Special Holiday Edition!
MONTEVALLO, ALABAMA
VOL. 87, ISSUE 8
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
Breaking for breakfast UPC presents Midnight Breakfast in the caf BY SAMUEL PHILLIPS
Don’t expect these lights to be on after midnight.
A McShake-up in dining hours BY ANDREW MECHUM
Students take a break from studying for finals by breaking it down on the “dancefloor.” On a Sunday night right before finals week, students began lining up for an event that has become a UM institution. The Midnight Breakfast, hosted by the University Programs Council (UPC) in Anna Irvin dining hall and the cafeteria, happens every semester during finals time and is designed to give students a break from the stress of studying. The event, which lasted from 10 p.m. until midnight, featured a photo booth, an oxygen bar and a green screen photo area, all set up in the dining hall side of the building. The main event, however, was in the cafeteria, where faculty and staff served students a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns and pancakes. Students enjoyed this feast in a packed cafeteria, part of which was quickly repurposed into an impromptu dance floor. Montevallo’s resident DJ and alumnus Zachary Banks kept the room lively with a mix of partyready songs. After a slow start, students seemed to warm up with a few line dances. Greek organizations Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta stole the show for one song with their “stroll,” dancing in a circle around the cafeteria. The evening also featured the raffle drawing for Student of the Semester, which affords the winner a prime parking space. After Banks drew two students who did not come forward, Robert Noble was declared the winner. The night continued with hundreds of students coming and
going, many of whom lived off campus and said they had not been on campus at night in ages. Commuter and junior Karson Goodman noted that, “This was my first visit to the caf since last semester,” when he moved off campus. Goodman expressed satisfaction with the meal, although he seemed disappointed that there were no biscuits served, a sentiment shared by sophomore Charles Martin. Goodman’s only reservation was that, “the music is so loud, you can hardly talk to people.” This concern was shared by sophomore Alyse Hartdegen, who said, “I can’t stand that the midnight breakfast is turned into a club.” She expressed concern that the environment is too loud and aggressive. When asked what might make the event more enjoyable for her, Hartdegen said, “I would honestly enjoy a more chill environment, where I can hold a conversation with the person across from me without yelling.” For the most part, though, students seemed happy with Banks’ performance as DJ. His musical choices are reminiscent of a more party-oriented atmosphere, such as the parties he DJs during College Night season, but the mass of students dancing at the front of the cafeteria suggested that at least some students are more than happy to have the space transformed into a nightclub for a few hours. The activities on the other side of the building received a more
Students are treated to eggs, hash browns and pancakes.
Inside
this week’s issue
mixed reaction. One student declared the event, “fun as always,” but expressed disappointment at the choice of activities available. “I loved the sign making stations and the relaxation station that was there last year,” she said. Goodman offered a different criticism, saying that he stayed on the breakfast side of the room because, “the lines are too long to do any of the other stuff.” Overall, the feeling students expressed was that while there was room for improvement, this semester’s Midnight Breakfast was a success. As in years past, the cafeteria was filled with buzzing students, many looking exhausted with finals, but all of them had found the time and motivation to get up and come to the event. The Midnight Breakfast is not quite like any other event on campus. It has elements of a party, a dinner banquet and even one of the unique UPC hosted events like the Silent Disco, but it is not exactly like any of those events. It attracts many students who never come to other UPC events. There may be no one reason for the Midnight Breakfast’s popularity, but it likely comes from a combination of free food, popular music, the drop-in atmosphere and a need to commiserate during finals time. Students can come together and enjoy themselves for two hours before they throw themselves into their exams, and most of them are glad for the opportunity.
Midnight breakfasts are the busiest nights in the cafeteria all year.
Vi ewp o i n t s ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O n C a m p u s ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Li fe s t y l e s.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 N ews ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 S p o r t s . . ............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Once a bastion of 24-hour fast food service, McDonald’s has cut back on their hours of operation and now closes at midnight. This move has students scrambling to find other options for late night/ early morning munchies during finals week. Fear not, Montevallo, McDonald’s didn’t do this to you on purpose. The new Area Supervisor for McDonald’s, Tammy Horne, said the change in operating hours was a function of payroll and the cost of staying open, not merely an attempt to rile students. “Finals week didn’t occur to [us] prior to the time change. If we had known that, we probably would not have made that move,” said Horne. Horne is new to the area and looks forward to working with the university in the future. She expressed great interest in developing a stronger relationship between the University of Montevallo and McDonald’s saying, “We would love to work with the uni-
versity for games and activities on campus.” In the future, Horne said it would be very likely that, during finals, the McDonald’s on Main Street would extend their hours to accommodate late night study sessions and the munchies that accompany them. With McDonald’s now closing at midnight the question is where can students go for late night snacks? Short of visiting a quick mart for some Slim Jims and a Monster, the answer is nowhere within walking distance. But the city of Montevallo is hoping to change that. The newly renovated promenade along Boundary Street is set to include at least one new restaurant, and city planners are confident more business will flock to Montevallo in the future as infrastructure and beautification projects around downtown take effect. The university’s acquisition of the old Alabama Power building seems to be a cornerstone of their initiative to enliven downtown. SEE MCDONALD’S, PAGE 5
The Macy’s Day Parade began in 1924. Avery Miller
No thanks given to shredded secrets
BY REED STRENGTH
During the annual Macy’s Day Parade held in New York City, shredded legal documents from the Nassau Police Department, a county of New York, rained down on spectators. According to New York news station WPIX 11, a student was one of the first to discover the strange confetti. Ethan Finklestein was with his friends on “65th and Central Park West” when a piece of confetti stuck to his female friend’s jacket. Upon further inspection, Finklestein and his friends read the letters SSN, followed by a
string of numbers that resembled a Social Security Number, which they found “bizarre.” Finklestein also found “phone numbers, addresses, more social security numbers, license plate numbers and instant reports from police.” One shred of a report that Finklestein found detailed the time that a pipe bomb was thrown. A scrap was also found that included the word’s “Romney motorcade,” possibly from the presidential candidate’s visit to Nassau County for the final Presidential debate. SEE SECRETS, PAGE 5
Next Issue:
The Alabamian guide to the Tavern
Please recycle this issue
VIEWPOINTS PAGE 2 | THE ALABAMIAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
Happy bowling
On the bricks
BY JORDON SEMIEN
With Sammy Schiffman
Name 1. How do you spell Hanukkah? 2. When do the 12 days of Christmas start? 3. What is Kwanzaa? 4. How many candles are on a menorah? 5. How do you feel about eggnog? 6. Fake tree or real tree? 7. What are the 9 reindeer names? Amanda Choat 1. Honakua 2. 12 days after Christmas 3. An African holiday, also the name of a lion at the Birmingham Zoo 4. 7 8. I hate eggnog 9. Real tree 10. Dancer, Prancer, Donner, Dixon, Comet, Cupid, Blitzen, Rudolph Ricky Umstead 1. Hannukah 2. 12 days before Christmas 3. An African holiday celebrating unity 4. 9 5. I like eggnog in small doses 6. Real 7. Dancer, Prancer, Donner, Dixon, Comet, Cupid, Blitzen, Rudolph Reese Hanlin 1. Chunnukah 2. December 13 3. Not a religious holiday but a means to continue African traditions in America 4. 7 5. I love eggnog 6. Fake tree, pine scented candels 7. Comet, Cupid, Donner, Dixon, Dasher, Prancer, Rudolph Nadim Shunnahrah 1. Hanukkah 2. December 13 3. An African Christmas or something 4. 9 5. It’s disgusting 6. Fake tree 7. Rudolph, Steven, Nadim, Blizzard, Donner, Carl, Richard, Omar, Prancer Joey Paulk 1. Hannuhkah 2. December 13, maybe 3. It’s celebrated around Christmas, that’s all I know 4. 7 5. It’s sweet, but I’m not really big into sweet things 6. Real tree 7. Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Rudolph, one starts with D.
It’s that time of season, as college football fans say, it’s time to go bowling! Yes, between December 15 and January 7, 35 bowl games will feature a total of 66 teams looking to finish the season strong. For 35 teams, it’ll be a very merry Christmas (or a happy holiday) indeed if granted their only wish: to be called bowl game champions. Now, of course, the main game on everyone’s viewing menu is no doubt the National Title game, pitting the perennial national power the Alabama Crimson Tide against one of college football’s hot topic teams, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. But here’s a thought-who’s playing in the other bowl games? Out of the other 34 bowl games, what’s worth watching? Well, rest easy--what follows are the top six bowl games worth watching this season. So let’s get started. #6: The Chick-fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. Clemson (Dec. 31) It’s an SEC team shaking down an ACC school like they were kids in the schoolyard. What’s not to like? For the past year, analysts across the nation have called Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd one of the best dual threat signal callers in the nation. Well,now’shistimetoproveit. The team as a whole laid an egg against both South Carolina and Florida St., but neither team had a defense like the Tigers of LSU. If LSU’s offense manages to meet the output of their defense, this one could get ugly folks! Prediction: LSU 49— Clemson 13
#5: The Capital One Bowl: Georgia vs. Nebraska (Jan. 1) Since both participants in this bowl lost their respective conference championship games, maybe we should rename it the Capital One “Consolation” Bowl. Barrington McQueen One of the best motiva1. Hannukah tors for a team is to have 2. December 13 3. An African American holiday that is similar to Hannukah a chip on your shoulder, and apparently in this 4. 9 one bowl game, there’s 5. I don’t like it enough anger to make an 6. Fake tree 7. Rudolph, Prancer, Donner, Blitzen, Dasher, Comet, Cupid election year look tame. The deciding factor will be who has the bigger beef with life: while both
lost to better opponents, Georgia’s defeat was by the slimmest of margins (3228), while Nebraska never had a chance, losing 70-28. Prediction: UGA 49— Nebraska 28 #4: The Belk Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Duke (Dec. 27) To paraphrase NFL coaching great Vince Lombardi: What’s going on here?! Duke University is in a bowl game, ladies and gentlemen! This is their first trip to a bowl since 1994, and they’re rewarded with a chance to knock out a school that’s been a force in the Big East for years. Whether this a trend for the Blue Devils or a blip on the radar is yet to be decided. Why not give it a watch and judge for yourself if Duke’s got staying power? Prediction: Cincinnati 28—Duke 33 #3: The Rose Bowl presented by Vizio: Wisconsin vs. Stanford (Jan. 1) At the risk of much ridicule at saying this, this bowl is basically a matchup of two SEC-caliber teams. Both squads have virtually no passing attack, relying on an imposing defense and dominating run game to tire opponents into submission. The main question in this game is: can Stanford succeed where others have failed all year long and finally stop Badger phenome Tailbacks Montee Ball and James White? Prediction: Wisconsin 17—Stanford 14 #2: The AT&T Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma ( Jan. 4) It’s our last chance for about seven months to see the now legendary “Johnny Football” in action. But bigger than that, it’s a chance to see if Texas A&M’s integration into the SEC is complete. The SEC conference has a proud history of beating down its “little brother,” the Big 12; so for the Aggies, it’s do or die in Dallas. You either run Oklahoma out of “Jerry World” or face social stigma in the SEC. However, for a team
tions: The Things You Are Guaranteed to See at Any Party this Holiday Season. REALLY INAPPROPRIATE GIFT GIVER: The guy who treats Dirty Santa as a chance to ruin the holiday spirit with his questionable at best gifts he brings. Walks into a party with a huge present and a huge grin. Usually smells of cheap cologne, day old Spam, and humbugs. ALWAYS encourages people to pick his gifts out, and they usually consist of things found in the hygiene or health section of a pharmacy. Avoid this person’s gifts. Actually, just avoid this person. THE PERSON WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING Knows everything about anything. The football game on the TV, the present being unwrapped, the sweater you’re
wearing. Guaranteed to talk your ears off, and then continue after they do fall off and run for cover. When you see this person coming, fake an allergic reaction to eggnog, look for an exit, bob the ice ring in the punch, anything to avoid this never ending conversation. THE PERSON WHO MAKES IT OBVIOUS THERE’S MISTLETOE ABOVE Always pointing up and giggling whenever you’re in a three mile vicinity of the plant. Always looking to make a couple out of the opportunity, even if it’s just you and a stuffed reindeer under it. The mistletoe is a fun and cute party of the holidays, but it can also end up in awkward situations and painful confidence crushing mishaps if it goes wrong. Unless you don’t get embarrassed eas-
#1: The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Kansas St. (Jan. 3) If you’re a fan of big plays, high powered offense and March Madness-like scoring outputs, then this is the game for you! Two teams that were robbed by the BCS Bowl Selection Committee of rightful berths in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Louisville vs. Florida), Oregon and Kansas St. will look to take their anger out on each other in a big way. The main story lines are: a.) which coach does the best job of managing the controlled chaos they call an offense, b.) will the game come down to a last second drive, and c.) does Collin Klein cement his name as likely the first quarterback taken in the draft, let alone a possible number one overall pick. Prediction: Oregon 48— Kansas St. 54 (2OT) And there you have it-the top six bowl games worth watching outside of the national title game. In truth, we might have missed some; there might be games out there that you deem better selections than these. But that’s the best part of Bowl season--it’s up for grabs. Every year there are massive blow outs, incredible upsets and enough heart-stopping nail-biters to fill three emergency wings. So, by all means, pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink and snack. Happy bowling!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
The Alabamian Will Lyman House Station 6222 Montevallo, AL 35115 alabamian@montevallo.edu 205-665-6222 Editor-in-Chief Heather Buckner Assistant Editor Kyle Jones Business Manager Daniel Farris Copy Editor Drew Granthum Layout Editor Hannah Stein
Brick street way of life I love this time of year. It’s a time of families and peace on earth and hope; things that should permeate our lives throughout the year, but don’t. Luckily we’ve managed to have this time as a holdout that serves as a reminder of what we could be, if we only think selflessly. But, it’s also a time of parties. Christmas parties are some of the most fun you can ever have. Wait, excuse me, HOLIDAY parties are some of the most fun you can ever have. Think about it: you buy tacky sweaters from a thrift store that someone’s grandmother wore in 1986, pick out an awful gift to play Dirty Santa with, and then eat wonderful food and drink eggnog. What’s not to love? But alas, if we’ve learned anything this year, there must be a guide for everything. And so, as my gift to you, I present my Party Observa-
that upset then #1 Alabama, it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. Prediction: Texas A&M 49—Oklahoma 17
News Editor Andrew Mechum Entertainment Editor Sam Phillips Campus Life Editor Korey Wilson Sports Editor Jordon Semien
DREW GRANTHUM Alabamian Columnist
Contributing Writers: Connor Bucy Alyse Hartdegen Lindsey Hodgens Sammy Schiffman Reed Strength Perrin Windham Photographer Jennifer Corona
ily, do like I do, and treat the ceiling like its a minefield. THE SCROOGE The person with the worst attitude. Not dressed in a sweater, not interested in being there and not making any attempt to hide the first two. Usually dragged by a significant other. Holding conversation can be like getting dunked in the eggnog. Proceed with caution. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Go Falcons!
Adviser: Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt The Alabamian is published twice monthly. As the campus newspaper of the University of Montevallo, this paper dedicates itaself to the accurate presentation of the news of the University community, to reporting the news of all segments of that community, students, faculty, administrators, the board of trustees, alumni, and friends of the University. Further, it serves as a forum of opinion for the exchange of ideas among all its constituent groups. To that end, it operates without undue influence or control by any one of those constituent groups. The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the university, its officials, its faculty, or the student body.
ON CAMPUS PAGE 3 | THE ALABAMIAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
Department of Music presents Coffee and Carols BY HEATHER BUCKNER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The UM Concert Choir, Chamber singers and University Chorus presented their second annual “Coffee, Carols and Desserts” in LeBaron Recital Hall on December 7, 2012. The concert featured 12 holiday songs, including pieces like “Still, Still, Still,” with Brent Mauldin accompanying on the piano, “In the Bleak Mid-Winter” and “The Christmas Song,” featuring soloist Lauren Jones and UM Chamber Singers’ Adam Bowles on piano. “We spent probably about three weeks preparing for this performance,” said Assistant Professor of Music and Conductor Melinda Doyle. “I think they did very well. They’re fantastic students to make something happen like that at this point in the semester. Music majors are all really busy this time of the year, but they were terrific.” Doyle said she hopes for Coffee and Carols to one day to be an annual University event for everyone to plan on and look forward to on the
last day of classes before the break. Doyle said they had a better turnout this year than last— about 150 attended the event Friday. “Everyone loves holiday music, and we only get to sing it once a year,” said Doyle. “The music just lends itself to enjoying. I know I enjoyed it.”
The winter blues sink into Montevallo
Below: The UM concert choir gets festive during their last performance. Right: A sampling of holiday treats provided by the Music Department.
Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha and Laurel Hall bear with Senior Day’s lacklusterness.
BY ALYSE HARTDEGEN
Across campus, students and faculty alike have been counting the days to the end of the semester. With morale low and stress levels high, depression can quickly set in. This year, though, it seems the number of students affected has spiked. Students are unhappy, and many have started to question how to cope. A common side effect of seasonal changes can be a mood disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is more common during the winter but can happen during any of the other three seasons as well. Symptoms of SAD include hopelessness, increased sleep, increased appetite, less energy and inability to concentrate, sluggish movements, loss of interest in work or other activities, social withdrawal and irritability or unhappiness. Last year, the campus counseling services said that 33 percent of their client-base was seeking help for depression-related issues. Josh Miller, Senior Counselor for the campus counseling services had this to say on the subject, “We’ve definitely seen an increase in students seeking services this year, as far as if it’s worse--the numbers haven’t decreased. When students take more on, such as
school, extra-curricular activities, friends, family and so on--the thinner they get spread--that can lead to depression.” Dr. Megan Sherod, an assistant psychology professor at the University of Montevallo, said that seasonal depression is not strictly limited to weather change. “Some people will not experience depression regularly but suffer from it at the same time every year. This is called a pattern specifier,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the weather but with some sort of personal experience. There are more depressive episodes during the holidays.” When asked how often she saw SAD around campus she responded, “Do we have people around campus who suffer from SAD? Yes. It’s not nearly as common as in the northern latitudes, though.” Austin Naish, who deals with seasonal depression himself, said, “During the winter season my mood is completely different than during the summer.” According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there are multiple ways to deal with SAD, some of which include getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet. Another way to deal with seasonal depression is to talk to a counselor
who can help those who suffer learn how to manage side effects. Students are encouraged to watch for signs that depression is worsening and have a plan in case it does. It’s always a good idea to try to exercise more often and look for activities that make you happy, according to counseling services. Gabriel Hitt, another student at the university, feels that SAD can be successfully self-treated. “I think anything can be self-treated. I think it has a lot to do with pulling yourself out of anything and using your own will power to help yourself,” he said. Another student added to this by saying, “I think that knowing it is going on and being aware of how it can affect you puts you on guard from seasonal depression and helps you figure out how to manage it.” Miller and other experts, on the other hand, encourages students to seek help. “If it goes untreated, it can cause issues down the road. The great thing about the school’s counseling services is that it is free for all students. Depression can be successfully treated; as far as self-treatment, though, it’s hard to say how it would go. If students came in they could work with a counselor one-on-one to make a plan for treatment.”
Dreary weather can be responsible for dampened spirits.
Students celebrate senior day BY HEATHER BUCKNER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Students had the chance to join the UM National Alumni Association and DJ Zach Banks in congratulating the December graduates at the Senior Day Celebration on Main quad December 7. The first 50 individuals to arrive were given a free UM Frisbee, and there was a raffle for 20 $5 coupons to Starbucks and WOW to use during finals week, courtesy of Sodexo. Ironically, several students in attendance agreed that the event was, however, “mainly just a chance to eat something other than food from the caf or WOW.” Junior Ashley Pattillo was disappointed with the event. “I’m approaching my senior year, and I’ve been to Senior Day twice since I’ve been a student here. I don’t find the event particularly enthralling,” said Pattillo. While all seniors do enjoy a special senior recognition on Founders’ Day, a usually more successful Senior Day in the spring, and, of course, festivities on their graduation day, many students don’t feel that is enough--especially for those graduating in December. “If we could have a little more involvement from the students and faculty or maybe more
planning and publicity for both Senior Days, I think it would be much better,” said Pattillo. “I know it’s a stretch, but what if we had a photo booth to take pictures with the graduating seniors? It just needs something small to make it seem more like a celebration.” While the crowd did get together to do “the Wobble” at one point, that was, according to one student, “the most exciting part of the event.” Kathleen Kryger, an English major who graduates in May said
that Senior Day is, however, important and worth attending. “I think it’s great that Montevallo is constantly trying to celebrate its students,” said Kryger. “All of the hard work that the seniors have put into their career here should definitely be celebrated, especially since we’re about to go out into the world and represent this school.” She continued, “If the university wants supportive alumni, they need to want satisfied seniors who feel like their time here wasn’t wasted.”
Zach Banks attempts to liven the crowd.
LIFESTYLES PAGE 4 | THE ALABAMIAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW
Linux, the other, other operating system
BY CONNOR BUCY
Although the release of Windows 8 could be considered a moderate success, at least based on sales alone, the latest iteration of Microsoft’s mainstay operating system has ruffled the feathers of many PC traditionalists. Windows 8 is a prime example of the movement to touch-based user interfaces, and while that seems to be the direction consumer electronics is headed, not all are happy with the shift in direction that Microsoft seems to have undergone. If Microsoft, being the influential tech titan they are, moves away from the traditional desktop in favor of the tablet market, other companies will follow suit. This means the fanatical desktop fans and power users among us can expect fewer new products, updates and services for the operating system environment we’ve come to love. Fortunately, another contender has been growing over the years. GNU/Linux, or simply Linux as it’s popularly known, started out as somewhat of an ugly duckling. Its name was, and indeed still is to some degree, mostly unknown to the average user; and those who knew of it regarded it more as being for programmer nerds or masochists who enjoyed staring at command lines in a terminal for hours on end. Lately, however, Linux has begun to look a lot less terrifying and a lot more viable as an alternative to Windows or OS
X, even providing several advantages over the two. By far the biggest reason to consider Linux as a potential operating system choice is its open nature. It allows for a completely customizable operating system, and that doesn’t just mean the ability to change your wallpaper or window color. Users are able to tailor every part of the operating system to fit their needs, and this is evidenced by the large number of distributions out there, each with its own goal and purpose; ranging from the casual-friendly Ubuntu to the the more hardcoreuser inclined Arch Linux, which keeps it minimal and requires users to be more than a little comfortable with command lines. Visually, it’s possible to customize a Linux distribution to be drop dead gorgeous or plain and austere, depending on the desktop environment you choose. While many users are put off of Linux by the idea of not being able to run their favorite Windows software, Linux remedies this with a hefty collection of its own programs. Best of all, they’re also free. Examples include Libre Office, a free and open source office suite similar to Microsoft Office, and Gimp, and image manipulation program similar to Adobe Photoshop. Both of these programs provide the same func-
tionality as their Windows counterparts, while costing much less at the price of $0. In addition, it’s also possible to run most Windows programs under Wine, a program used to run Windows applications on other operating systems. Security is another big advantage Linux holds over other operating systems. While this is partially because most viruses are programmed for Windows, with a few aimed at OS X, it is also because of the user privileges granted by a Linux system. In addition, the ability to download applications that are known to be safe by the rest of the Linux community from a repository rather than a web browser allow users to be at ease when grabbing new programs. While Linux does have some disadvantages, the biggest for many being lack of support for most PC games, it offers some enticing incentives for casual and power users alike. The question of whether Linux is viable for the average user can only really be answered on an individual basis. If the user mainly uses his or her computer for common tasks, then it’s certainly worth considering. However, as Linux gains greater awareness, it’s undeniable that program support will increase. Whether Linux is for you or not, it’s clear that it definitely deserves real consideration.
“Dinosaur” writer kickstarts “Hamlet” project BY SAMUEL PHILLIPS, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Ryan North writes web comics for a living. That in itself is an unlikely circumstance, with North among the ranks of only a few dozen full-time web comic artists. His “Dinosaur Comics” has become a cult hit, with upwards of 2,300 strips all using the same six panels of clip art, displaying his versatility as a manipulator of language and punctuation to maximum effect. Aside from “Dinosaur Comics” North has also created “Project Wonderful,” an advertising network with morals, co-edited “Machine of Death,” an anthology of amateur stories about a machine that tells people how they will die, created a page-bypage review of the bizarre novelization of “Back to the Future” and written the text for the popular “Adventure Time” comics. The man will not sit still. So no one was surprised when, on November 21, North announced a Kickstarter project to fund a rewrite of “Hamlet”—as a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. Readers were fascinated, enthusiastic and amazed, but not surprised. The project, titled “To Be or Not to Be,” had a funding goal of $20,000 and a deadline of December 21. It was funded within three hours. Since then, North has actively promoted the project, registering the domain name hamletbook.com and creating new rewards for his backers as the project has soared past it funding goals, reaching, as of December 7, just short of $285,000. With the massive wave of funding, North has promised such bonuses as a sequel novel, a prequel story focusing on the character of Yorick, and even a live, improvised play based on the novel. He has also released several pages of the book, allowing backers to vote on which “path” to choose. The remarkable success of North’s Kickstarter project is far from typical, but coming on the heels of Andrew Hussie’s equally well-received Homestuck Kick-
starter, it proves that there is something to be said for the crowd-funding movement. The internet has made it possible for a project with a small but devoted fan base to get off the ground, when in the past such projects might never have gotten funding from major studios or publishing houses. Key to North’s success is his popularity on the internet. When the much better known Whoopi Goldberg launched a Kickstarter to fund a documentary film, she reached her fundraising goal, but did not exceed it by much. She was not able to generate the enthusiasm or momentum that North built up through an exciting project and a young, tech-savvy audience. North’s project spread primarily through word of mouth, with individual posts on Twitter from North, his fellow web celebrities, and enthusiastic fans leading interested people to hamletbook.com, where they could donate anywhere from $15 to $5000 and receive rewards based on their contributions, from a simple paperback copy of the novel to a poster showing the novel’s structure to a painting of “Dinosaur Comics’” T-Rex by North himself. With thirteen days to go on the Kickstarter, North has been busy creating new and interesting rewards as the funding climbs higher. “To Be or Not to Be” will now be fully illustrated, backers will receive various related items, such as a “Dinosaur Comics” e-book, and hundreds of copies of the novel will be donated to schools. What “To Be or Not to Be” shows is that with a good product, an excited fan base and a lot of luck, creative people can bypass the major studios and publishing houses to fund their art directly. As internet culture continues to evolve, we will undoubtedly continue to see such interesting projects, some with similar success and some that fail. What we will not see is the train rolling backwards. Crowd-funding is poised to alter the entertainment landscape, and “To Be or Not to Be” shows that it is coming soon.
GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW
“Daytripper”
LINDSAY HODGENS Alabamian Columnist As the holidays are drawing closer, you’re probably looking for something sweet and heartwarming to read as you cozy up next to the fireplace. Just kidding. I knew you weren’t that cliché. Go ahead and break out of the holiday sap-fest by picking up a nice, dark graphic novel like “Daytripper.” “Daytripper,” written by Brazilian twins Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, is only the latest of the duo’s successful works. This slim graphic novel won several awards in 2011, including both a Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story and an Eisner award for Best Limited Series. It’s difficult to pin down exactly what one factor makes “Daytripper” an award-winning work because everything works together seamlessly. The novel’s pages are inked with gentle pastel tones that imbue its characters and settings with an “everyday life” kind of appeal. Instead of employing a style marked by bright colors, which would immediately grab the reader’s attention, Moon and Ba pres-
ent a visually understated product that gradually brings the reader into the narrative. This isn’t to say that there is a lack of impressive visuals in this book, but that they are spaced out enough to make an impact when they appear. The true artistic gems are the gorgeous full-page images that segue between one section of the book to another, and they become absolutely necessary as the plot becomes more intense. The plot is another excellent feature of the story. The choice to have a main character who writes obituaries for a living is fresh, and the brothers take full advantage of this interesting character by providing him with a wealth of emotional depth. Far from being a flawless man, Bras de Oliva Domingos suffers in several ways, whether it is from his perceived inferiority to his acclaimed father or his several deaths. Oh, did I forget to mention that? One of the major plot devices is the uncertainty about whether the main character will die at the end of each chapter. Using this device, which I can only conceptualize as an imagining of parallel universes, the authors
create a space for Bras to search for what is important in life. As the novel progresses, readers become privy to the various lives Bras could have lived. In the hands of another artist, the plot could have easily come across as being too far-fetched, but the gentle, realistic artwork keeps the work believable. The reader knows that the possibility of death is always lurking behind Bras, and yet the world is still portrayed as a frail and vibrant place. Perhaps, then, it is not the artwork or the plot that makes this work award-worthy. Perhaps it is a skillful combination of the two— the main character’s tenacity and luck that procures his survival in the dark, yet beautiful, landscapes of his history—that makes this book so compelling. Really, despite the presence of death in the narrative, I couldn’t help but feel empowered by Bras’s unwavering hopefulness. I know I said that you don’t need another heartwarming read for the holiday season, but maybe I was wrong. I mean, “Daytripper” isn’t completely depressing, so I guess it’s alright to be heartwarming as long as it has been earned, right? So go ahead. Buy the book and get the fire going. You’ll be happy you did.
MUSIC REVIEW
Ke$ha’s “Warrior”
Ke$ha might just save the world. If not the world, she might just save pop music. Her detractors will hate me for that, but the irreverent, bombastic, brilliantly dumb pop princess is exactly what the charts have been aching for. In 2009, while artists like Lady Gaga were dominating the musical landscape with their selfserious brand of “artistic” pop, Ke$ha exploded onto the scene with “Tik Tok,” a track that went on to become one of the best selling singles of all time and famously kept “Bad Romance” from the number one spot. Her trashy, shameless image speaks to something primal in her audience. On “Warrior,” she expands her irreverent mythology beyond its pop confines. “Animal” was a pleasant album stuffed with repetitive filler. Ke$ha’s follow-up, “Cannibal,” tightened its focus but never strayed past the electronic, auto-tuned aesthetic of her debut. Finally, with “Warrior,” Ke$ha seems to have found her feet. The influence of rock music is undeniable, yet the album stays true to the glittery pop sound Ke$ha has made her trademark. The music is at its strongest when it blends these elements, reaching a sublime intermin-
SAMUEL PHILLIPS Entertainment Editor
gling of sleekly produced pop and screeching, libidinous rock and roll. Following the pattern of Ke$ha’s previous work, and apparently every pop album released in the last ten years, the second half of “Warrior” is a more subdued affair, loaded with ballads and lacking in the irreverent spirit of the first half. These quieter tracks are all inoffensive and pretty, but they never reach the raw emotion Ke$ha displayed in her revelatory cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” or even the subtle charm of “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” a track penned by her mother that was released on the otherwise unremarkable EP, “Deconstructed.” “Warrior’s” one crowning moment comes around the middle of the album, when trash-pop legend Iggy Pop materializes for a screaming romp titled “Dirty Love.” Pop’s influence is all over “Warrior,” but here he lets loose, talk-singing through the filthy lyrics and sounding so natural that by the end of the brief track, it is hard to deny that he
has just passed the torch. Other high points include the bonus track “Past Lives,” an oddly sincere tale of love through the ages featuring production from The Flaming Lips, and “Crazy Kids,” another screaming party anthem in the vein of such classics as “Take it Off.” It would be tempting to say Ke$ha does not cover new ground on “Warrior,” but, while the progress since “Animal” is subtle, it is undeniable. This album is tighter, louder and more belligerent from start to finish, foregoing filler material and experimenting with harsher sounds than her previous work. If Ke$ha keeps evolving at this rate, she might just transform from pop princess to rock goddess. On the other hand, what “Warrior” proves is that, even in 2012, the confines of radio-friendly pop can still be stretched, defied and realigned in glorious and unexpected ways. If Ke$ha never moves past pop, at least she will never get boring.
Indie music stars transition to silver screen BY REED STRENGTH
Two major indie rock musicians will be appearing in major films this upcoming year. Paul Banks of Interpol and Bradford Cox of Deerhunter/Atlas Sound are to appear in the feature films “Mine to Kill” and “Dallas Buyers Club” respectively. Paul Banks plays a man named Geoffrey Kendle, the main character of“Mine to Kill”. The film’s description says that Banks’ character “has a seemingly perfect life.” While driving along, Geoffrey “spots a car awkwardly parked in the middle of the road”. After a “series of events that lead to
an attempt being made on Geoffrey’s life, he goes into hiding in a small fishing village in Maine.” Eventually, Geoffrey realizes “the only way he can continue to live is by killing his pursuer.” According to the film’s website, the film is in pre-production and is based on an “original screenplay by Jeff Kinkle and James Kendi.” The screenplay was also a “finalist in the 2011 Sundance Screenwriter’s Festival.” James Kendi will direct and produce the film. The film’s score will be composed by
Mike Stroud of New York electronica band Ratatat. The film is said to be “shot in New York City, Upstate New York and Maine in 2013.” The film’s description on the film’s website says Kendi “is currently seeking funds for the feature production.” “The Dallas Buyer’s Club” is, according to the “Hollywood Reporter,” an “AIDS drama” and is “based on the true story Ron Woodruff, a Texas electrician diagnosed with AIDS who took it upon himself to find alternative medicine in order to treat himself beginning in 1986.”
Jean-Marc Vallee is to direct the film, with Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter producing. Matthew McConaughey will play Woodruff and Jennifer Gardener will play Dr. Eve Saks, Woodruff’s doctor. Jared Leto, actor and frontman of the band 30 Seconds to Mars, will play Rayon, Woodruff’s friend. Bradford Cox will play Rayon’s gay lover, “a cross dresser dying of AIDs.” This role marks Cox’s film debut. The movie is currently filming in New Orleans, and started in mid-November 2012.
NEWS PAGE 5 | THE ALABAMIAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
MCDONALD’S:
Far left: Announceers entertain onlookers. Top: Montevallo High School Marching Band plays various Christmas tunes. Left: This year the parade coincided with Beaujolais Nouveau at Eclipse and the Artwalk. Photos by Jennifer Corona
Festivities erupt on Main Street
BY PERRIN WINDHAM
CORRECTION: It has come to the attention of The Alabamian that this article was cut off in the last issue. Please read it below in its entirety. On November 15, the city of Montevallo had their annual holiday parade. This year it was held in conjunction with the Art Walk. Along with the parade itself, those attending could walk up and down Main Street and look at the various art booths and see what they had to offer. There were many different floats representing different entities within the city of Montevallo and the surrounding areas. Several schools were represented. Starting off the parade was Montevallo High School Marching Band playing various Christmas tunes. Following this was Staci Lawson, homecoming queen of Montevallo, University of Montevallo Cheerleaders, Montevallo High School Girls Athletics riding in
the bed of a truck, Future Farmers of America from Montevallo High School on foot and Thompson High School baseball team. There were also various individuals participating in the parade. There were people dressed as Native Americans going down the street to the beat of their drums. Other floats included, Blain Graham, Tiny Mister for Relay for Life; Lillian Kate Buse, Baby Miss for Relay for Life; Savanna Smith, Little Miss Montevallo; Charli-Ann Baugh, Little Miss Montevallo; April Weaver, State Representative; and Grand Marshal, Mike Dubberly. Several churches took part in the parade, of different denominations and from different parts of the city. Montevallo Methodist preschool was present with the children dressed like reindeer and wearing Santa hats. Dogwood Grove Baptist Church rode by chanting “We seek Jesus,” while Montevallo First Baptist Church
had a float with children of the congregation and signs with lights that said Noel. Other church groups included Awana clubs from Grace Baptist Church, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Southside Baptist Church, Faith Missionary Baptist Church, and Awana Baptist Church, the only group with a f loat that celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. There were many local businesses and organizations that participated as well. Country radio station 102.5 The Bull, Tractor Supply Company, people of all ages in their uniforms from the Karate studio on Main Street, six trucks from Montevallo Fire and Rescue, Troop 224 Girl Scouts of Alabama, Boys and Girls Club of Montevallo, Critters by the Creek-who had dogs riding on the back of the truck--Shelby Starlets Baton Twirling, who twirled to songs like Mariah Carey’s “I Don’t Want a Lot for Christmas,” workers from American Village dressed in
colonial uniforms and a truck from JD’s Furniture Warehouse, a new business in town that was opening the weekend after the parade. Also in attendance were people from the Vallocycle program with students from UM, including Braxton Austin, Luna Shedrick and Allison Bartlett. Also in the parade was a horse dressed as a reindeer, Montevallo Community Band with various Christmas selections, many vintage cars, including one driven by Bank Trust, Childcare Network driving a school bus, Joe’s Italian Restaurant from Alabaster, Encouragement Learning Foundation, Baseline Softball team, Montevallo Building Supply and Parnell Memorial Library with children dressed as the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. Ending the parade was Santa and Mrs. Clause riding on a semitrailer, with members from UM’s fraternity Alpha Tau Omega walking behind.
Patent trolling stifles innovation
BY CONNOR BUCY
We’ve heard plenty about the big patent lawsuits going on in the tech world right now. Apple and Samsung, two titans of the mobile industry, have been locked in a knock-down drag-out legal battle since August. The patent war has made headlines across all major news outlets, and for good reason; any battle between such behemoths is sure to make waves. Many saw Apple’s actions as “patent trolling,” intentionally playing the patent system in an attempt to bring down their fiercest competition, using vague patents or
purchasing intellectual property ahead of time to keep anyone else from getting the innovative upper hand. While lawsuits certainly aren’t convenient for Samsung, the multi-billion dollar corporation can afford to lose a few million in court fees. The real victims of patent trolling are the little guys, start-ups that the press isn’t bothering to cover. Recently, law professor Colleen Chien of Saint Clara University published a paper on the impact of patent trolls or, as she prefers to call them, patent assertion entities (PAEs), on small start-ups.
After conducting a survey of 223 tech start-ups, Chien found that less than $100 million in annual revenue represents 66% of all unique defendants to troll suits, with companies making less than $10 million annually making up at least 55%. Obviously, of the companies surveyed, a large percentage reported major damages to their business, including lessened hiring, delayed milestones, changes to products or shutdown of the entire business. This is a big deal when one considers that startups are the largest creators
of jobs, in addition to being major sources of innovation. While the damage to startup companies is a problem, real innovation and the open market are what’s really under attack here. Because U.S. patent laws make patent trolling so easy, many people simply give up on the U.S. market, limiting themselves to the UK and European markets. If policymakers want the U.S. to harbor new growth in the tech industry, they’ll have to take a good look at the patent laws keeping the little guy down.
Carmichael Library extends hours BY ALYSE HARTDEGEN
Every year during finals, Carmichael Library opens its doors just a little later than usual each night to accommodate students as they prepare for their upcoming exams. During finals week the library will be open from Sunday, December 9 through Wednesday, December 12 until 2 a.m., returning to normal hours Thursday, December 13. Artemus Hill, a student assistant in the li-
City Clerk and Treasurer, Herman Lehman said, “The goal there is to bring as many as a thousand students per day onto Main Street,” with the hopes that the extra foot traffic would lure more business to Montevallo. “We’re always eager to work with businesses of any kind that are interested in locating in Montevallo, and I think, as there are more and more students on Main Street, that is going to enhance our ability to have those conversations,” said Mary Lou Williams, the Executive Director for the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce. As for finals week Fall 2012, the best advice we here at The Alabamian can give is to stock up on pizza, chicken nuggets, subs or whatever else you enjoy--prior to midnight.
SECRETS: WPIX 11 also reports that among the scraps found, a few “identified detectives.” The scraps in question contained undercover detectives’ “social security numbers, dates of birth and other highly sensitive information. According to a statement by the Nassau county police, the department was “very concerned” about the apparent security breach and “will conduct an investigation” into the matter. The department would also “review” the “procedures for the disposing of sensitive documents.” In WPIX 11’s report of the incident, reporter James Ford shows the “official” confetti sanctioned by the Macy’s Day Parade. They are small and colored scraps of paper, very different from the horizontal strands of documents found. The officials of the parade insist that they use “commercially manufactured, multicolor confetti, not shredded paper.” “It’s not unusual for spectators to bring and throw their own confetti in direction of parade participants within the sidelines,” said Orlando Veras, a media relations representative for Macy’s. The Nassau County Police Department has yet to release their investigation findings.
Faculty Senate moves to offer same sex couples equal health benefits BY HEATHER BUCKNER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
brary, had this to say about extend library hours, “We do it for finals week, it gives students more time to study and work on projects.” Not only do they provide a haven to study in, but they also provide different treats. Hill said, “In the past they’ve given free coffee, little snack cakes, candy. Anything sugary to keep people awake. We had cereal on Monday, like we usually do. It will be back, we just ran out of milk.” Carmichael Library becomes an end of semester hotspot.
Currently, UM offers a wide range of mandatory and voluntary benefits to employees, their dependents and their married or common-law spouses The Faculty Senate is currently working with President Stewart and his Cabinet to recognize same sex (and opposite sex) domestic partnerships as eligible criteria for receiving benefits and to grant all University-sponsored benefits to domestic partners of employees. Currently university
employees are insured with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), which is bound by state law. Because Alabama does not legally recognize same sex marriage, BCBS cannot offer these couples the same benefits it offers to married or common-law spouses. The Faculty Senate discussed Friday potentially seeking alternatives to the current health care provider in order to offer fair and equal coverage to everyone employed at the university.
SPORTS PAGE 6 | THE ALABAMIAN
Falcons overcome mistakes, outlast Argonauts
Alabamian MVP of the week BY JORDON SEMIEN
Name: Jade Pennock Sport: Women’s Soccer (Midfielder) Major: Kinesiology Year: Freshman Accomplishments: After an amazing freshman year, Jade Pennock of the women’s soccer squad was rewarded with some new hardware. Pennock was recently named to the third team National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II women’s soccer All-Southeast Region.
A native of Pontefract, England, Pennock is the first player in Montevallo Women’s Soccer history to earn a major Peach Belt honor; she was also named the conference co-freshman of the Year, along with being given a spot on the All-Peach Belt Conference second team. Pennock led the Fal-
BY JORDON SEMIEN
cons with five goals from the midfield and 14 total assists. In her first game for the Falcons, Pennock scored two goals, including the game winner, downing Barry 2-1. Congratulations again to Midfielder Jade Pennock, our Alabamian MVP of the Week.
Women’s basketball team dominates Stillman BY JORDON SEMIEN
It was a dominating outing for the Montevallo Women’s Basketball team as they dismantled the Stillman Tigers virtually from the opening tip, winning 86-48. The Falcons were led by Junior Alexsis Brown’s 18 points, followed closely by Senior Carolyn Taite’s 13, and Freshman Katie Colson and Senior Trena Moore-Smith’s 11 points each. MVP of the night goes to Senior Carolyn Taite for her Double-Double performance, turning in 14 rebounds with her 13 points; but it really was a team effort to turn in the team’s highest scoring output this season. The team reeled in a season-
high total of 48 rebounds, really limiting Stillman’s second chance opportunities and creating chances for fast break points. The Falcons high powered offense was matched, and then some, by their stifling defense, forcing 27 Tiger turnovers, 14 of which were true steals. The team added 6 blocks, 3 from Carolyn Taite, and doled out a season-high 23 team assists, led by Trena Moore-Smith’s team-high 7. Stay tuned to montevallofalcons. com for live coverage of home games, and be sure to check in with the Alabamian for all your UM Falcons news.
Tigers’ buzzer beater grounds Falcons BY JORDON SEMIEN
The UM Men’s Basketball team lost 61-59 by way of buzzer-beater to the Stillman Tigers on Saturday, Dec.1 in a neutral court game held on the campus of Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. The Falcons (3-2) were led by sophomore Ryan May’s 18 points, 13 of which came in the f irst half; May scored the f irst 11 points of the game for the Falcons, giving Montevallo an 11-4 lead to open the game. Senior Drico Hightower barely missed a double-double, dropping 13 points and pick ing up a team-high 9 boards, while fellow Senior Mar vin Fitzgerald added
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
11 points, three rebounds and 2 assists. Drico was sent to the line with 1:01 left in the game; he hit 1 out of his 2 shots, boosting the Falcons to a one point lead, 58-57. The Tigers got a quick score to take the lead back before Marvin Fitzgerald tied the game at 59 a piece with a clutch free throw with 14 seconds left on the clock. As time ticked away, Stillman looked for an answer to Montevallo’s equalizer; that answer came in the form of a Frank ie Peoples three pointer with 2.6 seconds left. Ryan May launched a half court prayer at the buzzer that came up just short of the tin.
A small crowd gathers to cheer the Falcons on in their close victory.
The men’s Basketball team managed to outplay their 22 turnovers and hold on for a 6760 win over the Argonauts of West Florida. The Falcons (4-3) were led by Sophomore guard Ryan May’s 21 points, shooting 5-6 from three point range and 6-6 from the free throw line. May’s performance was backed by Senior forward Marvin Fitzgerald’s double double, turning in 13 points and 12 rebounds, along with Troran Brown’s 13 points and seven assists. Halftime saw the Falcons with a 13 point
lead, but a rough shooting start to the second half for the Falcons left the door open for a Argonauts comeback. The Falcons opened the game on two quick threes from May, who at one point in the second half, caught a rough elbow from a Argonaut defender, leaving May with a bloodied nose. May would leave the game for a moment, but then return to help ice the game with two big free throws. The Falcons shot just over 51% from the field, 56% from the three range, hitting 9-16 from down-
Strickland lifts Falcons to big win over West Alabama BY JORDON SEMIEN
Senior Alex Strickland’s last second rebound and put back lifted the Falcon’s Women’s Basketball team to a 59-58 win over West Alabama. The Falcons (5-4) closed out their non-conference schedule with a win, thanks to Strickland’s last second heroics matched by Junior Alexsis Brown and Sophomore Taylor Beverly’s 15 points each; Beverly also turned in a team-high 12 re-
bounds and went 7-8 on free throws. Strickland’s game winning put back came off the rebound of a rare Beverly missed jumper. The Falcons get a week off to rest and regroup before conference play starts on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m., as they host Columbus State in the first half of a men’s and women’s doubleheader in Bank Trust arena.
The luck of the Irish BY JORDON SEMIEN
In a little over a month’s time, SEC champion Alabama will journey south to the Orange Bowl in brightlit Miami for a shot at winning the conference’s seventh straight BCS National Title. The only road block between that dream and reality, Head Coach Brian Kelly and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish. How did the Irish earn a shot at the BCS crown? Because of a long fabled, yet never really explained rule in the BCS contract, that permits Notre Dame football to play in a BCS bowl (yes, even the National Title game) without participating in a full conference schedule. The actual sub head in the BCS rule book (which takes two hours to read the first paragraph) states that if the Irish finish in the top eight of the final BCS poll, they will receive an automatic BCS bowl berth, regardless of their actual record.
This means that teams that may have had a better season than Notre Dame, and managed to finish ranked amongst the top teams in the Nation, may just be passed over in favor of the Irish. There’s been a lot of push back against the BCS for multiple reasons, but the famed “Notre Dame Rule” is possibly the biggest hot button for many college football fans. The rule allows Notre Dame to remain a BCS independent, basically meaning they can play for the BCS National Title without playing in a Division I conference. That’s right, the Fighting Irish currently play every sport in the Big East Conference, save for football. What’s more, the Irish just closed a deal to move to the ACC in 2014, though as expected, they will still remain a BCS independent. Moreover, they insist they are still a part of the conference by
playing a total of five games against “conference opponents.” So while a team like Alabama or others might have aspirations of playing in a BCS bowl but need to win their conference to get there, Notre Dame just needs to wait for the first big upsets of the season and then let the chips fall where they may. Let’s play a quick game of comparisons, shall we? Let’s take a season in three years time, where Notre Dame plays five ACC opponents, including Florida State. Florida State is the second to last game of the season, and they look to make it to the ACC title game with a win. Now let’s assume that Florida State loses to the Irish. The consequences are as follows: for Florida State, they miss out on the ACC title game, a guaranteed spot in the Orange Bowl and a potential shot at the National
town. Though they did commit 22 turnovers, Coach Young reined his team in, and they managed to flip the switch in the final few minutes to get the win. The Falcons will be back in action on Dec. 15, for the second half of a Saturday doubleheader in Bank Trust Arena, as both the men’s and women will play host to Columbus State. Stay tuned to montevallofalcons.com over winter break for updates, and be sure to look for The Alabamian in the spring for all your Falcons news.
Title. What happens if Notre Dame wins? They get another win on the season and move up a spot in the polls. Why is Notre Dame allowed to get away with this year after year? Because they are college football’s ultimate opportunists. They not only sit in wait for opportunities like this example to come about, they’ve made a legacy out of it. For years now, Notre Dame has been regarded as the Old War Heroes of College Football, not really relevant with today’s crowd, still holding on to long gone days of glory. Yet they’re still there, still playing their rivals (USC, Michigan, Wake Forest, etc.), still vying for BCS Bowl Games, and yes, still grasping at one last go at immortality. They’ve survived what measures out to now four or five major Conference realignments, they’ve made deal after deal with
NBC to stay on air amongst a generation of ESPN and Fox Sports fanatics. They still sign top tier coaches and top twenty, top ten, even top five recruiting classes on reputation and history alone. Unlike some schools that go out of their way to stay in the National subconscious, Notre Dame has done the virtually impossible for schools outside the SEC: they let the spotlight come to them. Be it the marquee games against higher ranked rivals, or fabled “shady backroom” deals with the NCAA and BCS, one can never go too long without hearing the words “Notre Dame” or “Irish.” So buckle in everyone and dig out those four leaf clovers, because the Fighting Irish are back in the big game, back in the big picture, and if history really is the best teacher, they’re here to stay…at least until the playoffs kick in.
Falcons use second half surge to beat Shorter BY JORDON SEMIEN
The women’s basketball team used a 27-8 run to close out a big come-from-behind victory, beating Shorter University 69-61. The Falcons (4-4) were led by Junior Shay Bonner with a career-high 27 points, shooting 90.9% (10-of-11) from the free throw stripe, giving her the school record for highest free throw percentage in a single game. Bonner’s performance was matched by Sophomore Taylor Beverly’s 17 points and team-high 7 rebounds, along with Trena Moore-Smith’s team-high six assists. The game went to halftime at a 24-24 draw, before Shorter used a 16-3 run to open the second half and extend their lead to 45-31. Fortunately, the Falcons turned up the defense, forcing 10 turnovers in the second half; the extra offensive possessions helped add to their total of 21 points off turnovers. The Falcons get a week off before tipping off their PBC schedule, playing host to Columbus State on Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m.