VANGUARD THE
VOL. 53, NO. 14
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
OCT. 28, 2013
INSIDE
Jags twice overcome double digit deficits, lose on last-second field goal.
See page 9
By NOAH LOGAN
► Life: The Muslim Student Association promotes community understanding.
ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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See JagLife, page 4
ALYSSA NEWTON|LOC EDITOR
District 1 candidates visit USA By SAM ANDREWS thevanguardeditor@gmail.com
► Life: Chi Omega Songfest makes dreams come true. See JagLife, page 4
Oracle prepares for 2014
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tudent leaders from multiple USA organizations showed up in force to volunteer for the congressional candidate forum on Oct. 21 in the Mitchell Center. Organizations including the Southerners, the College Republicans, Army ROTC’s honor society Scabbard and Blade, the Future Criminal Justice Professionals (FCJP) and Phi Kappa Sigma personally escorted the candidates, assisted visitors and accepted questions from the audience during this hour-long
event. Alabama’s 1st District congressional seat, which comprises Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties, has been vacant since Jo Bonner stepped down on Aug. 2. The three candidates running for the seat, Republicans Bradley Byrne and Dean Young and Democrat Burton LeFlore, spoke passionately on a variety of issues, which appealed to different audience members. “I’m interested to see what kind of opinions they have on gun law and gun safety,” Andrew Augustine, FCJP mem-
ber, said. FCJP President Vladyslav Hayvoronskyy was curious to hear the candidates’ thoughts on Medicare, while Josef Hobdy, an ambassador with The Southerners, was interested in overall progress, saying, “Even though health care is a big issue, it’s not the only issue we’re facing at the moment.” The forum was a collaborative effort by AARP, the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, the University of South Alabama and local news channel 15 WPMI-TV. Jesse Salinas, AARP state director, See Candidates Page 2
► Sports: Mobile MLB stars playing in World Series. See Sports, page 11
he submission deadline for this year’s edition of The Oracle Fine Arts Review has been extended to Oct. 31 due to a shortage of submission, according to the editorin-chief of The Oracle, Joseph Kees. This shortage in submissions, Kees said, can be attributed to a number of things but mainly a lack of publicizing the need for submissions. However, this is not an isolated incident, as The Oracle often tends to push back the deadline to accommodate students who are trying to get something submitted last minute. Dr. Ellen Harrington, faculty adviser and associate English professor at South, explained that even though the deadline date always needs to be extended, it always benefits The Oracle. “Each fall, we have to publicize the issue to encourage students and members of our campus community and local community to submit, and most people submit close to the deadline,” Harrington said. “We often push the deadline back to encourage a range of submissions in all genres.” She continued, “We’ve never had a problem putting an issue together from the submissions we receive, and our issues normally range from 150 to 220 pages, which makes for a substantial yearly publication.” Katie Pope, the Oracle fiction editor, explained how students who get See Oracle Page 2
► Sports: Allison’s hat trick carries Lady Jag soccer over ULL. See Sports, page 12
SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
From L to R, Moderator Greg Peterson asks the congressional candidates, Bradley Byrne, Burton LeFlore, and Dean Young, a range of question during the forum at USA on Oct. 21.
find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”
Check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com
In this Issue:
COURTESY OF THE ORACLE
Life, Page 4 Left of Center, Page 7 Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 14
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Candidates Continued from Page One.
SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Students Lauren Smith (left) and Sarah Massingill accept questions from the audience before the congressional forum begins at the Mitchell Center, Oct. 21.
Oracle Continued from Page One.
published and those who don’t even participate benefit from the fine arts review. “Getting published not only provides students with a sense of accomplishment,” Pope said, “but it is beneficial to their collegiate and professional tracks as they are able to make a name for themselves and build on their CV.” “And what’s wonderful,” Pope further explained,” is the academic community gets to share in others’ life experiences through the stories, poetry and art published in The Oracle.” One improvement in the works to increase publicity is to develop an online version of The Oracle for people to access from anywhere. Another innovation Kees is looking to start is to take the screenplays and works of drama submitted and have the theatre department actually perform them live. A live edition of The Oracle and having the chance to see their work actually put in the spotlight could entice more students to get on board. The Oracle is essentially a fine arts review. It was first started in 2001 and serves as a means for students to publish their original works of poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction and even screenplays.
It is published every spring semester and is free to all students and faculty. Kees said that most of the money used for publishing The Oracle every year comes from the Student Government Association. The staff in charge of making The Oracle happen every year is quite extensive. It features an editor-in-chief, two faculty advisors, art director, art curator and assistant to the art curator, web designer, graphic designer, section editors and another editorial board in charge of choosing submissions to be published. Members of the staff echo resounding satisfaction with their experience working with The Oracle. Pope opened up about her experience thus far with The Oracle. “After meeting with the team of editors and the fiction board, I am pleased with the level of dedication and interest in helping our talented student-writers and artists become published,” Pope said. “It is a rewarding experience for individuals to be able to share their work in a public forum such as our fine arts review.” The staff in charge of The Oracle encourages all students to at least give it a try this year and submit work. All the information regarding details of length and style and submission guidelines can be found on The Oracle’s website, www. southalabama.edu/oracle.
was excited to be “giving the candidates a chance to talk about a wide range of issues.” “We’re trying ensure that our members, AARP members, are being represented,” Salinas added, “and they get a chance to hear the candidates talk about things that are important to them.” USA’s students benefited from the opportunity as well, gaining invaluable experience. Joy Washington, associate director of public relations, advocated the participation of USA’s student organizations in the forum. “They can say, ‘I saw the process, I was a part of it,’ and that’s huge,” Washington said. “I think it’s a good way to get college students involved in the election,” Hobdy said. “We are the next generation of voters.” An issue brought up during the forum which affects USA students and the community alike was skill training in Mobile. Moderator Greg Peterson of WPMI-TV asked, “How would you encourage continued business
growth here in the area, and how would you continue to assure people of all ages get the skills training they needed to participate in this new economy?” Byrne answered first, saying that “these issues are very close and important to me and a part of my public career.” He cited the great work being done by the public schools, Bishop State Community College and the University of South Alabama, adding that the most important thing is to keep the economic development efforts going. “First of all, our education system is failing,” LeFlore said next. “We’ve got to give our children a better education. We’ve got to prepare our children to be competitive in this economic market. I’m so tired of hearing that our educational system in the state of Alabama is almost dead last.” “We’ve got to build a business environment that’s friendly,” Young said, concluding the topic. “That includes getting the government out of the way of the business people, the men and women, so they can do what they do best. And that’s create jobs.” The winner of the runoff election between Byrne and Young on Nov. 5 will face LeFlore in the general election on Dec. 17.
Meet your officers By ALIYAH NOBLES an1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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t. Kendrick Wright may be an officer that USA students don’t often notice. He’s not usually breaking up parties, or driving behind you with flashing blue lights. Instead, Wright works with Special Operations in the Patrol Division. Growing up in a military family, Wright never lived in one place for long. He accepts, however, his hometown to be Ft. Benning in Columbus, Ga., where he and his family spent most of their time. Wright began his college career at Alabama State University on a football scholarship. One year later, he decided to transfer to the University of West Alabama to complete his bachelor’s degree in physical education. Upon graduation, Wright realized physical education was not what he wanted to do. After he received his bachelor’s, he enrolled in Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and earned his associate’s degree in firefighting. Wright said he knew he wanted to be a firefighter before he even thought of becoming a police officer. He was a firefighter for four and a half years with the Department of Public Safety in Livingston, Ala. In firefighter training, he was required to receive police training. Although Wright kicked and
screamed about being forced to go through police training, years later he was happy that he had done it. In 1995, Wright applied for a grant that required a person to have police training. He later accepted the grant and was able to become a narcotics investigator. This opportunity started his career as a police officer. Although Wright has worn many officer hats, he is currently the head of the Special Operations Department at the University of South Alabama. He patrols occasions such as USA football games, Mitchell Center events and monitors traffic at these events. When asked how he feels about South Alabama’s campus, Wright responded, “South is a good campus. It is one of the safest and well-behaved campuses I’ve dealt with.” He added, “If I could change anything about the campus, I would like to see it grow more.” Wright believes USA should hold more student activities such as concerts on the weekends. He said he hopes that it would help keep students involved, entertained and out of bad situations. Wright hopes USA students don’t see USAPD in a negative light. “A lot of the time, students don’t know the whole story or situation. Police have a job to do, and they are trained to do that job.”
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”
Weather for Oct. 28 - Nov. 3
Editorial Editor in Chief Copy Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center JagLife Editor Web Editor Senior Reporter Staff Reporter
Samantha Andrews
Meg Lundberg Kelly Ficarelli JT Crabtree Alyssa Newton Emma Mitchell Matthew Strickland
Stuart Sox Noah Logan
Distribution Distribution Bobby Faulk Matthew Rhodes
Advertising Advertising Justine Burbank Graphic Designer Ryan Keller Sheldon Hall
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 P.O. Drawer U-1057 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, which is composed of the Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter and Opinion Editor. 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.
PATRICK BIGBIE | STAFF METEOROLOGIST
Twitter: StormTeam4g9wx Facebook: Facebook.com/StormTeam4Gamma9Wx
USAPD Police Blotter 10/20/2013 17:22 Reckless endangerment The Grove Unknown person recklessly engaged in conduct which created the risk of serious physical injury to the victim by use of a paintball gun. 10/18/2013 19:31 Driving under the influence of alcohol Mitchell Center parking lot Student arrested for DUI. 10/17/2013 16:06 Unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle The Grove Unknown person with intent to deprive owner of property stole University of South Alabama tag, blue. 10/16/2013 18:29 Theft of property third degree Physical education building (HPELS) Victim reported his bicycle stolen from bike rack. 10/12/2013 23:56 Possession of a forged instrument third degree and public intoxication Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity Student was arrested at the park at the Alpha fraternity house for public intoxication and criminal possession of a forged instrument 3 degree. Items listed: fake Alabama ID, pocket knife.
10/13/2013 22:29 Property damage Epsilon 1 residence hall A fire sprinkler was damaged, causing water to spill in the hallway.
10/11/2013 21:15 Criminal mischief third degree and theft of property third degree New residence hall Female student reported that someone entered her dorm room, damaged her clothes and stole her book bag. 10/11/2013 17:24 Theft of property second degree Dining court Student reported the theft of his iPhone from the dining court and later returned to report that a University employee had to return the phone to him. 10/9/2013 16:04 Duty upon striking in on occupied vehicle Stokes Hall parking lot Victim reported property damage done to the rear of her vehicle. 10/8/2013 20:30 Burglary third degree The Grove Victim’s residence was forcibly broken into by kicking in the front door. Victim’s Xbox 360 console and game cartridges were stolen. 10/6/2013 11:10 Theft of articles from auto Delta 6 parking lot Victim reported that his car was broken into and his stereo system was taken.
jagLIFE
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EMMA MITCHELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Weekly Lowdown
Chi Omega Songfest makes dreams come true By MARY RODRIGUEZ mcr741993@hotmail.com
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outh Alabama’s chapter of Chi Omega sorority will be hosting their 48th annual Songfest competition on Nov. 1, 2013. Songfest is a singing and dancing competition that raises money for Chi Omega’s philanthropy, the MakeA-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish is an organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. “You know, I’m not really sure how it all began, (but) I do know it started as a simple singing competition between Greeks (sorority and fraternity members) and has grown into much more than that,” said Michelle Vajgrt, chair of Songfest for Chi Omega. “There’s singing, dancing, a silent auction and so much more that goes into the event.” Planning for Songfest is a yearround job that includes coming up with a theme for the event. This year’s theme is titled “Dreams Do Come True.” In the Mobile area, 18
out of 33 children with Make-A-Wish say that their wish is to go to Disney World. The children and their families are all invited to the event. “We wanted to show the kids a preview of their trip to Disney,” said Tabitha Larkan, president of Chi Omega. “I personally have been listening to Disney Pandora for months and cannot wait for the event.” Songfest is the longest standing EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR and most successful tradition on South Members of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society practicing their Alabama’s campus. dance for Songfest, which will be held Friday. Last year, Chi Omefellow, was a founding member of been incredible to watch such a simga raised more than $36,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foun- Tau Kappa Epsilon and remembers ple event that raised a couple thouwhen they first began competing in sand dollars grow into something dation. “My boyfriend’s dad, Don String- the 1970s,” said Vajgrt. “He said it’s Continued on Page Six.
MSA promotes community understanding By JUSTINE BURBANK jjrb1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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n enthusiastic group of both Muslim and non-Muslim students, faculty, staff and community members came together to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Islamic holiday honoring sacrifice. Approximately 180-200 people attended the free dinner and brief talk hosted by the university’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) on Oct. 23 in the Mitchell Center’s John Counts Room. In his welcoming address, MSA President Mazen Omar, junior biomedical sciences and Spanish major, explained that the purpose of the event was “to celebrate Eid, which is one of the Muslim holidays. It was actually last Tuesday, but we could not have the event because of homecoming.” House of Kabob & Gyros Greek Restaurant, Jerusalem Café and Yak the Katmandu Kitchen sponsored
the celebration, which is MSA’s largest event. This was also an outreach to the community to dispel misconceptions about Muslim people and provide an opportunity for people of all faiths to mingle. Before the dinner, Timothy Garrett, a scholar who converted to Islam from Christianity while in the military, spoke to the group. For those not versed in the Islamic faith, he gave a brief overview of the religion. Garrett continued, “Islam is to surrender, to submit and to obey God. A Muslim is someone who actively and, hopefully, constantly is surrendering, submitting and obeying God to the best of his or her sincere abilities.” Eid al-Adha commemorates the sacrifice Abraham was supposed to make of his son Ishmael. Once God saw the faithfulness of both Abraham and Ishmael, he told Abraham that he could sacrifice a ram instead. Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, which Continued on Page Six.
Monday > Oct. 28 •
Final Presidential Forum: Dr. Arthur Ross - Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 4 p.m.
Tuesday > Oct. 29 •
“Change the World” Tammy Tibbetts - Mitchell Center Globe, 7 p.m.
•
USA Jazz ensemble fall concert - LPAC Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. $5 students and USA affiliates
•
JP TOGA - sorority commons, 8 - 11 p.m.
Wednesday > Oct. 30 •
WOW “Preparing for the interview” - SRC, 2 p.m.
•
Mobile Medical Museum Haunted Museum - 1664 Springhill Ave., 12 - 6 p.m. $5 adults, $3 children and students
Thursday > Oct. 31 •
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
•
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Helenwood Park cleaning/clearing (needs volunteers) - 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (or until finished)
Friday > Nov. 1 •
KIDS NIGHT: Jaguar volleyball vs. Arkansas State - Jaguar Gym, 7 p.m.
Saturday > Nov. 2 •
MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Muslim convert and scholar, Timothy Garrett, spoke about the Islamic religion and Eid celebration.
Jaguars football vs. Arkansas State - Ladd Peebles Stadium, 6 p.m.
Want your event featured? E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 10 words) to eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
USA drama majors boast long hours, great reward By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net
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hen thinking about which majors at South at are the most demanding for students, many will probably name engineering, nursing or something else. While these students are spending hours on end with their heads buried in textbooks, the drama students at South Alabama are up late at night at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Building doing rehearsals. “It’s definitely exhausting,” said sophomore and drama major Colgan
Meanor. He and Bryant Heatherly, another sophomore drama major at USA, sat down for an interview with The Vanguard late at night after rehearsals for the drama department’s upcoming show, “The Three Musketeers.” Heatherly is playing the Duke of Buckingham and Meanor is playing Cardinal Richelieu in the production. “Basically being a drama student confines your social life,” Meanor said. “But it’s totally worth it… the end product is always great and people love the shows,” added Heatherly.
STUART SOX | SENIOR REPORTER
Drama student Felissa Chasley working on a wig for The Three Musketeers, which begins later on in March.
If recent productions are any indication, Heatherly is right. Earlier this semester the students of USA’s drama department put on a number of sold out shows in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center for the play “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” In the spring of this year, the drama department had even greater success with their adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” “It was very comical and entertaining,” said USA sophomore and BMD major Matt Johnston. “I think they did a really good job.” “I feel like people are starting to realize that we are the next big thing,” said Dr. Leon Van Dyke, the chair of the drama department, in an interview with The Vanguard. With all of the success that the drama department has had recently, there have been talks of expanding their current theater or even building a new one, according to Van Dyke. “Before President Moulton passed away, I know he had a meeting about expansion for us,” Van Dyke said. While it’s still up in the air whether or not the expansion will happen, it’s necessary, according to Van Dyke. “In many of our most recent productions, we’ve had to turn people away because there were simply not enough seats,” Van Dyke said. “We want as many people as possible to come see our shows.” Janell Williams is a USA drama student who is currently working as a stage management apprentice at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota,
STUART SOX | SENIOR REPORTER
Film major Erin Weninegar films drama student Victoria Blackmon for a class project at the Greater Gulf State Fair. Fla. Williams had much to say about the hard work and student camaraderie that being a drama student at USA entails. “Considering that we spend so much time together in class and in rehearsals, we all know each other really well. We all work very hard,” Williams said. “During the spring, I was doing 16-hour days working on this stuff. It feels like a big family, and it’s a bond you can’t break.” “You have to be like a family be-
cause we’re all around each other so much… it kind of naturally happens,” said Meanor. The next production to open at Laidlaw is “The Three Musketeers.” Tickets will go on sale Nov. 4 and shows will be held Nov. 15-17 and Nov. 21-23. “All My Sons” will open this February and Shakepeare’s “The Tempest” will open in April of next year. For more information, visit the drama department’s webpage at www. southalabama.edu/drama.
Mobile Medical Museum offers Halloween fun By STEPHANIE FEATHER sf1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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n Oct. 30, the Mobile Medical Museum will offer a frightfully fun event as it transforms into a haunted medical scare in celebration of Halloween. The haunted museum welcomes everyone to come and get their scare on from 12-6 p.m. The idea for this event came from Kim Wagner, the program coordinator for the Mapp Child and Family Life Program at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Proceeds from the event will contribute to the museum bringing in new exhibits to be enjoyed by the region. The collection at the Mobile Med-
ical Museum, consisting of artifacts and documents, began in 1962. In the spring of 2003, USA agreed to renovate the historic Vincent/Doan house to provide a more visible and accessible home for the museum. The site is at the entrance to Children’s Park near the Children’s and Women’s Hospital. The house was built by Captain Benjamin Vincent in 1827 and was initially used as a residence. It is listed in the Historic America Buildings Survey of the National Parks and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum features many exhibits. The Cradle of Organized Medicine in Alabama exhibit includes
artifacts from the first Medical College of Alabama, established in 1859 by Dr. Josiah Nott. Medical care in Alabama began with the establishment of Hospital Royale in the early 1700s, and the exhibit features many aspects of medicine during those years. The Mobile Medical Museum Archives contain manuscripts and books from the early 1800s to the 1980s. The bulk of their collection covers Mobile and Alabama medical history from 1840 to 1950. Document formats include letters, diaries, notebooks, minute books, government records, organization records, photographs, prescriptions, medical textbooks and scrapbooks.
Museum director Monica Tapper shared that, in addition to the museum’s usual displays, there will be several surprises.One of the many frights visitors should be prepared for is a mad surgeon performing surgery in the museum’s own 1930s-era doctor’s office. As patrons travel through the museum, most of the regular exhibits will also be accompanied with human-like scares, such as wandering nurses and even a deranged dentist. Tapper promises there will also be a few treats. Though she did not reveal scare spoilers, she did assure that everyone should be prepared for a whole lot more. No need to leave the little ones at home, though. This is a scary, fun event for the whole family
to enjoy. “This will be a family-friendly event,” Tapper said. “We want people to have a spooky, fun time.” There will also be trick-or-treating throughout the self-guided tour. Patrons are asked to come in costumes if they wish to collect candy while enjoying the fun. Entry into this event for adults is $5, students and children are $3, and the event is free for children three and under. The museum is located at 1664 Springhill Ave., just beside the Ronald McDonald House. Contact the museum at med_museum@yahoo.com if you have any questions about visiting the museum or about the event.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Songfest Continued from Page 4.
huge.” This year, Chi Omega’s goal is to raise $38,000 for Make-A-Wish. They set a goal early in the spring so that raising more is always possible. “It’s completely free to come watch,” said Ann Huang, a senior Chi Omega member. “We raise money by selling donut coupons, and there will be silent auction items at Songfest.” In addition to coupon sales and the auction, Chi Omega has hosted a number of events, including a cookout, to raise money for this event. While presenting a big check at the end of
MSA Continued from Page 4.
was celebrated in August this year, are the two holidays in the religion of Islam. Dates are not set but rather are dependent on the Islamic lunar calendar and the visibility of a waxing crescent moon following a new moon. Eid al-Adha lasts three days. The traditional greeting during the holiday is “Eid Mubarak,” which means, “Have a blessed holiday,” according to Garrett. The restaurants provided a wide selection of foods including hummus, chicken curry and rice, spaghetti and pizza. The meal was first served to women by other women. Immediately following, the men were served, this time, by other men. After the closing remarks by Omar, participants were encouraged to socialize. A table in the rear of the room provided literature and a place to ask questions. Fatima Hamade, a sophomore chemical en-
the event is a bonus, Vajgrt says the main goal is making a difference in a child’s life. “Becoming something bigger than ourselves is really what we want out of the alliance with Make-A-Wish and of our events,” said Vajgrt. The competition is open for participation to all campus organizations. This year all IFC and Panhellenic members will be participating as well as Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society, Jaguar Productions and USA Spectrum. The event will be held in the Mitchell Center and doors open at 6:30 p.m. For any questions about the event, or to contribute to their life-changing monetary goal, contact Vajgrt at betathetasongfest@gmail.com.
gineering major and member of the MSA, said that the association holds lectures throughout the year and those often incorporate lunch or snacks. She and a number of other female students candidly answered questions regarding the separation of men and women in events like this as well as in the mosque. She explained that men and women do not shake hands or make physical contact in public, but that speaking to one another is considered fine. There was a distinct sense of hospitality and warmth in the room. Children played as animated conversations and laughter erupted despite the separation. In his talk, Garrett acknowledged that the way Muslims live “seems foreign in America.” “But this is why we wanted to bring you here,” Garret added, “so you can kind of see a different side. To really interact with us.” For more information on MSA, or to join the organization, visit www.southalabama.edu/ msa or email msa.southal@gmail.com.
MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
From left to right: Mary Mather, a friend of the MSA organization, and students, Bsmah Alabduljabbar and Fatima Hamade, socialized and answered questions about Islam.
LEFT OF CENTER
ALYSSA NEWTON, LOC EDITOR akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Monday, Oct. 28 ► MEN’S
GOLF South Alabama at The Ivitational at The Ocean Course
Friday, Nov. 1 ►VOLLEYBALL
South Alabama vs. Arkansas State
7 p.m at the Jaguar Gym
Saturday, Nov. 2 ► FOOTBALL
South Alabama vs. Arkansas State “Hall of Fame Game” 6:30 p.m. at Ladd Peebles Stadium ESPN3
ALYSSA NEWTON|LOC EDITOR
Alex Page is known for his tackling on the field, but he also excels in tackling academics off the field.
Student athletes juggle sports, academics USA athletes show they can excel both on the field and in the classroom By NOAH LOGAN
ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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any images come to mind when we think of the term “student-athlete.” Gigantic football players lifting weights, basketball players with finesse and baseball players with reaction times faster than we thought possible—all seem to stick out when speaking of student-athletes. One image that never seems to make the cut, however, is a student simply at his or her desk doing schoolwork just like the rest of us. Student-athletes do just as much work as the rest of us, though. While they do receive extra scholarships for athletics, money only goes so far to help. Imagine taking a full load of classes a semester and having football practice twice a day. Money doesn’t help with time management. The South Alabama football team is a prime example of student-athletes with an emphasis on student. Last
year, 18 football players were selected for Sun Belt distinction in regards to academics. This past week alone, the Jaguars were able to nominate three players—tight end Rush Hendricks, defensive end Alex Page and nose tackle Jesse Kelley—for academic alldistrict. Each of these players made it clear that academics are taken with the same urgency and priority that athletics carries. Page, tied for a team high with 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks on the season and an interception, explained what the status really means for him. “It basically shows that we just work hard in the classroom and on the playing field,” said Page. “It just signifies the work you put in and shows that good things can come out of working hard in the classroom, too, not just on the field.” Page received his bachelor’s degree in history and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education. Regarding the struggles of juggling hours in the classroom and hours on
the playing field, Kelley, a meteorology major, maintained the overall importance of his education. “Since I care about my education, I have to do both,” said Kelley. “The same amount of time I put out here on the football field, I put that much time in the classroom. I feel that the classroom work is just as important for my future.” Hendricks, an exercise science major, claimed that the academic honor wasn’t too much of a surprise because the academic part of his school experience has simply become second nature. “It’s just become a part of what I do really,” said Hendricks. “I mean, I’ve always put academics first because I’m a student-athlete and that’s the order it comes out. It’s really the forerunner of my priorities. Football is right up there with it, but you have to consider both and manage your time effectively.” A stigma has definitely been placed on college athletes, football players
in particular. There is a nationwide conception that these players shouldn’t do as well in the classroom as students who focus only on academics but according to Hendricks (who just won the Mackey Award in my online dynasty; thanks, Rush), this negative stigma just serves as even more motivation in the classroom. “It is a form of motivation for me,” said Hendricks. “Because if anybody does mistake me as that stereotype, it’s especially fun for me to watch them struggle while I excel in that class,” he explained with a smirk on his face. While it’s obvious academics play a major part in these players’ lives, each player gave the same look when asked which is more satisfying: achieving academic honor roll or getting a win against defending Sun Belt champions Western Kentucky. Each player sided wholeheartedly with beating Western Kentucky. To be honest, though, that was more fun for the rest of us as well.
CORRECTIONS: Last week’s issue incorrectly stated that the game predictions were for North Texas. This was intended to be Texas State. We apologize for the mistake.
►
CROSS COUNTRY South Alabama at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Troy, Ala.
►
WOMAN’S BASKETBALL Exhibition game
1:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Lady Jag basketball gears up
HANNAH BLACKBURN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ronneka Robertson averaged 4.6 points per game last season and ranked seventh in the Sun Belt in rebounding. By HANNAH BLACKBURN hb8989@aol.com
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t’s the beginning of a new season and the Lady Jags’ basketball team is on the prowl for a winning season, but this time, there are two new leaders of the pack—head coach Terry Fowler and assistant coach Dan Presel. Fowler and Presel already have a history built together, as they were head coach and assistant coach respectively, for the University of North Alabama. In his seven years as head coach for North Alabama, Fowler led the Lady Lions to two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, with more than 20 wins in those two seasons. A player’s talent isn’t the only thing he looks for when it comes to recruitment. “We don’t just look for talent,” Fowler said. “We look for young ladies with high character and high aspirations both athletically and academically.” Fowler is known for his strong post play. With players like senior forward Ronneka Roberston, who lead the club last year in boards averaging 7.2 an outing, he has plenty to work with. “We are fortunate enough to have a very strong post player, and we want to help that by surrounding her with strong shooters,” said Fowler. Robertson is looking to improve her game from last season with Fowler as her head coach. “It’s been a positive change,” said Robertson when asked about the coaching change. “We have adjusted a lot better than I thought. This year I would like to go out and pull down at least ten rebounds. I
plan on doing a lot better job on the offensive end, getting a lot of put backs, a lot of touches when I do get them and helping the team on the defensive end by taking a lot of charges, and whatever it is they need me to do.” It isn’t just post play that counts, but great work in the perimeter as well, and with the limited numbers in the post, the versatility of the guards will be beneficial. Senior Meghan Dunn looks to step into the role of a strong outside shooter. Last season, she was 11th in the SBC in threepoint percentage putting in 32.4 percent of her attempts. She ended the season tied for sixth in treys per game with 1.5 and led the club with 45 treys that year and received All-American honors while at Shelton State Community College. Another player looking to step up to the roles is 5-foot-9 freshman Colby Davis, as well as junior Breanna Hall and sophomore Sharon Sanders. This versatility is evident in Rachel Cumbo, who will be a key player in bother perimeter and post play. After battling a knee injury the last two seasons, she is looking to come back strong and will be placed in the three and four spots to help with depth. Sophomore Brittany Webb is the top choice for the starting point guard position. Last season Webb posted 3.4 ppg and had 29 assists as well as knocked down 37.5 percent of her treys. Saturday, Nov. 1, the Lady Jags’ will host Mobile in their only exhibition matchup of the year.
VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
SPORTS
JT CRABTREE, SPORTS EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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PATRICK HERRING | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Montell Garner returns an interception in the third quarter. Garner is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
Jags lose another heartbreaker 33-31 Texas State drills a late field goal to down the Jags on the road
By PATRICK HERRING pwh802@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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nce again quarterback Ross Metheny and the South Alabama offense drove down the field to take the lead with less than two minutes left in the game. And once again the opponent drove down and scored in the waning seconds to win. It’s an old story, just a new opponent. This week’s foe was the Bobcats of Texas State (5-3, 2-2 SBC) and they kicked a field goal with 4 seconds left on the clock to clinch the 33-31 win on their homecoming weekend. South Alabama has now lost 4 games this season by a combined total of just 11 points. The Jaguars (3-4, 1-2 SBC) took possession down 30-24 with 2:22 remaining in the game. On a drive that took just 50 seconds, Metheny found Danny Woodson Jr. for a 43-yard scoring strike to give USA the lead with 1:32 left in the game. Apparently that was too much time for Bobcats quarterback Tyler Jones
and the State offense. With their backs against the wall on a fourth-and-24 from their own 26, Tyler Jones found a hole in the defense and hit Benjamin Ijah for a 51-yard gain to the USA 24yard line to set up the game-winning field goal. South Alabama head coach Joey Jones was visibly upset after the loss. “I thought they outplayed us for three quarters,” Joey Jones said. “We came back and had a chance to win it, but we couldn’t stop them on fourthand-24. We can’t get behind that much and expect to come back and win a ballgame. We had a chance, though, just didn’t get it done.” Metheny keyed the offense as he threw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also added 40 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. The passing yardage mark is good for second on the school’s all-time single-game list. He also holds first place with a 360-yard outing against Louisiana-Lafayette last season. But his lone interception proved to be very costly as it was returned for a
touchdown to extend a late Bobcat lead. After the game, he talked about the loss. “We’ve come out all year long and done a good job of playing solid football in the second half,” Metheny said. “Our issue is playing that football in the first half.” Woodson tied his career best 5 catches and set new career highs and team season highs with 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 118 receiving yards are the third most in school history. Texas State started the scoring when Tyler Jones hit tight end Tyler Cardin for a 10-yard touchdown toss to put the Bobcats up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Neither team got going offensively until a quarter later when Tyler Jones threw a deep completion to Brandon Smith in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to extend the Bobcat lead to 14-0. South Alabama’s offense finally got going and moved deep into Bobcat territory before Metheny came up
short on a fourth-and-1 rush attempt at the Texas State 22-yard line. The USA defense forced a threeand-out to give the offense the ball back. Again the Jaguars drove deep into Bobcat territory in the waning minutes of the first half, getting all the way to the 3-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Aleem Sunanon came in and booted a 20-yard field goal to give the Jags their first points of the game and cut the TSU lead to 14-3. The kick ended the scoring in the first half. The second half of the game told an entirely different story than the first. Seventeen points were scored in the first half, while the two teams combined for 47 points in the second half. Montell Garner injected new life into the Jaguars when he picked off a Tyler Jones pass and returned it to the TSU 3-yard line. From there, Metheny
See Jaguars lose late in Texas Page 10
About to get on the plane to Kiawah for our last tourney of the fall!! Gonna be an unreal experience! #klutch Derek Westbrook @ thedwestbrook25: Men’s Cross Country If I forget this easily now where I park, then I’m in some serious trouble when I turn 60 Caitlin Cox @Caycay_cox: Defensive Specialist/Libero Would love to know who just sent me that snapchat of a llama running..#idkyou Kyle Rovig @Kyle_Rovig_23: Pitcher If this lady keeps me any longer I might make myself throw up Jereme Jones @That_Man11: Wide Receiver I’m so used to waking up this early I don’t even need an alarm anymore..I only set it for insurance.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Jaguars lose late in Texas Continued from Page 9.
scrambled for a touchdown around the left side to cut the State lead to 1410. Tyler Jones and the Bobcats’ option offense used a combination of runs and passes in the flat to drive 72 yards into USA territory. The defense held them out of the end zone, though. Kicker Jason Dann came out and knocked through a 35-yard field goal to extend the lead top 17-10. Then came the fourth quarter and, with it, a flurry of scoring. Shavarez Smith was wide-open in the end zone and caught Metheny’s pass from 13 yards out to cap the 6-play 79-yard drive and even the score at 17-17 early in the final stanza. Isaiah Battle then caught a deep pass over the middle for a 31-yard gain to the USA 21-yard line. Once more, the defense held strong and forced a field goal attempt. Dann’s 37-yard kick was true to give State a 20-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. On the second play of the following Jaguar drive, State’s Justin Iwuji intercepted Metheny and returned the ball 29 yards to the end zone to extend the Bobcat lead to 27-17. Metheny wasn’t fazed as he and the offense marched back down the field
and capped an 8-play drive with a 42yard scoring pass to Woodson to bring the Jags to within three, 27-24. The Bobcats retaliated with a runfilled drive. On the first play of the drive, Nutall carried for a gain of 19 yards. Next play, he ran for 22 more yards to the USA 32-yard line. He gained 7 more on the following snap. A snap infraction would eventually cause the drive to stall, however, and the Bobcats would have to settle for another Dann field goal. His kick from 43 yards out was good to extend the State lead to 30-24 with 2:22 remaining in the game. Again Metheny-to-Woodson was the working formula for the Jaguars as the quarterback found his target on a 43-yard scoring strike to give the Jags the lead, 31-30 with 1:32 left in the contest. “We kinda knew it was all or nothing and that that was gonna be our last drive, probably,” Metheny said. “I feel comfortable in those situations, and I want the guys to feel comfortable in those situations as well.” Then came the improbable 51-yard completion on fourth-and-24 to all but seal the Jaguars’ fate. For the second time in three weeks and the third time this season, the Jaguars lost on virtually the last play of the game. Defensively the Jaguars didn’t seem
to have an answer for the option attack of Texas State as the Bobcats racked up 234 yards rushing. Robert Lowe carried 15 times for 89 yards, while Nutall chipped in 76 yards on 12 runs. The quarterback was lethal in the option game, too, as Tyler Jones racked up 68 yards on the ground to go along with his 218 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Jaguar receiver Wes Saxton had a career day, tying Courtney Smith’s school record with 10 catches in the contest. He gained 89 yards on the receptions. Jereme Jones added 50 yards on 4 receptions and Shavarez Smith had 3 catches for 41 yards. Enrique Williams led the Jaguar defense with 13 total tackles, including 1 for a loss. It was his third double-digit tackle output of the season and his third time leading the team in stops on the year. Pat Moore recorded 3 tackles, all of which were for a loss, including 2 sacks. “Our kids are always gonna come back and fight,” Joey Jones said. “I just told them in the locker room that we’ve gotta close those games out.” The Jaguars are back in action next weekend when they take on Arkansas State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
ALYSSA NEWTON | LOC EDITOR
Danny Woodson Jr. (left) led the Jags with a career-high 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Fall baseball in full swing S
SOUTH ALABAMA PUBLIC RELATIONS
David Freese played two years with the Jags (2005-06) before being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
Mobile MLB stars playing in World Series Jake Peavy and USA’s David Freese local talent playing on MLB’s biggest stage
By PATRICK HERRING pwh802@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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or the second time in three years, the University of South Alabama’s baseball program will be represented by an alumnus playing in Major League Baseball’s World Series. Former Jaguar third baseman David Freese is starting at third base for the St. Louis Cardinals as they take on the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 World Series. Freese was a two-year letterwinner at USA (2005-06) also picking up All-American and All-SBC honors along the way. In 2006, he was named Conference Player of the Year. Now in his fifth season for the Cardinals, Freese finds himself a part of another squad that has a legitimate chance to claim its second World Series title in three years. The Cardinals lead the Red Sox two games to one as of press time. So far this postseason, Freese isn’t matching the output he had offensively in 2011. However, those numbers are hard to match.
En route to being named the 2011 NLCS and World Series MVP, the South Alabama alum broke the MLB record for postseason RBIs with 21. In 2013, he only has four RBIs and is only batting .178 with an on-base percentage of .275. Coincidentally, Freese wasn’t the only player on the field with ties to Mobile, Ala. during Saturday night’s 5-4 Cardinals win. The Boston Red Sox starting pitcher for Game 3 was Jake Peavy, a Mobile native and graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. The three-time All-Star had a poor outing for the Sox, giving up 2 earned runs in the first inning, including giving up 3 hits on 4 pitches at one point. Peavy pitched 4 innings and posted a 4.5 ERA. Game 4 of the World Series occurred after this issue went to press. Game 5 will be Monday at 7 p.m., and Games 6 and 7 will be played at the same time Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary.
outh Alabama baseball is well into their fall baseball scrimmage season, with intrasquad games taking place every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week. All scrimmage games are on campus at Stanky Field and are free and open to the public. Individual dates and times can be found here: Tuesday-10/29, 2:30 p.m. Friday-11/1, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-11/2, 11 a.m. Sunday-11/3, 11 a.m. Tuesday-11/5, 2:30 p.m. Thursday-11/7, 2:30 p.m. Friday-11/8, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-11/9, 11 a.m. Tuesday-11/12, 2:30 p.m. Thursday-11/14, 2:30 p.m. Friday-11/15, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-11/16, 11 a.m. Next week, head coach Mark Calvi will provide an update on the team so far through the fall.
Jags ranked 78 in BCS By JT CRABTREE
jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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SOUTH ALABAMA PUBLIC RELATIONS
David Freese was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year after hitting .414/.503/.661 in 2006.
n the first edition of the BCS Rankings released on Oct. 21, the South Alabama Jaguars were ranked No. 78 in the country out of 122 eligible FBS teams. The Jaguars, who are only in their fifth year of existence, are ranked the fourth highest Sun Belt Conference team. UL-Lafayette (39), Western Kentucky (72) and UL-Monroe (73) were ranked higher than South Alabama. At 78, the Jags rank higher than some big name programs, such as North Carolina State (85), Virginia (86), North Carolina (91), California (96) and South Florida (98). The latest edition of the BCS poll is released the Monday following each game week.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Allison’s hat trick carries Lady Jag soccer over ULL Freshman’s three-goal performance gives South Alabama a 4-2 win over conference foe By JT CRABTREE
jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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niversity of South Alabama women’s soccer dominated Louisiana-Lafayette at The Cage on Oct. 24, lead by Lauren Allison’s hat trick in South Alabama’s 4-2 win over the Ragin’ Cajuns. After consecutive shutout losses to Western Kentucky and Troy, the Lady Jags (11-5-2, 4-2-1 SBC) had something to prove when UL-Lafayette came to town. South Alabama was awarded a penalty kick early in the match at the eighth minute, when Allison fired her first goal in four matches. Senior midfielder Clarissa Hernandez followed with two shots before sending a corner kick to sophomore defender Nini Rabsatt-Smith, who headed in the cross for her second collegiate goal for a 2-0 USA lead. Twelve minutes later, UL-Lafayette (8-6-2, 5-2-0 SBC) was awarded a penalty of their own. Freshman Yazmin Montoya sank her shot to cut the Jaguar lead to 2-1. Undefeated on the year when leading at the half, 9-0-1, the Lady Jags quickly looked to add to their lead.
Seven minutes into the second half, sophomore forward Jordan Duncan was able to steal a ULLafayette pass and find Allison, who found the back of the net for her second goal of the night and extended the USA lead to 3-1. At the 71st minute, Allison was able to complete her first career hat trick by driving past three Louisiana-Lafayette defenders and sinking a low drive to extend the USA lead to 4-1. Montoya scored a second late goal for the Ragin’ Cajuns at the 90th minute just before the final whistle blew. “We’ve had a couple of games where we’ve not created too much; we’ve not been finishing,� said head coach Graham Winkworth. “We were due a good game in front of goal. I told the girls to relax and go out there and have fun. I think they did just that tonight.� Winkworth continued, “They passed the ball, and we were able to create chances because of it. I’m really proud of their efforts.� South Alabama outshot UL-Lafayette, 21-12, on the night and forced six corners to the opposition’s four. USA senior goalkeeper Melissa Drish made two saves on the night, moving to 9-5-2 on the year.
MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lauren Allison scored her first career hat trick against ULL on Oct. 24.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
South Alabama vs. Arkansas State Predictions
The Vanguard Sports Team Nov. 2, 2013 South Alabama vs. Arkansas St. Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. TV: ESPN 3
Patrick Herring, Sports Reporter
Sam Wicker,
JT Crabtree, Sports Editor
Alyssa Newton, LOC Sports Editor
The Jags are still playing everyone tough, and even though the Texas State game was another heartbreaker, I think the Jags will rebound at home and defeat the Red Wolves 27-21.
Both the Jags and the Red Wolves come in sporting 3-4 records, but ASU They both have explosive offenses Jags are coming off another has looked horrible in their losses while heartbreaking loss that will fuel them to all of South’s have been close. Last sea- that can score a lot of points. I can’t son, USA almost upset the conference go against my Jags, though. 35-34 South pull out a W. Jags win 34-28. champs on the road. This year, the Jags Alabama wins. will take their revenge at home. Jags win 34-24.
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Opinion
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Samantha Andrews | Editor-in-Chief Kelly Ficarelli | Opinion Editor JT Crabtree | Sports Editor
KELLY FICARELLI, OPINION EDITOR kficarelli@gmail.com VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Alyssa Newton | Left of Center Editor Emma Mitchell | Life Editor
It’s time to do more than simply raise awareness
By JOHN BLYTHE johnblythe@gmail.com
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n part I can’t see this going very well. Nevertheless, I think it’s worth writing about so that a discussion can hopefully occur, even if that discussion is a bit heated and my hand is the one over the flame. I’m no stranger to cancer. My grandfather had two bouts with lung cancer, a battle with prostate cancer and then had a benign tumor show up on his liver. He didn’t die from cancer directly, but the long, drawn-out episodes with it undoubtedly played heavily in his wearied state and so had a hand in his earlierthan-expected death. When I was 8, during my second year of being homeschooled, all of the sudden, we were looking at schools because my mother was sick and couldn’t have us home all day every day. We thankfully lived a short two hours or less from Houston, home of the world-renowned cancer center, M.D. Anderson. For the next two or three years, there was a lot of commuting
Jamie Cunningham: I love going to the fair to eat funnel cakes. I also look forward to Halloween. I love getting my kids dressed up in their costumes and picking pumpkins! Dennis Mersereau: Watch people walk around in shorts and flip-flops and wonder out loud why they’re cold. Bryan Blow: Foosball games
and a lot of hanging out in Anderson’s waiting rooms. I didn’t realize the gravity of what was going on, but I knew that something was very wrong with my mom and that we could lose her. I remember asking her one day if she would die. I didn’t understand everything going on, but I understood what mattered. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Considering my family history, I’m not necessarily holding my breath concerning my own potential future contraction. That’ll be fun. All of this is to say that I personally know the weight, the fear and the pain of cancer, breast cancer notwithstanding. Even so, I have a lingering cynicism when I see everything go pink during the month of October. Actually, I think I have it precisely because of my experience. Before we get started, I should go ahead and clarify that I’m not entirely opposed to awareness-raising by any stretch. Further, my thoughts here are concerning the entire awareness-raising love affair we seem to be having, not Breast Cancer Awareness in itself—though it is the flagship and thus what we’ll look at in particular. My contention is simply concerning the effectiveness of raising awareness. There is no denying that awareness must be raised since we can’t act on something that is completely unknown. Thus, becoming aware of a problem is unquestionably the first step in solving it. And so here we are, already patting awareness-raising on the back. So far, so good. This is where we find what I’d argue is the problem, or at least the lin-
gering question mark, on the whole awareness ordeal. Let’s put it simply: what next? We’re aware. We now know that there is a problem, so what are we to do? If you talk to an engineer who just found a problem, they’d say it’s time to make changes to the blueprint. If you speak to a designer about an app’s interface, they would want to open up Photoshop and get working on a solution. A doctor who just found a problem would want to prescribe a remedy. Problems remain problems unless solutions follow their identification. In fact, in many cases, problems will grow if they aren’t dealt with swiftly. Our current mode of operation seems to want to walk for this and run for that as we raise (more!) awareness for cancer, diabetes, suicide and all sorts of other very well-known issues. That’s not to say we know all about them, but rather that we know they are in fact problems that plague us and thus need proper solutions. While I enjoy and commend the excitement and vigor of many people joining in such things—and also don’t discount their contributions to meaningful change— it still feels like the discussion is, at best, incomplete. The pinkified NFL, for instance, sounds great in theory, but it doesn’t seem to play out quite so well. For starters, how many millions are spent bathing teams, cheerleaders, fields and staff in pink? Could this money not be spent directly on breast cancer research with perhaps a small portion of it being used for informational marketing during the games? Business Insider
reports that it is a mere 8.01 percent that goes toward cancer research after everyone involved gets their cut of the exorbitantly overpriced pink Romo jersey. That’s bad enough. Worse still is the fact that while the NFL donates 90 percent of its profits, they also more often than not play the role of the retailer who gets 50 percent of the sale, none of which is donated. In other words, if you spend $100 at the NFL store today, they will pay the manufacturer their part (37.5 percent), make a $12.50 profit of which 90 percent ($11.25) will go to cancer research, all while being able to pocket 50 percent as the retailer. And all this while claiming to give 90 percent of their profits to research. The largest and most established breast cancer charity is Susan G. Komen for the Cure. They have done a masterful job over the last decade in transforming breast cancer awareness into a goliath of social action. Their methods and financial choices have come under scrutiny in the last several years, however, as they’ve had public missteps. One of the big questions people have raised accordingly is why so little money is going toward breast cancer research as is often promoted and promised in their campaigning. In 2008, 29 percent of their funding went to grants for research. That number slipped all the way down to 17 percent in 2009 before falling further still to a mere 15 percent in 2011. Again, it’s not that I don’t want awareness; it’s that I want to be aware of what’s really happening behind the scenes of our awareness-raising.
JagPulse It finally feels like fall in Mobile. What is your favorite thing to do or favorite event to attend, on or off campus, this time of year?
Stephanie Feather: I love fall fashion, the sweaters, scarves and boots!
Jackie LeBatard: GreekFest!
Daniel Moran: Layers, layers and more layers! Getting dressed is much more fun in the fall!
It should be noted, too, that Breast Cancer Awareness Month in its official capacity was founded by AstraZeneca, a Delaware-based big pharma company that makes drugs for cancer patients. Many of the research groups out there are part of the larger pharmaceuticals such as AstraZeneca. As such, their research is part of the parent company’s product feedback loops. And, to be clear, these products are anything but cheap. Some cost upward of $200 per pill. According to an article by Newsweek, “Americans spent more than $23 billion last year for cancer drugs, more than we paid for prescriptions to treat anything else.” Despite this, doctors and researchers are oftentimes saying that our progress has been “halting and slow.” So there you have it. A shotgun spray of some of the questions that I have concerning all of this hubbub. Spending discretions, efficiencies in all of these things, questionable affiliations and other question marks hover over the month of October for me. Let me try to wrap up in clear fashion. I’m not arguing that we should do less. I’m asking that we do more. Problem identification is key, but its value is inextricably tethered to our subsequent identification and application of solutions. I want to be around for the day that we celebrate no more children being scared of losing their mothers and no more wives, mothers, sisters and daughters having their lives cut short by this disease. After all, if pink represents breast cancer, then isn’t our goal ultimately to be able to retire the color?
Jan-Louw Kotze: I like walking around barefoot and in shorts and no I’m not from the North Pole. I hail from the sunny shores of South Africa. It’s not cold, it’s cool. Anthony Brown: Attend a college or nfl football game! Uriel G Lopez: Having a bonfire with family and friends.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013
Appreciate unlimited second chances at South
By RYAN WALLACE ryanwallace2010@gmail.com
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nyone who has ever been in a long-term relationship or handled a live grenade knows the value of a second chance. America has been fortunate enough to have such an abundance of opportunity that it has become somewhat cliche to think of ourselves as the “land of second chances.” As students at South Alabama, everyone’s favorite second
chance is the withdrawal, the chance to back out of a particular class that is eating one’s lunch and try again in a different semester. Of course, the withdrawal isn’t really a second chance; it’s actually much more forgiving than that. Withdrawals at South don’t have a limit, a condition that is not the case at many other schools. My first undergraduate school featured a three-drop policy, which many of my classmates and I exhausted relatively quickly in our careers and afterward were left to fend for ourselves in our upper-level coursework. While I can appreciate the reasoning for my former school’s withdrawal policy, I believe South’s is a little fairer to the student. After all, if a student is willing to withdraw several times from a class, they only delay their own progress, make it a little easier on instructors and pay the school even more money. While it may seem like common
sense to the average student that withdrawing multiple times from courses during an academic career is a harmful habit, withdrawals are like not working out: after the first time you break your self-promise to go jogging, it becomes so much easier to stay on the couch. The result is a sofa weighed down by an ever-expanding rear end and a degree path weighed down by a mass of never-completed classes. The decision to withdraw from a class is not one that should be taken lightly. First, you should (honestly) assess your reasons for wanting to drop the course. There is no shame is simply realizing that you have bitten off more than you can chew. College is a fast-paced, everchanging environment, and classes that seemed manageable at first may turn into a nightmare, one that ends with waking up to a lower GPA, a failed class and no progress toward a degree.
However, it is also tempting to react to one bad test or project grade with a hair-trigger withdrawal. This must be avoided at all costs. As with every other major decision affecting your school career, talking to your instructors and advisors can be a calming and fruitful experience if you find yourself stumbling through your coursework. While you’re talking to people, make sure to include the financial aid advisors. Many of us are able to attend school thanks to financial aid, and many forms of financial aid DO have limits on how many classes you can drop. If you don’t know the rules of your aid agreements, you could be due for a very upsetting surprise if you drop too many classes. Ultimately, just like most of the lessons learned outside of the classroom during the college years, the secret to handling withdrawals is personal responsibility. Put in sole charge of
their academic affairs, students can be prone to either extreme: a wanton usage of their withdrawals, or a terrified death-grip on a rough class as their grade plummets lower and lower until the drop deadline has passed. Neither of these attitudes is prudent. After all, drops exist to be a helpful option for students who find themselves in over their heads. Many students (including myself) save valuable GPA points and their sanity by taking advantage of withdrawals. In the end, it is up to each of us to take care of our own academic careers, just as it will be our responsibility to take care of ourselves and perhaps others in the “real world.” So study your material, show up for class and be thankful that if that should prove to be insufficient, we as students are fortunate enough to have a second (and hopefully not much more than that) chance to do our best.
Don’t give up until the semester’s end
By JESSICA THORNTON jdt1105@jagmail.southalabama.com
I
t’s the middle of the semester, and it seems as if you and those around you have this mutual feeling of pure exhaustion. You can’t seem to avoid it even as you walk past fellow zombies on your way to class. You simply say to yourself, “It’s just college, a rite of passage.” Right? It’s inevitable. You are not going to get any sleep. You are going to spend all of your time having fun while you are still young enough to get in trouble and get away with it. You are going to live every day to its wildest expectations while rewarding school with an outstanding second place trophy on the shelf of your life. Wrong! This is the time in our lives we cannot get back. This is when we learn how to become adults. Yes, let’s experience great new things and have fun. However, keep in mind where you are: school. It is supposed to be a learning environment. Anything and everything around you is being absorbed into your sponge of a brain whether you like it or not. So why not take advantage of that?
This is not the time to get burnt out on all of the exams, endless amount of homework, fun college ‘celebrations,’ countless hours of work and so on. This is the time to realize you are doing what is probably the biggest thing you will ever do in your entire life. You are building your future. As ridiculous as that sounds, it could not be any truer. So far, you have basically worked your whole life to be exactly where you are in this moment. Whether that is classified as a freshman undergrad or an upperclassman grad student, you haven’t come this far to throw it all away. It can be so easy to buckle under the pressure you have built around yourself for the past nine weeks. Everything shifts into autopilot at this point during the semester, and you walk around like a robot noticing nothing more than a slight change in the weather. Snap out of it! Pump some of that beginning of the year excitement back into your veins. It is all too easy to lose sight of why we are taking this dreadful chemistry lab or history lecture. Don’t give up! This is the time to push yourself and go the extra mile. This is not the time to tell yourself, “Because I haven’t missed a class, one day of playing hooky won’t hurt.” Don’t even test those waters. Take the overwhelmed feelings and channel them into some annoyingly positive diligence. It will take you further than your expectations can go, and before you know it, you will have completed and aced this entire semester back at school.
RYAN KELLER | GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Put student workers to work
By LYDIA CHRISTIAN quietartsytype@gmail.com
T
here are many scholarships and grants available for higher education––but looking for them is almost akin to holding a full-time job, at least for a short period. Finding the information is something that most students don’t try to do past the first few hours spent in vain. The money is free and available, but many would rather rely on student loans than doing a little legwork. The argument has been made that
professors should make a list of benefits readily available to students. However, it is the student’s responsibility and most professors already have too much to do. There are so many different search options available that there really isn’t an excuse for someone not finding the information they seek (eventually). It’s almost absurd that students expect professors to provide lists in this Google era. Seriously, is it that difficult to visit the library, or type ‘grants for college’ in a search bar? The main problem with searching online for scholarships is that navigating the waters of free money frequently leads to dead ends and confusing websites. Often, it’s difficult to know what is real and what is just another information phishing scam. After hundreds of hours spent online, it isn’t unlikely that students still come out empty-handed. Since most people don’t have the time or the diligence to sit in front of a computer all day, many of those scholarships remain buried
beneath a pile of Internet marketing garbage. Which leads to this––often student employees have been observed lazing about while they are ‘working.’ Anyone could walk by any campus office at almost any time of the day and find at least one student lounging around, hollow-eyed as they click on the next Reddit link. Instead of expecting professors to provide the information, why not assign the task to student workers? They are already on the payroll, and don’t seem particularly busy, so it would make sense for them to work for the good of everyone. That would solve the problem of inexperienced students not being able to access the information they need. It would also help cut down on professors’ expected workloads and give them more time to focus on teaching (which is actually why they are here). And it would give student workers something constructive to do in their ‘free’ time.
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VOL. 53, NO. 14 / OCT. 28, 2013