March 7, 2016

MARCH 7, 2016

VOL. 57 #25

NOLA BOUND Men’s and women’s basketball off to Sun Belt tournament page 7

NEWS Political groups to face restrictions

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LIFE BARC and Brews

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OPINION Donald Trump

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MARCH. 7, 2016

Student political organizations face new restrictions during election year New policy will outline how political groups are able to express themselves on campus

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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outh Alabama is working on a new policy that will define how politically-affiliated groups are able to express themselves on campus due to the election season.

Currently, the political groups on campus include: Students for Bernie Sanders, USA Students for Marco Rubio, South Alabama College Democrats, College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty.

Ken Davis, Associate Vice President of Finance Administration and University Treasurer, said that a Students for Bernie email in the Daily Digest threw up some red flags.

“It’s an absolute prohibition,” Davis said. “The price for doing that (appearing to support a candidate) is that you lose your exemption. When I saw the Daily Digest had a listing for a meeting for Students for Bernie, immediately red flags went up. So, what I wanted to get out on the table was let’s talk about what it can support and what it can not support as it relates to student organizations that are politically-affiliated.”

Trump taps Sessions as chair of national security committee

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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onald Trump announced on Wednesday, March 3 that Senator Jeff Sessions will serve as chairman of Trump’s National Security Advisory Committee.

Sessions endorsed the GOP front-runner on Sunday.

“It is an honor to have Jeff as a member of the team. I have such great respect for him and I look forward to working with him on the issues most important to Americans,” Trump stated in a release.

Sessions has been on the Armed Services Committee for almost 20 years and serves as chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to recommend and facilitate discussions among exceptional and experienced American military and diplomatic leaders to share insight and advice with Donald Trump, regardless of their political views,” Sessions stated. “Mr. Trump and the American people know our country needs a clear-eyed foreign policy rooted in the national interest. We need to understand the limits of our ability to intervene successfully in other nations. It is time for a healthy dose of foreign policy realism..”

According to the release, Trump will announce members of his National Security Advisory Committee over the next few weeks.

A new policy will lay out rules and restrictions for politically-affiliated student groups due to the election season. Candidate lawn signs are prohibited. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) The Students for Bernie group sent at least four emails out prior to Jan. 24, when the group’s email was first rejected. Mari Ponder, president of Students for Bernie,

was then notified that the University was working on a revised policy for politicallyaffiliated student groups.

“Students for Bernie is a new group

Free student ticket, bus ride available for SBC tourney

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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oth of South Alabama’s basketball teams are #NolaBound after an App State win over Arkansas State Saturday sealed a seed for the men’s basketball team.

South Alabama’s women clinched the No. 5 seed for the tournament, the men squeaking in with the No. 8 seed thanks to the Mountaineers’ win.

The women will tipoff on Wednesday, March 9 against rival Troy in a 2 p.m. match up in New Orleans.

Buses, sponsored by Athletics and SGA, will take students to the game and back to

Mobile afterwards. With a seat, students will receive a free T-shirt, ride and ticket.

Wednesday the bus will leave for the 2 p.m. women’s game at 10:30 a.m.

Students can reserve a spot on the bus using OrcSync.

For the men’s game Thursday, the bus will leave from the Stanky Field lot at 1:30 p.m. for the 5 p.m. tipoff against Georgia Southern.

The trip to New Orleans takes approximately two and a half hours. Students are allowed to bring soft-sided coolers with food and drinks for the trip. No alcohol is allowed.

If the Jags win and move on, additional information will be released.

this year,” Brigette Soderlind, Assistant Director of Student Services, said. “They See Political Policy Page 4

JagMedia places in SEJC competition

By THE VANGUARD Staff

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wo of the University of South Alabama’s JagMedia products earned regional recognition during the Southeast Journalism Conference 2016, hosted by Austin Peay State University.

Vanguard newspaper Editor-In-Chief Alyssa Newton and Life Editor Natalie Franklin received awards for writing and Due South magazine Editor Jordan Knox was recognized for page layout and design.

JagMedia publications were in competition with 35 other colleges and universities in seven Southeast states.

This year, judges received more than 440 entries, submitted in 30 individual and institutional categories, including print, broadcast and advertising. Professional journalists from across the nation served as SEJC judges.

The SEJC conference, Feb. 18-20, was attended by nearly 330 student journalists and advisers from 27 of the 35 college and university members. The keynote speaker was Gene Policinski, a founding editor of USA Today and currently chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute and its First Amendment Center.

MARCH. 7, 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 Ebonie Craft Josh Rutledge

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!

2/15/2016 18:36 Electronic Communication Harassment A student came into the University Police station to make a report for harassment.

2/14/2016 14:31 Fire Delta Five In residential area of Delta, there was a small fire from unknown persons controlled substance, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia on North University Blvd.

2/13/2016 0:18 Domestic incident Stokes Hall Victim and subject got into verbal dispute.

2/13/2016 14:40 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Beta Residential student had JagBike stolen from Beta Residence Hall

MARCH. 7, 2016

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Why Stephen A. Smith South Alabama students march to remember Bloody Sunday said ‘racism doesn’t exist’ Smith addresses comments to South students after drawing national attention

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

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SPN commentator and SiriusXM radio host Stephen A. Smith told South Alabama students that “racism doesn’t exist” for them during his lecture entitled “The Legacy, History and Impact of the African-American Athlete.”

The event was hosted by the Office of Multicultural Students Association, Jaguar Productions and other sponsors from the University.

The Vanguard recorded the lecture and took video of various parts of his speech.

“I want you to listen. Racism doesn’t exist,” Smith said the crowd of students, university staff and locals who attended.

“Obviously, I’m lying. Of course it exists, but not for you. See, you don’t have to go to the back of the bus. You’re not denied the opportunity to eat at restaurants, or to enter night clubs, or to patronize businesses. You have the right to vote.

You’re not being lynched. You’re not being hung. You’re not going through the trials and tribulations your ancestors, recent and way beyond recent, endured so that you could sit here today.”

Smith did acknowledge those in the crowd who were older, but told the group that white people “got problems, too,”

Political policy Continued from page 2 applied and were approved for fall 2015.

It came to light when Ken saw the emails, and he has the University’s interest at heart.

We are not tax experts and we didn’t realize that it could be a tax code issue.”

Public universities can and often do obtain tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status because they qualify as quasi-governmental entities that: are separately-organized entities; pass the organizational test by being an educational organization; do not possess regulatory power; and are not an integral part of the state government, according to the Association of American Universities.

According to IRS.gov, under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c) (3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

The prohibition applies to all campaigns including campaigns at the federal, state and local level. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of taxexempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

“You’re older, you know I’m not talking about you,” he said. “But youngsters, you need to understand that white folks got problems, too. Some of them can’t pay their bills. Some of them are struggling. Some of them are being denied opportunities and you need to understand that, because when people are going through their own problems.

They are not going to lament what your trials and tribulations are. Because the mentality is that the obstacles that once existed are no longer those obstacles …

It doesn’t mean that you don’t go through it from time to time, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have those experiences. What it means is that we won’t let you use it as a excuse.”

Smith responded to articles about his speech and said that it “misrepresented” his point. He talked about the comments on his radio show on Wednesday, March 2.

“When I give a speech, anytime I give a speech, I tell youngsters that ‘racism doesn’t exist,'” Smith said on his show. “I don’t say that it’s not a challenge, that it’s something that we don’t have to deal with in the black community. What I’m saying is that if you’re young, because of the challenges your ancestors overcame, you don’t get to use it as an excuse.”

“We’re in no way trying to limit any more than we have to,” Davis said. “We have to be careful how any student political organization carries out it activities.

“It shouldn’t be perceived as if the University is supporting a political candidate. Whatever they do, they need to have appropriate disclaimers that this in no way reflective of USA. Some schools had some very good disclaimer language in their policies.

“That’s where we are. It’s still all in draft.

We are trying to avoid any perception.”

Davis said that they looked at different universities’ policies when considering and working on the new policy.

“We have probably eight or ten that we have looked at, public and private, where some of our suggestions for our policy is coming from,” Davis said. “It’s still a work in progress.”

The University has currently been working on the policy for a few weeks.

Krista Harrell, Associate Dean of Students, said that a draft is in place, but she also said that there are still questions to be answered and work to be done before it is final.

“Things like this don’t happen quickly,” Harrell said. “Rushing into this wouldn’t be at the best interest of the students or the University … We have a long election

By BRIA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

O

n March 7, 1965, people participated in the first organized march as a part of the Voting Rights Movement, state troopers and law enforcement attacked them as they passed over the county line. This event became known as Bloody Sunday.

Sunday, March 6 South students along with thousands of other marchers participated in the 51st Jubilee Bridge Crossing remembering Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama.

The march Sunday began with a prayer and rally encouraging the audience to remember the people that endured hate and

oppression and to know that we are all “over comers” in one way or another.

As the march continued, thousands began singing hymns like “We Shall Overcome” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round” Kaitlyn Byrd, a junior at South Alabama, made the trip to Selma with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice and said the experience was inspirational.

“It was really special to have experienced a little bit of what the Civil Rights forefathers had to endure,” said Byrd. “And to be able to be apart of that is inspirational because groups like Latin and Hispanic Americans are going through the same civil rights injustices today that African Americans went through during the Civil Rights Movement.”

Kaitlyn Byrd and Malik McMullin march along with thousands in the 51st Jubilee Bridge Crossing in Selma, Alabama. (Bria Johnson | Staff Reporter) season and we want to make sure we do this right.”

With the primaries still in full swing and multiple candidates still fighting for the presidential bid, general political student groups are safe from the restrictions. That changes when two candidates are named by the Democratic and Republican parties.

“Last year they had a lot more flexibility because we were not in an election cycle,” Davis said. “Even up until the primaries those groups that are affiliated with a party had more of a latitude with what they do.

When it comes to the general election, that’s a different story. When the parties are down to one candidate, those groups will have the same restrictions any candidateaffiliated group would.”

Although the policy is still a draft, there are a few things that have been made clear so far. Politically-affiliated groups will not be able to use university emails for the group, nor will they be able to use the Daily Digest to send emails directly to students, faculty and staff.

The groups are not allowed to put candidate’s yard signs throughout the campus grounds or hold any fundraisertype events on University grounds or in affiliation with the University.

“As far as using University resources

such as emails, most schools it seems they have a ‘do not allow’ for student organizations to use email, your JagMail account,” Davis said. “That also include copy machines, unless they pay for it.

“To be quite frank, every school has different interpretations. Some schools prohibit any candidate-affiliated groups.

That’s kind of extreme.

“Some allow anything and everything, and that’s dangerous when it comes to the tax exemption. We try to reach the point right in the middle.”

Ponder said that after meeting with university officials, she understands why the University has to apply these restrictions.

“We really don’t want to get the university in trouble, and we understand that the tax-exempt status can be affected by candidate endorsement,” Ponder said.

“I think we are probably ok thus far for the fact that our club has never officially endorsed Bernie Sanders. Since we haven’t done that, and never ask people to vote for Bernie, I don’t think that what we have done so far would clearly be a violation of the law for the school regarding their taxexempt status.”

University officials plan to discuss the new policy with affected groups when it is ready to be set.

LIFE

NATALIE FRANKLIN LIFE EDITOR nsf1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

MARCH. 7, 2016

Hip hop artist Lecrae brings faith and funk to the Mobile Civic Center

By NATALIE FRANKLIN Life Editor

Events of the Week

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rammy-Award winning artist, Lecrae, lit up the Mobile Civic Center on Wednesday, March 2.

His Higher Learning Tour brought soul, hip-hop and funk to downtown Mobile.

The show featured opening artists, Liz Vice and DJ Promote. Vice’s sultry, soulful voice got the crowd on their feet.

She sang original pieces, and she also covered two classic songs, Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”

DJ Promote really hyped the crowd up. His dubstep beats and remixes had the crowd jumping and swaying to the music.

The crowd was large. The entire Civic Center Theatre was filled with audience members spilling into the balcony. The audience was also diverse. Old, young, black and white, all were present.

Lecrae’s fan base is divergent. By the time Lecrae hit the stage, the audience was really charged. People were singing along with the Lecrae, rapping his lyrics with almost the same intense veracity of Lecrae himself.

When the show was over, the audience demanded an encore. They were screaming and shouting Lecrae’s name. Lecrae gave the audience what they wanted and performed another song.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the concert was the fact that there was an extremely Christian message behind it. Both Liz Vice and DJ Promote spoke about positivity and faith. Lecrae’s lyrics contain inspirational messages and are faith-based.

He raps about real life situations without the cursing, heavy drug influence or demeaning of women. It’s a refreshing change to the majority of mainstream hip hop.

Lecrae hit the stage in an all-black ensemble with a cold cross around his neck, a testament to his faith.

His urban look matched his urban beats, while his gold cross highlighted his faith that is so present in his lyrics.

Lecrae’s faith is present not only in his song lyrics but also in his show. Before he came on stage, Lecrae played a video message describing his charitable work.

For his Higher Learning Tour, Lecrae partnered with Food for the Hungry, a charitable organizations that seeks to “end all forms of human poverty.”

Lecrae encouraged audience members to sponsor children in Uganda and East Africa. He asked that they join his pledge of $35 which could in turn help seven

Lecrae performed at the Mobile Civic Center Theatre on Wednesday, March 2. (Natalie Franklin | Life Editor) children. There were people handing out packets and donor forms. Several audience members took the packets and made the pledge of $35.

In between songs, Lecrae spoke to his audience. He spoke about his life and his experiences. He gave advice on life. Lecrae’s performance was engaging, fun and inspiring.

Lecrae commanded the stage and set the theatre’s energy level to an unbelievable high. At the end of his show, Lecrae said, “Give it up to the most High,” and then left the stage.

The show was so eclectic. It had soul, techno/dubstep, and hip hop, but despite the musical differences, it all relates back to God and faith.

07

USA Choirs in Concert “Fantastic Beasts” LPAC Recital Hall 7:30 p.m.

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Headphone Disco Student Center Ballroom 7-10 p.m.

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Common Read/ Common World “A Walk to Redemption” featuring Peggy Wallace Kennedy Student Center Ballroom 7 p.m.

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Jags v. Virginia Commonwealth (Women’s Tennis) 1 p.m.

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Lecrae was the first hip hop artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album in 2013. (Natalie Franklin | Life Editor)

Yoga Student Recreation Center Studio 2 5:30-6:20 p.m.

MARCH. 7, 2016

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BARCs and Brews

Fairhope Brewing Company brings together animals and beer for charity

By CAITLIN SMITH Opinion Editor

have been able to do so much in such a short period of time.

“

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hat is better than puppies and beer?

Nothing except puppies, beer and a good cause.

The second annual Barc and Brews was held Sunday March 6 at Fairhope Brewing Company where people could adopt dogs and cats all while drinking great beer.

Bay Area Rescue Center, or Barc, and the brewery raised $12,000 last year at this event and this year promises even more.

While being showered in puppy kisses, Executive Director of the Baldwin County Humane Society and BARC, Stephen Savage, said this event is so important to the society.

“The brewery is releasing a beer called Rescue Dog Red and a portion of beer poured goes to us.” For every glass of the Rescue Dog bought on Sunday and beyond, $2 goes to Barc.

A perfect shirt was made for the occasion that truly encapsulates both groups’ devotion to the cause.

With Fairhope’s signature pelican walking a pooch on the back, the shirts were flying off the shelves and all the money went straight to Barc.

“We constantlyy have new dogs, g and events

We have to make sure the animals are going into a good environment and a loving home -Stephen Savage

Flint, the Husky-Shepherd mix, is available for adoption. (Caitlin Smith | Staff Reporter) like this really help people find a forever pup,” Samantha [last name] said of the event.

“I am new to Barc and doing things like this are what makes the differences in these animals’ lives.”

Even though you get to meet, hold and walk the animals at the event, the adoption p

process is not taken lightly. “We have to make sure the animals are going into a good environment and a loving home,” Savage said.

“We don’t want people making rash decisions.”

Even though Fairhope Brewing Company has onlyy been around for three years, theyy y

”

Hosting events like Barcs and Brews and Wednesday night trivia attracts many diverse people to the brewery.

“There’s no other place like it around here,” beer and puppy enthusiast Ian Gorum said. “It is so laid back and just the perfect atmosphere, there’s no set demographic for this place. Everyone and anyone fits in.”

Having a place to see these animals in an actual environment, around other animals and interacting with people is a great way to get a feel for the personality of dogs and cats.

Things are looking PAWsitive for both the brewery and Barc after Sunday’s successful Barcs and Brews.

USA Tabletop Club

By JACCOB HEARN Contributing Writer

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his month the USA Tabletop Club became an official member on the list of student organizations here at the University.

The USA TTC’s mission is to bring together people from different majors to meet and socialize, according to Club President Cody Martin.

“I find that board games are a good way to get people to come together,” said Martin. “It’s good for networking and it’s usually hard to meet people from different areas of the school.”

Currently, the USA TTC is the only table top club at South and offers a friendly and fun environment for those interested in playing board games, card games or role-playing games.

According to Martin, people who play board games are very sociable, despite popular belief, and the club encourages anyone interested to come and

join them for a game.

The USA TTC are scheduled to meet every Thursday in the Student Center where they will have free food and drinks for members to enjoy while they play games.

The club will provide the games for each meeting but also encourages people to bring their favorite games to play.

As of now, the club doesn’t have any long term goals but if they garner the interest and funding they may host gaming tournaments and prize giveaways in the future.

“We play a variety of games here so we can appeal to everyone whether it be cooperative or competitive, so come check us out and play a game,” said Martin, “And if nothing else we’ll always have free pizza.”

For more information on the USA Tabletop Club you can email Martin at cdm1322@jagmail. southalabama.edu

University of South Alabama

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

Student Health Center t "MMFSHZ *OKFDUJPOT t (ZO 4FSWJDFT t )FBMUI &EVDBUJPO t *NNVOJ[BUJPOT t -BCPSBUPSZ 5FTUJOH t "MMFSHZ *OKFDUJPOT t 1IZTJDBM &YBNJOBUJPOT

Where good health and healing Begins

t (ZO 4FSWJDFT t )FBMUI &EVDBUJPO t *NNVOJ[BUJPOT t -BCPSBUPSZ 5FTUJOH t 1IZTJDBM &YBNJOBUJPOT STUDENT HEALTH CENTER

HEALTH SERVICES DRIVE

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Medical Sciences Building

Health Sciences Building

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Marx Library

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tues., Thurs.

WEB SITE/WEB PORTAL Appointments Preferred/Walk-ins welcome

USA NORTH DRIVE

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www.southalabama.edu/studenthealth https://jaghealth.usouthal.edu ADDRESS

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8:00(251) a.m. 460-7151 – 5:00 p.m., Mon., and Fri., Phone: FAX:Wed. (251) 414-8227

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USA Tabletop Club meets every Thursday in the Student Center. (Jaccob Hearn | Contributing Writer)

t 4FYVBM "TTBVMU 4FSWJDFT t 4QFDJBMUZ 3FGFSSBMT t 4QPSUT .FEJDJOF t 45* 4DSFFOJOH BOE Contraception Counseling t 4FYVBM "TTBVMU 4FSWJDFT t 5SBWFM .FEJDJOF

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SPORTS

D”MITRI WREN SPORTS EDITOR drw1422@jagmail.southalabama.edu

MARCH. 7, 2016

Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief

Men’s hoops drop last two games of season Jaguars lock up No. 8 seed in SBC Tournament despite two straight losses

By D’MITRI WREN Sports Editor On Thursday night, the South Alabama Jaguars men’s basketball team took on the Mavericks of UT- Arlington. The Mavericks came out on a top with a 92-79 win over the Jags.

“Our emphasis going into the week was keeping them out of transition and off the offensive glass, and we didn’t do either one,” USA head coach Matthew Graves said to USAJagaurs. “At halftime they had 16 points in transition and 10 points on the offensive glass, so that’s 26 of their 57 points. To let them score 57 in a half, our defensive intensity and focus just wasn’t there tonight. We have to have a tremendous effort on Saturday if we expect to be playing next week.”

UT-Arlington got off to a great start with a very impressive shooting in the first half. They went on 25-7 run in six

minutes. The Mavericks scored 57 points and shot 60 percent from the field. This was the most first half points the Jags gave up all season.

The second half would be no different for the Jags. UT-Arlington’s lead would increase to as much as 21 during the second half of play.

“The biggest thing was we didn’t get back and get our defense set,” Graves said to USAJaguars. “Even when we scored the ball – and we scored at a good enough rate to win this ballgame – we didn’t get guys back. They were moving to the ball and moving up and down the floor a lot quicker. It goes back to our energy and effort. We weren’t flying around and they were getting the ball and moving it wherever they wanted with little resistance. When you let a team that’s this talented offensively get in a rhythm, you’re asking for a long night, which we obviously saw tonight.”

South Alabama allowed UTA to outscore them 36-10 in the paint. The Mavericks also shot 42.8 percent from the 3-point range and all five their starters would end the night with double digit scoring.

For the Jags, Junior Ken Williams would go on to score 22 points and six assists. Shaq Calhoun and Nick Stover both had 16 points a piece.

“Offensively, we shoot 50 percent from 3, and make some good plays, but we were 8 for 26 on 2s, so we have to do a better job of finishing 2-point field goals. It’s what we struggled with early in the season.” Graves said to USAJaguars.

UTA notched their No. 21 win of the year and improve to 21-9 on the season.

As for the Jags, they fall to 13-17 for the season and 8-11 with only one game left to play.

On Saturday night the University of South Alabama Jaguars would lose their

second straight game and their last game of the season to Texas State.

The Jags would start off hot by leading with as many as nine in the first half and shot 40 percent from the field and converting 8-of-10 free throws. However, even with the hot start, South would lead by two at the end of the first half.

“In the first half, we were physical and defended well, especially in the first 18 minutes,” USA head coach Matthew Graves said to USAJagaurs. “I thought Barrington (Stevens III) did an outstanding job on (Ethan) Montalvo, making his catches hard. He only got loose for one three. Overall, our defensive intensity was pretty solid in the first half.”

Despite a great first half, the Jags would lose momentum in the second half by only shooting 29 percent from the field and gave a 11-0 run during the second half. Even with the run the Jags would take a 49-45 lead with 10 minutes

left in the game. TXST would turn things up and by holding South to just two field goals in the final 10 minutes of the game enroute to a 68-57 win.

“We got in a funk and the ball stopped moving, and we went into a little too much one-on-one,” Graves said to USAJaguars. “When you’re playing a team that does a great job defensively being physical and getting over to the help side, you have to be willing to make that extra pass, and sometimes, even the extra, extra pass to get a great shot. We just didn’t do that in the second half when things got tough for us.”

South lost their final game of the season and the season with 13-18 record.

However, Appalachian State’s win over Arkansas State was enough to clinch the No. 8 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Jags take on the No. 5 seed Georgia Southern Thursday night in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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MARCH 7, 2016

Women’s hoops lock No. 5 seed in SBC Tournament

By D’MITRI WREN Sports Editor

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n Thursday night, the South Alabama women’s basketball team took on the UTArlington Mavericks. The Jags were coming in fresh off of a win to UL-Lafayette the week before.

The Jags would only shoot 32.8 percent from the field and hit only 2-of-6 three pointers in the first half.

“We got ourselves in a hole early, but were able to fight back and get the lead at the half,” South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said to USAJaguars. “I thought we started play ok and Chyna (Ellis) was having a good game, but when she went out of the game with the injury, I thought we lost our rebounding edge. We were just never able to get into a rhythm against UTA. They were playing a zone against us and mixing up their defense against us. We had some shots in the paint that we have to be able to knock down that didn’t go down.

In the first half, we were able to get to the free-throw line eight times, but didn’t get to the line

in the second half,” Fowler said to USAJaguars. “To me, that showed we weren’t attacking and getting the ball into the paint enough.”

The second half would be no different with South shooting under 35 percent for the game.

A 21 point third quarter for UTA helped them to a 53-49 win over the Jags.

“This is a very disappointing loss and our players feel it in the locker room. The thing about them, is that they’ve always answered the challenge after a loss like this. They are going to have to again on Saturday against a tough opponent in Texas State.”

Fowler said to USAJaguars.

Colby Davis and Chyna Ellis were the only two double digit scorers for the Jags. Davis ended the night with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Ellis picked up her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

On Saturday night, the Jags took on Texas State in their final regular season game. The Jags would win big with a 70-56 win over TXST to give them their 16th win of the season.

South Alabama women’s basketball clinches the No. 5 seed heading into the SBC tournament in New Orleans. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) “I thought we just did a great job of sharing the ball,” Fowler said to USAJaguars after his team recorded 17 assists. “It started from the very beginning of the game and just carried over from there. I couldn’t be more proud of our effort today and just the team camaraderie that we had out there. It was really fun to watch them play, especially at the defensive end of the floor.”

South had four different play-

ers in double figures against TXST: Chyna Ellis with 10, Marquita Daniels with 11, Colby Davis with 15, and Erin Autio with 12.

The Jags won their final game of the season to give them a 1514 record for the season and a 11-9 record in Conference play.

“Going into the tournament, it’s about taking the same kind of focus we had today and carry the momentum that we got from this

win today,” Fowler said to USAJaguars. “It’s tough to beat an opponent three times in a season, especially an in-state rival. We’ll just have to get our players ready and follow the game plan.”

The win helps South lock up the No. 5 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament which takes place next week in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Jags are set to play the Troy Trojans on Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Jaguar softball goes 2-2 at the Aquafina Invitational

By JOSH RUTLEDGE Staff Reporter

U

niversity of South Alabama softball kicked off the 2016 Aquafina Invitational with a 7-3 win over Florida A&M on Friday. USA scored first in the second inning when Haleigh Lowe scored on a FAMU error.

The Jaguars took off in the third inning starting with Pilkington's two-run single to the right side, which drove in Emily Messer and Kaleigh Todd. Kristian Foster doubled to right center to score Pilkington, and Alex Breeden singled to bring Foster home for a 5-0 USA lead.

The Rattlers scored one in the third and fourth inning, and the teams traded a run apiece in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Messer drew a bases-loaded walk to score Haleigh Lane to put the Jags ahead six runs. Another Pilkington base hit through the right side scored Messer, as USA took a 7-2 lead in the top of the sixth, but FAMU scored one more in the end.

Brown topped her previous career-high strikeout total of 15,

recording the second-most strikeouts in a single game in South Alabama history and tying for the most thrown by any NCAA Division I student-athlete this season. She improved her record to 5-4 with the win with three runs allowed (all earned) and four walks. All but one South Alabama student-athlete recorded a hit in Friday's game. Stephanie Pilkington led on 3-for-4 hitting with three RBIs and a run scored. Emily Messer went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. In the next game, the Jaguars took on Illinois State in the first game on Saturday. USA started putting digits on the board in the top of the third when Kristian Foster singled down the left field line to score Emily Messer, who drew a leadoff walk in the inning.

The Jags put up two more in the top of the sixth when Alex Breeden singled through the right side to drive home Haleigh Lane, and Savanna Mayo scored on Redbird reliever Sarah Finck's wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3. USA took the lead on Haleigh Lowe's single to second base, which plated Kaleigh Todd, who led off with

South Alabama softball won two and lost two in Florida during the Aquifina Invitational. (Alyssa Newton | Editor-In-Chief) an infield single which brought the score to a final 4-3. Todd and Lowe each finished 2-for-3 to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Both teams finished with seven hits. South Alabama evened its all-time record versus Illinois State to 1-1 with the win.

South Alabama fell to the Florida Gators 9-0 in the second game on Saturday. The undefeated Gators scored in all but two innings, beginning with two in the opening frame. Taylore Fuller was hit by

Brown's pitch with the bases loaded to send Kelsey Stewart around, and Merritt's infield single allowed Nicole DeWitt to score, as UF took a 2-0 lead.

South Alabama left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Messer singled and Stephanie Pilkington and Lowe each walked.

Florida doubled its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third with a solo home run and a bases loaded walk.

The Jags couldn’t score in the third or fourth, but a solo home

run brought the Gator lead to 5-0 in the fourth. Florida scored again in the sixth, and in the seventh they tied the knot scoring three more, bringing the final to 9-0.

South couldn’t quite pull the win against Florida International in the last game on Sunday as the final score on Sunday read Florida International 3 USA 2. Although the Jags took an early 2-0 lead in the first thanks to Kristian Foster, Messer and Breeden, the Panthers came back in the third inning on a couple of Jag errors and tied it up 2-2. FIU scored the winning run in the 7th, bringing the final to 3-2.

USA stranded seven runners on base over the final four innings, leaving 11 total stranded in the contest, including two in the bottom of the seventh. The Jaguars outhit FIU, 7-3. Messer led, going 3-for3 with a run. Foster went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk. Breeden was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Vicknair fell to 5-2 with the loss after allowing one run (unearned) with a strikeout, walk and no hits allowed in three relief innings. Devin Brown gave up two runs (both unearned) on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks in four innings.

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MARCH 7, 2016

South Alabama baseball go 3-2 for the week

By EBONIE CRAFT Staff Reporter

T

he University of South Alabama baseball team won big against Southern Mississippi, delivering W’s of 9-2 on Tuesday and 4-2 on Wednesday at Stanky Field.

USA’s right-hander Soleymani (1-0) had three runs on six hits with four strikeouts to contribute to his first win of the season.

“This was a total team effort that started tonight with senior Hunter Soleymani on the mound,” head coach Mark Calvi told USAJaguars. “They (Southern Miss) is a really good team. They are coached well; they have a very good coaching staff that coaches hard and recruits well. But I am proud of our guys tonight and the way they came out and kept battling until the end.”

South Alabama had its biggest inning of the game during the bottom of the 5th inning, which led to them taking a six-run lead on Southern Miss. They responded with the final two runs of the game in the bottom of the 7th.

On Wednesday, USA’s Harrison Spruiell made his first career start with the Jaguars and turned in a great start to lead the South Alabama baseball team to a 4-2 win over Southern Miss. He allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 6 2/3 innings.

“What a great effort tonight out of Harrison Spruiell,” USA head coach Mark Calvi told USAJaguars. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. He took a good-hitting ball club and mixed and matched. He threw his fastball for strikes, was up and down when he needed to be and threw enough offspeed in there

The Jaguar bullpen has recorded two wins, three saves, a 3.38 ERA, in 32 innings. (USAJaguars) to slow them (Southern Miss) down a little bit. He just did a fantastic job, and beat a very good hitting team. He has worked extremely hard, and I was super proud of his effort.”

USA added three runs to its lead one inning later and USM had its first run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. They tackled on the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh.

“We had two quality starts and played fantastic defense,” Calvi said of his team’s two wins over USM the past two days. “We got outhit both nights and struck out too many times, but we pitched and

Idaho, New Mexico State dropped by Sun Belt Conference

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief

I

daho and New Mexico State will no longer compete in the Sun Belt Conference after the 2017 football season.

In a teleconference held Tuesday, March 1, presidents and chancellors of Sun Belt universities decided to not to extend the contracts of Idaho and New Mexico State. Both schools are football-only members.

The Vandals are 6-29 for the past three seasons and 5-18 in Sun Belt play. The Aggies are 7-29 in the past three seasons and 5-19 in conference play.

“This was a strategic decision that was reached following a thorough and complete review of our options,” Sun Belt Conference and Texas State University President Denise Trauth said in a statement.

“The Sun Belt’s Presidents and Chancellors strongly believe it is in the best interest of the conference to have a core membership of 10 football teams that are geographically located within the ‘footprint’ of the conference and that these 10 members also compete in all conference sports. This decision, along with the full 12-team membership that goes into place for the 2016-17 season with the addition of Coastal Carolina University, will reduce travel demands and missed class time for all Sun Belt studentathletes — while also furthering the development of regional rivalries within the conference.”

Coastal Carolina will move from FCS to FBS in 2016 and will give the Sun Belt 12 teams for a year in 2017 before the conference drops the Aggies and Vandals to go back to 10 members.

Thanks to a rule adopted by the NCAA Division I council in January allowing conferences with fewer than 12 teams to hold a championship game, the Sun Belt no longer needs 12 members to hold a championship.

“This 10-team football league will maximize the Sun Belt’s on-field performance, push us to the top ranking of our four peer conferences, and will give us the best opportunity to soon place a team in one of the College Football Playoff ’s New Year’s Day bowl games,” Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said. “We will also now have serious conversations with our football coaches and athletics directors about conducting a football championship game.”

“We are disappointed in the Sun Belt’s decision,” Idaho President Chuck Staben said in a statement.

“But we are optimistic about the options before us and we are continuing to diligently consider our future affiliation as an opportunity to find the stability and full participation we have not experienced in the Sun Belt. We will make a decision in the coming months.”

With Idaho and NMSU out of the Sun Belt, the conference members in 2018 will be Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy.

played a little better defense than our opponent.

The Jags went on to have a rocky weekend in their tournament against Middle Tennessee, winning one of three games. The Blue Raiders scored 4 runs defeating South Alabama 7-4 in the series opener on Friday.

“I thought Kevin was pretty good tonight,” Calvi told USAJaguars. “I have seen him better, and I’ve seen him where he wasn’t quite as sharp. I have seen that same effort beat 85 percent of the teams he would have faced. Middle Tennessee is a very good

ball club. They did a really nice job the first third of the game with Kevin. His pitches got up, and they weren’t giving up easy at bats.”

South Alabama was behind by two runs in the beginning of the first inning and answered with a run in the bottom, cutting its deficit in half. Middle Tennessee had a run in the top of the third inning and pushed their lead to two. Lefthander Cody Puckett had three scoreless innings and two walks to save the game for them.

In the second game of the series, the Jaguars came back to defeat Middle Tennessee 3-2 after Ryne Long had four scoreless relief innings and pushed a pair of runs in the sixth innings.

“I thought (Austin) Bembnowski did a really nice job,”Calvi said. “They (Middle Tennessee) have a lot of tough outs. Bembnowski hung in there; he had some traffic and he pitched his way through it. And Ryne Long was fantastic today out of the bullpen.

He got his leadoff out every time, and I couldn’t be prouder of those two kids today. They both did a fantastic job.”

Middle Tennessee ultimately defeated South Alabama 5-4 in the series closer in a tightly contested affair on Sunday.

South took the lead initially in the bottom of the first inning, Drew LaBounty followed up with a one out RBI double to left field for the lead, but, Middle Tennessee answered with runs tying the game in the top of the second inning. In the top of the ninth, Middle Tennessee added to its lead and grounded into a 4-6-3 inning ending play.

The Jags will return to action Tuesday, March 8, as the Jaguars travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face off with Mississippi State.

OPINION

CAITLIN SMITH OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

MARCH 7 2016

Make the Election Sane Again

By CAITLIN SMITH Opinion Editior

I

was raised by two democrats. My mother, who is a retired teacher, even calls herself a yellow dog Democrat meaning she would vote for a yellow dog if it was running as a dem. I do not know if I am that devoted to the party—even though I love dogs— but I was raised on many beliefs that the democratic side of things leans towards. I am always going to lean more to the left than right but I find myself exceptionally troubled by the popularity of Donald Trump.

I have only been old enough to vote in one other presidential election and I voted for President Obama and if I could go back in time and do it again, I would. I know there are a lot of people who are against everything Obama stands for and really want drastic change in the office. America is great because we get to make these choices but is Trump really the type of change we as a country need?

This election season has led me to the point where I am this ball of fear and lividity and frequent bouts of heartburn every time I think about Donald Trump running for president. When he opens his mouth and spits out hatred, I become less and less proud to be an American. Parliament is even debating banning Trump from the UK for hate speech.

The rest of the world is judging us because we have given him a microphone and a platform to broadcast his stupidity.

Donald Trump in Mobile, Alabama in August 2015(Alyssa Newton | Editor-inChief) When Trump announced he was running for president, he gave a speech about the Mexican immigrants that were coming into the US and said they were rapists and bringing crime into the country.

At that time, a group of people in the US who felt that they were being unrepresented perked up their ears and started hanging on every word Trump said . You know who those group of people were that endorsed Donald Trump right out of the gate? The largest and most popular neo-Nazi publication in America, The Daily Stormer. When has anything associated with the term ‘Nazi’ turned out well…?

Evan Osnos, a reporter for the New Yorker,

watched the first Republican presidential debate with a few members of the Daily Stormer in August to see why they latched on to Trump so hard. Osnos reported, “He presents himself as the archetypal elite.

And to hear him saying things that they had been saying in private out on the fringe of politics was thrilling.” Members of the group said that it would be the first time that they could vote for someone who represented their interests.

Since August, the neo-Nazi Trump supporters have gone from enthusiastic to actually organized and affecting others in their opinions towards this campaign. White nationalist and former Grand Wiz-

ard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke, announced that voting for anyone else in this presidential election would be treason to your heritage.

I feel like this is satire… I have to be making this up, right? This can’t really be the frontrunner for the GOP of the United States of America, can it? A man who talks about his genitalia on national TV. A man who makes fun of the physically disabled also on national TV. A man who members of the Ku Klux Klan say, ‘Yeah, finally,’ when he blubbers hate and racism on national TV. How could anyone want this? He is making a mockery out of this election and he has no place in politics.

Politifact.com is a Pulitzer Prize winning fact checking site that takes things politicians say and finds out how true they are. Want to know Donald Trump’s rankings? Forty-three percent of the things he says are false. Twenty-one percent of the things he has said are rated ‘Pants on Fire’ and a whopping one percent of the things he has said that this website checked is considered true. That statement was that Vladimir Putin has an 80 percent approval rating… that was true.

Trump’s whole campaign has been one giant middle finger to the election process and I just wish we had seen it coming. I hope and pray that come November, members of the Ku Klux Klan cannot celebrate a win. Being a yellow dog democrat sounds pretty good right now, and a yellow dog would make a much better president than Donald freaking Trump.

DISTRACTIONS

Ma Ma rch dn ess Alley oop Forward Layup Tipp Off Basket Cinderella Guard March Madness Tournament Basketball Defense Hoop Dreams Three Pointer

~Sudoku~

CAITLIN SMITH OPINION EDITOR lcs1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

MARCH 7, 2016

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MARCH 7, 2016