Jacksonville, AL JSU’s Student-Published Newspaper Since 1934 October 4, 2018 Taylor Mitchell/The Chanticleer Randy Owen salutes the crowd during the Alabama & Friends Benefit Concert for JSU. ‘Our’ Home’s in Alabama Benefit concert raises over $1 million for JSU Daniel Mayes John Beehler was presented with a check for saw the film of it, unless you were here per- Editor-in-Chief $1,280,000 at the end of the event by mem- sonally.” bers of Alabama Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Owen says the group was galvanized into Wednesday’s Alabama & Friends Disaster Teddy Gentry. action because of their connections to JSU. Relief Benefit Concert for JSU raised over According to Owen, a JSU alumnus and “The University is a special place for me, and $1.2 million dollars for the tornado relief of member of the Board of Trustees, the Country a special place for Jeff and Teddy,” Owen said. Jacksonville State University. Music Hall of Famers began planning the con- “This is my university, and it’s very much a Thousands of country music fans and mem- cert as soon as they heard about the tornadoes part of me. It’s a very emotional thing for me.” bers of the JSU community braved a dreary, that ravaged Jacksonville on March 19. For Jacksonville native and former JSU wet afternoon to contribute to the cause and “This is an idea we started the day after the quarterback Riley Green, the devastation was listen to some of their favorite bands. Due tornado.” Owen said. “The devastation here personal as well. to ticket sales and a “sizable” donation from the day or two after this happened is beyond band Lynyrd Skynyrd, JSU President Dr. anything that you can talk about, unless you see CONCERT page 2 Alabama & Friends put on a show in Jacksonville Taylor Mitchell of which are originally from the A&E Editor state of Alabama. Along with Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook After 6 months of hurt and healing, of Alabama; the concert also fea- destruction and rebuilding, sorrow tured: and joy; Jacksonville State Univer- ● Charlie Daniels sity took a special step in its recov- ● Shenandoah ery. Wednesday night, the JSU com- ● Jason Isbell and the 400 unit munity gathered together to raise ● Home Free money for the universities recovery ● The Sweet Tea Trio ● John Berry from the March tornado. Matt Reynolds/JSU Randy Owen, lead guitar- ● Drake White ist of Alabama as well as a JSU ● Gordon Mote Randy Owen salutes the crowd during the Alabama & Friends Benefit Con- cert for JSU. alumnus and trustee, decided after ● Jamey Johnson the tornado that he wanted to do ● Riley Green left as surprises for the audience. meant to give back to their collec- something to help the community. Also featured was comedian Dar- These included Drake White, Home tive home. Of special note are Randy He decided on organizing a concert ren Knight, known for his Southern Free, and The Sweet Tea Trio. To- Owen and Riley Green who are both to raise funds for the university. The Momma social media videos. The gether with the other bands they put JSU alumni. That seemed to be the concert ended up being a resounding concert was hosted by Storme War- on quite the show. theme of the night: to give back and success. ren of SiriusXM’s The Highway. Many of the acts were also remember what home is all about, The event was attended by While most of the acts were from the state of Alabama. It seemed coming together and having a good several country music artists, many announced beforehand, some were in many ways a concert that was time. in ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT in NEWS in SPORTS See the sights from the Jo Jo’s creates Cajun Gamecocks defeat Austin Alabama & Friends connection in Pages 4-5 Page 2 Peay on Homecoming Page 7 Benefit Concert Jacksonville @ChanticleerJSU The Chanticleer October 4, 2018 2 News CONCERT from Page 1 “I was in Nashville the night Owen says the concert is that it happened,” explained just the beginning for the re- Green. “I saw the footage on covery of Jacksonville. TV, but I pulled into town “There is so much more to the next morning, and it hit be done, and we’re just getting me that it didn’t do it justice. started. I hope we continue the Jacksonville will never look awareness of what we are try- the same.” ing to do. This concert is a way Green, a budding coun- to say thank you, and bring the try music artist, organized a spirits up at this university and benefit concert of his own in this community.” March, but was happy to join When asked what JSU stu- in again to help his home. dents could take away from “If I can come play a guitar a group of alumni organizing and help in any way shape or such an event, Owen had one form heal the damage from message: this storm, that’s pretty easy “This is what you do, on me.” you go out and give back.” CAMPUS JSU Biology Awarded NSF Grant to Reform Science Education Dr. Lori Hensley, head of ley said. “We want to replace JSU’s biology department, all of our course-based labs along with friend and colleague with those that provide authen- Dr. Nathan Reyna, associate tic research experiences.” professor of biology at Ouachi- The basis for the CBEC re- ta Baptist University in Arkan- lies on the development Cell sas, were recently awarded a Blocks – essentially blocks of $500,000 grant from the Na- resources from across the coun- tional Science Foundation to try - that consist of written and create the Cell Biology Educa- videotaped instructions as well tion Consortium (CBEC). as classroom strategies and as- Jo Jo’s Po’ Boy Shack The CBEC will build and sessments. Cell Blocks will support a network of faculty be developed by faculty and Jo Jo’s Po’Boy Shack brings Cajun flavor to Jacksonville and students to provide re- their students at small schools, sources and training that will making it easier for them to be COMMUNITY make it possible for smaller, adapted by similar schools. primarily undergraduate in- The basic components of the Jo Jo’s creates Cajun stitutions and community col- Cell Blocks will be consis- leges to create customized, cell tent. They can be mixed and culture research projects. matched to answer specific connection in Jacksonville “This will help in places questions or centered around Quadarius Whitson near future. where faculty time and re- grand challenge topics such Staff Writer “We’re trying to add to our menu. sources are especially limited,” as the regulation of cell prolif- We wanted to start out with a basic Hensley said. “What we’re re- eration, the control of cellular Jacksonville residents no longer menu that offered a good variety of ally hoping for is a network differentiation, cell migration, have to go on a road trip to find sizes and flavors. As we grow and with lots of available resources and the cellular pathways and authentic Cajun flavors. Recently become more in depth in what we and available funding for fac- proteins that mediate these pro- opened Jo Jo’s Po’Boy Shack is are doing, we’ll start adding to the ulty wanting to establish this cesses. located on 1725 Broadwell Mill menu here and there.” same type of cell culture re- Hensley and Reyna have Road, which is a near 5-minute When asked about how business search in their own labs.” created a website, www.cell- drive from JSU’s campus. Owners, was going, the owners replied with That includes JSU, which has bioed.com, where faculty and Shane Weaver and Dianna Weaver “steady”. never had its own cell culture students can submit research recently opened this Cajun inspired “A personal connection is what it lab. That will soon change, in questions and then be guided to restaurant looking to bring some- takes to stay here for a long time. part, thanks to this grant. the right resources. thing “different” to the Jacksonville To be personal with the people that “It’s going to be a tremen- “And if they ask a question area. come in here and to cater to ev- dous opportunity for our fac- for which there isn’t a Cell “You can’t really get any good ery need that they have when they ulty and students,” Hensley Block,” Hensley said, “they Cajun food around here in Calhoun come in here is everything.” said. “They’ll get a chance to can apply for funding through County,” Mrs. Weaver said. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver relate a lot create resources for this grant our grant that would then give According to the owners, a lot of of their success to the family-ori- as well.” them the money to create those inspiration for the restaurant came ented base of Jo Jo’s. Traditionally, students are missing blocks.” from their late miniature pinscher “They’ll just start coming in here given lab manuals, told to fol- The implementation of multi- dog, Jo Jo. “He’s in everything we and rearranging furniture to make it low the directions to an ex- ple Cell Blocks in the classroom do around here. We came up with like home and that’s what we want pected outcome, potentially can lead to extensive research the name Jo Jo’s Po’Boy Shack be- it to feel like,” Mrs. Weaver said. learning little in the process.