The March 11 Issue of The Vanguard

Page 1

VANGUARD

THE

VOL. 52, NO. 9

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

MAR. 11, 2013

PRESIDENT GORDON MOULTON

Gil Collar’s mother speaks out to USA

RETIRES

By STUART SOX

Editor’s note: The Vanguard’s Editor Cassie Fambro has been in communication with Bonnie Collar, mother of Gil Collar. Collar wrote a letter to the University about her son, her views and her goals. It is published here exclusively in its entirety.

To the Students, Faculty and Staff of USA:

Gil and Bonnie Collar

It has been five months since my son, Gilbert Thomas Collar, a freshman of six weeks, was shot and killed on the campus of the Univer-

sity of South Alabama. In ways, it seems like an eternity since I saw his smile and heard his voice...but at other times, it is as if it were only yesterday that he made me laugh with his outlandish, sometimes totally inappropriate humor. Truthfully, some days I still hear his voice and turn to look for him. As much as it hurts that we no longer have him physically present with us, we still consider ourselves blessed beyond belief to have had him in our lives for 18 years. I am very proud to be his mother, and very proud of the young man he had grown to be. I am writing this to thank those of you who said a prayer for us, sent us a card, lit a candle, signed a petition, or simply ask "why?" In all the chaos and controversy after Gil was killed, it seems that many have lost sight of the essential truth of what happened. On October 6, 2012, a young man with a bright future died. Regardless of your views on how or why, and who See COLLAR Page 2

SGA elections are important to participate in sgsox@att.net

PHOTOS BY CASSIE FAMBRO /EIC

Left and center: President Moulton addresss the Board of Trustees. Right, Moulton stands with Dr. John Smith, acting president of USA.

By CASSIE FAMBRO caf707@jagmail.southalabama.edu

President Gordon Moulton will end his tenure as president of the University of South Alabama on July 1, 2013. After 46 years of service to USA, President Moulton has decided to retire. The decision was announced Friday at the Board of Trustees meeting. The news comes after Dr. John Smith was appointed acting president of the university at an emergency board meeting in February. The reason given was Moulton’s health after an October surgery for malignant brain cancer. The board accepted Moulton’s retirement and offered an emotional

resolution to honor USA’s second-ever president. Chairman of the board of trustees Jim Yance spoke on behalf of the board to express their gratitude to Moulton’s service. “One cannot overstate the impact Gordon and Geri Moulton have had on the University of South Alabama...” Yance said. The official resolution went even further. “The Board of Trustees does hereby extend its heartfelt gratitude to President Moulton for his many years of service that have helped USA over the past five decades to make a transformational positicve impace on teh quality of life of countless people across the gulf coast,

the nation and the world,” the resolution stated. Moulton will be honored in a special tribute at the May 3 anniversary celebration. May 3 is 50 years to the day since USA was founded. Mayor Sam Jones lauded USA and credits Mouton with a great deal of its accomplishments. “In 15 years as president, Moulton has transformed the University into one of the nation’s finest educational institutions...” Jones said. Dr. John Smith will remain acting president until a national search decided who will officially replace Moulton. Smith will be eligible for that search. The Vanguard will have more on Moulton’s accomplishments as president in an upcoming issue.

Kayaking for the 50 anniversary th

By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com

University of South Alabama Assistant Professor of Nursing Tom Meyer is connected to USA in more than an academic way. Meyer was one of the first students that received an athletic letter from USA as a track and field and cross country athletes. Meyer’s wife Mary and son Josh are also USA alums. Between the three members of the Meyer family, they hold five degrees from South Alabama. Meyer has two himself; a degree in Biology as well as a Master of Science in Nursing. He has served as a faculty member since 2001. As the university is celebrating its

find us on Facebook “Facebook.com/ TheVanguardUSA”

50-year anniversary, Meyer wanted to do something to show his appreciation for South Alabama as well as allow a helping hand to students in the future. Since Meyer has been heavily involved in endurance sports for most of his life, and recently in kayak racing, he decided that would be his vehicle to give back to USA. He will launch his kayak on March 29 at sunrise at the northernmost put-in of the Bartram Canoe Trail, Holly Creek Landing in far north Baldwin County on the Alabama river, and believes he will arrive at the southern terminus of the Bartram Canoe Trail at 5-Rivers on the Causeway by sunset. He invites all com-

Check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

ers to share in the experience by paddling all or any part of the route with him. The start to finish of this trip will amount to 50 miles, thus the trip being called “50 for 50: The Bartram Challenge.” What Meyer hopes to accomplish is starting a scholarship at USA using this kayak trip as a launching point. Meyer and the university are currently searching for local citizens and businesses to donate money in any amount to support this scholarship. What Meyer hopes to happen is have himself, or a group, of kayakers getting money per mile they kayak.

Life, Page 5

Last year, only 10 percent of the South Alabama student body voted in Student Government Association elections, a percentage that members of the SGA executive council says must increase. “Ten percent is better [than last year], but it’s not good enough,” said Senate Pro Tempore Elizabeth McDonald at last Monday’s SGA meeting on March 4. “While their name may not appear on the ballot, an informed voter has the incredible power to effect change on this campus,” McDonald added. SGA President Parker Chastain echoed McDonald’s sentiments. “The representatives that are elected can dramatically shape the future of the university. South Alabama is a unique and diverse community and its elected officials should be as such to ensure that the student’s voices and opinions are being heard,” Chastain said. After weeks of debate about the Student-at-Large position, the Senate voted at last Monday’s meeting to not eliminate it from the executive council. The Student-at-Large position could not be eliminated for the 20132014 school year because it is already listed as an option on the SGA applications that are available at the SGA office. Some senators proposed that the 2013-2014 election year be the last that the executive council includes the Student-at-Large position while the majority of the senate felt that it should be the next SGA senate that makes that decision. Higher Education Day was a “huge success” according to SGA Attorney General Zakary Gosa-Lewis, the organizer of USA’s participation in the event in Montgomery, Ala. on Feb. 28. The students and faculty in attendance rallied in downtown Montgomery near the state capitol building for better See SGA Page 12

In this Issue: Sports, Page 8 Opinion, Page 13


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