outh Alabama breaks previous record with S 16,055 students enrolled.
University officials project enrollment to reach 20,000 in the next ten years.
LIFE
Mobile Museum of Art
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SPORTS
Jags to open at Kent
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OPINION
Shooting in Ferguson
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SEPT. 1, 2014
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SEPT. 1, 2014
USA reaches record enrollment of 16,055 Byy L LAU AURA RA H HAV AVAR ARD D
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press conference was held on Monday, Aug. 25 to announce the University of South Alabama’s record enrollment for this period—16,055 students. That is an increase of 4.9 percent compared to last year’s numbers. More than 4,000 graduate students and 2,000 first time freshmen have chosen USA to continue their educations. “The increase in student enrollment is a reaffirmation of the quality and accessibility of the University of South Alabama,” President Tony G. Waldrop said in a press release. “These types of numbers do not happen by accident. It’s through the hard work of faculty and staff and the support of the community that we are able to continue to grow the University.” Student enrollment numbers support that the University of South Alabama is continuing to develop in a variety of ways. There were records made in various other areas as well: first-time freshmen- 2,073 graduate students- 4,023 new graduate students- 1,107 new students- 4,457 medical students- 553 African-American students- 3,285
average ACT for first-time freshmen22.9 (tied with 2013). However, in the overall vision that President Waldrop has for the University, this is only a stepping stone. “We want to reach an enrollment of 20,000 students within 10 years in a fiscally responsible manner while strengthening high academic standards,” Interim Director of Public Relations Bob Lowry said. Administration has been working diligently to develop a plan for the coming years. As student numbers continue to increase, faculty and staff numbers will also increase to keep the student-to-teacher ratio at a rational level. Many students come to South Alabama for the smalltown environment that the campus has been known for. Some people fear that, as numbers grow, the small-town feel will be lost. However, Dr. Waldrop feels that the environment of the campus relies heavily on each student. “A university is only as big as you [the student] allow it to be,” Waldrop said. He continued by saying that it is important for students to make connections with new classmates and to open themselves up to new networks of people. He will speak more on his vision for the University on his inauguration on Sept. 12. He invites all to attend.
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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.
8/19/2014 7:42 p.m.
8/22/14 6:47 p.m.
Sorority Parking Lot Greek Row
Victims Residence (The Grove)
Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a vehicle.
Burglary third Degree
1 Apple iPad 2 with Bluetooth silver black border
Unknown person(s) used an unknown method to unlawfully
1 Burgundy with Gold Filigree Flip Cover Case
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. 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.
Unknown person(s) entered the victim’s vehicle by unknown means and removed the listed articles from the victim’s vehicle
8/25/14 4:58 p.m.
without consent. There were no signs of forced entry.
Epsilon 1 Residence Hall Property Damage
8/20/2014 9:02 a.m.
Refuse to comply with University Official
Parking lot, Mitchell Center
1 Wilson NCAA football
Criminal Mischief Second Degree
Carpet and flooring damaged by water
2 Drivers side and rear passenger door damaged. Nissan; Maxima Unknown person, with intent to damage victim’s property,
A known subject knocked off a ceiling mounted fire sprinkler head while throwing a football inside the building, causing flooding and water damage.
caused fangs to the victim’s vehicle while same was parking in the Mitchell Center parking lot. Damage exceeds $500 but not
8/26/14 3:36 p.m.
$2500 in value.
University Police Dept. Theft of lost property second degree 1 navy blue quicksilver men’s wallet, 1 Florida drivers license.,
8/20/2014 4:35 p.m. Delta Parking Lot Duty Upon Striking an Unoccupied Vehicle
1 Social Security Card, 1 US Navy Dependent ID Card, 2 Debit Cards. Unknown person(s) actively inside a or exerted control over
1 passenger side quarter panel damaged.
listed property belonging to and mislaid by the victim/reporter
Unknown person stuck victim’s vehicle while same was
with the intent to deprive him of listed property valued at $64.00
parked in the Delta Parking lot and left the scene of the accident
in Blake and includes 2 bank debit cards.
prior to police arrival without leaving required information. 8/28/14 10:57 p.m. 8/20/2014 7:46 p.m.
The Grove
Rec Center
Possession of Marijuana
Theft of property third degree 1 iPhone 5C
Between the listed dates and times residents of The Grove were caught with marijuana and drug paraphernalia in their room.
1 Otter Box for 1 iPhone 5C An unknown person took the victim’s property without consensus after he left it unattended in the recreation center.
8/29/14 3:34 a.m. University Circle @ South Drive Driving under the influence - Alcohol
8/21/2014 4:35 p.m. Humanities Building
To request additional issues at a stand near you, email: vanguarddistribution@gmail.com
enter victim’s apartment at the Grove
Theft of property third degree 1 math book, 1 history book An unknown person took the victim’s property (book) while they were left unattended in a classroom of the Humanities Building.
The listed offender was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and was booked into Metro Jail.
If you SEE something, SAY something 251-460-6312
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SEPT. 1, 2014
New speed bumps cause bumpy start to semester Byy K KAR ARIE IE F FUG UGET ETT T
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outh Alabama has added new speed bumps around campus, and according to students, they’re hard to miss. What were previously rubber and built to moderate height are now what Bob Lowry, USA’s Interim Director of Public Relations, says are “concrete stamped to look like brick” and have become, according to USA senior Paige Billington, “speed mountains.” “They tear the bottom of my car up because it’s so low,” Billington said of the new additions to USA’s roadways, “I don’t like them.” This is a comment repeated by many of the students we spoke to around campus. However, some students have other concerns. Gabrielle McGuane, also a senior, said she had not even noticed the additions. “The parking is something that needs to be addressed,” McGuane said. Parking is an issue at USA that, with ever-increasing enrollment, has progressively worsened over the years. “The money [spent on speed bumps] should be spent on parking instead,”
student Kyler Gates said. According to Lowry, however, there was sound reasoning for choosing to spend the money on speed bumps. “[The speed bumps] reached their life expectancy and were beginning to sink into the asphalt, causing traffic safety issues,” said Lowry. He says only five speed bumps have been replaced so far, each costing around $1500. “As others begin to fail, [they] will address them on a
THE VANGUARD
case-by-case basis.” Lowry says that, in the end, the price is about the same as the older, rubber ones. ”The concrete lumps are designed to be more durable and longer lasting than the rubber,” Lowry said, “based on previous experience and factoring in the life expectancy of the lumps, the cost of the concrete lumps and the rubber lumps is about the same.” Speed bumps are not the only
improvements being made on campus. Lowry told The Vanguard that multiple projects and improvements are in the works. “There is a constant need for improvements and replacement of failing systems on campus,” Lowry said. “Problems with the storm water distribution system have resulted in several small potholes in campus parking lots. These minor repairs will be completed in the near future.”
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LIFE
MITCHELL KAHALLEY LIFE EDITOR wmk1221@jagmail.southalabama.edu
Weekends start early at Mobile Museum of Art Byy JJEN ENNA NA M MUN UNDA DAY Y
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here’s nothing to do in Mobile!” Does this sound familiar? Despite how large our city is, I still hear people saying this on a regular basis. Whether it’s about what to do after classes, or where to go for date night, everybody has said it at least once. Don’t worry; I’m guilty of it too. Many people think there are only fun things to do around town on Friday nights or on the weekends. However, with the Thursday night events at the Mobile Museum of Art and their new Muse Music series, there is no reason to keep that mindset. The Thursday Night programs at the Mobile Museum of Art have been held since the beginning of 2013 and have shown great success since its formation. “We have a constant flow of people coming in on Thursdays,” said Howard McPhail, Curator of Programs for the Mobile Museum of Art. “Our musical performances seem to be the most popular, but our art demonstrations also draw a fairly large crowd. We’ve had ice sculptors and glass blowers come in and demonstrate their crafts.” Recent events that have been held during Thursday Nights at the Mobile Museum of Art include “The Art of the Entrée”, which showcases local chefs and how they create delicious masterpieces, “The Big Draw”, an event where patrons
Allyysso Ally on Cl Clem emen em e ts en ts spe peak aks w wiitth h a cu ust stom o err abo om bout utt her u er jew wel elry lryy.
THIS WEEK MITCHELL KAHALLEY can draw on a museum wall to celebrate visual literacy, and “Muse Music”, a live music series that features local talent and that doesn’t adhere to typical barscene performances. According to the Mobile Museum of Art website, their Muse Music space “lends to a deeper mode of listening, and provides musicians along the Gulf Coast with an alternative to venues that focus more on food or the social atmosphere.” The second night of the Muse Music series took place recently and featured John Carolina, a performance name for Steven Laney and Joelle Rosen of the
MITCHELL KAHALLEY
Sou So utth th A Allaab bam ma st sttud udeen ud nt Leah Leaah Le h Fo F ox di disp spla layyss heerr deeccor lays orat rat ativ ive arr ttss at th the Ni Nigh ig gh ht M Maark ark rket et. et. Underhill Family Orchestra. Ben Cook of the Underhill Family Orchestra was the opening performance. Howard McPhail, the Curator of Programs at the Mobile Museum of Art, says so far, the Muse Music nights have been very successful and have drawn in a fairly large, responsive crowd. “But, it’s not really about having a specific number of people show up,” says Howard McPhail. “It’s about the visitors having a rich experience and forming a connection while they are here.” The space is designed so that it has a “listening lounge” sort of vibe to it. There are no distractions, and the bands form a relationship with their audience members by answering questions and getting to know their fans. Muse Music nights take place every third Thursday night of the month, and the price for admission is $10. The doors open at 7 p.m. and typically feature two 45 minute long sets. This past Thursday featured a Night Market where local artists set up booths and sold their work. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the Mobile Museum of Art will feature The Village of Spring Hill’s Screen on the Green. This is the second half of the annual Screen on the Green outdoor film festival. The night will feature a showing of “America’s Amazon,” a documentary on the Mobile Tensaw River Delta. Admission is free and the movie starts at 8 p.m. Thursday nights are also the Mobile Museum of Art’s free admission days, so before stopping by for a special Thursday night program, you can check out the museum’s exhibitions free of charge.
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Labor Day Holiday No Classes Andrea Bohnet Faculty Flute Recital 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Laidlaw Performing Arts Center $5 for USA Students
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Jaguar Productions Midweek Nooner 11 a.m-3 p.m. Student Center
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Satori Open Mic Night 7 p.m. Satori Coffee House
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Open Mic Night w/ Spoken Word Artist Gabriela Garcia Medina 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Student Center Terrace Free Master DJ Class 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Student Center Ballroom Free Light It Up Dance Party 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Student Center Ballroom Free Trivia 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Student Center Mall Free
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SEPT. 1, 2014
Tim Easton records live at Satori Byy JJEN ENNA NA M MUN UNDA DAY Y
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he Independent Music Collective (IMC) was founded in 2009 and is a student organization here at the University of South Alabama that “works together with USA faculty, staff, alumni and members of the broader community in an effort to enrich Mobile’s music scene.” The members of IMC “coordinate with local venues, promoters and organizations to publicize and promote other Mobile-area music events.” They also sponsor a listening-room concert series throughout the year and search for talented musicians to perform. The IMC usually has six to eight concerts per year, and they focus on booking national performers, mainly featuring roots musicians and Americana acts. Over the past five years, the Independent Music Collective has hosted Richard Buckner, Will Johnson, Charlie Parr and Lydia Loveless, to name a few. According to the IMC, “It is [their] goal to augment the local scene, so we strive to book national performers who otherwise might not play in Mobile. . .
the concert series has become one of the premier listening-room stopovers in the Southeast.” The first event of the 2014/2015 year by the Independent Music Collective will take place Friday, Sept. 5 and will feature singer/songwriter Tim Easton. According to his biography, Tim Easton is a Nashville, Tennessee based Americana singer/songwriter that includes both folk and rock & roll influences. His debut album “Special 20” was released in 1998 and, since then, Easton has produced ten albums. Along with having a solo career, he also continues to collaborate with other roots musicians and has recently been a part of the Americana group “Easton Stagger Phillips.” Their album “Revolution Road” debuted in May. Tim Easton is no stranger to the Mobile area. The Independent Music Collective has scheduled him to play at the Satori Coffee House near campus many times. After Easton’s first show with the IMC at Satori in 2013, he called the coffee house “one of the friendlier listening-room type joints I’ve come across in all of my touring.”
SPORTS
ALYSSA NEWTON SPORTS EDITOR usavgsports@gmail.com
His experience at the Satori Coffee House must have made an impression on Easton, because he returned in March 2014 to record his first show for a new Double Live album. This official live album will feature Easton’s solo acoustic performances from Satori Coffee House and is scheduled to release in either late 2014 or early 2015. Easton is set to play another show on September 5 and this one will also be used in the making of his Double Live album. According to American Songwriter Magazine, “Anyone who enters a club not knowing Easton will leave as a raving fan.” So, if you’re in the area and looking for a great performance, stop by the Satori Coffee House to listen in on the acoustic sounds of Tim Easton. Admission is free of charge for all University of South Alabama students while all non-USA students will be charged a $5 entry fee. There will be no opening act, and the doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m. Soutth Al Sout Alab abam ab am ma fo f ot o ba b ll ope pens nss the h ir ir 200114 seeason ason as o a ai ag ains nstt K Keen ntt Sta tThe ttee innewly K nt Ke n , Ohio Oh h io o a t 1 p p. m m. . built soccer press box
Vanguard Archives
Jag football to open at Kent State By ALYSSA NEWTON Sports Editor
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fter a bye week, South Alabama will face off against Kent State for their 2014 season opener. The Jags will travel to Kent, Ohio for the Sept. 6 game. The Golden Flashes traveled down to Mobile last year for the Jags’ homecoming on Oct. 19, 2013 where South defeated Kent State 38-21. The win gave the Jags their third win bringing their record to 3-3. The only other meeting between the Sun Belt and MAC team was the first time they met on Sept. 24, 2011 at Kent. The Jags lost to the Golden Flashes 33-25 giving Kent
State their first win of 2011.
Impact players: Kent State QB Colin ReardonThe QB threw for 1,957 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 59 percent completion rate in 2013. He went 30-for-41 with 264 yards and 2 touchdowns in week one against the Ohio Bobcats Saturday Aug. 30. WR Chris Humphrey Kent State’s leading receiver in 2013 with 51 receptions for 613 yards and 3 touchdowns. He continued to be Kent’s leading receiver in week one with 6
receptions for 91 yards and 1 touchdown. S Nate Holley - Holley had 37 total tackles in 2013. The safety recorded 18 total tackles and two forced fumbles in week one. LB Matt Dellinger Second in tackles on the team in 2013 with 77. He had the third most tackles on the team in week one with 8 including 0.5 tackle for a loss.
South Alabama QB Brandon Bridge – Played in 9 games in 2013 serving as the backup to Ross Metheny. He went 29 for 66 with 398 yards
and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 227 yards and 1 touchdown. Bridge has been named to the Senior Bowl watch list. TE Wes SaxtonSecond leading receiver on the team in 2013 with 50 receptions for 635 yards. His large 6’4 frame provides a great target for Bridge to throw to. He was named to the Biletnikoff short list earlier this year. Saxton was also named to the Senior Bowl watch list. CB Qudarius FordHe was the second leading tackler on the team with 76 tackles in 2013. He was also tied for second on the team in interceptions
South Alabama vs. Kent State COURTESY OF IMC
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Location: Kent, Ohio, Kickoff 1 p.m.
#JAGNATION
with 2. He looks to continue making the backfield a no fly zone. LB Maleki Harris He was fourth in tackles with 63. Harris also had 2.5 sacks and 1 interception. He returns as one of the leaders of what seems to be a very strong defense. ESPN has given South Alabama a 53.6 percent chance of winning the contest on Saturday. But Kent State has an additional reason to win. Kent State recently lost their starting center Jason Bitsko in a tragic and sudden fashion. The 21-year-old was found dead in his dorm after not reporting
to practice. The team now wears his number, No. 54, on their helmets in his honor. After the loss to the Ohio Bobcats Kent will be looking to redeem themselves with a win. The projected weather in Kent, Ohio for Sept. 6 is a high of 70 degrees and a low of 50 degrees. There is a 50 percent chance of rain during the day with a wind speed of 13 mph. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. central time. For those who won’t make it up to Kent, Ohio for the game, fans can watch the contest on ESPN. South alabama students can also watch the game in the Student Center Ballroom on Saturday.
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SEPT. 1, 2014
South Alabama volleyball starts season with three losses Byy D DRE REW W SC SCEL ELSI SI
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he South Alabama Jaguars were unable to come away with a victory in the Pepperdine Asics Classic in Malibu, California. In their season opener Friday Aug, 29 against Pepperdine, the Jaguars fell 25-22, 25-23, 25-17. Mechell Daniel led the team with 11 kills, and Emily Hundt posted 16 assists to go along with 12 digs. Jenna Hassell led both teams with 15 digs. On Saturday, Hassell moved up to third on South Alabama’s career digs list, passing Shannon VanAntwerp with 1,289, but the Jags dropped both matches against Oral Roberts and Nevada. Sophomore Jessica Lewis had
28 kills between the two matches. Against Oral Roberts, South Alabama lost the first two sets 2520 and 25-21, but battled back in the third to win 25-20. The Golden Eagles countered in the fourth set, building a 13-3 lead and winning 25-18. Emma Anderson had 21 assists. The Jags dropped their first two sets against tournament champion Nevada 25-21 and 25-13, but again took the third set, 25-22. The Wolf pack finished the fourth set 25-14 to win the match and the tournament title. South Alabama plays in the University of Wyoming Classic next week against Wyoming, Montana and Ball State.
Cross country finishes second Byy D DRE REW W SC SCEL ELSI SI
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outh Alabama men's and women's cross country teams opened their season at Battleship Memorial Park. Men and women both took second place at the Jaguar Open on Friday, Aug. 29. The women participated in a 4K race to begin the Open and had five Jag women to place in the top 15. Nicole Durham placed sixth with a 15:16:92 time and Shannen Weyner finished in the 11 spot at 15:47:54. Auburn’s Veronica Eder won the race in a time of 14:22.96. The men then ran a 6k to finish the meet with four runners in the top 15.
The Jags were led by Justin Housley with a time of 19:41.12 placing ninth. Patrick Rohr, Joe Gratton and Buddy Soto also placed with their times. Another Auburn Tiger, Ty McCormack, finished the course in 18:40.57 to pick up the individual men’s victory. Both USA teams finished second after Auburn University. "We are trying to figure out where we are and where we are starting from," head cross country coach David Barnett said.. "We have not done a lot of intense workouts." Cross country will return Friday, Sept. 12 at the annual Azalea City Classic at the Mobile Fairgrounds.
Student Health would like to welcome Candyce Morris, WHNP
Soccer 1-1 at Trojan Classic Byy A AAR ARON ON P POI OIRO ROUX UX
Spor Sp orts ts R Rep epor orte terr
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Candyce Morris, WHNP is now accepting appointments. Specializing in Women’s Health GYN services, STI screening and Contraceptive Counseling (251) 460- 7151 Student Health TRP III Bldg Suite 1200 off USA North Drive
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SEPT. 1, 2014
he USA soccer team took on Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State over the weekend during the Trojan classic hosted by Troy. During their first matchup against Tennessee Tech Friday, Aug. 29, the Jags beat the Golden Eagles 5-0. Junior forward Jordan Duncan scored 3 of the Jags’ 5 points and recorded an assist. Duncan scored the first goal for the Jaguars towards the end of the first half, her second at the 77th minute mark, and her third in the last few minutes of the game. Freshman forward Chardé Hannah scored the Jags’ second goal at the 58:31 mark, and Danielle Henley gave the South a 3-0 lead at the 75:49 mark. Freshman Sophie Haywood assisted the final two goals of the match during her first career match. “Today just emphasized how much we don’t play as individuals, we play as a squad,” said USA head coach Graham Winkworth in an interview with USAJaguars.com. “It just emphasized how important every player in this squad is to be successful.” “Jordan was excellent,” said Winkworth about Duncan’s hat trick. “She’s improved a lot since last year. Her touch is improving
#JagTweets
every time and she’s not getting knocked off the ball like she was last season; she’s stronger. She’s really buying into her role on the squad, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench.” On the defensive end, South held the Golden Eagles to four shots total. The Jags returned to the pitch on Sunday, Aug. 31 to take on the Kennesaw State Owls. Despite outshooting the Owls 196, South fell short, losing 2-1. Chardé Hannah scored South’s only goal at the 3:59 mark. Kennesaw State’s Maggie Gaughan responded with a goal of her own at 11:35. From that point, the score remained 1-1 until the 82nd minute when Gaughan again scored, giving the Owls a 2-1 lead over the Jags. USA goalkeeper Courtney Baum allowed both goals and recorded three saves in the net. “Credit to Kennesaw State,” said Winkworth to USAJaguars.com. “They had a gameplan, they executed it very well, they parked the bus and countered. We’ve got to have a plan B and obviously we’ll spend most of this week working on one, so when teams do put 11 players behind the ball outside their penalty area, we’ve got a better way of breaking them down.” After the Trojan Classic this weekend, the Jaguars’ record stands at 2-2.
Finding the best tweets from South Alabama athletes. Make sure you follow us on Twitter for sports updates and live play-by-plays.
#JagNation
Chloe @chloerathburn
Derek Westbrook @thedwestbrook Hey #JagNation, time to practice your meanest Jaguar growls because IT’S GAME WEEK!!! #BeatKentSt #WhatsAGoldenFlash #FunBelt
Track
Softball
Brandon Bridge @Air_Canada_7
Drew @Drewski72
Football
SEC network is gonna be bae this fall
Stephanie Pilkington @SJPilk09
Softball
Am I the only one that hates neon colors in professional sports?
Twice been asked/mentioned tonight if I was Chloe from Twitter. Yes hi. I do tweet a lot. No shame. #famous
Why do people run the option on navy?
Football
Merideth Mackin @meridethm4 Life is just better with football in it.
Softball
Chris May @CMayFive5
Minivan @MandaMiniVan
Softball
There’s someone going around Campus Quarters stealing oven knobs ... no knobs are safe
Alyssa Linn @AlyssaLinn14
Softball COURTESY OF DEREK WESTBROOK
So S out uth A abam Al aab bam ma cros cr oss os oss cco oun untr tr y h ho old lds Ja Jagu guar ar Op peen aatt Battl aatttl tles tles eship hip M hi Meem mo ori rial al Par ark. k.
The best naps are when you fall asleep while doing your homework
Follow Us!
Volleyball
Want to hear a joke? Parking on South Alabama’s campus...
Hunter Vaughn @HVaughn Game week is finally here!
Footnall #beatKentState #JagNation USA Vanguard Sports @USAVGSports
OPINION
JORDAN KNOX OPINION EDITOR kjk1103@jagmail.southalabama.edu
Ferguson shooting raises questions about police brutality By MITCHELL KAHALLEY Life Editor
T
he recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have dominated the conversation in this country for the better part of the last three weeks. On Aug. 9, 2014, Ferguson Police Officer, Darren Wilson, shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed black man. Some eyewitnesses claim that Brown had his hands up to surrender, while others claim that Wilson was assaulted by Brown and the officer only acted in self defense. We may never know the truth about what happened between the two men that night, but many agree that the way the police handled the aftermath of the shooting was wrong. The shooting and the events that followed it is only one example in a disturbing national trend of police militarization and killing of unarmed black men, proof of the institutionalized racism that still plagues this country.
A preliminary autopsy, commissioned at the request of Michael Brown’s family, found that Brown was shot at least six times, twice in the head and four in his right arm. It seems unnecessary to fire six shots at a seemingly unarmed person. Still, as previously stated, there is no way of actually knowing the events of that evening. We must then consider this question: On average, do police shoot black men more often than white men? The numbers say yes. Four unarmed black men were killed by police officers in the months of July and August alone. Kevin Johnson, Meghan Hoyer and Brad Heath wrote in a USA Today article that nearly twice a week, from 2005 to 2012, a white police officer killed a black person. The same article also reported that 18 percent of black men killed during that time period were under 21, as opposed to only 8.7 percent of whites. However, the article does say that those statistics are inherently flawed. Only 750 of over 17,000 law enforcement agencies in
the United States contribute to the FBI database that tracks these statistics. Still, I believe that this sample size denotes a trend. Combine these statistics with others, and it is apparent to me that African Americans are generally treated differently by the law. The aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown also raised questions about the over-militarization of local police forces in the United States. While, according to an article in The Washington Post, it is true that some looting occurred after the incident, most of the protests in the town of Ferguson were peaceful, “. . . the demonstrators are as diverse as their grievances — and in their methods of addressing them,” The Washington Post reported. The response of the police seemed more like a military offensive rather than a local police force keeping the peace. Kara Dansky wrote in a piece for CNN that the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Justice send billions of dollars and military equipment to local police agencies. She
stated that two of the armored vehicles patrolling St. Louis, of which Ferguson is a suburb, were purchased with those funds. Dansky’s article points out that the nation is sitting on a surplus of military equipment after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has been trying to reduce the surplus by making the equipment available to local law enforcement agencies. The scenes on news sites of groups of peaceful protesters being dispersed by use of tear gas causes me to wonder if all of this is necessary. An overmilitarized police force sends the message to the community that the police view the people as enemies instead of civilians to be protected. The procedure the Ferguson Police Department used should also be questioned. It took six days for the department to release the name of the officer who shot Brown. At the same time, the department released a video and details of a convenience store robbery of which Brown was named as a suspect. In my opinion, the video is
irrelevant to the death of Brown, and I feel it was questionable to release it at the same time the officer’s name was given. Even if Michael Brown is the perpetrator in the convenience store robbery, his killing was not warranted. It should be noted that Brown had no criminal record. According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation, as of Aug. 22, 17 journalists have been arrested in Ferguson. The police have clearly overstepped their boundaries by not only suppressing the first amendment rights of the protesters but of the press covering the story as well. The endgame of Ferguson is hard to see. Police presence at protests has been subsiding, which has resulted in calmer, safer protests for everyone. Still, the questions raised by the events in Ferguson don’t have simple answers. There will be a conversation about police brutality and the events in Ferguson Wednesday, Sept. 3 in the Student Center Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. where those questions can be discussed.
South’s low graduation rate is discouraging to students
By Alexander Moylan Copy Editor
I
was frustrated this week when I came across a story by WKRG stating that South’s four-year graduation rate is 14 percent. Why does it matter to me? Well, I love working with fellow students. It’s my passion and I want to see them succeed. But if working with college students has taught me anything, it’s that it may be time to abandon the idea that an undergraduate degree should be completed within four years. Today’s student is being pulled in a million
directions. Getting “involved” on campus is a popular cliche and I’m all for it. However, perhaps it’s too much to expect students to be involved in on-campus organizations, attend classes and often-times work, all while aiming to graduate within four years. I did it myself as an undergrad, but sometimes I still wonder whether I was able to get as involved in extracurricular activities as I could have been if I hadn’t been so focused on graduating within that time frame. If you can graduate within four years and have an idea of what you want to do post-graduation, that’s awesome! Seriously, you should be commended. However, if you ask me, the published 14 percent graduation rate, referring only to students who graduate with a degree within a four year window, is still a little maligning to the perfectly capable, hardworking students who may take four, five or six years to complete their degree. In my opinion, this graduation rate does not take into consideration the wealth of experiences that may accompany students who graduate during their fifth or sixth year of education. I feel like the line has been blurred between what we’re told is important as college students and what employers are looking for. In today’s
competitive job market, experience counts! But what exactly can a student do to distinguish themselves from the mass of graduating students every year? Get involved. Getting involved on campus and tackling extracurricular activities is a requirement if someone is truly going to put themselves ahead of their peers in the job race. The problem is that participation in a club or two, maybe even a position with SGA or with internships on campus, also takes time away from studies. Are we expected to maintain a full course schedule, participate in a ton of extracurricular activities, boast an over-the-top GPA, and still graduate within four years? I don’t think we should be. I don’t think students need to change. Instead, perhaps what needs to change is the way we value statistics like the four-year graduation rate. I think too many considerations are left out. On the surface, the four year graduation statistic seems to value completion rates over a well-rounded and timely education. There seems to be emphasis on completing an education in a timely manner and being an involved student. But is completing an education in four years more valuable than getting experience and investing in the campus and community?
The term “super senior” seems to come with a bit of vitriol behind it, but is there anything wrong with taking as much time as is needed to graduate instead of simply giving up? I don’t think so. If anything, the additional time required to graduate demonstrates perseverance, determination and an accomplishment that can’t be summed up in a simple statistic like South’s 14 percent graduation rate.
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JORDAN KNOX OPINION EDITOR kjk1103@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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SEPT. 1, 2014