The Crimson White Print Edition - February 8th, 2024

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
VOLUME CXXX | ISSUE VII
UA drops diversity scholarships
Students congregate with friends on the Quad. CW Archive
UA discontinues National Recognition Scholarship for incoming students
Makayla Maxwell
Race and Identity
Reporter
The University of Alabama
has discontinued the
National Recognition Scholars
program for incoming
students as of Oct. 19, 2023.
The scholarship was based
on a status offered by the
College Board to students
with a GPA of a 3.3 or higher
and who scored in the top
10% of test takers on the
PSAT, offered exclusively
to students who identify
as Black, Hispanic, Latino,
Indigenous or Native, or who
attended high school in a
rural area or small town.
The scholarship was
formerly granted to all
students who met the
requirements, and it covered
four years of tuition, one year
of University housing, and an
annual stipend.
This was the only
scholarship the University
offered specifically for Latino
and Indigenous students.
In its place, the UA
Competitive Achievement
Scholarship has been
established. Applicants are
considered based on their
GPA, academic honors and
extracurricular experiences.
Recipients will receive the
value of their tuition for four
years, first-year housing
and $1,000 in supplemental
funds per year. The award
provides the same benefits
that the National Recognition
Scholarship did.
The University’s National
Merit Finalist scholarship
package, which is also
based on the College Board’s
application process and
students’ PSAT scores
but does not take race or
background into account, is
still in place.
A statement on the
University website says that
the transition away from
the National Recognition
Scholarship “enables The
University of Alabama to
have a more sustainable
scholarship program for
talented first-year students.”
“This decision was
informed by a recent review
of all scholarships to ensure
The University of Alabama
can continue offering robust
financial support to as many
students as possible,” the
website states.a
Julia Dominguez, a junior
majoring in political science,
currently serves as the
president of the Hispanic-
Latino Association. She said
the University’s decision to
stop offering the National
Recognition Scholarship
will limit the enrollment of
students of color.
“There are already barriers
to getting Hispanic and
Latino students into higher
education,” Dominguez
said. “And then you have to
consider the costs, and so
many of those scholarships
are so beneficial because its
covering all of these vital
things that, if you’re first
generation, you don't know
to expect.”
Eyram Gbeddy, a junior
studying political science, was
a recipient of the National
Recognition Scholarship.
Though the University will
honor his scholarship until
his graduation, Gbeddy
wonders how this will affect
students of color going
forward.
“It was soul crushing
to me,” said Gbeddy said.
“Not because it affects me,
but because I know it’s
affecting students who look
like me that are thinking of
applying to UA. The story
of my application here, it’s
unequivocally tied to the ...
scholarship.”
Dominguez said the
University’s choice appeared
to her “very deliberate.”
“It shows that it’s not
necessarily about the
institution maybe not
having money, but what
they’re trying to shape the
institution to be, and that is
continuing a legacy that The
University of Alabama has of
discrimination and denying
access and quality education
to their students of color,”
Dominguez said.
The discontinuation of this
scholarship comes four years
after the University’s Path
Forward Diversity Report from
2019, which identified a goal
of “increasing the number
of, retaining and graduating
historically underrepresented
students.”
The report also outlines a
goal to increase scholarships
for minority students to
increase campus diversity.
Bryan Fair, a professor of
law at the University, said that
the University should be held
accountable for going back on
its word.
“If diversity is important
to the University, it ought to
defend what it’s doing,” Fair
said. “In the strategic plan
for the University, one of the
pillars was diversity. They
ought to stand up to any
political pressure or explain
why they’re now taking
this approach.”
Gbeddy said that this
decision will potentially
hurt the enrollment rates of
students of color in coming
years. Trends over the years
show that Black, Asian,
Hispanic and Latino students
have generally been enrolled
at higher rates since 2016.
“There’s absolutely zero
doubt in my mind that
somewhere out there, there
are smart African American
students who UA’s not going
to appeal to without these
active measures to bring in
more students,” Gbeddy said.
Valentina Mora, a
sophomore majoring in
French and communicative
disorders, shared her
experiences in trying to get
funding for college as an
immigrant student.
“I cannot apply for a lot
of external scholarships,”
Mora said. “I cannot apply
for FAFSA, I cannot apply
for state or federal grants,
I cannot apply for further
loans, even with banks. The
only scholarships that I am
able to receive to use for my
education have to go through
the institution, which does
not have them.”
Gbeddy said that the
cutting of the scholarships
is likely tied to last year's
affirmative action ruling,
which prohibits all colleges
from considering race in
admitting students. This
began a trend of universities
ending their scholarships
aimed at students of color,
such as the University
of Missouri.
“It’s not about race,”
Gbeddy said. “It’s about
investing in communities.
There was a rural scholars
program alongside these
other scholarships, and that
got axed too.”
Fair has written extensively
about affirmative action
over the years. To him, the
University has a responsibility
to fight for diversity, equity
and inclusion initiatives
because of the school's
history.
“If I were the University
president, I would be fighting
for diversity and inclusion
and honoring a principle of
equity,” Fair said. “And this
University has a special
obligation to do more than
perhaps other universities in
the country.”
Fair said that The
University of Alabama has an
opportunity to make amends
for past wrongdoings toward
students of color.
“It’s disappointing that
a university with The
University of Alabama’s
history would pretend as
if it doesn’t have a history
of past discrimination,”
Fair said. “And that it can’t
find ways, creative ways,
to continue to support the
educational opportunities of
historically underrepresented
populations of students.”
Gbeddy said that
universities will continue
to make cuts to DEI initiatives
as a result of recent
affirmative action repeals.
“DEI is under attack in 21st
century higher education,”
Gbeddy said. “If you want to
look at a nightmare scenario,
look at Florida. ... Professors at
universities have to rename
their courses so as to not
include trigger words like
‘critical race theory.’ It’s a
perversion of how education
is meant to operate.”
Hailey Rodriguez, a junior
majoring in psychology
and Spanish, said that the
University has a responsibility
to ensure students of color
feel welcome.
“We want Alabama to
step up,” Rodriguez said. “I
know we can, but there just
needs to be a push. ... They
say this is where legends are
made, but how can you make
legends if you’re limiting
people?”
Take classes at Shelton State as a Transient Student.
Visit sheltonstate.edu to apply and register!
INSIDE NEWS 2A SPORTS 5A
CULTURE 1B
OPINIONS 4B

2A
news
Togetherall promotes mental health and suicide awareness among students
Rachel Seale
Staff Writer
Togetherall, an
anonymous peer
support chat room, is
promoting mental health
awareness among college
students.
The online platform
was brought to campus
in January 2023 by the
Couseling Center, which
has since partnered with
the Student Government
Association and the
Division of Student Life.
Students can access
the platform by going to
the Counseling Center’s
website, or through
Blackboard Learn by
navigating to the assist tab
and logging in with their
Crimson email.
Collier Dobbs, SGA
president, said Togetherall
was chosen due to
the number of robust
resources the platform
provides. He said the SGA
helped get the platform
integrated to Blackboard
so that any professor or
instructor can attach it to
their course’s tool
panel tab.
Greg Vander Wal,
executive director of the
Counseling Center and
Collegiate Recovery and
Intervention Services, said
Togetherall was purchased
through the partnership
between the Counseling
Center, Student Life,
and SGA, which makes
the platform free for all
students.
The University of
Alabama is the only
SEC school that charges
for individual therapy
sessions. UA individual
counseling requires a $15
charge per session after a
student’s first visit, while
group sessions are free.
Dobbs said counseling
accessibility and prices
have been an ongoing
conversation within the
SGA for the last two and a
half years.
“I would love to see
any barriers to entry
to a counseling center
taken away, lifted off
your shoulders, really
and truly,” Dobbs said.
“We will continue the
conversations, most
definitely.”
Vander Wal said the
platform works similarly
to group therapy by
allowing students to have
a safe space to connect
with other individuals
on their own campus or
other campuses across the
country for peer support.
He said mental health
staff also monitor the
system and can intervene
if needed.
I would love to
see any barriers
to entry to a
counseling center
taken away, lifted
off your shoulders,
really and truly. We
will continue the
conversations, most
definitely.
Collier Dobbs
SGA President
“It provides an
alternative way to seek
support for mental
health,” Vander Wal said.
“It helps students relate
to somebody that’s going
through similar things,
which is a really powerful
thing when you’re coping
and struggling with
concerns surrounding
mental health.”
Vander Wal said that
almost 600 students have
used the platform within
the last year. He said the
anonymity and ease of
access to Togetherall is
helping to reduce barriers
around seeking help when
it comes to mental health.
Steven Hood, vice
president for student life,
wrote in an email that he
hopes students will take
advantage of this resource.
“Engaging with peers
who are going through
similar experiences can
offer helpful support to
you, and the monitoring
from licensed mental
health professionals can
help connect you to more
comprehensive campus
resources if they are
necessary for you,”
Hood said.
Vander Wal said the
platform is reaching
underserved student
populations. He said that
so far, 41% of the students
who have accessed
it identify as Black,
Indigenous or people of
color 5% as transgender
or nonbinary.
He also said Togetherall
is reaching students who
are at higher risk; 12%
of users do not have any
other form of support
and 60% of users are not
seeking any formal mental
health support otherwise.
Another group
Togetherall is helping to
educate is the Greek life
community.
Vander Wal said the
Counseling Center often
partners with the Office
of Fraternity and Sorority
Life to provide training
regarding topics like
mental health and suicide
prevention.
Dobbs said Wellness
Week is another way the
SGA promotes mental
health awareness among
students. Last semester’s
Wellness Week focused on
stress and mental health
during exam preparation
season.
Wellness Week usually
occurs toward the end of
the semester, and Dobbs
said another one will take
place this spring.
Mae Farmer, a senior
majoring in accounting
and psychology and
the 2023 Homecoming
queen, wrote in an email
that Togetherall builds
community among
CW / Susan Xiao
students.
As Homecoming queen,
Farmer’s platform focused
on suicide prevention and
mental health.
“We all know college is
difficult, but sometimes
it can be hard to talk
aloud about things we are
struggling with,” Farmer
said.
Farmer said she hopes
mental health awareness
will increase on campus
as students continue to
utilize and heal through
Togetherall.
Almost
600
students have used the
platform within
the last year
41%
of students who accessed
Togetherall are Black,
Indigenous or
people of color
— Greg Vander Wal
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news
3A
SGA President recognizes successes in State of the School address
Emma Brandenburg
Contributing Writer
SGA President Collier Dobbs
gave his State of the School
address Jan. 30, highlighting
the organization's
commitment to creating
meaningful programming,
legislation and initiatives
while remaining faithful to
campaign promises.
Dobbs’ address was the
second held since the start of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dobbs said that when he
first stepped into office less
than a year ago, he wrote
down five key pillars that
would enhance student
experience.
“Our work has been guided
by collaboration, outreach,
unity, networking and
transparency. Together, we
have made great strides for
our student body, continue
to build upon the strong
foundation set before us, and
have embodied our mission
of students serving students,”
Dobbs said.
Collaboration
The SGA has publicly made
block seating one of its
top priorities.
During the 2023 football
season, Vice President for
Student Affairs Andrew
Fairburn and The Source’s
Board of Governors
successfully collaborated
with UA Athletics to allow
every mySource-registered
organization to apply for
block seating. The SGA did not
receive any appeals.
To further expand upon
the connection between UA
Athletics and campus culture,
the SGA has also partnered
with the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics.
“Organizations can now
request student-athletes
to volunteer at events to
increase engagement,’
Dobbs said.
Further collaborative
efforts consist of Saving the
Tide, a cleanup and recycling
initiative that occurs after
game day, and the selfdefense
series with the UA
Police Department, which
allows students to take up to
three classes per school year
to learn about skills to protect
themselves.
Outreach
This school year, the 112th
administration encouraged
students to get involved
in organizations around
campus, particularly with the
SGA. With the revitalization
of committees, more than
600 students applied to be
members of branches such as
engagement; diversity, equity
and inclusion; and student
affairs.
Additionally, through
the work of deputy press
secretary Reagan Wells, the
SGA has partnered with the
Tuscaloosa Public Defender’s
Office to establish an ongoing
clothing drive to benefit
defendants who do not have
access to proper attire for
court appearances.
“Members of the Executive
Council have also networked
with several other student
governments throughout the
SEC to learn from each other
about ways to improve our
operations that can best serve
our campus communities,”
Dobbs said.
Unity
In 2023, the SGA registered
2,745 students for the DEI
Passport Program, which
furthered its commitment
to establishing a sense of
belonging across campus.
The SGA also held many
fundraising events, such as
the second annual Battle of
the Bands competition held
for the Joe Espy Needs Based
Scholarship. Dobbs noted the
Financial Affairs Committee’s
allocation of $150,377 for
various student organizations.
Other unification efforts
consisted of participation
in Invisible Disabilities
Awareness Week and
advocacy for mannequin
representing an assortment of
diverse skin tones and body
types in the Supe Store.
Networking
The University made
history this year by hosting
the first-ever presidential
primary debate in Alabama.
The Republican National
Committee granted the SGA
the responsibility to allocate
50 student tickets for leaders
around campus.
“This incredible
opportunity allowed students
to engage with natural politics
increased engagement and
positively represented the
student body at this largescale
event,” Dobbs said.
Furthermore, the SGA
collaborated with the UA
Career Center to host a
Student Job Fair and created
the Crimson Character
Citizens Program, a guide that
showcases students’ civic
responsibility to the city
of Tuscaloosa.
SGA President Collier Dobbs speaks at the State of the School address on Jan. 30 in
the Student Center Ballroom. CW / Hayden Hutchison
Transparency
This past fall, the
SGA generated its first
campuswide newsletter,
which sought to inform
students about how the
organization planned to
enrich student experience.
Additional transparency
efforts consist of clarification
from both Financial Affairs
Committee and block seating,
the newly established
advisory board consisting of
students from each academic
college, and the restoration of
the SGA’s directory.
What’s next?
While Dobbs outlined
the list of accomplishments
achieved by the 112th
Administration this year, he
said that the SGA’s work is not
over yet.
Before the next election,
Dobbs and his team plan
to partner with the City of
Tuscaloosa Ambassador
Program. He also plans to
provide students with more
upfront information about
textbook costs, letting them
know how much the books
for a course cost before
enrolling, as well as establish
a fundraising initiative that
will allow students to name a
squirrel on the Quad.
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4A
news
Professors combat sex trafficking with data initiative
Kinion Fowler
Contributing Writer
Three professors at The
University of Alabama
are using data analytics to
stop human trafficking in
the Tuscaloosa area and
across the United States.
Nick Freeman, an
associate professor of
operations management;
Greg Bott, an associate
professor of management
information systems; and
Burcu Keskin, a professor
of operations management
are working out of the
Culverhouse School of
Business. Their project
is called the STANDD
initiative, which stands for
“Sex Trafficking Analytics
for Network Detection
and Disruption.”
If you aren’t aware
of what trafficking
actually looks like,
you could miss it
happening right in
front of you and
could potentially
become a victim
yourself.
Jessica Wilson
UAPD Investigator
According to The
University of Alabama
Institute of Data Analytics
website, the initiative
“aims to identify novel
analytical techniques
for grouping ad data
across popular sites and
deploying products that
law enforcement agencies
can use to more effectively
battle sex trafficking.”
So far, the STANDD
initiative has led to over
250 arrests for soliciting
prostitution, over 50
arrests for traveling
to meet a minor for
commercial sex, and over
60 potential trafficking
victims identified.
The first step in this
process is collecting data
from websites that offer
commercial sex work.
These websites often
allow individuals seeking
services to choose a
location and see listings
in the area. Because
prostitution is illegal
across most of the United
States, many of these sites
are hosted internationally,
and although they prohibit
sex trafficking openly, the
listings are commonly
presented as voluntary sex
work online.
The volume of posts
on these illicit websites
can be overwhelming
for individuals and
organizations to comb
through manually.
“Law enforcement
oftentimes doesn’t have
the time or the resources
to bring down that data
at the scale it is posted,”
Freeman said. “We bring
down about 100,000 ads
every day.”
Using this data, the
STANDD initiative has
built a large database
of commercial sex ads.
STANDD can then analyze
the data using machine
learning, network science
and graph theory to make
connections and identify
patterns.
One common and
relatively easy-toidentify
pattern is
scam advertisements.
Eliminating these ads
saves law enforcement
and nonprofit
organizations considerable
time and effort that would
have been otherwise
wasted.
Bott said the most
difficult — if not
“practically impossible”
— part is identifying from
an ad alone if individuals
are participating in sex
work willingly or have
been trafficked. By making
connections within the
data, STANDD can identify
potential indicators that a
person has been trafficked,
but there can still be a
lot of uncertainty about
individual cases.
“Even if they [victims]
are being trafficked,
oftentimes it’s really hard
to get a conviction because
that requires the victim
to testify against the
trafficker,” Freeman said.
The STANDD initiative
can pass on information
about potential
trafficking victims to
law enforcement and
nonprofit organizations.
The West Alabama Human
Trafficking Task Force,
a joint effort by the
University of Alabama
Police Department,
Tuscaloosa Police
Department and Northport
Police Department, has
worked closely with
STANDD on multiple
occasions to aid potential
trafficking victims.
Nonprofit organizations
like the WellHouse and
Trafficking Hope develop
relationships with and
provide long-term support
to potential victims.
The program’s positive,
tangible effects on the
Tuscaloosa community
have inspired multiple
undergraduate students to
help with the research.
“It is so awesome to
see us be able to make an
impact with code on the
screen,” said Ellie Burton,
a sophomore computer
science major.
Helene Renninger,
a sophomore majoring
in economics and
management information
systems, joined the
STANDD Initiative
“because it was more
than just research. It was
research that was making
an impact on people
actively, and they had the
numbers to prove it.”
“With STANDD, I was
able to be working on
something that wasn’t
just important within a
field or important within
a niche area to a specific
group of people, but just
generally good,” said Ella
Foes, a junior majoring
in mathematics and in
the accelerated master's
program for applied
statistics.
Currently, STANDD is
developing techniques
that use machine learning
to notice patterns across
advertisements about
different individuals.
The researchers hope
to find stylistic choices
in the ads that can act
like a digital fingerprint,
allowing them to identify
posts created by the same
individual. Doing so would
help identify organized
crime and traffickers with
multiple victims.
“We found the
individuals very well,”
Freeman said. “But
how can we identify
commonalities that
might point to a common
trafficker?”
There are some
limitations to what the
STANDD Initiative can
do. It is incredibly hard
to conclude if someone
is being trafficked from
advertisement data alone,
and STANDD can only
get its data from online
sources.
“The stuff that we see
has to touch the internet,
so if you don’t have a
digital footprint, we don’t
see you,” Bott said.
This makes the
true number of human
trafficking victims
virtually impossible to
know, even when looking
at only the Tuscaloosa
area.
“It’s hard to say how
common trafficking
is, because it is
underreported for a
number of reasons, but
no place is immune,
not even campus,” said
Jessica Wilson, a UAPD
investigator and part of
the West Alabama Human
Trafficking Task Force.
Bott, Foes, Freeman
and Wilson all agreed
that sensational
representations of
trafficking in media have
distracted people from the
reality of trafficking.
“Even if you’re
aware that a lot of sex
trafficking doesn’t look
like that dramatized
perspective, it can be hard
to understand the weight
and seriousness of other
ways that sex trafficking
shows up,” Foes said.
STANDD brings
down about
100,000
— Nick Freeman
commercial sex ads
every day
Sometimes the
trafficker is a boyfriend
or a family member, and
frequently, the victims do
not even realize they are
being trafficked. Human
trafficking can take many
forms and affect any
type of person with any
background.
Wilson said, “If you
aren’t aware of what
trafficking actually looks
like, you could miss it
happening right in front of
you and could potentially
become a victim yourself.”
For some, the most
concerning aspect is how
common sex trafficking is.
“I grew up in
Tuscaloosa, and it’s
just been shocking
because it’s everywhere,”
Freeman said. “It’s in your
backyard.”
UA professors are using data analytics to prevent sex trafficking. CW / Braxton Bevis

sports
Some gymnasts say, leotards aren’t the issue. Here’s why
Manisha Ramachandran
Courtney Larrimore
Staff Writers
When looking at the
difference between
men’s gymnastics and
women’s gymnastics, one
of the differences comes
in their uniforms. Men
don competition shirts
paired with either shorts or
gymnastics pants. Women
don a skin-tight leotard.
Even though female
gymnasts don the standard
leotard for competition,
there is still controversy
surrounding the uniform.
Former Michigan gymnast
Natalie Wojcik posted a video
to TikTok in February 2023,
complete with the caption,
"Being a woman in sports
is hard sometimes. I'm
incredibly grateful for my
people, who I know have my
back no matter what." The
video showed comments
she'd received on a video
posted to ESPN's Instagram
of her competing, but the
comments were anything but
in awe of her performance.
The comments included,
"When did gymnasts start
showing half their asses"
and "Are they seriously not
aware she's almost naked!!!
What coach is allowing her
to compete in that leotard?
Or parent?!" among other
derogatory remarks about
the leotard.
A tighter-fitting leotard was
not the standard option when
gymnastics first came about.
In the 1948 London Games,
gymnast Cissy Davies wore a
uniform that was fitted with
a skirt.
The reason that tighterfitting
leotards made from
spandex came about was
for safety and scoring. The
tightness “allows both judges
and coaches to clearly see
the gymnast’s alignment and
every single move properly
without excess material,”
according to Olympique,
a gymnastics, skating and
majorette clothing designer
and manufacturer.
Alignment is very
important when it comes
to gymnastics, for safety
and scoring. The safety
aspect comes when looking
at how a gymnast's hips,
spine, neck and/or knees are
aligned. If the leotards are
not tight, there is a chance
for a misalignment in any
part of the body with the
many twists and tucks that
the gymnasts perform. A
misalignment could cause
a catastrophic injury, like an
ACL tear.
It’s not a girl’s
responsibility how a
man looks at her or
how he acts.
Livvy Dunne
LSU Gymnast
When judges score
gymnasts, they look at the
lines of the athletes’ bodies.
Judges are looking to see if
they can hit a split jump, or
a leap, with their legs at a
180-degree angle. They see
if the gymnasts' toes are
pointed, but most importantly
if their bodies are straight.
Gymnastics is a sport of
perfectionism, down to the
last hundredth of a point. The
skinlike tightness of a leotard
helps benefit the perfection of
the sport.
There are no rules against
wearing a leotard or a
full-length unitard in the
Olympics, according to the
Fédération Internationale de
Gymnastique's 2013-2016
code of points for women's
artistic gymnastics. The
NCAA does not say anything
in its 2023-2024 gymnastics
rules modification document
about a unitard. It just says,
“A student-athlete must
wear a one-piece leotard
and is allowed to wear any
undergarments that are the
same color of the leotard or
are skin tone in color.” This
specific leotard statement
Gymnast wear tighter-fitting leotards for safety and scoring. CW / Natalie Teat
makes it seem that unitards
are not allowed at the
collegiate level.
In the Tokyo Olympics,
Team Germany wore fulllength
unitards to compete.
The gymnasts wore the
unitard to speak out against
sexualization of the sport.
There were no repercussions
for this attire choice since it is
allowed by the Olympic rule
book.
When it comes to
competing in a leotard
versus a unitard, it is down to
opinion on which a gymnast
prefers. This opinion comes
to play at the Olympic level,
as there is a difference in
Olympic uniform rules and
collegiate uniform rules.
“Honestly, that's something
that we just don't really
focus on,” Alabama gymnast
Mati Waligora said about
the leotards. “That's just the
sport, and that's what we
have always done it in. So, I
think that's just, like, a thing
that we don't focus on.”
Unfortunately, not all
gymnasts can have the same
approach. Thinking about
what they have to compete in
is something some gymnasts
deal with every meet.
Many gymnasts fear the
threat of unwanted sexual
advances and abuse that
the leotards are blamed
for. Last year on Jan. 5, LSU
gymnast Livvy Dunne spoke
out against criticism after a
group of men who came to
the team's meet versus Utah
caused security issues and
became a distraction for the
other gymnasts with their
unruly behavior, shouting,
"We want Livvy," and “Give
us Livvy.”
"It's not a girl's
responsibility how a man
looks at her or how he acts,"
Dunne told Elle magazine,
“especially when you're doing
your sport and that's your
uniform."
ESPN analyst Sam Peszek
said the scene of the dozens
of men waiting for Dunne
outside the arena was “so
scary and disturbing and
cringey,” and LSU head coach
Jay Clark described the scene
as “inappropriate.”
Due to this incident, LSU
has now begun traveling
with a security detail to away
meets. Clark said that there
will now be a perimeter
surrounding the bus where
the gymnasts get off so they
can safely get to their meets.
This problem may seem
small, but it is an issue still
prevalent in higher levels of
5A
the sport.
Former sports medicine
physician for USA Gymnastics
Larry Nassar was sentenced
to 40 to 175 years in prison
on sexual assault charges Jan.
24, 2018. He was sentenced
for the assault of at least
156 gymnasts under the
guise of “medical treatment,”
including Olympic gold
medalist Simone Biles.
Olympic gymnast Aly
Raisman spoke out on Twitter
on March 25, 2018, saying,
“I was recently asked if
gymnasts should continue
wearing leotards. Leotards are
not the problem. The problem
is many pedophiles out there
and the adults who enable
them. By saying clothing
is part of the issue, you are
victim shaming/implying
survivors should feel it’s
their fault.”
The debate over gymnasts’
attire shows a broader issue
of the objectification and
safety of female athletes.
While the uniform serves a
functional purpose, it also
exposes athletes to scrutiny
and unwanted sexual
dangers.
The skinlike tightness of a leotard helps the judges look at the lines of the athlete’s body. CW / Hannah Grace Mayfield

6A
sports
Lucy Brantley: A life spent with the Crimson Tide
Abby McCreary
Sports Editor
Roll Tide pins. Alabama
buttons. A Crimson
Tide needlepoint belt
bought for a birthday. Even
crimson beaded friendship
bracelets. It sounds like
just another game day in
Tuscaloosa, but for one
Birmingham native, it
was the best way to
say goodbye.
Priests, ministers and
even an Auburn fan all
sported Crimson Tide gear
at Lucy Brantley’s funeral
in honor of the lifelong
football fan who attended
games for more than 80
years.
“She spent her time
basically living in the
same ZIP code,” her son
Arthur Brantley said. “She
grew up with Alabama
football.”
She made Alabama
football a part of
our lives, and I don’t
think, for any of us,
that will really go
away.
Lucy Hawkins
Lucy Brantley’s
Daughter
Lucy Brantley attended
her first football game in
1942 when she was just
5 years old. When she
became a grandmother,
she ensured her six
grandkids had the same
experience.
“She would take her
grandchildren when
they were old enough to
sit still that long,” her
daughter, Lucy Hawkins,
said. “Every single one of
her grandchildren had
the privilege of going to
Alabama games with her.”
In her 80 years as a
fan, Brantley had access
to most of the Crimson
Tide home games. What
started off as a “stadium
certificate” at Legion Field
eventually turned into Tide
Pride season tickets dating
back to the early ’90s.
Brantley traveled to
watch the team as well;
from Miami and Tampa to
New Orleans and Atlanta,
she was there for many of
Alabama football’s most
legendary moments.
The Goal Line Stand.
Second and 26. Sugar
Bowl victories. The Johnny
Manziel upset. And
countless Iron Bowls.
Hawkins remembers
one Iron Bowl in
particular, a cold game
played in sleeting rain that
had Brantley’s grandson
“almost turning purple.”
“My mother was bound
and determined that we
were going to watch that
game,” Hawkins said. “She
was not a fair-weather
fan by any stretch of the
imagination.”
For Hawkins, though, a
recurring scene stood out
the most.
“I remember going
down to the side of the
field and looking at
Bear Bryant leaning up
against the goal post in
his houndstooth hat with
his rolled-up legal pad
papers of notes,” Hawkins
said. “That was something
we did on a regular basis
when we went to the
games at Legion Field.”
Although Brantley
did not attend The
University of Alabama, her
childhood, family and life
still revolved around the
Crimson Tide and its best
members: Bear Bryant, Joe
Namath and, of course,
Nick Saban.
“Somebody joked to
me after the service that
one of the first things she
did in heaven was go seek
out Bear Bryant and talk
to him about Nick Saban
retiring and what were we
going to do,” Hawkins said.
“She loved to talk Alabama
football with just about
anybody who would talk
football.”
Brantley’s grandson
Brant Hawkins, a UA
sophomore majoring in
accounting, was a frequent
contributor to Crimson
Tide talks.
“Every time I saw her,
we’d talk about football
and what I expected from
the season or what we
thought was going on,
especially last year as a
freshman,” Brant Hawkins
said. “She’d always call
me and ask me what did I
think about the game this
weekend.”
That 2022 season
when Brant Hawkins was
a freshman ended up
being his grandmother’s
last season physically
attending Alabama
football games. The Iron
Bowl win in Bryant-Denny
Stadium was the last game
she attended, although
she planned on making
the game day trips to
Tuscaloosa in the 2023
season until her health
prevented them.
“She was not the type
of person to give up or
acknowledge the fact that
she couldn’t do something
that she wanted to do,”
Lucy Hawkins said. “So,
she was determined that
she would get her tickets
and get her parking pass.”
Alabama bracelets put out at Brantley’s funeral. Courtesy of Lucy Hawkins.
For Brantley, her
parking pass located at
the Catholic church meant
nearly as much as her
season tickets.
“We’re not Catholic,
but she just loved the
location, the people were
always so nice. It was
run for many years by
a bunch of Boy Scouts,
so she loved supporting
the Boy Scouts,” Lucy
Hawkins said. “That was
her spot. She got a pass
this past year even though
healthwise she couldn’t
go to the games. She
wanted to make sure she
had her pass and she was
supporting them.”
Despite her health,
Brantley still followed
Alabama football in its
2023 season. Arthur
Brantley said celebrating
Gravedigger and the Iron
Bowl victory last year
will be one of his favorite
memories of his mother.
“She made Alabama
football a part of our lives,
and I don’t think, for any
of us, that will really go
away,” Lucy Hawkins said.
“I don’t think I’ll ever have
a game day that I don’t
think about her or I’m not
putting on something that
she would have worn on
game day.”
Lucy Brantley attended her last Alabama football game at the Iron Bowl in 2022, which took place in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Courtesy of Lucy Hawkins.
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sports + culture
Former Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon
found to have violated NCAA rules
Michael DeVito
Contributing Writer
Former Alabama baseball
head coach Brad
Bohannon was found to
have violated the NCAA
wagering and ethical
conduct rules from his
attempted $100,000 wager
on the Alabama vs. LSU
game, according to an
agreement released by
a Division I infractions
hearing panel.
On Feb. 1, a punishment
was handed down to
Bohannon that includes
a three-year probation
including a 15-year showcause
order. Along with
the probation, a fine of
$15,000 was handed down
to the former Alabama
head coach.
Bohannon wagered on
Alabama's performance
with insider information
during the 2023 season,
when the Crimson Tide
was swept by the eventual
national champion LSU
Tigers in Baton Rouge in
May 2023. Surveillance
cameras caught Bohannon
communicating with a
man, Bert Neff, who was
placing the bets for him
at a sportsbook in Great
American Ball Park in
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Neff, an Indiana
native, has been charged
in the case with ties
to Bohannon in the
gambling investigation.
The man who was behind
Bohannon's and the
University of Cincinnati’s
bets could face up to two
decades in prison for his
involvement.
Bohannon texted Neff
saying, "[Student-athlete]
is out for sure ... Lemme
know when I can tell [the
opposing team] ... Hurry,”
according to an encrypted
messaging app.
Bohannon was fired by
Alabama less than a week
after his involvement was
made public.
"Integrity of games is
of the utmost importance
to NCAA members,
and the panel is deeply
troubled by Bohannon's
unethical behavior," said
Vince Nicastro, deputy
commissioner and chief
operating officer of the
Big East and chief hearing
officer for the panel.
"Coaches, student-athletes
and administrators have
access to information
deemed valuable to
those involved in betting.
Improperly sharing that
information for purposes
of sports betting cuts to
the heart of the honesty
and sportsmanship we
expect of our members
and is particularly
egregious when shared by
those who have the ability
to influence the outcome
of games."
Neff’s charges of
obstructing a federal
grand jury investigation
in the Northern District
1B
of Alabama were handed
down to him by the United
States Department of
Justice. Neff was involved
in a multimonth period
of obstruction where
he allegedly destroyed
evidence such as cell
phones and private
messages, in addition to
making false statements
when asked by federal
investigators.
A plea deal was reached
for Neff where he showed
intent to plead guilty to
the charges of obstruction
and will face a maximum
sentence of 10 years in
prison, three years of
supervised release and a
fine of up to $250,000.
UA’s Department of Modern Languages and Classics provides
endless opportunities for students
Anna Hill
Staff Writer
The Department of
Modern Languages and
Classics at The University
of Alabama provides
options for students
looking to expand their
cultural knowledge
through language, theory,
literature and more.
Based in B.B. Comer Hall,
the department aims to
“provide our students with
the language proficiency
and intercultural
competence necessary for
the global society of the
21st century,” according to
its website.
As a part of the
University's College
of Arts and Sciences,
the department offers
undergraduate majors in
Spanish and in foreign
languages and literature
with concentrations in
classical civilization,
French, German, Greek,
Latin and Italian. The
undergraduate program
also features minors in
French, German, Spanish,
Russian, Japanese
and more.
Cheryl Toman, a
professor of French and
the department chair,
was excited to join
the University and has
experienced the school’s
growth since she arrived
in fall of 2020. Toman’s
research focuses on
French-speaking regions
of Africa. She currently
teaches a course on 20thand
21st-century French
poetry while supporting
and collaborating with
other areas of the
department as well.
Toman acknowledged the
different generations of
teachers at the University,
and the collaboration
between different levels of
teaching and languages.
“Everything that
needs deciding in the
department collectively,
we all do that together,
so that's the time we
have to kind of put aside
our individual lanes,”
Toman said. “I can see
the difference that the
assistant professors
have been trained much
differently to really work
collaboratively and with
a lot of interdisciplinary
focus.”
Matthew Feminella,
associate professor of
German with a focus on
18th- and 19th-century
German literature,
teaches a mixture of
undergraduate and
graduate courses.
Feminella has studied
abroad in Germany in
Berlin, Freiburg, Tübingen
and Münster, and
recommends students to
study abroad if they can.
“Studying abroad is
one of the best things I
have ever done,” Feminella
said. “I didn’t think that
learning languages was
important and fulfilling till
I visited another country.”
The department has a
French club for all levels
of fluency, and a French
table, where students can
practice conversing in
French, on the Student
Center Plaza from 1-2 p.m.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Graduate program
opportunities include
Master of Arts degrees
in Romance languages
and German, as well as
doctoral concentrations
in French or Spanish
literature, linguistics and
interdisciplinary studies.
Kate Lamadrid, an
international graduate
student studying
Spanish linguistics at the
University, traveled from
her home in Colombia
to expand her horizons
and has been involved
in conferences, teaching
opportunities and
assisting a faculty-led
study abroad program in
Barranquilla, Colombia.
“As a Graduate Teaching
Student, I’ve had the
opportunity to impart my
knowledge by teaching
Spanish to fellow UA
students in the SP 100-
200 courses,” Lamadrid
said. “This decision has
proven to be one of the
best I’ve made, as my time
here has been marked by
academic engagement,
skill development, and
meaningful experiences.”
Learning additional
languages can present
more job and travel
opportunities, confer
communication
advantages, and allow
students to have
immersive experiences in
countries of their interest
with direct involvement in
the culture. Students can
utilize and expand their
language skills through
one of the Department
of Modern Languages
and Classics’ faculty-led
study-abroad excursions
in China, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan and Spain.
Lamadrid currently
serves as president of La
Última Letra, the Spanish
program’s graduate
student organization, as
well as leading the LengUA
linguistics working
group, where members
“collaboratively enhance
linguistics research,
fostering an environment
of shared knowledge
and exploration.”
Vanessa Lent, a secondyear
graduate student at
the University, decided to
pursue an M.A in Spanish
literature after receiving
a recommendation from
a past Spanish professor.
For undergraduate studies,
Lent received a B.S. in
biology with minors
in Spanish and Liberal
Arts through the Blount
Scholars Program at UA.
“Looking back on the
decision, I can confidently
say that it has positively
altered the course of
both my personal and
professional goals,”
Lent said. “Giving to the
community has been
a keystone component
in my commitment to
diversity, equity, and
inclusion, and being a part
of the Spanish program
has opened opportunities
to do so.”
Lent has held various
positions with groups
in the Spanish program
including treasurer and
vice president of La
Última Letra, tutoring
in the Capstone Center
for Student Success, and
teaching English classes
to Spanish speakers in the
Tuscaloosa community.
The Department
of Modern Languages
and Classics also offers
classes on “less commonly
taught languages, many
of which are vital for
national security” through
its Critical Languages
Center, including
American Sign Language,
Cherokee, Hebrew, Korean,
Portuguese and more,
according to its website.
“The challenging and
enriching environment
here has shaped me
into a more capable and
knowledgeable person,
increasing my passion for
teaching, enhancing skills,
and learning through the
program” Lamadrid said.
CW / Shelby West

2B
culture
Beneath the books:
Uncovering what the College of Education has to offer
Taylor Paton
Contributing Writer
Founded in 1909, the
University’s College of
Education strives to serve
the community through
teaching at the K-12 and
higher-education levels,
guiding others about
physical and mental
health, and leading the
nation in teaching and
research.
The College of
Education’s website shares
that its mission is “to
be a leader in Alabama
and across the nation in
teaching, scholarship,
advocacy, and service by
developing professionals
with pedagogic and
disciplinary expertise who
advance the intellectual
and social conditions of
all learners in a globalized
society.”
Throughout the college,
there are 37 majors,
two minors and eight
certificates that students
can receive by completing
courses and student
teaching. As of fall 2022,
the school had about 2,000
undergraduate and 1,100
graduate students.
“We offer a
graduate certificate in
College Teaching, an
undergraduate certificate
called ‘Crossing Points
Certificate Studies,’ this
certificate is designed for
college-aged students with
intellectual disabilities
and helps prepare them
for independent living,
self-management and
practical career-relevant
skills. We also offer
certification as a Dyslexia
Therapist, officially known
as Certified Academic
Language Therapist,” Joyce
Alexander, dean of the
College of Education, said.
Each semester, I
have formed strong
relationships with my
students, and each
semester, I cry when I
leave them. Although
teaching can be
difficult, it is the most
rewarding job in the
world. My students
now and from the
past semesters will
always hold a special
place in my heart.
Annamarye
Morgan
Senior Elementary
Education Major
Throughout the college
and the many areas of
study it offers, an aspect of
undergraduate education
is student teaching.
During senior year, the
College of Education offers
students the opportunity
to be a student teacher
and observe how a
classroom operates. The
University places students
in different schools in the
Tuscaloosa area to give
them the opportunity to
observe various teaching
environments.
“My favorite aspect
of teaching so far has
been the incredible
relationships I have
formed with my mentor
teachers and my
students,” Annamarye
Morgan, a senior majoring
in elementary education,
said. “Each semester,
I have formed strong
relationships with my
students, and each
semester, I cry when I
leave them. Although
teaching can be difficult, it
is the most rewarding job
in the world. My students
now and from the past
semesters will always
hold a special place in my
heart.”
Teachers can form
relationships with
There are
37
different majors in The
College of Education.
students and be an
integral part of a person’s
life; they are the heart of
our society.
“Every engineer,
physicist, astronaut,
or Nobel Prize winner
was the beneficiary of
amazing teaching and
teachers at some point
in their educational
careers,” Alexander said.
“Many parents gained
an appreciation for the
true worth of teachers
during the Covid-19
pandemic, when they
found themselves trying
to support their children’s
learning from home.
Teachers inspire us,
support us, and help us
find areas for growth.”
Autherine Lucy Hall houses the College of Education. CW / Hannah Grace Mayfield

culture
Engage Tuscaloosa aims to strengthen
the local community
3B
Ava Morthland
Staff Writer
In 2012, Colby Leopard,
then a student at the
University, wanted to
help middle and high
school students with
their reading skills, so he
developed the idea for
READ Alabama.
READ Alabama soon
became a part of Engage
Tuscaloosa, a volunteerbased
program overseen
and developed by Honors
College students, said
Vicki Holt, the coordinator
of educational outreach
for the Honors College.
Today Engage
Tuscaloosa has been able
to work with over 20
schools and has allowed
over 100 UA students the
opportunity to connect to
the Tuscaloosa community
each semester.
Anna Moorman is the
student director of Engage
and has been with the
program for almost
two years.
“Each child we mentor
has a story, and it has
been wonderful to get to
see over 100 volunteers
step up each semester
to make a difference,”
Moorman wrote.
Moorman also said
that Engage has opened
her eyes to some of the
educational needs in the
Tuscaloosa community.
There are currently
seven programs within
Engage: READ, BRIGHT,
MathTastic, NoteABLE,
MathTastic Jr., Boys Book
Club and South Lamar
Project.
READ aims to
encourage a love of
reading within elementary
schools through
interactive lessons and
reading books.
Macy Schelp was the
student director of READ
before Moorman and
wrote that she started
volunteering with Engage
as a way to get involved
with the community.
“The University can
be a bubble, but stepping
outside of it has allowed
me to meet leaders in the
community, connect with
local students, and meet
more people within the
University itself,”
Schelp wrote.
Schelp also said that
being involved with
Engage allows UA students
to build meaningful
relationships and act as
role models.
The Boys Book Club,
like READ, helps foster a
love of reading for upper
elementary boys.
MathTastic helps
middle school students
through tutoring math
lessons. Matthew
Heidenreich is the director
of MathTastic and has
been volunteering with
Engage for four semesters.
Heidenreich wrote
that Engage Tuscaloosa
is a great opportunity to
help someone along the
academic journey and that
by joining Engage, one has
the chance to “give back
and to make a tangible
impact in the lives of
growing students.”
“I think the best
moments of Mathtastic
are when a student
grasps a difficult concept
that they've struggled
with for a long time and
realizes that they are
capable of more than they
expected from themself,”
Heidenreich wrote.
MathTastic Jr. is
a separate program
that works with upper
elementary students on
their math skills.
BRIGHT focuses
on introducing STEM
concepts to preschool and
kindergarten students
through experiments
and interactive lessons.
Heavyn Savage has been
the student director of
An Engage Tuscaloosa group visits Verner Elementary School to tutor students. Courtesy of Anna Moorman
BRIGHT since fall 2023.
Savage wrote that
her favorite part of
volunteering at Engage has
been hearing how excited
the kids are from
the teachers.
NoteABLE teaches
upper elementary students
basic music skills, like
playing the recorder.
The South Lamar
Project assists high
school leaders in tutoring
elementary students in
vocabulary development.
Tyease Peoples is
the math specialist
for Eastwood Middle
School and said that
both the students and
UA volunteers have
demonstrated an attitude
of excitement each week.
EMS and Engage have
been working together
for three years and as
requested by the students,
EMS will start an afterschool
program, Peoples
said.
Engage Tuscaloosa
volunteers commit to one
or more hourlong tutoring
An Engage Tuscaloosa mentor reads to students as a part of the READ program.
Courtesy of Anna Moorman
sessions each week. Those
interested in volunteering
can find the program that
best fits them through
Engage’s website or social
media. Students fill out
an application that can
be found on Engage’s
Instagram or in the Honors
College newsletter. There
is also an email list that
honors students can be
a part of for updates
regarding Engage.

4B
As the price of living
increases across the
United States, residents
find it more and more
difficult to pay bills, buy
groceries, and provide
for themselves and
their families. In the
past, Congress has been
punctual about stepping in
and passing legislation or
increasing the minimum
wage to combat these
issues, but the federal
minimum wage has
remained the same since
2009, when it was raised
from $6.55 to $7.25.
The last 14 and a half
years constitute the
longest period in history
without an increase in the
federal minimum wage
since it was introduced as
part of the New Deal.
Some states have
created state minimum
wages to account for
the increase in prices
and poverty levels in
their area. Currently, 30
states and the District of
Columbia have adopted
state minimum wages
higher than the federal
minimum wage.
Thirteen states have
the same minimum wage
as the federal minimum
wage. Two states have
minimum wages that are
lower than the federal
rate, so the federal rate
prevails. Five states have
no state minimum wage,
so the federal rate prevails
there as well.
Alabama is one of
the five without a state
minimum wage.
There was still hope,
though. In 2003, as
opinion
Alabama residents deserve livable wages
Mary Claire Wooten
Staff Columnist
minimum wage legislation
popped up across states,
counties and cities,
Seattle, Washington, and
Santa Fe, New Mexico,
introduced local minimum
wage ordinances.
By 2020, cities in 42
states had established
local minimum wages
higher than the state they
reside in.
In 2015, the
Birmingham City Council
tried to influence the state
legislature to raise the
statewide minimum wage
to $10. After the state
declined, the city council
adopted its own minimum
wage standards. During
this time, 30% of people
living in Birmingham were
living below the poverty
line.
Birmingham’s
minimum wage increases
were set to begin in July
2016, raising the hourly
wage to $8.50, and then
scheduled to rise to
$10.10 in 2017. Supporters
said it would help lift
families out of poverty,
boost the local economy
and decrease income
inequality.
The Alabama House
of Representatives and
Senate acted quickly to
quash the bill by creating
a new bill of their own
and nullifying the city
council’s ordinance. The
bill also effectively gave
the Alabama legislature
complete control over
policy about wages,
benefits and leave
provided by employers.
The bill claimed this
was to ensure these
regulations were applied
uniformly across the state,
but that’s not what the
state needs.
The process of states
setting statewide caps
on municipalities aiming
to increase wages is
called state preemption.
Currently, 27 states have
these laws in place to
target minimum wage.
At the beginning of
2024, 22 states increased
their state minimum
wage. As one of only five
states without a statewide
minimum wage, Alabama
still has no plans to
establish one.
Why should the state
government prohibit areas
in Alabama where costs
of living are increasing
rapidly from supporting
their communities with a
livable wage?
A regional minimum
wage, rather than a
national minimum wage,
provides people across
the country with roughly
similar standards of living,
as they deserve to have.
If we value hardworking
Americans, it’s time to
reward their hard work
with the ability to make
ends meet from month
to month.
Mostly Democratic
members of Congress
have been pitching their
Raise the Wage Act since
2017 and will continue to
do so. The plan suggests
that for a period of a few
years, each year we should
increase the federal
minimum wage little by
little, to follow inflation.
After the period is up, the
act will continue to raise
the federal minimum
wage based on median
incomes so that we don’t
experience a predicament
like the current one again.
The Raise the Wage
Act also wants to increase
the wages of individuals
who make most of their
money off of tips and end
the subminimum wage for
CW / Shelby West
youth workers as well as
workers with disabilities.
Until new federal
legislation passes, states
need to make it easier
for their residents to pay
their bills or risk losing
them to an area with more
opportunities. That is,
if they can afford to get
there with their piddling
wages.
The current poverty
wage in Alabama is $6.53
for one adult working
full-time. A living wage
is calculated at $15.65 an
hour. In the 2022 fiscal
year, 15% of Alabamians
were benefitting from the
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program.
Alabama is not past
the point of no return, but
it will take a force much
stronger than the Alabama
Legislature to improve
our conditions.
BOOKS FOR THE
BLACK BELT
FEB. 5 - MAR. 1, 2024
Support education in Alabama’s Black Belt
by donating K-12 books, especially STEM
and ACT Prep Books. Help UACED reach
our goal of providing one book for every
child in Alabama’s Black Belt.
Find a drop box on or off campus at:
uaced.ua.edu/books-for-the-black-belt

opinion
Is Cupid really all that stupid?
5B
Abby Cope
Contributing Columnist
With supermarket
shelves quickly
emptying of name-brand
chocolates and floral
arrangements, it doesn’t
require a calendar for one
to know that Valentine’s
Day is coming up. A
romantic’s daydream and a
cynic's nightmare, Feb. 14
is a day that heavily divides
collegians.
In recent years deemed
a “Hallmark holiday,”
Valentine’s Day raked
in over $25 billion from
American consumers in
2023. While it’s not exactly
a secret that the holiday is
heavily commercialized, it
didn’t start that way.
Legend says it started
with a simple letter from a
martyred Italian priest over
1,000 years ago. Written to
his beloved from prison, it
was an innocent act of love
with a weapon mightier
than the sword and signed
“from your Valentine,”
apparently St. Valentine
of Terni.
St. Valentine was a man
who was imprisoned for
defying orders and secretly
marrying couples to spare
husbands from being
enlisted. He was a man who
fought for love.
Though it is unclear if
the St. Valentine that was
imprisoned is the same
that wrote the note, on
account of many Christian
martyrs named Valentine,
the powerful message still
prevails.
The symbolism behind
St. Valentine’s selfless act
quickly caught on, and
commercial Valentine’s
cards began being printed
in the 1700s. The Hallmark
company sold its first
custom cards for the
occasion in 1913, and today
there are over 100 million
valentines exchanged
every year.
What began as one
man’s testament to love
turned into an annual
worldwide declaration
of adoration.
Today, Valentine’s Day
is thought to be a holiday
with almost as many fools
as April 1. Music constantly
talks about the irrationality
that comes hand in hand
with utter infatuation,
from Quinn XCII’s “FFYL
(Fool for Your Love)” to
Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in
the Rain.” Even Elvis
proclaimed that “only fools
rush in.”
But why is it that we
naturally associate these
feelings with naivety? Is it
because the idea of modern
love has evolved far from
what were once honest and
upfront actions?
“Going steady” has
evolved into hookups, a
phrase we use to describe
connecting parts, not
people. Hookup culture
has spread around college
campuses and into
courtships across
the country.
There’s a veritable
plague of one-night stands,
drawers full of empty
promises and unhappy
endings.
Studies from the
University of Kansas show
that over 60% of dates
among college students
break the “traditional
script” — defined as
men asking, paying, and
initiating sex. But who set
these traditional standards
for dating discourse, and
why are they now being
ignored?
The rise of dating
apps in recent years
has only contributed to
the modernization of
conventional courtships.
A study by Pew Research
found that nearly 50% of
18-29 year olds use or have
used dating apps, and this
number is steadily rising.
The disconnect of these
on-screen interactions
leaves out the most
vital parts of building
relationships. The rigidity
of rapid-fire, compulsory
responses leads to the
inevitable “ghosting.”
This new standard of
relationship practices
creates a digital divide and
prevents what were once
natural connections.
My advice? Fall in
love with someone
you really like. Like
their company first,
like their philosophy,
like the way they treat
you, like the person
first.
Jennie Ayers
Crimson Village
Resident
Being on the balance
beam of kid and adult can
make a feeling like love,
something that’s supposed
to be so instinctive, make
us feel so inept. So, we
should turn to those
with years of experience
and wisdom. Here’s the
personal love story of
Lenora Burnett, a resident
at Crimson Village
in Tuscaloosa.
“My husband and I have
been married 62 years. We
started dating in the 10th
grade. We only broke up for
about six months, I guess.
We were going steady again
by our junior or senior
prom,” Burnett said.
“It snowed that night,
it was truly beautiful. But,
I mean, our gowns and
tuxedos in the snow? Ugh!
Anyways, Calvin ran out in
that cold and brought the
car under the veranda so I
wouldn’t get my gown all
wet. I had a real pretty soft
pink gown, with the big
hoops underneath them.
“When Calvin saw me
that night, he said, ‘My
God, you look beautiful!’ Of
course that thrilled me, but
he always told me I looked
great. Every single day. We
truly loved each other.
“When he died of cancer
10 years ago, he told me
he’d wait for me at the
corner of Wellness and
Happiness Street,” she said.
“That he’d pick a place and
for me to follow him. I’ve
been married 62 years, and
I’m still married today. He
said he’d wait on me, and
I’ll wait on him. Because
that’s what love is.”
As she guided me
back to the lobby, Burnett
thanked me for the
interview. However, I
quickly assured her that
I was the one to do the
thanking. For sharing a
piece of her story with
me, and for proving that
happy endings have not
abandoned all hope.
As for Crimson Village
resident Jennie Ayers, here
is her advice to college
students for this upcoming
Valentine’s Day, because in
her words, “Y’all really do
need it!”
“My advice? Fall in love
with someone you really
like. Like their company
first, like their philosophy,
like the way they treat you,
like the person first,” Ayers
said. “Be their best friend.
If you could fall in love
with your best friend, then
you’ve got it made. You
already want to be around
them, share things with
them, and they do you.”
Ayers explained that if
she hadn’t failed to find
love so many times, she
would never have found it.
And when it does
happen, she said, “It
happens when you're not
expecting it, not looking
for it.”
Ayers met her husband
thanks to a “help wanted”
ad in the local paper. She
was hired as the manager
of a doctor’s office and
became friends with the
doctor first. They were best
friends for two years, and
then they fell in love.
“So I found him in the
newspaper. In a ‘help
wanted’ ad! No name or
anything! Hah! You just
have to embrace what
part of the cycle you’re in,
embrace where you
are now.”
Embracing Valentine’s
Day in its entirety, however,
is far easier said than done.
It’s a major holiday that
revolves around an even
more major word.
But love is not just a
word to say. It’s a four-letter
word turned feeling: not
measured by price tags
on precious jewels, but
by beats of hearts, bats
of eyelashes, and blushes
of one’s cheeks. It’s an
encounter unique to each
human lucky enough to
experience it. Love knows
no age, no timeline, but
it does know all of us, in
some capacity.
Feb. 14 is a day to
celebrate that love —
wherever it may be found,
proudly by all, and not
clouded among takes by
those once bitten and
twice shy.
CW / Susan Xiao