Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Volume 45, Number 30 March 31, 2008 Serving USA SinCe 1965 Vanguard The http://www.usavanguard.com online The Vanguard z P.O. Drawer 25100 Mobile, Ala. 36688 z Newsroom - 460-6442 Fax 414-8293 Advertising - 460-6898 z Letters, press releases, announcements - [email protected]Inside The Meet the Horror Meet the Horror Club Club see page 6 Lifestyles pg. 6 Fine Arts pg. 8 Entertainment pg. 10 Sports pg. 12 Opinion pg. 15 Classifieds pg. 23 Graduate aid to increase The University of South Alabama Foundation recently approved a proposal presented by Dr. Patsy Covey, University of South Alabama vice president for academic affairs, that will provide the University with an annual grant of $471,000 to support expansions in the University’s graduate aid program. Graduate assistanships and fellowships are usually provided to academically talent- ed graduate students in order to allow these students to become fully involved in schol- arship. “Graduate assistantships … are univer- sally recognized as an essential component of graduate education,” Covey said. “They allow students to become immersed in the scholarship and professional activity.” Competitive graduate assistantships can also lead to great productivity and greater levels of research output by the various departments in a university, according to Covey. Of the $471,000, $246,000 will go towards the creation of 22 new USA Foundation Fellowships. The new fellow- ships include two fellowships for the University’s new interdisciplinary program in environmental toxicology, 10 new fellow- ships for the College of Engineering, two new fellowships for the School of Computer and Information Sciences, two for the College of Allied Health, and six new fellowships for the department of psy- chology’s recently approved Ph.D. pro- gram. The remaining $225,000 will go toward supporting increasing the stipend levels of 73 of the 132 currently offered assistant- ships. The University currently has approxam- iately 1,800 full-time graduate students, according to Covey. “We can only support about 7.2 percent of our graduate students [with graduate aid],” said Covey at the Foundation’s board of directors meeting. “We have an insuffi- cient number of assistantships and cannot be as competitive as we would like to be.” For example, prior to the approved increase, the University of South Alabama College of Engineering was only able to provide three total assistantships. These assistantships came with a tuition waiver and $6,000 stipend for the academic year. The national average for engineering University continues to vacate Hillsdale homes It has been the stated long-term intentions of the University to get out of the single-family housing business, and as the University continues to slowly move forward with this plan, some students are not happy. “We were told that we were being kicked out so the University could build a football stadium,” Mathew Wilkinson, a civil engi- neering student at USA and current resident of Hillsdale, said. “I am outraged.” Wilkinson is one of 15 residents who are currently being told that their leases will not be available for renewal. The University plans to use the land to build a multi-purpose storage and facility unit. An additional four already-vacated homes will also be demolished to make way for the new facility. “The University has no plans to build a football stadium,” Keith Ayers, University of South Alabama director of public relations, said. However, Ayers acknowledged that there might be some “kernel of truth” to the rumor. Collins, Hendrich to face off in runoff Candidates running for the Student Government Association for the 2008-2009 academic year gathered in the SGA office March 28 to await the results for the win- ners. At 7:20 p.m. the anticipated Student Government Association candidates hov- ered around the window where the results of the winners were posted. Caitlin Collins and Mikey Hendrich will have a runoff for president because neither candidate reached the 50 percent accumu- lation of votes needed to win presidency outright. Collins received 493 votes, Hendrich 282 votes. Third-place presidential candidate J effrey Ryan Harris recieved 216 votes. Chapter 505 of the SGA code of laws states, “A majority of the total votes cast is necessary to win any of the elected SGA offices other than senator and student-at- large.” “A run-off was definitely something I expected.” Collins said. “There were three strong candidates running, which made it really hard for any one person to get the majority of the votes. I'm just happy that I am going to have the opportunity to be one of the candidates in the runoff.” Jason Shepard won the seat for treasurer having 572 votes where his opponent Todd Fowler had 346 votes. Shepard plans to focus his efforts on streamlining and simplifying the appropria- tions process along with communicating more effectively with the student body as a whole. “I hope to affect immediate change,” Shepard said. “My biggest goal will be to work with the senate to immediately pro- Marzieh K. Atigh / Photo Editor Candidates running for the Student Government Association look on the results of the win- ners in the SGA office March 28. Collins and Hendrich will have a runoff next week. Jason Shepard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]Leigh Patton MANAGING EDITOR [email protected]Jason Shepard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]Leigh Patton / Managing Editor The University of South Alabama is in the process of vacating 19 homes in Hillsdale to make room for a mulit-purpose storage and facility unit. Eventually South Alabama plans to get completely out of the single-family housing rental business see HILLSDALE, page 19 see GRADUATE AID, page 18 Smith takes VP uncontested; Shepard defeats Fowler; Skewes is new CJ; McGee is AG see RUNOFF, page 22
Transcript
VanguardVanguardVanguardVolume 45, Number 30 March 31, 2008 Serving USA SinCe 1965
Lifestyles pg. 6 Fine Arts pg. 8 Entertainment pg. 10 Sports pg. 12 Opinion pg. 15 Classifieds pg. 23
Graduate aidto increase
The University of South AlabamaFoundation recently approved a proposalpresented by Dr. Patsy Covey, University ofSouth Alabama vice president for academicaffairs, that will provide the University withan annual grant of $471,000 to supportexpansions in the University’s graduate aidprogram.
Graduate assistanships and fellowshipsare usually provided to academically talent-ed graduate students in order to allow thesestudents to become fully involved in schol-arship.
“Graduate assistantships … are univer-sally recognized as an essential componentof graduate education,” Covey said. “Theyallow students to become immersed in thescholarship and professional activity.”
Competitive graduate assistantships canalso lead to great productivity and greaterlevels of research output by the variousdepartments in a university, according toCovey.
Of the $471,000, $246,000 will gotowards the creation of 22 new USAFoundation Fellowships. The new fellow-ships include two fellowships for theUniversity’s new interdisciplinary programin environmental toxicology, 10 new fellow-ships for the College of Engineering, twonew fellowships for the School ofComputer and Information Sciences, twofor the College of Allied Health, and sixnew fellowships for the department of psy-chology’s recently approved Ph.D. pro-gram.
The remaining $225,000 will go towardsupporting increasing the stipend levels of73 of the 132 currently offered assistant-ships.
The University currently has approxam-iately 1,800 full-time graduate students,according to Covey.
“We can only support about 7.2 percentof our graduate students [with graduateaid],” said Covey at the Foundation’s boardof directors meeting. “We have an insuffi-cient number of assistantships and cannotbe as competitive as we would like to be.”
For example, prior to the approvedincrease, the University of South AlabamaCollege of Engineering was only able toprovide three total assistantships. Theseassistantships came with a tuition waiverand $6,000 stipend for the academic year.
The national average for engineering
University continues to vacate Hillsdale homes
It has been the stated long-term intentions of the University toget out of the single-family housing business, and as the Universitycontinues to slowly move forward with this plan, some students arenot happy.
“We were told that we were being kicked out so the Universitycould build a football stadium,” Mathew Wilkinson, a civil engi-neering student at USA and current resident of Hillsdale, said. “Iam outraged.”
Wilkinson is one of 15 residents who are currently being told thattheir leases will not be available for renewal. The University plansto use the land to build a multi-purpose storage and facility unit. Anadditional four already-vacated homes will also be demolished tomake way for the new facility.
“The University has no plans to build a football stadium,” KeithAyers, University of South Alabama director of public relations,said.
However, Ayers acknowledged that there might be some “kernelof truth” to the rumor.
Collins, Hendrich to face off in runoff
Candidates running for the StudentGovernment Association for the 2008-2009academic year gathered in the SGA officeMarch 28 to await the results for the win-ners.
At 7:20 p.m. the anticipated StudentGovernment Association candidates hov-ered around the window where the resultsof the winners were posted.
Caitlin Collins and Mikey Hendrich willhave a runoff for president because neithercandidate reached the 50 percent accumu-lation of votes needed to win presidencyoutright.
Collins received 493 votes, Hendrich 282votes. Third-place presidential candidateJeffrey Ryan Harris recieved 216 votes.
Chapter 505 of the SGA code of lawsstates, “A majority of the total votes cast isnecessary to win any of the elected SGAoffices other than senator and student-at-large.”
“A run-off was definitely something Iexpected.” Collins said. “There were threestrong candidates running, which made itreally hard for any one person to get themajority of the votes. I'm just happy that Iam going to have the opportunity to be oneof the candidates in the runoff.”
Jason Shepard won the seat for treasurerhaving 572 votes where his opponent Todd
Fowler had 346 votes.Shepard plans to focus his efforts on
streamlining and simplifying the appropria-tions process along with communicatingmore effectively with the student body as a
whole. “I hope to affect immediate change,”
Shepard said. “My biggest goal will be towork with the senate to immediately pro-
Marzieh K. Atigh / Photo Editor
Candidates running for the Student Government Association look on the results of the win-ners in the SGA office March 28. Collins and Hendrich will have a runoff next week.
The University of South Alabama is in the process of vacating 19 homes inHillsdale to make room for a mulit-purpose storage and facility unit.Eventually South Alabama plans to get completely out of the single-familyhousing rental business see HILLSDALE, page 19 see GRADUATE AID, page 18
Smith takes VP uncontested; Shepard defeats Fowler; Skewes is new CJ; McGee is AG
see RUNOFF, page 22
Vanguard2 TheMarch 31, 2008
Dr. Riker gives free skin cancer screeningsAs the spring passes and the summer is quickly approaching,
one of the last things on every pleasure-bent mind is going to thedoctor. But in a society that relishes in the look and satisfactionof a healthy-looking tan, going to the doctor is something thatshould be considered unavoidable. A “healthy-looking” tan isquite literally anything but healthy, and the more often you seekthe sun, the more likely cancer will seek you.
Prevention is the greatest cure for any and all types of can-cers.
On March 29 during the 31st annual Azalea Trail Run, thou-sands of runners celebrated the benefits of exercise and diseaseprevention with free skin cancer screenings in the Mobile CivicCenter downtown.
The University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Cancer Instituteprovided the free screenings of all the runners and anyone elsewanting a checkup.
Dr. Adam I. Riker, chief of surgical oncology at the Mitchell
Cancer Institute was on-site to screen patients and assist the vol-unteers and staff in screening patients.
“The major thing to consider to be proactive in preventingskin cancer is getting yearly screenings,” Riker said. “Full-body,naked screenings is the only way to maintain healthy skin and todetect any suspicious spots or moles.”
According to the American Cancer Society, these are theA,B,C,D characterstics of a “suspicious mole.”
“‘A’ is for asymmetry; if one half of the mole does not matchthe other half. ‘B’ is for border; check for irregular, ragged,notched or blurred edges. ‘C’ is for color; the pigmentation is notuniform with different shades of brown and black, sometimeswith patches of red, white and blue. ‘D’ is for diameter greaterthan 6 millimeters. ‘E’ is for elevation.”
Skin cancer is 95 percent preventable, yet it is the most com-mon type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
The surge in the use of tanning beds to create a golden“glow” gradually increases a person’s risk of cancer.
The other approximately 5 to 10 percent of skin cancer casesare from genetics, so everyone is immune to skin cancer andshould get screened as a precaution.
“The highest demographic at risk are young, white females
There are five types of suspicious moles that should be looked at if they looklike any of these.The first mole is as asymmetrical; the second one is irregu-lar, ragged and blurred; the third one has different colors; the fourth one ismore than 6 millimeters in diameter; and the last one is elevated from theskin. According to Dr. Riker, if any moles look unusual like these, then seeinga doctor is highly recommended.
Dr. Riker and his team from the University of South Alabama’s MitchellCancer Institute gave free cancer screenings at the Mobile Civic Center March9. Riker looked at anyone interested in checking his or her body for suspi-cious moles related to cancer.
Sidra Rasool / Staff Photographer
see CANCER, page 18
Vanguard 3TheMarch 31, 2008
Vanguard
EDITORIAL STAFFEditor-in-Chief: Jason ShepardManaging Editor: Leigh PattonAssociate Editor: Anna ChapmanLifestyles Editor: Ashley D. McGeeFine Arts Editor: Ashley GrunerEntertainment Editor: Stephanie A. HudsonOpinion Editor: Matt FlanaganSports Editors: John Kenny, David HopperPhoto Editor:Marzieh K. AtighSenior Reporters: Hannah Skewes, Devi SampatCopy Editor: Jeremy Daughtry
ADVERTISING STAFFAdvertising Manager: Glen AikmanAssistant Advertising Manager: Patrick SennGraphic Designers: Jennifer Manning, RajeshChindurala
MANAGEMENTAdviser: Robert HolbertAccounting: Kathy Brannan
University of South Alabama’s Student Voice
MissionThe Vanguard, a student-run newspaper at the Universityof South Alabama, serves the student readership byreporting the news involving the campus community andsurrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartialin its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendmentrights.
Submission and Editorial PoliciesSend letters and guest columns to: Opinion Editor, van-
[email protected] or The Vanguard,University of South Alabama, P.O. Drawer U-25100,Mobile, Ala. 36688. Letters and guest columns must bereceived by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Mondaypublication. Submissions should be typed and mustinclude the writer’s name, year, school and telephonenumber.
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The Staff Editorial represents the majority of theEditorial Board, which is composed of the Editor inChief, News Editor, Opinion Editor and Lifestyles Editor.All members of the Editorial Board have the same weightduring weekly Editorial Board meetings.
The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarityand will print any corrections or clarifications. To reporta mistake, call the Editor in Chief at (251) 460-6442 or e-mail [email protected].
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The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academ-ic year, except for exam periods and vacations and is pub-lished twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported inpart by an allocation from student activity fees and oper-ates in the Student Media Department of the Division ofStudent Affairs. Issues are available at all Universitybuildings and select off-campus locations. The first copyis free. Additional copies are $1 each.
Web site:http://www.usavanguard.com
Mailing AddressThe Vanguard
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Article XIV, Section 8 of The Lowdown: The editors ofthe student publications shall be free from any type ofcensorship and shall be responsible for the form, contentand staff of the publication.
SPLC Statement: The Vanguard recognizes and affirmsthe editorial independence and press freedom of all stu-dent-edited campus media. Student editors have theauthority to make all content decisions and consequentlybear the responsibility for the decisions that they make.
WE
AT
HE
RThe
02-29-08Theft of PropertyA male student reported his music video
player, valued at $250, stolen from a room inthe Life Sciences Building. No suspects wereidentified, and an investigation is pending.
03-01-08Domestic IncidentA female student was the victim of a
domestic incident involving a male. Theincident occurred at the Epsilon 1 dormito-ry.
03-02-08Simple Assault – Domestic
ViolenceA female student reported that her ex-
boyfriend has been harassing her since theystopped dating in November of 2007. Aninvestigation is pending.
03-03-08Theft of PropertyTheft – Article from Auto/Burglary
of AutoA male student’s car was broken into
while parked in the Beta 1 parking lot.Several electronic and other miscellaneousitems were taken from the vehicle, including$50 cash. Damages totaled almost $700. Nosuspects were identified, but an investigationis pending.
03-04-08 Theft of PropertyA female non-affiliate’s wallet was stolen
in the recreation center. The wallet con-tained $10 cash and an ATM card. Aninvestigation is pending.
03-04-08Theft of Property
An electrician working for the Universityreported $300 worth of electrical toolsstolen from the Springhill Avenue campus.The victim left the tools unattended on thefloor for 30 minutes. Police do not have anysuspects, but are investigating the incident.
03-06-08Theft of PropertyA Dell laptop worth $1,500 was stolen
from a conference room in the StudentCenter. No suspects were identified, but aninvestigating is pending.
03-08-08HarassmentTwo female students were involved in an
altercation in the Epsilon 1 parking lot.Police are investigating.
03-08-08AssaultA male suspect struck a male student in
the face at the Delta 2 dormitory. Five peo-ple witnessed the incident. An investigationis pending.
03-10-08Theft – Article from Auto/Burglary
of AutoAn unknown person(s) burglarized a male
student’s car while it was parked in the southHumanities parking lot. A GPS and an iPodwere taken from the vehicle, and the win-dow was damaged. Damages and lossestogether totaled $700. No suspects wereidentified, but police are investigating.
03-11-08Miscellaneous OffensesA male non-affiliate reported that an
unknown object was thrown at his vehicle inthe Recreation Center parking lot. Therewas damage to the vehicle’s quarter panel. A
white male suspect was identified. An inves-tigation is pending.
03-17-08Theft – Article from Auto/Burglary
of AutoA male student reported his car broken
into while parked in the business collegeparking lot. Losses totaled more than$1,400. An iPod, DVD player, Compaqcomputer and two 12 inch speakers in a cus-tom speaker box were among the itemstaken from the vehicle. Police do not haveany suspects at this time.
03-17-08Possession of Marijuana 2ndA male was arrested on Aubrey Green
Drive for Possession of Marijuana 2nd. Thesuspect also had two pipes and rollingpapers in his possession. The suspect wasbooked into Metro Jail.
03-19-08Theft of Lost PropertyFraudulent Use of Credit/Debit
CardA female student reported her student ID
card stolen. An unknown person has beenusing the ID card to purchase food from var-ious locations around campus. No suspectswere identified.
BL TTERP LICE
see BLOTTER, page 22
Vanguard4 TheMarch 31, 2008
Should I continue to look on?
Albert Einstein once said, “Theworld is a dangerous place, notbecause of those who do evil, butbecause of those who look on and donothing.” Consider this when you passDr. Kline in the hall, and ask yourself... should I continue to look on and donothing?
As for the Hendrich‘Facebook Scandal’
What motivation would MathewPeterson have with accusing Mikey?Facebook groups hold no weight inthe SGA elections. Is it something per-sonal? As for The Vanguard, why didthey even run the story? I find it sadthat The Vanguard decided to print astory that could do nothing but hurt acandidate over a matter that has nobearing on the elections.
‘Scandal’ info was helpful
I heard the rumors about Mikey’sfake profiles and hoped it wasn’t true.Thank you for doing the research andletting the student body know whatwas really go on with this fake “scan-dal.” Down with the haters. Up withMikey!
Harris is still a loser
Well, it looks as if the studentbody has officially rejected Harris’ sen-sational campaign to abolish the SGA.But now the only question is “Will thisdevestating loss wake up Harris andbring him to reality, forcing him toabandon his childish antics or will hecontinue being a loser pushing hisselfish childish desires?”
USA campus showing beauty
I just realized how beautiful ourcampus is during the spring time. Wehave a lot of azalea bushes near thedorms and buildings, and it reallybrings out the beauty of our campus. Ithink maintenance is doing a good jobmaking our campus look great. Keepup the good work!
Baseball season a hit
I’ve been enjoying attending thebaseball games. I love that they arefree too.
USACWH plans expansionsThe University of South Alabama board of trustees recently
approved a $50 million expansion of USA Children's andWomen's Hospital.
The expansion will increase the size of USA's Children's andWomen's Hospital by 150,000 square feet, increasing the hospitalsize by more than 60 percent, according to Dr. Becky DeVillier,USA Children's and Women's Hospital administrator. A newparking lot is to be included along with a new cafeteria andkitchen.
The expansion of the hospital will move pediatric and infantcare to the new wing of the hospital, which is projected to havethree floors while the current building has five.
The construction of the new branch of the hospital willincrease serving capacity for women's services in the existingfloors as well as child and infant caretaking.
"[The expansion will] provide more separation of children'sand women's services," DeVillier said, "It will provide more spaceto better care for our patients in all areas and also allow ourgrowth to continue."
Bob Lowry, senior associate director for hospital marketing andpublic relations for USA, told The Vanguard last year that thehospital projected seeing 3,000 births at the hospital in the yearprior to expansion project entering the preliminary phases, whichwas twice as many as other hospitals in the areas.
Lowry pointed out in April 2007 that more patients werechoosing USA Children's and Women's Hospital and that theexpansion was necessary. The expansion comes as the USAHealth System and USA's Children and Women's Hospital con-tinues to experience major growth from year to year. The hospi-tal has seen more than a 25 percent growth rate in all areas ofcare in the past two years, according to DeVillier.
Construction plans have yet to be finalized. However, construc-tion is projected to begin within the year and end in late 2010 toearly in the year of 2011.
USA’s Children’s and Women’s Hospital is expanding the hospital by150,000 square feet as approved by USA’s board of trustees in their Marchmeeting. Above is the tentative plan for the expansion.
USA Foundation recognizes Whiddon Scholars
The University of South AlabamaFoundation recognized outstanding graduat-ing students in the honors program and recip-ients of the Frederick P. WhiddonScholarships.
The honors program at USA is a programthat invites some of the most academicallytalented and educationally motivated studentsin Mobile and abroad to study in a cohesiveenvironment.
The Frederick P. Whiddon Scholarships forhonors students praises the most academicallymotivated students and gives them up to$40,000 to finance their four-year education.About 60 to 70 incoming freshman this yearapplied for the scholarship, and based oninterviews and other requirements, 28-30received the scholarship.
“The honors program is for students whoseek to enhance and enrich their learning,
due in part to smaller class sizes and multi-faceted courses,” saidDr. Robert Coleman, director of the honors program.
About 120 students from freshman to senior level are currentlyin the program.
One of the featured Whiddon Scholars graduating this year isHolly Peek, a communications major.
The biggest impact that the honors program and the WhiddonScholarship had on Peek's overall education was the opportunitiesthey presented.
“Being in the honors program gave me an advantage whenapplying to medical school,” Peek said. “It forced me to take chal-lenging courses and create my own research thesis. This extrawork closely resembles the extra work that I will be doing in grad-uate school.”
Conducting research and completing the required seniorresearch thesis can be daunting. For Peek it is something that ischallenging and time-consuming yet gives her the opportunity towatch a lot of television.
“My research is focused on the analysis of how male andfemale physicians are portrayed in primetime medical dramas,particularly 'E.R' and 'Grey's Anatomy,'” Peek said. “I am com-paring the ways the physicians are portrayed in terms of ethics,sexual behavior, interactions with patients and personality.”
Most of the students that graduate with a degree in honorsadvance their education with graduate degree programs and pro-fessional schools, such as pharmacy or biomedical sciences. Ofthe graduating seniors this year, a majority of them are concen-trated in science-related programs, with minors or majors in vari-ous fields as varied as art, philosophy or business.
Allison Syklawer is another Whiddon Scholar who chose toconcentrate in the field of psychology, and she is attendingMidwestern University's School of Dentistry in the fall. Sheenjoyed many things about being an honor’s student
“There are a lot of perks that come with being in the honorsprogram, like registering for class early and also teachers goingout of their way to help you,” Syklawer said. “You also are ableto meet and cultivate relationships with various faculty membersand others who support the program.”
“I am going to have participants come into the lab and per-form a simulated stock market game,” Syklawer said. “Myhypothesis predicts that participants with higher NPI [NarcissisticPersonality Inventory] scores should perform well in the bull mar-ket condition of the game and do poorly in the Bear condition;for example, they do not change their strategy to fit the currentsituation -- they do what they think is right and what has workedbefore.”
Students like Syklawer and Peek are not only grateful that theywill graduate from college virtually debt-free, but their experiencegained both academically and socially progress into their profes-sional school, the next phase of their education.
Bill Proenza and Dr. Phil Klotzbach were the keynote speakersfor the fifth annual Southeastern Coastal and AtmosphericProcesses Symposium that was held on March 28 and 29 in theStudent Center Ballroom.
The agenda also included a panel discussion on “PublicPerception of Severe Weather Warnings,” a poster session and anintroduction that highlighted the 20th anniversary of the CoastalWeather Research Center.
Dr. Bill Williams started the conference off with a look back on20 years of the success of the CWRC. The center was started in1988 and is “a self-supporting operation that uses the latest inradar and satellite data to provide forecasts and warnings toindustries and governments all across the Southeast,” Williamssaid. “The CWRC also supports the meteorology program oncampus that started in 1991when there was only one major.”
After John Gordon gave students “a reality check on the tight-ening job market in The National Weather Service,” John Haynesof NASA spoke about ongoing research at NASA involving pub-lic health and coastal management.
“The Earth is changing on all spatial and temporal scales,”Haynes said. “NASA’s purpose is to develop a scientific under-standing of Earth’s system to improve prediction of climate,weather and natural hazards.”
Patrick Gatlin spoke next about the use of a new radar designthat could improve rainfall estimation across the Tennessee RiverValley. The UAH researcher is attempting to find a new way theTVA to estimate rainfall in order to decrease the number of raingauges in the area.
The keynote speaker for Friday night was Bill Proenza, who isthe director of the Southern region of the National WeatherService.
Proenza spoke about the status of the NWS and the future forthe governmental agency. The former National Hurricane Centerdirector showed the crowd how the NWS has improved over thepast years and what is in its future. The plan for new radars
throughout the southern region was explained after Proenza dis-played the new GIS capabilities of the NWS.
Saturday morning started with the electrifying Gordon whospoke about the mission of the hurricane hunters and a review ofthe 2007 hurricane season.
Gordon presented video and data from many of the 2007cyclones, while explaining the rapid intensification of HurricanesDean and Felix.
“Both underwent rapid intensification to become Category 5systems, which made these storms historic,” Gordon said.
Kris White from the NWS office in Huntsville, Ala. spokeabout spatial trends in the tracks of hurricanes traveling throughthe Atlantic Ocean given discrete sequential sea surface tempera-ture anomalies.
“Hurricane tracks exhibit easterly tendencies as the sequentialsea surface temperature anomalies in the Nino 1+2 region
The University of South Alabama sponsored the annual SoutheasternCoastal and Atmospheric Processes Symposium March 28 and 29. Theagenda included a panel discussion on “Public Perception of SevereWeather Warnings.”
With the spring semester steadily reach-ing its end, it would be in every continuingstudent’s best interest to begin making reg-istration plans for the upcoming semesters.Setting up an appointment with yourassigned academic advisor can be a keyfactor in choosing the right courses andensuring one doesn’t come up a couple ofcredit hours short when it comes time towalk across the stage.
Advisors are supposed to be trained toassist students in staying on the right trackto academic success, but it is no secret thatsome advisors have proven to be more of ahindrance that a help.
“My advisor almost kept me from grad-uating,” stated one University of SouthAlabama alumna, who now works for theMobile County Public School System.“She miscalculated the number of classes Ihad left to take, and I ended up taking 18hours my last semester,” the student added.
It is very important for students not tofully rely fully on their advisors when itcomes to graduating. Students should beresponsible enough to manage their ownacademic careers by logging what classesthey have taken, adding those hourstogether and remembering how manyhours their major requires them to have.
The degree evaluation Web page avail-able through PAWS is very helpful whentrying to determine what courses a studentshould register for. Every student shouldlook at his or her evaluation before goingto see his or her advisor and should not beafraid to comment on the order an advisorsuggests he or she takes classes. After all,no one else should have control over some-one’s future other than himself.
With registration time tickets scheduledto open very soon, it is time to “stop focus-ing on today, and to start looking towardsthe future.”
Just athought ...
Student organization focuses on fearHorror Club, an alternative to traditional student groups
The USA Horror Club might seem pret-ty tough when it comes to the horrific, buteven the most audacious members havesomething that makes them want to screamfor mommy. Their common fears and loveof horror is what brings them together onFriday nights to watch scary movies.
“Some people argue that horror is sim-ply relegated to the supernatural, like vam-pires, golems, werewolves, ghosts and evenaliens,” Dr. Annmarie Guzy, associate pro-fessor in the English department and advis-er to USA’s Horror Club, said. Her office,bedecked in Freddy Krueger memorabilia,speaks for itself about how she feels abouthorror. “But I would include the slashers, orhuman monsters such as Hannibal Lecterand Michael Myers, in the horror categoryas well.”
Finding a proper definition of horror isone of the many ongoing debates betweenmembers of the Horror Club and studentswho get the privilege of taking Dr. Guzy’sEH 280 Horror class, which was mostrecently offered in the fall of 2007.Students and teachers interested in thisgenre all have their own definitions of howto describe this macabre world of literatureand film (though some of them think thereal horror is what happens off camera andout of the books.)
“Horror is anything that provokes fear oranxiety in a person,” said Horror Clubtreasurer Beth Hunter, whose proper outershell would never suggest that she may havea darker side and an unhealthy love for TimBurton.
Nikky Lee, probably the most excitablemember and the one who talks so cheerilyabout blood and guts that you would thinkshe was talking about cookies and flowers,has a different opinion than most.
“Real horror is the stuff that the moviesare based on. War, children being tossed offbridges, etc. Horror is something we allpeek at because to honestly see it is toohard. We would rather see it from behind acamera.”
Although members of the club havetheir own personal favorites in the horrorgenre, it seems that the consensus of whatactually scares them are the unknowns andthe possibility of something gruesome actu-ally befalling them.
“The more plausible the circumstances,the more real the terror becomes for me,”said Jeannie Holmes, one of the studentswho founded the club in fall of 2005.
This thought of being faced with cir-cumstances like in the movies the members
watch, seems to be scarier to them than thegore in the torture films, like “Hostel” and“Saw,” that are so popular right now.
“Losing control of the situation thatyou’re in seems to be the most frightening,”said Guzy. “You also don’t know whetherthe person sitting next to you is a homicidalmaniac or not. In light of Columbine andVirginia Tech, these are serious concernsfor college students. You really do have alegitimate fear of whether or not somethinglike this is going to happen in your class.”
Mike Zambrano, newly elected presidentof the club, chuckled and said, “Moviesdon’t scare me. People scare me.”
This idea of humans being the monstersrather than the ones we make up in ourheads seems to be the reason that peopleare so drawn to these types of films andbooks. The realness that draws people tothem could also be the same reality thatturns people away from them.
“These films reaffirm to you that youwould not react the way you see a charac-ter reacting in a situation,” Guzy said.“Whether or not you would actually act dif-ferently if faced with a horrific situation,you don’t know until it happens to you. Butyou can have the gratification that ‘I cansurvive that. I can live through this.’”
“With the slasher genre,” Guzy contin-ued, “you can get that sense of survivingyour adolescent rite of passage. ‘I candefeat that Freddy, Jason or Michael Myersby running out the door instead of up thestairs.’ There is some redeeming value.”
While Guzy also calls this genre an“emotional catharsis,” Dr. Richard Ward,film and video production professor in thecommunication department, believes thereare psychological and even comedic rea-sons that we are drawn to horror.
“There are a number of things that drawaudiences to horror movies,” Ward said.
“On a psychological level, it tends to allowpeople to sort through their deepest fears ofdeath and disease. On a more basic level,people like to scream and then laugh,”Ward said and laughed as a huge smileflashed across his face.
“The vocal reaction that they have whilewatching a horror movie is almost the sameas the one they have while watching a com-edy. It brings people together, experiencingthe same thing at the same time,” he said.
These different views of what makeshorror, horror, along with numerous jokesabout demon babies and the safety of beinga virgin is what makes the Horror Club theclose yet dysfunctional family that it hasbecome. When the members were askedwhy other people should join this club, theyall had different and even bizarre replies.
“We don’t simply sit quietly, watch amovie and then have an academic discus-sion,” Guzy said. “Movie viewing nightsare extremely interactive and everyone hasa good time. So, if you’re used to sitting athome and watching horror movies andlaughing at them with your friends, comeout to horror movie night and laugh with abig group of people who have the sameinterests as you and watch it on the bigscreen, with snacks.”
“It’s fun,” said Zambrano. “The peopleyou’ll meet there have a common interest inthe macabre and Waffle House at 2 a.m.”
“We have more fun than Freddy Kruegerat summer camp,” Holmes said.
The Horror Club’s meetings are everyother Friday each month in the HumanitiesBuilding, room 160, at 6:30 p.m. They alsohave bake sales and frequent guest speakersfrom the genre, like last Halloween’s guest,Tom Savini, horror movie FX god. Formore information, e-mail Mike Zambrano,president, at [email protected].
Marzieh K. Atigh / Photo EditorUniversity of South Alabama Horror Club advisor and horror class professor Dr. Annmarie Guzy poseswith some of her horror film memorabilia, which brings life (and fear) to her office.The Horror Clubholds its meetings every other Friday of each month in HUMB room 160 at 6:30 p.m.
The Epsilon Upsilon chapter of AlphaKappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will celebratingtheir Skee Week, Seven Days ofSophistAKAtion, this week from March 30through April 5.
Yesterday, EU chapter members attend-ed church service together at Mt. HebronChurch Ministries in Trinity Gardens. Thisafternoon, the chapter will host a philan-thropic event where they will give computerlessons to the elderly in an attempt to helpthem order necessary medications online.The ladies are very concerned with makingsure senior citizens do not fall behind in thetechnological revolution.
Later Monday evening, the ladies will besponsoring an entertaining “Dating Game”event in the Student Center Ballroom at 6p.m. The event will be hosted by Universityof South Alabama SouthboundOrientation Leader Daniel Edwards andSpringhill College student NatalynHoward. Following the show, the KappaZeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,Inc. will be hosting a probate show at 9 p.m.in the Amphitheater.
On April 1, EU will host “A Lesson ofAffection” with Hands of Love and a bookdrive in the Student Center Breezewayfrom 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Tuesday evening will be an excitingforum called “Sex in the Dark” at 6 p.m. inroom Student Center room 220. At thisevent, guys and girls will be split up to sharetheir thoughts on relationships and doublestandards.
“Karaoke Night” will be on Wednesdayin the Student Center Ballroom at 7 p.m.followed by a “Ladies Night” Thursday at 7p.m. also in the Student Center Ballroom.Here, ladies can relax, have girl talk andpamper themselves for a night of fun withthe AKAs.
Also, The Eta Nu Chapter of KappaAlpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will be havingtheir probate show that same night. Theevent will begin at 9 p.m. in the StudentCenter Amphitheater.
On April 4, an “Evening of Beauty” willbe hosted EU. At this event, the chapter willhost a slumber party with the Girl Scouts ofMobile and teach them important thingsthey need to know to get through their highschool and college experiences.
On Saturday night , the events re-centeron the grown and sexy! The week-longevent climaxes with the “pearlfic” ladieshosting a party branded “A Night ofSophistAKAtion,” in the Student CenterBallroom at 10:08 p.m. There is no speci-fied dress code, and a surprise show willbegin at 11:08 p.m. The ladies guaranteeyou do not want to miss it!
The chapter will also be collecting dona-tions at the dating game and the party forits “Feed the Homeless,” service project.During “Feed the Homeless,” the ladies willvolunteer at the homeless shelter in down-town Mobile.
ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK
MondayStudent GovernmentAssociation Meeting at 8 p.m.in the SC BallroomTuesdayOmega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.presents “Zeta Kappa ProbateShow” at 9 p.m. in the StudentCenter AmphitheaterWednesdaySexual Assault Awarenessand Prevention Day at 10a.m. - 2 p.m. in the StudentCenter; Jaguar Productionpresents “Cheapdate: DrillbitTaylor” at 9:30 p.m. atHollywood Movie TheatreThursdayKappy Alpha Psi Fraternity,Inc. presents “Spring 2008Probate” at 9 p.m. in theStudent Center Amphitheater
CISO showcases exhibits
April 3-4 the Council of InternationalStudent Organizations will host its annualCultural Exhibition in the Student CenterLobby from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., according toa press release. The event is apart ofInternational Month which is celebrated inMarch at the University of South Alabamaand is a favorite amongst international stu-dents.
Once a year, the Cultural Exhibitiontransforms the Student Center into a walk-through tour across the globe. Featuringover-the-top displays which create the cul-ture of almost every continent, all studentsand community members are encouraged tovisit each exhibit. Exhibits are designed andcreated by each cultural student organiza-tion who chooses to participate.
“The idea behind [the exhibition] is justto allow every student to see other cultures,”said Vietnamese Student Association mem-ber Lan Vu. Vu feels, with the wide varietyof nationalities at USA, it is important forstudents to learn about each others back-grounds and cultural traditions.
Also on April 4, CISO will hold atalent/fashion show at 7 p.m. in the MitchellCenter. Each organization will compete in atalent competition intertwined with a stun-
ning fashion show. Throughout the festival, trophies and
prizes are awarded to the top performers.For additional information, e-mail Brenda
Hinson at [email protected],or call the Office of International StudentServices at (251) 406-6050.
On March 25, public speaker Matt Glowacki delivered a lectureon diversity in today’s society and the effects popular animated tel-evision shows have on the way the population perceives it.Sarcastically titled "Diversity According to “South Park” and“Family Guy,” the event was held in the Student Center Ballroom.
Gloacki began the lecture by touching on political correctness,something these shows address and inherently tear apart comical-ly. According to Glowacki, people tend to dwell too heavily onnames and words, citing a situation with his friend hating thephrase “in a wheelchair.”
“People ask what I want to be called. I say I want to be called‘Matt,’” Glowacki said.
Glowacki educated the crowd about television, emphasizing itsinfluence in society and mass family life.
According to Glowacki, the average home has more televisionsthan people residing in the house. Not only that, but the averagechild spends 30 to 50 hours a week watching television, while par-ents spend an average of 38.5 minutes with kids a day.
“So who’s doing the educating? Television,” said Glowacki,after presenting the statistics.
Glowacki used the two popular cartoon shows to explain socialstigma as created by the Hollywood industry. He used two-minuteabbreviated clips of episodes to illustrate issues brought upthrough the shows' use of parody and satire.
Glowacki showed a clip from a “Family Guy” episode in whichPeter Griffin tries to help his son, Chris, lose a substantial amountof weight. Obesity and a chronic desire to be thin is comicallyaddressed in this episode, and Glowacki pointed out what he calls"lookism," or discrimination based on what a person looks like.
He then addressed the fashion industry and the impact it has onthe population's view of a healthy weight.
"Fear plus uncertainty plus doubt equals money," Glowackiclaimed. He also claimed that the population spends over $100 bil-lion on diet products, $20 billion on cosmetics and $300 billion onsurgery. He stated the current system used to measure how healthya person's weight is, body mass index, or BMI, was created inBelgium in the 1820s.
He also brought up the impact dolls can have on children, stat-ing that if there was a life-size scale model with the original Barbieproportions of a 39-inch bust, a 18-inch waist and 33-inch hips,her spine would snap in half. He also stated that it is impossible to
have a natural waist size of 18 inches, because there would not beenough room for internal organs to function.
He pointed out that the idea of the perfect size has gotten small-er in modern days, citing the fact that Marylin Monroe was a size14 at the height of her popularity. He displayed before and afterpictures of models being airbrushed and edited.
"The images you compare yourself to are no more real than thecartoons we watch," Glowacki.
The next segment, he showed another shortened episode of“Family Guy,” detailing Peter's attempts to aid his paraplegicneighbor and former police officer, Joe Swanson, in regaining hisself esteem after not being able to catch the culprit of a robbery.Peter encourages him to participate in the "Special People'sGames," a parody on the Special Olympics.
Glowacki called the phenomenon of discrimination againstpeople without certain abilities as "ableism." He talked about howpeople percieve people with "disabilities" as an inspiration or
http://www.faniq.com/pollPlublic speaker Matt Glowacki presented “Diversity According to ‘South Park’and ‘Family Guy’” on March 25 in the Student Center Ballroom. The lecturetouched on issed concerning diversity in today’s society, and the effects popular animated television shows have on the way the population perceives
Courtesy of USA Public RelationsLast year, Cultural Exhibition participants displayedtheir traditional dress during the Council ofInternational Student Organization’s “InternationalMonth” celebration.This year’s Cultural Exhibitionwill be held April 3-4 in the SC Lobby.
The Mobile Pops Band, under thedirection of Greg Gruner, will be present-ing another performance in its “StarbrightConcert Series” at the Langan ParkPerforming Arts Pavillion on April 12 at6 p.m.
The concert, titled “Pops and a Moviein the Park,” features a selection of musi-cal works that are sure to please the entirefamily. After the concert, a children'smovie will be shown for the youngermembers of the audience.
Opening selections include BelaBartok's “Allegro Barbaro” and AlfredReed's “Othello.”
“Othello,” a symphonic portrait inhonor of Shakespeare, establishes thetense atmosphere that is present through-out much of the play. The four-movementpiece portrays Othello's rage, jealousy andhis passionate relationship withDesdemona.
The program will also consist of somewell-known selections of John PhilipSousa and John Williams. Sousa's “Sabreand Spurs” was dedicated to the officersand men of the 311th Cavalry in 1918. Itwas one of the many marches that wascompletely devoted to the war effort, giv-ing those affected by the turmoil of WorldWar I a sense of inspiration.
“Kitten on the Keys,” composed by ZezConfrey, reflects Scott Joplin's ragtimestyle for solo piano. Another upbeat piece,Frank Perkins' “Fandango,” takes the formof a Spanish dance, full of excitement andenergy.
“Foster's America,” a three-movementsuite, features four original songs byAmerican composer Stephen Foster.These songs include “A Penny for YourThoughts,” Gentle Lena Clare” and“Beautiful Dreamer,” an audiencefavorite.
The Mobile Pops has been serving theMobile community for more than 30years. Upcoming performances includetwo concerts at the Langan ParkPerforming Arts Pavillion on May 19 andJune 30. For more information on theMobile Pops, call their hotline at (251)679-6030.
Ashley GrunerFINE ARTS [email protected] Space 301 is now displaying the photographic-based exhibit
“Among the Ruins: Re-Imagining Architectural Decay.” Theexhibit, guest curated by Sarah Urist Green, portrays the interac-tion of contemporary artists with the dilapidating architecture ofour world.
“Works from 'Among the Ruins' serve as powerful reminders ofplaces and times forgotten, dismissed or vanished,” said Green.These decaying reminders have evolved from a multitude ofcauses - from natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, to theviolent conflict between nations.
Many of the decaying locations still exist, untouched andunappreciated. Other areas have been cleared over time with anostalgic remembrance that remains in the form of art.
New York based artist Takashi Horisaki hits close to homewith his 2007 series “Social Dress New Orleans – 730 days after.”In this series, Horisaki documents his three-month interactionwith a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Horisaki takes athree-dimensional approach in portraying the aftermath ofKatrina and its impact on New Orleans.
Perhaps the most intriguing and conceptual piece was that ofNew York artist Caroline Voagen Nelson, a graduate of theSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Nelson’s 50 x 50 image “Accretion” is comprised of severalimages taken over the course of two years with the use of severaldifferent cameras.
The digital montage depicts demolished urban and naturallocations, from the water damaged ceiling of Nelson’s childhood
home to the destruction of housing projects and the landscape ofthe Burren in Ireland. Each location meshes, forming one largeorganic form. The form “contrasts constructed areas with decon-structed areas," delivering a created world of existence in its pres-ent and past states.
An anonymous art group based in Detroit, called Object
Remember the lost at Space 301 Amanda B. JohnsonSTAFF [email protected]
USA Opera Theatre presents“The Elixir of Love”
April 11, 13Laidlaw Performing Arts Center
Mobile Symphony Orchestrapresents “The Story of
Mobile”April 5, 8 p.m.
Laidlaw Performing Arts Center
UPCOMING EVENTS
see SPACE 301, page 19
Amanda Johnson / Staff WriterThe work of Takashi Korisaki is now on display at Space 301 in downtownMobile.
Three creative exhibits have made theirway to the Mobile Arts Council. "Morethan Music: A Tribute to JeromeShannon" is featured in collaboration with"Jack and Jill's Work," the exhibit byCottage Hill Christian Academy students.
The third exhibit, titled "ImageMakers," is a photo contest sponsored bythe Boys and Girls Club of Mobile, givingyoung artists the experience of a first timeexhibition.
Each room reflects the culture and cre-ative essence of Mobile, making for anintriguing look at our city’s past, present
and future inspirations."More than Music" serves as a com-
memorative tribute to Mobile Opera'sDirector Jerome Shannon, who has servedthe arts community for more than 10years. Along with members of the MobileSymphony Orchestra, Shannon served increating the Larkins Music Center, whichis home to Mobile's symphony and opera.
The Mobile Arts Council has honorablyexhibited images captured by the Press-Register within the past 11 years that arereflective of Shannon's contribution toMobile and to the arts.
Thomas B. Harrison, arts editor for thePress-Register, states that "because of him[Shannon], the bar has been raised andour expectations raised."
"In my past visits to the Mobile Opera,I have always found Shannon to be cheer-ful, his eyes filled with energy and vigor,"said Harrison. "Although I do not nowShannon personally, I can tell from hispresence how much he loves providing forour community."
While exiting the gallery, after reflectingon the efforts of Shannon, viewers find aroom filled with works by Cottage HillChristian Academy students. KathieStabler, art instructor for the creative stu-dents, remarks on her student's efforts:"Once they find their ideas, they workuntil the bell rings, wondering where thetime went."
I can remember that feeling - findingmyself immersed in the creation of color,line and texture. Several works stood outto me, in particular that of Garrett Cain.Cain's colored pencil drawing titled"Stress" offers vibrant reds and greens inan abstract expressionistic style. Theyoung artist's creativity stood out from the
group, along with Jake Calvert's pen-and-ink piece "Castle" and Natalie Johnson'sgraphic "Untitled" work.
When making the way to the BlueRoom, viewers can see the talent and abil-ity of the Boys and Girls Club's youngphotographers. Ranging from ages 6-13,the children worked in digital media, bothblack and white and color, depicting rec-ognizable images from our city. Each childfound a new way to view the world withthe "Image Makers" series through theeyes of a lens.
The Mobile Arts Council is continuallyworking to provide for Mobile and itsartists. A special exhibition featuring thework from local college art students,including students from USA, will beopening April 11.
For more information on this and futureexhibitions, visit the Mobile Arts Council'sWeb site at http://www.mobilearts.org.
MAC exhibits show ‘creative essence of Mobile’Amanda B. JohnsonSTAFF [email protected]
Courtesy of Amanda Johnson
Garrett Cain’s “Stress” is a colored-pencil drawingin an abstract, expressionistic style.
Courtesy of Amanda Johnson
Natalie Johnson’s graphic “Untitled” piece is nowon display at the Mobile Arts Council.
“Bright Lights”April 1 - 30
Cathedral Square Gallery
Vanguard 9TheMarch 31, 2008
Annual Helen Keller Art Show is inspiringThe Helen Keller 2008 Art Show is now on display at
the University Library. This show is an annual art showthat displays artwork of Alabama’s visually impaired, blindor deaf-blind students. The art show is open to all ages inthe Alabama public, private, residential, and home schoolsin the state. The goal and intention of the show is to pro-vide the opportunity to present the special talents andachievements of these gifted students. The art pieces areunique with a focus on creativity, color and tangible media.
This art show is a traveling one, exhibiting in museums andgalleries across the state of Alabama through June.
Each year the Helen Keller Festival Board selects one artpiece to receive the Patty Johnson award. With the receiv-ing of this award, the art work is hung in Tuscumbia, thehome of Helen Keller, in a permanent gallery. This awardis dedicated to Patty Johnson, Helen Keller’s niece. Patty’snurturing nature, charisma and soft words created anatmosphere where the annual art show could flourish andprosper. The Colbert County Board of Tourism, UABSchool of Optometry, UAB Special Education Departmentand the Eyesight Foundation of Alabama each select anannual purchase award winner as well.
The student art works vary in media and style, but allare expressive and imaginative statements from each indi-vidual artist.
Collin Parsons is a student from Birmingham whoattends Burkett Center. He created a painting titled “TheBig Game.” This art works represents Alabama vs. Auburnon the football field. The colors are bright and the canvasis textured.
Reagan Green is a student attending Deer ValleyElementary in Hoover, Ala. In her piece, titled “DancingLeaves,” the colors are vivid and seem to represent the fallseason. Stacie Fincher is a student from Valley who attendsthe Helen Keller School. She created a piece titled“Zinnias.” The flowers are textured and appear fuzzy andthree-dimensional with bold strokes extending as petals.Kayla Faith Wilson is a student residing in Hoover whoattends Rocky Ridge Elementary. She created a three-dimensional piece titled “The Mask.”
Mason Barksdale, a student from Theodore, attends theRegional School for the Deaf and Blind. He designed apiece titled “Staying on Track” that contained two silhou-ettes outlined with radiating colors.
Rachel Hyche created a piece of work titled “SnowyFeather Tree,” which consisted of a pink, flowing featheryboa and sequins. She is a student from Birmingham whoattends North Shelby Baptist. Jason Parsons is also a stu-dent from Birmingham who attends Burkett Center. Hiswork, “Twister,” consists of tissue paper, paint and his ownhandprints.
Overall, the works are colorful, free-spirited and inspir-ing. For information on becoming a sponsor, entering thenext art show or purchasing art work in this show contactDiane Pevsner at 1-866-975-0624 or visithttp://www.pathfindersofal.org. This show is on display inthe USA library’s first floor gallery until April 10.
Movie junkies -- They waste away in front of the screen,only to accomplish what? Some would say nothing. Otherswould say everything.
Maybe we all need to be movie junkies every once in awhile, or at least for a couple hours. The power of films is notto be underestimated. To see someone else's viewpointthrough a film they produced or directed is a moving experi-ence indeed.
In light of this new thought, the perfect opportunity forone to sample a few films is just a scenic drive away.
On April 3-5, Option 3 Media will present the first officialFairhope Film Festival at the USA Baldwin CountyPerformance Center, Theater 98 and Faulkner State'sCentennial Hall.
Besides showing films from around the world that centeraround the festival's theme, “Romance,” the event will havepanel discussions with actors, writers and directors. Featureworkshops and seminars will also be offered.
An opening gala will be held on Fairhope beach as well asa closing night awards banquet at the James P. Nix Center.The festival will also host VIP parties.
Various documentaries will be featured, including“Forgotten Coast,” which shows the effects of HurricaneKatrina on the people of Mississippi and Alabama.
For local history buffs, “In the Wake of the Assassins” willbe shown. This documentary, set in the 1950s, reveals thestory of a lawyer who is assassinated after being elected attor-ney general in mob-controlled Phenix City, Ala. His son takeshis place, looking to avenge his father.
For those who are unable to attend the event, the two mostpopular films of the weekend will be shown after the festivalon April 6.
If the Fairhope Film Festival achieves its goal of becominga well-known annual event, it will be the only film festival inthe U.S. to focus on romance.
Festival directors decided to place the festival in the city ofFairhope because of its charming storybook-likeness andpleasant, small-town warmth. It is no coincidence that
Coastal Living Magazine deemed it as one of the top 10most romantic destinations in the country.
The citizens of Fairhope and surrounding cities havealways participated heavily in the arts. Artists from aroundthe country are drawn to Fairhope's annual art festival, whichranks among the top 25 art shows in the country.
Festival expert and 15-year film veteran Jon Fitzgerald wasselected to be the festival's consultant. Fitzgerald has hadmore than 14 years in the film industry, including working instudios, independent films and film festivals.
His entertainment company, Right Angle Studios in LosAngeles, offers many venues of service including filmmakerconsulting, film festival consulting and entertainment industryconsulting. He has instructed several classes at the Universityof California at Santa Barbara including “The Anatomy ofan Industry,” “Hollywood and The Business of Movies” and“The Independents and The Studios.”
For more information concerning the Fairhope FilmFestival, visit http://www.fairhopefilmfest.org or call (251)377-2167.
Fairhope hosts first film festival
Kathryn Garikes / Staff Writer
Stacie Fincher’s piece, titled “Zinnias,” creates the image of texturedand bold flowers.
Second Annual FavoritePoem Poetry Reading
Sponsored by the USA English depart-ment and the Stokes Center for
Creative Writing
Welcoming by President GordonMoulton
Readings by Joey Jones, USA’s newfootball coach; Angelina Stokes, Patronof the Arts; Scott Speck, director of the
Mobile Symphony Orchestra, GeriMoulton, Dean Richard Wood, StephenHendrick, area elementary, high school
and university students ... and manyothers.
Laidlaw Performing Arts Center April 3, 2008
7 p.m.
The program is free and open to thepublic.
For more information contact theEnglish department at (251) 460-6146
Season seven of the FOX Network's hitshow "American Idol" is underway andthere is one criticism that the judges,Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and SimonCowell, constantly give to contestants thatcan be applied to show--"American Idol"needs to raise its game. So far this season,viewers were promised talent superior topast seasons' talents and a new, biggerand better stage. The stage is awfullypretty, but there are more negativeaspects than good. However, stated inPaula Abdul-like fashion, there are somepositive aspects as well.
During the Hollywood week, which hasa reputation for its brutality, "Idol" show-cased some strengths. Performers wereallowed to sing and play instruments andthe requirement for performers to sing asa group was dropped. Another plus ofthis season is the addition of past contest-ants, such as Kellie Pickler and KimberleyLocke, performing and giving updates ontheir careers since their duration on"Idol."
The past contestants are replacing lastseason's "American Bandstand" feel,where guest artists performed. It just hap-pened that last season's guests alwaysseemed to have a CD about to release tothe public.
Now on to the Simon Cowell-like nega-tive aspects of the show: The bad parts ofthe show are numerous. First, "Idol" hasbeen on for six years now, and it is con-fusing at times to watch the judges com-mentary of contestants. The judges donot give contestants clear objectives forperforming. Instead, comments such as“We are looking for the best singer inAmerica” or “We are looking for the besttalent,” and even “the winner has to bejust as good or better than any recordingartist on the radio” fill airtime, whileoffering no guidance to performers.
Those vague pieces of advice aboutsinging are of little use when the prize isa recording contract. Another annoyanceof this season is the mosh pit near thestage. This addition blocks the at-hometelevision audience's view of the stage,because the mosh pit crowd's arms takeup two-thirds of the screen. In addition,Ryan Seacrest's promotion of the per-formers as the strongest crop of contest-ants ever is blatantly false. Too bad theFCC cannot fine "Idol" for false adver-tisement due to that statement. For exam-ple, early favorites Michael Johns andCarly Smithson have faded into the back-ground,while David’s Archuleta and Cookare front runners. Meanwhile, everyoneelse seems to be playing it safe with his orher performances and are just there.Despite all of these defects, “AmericanIdol" still brings in high ratings. However,to keep its place in the television hierar-chy, "Idol" is in dire need of stepping upits game.
On Television
The swanky elegance of the SaengerTheater may not have been the best venuefor Brian Regan’s dumbed-down comedyact. Don’t get me wrong, Regan was a hitwith the audience at Friday night’s per-formance, but that did not make his actany sharper. He relied on simple and unin-telligent jokes to bring in the laughs.
Regan seems to build his jokes aroundhis own ignorance – his dislike for reading,his lack of knowledge about art, his inabili-ty to speak another language, etc. Perhaps
this strikes a cord with most of us becausewe really do not know much on such top-ics. However, Regan’s act has a greatpotential to turn away audiences seeking amore intellectually fulfilling type of humor.
Regan also relies heavily on pantomim-ing and acting on stage. He does have agreat ability to use his physicality to hisadvantage. He can keep a joke running forfar longer than it is actually funny by act-ing out certain parts on stage or usingoverstated facial expressions.
To his credit, Regan played the audiencewell; even phrases such as “reading ishard” and “these are some good bananas”brought roaring applause from the crowd.And, Regan did draw a better-than-decentcrowd to the Saenger for his one-night per-formance. The crowd seemed to containquite a few Regan fans who know thecomedian from his stints on ComedyCentral.
For me, the highlight of the evening wasthe opening performance by comedian JimColliton. He was an unbilled guest at thetheater; his name did not even appear onthe programs handed out at the theaterdoors. In spite of his last minute additionto the show, he still managed to entertainthe audience while the audience waited forthe appearance of Regan.
Colliton delivered more insightful come-dy, with a focus on the humor found in hiseveryday life. His persona was also morelikeable that Regan’s own dim-wittedonstage presence.
Colliton, who also appeared on ComedyCentral, talked about topics such marriage,children and air travel. One particularly
chuckle-inducing joke discussed the seem-ingly illogical limits placed upon air travel-ers by airport security.
There is just something funny and oddlyironic about being asked to check a nearlyempty tube of toothpaste. Perhaps the fun-niest thing of all is that occurrences likethat happen every day in airports acrossAmerica.
For more information on Brian Reganor Jim Colliton, visit http://www.brianre-gan.com and http://www.jimwhat.com orhttp://www.jimcolliton.com.
Regan put his acting skills to good use during theshow Friday, earning laughter from the crowd.
Stephanie A. Hudson / Entertainment Editor
If you think our country does nothave a draft for the war in Iraq, you arewrong. “Stop-Loss” director KimberlyPierce executes exposing the underhand-edness of our government’s treatment ofsoldiers with a realness factor that hasrarely been reached.
When Sgt. Brandon King, played byRyan Phillipe, returns home to his proud-small hometown in Texas, he and hisfriends that fought alongside him try toreclaim their civilian lives. As happy andeager as they were to be back home,returning to life post-war proves moredifficult than anticipated. The friendshipbetween King and his childhood bestfriend, Steve Shriver, played by ChanningTatum, is in danger because of differingreactions to the war and ideas about duty.The soldiers portrayed by Tatum andJoseph Gordon-Levitt face keeping rela-tionships intact after being gone for solong.
Going back to Iraq was the last thingKing wanted to do, but the Army ordershim to serve another tour through a loop-hole called stop-loss. Since there is noofficial draft and no continuous supply ofsoldiers, the government has devised a
way to keep cycling the same soldiersback to fight in Iraq. It is a sort of “BackDoor Draft” the government is using toensure there are plenty of soldiers tofight.
In order to get out of the order, Kingtravels to Washington, D.C. to see a sena-tor who promised to help him in any wayhe could, but that was before he went A-wall. Along the way, King runs intoanother soldier who has been stop-lossed.King tells the soldier his plan, and hereplies King might as well write a letterto the editor while he is at it.
Ryan Phillipe’s performance is strikingand dead-on. He gives King a soul withsomething to fight for, which, ironically, isnot the war. Abbie Cornish, who playsKing’s Bonnie-and-Clyde-getaway part-ner and his best friend’s fiancée, revealsthe pain faced by the girlfriends, fiancéesand wives of the soldiers fighting the war.
The fighting scenes are shocking andruthlessly real. Children and families arebeing killed in their homes—finally, wesee the war is being fought in the livingrooms of the people of Iraq and not on abattlefield. Our soldiers and the people ofIraq have something in common; there isno escaping the war. Even when the sol-diers leave, their lives, as well as Iraq, willnever be the same.
When you go see this movie, and youmust see this movie, do not forget the tis-sues. It is shocking and upsetting, butnecessarily so.
Thursday, April 3Boo Radley’s - Randy fromChronic BluesChemistry - Rising StillRisingGrand Central - DauphinStreet IdolMetropolitan Groove - Peek
Friday, April 4Bilotti’s - Jim Marshall JazzTrioBoo Radley’s - Echoing BlueGrand Central - Jon MaddoxMetropolitan Groove -Marcus & EbonySatori - Jeff McLeodSoul Kitchen - Will Hoge
Saturday, April 5Bilotti’s - Jim ArmstrongBlind Mule - Roof Rabbitand The Royal AttireBoo Radley’s - Echoing BlueGrand Central - Jon MaddoxSoul Kitchen - The VelcroPygmiesThe Garage - Delilah Why
Sunday, April 6The Garage - Beau Roberts &The Port City All-Stars
Tuesday, April 8USA Student Center Ballroom- Comedian Dan Cummins
The Universityof South AlabamaJaguar Productionswill sponsor a per-formance by standup comedian DanCummins at 7p.m. Tuesday,April 8 at the USA
Student Center Ballroom.Cummins, 28, began his comedy career in
August 2000 and has continued to tour in come-dy shows across the country. He describes hiscomedy act as sarcastic, dark and intelligentwhile still remaining edgy enough to entice awide audience.
In 2007 alone, Cummins played over 90 col-lege venues all over the country. His popularityon college campuses may have begun while heearned his college education at GonzagaUniversity in Washington state.
His comedic routine includes subject matterfrom a wide variety of areas, including pirates,Internet dating and strangeness of celebrityworship in America.
Cummins has played venues nationwide,including multiple television commercials, astand up routine on “Late, Late Show withCraig Ferguson” and multiple national comedytours.He received strong reviews from ComedyCentral as well as critics of the 2006 Las VegasComedy Festival.
He is a contributor to the nationally syndicat-ed Bob & Tom Show and was featured on Bob& Tom’s 2002 Best of CD Bob & Tom GoneWild. In 2003, Dan was a national semi-finalistin the Comedy Central Laugh Riots competi-tion. In July 2005, Dan appeared at the NewFaces show of the Montreal Just For Laughs
Comedy Festival.He currently lives in Spokane, Wash. with his
wife and son.For more information on the comedy act,
contact USA Jaguar Productions at (251) 460-7144 orhttp://www.southalabama.edu/jaguarproduc-tions or visit http://www.dancummins.tv orhttp://www.myspace.com/dancummins.
Dan Cummins will perform at the USA Student CenterBallroom on Tuesday, April 8.
http://www.dancummins.tv
Alabama is no stranger to good local music. However,sometimes the local music scene seems to lack strong anddedicated local bands. It seems like talent and passionhave been replaced with the number of breakdowns onesong can have by different arttists. It is a fact thatAlabama has good local musicians, but they seem to beovershadowed by the bands that lack the talent and drivenecessary to make it big in the music business.
Syadica, a band out of Foley, Ala., is made up ofmusicians with some evident raw talent. The band startedabout five years ago and consists of Travis Mulloy, drums;Ricky Williams, guitar; and Michael Fortune, bass. Whenasked why they began playing, Williams simply said, "It'sbecause we have a love for the music."
The style of this band defies the usual description. Itis only accurate to say their music is experimental, groovy,funky. Bassist Michael Fortune explains their sound as a
mix between 70s rock and 90s grunge. Their music is quite different than anything else I
have heard locally. When Syadica plays their music, it isevident that they let loose and block out everything aroundthem.
“There is just a point where you get into the music somuch that you just feel it," Fortune said.
The ambition that these three guys have makes theirmusic that much more enjoyable. I appreciated theirmusic the first time I heard it, because it was so differentand actually required talent, but after sitting down with theband, I appreciate them on a new level. These guys areputting everything they can into this band. In their eyes,music is not just a random mix of melodic, harmonioussounds; it is pure art.
All it takes is one listen to their songs, which include“Powerplant,” “Furious Society” and “Top of the Top,” tomake a listener realize this band is striving to break out ofthe pop or general rock band mold. They achieve a soundthat has just as much influence from Southern blues as itdoes from 70s disco and 80s-style synthesizers.
Syadica has many different influences for their sound.So many, in fact, the band has an almost endless list offavorite bands. They seem to latch on to every uniquesound that comes their way and integrate it into their ownsongs.
Each member of the band attempts to bring somethingdifferent to the mix. Mulloy looks to more classic rockbands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Williamslooks more to metal bands like Megadeath and IronMadden. And Fortune gets a lot of his ideas from bands
such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Miles Davis.There is no doubt that Syadica has the talent and
drive to succeed. These guys are doing all they can tomake things happen, and with the undeniable talent theypossess, they deserve your ear. For more information onthe band, visit their Web site athttp://www.myspace.com/syadica.
Syadica is one of several up-and-coming bands from the Gulf Coastregion seeking to enter the music industry.
http://www.mysapce.com/syadica
Local band creates unique, catchy sound all its ownMegan J. ReedSTAFF [email protected]
Are you bored with the football off-season and spring training baseball? Areyou not a golf fan, and hopelessly await-ing for the NBA regular season to segueinto the always exciting playoffs? If youhave answered “yes” to any of thesequestions, then NASCAR is the sportfor you!
Individually YoursNASCAR features the world's most
competitive drivers dueling on NorthAmerica's most draining circuits. Thesanctioning body contains over fiftysuperstar champions, from all fiftystates, and half a dozen countries allcontesting for the prized Sprint CupChampionship. From resident bad-boyTony Stewart to the ultra-GQ JeffGordon, there is an individual driverjust for you. The once southeast basedcult phenomenon has now gone world-wide, adding an international flavor toevery race weekend. Good ole boysRichard Petty and David Pearson havegiven way to the likes of ColumbianJuan Pablo Montoya and ScotsmanDario Franchitti. No matter who youare or where you are from, there is adriver you can relate to and follow.
Worldwide PhenomenonThe National Association for Stock
Car Auto Racing has single-handedlymade closed wheel auto racing a globalspectacle. This is no longer your daddy'sbluegrass country slurred sport. Withevents previously held in Tokyo, current-ly in Mexico and Montreal and withfuture events planned for Europe goingforward, the sport is growing. Thedownfall of American Indy-style andopen wheel racing has led NASCARinto a new golden era: the Modern Era.Even with Nielsen Ratings and eventattendance second to only the NFL con-glomerate, there is still room for you onthe NASCAR bandwagon.
Blackout Restrictions Do NotApply
Mobile does not yet host a major pro-fessional franchise from any sport andthe general consensus is that the boom-ing metropolis will not have one forquite awhile. This poses numerous prob-lems as many of you are caught havingto purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket orthe MLB Extra Innings cable packagein order to watch your favorite out ofmarket teams, such as the New EnglandPatriots or the Florida Marlins. WithNASCAR's overly simplistic televisiondeal you will have the chance to seeevery team, every player, and everyevent no matter where you are, as longas you have access to FOX, TNT and
South Alabama completed their firstseries sweep since April 2006 Sunday after-noon at Stanky Field, edging out ArkansasState 8-7. With the win, the Jaguarsimproved to 16-12 overall and 5-4 in SunBelt Conference play. The Indians fell to14-13 and 5-7 in conference. “I'm reallyproud of them. They came ready to play allweekend and had a lot of energy. We'restarting to play better baseball,” said USAhead coach Steve Kittrell.
The Indians got on the board first whenthey put up two runs in the first inning.Drew Benes drove in Derrick Coleman andBrandon Eller with a single up the middle.
The Jaguars fought back in the bottom ofthe inning, evening the score with two runson four hits. Ray Kruml started off theinning with a blooper single over the secondbaseman's head. Clint Toomey then singledthrough the left side, while Kruml was putout at second. Ryne Jernigan belted a two-out home run, his team-high seventh of theseason, to score Toomey.
ASU built a 4-2 lead in the third whenColeman hit a two-run bomb over left-cen-ter. The Jaguars answered with a run in thethird on a fielder's choice RBI by RyanBohanan. Jaguar starting pitcher ChrisLaGrow (1-0) struck out three batters in thefourth. LaGrow finished with five strikeouts and gave up four runs in four inningspitched.
In the fourth, the Jaguars tied it 4-4 afterJake Overstreet launched a home run tocenter right over the 400-foot sign. MilesEthridge (2-0) came in to pitch for the
Jaguars at the start of the fifth. Ethridgeearned the win, striking out four and givingup two runs and 3.1 innings. “We're confi-dent. When we fall behind, we're swingingthe bats and doing what we have to do. Ithought the key today was Miles Ethridge.Today he gave us a chance to come backand win,” Kittrell said.
The Indians did not score in the fifth. Inthe bottom of the inning, the Jaguars putup their last four runs of the game in thebottom of the inning, but it was all USAwould need. The runs came during a two-out rally. After Sean Laird drew a walk,Bohanan singled up the middle to centerand Coleman could not get a handle on theball. The error allowed Laird to score andBohanan to reach second. Bunky Kateonthen batted in Bohanan with a single.Russell Harben followed it up with a tripleto left-center to score Kateon. Harbenscored when Overstreet laid down a text-book bunt down the third base line.
With the Jaguars leading 8-4, the Indiansmade a comeback effort in the final twoinnings. ASU put up two runs in the eighton a homer to left field by Ryan Hudginsand tacked on another run in the ninthwhen Lawson Hipps scored an unearnedrun on a single from Murray Watts. GregJohnson pitched the last 1.2 innings to getthe save, his sixth of the season. Johnsonstruck out two with no walks and no earnedruns.
“We're 3-1 in one-run games. We're con-fident I think in a tight game, but you haveto keep winning to keep that confidence,”Kittrell said. “It was a big weekend for us,one that we needed in the conference afterstarting so slow, but we still got a lot of work
to do. There's still a lot of games left.”
Saturday game USA Saturday USA 10 ASU 4
It didn't take long for South Alabamapitcher Brandon Sage to get into a grooveSaturday afternoon at Stanky Field. Afterallowing three runs in the first inning, theleft-hander gave up just one more run in theeighth in the Jaguars 10-4 victory over theIndians. Sage pitched a complete game, hisfirst as a Jaguar, striking out a season-highnine batters and walking only two.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first theJaguars battled right back in the bottom ofthe inning with five runs. Doss jacked atwo-run shot over left-center scoringToomey. Davis later crushed a three-runshot that barely whizzed fair of the rightfield foul pole.
USA tacked on two more runs in the sec-ond thanks to three doubles. Ray Krumlgot the things going with a double off theleft field wall. Toomey then followed suit,crushing a double that sailed right over theoutfielder's glove, hitting the left field wallwhile Kruml scored. Kruml led the Jaguarsoffensively, going 3-for-5. Jernigan drovehome Toomey with a double to left.Following three relatively quick scorelessinnings, USA scored a run in the sixth onBunky Kateon's solo shot over left-center.The Indian's last run came in the eight on ahomer by Guy Brown.
In the eight inning, Lance Overstreetripped a triple off the center field wall scor-ing Davis. Kruml then drove home
Junior pitcher Brandon Sage delivers his offering in USA’s loss to UNO to Stanky Field.The Jags now have a record of 16-12 overall and 5-4 in conference.
The South Alabama softball team lost allthree games against Florida Atlantic intheir games over the weekend in BocaRaton, Fla.
FAU defeated the Lady Jags 6-1 in thefinal game on Sunday after giving up fourruns in the second inning. USA finallyscored in the sixth with a Jenny Stevensdouble that scored Julie Morton from sec-ond base. Lady Jag pitcher Beth Pilgrim fellto 9-7 on the season after pitching justunder two innings.
In the two games played on Saturday,FAU won 4-2 and 3-1. In the first game ofthe day, South Alabama led 2-1 early, butFAU fought back to tie the game just a halfinning later. FAU took the lead for good inthe sixth with some help from twounearned runs. Pilgrim took the loss for theJags, while Kelsy Donaldson was the tophitter for USA, going two for three.
In the second game of the doubleheader,FAU took the early lead by scoring a run inthe first inning. South Alabama foughtback, but could not get overtake FloridaAtlantic. Amanda Leggett took the loss forthe Jags and fell to 7-4 on the season.
USA vs. NWS (DH)The South Alabama softball team swept
Northwestern State in a double headerTuesday night at Jaguar Field. USA wonthe first game 5-2. The Jaguars got on theboard in the second when Corey Race hit adouble down the left field line to scoreAmanda Leggett. The Demons took thelead when Brittany Card scored on a singlefrom Cary Bruno. The two runs in the thirdwould be the only time the Demons wouldscore. The Jaguars reclaimed the lead in thesixth at 3-2 when Jenny Stevens homered toleft.
USA defeated NWSU 6-3 in the night-cap. In the bottom of the second theJaguars took a 3-0 lead. USA added twomore runs in the fourth on two RBI singles.NWSU put up thier only three runs in thefifith. USA put up another run in the sixthto make the score 6-3.
Compiled by: Sports Editor David Hopper andStaff Reporter T.R. Risner
Softball defeated in Boca Raton
Christopher Rowe / Contributing Photographer
Senior outfielder Amanda Leggett swings for the pitch in USA’s double header win over Northwestern State University on Tuesday at Jaguar Field.
Demetric Bennet - USA’s leadingscorer during the ‘07-’08 season, first teamAll Sun Belt Conference
Daon Merrit - USA”s leader in scoreassists during the ‘07-’08 season, first teamAll Sun Belt Conference
David Doss - Holder of USA’s leadingbatting average of , Preseason All Sun BeltConference
Jack Baker - ranked ninth in ITA’sSoutheast Regional tennis rankings inDecember, finished ‘06-’07 season with a24-3 record
Micah Tirop - named outstandingtrack performer at SBC Championships,
Ronnie Arrow - Men’s Basketballcoach to 26-7 record, a USA high
Mike Varga - Soccer coach to 9-8-3record, appearance in 2007 Sun beltTournament
Jaco Keyser - Women’s tennis coachto 15-3, 52nd national ranking
Rick Pietri - Women’s basketballcoach to 20-11 record, near win in 2ndround of Sun Belt Conference
Micah Tirop - named outstandingtrack performer at SBC Championships
Ben Hannan - Men’s golf coach tonumerous top five finishes during the2008 campaign
Men’s Basketball - 26-7 final record,Sun Belt Conference season champs,NCAA Tournament appearance
Women’s Basketball - 20-11 finalrecord, 11-2 non-conference record
Soccer - qualified for 2007 Sun beltConference tournament
Women’s Tennis - record of 15-3,ranked 52nd in the country
Men’s Golf - numerous top five finish-es during the 2008 campaign
Monique Jones - leading scorer inseveral USA games
Michaela Babicova - top seededplayer on USA’s 52nd ranked, 15-3 tennisteam. Ranked 44th in singles and 28th indoubles
Shundel Francis - named to secondteam All Sun Belt Conference for the 2007soccer season
Erin Kinnear -NCAA woman of theyear nominee, school record holder forpole vault
Evelyne Pare - Preseason All Sun beltConference outfielder
Men’s Basketball gets an at-largebid to NCAA Tournament
Men’s Basketball beats MississippiState in Coors Classic
South Alabama starts a footballprogram
Men’s Basketball wins 13 straight,in route to school record for wins
Volleyball ends 23 game conferencelosing streak
The third annual Vannie awards is fastapproaching. This year we are putting atwist into the mix. This year, you the read-er will get a vote. Each Vanguard reader isencouraged to e-mail me, John Kenny, [email protected], their votesfor the five categories at hand. Your votewill be kept anonymous and the totalnumber of reader votes will count as oneof seven votes to determine the winner.Please title your emails 2008 Vannies. Theannouncement of the winners will beannounced in the April 14 Issue. Deadlinefor votes is Saturday, April 12.
The VanguardSports Section is
looking for writersto carry on the
tradition and writefor the 2008-2009
school year. Ifinterested, contact
John Kenny at chevyracin382931
@aol.com
Vanguard14 TheMarch 31, 2008
Mississippi State routes Jags
Mississippi State defeated the Jags 7-6 onMar. 26 after Russ Sneed hit his first pitchfrom USA reliever James Dunning in thebottom of the eleventh inning.
The Jaguars led 5-0 after the first twoinnings, but the Bulldogs fought back withUSA assistance via three errors. The Jagstook a 6-4 advantage after Russell Harbendoubled and Ray Kruml singled.
Down by two in the seventh, MSU foughtback with a couple of solo runs in the nexttwo innings to force extra innings. USA gotclose to winning the game in the ninth aftergetting a lead-off double by Sean Laird, butthe next three batters were struck out to endregulation.
Lance Baxter was the best pitcher of thenight, allowing just one run on four hits injust over four innings. Travis Johnson pitchedtwo scoreless innings, while Dunning tookthe loss for the Jags. Clint Toomey finishedthe contest going 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Men's Golf takes fifth at home
The USA men's golf team ended thethree-day Mobile Bay Intercollegiate with ateam score of 895, and in fifth place, onTuesday. Louisville won the tournament byshooting an 873 at Heron Lakes CountryClub, while Adam Rainaud from Louisvillewas the best golfer at 215.
USA's Daniel Burns ended the tourneytied for second by shooting a 217, while
Jonny Caldwell and Marc-Etienne Bussiereseach shot a 227 to finished tied for 24th. JackHiluta and Greg Gowen each finished in41st and assisted the Jags to the 5th placeteam finish. USA will head to the Ole MissIntercollegiate on April 7 and 8.
Women's Tennis routesMarshall, falls to Tulsa
USA's women's tennis team defeatednumber 73 Marshall 6-1 on Thursday. TheLady Jags came out and took an early leadwhen they won two of the three doublesmatches to take the point. In singles USAwon five of the six matches including a 3-6,6-1,6-2 win by Michaela Babicova, a 3-6,6-2,6-4 win by Erica Krisan, a 6-4,3-6,7-5 win byKatie Welch, a 7-5,7-6 win by SylvanieSpangenberg, and a 6-0, 7-6 win by JelenaKrivacevic.
On Saturday, the 52nd ranked women'stennis team was defeated by 58th rankedTulsa 5-2 in Tulsa, Okla. South Alabamatook two of the three doubles matches totake that point, but they lost five of the sixsingles matches. Jelena Krivacevic was theonly Lady Jag vicor when she defeated theGolden Hurricane 7-5, 6-4.
USA's women's tennis team won four ofthe six singles matches against Witchita Stateto take the match 4-2. South Alabama'sAdrianna Solarova won her sets 6-4,6-3,while Michaela Babicova won her matches6-4,6-0, and Erica Krisan won 6-4,6-0. Withthe win USA is 15-3 in dual matches thisyear and will play Thursday against Troy.
nature in general, but it is doubtfulthat a turnout of less than 1,000 bal-lots cast can be accounted for by gen-eral apathy alone. After all, nearly2,000 students voted in this year'sHomecoming elections, and approxi-mately 1,800 students voted in lastyear's SGA.
Yes, these numbers are low whenyou consider that even these “high”levels of turnout meant that wellunder 20 percent of our student pop-ulation voted in these elections. But1,000! That means not even 10 per-cent of the student population foundtime to check its Jaguar1 e-mailaccount and click the link to the bal-lot.
No one can say the lack of attentionwas the cause of this year's lowturnout. Campaign signs were every-where, letting students know that it
was election time. Even the popularsocial networking site Facebook wasflooded with campaign announce-ments letting all who frequent the siteknow how to vote and for whom tovote.
Perhaps the number one reasonwhy students decided not to vote wasnot the lack of attention the electionsreceived, but rather the overdose ofattention that certain candidates weregiving to sensationalize the processand the SGA. Such sensationalist,negative attacks only serve to turnpeople away from the process, andthat is exactly what happened.
Of course, the sensationalist candi-date will probably point to this lack ofturnout as some kind of “proof ” thatthe student body does not care enoughabout SGA. More than likely, though,this more-apathetic-than-usualturnout is more of a sign that studentsare turned off by sensationalist politi-cal tactics and all the negativity.
A few weeks ago I came across the story of alawyer who was gambling in Atlantic City. Afterlosing much of her own money, she proceeded touse and lose $100,000 of her clients’ money to tryto cover her losses.
She is now suing several Atlantic City casinosbecause she has a gaming problem and they didn'tstop her from gambling. I wonder if this suddenrevelation would have come about if she had won.
It has become quite easy to take our bad judg-ments and slap a "mental dis-order" label on them as justifi-cation. The newest example:“Webaholism.”
Dr. Jerald Block, of theOregon Health and ScienceUniversity, is the latest in agrowing number of medicalprofessionals who say thatInternet addictions should beincluded in psychiatry's official handbook of men-tal disorders.
Fired from your job because you have neglectedyour work while surfing the Web? It isn't yourfault. You have a mental deficiency which makesit impossible for you to stay off of the Internet.
I completely understand what it is like to be"addicted" to the Internet. Every time I go some-where it isn't available, which is not often, I thinkabout how much I miss it. All the things I couldbe Googling, all the Facebook updates I am miss-
ing, but believe it or not, I do survive. I admit, when I do get to a computer, I am con-
sumed for the next hour, but there are no shakes orcold sweats associated with my withdrawal, and itdoesn't affect how I handle my responsibilities. Ilove to watch television, and sometimes I often putoff doing what I should because there is a series Ijust have to watch.
Is that a mental deficiency? Should I threaten NBC with lawsuits because I
have to see “The Office” onThursday instead of studying fora test? Or is it just me puttingsomething I want to do ahead ofmy responsibilities?
If that is all it takes then mostof us should prepare to bedeemed an addict and see whatnew drug is recommended forour particular illness.
I am not saying that real addictions don't existfor substances like alcohol and drugs, but howmany vices can we excuse ourselves for by termingthem as "addictions"? And how long will we letthis list of vices grow before we fill our DSM-IVmanuals with fluff ?
Before long, society isn't going to have time foranything else because we will be so busy attendingour meetings: Gamers Anonymous, ShoppersAnonymous and the newly formed Web SurfersAnonymous.
OUR VIEWIncreased gradaute aid will
greatly benefit the University
INCREASED GRADUATE AID issomething that The Vanguard haspushed for the past two years, and
now The Vanguard is proud toannounce that this wish has begun tocome true thanks to a grant of$471,000 provided to the Universityby the University of South AlabamaFoundation.
The grant will provide $246,000 forthe creation of 22 new USAFoundation Fellowships and will pro-vide $225,000 to help supplement 73of the 132 currently offered assistant-ships.
USA's level of funding for its variousgraduate assistantships and fellowshipswas well below the national average injust about every graduate programoffered by the University. For example,USA previously funded only threeengineering graduate students a yearat a rate of $6,000 per academic year,plus tuition waiver. The national aver-age for master's-level students in engi-neering is nearly $18,000 a year, plustuition waiver.
“The previous level of funding wasfar below that needed to attract thebest graduate student in engineering,”Dr. John Steadman, dean of theCollege of Engineering, said. “It iscommon for other graduate assistant-ships in engineering to provide astipend of $20,000 per year, plustuition waiver. The GA's at USA weremaking it very difficult to attract reallystrong graduate students in engineer-ing.”
The University's level of graduateaid was not just well below nationalaverages, but was also well below state
averages. The average graduatestipend at the University of Alabamawas twice that of the average stipendprovided to graduate students at theUniversity of South Alabama. Evenschools like Troy University and theUniversity of Alabama at Huntsvilleprovide higher levels of graduate aid.
Competitive levels of graduatefunding are absolutely necessary toimprove the University's graduate pro-grams and the University as a whole.The benefits that will come as a resultof the Foundation's grant will betremendous.
As Dr. Covey put it, “Graduateassistantships … are universally recog-nized as an essential component ofgraduate education. They allow stu-dents to become immersed in thescholarship and professional activity.”
Competitive graduate aid can alsolead to greater levels of productivityand greater levels of research outputby the various departments.
However, it must be noted that evenafter the increases, USA remains wellbelow national averages and will prob-ably remain below state averages whencompared to other doctoral-grantinginstitutions. But the increases are sig-nificant enough to make graduateschool at USA a viable choice for tal-ented students looking for a good grad-uate program that is willing to supportthem in their scholarship and research.
We only hope that The Foundationwill agree to continue with their annu-al commitment to USA's graduate pro-grams. Or better yet, hopefully theywill agree to increase their commit-ment in the coming years.
Students are apathetic to sensationalist political tactics
Poverty, genocide and civil warfare are current-ly tearing up several parts of Africa, namelyUganda and the Darfur region of Sudan.
Palestinian and Israeli forces have been at oddsfor over 50 years with no apparent end in sight.
Earlier this month, the Tibetan Freedom move-ment had begun again with the 49th anniversaryof the 1959 Tibetan uprising against theCommunist Party, signaling protests around theglobe along with violent strikes and mass looting.
The U.S. continues its strug-gle to fight terrorist organiza-tions and insurgent forces inplaces around the world,including Afghanistan andIraq.
We are facing an economicrecession on a global scale, andour planet seems to be gettinghotter and hotter by the day, as each carbon atomsent from our cars and factories into the atmos-phere makes us one step closer to utter oblivion.
The world needs something that will unite itspeoples and celebrate their gifts, not tear themaway from families or censor their beliefs.
Like the Olympics.The 2008 Summer Olympics will be held this
year in Beijing, China, starting on Aug. 8, 2008. Though protests and riots have occurred during
past Olympic Games, the event has always fos-tered an attitude of welcome toward all countriesand cultures, regardless of political or nationalideals. Sure, the boycotts have already started in
neighboring countries like Tibet, but theOlympics Games are about the spirit of friendlyand honest competition. In these trying times, Ithink it’s becoming increasingly important to stressto all nations and all cultures that we, as humanshave equal parts to play in this world of ours. Suchis the ideal of the Olympics.
While the games don’t exactly fix our climatechange problem, or stop poverty or genocide, theydo illustrate an important facet of our nature as
human beings -- the ability toacknowledge the fact that ourpolitics and our personal feel-ings toward other cultures justaren’t that important in thelong run. That we are alhuman beings in the end, andas such, we all deserve equaopportunities to prove our
worth. If you look past the physical sporting eventsof the games themselves, you will witness that veryfundamental truth about human nature.
By the time this issue hits the stands, theOlympic torch will have already been brought byrelay from the city of Marathon to AthensGreece, and handed over to members of theBeijing Organizing Committee in PanathenaikonStadium. This ancient tradition of delivering thetorch symbolizes the spirit of the games: that ofinternational cooperation.
This is the spirit of the Olympic Games andalso the spirit that I wish to share with each of you
The world needs the BeijingSummer Olympics
‘Webaholism’ is just anexcuse for bad choices
Matt Flanagan
Opinion Editor
Jennifer Horton
Staff Writer
Vanguard16 TheMarch 31, 2008
“Mr. Obama knows what it means liv-ing in a country and a culture that is con-trolled by rich, white people; Hillarywould never know that, Hillary ain’tnever been called a nigger!” Yes, I amsure we have all heard it -- the now infa-mous words from Rev. Jeremiah Wright.Why is this important to us? Should it beimportant to us? Well, the media seems tothink so, as that is what they are pushing.In a perfect world, this man’s wordswould have never affected anyone’s cam-paign, after all, people say stuff like thisall the time, we just don’t happen to bebest friends with a running presidentialcandidate.
Unfortunately, we do not live in a per-fect world, and the company you keepdoes affect you in more ways than one,especially as a presidential candidate.Everyone that you have associated your-self with since the age of five will affectyou in a politically driven career.
I wish that I personally could look atObama’s politics and beliefs and be donewith it, because I do not believe thatWright's words should affect my vote.Though, in our daily lives even, we alljudge and pre-judge people according totheir chosen company. My mother alwaysused to tell me to “be careful how I pickmy friends.” I have never seen a betterexample of why we should be careful ofwhom we surround ourselves with.Whether Obama likes it or not, the worldwill judge him insensitively for this.
I hate to say it, but he should have seenit coming. He knew Rev. Wright's politicsand beliefs, and he knew that if his prac-
tices got out into the open, it would be abig deal. Yet he continuously identifiedwith him and called him his “best friend.”
Politically, Barack Obama made theworst possible decision that he could. But,if we look at this from another angle, per-haps ethically, he made the right decision.After all, if, in the same situation, Obamabacked off and said “no, I don’t know theman, I hate the man, why would I befriends with that guy?”Obama would be inway worse shape thanhe had ever been if hefollowed that route. Buthis loyalty to Mr.Wright, in my opinion,should be consideredmore of a factor thanwhat he actually said tohis congregation. Afterall, if presidential candi-date Barack Obama iswilling to stand by aman who screamed“God, damn America”from his pulpit, andcontinue to be a loyalfriend, would we notwant the same loyalty asAmerican citizens?
This gesture shows somuch character in a waythat we never see any-more in the backstabbing world of poli-tics. We should pay more attention to theactions of Obama, rather than the wordsfrom his friend’s mouth.
After all, Obama is the one running.He should be represented by his actionsrather than those of his colleagues.
Should Rev. Wright’s comments affect Obama?Obama’s actions speak louder than words Wright’s comments point to larger issue
I have been taking an English courseon black writers in America, and it isinteresting to note that what we have cov-ered in that class is correlating with therecent events of this presidential election.Many of the African-American writersthat we are covering in the course not
only discussed theirstruggles of advancingin this country but alsoshared their faith verypassionately.
Rev. Jeremiah Wrightshould have chosen hiswords more carefully inhis sermons, whichblamed people ofEuropean ancestry forsome of the many prob-lems that face African-Americans today, likethe AIDS Virus, gov-ernment policy anddrugs. There was muchcriticism over how Rev.Wright’s sermons wereconflicting with SenatorObama’s message ofbringing people of allbackgrounds together.
First of all, the fewcomments that Rev. Wright made were,yes, extreme, but does that make himentirely racist? Not exactly, because it isnot like there’s a fully accessible archive ofall Rev. Wright’s sermons (however, Idon’t believe the problem of racism in theUnited States can be blamed entirely onrich people with strong European ances-
try). Besides, where’s the outrage whenother well-known ministers on the televi-sion screen make controversial remarkstowards other races and cultural back-grounds just as outlandish and full of fal-lacies as Rev. Wright’s?
The problem of racism in the UnitedStates involves everyone including myself.The supposedly most diverse country inthe world either plays a major or minorrole in perpetuating stereotypes that leadto racist comments or even subliminalgestures. And the most tragic part of it allis the prominent unawareness in whichwe are active participants. And the prob-lem is leading us to drown ourselves fur-ther into quicksand until there’s no wayout.
The issue of racism is very deeply root-ed into the historical fabric of this coun-try, evidenced by the selections in theblack writer class that I’m currentlyenrolled in. Writers such as PhillisWheatley, Fredrick Douglass, NellaLarsen, and many others, who blamedtheir oppressors for the problems thatoccurred with they faced everyday, butthey also were willing to put some blametoward racism against their own people.An example of this is when Charles W.Chesnutt wrote “The Wife of MyYouth,” which showcased how African-American members in blue-blood soci-eties discriminated against their own peo-ple based on skin color.
Why do I bring up these writers? Themistake that Rev. Wright made in thosesermons was not choosing his words care-fully. Yes, what was shown did move peo-ple, but for others who watched thebroadcast, it rubbed them the wrong way.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama withthe Rev. Richard Wright, whose recentcomments have caused controversy.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/
POINT COUNTERPOINT
“I think she’sfreakin’ fantastic!”
Question of the week:What do you think of Sally Cobb?
Christian SmithJunior
TherapeuticRecreation
“She’s pretty great.”
William EgbertFreshmanPhysics
“She is a verystrong advocate of
student needs.”
Michael SmithJunior
InternationalStudies
“I think she’s a verygood example
of campus involvement. She’s practically a student
assistantship stipends is $17,881, according to Covey’s pro-posal.
“The previous level of funding was far below that neededto attract the best graduate students in engineering,” JohnSteadman, dean of the College of Engineering, said. “It iscommon for other graduate assistantships in engineering toprovide a stipend of $20,000 per year, plus tuition waiver.The GA’s at USA were making it very difficult to attract real-ly strong graduate students.”
With the Foundation’s grant, the College of Engineeringwill now be able to offer 10 additional fellowships, which willcome with a stipend of $12,000 for the academc year, plustuition waiver. The stipend that accompanies the three exist-ing assistantships will also be increased to $12,000.
Steadman believes these increases will significantlyimprove all the college’s graduate programs in engineering.
“Not only will we have more and better graduate students,but also those students will have the time to work with facul-ty in research and scholarship,” Steadman said.
Engineering is not the only area in which USA laggedbehind the national average. Students receiving assistant-ships in the College of Computer and Information Sciencesreceived stipends of $6,000. The national average is
$16,688. Students pursuing graduate studies in biology atUSA also received stipends of $6,000. The national averagefor biology is $17, 481. The levels of stipends that accompa-nied graduate assistantships in allied health, English, busi-ness and management, education, marine sciences, andnursing were also well below national averages.
The University of South Alabama Department ofPsychology is another program that expects to greatly bene-fit from the Foundation’s grant.
Prior to the approval of the grant, the psychology depart-ment offered five master’s level assistantships, which came
with stipends of $6,000 for the academic year.Because of the Foundation’s grant, the level of these
stipends will increase to $9,000.The lower levels of funding made it “more difficult” for
the department to recruit quality students, according to Dr.Elise Labbe-Coldsmith, graduate coordinator for the depart-
ment of psychology. Labbe-Coldsmith believes the higherstipend levels will help the department improve.
The Foundation’s grant will also provide 6 USAFoundation Fellowships for Ph.D. students in the depart-ment’s just-approved Ph.D. program. The Ph.D.-level fel-lowships will provide stipends of $11,000.
The creation of these new fellowships will greatly aid inmaking the new program a success, said Labbe-Coldsmith.
Even when compared to Master’s level stipends at otherAlabama institutions, USA fell well below average. The aver-age stipend provided to graduate students at USA was$6,189 in 2007. The average at Troy University was $8,000,at University of Alabama at Huntsville $9,000 and at theUniversity of Alabama $12,700.
The Foundation’s grant is expected to make USA morecompetitive among its in-state peers. However, even after theincreases, USA still lags behind national averages.
The Foundation pledged continuous annual support forthe new USA Foundation Fellowships. The Foundationpledged four years of annual funding for the stipend increas-es for the 73 existing assistantships.
The 22 new fellowships are accompanied by full tuitionwaivers, which the University has agreed to fund.
“I want to emphasize our gratitude to Dr. Covey and theUSA Foundation for making this investment,” Steadmansaid. “I am sure that the investment will pay big dividends in
Graduate Aidfrom page 1
“Not only will we have more and better graduate students, but also those students
will have the time to work with faculty inresearch and scholarship”
- Dr. John Steadman, dean of engineering
from 13-25 years old, particularly because they are most susceptible to beach tanning orusing tanning beds and heat lamps,” Riker said.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are two major types of skin cancer:melanoma and keratinocyte cancer. The most common and is usually treatable type ofskin cancer is keratinocyte cancer.
The deadliest and least-common type of skin cancer is melanoma. This cancer is amore agressive form of skin cancer that first invades the outer layers of the skin byunnaturally increasing the production of melanin, or the natural pigments found in skincells, and then proceeds inwards into the body when it grows, eventually attacking bodi-ly organs and functions.
This is why it is of vital importance that young people should get screened for skin
cancer as soon as possible, and not just because they see something that is suspicious.“You have to scare young people with the actual facts of what can happen to you if youdon’t regularly keep up with the health of your skin,” Riker said. “We get over 200cases a year at the Mitchell Cancer Institute of people in various stages of skin cancer,and in some cases, it is too late to implement any long-term treatments because theydid not come in ahead of time.”
So what can you do to preserve skin health? Slather on the sun block (SPF 15 orhigher) is the first step. Staying out of the direct sunlight or even cloudy days betweenthe hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. shields you from the damaging UV light rays. Andalthough skin is always in when going to the beach, it is best to actually cover up fromthe sun to preserve not only your health but also your complexion. Prolonged sun expo-sure can cause more wrinkles on the face and neck. So although tan skin is quite popu-lar, it is also important to realize that it is just a fad.
Cancerfrom page 2
Vanguard 19TheMarch 31, 2008
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Orange, has taken found objects in the form of abandoned build-ings and made them into art. The four artists of Object Orangeuse the Disney paint color, Tiggerific Orange, to coat the surfacesof buildings throughout Detroit.
This series, titled “Detroit. Demolition. Disneyland,” has beenviewed as controversial, with many city officials dubbing it vandal-ism. The group thus chooses to only work at night fearing prose-cution. The shocking bright orange calls attention to the condi-tions of Detroit's urban architecture. Many of the efforts ofObject Orange have been destroyed following their completion,proving that destruction is an inevitable part of life and landscape.
Another artist, whose work is sometimes seen as destructive, isChina’s Zhang Dali. Dali’s series “Dialogue and Demolition”offers photographs that each share a similar image: a spray-paint-ed profile of a bald man. This figure, which appears on urbanbuildings, was first discovered in the mid-1990s along the streets
of Beijing. Dali often painted this figure on buildings that were tobe demolished.
“After my graduation it was very difficult for me financially, so Icouldn’t hide in the studio dreaming about things. I wanted tochange reality into art," said Dali when describing his inspirations.
He often uses the tag AK-47, a part of his art he claims tostand for the violence endured in the world. Dali hopes that oneday his graffiti will allow the people of Beijing to express them-selves more freely. As to whether Zhang considers himself a rebel,the artist respond, “I think I belong to the artists who raise ques-tions, but do not solve them.”
Each artist has offered their interpretation and experience ofthe decay of our surroundings. Whether influenced by politics,religion or economic struggle, each work has captured a momentin time that has ceased to exist.
In experiencing “Among the Ruins," we are able to replace ourpity for the abandonment of these forgotten locations with a new-found respect for what once was.
“Among the Ruins” will be on display until May 4.
Space 301from page 8
“The plan to build the multi-purpose storage and maintenancefacility at this location was approved by the board of trustees predat-ing the discussions about football,” Ayers said. “[The facility] willtemporarily be used for a football field house and possibly for theband.”
The University's intent to get out of the family-housing business- and to rid itself of all its Hillsdale properties - was publiclyannounced in 2004, according to Ayers. All of the Hillsdale proper-ties are eventually going to be used for something else.
Even prior to the 2004 announcement, the University has consid-ered ridding itself of all its Hillsdale properties.
In a resolution passed in February 2001, the board of trusteesapproved to finalize negotiations to sell all the University's 700 plusHillsdale properties to the Hillsdale Area Community DevelopmentCorporation, a non-profit organization formed to serve theHillsdale community. After three years, due to complications in thefinalization of the sale, the sale fell through.
In late 2004, the University announced that it still planned to sell
all of its Hillsdale properties. In spring 2005, the University publiclyannounced that it would be re-opening bids for the Hillsdale prop-erties.
Since the re-opening of bids, USA has sold the vast majority ofits Hillsdale properties. Ten years ago, USA owned more than 700individual properties in the Hillsdale community. Today, theUniversity owns 160 properties.
“[The University] will be gradually not renewing leases,” Ayerssaid. “All Hillsdale property will eventually go to some otherUniversity purpose. We are getting completely out of the single-family rental business.”
Sarah Walton and her husband are both students at theUniversity and residents of Hillsdale. Walton has expressed con-cerns that if low cost on-campus housing does not continue to beavailable, they may not be able to afford to remain full-time stu-dents.
“If they kick us out of our house we won't have anywhere to go,”Walton said. “One of us would most likely have to drop classes andwork full-time to make ends meet. With family housing being soaffordable, both my husband and myself are able to pursue ourdreams of getting college degrees.”
Hillsdalefrom page 1
Vanguard20 TheMarch 31, 2008
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abnormal in some sense."I'm not inspirational. I'm normal," com-
mented Glowacki. He stated that one third of returning vet-
erans will or have claimed disability. The last issue addressed by Glowacki was
racism. He illustrated this particular stigmawith a clip from “South Park,” where one ofthe character's father is publicly chastised forsaying the “N” word on a national televisiongame show like “Wheel of Fortune.”
Glowacki explained the political correct-ness woven into racial relations and painteda distorted picture of race being a societallyconstructed concept.
He pointed out that racism exist in allforms and within many minorities as well asthe Caucasian majority. He told the audi-ence that African-American leaders, JesseJackson and Al Sharpton, were known anti-Semetics and gained money by "shakingdown" corporations with the wrong raceratios.
He preached against ignorance, implor-ing the audience to not take a picture formore than it is worth. He left the audiencewith a challenge to "think."
"When people come up and ask howsomething was. Don't just say 'it was okay' or'it sucked.' Tell them why. Actually describeit. Start paying to the reasons you form youropinions about things," Glowacki said.
South Parkfrom page 7
ESPN/ABC.
Drug Free Zone
With baseball's performance enhancersand football's substance abuse problems,NASCAR stands as the only publicly cleansports organization. That is important tofans as evident from the outcry of disap-pointment stemming from the MitchellReport and its contemporaries. Acting asthe only sport without a player's union todivide and halt progress, President MikeHelton and his sanctioning body have beenable to control substance abuse with aniron fist. Look no further than former
Nationwide Series standout Shane Hmielas proof. Hmiel now watches the sport hegrew up with from the comfort of his ownhome due to a lifetime ban from allNASCAR events after failing two drug testsfor marijuana. Ask Adam 'Pacman' Jonesand Ricky Williams if the NFL, boggeddown with the players union, has the forti-tude to do the same.
NASCAR is not for everyone but if youstill find yourself with a digging need towatch captivating rivalries over the other-wise slow spring then NASCAR is for you.Contact your local sports club if experienc-ing tediousness, boredom, or silence. Whenwatched effectively, side effects are rare butmay include loss of voice, uncontrolledexcitability and broken remotes.
NASCARfrom page 12
Vanguard 21TheMarch 31, 2008
become increasingly positive,” White said. Richard Henning, a consulting meteorol-
ogist, examined flight level, dropsonde andradar data to estimate the surface winds dur-ing Hurricane Katrina, when it made land-fall. “Reconnaissance data, radar and radialvelocity archives from the NWS sites inSlidell and Mobile were used to develop amethod for estimating local wind maximumsat several neighborhoods along the coast,”said Henning.
USA professor Dr. Keith Blackwell spokeabout how the perception of a hurricane’sstructure at landfall can directly impact thepreparation for and recovery from a stormlike Katrina.
Dr. Blackwell also presented some of hisresearch showing how Katrina had a doubleeyewall structure at its time of landfall.
Dr. Jay Baker from Florida StateUniversity, Gordon, Dr. Bill Williams, AlanSealls, chief meteorologists from WKRG,and Dr. Kevin Kloesel from the Universityof Oklahoma participated in a panel discus-sion on the public’s perception of severeweather warnings. The participants dis-cussed new ways that the public is gettingwarnings, and ways it could be made better.
After a poster session, where studentsfrom USA, UAH, the University of South
Carolina and meteorologists from theNational Weather Service presented theirresearch on posters, Saturday’s keynotespeaker Dr. Phil Klotzbach from ColoradoState University took the stage to discuss thetropics. The researcher that has taken overthe famed Dr. Gray hurricane forecast dis-cussed the new predictors being used in thisyear’s forecasts. He also spoke about howhurricane seasons have been different fromyear to year.
“The thermohaline circulation is the like-ly driver in multi-decadal variability in theAtlantic basin,” said Klotzbach.
NWS employees Jeffrey Medlin fromMobile, Renee Fair from Little Rock Ark.and Jason Elliot from Huntsville Ala., USAstudent Blake Michaleski and ABC 3340meteorologist Brian Peters fromBirmingham Ala. each spoke on severeweather topics to end the conference. Severeweather topics ranged from the SuperTuesday outbreak in early February to verti-cal wind shear environments since 1996along the Gulf Coast.
“Forecaster experiences during this eventwill be offered as best practices for futurewarning events associated with tornadic out-breaks,” Fair said.
The fifth annual addition of SeCAPS hada record number of participants with morethan 130 meteorologists coming to Mobilefor the two-day event.
SeCAPSfrom page 5
Some might say we need to be moreaware of what is said in predominatelyAfrican-American churches. Okay, but howabout those churches that are predominatelywhite or black extend an invitation to eachother’s services? It’s a start somewhere.Besides, as Sen. Obama stated in his rebuttalspeech, “Sunday is the most segregated dayin the United States.” Even with that state-ment, it is painfully sad that in the 21st cen-tury U.S. there are still segregated churches,schools, social societies, etc. And we are sup-posed to be progressing ahead towards toler-ance.
No one said it was going to be easy, but as
a people we have to able to take responsibil-ity for our actions and realize that we allhave some degree of prejudice. Whether weas people are willing to admit to this, stophaving the discussion and start movingtowards action. Then, what Dr. MartinLuther King Jr. dreamed of can come true.
The events and the aftermath thatoccurred just goes to show us that whenW.E.B. DuBois stated in “The Souls of BlackFolk” that the problem of the 20th century isthe problem of the color line, this problem isstill relevant in the 21st century. When peo-ple will stop pointing fingers and start doingsomething, then we can truly state that theUnited States of America is the most diverseand tolerant country in the world.
Wrightfrom page 16
Overstreet with a double. Both teams had 12 hits. Jacob Maggard of
ASU received the loss. Maggard gave upeight runs and had no strike outs in fiveinnings pitched.
Friday game USA 17 ASU 9South Alabama pounded out a season-
high 18 hits en route to a 17-9 win overArkansas State Friday night at Stanky Field.The Jaguars scored at least one run in eachof the first six innings, building a 15-0 leadbefore the Indians scored three runs in thesixth. Eric Gonzalez received the win, andChase Ware got the loss. Gonzalez struckout 12 batters and gave up five runs in seveninnings of work.
The Jaguars broke the game open with asix-run third inning, after putting up one runin the first and second. Clint Toomeyreached on an error to lead off the third.Toomey made it home with a RBI fielder'schoice by Ryne Jernigan. McCrory ham-mered a hard line drive to the corner ofright field to score Jernigan. Bunky Kateon
drew a walk to load the bases, and then JakeOverstreet was walked to score Bohanan.The inning rally was capped by a three-rundouble to right-center by Ray Kruml thatscored McCrory, Kateon and Overstreet.
David Doss led off the two-run fourthwith a home run over left field. Doss had thehottest bat of all, finishing 4-for-5 with anRBI and three runs scored. Jernigan andKruml lead the Jaguars in RBIs for thegame with four each. The second run of thefourth came when Jernigan slid under thetag at home after McCrory hit a sacrifice flyto right.
The Jaguars had another big inning in thesixth with five runs, three of which werescored when Jernigan smashed a bomb overcenter. Trailing 15-0, the Indians finally goton the board in the sixth with three runs.The Jaguars added what would be their lasttwo runs in the bottom of the inning tomake the score 17-3.
ASU put up runs in all of the remainingthree innings, including two in the seventh, arun in the eight and three in the final inning.Michael Raia pitched the final two inningsfor the Jaguars, walking five and giving upfour runs to go with one strike out.
Baseballfrom page 12
Vanguard22 TheMarch 31, 2008
duce new legislation aimed at sim-plifying and streamlining theappropriations process, whilemaking the process more equi-table.”
Ideally Shepard would like tosee the legislation enacted prior tothe fall semester appropriations.
Hannah Skewes will be the nextSGA chief justice winning overJustin Simmons.
“I'm actually very surprisedthat I won,” Skewes said. “I washoping for it, but I know I hadworthy opposition.”
As chief justice Skewes willwant to work with the other offi-cers “about reviewing the consti-tution and making neededchanges, nullifying obsolete arti-cles and making the overall struc-ture and outreach of SGA a lotstronger and healthier as well as amore positive experience for stu-dents as a whole.”
Ashley McGee will be SGA’s2008-2009 attorney general accu-mulating 713 votes whereMohamed Kamaludeen received258 votes.
“I plan to work very heavilywith the rest of the executivecouncil to increase studentinvolvement on campus, and toensure all Lowdown rules and reg-ulations are followed when con-ducting all SGA business.”McGee said.
Vanessa Hartley will be SGA’sstudent-at-large representative.
For the College of AlliedHealth, the senators are AshleyGuy, Paige Perry, Daniel Reid andAmanda Willis.
For the College of Arts andSciences, the senators are ColinAl-Greene, Marc Anderson, MattBurke, Levi Gardner, ZehraHusain, Kim Proctor, Peter Savill,Emily Waters and Jeff Wilson.
For the Mitchell College ofBusiness, the senators are RussAllen, Gregory Bettis, Jon Garcia,Marina Kazimirova and DathanOsgood.
For the School of Computerand Information Sciences, sena-tors are Jed Barbour and AmandaWhatley.
For the College of Education,senators are Laura Jo Adams,Emily Fleming, Sara Hendrix,Samantha Rowell, MirandaScorver and Christian Smith.
Senators for the College ofEngineering are Lew Childre,Natalie Sessions and SeanRamsey.
Senators for the College ofNursing are Cassandra Brownand Jessica Jones.
The referendum for two atlarge senate seats were passed dur-ing the SGA elections, accordingto Michael Smith, SGA’s 2008-2009 vice president that ran unop-posed. One of the senate seats willgo to a transfer student and theother to a freshman. They are notelected positions, and the presi-dent at his or her discretion willappoint the senators.
Runofffrom page 1
03-19-08Theft – Article from Auto/Burglary of AutoA male student reported his car burglarized while
parked at The Grove. An iPod and a CD player werestolen, valued at $650 together. No suspects were identi-fied. Police are investigating.
03-21-08Theft – Article from Auto/Burglary of AutoAn unknown person(s) entered a female student’s car
and stole her engagement ring, valued at $2,089.99. Theincident occurred in the business college parking lot. Thecase was closed because it was unfounded.
03-23-08Criminal MischiefAn unknown person(s) damaged a female student’s
vehicle at The Grove. Scratches on both the driver andpassenger sides of the vehicle resulted in more than$8,500 in damage. Police closed the case due to a lack ofprosecution.
03-24-08Theft – Article from Auto/Burglary of AutoA female student reported her car burglarized near
Stadium Boulevard and the Beta 4 dorms. The victim’scar stereo and purse were removed from the vehicle. Theconsole, window and door were also damaged. Lossestotaled $900. No suspects were identified, but an investiga-tion is pending.
03-24-08Theft of PropertyAn unknown person(s) entered the University’s primate
lab without force and stole several items. Three primateholding cages, six animal feeding boxes and one stainlesssteel cleaning tube were removed from the premises. Theitems are valued at $1,050 altogether. No suspects havebeen identified at this time, but police are investigating theincident.
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Racquetball tournament April 2 Campus Recreation and Special Programs is hosting a singles racquetball tournament
April 2 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Rec. Center racquetball courts.This tournament is designed to introduce you to other players with similar ability. The
will take up to 16 players and place them in groups of four based on their self-rated abili-ty. Each group will play a round robin, with each match one game to 15 points. Newgroups of four will be formed based on win/loss record and a second round robin will beplayed. If enough women enter, they will separate by gender upon request.
The entry fee is $2 for USA students and $4 for USA faculty and staff. There will be noprizes. However, we will supply balls, and there will be free soft drinks and pizza for theplayers. You must be prepared to play from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Entry forms are at the front desk of Campus Recreation. Call Randy Hunter at 460-6214 for questions.
USABC announces upcoming filmsUSA Baldwin County announces their upcoming movies in the foreign film series. The
films will be held at USA Baldwin County's Performance Center, corner of Summit andSt. James streets. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the film starting at 7 p.m. A donation isaccepted at the door.
On April 11 the film “The Page Turner” will be playing A young and gifted piano play-er becomes a page-turner for a virtuoso pianist. The film is 85 minutes long and rated R.
On April 18 they will show “House of Sand.” In the early 1900s, a woman is taken to adesert location by her husband. She lives there for the next 59 years. Performances are byFernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres. The film is 115 minutes long and rated R.
On April 25, they will show “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” The film 112 minuteslong and raged PG-13. The film is directed by Jullian Schnabel and is about the non-depressing true biography of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who became paralyzed atage 43 and concerns the indomitable will to communicate.
For more information call (251) 928-8133.
Southerners plan annual OozeballThe USA Southerners are sponsoring the annual Oozeball tournament and want you to
be a part of the fun. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the event. The Oozeball tournament will be held April 19 at 9 a.m. and played in its new location
between the JagTran service building and The Grove. Parking will be at the Intramuralparking lot.
The event is open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. Applications are available in the Alumni Hall, Student Center Information Desk and
online. Turn in applications to the Alumni Hall by April 7. There is an $80 registration fee for each team. A mandatory captains meeting will be
held April 15 at 5:30 p.m. on the front porch of Alumni Hall.For any questions, please contact the office of Alumni Relations at (251) 460-7084.
Sexual Assault Awareness MonthAs part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a committee of people, including students,
faculty and staff from the University of South Alabama have put together some education-al and fun events on April 2 in the Student Center to help raise awareness and promoteprevention relating to sexual assault.
Planned events include live music at the SGA courtyard (near the post office) Ingrid Feltsand So Brown playing that you can listen to while you browse informational tables in thebreezeways of the Student Center.
They will also have self-defense demonstrations in room 214, run by the UniversityPolice Department. These will be at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. We will have afilm festival in room 212 in the Student Center.
They will also have free popcorn, sodas and cotton candy. So come learn and educateyourself for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Marketing club volleyball tournamentThe Marketing club volleyball tournament will be held on April 14 at 3 p.m. in the
Student Government Association Pavilion. The cost is $2 per person and up to six people per team. There will be hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks available for anyone attending. For questions or more information contact Stephanie at (601) 508-4574.
