VANGUARD
THE
VOL. 51, NO. 1
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
JUNE 4, 2012
INSIDE
Graduation a bittersweet finale Medical 2,795 received degrees for the 2011-2012 academic year
student shoots for the stars Drew Smith will start residency in Birmingham
BY CASSIE FAMBRO | EDITOR
By AMBER DAY anb@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
►Editorial: How was the
Moulton Tower paid for? Where does your tuition go and what does the state have to do with it? See Opinion, page 8.
► Life Spotlight: UCUR spot-
lights student and mentor research with its summer program. Paid research gives students an edge. See Life, page 5.
► Sports: Lady Jags take top honors in Sunbelt conference after beating their opponent in Boca Raton, Florida. See Sports, page 9.
87 Days until football!
Hannah Yeats and Lauren Gessner embrace after graduation.
By CASSIE FAMBRO editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com
S
pring commencement was a particularly emotional experience for many graduates in May. The majority of the graduating class were high school sophomores when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, sixth graders when September 11 occurred, and are walking into post-college life with an
uncertain economy. As USA approaches its fiftieth anniversary, the graduating class of Spring 2012 marked USA’s total degrees awarded to 72,586 according to USA President Gordon Moulton. USA stands on the cusp of great growth that has taken place over the last several years, and students are excited about it. On the same research level as Alabama and Auburn, USA is becom-
COURTESY OF LAUREN GESSNER
ing even more competitive on a national scale. Moulton calls the Carnegie Foundation research classification “a compelling statement on the quality of our faculty and institution.” Incoming USA football player Joseph Scelfo “can’t wait to get to South Alabama” and make it his new home, a sentiment shared by dozens of recruits taking to social media to show that they’re See Grads Grads, Page 2
Student Center is still a year away By JAYSON CURRY jasyon-curry@hotmail.com
T
he University of South Alabama campus has undergone a facelift over the past year. Students have watched as new buildings and renovations have come to fruition all over campus. Some of those projects have either recently been completed or will be in the near future, leaving some unanswered questions. The brand new engineering and computer science building, Shelby Hall, was recently finished. Summer engineering classes started in Shelby Hall and the engineering department is in the process of moving from its old
space into Shelby Hall. The space left open by the engineering department is now up for grabs for any other department and the University is in the process of determining what they will do with it. According to USA facilities director Randy Moon, the University has appointed a special committee named the Space and Facilities committee who will make the decision on who moves where on campus. “Nothing is really decided or approved at this time,” Moon said. “What they are doing is they are looking at all the available space after the engineering department moves to the Shelby building and trying to find the
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best space utilization, which departments would fit there and finding the most economical cost. “There is a lot of discussion of who may go somewhere but until the committee makes a recommendation to the president and it gets approved by the administration, there is no plan,” Moon added. Another University project that is of concern to students is the Student Center. According to Dean of Students Dr. Michael Mitchell, the project could start any day now. “The actual beginning of the project was supposed to be a year ago. It is the second phase of a two phase project. The first stage of the project was
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BY CASSIE FAMBRO | EDITOR
Student Center has undergone large renovations.
the food court and once that phase was finished the second phase was about to begin; but, there were some problems with the building commission,” Mitchell said. See Construction Construction, Page 2
The next several weeks will be extremely busy for senior medical Drew Smith students Resident who have graduated from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. Now that medical school graduates have attended Honors Convocation and commencement, they will move to the next phase of their training as they report to their residency programs. Drew Smith is among those who will be starting their residencies this summer. Smith will start at the Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Ala., for a transition year, and then to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., for his residency training. “I felt I was reaching to the stars by shooting for Johns Hopkins,” Smith said. “When I found out that I had matched at Johns Hopkins, I was ecstatic.” Smith was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart defect where the vessels leading from the heart to the lungs are constricted. “My condition was fairly severe and I had my first operation at the age of 18 months,” Smith said. See Smith Smith, Page 2
In this Issue: Life, Page 5 Opinion, Page 8 Sports, Page 9
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
A New Mexico wildfire still rages on in what has become the largest fire in the history of the state, which is prone to wildfires. It is one and half times bigger than Chicago, according to CNN. Over a thousand responders are fighting the fire caused by lightning in Whitewater Baldy Complex area. Two fires merged to create the inferno, according to Albuquerque news.
Australia has pledged $300 Million to assist local forces in Afghanistan with the troop withdrawal. With 1,550 troops stationed in Afghanistan and mentoring Afghan National Army soldiers, the commitment according the Australian Prime Minister means that the Afghans will “have responsibility for its own security by 2013.” Australia will remain “combat ready” through 2014, according to Aussie news.
Grads
Around the globe in 360 characters or less
A passenger plane crashed into a building in Lagos on Sunday, June 3. The Nigerian plane crash led to President Goodluck Jonathan declaring three days of mourning for the estimated 150 people that were killed when the plane went down. The cause is unknown, and it comes on the heels of a bombing in the Bauchi state. Nigeria has a poor air safety record, according to BBC.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies governmental involvement in the Houla massacre of over 100 people that has caused international outrage. Over half of them were children, and al-Assad says “not even monsters” could carry out such a crime. They were slashed with knives and shot at pointblank range. They are alleged by the UN to have been caused by militia loyal to the president, according to The Guardian. Pictures from cited media outlets
Continued from Page 1
impressed with USA’s growth. Another recruit, Ron Simmons, gives more praise. “South Alabama has got to be the state of Alabama’s best kept secret.” Graduates are showing their pride in USA like never before, such as in the case of Lauren Gessner, who graduated with a 4.0. “This time in college has been a gift to me,” Lauren stated. As for advice, Gessner offers her words of wisdom. “I’ve met some wonderful people who have helped me to realize that tangible results are not life’s focus. It’s not a race. It’s not about who is getting where, when... We’re all going the same way. How we get there is up to us.” Gessner will be attending the University of Alabama’s law school. Graduate Chase Krebs stated that when he imagined graduating and moving to his choice of grad school, his “stomach literally drops to the floor.” While nervous about the economy and job market, Krebs feels prepared because of his education at USA and his personal relationships with his professors in the foreign languages department. Moulton believes that USA is living up to its “founders’ vision” from 50 years ago, and is convinced that for the University and its students, “the best days are ahead.”
Construction progresses Med student successful Continued from Page 1
“As soon as that project goes out to bid which will be any day now, the second phase of that project will begin. And that will actually be the interior of the student center. The length of that project will be a year. A completion estimate is set to be the Fall of 2013.” This is a year after it was projected. As for what students and faculty should expect from the new student center, Mitchell seemed excited. “There are some excellent plans for the building and when it’s done I think it will be a great place for students to call home,” Mitchell said. “The exterior will look the same but the interior will look completely different. The exterior patios on the second floor are going to be closed in and that will be new inte-
Continued from Page 1
rior meeting space. There is going to be some additional meeting space and all of the offices downstairs are going to be completely redone. The ballroom is going to be extended and it will be able to accommodate a 5000-persondinner.” “It will be like looking at the old bookstore, the shell of the building will look similar but the inside is going to be a completely new space,” Mitchell said. Mitchell also added that all the organizations that used office space in the student center will return when renovations are completed except for the office of disability accommodations. This includes SGA, Jaguar Productions and Multicultural Affairs.
Letters to the editor can be sent to editor. in.chief@usavanguard.com for consideration. Letters with profanity will not be printed, nor will defaming letters. Please write in accordance with the code of conduct that USA would expect of you. Please send letters a week by Wednesday before publication.
“During the surgery they accidently nicked my natural pace maker, and my heart then beat out of sync. Six weeks after that, I had a permanent pace maker.” Because Smith could not play sports or any high-contact activities while growing up, he took art classes beginning at the age of 10. He started his undergrad years at Auburn University majoring in architecture because of his art background. He later decided to change his major to biomedical sciences after a life-changing experience. “I have had two major surgeries where they have had to go in and break open my sternum; first at 18 months and the next after my freshman year as an undergrad at Auburn,” Smith said. “All I remember is waking up on a ventilator and my arms strapped down because I had woken up early and tried to pull it out. The whole process of going through it and seeing it from that prospective opened my eyes. The light came on, and that’s when I decided I wanted to pursue a career
in medicine.” Coming into medical school, Smith assumed he would go into cardiovascular surgery because of his personal condition. However, during his clinical years his interests turned to radiology. “In radiology I enjoy paying attention to details such as architecture required,” Smith said. “With radiology you have to know what to look for and identify what the next step is going to be. It’s the perfect combination for me.” When Smith starts his residency training in radiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital next summer, it will complete a circle in his life. He will return to “the place that helped to saved my life,” Smith said. “Johns Hopkins pioneered the first surgeries of Tetralogy of Fallot, so it was almost like coming full circle,” Smith said. “Here’s a place that pushed the envelope and here I am leading the way with their innovation. Because of them, I am able to be here today.
Campus Gripes ► Michael Brannon: As a re-
cent graduate, I don’t appreciate our diplomas being mailed, running the risk of being bent or damaged in the mail. We should be able to pick them up in the registrar’s office... we have to go there for all paperwork anyway. Just makes sense. Also, grades should be posted prior to graduation day...not three days after. It’d be pretty bad for someone to walk at graduation but then ultimately have to walk back into a classroom.
► Stephen Purnell: I don’t like paying for a textbook for a course, and we never use it at all. Of course the bookstore won’t accept it as a return...
► Zadora Edwards: Tuition is
to damn high, housing is kind of sucky and of course damn attendance policies.
► Lyndsie VanHorn: I don’t
like how some of the upper level math classes are only offered in the evening. This past semester my schedule was so spread out because the one class had one option and it just had to be at 6 p.m.. By the time I get home it’s time for bed. People with kids have to deal with this too. By the time they get home their kids should already be in bed.
► Carrie Hunter: The parking in central, price of books, or the fact that my tuition is constantly going up.
► Nikky Lee Having to pay
fines to park in different zones. We pay for parking, why can’t we park wherever we want on campus? I went to a larger school and they had the same thing; as long as you had a parking pass, you could park wherever you wanted. Instead we have this stupid thing where we get fines if we don’t park in the right zone.
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
PAGE three
“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”
Editorial Editor in Chief Managing Editor Life Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center Senior Reporter Senior Reporter Web Editor
Cassie Fambro Aaron Etheredge Jake Howell Noah Logan Patrick Herring JT Crabtree Matt Weaver Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter
Weather for June 4 - June 10
Distribution Distribution Johnny Davis Manager
Advertising Advertising Wesley Jackson Manager Advertising Mark Crawford II Graphic Designer Rex McKay
Management Advising James Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan
Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surroun ding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.
Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. Or editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. 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
PATRICK BIGBIE | STAFF METEOROLOGIST
the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor in Chief, Managing Editor, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight during weekly Editorial Board meetings. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, e-mail editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select offcampus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each.
See something suspicious? Report it to USA’s Police Department and help make a difference!
USAPD Police Blotter Editor’s note: Have a question for USAPD? Email us at editor.in.chief@ usavanguard.com
Investigation Unit: The Investigations Unit is the investigative branch of the University Police Department. The unit’s goals are early intervention, prompt investigations and preventative or corrective resolutions. Members of the University’s Community can help the unit achieve these goals by early reporting of criminal or suspicious activities. What should be reported: All types of threats directed towards any University community member or University property, any person exhibiting threatening or unusual behavior, any administrative meeting or hearing that may pose a threat to the people involved during or after the proceeding, any social or family issue that may pose an on-campus threat to anyone who attends, works or visits the University of
USAPD: 460-6312 South Alabama. How do I report situations? Investigation Unit: (251) 461-1405 After Hours: (251) 460-6312 Anonymous Tips Line: (251) 460-6667 Silent Witness Program: The University of South Alabama Silent Witness Program provides a means for members of the University’s campus community to anonymously provide information about crimes on campus. Total anonymity is guaranteed. No personal information is collected with the crime information. Crimes reported through this program are reviewed and investigated by the officers and staff of the University of South Alabama Police Department. All information
submitted through this program is confidential. “Click here for Silent Witness”. For Emergency Response: For Emergency Police Response (251) 460-6312 or 511 on any campus phone 911 from a cell and other non-campus phones (Advise the operator of your exact USA Campus location)
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUN. 4, 2012
jagLIFE
Fifty Shades of Grey is fifty shades of shocking Warning: This article contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some readers By KALYN MCCLELLAN
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Weekly Lowdown Wednesday > June 6 •
“Buddhist Philosophy for Everyday Life” University Library, Rm 181 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Staff Reporter
W
hat could have happened in someone’s past to make them feel like they don’t deserve love, while at the same time giving them a seemingly chronic need to exert complete control over every single aspect of their life? E. L. James attempts to answer this question in her erotic romance novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, the story of billionaire business tycoon Christian Grey, a man obsessed with authority not only in the business world, but in his personal life as well. Grey thrives on domination in the bedroom and cannot let himself love someone. He only allows himself intimacy with women who agree to be submissive to his every desire. His latest conquest, Anastasia Steele, is inexperienced in every way and completely naive to the sadomasochistic world of Christian Grey. Anastasia is instantly drawn to Christian’s good looks and austere composure and, after meeting him while on an assignment for the university newspaper, is completely shocked when he asks her out on a date. Little does she know that he has plans in mind for her that involves chains and whips. Christian introduces her to his world slowly, first presenting her with a contract that outlines specifically what her role as submissive will be compared to his role as dominant. It is not clear, however, if Anastasia will ever sign that contract, which explicitly instructs her on what she can and can’t eat, what she must wear, and the almost unbearable torture she must endure to please him. Throughout this 514 page novel, James leaves readers guessing about what sexual escapade Christian will take Anastasia on next. Sometimes the encounters are truly
JAKE HOWELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR life.editor@usavanguard.com
Thursday > June 7 • •
Jagblast New Student Orientation
Friday > June 8 •
KALYN MCCLELLAN | STAFF REPORTER
E.L. James’ novel blurs the line between love and hate, pleasure and pain.
romantic; while other times the vivid description of the sadomasochist acts are hard to stomach. For example, Christian gains sexual satisfaction from whipping her with a leather riding tack and forcing her to lay across his bed while he beats her with a belt. Christian is not just some sexual freak, however. There are many levels to him, that Anastasia acknowledges as “fifty shades of f---ed up.” He won’t permit Anastasia to get close to him, blocking romantic touches or words from her, and only allowing her to be with him on his terms. He cannot accept a normal girlfriend
“
– Anastasia is his fifteenth submissive. After spending more time with Christian, Anastasia learns that demons from his past have made him the person he is today. Unless she can break through those hurtful barriers, she can never fully know the man she is falling in love with. Fifty Shades of Grey raises many questions. Will Anastasia be capable of breaking through Christian’s shell and get into his psyche, discovering his dark past? Or will his mental dominance and cruel physical punishments scare her away? Will she ever sign that contract? These questions, however, are not
Fifty Shades of Grey was not what I expected, but it was captivating.
”
answered in this novel. Instead, James has written two subsequent novels, Fifty Shades of Dark and Fifty Shades of Freed, which delve deeper into the complex relationship between the two main characters. One reader, Jessica Brown, senior education major has finished Fifty Shades of Grey, and is now almost finished reading the second novel. “Well, Fifty Shades of Grey was not what I expected, but it was captivating” Brown said, “I wasn’t as shocked as I anticipated, but there were a few shocking moments. “I had to start the second book immediately, after the way the first book ended,” concluded Brown. Fifty Shades of Grey earns 5 out of 5 stars for content and 3 out of 5 stars for writing style, as the author’s ability to maintain a good structure throughout the novel is lacking.
New Student Orientation • Summer SGA Appropriations Requests Due SGA Office (Academic Support Center Rm 1363) 5:00 p.m.
Sat - Sun > June 9 - 10 •
Campus Recreation and Outdoor Adventures: Paddle/ Camp Black Creek River $35 per student $40 for faculty/staff/ alumni
MARGARET ZECHER
Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 7 words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com. Include “Weekly Lowdown” in the subject line. E-mails must be received at least 7 days before the event.
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
Rocking on “The Devil’s Dance Floor”
PATRICK HERRING | SPORTS EDITOR
The Hangout Music Festival welcomed Celtic punk band, Flogging Molly
By PATRICK HERRING sports.editor@usavanguard.com
I
t’s Saturday, the second day of the third annual Hangout Music Festival, and I am driving to the beach to join in the festivities. My ticket, an orange and turquoise wristband, flaps in the wind while my arm hangs out the window to catch the cool breeze on an 85 degree day in May. The sidewalks of Gulf Shores, Ala, are smattered with people. Many are walking, some riding bicycles, while others jump on longboards and carve their way to the festival. Much like the community surrounding Ladd-Peebles Stadium during the Senior Bowl, local residents turn their yards into parking lots, making 10 to 20 dollars per vehicle from the festival goers for a day of parking.
While walking among the booths between shows, my nostrils are bombarded with the scent of food available. The vendors are making a killing with exorbitant pricing. A single slice of pizza goes for upwards of $6. After eating, I make my way to the ‘Letting Go’ stage about an hour before the band is set to start in order to get as close to the stage as possible. I throw a towel down and sit 30 feet from the stage. The rest and rehydration of waiting are a welcome relief after walking around the beach for seven hours in the blistering heat. After waiting for 30 minutes, a group of vacationers sitting nearby and I are treated to an unexpected visitor. A man wearing black jeans, a tan short sleeve button-down shirt, and a slick, gray fedora walks from behind the VIP gate carrying a Guinness tall-
boy. A sleeve of tattoos covers his left arm, with not much skin showing on his right. He scans the crowd and walks toward us. He sits down and strikes up a conversation. We talk for 10 minutes, with him pausing every couple of minutes to take a swig of his Guinness. Soon, he says his goodbyes and wanders, perhaps a bit less sober, back behind the VIP fence. Minutes later the band is introduced and we realize that this mystery man is actually the bass player for Flogging Molly. The concert begins and Flogging Molly fires through a few songs from their debut album. The crowd is loving every minute of it, and beginning to get a bit rowdy. As the lead singer belts the first few words of one of Molly’s heavier and more popular songs, “The Devil’s Dance Floor”, the crowd erupts. “Her breath began to speak as she stood right in front of me,” sang lead singer Dave King in his thick, Irish accent. Everyone begins jumping up and down. “The color of her eyes were the color of insanity.” Fists are pumping wildly. “Crushed beneath her wave like a
ship, I could not reach her shore.” The crescendo of music and crowd noises builds to a peak. “We’re all just dancers on the Devil’s Dance Floor!” A mosh pit 20 feet in diameter forms right behind me. A mass of sweaty, intoxicated people begin to run full speed at each other. As the song continues to play I can’t resist myself. I put down my bag and thrust myself into the pit. The first impact is surprising, but the blood starts pumping and I really get into it. I mosh alongside the others until the song ends. To my surprise, when I come out of the mangled ball of bodies, I notice a clear path has been made to the front of stage. I run for it and grab hold of the fence. I remain in front-row center for the rest of the concert. The band plays more of their classics, stopping between songs to quell their thirst with some Guinness. The energy on the fence separating the crowd from the band is unmatched. With arms raised and fists pumping, people are jumping and singing along to every word. The show was so amazing, I couldn’t leave early to get a good seat for the night’s headliner, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But, alas, it was worth it.
Bring me your heart, my dear Snow White By JAKE HOWELL life.editor@usavanguard.com
S
now White, the classic fairy tale character made famous first by the Brothers Grimm and then by Walt Disney, has been busy recently. Several reincarnations of her story have been met with great success over the past year on the big screen. The latest retelling of Snow’s story, “Snow White and the Huntsman,” hit theaters on Friday. This particular movie comes on the heels of the film “Mirror, Mirror,” which portrays a vastly different version of Snow White. “Snow White and the Huntsman” hems more closely to the tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, at least in terms of beginnings. The film opens with Snow White’s mother, the Queen, walking in the snowcovered courtyard of her castle. She sees a single rose that, despite the chill of winter, has bloomed. The queen pricks her finger on the rose’s thorns and three drops of blood stain the snow. Like in the Grimm tale, the queen wishes for a daughter with “skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and
hair as black as night.” In this film, though, the queen adds another attribute to her wish list. She wishes that her daughter would have the same strength that the lone rose displayed as it defied the bite of winter. This strength would serve the soonto-be-born princess well. After the queen’s death, Snow White’s father takes a new wife who quickly takes his life and kingdom. This new queen, Ravenna, feeds on the life and youth of others, a habit so toxic that nature itself begins to die and plunges the kingdom into a seemingly perpetual winter. While Queen Ravenna’s reign may be poison, her portrayal by Charlize Theron is one of the best parts of the film. Theron does evil, and she does it well. “Snow White and the Huntsman” also presents Kristen Stewart, of “Twilight” fame, as Princess Snow White. Stewart is often maligned as an actress who can’t seem rid herself of an everpresent look of discomfort. In this film, however, Stewart shines much more than in the “Twilight” films, but her performance is far from matching Theron’s. Chris Hemsworth, better known as Thor in the recent smash “The Aveng-
ers,” plays the Huntsman which isn’t too far a cry from his hammer wielding alter ego. The Huntsman is a much more troubled character for Hemsworth, though, and, much like nature in the film, is reawakened by Snow White’s purity. The film is much darker than either “Mirror, Mirror,” or Disney’s animated feature, which is also reminiscent of the Grimm fairy tale. At one point, Queen Ravenna plucks the hearts out of songbirds and snacks on them while speaking with her brother. “Snow White and the Huntsman,” truly looks amazing. From Snow’s mad escape to the Dark Forest to a foray into Sanctuary, the land of the fairies, the setting is exquisitely beautiful and horrible at the same time and pulls the audience into the world. One thing that detracted from the movie was the inclusion of an utterly useless love triangle. Hollywood can’t seem to trust that people will turn out for a movie that doesn’t have a heroine whose heart is torn between two men. The love triangle was especially out of place in this film, because, unlike other retellings of the story, this film makes use of strong feminist themes.
IMDB.COM
June 13, Jaguar Productions is showing S.W.H. for $2. Call JP at 460-7144.
Queen Ravenna’s speech to the king on their wedding night reveals her disgust at how men ruin women and, once their beauty fades, throw them away like rags. Kacie Watson, a senior biomedical sciences major, described the movie as, “a very dark portrayal compared to Disney’s cartoon version. It was slow at some points, but overall something I would definitely watch again.” All in all “Snow White and the Huntsman,” is a dark adventure.
HEY YOU
.
We’re bringing back the advice column. Send your questions to AskBeaUSA@ Gmail.com for consideration. Into the downtown scene in Mobile? We need a Scene writer. Bars, clubs, and night life articles are welcome. Email life.editor@ usavanguard.com Opinion and Sports need writers too, and you can email editor. in.chief@ usavanguard. com to find out how to get involved. Build your resume. Raise your voice.
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
USA UCUR students gain research experience
COURTESY OF CARI HURLEY
Cari Hurley, a three time UCUR student, works with human airway smooth muscle cells in her research
By JAKE HOWELL life.editor@usavanguard.com
S
ummer, a time when most students are hitting either the books or the beaches, is a stretch of time that positively exudes opportunity. At the University of South Alabama, students are making the most of an excellent opportunity avail-
able during the summer months. For 14 years the University Committee for Undergraduate Research (UCUR) program has given undergraduate students the incredible chance to gain hands-on experience doing research with USA’s qualified faculty. Many universities offer their students the chance to pursue research interests at a departmental level.
Unlike those programs, though, UCUR allows students to do real research and get to know faculty in their chosen fields, all while receiving a stipend. Dr. Anne Boettcher, a professor in the biology department and Director of the UCUR program, said, “To my knowledge we are the only university wide program in the state with funded positions... our program is similar to many national programs in terms of the opportunities and funding.” In fact, the UCUR program receives funding from both internal and external sources such as the National Science Foundation and the Alabama Space Grant Consortium. The stipend, which amounts to $2,000 is given out in a benchmark system. As part of the UCUR program, students not only learn how to conduct scholarly research, but also how to present their work to others. Throughout the summer, the UCUR program holds meetings and workshops that introduce them to the processes of composing graduate school applications, resumes, research abstracts, and posters.
These meetings also serve as discussion groups that enable the students to speak about their research to an interdisciplinary group. In addition to the benefits of hands-on experience, the stipend, and the networking opportunities, students who complete the UCUR program also have the chance to present their research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium each fall. Some students may balk at the thought of spending their summer working in a lab designing and performing experiments. Many students who participate in the UCUR program, however, return for multiple summers. When asked about her experiences with the UCUR program, Cari Hurley, a senior biomedical sciences major said, “This is the third time I’ve participated in the UCUR program. It’s been a great way to meet faculty and learn outside the classroom.” Sid King, another returning UCUR participant and senior meteorology major, said, “It’s been a lot of fun doing interdisciplinary work
relating to my field, because that’s a rare opportunity in meteorology. It’s also been a blast working with Dr. Connors!” First-time student researchers are excited about the program as well. Peri Anne Bush, a senior biology major, explained why she wanted to get involved, “I believed that it would be beneficial to attend the workshops, as well as present scientific information to the general public and students in other fields at the Research Symposium in October.” While it might be too late to get involved with the UCUR program this summer, it’s never too early to start preparing for next summer. The UCUR program faculty can also help match students with potential research mentors. More information on the program can be found at southalabama. edu/ucur or by emailing ucur@ usouthal.edu
Opinion 12
VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
A STAFF EDITORIAL The Vanguard Viewpoint
Cassie Fambro > Aaron Etheredge > Noah Logan > Jake Howell > Patrick Herring >
EditorialBoard
Facebook Chat Do you tan indoors or outdoors?
Editor in Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor Life Editor Sports Editor
Administration needs to be mindful of costs T
he Vanguard would like to recognize USA’s administration’s efforts to conserve costs and maintain quality at this institution. With that being said, it’s hard for students to understand what is being done to conserve costs when so much is happening on campus. New greenery feels like it’s coming out of our pockets. A new piece of artwork feels extravagant when many students are forced to choose between paying for gas or food. Stretched to the limit and inundated with student loans, 80 percent of graduates will be $20,000 or more in debt. Many students wonder where the money is going and we are committed to following the money this year as closely as we can.
Misunderstandings contribute to the attitude of resentment against tuition raises, and we hope to clarify them. For instance, the portals were built with bond money from 2007. The new Shelby Hall Engineering and Computer Science building was funded by federal grants, including those from the National Science Foundation. Jag Bikes were funded by private donations. The Moulton Tower was funded by alumni donations, as well as several other projects on campus. The list goes on, but the similar theme is that tuition dollars are by-in-large not going to campus construction projects. Tuition is what keeps the lights on, the teachers and staff paid, and the University in business. Up until recent years, state funding played a large role along
with tuition in paying these costs. As most know, we’re dealing with a recession. The state doesn’t have as much money to give us. In fact, over the last four years, USA has received millions less than it did prior to 2007. Imagine going to work every day and earning a mid-level income, at $100,000 a year. Imagine over four years, going from $100,000 to $40,000 a year. That’s what we’re dealing with due to lack of state funding. It’s a fine line to balance between making cuts and sacrificing quality. President Moulton calls the state-funding cuts “draconian.” He also states that “we…seek… to reward and retain our faculty and staff.” We have high caliber faculty at USA, and as one can imagine, it’s not money keeping them
here. It’s loyalty. They could have higher-paying jobs outside of Alabama, but here they stay, with no raises. We commend USA’s faculty for their perseverance. To the administration, please remember that most of us understand that much is being done; but we would like to see as much evidence of that as possible. Show us the energy cuts to save electricity funding; cut the landscaping budget and make sure maintenance vehicles aren’t idling. What students see every day is what forms our impression, and when we see money being wasted, it doesn’t make us any more willing to bridge the gap. Keep the students in mind, USA. They’re the University’s heart and soul.
Carpe Diem, or for some morons, ‘YOLO’ S
o now it has started. I have g r a d u ated high school and am getting ready for Noah Logan college. It Opinion Editor seems that I can’t turn a corner without a family member or friend trying to give me my game plan for college. “Study study study!” says all my family members. “Party party party!” says all my friends. While some of the plans vary, they all have one thing in common; they are planned. Having everything organized, planned, and tied up in a little bow to present nicely
seems to be the common ground of all advice. And to be quite honest, I think it’s excrement. Anybody that has seen the movie “Dead Poets Society” is familiar with the term “Carpe diem”, or seize the day in Latin. Some other morons might be familiar with a similar phrase, the overused Drake lyric, “YOLO.” You only live once. Let’s be honest, it is kind of hard to seize the day while planning for tomorrow. If I spend today planning for tomorrow and then spend tomorrow planning for the next day and etc... Then in the end, I never really got to enjoy the day I was in. Henry David Thoreau said it best, ”Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Obviously there is a
difference between “Carpe diem” and downright stupid. To me, it is all about finding that perfect balance. Take for example the hit show from the 90’s “The Powerpuff Girls”. The professor had a perfect little plan with sugar, spice, and everything nice to make the perfect little girls. We all know the rest. The professor accidentally broke the Chemical X and let it fall into the mixture. Obviously, this is a horrible accident and will ruin the whole process, right? However, after six seasons and seventy-eight episodes we know that the Chemical X was needed for the girls to be as special as they were. Go and find your Chemical X. Don’t write something off as
“reckless and stupid” just because it is not “in the plan”. For example, two months ago I had no idea what “The Vanguard” was and I probably would not have shown any interest in it. A quick look at their website, a few e-mails with Cassie and BAM! Here I am, ready to start a new chapter of my life filled with the unknown. This very article starts a whole new life for me. I’m going to study hard, make as many new friends as possible, and hopefully find my Chemical X. At times like these, a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt always presents itself, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
Braden Cheek I like to tan in the dark. Lisianna Emmett Neither because when God proclaimed me white, He meant it! All I do is turn lobster red then back white, even in a tanning bed. Doug Roberts Both. Ashley Marie Clarke Both!!! Outdoors for the summer and occasionally indoors just to keep my natural glow year round! Daniel Moran Both. Tyler Henderson Tanning? Gross. Who wants to look like a Bacon strip when they're 30? Lauren Wheeler Both Ashley Marie Clarke Moderation of course, and it’s not as terrible and taboo as what people make it out to be, as long as you take the proper measures to maintain heathy skin and protect yourself then there is no harm in it. Daniel Moran To contrast a healthy skin and “moderation” approach, ClubSun’s logo is “life is short, live it in color.” Tyler Henderson Club Sun’s whole purpose is to sell you tans. Daniel Moran They do a good job. Stephen Purnell I don’t tan... I burn, peel, and turn white again.
SPORTS
PATRICK HERRING, SPORTS EDITOR sports.editor@usavanguard.com
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
NBA finishes strange season By MATT WEAVER punkbrokenlove@aol.com
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COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO
The USA softball team gathers for a picture after beating Louisiana-Lafayette in Boca Raton, Fla., to take home the Sun Belt Conference trophy
Lady Jags softball breaks records, shatters expectations Hannah Campbell and Brittany Fowler lead softball to the best season in the program’s short history By PATRICK HERRING sports.editor@usavanguard.com
I
t has taken head coach Becky Clark just six short years to build the softball program from the ground up and win the Sun Belt Conference championship. The second-seeded Lady Jaguars defeated No. 1 seed Louisiana-Lafayette in the championship game to bring the title to the University of South Alabama. The Lady Jags defeated Louisiana Monroe, Florida International, and Western Kentucky by a combined score of 19-4 en route to the championship game. The victory over WKU broke the program’s record for wins in a season, but the Jaguars didn’t stop there. In the match up with the Louisiana-Lafayette Lady Cajuns, who were ranked No. 6 nationally at the time, All-Conference pitcher Hannah Campbell allowed only one run
and fellow All-Conference honoree Brittany Fowler hit a three-run home run to lead South Alabama to a 3-1 victory in their first ever Sun Belt Conference Championship. “To see all of our young ladies’ hard work pay off was really exciting,” Clark said. “Being able to do that for our student athletes, and for our fans, and for the community was a great experience.” The Lady Jaguars’ play in the Sun Belt tournament propelled them to a spot in the NCAA Regionals. They were overjoyed to learn that they would be playing in the Tuscaloosa Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Campbell said it was an unreal feeling to learn they were to play for a spot in the Women’s College World Series. “We had already accomplished everything we had set out to do at the beginning of the season,” Campbell said. “So everything from the start of Regionals forward was just
COURTESY OF SCOTT DONALDSON
Sophomore pitcher Hannah Campbell garnered NFCA first team all-South region honors for her play during the season and in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
the cherry on top.” Before the start of regional play, Campbell was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association first team all-South region after finishing the regular season with a 23-10 record and a 1.83 ERA. Not counting regional play, she compiled 191 strikeouts in 210.2 innings, including 8 shutouts and 27 complete games. The Lady Jags opened regional play with a 4-3 win against Georgia Tech, but fell to the hometown Crimson Tide in the following round to snap their 9-game win streak. In
their second match up with the Lady Jackets, South run-ruled Georgia Tech 10-1 in just 5 innings. That victory gave USA another shot at Alabama in the regional championship game. The second showdown had the same result, with No. 2 ranked Alabama winning the regional 6-0 and moving on to the Super Regional. The Lady Jaguar’s season ended in Tuscaloosa, but it will go down as the best season in the program’s short history.
he NBA is nearing the conclusion to one of the strangest seasons in recent memory. It was a year marred by a players’ strike which delayed the start of the season by nearly three months. Once the season did begin, an abbreviated 66-game schedule was squeezed into a five month window, resulting in injuries, parity and non-stop excitement. Games were sometimes played three nights in a row and up to five days a week, resulting in a baseball-like calendar that gave fans a premium match up virtually every day of the week. Injuries started to pile-up as soon as the season began, striking stars such as Derrick Rose, Kevin Garnett, Al Horford and a host of others. The athletes blamed the tight schedule and the shorter two-week pre-season. Regardless of the reasons why, the circumstances produced one of the most compelling regular seasons of all time, with some long-time favorites struggling and underdogs rising up to take their place. One case is the story of the Boston Celtics, still fighting with the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference Championship. Win or lose, their season has to be considered a success. Most predictions had Boston entering the playoffs as a low-seed or missing the playoffs entirely, rather than the fourth seed they eventually earned. Pundits anticipated their aging core of Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, at a combined average age of 33-years-old, couldn’t hold up to the rigors of the condensed schedule. And yet, here they are fighting for the right to win the franchise’s 18th NBA championship. Similar expectations were placed See NBA NBA, Page 11
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
Jaguar baseball ends season on high note By JT CRABTREE
jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu
T
he beginning of the Mark Calvi era at South Alabama didn’t go the way anyone had planned. The Jags ended the 2012 baseball season on May 25 with a walk-off win over No. 1 seeded Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Sadly, the season ended there. The Jags lost to UL-Monroe in the opening round to be eliminated from championship contention, and played Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic with nothing but pride on the line. The Jags’ overall record of 23-34 was the worst record in South Alabama history since their inaugural season in 1965, and set a school record for most loses in a season. South Alabama, however, was third in the Sun Belt Conference, going 15-15 in conference play. South Alabama entered the season with 24 new players on the roster, most being JUCO transfers, and were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Second baseman Logan
Kirkland was named to the Pre-season All-Sun Belt Conference Team. The 2011 Freshman All-American was expected to be the driving force of the Jags’ offense, but a HBP on February 25 against Samford marred his season. Kirkland’s foot was broken by the pitch and he was out for the remainder of the season. Kirkland’s foot was only one of many injuries that occurred throughout the season. Catcher J.T. Files broke his hand, an injury which required surgery and kept him out of action for several months. Pitchers Colin Blankenship and Chris Doyle started the season injured. Doyle experienced another injury, one that could very well sadly end his baseball career. Anthony Izzio also sustained an injury late in the season. Shortstops Trey Cockrell, Robbie Campbell, and Graham Odom all experienced injuries throughout the season. Whitt Dorsey and Drew Cofield were also banged up this season. The season’s woes could be blamed on the large amount of injuries the Jags experienced, but the 8-19 out of conference record did not help either. The Jags
opened the season being swept by College of Charleston, and were also swept in season series with Alabama, Auburn, Nicholls State, and North Florida. The Jags were able to sweep Jackson State, Wichita State and Southern Miss, however. At the end of the season, several South Alabama players did receive AllSun Belt Conference honors. Designated Hitter Whitt Dorsey was named to the First Team All-Sun Belt. Outfielder/ Pitcher Jordan Patterson and Pitcher Jarron Cito were named to Second Team All-Sun Belt. Andrew Fonzi was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team as the starting pitcher after his strong performance against Western Kentucky. Aside from Brad Hook, Jarrett Bailey and Phillip Byrd, South Alabama will have a full roster returning for the 2013 season. Barring another injury riddled season, Mark Calvi and the Jags can hope to return the Jags to a prominent power in the Sun Belt Conference.
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
Bedsole named new assistant football coach for South By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com
The South Alabama football program and head coach Joey Jones have made an addition to the coaching staff this summer. Jones interviewed multiple candidates for the coaching vacancy on the defensive staff and came to the decision to promote from within the program. Jones promoted former director of football operations Brendt Bedsole to the outside linebackers coaching position. Bedsole was a walk-on at the University of Auburn from 1987-88 and later served as a graduate assistant for the Tigers. Bedsole has also coached at Trinity High School in 1998, Murray State from 2001-04, Samford from 2005-06 and Hoover High School from 2007-08 before joining Jones’ staff in Mobile. The experience at different levels has helped Bedsole become the coach and person he is today. Some of that experience has taught Bedsole not to doubt himself and how to deal with pressure. “The only pressure I feel is what I put on myself. I’m very hard on myself,” Bedsole said. “I know I’m a football coach and I’ve been very successful. I’ve got five SEC championship rings and one OVC championship ring and I’ve got two undefeated rings here. I feel no pressure or doubt coming in.” The position on the coaching staff became open after former outside linebacker coach Kurt Crain passed away. Bedsole knew coach Crain from their shared time at Auburn where Crain was an All-American. “Coach Crain and I went to Auburn together. I’ve known him for 25 years and the last four years he and I
have gotten close. He was a guy that I could come in and talk to. His loss has had a great impact on our team. Coach Jones said Kurt was the most complete coach that he knew. He coached them up, he recruited well, he disciplined them and he loved them up. Anytime you lose somebody it affects the staff. And in football, staff is very important from the standpoint that you’ve all got to be on the same page. Anytime you bring a new person into that dynamic, it’s got to be a puzzle piece that fits just right. Coach Jones has done an incredible job with every hire he has made with getting a guy that fits in our staff.” Bedsole sees his time away from coaching and the skills he learned as the director of football operations as an advantage. “It helped me to get back into coaching because now I understand coaching is more than just x’s and o’s. You have to have the people skills and the organizational skills,” Bedsole said. “Eventually everybody has the goal to be a head coach and I feel like I’ve completed some of that training because a football operations guy is basically a head coach without the headaches, the pay or the title.” Another advantage Bedsole has found is his relationships with players and coaches that have formed the past four years. “I think it helps the players that I’m the guy they put in this spot because now they don’t have to get to know somebody totally new. I’ve been doing all the other stuff for them off the field that’s more important than stuff on the field anyway,” Bedsole explained. “We already have that established relationship and they know I love them already. I’m not afraid to tell my guys I love them. They work hard so you have
USA JAGUARS
to love them up a little bit.” The USA football program also promoted Bedsole for his recruiting. Bedsole understands that to have a great program, you have to get the players. “Recruiting is my passion. Anything that you feel you are good at is your passion. It just fills you up with pride and excitement and this is what I feel like I should be doing,” Bedsole said. “The best thing is being able to look at a kid and possibly change his life by offering him a scholarship.” Bedsole’s expectations haven’t changed just because his job title has. “This is going to be a new era for Jaguar football. With the help of the student body, the city of Mobile and the state of Alabama we are going to be successful. Now are we going to go out and be undefeated? That’s going to be hard to do, but the great thing is that the game is played out on the field and I believe in our guys,” Bedsole said. “Our expectations here are to be a top 20 team in the next ten years. My expectations are high. You’re only limited by what you limit yourself.”
NBA finishes season Continued from Page 9
on the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, their big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker averaging 35-years old. Like Boston, the Spurs gutted their way through the NBA Playoffs and are on the precipice of reaching the promised land – just four wins away from their second-consecutive Finals appearance. Strong veteran leadership was the reason for their success, not a reason for failure. Players like Garnett, Duncan, and Ginobili understand the challenges of playing on consecutive days, with injuries, and under pressure. They have an acute understanding of how to protect their bodies and it served them well during the season. First, the typical NBA season is entirely too long. Traditionally running from October to May, their season is by-far the longest in professional sports. It could easily be argued that the compacted season was one of the most exciting and competitive of all time. It should stay that way for the foreseeable future. The injuries that plagued the 2012 season were not entirely the result of the condensed schedule. Injuries racked up because the players were under-prepared to play 66 games in five months. Give them a full pre-season in the fall to adequately prepare and the players will have rebuilt themselves to endure the trials of the new NBA. The real question might be how the 2012 season will have shaped the future of professional basketball.
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Darrius Morrow@DMorrow_4: With adversity comes opportunity. The grind never stops regardless of how hard the struggle is. #NoExcuses Corey Waldon @lilwaldon_81: Watchin this dude trying to steal a bike out tha grove... G. Ellis Hill™@Eazy_E13: Gotta make a move to chik-fil-a Kolton Peavey@OmgItsPeavzilla: I must admit, I can’t explain.. any of these thoughts racin’ through my brain it’s true, baby I’m howlin’ for youuu. #BlackKeys Corey Besteda@bestedaboi: Lowkey i like Lebron but i aint gone tell nobody dat #nohomo CJ Bennett @_MrOneFive_: About to watch snow white tonight RON.x.FVCK$WVGG @LOKOZ_ FvckSwvgg: South Alabama has got to be the state of Alabama’s best kept secret. The campus is awesome for it to be so ducked off. Mike Herndon@MikeHerndon_PR: Jags movin’ on up, can start playing for bowl-eligibilty next year Steven Foster™@KingStevenLXXIV: Why is it everytime I go out, Mobile/ USA police got about 8-10 ppl pulled over in less than a 3 mile area #USAStudentProbz
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VOL. 51, NO. 1 / JUNE 4, 2012
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