TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 100 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894 NEWS | SGA NEWS | DISABILITY SERVICES Presidential candidates face off in fi nal debate Bloom, Thompson discuss campus diversity, leadership experience Students with By Adam Dodson | Contributing Writer The SGA presidential debate Monday night between Hamilton Bloom and Justin Thompson disabilities seek covered various areas of concern for students and the candidates. Bloom, the current vice president for student affairs, spoke on the topics of SGA’s involvement on campus and the voice of the aver- access on campus age student. Thompson, currently an SGA senator, focused mostly on the issues of diversity on cam- pus and the changing of the current SGA system. Bob McCurley, former director of the Alabama Buildings with historic designation exempt Law Institute, mediated the debate and opened from national accessibility guidelines up the night by asking the candidates what they thought was the most urgent priority for the SGA. Bloom said he CW | Austin Bigoney believes the most urgent Campus buildings such as Gorgas Library maintain a classical style of architecture that may lack accessibility issue is the need for a features for students with disabilities. diversity caucus, which he said would get the By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter “A lot of the buildings are historic, and The Crimson Access Alliance is a stu- SGA more involved on what gets me is that these buildings that dent organization aimed at advocating campus. he University of Alabama is famous are made at or around the Civil War era, for the rights of students with disabilities “SGA doesn’t need to for its signature Greek Revival those back entrances were for people of a and increasing awareness on campus. Hamilton Bloom just get involved with Tarchitecture style, with towering col- lesser class, specifically slaves,” said Sierra Rodgers-Farris said that while the Office of more students who are umns and steep staircases leading to build- Rodgers-Farris, president of the Crimson Disability Services provides many accom- part of organizations; it needs to get involved with ing entrances. But one thing missing from Access Alliance and a graduate student of modations to students with disabilities, it’s students who have no affiliation and get them asso- these grand facades is accessible entranc- gender and race studies. “So now we’re say- not always enough. ciated with organizations, too,” Bloom said. “This es for students with disabilities. In many ing that it’s okay for everybody to use the The syllabus for every class is required will help us make sure that all students have a buildings, these entrances are around the front entrances except for disabled people, to include information about disability voice.” side or in the back, hidden from view and [who] still have to use the back. What are we Thompson said he believes the most urgent inconvenient to access. saying about people with disabilities?” SEE DISABILITIES PAGE 7 issue is the need for a smoking restriction NEWS | SGA on campus, that a non- smoking campus would lead to healthier lives and that many students Posters may violate election policies would back this policy. Thompson also spoke at length about his belief End The Machine promotes Vaughn said. “You can’t use or put cam- that minority groups do paign materials anywhere in UA housing. not have enough of a independent SGA candidates That includes all of the residential dorms.” voice on campus. You can’t use or put campaign According to the SGA Elections Manual, “It is known that I am By Andy McWhorter | Assistant News Editor candidates are not allowed to distribute openly gay,” Thompson materials anywhere in UA campaign materials in on-campus build- said. “My motto is to Justin Thompson In an alleged violation of SGA election ings but may post on designated bulletin unite this campus regardless of race, gender, sex- rules, a number of posters endorsing non- housing. That includes all of boards and, as approved, in residence halls. uality, how much money you have, where you’re Machine affiliated candidates were posted Henry Perkins, a senior majoring in New from or your Greek affiliation.” in residence halls around the University the residential dorms. College; Drew Erny, a sophomore major- Thompson reiterated throughout the debate of Alabama campus Monday morning. The ing in computer science; Taylor Pierson, a posters claimed this year is the 100th anni- sophomore majoring in management infor- that not everyone on campus has a say in impor- — Madalyn Vaughn tant matters, especially minorities in student gov- versary of the Machine and asked students to mation systems; Stephanie Ray, a junior ernment. Thompson said he saw, as a senator, the give the secret organization a break this year. majoring in international business; and need to “change the system” to ensure transpar- “Show them you care, and give them this Terrence Lonam, a freshman majoring in ency in the student government. year off,” the poster read. “They shouldn’t philosophy and marketing, all claimed to be “As a member of the Senate, I did not have as have to run SGA by themselves forever.” at The University of Alabama, said fliers involved with either creating and distribut- much influence as I expected, and my committee Madalyn Vaughn, a senior majoring in like the End The Machine posters consti- ing the End The Machine posters, running accounting and co-chair of the Elections tute a violation of rules. Board, which governs all student elections “That does violate constitutional rules,” SEE MACHINE PAGE 7 SEE DEBATE PAGE 7 SPORTS | FOOTBALL TODAYON CAMPUS Student fi les lawsuit against former athlete Cast your vote WHAT: SGA elections Suit alleges defensive back WHEN: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. assaulted fraternity brother WHERE: myBama.ua.edu By Andy McWhorter and Kelly Ward | CW Staff Attorney James D. Smith filed a civil action lawsuit on behalf of University of Baseball Alabama student Connor McKenna against WHAT: Alabama vs. Samford former UA defensive lineman Wilson Love WHEN: 6:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. WHERE: Sewell-Thomas Stadium The lawsuit was filed two days before the statute of limitations would have prevented McKenna from filing one. “A civil lawsuit was filed against Wilson Love, a recent University of Alabama grad- Film scene uate and a former University of Alabama football player, over something that was WHAT: Spanish Movie Night: “Tesis Sobre un supposed to have happened in California CW File Homicidio” Love celebrates after a victory over LSU in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. WHEN: 6:30 p.m. SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 7 WHERE: 203 B.B. Comer Hall cycle re th se is email today’s paper today tomorrow a p le a [email protected] Tuesday Wednesday P p e Briefs 2 Sports 10 r • • Cloudy Chance • r r Opinions 4Puzzles 11 e e P P p of rain p website l l a a e Culture 9 Classifi eds 11 e p p a a cw.ua.edu s s 76º/60º 61º/32º i e h t r e e c l y INSIDE c CONTACT WEATHER Tuesday CAMPUSBRIEFS March 11, 2014 p.2 Open panel to discuss diversity An open panel taking place tonight will challenge SCENEON CAMPUS stereotypes, discuss diversity and celebrate the differences of individuals. The panel, titled “Breaking the Mold,” will also attempt to unite all University of Alabama students despite these differences. “Diversity is a hard topic, and people don’t want to talk about it,” said Sammi Suby, a junior majoring in restaurant, hotel and meetings management and an organizer of the event. “But it’s important because of the recent events on campus.” The panel will consist of four students and professors who are interested in spreading diversity and breaking stereotypes. Suby said the goal of this event is to broaden people’s scope of knowledge about diversity and to create an open discussion about the issue of stereotypes. Because this event is student-run and student-led, organizers are emphasizing that they want to create a comfortable environment for attendees to discuss the topic. Free food and craft activities will be available for those who participate in the event. “We want to make it comfortable, but we also want to show that students can do anything they want to,” Suby said. In addition to providing an open discussion on the issue of stereotypes and diversity, Greek-affi liated students will earn one Panhellenic point for attending. CW | Austin Bigoney Jennifer McCollum, a graduate student assistant for Cole Baker, a freshman majoring in Chemical Engineering, plays bagpipes for his friends on the Quad on Monday afternoon. University Programs who also helped to organize the event, said she thinks the panel is important for the community. “There’s defi nitely a divide on campus, and we don’t want to sweep it under the rug,” McCollum said. “We WEDNESDAY THURSDAY want it to be a continuous problem that we engage WHAT: Off-Campus Housing WHAT: Sundown Lecture: in.” Fair “How to Identify Real Despite this divide, McCollum said it is important to create a feeling of unity within the University of WHEN: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Silver” Alabama community. WHERE: Ferguson Center WHEN: 5:15-6:30 p.m. “We want to show that we are unifi ed,” she said. main fl oor WHERE: Jemison-Van de Graff Any students interested in the topics of diversity TODAY Mansion and stereotypes on campus are encouraged to attend WHAT: Movie Night with the panel, which will take place tonight from 6 to 8 WHAT: DMA Voice Lecture: Cadets: “Pearl WHAT: Lunafest p.m.