Go to Class!

Students Should Go to Class
We have all been there; its 7:00 am and the alarm is sounding in an attempt to wake you for that 8:00 am class on
the other side of campus. You stop to contemplate; should I get up and go to class or catch up on an hour of sleep? For some
reason or another, you decide to disable the alarm and sleep for an extra hour, reassuring yourself it won’t matter in the long
run. Is the extra sleep really worth the consequences of missing class? Before answering think of the all the information
presented in class that a student wasn’t there to write down not to mention the easy attendance points they could have
received. Skipping class is one of easiest ways for students to not only flat line semester after semester; but if students went to
class, we would see outstanding academic merit, more students being prepared for class and not cramming, and our tuition
money would be used to better our chances of success.
Most students have come to justify missing classes with little or no guilt, and without a valid reason or excuse. Under the
false assumption that missing only one class won’t hurt them, students have become more likely to skip class. Some students
would say that skipping class is no big deal it’s only one, and it is that false idea that hurts so many students in college. Some
students have seen how others never go to class yet still come out with decent grades, so they follow suit only to realize it was
a bad decision. College is known for its wild nights which don’t typically lead to making it to that 9 am class. Not to mention
those students who live off campus who required to get up at least 15 to 20 minutes earlier compared to those who can wait
to the last minute to wake up. No matter what the excuses are to miss class, students should really look into how the points
for attendance break down in your class.
For those students who make it to their classes on a regular basis, they know very well the numerous advantages of
attending class. For one, many classes offer bonus points for attendance by simply signing the roll sheet, which often helps a
student who may have bombed a test or assignment. In most other classes attendance is required and is counted in their final
grade. Attendance points can range from 10% of a final grade all the way to 30%. So for example a class is scaled on 80% from
4 tests throughout the semester, and 20% from attendance. If a student receives an 85% average on their tests but only went to
class 50% of the time their final grade would be a 78%. Now compare that to a student who also received an 85% average on
their tests and when to class 80% of time, their final grade would be an 84%, compared to a 78%. Whether attendance is bonus
or required students who attend will not only help themselves by helping their grade but will also help them retain the
information.
Another benefit of students regularly attending class is students will be there for the lecture, and students will also be
able to ask questions if they are confused. In higher level classes it is the kiss of death for a student who does not attend class
because many professors do not go directly from the book; they also take many topics discussed in lecture and put them on
the exam. Not to mention in some of the smaller class’s professors know students by name; which can help when students
need a little extra help. By attending class students will also be able to retain the material and not have to cram the night
before, which will in turn boost their academic performance.
From the financial standpoint, missing one to two classes can become pricy.
UA’s fall 2009 tuition stands at $3900 per semester for in state and $9600 for out of state. For example, say a class meets 3
times a week throughout the semester, two students both miss five classes, but one is in state and one is out of state. Each
class cost $91 in state, and $223 for out of state. In the long run the in state student lost $455, and the out of state student
lost $1,115. Regardless of which tuition you look at, one can clearly see missing only a couple of class can be a waste of time
and money. Students are in college to get an education; they might as well do what they are supposed to, by going to class and
doing the work.
Overall those students who regularly attend class will come to realize not only will their grades improve, but they will learn
the material instead of memorizing it the night before the test. By going to class students will feel more comfortable about the
material and they will be equipped to have greater success not only in the classroom but in life as well. So the next time you
hear the alarm going off don’t even think about going back to sleep, suck it up and go to class.

"Yea Alabama"

I went to my very first University of Alabama football game just a few weeks ago. I remember standing in the crowd with my friends as they cheered loudly and belted lyrics to different songs. I had heard these famous chants before such as “Rammer Jammer” and “Yea Alabama” but I was not able to keep up with everyone as they belted the fight song, “Yea Alabama! Drown 'em Tide! Every Bama man's behind you! Hit your Stride! Go teach the Bulldogs to behave! Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave! And if a man starts to weaken that's a shame! For Bama's pluck and grit have writ her name in Crimson Flame! Fight on! Fight on! Fight on, men! Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then! Go roll to victory! Hit your stride! Your Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide Roll Tide Roll Tide.” After the game, my friend taught me the words and I ended up getting into a discussion as to why the song is referring to the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets when those two teams are not really considered our rivals anymore. The lyrics in this song should be changed from Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets to Tigers and Volunteers. The lyrics of the song were written by a student named Ethelred Lundy Sykes who submitted the song as part of a contest held by the University of Alabama newspaper after the 1926 Rose bowl. However that was 83 years ago, it is time to change the tradition and lyrics of this fantastic song in order to make it relevant to today’s competition between the Tide and our current slew of SEC rivals.

The first mascot mentioned in the song is the Bulldogs. Some Alabama fans that I have talked to said that they feel apathetic towards the bulldogs being mentioned in the fight song. If the “Bulldogs” in the fight song is referring to the Georgia Bulldogs, the rivalry between the Tide and the Dogs is not particularly strong or controversial because the two only play each other twice every six years. There really is no point in keeping them in our fight song when we play them so infrequently and when we do, it has no bearing on our SEC west chances. Though, if the “Bulldogs” in the fight song is referring to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, then the feeling about that rival is still rather apathetic. Most Alabama fans will agree that whenever Alabama plays Mississippi State no one gets too worked up about it or even stresses much at all about the competition. Of the 93 times the two teams have met the Tide have won 72 of those games, that’s a 77% win percentage. If this lackluster feeling is true for most Alabama fans, then why are they mentioned in our official fight song? If we really want our fans to scream the fight song loud and be passionate about the competition mentioned in the song, then we should definitely change the words to “tigers” and “volunteers” like was mentioned earlier.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are the other team mentioned in the fight song. However the Yellow Jackets are not even in the SEC anymore and as a result are definitely not considered one of Alabama’s rivals. Georgia Tech decided to leave the SEC in 1964, after being a part of the conference since 1895. There is great controversy between Alabama’s most famous coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, and Georgia Tech’s great coach, Robert “Bobby” Dodd. One theory is that the two coaches had a harsh falling out, despite the fact that they had got along for years and had great respect for one another on and off the field. Another theory stems from a game between the two teams in 1963. Alabama defeated Georgia Tech 10-0, but during that game, an Alabama player came at a Georgia Tech player with his elbow knocking him across the face. The Georgia Tech player suffered a shattered cheek bone and lost several teeth. The public wanted the Alabama player to be punished publically, but Bryant made remarks to the Atlanta media proclaiming that he would discipline his player accordingly and that no one else should tell him how to handle his team members. Dodd was not satisfied because no one really knew if the Alabama player was even disciplined and so as a result Bryant and Dodd stopped speaking to one another and Georgia Tech abruptly left the conference in 1964 after losing another game to Alabama.

By changing the song to mention the tigers, “Yea Alabama” would be referring to two of our big rivals, the LSU Tigers, and the Auburn Tigers. Alabama and LSU have been big competitors in the SEC since 1932, and even more so in recent history after becoming competitors in the SEC West since 1992. The Alabama versus LSU rivalry has gotten an extra dose of excitement due to our current coach, Nick Saban, who has turned Alabama into a winning team and SEC West champions the last two years. The champion before that was LSU. Saban was also the coach for LSU back in 2003 when they won the national championship. Whenever Alabama faces off against LSU, some media outlets refer to the game as the “Saban Bowl”.

As for the competition between Alabama and Auburn, that infamous in-state rivalry has been a big one for a long, long time. Alabama and Auburn had their first match up against one another on February 22, 1893, and since then have competed in the annual Iron Bowl, a series that Alabama leads with an overall record of 39-33-1. Today the games are played at Bryant-Denny Stadium every even-numbered year and at Jordan-Hare Stadium every odd-numbered year. It is one of the greatest rivalries in history that transcends many different sporting competitions between the two schools. Alabama fans take the rivalry against LSU and Auburn seriously every year, and it would be much more appropriate if these two great rivals were included in our fight song.

Another heated rivalry for Alabama is referred to as the “Third Saturday in October”, better known as the faceoff between the Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers. Since 1995, the game between Alabama and Tennessee has been scheduled for the third Saturday in October, which is dubbed the name for this particular rivalry. Since their first game against each other in 1901, Alabama and Tennessee have taken turns holding dominate winning streaks over one another that usually last for several years at a time. The majority, if not all, of the games that Alabama and Tennessee have played against one another have been close, hard fought, physical games that provide a terrific platform of competition that would fit perfectly in our Alabama fight song.

These rivalries have existed for generations of teams and fans. I believe every Alabama Crimson Tide can agree that Auburn and Tennessee will no matter what, be hated, and LSU should remain a tough competitor in the SEC West year after year. Alabama fans as a whole should come together and change the words to include these particular teams. Alabama’s “fight” song is something that is supposed to excite fans and team, something that pumps up the stadium and energizes every Alabama man and woman, young or old. If the teams being mentioned in the song are viewed as apathetic or nonexistent competition, then the words should certainly be changed. Alabama fans are more passionate about our current rivalries between the LSU Tigers, the Auburn Tigers, and the Tennessee Volunteers, which is why mentioning these teams in the “Yea Alabama” fight song will excite all the fans and players much more than it currently does today.

Give Blood (Group 7)

Every minute of every day someone in America is saved through the blood donated by a selfless blood donor. However, only five percent of Americans take the time to do something as simple and convenient as giving blood. It is very important that people take the time to give blood because, the supply is completely dependent on the good nature of volunteers, and the blood donated is necessary for treating people with cancer, blood disorders, anemia, sickle cell, and many other sicknesses. Students at the University of Alabama have little excuse for not giving blood. With extra time between classes and blood mobiles readily available from Life South and the Red Cross, every student physically capable should give blood at least once a year.

Not everyone can give blood but those that can, have no excuse for not going through this convenient and simple process. It all starts with finding a place to give blood. Luckily, the University of Alabama has several locations. A blood mobile from either Life South or Red Cross stops between the Gorgas Library and Morgan Hall nearly every month. Most students go through this high traffic area at least once a day, but those that do not can call the Student Health Center and find out exactly when the blood mobile will come. You can also go to Druid City Hospital and schedule a time to give blood. When a student goes to give blood, they will complete a demographic, answer some health questions, and then show someone their student I.D. Next, a trained staff person will ask the student some personal questions and check the student’s pulse, iron level, temperature, and blood pressure. Then another trained staff member will clean the student’s arm and insert a needle into the cleaned spot. After seven to ten minutes a pint of blood should have been taken from the student, and the needle will be taken out. Lastly, the student will be lead to an area where he or she can partake of free refreshments and relax until his or her body is adjusted from the blood that was lost. Few complications result from giving blood, and those that do could have been prevented through proper eating and sleeping habits.

The process is simple and quick, but that is only one of the many reasons why students should give blood. Giving blood helps those that are unable to help themselves. It also takes so little of the blood donor’s time, but gives so much to those who receive the blood. There are countless stories of fellow Americans suffering with cancer, blood disorders, anemia, sickle cell, and many other sicknesses, who would not be here if it was not for that one hour of time one of their fellow Americans took to give blood.

Students should give blood because it takes nothing more than an hour of their time, but it gives to a cause that has a need. The blood that was lost by the donor is easily and fairly quickly replaced by the body. Improvements in medical technology have improved the way serious illnesses and injuries are treated. However, at the same time these improvements have increased the need for blood to support a patient through recovery. Also, a majority of those that need blood are the aging “baby boomers” who in return make up a large part of the donors. As they get older there will be less of a supply of blood and more of a demand. It is up to young people, such as the students at the University of Alabama, to fix this problem through giving blood.

Students should give blood because of the potential impact on not only the three people that their blood helped in saving, but also the families of those three people. Each blood donation is separated into three parts. They are red blood cells, platelet concentrates, and plasma. The red blood cells are usually used for surgeries, or in treating anemia. Platelet concentrates are important to the body’s clotting system, and they are used to control bleeding while leukemia and other forms of cancer are being treated. Plasma restores fluid volume in patients suffering from shock, and it provides a source of clotting proteins that stop bleeding. With just one donation many people can be saved and many problems can be helped.

Students should give blood because it is uncertain when they or someone they know might need blood, and the act of their giving blood might get other people to do the same. If everyone gave blood, there would be no worry of blood not being available when needed. Those that give blood could very well need blood later on. No one is exempt from the possibility of getting a disease that requires the use of blood in its treatment.

There are several small perks to giving blood. At the end of the blood donation process students are given free refreshments and a bandage on their arm. Students will be exempt from heavy lifting for the rest of the day, and giving blood will make students feel good about themselves.

Students at the University of Alabama should take the time to give blood at least once a year. The cost of giving blood is so small compared to what is gained. One hour of a student’s time has the potential to save lives.

Demand for Fairer Ticket System

One of the most stressful times for a student at the University of Alabama is the morning season football tickets go on sale. Most students will do anything to have one of those coveted seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Because the football program at Alabama is successful and has had winning records for the past few years, the tickets are in high demand. Every school has a different process for distributing student tickets. However, Alabama’s is one that needs changing. Students at the university should demand that the athletic department change the way student football tickets are issued. There are many other ways the tickets can be distributed such as taking into consideration the amount of hours each student has and how involved they are on campus.

As many of the students already know, the system currently uses an online database to distribute the tickets. It is opened at six o’clock in the morning on a certain day, and every student who wants football tickets must log into the same website. Once the student logs on, he or she is most likely put into a “virtual waiting room” where it supposedly tracks what time a person enters. The system was designed to put people through to purchase tickets just as a normal sequence would or in other words a “first come first serve” process. However, this did not seem to be the case for many students trying to buy tickets. Ali Woodbury, a junior at the University of Alabama, recalls her horrible experience last spring. She said that she and four of her sorority sisters met up to register for tickets together at someone’s apartment. After logging on to the site on their laptops, they were all placed into the virtual waiting room except for one girl. The one girl who was not transferred to the virtual waiting room was the last girl to log into the site and the first to receive her tickets. After she bought her tickets, her computer repeatedly allowed her access to purchase more tickets. The system is based on technology, which we all know is very unreliable at times. Another problem with the system is that many underclassmen are granted tickets before juniors and seniors. This is unfair. The more hours a student has, the longer he or she has been affiliated with the university, and the better the student’s chances should be of getting season tickets.

There are many solutions that would make this process easier for students. One possible solution is to create an allotted time for different groups of students to sign up. Just like registering for classes, students will be divided into sections based on how many earned credit hours they have. This will determine how soon one is able to purchase tickets. For example, if a student has 80 hours, he or she will register before those who only have 60 hours. This will allow upperclassmen guaranteed tickets, if they want them, rather than distributing them based on a “first come, first serve” basis. If the athletic program did use this option for getting student tickets, it would also cut down many of the students’ technology complaints. Many students say that with a large portion of the students at the university logging on the same web page to get tickets at the same time causes the site to shut down and not work properly. If the athletic program chooses this option, it will limit how many people are trying to access the site at once. This will hopefully enable the site’s virtual waiting room to function properly and disperse tickets in a first come first serve line.

Another solution that would make this process fairer would be to distribute football tickets based on how involved students are on campus. Having friends at the University of South Carolina, I have seen the benefits of this program. They instituted a program that kept track of each particular student’s involvement on the campus. When students attended other athletic events, guest lectures, or community service drives, points are added to their ID card. Once it came time to purchase season football tickets, the students who had the most involvement points were granted access to buy tickets first. Once those people purchased the tickets, it was reopened to the next set of students and so forth. This system allows a fair distribution of tickets. It encourages students to become involved in other activities on campus and rewards them by granting them early access to purchase football tickets. If the University of Alabama instituted this policy, the student body would be more involved in sports and other activities that may not get as much attention as football. This would also help with the overloading of the ticket website and boost the overall morale of the university.

Society Of Women Engineers

Society of Women Engineers
There are many preconceived notions that we as college students have about what lays ahead of us; one in particular is constantly dwelling about our future and life after graduation. We look forward to taking the next step in our lives. Many of us not only try to excel in the classroom, but we try to get ourselves involved with organizations and other extracurricular activities that can help us succeed in our individual career paths as well as give us a broader view of the world. Here at the University of Alabama the College of Engineering tries to prepare its students as best they can by providing them with organizations that help guide them in their respective branch of engineering. One such program is the Society of Women Engineers, or SWE. SWE is a national non-profit educational and service organization that prepares women in the field of engineering with the tools needed to succeed. This organization is designed to help promote and encourage women in the field of engineering. Like many other professions, engineering is predominately dominated by males. In fact, in almost any engineering class you walk into here at the University, the attendance of men far outweighs the women in the classes. As a result of this fact, SWE provides women with a group where they can be completely comfortable and share their experiences with other woman engineers.
The Society of Women Engineers has an interesting history. Years ago women were not really encouraged to take up engineering as a profession. SWE originated back in the late 1940’s, but did not become a formal organization until the 1950s. The formation of SWE came about when the shortage of men due to World War II provided a need for women to pursue engineering. Even still, it was not until the 1960s, when Russia launched Sputnik and the interest in technological research and development intensified, that many engineering schools began granting women into the field of engineering.
SWE is considered one of the driving forces that have established engineering as a highly desirable career for women. Its national mission statement, which was adopted in 1986, is “Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.” (http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/). SWE currently has well over 17,000 members in nearly 100 professional sections and 300 student sections throughout the United States.
One of the sections can be found here at the Capstone, in our own SWE club. The SWE club has over 100 members and is still adding new members every day. Here on campus the organization is focused on establishing engineering as a career for women and allowing its members to provide services to the community. SWE usually holds meetings every Monday which allows the members not only to chat with other participants, but to inform them of some opportunities that are out there for engineers. Some meetings include seminars and lectures provided by companies that hire engineers. The companies can share information about what kind of careers they can provide for the engineers as well as inform them a little about what their company contributes to the engineering community. I recently interviewed one of SWE’s members to find out a firsthand impression of the SWE club here. Kirsten Stovall, a chemical engineering major, has been a member of the organization since her sophomore year in 2008. She says that SWE provides students the ability of networking with other current members, gives them professional development in their careers, and that it’s a great way for you to meet other people who are taking the same classes as you and even get advice from those who have taken the class. Kirsten also thinks it’s a great organization because it allows its members to attend regional and national conferences with other branches of SWE, as well as providing the opportunity for its members to hear about career fairs and tons of information about different companies. When I asked her if she would she recommend SWE for all women entering engineering as a profession, she answered, “Yes, because it’s a good way to not feel alone and hear others perspective about what it takes to be an engineer.”
Reflecting on what Kirsten told me and what you can find on the internet about SWE, the organization seems like its mission to help women in the field of engineering is being met with excellent reviews. The reason why SWE works so well is that it is an organization built by women just for the advancement of women in the field of engineering. It provides its members with regional as well as national help and education that all women need in order to further their careers. SWE gives detailed information about companies that are looking for engineers and what all engineering has to offer. SWE also offers scholarships and awards to some of its members. While a career in engineering is an achievement in itself, SWE promotes its members to try and achieve their highest goals and recognizes them for doing such. Its main website for the organization provides information that promotes, encourages, and establishes its members to be productive role models to future engineers. Through SWE, women are given the tools needed in order to excel in their respective engineering programs, whether it is chemical engineering or civil engineering. The goal of SWE is to give women the opportunity and the voice to establish themselves and make careers out of engineering that not only helps them succeed personally, but professionally, allowing them to achieve something once unattainable in the world engineering.

Saban or Shula? It's an Obvious Choice

Saban or Shula? It’s an obvious choice!
On numerous occasions many men and women have gathered for a cause, and the majority of these masses were lead by one man. Whether it is Caesar leading the armies of Rome, or the President of United States leading the people or even the coach of a football team leading his men into a head to head battle with their fierce competitors, men have always needed a strong and dignified leader to rally behind. After legends like Paul “Bear” Bryant and Gene Stallings, it takes a level headed, experienced, and dedicated individual to fill the big shoes of head football coach for The University of Alabama. Both Mike Shula and Nick Saban have had their chances at the position with some similarities and many differences. Although it seems Alabama football has always been on top, it is only until recently the Tide has changed. By comparing the statistics, the method of recruiting and the increase of game attendance one can begin to understand how much better the Tide is under Saban, as opposed to Shula.
Alabama football has been building its legacy since 1892 before many colleges were even in existence. Having won 12 national championships, it is no wonder the University of Alabama is known not only for its many all-American players, but also for the traditions set by past generations. And over the years, the Crimson Tide has become the beloved football team of many alumni and spectators around the nation. In the past decade, the Tide has not seen the glory it had once seen in the past with coaches like legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Instead, Alabama has spent that time searching for a coach that could lead the Tide back to victory and maybe finally change the twelve national championships to thirteen.
One of the man differences between Mike Shula and Nick Saban are their game stats. Mike Shula and Nick Saban have both coached for Alabama for about three years, but that is all that they had in common. From 2003 to 2006 when Mike Shula was head coach, his overall record was 26-23, and his team never broke into the BCS top ten. Also in the 2005-2006 season Shula’s players allowed on average 297.7 yards for the season, they also only scored 22.9 per game and only reached an average of 335.9 yards per game (RollTide.com). When Saban was named Alabama’s new head football coach in 2007 he started a new era. In his second season of 2008-2009, his players allowed on average 219.7 yards per game, with an average of 30.1 points game and reached an average of 375.6 yards per game (Rolltide.com). He also managed to carry Alabama to the top of the BCS poll for five weeks in the same season. Besides the impressive stats Saban has managed to put up, he also lead the team to break Alabama 6 game losing to streak against in-state rival, the Auburn Tigers. It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago the Tide was losing to such teams as South Carolina, Arkansas, and Minnesota, and now we are Rose Bowl contenders.
A great football season starts in the spring with a great recruiting class. Convincing the most talented high school seniors to play for your team is no easy task. The difference in the recruiting results between Saban and Shula is immense. Mike Shula seemed to struggle with recruiting throughout his coaching career, only reaching a top number of 27 recruits (RollTide.com) for the 06-graduating season with only three of those players being in the ESPN top 150. After losing the battle for quarterback Tim Tebow, it seemed that Shula would have no recruiting success. The only real success that Shula had was the recruitment of Andre Smith. Unlike Shula, Saban has excelled in recruiting having had the number one ranked recruiting class two years in a row, thirty-two in 2008 and twenty-nine in 2009. With signees like Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and Trent Richardson, it comes as no surprise why Alabama has had such success in years past. Even Saban's method to recruiting is more aggressive and strategic; he truly wants the best of the best.
Recent years have given many lifelong, diehard Alabama fans something to celebrate about. More fans are actually finding ways to make it to the games and give their support. When Shula was head coach game attendance in the 2005-2006 seasons was 70,670 per game and 282,679 for the whole year (RollTide.com). It has even been said that back then student tickets did not sell out for at least a month to two months which is mind blowing now a days. Now that Saban is coach and the victories are rolling in more fans are coming to Tuscaloosa to enjoy the games. In the 2008-2009 season attendance rose to 92,138 per game and 644,966 for the season just for home games (RollTide.com). That’s 20,000 more each game and almost 400,000 more per season in just 2 years. In addition to the increased attendance, the atmosphere on Saturdays seems to be a lot more upbeat and festive. Saban has managed to put pride back into the hearts of Crimson Tide fans everywhere.
It has become clear in the last few years which coach has done a better job here at the Capstone. Bama fans across the nation have come alive with spirit and now the country finally sees how good the Crimson Tide really is. Nick Saban has done a fantastic job so far and he intends to keep up the pace. For many die hard, lifelong Alabama fans, Nick Saban is a dream come true and his current success here at the university is undeniable. 
Works Citied
1. Rolltide.com; http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-results-archive.html

Greek Life on Campus

A large campus community that is prominent through out the University of Alabama is the Greek system. The Greek system is made up by a clear-cut portion of the student body. This is distinct from any other part of the campus because of the impact they have. The Greek system is what makes this University unique and unlike any other campus because of the embodiment of power that they have upon this campus. Greek life at the University of Alabama is a well-defined system that extends past the realm of the University by not only having advantages while in college but far after as well.

The Greek system is made up of the members of fraternities and sororities. The quest to become a Greek and to find new members is never ending. For sororities, a female oriented sisterhood, the search begins in the spring semester with a number of teas held to meet their potential new members. Each individual sorority holds a tea inviting the girls who are planning to attend The University of Alabama, with high hopes for joining a sorority. This process begins when active members write letters to prospective girls informing them of the teas that will be held in their area. The teas are a precursor to the week of Rush. Rush is and intense and tiresome week-long process held every year in the heat of August a week before classes begin. Rush is when potential new members parade from house to house meeting each sororities members and trying to picture where they best see themselves fitting in with each sororities personality and character.The long week includes two days of ice water teas, two philanthropy days, one skit day, and the final day, “pref night”. All of these events lead up to bid day, an exciting day where invitations are extended from the current members to the potential new ones. However, rush for boys is a whole other entity in itself. For some it all starts at Bama Bound. While walking around the campus active members of a fraternity try to meet new boys and invite them to a party they’re hosting. These parties are meant to be a bonding event for both active members and incoming students. The potential new members are also able to see what the fraternity is like as a whole. After the party the boys are messaged through facebook being notified that the fraternity is interested in them becoming a possible member. Once school starts each fraternity hosts parties on Friday and Saturday nights for about a month trying to get to know the boys better and potentially offer bids to the ones that meet the fraternities’ standards. Bids are formal invitations to join the fraternity. Although, before they are active members they have to go through a trial period called pledge ship. Pledge ship is very different for males and females because male pledge ship is mentally and physically much harder. For guys, pledge ship is a long and tough couple of months of proving themselves to be worthy of the fraternity’s brotherhood. For girls, pledge ship is a time for the potential new members to learn the meaning of sisterhood and the delicate bonds it creates with its members. After pledge ship is over a person is then initiated. Once initiated into the fraternity or sorority, they are then considered an active member, and are expected to abide by the constitution and by-laws of their fraternity and sorority. The moment a member is made active they’re then able to obtain the full advantages and resources of being Greek.

Being a member of Greek life has many benefits including strong social ties, making new friends, and becoming apart of a community. Members of Greek fraternities and sororities have access to countless social events. Creating strong, unique bonds with one another is one reason why sororities and fraternities thrive. Creating a large network of people is another reason social life is vital to Greeks. A network opens up a whole new level of people to meet and impress for opportunities later in life. Sometimes in life it is not about the degree people recieve, it is about the hands people shake. Sadly this can be true. People are more willing to offer jobs or internships to a friend or to someone with a similar connection of something as small as being in the same fraternity. The connections that are made through Greek life can be very helpful down the line. Overall, the community is effective in providing a social setting for fun and networking outside of school. There are many social events consisting of band parties, date parties, formals, and swaps aimed at providing optimal settings for members to make a variety of new friends and connections. It might seem as all the parts seem to work together while co-existing peacefully, it seems to be that they can actually sometimes be divided. This can be the result of certain sororities and fraternities have a certain dislike towards another sorority or fraternity. At times neighbors create a certain rivalry towards one another. This especially applies to fraternities when hoping to pull the biggest crowd for a band party. Not only are some fraternities and sororities divided from each other, but many people seem to think that the Greek system as a whole is sometimes seen as divided from the rest of the University.

It is quite apparent to most people who attend the University of Alabama that the Greek system is a prominent way to get involved with the running and ways of the campus. As a result, this sometimes makes some non-members develop certain feelings of resentment towards the Greek system. It is not rare that in a class room setting one of first questions you are asked is what your Greek affiliation is. The Greek system is strong, not only because of what they do for each other but for what they do to help improve the school, community and society that surrounds them. Such as the many philanthropy events and fundraisers held throughout each year. The members of the Greek system are involved in activities, clubs, and organizations all over campus, covering everything from sports to the business club, and a member of the Save Darfur club to the president of the Student Government Association. The Greek system’s active involvement and recognition on campus is known and appreciated by many.

Networking, leadership opportunities, and making new friends are only a few of the advantages of joining a fraternity or sorority. Although the disadvantages of time commitment and expenses are relevant, the positives of being in the Greek system outweigh them. The Greeks are the most prominent force on campus, but overall they need to drop petty rivalries and arrogance. This way the Greek system can make a change for the better and enhance campus evolvement.

Group 7

Row me to Victory

Some sports are simply overshadowed by power sports like football and baseball. However, this doesn’t make them any less of a sport. Rowing events at the University of Alabama may not have as many spectators as Saturday football games, but that doesn’t stop the Crimson Tide Rowers from giving their best when the challenge arises. The rowing team at the University of Alabama is far from just any ordinary sport team. It is a family of students that work as a team to excel not only when they compete, but when they learn, practice, and give back to the community.

The Crimson Tide Rowers are still considerably a new team, coached by Larry Davis, they were established only four years ago as the University of Alabama’s 21st varsity sport. However, their lack of experience hasn’t kept them from performing at a level competitive with schools that have been hardened through experience. In their first year, the Crimson Tide Rowers managed to defeat schools like North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Duke. All of which had incredible rowing teams. Shortly after their successful first year, the rowing team started to win race after race. On the water, the Tide has made an immediate impact, climbing the ranks at the top regattas, rowing events in which several crews compete, and sweeping several dual meets in their first two years. From the day the first boat sat on the Black Warrior River, team members have dedicated themselves to excellence in all things. Success and excellence has come swiftly to the fourth year program.

Success for this team doesn't just end with the race. When it comes to the classroom, Crimson Tide Rowers rank highly in regard to grade point average. This means a lot considering that many rowers are in some of the toughest majors. Each team member is required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average just to stay on the team without any penalties. Their success in the classroom is largely a result of the coach. Coach Davis believes that as a program it is important that his student-athletes excel in all areas of the collegiate experience. Davis wants the student-athletes to be at their best athletically and academically.

The success of The Crimson Tide Rowers is largely due to their strong work ethic. The team is now in its pre-season. They practice six days a week for an hour and a half each day. A typical practice would start with a ten minute warm up that might include jogging and stretching, then on to rowing at the Black Warrior River for the remainder of practice. Located in central Tuscaloosa, the Black Warrior itself aids in the strong work ethic of the team. The River being one of the hardest to navigate gives the team an edge over other college rowers.

Besides their success in work ethic and academics, the Crimson Tide Rowers also excel when it comes to giving back to the community. In its fourth year as a varsity team, the rowers have amassed the most community outreach hours of any other team at the Capstone. They volunteered on a regular basis at an autism carnival, a summer camp for mentally challenged youths, the Puppy Foundation Fundraiser, and the Children’s Hands on Museum. Overall, the rowers put in over one thousand hours during the last school year. It is great to know that the University of Alabama’s rowing team gives back to the community.

Not only does the deep respect and knowledge of their sport allow the members of the University of Alabama’s rowing team to excel, their deep respect and knowledge of each other aids in their success. The rowers have a great sense of responsibility, leadership, workmanship, and a strong faith in the abilities of their team mates. When Emily LeBeau, a first year rower, was asked why she joined the rowing team she stated that she “wanted to be a part of a winning team.” This mentality of believing in your fellow teammates and believing that you as a team are the best, is one of the major reasons why the Crimson Tide Rowers are so successful.

The Crimson Tide Rowers are exceptionally successful, not only as a competitive team in a physically draining sport, but in reaching outstanding achievements in academics, work ethic, attitude, and community involvement. They are much more than a team, they are truly a family. Like every family they place respect and strong faith in each member. This family is led by a coach who has attempted to guide them to victory. For Coach Larry Davis the goal is simple. He wants his student-athletes to leave the University of Alabama with a championship trophy under one arm and a diploma under the other. In striving to reach this and much more, they have successfully gone above and beyond what is required of a normal sports team.

Greek Life at The Capstone

The Greek system at the University of Alabama is said to be one of the most elite organizations in the country. Each year incoming students have the chance to get involved in the Greek system by pledging a certain fraternity or sorority. While “going Greek” can benefit a student through its contributions to charities and providing a fully loaded social life, being involved in fraternities and sororities can also be a heavy financial burden as well as being time consuming. The Greek system is popular around universities because it allows students to meet their peers and find friends with similar interests. Social activities, philanthropy, the rush system, and school spirit all play a role in making up the Greek organizations at the University of Alabama.

The most widely known aspect of the Greek system is the social side. Most every weekend a student can find a party being hosted by one of the Greek organizations on campus. While some of these events are open to the public, others are meant only for the members of that particular fraternity or sorority. These parties are normally held at a fraternity house or at a local business. Bands are typically provided for music and entertainment. They allow the students to dance and have a good time. This type of social event, commonly referred to as “band party”, provides ways of meeting new people by bringing everyone together on the dance floor. There are other social events besides parties in the Greek system, such as intramural sports or study groups. Many of the houses on campus have their own club teams for intramural sports ranging anywhere from football and softball teams to soccer teams and even rock climbing teams. Study groups are a big help in college because it allows students interact with people in the same class or with people pursuing the same major. Through band parties, intramural sports, and study groups, fraternities and sororities provide many social opportunities.

The Greek system is devoted to giving back to local and national philanthropies. Every fraternity and sorority at the University of Alabama has at least one charity that it contributes to regularly. Some of these charities include United Way, St. Jude’s Children Hospital, and Stand against Domestic Violence. The Greek organizations hold fundraisers in the form of parties, competitions, athletic events, and cook outs to raise money for their charities. Most of these fundraisers will include a band, food, and some scheduled competitive activities with prizes to the winner. There are also events where students get sponsored by businesses for a challenge that they will have to endure. A walk-athon is a popular sponsored event where money is given for every mile that a member walks. By contributing to charities all across the country, fraternities and sororities give back to the community through their fundraising and service.

The rush system is how Greek organizations choose their new members for the following term. The process is long and it differs between fraternities and sororities. For example, fraternities choose their members by holding events throughout the year and inviting people to come and socialize with the brothers. Through this process, current fraternity members can judge which incoming students are the best fit for that particular brotherhood. Sororities, on the other hand, have a whole week of rush where girls visit all the houses and attend many events held by sisters of the organizations. Then at the end of the week, an event called Bid Day is held where girls receive an envelope enclosing their bids of which house they are now members. The rush process is a system set up to help students figure out if they want to join the Greek system or not. Many students come into the process with a different expectation of what fraternities and sororities are about. The rush system helps solve this problem.

The Greek system is passionate about showing school spirit at the University of Alabama. Members of fraternities and sororities attend sporting events in large groups to show their support. The most popular sporting event with Greeks here at the university is football. Members dress up in their Sunday best to go support the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny stadium. One of the main school spirit activities at Alabama is homecoming week, which fraternities and sororities are heavily involved. Competitions are held throughout the entire week to promote school spirit such as paint the town red, lawn decorations, roll tide run, and many more. By fraternities and sororities getting involved in these activities, it encourages other organizations to become involved as well. The Greek system does its part to boost the school spirit at the University.

At the University of Alabama, the Greek system involves social events, philanthropies, recruitment processes, and school spirit. While many find brotherhoods and sisterhoods within the system, others find that “going Greek” is not for them. Regardless if one is against the system or for it, one cannot deny that the Greek system is an old tradition at the University of Alabama that will be around for centuries to come.

Hazing

 

With each new school year there is always a new group of young men coming to The University of Alabama eager to experience fraternity life.  These young men are ready and willing to do just about anything to discover the secrets that the fraternity they pledge holds inside their brotherly bond.  Along with a new pledge class each year, the same issues, questions, and concerns grow regarding the delicate subject of hazing.  It is no secret to the faculty, students, and a good number of parents that The University of Alabama is known for holding some of the most intense hazing practices around. However, the University does not agree with or condone acts of hazing.  Hazing has deep roots within the fraternity system at The University of Alabama, and continues to reach new extremes as time progresses. Meanwhile, the administration fights to control the surge in hazing activities.

During the hectic day while changing classes in a timely matter, students cannot help but to notice the “new boys.”  These boys are hard to miss because of their matching attire.  “New boy gear” normally consists of jeans or khaki pants, a predetermined colored polo, and either tennis shoes, boots, or boat shoes. Additionally, Wednesdays require special pledge gear including khaki pants, a navy blue blazer and a red tie, some fraternities choose a bowtie while others choose to forgo the blazer, this is also game day attire for the new boys.  If you know enough about the Greek Community you can almost pick out what fraternity the boy is pledging depending on the combination of his attire.  Making pledges wear a uniform does not seem unreasonable; in fact it can be seen as a status symbol that sets these select few boys apart from the rest.  But it is the other practices of a fraternity that are meant to be kept secret in the bonds of brotherhood that cause gut-wrenching disturbances. 

Hazing is a term with multiple complex definitions to suit every possible situation.   Hazing can be defined as any act which inflicts extreme physical, emotion, or psychological pressure or injury on an individual or which purposely demeans, degrades, or disgraces an individual (Hazing Policies). Hazing can also be defined as a process, based on a tradition that is used by groups to discipline and to maintain a hierarchy (Hazing Policies).  The second definition of hazing can be associated with the hierarchy within a fraternity, thus explaining why the practice of hazing continues year after year. Many of the actives can take hazing to the extremes by trying to do whatever was done to them in addition to new things they come up with.  Consequently, the hazing becomes more severe with each passing pledge class. 

Almost as long as The University of Alabama has been in existence, the practice of hazing has too. Throughout the years at the University there have been numerous incidents of hazing that have resulted in a person or a group of people being severely injured. The injuries have ranged from a few scrapes and bruises to death.  The first record of hazing at the University of Alabama was reported in 1893, forty-three years after the founding of the first fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon (Delta Kappa Epsiloin Psi Chapter).  Since 1893, there have been countless reports of hazing.  In 1988, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon national fraternity was suspended for four years due to hazing and drug trafficking charges. However, within the last thirty years the number of reported acts of hazing has increased along with the severity of each individual act.  In the fall of 2008 the Crimson White reported and confirmed an incident involving a new member of a fraternity who was sent to DCH, a local hospital. The boy was treated for severe burns and a collapsed lung (Craft, Bralley and Jaillet).  The members of the fraternity that were involved in this act of hazing were prosecuted and later the fraternity as a whole was removed from campus and disassembled.

 Trying to come up with a solution to immediately cut off the lifeline of hazing seems impossible. However, change and choosing to become a “part of the solution” is easy. The University of Alabama is well aware of the fact that in the past there has been incidents involving hazing. The first step taken by the University was to create a hazing policy.  Stating that they do not allow any form of hazing, and any student involved in or with hazing will be subjected to disciplinary actions  (University of Alabama Hazing Policy). Each fraternity and sorority have to sign this policy showing that they are in agreement with the University and will uphold the policy by not participating or holding any form of hazing  (University of Alabama Hazing Policy). The University of Alabama has already grown one step closer to change, by acknowledging that there is a serious problem and addressing it.

            The problem of hazing cannot be solved over night.  It will take multiple pledge classes making the consistent decision to go against tradition and leave the hazing policies in the pass.  It will also take pressure from the University to point out the strict punishments for hazing activities so that the fraternities will become aware. Now it is up to the individuals, our community, and our student body to continue the changing process, to follow in the footsteps of the university, and to stop hazing.

 

post # 4

Post # 4

The benefits of a bus system look great on paper, you get less traffic during the peak class hours, less pollution in the air from all the engines, and you provide all the students around campus, without cars, a mode of transportation. Unfortunately, those benefits do not render to the real world. All the Crimson Ride has done so far is create headaches for all of the students, who commute to campus, and the ones actually riding the buses. They also create a vast amount of pollution, due to the idling engines, while the drivers have casual conversations on the clock.

The biggest problem with the entire Crimson Ride system, including 348-RIDE, a van service that picks up students when they call, is the wait time for the bus or van. While you can get lucky every now and then, you will normally have to wait longer for the bus to arrive, than it would take to walk across the entire campus. These long waits are usually not even due to the time the buses spend in transit from one stop to another. It is not uncommon to see two buses stopped in the “bus only” lane with both drivers out of their vehicles, casually talking, while their buses are still running. Sometimes, they even stop on opposite sides of the road, blocking traffic, to converse. This adds anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour a bus ride, and further aggravations to those on the buses. Due to those transgressions, many of the drivers were replaced at the end of the year. While the university has taken those steps to eliminate that problem, the long wait times still persist.

In order to give students a way to judge wait times, the university implemented a GPS location system in order to track the buses around campus in real time, and installed monitors in the Ferguson Center. The system does not work however, when the majority of the dots on the screen are stationary. The idea was great because it offered students a way to see if the bus they wanted to take were anywhere near them. The bad thing is that the buses are hardly ever moving, further enraging the student population. For the first time the students can see the problem happening right in front of their faces.

On top of the long wait times at the designated stops, once you get on the bus your really not sure if you will arrive to your destination in one piece. The drivers tend to throw the buses around the corners at a more than comfortable speed. Although they may be “trained” professionals, it does not feel as if you are safe riding around the campus. One five-minute ride on the crimson ride will make those fifteen-minute, cross campus treks, look like a stroll in the park. The problem with the cross campus trek option, is when waiting at a corner to cross the street you have to be on the look out for one of those buses to come careening around that same corner in case it makes a b line for you. Also, some drivers have a tendency to not pay attention, and overlook a stop all together. One time, a driver drove past my stop, even though I rang the stop bell well in advance. On another occasion, I stood by the front door for 10 seconds waiting on the driver to let me on, and started to pull away because “I didn’t indicate that I wanted to get on.” Needless to say, I personally became more frustrated with the on campus bus system.

The best solution to remedy these situations would be to have an actual bus schedule. With the amount of students now on campus, the system has to improve. If a schedule was posted, and followed closely, many of the problems would be alleviated. Bonuses should be offered to drivers if they are able to maintain their schedules, by having a university worker riding along to evaluate their driving abilities, and punctuality. Students should be able to report late buses. Plus, some of the more unprofessional, and unfocused drivers should be let go altogether.

That being said, a couple changes cannot fix all the problems, but solve some tribulations. A full-scale overhaul would be necessary to remedy the failing bus system. There are far too many problems, ranging from driver indifference, to a lack of structure. A sliding pay scale can motivate a driver when it affects their salary, which affects their life style. If the bus drivers are paid more or less by the work they do many will be motivated to be professional, and keep to a strict timed schedule by not allowing them to leisurely converse on the side of the road. With the bus drivers working harder in a stricter atmosphere, the bus system will run on a more precise schedule.

Traffic

When you think about the University, chances are you think about the horrendous traffic and the blatant disregard for pedestrian safety. In recent years the University has made inroads to resolve some of the issues faced by student commuters and off campus residents. These include the crimson ride bus system, new crosswalks, and conversion of heavily trafficked areas to be more pedestrian friendly. Although the University has made inroads in this area, it is evident that there is much more that could be done to promote pedestrian safety.
One of the main concerns of pedestrians on campus is the disregard that motorists show for them. Pedestrians on campus are frequently put at risk by motorists purposely running traffic lights and stop signs. As a pedestrian, your main concern shouldn’t have to be making sure motorists around you are paying attention to the road. Even though pedestrians are often the victims, motorists are not always to blame for the accidents that happen when both parties aren’t paying attention.
Motorists are not always the bad guys when it comes to accidents on and around campus, often it can simply be chalked up to poor enforcement of traffic laws. Every day someone is violating a traffic law on campus, but how often are these violations punished? We learn the “rules of the road” when we are first beginning to drive, but as we get older we follow a looser and peer driven guideline as to proper etiquette on the road. Everyone is aware that the campus supports a police department, but most people don’t have a healthy respect of the power and ability of these individuals to punish violators.
The simplest and most cost effective route to solve this problem is better enforcement. The campus police department could easily crack down on offenders, which would have the dual purpose of stopping violators and dissuading others to emulate the violation. Simply put, if the university police department would maintain a consistent policy on traffic violations, students would be less inclined to abuse the law.
It is my opinion that in order to promote the safety of all, some are going to have to serve as an example. The university has made tremendous effort in making the campus a safer place to be, whether walking to class or coming back from the bars, it isn’t enough to simply stop at adequate. If we want a safer and more pedestrian friendly campus we need to make it so, and the only way to do that is to step up the law enforcement of violations.

348-RIDE: Useful or Useless?

It’s a Thursday night that has dragged on a bit too long, but there is still one pressing question; how in the world am I getting home? If you live on campus the obvious answer is 348-RIDE. But what if you don’t? Are you forced to drive home when its clear it’s not a good idea, or do you try to find a friends house to stay at and regret the decision to live off of campus. 348-RIDE is an asset to many students at the University of Alabama, but there are many downsides to the free taxi service the university has provided. The fact is that not only does 348-RIDE not pick up students at off campus locations, but the limited hours of operations, and the long wait periods are all major problem areas that this program needs to address.
The 348-RIDE service is tremendously helpful to on campus residents, but for students that live off campus, it isn’t helpful at all. While students do have other options to get home, none are free or as easily accessible as 348. Roughly seventy percent of students that attend the University live off of campus, and there need to be more safe ways for these students to get home at night (University of Alabama- Off-campus Housing 2).One solution to this problem is to have the shuttles service off campus locations where there are large student populations. Some of these locations could be large apartment complexes such as University Village, University Downs, and The Retreat, where a vast majority of students live. If just these three complexes were added, many more students would be able to utilize 348-RIDE and hopefully decrease the amount of alcohol related traffic citations. 348-RIDE saves lives every night of the week, but so many students are putting themselves at risk when they decide to get behind the wheel of a car after they have been drinking. If the University offered more transportation options, one could only imagine how many more lived could be saved each day.
Another issue with 348-RIDE is the limited hours of operation. 348 does not begin running until ten p.m., which doesn’t seem too early, but most Crimson Ride buses stop running at seven p.m. Students that live in residence halls that are far from the center off campus are faced with the dilemma of walking and putting themselves at risk, or driving and knowing that their car has to be moved by six the next morning. If 348 is not going to start operating until ten, then the buses should be required to run until 348 opens. This would give students a way around campus nearly 24 hours a day.
If you are depending on 348-RIDE to get home, you should probably call at least forty-five minutes early because the wait time to be picked up or dropped off is ridiculous. On game day weekends, especially, the wait can be up to an hour for a ride. Luckily 348-express has helped to alleviate the high quantity of students that need rides, but it still is an enormous problem that must be addressed. A simple solution would be to put more shuttle vans into service on the weekend nights when demand is highest. If the wait time was decreased then that would, in turn, mean a higher capacity of students could be transported each night.
Another benefit of expanding the 348 ride system is that it would free the local taxi services. If students on campus have more ways to get around, then there will not be such a huge back up for any of the taxi services on campus. These are the simplest ways to correct the problems so that 348 can become more helpful to more students. If these problems were addressed and corrected then it would be a much more efficient and useful service that would benefit a much larger portion of the student population.

Dear Bama Dining,

College students are notoriously known for their lack of and inability to wisely spend, that green stuff that makes the world go round, money. This often results in college students nationwide going without a well rounded meal for weeks at a time. At the University of Alabama, you attempted to fix this problem. However, your attempt at keeping students fed by forcing them to purchase a meal plan seems to benefit the school more than the student. Your solution has seemingly become the student’s problem.

Students are required to purchase a meal plan their freshmen year of college. Although they will not go hungry that first year, they have not learned how to independently feed themselves. The real problem has only been delayed. When college students leave home, they are leaving the “nest” that has kept them protected for so long. It is now their time to fly, but they have come to college to make sure they have what it takes to soar. College students need experiences like worrying about keeping enough money on them to pay for food to aid in their becoming independent. Not only does forcing students to purchase a meal plan keep them from testing the winds of independence, it also takes away some of their freedom. Students choose to come to college, and most of those students are legal adults. They should be able to choose if they want to buy food from the college or from somewhere else.

The meal plan offered at the University of Alabama is exceptionally expensive. Students are offered three different meal plans, with the cheapest one costing one thousand two hundred thirty-five dollars a semester. This meal plan gives students one hundred sixty meals a semester, or ten meals a week. This meal plan results in students paying seven dollars and seventy two cents per meal. Most students don’t even use their entire meal plan, and the meals that they do not use are not even carried over from year to year. Most college students could make or buy a meal much cheaper on their own, than on the schools meal plan. A simple homemade meal including a box of hamburger helper, some ground beef, and a can of green beans will cost around six dollars, and that will give a college student enough food to last him or her for at least four meals. If the student wants to go out to eat, he or she can get many different combinations of fast food for under six dollars that will include a main dish, side, and a drink. Go to any McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell or any other restaurant of that type, and you will find healthy choices, along with unhealthy, for under six dollars. The school is hurting students financially by trying to “help them” through restricting their options.

There is an alternative to this problematic solution that will ensure all students have the opportunity to stay well fed and nourished, while getting the most out of the little bit of money they have. The University of Alabama should offer a low cost yet optional meal that is wholesome and inexpensive. There is no moral logic behind forcing students to purchase a dressed up meal at a dressed up price. The food will meet health standards in quality and content, but it will not be the five star restaurant quality type foods that are so unnecessarily costly. We need to focus on what college students needs, not their wants. If a college student wants a nice, fancy meal, there are plenty of surrounding restaurants where they can get one. If they want a practical and affordable meal, they should know that they can rely on their school to offer it.

This alternative is not unrealistic by any means. High school cafeterias have been doing it for years. For anywhere between one dollar and three dollars, high schools nationwide offer students a main dish, three sides, and a drink.

Students will not be required to purchase a meal plan to go along with the low cost meal. The student will pay for the meal each time he or she eats. In order to keep the flow of actual cash down, it will be paid for with money in an account that is given back to the student at the end of the school year. Students should have the freedom to spend their money where they want when it comes to food. However, the college should provide a place where they can get a decent meal at a decent price. Students should not be wasting money on unused meals from an overpriced meal plan. This alternative will collect no sort of profit. Any money that is gained should be put back in the program to pay for dining workers wages and food costs. This concept will be put in place to keep the price of the meal down.

Your focus as an administration founded on helping students, should be on doing what is best for the student, not on making as much money as you can off of them. The University of Alabama offering a low cost meal for students will result in students being able to financially afford to not go hungry and a chance for them to learn how to budget their money without relying on having everything provided for them.

Poor Cell Phone Service

Dear fellow University of Alabama students,

In our world today there are always complaints about the technology, especially when it comes to our beloved cell phones. As college students, cell phones are a large part of our day-to-day life on campus. Everyone wants the latest and greatest raves in the cell phone industry, such as the new 3G iphone; but is having the newest technology out there worth it if there are very few cell phone towers, which means slow service or no service at all. Tuscaloosa is a perfect example of such a problem.

Many students on and off campus have been feeling the pain of poor reception service in Tuscaloosa. From personal experiences of not being able to send or receive texts or calls on the average weekday, to hearing about fellow students complain about their poor service, one can conclude that this is a fixable problem. After speaking with several students, everyone agrees that game day reception is always a huge predicament. Some students do not even bother to bring their phones to the game because of the poor service not only during, but also before and after each home game.

Regardless of whether it is a game day or not, many students still deal with poor reception on the campus. Allan Crocket, a junior majoring in business and an AT&T user, experiences problems outside certain buildings on campus. “Either the call is lost or it just goes straight to voicemail,” Allan complains. Other students have also complained about having trouble receiving and sending calls as well. Although this problem causes a lot of anger and annoyance for many, there is a reason behind it all: there are no cell phone towers near campus.

After looking at a detailed map of the Tuscaloosa area, it seems the only towers in the area around campus are third party providers and telecommunication centers such as radio and television sources. The closest cell phone tower is a Cingular tower on the opposite side of 15^th Street, which is closer to Northport. Considering the fact that most of the students do have newer phones through popular services such as AT&T and Verizon, one would think there would be more towers, creating better service for the majority. There are over 25,000 students at the University, and it makes no sense that the companies do not factor these changes at colleges and universities. Basically, the sum of the problem is a lack of phone towers for high volumes of people in a small area.

Luckily, there are options to fix this annoying issue most students at the University face. The easiest step is to make people aware of what is causing this issue by publishing the topic in the newspapers and by placing flyers around campus. Once people realize this does not have to be an issue and their voice can cause changes, they may be more inclined to act upon it. If there are enough complaints sent to the individual phone companies, they will be pushed to act on the issue and install more towers in the area. Another strategy would be to discourage use of certain carriers to get their attention and maybe see some action taken. This problem is not an easy one to solve, but with a bit of awareness and desire to take action, it can eventually become a problem of Tuscaloosa’s past.