Oct 6

Students question Pine Street’s safety a er car hits student

by KELLEY PETERS Sta Writer

A University of North Alabama student was hit by a vehicle on Pine Street on Fri day, Sept. 9. is is the second time there has been an accident of this nature on Pine Street within one year.

At 2:30 p.m., a student crossed North Pine Street between Lion Drive and Cir cular Road, a location where there is no crosswalk. e driver involved in the acci dent was unable to stop in time to prevent a collision.

In the police report obtained by e Flor-Ala, the driver of the vehicle turned northbound onto North Pine Street from Oakview Circle. She was looking south bound for approaching tra c and then began to make her turn onto North Pine Street.

e driver told police she never saw the pedestrian in the roadway. She then heard her vehicle hit the pedestrian and saw the pedestrian come up onto the front of her vehicle. e driver swerved slightly le and the pedestrian fell to the passenger

side of her vehicle.

When the o cer from university police arrived on the scene, he saw the pedestrian laying in the street on her le side, crying.

Emergency Medical Services and the Florence Fire Department arrived and took over medical aid for the pedestrian. EMS transported the pedestrian to be air li ed to Huntsville Hospital.

e driver of the car had a dent in the hood of her vehicle where the pedestrian had struck.

ere are no crosswalks where the pe destrian attempted to cross Pine Street.

“ e University of North Alabama takes very seriously the health and well-being of the campus community,” said Univer sity Media and Public Relations Director Michelle Eubanks. “Pedestrians are asked to adhere to the designated crossing areas of all roadways that surround the campus, and speed is closely monitored by the Uni versity Police as well as the Florence Po lice Department. When accidents occur, it

Jump, see PINE STREET

Jason Isbell brings ShoalsFest to McFarland Park

by MARY STELLA MANGINA Arts & Entertainment Editor

Widely considered towns whose driv ing force is music, Florence and Muscle Shoals have rich musical histories. e two have been closely intertwined with rhythm and blues and roots rock going back to the middle of the 20th century. eir re nowned a liation with major musicians is attributed partly to the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Opened in the late 1960s by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a quartet of well-traveled session players, the studio has welcomed its share of house hold names into its chambers.

In conjunction with the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Muscle Shoals lays claim to another jewel in the crown of genuine

Southern music- Florence Alabama Music Enterprises, or FAME Recording Studios.

e rst studio in the Shoals area to put out a chart-topping record, FAME has produced hits for over 60 years. It has also maintained close ties with Jason Isbell, the Greenhill-born Americana artist responsi ble for bringing ShoalsFest to life.

Now one of the most prominent players of Americana and Southern roots rock, Isbell credits his Alabama beginnings as having had a massive impact on both the technical and lyrical aspects of his song writing. With help from his family and friends, along with practice on his school’s marching band, he gained a knack for ma Jump,

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Four time Grammy award winner Jason Isbell performs with his band at ShoalsFest.

A car speeds across the Pine Street bridge between Lion Drive and Circular Road.

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

Corbin and Melton crowned Homecoming King and Queen

by AUDREY JOHNSON Editor-in-Chief

Josh Corbin and Shana Melton were crowned UNA’s 2022 Homecoming King and Queen on Sept. 24 at the UNA-Tar leton State pregame presentation. is year, 1,463 students voted in the election.

Corbin, a senior from Gurley, Ala., double majoring in accounting and nance was nominated by Alpha Gamma Delta. Melton, a senior from Killen, Ala., majoring in elementary education, was nominated by Phi Mu.

2021 Homecoming Queen Shanise Al len crowned Melton. 2021 Homecoming King Bryce Austin escorted Allen.

Corbin and Melton were among ten to tal nominees for King and Queen. Aside from Melton, the 2022 Homecoming Court also included Jayden Bobo (Alpha Gamma Delta), Amari Bothwell (Presi dential Mentors Academy), Molly Kath ryn Cooper (Lambda Sigma Phi) and Keelyn Sealy (Zeta Tau Alpha) for Queen nominees.

Aside from Corbin, Omar Figueroa (Diversity Student Ambassadors), Dean Moore (Zeta Tau Alpha), Tevin Pauley (the National Pan-Hellenic Council) and Connor Potts (Phi Mu) made up the King nominees.

“Whenever they called my name out everything just went silent. I heard noth ing.” Melton said. “It felt like something out of a dream.”

Corbin experienced similar shock.

“I was surprised [when they called my name],” Corbin said. “[ e King nomi nees] were all a bunch of studs up there.”

A er the awe of the moment settled in, Melton and Corbin posed for pictures.

“It nally felt real whenever I was

standing there with Josh [Corbin],” Melton said. “He was one of my rst friends at UNA.”

Corbin and Melton met in Freshman Forum–a branch of the Student Govern ment Association (SGA) composed of rst year students. Since then, Corbin has served on SGA, the LaGrange Soci ety, SOAR and the University Program Council. He is a brother of Lambda Sigma Phi, a member of Financial In telligence Network and Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society. Last year, he earned the undergraduate service award.

Melton has also served on SGA, the LaGrange Society and SOAR. She is a member of Phi Mu and also won the un dergraduate service award.

In the lead up to UNA’s homecoming game against Tarleton State, where the Lions were defeated 43-28, campus cel ebrated homecoming through its tradi tions. is year’s theme, “Our TraD1tion Roars On,” highlighted UNA’s recent move to full Division I Athletic Status.

Student events included painting the Guillot University Center windows, the “Trunk Warz” pantry and food drive, the pep rally and relay, the parade oat com petition and the homecoming tailgate.

In terms of homecoming traditions, Corbin notes the GUC window painting competition as his favorite.

“It’s a really great way to show what organizations are on campus,” Corbin said. “And what they represent.”

While Melton loves the traditions that bring campus together, her favorite event includes the whole UNA commu nity.

“I love the UNA parade,” Melton said. “ e parade brings the whole commu nity together, and I love seeing the little

kids so excited to see everyone.”

Corbin and Melton intend to graduate in May and pursue careers in their re spective elds. Melton is especially grate ful to the College of Education and Dean Katie Kinney for putting students rst and always ghting for educators.

“I couldn’t have asked for better pro fessors, advisers, faculty or sta ,” Melton said of the College of Education. “ ey

truly care for us, and I know I can go to them for absolutely anything.”

Corbin shares a similar sentiment for his mentors in the College of Business and Technology.

“ ere’s been a lot of faculty in the Col lege of Business that have been really in tentional.” Corbin said. “[At UNA], you get to make one on one connections with your faculty and sta .”

Senior Shana Melton of Killen, Ala., (left) and senior Josh Corbin of Gurley, Ala. (right) after being announced as Homecoming King and Queen.

Leon Ono | Volunteer Photographer

Casey Kula | Chief Photographer

Casey Kula | Chief Photographer

great Homecoming pictures?

Reason writes first dissertation at UNA

by KELLEY PETERS Sta Writer

Kyle Reason, a student in Exercise Science and Health Promotion in the Kinesiology department at the Uni versity of North Alabama, is working on a study for his dissertation. When this is completed, Reason will be the first person to have completed a dis sertation at the university and gradu ated from UNA with a PhD.

Reason is both a PhD student and a Graduate Assistant, and the respon sibilities overlap quite a bit as a re sult; the four main components of his work are taking classes toward his degree, teaching classes at UNA, do ing service projects and conducting research.

After graduating, Reason plans to be a professor at a university, work ing to teach others what he loves to do.

Reason’s dissertation will be cen tered around the psychology of exer cise and the effects of perceived en durance on exercise adherence using the Peloton bike.

Before starting his dissertation, Reason participated in other research within the Kinesiology department. In fact, during his first year at UNA, he received the Outstanding Gradu ate Student Service award.

To begin the research for his dis sertation, Reason had to first assem ble a committee. His research com mittee consists of Dr. Lauren Killen, Dr. Scott Lyons, Dr. Matthew Green and Dr. Jean Ann Helm Allen.

“Dr. Killen, who is my go-to per son, is my chair,” Reason said. “She’s my advisor, like a mentor. She helped me with the methodology. I would bring her ideas, and she would tell me to rethink a section or tighten something up. She really mentored me through the process. This isn’t my first rodeo by any means, but she’s re ally helped me as a researcher as well as my writing style.”

Killen, an associate professor and the Human Performance Lab Direc tor, has a passion for research on home exercise, which is part of the reason that she is the chair for Rea son’s dissertation.

“I think a lot of people think when they get into Exercise Science, we just work with athletes,” Killen said. “It’s a good bit of what we do, but we’re not always trying to make someone faster or stronger. We’re just trying to improve their quality of life and get [people] to be able to complete what we call activities of daily living, or normal things we do on a daily ba sis: getting dressed, doing some ba sic housework, being able to care for yourself.”

Other members of Reason’s com mittee, such as Dr. Green, help him with his research as well as guide him into making the right decisions for both this project and future endeav ors.

“As you go from undergraduate, to

Masters, to PhD, there’s a systematic increase in creating a person’s ability to work independently,” Green said.

“As an undergraduate student, I want to help you a lot. As a Master’s stu dent, I want to steer you in the right direction, but you take a lot more initiative, and you are actually taking ownership of the research. When you get to your PhD, we are on the edge of saying that this person’s ready to go out, be an independent research er and serve effectively in a faculty role at a university. At that point, the guidance is a lot more vague. We lead them to the right answer as opposed to giving them the answer.”

Reason used this guidance to craft the methodology for his research. The study began in early September and will not be presented until April, stretching across almost an entire ac

class using the Peloton app. They cy cle to the app by themselves. During that time, they can adjust their own resistance. Then they come in on a separate trial and do a similar version of that class that is altered slightly, where they ride with a partner, who is another person from the research study. The last time they come in, they’ll ride without the app, just by themselves.”

Reason works long hours in the lab with undergraduate and graduate students assisting him. In total, the data collection will take roughly 90 hours, with around 30 minutes per trial to input all of the data collected. At the end of this work, Reason not only hopes to have earned his PhD, but also to have made an impact on the way people approach exercise.

“The problem in our field is, ob

people to start exercising and contin ue exercising? We know all of these amazing benefits of exercise. There’s nothing greater for your health than exercise and eating correctly, but if we can’t get people to do that, what’s the point?”

Using the Peloton bike, Reason aims to find ways for people with busy schedules to have a way to enjoy exercise and stick to it. Having the option of a home workout can make exercise more convenient and acces sible.

After getting his dissertation pub lished, which is required in order to graduate, Reason also hopes to con duct further research in similar areas to get to the root of exercise adher ence.

“I want to write a manual of best practices for exercise physiologists to use in the field,” Reason said. “If someone’s working with a client who is struggling with exercise adherence, what has my specific literature said? What has other literature said? I want to essentially write a field manual on exercise adherence and how to keep people exercising. That’s the longterm goal. It’s going to be year and years of research, but eventually I want to write a textbook or manual, and this is just one small step in that direction.”

Reason aims to defend his disser tation by early- to mid-April. As the first person to present a dissertation at UNA, Reason is expectedly ner vous but excited.

“I am honored to be the first,” Rea son said. “The amount of support that I’ve had has been outstanding. I’m excited, but I’m also a little ner vous because being the first comes with a lot of firsts. A lot of the pro cedures are being developed as we’re going through this, so being able to handle some of those curve balls that are thrown at you last minute has been a bit of a challenge.”

With these new processes comes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in research and become inspired to con tinue their education.

ademic year.

Because the study is ongoing, many of the specific details are unable to be released. However, the basic pro cedures are as follows:

“The individuals get measured for height, weight and body fat percent age, just to get basic demographic in formation,” Reason said. “Then they do a graded exercise test, which gives us a VO2, or their maximum ability to utilize and consume oxygen. I use all of that data later. Then they come in for three exercise trials, one of which is cycling to a predetermined

viously we want to promote physical activity, but the main problem is we get a bunch of people who don’t ex ercise,” Reason said. “People find it hard to exercise or continue exercis ing, which is what we call exercise adherence. We need them to exercise and then continue in order to see the great benefits that exercise has, but what we see is that people start and then drop out. We see this constantly, time after time, with New Year’s reso lutions. ‘New year, new me. I’m going to start exercising.’ Then by January 15, its new year, old me. How do I get

“It’s a great way to recruit some of our best students,” Killen said. “As an undergrad, you don’t know what you don’t know. Some of them have not been exposed to research, so getting them plugged in where they may have a passion is something that we will continue to work toward. It’s kind of a win-win situation. They get the op portunity to not only be involved, but that’s also a good thing to put on a resume. It’s also a way to potentially be a co-author on a manuscript. And Kyle’s winning too, because he has help with data collection. It’s some thing we encourage all of our stu dents to get involved in.”

With this inspiration, Dr. Green hopes to fuel the next generation of PhD students in the Kinesiology de partment. He maintains that history is being made, and UNA will be bet ter for it.

amount of support that I’ve had has been outstanding. I’m excited, but I’m also a little nervous

Reason

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

PINE STREET

from Page #1

provides an opportunity to further evaluate the safety measures in place and ensure that appropriate action is taken, if needed.”

A year prior, on Sept. 28, 2021, at 1:03 p.m., a similar incident occurred. A student used the crosswalk to traverse the intersection of North Pine Street and West Irvine Street. A driver accidentally collided with the student, according to the narrative e Flor-Ala obtained from the Florence Police Department.

Florence Police reported that the driver was traveling east on West Irvine Avenue and made a le turn onto North Pine Street. She also failed to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

e driver of the vehicle struck the pedestrian with her front bumper, then came to a stop approximately ve yards from the point of impact. e pedestrian was also airli ed to Huntsville Hospital for treatment.

ese accidents were not the rst time safety has been a concern on Pine Street. A 2020 study commissioned by UNA and the City of Florence highlighted pedes trian safety as one of Pine Street’s main challenges. e study gathered crash records from January 2015 to December 2019.

“Over the 5-year analysis period, a total of 294 crashes were recorded along Pine Street, an average of 59 crashes per year,” the study said.

As part of the study, Florence residents shared perceived strengths and challeng es along Pine Street. Pedestrian safety was identi ed as the top challenge.

e study notes that there are not enough mid-block crosswalks nor bike lanes. Cars disregard pedestrians’ right of way, and there is a severe lack of pedes

trian push buttons. In addition to this, the study reported that the sidewalks are too close to the road, and drivers experi ence blind spots due to the hilly terrain, making it hard to see when pedestrians are crossing the street.

Due to these driving and safety haz ards, students are concerned about the well-being of both drivers and pedestri ans along Pine Street.

Student Kimberly Estes said she has noticed that a lot of the crosswalk signals on Pine Street are not accurate.

“Right here [by Norton Auditorium] earlier today, I almost got hit. I went in time with the tra c lights, so it wasn’t

me [crossing out of time],” Estes said. “It needs to be xed. Students should pay more attention. I get that we’re college students, and sometimes we don’t care or don’t watch, but everyone needs to [pay more attention] for safety reasons.”

Student Meagan Nesbitt proposed adding more crosswalks and stop signs to help students get where they are going safely on the busy street.

Student Baxter Halder pointed out that the lack of crosswalks as well as students’ busy schedules lead to students crossing the street unsafely.

“I wish on Pine Street–right across from the Art Building–there was a cross

walk,” Halder said. “I know crosswalks are only supposed to be by stoplights, but maybe they should be put in places where it makes it easier for students. It’s kind of pointless, if there’s a parking lot over there, but your class is over here [at the Art Building], that you should have to go all the way around campus to get to class. I know a lot of students cross right through Pine Street, not using the cross walks. I think they should [implement more safety measures]. ey should keep an eye on the students. If you pay attention to a lot of vehicles, they’re not really doing the speed limit they should be doing.”

Bre Goodwin | Graphic Designer

According to the police report obtained by The Flor-Ala, the pedestrian crossed Pine Street between Lion Drive and Circular Road.

This

up for

Cinematic Arts & Theater builds program through new performances

by MARY STELLA MANGINA Arts & Entertainment Editor

e University of North Alabama’s Cin ematic Arts and eater Program has been busy since its establishment last year. Since early 2021, its chair, Associate Professor Mike Johnson, has worked towards inte grating lm and theater students in a way that fully equips them for the jobs they are set to work in the future.

In addition to Johnson, the CAT pro gram at UNA is led by Visiting Assistant Professor Abigail Dillard, as well as assis tant professors Bryan McHenry and Ariel Lauryn.

e dramatic arts constitute a work eld that changes constantly. By continually employing new techniques and consistent ly doing everything in his power to let stu dents hone their leadership skills, Johnson and his fellow professors stay ahead of the rapidly evolving industry.

Undergraduates studying under UNA’s CAT program have the option of graduat ing with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. A BFA of this nature can center around Acting, Production Design and Tech or Film Pro duction.

A BFA in the dramatic or cinematic arts is obtained from UNA not just through coursework, but through experiential

we had laid out.”

With a newfound knowledge of local legend under their belt, Dillard and the actors involved in e Folklore Project are currently delving into unprecedented script work. eir collective approach to writing is an altogether enthusiastic one. Once they have organized their commu nity-based research into a series of scenes, their rehearsals will take on a more tra ditional structure. In seeing to it that the abstraction of her piece is made a reality through largely student-led e orts, Dillard fosters creativity in her pupils to the ut most of her abilities.

“Approaching the oncoming year with a devised theater project, my colleagues and I get to come at it with an angle that empowers students to take their own strengths and backgrounds into account as it unwinds,” Dillard said in regard to e Folklore Project. “We are not using a script that was prepared by somebody else, so we do not have to withstand the pressure of living up to anyone’s expectations, at least not right o the bat. I like that we get to set our own expectations as we go; using this strategy, we share a common goal of bettering ourselves.

CAT professors aim to cultivate a learn ing environment wherein students, free of intimidation, can explore their dramatic

The premise [for The Folklore Project] was that we were going to work together to create an original folk

project with a week of research and exploration, then we did a week of character work, and we really dived into the material we had laid out.”

Dillard

learning, too. Activities taken up by UNA CAT see participants operate at the helm of their development. Now, several such projects are in the works.

On the cinematic arts front, Johnson and his advisees are in the process of put ting out a short lm, likely to be featured at the 26th annual George Lindsey Film Festival in 2023.

Furthermore, as far as onstage endeav ors go, students have productions planned this fall, one of which is a devised exhibi tion titled e Folklore Project, to be per formed Oct. 6-8.

e Folklore Project, overseen by the ater professor Dillard, is unique in that it was conceived through a collaboration be tween Dillard and its performers. e un conventional play tells a number of stories, all of which are familiar and relevant to na tives of the Shoals area. It will be available for viewing in the George S. Lindsey black box theater. e goal of Dillard’s undertak ing was to conceive with her mentees an authentic fable, based on genuine folklore gathered from their surroundings.

“ e premise [for e Folklore Project] was that we were going to work together to create an original folk tale for the world we live in today,” said Dillard. “We kicked o the project with a week of research and ex ploration, then we did a week of character work, and we really dived into the material

or lm making prospects. In order to do so, they make it so that dramatic auditions at UNA are open to all of its attendees. To further alleviate any stress students may su er leading up to tryouts, administra tors created a more approachable casting procedure. “Our department implement ed an in-person audition workshop. We set up games open to everyone, designed to push potential cast members to explore their ranges. A erwards, we go from there, determining what we can do for interested actors that best suits their inspirations.”

is autumn, beyond e Folklore Proj ect, UNA’s theater department will put on a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Directed by adjunct professor Amanda Perry, public perfor mances of the play are going to be held in the black box theater, with the exception of one show in Norton Auditorium, to which Perry plans to invite Shoals area school children to view for the holidays. UNA’s version of “A Christmas Carol” is set apart from other tellings of the familiar story by its incorporation of puppetry. Assistant professor Ariel Lauryn, with a notable background in the art of puppetry, is cra ing several puppets, which will serve as the classic ghosts that visit Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ classic tale. e family-friend ly show is set to premiere Nov. 17 and run through anksgiving break.

Andrea Arroyo | Graphic Designer

Jess and the Drunkles: band turned best iends

by WHITNEY VEAZEY Sta Photographer

Jess Downey, frontwoman of local band Jess and the Drunkles, never thought she’d nd herself majoring in the Entertainment Industry.

She’s always been drawn to music, whether it be singing in the church choir or playing the piano. Downey said she begged her mother in the third grade for piano lessons, and she responded by gi ing her daughter a keyboard.

Downey has been on a multitude of ac ademic paths, studying Public Relations, Social Work, and Communications before nally making the switch over to the En tertainment Industry program. In all her previous pursuits, she found herself still trying to relate them back to music.

Being from a small town, Downey said that the idea of pursuing music seemed far-fetched and unrealistic.

“It made me seem silly and I didn’t wan na say it out loud,” said Downey.

Pursuing these other paths were ways for her to reach for what she wanted with out making the public commitment to de clare it.

But when COVID struck during Downey’s freshman year, like everyone else she had to go home. During that time, she stayed in contact with her best friend – now manager of Jess and the Drunkles, Marina McMullen – and spoke with her about changing her major once again. is time, it would be to what she truly wanted.

McMullen herself was originally a busi ness major with hopes of opening a bed and breakfast, but decided to switch her major as well and become Downey’s man ager.

Downey called the decision to switch “the most fun and terrifying thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.” She’s extreme ly thankful to the people in her life that encouraged her to be where she is today, because she otherwise wouldn’t have made the decision on her own, she added.

Wes Stricklin, guitarist and original “drunkle,” met Downey in a shared class. Together, Downey along with McMullen and Stricklin, began working in the stu dio and putting music together. Stricklin introduced Downey to the people who would soon become the rest of the band when Downey was booked to perform at an event in April of this year. Downey de cided that the amount of money they were being paid warranted there to be more than just herself and a guitar on stage.

Stricklin brought in lead guitarist Jonathan Moody for the gig, and they brie y called themselves “Jess and the Man Band” be fore switching to “Jess and the Drunkles.”

Downey said the name came from drummer Dax Morris, and they all agreed on it as a temporary title for the sake of performing that one gig.

“We thought it would only be one show, and now we’re at show, like, eight thou sand,” said Downey.

Downey said that the group is in the process of nding a new band name for the purposes of music release and marketing.

“It’s [the current name] really fun, but we need something a little more sophisti cated if we’re gonna be competitive in the market,” she added.

Downey also credited the band’s exis tence to Wes Stricklin.

“I think Wes really, like, brought the whole band together -like Wes is the rea son why we play together. Like he knew everyone outside of us and asked me if it was okay if we all play, so, I really owe the band’s whole generation to Wes,” said Downey.

Downey described drummer Dax Mor ris as the group’s “silly boy,” calling him “so fun, and so scary”.

Downey said she can always rely on bass guitarist Will O’Rear for comfort during rough patches, and that he reassures her and expresses gratitude for the opportuni ty they get to perform together.

“He’s like a big teddy bear, really,” said

e band’s performance style is de scribed with the color red. Downey calls their stage presence “intense, but like a good intense”. Downey said she takes in spiration for her performance style from Harry Styles; she admires his ability to ll up a stage and put on a good show, and she strives to make shows an experience of “pure, utter, controlled chaos” for the audience.

Downey is very rm in the fact that Jess and the Drunkles would not exist without the talent of its members. While Downey herself plays a role in songwriting, she credits Stricklin, Moody, and Morris with the ability to incarnate and bring the mu sic in her head to life.

“I was like this is what I’m hearing, can you make it happen?’ And they made it happen,” said Downey. “ ey are the most talented people. Like I know I said I wrote all the songs but they made them what they are.”

Downey called these songs “pop lyrics with a rock sound.” When she rst start ed writing, like many artists, her earliest goal was to appeal to the largest number of people possible. She wanted her songs to be marketable, and tried molding them to t the TikTok virality formula.

But in her years of growth as an artist, Downey has come to realize that what she values most about her music now is its au thenticity and transparency.

Downey said that the group is currently working in the studio and striving to re lease music sometime in January.

e relationship of the band is quite im portant to Downey, as she described each member with the utmost fondness and en dearment.

“Marina’s my best friend, Marina’s the reason why we do this, everybody knows how much we love each other,” said Downey.

Downey credited McMullen for the amount of work she does to not only book gigs but to create entirely new perfor mance opportunities for the band. In fact, on Oct. 21, Jess and the Drunkles will be performing on Mobile Street as part of a music fest created by McMullen.

Downey.

Jonathan Moody is labeled as Downey’s “hero,” and Downey said she hopes that if nothing else, she wants to keep perform ing with him for as long as possible.

With no music yet released, the band performs live together, drawing people in with more familiar covers of classic rock songs and using that energy to build ex citement for their original songs.

Downey compares the band’s sound to the color purple. Downey believes that while some of their slower songs can be sad, they’re not a “blue sad.”

“Purple can be a fun color, like we all have so much fun. at’s the best part about me and my boys, we are best friends, like all of us…” said Downey.

“Everything I write is about an expe rience I’ve had, or something that I’m feeling, or something that someone has been through that I know personally.. I just want everyone to be able to relate to at least one thing in every song that we write,” said Downey. “Songwriting is so emotional. Literally you can hear the pop songs on the radio and you’re like ‘Ah, this was written by a team of writers, this is stupid,’ but someone in that writer’s circle had an emotional tie to something in that song.”

Downey’s lyrics are relatable to college students and those in their 20s still trying to gure out life. “Terrible Twenties” was written by Downey, Stricklin and McMul len, and is dubbed as Downey’s favorite song that she’s ever written.

“It’s just about being broke and in your twenties: overworked, underpaid, afraid of everything, you don’t know what’s going on. Like every person in this entire world can relate to that song… so I like that one a lot, that one’s my favorite,” said Downey. e band’s next performance will be on Mobile Street on Oct. 21, and they expect to release music in January.

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Jess Downey, frontwoman of Jess and the Drunkles, poses for a portrait.

nipulating music theory to create catchy, original tunes.

“I never felt anything but supported by my community, so I was lucky in that sense,” said Isbell. “Of course, I started playing music when I was very little, and I loved it. People called it a talent. ere was something to what they said, but re ally, what kept me playing was the fact that I did not ever want to do anything else, simply because I enjoyed practicing above all. Eventually, I started writing my own songs. Honestly, it came easily to me. I think I owe that ease to [the Shoals]. e people I grew up around were encourag ing. I never felt overlooked as an artist.”

Paired with his unmatched talent for storytelling, Isbell’s instrumental knowhow has earned him four Grammys, nine Americana Music Honors and a recogni tion by the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Isbell began traversing the American South when he was a teenager. At the age of 16, for example, he performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. De spite the expansive appeal of his music, his homebase has always been the Shoals. Many of his formative shows were played locally, with other in uential Southern rock singers such as his friend and fellow Grammy winner John Paul White. Five years following his debut at the Opry, he began a professional relationship with FAME publishing company.

“When I began making music profes sionally some of the rst people I met were

legends,” said Isbell. “ ose incredible mu sicians had recorded beautiful records, yet they were humble about it. It did not seem like they felt as if they had to compete with the younger generation. ey were excited to help us out.”

Isbell places ample faith in aspiring mu sicians. He is all about intergenerational exchange and has a personal philosophy that, through and through, reveals itself to be youth-centric. About the evolution of a young artist’s career, Isbell said, “It is part of a cycle of gi -giving. If you are an artist, you start out with the gi of music or some other kind of creative pursuit. e people around you then give you the gi s of their time and attention and allow you to share your gi with the world. You start to real ize that you are a part of something bigger than yourself, and soon, you see that it is your turn to give your time and attention so that another determined artist can ex perience the same opportunities you had. In the end, the thing that serves you most is the act of passing your wisdom down to younger voices; in them, you start to see your values re ected.”

Some of the most memorable perfor mances of Isbell’s adolescence took place at McFarland Park’s Spirit of Freedom Fe sivals, which have recurred over a span of 39 years to celebrate Independence Day on the Tennessee River.

ree years ago, Isbell, accompanied by his band, the 400 Unit, returned to Mc Farland Park in groundbreaking fashion, commencing ShoalsFest.

Assisted by his manager, Traci omas, plus various musicians and municipal g

ures, the artist inaugurated a music festival that reveres the true Muscle Shoals sound and imbues the locality with creative en ergy. e third ShoalsFest visited North Alabama on Oct. 1-2.

Serving as a sort of love letter to the places that sparked his interest in mean ingful balladry, Isbell’s ShoalsFest has yet to see a commercially unsuccessful round. Given its inclusive lineup of international ly-acclaimed and regional musicians, this year’s festival promises something for ev eryone.

In addition to Isbell and the 400 Unit, a musical appearance is slated to be made by Amanda Shires, a trailblazing singer-song writer and ddle player who happens to be Isbell’s wife of nine years. Among other achievements, Shires is known for hav ing founded big-name country band e Highwomen, in which she plays alongside Brandi Carlisle, Maren Morris and Na talie Hemby. In 2020, her group was said to have released the album of the year at the Americana Music Honors and Awards Ceremony. Her newest album, “Take it Like a Man,” has amassed critical acclaim.

Isbell and Shires have found good com pany in a litany of local musicians from the Tennessee River region. ShoalsFest’s 2022 stage hosted the Wanda Band, a group whose frontwoman, University of North Alabama student Wanda Wesolowski, is frequently seen working from downtown Florence co ee shops and performing at adjacent venues.

Noteworthy acts besides the Wanda Band included, but were not limited to, Billy Allen and e Pollies, who will play

a set together. e former is a soulful sing er from Town Creek, Ala., who has just recently emerged onto the freshly enliv ened blues scene, and the latter, another enviable product of the Shoals, have been rede ning the constitutions of Southern music since 2012, when their rst album dropped.

“I’m happy to see that now, there are people in town coming up with ideas as to how to support local bands,” Isbell said. “Today, there are motions in place and places to perform that were not around when I was starting out. en, I had a lot of time to practice, but whenever it would come time to nd a gig, I would usually have to look to out-of-town venues. I do not think that musicians have to grapple with that problem so o en anymore.”

e idea behind ShoalsFest was to hold a celebration in Florence that had the po tential to simultaneously appreciate the Shoals’ maiden music and inspire its future music makers.

“[My team and I] reached out to people we know and respect as makers, interna tional and local touring acts alike. We did our best to work out a deal that would be desirable for them and the people of the Shoals,” said Isbell. “We wanted to make sure that ShoalsFest would unfold in the most bene cial way possible. I hear about musicians producing festivals overseas, like in Mexico or the Caribbean. ose shows are great for people who have the means to y to them, but they do not actu ally do anything substantial for citizens in those countries. What I would like to do in Florence is seriously invest in its people.”

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Left: Tin Nielsen from Drivin N Cryin plays bass guitar at Shoalsfest on Oct. 1 at McFarland Park. Right: Sadler Vaden of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit plays guitar at Shoalsfest.

Top: The Shoalsfest sign welcomes festival-goers into McFarland Park. Left above: Contemporary blues artist Christone “King sh” Ingram ri s on the electric guitar. Left below: Up coming country singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer and her band bring a country-pop sound to the festival. Right: Jason Isbell, founder of Shoalsfest, opens his set with “24 Frames.” Bottom left: A boat anchors on the Tennessee River to experience the live talent from the water. Bottom right: Festival-goers gather under the VIP tents.

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

Whitney Veazey | Sta Photographer

ESSAY

Campus Repetitiveness

by Casey Kula Chief Photographer

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AUDREY JOHNSON

NEWS EDITOR EMMA TANNER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR MARY STELLA MANGINA

SPORTS EDITOR NOAH CATCHINGS

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER CASEY KULA

ONLINE EDITOR VICTORIA HAMILTON

STAFF WRITERS

TRENEDY PARKS KELLEY PETER

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

ANDRÉA ARROYO BRE GOODWIN COLBY GREEN GAVIN VAN DEVENDER

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

TREASURE FRANKLIN WHITNEY VEAZEY

CIRCULATION MANAGER MATT JONES

BUSINESS MANAGER HEATHER DAY

INTERIM ADVISER CATHY WOOD

Editorial Policy

Content is determined by the student editorial sta of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.

Corrections

The sta strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error call 256-7654364 or email ajohnson34@una.edu.

Letters Policy

Letters to the editor should be emailed to ajohnson34@una.edu or mailed to:

The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632

Letters must include name and telephone number for veri cation. Please limit letters to 500 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

Why I Love Student Media

“But absolutely none of it extends into your hands.”

Needless to say, I didn’t sign up for newspaper because I thought it would change my life. I thought it would be an easy A. But two years of serving as Ed itor-in-Chief of the Greyhound Tracks, covering everything from the 2018 school walkouts in response to the Parkland High School shooting to the new roundabout everyone hated at our campus’ entrance, springboarded me to e Flor-Ala.

But not at rst.

by AUDREY JOHNSON Editor-in-Chief

“Audrey, what made you want to be a journalist?”

Nothing. I ran from this job kicking and screaming. I never wanted to be a journalist.

As a child, I wanted to wear a lab coat and do anything with the -ologies: I wanted to be a meteorologist, paleon tologist or zoologist. Quickly, I realized I was more of a language arts brain than a math whiz, and I traded my imaginary lab coat for a real pair of black and pink glasses.

When I applied for the newspaper at Pope High School, I did it to try and get out of Drawing III.

“Audrey, you have so much artistic talent,” my high school art teacher said.

“Audrey, you have to go talk to the newspaper people,” my mom said through the phone my freshman year. “You’re not going to adjust to college if you don’t try something.”

Begrudgingly, I walked to the Pubs Building. I took whatever news stories then News Editor Chandler Mordecai pitched me. I walked miles in the heat to interview strangers so I didn’t lose my pre cious on campus parking spot. I smiled when my name was printed in the paper on ursdays. But it was a lot of work so I wanted to do something easier.

I decided to apply to manage e FlorAla’s social media pages: it came with a scholarship, and I wouldn’t have to do “real work” a.k.a interviewing sources, do ing research, writing articles and editing my sentences meticulously.

“Audrey, you have to start taking sto ries,” said the new Student Media Advis er Dr. Justin Bergh. “I read your opinion in the last issue. Why aren’t you writing

more?”

en I enjoyed a semester as News Ed itor. A semester as Managing Editor. Two years as the Editor-in-Chief of “Flow,” which we created (from scratch!) in 2021 and placed top ten in the nation on its rst issue.

I acted like I hated it, but I loved it. All of it. Even the moments I actually hated, I secretly loved. Every set back was a set up. Every closed door had a more exciting window. Every story was an opportunity to learn, practice and grow.

I wrote stories about COVID-19, and homelessness in Florence, and the foun tain’s collapse. I spent hours in the Pubs Building on the weekends. And over and over I became totally obsessed with the rush of a good story and the right turn of phrase and laying out pages until they were aligned to perfection. It never got old.

“Dr. Bergh, I’m changing my major,” I said pacing in the cold grass days a er Christmas. “I’m gonna change to journal ism. I don’t know why I haven’t been doing it this whole time.”

But I did know why. I had run from it on purpose. I knew I would make waves, ene mies and change. I knew I would be hated, criticized and misunderstood. (I did not know I would be called a two faced-narcis sistic-sociopath or a tyrant, but hey, points for creativity!)

I was not afraid to attach my name to stories, causes and principles that I believe in. I knew I was not afraid to speak truth to power.

An ode to small towns

than a pit stop on the way to Florence, and I say this with love.

by EMMA TANNER News Editor

When I tell people I grew up nestled right next to the Shoals, I am told I was lucky. I got to experience the music festi vals and creativity rsthand! I didn’t have to move for college and live in cramped university housing. I had people I knew at UNA because I’d known them since we were in diapers.

But the truth is I didn’t love it. I hated it.

To introduce you to my hometown, I grew up in Killen, Ala. Killen is the kind of town you drive through without stop ping because there is not anything worth while to see. We have had the occasional tourist stop to take a picture of our appar ently hilarious local pharmacy (for those curious, it’s called Killen Drugs… it’s phonetic humor). Killen is nothing more

My main grievance came from the fact that I didn’t have an interesting back ground like the people I read about in books or watched on social media. My world was a handful of interconnecting streets and a run down supermarket. Fairly uninteresting. Our claim to fame is Arx Mortis, which was deemed one of USA Today’s “10 Best: Spookiest Haunted Houses in the USA.” It is a good haunted house, I will give them that much, but aside from the 50,000 square feet of en tertainment it o ers there isn’t much else to do in the little town. An honorable mention is the Miami Ice that was added last year. I’m very thankful I don’t have to drive 30 minutes to get my beloved Sno Cream.

Killen isn’t one of those towns where you have to hunt down the hidden gems. ere aren’t any.

Allow me to clarify, I don’t loathe my hometown. I still live there! If I did truly hate it, I would have taken my housing scholarship and moved into a residence hall. However, my disdain for my small town festered into a disdain for anything having to do with north Alabama. I hated Florence. I hated Muscle Shoals. I even hated UNA. I was a teenager with very negative opinions on everything. Yes, I was a real joy to be around. My family would de nitely agree.

I decided that, since I didn’t t in with the people of my hometown, I was going

to move away. e University of Alabama had o ered me a good scholarship. Tus caloosa had to be better than Florence by a long shot. However, when decision day came, I chose UNA.

I couldn’t really put a nger on why I had chosen to stay in my hometown. May be because I was o ered a better scholar ship. Or perhaps it was the undeniable separation anxiety I had when away from my family. At the end of the day, the truth was that I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I had my grievances with my area, sure, but I couldn’t think of a version of myself away from it.

College introduced me to an entirely new side of the Shoals. I found cafes I’d never even heard of before (if you’re ever looking for a great hot chocolate, by the way, Rivertown is the place to go). I fell in love with local music. I met new people and attended countless events. e Shoals has a crazy amount of things to o er and I didn’t even know about any of it! It gave me a severe case of FOMO.

I know I talk about growing a lot, but when you’re on the cusp of your twenties, you re ect a lot. Quite a bit of my changed attitude can be attributed to maturing and growing as a person. Do I still nd myself slipping up and saying I’m from Florence? Yes, but I’m changing every day.

I’ve fallen in love with the broader Shoals, but maybe it’s time to central ize focus back to my hometown. I could share some of the abundant love I’ve giv en Florence with poor little Killen.

October

Residents of Florence walk around Court Street at UNA First Fridays.

Thursday, Oct. 6

The Folklore Project 7:30 p.m. George S. Lindsay Theatre

SGA Senate Meeting 3:30 p.m.

SGA Chambers, GUC

Tuesday, Oct. 11

National Coming Out Day 11:30 a.m. Mitchell-West Center

Bingo Bango 7 p.m. GUC Atrium

Thursday, Oct. 20

3rd Annual Shoals Designer Showcase 6:30 p.m.

Connie D. McKinney Center

Friday. Oct. 7

First Fridays 5:30 p.m. Court Street

The Folklore Project 7:30 p.m.

George S. Lindsay Theatre

Thursday. Oct. 13

Battle of the Bands 7 p.m. Mane Room

Camping for Dummies 7 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Center

Tuesday. Oct. 25

Domestic Violence Awareness Month 11:30 a.m. Mitchell-West Center

Presidents Round Table 7 p.m.

GUC Performance Center

Saturday, Oct. 8

The Folklore Project 7:30 p.m. George S. Lindsay Theatre

Kicko : UNA at Kennesaw State 5 p.m.

Fifth Third Bank Stadium

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Mr. University 7 p.m.

GUC Performance Center

Camping on Campus 7 p.m.

SRC Gym

Thursday, Oct. 27

Pumpkin Bash 4 p.m.

Entrance of Keller Hall

Camp Cooking 7 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Center

Monday, Oct. 10

Huddle: Athletics Small Group 7 p.m. Flowers Hall

Cookies & Convo 3:30 p.m. Noala Heights

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Women in Business Alumni Panel 5 p.m. Raburn 110

Sunday, Oct. 30

Phi Mu Miles for Miracles 8 a.m. McFarland Park

Casey Kula | Chief Photographer

Volleyball redefines team through conference play

by NOAH CATCHINGS Sports Editor

e UNA volleyball team has under gone signi cant changes for their 2022 season including coaches, sta and play ers. So far, the team holds a record of 11-5 at the time of publication, and the Lions are proving that they are able to play at the Division I level.

“In the pre-conference, we were able to set a new Division I program record for wins in a season with 10 [wins],” said vol leyball head coach Tristian Johnson.

e Lions have a solid record, good en ergy in games and valuable fans cheering them on into the conference schedule.

eir record for this season is encouraging for fans, coaches and players alike.

e start of the conference has been

College

Predictions

rough for the Lions with a loss to Ken nesaw State and a loss to Jacksonville State, but their conference play is not over yet.

e players are still improving and adjust ing to new sta and other players. e rst few games allowed the Lions to familiarize themselves with new opponents and adapt to compete in the ASUN conference.

“In our rst match against Kennesaw, I felt we executed and played well,” said Johnson. “[ e Owls] are a quality team and winning on the road in the conference is tough.”

As for the Jacksonville State match, Johnson shared that the team did not ex ecute their game plan, and he believed the loss from Kennesaw State played a part in this. But, Johnson thinks the Lions still fought hard, and he’s proud of them.

Jacksonville State University is well known in the ASUN conference for vol

leyball. e Gamecocks recently lost 2-3 to Auburn University.

ere are a few key players on the court helping lead the Lions to a winning season.

“Ella [Ratzlo ] is our libero, and she won the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week award a few weeks ago,” Johnson said. “ at’s the rst weekly award other than freshman of the week in program his tory.”

Ratzlo , a senior from Woodbury, Minn., previously played volleyball at Rhode Island.

“To begin conference play, Hayley Mar tin has also done a great job of stepping in and coming through with some nice per formances,” Johnson said. “Her abilities and the depth [as an outside hitter] have been huge for us.”

Martian is a freshman from Elgin, Ill.

Noah Catchings Sports Editor Audrey Johnson Editor-in-Chief

Emma Tanner News Editor

Gavin Van Devender Graphic Designer

Trenedy Parks Staff Writer

Above: The Lions host the Bellarmine Knights on Fri., Sept. 30 in Flowers Hall. The Lions lost to Bellarmine 2-3. Below: Senior outside hitter Taylor Floyd returns the ball.

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

Lions Lose Homecoming Game Against Tarleton St. Team prepares for first game in ASUN conference

by NOAH CATCHINGS Sports Editor

On Saturday, September 24, the Uni versity of North Alabama hosted the 2022 homecoming. Various events were going on leading up to the football game. Within the rst few minutes of the game, TSU had already scored a 47-yard eld goal making the score 3-0 at the beginning of the game putting the Lions at a rough start.

With the Lions being down, ShunDer rick Powell changed the score quickly with a 75-yard kicko return for a touchdown with Sam Contorno following up the touchdown with an extra point making the score 3-7. e Lions are now ahead and ghting hard.

As the quarter goes on, TSU scores an other eld goal to make the score 6-7, then ShunDerrick Powell responds with anoth er touchdown followed by Sam Contorno’s extra point to make the score 6-14 at the end of the rst quarter.

Starting the second quarter, great de fense was going on between both teams until about halfway through the quarter when TSU scored a touchdown followed by an extra point. A few minutes later, TSU throws another touchdown pass to make the score 20-14. Once again, ShunDerrick Powell redeems the Lions with a 55-yard run followed by Sam Contorno with the extra point making the nal hal ime score 20-21.

e second half is when things begin to fall for the Lions. During the third quar ter, TSU threw an 86-yard touchdown pass as well as a 5-yard touchdown pass with both kicks being good, le the score 34-21.

A few minutes into the 4th quarter, TSU scores another touchdown putting the Li ons down by 20 with 10 minutes le in the 4th quarter, leaving UNA fans and players discouraged.

is did not let the Lions give up. A few

minutes later, wide receiver Demarcus

Lacey catches a 78-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Walters with kick er Sam Contorno following up the touch down with an extra point making the score 41-28 with 9 minutes le . A little down the line, TSU scored a 0-yard safety, which led to the nal score of 43-28 with the Lions losing their homecoming game. is loss leaves the Lions with a record of 1-3 for the season. ings are not look ing good for the Lions with them nally being o cially established into Division I. If UNA wants to have the upper hand on possibly winning a conference cham pionship, they will need to win against Kennesaw State. Winning against a good

team like this will drive fans and players to stay with the Lions on their journey to this championship.

is upcoming Kennesaw State game will be the Lion’s rst conference game of the season. In previous years, the Lions played in the FCS conference.

is year, the Division I upgrade moved the Lions into the ASUN conference. Meaning we play di erent teams with higher stakes for our conference games such as Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. North Alabama and Kennesaw State are both entering this game with the same record of 1-3 and both will be ghting for a head start toward the conference cham pionship.

Upcoming UNA Sports Schedule

Football

Oct. 8 at Kennesaw Sate 5 p.m. Kennesaw, Ga.

Oct. 15 vs Jacksonville State 6 p.m. Madison, Ala.

Volleyball

Oct. 7 at Jacksonville 6 p.m. Jacksonville, Fla.

Oct. 9 at North Florida 10 a.m. Jacksonville, Fla.

Soccer

Oct. 6 vs Kennesaw State 7 p.m. Florence, Ala.

Oct. 9 vs Jacksonville State 1 p.m. Florence, Ala. Oct. 16 at Central Arkansas 3 p.m. Conway, Ark.

Men’s Golf

TVA Community Credit Union Invitational Oct. 17 Killen, Ala.

Women’s Golf

Lady Red Wolves Classic Oct. 10-11 Jonesboro, Ark.

Terrier Intercollegiate Oct. 24 Spartansburg, S.C.

Cross Country

Blazer Classic Oct. 14 Birmingham, Ala.

Atlantic Sun Conference Oct. 29 Huntsville, Ala.

Running back Parker Driggers carries the ball down the eld away from Tarleton State.

Leon Ono | Volunteer Photographer

Leon Ono | Volunteer Photographer

A Tarleton State defensive player ankle tackles Lion running back

ShunDerrick Powell.

Designer

Gavin Van Devender | Graphic Designer