SPECIAL SECTION Baseball and Softball preview inside today’s paper Friday, February 18, 2011 Serving the University of Alabama since 1894 Vol. 117, Issue 87 Auburn Pink meet making an impact vandal not affi liated with UA Alabama students plan fundraiser to restore Toomer’s Corner By Amanda Sams Senior Staff Reporter [email protected] Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr., 62, of Dadeville, has been arrested and charged with first-degree crimi- nal mischief for poisoning the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner, Auburn University Police Chief Tommy Dawson said in a news conference Thursday. “The University of Alabama is glad that the indi- vidual responsible for damaging the trees will be held accountable,” said Deborah Lane, assistant vice president for University Relations. “The indi- vidual who was arrested has never attended The University of Alabama, and has never been a season ticket holder. He is not affiliated with the University in any way.” Even though Updyke is not a University student or alumnus, some Alabama students still want to show CW | Drew Hoover See TOOMER’S, page 3 Ricki Lebegern, who graduated last year, performs during a Pink Meet. A new wave of young Alabama gymnasts will experience the signifi cance of the power of the pink meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. By Jason Galloway annual Pink Meet to talk to the cancer. Dziadon said, “I was trying to Sports Editor current Crimson Tide gymnasts “We were really shocked, in a relay to the team – it’s more than [email protected] about what she had recently good way,” said Alyssa Chapman, just a gymnastics competition. been through. who is now a senior on the team. Everything seems really impor- Not long after former Alabama In the middle of her dialogue, “It was amazing to see what a big tant, but something like that gymnast Ann Wilhide Dziadon she pulled a wig off her head to deal this meet is. She was such really puts things into perspec- was diagnosed with breast reveal the baldness that comes an inspiration to us, and it made tive.” cancer in 2008, she came to from the agony of chemotherapy us realize exactly why we’re a Tuscaloosa before the team’s and other treatments of breast part of this program.” See PINK, page 2 Football attendance leads in SEC By Britton Lynn for us, but for the Alabama fans Senior Sports Reporter because we know what good fans TOP 10 MOST ATTENDED STADIUMS [email protected] they are.” Alabama sold out all seven home 1. Michigan – 111,825 6. Tennessee – 99,781 The first year after its new sta- games during the 2010 season dium expansion changed Bryant- while playing the following oppo- 2. Ohio State – 105,278 7. Georgia – 92,746 Denny Stadium from seating nents at Bryant-Denny Stadium: 92,138 screaming fans to 101,821, San Jose State, Penn State, 3. Penn State – 104,234 8. LSU – 92,718 Alabama became the No. 1 school Florida, Mississippi, Mississippi in football attendance in the SEC. State, Auburn and Georgia State. 4. Alabama -101,821 9. Florida – 90,511 The Crimson Tide was also ranked “It’s wonderful,” said junior No. 4 in the nation in football atten- defensive lineman Marcell Dareus. 5. Texas – 100,654 10.Auburn – 86,087 dance. “I don’t think there are many fans “It’s great,” said junior lineback- like Alabama fans. They have our going to cheer for us 100 percent.” going to an Alabama football game AP er Courtney Upshaw. “We thrive back when we’re winning, los- And while the Tide football in Bryant-Denny Stadium is unlike Crews work to remove toilet paper from one of two off the fans and how loud they are. ing, it doesn’t matter. They’re still team appreciates its fans’ sup- poisoned oak trees before spraying the leaves with a We try and get the win not only going to be there and they’re still port, the fans strongly believe that See STADIUM, page 3 coating at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn Thursday. SUNDAY SALES Free motor service useful but unused Religious groups By Jennie Kushner D’Esposito said. “We service Senior Staff Reporter seven days a week from 7 a.m. FAST FACTS [email protected] until midnight.” One to two drivers are avail- • The Motor Assistant Program began in voice opposition Six percent of the student able assist those who run out population has taken advan- of gas, need a battery jump, or 1998 tage of the University’s free need air in a tire, D’Esposito Motor Assistant Program, said. • Drivers offer assistance to callers who run to Sunday alcohol said Chris D’Esposito, assis- “We are primarily on cam- out of gas, need a battery jumped or need tant director of transporta- pus; if we go to far off campus, air in their tires tion services. we are not able to service By Taylor Holland the upcoming vote. D’Esposito said annually those on campus,” he said. • Annually about 1,800 of 30,000 students Senior Staff Reporter Bars along The Strip have about 1,800 out of 30,000 stu- D’Esposito said MAP costs use MAP [email protected] posted signs on their doors dents use MAP, a program the University thousands of and walls urging UA students that was initiated about 13 dollars a year. After both the state and bar patrons to vote yes in years ago. “I don’t know the exact boxes,” he said. “It costs in for students. House and Senate approved Tuesday’s vote, but what many “MAP is a service that helps number; we dedicate two the thousands.” Taylor Hess, a sophomore Tuscaloosa’s Sunday alcohol may not have encountered is out faculty, staff and visitors vehicles, we have two D’Esposito said any person majoring in mechanical sales bill last session, much con- on campus who need minor employee salaries and all the on campus is allowed to use troversy started surrounding See ALCOHOL, page 3 automotive assistance,” equipment like battery jump the service; it is not strictly See MAP, page 3 cle th ecy is r pa se p a e r today’s paper e today l INSIDE • WEATHER P P l e a Briefs ........................2 Puzzles ......................5 Partly s P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | e • 72º/52º Saturday r r e e c Opinions ...................4 Classifieds .................5 cloudy p Fax: 348-8036 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifi eds: 348-7355 y a c p l Partly Cloudy e s i t h Letters, op-eds: [email protected] Press releases, announcements: [email protected] Lifestyles ....................6 Sports ........... B Section 68º/50º ON THE MENU ON THE CALENDAR LAKESIDE TODAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Lunch Chicken Fried Pork Chop with Onion What: Dance Alabama! What: Celebrating Black What: Flora the Red Men- Gravy ace Macaroni and Cheese Spring Concert History Month - Black Amer- Linguine with Roasted Red Peppers Where: Morgan Audito- icana Collection from the A. Where: Allen Bales Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir-Fry rium S. Williams III Americana Theatre Broccoli Quiche (vegetarian) When: 5:30 - 8 p.m. Collection When: 2 - 5 p.m. Where: Gorgas Library - Dinner Italian Marinated Chicken Pearce Foyer and Williams Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup Room What: Student Recital fea- Roasted Red Potatoes When: 9 a.m. What: Research Forum on turing Chris Brown, tuba Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir-Fry Where: Moody Music Mozzarella Garden Burger (vegetarian) Teaching in the Disciplines Where: Charmichael 221 Building When: Noon - 1:30 p.m. When: 2 p.m. BURKE What: Wheelchair Basket- ball Tournament BBQ Smoked Turkey Legs Where: Student Rec Center Pasta Lovers Trio When: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Cornbread Dressing What: Miro String Quar- tet presented by the String Spinach Balfour Offi cial Ring Vegetarian Fajita (vegetarian) What: Quartet Society of Tusca- Week loosa Where: Ferguson Center BRYANT Where: Moody Music Lobby What: Experiencing the Building Chicken and Broccoli with Mushrooms When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sublime When: 4 p.m. Mexican Beef Fajitas Where: Ferguson Center Flatbread Tomato Pesto Art Gallery Beef Pot Roast When: Untimed event Four Tomato Basil Penne (vegetarian) FRESH FOOD Buttermilk Fried Chicken Submit your events to Turkey Noodle Soup [email protected] Squash Medley Herb Roasted Red Potatoes Stewed Tomatoes and Okra (vegetarian) ON THE GO ON CAMPUS Page 2• Friday, istration at the University of College Theatre Festival. elor’s degree in apparel technol- Tuscaloosa at the Ferguson Johnson named Massachusetts at Amherst and Meester judged student work ogy from Purdue University and Center, Room 309 at 6:30 p.m.. February 18, 2011 head of department her master’s and doctorate from for the festival while serving as her master’s in stage design from The event is free. Cornell University. vice chair of design and design Southern Methodist University. Truth Wins Out is a non-profit EDITORIAL of management and chair for the region. Meester has organization that fights anti-gay marketing also served as a guest lecturer religious extremism. • Victor Luckerson, editor-in-chief, for festival events. Equality Alabama, TWO monitors anti-LGBT [email protected] Diane Johnson, associate pro- UA professor wins The Kennedy Center organizations, documents their • Jonathan Reed, managing fessor of management, has been Kennedy Center American College Theatre Truth Wins Out to lies and exposes their leaders editor, [email protected] named head of the department Festival is a national program as charlatans. TWO special- • Brandee Easter, print production sponsor ʻPray Away of management and marketing award that involves more than 18,000 izes in turning information into editor in the Culverhouse College of Donna Meester, associate students from colleges and uni- the Gayʼ action by organizing, advocating • Daniel Roth, multimedia Commerce.