The Crimson White - 2/5/09 by The Crimson White

Feburary, Friday 05, 2009

LIFESTYLES

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PSP offers fun; challenging rhythm game

Doubles team works well on and off the court

Serving the University of Alabama since 1894

Vol. 115, Issue 82

Merit Scholar numbers rise University ranked 11th in recruitment By Jessie Gable Staff Reporter UA System

Board to vote on nursing construction By Amanda Peterson Special projects reporter

Along with considering the proposed expansion to Bryant-Denny Stadium, the UA System Board of Trustees is expected to approve construction contracts for

another project that will change the UA campus — the Capstone College of Nursing building. The board meets today and Friday in Birmingham. The

See BOARD, page 2

The University was recently ranked 11th in nation’s public universities in the number of National Merit Scholars it enrolls. In the fall semester of 2008, 83 National Merit Scholars enrolled at the University as freshmen. That number is more than half of the 140 scholars who enrolled at all colleges and universities in the state of Alabama last year, according to a press release from the University. “This ranking once again underscores the University of Alabama’s ability to attract the

best students in the nation,” said UA President Robert E. Witt in the release. “Our freshman class this year includes more than 1,000 students who had a 4.0 or higher grade point average in high school, and one in five freshmen enrolled in Honors College. Clearly, we are growing with quality at the University of Alabama.” The University was ranked 28th among the 2,400 public and private colleges and universities in the United States and second, behind the University of Florida, which has 116 National Merit Scholars enrolled, among public universities in the SEC. Auburn University ranked

eighth among public universities in the SEC by only having 31 National Merit Scholars in the fall recruiting class. The University’s ranking is up from last year when it came in 12th among public universities and 30th overall. “Students of this caliber can attend almost any school and it says a lot about the University’s academic programs that they choose to come here,” said UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen. In 2008, 464 National Merit Scholar semi-finalists were chosen from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, according to the National Merit Corp. 20072008 report. Currently, the University has more than 300 National Merit Scholars from Alabama,

Bama ﬁnishes National Signing day at No. 1 again

Walking down the aisles at the grocery store, students can expect to see more products labeled as “green” or “eco-friendly.” With stores like Wal-mart, who is one of the forerunners in the push to be green, students shouldn’t expect to see this trend disappearing anytime soon. Wal-Mart’s decision to make their stores environmentally friendly began in 2005 when the leaders of the company realized a lot of people did not like them, said Kristy Reynolds, associate professor of marketing. After a meeting, they decided from then on, everything they were going to do would be good for the environment and for their business, she said. “It has been very good for their business and has helped save their company millions of

UA weather

TODAY

dollars,” Reynolds said. After the meeting, they began using natural lighting and only turning the overhead lights on when necessary. In addition, they began to push their suppliers to use less packaging, she said. “When the packaging is smaller, the boxes are smaller, which means less cardboard is being used,” Reynolds said. “Because the boxes are smaller, they are able to fit more in the trucks used for shipping, which results in less trips being made to deliver these products. It really is a domino effect where everyone saves.” Students looking to purchase “green” products should look at the differences in labeling on the products, she said. Some companies like Clorox and Arm and Hammer have their eco-friendly products marketed as a separate

For more coverage, see The Scene, page 10

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47º/27º

Friday

Today’s paper

Clear

Saturday Clear

Opinions: Practicing what you preach ..............4

63º/38º 67º/47º

The Associated Press Five-star running back Trent Richardson puts on the houndstooth hat after signing to play at Alabama Wednesday. Richardson was the highest ranked player in the state of Florida.

INSIDE Honors College students to run marathon .......3

Video game review: ʻDJ Max Feverʼ ..............7 Sports: Menʼs tennis...8 Tide softball to open season in Mobile .....9

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

2008 — 83 2007 — 73 2006 — 82 2005 — 72

California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

By Lindsey Holland Contributing Writer

See GREEN, page 3

Black History Month film festival.....................3

• Number of National Merit Scholars enrolled at the University in the last four years:

Student receives blogger award

Companies go green and save green By Christy Conner Contributing Writer

Fast facts

T.G. Paschal | rivals.com Linebacker Tana Patrick of Stevenson, Ala., chose Alabama over rivals Auburn and Tennessee Wednesday. Patrick and the rest of the Tideʼs class ranked No. 1 on Rivals.com.

Some students that create blogs may wonder if anyone really reads what they post. Life is different for 24year-old Sharon Nichols. She first created her blog, called “Thank You, Ma’am” in her sophomore year of her undergraduate studies. Nichols’ blog has won first place in the student category for the American Bar Association Journal’s “2008 ABA Journal Blawg 100,” the 100 best Web sites by lawyers for lawyers. Out of those 100, five are in the student category. The ABA Journal is a Web site that is read by half of the nation’s one million lawyers every month. “I was really excited,” Nichols said. “The administration here has been really supportive and my readership has gone up since this nomination.” Nichols is in her second year at the University’s Law School. Aaron Latham, spokesman for the UA Law School said he thinks Nichols’s writing is key for a blogging world. “Sharon is a great writer,” Latham said. “Her style, which runs a gannet from playful to point, is suited perfectly for success in the blog world.” Nichols started off writing about current events but said she was always interested in

See AWARD, page 2

Campus leaders to strut their stuff in date auction By Victor Luckerson Staff Reporter Next week, UA men and women will strut down the runway in order to raise scholarship funds. The UA Scholarship Date Auction, cosponsored by the SGA and the National Society of Black Engineers, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at The Zone located in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Thirty-five to 40 student leaders from various on-campus organizations and athletic teams, including Crimson Tide cornerback Javier Arenas and CW managing editor

Phil Owen, will be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a group dinner date at Desperado’s Steakhouse. Terri Saban will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event. The event kicks off the SGA’s Ideas to Action Program, an initiative to give students a voice in planning campus programs and reforming University policy. The auction idea, conceived by student Kirby Kinney, was chosen from several submissions by a committee of SGA members and Crimson White staff. Admission will be $2 and will include a raffle ticket. Participants will be allowed to

buy as many as nine more raffle tickets for $1 apiece. At the end of the night the proceeds generated from ticket sales and the auction itself will be used to raffle off door prizes and scholarships worth as much as $500. “We are excited to present an opportunity to unite the entire UA campus for the cause of raising awareness for the need of more scholarship money for the students of the state of Alabama,” said Zack Coppens, chief operating officer for Ideas to Action and SGA entertainment director.

See AUCTION, page 2

PAGE Thursday

TODAY • Capstone Creed Week presents Faculty/Staff vs. Students Quiz Bowl — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ferguson Plaza

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

• Capstone Creed Week presents “No Officials” Dodgeball Tournament — 6 to 10 p.m., Student Recreation Center

• UA School of Music presents the Alabama Wind Ensemble — 7:30 p.m., Moody Music Building Concert Hall

• UP presents Movies in the Ferg with “Changeling” — 2 and 7 p.m., Ferguson Theater

• Artrageous Riverfront Arts Tour — 5 to 9 p.m.

January 5, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Applications for Outstanding Senior Award now available Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society is sponsoring the Outstanding Senior Award, which rewards up to two senior students who have made extraordinary contributions to the University or the Tuscaloosa community through his or her academic and extracurricular activities. The application for the award can be found at honorsocieties.ua.edu/awards.htm. The application is due Feb. 16 by 4 p.m. For further information, please contact Benton Atchison at bentonatchison@gmail. com.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “She’s representation of a larger value that UA law nurtures within its students, which is the importance of focusing one’s strength through creative channels.” — Aaron Latham, spokesman for the UA Law School, on Sharon Nichols’ blog

AWARD Continued from page 1

political writing. “I started it as a personal blog about the news,” Nichols said. “I like to write. My parents told me when I was six years old that I was going to be a lawyer because I like to argue.” Nichols said she hopes to use her degree to write about legal news and to keep up with her

blog as she continues her writing career. Nichols said she tries to write in her blog every day. “She’s representation of a larger value that UA law nurtures within its students, which is the importance of focusing ones strength through creative channels,” Latham said. Nichols received her undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston. She majored in political science and philosophy. In addition to her winning

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THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY 1994: White supremacist Byron De La Beckwith is convicted in the murder of African-American civil rights leader Medgar Evers, over 30 years after the crime occurred. Evers was gunned down in the driveway of his Jackson, Miss., home on June 12, 1963, while his wife, Myrlie, and the couple’s three small children were inside.

Studio,1,2, & 3 Bedroom Apartments & Town Houses

Source: Alabama State Archives

THE CRIMSON WHITE 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 • Breckan Duckworth, design editor • Robert Bozeman, assistant design editor • Marion Walding, photo editor • RF Rains, assistant photo editor • Kelli Abernathy, chief copy editor • Paul Thompson, opinions editor • Dave Folk, news editor • Brett Bralley, news editor • Ryan Mazer, lifestyles editor • CJ McCormick, assistant lifestyles editor • Greg Ostendorf, sports editor • Ryan Wright, assistant sports editor • Eric McHargue, graphics editor • Andrew Richardson, Web editor

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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. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published weekly June, July and August, and is published four times a week September through April except for spring break, Thanksgiving, Labor Day and the months of May and December. 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. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 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.

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blog, Nichols also has a book coming out Sept. 29 titled “I Judge When You Use Poor Grammar,” named after the Facebook group she created. Nichols said she started the group one day when she was walking by a store and saw a sign in the window that said, “Now excepting applications.” The group has more than 350,000 members and more than 10,000 photos. “I just started it because I thought it would be funny and

AUCTION Continued from page 1

“The SGA is excited to present our first Ideas to Action event, which will serve as a noteworthy catalyst for such great causes, raising awareness for the need for more scholarship money in the state of Alabama, and providing an opportunity to allow UA students to receive more scholarship money,” said James Fowler, chief executive officer

it really took off. We have Tshirts,” Nichols said. In September of last year, Nichols got a call from Bob Morris from The New York Times. He interviewed her and soon after, she received a call from an agent asking her for a book deal. St. Martin’s Press accepted the book. In addition to The New York Times article, Nichols has been interviewed by Wall Street Journal, Baltimore Sun and the Canadian Press.

for Ideas to Action and an SGA senator in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. This will be the 10th year the National Society of Black Engineers has been involved in a date auction. “We had hopes of making this year a special event for all, and through teaming up with the SGA, I can happily say that we have taken this year’s event to the next level,” NSBE Executive Director Sholanda Sanford said.

Stimulus key to budgets The Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The federal stimulus package, which has received little support from Alabama’s congressional delegation, could ease the state’s budget cuts and keep government operating at close to its current level, Gov. Bob Riley said Wednesday. With the stimulus, the

budgets don’t get worse. Without the stimulus, they do and state government could see thousands of layoffs, the Republican governor said as he recommended the state budget for fiscal 2010. Riley, a former congressman, said he’s not recommending any particular stimulus plan, but is encouraging Congress to pass one because he considers it a crucial foundation for economic recovery. “What everyone in this room wants is an expanding budget, not a contracting one,” the governor said. The stimulus plan passed by the U.S. House was opposed 61 by Alabama’s delegation, and the state’s two Republican U.S. senators are against it now that it’s pending in that chamber. The House-passed plan could pump about $3 billion into Alabama over 2 and a half years.

BOARD Continued from page 1

physical properties committee will discuss both the stadium expansion and the nursing building today. The board first approved the new nursing building, which will be located on University Boulevard and Fourth Street near the Student Health Center, last February with a $19.9 million budget, according to board documents. The University is requesting a budget increase due to utilities and infrastructure changes in the plans and that the construction contracts for the building be awarded to the lowest bidders. The increase will push the budget up to $22.4 million. According to board documents, Lynda Gilbert, UA vice president for financial affairs, said the increase will cover water, sewer and electrical extensions as well as modifications to Fourth Street to accommodate construction traffic and the CrimsonRide transit system.

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The Crimson White

NEWS

Film festival for Black History Month By Patty Vaughan Contributing Writer

Housing and Residential Communities is hosting a film festival during Black History Month. For the entire month of February, a movie will be shown at nine residence halls around campus. The first film, shown tonight at 7, will be “Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner.” There will be another film shown each Thursday for the rest of the month. Each movie will be shown in nine community halls and will be available for students, staff and the community. “This is a way to connect to other people on campus,” said Beverly Hawk, Crossroad Community Director. “It’s a way to enjoy a film and talk about with someone and think about things in a new way.” The movies that will be showing each Thursday include, “Four Little Girls,” “Crash” and “The Great Debaters.” According to UA News, “Four Little Girls” will be played twice this month. One showing will be Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at 30 ten Hoor Hall. It will also show Monday, Feb. 16 at 205 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library at 5 p.m. “We always try to balance the programs we are doing in the residence halls and outside the residence halls,” said Amanda Wallace, programming and civic leadership coordinator for Housing and Residential Communities. “This month we decided to balance both.” After each movie, there will be a discussion that will be led by resident advisers, hall directors and graduate students and possibly the community directors, Wallace said. The company that has been

working with Housing and Residential Communities to show these films has provided questions that will kick off each discussion. The film festival was added because Housing and Residential Communities thought it was very accessible to students and it would be easy for them to come and watch the films, Wallace said. The 83rd celebration of Black History Month is being sponsored by the SGA, New Student and Parent Programs, African-American Studies and Housing and Residential Communities. Through these programs, the Crossroad Community Center was able to make a program and calendar allowing students to see the events they want to attend, including the film festival. “This month the movies are based on African American Heritage Month because we try and fit with the particular month at the time,” Wallace said. “We show movies that are targeted to the time of year and that are also educational but still entertaining.” Both Wallace and Hawk said they think film is extremely powerful and is also easily relatable to one’s own life. “Film is just a way of being able to stand in another character, not worry about class and have a personal experience,” Hawk said. To find out where the movies are being held on Thursdays, visit uanews. u a . e d u / a n ews 2 0 0 9 / j a n 0 9 / african012909.htm. A calendar of the month’s events is available at the Ferguson Center.

Thursday, Feburary 5, 2009

HONORS COLLEGE

UA Students to run in marathon By Danielle Drago Senior Staff Reporter Honors College students are preparing for something as enduring as exams: a half marathon. A group of about 40 plan to run in the Nashville Music City half marathon on April 25, and they start training this week. “We are really looking at the Honors College as a whole, and we can provide more opportunities for the students, both within the class and outside the class. We want to provide multiple ways to experience community,” said Jacqueline Morgan, the director of the Honors College and the University Fellows Experience. Morgan and Shane Sharpe, director of the Computer-Based Honors Program, conceived the idea for an Honors College marathon group when searching for ways to connect to students within the college outside of the classroom. Both are experienced runners. The group will meet outside of the Student Recreation Center on every Sunday for a long run, but Morgan said each participant is responsible for their own training during the week Participants will also be invited to brown bag lunches where experienced marathon runners will give advice and tips. “The entire training process provides a sense of community for students within the honors college. It provides a focus on health and looking beyond and seeing the honors college student holistically,” Morgan said. The Honors College received an overwhelming show of

If you go...

“That says a lot to me about the Honors College family and their willingness to support students in these endeavors,”

What: Nashville Music

— Jacqueline Morgan, the director of the Honors College and the University Fellows Experience. support for the run by faculty members. After e-mailing faculty members about the run, Morgan said she received donations from the professors to support the cause so that students would be able to participate even if they didn’t financially have the means. “That says a lot to me about the Honors College family and their willingness to support students in these endeavors,” Morgan said. Kristin Sutton, the student leader for the group who organizes many of the extra activities, said that she looks forward to the sense of fellowship that the run will bring. “This shared experience of overcoming the difficult obstacles of training and completing a half marathon will create a sense of camaraderie among the students. This is a goal one has to work towards over time, and the longer the preparation, the greater the reward. Additionally, I hope this will bring students together for a fun weekend in Nashville,” she said. Morgan also said that the run will bring students together. “I magine we will all become very good friends,” she said. Participation in the run does not require an extensive running background, Sutton said. “If you can run three miles, you can train for a

City half-marathon training

half-marathon. There are bands playing every mile of the race to keep you motivated. If you join, you can expect a fun weekend in Nashville with friends, an athletic body, live music, and great food,” she said. The most exciting part of a marathon, said Morgan, is the accomplishments that come with it. “Seeing the progression of how your body can respond to training. That’s a personal sense of gratification. Also, the sense of connection that can occur when running together is very special,” she said. Even if a student does not

When: This Sunday at 2 p.m.

Where: lower end of the Student Recreation Center

want to run in the half-marathon, Morgan said they are welcome to run with the group and attend the brown bag lunches. “We don’t mean to be exclusive at all. Anyone can come,” she said. Students are invited to join the run this Sunday at 2 p.m. on the lower end of the Student Recreation Center, near the pool.

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GREEN Continued from page 1

line, she said. “Companies have gotten good at marketing these products,” Reynolds said. “Clorox has their Greenworks line and Palmolive has the Ecoplus line. They usually come with green labels and are easily identifiable.” In addition to making these products green, companies have tried to help consumers save money, she said. The companies have gotten better at making their products more affordable so the difference between regular and ecofriendly products isn’t that big of a difference anymore, she said. Although effective in some ways, Josh Sahib, a graduate student majoring in American studies and library science, said students should be cautious when purchasing things marketed as “green.” Sahib who teaches an American studies class, AMS 106: The Green Movement in Popular Culture, said students should think about the product’s hidden costs. “Whether a company is ecofriendly really depends,” Sahib said. “Some oil companies are marketing their companies as green but at the same time are in court trying to dodge large payouts for oils spills they are responsible for.” Students looking to buy green products should look for products that are organic, and they should make sure to read the labels or research the companies who make them before purchasing, Sahib said. In order to avoid purchasing from companies guilty of greenwashing, when a company says they are green but are not, Reynolds said, consumers should go to different Web sites and read the consumer’s reports. “Most of the time if a company makes a false claim, environmental groups will point them out,” Reynolds said.

THE STRENGTH TO HEAL

and learn lessons in courage. The pride you’ll feel in being a doctor increases dramatically when you care for our Soldiers and their Families. Courage is contagious. Our Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) helps you reach your goal by providing full tuition, money towards books and lab fees, a $20,000 sign-on bonus, plus a monthly stipend of more than $1,900. To learn more about the U.S. Army Health Care Team, call SSG Joseph Samuel at 877-351-6752, email joseph.samuel@usarec.army.mil, or visit healthcare.goarmy.com/info/mchpsp1. ©2008. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

OPINIONS

Thursday, January 5, 2009

Paul Thompson • Editor

letters@cw.ua.edu

Practicing what you preach My biggest problem with the typical liberal is, as my title so helpfully explains, not practicing what they preach. Basically, they seem holding everyone else to a double standard in order to get their goals accomplished. Admittedly, it’s worked beautifully over the last few years. The only problem is, folks, they can’t deliver what they promise, I’ll use Jessie Landon’s column yesterday as an example. First, I want to say Jessie Landon has gained all of my respect. I think she is a wonderful writer who is extremely passionate about what she writes. And this column is not meant to disrespect to her. That being said, join me for 600 words as we see the double standard behind Landon’s argument for gay rights. Now I’m not saying the anecdote she starts her article off with is what happened or not, I certainly wasn’t there. However it seems suspect to me that cops would verbally assault two girls who had been kissing. I mean hell, I’d want to see them kiss again, not berate them for it. Down to the nuts and bolts of it, I fundamentally disagree with her argument that they should live their life as they choose it. I don’t think any of us choose to live gay or straight. We are born biologically wired with what we are going to be attracted to. Just like our gay friends don’t choose to smooch their same sex partner, that freshmen in Burke doesn’t choose to want his Jessica Alba poster above his bed. Point being, it’s not a choice; it’s a biological difference in each of us. Landon says, “This is about everyone having an equal opportunity to live life the way he or she wants to live it.” I agree, but I feel often times liberals only want those who are in the minority to “live life the way they want to.” Going back to the Waffle House, just as it was their choice to make-out, wasn’t it the crowd’s choice to be disgusted by it? If they want to make public their “choice,” as

Dave Folk Landon says, isn’t it our choice to verbally disagree with that decision? While it is rude to holler at someone for kissing in public, it’s not some mortal sin as liberals make it seem. If there are gay pride parades, then why can’t straight people celebrate being straight? Any time one of us does so, some liberal berates us for being inconsiderate. This is the double standard, folks. Often, gay rights activists will reference the Declaration of Independence. While it was a monumental document that deserves to be celebrated, let’s remember that this in no way binds anyone legally. In fact, the man who penned it, Thomas Jefferson, meant that all citizens of the colonies deserved to be equal with their British counterpart. Remember, at the time he even owned slaves; certainly he never pictured this phrase to be used as some sort of entitlement to anyone. Personally, I feel it should be left up to the states to decide their stances on gay rights. Which California and many others did in November when Californians banned gay marriage with the passing of Proposition Eight. So, let’s stop having the government butt into people lives and leave it up to the people to decide. After all this is a democracy. Dave Folk is a sophomore majoring in communication studies and is a News Editor for The Crimson White. His column runs on Wednesdays.

MCT Campus

National Teach-In offers insights By Emily Roberson So you’re a habitual recycler now. Go you. Here’s your gold star printed on recycled paper and a trophy made from recycled aluminum. Now it’s time to take your eco-consciousness to the next level. I’m not talking about the chaining yourself-to-trees-and-denouncing-the-corporate-world level — that one’s a few months down the road. Your next step (which should have been your first) involves engaging in the appreciation of nature. So you’ve got six more weeks of winter according to our flighty groundhog friend, Phil. Luckily, you live in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where 70-degree highs along with sunny skies are possible in the middle of February. Take advantage of the good weather this Saturday and stroll around

the University’s arboretum, which is located a few minutes from campus on Veteran’s Memorial Parkway. If you’re already at one with your surroundings, how about educating yourself about current environmental issues? Today’s the day to do it. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., a National Teach-In on global warming will be taking place in 205 Gorgas Library. Faculty speakers will be talking about topics ranging from “green” business to

campus initiatives meant to reduce your University’s impact on the planet. Even if your hectic schedule only allows you to stop by 205 Gorgas for 20 minutes or so, you’ll be that much more knowledgeable about what’s going on in your world. Want to know what you’ll be in for during the National Teach-In? Search for the “UA National Teach-In” event on Facebook for a list of hourly sessions meant to expose you to the ins and outs of climate change and how it affects you. If you can’t make it to the NTI, at least watch the video on nationalteachin.org to get an idea of what it would be like. If you do get the opportunity to attend and you are so moved by the NTI presentations, you may find yourself wanting to commit to the environmental cause.

Can you see yourself as a conservationist, protecting and restoring national parks, marine sanctuaries, and cultural landmarks? Talk to Georgianna Jennison, the summer internship recruiter for the Student Conservation Association (thesca.org). She will be speaking in 205 Gorgas at 4 p.m. You can also catch Jennison between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. today at a table in the Ferguson Student Center. Tell her you’re looking for more information about obtaining the status of ecowarrior.

Emily Roberson, a senior majoring in advertising, is the vice president of the University of Alabama Environmental Council. Her column runs bi-weekly on Thursdays.

The elephant in the room returns By Spencer Overton As I noticed the dozens of antiMachine flyers across campus Tuesday, I thought of the message that they so clearly made: that it is supposed to be the responsibility of a democratic government to fairly and equally represent all people. One exception to this rule sadly impacts this University: our Student Government Association. Only one aspect of the student population is represented within the SGA: the greek community. My

disappointment doesn’t lie with greeks directly. (It is understandable that most people feel that their vote does not count when it comes to student government elections.) My problem with our SGA is that the greeks inside it are bureaucratic, unfair and only cater to themselves. They give out positions not based on personal merit or accomplishments but on cronyism. The greeks that control our student government are not impacted by the wants or needs of the rest of the student body; instead, the money the

SGA has access to (which I know is quite the sum) is invested in activities that benefit a select few. It is ludicrous to let a tiny, manipulative, elite, unseen organization continue to run our campus. The Machine is a force that is unknown by most people, and few people have the audacity to discuss it openly. There are many people within our student body and beyond who are very skeptical about the existence and the broad influence the Machine has over our campus and our state.

The Machine is a secret society of white fraternities and sororities who have a representative from each participating house take part in “putting up” candidates for Student Government and Homecoming Queen elections and determining Honor Society selections. These candidates are funded directly through the participating greek organization fees, and in turn part of that money is used to buy the materials needed for campaigning. The Machine ensures that their candidates will win

through the large pool of money they have access to, the insurance that other greeks will vote because they are required to lest they be fined, and the suppression of any and all opposition. The greek population makes up only 27 percent of UA students, yet they control the majority of the campus. If the other 73 percent of us came together in the name of a fair election and a fair government, imagine the benefits that would be made available to fair students on campus: more money for your student organization, more emergency student

loans, more opportunities for campus involvement. As the SGA election season is quickly approaching, please consider your role at our University. We need an SGA President who will ensure each of our voices is heard, who will uphold the basic standards of democracy, and who will bring forth a new tradition of fair governance. It is possible. All it takes is your vote. Spencer Overton is a senior majoring in biology.

Phelps, pot and consequences MCT Campus

Were you shocked to see the British tabloid photograph of Olympic swim champ Michael Phelps firing up a bong at a recent college party? Many people were no doubt startled and chagrined to see the allAmerican athlete inadvertently trashing his image. Many others may have been less surprised that Phelps did the drug than that he was foolish enough to do so in public, putting his multimillion-dollar product

endorsement deals at risk. Phelps has apologized, laying blame at the fact that he’s only 23 years old and not exactly a paragon of wisdom. Please. Phelps is a grown-up and has to own his poor choices. But government statistics do indicate that the age group most likely to use marijuana is 18 to 25 years old; after that, pot use drops off sharply. Will young Americans who buy Wheaties because they see Mr. Eight Gold Medals on the box now be more inclined to inhale pot because they see him

cupping a bong? The decline in stigma attached to marijuana use could make trying it easier, but it’s hard to establish a direct connection. While it can’t please parents that their kids’ favorite Olympic champion is revealed as a recreational drug user, the good news is that marijuana is less popular today than it was in the late 1970s. The bad news is the potency is much higher. Research over the last decade has established a link between marijuana use and

forgetfulness, having to do with the effect of cannabinoids, the pleasure-giving substance in marijuana, on brain chemistry. And while marijuana is not addictive in the same way cocaine and alcohol are, scientists have found evidence that for 10 to 14 percent of the population, developing a pot dependence is all too easy. It’s also worth thinking of another young Phelps — Rodney Phelps, a Detroit man profiled by Luke Bergmann in his acclaimed recent book “Getting Ghost.” Rodney Phelps was a young,

black, petty dealer whose life was filled with all the chaos and violence that comes with living in a city and culture permeated by the drug trade. As Bergmann tells it, Phelps tried to get out of the life and start anew but was gunned down, probably by old drug-dealing rivals. The two Phelpses lived worlds apart, but the famous one’s indiscreet pleasures depend on the daily misery of the obscure one who died young and in pain. It bears repeating that the names and faces of innocent Mexicans

killed by drug cartels — for whom marijuana is their biggest moneymaker — will never make it onto a Wheaties box to be seen by the privileged Americans who, like Michael Phelps, take a recreational bong hit now and again. Yet their fates are not so easily separated. That’s something pot smokers like Michael Phelps have to own, too. The preceding editorial originally appeared in The Dallas Morning News.

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Teacher ﬁnds passion in Cervantes By Amy Castleberry Contributing Writer

William Worden is an associate professor in the Spanish department and the teacher of Cervantes, a class about the author of the famous Spanish novel “Don Quixote.” One might not expect Worden, originally from Massachusetts and of Irish heritage, to be completely fluent in Spanish. But after traveling to Mexico and Spain at the age of 24 and staying in each country for about five months, Worden said it was just something he wanted to do. “I didn’t speak any English while I lived there except only over the phone to my parents,” said Worden. “It would have defeated my purpose for being there, and I didn’t want to be a tourist.” After teaching high school for a few years and coaching tennis and soccer, Worden decided to go back to school to study Spanish

formally at Middlebury College. He also studied abroad for nine months in Madrid, finishing his master’s degree. When he finished, Worden decided to get his Ph.D and attended Brown University. Finishing in 2002, Worden said there was an opening at the Capstone in the Spanish department. “The job description noted an interest in Cervantes, so I thought it was a great match,” Worden said. Now in his seventh year of teaching his Cervantes class and the novel “Don Quixote,” Worden said he does not get sick of the class and even teaches it every semester. “Most critics consider ‘Don Quixote’ to be the first modern novel,” Worden said. “Faulkner is said to have even made a point of reading ‘Don Quixote’ at least once a year like the Bible.” Worden said he enjoys teaching Cervantes from year to year because he always learns

or discovers something new in the text with student input, even after having read “Don Quixote” 12 times. “I love how students will say something and recommend new ideas each semester,” Worden said. “It’s something to look forward to.” He also said he enjoys teaching the novel because he believes it has something to offer everyone. “Don Quixote is the antiknight really and pokes fun like Austin Powers does with James Bond. The novel can be funny and sad, yet intimidating at times. There are encounters with madness but there is nobility as well; it essentially is a mockery of chivalry, yet the novel helped to shape modern literature,” Worden said. Paige Pool, a junior double majoring in Spanish and international studies, said she loves taking the Cervantes class. “Dr. Worden makes what may

William Worden, Ph. D., teaches Spanish students. seem like a boring topic to some, incredibly entertaining,” Poole said. “I remember one day, he

went wrong and it wasn’t able to play, so instead of giving up and forgetting about it, Dr. Worden started belting out the music at the top of his lungs to Don Quixote. He’s probably the most entertaining professor I’ve ever had,” Poole said. Worden said he encourages all who are interested in Spanish to get involved with the Spanish department’s Alabama in Spain study abroad program. The program allows students to study in Alcalá de Henares, the city of Cervantes’s birth. “They key to success in study abroad is what happens once you get out of the classroom and your decision on how to live.” Worden said. “You must CW | Matt Abbey make the decision to speak the a class on Don Quixote for UA language all the time, or to just be a tourist.” Worden is now directing his wanted to play the Broadway fifth dissertation and said he music from [Man of La Mancha] enjoys spending time with his for our class. But something wife and two young children.

FBI announces review of evidence in Tylenol deaths The Associated Press CAMBRIDGE, Mass. | Federal agents on Wednesday searched the home of a man linked to the fatal 1982 Tylenol poisonings in Illinois and the FBI in Chicago said authorities are reviewing evidence in the deaths, which caused a nationwide scare and led to dramatic changes in the way food and medical products are packaged. No one was ever charged with the deaths of seven people who took the cyanidelaced drugs. The FBI would not immediately confirm the search at the apartment of James W. Lewis was related to the Tylenol case, only that it was part of an ongoing investigation. Lewis served more than 12 years in prison for sending an extortion note to Johnson & Johnson demanding $1 million to “stop the killing.” The FBI’s Chicago office cited “advances in forensic technology” in a statement announcing that it, along with Illinois State Police and local departments, was reviewing all evidence in the case. The review began in part because of publicity and tips that arrived after 25th anniversary of the deaths in 2007, according to the FBI. It has not resulted in any criminal charges. “All of these tips have been or will be thoroughly investigated in an effort to solve this crime and bring some measure of closure to the families of the victims,” the statement said. Illinois State Police declined to comment Wednesday. Lewis, an out-of-work accountant, was arrested in December 1982 at a New York City library after a nationwide manhunt. At the time, he gave investigators a detailed account of how the killer might have operated and described how someone could buy medicine, use a special

AP Photo | Josh Reynolds FBI agents carry boxes out of the apartment building in Cambridge, Mass., Wednesday, after searching the apartment home of James W. Lewis, who was linked to the fatal 1982 Tylenol poisonings that triggered a nationwide scare. method to add cyanide to the capsules and return them to store shelves. Lewis later admitted sending the letter and demanding the money, but said he never intended to collect it. He said he wanted to embarrass his wife’s former employer by

having the money sent to the employer’s bank account. In a 1992 interview with The Associated Press, Lewis explained that the account he gave authorities was simply his way of explaining the killer’s actions. “I was doing like I would

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have done for a corporate client, making a list of possible scenarios,” said Lewis, who maintained his innocence. He called the killer “a heinous, cold-blooded killer, a cruel monster.” He also served two years of a 10-year sentence for tax

fraud. In 1978, Lewis was charged in Kansas City with the dismemberment murder of Raymond West, 72, who had hired Lewis as an accountant. The charges were dismissed because West’s cause of death was not determined and some evidence had been illegally obtained. In 2004, Lewis was charged with rape, kidnapping and other offenses for an alleged attack on a woman in Cambridge. He was jailed for three years while awaiting trial, but prosecutors dismissed the charges on the day his trial was scheduled to begin after the victim refused to testify, according to the office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. Lewis moved to the Boston area after getting out of prison in 1995 and is listed as a partner in a Web design and programming company called Cyberlewis. On its Web site, which lists the location searched Wednesday as the company’s address, there is a tab labeled “Tylenol” with a written message and audio link in which a voice refers to himself as “Tylenol Man.” “Somehow, after a quarter of a century, I surmise only a select few with critical minds will believe anythng I have to say,” the message says. “Many people look for hidden agendas, for secret double entendre, and ignore the literal meanings I convey. Many enjoy twisting and contorting what I say into something ominous and dreadful which I do not intend. “That my friends is the curse of being labelled the Tylenol Man. Be that as it may, I can NOT change human proclivities. I shant try. Listen as you like.” Messages left at phone numbers listed to Lewis’s wife, Leanne, and the company were not immediately returned. On Wednesday, two FBI agents sat parked across the

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street from the apartment building at a shopping center. At least two other vehicles with Illinois license plates were at the scene. Around 7 p.m., FBI agents were seen bringing out a box and what appeared to be a long roll of brown paper they put into an unmarked white truck. When asked what they were doing, an FBI agent said, “carrying out boxes” and declined to say what the investigation was about. About 45 minutes hour later, the agents took four more boxes and an old Macintosh computer to the truck and drove away. Boston FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said a storage facility in Cambridge also was searched Wednesday, but she would not say why. She also said there had been no arrests or criminal charges filed. The deaths in 1982 took place over three days. Johnson & Johnson had its sales force remove 264,000 Tylenol bottles from Chicago-area stores, and consumers were urged to exchange any Tylenol they had for a safe bottle. The poisoning led to the introduction of tamperproof packaging that is now standard. Bottles of the pain reliever were triple-sealed and warnings against taking capsules from damaged packages prominently displayed. J&J also sealed the bottle caps to the neck with a tight, plastic band and stretched a tough foil membrane over the bottle’s mouth. In 2007, 25 years after the deaths, survivors of the victims said they remained haunted by what happened and frustrated that nobody was convicted. “I will never get past this because this guy is out there, living his life, however miserable it might be,” said Michelle Rosen, who was 8 when her mother, Mary Reiner, collapsed in front of her after taking Tylenol for post-labor pains.

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ryan.mazer@cw.ua.edu

COLUMN | UNDERGROUND CINEMA

Experimental western a true â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cult classicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; By Matthew H Glasscock Contributing Writer

The term â&#x20AC;&#x153;cult classicâ&#x20AC;? is used far too often when describing unusual, eccentric films. This tired title has been slapped onto many films that hardly ever live up to expectations. When I hear â&#x20AC;&#x153;cult classic,â&#x20AC;? I anticipate a film that shows me something I have never seen before. â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Topoâ&#x20AC;? (The Mole), is a true â&#x20AC;&#x153;cult classic,â&#x20AC;? and if you have never seen it, you are missing out. Uniquely, â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Topoâ&#x20AC;? is part Spaghetti Western, part Surrealist/Avant-Garde experimental and part â&#x20AC;&#x201D; okay, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really not sure what to label the third ingredient other than originally bizarre. Since its release, this transcendental masterpiece has offended, inspired, shocked, awed, confused and enlightened audiences everywhere. In fact, the film was so underground, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even available on DVD until as recent as 2007. The film opens with El Topo (Alejandro Jodorowsky), a prototypical Western character dressed all in black, and his naked son (Brontis Jodorowsky) riding on horseback through a desert. El Topo tells his son that he is now a man and that

he must bury his first toy and a picture of his mother. Next, they stumble into a town where every living thing has been massacred, even down to the animals. Pools of blood and eviscerated livestock litter the thoroughfare. El Topo quickly tracks down those responsible and delivers his swift brand of judgment, leaving his son with a group of local monks and taking Mara (Mara Lorenzio) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a prisoner of the bandits with whom he has just dealt â&#x20AC;&#x201D; along as his new traveling companion. The duo heads back into the desert and Mara convinces El Topo to find and then challenge the four gun masters hidden in the desert. During their search, they meet a mysterious stranger who tells El Topo she will help him find the gunfighters. She has the body of a woman, but the voice of a man, and she periodically appears now and again to either mock El Topo or to make out with Mara. In between all of this, El Topo digs eggs out of the desert sand, makes water pour from rocks and also makes out with Mara. After El Topo has successfully handled the four masters, he begins to question his own mortality and believes himself

to be a god. The androgynous stranger shoots El Topo and the stigmatic wounds reveal El Topo as a messiah figure. El Topo does his best Jesus Christ pose before collapsing. This sets up the second act of the film, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also where the film really gets weird. I have neither the access to the amount of hallucinogenics nor the background in philosophy to begin to understand exactly what the hell is going on in this film. It shifts gears several times between straightforward social commentary to just plain weird (in a good way). Director and star Alejandro Jodorowsky went all-out to make this film as violent and bloody as possible. Of course, by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards, the violence may seem a bit tame, but keep in mind when this film was originally released. Jodorowsky also kept the script as cryptic as possible. There is very little dialogue, and the score consists of mostly dissonant noise. The script is predominantly made up of philosophical caveats, such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;too much perfection is a mistake.â&#x20AC;? The DVD version I watched had few special features, other than a commentary by Alejandro Jodorowsky and a very brief and

barely intelligible interview with the director about the film itself. This is one of those films that deserves its very own documentary to really delve into its madness. Words do not do this film justice. I can describe all of the insanity ad nauseum, but this is definitely one you need to see for yourself. A little F.Y.I.: If you look closely during the credit sequence, you will spot Juan Lopez Moctezumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name as one of the production assistants. If you have been paying attention, you know that Moctezuma would eventually direct his very own avantgarde Mexican horror classic, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alucarda,â&#x20AC;? five years later.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;El Topoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky

Starring: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Mara Lorenzio

Runtime: 125 min Release: 1970

Symphonic band ushers band festival By Jessica Cheek Lifestyles Reporter

Honor Band Festival with a free concert tonight at 7:30. While the concert is primarily for high The Alabama Symphonic school Honor Band members, all Band will open the Alabama college students and members of

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the Tuscaloosa community are invited to the performance at the Moody Music Building Concert Hall. Band director Randall Coleman said that he always tries to choose a varied program so that it will appear to every member of the audience. Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program will feature the pieces â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exultateâ&#x20AC;? by Sam

Hazo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;First Suite in Ebâ&#x20AC;? by Gustav Holst, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ye Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doonâ&#x20AC;? by Percy Grainger, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Florentiner Marchâ&#x20AC;? by Julius Fucik and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Nights!â&#x20AC;? by Frank Ticheli. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We try to program titles that have strong musical elements and are educationally sound,â&#x20AC;? Coleman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would imagine [the audience] would enjoy the

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Sam Hazo piece because it has sections that are very fast and flashy, and the Frank Ticheli piece, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wild Nights!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; because it is indeed pretty â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wild.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? One of the hardest parts of preparing for a concert is finding time for individual practice. For musicians, this free time is often hard to come by. Casey Ferguson, a freshman majoring in oboe performance, explained that the students must work extensively on their own outside of class. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most difficult part of preparing for a performance is putting your part with everyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You learn your part during your practice time, then learn how it fits in with the rest of the ensemble during rehearsal time.â&#x20AC;? Coleman also pushes his students to perform at their highest potential. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For each of our performances we strive for perfection and only have one shot at it. Making the notes and rhythms into true music is always a challenge,â&#x20AC;? he said. Membership in the Alabama Symphonic Band is open to all students by audition regardless of major â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only about 50 percent of the ensemble members are music majors. Auditions are held each fall before the beginning of the semester. Ferguson and Debra Wills, a junior music education major, both agreed that the most rewarding part about playing in the Symphonic Band is the camaraderie between the musicians. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy the people in

Symphonic Band. There are some of us that we do not get to see outside of this class. I also enjoy Mr. Coleman. He has a great heart, loves what he does and cares about his students,â&#x20AC;? Wills said. The Alabama Honor Band Festival begins today and continues through Sunday. More than 300 high school students who were selected to be part of the band will work with nationally recognized guest conductors and clinicians throughout the weekend. Coleman said the festival is typically the biggest recruiting event for the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s band program. Students will have the opportunity to earn scholarships and to become acquainted with the School of Music. Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concert is the first of several campus performances in honor of the festival participants. The Alabama Jazz Ensemble, the Capstone Woodwind Quintet, the Million Dollar Band and several School of Music faculty members will play a Spectrum Concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. In addition, the Alabama Wind Ensemble, the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top wind band, will perform Saturday at 8 p.m.

If you go... What: Alabama Symphonic Band concert begins the Honor Band Festival

When: Tonight at 7:30 Where: Moody Music Building Concert Hall

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VIDEO GAME REVIEW | ‘DJ MAX FEVER’

Rhythm game challenging and varied By Adrian Morris Contributing Writer Let’s face it — if you own a PSP, there’s not much to play. The last major release was “Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core.” “DJ Max Fever” is the first major release for the PSP title this year, and it’s a welcomed addition to the PSP library. Developed in South Korea, “DJ Max Fever” is the first in the series to come stateside. The developer, Pentavision, took their time and made sure the game had no localization errors or a lack of features. The “DJ Max” series is like “Beatmania,” which means you simulate being a DJ. The goal is to hit the falling notes in rhythm with the music. What I like about “DJ Max Fever” is the depth it brings in terms of gameplay. With three main game modes — Arcade, Freestyle and Challenge — there is no shortage of ways to play. I spent most of my time in Arcade. You play through four songs and receive a grade, but then return to the main menu. Freestyle allows you to keep playing. Challenge mode is the most rewarding of the three. The only gameplay mechanic worth noting is fever. Using fever will double your score for a period of time. My problems with the game are the lack of tutorials, a short instruction manual and the controls. The manual has

one-sentence descriptions of each mode and a small explanation about the user interface. If I were not familiar with games like “Dance Dance Revolution” or “Beatmania,” I wouldn’t think to look for features like modifiers or equipment. One note the game doesn’t explain well at all requires you to hold down two buttons and rotate the analog nub, but when

I do nothing occurs. The controls are only an issue when you advance to the higher-level songs. You can customize the button layout. Easy mode uses four buttons and the controls work well for beginners like myself. I think most people will be comfortable with this button layout the most. Normal uses five buttons and some notes are too hard to hit

at the same time because one is on the left directional-pad and the other is on the right. So either I’m just not skilled or the PSP’s directional-pad isn’t a precise match for the game at times. With my small complaints out of the way, this is what I like about “DJ Max Fever.” There are over 50 songs in the game, and even some that

Capturing ‘Color’ Mixed media artist displays her work By Kelsey Stein Senior Lifestyles Reporter Laura Amstutz never suspected that a road trip to Tuscaloosa to meet an old friend would eventually provide her a venue where she could exhibit her art. Last year, she and a friend decided to meet halfway between Nashville and New Orleans, selecting Tuscaloosa’s Capture Studio Café for their rendezvous. There they met Bryan Dill, the owner of the café, who invited them to the Kentuck Festival

of the Arts, laying the groundwork for a strong friendship. On Dill’s invitation, Amstutz will display her art today from 7 to 11 p.m. at Capture, located on University Boulevard across from Mellow Mushroom. “The reason I started Capture was to help promote creativity and build more appreciation for art in Tuscaloosa,” Dill said. “We keep doing it because Tuscaloosa needs more events like this, and we hope to inspire more art-based venues to spring up.” Amstutz said her art had been warmly received in

Nashville, where she lives. She aims to broaden the scope of her work outside of her own city. “I’d love to stay in the South and get more exposure here before I pursue other art cities such as New York or San Francisco,” she said. Her show is titled “Color Temperature” because color compels Amstutz to create her art. As a mixed media artist, she said she integrates texture into her work to give its viewers an experience that is more than just visual. “I don’t set out to paint something to fit the mold of a theme … I just paint what is inside of me in that moment,”

are unlockable. All 50 songs are unlocked at the beginning of the game, so freestyle is a great way to play them all. I’ve played all the songs, and I liked most of them, especially the techno songs. The selection is just what you would expect from a rhythm game, including rock, rap, R&B, techno and trance. Some songs sound cheesy, but only a few in my opinion. “DJ Max Fever” is very accessible to any skill level and has lots of replay value. There are four control schemes: four button (easy), five button (normal), six button (hard) and eight button. The last has to be unlocked after playing five button. Pair that with the nine speed modifiers and you can play at any speed you like. It’s also nice to be able to change speeds at anytime during the song without hindering gameplay. My favorite gameplay feature is auto correction. This means even if you do not press the assigned button to the note, you can still hit the note. You may not receive 100 percent, but you won’t miss it. This makes the game casual and enjoyable through tough sections. Your character gains experience and gold after each song in every mode. So as you progress, you’re earning new characters, note skins, modifiers, songs, art and other media. After skimming through the blacked-out items, it looked

like there were more than 500 unlockables. “DJ Max Fever” is a wellmade port of “DJ Max Portable” 1 and 2 combined into one game. The interface and transitions are smooth, the load times are low and the music is enjoyable. All the songs and music videos are unlocked at the beginning of the game. You can listen and watch all the songs and videos in the other two modes. If you’re into rhythm games or looking for a fun game to play on your PSP, “DJ Max Fever” is a definite buy. I enjoyed the songs and challenge of “DJ Max Fever,” and I intend to finish unlocking as much content as possible. The PSP is off to another good start, and with “Loco Roco 2” coming in weeks, it’s time to pick up your PSP again.

‘DJ Max Fever’ Release date: Jan. 27, 2009

Published by: PM Studios Developed by: Pentavision

Critic’s rating:

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Amstutz said. “My only inspiration when I begin is color. So, in actuality, the art I’m bringing for this show is a snapshot of my life in the past four months.” She will attend this opening display of her work and will visit occasionally throughout the month of February while her art remains on display. All artwork is available for purchase, with prices ranging from $220 to $850. Amstutz welcomes anyone to contact her through her Web site, creativespillage. com, to view her work, inquire about commissions or request to meet her during one of her visits to Tuscaloosa.

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Activists, circus square off over elephants The Associated Press

WASHINGTON | The treatment of circus elephants went on trial in federal court Wednesday with animal rights groups accusing Ringling Bros. of violating the Endangered Species Act when it uses bullhooks and chains to control its performing pachyderms. During opening statements, the two sides showed dueling videos that painted vastly different portraits of the animals’ lives under the big top. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute and other activist groups say they will prove that Asian elephants are injured physically and emotionally by their treatment in the circus. The groups say long hours traveling to more than 40 cities a year by train harms the highly social and intelligent animals, and they want Ringling Bros. to stop using them in their shows. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and its parent company, Feld Entertainment, say the activists are just philosophically opposed to animals living in captivity and want to destroy a beloved American family tradition. Defense lawyer John Simpson said the circus is nothing without its elephants, and the tools are needed for safety and are not harmful to the animals. “For them to come in here and say they are not against the circus is like saying they

aren’t against baseball but the use of bats and balls,” Simpson said. He said the circus would not shy from the dispute with animal rights proponents, no matter what it costs. “As far as we’re concerned, bring it on,” Simpson said. “All right, the battle lines are drawn here,” U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said as he took the bench for the opening statements. He told both sides it is never too late to settle, drawing laughter from the two sides who have been arguing since the case was filed in 2000. The two sides gave vastly different descriptions of the main training tool, which resembles a fireplace poker or cane with a metal tip curved down to a point. Katherine Meyer, arguing for the animal rights groups, showed a bullhook in court and said it’s used to jab, prod and beat the elephants on a daily basis, resulting in puncture wounds, bloody lacerations and infections. Simpson preferred the term “guide” when describing the instrument, which he said is

used as an extension of the handler’s arm to reach up to the animals. He pushed the hook into the palm of his hand and used it to scratch behind his ear and said even if it might be painful to a human, elephants are much larger animals with thicker skin. He did not deny that the bullhook sometimes punctures the animals’ skin, but said if that is prevented by the Endangered Species Act than so would shots, surgery and other veterinary practices. Simpson argued that the circus’ elephant breeding is helping propagate the species and “may well be their best defense in the battle against extinction.” Feld Entertainment has 54 Asian elephants, 19 which travel and perform and 35 which live at the company’s 200-acre conservatory in Florida. The newest, born a few minutes before inauguration day, was named Barack after the new president and was the first conceived by artificial insemination. The activists showed closeup photos of the elephants’ front and back legs, bound

with chains to the inside of train cars where she said they can spend up to 100 hours at a time traveling between cities. A video showed three elephants chained up close together in a single box car.

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8 Thursday, January 5, 2009

SPORTS

The Crimson White

MEN’S TENNIS

Young duo learning to share the court By Laura Owens Contributing Writer

Freshman doubles partners Ricky Doverspike and Michael Thompson have been working through the season to get to know one another, as people and players. Playing doubles means acclimating to not only another player on one side of the net, but also a different style of play. “There are normally bigger hitters in doubles, players with a certain volley game and players that have the ability to hit winners,” said Doverspike. “That’s what doubles is.” The two have very contrasting styles. Doverspike is more aggressive and plays closer to the net, while Thompson takes advantage of his agility and smaller size. “[Thompson’s] really scrappy, so he’s really fun to play with because he can get to some balls that I don’t think he can get,” Doverspike said.

The two players like the team element of partners play that is most often absent in a sport that more often features solo play. Just like any other team sport, doubles tennis provides the support and motivational boost of having someone on your side. “I like the team atmosphere. If you mess up there’s always someone to talk to,” Thompson said. “I love playing on the team with one of your friends. It’s more vocal. Everyone’s getting into it. I enjoy doubles a lot.” Head coach Billy Pate said Thompson and Doverspike make a good pair to take charge of the team’s early momentum. The doubles match is always first, which means one team always takes a 1-0 lead. “They do complement each other,” he said. “They’re both pretty fiery guys and compete very well. Michael is a good setup guy and he returns well. Ricky is more aggressive and plays up at the net. Ricky can take a lot of what Michael sets

up for him.” Last weekend, the two played in a doubles match against Pepperdine, who won in a tiebreaker. “I don’t think we got nervous so much as they played a good game,” Thompson said. “In the tiebreak, I think we missed a few volleys. They played a good many. We shouldn’t have let them play so well. But I’m sure we’ll come with experience.” Despite the hard loss, Pate still believes the two have a solid foundation and are off to a good start. “It’s like any other sport in the SEC. They gain experience as long as they don’t lose confidence,” he said. “They’ll continue to improve. The sky’s the limit for both of them. Where they are now is where they need to be. Their futures here at Bama are very good.” Part of improving and developing chemistry on the court means developing a relationship off it. Thompson said the resulting friendship they have

allows the two to communicate better during play. “We hang out quite a bit. We get along well,” Thompson said. “I think it helps the doubles a lot too, because if you get along well you can say what you want to each other. I think that helps.” Still, it’s not all business. Since becoming doubles partners, each player found out a sport they aren’t so great at. During pauses at practice, the two attempted to teach each other the basics of leisure sports they enjoy when not on the tennis court. Doverspike plays baseball and Thompson plays cricket. “He was showing me how to throw a cricket ball, and I was messing around trying to throw a baseball,” Doverspike said. “He can’t throw a baseball very well, but I can’t throw a cricket ball very well. I threw it like ten miles an hour and it went 20 feet to the right. We both aren’t very good at each other’s sports.”

UA Athletics Ricky Doverspike (above) has teamed up with fellow freshman Michael Thompson as the Tideʼs No. 3 doubles team.

MENS BASKETBALL

UA Athletics

Tide to face Vanderbilt on ESPN2

on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. Both teams enter the The Alabama men’s basket- contest fresh off a win as ball team makes a brief foray Alabama defeated Georgia, north of the state line to take 75-70, on Saturday while on Vanderbilt Thursday eve- Vanderbilt earned an 82-75 ning at Memorial Gymnasium win at Auburn. With the wins,

both teams improved to 13-8 with the Tide now standing at 3-4 in SEC play and Vanderbilt at 2-5. “They [Vanderbilt] had a great win over the weekend at Auburn, and I thought they

RECRUITS Continued from page 10

THURSDAY

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FRIDAY

in the series that dates back to 1924 with UA holding a 6561 lead in the series. Two of the last three meetings have gone to overtime, as have eight other games in the alltime series. The Commodores have held serve within the unique dimensions of Memorial Gymnasium, winning ninestraight at home against the Alabama. Freshman Ja M yc h a l Green aims to continue his strong play for the Tide on

played very well,” interim head coach Phillip Pearson said. ”Jermaine Beal is a player for them who shoots the ball extremely well and obviously he and A.J. Ogilvy are two big concerns for us on Thursday night.” Pearson leads the Tide to Nashville after collecting his first win at the helm of the squad on Saturday and hopes to guide the Tide to its first road win of the season Thursday. Thursday’s game is the 127th

what happens two or three years from now, in terms how they develop and how they contribute to the program and how many outstanding performers that we have in his class,” Saban said. Either way, the Tide’s 2009 recruiting class is filled with talent from top to bottom. They were able to hang onto all of their previous commitments going into Wednesday

and landed six more prospects during the day. The biggest news on signing day may have been the last Alabama player to sign his letter of intent. Running back Trent Richardson committed to the Tide last fall but had been looking around at other schools the past few weeks. Richardson held true to his word when he put on a houndstooth hat and announced his intentions to play for Alabama. “I was elated, ecstatic, happy and really pleased,” Saban said.

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Thursday after averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds over the past three games. On Saturday, he recorded his third double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Senior Alonzo Gee scored a team-high 20 points in Saturday’s win over Georgia and remains the team’s top scorer and rebounder with 14.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per outing. Gee has scored in double-figures in 18 of his last 19 outings.

“I think he was a real key to the class because he’s an outstanding player at a position that a young player can contribute at next year.” As for the rest of the class, the biggest strength looks to be on the offensive and defensive line where the Tide landed 11 commitments, including five-star offensive tackle D.J. Fluker. At 6-5, 340, Fluker is easily one of the biggest recruits Alabama signed and could make an early impact at the left tackle position as a result of Andre Smith’s early departure. “D.J. is an outstanding player, a big guy that’s a really good athlete,” Saban said. “I think he is a guy that could develop into an outstanding offensive tackle, possibly even a left tackle. That is going to be the plan for him. He is good with that and we are happy that he is good with it.” After two of their top wide receivers from last year’s class opted to play professional baseball, Alabama made the receiver position a priority for this year’s class. Even though they missed out on Randle, the Tide still signed Kelly, Bell, Michael Bowman and Kevin Norwood, all fourstar recruits from across the Southeast. Four Alabama commitments have already enrolled and will participate in spring practice and the annual A-Day game. The rest of the class will join the team over the summer and be ready for fall practice. Similar to last season, expect early contributions from this year’s class on both sides of the ball. “I do think a lot of these guys are going to have opportunities [to play],” Saban said. “We’re certainly going to give them all an opportunity to contribute to the team. I think the competition makes our team better. The more good players you have at every position, the better it makes your team.”

The Crimson White

SPORTS

Thursday, Feburary 5, 2009

SOFTBALL

No. 3 Tide to open season in Mobile By Will Barry Senior Sports Reporter

The Alabama softball team will begin its season Saturday in the South Alabama Invitational in Mobile. This will be the first action for the Tide since finishing 60 in their annual Fall Brawl I and Fall Brawl II in 2008. The Tide comes into the season with a No. 3 national ranking in the USA Today/ NFCA preseason poll and a No. 2 ranking in the ESPN. com/USA Softball preseason poll. The Tide began spring practice at the Alabama Softball Facility on Jan. 12, with all 18 players reporting. With a number of key seniors leaving after last season, it has been an intense

Northwestern State is coming off a 10-45 overall record â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have seven freshmen, and I usually base the pre-practices in 2008 and returns two of on how many freshmen we have, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got quite a few [fresh- its top performing hitters in men] kids out of eighteen so we started a little bit earlier this senior outfielder Cary Bruno and junior outfielder Randi spring, and I think everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to hit the road and start Stuard. playing and quit practicing.â&#x20AC;? Memphis is coming off a 2530 record in 2008 with a 4-18 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Softball head coach Patrick Murphy in Conference USA. The Tigers return their couple of weeks as the Tide quit practicing.â&#x20AC;? leading hitter in second base The Tide will face senior Tori Gross who batted gets ready to get the season Northwestern State, Memphis, .298 with four home runs and going. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have seven fresh- Jacksonville State and South 19 RBIs in 2008. men, and I usually base the Alabama in the invitational. Memphis returns Alabama is 14-0 against its two leading pitchpre-practices on how many freshmen we have,â&#x20AC;? head the three of those teams e r s in sophomores coach Patrick Murphy said. it has played: 3-0 against Janelle Valle and Kimber â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got quite a few [fresh- Northwestern State, 10-0 Bossom. men] kids out of eighteen so against Jacksonville State and Valle had a 3.00 ERA and 9we started a little bit ear- 1-0 against South Alabama. 6 record from the mound last lier this spring, and I think The tournament will mark year while Bossom had a 3.61 everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to hit the the Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first game against ERA with an 11-16 record. road and start playing and Memphis. Jacksonville State is

coming off a 40-16 record in 2008 with a 22-4 mark and conference championship in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks earned a birth in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional where the Tide beat them by scores of 10-1 and 41. South Alabama is coming off a 22-30 overall record in 2008 with a 6-17 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars return their two top pitchers in sophomore Shannon Smith and junior Beth Pilgrim. Smith led the team with a 2.43 ERA and 4-4 record while Pilgrim had a 2.67 ERA and1014 record. Murphy is excited to start the season and see how the national field shakes up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be an

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Sc ne

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Greg Ostendorf • Sports Editor

Flicks to catch COBB HOLLYWOOD 16 • “Bride Wars” (PG) • “Coraline” (PG) • “Defiance” (R) • “Gran Torino” (R) • “He’s Just Not That Into You” (PG-13) • “Hotel for Dogs” (PG) • “My Bloody Valentine 3-D” (R) • “New in Town” (PG) • “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (PG) • “Pink Panther 2” (PG) • “Push” (PG-13) • “Revolutionary Road” (R) • “Taken” (PG-13) • “Revolutionary Road” (R) • “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” (R) • “The Uninvited” (PG-13)

RB TRENT RICHARDSON Analysis: Richardson comes in regarded as one of the the top running backs in the country. He has a rare combination of both speed and power. With Glen Coffee leaving early for the NFL, he should have ample opportunities to play early.

CB DRE KIRKPATRICK Analsysis: Alabama only signed two defensive backs in this year’s class, but Kirkpatrick is considered the top corner in the nation and should contribute as a freshman. He recorded 80 tackles and had six interceptions as a senior at Gadsden City.

OT D.J. FLUKER

Nightlife

Analysis: Fluker is easily the biggest recruit in Alabama’s class this year. At 6’5”, 340, his size is undeniable, but it’s his athleticism that scouts rave about. Fluker may get the chance to start early on with Andre Smith leaving school early.

THURSDAY • Jupiter Bar & Grill —The Ugli Stick • Egan’s — The Fifty Ways • Little Willie’s — The Nouveaux Honkies

FRIDAY • Jupiter Bar & Grill —Citizen Cope • Mellow Mushroom — Outformation • Egan’s — The Cancers; Sorry Lee Harvey; No Parents; Solar Ghost • Little Willie’s — Jason Herndon and The Wreck

LB NICO JOHNSON Analysis: The strength of this year’s class may be the front seven on defense. The headliner for this group is Johnson, a fivestar linebacker who was the No. 2 ranked OLB on Rivals.com. Johnson recorded 78 tackles as a senior at Andalusia.

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Tide ﬁnishes strong, captures top class for second straight year By Greg Ostendorf Sports Editor

By the numbers

Despite a slow start on National Signing Day, Alabama closed out strong and signed some of the nation’s top prospects to land the Rivals.com recruiting title for the second year in a row. “We are certainly pleased with the quality of the class we were able to attract to the University of Alabama,” head coach Nick Saban said. “Obviously, it’s a great blend of great athletes, some size players, some guys that actually solve some needs for us in the future, relative to complementing the players that we have in the program right now.” Early Wednesday, the Crimson Tide saw top prospects Bobby Massie and Darren Myles choose other schools, making any chance of moving up to the top spot seem slim at best. However, commitments from Alabama natives Dre Kirkpatrick, Kendall Kelly, Tana Patrick and Brandon Moore helped propel them back into consideration with LSU and USC for the number one ranking. Ironically, it was a receiver from Louisiana who chose the Tide over LSU that may have made the difference. No, it wasn’t Reuben Randle, the top receiver in the country and No. 2 player overall. It was Kenny Bell, a four-star receiver from

• • • • • • • •

29 players signed 4 Five-stars (Rivals) 14 Four-stars (Rivals) 12 in-state signees 5 in Rivals top 100 No. 1 Rivals.com class No. 2 ESPN class No. 3 Scout.com class

Rayville, La., who switched his commitment from LSU to Alabama on Wednesday, giving the Tide just enough to surpass the Tigers for the title. “I’m not really interested, as always, in talking about how this class gets rated because the real significance of this class is

See RECRUITS, page 8

2009 Recruting Class Position Breakdown OFFENSE - QB A.J. McCarron - 6-4, 190 - Mobile, Ala. - RB Trent Richardson - 5-11, 220 - Pensacola, Fla. - RB Eddie Lacy - 6-0, 210 - Geismar, La. - RB/HB Mike Marrow - 6-2, 240 - Holland, Ohio - RB Jermaine Preyear - 5-11, 205 - Mobile, Ala. - WR Kenny Bell - 6-1, 160 - Rayville, La. - WR Michael Bowman - 6-4, 210 - Rossville, Ga. - WR Kendall Kelly - 6-3, 215 - Gadsden, Ala. - WR Kevin Norwood - 6-2, 180 - D’Iberville, Miss. - OT D.J. Fluker - 6-5, 340 - Foley, Ala. - OG Darius McKeller - 6-5, 280 - Jonesboro, Ga. - OG Anthony Steen - 6-3, 305 - Lambert, Miss. - OT Kellen Williams - 6-3, 290 - Lawrenceville, Ga. - OT James Carpenter - 6-5, 305 - Augusta, Ga. - OG Chance Wormack - 6-3, 325 - Atlanta, Ga.

DEFENSE - DT Chris Bonds - 6-4, 280 - Columbia, S.C. - DT Quinton Dial - 6-5, 310 - Pinson, Ala. - DE William Ming - 6-3, 260 - Athens, Ala. - DT Brandon Moore - 6-5, 320 - Montgomery, Ala. - DE Anthony Orr - 6-5, 260 - Madison, Ala. - DT Darrington Sentimore - 6-3, 280 - Norco, La. - DT Kerry Murphy - 6-5, 315 - Hoover, Ala. - LB Jonathan Atchison - 6-3, 220 - Atlanta, Ga. - LB Nico Johnson - 6-2, 225 - Andalusia, Ala. - LB Tana Patrick - 6-3, 235 - Bridgeport, Ala. - LB Petey Smith - 6-1, 245 - Tampa, Fla. - LB Ed Stinson - 6-4, 240 - Homestead, Fla. - CB Dre Kirkpatrick - 6-3, 185 - Gadsden, Ala. - S Rod Woodson - 5-11, 220 - Olive Branch, Miss.

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