Vanguard The
September 13, 2010
VOLUME 48, NUMBER 7
New Rec Center Seeing Heavy Student Traffic
Lady Jags Take On Georgia State
Matthew Peterson
MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
The administration already calls the new Student Recreation Center a resounding success, even after being open for a little more than two weeks. “I am very pleased with how things are going in the new Recreation Center,” Dr. John Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, said. “The number of students, faculty, and staff using the facility is extremely high, and the feedback we are receiving from them is all positive.” The numbers bear this out, too: Between 1,800 and 2,000 people visit the Recreation Center every weekday compared to about 600 in the old facility, according to Recreation Director Dr. Philip Theodore. “It’s an incredibly positive place for students to come and enjoy themselves in a healthy atmosphere,” Theodore said. “It’s doing wonders for the University community.” “I believe the popularity of the facility is due to the wide variety of options available and the high quality of the equipment that is available to use,” Smith said. “Also, the beauty and comfort of the facility is almost overwhelming, and that word is spreading quickly around campus.” “It’s pretty cool,” Tuguldur Mendbayar, a freshman English-as-a-Second-Language student, said. “But the locker room is too far away.” Once renovations are done, the locker room and pools will be connected through a hall that is now being renovated. The Rec Center has done this without one of its main attractions: a smoothie bar to be located near the facility’s entrance. Smith expects the bar to be fully operational by early October, but ARAMARK is looking at offering various drinks and snacks at the location “very soon.” “It’s really nice and big,” Rachel Wyers, a sophomore Political Science major, said. “Now I have no excuse not to work out. The one problem I have is that no one helped me in the workout room.” The new Rec Center is located on Stadium Drive near Old Shell Road and is open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Inside
Police Blotter p. 2
Correction: An Aug. 30 article reported that Claire Alger-Young was gathering her belongings at Paul Bryan Young’s house to take them back to Penelope House (PH), a Mobile organization that aids domestic violence victims. Alger-Young was not part of the program at that time. PH staff stressed that victims are advised not to return to their perpetrator’s residence.
Colin McGee / Photo Editor
Sophomore Forward Lauren Marsh, from Fairhope, Ala., guides the ball passed by a Georgia State defender during Sunday’s game at The Cage. USA’s soccer team hosted Georgia State University, Troy, and Sam Houston State for the 2010 Port City Classic. The Lady Jags tied with Georgia State 1-1, scoring no points in overtime.
Admin: Gamma Parking Probably Heavier This Year Dean Harrison
indicates people are starting to discover the Gamma parking lot. “It’s only about a five minute Parking on campus has been a hotwalk from most of the academic button issue for many USA students buildings,” he said. “Not sure if [the who drive and have complained about overcrowding] can also be attributed overcrowded parking lots and limited to the new Student Rec Center.” spaces impeding their efforts to get to “Stadium drive will probably be class on time in the morning. heavily parked during the day because Though this year’s official campus of the Student Rec Center,” Willis parking survey numbers have yet to added. “In the past it’s been fairly be released, Director of Facilities lightly parked because it was more of Management Chris Willis said he has an after-hours housing parking lot.” a “gut feeling” Other than that, that the biggest Willis doesn’t expect surprise will any more surprises "It just seems like there's come from the to come from this more of a problem in parking lot year’s survey of the concentrated [parking] areas." between the parking situation on Engineering campus. Building and -Mary Candace Vegliacich “It just seems Gamma dorms. Communication Senior like there’s more “After driving of a problem by and talking in concentrated to people, it [parking] areas,” looks to be more heavily parked than Mary Candace Vegliacich, a senior in the past,” said Willis, who oversees majoring in Communication, said the annual surveys. about the parking situation on campus. Senior English major May Laughton “I can’t even park over by the library concurred with that assessment. “It’s like I like to.” gotten bad,” she said. That sentiment is echoed by May According to Willis, that possibly see PARKING | 8 ASSOCIATE EDITOR millhaven1982@yahoo.com
Etc. p. 6
Sports p. 9
Tea: Warming the Body and the Soul See Etc., page 6
Opinion p. 12
Will the Saints Retain the Crown? See Sports, page 10
Serving USA Since 1965
Foundation Passes Brookley Resolution
Daniela Werner
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF danielawerner87@gmail.com
The University of South Alabama Foundation approved a resolution to purchase 300 acres in Brookley Field from the University at its meeting Thursday, which was held at USA’s Brookley Center after a bus tour of the property. The purchase, which also includes some of USA’s rental property, is intended by the University to fund the pediatric facility expansion planned for USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, the Foundation’s managing director, Maxey Roberts, told the board Thursday. The Foundation, which exists to benefit USA but works independently of it, has agreed to pay for the $20 million arrangement in five annual payments of $4 million to USA. The facilities at Brookley Center include Middle Bay Café and some lodging services. The University also had some education programs on the property. The University waited on selling the property, Vice President for Financial Affairs Wayne Davis said, in case Mobile’s Air Force tanker contract came to fruition. The property could have been sold to the company building the tankers for “a nice chunk of change,” Davis said in August. When the contract was delayed, USA jumped at the chance to sell the property and accepted the Foundation’s bid, according to Davis. The Foundation was the sole bidder on Brookley Center. The arrangement allows USA to retain rights to the property until the $20 million is paid in full. Should the Foundation receive an offer for the property before then, the amount can be prepaid, allowing the group to obtain the property title and sell whatever parts of Brookley Center it wants to. “It’s the best arrangement we can make right now,” USA President Gordon see BROOKLEY| 8
Distractions p. 14
Is the War in Iraq Really Over? See Opinion, page 13