July 12, 2010

Vanguard The

Serving USA Since 1965

July 12, 2010

VOLUME 48, NUMBER 2

Med Students Spread Hope

Tuition Hiked 14%

Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

Tuition at the University of South Alabama will rise 14 percent in the fall semester. University President Gordon Moulton cited a decrease in state funding and an increase in “uncontrollable costs” as reasons for the tuition hike. The move was approved at the June 10 USA Board of Trustees meeting.

“A tuition increase is always painful,” Moulton said. “We don’t take it lightly, but we also have a strong responsibility to maintain the quality of University programs.”

The Alabama Legislature’s latest education budget reduces USA’s state funding by $40 million from three years

Courtesy of Duane Baxter, Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama

This past June, first- and second- year USA medical students went with the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama to Honduras in Central America where they set up free health clinics for the local residents. To read the full story, turn to page 3.

Exams to be Held on Saturday Matthew Peterson

MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

If you were counting on a few extra “dead” days to study for exams or spending Saturday, Dec. 11 watching cartoons, you’re out of luck – the academic calendar includes exams on that Saturday and no break days between the last day of class and the beginning of exams.

Dr. David Johnson, USA vice president for Academic Affairs, said this was the optimal way to accommodate two changes to the calendar: the two-day fall break in October and starting classes a week later in August.

“It all began with the request for fall break and to start the fall semester a week later to avoid the oppressive heat of August,” Johnson said.

According to the published academic calendar, the last day of classes will be Thursday, Dec. 9, and exams are scheduled on Friday, Dec. 10; Saturday, Dec. 11; Monday, Dec. 13; and Tuesday Dec. 14. Exams

Inside

Police Blotter p.2

Be Sure to Pick Up the Orientation Issue on Newsstands Aug. 16!

for Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes at 8 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:40 p.m. are scheduled for Saturday.

“In short, [the changes] are intended to get grades in prior to the end of the calendar year, so the registrar can clear students for graduation and have transcripts finalized,” Johnson said, “so students can sit for licensure exams and not be disadvantaged in the job market.”

The Deans’ Council, which is made up of the heads of the colleges on campus, approved the final academic calendar after the fall break and week-late start were proposed by the Calendar Committee.

SGA President Kim Proctor, who represents SGA on the Calendar Committee, said having exams on Saturday was never discussed during Calendar Committee meetings, and she attended every meeting.

“I’m not happy with the exam schedule,” Proctor said, “and I don’t like that there wasn’t a lot of student involvement in the

Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

University of South Alabama student and football player Anthony Mostella died in a June 13 motorcycle crash. The onevehicle accident took place in St. Clair County, Ala., about 40 miles outside of Birmingham.

Mostella, 22, was a junior running back on USA’s 2009 inaugural football team.

He played in all seven games, rushing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass and made seven special teams tackles.

He was voted a team captain and was also named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll for the 2009 spring semester.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Anthony’s family right now,” USA football coach Joey Jones said. “I’ve been fortunate to have worked with Anthony at two schools. He was the epitome of a true student-athlete and a tremendous role model to his peers.

“His character and leadership skills will always be an example for everyone in our program to follow.”

Mostella played one season under Jones at Birmingham-Southern College. When

Arts & Entertainment p.6

Two Writers Trek to Bonnaroo and Live to Tell the Tale See Arts & Entertainment, p.6

see TUITION | 4

Football Team Mourns Loss

see EXAMS | 11

Day in the Life p.3

ago, a 29 percent decrease. In the same time frame, the University has incurred more than $23 million in “uncontrollable costs,” including increases in employee retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, and utilities costs.

“While funding is going down, our financial commitments are increasing,” Moulton said. “We have to have a tuition increase to make up for the shortfall. … I think it’s sad that we’re having to do it.”

An in-state undergraduate will now pay $227 per credit hour. (In-state undergraduates paid $162 per credit hour during the 2009-2010 academic year, but the new rate is also inflated by a restructuring of fees. See story, page 5.)

That brings the new rate for a 30-hour

see MOSTELLA | 4

Sports p.7

Replacing Kit: Erdmann On Finding a New Baseball Coach See Sports, p.7

Opinion p.9

Vanguard Archives

Distractions p.11

Hiding Fees: What Can the Administration be Keeping from Us? See Opinion, p.9

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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: Opinion Editor, USAVanguard.editor@gmail.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.

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The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight during weekly Editorial Board meetings.

The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the Editor-in-Chief at 251-460-6442 or e-mail USAVanguard.Editor@ gmail.com.

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Daniela Werner Managing Editor: Matthew Peterson Copy Editor: Johnny Davis Sports Editor: Matthew Weaver Webmaster: Rodney Thompson

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Web site: 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.

July 12, 2010

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6/08 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree Two 3G iPhones valued at $100 each were stolen from the intramural field.

6/11 - Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree A window was damaged at Delta 3 at 6:20 p.m.

6/11 - Theft of Article from Auto A wallet, Samsung Gravity cell phone, driver’s license, credit card, debit card, and Jag card were stolen from a locked glove box from a car at the Intramural Fields between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. There were no signs of force on the door.

6/11 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A bronze Samsung Behold, valued at $449, was stolen from an office between 3:57 p.m. and 5:07 p.m.

6/11 - Possession of Controlled Substance A non-student was arrested for possession of 15 Hydrocodone pills and for an outstanding warrant out of Pensacola, Fla.

6/12 - Domestic Violence, 3rd Degree A man was arrested for striking his girlfriend with his fists at The Grove between 12 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.

6/22 - Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree Three tires were cut on a black Toyota Camry in the Humanities parking lot between 5:25 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. The damage was estimated at $300.

6/22 - Theft of Property, 2nd Degree A small portable Kawasaki generator worth $1,000 was stolen from the Pi Kappa Alpha house parking lot between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

7/02 - Theft of Property, 3rd Degree A black Mongoose bicycle valued at $200 was stolen from the Delta 1 bike rack between June 28 and July 2.

7/04 - Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree A Pontiac Sunbird was keyed in the Delta 1 parking lot between 3 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on July 4. The damage was estimated at $300.

7/04 - Burglary, 3rd Degree A 55-inch plasma television valued at $500 and an XBox worth $200 were stolen from an apartment in The Grove Building 20 between 3 p.m. on July 3 and 9 p.m. on July 4.

There were no signs of forcible entry.

Ask Norm

Q & A with USA Chief of Police Normand Gamache Q: Can students report on-campus crimes anonymously?

A: Yes. Those who want to give us a tip anonymously can participate in our silent witness program. Tips can be reported using our anonymous tip line at 251-460-6667. Total anonymity is guaranteed.

Increased Dorm Rates To Help Maintain Facilities Trevor LeCain

STAFF REPORTER tlecain10@gmail.com

If you haven’t considered living off-campus yet, now might be a good time.

In a letter dated March 10, 2010, Vice President for Student Affairs John Smith proposed a 6 percent housing rate increase for 2010-2011. His proposal was based on a recommendation made by Dr. Chris Charlton, director of Housing, who insisted the increase was needed “to maintain and upgrade housing facilities.”

The proposal was accepted. The 6 percent housing rate increase will come alongside a 14 percent tuition hike.

In a Vanguard interview, Charlton explained that the 6 percent increase will be permanent, and she said it is necessary given that while University costs have continued to rise, housing costs have not increased since 2008.

Those University costs include the diminishment of state revenues in response to the global recession. More specifically, the Alabama Legislature reduced USA’s funding by $40 million from three years ago, or 29 percent. The federal stimulus

Matthew Peterson / Managing Editor

The renovations of the Delta 6 dorm, shown above, contributed to a hike in dorm rates.

funds of $21.6 million are slated to expire a year from now.

The University also claims to have incurred “unavoidable” costs in excess of $23 million annually over the past three

years, including retirement, health care, utilities and operation.

According to Charlton, the renovation and repairs on Delta 6 have been especially costly. In layman’s terms, USA is struggling to make ends meet, and students (or their parents) are footing the bill to recovery.

The good news is that USA is still one of the cheapest doctoral-level universities in Alabama. The bad news is that still isn’t very cheap.

“We are conscientious of housing costs for students, and we try to be as conservative as possible,” Charlton said, “but we also have financial obligations. We compared our rates to other public institutions across the state and found that we are still the most affordable.”

Nevertheless, when mandatory meal plans are factored into the equation, students can expect to pay between $570-670 per month living on campus. Therefore, students living off-campus are paying around the upper-end of what students are paying to live on-campus.

So, if you aren’t fond of having a kitchen in your bedroom, off-campus living is appearing more attractive than ever.

July 12, 2010

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A Day in the Life Laura Beth Calcote

STAFF REPORTER laurabethcalcote@gmail.com

After more than 80 days of oil spilling into the Gulf, everyone is getting frustrated as things seem more and more discouraging. One USA student is helping to bring hope to the situation as he spends his summer assisting in the oil cleanup effort. His name is Barrett Johnson, and he is working for BP PLC out of Bayou La Batre as a member of the Boom Team.

In his first year at South, Barrett is a BFA Theatre major, and his proudest moment occurred last semester as he graced the USA stage in the production of “Twelfth Night.” As a child, he wanted to grow up to be successful, no matter what job he found, and his first job was working at his father’s shipyard, B & B Boatbuilders.

Barrett enjoys reading the Harry Potter series, listening to Modest Mouse, and grabbing a snack at Taco Bell, and he said that to find relaxation, he would lay in a hammock on a tropical island “with a few senoritas and margaritas.”

His hero is Thomas Edison, and he names his grandfather as having the greatest influence on his life.

His favorite memory is when it snowed in Mobile for the first time in his life, and his love of snow continues to his chosen way to spend a perfect day: snowboarding down a mountain in the early hours of the morning.

Helping to remove oil is helping to save animals, something that is close to Barrett’s heart, is seen in his collection of pets at home. To date, he has a hedgehog, a deer, an emu, a horse, a fox, a duck, an alligator, and a flying squirrel.

The oil spill is tragic, and it takes a strong personality to face the seemingly endless problem each day. His work for BP has progressed as the spill has grown. At first, his team

Of Oil Spill Clean-Up Volunteer Barrett Johnson

simply anchored down and watched the boom for eight hours, recording the status every three hours and calling if anything went wrong.

A few weeks later, he became an oil observer, idling around the inside of Dauphin Island on the search for signs of oil. Again, if oil was found, the team simply called in without coming into contact with the oil.

The oil problem has continued to grow.

“We are a member of the boom team and are required to do more labor than we ever expected. There are three types of boom that we are working with, the hard boom, sock boom (absorbent) and snare boom (pom pom).

“The hard boom is the solid barrier that we attach the sock boom and snare boom onto to collect the oil. The sock boom looks like link sausages of rolled-up socks and the snare boom looks like cheerleading pom poms stranded together on a rope. We attach absorbent and pom poms on the boom, and pull up the dirty or faulty ones, then repeat.”

He works from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and said the only thing that helps him get up in the morning is “the fresh smell of coffee.”

Barrett said that the hardest parts of the job are “straining my back every day while pulling up the old water- or oil-logged sock boom, in the blazing heat while the waves are beating the boat against the hard boom. Also, when the wind starts picking up, it makes it way more difficult to hold on to the boom when trying to attach the sock boom and pom poms.

If oil is being picked up or messed with, the individuals on the boat are required to wear a full body, hazwoper suit.

The suit is to be duct-taped around the gloves and shoes to make sure that no oil comes in contact with your skin.

With the suit being almost airtight, this increases the heat

Courtesy of Barrett Johnson

Meet Barrett Johnson, a USA theatre major who’s spending his summer cleaning up oil from the BP PLC spill in the Gulf.

by about 30 percent.”

Being on the front line, Barrett has an opinion on the spill. He said, “My feelings have definitely changed since I now get to witness the oil first hand. I see how crucial this situation is becoming while the clock is ticking.” see DAY | 4

Med Students Set up Free Clinics in Honduras Teamwork In Design Rodney Thompson

WEBMASTER rodneythompsonjr@hotmail.com

We wake up every day to a life of privilege and available luxury. While we might not all be able to partake in these things to the same degree, there are some principal necessities that are easy to obtain.

Things like food, clothing, and shelter are within grasp, if not by one’s own doing, then through the aid of a government structure that is willing to provide for its citizens.

Health care has been a hot topic in recent news; however, most people fail to acknowledge the very significance of having a modern health care system.

There are many places around the world where simple sterilization techniques that could prevent infection are not practiced. People in these places suffer unnecessarily with conditions that are relatively easy to control and eliminate.

A certain group of skilled USA students have witnessed this need and decided to do what they can to make a difference.

The Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA) was founded in September 2000 with the main goal of uniting health care students under a shared desire to incorporate their lives with the Christian faith.

This year marked the fourth year of one of their most selfless acts of ministry and charity. Twenty firstand second year USA medical students embarked on an annual tradition that was started by Dr. Robert McGinley, a local orthopedic surgeon.

This mission trip traveled to Central America, deep into the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Setting up camp in Hospital Escuela, the team was there to perform orthopedic operations, educate the local doctors, and assist the community with a multitude of much needed donations.

Among the donations, food and medical supplies proved to be invaluable in a country that lacked even the

Courtesy of Duane Baxter, CMMSA

First- and second-year USA medical students visited Honduras in June to take supplies to and care for local residents. They set up free clinics that were open to the general public, as well.

most basic of things.

As the students helped form free clinics that were open to the general public, they also took the opportunity to fellowship with the local Hondurans.

The group, led by local physicians including Dr. Albert Pearsall, a USA professor, made various trips to families with severe needs. They took them food and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Duane Baxter, director of the Christian Medical Ministry, said, “Students will see the importance of charity. It builds character and teamwork skills, and it gives them a world vision, allowing them to see the great needs of people not far from our country.

“It also gives them the opportunity to learn alongside great mentors.”

The trip lasted from June 12 to 25, and judging from the stories, it was a success for all of the students.

“This trip was such an incredible eye opener,” said Rachel Roberts, who’s in her second year at USA’s College of Medicine. “I’ve never seen such poverty, but at the same time, I’ve never seen such genuine thankfulness.”

Matthew Peterson / Managing Editor

Washington-based artist Bob Wilfong’s “It Takes Three,” a 13foot bronze sculpture installed at the new Student Recreation Center on Stadium Drive July 8, symbolizes the importance of teamwork and good health.

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Details Released About Hospital Expansion Dean Harrison

STAFF REPORTER millhaven1982@yahoo.com

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital will be undergoing expansion this fall for pediatric patients being treated for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, according to Bob Lowry, senior associate director of hospital marketing and public relations for USA Children’s & Women’s.

“It is being expanded to accommodate up to 100 premature and seriously ill babies,” Lowry said, adding that their current capacity is under 72. “It will include 12 private rooms, but it is only part of the expansion.”

According to Dr. Becky DeVillier, USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital administrator, the primary focus of the expansion is to update the hospital.

“We have always emphasized family centered care, and our expansion will include much larger rooms for our pediatric patients so families can more comfortably stay with their hospitalized children,” she said.

The hospital also plans to build eight “state-of-the-art” operating rooms to replace the operating rooms currently in use, and to expand support facilities – such as the cafeteria – to better meet the needs of the hospital’s visitors.

Projected cost of the expansion is $72 million, with $52 million estimated for construction and up to $20 million for medical equipment, according to DeVillier.

“The USA Foundation has committed to spending approximately $20 million, with the remainder coming from a bond that has been issued,” she said.

The expansion is expected to be completed by early 2013.

Courtesy of Bob Lowry, Hospital Marketing and Public Relations

USA Women’s and Children’s is being expanded to accommodate up to 100 premature and seriously ill babies, according to Bob Lowry, senior associate director of hospital marketing and public relations for the hospital. The expansion is expected to be complete by early 2013.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF danielawerner87@gmail.com

Courtesy of Paul Taylor, College of Medicine

Third-year medical students take the medical student oath, a promise to practice medicine with compassion, at the College of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony June 26, where they received their first white coats.

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The worst thing he’s seen while on the job? He said, “Seeing acres and acres of reddish brown muck covering the surface of the ocean.”

The people of the community, though, are coming together.

“Everyone seems to be doing a great job as well as getting along and cooperating with each other to help fix the whole incident,” Johnson said.

Barrett has a hopeful outlook on the tragic situation happening in our Gulf, and he is spending his days helping to make sure our beaches, wildlife, and fishing industry return to their original state. Barrett said, “Your mind is the only one in the way.”

It would not be a bad idea for everyone to soak in those words of wisdom, face the problem and join in on the cleanup taking place on our beautiful coast, just like Barrett.

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Daniela Werner

Jones was hired to build the South Alabama program in 2008, Mostella transferred so he could follow his coach to Mobile. Earlier in his playing career, Mostella was a standout at Oneonta High School, rushing for 2,055 yards and 38 touchdowns his senior season.

“We are deeply saddened by

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Tuition

A Day To Remember SGA Talks Money

Mostella

July 12, 2010

this event. Anthony has been and will be regarded as an inspirational leader, role model, and stellar citizen,” USA Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his teammates, and his friends.”

South Alabama will open the season Sept. 4 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against Pikeville College of Kentucky.

At its meeting June 28, the SGA appropriated money to a few student organizations and approved future co-sponsorships for others. The money used for these appropriations and cosponsorships comes from student fees allotted to SGA – about $12 per student per semester – for its role in funding student groups whose reasons for requesting financial support are approved by SGA’s senators.

Under mass appropriations, Alpha Kappa Delta, an honors society, was approved for $977 to attend society conferences.

The music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota was appropriated $390 for uniforms and pamphlets.

The last mass appropriation made was $434 to Southfit Club, a Campus Recreation division dedicated to encouraging fitness among USA students. Southfit’s requested money was for conferences, also.

Under appropriations for discussion, the sorority Delta Sigma Theta was given $1,500 for uniforms, nametags and conferences. USA Southerners, a 16-member group that assists with recruitment and alumni functions, was appropriated $1,083.20 – $543.20 for 16 polos and $540 for nine uniforms.

The sorority Sigma Gamma Rho was appropriated $1,200 for uniforms and pamphlets.

That night, the senators were asked to be thinking about whether they would sponsor part of the entertainment this year’s homecoming, slated for the fall semester. The amount SGA would donate, anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000, would bring in what was called “real entertainment instead of a comedian,” Dean of Students Michael Mitchell, SGA’s adviser, said at the meeting.

In an unofficial vote to see how many senators were in favor of the idea, most raised their hands in favor of the sponsorship.

yearly load to $6,810. That’s $848 more than last year’s rate, when fees are factored in.

According to University documents, tuition and fees have increased an average of 8.6 percent annually over the past five years.

Student Government Association President Kim Proctor said she had discussions with Moulton and other University officials to find out if this increase was “absolutely necessary.” She said she came to the conclusion that the increase is “something that has to happen.”

“I would like to thank the administrators who worked to keep our tuition low and who really have the students’ interests at heart,” Proctor said. “We definitely live in a WalMart-driven society where everyone wants to pay less and get more, so I don’t think anyone will welcome the tuition increase. That being said, students understand that it’s necessary for our institution to thrive, grow, and sustain our programs.”

Moulton pointed out that this “historic recession” has caused many of the state institutions to take similar actions. The University of Alabama recently approved a 12.9 percent tuition increase, while Auburn University approved a 13.3 percent increase.

Alabama A&M University (23 percent), Troy University (19.4 percent), and the University of Montevallo (10.5 percent) are among the other state institutions to institute doubledigit increases.

“This issue has been studied extensively by the administration,” Board member Ken Simon said. “They have consulted with the students and with the University community in general. From a student’s perspective, it seems to be reasonable, necessary, and affordable. It’s consistent with what is occurring in the higher education community in the state of Alabama.”

Moulton pointed out that USA’s tuition remains about 10 percent less than the average state institution in Alabama.

“While [14 percent] is a substantial increase, it does not put the University at a market disadvantage since we’ve planned for years to try to remain below our state competitors,” Moulton said.

Moulton said he hopes state funding to the University will increase in order to avoid more tuition increases in the near future.

“One of the worst things we can do with tuition increases getting so much publicity is to scare students away from going to college,” Moulton said. “Getting an education is still a very sound investment.”

Fees Lumped Into Tuition Cost

News in Brief

Board of Trustees Wrap-Up

USA’s Board of Trustees met on June 10. The following list includes noteworthy items from that meeting. The Board: - Announced that summer enrollment is up 4.3 percent from last year.

- Announced dedication ceremonies for the new Recreation Center (Sept. 17) and the Moulton Tower (Oct. 2).

- Approved the requirement that, effective fall 2010, all students living in University housing must purchase a meal plan.

Freshmen and sophomores must purchase a minimum of 15 meals per week for $1,350. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students must purchase a minimum of seven meals per week for $700 per semester.

- Approved the issuance of a $30 million bond to finance the construction of a new residence hall. This residence hall was approved in the March Board meeting and will be located on the corner of Greek Row and Jack Brunson Drive (formerly known as Hillsdale Road).

- Approved amendments to the Faculty Senate Constitution to allow senators to be elected to a second three-year term, the chair to be elected to a second one-year term, and constitutional amendments may be proposed by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.

- Elected officers for the next three-year term: Jim Yance – chair, Dr. Steve Furr – vice chair, and Bettye Maye – re-elected secretary.

- Will meet next on Sept. 17.

- Named Dr. Jerrold L. Downey associate professor emeritus for his “extraordinary accomplishments in teaching and in the generation of new knowledge through research and scholarship, and for serving as a consistently inspiring influence to students,” according to a resolution from the meeting.

Hillsdale Drive Renamed After Late Board of Trustees Member At the USA Board of Trustees meeting June 10, a resolution was passed to rename Hillsdale Drive to Jack Brunson Drive.

The street was renamed in recognition of Jack Brunson’s service to USA. He was Brunson a board member from 1989 to 2006, when he died. He was the board’s Chair Pro Tempore from June 1998 to May 2001.

Aside from making “generous contributions” during his time as Chair Pro Tempore, Brunson dedicated his time and financial resources to the University, according to the resolution.

Med School’s Social Mission Recognized

Prianka Mansur

STAFF REPORTER pm302@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine was ranked in the top 20 schools based on its social mission, according to a June article in Annals of Internal Medicine, a professional journal for internal medicine.

Out of the 141 U.S. medical schools that were ranked, USA ranked eighth, five places ahead of the University of Mississippi, which ranked 13th.

The research was conducted by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, Murdock Head Professor and Health Policy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The measurements were conducted using 60,043 physicians in active practice who graduated from medical school between 1999 and 2001.

These physicians were broken down into three primary categories: those who practice primary care, those who work in health professional shortage areas, and underrepresented minorities.

Fitzhugh and his team found that three historically black colleges, Morehouse College, Meharry Medical College, and Howard University, had the highest ranking on the social mission score.

The team also found that National Institutes of Health funding, which offers grants for medical research, had an inverse relation to the social mission ranking. Johns Hopkins University placed last in the social mission ranking.

The ranking does not make any claims toward the quality of education or graduates who come out of the universities.

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Fitzhugh’s findings suggest that “initiatives at the medical school level could increase the proportion of physicians who practice primary care, work in under-served areas, and are underrepresented minorities.”

At USA, an effort is made to admit at least 25 percent of its medical students from rural counties, as long as they meet all other criteria.

“Usually students who come from underserviced areas tend to go back to their community and want to contribute,” says one second-year USA medical student.

Tessa Kleyn, also a second-year USA medical student, says, “Practicing in a small town allows the physician to really become part of that community. You can essentially follow your patients for decades, and in doing so, you get to know them on another level and can cultivate longstanding positive relationships with your patients.

“This would be much more difficult to do in a busy urban clinic setting.”

USA medical student Daniel Smith said he feels privileged to be learning medicine at USA. “At the most fundamental level, physicians practice medicine to lessen the pain of others,” Smith said. “Clinicians and surgeons are always doctors: at church, the grocery store, at a friend’s house.

Physicians always wear the mantle of healer and teacher.”

There are positive opportunities for medical students at USA to develop interest in Family Medicine/Primary Care, such as UAB-Selma Family Medicine – Medical Student’s Procedure Workshop and the Physician’s Alabama Opportunity Fair.

Johnny Davis

Retired USA Administrator Donates $2M For Endowed Scholarships Retired professor and administrator Dr. Pat Capps Covey and husband, Lee, donated $2 million to fund new endowed scholarships at USA. The Coveys’ gift was recognized at the USA Board of Trustees meeting Covey June 10.

The Board named the College of Allied Health Professions in Pat Covey’s honor and named the scholarship program for Lee Covey.

USA President Gordon Moulton called Pat Covey’s service to the University “noteworthy for many reasons, including her role as an educator, her leadership in creating the College of Allied Health Professions, and her distinguished service as senior vice president for academic affairs,” according to a USA press release.

“We are very happy to give back to the University that has meant so much to our lives and our community, and the place where I spent 33 years of my career,” Pat Covey said in the press release.

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

Student fees will now be incorporated into tuition, and students will pay an all-encompassing credit hour rate of $227 instead of separate lines for each fee.

There will still be course fees and a $150 registration fee for students taking fewer than 15 hours in a semester. USA’s Board of Trustees approved the move at its June 10 meeting.

According to the resolution the Board passed, it will be a “simpler tuition structure that integrates required fees with credit hour charges, providing students and parents with easier cost comparisons among institutions, greater predictability in budgeting for college, and less complicated billing, at the same time ensuring that all student services previously supported by individually designated fees will continue to receive funding at levels equal to those approved by the Board of Trustees.”

University President Gordon Moulton touted the simplicity of the new tuition structure.

“A student’s tuition bill includes a string of charges and fees … building fees, athletic fees, activity fees,” Moulton said. “And invariably, some students say, ‘Well, I don’t participate in that. Why should I have to pay for it?’

“It had gotten very complex to tell someone the cost of going to the institution,” Moulton added. “I feel very good about the change going forward. Auburn recently made a similar change, and I think you will see more institutions going this route.”

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Arts & Entertainment

Vanguard Staff

USAVanguard.editor @gmail.com

July 12, 2010

BONNAROO 2010: A Tale Of Two Writers

Year of the Drunken Frat Boy

Timothy Borland

CONTRIBUTING WRITER trb903@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

I am a repeat attendee of Tennessee’s annual concert phenomenon known as Bonnaroo. For the uninformed, there are two major factors to the festival experience: crowd and accommodations.

The style of bands booked dictates the crowd. I was not in attendance when Metallica performed in 2008 – a hippie could be trampled by tatted-up metal-heads faster than you can say “… and nothing else matters.”

As for accommodations, first-timers always forget something as accessory as handheld fans or as essential as toilet paper. B’roo 2010 became my first Hotey-jam.

I rented an air-conditioned room with a king-size bed for three days. I was able to take a real shower and use a real toilet every night.

What a different experience! I lost the camaraderie of the campsites, but I gained the benefit of waiting until the afternoon to venture toward Centeroo.

Thanks in a large part to the headlining act, The Dave Matthews Band, Bonnaroo 2010 can be dubbed Year Of The Drunken Frat Boy. Imagine relaxing on your clean blanket enjoying the joyous melodies of living legend Stevie Wonder, only to be stepped on by drunks lacking the decency to apologize. B’roo “noobs” need an etiquette guide.

Entries should include “Walk around blankets and chairs,” “Everyone paid for an overpriced ticket, be polite,” and “Someone who is watching the universe fold in upon itself will not forgive you for shattering their

daydream by spilling beer all over them.”

All crankiness aside, Stevie Wonder played an amazing hits-driven set after surprising the crowd by walking out playing a keytar strapped to his chest.

The day before, Michael Franti seemingly became a magician, popping up singing in random places throughout the crowd, much to fans’ delight. Everyone was jumping and clapping their hands.

What a start to the weekend! Immediately following was the Cinderella story of Tennessee natives Kings of Leon, who played on the smallest stage at my first Bonnaroo in 2005, and have since become headliners on the main stage.

They surprised the crowd with a note-perfect rendition of “Where is My Mind?” by the Pixies, later joking “That’s one of our new songs.” Singer Caleb Followill summed it up by saying, “There are not many times I can say I am proud about my career, but this is one of those moments.”

The massive exodus from the main stage was clearly aimed for the endless confetti and balloons dispersed during an epic two-hour set performed by The Flaming Lips. Cavorting topless girls and psychedelic rainbow images decorated the projection screen during the Lip’s explosive interpretation of “Dark Side Of The Moon.”

By Sunday I was able to overlook the crowds lining up for $6 beers during Jeff Beck’s amazing guitar renditions of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and “A Day in The Life.”

Dave Matthews closed out later that night to a typical college-age crowd. Dave’s horn section has been beefed up with Grammy award winner Jeff Coffin of the Flecktones in the absence of late sax player LeRoi

www.eachnotecounts.com

Vanguard writers Kris Skoda and Timothy Borland visited Bonnaroo this past June and wrote about their individual experiences, replete with drunk hippies and questionable restroom accommodations.

Moore. Tim Reynolds, wisely included in their current tour, proceeded to shred through their famous version of “All Along the Watchtower.” “No reason to get excited,” indeed, just leave the fratboys at home. Allow me to explain why: There is one fatality at Bonnaroo almost every year.

Many falsely assume the culprit is illegal substances or

Fear and Loathing at Bonnaroo Kris Skoda

STAFF WRITER toweliewantstogethigh@hotmail.com

They (whoever they are) advertise Bonnaroo as an experience, and that it is.

What was my first Bonnaroo trip contained some of the worst and greatest moments in recent memory, and I tend to have a lot of both.

Living in the middle ground is for the barely living. I, in good conscience, couldn’t cover an event like Bonnaroo without experiencing it in the way the average attendee would.

To avoid possible issues with things I may have ALLEGEDLY done, I will henceforth use the word cattywhompus. Cattywhompus is defined as disarray and seems more or less appropriate for the trip’s adventures. It quite simply would have been irresponsible not to be irresponsible.

I was somewhere outside of Centeroo when the cattywhompus began to take hold. My second full day of Bonnaroo was coming to a close and I was hot, hurtin’, and tired.

The best way to remedy it was picked up along the mile walk from camp to Centeroo.

I decided that the Bonnaroo lifestyle would either kill you or turn you into a psychedelic Bear Grylls if you lived every day like it was Saturday in Manchester.

I looked down for a second and spotted the Thursday edition of the Bonnaroo Beacon, tattered and smeared with mud, and it pulls me back to the beginning of the trip I neglected to start from in the first place.

I arrived in Manchester, Tenn., at about 8 a.m. Thursday, well ahead of traffic. I start toward Bonnaroo.

see DRUNKEN | 11

I can actually almost see it. It was the closest I’d come to seeing Bonnaroo for more than 10 hours. This would be what they call a “low point.”

A cop was directing all traffic onto the interstate and away from Bonnaroo. The radio DJ would eventually politely explain that Manchester received so much rain the night before that it was slightly flooded; they were doing everything they could to make the Bonnaroo mud drivable. This polite update would not stop me from hating him.

Friday morning, I open my eyes at 7:30 to find them being punched in their little eye faces by light.

I am covered in sweat with a certain girl wrapped around me. This would come to be a watermark of the ‘Roo experience, as you simply cannot sleep past 8 a.m. because it gets so incredibly hot.

I could talk about the music but it was quite secondary to the experience.

I missed half the bands I cared about seeing, but wandered upon many more I’d never heard of because I was too hot and tired to walk across Centeroo. Bonnaroo was more about how much abuse you can take and still keep going while listening to whatever jam band or indie sensation you happen to be walking by on the way to find some way to cool off.

When in Rome you must do as the Romans, but at Bonnaroo you must cattywhomp and wander around. Just not during the day, or you might die; yes, cattywhompus did just evolve into a verb.

You take the good with the bad and that’s Bonnaroo, because the experiences you miss make way for the ones you never saw coming.

You will meet folks, cattywhomp with them, and never lay eyes on them again.

see FEAR AND LOATHING | 11

Sports

Matt Weaver Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.co.uk

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The Newhouse Brickhouse

College Football Gets Shook Up Stephen Newhouse SPORTS REPORTER st2new@msn.com

Even though the college football season ended seven months ago, the action in the offseason has been just as intense.

Once a fairly organized system, the landscape of college football was up for grabs this summer.

Athletic directors, coaches, and supporters became major players in a poker game that would decide the setting of the sport for the years to come.

However, the talk of expansion came and went without any of the major players making a colossal move.

Still, there are conferences and schools that are better off by the deals that were made, and there are those looking for answers after being blindsided by the deals of the sport.

The former Big 12 follows underneath the blindsided category. At the end of the college football season, Big 12 powerhouse Texas and the rest of the conference seemed to be headed in a positive direction.

However, the arrow of fortune switched for the Big 12 as the Big 10 (which had 11 teams) came calling for a 12th member to join.

Nebraska was the first pin to drop in the college football domino effect. The Cornhuskers accepted the Big 10’s bid to join the conference and gave the conference the ability to create a championship game.

Nebraska benefited by joining a conference that was closer to the rest of the universities. Also, with Nebraska football on the rise, the Cornhuskers should be steady contenders in the weaker Big 10.

Colorado was the next chip to fall as they headed west to the Pac-10. Colorado always seemed distant in terms of location in the Big 12, and a fresh start could be what the Buffaloes need to be relevant again.

The Pac-10 also benefited by adding the Denver television market to its conference.

However, the biggest move in this historic conference expansion could be one that wasn’t made. With the Pac-10 looking to expand to 16 teams, the Big 12 looked to be on life support.

With all eyes on Texas, the Longhorns flirted with the Pac-10, but ultimately decided to stay in the 10-team Big 12. Texas’ refusal saved the Big 12 for now, but also reinforced the fact the Longhorns are powerful and elite enough to save an entire conference.

Conference expansion had other notable moves as well.

Utah left the Mountain West Conference to join the Pac-10, thus giving it 12 schools and the opportunity for an important conference championship game.

Boise State announced it will leave the WAC for the Mountain West.

Notre Dame reinforced its desire to remain independent despite the Big 10’s courtship.

Other than that, the colossal poker game turned into a contest of bluffs.

Search for Baseball Coach Begins USA Athletic Director Hopes to Find Kittrell’s Replacement by End of the Month

Matt Weaver

SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

On July 6, South Alabama Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann took the stage to visit with program supporters and VIPs to discuss the future of South Alabama baseball.

With head coach Steve Kittrell retiring after the upcoming season, the main topic of conversation was his replacement.

Kittrell, entering his 28th season as head coach, has been a staple of South Alabama athletics since 1968, his first year as a student-athlete.

Moving up the ladder and becoming an assistant under head coach Eddie Stanky, Kittrell would eventually succeed his mentor. With 10 Sun Belt Championships and 18 NCAA Regional appearances, Kittrell has led South Alabama to 1,022 wins and 616 losses from 1984 to 2010.

The town hall style meeting was called to assure longtime fans that Kittrell’s departure will not mean a noticeable change in the program’s commitment to winning.

“When Coach Kittrell and I sat down for our postseason meetings, he expressed a desire to have one more run before retiring,” Erdmann said. “When we began to look at options for our next head coach, we both agreed that the coach in waiting

In Memory Of Anthony Mostella 1988 -2010

Photo courtesy of thunderjags.com

“He’s one of the top three people I’ve ever been around from a character standpoint. He would have been very successful in whatever he wanted to do. He was a passionate football player and conscientious about his teammates.

What I admired most about him is that he was humble – there’s not a selfish thing about him.”

-Head Coach Joey Jones (See the full story on the fallen Jag on page 1)

Vanguard Archives

USA Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann is leading the process of finding the next baseball head coach to replace Steve Kittrell, who's retiring.

was the right way to go.”

Erdmann and Kittrell believe that in naming a head coach in waiting, recruiting is unlikely to suffer. Erdmann says he has

spoken to at least 90 interested candidates while 60 have formally applied for the position. The decision is expected to come by month’s end with an official announcement shortly afterward.

“South Alabama is a premier coaching destination,” Erdmann said. “This is not a stepping stone job and all of our candidates have been waiting for this position for a long time.”

Erdmann has yet to file a short list but is looking for candidates with “a deep value system, a high work ethic, and a great leader of young men.”

Erdmann praised Kittrell for every role he has filled at South Alabama, calling the head coach a manager of Jaguar baseball.

The A.D. hopes the next head coach is just as versatile.

“We’re looking for a talented and special person,” Erdmann said. “A winner who can lead this program and add both chemistry and experience to baseball as soon as he arrives.”

The next head coach will serve as an assistant under Kittrell in 2011 and will take one of the pitching or hitting assistant roles before taking the head coach job the next season.

“Make no mistake,” Erdmann said. “The 2011 team is Kittrell’s. End of story. Steve will make out the lineup cards, coordinate

see SEARCH | 8

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Sports Briefs GRICHOR RECEIVES NCAA GOLD GLOVE AWARD University of South Alabama second baseman Zach Grichor was named to the 2010 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove team, making him the first Jaguar in the program's history to receive the honor.

Grichor, a native of Spring, Texas, did not commit an error after the Jaguars' March 10 contest against Tennessee Tech, and finished as the top fielding second baseman in the Sun Belt Conference with a .994 fielding percentage. He helped lead the Jaguar defense to a school-record-tying fielding percentage of .972, matching the previous mark of the 1992 team.

FOOTBALL ADDS THREE TRANSFERS TO 2010 ROSTER USA head football coach Joey Jones announced Tuesday that three student-athletes from NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools have enrolled and will join the program in the fall.

Jake Johnson, a linebacker, comes to USA from Virginia Tech, while Ben Giles (LB) and Kendall Houston (RB) arrive from Sun Belt members Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State, respectively.

KITTRELL ADDS MCGINNIS TO 2011 ROSTER USA baseball head coach Steve Kittrell announced the signing of Cory McGinnis to a National Letter-of-Intent Monday. He is expected to join the program in the fall.

McGinnis, a right-handed pitcher from Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was selected in the 44th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This season he went 11-2 with a 3.93 ERA and one save in 68 2/3 innings, while recording 83 strikeouts and 43 walks.

With the addition of McGinnis, the Jaguars have added 12 newcomers for the 2011 season.

BUSSIERES PICKS UP ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONOR FROM GCAA For the second year in a row, University of South Alabama men’s golfer MarcEtienne Bussieres has been honored for his work off the course by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He was one of only 119 student athletes across the country at the NCAA Division I level to be named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar, the organization announced Thursday.

To be eligible for Cleveland Scholar status, an individual must be a upper-classman academically, have competed in at least two full years at the collegiate level, participate in 70 percent of his team’s competitive rounds or compete in the NCAA Championships.

Division I recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, be of high moral character, and be in good standing at his college or university.

-Compiled by Sports Editor Matt Weaver

Search

NASCAR

Junior Needs Father’s Legacy

Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets out of his No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet NASCAR Nationwide Series car in Daytona International Speedway's Victory Lane on July 2 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Matt Weaver two-plus seasons. Toss in countless pit road SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

After winning the Nationwide Series race in his father’s paint scheme on July 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated that he would never again pilot the No. 3 Chevy in NASCAR. It was a sad admission for long suffering Earnhardt fans who hoped Junior would finish his own career in the same car his father drove from 1984 to 2001.

Almost 10 years after his father’s death, most expected it to have happened already.

But Junior chose the megapower Hendrick Motorsports over RCR during free agency and the Earnhardt diehards will have to dream on.

“It’s not my number to take and use whenever I feel like using it,” Earnhardt Jr. said to reporters prior to the event. “You don’t just grab the keys off the counter and go run out the door and haul down the road with your dad’s car. I didn’t do it when he was alive, and I won’t do it now. I’m borrowing it once, and then maybe sometime down the road some kid will come up, and he’ll have a connection to the 3. Whatever, you know, that will be his. It will be someone else’s.

“I made my life pretty much driving that 8 and now the 88. It doesn’t make sense for me to do this again. I think in the Nationwide Series, it made enough sense, and I really wanted to do it, and I’ve done it. I don’t ever want to do it again. And I’ll never change my mind, ever.”

But we’re calling shenanigans. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has never needed his father’s legacy more than he needs it now. Even before leaving DEI for Hendrick Motorsports, Jr. Nation was losing faith in Dale’s motivation and capacity to be a Sprint Cup Series driver.

The 2005 season was Earnhardt Jr.’s last as a championship contender. Since then he has dropped crew chiefs like most teams drop lugnuts. The 2008 move to HMS brought a lot of excitement for “The Nation,” but that fire soon burned out as Junior won only a single points-paying race in

July 12, 2010

errors, the 2009 Daytona Dale-gate incident and several changes in the pit box, and Jr. is starting to look like a dud.

After Earnhardt’s initial success in the early 2000s, fans cited the elder Earnhardt’s absence as the reason for Little E’s struggles.

By 2007, it was DEI and Teresa Earnhardt’s fault for not supplying a championship-winning program. By 2009, it was crew chief and cousin Tony Eury Jr.’s turn to play scapegoat.

It’s almost time to consider the option that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is just plain uncoachable and doesn’t have what it takes to win championships at the highest level.

Dale Jr. is now out of options. He’s quite possibly incapable and unwilling to continue the Earnhardt legacy.

It’s not that Little E doesn’t have the talent. He does. It’s just that Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to be his own man at a stage of his career when that’s just not good enough.

For example, when father and son were racing together in the late 90s and early 2000s, father was black and son was red.

Dad was country and his son was rock.

That’s not even mentioning Jr.’s bleach blonde haircut from 1997 to 2000.

Junior loves and respects his dad’s place in not only his own heart but NASCAR’s soul, yet he’s just not “That Dale Earnhardt.”

Despite being NASCAR’s most popular driver, the Dale Jr. brand is running out of steam. There is very little that Earnhardt Jr. has left outside of the RCR No. 3, and now he’s vested it.

Let him tell you that Daytona was it in the No. 3 but don’t believe it. With Kasey Kahne, Danica Patrick, and Landon Cassill becoming more and more of Hendrick’s future, Dale Jr. is becoming less and less.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has so much left to offer, to both NASCAR and Junior Nation.

The most viable among them is racing the No. 3 and doing it at the highest level. In doing so, Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s legacy may be just the spark that Dale Jr. needs.

from page 7

practices, and set the tempo. All of our candidates understand this, and even better, are honored to serve under Kittrell in his final season.

“A lot of good people want this job.”

The next head coach must have a college degree but not necessarily from South Alabama.

“We need a coach who can motivate student-athletes to perform,” Erdmann said, “not only on the field but in the classroom. That is why a college degree is so important to us.

“All things being equal, we would like our next head coach to be a South Alabama graduate but more importantly, we will target the best qualified candidate.”

The current assistants were urged to apply and are being considered for the position. If South Alabama were to hire outside the University, NCAA rules will require one of the current assistants to be let go.

“It’s one of the toughest things about the job,” Erdmann said. “We’ve insisted that our assistants apply and regardless of our decision, we like the staff that Coach Kittrell has assembled here.”

This is Erdmann’s first major hire since becoming athletic director at South Alabama, and he discussed his role in shaping USA baseball for seasons to come.

“We have an opportunity here,” Erdmann said. “This is a chance to build on what Coach Kittrell has done here for a very long time. We’ve been very fortunate to have Coach Kit for the last quartercentury and we hope to be as fortunate with our next head coach.”

Vanguard Staff Staff USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com

Opinion

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O U R V I E W Openness Should Trump ‘Simplicity’ “Why am I paying $253 for an activity and athletic fee when I don’t participate?”

“I don’t use the library, so why do I have to pay $30 for it?”

These are the kind of questions that irked USA President Gordon Moulton, basic questions about the fairness of the fee structure at the University. So Moulton and the Board of Trustees took a drastic step – now we can’t see what fees we’re paying.

In its June 10 meeting, University of South Alabama’s governing body, the Board of Trustees, voted to lump in the fees along with tuition, so students now get charged a flat rate for tuition, $227 per credit hour, without the separate line items for each fee.

The resolution approving the change proclaimed it to be a victory for a “simpler tuition structure,” “easier cost comparisons among institutions,” “greater predictability in budgeting,” and “less complicated billing.”

But Moulton revealed another reason at the Board meeting: “Invariably, some students say, ‘Well I don’t participate in that. Why should I have to pay for it?’”

Tilting at Windmills

By Matthew Peterson

A Step Forward, Then Back Again

After cutting down its retreat expenses last year, the SGA has decided to roll out the red carpet for itself this year, more than doubling last year’s retreat budget.

The Student Government’s annual retreat expenses have been the source of scrutiny in years past, and last year’s SGA slashed the retreat budget down to $1,500, less than $700 of which was actually spent. Most of the cuts came from hosting the event on campus instead of on the beach, as it has traditionally been.

In its June 21 meeting, though, this year’s SGA unanimously budgeted $4,000 for a one-night retreat at Gulf Shores, and SGA Treasurer Michael Baldwin said the expenses are already “pushing the limit.” This isn’t much better than the $5,000 SGA spent throwing a party for itself in 2008.

The retreat has customarily been a time for SGA to relax at the beach on the students’ dime, all under the guise of “team-building” and “getting to know each other.” It was a relief to see that exuberance abandoned last year.

We challenge the way the University pelts us with fees, so the administration hides them from us?

We deserve to know how much we’re paying for particular services like the JagTran and the Student Center. To keep us in the dark about our tuition bill raises other questions about why the University feels such a need to hide it.

By all this, we don’t mean to suggest that the University had some malicious intent to deceive students and parents about the true cost of college. The arguments they gave do carry some weight.

It will be easier to compare costs for different colleges without all of the fees on the bill. It will be simpler. And it will be more efficient from an administrative standpoint.

All of these things are true, but it doesn’t outweigh the price: transparency.

And this problem didn’t even come up in the Board meeting. None of the people who govern this University brought up whether or not this practice would be honest or even fair for the students.

Maybe that’s what troubles us the most.

Referring to the cuts in the retreat budget last year, Baldwin proclaimed that “We have to spend money as wisely and efficiently as possible” in a Aug. 31 Vanguard article.

And he was right.

With tuition and all kinds of other student expenses increasing this year, SGA should be cutting unneeded expenses to be able to use as much of its funds as possible to help students maintain their college experience.

Travel funds from departments have all but dried up, but students still need to travel to conferences and competitions. Even though there’s no money, students still need to present research – education doesn’t stop for budget worries.

Computers and other equipment still need to be updated all over campus, yet that funding was one of the first things to go.

This is where the SGA should step in to help. Instead, they’re putting more money in the party fund.

And they’re returning to the same old, worn-out arguments to justify splurging on themselves.

Vice President Colin Al-Greene justified traveling to Gulf Shores for the retreat by saying, “The combination of everyone being together and in a different location will put us in a good position to grow as a group. It is a synergistic approach.”

Doing trust falls and cooking marshmallows together doesn’t do nearly as much for students as $3,300 more in the Supplemental Travel Grant fund would.

At the very least, this should have been brought up.

Instead, the SGA simply put aside the money without a debate at all, according to the minutes of the meeting.

This year’s SGA has a lot of promise, so let’s hope this is only a small bump and not a signal of things to come.

Past Muslims’ Progress Not To Be Forgotten

I was listening to 89.1 WPAS on the radio the other day. It’s a “Christian” station that broadcasts out of Pascagoula, Miss., and the radio host was criticizing President Barack Obama’s appreciation for the Muslim faith.

“Islamic people have never contributed anything of worth to the United States of America.” The host actually said that. And that’s why I’m Trevor writing this article.

I’m not a Muslim. In fact, I’m LeCain a white boy raised right here in Alabama. As a Southern white boy, I feel morally obligated to my Muslim friends to denounce that radio jockey’s idiotic comments. He isn’t speaking on behalf of anyone with half a brain, and certainly not of Christians.

Had it not been for Islamic civilization, many texts from Classical Antiquity, including the works of Aristotle, would have been lost to the world forever. Luckily, Islamic civilizations kept these alive by translating the writings from Greek to Arabic during the 6th and 7th centuries, leading to their rediscovery by Europe hundreds of years later. Therefore, that host can start by thanking Islam for the Renaissance.

The number zero and the decimal system were introduced to Europe through Islam, and these concepts became the basis for the Scientific Revolution. The Islamic mathematician al-Khwarizmi pioneered the study of algebra, and his textbook on the subject later became a standard in European universities for centuries.

They also made numerous advances in the medical field. Not only were physicians and pharmacists required to pass exams before treating patients, but every major Islamic city had a hospital with separate wards for fevers, ophthalmic, dysentery and surgical cases.

This is the basis for modern emergency rooms. AlRhazes, one of the most famous doctors and writers in Islamic history, discovered the origin of smallpox and showed that a person can only acquire it once. This demonstrated the existence of the immune system and how it worked. Hundreds of Al-Rhazes’ medical works were subsequently translated into Latin.

In economics, business practices such as partnerships, credit, and banks to exchange currency were developed to handle the trade increase.

Even the first colleges appeared in the Muslim world in the late 600s and early 700s. Early European colleges were funded by trusts similar to the Islamic system and the idea of the graduate (Sahib) and undergraduate (mutafaqqih) is derived directly from Islamic terms.

An article printed in the Islamic Herald points out that, “While cities like Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo and Cordoba were the centers of civilization, Europe was in the Dark Ages. It had no infrastructure or central government.

“To the Muslims, Europe was backward, unorganized, carried no strategic importance and was essentially irrelevant. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church (which at the time was the strongest institution in Europe), successfully convinced Christian Europe that the Muslims were infidels.

“This caused Europeans to think that Muslims were culturally inferior to Europe and thus Europe was unable to benefit from the new scientific discoveries being made in the Islamic lands before the 1100s. By doing this Europe kept itself in the Dark Ages while Islamic Civilization prospered.”

The radio host was not only dead wrong, but he is guilty of an abuse of power. Media professionals, especially commentators, should be aware that viewers of television, readers of newspapers and magazines, and even radio listeners rely on journalists to offer intelligent reports based on accurate information. 89.1 WPAS is not such a source and is in fact a threat to civil discussion.

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Vanguard Staff Staff USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com

Distractions

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Sudoku

11

Caption Contest Results

Brought to you by the Student Health Center, which can be reached at 251-461-7151.

Rules: Fill each row, column, and square of nine boxes with the numbers one through nine without repeating any. Answer keys provided on the website.

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Fear and Loathing from page 6

You will walk eight miles a day. You will wander the humid Bonnaroo nights with an appreciation for all the lights you probably shouldn’t normally have.

It’s a coin toss. It’s an experience. For better or worse, it’s Bonnaroo, and I would probably do it all over again.

Maybe with a hotel room though. Nah. But maybe.

Oh yeah, and one last thing to take away from Bonnaroo: Stevie Wonder still got it.

Just saying.

Exams from page 1

decision. It wasn’t brought up in the Calendar Committee, and if it would have been, I would have been against it.”

Proctor, who fought for fall break when she was an SGA senator, didn’t want the changes blamed just on adding a fall break.

“The administration pushed the weeklate start,” Proctor said. “There are other options we could have done instead of [Saturday exams and no dead days].”

Johnson said Academic Affairs looked at all the different possibilities before deciding on this schedule.

“We decided that there was no more effective way to accommodate our three goals: having a fall break, starting a week later, and getting grades in on time,” Johnson said.

SGA invited the registrar to its meeting on July 12, which will be held in the Student

Drunken from page 6

untested hallucinogens.

The reality is people get dehydrated.

Beer is a diuretic known to dehydrate a person by causing them to urinate frequently. Therefore, drunks in the heat faint, receive organ damage, or worse.

My only wish is for jam bands that founded ‘Roo in 2003 to return. I’ll take a happy smelly dreaded hippie over a rude, puking drunk any day.

Center ballroom at 8 p.m., to discuss the changes to the calendar, but Johnson said it has been finalized and cannot be changed.

“It’s already been published,” Johnson said. “We can only re-evaluate it for next year.”

Proctor encouraged students to voice their opinions, so the calendar can be changed next year.

But the news isn’t all bad, Proctor said.

“The new calendar will benefit students by having more days between Thanksgiving break and the beginning of exams,” Proctor said.

Classes will resume after Thanksgiving on Nov. 29, and the last day of classes is Dec. 9, meaning there will be nine class days between the end of Thanksgiving and the beginning of exams instead of two.

For spring 2011, classes will end Friday, May 6, and exams will begin Monday, May 9.

“Not another parking ticket! The east zone was full!”

- Vladimir Hoff

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Vanguard

July 12, 2010