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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
anguard V THE
MONDAY JAN 9 2017 VOL 59 ISS 16
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First Dean of Engineering Passes Away Dr. Harold V. Rodriguez passed away this past November. Page 4
Football Recap for 2016
The Newest Niche
Our sports editor reviews some of the strengths and weaknesses from this past season. Page 9
Wedgie’s moves into Picklefish’s old building across from campus. Page 7
NEWS
NEWS
Editor’s Note: Retraction & Formal Apology
Glass is heated to more than 2,000 degrees before an artist can shape it. Photo by Jake Cannon.
Devon Earl receives encouragement from a fellow player during the Arizona Bowl. Photo by Briana Cunningham.
USA football competes in second bowl game By Casie Carr | Sports Editor
USA football made history in their bowl game agaisnt the Air Force Academy this past December. The Jaguars scored a touchdown in the first offensive play of the game, which is a rare occurance. Josh Magee caught a 75- yarder from quarterback Dallas Davis, the longest pass in Arizona Bowl history. Although they ultimately lost against the Air Force Falcons 45-21, USA still played a strong game, but they ran out of steam midway. “We had been practicing that all week and we knew what look we were going to get so we executed,” Magee said. In the first quarter, the Jaguars were able to hold the Falcons to one field goal
By Alanna Whitaker | Editor-in-Chief
and USA put up another touchdown by Dami Ayoola. The score at 2nd quarter was 14-3, USA with the lead. Davis stepped up in the beginning of the 2nd and scored again for the Jaguars. Unfortunately, this would be the last points on the board for USA. With the score 21-3, the Jaguar defense just needed to hold off the Falcons. Before the end of the first half, AFA scored another field goal and two touchdowns. They had worn our injured defense down. Going into the second half the Falcons played a similar first drive as USA, with a 75-yard pass. AFA scored a touchdown in the first minute of the 3rd quarter. With USA down only one touchdown,
the Jaguar offense was challenged to work harder, but the AFA defense only seemed to get stronger as our defense weakened. “In the second half, Air Force changed up their defensive scheme; they were playing two-high [coverage] at first and then they changed to one-high,” said Magee. We needed to adjust to that, but hats off to their defense; they stuck on us and caused some confusion for us.” By the end of the 3rd AFA scored another touchdown and another field goal, making the score 38-21, the Falcons in the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons finished us off with another touchdown, making the final score 45-21.
See page 8
The Vanguard apologizes to Matthew Patterson for a previously retracted article in issue 12 titled “Renowned head of galss (sic) blowing department loses tenure.” The article was based on unsubstantiated anonymous comments. The Vanguard regrets the errors and apologizes to Patterson and all others who may have been wrongly criticized by the article’s poorly reported and unvetted information. This article did not live up to The Vanguard’s high standards of rigorously reported and carefully edited journalism to which the staff aspires. The Vanguard reaffirms its commitment to serve the USA community through honest and objective reporting.
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Vanguard THE
University of South Alabama Alpha Hall South Room 336, Mobile, Ala., 36688 Tel: 460-6898 I Fax: 414-8293 Advertising: (678) 644-7838 thevanguardeditor@gmail.com STAFF Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Opinion Editor Life Editor Sports Editor Web Editor
Alanna Whitaker Marissa Mason Micaela Walley Joel Goode Richard Narramore Casie Carr Cydnei Nettles
Reporters Krisha Amin Morgan Parton
Southpaw, USA Cheer, and the USA Marching band amp up the spirit for the Arizona Bowl game. Photo by Briana Cunningham.
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Management Advising J. Sellers J. Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan
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 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.
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Upcoming January Events 11 Wednesday
17 Tuesday
AMA Blood Drive Student Center Mall 9:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jasmin Arakawa Piano Recital Laidlaw Performing Arts Center
12 Thursday
19 Thursday
Last day to add/change class Last day to change an audit
Spongebob Squarepants movie night USA Student Ballroom 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
13 Friday
Community Engaged Scholarship Forum Student Center 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
16 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO classes
22 Sunday Last day for refund on dropped classes
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20 Friday Studio 63 Spring Concert Reveal Party USA Student Ballroom 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.
Find out what you missed www.thevanguardusa.com The Vanguard News at South Alabama
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NEWS
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Managing Editor | Marissa Mason smm1421@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
USA Crime Report
251-460-6312
12-4-2016 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Delta 3 An unknown person stole a bicycle from the bike rack at Delta 3. 12-4-2016 Burglary Fourth Degree Student Recreation Center- Basketball Courts A purse was stolen from the Student Recreation Center (SRC) during Holiday Havoc 12-5-2016 Collision with Highway Fixture The Grove One student swiped the side of the Cleverdon Gate during bad driving conditions. 12-7-2016 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Mitchell Center An unknown person removed $113 from victim’s wallet. 12-7-2016 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Mitchell Center Three articles of clothing were stolen from the Epsilon 2 laundry room. 12-8-2016 Theft of Property Fourth Degree Health and Nursing (HAHN) An unknown person removed the victim’s purse from a table in Allied Health. 12-11-2016 Criminal Mischief Second Degree USA Medical Center A vehicle was vandalized in the USA Medical Center east side parking lot. 12-12-2016 Robbery First Degree The Grove- Building 13 A pizza delivery man was robbed of food items at gunpoint in the Grove parking lot. 12-15-2016 Missing Article Main Campus A Kuwait passport was reported lost at an unknown location on Main Campus.
If you SEE something DO something! 12-16-2016 Hit-and-Run Unspecified A person struck the victim’s parked car while driving, leaving the scene without leaving contact information. 12-16-2016 Theft of Property Fourth Degree JagTran Tag was stolen off a University Vehicle. 12-17-2016 Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle The Grove- Building 14 Victim’s purse was stolen from their vehicle in the Grove parking lot. 12-21-2016 Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle The Grove- Building 12 Victim’s car was burglarized with no signs of damage- possibly left unlocked. 12-21-2016 Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle The Grove Another victim’s car was burglarized with no signs of damage- possibly left unlocked. 12-29-2016 Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle University Police Department Grove resident reported their car being broken into. 12-29-2016 Assault Third Degree/ Theft Fourth Degree USA Children & Women’s Hospital Male assaulted a mother and took her phone while their son was being treated at CWH. 12-29-2016 Assault Third Degree USA Children & Women’s Hospital One female was choked by another female in the Evaluation Center of CWH. 12-30-2016 Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle The Grove A car was broken into unlawfully.
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NEWS
Managing Editor | Marissa Mason smm1421@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
First, former dean of college of engineering passes away
The interior of Shelby Hall, the home of the college of engineering. Under Rodriguez’s guidance, the engineering program gained several graduate programs. Photo courtesy of USA.
Dr. Harold V. Rodriguez served as the first dean of the college of engineering at USA. Photo courtesy of Susan Rodriguez Welch.
Shelby Hall was built for the engineering program and is one of the most prominent buildings on campus. Rodriguez significantly contributed to the engineering program. Photo courtesy of USA.
By Susan Rodriguez Welch | Daughter
Dr. Harold V. Rodriguez, former dean of the college of engineering at USA, passed away on Nov. 29, 2016, at the age of 84. In 1969 he joined USA as an associate professor of engineering. 1976, the division of engineering at USA was elevated to college status, and Rodriguez was appointed as the first dean of the college of engineering, a position he held until his resignation in 1989. After a brief return to the faculty, he was appointed
interim vice president for academic affairs in January 1990. He retired from USA in 1993, and in 1994 was appointed emeritus professor in chemical engineering. During his time as dean, the college of engineering gained four accredited programs and two new buildings for classrooms and lab work. Master’s degrees in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering were also developed and approved during his tenure. In 1993, USA’s Engineering newsletter quoted him saying,
“What impressed me the most about this place was the dedication of the people here, from the president on down to the instructors. “We had a common goal, we had a common purpose, and that was to establish this place and put it on the map and make it known in the state.” He was previously employed by Mobil Research and Development in Dallas, Texas, from 1961 to 1969 as a senior research engineer in oil recovery research before joining USA as an associate professor of engineering.
Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University. He then served two years as a lieutenant in the Chemical Corps of the U.S. Army at Fort McClellan, Alabama, from 1955 to 1957. After release from active duty, he returned to LSU and earned his Master of Science and doctorate in chemical engineering. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jewel, four children, four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
NEWS
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Managing Editor | Marissa Mason smm1421@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
NAACP president arrested in Senator Jeff Sessions’ Mobile office
NAACP activists organized a sit-in in Senator Jeff Session’s Mobile office. Photo courtesy of Twitter. By Joel Goode | Opinion Editor
NAACP President Cornell William Brooks was arrested along with five other activists during a civil protest ‘sit-in’ of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions’ Mobile office last Tuesday. The protest was staged in response to the incoming Trump administration’s recent announcement of Senator Sessions as the likely nominee for Attorney General of the United States. As Attorney General, Sessions would be tasked with heading the Department of Justice, which oversees federal court cases on behalf of the United States. In 1986, Ronald Reagan nominated Sessions to the Southern District Court in Alabama. According to AL.com, Sessions was denied the federal judgeship by the Republican-controlled Senate because of racist comments attributed to him by several staffers, most publically former deputy Thomas Figures. Additionally, as a U.S. attorney Sessions prosecuted civil rights leader Albert Turner for voter fraud during the mid-80s. Turner, a close adviser to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a long-time campaigner for voting rights, was accused of altering absentee ballots, a charge which defense lawyer Henry
Sanders attributed to harassment of disabled witnesses by the Justice Department as reported by The Chicago Tribune. Sessions lost the case and the charges against Turner were dropped. According to Brooks, Sessions has gone on record calling civil rights organizations such as the ACLU and the NAACP “UnAmerican.” Sessions also combated the federal Voting Rights Act. The nomination of Sessions to the highest position of law enforcement in the U.S. occurs at a time when abuse of minority communities by the police has become widely visible through the proliferation of cell phone recording and social media technologies. The NAACP is not the only highprofile group to oppose Sessions’ nomination. 1,424 law professors from 180 different law schools in 49 states across the country have co-signed a letter urging the SJC to reject the appointment. “The Attorney General is the top law enforcement officer in the United States,” the letter implores, “with broad jurisdiction and prosecutorial discretion, which means that, if confirmed, Jeff Sessions would be responsible for the enforcement of the nation’s civil rights, voting, immigration, environmental, employment,
national security, surveillance, antitrust, and housing laws.” Sessions was the first senator to endorse Donald Trump’s bid for POTUS. On Tuesday, the Senate
Judiciary Committee, which rejected Sessions’ bid for a district judgeship in Alabama in 1986, is expected to confirm his appointment as the Attorney General of the United States.
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Life Editor | Richard Narramore ran1422@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
LIFE
Student Spotlight: Kayley Edwards By Morgan Parton | Life Reporter
Kayley Edwards, a senior at the University of South Alabama, has benefited exceedingly from the multiple opportunities the university has to offer each student. Edwards came to USA in hopes of going to dental school but quickly had an exciting change of heart thanks to staff at the USA Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature. “Dr. Gossett is the first person who ever showed me that being a foreign languages major wasn’t pointless and inspired me to pursue French, which was my minor at the time,” Edwards said. “This led me to Dr. McCready who has been my advisor and primary French professor and has shown me so many ways in which I can use this major that I would have never known before.” Edwards is now a French and international studies double major, and hopes to integrate larger, multi-national corporations in Mobile with local culture and business. Edwards furthered her education by studying abroad at L’Universite de Bourgonge in Dijon, France, through South’s study abroad program. Studying abroad broadened Edwards’ understanding of the French language and culture exponentially. “I’m so thankful for South and the Office of International Education for making this experience possible for me,” she said, “I utilize knowledge from my experience abroad every single day.” Edwards is a member of the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and numerous other organizations. Edwards held the position of
usabookstore@southalabama.edu x 251-460-1446 x www.usabooks.collegestoreonline.com
president for both Southerners, the University’s official ambassadors, and her sorority, Phi Mu. Phi Mu provided Edwards with life-long memories and a dependable support system throughout her four years. “When I first joined, I had no idea that this would be home to the singlemost encouraging group of young women I had ever met in my life,” she said. “Without Phi Mu, I don’t know if I would have become so involved on campus or had such a fulfilling undergrad experience. I will always be thankful for this sorority and the richness it has brought to my life.” In addition to various organizations, Edwards worked as a student assistant in the Student Activities and Greek Life office. “This has allowed me to connect with so many influential and important people that I would have never known otherwise,” she said. “Being involved has also shaped my mind in so many different ways as I have been able to meet so many other students who come from completely different backgrounds than I do.” The most influential person in Edwards’ academic career became her boss, Brigette Soderlind, the associate director of student activities. “She is truly the most positive and inspiring person and will do anything to help a student,” Edwards said. “She always takes the time to ask how activities are going and gives the best advice and ideas. She is the most encouraging person and I am always so thankful to have worked with her throughout my time at South.” Balancing her time was extremely important in Edwards’ achievement. Despite her busy schedule, she still succeeded in making the dean’s or president’s list every semester of her undergraduate career. “Overall, I would really say that I am able to balance everything because of how much I love these different aspects of my life,” Edwards said. “When you truly love something, you make time for it. It isn’t ever really work. I love Phi Mu, Southerners, and my majors and I don’t want to imagine what my life would have been like without these experiences.”
Kayley Edwards is a senior and student leader at USA. She is a double major in French and international studies, and she intends to pursue a graduate degree at the Mitchell College of Business. Photo courtesy of Kayley Edwards.
Edwards recently started an internship with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and accredits her undergrad accomplishments to the Jaguar community. “The only negative to all of my involvement is that it has made my time at South go by so fast. As I head into my final semester of undergrad, I really wish I could experience it all again,” she said. “At times, having so many obligations and placing such an importance on my grades, has been a little overwhelming, but it has also been so rewarding that I’ve never once regretted it.” After graduation, Edwards plans to pursue a graduate degree in business at USA.
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LIFE
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Life Editor | Richard Narramore ran1422@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
Wedgie’s: cool concept, needs improvement By Alanna Whitaker | Editor-in-Chief
Wedgie’s is the newest niche restaurant attraction to come to Mobile. Specializing in gourmet grilled cheese, Wedgie’s popped up last December in PickleFish’s old building across from campus. It’s a nice change of pace from the same old eateries we’re used to (and bored with) considering South students eat Chick-fil-A at least three times in a week. I waited to visit Wedgie’s until 1:30 on a Friday, thinking the lunch rush would be over. Instead, every table was occupied and a line of six people were still waiting to order. Clearly, Wedgie’s is a popular venue, but I was surprised that most customers weren’t college age. The menu listed 15 unique menu items, and I chose the El Fidel, a sandwich on French bread,
Cuban roasted pork shoulder, cilantro mustard, pickles and swiss cheese. I ordered a drink and a side of mac-n-cheese to go with it (they were out of the Tomato Basil Bisque) for about $15. That’s pricey for a single meal on a college student budget, but I was eager to try the product before I dubbed Wedgie’s overpriced. My friend did have to pay a $1 upcharge for the fruit cup, which was a surprise charge not listed on the menu. We completed our order as another customer was leaving and were lucky to grab a small two-top table. We posted our numbers and waited for our food to be brought to us; quite a few people appeared to have a long wait, but the staff tried to keep up. The employees stayed busy the entire time, and we watched the
small staff bounce between the cash register to running food and busing tables. A few tables stayed dirty for an extended period and a handful of customers had to wait for them to be cleaned before they could sit down. The wait for our food, which was only two sandwiches and two sides, took 25 minutes. The food was lukewarm. I didn’t mind the wait, but cold food was disappointing for $15 a meal. The presentation of the food was forgettable; the sandwich laid bare atop paper in a plastic tray. The mac-n-cheese was placed in a simple Styrofoam cup but decked out with cheese shreds and bacon on top. The did El Fidel look delicious. It was cut in half to reveal an entire pickle spear and the shredded pork and cheese poking out in the middle. It wasn’t mind-
blowing, but it tasted alright. Since the humble grilled cheese is the inspiration for all of Wedgie’s main entrées, I don’t think I got the complete El Fidel experience with a lukewarm sandwich. Mobile is easily saturated with copycat businesses. Wedgie’s is a unique dining experience and a conveniently located alternative to other student haunts like Mellow Mushroom or Waffle House. I’ll give the restaurant a second chance, but I won’t return during rush hours until the business has matured. My recommendation to other students is to give it a try, too, but don’t drop by between classes – you might run late. I suspect that Wedgie’s wasn’t prepared for the level of success it has experienced, but the market for gourmet grilled cheese is there if they can sustain the interest and improve their performance.
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Sports Editor | Casie Carr cdc1526@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
SPORTS
USA football helmets. Photo by Briana Cunningham
Continued from pg 1 “I think the turning point of the game was the turnover that gave them the ball at the one-yard line, that enabled them to score two quick touchdowns,” said Jones. “In those situations you have to be able to handle that and come out of it. We didn’t. We never got control back after that point. My hat goes off to Air Force; they are a really good football team and they are 10-3 for a reason. They have 10 seniors on defense and they are solid. They outplayed us in the second half, obviously with it tied 21-21 at the half. They have a really good program.” In the statistics of the night, USA wasn’t far behind in total offensive yards 313460. But the penalties, fumbles, and sacks did us in. USA had 9 penalties for a loss of
71-yards, 2 lost possessions because of fumbles, and 4 sacks for a loss of 18-yards. AFA scored 15 points off of turnovers, had double the time of possession of the ball, and completed all 6 of their red-zone scoring chances. Overall, the Falcons were more resilient and were able to make up for their losses. “I told the players in the locker room that we’ve been a Division I team for four years and just two programs over the last 30 years have had winning records during that time span: South Florida and South Alabama,” Jones said. “We’re not where we want to be, but when you start comparing us to other young programs, it’s not easy. We’ve got to keep on adding to what we’re doing next year.
Head coach Joey Jones offers advice to Josh Magee during the Arizona Bowl. Photo by Briana Cunningham.
Dr. Katie Malozzi recently was appointed as a full-time staff physician for the University of South Alabama Student Health Center. Prior to her appointment to USA, Dr. Malozzi was a family medicine staff physician at Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss. Dr. Malozzi previously served as a family medicine staff physician and United States Navy Senior Medical Officer at Naval Health Branch Clinic Gulfport in Gulfport, Miss. She earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia and completed a family medicine internship and residency at Naval Hospital Pensacola in Pensacola, Fla., where she served as chief resident. Dr. Malozzi is board-certified in family medicine. To make an appointment, call
(251) 460-7151.
Dr. Katie Malozzi
The USA Student Health Center is located at 5870 Alumni Drive on USA’s main campus. Student Health Services are available during each semester to all students actively enrolled in the University. In addition, the center has sports medicine services available for students and collaborates closely with the athletics department and all university athletes.
SPORTS
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Sports Editor | Casie Carr cdc1526@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
Football needs no-loss goal for 2017 season
The USA Football face off against the Air Force Academy at the Arizona Bowl in Tucson, Arizona. By Casie Carr | Sports Editor
The 2016 season was full of ups and downs for the Jaguars, beginning with a major victory against a top SEC team, Mississippi State University. This gave students high expectations for their football team this year. The next two weeks came with a lot of pressure on the team following their amazing win. USA lost to Georgia Southern in the second game of the season 9-24, and also to Louisiana Lafayette (a closer match) 23-28 in the third week. With this, the Jags had a new found motivation to win for their home crowd in a close match against Nicholls, an overtime victory 41-40. They followed up with the biggest victory of the season, against No. 19 in the country San Diego State, with a big winning score of 42-24. These two victories gave hope back to not only the Jaguar fans, but to the team itself. They had now conquered feats never done before in USA football history. In the sixth game of the season against Arkansas State, another away game loss 7-17, showed the
issues beginning to arise within the team. Following this, the Jags lost to their biggest rival, Troy, in a close match 21-28. The Jaguar starters were falling one by one, forcing younger players to step up to the plate. Thanks to the motivation and commitment of the team, even after a home game loss, the Jags were able to pull out a homecoming win against Georgia State 13-10. The away state of Louisiana beat us once again against LouisianaMonroe, a close loss in overtime 35-42. But, against the substitute for LSU in the tenth week, USA beat Presbyterian with a big win of 31-7. This game change was sad because of a lost opportunity to go up against yet another huge team this season, but it also provided USA with the opportunity to put another win under their belt and towards the chances of a bowl game. vThe next week the Jaguars traveled to a cold away game in Idaho, and lost another close game 31-38.
For the last home game of the season, USA pulled out a win against New Mexico State 35-28. With the overall season coming out at an even record of 6-6, USA was invited to the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl to play against the Air Force Academy. Although the game ended in a loss for USA 21-45, the chance to travel to this event allowed not only the players, but the staff, cheer team, and trainers to visit local hospitals and do some charity work. The overall experience was a great opportunity for USA. The 2016 team seemed to play their best games when they had nothing to lose. Starting out the season with one of their most difficult opponents, USA stood up to the challenge. When going up against our own conference teams, USA seemed to look them over and not take the game as seriously. This almost cost them a bowl eligibility, their conference record ending at 2-6. The seniors had the most experience and many were strong leaders, but with nearly all of them injured by the end of the season,
the end to their college career was no longer in their hands. They had to learn to motivate and lead from the sidelines, rather than by example on the field. Many of this year’s major starters were injured this season, so others were needed to step up. If these injuries had not occurred, the team could have lived up to its full potential that was set up at the beginning of the season. Perhaps more conditioning is necessary to prevent these injuries from happening. Maybe with a better facility that is in the works to come, the Jaguars will have the necessary equipment to train better and harder to get to where they need to be. The competition that they face is only going to get more difficult. Making it to a bowl game is a good thing, but the Jaguars need to make a no-loss season a goal for next year. We can not go backward. The Jags made it to a bowl game twice in the past four years. While it is something to praise, goals must be set higher to begin making a statement.
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Opinion Editor | Joel Goode jdg908@jagmail.southalabama.edu Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
OPINION
As spring blossoms, the arts and sciences wither By Joel Goode | Opinion Editor
Although nursing and engineering remain the two schools that garner the highest rate of new enrollments, it is easy to take for granted how much general education requirements impact the rate of attendance for arts and sciences courses. Currently, the university funding model is set up so that the schools that receive the most new enrollments also receive the most funding. USA is experiencing the second-highest rate of influx in Alabama next to the University of Alabama, and with this flood of students comes a lack of availability for certain core courses that are required of all students. Dr. Tim Sherman, chair of the Department of Biology in life sciences, has experienced issues with accommodating incoming students and providing enough space for the required classes. “I think it’s true of every department that there are space issues,” Dr. Sherman said. “When psychology moved out, that allowed for more redistribution, but we’re space-limited at this point. Right now, in freshman biology, we have three core courses that have no labs. “ Sherman teaches experimental cell biology, and wishes faculty had more lab space so students can receive an optimal teaching experience. Interviewed faculty agreed that a personalized lab space, where projects can be resumed where they were left off, would be of great benefit to the students. “Having the space and freedom where it’s like working in a real lab is a better educational experience,” Sherman said. “But then, if you have another faculty member using that same lab space, it kind of destroys that freedom, because everything has to be put away after each session creating a break in continuity for
The humanities department is the home of many general education requirements. Photo by Jake Cannon.
The humanities department is the home of many general education requirements. Photo courtesy of USA.
the students.” In life sciences, the labs which are used most heavily are freshman labs. Recently, the Dean paid for renovations so students and faculty could have more space in freshman biology. “Huge numbers of students move through these introductory courses,” Sherman said. “With the increases in lab size, the faculty has been able to teach students without having to attend labs until 10 at night” Unfortunately, the upper level courses have stricter lab requirements, which have not yet been met by renovations. Labs will be empty for days, unable to be used because they house labspecific equipment for various courses which dictate you cannot have multiple classes running concurrently in a single lab.
The life sciences are, by nature, equipment-heavy and space-heavy. Sherman seemed dissatisfied with the way funding is currently distributed at USA, particularly in light of the traffic brought on by the general education program. “If we’re generating most of the credit hours, then why is funding for the arts and sciences lagging behind other places?” Similar to English, the foreign language department is much more Spartan in their needs compared to life sciences. Nevertheless, spacing issues continue to be a burden. “All the departments are looking at a very tight situation with classroom space,” according to Dr. Eleanor Horst, chair of foreign languages, reflecting the sentiment shared by Sherman. “The university is growing as
a whole, so we have a lot more students enrolled in our general education courses like Spanish 101 and French 101. However, we have the same amount of classroom space as before, so it’s very difficult to schedule classroom space now on campus.” The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature currently has four classrooms available for use. When there are more than four classes running at a single time, teachers are forced to look elsewhere on campus. They always hope to obtain a room in the Humanities Buildings, but if those buildings are full, classes must be moved to another facility. Places foreign language professors have immigrated include the Chemistry Building, the Student Center, and the Communications Building. The department of history reiterated many of the same concerns, particularly in terms of the student-to-faculty ratio. “Classes are capped at 45 per class,” according to Dr. Marsha Hamilton, the chair of history. “This can cause an issue with individualized attention on papers.” Additionally, like the other departments spoken to, Hamilton agreed that the history department would greatly benefit from an increase in classroom space. The disproportionate funding may come from a lack of prioritization. USA has the second-highest enrollment rate, but it also has a notoriously low graduation rate. General education is at the core of our education model, and the students most affected by the classroom issue are incoming freshmen. An avenue toward solving the graduation rate would be to better nurture our foundation.
DISTRACTIONS
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