Jan 9, 2018 by The Vanguard

anguard V If it matters to you, it matters to us.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

THE

MONDAY JAN 09, 2018 VOL 1718 ISS 15

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USA’s men’s basketball team An update on how the men’s basketball team fared over the break.

Body image workshop USA to join in fight to create body positivity for women. Page 6

Page 5

A Gadsden resident’s view on Roy Moore A college student reflects on the recent U.S. Senate election. Page 8

A day in the life South’s President Unity

in the Community

USA is expanding its Dr. King, Jr. service day Photo by Shelby Guildry BY: TRICIA WEST | REPORTER

USA President Dr. Tony Waldrop and his wife, Dr. Julee Waldrop, at a presidential roundtable dinner. Photo by Richard Narramore

An inside view of Dr. Tony Waldrop’s daily life. BY: RICHARD NARRAMORE | ASST. MANAGING EDITOR

At the end of last semester, The Vanguard sent our intrepid reporter, Richard Narramore, to shadow University of South Alabama President Dr. Tony Waldrop. Below, he chronicles a day in the life of USA’s fearless leader. The day started early for President Tony Waldrop. A brief look

at his schedule revealed a busy day full of meetings with campus big names, like Dean of Students Michael Mitchell and David Johnson, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs . Waldrop and his staff commented in a humorous tone that his schedule was not as busy as normal. Waldrop then led me back to his office where the first meeting of the was held. I surveyed the room quickly. Centered was a large office desk and behind it where various trophies, diplomas, and family pictures. The normal things expected to be on a office desk. Off to the

side was a picture of a USA student and Waldrop himself. The student was De’Siona Grider and the photo was taken at Higher Ed Day in 2017. Waldrop said he was so impressed with Grider’s response when he asked her why higher education was important and he wanted to place it in his office. Waldrop touched on this again later, noting that higher education is something him and his wife, Dr. Julee Waldrop, value deeply. A luncheon was scheduled after the first two scheduled meetings of the day. Waldrop, along with Continued on page 7

The University of South Alabama is expanding its traditional Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. service day by partnering up with several local organizations and extending the celebration to last from Jan. 1315, according to USA’s Office of Community Engagement. “Unlike previous years, when the USA Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service took place only on Monday, the national holiday, this year [is different because] USA is joining with [organizations such as] People United to Advance the Dream, the City of Mobile, L’Arche Mobile, Mobile United, Mobile Baykeeper, Alabama Coastal Foundation and many other groups, to come together for the first time and participate in several of the events throughout the weekend,” Director of USA’s Office of Continued on page 4

NEWS

Vanguard Vanguard positions open THE

University of South Alabama Alpha Hall South Room 336 Mobile, Ala., 36688 Tel: 460-7966 I Fax: 380-2850 Advertising: 460-7966 thevanguardeditor@gmail.com STAFF Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Asst. Managing Editor Copy Editor Sports Editor Web Editor Reporters

Shannon Lundgren Marissa Mason Richard Narramore Amber-Lynn Boothe Charles Harrison Krisha Amin Hannah Blackburn Josh Cohron Natasha Spradlin Rachel Sullivan Tricia West Photographers Briana Cunningham Shelby Guidry

Advertising Advertising Manager Preston Smith Graphic Designer Jennette Bago

Advisors Advising Heather Leigh Stanley James Aucoin Accounting Candice Jennings Adviser Emeritus John Sellers

Distribution Distribution Cory Judkins Cameron Hall

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: 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, JagMail 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. 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 Office of Student Media. Issues are available at most University buildings and select offcampus locations. Freelance writers and photographers will receive payment upon successful publication.

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

Set yourself above the rest and gain valuable work experience on USA’s premier college news source. Photo by Richard Narramore

All positions start at $8.25 per hour and will require approximately 5 hours per week. All employees must have a Facebook page. Send all application materials to thevanguardeditor@gmail.com and be prepared to interview for the position.

Copy Editor: A copy editor is responsible for editing any or all copy that appears in the publication

for errors of grammar, punctuation, clarity, accuracy, fairness, wordiness and completeness. Applicants should submit a resume, one cover letter and two writing samples.

Staff Reporters: A staff reporter will regularly cover assigned beats and provide ongoing story ideas, all in accordance with deadlines and AP style. Reporters must be available to complete edits on their stories over the weekend. Reporters will write one article per week, approximately 500 words long. Applicants should submit a resume, one cover letter and two writing samples.

Cartoonist: A cartoonist will create and illustrate a cartoon based on student life at USA, in collaboration with the editorial board. Applicants should submit a resume and a digital portfolio.

Photography Assistant: Photography assistants will work

usabookstore@southalabama.edu • 251-460-7011

closely with Vanguard photographers to generate creative ideas and journalistic work. Photography skills are not required. Applicants need to be prepared to work on short notice, however assignments are rarely lengthy or require much time. To be considered for the position, send a resume and headshot.

Videographer: Duties will include covering live events and edit-

ing video content for social media. Applicants should have their own camera and editing experience. To apply, send a resume and an edited video sample demonstrating the applicant’s skill.

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NEWS

USA Crime Report

12/04/2017 Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle Shelby Hall Parking Lot On the listed date and time a vehicle was reported burglarized.

12/06/2017 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Epsilon 2 Unknown person took victim’s bicycle from bike rack in front of Epsilon 2.

12/04/2017 Criminal Mischief First Degree Epsilon parking lot Unknown person(s) with intent to damage the victim’s property and having no right to do so, did scratch what appears to be the letter “J” in the paint of the driver’s door of the victim’s vehicle. Estimated cost to repair the vehicle is $2500.00 or greater in value.

12/06/2017 Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle Delta 6 Parking Lot Unknown person, with intent to deprive owner of property, unlawfully entered victim’s vehicle while parked and unoccupied in front of Delta 6, and stole various items.

12/05/2017 Theft of Property Fourth Degree USA Bookstore Unknown person took victim’s property without permission, from a cubby hole in the USA Bookstore. 12/05/2017 Domestic Violence Third Degree USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital A juvenile female was arrested for Domestic Violence 3rd degree at University of South Alabama (USA) Children’s & Women’s. 12/05/2017 Domestic Violence Third Degree USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital A juvenile female was arrested for Domestic Violence 3rd degree at University of South Alabama (USA) Children’s & Women’s. 12/06/2017 Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle Delta 6 Parking Lot Unknown subject(s) unlawfully entered the victim’s vehicle, through an unlocked door, and removed listed property with intent to deprive the victim of said Property.

12/06/2017 Assault Third Degree Intentionally causing physical harm Stokes Hall Known black male subject started a fight with the victim, pushing him with his hands and punching the victim in the mouth with his fist. This occurred as a result of an argument while subjects were playing video games in the 4th floor study room of Stokes Hall. 12/08/2017 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Student Center A student’s wallet was stolen while at the Student Center Fresh Market. 12/10/2017 Driving Under the Influence Alcohol USA North Drive Listed subject was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. 12/10/2017 Theft of Article from Auto USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Unknown person(s) by non-forcible means entered the vehicle and removed a wallet.

12/11/2017 Theft of Property Second Degree Humanities Building Unknown female walked in to USA PD to report a theft of her personal property from the Humanities Building. 12/13/2017 Theft of Property First Degree USA Medical Center Listed vehicle was removed from USA Medical Center property without the victim’s knowledge or permission. 12/15/2017 Theft of Property Third Degree Beta 2 A bicycle was stolen from the Beta 2 bike rack. 12/15/2017 Appears in Public Place Under Influence USA Medical Center Subject was arrested for Public Intoxication at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. 12/14/2017 Theft of Property Third Degree USA Medical Center The listed article was removed from Room 3410 of the University of South Alabama Medical Center without the victim’s knowledge or permission. 12/18/2017 Theft of Article from Auto The Grove - Bldg #21 Victim returned to the parking lot of her friend’s apartment to find that someone had entered her vehicle and taken items. 12/20/2017 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Mitchell Cancer Institute An employee stole eight gift cards out of The Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) Infusion break room.

If you SEE something, DO something! 251-460-6312

12/21/2017 Marijuana-Possession Drug Paraphernalia - 1st Offense A male and female student were arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 12/26/2017 Criminal Trespass Third Degree Driving While License Suspended Stokes Hall Officers responded to the parking lot of Stokes Hall for the report of an individual in a black Toyota Camry LE possibly smoking marijuana. 12/28/2017 Disorderly Conduct/Disturbing Peace USA Medical Center The listed subject was arrested for Disorderly Conduct at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. 12/28/2017 Burglary Third Degree Beta 2 Victim reported that items were stolen from her room. 01/01/2018 Property Damage Azalea Hall Unknown person(s) knocked over the traffic post, used for blocking a driveway behind Azalea Hall. Unknown person(s), possibly in a gray Toyota, damaged the post and left the scene leaving vehicle parts at the location. 01/03/2018 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Offender, with intent to deprive the victim of his property, did so by removing articles from victim’s dorm room.

NEWS

GOP Tax Plan will barely affect college students

Students should not feel a major difference under The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Photo by Briana Cunningham BY: JOSH COHRON | REPORTER

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law during the winter break and contains some minor changes that will affect college students, according to money. cnn.com. Several other proposed changes that might have had a significant effect on students were left out during the process of Congressional revision. President Trump approved the finalized draft of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Dec. 22,

Unity cont’d Community Engagement Shannon Shelley-Tremblay stated. According to Shelley-Tremblay, this year is unique because this is the first time USA is joining the citywide weekend event, instead of having a one-day event on campus. The first day of the event, Jan. 13, is scheduled to be a clean-up of Tricentennial Park. Students can participate by arriving at the Tricentennial Park at 8:30 a.m. and cleaning the area in and around the park. “I am excited that South is doing a volunteer weekend, because it makes Martin Luther King Jr. Day about more than just a day off work and school,” USA freshman Karrie Seymour said. “We are coming together as a community

2017. A key provision of the old tax code will remain in effect for graduate students. Congress originally proposed to tax the tuition waivers of graduate students that were previously nontaxable. The House of Representatives approved this change, but it was rejected by the Senate and left out of the final draft of the bill, according to CNN. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also reduced the tax penalty for Americans without health insurance to like we should be.” Sunday, Jan. 14, will feature the L’Arche Mobile Marathon Unity Walk. Organizations can adopt a mile along the Servis First Light Marathon course to carry a unity banner throughout the city. USA has adopted mile 15 and students can participate by arriving at The Moulton Tower at 11:00 a.m. This mile is to show a sense of unity to everyone in our community, according to Shelley-Tremblay. On the last day of the event, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rally, march and interfaith service is scheduled. Buses are scheduled to depart from the Fresh Food company on Jan. 15 at 11:00 a.m. to transport students to the service and will return around 1:30 p.m. that same day. “The weekend is intended to unite the community in the spirit of service focused on commemorating

zero. This change effectively eliminated the individual health insurance mandate under the Affordable Care Act, according the thehill. com. If an individual so desires, they can elect to remain or become uninsured without incurring a tax penalty. University of South Alabama junior Sarah Spaulding believes that the elimination of the individual mandate is a good thing, but understands the risks of being uninsured. “It’s good that people won’t be taxed anymore for not having insurance,” Spaulding said. “I have always been insured so I’ve never been penalized. But penalty or not, I don’t want to end up in the hospital and have to pay out of pocket.” The ever-popular deduction for moving expenses was officially removed from the tax code, according to CNBC. In the past, new students and recent graduates seeking jobs elsewhere could claim reasonable moving expenses, excluding meals, if the new location was 50 or more miles away from their current residence. These expenses can no longer be deducted from taxable

income when filing a tax return. There are still exceptions for members of the military in effect. Politico reported in November that Congress might propose to do away with the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, but decided not to do so. This provision traditionally provided employers with an incentive to hire job seekers from target groups with significant barriers to employment, which may include college students. Earlier versions of the House plan included the taxation of employer tuition assistance. This change was eventually omitted. Employees can still receive a nontaxable contribution of up to $5,250 from their employers for their continuing education, according to irs.com. The finalized changes in the tax bill also include an elimination of the bike commuting benefit. As reported by CNN, students and workers who use a bicycle for their daily commute can no longer reduce their taxable income by $20 per month as they did before. Find the final draft of the bill by visiting congress.gov.

Dr. King’s legacy,” Shelley-Tremblay stated. L’Arche Mobile representative, Sister Becky Holly, is one of the many individuals who encouraged USA to get involved in the event. “L’Arche Mobile has always had a relationship with the University of South Alabama,” Holly said. “Students often come to volunteer throughout the year. We have connections with both South and Spring Hill campuses, as to include our community’s youth with events such as this. We reached out to them, so they could get involved with improving our community.” “We are all diverse in some way shape or form, and yet we are all alike,” Holly said. “It’s good to come together as community and celebrate our diversities.” Several on campus organizations, such as SGA, African American

Studies, USA Honors College and USA Women’s Basketball, are volunteering in the event aimed at honoring the life and work of Dr. King.

“We are all diverse in some way shape or form, and yet we are all alike.” -Sister Becky Holly Students wishing to participate without an organization can do so by signing up for events through OrgSync, or by emailing the Office of Community Engagement at communityengagement@southalabama.edu.

SPORTS

Men’s basketball gets big break BY: CHARLES HARRISON | SPORTS EDITOR

The USA Men’s Basketball team fell to (2-2) in conference with a two loss trip to Texas to finish out the break. The Jags opened up their Christmas break on Dec. 16 with a 63-5 win at home against the Eastern Illinois Panthers. The Jags grabbed an early lead 1:41 into the game and held it through the rest of the game. Sophomore guard Herb McGee lead the Jaguar effort putting together 15 points hitting three points field goals. The Jaguars stifling defensive play buried the Panthers, with the Jags forcing 19 turnovers and holding EIU to 32.3 percent overall shooting the ball. The Jags then travelled to New Orleans, LA. to take on Tulane at the Fogelman Arena on Dec. 21. Tulane posted a punishing first half, taking an 18-point lead at with 2:29 to go in the first half. Senior forward Nick Davis and junior guard Rodrick Sikes started the second half with three consecutive three-point shots. The Jags reclaimed the lead with 12:35, though they didn’t finish with it. Tulane freshman guard Caleb Daniels would shoot a three-pointer with 28 seconds to go breaking a 71-71 tie that the Green Waves would

ride to a 77-73 win. On Dec. 29 the Jags received a late Christmas gift when they had their highest scoring game of the season, opening conference play with an 86-64 win over Georgia State. Sikes lead the Jags, scoring 31 points, making him the first Jaguar to score 30 or more points in two straight games since 1984. Sikes wasn’t the only Jag to put up an impressive performance. Sophomore forward Josh Ajayi lead the game with 10 rebounds two offensive and eight defensive rebounds as well as scoring 16 points. The Jags ended 2017 play on Dec. 31 when a missed three-pointer from Georgia Southern redshirt freshman guard Quan Jackson as time expired sealed up a 69-67 win for the Jags over the Georgia Southern Eagles, giving USA their first (2-0) conference start since the 2012-2013 season. The Jags and Eagles spent the majority of the game trading narrow leads with Davis pulling the Jags ahead when he plucked down a rebound and immediately put up the go ahead goal to seal in the lead. The Jags faced off with Texas State in San Marcos, Texas on Jan. 4 in the first game in 2018. The Bobcats dominated in the first half,

outscoring the Jags by 11 points to grab a 41-30 lead at the half. “I think my disappointment is that some of the things we worked on for a couple of days heading out here, like being strong with the basketball, making sure we rebounded and blocked out defensively didn’t happen in the first half,” USA head coach Matthew Graves said. The Jags flipped the narrative in the second half, fighting back hard and outscoring the Bobcats 39-31. Despite an impressive game by sophomore Ajayi, who lead the Jags through the game with 25 points, and junior Rodrick Sikes with 18 points throughout. It wasn’t enough to steal a win, however, with Texas State junior forward Alex Peacock hitting a layup with less than a minute to go tucked the game away 72-69 in the Bobcats favor. The Jags finished their Texas trip with a game against a competitive University of Texas Arlington team. The Mavericks blew past the Jags 91-67, the most points the Jags

have given up all season. The Jags have now lost five straight games on the road going (8-8, 2-2 SBC) to start the season. The Jags plan to return to Mobile on Mon. Jan. 9 to take on Trinity Baptist College in a break from conference play before battling it out with in-state rival Troy University on Thursday, Jan. 14. For more information about Jaguar Athletics go to USAJaguars.com.

usabookstore@southalabama.edu • 251-460-6679

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THE MODERN LIVING EXPERIENCE

1, 2 AND 3 BEDROOMS AVAILABLE CONTACT US (251) 450-1100 USA Men’s Basketball went 2-2 over holiday break. Photo courtesy of USAJaguars

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LIFE

USA to host body positivity workshop in spring

pealing to others or to make sure that we are only posting photos on USA has planned a body image social media that compliment our workshop to showcase Departhighlight reel.” ment of Health’s Dr. Caitlyn Hauff ’s Hauff is introducing BPC to USA research on body image and The to create a safe space for students to Body Project this spring. explore their own body ideals and The Body Project Collaborato connect with others and share tive is a body-acceptance program experiences. designed for high school girls “Individuals with a positive and college-age women to conbody image tend to be more satistradict the social expectations of fied with their bodies, have more their bodies in order to appreciate self-confidence, and have positive themselves. According to bodypro- affect,” Hauff said. “These charjectcollaborative.com, BPC has acteristics can trickle into other partnered with a team of research- areas of one’s life, including social ers and organizations such as the interactions, exercise experiences World Association of Girl Guides and work experiences. On the flip and Girl Scouts and the Eating Re- side, negative body image can have covery Foundation to deliver their a negative impact in these areas. It passion to over 3.5 million girls and might affect the clothes we choose young women in 25 countries. to wear, where we choose to exer“College students in particular cise, who we choose to hang out are in a subculture that is conwith and how we feel about ourstantly bombarded by messages selves as we do all of these things.” about what one should look like or Both BPC and Hauff say that the should be like,” Hauff said. “There first step in activating change in the is a constant struggle to look apsocial perception of body image is BY: RACHEL SULLIVAN | REPORTER

to talk about it. From there, Hauff hopes to initiate a movement of healthy habits for USA students that is body-positive. The workshop plans to promote body education and self-exploration exercises to encourage a change in one’s selfperception. “So often we find ourselves striving to be thin, or toned, and we lose sight of the amazing things our bodies are capable of--the power, the strength, the resilience,” Hauff said. “Understanding how you perceive your own body and developing a healthy body image is so important for us mentally, and we unfortunately spend a lot of our time under-appreciating or talking badly about our bodies.” In November 2017, Hauff hosted a training seminar for those interested in managing the workshop. Hauff specifically asked students to volunteer to make the workshop more comfortable for their peers to share their stories. The first Body Project workshop

is scheduled for early spring this year. The dates will be announced on the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Science page on southalabama.edu.

USA plans to host a body positivity workshop in the spring. Photo by Shelby Guidry

LIFE

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many other leading faculty members from the university met their mentee for the first time. Waldrop participated in a program where he mentored an SGA member. It was fitting that Waldrop be paired with SGA president Carl Thomas. This allowed Thomas the opportunity to relate to someone who knew the weight of being leader and Waldrop to share his experience. Waldrop returned to his office for a short break after the plates had cleared the table and every hand was shook. This break consisted of business calls and answering emails. During this downtime, I caught a glimpse of Waldrop’s weekly scheduler. The spreadsheet was splashed in blue and pink. I asked what the colors stood for and Waldrop re-

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President Waldrop speaking at an event. Photo by Alyssa Newton

sponded that the blue was his and the pink was his wife’s. He said that he and Julee share a calendar to keep life sane. Waldrop showed no sign of fatigue as he went from meeting to meeting, just as present and involved as he was before the day started. After the work day ended, I reconvened with Waldrop later that night as Julee and him opened their home to student leaders around campus for dinner. Waldrop said he liked to have small groups of students to keep the evening and discussion open and intimate. The Waldrop’s home also provided a non-professional setting which made students feel much more at ease. Their home was well decorated and nicely furnished. There were more than enough seats in the living room to accommodate all the guests. A fireplace sat in the center of the room, providing a cozy, this-ishome atmosphere. The stable piece of the house was a bust of a former United States president. Per usual for any university event, Amarak provided the food. Sprawled out on the Waldrop’s counter was a variety of Mexican dishes. The tortilla bowls became a crowd favorite. When we found out we would be eating in the living room, a sense of trepidation hovered in the air. Nobody wanted to be the student who got a taco meat stain on the couch. Soon, everyone managed to get through main entree, with only one or two dropped food incidents. After dinner, Waldrop welcomed open discussion about free speech on campus. As students sat gathered in circle, we shared experiences, personal beliefs and ideas. As discussions drew to a close, Waldrop and his wife walked everyone outside and bid them farewell. The Waldrops then retired to their home and prepared for another day, full of meetings and furthering higher education.

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OPINION

Gadsden: Allegedly a quaint little town

The U.S. Post Office serves as Gadsden’s courthouse, post office and government office building. Photo courtesy of Google Maps BY: KRISHA AMIN | WEB EDITOR

Gadsden, Al., is a quaint little town nestled between the Coosa River and a local highway. Yet, it is also one of those places where the coolest thing to happen every few years is a new franchise restaurant opens up. Literally. One of my friends said he waited in line on Zaxby’s opening night just to get some fried chicken, and he doesn’t regret it. I even remember half the high school was absent on the day of Krispy Kreme’s inauguration. However, Gadsden’s claim to national fame wasn’t our poetic relationship with limited time fast food items. It’s Roy Moore, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate who lost the recent election amid allegations that he preyed on significantly younger girls while he was the assistant district attorney in his 30’s. When I learned that Moore was from Gadsden, shocked is an understatement; it was like whiplash. My hometown? The place where I was raised the majority of my life? To me, Gadsden was the safe that stored all of my memories, from the time I lost my tooth by biting into an apple to skipping 5th period Spanish in order to get slushies at Sonic with my friends. Since I went to college, Gadsden has been a sort of relic to me. It’s this world of Monet, where every-

thing is impressionistic. It is my North Star when I feel so lost in college and a place that I didn’t really appreciate until I actually left. This winter break, however, contradicted a lot of these notions. To think that the same girls who were allegedly harassed by Moore called this special place their home too is eye-watering. We probably slid down that same metallic and sometimes painful slide in Moragne Park in the summers. We walked the same sketchy trails at Noccalula Falls, a place I visited a lot when I was running cross country freshman year of high school. We also frequented the same football field in front of the old Gadsden High School. We went to the same YMCA, the place I am forever indebted to because it’s where I learned to swim. Only separated by time, these girls and I could have coincidently crossed paths. Some of the girls Moore allegedly hit on were even as young as 14-years-old, and they were working at the same Gadsden Mall that Moore was later banned from because of his revolting behavior. At 14, I was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army near the main fountain at the mall for Beta Club service hours. I even dared my friend to steal some coins from the fountain and donate it to the red bucket. She declined. I even stood in line outside of

Books-a- Million with my friends for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows while one of our mothers brought us hot chocolate. It’s the place I went with my parents when we craved “authentic” Chinese food. Gadsden was meant to be home, but it doesn’t feel like the safe haven it used to be. I never understood why Moore’s behavior was rarely discussed when I came home over winter break. Granted, I didn’t live there anymore, but I also didn’t expect the construction of a new steak house in Gadsden to be flooding my Facebook feed over the current political climate. Some people, who used to work with Moore, even went on record to say that they knew what was going on beneath the surface in the 80’s. It was common knowledge, but nothing ever developed from their supposedly sound instincts. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Even well after the election was over and Moore had lost, plenty just carried on with their lives, somehow unthinkingly agreeing to never discuss this old news. There are still an innumerable amount of bigoted men in this country, just like Moore, with such influence who should be held accountable for their sustained actions, fragmented cover-ups and cavalier vindications. This could have happened to anyone here and is happening to at this moment, maybe at the same mall. Unfortunately, Gadsden isn’t the only town where Machiavellian men use their egocentricity to attain whatever it is that they want and to maintain this hierarchy of evil in our world. Just recently, something similar happened in Tuscaloosa with the case against T.J. Bunn Jr., born with a silver spoon in his mouth to a very influential family, who was accused of raping a 20-year-old student, who lost her case because of “unsubstantial” support and later committed suicide. The alleged victim, Megan Rondini, even said that she was probably not the first and

will not be the last person assaulted by this man. Furthermore, even our former governor, Robert Bentley, a man who built his legacy as an Air Force commander, a renowned dermatologist and at one point, the most powerful man in Alabama politics, engaged in improper conduct. He tried to cover up his affair Continued on page 9

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OPINION

Gadsden: Allegedly a quaint little town Continued from page 8

with one of his staffers instead of resigning because of his legacy. Even in one of the most seemingly progressive minded places in this world, Hollywood, we have an incomplete list of allegedly disdainful predators, such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, the Affleck brothers, Louis C.K., and many others, who are embroiled in controversy regarding allegations that they used their position in power as a smokescreen for their unforgivable, abusive actions. The power of patriarchy is only amplified when we look at Washington D.C., where countless representatives, senators, and our president engage in this House of Cards behavior. That’s right. Donald Trump. Two syllables. Eleven letters. Sixteen women. This isn’t about pedophilia. It isn’t about sexual abuse. It isn’t entirely about misogyny. This is about powerful men who possess an archipelago of arrogance, a seemingly endless spectrum for their deeprooted disregard for anyone that

bruises their pride. My own childhood innocence They are able to sit on their com- felt betrayed when I learned this fortable perches atop their religious bombshell news. credos and superiority complexes This affects me, not solely beand bury anyone or anything that cause I was raised in Gadsden, gets in their way. but because the Gadsden that I The saddest part is, at the end now know is my foundation for day, most get away when I enter the with these endworkforce as a less avalanches of “This is about power- woman. It’s persexual assault, and sonal because my ful men who possess it’s just too late seemingly quaint at that point. The an archipelago of arro- hometown of damage has been Gadsden is emgance, a seemingly enddone. blematic of the This isn’t a fun less spectrum for their power asymmetry house hall of mirin this dystopian deep-rooted disregard rors. There are hunovel that we call man beings behind for anyone that bruises our country. all of these actions. There are powtheir pride. ” The eight women erful men whose from my homecreed, moraltown, who were ality, and personal legedly victimized by Moore when rectitude will unjustly impact my they were just young girls, have to life and generations of lives. Pretty live with the harrowing aftermath much every aspect of society is for the rest of their lives. stigmatized against women, with Just the other day, one of the acregards to physical appearance, age, cuser’s home was set on fire, which equal pay, intrinsic racism, reprois now being investigated as arson, ductive organs and sexual assault. according to The Washington Post. It’s completely disheartening to

know that this is where we are. There are powerful men, such as Moore in Gadsden, Brock Turner at Stanford, Bunn in Tuscaloosa, former Governor Bentley, moguls in Hollywood, journalism, sports, Wall Street and the Hill have allegedly abused and might continue to abuse their status to dehumanize others. However, every cloud has its silver lining, and I believe we manifested that on Dec. 12, when Alabama elected a Democrat over an alleged child predator. It was a paramount moment in all of our lives, but especially us women. I commend everyone who has shared their heartbreaking stories and who are the primary reason why countless men have deservingly been put out of their positions of power, from bit-size towns to La La Land. We still have an odyssey in front us, but we are making progress in Gadsden, in Alabama and in the United States. It’s not over until the iron lady sings.

Stay on task with a planner this semester BY: RACHEL GOODMAN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Staying organized has helped me maintain a high GPA while balancing working, being an active member of a sorority and participating in other extracurricular activities. I came into college with the goal to graduate in four years and in May, I will achieve that. I have watched many friends become overwhelmed by the freedom gained in college without the constant reminder from their parents to study and do their homework. I think that my ability to keep an organized planner helped me to overcome this life change without my grades suffering. My planner helped me hold myself accountable and manage the higher stress and freedom that came with college.

When my planner is color coordinated, it’s easier for me to get through my day. I know a task highlighted in blue is online homework, pink is for sorority events, and green means that a paper is due (I’m an English major so I write a lot of papers). Using different colors in my planner is not only fun and decorative, but it helps me keep my schedule balanced. For example, if I glance at my planner and see a lot of blue (homework) on a certain day, and a green (paper) the next day, I know that I need to get my homework done ahead of time so I am not overloaded. When I complete one of my tasks for the day, I put a check mark next to it. To me, it is satisfying to visually see that I have accomplished

something and that I now have less to do. I am naturally anxious about forgetting an assignment or obligation, so staying consistent with filling out my planner helps me manage that. If I know I have everything written down there is no need to keep reviewing my schedule in my head or worry I have forgotten something. In my experience, much of my success in school has depended on my ability to maintain an organized schedule. I am a senior in college and I know my grades would not be as good as they are if I did not stay on top of my obligations. I like to show up to class 5-10 minutes early and spend that time organizing my planner. I look at my

syllabus and double check that any due dates have been written down. I also like to make note of what we are currently studying, in case I need to remember what was covered on any given day at a glance. Writing down the day’s subject material can be beneficial no matter your major. It’s so easy to glance back at your planner from the last test day and see everything that was covered. Sometimes teachers skip things on their syllabus because they run out of time, so by writing down what you actually cover you can ensure that you don’t do any unnecessary studying. For some inspiration on how to improve your planner you can visit. youtu.be/-MmLPcwg6Zc

OPINION

Create new habits to stick to your resolutions BY: NATASHA SPRADLIN | REPORTER

It’s officially 2018 and for many people at the University of South Alabama, the new year represents a fresh start. Whether your goals are to practice a healthier lifestyle, save money or spend less time consumed on social media, the success of your resolutions relies heavily on your ability to ditch old habits and create new ones. USA student Emily Wilkinson is confident 2018 will end in triumph for her. “I’ve set goals every new year that I’m going to lose weight, eat healthy, do this, do that,” Wilkinson said. “But that never seems to work. I’m setting different goals for myself this year. I want to focus more on my school work and strive to be a better person. I want to focus on myself and my mental health, instead of wasting time on nega-

tive stuff. I think it will be easier for me to accomplish my goals this way because I’m in it for the right reasons.” A sure way to set yourself up for success is to establish why you’ve chosen your resolutions. Accountability is a key characteristic of self-discipline. Imagine yourself months from now and write a letter as if you accomplished or failed your goals. What could you have done better? How do you feel knowing you followed through? Joel Rogers, a former USA student, sought to gain better control over his finances in 2017 and believes his efforts are going to pay off in 2018. “I have been struggling with repaying debts,” Rogers said. “But I have completely reorganized how I handle my finances. I’ve taken out two consolidation loans so that I have a fixed rate, and can pay off

one loan rather than multiple at a time. My fiance and I have been saving money by cooking at the house a lot more, and planning what we are going to eat instead of eating out. It’s little things like that which have really helped us stay on track.” I am the most committed to my goals when I set realistic expectations. My goal was to read more and log onto social media less but this was easier said than done. I did not understand how integrated social media is in both my personal and professional life. I had to change the way I thought in addition to the way I behaved before I noticed results. I found that I remain motivated when I work towards reducing triggers rather than depriving myself of joy. I learned moderation instead of inflicting unnecessary suffering during the pursuit of my goals.

Moderation taught me balance; to indulge, but to do so with boundaries. I deleted social media apps off of my phone and set specific times dedicated towards online work. Now I am able to read one book per week and keep up with the outside world without wasting my entire day on the web. I did not avoid setbacks altogether and quickly realized it is easy to belittle and punish ourselves for our less-than-ideal behavior. As the saying goes, “we are our own worst critics.” However, the people around us can have tremendous impact our goals, too! Make a conscious decision to act as your No. 1 confidant in 2018. Choose to surround yourself with people who encourage and uplift you, and remember no one knows you better than you know yourself. You’ll squash your new year resolutions in no time.

Dear Debbie: Is my family materialistic? BY: SHANNON LUNDGREN | EDITOR-INCHIEF

Dear Debbie, My family thinks I didn’t spend enough money on them at Christmas and isn’t talking to me. Well, let me back up. I’m a music major going through school on a combination of scholarships and loans. I work at a part-time job, am in a band and go to school full time. My parents refused to help me with school expenses because they think a music degree is a waste of money, even though they both make six figures. I ate Ramen noodles for two months so I could afford gifts for my family and extended family, which includes my grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins. I put a lot of time and thought into these gifts. I made sure to get gifts for everyone that I thought they would appreciate and tailored them to their likes. When we exchanged gifts at my grandparent’s house this Christmas, my parents were visibly disappointed when they opened their gifts.

When we got home, my mom and dad lit into me, saying that I embarrassed them with my cheap gifts. They called me a failure and said I was worthless. After that, they wouldn’t talk to me at all. They ignored me if we were in the same room. A few days later, they went out to a movie without me and loudly talked about what a great time they had when they came home. It was a movie they knew I wanted to see, too. After that, I left to go stay with my best friend until I could move back on campus. I texted them all “Happy New Year,” but no one responded in the group text. I really love my family. How can I get them to talk to me again? ~Starving Artist Dear Starving Artist, You say you really love your family, but I have to ask: do they love you? These don’t seem like the actions of people who are supposed to care for you. Since your family isn’t financially supporting you, where did they

expect you to get the money to pay for expensive gifts? It’s not like they don’t know you’re a full-time student. They know what your circumstances are, and they are showing you that they don’t care through their actions. This seems less like it’s about the gifts and more like it’s about the fact that they don’t respect your decision to peruse your art. It also seems like another avenue for your family to use money to control you. Regardless, by complaining about your gifts, your family has freed you from the expectation that you ever need to give them anything ever again. If you really feel you must do something for them in the future, perhaps consider a charitable donation in their name. Make sure any future donations don’t interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet. You shouldn’t sacrifice your health for people who don’t appreciate it. You should also consider the idea that the kind of relationship you want with your family just might

not be possible, through no fault of your own. When you texted them “Happy New Year,” you put the ball in their court. All you can do is wait. While waiting, use the time to think about what you want out of a relationship with them and what sort of behavior you are willing to tolerate. It will be difficult, but worth it, to know where you stand the next time you talk to them.

Don’t sacrifice your health for people who don’t appreciate it. Photo by Shelby Guidry

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