March 17, 2014 Vanguard

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VANGUARD THE

INSIDE

USA student’s death shocks community By KANDACE RAYBON Contributing Writer

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► Campus: SGA to donate computer equipment for renovated student center. See Campus, page 4 COURTESY OF DANIEL MORAN

Christopher Thomas USA political science major

► JagLife: Spring shows off Alabama’s bounty.

SA Police Department officers responding to a call from the Gamma 5 dormitory found unresponsive Christopher Elan Thomas, 21, of Dothan, Ala., in his room early Saturday morning. Mobile Fire and Rescue was also at the scene. Attempts to resuscitate Thomas were unsuccessful. The cause of death is currently unknown, but foul play is not suspected. Thomas was in his junior year

Editor-in-Chief

A

► Opinion: USA self-defense class may help eliminate fear. See Opinion, page 15

Thomas played a prominent role in bringing Phi Kappa Sigma back to the University of South Alabama’s campus. He was the acting vice president of the fraternity. He served as the philanthropy chairman in 2013. While serving in this position, he helped raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thomas was also on staff with Jaguar Productions. He served as an event planner for the organizaSee Thomas Page 5

USA plans to implement Native American studies program with $500,000 gift from Poarch Creeks By SAM ANDREWS

See Sports, page 9

and studying political science at the University of South Alabama with dreams of pursuing a master’s degree followed by attending law school. He was an active participant in Sandy Stimpson’s mayoral campaign and Quinn Hillyer’s congressional campaign. He input voter data for the Stimpson campaign and was a campus coordinator for Hillyer’s campaign. He also served as a delegate from the University of South Alabama at the State Convention of the Alabama College Republicans.

Donation paves way for Native American studies

See JagLife, page 7

► Sports: Sun Belt rivals South Alabama, Troy split series 1-1

VOL. 54, NO. 9

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

MARCH 17, 2014

half-million-dollar donation from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians will fund significant growth to USA’s Native American Studies Program. USA will also dedicate $75,000 annually to the pursuit. With the donation, the University plans to offer two or more classes each year focused on Native American studies. Previous USA courses related to Native American studies, such as AN340 Native American Cultures, have been largely restricted to anthropology, according to anthropology professor Dr. Philip Carr. “In the future, there will be a greater diversity of offerings across more disciplines,” Carr said. He added that he hopes these new courses will begin as early as the spring 2015 semester. Buford L. Rolin, tribal chairman of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, attended the March 7 board of trustees meeting, when the donation was made, to express the Tribal Council’s excitement in making this “opportunity to learn about our history and culture” available. Additionally, plans have been made to renew the Native American Student Organization, sup-

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port research by providing travel scholarships and research assistantships, annually host a Native American Studies speaker, and promote awareness of Native American issues through the Archaeology Museum and the Marx Library. Currently, there are no other Native American Studies programs available in Alabama, according to Carr. “There has been a long interest in a Native American Studies Program at USA, going back at least 17 years,” Carr said. “Serious efforts began about two years ago, and because of the mutual interest, resulted in the start of the program.” Unlike many other eastern Native American tribes, which were removed from their tribal lands, the Poarch Creek Indians have lived near the Poarch, Ala., reservation for almost 200 years, according to Jeb Schrenk, associate director of public relations at USA. Schrenk added that they are the only federally recognized Native American tribe in Alabama. Their reservation is only 57 miles away from Mobile, making it an easily accessible location for educational trips. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians and USA

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See Gift Page 2

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

JagLife, Page 6


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March 17, 2014 Vanguard by The Vanguard - Issuu