BREAKING NEWS: USA's Fall Enrollment Tops 15,000

USA's fall enrollment has hit a record high of 15,007 students, USA President Gordon Moulton announced at the Mitchell Center this afternoon. The number marks a 250-student increase from last year's enrollment. "Our growth reflects the quality of our institution," Moulton said at today's University press conference. Full story

Former Student Sentenced To Life In Prison

Paul Bryan Young Jr., a former USA student, was sentenced to life in prison Aug. 23 after pleading guilty on charges of murder and attempted murder. On June 8, 2009, 42-year-old Young shot his ex-wife, Anne Claire Alger-Young, 37, multiple times after she had returned to Young’s home in Tillman’s Corner to retrieve some of her belongings. Young was also charged with three counts of attempted murder for shooting at three people who were with Alger-Young the night of the incident. The Admiral Semmes Avenue resident was booked at Mobile Country Metro Jail June 11, 2009 with no bail posted, according to online jail records. The case could not have come to a better conclusion, because Young received the maximum sentence allowed, according to Mobile County assistant district attorney Ashley Rich, who represented the victim and the victim’s family. Full story

Beerfest a Deliciously Intoxicating Success

The wall at Dahlia’s Piano Bar on Dauphin Street is covered with lyrics and sayings, and as we waited in line, clutching our plastic beer steins, I read, “Welcome to your life.” It seemed fitting for the night, considering we had just paid $20 for empty glasses and were now on a hunt for the perfect beer. The 13th annual Beerfest was held downtown on Aug. 29, a Saturday night, and it was such a success that this article had to be written mid-afternoon the next day. Dauphin Street was dotted with splashes of color from rain boots and umbrellas, and the atmosphere was undoubtedly loud, friendly, and tipsy. Full story

Soccer Preparing for Turnaround Season

South Alabama soccer is looking forward to a fresh start in 2010 after a 3-15-1 season a year ago. The Jags finished 12th in the Sun Belt, going without a postseason appearance for the first time since the Sun Belt started tournament play in 2000. USA had high expectations entering 2009, but hopes were derailed after injuries contributed to a slow start. “I wish that I could tell you with certainty why we struggled so badly last year,” head coach Mike Varga said. “We started strong with a win against Southern Miss but losses to Florida State and South Carolina really derailed our confidence. We battled several odd injuries all year with swine flu and appendicitis. But with that said, we still should have fought through it and been successful and we weren’t.” Full story

Clearing the Air

A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

No doubt you’ve heard about plans for an Islamic mosque and community center to be built near the World Trade Center memorial. Judging by much of the conversation, it would seem that people are opposed to the location of the mosque, but not necessarily to the building itself. But this criticism is directed toward more than just a building. It’s evidence of clear ignorance and bigotry. Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone who opposes the mosque is a bigot. There are plenty of people who don’t mind a mosque being built – just not so close to ground zero. Full story