In recent years, Jacksonville University has seen more W’s in the books than it has for a long time. In fact, JU has won 37 conference titles during the past seven years, which is more than any other school in Florida.

A strong coaching staff and hardworking athletes have helped to repeatedly place Dolphins in the winner’s circle. However, the man behind it all was Athletic Director Alan Verlander. For the seven years under his leadership, JU has witnessed an incredible transformation in the athletic department; the Dolphins have won seven times the number of conference titles than they did in the seven years before Verlander showed up.

After much hard work and success, Verlander’s strides at JU were not overlooked; they caught the eye of Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. A couple weeks ago, Brown offered Verlander the lucrative position of Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment for the city of Jacksonville, which he readily accepted.

“He did a great job as the AD here, bringing our sports programs to the successful point that we’re at,” said JU baseball player Zac Houck. “I’m excited to see what he does in the future.”

The city is counting on Verlander to duplicate his accomplishments at JU on a larger scale, spurring economic growth and boosting tourism in Jacksonville. Though sad to see him leave, JU President Kerry Romesburg expects nothing less than greatness from Verlander.

“When we hired Alan seven years ago, he brought a dynamic vision and leadership to our athletic department, transforming our programs and rebuilding the tradition of success that has defined JU athletics,” said JU President Kerry Romesburg. “I have no doubt this is going to pay off for Jacksonville.”

With his new title, Verlander will hold a significant position in Brown’s staff with the city. He will be responsible for bringing not only sporting events but also shows and concerts to the Jacksonville area. Verlander’s new duties will begin when he is officially appointed to his new position in May.

“This is a difficult decision for me as I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time at JU,” said Verlander. “We have a tremendous group of coaches, staff and student-athletes who have been critical to our success, and I feel certain that success will continue. JU is a special place, and I know that there are even brighter days ahead for all of our programs. I will always be a Dolphin and hope to continue to help elevate JU Athletics, but now just in a different role.”

It’s bittersweet as the driving force behind the athletics department presses on toward bigger and better things, but with JU’s athletes accustomed to winning, there’s no stopping them. In the years to come, JU coaches and athletes alike expect to push on and continue forging the path to victory.

After all of the unexpected twists and turns that have occurred throughout the GOP primary, the race is finally sustaining a steady pace as it winds down to a well-ordered conclusion.

Initially, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) prevailed in the primaries and the polls reflected that the two of them would more than likely end up going head-to-head as the race came to a close. However, after several shifts during the primary, Gingrich fell behind as Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, (R)- Pennsylvania, took enormous leaps ahead of their opponents.

In recent months, Romney has taken a definite stance as the forerunner in this Republican presidential contest. His wide-spread support is made obvious in the numbers, which clearly favor Romney as the Republican nominee.

Romney is projected to triumph in all three of Tuesday’s primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Many believe Romney’s lead to be insurmountable and believe that the competitive part of the race within the party has already come to an end. With the Republican Party and its leaders falling in behind Romney, this seems to be the realistic outcome of the situation.

“I think the chances are overwhelming that he will be our nominee,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)-Kentucky on CNN. “It seems to me we’re in the final phases of wrapping up this nomination . . . and [turning] our attention to the fall campaign.”

However, Santorum, Romney’s chief contender, is not giving up so easily. On Sunday he vowed to plow ahead and remain in the race even if all three of Tuesday’s contests are counted as losses.

“We aren’t even in halftime, folks,” said Santorum during an interview on CNN. “Not even half the delegates have been selected in this race. Governor Romney is not halfway to the magic number and [when] we look at the calendar ahead, we feel very, very good about where we are going.”

Despite his confident spirit, Santorum is forced to acknowledge a crucial date on the calendar ahead: the primary in his home state of Pennsylvania. If this results in a loss, it will come as a great blow, and Santorum will be stripped of any solid grounds to make an argument for continuing the race.

At least for the three weeks until the Pennsylvania primary, Santorum has vowed to press on, but in noting “we have to win Pennsylvania,” a potential conclusion is in sight for his candidacy.

With almost half of the Republican primaries behind them, Romney and Santorum realize the importance of the upcoming contests. As of yet, Romney has 568 of the 1,144 delegates necessary to claim the Republican nomination in August. Santorum has 273 delegates and would need to pull ahead and win more than half of those remaining to become the party’s nominee.

It is now left to wonder how long Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R), will continue to stretch out their time in the race. With major losses in crucial states, there is no possibility that either of these candidates could bring in enough delegates to make it through a second round at the convention in Tampa, Fla.

After Tuesday’s voting takes place, the next primaries will be held on April 24 in Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. These upcoming contests will be very telling of whether or not Santorum has a shot at staying in the race and being a strong contender for the nomination.

Either way, a clear winner will emerge for the Republican Party, and they will soon have their nominee. Then, once again, the competition will heat up as the nominee makes strides to oust President Obama in the November election.

I Rise, I Rise

“I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed,” said public figure Oprah Winfrey. “Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge.”

Every year when Black History Month comes around, schools alter their curriculum, museums present special exhibitions and influential speakers increase their bravado for these festivities. Throughout February, the spotlight is honed in on African-American figures as their accomplishments and advances are celebrated nationwide.

In 1926, historian Carter Woodson founded Negro History Week. Woodson chose the second week of February for this occasion because it marked both President Abraham Lincoln’s and former slave Frederick Douglass’ birthdays.

This establishment prompted the creation of black history groups, piqued the interest of instructors and got the attention of progressive whites. The eagerness with which Negro History Week was met only continued to grow over the years as mayor after mayor began certifying it as an American holiday.

Exactly 50 years after the founding, Negro History Week was extended to Black History Month. Many were excited about this alteration and believed that it would bring more attention to the often neglected influence of blacks throughout the past.

However, the enthusiasm was not across the board. Voices began to rise up across the country with intentions of bringing an end to Black History Month, and the voices continue to speak out as the debate over it continues. Strangely, the voices come from some unlikely places.

Some minorities are opposing Black History Month on the basis that it is singling them out, which only produces more racial animosity. Others argue that it lets the educational system off the hook because with a whole month devoted to black history, there is little motivation for them to incorporate it into the year-round curriculum of American history classes.

In fact, an established month to celebrate black history is contrary to the purpose for which Woodson created the holiday in the first place. According to Woodson’s book, “History is a Weapon,” he created Negro History Week in the hopes that it would be a temporary fixture, simply a vessel, for black history to become fundamental to American history.

“We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history,” said Woodson. “What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

Actor Morgan Freeman has openly stated his opinions about Black History Month to the public, and he refuses to participate in any events that are linked with it. He believes that the only way to bring an end to racism is to stop talking about it.

“I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history,” said Freeman.

Of course, not everyone is a critic. The many advocates of Black History Month believe that it increases cultural diversity, promotes self-confidence and honors events that deserve to be honored.

There are strong emotions on both sides of the debate, each with a valid argument, and both sides are well represented throughout our own campus.

“I like Black History Month,” said freshman biology major Alexis Roberson. “It makes me feel proud of my culture and where I came from.”

The implementation of Black History Month has stirred up controversy from the start and it will no doubt continue to be a matter of great debate in the years to come, but no matter which side comes out on top, African-Americans will continue taking great strides forward. We can look back on the long road that’s been traveled with heads held high and spirits alive and laugh confidently at the distance that we’ve yet to go.

Maya Angelou stated her perspective beautifully and poignantly. “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise.” (Maya Angelou)