The Crimson White Local Edition, Aug. 18, 2022

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2A EDITORIAL STAFF editor-in-chief Bhavana Ravala editor@thecrimsonwhite.com managing editor Jeffrey Kelly managingeditor@thecrimsonwhite.com engagement editor Gabriel Brown engagement@thecrimsonwhite.com chief copy editor Natalie Bonner opinions editor Justin McCleskey letters@thecrimsonwhite.com news editor Ainsley Platt newsdesk@thecrimsonwhite.com assistant news editor Kayla Solino culture editor Annabelle Blomeley culture@thecrimsonwhite.com assistant culture editor Maddy Reda sports editor Austin Hannon sports@thecrimsonwhite.com assistant sports editor Blake Byler chief page editor chief graphics editor chief photo editor assistant photo editor multimedia editor newsletter editor Pearl Langley Autumn Williams Lexi Hall David Gray Miriam Anderson Jack Maurer 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 Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is printed monthly, August through April by The University of Alabama, Student Media, Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Call 205-348-7257. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2022 by The Crimson 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. The Crimson White, Copyright © 2022 The Horizons 2022 column “Students should place an emphasis on mental wellbeing” has been updated online to reflect more accurate information. Readers can view the latest update on thecrimsonwhite.com Tap in with CW! (We have an email newsletter now.) Subscribe to get our newsletter in your inbox on Monday and Thursday mornings. CW / Wesley Picard Cover CW / Autumn Williams Instagram: @thecrimsonwhite Facebook: @TheCrimsonWhite Twitter: @TheCrimsonWhite
Game days in Tuscaloosa: The transformation from small town to frenzy 3A ABBY MCCREARY STAFF REPORTER In the middle of Alabama and in the heartland of SEC football sits the headquarters of the Crimson Tide fan base. Although just a little more than 100,000 people claim Tuscaloosa as home every year, during football season, ‘T-Town’ is home to anyone and everyone who sports the crimson and white. For seven Saturdays every fall, Crimson Tide fans roll into Tuscaloosa ready to remember better days, but Tuscaloosa residents are left to wonder about the state of their hometown. Tuscaloosa resident and UA junior Avery Lake remembers how frustrating it was being a child during an Alabama home football game. “There were four kids in my family so all of us getting tickets to go to the Alabama game just didn’t happen,” Lake said. “As a kid, I didn’t know any of these things so I’d ask, ‘Can we do this?’ and they’d say ‘No, not today.’ It was just not an option for the day […] There’s no hope in driving through campus or even around it, on a game day. Just don’t even try.” According to UA Gameday maps, nearly two dozen roads are shut down every weekend for tailgating and campus celebrations, but this makes driving around on game day difficult. To prepare for fans coming from all directions, the UA Police Department has designed for most travelers to take one of four routes into the city. Those routes all lead to parking in different zones, but Lake said that Tuscaloosa residents often take part in the parking situation as well. “My brothers were in Boy Scouts and so they would go to St. Francis [Catholic Church] and help park cars,” Lake said. “You get there super early in the morning and take the money from people and help them park somewhere. It doesn’t matter what your business is, [anyone] can benefit from game day.” Although being a Crimson Tide fan is a constant for most Tuscaloosa residents, they prepare for football season with just as much gusto as everyone else. While Tuscaloosa may not seem like much from the outside, the home of The University of Alabama is rich in both history and pride for all residents. Giving up their city every Saturday to accommodate the crowds of fans coming from across the county, the state and even the country, then, is almost welcome. Tuscaloosa resident and UA junior Katherine Weber said that living Two University of Alabama students cheer on the Crimson Tide at a home football game in 2021. CW / David Gray CW / David Gray in Tuscaloosa simply makes game days better. “Personally, I think being a resident of Tuscaloosa makes game days so special,” Weber said. “Just knowing that I grew up in the town of the team that has won 18 national championships is amazing.” However, residents still have to put in a lot of work to get their city ready to welcome so many people every fall. According to a UA News article, maintenance crews begin working on Bryant-Denny months before the first kickoff. These crews work on everything from plumbing to electricity, and everything in between, all to ensure that the stadium is prepared to accommodate the flood of fans pouring in to watch the Crimson Tide take on their latest opponent of the season. According to the article, during the week of each home game the University of Alabama campus becomes home to “countless amenities,” including “325 portable toilets, 12 airconditioned restroom trailers, 400 trash cans and 130 recycling containers.” Crews also provide resources to make tailgating as efficient and effortless as possible. Every Saturday, several crew members walk around campus to ensure that game day runs as smoothly and cleanly as possible. After each game, the goal is to have the Quad and Tuscaloosa back to normal as soon as Sunday afternoon. On average, each game day produces more than 50 tons of garbage, meaning that the crews work hard to return Tuscaloosa to pregame standards. By Sunday, there is no evidence that the city’s population had doubled over the weekend. But many still remember the mix of people who came to Tuscaloosa. Between high out-of-state enrollment at the University and a large national fanbase, Tuscaloosa is home to more than just Alabamians. While Tuscaloosa and Southern culture are obviously prominent, out-of-town visitors still bring their own ways and traditions, although Alabama football seems to be a top priority for everyone involved. Lake said that even age changes the game day experience. “Now that I’m in college, I’m walking with the crowd of college students […] it’s very different,” Lake said. “The language is different, what people are talking about, what the goal is, why you are there, it’s all totally different as opposed to me showing up with my dad as a little girl, wearing my Alabama cheer uniform. I was just there to hang out with my dad […] It really is for everyone. You can make it your own.” While Lake remembers being transfixed by the cheer team, UA GameDay also provides inflatables in the tailgating area on the quad, making the gameday experience truly for everyone. Although kids might beg to come back to jump on inflatables, their parents keep returning to Tuscaloosa for far more. Tuscaloosa may seem small outside of football season, but its traditions stay strong and relevant year-round. Every fall, though, they become even more prominent as tens of thousands of fans come back for games and seek mementos of their championship-caliber team. Some fans buy a legendary yellowhammer drink from Gallettes before the game. Others head to Rama Jama’s to have breakfast surrounded by the Crimson Tide’s best moments, memorialized by the legendary Alabama decor. Other fans are simply happy with bringing home a tiny script A, whether in the form of a Koozie from a street vendor or a new sweatshirt from a local store. Personally, I think being a resident of Tuscaloosa makes game days so special. Just knowing that I grew up in the town of the team that has won 18 national championships is amazing. KATHERINE WEBER It’s these small mementos and keepsakes that remind fans of the legendary traditions of Crimson Tide football and make Tuscaloosa much more than just a small town in the middle of Alabama. Although Tuscaloosa sits quiet most of the year, during football season it comes to life, using decades of Alabama history as a way for both local residents and out-of-town visitors to connect over keeping Tuscaloosa as the place where legends are made. JENNIFER BAGGETT CONTRIBUTING WRITER Thousands of University of Alabama students began moving onto campus on Aug. 3 in preparation for the beginning of the fall semester, which starts on Aug. 17. Early move-in began for members of the Million Dollar Band, some honors students and students involved in sorority recruitment. More than 1,200 students moved in on Aug. 3 alone. Additional students arrived, Aug. 6 and Aug 7, in order to participate in Biology Boot Camp, Bama Bound orientation and Camp 1831. I encourage students to participate in activities, get connected and put themselves out there. Connecting with student involvement is a great way to find out about opportunities on campus. STEVEN HOOD “Regular move-in begins on August 12. Over the course of move-in a total of 8,700 students will move on campus,” said Matthew Kerch, executive director of housing and residential communities. “We really pride ourselves on being a coordinated effort; it’s not just housing staff, it’s UAPD and parks and services. There are so many campus partners participating.” Welcome back: Campus move-in 2022 Planning for the movein process began six to eight months ago. “We try to make it as seamless as possible for the students,” Kerch said. “There’s a lot of behind-thescenes work.” With move-in under way and Alabama Panhellenic AssociationF recruitment beginning on Aug. 7, freshman women began moving into the new Tutwiler Hall. “I’m excited for students to finally move into the new Tutwiler Hall. We started planning for this in February of 2016,” said Steven Hood, interim vice president for student life. The former Tutwiler Hall was demolished on July 4 after over 50 years of operation. Initial construction for the current iteration began in 2019, and fall 2022 will be the building's first semester housing residents. There are currently 2,569 women registered for recruitment, the third largest class behind 2016 (2,875) and 2017 (2,655), according to the APA executive council. “We are very much moving back to a normal recruitment process,” said Elise Anzaldua, UA panhellenic director of recruitment. Recruitment is moving to a more valuesbased process, more focused on understanding the potential new members shared characteristics and values rather than decor and superficial things. As students return or move in for the first time, many could not wait to get started on the upcoming year. Freshman Eli Hill was able to move into John England Jr. Hall on Sunday. “Since it’s my first year here, I’m probably more excited than anything else,” Hill said. “The campus is really big. I’m super excited to meet new people and branch out.” Makayla Davis, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, agreed that she’s excited to meet new people and get started on campus. “I’ve never been away from home for a long time so it’s definitely a new experience,” Davis said. Like many students, Davis is interested in getting to participate in several of the upcoming events that start out the new year. “I’m looking forward to the spa day event,” Davis said. Tied with the Tide Spa Night was an event held as a partnership between University Programs and UA Panhellenic Association that included facials, manicures, and the opportunity to create DIY kits. According to The University of Alabama Quick Facts, of the 38,320 undergraduate, professional and graduate students enrolled in the fall semester of 2021, 42.1% came from Alabama, and 57.9% came from somewhere else in the United States or one of 92 countries. Many new students are coming after losing a year of high school to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. Caden Johnson, a freshman majoring in communications, is particularly looking forward to being back in an in-person setting. “I’m really looking forward to a different experience. During COVID, I lost a whole year of high school and only took one class senior year, so this is really an opportunity to be back in person at school after not going for almost two years,” Johnson said. “I’m also a lot more excited after seeing the dining hall. It’s a lot better than I was even thinking.” University volunteers direct the move-in process at the Presidential Villages. CW / David Gray A group of Blount Scholars program freshmen were specifically excited about the opportunity to attend backto-school events. Grace Neil, Emma Hurst, Brandon Suerth and Elizabeth Harrell all found the move-in process very quick and easy. “It was really smooth; it took less than 10 minutes for them to unload my car with four people,” Harrell said. When students move in on campus, many are excited and eager for new experiences. “I encourage students to participate in activities, get connected and put themselves out there,” Hood said. “Connecting with student involvement is a great way to find out about opportunities on campus.” The group of Blount students were also interested in getting to look around and find opportunities at Get On Board Day, which is Aug. 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Quad. Get On Board Day is an involvement fair hosted each semester by The Source that provides an opportunity for students to learn about over 600 student organization options on campus. “I’ve already looked up some clubs that I want to find and am really excited about seeing what’s offered there,” Neil said. The beginning of early movein also marked the start of the University's Week of Welcome (WOW), a series of more than 30 events throughout August designed to welcome new and returning students. The goal of WOW is to help students find resources, build a sense of community at the University, and have fun. Many parents are also experiencing campus move-in for the first time. Naomi Barnes, who is from New Jersey, helped with move-in on Sunday. “The process has been really good, very organized,” Barnes said. “My daughter and her friend were able to live together, and it’s been an excellent process going through it with another family.” Assisted on-campus move-in ended Aug. 14, while unassisted move-in concluded on Aug. 16.
Page 1: THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 VOLUME CX
Page 5 and 6: JENNIFER BAGGETT CONTRIBUTING WRITE
Page 7 and 8: A glimpse into the world of Tuscalo
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Page 14 and 15: 6B SABAN’S IMPACT: How Tuscaloosa
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The Crimson White Local Edition, Aug. 18, 2022

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