February 22, 2016

VOL. 57 #23

FEB. 22, 2016

BLACK

HISTORY

MONTH LIFE

SPORTS

WOX

Women’s basketball Nola bound

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12

OPINION Why BHM is important

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FEB. 22, 2016

Ticket Forgiveness Day

Students will have a chance to help feed high school students in need and ‘forgive’ a parking ticket.

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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tudents will be able to give back and have one unpaid parking ticket taken off of their record.

In order to have the ticket removed, students can donate to the Backpack Program developed by Feeding the Coast on Thursday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The list of acceptable items includes the following: • Five pop-top meals (any brand or flavor as long as they have the pop top) • Two 12 pack Ramen Noodles • Two four pack Easy Mac packages • Five four pack pudding cups (non-refrigerated) • Two four pack fruit cups • Two six pack applesauce packages • Two boxes of Pop Tarts • Two packages with 10 single serving packets of instant oatmeal • Two packages with 12 single serving packets of instant grits • Two boxes of breakfast bars (granola or oatmeal)

According to the Feeding the Gulf website, the Backpack Program’s mission is to meet the needs of chronically hungry children by providing them with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations when other resources are not available.

“It’s going to help out kids in public schools who may be dealing with hunger issues at home,” SGA President Ravi Rajendra said. “The students that we are feeding through the program with the Parking Forgiveness Day could one day be Jags. I think that’s how we really connect as a university to our surrounding community.”

March 10 will be the only day for students to have a ticket forgiven. The ticket must be for “out of zone” tickets, “parking in an employee (blue) space” tickets or “no permit visible” tickets.

Only one ticket will be forgiven per student.

Students will need to download a form available at southalabama.edu/ departments/sga/resources and fill it out before coming into the SGA office. It will have to be signed and approved in order to have a ticket forgiven.

What’s a ‘Maymester’?

By BRIA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

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his year, the university has come up with a May semester for students who’d like to take the challenge.

The new mini semester will start May 9 and continue till May 27, only a week shorter than a normal summer term.

Communication professor, Megan Sparks is very open to the idea of the Maymester.

“I wouldn't have volunteered if I didn't think it would be just as effective and beneficial for students as in a normal semester or minimester,” said Sparks.

Sparks will be teaching a public speaking course for the Maymester, if enough students sign up. “It’ll be a good mix of online and face-to-face in getting feedback from the students, which is a big part of the course and the

semester,” said Sparks.

Sparks is planning to meet with her students at least three times a week and post most of her assignments online to help the semester flow as well as possible.

“I really don’t know what it’s going to be like. I am kinda having to tweak the way I teach the course and present it to students, but I am hopeful and optimistic that it will work out well for students,” said Sparks.

Junior, Kassy Urena, is taking the Maymester into consideration and plans to talk to her advisor about her hopeful plan. “It really depends on what is offered. I think it will be great to get a class out of the way before fall semester and boost my GPA,” said Urena.

Students can talk to their assigned advisor to get a list of classes that are offered during the Maymester. Open registration for the Maymester begins May 3.

South Alabama’s SGA has set the date for Parking Forgiveness Day. The iniviative came from SGA President Ravi Rajendra’s original platform while running last year. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) “This was a collaboration between SGA and parking services,” Rajendra said. “It’s really to show parking services isn’t the bad guy. They have rules in place that make parking work here at South.

We were willing to work with them, just as any student should, to make parking better.”

The ticket forgiveness concept was one of Rajendra’s original campaign promises.

“That’s what Ticket Forgiveness Day is about, delivering on promises,” Rajendra said. “My platform was ‘Building a Better South,’ and this was part of that. It’s great to see it follow through.”

FEB.22, 2016

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

Alyssa Kaitlyn Newton

Mitchell Kahalley Micaela Walley Caitlin Smith Natalie Franklin D’mitri Wren Bria Johnson Tori Brackett Josh Rutledge Ebonie Craft

Staff Photographer Emily Rodrick

Distribution

Distribution Alan Smith

Advertising

Advertising Cristina Werner Graphic Designer Katelyn Huff

Management Advising J. Sellers J. Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan

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

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

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

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

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

Nick Grondin | Staff Meteorologist

USAPD blotter

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

01/30/16 17:54 Domestic Menacing with a gun Domestic violence was reported by the victim.

01/30/16 12:32 Fire The Grove Waste management dumpster caught on fire - reason unknown.

1/29/16 16:37 Theft of Property Health Sciences Drivers license, JagID, pistol permit, Social Security card, wallet stolen. Professor reported that their wallet was stolen.

1/29/16 12:26 Strinking an unoccupied vehicle Epsilon 2 Grey accura bumper struck by white car that failed to leave their information

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FEB. 22, 2016

SGA questions presented budget reform act Budget reform to be voted on Monday, senators split after controversial budget

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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bill to clarify the SGA budget was presented to the senate during the Feb. 15 meeting, following a controversial item that was addressed and changed in this semester’s budget.

A “basketball game” item was listed in the budget. Originally, it was said to be for an SGA suite at the Feb. 16 South Alabama-Troy basketball game.

Further discussion and opposition changed it to a “student appreciation” night.

The students night did not take place after the change was made. SGA President Ravi Rajendra said that the athletics department asked that the $1,000 be used for student buses for the Sun Belt Conference tournament in New Orleans.

The women’s basketball team qualified for the tourney on Saturday.

Senator DJ Parten, who originally questioned the budget item, presented the bill to the senate.

“This proposed budget shall contain a detailed list of all proposed expenditures for the semester,” the bill said. “The list must include the amount being spent and an explanation of what the funds are being spent on.”

“I felt that our previous budget process wasn’t transparent enough,” Parten said. “The policy was very vague for the description of the items that we were voting on wasn’t clear.”

Rajendra made a note during the meeting that every senator received a physical copy of the budget on Jan. 25.

Questions were raised by some senators about needing more flexibility in the budget that a more detailed format

would not allow. A couple of senators questioned the necessity of the change at all.

Senator Josh Crownover asked the senate which was more of a priority to SGA, efficiency or transparency.

“We are presented with the budget and it is already as itemized as we can possibly do,” Crownover said. “When I said as ‘detailed as possible’ it’s because our budget is fairly flexible because of how we work.

“Like any other governing body, there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and so, for efficiency’s sake, we leave a lot of things open-ended. But, at the same time, it still requires a two-thirds majority vote to approve anything to do with the budget.

“It doesn’t create any less transparency but it does increase efficiency. We have to prioritize efficiency over transparency, and not for the sake of losing transparency,

but for the sake of losing efficiency.”

Senator JuWan Robinson said that he doesn’t believe a change in legislation is the solution whatsoever.

“I think the senate may be having a knee-jerk reaction presenting a bill for this,” Robinson said. “We just need to increase communication and that is something we can do on our own.

“I think that if we do that, we don’t have the miscommunication we had in that meeting (approving the 2016 spring budget). That miscommunication does not reflect the senate itself and how we communicate. It happened and now the solution is to communicate better and ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The senate will have the final say on whether the bill is passed on Monday, Feb. 22. Two-thirds of the senate will have to vote in favor of the bill in order to make it legislation.

Texting and driving manslaughter case involving USA student continues Monday Texting and driving case could be the first of its kind in the state of Alabama

By TORI BRACKETT Staff Reporter

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he case involving the death of South Alabama student Miranda Hamilton, a 24-year-old studying to be a veterinary technician, started on Monday, Feb. 15.

Hamilton was killed by a driver while he was texting and driving April 14, 2014.

The driver who struck Hamilton was Jonathan Mikeal Raynes of Purvis, Mississippi, he is waiting to see if he will be convicted for manslaughter.

The collision occurred on Lott Road in Mobile.

The first witness, Charlie Winstead, stated that he was on his way to work with his wife, and saw Raynes’ truck quickly approaching their vehicle.

Charlie Winstead’s wife, Michelle, told AL.com that she was stopped in traffic, waiting to turn left onto Lott Road, when she saw the truck growing closer, and told her husband, “I think we’re about to get it.”

Raynes smashed into the back of Winstead’s vehicle, veered to avoid another collision, entered oncoming traffic, and struck Hamilton’s car, which

came to rest against the fence of the Learning Tree special education school.

Several witnesses came to Hamilton’s aid near the school, with one person running inside to retrieve blankets.

An employee at the school attempted to revive Hamilton after the collision.

Raynes’ cell phone history was tracked in the hour leading up to the accident, during most of which he had been driving, due to his job as an auto parts delivery driver.

The cell phone record showed that Raynes had been using multiple cell phone applications while driving, including Facebook, the messaging application Kik, the social media connection application MyYearbook and the dating website Badoo.com.

He was also sending and receiving text messages, phone calls and using the Safari internet on his cell phone while driving.

In the hour leading up to the collision, Raynes flipped through up to 45 profiles of young women on Badoo.com, and uploaded an image to Kik that was censored by request of Raynes’ counsel during trial, replaced only by the words “white male erect penis.”

Raynes’ attorney, Chase Dearman,

described the wreck only as a “tragic accident.”

During the trial, Dearman held his own cell phone up for the jury to see, and explained that applications on iPhones can run continuously even if the phone is not currently being used.

On the accident, he told the jury “He could go right and die or try to avoid it and go to the left”, defending Raynes’ decision to enter oncoming traffic and ultimately strike and kill Miranda Hamilton.

He also added that Hamilton died as a result of her not wearing a seatbelt, though Raynes’ did have his fastened.

“He was fixed on his cell phone. We believe the evidence will show he was manipulating his phone the entire time while trying to drive,” Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich told AL.com. “All of this in the span of an hour and fifteen minutes up until the minute of the fatal crash.”

Rich had previously stated that she believes this is the first homicide case related to texting and driving to be prosecuted in the state of Alabama.

The trial will resume on Wednesday, Feb. 24 before Circuit Court Judge Robert Smith.

Miranda “Randi” Hamilton was killed when she was hit head-on and ejected from her car. She was 24-years-old.

(Photo | Facebook)

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FEB. 22, 2016

Their story

Dean of Students Mike Mitchell and Director of OMSA Carl Cunningham talk Black History Month

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

Dean of Students Michael Mitchell (Photo | USA PR)

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ichael Mitchell was a big part of South Alabama, long before he was named Dean of Students in 2008.

Mitchell received his bachelor’s degree in communications from USA in 1994. He served as SGA president from 1992-94, and led the University of South Alabama’s Black Student Union from 1991-92.

In 1992, Mitchell was named a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society and the Abeneefoo Kuo AfricanAmerican Honor Society. He was also listed in the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” in 1993.

When asked about how the climate has changed since he was a student at South Alabama, Mitchell said it was still a changing environment when he was in college.

“The biggest thing I remember about that time is that the University had not really not dealt with the MLK holiday at that time,” Mitchell said. “It had been made a federal holiday and there were many institutions in the state that had closed for the holiday. As I student, before I was a student on SGA, I spent a lot of time working on this issue.”

Mitchell said that the university has changed since his time, and that the change has been a positive one.

“Thinking about that time and now looking at where we are as an institution, especially with my experience as an undergraduate student, it’s refreshing to see where we are compared to where we were when I was in college,” he said. “The institution is different physically, but I think it’s also changed culturally. It’s moved forward and will continue to move forward. It’s a different place.”

Many older institutions such as The University of Alabama, Ole Miss and Missouri, have recently been in the spotlight for more nationally-known racial tensions that, sparking change and discussion around the country.

“One of the things I think has really helped South Alabama is its age,” Mitchell said. “As a young institution, this institution started as an open institution from its very first day. There was never a time when South Alabama was segregated and not an open, educational environment. I think that’s what makes South Alabama different, we never had that time in our history.

“I think one of the great things about a historical

institution, like the University of Alabama, is its history. But I think its history also includes those periods of segregation and when it didn’t have equal access. It's harder for these institutions to discuss and face that time in their history.”

Mitchell became SGA president in 1992, the second African-American student body president in nearly 20 years.

“When I became an SGA president, there had not been an African-American SGA president since the seventies when Ken Simon was president,” he said. “There was a gap between Ken in the seventies and me in 1992, and it was an interesting time for me. From 1992-94, the progression has never stopped. We have had a variety of students fill those role. South Alabama continues be a place that you can really be whoever you want to be.”

Mitchell said that South Alabama was special in that those who attend the university are the “authors” of their own lives.

“This is really a place where you can write your own story,” he said. “That may be harder at places like Alabama, or colleges with a longer history.

They have dealt with some things that have limited ‘outsiders’ from being a part of the main stream and we really have never had that here.”

The dean himself wrote his story at South Alabama, starting in 1989.

“I’m in a very unique place in that when you look at my entire story, I came as a first year freshman without a car,” Mitchell said. “I was catching the bus from Prichard out to campus every day until I was able to get a car. For me to have spent my first quarters as a commuter student, I wasn’t really engaged at all because I had to ride the bus.

“For me to have come from that guy in 1989 to now serving in a leadership role at this institution, I’m honored almost every day. I would not ever imagine that I would go into student affairs. This place helped me find my purpose … I’m at an institution that I love.”

Long before Mitchell became a dean, he would walk through the administration building after being dropped off by the bus.

“I would get off the bus and go through the administration building over to the other side of campus,” Mitchell said. “At that time I didn’t even know what that building was. Now when I walk to that building, I’m going to the president’s office for a meeting. It’s a surreal feeling thinking about what my path was through there in 1989, I was just passing through.”

Mitchell said that to him, Black History Month is an opportunity to connect today’s youth with the struggles that occurred over 50 years ago.

“I think one of our challenges in recognizing this month is to recognize it in a way that it speaks to young people,” Mitchell said. “It is so easy in today’s society to tune things out and only hear what you want to hear and see.

“In recognizing Black History Month, the challenge is to connect today’s relevant issues with the history. The reason that something may be a struggle for you today is connected to what happened in your history. In order to deal with the struggle today, it’s important to understand how it relates to your history … If you don’t understand and grasp your history it is destined to be repeated.”

See Their Story Page 6

Column:

SGA concealed carry work group needs to step it up

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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week ago, I arrived at the SGA office expecting a meeting regarding the possibility of concealed carry on campus. I found it shuttered and dark, with no one in sight.

That meeting was billed as the group’s third after it has been repeatedly lobbied to examine the topic at the university.

The first meeting was unproductive, according to records kept. The second meeting had no records, per SGA. They cited low attendance as the cause for the failed second gathering.

The same excuse was given as to why the third meeting was canceled; it was a “lack of response” by student government senators who were supposed to attend.

During last week’s formal SGA meeting, the Senator Micah Messer announced that the concealed carry meeting would be open to all students and SGA members, in addition to the work group tasked with identifying campus options in regards to guns.

The workgroup was approved by the senate and only two senators voted against it back in November over three months ago.

In public, the senate promised to talk to administration, faculty, staff and students about how they felt about concealed carry on campus and to create a platform for discussions through town halls.

Concealed carry and campus shootings are issues that have polarized the entire country, with USAs campus as no exception.

There were 23 campus shootings in 2012 and more than a dozen since, causing students to argue for concealed carry by licensed gun owners on campus.

Currently, guns are expressly forbidden.

The SGA has been acting like it’s interested in public’s opinion, but behind closed doors, they aren’t even attending the meetings they promised.

The topic isn’t going away, either.

Since the senate work group was formed, there have been four incidents in which USAPD has found guns on campus: Dec. 6: a male, 39, and female, 31, were arrested for possession of a handgun.

Dec. 13: a 24-year-old male nonstudent was arrested for possession of a handgun.

Jan. 19: a student was referred to the

university disciplinary committee for a rifle.

Jan. 26: a student living at the Grove was referred to UDC when a handgun and airsoft pistol were found in his/her room at the on-campus apartment Many want it to be considered and allowed as it has been at other universities nationwide. Others oppose it, fearing an increase in gun violence.

Some universities have promised the same and have delivered to the students in a matter of months.

USA students want to talk about it, but yet their representatives have nothing to show for four months of promised.

Why have four months worth of promised resulted in a lack of participation, for a workgroup that was approved by the majority of the debate?

Let’s name names.

The original members of the workgroup were Kenny Ngo, Joe Conners, DJ Parten, JuWan Robinson, Micah Messer, Ravi Rajendra, Marcus Williams, Darius Bray and Kayla Terry, along with members of First Year Council.

At the Feb. 15 SGA meeting, Messer called upon senators for more involvement with the workgroup, especially from female senators.

I asked Messer for a current list of members, and this was the statement he gave me: “As of right now, there have been attendance issues from some individuals which have caused meetings to be cancelled,” Messer said. “I, chair of the committee, will be working over the next few days to resolve these issues. Some of the individuals on the committee will be removed and some have resigned. I won’t have a full list until later.”

SGA is supposed to be the voice of the student body, but the apathy of some senators are causing student voices to remain silent.

They are supposed to take on issues that students care about, no matter what their personal feelings or beliefs are towards the subject.

This issue won’t go away if it is just ignored. Right now, that’s exactly what it looks like is happening.

The job of an SGA senator isn’t just to sit there in formal meetings and assuage your constituents. It’s your job to show up and hold meetings, publicize those gatherings and take the information learned to the administration.

Step it up.

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FEB. 22, 2016

OMSA aims to improve student experience Office of Multicultural Student Affairs helps students become involved, adjust to college

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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he Office of Multicultural Affairs, or OMSA, has provided programming for cultural awareness and communication among the South Alabama community since it started in 1990.

“It’s the most exciting office here on campus at South Alabama,” OMSA director Carl Cunningham Jr. said. “What we do in this office here is work with an array of students from all cultural backgrounds. Our students are learning from each other and other organizations.”

OMSA was created in 1990 to assist the personal development and retention of minority students at South Alabama. The group encourages students to participate in campus life, provides leadership opportunities and helps assist the transition into college.

“This office is so important,” Cunningham said. “Students face a variety of issues no matter the institution, and having people in place to help students through these different developmental stages is important.”

The South Alabama student student body was 20.8 percent African-American and 64 percent white in the spring of 2015.

Although South Alabama is still considered a predominately-white institution, the minority enrollment is higher than what is seen at some other state universities. Auburn University reported that less than 10 percent of its total student body is made of minorities, while the University of Alabama reported 12.3 percent in

that same period.

Cunningham said that one of South Alabama’s best features is its diversity, but he said it goes far beyond race.

“Some people look at diversity as a race thing, but we look at not only race but geographical locations as well,” Cunningham said. “What we do is look beyond race, we know that each student brings something different to South Alabama.

“We want our students to feel welcome and we also want them to graduate. We like to be that support system in order to get that degree.”

In the fall of 2016, the grade point average required for acceptance rose from 2.0 to 2.5.

In addition to the higher GPA requirements, the University changed the requirement for incoming students to have a 19 regular ACT and a 17 conditional ACT. After the change, the University projected a loss of African-American students and Pell Grant recipients. Instead, the number of African-American students who enrolled in fall 2015 increased.

“I never thought it would drop,” Cunningham said. “There are some outstanding students throughout the country who are interested in South.”

Cunningham said that their main recruitment tool has become social media. The office has an account on everything from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram.

“We do a lot of social media” he said. “We’ve been one of the offices on campus that has been ahead of the social media curve. Minority students from all over the country now have a

Their Story Continued from page 5 Carl Cunningham is the Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at South Alabama.

Cunningham earned a doctorate in higher education administration in 2002 from the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds a master’s degree in geography from USM, where he wrote a thesis about racial segregation in Jackson between 1980 and 1990.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Jackson State University in 1995.

When asked about the changes since he was in college, Cunningham said there is still more to do.

“I don’t think we’ve advanced as much as I would have liked,” he said. “I think with the election of President Obama there has been some polarization in the country on both sides, black and white.

“The police shootings—that’s a big issue. We probably had police shootings but we didn’t have iPhones to prove it. Now, millennials have access to record and show the atrocities that have always happened, but back then it was one person’s word against the other, and that’s when the other person usually won and not the African-American. Now, cell phones have leveled that out.

It’s a part of history that we don’t like to discuss.”

Cunningham said that the United States “hadn’t

Director of OMSA Carl Cunningham (Photo | USA PR) come to grip” with the past and that fear kept the nation from healing old wounds.

“I think we haven’t had a reconciliation period yet in America, so when Black History Month raises questions like ‘why do we have a Black History Month?’ People ask that,” Cunningham said. “For minorities we are living white history month every day in our eyes. We see that every day.

“We learn in school about British history, the founding fathers, but we don’t learn about the impact that how African-Americans impacted America. We never talk about the impact or what they did. But we focus on the founding fathers as what made the country great, although we really do

way to always stay connected to our office and what we’re doing here at South Alabama.”

OMSA is not just for African-American students. The group works with the Latino Student Association, the Vietnamese Student Association and the LGBTQ community.

“We’ve gone through safe zone training for our LGBTQs to sit down and talk about issues and feel safe,” Cunningham said. “We want our students to be safe no matter who you are.

There have been students who spend all day here, who have come to just sit or even some who come and cry in my office. This is a safe zone where all students are welcome to talk.”

One of the largest programs that OMSA holds are monthly “Courageous Conversations.”

The purpose of this conversation is to allow students to talk and express their feelings in a safe and supportive environment.

“Millennials are going to have to work together even more than the past generations,” Cunningham said. “It’s important to understand the dialogs of the conversations that happen behind closed doors.

“People are more prone to sharing, this generation is more open to have courageous conversations that have been on an array of topics. This being a higher institution, I want our students to be well-prepared when they leave here.”

This month OMSA has sponsored events throughout the month of February for Black History Month.

“We provide exciting events for the community and students to attend,” Cunningham said. “The students plan these

activities, we worked with ASA and JP to help support these events.

“For us, this is about creating that positive experience. We want the memories to last and something they can tell their children.”

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is scheduled to end the Black History Month events on Feb. 29.

“The students wanted someone relevance, someone that is generational that students can get excited about,” Cunningham said. “Our students deserve that so we went for it.

“He has a lot of insight into the impact that African-Americans have had in the United States through athletics. I really wanted to get the men out of their residence halls. We knew Stephen A. Smith will bring them out and inspire them.”

The big-name speaker didn’t come without a price. Stephen A. Smith’s speaking fee was $30,000.

“A lot of people have been talking about how much money was spent,” Cunningham said..

“You have to think big. If we want to compete with with our other in-state institutions that bring in speakers like this, we have to reach out of our comfort zone. You have to pay to play.”

Cunningham said he encourages all students to come to OMSA events.

“They’re for everyone on this campus,” he said. “People think these are just ‘black events’, they’re not. Some say that they’re not diverse.

Well if you step into the event, you make it diverse.”

have a great country. But, there were some flaws and a lot of people hurt from those flaws. I think that’s why people don’t want to talk about it but it gives people a reason to talk about it.”

He too was asked about the various institutions that have recently faced nationally-spotlighted racial tensions. Cunningham also stated the University’s age as a benefit.

“I think we do a good job to include our students at South Alabama,” he said. “We don’t have some things ingrained like some universities.

“In many ways I think we are still figuring out who we are as a young institution. We don’t have the histories of some institutions that were founded in the 1800s that were based on a supremacist attitude. That has saved us. Not that we don’t have work to do here, but it has saved us the baggage.

“We have to make sure that we are always addressing those issues up front with our students and keep those conversations open. This is an institution of higher education. We cannot censor that dialog.”

Cunningham has worked in predominantly white institutions a majority of his career, besides a year at a historical black college and attending one.

“I’ve always been one of the few, or only, black males in the room,” he said. “That’s something I’ve dealt with in the profession because there are very few African-American males that have a Ph.D. and work in higher education.

“My experience has been very good. I’m a gogetter. I believe all students should get the best and be pushed to their best. When I see students, I do

see race because it’s important that you bring that flavor to the pot. I don’t want everyone to be the same, that’s boring.

“I grew up in downtown Mobile. My experience could be totally different from someone else. I walked to Mardi Gras. I knew the local drug dealer down the street, I knew the prostitute on the corner, that’s just what I grew up with. That’s what I bring to the table.”

Cunningham said that’s one reason he loves his role at the University. He believes everyone who walks onto South’s campus is special.

“I want to talk to students and know what they bring,” he said. “I want to know everything because what life experience everyone brings is special.”

For Cunningham, Black History Month is important, because, as he puts it, the journey of African-Americans is something that should be recognized and praised.

“Black History Month is a month dedicated to observing the greatness of African-Americans throughout the United States,” Cunningham said. “Because of the past histories of AfricanAmericans in this country it is important that amazingly survived the middle passage, the enslavement process, Jim Crow, segregations, to getting to where they are able to live in the United States freely. They are a group of people who are still able to be creators, inventors in a time when people said ‘no you can’t,’ but they still made a way.

“They are a part of the American fabric, the American story and I think it is just incredible for them to do that.”

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LIFE

NATALIE FRANKLIN LIFE EDITOR nsf1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

FEB. 22, 2016

Women of Excellence, an organization that lives up to its name

By NATALIE FRANKLIN Life Editor

Events of the Week

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hriving, inspiring and educating since 2006, the Women of Excellence (WOX) are prominent African American leaders on South Alabama’s campus.

“The purpose of Women of Excellence is just to aspire to be excellent in every aspect of our lives whether it be academically, socially, physically,” said Mikaya Wilson, president of WOX. “We just try to bring together like minded women that can help each other reach our goals and just obtain excellence.”

Wilson has been with WOX since her freshman year.

“I saw a lot of potential in the organization, so I jumped right in and got on E-board [executive board]. I became Public Relations Chair, and from there I just grew in the organization,” Wilson explained.

She has grown not only has a woman, but as a leader as well.

The young women of WOX are continually building their leadership skills through community service and fundraising. WOX members are involved in numerous community service projects.

They lend their time, talents and abilities to organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, Penelope House and Penelope’s Closet. The women tutor kids at Ella Grant Elementary school, clean up parks and participate in the annual MLK and Breast Cancer walks.

Their biggest fundraiser is their annual silent auction, which raises money for the faculty and staff of South Alabama.

“We go to different businesses around the city of Mobile and have them donate things like gift cards or baskets and we auction them off to students,” Wilson said.

WOX is an influential organization at South Alabama, and it is only growing. On Thursday, Feb. 11, the group inducted 63 new members.

“It was our biggest induction class ever,” Wilson said. WOX has grown tremendously since Wilson’s own induction three years ago.

“When I joined three years ago, there were only 40 members, and now we have 120,” Wilson said.

Increasing membership was vital to Wilson during her presidency.

“When I became president, my main focus was to leave something behind for them to build on.”

Members are not selected at random. It is a special woman that posses all the qualities and qualifications that WOX is searching for.

The Women of Excellence participated in last year’s Holiday Havoc. (Instagram) “Someone with integrity. Somebody that’s going to be committed. Someone that can bring new and creative ideas,” Wilson listed as membership qualities.

Feb. 27 starts WOX Week, a weeklong series of events hosted by WOX. This year’s WOX Week will be ‘WOXMixtape Volume 1’ and marks the first time the week has been themed.

“Each day is based on a song. For example, one day we have ‘Ice Cream Paint Job’ where we’re doing an ice cream social in the Student Center Mall. We have ‘White Iverson’ and we’re having an all-white party that day.”

The week will include other events such as community service, a forum and church service.

WOX serves as inspiring organization to

the African American women of South Alabama.

“One thing that I think WOX does and will continue to do is break the negative stigma that sometimes black women have,” Wilson said.

“We always have the stigma of being loud and not liking each other and bringing each other down. But Women of Excellence, we always lift each other up. I’ve never had a problem with anybody in Women of Excellence.

We’re always complimenting each other. We’re always helping each other.”

WOX inducts new members every spring semester. The organization will open up membership applications again in spring 2017.

To find out more about WOX, check out their Instagram: usa_wox, or ask a WOX member.

22

Violence Prevention and Assault Forum Student Center Terrace 6-8 p.m.

23

Evening of Negro Spirituals Student Center Ballroom 7-8 p.m.

24

JP Movie Night: 007-Spectre Student Center Ballroom 7-9 p.m.

25

Jags vs. Louisiana-Monroe Mens Basketball Mitchell Center 7:05 p.m.

Open Mic Night 7-9 p.m.

26 The Women of Excellence participated in last year’s Heart Walk.

(Photo | Instagram)

IMC Concert Ed Snodderly Satori Coffee House 7:30-10:30 p.m.

8

FEB. 22, 2016

“The People v. O.J. Simpson,” an infamous trial revisted

By NATALIE FRANKLIN Life Editor

“I

’m not black. I’m O.J.” These chilling words from Cuba Gooding Jr., as O.J. Simpson, in last Tuesday’s episode of “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” sets the stage for the racial tension that fuels much of the shows drama.

“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” is a true crime series based on Jeffrey Toobin’s account of the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Back in the mid-90s, when the trial took place, America only saw what was on the news, the legalities and the logistics of the trial. Now, 20 years later, through “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” we are seeing the raw emotion, a sort of behind the scenes take on the trial.

The show portrays the defense and the prosecution. We’re seeing the evidence being gathered, we’re seeing the defense’s scramble to defuse O.J.’s situation. We’re seeing what wasn’t shown, what couldn’t have been shown, 20 years ago.

The most recent episode, episode three, delves deep into racism. O.J.’s lead attorney, Robert Shapiro, played by John Travolta, is portrayed as a master spin artist as he develops a case that focuses on race and racism within the LAPD. “This race defense is the crux of our case,” Travolta said. Johnnie Cochran, played by Courtney B. Vance, plays a big part in the racial aspect of O.J.’s trial. His views on the systemic racism present in the LAPD during that time are ultimately what bring him into the Simpson

murder trial.

It’s been 20 years since the O.J. Simpson trial, but our nation is still facing problems with race relations, especially the relationship between African Americans and police. The show and the Simpson case are very much relevant, especially during a time when names such as Sandra Bland, Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin can still strike a chord. We’re reminded that race is and has always been a hot button issue in America, especially in the justice system.

This show succeeds by appealing to multiple generations. The generation who actually lived through this trial and were glued to their televisions as they watched that infamous white Ford Bronco speed up the Los Angeles highway are now watching “The People v. O.J. Simpson” every Tuesday on FX. A whole new generation is being exposed to the trial that took America by storm. Younger generations are tuning in, whether that be out of curiosity, genuine interest or a chance to catch a glimpse of the Kardashians as children (yes, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob have been portrayed in every episode so far).

Everyone knows the outcome of the O.J. Simpson trial. If you don’t already know, spoiler alert, he was found not guilty. Regardless of prior knowledge to the outcome, the show is still gripping. According to variety.com, the initial airing of “The People v. O.J. Simpson” averaged 8.3 million total viewers.

This show is interesting, informative and entertaining. It’s the trifecta of any television series.

The acting is superb, with big names such as Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson,and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian.

It’s unusual to think that a true crime series

THEVANGUARDUSA.COM

The true crime series airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on FX. (Photo | tvlistings.zap2it.com) would be entertaining. However, a culmination of fantastic acting and the unveiling of interesting facts that were unavailable during the trial makes this series incredible. The show is very dualistic. On one hand you have the defense, and you can see the hard evidence that they’ve gathered against O.J. Then you have the prosecution. You have O.J. crying and swearing his innocence. You feel sorry for him in a sense. The series presents the question: is

he innocent, or is he guilty? People already know the answer. Some have held their opinions for 20 years, but the show might have you second guessing yourself. Only three episodes in, and the audience is clamouring to see more.

This 10 episode series is underway with promises to provide more drama, more shock, and more truth. “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on FX.

FEB. 22, 2016

9

MelaNews Company

A creative, neweryone outlet for African-American students at South Alabama to use.

By MITCHELL KAHALLEY Managing Editor

Disclaimer: The Vanguard’s Life Editor Natalie Franklin also serves as Editor-In-Chief of MelaNews Magazine. elaNews Company’s tagline is “The Art of Being” but what exactly does that mean?

“If you really read the articles and understand that you are ‘the art of being’ and can’t nobody tell you your purpose can’t nobody tell you to be better than you can tell yourself to be you.” Javon Averett, the founder and creative director of MelaNews said.

MelaNews Company is an ambitious new startup that promotes and showcases the African-American community of the University of South Alabama and the city of Mobile. The crux of the company is their magazine, MelaNews which debut last Thursday at the House of Jags fashion show.

The project is the brainchild of Averett. a junior professional health science major at USA. He has been working on the project as the creative director since August when he conceived of MelaNews solely as a magazine.

“I wanted to give a different outlet, or give the black community a platform to be represented on good standing.” Averett said. “As a black man you always see people or your culture copied, mocked or depressed or oppressed. So it was my decision, instead of being that person that would go out and do these marches and rallies, to know it’s a different fight, a different time a different era and you have to be smarter to understand that you have to start inside the community.”

However, Averett went home to Huntsville for Christmas break where he read “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries. According to its description on Amazon, the book claims “to penetrate

M

“

Understand that you are ‘the art of being’ and understand that can’t nobody tell you your purpose can’t nobody tell you to be better than you can tell yoruself to be you, -Javon Averett

”

that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.” It totally changed Averett’s perception on what MelaNews could be.

He came back from winter break and pitched MelaNews as both a magazine and a website to accomplish their goals: highlighting, promoting and uplifting the black community.

The first issue of the magazine has articles about a new clothing line Skematic, the importance of washing your durag and an exploration of modern black activism. However, the magazine and company as a whole serves a greater function than just an exploration of AfricanAmerican culture and issues. It’s a tool for ev-

“Although that it is for the black community, MelaNews is definitely a tool for everybody so that other communities can know about the black community and how it’s being affected and how you’re affecting it day to day and how we can affect you day to day.” Averett said.

Expanding on its role as a tool, Averett said that the company is currently working on a director made up of students that provide goods and services that is readily accessible to students on campus as well as information about places like churches and restaurants in Mobile. He believes that having all this information in one place will be beneficial to the whole campus, but especially to freshmen that don’t know about all that the city of Mobile has to offer, which in turn will hopefully affect the retention rate at South Alabama.

MelaNews Company is also working on a Distinguished Black Leaders ceremony to highlight, promote and reward influential members of the black community on campus and around the city. He also said that the ceremony will feature some lighter awards such as Best Dressed and Best Hair.

“Just to say we appreciate you and keep doing what you’re doing.” Averett said.

The magazine was originally set to launch during the fall semester, but MelaNews saw a big setback.

“We had a photographer we did a couple shoots and had a lot of information ready and we were almost ready to print. The only thing

MelaNews debuted the first issue of its magazine at the House of Jags Fashion Show on Feb. 18. (Photo | Javon Averett) that was left was the pictures.” Averett said. “Or photographer had conflicts in his life where he had got into some trouble and he really just fell off. We never received those pictures and it was a big hurt to our heart and to the company.”

Averett said that even though not getting those pictures was a big setback for the company, he said that the Lord did his work and set up the release for MelaNews Magazine to be on an even

bigger day, last Thursday’s House of Jags fashion show.

If you couldn’t be at the fashion show for the launch of the magazine, copies are available to across campus in Dr. Mitchell’s office, the OMSA office and in the Student Center. Averett said that some articles will be posted melanewscompany. com. MelaNews Company can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @MelaNewsCompany

We love writers.

Want to be one for Th Vanguard?

Of course you do.

EMAIL thevanguardeditor@gmail.com (The giraffe is irrelevant.)

University of South Alabama

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

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Where good health and healing Begins

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FEB.22, 2016

SPORTS

D’MITRI WREN SPORTS EDITOR drrw1422@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Briana DiGiorgio | Staff Reporter

(Photo | USAJaguars)

South Alabama men split at home, away Men suffer loss to Troy, take down App State on the road

By D’MITRI WREN Sports Editor

T

he Jags split the week after dropping to Troy on Tuesday night and beating Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon.

A flat start and cold shooting proved to be too much for South Alabama to overcome as the Jags fell to their Sun Belt Conference rival, the Troy Trojans, 61-54. This was the second meeting of the season between the foes.

Coming into this game the Jags were on a two-win streak at home with an overtime win against Georgia State and a four point win against Georgia Southern just the week before.

Both squads came out flat at the start of the game with Troy leading 7-5 after just five minutes of play.

Early on the Jags struggled, at one point only shooting 18.2 percent to start the game.

Troy would get things going with a 8-0 run with 11:45 left to go in the first half. The Trojans also got things done on the defensive end by holding the Jags scoreless and forcing two

turnovers in a 3:17 second time span.

Over the next four minutes of play, both teams continued missing the bucket, with the Jags only scoring once in the stretch. Troy couldn’t find the basket.

At the end of the first half, Troy led USA 27-14. The Jags only shot 17.9 percent from the field and committed 10 turnovers.

At the start of the second half, Troy would continue their dominance by increasing their lead to 15 and would have the Jags trail as much as 21 points at the 11:42 mark.

Although the Jags would go outscore the Trojans 21-7 in the last five minutes of the game, South Alabama couldn’t overcome their cold first half and fall 61-54.

Trojan Wesley Person led all scorers with 28 points and was the only Trojan to reach double digits. Ken Williams ended the night with 13 points.

Georgi Boyanov and Don MuepoKelly both scored six points, and they brought down 10 rebounds each.

The Jags shot only 26.4 percent from the field, a season low. The team sunk only four three-pointers, as the

squad shot 16 percent from beyond the arc. South committed 13 turnovers and recorded only seven assists.

“Obviously, this is a tough game to swallow,” head coach Matthew Graves said. “First, we’ve got to give Troy a lot of credit. They came out very physical and punched us in the mouth the first half. They doubled us up because we weren’t physical and selfish.

One assist with 10 turnovers isn’t a good remedy. You can go down the starting group, they came in and didn’t play very well.”

Troy snapped a four-game losing streak against the Jags and notched the third Sun Belt win out of the last four games. The Trojans are now 9-17 for the season and 4-11 in conference play. After dropping the final game of the Jags’ homestand, South Alabama falls to 11-15, 6-9 SBC. On Thursday night the Jaguars took on Appalachian State. This was their second game of the week after falling to Troy the pass Tuesday. USA was 2-1 on their last three games coming into this one. The Jags beat App State with a score of 75-71 to put them at 12-15 for the season and also moves them up to the seventh spot in

Conference play.

South Alabama’s Ken Williams recorded 27 points for the Jags matching his career high. Williams shot 11of-19 from the field and 16 of his 27 points came during the second half of the game.

“I thought he played like an allleague guard tonight,” Graves said.

“He was able to score the ball in tough situations and make tough shots.” (usajaguars.com) The Jags only had one player in double digit scoring which was Wil-

liams who also led the team with four assists.

“It feels absolutely great to get a win and to do it on the defensive end for the third time in four games to come up with a big stop, and Nick Davis and Stover both got big loose-ball rebounds at the end of the game,” Graves stated. “It’s a wonderful feeling that we can get a stop in a late-game situation.” (usajaguars.com) The Jags play again on Thursday night against UL Monroe.

COURTESY OF USAJAGUARS Junior Ken Williams matches his career high with his second 27 point outing against App. State (Alyssa Newton | Editor-in-Chief)

FOLLOW US! Twitter - @USAVGSports ||| Facebook | USAVGSports

11

FEB. 22, 2016

South Alabama softball go 1-3 after undefeated start

By JOSH RUTLEDGE Staff Reporter

A

fter starting the season 5-0, the Jags win only one game in the Mardi Gras Invitational hosted here in Mobile, Alabama. The Jags are now 6-3 on the season and drop to #23 in the AP Polls.

Friday, February 19 MSU 4 USA 2 Mississippi State scored four runs to the Jaguars two in the opening night of the 2016 Mardi Gras Invitational giving the Jag Softball team their first loss of the season.

USA tied the score in the bottom of the third, and then took the lead in the fifth inning thanks to Kristian Foster’s base hit that drove in Kaleigh Todd after her single and stealing of second. In the top of the sixth inning MSU put runners in scoring position, one of which was driven in by an RBI ground out, tying the score and bringing the game into extra innings. Brown recorder her first loss of her sophomore season after giving up all four runs (earned) on six hits. She struck out nine batters and walked six. Destin Vicknair pitched one inning of relief and gave up two hits. Foster was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Messer was 2-for-5, while Todd, Holmes and Lane each had a hit.

Saturday, February 20 USA 5, Samford 8

The Jaguars took another loss in the next of four games against Samford, who took a 3-0 lead within the first four innings.

Messer put the Jags on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning due to a Bulldog throwing error. Lane and Paige brought home two more, evening the score at 3-3.

Another error by Samford gave the Jags two more runs in that same inning, taking the lead 5-3. The Bulldogs retaliated with a two-out grand slam, bringing the score to 7-5. Samford scored one more homerun in the sixth, putting the score in concrete at 8-5. Tucker Caraway took the loss in her USA debut allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits with a strikeout and three walks. Starter Destin Vicknair pitched three innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Emily Messer, Kaleigh Todd and Alex Breeden each had a pair of hits, while Lane and Holmes recorded an RBI each.

Saturday, February 20 USA 0, SIU-Edwardsville 1 South Alabaa softball suffered a loss versus SIU in their third game in the tournament with USA’s Devin Brown and SIUE’s Baylee Douglass both doing very well at keeping each other scoreless until Edwardsville put the one and only scoring point on the board in the top of the 7th inning. Brown fell to 3-2 after allowing the run (unearned) on three Cougar hits with

South Alabama falls 1-3 over the weekend in the Mardi Gras Invitaional (Emily Rodrick | Staff Photographer)

11 strikeouts and four walks. Messer and Todd had USA’s only two hits.

Sunday, February 21 USA 10 USM 2 The University of South Alabama softball team broke their 3 game losing streak with a 10-2 victory versus the University of Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles scored first with a bases-loaded walk in the first, but the Jags fired back in the bottom half with three. South tacked on seven more over the course of four innings. In the fourth Todd drove Messer home with a RBI groundout. In the next inning, Holmes

sacrificed to left field, driving in Pilkington.

Haleigh Lane then scored on a USM fielding error giving the Jags a 6-2 lead. The mercy rule was enacted in the sixth after USA scored four in the sixth inning. With the bags full of Jags, Holmes scored Breeden with a single, Lane scored on Harris’s walk, Messer drove in Dayla Gulledge, bringing the final to 10-2. Messer not only set a new school single-game record but she also scored two runs and drove in two more.

Paige Holmes was 2-for-2 with a careerhigh three RBIs and a run

South Alabama baseball opens with sweep

By EBONY CRAFT Staff Reporter

T

he South Alabama Baseball team earned a series sweep this weekend in their season opener as they hosted Evansville. The jaguars played 6:30 on Friday and won 5-4 against the Purple Aces.

Right-hander Kevin Hill got the start as the season opener and struck out 10 and issued three walks.

LaBounty went 4-for-4 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs scored to lead the Jaguar offense that tallied 16 hits.

His four hits and seven RBI were both career highs, while his home run was the first of his career at USA. (usajaguars. com) "Kevin deserved a better fate than giving up three runs, but then again so did their (Evansville) guy," Calvi said. "But that's the game of baseball. Early on, you hope you pitch and play better defense than the opposition. All in all, I will take it. I give Evansville credit. They have had some weather issues up there, but their kids hung tough and played well. We're

looking for another tough game tomorrow."

Game two on Saturday at 2 p.m. was also a W for the Jags, 11-0. Left-hander Thomas Huston tossed six scoreless innings and he allowed just three hits and struck out three against two walks in six innings of work. Head Coach Mark Calvi stated that,"I thought he was pretty good. His changeup was pretty good when he needed it. I'm proud of the way he worked today; he gave us a chance to win and that's what we did."

Thomas Huston made his first career start in game two of the series. Huston was a second-team all-Panhandle Conference selection last season as a sophomore at Pensacola State JC where he recorded 70 strikeouts against 33 walks in 74 innings pitched.

In the series finale game on Sunday, the Jaguars closed out the series with a W over Evansville, 18-5. Drew LaBounty recorded four hits and drove in seven runs to lead the baseball team in this finale game. LaBounty went 4-for-4 with a home run, seven RBI's and three runs scored. South Alabama had a seven-run

lead in the bottom of the first inning.

"We came out and swung the bats well again," head coach Mark Calvi said when asked about the game.. "I thought we were super aggressive; we did a nice job.

We had seven different guys with RBI, and four guys drove in multiple runs so it wasn't just one guy doing damage – it

was across the board. We did a good job throwing the first punch today, which is what we talk about. I thought we did a nice job and were ready to play. I'm proud of the guys for that effort."

The Jaguars will return Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 6:30 p.m. when they host Alabama State at Stanky Field.

South Alabama sweeps Evansville in opening weekend.

(Emily Rodrick | Staff Photographer)

FEB. 22, 2016

12

Lady Jags get hot on four-game win streak, ‘Nola bound with win over App State

By D’MITRI WREN Sports Editor

T

he Jags increase their winning streak with a down to the wire win against Troy on Tuesday night followed by a win Thursday night against Appalachian State.

Colby Davis made the game-winning layup with 1.6 seconds to seal a last second, 65-63 barn burner against the Troy Trojans.

"Originally the play was for Erin, for her to shoot the three, but she wasn't open, so she trusted me to give me the ball and I just made a play out of it and hit the shot," said Davis. "I did what my teammates asked of me and I appreciative that they trusted me and gave me the ball to make the shot."

The Jaguar win closes out a three-game homestand, South Alabama will look to continue their win streak on the road against Appalachian State.

Troy came out hot, shooting 6-of-10 early. The Trojans were up by eight points with six minutes left in the first quarter.

South Alabama was able to rally in the final minutes of the opening period, ending with a Genesis Perrymond trey at the buzzer to cut the Trojan lead to 22-10.

The Jags answered a pair of Trojan free throws with a 8-0 run. Perrymond sunk another three to cut the lead to 24-23.

Troy extended their lead to 28-23, but a big 14-0 run by Autio and Perrymond. Perrymond tied up the game with her third three, then later came up with a Trojan turnover to set up a Autio layup for a 30-28 Jaguar lead.

The Jags took the advantage to the half with a 39-33 lead.

Troy came back out hot, scoring the first 10 points of the quarter to give Troy a 43-39 lead.

LaNeetra Gulliory ended the Trojan run with two points, a minute later Jullian Miller gave the Jags back the lead after getting the and-one after being fouled on a jumper in the paint for the 44-43 advantage. Troy bounced back going into the final quarter with a 51-47 lead.

Troy’s Ramirez made it a 7-point game after scoring four points for the Trojans in the opening minutes of the final quarter. The 55-48 lead would be cut by Autio as the redshirt freshman made her third trey of the night.

After a Trojan answer, the rival led 63-57 with less than two minutes on the clock.

Davis started the comeback making 1-of-2 free throws followed by a defensive stop on the other end. Miller drained a three to cut the Troy lead to 63-61 with 57.8 seconds to play.

After another big effort from the Jaguar defense, the turnover lead to Miller finding an open Autio under the basket for a layup to tie the contest with 16 seconds left.

Troy held possession, but because Ramirez was holding the ball on the inbounds when Trojan Beverly Kelley made contacts, making it the Jags’ ball.

With no time outs left, Davis drove to the basket and with 1.6 seconds left gave the Jags the lead, leaving Troy no time to get a shot off.

Autio finished the night with a career high of 19 points, 14 of which came in the second quarter.

She was 8-for-11 from the field with three three pointers.

Miller and Perrymond ended the night with double figures scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Chyna Ellis was only a point shy of hitting double digit points, but the sophomore put up a team high of six rebounds.

"We got off to a slow start, but I was proud of how we came back and got back in the game,” head coach Terry Fowler said. “The key to that was we got back in transition on defense and slowed them down."

On Thursday night the South Alabama’s Women's Basketball team took on Appalachian State at the Holmes Center in North Carolina. The Jags had just won their third straight game on the Tuesday night before against Troy. USA beat App State 68-54 to give the them their fourth straight win in the last eight days.

South Alabama’s own Marquitda Daniels led all scorers with 19 points shooting 7-of-10 from the field and going 5-of-6 from 3 point range. This was Daniel’s 13th double figure performance for the season. Daniels wasn't the only one for the Jags to score double figures. Colby Davis ended the game with 15 points going 5-of-8 from the floor and shooting 80 percent from the free throw line. To join her was Erin Autio who had 11 points who went 2-of-2 from beyond the ark and shot 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the win. Chyna Ellis was one point away from double digit scoring with 9

Marquita Daniels scores led all scorers with 19 points in the win against App. State.(Photo | USA Jaguars)

South Alabama women’s basketball is heading to the SBC Tourney after a win over App State. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) points and she also contributed 7 rebounds.

USA shot 45.5 percent from the floor and shot an outstanding 64 percent from three point range.

Coming into the game the Mountaineers led the Sun Belt Conference in rebounds with 41.0 per game but were only able to grab 29 rebounds against the Jags.

"It just shows the toughness and character of this team," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said of his team winning four games in eight days. "Coming into tonight after the three games

at home and then the travel yesterday to get here, we talked about the need for us to be focused on what we needed to do to win this game. We were able to come out and execute the game plan about as well as we could have expected to. We were able to dominate the glass like we wanted to and just ran our offense to a 'T'." (usajaguars.com) The Jaguars are now 13-12 on the season and 9-7 in Conference play. USA will try to win their fifth consecutive game on Thursday night when they welcome UL Monroe to the Mitchell Center.

OPINION

CAITLIN SMITH OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

FEB. 22, 2016

Interracial relationships: Not always black and white

By ELISSA VANDEWAA Contributing Writer

I

am a white girl in a serious and loving relationship with a black man.

What it’s like to be in an interracial relationship in today’s society? To answer that for short—It is just like being in any other serious relationship.

We are two cultures and backgrounds coming together, interested in and respectful of our differences. We have a successful relationship because we don’t let those cultural differences interfere with the success of our relationship.

All it takes is a little patience and a little understanding that we are all different.

What bothers me so much about today’s society is that I have to tiptoe around the way I talk about African American culture. I was originally going to take a lighthearted, comedic direction with this article and discuss my experience with things such as the use of Cocoa butter, and my experience going to church with my African American boyfriend for the first time.

However, as I wrote, I had to be so careful with my word choice because I was worried I would be offending one culture

or the other.

While it doesn’t have that effect on me or even on my boyfriend, a white girl talking about black culture or simply the fact that a white girl is dating a black guy still affects a large percentage of the rest of society.

Which is truly sad If we are each happy with our relationship then why does it matter to anyone else? If you’re not interested in an interracial relationship, that is okay. I’m not telling anyone what to like. I’m simply saying that outside opinions won’t affect us.

However, if society never evolves, I will always have to be careful of how I speak

“

Will it ever be okay that a white girl speaks on her experiences with her African American boyfriend without worrying who I will offend

”

about Black culture. I will always have to be careful with my word choice when speaking publicly about my own soon-to-

In an interracial relationship, there are cultural differences that have to be understood and respected by both sides. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief)

be husband’s culture. And if I marry into his culture, does it not become a part of me? Or is culture the exception to “what’s mine is yours”?

I guess my question is, will it ever be okay that a white girl speaks on her experiences with her African American boyfriend without worrying who I wilInl offend?

Interestingly enough, I have noticed more and more interracial relationships

around me as the years have gone by, which I think is a wonderful thing!

However, the fact that it is assumed my experience being in an interracial relationship in today’s society is any different from an experience dating within my race is exactly the problem with today’s society.

We are all different. Learning to accept and respect those differences would go a long way to helping us in all of our relationships, normalizing them all.

“The President Shall” Obama: the Republicans and a nomination

By SCOTT DARLING Contributing Writer

A

s an American who has voted in Presidential Elections since 1984 I have gotten used to how campaigns devolve as November gets closer.

It is a sad fact, but I have come to expect that candidates presenting their platforms and ideas for solving the problems this nation and world faces, will quickly turn into mudslinging. Candidates make unrealistic promises and people have unrealistic expectations.

There always seems to be at least one candidate who plays on nationalism or prejudice or fear to gain popularity, preying on the negatives instead of fostering the positives, like acceptance or togetherness or hope.

The debates have become a joke; I have not heard a candidate actually answer the question they were asked, let alone engage in an actual debate on the question, in decades. By the time we get to the actual election, the issues have taken a back seat to accusations of who is lying about what. These are things I have unfortunately come to expect of our process for electing our President, I don’t like them, but I no longer get as upset about them as I did in my youth, so I only complain about them to my wife and friends.

But this year is different, this year the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and the issue of nominating and ratifying a new Supreme

Court Justice has become an election issue. I am upset in so many ways that this has even become an issue. Republicans have openly stated that they believe President Obama should not make a nomination, but should let the next President make the nomination(s).

They have stated they will not ratify any nominee proposed by President Obama. Their stated reasoning is that the election is already causing difficulty between the parties already so the President should wait so this doesn’t cause more strain between the parties. These are things I have heard come out of Republican Senators mouths.

The copy of the Constitution that I have, the one that has had a spot on my bedroom or office wall for decades, in regards to Supreme Court Justice nomination says “the President shall”. It does not say, unless it is an election year, or unless he is in his second term, or unless it is an election year and his second term, it says none of these things.

It is President Obama’s duty as the President of the United States of America to seek out and nominate the best qualified candidate for Supreme Court Justice. If President Obama decides not to make a nomination, that is his choice, not Republican Senators or Congresspersons. I fail to see any room for discussion.

Republican Senators saying they will not ratify a nomination by President Obama raises all sorts of questions in my mind. And before we go any further and someone starts to make a bad assumption, I have voted Republican my entire life, I have voted for every Republican Presidential candidate since

Reagan, my first vote. I am not a lawyer, but I once had a teacher with a fascination with and love of the Constitution, and she passed it on to me.

It is truly a great work, a true living document, that is open to interpretation and changes as our nation evolves. I am not trying to argue Constitutional law, but my understanding has long been that at least part of the reason that Supreme Court Justice is a lifetime appointment is to separate it from the election process and short term variations in public opinion, to be a long term guardian of the Constitution and the rights in ensures.

I always believed that the Supreme Court Justices were supposed to be the wisest Judges this

nation had to offer, and that although party politics were naturally a part of the ratification process, even politics would not stop a really good candidate from being ratified.

But now Republican are saying they won’t ratify.

So are the American people going to lose out on a really great future Supreme Court Justice simply because the Senate has decided to flex its political muscles and show that it can block any nominee?

To me, that is akin to a bully on a playground.

If President Obama found the reincarnation of King Solomon, the Senate would not ratify just to prove a point? How childish can one be? In

See Scalia Page 14

Antonin Scalia was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1986 until his death in 2016 (Photo | Wiki Commons)

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FEB. 22, 2016

Why Black History Month matters to me and why it should to you

By BRIA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

W

hen I was a little girl my mama was the youth director at my church, and every year she coordinated a Black History Month Program. She would put together the most original skits, cantatas or dances that she could come up with, and after 25 years, she’s still the best.

Now, almost every black person I know, knows that a Black History Month program is not complete unless you sing the Black American National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson, at the end of the program. It was something I was used to being part of ever since I could sing.

My sophomore year at South Alabama, I enrolled in an African American Studies class with Dr. Kern Jackson. I was thrilled the day he handed me a sheet of paper with the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. I knew he was going to ask us to learn and recite it, so I was 19 years prepared. What I wasn’t prepared for was to actually learn the lyrics. I’d never heard the powerful message before I sat down, listened and learned.

That’s when I realized why Black History Month is so important, not only for African Americans, but for every single person in the world.

On Facebook, there is a video of a teacher speaking to her class about the validity of Black History Month. She said something so simple yet so true, it couldn’t have been

Scalia Continued from page 13

fact, knowing that the Senate would not ratify, why would anyone want to accept a nomination from President Obama? What could they possibly gain from Senate hearings with a foregone conclusion, other than to show the American people what a good candidate they lost to party bullshit.

While I am on the subject of bullshit, please stop bullshitting the American people. The Republican party does not care about decreasing the stress between the parties because it is an election year; the Justices are evenly split between conservative and liberal, and the Republicans are hoping to win the Presidential election and put a suitably conservative Justice in place.

Stop making excuses and bullshitting the people and at least be honest about your motives. You don’t care about stress between the parties or you wouldn’t have made Supreme Court Justice nomination an issue. By refusing to ratify before a nomination has even been made, you show your true motives.

Motives that really make little sense to me. If Democrats win the election you will have refused to ratify all the really good even semi liberal candidates, so don’t be surprised when Democrats start digging deep for candidates. If Republicans do win the Presidential election they get to nominate a candidate, one who I am sure will be suitably conservative, and then run around high fiving each other on how they won.

But what assurance do you have after you give

better said. “A lie isn’t always just not telling the truth, it’s also when you leave things out.”

Black History Month is the one month, the shortest month of the year, that everyone gets to hear the whole truth. To the unknown black writers, artist, activist, doctors, lawyers, inventors, and political leaders that still have not gotten the credit they deserve, we salute you. To the unknown Dr. Kings’, Rosa Parks’, Malcom Xs’, that didn’t get a page in the “American History” book, we salute you.

And not only is it a time to celebrate these courageous, intelligent minds that very few know about, it’s a time to remember, the truth. Remember the dirty dirty truth and don’t let anyone ever forget it.

For me, Black History Month isn’t about “Black Pride” at all, it’s about remembering and reminding everyone what black people have gone through to get to where we are today. For all the people, black and white, that sacrificed so anyone can have an opportunity.

For me, Black History Month is a reminder to always appreciate hard work and to be a hard-worker, to never accept an answer I don’t think I deserve, and to always be my best self.

The next time you think that Black History Month is irrelevant or it shouldn’t be celebrated, sit down and read the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and learn something that isn’t in your “American History” book. that lifetime appointment that your conservative candidate won’t change their views? None! It has happened before; it will happen again, people change their opinions. So the Republican party is willing to gamble, and possibly miss out on a great candidate, all to flex their muscle, and what are they gambling with? Taxpayer dollars!

I started thinking and quickly got pissed when I started thinking about how many wasted taxpayer dollars there will be over the next year. I am not saying the Supreme Court Justices won’t be doing anything until a new Justice is appointed, but they won’t be seeing any cases. Surely they can review issues for pending cases and keep themselves busy, but how much will progress be stifled for the next year. While people waiting to have their cases heard by the court continue to wait, and pay attorney fees, their cases won’t be seen. The Supreme Court Justices cannot fully do the job they are being paid for.

How much is the current salary for a Supreme Court Justice? Better yet, how much is the combined salary for a Justice and all their associated staff. How many people in and around the Supreme Court are going to receive a government salary for the next year, and not have to do the job they are truly there for? How big is that number? And it doesn’t stop there. What about the Senators and all their staff who are going to be wasting time and money on researching nominees with the sole purpose of finding a reasonable excuse not to ratify?

What about the nominees and their staff as well, don’t forget they are all probably going to be Judges who instead of earning their federal salary seeing cases will instead be sitting through Senate hearings.

Lift Every Voice and Sing

“

by James Weldon Johnson

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our forefathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

I am not saying these people will all be doing nothing for a year, but I sure think there are better ways for them to spend time and money. This country is very deep in debt; do we really need to waste time and money like they are endless? Is this really how our political parties are going to behave?

It makes me very concerned for the future.

Candidates are regularly extolling the virtues of the future they envision, and making promises, sometimes outrageous, about how they are going to make the future of America better. This is a case where politicians need to be very careful about which direction they choose for the future, and the precedence they set in getting there. I may not be a lawyer, but I know that in our legal system precedence plays a huge role.

So what legal precedence will be set if Republicans succeed in blocking President Obama’s nominees? In the future will this be used as precedence to block nominations of a future President, a Republican President? What will the precedence be, no President will replace a Justice in an election year? Or only an election year in the second term?

Will be see arguments for a second term President not nominating at all? Or since I have heard arguments that include the fact that President Obama already appointed two Justices, will there be a limit to the number of Justices that a President can nominate during their time in office? Are politicians going to create a precedence that means every time a Supreme Court Justice dies the American people get to sit by and watch tax money wasted for years on end?

Our elected representatives need to think very

”

carefully about the Bad Precedence they are about to set. I personally would much rather see the precedence set that a Supreme Court Justice nomination and ratification process should take no longer than 90 days.

I don’t know if all this thinking and typing I have done will have much effect. Will Republicans take another look at their motivations, decisions, and actions? Will they think long and hard about the examples they are setting for America and the precedence they may well create? Will the American people do the same and hopefully let their elected official how they feel? I just don’t know. But I do know that if President Obama sends qualified nominees to the Senate, and Republican Senators do as they said and refuse to ratify, I will be voting Democrat for the first time in my life.

I have heard politicians and political pundits weigh in on the issue. The funny part is that if the roles were reversed, if we had a Republican President and a Democrat controlled Senate, we would most likely have Democratic Senators trying to block appointment. I am tired of hearing politicians tell how they are going to misuse the system to get their way. I am far more interested in the opinion of the Supreme Court Justices. How do they weigh in on whether or not President Obama should nominate? More importantly what do they have to say about Senators saying they won’t ratify a nominee even before a nominee is announced?

If I could, I would really like to know what Justice Scalia would have to say. What would Justice Scalia think about the Bad Precedence that may well come about?

DISTRACTIONS

CAITLIN C AITLIN SMITH TH SMITH OPCAITLIN OPINION EDITO EDITOR O OR OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu lcs1222@jagmail.sso southalabama.e .e .edu lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

FEB. 15 201 2016 FEB FEB. B 15, B. 8,, 2016 201 16 1 FEB. 22, 2016

Black History Month Crossword Down: 1. Emancipation 2. Famous TV mini-series and Alex Haley book 3. George __ Carver 4. Festival featuring African-American culture 5. Basketball superstar Michael __ 7. Legendary gospel singer __ Jackson 8. Speaker who said “I have a dream” 9. Last name of 30-across 12. Former ambassador to the United Nations and mayor of Atlanta 16. Abolitionist who escaped slavory, Fredrick__ 18. Player with a record of 73 home runs in one season 20. Basketball legend and businessman __ Johnson 21. She led slaves to the Underground Railroad 22. Founder of the Rainbow Coalition 23. Name for a female opera star, such as Leontyne Price 26. Best-Selling muscal artist, __ Jackson 28. Nickname for 41-across 29. It matched the Union against the Confederates 34. What Halle Berry does 36. Basketball superstar __ Bryant

Across: 1. She would not sit in the back of the bus 3. Famous author Alice, writer of the ‘The Color Purple 5. Music Louis Armstrong played 6. Boxing legoned called “The Greatest” 8. American educator __ McLeod Bethune 10. Harlem or New York, for example 11. Wynton Marsalis blows one 13. Tennis great Arthur 14. Abolitionist __ Brown 15. Actor Lawrence of Hollywood films 17. Poet __ Angelou 18. Jackie Robinson’s first position, second __ 19. First African-American Supreme Court Justice 24. Kwelsi Mfume is the leader of this organization 25. Reason for many marches 27. Basketball star O’Neal, to fans 30. First name of the black leader who wrote ‘Soul on Ice’ 32. Music legend __ Basie 33. Place where Motown Records was founded 35. TV star Bernie__ 37. Comedian who had a hit show playing father Cliff Huxtable 38. Popular black magazine 39. First name of 1-across 40. Black History Month 41. Baseball’s all-time homerun champion

Answer to last weeks cryptogram: “Now we really got bad blood”

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FEB. 22, 2016