The Vanguard Dec. 2 Issue by The Vanguard

VANGUARD

THE

VOL. 51, NO. 18

“If it matters tt to t the th USA family, f il it matters tt to t us.””

DEC. 3, 2012

Lighting tour highlights safety issues

USA welcomes the holidays

INSIDE

Lighting and safety issues being addressed on campus BY CASSIE FAMBRO | EDITOR

By STUART SOX

Football concludes season. See page 8

sgsox@att.net

The annual fall lighting tour was held on the night of T h u r s d a y, Nov. 15 for the purpose of looking Mike Mitchel for lights on Dean of Students campus that are no longer functioning properly and determining what areas of campus are in need of additional lighting. “We use the fall lighting tour to make the campus as safe as possible during the evening hours for students,” said Dean of Students Dr. Michael Mitchell in an interview with The Vanguard. Many students are enjoying the benefits of past fall lighting tours. “Seeing these new lights makes me feel important and like the university really cares about me and my safety,” said Brett Skelton, a sophomore speech and hearing sciences major, about the new light poles near the Beta and Gamma residence halls. According to Dean Mitchell, the first place that is observed on the lighting tour is the residential area because it has the highest concentration of students during the evening hours. Many of the recent lighting projects on campus, such as the lights that have recently been installed in sorority commons, are a direct result of past lighting tours. Installing new lights can be a See TOUR TOUR, Page 5

‘Havoc’ successful By KALYN MCCLELLAN kbm1001@jagmail.southalabama.edu

BY CASSIE FAMBRO | EDITOR

Concert brings holiday cheer Annual USA tradition is special this year for USA’s 50th anniversary By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com

USA will host the second annual Holiday Concert this Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The concert is not only celebrating the holidays, but also the 50th anniversary of the University of South Alabama. The concert, inaugurated last year, is not only open to students and faculty, but is now open to the public. “In past years, the Department of Music performed a recital for President Moulton and his invited guests in the spring at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. At this recital, we featured student and faculty soloists as well as ensembles much like we do for the Holiday concert. Seating in the Recital Hall at Laidlaw is limited to 250 and President and Mrs. Moulton were always regretful that they couldn't invite more people to the concert,” Dr. Greg Gruner, Department Chair and

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Director of Bands at USA said. “President Moulton had the idea last fall to host the same type of concert but at the holiday times at the Mitchell Center so they would be able to invite many more guests. So last year was our first year to perform a Holiday Concert in that venue. The Moulton's invited the entire campus, students, staff, faculty for this free holiday concert and it was hugely successful. Therefore, they decided that as part of the 50th year celebration, they would invite the general public in addition to the students, staff, and faculty,” Gruner added. The performances at the concert will include students and faculty members ranging from solo acts to ensemble. The performers include more than 360 students, which involves the 200-member Jaguar marching band, USA Chorale, Wind Ensemble and USA Opera Theatre, as well as

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many others. “The concert will include aspects from every part of the Department of Music featuring music faculty members, music students, and most of our music ensembles. This is a huge undertaking as it involves 350400 performers, but it showcases the talent that is available on this campus,” Gruner explained. “That being said, the concert will only last approximately 60-75 minutes. A variety of music, sacred and secular, will be performed that is very familiar during the holiday season.” Parking for those who wish to attend will be available at the Mitchell Center, Mitchell College of Business, Humanities and Gamma/Engineering parking lots. JagTran will provide transportation to the Mitchell Center and back to other respective lots. Christmas themed lights and the new SouthPaw statue offer photo opportunities for guests as well.

Life, Page 6

The USA Recreation Center was filled with children’s laughter and Christmas cheer this weekend. Holiday Havoc, an annual Christmas event hosted by the Department of Campus Recreation took place Sunday afternoon. Holiday Havoc was a special event that benefited children from Taylor Park United Methodist Inner City Mission of Mobile, an organization that seeks to address the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of citizens of inner city Mobile. According to their website, United Methodist Inner City Mission youth programs help inner city youth grow and develop as God’s children by providing a place where they are surrounded by Christian role models and programs that help successfully prepare them for adulthood. Youth ministries have grown to include a tutorial programs, a summer school enrichment program, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, drug education and prevention programs, sports programs and, counseling for at risk youth. It was an afternoon of fun and games at the Student Rec Center for 75 young children from the Mission. Teams of USA students were matched up with groups of children, playing goofy Christmas games, building See HAVOC Page 5

In this Issue: Sports, Page 8 Opinion, Page 12

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Editorial Editor in Chief Copy Editor Life Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center Senior Reporter Web Editor

Cassie Fambro Bailey Hammond Jake Howell Noah Logan Patrick Herring JT Crabtree Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter

Distribution Distribution Bobby Faulk Manager

Advertising Advertising Wesley Jackson Manager Advertising Mohammad Al-Zarrad Graphic Designer Rex McKay

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 surroun ding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. Or editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, and Opinion Editor. 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 editor. in.chief@usavanguard.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select 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.

PAGE three Letters to the editor about college experience From a graduating senior Graduation means many things for many people, but for me it signifies the end of a long process in my life, and the realization of one of my biggest goals. I began my college career over 13 years ago, and with delays of marriage, parenthood and military duty transfers, my educational journey, which has not been an easy one, will finally come to an end next weekend. But, I would not consider any of these delays a bad thing at all, but rather educational experiences and opportunities of different kinds. If anything, these experiences have made a college education even more important to me. More than for myself, I went back to college for my son. He was beginning school, so I wanted to set an example for him, to show him that school is important. I think it worked, as he enjoys school, and is doing pretty well for a second-grader. I have had opportunities that not every college student gets to have. My husband is in the Air Force, and his career has led us half-way across the country and back home again. I began my college career here in my hometown of Mobile, but I also had the opportunity to attend two colleges in Oklahoma, included Oklahoma State University. I met some great people along the way, and some professors that helped shape the graduate

I am today. However, it is nice to be back home, finishing school at USA. I have been asked if I have advice for younger college students, and the most important thing I can think of, aside from the obvious advice of studying and working hard is to be involved on campus, even if in a small way. I did not think that as a mom, a wife and a full-time student commuting from Biloxi that I would have time to be involved in any campus organizations. However, last year I was presented with an opportunity to write a book review for The Vanguard, and I immediately knew that I wanted to write as many articles as possible. Although I didn’t have much time to attend staff meetings and events, I wrote often, and I felt like I was a part of something important. I would encourage every student, whether traditional or not, to get involved on campus with something that interests you, whether sports, Greek, or one of the many other organizations available to students. Throughout my journey with The Vanguard, I have met some amazing people, learned so much about the school, and made some great friends. Of all my experiences in college, writing for The Vanguard has been my favorite. Kalyn McClellan Staff Reporter

Weather for Dec. 3-8

From a first semester freshman For most students, entering college is a terrifying and an overwhelming experience. It’s a case of when the fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all. The first semester of college can be a new and exciting journey for many students and can be a monumental step in life. In my case it was. I was a little worried about the transition from the worry free ways of high school, but the schoolwork was not the only thing that was on my mind as I made my way into the college atmosphere. As I stepped foot onto the University of South Alabama’s campus for the first time as a college freshmen, I was nervous yet excited. I would say that in my first semester of college, I have accomplished many great things. I have taken advantage of all that South Alabama has to offer. That includes its many great sporting events, leisurely activities, the rec center, the library and many more. I have met lots of new people and made many new friends. The University has truly been great! There are so many opportunities to be found at South. I, myself, have come to find that the professors at South are more than just teachers, they are mentors, and they are friends. The professors truly care about how you do in the classroom and they want you to learn and be successful. South Alabama deserves to be praised for such great showmanship in the classroom. I am not sure where I would be right now without such great professors to lead me in the right direction. I hope it is not bad to say that sometimes the most enjoyable time of day is the 15 minutes I spend walking to and from classes. The campus is absolutely beautiful! Here at South I feel so comfortable and safe. Oak trees

and pine trees that extend far into the sky giving you the comfort of an umbrella. The buildings are so ornate and big, giving you a structured feel. Everything on campus truly blends in with one another. South’s campus is more than just a place for learning, it is a place where students and teachers and staff can all come together. I would say that South is a place for education and friends. It’s the atmosphere that truly makes the University so great. In my first semester, I have become a part of many student organizations and met some really great people. It was hard to pick what organizations I wanted to be a part of because there are so many. That is just another great thing about the University. If the wide selection of organizations wasn’t enough, the events South offers will certainly make up for it. I enjoy having all the sporting events available to me as a student. It is so fun to go watch my Jaguars beat all the other colleges and the best part about it is it’s free. I also really enjoy being able to take part in many campus held events that Jaguar Productions and Greek Life hold. There are just so many different reasons to love the University of South Alabama. I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest the University of South Alabama to anyone looking for a college to attend next fall. It is a wonderful school full of good people with great intentions. It really provides a great atmosphere to learn and just have fun. South Alabama offers more than just an education, it offers friendship, opportunity and a brighter future. Go Jags!

Eric Hadley Freshman

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Facebook.com/TheVanguardUSA

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

SGA closes out fall semester By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

At the Student Government Association meeting on Monday, Nov. 26, a co-sponsorship for South Alabama’s recreational Quidditch team was discussed. According to a representative of the team that attended the meeting, the South Alabama Quidditch team has participated in tournaments with LSU, Texas A&M, Harvard, UCLA, Alabama, and many other well-known universities. After further discussion, $784.11 was allotted to South Alabama Quidditch for match uniforms. In other new business at the meeting, a representative from Jaguar Productions came before the senate to request funds that will allow Jaguar Productions to attend a national programming conference in Nashville, Tenn. Jaguar Productions wishes to attend this conference for the purpose of learning from other schools about programming events on campus and potentially booking acts and entertainment for the upcoming years. Jaguar Productions will fundraise $2,000 of the $4,000 that is needed to pay for the conference, leaving $2000 needed from SGA funds. There was

$4,500 went toward the installation disagreement among the senators as to whether these funds should be ap- of a sidewalk beside Meisler Hall that proved or not, but after a vote, $2,000 will provide a walking path over an exwas ultimately approved and granted to panse of grass. $912 went toward the restriping of all speed bumps on camJaguar Productions. Also discussed at the meeting was pus to improve their visibility at night. the funding of the 2013 MLK Day of Reflective glass beads will also be added Service. $570 was granted for the costs to the speed bumps that will further imof the JagTrans that will transport stu- prove night-time visibility. All USA students are encouraged to dents from campus to the various service and work sites. $3,500 was allotted attend SGA meetings to find out about for the cost of 500 t-shirts that will be weekly campus events and have a voice in SGA decisions as part of the student given away to volunteers at the event. Professor Karen Peterson, who at- forum. SGA meets on Monday nights tended the meeting as the faculty spon- at 8 p.m. in the conference room in the sor of MLK Day of Service, said, “Any- Fresh Food Company near the resiwhere from 500 to 700 students show dence halls. up to serve at the event.” MLK Day of Service will take place on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. Also on the agenda in new business were various small construction projects as part of the School of Computing senate project. $2,200 went toward the widening of two turns on Jaguar Drive that lead into the parking lot between Shelby Hall and Contact the SGA at sga@jagmail. the University tennis courts. southalabama.edu

Dates to know: Last Day of Classes December 6

Holiday havoc Continued from pg. 1

Exam Preparation Day December 7 Final Examinations December 10-13 15% of all Spring 2013 tuition and fees including housing and meals due December 11 Residence Hall check-out deadline for students not enrolling Spring semester 12:00 noon December 14 Commencement December 15 Residence Hall Check-out for Graduating Students 12:00 Noon December 16 Final grade web entry due by 10:00 a.m. December 17 Holidays for staff and administration December 24January 1

holiday crafts, and enjoying pizza and snacks. The entry fee for USA students to participate was a new, unwrapped $20 toy that were later wrapped and distributed to the children. And who better than to hand out these toys, than the man-in-red himself, Santa Claus. Santa made a late afternoon appearance, visiting the children, handing out gifts and spreading holiday happiness. This was a great opportunity for USA students to give back to the community, and brighten the smiles of local children who might not have a good Christmas otherwise. For students who were not able to participate this year, the event is held annually, and teams will be needed for next year’s festivities.

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

Honor students travel to Boston, Favreau named Portz Scholar By JAKE HOWELL life.editor@usavanguard.com

On Nov. 15 to 18, four USA Honors Program students journeyed to Boston, Mass. for the 47th annual National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Conference. Each year, hundreds of honors students and faculty from around the country attend this conference that celebrates honors education at the undergraduate level. Students and faculty participate in roundtable and panel discussions, poster sessions and award presentations all while enjoying the sights and sounds of each year’s host city. While University of South Alabama students and faculty often attend this conference, this year’s was especially noteworthy due to Connor Favreau, a senior physics and philosophy double major, being selected as one of four Portz Scholars in the entire nation for his undergraduate honors thesis. According to Favreau, “The Portz Award, sponsored by the National Collegiate Honors Council, is given to three or four students a year for their work on a paper or thesis. I won the award for my honors thesis ‘A Christian Existentialist Approach to Euthyphro's Dilemma,’ which focused on how Christian existentialist Soren Kierkegaard answered the dilemma of whether God's command makes things good, or whether

Continued from pg. 1

God commands things because they are good.” As a Portz Scholar, Favreau was awarded a $250 stipend and payment of his conference registration fees by the NCHC. While at the conference, Favreau, along with the other three Portz Scholars, presented their research to the attendees. In order to prepare for the presentation, Favreau said, “I taught my mentor Dr. T. Allan Hillman's class, The Philosophy of Religion, about my thesis topic. I also gave a formal presentation on my thesis to an honors Freshmen class.” In addition to Favreau’s award, the other attending USA students gained valuable experience through attending the conference. Mary Bishop, a senior French and secondary education double major, presented, along with USA Honors Program director Dr. Michael Doran, a poster detailing the success of the Honors Program’s 12th Night fundraising event. 12th Night, according to Bishop, is a “dinner-theatre mardi gras style ball,” which was held for the first time this past January.

When asked about her experience at the conference, Bishop said, “It was a huge confidence booster because we realized that what we were doing was just as good as what other students were doing. I have a greater sense of pride in my university and honors program and I hope more of our students attend future conferences to present the great work that they are doing.” Nikki Reed, a junior psychology major, and Bobby Faulk, a sophomore psychology major, were the other two USA Honors students in attendance at the conference. While they did not make a presentation, they were able to meet other students and faculty and exchange ideas. When asked if she would recommend attending such national conferences to other students, Reed said, “I would. First I would say that it is better to have an active role in the conference, to present a poster or project. I went as a passive observer to collect information to help improve our program. I think it would have been more rewarding to share as well as collect ideas. It's a better way to feel a part of the academic community.”

Many might think of these conferences as stuffy, intellectual-ridden events filled with boring lectures on topics far beyond the understanding of the common undergraduate. There is, indeed, a great deal of lectures and discussion, but the chances of a student finding one that interests them is high. “One that really stood out on paper was entitled ‘Nietzche, Socrates, and Naked Old Women.’ Another, whose title was less memorable, involved how to build a student newsletter for your program,” said Faulk. Reed also mentioned the fun shenanigans that went on at the conference. “They had entertainment one night where two guys played the piano and heckled audience members. They got Dr. Doran up in front dancing the hokie pokie,” Reed recalled. Between the Favreau’s achievement and the ideas shared and brought back to Mobile by all four students, it is clear that USA was well represented at this year’s NCHC Conference.

Mortar Board honors selected “top profs” By CASSIE FAMBRO editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

The University of South Alabama Mortar Board chapter (the Azalea chapter) celebrated its Top Prof award ceremony on Thursday, November 29. In what faculty advisor Dr. Sally Steadman called a “touching” ceremony, each Mortar Board student selected a professor that impacted him or her and said a few words about the person. With the help of SGA, Mortar Board was able to honor the professors selected with a small banquet. President Brandon Caten called the event a success, bringing together faculty and students toward the common goal of excelling past the college career. Dr. David Johnson called the professors selected “the best and brightest” and commended them for going above and beyond to support students and their scholastic aptitude.

Lighting issues identified

List of Top Profs: Dr. G. David Johnson Dr. John Smith Dr. Ronald Franks Dr. Debra Davis Dr. Richard Hayes Dr. Vaughn Milner Dr. Carl Moore Dr. John Steadman Dr. Richard Talbot Dr. Andrzej Wierzbicki Dr. Alec Yasinsac Dr. Robert Coleman Dr. Ross Dickens Dr. Dennis Fell Dr. Anne Boettcher Dr. James Connors Mrs. Heather Leigh Stanley Dr. James Aucoin Dr. Philip Carr

Dr. Brad Davis Dr. Christopher Freed Dr. JohnFreeman Dr. Marsha Hamilton Dr. Robin Mockett Dr. W. Matthew Reichert Dr. Daniel Rogers Dr. Deborah Spake Ms. Megan Sparks Dr. Cindy Stanfield Dr. Alexandra Stenson Dr. Lisa Turner Dr. Julio Turrens Dr. Sue Walker Dr. Teresa Weldy Dr. Kevin White Dr. Isabel Z. Brown Mr. Dennis Gassert Dr. Ward Miller Dr. Joseph Mozur Dr. Thomas Rowell

Mortar Board is composed of an elite group of seniors that are selected on the basis of academics, scholarship and leadership. The honor society contributes to national philanthropy helping to provide books to underprivlidged children. Mortar Board sells flowers at every graduation and the money raised goes to that cause. Mortar Board also hosts a holiday event for St. Mary’s Home and collects canned goods for the Bay Area Food Bank as well as other charitable events throughout the year. Mortar Board requires an application process and is only open to seniors. Advisors include Dr. Fell, Dr. Coleman, Dr. Steadman and Dr. Dickens. For more information about Mortar Board, visit southalabama.edu/ mortarboard.

more tedious process than some may think. Once the lighting needs are prioritized into a list by Dean Mitchell, they are submitted to University administration, which reviews the list and determines what funds are available for additional lighting. Once the projects are decided upon, the University must find a contractor to complete the repairs and new lighting installments. According to Dean Mitchell, these projects are usually completed within a year after being selected. As for the results of this most recent Fall Lighting Tour, the projects that receive funding will not be determined until the spring and work will not begin on the new projects until the summer. According to Dean Mitchell, locations on campus that were high on the priority list for this year’s Fall Lighting Tour include the front of Epsilon 1 residence hall, the crosswalks on the medians between the Recreation Center and Stankey Field, and the large expanse of trees and lawn between Meisler Hall and the Administration Building. In attendance at this year’s Fall Lighting Tour were Dean Mitchell, the Director of Facilities Randy Moon, Chief Hall and Lieutenant West from campus police, administrative representatives from Housing, a few SGA representatives and any students that wanted to come. Housing provided golf carts that were used as transportation for those participating in the tour. It is crucial for administration to attend the fall lighting tour because unlike the students, most of the South Alabama administration aren’t on campus after dark. “The Fall Lighting Tour allows us, as administration, to see the campus from the perspective of the students and to create a night time environment that is safe and welcoming for students,” said Dean Mitchell.

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3 2012

jagLIFE

A graduate’s advice: PUR Christmas Ride to make the most of time bring good cheer to USA Children’s and Women’s at USA By JAKE HOWELL life.editor@usavanguard.com

JAKE HOWELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR

Graduation is a time for not only looking ahead to the future, but also remembering the past.

By ALEX WHATLEY

ajw701@jagmail.southalabama.edu

aturday, Dec. 15 is Commencement Day for graduating seniors, including yours truly. For some seniors, it may just be a brief celebration before moving on to graduate school, an internship or a job that may be the start of a new career. For other graduating seniors, what’s next is still completely unknown, and it may just be time to find one’s self. Whatever the future may bring, the completion of a degree is still the accumulation of many things that were learned along the way. Here are a few things that I have learned that I hope other students can take heed of if they haven’t already. “Maximum utilization of available resources is the key to success.” This is something a teacher told me in high school and became fully evident to me while at USA. Whatever resources are available to you, search for and milk them for everything they offer. Supplemental Instructor sessions and teacher’s office hours aren’t just cliché parts of the syllabus. They are there for a reason. You can contact any and all classmates through Sakai and Jagmail and reach out to your peers who may know something that you don’t know about class. Go to meetings, lectures and events. Take advantage of free food, free t-shirts and free anything while you’re still a poor college student. Use your student ID for everything it

can possibly get you, whether it is discounts, or free things like a copy of the New York Times, a trip to the Rec Center rockwall, a basketball game or movies from the USA library. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, focus on yourself. Let’s face it, not everyone graduates in four years anymore. One may find themselves far from graduating while students they entered college with are already finishing up. Some students feel compelled to cram many hard classes together in one semester to graduate quicker or to play catch up. Don’t try to do too much. Just because you have a few hours between classes, doesn’t mean you should try to squeeze in some hours at work, meet a friend across town, go work out and accomplish a dozen other things. Keep your schedule as simple as possible. Otherwise the stress you will selfinduce will only make you shut down once it’s time to do more important things like studying. Finally, get out of your comfort zone. Take that glassblowing class, go to that Ramadan dinner you read about in an e-mail or take that Yoga class that fits your schedule perfectly. Most lasting experiences I’ve had at USA were from trying something new. Writing for The Vanguard was one example. Make the most of the time spent at USA so that when it comes time to receive that diploma, it won’t just be a prize of some kind being awarded, but a culmination of many things learned along the way.

ith the Christmas holidays fast approaching, most USA students are beginning to stress about finals and daydream of long days doing nothing but eating and sleeping over the break. Some students, though, are currently planning to bring Christmas cheer to those who might not be able to experience it otherwise. For the third year in a row, PUR, a local college ministry based out of Forest Hill Church of God, currently in the process of becoming a full USA student organization, is partnering with USA Children’s and Women’s hospital to provide Christmas gifts to the children spending Christmas in a hospital room. For the first time, PUR will also be partnering with the Port City Corvette Club (PCCC) to collect and transport the gifts to the hospital. Cole Pruitt, one of PUR’s leaders, said, “This year is the first for us to partner with the Port City Corvette Club. We are looking forward to the unique caravan of Christmas Corvettes that will leave South Alabama’s campus and travel to USA Children’s and Women’s hospital filled with gifts and a Santa. With the hospital’s permission, the children that are healthy enough will be able to come down to see the cars and toys delivered.” Brock Meador, the current president of the PCCC and member of PUR, was instrumental in bringing the “Christmas Ride” partnership to fruition and is hoping to make this year’s event even bigger than the last. “The first year we did the Toy Run with PUR, we had collected about 50 or 60 gifts. The 2nd year we had a total of 80, but since this year is gonna be bigger we are hoping we will be able to go beyond our goal and distribute over a 100 or more,” Meador said. Many of the gifts donated each year are actually brought in by the college students involved in PUR, many of whom attend USA. In fact, according to Pruitt, each and every child at USA Children’s and Women’s was able to open a gift on Christmas day last year. “To think that every kid was able to open something on Christmas last year makes you feel the warmth of Christ’s love on a day that is dedicated to his birth.

Like the wise men bringing gifts to the infant king, we have the opportunity to honor children and families and show them that someone cares,” Pruitt added. Many children in residence at the hospital won’t get to experience the same vibrant, tangible spirit of the Christmas season as those not fighting a disease. This can take a toll on not only the children, but their families as well. Meador and his family know firsthand what these families go through. When his younger brother “Little Danny” was born, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and multiple other health impairments that lower his ability to fight off illnesses. “My family and I can speak from experience, spending a holiday in the hospital with a child is especially hard. Just knowing that we can make a difference in a family’s life is the best reward. Doing this is also a way for people whether they are the kids, their families, the Corvette members and the community to remember what Christmas is really all about... Jesus Christ and His birth,” Meador added. Chad Pierce, the president of the student organization branch of PUR and a senior electrical engineering major, echoed Meador’s sentiments. “If we as PUR can bring love and joy to these families and get their minds off of the infirmities and diseases they are facing for just a little while, it is considered, to us, a truly invaluable blessing. In PUR, we may be college students with no biological connection, but we are a family. So from our PUR family to the families of USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, we pray that you are blessed and have a Merry Christmas!” added Pierce. If any Jaguars out there would like to donate toys for the children at USA Children’s and Women’s, they can contact PUR at purministry@gmail.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/purministries.

JAKE HOWELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR life.editor@usavanguard.com

WEEKLY LOWDOWN Monday, Dec. 3 ► 8 a.m. - USA Bookstore Textbook Buyback begins.

►11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. -

FRUNCH (Free Lunch) at Faculty Court South, #8 “The Space.”

Tuesday, Dec. 4 ►7:30 p.m. - USA Concert Choir and University Chorale Holiday Choral Concert in the Laidlaw Recital Hall.

Wednesday, Dec. 5 ►10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Free Massage Therapy in the Student Center Mall.

Thursday, Dec. 6 ► 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. -USA Dept.

of Visual Arts Art Sale at the Visual Arts and Glassblowing Buildings.

Friday, Dec. 7 ► 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Snow

Day at the Sorority Commons. “Come frolic with us in the ‘snow.’”

Monday, Dec. 10 ►FINALS WEEK BEGINS!

Tuesday, Dec. 11 ► 8:30 a.m. - Cap and Gown

Pick-up begins in the Student Center Atrium.

Saturday, Dec. 15 ►2 p.m. - Fall Commencement Ceremony in the Mitchell Center.

Sunday, Jan. 13 ►6 p.m. - WinterJam 2013 Concert in the Mitchell Center.

Monday, Jan. 14 ►First day of Spring Semester Classes.

COURTESY OF BROCK MEADOR

A sampling of the gifts PUR collected last year.

Want your event featured in the Weekly Lowdown? Email the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under seven words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3 2012

Get your gaming fix in time for the holidays, despite an empty wallet

ELLIS HICKS | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are plenty of avenues for the savvy gamer to obtain the games of their dreams, all while on a budget.

By ELLIS HICKS

eah1004@jagmail.southalabama.edu

ith the holiday season fast approaching and the semester coming to a close, gamers will more than likely find the time they need to catch up on their favorite video games. However, money is a valuable commodity in the realm of college life and spending $60 on the latest titles can be out of the question.

Fortunately, there are some great ways to gain access to great games that are fantastic for the wallet. One of the best ways to get PC games is Valve Software’s Steam platform (store.steampowered.com) as shoppers can choose from thousands of gaming favorites in the easiest manner possible. Steam is known around the world for its various year-round sales. Steam just recently wrapped up its

fall sale on Nov. 26 and I was able to purchase around 12 games for less than $100. I was able to even get newer releases such as “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” and “Hitman: Absolution” at a vastly reduced price than normal. Of course that was only the fall sale. Steam’s winter sale begins on Dec. 20 and generally has much better deals than those found in the fall sale. Freshman Cameron Englebert said, “I enjoy Steam sales because with my limited budget, I cannot afford expensive games and the sales ensure that I do not have to pirate to play my favorite games.” While Steam never reveals its deals in advance, last year’s winter deals provide an excellent clue for what may happen this year. I was able to pick up every single “Grand Theft Auto” game for $20 as well as “Just Cause 2” for about $5. Various other deals included entire catalogs such as those of Valve Software, THQ, or even the ‘Call of Duty” games, each of these being less than $50. Knowing this, make sure you keep your eyes on this year’s winter sale so you can save a ton of money. For fans of older PC games, it would be wise to check out Good Old Games (gog.com).

Good Old Games has a great deal of classic games such as “Rollercoaster Tycoon,” the original “Fallout” games or “Psychonauts.” The best part about Good Old Games is that the good majority of games in their catalog are under $20. Good Old Games is also known to have its own sales in the winter which make cheap games even cheaper. While it may not be as famous as Steam, I would definitely recommend giving Good Old Games a shot this holiday season. Currently, THQ is partnered with humblebundle.com to bundle seven of their games for a vastly reduced cost with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. The way the bundle works is that buyers choose how much they want to pay. Basically, if a shopper pays one dollar or more, he or she gets six out of the seven games in the bundle. However, if the same buyer pays above the average purchase price (currently at $5.67 at the time of writing), he or she receives the game “Saint’s Row: The Third” as well. I would highly recommend the bundle, as gamers are not only getting some great games for a very low price, but they also are helping out others as a portion of the proceeds goes to the Child’s Play charity.

Be careful though, the bundle is only available for a limited time and ends on Dec. 12. If PC gaming is not a gamer’s thing however, Amazon.com would be the place to go to get Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and Wii U favorites. Amazon always has great deals during the holiday season where shoppers can get their favorite games for very low prices. Amazon just finished their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals which gave some great prices for the hottest titles. For example, I was able to order the Playstation 3 version of “Borderlands 2,” currently retailing at GameStop and Best Buy for $60, for only $30 plus the cost of shipping during Amazon’s Black Friday deals. Freshman James Mozur said, “One of my favorite things about Amazon’s sales is that sometimes they have free shipping and ship quickly.” Make sure to keep eyes peeled for Amazon sales this holiday season in order to save loads of money on favorite games. Knowing all this, it’s important to buy smart this holiday season when it comes to video games. Finding the right deals that don’t break the bank can be an adventure.

Buckner’s tour to stop at Satori SGA and JP collaborate for Christmas toy drive

COURTESY OF JUSTIN ST. CLAIR

Richard Buckner’s tour will bring his music to Satori on Dec. 5.

By ELLEN SUMRALL carmalsum@aol.com

ichard Buckner, a critically acclaimed alternative country artist, will be making a tour stop right here in Mobile on Dec. 5 at Satori Coffee House. Buckner, born in California, released his first album, “Bloomed,” in 1994 and has since released a slew of albums including 2004’s “Dents and Shells,” 2006’s

“Meadow” and 2011’s “Our Blood.” He is currently aligned with North Carolina based indie label Merge Records, with whom he released “Dents and Shells,” “Meadow” and “Our Blood.” “Our Blood” seems to be about our ability to make better decisions in older age, such as holding down a job that doesn’t break you, not letting your friends and bar acquaintances influence you in a bad way and realizing that your best days are something you have never considered. Online indie music review site, Pitchfork, lauds Buckner as “one of the most intriguing songwriters working, using a style that’s more likely to show up in anthologies of 20th-century literature than in other Merge Records liner notes.” Further praise for Buckner can be found from NPR which considers him an “immensely gifted artist,” while the New York Times, according to the Independent Music Collective’s advisor, Dr. Justin St. Clair, “calls him a ‘riveting’ singer and bemoans his ‘unjustly modest reception.’” Buckner’s Satori show will start at 7 p.m. and will be free to all University of South Alabama students, with a valid student ID. Entrance will cost other attendees $5.

By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

he Student Government Association and Jaguar Productions are collaborating to organize a toy drive in conjunction with Jaguar Production’s “Snow Day” event. The toys from the event will be gifted to patients at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital for Christmas. “Seeing how vital USA Children’s and Women’s hospital is to the community we thought it would be nice if we could make a toy donation to them for Christmas,” SGA President Parker Chastain said. Jaguar Productions will hold “Snow Day” in sorority commons on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jaguar Productions has allowed the event to serve as a drop off point for all items going toward the toy drive. It is not a requirement to bring donations to participate in “Snow Day.” Those who are not able to bring the toys and items they wish to donate at “Snow Day” can take them to the Jaguar Productions desk in the Academic Support Center where they will accept

and hold donations until Dec. 7. The Academic Support Center is located on Jaguar Drive beside the University’s tennis courts. A list of items that USA Women and Children’s Hospital is requesting for the toy drive can be found online at usahealthsystems.com/usacwh. “It is good to know that the USA family is part of a much bigger community…I am so thankful to have the opportunity to see and be part of the amazing things that the USA family does to support each other,” said President Chastain, who also assured that all donated items will be delivered to the patients of USA Women and Children’s Hospital as soon as possible.

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

Items Requested by USA Children’s and Women’s Toothbrushes Combs Brushes Lip balm Lotion House slippers Musical toys Infant toys New blankets Coloring books Play Dough products See & Say toys Plastic balls Disney & Nickelodeon items Portable DVD players DVDs (G, PG, PG-13) Workbooks & word searches Gifts for teens Toys Craft kits and art supplies Collegiate items (AU, AL, USA) Batteries Lego kits Action figures/Barbies School supplies Electronic game systems & games (Xbox, Gamecube, Playstation,Wii) Handheld/Electronic Games Gift cards

SPORTS

PATRICK HERRING, SPORTS EDITOR sports.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 18/ DEC. 3, 2012

Courtesy of Drew Dearman

A group of USA football players gather for a photo op on the beauftiful beaches of Hawaii

Paradise lost

Jaguars fall at Hawaii in season finale 23-7, finish transitional season with 2-11 record By PATRICK HERRING sports.editor@usavanguard.com

trip to beautiful, exotic Hawaii came to a salty end when the Jaguars fell 23-7 at the hands of the Warriors of the University of Hawaii. Quarterbacks Ross Metheny and C.J. Bennett combined to go just 14-of-31 for 148 yards with 2 interceptions. The Jaguars (2-11, 1-7) weren’t able to get going on offense after Metheny threw an interception in the end zone on their opening drive. After the initial turnover, the Warriors converted the interception into points quickly. Running back Joey Iosefa completed a 50-yard pass to receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann on Hawaii’s second play from scrimmage. Iosefa then ran for 18 more yards before Sterling Jackson ran the ball in from one yard out to

give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead. The Jaguar offense was anemic after the long drive to start the game. They were forced to punt on their next seven drives. After the Jags’ first punt, Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder completed three consecutive passes for 31 yards down to the USA 25yard line. Two plays later, kicker Tyler Hadden kicked a 41-yard field goal to put the Warriors up 10-0. Two Jaguar punts later, Hawaii’s offense went on the move again. They rushed on seven of the drives’ 10 plays to move the ball from their 14-yard line all the way down to the USA 24-yard line. The South Alabama defense held them to another field goal, which Hadden made from 42 yards out to extend the lead to 13-0. A Jaguar three-and-out and a Scott Garber punt gave the Warriors the ball back at their 45.

After a 10-yard pass, they again used the run game to move the ball down to the USA 22-yard line. The drive stalled there, and Hadden was called upon for a 40-yard field goal. His kick was good to put the Warriors uo 16-0 shortly befor halftime. Tyrell Pearson brought Hawaii’s first drive of the second half to an end with an interception at the USA 13-yard line. His effort was for naught as the offense again stalled and was forced to punt the ball back to the Warriors. On Hawaii’s next drive, which started at their own 40-yard line, they stuck with their run game for the first five plays to gain 34 yards. Then Schroeder completed a pass to receiver Chris Gant for 26 yards and a touchdown to put the Warriors up 23-0. The teams traded punts, USA safety B.J. Scott made an interception and Metheny threw

another interception before backup quarterback Bennett got his first action of the game. Coming in early in the fourth quarter, Bennett threw a quick 25yard pass to Bryant Lavender to get the ball into Hawaii territory. Shortly thereafter he completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Wes Saxton for the Jaguars only score of the game to make the score 23-7 in favor of the Warriors. The Jaguars got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Maleki Harris at the USA 22-yard line. Unfortunately for South Alabama, Bennett fumbled right back to the Warriors three plays later. With just over a minute remaining in the game with a more than comfortable lead, Hawaii went into the victory formation and kneeled to run down the clock and end their season with their third win of the season.

T.J. Glover was a bright spot for the Jaguars, recording 169 all-purpose yards on the game, including 115 on kick returns. He also led the running game for USA with 34 yards. Corey Besteda led the receiving corps with 42 yards on 3 catches. Gabe Loper added 32 yards on a team-high 4 catches. Defensively, Scott led the team in tackles with 12, all of which were solo. He also added an interception. Inside linebacker Jake Johnson added 9 tackles to his Sun Beltleading total for the season. He also chipped in a sack for a loss of 8 yards. Linebacker Enrique Williams and defensive lineman Andy Dalgleish also chipped in 6 tackles apiece for the Jaguars. The Jaguars finished the final season of their transition to FBS football on a 6-game losing streak.

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

USA Sports Briefs

Men’s basketball goes 2-0 on the road

By HANNAH BLACKWELL and PATRICK HERRING

Courtesy of usajaguars.com

Women’s basketball falls twice on the road in conference play

en’s basketball went on a Florida road trip to take on the two conference foes from the sunshine state—Florida Atlantic and Florida International. On Thursday night, junior Xavier Roberson led the Jags (4-3, 2-0) to a 7766 win in their first conference win of the season with a career-high 23 points at FAU Arena. The win gave South Alabama its 300 all-time win in the Sun Belt. The Jags used a strong first half, in which they shot 50 percent, to take a 4433 lead into halftime. Both teams shot poorly in the second half, though, and USA was able to close it out with free throws down the stretch.

Freddie Goldstein chipped in 15 points for South Alabama, while Javier Carter and Augustine Rubit finished with 11 apiece. Rubit also pulled down 10 rebounds to give him his third consecutive double-double. Then, on Saturday night, the Jags downed the Golden Panthers of FIU, 7968. South Alabama hit 13 threes to pull away. With the win, head coach Ronnie Arrow moved into first place on the all-time wins list in the Sun Belt with 112 total victories in conference play. Mychal Ammons lead the way for the Jags, shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to total 21 points. Rubit added 19 points and 9 rebounds.

outh Alabama (5-3, 0-2), fell to FAU in their first conference outing, 67-56. Mansa El led the Jags on offense with 12 points and a season-high 6 assists to add to her team lead. She shot 5-of-13 from the field and grabbed 5 boards. Meghan Dunn also got into double figures in the game with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point land. She also added 3 steals. At halftime, the Jags were up by seven, but the Owls were able to fight their way back, outscoring the Jags 45-22 in the final period. South Alabama is one of the top-ranked teams when it comes to guarding the basket, and allowed FAU to shoot only 51.8 percent, including 62.5

percent in the final period. The Lady Jags turned the ball over 26 times during the game which proved to be the difference. Saturday night, the Jags slipped again, this time 63-49 to FIU. Mary Nixon led the Lady Jag offense against the Golden Panthers with 9 points. El and Veronica Cherizol tallied 7 points apiece for the Jaguars. The Lady Jags went 5-for-26 from three-point land, and weren’t able to stick with FIU down the stretch, The squad returns to Mobile for a home contest against Spring Hill on Tuesday at the Mitchell Center.

College Football Predictions

Editor’s Note: During the 2012 football season, we here at The Vanguard Sports Section will be doing weekly predictions of South’s football game, popular in-state games and one or two nationally significant games. We will keep a running tally of who’s “winning” the prediction game. Week Season Totals in parentheses

Patrick Herring Sports Editor (37-15)

#1 Notre Dame vs. #2 Alabama BCS National Championship Game

Alabama is shooting for their third BCS National Championship title in four years, an unprecedented feat. Notre Dame’s defense won’t make it easy for the Crimson Tide. Alabama will have something to say defensively itself. Everett Gholston will have to play the game of his life to beat this Alabama team, which is vying to become a dynasty. Freshman playmakers T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper will come up big for Alabama. Mike Slive is laughing all the way to the bank as his conference wins it’s seventh straight national championship. The Tide make it 3 of 4 in Miami, 31-21.

JT Crabtree

Jayson Curry Senior Reporter

Sports Editor L.O.C.

(36-16)

(34-18)

After a very competitive SEC championship game, Alabama and Notre Dame will face off against one anther in the BCS title game. Alabama was thought to have a great chance to repeat after last years BCS win, but the Irish are a big underdog. Notre Dame will lean on Heisman finalist linebacker Manti Teo, but the Alabama offense will wear down the Irish defense just like they did Georgia in the SEC title game. Alabama is led by their offensive line to a second title in as many years and 3 in 4 years and the SEC’s 7th in a row. Bama wins 34-24

You think about the greatest teams in college football history, these two come to mind. Notre Dame vs. Alabama. In six meetings, Notre Dame is 5-1 alltime against Alabama.This is a true championship. Notre Dame’s offense is deep and balanced, while Alabama’s running game can seemingly run on anyone. AJ McCarron has seemed untouchable at times. Both teams have incredible defenses. Alabama’s defense first in the country, Notre Dame’s ranked second. This game shouldn’t have many points, and be a smash mouth game until the very end. Alabama’s SEC competition toughens them for this game. The Tide rolls to their 15th title, 23-17.

Want us to follow you? Tweet us @USAVGSports

Greg Hollinger @LeonG_10: Tight End You know you miss class too often when you show up and everybody look at you like your a new student Rush Hendricks @_RusHen_: Tight End I don’t usually wish my life away, but I won’t be sad if this biology class flys by! Austin Cole @Cole_World_61: Long Snapper Twitter isn’t Dr. Phil Tus problemas no necesito! #spanish Olivia Mohler @Olivia_Mohler12: Middle Blocker Just got beat by a 6 year old in NCAA basketball..... Im obviously not a gamer. Ryan Onkka @Big_Onk: Offensive Lineman People that don’t watch football and then pretend like they know what there talking about #idontlike Emily Hundt @emilyhundt15: Setter Time at the caff: 15% actually eating, 85% sitting there, too lazy to get up. Drew Dearman @DrewDearman: Offensive Lineman Game day in Hawaii. Time to put the pineapple down and pick our helmets up!! Trey Anderson @UnoDosTrey123: Guard

Want to keep up with Jaguar sports, even over the holiday break? Follow @USAVGSports on Twitter and like USA Vanguard Sports on Facebook

Waitress just guessed that I was 17 years old...really?? Kyle Bartsch @Kyle_Bartsch: Pitcher I wonder if Optimus Prime would buy life insurance or car insurance? #foodforthought

@USAVGSports

VOL. 51, NO. 18/ DEC. 3, 2012

Jagstagram

In honor of the Jagsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; trip to Hawaii, here are some pics from their perspective

Rush Hendricks @_RusHen_: Tight End Good morning from the islands. #DiamondHead

Matt Calcagnini @MCalcagnini56: Offensive Lineman Sunset at the luau #Paradise

LEFT OF CENTER

JT CRABTREE, LOC EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

‘Joey Jones Show’ wrap up: Fans invited to event By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Members of the Sun Belt are moving to Conference USA, while several Conference USA members are leaving for the Big East

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

Conferences undergoing major facelift College football landscape is changing fast, with USA feeling the after effects By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

onference realignment seems to be the latest trend in college football, and now the Sun Belt Conference is being poached of teams. We learned earlier this year that Florida International and North Texas were leaving the Sun Belt for Conference USA in 2014, but this past week, Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic also announced that they too are leaving for Conference USA. Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic are taking the place of Tulane and East Carolina, both current Conference USA members who are leaving for the Big East conference. After this most recent announcement and the additions of Georgia State and Texas State in 2013, the Sun Belt Conference will be left with eight football members in 2014: Arkansas State, Georgia State, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, UL-Lafayette, ULMonroe and Western Kentucky. Arkansas-Little Rock and UT-Arlington will be non-football members.

This could prove to be a problem for South Alabama, as more and more teams seem to be throwing away their loyalties to the Sun Belt in hopes of greener pastures, causing the conference to lose competitiveness. So what can South do? Let’s explore some options. 1. Stay Put. South Alabama is the only original member of the Sun Belt Conference left, being a member since 1976. South has seen the likes of Denver, USF, UAB, New Orleans and even Idaho and Utah State as members during its time. Anything is possible, as seen by Boise State (yes, in Boise, ID) joining the Big East conference, so it may be in South Alabama’s best interest to stay in the Sun Belt and wait for other teams to join. Maybe Southern Miss or UAB would be willing to join, or a few FCS teams would move up, such as Georgia Southern or Appalachian State. 2. Change conferences. While South Alabama isn’t currently looking at moving conferences, perhaps now is the time. Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann has said in the past that while South is not looking to move,

they are making themselves as attractive a program as possible. Nothing out of the ordinary in doing that; every program tries to do their best. But if the Sun Belt becomes so drained by realignment they are no longer a respectable conference, South needs to get the heck out of it. The conference that makes the most sense is Conference USA, seeing as so many members are close to South, in terms of program and distance. Maybe the Big East would also consider South Alabama. 3. Go Independent. It’s a possibility. If the Sun Belt keeps having teams jump ship, they may find themselves in the same position as Idaho is now. Idaho was left out to dry when the WAC conference dissolved their football league. Now the Vandals have to play as an Independent after not receiving an invitation to another conference. South Alabama as the Notre Dame of the south? Well maybe not that far, but they could be independent like the Fighting Irish. A downside to this would be the loss of the TV coverage provided by the Sun Belt Network. Currently, South does

not have a local TV network like many schools have, or a large national contract like Notre Dame has with NBC, so exposure for South would decrease. 4. Reclassify to FCS. As horrible as it sounds, South could drop down. Former Sun Belt member University of New Orleans dropped out FBS to become a Division II program just a few years ago. Hopefully the college football landscape doesn’t crumble to the point where South or other FBS schools have to slide down in classification.

he 2012 football season is over for the Jags, but like every Friday during the season, head coach Joey Jones will be talking football during “The Joey Jones Show.” The final episode of the season will be recorded at Wintzell’s Oyster House on Airport Blvd. across the street from Providence Hospital on Friday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. During the season, host and Jaguar sideline reporter Pat Greenwood talks with Coach Jones about the upcoming opponent the team will be facing, how the team has looked in practice and injury updates, among other topics. Many assistant coaches and coordinators have been featured as well throughout the season. Fans are also allowed to email or call in questions for Coach Jones to answer live on-air. For the final episode, fans are encouraged to attend and show support for Coach Jones as well as the program. Fans can enjoy lunch at Wintzell’s while being part of the audience and receive a 10 percent discount. The Joey Jones Show airs on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. on WJTC 44.

Team meets Usher

South Alabama men’s basketball team met artist Usher in the Atlanta airport on their way to play conference foes FAU and FIU. (Photo by Freddie Goldstein)

Opinion

NOAH LOGAN OPINION EDITOR opinion.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC. 3, 2012

Vanguard Viewpoint

JagPulse

Football team does USA proud The South Alabama football program’s 2012 losing season record does not accurately reflect the growth the program gained this year. Four members of The Vanguard staff traveled with the football team and covered games. We saw first-hand the professionalism the organization displays. We also saw the stark contrast between USA and other more established football programs. Honestly taking an objective step back and comparing USA’s team to others, we inarguably outshine others with class and drive. With experienced coaches like head coach Joey Jones, the coaching staff has instilled a professional level of maturity in this young team from the beginning. Walking step in step, uniformed to the toe, the Jaguars exhibit poise and dignity from the second they

step off the bus on. Moving up a conference was a stark awakening for the Jags that weren’t used to losing games. A tougher playing field has met an even tougher test for each player and coach: character. The Jags have handled their challenging season with more dignity than most National Football League teams would. Standing by his players, Coach Jones repeated that his guys left it all on the field. What is even more telling is how much they took away from those losses, and what lessons learned we won’t see until next season. One player said it best, “people love you more when you’re winning.” Fair weather fans were a first for this season but even amidst the naysayers, diehard fans shone through. Local venues in Mobile offer showings of away games because

they know their restaurants will be packed with fans. Community support is tangible, with fans standing on the side of the road and waving and cheering for the team when the buses depart for away games outside of Mobile. The game of football is not just a game to these players. It’s life and it’s war. For the four of us that traveled with the team this year and saw them overcome adversity and always keep their heads high as they grow and adjust, we were honored to be a part of the battle. Other USA athletic teams foster the same sense of maturity and information for their games can always be found in the sports section. Stay tuned for great things from USA sports, and Go Jags, USA.

Should USA require attendance? Eric Hadley: No way. College is supposed to be the student’s decision. Some classes are just lecture and powerpoint. If the student just wants to look over the powerpoint, that is their decision. We are supposed to move away from high school ways. Michael Bishop: Nothing wrong with how it is now with leaving it up to the individual professor. Carrie Hunter: No, we are adults and we should be able to decide rather or not we want to attend class. There are some teachers that will only give students 5 or 6 absences, that’s not a lot, especially for students

that have children who might get sick or be out of school. Tracy Terpening: I believe it should be left up to the professors. There are times when attendance should be mandatory, like when students are giving presentations or when interaction is part of the curriculum. Justin Kendall: Attendance should be taken daily but not counted toward any grade... that way the professor knows who is there and who isn’t if someone comes to their office asking for help on something they went over the day before in class

VOL. 51, NO. 18 / DEC 3, 2012

Walking while distracted By Micah Messer

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

e all know of the recent law that was passed in Alabama banning the use of texting while driving Micah Messer to decrease the amount of DD (Driving Distracted) accidents but what about walking while distracted (WWD)? Though the state of Alabama has not passed a law banning texting while walking it is still an issue worth addressing. I do not believe the State of Alabama should pass a law on this issue but people should be aware of the danger. Many times you can see people walking around on the University of South Alabama campus with cell phone in hand, ear buds in, texting. Unbeknownst to these walkers they came inches away from colliding with a bicyclist, pedestrian or vehicle. From personal experience I know how frustrating it can be when riding my bike in the bicycle lane from my dorm to class and to come across a person WWD. Swerving out of the way, I just shake my head as they continue walking not knowing I almost collided with them as they stepped out from behind a building, tree or other object. With the increase in number of smart phones have increased in our ability to communicate with each other and continue to stay entertained with our choice of music, walking while texting, talking or listening to music can be dangerous. In fact, a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that on average 1,152 people in 2011 suffered serious injury or death from WWD (Washington Post). As an April Fools joke, Philadelphia officials taped off a lane called the ‘e-lane’ for electronic pedestrians. The funny thing is, some people didn’t think it was a joke. In fact, once the officials took away the lane people were actually upset because they enjoyed not having to avoid careless walkers who were on electronic devices. So, is this a serious problem or just a common occurrence not worth addressing? Be aware of your surroundings and don’t Walk While Distracted.

Attendance based grades not so evil Many attendance policies are strict; policies may not be such a foe to students By NOAH LOGAN

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

aturity doesn’t come automatically with age. It’s not automatic in the same sense of pimples, chest hair and a taste for beer. You have to decide to start accepting responsibilities as your own and grow into a more mature man or woman. When coming from high school straight into a four year university, this maturing stage becomes less of an option and more of a requirement but it still doesn’t happen on its own. As students, we must learn to start accepting responsibilities and stop expecting handouts, or we fail. As much as I might be hated for saying this, I personally think there is nothing wrong with the professors at the University of South Alabama having attendance policies. Just to avoid confusion, I do not think it is permissible for the University to establish a policy that prevents professors from deciding their own attendance policies. I know the most common protest to attendance based policies is looking a it from the student’s perspective and arguing that since the student pays the university for the class, he or she should have the liberty to choose if it is necessary to attend that class. While this argument holds merit,

there is counterpoint for it. We are paying the university and the professors to educate us. According to “Class Attendance in College: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relationship of Class Attendance with Grades and Student Characteristics,” a 2010 report by the American Educational Research Association, “attendance has strong relationships with both class grades and GPA.” As far as I know, grades and GPA are pretty accurate tools in determining whether a student is getting an education or not. Why pay for an education if you won’t allow the university and the professors the ability to put us in the best position possible to succeed while at the university? This can be especially true in many political science, philosophy and religion classes as they all use debate as a main tool for learning instead of busy work. When I walk into a lecture hall with eight other students present from a class of 50, I can see how much more difficult it is for my professor to get us engaged in the material. The attendance policies are not put into place to be harmful to grades, but to actually help students. Many students who responded to this week’s Jagpulse argued that since missing class will already have a good chance to effect test grades, further pun-

ishment by the professor is unnecessary and detrimental to the student’s grade. Again, there is another side to this. While attendance based grades are often looked at as an obstacle for students to retain high grades throughout school, if they are used correctly, they are put into place to help the students. Imagine a student taking his or her first upper level course with the chair of a department or another high ranking professor. The material in the class will be harder, the tests will be more strenuous and the class could pose a serious problem to the student if he or she wishes to maintain A’s or B’s throughout school. By setting attendance as a certain percentage of the final grade (10 percent for example because that is used in two of my classes), the work load is lessened and the student has more room for error while still maintaining good grades. This can be further applied with participation grades during class. So for students who may not be so great at writing research papers or preparing for tests that exceed 160 questions sometimes, they have the opportunity to show up every week and still show the professor that they genuinely care about the material and they are giving effort. This will result in higher grades for the students. As with everything, attendance poli-

SOUTH POLLS Attendance Policies Question: Do you think professors at USA should be able to enforce attendance based grades? ► A: I think it is okay for professors to enforce both types of attendance based grades: attendance accounting for a certain percentage of the final grade and dropping a students grade a letter grade after so many absenceses. 14.3% ► B: I think it is okay for professors to establish attendance as a certain percentage of the final grade only. 31.4%

► C: I think it is okay for profes-

sors to drop a student’s letter grade after missing a set amount of absences. 14.3% ►D: I think neither is permissible.

40%

cies do have vices and can be used in the wrong way. I have a professor this semester that gives us an F once we miss five classes. While everyone will most likely have some professors that are abusing attendance based policies, administering a policy that denies the professors the right to establish his or her own policy would be more detrimental to students than beneficial.

Universal healthcare not optimal at the moment By Jacob Burchfield

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

ne of the chief struggles of contemporary American society is the nature of healthcare. Is it a right? Jacob Burchfield If so, are physicians obligated to become advocates for this universal right? I do not intend to argue, nor could I, that extending access to care to more people is not a good thing. But the most passionate advocates of universal care willfully deny many considerations which complicate its implementation: in order for healthcare to be a human right, someone must provide it; in order to provide healthcare to all people, a government must pay for its provision; and it must force all citizens to follow a heavy-handed set of universal guidelines. Whatever one’s answer to these questions may be, it is understood that selfsacrifice and compassion are obligatory to the physician. Given the nature of

practicing medicine, the vast majority of medical students and physicians understand that theirs is chiefly a profession of service. With that understanding in place, I think the moral case must be made, but often is not, that the answer to these questions is an unfortunate but emphatic no. States endeavoring to provide universal healthcare inevitably limit access to care through either unconscionably long waiting times or through efforts to control costs. History tells of many such States. One can find it in the constitution of Soviet Russia – and history shows its result: the State-determined provision of care, based on the individual’s usefulness to society. One can also find it in the 1933 National Law for Removing the Distress of the People Bill, known to history as Hitler’s Enabling Act. That is not to say universal care is only provided by “evil” governments. The British NHS has served its citizens for more than 60 years. Their Department of Health website reports that “at the end of August 2012, there were 623,000 patients still waiting for one of 15 key diagnostic tests, and of these 6,563 were waiting 6 weeks or over

from referral.” Canada has universal healthcare. A Nov. 13 headline in The Montreal Gazette reads “It’s a Crisis for Quebec Women.” The article begins by illustrating a major shortcoming of state-delivered healthcare: “Surgery wait times for deadly ovarian, cervical and breast cancers in Quebec are three times longer than government benchmarks, leading some desperate patients to shop around for an operating room….” “A leading Montreal gynecologist said that these days, she cannot look her patients in the eye because the wait times are so shocking.” In Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Medical Society, universal coverage has led to a 45 day wait-time to see a PCP, with only 50 percent of PCPs accepting new patients. As a medical student, I believe my duty will be to my patients. I know I cannot cure all that ails “society,” and, frankly, I know that it is not my place. I would rather work in a system that allows me to fulfill my duties as best I can interpret them. Like that Canadian gynecologist, I want to be able to look my patients in the

eye and tell them I am looking out for them first. But the very nature of socialized medicine threatens the doctor-patient relationship. When you begin seeing “society” as your patient, the temptation to control people in the name of their health will grow, and the unsustainable Affordable Care Act will only strengthen the allure of control. As a consequence, the treatment of individuals will be laid upon the altar of statistics. My objective is not to attack systems or supporters of universal care. Rather, I would argue that history and reality leave unanswered the question of is this a better way to run healthcare systems? There is neither data, nor statistic, nor scientific confirmation of any kind to prove socialized medicine is the best, and only, approach. If our metric for determining success is “coverage,” then yes, it is better to decree a right to “access” to healthcare coverage. But, if you are a 40 year old Canadian woman suffering from ovarian cancer, or one of 941 Englishmen who, at the end of September, had spent more than six weeks in the queue to have a colonoscopy, then the universal right to care may carry with it an individual death sentence.

VOL. 51, NO 18 / DEC. 3, 2012