August 23, 2010 by The Vanguard

Vanguard The

Serving USA Since 1965

August 23, 2010

VOLUME 48, NUMBER 4

Freshmen Hit JagFest

New Dining Hall Delayed Matthew Peterson

MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

The new student Dining Hall, which was originally scheduled to be completed in June, is now expected to open in early October. In the meantime, those who live in oncampus housing, who were required to pay for meal plans this semester and will still have to pay for it, will be accommodated in the Student Center Market. ARAMARK, the company that provides food service to USA, has tried its best to make the experience in the Market as similar to the new dining hall as possible, though the equipment in the Market cannot accommodate some of the new things planned for that facility, according to Adam Neville, food service director. Until the new facility opens, the Market will be “all-you-care-to-eat” and will feature new or updated food stations, Neville said. Overflow seating will be offered in the Student Center ballroom and the Terrace. Colin McGee / Photo Editor

Freshmen got a feel for USA campus life this past Saturday with Jagfest, USA’s annual welcoming events for new students. Above, students and family members dine on the President’s Buﬀet Dinner.

JagTran Routes Redrawn

Daniela Werner

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF danielawerner87@gmail.com

Editor’s note: To see the new JagTran routes map, turn to page 10. JagTran routes have been redrawn for the 2010-2011 academic year. University transportation staff cite student safety and convenience for students as the reasons for why they drew up only three routes for USA’s main campus. Two JagTran routes have been removed from last year’s route map, and transportation staff have reworked the remaining three to encompass the entirety of the main campus. When planning the new routes, transportation staff made student safety the primary objective, according to Transportation Superintendent Charles Montgomery. Second was customer service and accommodating students’ on-

Inside

Police Blotter p. 2

Correction:

Last week’s SGA Notebook article reported that the Student Government Association allocated $3,500 to help pay for the food and guest speaker for Campus Involvement’s upcoming leadership training event for students. The $3,500 is only for the speaker costs, not the food.

campus transportation needs, he said. “One of the contributing factors in changing things was to better serve the dormitories and The Grove and get [those students] to the center of campus,” he said. Because there are only three routes this year – blue, green and red, which all run from 7:10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. – the number of JagTrans driving one particular route on any given day is flexible, according to Montgomery. “We’re trying to grow, give better service and run for more hours,” he said. “These new routes will allow us to adjust positions.” If one route sees less student traffic on a certain day, more JagTrans can be dispatched to help fill other routes experiencing heavier student ridership, he said. “We will closely monitor ridership to

see JAGTRAN | 10

Arts & Entertainment p. 6

Welcome To Mobile’s Indie Movie Theater See Arts & Entertainment., p. 6

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The hours also have been extended to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All of these times will be continuous dining. SGA President Kim Proctor said ARAMARK has “gone out of their way” to make the best of the problem, though she concedes that it’s a “horrible situation, and no one is happy about it.” “The food is more high quality,” Proctor said, “and [Neville] is making sure all the negative things are addressed. If you find a problem with the services, please come either to [the SGA] or Dining Services.” Chris Willis, director of Facilities Management, blamed the delay of the new facility on a combination of bad weather and problems with sub-contractors. “No one is more disappointed about [the delay] than I am,” Willis said. “We got some bad luck with the weather and the performance of sub-contractors ... We’re putting all we can into it, though.”

Security Beefed Up in New Rec Center Cameron Adkins

ASSOCIATE EDITOR cja501@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Theft should be lower at the new Student Recreation Center than the old one because of an increase in security precautions, according to USA Chief of Police Normand Gamache. “I think that security aspect of it is going to be a deterrent of crime, and it’s going to help us with investigations,” Gamache said. One of the biggest elements that has been improved from the old rec center is a larger volume of video surveillance at the new building. “There are, I want to say, 25 cameras total, both covering the perimeter and the interior,” Gamache said. The increase in the number of cameras should make it easier for the USAPD to conduct investigations and possibly apprehend any thieves. “Once I’ve got your picture on the video I can give your picture to the staff and say, ‘If this guy comes in you need to call the police or deny him access,’” Gamache said. Gamache has also suggested the installaSports p. 11

Opinion p. 14

The Vanguard Chats With The Coaches See Sports, p. 11

Colin McGee / Photo Editor

When you hit USA’s new Student Recreation Center to stave oﬀ the Freshman 15, the staﬀ will be watching you (with new security cameras).

tion of a screen at the front desk so people can see that they are being watched when they come in. “When you walk in that building, you know people can watch what you’re dosee CAMERAS | 10

Distractions p. 18

Are Dorm Rules Too Harsh? See Opinion, p. 15

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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. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Associate Editor, Copy Editor, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight during weekly Editorial Board meetings. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the Editor-in-Chief at 251-460-6442 or e-mail USAVanguard.Editor@ gmail.com. The Vanguard is a member of Collegiate Presswire and U-Wire, which syndicates to a national audience. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Daniela Werner Managing Editor: Matthew Peterson Associate Editor: Cameron Adkins Associate Editor: Dean Harrison Copy Editor: Genny Roman Etc. Editor: Laura Beth Calcote Arts & Entertainment Editor: Cal Thomas Opinion Editor: Adam Mayo Sports Editor: Matt Weaver Photo Editor: Colin McGee Webmaster: Rodney Thompson DISTRIBUTION Distribution Manager: Johnny Davis ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager: Wesley Jackson Advertising Representative: Regi Allen Advertising Representative: Daniel Fordemwalt Graphic Designer: Brittany Hawkins MANAGEMENT Adviser: Jim Aucoin Accounting: Kathy Brannan

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.

August 23, 2010

p lice bl tter

The Vanguard is pleased to report that the USA Police Department had no record of felonies or crimes that happened on campus between Friday, Aug. 13. and Friday, Aug. 20.

Q & A with USA Chief of Police Normand Gamache

Ask Norm

Q: What do you think is the most important thing new students need to know about the USAPD?

A: I think, from my experience in college law enforcement, it takes a little while to realize [they can call us if they need us]. There are simple things, like if you’re nervous about walking from your dorm to your car, don’t be embarrassed to call the police. I think that’s one of the things I hope the freshmen learn quickly. Never be embarrassed by utilizing my services. I am here because the students are here. If the students weren’t here I wouldn’t have a job.”

Friend The Vanguard on Facebook and get USA news updates on Twitter: www.twitter. com/USA Vanguard

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August 23, 2010

Roadblocks Replaced Cameron Adkins

Long Lines for Parking Permits

ASSOCIATE EDITOR cja501@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

A new gate has been installed at the entrance to Hillsdale behind the intramural fields to replace roadblocks, according to USA Chief of Police Normand Gamache. “The gate was installed in the second week in July, so it is now, every day, being shut down from 9 o’clock at night until 5 o’clock in the morning, the same way we’re doing Cleverdon,” Gamache said. “So that part of campus is closed down after 9 o’clock at night.” Several factors prevented the gate from being installed at the same time as the gate that has been on Cleverdon since last spring. Before the gate could be installed, the plans had to be run by the city of Mobile to ensure that any emergency vehicles are aware of the block, the exact type of gate needed had to be fabricated, dig permits had to be acquired from the University, and the correct signs had to be ordered, according to Gamache. “That took about four months to get all of that done right, and that’s when it went in place,” Gamache said. The roadblock was put into place initially with officers because of the delay installing the gate. Few arrests were made in the time that the road block was in place.

Colin McGee / Photo Editor

Students and family members reported waiting in line for up to an hour and a half for parking permits at the Mitchell Center during freshman orientation this past Thursday. Colin McGee / Photo Editor

A gate has been installed where USAPD were putting up nightly roadblocks to monitor who went in and out of USA’s main campus.

“I think, probably, there were two or three DUI arrests made,” Gamache said. “I’m not sure if they were coming out of Hillsdale or coming out of the campus from that direction, but that was all it was really.” Both gates were installed in order to restrict access to the residence areas late at night.

Federal Law Requires Book Info Up Front

Dean Harrison

ASSOCIATE EDITOR millhaven1982@yahoo.com

Last month, a new federal law went into effect requiring academic institutions to list the titles and prices of textbooks in their course catalog. Dubbed the Higher Education Opportunity Act, this new regulation provides students with time to search the internet for prices lower than what may be

found at university bookstores. The law also requires universities to provide students with the ISBN numbers for the textbooks and materials they are required for their classes, according to NY1.com. The ISBNs are located on the back of textbooks near the barcode. They are used to ensure that students buy the correct title and edition. Brian Catlin, director of the

USA Bookstore, said he supports the “spirit” of the new federal law. “It benefits the students and the bookstore.” As an example, he pointed to a component of the law that requires bundled materials, such as CDs or DVDs, to be sold separately from the texts. In the past, if a student brought back a textbook at the end of the semester without the

see BOOKSTORE | 5

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August 23, 2010

News in Brief

Portals to be Completed May 2011

The plan to build entrance portals at North and South Drives, Stadium Boulevard and the Cornerstone — currently in construction at the intersection of Old Shell Road and University Boulevard — has a projected completion date of May 2011, according to Dow Bark, project director of the South Alabama Group. The project is under a $2.8 million contract with funds that come from a $1.2 billion bond issued to USA in September 2008, according to Wayne Davis, vice president of Financial Affairs. Each portal is structured to frame the road with a short duration of brick wall on each side with pavers and sidewalk work to create a more formal entrance. “Part of the master plan of the project is to give the University a more distinct presence,” Chris Willis, director of Facilities Management, said in an article published by The Vanguard last June. The entrance portal at South Drive is expected to be completed first, followed by the Cornerstone.

Jagfest Gives Freshmen Taste of USA Campus Life The 2010-2011 academic year was officially kicked-off last Saturday with Jagfest, an all-day event welcoming incoming

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students to USA campus life. Hosted by the offices of USA’s President and New Student Orientation, the day consisted of such activities as Move-In Day, Campus Fair, and President’s Buffet Dinner, which one University official joked as the “only free thing your going to get from us.” Jagfest was opened to new students, their parents, and members of the University community, and intended to show new students the ropes before they headed off to classes on Monday. At the Campus Fair, more than 100 booths set up outside the Mitchell Center Arena were commandeered by a vast assortment of student organizations (as well as business and community representatives) providing students with information and free stuff, such as candy and tote bags. The dinner buffet was held in the Mitchell Center Arena. Students had their choice of hotdogs and barbecue chicken sandwiches with potato chips and Pepsi drinks on the side. All festivities began at 9 a.m. and ended at 7 p.m.

Lowdown Goes Completely Online SGA has decided to cut out printing The Lowdown, USA’s student handbook, entirely and put the publication on its website, www.southalabama.edu/

Black Hawk Training 101

Daniela Werner / Editor-in-Chief

USA Army ROTC cadets sprint to and from Black Hawk helicopters Aug. 20 as part of the medical evacuation training portion of the week’s ROTC activities. The day before, the cadets had learned how to load into the helicopters, which are operated by the Alabama Army National Guard at the Army Aviation Support Facility #3 by Mobile Regional Airport. “It’s basically like taking a bus in the air,” said Cadet Ryan Granier, a USA senior.

lowdown. SGA Treasurer Michael Baldwin said the change was motivated mostly by the $21,000 the SGA would save in printing costs. “When I suggested the change, I didn’t feel the hard copies offered a $21,000 value over an online version,” Baldwin said. “We’ll be able to focus on other important campus problems with the extra funds.” Upcoming USA Events Offer Students Plenty to Do The University of South Alabama’s Jaguar Football Fan Day is scheduled for Aug. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and is open to the community, according to a USA press release. Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with Jaguar football scrimmage followed by a fan “meet-and-greet” with the team and their coaches at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Other upcoming USA back-to-school events consist of the USA Alumni Association’s annual meeting held on Sep. 2 in the Mitchell Center. All alumni are invited, and it begins at 5:30 p.m. in the John Counts Room. Also on Sep. 2 is the Jaguar Football Pep Rally, which is open to the community and held at 7:30 p.m. on the north-side Mitchell Center steps near the Jaguar statue.

Bookstore from page 3

bundle that originally came with it, the value of the text would be lowered. But this new law, according to Catlin, “helps with the buyback.” He cautions students, however, to check with the bookstore and compare prices before buying books online. He added that students tend to go online and buy older editions, but warned that the bookstore would not be able to accept those editions when it came time for buyback at the end of the semester. “We have used books too,” he said. “First and foremost, be sure you’re getting the right book.” When asked if the new federal law had hurt sales at the USA Bookstore thus far, Catlin said, “Not too much.”

USA Police Chief, Associate Dean Wims Leaving Matthew Peterson

MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Chief of Police Normand Gamache plans on leaving USA within the next couple of months, after his wife, Dr. Lois Wims, associate dean of Arts and Sciences, took a job at Mercy College in New York. Gamache, who has been chief of police since September 2005, said he is waiting to sell their house to move, but he will give the University “ample time to fill his position.” Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. John Smith, who oversees the campus police, said he will set up a campus-wide committee to conduct a national search to replace Gamache, but the position will be open to anyone on campus who wants to apply. Smith, who has worked with Gamache for two years, spoke highly of his tenure as police chief. “I’ve been pleased with his leadership and direction of the department,” Smith said. “He’s taken the extra step to solve the problems that have come up. “We’re going to miss him, and we wish him well.” Wims accepted a job as the dean of the College of Health and Natural Sciences at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. She has been at the University since 2002. Wims was replaced in her position by Dr. Robert Coleman.

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Arts & Entertainment

6 Discover Mobile’s Museum of Art Timothy Borland

CONTRIBUTING WRITER trb903@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Welcome to all incoming USA freshmen! For years, USA has been known to contain a very diverse student body, one that hails from different cultural and geographical backgrounds. 2010 is no exception; many of you are experiencing the Mobile area for the very first time. No worries – The Vanguard is an indispensable information resource for USA students. Allow me to introduce “Discover Mobile,” USA’s biweekly guide to art events and historical locations within the greater Mobile area. This week’s location of interest is the Mobile Museum of Art. This museum was founded by the Mobile Art Association in 1963, and continues to enrich our community with beautiful works of visual art. The museum’s permanent collection consists of over 8,000 works spanning over two centuries. Southern U.S. artists are significantly represented in addition to collections from Europe and the Far East. After a $15 million dollar expansion in 2002, the Mobile Museum of Art is now the largest art museum on the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Tampa, Fla. The museum hosts world-renowned travwww.mobilemuseumofart.com eling exhibits and reA bronze statue of author Helen gional art. Less than five min- Keller, created by noted sculptor Edutes from USA’s main ward Hlavka, stands in the Mobile campus, The Mobile Museum of Art. Museum of Art is located behind Langan Park at 4850 Museum Drive. Operating hours are Monday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Museum employees may be contacted at 251-208-5200. For more information, explore www.mobilemuseumofart.com. A notable current exhibition is a 1,000-pound, bronze life-size Helen Keller statue, identical to a statue existing in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington D.C. The artistic talent behind the Keller statue is noted sculptor Edward Hlavka Mobile is the final stop for the exhibit before the sculpture is transported to Montgomery, Ala., where it will be displayed until installation within the Alabama State Capitol building this December. The sculpture depicts the decisive moment in 1887 when Keller first understood the manual alphabet shapes her teacher Anne Sullivan spelled into her hands. Keller lost her vision and hearing at a very young age, and her breakthrough at the age of seven years old paved the way for new treatment approaches for the disabled. She later earned a degree from Radcliffe, the women’s branch of Harvard University, and published 12 books. Keller traveled the world as an advocate not only for the disabled, but also for women’s suffrage and worker’s rights. There is no wonder why Keller should hold a prominent place in our state and national capitols: her birthplace was Ivy Green, located in Tuscumbia, Ala. see STATUE | 7

Vanguard Staff

USAVanguard.editor @gmail.com

August 23, 2010

Crescent Theatre Curries Indie Favor Cameron Adkins

ASSOCIATE EDITOR cja501@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Mobile has been my home for the past four years. In that time I have been downtown countless times, but I never walked into the Crescent Theater until last week. BIG. MISTAKE. For those who have never heard of this place, listen and learn. If you know about it but still haven’t been, well, shame on you. You’re missing out, and this is not a place you want to miss out on. The Crescent Theater is a small theater that plays mostly independent films. The sole screening room is equipped with 100 seats, and at the front there are 10 very comfylooking seats, and the remaining 90 are of the same style that would be seen in most theaters. One of the best things about the Crescent is the oldschool projector used to play all of the films. In the digital age, Max Morey, owner and operator of the theater, has decided to stick with 35mm film reels. “We hope to keep this here forever and project 35mm films the way they always have,” Morey said. “We’re not going digital, and everyone is going digital. We’re just going to keep it simple.” Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a projector like the one at the Crescent before (I hadn’t before Max showed me his as he was loading the film for the next show), but it is a spectacle. To me, the back looked like an HVAC unit with a dryer hose coming out of it. It doesn’t look like a projector until you see the intricacies of the lens and watch as the film winds from its original reel, through many bends to the projector and rewinds itself onto a new reel. At one point after the 6:30 show ended, I had a great conversation with a man who frequents the Crescent. It ended with him buying me a beer and a ticket to come to a show. By this point I was just mingling and not in reporter mode, so I didn’t get his name (shame on me for the reportorial no-no). So, to the kind stranger at the Crescent I would like to say thank you again. Hopefully he will see this article by chance. If you’re still on the fence as to whether or not you want to check out the Crescent, there is one more perk: there is a very nice selection of good quality beers and quite a few different wines (in addition to the usual beverages and snacks found at movie theaters). Movies are screened every day at 6 p.m. for $8 per ticket and 8:30 p.m. for $9 per ticket. Weekend matinees are also see CRESCENT | 13

Colin McGee / Photo Editor

Max Morey (bottom photo), owner and operator of The Crescent Theater, said he hopes to project 35 mm film reels for a while.

USA Launches Student Radio Station Cal Thomas

A&E EDITOR vanguardaande@gmail.com

Chances are many of you have encountered some of South’s student media by now – like Jag TV, or, more obviously, The Vanguard. But South hasn’t completed its entertainment repertoire just yet – they are planning on launching the first “radio” station for the University of South Alabama on October 1. There had always been little interest in starting a radio station – until Jason Cooper, the new manager of Jag Radio, approached Communication Department Chair Dr. Jim Aucoin, who gave the go-ahead. The program, based on a module developed by a South student for his thesis on Internet radio, will be entirely student-run. Jason Cooper and his cousin, Joshua Hydock, co-manager of Jag Radio, took it upon themselves to do the majority of the work. “With what little advertising there has been, there have already been so many people interested. Student organizations like this are good because you get to meet people – South’s a commuter school. A lot of people will show up, go to class, and go home. If there’s a way to get people involved, get them in to meet people, it really encourages school spirit,” said Cooper.

“Also the experience is better for the students – it doesn’t cost to be part of the radio station but you get something to add to your résumé…the market is saturated. You’d be hard-pressed to get on the air.” Unlike regular radio stations, which are required by the FCC to broadcast 24 hours a day, Jag Radio will start out being just a few hours long. The new station is going to be streamed online – at first using pre-recorded tracks until the people behind the scenes can run it as a live streamed show. Cooper and Hydock have already recorded several hours of audio for the new station – commercials, skits, a few episodes of a radio drama – but they are still open to ideas for content. Seeing it as an “audio playground,” it’s an opportunity for interested parties to get involved with no experience necessary. For those looking to get involved, the best way would be to send an e-mail to usouthradio@gmail.com with your contact info and a brief message regarding your interest. There will also be a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the UCOM computer lab, where the directors of Jag Radio will address all questions and review everything that will need to be done to get on the air by Oct. 1.

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August 23, 2010

Foreign In Love: Lazy Weekend Films

Going downtown? Hit B-Bob’s

Cal Thomas

It’s likely that you’ve seen (or at least recognize) every American-made movie coming on every channel from the last three years. But here are three you might not have heard of that would definitely be worth a look.

There are many bars and clubs throughout Mobile’s downtown area, all of which seem to play the same music and have the same four couples dry-humping each other on the balcony. B-Bob’s, however, named Mobile’s Best Alternative Bar by Lagniappe Magazine four years in a row, has a different draw – every Thursday night is Drag Night. Yes, drag night. Evoking mental images of vivid makeup, Dolly Partonesque hair and flashy outfits a la Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, B-Bob’s has managed to draw hundreds to its shows. If you have never been to a drag show, essentially, an assembly of wellpracticed and well-dressed drag queens take turns coming onstage to lip-synch and dance to a selection of songs. Generally the songs are ones the crowd recognizes – everything from Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” to Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl” are covered. The shows are always amazing – around two to three performers come

A&E EDITOR vanguardaande@gmail.com

Amélie Country of Origin: France Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet This romantic comedy with Audrey Tautou (Da Vinci Code, Dirty Pretty Things) is sweet and effective. Introverted waitress Amélie Poulain journeys through the city of Montmartre and her own mind, enjoying the small pleasures in life and helping people to revelations as she seeks an old friend with an interesting collection of photos. Beautifully shot and scripted and with a fantastic accordion and piano score by Yann Tiersen, this movie is sure to be a favorite of indie and mainstream fans alike. Wild Zero Country of Origin: Japan Director: Tetsuro Takeuchi It’s got aliens, naked ladies, zombies, explosions, trannies, beer and ROCK AND ROLL. Yes, it’s Japan, and yes, it’s hilarious – Japanese punk band Guitar Wolf stars as heroes of ROCK AND ROLL, protecting the world from zombies spawned in an invasion of earth by alien spaceships. Ace, an awkward rockabilly wannabe, and his newfound friend Tobio try to stick out a night surrounded by aliens and cars/microphones/motorcycles spitting flames in this Bmovie black comedy. There’s even a drinking game if you get the DVD or look it up on google before you watch it. Death at a Funeral Country of Origin: UK Director: Frank Oz No, not the new one with Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock – this one came out in 2007. The original, starring Alan Tudyk

www.movie-list.com

If you're in the mood for a good foreign film, rent Amélie, a romantic comedy directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet that is sure to please both mainstream and indie film junkies.

(Dodgeball, A Knight’s Tale), tells the story of sons whose father’s funeral doesn’t go quite as planned. Between mysterious gay midgets, sibling rivalry and an accidentally tripping attendee, the afternoon’s events are completely blown and unprepared funeral-goers have to try and deal with the outcome. Dry English humor well complements this dark comedy, recommended for fans of BBC comedy My Family. Editor's note: If you are interested in contributing to this section or have some foreign media you would like reviewed, please email vanguardaande@ gmail.com.

Sick of wasting time on Facebook?

Forget studying! Spend your valuable time on The Vanguard’s Web site!

Visit www.usavanguard.com to comment on articles, get breaking news updates about USA, find the answers to our fun Sudoku puzzles (see Distractions, p. 18,) and much, much more!

on during each show, each with a unique musical and fashion style to wow the gathering. One of the local favorites is Miss Venus, a voluptuous older woman from Mobile who is a regular performer. Along with many other Queens, she is extremely approachable and gladly talks to those who came to see her after the shows. Stop in and talk to the ladies! A number of the girls are also from Mobile or Pensacola and know where to go and who to see for anything one could ever want in the area – from great venues and bars to the best deals on clothes. They and the staff at B-Bob’s are accommodating and the crowds are always full of new friends. Do not be shy about going to B-Bob’s! There are many more events at B-Bob’s than drag night, of course, and many well-known musicians and Queens stop in regularly for shows. Unfortunately, all events at B-Bob’s are 19+ and there is a small cover charge – but it’s money well spent for a unique entertainment experience that everyone should have at least once.

Show Choir Auditions Coming Up Daniela Werner

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF danielawerner87@gmail.com

Gleeks of USA, lend me your ear. USA's first Show Choir is here, and according to director Brandon "Eight Count" Caten, they are not looking for a professional dancer or the next American Idol (although, I'm sure they would happily accept you into their organization if you were indeed either of those). The Show Choir staff is looking for students who love music and love having fun, according to Caten. To audition, this is what you need to know: Auditions are going to be held in USA's Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Saturday Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. For your audition, sing an upbeat song that lasts about a minute and a half and showcases your vocal talent. Caten said either singing with a backing track or a capella works for them. Show choir isn't necessarily all vocal prowess all the time, so have your dance shoes ready for auditions. After your vocal audition, you'll be taught a short dance routine that you'll have to perform in front of the judges. No worries about previous show choir experience – you don't have to have any. Caten's advice to those auditioning

Statue from page 6

She was also chosen to represent Alabama’s state quarter in honor of her significant contributions to society and southern heritage. Other current exhibits at the museum include historical etchings of Old

is to "keep it simple." Don't butcher a Lady Gaga song when you can perform a beautiful, simple rendition of "Mary Had A Little Lamb," he said. A little goes a long way here, folks. So, if you get into USA's Show Choir, you get to wear a snazzy uniform for practices and perform with fun, lively singers and dancers. Try out. Do it. You know you want to.

USA Show Choir auditions will be held at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Saturday Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. Mobile by local artist Marian Acker Macpherson and wood sculptures by international artist and author Mark Lindquist. All three of these exhibitions will be on display through Sept. 26; the price of admission for students is only $6.

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New JagTran Routes

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Cameras from page 1

ing, which is a good thing or bad thing. I guess it depends on how you look at it,” Gamache said. “First impression is, if I’m going to be a thief I’m going to go somewhere else.” A University ID is also required to gain admittance to the rec center. The new card access system should

JagTran from page 1

see where to add and cut JagTrans,” he said. The blue route will have two JagTrans start by picking up students at the loop on the north side of the Student Center and running down North Drive onto the southbound side of University Boulevard. It will stop for students and reverse directions at University Commons, retracing its steps back to campus and making stops at the Allied Health and Nursing Colleges before returning to the Student Center loop. The green route is the most expansive of the three, and with six JagTrans running, it makes at least 10 stops and stretches all the way from the Mitchell College of Business to The Grove. The late green route keeps running until 9:30 p.m., and on it two JagTrans will bus

make it more difficult for non-students to enter the facility, according to Gamache. “With all of those put together it’s going to be a deterrent, and I’d be surprised if we had a tenth of the larcenies,” Gamache said. The new Rec Center has yet to open, but the University will be announcing the date as soon as possible.

students between buildings. This route is intended to eliminate instances where students must walk from the dorms area to the Student Center, new Dining Hall and the main campus Library after dark. “It reduces the possibility for assault” in those areas at night, Montgomery said. The red route, which runs from the Health Services Building in Technology and Research Park III (on the north side of campus) to the Student Center loop to the Chemistry Building, will have three JagTrans running it in opposite directions, Montgomery said. The superintendent, who has been in charge of transportation at USA for about two years, said he feels confident these three routes adequately cover the main areas of campus. Students with suggestions about where JagTrans should be deployed at USA can contact Montgomery at 251-460-6596.

Write for The Vanguard!

www.southalabama.edu/jagtran

USA’s JagTran routes have been redrawn to get students where they need to go on campus with fewer hassles. Three routes are in place for this upcoming year, and they span the main campus so students can catch a ride and (hopefully) get to class on time. The blue route will run two JagTrans, the green route will run six during the day and two until 9:30 p.m. and the red route will run three JagTrans. All three of the routes begin at 7:10 a.m. every week day. READ MORE ON P. 1.

Send Writing Samples to USAVanguard.Editor@gmail.com

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Sports

Matt Weaver Sports Editor jmatthewweaver@aol.com

The

Vanguard

23, 2010 August 16,

COACH ON COACH:

Two men, one game.

Jake Wasdin

Head Coach Steve Kittrell

SPORTS REPORTER jrw909@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

On Aug. 18, the Vanguard sat down with legendary University of South Alabama baseball head coach Steve Kittrell and asked him about the coming up baseball season and his relationship with head-coach-in-waiting Mark Calvi. Calvi was the pitching coach for the 2010 College World Series Champion, South Carolina Gamecocks and will take over for Kittrell following the 2011 season. The Vanguard: Hi Coach, thanks for sitting down with us today. Let's start with the hiring of Coach Calvi. Where do you stand on his being brought into the program? Coach Steve Kittrell: I believe the program is getting a shot in the arm with Mark coming in. He's giving us what we need this upcoming season in a leader and a pitching coach and he's going to make an excellent head coach. VG: How will the two of you work together during the fall and spring? CSK: Well, Mark was brought in to be the pitching coach and that will be his role in 2011. I'm going to handle the offense and making up the lineup while Mark will cover the rotation, bullpen and recruiting. VG: How important is it for you to get to Omaha and reach the College World Series? CSK: That's our goal every year. This being my final year doesn't change anything. But we have to win the Sun Belt Conference first.

Assistant Head Coach Mark Calvi

Only eight teams in country make it to Omaha and we've been one game from it six times. We have to get over the hump. VG: What are you most looking forward to in the 2011 baseball season CSK: We're looking forward to competing for a Sun Belt Championship. In order to do that, we need to pitch better, and I'm convinced that Coach Calvi will help us get better there. We're looking forward to the Sun Belt Tournament and then a good run in the NCAA Tournament. I'm really excited about our team this year. VG: What are your thoughts on the outfield renovation at Stanky Field and have you been given any creative input on the designs? CSK: The University had some great ideas and so did Coach Calvi. This has essentially been their project. We hope that the changes land us an NCAA Regional down the road. We hope the new look encourages barbecuing and grilling in the outfield. That's really the popular thing in ballparks today and we're really trying to encourage that atmosphere and mentality at Stanky Field.

Matt Weaver

SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

Mark Calvi comes to South Alabama from the University of South Carolina where he won a national championship as pitching coach for the Gamecocks in 2010. In six seasons at Columbia, his pitching staff has been amongst the best in the SEC and the nation. Calvi has had 31 of his pitchers drafted or signed by major league teams and his 2009 staff featured two nine-game winners. Calvi will now bring that resume to South Alabama where he will team with exiting head coach Steve Kittrell in aiming for a USA College World Series appearance. The 2011 season will be his 12th in the Sun Belt, previously coaching the Florida International Golden Panthers. The upcoming season will also be Calvi's 19th in coaching. usajaguars.com

Coach Calvi on Coming to South

Alabama: I knew there was a high level of interest not only in baseball, but in athletics here at the University of South Alabama, but this is phenomenal. I’m really shocked and I’m very excited at the level of interest. South Alabama is a program that I’ve always had in my mind as a place that I would love to coach at one day. I've had a lot of dreams come true over the past year and South Alabama is one of them.

On joining Kittrell and succeeding him: It is such an honor to me to be named head coach in waiting for Coach Kittrell, who I've admired from afar for a long time. I've admired so many things that he’s been able to do with this program. So well before I ever met coach Kittrell, I knew about him and the program he had built here, and coach Stanky prior to him. I understand the tradition. I understand the fans and the love for this university and its athletic program, and I'm humbled by it. On recruiting: Mobile has so much to sell. It’s close to the coast, there’s such loyal fans, and the facilities are wonderful. Who wouldn’t want to live and play here in a great conference and have the chance to win? My recruiting plan is simple. Outwork the others around you and understand where your needs are. You want kids who want to be here. If you get kids here who want to be here, they’ll go the extra mile for the shirt on their back and the university that they’re playing for. On hosting an NCAA Regional: This program has every opportunity to host a regional, and the numbers show that you advance if you play at home. Coach Tanner (at South Carolina) taught me that you do everything you can to host a regional. That’s always stuck with me and it always will. I think this program has the potential to host. The facility is wonderful, the administration supports it and they back everything that we would like to do here. It’s a win-win situation.

Commentary

How can South Alabama Football Improve on 7-0? Jayson Curry

SPORTS COLUMNIST jayson-curry@hotmail.com

When I first saw the new ESPN The Magazine with Georgia State football on the cover, I got to thinking: What if USA football could grace the cover some day? What would it take for that to happen? What more can be done following a successful 2009 in which the Jags ran the table and outscored opponents 341-41? Paying attention to their football-playing contemporaries will be a start. The best way to learn in football is paying attention to what others have done and learning from their mistakes. With that in mind, the Jags should pay close attention to both Georgia State and South Florida. USF is the school that USA wants to emulate and Georgia State is the program that wants to beat them there.

South Florida is the ultimate model for a football upstart. The Bulls played their first game in 1997 and were ranked as high as no. 2 by 2007. South Florida achieved this while recruiting against Florida, Florida State and Miami. In Alabama, USA can relate. The Jags will play Georgia State in round one to copy the Bulls on Oct. 30 in Mobile. USA has already passed the toughest hurdle in building a college football team. They had the program approved, raised the money through student support and hired a superior coaching staff. They have since built a training facility and filled it with an undefeated football team. So what more can South do moving forward while gaining momentum for the everapproaching Division-I homecoming? The obvious thing for USA is to continue the pace they’ve set on recruiting. The Jags have made great strides with transfers alone.

Last season the Jaguar defense was led by two transfers in Justin Dunn from BirminghamSouthern and Charlie Higgenbotham from Alabama. And it wasn’t just the defense that was helped by transferring players. Having running back Brandon Ross (Memphis) and wide receiver Courtney Smith (UAB) improved the offense. This season should play out similarly with the transferring Jake Johnson (Virginia Tech) and quarterback Raymond Cotton from Ole Miss. With the second season of USA football on the horizon, the overall talent should be a step up from 2009. A tougher schedule should also help. Head coach Joey Jones admitted that the 2009 season did not challenge his team. There is no substitute for experience but we have yet to see how the Jags will handle adversity. What will happen when USA trails a game see IMPROVE | 12

www.usavanguard.com

The

Vanguard Sports Briefs

Soccer Falls to Nationally Ranked LSU The University of South Alabama soccer team fell to No. 20 Louisiana State, 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Complex. LSU (1-0-0) jumped out to an early lead on a goal by Natalie Martineau in the ninth minute of the first half. The Tigers doubled their lead early in the first half when Nina Anderson shot the ball from six yards out in the 12th minute. LSU’s Carlie Banks extended the lead to 4-0 with two back-to-backs goals in the 16th and 27th minute. Kaley Blades ended the first half scoring with a shot from the left side at the 37th minute. The Tigers added three goals in the second half to give them an 8-0 victory. Jaguar Baseball Adds Two to 2010 Class University of South Alabama baseball head coach Steve Kittrell announced the addition of Trey Sorrells and Whit Dorsey to the 2010-11 roster Saturday. Both have signed grant-in-aid papers and will join the program this fall. Sorrells, a 5 feet 10 inch, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher from Merit, Texas, will join the program after two years under head coach Sam Carel at Jefferson College, a Division I member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which is located in Hillsboro, Mo. Sorrells posted a .347 career batting average at Jefferson with 15 home runs and 73 RBI in his two seasons with the Vikings. Dorsey, a 5 feet 11 inch, 185-pound left-handed hitter from Auburn, Ala., joins the program after two seasons under head coach Mike Kandler at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. He batted .381 with four home runs and 37 RBI as a sophomore last season, and posted a .474 OBP in 36 games. Track and Field Accepting Walk Ons Full-time students (12 minimum hours) interested in walking-on to the track team may participate in open tryouts to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Prospective student athletes will have to pass NCAA regulations, and a strength and endurance test. Factors that will determine decisions include coaching evaluations, academic history and present team strengths For additional information, e-mail head coach Paul Brueske at pbrueske@ usouthal.edu

August 23, 2010

Outlaws Recruiting for Fall Matt Weaver

SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

A man dressed in red walks into the Mitchell Center’s southern entrance. Face painted red with thunder sticks and signs in tow, he’s armed with chants and taunts that would make you turn pink and blue. So what is this man, this strange being? He’s an Outlaw, a member of South Alabama’s elite student athletics support corps. Best of all, the Outlaws are now recruiting students to join this man at football, basketball and other fall events. The Outlaws have undergone a reconstruction over the summer but the new group president Madison Salter insists that the group’s goals are unchanged. “We’re here to support the Jaguars like no one else can,” Salter said. “The Outlaws will be a presence unlike you’ve never seen before at South Alabama. With football season just weeks away, the Outlaws are working hard to create an envi-

Improve from page 11

after a season in which they never played from behind? USA could suffer its first loss in 2010. But even then, this year is about the bigger picture. Playing the tougher schedule will ultimately lead to more publicity and more money. That’s why Georgia State has become a media darling. The final thing that USA needs is improved student and community support. Support from the national media, support from the Press Register and support from the surrounding cities. The national media is a huge contributor to college football’s meteoric rise in popularity. If the media starts to recognize South Alabama’s football team, the results will be short

ronment where students are the most vocal group at both home and road games. The Outlaws are working closely with the SGA to sponsor a bus to Dothan for the Sept. 25 game against Edward Waters College. “We’re just about there in regards to Dothan,” Salter said. “It’s just a matter of getting everything approved and everyone on the same page.” The group is also exploring bus trips to Beaumont, Texas for the Oct. 16 football game versus Lamar as well as four trips each for basketball and baseball respectively. The Outlaws are looking to expand, not only on the road but for games in Mobile. The only requirement to join is to wear red to games and cheer South Alabama as loudly as possible. “We’re just fans,” Salter said. “We want to cheer for our school and we want to be louder and rowdier than anyone else.” For details on joining a bus trip to Dothan or Outlaw membership, contact Salter at mls806@jaguar1.usouthal.edu.

of spectacular. This begins with creating a regional base and national exposure. ESPN and regional cable have to get the ball rolling on that front. More publicity and exposure also leads to increased sponsorship opportunities for the program and this begins with Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Senior Bowl and GMAC Bowl have to recognize Ladd as “The Home of South Alabama Football” on ESPN. The program already has the support of the students and the community. Now the stadium and broadcast partners have to fall in line. This season will be new and different from 2009 but it appears likely that this year could be just as productive. If all of the above comes to fruition, you had better believe that USA football will improve on perfection in 2010.

The

Vanguard Sports Poll LAST WEEK:

THIS WEEK:

Happy With The Direction Of

Will South Alabama Football Go

USA Athletics?

Undefeated in 2010?

* Yes * No The athletic department is walking a fine line with choosing to stay in the Sun Belt. Beyond that decision, USA appears to have made several good choices over the past year. Dr. Erdmann, Coaches Calvi and Jones as well as the handling of USA football point that opinion. I’m thrilled to be a fan right now and I can’t wait to see where this leads. -Jamey Morrison, USA graduate

Vote Now!

Charging the Mound

Why Does Georgia State Get the Cover? Matt Weaver

SPORTS EDITOR jmatthewweaver@aol.com

When Georgia State’s baby football program graced ESPN The Magazine, it outraged Jag fans everywhere. And justifiably so. What has Georgia State done nationally to warrant this kind of exposure while other upstarts like the unbeaten Jags remain in obscurity? The answer is that 26 schools will add football between 2009 and 2013. Of them, the Panthers have been the boldest, scheduling defending national champions Alabama in November. You can find the national crush for the Panthers there- a crush that will dissipate, like most crushes, by homecoming when ESPN sees all of her youthful follies. Meanwhile, USA will maintain its steady four-year approach. She’ll grow and mature and by graduation in 2012, be fit to marry in the ultra-tough BCS. But make no mistake, the Jags are still keeping an eye on Georgia State. The Mothership just made the Panthers a huge target for every team she plays in 2010, including USA on Oct. 29. Like Georgia State, USA is one of the 26 upstarts. But unlike the Panthers, USA is in the middle of college football’s molten recruiting hotbed. Toss in a growing and surprisingly rabid fan base and USA could quickly become a young and legitimate program with a win over the overhyped Panthers. With the national media likely watching on Oct. 30, a humbling could come fast for Georgia State. South Alabama and head coach Joey Jones are unlikely to admit it, but that Saturday afternoon just became a lot more important. The future of southern college football will be on display and there is no way that either team wants to lose. Mark your calendars and buy your tickets.

Only 12 Days Until Jaguar Football Returns to LaddPeebles !!! Sept. 4, 2010

August 23, 2010

The

Vanguard

Crescent from page 6

available at 2 p.m. for $8 a ticket. Over the next few weeks there are some good films being played. New movies start every Friday and play through the following Thursday. This past Friday “The Girl Who Played With Fire” debuted at the Crescent. The film follows magazine editor Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as each person uses their own method of finding the killers of three reporters investigating sex-trafficking in Sweden. The catch? Salander is the prime suspect, and she has a closet full of skeletons that come to light. Next Friday will be the Crescent’s debut of “Get Low.” Even though it’s an indie movie, its stars include Bill Murray, Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek. In Get Low, backwoods

13 recluse Felix Bush (Rober Duvall), who is rumored to be a killer and a cohort of the Devil’s, rides into town with a stack of money to buy a funeral party. This is the movie I will be cashing in my ticket on (most likely at the 8:30 showing on August 27, and you should join me). Sept. 9 marks the opening night for “Winter’s Bone,” winner of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize and was highly recommended to me by Morey. This thriller “follows 17-year-old Ree Dolly as she confronts the local criminal underworld and the harsh Ozark wilderness in order to track down her father, who has put up the family homestead for his bail,” according to the Crescent Theater Web site. If there is a particular movie you would like to see played, the theater is open for suggestions, and they want to show what viewers want to see, according to Morey.

Opinion

The

Vanguard

August 23, 2010

O U R

V I E W

Economic Situation Calls for Sensitivity

SA President Gordon Moulton broke the monotony of depressing economic commentary in May when he published a letter on the front page of the Midweek Memo, USA’s employee newsletter. “The worst of times? Certainly,” Moulton wrote. “But if you look at the contributions USA has made this year through teaching, research, service, and health care, your University has never been better than it is today.” We were excited to see such a positive outlook when the economic future can seem dim, especially for universities fiscally dependant on that economy doing well. If income and sales tax revenues are down, as they are in a recession, public universities get less in state appropriations. For USA, this has amounted to a 30 percent cut in our biggest source of revenue: state funding. But, as Moulton pointed out, USA not only did not give up but has prospered. Buildings have been going up all around campus – a new recreation center, bell tower, health sciences building, campus portals, and Engineering and Computer Sciences build-

Tilting at Windmills By Matthew Peterson

mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

Football Not Fulfilling NoTuition-Money Pledge When the University was considering adding NCAA football in fall 2007, the administration promised this new program would not take any money from the general University budget. But the administration has brushed this pledge aside. The original football budget, which was proposed to the Board of Trustees in its December 2007 meeting, required no money from the general budget (though it does use $150 per student per semester of student fees). Further, USA President Gordon Moulton told the Press-Register that football would “break even” and not use University funds. But football has taken more than half a million dollars from the general budget since its inception. In fiscal year 2008 (Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008), the football team received $215,034 under “direct institutional support” -- which means money from the general University budget -- according to the KPMG report presented at the March 2009 Board of Trustees meeting. The next year, which ended Sept. 30, 2009, football used $320,959 from the University budget, according to Wayne Davis, vice president for Financial Affairs.

ing. Enrollment has steadily grown, reaching a new record each year. Our football and band programs have excelled, with football going undefeated and the band getting off to a great first year. USA is truly “on the move” as one anonymous person told Moulton, and we are proud to be University of South Alabama jaguars. At the same time, though, students and employees are suffering in this downturn. Our tuition has been increased every year for the past few years, our programs are being cut, and our classes are getting bigger. For faculty and staff, they have gone years without a wage increase and are forced to do more work with that same pay, as the University is in a hiring freeze and cannot replace employees who retire. Though we appreciate his message, we wish Moulton would have been more sensitive to the plights of those who are struggling to pay their mortgage with their quickly shrinking University wages. After all, it’s pretty easy to be so optimistic when you’re raking in half a million dollars in salary benefits, as Moulton is. When asked about this, Davis said this money pays for employee fringe benefits like retirement, social security, and health insurance and claimed that it is University policy to pay for fringe benefits out of the general budget. But this isn’t true. There are a “few hundred” so-called “three-ledger” or “self-supporting” accounts that pay for their own fringe benefits, Davis said later. For example, The Vanguard is one of these departments. In general, three-ledger accounts generate money outside of tuition and fees -- for The Vanguard, that is advertising, which accounts for about two-thirds of our revenue (the other third is a $1.50 fee per student per semester). These accounts are called self-supporting because they are generally expected to operate inside their income, without help from the general University budget. The football team fits both of these criteria -- it generates money outside of tuition and fees in the form of ticket sales and gifts, and, if it were kept to its promise, it would operate inside of its income. Football, though, along with the rest of USA sports (which should theoretically be generating money outside of tuition and fees, too), are not considered selfsupporting but are lumped with the rest of the University departments. Football would not be hurt financially if it switched to being a self-supporting account, though, as it is doing so well. According to documents from Financial Affairs, football is operating at a $617,282 surplus, which could easily pay the $320,959 being taken from the University budget. (This cannot be said for the rest of University sports, though, which rely on more than $6 million of support from the University budget each year.) It’s time for football to be officially considered what it see BUDGET | 17

Adam D. Mayo Opinion Editor usavanguard.editor@gmail.com

Marines Still Indispensable

“OORAH!”, a common utterance among U.S. Marines is packed with connotation and is used to express a multitude of emotions. As a Marine I have a new meaning for the word: an aggressive denunciation of those who seek to abolish the Marine Corps. Recently there has been a resurgence of chatter to do just that. The majority of the chatter comes from intellectually Adam D. deficient, ignorant Internet bloggers. Mayo These bilious jesters are harmless, but recently I heard disturbing comments coming from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates regarding the validity and purpose of the Corps. Gates is calling for a thorough evaluation of the Marine Corps’ role within the greater scheme of the U.S. military organization. His concern, as with many others, is that the Corps’ mission is outdated due to more effective defensive systems to guard against amphibious assaults and landings. If its mission is outdated, what makes the Marine Corps unique, and why should we maintain it? The questions are being posed by many, and seemingly on Gates’ mind. This argument assumes that the only purpose of the Corps is to attack an enemy’s literal regions through amphibious assault and ship-to-shore landing. This assumption, combined with the argument that the Corps has acted as a second Army in the recent past, clearly illustrates the ignorance of those who advocate the abolition of the Corps. The Marine Corps began as a force to serve aboard U.S. naval vessels during the Revolutionary War against Great Britain (being formally designated a “Corps” by President John Adams). Their purpose was ship security, boarding parties, and armed landings on shore launched from the sea. This mission has not changed, but rather expanded to accommodate changes in technology, and the progression of warfighting requirements and adaptive capabilities. This abridged and wholly inadequate historical summary does not answer the larger question of what makes the Marine Corps unique, and a requirement for the security of our nation. A casual and superficial look at recent combat operations makes this difficult to decipher. The answer to this argument lies in the institutional and operational ethos of the Army and Marine Corps. The Army is a large force, conducting what is called the Methodical Battle. This genre of operation seeks to destroy the enemy’s ability to resist by attacking and eliminating enemy personnel, equipment, and property. In contrast, the Corps engages in Maneuver Warfare. This style of engagement seeks to eliminate the enemy’s willingness to resist by employing rapid, violent, continuous and opportunistic attacks upon enemy weaknesses. The summary of the misunderstood mission of the Marine Corps is found in “versatility.” We are a force that the president may call upon without Congressional authorization to defend the Constitution or American interests abroad. Marines are always deployed across the globe and prepared to rapidly react to any situation when ordered to do so. We ensure the safety of U.S. citizens abroad, protect American embassies, continually develop the strategic and doctrinal applications of amphibious warfighting, and augment the capabilities of the other branches of our military, boosting the overall effectiveness of U.S. military capability and versatility. Abolishing our Corps would drastically reduce our military’s effectiveness by eliminating the doctrine of Maneuver Warfare: further gelding our military establishment. see MARINES |17

The

Vanguard

August 23, 2010

POINT COUNTERPOINT The

Vanguard

Should USA relax its dormitory rules?

Rules keep students safe

If Housing doesn’t enforce them, why have them?

The word “dorm” is a responsibility living in these dorms. loaded paradigm. Images of Problems range from complete cinder blocks, white walls and disregard for rules to utter lack of communal bathrooms come to common sense. mind. If it’s raining, drive through the Or toting a plastic case of Delta Parking lot and count the peoshampoo while trying to be as ple smoking on the balconies. Look modest as possible with that at the blue paint on the sign behind Disney beach towel that you them prohibthought was cute when you iting smoking bought it. Luckily, at USA, our within 25 feet Cassie dorms are much more indeof all campus pendent. Fambro buildings. Our dorms are a lot more It happens. like apartments than other housing faciliYou hear the ties at other schools, and we are lucky in stories about allsome ways with that, as well as more at night binges, 30 risk. people in a two Rules at USA’s dorms are stricter when bedroom dorm, you are a freshman student living in one and drunken of the Epsilon buildings than the Deltas, sexcapades with which have exterior doors. The Epsilon roommate presdoors provide a hotel-esque setting with ent on the other locked exterior and interior doors, along side of that bulky with having same-sex resident advisers on dresser divider. each gender-specific hall. It’s not as if the When a student moves out of the fresh- RA’s can magiman dorms and into the Deltas or Beta/ cally know these Gammas, things get trickier. things happen. It Rules are out there, and you signed say- takes someone to ing that you read them. tell them for them No, your boyfriend/girlfriend should to know most ocnot be sleeping with you every night and casions. you shouldn’t have that stash of Crown in When you do tell them, they can be the box on your top shelf. But it happens. some of the most truly helpful people you Resident advisers have important can reach out to. When you have exhaustjobs, first and foremost for the safety of ed all your options with your crazy roomstudents. mate, that is what your RA’s are there for. It’s not their job to open your drawers While rules are not always readily and look for pot, and they’re also not alsee RULES | 17 lowed to. You truly have a lot of personal

I’m a self-proclaimed veteran bottles of vodka, cans of Bud, of campus housing. I’ve lived on and boxes of beer flattened on campus for two years and I plan the road outside of some of the on staying here. dorms. I’ve gone through four It’s not only a major violation semesters of dorm move-ins, of a rule, but it’s unsightly check-outs, and everything in and makes the campus look between. altogether trashy and forgotten. The Another violation of a fairly residence simple rule is quiet hours. hall rules I have worked diligently on Genny are ones a paper at 3 a.m. only to be Roman that I’ve annoyed and distracted by my seen and know of neighbors’ raucous. It left me to wonder pretty intimately, whether they just didn’t have a lot to do and I mean the next day, but the thing is I shouldn’t intimately (wink be wondering that at all. wink). If it’s not already common While the rules knowledge, dorm walls are thin; there’s are sensible and no padding or insulation to keep the don’t ask for a lot noise down. I’ve heard things from of unnecessary laughing to harsh arguments, and I’ve restrictions, the even heard people in the throes of adherence to and passion (i.e. having sex, or at least what execution of these I hope was sex … yikes), at odd hours of rules is lacking. the morning and night. I’ve seen and I understand that these things will experienced many happen, but it’s inconsiderate especially a rule violation, when you know others can very well so I can say hear you. wholeheartedly There are a lot of dorm violations that go on at South. An abbreviated Genny Roman / Copy Editor there has to be something done list would include smoking in dorm about it. bathrooms, having pets, and hosting The biggest problem with residence visitors after hours. hall violations has to be alcohol. These go on not because the rules are USA is a “dry campus”; no alcohol unreasonable and dorm residents feel gets in, and funny enough, no alcohol they have to stick it to the man; it’s just gets out without being completely that people don’t care about the rules. consumed. I’ve seen strewn-about see HOUSING |17

Student View Should Dorm Rules be Relaxed?

“Yes, I don’t think you need to have someone check in. I do not think that visitors should spend the night because of respect for your roommate.”

“Yes, if you want to see someone you should be able to see them for as long as you can.”

Chase Webb Freshman Physical Therapy

“Yes, generally people in college are old enough to make their own decisions.”

Emily Jarmon Sophomore Physical Therapy

Nick Price Freshman Engineering

“No, I’ve never had a problem with them. From what I’ve heard from other college students, at other schools, our rules are pretty relaxed.”

Morgan Turner Junior Speech & Hearing Sciences

“Yeah, a little bit. You shouldn’t get in too much of trouble if someone stayed longer past 2 (a.m.) or something like that.”

“I think the dorm rules are relaxed now, it just depends on your R.A.”

Byron Walker Sophomore Mechanical Engineering

Deon Smith Sophomore Physical Therapy

The

Vanguard

August 23, 2010

Housing from page 15

They think their actions are harmless, but the rules are there for a reason. Rules protect everyone in communal living from having to suffer the worst parts of that type of community. The major issue with dorm rules is enforcement. The residency staff does the best they can with what they have, so it’s not entirely on their shoulders. A lot of stuff does slide, though. I have seen with my own poor-sighted eyes residents bring in six-packs of booze under the cover of night and I have heard loud music and voices at otherwise inappropriate hours. Enforcement would not be such an issue if the rules reflected the way students actually live. For example, other universities have policies that allow visitors for all hours, even opposite gender visitors (Ooh la la!), but of course there are conditions that come with it. What can be done about the most obvious of dorm problems, our dear lady alcohol? It might go back to the dry campus rule. What if USA were to re-evaluate its alcohol policy? Alcohol could be permitted on campus, but with certain

The

Vanguard

August 23, 2010

restrictions that would make it harder for younger students to have access to it. If the fear is that students younger than 21 will drink, the horrible truth is that some students under the legal drinking age will consume alcohol. It’s a matter of how these students approach situations where alcohol is involved. If USA were not a dry campus, there could be mandatory seminars advising students to be cautious with alcohol, including values assessment and making good decisions if they choose to drink. Alcohol shouldn’t be treated like an elephant in the room; it needs to be talked about in realistic manner, not encouraged but not ignored. Florida State University has an alcohol policy that is reasonable for those over the drinking age yet it’s vigilant of violators to the policy. There may be those who willfully violate the rules and even the legal drinking age, but they are dealt with accordingly. The USA Housing rules have a good baseline for what to expect from its residents. However, so many rules wouldn’t be broken if said rules were rewritten to consider the way most people actually live.

Rules

Budget

enforced, they are present, and, when the proper authorities know about the indiscretion, they can act upon them. USA’s worst dorm problem has to do with the parking lots. Recall last semester’s massive vandalism incident where dozens of cars were brutalized with a baseball bat in broad daylight. Students are robbed, cars vandalized and harassment occurs in the parking lots. The rule that vehicles in the dorms must have a USA parking tag is not enforced, and it is to the danger of dorm students. With USA’s police department located in the housing area this semester, I hope to see this improve drastically. South Alabama is not going to coddle you after your Epsilon experience. You are expected to be an adult and conduct yourself responsibly. While the rules may be lax at times, if students inform the right people, swift action is sure to follow. College is a time to test boundaries, and while there are boundaries here at South, you have a lot of room to bend before you break.

should have been all along -- a selfsupporting account, especially when the University is hurting so bad financially that it has to resort to desperate cost-saving measures like moving school back a week, which saved about $50,000. This is something that could easily save more than six times that amount.

from page 15

www.usavanguard.com Go there.

from page 14

Marines from page 14

Socially, its abolition would destroy one of our nation’s most prized and respected institutions; one which inspires pride in our people, and fear in our enemies. Any opinion in favor of abolishing the Marine Corps is either ignorant or sinister. If the tenor of Gates’ recent remarks is a masked opening salvo against the Marine Corps, the same two causal factors shall apply to our (soon to be retired) foolish secretary as well. The American people will not stand for such an action, and more importantly, neither will Marines. If this action were put into actual practice it would cause a reaction that would make the Bonus Army of the 1930s look like a pack of Girl Scouts selling cookies to their ballet teacher. Gates: do the nation a favor and “Keep your hands off of my Corps!”

Distractions

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Sudoku

August 23, 2010

Sudoku puzzles brought to you by USA’s Student Health Center. To make an appointment, call 251-460-7151. Rules: Fill each row, column, and square of nine boxes with the numbers one through nine without repeating any. Answer keys provided on the website.

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“To me, it look like a leprechaun to me.” -George Fiscotti “And I was like, ‘Girlfriend, you gotta check yo’self before you wreck yo’self.’” -Lauren Waverly

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August 23, 2010

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August 23, 2010