Nov 9, 2015

AUG. 10, 2015 NOV. 9, 2015

VOL. 57 #3 VOL. 57 #15

If we build it,

will they Homecoming 2015 come?

Queen Interview pg. 2 Pictures pg. 8 Game pg. 10

NEWS forHC Elijah SouthWheels Alabama Queen

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LIFE

Freshman Do’sGround and Don’ts The Hunting

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OPINION OPINION The V-Word Consider the Source

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NOV. 9, 2015

Homecoming queen proves you can like science, still be royalty Engineering major Boni Yraguen announced as 2015 Homecoming Queen

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief South Alabama named Boni Yraguen as the 2015 Homecoming Queen this past Saturday during halftime of the game against Idaho.

The senior is a mechanical engineering major, a former Distinguished Young Woman, a member of Phi Mu and a self proclaimed nerd.

Yraguen may have a lot of different interests, but the 21-year-old from Roseburg, Oregon said that’s what makes her unique.

“I don’t really let myself be defined by one role or by one thing that I like,” Yraguen said.

“Yeah, I like cars, engines and engineering and I’m kind of a nerd, but I also do pageants and I’m a piano minor, a sorority girl, and I lift weights. None of those things really ever go together. I think that’s what makes me unique.”

Yraguen was one of nine Tau Beta Pi scholars from South Alabama this year. No other university in the country had more than two recipients for the engineering scholarship.

Yraguen , who is currently applying for graduate school, said she is interested in the combustion in engines and hopes to pursue a passion she discovered when she was young.

“I’ve always liked engines and cars, I remember when I was 12 asking my dad about engines,” Yraguen said. “Ever since then, its been something I’ve wanted to do. I hope when I get my PhD in mechanical engineering

studying combustion … What I want to do is work in the academic field and I think I want to be a professor and keep doing engine research.”

Yraguen’s platform is a program that happens annually at South Alabama that encourages young girls who are interested in math and science and allows them to experience hands-on experiments and talk to other women science leaders in a variety of fields.

“What my platform GEMS is about teaching young girls you can be interested in math and science and still be princess, or a queen if you want to,” Yraguen said, “We invite girls from all over Alabama. There are multiple different areas of science such as nursing, geology, and engineering. Girls were able to pick the science they were interested and do two workshops.”

As a former Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Woman, Yraguen said that she wouldn’t even know Mobile existed if i were not for the program.

“When I was 6-years-old, I knew I wanted to participate in Douglas County Jr. Miss, now Distinguished Young Women, when I was a junior in high school. So I just decided to do it and it lead me to nationals in Mobile. That lead me to going to South in Mobile,” she said, “The impact was huge, without them I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have known Mobile existed. It helped me find out who I was at a really young age. When people asks what you want to do with your life, you have to really think about those questions at a young age and I became

Homecoming queen Boni Yraguen and King Brandon Williams smile for the crowd during halftime at the homecoming game. (Briana DiGiorgio | Staff Reporter) comfortable with who I was and wanted to be.”

When it came to running for homecoming queen, Yraguen said that it had always been at the back of her mind.

“I’ve always thought about running for court, but I started at South as a sophomore so I wasn’t able to run until this year. I just decided to run so I signed up online, did the essay and interviewed.” she said.

The selling point? Promoting South and her platform GEMS. “I was really excited when I found out the

queen would have more of a legacy and use it to promote her platform, that’s just amazing,” Yraguen said. “I would never pass up an opportunity to promote gems. When I found out that I could this and promote GEMS and South, I had to do it.”

Saturday wasn’t exactly picture perfect for a homecoming game. South Alabama was at the time losing to Idaho 24-7 and rain slowly began to drizzle on the field. But, this didn’t stop her

See QUEEN Page 4

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NOV. 9, 2015

3 Editorial Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Life Editor Staff Reporters

Alyssa Kaitlyn Newton

Mitchell Kahalley Micaela Walley Alexander Moylan Mary Alice Wilson Natalie Franklin Bria Johnson Tori Brackett Caitlin Smith Briana DiGiorgio

Staff Photographer Emily Rodrick

Distribution

Distribution Bobby Faulk 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!

9/30/2015 23:14 Contemplating Suicide Beta Gamma Commons 290 Stadium Blvd, Mobile, AL 36688 A medical emergency concerning a suicidal student was reported.

9/29/2015 9:00 Property Damage Parking area, Shelby Hall 150 Jaguar Dr., Mobile, AL, 36688 Reporter advised that he parked his vehicle in the Mitchell College of Business parking lot at 9:00 hours and returned at 17:30 hours. He found the outside mirror of the passenger side front door dangling from the vehicle.

9/29/2015 22:00 Theft of Property Second Degree (Greater than $500-$2,500) Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority A female student had her wallet and keys stolen from the Alpha Omicron Pi (AOP) Sorority House.

9/27/2015-9/28/2015 17:11-15:56 Aggravated Stalking 411 N. University Blvd. Mobile AL 36688 A known male subject intentionally and repeatedly followed or harassed the victim and made credible threats, either expressed or implied with the intent to place the victim in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm and who violated a court order to avoid future content with the victim; did make contract via e-mail with the victim after a court order prohibited such contract.

9/28/2015 13:00 Harassment or Harassing Communications Area of Stadium Blvd, Unknown person with intent to harass, annoy or cause alarm, to the victim, did so by using language towards the victim that made her feel threatened.

9/28/2015 9:30 Domestic-Menacing-Strong Arm Theft from Residence The Grove - Bldg 3 1 White iPhone with Black and Silver case Apple iPhone 6Plus 1 2010 Silver Metallic Toyota Corella SIL Subject made forced entry into an apartment and stole an iPhone.

9/27/2015 13:00 Football Field House Possession of a firearm 1 .45 Caliber semi-auto pistol; Ruger; SR45 1 Ammunition; Winchester; COM A hand gun was found in a players bag at the Football Field House.

NOV. 9, 2015

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Queen

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friends and sisters from supporting her. When she found out she would become queen, all she could hear were their cheers.

“All I could think of was I could hear all of my friends behind me. I swear all of Phi Mu was in the first row,” she recalled. “When Mackenzie was named the senior maid, I heard them explode. They stayed for me in the rain to see if I would win homecoming queen. They were right there cheering for me.”

Yraguen said that winning queen was much more than just a sash and crown, but the support from her South Alabama classmates and peers.

“It’s huge,” she said on being named homecoming queen. “I’ve always been the weird Northern girl who didn’t know what to wear or say. “Bless your heart” was completely foreign to me when I came here. It’s really cool to see that I’ve come such a long way. The students at South Alabama and the people who interviewed me, that even though I’m some weirdo from Oregon that I can represent South Alabama.”

Jag$pot offers scholarships in a new way

By JACCOB HEARN Contributing Writer The new Office of Scholarship Services offers resources and help for university students looking for aid to pay for tuition.

The University has over $15 million in scholarship funds that can be awarded annually, according to scholarship director Brooke Moore.

“We have a lot of dollars that go unawarded each year and I hate seeing money left on the table,” Moore said.

Elizabeth Brooker, scholarship coordinator, said along with the offices, there is an online database called Jag$pot that students are encouraged to use.

“One of the awesome things about Jag$pot is that it uses all of your current student info,” Brooker said. “It really streamlines the process of applying for

scholarships so you don’t have to fill out days worth of paperwork.”

The website is designed to be simple and effective. To log on, all you need is your Jag number and you Jagmail password.

Afterwards there is a small application it saves a lot of time and a lot of paper, according to Brooker Jag$pot will automatically recommend and display scholarships that students qualify for on their Jag$pot profile, according to Moore.

Scholarship opportunities include fouryear, renewable Freshman Scholarships, one-year General Scholarships, Transfer Scholarships, and Departmental Scholarships awarded by USA's Colleges and Schools according to the scholarship service’s webpage.

“We’ve taken all the opportunities on campus and consolidated them in one place.” Moore said. “We want to get students access to scholarships they didn't have and get department's access to those students.

This way, everyone is connected to these opportunities.”

From the webpage, you can access the Jag$pot network as well as get info on external scholarships as well.

The website is also designed to inform students about how to apply for scholarships, resources, Graduate School and financial services along with other recourses.

You can visit at: www.southalabama.edu/ departments/financialaffairs/scholatships or visit their offices located in the administration building on the second floor, which is scheduled to relocate to Meisler Hall in December, according to Moore.

Along with the move, the office also wants to put on workshops for students to help them be successful with finances, according to Moore.

“Our goal is to serve the student’s; that’s why we’re here,” said Moore. “We want to reduce the burden students leave college with so they can focus more on their future.”

Trojan condoms releases sexual heath report card

By ALYSSA NEWTON Editor-In-Chief Each year the Trojan report card ranks 140 colleges and universities on their sexual health, rating the schools from the best, worst and everywhere in between.

Out of the 140 colleges South Alabama ranked No. 108, up from No. 123 in 2014.

Trojan brand condom’s sexual health report ranks colleges based on the quality of sexual health resources and information. That includes contraceptive, condom availability, sexual assault programs and resources.

Other schools from the state of Alabama were also included on the list.

The University of Alabama came in at No. 58 with Auburn 10 spots lower at No. 68.

Troy University is ranked No. 139, only above BYU in the list. Oregon State University was ranked first for the second year in a row by Trojan.

The South Alabama student health center is staffed with professional health care providers. The center provides in-house tests for sexually transmitted diseases and other issues.

Women’s health services are also available by appointment. Students can schedule an appointment by calling (251) 460-7151.

LIFE

NATALIE FRANKLIN LIFE EDITOR nsf1222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

NOV. 9, 2015

“The Hunting Ground,” a film on college sexual assault

By MARY ALICE WILSON Sports Editor

Events of the Week

T

he Political Science club showed “The Hunting Ground” in the Marx Library Auditorium Tuesday night.

The documentary showcased college-aged women who were victims of sexual assault on campus and how their universities handled the situation. Colleges from all over the country were represented, such as Harvard, Yale, Florida State, Notre Dame, and many more.

Throughout the documentary, two University of North Carolina students, Andrea Pino and Annie Clark, were featured after becoming advocates for survivors of rape. Pino and Clark actually eventually filed a lawsuit against UNC with the US Department of Education for violating Title IX and mishandling each of their sexual assault complaints.

The film explains more than 16 percent of college women are sexually assaulted while in college. When a woman is sexually assaulted, it is absolutely not her fault. No matter what myths you may hear about what a girl wears or how much she had to drink, she does not deserve to be raped. Unfortunately, many victims of rape are ultimately victimized again after deciding to report by being blamed by the confidant. Victim blaming is a huge reason behind the low reporting rates for sexual assaults.

According to the film, 88 percent of women sexually assaulted on college campuses do not report.

Many times it appears that the university administration is on the perpetrator's side instead of the victim's. Ryan Clifford, a male sexual assault victim from the University of California, was even told to drop out until “the whole thing blows over.” Many of the women in the film go on to explain that their attackers were repeat offenders, and the previous victims had reported to the school, yet the perpetrator was still allowed to be a student at that university, and was still offending.

According to the film, less than 8 percent of men commit more than 90 percent of the on-campus sexual assaults. These are huge numbers that will only continue to rise if universities continue to allow these offenders to get away with their crimes without even the slightest slap on the wrist. Repeat offenders commit on average six or more acts of sexual assault, according to “The Hunting Ground.”

According to the documentary, in 2012, 45 percent of colleges reported zero sexual assaults. Kimberly Theidon, former professor for Harvard University suggested that these issues are meant to be handled internally in order to silence the victims and keep the numbers low.

Between the years of 1998-2013, The University of Virginia documented 205 sexual assaults on campus with zero expulsions. Zero expulsions on campus due to sexual assaults, but 183 expulsions for cheating and other honor board

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USA Symphony Band Fall Concert 7:30 p.m.

LPAC

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Science Cafe presents “Kids These Days: The Rise (and Fall?) of Narcissism in America’s Youth” 6 p.m.

OK Bicycle Shop

The film explains more than 16 percent of college women are sexually assaulted while in college. (Facebook) violations. There were many other campuses with very similar statistics. If the university has a high number of sexual assaults, the campus will be viewed as unsafe, therefore losing the number of admissions, therefore losing money.

“If a student comes to an administrator with a problem, it's not if that administrator wants that student to be harmed, but their first job is to protect the institution from harm, not the student from harm,” Claire Bond Potter, former associate professor for Wesleyan University explains.

The next on-campus issue addressed in the film was student-athletes. According to the documentary, less than 4 percent of college men are athletes, yet they commit more than 19 percent of reported on-campus sexual assaults. Abby Ross, a student at the University of Tulsa, explained she was raped by a basketball player. “I felt like because he was an athlete, everyone was acting like he was worth more than I am.” We've seen many athletes in the media recently for various infractions of the law, but the most prevalent one that comes to mind would be the infamous quarterback from Florida State, Jameis Winston. Winston's victim, Erica Kinsman, was actually featured in “The Hunting Ground,” including the actual call to the FSU police that night. Charges were never filed against Jameis Winston on the basis of him claiming it was consensual sex and refusing to comment further.

According to the film, currently more than 70 universities nationwide are now under investigation for mishandling sexual assault cases thanks to students like Pino and Clark acting as investigators and demanding change for our schools. If nothing changes, more than 100,000 college students will be sexually assaulted this upcoming school year.

Following the film, there was a panel discussion featuring students, professors, and victim advocates. There was a lot of discussion among the dozens of students remaining in the auditorium. When asked about the prevalence of sexual assault on USA's campus, Dr. Corina Schulze, Criminal Justice and Gender Studies professor explained that South had four sexual assaults reported last year, but only one this year. She also explained that while this looks good on paper, it really isn't good because based on our new knowledge of how schools treat sexual assault, that probably indicates South Alabama just following suit in silencing the victims that do muster up the courage to report.

“There are always other resources. Working at the rape crisis center, I have connections all over, with the police department, with the District Attorney's Office, if that victim wants help, I can get it for her, she just has to reach out for it.” Shawna Mayo, rape crisis center director stated when asked what she would tell a victim who wants to report but does not trust the school to handle the case correctly. “Never stop talking about it,” Dr. Schulze added. “Tell everybody. Tell anybody you can.”

The entire panel agreed that awareness is key to sexual assaults. Educate yourself on what is sexual assault, what is consent, and what to do if you are assaulted. It starts with us as students to make our administration aware of what's going on around campus and what needs to be done in regards to ending sexual assault. It happens a lot more often than we think, but that doesn't mean we should let two perpetrators get away with it; the first is the attacker, the second is our administration for not keeping students safe by reprimanding the attacker.

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JP Karaoke Night 7 p.m.- 10p.m.

Student Center Terrace

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IMC Concert: Malcolm Holcombe 7:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.

Satori Coffee House

Jags vs. LouisianaLafayette 6:30 p.m.

Ladd-Peebles Stadium

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Live Trivia 9 p.m.- 11p.m.

Student Center East Lobby Jags vs. AuburnMontgomery 7:05 p.m.

Mitchell Center (Basketball)

NOV. 9, 2015

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Dan Bern brings his folksy sound to Satori Coffee House

By TORI BRACKETT Staff Reporter

T

he usually bohemian Satori Coffee House was filled with a more folksy sound on Monday, Nov. 2. The Independent Music Collective (IMC) at South Alabama hosted singer-songwriter, Dan Bern, at Satori Coffee House. Bern, originally from Iowa, stopped in for a show in Mobile before continuing his circuit.

Bern performed several songs from his new album at Monday’s show. During the song “Waffle House,” he repeated the lyrics “Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Diced, Peppered, Capped, Topped, Country,” inviting the crowd to clap along and attempt to repeat the words with him. He slowed things down with song “Turn on a Dime” before singing Johnny Cash’s hit “One Piece at a Time”, with the crowd repeating a list of twenty two years that a Cadillac Cash owned had acquired pieces from.

Bern’s music and personally written lyrics are described in the biography at danbern.com as “witty and insightful,” penned by an artist who “marvels at life’s beauty, fragility, and complexity with a fresh, defiantly uncompromising style”.

Bern’s music and stage presence rouse the listener to consider the world around them, and combined with Bern’s humor, trivia, and periodic stories, his shows make for quite the memorable experience. His style and voice are comparable to Bob Dylan’s long drawn out notes,

Dan Bern performed at Satori Coffee House on Monday, Nov. 2. (Tori Brackett | Staff Reporter) Woody Guthrie’s acoustics and political lyrics, and Elvis Costello’s sounds.

He has written two novels, one of which, “10,000 Crappy Songs”, was released with 22 “non-crappy songs” combined with the text. His music has been paired with several movies, including “Walk Hard,” “Get Him to the Greek,” “Father’s Day,” and “Zero Effect.” He’s released two dozen studio albums, and each song is incredibly unique. From describing the beauty of the world around him to detailing the differences between

political parties through their waffle house orders, Bern’s works are original and thought provoking.

Bern released a fully loaded album this year, titled Hoody, which includes 11 new songs. The album features an up-tempo country-rock number, with guest vocals from Old Crow Medicine Show’s Willie Watson, a rendition of Johnny Cash’s 1976 song “One Piece at a Time”, and love songs to leave you pining. He was selling copies of the album at his show on Monday, for “forty dollars, but fifteen

if I sign it for you”.

He is known for his incredibly drawn out notes, which have captivated his listeners, his record being forty seconds on one breath. He found a passion for music around thirty years ago, and began writing songs before ever picking up a guitar. “When I picked up the guitar, it was just like ahh,” Bern said. Growing up in a family of pianists, he figured his interest should differ, as “there wasn’t any room for another piano”. He pairs the guitar with a harmonica, and a warm, organic voice.

He draws inspiration these days from “people like Picasso, Henry Miller, Bukowski; people who through old age were able to maintain their creativity. When I started out, it was everybody from Dylan, Springsteen, Woody, Elvis Costello, the Beatles, of course, Hank Williams, rock, folk. The stuff everybody listens to.”

About the album, Bern said on his biography page, “It’s the culmination of what I’ve been aiming at for a long time, and also a jumping off point for everything I’m aiming to do next.” If you’re ever faced with the opportunity to see Dan Bern perform live, absolutely check him out. His show is not something you want to miss.

The Independent Music Collective will host another show on Thursday, November 12, again at Satori’s. The artist will be Malcolm Holcombe, a folks/roots musician based in Asheville, North Carolina.

The doors to the show open at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Reel Talk: Taking a look at the newest James Bond adventure “Spectre”

By SHANNON HOUSE Contributing Writer

“S

pectre,” the newest installment in the James Bond franchise released this weekend and is sure to please longtime fans. “Spectre” reunites most of the cast of “Skyfall,” including its director Sam Mendes.

Though not as emotionally driven as “Skyfall” that had the climatic death of M then portrayed by Judi Dench, “Spectre” serves as a moderately well-done reincarnation of the Connery-helmed Bond films of the 60s complete with convenient plotting, exotic locales, and Bond girls galore.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as 007 for the fourth time in “Spectre” and brings a little more humor to the table (mainly sex puns and innuendos) than his sterner portrayals in “Skyfall” or “Casino Royale.”

Léa Seydoux, an actress on the rise from“Blue is the Warmest Color,” plays opposite Bond as Dr. Madeline Swan, the daughter of Bond’s old nemesis Mr. White from “Quantum of Solace.”

As for the villains, who definitely could

Daniel Craig plays James Bond for the fourth time in “Spectre.” (Wikicommons)

have been used more in the film, Dave Bautista (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and everyone’s favorite bad guy Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) play Hinx and Franz Oberhauser respectively.

The opening scene of “Spectre”might be one of the best for the Bond franchise for its seamless cinematography that pans throughout a Día de Muertos celebration in Mexico City.

Bond appears through the thick throngs of festival goers similarly clad to them in a skeleton tuxedo and mask.

His mission is to complete M’s final request by killing an assassin named Sciarra.

Bond accomplishes this by inadvertently blowing up a building, sliding down crumbling walls, and fighting hundreds of feet in the air in a helicopter, all for an octopus-engraved ring that represents the secret organization of

terrorists called, you guessed it, SPECTRE. Although SPECTRE should have been the film’s main focus, Bond also encounters resistance from C (Andrew Scott), the new head of British intelligence whose plan is to axe MI6 in preference for a globalized surveillance system.

Thus, Bond’s cohorts Moneypenny, M, Tanner, and my personal favorite, Q, can do little to help Bond while he and Madeline search for the SPECTRE headquarters.

There are plenty of down-to-the-wire and “let the bad guy talk until I escape “ scenarios and a notable car chase scene to keep adrenaline junkies satisfied while the chemistry between Bond and Madeline can satiate the romantics.

To avoid any spoilers, I’ll just say that fans of the Bond franchise won’t be let down by the references to the older films and the plot twist towards the end of the film.

However, I wanted to see more of the quirky yet maniacal Oberhauser and his penny loafers.

Check out “Spectre” for its action-packed scenes and a different Bond who likes his martini dirty.

NOV. 9, 2015

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Cafe Del Rio spices up the traditionally seafood lined Causeway

By CAITLIN SMITH Staff Reporter

F

or many years, the Causeway has been home to some of the best seafood around, including Tacky Jacks.

A few months ago, Tacky Jacks locked its doors permanently leaving a beautiful, empty building with a perfect view of mobile bay behind. Prime real estate like that never lasts long, and Mobilians and the Eastern Shorers just assumed another seafood place would take over the building.

How wrong that assumption was. The previous TJ building is now home to the Causeway’s first ever Mexican restaurant, Café Del Rio. Being born and raised in Mobile, my first reaction was actual bewilderment. This is the Causeway, there’s no room for Mexican food there.

But of course I had to try it. This building is absolutely huge, which is strange for a Mexican restaurant, but it is decorated from floor to ceiling exactly how one would assume a Mexican restaurant should be decorated, complete with piñatas and even a Santa Claus in a sombrero.

Like all restaurants of this nature, chips and salsa is a freebee as soon as you are seated, but Café Del Rio brings another little freebee to the table: handmade, flour tortillas that you can douse in honey and butter.

Café Del Rio is the first ever Mexican restuarant on the Causeway. (Caitlin Smith | Staff Reporter) YUM. You can also watch them make the tortillas from scratch.

The two things I judge a Mexican restaurant on are their queso dip and their margaritas.

If you can do those two things right, everything else is probably great too. Dur-

ing lunch, from 11-3, margaritas are $2.99.

TWO. NINETY. NINE. That is a lot of happy for three dollars.

And the cheese dip is phenomenal.

Jessica, our server, was extremely helpful since I had never been to Café Del Rio before and she was extremely knowledgeable

of the menu.

All I had to do was tell her I liked guacamole and chicken and she picked the Pequeno lunch meal.The Pequeno is a chicken taco and a bean chalupa with homemade pico de gallo.

Surprisingly, it did not live up to the pequeno name, which means small in Spanish.

Having a great service team really makes or breaks a restaurant, and everyone I encountered there was friendly and energetic and helped bring the restaurant to life.

It seems like a great atmosphere to work in.

Saving the best for last, happy hour!

Monday through Friday starting at 5 p.m., if you purchase a cocktail from the downstairs bar you receive a ticket and can help yourself to a FREE TACO BAR. I don’t know about you but that might be my favorite combination of words in the world.

I love when my initial impression of a place gets proved wrong.

Even though it will take a while to get used to seeing a Tex Mex place on seafood boulevard, I really hope Café Del Rio sticks around.

So the next time you feel the hunger strike or you just have to have a cocktail, let the words ‘free taco bar’ really sink in and then do the right thing and give Café Del Rio a shot.

NOV. 9, 2015

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SGA Ravi Rajendra spoke at the Homecoming Bonfire on Monday.

Homecoming 2015

Caitlyn Penter won first place for Kappa Delta in the “Jags Got Talent” Homecoming Talent Show. Her rendition of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone earned her the first place title.

“Fired Up” Homecoming Bonfire “Jags Got Talent” Homecoming Talent Show Homecoming Fun Fest Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally Homecoming Game Photos By Emily Rodrick, Alyssa Newton, Brianna DiGiorgio

Derek Rowan, representing Southerners, sang and played guitar at the “Jags Got Talent” Homecomingg Talent Show.

Jerod Coleman won first place among individual performers. He performed a lyrical/ hip-hop dance to Sam Smith’s “Make it to Me” at the “Jags Got Talent” Homecoming Talent Show.

Kinsley Knapp braves holding an alligator at Thursday’s Fun Fest.

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NOV. 9, 2015

Dr. Julee Waldrop and Lloyd Meyers whip and nae nae at the 2015 pep rally in front of the Mitchell Center.

The annual Junk the Jungle event left the traffic circle covered in toilet paper.

King Brandon Williams and Queen Boni Yraguen

Krista Harrell, associate dean of students, and Mike Mitchell, dean of students, at Junk the Jungle.

AUG. MARY31, ALICE2015 WILSON

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR usavgsports@gmail.com

NOV. 9, 2015

Briana DiGiorgio

Jags defeat Vandals for homecoming victory Xavier Johnson racks up school record 289 yards to lead Jags to 52-45 win over Idaho

BY BRIANA DIGIORGIO Staff Reporter South Alabama overcame a 24-7 deficit after halftime to take down Idaho 52-45 and remain undefeated in Homecoming contests.

Idaho dominated the field in the first half as they scored 24 unanswered points, leaving the Jags trailing 24-0 until 1:20 left in the second quarter. Finally late in the first half, Marvin Shinn to crossed the goal line for a touchdown to turn the momentum in the Jaguar’s favor.

“Everything was just going wrong in that quarter and a half and I think that kickoff return kind of got us sparked and we came back and just kept fighting.” head coach Joey Jones said.

Running back Xavier Johnson sparked the Jags’ offense with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start off the second quarter.

“I was about to take a knee.”

Johnson said. “I heard let’s go, let’s go and before we came out, I just kept telling the guys that I’m going the make a play and they came out and kicked the ball off and I did what I had to do.”

Johnson wasn’t the only player to boost up that Jaguar momentum; Devon Earl took a fumble recovery 57 yards to the house for another touchdown for the Jaguars with 4:19 left in the third quarter.

“When it popped out, nobody really knew but I think it was me and Akeem that seen it and I pushed him off and picked it up.” junior Earl said. “I had some great blocks and I tried to make a play and get in the endzone.”

Senior quarterback Cody Clements, who went 11-of-19 in passing along with gaining 29 yards on the ground, went into the endzone for a 6-yard touchdown to bring the score 24-28 with only 3:08 left in the third quarter. Idaho then answered with a 19-yard run to score another 6 with 44 seconds

left to go.

Heading into the 4th quarter, the Jags were able to ring in 17 points, courtesy to Everett’s 16 yard touchdown pass from Clements, Sunanon’s 41-yard field goal and Clements 8 yard touchdown rush, which brought the Jags to a 45-31 lead over the Vandals.

Idaho came back to score another touchdown with an 11-yard run.

Shortly after Johnson, who recorded a school record of 289 yards, crossed the goal line with a 61 yard touchdown. Idaho scored shortly after, but was not enough, as South Alabama took away the victory with a final score of 45-52.

“Finally our special teams stepped it up tonight and I do want to commend those guys because early in the year we weren’t playing good on special teams, I thought we covered the kick real well, we had one kickoff get off to the 40 but other than that, we really got them down inside the 25, two great kickoff returns, a block punt. All those things added

up to a win tonight.” Jones said about his team.

“We had to keep the motor going, that’s what we’re preaching all week. Pretty much preaching the whole time, you can’t ever give up. We have to keep going.” Blake Dees commented.

“We just beat a good team.

They have a really good offense,

obviously. They have a great quarterback and running back, they moved the ball up and down the field. What a win for our program to be able to come back and take another step towards a bowl game.” Jones said.

The Jaguars will get back into action on Thursday Nov. 12 to host Louisiana Lafayette at LaddPeebles Stadium. Kickoff will be at 6:30 PM.

COURTESY OF USAJAGUARS

South Alabama continues to be perfect for homecoming games, now 7-0. (Briana DiGiorgio | Staff Reporter)

FOLLOW US! Twitter - @USAVGSports ||| Facebook | USAVGSports

11

NOV. 9, 2015

South Alabama wins third straight SBC Championship

BY MITCHELL KAHALLEY Managing Editor After a week of performances that ran the gamut from domineering to advancing by thinnest of margins, the South Alabama soccer team clinched their third straight Sun Belt tournament title as well as berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jaguars beat the host Georgia State Panthers 4-0 on Sunday in Emerson, Georgia after the tournament had to be moved from Georgia State’s campus due to their fields being flooded after intense rain in the Atlanta area.

In an interview with USAJaguars, head coach Graham Winkworth said, "I was really happy because usually at this time of the year, it's about the result and not the performance, but today we put in a fantastic performance and got a fantastic result. I was really happy for the girls; it means a lot to them and to me to lift the trophy again."

Rio Hardy put the Jaguars on the board in the 30th minute giving them a 1-0 lead. The Jaguars outshot the Panthers 7-1 in the first half.

Chelsea Followwell volleyed home the second goal of the match in the 61st minute after the ball bounced around in the penalty area after a corner. Four minutes later, Charde Hannah capitalized on a mistake by the ULL backline to make the score 3-0. Nini Rabsatt-Smith scored her only goal of the tournament in the 85th minute after heading in a Jemma Purfield cross.

The Jags outshot the Panthers 17-5 and 9-4 in shots on target. Keeper Sarah Hay made four saves including a crucial diving stop late in the match to preserve the clean sheet.

In addition to winning the title, Ashlynn Jones, Rio Hardy, Nini Rabsatt-Smith, Sarah Hay and Charde Hannah were named to the

USA’s NCAA first-round opponent will be announced on Monday, Nov. 9, at 3:30pm. (Photo courtesy of USA Jaguars) all-tournament team. Hannah was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after bagging three goals in 11 shots during the tournament.

"All five of them were crucial to our success, but in all honesty, we could have picked anyone that played this weekend," Winkworth said to USAJaguars. "Those five humble young ladies would be the first to admit that if it wasn't for the squad that we've got, they wouldn't be receiving those awards this weekend and we wouldn't be taking the big one home."

The Jaguars were the number one seed in the tournament and played two games to reach Sunday’s final.

The Jaguars opened their Sun Belt tournament campaign on Wednesday with a 7-1 win over the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette.

ULL’s Kimberly Grasso gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Rio Hardy equalized for the Jaguars two minutes later and the floodgates were opened. Chardae Hannah scored the second goal of the first half in the 29th minute to give the Jaguars a 2-1 lead. South proceeded to score five goals in the second half, two for Ashlynn Jones one for Danielle Henley, one for Jordan Duncan and one for Anisa Patterson, her first goal of the season.

The Jaguars finished the match with 16 shots, thirteen of them on target. Keeper Sarah Hay only had to make two saves. Hay, would have a tougher task ahead of her on Friday night in the Jaguars’ semifinal match against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

South Alabama drew Appalachian State 2-2 in the tournament semifinals on Friday night

and advanced to the final after winning a marathon penalty shootout that finished 10-9 in which Hay made two crucial saves.

South Alabama dominated the match but could only find the back of the net twice on their 23 shots, only eight of which were on target.

"It was opposite of the other day (in the quarterfinals), because we weren't clinical in front of goal," Winkworth said in an interview with USAJaguars. "We should have put them away early in the game. The fact that it was tied at halftime, that wasn't a fair reflection of the first half. We didn't take our chances and we didn't put them away, we came in at halftime disappointed to be level. But like I told the girls, we were the team on the ascendency trying to win the match, and that positive attitude will be rewarded."

Charde Hannah scored the first goal of the match in the 25th minute off of an Ashlynn Jones assist. State’s Kate Ward equalized in the 32nd minute. Danielle Henley scored for the Jags in the 61st minute, giving them a 2-1. In the 89th minute the Mountaineers’ Jane Cline sent a cross into the box that couldn’t be handled by Sarah Hay. Sam Childress slide in and put away the bungled cross to equalize. The game was tied 2-2 and remained that way after two periods of extra time. Hay redeemed herself after her mistake at the end of regulation by making two key saves in the penalty shootout, including a stop in the 11th round of penalties that put the Jaguars in the conference final for the third straight year.

The Jaguars will head into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 17-2-2. They will find out their first round opponent at 3:30 p.m. The team will be having a viewing party at Buffalo Wild Wings on Airport Blvd.

USA falls 3-0 to Little Rock, Hundt, Stewart honored

BY MARY ALICE WILSON Sports Editor The Lady Jags fell in three straight matches Friday night to Little Rock.

Emily Hundt was the lead Jag on the day with 19 digs, tying for fifth most and moving into the sixth place spot on career digs for the Jaguars, with 1,024. Emma Anderson completed her eighth double-double on the season, along with 31 assists and 14 digs on the night.

Mechell Daniel finished with 12 kills, while Stewart recorded nine. Nikki Gittens and Kristina Alabastro each had six and five, respectively.

The Jags attempted to rally the Trojans in each set, but ultimately fell short with scores of 25-23, 25-22, and 25-20, respectively.

Before beginning their final match at home with the Jags, USA honored defensive specialist Emily Hundt and outside hitter Savannah Stewart.

"These two young ladies were in my first recruiting class at South Alabama," head

coach Amy Hendrichovsky told USA Jaguars. "I have complete respect for them taking a leap of faith in my vision for this program and helping myself and my staff build towards a new legacy and a championship culture. These two young ladies are prepared to be very successful in their professional lives and will become respectable business women, which in the end is most important."

Hundt was a four-time letterwinner with the Jaguar volleyball team. She will end her Jaguar run only the second player in program history with over 1,900 assists and 1,000 digs.

"Emily in a few words is competitive, passionate, hard working and driven," Hendrichovsky told USA Jaguars. “She has brought a toughness and confidence to our back-court and drives our team in big moments. I'm really proud of the leader she has developed into over the years. Emily is determined and has what it takes to lead this team to accomplish great things."

Stewart recorded over 300 kills and 300 digs during her pilot season with the Jaguars.

After missing her sophomore season due to injury, she came back last year to play the remainder of her two year college career. During the three years, she recorded 418 kills and 650 digs.

"Savannah has had to face some tough challenges in her four years with injuries, but she's always stayed engaged and helped her teammates, whether she was on or off the floor," Hendrichovsky explained to USA Jaguars. "She's an extension of the coaching

Photo courtesy of USA Jaguars

staff and has always brought her high volleyball IQ for the betterment of our program.

Savannah's teammates respect her for the calmness and confidence she brings to the court. This season, I've enjoyed seeing her compete at a level she didn't know she could ever get back to, and it truly is special."

The Lady Jags will compete in their final two matches of the season this week against Texas State on Friday, Nov. 13, and UT Arlington on Sunday, Nov. 15.

12

NOV. 9, 2015

Men’s Basketball rams University of Mobile in exhibition

By MARY ALICE WILSON Sports Editor South Alabama’s men’s basketball team played their first exhibition game Thursday, Nov. 5 against the University of Mobile.

Sophomore Taishaun Johnson and junior Ken Williams were the lead Jags on the night. Johnson and Williams put up 22 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the Jags to a 98-43 victory over the Rams. This would be the first time two different Jaguars would score in the 20s since the 2011 regular season.

Johnson, Shaq Calhoun and Barrington Stevens each recorded two three-point shots on the night, while Williams accounted for three.

Georgi Boyanov almost hit a doubledouble, just short with 12 rebounds and nine points.

The Jags started their run with twelve unanswered points in the first five minutes. The Rams were forced to miss their first 15 of their first 16 attempts of the night.

All ten Jags in the game put points on the board for South Alabama.

“I was really excited about the way we

played tonight, I thought we got great contributions from all 10 guys who played,” head coach Matthew Graves said after the rally. “When you look at the minutes it was pretty even, different guys rebounded the ball and shot the really ball, and we sustained it for two halves. Tonight we kept the pedal down and we did a really good

Men’s basketball was just shy of 100 points against the University of Mobile Thursday night. (Photo courtest of USAJaguars)

University of South Alabama

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job, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

The Jags were up 50-22 at the half.

“In the first half the only thing that I had a complaint about at halftime was that we gave up 10 offensive rebounds,” Graves admitted.

South Alabama ultimately shot 50.6%

650 Clinic Drive TRP III, Suite 1200 EMAIL studenthealth@southalabama.edu PHONE/FAX

from the floor, while the University of Mobile only completed 27.4%.

Williams explained after the game that he got really discouraged at one point after missing a couple shots.

“I was starting to put my head down like a did a couple years ago, but my teammates just told me to keep shooting. I give it to my teammates for giving me my confidence.”

Williams also explained how the team has gotten really close over the past year.

“On campus, you’ll usually see about six or seven of us, whether it’s at the caf, at the student center. We’re just always together, always hanging out. We’re just really comfortable and close.”

Williams went on to suggest that this has helped out the progress of the team in the game, as well.

“We find each other’s tenancies and just feed them wherever they like to be fed.”

“Hopefully more people will continue to come out and watch this team because I think we’re only going to get better and better as the year goes on,” Coach Graves relayed.

South Alabama men’s basketball season begins Nov. 13 against Auburn-Montgomery at the Mitchell Center.

13

NOV. 9, 2015

#JagTweets Women’s Basketball rallies to beat Montevallo

BY MARY ALICE WILSON Sports Editor

Follow Us! USA Vanguard Sports @USAVGSports

Brooks Rabren @BRabrenGolf Me: Can’t wait for some cold weather!

Mother Nature: you said 4 more months of summer right?

Golf

John Robinson @RJohnIII Only in college do you skip one class to study for another

Football

Ashley Macgregor @Ashleymacgrego2 I just got hit on at the fair in a sweatshirt and my hair completely wet. lol, like no. go away.

Cheer

Jessica Glen @jayyy_glen Math prof got through an entire problem and realized he did it all wrong

Track Cheer

Constantly missing the end to every Dr. Phil episode bc class.

Chloe Hendricks @ChloeHendricks @USAVGSports cheerleading isn’t even a sport pls refrain from putting us in the newspaper :)

Troy Thingstad @TroyThingstad

Football

I don’t care how many times I ride the bus back from a game police escorts are just cool! #JagNation

Dee Elliot @DeeElliott94 TBH I’m glad my mom still creeps on my Twitter. She keeps me in check.

Cheer

Abby Tincher @tinch__

Softball

how to cope with bad events in life: 1) sit on your roommates bed 2) eat spaghettios 3) watch legally blonde

Savanna Mayo @savannamayo97

Softball

When PDQ gives you 4 tenders and you ordered 3 >>

Kaeli Jones @jaeli_kones2 Some girls dream of their Prince Charming.... I dream of getting new clubs #golferstatus

Genesis Perrymond completed four 3-pointers on the night against Montevallo.

(Photo courtest of USAJaguars) with a 34-27 lead on the Falcons.

“It was good to get out and play against another opponent, put the uniforms on and be under the lights in front of a crowd.” head coach Terry Fowler said. “I thought early on our young players were kind of jittery, but they settled down in the second quarter and we held them to seven points.”

“Once we had the timeout and time to sit, we were able to get our nerves out.” Perrymond explained. “It’s the first game. We

had to get our nerves gone and just play from there. It’s good.”

The Lady Jags shot 42.1%, while Montevallo went 34.6%.

“I don’t think next week is going to be the same for me or this week.” Perrymond said. “It’s just going to get better from here.”

The women’s team will officially begin their season on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. against Spring Hill at the Mitchell Center.

Women’s XC takes SBC Championship

Mckenzie Kidd @MckenzieKidd

Cheer

Gollf

USA Women’s basketball rallied to beat the University of Montevallo in an exhibition game at the Mitchell Center on Friday night.

Chyna Ellis and Genesis Perrymond were the lead Lady Jags on the night each with 17 points, while Colby Davis put up an extra 10, accounting for 44 of the team’s 69 points.

The Lady Jag’s ended the night with a 69-48 victory.

Ellis recorded 12 rebounds on the night, while Perrymond accounted for six, with four 3-pointers.

“A three is always something that just gets everybody excited, hyped and just ready like let’s go pick it up. It always raises the tempo and energy of the game.” Perrymond said after the contest.

All ten Lady Jags to hit the court put up points for their team.

The Falcons were forced into 26 turnovers, which ultimately led to 25 of USA’s points in the contest.

Fifteen of Montevallo’s 48 points were recorded by freshman Ashley Dunstan’s five 3-pointers on the night.

It was a rough first half for the Jags. In the first quarter, the Lady Jags were down 20-14, but the ladies headed into halftime

BY MARY ALICE WILSON Sports Editor The Lady Jaguars were looking to take home their first conference championship since 1993 last Sunday in the SBC Championship in Hampton, GA. and that’s just what they did.

“I think it’s harder to win one [a championship] when you haven’t won in a while,” head coach David Barnett stated to USA Jaguars. “You’re still trying to convince people they can actually do it. And we don’t pay attention to the preseason polls much — it’s nice when they recognize you, but we have our own motivation to do well.”

The Lady Jags were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.

The Lady Jags finished not only with the SBC title, but four women ended the contest among the top ten and one more in the top 20.

Joanna McCoy was the lead Jag on the day with a time of 18:13.4 in the 5k and finished fifth out of 75 competitors. Laura Labuschaigne followed almost immediately behind McCoy with a time of 18:13.6. Ashley Heitling was next for the Jags, crossing the line at 18:18.4. To finish up the top ten, Nicole Durham recorded a time of 18:34.1.

Ivy Chastain was ranked 18th after a 19:09.5 time.

“The women’s team is right where they want to be. We’re just going to freshen up, stay healthy, do a couple of faster workouts and go out there and have fun,” Barnett said to USA Jaguars. “We’ve done well at the conference level, now it’s time for the program to take the next step at the regional level, and I’m excited to see how they do at that meet. On the men’s side, hopefully we’ll get Nathan back and we can put ourselves in a position to have a great regional meet.

The guys are hungry, they want to finish the season with a flourish.”

The South Alabama men’s team finished

third in the conference at the championship match.

Christoph Graf was the lead Jag for the men’s team, finishing third with a time of 25:36.8 in the 8k. Patrick Rohr quickly followed in fifth place after crossing the finish line at 25:47.2. Both men were named to the First All Sun Belt Conference team. Katleho Dyoyi finished ninth in the race and earned his spot on the Second All Sun Belt Conference team.

Both teams will find themselves at the University of Alabama for the NCAA South Region Championship on Friday, Nov. 13.

Women’s Cross Country wins Sun Belt Conference championship Sunday, Nov. 1.

(Photo courtest of USAJaguars)

OPINION

ALEXANDER MOYLAN OPINION EDITOR alm1323@jagmail.southalabama.edu

NOV. 9, 2015

A split-second decision can affect us all for a lifetime One student’s anonymous account of a sexual encounter and the lesson she’s taken away from it

By ANONYMOUS Contributing Writer This week I’m featuring a piece that was submitted by a student who wished to remain anonymous, and I chose to respect this student’s wishes.

Also, the names of any individual mentioned in the story have been changed in order to protect their identity.

I chose to run this story because it’s something I think every student should read, think about and discuss with their friends, partners and perhaps even their family members. Talking about sex may not be the easiest thing to do, but isn’t a discussion better than dealing with the after effects of a negative encounter?

Sexual health is not something to be taken lightly, yet all too often it becomes easier for someone to sacrifice their own sexual health for the benefit of their partner.

By Alexander Moylan | Opinion Editor

I know all about the statistics. I know I should have safe sex. What I didn’t know was that would happen to me, and all it took was one swipe.

In college you should have fun, don’t get me wrong. But there is no excuse for not having safe sex, especially when it is with someone you don’t know.

Two weeks ago I sat in student health more nervous than I can ever remember. I was there to receive birth control, but I knew something wasn’t right “down there” and I was afraid to say anything. I went back to see

a doctor and told her I was there for contraception.

She asked me if I would be interested in a pap smear since I was due and I agreed since I was already there. When she did the exam, she told me some things were off. She did a couple tests and told me that they would call me if anything was wrong.

A couple days later, I got a phone call I never thought I would receive.

I have an STD… from a one night stand.

Suddenly my bulletproof vest fails me. I can’t breathe. How could this happen to me?

I went in there to make my sex safer, not find this out.

A few weeks ago I was swiping through Tinder and I matched with a guy named *Michael.

He sent me a message and we hit it off instantly. I met him at his house and one thing led to another. He was gorgeous and a gentleman but appearances can be deceiving.

He didn’t use a condom. I should have made him stop, but I was caught up in the moment and nothing has ever happened before. So, why should anything happen now?

The reality: According to ashasexualhealth.com, one in two sexually active persons will contract an STD/STI by the age of 25.

When I first found out, I was ashamed. I beat myself up as I went to the pharmacy and felt as if the pharmacist was judging me as she gave me my prescription. I felt ashamed as I told my best friend how it happened. That’s when she told me something that made me want to write this piece.

Encourage condom use with partners and practice safe sex. (The Guardian) “At least you had the guts to get checked before it got worse.”

The guts. How crazy is it that we feel like putting our pride aside to make sure we are okay is something we have to force ourselves to do? I debated for over a week to go to student health before I finally decided to go.

We put such a terrible label when someone gets an STD when we should really be educated on what can happen when we get in bed with someone. We should know that it is better to bite the bullet and catch whatever it is early before it becomes life threatening.

I wasn’t even going to tell the doctor something wasn’t right for the fear of shame.

I put my pride before my health. That’s some-

thing we have to address.

Attention everyone: YOU ARE NOT BULLETPROOF. Mistakes happen, passion or lust overcomes your judgement and things will happen. The problem is, you have to face it.

Student Health provides services. Take advantage of them. If you’re a woman, the women’s health services provides pelvic exams, pap smears and contraception.

If I get through to one person writing this, it will be worth it. Ask about your partner’s history. Use a condom. Take birth control. It’s your sex life, heck, it’s your life. Take control and protect yourself. It really can happen to anyone, even you.

Wake up, South Alabama, Vagina isn’t a bad word Let’s talk about the “V-Word” and what you really need to know by the time you begin college

By JUSTINE BURBANK Contributing Writer I have this certain body part. I have many body parts, but just mentioning this particular body part seems to make people squirm. Approximately fifty percent of the world’s population also have one. It has so much power that, like the villain’s name in the Harry Potter novels, just uttering this word causes men and women alike to cringe. We have to create sassy pseudonyms just to discuss it in public.

Why would a perfectly reasonable person want to discuss this “V That Must Not Be Named” when in everyday conversation, it only gets brought up if someone is making a joke or using one of it’s many pet names in a derogatory manner?

If you read your daily digest emails, my point may be a little clearer to you than

those who automatically hit delete. Auditions will be held Nov. 10 and 11 for the 2016 performance of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues. They are performed in conjunction with V-Day which is according to vday.org, “a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing antiviolence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery.” Last year, USA held several events in addition to the monologues performance meant to empower women and educate the campus community on these very issues.

The monologues give voices to women’s stories that may not normally get told.

While the script is a little different each year, it encompasses the many aspects of what it means to be a woman. They are funny and sad. They are compassionate and fiery. They include stories from birth to late life and are not limited to one ethnic background or orientation. At times, they are explicit and raw. They describe love and violence and sex and pain and joy. They don’t shy away from uncomfortable topics that many people don’t bring up around the dinner table. The fact that more people aren’t talking about these things a crying shame.

Maybe you were raised to think that nice boys and girls don’t say those words. Most of us were told from an early age that those are our private areas and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, many people were also raised to equate private with dirty or bad. And that’s where the trouble starts.

Instead of having conversations about safe sex or reproductive health, our lady bits are treated like something we should be ashamed of. Until the advent of cesarean sections and fertility treatments, no human life made it stateside without passing through the pearly gates but yet saying the v-word could get your mouth washed out with soap.

According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, 68% of sexual assaults do not get reported. Is it any wonder that in a society that treats the sexual organs of its members so disrespectfully that the victims would feel ashamed? It’s time to start calling things as we see them.

Think about it. Take a stand. Educate yourself. Don’t be ashamed. The V-Word that makes people uncomfortable shouldn’t be vagina. The V-Word that should make us all uncomfortable is violence.

15

NOV. 9, 2015

Let’s ditch unsustainable traditions, embrace a green South

By ALEXANDER MOYLAN Opinion Editor You can find me outside of the recreation center.

Sometimes I hang out in the parking lot, other times you might be able to catch up with me on the grass elsewhere on campus. After particularly taxing workouts I line the curb in front of the recreation center. There’s only one place you won’t find me, in a recycling bin. Yes, I’m the recyclable bottle or can so effortlessly discarded throughout campus like trash pictured throughout this article.

Last weekend, I thought I could enjoy a couple hours on campus without being frustrated. I was wrong. On Saturday, a friend of mine and I sat down to talk near some of the bike racks in the Humanities courtyard, otherwise known as the area most frequently visited by smokers on our smoke-free campus. I couldn’t concentrate though. Slowly, my eyes drifted from focusing on the conversation to instead being fixated on the ground below.

Bottles, cans and cigarette butts littered the area around me, sixteen bottles and cans in total as a matter of fact. Meanwhile, I can’t even estimate how many cigarette butts lined the grass and dirt. It was a disgusting sight, plain and simple.

Unfortunately this one area is representative of the entire campus and the “strength” of its sustainability-driven programming. Frankly, what I saw that day adjacent to the Humanities

ronmental impact on this campus, in their own homes and even globally. For example, how are others on this campus supposed to buy in and support the efforts of the students, faculty and staff who actually care when other student leaders support clearly unsustainable practices like “Junk the Jungle”?

Why so serious?

Simply put, sustainability is a human issue.

It affects all of us. You can be in denial about climate change and dismiss it all you want, but the positive impacts that come with practicing sustainability cannot be ignored any longer.

Yes, I’m one of the people you may have seen stop to pick up a discarded bottle or can off the ground and subsequently carry it with me until I come across a spot to dispose of it properly. I do this because I no difference in recycling one bottle or recycling a thousand.

Every little bit helps, therefore each recycled bottle has an impact.

Still, some people continue to question why I care so much, or ask why it bugs me to no end when I come across discarded recyclables on the ground throughout campus. Besides my view of environmental-sustainability being a human issue, I also believe practicing a more sustainable lifestyle will help reverse the effects of those who live a wasteful life. Further, I just care! This is a philosophical and holistic issue to me that isn’t limited to only recycling. Really, there isn’t a term more suited for describing the thought-process I associate with sustain-

Last Saturday’s view from Humanities. (Alexander Moylan | Opinion Editor) courtyard is symbolic of the lacking education on issues regarding sustainability awareness at this university.

Without education on environmental-sustainability, people will continue their careless acts, like ditching a 24 pack with 12 unopened cans of Natural Light beer on the sidewalk next to the Rec Center. Actions like this negate the hard work being done by sustainabilitydriven individuals.

However, students, faculty and staff are given few reasons to be aware of their envi-

ability other than “holistic”, defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “relating to or concerned with complete systems rather than with individual parts.”

But I’m stuck in a pickle by doing this. On one hand, I’m helping keep this campus clean and on a more sustainable path, but I’m also enabling those who have chosen the ground and parking lots as their preferred dumping spot for their recyclable materials to continue their unsustainable lifestyle. On the other hand, if I don’t pick up after others, I fear South will

Halloween remnants on a “dry” campus. (Alexander Moylan | Opinion Editor) become one of the least sustainable institutions in the nation.

While there are opportunities to increase sustainability awareness and give people a means to actually practice a more sustainable lifestyle at South, there’s no emphasis on doing so. You can bring the horse to water but you can’t force it to drink. Obviously this is the case here at South as illustrated by the pictures I took last weekend on campus.

Think about we, not me How can South become a green campus, a campus that sets the standards for sustainability among institutions in the Gulf Coast? It’s simple, stop being so damn selfish! A lifestyle that ignores sustainability is symbolic of caring more about yourself than others. The holistic view of the world I mentioned earlier lends itself to sustainability.

I don’t trash my own campus because I’m not selfish and I see the interconnectedness of my actions. I don’t want people treating my home like a trashcan, so why can’t others reciprocate? Also, call me corny if you want, but I can’t stand to see nature covered by humans’ not-so-decorative trash. I’m an animal lover too and yeah, I don’t think our beloved campus squirrels did anything to deserve seeing their home trashed either. Is it too much to ask for others to do something as simple as pick up after themselves with sustainability in mind?

Whether you believe it or not, simple unsustainable acts are building in number and increasing the University’s carbon footprint. I believe people are being negatively reinforced to discard their trash and recyclable materials on the ground when they see others have already set a precedent. This is why I’m taking pictures and why I’m picking up any recyclable I see while on campus. I’m trying to combat “tradition” and set a new precedent.

Maybe I’m wrong though. Is it possible that students, faculty and staff do care about this campus, yet maybe these same people find it difficult to be sustainable while on campus?

Perhaps the reason our soon-to-be discarded recyclable materials and trash don’t make their way into the proper receptacles is that those who care haven’t connected with those who

don’t in an appropriate manner. Maybe people are unaware of how we can recycle on campus.

This is what I mean when I say emphasis on sustainability is limited at South, channeled only by extremely passionate individuals but unfortunately used by others as merely a platform. This poor emphasis enables less environmentally-passionate individuals to continue further unsustainable actions. Recycling is only one facet of a sustainable lifestyle and campus, but South is so behind that unfortunately we can only attack one issue at a time if we hope to correct it. How can we expect others to be more sustainable when we don’t show them the way?

How can you help right now?

There are several ways you can be more sustainable on campus besides solely recycling.

For instance, this semester I’ve begun limiting how much I drive my car on campus. I work in a couple different offices throughout campus and it would definitely be easier to ferry myself around in my car rather than walking from one end to the other on limited time, but I honestly feel better mentally and physically after my walks. One half of me is happy is that I didn’t contribute to the emissions spewing from our cars and the other half of me just felt plain better after a simple walk!

Primarily though, the biggest problem facing this campus recycling bottles and cans versus discarding them as trash, but we now have access to several new means of recycling.

For instance, the Pepsi Dream Machine, located between the bookstore and food court in the Student Center allows users to deposit their recyclable bottles and cans for credit after making an account online. One can also recycle their empty containers without an account by depositing their empties into the appropriate slot; left for aluminum, right for plastic. Simple, yet effective.

We can all have a hand in making this campus more sustainable. This is a beautiful campus, especially when it’s not wasteful and not littered as pictured throughout this piece. All I ask is that you take in some of this beauty and protect it, rather than contributing to its destruction.

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NOV. 9, 2015