CW Back to School Edition, Fall 2020

BACK TO
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020
VOLUME 127 | ISSUE 1
SERVING THE UNIVERSITY
OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
SCHOOL
CW / Hannah Saad
CW / Leah Goggins
and Rebecca Griesbach

2 BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020

BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020
3
WHAT’S INSIDE
This pandemic has revealed
something we have long
known to be true: the
UA administration has its
priorities twisted.
cw.ua.edu
4-5
NEWS 6
Fighting for Transparency:
Coronavirus data still opaque
as fall semester begins
AND
CASE COUNTS: A timeline
of how the city, state and
University responded to
COVID-19
OPINIONS
OUR VIEW: No, President
Bell, we won’t be your PR
P.O. Box 870170
414 Campus Drive East
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Newsroom: (205) 348-6144
Fax: (205) 348-8036
Advertising: (205) 348-7845
HAND
SANITIZER
EDITORIAL STAFF
editor-in-chief
managing editor
digital editor
Rebecca Griesbach
editor@cw.ua.edu
Leah Goggins
managingeditor@cw.ua.edu
Adaya Jackson
engagement@cw.ua.edu
7
OPINIONS 9
Coping with COVID: Staying
healthy means staying in
CULTURE
Back-to-school supplies
look different this fall
visuals editor
Madison Ely
chief copy editor
Bhavana Ravala
opinions editor
Mikayla Wyatt
letters@cw.ua.edu
news editor
Jessa Reid Bolling
newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
assistant news and photo editor
Keely Brewer
culture editor
Honorine Ntoh Yuh
culture@cw.ua.edu
assistant culture editor
Jeffrey Kelly
sports editor
photo editor
multimedia editor
lead graphics designer
senior designer
senior designer
social media strategist
Alexander Plant
sports@cw.ua.edu
Hannah Saad
Alex Miller
Tomia Teague
Pearl Langley
Garrett Kennedy
Cameryn Robertson
10
CULTURE 11
Full-time mask-wearing
brings its own set
of problems
CULTURE
UA debuts new guidelines
for campus facilities
social media strategist
Anna Desjardin
social media strategist
Emily Earle
ADVERTISING STAFF
creative services
Alyssa Sons
The Crimson Wh is the community newspaper of The
University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially
free newspaper produced by students.The University
of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and
editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and
do not represent the official opinions of the University.
Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room
1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East.
The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.
13
SPORTS 14
Letter from coach Nate Oats
MARCH 17 -
SEC announced
the cancellation
of the spring
sports season.
SPORTS
Athletics resume after
months-long drought
The Crimson White, USPS #138020, Copyright © 2019
by The Crimson White. The Crimson White is published
twice weekly, Mondays and Thursdays, August through
April when classes are in session by The University
of Alabama, Student Media, 414 Campus Drive East,
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson
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All material contained herein, except advertising or where
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White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and
“Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright
laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the
expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.
15
SPORTS
Volleyball looks to improve
under Devine

4 BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20. 2020
Fighting for Transparency: Coronavirus
After nearly five months at home, the time has come to return to
Tuscaloosa. For some, this meant a drive across the state. For others, it
meant a plane ride for the first time during the COVID-19 outbreak. For
all, it meant being thrown back into a life of contact with those not in their
immediate friend group, family or community. In classrooms, residence
halls and the Strip, The University of Alabama must brace itself for an
incoming level of social interaction it has not seen all summer.
While some schools have gone completely
remote, the University has settled on a
hybrid learning plan, with the ability to go
remote at any point. Following the release
of the UA Return Plan, students, faculty
and staff did not expect the June initiative
to be the last of major announcements as
they prepared for the fall semester. Instead,
one professor said, things have only gotten
more unclear.
BY THE NUMBERS
On August 13, word from Rona Donahoe,
UA Faculty Senate president, circulated in
the West Alabama COVID-19 Information
Facebook group. It was reported in the
group that UA Provost James Dalton was
aware of faculty, staff and student test
results, and he shared them exclusively with
the Steering Committee.
“Faculty and Staff testing indicated that
1.4% were positive (but asymptomatic) for
COVID-19,” Donahoe said in the meeting.
“At least one of these positive tests was a
false positive. For the 5600 student tests
performed up to that point, 5% had tested
positive (but were asymptomatic).”
In a Faculty Senate meeting held the
day prior to the start of the semester,
UA President Stuart Bell explained the
discrepancy between the 5% positivity
rate shown by the first 5,600 student tests
and the 0.94% positivity rate for students
shown now.
The data that contributed to the 5%
positivity rate included positive results
students received between 2 and 3 months
prior, Bell said. Once these 180-200
outdated positive results were moved to
another data group, the current positivity
rate dropped. The University is urging those
who have had COVID-19 prior to returning
to campus to not retest and instead fill out a
different form.
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Dalton was unable to provide an answer
as to what percentage of positive testing
among campus-goers would result in a
shutdown of the University but suggested
the value may be determined at some point.
GATEKEEPING
Shane Dorrill of UA Strategic
Communications did not believe that there
would be a “single ‘threshold positive test rate
number’ that would dictate an operational
decision, either from return testing, sentinel,
or symptomatic” reports. Instead, “many
data points will be reviewed” to make any
final decisions on UA operations.
“I will recommend to the UA
Administration that COVID testing data
(number of tests performed and % testing
positive) be posted and updated weekly to
a centralized location that can be accessed
by employees and students,” Donahoe said.
“It is essential that members of the campus
community should stay informed and be
aware of any trends.”
At Tuesday’s Faculty Senate meeting,
Donahoe posed this concern to Bell who
expressed interest in prioritizing this request
on their agenda.
Dorrill told the Crimson White that the
process of return testing is “ongoing” and
said that “data would not be released until it
is more complete.”
This gatekeeping of information is
making some community and campus
Deaths
Cases
members assume the worst.
“The University of North Alabama and
Troy University both publish the testing data
they collect,” said Garrett Bridger Gilmore, a
member of Safe Return UA. “I want to know
why we don’t publish our numbers, because
I think most people who work at UA and
who live in Tuscaloosa would feel more
confident if they had all the information
that the university has.”
Even if it is not the numbers or news
anyone wants to hear, Gilmore said he
believes it is better than nothing.
“Students, staff, faculty, residents—we’re
all adults,” Gilmore said. “It’s insulting for
UA to act like this data they collect is not fit
for public consumption. If they don’t want
to publish their numbers, the only logical
CASE COUNTS: A timeline of how the city, stat
BY JESSA REID BOLLING
NEWS EDITOR
The abrupt end of the 2020 spring
semester left the future of on-campus
studies in question. Now, the number of
COVID-19 cases in Tuscaloosa County
has reached over 4,500, and students are
returning to The University of Alabama.
They are expected to follow new health
and safety guidelines such as wearing
masks, maintaining social distancing
and testing negative for the virus before
attending classes.
This return to campus has only been
confirmed since mid-June. As the virus
spread, the University altered plans for
classes, graduation and sports in the
name of safety.
Feb 1: The University alerts international
students to expanded travel ban
March 4: University cancels all UAaffiliated
international travel
March 9: The University advises against
domestic travel
March 11: The University notifies students
and faculty to prepare to transition to
online-only classes
March 12
- The SEC announces cancellation of
Men’s Basketball Tournament,
suspends regular season competition
- The City of Tuscaloosa cancels public
events held on city property
- The University prepares to transition to
online-only/alternate classes
- Spring break extended to March 30
BY GRACE SCHEPIS
STAFF REPORTER
TUSCALOOSA
CASE COUNTS
(cumulative)
Cases
Deaths
March 13: First Reported Case in
Tuscaloosa
- Governor Kay Ivey announces state
of emergency in Alabama
- Six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in
Alabama, one in Tuscaloosa
- Alabama football suspends spring
football practice until further notice
- President Donald Trump declares
COVID-19 national emergency
- Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox
declares state of emergency
March 17: Three cases in Tuscaloosa
- Alabama Department of Public
Health suspends public gatherings,
dining out in Tuscaloosa and
neighboring counties
- Maddox mandates three-week ban
on public gatherings
It’s insulting for UA to
act like this data they
collect is not fit for
public consumption.
GARRETT
BRIDGER GILMORE
March 18: Spring semester will
remain online, commencement
cancelled
March 26: 20 cases in Tuscaloosa
The University offers to refund
housing, parking, dining and
graduation fees
March 27: 22 cases in Tuscaloosa
- Ivey orders statewide closure
of non-essential businesses until
April 17
- The University announces
pass/fail grading option for
undergraduate students
April 3: 41 cases in Tuscaloosa
The University confirms four
employees, three students
diagnosed with COVID-19
April 8: 85 cases in Tuscaloosa
All UA summer courses to be taught
online or in a remote format
April 15: 131 cases in Tuscaloosa
All UA summer courses to be taught
online or in a remote format
April 29: First Death in Tuscaloosa
March April M
3-13 3-14 3-15 3-16 3-17 3-18 3-19 3-20 3-21 3-22 3-23 3-24 3-25 3-26 3-27 3-28 3-29 3-30 3-31 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 4-6 4-7 4-8 4-9 4-10 4-11 4-12 4-13 4-14 4-15 4-16 4-17 4-18 4-19 4-20 4-21 4-22 4-23 4-24 4-25 4-26 4-27 4-28 4-29 4-30 5-1 5-2 5-3 5-4 5-5 5-6 5-7 5-8 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-12 5-13 5-14

BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20. 2020
data still opaque as fall semester begins
interpretation is that the numbers are bad.”
Meredith Cummings, an instructor in
the Department of Journalism and Creative
Media, initially decided to leave campus on
March 10. This was days before the school
went officially online, but Cummings
believed it was in her best interest to stay
home because she has Type 1 diabetes,
classifying her as high risk. This semester,
Cummings will be teaching remotely.
“There was never going to be a plan that
I felt comfortable with if it involved being
indoors and within six feet of someone,”
Cummings said. “So, no, I had never even
considered going back.”
While Cummings felt her department
was accommodating to her situation, she
said administrators could do more.
“My experience has been wonderful.
However, UA overall, I would like to see
them reporting numbers daily or whatever
is reasonable,” Cummings said. “You know,
every couple of days, I feel like we do need
those numbers. And ‘we’ as in the public, not
just UA faculty and staff. I think everyone
needs those numbers.”
Some of the most critical parts of the
University’s plan rely heavily on student
initiative and responsibility through contact
tracing and symptom tracking.
LACK OF ENFORCEMENT
Gilmore also voiced concern for potential
student punishment outlined in the Return
Plan which might result in students being
more aggressively policed.
Potential punishments include anything
from a letter of reprimand and additional
training for the first violation to a
disciplinary probation and conduct charge
for the third. If a student organization is
found guilty, after four violations, they
could face removal from campus for one
academic year.
Some student organizations, such as those
that are Greek-affiliated, are characterized
by social activities. With large parties,
intermixing of communities and tight living
quarters all a part of their usual operations,
Gilmore fears that the power of Greek life
may win over anyone trying to enforce
the rules.
Crimson White photo editor Hannah
Saad covered last weekend’s crowded Bid
Day activities, UA affiliated and not, that
stunned Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.
“Will the administration really hold the
Greek system accountable?” Gilmore said.
“That’s the big question on many faculty
members’ minds, and I wouldn’t say that
most faculty are optimistic about that.”
On Aug. 13, Maddox announced in
a Pre-Council Agenda Briefing that, in
compliance with the Alabama Department
of Public Health (ADPH)’s reporting policy,
students who test positive will have their
case “count” towards their home county
or state’s numbers, not Tuscaloosa’s. This
quickly worried community members, who
wished to know if campus infections could
be right in front of their eyes with no notice.
Later, ADPH came out to correct
Maddox’s belief in a tweet, specifying
that the case would be assigned to a
positive-tester’s “place of usual residence
in the academic year,” which may as well
be Tuscaloosa.
During the Faculty Senate meeting held
the day before classes started, Bell said, to
his knowledge, students who test positive
before returning to campus will contribute
to the case count of their home residence.
Students who test positive after returning
e and University responded to COVID-19
to campus will be included in Tuscaloosa’s
case count.
These questions continue to circulate
within a week of the start of classes. While
the science evolves and new information
becomes publicized, Gilmore hopes that
UA’s data does as well.
“I feel like things are what they are at
this point,” Gilmore said. “It seems like we
are hearing every day that COVID-19 is
transmitted through air more efficiently
than we thought a month ago and that
young people are able to transmit it more
than we initially thought.”
Bid Day revelers – most of whom are maskless – line up outside of Gallette’s. CW / Hannah Saad
5
May 22: 464 cases in Tuscaloosa,
nine deaths
Task force created to create
safe plan for students, faculty
and staff to return to campus
for fall semester
June 11: 1083 cases in
Tuscaloosa, 23 deaths
UA System releases health and
safety plan for fall return
July 8: 50 deaths in Tuscaloosa
July 17: 3018 cases in Tuscaloosa,
57 deaths
The University announces
students must test for virus
within two weeks before
returning to campus
Aug. 4: 4065 cases in Tuscaloosa,
68 deaths
Maddox declares second state
of emergency
Aug. 10: 4364 cases in
Tuscaloosa, 80 deaths
The University announces plans
to distribute 60,000 free masks
to students
Aug. 19: 4800 cases in
Tuscaloosa, 88 deaths
Classes begin
Data from The New York Times and
Alabama Department of Public Health.
Graphic CW / Rebecca Griesbach
ay June July August
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6 BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020
OUR VIEW: No, President Bell, we won’t be your PR
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
The University has yet again made
national news, but for all the wrong
reasons. CBS News, the Washington
Post, and Al.com released articles
this week highlighting recent photos
of University students and guests on
campus waiting to enter a bar with
less than 10% of the crowd wearing
masks. With classes officially starting
this week, the lack of enforcement
creates doubt among us all.
In a recent COVID Conversations
video, Vice President of Student Life
Myron Pope stated that Tuscaloosa
Mayor Walt Maddox ordered an
extension on the Safer at Home
Order until Aug. 31 in order to
accommodate returning students.
This order makes it a requirement
for all individuals within the city of
Tuscaloosa to “wear a face covering
in indoor public places, outdoor
public settings where 10 or more
people are gathered and places limits
on gatherings.”
It’s no secret that college students
enjoy a night out on the Strip, but
when requirements are set in place to
protect us all, we must do our part.
Whether we are affected by the virus,
believe in the requirements or even
believe COVID-19 is real is beside
the point. In public spaces we must
consider all individuals surrounding
us. We urge the University and
members of our community to take
this virus seriously so that we can all
return to our tequila shots and Natty
Lights in a healthy fashion.
Students have taken
the University’s
requirements
as suggestions
solely because
administration has
as well.
While we are inundated with
emails about virtual rush, Week of
Welcome and upcoming football
events, the University has failed to
be transparent about what matters
most. Students with on-campus jobs
have been left in the dark since the
University closed its doors in March.
Initial classroom capacities were
much more limited at the beginning of
the summer than toward the middle,
even as new cases in Alabama began
to escalate. Testing transparency has
still not been presented to the UA
community, with several students
stating that they never received the
at-home testing kits outlined within
the return plan. This pandemic has
revealed something we have long
known to be true: UA administration
has its priorities twisted.
On June 15, in a press conference
addressing the return to campus plan
President Bell warned journalists
to “be careful what we publish
during this time” and to play our
role in keeping the campus safe. It
is our job as campus journalists to
address accomplishments, opinions
and concerns at this University.
COVID-19 has forced us all to relearn
the concept of community and our
roles within it. The change that we are
urging the UA community to embrace
does not start with our stories or even
students wearing a mask to a bar. It is
a shift that must happen within each
community member.
Students have taken the University’s
requirements as suggestions solely
This pandemic has
revealed something
we have long known
to be true: the UA
administration has its
priorities twisted.
because administration has as well.
The return plan has purposely
avoided aforementioned important
aspects, which leave a portion of the
UA population living in uncertainty.
It is impossible to return to campus
safety if all identities aren’t even
important enough to be included
in a campus wide return plan. We
ask President Bell to do his part in
ensuring all students, faculty and
staff adhere to the PPE and social
distancing requirements. That’s the
only way we can truly stay “Still
Tide Together.”
Our View represents the consensus
of the CW Editorial Board. See page
3 for more about our staff structure.

BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020
Coping with COVID: Staying healthy means staying in
BY MARIAH KRAVITZ
GUEST COLUMNIST
In the spring, many students only
went weeks between hearing about
COVID-19 for the first time and
being sent away from campus because
of it. In compliance with the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) guidelines, students finished
the semester remotely and lost out
on socializing with their friends.
The adjustment was hard on many
students’ mental and physical health,
and despite everyone returning to
campus, the challenges to regaining a
healthy lifestyle are still present.
In an effort to make the upcoming
semester both successful and familiar,
the University has put strict measures
in place. Everyone must wear a
mask and social distance whenever
possible. Classes will be offered in
three different styles depending on
the number of students: face-toface,
online and hybrid. Every
student, faculty member
and staff member must test
negative for COVID-19 upon
arrival and update the school
at least every three days
through Healthcheck.
Luckily, there are additional
ways to ensure you’re
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
“There are concerns therefore that,
in the context of the pandemic, lack of
access to regular sporting or exercise
routines may result in challenges
to the immune system, physical
health, including by leading to the
commencement of or exacerbating
existing diseases that have their
roots in a sedentary lifestyle,”
according to a recent article from the
United Nations.
While the pandemic may keep you
from training at the gym or going
on a hike with a group of your
friends, there are plenty of other
safe ways to stay both physically
active and socially distant.
1. Find at least one hour a
day to exercise. This can mean
going on a walk around your
neighborhood or finding a path
to walk on, all while wearing your
mask, of course.
2. Find an online workout class that
fits your level of experience. YMCA
360 has a plethora of workout classes
tailored to all ages and fitness levels.
While you might not feel motivated
to work out alone in your house,
there are plenty of ways to virtually
workout with others. You could host a
workout class with a group of friends
over Zoom, or follow an online
workout video.
3. If safe in your area, get one or
two friends and go on a social distance
walk. Going on a walk with friends you
know have been following COVID-19
guidelines is a great way to catch up
with each other while sneaking in
a workout.
There’s always a way to get exercise
on campus. The Quad is a popular
venue for runs or walks – just
remember to grab your mask.
MENTAL HEALTH
According to the CDC,
the stress surrounding the
pandemic can lead to the
development of mental health issues
such as anxiety and depression. While
being home with your family or
roommates may be comforting at first,
being with the same group of people
can provoke feelings of irritability
and annoyance over time. One
contributing factor to poor mental
health
is social media, where some
people turn when
stripped of the
freedom to leave
their homes.
It is possible to
alter one’s mindset
while being stuck
indoors by taking
time for oneself
and finding peace
in the quiet.
1. Take one
to two hours
each day for
yourself by
finding a quiet space and performing
an activity that would clear your
mind. A popular method is practicing
mindful meditation. In an interview
with the Mayo Clinic, counselor
Kristin Lothman stated that
“Mindfulness is about paying
attention on purpose to the
present moment”, and that
she believes “mindfulness
is a powerful tool we can
use right now.” Sitting by
yourself for that long may
seem like an impossible
task, yet it may bring more
peace and clarity to your
mind and state of being.
2. Go for a drive. Wherever
you’re going, the key is to go alone
and with a playlist of your favorite
songs. The music will act as a calming
agent and allow you to focus on your
surroundings rather than what is on
your mind.
3. Talk to an outsider who you trust
about what may be troubling you.
While you may not wish to burden
others with your problems, having a
support system gives you the ability
to let out whatever is on your mind,
7
and ultimately leave you with a
clear headspace.
A free online self-help module is
available to students through their
MyBama account. This includes
Thrive Campus, a website that
evaluates and connects students to
an outside counselor or provider.
Beginning the week of Aug. 31, the
counseling center will also be holding
virtual support groups throughout the
upcoming semester.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH
The pandemic drastically impacted
places of worship, unsettling routines
and leaving some congregants with
no way to worship corporately.
While some places of worship
pivoted to virtual services or limited
seating, some spiritual people may
miss the experience of attending a
live service.
There are still a number of ways to
stay spiritually connected during
the quarantine.
1. Find services online. Having
the option to watch a service online
can even give you the opportunity to
experience a service you might not
be able to regularly attend because
of location.
2. Join a virtual small group. This
is the perfect way to stay in touch with
friends during a time of uncertainty
while continuing spiritual growth
and development.
3. There are a multitude of books
tailored to one’s spiritual growth. Two
excellent ones to start with are “The
Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, and “The
Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond
Yourself ” by Michael A. Singer.
There are several organizations
available on campus that are tailored
to every denomination. Find a
list here.
All graphics CW / Garrett Kennedy

8 BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020

BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20, 2020
9
Back-to-school supplies look
different this fall
Back-to-school shopping can
be one of the best things about
heading back to class after a
long summer. But in the era
of COVID-19, school supplies
have changed, and you might
need more than your usual
ensure that you aren’t bringing germs
and viruses home from campus and
other public places, which will keep
you and your roommates clean and
healthy.
THERMOMETER
98.6
BY ANNABELLE BLOMELEY
STAFF REPORTER
FACE MASKS
To stop the spread of the
coronavirus, the University is
requiring all students, faculty and
staff on campus to wear face masks
at all times. So whether you’re
attending an hour-long lab or sifting
through the books at Gorgas, it’s
crucial to find a mask that fits you
well and is comfortable for extended
periods of time. There are tons of
different styles and fabrics to choose
from, and you can buy accessories
like extenders and chains to make
them even more comfortable. It’s
important to have multiple masks on
hand so you don’t have to wear the
same mask every day of the week or
worry about forgetting your mask
at home.
HAND SANITIZER
While washing your hands is a
crucial part of stopping the spread
of coronavirus, sometimes a sink
and hand soap aren’t available when
you need them. Getting a good hand
sanitizer that you can keep in your
backpack will ensure that you never
get caught with dirty hands and
nowhere to clean them. Though UA
has installed several hand sanitizer
dispensers in each building on
campus, it won’t hurt to have your
own bottle just in case. Most stores
carry full-size bottles or miniature
bottles to slip into your backpack for
emergencies. Either way, you’ll feel
a lot safer and cleanlier with some
hand sanitizer by your side.
DISENFECTING WIPES
Although they’ve been sold out
at certain stores for months now,
disinfecting wipes can be super
helpful for protecting yourself and
others both on and off campus. You
can use them to clean the front of your
notebook, laptop, phone, steering
wheel, door handles and just about
anything else you touch. These wipes
One of the key symptoms that
distinguish COVID-19 from other
illnesses is a high-grade fever, so
having a thermometer at home will
be invaluable this semester. Being
able to read your temperature can
help you better assess your health
and ailments so that you can practice
essential steps to protect yourself
and others. If you find yourself with
a fever, you can take the necessary
precautions like not going to inperson
classes and knowing if you
need to seek medical attention for
your health. The UA Healthcheck
program will gauge students’
temperatures every three days, so
keeping a thermometer on hand
will help you provide the most
accurate results.
PERSONAL SCHOOL
SUPPLIES
While everyone has had to borrow
a pencil or piece of paper from a
classmate because they’ve forgotten
theirs, sharing school supplies can
spread coronavirus easily from
person to person. The best way
to avoid this is to buy your own
supplies, whether it’s paper or an
extra laptop charger to keep in your
backpack for emergencies. Be sure to
keep your supplies to yourself so that
you don’t infect others. It may seem
rude to not share your supplies when
someone asks, but it’s for your safety
and that of everyone you come into
contact with.
PERSONAL FOOD
AND DRINK
Sometimes Chick-Fil-A and Java
City Coffee are too good to pass
up, but you can help keep yourself
safe and healthy when you bring
your own food and drink to help
minimize shared public spaces
and your interactions with other
people. Vending machines, water
fountains, kiosks and fridges found
in various locations across campus
can easily be infected by just one sick
individual touching the machine or
merchandise. When you bring your
HAND
SANITIZER
own filled water bottle and snacks,
your risk of contracting coronavirus
can drop, which will in turn keep the
people around you safe as well.
A PLAN FOR IF YOU
GET SICK
Whether you’re living on-campus
or off, it’s essential for you to have
a plan set in place in the event that
you contract COVID-19. If you’re
living on-campus, make sure you
communicate with your roommates,
know the University rules and
WATER
WET
WIPES
requirements and have a bag of
essentials ready should you have to be
quarantined. If you live off-campus,
have a plan with your roommates in
case you contract the virus. Always
have enough food and medicine on
hand, know when you might need
medical attention and have a contact
to call in case of an emergency.
On top of all that, be familiar with
important COVID-19 hotlines, like
the UA COVID call center at 205-
348-2819, the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention at 800-232-
4636 and the Alabama Department
of Public Health at 1-800-270-7268.

10 BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20, 2020
Mask-wearing brings own
set of problems
BY LINDSEY WILKINSON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Everyone from politicians
to package store clerks has
emphasized the importance of
social distancing, mask wearing
and washing hands, but the one
step that has been forgotten in
all the madness is mask hygiene.
At this point in the ongoing
pandemic era, most know that
wearing a cloth covering protects the
wearer and the people around them
from respiratory droplets that come
from talking, coughing or sneezing.
However, engaging in improper mask
hygiene practices can lead to other
health issues far less documented or
discussed than COVID-19.
One issue that arises from
lax mask washing is breakouts.
“When you are breathing out in
a mask, the bacteria from your
mouth gets trapped,” Miranda
Mellos, a registered nurse in a
level 2 trauma center emergency
department in Montgomery, said.
Mellos also warned that this bacteria
irritates the skin and that “the only
way to combat this is to make sure
you change your masks out frequently
and wash your masks frequently as
well.”
Novant Health recommends that
maskne – a term coined for breakouts
caused by a mask’s hot, humid
Graphic CW / Tomia Teague
environment – can also be prevented
by avoiding fabric softeners or harsh
detergents. A major ingredient in
most fabric softeners is quaternary
ammonium compounds, which fight
against static but have also been
found to cause skin and respiratory
irritation, according to a study done
by the NYU School of Medicine.
If maskne is not enough to make
you rethink your attention to mask
hygiene, then consider “mask
mouth” – whose symptoms can
include bad breath, tooth decay and
gum inflammation. Mark Fisher, a
dentist practicing in Georgia, said
some people tend to breathe through
their mouths when they wear masks.
“When you breathe through your
mouth, it dries your mouth out,”
Fisher said. “Without the humidity
from the air, it worsens this condition.
Dry mouth leads to bad breath, and
it is also linked to tooth decay and
inflammation of the gums.”
People who are most at risk are
those who wear masks for extended
periods of time. Fisher reinforced the
need to prevent this condition.
“You need to try not to breathe
through your mouth, stay hydrated,
[practice] good oral hygiene and
do not eat mints or sugary gum,”
he said. “The worst way to cope
Julia Irvin spent her quarantine time making these washable masks for her community.
Photo courtesy Julia Irvin
with it is to eat sugary mints and
gum. That’s where people will get in
trouble because those exacerbate the
problem by causing decay around the
gum line.”
Candida Overgrowth is another
perpetrator that reveals itself by
leaving the skin raw, red, irritated,
chapped, or rashy according
to Everyday Health. Candida
Overgrowth is basically a yeast
infection on your mouth. This
infection cannot solely be caused by
wearing a mask, but the conditions
a mask provides is perfect for the
infection to grow.
There are other, more coronavirusrelated
reasons why it’s crucial to
keep your mask clean. For instance,
when wearing a mask, one ought to
avoid adjusting it. The Moffitt Cancer
Center stresses the importance of
taking precautions. “If your mask
touches another part of your body
that is potentially contaminated
with the virus… you are at risk for
infection,” according to the center.
It’s a simple rule that can go a long
way to keeping campus safe, but it
may require breaking old habits.
Another basic addition to your
mask-wearing routine can be a new
increased awareness when removing
the mask. The CDC offers some
precautionary steps: “Grasp the
bottom ties or elastics of the mask,
then the ones at the top and remove.”
The CDC also advises mask wearers
not to touch the front of the cloth
covering due to it being directly
contaminated. Following these
simple steps will keep the virus on
the front of your mask and not on
your hands.
Keeping your mask clean can be
as easy as 1-2-3. CDC encourages
people to simply put their masks in
with their laundry. Yolanda Enrich,
a family nurse practitioner at
Novant Health Adult Primary Care
Waughtown, in an article published
by Novant Health explained that
“bacteria can form on moist surfaces
and that is why the mask should be
washed after each use.” The bacteria
referenced by Enrich is the same
bacteria that causes maskne.
While improper mask-wearing
and hygiene can cause quite a
disruption to your health, selfimposed
prevention measures can
protect you and the people around
you from harm caused by the virus.
Julia Irvin, a senior majoring in
marketing and entrepreneurship,
is one of many students at the
University who found a new hobby
over quarantine: mask-making.
“My mom is high risk,” Irvin
said. “So, I wanted to take extra
precautions. I use 100% cotton
because that is the easiest to breathe
through and prevents particles from
escaping. All my masks are machine
washable and customizable.”
As put forth in the guidelines
established by the CDC, masks
are most effective when fitted to a
person’s face. Irvin follows these
recommendations and makes masks
in various sizes and shapes – three
sizes you can choose from and two

BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20, 2020
UA debuts new guidelines for
campus facilities
BY JEFFREY KELLY
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
Masked students at Lakeside Dining wait for their food. CW / Hannah Saad
When the spring semester went
online due to COVID-19, a blanket of
uncertainty left many with questions
about the future. While students
spent their summers picturing
what the fall semester would look
like, University-wide efforts were
directed toward crafting guidelines
to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Now, as the fall semester is kicking
off and students return to campus,
divisions like University Libraries
and Bama Dining are still working
to improve upon and maintain their
best laid plans for reducing the risk
of COVID-19 exposure.
LIBRARIES
For UA libraries, the planning
for this semester started in April.
Michael Pearce, the University
Libraries’ director of strategic
engagement, said that time was spent
in committees to learn from limited
operations during the summer
and tweak social distancing and
messaging to align with the overall
plan.
These decisions evolved into
the University Libraries Facilities
Use Guidelines for Fall 2020.
The guidelines include rules that
follow University-wide guidelines
like plexiglass screens, masks, the
reduction of occupancy by 50% and
social distancing throughout the
facility. It also covers specific library
rules, like the use of ACT cards to
access facilities, the quarantine of
paper-based materials before reshelving
and more.
Though there are plans in place,
Pearce noted that there would be a
learning curve.
“We hope this semester goes well for
everybody,” Pearce said. “Obviously,
there are no guarantees for any of
that; it’s all up to whether or not we
can all sort of follow the guidelines
and the rules that are universally
accepted. Thankfully, a lot of people
were working on this, and hopefully, it
comes off flawlessly. I anticipate there
will be hiccups along the way, but we
are hopeful for the best.”
He asked that students be patient
and be aware of the new realities
that we are all adapting to because
while things are changing, the library
resources and services are still
available.
“As long as students can adhere
to the social distancing guidelines
and policies that are in place, there’s
nothing really in my mind that would
prevent them from being able to
accomplish all [their] goals,” Pearce
said.
Whether it is a student that always
uses the library or one who rarely uses
it, Pearce said they are here to serve
regardless and are confident in their
ability to serve the research needs of
the University.
“We are here for them wherever
they are,” he said.
While they are excited to serve
and provide as normal an experience
as they can, even in these abnormal
times, they can’t do it without the
students’ help.
“The driving force behind all of
it, all the plans, all the resources that
have been expended, all the time and
effort that has gone into preparing an
environment that will hopefully hold
up in a significant period
of time … It all crumbles if
we don’t have student help
in terms of the distancing
and the masks and the
patience,” Pearce said. “We
need [students’] help to
succeed.”
He said students could
help by offering up their
patience, adhering to social
distancing guidelines and
taking care of themselves.
“We’re all in this
together,” Pearce said.
“We’re right here with
them.”
BAMA DINING
Bruce McVeagh, the
resident district manager
for Bama Dining, and
Kristina Patridge, the director of
University dining services, both
expressed the same sentiment as
Pearce.
Patridge said students could help
them by visiting their facilities and
adhering to the social distancing
guidelines.
“We’re one of the few places on
campus where you can take off your
mask, you can sit down and enjoy a
meal together,” Partridge said. “But
it has to be appropriately spaced
out, and the students are completely
ignoring our guidance.”
Patridge said they are happy to
11
serve students. Still, the disregard
for the regulations has put a toll on
the management.
“They’re trying to provide
nutritious, delicious food and
provide an opportunity for some
community building because that’s
what we are – we’re hospitality,”
Patridge said. “You know, we want
to welcome people in, but we’ve
been asked to toe the line with this
social distancing.”
While creating their guidelines,
McVeagh said they searched for
the best practices and found what
would best work for a large campus
like UA.
Once they had the framework
for their guidelines, Patridge said it
began to evolve through input from
their peers and experience.
Along with university-wide
guidelines, Bama Dining has been
working diligently to ensure that
both residential and retail dining
facilities are safe and efficient.
McVeagh said the biggest
difference for them has been
flipping the high volume dining
halls. Self-service stations have
been eliminated, yet there will still
be opportunities for students to
customize menu items. Now, all
locations will offer optimized to-go
options. They have also included
directional signage, individual
disposable cutlery kits and reduced
seating.
“If the students like The
University of Alabama, and they
love this institution like we do, and
they want to stay all semester, it’s
imperative that they do these things
because if we have an outbreak,
a serious outbreak, if it gets to be
crazy, I can’t tell you that they won’t
pull the plug and we will all go
home then,” McVeagh said. “Let’s
be part of the solution and not the
problem.”

12 BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020

BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020
LETTER FROM COACH NATE OATS
13
Welcome back to Tuscaloosa! On behalf of the Alabama Crimson Tide and your
men’s basketball players, coaches and staff, we are excited to have you back on campus
for the 2020-21 academic year. It is not the same without you here and your return to
the Capstone tips off what should be a sensational and successful fall semester.
We share with you the anticipation and sense of adventure that routinely surrounds
the start of every school year. We also realize that this year presents us all with
unprecedented and unique challenges that no other student has had to face at The
University of Alabama.
We are fortunate to be led and surrounded by the best of the best in every aspect
of your collegiate experience. Our leaders, President Stuart Bell, Director of Athletics
Greg Byrne and the entire UA system, along with the top medical and community
advisors have been proactive in preparing so you, our student body, have the best
ways to stay safe, stay informed and stay protected as we go through these unchartered
waters together.
I wanted to take this moment to convey how important each and every one of you
are to our program. The simple fact is you are the lifeblood of our great University.
The support and enthusiasm you have for Alabama Athletics, our basketball program
and the Capstone is unwavering – no matter what obstacles lie in our path.
Sticking together is something I continuously stress to our basketball team and it
is something I would like to echo to all our students. No matter where the path to
success leads you, getting through any sort of adversity is going to make you stronger.
And by looking out for each other as well as adhering to the policies that have been
put in place by our leadership, we can show why The University of Alabama is such a
special place. There is a reason why the Alabama brand is known around the world –
not only because of the obvious success of our football program (of which I am a huge
fan), but because of the investment you make in our program and in one another.
To the new students who arrived on campus this semester, a year ago I was in your
shoes. My family and I didn’t know what to expect coming into last year. Sure, we had
heard of the great atmosphere, fan support and southern hospitality, but we were all
blown away with the love you showed my family and how welcomed you made us feel.
We were greeted with open arms and that is the same way I want you to feel as you
begin your first semester.
Before closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t express how much we are looking
forward to the 2020-21 men’s basketball season. Not only do we return all-conference
players Herbert Jones, John Petty Jr. and Jaden Shackelford, but we also welcome
the nation’s No. 9-ranked signing class to campus. You’re going to love this team
and the grit and determination that they play with every minute of every
game. And with that in mind, I have to tell you how
much it means
to our team to have the student section packed and
so enthusiastically vocal from start to finish. Your
voice makes a huge difference and everyone feeds off
your energy and support! Our students were fantastic
last year and I challenge each of you to bring even more
spirit and passion to each game this season and continue
to make Coleman Coliseum one of the most intimidating
places for opposing teams to visit.
Thank you to The Crimson White for providing me
with this platform and allowing me an opportunity to
communicate directly with you, our student body. We
appreciate the support you provide and wish you each
health, happiness and a tremendous
fall semester.
Stay safe, stay healthy and Roll Tide!
Head Men’s Basketball Coach

14 BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20, 2020
Athletics resume after months-long drought
BY ROBERT CORTEZ
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As the fall athletics season rapidly
approaches, the question of whether
college athletics should be played in 2020
looms even larger. The PAC-12 and Big
Ten conferences decided to cancel fall
sports and are looking to have those
seasons potentially rescheduled to play in
the spring. In contrast, SEC Commissioner
Greg Sankey and athletic directors across
the conference are optimistic and still
planning for athletics to compete for this
fall.
“We know concerns remain,” Sankey
said. “Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t
stopped trying. We support, educate and
care for student-athletes every day and will
continue to do so… every day.”
Here’s a timeline of how Alabama
Athletics has been affected and responded
to COVID-19:
MARCH 12 - SEC suspended
competition and activities through
March 30, which canceled the men’s
basketball and women’s gymnastics
tournament championship.
“We understand that this decision
will be disappointing to our studentathletes
and coaches who have been
preparing all season to compete
in this event as well as viewers at
home,” Sankey said.
MARCH 13 - SEC suspended
competition and activities
through April 15.
MARCH 17 - SEC announced
the cancellation of the spring
sports season. “This is a
difficult day for all of us, and
I am especially disappointed
for our student-athletes,”
Sankey said. “The health
and well-being of our entire
conference community is an
ongoing priority for the SEC
as we continue to monitor
developments and information
about the COVID-19 virus.”
APRIL 2 - SEC announced
that teams scheduled to host
conference tournaments in
2020 will once again be allowed
to host the tournament in
2021, which applies to women’s
tennis and softball.
MAY 1 - SEC announced that
all in-person camps & coaches
clinics would be suspended
through July 31.
MAY 5 - SEC allowed inperson
athletics activities to
begin on June 8. “At this time,
we are preparing to begin the
fall sports season as currently
scheduled, and this limited
resumption of voluntary athletic
activities on June 8 is an important
initial step in that process,” Sankey
said.
JULY 14 - SEC announced that
men’s and women’s cross country,
soccer and volleyball would be
postponed through at least August
31.
JULY 30 - SEC announced
that football would only play
conference games. The start date
was pushed back to Sept. 26. “After
careful consideration of the public
health indicators in our region and
following advice of our medical
advisors, we have determined that
this is the best course of action
to prepare for a safe and healthy
return to competition for SEC
student-athletes, coaches and
others associated with our sports
programs,” Sankey said.
AUGUST 4 - Women’s soccer
returned back to practice. “It’s
exciting to be back on the field,”
head coach Wes Hart said. “I
thought this day would never
come and I’m glad it finally did.”
AUGUST 6 - Women’s volleyball
returned back to practice.
AUGUST 7 - Kentucky and
Missouri were added to the
Crimson Tide’s SEC-only football
schedule.
AUGUST 13 - Greg Byrne
announced that Alabama football
would be back to full practice
beginning August 17. The NCAA
announced the cancellation
of fall sports championships,
which affects women’s volleyball,
women’s soccer and cross country.
“Our soccer, volleyball and
cross-country student-athletes
are working hard to prepare
for their seasons and they have
been diligent in taking personal
health precautions and following
protocols around COVID-19,”
Sankey said. “We will support
them in every way possible as
we evaluate the impact of these
cancellations on their fall sports
seasons.”
AUGUST 17 - Alabama football’s
10-game conference-only schedule
was released, and the team began
fall camp.
“I’ve been a guy who has wanted
to play 10 SEC games for a long
time,” head coach Nick Saban said.

BACK TO SCHOOL
AUGUST 20, 2020
Volleyball looks to improve under Devine
BY ASHLEE WOODS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
UA Volleyball Coach Lindsey
Devine has made it very clear
that she wants to impart a new
mentality onto the team. Starting
back in 2019, Devine was gearing
up for a successful 2020 season. She
wanted to create a culture where the
players became better players not
for themselves, but for the good of
the team.
“Before it might’ve been more
individual, but we’re playing as one
so that’s a big change for us,” Hayley
McSparin, senior middle back, said
in 2019.
This new mentality
translated to on court play.
The players were more
vocally supportive of
each other; they took
responsibility for
mistakes and lifted
each other up. Devine
also preached that
her players keep
at consistent
intensity during
the long season.
Consistent effort
was an area the
team struggled in as the season
went on.
Although Alabama volleyball
had a strong start, the team began
to struggle and lost their last eight.
The extended break provided by the
pandemic has motivated the players
to work even harder as they prepare
for a return to the court. With
all the new culture and
coaching changes
that occurred,
the team still
needed some
key positions
filled to aid
them for the
future.
“We knew
that we needed
some depth
CW / Hannah Saad
and we knew that we needed some
variety,” Devine said in an interview
with Volleyball Mag during the
offseason.
With that in mind, the team has
added some great players to fulfill
those needs. Some of the more notable
signings include outside hitters Abby
Marjama from UC Irvine, Kennedy
Muckelroy from Florida Atlantic
University and libero Madelyn St.
Germain of UT-Arlington.
15
Marjama led the Anteaters with 277
kills last season. St. Germain was the
2019 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the
Year.
St. Germain will complement
senior libero Kaylee Thomas on the
defense. Marjama and Muckelroy
will complement senior outside
hitter Doris Carter in attacking the
ball on offense and taking swings at
the ball. Among the freshman class,
Alabama added Chaise Campbell,
Victoria Schmer, Kendyl Reaugh
and Alexandra Traime. Devine
stated that all of these players have
a competitive drive and desire to
improve their skills, something
Devine is trying to consistently
cultivate among the team.
Alabama Volleyball has taken
the necessary steps to ensure
a successful season in 2020.
They have added players,
instilled a new mentality and
encouraged the consistency
most top-ranked volleyball
teams have. The next step:
have all of this translate onto
the court.

16 BACK TO SCHOOL
August 20, 2020