%3Cdiv+id%3D%22divBdy%22+class%3D%22bdyItmPrt%22+_fallwcm%3D%221%22%3E%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATahoma%3Bfont-size%3A78%25%3Bcolor%3Ablack%3B%22+++%3E%3Cspan+dir%3D%22ltr%22++style%3D%22font-size%3A13px%3B%22%3E+%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EBand+as+a+sport-+The+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+band+to+a+new+level+as+band+camp+begins+with+the+band+on+one+field+and+the+football+team+next+to+them.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EThe+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+marching+to+a+whole+new+level+with+the+kick+off+of+band+camp%2C+right+beside+the+football+team.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EBy+Jessica+McElvey%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E557+words%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EIn+many+high+schools%2C+band+is+considered+by+non-band+students+to+be+easy+and+effortless.+Band+members+experience+much+ridicule+from+fellow+classmates%2C+hearing+things+such+as%2C+%E2%80%9CYou%E2%80%99re+a+band+geek%2C%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9CBand+isn%E2%80%99t+a+sport.%E2%80%9D+At+the+University+of+North+Alabama%2C+however%2C+the+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+things+up+a+few+notches+and+puts+band+on+a+level+compatible+with+sports.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EAlthough+band+is+not+recognized+as+a+sport%2C+the+effort+put+into+a+show+by+the+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+rivals+the+effort+put+into+any+other+sport.+College+band+requires+high+levels+of+concentration%2C+it%E2%80%99s+more+than+just+walking+around+on+a+field.+Marching+and+playing+at+the+same+time+are+not+effortless.+Andy+Creasy+of+the+trumpet+line+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWhen+you+can+hold+my+trumpet+at+the+exact+height%2C+march%E2%80%A6in+equal+steps%2C+at+the+correct+speed%2C+and+play+correctly%2C+then+you+can+call+it+effortless.%E2%8Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

9D%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EThe+work+that+the+members+put+in+competes+easily+with+those+efforts+of+the+UNA+football+team+with+remarkable+results.+The+week+before+classes+begin+the+Pride+of+Dixie+marching+band+spends+nine+days+at+band+camp%2C+working+from+8+a.m.+to+9+p.m.+The+funny+thing+about+band+camp+is+that+while+the+band+marches+and+plays+on+one+field%2C+the+football+team+is+practicing+on+the+field+right+next+to+them.+The+difference+in+the+two+activities+is+of+course+very+wide%2C+but+they+both+take+an+extreme+amount+of+work.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EThe+football+team+works+out+in+weight+room+conditioning+muscles%2C+while+the+band+works+in+the+heat+conditioning+stomach+muscles+to+help+with+playing.+While+the+football+team+runs+plays+and+practice+passes%2C+the+band+set+formations+and+work+on+horn+flashes.+Both+activities+take+the+same+amount+of+work%2C+just+in+different+forms.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EDuring+band+camp+band+members+work+on+how+to+hold+instruments+correctly%2C+how+to+march+in+the+correct+style%2C+and+how+to+play+in+the+correct+style+at+the+appropriate+time.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E++%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EAs+the+week+moves+along%2C+it+is+time+to+put+formations+on+the+field.+This+is+no+easy+task%2C+with+around+two+hundred+and+thirty%2C+members+knowing+when+and+where+each+person+is+supposed+to+be.+When+that+is+done+they+work+on+sprucing+up+the+show%2C+adding+certain+steps+and+horn+movements.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EOnce+classes+begin+the+POD+officially+practices+everyday+for+either+fifty+minutes+or+an+hour+and+fifteen+minutes+depending+on+the+day.+Unofficially%2C+each+section+arrives+at+the+practice+field+almost+an+hour+beforehand+to+prepare+for+the+intense+practice+ahead+of+them.+During+this+time%2C+each+section+will+stretch%2C+warm+up+by+playing+musical+scales+and+work+on+any+portion+of+the+show+that+that+specific+sections+needs+improvement+on.+%E2%80%9CIt+takes+an+incredible+amount+of+work+and+discipline%2C%E2%80%9D+explains+Callie+Henderson+of+the+clarinet+section%2C+%E2%80%9CI+think+that%E2%80%99s+what+drives+people+to+do+it.%E2%80%9D+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22%3Bfont-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22++%3EWhen+the+band+steps+out+onto+the+field+each+Saturday+it+is+with+the+knowledge+that+they+have+worked+extremely+hard+to+put+on+a+good+show.+While+they+may+not+be+wearing+shoulder+pads+and+throwing+a+football+around%2C+they+march+rigid+formations+and+push+their+bodies+to+limit+playing+instruments.+Like+all+hard+work%2C+it+pays+off+in+the+end+result.+%E2%80%9CWe+practice+just+like+everybody+else%2C%E2%80%9D+Henderson+says%2C+%E2%80%9Cit%E2%80%99s+just+cooler+when+we+show+off.%E2%80%9D%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E

%3Cdiv+id%3D%22divBdy%22+class%3D%22bdyItmPrt%22+_fallwcm%3D%221%22%3E%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATahoma%3Bfont-size%3A78%25%3Bcolor%3Ablack%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-size%3A+13px%3B%22+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E+%3Cdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EBand+as+a+sport-+The+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+band+to+a+new+level+as+band+camp+begins+with+the+band+on+one+field+and+the+football+team+next+to+them.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EThe+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+marching+to+a+whole+new+level+with+the+kick+off+of+band+camp%2C+right+beside+the+football+team.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EBy+Jessica+McElvey%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E557+words%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EIn+many+high+schools%2C+band+is+considered+by+non-band+students+to+be+easy+and+effortless.+Band+members+experience+much+ridicule+from+fellow+classmates%2C+hearing+things+such+as%2C+%E2%80%9CYou%E2%80%99re+a+band+geek%2C%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9CBand+isn%E2%80%99t+a+sport.%E2%80%9D+At+the+University+of+North+Alabama%2C+however%2C+the+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+takes+things+up+a+few+notches+and+puts+band+on+a+level+compatible+with+sports.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EAlthough+band+is+not+recognized+as+a+sport%2C+the+effort+put+into+a+show+by+the+Pride+of+Dixie+Marching+Band+rivals+the+effort+put+into+any+other+sport.+College+band+requires+high+levels+of+concentration%2C+it%E2%80%99s+more+than+just+walking+around+on+a+field.+Marching+and+playing+at+the+same+time+are+not+effortless.+Andy+Creasy+of+the+trumpet+line+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWhen+you+can+hold+my+trumpet+at+the+exact+height%2C+march%E2%80%A6in+equal+steps%2C+at+the+correct+speed%2C+and+play+correctly%2C+then+you+can+call+it+effortless.%E2%80%9D%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EThe+work+that+the+members+put+in+competes+easily+with+those+efforts+of+the+UNA+football+team+with+remarkable+results.+The+week+before+classes+begin+the+Pride+of+Dixie+marching+band+spends+nine+days+at+band+camp%2C+working+from+8+a.m.+to+9+p.m.+The+funny+thing+about+band+camp+is+that+while+the+band+marches+and+plays+on+one+field%2C+the+football+team+is+practicing+on+the+field+right+next+to+them.+The+difference+in+the+two+activities+is+of+course+very+wide%2C+but+they+both+take+an+extreme+amount+of+work.+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EThe+football+team+works+out+in+weight+room+conditioning+muscles%2C+while+the+band+works+in+the+heat+conditioning+stomach+muscles+to+help+with+playing.+While+the+football+team+runs+plays+and+practice+passes%2C+the+band+set+formations+and+work+on+horn+flashes.+Both+activities+take+the+same+amount+of+work%2C+just+in+different+forms.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EDuring+band+camp+band+members+work+on+how+to+hold+instruments+correctly%2C+how+to+march+in+the+correct+style%2C+and+how+to+play+in+the+correct+style+at+the+appropriate+time.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E++%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EAs+the+week+moves+along%2C+it+is+time+to+put+formations+on+the+field.+This+is+no+easy+task%2C+with+around+two+hundred+and+thirty%2C+members+knowing+when+and+where+each+person+is+supposed+to+be.+When+that+is+done+they+work+on+sprucing+up+the+show%2C+adding+certain+steps+and+horn+movements.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EOnce+classes+begin+the+POD+officially+practices+everyday+for+either+fifty+minutes+or+an+hour+and+fifteen+minutes+depending+on+the+day.+Unofficially%2C+each+section+arrives+at+the+practice+field+almost+an+hour+beforehand+to+prepare+for+the+intense+practice+ahead+of+them.+During+this+time%2C+each+section+will+stretch%2C+warm+up+by+playing+musical+scales+and+work+on+any+portion+of+the+show+that+that+specific+sections+needs+improvement+on.+%E2%80%9CIt+takes+an+incredible+amount+of+work+and+discipline%2C%E2%80%9D+explains+Callie+Henderson+of+the+clarinet+section%2C+%E2%80%9CI+think+that%E2%80%99s+what+drives+people+to+do+it.%E2%80%9D+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3Cdiv+style%3D%22margin%3A+0pt%3B+text-indent%3A+36pt%3B%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-family%3ATimes+New+Roman%3Bfont-size%3A100%25%3B%22%3EWhen+the+band+steps+out+onto+the+field+each+Saturday+it+is+with+the+knowledge+that+they+have+worked+extremely+hard+to+put+on+a+good+show.+While+they+may+not+be+wearing+shoulder+pads+and+throwing+a+football+around%2C+they+march+rigid+formations+and+push+their+bodies+to+limit+playing+instruments.+Like+all+hard+work%2C+it+pays+off+in+the+end+result.+%E2%80%9CWe+practice+just+like+everybody+else%2C%E2%80%9D+Henderson+says%2C+%E2%80%9Cit%E2%80%99s+just+cooler+when+we+show+off.%E2%80%9D%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E+%3C%2Fdiv%3E

Chance McCullough Beat Assigment 1

STUDENT CLUB PLANS TO COMPETE—The University of North Alabama student organized soccer club is making arrangements for future inter-collegiate competitions.

Student Club Plans to Compete

By Chance McCullough

396 Words

The University of North Alabama Futbol Club will be looking for funding and more members as the club prepares for intercollegiate competitions.

UNA Futbol Club President Loic Dimithe has his sights set on expanding the club’s membership, arranging sponsorships and competing with other student organized soccer clubs throughout the state.

The club held an open invitational tournament last spring for student teams to compete and Dimithe is arranging more tournaments for this year.

“We want to expand to become anything that we can become…we want to compete at a competitive level and win,” Dimithe said.

The open invitational tournament held by the club last year brought in local teams as well as the University of Alabama in Huntsville soccer team. The club is making arrangements to compete with clubs such as the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University.

Dimithe stated that the competition initiative is a slow process and he is trying to slowly build the club from the foundation up so that competing will be an easy transition. Advertising will begin in the next two weeks to encourage students to join the student organized club.

Dimithe said the club will be seeking funding from UNA student allocations and from local business owners. The first use for funding will be jerseys; soccer goals are needed but are too costly.

The club currently uses the Florence High School and North Florence soccer fields for games and practices. The club is currently working towards regularly scheduled time on the university’s artificial turf facility. “It is an excellent facility and it is convenient,” Dimithe said.

The club officially began as a student organization that sought to create an outlet for local and international male soccer players. Until the club was founded there was no outlet for soccer players above the age of 18 in the shoals area. The University of North Alabama has a women’s soccer team no men’s team. When asked if he would prefer this student club over an official university all male team, Dimithe stated that he did not have the time to play for a university team and that the student club is a social organization that is easier to work around his schedule.

The University of Alabama Futbol Club was chartered in the fall of last year.

Chance McCullough is a student at UNA majoring in professional writing.

Local band, Feeling Positive, in it for their love of music

BAND- Feeling Positive is a local band doing what they love.

Local band, Feeling Positive, in it for their love of music
By Sheena Perryman
412 Words

SHEFFIELD- The Shoals is home to an upcoming rock band, Feeling Positive.
Hannah Petree, the drummer of the band, describes Feeling Positive's music as “noisy rock 'n' roll from a group of kids that really appreciate music, dance parties and hanging out. We are a democracy.”
There are four people in the band, three boys and one girl, made up of guitar, bass, drums, and vocals..
The band recently finished recording their first album in Sheffield, Ala. It took almost six months to complete, but the band is proud of the outcome.
Feeling Positive has played in local bars and venues around town, such as the Smokehouse, JD's Bar and Grille, and the Black Owl. The favorite was the Old Town Tavern, which recently closed. They also have played out of town shows at The Nick in Birmingham, Ala., Voodoo Lounge, in Huntsville, Ala., and The Independent in Auburn, Ala.
They get a chance to play with other out of town bands, such as the indie rock band Times New Viking, from California.
“Our local music scene is very rich. You can't hang out at someone's house without someone picking up an instrument and entertaining. Everyone I know plays something,” said Petree.
The band are different ages and from different backgrounds. “We met through our love of music and going to shows,” said the bass player, Tyler Young.
They all have regular jobs and play shows on the weekends, and occasionally, some weeknights.
For the band, it is a very rewarding experience to play music. “For us it's a social outlet to see each other once a week and be creative. Being in a band is a good platform to spread your ideas,” Petree said.
Feeling Positive are in it for their passion for music. “We want to sell a few cds, make gas money, and break even. If we didn't do this, we wouldn't be doing anything,” said Young.
Interpret the name as you will. “The music we make is painful and misguided. Not always happy songs,” said Petree.
“What unifies us is the music and our interest. We happen to live in the strange place and are able to experience many different kinds of music,” said Petree.
Sheena Perryman is a student at UNA majoring in Radio-Television-Film.

Beat Assignment 1 Courtney Gresham

AUXILIARY POINT OF VIEW- the feeling towards football games from the viewpoint of current college auxiliary member Lacey Smith and how it is different from the high school experience.
Gresham

The world of difference between the college experience and the high school experience
By Courtney Gresham
442 Words

FLORENCE- She can feel her heart beating as Lacey Smith takes the field at last week’s football game against Southern Arkansas.

The rush of adrenaline, the butterflies in the stomach, and the sounds of screaming fans is the feeling Lacey Smith get when she enters the field for half time performances at Braly Stadium in Florence, Alabama.
Lacey Smith is a member of the University of North Alabama color guard. She has been a member for two years, and was a member of Lexington High School’s color guard for five years. Needless to say she has a lot of experience with the emotions that come along with being on the auxiliary portion of a football game.
The auxiliary is the visual aspect of a football game’s half time show. They are the ones that keep the crowd visually entertained while the teams are in the locker rooms. They keep the crowd fired up, but how does the auxiliary feel as they take the field each game?
Lacey Smith describes the feeling as “a rush of excitement and a not knowing what will happen. There is always that chance that something will go wrong. A gush of wind or even just a tiny slip up can throw a person off”.
When asked how the college auxiliary experience is different than the high school experience Lacey responded, “the high school experience did not require as much practice, but it did not come with the same thrill and reward”. According to Mrs. Smith the college auxiliary life requires hours of determined dedication. Without this it would be impossible for them to come together and perform as well as they do.
Lacey Smith was captain of her color guard team in high school. When asked if it was difficult to transition from captain back to a new member she said, “no it wasn’t because I know that it is a different world in the college level, so I had to start fresh”.
Mrs. Smith says that it is so much fun being part of the auxiliary at the University of North Alabama, and that she has made so many new memories and friends. She said that she would suggest it to any that are or are thinking about joining the college auxiliary.
Her only advice to those thinking about making the transition from high school to college level is “to try and up your range of possibilities”. Lacey Smith said that she was not able to use rifle at her high school, so that made it harder for her when she came to UNA. However she quickly adjusted to the change, and has loved the experience ever since.
She cannot wait until the next time she gets to walk out on to that one hundred yard stage.
Courtney Gresham is a student of UNA.

Allison Stark's 1st Story

MUSIC IN THE SHOALS – Fame Studios was the place to record music a few decades ago. What happened?

Has the music died?

By Allison Stark

401 Words

FLORENCE – Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals was a leading place to record music in the 1970s. Where did all the star power go? Why is Lady Gaga or T.I. not vying for a spot to record? The answer is not money, but style.

“No one wants to go to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record music when Atlanta and Nashville are relatively close by,” said Dillon Green, a sophomore at UNA.

Even though Fame’s popularity has declined in recent years, the talent in the studio is phenomenal.

“Fame is notorious for producing demos of master quality, said Chelsea Carroll, an entertainment industry management major.

In the past, the likes of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, as well as Donny Osmond have recorded at Fame. The singers were brought in by different producers from various record labels including Atlantic Records.

According to Paul Ennis, a local musician, the idea of Fame Studios began in the late 1950s. “It was first located above a drug store in Florence. Then, in the early 1960s it was moved to an old tobacco warehouse,” he said.

What is happening at Fame Studios today? Fame Studios was not available for questions; however, the website explains reality television show Nashville Star winner Angela Hacker is set to record there very soon. She is quoted there as saying the Muscle Shoals Sound has greatly influenced her sound. According to Green, the Black Keys recently recorded part of their album with Danger Mouse at Fame.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio is a second recording studio in the Shoals area. Most notable artists who have recorded there include Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, as well as Paul Simon. The studio was formed when a group known as the Swampers decided to branch off from Fame and begin their own studio. This is where the famous line “Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers, and they’ve been known for a song or two,” from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” comes from.

What does the future hold for these studios? Carroll said, “I believe the studios will continue to prosper if a few big names come through every once in a while as they do now. It would be great though if an even bigger interest could be found.”

The Shoals will always be known for its contributions to the music industry. In the future, hopefully Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound will continue prosper and maybe even grow.

Oil Spill Effects Exaggerated? -HBlack

ENVIROMENTALISTS EXAGGERATED OIL SPILL EFFECTS
OIL SPILL EFFECTS EXAGGERATED?
By: Hali Black
Word Count: 468

Everyone, including BP Representative Tony Hayward, has described the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as an “environmental catastrophe”, according to TIME magazine. Only one voice stands out against the mass of grievers, anti-environmentalist Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh argues that the effects of “the leak” are being wildly exaggerated and maintains that the environment has been mostly unaffected.

The incident began on April 20, 2010 after a Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. The New York Times reports that crude oil began spilling into the ocean at an alarming rate of about 62,000 barrels per day. Finally coming to a halt on September 19, the relief process was completed. Though no oil has escaped since, the estimated 206 gallons of oil that has flowed into the ocean over the last three months must be taken into account.

So, what constitutes an environmental catastrophe? Scientists are now conducting specimen and water tests in order to measure the area affected and calculate the magnitude of the spill. Most scientists and environmentalists agree that this has been the largest accidental marine oil spill in history. Also, the L.A. Times reports that the federal government maintains that about 110 miles of shoreline are or have been experiencing “moderate to heavy oil impacts.” Limbaugh disagrees.

Most Alabama shoreline residents, when asked if they agreed with Limbaugh’s opinion of the oil spill, were shocked and outraged. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” said local shrimper and business owner, Billy Cook. After a summer long ban, Alabama waters have only recently re-opened for fishing. This layoff along with a diminished demand due to scared tourists has caused local fishermen to suffer. “There has hardly even been a season,” Cook said.

Other Alabama shoreline locals have also suffered the consequences of the oil spill. Restaurants and hotels continue to remain empty despite it being the peak season for tourism. Business owners have shops full of merchandise sitting on shelves gathering dust. “We’ve had to lay off most of our summer help,” said the manager of Surf Style, a store often frequented by tourists, specializing in swimwear, beach gear and souvenirs in Gulf Shores, AL. With less and less vacationers coming to the area, and even fewer daring to venture onto the beaches, there’s no market for beach gear.
Local residents freely expressed their opinions on the effects of the oil spill. Once again, their opinions differed from Limbaugh’s views. Judy Tucker, local resident and retiree of Orange Beach, AL, said that the effects of the oil spill were “devastating”. When asked if she thought the media had over dramatized the spill, Mrs. Tucker said, “No, it [the spill] is as bad if not worse than they [the media] says it is.” She also said that she thinks the media has “lost interest” in the spill, even though the cleanup is still ongoing.

Hali Black is a student at UNA majoring in English.