“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.” VOL. 55, NO. 1JUNE 2, 2014

VANGUARDTHETHE

In this Issue: JagLife, Page 4

Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 13

fi nd us on Facebook search

“The Vanguard USA”

Check out our digital edition

thevanguardonline.com

INSIDE

JagLife: Trivia nights bring big fun and even bigger prizes.

See JagLife, page 6

►

JagLife: Old CrowMedicine Show brings blue-grass to Saenger Theatre.

See JagLife, page 4

►

Sports: Gleason earns only All-Sun Belt honors for Jaguars.See Sports, page 11

►

Sports: Softball falls in regionals, ends season 42-14.

See Sports, page 9

►

THE VANGUARD ARCHIVES

By KARIE FUGETTManaging Editor

Nicholas Grondin (right), meteorology sophomore, and others examine UCUR fi ndings at a past UCUR symposium.

See UCUR UCUR Page 2

Hangout Fest 2014Hangout Fest 2014Interviews withInterviews withMatt and KimMatt and Kim

&&Fitz and the Tantrums Fitz and the Tantrums

The University Committee on Undergraduate Re-

search, University of South Ala-bama’s undergraduate research program, isn’t as well-known as it should be around campus, even if it is one of their shiniest gems. It gives undergraduate students interested in doing research in graduate school a chance to get their hands dirty early. Not only that, but they pay the students $2,000 for their work, too.

This year’s group of undergrad-uate researchers at South began their work Wednesday, May 21, and are doing some impressive things.

Andrea Butts, a biomedical sci-ences major, will be “ ... focusing on the effect of natural drugs on breast cancer” while Ellis Hicks, a com-puter sciences major, “ ... utilizes Artifi cial Intelligence and robotics in order to explore interactive learn-ing environments.” Boni Yraguen, a mechanical engineering major, said she will be “ ... creating a model to show how women, specifi cally, ther-moregulate.”

The program began sixteen years ago as a small, unfunded program driven mostly by students and fac-ulty. “Eventually we were able to secure external funding, then the University began matching it,” Dr.

Anne Boettcher said, the program’s director.

When The Vanguard asked her how USA benefi ts from the pro-gram, Dr. Boettcher said it helps to recruit students to the University,

it aids in student retention and it helps students have a better chance of getting into graduate school. “It

UCUR begins year by expanding its scope

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 20142

contributes to the overall mission of the cam-pus,” she concluded.

UCUR offers two ways for undergraduate students to participate: through its paid sum-mer Undergraduate Research Program or through its unpaid Volunteer Internship Pro-gram.

The volunteer program is open to all un-dergraduate students and is year-round. It is meant for students who are planning to apply to the paid summer program in the future but would like to get some experience fi rst. It is also meant for students who participated in the paid program previously and want to con-tinue their work throughout the year. To apply as a volunteer, students are only required to have a mentor and sign a liability waiver.

The paid program is during the summer only and is a bit more rigorous with dead-lines to meet and weekly meetings to attend. A competitive application process is also re-quired. Unlike the volunteer program, not ev-eryone will be accepted.

This year, approximately forty students were chosen for UCUR’s paid program, with another thirty volunteering, eager to get ex-perience regardless of pay. Hicks has been in both. “This is my third summer getting involved with UCUR,” he said, “I did a vol-unteer UCUR after the end of my freshman year which expanded into a paid UCUR fel-lowship for the following summers.” Students are welcome to participate for as many years as they like, some even opting to get involved after graduation.

The program is kept fl exible so that it will be as benefi cial as possible to each student. It is also not geared specifi cally toward science majors or even toward traditional students, but is open to all majors and all ages, some-thing that seems to be a common misconcep-tion.

When defi ning research, UCUR chooses

to keep it broad, inviting students of all back-grounds by applying the defi nition the Council on Undergraduate Research uses: “An inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergradu-ate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.”

It is true that the program is currently packed full of science and engineering majors, but that’s only because very few students from other majors are applying. This year the pro-gram does have a visual arts major focusing on social media marketing and an English ma-jor researching the roles of widows in Victo-rian British literature, but Dr. Boettcher hopes to encourage similar students to apply in the future.

UCUR is launching a new Ambassador Program this summer to help with this ini-tiative. Students who have previously been involved with undergraduate research will have the opportunity to aid in campus-wide outreach. “I’m excited to see that (UCUR) is growing,” Dr. Boettcher said, “but I would like to see more diversity in disciplines.”

To prospective UCUR participants, Dr. Boettcher said to start by e-mailing her to fi nd a mentor that is well-matched to the project. She said a thorough application is key, and stu-dents are encouraged to send their application to her before it is due to make sure that it is on the right track. “I’ve seen many students with great ideas who would have benefi tted by sending me their application ahead of time. I actually prefer students do that. We’re here to help.”

When I asked Yraguen what advice she would give to students considering applying, she said similarly, “(Students) should fi nd a mentor that they really like and can learn a lot from.” She continued, “They should make sure the project they will be working on is something that interests them to be successful at it.” Butts’ advice was an enthusiastic, “Do it!”

For more information about UCUR, visit their website at southalabama.edu/ucur/.

PHOTOS FROM JOSHUA TAYLOR’S FACEBOOK

Joshua Taylor, winner of best UCUR presentation in 2013, presents his fi ndings at the National Conference in Lexington, KY.

UCURUCURContinued from Page One

3

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Editor in ChiefManaging Editor

Copy Editor Opinion Editor

Sports EditorJagLife Editor

Staff Reporters

Matthew Rex StricklandKarie FugettRachel McMullenJordan KnoxAlyssa NewtonMitchell Kahalley

Laura HavardJenna MundayDrew ScelsiAaron Poiroux

Editorial

Distribution Bobby FaulkAlan Smith

Distribution

Advertising Graphic Designer

Promotions Director

Justine BurbankRyan KellerSheldon HallJaclyn LeBatard

Advertising

Advising

Accounting

J. SellersJ. AucoinKathy Brannan

Management

MissionThe Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the

University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes fi rmly in its First Amendment rights.

Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard

University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688.

Orthevanguardeditor@gmail.com

Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifi cations. To report a mistake, e-mail thevanguardeditor@gmail.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The fi rst copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. Freelance writers will receive payment at the discretion of the section editor and will be notifi ed.

PATRICK BIGBIE | STAFF METEOROLOGISTTwitter: StormTeam4g9wxFacebook: Facebook.com/StormTeam4Gamma9Wx

Weather for June 2 - 8Weather for June 2 - 8

If you If you seesee something,something,

saysay something! something! Call USAPD at Call USAPD at251-460-6312251-460-6312

LEAVE COMMENTS FOR CAMPUS AT thevanguardonline.com/campusfeedback

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

To request additional issues at a stand near you, email:

vanguarddistribution@gmail.com

04/18/2014 10:03Delta 2 parking lot

Criminal mischief third degreeUnknown person, with intent to

damage property, punctured victim’s vehicle tire.

04/22/2014 15:44USA Federal Credit UnionHarassing communicationsKnown subject made verbal

threats via phone causing the victim and employees of the business to

be alarmed and annoyed in fear for their lives.

04/24/2014 8:35Research park 3

Probation violationOffi cers responded to the front

parking lot of research park 3 for the report of a suspicious male and

female sitting in a white vehicle.

04/28/2014 14:01Bookstore

Theft of property second degreeTextbooks were stolen from the

university bookstore.

04/28/2014 19:11Marx Library

Public lewdnessThe crime of public lewdness was

reported at the library.

04/30/2014 10:40Meisler hall

Property damageA privately owned SUV hit a van

owned by the university in a parking space.

04/30/2014 19:44USA medical centerTheft of property

The victim reported her iPad was stolen. The suspect was armed with

a knife.

05/01/2014 14:08Shelby hall

Theft of property third degreeA student reported the theft of

his thumb drive from Shelby hall.

05/01/2014 16:01Stokes Residence HallBurglary third degree

A resident reported his head-phones stolen from his room.

USAPD Police blotter

4

By TAYLOR KINGREA Contributing Writer

jagLIFELEAVE COMMENTS FOR JAGLIFE AT thevanguardonline.com/lifefeedback

MITCHELL KAHALLEY JAGLIFE EDITORwmk1221@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Old Crow Medicine Show bring bluegrass to Saenger

favorites like “Wagon Wheel” and “CC Rider,” to being a prisoner of your own mind.

The infl uence of old-time song-writers and storytellers like Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie are evi-dent, if not totally interwoven into their music. One of their songs

The last boy band that I re-member crushing on — I

mean really crushing on — was Hanson. I’ve been pretty proud of myself, for a little over a decade now, to have dropped the boy band ob-session there. But Thursday, May 22, 2014, that all changed.

The scene: The Mobile Saenger Theatre. The vibe: laid-back and en-ergetic. The Band: Old Crow Medi-cine Show.

“Old Crow” is a bluegrass/folk/alternative country string band con-coction of seven wildly talented mu-sicians who can fulfi ll any musical fantasy. The Nashville-based band is on tour promoting a mix of old and new songs, highlighting their upcoming album, “Remedy,” which releases July 1.

All original members are together minus one, Willie Watson, who left the band in 2011. On average, the members can play two or more in-struments with a boundless exhaust of energy that mixes with a techni-cally sound, if not mastered, prac-tice of their passion. And they’re all pretty cute, too.

Now I’m no long-time Old Crow

groupie. No, I’m just a newbie to their tunes, but if you haven’t checked this band out yet, now might be the time.

Here’s the rundown: there’s Ketch Secour, the lead singer, a mu-sician who is more like a Kerouac character than an actual human be-ing — a great fi gurehead for “Teen Bop: Bluegrass Edition”; Chance McCoy, the suspender wearing, re-nowned fi ddling genius from Har-risonburg, Va.; Critter Fuqua, who can break it down on the guitar or slide guitar or banjo or vocals; Gill Landry, the newest addition, is subtle and sexy on the slide guitar; Kevin Hayes, on the guitjo who, as the el-dest member of the group, radiates a life ripe with stories of moonshine and cocaine; Cory Younts, my pick-me-up-off-the-floor-I’ve-fainted-twice personal favorite, whose wry, cajun twerking, piano playing, man-dolin jamming, Nashvillian superstar vocals and drumming abilities will make any heart melt (read: bias); and Morgan Jahnig, not to be forgotten, on upright bass who hangs steady in the back and isn’t afraid to pick up his tool when the moment’s right and run it around the stage.

The group plays and moves to-gether like a whiskey-drunk prodigy of sound. And they sing about ev-erything from said whiskey-drunk-

enness, to love lost and found, to getting lost up shit creek (check out the new album), to mainstream

on this tour, “Sweet Amarillo,” is a splice between “some old scraps” Dylan offered to the group and their own lyrical digs.

Their upcoming album has got-ten the “stamp of approval” by the legendary Dylan, and has been pro-jected to “raise hell,” according to Secor.

All that to say, take a few cute, musical geniuses with a passion for

storytelling and bluegrass sounds, ask them to mess around with an easy bass, rambunctious fi ddle, steady piano, a couple of mandolins and vocals that feel like a moonshine-induced fl oat down an Appalachian river, and you’ll have a taste of what Old Crow is all about. They’re a band that, if you’re not careful, may make you fall in love with fun.

Old Crow Medicine Show will be touring throughout the United States this summer and Europe this fall.

PHOTOS FROM OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW’S FACEBOOK PAGE

Old Crow Medicine Show performing “Wagon Wheel” at the Saenger Theatre on May 22.

KARIE FUGETT | MANAGING EDITOR

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

5

Mobile Theatre Guild Spoofs Classic Musicals In “Forbidden Broadway”

The Mobile Theatre Guild will be ending it’s 2013-14 season with a

performance of “Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits.” Since 1982, the off-Broad-way production has been parodying the shows, actors, writers and directors that make up “The Great White Way.” Writer and director Gerard Alessandrini has re-written the revue over a dozen times over the past 34 years to include new shows.

This summer, the Mobile Theatre Guild will be staging “Forbidden Broadway,” which will feature parodies of classic mu-sicals such as “Annie,” “Les Miserables,” “Fiddler on the Roof ” and “Wicked.” Brandon Caten, a University of South Ala-bama graduate, says that even though the show is a parody, the effort being made by the performers is real.

“We are singing our hearts out, giving the audience musical theatre realness that won’t be found anywhere else. There’s a lot of heart going into the show.”

Caten graduated from USA in May 2014, with a Bachelor of Arts in Lib-eral Studies. This summer, he’ll have his hands full playing multiple roles in “For-bidden Broadway,” including Angel from “RENT,” the Phantom from “The Phan-tom of the Opera” and Corny Collins from “Hairspray.”

Musical theater is a genre built on gran-diose gestures, over the top theatrics and big musical numbers. Because of this, Cat-en says that actors have to walk a fi ne line when spoofi ng the genre.

“With a parody in theatre, the audience needs to still believe that the actor on stage is in the show that they are parodying. It’s

almost like the actor has to be convinced themselves that they are in the show, but allow the lyrics to make fun of that show or song. It can get confusing, but when it’s done right, it’s genius!”

Caten says that all the shows that are being parodied are easily accessible to the general public and that even though the public might not be familiar with the en-tire show, chances are they know the songs being parodied.

“A great example is ‘RENT.’ Many peo-

ple may not know this show, but chances are that they know (the song) ‘Seasons of Love.’”

Caten was cast in the Mobile Theatre Guild’s 2012 production of “9 to 5” and has been working with the troupe ever since. He believes that the Mobile Theatre Guild produces some of the best live en-tertainment in the area and encourages all Mobilians to come out and see what they have to offer.

“We have some of Mobile’s strongest

musical theatre performers on our stage and the antics that ensue once the curtain opens will be enough to bring the house down.”

“Forbidden Broadway” runs for two weekends, June 20-22 and 27-29. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sun-day matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door, by calling 251-433-7513, or by visiting www.mobiletheatre-guild.org. Tickets are $20, but by showing their ID, students can get them for $15.

By MITCHELL KAHALLEY JagLife Editor

Mobile Theatre Guild has performed countless shows since 1950. They staged “The 39 Steps”(above) in March of 2014.

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

PHOTO FROM MOBILE THEATRE GUILD’S FACEBOOK PAGE

{ *Love to Write?*Looking to add some proffesional experience to

your resume?*Would you like your work to be read by students,

professors and alumni?

Submit your resume and writing samples to thevanguardeditor@gmail.com and begin

freelancing for us today!

}

6

Trivia nights lead to big fun and even bigger prizes

By JENNA MUNDAY Staff Reporter

Teams from across the region met in Tunica Resorts, Miss. for the Summer 2013 Mid-South Trivia League Finals.

Do you think you have what it takes to compete for prizes in chal-

lenging trivia competitions? Put your knowledge to the test at any one of the trivia nights held around town. From facts about Ireland to ‘90s hit television shows, there are categories for every interest imaginable.

Challenge Entertainment, the home of Live Trivia, was founded ten years ago in Memphis, Tenn., and has expanded across the southeast United States, finally estab-lishing its first live trivia event in the Mo-bile area nearly five years ago.

Currently, there are nine locations in the Mobile and Daphne area where Chal-lenge Entertainment hosts trivia nights, with four of these locations being less than three miles from USA’s campus.

“Participation varies from location to location, but the longest running show is Buffalo Wild Wings on Airport, which currently averages an attendance of 60 to 80 players a night,” said Eric Gallichant, area manager for Challenge Entertain-ment. “Momma Goldberg’s on Old Shell Road is the newest location for live trivia, and in just eight weeks is averaging nearly 40 players a week.”

Not only do participants get to experi-ence the fun of competing against other teams, but each night, the top three teams at each location win gift certificates to the host location’s venue.

The prize for first place typically rang-es from $25 to $50 depending on the lo-cation.

As if that isn’t enough to attract play-ers, teams also get a chance to compete for their share of $25,000 in cash and prizes during the Summer 2014 Mid-South Trivia League.

Each team earns points based on how well they play at regular trivia nights until the end of the qualifying period, July 31.

Participants in the Summer 2013 Mid-South Triva League Finals compteted for prizes such as a big screen TV.

PHOTO FROM CHALLENGE ENTERTAINMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE

The top five teams then move on to a se-ries of semi-final events for a chance to win the grand prize.

As teams progress through each stage of the Mid-South Trivia League, the stakes rise and the competitions increase in difficulty.

The concept is simple and the ques-tions are fun but, according to partici-pants The Vanguard has spoken to, trivia nights are known to be challenging.

Apart from Buffalo Wild Wings and

Momma Goldberg’s, Challenge Entertain-ment also holds trivia nights at Butch Cas-sidy’s Café, Moe’s Original BBQ, T.G.I. Friday’s, Orleans Poboys and Baumhow-er’s Restaurant. For more information, visit www.cetrivia.com.

While Challenge Entertainment runs the majority of trivia nights around town, there are other bars and restaurants that do it as well. Serda’s Coffee Company on South Royal Street holds “Trivia Tuesday” every week at 7 p.m., offering contestants

the chance to win great prizes, including free drinks all night. Similarly, The Blind Mule has trivia nights every Thursday and Mellow Mushroom on Airport offers it on Mondays, both also at 7 p.m.

So, if you’re looking for an entertain-ing night filled with cash prizes and free drinks, be sure to look out for the many trivia nights being held all around Mobile.

PHOTO FROM CHALLENGE ENTERTAINMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

PHOTO FROM CHALLENGE ENTERTAINMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE

7

Last month, the indie rock band Matt and Kim were welcomed back to the

Gulf Coast by thousands of wild, sunburned fans at the 2014 Hangout Music Festival. The Gulf Coast is familiar territory to them, and in an interview with The Vanguard, they recalled their last show in Mobile, Ala., held at the cof-fee shop we all know and love, Satori.

“I have a history in Mobile,” Matt Johnson, the lanky vocalist and keyboardist, said. “This was a number of years ago. I’d say fi ve to six years ago, we’d play a little cafe.”

At the time, the band toured exclusively through hole-in-the-wall establishments like Satori.

“We were still doing coffee shops, art spac-

By SAM ANDREWS Contributing Writer

Matt and Kim Matt and Kim party with party with 20,000 at 20,000 at

Hangout FestHangout Fest

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW REX STRICKLAND | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Festival goers keep beach balls in the air at Matt and Kim’s Hangout performance.

es, people’s houses, when we realized that we needed to actually go to a venue,” the spunky, every-smiling drummer, Kim Schifi no, said.

Word traveled about the band, and eventu-ally house parties morphed into block parties because the crowds of 200-plus could no lon-ger fi t indoors.

“It was kind of at the point where it’s like ‘This is not safe,’” Schifi no said.

Myspace boosted their popularity further, and eventually their small-show style couldn’t contain it anymore.

“All of a sudden, like a hundred thousand people would listen to us a day, and they’d be like ‘How do I get tickets to Ryan’s mom’s house?’” Johnson joked.

Though Matt and Kim say they miss hang-ing out with fans like they could at small venues,

they don’t miss driving nine hours only to have their house shows shut down after one song.

“We try to keep the intimacy that we had from way back then,” Schifi no said.

The connection the band makes with the audience makes everyone feel like they’re at the party.

“I think our whole style, of being the band that’s about having the party vibe, came from playing f***ing parties,” Johnson said excitedly.

Matt and Kim added that their two-piece party is just the right size.

“We tour with bands that have seven or eight members,” Schifi no said, “and sometimes you’re kind of like ‘Really? Do you need that many?’”

Even though any mistakes made are more prevalent, they say there’s less confl ict with just

two.“That’s one of the beauties of being a two

piece,” Johnson explained. “Me and Kim were in a relationship for years before. We were just two people who get along together, and so for us, when we started playing music, we were al-ready on the same page.”

During their performance at the Hangout Festival, where giant beach balls were in great supply and an energetic setlist was played, Matt and Kim made sure to give a shoutout to Mo-bile.

If you ask The Vanguard, it doesn’t matter whether it’s 20-something people crammed into a coffee house, or 20,000 on a beach at a major American music festival, Matt and Kim always know how to turn a show into a party.

Matt and Kim perform for

20,000 at Hangout Fest.

Their live show replicates a non-stop party.

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

8

Fitz and the Tantrums channel a new sound

Fitz and the Tantrums, the indie/soul group from Los Angeles,

had no problem giving the Hangout Fest crowd what they wanted. After all, the band’s persona stems from a willingness to please the crowd.

“Focus on the crowd,” is what bassist Joe Karnes told The Vanguard he does before stepping on stage. “Realize that this is some people’s night for that week or month or year, and that is a sacred and important thing. You have the responsi-bility to go out there and give them what they came for.”

Noelle Scaggs, vocalist, said her goal is to make the audience feel free.

“That’s definitely something that I ask for every single night before I go on-stage,” Scaggs said, “is for everybody to really experience a joyful moment. Whether one song touched them or the entire set. Just let go of your inhibitions and enjoy the music because that’s what you’re here for.”

The story goes that lead vocalist Mi-chael Fitzpatrick bought an old organ and was inspired to write “Breakin’ the

By SAM ANDREWS Contributing Writer

Chains of Love” that same night. Some phone calls and few referrals later, Fitz and the Tantrums was born. A week later, they booked their first performance.

Their first album, “Pickin’ up the Piec-es,” quickly gained attention with it’s Mo-town vibe, particularly their single “Mon-eyGrabber.”

Their latest album, “More than Just a Dream,” took on a pop aesthetic they’d wanted to try for a while.

“We came right off the end of touring and basically locked ourselves in the stu-dio and wrote, wrote, wrote,” Scaggs said.

The band decided to explore their sound, focusing on their pop sensibilities.

“There was a lot of adding other col-ors to the pallet,” Karnes said about their new album. “We really let the songs tell us how they needed to be presented.”

The members of Fitz and the Tan-trums had some advice for other budding musicians:

“Play, play to your heart’s content,” Scaggs said. “Remember why you’re doing it. Remember it’s the love of music and the way it translates.”

“Well also,” Karnes added, “if you want to do it as a career, make sure you have to do it in your soul because it’s a very tricky, tough road, and there are no guarantees.”

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW REX STRICKLAND | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

Noelle Scaggs (top) and Joe Karnes (bottom) spoke with The Vanguard about songwriting, performing and expanding their sound.

SPORTSSPORTS ALYSSA NEWTON SPORTS EDITORakn1104@jagail.southalabama.edu

LEAVE COMMENTS FOR SPORTS AT thevanguardonline.com/sportsfeedback

9

Senior Hannah Campbell and junior Farish Beard have been nationally recognized for their performances this season. ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR

Softball falls in regional, ends season 42-14Softball falls in regional, ends season 42-14

Follow us for news, updates and play-by-play tweets:

@USAVGSports

Blair Johnson @BlairBear_2Infi elder

“When it’s your turn, turn up.” #getRyledup #GoJags

Alyssa Linn @alyssalinn14Outfi elder

A smart car with rims, I guess that’s one way to make it cool.

Drew Dearman @Dewski72_Offensive Lineman

It’s amazing the redneck pearls of wisdom you can learn from my fellow Alabamians on the Finebaum show. #pawl

Justin Cullifer @J_Culli14Infi elder

Whoever came up with the idea of a Nerd slushy... You’re awesome. #SonicSwag

Bud Collura @BudCollura Third baseman

The kid just asked for the word in a sentance and the judge gave him “although her milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard” haha

Chris May @CmayFive5 Offensive Lineman

Just now fi gured out that the Brady Bunch is only related by marriage... They’re only step siblings.. I feel lied to and cheated.

Derek Westbrook @thedwestbrook25Track and Field

There is something with me and Gulf Shores that always results in me getting a sunburn, no matter how much sunscreen I put on. #YOLO

Jags make third-straight NCAA Tournament Regional appearance, third 40-win season

The South Alabama Jaguar softball team’s postseason

play was extended when given a spot to play in the Tuscaloosa Regional after falling to the Sun Belt Champions Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt National Championship game.

A day before the championship, second-seed USA defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 4-2 to face ULL once again in the championship game. In the final contest, after being tied at one after the first inning, two singles and a three-run homer in the sixth inning gave ULL the SBC title breaking the Jaguars’ streak and hopes of a three-peat as Sun Belt champions.

During the tournament, three Jags were named to the 2014 SBC All-Tournament Team. This included Hannah Campbell, Emily

Messer and Amanda Minahan.But this was not the end for

the Jags as they took part in the NCAA Tournament for the third year in the row. The Jags were slated to compete in Tuscaloosa Regional against USC Upstate, SIU-Edwardsville and No. 2 in the nation Alabama.

No. 21 South Alabama faced No. 24 USC Upstate in the opening round of the Tuscaloosa Regional at Rhoads Stadium.

In their first contest, the Jags fell 5-3 in eight innings, their first loss in extra-innings this season. Kaitlyn Griffith hit her third home run to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth to send the game into extra innings. The teams traded a run apiece in the first frame and Upstate scored a run in both the top of the fourth and the sixth.

Jag errors allowed Upstate to

reach in the top of the eighth and from there two additional runs were added to the Spartans score to give them the win. This put the Jags in the losing bracket to face SIU-Edwardsville and face USC Upstate one again. Winning both would mean facing Alabama in the final while a loss meant elimination and the end of the Jaguars’ season.

On Saturday, May 17 the Jaguars won both elimination games back-to-back with a 5-1 win over SIU-Edwardsville and shutting out USC Upstate 5-0.

Junior pitcher, Farish Beard, recorded a career-high 16 strikeouts against SIU-Edwardsville improving her season strikeout total to a career-best 223.

Chloe Rathburn would give the Jags their final runs with a three-run homer in the top of

the seventh inning. Against USC Upstate,

Campbell finished the night with three strikeouts to no walks and five hits allowed. She improved to 18-6 on the year.

Blair Johnson gave the Jags their first of five runs with a solo bomb in the top of the fourth, her fifth home run of the year. A mishandle of an Alex Breeden single scored Julie Moss and Griffith to make the score 3-0. Herron then joined the South Alabama bomb squad with a two-run homer to score Alyssa Linn pinch-running for Breeden to give the Jags their final run of the ballgame.

With these two wins, South Alabama would face Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Regional

ALYSSA NEWTON Sports Editor

See Softball Page 10

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

10

CCCaaallllll UUUsssToTT day For

SPECIAL DEALS

Call UsToday For

SPECIAL DEALS

All Companies Above Under Same Ownership

A-Cool Storage 251-662-1275www.acoolstoragemobile.com

All American Self Storage 251-639-0444www.allamericanstoragemobile.com

Dawes Stor-All 251-607-0655www.dawesstorallmobile.com

Grand Slam Storage 251-607-0775www.grandslamstoragemobile.com

Magnolia Storage 251-343-7867www.magnoliastoragemobile.com

StorageMax University 251-660-5058www.storagemaxmobile.com

USA Storage 251-341-4585www.usa-storage.net

WWW.MOBILESBESTSTORAGE.COMMOBILE’S BEST STORAGE

(some locations)

6520 Grelot RoadMobile, AL 36695

Phone: 251-607-0775

8601 Jeff Hamilton Road EastMobile, AL 36695

Phone: 251-607-0655

684 So. University BlvdMobile, AL 36695

Phone: 251-660-5058

5827 Old Shell RoadMobile, AL 36695

Phone: 251-341-4585

5010 Moffett RoadMobile, AL 36695

Phone: 251-343-7867

7870 Tanner Williams RoadMobile, AL 36608

Phone: 251-639-04443310 Demetropolis Road

Mobile, AL 36693Phone: 251-662-1275

10%StudentDiscountwith this ad

SoftballSoftballContinued from Page 9

final, their third trip to a regional championship in as many years. Against Alabama, the Jags faced the task of a must-win doubleheader to advance to the Super Regionals.

But unlike their efforts the previous day, it took Alabama only one game to shut out the Jaguars to end their postseason play with a 3-0 victory.

“I am extremely proud of my kids,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “I can honestly say that they left everything on the field – there was no holding back. Our kids went after it 100 percent, even in front of a stadium full of people. They had the audacity to believe that they could come out and win two games. That is what you are supposed

to do – you are supposed to step out on the field knowing that you can get it done. If you don’t believe that you shouldn’t be on the field. Our kids did that and I am proud of them for making that decision.”

For seniors Moss and Campbell, this was their final game as Jaguars.

After an arm injury that limited her play time her final year, Moss batted .302 (13-for-43) with five runs and three RBIs. She led her team at the Tuscaloosa Regional, going 6-for-15 (.400) with .400 slugging and on-base percentages.

According to USA Jaguars, Campbell finished her Jaguar career as the program’s all-time leader in fewest walks allowed per seven innings (1.24), wins (83), saves (16), appearances (149), complete games (93), games finished (40), innings pitched (791.1)

and strikeouts looking (180).

Campbell made her debut as an Akron Racer Friday, May 30, 2014. Campbell was drafted third overall in the National Pro Fastpitch draft and is the first female in South Alabama history to be drafted to a professional team. Campbell earned an All-American distinction for the second year in a row this year. Campbell was an All-South Region selection in each of her four years at South Alabama and was thrice named to the first team. She is USA’s first and only All-American.

The team finishes 42-14 on the year, marking their third-straight 40-win season and regional appearance.

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

11

Baseball hosts Sun Belt Conference ChampionshipBaseball hosts Sun Belt Conference ChampionshipUSA earns No. 7 seed, falls in second round with double elimination losses against UTA, ASU

The South Alabama Jaguars were elimi-nated from the Sun Belt Conference

baseball tournament after back-to-back losses to UT-Arlington and Arkansas State. The No. 7 seeded Jaguars (22-31) fell to No. 2 Texas Arlington (30-25) 8-4 on Wednesday, May 21, the opening night of the tournament. Travis Sibley led UTA with four RBIs and two runs scored. Drew LaBounty led the Jags at the plate, fi nishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs, tying his career high in hits.

The Mavericks took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Greg McCall scored on JM Twichell’s double. UTA brought the score to 2-0 in the bottom of the third when Ryan Bottger scored on a double by Matt Shortall. UTA scored once again in the bottom of the fourth when Sibley’s RBI allowed Darien

McLemore to reach home plate. Sibley scored later in the fourth on a wild pitch by James Tray-lor, bringing the score to 4-0. During the fi fth inning, UTA doubled their lead with four runs by Twichell, Levi Scott, McLemore and Sibley consecutively. The Mavericks led 8-0 heading into the sixth inning.

South Alabama scored their fi rst runs in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, LaBounty singled to right fi eld, allowing Con-nor Hawthorne and Cameron Cummings to score and cutting the UTA lead to 8-2. Garrett DeGallier’s double later in the inning allowed Davis Knapp to score, bringing the score to 8-3. The Jags’ fi nal run came in the top of the ninth when Cole Gleason scored on a Hayden Jones single for the 8-4 score.

The Jags took the fi eld again Thursday after-noon to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Gleason led South at the plate, going 3-for-

5 with one RBI. DeGallier went 2-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Tanner Ring led the Red Wolves offensively, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Arkansas State (31-26) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the fi rst, with Zach Maggio scoring off Ring’s RBI.

With the bases loaded for South in the bot-tom of the fi rst, DeGallier scored a run on Eric Hindmon’s RBI. USA took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, when DeGallier reached second base on a fi elding error by AUS fi rst baseman Matt Burgess, and later scored on Hawthorne’s RBI single to give South a 2-1 lead.

ASU came back to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Derek Briginske. Austin Baker hit an RBI single to give the Red Wolves a 3-2 lead. Stuart Levy reached second base on an error by Cummings, and later scored on Lucas Feddersen’s RBI double,

bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of ASU.DeGallier scored his third run of the day,

and South’s fi nal run of the game, on an RBI single by Gleason in the bottom of the ninth. The 4-3 loss marked the end of South’s post-season.

“We left a lot of men on base early on,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said in a postgame interview. “You look back on it, and if you could have scratched one or two in the early innings, you wouldn’t be in that predicament, but we were, and that’s been a theme with our offense this spring, and it got us again today.”

The tournament culminated in an exciting championship game between the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and the UT-Arlington Mavericks. Ultimately, ULL took home the championship after defeating the Mavericks 6-5.

AARON POIROUXSports Reporter

Gleason earns only All-Sun Belt honors for JaguarsGleason earns only All-Sun Belt honors for JaguarsBy AARON POIROUXSports Reporter

At the 2014 Sun Belt Conference family fun

night and home run durby, University of South Alabama baseball player Cole Gleason was named second-team all-Sun Belt Conference.

Gleason, a junior outfi elder, led the South Alabama Jags in batting average (.333), runs scored (26), hits (68), home runs (3) RBI (33), slugging percentage (.436), and on-base percentage (.422) in 53 games.

Against Sun Belt Conference opponents, Gleason hit .381 with seven doubles and three homeruns.

He hit 29 RBI and scored 15 runs in SBC contests with a slugging percentage of .522 and an on-base percentage of .454. In the fi rst round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, Gleason

went 3-for-3, scoring one run against UT Arlington.

In South’s second game of the tournament against Arkansas State University, he went 3-for-5.

Gleason had a remarkable season in an otherwise down year for the South Alabama Jaguars.

Some of his highlights include a walk-off double in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift the Jaguars to a a 2-1 victory over Troy to even the SBC series.

Gleason also hit his fi rst career home runs with two in as many games in a home series against Louisiana-Monroe.

An April 26 game saw Gleason hit a career high four RBI against ULM. Gleason also managed to come back from hand injury towards the end of the season that was at fi rst glance was believed to be a seaon ending injury.

Gleason is the only Jaguar this season to receive All-SBC honors.

Junior outfi elder Cole Gleason was the only South Alabama baseball player to receive an All-Sun Belt honor. Gleason was named to the second team All-Sun Belt team and represented USA in the home run derby.

ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR

South Alabama held the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament at Stanky Field. ALYSSA NEWTON | SPORTS EDITOR

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

12

By DREW SCELSI Sports Reporter

USA track and field place in Sun Belt ChampionshipUSA track and field place in Sun Belt Championship

The South Alabama men’s track and fi eld team fi nished

third in the Sun Belt Championship this May, behind a strong performance from distance runner Michael Pienaar.

Pienaar won the 1,500-meter with a time of 3 minutes, 49.93 seconds and fi nished third and second in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events, respectively. The freshman fi nished with 24 points, tied for the most overall with Western Kentucky’s Elvyonn Bailey, who notched victories in both the 200- and 400-meter events.

South Alabama held a fi ve-point lead heading into the fi nal day of competition, but Texas-Arlington and surprise team Western Kentucky were able to overtake the Jaguars. UTA’s strong performance on the fi nal day included both a fi rst- and third-place fi nish in the 100-meter dash and a victory in the 4x100-meter relay.

WKU surged to their second-place fi nish on the fi nal day behind

a dominating effort in the 200-meter dash, an event in which three Hilltoppers fi nished in the top four – including Bailey’s fi rst-place fi nish – earning 21 points for that event alone. Western Kentucky also took fi rst place in the 400-, 800-, and 5,000-meter events, as well as the 4x400-meter relay.

The Jags’ best event was the hammer throw competition, with four athletes scoring points. Freshman Renaldo Frechou won the event, with Adam Patterson, Jeff Long and Jan-Louw Kotze fi nishing third, fi fth and sixth respectively.

The Jaguars won again in the discus throw behind Kotze, who defended his Sun Belt title from last year with a throw of 56.20 meters, nearly 3.5 meters longer than Texas State runner-up Kole Knutson’s toss of 52.74 meters.

The 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Michael Smith, Spencer Anderson, Tevin Barnett and Mark Watts took third with a time of 3:13.75.

Other strong performances posted by the Jaguars included second- and fourth-place fi nishes by Connor Smith and Garrett

Men finish third while women place fifth, two student-athletes to go on to NCAA Championship

South bass fishing competes in national championship South bass fishing competes in national championship

The University of South Alabama Bass Club competed in the Cabela’s Colle-

giate Bass Fishing Championship in Florence, Ala., May 21 through May 24. This is the third consecutive time that multiple teams have qual-ifi ed for the championship, but with this trip the third time proved not to be a charm, but a challenge for the team as they faced multiple obstacles over a period of fi ve days.

In the championship, over 180 boats par-ticipated in the event representing colleges from all over the United States, two of which were USA’s teams made up of duos, Travis Johns and MJ Vihnanek and Jennings Earnest and Murphy Klumpp.

Johns, a senior offi cer of the team, returned the championship for his third time represent-ing South Alabama. He told The Vanguard that this year was unlike any other with multiple strange mishaps.

The fi rst day of the teams’ arrival and prac-tice went as normal with no complications in sight, but with the second day came the domi-no effect of strange occurrences for the team.

“The second day of practice nothing went

Schumacher in the pole vault, a second-place fi nish by Patrick Rohr in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and a fi fth-place fi nish by Rohr in the 1,500-meter event. Schumacher also fi nished second in the decathlon competition.

“I think our teams now know that we are capable of winning a Sun Belt Championship,” coach Paul Brueske said. “Despite the fact that our league is the toughest it has ever been, we are very close to a championship level with our program. We just have to be focused on continual improvement.”

Brueske was optimistic about the teams’ performances, despite coming up short at the end. “This season we had a dozen new school records, a pile of All-Sun Belt performers and several athletes qualifying for the NCAA East Preliminaries. We are doing that while maintaining the highest team GPA our program has ever had. Academically, we are ranked amongst the highest teams at South Alabama and in the Sun Belt, so I am proud of our efforts as a whole and look to continue getting better.”

On the women’s side, freshman Kaitlyn Beans set a new school

record in the triple jump with a distance of 13.19 meters, which was good enough for fi rst place and was the top distance in the Sun Belt for 2014. Beans also took fourth in the long jump with a distance of 6.11 meters and sixth in high jump with a 1.61-meter mark.

“It truly was an honor,” Beans said of her performance in the triple jump. “This is my fi rst year triple jumping, and when I was learning, I was extremely nervous about doing something new. When I got to (the Sun Belt Championship), I was shooting for 41 feet, but my best (jump) ended up being 43 feet. I was so proud of myself. My hard work paid off, and now I’m striving for more.”

Sophomore Phoebe Dawson extended her school record in the discus throw to 48.11 meters, earning third place, and senior Bobbie Williamson took second in the hammer throw with a toss of 58.86 meters.

“Our women’s team was still relatively young,” Brueske said. “It was good to see both Kaitlyn (Beans) and Phoebe (Dawson) emerge at the Sun Belt meet. I think if we can get

Two teams qualify for championship and a multitude of obstacles in the collegiate competition wrong,” Johns said. “That was until MJ got a hook through his teeth.”

Vihnanek, the member fi shing with Johns, through some strange mishap managed to have a hook through his gums between his front two teeth while practicing. Not only did that injury, but Johns also took a three quarter ounce jig to the head, giving him a cut right above his eyes from a miscast during the fi rst day of the tournament. Both injuries were mi-nor and didn’t require medical treatment.

“The third day we had been practicing for about two, three hours.” Johns said. “Then my gear casing (on the boat motor) went out.”

This was a big problem for the Jaguar team, the means of fi xing the boat and competing would include spending over $1,500 on repairs. The chances of both teams competing looked very slim.

“There was no possible way to fi x it in time for the national championship,” Johns said. “After thinking our trip was over I told my partner ‘Just wait, maybe a miracle will hap-pen.’”

Whether you want to call it a miracle or a random act of kindness, the team had just that happen.

“Our miracle came in the form of a loaned, almost new boat from Shane Cox, the owner

of Hammer fi shing rods,” Johns said. “He let us go get his boat from a dealership and use it for the tournament. I was amazed by this. I will now always use Hammer rods, due to their kind owner.”

Both teams went on to fi nish in the top 65 with a 32nd fi nish by Earnest and Klumpp and a 61st fi nish by Johns and Vihnanek. Earnest did give the team some national attention by winning a $200 lifejacket after winning a cast-

ing contest put on by the event by out-casting over 300 participants.

With this year completed the bass fi shing team will be losing many members and encour-age all those interested in becoming part of the team and possibly be a part of another trip to fi sh for a national championship to contact the group and join.

The competition will be on aired on NBC Sports this coming August.

By ALYSSA NEWTON Sports Editor

COURTESY OF USA BASS FISHING TEAM

some of our other younger athletes to emerge, we will continue to get better and improve our standing in the league.”.

South Alabama sends nine athletes to compete at the NCAA Division I East Region Preliminary Championships. Three Lady Jaguars qualifi ed for their third-straight preliminary event: Noelle Jones and Leah Hixon both qualifi ed for javelin, and Williamson qualifi ed for the hammer throw. Jones also qualifi ed for high jump, and Beans qualifi ed for triple jump.

Five men qualifi ed for the Jags, with Smith and Kotze making their second-straight appearances in pole vault and discus respectively. Patrick Rohr will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Sun Belt champion Frechou and senior Patterson qualifi ed for the hammer throw.

Freshman Beans and sophomore Frenchou both qualifi ed for the NCAA Championship. Beans is the fi rst in school history to advance in any jumping event. They will represent the South Alabama in the championship in Eugrne, Ore. June 11-14.

Jennings Earnest and Murphy Klumpp fi nished 31 of 180 collegiate teams.

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

By ALEXANDER MOYLANContributing Writer

13OpinionOpinion JORDAN KNOX, OPINION EDITOR

kjk1103@jagmail.southalabama.eduLEAVE COMMENTS FOR OPINION AT thevanguardonline.com/opinionfeedback

In the fall semester of 2013, a personal security system

in the form of a smartphone ap-plication was introduced to stu-dents, faculty and staff of the University of South Alabama. USA partnered with MyForce to create the app, appropriately named MyForce Campus System, as an additional force of protec-

tion on South’s campus. Though the app can be downloaded by anyone in the country who has a compatible smartphone, USA was the first university in Ala-bama to incorporate it into its existing campus safety program.

It works like this: once a user sends a MyForce alert, a security agent will contact local authori-ties (in this case, the campus police) while also tracking the user’s movements through real-time GPS location updates and recording any available audio. In addition, the app transmits user-provided personal infor-mation to emergency personnel, including the user’s name, photo, phone number, emergency con-tacts and known safety issues.

Initially, such an application appears to be beneficial on a campus like South’s which is de-void of Blue Light Emergency

Phones that other campuses use, including Auburn University, University of Alabama and Troy University. But, if all of the oth-er large universities in Alabama have Blue Light Phones, why don’t we?

Blue Light Emergency Phone Booths are manufactured by the Code Blue Corporation whose company goal is to instill a sense of security wherever the booths are placed. These stand-alone call boxes come in the form of a pole or wall-mounted unit and have either an area light or blue strobe light on the top. They also include a two-button speak-erphone, an overhead camera mount and vandal resistant hard-ware.

Easily visible from long dis-tances, these booths serve not only as an emergency response tool but also as a crime deterrent

in particularly dangerous areas or, in this case, just the typical, poorly lit areas that can be found on any campus in America.

Instead of investing in Code Blue telephones, South recom-mends purchasing and installing the MyForce application, which requires a paid subscription. My-Force is $99 a month, or by us-ing the promo code “Jaguars,” students are able to purchase the app for $11.99 a month after a 30-day free trial.

I, for one, do not think we should be expected to pay more, on top of the thousands we pay for tuition already, to feel safe on campus. Is USA really doing ev-erything it can to keep us safe?

In 2012, South was ranked the eighth most dangerous college in America by Business Insider, making it the most dangerous campus in Alabama. With these

statistics, I can’t help but won-der if having Blue Light phones would make a difference.

While some question whether Blue Light Emergency Phones are even utilized on campuses that have them installed and ar-gue that they only offer a false sense of security, I sincerely ask the administrators of our univer-sity to consider this added safety precaution. Too many students on campus and in the immedi-ate surrounding areas have fallen victim to criminal acts.

On my small Colorado cam-pus, Blue Light Emergency Booths made me feel safe. As re-cent incidents have proven that crime can occur in any area of South’s campus, night or day, they must consider this option as well. MyForce and the campus police are simply not enough.

Safety on campus is a growing concern among studentsSafety on campus is a growing concern among students

Facebook is taking “creeping” to a whole new levelFacebook is taking “creeping” to a whole new level

By JORDAN KNOXOpinion Editor

As a millennial living in the age of ever-evolving technology, not

much surprises me anymore. Every time a new gadget comes out, I casually accept that it was bound to happen eventually. But do we really need all of this technol-ogy?

I have both a Twitter and a Facebook account. Due to the excessive amounts of useless notifi cations, just having those two is enough to make me want to chuck my smartphone. Yet, it seems that just about everyone is able to manage multiple social media accounts. I don’t know how they keep up with all of those notifi cations.

According to the Social Media Update 2013 by Pew Research Center, the most

popular social media platform in 2013 was Facebook. PRC said that 71 percent of adults reported using it while only 18 percent said they used Twitter. Interest-ingly, 42 percent of all online adults use some form of social media, so it seems almost taboo not to be involved. The mo-ment you tell someone you don’t have a Facebook account, they look at you like you have fi ve eyes and an extra arm grow-ing out of your chest.

As reported by Business Insider, one in every fi ve people in the world owns a smartphone. I have an iPhone, and I re-cently found out that it has a creepy fea-ture called “Frequent Locations” that is automatically turned on when I activate my phone.

To fi nd it, open the “Settings” app, tap “Privacy,” then “Location Services,” “Sys-tem Services” and fi nally “Frequent Lo-cations.” You might be surprised to fi nd that your iPhone has a list of all the places you’ve visited lately. This feature also cat-egorizes the locations based on where you have been and what time you went there. My phone knew how many times I had been to Wal-Mart in the past month, and even catalogued my address and my boy-friend’s address.

Things like that make me wonder what Apple is doing with my information. Why

is it being stored on my phone and could it possibly also be stored somewhere else? Maybe that’s just me being paranoid but you have to admit, it’s a little scary.

Facebook has taken steps in order to stay relevant by creating a new feature called “Nearby Friends.” Now not only does your phone know where you are at all times, but so do your buddies! You can awkwardly creep on what they’re doing in real time instead of waiting for them to post about it after the fact! Hooray!

Like most of Facebook’s other fea-tures, this one isn’t turned on by default, thank God. If you do choose to turn it on, you will see a list of all your nearby friends who also use the feature. It will

display their general location and if you want, it will even show their precise loca-tion.

In an interview at the release event for the new feature, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says that “Nearby Friends” is meant to encourage “face-to-face interac-tion.” Allowing you to see how many of your friends are close by is supposed to make you feel inclined to put your phone down and have real human interaction in-stead of hiding behind a phone screen.

Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. To me, this is just one more way that our ad-diction to technology has gotten out of hand. Personally, I miss the less techno-logically advanced ‘90s.

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

14

Are music festivals good clean fun or do they do more harm than good?

Sheree’ Covington They can be both.

Julie Roden Music festivals are great and I think the good weighs out the bad

Shannon House I like music festivals, but I feel that there are defi nitely some negative aspects. For one,

water is always super pricy, and communal water generally is hot or overcrowded by other festival goers.

Also, you really only hear the hits of the bands you see because there are so many bands that perform. I

like smaller venues because you hear more of a band’s work, but festivals are awesome for seeing a bunch of bands you may not have been able to see under

normal circumstances.Facebook.com/

TheVanguardUSA

POINTCOUNTERPOINTCOUNTERPOINTMusic festivals: good clean fun or an environmental disaster?

Editor’s note: Music festivals are a wonderful way to bring people from around the world together in the name of a common interest: music! However, some people still fi nd that the bad outweighs the good.

Karie Fugett Rachel McMullen

An overpriced environmental disaster

For the average college student, the music festival scene is the mecca of entertain-

ment and weekend debauchery. Flower head-bands and tie dye regalia reign supreme at this pseudo hippie gathering, where drug induced dancing and mosh pit thrashing move the throngs of music fans packed together like un-washed sardines. It’s a sweaty, hot mess.

Music festivals are known for both their characteristically colorful crowds and their in-ternal drug networks. Ranging from the harm-less marijuana enthusiast to the more troubling Molly dealer, the array of ticket holders can have a tragic infl uence on the experimental col-lege student somewhere in between. Numerous overdoses have occurred within the barricades of any given music festival, and some cases can be uncomfortably extreme. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, 70 people attending the 2013 Paradiso outdoor music festival in Gorge, Wash., were sent to area hospitals after a “mass overdose” on MDMA.

As widespread drug usage rages on inside music festival gates, security remains a diffi cult issue to resolve. This year in Miami, a security guard was trampled by a stampede of music fans trying to hop the fence supposedly guarding the Ultra Music Festival. Here and at other music festivals worldwide, individual festival-goers dis-solve into an uncontrollable herd of devotees.

How exactly can a limited police force regulate a tightly compacted mass of fanatical fandom?

This is to say nothing of the disastrous envi-ronmental consequences of such a short festi-val. Consider all of the aluminum beer cans and plastic plates and paper cups needed to satisfy the thousands of attendants, in addition to the expanse of abandoned tents, sleeping bags, and other gear. These items are discarded haphaz-ardly until the scarce trashcan are overfl owing with a unique collection of waste encouraged by the massive party atmosphere. Recycling practices are generally inadequate on festival grounds and attempts by festival-throwers to be more environmentally friendly with a Leave No Trace approach are often ignored by festival-goers.

Trash is not the only type of waste mass pro-duced at a music festival. Fleets of fuel-burning transport vehicles and fi elds of gas-guzzling generators leave an enormous carbon footprint behind, as demonstrated by a 2010 report pub-lished in the journal, Environmental Research Letters. The study found that 500 music festivals in the UK emit a combined 84,000 tons of CO2 a year. According to the World Bank’s calcula-tions for CO2 production in the UK, this ac-counts for the yearly per capita output of nearly 11,000 individuals. I can only imagine how high that number would be if it were applied to the hundreds of music festivals put on in the United States.

As the illusory ambiance of peace and free love collides with the harsh reality of unsustain-ability and destructive consumption, I have to wonder if festival-goers will ever recognize the consequences of their annual all-out rage. They need to realize that the effects of their weekend of decadence lasts longer than an aching hang-over or peeling sunburn. In the end, the cost of an overpriced ticket is eclipsed by the social and environmental price that is paid in the name of celebration and fun.

Festivals can bring people together

Nothing quite compares to music when it comes to uniting people. Where

there is music, people will come together as they dance and sing and will momentarily forget the cares of the world. Packed with the best musi-cians of the time and a congregation of infec-tiously friendly people, music festivals are no different.

One of my favorite memories was during the 2013 Hangout Festival. My boyfriend Nick and I stood next to Perdido Beach Boulevard wait-ing for our cab when a man in a bright blue jeep with the top and doors taken off pulled over. He stuck his head out, his curly afro wild from the open salty air, and asked, “Ya’ll need a ride?”

Never before would I have considered hitch-hiking, but it was sunny out and everyone I had met that day was smiling. It felt right, and I was pretty sure the guy wasn’t a murderer, so we jumped in. Our new friend drove us to the festival and dropped us off, his hand waving a peace sign as he turned around and drove back the way we came.

The entire weekend was that way – everyone more friendly and generous than usual, like a big family – a nice change from the usual averted eyes that I’m accustomed to when crossing a stranger’s path.

I went to the 2014 Hangout Festival with high expectations because of the good time I

had the year before. I was not disappointed. The food was surprisingly delicious (I suggest the falafel with hummus), the line-up was amazing and because I knew how to plan I was able to avoid some of the things naysayers warn about.

Here are some things I recommend to en-sure an optimal experience:

To save money, get the less expensive ticket price by purchasing early. Often there are water fi lling stations that allow patrons to refi ll their water for free, so bring a camelbak or water bottle. Just outside the gates of the Hangout Festival, Pink Pony Pub sells regularly priced food and alcohol, a great way to save some cash in between bands. Often local campsites turn into communities of fellow festival-goers for the weekend, so consider booking a campsite in-stead of a hotel. They are less expensive and are a great way to meet new people. Be creative and research each festival to see what other money saving options you can come up with.

Comfort can be a concern, particularly with such large crowds, but it’s all in the mindset. There are typically main pathways that the mass-es will follow. Avoid them and, instead, fi nd the ones less wandered. Also bring a backpack with essentials. A few items I like to bring include sunscreen, chapstick and a long-sleeve pullover. Every festival is different so do your research and plan ahead.

The effect festivals have on the environment is defi nitely a concern, so be conscientious. Do your part as an individual. Keep track of your things. Use the recycling bins. And don’t forget your camelbak or water bottle as that will cut down on plastic waste. For more ideas on how to make festivals more green, visit www.agreen-erfestival.com.

As with anything, it’s not good to be reckless, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. So don’t let fuddy-duddies convince you to miss out. Get your early-bird ticket, book your camp-site, and get ready to have the time of your life!

Stuart Sox Of course there can be issues when you have a bunch of people in one place. But the

experience is worth it!

VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

JORDAN KNOX, OPINION EDITORkjk1103@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Heros vs. VillainsHeros vs. Villains

HoroscopesHoroscopesAries 3.20-4.19: With the spring semester in the

rearview, all your sense of responsibility has been lost. But try not to go too crazy this summer. You may only live once, but letting your frat brothers shave YOLO in your chest hair after a night of binge drinking might not be the best idea.

Taurus 4.20-5.20: Your stressful semester has left you feeling a bit psychotic so maybe it’s time for a ”me day.” Sometimes it’s okay to let loose and get a little crazy, young bull, but yelling at the barista for not giving you that extra shot of espres-so is starting to scare everyone.

Gemini 5.21-6.20: Ah, Gemini. Your fun-loving attitude is not easily missed. Maybe it’s time to use your energy in a more constructive way. Here’s a tip: you could take up a hobby other than binge eating Doritos and watching Netfl ix.

Cancer 6.21-7.22: You haven’t exactly been the easiest person to be around the past few weeks. You’re done with the semester but you’ve had no trouble fi nding new things to stress out about. It’s no wonder your sign is a crab.

Leo 7.23-8.22: Your bravery has defi nitely not been in short supply this summer, lion cub. Af-ter all your crazy adventures you’re getting a little worn out. Take some time to chill and relax. You don’t have to be a daredevil 24/7.

Virgo 8.23-9.22: This summer is full of op-portunity for you, Virgo. Step out of your comfort zone and do something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the guts for. I’m not saying you need to go cliff diving or propose to your favorite server at Chipotle, but jeez kid, go have a little fun.

Libra 9.23-10.22: Romance has been at the top of your priorities for a while now and you may think you’ve found “the one,” but think twice be-fore you lock in your answer with that guy you met at the club last week. If his ex-girlfriend’s name tattooed on his bicep, he’s probably not the guy for you.

Scorpio 10.23-11.21: You could not be more re-lieved that the semester is far behind you. You’ve even gone as far as throwing an “I hate school” party at your house. So what if you didn’t invite anyone, and yeah you may have ordered fi ve piz-zas, but at least you’re letting your frustrations out in a healthy way … right?

Sagittarius 11.22-12.21: You’ve always been a big believer in chasing your dreams, and so far it has paid off. Now, more than ever, it’s important that you stick to your guns and go for any opportu-nities that might help you reach your goals.

Capricorn 12.22-1.19: Oops, you’ve done it again, Capricorn. And I’m not talking a simple,

BANEBATMANCAPTAIN AMERICACAT WOMANDEADSHOTDOCTOR OCTOPUSGREEN LANTERNHARLEY QUINNHOBGOBLINHULK

HUMAN TORCHIRON MANJOKERLEX LUTHERLOKIMAGNETOMRF ANTASTICMYSTIQUEPENGUIN

RIDDLERSILVER SURFERSPIDERMANSUPERMANTHORTWO FACEVENOMWOLVERINEWONDER WOMAN

ANSWER KEY FOR APRIL 28

my-shirt-is-on-inside-out-again mistake like you oh so often make. This time it’s much bigger and the consequences are yet to be seen. You might want to be looking for as many four leaf clovers as you can fi nd. You’re gonna need a lot of good luck to help you get through this one.

Aquarius 1.20-2.18: Stop what if-ing every little thing. The past is the past and no matter how hard you try, you’re never going to change the fact that you didn’t say anything to Ryan Gosling when you saw him at the airport that one time.

Pisces 2.19-3.20: If you’re feeling a little tired lately, it’s probably because you’ve been up all night, every night trying to catch up on “Orange is the New Black” before the new season comes out. Stop. Sleep. Your body will thank you and you’ll fi nally be able to exist like a normal human. And that eye twitch you’ve developed will be as good as gone.

Student Health would like to welcome Candyce Morris, WHNP

Candyce Morris, WHNP is now accepting appointments.Specializing in Women’s Health

GYN services, STI screening and Contraceptive Counseling(251) 460- 7151Student Health

TRP III Bldg Suite 1200 off USA North Drive

DistractionsVOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014

16 VOL. 55, NO. 1/ JUNE 2, 2014