Editor Brett Williams tells why students with disabilities can expect fair employment opportunities in the future

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

I find it very odd that, despite the fact that there are departments dedicated to it in most colleges, most employers don’t have policies set forth on working with students who have mental illnesses or disabilities.

This is a hole in some markets that seldom seems to make it to the forefront unless a particular case of neglect or mistreatment is presented, but it shouldn’t be allowed to get that far.

In the college classroom, students with disabilities are asked to come forward immediately so that they are guaranteed a fair shake, but as adults, employers should also be approachable.

According to mentalhealthworks.ca, employers and supervisors aren’t responsible for diagnosing mental health issues, but being able to notice signs of mental illness are important.

Still, the majority of literature, articles and websites try to tackle the issue of dealing with stress or anxiety in the workplace so when trying to track down working with someone who is, let’s say, autistic then it’s probably going to involve some digging.

Dig deep enough and you’ll find out that the number of people diagnosed with autism is increasing. According to an article published in suntimes.com titled, “Mildly autistic an ‘untapped’ pool of work force talent” 3 percent of people with autism are currently employed, and the number of people diagnosed with autism is one in 91.

It’s been left to speculation lately that as technological advances in science and health increase, so too grow the number of “diagnosed” cases. Fact or fiction, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that people like Best Buy’s Web-team vice president Cindy Holker who was quoted in the same suntimes.com article are “convinced that this group is one of the most untapped pools of talent we have.”

No doubt fear of managing people with autism will likely keep those with the disabilities off of most teams. It isn’t all bleak for people with mental disabilities. There’s good news, too. According to a post on personneltoday. com, changes to the Equality Act in 2010 means that employers are “now, more than ever, required to put in place adequate procedures and allowances for dealing with mental health in the workplace.”

Continued at www.usavanguard.com.

Courtesy of Serda's Coffee Co.

Colin McGee | Photo Editor

The Screaming Moonpie (left), a triple-layer shot of an unknown combination of spirits from a time long past when revelry was king. Prepared at Serda’s Coffee Shop on Royal Street (right), the Screaming Moonpie may have the potential to become Mobile's signature drink.

By Brett Williams ETC EDITOR

If you missed it last year, Serda’s has brought its Screaming Moonpie back in 2011. A new twist on an old favorite, Serda’s Screaming Moonpie is a triple layered alcoholic beverage served in shots. Last year, Serda’s underestimated how quickly the drink would catch on and didn’t order enough shot glasses to go around, but this year employees are confident that things will go differently.

In anticipation of a large crowd, “we’ve actually tripled our orders of glasses this year,” said Josh, an employee at Serda’s Coffee Co. By now everyone should be aware that Mardi Gras is a Mobile-based tradition that dates back to as early as the 1700s when Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville start-

ed a settlement in what is now known as downtown Mobile, Ala. An entire city has grown out from Bienville Square including a few notable shops, stores and scenic areas like Serda’s Coffee Co., which opened its doors to Mobile three years ago.

They actually opened their doors for the first time a few hours the Monday before Fat Tuesday, according to employees, but had to close quickly because they weren’t quite prepared for how Mobilians do Mardi Gras. Although they missed their opportunity to capitalize on the revelry, the shop reopened after Fat Tuesday.

Afterward, Josh and several other employees began looking for a way contribute to the Mardi Gras tradition, so they introduced their new drink hoping it would catch on with the locals. With it, employees had hoped Mobile could finally have its own drink to compete with New Orleans’

Hurricane.

“We were surprised by how far news had spread of the drink by word-of-mouth alone,” Josh said.

Josh says last year the store ran out of shot glasses within a few hours and they’re hoping the crowd is as eager this year so that the drink will catch on. So far, Josh said, things have gone according to plan.

For some reason, there’s a lull on Saturdays. Normally, Fridays are better for business, according to Josh. Regardless, the weekend is bound to drive in customers and with Fat Tuesday just over the horizon, Serda’s and the rest of downtown Mobile can expect an economic boost and a great time.

So if you want to try Mobile’s signature shot, head to Serda’s on Royal Street. Just make sure to drink responsibly.

China popular as study abroad site

By Bailey Hammond Contributing Writer

College students have many options open to them for gaining learning experience about other cultures. Some take history classes, some language classes and the more adventurous actually visit the countries and gain first-hand knowledge.

There are a handful of programs for experiencing life as a student in a foreign country, but one of the most popular is Study Abroad which is run through college campuses across the country.

The best part about Study Abroad is that you can fit the program into almost any major and get college credits while having fun. The most popular destinations among college students are England, France, Italy, Spain and Japan. Those are the top five in descending order according to the official

Study Abroad Web site.

StudyAbroad.com recently released its top 10 destinations for college students for 2011, and, interestingly enough, China has moved from 9th position to 8th. This change is likely in response to Obama’s “100,000 Strong Initiative” that is aimed at diversifying and increasing the amount of American college students studying abroad in China.

According to an article from educationdynamics.com examining the increase in student interest in China, the initiative is also aided by the surge in student drive to enhance their resumes with study abroad.

Before, students studied in foreign countries for the experience itself, now they are concerned with how it would look to future employers.

In February, CNN.com reported on the travel behaviors of Americans and quoted

travel blogger Matthew Kepnes as saying, “Americans are going to have to speak more languages and be more culturally savvy…

We have to change because we have to do business with all these other cultures.”

Why China? For one, China is expanding at a rapid rate and locally, has plans to purchase Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, as reported on al.com by Jeff Amy of the Press-Register. Amy also mentions another big Chinese investment in local industry in the form of a copper pipe plant in Thomasville, Ala. that will provide 200 jobs to the area if the location is chosen.

With those things in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising that, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Chinese companies “invested $462 million in the United States.” And that is only the amount spent for the 2008 fiscal year.

Continued at www.usavanguard.com.

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Vanguard

ETC.

CREATIVITY FOR A CURE

Opinion Editor Cassie Fambro chronicles Capri Abdo’s journey as she works to find a cure for cancer patients.

March 7, 2011

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Campus Rec hosts open rock climbing challenges

By Amber Beasley

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Photos from Creativity for A Cure

Abdo, shown in each of the photos above, works to enrich the lives of cancer patients like Abigail (shown on the left and bottom right) and Lindsey (top right and below) by hosting events and sponsoring events in their honor.

By Cassie Fambro OPINION EDITOR

When she was 11 years old, Meghan Meyers lost her battle with a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Meghan was Capri Abdo’s best friend. Capri spent a lot of time with Meghan during her battle with cancer, making arts and crafts for Meghan and other patients at USA Children and Women’s hospital in Mobile, Ala. Capri and her mother arranged for Meghan to meet her favorite Christian singer Rebecca St. James backstage, and she passed away shortly after meeting her idol.

A junior majoring in communications, as well as the former Miss Mississippi, Capri Abdo is spreading creativity in support of a cure. Capri founded Creativity for a Cure to aide children with cancer and help find a cure.

For 10 years, Capri has looked for a way to help cancer patients, and Creativity for a Cure is her solution. Running on the platform of finding a cure, Capri became Miss Mississippi 2009. She used her reign to spread awareness and cultivate her non-profit organization. She believes that everyone has a talent, and that when we come together to use them, we can find a way to help kids with lifelong or fatal illnesses.

Capri’s goal for Creativity for a Cure is to build castles so the children can express their creativity, and so that their families can have housing during hospital stays. Capri says she hopes to have these castles all across the country to foster these children’s creativity and passion, thus making their lives brighter

Rape

from page 7

bring their rapist to justice.

RAINN claims that almost 18 million women have been raped or have been victims of attempted rape. College students are four times

and fuller, even if they don’t have much time.

She hopes to work with major labels and talent industries to make the castle dream a nationwide staple and success. Capri has fallen in love with a patient of St. Jude’s named Lindsey.

Lindsey is a 12 year old girl who has brain cancer and frequently has to make trips to St. Jude Children Research Hospital. Not only has Capri been Lindsey’s chemotherapy buddy, she manifested Lindsey’s dream of becoming a fashion designer. In a month’s time, Capri used her resources to organize a fashion show of Lindsey’s designs. Thirty of Lindsey’s original designs were showcased last fall, and Lindsey named her line “Angel Kisses.”

Creativity for a Cure picked Lindsey up in a limo and took her to the show, which was held at USA. Another patient, Abigail, was the recipient of a benefit concert that Capri organized at Serda’s Coffee Co. in downtown Mobile. Capri gave the 7-year-old leukemia patient her Miss Mississippi crown that night.

On a trip to St. Jude’s with Lindsey, Capri met another young patient named Brayden.

Brayden has the same rare form of cancer that Meghan died of ten years earlier. Capri used her social networking contacts to collect items on a wishlist for Brayden, and presented them to him on her last trip there. She even helped arrange his favorite country band to meet Brayden. The band sings a song called “If I Die Young” that Brayden finds comfort in.

A project that Capri and Creativity for a Cure are working on currently involves a twoyear old boy with cancer in his heart. Capri quotes the Bible in saying, “each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve othmore likely to be raped than non-college students.

So for the one girl that cries wolf, there is a handful more hiding their pain behind their eyes. Keep in mind that you never know, and, in America, it shouldn’t be the case that victims are

Courtesy of Capri Abdo

Capri Abdo, a Communication student, with 12-year-old Lindsey, who has yet to overcome cancer, but has seen at least one of her dreams come true thanks to Abdo.

ers, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Her strength and innermost character of giving to others as well as her earned fame have given her the power to make dreams come true for children who truly deserve it. Please visit creativityforacure. org or e-mail creativityforacure@live.com if you would like to learn more or to become involved.

met with suspicion instead of compassion.

Our media tells us that overseas, it’s wrong what’s happening to women. It’s wrong here too. A rape, abuse or incest victim never deserves that kind of debilitating pain.

If you ever hear someone joking about it or

Strength, determination and courageousness are characteristics it takes to climb USA’s rock wall at the Recreation Center. Finding the perfect wedge while balancing and pushing upwards to gain distance to the top may seem easier than it looks.

The benefits that are gained when taking that last climb to the very top of the wall may seem strenuous and tiring, but the recognition of achieving the full climb is fulfilling.

Nonetheless, once climbing to the top is accomplished, it’s time to go back down to the bottom. Looking down at the fall that must be taken to reach the bottom gives an uneasy feeling to the stomach. However, letting go and gliding down is really not so bad.

“Climbing the rock wall gives an alternative to other exercising methods, and it’s something people can take outdoors,” USA’s Rock Wall Supervisor Lauren Rose said.

Instead of taking an expensive and time consuming outdoor climbing trip to Mt. Everest, USA’s rock wall staff has proposed a competition to see if students can climb the same distance it takes to climb Mt. Everest here on campus.

“It takes 11,329 ft. to climb Mt. Everest from base camp to summit,” Rose said.

“That’s 324 climbs to the top of the wall here at the Rec. Center.”

There will be three competition sessions to see who can climb the distance of Mt. Everest. The first session started March 1 and will continue through May 30. The other two session are scheduled for June 1 to Aug. 30 and Sep. 1 to Nov. 30.

“You may enter at any time, though the later you enter, the fewer number of days you have to complete your climb,” Department of Recreation Coordinator Randolph Hunter said.

Instead of running on a treadmill or lifting weights, rock wall climbing serves as an alternative way to workout.

“Being that USA hosts the only rock wall in Mobile, people have the opportunity to exercise in a new way,” Rose said. “Climbing is a full-body workout.”

Climbing not only gives an alternative to exercising, it provides a new way to meet people.

“Instead of running on a treadmill by myself, I get to climb with a group of people while we challenge each other,” USA student Connor Gaston said. “Climbing was tough at first, but I slowly built on it and it’s gotten easier and easier.”

Rock wall climbing also uses internal characteristics that can be applied to everyday life.

Continued at www.usavanguard.com.

talking about clothes being the cause, I implore you to stand up for the women who are too scared to stand up for themselves.

If you wish to volunteer to be trained to help rape victims, visit rapecrisismobile.org/volunteer.

Arts & Entertainment

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Vanguard

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

March 7, 2011

Le Boeuf: Hypnaughty

www.usavanguard.com/a-e

Pee-Wee on Broadway bringing Paul Reuben back to the Playhouse

By Rodney Thompson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

A creature of habit, I tend to find myself repeatedly stuck in situations of unusual quality. This past Friday was no exception to this rule.

I found myself once again at Pure the Experience on Azalea Road. It is a place that has become my regular Friday night hangout ever since I was hypnotized there exactly one month ago.

As before, the first Friday of the month had rolled around. This meant that the infamous Thom Kaz would be taking the stage with his own personal touch of comedy, Hypnaughty.

This time, however, I gave others a chance to be Kaz’s guinea pigs. Besides, I was busy eating the delicious chicken fettuccine alfredo.

This marked the first time I have actually seen the Hypnaughty show and I felt it important to clarify some of the haze that comprised my original depiction.

Hypnaughty is a vastly different experience when you are in the audience as opposed to on the stage. The main difference being that you are watching others make complete fools of themselves rather than being told later how you made an ass of yourself.

As a show, Hypnaughty offers something completely different than anything I have ever experienced. It is a combination of advanced truth or dare and mindboggling hypnosis.

How far can Kaz push the limits? Or is the real question, how willing are the participants to go beyond those limits?

The main structure of the show was a repeat of my blundering performance.

In order to augment this, Kaz replaced various segments, or tricks, with new ones that I am told were not in the previous show.

This level of adaptability makes it possible for the Hypnaughty show to continually please repeat patrons.

The show begins in a sort of G-rating and progresses through the scale of content rating all the way up to Rated R, or Vegas-style as Kaz likes to refer to it.

It is clear that the show does depend heavily on the participants. Those willing to give into the process tend to produce a much more crowd-pleasing result.

Thankfully, Kaz’s years of experience have provided him with the tools to presee HYPNAUGHTY | 13

www.harryforbes.com

Reuben has had a sordid past with laws regarding perversion, and few thought that he would ever be eligible for a comeback, much less one in which he revives his iconic children's character Pee-Wee Herman. But the evidence is there, Pee-Wee is back to stay.

By Nick Griffith STAFF WRITER

Broadway Theatre represents the highest level of commercial theatre in the Englishspeaking world, turbo-charging New York tourism with approximately 12 million in attendance in 2010 alone. Major Broadway acts are infamous in today’s culture, with unique productions such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Lion King,” and “Chicago”: these primary productions have developed high expectations that accompany the extensive cost of theatre tickets.

But what lesser-known shows beckon fresh audiences to the grandeur of New York’s Broadway Theatre? South Alabama’s own Dr. Leon J. Van Dyke, chairman of the Department of Dramatic Arts, suggested many outstanding productions, including: John Leguizamo’s “Ghetto Klown”; “American Idiot” featuring Green Day; the revival of “Angels in America”; and “The Championship Season” for the basketball lover.

Each show recommended upholds the distinguished Broadway culture expected

by American audiences; however, Dr. Van Dyke was specifically interviewed concerning a recent Broadway production that is soon to premier on HBO – “The Pee-Wee

Herman Show.”

Yes, the notorious Paul Reuben (aka Pee-Wee Herman) makes his return debut to this infamous character - on Broadway nonetheless - after his publicized arrest in 1991. Caught masturbating in a darkened adult theater in Sarasota, Fla., Reuben’s reputation tarnished rapidly because of his association with “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” the children’s show on CBS. In 2002, Reuben was again charged; this time with possession of child pornography. He later admitted to a large collection of homosexual and heterosexual vintage erotica, including photography of nude teens.

Considering Reuben’s decline and reemergence as Pee-Wee Herman, Van Dyke commented that the situation is “not much different than NFL Quarterbacks.” Upon NFL Quarterback Michael Vick’s reinstatement into the league, “some people don’t want him throwing a football after his conviction for animal cruelty, right?”

Despite popular resistance to Vick playing football again, Van Dyke said, “Some people think personal life and professional life are not to be confused.”

The similarities between Vick and Reuben concerning their influence upon children could be disputed, but Van Dyke’s

point remains solid.

“He’s had a solid $3 million pre-sale of people who loved seeing him, or at least want to see what he’s become with his show,” Van Dyke said.

Personal mishaps for Reuben may prevent Pee-Wee from appearing as the next Wheaties role model, but as a professional, Paul Reuben’s debut on Broadway is as successful as any other current Broadway production. One answer for Reuben’s success could be his target audience; Van Dyke suggested, “Adult audiences always loved him as much or maybe more than children on CBS.” Perhaps Reuben deserves more professional credit as an artist, especially considering his Broadway ticket sales and the unmistakable character of Pee-Wee Herman.

If you want to judge for yourself, the Broadway production of “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” will debut its television broadcast March 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. As long as Reuben can distinguish between a dark adult theater and the Broadway Theatre, no one should fear the opportunity to see a Broadway production based on Reuben’s personal preferences.

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Vanguard

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

March 7, 2011

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The Shed, Fishbowl Records Rod’s Weekly present Artist Showcase Planner Arts & Entertainment activities on and off campus that are guaranteed to keep you busy without sending you to Grandma’s house.

Rodney Thompson | A&E Editor

The Shed has become a well established eatery in Mobile and, through a joint effort with Fishbowl Records, it is gearing up to become one of the hottest places to check out the local music scene.

By Samantha Andrews CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Look no longer to fulfill an otherwise uneventful Thursday night around campus. The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint and Fishbowl Records have come together to start up an artist showcase and bring entertainment to the people. Since Fishbowl’s start in August 2010, Ryan Chavez and Dan Merker, directors of the record label, have stayed busy in Mobile’s music scene

promoting and recording local artists.

“Ryan wants to bring attention to a lot of the local talent,” said McCall Hedrick, the event coordinator with Fishbowl Records. “When he started Fishbowl Records in August last year, he pretty much went around looking for talent in Mobile and this is just one of the many ways he wants to get them out there.”

Artists like Elley Duhe, Greg Fells, The Sunshine Factory and other local musicians that are signed with Fishbowl Records have gotten the chance to build a

name for them. The intent of this artist showcase is just that.

Through the sponsorship of The Shed and Fishbowl Records, not only are they providing the opportunity for local acts to perform, but The Shed will host a tour through all six of its locations along the gulf coast showcasing a few choice acts that distinguish themselves through this artist showcase event.

“If there are a few artists the audience really likes,” Hedrick explains, “we want to see SHOWCASE | 16

Up & Coming: Cary Laine Band

Featuring local artists on the rise in Mobile and surrounding areas. The best place to check for the latest and greatest in Gulf Coast area musical entertainment.

By Madison Murphy STAFF WRITER

If you’ve been out at night in Mobile in the last year, chances are you’ve heard the Cary Laine Band play at some point.

If you don’t recognize this sassy blueeyed blonde bombshell behind the guitar, you’ll definitely recognize the band’s soulful sound and the painfully honest lyrics about everything from hoochie mamas to heartbreak.

Each member of the band has been playing music since childhood, but the five piece group has only been together a little over a year. At the newest member’s, drummer Cody, first show, country music star John Rich walked in and joined the band on stage. Since then, they’ve been taking their grass-roots country sound across the Southeast, playing the Hangout Music Festival and even opening up for acts like Gretchen Wilson.

Each member’s passion radiates when they perform. From the riveting harmonica to Cary’s sweet Southern twang, it’s evident that they live to make music. “We want to play shows that people never forget,” stated front girl, Cary. It’s safe to say they’ve been suc-

www.wsbiznetwork.com

What: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, it’s an iconic movie!

Where: The Crescent Theater in Downtown Mobile When: Feb. 25 to March 10 with one daily showing at 9 p.m.

What: "In Retrospect" presented by Renee Stapleton, an art exhibit Where: USA Library's 3rd Floor Gallery When: March 1 to April 30 What: International Film Series presents "Cinema Paradiso" Where: USA Library When: March 10 at 7 p.m.

What: Mithril in Concert Where: USA Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall When: March 11 at 7:30 p.m.

What: Mobile Symphony presents "Tchaikovsky's Pathetique” Where: Mobile Saenger Theater When: March 19 at 8 p.m.

What: CoastCon, science fiction, fantasy, and gaming convention.

Where: Mississippi Coast Coliseum When: March 11 to March 13th What: Snoop Dogg live in concert Where: Soul Kitchen of Mobile When: March 13 at 8:00 p.m.

www.myspace.com

The Cary Laine tribute is consistently building a strong following in the local bar scene.

cessful so far.

The band’s musical influences range from country legend, Dolly Parton to Dave Matthews Band and Led Zeppelin. When it comes to writing songs, they take from personal experiences. At a Cary Laine Band show, you’ll hear stories about riding down dirt roads and

living in the South. You might even hear a tune about lawn mowers. Their mix of backwoods country and rock’n’roll is sure to have your heels tapping.

You can catch the Cary Laine Band this week at the Bluegill, the Crooked Martini and the Cannon Grill. Visit http://www.carylaine.com for details.

What: Catfish Moon by Laddy Sartin, a comedic play Where: Mobile Theater Guild When: Opens March 18 at 8:00 p.m.

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

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Hypnaughty from page 10

screen participants before getting into the more advanced hypnosis.

I did find myself regretting not volunteering as it always seemed that those on the stage were having the greatest amount of fun possible. I was, to a degree, jealous or maybe envious of the amount of fun they appeared to be having while letting loose on the stage.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the show, as was my entire family.

Even my grandmother came out to be mystified by Kaz’s performance.

The first Friday of every month is Hypnaughty time, and I will see everyone out there at the beginning of April to support such an awesome show.

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March 7, 2011

Matt Weaver Sports Editor

CHARGING THE MOUND

Hot Springs is Still Poor Choice If a Division-I basketball tournament plays out in the middle of nowhere and no one is around to see it, was it ever really played?

That’s the question being asked by those near the Sun Belt Tournament. Both men’s and women’s games have been played in Hot Springs, Ark. since 2009, a departure from previous formats that saw the tournament rotate between Sun Belt cities.

One of the problems with Hot Springs is that it’s just not a central Sun Belt destination, especially after Denver’s exile to the Western Athletic Conference. No fans outside of Little Rock care enough to make the trip, and a couple of near empty high school-sized arenas don’t impress anyone.

And neither does the soon-to-be #16 seeded Sun Belt NCAA representative.

Unlike the league’s dropping RPI, correcting the Hot Springs fiasco is both doable and a means to fixing the former.

Perception is most everything in college athletics, and the Summit Arena and Convention Center just doesn’t paint the SBC in compelling lights.

A more profound problem is that under the current format only North Texas has to travel eastward. That by itself shows that relocation is necessary.

So why not have the tournament move to New Orleans? The Crescent City is already home to Sun Belt headquarters and is more central to its schools, especially South Alabama, Florida Atlantic, and Florida International.

New Orleans is just inherently more interesting, too. The bright lights and bigcity feel would make the league seem even more grand than Hot Springs ever could.

From a personal perspective, Hot Springs is just too darn far to travel. Representatives from Troy, FIU and FAU likely agree. In fact, there are several things I’d rather do than travel to Hot Springs for a basketball tournament. Among them: -Fall off a large cliff -Be involved in a multi-car accident -Watch the Pee Wee Herman Broadway show and -Undergo root canal surgery In other words, visiting Hot Springs is sure to result in bad times, especially when more viable options are already on the table.

The future credibility of the Sun Belt is at stake. Realignment is slowly killing the mid-major athletic conferences, and perception will be the key to survival.

If the Sun Belt wants to contend with Conference USA and other regional midmajors, they must look the part, and Hot Springs doesn’t cut it.

It’s time for the tournament to come home.

Sports

The

Vanguard Matt Weaver, Sports Editor sports.editor@usavanguard.com

www.usavanguard.com/sports

Men’s Basketball Falls in Hot Springs

Jaguars Lose in Opening Round to Arkansas at Little Rock

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team had its season cut short, dropping in the first round of the Sun Belt Basketball Tournament, 82-68 against Arkansas - Little Rock on Saturday night at the Summit Arena.

The Trojans were led by Sun Belt Player of the Year, Solomon Bozeman, who scored a game-high 28 points and started a late UALR run to put away the Jags for the 2010-2011 season.

“There was no energy level,” South Alabama head coach Ronnie Arrow said.

“We didn’t play with any energy and when we don’t do that, we’re just not very good.

The stats were almost completely opposite of when we played them at home.

To be quite truthful about it, they played harder than us and won the game. I just feel bad because we didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve.”

The Jags were led by senior Tim Williams, who scored 20 points off the bench.

Just behind him was sophomores Martino Brock (14) and Javier Carter (12). Carter also tied a career high eight rebounds.

Each of the leading scorers with the exception of Williams will be back next season. In all, South Alabama will return 10 letterwinners next season.

South Alabama had no answer for Bozeman, who scored 17 of his points before halftime and drilled 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

“We got no stops against him,” Arrow said. He did whatever he wanted to, whenever he wanted to. We had no answer for him. It’s almost like he wasn’t on the

usajaguars.com

South Alabama men's basketball fell in the fist round to Arkansas at Little Rock on Saturday night.

scouting report.

South Alabama cut the deficit to nine points with 9:14 left to play. The teams traded buckets until the 8:06 mark, in which the Trojans began a 12-0 run to put the game away. Little Rock never looked back and earned their first postseason victory over USA. Sun Belt Men’s Tournament First

Round Scoreboard #3 WKU 66 def. #6 ULM 50 #4 UNT 83 def. #5 Troy 69 #6 FIU 53 def. #3 Denver 49 #1ASU and #2MTSU received first found byes and will face UALR and Florida International respectively.

Lady Jags lose in second round to UALR

By Jake Wasdin SPORTS REPORTER

The Lady Jags found themselves knocked out in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to the hands of number-one seeded University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

The Trojans defeated USA 73-54, advancing to the semifinal round on Monday.

The UALR Trojans jumped out shooting a stammering 53 percent from the field which gave the Trojans a 37-22 lead heading into the locker room at half. The Jaguars shot 33 percent in the first half.

USA hoped to slow down the Trojans after making adjustments at the half, but the Trojans set their speed of play on “cruise-control” as UALR maintained their double digit lead through the remainder of the game. UALR didn’t slow down their shooting either as the Trojans shot 13-21 (62 percent) from the field to end the game.

“UALR is a really good team, and coach Joe Foley does an excellent job with them. They came in with a good plan. I

usajaguars.com

USA women's basketball was knocked out of the Sun Belt Tournament in the second round, falling to UALR, 73-54 Sunday afternoon.

thought our plan was okay too. Our kids just didn’t execute it as well as they did.

They had the advantage they didn’t play yesterday. We didn’t earn that. We had to play to get here and that is that.”

One problem the Lady Jags ran into was the play of Chastity Reed, the reigning player of the year in the Sun Belt Conference.

She led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-21 shooting. She also contributed eight assists and pulled down six rebounds.

“Reed presents so many problems for you because she plays the post position and plays it as a guard,” Pietri said. “In their offense you have to account for her like a guard and not like a post.

“That is very difficult for a post to have to cover. To guard her effectively takes a lot of energy.”

South Alabama was led by senior Christian Shelter who posted an 18 point outing, while shooting 9-9 on her free throws. The Lady Jags shot 18-21 from the charity stripe. With 11 points, Sarda Peterson finished second in team points.

SPORTS

The

Vanguard

Jayson Curry Sports Columnist CURRY’S CORNER

Football Earns Privileges

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard or been involved in this argument. Why do football players get so many more benefits than other athletes and even just other students? How come football players are given full rides to college because they are good athletes even though they are sub par students in some cases? Why does the school spend so much money on the athletic complex or stadium for the football team instead of other things that are more important than football? The answer is really obvious to me. The football player that makes C’s in every class and is given a scholarship and many more benefits makes the school money. In some cases one player could make a college millions of dollars. Just look at what Cam Newton or Tim Tebow did for their respective colleges.

When people start to complain about what football costs a school I honestly understand where they are coming from, but they need to understand that if a school has better benefits for players and better facilities they will get better players, and the better players a team has the better team they have. And in turn the school makes more money. So, if a school is making money then why would they not put more money into the football program? In today’s world of college football schools make more money off of football than almost anything. Next to tuition there might not be a bigger moneymaker.

In my opinion, if people think football should be less funded and players should have fewer benefits then they have a useless argument. In reality they should argue that schools should cut other sports. As I said before football is probably the biggest value to a school other than tuition, and that is an even bigger deal when you look at what other sports offer the school. At most schools the only sport that brings in any money is football. Literally every other sport loses money for their school.

At South Alabama football has been well-funded since the program started, and there has been unprecedented success. The average attendance for the games is around 15,000, which means those people paid for tickets, and in most cases bought apparel and food at the games. In contrast to that, when you go to other sporting events like basketball, baseball, softball or soccer, almost no one comes. The Mitchell Center at USA is a lonely place to be when there is a men’s or women’s basketball game going on, which is really sad, but do you think the school makes a lot of, if any, money off of that? And at most schools basketball is the second most popular sport.

I am not trying to bring USA or any school down in anyway, and if it seems like that I am sorry. I am a huge sports fan and would love to be able to go to a game with a packed arena or stadium, but that just doesn’t happen. Basically what I’m saying is that if you don’t like the money spent on football you shouldn’t feel that way. Football is making your school money. You should be more upset that other sports are losing your school money.

March 7, 2011

NASCAR

Gordon, Johnson could boost struggling interest

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Sports Briefs Basketball’s Rubit Named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year University of South Alabama’s Augustine Rubit has been selected the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, the league announced Thursday morning.

A redshirt freshman from Houston, Texas, Rubit was also tabbed to the All-SBC third team. The teams are selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches and media.

Rubit is the first South Alabama player to earn the league’s top rookie award since Jeff Hodge in 1986 and the first-ever Jaguar named to an all-conference team as a freshman.

Rubit also leads all Division I freshmen with 14 double-doubles, which ranks second in the league. He is one of two players in the conference to average a double-double on the season with 13.3 points per outing, 14th best in the Sun Belt.

Rubit was also named the season’s last Sun Belt player of the week.

Softball Defeats Virginia Tech. 6-4 in CFU Invitational Championship

Getty Images for NASCAR

Jeff Gordon celebrates a victory following the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway last week The win broke a 66-race winless streak for Gordon.

By Matt Weaver SPORTS EDITOR

Whatever torch was passed to Trevor Bayne at Daytona was quickly snatched right back by Jeff Gordon the following week at Phoenix.

The four-time Sprint Cup Champion showed that his career’s sunset wasn’t quite here yet, snapping a 66-race winless streak that dated back to Texas in April 2009.

That’s a drought of nearly two years, easily the longest of his career.

Rearmed with new crew chief Alan Gustafson, Gordon was a sleeper championship pick by many before the season started. And why not? Gustafson mentored a young Kyle Busch before revitalizing Mark Martin’s career in 2009. Martin won six races that season and came up just short of a championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In 2010, Jimmie Johnson won his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Gordon, Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. went winless, and Earnhardt missed the Chase for the Championship.

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick responded by initiating a crew chief swap, pairing Gordon with Gustafson, Earnhardt with Steve Letarte and Martin with Lance McGrew. Only Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus’ team stayed intact.

Enter Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson has stood on top of the NASCAR world for the past five seasons with only Gordon, Martin and Denny Hamlin posing any real threat. Hamlin showed last season that Johnson does have cracks in the armor, and a revitalized Gordon may be the challenger the near-struggling sport needs.

Gordon and Johnson haven’t seen eye-toeye in a while, having very public confrontations at Las Vegas, Texas and Talladega last season. Gordon even went as far to say that he was, “pissed off with that 48 car.” Some have even speculated that the Hendrick swap was actually initiated to separate the two proud champions.

Gordon and Johnson worked out of

the same shop since 2002, and the recent changes separated the drivers into different facilities. Gordon now works alongside Martin while Earnhardt is now paired with Johnson.

The seeds have been planted for NASCAR’s greatest rivalry since Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Never forget that Earnhardt Sr. struggled to clinch championships after Gordon’s arrival to the sport in 1992. Earnhardt achieved a record-tying seventh Winston Cup title in 1994 and never clinched another.

That honor would go to Gordon who won four championships, and 56 races, from 1995 to 2001. Johnson entered the sport in 2002.

Since Gordon brought Johnson into the sport full-time in 2002, Johnson hasn’t finished lower than fifth in the championship standings. All of that accomplished in a car Gordon financed and partially owns. Don’t think for a second that this fact isn’t lost on Jeff Gordon.

Gordon brought about his career’s twilight by mentoring Johnson, just as Earnhardt Sr. had in the ‘90s by teaching Gordon to win at NASCAR’s highest level.

Gordon’s career will not be complete until he can do what Earnhardt did not - defeat and topple his student. And at five-consecutive championships, whoever topples Johnson will leave a legend even larger than the streak.

Gordon’s recent success has already helped spike an interest in the sport. Three races in and television ratings are already greater than 2010’s numbers and staying close to those recorded in 2009. The fans want to see Johnson’s reign end, and Jeff Gordon is NASCAR’s most-logical candidate.

NASCAR desperately needs a rivalry to generate additional interest in the 2011 season. Bayne’s victory at Daytona was a feel-good story of the highest order, but the league now needs a star not named Jimmie Johnson to contend for championships.

Gordon is familiar with this type of rivalry as seen during his competition-based feud with Earnhardt. Now it’s up to Gordon and Gustafson to finish it.

The University of South Alabama softball team defeated Virginia Tech 6-4 in the championship game of the Central Florida Invitational Sunday afternoon in Orlando, Fla. Freshman pitcher Hannah Campbell went the distance in the circle to earn the complete game win. She struck out four batters and allowed only four runs.

Junior third baseman Christin Crocker led the Jags at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance driving in four.

“We did a good job of finding different ways to win this weekend,” Jaguar head coach Becky Clark said. “This is not a one dimensional team, and we used great hitting and pitching to win. I think that we are heading in a positive direction going into conference, and I am really proud of how the team played this weekend.”

The Jaguars improved to 18-3 and are now on a 12 game win streak after beating the 38th ranked Hokies for the second time this weekend.

Baseball Tags Washington State in 14-3 Victory in Tuscon, Ariz.

University of South Alabama baseball right-hander Dustin Crenshaw logged his longest career start, and the Jaguar hitters recorded a season-high 25 hits to defeat Washington State 14-3 Sunday in the Dairy Queen Classic at Kino Sports Complex.

Crenshaw (1-0) tossed a career-best eight innings and struck out a career-high seven batters to earn his first win of the season, and has now pitched 23 1/3 innings without issuing a walk this season.

The Jags’ 25 hits are the most since recording 21 hits last season against Southern Miss. Every USA starter recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Brad Hook, who went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Stanley Jackson (0-2) suffered the loss in three innings pitched for the Cougars, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two.

-Wire Reports

16 March 7, 2011

The

Vanguard

Showcase

Ride

do a mini tour with these artists through all The Shed locations. It will probably kick off around summer.”

Mario Mena performs March 10 at the first artist showcase night at The Shed’s Mobile location on Old Shell Road across from the USA campus. Fishbowl has already begun looking for any variety of musical talent to fill these slots. If you are looking for good food and a great time or looking to support Mobile’s local musicians, you will find it at The Shed every Thursday night.

If you are looking to perform and get some great local support, then contact Fishbowl Records at www.fishbowlrecords.net and send your demo to submissions@fishbowlrecords.net.

Fishbowl Records can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FishbowlRecords or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FishbowlRecords.

Ride possible, Aull said. According to him, Spectrum will send one of its employees to help the officers train students, too.

“Our plan is to stay out there until 4 [p.m.] or until we run out of supplies,” Aull said.

Criminal Justice senior and USAPD intern Zac Edwards said he thinks the interaction between students and police officers will benefit both parties.

“Students aren’t aware of the threat to them that [their car can be],” said Edwards, who designed the event logo. “I was surprised to hear from my own friends about how interested they were” in having their cars checked out Thursday, he said.

Check Your Ride is one of the ways Aull has been trying to build a better line of communication with students since he was recently hired at USA. The chief holds a luncheon at the Dining Hall every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. where students can eat lunch with him or just drop by and talk.

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

For more information, visit USAPD’s Facebook page (the link to which can be found at www.southalabama.edu/police) or call 251-460-6611.

from page 11

Majority from page 7

cent opposed most or all abortions, no matter how they are funded. A Quinnipiac Poll taken during the legislation of the recent health care law found 72 percent opposed funding for abortions in the bill.

With such strong numbers I must ask: is it ethical for Congress to fund an organization with tax payer dollars when that organization actively advertises and lobbies for a service the majority of American’s disagree with?

I, and I hope many others, will agree that it is unethical to do so. Our country was founded on the premise that anything done within it be built upon the will of the people.

To fund a program that’s central tenant is accepted by only a minority of Americans would be a detriment to the constitution and grounds for further abuses in the future.

from page 1

The

Vanguard

Jag Smart from page 4

up the budget shortfall produced by the ending of the federal stimulus to higher education by reducing the University’s utility bills, according to committee members.

Jag Smart is already on its way to achieving its goal. Committee members say that they have printed switch plate stickers to be placed all over campus, encouraging faculty and students to turn off the lights. Simple things like turning out the lights, combined with other ideas Jag Smart members plan to implement, could increase savings when it comes to utilities.

According to Committee members, if the campus can reduce its utility bills by just 10 percent, that saves the University about $1 million, and every dollar not spent on energy can be used for the hiring of new faculty and keeping tuition costs low. Saved money will also free up resources that could possibly be used to do major infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

“Being sustainable isn’t only about being ‘green’; it’s also a very practical way to improve the financial bottom line for ourselves, our University, and our nation,” Douglas Marshall, professor and active member of the Sus-

Critical from page 7

deadly diseases. They also act as a venue that educates communities on STDs and their prevention.

It may seem like a no-brainer to those of us who are privileged enough to have been exposed to comprehensive sex education, but Planned Parenthood fills in the gaps in situations where not everyone has had the chance to take a class or have a long talk with mom or dad.

March 7, 2011 tainability Council, said when asked about the program.

The Faculty Senate Environmental Quality Committee has been researching ways to get the program in full swing by helping improve on-campus recycling, curbing the University’s resource use and addressing the environmental impact of campus building.

There are only two student positions on the University Sustainability Committee, and they are elected by SGA, but students who wish to get involved with Jag Smart’s efforts are welcome to join the Sustainability Council.

Committee members said they hope the new initiative will make South’s campus a local leader in sustainability.

Jag Smart, along with other green initiatives the University has in place, such as recycling programs and Campus Police and Safety Department’s use of electric golf carts, puts South on the map as one of the fastest growing sustainable and green institutions in the region, according to Jag Smart members.

“This can be a landmark program for the University, as it will be a partnership between the students, faculty and staff all working to improve their University,” said Director of Facilities Management Chris Willis.

Planned Parenthood provides the facts, which is critical for our information-rich society.

By focusing solely on the issue of abortion, the House ignores all of the other important services Planned Parenthood supplies. They’re going to injure an organization that does so much more for the United States than they can imagine. It’s not about abortion; it’s about public health.

It’s in the government’s nature to protect its people’s health.

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March 7, 2011

Distractions

The

Vanguard Vanguard Staff editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

www.usavanguard.com/distractions

Caption Contest

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

Caption Contest Results

Winner: “Does this butt make my finger look bigger?”

-Patience Dogood

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.

The

Vanguard

March 7, 2011

Jag Life

A Comic by Ben Lewis

CLASSIFIEDS Nanny/Aupair needed urgently for 3 kids.

Must have valid license/good record. $580/ week.

References: bestyfaulkner@yahoo.com

Computer Services: Consulting/Virus Removal/PC Tune Ups/Software Installs Free Analysis.

Please call Rob @ 251-622-2265. For computer details Ask about student/faculty discount when calling.

Want to sell something that’s just sitting around the house? Contact our Advertising Department at 251-460-6898.

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20 March 7, 2011

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