Hard pick between Gamers camp Tide names captains turkey and tofurkey out to get PS3 for Iron Bowl OPINIONS, Page 4 ENTERTAINMENT, Page 8 SPORTS, Page 14 Friday, November 17, 2006 Serving the University of Alabama since 1894 Vol. 113, Issue 58 Students miss ‘Basket Case’ ■ ENROLLMENT GROWTH Athletic officials say it’s “Sweet Home Alabama” played for the athletic department, band staff. over the loudspeakers. has received e-mails from dis- “The marketing folks Some students not coming back The band was not informed gruntled fans about the issue. thought that ‘Sweet Home of the switch before it hap- Hopper said the switch to Alabama’ would appeal to BY MICHELLE TANNER pened, band members said, “Sweet Home Alabama” was more people,” Ozzello said. “It Senior Staff Reporter and were bewildered when made to entice more crowd wasn’t a popular decision, you ■ [email protected] “Sweet Home Alabama” participation and it invokes a can imagine.” not happy with drowned them out on the loud- greater response than “Basket ‘Unpopular’ was just one Many students have said they speakers at the Duke game on Case.” of the words students used to have been feeling a void recent- Oct. 7. The band was notified “It’s not done to disrespect describe the switch. Amanda ly in their gameday experience before the Ole Miss game the the band in any way,” Hopper Akey, a freshman majoring in at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a following week that this would said. “As the athletic depart- interior design, said she miss- void once filled with the Green not be a one-time event. ment, we have to look at our es the band playing the song. administration Day song “Basket Case.” Many students are not excited entire fan base — not just the “It’s one of their specialties,” Athletic department offi- about the switch. Hundreds of student section and not just Akey said. “Especially when seeming to hit a nerve with cials recently prohibited the students have joined Facebook the alumni.” we’re losing, that song gets Enrollment growth some students. Some stu- Million Dollar Band from play- groups protesting the change, Band members were just us pumped up about fourth brings up resentment dents also worry officials ing the song between the third and chants of “Basket Case!” as surprised as students to quarter.” disregard their opinions and and fourth quarters of football emanate from the stands before learn of the change. Kenneth Shannon Mason, a fresh- BY KRISTEN TROTTER CHICK AND KYLE instead lend more weight to games, the band’s tradition for the last quarter starts. Ozzello, director of the Million man majoring in business, GUNNELS alumni preferences, usu- at least five years. Daniel Hopper, director of Dollar Band, said the deci- The Crimson White ally citing the Homecoming In its place, fans now hear marketing and promotions sion was not made by the See SONG, Page 2 Concert and “Basket Case” Editor’s note: This is the incidents as their reason- final part of a four-part series ing. exploring the different facets “It seems like they only of how the UA administra- care about what the alum- tion’s plan to increase enroll- ni want because they want ment will affect students. to continue getting their money,” said Qualyn White, When students talk about a sophomore majoring in UA President Robert Witt’s business. “And money is vision for the University, what makes this university which includes growing the go ‘round.” student population, some White is not the only stu- become disgruntled, even dent with this idea. suspicious, allowing a ten- “A major problem with the sion that has simmered University is that there are a beneath the surface to boil lot of the higher-ups who over. are too focused on money,” Witt recently announced said Julie Hudgens, a junior that the University is well on majoring in American stud- its way to meeting his goal ies. “They are more about of 28,000 students by 2010 what will make them more instead of 2013, as he origi- money instead of what is nally planned. But to these best for the students.” students, the enrollment Witt said one motivation growth brings out a deeper for increased enrollment issue: a lack of trust in the UA is the increased revenue administration. gained from out-of-state In a non-scientific poll of tuition, which is higher than 124 students conducted by in-state tuition, and the The Crimson White, 55 per- University has aggressively cent of students said they did recruited students from out not think the administration of state. However, Witt said had students’ best interests the increased revenue is in mind when making deci- used to better the University sions. by building and renovating “They just make decisions buildings and offering facul- Contributed photo without asking student opin- ty and staff higher salaries, Tailgaters party on gameday in Tuscaloosa before heading out to watch the Crimson Tide play. ion beforehand,” said Tyler which attracts better profes- James, a sophomore major- sors to the University ing in biology. “A lot of peo- Hudgens is also one of the ple are complaining about students disgruntled by the them, so it’s obvious there new fountain. are students who don’t agree “One example is that they with their decisions.” should have used all of the with Some students cite recent money it took to build the decisions and behavior by fountain to fix one of the UA officials for the reason academic buildings on cam- behind their growing dis- pus like ten Hoor,” Hudgens the said. “Instead, they went Party trust and alienation. Those Tide actions include splitting the ahead and built the fountain, around the city. criminal justice, and his fam- the same space on the Quad, Homecoming Concert into which serves no real pur- Tailgaters made famous The smell of hamburgers, ily, who, along with friends, a site located across from two performances, prohibit- pose.” for size, games, music steaks, hotdogs and other aro- tailgate each home game Carmichael Hall, each game- ing the Million Dollar Band Witt recently outlined matic specialties waft through weekend. day weekend, staking out their from playing “Basket Case” a plan to renovate one old BY JAMES JAILLET the rows of tents, lawn chairs “I’d definitely say it’s the claim by arriving to their spot between the third and fourth building per year, beginning Staff Reporter and make-shift entertainment biggest [tailgating crew] out several hours before the game quarter of football games, with Graves Hall this year. ■ [email protected] centers on the Quad. The arriv- there,” Sparks said. “I didn’t starts to begin unpacking. vaguely answering wheth- He dismissed concerns as al of the thousands of football want to just be bored on game- Sparks said tailgating is much er it recently bought Strip the complaints of a few stu- From the stifling summer fan tailgaters from around days and not do anything but more than a hobby. property and even building dents. air that slowly changes into the state that call Tuscaloosa go to the game; I wanted to be “It really is a lifestyle, and a fountain in the Ferguson “The vast majority of stu- the cool autumn breeze, the home for the weekend marks out there with the people and that’s what it’s turned into,” Plaza. dents I have talked to are sounds of cheers and boos each home football game. get into what was going on he said. “We want to be right The fountain, which very positive about their from Bryant-Denny Stadium Such is the case for Pat and be able to feel the mood.” cost $200,000, has been ring out over the Capstone and Sparks, a junior majoring in The Sparks crew occupies See TAILGATING, Page 6 brought up again and again, See ENROLLMENT, Page 7 Students notice plummeting Iron Bowl ticket prices BY PHIL OWEN the highest offered price is attended an Iron Bowl in the “I think it’s because of the tickets have dramatically Ticket Assistant Entertainment Editor half that, and most offers are past, is selling his ticket, and past,” Stegall said. “A lot of decreased over the course of sales for ■ [email protected] coming in between $40 and his reasoning for it is simple. people are stuck in the past.” the season. He said that one this year’s $100. “I was just looking to sell Stegall is included in the of his friends sold an Iron Alabama- As students walked around Some students are won- because I thought I could large number of students Bowl ticket for $300 before Auburn campus this week, they were dering why tickets for the make some money off it,” dumping their tickets on the Arkansas game. game are barraged with flyers advertis- biggest game of the year are Randolph said. uaguru.com. His asking price Some students have noticeably ing student tickets for sale for selling for such low prices Tom Stegall, a junior is $89, and his highest offer implied that the price drop lower com- this weekend’s Iron Bowl. and why everyone is so eager majoring in accounting, said so far is $85. has something to do with pared to Currently on uaguru.com, to get rid of their tickets. the school’s long heritage of “I work in the skyboxes, declining interest because a hotspot for student foot- Dylan Randolph, a sopho- winning national champion- so I’m going to see the game the season has not been as years past.