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Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Alex Jobin, Staff Reporter

All content by Alex Jobin
Opinion | It’s time to fully legalize marijuana in Alabama

Opinion | It’s time to fully legalize marijuana in Alabama

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist April 21, 2024

At this point, the arguments in favor of legalizing marijuana have been accepted by the vast majority of Americans. A 2023 poll found that 70% of Americans are in favor of legalization, including a slight...

Opinion | Union-busting won’t stop Alabama’s autoworkers from organizing

Opinion | Union-busting won’t stop Alabama’s autoworkers from organizing

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist April 3, 2024

Since January, the United Auto Workers union has been actively organizing Alabama’s autoworkers to secure better wages, working conditions, and negotiating rights. Perhaps most prominent among these...

Opinion | Stop exploiting student-athletes. Let them unionize

Opinion | Stop exploiting student-athletes. Let them unionize

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist March 27, 2024

Earlier this month, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team made history by becoming the first college sports team to unionize, voting to join the Service Employees International Union Local 560. With the...

Opinion | Want to know the facts? Don’t listen to Katie Britt

Opinion | Want to know the facts? Don’t listen to Katie Britt

Alex Jobin and Chance Phillips March 14, 2024

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, a former UA SGA president, was entrusted with giving the Republican response to President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address. And on March 7, she betrayed that trust. Britt...

Opinion | Universities are meant for growing minds, not harvesting them

Opinion | Universities are meant for growing minds, not harvesting them

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 25, 2024

To say that Alabama’s prison system is notorious would be quite an understatement. From deadly conditions, to wrongfully convicted inmates, to botched and experimental executions, the state's prisons...

Opinion | Do away with standardized testing

Opinion | Do away with standardized testing

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 11, 2024

U.S. colleges and universities should stop requiring standardized testing in admissions, placement and merit-scholarship decisions in order to receive federal funds. As noted by Jon Boeckenstedt, the...

Workers from ZF Chassis Systems picket on Oct. 4 across the street from the plant where they work.

Opinion | Don’t be fooled. Unions are saving American labor

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 4, 2024

2023 was one of the most important years for the labor movement in recent memory. From Amazon to Starbucks to SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America, workers across the country — and the world —...

Opinion | Infrastructure and salaries reveal the University’s uneven priorities

Opinion | Infrastructure and salaries reveal the University’s uneven priorities

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist January 17, 2024

It does not take long to notice the imbalance that exists between the different colleges on the University’s campus. Walk from the Shelby Quad to B.B. Comer, or from ten Hoor to the neighboring Hewson...

Opinion | Kevin Abstract’s ‘Blanket’ is one of the year’s best albums

Opinion | Kevin Abstract’s ‘Blanket’ is one of the year’s best albums

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 26, 2023

Following the breakup of alternative “boy band” Brockhampton — a prolific collective of singers, rappers, producers and various other creatives that gained prominence following 2017’s “Saturation”...

Opinion | Drake could make genuine art. He won’t

Opinion | Drake could make genuine art. He won’t

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 5, 2023

It has been nearly a month since ubiquitous megastar Drake released his eighth studio album, “For All the Dogs” — a star-studded affair with features from the likes of Bad Bunny, J. Cole and SZA....

Alabama football players walk out to the field before a game.

Opinion | The Crimson Tide deserves a rebrand

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 15, 2023

There can certainly be good qualities about tradition. Strong traditions can foster strong cultures, and strong cultures are what tie individuals together into something greater than the sum of its parts. Both...

SGA sign outside of its office located in the Student Center.

Opinion | AMP students interested in SGA deserve more flexibility

Chance Phillips and Alex Jobin October 1, 2023

There are two universities at the Capstone. One provides undergraduate students with the higher education needed in today’s professional world, while the other serves graduate students seeking advanced...

Opinion | Is an accelerated master’s degree worth it?

Opinion | Is an accelerated master’s degree worth it?

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 20, 2023

In an increasingly competitive job market, more and more students are pursuing master’s degrees to set themselves apart. According to Forbes, obtaining your master’s has been shown to increase employment...

Opinion | A second minority district is a necessity to Alabama

Opinion | A second minority district is a necessity to Alabama

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 6, 2023

Gerrymandering, the practice of drawing voting districts in order to manipulate election outcomes, has plagued American democracy since this country’s infancy and continues to rear its ugly head to this...

Opinion | Keeping a schedule makes college life easier

Opinion | Keeping a schedule makes college life easier

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist August 23, 2023

Back in the 1700s, there was a strange man who used to plan his day out to the minute. His name was Benjamin Franklin. Franklin would follow his schedule to a tee, blocking out time for work, meals,...

The Supreme Court building located in Washington D.C.

Opinion | The Supreme Court stays rich while we stay in debt

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist July 5, 2023

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden Administration’s federal student loan debt forgiveness initiative was unconstitutional in a 6-3 partisan decision with a majority opinion authored...

Break the status quo at UA

Break the status quo at UA

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist May 29, 2023

As a somewhat insular community, The University of Alabama has some unspoken norms. We are a diverse school with students from all over the country, and even from across the globe, but when you set foot...

CW file

Opinion | Blunt brilliance in modern rap

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist May 18, 2023

I grew up in a predominantly white suburb in New Hampshire — needless to say, my adolescent finger was not exactly on the pulse of rap and hip-hop.   My first introduction to the genre of...

"Opinions" in quotation marks

Opinion | Advising can (and should) be improved

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist April 2, 2023

It is once again that time when a dark scary cloud descends upon campus: advising season. Students scramble to compile their course schedule for the upcoming semester while some faculty and staff try to...

Opinion | Stop worshiping billionaires

Opinion | Stop worshiping billionaires

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist March 1, 2023

As Americans, we pride ourselves on the separation of powers and checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution. We boast that no single individual can possess an excess of political power within the...

Derrick Barnes at BookExpo Convention in 2019.

Opinion | Baseless fears of critical race theory lead to real discrimination

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 12, 2023

Hoover City public schools planned on honoring Black History Month this February by inviting award-winning Black author Derrick Barnes to visit three of their elementary schools. But come January, the...

Opinion | The filibuster stands in the way of justice and democracy

Opinion | The filibuster stands in the way of justice and democracy

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 1, 2023

Since 2020, the U.S. Senate has narrowly favored the Democratic Party, which effectively holds a 51-50 majority by way of independents who caucus with Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking...

Kanye West performing at a Washington, D.C. show in 2013.

Opinion | How should we react when our favorite art is tainted?

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist January 11, 2023

Kanye West (who now asks to be referred to as “Ye” but by no means deserves the pleasantry) is the most recent, and perhaps most potent, example of why fame and wealth do not equate to morality.  The...

Opinion | UA needs more 'good trouble'

Opinion | UA needs more ‘good trouble’

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 6, 2022

Thursday, Oct. 27, saw a rousing display of collective action as students from a multitude of organizations congregated on the Quad to protest transphobe Matt Walsh’s visit to campus. By itself, this...

"Opinions" in quotation marks

Opinion | Anyone should be able to create a student organization

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 9, 2022

Joining a student organization may be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have at The University of Alabama. Clubs and organizations provide opportunities to connect with others, pursue extracurricular...

Opinion | UA Owes More to Students and Our Organizations

Opinion | UA Owes More to Students and Our Organizations

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 7, 2022

In October 2021, the University of Alabama Equestrian Club created a GoFundMe campaign to stay afloat after being demoted from a varsity sport to a club sport in March 2020 — despite 22,000 petition...

Parking problems: Improving campus accessibility for commuting students

Parking problems: Improving campus accessibility for commuting students

Victor Hagan and Alex Jobin August 24, 2022

Some things are a constant at The University of Alabama. Alabama football head coach Nick Saban will always lead a dominant team, students will always flood Gorgas Library during finals week and campus...

Opinion | Banning Abortion is About Power, Not Life

Opinion | Banning Abortion is About Power, Not Life

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist July 6, 2022

The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States is catastrophic, if unsurprising. In early May, an original draft opinion was leaked suggesting that abortion rights were...

"Opinions" in quotation marks

Opinion | It’s Time to Take on Alabama’s Draconian Anti-Trans Laws

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist June 1, 2022

In May, Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill into law which “makes it a felony to provide gender-affirming medical treatment to transgender youth” in Alabama, according to NBC News. Currently, the law bans...

Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | Stop checking boxes

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist April 6, 2022
Higher education is replete with little boxes pleading to be checked off: credit hours to be attained, clubs to be joined, resumes to be built and of course, most importantly, a degree to be earned.
Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | Dismissing complaints of corruption doesn’t make it go away

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist March 27, 2022
The Student Government Association Elections Board recently dismissed a formal complaint of sororities incentivizing voting. This dismissal ignores overwhelming evidence that reveals that incentivizing is pervasive.
Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | SGA elections disappoint yet again

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist March 9, 2022
Yet again, this year’s elections were dominated by representatives of the Machine rather than representatives of campus.
Opinions. The Crimson White.

The Olympics reveals inequalities in sports

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist February 13, 2022
The 2022 Winter Olympic Games provides a stage for the best athletes from around the world to showcase their talents and often fosters a unique sense of pride in the nations and communities these athletes call home. 
An illustration of a campus building with a cardboard sign reading "TBD" covering the hall name.

Opinion | UA’s activism is performative

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist February 2, 2022
This recent movement to rename University buildings has not been the only reminder that the University still has a long way to go in terms of racial progress. 
Opinions. The Crimson White.

New semester, new opportunity

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist January 23, 2022
Although it might be easy to forget, the education available at The University of Alabama is not limited to our classrooms. 
Opinions. The Crimson White.

Another mask mandate was the best decision for campus

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist January 12, 2022
At this point, there is no good excuse for sitting idly by as the pandemic not only continues but thrives.
Opinion | Our Auburn rivalry fuels action outside the stadium

Opinion | Our Auburn rivalry fuels action outside the stadium

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 28, 2021

As we celebrate another victorious Iron Bowl, discussion around The University of Alabama’s undying rivalry with Auburn University is obviously buzzing. But no matter how much we love to hate Auburn,...

Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | Thanksgiving break is a time to destress

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 14, 2021
Thanksgiving break is fast approaching, and I urge you, University of Alabama students, to take full advantage of this brief respite before we head into the last leg of the fall semester. 
A photo of Garrett Walker and a dog.

Opinion | A tribute to Garrett Walker

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 10, 2021
The loss of Garrett Walker is an absolutely devastating tragedy. 
Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | The University of Alabama is fighting the infodemic

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist November 7, 2021
This Thursday, Nov. 11, the University will reinstate the Alabama Lectures on Life’s Evolution series of seminars, or ALLELE.
Opinion | COVID doesn’t end on Nov. 5

Opinion | COVID doesn’t end on Nov. 5

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 31, 2021

Beginning Nov. 5, all vaccinated individuals will no longer be required by the University to wear face coverings indoors. The only exceptions apply to “Crimson Ride buses and in clinical settings.” Up...

Opinions.

Opinion | Homecoming elections need a remodel

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 24, 2021
From campaign finance mishandlings to racially insensitive PR moves, this year’s homecoming queen competition was a debacle.
Opinions.

Opinion | The University should not give a platform to Charlie Kirk’s misinformation

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 17, 2021
Right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk is coming to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 3, but we must talk about it now, and the implications of Kirk’s event must be addressed.
SNaHP. Students for a National Health Program.

Opinion | UA must expand the reach of the Counseling Center

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 6, 2021
As we are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Week, we must acknowledge that college students are suffering from poor mental health in alarming numbers, and this issue is being inadequately addressed.
Opinion | Football games don’t have to be superspreader events

Opinion | Football games don’t have to be superspreader events

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist October 3, 2021
Imagine if last Saturday’s Ole Miss game leaves fans hospitalized and intubated. We should never allow such consequences from an Alabama football game.
Rama Jama's storefront.

Opinion | Students need to support local businesses

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 19, 2021
Now more than ever, the local businesses of Tuscaloosa need our help. 
Opinion | Never forget 9/11 or its disastrous consequences

Opinion | Never forget 9/11 or its disastrous consequences

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 15, 2021
Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Opinions. The Crimson White.

UA should embrace the mask mandate extension

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist September 12, 2021
At this point, saying “COVID-19 isn’t over yet” feels like beating a dead horse, but beating a dead horse is better than believing that horse dewormer will protect you from a virus that already has an FDA-approved vaccine.
Opinion | Hurricane Ida is not an isolated incident

Opinion | Hurricane Ida is not an isolated incident

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist September 1, 2021
Hurricane Ida just stormed its way through the Gulf Coast, leaving destruction in its wake.
Opinion | UA’s vaccine outreach in the Black Belt is a promising step 

Opinion | UA’s vaccine outreach in the Black Belt is a promising step 

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist August 29, 2021

Alabama currently has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the nation, with a mere 38% of Alabamians fully vaccinated. However, the numbers are even lower in some of the state's more vulnerable...

Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | Prioritize your mental health this semester

Alex Jobin, Staff Columnist August 22, 2021
Whether this is your first year at The University of Alabama, your last or somewhere in between, the beginning of a new semester is guaranteed to stir emotions.
Opinions. The Crimson White.

Opinion | COVID isn’t over. The University of Alabama needs to stop acting like it is.

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist August 4, 2021
As the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel started to shine, a new swell of cases and virus variants reminded us that we are not yet free from our pandemic nightmare. This reminder should ring especially loud for those who live in Alabama, the state with the lowest vaccination rate in the country at about 34%.
Virtual concerts are a bonus, not a substitute 

Virtual concerts are a bonus, not a substitute 

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist July 20, 2021

Even in the age of streaming and digital content, concerts are cornerstones of the music industry. But, as was the case with many things during the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessity of the traditional concert...

Opinions.

Opinion | UA should embrace critical race theory

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist June 23, 2021
Contrary to the talking points and fearmongering of some conservative lawmakers, critical race theory is not focused on attacking white people for their whiteness. Instead, it exposes the disenfranchisement and oppression of people of color by American systems that are based in the nation’s indubitably racist past.
Opinion | The Death Penalty: What's the real cost?

Opinion | The Death Penalty: What’s the real cost?

Alex Jobin, Contributing Writer March 24, 2021

Brandon Bernard died on a Thursday.  On Dec. 10, 2020, in Terre Haute, Indiana, an employee of the federal government gave Bernard a lethal injection that ended his life. He was 40 years old. About...

Opinion | Why police brutality violates the Constitution

Opinion | Why police brutality violates the Constitution

Alex Jobin, Contributing Writer March 24, 2021

The eighth amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Its most frequently cited clause...

Courtesy of Interscope Records.

Review | This 2020 rap album will age like fine wine

Alex Jobin, Contributing Columnist March 10, 2021
Music recommendation alert! One opinions columnist is here to say that there's one album you may have missed in 2020, and it only gets better with every listen.