November 5, 2012 Issue by The Vanguard

VANGUARD

THE

VOL. 51, NO. 15

“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”

NOV. 5, 2012

INSIDE

Hurricane Sandy a “superstorm” By DENNIS MERSEREAU dam903@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Hurricane Sandy, or “Superstorm Sandy” as many news outlets now call it, made landfall in New Jersey last Monday, taking a track feared by meteorologists and city planners for decades. The category one hurricane had winds of 80 miles per hour when it came ashore near Atlantic City, New Jersey, but the seemingly weak nature of the hurricane was deceptive. Sandy had the second largest wind field ever recorded in a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, producing tropical storm force winds 520 miles from the center of the storm (roughly the distance between Atlanta and Washington DC, for comparison) as it neared landfall. The sheer enormity of the hurricane’s wind field helped to create its most damaging aspect – the storm surge, or sea water, pushed inland by the strong winds. T he surge was three to almost 14 feet deep in spots along the New Jersey and New York coast, with a record 13.87 feet of water recorded in New York City’s Lower Manhattan during the height of the storm. The flooding that resulted was catastrophic. In just a few hours, many homes and businesses along the coast from North Carolina to New York washed away in the surge, seven of New York City’s 23 subway tunnels either fully or partially flooded with highly corrosive saltwater and the flood waters sparked a fire in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York that burned down almost 100 homes. The storm’s widespread high winds See SANDY Page 4

USA Football heads to Texas

Pictured: USAPD Chief Zeke Aull oversees the command center at the department.

Opinion Editor draws the conclusion that the end of the world might not be so bad if it means no more political ads.

Cassie Fambro | Editor-in-Chief

USAPD defends controversial arrest By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com

The actions of USAPD and some of their officers has come into question after an incident with students last weekend. The incident with the Univesity of South Alabama Police happened when a group of USA students were being noisy and disruptive outside of the residence halls on campus after quiet hours, which begin at 8 p.m. According to many students that were at the scene, they were just having fun racing each other on foot when USAPD arrived and told them to leave. The officers allegedly called the students names, including some racial slurs, cursed and used unnecessary force when arresting one of the students. The USA student that was arrested was Stephon Jaquarious Owens, 19, of Montgomery. USA student Joshua Frye told The Vanguard when officers responded the situation became volatile.

find us on Facebook “Facebook.com/ TheVanguardUSA”

“They threw punches,” Frye said. Frye also alleged that the officer put Owens in a choke hold. Another student, Laura Andrews also went on record saying Owens was put in a headlock. Stephanie DeRamus told The Vanguard that the officer used racial slurs including the n-word when dealing with the group which was comprised of predominantly African-Americans. After investigating this situation, USAPD chief Zeke Aull and USA dean of students Michael Mitchell say the accounts of the incident by the students are false. Dr. Mitchell was allowed to watch the video from the officer’s body-cam that was on the scene and said the police acted by the book and they did nothing questionable. All USAPD officers have been outfitted with cameras that record audio as well as video for situations such as this. "The officers arrived after many calls came from students in their dorms who couldn't study or sleep," Mitchell said. "We are supposed to create a safe

Check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

See Opinion, page 12

and quiet learning environment for students who live on campus and these students were obviously having a good time but they were being loud enough to disrupt others after quiet hours." "As far as the accusations go from the students, I had a chance to watch the video of the incident as a third party person who isn't directly involved with the police department," Mitchell explained. "The officers did exactly what they are taught to do. They asked the students to leave the area multiple times in a polite manner. You can see there are students who aren't listening and continue to hang around." Mitchell and Aull both commented on conflicting stories of racial slurs and excessive forced used by the USAPD officers. "I saw one comment from a student that said there were punches thrown and another comment that said the student arrested was bleeding everywhere," Aull said. "That is just not true." "And what really bothers me is that See USAPD Page 2

Life, Page 6

Superhero comic book exhibit comes to the Museum of Mobile. See Life, page 6 Coaches give their opinions on student attendence at sporting events. See Sports, page 11

Library collecting donations By CASSIE FAMBRO editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com

For this holiday season, the University Library is sponsoring a “Will Read for Food” donation drive benefiting the Bay Area Food Bank. The library asks that non-perishable food items be brought to the Circulation Desk on the first floor of the University Library. The University Library will be collecting food donations from Monday, November 5 - Friday, Nov. 30.

In this Issue: Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 12

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

SGA awards groups

New art on campus intrigues many

USAPD reacts to allegations

By STUART SOX

By KALYN MCCLELLAN

from page 1

sgsox@att.net

On the heels of USA’s most successful Homecoming yet, the Student Government Association gave out Homecoming awards at the Oct. 29 meeting. For independent organizations, third place was the Honors Program Organization and Students Today Alumni Tomorrow, second place was Student Veterans and first place was the Catholic Student Association. For Greek organizations, Alpha Omicron Pi and Kappa Sigma placed third, Chi Omega and Sigma Chi placed second and Kappa Delta and Tau Kappa Epsilon won first place. Jaguar Productions also received a trophy for their unprecedented dedication to making this year’s Homecoming exciting and memorable. A representative from South Alabama’s Men’s Club Soccer team came before SGA to request funds for new uniforms for travel games. $2,460.47 was awarded to the Club Soccer team for Nike uniforms with each shirt costing $64.50 and each pair of shorts costing $45. Fees for lettering on the jerseys were waived because of a fortunate discount organized between the team and Nike. Before any conclusions are made that the uniforms are a frivolous expense, it must be known that the Men’s Club Soccer team is obligated to wear Nike because the University of South Alabama is exclusively sponsored by the brand. This is also a worthwhile investment because the Men’s Club Soccer Team is scheduled to play universities like Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Clemson and Arkansas State. “I think this is a really good thing because they are going to other campuses, large campuses, and projecting South Alabama. Anything that gets us out to these schools and lets people know about South Alabama is good thing for us to support,” Student-at-Large Alex Wiles said. As of the time of the meeting, the Men’s Club Soccer Team had gone undefeated in playing against UWF and Springhill twice. In other new business, a supplemental travel for the Cricket Club was discussed as a representative of the club came before the senate requesting travel funds. After hearing the representative’s appeal, the SGA decided to allot $1,000 for travel on a receipt basis. As always, all South Alabama students are encouraged to attend SGA meetings to find out about weekly campus events and have a voice in student forum. SGA meets on Monday nights at 8 p.m. in the conference/meeting room in the Fresh Food Co.

kbm1001@jagmail.southalabama.edu

While many of the significant changes on campus have been noticed by students, faculty and visitors, such as the completion of Shelby Hall and renovations to the Humanities Building, smaller additions also deserve recognition. Several new sculptures now call the USA campus home, adding character to the landscape and making the campus more aesthetically pleasing. One of the more interesting sculptures that is drawing lots of attention is located on the southeast side of the Humanities building. This new sculpture, titled "The Old Man and the Sea," references the character of Santiago from “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway. It is 8 feet high by 14.5 feet long. The sculptor is Jane DeDecker of Loveland, Colo. DeDecker has made major contributions to the world of sculpture for more than 25 years. She has created more than 250 limited-edition, original sculptures, and her work has been sought by everyone from the National Parks Service to the President of the United States. When asked about this sculpture, DeDecker said, “Santiago’s life goal was to conquer his fears and master the art of obtaining something he worked for day in and day out...Santiago’s devout mission to never give up and take each day as a learning experience in order to seize the day when it came is an example we all strive for in our lives.” This statement, engraved on the sculpture plaque, offers a great message to students who are trying their best to get their degree. Students are taking notice of this

compelling sculpture. CeCe Stewart, sophomore pre-radiolog y major, likes the sculpture and thinks that it is in a perfect location because it represents a great work of literature and the English Department, located in the Humanities building. “For English majors and people who would understand the symbolism, it is a good piece and I think it is visually appealing,” Stewart said. Kevin Rodriguez, sophomore prephysical therapy major, said, “[A] t first I didn’t understand what the sculpture was, but now that I do, it is appropriate for the location.” This sculpture is part of a group of new sculptures around campus donated by David and Lynn Gwin. The Gwins donated the Gridiron Sculpture in front of the Football Field House, which was dedicated last year (October 2011). According to an October 2011 press release, “The 24-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture was designed by sculptor Bruce Larsen. It depicts a runner holding the ball to the sky triumphantly as he is swarmed by a throng of tacklers.” David Gwin received his bachelor’s degree in communications from USA in 1972. He went on to have a successful career in broadcast journalism before launching Vic Communications, an advertising agency with clients worldwide. He and his wife, Lynn, are loyal Jaguar fans and members of the Jaguar Athletic Club.

Pictured: The Old Man and the Sea sculpture outside of Humanities.

Kalyn McClellan |Staff Reporter

Other new sculptures on campus donated by the Gwins include “Einstein” near Shelby Hall, “SouthPaw” near Alumni Hall and two sculptures to come: “Challenge” near the Mitchell Center and “Setting the Pace” at the Student Center Amphitheatre.

Kalyn McClellan |Staff Reporter

there is a racial undertone to what these students said. In any situation the actions of these officers reflect on myself and more importantly the university and these comments just aren't true," Aull added. Mitchell and Aull both believe if any actions are in question it is of the students who didn't leave the area when asked and the student who was arrested. "The housing on campus would rather handle situations like this themselves but in this situation, USAPD had to be called," Mitchell said. "RA's tried to get the students to leave and quiet down but they didn't listen. And in the video you can even hear other students in the crowd of about 50 telling the students who resisted the officers to 'go home, go to your room', but they wouldn't listen." "Now this group of students were predominantly African American but that has nothing to do with officers being called or someone being arrested. These officers didn't target these students because they were African American," Mitchell said. "And if anyone was yelling or cursing it was coming from the side of the students and not the officers." In any situation, if you feel an officer is acting inappropriately, there are many ways to go about solving the problem, but resisting an officer is not one of them. Stephanie DeRamus, who told the Vanguard about the situation of USAPD officers using racial slurs, is lobbying for the officer involved to be suspended and an investigation after what he said to the group. "If any student thinks an officer has done something wrong, they can come to the police station and fill out a form to make a statement and we will let the officer know they are being investigated internally," Aull said. "If we do find something is wrong then we will handle that accordingly. And I will meet with a student anywhere any time they want to talk to me about a situation with an officer if they aren't comfortable with coming into the station." "As the dean of students there are few people on campus that would worry and care about our students and how they are being treated more than myself," Mitchell said. "If anything is wrong we definitely want to be able to fix that situation immediately."

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

PAGE three

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Weather for Oct. 5-11

Editorial Editor in Chief Copy Editor Life Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center Senior Reporter Web Editor

Cassie Fambro Bailey Hammond Jake Howell Noah Logan Patrick Herring JT Crabtree Jayson Curry Naquita Hunter

Distribution Distribution Bobby Faulk Manager

Advertising Advertising Wesley Jackson Manager Advertising Mohammad Al-Zarrad Graphic Designer Rex McKay

Management Advising J. Sellers J. Aucoin Accounting Kathy Brannan

Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surroun ding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. Or editor.in.chief@usavanguard. com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed

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of the Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter, and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, e-mail editor.in.chief@usavanguard.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select offcampus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. Freelance writers will receive payment at the discretion of the section editor and will be notified accordingly.

See Something suspicious? Report it to USAPD.

USA Police Blotter 10/23/2012: 16:04- Mobile, AL 36688. 1. Theft of Property in Third Degree ($500 or less)

1. Failure to Disperse 2. Resisting Arrest 3. Violation of State Law 4. Failure to Comply

251-460-6312 10/27/12: 15:28 Tonsmiere Dr. 1. Failure to Appear-Driving While Suspended.

10/25/2012: 16:37- The Grove- Bldg #6. 1. Possession of Marijuana Second Degree 2. Failure to Appear-No Seatbelt. 10/24/2012 14:36-Faculty Court South Parking Lot- Bldg 0. 1. Duty Upon Striking an Unoccupied Vehicle. 15:55- Delta 5. 1. Criminal Trespass Third Degree. 2. Failure to Comply with Directions of University Officials. 23:00- 6251 Tonsmeire Drive.

10/28/2012: 2:06- Delta 5. 1. Theft of article from vehicle. 16:51- Delta 2. 1. Unlawful Break and Entering a Vehicle. 10/26/2012: 9:01- 77 South University Blvd. UCOMM. 1. Duty Upon Striking an Unoccupied Vehicle. 14:21- John Counts Drive, Intramural Field. 1. Theft of Property in Second Degree. ($500-$2500)

18:57- Recreation Center. 1. Theft of Property in Third Degree ($500 or less) 20:17- Intramural Fiel House. 1. Theft of Property in Third Degree ($500 or less)

MCSO is looking for anyone that took cellphone photos or videos of the fatal I-65 crash last Friday. They’re also asking for help requesting photos/videos from the public. If anyone was on I-65 last Friday, they are asked to contact MCSO.

CORRECTION: The Vanguard apologizes for a tweet sent in error that contained profanity. It was not intended to be sent on The Vanguard account and we are sorry to those that were offended. Protocol for sending tweets has been altered and it will not happen again.

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Hurricane Sandy severely damages east coast from page 1

also caused considerable damage, downing trees and power lines, and knocking out power to over 8 million people at one point. Officials estimate that power might not be restored until Nov. 10 or 11 in the hardest hit communities. One of the more unusual impacts from Sandy occurred over the Appalachian Mountains, as the western portion of the hurricane interacted with a cold Arctic air mass moving over the eastern United States. The merger resulted in blizzard conditions along the higher elevations, with snowfall totals of three to four feet recorded in parts of West Virginia.

The death toll in the United States approached 100 on Friday morning, and The Washington Post reports that Sandy could be the second costliest storm in United States history, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to help with the recovery efforts, the best way to do so is to donate money to organizations like the American Red Cross. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disaster relief fund (charges will appear on your phone bill). You can also visit redcross.org to make a donation and see what else you can do to help.

Text 90999 to donate to the Red Cross

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

jagLIFE

Superheroes invade new Museum of Mobile exhibit By JAKE HOWELL life.editor@usavanguard.com

efore the television shows and blockbuster movies, there were comic books. Comic books were the birthplace of the superhero, and it’s through them that the Museum of Mobile has begun to tell the story of the evolution of those caped crusaders. On Oct. 20, “Up...Up...& Away! Evolution of the Comic Book Superhero” opened at the Museum of Mobile. This exhibit showcases hundreds of comic books, many of which were donated or loaned to the museum, spanning an entire spectrum of characters from Superman to Sheera Queen of the Jungle. Even though a time line detailing the physical evolution of comics books from the earliest caricatures to the blockbuster movies of today acts as a framework around which the exhibit is built, the real story is that the evolution of comic books parallels the evolution of America. Comic books, through their brightly colored panels and detailed story lines, reflect changes in American culture and ideals. Superman, in fact, is one of the first examples the exhibit details as a reflection

of America. According to Scotty Kirkland, curator of history at the museum, the enduring popularity of comic books and their characters has “never been about the red capes or the guys who where [sic] their underwear on the outside. It’s always been about superheroes representing the best of what see in ourselves while villains are what we’re afraid we’ll become.” It’s the real struggles with love, temptation, loss and vengeance that make superheroes so relatable to the American people. Comic books also parallel current events and social changes occurring in the world, such as the election of President Obama in 2008. While comic books normally don’t spark major ideological changes, they do reflect and incorporate these changes as they happen. A prime example of this is the role of race and gender in comics. For much of the early history of comic books, the vast majority of superheroes were white men. It wasn’t until society’s views on racial minorities and women began to change that these people were brought into the fold as sidekicks and, eventually, superheroes.

WEEKLY LOWDOWN ► 8 a.m. - University Library

“Will Read For Food” Food Drive begins. Donations will be collected until Nov. 30 at the University Library.

► 11:15 a.m. - FRUNCH (Free Lunch) with Westminster Fellowship in Faculty Court South, Room 8.

JAKE HOWELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR

This pyramid of comic books, illustrating the influences on characters and story lines, is only a fraction of those displayed in the exhibit.

Another, more recent, superhero who has reflected major changes in American ideas is Northstar, one of the first openly gay American superheroes and the first to marry his longtime partner in June of 2012. Comic books and superheroes have developed into things much larger than entertainment. They’ve become records and commentators of not only our history, but also how we see ourselves. “The superhero exhibit is great, not just because it shows you how the heroes

By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

STUART SOX | STAFF REPORTER

Laura Fliegel, a sophomore and French major, takes in just a small portion of the works of art on display at the LoDa Art Walk.

Brad Robertson is one of the owners of Robertson Gallery, a contemporary art gallery on Dauphin Street. “It’s refreshing seeing so many new faces and repeat visitors at Art Walk,” Robertson said.

Monday, Nov. 5

you love got their starts, but also prompts those who go to see beyond the story and into the art,” said Parker Chastain, a senior biomedical sciences major and SGA president, of his trip to the exhibit. The exhibit concludes with a question, asking, “Does the world still need superheroes?” The answer, of course, lies with us and whether we still see ourselves behind those masks and capes. “Up...Up...& Away,” will remain at the Museum of Mobile until March 3.

LoDa Art Walk puts Mobile talent on display n the second Friday of each month, many of the art galleries and restaurants in downtown Mobile open up their doors for a celebration of Mobile art and culture. This event, which is nearing its eighth year, is known as the LoDa Art Walk. LoDa refers to the location of most of the participating art galleries in the Cathedral Square Art District, which is lower Dauphin Street. The Art Walk is a popular event among many USA students. “It’s an opportunity to see cool, local art and hang out with people at the same time,” said Kelli Greene, a sophomore French and international relations double major. The Art Walk is also the perfect place to buy gifts for family and friends because the art, crafts, and most merchandise are original works. “I love the things they sell at the Art Walk. I’ve bought some jewelry and some gifts for my parents,” Greene added.

JAKE HOWELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR life.editor@usavanguard.com

“For the Art Walk we try to do a featured artist, serve food and drinks, and meet all of the people that are interested in our art,” Robertson added. With Christmas coming up, the next two Art Walks (Nov. 9 and Dec. 14) will

be the busiest and most exciting yet, according to Michael Pitillo, the store director at Urban Emporium on Dauphin Street. Urban Emporium is a retail store for nearly any kind of gift or product imaginable. “Art Walk is far and away the best day of each month as far as sales,” Pitillo said. The Art Walk isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, either. “Every Art Walk is busier than the one before, and these next two leading up to Christmas will be the best of the year,” Pitillo added. The Art Walk is a must-see for all University of South Alabama students, especially those who appreciate original and local art. “The Art Walk gives you a chance to see the downtown scene and life growing,” said Giang Nguyen, a sophomore occupational therapy major. There are many more galleries and spectacles downtown to be seen other than the ones mentioned here. On Friday, Nov. 9, venture downtown on Dauphin Street and share in the cultural experience that is the LoDa Art Walk.

►Beta Alpha Psi Thanksgiving Food Drive begins. Donations will be collected at the Mitchell College of Business until Nov. 16.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 ►Presidential Election Day! ►7:30 p.m. - USA Jazz En-

semble Fall Concert in the Laidlaw Recital Hall. $5.00 USA Students/Faculty/ Staff.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 ►10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -

“What’s on Wednesday” Free leather bracelets in the Student Center Mall.

►5 p.m. - Pre-Occupational

Therapy Club meeting in the Allied Health Building, Room 2074.

Thursday, Nov. 8 ►7:30 p.m. - USA Wind

Ensemble Fall Concert in the Laidlaw Recital Hall. $5.00 USA Students/Faculty/ Staff

Friday, Nov. 9 ► 7 p.m. - Chi Omega’s

Songfest in the Mitchell Center.

►7:30 p.m. - USA Theatre

presents “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” in the Laidlaw Performing Arts building. For Ticket information call: 251460-6306.

Want your event featured in the Weekly Lowdown? Email the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under seven words) to life.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen offers incredible variety By MAELYNN LA

ml802@jagmail.southalabama.edu

have not been this excited for a new restaurant in ages, and I’ve been in the 251 for awhile. Indian food has been in short supply around these parts, and Nepalese food even more so. This is where Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen comes in. It has filled both the Indian cuisine void and the void in my stomach ever since it appeared at 3210 Dauphin St. a few months ago. For my first trip there, seniors Erika Tumulak, Camli Al-Sadek, Dalton Burks and first-year pharmacy student Sara Lott joined me for dinner. This restaurant is one of those places where everybody’s got their smart phones out, Googling everything on the menu. Luckily, we all possessed adventurous palates. To start, the waitress brought us lentil crackers, tamarind chutney and mint chutney as an appetizer. The tamarind was sweet and tangy, while the mint flavor was very strong. Burks, a chemistry major, enjoyed the malai kabab, described on the menu as grilled boneless chicken marinated in cream and ginger, which contained a

lot of different herbs and spices. Tumulak, a biomedical sciences major, postulated that Nepalese cuisine uses so many spices because “it is cold on Mt. Everest.” The thalis, however, are what you should really go for if you want to try anything and everything. They are essentially mini-buffets with six different dishes on a silver tray accompanied by fresh naan and a small salad in the middle. Vegetarian thalis are also available. My own thali came with chicken tikka masala, dal fry, vegetable curry, tandoori chicken, basmati rice and rice pudding. The table’s favorite dish by far was the chicken tikka masala, which is grilled chicken breast in a creamy onion tomato sauce. It was so delicious that some of us (i.e. me) came back the next day to order it specifically. The sauce was rich, flavorful and pureed so there were no chunks of tomato or onion. I love to mix the tikka masala with rice and eat it with naan, a grilled Indian flatbread. Naan is amazing because it is crunchy and buttery, which makes it a perfect companion to creamy dishes. The dal fry is a vegetarian dish,

made up of lentils, peas, potatoes and spices. The tandoori chicken I received had a good flavor, but the chicken was dry. The rice pudding dessert was a refreshing end to the meal with the coconut milk and vanilla flavors cleansing the spices from our mouths. The salad, consisting of iceberg lettuce, baby carrots and cucumber slices, was totally ignored. Biology major Al-Sadek’s thali came with chicken curry, dal, vegetable curry, gundruk (fermented vegetable leaves and roots), basmati rice and rice pudding. “I really liked it, I felt like the food was really fresh and they used high quality ingredients,” Al-Sadek said of her dish. For dessert, Al-Sadek and Tumulak ordered mango lassi and mango kulfi. The mango kulfi was a sweet, creamy Indian frozen dairy dessert similar to ice cream and the mango lassi was a thick, yogurt-based drink. The lassi had the consistency of a smoothie. Both desserts are excellent choices for those who like sweet things and intense mango flavor. Since we were there for dinner, we missed out on perhaps the best part

MAELYNN LA | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This thali, accompanied by naan, is a prime example of the cuisine offered at Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen.

about this place: their buffet. Their buffet ($9.95) is only offered during the day, since many of the options are on the dinner menu too, like tikka masala, naan and dal. The well-prepared food blows all the other Asian buffets around here out of the water. The prices are reasonable, but even

more so because there is a student discount. Showing a Jag ID gets 10% off of the buffet and 15% off dinner menu. Their excellent Nepalese/Indian dishes combined with this discount will keep me and a few hungry seniors coming back when ordinary fare around here isn’t cutting it.

Greek heritage showcased at annual Greek Festival

ELLEN SUMRALL | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fan favorites, like baklava (pictured), and gyros were in no short supply at this year’s Greek Festival.

By ELLEN SUMRALL carmalsum@aol.com

f you like eating as much as I do, the Annual Greek Festival held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on South Ann Street was the

place to be on Nov. 1 to 3. After paying my $2.00 admission, I found the Greek Festival staple, gyros, which consist of tender slices of beef and lamb in a pita wrap with lettuce and tomatoes all topped with tzatziki

sauce. Inside the church, chicken and lamb dinners, vegetarian plates, children’s plates and Greek salads were available for purchase. I bought a lamb dinner for myself, a Greek salad for my mom and Baklava, another Greek Festival favorite, for my father. The lamb was tender and juicy and also was accompanied by dolmathes, grape leaves stuffed with spiced beef and rice, spankopita, a spinach and feta cheese mix wrapped in philo dough, and a small Greek salad. I sampled some of the Baklava, a dessert consisting of philo dough layered with nuts and spicy syrup. This stuff is delicious. In addition to the main meals, festival visitors were able to sample assorted cheeses (all made of lamb’s milk), olive oils, pastas and dips. I tried the caviar dips, which were particularly delicious. George Kolaris, a local merchant, told me that the best way to eat these cheeses is to dip them in cognac and set them on fire.

The pastry section was another appealing destination. Booths were piled high with baklava, almond cookies, koulouakia (twisted butter cookies) and traditional braided bread. Some of the other desserts being sold were karidopita (walnut cake flavored with cinnamon and drenched with a sweet syrup), diples (a hand rolled pastry dough that is fried before being soaked in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts), ergolavos (a crescent shaped cookie made of almond paste, sugar and egg-white, topped with almonds) and Kok (two layers of chocolate cake filled with chocolate custard and topped with chocolate sprinkles). In addition to the great food, there were a variety of beautiful arts and crafts celebrating Greek heritage for sale. There were bracelets and key chains made from blown glass beads, paintings of flowers and main street settings and, my favorite, hand woven purses As I entered the ornate sanctuary of the Greek Orthodox Church, I no-

ticed a wooden box filled with sand that had a perfect imprint of a cross in it with a lit candle in the middle. When asked about the candle, Ellie Constantine, a Mobile resident attending the festival, said, “When someone enters the church, they will light a candle and put it in the sand to represent that Jesus is the light of the world.” The Greek Festival is an event described on the Greek Festival’s website as “a yearly opportunity to eat, dance, shop, and be entertained as if you were in Greece itself!” Liz Ezell, a senior biomedical sciences major, attended the Greek Festival for the first time this year. “I was surprised at how much was there. I watched a live band that was so entertaining they literally had children dancing around one of the musicians, enjoyed great food and checked out lots of Greek stuff like jewelry, paintings, iconography and clothing,” Ezell said. For those who might have missed out on the fun this year, just remember that next year’s festival will be here before we know it.

VOL. 51, NO 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

TKE holds “Trick or TKE” event By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

Tau Kappa Epsilon, like all Greek organizations at USA, is well known for the various philanthropic events they hold throughout the year. On Sunday, Oct. 28 Tau Kappa Epsilon and Goodwill Easter Seals collaborated to put on “Trick or TKE,” an event at which brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon and girls from various sororities went trick-or-treating with mentally and physically disabled children from the Mobile area. “Trick or TKE,” which has been held annually for nearly two decades now, was held in the Lexington subdivision on Cody Road from noon to around 3 p.m. Lunch was provided for all of the children and their families. Two weeks before the day of “Trick or TKE,” brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon went door-to-door in Lexington to find out which houses would be willing to participate and give out candy. Goodwill Easter Seals took care of advertising the event to the families in the community with mentally or physically disabled children. This year’s “Trick or TKE” was the most successful yet. Around 30 houses in Lexington participated, approximately ten more than last year. Roughly 40 kids went trick-or-treating, up from between 20 and 30 kids that came last year. Ryan Stringfellow, University of South Alabama Tau Kappa Epsilon brother and senior English major, participated in the event. “I love this event, it’s a lot fun getting to walk around with the kids. We enjoy it just as much as they do,” Stringfellow said. Stringfellow also commented on the importance of events like these to change the stereotypes of fraternities. “Automatically when you think ‘fraternity’ you don’t think of events like these…this changes the image we have and shows that we care about the community,” Stringfellow said. “It’s a good environment for the kids, a heartwarming experience for us that gives us a good perspective,” Stringfellow added.

YOU’RE INVITED: SONGFEST 2012 Friday, November 9 at 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Center Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation

CLASSIFIED Become an Independent Fashion Consultant for Vault Denim. Amazing opportunity for anyone that needs additional income or full time. www.myjeanparty.com or call/text Kathy (601) 498-3964 Want to place a classified ad too? Contact our Advertising Department at 251-460-6898

SPORTS

PATRICK HERRING, SPORTS EDITOR sports.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 15/ NOV. 5, 2012

Quarterback Ross Metheny (left) cocks to throw against FIU. Wide receiver Wes Saxton stiff arms an FIU defender.

BY CARLY BRAGG|CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Golden Panthers score 4 unanswered TDs, win 28-20 Despite shutting FIU out in the second half, the Jaguars can’t pull out the win

By PATRICK HERRING sports.editor@usavanguard.com

outh Alabama passed for more yards, ran for more yards, had more first downs and did better on third downs than did Florida International. The Jaguar defense had more tackles, more sacks and more quarterback hurries than the Golden Panthers. However, FIU did better where it counts, the turnover margin and, more importantly, the scoreboard. Florida International (2-8, 1-5) escaped Ladd-Peebles Stadium Saturday with a 28-20 victory over South Alabama (2-7, 1-4). The Jaguars came into the game having almost stunned Louisiana-Monroe on the road last weekend, while the Panthers were hoping to end a seven-game skid. Quarterback Ross Metheny did a good job of spreading the ball around, completing 19 passes to six different receivers for 270 yards and 1 touchdown. However, he also threw two passes to the other team. Both interceptions ended promising USA drives. All of the blame doesn’t fall on Metheny. Running back Demetre Baker also turned the ball over twice, coughing up two fumbles in the second half. Coach Jones wasn’t exactly

pleased with the play of his team in the first half of the game. “Obviously, we dug too big of a hole, and got behind 28-7 at the half,” Jones said. “We made a good comeback, but didn’t score in the red zone down there, and that was probably the tell-tale sign of the game right there.” The Golden Panthers got the ball to start the game. On their opening drive, at the USA 37-yard line, USA’s Will Thompson caused a sack fumble of FIU quarterback Jake Medlock and Pat Moore recovered to give the Jags the ball at their own 48-yard line. The Jaguar offense was solid coming out of the gate. Metheny completed a few quick passes, and Baker broke a couple of solid runs to put the offense in scoring position. T.J. Glover rushed around the left end for a 15-yard scoring rush shortly thereafter. It was Glover’s first rushing touchdown since November 2010, against Arkansas-Monticello. He would go on to lead the team in all-purpose yardage with 104 in all. Florida International countered with a heavy dose of the running game, rushing on seven straight plays to gain 50 yards. After converting on fourth-and-inches, Medlock completed his second pass of the game

for a 26-yard score to Willis Wright to tie the game at 7. FIU running back Kedrick Rhodes torched the USA defense in the first quarter, gaining 109 yards on just 12 carries. On the Golden Panthers’ next drive, it took only four plays for them to reach pay dirt. Medlock completed another touchdown pass, this one to Jacob Younger, to increase the lead to 14-7. After rushing for a career-long 32 yards down to the FIU 27-yard line, Metheny promptly threw an interception to John Cyprien. The pick gave the Golden Panthers the ball at their 19. The Jag defense held and forced a punt. Two drives later, Medlock completed a long pass to Younger for a 35-yard gain to the USA 20-yard line. After a couple of plays gained minimal yards, Medlock escaped a sack and scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-7. The next South Alabama drive stalled after seven plays, and Scott Garber came on to punt for the Jags. Medlock and the offense began their drive at their own 26-yard line. The run game was a good decoy for FIU this time. The USA defense loaded the box and the secondary

got burned twice on the drive for 22- and 13- yard gains. Two penalties also helped move the ball into the South Alabama red zone. Once there, Rhodes broke a tackle and ran around the left side to waltz in from two yards out for the touchdown. The score put the Golden Panthers up 28-7 going into halftime. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Metheny hit Corey Besteda in stride for a 75-yard touchdown completion, career longs for both players. The longest pass play in school history made the score 2814. Besteda would total 96 receiving yards to go with the score. Besteda talked about the play after the game. “We talked about it all week in practice,” Besteda said. “We knew it was gonna [sic] work.” After the defense forced an FIU punt from their end zone, Glover returned the punt to the FIU 24-yard line. The offense couldn’t do anything with the ball from there. Chapaseaux came on and kicked a 39-yard field goal. The kick tied Chapaseaux for the school record with seven consecutive made field goals, and pushed the score to 28-17 in favor of FIU. The Jaguar defense forced two more Golden Panther punts. With

the ball back, the offense drove all the way to the FIU 1-yard line, but a false start by Baker pushed them back to the 5. From there, Metheny was unable to convert. Chapaseaux was called on for another field goal attempt. He made the 19-yarder to break the school mark for consecutive made field goals with his eighth. The score brought the Jags to within eight, 2820. The consecutive field goal mark would end there, as Chapaseaux would miss an attempt off the left upright two drives later. Florida International went with a more conservative attack, running the ball for the better part of the remainder of the game. The USA defense did hold up, though, forcing four straight three-and-outs. “Our defense did a great job of getting the ball back to us in the second half,” Jones said. Linebacker Jake Johnson felt the defense played better in the second half. “We didn’t change anything really, we just nutted [sic] up and just took away the big plays,” Johnson said. They would also limit Rhodes to See Football Football, Page 10

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

USA Sports Briefs Women’s Tennis announces 2013 Spring schedule

Courtesy of usajaguars.com

Soccer’s Hernandez earns academic honor

Junior midfielder Clarissa Hernandez was named Capital One first team Academic All-District last Thursday. She achieved a 3.95 GPA in Chemical Engineering while starting every one of the 21 matches USA played this season. Hernandez led the team in goals (6) and assists (5).

Volleyball loses heartbreaker to MTSU BY CARLY BRAGG|CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Wide receiver Corey Waldon comes down with the catch against FIU.

Football

Continued from Page 9

just 40 yards in the final three quarters. He finished with 149 yards and a touchdown on 27 rushes, plus two receptions for 15 yards. The Jaguar offense was not able to convert any of their last four drives into any points, allowing FIU to run out the clock and leave Mobile with their second victory of the season. Wide receiver Wes Saxton had his best game of the season for USA, pulling in a game-high and careerhigh 6 passes for a career-high 92 yards. On defense, linebacker Jake John-

son was making plays all over the field. He tallied a season-best and team-high 15 tackles, 12 of them being solo. Alex Page added in six solo tackles. B.J. Scott and Enrique Williams also chipped in six apiece. At halftime, this year’s USA Athletics Hall of Fame class was recognized. Former Jaguar baseball standouts Juan Pierre and P.J. Walters, and decorated tennis stars František Babej and Cindy Summers were presented with their plaques in a ceremony before the game. Next week the Jags travel to Dallas to play North Texas (3-6, 2-3).

Despite 17 kills from senior Melissa Waelter, the Lady Jags fell 3-1 to conference foe Middle Tennessee State. After dropping a close first set, 29-27, USA was unable to recover. MTSU won the next set (25-21) before dropping the third set (25-16). The Blue Raiders closed it out in the fourth, winning 25-18. The loss dropped the Jags to 13-14 and 6-6 in conference play. The Jags played Sunday, but the game ended after this issue went to press.

The season will begin Jan. 20, with a sevengame home stand featuring matches against Southern Miss and conference foes FIU and North Texas. After the home stretch, the team will travel for 13 of its last 17 matches. Some notable opponents they play on the road include Tulsa, Tulane and Memphis. The regular season will wrap up with the Sun Belt Championships, which will be played in Lafayette, La., this year.

Men’s Tennis performs well at Crimson Tide Championships Friday, USA doubles teams of Daniel Leitner and Blake Gregor & Alex Bernard went undefeated, beating teams from Auburn and Tulane & Furman and Jackson State, respectively. Both pairs would go on to fall in their respective finals on Saturday. In singles play Friday, Leitner was the only Jaguar to win a singles match. On Saturday, Bernard won two singles matches before falling to Matt Frost of Southern Miss. He played for fifth place Sunday, results aren’t printed because the tournament ended after this issue went to press.

Editor’s Note: During the 2012 football season, we here at The Vanguard Sports Section will be doing weekly predictions of South’s football game, popular in-state games and one or two nationally significant games. We will keep a running tally of who’s “winning” the prediction game. Patrick Herring Sports Editor (31-9)

USA vs. North Texas

Alabama vs. Texas A&M

Auburn vs. Georgia

Mississippi State vs. LSU

The Mean Green have played some good teams close and gotten blown out by some bad ones. I think USA pulls off the upset in the Lone Star State. South wins 31-27. Alabama played their closest, most emotional game of the season. They may have a small hangover in this game. Manziel keeps it close. Alabama wins 35-27. The Tigers come back to reality after that win over New Mexico State. The Bulldogs roll in this one. Georgia 52-17.

LSU won’t let this be a trap game. After falling to the Crimson Tide, they get redemption against the Bulldogs. LSU wins 34-24.

Jayson Curry

B.J. Scott @Bj_Scott_1: Safety There’s nothing in my closet than can prepare me for this Mobile weather freezing in the morning hot as hell in the evening Shaun Artz @SHaun_ARTZ73: Offensive Lineman Drowning my sorrows from that test in a Chick fil a milk shake Trey Anderson @UnoDosTrey123: Guard I think my organic chemistry teacher was speaking chinese this morning James Elliott @JDElliott54: Offenzive Lineman Walked right under the tower bell when it rang. Literally thought I just got shot Rush Hendricks @_RusHen_: Tight End

College Football Predictions

Week Three Season Totals in parentheses

Want us to follow you? Tweet us @USAVGSports

JT Crabtree

Senior Reporter

Sports Editor L.O.C.

(29-11)

(27-13)

South Alabama dropped a close game against FIU last week, but they get their third win on the season against the Mean Green. USA wins 27-24.

If the Jags play like they did in the second half, they should dominate the Mean Green. I think the Jags win it on the road. USA 24-14.

Alabama continues to win on the way to a perfect season. They beat a hot Texas A &M team 38-15.

Alabama had their first test against LSU, but were able to pull it out. While A&M blasted Miss St. I think it’s closer than expected, but Bama wins 34-28.

Georgia let Ole Miss hang around for most of their game last week but they don’t do Auburn any favors this week. UGA wins 45-20.

Auburn, even though they finally put up points against NMSU, are still not any good. The Bulldogs are going to rip them apart. UGA wins 45-7.

Mississippi State got crushed by Texas A&M and they lose their second in a row against LSU. Tigers win 31-24

I can’t believe Miss St lost like they did to Texas A&M, and LSU nearly beat Alabama. The Tigers will win this one, and Mettenberger will have 3 TDs. Tigers 28-13.

The guy in class in the squeaky seat that can’t sit still.... I’m that guy. Darius McKeller @BigDdaBasedLord: Offensive Lineman No teachers breath should be smelling this rancid. Especially for an afternoon class. You had all day to atleast gargle some water 4 a few seconds C.J. Bennett @CJbennett15: Quarterback I’m convinced the carts at Wal Mart come with a faulty wheel.... And for some reason they always go left Olivia Mohler @Olivia_Mohler12: Middle Blocker Definitely just went upstairs and told the people above me to stop stomping around. I NEED TO CATCH SOME Z’S it’s game day!!!!! Garsh!!

@USAVGSports

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Coaches believe student attendance makes a difference We at the Vanguard Sports Section asked the coaches of South Alabama athletics what student attendance at their games, meets and matches means to them and their athletes. This is what they had to say: “Student backing is a huge deal. It creates a great atmosphere and excitement. We need more students at our baseball games.” -Baseball head coach Mark Calvi The first home game of the baseball season is Friday, Feb. 13, 2013, against Stephen F. Austin at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

“At our stadium the students sit across from us and we get to look at them and when we see those guys getting rowdy and giving the other team a hard time it really motivates us. When we have our students and our crowd behind us, it makes a big, big difference in our game.” -Football head coach Joey Jones The football team’s next home game is Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2:30 p.m. when they take on Middle Tennessee State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. BY JOHN ADAMS|USAJAGUARS.COM

BY JOHN ADAMS|USAJAGUARS.COM

“We hope that when the students come, we give them an environment where they want to come back. This is their team and it’s something we want them to be proud of. There’s nothing like having students at the game. There’s nothing like it. They come, they yell and they want to have fun. As far as I’m concerned, it’s part of the college experience.” -Basketball head coach Ronnie Arrow

COURTESY USAJAGUARS.COM

“Student attendance is very important to the women’s basketball team. Division-1 college athletes want their community’s support at all home contests. There is no question that vocal support by the local crowd of students and members of the community creates an advantage for the home team. The members of the women’s basketball team and I yearn for the support of the student body at all home games from start to finish.” -Women’s head basketball coach Rick Pietri

The first home game of the 2012-2013 men’s basketball season is Wednesday, Nov. 14, at The first home game of the 2012-2013 women’s the Mitchell Center against William Carrey at 7 basketball season is Monday, Nov. 12, at the p.m. Mitchell Center against Tenn. St. at 7 p.m. “In the sport of soccer, the team gets tremendous energy from the students and all attendees that come to our matches. We take a lot of pride in representing the student body that we are a part of and are appreciative of their support. Home field advantage is real and the students that attend the matches have a great deal to do with that. This year alone, crowd support has energized us and frustrated the opponent. There is a difference when we have support and when we don’t.” -Soccer head coach Mike Varga

COURTESY USAJAGUARS.COM

“Student attendance at any university shows pride and commitment towards the University and it’s athletic department. Students are the best fans you can get at a college sporting event and most students that attend a volleyball match for the first time are surprised with the intensity and fun they can have at a college match. In my first year, we have been fortunate to receive a solid support base but know there are many students who still don’t realize what they are missing.” -Volleyball head coach Amy Hendrichovsky BY JOHN ADAMS|USAJAGUARS.COM

BY JOHN ADAMS|USAJAGUARS.COM

“Students are a great support during our matches. The players love to have the support of the student body. The home crowd can really make a difference during our dual matches.” -Men’s Tennis head coach Nick Brochu

“The student -athletes really like it when teachers and fellow students come out and watch them compete. Spectators really seem to inspire our athletes on to greater performance.” -Men’s and Women’s Track and Field head coach Paul Brueske

The Spring 2013 Men’s Tennis schedule hasn’t The first home meet for Track and Field is been announced yet, but stay tuned to usajaguars.com to find out when the first home Wednesday, Mar. 3, 2013, against Troy and Spring Hill. matches of the season are.

BY JOHN ADAMS|USAJAGUARS.COM COURTESY USAJAGUARS.COM

Opinion

NOAH LOGAN OPINION EDITOR opinion.editor@usavanguard.com

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Presidential elections sets nice Vanguard Viewpoint 2012 tone for the end of the world By NOAH LOGAN

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Vote. Respect each other. Stop attacking people for their beliefs. Red, blue or green, we’re all Americans. Speak with your vote, USA.

Next Tu e s d ay m a r k s the end of 2012 presidential election. Starting next We d n e s Noah Logan Opinion Editor day, the world has 45 days left in existence according to the Mayan calendar. Not to mince words, but thanks to the 2012 presidential race, the end of the world now seems like the light at the end of the tunnel. With the start of my third full month in college on the way, I’m finding the option of changing my major from political science to something else more and more enticing. The main reason I haven’t yet is because I don’t consider the walk up to the second floor of Humanities worth it with this election symbolizing the end of existence. The idea of taking American politics and interpreting it as apocalyptic warnings is a tad bit outlandish, but I have to admit that it does make for a pretty good movie script. When you really think about it, the election has featured some of the more prominent warning signs of a stereotypical apocalyptic scenario.

JagPulse

In three sentences, who are you voting for and why? Matthew Rex Strickland: I will definitely be voting for Barack Obama on Tuesday. If Mitt Romney cuts pell grant funding like he promised to do, I will no longer be able to afford college. My entire life plan will be ruined because he tried to balance the budget on my back. Alexia Elizabeth Fitzgerald I’m voting for Romney because his political standing aligns with my personal beliefs. All I’ve seen from

Obama is a whole lot of talk, very little action, a whole lot of empty promises and a very big blame game. I want a President that is going to make a difference, not one who is just a bunch of talk. Dennis Mersereau: Obama, because he’s achieved an incredible amount over the last 4 years, and he needs 4 more years to keep up the good work. The thought that he could have fixed everything in one term is silly -- even Romney admits

it would take 8-10 years for some of his own budget/jobs policies to work. Leo McDermott: I am voting for Gary Johnson. Gary is about ENDING REAL issues- NDAA, CISPA, HR 347, The Patriot Act, Socialized Medicine, Etc. and bringing us back to what our Founding Fathers envisioned. Mitt Romney and Barack Obama only want to continue more of the same.

ILLUSTRATION BY TEA LEAF NATION

Race is involved. I truly don’t believe the majority of America is taking race into consideration when deciding on a candidate. However, saying that race is not a subtheme of the past eight years of American politics is oversimplifying. Every news outlet and individual who ever mentioned the fact that Obama is the first black candidate confirms that race is enough of an issue to at least point it out. Lining up with certain apocalyptic prophecies, the 2012 election comes to a close just as a natural disaster wreaks havoc. Our obsession with technology and the growing possibilities we now have for our society because of technology sets the same eerie tone as The Matrix. The presidential election fits the criteria of doomsday blockbusters such as “The Day After Tomorrow,” “The Matrix” and “2012.” Frankly, I’m spooked. If the Mayans are right, this election is surely ensuring that Americans are experiencing the most drawn out and painful apocalypse possible. The 2012 presidential election has involved nearly every trait of dirty politics since biblical times. Lies, propaganda and

more lies have been in ample supply as we saw one of the first signs of hope for American politics, Barack Obama, turn to cheap political tactics in order to claim a victory in this election. Whether or not it was worth it is anybody’s say so. Both candidates have increased the number of ads ran each day and the swing states have found themselves in a “swing state hell,” as elegantly put by Jon Stewart. The state receiving the most attention remains Ohio, with 333 presidential ads a day, and I’m almost positive that citizens of Akron and Cleveland would prefer to be citizens of New Jersey right about now. The thought of being without power until the election is over is actually a pleasant one. Nothing would be more enjoyable than to live in a world where I wasn’t informed about how unconstitutional Obamacare is every time I turn on my T.V. However, I’m sure after a short period of time, the campaigns will develop methods of inserting all these ads into our dreams and the government caused apocalypse will then run its course and it will all be over. We can only hope.

EditorialBoard

The

Cassie Fambro > Editor in Chief Noah Logan > Opinion Editor Jake Howell > Life Editor Patrick Herring > Sports Editor JT Crabtree > LOC Editor

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VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Election & Referendum Coverage 2012 Battlefield Ohio By RYAN WALLACE

bae1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

As a Republican on a college campus in 2008, I argued and campaigned for a Democratic defeat. It was an incredibly deflating experience. Those of us in the Texas A&M chapter of the College Republicans knew the race was over sometime around the start of the debates. The poll numbers for the two candidates leading up to the election bore this sentiment out, as did the results on Election Day. In 2012, Republicans have much more to be cheerful about than McCain did four years ago. It has been assumed for weeks now that the election will be determined by the electoral votes from Ohio, much like the 2000 race came down to Florida. The President HAS to have the Buckeye State to win; Romney would need several other “battleground” states to swing his way to offset an Ohio loss, a very unlikely scenario. Keeping all this in mind, here are my two predictions for the 2012 Presidential race: First, Mitt Romney will win Ohio, and the Presidency. There are several statistical reasons to believe this, but I’ll limit myself to just a few. President Obama, according to an Associated Press story late last week, will come into the election with the highest unemployment numbers

for any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt. Voters have made it clear that this election is going to be about the economy, and Romney has done an admirable job of almost single-mindedly hammering the President’s performance in that sector. Also, based on polls on “voter enthusiasm,” as well as the results of early voting, Obama isn’t going to enjoy anything like the turnout he had in 2008. The statistic that has really stood out is the independent voter numbers. It is simply not possible to win Ohio without at least making it very close with the state’s sizeable number of independent voters. According to CBS, Romney currently enjoys a 5% lead amongst the independent voters, a number that has been steadily increasing for weeks now. Secondly, I predict that the election will resemble 2000 in a much less desirable way: we won’t know the final result for at least a couple days after Election Day. If we can avoid widespread Floridastyle recounts, it would be considered a win for the sanity of the country as a whole. Whether these predictions are right or wrong, the world will be watching Ohio as a battered electorate drags itself to the finish line of yet another grinding, contentious election season.

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Office of Treasurer still important By COLIN AL-GREENE csa602@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Election Day is rapidly approaching. This year happens to be a Presidential election year. Americans will flock to the polls in order to cast their vote for the next leader of the Free World. There are, however, many other offices up for election that also deserve attention. Of the local offices, maybe none is as important as the treasurer. The treasurer adds a level of accountability and oversight to the budget. Some may argue it is a duplication of services provided by the finance office; however, the finance office is not accountable to the people. It is also argued we are one of three counties to still maintain the office of treasurer, but what many don’t realize is that the other counties have rolled the treasurer’s duties into the revenue commissioner’s office. In this situation, no elected official has oversight over the budget. There are two office seekers for Mobile County Treasurer; the Repub-

lican candidate, Phil Benson, and the Democratic candidate, Christian Smith. Christian is the clear choice in the upcoming election. Firstly, she is highly qualified. Christian holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration. The Office of the treasurer is, after all, a public sector entity. Secondly, she has a clear plan for transparency. She wants to take the budget and break it down so a person without a background in budgeting can easily understand it. Thirdly, she wants to promote wiser investments. With the economy currently how it is, we cannot afford to rely on a department that is not accountable to the people to make sure the investments are representing all the citizens of Mobile County. It is her goal to task this duty back to the treasurer’s office to benefit all the citizens of Mobile County. She wants to modernize the office. To allow the citizens the transparency of the budget on the expenditure and investments site she would like to modern-

Alabama voters face important referendum votes By MICAH MESSER

mjm1202@jagmail.southalabama.edu

he Alabama elections are coming up on Nov. 6 and much of the attention has been dedicated to the candidates of the election and not on the amendments. However, the amendments are just as important, if not more in some cases, as the elections. From state parks to the amount of pay legislators receive during their term, the amendments vary greatly. Alabama voters should focus on the state amendments that are also up for vote as much as they are for the upcoming presidential vote. Amendment one deals with Forever Wild and state parks. It extends payments made to the Forever Wild Land Trust for a 20-year period. The Forever Wild Land Trust project was founded in 1992 and has since ac-

quired 205,408 acres in 22 different counties throughout Alabama without raising taxes (Forever Wild Land Trust). The idea behind the Forever Wild Land Trust project is to conserve natural resources while supporting outdoor recreation. This amendment would give approximately 300 million dollars to the Forever Wild Land Trust. Amendment two aims to allow issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $750 million. These bonds would give Alabama the ability to pay for job incentives for new industries. It would also allow the refinancing of existing bonds at a new lower rate. However, it does increase the interference from the government into the market place. Amendment six would prohibit mandatory participation in any health

care system. In essence this amendment would directly contradict the federal health care bill. Thus, this amendment would completely give the middle finger to the federal health care bill and allow citizens of Alabama to opt out of the requirement to own health insurance. Amendment seven would allow for the use of secret ballots in union votes. There is not much else to this. This amendment would just allow for unions the use of secret ballots. Amendment eight provides the compensation paid to legislators to not increase during term of office. This also repeals last year’s pay raise. This amendment would limit state legislators to being paid Alabama’s annual median household income. Basically it creates an amendment that would make state representatives and state senators receive the same

income as the median household income in Alabama. Amendment ten relates to the authority of state legislature and banking in the state. This amendment changes the Constitution dramatically. This amendment eliminates the ability of Alabama to create and establish a state bank. Not only does it block the state of Alabama from establishing a state bank, it also eliminates gold and silver as the standard of money in the state of Alabama. This amendment could increase inflation in Alabama or it could not. It all depends on whether or not the backing of the paper currency in the United States is again going to be backed by gold and silver.

ize the office by providing a website directly dedicated to the budget. Currently it is one of the few offices that does not have its own website, which means if you would like to know any of the financial information about the county you need to go downtown and go through boxes and boxes of papers. Finally, she wants to use the Office of the Treasurer as a means to engage the citizenry. By allowing citizens the ability to review the budget online, they are able to understand what is going on with their money and are able to ask questions. Too often do citizens feel disconnected with their community or fail to see the point in voting since they feel their voice doesn’t matter. By having this information readily available, citizens can voice their opinions and hold their elected official accountable. Mobile needs to move forward, and we cannot move forward if we do not know what is going on in our backyard. A vote for Christian Smith is a vote for moving Mobile forward.

2012 POLLS

►

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

LEFT OF CENTER

JT CRABTREE, LOC EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

VOL. 51, NO. 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

Life as a Diamond Girl By ALYSSA NEWTON akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu

hat is a diamond girl? The USA Diamond Girls are a volunteer group of students dedicated to assisting the South Alabama baseball program. “Our purpose is to support the program through game promotion, working the games and participation in community projects with the team,” said Bree Drinkard, current president of the Diamond Girls. Drinkard also says that Diamond Girls have been a part of baseball at South Alabama for longer than most people know, with some photographic evidence of early Diamond Girls dating back to the 1970’s at USA. On game days, Diamond Girls have responsibilities that are important for keeping the games running smoothly. Their tasks include retrieving bats, balls and foul balls that go in stands, communicating with the umpires and making sure they have fresh game balls when needed and keeping them hydrated. If you catch a foul ball the Diamond Girls even have trade giveaways. But a Diamond Girl’s duties are not limited to the baseball field. One of the most important jobs for a Diamond Girl is promoting the team. The girls actively publicize home games via Twitter, Facebook, announcing them in their classes, passing out schedules, making sheet signs and more. Diamond Girls take representing Jaguar Baseball and

Members of the Lady Jags soccer team get ready to defend a free kick from MTSU

South Alabama to a whole new level. Every year they host the players’ parents and get to know them as individuals. The Diamond Girls are involved within the community as well, volunteering as a group with different organizations. Annually they volunteer with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program by adopting a child and volunteering at the Angel Tree warehouse. The South Alabama Diamond Girls are a unique tradition of South Alabama baseball and proud to be ambassadors of the South Alabama baseball program.You can follow them on Facebook by “liking” the South Alabama Diamond Girls page or the new baseball Facebook page, USA Jaguar Baseball.

JT CRABTREE / LOC SPORTS EDITOR

Women’s soccer loses 2-1

Lady Jags fall to No. 2 seeded MTSU in SBC Tournament By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

he South Alabama Lady Jags soccer team lost to the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 2-1 in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament last Wednesday at The Cage. The number two seeded Blue Raiders jumped out to an early lead against the number seven seeded Lady Jags with a goal by midfielder Amalie Anderdal at the 14:20 mark. The game remained 1-0 until forward Whitney Jorgenson scored from the left side just outside the box to make it 2-0 for the Blue Raiders in the 64 minute. Both Blue Raider goals were unassisted. The Lady Jags did not give up however. In the 78 minute, mid-

fielder Clarissa Hernandez found forward Linsey Snavely open up the middle for a one-touch shot that found the back of the net. The goal was Snavely’s fourth of the season. Hernandez picked up her fifth assist, and added to her team lead of 17 points. Lady Jags goalkeeper Lauren Arnold had one save against 22 shots on goal, while giving up two goals. Jessica Gilchrist did not record any saves while allowing one goal on eight total shots. “It’s always disappointing to finish a season like this and going down two goals made it tough for us,” said head coach Mike Varga. “The first goal was a great shot by them; you take your hat off for the finish. Second goal, we turned the ball and we

gave them a chance. But we fought back. We fought all the way to the end and I’m proud of the girls for doing that.” The Lady Jags, who hosted the Sun Belt Conference tournament, finish their season with an 8-10-3 record, with a 3-6-2 record in conference play. “Hopefully this will motivate and we will work hard for next year,” said Varga. “I think we have a lot of potential. We have to get more fit and clean up some things but we have the ability to win the ability to win the conference next year.” The season ended on a disappointing note, with coach Varga saying, “It’s tough to swallow when you end your season.”

Jags ranked higher than Auburn I

Jags pitcher Brandon Boyle

JT Crabtree / LOC Sports Editor

n last week’s version of the USA Today’s FBS rankings, many South Alabama Jaguar fans found themselves pleasantly surprised to find that the Jags were ranked higher than the Auburn Tigers. The Jaguars were ranked 110, one

spot ahead of the Auburn Tigers, who were ranked 111. The Jags also had a better record than the SEC team at the time of the rankings. South Alabama was 2-6 at the time, while Auburn was 1-7. The Tigers lone win came against Sun Belt

Conference opponent UL-Monroe in double overtime. UL-Monroe was the highest ranking Sun Belt Conference team, falling in at 43. Western Kentucky, the second place team in the conference, ranked 52.

VOL. 51, NO 15 / NOV. 5, 2012

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VOL. 51, NO 15 / NOV. 5, 2012