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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

All content by Mark Hammontree

Ode to the Capstone

Mark Hammontree May 3, 2016

If you drive into Tuscaloosa and look,You’ll come across a house made of Windows.It’s quite a large house, and beautiful, look;Every last bit of it’s covered in Windows.There have to be thousands,...

Bending the arc

Bending the arc

Leigh Terry May 3, 2016

My first memory of senior columns is a feeling of anger at the dishonesty I saw in several of them. As a freshman, many of the seniors I admired wrote about how they wish they had partied more, spent less...

A proudly independent Greek

Leigh Terry March 28, 2016

I have hundreds of sisters on this campus right now, but I have thousands more if you count every woman of my chapter who has come before me, thousands more if you count every woman who has pledged herself...

Hope in the face of an Easter explosion

Mark Hammontree March 27, 2016

Sunday, as I got myself ready for church with my family, families in Lahore, Pakistan, wept and grieved after an explosion shattered the peace in a local park and took at least 60 lives.I read the headlines...

Opposing Views: Campus Concealed Carry

Opposing Views: Campus Concealed Carry

Leigh Terry February 4, 2016

In response to the accelerating rate of mass shootings, particularly on college campuses, State Representative Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) has proposed a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit...

RAISE Act: the wrong fix for the right problems

Mark Hammontree February 2, 2016

A great deal is wrong with Alabama’s public education system. Among the many problems are an inequitable and insufficient funding structure, a lack of flexibility and control at the local level and a...

Opposing Views: Journalism/Telecommunications and Film merger

Leigh Terry November 23, 2015

The College of Communications and Information Sciences has recently announced the merger of two of its majors: journalism and telecommunication and film. This announcement has evoked a strong reaction...

We need to look critically at how we respond to terrorist attacks

We need to look critically at how we respond to terrorist attacks

Mark Hammontree November 16, 2015

When just a small child watching news about tragedies, the man we all knew as Mr. Rogers was famously told by his mother to “look for the helpers.” Now, it has become a common refrain in our responses...

Campus politicians: grow up

Leigh Terry November 2, 2015

This past week has been a return to my roots – not my hometown, but my roots in caring about campus politics. The revelations, real outrage, faux outrage and intervening apathy has brought me back to...

Of the pumpkins of these recurring

Mark Hammontree October 28, 2015

I looked up Saturday and realized Halloween was but a week away, and I still haven’t found myself a costume. Then I realized there’s only two home games left in my last football season as a student,...

It has everything to do with race

Mark Hammontree October 12, 2015

If you’ve spent enough time on Facebook or have ever read comments on any news article or opinion piece about poverty, education, police violence, food insecurity or political corruption, you’re probably...

Realistic view on guns necessary for actual progress

Mark Hammontree October 5, 2015

You may have missed it – I know some of my friends did – but there was another school shooting late last week. This time the shooting was at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Nine people...

Opposing Views: Government subsidization of higher education

Leigh Terry October 1, 2015

The issue of the government's proper role in higher education has been a part of the presidential campaign platforms of candidates on both sides of the aisle, from Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio to Hillary...

Wilder deserves support from Tuscaloosa and UA

Wilder deserves support from Tuscaloosa and UA

Mark Hammontree September 28, 2015

Deontay Wilder may just be Alabama’s proudest son. The world heavyweight titleholder defended his WBC belt for the second time in Birmingham, and both before and after this fight, as he has with every...

For the love of language

Leigh Terry September 24, 2015

Laugh at me if you will, but today I am writing a column about writing.For as long as I can remember, I have adored the use of language: reading it, writing it and conversing in it. I have reveled in books...

This column is not about Saturday

Mark Hammontree September 21, 2015

Something terrible happened Saturday, but I’m not going to let myself think about it. Instead I’m going to think about happy things.For example, on Sunday, I drove up to Birmingham to watch the U.S....

Opposing Views: Should “Dixieland Delight” be played in Bryant-Denny?

Leigh Terry September 10, 2015

Tonight, the University of Alabama Student Government Association Senate will hold a meeting to debate whether they should support the song “Dixieland Delight” playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Upon...

Shoot, write, rinse, repeat

Mark Hammontree August 31, 2015

While college football fans around the country salivate in anticipation of the 2015 season, families across the country mourn the loss of loved ones as a result of a gunfire.You probably have heard by...

Opposing Views: Is feminism for everyone?

Leigh Terry August 31, 2015

Last Friday, the University of Alabama Feminist Caucus (UAFC) held a rally titled “Celebrating Women.” Afterward, one of its attendees, anti-abortion proponent Ruth Bishop, posed this question to our...

Trump is dangerous, even if he can’t win

Mark Hammontree August 24, 2015

Around 30,000 people showed up to Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium Friday night to hear His Holiness Donald Trump, Bishop of America, Vicar of Jesus Christ preach his gospel of 
American exceptionalism.Certainly,...

Gamma Phi Beta fraud serves as cautionary tale

Leigh Terry July 15, 2015

This week my heart goes out to the women of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. To be defrauded of $400,000 of the money you have worked hard to raise for your chapter house by an alumna you trusted is a truly saddening...

Flag history has more than one side

Mark Hammontree July 7, 2015

Two weeks have passed since Governor Bentley had the Confederate flags removed from the Alabama Capitol grounds, and still the debate over the flag’s meaning and use rages on.The governor’s removal...

Opposing Views: SCOTUS decision sparks marital debate

Opposing Views: SCOTUS decision sparks marital debate

Leigh Terry July 1, 2015

Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 opinion that same-sex couples cannot be denied marriage licenses anywhere in the United States and that each state is required to recognize the marriages of...

US Supreme Court's ACA ruling shows conservatism

US Supreme Court's ACA ruling shows conservatism

Leigh Terry July 1, 2015

For centuries politicians, pundits and common people alike have decried (often disingenuously) the rulings of so-called activist judges. They have oversimplified the role of the judiciary by implying that...

Murky history of building namesakes needs to be discussed openly

Murky history of building namesakes needs to be discussed openly

Leigh Terry June 17, 2015

At The University of Alabama, we live in the shadow of many complicated men. Former Alabama Governors David Bibb Graves and Braxton Bragg Comer as well as Dr. Josiah Nott and Sen. John Tyler Morgan were...

Lottery only serves to benefit rich

Mark Hammontree May 27, 2015

Alabama needs money. A whole lot of money. As the fiscal due date on Alabama’s bills approaches, the state finds itself well over $260 million dollars short of the funds necessary to keep our budget...

Rolling Stone failure must not stop activism

Leigh Terry April 7, 2015

Rolling Stone was careless. It was careless with its own reputation. It was careless with the reputation of its source. It was careless with the stories, struggles and experiences of thousands of assault...

Students have a duty to engage in healthy debate, not police speech

Leigh Terry April 6, 2015

Colleges are the intellectual hubs of America. College students have elected presidents, trained for the Civil Rights Movement and spawned the anti-Vietnam War movement, while their professors pushed at...

College friendships should be treasured

Mark Hammontree April 6, 2015

We are now less than a month away from the end of the spring semester – just four weeks away from the end of exams, and for seniors, graduation. Thankfully, I’m just a junior, still holding on to another...

Saban was right to give Jonathan Taylor a 2nd chance to play football

Mark Hammontree March 29, 2015

Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor was dismissed from the football team Sunday afternoon after he was arrested Saturday night on domestic violence charges. If Taylor’s name sounds familiar, it’s...

Does safer campus equal better campus?

Mark Hammontree March 24, 2015

A couple weeks ago, I heard someone describe a class she had just come from as “retarded.” I cringed a little, and there was an uncomfortable silence in the room as everyone tried to ignore the comment.I...

In wake of Selma, embrace equality

Leigh Terry March 10, 2015

The 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday was commemorated with much fanfare in Selma, Alabama, this past weekend. The coverage of this event focused on unity, bravery and understanding rather than on the...

The University should make it easier for student voices to be heard

Mark Hammontree February 22, 2015

Since this is a special issue of the paper, this column is supposed to be about the status of students’ freedom of speech here on The University of Alabama’s campus. Well, I guess it’s supposed to...

Grounds use systems have improved, but lack of trust still pervades

Leigh Terry February 22, 2015

During my time here, I have seen The University of Alabama’s free speech policies from every angle: as a marcher in the unapproved “Final Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,” as an officer in Students...

Southern women face prejudice in job market, benefit from chivalry

Leigh Terry February 17, 2015

Southern hospitality and the village-protection mindset make the South the best place in the country to be a woman. Strictly stratified gender norms make the South the worst place in the country to be...

Progress comes slowly in Alabama

Mark Hammontree February 16, 2015

A week ago, a group of Alabamians long oppressed were finally extended the right to marry legally, allowing hundreds of couples to affirm for themselves those basic protections and liberties that other...

Fight not over despite progression

Leigh Terry February 5, 2015

On Feb. 9, Alabama will become the 37th state in the nation to issue same-sex marriage licenses. I am happily shocked; that’s 12 to 13 places higher than I predicted it would be on that list. Of course,...

Talk about race or perpetuate problem

Mark Hammontree February 1, 2015

Race is only an issue if you make it an issue. Who said anything about race? You’re the one bringing black and white into the picture. Why does everything have to be about race? Race shouldn’t even...

America deserves more diverse Oscars

Leigh Terry January 20, 2015

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has spoken and there is not a single good movie about women or people of color. According to the Academy’s all-knowing authority, women did not star in...

Demand more from one another by asking questions in all facets of life

Mark Hammontree January 11, 2015

Why do so many people begin their essays and papers by asking a question? It is a tired, overused construction and relatively uncreative as far as opening sentences go. It could be the memory of a ninth...

This year, resolve to take part in progress while recognizing diversity

Mark Hammontree January 7, 2015

About this time every year, gym owners seem unable to stop smiling as they drink their morning coffee. Pizza places probably see a slight drop in delivery orders. This is the time for resolutions, after...

Sorority letters should be shields against sexual assault, not targets

Leigh Terry January 6, 2015

According to a 2013 study done at Oklahoma State University, sorority women are 74 percent more likely to experience rape than non-Greek women. Some academicians have suggested this is due to their higher...

Decision to cut UAB football affects many

Leigh Terry December 2, 2014

The decision to end UAB football is about more than sports. It is about more than recruiting wars or a stadium. It is certainly about more than old grudges. This decision is also about employment, education...

Don't be afraid to share your opinions

Mark Hammontree November 30, 2014

In multiple instances in the past, I’ve said things that have gotten me into a little trouble. I’ve made insensitive jokes without thinking about the perspectives of people around me. I’ve made assumptions...

Ignoring school shootings, violence will not prevent them

Mark Hammontree November 23, 2014

Florida State University fans celebrated another close win for the Seminole football team Saturday night. From the outside, it seemed just like any other game day in Tallahassee this season, complete...

Campus needs better sanctions

Leigh Terry November 18, 2014

The University announced two weeks ago that our campus would be smoke-free starting in 2015. This ban will apply to all indoor or outdoor spaces on university grounds. However, The University of Alabama...

Football aside, Mississippi, Alabama still just fighting not to be last

Mark Hammontree November 16, 2014

As the final seconds ticked off in Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday night, Alabama fans cheered and yelled and let out a collective sigh of relief. The Crimson Tide’s 25-20 win over the Mississippi State...

Don't be like Auburn, don't boo football players when they are injured

Mark Hammontree November 9, 2014

As an Alabama fan and a University of Alabama student, it’s not hard for me to hate pretty much everything about Auburn football. I never have to look very far to find something that the Tigers’ players,...

Being stalked can negatively impact recipients physically, emotionally

Leigh Terry November 4, 2014

On my way to my fall break destination last week, I experienced my second instance of stalking in my life. I was driving south on a rural stretch of I-65 when an old, muddy pick-up truck pulled parallel...

Your vote is important and you should stay informed on issues, people

Mark Hammontree November 2, 2014

There’s a little moment in the sixth episode of season four of “The West Wing” that always stands out to me come campaign season. The episode debuts Joshua Malina’s character, Will Bailey, as an...

Stay responsible over Fall Break

Leigh Terry October 28, 2014

Despite what the 80-degree temperatures may tell you, fall is here and with it, fall break. Fall break is a wonderful time to go home and enjoy the comfort and relaxation of family time or to set out...

When the going gets tough, find a fluffy kitten

Mark Hammontree October 26, 2014

On this campus, in this state and in this world, there is no shortage of depressing realities. Hunger, abuse, genocide, disease, discrimination, rape – the list of issues we need to address and combat...

Alabama politicians: You’re drunk, go home

Leigh Terry October 22, 2014

I have to admit, I laughed when I saw the news Monday that state Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard had been indicted on 23 class B felony counts. Most of those charges revolved around questions of how...

The University must acknowledge its own history, good and bad

Mark Hammontree October 19, 2014

The University of Alabama, like the state and region it’s located in, has a history almost as complex, confusing and, at many points, upsetting as the state’s constitution. Only the naïve would think...

Civil War state pride should focus on sacrifices

Leigh Terry October 14, 2014

“Don’t blame me, I voted for Jeff Davis,” is a bumper sticker that can occasionally be seen around campus. This and other Confederate States of America memorabilia like the stars and bars flag are...

Taking back our Southern identity for good, we dare defend our rights

Mark Hammontree October 12, 2014

Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires played an early afternoon set at the Cask and Drum Festival in Birmingham Saturday. If you’ve never heard of the Birmingham native Bains and his band, before you go...

Advisers need better career training, knowledge

Leigh Terry October 7, 2014

I have a confession: I am “that girl” when it comes to advising. That girl who has had her DegreeWorks planned for graduation since freshman year. I book my advising appointment in the first weeks...

Football is more than just a game because of the size of its fanbase

Mark Hammontree October 5, 2014

There’s something undeniably crazy about college football fans. Spending an entire Saturday in the fall doing nothing but watching football or talking about football or eating cookies shaped like footballs...

Assault victims should not be blamed

Leigh Terry September 30, 2014

Women’s issues, particularly those involving personal safety, have been at the forefront of the national discourse for months now. Because of this, I was surprised to open my Crimson White last Thursday...

Yearbooks are not relevant in college

Mark Hammontree September 28, 2014

Yearbook signing day may have been one of the best days of the year in high school and especially in junior high. For an entire day, and usually a day or two after that, the whole school would seemingly...

Rapid housing development can come with dangerous consequences

Mark Hammontree September 21, 2014

On Friday I donned my pirate costume I debuted last Halloween and executed a conquest of Krispy Kreme. The man behind the counter asked if I cared if my free dozen of donuts were hot. “Aye, matey, it’d...

NFL subsidies come with high moral price

Leigh Terry September 16, 2014

The National Football League has been in the headlines for several weeks because of controversies that have arisen far away from the gridiron. Ray Rice’s domestic abuse conviction and Adrian Peterson’s...

The time for raising children by using corporal punishment has passed

Mark Hammontree September 14, 2014

Walk into the average sixth grade classroom in Alabama, ask for a show of hands of who has been spanked by their parents at least once, and chances are a good deal of hands will come up. While the practice...

Prioritizing size creates fallout

Leigh Terry September 9, 2014

My first Bid Day as a new member of my sorority was filled with excitement. I jumped out of bed knowing new sisters awaited me. Over the course of my freshman year, I eagerly learned their names and the...

Football games during the heat of the day have health consequences

Mark Hammontree September 7, 2014

My Snapchat thermometer read only 84 degrees halfway into the second quarter, but I can only assume the actual temperature in the stands Saturday morning was closer to the 90s. I knew it would be pretty...

Thank you, University police department

Leigh Terry September 2, 2014

Tanks rolling down University Boulevard. Men with automatic weapons and Kevlar vests enforcing curfew outside of Presidential Village. Tear gas raining down on students peaceably gathered on the Quad. All...

How to approach Get On Board Day

Leigh Terry August 26, 2014

   The Get On Board Day tables, of course. This year there will likely be close to 400 student organizations, intramural sports teams, community vendors, and local civic and religious groups vying...

Be an ally, not an obstacle

Mark Hammontree August 24, 2014

In the wake of the killing of Michael Brown, protests and vigils have spread from the embroiled town of Ferguson, Missouri, throughout the country. Black people and white people are standing up together...

Degrees don’t get college grads jobs, opportunities do

Leigh Terry August 20, 2014

Freshmen, welcome to campus. I am one of the many people who will attempt to give you advice during your college career. I hope you receive my message before you stop listening. My counsel is for those...

Study abroad forces us to learn, grow as people and students

Mark Hammontree July 29, 2014

What happens when we arrive at a new place? What happens each time we meet a stranger in their environment rather than our own? What do we gain, and how do we change whenever familiar scenery is exchanged...

Entitlement is an asset for millennials, not a curse

Leigh Terry July 29, 2014

There is rarely an article written about the millennial generation that fails to mention that we have a strong sense of entitlement. It has become conventional wisdom that every member of our generation...

From Alabama to Great Britain, even a new river seems familiar

Mark Hammontree July 15, 2014

There’s something special about rivers. I don’t know what it is exactly. It may be the sounds: quiet when the water flows wide and slow; or loud when it tightens up to crash over the rocks it meets...

If you want high-speed rail, ride it

Leigh Terry July 15, 2014

What two things do our nation’s capital and the capital of the European Union – Brussels, Belgium – have in common?The answer is: my presence over the last two summers and thriving, multi-faceted...

News more entertainment than information

Leigh Terry July 1, 2014

If you follow the news, you have probably noticed that it is increasingly becoming less of an informational medium and more of an outlet for entertainment. As consumers of information, we got tired of...

You don't have to be a diehard fan to enjoy the World Cup

Mark Hammontree July 1, 2014

American football is better than soccer. Or at least that’s what I think, and this is my column. That being said, this World Cup has been one of the more exciting sporting events I’ve ever kept up...

Nondiscrimination should include sexuality

Leigh Terry June 17, 2014

Bowdoin College recently made headlines for severing official ties with one of its student organizations, the Bowdoin Christian Fellowship, over its advisors’ unwillingness to sign a campus-wide nondiscrimination...

University administration should be transparent about expenses

Mark Hammontree June 17, 2014

You may have missed it, but once again the Alabama System board of trustees voted to raise tuition and fees at the system’s universities. After the latest in these regular tuition increases, the two-semester...

Law student remembered for kindness, selflessness

Mark Hammontree April 17, 2014

When Dominic DeSimone was not in class at the University of Alabama Law School, he could be found working out at the Rec or perhaps helping a friend fix up a failing car. Dominic’s friends and family,...

UA Forensics Council brings home tournament victories

Mark Hammontree April 14, 2014

Last week, the members of the Alabama Forensics Council returned home from a week-long trip to Arizona with another top 10 finish at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament....

New housing trend should help students

Leigh Terry April 8, 2014

The new motto of Tuscaloosa seems to be “bigger is better.” This translates to bigger dorms, bigger houses, bigger apartment complexes,and bigger rents. Much bigger rents. For your 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom...

SPJ, USA Today promote reading

Mark Hammontree April 7, 2014

In order to promote the College Readership service and to encourage students to read newspapers, The University of Alabama’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will partner with USA Today...

NOH8 campaign to visit UA, hold photoshoot

Mark Hammontree April 2, 2014

Three years after the NOH8 campaign visited the University of Alabama campus, the pro-equality organization will visit Tuscaloosa once again to take and produce photos for anyone who would like to participate...

AIMS connects students with major companies

AIMS connects students with major companies

Mark Hammontree April 1, 2014

Students interested in pursuing a career in information sciences and information management can develop their skills and gain exposure to major companies through the Alabama Information Management Society....

SGA Senate votes to end resolution supporting Greek system integration

Mark Hammontree March 20, 2014

At the final session of the 2013-14 SGA Senate, a proposed resolution in support for full integration of the University of Alabama Greek system was sent to committee instead of receiving a vote. As a result,...

Healthy vending means more than water

Leigh Terry March 17, 2014

The University of Alabama and Bama Dining, in particular, have made great strides over the last few years toward expanding healthy eating options on campus. Dining halls now feature calorie counts prominently...

Bloom elected SGA president

Bloom elected SGA president

Mark Hammontree March 11, 2014

Nearly an hour after polls closed Tuesday night, Hamilton Bloom sat in a side room of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house awaiting a phone call from Kelli Knox-Hall, faculty advisor and convener of...

Students ask public to submit photos for digital media project

Mark Hammontree February 26, 2014

Residents throughout the city of Tuscaloosa will be able to take part in an online media project on Friday as part of Dateline Alabama’s T-Town 24. “T-Town 24 is supposed to be capturing the life...

SGA would see stronger elections with an in-class voting reminder

Leigh Terry February 20, 2014

Spring is on its way, complete with “norts,” spring break planning, midterms and the threat of severe weather. Oh, and SGA elections. Did the 83 percent of campus who did not vote last year forget...

Task force presents draft of plan

Mark Hammontree February 19, 2014

The Faculty Senate Task Force for Excellence in Equity, Inclusion and Citizenship presented an initial draft report to the full Faculty Senate at their meeting Tuesday. Proposals in the report dealt with...

Ferguson Center director apologizes to student group over display controversy

Mark Hammontree February 17, 2014

Updated on Feb. 18 at 7:45 p.m. with comments from Cathy Andreen, director of media relations. The director of the Ferguson Center issued an apology through email Monday afternoon to Bama Students for...

Anti-abortion activist visits campus in response to display removal

Mark Hammontree February 16, 2014

A widely known free speech and anti-abortion advocate will be speaking at the Bama Students for Life meeting Wednesday night, as part of the group’s response to the removal of their anti-abortion poster...

UA mourns loss of student after fatal car accident

Mark Hammontree February 6, 2014

Juston Martin will always be remembered for the ever-present smile he shined at anyone and everyone he met. Martin passed away the morning of Saturday, Feb. 2, from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle...

Snow accumulation forces University to cancel classes

Snow accumulation forces University to cancel classes

Mark Hammontree January 28, 2014

UPDATED: "Snow, ice shut down Alabama" Although snow was falling on campus at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley had declared a state of emergency at 6 a.m., The University of Alabama...

University remembers Nagy El-Kaddah

University remembers Nagy El-Kaddah

Mark Hammontree January 27, 2014

Longtime University of Alabama professor Nagy El-Kaddah passed away Jan. 20, 2014. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Attiat, and his two children, Ahmed and Dahlia. “Dr. El-Kaddah will be truly...

UPDATED: No students injured in apartment fire near strip

UPDATED: No students injured in apartment fire near strip

Mark Hammontree January 24, 2014

Rebecca Dodge heard the fire before she ever saw it. “Before I even smelled any smoke or anything, I just heard this crackling outside my window,” Dodge said. “Then I heard my neighbors yelling...

Greek diversity: Why not socioeconomic too?

Leigh Terry January 22, 2014

One of the reasons I chose the Capstone over other institutions of higher learning was my awareness and appreciation of the socioeconomic variety composed in its student body. I came to Tuscaloosa from...

Students vote instructor 'Professor of the Year'

Students vote instructor ‘Professor of the Year’

Mark Hammontree January 16, 2014

Twenty years after Chris Roberts graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in journalism, he returned to his alma mater to teach in the familiar lecture halls and classrooms of Reese Phifer...

Fraternity puts on clothing drive in ‘very cold winter’

Mark Hammontree January 9, 2014

With temperatures dropping, students at The University of Alabama with spare winter clothing can donate their apparel to those in need through Phi Beta Sigma’s winter coat drive. “This clothing drive...

UA missions group returns to Nicaragua

Mark Hammontree January 8, 2014

By Mark Hammontree | News Editor ^ Less than a week before Christmas, 22 University of Alabama students said goodbye to the small Nicaraguan village of Trapichito. For some students, it was the last...

Exhibit captures history of slavery at University

Exhibit captures history of slavery at University

Mark Hammontree January 8, 2014

Benjamin Flax has been fascinated with the South’s complex history with slavery, civil rights and the black experience since he was 10 years old, and now the senior majoring in religious studies and...