Feb. 24, 2014 Vanguard by The Vanguard

VANGUARD THE

VOL. 54, NO. 7

“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”

FEB. 24, 2014

INSIDE

Two men plea guilty for student’s murder By EMILY JEANMINETTE Contributing Writer

► JagLife: ‘All My Sons’ showcases talent at drama department. See JagLife, page 7

n a court hearing Thursday, Feb. 20, two men plead guilty to the felony murder charges of Andrew Saxon, a 25-year-old biology student from USA. Tevin Wells, 21, and Christopher Case, 29, faced Circuit Court Judge Sarah Stewart and both pleaded guilty to charges of murder in the second degree. The two men were participants in the original plan to commit the burglary of Saxton’s house in 2012, according to their plea agreements. Investigators revealed that Case knew Saxon at the time of the

incident. Wells and Case could face possible sentences of 10 years to life in prison for the murder convictions. During the defendants’ court appearance Thursday, Stewart ordered a presentence investigation after a request was made by the lawyers of both defendants. The investigation is to be conducted before their sentencing hearing May 7 in order to acquire more information to post a proper sentencing. Stewart warned both of the defendants that the possibility of a lighter sentence may not be in the future and that the investigation was only to provide adequate support of whatever sentencing upon which the

court settles. According to authorities, Quinten Godfrey, 23, along with Case and Wells, broke into Saxon’s home on North University Boulevard Jan. 11, 2012. Of the three men, Godfrey was

the one in possession of an illegal, unlicensed gun and shot Saxon in the chest. Court reports show that Saxon was robbed of a guitar and several video games at the time of his death. See Guilty plea Page 6

Christopher Case (left) and Tevin Wells (right) both plea guilty to charges of murder in the second degree.

FCC approves radio construction SGA By KANDACE RAYBON Contributing Writer

► JagLife: ELC competes in Olympic-themed event. See JagLife, page 8

outh Alabama’s student-run radio station, The Prowl, has received the construction permit applied for this past fall. The station has been assigned the frequency 97.1 FM, and Heather

Stanley, the faculty adviser for The Prowl, has requested the call letters WJGR. Within the next few weeks, the federal communications representative who handled The Prowl’s application will be coming to South’s campus to look over the facilities and to give an estimate

► Sports: Men’s basketball tops Trojans in a must win showdown. See Sports, page 9

► Sports: Men’s tennis 4-3 victory over Southern Miss. See Sports, page 12

KANDACE RAYBON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Renato Mazariegos co-hosts The Sports Preys, one of the sports talk shows on USA’s student radio,The Prowl.

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as to how much the construction will cost. The construction that will be taking place will include an addition of an antenna to the Communication Building, which is located across from the Humanities Building on campus. The communication department is hoping to get started on the construction as soon as possible, but no start time will be decided until after the visit. The Prowl hosts a variety of student-produced shows throughout the week. These include music shows, talk shows, sports talk shows and live sports broadcasting. The Prowl staff includes students from many different departments and gives the students the opportunity to have fun while building their resumes. “It allows students to get more professional experience because we don’t have anything radio other than here at The Prowl,” JT Crabtree, The Prowl’s sports director, said. Crabtree also talked about The Prowl obtaining a construction permit and frequency. “It’s really cool,” Crabtree said. “Most big universities have a radio station, and so with the school getting bigger, we might as well add as many components to the puzzle

reforms election By SAM ANDREWS Editor-in-Chief

new reform to the SGA election process could divide the voting power held by the larger campus organizations. According to Elections Chairman Coleman Wolf, USA students will only be allowed to vote for the SGA candidates within their own college in the upcoming election. For example, a student with a declared major within the College of Arts and Sciences can only vote for candidates running within the College of Arts and Sciences. “In the past, and I’m saying this as a member of a fraternity,” Wolf said, “Greeks have had a lot of power in picking who were the officers and who was on the senate because everyone could vote for everyone.” Wolf also hopes the reform will attract candidates who felt the odds were stacked against them.

See Prowl Page 6

In this Issue: Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 14

See SGA Page 6

JagLife, Page 7

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

YOU COULD BE THE NEXT JAG MEDIA LEADER Jag Media Management Paying positions for the 2014-2015 academic year. Send your résumé and cover letter explaining the position for which you are applying. Applications are due no later than Saturday, March 15. Send applications to jaucoin@southalabama.edu. Be prepared to interview for the position. Positions Available Editor-in-Chief, The Vanguard

Editor-in-Chief, Due South

The editor-in-chief is responsible for the overall operations of the newspaper, ensuring that all tasks, from planning to distribution are completed. Applicants should have strong understanding of journalism techniques and leadership skills. 20 hours per week and scholarship.

The editor-in-chief is responsible for the overall operations of the magazine, ensuring that all tasks, from planning to distribution are completed. Applicants should have strong understanding of journalism techniques and leadership skills. 20 hours per week.

Advertising Manager

The assistant editor is responsible for all production functions and operations of the newspaper. The managing editor is also responsible for all layout and design responsibilities as deﬁned by the editor-in-chief. 15 hours per week.

The advertising manager is responsible for advertising sales in both The Vanguard and Due South. Duties include cultivating and calling on advertisers, overseeing ad designs, overseeing sales staff, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of advertising. 20 hours per week and scholarship.

General Manager, Jag TV The general manager is responsible for hiring and overseeing the Jag TV staff, ensuring quality of the campus news programs, covering campus events, producing original programming and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the television station. Applicants should be familiar with video editing techniques, camera operation and television direction. 20 hours per week and scholarship.

Assistant Editor, Due South

General Manager, TheThe Prowl Operations Manager, Prowl The operations manager is responsible for recruiting and overseeing Prowl staff, ensuring the quality of the campus radio programs and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the radio station. Applications should be familiar with audio editing techniques, broadcast operation and radio direction. 20 hours per week.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

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“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Editorial Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor JagLife Editor Web Editor

Samantha Andrews

Stephanie Feather Meg Lundberg Matthew Strickland

Alyssa Newton Emma Mitchell Matthew Strickland

Distribution Distribution Bobby Faulk Alan Smith

Advertising Advertising Justine Burbank Graphic Designer Ryan Keller Sheldon Hall

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 P.O. Drawer U-1057 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.

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Community honors alum By MEG LUNDBERG Copy Editor

SA alumna Julia Bolton died in a fatal car crash on Airport Boulevard and Ridgefield Road Feb. 21, according to WKRG. The Mobile, Ala. native earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations in 2013. She was 22 years old. During her lifetime, Bolton left an impression on many lives, especially on South Alabama’s campus. A former classmate, Kalyn Andrews Sutherland, was one of the people whose life was touched by Bolton. In her mourning, Sutherland has decided to celebrate Bolton’s life. “Julia managed to light up my life so much during our time at South together,” Sutherland said on Facebook. “I really felt compelled to do something to show support during this tragedy.” To honor Bolton’s memory and “the incredibly bright life she lived,” Sutherland encourages everyone to “light up the campus” by wearing orange, Bolton’s favorite color, Monday, Feb. 24 or another day during this week. “We will also be wearing orange in support of her family and friends,” Sutherland said, “who we know are going through something unimaginable to most at this time.” Visitation for Bolton will be held Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street with a funeral service to folCOURTESY OF JULIA BOLTON’S FACEBOOK low.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

New counselor available By JAMIE REID Contributing Writer

The Vanguard is in need of new writers. Interested individuals should email their contact info and sampled writings to Editor in Chief Samantha Andrews at thevanguardeditor@gmail.com

niversity of South Alabama Counseling and Testing Services, a provider of free counseling sessions for students, has hired a new Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in domestic and dating violence. Counselor and Sexual Assault Coordinator Leslie Weaver was recently added to the ranks of the care providers in the counseling service department. In a release sent to the Student Affairs staff, Robert B. Hanks, the Counseling and Testing Services director, stated, “We are very excited about having her as a part of our team.” Weaver shared some information on her background. She graduated from South in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in health education and in 2005 with a master’s degree in community counseling. She has an integrated approach adapted to meet individual client needs. Her counseling specialties include domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, relationship issues, boundaries and self-esteem. Weaver previously worked at Penelope House providing services to victims of domestic violence. She was there for 10 years. She is a member of the Alabama Counseling Association and the Alabama Association for Specialists in Group Work. Weaver is also a mother of two. “I am very excited to join the staff here at the University, and in particular, I am very excited to be working with such great professionals in the Counseling Center,” Weaver said when asked how she feels about her new position.

“I look forward to working with the students, faculty and staff for many years to come.” The counseling services department offers many services for students. According to their web page, Leslie N. Weaver some of the serCounselor and Sexual vices the departAssault Coordinator ment offers are individual, relationship and group counseling; career testing, interpretation, and counseling; substance abuse assessment, counseling, and education; sexual assault counseling; outreach educational programs on variety of topics; consultation for faculty and staff on mental health issues; standardized test administration and proctoring of other academic/special examinations; and referrals to other mental health providers and/or resources when appropriate. When making an appointment for counseling, the secretary will ask for some information about the issues of concern to assign an appropriate counselor. It is not a requirement, however, to reveal any information about the issue. Appointments for counseling or testing can be made by contacting the counseling services office at 251-460-7051. They suggest an early arrival time for a first appointment in order to complete paperwork.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Student Health prepares for spring sports injuries By COURTNEY TURNER Contributing Writer

he Student Health Center’s staff of licensed practitioners and medical students from USA is expanding to better take care of students medical needs. There will be a new Women’s Health Practitioner joining the team in March. This should allow for the women’s health area to expand and offer more services. “We have women’s health available primarily by appointment, including annual examinations, birth control, etc.,” Beverly Kellen, practice director, said. The health center provides services, including primary care, women’s health and sports medicine, Monday through Friday. “Sports medicine has been increasing in demand,” Kellen said. The care of sports medicine is for all students both male and female at all levels. “They can diagnose any musculoskeletal condition and provide complete therapy for many of them, which includes sprains, minor fractures, etc. If the problem is beyond their scope, they can facilitate a referral to a sports orthopedist,” Kellen said. “It is not necessary to have an appointment,” Valerie Heidel, supervisor of clinical operations, said. “You can make an appointment by phone or online using the web portal.” SHC helps students with health insurance. “We accept BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield) from all states and United Healthcare,” Kel-

len said. She also said that they have easily affordable plans for enrolled students. The SHC works with Blue Cross and United Healthcare. “For those whose insurances aren’t accepted, we give a receipt and a claim form so that the patient can get reimbursed,” Rhonda Baxter, billing and insurance clerk, said. “We do not turn anyone away regardless of their inability to pay,” Baxter said. This is also found in their policy brochure which can be found on their website. You can enroll for the health insurance the SHC offers by either talking with Baxter or going online. Medical students have to speak with her directly. The SHC health insurance plan can also be used outside of the SHC as long as it’s with a United Healthcare doctor. How do you get to the Student Health Center? According to Kellen, though the health center gets a decent flow of students, averaging about 45 students per day, more would come to the health center if they knew where it is located. “If you turn onto North Boulevard next to the Allied health building, off of the University Boulevard, then take a right at the fork on North, onto Health Services Drive and then take a second left onto Clinic drive proceed north and there will be a parking lot on the right you’ll find the Student Health Center,” Kellen said. “Students can always call 460-7151 for directions.” Office hours can be found on the website at southalabama.edu/ studenthealth.

WORK FOR THE VANGUARD Positions Available Managing Editor The managing editor is responsible for all production functions and operations of the newspaper. The managing editor is also responsible for all layout and design responsibilities as deﬁned by the editor-in-chief. 15 hours per week. Copy Editor The copy editor will be asked to edit any or all copy that appears in the publication for errors of grammar, punctuation, clarity, accuracy, fairness and completeness. Be prepared to demonstrate knowledge of AP style. 5 hours per week. Web Editor The web editor will have an overall responsibility for web design, content planning and production. 5 hours per week. Sport Editor The sports editor will be responsible for managing the content and layout of their designated section, while ensuring a variety of USA sports coverage. 15 hours per week.

AD Space Advertise your businsess here. With up to 18,000 weekly readers, the Vanguard is the place to advertise. usavanguard@gmail.com (251) 460-6898

The Vanguard Staff Positions Paying positions for the 2014-2015 academic year. Send your resume and a cover letter explaining the position for which you are applying. Send samples of writing, photography and layout if available. Applications are due no later than Saturday, March 29. Please send applications to thevanguardeditor@gmail.com. Likewise, send any related questions. Be prepared to interview for the position. JagLife Editor The JagLife editor will be responsible for managing the content and layout of their designated section, while capturing the lifestyles and flavor of the USA community. 15 hours per week. Opinion Editor The opinion editor will be responsible for managing the content and layout of their designated section, while finding and reflecting the diverse, in-depth perspectives across the USA community. 10 hours per week Senior Reporter A senior reporter will be well-versed in AP style, relentless in gathering information and professional when conducting interviews to provide frequent and expert articles. 10 hours per week. Staff Reporters A staff reporter will regularly cover assigned beats and provide ongoing story ideas, all in accordance with deadlines and AP style. Please specify which section you are most interested in covering: Campus, JagLife, Sports or Opinion. 5 hours per week.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Prowl Continued from Page One

as possible.” The Prowl transitioned from Jag Radio at the beginning of summer 2013 under the guidance of Stanley. Since then, the station has undergone many changes and has made more progress than ever before. The listenership has continued to increase since the transition and the switch to FM will only help boost that increase. “It’s going to help us gain listeners and gain notoriety, which is what we need as a student-run college radio station,” student sports broadcaster Renato Mazariegos said. Along with Crabtree, Mazariegos co-hosts The Sports Preys, one of the sports talk shows on The Prowl. The station directors, who are all students, have been working with the rest of the staff in preparation for the switch to FM radio. The on-air personalities have had to attend workshops to learn Federal Communications Commission regulations, including learning what can and cannot be said on air. This will not only ready the students for working on

The Prowl, but it will also help better prepare them for a career in broadcasting, if desired. It will also prevent any fines from the FCC or the suspension of The Prowl’s license. The public relations team for The Prowl will be working to better educate students on what is going on around campus, in addition to promoting the University, the station and its shows. Each week the team records public service announcements, including information submitted by student organizations informing listeners of activities and events happening on campus. The safe driving public service announcement that plays on the station will be even more influential once people are able to listen to The Prowl in their cars. The Prowl staff is continually working to improve its broadcast to make sure they will be ready when the station goes live. After construction takes place, the station will continue to broadcast on the South Alabama app and their new website theprowlusa.wix.com/home. To learn more about The Prowl, you can visit the station’s website for live streaming, staff contacts and a list of shows and show descriptions.

Guilty plea Continued from Page One

KANDACE RAYBON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JT Crabtree co-hosts The Sports Preys, one of the sports talk shows on USA’s student radio,The Prowl.

According to District Attorney Keith Blackwood, the three men were looking for money and “they didn’t find any.” Saxton was found dead in a neighbor’s carport with gunshot wounds to the chest, according to the police. AL.com reported that in exchange for a capital murder charge, Godfrey accepted two consecutive life sentences for the murder of Saxon in his Jan. 27 hearing. One of Godfrey’s attorneys, Dennis Knizely, stated that the decision to plead out was due to a number of factors, including the option of serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole and the death penalty. According to Blackwood, Godfrey will be eligible for parole in 15 years during the period of his first sentence, and if paroled he would then begin his second life sentence. During his second life sentence, he would eligible for parole as well. AL.com also stated that Saxon’s family was in court to hear Stewart’s sentencing of Godfrey, but declined to comment on the conviction and sentencing. The family was also in attendance Feb. 20 for the court appearance of Case and Wells, but left quickly after court was adjourned.

SGA Continued from Page One

“A lot of people haven’t run in the past because they knew they couldn’t beat the Greek vote,” Coleman said. SGA isn’t waiting another election season to enforce the new system either. On Feb. 17, the senate gave the elections committee the power to change the election format temporarily. A permanent change in the voting procedure will amend the constitution, if passed through the senate and the student body. Students will have the option to vote on the constitutional amendment at the same time they vote for the next SGA members. Applications for SGA candidates will be available starting Feb. 28 and will be due in to the SGA office by March 18 at 4:30 p.m. SGA candidates will then have about a week and a half to campaign before the vote. A debate will be held March 25 for the officer candidates, with a place and time to be determined March 18. Students are encouraged to attend and question their future SGA leaders. Voter turnout has grown in recent

Coleman Wolf Elections Chairman years. According to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Mitchell, the 9 percent response rate for SGA elections in 2012 rose to 10 percent in 2013. Questions about the election can be sent to Wolf at jaguarelections@gmail. com.

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jagLIFE

EMMA MITCHELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Weekly Lowdown

‘All My Sons’ showcases talent at drama dept By MARY BETH LURSEN Contributing Writer

MARY BETH LURSEN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Joe Keller, played by Colgan Meanor, consoles his wife Kate Keller, played by Miranda Lambert.

ove, grief, hope, despair. These are all emotions people can feel about their family. These are also just a few of the emotions that “All My Sons” by USA’s theatre department will leave the audience feeling as they leave the fantastic production. “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller follows the story of two families who are dealing with the aftermath of events that took place during World War II. One family, the Kellers, has lost a son and brother to the war. Joe Keller (Colgan Meanor), patriarch of the Kellers, worked with Steve Deever, the father of Ann Deever (Kristina Walker) and George Deever (Blake Walters). Steve is serving time in jail after he sent out faulty engine heads of planes that resulted in the death of 21 soldiers. In the midst of this all, you have Joe’s youngest son, Chris Keller (Brandon Mallette) who is pursuing Ann. Complicated, yes. But oh so good. “This play is about families,” Christopher Peck, director of the play, said. “I think a lot of individuals

MARY BETH LURSEN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Chris Keller, played by Brandon Mallette, exchanges dialog onstage with Ann Deever, played by Kristina Walker.

are coming with a strong dynamic, who believe in the power of family over other things.” Each cast member does a terrific job of making these characters relatable to the audience through family dynamics. You see your mom worrying when you see Miranda Lambert’s portrayal of Kate Keller, matriarch of the Keller family. You see your dad cracking a joke about your new date in Meanor’s depiction of Joe. “My favorite part was definitely making a new human,” Mallette said. “You work on all these things to make a new person and live a new life. That would be one of my favorite parts about the play and the process is telling that person’s story.” While each character was relatable, it was easy to read emotions from just their facial expressions and movements. Even without dialogue, you could read the character’s thoughts. Chris’ frustration with his mother’s inability to let go of his older brother came out in the way Mallette ran his hands through his hair. You saw Ann’s nerves get the best of her when Walker wrung her hands together. It’s difficult to find a villain in the story because every character had bad moments and redeeming moments. Every character was human and believable, which is what makes the play. It’s definitely a play that is character driven. You’re so invested in what happens to the characters that you’re sitting on the edge of the seat as the play progresses. In addition to excellent characters, the set and costume design are on point. “The set is amazing,” sophomore theatre major Will Ballard said. “It’s beautiful, and it makes the stage look a lot bigger than it normally looks.” Between the acting, set design and costumes, you leave feeling like you’ve been in another universe for the last two and a half hours. The drama department’s hard work paid off in this production, a sure sign that their next production will be just as good. “All My Sons” opened Friday, Feb. 21. Upcoming shows will be held Feb. 28, March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the box office in Laidlaw.

Monday > Feb. 24 •

Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble Winter Concert- Laidlaw Center, 7:30 p.m., $5 for students

•

“The Yes Men Fix the World” documentary screening - Stokes Hall, 5:30 p.m. Free pizza

•

Southerners Open House - Alumni Hall, 5 p.m.

Tuesday > Feb. 25 •

Joyce Sylvester “Moving On, Moving Up” A Tribute to Legends - Laidlaw Center, 7:30 p.m., $5 for student.

•

Discussion and screening of the film “Half the Sky” - Marx Library Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday > Feb. 26 •

“Dr. Josiah Nott and the Types of Mankind.” Lecture- Marx Library, Rm. 181, 7:00 p.m.

•

Nick Strange, Percussion Recital - Laidlaw Center, 7:30 p.m., $5 for students

Thursday > Feb. 27 •

Flute Music of Ian Clarke- Laidlaw Center, 7:30 p.m., free

•

“All My Sons” by Authur Miller - LPAC, 7:30 p.m., $10 USA students and faculty, shows Feb. 28 and 29.

Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 10 words) to thevanguardeditor@gmail.com

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

ELC competes in Olympic-themed event By MATTHEW POIRER Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF CHIMENE GECEWICZ

Ali throws the pool noodle javalin, with Hassen Binmohmes (left) and Hosain Elmalki (right) during the ELC Olympic cultural event Feb. 17.

SA’s English Language Center held an Olympic-themed event Monday, Feb. 17. It was the second cultural immersion activity since the inception of the Peer Mentor Internship. “The Peer Mentor Internship,” ELC faculty member Chimene Gecewicz explained, “is a new internship opportunity being provided to anthropology, foreign language, international studies and sociology majors.” Gecewicz maintains that one of the primary purposes of the ELC is to increase students’ sense of belonging, and cultural immersion activities facilitate inclusion. “One of the things peer mentor interns are responsible for,” Gecewicz said, “is building a sense of community while exposing international students to the local culture. They do this through the cultural immersion events. These events are planned and organized by the peer mentors. They must write a proposal for the activity, get approval from the director of the English Language Center, publicize the event, manage the event and handle both set-up and clean-up.” The Olympic-themed party, which was organized by USA student and peer mentor George Colbourne, featured games such as pool noodle javelin, a threelegged race, long jump and limbo. Approximately 35 ELC students participated in the event. The ELC, according to their website, “offers intensive English language instruction and cultural orientation to international students who are preparing to study at a U.S. University or who simply wish to improve their English.”

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SPORTS

ALYSSA NEWTON SPORTS EDITOR akn1104@jagail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Men’s basketball tops Trojans in a must win showdown The Jaguars keep their conference tournament dreams alive with 86-78 victory over in-state rival Troy Trojans By ALYSSA NEWTON Sports Editor

or the South Alabama Jaguars, the 86-78 win against in-state rival Troy was not just another conference “W,” but a mustwin to keep their league tournament dreams alive. Whether it was head coach Matthew Graves’ speeches or the heartbreaking loss after a blown foul call in the last two seconds of overtime in the Texas Tech earlier in the

week, something lit a fire in the Jaguars Saturday night. “What I told our guys was, this is a must win game,” Graves said. “If you want to compete in New Orleans for a conference championship, you have to win tonight. I thought our energy and effort from the opening tip was outstanding. We got off to a great start.” The Jags came out blazing with their best half of basketball all season. Freshman Kevin Williams

and sophomore Barrington Stevens started off hot, both 2-2 in the first few minutes setting the tone of the half. Williams sparked up the half with two back-to-back 3-pointers. It took three minutes for South Alabama to miss their first shot of the game.

assists, senior Antoine Allen with 15 the Trojans only got as close as 8 coming off the bench, and Stevens points for the rest of the contest. and junior Mychal Ammons both “I do think fatigue played a little finishing the game with 11 points. bit of a factor,” Graves said of Boyanov finished the game with Troy’s rally attempt. “We were on the 6 points and six rebounds, starting in road Thursday and with the quick place of Ammons and Aakim Santil, turnaround and Aakim’s (Saintil) who fouled out in the second half, limited minutes due to foul trouble. I starting in place of Allen. think those guys got tired, but at the But not only was the game a team What I told our guys same time, Troy has a couple guys that can really shoot the basketball. effort win from the players, but the was, this is a must When they get feeling good and get huge crowd turnout helped the Jagin a rhythm, they’re certainly capable uars as well. win game. If you of making shots. We missed a couple “For the first time in a long time, want to compete switches and a couple things on our our crowd really helped us tonight,” in New Orleans rotation. In large part, it was due to Graves said. “You could hear them our fatigue, and you have to credit getting louder, the players got really for a conference Troy because they could have easily excited and I was thankful we had championship you rolled over, but they kept fighting a lot of fans here tonight supporting the Jags. That really helped us until the end.” have to win. The Trojans got a game-high 24 through our tough stretch.” points from Hunter Williams, who South Alabama goes on the road -head coach made five 3-pointers. next week for their final two road Matthew Graves Rubit ended the night with his games of the season, starting Thurs10th double-double of the season day, Feb. 27 at Louisiana-Monroe at The Jags only added to the with 22 points and 10 rebounds 7 p.m. lead throughout the first half, Even with the win against the along with five assists. The five asextending the Trojans’ deficit sists are a new career-high for the se- Trojans, the Jags can’t take their eyes by 26 points. By the time the nior. In the contest, Rubit shot 8-for- off the New Orleans prize. buzzer sounded halftime, the Jags 15 from the floor with two blocks. “The Monroe game is a mustlead the Trojans 45-24. South Alabama placed a season- win,” Graves said. “We have to go In the first half, Troy shot 7-25 high five players in double-digit scor- in there on the road with a mindset for only 28 percent, while the Jags ing: Williams with 18 points and 4 win or go home. went 19-35, making 54 percent of their shots from the field. Williams ended the half leading the Jags with 14 points and 4-of-6 3-point attempts with Augustine Rubit not far behind with 11 points. But domination over the Trojans was only temporary. After the Trojans controlled tip off, the second half was completely different from the first for the Jaguars. South Alabama led by 23 early in the second half with the help of freshman Georgi Boyanov, but Troy scored the next 12 points and took advantage of five missed shots and two Jag turnovers. South Alabama went almost six minutes without scoring a field goal, allowing Troy’s Hunter Williams to ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR shine. The 23-point lead at the beginning of the second half was cut Augustine Rubit finished the contest with 22 points, 10 to within 6 points, but after a tip-in rebounds, five assists and two blocks against Troy. and two hit free throws from Rubit,

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ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR

Freshman Georgi Boyanov started on Saturday and ended the night with 6 points against the Troy Trojans.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

No. 19 South Alabama softball wins big at Citrus Classic Jaguars are 4-for-4 in Orlando, Florida facing oppenents including No. 17 University of Georgia COURTESY OF USA JAGUARS South Alabama Athletics

No. 19 South Alabama finished the 2014 Citrus Classic, hosted by Diamond 9 Events at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. with four wins, moving to 11-1 on the year and 3-0 versus ranked opponents Friday USA 8, IPFW 0 (6 inn.) Four Jaguars recorded multiple hits versus IPFW, as USA outhit the Mastadons, 11-2, South Alabama starter Campbell not allowing a hit until the final inning of the contest, which ended early by way of run-rule, marking the Mobile club’s fourth win in 10 games to end in mercy-rule fashion. Eleven hits and three steals marked seasonhighs for the Jaguars Campbell recorded half her six total strikeouts versus IPFW in the top of the first, and USA built a 4-0 lead in the bottom half on four hits and two Mastadon errors. Chloe Rathburn subsequently drew a walk, and when she broke for second on a steal attempt, IPFW’s shortstop impeded her catcher’s throw to second, Griffith allowed to score

in the ensuing scramble. Later in the inning, Messer reached on an IPFW fielding error that allowed Breeden, who previously singled, to round home and put USA up 4-0. South Alabama added a run to in the bottom of the third when Gwen Jones rounded home on another Messer reach by way of error. Jones was pinch-running for Amanda Herron, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Herron recorded two RBI in the bottom of the fifth to put USA ahead, 7-0, when she singled to score Griffith, who led off the frame with a triple off the center field wall, and Rathburn, who was hit by a pitch. Johnson drove in USA’s eighth and final run, enacting the mercy rule, with her single to left field that scored Pilkington, who led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single. Friday USA 6, East Carolina 1 South Alabama scored in all but one inning in which it batted against the Pirates. USA went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Breeden drew a two-out, basesloaded walk to send Johnson home. ECU pitcher Gabby Andino struck out two Jaguars

to start the bottom half of the inning before walking three straight, all leading to the game’s first run. ECU’s Alex Fieldhouse evened the score to lead off the second inning when she belted a solo homer to left center, issuing starter Beard her first earned run of the year. In the bottom of the fourth, the Jaguars went up 5-1 on Rathburn’s RBI single to right field, which plated Johnson, who, before, registered her second base hit of the contest. Herron’s homer, a solo blast to left center in the bottom of the fifth, brought the final score to 6-1 Saturday USA 15, Lehigh 9 Fifteen runs tied for the fifth-most in program history, marking the most USA has scored since hanging 16 on Southern Illinois on Feb. 18, 2012. It was also the most USA has given up since falling, 12-1, to No. 3 Alabama on Feb. 11 of the same year. USA’s 16 total hits on Saturday ties for the third-most all-time, 14 RBI ties for fourthmost, four doubles ties for fourth-most and nine earned runs allowed ties for seventh-most.

South Alabama recorded a new program singlegame record for stolen bases after successfully stealing all seven versus the Mountain Hawks. Blair Johnson’s four hits ties a single-game school record. The junior went 4-for-4 on the day with four RBI and two runs scored to lead USA, which outhit Lehigh, 16-10. Five Jaguars recorded multiple hits on Saturday, including Amanda Minahan (3-for-5), Stephanie Pilkington (2-for-4), Kaitlyn Griffith (2-for-4) and Taylor Rodgers (2-for-3). USA’s evening contest with Mercer was canceled due to inclement weather in the Orlando area. The Jags went up 4-0 in the opening frame, beginning with Johnson’s RBI single that scored Pilkington, who drew a leadoff walk. Rathburn then reached on a throwing error by Lehigh’s second baseman, which allowed Johnson to round home for a 2-0 USA lead. The Jaguars went up 6-0 in the bottom of the second after Messer scored on Minahan’s single, and the latter was plated on Johnson’s subsequent double to deep center field. Lehigh cut the lead in half in the top of the See Softball wins big Page 11

Lady Jags can’t pull out win in Texas, Troy game at home South Alabama women’s basketball succumbs to Sun Belt conference opponents first on road then at home By ALYSSA NEWTON

Sports Editor

he Lady Jags could not pull out wins in their last two games bring their record so far this season to 7-17 overall, 5-9 in the Sun Belt conference. On Feb. 19, the University of South Alabama women’s basketball faced off against Texas State for the first time ever in their history. The Sun Belt comer held the Jags at a 12-point deficit at the half, but the Jags would make a rally attempt that would come up just short as the Jags fell to the Bobcats 63-61. Meghan Dunn led all scorers as with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting. She was also 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. This was her 17th double-figure game of the season and her eighth straight. Dunn recorded 18 points, 13 during the final 20 minutes of the contest, as she was 4-for-4 both at the foul line and from the field in the second half. Jennifer Johnson had one of her best games of the season off the bench as she had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Johnson went 5-of-10 from the field, 2-for-2 from the 3-point line and recorded three blocks for the night. The two threes were the senior’s first since USA’s conference opener against Western Kentucky. Ronnkea Robertson also finished in

double figures with 10 points. USA then returned home to host Troy Saturday night at the Mitchell Center for South Alabama’s annual “Pink Zone” game. In this matchup, turnovers would be the nail in the coffin for the Lady Jags as they committed 23 that allowed Troy 26 points that would lead to the Jaguars’ 86-76 loss. USA had four girls finish the contest with double figures. Breanna Hall finished with 17 points, most of those points coming from her 13-of-14 trips to the foul line. Dunn recorded 16, Rachel Cumbo with 14 and Robertson finished with 13 points as well as seven rebounds. At halftime, the Lady Jags held the lead at 41-39, a new season high, USA shot 46.7 percent in the first half and was 10-of-14 from the foul line. Troy would gain the lead in the second, extending their lead and not allowing USA to get any closer than a 4-point deficit in the rest of the contest. Troy would topple the Jaguars with a 10-point win. USA will now head back out on the road for a pair of games, beginning with LouisianaMonroe Feb. 26. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. South Alabama to keep their Sun Belt Conference tournament dreams alive, but the road won’t be an easy one.

ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR

Dunn recorded double-figures with 16 points against the Trojans on Saturday.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Softball wins big Continued from Page 10

third after two Mountain Hawk runners got on and were brought home via a fielder’s choice and groundout. USA got one back in the bottom of the third with a Jones pinch-run score from third after Herron’s leadoff walk. USA extended its lead to 11-3 with a fourrun fourth inning. Minahan led off the frame with a single to right and quickly touched home when Johnson tripled to left center. Griffith then sent Johnson home with a double off the center field wall. South Alabama added two runs to its total in the bottom of the fifth beginning with Pilkington’s score on a wild Lehigh pitch. Johnson then delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Minahan, who previously singled. The Jaguars put up two more scores to make 15 in the bottom of the sixth on Pilkington’s two-RBI double to left center, which scored Messer, who singled, and Breeden, who reached on a fielder’s choice finishing off the contest. Sunday USA 3, UGA 2 USA junior Blair Johnson delivered a tworun homer in the bottom of the first inning to give South Alabama a 2-1 lead after the Bulldogs scratched a run across in the opening frame. UGA (11-1), which took its first loss of the year, outhit South Alabama, 6-3, on the day, but erred twice. UGA left 10 runners on base to USA’s six. Starter Hannah Campbell Struck out five batters and allowed six hits and two runs (earned) to three walks in six innings of work. Farish Beard moved to 6-1 on the year with her win, entering the game when the score was tied, after striking out two to two walks in one inning of relief. Johnson put USA up, 2-1, in the bottom of the first when she ripped a one-out two-RBI

Baseball takes another loss

homer to right field, scoring Pilkington who drew a leadoff walk. The two RBI gave Johnson eight total on the weekend. She hung four RBI on Lehigh on Saturday, tying the program’s single-game best. Georgia tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the sixth when pinch-hitter Tina Iosefa delivered an RBI single that plated Adele Harrison, pinchrunning for catcher Katie Browne, who singled before. USA loaded the bags in the bottom of the sixth with two outs when Kaitlyn Griffith was hit by a pitch, Chloe Rathburn doubled and Alex Breeden was walked intentionally, but Wilkinson struck out freshman Taylor Rodgers to keep the score level. Beard entered the circle in the top of the seventh and immediately walked two batters before striking out two and forcing a foul out USA junior designated player Amanda Herron drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, Jones entering to pinch run for her. Jones was pushed to second on Emily Messer’s sacrifice bunt, and Jones rounded home to end the game on Minahan’s laser and the subsequent UGA throwing error. On the weekend, USA batted .343 to opponents’ .215. The Jaguars outscored opponents, 32-12, and outhit them, 36-23. USA slugged .514 as a team and recorded an overall on-base percentage of .442. Johnson led at the plate, going 9-for-13 (.692) with eight RBI, five runs scored, a 1.154 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage. Hannah Campbell was 2-0 in the circle with 15 total strikeouts on the weekend, two runs allowed (earned) and only five walks allowed in 14 1/3 innings pitched for a 0.98 ERA. Farish Beard was 1-0 with 11 strikeouts and one run allowed (earned) to only three walks in eight innings pitched. USA travels to Nicholls State on Wednesday, Feb. 26, for a midweek clash in Thibodaux, La.

COURTESY OF USAJAGUARS

Blair Johnson tied the school record for RBI in a game with four RBIs on Saturday against Lehigh.

By SAMUEL BROWN Contributing Writer

fter losing the season opening series against Tennessee Tech, South Alabama’s baseball team looked to rebound Tuesday night as the Alabama State Hornets came to Stanky Field with different plans. The Hornets shocked the Jag faithful as they shut out the Jaguars 5-0 while only allowing four hits. South Alabama left-hander Jared Gates took the mound, and it didn’t start off as planned. Hornet center fielder Richard Amion led the game off with a solo home run to leftcenter field, which gave the Hornets what ultimately ended up being the game winning run. Gates did not let the lead-off home run rattle him as he retired 18 of his next 19 batters. He finished allowing only three hits and one run while striking out three over seven innings. “Gates really battled for us tonight,” manager Mark Calvi said. “I thought he was outstanding.” Jaguar pitcher Tripp Hobbs came in to pitch the eighth inning and struggled. He allowed a single, hit a batter and walked another to load the bases. Hornet catcher Richard Gonzalez followed with a two-run single, which gave the Hornets a 3-0 lead. Calvi immediately made a change, bringing in Hunter Soleymani who limited the damage as the Jags escaped the rest of the inning unharmed. The Jaguars, who couldn’t get anything go-

ing offensively in the bottom of the eighth inning, hoped to keep the deficit at three going into the bottom of the ninth. That was not the case as Soleymani gave up a two-run bomb to Hornet first baseman Dexter Price, extending the lead for the Hornets to 5-0, which ultimately ended up being the final score. South Alabama had only three walks as a team coming into Tuesday’s action. The team more than doubled that number against Alabama State as they walked a total of eight times. The only thing that all the walks accounted for was adding to the number of Jaguars who were left stranded on base – 14. The closest the Jags came to scoring was in the bottom of the fifth inning when Davis Knapp was tagged out at home after a beautiful throw by Hornet left fielder Dillon Cooper. “It was disappointing tonight all the way around, especially from an offensive standpoint,” Calvi said. “The amount of men we left on base all weekend was disappointing.” Hornet starter Mike Estevez got the win as he threw five innings of no run baseball while striking out five and allowing only three hits. Jag left-hander Gates is tagged with his first loss of the season as the Jaguars concluded this game with a disappointing record of 1-3 to start the year. The Jags will next face Jacksonville State University at Stanky Field Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. and Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Men’s tennis 4-3 victory over Southern Miss Tennis rallies after dropping doubles point, wins four singles for the win over USM By JENNA MUNDAY Staff Reporter

he University of South Alabama tennis team recently ended their seven-match home stand when they hosted The University of Southern Mississippi this past Wednesday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts. Last February, Southern Miss claimed their first win over USA since the 1990 season when they topped the Jaguars 4-3. This season, the USM Golden Eagles, who are also in their spring campaign, went into the game with a 5-4 record. However, this was shortlived as the men’s tennis team soon had four singles wins in straight sets, defeating Southern Miss into a 5-5 overall record. “Everyone gave an excellent effort today,” USA head coach Nick Brochu said. “I’m very disappointed the way we played doubles, though, but we had a big turnaround in singles.” According to USAJaguars, No. 104 junior Daniel Leitner (Niederfischbach, Germany) picked up his eighth-straight win and tied the match at 1-1 when he downed Brad Marriott 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot. Freshman Tuki Jacobs (Windhoek, Namibia) gave the Jags a 2-1 lead when he topped Alex Doleac at No. 3. Juan Escobar followed up with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Juan Troglia

Follow us for news, updates and play-by-play tweets: @USAVGSports Kyle Sappington @ksapp_85 Tightend Russia, you may have won the overall medal count, but we’ll race you to the moon #Merica #1969 #wehititfirst Austin Karazsia @AustinKarazsia32 Forward COURTESY OF USAJAGUARS

Junior Manuel Belda helped secure the match for South Alabama with a win over Paulo Alvarado in the No. 2 flight. (Mendoza, Argentina) on the No. 6 court to even the match at 2-2. “Once again, we got some quick wins from Daniel and Tuki,” Brochu said. “It is such a big advantage, as far as confidence goes, to get up on the board really early. Those two guys really stepped up.” As for doubles, according to USAJaguars, Manuel Belda (Posadas, Misiones, Argentina) and Gerhard Gruindelingh (Pretoria, South Africa) got USA on the board with an 8-3 win over Marriott and Doleac on the

No. 1 court. USM responded with Escobar and Paulo Alvarado’s 8-4 victories over senior Shayann Vaezzadeh (Bavent, France) and Troglia at No. 3. Chao-Yu Huang and Vasco Valverde clinched the doubles point for Southern Miss when they dropped Leitner and sophomore Sean Robinson (Diamondhead, Miss.) 8-5 in the No. 2 flight. “We came out a little flat at the Nos. 2 and 3 positions in doubles,” Brochu said. “We played what I call

‘shy tennis.’ We played to not lose instead of playing to win, and Southern Miss was much louder than us and it did not feel like we were playing at home. After doubles, we had a big talk, and we went into singles really on fire. We got three early breaks, and we won the first set on five of six courts.” The Jaguars added to their twomatch win streak and now hold a 7-3 record in their spring campaign. The USA Jags will play again Feb. 28-March 1 at the H-E-B Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Men’s golf hosts Mobile Bay Intercollegiate Jaguar golf ends Mobile Bay Intercolligate with Pope finishing the match 13 out of 75 By JENNA MUNDAY Staff Reporter

or the fifth year in a row, the University of South Alabama recently hosted the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate at the par-72, 7,212-yard Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course Monday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 18. The USA Individual Tournament teed off Monday at 8:30 a.m. and included a field of 36 competitors from 13 of the participating schools. After 36 holes following a shotgun start on the first day, the final round continued Tuesday beginning from the first and 10th tees. The event hosted 15 schools total, including No. 27 Auburn and No. 28 Wake Forest. The Jags were paired with both teams, opening on the first, second and third holes. “It’s always good to get back into competition, the guys have had almost

three months of downtime,” Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan said. “Since mid-January, they have been getting back into the swing of things, everyone is ready to get going on Monday, starting at home is always nice; there’s a comfort factor and you’re not traveling, so it is a good way to break into the spring and hopefully will lead to good results.” According to USAJaguars, Ryan Pope carded a 2-under-par 70—the low round of the day for the University of South Alabama men’s golf team—to pace the Jaguars. After a 75 that afternoon, the freshman was tied for 14th place among the 75 individuals in the field with a 1-over-par 145 total. Michael Garretson recorded a 72 in the second round, a three-stroke improvement from his morning total, and was tied for 21st. Lane Hulse tied for 21st and Blake Kelley stood 58th

with a 152 two-round score. Matt Sheehan shot a 78 in the opening round and had a 161 total. “In the first round we actually got off to a very good start and unfortunately closed poorly coming in,” Hannan stated. “In the afternoon round, the guys started to play pretty solid golf. Michael (Garretson) was plugging along and made an eagle on No. 6 to get back to 1 under, then stayed with that and played pretty well. Again, coming in we let a few shots slip away or our afternoon round would’ve been very competitive.” The final day of the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate, both Pope and Garretson recorded a 1-under-par 71, helping the University of South Alabama men’s golf team post its best team total. According to USAJaguars, with an even-par 216 three-round score, Pope not only had his best finish as a Jag-

uar, placing 13th in a field of 75, but he was one shot shy of equaling his previous 54-hole low carded in his collegiate debut in September. It was the first time in six events that Pope has paced the Jags. “The guys played well today, shooting 2 over to have our best round. It was nice to finish on a good note,” Hannan noted. “As a group, we have some things we need to address, but all in all we are close and certainly moving in the right direction. The more we play this spring, the better it is going to be.” No. 27 Auburn won the tournament title for the second year in a row, posting a 6-under-par 858 score after shooting 2 under on the final day. The USA men’s golf team will be in action again when play begins on Monday, March 3 at the Samford Intercollegiate in Birmingham, Ala.

Prince Radio has been tearing up my Pandora as of late Austin Cole @Austin Cole61 Long snapper Getting ready for spring break, just bought some bullets and more camo. Too cold for the beach, hunt instead. Sharon Sanders @SomeSerious: Guard I’m just about to go to sleep tp avoid “getting in yout feelings” type tweets Derek Westbrook @thedwestbrook25: Men’s Cross Country If third grade you saw you today, would they be excited to meet you or let down because of what you have become? Uncle Drew @Drewski72_ Offensive Lineman Mardi Gras killed my sleep schedule all in one night Brandon Bridge @Air_Canada_7 Quarterback Just saw Jamarcus Russell in the mall

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VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Men’s basketball drops overtime thriller to Texas State On the road in San Marcos, Texas the Jaguars drop game in last seconds of exciting overtime By SAMUEL BROWN Contributing Writer

he Jaguars traveled to San Marcos, Texas, Thursday to take on the Texas State Bobcats for the first ever meeting between the two schools. This game had huge implications in regards to the Sun Belt Tournament as the winner would take ninth place in the conference. Only the top eight teams make it to New Orleans for the conference tournament. A huge Jaguar run at the end of the second half tied the game and sent it into overtime,

but a controversial foul call on Mychal Ammons with 2.6 seconds left in overtime sent Bobcat Joel Wright to the free throw line where he made both shots, sealing the Bobcats’ victory 6766. “We have good kids in that locker room, and they care,” head coach Matthew Graves said. “We just need to understand that you have to play a full 40 minutes; in this case, a full 45. We just had too many lapses tonight where we didn’t have enough of a sense of urgency from start to finish.” After taking an early 4-3 lead, the Jags trailed until 3:04 re-

Cap That.

maining in the second half when a Barrington Stevens free throw tied the game up at 5050. With 26 seconds remaining in the second half, the Bobcats held a 55-53 lead and sent senior Reid Koenen to the line. In the Jaguars’ favor, he went 1-for1 at the line to keep it a one possession game. The missed free throw set up for a Stevens 3-pointer to tie the game at 5656 with 18 seconds remaining. “We wanted to come down and set a high ball-screen for a pick-and-pop, and they ended up switching so Barrington ended up on one of their bigs,” Graves said. “He made a great

move, and the big backed up so he was able to get a good shot off. It was a really nice shot that he made.” After a quick Bobcat turnover, the Jags got the ball back with seven seconds remaining. Stevens couldn’t provide the magic again as his layup as time expired was blocked. The blocked layup sent the game into overtime. The Jaguars ultimately lost 67-66. “I was disappointed with our lack of communication. We did not build upon some of the things we did really well on Saturday,” Graves said. “When we were in our zone on Saturday,

we talked, we communicated and we located shooters. Tonight, we had Koenen on the scouting report as a shooter, and we allowed him to hit five threes in the first half and he hit seven for the game. It’s disappointing that we didn’t locate him time and time again.” Augustine Rubit led the Jaguars with 22 points and 7 rebounds, while forward Reid Koenen led the Bobcats with 26 points and 5 rebounds. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 8-18 overall and 2-11 in Sun Belt play. The Bobcats improve to 8-18 overall and 4-9 in conference play.

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Opinion

MATTHEW STRICKLAND, OPINION EDITOR strickland.matthew12@gmail.com VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

The United States should stay out of Ukraine

By RYAN WALLACE Contributing Writer

s I type this, The New York Times is reporting that armed policemen have fired into massed protesters in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, marking the bloodiest day (according the Times’ story) since Soviet times. The fatalities probably number somewhere between 39, the Ukrainian government’s accounting, and 100, the number given by the protestors. The violent outburst comes a day after a truce was declared between the protest leaders and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The truce quickly broke down amid renewed violence and the capture of several police officers by the protest movement. The situation is yet another in what seems an unrelenting stream of high-profile civil eruptions worldwide, from Egypt to Brazil to Libya to Venezuela. Unfortunately, the escalating violence during the last week looks less and less like the protests in Sao Paolo

last year and more like the full-scale civil war that has embroiled Syria in recent years. Unfortunately, the situation in Kiev bears another unfortunate resemblance to Syria. Not six months removed from his infamous “red line” comments threatening military action against Bashar al-Assad’s government forces in Syria, President Obama has again raised the possibility of U.S. action if Yanukovych called the military into Kiev to crack down on the protestors. “We have been watching very carefully, and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters,” Obama said. “There will be consequences if people step over the line.” We can only hope the president has learned from his Syrian misadventure. While his heart is almost certainly in the right place, threatening U.S. response to what is a Ukrainian issue is a can of worms the United States should be loath to open. Much like the Syrian situation, the Ukrainian protesters are a mix of many different factions and movements, some of them of the type (fascist, communist, etc.) that the U.S. should never associate itself with under any circumstances. More importantly, an expedition that is more political than military is the last thing that our military needs. After more than a decade of war, which saw incredible dominance by the U.S. military over its opponents and incredible mismanagement by politicians back home, the U.S. needs a break. We

need time to assess what our military’s role is going to be in the world from this point forward and how our military and its civilian leadership will accomplish our goals in the future. But more than anything else, despite the good intentions of our people and politicians, we need to allow national self-determinism to run its course. As our own nation-

al history proves, it can be a long, uncertain, violent process, but allowing the people of a nation to determine their own futures is the only way to protect the individual rights that we Americans hold dear. I don’t think anyone enjoys the pictures of bloodied protesters lying in the streets, but the people who need to solve the problems in Kiev are Ukrainian, not American.

Fans should demand more from country music

By CURRY BEEKER Contributing Writer

n Feb. 11, Eric Church released his long-awaited fourth album, “The Outsiders.” In interviews preceding the album’s release, Church promised a very progressive album. He told Rolling Stone, “I don’t know how people are going to take it.” He elaborated, “I don’t know if we’ll

make another one. I can’t imagine continuing to try to push the envelope. How do you keep doing that?” Upon hearing such news, I was ecstatic. After Jason Aldean’s mediocre (to be generous) “Night Train” and Jake Owen’s uninspiring “Days of Gold,” I was truly desperate for a good country album. Advanced word claimed the album would reflect heavy rock influence and be vastly different from his earlier work. Upon hearing such news, waiting for the album to drop became more akin to Melissa McCarthy counting down to National Doughnut Day at Krispy Kreme. Feb. 11 arrived. After I finally opened my CD (they should use those security devices to guard safes (maybe that’s why no one buys CDs anymore?)) and popped

it in my car’s CD player, I felt underwhelmed. Though it is still a good album, I definitely think it is not as consistent as “Sinners Like Me” or “Carolina.” Equally as depressing, those two albums were much more “envelope-pushing.” Then it hit me—this highlights everything that is wrong with the current era of country music. In an era where we, the listeners, reward “artists” (I use that term quite loosely these days) for using the Luke Bryan Formula (trucks plus hot girls catalyzed by alcohol yields a hit record), it’s not very surprising that “The Outsiders” appears progressive. Sure, the spoken word monologue on “Devil, Devil” is an interesting touch, but is this an album which will be cited as inspiration by the next generation of musicians?

Many of my friends despise country music. When grilled about what, exactly, they hate so much, I always got the same response: “All the songs sound the same.” I used to chuckle at their ignorance of the style as a whole, citing acts such as Brooks and Dunn, Lonestar and the Dixie Chicks as examples in country’s defense. Lately however, it’s getting increasingly difficult to support the genre, as homogenized, blase songwriting asserts dominance over the air waves. Surprisingly, country music finds itself in a similar predicament as rap music. Once MCs found out rapping about dealing cocaine was profitable, everyone spun tales of how they used to be their hometown’s Tony Montana. Today “crack rap” is ubiquitous,

and the only thing really evolving in the genre these days is the beats. Country is staring down a similar barrel as more songs follow the Luke Bryan Formula and find success. Though not as breathtaking as promised, we are indebted to “The Outsiders.” It should be viewed as a call to arms for country fans everywhere. If we want better songs, we as consumers must demand it, rather than accepting what record companies release. So stop listening to Randy Houser’s third single in a row about riding in his truck through the country and tell yourself that you (and America!) deserve better music. Because if we remain complacent, we’ll be stuck waiting for the “country music Jesus” Eric Church prophesized. Here’s to hoping he’s a country music Gabriel.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014

Rodman is the key to US-North Korea relations

By MATTHEW STRICKLAND Opinion Editor

he United Nations’ commission on human rights in North Korea has been gathering data and testimonies for more than a year and says that the evidence of murder, deliberate starvation, torture and rape by the government is sufficient enough to call for a trial by the International Criminal Court. The actions of North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, have caused him and his entire regime to be likened to Hitler’s Nazi-era Germany. The parallels between the two are appalling. Testimony from one North Korean guard detailed his duties, such as burning the bodies of those who have died from starvation and using

the ashes as fertilizer. The Nazis had similar inhumane practices. I remember learning about World War II in grade school and the educational videos that showed piles of bodies being burned and buried in mass quantities. Michael Kirby, the leader of the panel that issued the study revealing these atrocities, had this to say: “When you see that image in your mind of bodies being burned, it does bring back memories of the end of World War II, and the horror and the shame and the shock. I never thought that, in my lifetime, it would be part of my duty to bring revelations of a similar kind." Other atrocities that have been recorded include forcing a mother to drown her newborn simply because it was believed that the father may be Chinese, forcing a child to watch the public execution of his mother and sister and imprisoning more than 200,000 people only to squash any attempt at political dissent. But there seems to be a glimmer of hope, a small hint that things will get better for the people of North Korea, and it goes by the name of Dennis Rodman. A wedding dress wearing former

NBA star and WCW wrestler, Rodman is one of the only Americans regularly invited to visit North Korea. Kim Jong-Un has been friends with Rodman for years now with one of the biggest reasons being basketball. “He loves his basketball,” Rodman said. “He has passion for it, I have passion for it.” In fact, this past January, Kim Jong-Un invited Rodman to attend his 31st birthday, asking him to bring some former NBA stars with him to play against a team from North Korea. Rodman seemed very happy to do it, and while there, dedicated the game to his “best friend” Kim JongUn and even sang him the birthday song. Rodman saw it not only as a favor to his friend, but also as a chance at helping to bring North Korea out of seclusion. "I'm going to try and interact with him (Kim Jong-Un) on that point of love for sports. He loves sports. I like the guy, and he's an awesome guy to me," Rodman said. "One thing is about showing people we can actually get along. Let's get along as human beings, not politicians." During the first half of the game, the team of former NBA stars played

against the team from North Korea, but during the second half, it was Rodman’s idea to merge the teams so that Americans and North Koreans were playing side-by-side and having to work together. It’s not every day that an American gets to talk one-on-one with the Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un, so Rod-

man definitely needs to make the best of every trip that he can. Simply talking about basketball or singing “Happy Birthday” to Kim Jong-Un isn’t going to save North Korea from orchestrated starvation or false imprisonment, but it may be a much needed step in the right direction.

JORDAN KNOX | CONTRIBUTING ARTIST

Dennis Rodman fights the Nazi regime

Catch the new Tonight Show host while you can

By SHANNON HOUSE Contributing Writer

ecently, Jay Leno retired for a second time, leaving The Tonight Show to Jimmy Fallon. I certainly hope he does a good job, that is to say if he keeps the job. In elementary school, whenever

exchanges were made or gifts were given, it was necessary to call no take backs. Much like calling dibs or making a pinky promise, a person who did not obey the unwritten rules was labeled a cheater. Typically in elementary school, unless you called no take backs, someone might give you a pen or a rubber gripper and then make you return it. No harm was really done, and the only result of this transaction would be your squashed hopes of receiving a cool freebie. On May 29, 2009, Jay Leno hosted his final Tonight Show for the first time. He left to host The

Jay Leno Show just one time slot earlier. The prestigious position of The Tonight Show host, previously held by the likes of Johnny Carson, was to be passed to Conan O’Brien, whom Leno called “certainly the most deserving person for the job.” Yet, when Conan’s ratings faltered slightly, NBC made the decision to push Leno’s new show and The Tonight Show back by an hour, placing Leno in a late-night time slot and The Tonight Show after midnight EST. This decision was made without consulting with Conan. And with

Leno’s approval, NBC gave Conan an ultimatum: either accept the time change or leave NBC. Keeping its legacy in mind, Conan refused to let The Tonight Show air after midnight, and accepted the only other offer available. Since elementary school, never have I felt a need to call no take backs. Yet, perhaps if Conan had called no take backs shortly after becoming The Tonight Show host, he might still be the host today. My advice to Mr. Fallon: if you would like to keep your new job, be wary, be entertaining and, above all, call no take backs.

Did you watch the 2014 Winter Olympics? If so what was your favorite part? Carlton Warnberg I actually didn’t watch the Winter Olympics at all this year. I just followed the updates on Twitter. I still root for Team USA, but I guess they just don’t interest me nearly as much as the summer Olympics. Phillip Pierce As always, BOBSLED! Joshua Estelle It was a disaster.

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Hillary Renée Jones Loved seeing Meryl Davis and Charlie White win gold in Ice Dancing! Kim Lynn I liked all the ski events and speed skating Dennis Mersereau There was an Olympics? Travis Miller The Dutch dominating the speed skating.

VOL. 54, NO. 7 / FEB. 24, 2014