The Feguson Center Food Court

Most students at the University of Alabama have either been to the Ferguson Center or have heard about the Ferguson Center. The Ferguson Center is a student resource center that offers numerous services to the students. A major service of which many students have taken advantage of is the Ferguson Center’s food court with eleven restaurants that offer several different styles of food. In order for the Ferguson Center’s food court to maintain a good reputation around campus, it must have a large selection of quality food that the more than 28,000 students can afford and enjoy in a clean, comfortable atmosphere.
To begin with, the food court should be large enough to accommodate the large student population. However, many people can attest that the food court at the Ferguson Center is too small for a college of this magnitude. The Ferguson Center was built to accommodate the student population in 1973, but since then the student population has increased exponentially over the past three decades. During class hours, the size of the food court is satisfactory, but during lunch hours a student can stand in line for several minutes waiting to receive his or her food or to pay for it. After the student has paid for his or her food, it is very difficult for a student to find a vacant table, especially while trying to navigate through the large crowd of people.
Comfort and cleanliness are both important factors that contribute to a student’s experiences at the Ferguson Center food court. The chairs are comfortable and there is usually music playing, but many students cannot enjoy either source of comfort because the large crowd makes it too difficult to find a seat and too loud to hear the music. Another problem is that the workers at the food court take proper procedures to clean the tables, but there are not enough workers to have the tables cleaned often. This usually results in students having to use tables that are not as clean as they could be.
Another concern for students is that the price of the food should be affordable and within reason. Unfortunately, the food at the Ferguson Center food court is considered by many to be far too expensive. For example, one slice of pizza is $3.69, and one bottle of Vitamin water is $1.79. Because of this pricing a number of students would agree that they could go to several other restaurants or supermarkets around campus and find the same items in a lower price range. College-age students tend to eat larger amounts of food than other age groups; therefore, students spend an excessive amount of money on lunch at the food court.
Lastly, there should be a variety of food with good quality. As mentioned earlier, there are eleven restaurants from which to choose at the food court, including Sushi, Burger King, Chick-fil-a, Salad Garden, and many more. As a result, the food court definitely offers students a large variety of food. The quality of the food, however, is less than satisfactory. The pizza’s quality is worse than the quality of some of the cheapest pizza places in town, and some students have reported that the barbeque has a bad color and does not look fresh. Consequently, many students may decide they don’t have the appetite to try it.
The Ferguson Center food court presents some good qualities in its attempt to obtain approval from the students. However, some aspects of the food court cause it to fall short in giving the many students a clean, comfortable environment in which they can obtain an affordable, quality meal.

The University of Alabama Recreation Center

Sitting on 110,000 square feet, the Student Recreation Center is the heart of the University of Alabama’s Recreational activities. Enjoy activities such as rock climbing, aerobic classes, cycling, dancing, swimming, weight lifting, indoor running, and intramural sports along with some other activities to whip anyone into shape. These activities are available during convenient times that are perfect for a college student’s schedule. Along with a state of the art weight room, the commonly known “Rec” offers a service for just about any recreational interest, while maintaining a clean and safe environment (“University Recreation”).

From Monday through Thursday, the Rec is open from 5:30 a.m. until midnight; the hours may vary during holidays and on the weekends. So even the busiest of schedules should have an open slot in their schedule during its hours of operation. There are a total of 625 parking spaces, but members without a perimeter parking pass, cannot use the spaces from 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. However, Crimson Ride buses, like the Blue Express and Perimeter make regular stops at the Rec Center, so making the long walk from to the Rec can be avoided. Outside the Rec Center lie several soccer and football fields along with tennis courts and the Student health Center near by.

There is literally something for everyone inside the Rec. Most people think the Rec is only for fitness, but you can also get involved in aquatics, intramural sports, outdoor recreation, hip-hop classes, and sports clubs ("University of Alabama Student Affairs"). One example of its services is its rock climbing wall with easy, medium and hard rock faces; if you are not sure if rock climbing is for you, you can go for free your first time to find out. Intramural sports are probably the most popular of the Rec services. Just a few of intramural sports on the fall calendar include: flag football, indoor soccer, swimming meets, volleyball, and even tailgating games. The weight room is also one of the more popular attractions. Members may choose to lift using machines or free weights. The floor above the weight room is a floor of treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and other machines for cardio workouts. They have free classes for certain types of abs, legs, and heart workouts available to the students during a reasonable schedule. They even have gaming systems, near the basketball and volleyball court, for anyone who wants to get their exercise in that way. The aquatic programs at the Aquatic Center have year-round opportunities at the Student Recreation Center. Indoors of the aquatic center is a four-lane, 25 yard multi-purpose pool. People can swim for fitness, for fun, join an aerobics class or take a beginner or intermediate swim lesson.

It seems like the health and safety of the members is a top priority. Little things, like the sign that asks people not to spit in the water fountains, say a good bit about their positive perceptive of hygiene, and that they care for those who use their equipment. Another way the Rec promotes good health is posted information of ways to prevent staph infection. Other actions the staff takes to prevent health and safety issues are providing disinfectant spray in the weight rooms, hand sanitizer stations throughout the gym, and alcohol cloths to wipe down the machine after your use. They also use antibacterial detergent when washing the towels they offer to all their customers. To insure the Rec is safe and a healthy environment, the safety regulations are posted on its website http://urec.sa.ua.edu/src-facilityusage.cfm. An example of one of the safety regulations the Rec has is to require that patrons use proper athletic shoes and attire. (“University Recreation”). There is also a Physical Therapy Clinic located inside of the Rec Center for those who may get hurt and in need of rehabilitation.

The variety of services provided at The University of Alabama’s Recreation Center is above and beyond most college recreation centers. For one example, at Auburn University they only offer three intramural sports, flag football, soccer, and volleyball, unlike The Capstone’s wide variety (“Campus Recreation”). Some of us students complain about the university, saying “ all they do is find ways to take out money”; But, it is good to see that our money is put to beneficial services for students, one way by facilitating an over-the-top recreation center. Now in order for it to be worth it many students need to make an effort and use the Rec Center whenever they have a chance to do so, because that facility has many resources that anyone can use.

Works Cited Page

"SRC Facility Usage Guidelines." University Recreation. 2009. The University of Alabama, Web. 29 Sep 2009. .

"University Recreation." The University of Alabama Student Affairs. 2009. The University of Alabama, Web. 29 Sep 2009. .

"Intramural Sports." Campus Recreation. 2009. Auburn University, Web. 29 Sep 2009.

Good Eats: Swen Chinese Restaurant

When walking down the Strip in search of a restaurant for lunch or dinner, many people can find a place called Swen. If you’re looking for great food at a reasonable price, as well as good atmosphere, you might think about giving it a chance.

Swen Chinese Restaurant has been well known in Tuscaloosa for many years. It started out in Northport, Alabama as a family restaurant. Since the Northport location is a good 15 to 20 minute drive from campus, the owners decided to open up a second location closer to campus, so more students would be able to enjoy the good food that Swen is known for. The second location opened on the Strip in the autumn of 2006.

As soon as you walk through the doors, you see a beautiful water fountain, adding to the feeling of walking into a calm, relaxed, and very clean environment. This ambiance increases the appeal of the restaurant tenfold. The menu has a lot to present; you can dine on anything from plain old fried rice to Crab Ragoon. Swen brings a hint of Chinese culture into their cooking that almost anyone can enjoy.

Of course, with so many options and great taste, one might think the food would come at a high price. However, this is not the case at Swen. Swen has some of the lowest prices around. In most places, a low price comes with low quality food. But at Swen, it’s the complete opposite. Your food comes out hot and fresh and if there’s a problem, the waiters are more than happy to help out without complaint.

The service at Swen is absolutely phenomenal. Waiters and waitresses are always polite, prompt with drink refills, and always eager to help the customers. They stay at a distance so you don’t notice them until they are needed, letting you enjoy your surroundings and your meal with a sense of privacy.

Swen hits all the requirements to be an outstanding restaurant. It succeeds at everything from the service, to the food, to the check. When you go to Swen you can rest assured that you’re going there to enjoy a quality meal for an excellent price. If you don’t believe it, go try it yourself!

Coach $aban

Anyone who knows anything about football at the University of Alabama has at least heard the name “Saban”. Apart from being the head coach of one of the nation’s top Division I football programs, Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saban, is currently receiving one of the highest coaching salaries in all of college football. This has lead many Alabama fans to wonder what it is that makes him worth so much more than all the other coaches. The answer to their question lies in the fact that, throughout his life, Saban gradually gathered the tools he would need to become one of the greatest college coaches today. These “tools for success” include his experiences playing college football, his college degree, his experiences as a college coach, and the knowledge he obtained while coaching in the NFL.

Although many believe that coaching experience is the sole quality that makes a great coach, this is not the only aspect that leads to coaching success. According to Rolltide.com, Nick Saban was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on October 31, 1951. He attended college at Kent State University from 1969-1973. While at Kent State, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business. Saban then went on to graduate school where he worked to obtain his master’s degree in 1975 in sports administration (Rolltide.com). In Nick Saban’s case, by obtaining an undergraduate degree in business, he was able to enter into a coaching career with a perspective of college football as not simply a game, but as a business. By continuing his studies and obtaining a master’s n sports administration, he was able to then carry over his knowledge of business and apply it to sports. For example, he learned that in a business, the harder you work during the week, the better the pay at the end of the week. He not only uses this philosophy to better himself as a coach, but he also introduces this philosophy into the minds of each of his players. Morgan Oglvie, a sophomore quarterback currently playing under Saban, stated that “Coach has an unbelievable work ethic and it has really carried over to my teammates and I. I think that alone has been a major contributor to our recent success”.

Although the education Saban obtained during his years at Kent State was very beneficial to his future career, this was not the only tool that he gathered there. According to secsportsfan.com, Nick Saban also played defensive back for the Kent State Golden Eagles (Nick Saban Biography). There are many coaches in college football that never even played football in college. The experiences Saban earned as a player allow him to see the game of football not only through the eyes of a coach and a business man, but through the eyes of a young college player. He knows what it is like to play at that level. He understands what is going through the minds of his players because he remembers what it was like to be in their shoes. He knows what drives them, what motivates them, and even what distracts them. In the words of Oglvie, “Coach’s strong understanding of us as players really helps us to understand our role on the team. He doesn’t ask too much and he doesn’t ask too little. I also think his understanding of college players gives him a leg up on other coach’s in recruiting players too”.

The experiences Saban earned while in college are very helpful, but equally beneficial is the knowledge he obtained throughout his college coaching career. According to secsportsfan.com, Saban began his coaching career serving as an assistant coach at colleges such as Kent State, Syracuse, Michigan State, Ohio State, and the Naval Academy. He obtained his first job as a head coach in 1989 at the University of Toledo. Later, in 1995, Saban accepted the head coaching job at Michigan State University where he converted a losing team into a winning program. Saban left the Spartans in 1999 in order to accept a job in the SEC as the head coach of the Louisiana State University Tigers. Saban helped the Tigers obtain an SEC Championship in only his second year there and yet another in 2003. That same year, he led the Tigers in becoming BCS National Champions (Nick Saban Biography). It is obvious that, throughout his climb through the ranks of college coaching, Saban learned the ins and outs that allowed him to reach the level of success that most college coaches only dream of. Although the majority of his knowledge coaching football came from his experiences in college, he did learn from other coaching experiences.
According to Rolletide.com, Saban served as the secondary coach for the Houston Oilers from 1988-1989 before accepting his first college head coaching job. This was his first coaching job in the National Football League but Saban’s professional coaching career did not stop there. He went on to coach the defense of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1994 before again returning to coach college. Saban returned to the NFL yet again after his success at LSU and accepted the job as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He coached in Miami until he was offered the head coaching job here at the University of Alabama in 2007 (Nick Saban Profile). His time spent coaching in the NFL not only added to his prestige as a coach, but he also learned different techniques for coaching. In the NFL, he learned to coach players that were receiving enormous sums of money for simply stepping onto the field, and after learning to do that, it proved much easier to coach college players who merely dreamt of making money playing a sport they love.

After delving into the background of Nick Saban, it is clear why he is considered one of the best football coaches around. His experiences in college, both as a student and a player, and the knowledge he gathered while coaching in college and the NFL have all contributed to his coaching success. Maybe now, the next time Alabama fans see Nick Saban being escorted by police as he drives down University Boulevard in his brand-new, black Mercedes, they’ll understand how lucky they are to have him as their coach.

Works Cited
“Nick Saban Biography”. SEC Sports Fan. 13 Sep. 2009
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Nick Saban Profile. 14 Sep. 2009.
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Oglvie, Morgan. Personal interview. 15 Sep. 2009

The Capstone's Student Rec Center

The student recreation center at the University of Alabama is one of the most utilized places on campus. It has a very centralized location as well as a variety of amenities to offer anyone from the beginner to the most advanced in personal fitness. The hours are very reasonable and it is very spacious; large enough to accompany the growing enrollment here at the capstone.

The student rec center is located between the north and south sides of campus. It is very convenient, especially because of the bus system that runs to and from the rec in increments of 15 minutes. It also sits right off of University Blvd. so it is easy to see for a would be first time visitor.

From tennis courts to an aquatic center to an indoor rock climbing wall, everything that you could ever ask for in a recreation center, the student rec offers. The weight room that is also doubles as a cardio fitness room is 17,000 square feet and offers over 220 machines. The rec also offers a spin studio, group fitness studio, and personal training studio that can be reserved for anything you might want to do. There are two gymnasiums (north and south) both of which house at least 3 basketball courts, and the north which is the bigger of the two that offers a track on the upper level and has eight racquetball courts on the lower level in addition to other rooms such a martial combat room.

The outside complex offers several different features for students and faculty alike. It has twelve tennis courts as well as an outdoor pool. The pool offers a water slide as well as a lazy river that draws comparisons to a mini water park. There are also fields for several intramural sports such as soccer, flag football, and softball. Sometimes there are high school soccer games that are played in the soccer stadium that sits next to the rec center.

Rather you are a night owl that likes to work out late or an early bird that likes to get your blood flowing right before you start your day, the student rec center hours are right for you. The rec stays open from 5:30 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12:00 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. These hours are very convenient and make it very possible to get a workout in at any time.

The recreation center is very spacious. It boasts over 100,000 square feet. There is room enough for a smoothie king and also the previously mentioned weight and cardio room, the two gymnasiums, and the racquetball courts. There is also plenty of space to park with 200 spaces in the lower lot and 425 spaces in the upper lot. To go along with the huge student center, the staff also plays a huge roll. At all times there are sixteen professional, five clerical, and fourteen custodial/maintenance staff to go along with two hundred fifth teen student assistants.

The capstone's student recreation center is well rounded and a great place to workout. Its comfortable, spacious and clean. There isn't much more you could ask for with the all the amenities and the smoothie king that refuels you after your long workout. Like everything else at the capstone it is the best, so if you haven't already taken advantage of the rec center you should start and Roll Tide!




Works Cited
The University Of Alabama Student Recreation Center. Web. 28 Sept. 2009.
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Brown’s Corner: Dueling Piano Bar and Grill

Brown's Corner has been a timeless Tuscaloosa tradition on the corner of Greensboro Avenue and University Boulevard for many decades ("Brown's Corner"). Upon entering Tuscaloosa from I-359, this rustic piece of local history is one of the first visible buildings. Although Brown's Corner was established decades ago, it hasn't housed many successful restaurants until now ("Brown's Corner"). News of this fledgling restaurant, a dueling piano bar and grill, is attracting an entirely new crowd and spreading through word-of-mouth like wildfire. There has been a lot of exciting buzz about this grill since its opening, and many have found its size, atmosphere, quality, and service to be top notch.

From the first glance, it's easy to see why everyone is making such a big fuss about Brown's: it's huge! There are not only one, but two floors to accommodate guests and even a third floor for private parties such as wedding receptions and fraternity socials ("Brown's Corner"). On the main floor sits an enormous round bar equipped to entertain the large nighttime crowds, while a smaller, less-crowded bar adorns the second floor. Because of the ample amount of available tables, Brown's Corner can serve tons of hungry people quickly and efficiently. The restaurant's furniture is both in excellent shape and surprisingly comfortable for customers, and its floors are pretty spotless thanks to the speedy clean-up crew. In addition to its large size, Brown's Corner also has an atmosphere fir for any college student of Tuscaloosa resident looking for a good time.

Brown's Corner's performers, employees, and decorations culminate to create an upbeat, entertaining environment. Strings of white lights line both the second level handrails and five or six big screens across the restaurant. In addition to the dining area, Brown's Corner also has a must-see dueling piano show! Playing everything from Eric Clapton to Outkast, the pianists make sure the crowd is involved in every aspect of the night's performance ("Planet Weekly"). The professionals even crack jokes and sing college fight songs, hoping to receive hefty tips from their supporters. Not only does this local hot spot host some of the best live, interactive entertainment, they also serve some of the best gourmet food.

As wonderful as the size and atmosphere of Brown's are, the quality of its food is what makes it out of this world. Their menu consists of everything from savory fried turkey croissants to gigantic stuffed burgers and garden-fresh salads (Waiter). The Rajun Cajun, an eight-ounce burger served with pepper jack cheese and jalapenos topped with Cajun Ranch, is only one of the amazing options. It is served on a Ciabatta bun accompanied by seasoned waffle fries that could make any customer's mouth water. The Rajun Cajun has a great kick that makes countless customers consistently want to come back for more! Along with the tasty food, Brown's Corner offers many great deals on dozens of popular drinks. Brown's also realizes that the person serving their food is just as important as the food itself.

One last aspect that Brown's Corner excels in is its premium service. The waiters and waitresses are always personal be and more than willing to serve their customers. They constantly make sure customers have enough to drink and endlessly fill water cups. When asked about the restaurant, one enthusiastic employee answered, " They serve lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and host dueling piano shows every Thursday through Saturday starting at 9 p.m."

Judging by all the positive aspects of the restaurant, the new Brown's Corner seems to be on the road to success. Exciting piano duels, massive screen televisions, and incredible personable waiters are just the beginning of an excellent night out in the Tuscaloosa area. With its impressive size, atmosphere, quality, and service, Brown's Corner cannot help but be a hit.

Resources

1. "Meet Me at Brown's Corner." Brown's Corner. 6 Jun 2007. Brown's Corner, Web. 25 Sep 2009. <http://brownscorner.net/node/7.

2. "Brown's Corner." Planet Weekly Sep 11 2009: n. pag. Web. 25 Sep 2009. .
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348 Ride

Looking for a more convenient way to move around campus, with no cost included? Then look no further, because this service provided by the University of Alabama transportation system. If you would like a ride, all you have to do is dial (205)-348-7433, and tell the operator your location, and then they will pick you up and take you to your desired location, on campus. Also, instead of calling you can use 348-RIDE’s newest service edition, 348-RIDE Express, and simply walk to the nearest bus stop where they will pick you up and continue the service provided.

348-RIDE is a free service shuttle van that will transport you between locations on campus or between nearby residences and campus. 348-RIDE is available to students between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekday nights and 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends. The service area includes campus and neighborhoods between Greensboro Avenue to the west, 15th Street to the south, Helen Keller Boulevard to the east, and Jack Warner Parkway to the north and they are still adding locations due to the construction of newer apartment complexes. 348-RIDE is intended as a support service for academic purposes and does not service establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold. Only during an emergency, will 348-Ride provide a service past the limits in which the University has set.

Even though all calls are dispatched as soon as possible, high demand sometimes leads to a delayed response. This has caused many students to take a second look at the service. The Student Government Association gave an initiative to create the newest division of 348-RIDE, called 348-RIDE Express. The Express launched September 10, 2009 and has provided safe, convenient, and quick traveling on campus. In doing so, the service has increased demand and the students have recognized that the 348-RIDE is becoming more and more convenient, especially due to the fact that enrollment has increased and there are more and more students in need of this type of service. This program has been designed to ease up the current 348-Ride’s capacity, which will in turn provide lower wait times for 348-Ride on and off campus. The express is less of a hassle to use, and is more reliable than the original 348-RIDE for on campus travel with a wait time of five to eight minutes. Instead of having to call 348-RIDE and wait on the van to pick you up at your location, you simply go to one of the 348-RIDE bus stops, which are indicated by flags and signs. 348-RIDE Express has two CrimsonRide buses that make a constant loop around campus on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. The six bus stop locations go as follows: Bryce Lawn Drive stop (Fraternity Row #1, Publix, The Strip, New Hall, and Friedman Hall), Library stop (Gorgus and Rodgers Library), Lakeside stop (Lakeside, Ridgecrest, Rose, Riverside, The Highlands, Palmer, Paty, and Blount Hall), 4th Street/ 12th Avenue stop (Fraternity Row #2, Bryant dorms, Bryce lawn), Tutwiler stop (Tutwiler hall, New hall, Blunt hall, and all sorority houses), and Burke stop (Burke hall and Parham hall). “James Fowler, SGA vice president of external affairs, said the research helped him and his team figure out which locations were in high demand and which days the most calls came in to 348-RIDE” (Shelton). Like CrimsonRide, you can log onto http://ua.transloc.com/ to track 348-RIDE Express buses from the convenience of your computer or cell phone.

No matter what your reasons are for using 348-RIDE, whether it is because you don’t have a car or are unable to drive it, the university is always willing to serve you to help maintain your busy schedule, and most importantly your safety. The next time you and your friends are looking for a safe ride to a party, or if you simply just need a ride to the library, don’t hesitate to walk towards one of the nearest stops or dial 348-RIDE.

Works Cited
"348-RIDE (7433)." Auxiliary Services. (2007). The University of Alabama, Web. 18 Sep 2009. .
"348-RIDE Express." Student Government Association. (2007). The University of Alabama, Web. 18 Sep 2009. .
Shelton, Lindsey. "SGA to launch 348-RIDE Express." Crimson White (2009): n. pag. Web. 18 Sep 2009. .