April 18, 2016

APRIL 18, 2016

VOL. 57 #30

Josh Crownover

elected SGA president

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LIFE USA holds first ever Jag Jam

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SPORTS Softball wins on road

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OPINION Be sustaiable

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APRIL 18, 2016

Crownover named SGA president Sophomore claims 55 percent of over 2,000 runoff votes

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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fter nearly a month of SGA elections, South Alabama students named sophomore Josh Crownover the next SGA president.

Crownover defeated junior DJ Parten with 55 percent of the student votes. A record 2,209 students voted in the runoffs, only about 200 less than the first election votes.

Throughout the campaign, the presidential candidates faced vandalism of their campaign materials and even exchanged letters to the editor in The Vanguard.

Crownover said he talked to Parten since and said he hopes to work together in the future.

“I spoke to DJ before and after the results came out. I am really hoping to work with him,” Crownover said. “DJ is passionate about a lot of things, and I think we need more of that. For those who voted for him because they believed he’d be a better president, know that I’d like to work with him and move forward from what was said during the campaign.”

Crownover said that his focus going in as president would be to build off of the good that SGA has done this year, while looking at improvements that would go beyond his time at South Alabama.

“I really want to continue the good things we’ve done through SGA, but also really

focus on the improvements we can make long term,” Crownover said. “In terms of the South experience and make it something tangible, something people can feel and take with them after they graduate.”

After the results, Crownover and current SGA President Ravi Rajendra shook hands and even “passed the brick,” to the 19-year-old president-elect.

Crownover said he has talked to Rajendra but it has been mostly friendly banter. In the next couple weeks, the two will focus more on the transition.

“We have spoken a lot, but you know Ravi likes to kid around a lot so not too much advice just yet” Crownover said. “ But we are really hoping to work together on the transition so that we can really hit the ground running in May.” SGA officers will be sworn in on April 25, just over two weeks difference from when Crownover learned he would be SGA president.

The sophomore said it was a “surreal” feeling.

“I’m definitely feeling a whole bunch of different emotions, excitement is one,” Crownover said. “I remember plain as day watching Ravi and the other officers being sworn in. The senators are too, but being in a line as a group is not the same as being by yourself.”

Crownover didn’t just have student supporters, but also a support group right down the road. Being from Satsuma, Crownover’s

SGA President

Sophmore Josh Crownover won 55 percent of the runoff votes.

(Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) family was with him to cheer him on.

“There’s definitely lots of love on that side,” Crownover said.

His mother was by his side when he found out he would be South Alabama’s next SGA president.

“My mom asked me if it was weird her being up here, and I said “maybe,” but she is definitely my biggest supporter,” Crownover said. “I love having her around. She supports me, nags me and pushes me, but if it were not for her

Results

pushing me, I don’t know where I’d be.”

Crownover said he is thankful to all who helped him throughout the campaigning process and to the South Alabama student body who voted for him.

“It’s going to be an amazing feeling knowing I was elected by the students and that I get to represent them,” Crownover said. “Thank you to those who voted for me, but this is just the beginning. It’s time to get going on what we want to see done at this University.”

SGA Vice President

Darshan Patel takes VP, amendment passes

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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arshan Patel was named South Alabama’s SGA vice president.

Patel defeated Roger Cook with 57.3 percent of the 2,175 votes cast for the vice president position.

“I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet,” Patel said. “I am really looking forward to this year.”

Patel held the position of president pro tempore for the past year in SGA. “I didn’t expect to run for vice president, honestly,” Patel said. “But I just fell in love with South more and more. Being in SGA and meeting students and new people, it’s become a passion. Thank you to those who voted for me,

and Go Jags.”

A SGA constitutional amendment was included in the runoff ballots. Every change made to the SGA constitution must be ratified by the student body.

The student body approved the change with 74.2 of the votes cast.

The SGA senate clerk previously received $200 a month for taking minutes during

meetings and posting them on the SGA website. The SGA reduced the senate clerk’s pay from $200 a month to $200 a semester.

The amendment change will take place immediately after being approved.

New SGA officers will be sworn in on Monday, April 25 during the SGA banquet.

The new officers will take over the roles completely.

APRIL 18, 2016

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Editorial Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Opinion Editor Life Editor Staff Reporters

Alyssa Kaitlyn Newton

Mitchell Kahalley Micaela Walley Caitlin Smith Natalie Franklin Bria Johnson Tori Brackett Josh Rutledge

Staff Photographer Emily Rodrick

Distribution

Distribution Alan Smith

Advertising

Advertising Cristina Werner Graphic Designer Katelyn Huff

Management Advising J. Sellers J. Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan

Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama Alpha Hall South Room 336 Mobile, Ala., 36688.

Or thevanguardeditor@gmail.com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity.

Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, e-mail thevanguardeditor@gmail.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. Freelance writers will receive payment at the discretion of the section editor and will be notified.

To request additional issues at a stand near you, email: vanguarddistribution@gmail.com

Nick Grondin | Staff Meteorologist

USAPD blotter

If you SEE something 251-460-6312 SAY something!

04/07/2016 Stokes Hall Domestic Incident/Disorderly Conduct There was a domestic dispute between two individuals in Stokes Hall.

04/06/2016 Moulton Tower Criminal Mishief Third Degree Bell tower marble was vandalized.

04/05/2016 Delta 4 Criminal Mischief Third Degree Window was broken by unknown person - no entry was made.

04/04/2016 Stokes Hall Medical Emergency Student suffered a medical emergency and was transported to the hospital.

04/04/2016 Mitchell Center Criminal Mischief Third Degree Unknown person(s) vandalized the Jaguar statue in the north courtyard of the Mitchell Center by writing on it.

04/04/2016 The Grove Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree A student was arrested at the Grove for criminal trespassing 3/23/2016 Recreation Center Property Damage On 3/23/2016 between the times of 17:10 hours and 17:15 hours, a property damage incident occurred in the lower parking lot of the Recreation Center of the University of South Alabama involving a bicycle and a vehicle.

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APRIL 18, 2016

Student cited for empty gun holster

University rescinds citation after backlash, officer responsible suspended without pay

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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he president of Students for Concealed Carry was given a disciplinary citation for wearing an empty gun holster.

DJ Parten was wearing an empty holster during a free speech event held by the Young Americas for Liberty.

The protest, held on college campuses throughout the country, is part of an effort to promote the legalization of concealed carry by licensed individuals on college campuses.

University police approached Parten and a fellow member Kenneth Tews in the Student Center during their protest.

The officers asked if Parten, a student since 2014, knew the weapons policy. Parten said yes and recorded the incident on his cell phone “Is it because I’m wearing a holster?” Parten asked in the video.

“It is because somebody called it in,” the officer said. “You’ve been a student since 2014, you know there’s no weapons policy out here, then you want to push it.”

According to The Lowdown student handbook, “all weapons are prohibited in University housing buildings, parking lots, and on University property… this includes, but is not limited to, bullets, ball bearing bullets, bullet balls, pellets, firearms, guns, knives, paintball guns, air guns, hunting bows, archery bows, swords, martial arts weapons, and replicas

DJ Parten (far right) was given a citation for his empty holster. The citation was rescinded and one officer was suspended. (Photo | DJ Parten) of such weapons. Toy and water guns are prohibited.”

“I was shocked when he told me it was against the weapons policy since it’s clearly not a weapon,” Parten said.

In the video, the officers then took Parten to the side and told him that what he was doing “is not against the rules or the law.”

“When we get a call thinking somebody might have a gun, you have to be polite and

cooperative, because if you start being difficult, it looks like you’re carrying something,” the officer said. “We do things for your safety as well as mine.

“So next time, smile. Yes. No. Be polite and respectful. This would go a whole lot smoother.”

Parten was then issued a citation that his empty holster was “causing alarm,” referring to section 7G in The Lowdown, Prohibited Conduct.

The section defines causing alarm as “intentionally or recklessly misusing or damaging fire or other safety equipment; use or possession of fireworks or incendiary, dangerous, or noxious devices or materials which have not been authorized by University officials; or intentionally initiating or causing any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.”

He was also cited for section 7N, which states that actions violating university rules, regulations, or policies are prohibited. Parten said his rights were violated by the University.

“They stopped the activism of two others to deal with me and tried to silence me in the process by asking me to remove my holster and not continue with what I was doing,” Parten said.

The University rescinded the citation and stated that it “should not have been issed.”

“Upon further investigation, it has been determined that the citation should not have been issued and it has been rescinded,” South Alabama spokesman Bob Lowry stated.

“University Police are conducting an internal investigation of the matter.”

The investigation lead to apologies from the officers to both students and a five-day suspension for one officer.

“University Police conducted an internal investigation of the matter,” the University said in a statement. “As a result, Officer David Turppa was suspended for five days without pay.

Officer Turppa and Officer Steve Gordon both apologized to the students involved.”

SGA approves Buzz app, The Prowl to gain platform

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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he student government association has approved a bill to fund The Buzz app, the phone app will include news and content tailored specifically to South Alabama.

Streams within the app will include USA Today news, The Vanguard, The Prowl as well as another University based stream. The app will be free to students and be available for iPhone and Android.

Kinsley Knapp, a nursing senator and StudentAt-Large elect, took on the challenge of creating The Buzz app. The app had been presented to SGA for the past two years.

“I took on this bill because The Buzz app is something I fully support and I believe our students can benefit immensely from The Buzz,” Knapp said. “After speaking to many students, there is an interest in this app and I cannot wait to see it come to our campus.”

South Alabama has been a part of the Collegiate Readership Program for two decades, which provides USA Today, The Press Register and the Lagniappe.

Knapp worked with USA Today to alter SGA’s current budget for the Collegiate Readership Program to allow some of those already allocated funds be put towards The Buzz.

“Based off of data that has been collected, we have altered the locations of the print newspapers and reduced the amount that is delivered on days with lower rates of being picked up by students,” Knapp said. “The total cost reduction from print papers from these few changes is just over $5,000

that can be put towards The Buzz.”

The original SGA budget allocated $9,000 for the printed papers provided by the readership program. With the altered budget and The Buzz included, that total will come out to $11,000.

The Department of Communication has pledged $1,000 to cut into that cost, leaving only a $1,000 difference from the original budget allocation.

The papers will still be delivered throughout the campus. The new bill cut down the number of circulated papers and two locations that did not see a lot of traffic.

The Buzz will also serve as a platform for the University student radio station The Prowl.

“The passing of The Buzz app was a huge victory for Jag Media and even bigger for The Prowl,” said Adam Shubert, operations manager of The Prowl.

In the past year, The Prowl has faced multiple obstacles while trying to broadcast to the student body.

“In the span of one semester we were taken off the USA app, we constantly have to deal with people confusing us for the student center, and the athletic department opened up the Jag, which has caused us to lose our identity on campus by getting drowned by entities that people think are us,” he said.

Shubert said that The Buzz gave The Prowl the platform that they’ve needed for the past couple of years.

“The establishment of this app gives us a place in campus life,” he said. “It is hard to explain to someone to download a whole app just to listen to

your station. We are a station for the students run by students, we just want them to hear us. We want to reach them in the most convenient way possible and I feel that this app is the answer.”

Business senator DJ Parten, who is among the senators against approving The Buzz app, said that he wants to see the money allocated more responsibly.

“I voted against The Buzz app because I did not see the logic behind spending money on a service that is already offered for free,” Parten said. “The bill took money from one program that needed to be cut back and spent it on a new program that was not needed at all. That $11,000 would have been better spent on appropriations or other expenses that would better benefit the students.”

To Parten, the program is “a waste of money.”

“Some people prefer to read a paper copy of the news as opposed to reading it online, myself included,” Parten said. “However, with the content of those papers readily available for free online, it is a waste of money to purchase that information.”

Only Parten and continuing education senator Carter Phillips voted against the bill for the app.

Phillips said that he had reservations about the spending the money on something he feared “students wouldn’t use.”

“SGA has been on a spending frenzy the past few meetings,” Phillips said. “We’re well over budget for senate projects, appropriations is getting down to the wire and we are pushing too many things forward without thinking about the long term effects … I think it is important to have access to student run media, but SGA is getting out of its mean.”

Arts and Sciences senator Zachary Weidlich voted in favor of The Buzz app and said he believed that it will benefit the University.

“I voted in favor of The Buzz app for multiple reasons,” Weidlich said. “First of all, cutting down on excess hard copy newspapers, while moving toward more online news consumption, falls right in line with the University’s attempts to increase sustainability.

“Additionally, I believe that The Buzz app helps keep us up to date with current trends and technology. But the biggest reason why I support The Buzz app is that I think it will result in our collegiate readership program growing larger than ever.

“Most of us college students have crazy routines, and personally I don’t have time to sit down and read an entire physical newspaper every week. However, sometimes I may have 2 or 3 minutes, and I would love to use those few minutes to skim through a story or two on The Buzz app.”

Weidlich said he didn’t have a problem with spending extra money if it benefits the students.

“I think that sometimes we have this mindset where spending any additional money is a bad thing,” Weidlich said. “But, this is not always the case. If this extra money is successful at encouraging reading and helping students be more informed about current issues around us, then why not give it a shot? Some things are worth spending money on, and I firmly believe this is one of those things.”

After the bill passed, Knapp will work with USA Today on the first steps of bringing The Buzz to the student body.

APRIL 18, 2016

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Peace Corps confernece looking for individuals to serve

By BRIA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

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he Peace Corps will host a videoconference Wednesday, April 20 from 2-3:30 pm in the Marx library, room 181 for those interested in joining the organization.

The video conference will feature Erica Wherry, the southeastern regional recruiter.

Wherry who is a returned volunteer traveled to Madagascar from 2010-2012. The video conference will also have current and past volunteers from various programs.

The Peace Corps is a career and service opportunity and is open to students from any major. Peace Corps volunteers currently serve in over 60 countries.

Volunteers serve in four types of programs including: the traditional two-year program, specialist three-to-12 month programs, oneyear health service (for medical professionals) and hybrid degree/service programs. The Peace Corps also offers a masters program.

Students can experience a two-year internship while getting credit toward their degree.

Laureen Fregeau, who served in Guatemala from 1980-1982, said that the Peace Corps is a life changing experience. Fregeau served in fisheries in Guatemala. She began her experience with a medical background, but soon change of heart and changed to social justice.

“I saw the lack of social justice in the world,” said Fregeau, who spent her volunteer time in Guatemala during a civil war. “I remember thinking of how little they have and how much we have. It really changes your perspective of the world.”

She said that she made lasting friendships and met local people that still consider her family.

Fregeau said the Peace Corps is for anyone who is willing to accept the challenge of living in a developing country for two years. If they can accept it, Fregeau said it may be a good fit.

Fregeau said that very little is required to apply, but it is very selective.

Only three requirements are needed: Applicants must fill out the online application, have a completed undergraduate degree and be in good health.

Fregeau encourages any students interested to attend and the questions they want answered, no matter the subject matter.

For more information on the Peace Corps, visit the Peace Corps website and read blogs about other volunteers experiences at www. peacecorps.gov.

USA students fundraise for Camp Kesem

By BRIA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

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he Camp Kesem chapter at the University of South Alabama hosted the “Make the Magic” fundraising dinner Saturday, April 16 in the Student Center Ballroom. The fundraiser was in support of children whose parents are battling or have overcome cancer.

As attendees entered the event, they were asked to make up a camp name and were addressed by that name for the remainder of the event, just like at camp.

Brea “Gummy Bear’ Potts said that this is one of the bigger events that Camp Kesem hosts, but it’s not the only one. “We have many events around campus, we’ll have activities where we basically take donations,” said Potts, a Senior healthcare management major and marketing coordinator for Camp Kesem.

Camp Kesem has hosted many fundraisers throughout the school year where they accept monetary donations, including an ice cream social and random acts of kindness day.

At the event, several stations were set up for attendees to have an opportunity to donate. At

the ‘Fund in need’ station, attendees could choose a campers need like a meal for a week or camp supplies that they would fund. At the auction station, attendees could participate in the silent auction for a chance at buying many goods donated. There was also a photo booth and banquet style food.

Guest speaker, Bradlee “Hawkeye” Bates, attended Camp Florida State University last year and shared his experience from living with a parent with cancer to his time at camp, with the audience.

Bates had help choosing a camp name from his late father, who passed away after fighting a nine year battle with melanoma cancer.

“I realized I was different than most kids, but at camp, we all have the same background,” said Bates.

“I highly recommend it because it was great for me to do and everyone that has been to Camp Kesem, I’ve always heard great things afterwards.”

Bates plans to attend USA next year as a counselor in training for Camp Kesem.

Camp Kesem is a national non-profit community, driven by passionate college students who support children facing the stressful life of their parents having cancer or parents who have survived cancer.

This camp is not only a relief for the kids, but for the parents as well. The camp lasts for one week

and allows the campers to learn how to express themselves as well as being able to overcome the strain that cancer has placed on their lives.

“I loved the idea that we support so many children who are often overlooked...and it’s so rewarding to see these kids,” said Courtney “Bubbles” Deason, a Junior biomedical sciences major. “They do need support and they do need someone there for them, and I love being that person.”

South’s students, faculty, staff and the community were invited to support and attend this service project event. There was music, camp games and camp stories to put participants into the camp spirit. All proceeds went towards sending 42 children to Camp Kesem for free this Summer.

South’s Camp Kesem coordinators raised $30,000 last year and sent 25 children to camp for free. This year, they are hoping to raise $40,000.

USA’s Camp Kesem counselors builds, relationships with the campers and their families throughout the year by staying in touch through Facebook, having reunions periodically and attending campers soccer games.

The South Alabama Camp Kesem supports the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana area. The camp will be held at Camp Cosby on June 5-10.

SeaWorld ends orca breeding Local biologists react to the well-known organization’s announcement

By TORI BRACKETT Staff Reporter

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ue to thousands of complaints across the globe, SeaWorld announced that they would no longer be exhibiting their famous Orca whales in shows for the public.

According a March 18 release on their website SeaWorldCares, “Times have changed, and we are changing with them. The killer whales currently in our care will be the last generation of killer whales at SeaWorld.

“The company will end all orca breeding as of today.”

On March 8, SeaWorld announced on their Facebook page that Tilikum, the orca responsible for the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, was dealing with serious health issues and was quickly deteriorating. This caused an uproar on the internet, which was one of the reasons that SeaWorld decided to discontinue using Tilikum in its breeding program.

Throughout the years, SeaWorld has faced much controversy, including the short film “Blackfish,” which highlighted the severity of wounds, possible psychological damage, and maltreatment of the animals in SeaWorld’s care.

SeaWorld will not be ending all shows and will continue allowing guests to observe orcas through new educational encounters, including expanding and creating more natural habitats for the animals. SeaWorldCares said the shows will no longer focus on the theatrical, but will focus on “orca enrichment, exercise and overall health.”

“SeaWorld’s initial response was that they would double or triple the size of the orca tanks,” said Jack O’Brien of the biology department at South Alabama. “However, a creature that swims hundreds of miles won’t see the tank the same as the Puget Sound it swam in. This takes money.”

SeaWorld announced they will end all orca breeding programs.The organization had not collected an orca from the wild in 40 years. (Photo | SeaWorld) The money needed for these tanks comes from patrons who come to SeaWorld for educational experiences, which are something SeaWorld plans to maintain in its relationship with its customers.

No orcas have been captured in the last 40 years, and all of the orcas in their possession, including whale Takara and her year-old calf, will remain at the parks throughout the duration of their lives.

“These orcas have never lived in the wild and could not survive in oceans that include environmental concerns such as pollution and other man-made threats”, according to the “Last Generation” link on the SeaWorldCares website.

“If released, these animals would die very quickly,” O’Brien said. “They’re social animals and haven’t been trained to catch their own food. Even if they returned them to the same pod, the individuals in the pod would reject them.”

“Their treatment and care of those animals is second to none,” said Ruth Carmichael, a senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

“SeaWorld has told the public that some animals generally don’t do well in captivity, and I think that they are phasing the orcas out because they are on of those animals that doesn’t do well in captivity.”

SeaWorld began the television program Sea Rescue in 2012. Sea Rescue assists organizations across the country, including Alabama and Florida, to provide care for stranded and wounded animals, such as marine mammals, birds, and other organisms, before releasing them.

“Public perception has really changed in recent years and the argument can be made that people appreciate things that they can see and they can touch, but public awareness of conservation issues is a good thing,” Carmichael said. “I hope that this change reflects a broader change in public understanding of the great things that SeaWorld is doing that are very critical to the welfare and the protection of these mammals.”

These changes at SeaWorld will go into effect in 2019 at both the Orlando and San Francisco parks.

LIFE

NATALIE FRANKLIN LIFE EDITOR nsf1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

APRIL 18, 2016

Jag Jam, South Alabama’s music festival

By NATALIE FRANKLIN Life Editor

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ove aside Coachella, South Alabama has its very own music festival. Jaguar Productions hosted “Jag Jam” on Saturday, April 16.

The usually quiet Student Center Amphitheater was transformed into a scene reminiscent of most music festivals. A large stage with bright lights was placed in front of Meisler Hall, and students were lounging around the grassy area, sitting atop blankets and swaying to the music.

The show started at 5 p.m., that time of day when the sun is almost gone and twilight is approaching. The weather was perfectly cool, not too hot and not too cold.

The entire atmosphere was ideal for a music festival.

Three bands performed at “Jag Jam,” Lillie Lemon, The Speedbumps and Farewell Flight.

Farewell Flight is an alternative band out of Tennessee. Their sound is your typical alternative sound, a mixture of rock and folk. The Speedbumps is a folk band from Ohio. Their sound, which includes the guitar and the cello, is weirdly ethereal.

And what music festival wouldn’t be complete without some kind of electro pop

Events of the Week

18 The Speedbumps performed at “Jag Jam” on Saturday, April 16. (Natalie Franklin | Life Editor) duo. Lillie Lemon, hailing all the way from California, has that electronic sound that basically defines most of today’s music.

Along with good music, “Jag Jam” provided food and games. The menu was comprised of the classic cookout foods. There were burgers, hot dogs and coleslaw, along with desserts and other things.

Some students enjoyed a game of volleyball, but for the most parts, students

were there to enjoy free food and live music.

Jaguar Productions gave out free tshirts and also gave away one Hangout Fest ticket and two tickets to Twenty One Pilots for their Orange Beach performance in August.

The mini music festival was a success.

“Jag Jam” is sure to become an annual event for South Alabama.

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Active Minds displays exhibit to share secrets 20

By NATALIE FRANKLIN Life Editor

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veryone has a secret. Some secrets are deep, some are dark, and some are even humorous. No matter what kind of secret you’re harboring, South Alabama’s Active Minds hosted an event to get those secrets off your chest.

Active Minds is a non profit organization that seeks to encourage students to openly speak about mental health in order to educate others and promote helpseeking. According to South Alabama’s Active Minds’ Facebook page, they are “dedicated to utilizing the student voice to raise mental health awareness on campus and in Mobile.”

The group presented an interactive exhibit entitled, “PostSecretU”, that displays the innermost secrets of South’s students, faculty and staff. “PostSecretU” enabled you to post your secrets on note cards that were displayed in the Student Center Lobby. The exhibit showed all last week. People were able to add comments to any secret using sticky notes. The purpose of the exhibit was to provide a safe, anonymous space to share our secrets.

According to the Active Minds Face-

The Plastic Ocean Project Presentation Student Center Room 211 5:30- 7:30 p.m.

book page, the exhibit displayed 78 secrets, which was an increase from last year’s exhibit.

The secret’s varied in topic and severity. Some secrets were lighthearted, “I just want to be done with school already!” and “I don’t like to wear bras...but sadly I still do.”

Other secrets were more heavy-hearted, “I have Bipolar Disorder and I still

can’t believe I’m ALIVE,” and “I am afraid of being alone in this world.”

Regardless of the secret, people were given an outlet to express themselves and share their deepest secrets without the fear of any backfire.

For more information about Active Minds at South Alabama, check out their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ActiveMindsUSA

PostSecretU was displayed in the Student Center Lobby. Students, faculty and staff were given the chance to anonymously share thier secrets. (Natalie Franklin | Life Editor)

Beginner Yoga Studio 2 5:45- 6:35 p.m.

4 Station Bungee Student Center Amphitheater 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

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Lunch Time with Sergio Rangel Student Center Food Court 12:30- 1:30 p.m.

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USA Opera presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore Laidlaw Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m.

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APRIL 18, 2016

Campus cleanup kicks off Earth Day

Students navigated through the lake with canoes and kayanks to pick up debris and trash. ( Jason Ruffin | Contributing Writer)

By JASON RUFFIN Contributing Writer

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olunteers gathered outside the Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail Sunday to help with a clean-up effort hosted by the USA Sustainability Council.

The clean-up, which was originally scheduled for March 26, but canceled due to rain, encompassed the nature trail along with the swamps and lakes around campus. The sustainability council and the SGA teamed up with Outdoor Adventures to provide kayaks for volunteers to use in South’s swamps. The clean-up was in observance of Earth Day, and

accompanies a lecture and trash audit scheduled for the coming week.

Students found plenty to do on Sunday. Plastic bottles were fished out in piles, along with other trash such as an air conditioning vent, fast-food bags and buckets in the main lake next to the trail.

There was no shortage of things to do as volunteers in kayaks and canoes crawled through limbs and braved alligators to clean up trash.

According to council member Ivy Chastain, The biggest contributor to the trash that gets stuck in South’s lakes are the storm drains. The drains were put in place to catch runoff from the heavy

storms that Mobile sees all too often, but with all that storm water comes the trash people leave behind, and that trash can sit and accumulate in the swamps surrounding the university.

This was the second clean-up the sustainability council has been involved with, and according to President Angela McGough, they plan on hosting one every semester going forward. Students who took part in last semester’s clean-up spoke about dragging tires, baby toys and road signs from the lakes and swamps

around the nature trail.

“The more trash we get out of here the better because three-mile creek starts here at South Alabama and it runs all the way through Mobile, so what we throw in the swamp here will eventually travel, you know, to someone’s house in Mobile,” McGough said Students were not the only ones involved in the clean-up effort. Nationally recognized environmentalist and sculptor, Bonnie Monteleone grabbed a kayak and helped fish trash out of the water with everybody else. If you have visited the student center lately, you may have seen some of Monteleone’s works displayed on the second floor.

Monteleone’s art incorporates trash and litter, in order to raise awareness about pollution in our environment. According to South’s website, Monteleone will share her traveling, “Plastic Ocean Project Presentation,” with students and faculty on Monday, April 18, in the student center at 5:30 p.m. The presentation is free and open to everybody.

Students can get involved with future events by emailing greenjags@gmail. com. “This is a great event,” said McGough, “We’re going to have one in the fall, so it’ll be awesome, the more people we have out here the better, because the more trash we get out of here the better.”

University of South Alabama

Student Health Center of South Alabama Where University good health and healing Begins

Bonnie Monteleone, environmentalist and sculptor, helped clean up South Alabama’s campus on Sunday, April 17. ( Jason Ruffin | Contributing Writer)

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WEB SITE/WEB PORTAL Appointments Preferred/Walk-ins welcome

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SPORTS

STAFF wmk1221@jagmail.southalabama.edu

APRIL 18, 2016

Photo | USAJaguars

Softball breaks school-record SBC win streak The Jags won two games against Georgia Southern by run-rule on Saturday before falling on Sunday

By JOSH RUTLEDGE Staff Reporter

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he University of South Alabama softball team played three games this week, with Wednesday’s being canceled. Of the three games played, South won two, both by run-rule.

USA took an early lead in the first game, an 11-1 ovon the road at Georgia Southern. Haleigh Lowe’s base hit scored Emily Messer for their first run and the first RBI for Lowe, who set a new careerhigh with four in the contest on 2-for-2 hitting. Stephanie Pilkington lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kaleigh Todd later in the inning, doubling USA’s lead to 2-0.

The Jaguars scratched two more across to double the lead, 4-0, an inning later on Lowe’s two-run base hit, which scored Messer and pinch-runner Taylor Stevens.

Stevens substituted in for Alex Breeden, who led off with a walk. The run was the first of Stevens’s career. Georgia Southern struck back with a homerun to left field cutting the lead to three.

Haleigh Lane answered with a leadoff triple in the top of the third, and scored

on Dayla Gulledge’s sacrifice fly, to see the the Jags take a 5-1 lead. USA scored their remaining runs in the fourth, starting with back-to-back leadoff walks from Todd and Lowe. The pair moved into scoring position on Heather Felt’s wild pitch, before Todd scored on an Eagle fielding error that allowed Amanda MInahan to reach. Pilkington supplied an RBI single up the middle to plate Lowe to make it 7-1, and Kristian Foster was hit by a pitch to load the bags full of Jags. Breeden singled to score Minahan, and Gulledge plated Pilkington with a base hit to push their lead to 9-1. Todd took one off the ribs to send runners around, Foster scoring, and Lowe drew a walk for her fourth RBI, as Breeden came around on the play to make it 11-1. Devin Brown retired the Eagle lineup in order in the bottom of the fifth to see the game out.

In the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, the Jaguars clinched the series with a 14-0 win by run-rule.

After walks from Messer and Lowe, Minahan delivered a two-run double to put the Jags up, 2-0. A wild Kierra Camp pitch allowed Pilkington to score and push the Jags ahead by three runs. Lane then grounded out to second to give Minahan time to round home plate. Foster was then

hit by another pitcher, Breeden reached on a fielding error, and Gulledge drew a walk to load the bags. Messer and Todd each supplied back-to-back RBI singles to score Foster and Breeden and put the Jags up, 6-0. Singles from Pilkington and Lane and a Foster walk loaded the bags for Breeden, who drew a walk to score the former. Gulledge then took one off the leg to score Lane to make it 8-0 visitors.

Vicknair retired the Eagles in order for a second time in the bottom of the second, before USA extended its lead to 11-0 with a three scores, all in the top of the third. Minahan started the rally by lifted her team-leading fourth home run over the wall in left field. Lane then singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, scoring on Foster’s subsequent base hit. Freshman Savanna Mayo, in her first at-bat in two weeks, plated Foster with the first of her two doubles – a Jaguar single-game-tying feat. Megan Harris drew a leadoff walk after coming on to pinch hit in the top of the fifth inning and scored on Todd’s RBI infield single, as USA went up, 12-0.

A wild pitch allowed Mayo to score, and Lowe singled to plate Messer for the final winning margin.

The Jaguars took their only loss this week on Sunday, 5-3. South Alabama

jumped ahead of the Eagles, 3-2, in the top of the fourth inning, but a pair of costly Jaguar fielding errors with two outs on the board in the fifth frame ultimately spelled defeat.

After Brown retired a pair in order, Taylor Rogers struck out swinging but reached on the play after the ball in the dirt got away from senior catcher Stephanie Pilkington. Senior third baseman Messer then bobbled a grounder from Emily Snider, before Morgan Robinson’s go-ahead, two-run double to deep right field to put the Eagles up, 4-3.

Jaguar senior first baseman Alex Breeden drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth, but a pop out and Eagle double play nullified any visitor momentum.

Georgia Southern hitter Alesha Mann homered with two away in the bottom of the sixth to give the Eagles insurance.

Todd lead the way on 2-for-3 hitting with an RBI and a run scored. The multi-hit game was Todd’s 12th of the season.

Haleigh Lowe went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Kristian Foster scored after drawing a walk to reach for the 15th-straight game, and Haleigh Lane extended her hitting streak to 15 games after going 1-for-3.

Messer went 1-for-3 to improve her onbase streak to 25 games.

APRIL 18, 2016

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School records fall at South Alabama Invitational

By MITCHELL KAHALLEY Managing Editor

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wo record breaking performances helped South Alabama’s men’s track team take home a first place finish at Saturday’s South Alabama Invitational.

The Jags claimed eight individual victories at their home meet. The men’s team finished with a total of 165 points, 36 more than second place Mississippi State. The women’s team scored 110 points, 14 points behind Kennesaw State to finish in second place.

“We tend to do well at home, I think this meet was no exception,” said USA head coach Paul Brueske to USAJaguars. “We had two school records and a lot of season bests. Overall it was a good performance, a lot of guys are close to their personal-best marks and that’s what you want to see. I was pleased.”

Sean Collins finished first place in the pole vault for the fifth time in five tries this spring. Collins

broke a school record he set less than a month ago, posting a mark of 5.47m.

Ravaughn Pope, Rafael Scott, Mark Watts and Alex Elam posted a time of 40.85 seconds to win the 4x100-meter relay. Their time was .49 seconds better than USA’s previous school record, which was set in 2004.

“I was real happy to see the 4x100 relay break that school record, that was nice,” Brueske said to USAJaguars. “That means we’ve got the best collection of sprinters that South Alabama has ever had. We also did really well in the shot put and pole vault, it was good to see that.”

Along with his victory in the 4x100, Rafael Scott added a victory in the 200 meters, recording a career best time of 21.11 seconds. He also posted a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash, finishing one-hundredth of a second behind the leader with a time of 10.43 seconds.

Renaldo Frechou won the men’s hammer throw after posting a throw of 64.03m. Zach Blahnik and Jan-Louw Kotze finished second and fourth in the same event. In the shot put, Kotze, Blahnik and

Softball player Emily Messer drafted

By JOSH RUTLEDGE Staff Reporter

U

niversity of South Alabama softball senior third baseman Emily Messer was selected 31st overall by the Akron Racers in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft on Thursday.

Messer becomes the third South Alabama softball student-athlete to be chosen in the NPF Draft in as many years, joining the likes of former standouts Hannah Campbell (3rd overall; Akron Racers; 2014) and Farish Beard (33rd overall; Dallas Charge; 2015). The Mobile native has been on fire, leading the Jags at the plate in batting average (.463), hits (57), runs (34), triples (5), slugging percentage (.610) and on-base percentage (.518), in addition to a .949 fielding percentage. “I did not expect this, but I am really excited,” Messer said to USAJagaurs following the announcement. “It’s

something I never thought would be possible, but three years of hard work under [assistant] Coach [Kristina] McCain and [head] Coach [Becky] Clark has helped me put everything together this year. I wanted to go out with a bang,” she concluded. As it stands, Messer is in line to finish with the highest batting average and slugging percentage for a Jaguar in a single season. She’s also seven runs and 15 hits from setting another pair of season standards. Messer currently owns 10 career triples, and she’s one away from a new program mark in that category. South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said according to USA Jaguars, “I speak for her teammates and the staff when I say how happy we are for Messer right now. She has earned her success and definitely deserves to play at the next level. Her speed and athleticism make her a great fit for the NPF, but her work ethic and blue-collar mentality make her an even better fit for the Akron Racers.”

Alex Elam was one of the members of the school record-breaking 4x100-meter relay team.. (Photo | USAJaguars) Matt Weinhold finished second, third and fourth.

Kotze’s 15.09m throw and Weinhold’s 15.14m throw were their best throws of the season in the event.

Kaitlyn Beans won the women’s triple jump for the third time this season after a jump of 12.55m.

Larry Lombard claimed his first career victory In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, after finishing in 53.57 seconds, only .06 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Michaela Preachuk took first place in the women’s hammer throw, posting a mark of 53.58m.

LaMia Miller finished fourth in the hammer throw.

Miller also placed second in the women’s shot put with a 14.57m throw, just .12m behind the winner.

Lane Adams finished second in the men’s javelin after posting a career-best 61.36m. Charles Collins placed fourth in the same event after a throw of 52.25m. In the women’s pole vault, Jordan Fritz led the Jaguars with a second place finish.

Dominique Gains finished second in the women’s 400-meter dash, posting a career best time of

56.73 second. Marina Swanepoel placed third in the same event. Jessica Matthews was third in the women’s javelin after a mark of 38.95m. Taylor James finished fourth in the high jump after posting a career high jump of 1.69m.

Kaletho Dyoyi recorded a time of 3:53:27 seconds, finishing third in the men’s 1500 meters. Nathan Reich and Ben Rolader finished fourth and fifth in the same event. In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, Ravaughn Pope clocked a time of 14.56.

Niel Giliomee chalked up a career-high mark in the men’s pole vault with a height of 5.22 and a third-place finish. This moves the sophomore to second on South Alabama’s all-time performance list. Berron Tyson finished fifth in the men’s long jump after a career high 69.4m attempt.

Next weekend Jaguars will be competing in two meets on either side of the country. On Friday and Saturday some will be competing in the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, California, while others will compete at the War Eagle Classic in Auburn.

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Messer is the third Jaguar to be drafted by a National Pro Fastpitch team. (Photo | USAJaguars)

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OPINION

CAITLIN SMITH OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

APRIL 18, 2016

Be sustainable, it’s the right thing to do

By ALEXANDER MOYLAN Contributing Writer

W

e have everything we want in life today, don’t we? If we’re thirsty we have fresh water available to us in our own homes, at grocery stores, gas stations, etc. We’re connected to the rest of the world thanks to the Internet, which for some means Netflix, but for others means we have a means to access all of the world’s history and knowledge. So why is it that though we’re given the chance to be the most insightful, knowledgeable, intelligent society of all time, that we instead commit to unsustainable lifestyles that selfishly harm our own prosperity’s way of life in the future?

I’m convinced that people are too scared to be sustainable. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle, to an extent, means confronting one’s inability to be sustainable in the first place and therefore realizing that we’re incapable of thinking outside our own insular lives.

There’s typically an impetus in one’s life that sparks a passion for environmental sustainability. Maybe it was a class in elementary school where you worked on a recycling-focused project, maybe you watched a film that predicted a not-so-good future for our planet, or maybe you just have common sense.

Being sustainable, in any way you deem fit, is the right thing to do. People fantasize

Plastic waste at Municipal Park. Recycaling plastic is one small way you can be enviornmentally sustainable. (Alexander Moylan | Contributing Writer) about immortality in literature but look no further than plastic, people. Plastic is immortal, it will outlive you, your children, your grandchildren, their grandchildren, and their grandchildren’s grandchildren, if life on this planet continues to exist as we know it currently. So what do we do with this material, besides needlessly use it for nearly every modern day convenience? We throw it away, we toss it outside our vehicles’ windows, we walk past the discarded bottle on our walk to class, work, or our vehicles in the evening.

That plastic isn’t going anywhere. I can bury a plastic water bottle in my backyard right now and, if the land remains undis-

turbed, years from now I can retrieve the very same bottle. It will have dirt on it and that’s it. It will remain unchanged. Can you think of much else that would remain in the same state after years of being buried?

Further, society hasn’t put two and two together that there’s not a surplus of space left on this planet. Of course, if we can’t bury something we make sure it’s out of mind out of sight somehow. As the Plastic Oceans Project reports, “Up to 80% of marine debris is plastic and comes from runoff creating a steady stream of plastic finding their way into the ocean.” Why is this so you may ask? Simply put, the same organization states, “The ocean is downhill

from everywhere.”

We’re so incapable of properly disposing of unwanted material, mainly plastic, that it ends up in our waterways, the oceans, just anywhere besides where it should be: your local recycling center. How hard of a concept is this to grasp?

I challenge you to find the closest thing to you made of plastic. Pick it up and scan the bottle for any markings. There should be a little triangular looking shape made of three arrows with a number 1-7 inside it.

That means whatever you’re holding is recyclable!

So what do you do from here? Recycle!

Reuse, repurpose, just do anything but carelessly, selfishly, and needlessly discard it on the ground as litter, in the trash as garbage, or out your car window as if it will magically disappear and have no effect on our future.

Truthfully, the best way to “recycle” is to avoid purchasing as many products that use plastic as possible but I know that is hard for some people to imagine, even harder for people to do in general. However, I’m challenging everyone to be more considerate of the environment, both land and sea, until manufacturers turn away from plastic.

There are several ways you can be environmentally-sustainable. Take the baby steps, utilize your on-campus and City of Mobile recycling centers, and trust me, there is a sense of satisfaction that comes from being sustainable, but, you’ll never know until you try it yourself.

Appreciating Tilikum, the whale that started a movement

By CAITLIN SMITH Opinion Editor

W

hen it comes to whales in captivity, how many is too many?

In 2013, CNN Films changed how the world viewed SeaWorld. They released the documentary “Blackfish” about orcas in captivity, and the film was centered around one whale in particular, Tilikum.

He was captured and taken away from his family when he was four years old and is now 35 and remains in captivity at SeaWorld. In the wild, male orcas live to be in their 70s.

Now in his mid 30s, Tilikum is dying.

During his years in captivity he has suffered damage to his teeth from chewing on the siding of his pool out of boredom and stress. He has cracked and fractured his once-sharp teeth to nubs.

For years the holes that were once teeth in his mouth have had to be flushed every day with antibiotics and water to prevent bacteria from entering his bloodstream. This painful process has made Tilikum resistant to certain antibiotics, and

he is now suffering from a lung infection that cannot be treated--only maintained.

Because of the public relations backlash from Blackfish, SeaWorld has been suffering from low attendance. According to the L.A. Times, their stock has dropped more than half since Blackfish came out three years ago.

Last month SeaWorld announced that they will no longer be breeding whales and will start phasing out their whale shows.

What happens to the whales still in captivity?

Forced into these faux families, these captive whales are bored, bullied and being injured by one another.

Many activists involved with The Orca Project are fighting for the remaining 28 orcas in SeaWorld’s captivity to be moved to open sea pen enclosures or sea sanctuaries where they can swim openly but still be monitored by caregivers and orca researchers.

Only one captive orca has ever been put back into the wild: Keiko, the star of the 1993 film “Free Willy.” Keiko experienced is called a softrelease in 1998, like a halfway house for orcas.

He passed away in the winter of 2003 to what researches assume was pneumonia. Keiko’s vet,

SeaWorld’s attendance has dropped by more than half since Tilikum the whale’s story was told in the 2013 film “Blackfish” (Photo| Wikicommons) Lanny Cornell, said that in his five years of freedom, Keiko gained 2,000 pounds and grew nine inches.

Even though Tilikum will never know what it is like to be a free whale, he has truly changed the face of captive whales. “Blackfish” producer and co-writer Tim Zimmermann believes that Tilikum’s life has been enough to jump-start a movement and he hopes his death will not be in vain.

“When Tilikum dies he will leave us with a desire to give greater moral consideration to other species on our planet, and to re-think the casual ease with which we seek to use nature and all things wild for human purposes.” Zimmermann said in an article he wrote for National Geographic.

Tilikum’s legacy will live on long after the 5,000 pound whale has passed away.

DISTRACTIONS

CAITLIN SMITH OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

APRIL. 18, 2016

ISSUE REVIEW WORDSEARCH CAMP KESEM DRAFTED EARTH DAY GUN HOLSTER JAG JAM POLE VAULT RECORD BREAKING SEAWORLD SGA PRESIDENT SHARE SECRETS SUSTAINABLE THE BUZZ VANGUARD

Can you solve the following riddles? Have a look at the bottom of the page for answers if you think you’re stumped or if you have an answer!

1. The eight of us go forth not back to protect our King from a foes attack. Who are we?

2. What room can no one enter?

3. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?

4. Paul’s height is six feet, he’s an assistant at a butcher’s shop, and wears size 9 shoes. What does he weigh?

ANSWERS BELOW!

Answers: 1. Pawns, 2. A mushroom, 3. A towel, 4. Meat.

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APRIL 18, 2016