Is God a Purple?

by Tavares Dozier

 

 

 

 

 



purple side chanting Moo Psi Moo

Well some  purples sure hopes so, there hoping that God himself will be on there side to help stop the losing streak they have been on against the golds. The sweet smell of passion, love, and animosity yes folks college night festivities have begun. Thursday night at the student activity center purple and golds came out to celebrate at the college night mixer. It was the first introduction to freshman and transfer students to college night. But the biggest question on the purples mind how are we going to stop the golds from having four victories in a row, and the answer seems to be unanimous keep doing what we been doing. The purple side seems to like the formula for there side originality and heart. When many were asked what would they do to help the purples get a win this year, many said just stay true to themselves.

 

one of the many sign up booth for the purple side

You could feel the passion and energy from the purple side doing the college night mixer. They had a huge turn out for there side, with a lot of new faces. The purple side are hoping some fresh new faces and talents will put them over the golds this year to stop there winning streak. Well the season hasn't quite begun but you can already see that the passion is high. So what's it gonna be? Some purple are hoping if God has anything to do with it a PV.





4 Little Girls Documentary Discussion at UM

by Pamela Faddis

Michele Forman, associate producer on the documentary "4 Little Girls" came to Montevallo to lead a discussion.

Michele Forman, associate producer of 4 Little Girls

September 15th marked the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombings. Many students came out to Anna Irving Dining Hall to hear more about the bombings and the documentary that was made because of it. 

Forman grew up in Birmingham in an all-white suburb community. She said felt isolated from what was like in the rest of the country. She knew if she wanted change, she would have to change herself and her location.

She went to Harvard University where she was able to take a creative writing class taught by guest instructor, Spike Lee. Spike Lee is a well-known director. His production company has produced over 35 films to date.  From here she realized her passion for documentary filmmaking. 

She eventually started working with Spike Lee who is the director of "4 Little Girls". The film was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Documentary". 

Forman wanted to make a documentary about these girls to remind people that these were actual people. These were 4 individual girls who lost their lives because of racial prejudice. She made this documentary so people would never forget those four little girls.

A New Hair Care Group Begins At UM

Story by: Marcus Sanders

The Beauty of Natural Decisions is a new group on UM campus started to bring a unique and unconventional club to the campus. The B.O.N.D was created to be a support group to help student get through the daily struggle of taking care and maintaining your hair. The group will be offering not only hair care tips but also health tips to help students.

Alex Cottrell stated “one of the main goal of B.O.N.D is empower students and to make them feel good on the inside and outside” .The first meeting was held with a huge turn out and a very diverse students wanting to join. People was filling the seats quickly and trying to find out more information of what bond stands for.






The organization has not yet became official as of right now they are on probation for two years. All new potential organizations has to get approved through Student Life to continue meetings and if they do get approved then they will be on probation before they become a university organization. The group encourages all student no matter the race to join and be apart of the B.O.N.D.



University Chorus Prepares for Upcoming Concert

Story By: Kearson Roberts

The University Choir which is under the direction of Miranda Doyle prepares for their first performance of the year. The seasoned choir works on many pieces; some that are in English but many are in other languages such as; Italian, French and Spanish. The choir has members from different classification and majors which makes them very diverse.

University of Montevallo Choir 

Their first performance of the semester is October 15 at 7:30 in Labaron Hall in Davis.

Dr. Scott Varagona, Montevallo's Resident Chess Master

By Nick Raymond

The title of the 2013 Alabama State Chess Championship went to Dr. Scott Varagona, a professor at the University of Montevallo, and long-time chess player. A graduate of Auburn University, Dr. Varagona holds a doctorate in Math and a degree in Philosophy. Dr. Varagona has taught a variety of Math classes including Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Topology, and several others. Dr. Varagona is currently teaching a class called the Mathematics of Chess.

Chess Master Dr. Scott Varagona

"There are lots of chess puzzles that are really math problems in disguise," Dr. Varagona said, "so we take those problems, and we rephrase them in terms of mathematics, and then we can apply mathematical know-how to solve the chess problems." 

Dr. Varagona began playing chess in the 4th grade, and later became a member of his high school chess club. He has played in chess tournaments for the past 15 years, and has competed at the state level 10 times. Dr. Varagona won the state title in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2008, making this his fifth title.

Dr. Varagona attributes his success at chess to his love of the game. He hopes to continue his involvement in chess tournaments by competing at even higher levels in the future.

Welcome to Moes! UM'S New Dining Solution

                             

             
            Throughout the years, Montevallo has always had issues with their on campus dining. Students have complained that they've never had a dining experience worth experiencing. Over the summer of 2013 construction on the new Moe's began and people were thrilled. Not only has the new Moe's given students great food, but has also attracted a lot more of the student body to enjoy the new renovations of Farmer Hall. From games to new TV's, Farmer has became quite the hang out spot. With Moe's great atmosphere, great food, and an amazing staff, it has been a huge hit for Montevallo. 

Moe's Southwest Grill, Montevallo AL

     

Farmer Hall, Moe's and Starbucks

      Students of Montevallo not only love Moe's, but they enjoy the look and atmosphere of Farmer Hall. The new addition is really convenient for not only the residents of Montevallo, but also for commuters who don't have a meal plan. Although the prices may be slightly high, students are getting what they pay for. The variety is not only great, but the customization of the meal is something Moe's is famous for. Moe's  really gives back to the students by giving them not only portion options, but different combo options, as well as several different fresh salsa's offered the bar area.                             

Moe's is open Monday through Friday 11 am - 11 pm     and Sunday 6 pm - 11 pm.

Lawmakers push for new gun legislation after Navy Yard shooting

Story by:  Andrew Mechum

The shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. on Monday September 16 has once again prompted several lawmakers and television news pundits to call for new, tougher gun legislation.  This despite research by the FBI that shows a drop in the overall murder rate.  Research conducted by the CDC and Harvard University also shows a direct correlation between increased gun control laws and increased gun violence.

FBI Uniform Crime Report table 1

“There have been several mass shootings just about every year,” as far back as the 1920’s according to Dr. Scott Turner, a political science professor at the University of Montevallo.

Whether politicians in Washington have chosen to ignore the findings from the research conducted on gun violence or they are pushing a larger agenda to take away people’s guns as the NRA would have us believe, is yet to be determined.

Regardless of their goal, Turner cautions that any new legislation should take into consideration, “How effective is this strategy going to be or,” is this just going to be feel good legislation so Washington can say, “we did something?”

Falcon Foods Welcomes a New Member

Story by: Rebecca Peeples

     Are you hungry but tired of the usual "burger and fries"? Are your taste buds longing for something fresh? Well, now you don't have to leave the campus in search of such a place.The University of Montevallo welcomes Moe's Southwestern Grill this year to the Falcon Food line up. Replacing W.O.W( World of Wings), Moe's offers a variety of tasty goods. From burritos to tacos, Moe's have a menu that meets everyone's lifestyle.

Student gives opinion about Moe's 

     Students at the university welcome the change. They like that they have more fresh options than those that were offered in the past. Although students welcome this fresh alternative, one thing they don't like are the prices. Prices maybe a little steep, but is well worth it. With names like Funk Meister, Overachiever and Homewrecker, who wouldn't want to try these items.

     Moe's Southwestern Grill is located  in Farmer Hall. They are open Monday through Friday
11 am - 11 pm and Sunday 6 pm - 11 pm.

Ebenezer Swamp Boardwalk Continues to Grow

by Lucas Burns

Ebenezer Swamp, a natural preserve just outside of Montevallo has always served as a unique destination for relaxation, and education. With it's unique sculptures masterfully created by university students and beautiful scenery, it is an obvious choice for outdoor recreation. it also serves as a pivotal education tool for many in the biology and chemistry departments. Now it is getting even better due to the installation of a completely new section of boardwalk. The boardwalk was completed late in the summer and nearly doubles the size of the original path.

Ebenezer Swamp Boardwalk

The boardwalk allows students interested in natural

sciences to inch even closer to their work and

observe many natural phenomenonin a way 

that would not be available otherwise. 

There is even a small classroom area where students

and teachers can gather to lecture onwhat they have observed. 

The boardwalk was completed primarily with the support of the biology department at the University of Montevallo, and the students continue to clean and protect the beautiful wildlife preserve.

Mollie Garrigan Local singer with local charm

story by: Tavares Dozier

Local singer Mollie Garrigan showcased her talent Friday afternoon at Hoover Library.



If you had to combine Carrie underwood with Adele you would get Mollie Garrigan. Don't confuse her with the two Mollie Garrigan is setting out to build a name of her own. She's  originally from Madisonville, Kentucky, but she has  lived in Birmingham most of her adult life. She's one of those singers when you hear her, you have to stop and listen. She has a sound of southern charm with a edge. Mollie said if she had to describe her sound it would be  pop, country, and jazz combine.

 

 

Mollie Garrigan Singing one of her original songs

 

 

She has be singing for over ten years now, and it defiantly shows. She had a way of taking you thru a journey with her lyrics. You felt that each note, and lyric was thought out, in a way to allow you to take the journey with her during the hour long performance. Mollie was quoted as "I want my  performances to be raw and vulnerable. She delivered that and then some. She made you believe the lyrics she was saying. Her showcase at the hoover library I'm sure will not be the last time listeners get a chance to hear her soulful voice. She says she is working on a cd, and other gigs around town.

If you like to keep up with her or hear some of her material, you can find her on Facebook by Mollie Garrigan her fan page. It was a true pleasure getting to interview her, I call her southern charm with southern talent

 

 

Hollywood Stars Hit South Alabama

by Abbey McNeely

UM Students from lower Alabama found their summers to be more exciting than they expected with the arrival of the cast and crew of the Hollywood film Tokarev (prounounced Toke-ah-rev). Most notably, Nicolas Cage and Danny Glover star in this mafia based film. Throughout June and July, downtown Mobile was filled with explosions, gunshots, and interested spectators. According to press releases and crew statements, the film stars Cage as former Irish mafia member Paul Maguire. Maguire has moved on with his life and become a prominent part of the community, until his daughter is kidnapped by Russian mafia members, and he is forced to dive back into his dark past. Tokarev has often been compared to box office hit Taken, but the crew assured us that there is an exciting twist that makes Tokarev something Hollywood has never seen before.

Tokarev is Spanish director Paco Cabezas’American debut. He hosted a Q and A session at downtown Mobile’s Crescent Theater along with a showing of his most well-known Spanish hit, Neon Flesh. At that session, he stated that Mobile stood out to him because the city had such a strong culture, and he was happy that the public were as excited about this movie as he was to make it. He also displayed his skills in action films, allowing the audience to get an idea of the kind of shots they will see in Tokarev. Neon Flesh was a fairly low-budget action film (only costing around $1.3 million) but definitely delivered thrills. The audience that recieved the privilege of seeing it left the theater excited for what Cabezas' next work would bring.

He chronicled the experience making Tokarev through his twitter account, stating things like “Film: the only profession where they not only let you destroy a police car, but applaud you for it” and “Rolling Tokarev with Andrzej Sekula #ILikeItWhenTheyPointShotgunsAtMe”.  Cabezas seems to have developed a close connection with the cast and crew, as every picture is all smiles.

The crew and cast of Tokarev all seemed to thoroughly enjoy their stay in south Alabama. Many crew members spoke to locals about reccommendations for food and activities on their days off. They recieved many stories of the delicious wonders of Wentzell's Oyster House and Foosackly's.
Cage managed to have some fun personal time, being spotted in his hotel pool with his family and a fireworks shop on the fourth of July. Cage didn’t give interviews while in town, but stated to a reporter (despite interference from a security guard) that he was enjoying his stay, and was happy to meet the people. He recieved a heavy dose of Southern hospitality!

Cage pauses during some well-deserved pool time with his son to take a picture with a local resident

It is certain that the people of Mobile were happy to welcome these Hollywood professionals to their home, and crew members have assured us many times that they would like to come back and shoot other projects in the port city. It looks like lower Alabama will soon be on the Hollywood map!

Tokarev is set to be released in 2014. It is likely that there will be a special premiere in Mobile. Watch out at The Crescent Theater's website and facebook page for more details to come!

Run-off Elections for 2013-2014 SGA President

by Pamela Faddis

Elections for SGA President were held this past Wednesday in Farmer Hall. Many students came out to see who the face of the new president would be.

Candidates for this run off election were Eddie Davis and Rachael Swokowski. Elections are usually held in the spring however the former president had to renounce his spot. Online elections were held between three candidates on September 3^rd and 4^th. Eddie and Rachael were the two candidates to win which made them eligible to be on the ballot for the run-off elections. On Wednesday September 11^th the winner of the election was announced. Rachael Swokowski would be our new 2013-2014 SGA president!

 

Student Life Center

During an interview I asked Rachael how she campaigned for this election.

 “My methods for campaigning really were just to talk to as many people as possible, meet with a lot of major organizations, let them know that I was running; basically, I really relied on my friends a lot to spread the word that there was an election going on and I really relied on my friends and just word of mouth.”

On her “Rachael Swokowski for UM SGA President” facebook page, she shows how her friends really helped her campaign through fun, silly videos.

Rachael says she will start off the year by talking with other members of the cabinet to find out what project is best for the campus.

Montevallo Welcomes New Dining Service With Ribbon Cutting

Story by Max Greene

A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday to celebrate Falcon Foods, Montevallo's new dining service program.

After the end of a 10 year contract with the previous foodservice provider Sodexo, the university was looking to upgrade their dining services. Out of three options and a in-depth vetting process, the university chose Chartwells, a subsidiary of international company, Compass Group.

Many changes have been brought on by the new relationship. One of the major changes is the newly updated dining space in Anna Irvin Dining Hall. In addition, Moe's Southwest Grill has replaced World of Wings in Farmer Hall, and Carmichael Library has added Olo Sushi and Outtakes Cuisine in addition to Ollies.

Dr. John Stewart thanking everyone who made Falcon Foods possible.

With many students expressing dissatisfaction with Sodexo in the past, the university listened to what the students had to say. Dr. John Stewart, president of University of Montevallo, believes the new relationship with Chartwells and its Falcon Foods program will encourage students to stay on campus for their meals.

"I've noticed an increase in the quality of food," Dr. Stewart said. "And of the faculty, staff, and students, particularly who I ask, I don't think I've heard maybe one or two negative comments."