10.31.08

HOMECOMING GAMEDAY INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER

Friday, October 31, 2008

Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Vol. 115, Issue 49

HC traditions molded over time

By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter “The aroma of alcohol lingered sweetly over [the stadium] as the multitude of alumni and students screamed ‘Roll Tide’ again and again,” wrote Don Williamson, staff writer for The CW. Though this quote could arguably be applicable to the most recent Alabama home games, it was penned after Alabama’s 1965 Homecoming.

Looking to past years, how much of the tradition of the University’s Homecoming has been erased and how much, like the aroma of alcohol, has lingered?

Homecoming’s traditions took root in the 1940s and ’50s when it was overwhelmingly greek sponsored. Fraternities hosted open house parties before and after games, while sororities sponsored teas for alumni and sold mums to raise funds for homecoming.

A main event in the late ’40s

and early ’50s was “Big Babe,” an elephant transported from the Spencer Huntley Circus Company in Birmingham, which the Homecoming queen would ride on after she was crowned. In 1954, funds were low, so students had to raise $400 to transport “Big Babe” to the game. Though they raised the money, “Big Babe” was turned away from the stadium’s front gate, causing an outrage among the students.

“He probably had a ticket in the student section,” remarked the ’54 CW editorial board.

The Homecoming themes from the ’40s through the ’60s were acronyms, like 1948’s “ALA — Alabama licks Alligators” or 1952’s “MUM — Mess up Maroons.” SEC rivalries ran deep throughout these themes, though later they were more campus oriented, such as this year’s theme, “Unified with Crimson Pride.”

Greek organizations had

competitions to best exemplify the theme through their house decorations. However, 1963’s “BOMB — Bama Orbits Maroons Blasted” left many greeks scratching their heads as to what to decorate, and for the first time, they went against the theme and decided on Halloween decorations instead.

1963 gave way to another tradition — the “victory torch”. The torch was lit in Montgomery at the Governor’s Mansion and was, in Olympic fashion, passed off by runners until it reached Tuscaloosa on game day. Gov. George Wallace was the first to institute this practice.

Through the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, law students were a prominent group on campus, especially during Homecoming. The students wore bowler hats and cut-aways and carried canes to stand out from the crowd, which they accomplished by sitting by themselves and

See TRADITION, page 5

By Dave Folk News Editor

CW File A Homecoming queen rides the elephant “Big Babe” after she was crowned. Students in the 1940s and 1950s would raise the $400 needed to transport the elephant to the game.

Dancing Beauties

Online quiz tests smarts on UA policies

See CODE, page 5

UA weather

TODAY

INSIDE Today’s paper

Crime report ..............2 Opinions: Your View ..4 Nursing college expands with demands ..........5

Clear

70º/38º

Saturday

74º/40º

Sunday

74º/50º

Clear Clear

ʻRequiemʼ performed this Sunday....................6 The CW on tour with Arkadelphia.............6 Homecoming step show held tonight .............7 Menʼs basketball ..... 10

P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-4116 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifieds: 348-7355 Letters, op-eds: letters@cw.ua.edu Press releases, announcements: news@cw.ua.edu

In an effort to increase voter turnout in Tuesday’s election, the SGA, in conjunction with the CrimsonRide, created the election bus route.

The route will run from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and will go from the Ferguson Center to the Student Recreation Center where voting is occurring.

SGA executive adviser Jesse Woods said this is a benefit to all students.

“I think the steps towards creating an Election Bus Route were an integral part of having our voices heard through voting,” Woods said.

“The SGA is really thankful to Ronnie Robertson and Jenna Johnson for all the help with this project,” Woods also said.

Homecoming game shown in the Ferg

By Lindsey Holland Contributing Writer UA students can now easily learn about campus policies by taking the “Know the Code” online quiz. Launched in September the quiz has a total of 15 true-or-false questions about the University’s policies.

“The quiz is a fun way to expose students to campus policies they may not be familiar with,” said Paula Perry, judicial officer and program coordinator for the University.

Perry said the program was originally designed to enhance student awareness of the citizenship and community standards at The University of Denver. A presentation was made at the Association of Student Judicial Affairs conference, where one UA staff member was present and decided a beneficial programming tool for the office of judicial affairs.

“The purpose of the ‘Know the Code’ quiz is to increase student knowledge about the Judicial Affairs Office and university regulations,” Perry said. “The ‘know the code’ phrase is a play on words regarding our Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct policy is a set of standards for conduct between members of the University community established as a means of protecting the universities pursuits of its educational and lawful objectives.”

A policy that may not be familiar with students is using someone else’s ACTion card for game entry or for purchasing. The code says “acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following: forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document, record or instrument of identification.”

“Many students are unaware that their ACTion card is the property of the University of Alabama,” Perry said. “It states on the back that unauthorized use, tampering or alteration may result in disciplinary actions. Your ACTion card is pretty much subjective to the same rules as your bank card. When your ACTion card is swiped, the person who the card was issued

Bus route will take students to polls

By Dave Folk News Editor

CW | Drew Hoover The sisters of Alpha Chi Omega perform as The Blackout Beauties in the 2008 Choreography Competition. The Blackout Beauties won first place in the competition, in which 17 teams competed. The competition raised money for Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger Canned Food Drive.

Students without tickets may have a tough time watching the game Saturday, as Saturday’s match up between the Crimson Tide and Arkansas State will only be aired on pay-per-view.

Those who don’t feel like ordering the game at home can go to the Ferguson Center for “Football in the Ferg.”

Normally, the games are played in the West Food Court and Ferguson Theater, if it’s not already booked.

Since pay-per-view games can be difficult for students to watch without a ticket, the SGA is encouraging Housing and Residential Communities to provide pay-per-view showings in the dorm lobbies.

“It’s hard for students to get pay-per-view in their dorm rooms, so it would be good if University dormitories could show it,” SGA Executive Vice President Allen Ross said. “I think students will definitely enjoy watching the game in their dorm [rather] than the Ferg.”

Strange costumes found in Halloween party shops Comical, offensive are popular themes

By Jessie Gable Staff Reporter This year, some local costume shops are selling costumes that may be outside the norm of costumes most UA students have worn in previous years. The costumes emphasize the importance of taking care of oneself, whether by eating healthy, not driving while intoxicated or being safe around electricity.

The Halloween Costume Headquarters store on Skyland Boulevard offers several of these costumes. To warn students of the dangers of gaining weight, the “Freshmen 15” costume for men includes a fullbody costume of a college-aged girl who had gained weight.

Though the packaging says nothing about the costume representing a sorority girl, the letters on the shirt, KEG, are identical to the monogrammed shirts worn by most sororities.

The flesh-colored fabric that connects the t-shirt to the mini skirt has a tattoo design on the back, as well as a visible thong.

Weight control at the University is always an important topic because, according to a 2003 study done by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 25 percent of Alabamians are overweight.

Other costumes bring attention to important safety issues facing UA students today. For example, one of the strange, new costumes of 2008, the “Breathalizer” costume, reminds students of the consequences of drinking and driving.

The box-shaped costume reminds students that if they are pulled over for drunk

driving, the correct procedure is to blow on the machine, as is written on the costume, said Andrea Banks who works at Party Makers.

The costume also demonstrates the correct place to blow on the machine by printing “blow here” and an arrow on the box, Banks said.

Some people are using the holiday to promote their political views. In addition to the John McCain and Barack Obama masks, the Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton masks have also been selling well, said Leslie Channell, who works at Party Makers.

One costume vendor said a customer came in and bought a Barack Obama mask and a T-shirt that had bullet holes in it, but refused to say what his costume was because it would offend too many people.

Banks said the “Anita Waxing” costume for men makes people aware of how

important a well-fitting bathing suit is. Another costume makes the point that, had the women of the TV show “Baywatch” not had immaculate personal hygiene, they wouldn’t be so popular.

Joshua Edwards, who works at Spirit of Halloween and at the time of the interview was dressed as a giant milkshake, said one of the strangest costumes the store has sold, the male genitals costume, also emphasizes the importance for men to wear clothes.

To demonstrate how an electrical outlet should work, Halloween Costume Headquarters sells a matching outfit for couples. The woman’s part of the costume is the wall unit and the male part of the costume portrays an electrical appliance, which is to be plugged into the socket.

H a l l owe e n C o st u m e

See COSTUME, page 2

2

PAGE Friday

October 31, 2008

TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY • Tuscaloosa Winds: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Moody Music Building Concert Hall

• Pep rally and bonfire: 7 p.m., The Quad

• Homecoming Parade : 9 a.m.

Begins downtown, to UA campus

• Drive in Movie: “Hancock,â€?

7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Soccer Fields

• NPHC Step Show: 7 p.m., Student Recreation Center

• Alabama vs. Arkansas State: 2 p.m., Bryant-Denny Stadium

• Homecoming Concert: Hank Williams Jr. : 8 p.m., Coleman Coliseum

• Rugby Match: Crimson Tide Rugby vs. Ole Boys: 11 a.m., UA Recreation Fields

• Guest Recital: Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra 2 p.m., Moody Music Building Concert Hall Admission charged

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1,000 WORDS

Send announcements and campus news to cwnews@sa.ua.edu

Every Friday, 1,000 Words features a photo from around the University. Send submissions to cwnews@sa.ua.edu.

Homecoming traffic changes Tonight, people leaving the Quad from the pep rally/bonfire and going to the perimeter parking lots or the Coliseum for the concert can use the Perimeter North bus, which can be boarded at Lloyd Hall, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library and Bidgood Hall. The buses will make stops at the Rec Center, Medical Center, the soccer lot and the Coliseum. For the return trip to the Quad, board the Perimeter North bus on Bryant Drive at Coliseum Drive. Buses run for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the concert.

Saturday morning, University Boulevard will close at 9 a.m. and reopen after traffic clears. Game day Crimson Ride routes will begin running at 7 a.m. on Homecoming morning.

Visit www.uagameday.com for more information.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

— Brittany

Johnson, an employee at Halloween Costume Headquarters.

BIRTHDAYS We want to list your birthday here. Send your name, birthdate, year and major to cwnews@sa.ua.edu. Put “birthday� in the subject line. And look for birthday greetings from us on your special day.

THIS DAY IN ALABAMA HISTORY 1937: Dixie Graves became the first female to serve as United States Senator from Alabama. Graves was only the fourth woman ever to serve in the United States Senate. She was selected by her husband, then-Governor Bibb Graves.

Source: Alabama State Archives

EDITORIAL • Corey Craft, editor-in-chief, craft@cw.ua.edu, 348-8049 • Phil Owen, managing editor, owen@cw.ua.edu, 348-6146 • James Jaillet, production editor • Megan Honeycutt, outreach manager • Breckan Duckworth, design editor • Robert Bozeman, assistant design editor • Marion Walding, photo editor • RF Rains, assistant photo editor • Matt Ferguson, chief copy editor • Paul Thompson, opinions editor • Dave Folk, news editor • Brett Bralley, news editor • Ryan Mazer, lifestyles editor • CJ McCormick, assistant lifestyles editor • Ryan Wright, sports editor • Greg Ostendorf, assistant sports editor • Eric McHargue, graphics editor • Andrew Richardson, Web editor

ADVERTISING

• Jeff Haas, territory manager, 348-8044, territorymg2@ sa.ua.edu • Joe Greenwood, zones 3 and 7, (McFarland and Skyland boulevards), 348-8735, smcwzone3-7@sa.ua.edu • Lance Hutchison, zone 4 (Northport), 348-8054, zone4@sa.ua.edu • Braxton Jett, zone 6 (15th Street), 348-6876, zone6@ sa.ua.edu

Crime Report

University Blvd. at Riverside West • Theft occurred at 9:30 a.m. • Burglary occurred at 9 a.m. at the Supe Store at Reese Phifer Hall Compiled by Brett Bralley • Theft 3 at 11 a.m. at Alston News Editor OCT. 24 Hall • Public intoxication occurred • Criminal mischief occurred at midnight at Bryant-Denny at 5 p.m. at Bryant-Denny OCT. 23 Stadium • Possession of drug para- Stadium phernalia occurred at 12:48 • Obstruction of justice occurred at 12:22 a.m. on OCT. 25 a.m. at Ridgecrest East • Possession of marijuana • Criminal trespassing 3 University Boulevard occurred at 3 a.m. at Wesley • Theft 3 occurred at 8:45 a.m. occurred at 3 a.m. at 1109 Properties • Theft 2 occurred at 11:15 a.m. at Phi Kappa Alpha • DUI and possession of a controlled substance occurred Cobb Theatres is NOW HIRING! at 11 p.m. at 812 12th Ave.

Perfect part-time job for students.

We offer: Competitive Wages, Flexible Work Schedule, Free Movie Privileges, Snack Stand Discounts, Etc. Please apply Monday thru Thursday after 1pm.

Call for Showtimes

THE CRIMSON WHITE

• Drew Gunn, advertising manager, 348-8995, cwbiz manager@sa.ua.edu

CW |Drew Hoover Dancers perform in celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which is celebrated by the followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism all across the globe. The celebration took place in the Ferguson Theater on Oct. 19.

348-6875, zone8@sa.ua. edu • Dana Andrzejewski, zone 44 (downtown and downtown Northport), 348-6153, zone44@sa.ua.edu • Jarrett Cocharo, zone 55 (campus), 348-2670 • Torri Blunt, nontraditional advertising, 348-4381, smterritorymanager1@sa.ua.edu • Emily Frost, classifieds coordinator, 348-7355, smcwclassmgr@sa.ua.edu

• Ashley Brand, creative services manager, 348-8042, • Carly Jayne Rullman, zone cwadv@sa.ua.edu 8 (the Strip and downtown), The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama.

The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.

The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University.

Advertising offices of The Crimson White are on the first floor, Student Publications Building, 923 University Blvd. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389.

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The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year.

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All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright Š 2008 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire� and “Periodical Publication� categories of the U.S. copyright laws.

Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.

• Criminal mischief occurred at 10:30 a.m. at Kappa Alpha • Cr i m i n a l tampering occurred at 11:45 a.m. at Bryant Museum

OCT. 27

• Criminal tampering 2 occurred at 9:50 a.m. at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility • Theft 3 occurred at 11:30 a.m. at the Supe Store • Theft 3 occurred at 2 p.m. at Gordon Palmer Hall • Theft 3 occurred at 5:30 p.m. at Doster Hall • Theft 3 occurred at 6 p.m. at Lakeside Diner

OCT. 26

OCT. 28

• Theft 2 occurred at 2 a.m. at Blount Hall • Sexual assault occurred at 2:30 a.m. at Riverside Drive at the Thomas Street gravel lot

• Unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle occurred at 10:15 a.m. at the Bryant Hall parking lot • Possession of marijuana occurred at 2 p.m. at Marr’s Spring Road at ten Hoor Hall • Theft occurred at 4 p.m. at Little Hall • Theft 3 occurred at 10:20 p.m. at Rose Towers

Homecoming Schedule of Events

OCT. 29

• Criminal mischief 2 occurred at 8 a.m. at Paty Hall • Unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle occurred at 10:30 a.m. at The Bluff at Waterworks Landing apartments • Criminal mischief 2 occurred at 4:45 p.m. at Paty Hall

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OCT. 30

• Possession of marijuana occurred at 12:14 p.m.

COSTUME continued from page 1

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The Crimson White

NEWS

Friday, October 31, 2008

3

OPINIONS

Friday, October 31, 2008

Paul Thompson • Editor

4

letters@cw.ua.edu

Pompin’ ain’t easy Dave Folk

MCT Campus

What really matters?

Paul Thompson Well, we’re here. We — as Americans — are faced with the most pivotal election in recent memory.

With only four days remaining, no one can deny that both candidates — sens. John McCain and Barack Obama — are strong contenders for our nation’s highest office. At the end of the night, though, only one will emerge as president-elect.

In this time of heightened political awareness, I hope I have made you think about your politics — I know I’ve received some letters from you that have made me stop to think about mine.

At this critical juncture just days before the election, there are a few things we absolutely must realize as we head to the polls.

Associations matter: Despite what many Democrats — including those particularly wellinformed, like our columnist Ian Sams — will tell you, Obama’s past associations can and should make a difference in how you cast your vote. Hillary Clinton said it best in her now-infamous “3 a.m.” TV ad. In it, Clinton asks who you want to answer an emergency 3 a.m. phone call.

At the time, she certainly didn’t want Obama to be that man.

Why, though?

Other reasons abound, but most important are Obama’s former friendships with men like

Tony Rezko, a convicted felon and Democratic fundraiser from Chicago; Jeremiah Wright, a radically anti-American preacher whose mega-church Obama attended each Sunday for more than 20 years; and William Ayers, a member of Weather Underground, a domestic terrorist organization in the late 1960s that bombed the U.S. Capitol Building, the Pentagon and a federal judge’s home.

Do we really want to elect a man with as shady a list of former friends and co-workers as Obama? Is that safe for the rest of the country?

Still grasping at straws, Democrats are spouting off Obama’s newfound acquaintances. His new “friends,” they say, are men like Warren Buffett, who is one of the world’s most liberal and richest men. Buffet, like Joe Biden, has said on numerous occasions that rich people should pay more taxes simply because they are rich. Biden even went so far as to say that higher taxes are “patriotic.”

Is that the best plan for America? Higher taxes?

Socialism matters: I’ll admit, Democrats are not socialists, but some of Obama’s policies will move us further in that direction than we should go.

I’ve quoted it before, but Obama’s “Joe the Plumber” sound byte, in which he described his tax policies as “spreading the wealth around,” offers profound insight into our would-be president. Recently, Obama defended the quote saying he “did not regret it.” If I were him, I would — not that I’d ever suggest the policies taught in children’s stories like “Robin Hood” are the way to go, but still, it is nice to finally know where you get your inspiration.

Obama admits he wants to take the wealth of society’s most successful individuals and redistribute it (even more than we already do) to poorer people, thus further stifling their desire to improve themselves under

more government handouts.

We simply can’t afford to create a dependent subset of citizens if we expect continued viability as a country.

Experience matters: Easily one of the most inexperienced senators with less than one term served, Obama has yet to author any significant legislation. “But wait,” Democrats say, “Obama has sponsored plenty of fantastic legislation.”

Obama may have sponsored legislation, but he has authored none in his entire tenure in the Senate. Authoring legislation is a long and difficult process, while sponsoring just requires a signature on a piece of paper.

Might that be a theme of an Obama presidency? Plenty of “sponsoring,” but no substantive action?

The bottom line: After serving almost 25 years in both houses of Congress, John McCain has written legislation time and time again. Just look at some of the most sweeping reform bills ever passed and you’ll probably find that McCain played a significant role — the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act, for example.

Despite my myriad criticisms of Obama, he has run a successful campaign. It remains to be seen whether or not the American people will realize that his failings far outstrip his emotionally appealing messages and vote for the voice of reason.

When you go vote on Nov. 4, remember that.

What is emotionally appealing is not always right. We have an obligation to leave our country better off, and Barack Obama is simply not the man to accomplish that. I challenge you to realize that fact and elect John McCain as president of the United States.

You’ll be glad you did.

Paul Thompson is the CW opinions editor. His column runs on Fridays.

My least favorite part of homecoming is the infamous pomp. By week’s end of my freshman year, I had rolled more paper than an extra in a Cheech and Chong movie.

I was more proficient at rolling balls than a urologist, and I hated it. You sit there for hours doing a mind-numbingly boring task (yes, as bad as your astronomy class), and at the end feel you have literally accomplished nothing (like registering dead people to vote, ahem, ACORN).

At the end of the week, however, it all comes together in a glorious ensemble of artistic talent and slave labor that is proudly displayed for 48 hours before being torn down.

I, unlike fellow columnist Jessie Landon, believe in the

purpose of Homecoming.

Her point is made, however, on such a successful football season (knock on wood … or a liberal’s head) that this pride of Homecoming can often be overlooked.

Homecoming provides all students with a chance to proudly display their love of this school, and all organizations are invited into the nearly 25 events going on during the week. It truly does unify the campus, even if it’s only for just a week.

On top of that, it raises money for charity through the Roll Tide Run and the ongoing Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive. How can you disagree with any event that raises money for charity?

For those who participate in Homecoming, they can expect to meet dozens of people they would never have the chance to meet otherwise. In fact, I have met some of my best friends through homecoming events.

Plus, homecoming normally brings big name entertainers to the campus through the efforts of University Programs.

I mean, granted, the only three people who liked last year’s act DAUGHTRY just happen to be the judges of “American

Idol,” but I think it’s safe to say Hank Williams Jr. has a slightly larger fan base.

Without Homecoming, we also wouldn’t have the chance to see a giant stack of wood get lit up like a joint in Snoop Dogg’s tour bus. The best part about that is seeing all the environmentalists squirm, realizing how great their carbon footprint is for watching it.

I also can’t understand the beef people have with homecoming queen. I agree it would be understandably cooler if they fought to the death to decide the queen at halftime, but that’s just not going to happen.

Overall, the reason we still have homecoming is because it is a tradition, and this is a school that is addicted to tradition, like Tennessee is addicted to losing right now.

So really, there is no harm in a week that unites the school and raises money for charity all while teaching thousands of students the all important art of paper ball rolling (which I believe is actually a major at Auburn).

Dave Folk is a CW news editor. His column runs on Fridays.

Socialism already here

By Bradford Patterson We live under partial socialism.

We hear accusations that Barack Obama is a socialist, and they’re all true. But it’s also true that John McCain is sympathetic to socialism, though to a lesser extent.

You may think it drastic to characterize both Obama and McCain as complicit with socialism, so let’s define the term.

Socialism is an economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state for the purpose of redistributing wealth, rather than being owned by individuals and corporations.

There are degrees of socialism. Thirty-six percent of the U.S. economy is consumed in federal, state and local taxes.

Two thirds of federal taxes go to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. In fiscal year 2008, the federal government will commandeer over $1.8 trillion of productive power to redistribute wealth just for these three programs. To the extent that we follow this practice, we fit the definition of socialism.

McCain has made only feeble statements about “controlling” the growth of entitlement programs, and Obama wants to expand them. Nevertheless,

socialism is a word that tends to be avoided in American politics. Congresswoman Maxine Waters made an embarrassing gaffe this summer in which she accidentally used the word and tried, with hilarious effect, to recover from it.

For those who appreciate the precedents set by our country’s founding fathers, this fear of openly using the “S”-word is a satisfying sign that we are not yet completely lost. For those who disagree with our founding fathers’ strong belief in economic freedom, avoidance of the word is either dishonesty or ignorance, and nothing less.

Some people are honest about favoring socialism, and I applaud their honesty. Now that we’ve settled that, however, I would highly recommend they take a look at the consequences of socialism where it’s been tried.

In the U.K. and Canada, socialized healthcare has caused dangerous waiting lists and frequent trips abroad for expedited treatment.

Most countries in South America, Africa and Asia are extremely poor by our standards. These countries have had far more state ownership of productive resources than we have. Bolivia borders a much more capitalistic Chile and has average incomes less

than one third of Chile’s. We have a term that applies to these socialist countries: the “Third World.”

Given this tendency, where do you think we would be now if all of our presidents since 1789 had been McCains or Obamas?

If you support McCain as the lesser of two evils, perhaps you should consider voting for Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. You won’t cause McCain to lose in Alabama, and you can make a statement.

So if you support Obama, be honest about your views.

The next time you’re out rallying for “hope,” try this for a slogan: “We live under socialism, and I want more of it!”

Additionally, unless you can pinpoint exactly what cause, besides socialism, has kept Bolivia so much poorer than Chile, you should explain specifically the hope Obama has given you — a hope against the odds that, when we imitate policies that have caused so much unnecessary suffering, we will somehow be the exception to the rule.

Socialism is already here.

Let’s start by admitting it.

Bradford Patterson is a graduate student in economics.

YOUR VIEW

What do you think of UAʼs homecoming theme, “A Tide Nation: Unified with Crimson Pride?”

“Itʼs catchy. I think itʼs a good theme because it speaks a lot about the University.”

“Considering itʼs election time, itʼs a good theme, but Iʼm really indifferent.”

“It sends a positive message to people who come to our campus for homecoming.”

“I donʼt think itʼs a good theme. I wouldnʼt put pride in school.”

—Cornelius Cook, a senior majoring in finance

— Casey Cotney, a senior majoring in dance

— Hillary Watson, a freshman majoring in elementary education

— Mark Limbaugh, majoring in electrical engineering CW | Marion Walding

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Editorial Board

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The Crimson White

NEWS

Friday, October 31, 2008

5

Nursing college expands with demand

By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter “It has never been a better time to be a nurse,” said Sarah Barger, dean of the Capstone College of Nursing on her college’s Web site. At the University, this may hold true.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held two weeks ago for the new nursing building, and nursing students are being exposed to a variety of resources and technologies. However, as the demand for nurses grows higher, can the Capstone keep up?

The construction for the new School of Nursing will start in April 2009 and is projected to be completed by summer 2010.

In the meantime, students are shuffled throughout 13 buildings, a statistic which state Senator Phil Poole called “outrageous” at the groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 10.

Nursing students say the constant change of buildings has its benefits.

“During my first semester we had to bounce around a lot,” said Eric Van Nostrand, a junior majoring in nursing. “But I enjoyed having several different buildings. Having to walk across campus let me see new people and feel like I was more a part of campus.”

Molly Jones, a freshman majoring in nursing, said because being a nursing major requires a diverse selection of courses, she has had classes all around campus.

“Sometimes it is stressful to get across campus for my next class, but I figure that nursing is a profession of constant stress, so I [have to] start somewhere,” Jones said.

Nevertheless, the location of the new building will have its perks, said Miranda Winter, a junior majoring in nursing and the treasurer of the Alabama Association of Nursing Students.

“It will be much more convenient to have classes in new

building, especially across from hospital,” Winter said. “Certain things we had to do in labs would be a lot more applicable in a hospital [setting].”

With an enrollment of 1,300 undergraduates and 150 graduate students, the college is feeling some growing pains, Van Nostrand said.

“Because of the demand [for nurses], we need more nurses and we need more faculty,” Winter said. “New faculty are few and far between, especially good ones.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be openings for more than one million nursing positions between now and 2020. To prepare students for real-world opportunities, the college utilizes the nearby hospitals, such as Bryce and DCH. Van Nostrand, who goes to DCH for his fundamentals class, said going to the hospital is helpful. “[Going there] gets you ready

Book bill on block

By Drew Taylor Senior Staff Reporter In the last session for the Alabama State Senate, legislation proposing tax cuts on textbooks was left with no action. However, the SGA, with help from state senators Roger Bedford and Phil Poole, plans to bring the legislation back to the next session on Feb. 3.

This legislation, which has been developing since fall 2007, calls for the removal of the sales tax on college textbooks, which totals up to 9 percent of the total sale. Approximately 4 percent of the taxes go to the state of Alabama, with the other 5 percent going to Tuscaloosa County.

Recently, the bill was marked as a “Danger Bill” by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. Sen. Bedford said this is the case with this bill because when money is at risk to be taken, there is always hostility.

“Anytime that revenue is at stake, [the commission becomes] very territorial and will fight to keep their money,” Bedford said. “This won’t be taking any money from anyone.”

Jesse Woods, executive adviser to the SGA president, said taxing the cost of textbooks is, in essence, putting a tax on education.

“It doesn’t make sense for

CODE

Continued from page 1 to information is accessed. If someone uses that ACTion card to make purchases — gas, pizza or admittance into the game, the responsibility lies solely on them to cover the charges.”

Another policy students may not know is that if students break the law off campus, they are still subject to disciplinary action at the University.

“A lot of students believe that if the violation takes place off campus it is not the concern

tuition to be taxed because you’re going to better yourself and get an education, which is going to end up giving back to the state anyway,” Woods said.

Woods said many problems persist with taxation on textbooks, which include bundling various kinds of software and extra texts to the textbook that cannot be sold back to the University Supply Store at the end of the academic term.

Another problem is that the publisher can create a different edition of a book and then raise the price.

“Teachers change their books every semester, which adds that much more in the long run for students,” Woods said.

Woods said the bill has been an ongoing project since he was first elected to the SGA in 2007. Shortly after his election, he and former SGA president R.B. Walker would be laying the initial groundwork on how to approach the rising cost of textbooks.

Woods said that the bill originally called for textbooks to be cheaper during “Tax Free Weekend,” an annual interim in the summer where sales tax is dropped from clothing and other items.

However, the bill ran into problems due to the fact that most students are not in school to take advantage of the lowcost textbooks. Woods and

Walker eventually decided that in order to make textbooks less expensive for the University, the bill must call for tax to be completely be taken from the cost of textbooks.

Woods said he and other members of the SGA would meet once a week in Montgomery during the spring to discuss the legislation with Bedford, representative to District Six, who provided resources into contacting various public officials to sponsor the bill.

Though the bill was not favored in the session, Woods said he was proud that he and the SGA had done so much to get recognition for it.

“It really was an empowering thing to have a bill go as far as it did,” Woods said. “It brought a voice from higher education to Montgomery that they hadn’t had before.”

Bedford said all the support that he has seen from students all around the state has been astounding, with many contacting their local representatives and voicing their opinions on the issue of textbook tax.

The SGA is currently constructing a packet of possible items to address in addition to the textbook bill, including a bill banning sex offenders from college sanctions. The next session will convene on Feb. 3 and dismiss on May 18.

of the University,” Perry said.

“However, because you are an UA student we hold you to a higher standard, and whatever you do as long as you are a student is a reflection on this University. All students and faculty [and] staff are a representation of the University.”

Perry said if a student, faculty or staff member were to be involved in anything noteworthy — good or bad — the first thing that would be printed would be ‘UA student’ or ‘UA faculty member’ in the headline.

The future intentions of ‘Know the Code’ are to have a designated week at the

beginning each semester for incoming freshman students to promote awareness and increase student knowledge of the Code of Student conduct, campus policies and local laws. The overall plan is to decrease the number of students that are sent to judicial affairs.

With a little more than 40 students having taken the quiz so far, students are encouraged to take the quiz themselves to see how much they really know.

The quiz can be found online by going to www.ja.ua.edu and clicking on “Know the Code Quiz.” Students may also earn prizes for their participation.

Victory Shirts Are In The House!

Available at Ferguson Center, Tutwiler Hall & Bryant Museum locations.

Also available online at supestore.ua.edu.

to make decisions,” he said.

Due to the close proximity of the hospitals, Winters said UA nursing students are at an advantage.

“We experience a lot of different angles of the medical field in a short amount of time,” she said.

Advancements in technology have been integrated to the College of Nursing, but Van Nostrand said the transition to a full eLearning system could have gone more smoothly.

“While [the faculty] are all working really hard to get it to be the best it can be, it does hit snags every now and then,” he said.

Winter also cited technology and simulators as areas needing improvement within the college.

One thing some students agreed on was the quality of the faculty members.

“All of my teachers that I’ve had so far were all students here and they learned from the

nursing school here,” Van Nostrand said. “They are definitely good at what they do.

They are not there to make it easy for you, and it’s definitely been a challenging semester, but they are always willing to talk you through any problems you may have.”

“All [of] the faculty seems nice, knowledgeable and they seem to absolutely love the nursing profession,” Jones said.

In addition to helping in the classroom, almost 100 percent of the nursing faculty donated to the Capital Campaign, which funds construction projects, said Shelly Jordan, director of advancement for the Capstone College of Nursing.

Due to the nursing school’s intensive course load, it is easy to feel left out on campus, Van Nostrand said.

“It’s hard sometimes because you focus all of your energy on one subject, not a wide variety all over campus. You don’t meet a wide variety of people, which

has its ups and downs. You get to know those people really well, but you don’t as many,” he said.

“A lot of people have misconceptions about [being a nursing major]. They think it’s one of the easier majors on campus, but I’ve had more difficulty in my upper division nursing classes than I had in any of my math classes for chemical engineering,” said Van Nostrand. “It’s challenging, but it’s also fun.”

So, does the Capstone College hold true to the dean’s statement of the opportune time to be in nursing?

“I think we’re going in the right direction,” Winter said.

“I totally agree with [the dean]. Nurses are always in demand. It does not matter it the economy is floundering or flourishing, people always get sick, and they need well educated and caring people to take care of them. As our population grows in the number of elderly people, the need of nurses becomes even more necessary,” Jones said.

Administrators create ‘lunch date’ initiative

By Josh Veazey Staff Reporter Two UA administrators want to hear your ideas to make the University better face-to-face.

Executive Vice President and Provost Judy Bonner and Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Nelson have created a lunch date initiative to meet once a month with UA students, faculty members and staff to listen to their concerns and ideas.

“It’s like sitting around the dining room table,” Nelson said. “We are family at the University, so we need to take time to sit around the table together and be honest and open with one another.”

Bonner and Nelson have not put any limit on topics that may be discussed or scheduled any specific topic they plan to talk about.

“Dr. Bonner and I are not there to present our ideas or

TRADITION contniued from page 1

starting their own cheers.

These bar-bound students also put on an annual joke — their “Miss Demeanor” pageant, in which a male student of the school would ride in the homecoming parade dressed in drag.

These traditions may have faded away, but there are many similarities between recent homecomings and those of old.

The homecoming parades have grown from 34 floats in 1948, but they follow the same procedures and the same basic route. Choreography contests date to the early 1940s, as do “Paint the Town Red” contests.

influence the conversation,” Nelson said. “We are there to listen to what others have to say.”

The administrators have held two lunches so far, which Nelson said made him aware of issues he had not previously considered and helped him garner positive feedback.

“From the feedback we’ve received, people have said ‘I’m so glad we’re doing this.

I didn’t speak up at the meeting, but it was good to hear what was on other people’s minds,’” Nelson said.

Nelson said topics discussed were as diverse as access to the UA website and problems with eLearning, easing the transition of transfer students, and the traffic light at the corner of University Blvd. and Colonial Drive, which many students think changes too quickly for those crossing University Blvd.

“There were a couple of

students who we took down their information to follow up with them on some specific problems that they were having,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the meetings have been effective not only by informing him of issues, but also by making more faculty, staff and students conscious about them.

“Faculty and staff members benefit from hearing from students as much as the provost and I will benefit from it. They’re engaged in issues that other people have brought up at least as much, if not more than the provost and I,” Nelson said. “I think it’s healthy for all of us just to sit around a dining room table and talk about what’s on our minds in a dispassionate way, and with the mindset that we’re really all here to make this a better place.”

The next lunch is Nov. 6 at noon in room 204-A of the Ferguson Center.

A major component of each Homecoming Week is the homecoming concert, a chance for the University to showcase a major entertainment act. A variety of big name performers have come to campus, including Elvis in 1971 and Cheech & Chong in 1973.

The University charged admission to concerts until 1998, when Alan Jackson was the first free concert.

University Programs was audited by the University to give free concerts but the action was short-lived, as students had to reach into their pockets again in 2007.

Homecoming week would not be the same without a homecoming queen. Until the early 1980’s, the students did not vote on homecoming queens. Instead, there was a

group of three to five “notable alumni” who would hold pageant-style interviews with each contestant and determine who was to be queen.

In the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, the queen was announced five days prior to the game. The tradition of announcing the homecoming queen at the pep rally began in the ’70s.

Old homecoming traditions have given way to new ones, yet the University still holds on to the basic fundamentals of homecoming week, most important being pride in the University. Whether it was in the ’40s, where the football team was struggling at best, or the ’70s, in the era of Paul “Bear” Bryant, the students have come together to support the institution during Homecoming.

Friday, October 31, 2008

LIFESTYLES Ryan Mazer • Editor

6

ryan.mazer@cw.ua.edu

‘Requiem’ performed this Sunday

ment piece and setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead, containing the wellknown oratorio aria for soprano, “Pie Jesu.” The piece will On Sunday at 6 p.m., First be performed by the church’s United Methodist Church of Adult Chancel Choir, a roughly Tuscaloosa will host a per- 20-member orchestra comprised formance of Gabriel Fauré’s entirely of UA students, and “Requiem in D minor” to com- faculty and organist Garrett F. Martin. Vocal soloists performmemorate All Saints Day. “Requiem” is a seven-move- ing during the piece include

By Corey Craft and Kathleen Buccleugh The Crimson White

Jennifer Cowgill, School of Music voice faculty member and soprano, and Christopher O’Rear, a doctoral student in vocal performance and baritone.

James Seay, the director of Music Ministries for the church and a doctoral student in vocal performance, stressed the moving nature of the piece, particularly considering its performance on All Saints Day.

“[All Saints Day] is a special feast day during the liturgical year where we celebrate the lives of people who have passed on before us,” he said. “This service of music and word is a gift to the community, and we invite all to experience the comfort and emotion that [Fauré’s Requiem] brings the listener.”

The piece is traditionally used to comfort the grieving,

something that Seay said is an important goal of Sunday’s performance.

“We recognize that one of God’s greatest gifts is each other, the presence of the important people in our lives,” he said.

“Through impassioned music and word of comfort, we will remember loved ones who have passed away and give thanks to God for their lives.”

If you go What: Fauré’s “Requiem” Where: First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa, 800 Greensboro Ave.

When: Sunday at 6 p.m.

Almost Famous The Crimson White travels to New York and back with Arkadelphia

By Caleb Johnson Senior Lifestyles Reporter

Collegiate Wear!

Wear!

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late Saturday night. The plan was to wake up early Sunday morning, pick up the rest of the band I arrived at Arkadelphia singer and set out for Wilmington, N.C., and guitarist Lee Bains’s house the first stop of a weeklong tour.

We woke with the sun the next morning, had our fill of coffee and drove over to the Southside of Birmingham to pick up drummer Ra-Jaan Parmely and bassist Justin Colburn. After some resourceful packing, we all piled into Bains’s Subaru Outback and tore off east on Interstate 20/59, leaving behind a trail of cigarette butts and burnt motor oil.

We broke up the monotony of the eight-hour drive with a stop at South of the Border, one of the most bizarre slices of America I have ever visited. South of the Border is a combination truck stop and amusement park on the border of South and North

Carolina. Bains bought a dream catcher from Pedro’s Leather Shop to ward off any evil spirits we might encounter on our trip.

The show was booked at a sports bar called Hell’s Kitchen, which meant two things: there would be food, and everyone in the bar would be more interested in watching game seven of the ALCS than listening to a rock and roll band. But Arkadelphia and our tour mates, Vulture Whale, made the best of the situation. After the show, we decided it would be best to get the hell out of Wilmington as quick as possible and head toward our next stop in Philadelphia, Penn.

We survived morning rush hour traffic in Washington D.C. and arrived in downtown Philadelphia at 9 a.m. We met our buddy, J.D. Mahaffey, as he was leaving for work. He kindly offered us spots on the floor of his loft so we could catch up on some much needed sleep. I woke up three hours later to a cold wind and a rumbling stomach.

The show took place at Mahaffey’s loft, which also doubles as an art space and venue. 13 Ghosts made their way over and played a set, along with Vulture Whale and Arkadelphia featuring Mahaffey on guitar. A few native Philadelphians and some Southern transplants showed up to see some fine Alabama rock and roll.

After the show, we drove across town and took over the jukebox at the Kung-fu Necktie.

Alabama, Otis Redding and Conway Twitty played into the night as we danced, sang,

The CW got the chance to tour with the band Arkadelphia, shown above, around the north east last weekend. stomped our feet and hollered until last call.

As we emerged out of the Holland Tunnel and into the streets of Manhattan, I was taken back with my first view of the city. Tuesday was an off day for Arkadelphia, but Bains and Parmely still had work to do. They played bass and drums respectively with Duquette Johnston and The Rebel Kings in the Skybucket Records

Showcase at The National Underground bar.

Arkadelphia’s official CMJ show was Wednesday night at Trash Bar in Brooklyn. Colburn and I used the day to see some sights since this was our first trip to the city. We made our way to Wall Street where we met Bains and sat in Trinity Church, one of the most beautiful places on the island.

Wednesday night, Bains was a showman as always, and the rhythm section of Colburn and Parmely was tighter than ever.

Arkadelphia fired on all cylinders. We sold a little merchandise and wandered around the city until the early morning, drinking whiskey and dancing.

Arkadelphia played an allages venue and art space in Roanoke, Va. The wood walls provided wonderful acoustics for that night’s show. I ate one of the best burgers of my life at the Texas Tavern in downtown Roanoke. If you ever visit, just order a cheesy western. You can thank me later.

We spent Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. with thousands of Crimson Tide fans. Arkadelphia had its best show of the tour and played to its largest crowd. Bains gave it his all despite having a cold, and Parmely and Colburn were as steady as ever.

Saturday was the most bizarre and fun show of the tour. It was at the Lamda Chi fraternity house at Sewanee College, an Episcopal school in Tennessee. I felt like I had stepped into “Animal House” as I walked into the filthy building that looked more like a hunting lodge than a frat house.

I do not think any of us wanted the tour to end as we arrived back in Birmingham. It was the time of my life, and I am pretty sure it ranked right up there with Bains, Colburn and Parmely.

The Crimson White

LIFESTYLES

Friday, October 31, 2008

7

Annual Homecoming Step Show held tonight CJ McCormick Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Tonight, several greek organizations and the Riptide Dance team will take over the Student Recreation Center’s south gym for The National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Homecoming Step Show “If you have never seen stepping at this level or never been to a show, then it’s a great thing to come to,” said Rosalind Moore, director of graduate student services and the advisor for greek affairs “It’s absolutely amazing the things the students do, the movements and the coordination that’s involved.”

The show, which has taken place for more than 30 years, will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude around 10 p.m.

Tickets are $13 for students and $14 for the general public.

They can be purchased online via Crimson Arts or at the door for $15.

Not only will the competition entertain the more than 600 to 1200 people who typically attend the event, but it will also serve as a fundraiser for the council.

Funds will help support various community and campus fundraising events during the fall and spring semesters.

During the show, several historically black greek organizations will each perform their own choreographed dance, set to a specific theme. Past years’ themes have ranged from baby dolls to courtroom scenes.

The organizations are all members of the National PanHellenic Council, which has eight organizations represented on campus. Among the seven competing groups, there are three female and four male groups, Moore said.

UA’s hip-hop dance team, Riptide, will also perform.

Last April, the dance troupe competed on BET’s “Wild Out Wednesdays.” `The step show provides the students not only with the

opportunity to perform in front of their peers and the community, but also to compete against other groups.

“One of the reasons it is so popular and important for the groups is that it’s kind of a way for them to show off as an organization and also gain bragging rights for the rest of the year,” Moore said.

While the show takes place in October, many of the student groups have been practicing since June or July, with their work culminating the night before the Homecoming football game.

The Riptide Dance Team, a group of xy, will also perform.

“This event is an important moment for a lot of our students,” Moore said. “A lot of the groups have alumni that come back as well as friends and family that attend the event.”

Each organization comes up with its own show, and one of the reasons it is so popular and important for the groups is

that its kind of a way for them to show off as an org and also gain bragging rights for the rest of the year as the org who has done the best show and put on the best performance.

So a lot of organization members from past times will come back to see these shows. This happens annually and is also considered a fundraiser for the national panhellenic council so in the future in spring and for the remaining fall semester they can utilize that fundraising for service projects and various events that they put on throughout the community as well as on campus Usually about 600 to 1200 attendees. If you have never seen stepping at this level or

never been to a show, then it’s a great thing to come to because it’s absolutely amazing the things the students do, the movements and the coordination that’s involved. It’s an intricate process. You have to have some rhythm to do it.

A lot of groups, depending on the intricacy of their routine, will start practicing in the summer months on into the fall semester leading up to the show. A lot of groups start in June July to now.

It’s an intricate process. You have to have some rhythm to do it.

If you have never been to a step show or a show of this type I think it is a great experience and kind of brings you

If you go What: The National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Homecoming Step Show

Where: Student Recreation Center’s South Gym

When: Tonight at 7 PM

into a new type of dance and culture and it’s fun.

And I would say that this is one of the best step shows in the state and in the area.

Homecoming at the Ferg: Sounds of UA

While pomping and making banners to show support for homecoming queen candidates may not appeal to all students, the University is working hard to make sure that everyone can experience and take part in the celebration this year. One such chance for all students to celebrate is through Homecoming at the Ferguson Center: Sounds of UA, which is held on the main floor of the Ferguson Center from noon to 1 p.m. today.

The event invites students, faculty members, alumni, employees and friends to come out and enjoy live music.

“All week long, there have been events going on at the Ferg to celebrate this special event here at the University,”

said Beverly Hawk, the director of Crossroads Community Center. “This event in particular is just a chance for people to come out and hear some good music while taking part in our Homecoming celebration.

“The Ferguson Center is the heart of the campus and a cultural center for students.

Therefore, we believe it is important to put on an event that will entertain all and celebrate such an important event here at the University.”

Crossroads, a campus organization which sponsors multicultural events, is hosting Homecoming at the Ferguson Center: Sounds of UA. This event concludes a week of events that were held at the Ferguson Center, including music with the Drum Circle,

“Rebirth” and several other festive events.

“All students and faculty are invited to come enjoy and celebrate the festivities while they dine and walk around,” Hawk said. “We really just want people to come and listen to the live music while in the building.”

If you go What: Homecoming at the Ferguson Center: Sounds of UA Where: Main floor of the Ferguson Center

When: Today at 1 PM

Alabama Connections

Book Fair Showcasing books by local and campus authors

Friday, Oct. 31st, 11a.m.-4p.m.

University Supply Store Ferguson Center UA English Instructor Sean Hoade will sign copies of his novels, Ain’t That America & Darwin’s Dreams from 11 a.m.-1 p.m 17644

By Kelsey Hendrix

VXSHVWRUH XD HGX

8 Friday, October 31, 2008

SPORTS

The Crimson White

SOCCER

Tide to battle Auburn for post-season life

By Cyrus Ntakirutinka Sports Reporter The Alabama soccer team, standing with a 9-7-2 record, looks to keep its postseason hopes alive on the road this weekend against SEC rival Auburn in the last game of the regular season.

“There’s everything to play for,” head coach Todd Bramble said. “I think it is going to be a really good game. Just so much about that night, it’s Halloween night, playing our archrival.

Auburn has got a chance to win the SEC West, and we are playing for our postseason chances.

I can’t imagine there being any other set up that has more drama than this does.”

The clash between the SEC rivals will take place Friday night at 7:30 at the Auburn University Soccer Complex. A

win for the Crimson Tide would result in the first trip to the SEC tournament since 2004.

The Tide is coming off a tough 2-0 home finale loss to Georgia that left the team with a 4-5-1 record in conference play, but Bramble said he has seen improvement from his players in practice this week.

“They are pretty feisty,” Bramble said. “I think it was a combination of them trying to get rid of some frustration coming out of the weekend, but also they know the type of performance it is going to take for us to be successful this weekend.”

Alabama heads into the game with certain odds in its favor: The team sports a 61-1 record on Friday nights.

Bramble addressed the sense of urgency for Alabama to get a bid for the conference finals in Orange Beach.

“It is the last game, but fortunately our destiny is in our own hands,” Bramble said.

“There is an outside chance that if we were to lose the game to Auburn, we could still be in the SEC tournament, but we don’t want our fate determined by anyone else. So as long as we get out and put together a great performance at Auburn, we can control our own postseason.”

Auburn will be a tall order for the Tide. Freshman Tiger sensation Katy Frierson has scored nine goals for Auburn and leads the team with 25 points. Auburn sits with 10-7-2 record and posts a conference record identical to Alabama’s.

“They are a good team right now,” Bramble said. “They are playing really well. They’ve got a freshman who is one of the best players in the coun-

try. She has been scoring a ton of goals for them. They are a tough, hard-hitting team, so we are going to have to come out and ready to do battle with them.”

Bramble said he thinks this week has allowed his players to address the miscues that hurt the Tide against Georgia and can ultimately help to face a team like Auburn.

“We had a video session before practice that was pretty painful, watching our performance against Georgia,” Bramble said. “But we came out and I thought training was excellent. We worked on the areas that we really need to focus in on, in front of the goal and doing a better job of finishing the chances that we get. I Alex Gilbert | UA Athletics felt the players are in the right Rosaly Petriello (left) fights through a tackle in Alabamaʼs 2-0 frame of mind right now.” loss to Georgia Sunday. The Tide has a chance to secure a spot in the SEC tournament with a win over Auburn today.

VOLLEYBALL

Tide to rematch Auburn

By Will Barry Senior Sports Reporter The Alabama volleyball team is 11-10 overall on the season with a 4-8 mark in SEC play as it hits the road this weekend to play rival Auburn in the second match of a four-match road trip.

The Crimson Tide topped the Tigers at home earlier in the season, 3-1, for its 16th series win out of the last 17 matches.

Having lost eight of its last 12 matches, the game is almost a must-win for the team that has an uphill battle to keep up in the SEC West.

“Time is running out on our team to start taking two steps forward and then two steps backwards,” head coach Judy Green said.

“It’s time for us to get going and that means we need to put our foot to the pedal. We need to start practicing hard and

playing with a lot more sense of urgency than we have been and I think we had a good start with that over this past weekend but we’re still not where we would like to be. I can tell you that.”

The team managed to break a four-match losing streak on Wednesday night by sweeping Mississippi State, 3-0, in Starkville, Miss.

A road win over Auburn may be harder to come by.

“Auburn has played well at home this season during conference play,” Green said. “They’ve taken a lot of teams to five games on their home court. Sundays in our conference is a day for five game matches.”

The Tide has only played two matches to five sets this season.

The midweek match against the Bulldogs gives the team a few days of much needed rest.

“The good thing is we’ll catch a day off and get our legs

back underneath ourselves on Thursday ... before we actually have to play Auburn on Sunday,” Green said.

Uncharacteristic of an Alabama team that has made the NCAA tournament the last three years, the Tide started SEC play 1-6 at home.

“It’s just been tough because my freshman year, I started and everything and we won almost every home match in the SEC other than Florida,” junior Elizabeth Salstrand said.

Auburn is 5-18 on the season and is winless in SEC play at 012.

“If we can step it up and actually get some wins under our belt, we could maybe get a better record, maybe giving us a chance for the NCAAs,” Salstrand said. “First we’ll have to make it through conference with a winning record. That’s my goal.”

The Crimson White

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SPORTS

Friday, October 31, 2008

Ryan Wright • Editor

10

ryan.wright@cw.ua.edu

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Team to hold Crimson-White scrimmage

By Ryan Wright Sports Editor

Head coach Mark Gottfried and fans alike will get their first glimpse of the 2008 Alabama basketball team in a game-like situation this weekend.

The Crimson-White scrimmage will be held at Coleman Coliseum Sunday at 4 p.m.

“It’s a chance to get out there and turn the lights on, get officials, put fans in the building and see how some guys respond,” Gottfried said.

“Especially your young guys. It will give us a chance to look at different combinations.”

The coaching staff will draft

two teams from the 12-man roster. The teams might change at the half this year.

“You can look at some things with your team a little differently,” Gottfried said. “It’s a dress rehearsal type atmosphere for us, get your team out there playing, see where you are on the things you’ve been working on every day now that it’s applied in a game-like situation.”

With the loss of a dominant post player in Richard Hendrix, the team may frequently feature a four-guard look this season.

The Crimson and White game will give Gottfried a

more realist look at which of Alabama’s four bigs, including freshman McDonald’s AllAmerican JaMychal Green, will get significant playing time in the absence of Hendrix’s NBA talent.

“Our big guys, it’s a question right now,” Gottfried said. “How effective can we score around the basket? Obviously you have a guy like Richard Hendrix, who was getting ready to be a fourth year, 120-game type of guy leaving. If you look collectively at Yamene Coleman, Justin Knox, Demetrius Jemison and JaMychal Green, there’s not a lot of experience there. You don’t have a proven

eight to 12-point guy. They’ve done a good job, just somebody has to emerge and rise up.”

Fans will also get a look at one-time All-American point guard Ronald Steele for the first time in more than a year.

The fifth-year senior sat out all of last season and missed six games his junior season due to multiple knee injuries.

Steele will be joined by his younger brother Andrew, a freshman guard.

Alabama was picked to win the wide-open West in the Media Preseason poll. The CW | Drew Hoover Crimson Tide edged LSU in The Alabama basketball team runs defensive drills during points, 151-147. Both teams Wednesdayʼs practice. The team will play the annual Crimsonreceived 11 first-place votes.

White scrimmage Sunday at 4 p.m.

INTRAMURAL FOOTBALL

Flag football playoffs underway

By John McWilliams Contributing Writer The cleats have been laced up. The black face paint has been rubbed under the eyes.

The teams are ready to play.

No, Alabama isn’t playing Auburn yet. It’s postseason time in intramural football, and the competition is fiercer.

“We have some great teams this year,” said Intramural Manager of Sports Darrell Hargreaves. “I believe that the teams this season are stronger than last season. I expect the games to be really competitive right out of the gate, because the top three seeds chose to be on the same side of the bracket.

I don’t pick who plays who, the teams pick.”

The playoff pro-league bracket was revealed Tuesday night and first round action began Wednesday.

While practice is supposed to make perfect, it’s basically worthless to the top-seeded Fat Ducks.

“We practiced maybe once, but that’s about it,” said team captain Brannon Paulk. “I mean, we warm-up before the game, but we don’t really practice at all. Some of us played together in high school, so we basically know what everyone is doing.”

“I think our team is special not only because we played high school ball together, but also because we are a close knit group,” said teammate Brad Wilson. “Our team is made up of mostly upperclassmen, so we can relate to each other. I think if you have talent and chemistry, you have a great shot at winning, and we have that.”

Certainly not favorite according to the rankings, the No. 22 Renegades are hoping their

experience will lead them through the field to claim their second straight championship.

“I think what makes our team special is that we are all good friends,” said Renegade player Michael Smith. “We play baseball together, watch games together and just enjoy being around each other. We plan on going out every day and just playing our game.

“We are still the champions until someone beats us.”

Differing from the NFL on more than the average player’s 40-yard dash time, intramural football is played with one-hand touch, six on six. In addition, the sport is run on a smaller, 80-by-35-yard field split into four zones. Advancing the ball into a new zone results in a first down. More guidelines concerning the rules of flag football can be found online at urec.ua.edu.

“I really do enjoy playing intramural football,” said PCFM member James Tankersley.

“I’ve played with some guys that could have easily played college ball. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every day.”

While a playoff victory certainly won’t make “SportsCenter,” the recreation is a source of both camaraderie and tradition.

“I played flag football to meet new people and to have fun,” said Josh Pearson. “My high school didn’t have a football team, so I guess this is my way of making up for it. Flag football is an escape from the worries of tests and papers. I look forward to every game.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

Editor’s Note: First round game scores were not available at deadline.