2008 Woodie Awards
Since the approval of an NCAA-sanctioned football team at USA, the number of coaches and players alike has been growing. However, due to NCAA restrictions, the program cannot hold open tryouts for players. In its beginning stages, the team will be somewhat dependent on walk-on players as the program grows.
Several Starbucks Coffee locations around Mobile have closed within the last few months as part of a sales strategy by President and CEO Howard Schultz. All three locations on Old Shell Road plus more than three other locations throughout West Mobile have faced termination.
The University of South Alabama is now welcoming a new director of its Student Center, Robin Jones. On Aug. 11, Jones began working in the areas of Student Center management and working with Campus Involvement, Greek Life, Jaguar Productions and Student Center Services.
With more than 200 applicants signing up for the University of South Alabama's new organization called the National Society of Leadership and Success, the numbers indicate students' desires to become successful and gain leadership, according to Sally Cobb, office of campus involvement manager and adviser.
On Aug. 21, hundreds of students flooded the Epsilon Area lawn to attend Jaguar Production's third annual Welcome Back Block Party called "Taking it to the Streets." "Last year about 400 students attended the event, this year we expect about the same, hopefully more," said USA Student Activities Specialist Heather Sprinkle.
SGA President Caitlin Collins had much to say about upcoming plans for the fall semester. In this interview with Collins, she explains some of the impending events and issues the SGA plans to accomplish. The Vanguard, Eugenie Sellier: What events does the SGA have planned for the fall semester? SGA President, Caitlin Collins: There will be a voter registration drive to promote student voting for the upcoming presidential election.
The ongoing debate of whether the drinking age should be changed has a surprising ally in over 100 college presidents but will not include signatures from the presidents of the University of South Alabama, University of Mobile and Spring Hill College. The Amethyst Initiative, a group comprised of college presidents from institutions such as Duke, Millsaps and Rhodes, are attempting to convince lawmakers to at least lower or raise the drinking age from 21.
In the Student Government Association's welcome back meeting for the fall semester, many vital issues were brought to the table. Michael Mitchell, the dean of students, was present at the meeting to show his support. One of the issues addressed at the meeting was approving funding for newspapers distributed on campus.