HAS OBAMA THROWN ISRAEL UNDER THE BUS? — SEE A10
FREE • Published Mondays and Thursdays
Omaha bound?
Day in the life Junior nursing major talks about being a UCF tour guide — SEE News, A2
UCF’s NCAA postseason fate will be decided Monday — SEE Sports, A8 Assault
ICE CREAM VENDORS GET
FROSTY
Police are hoping the threat of losing their permits will be enough to thaw the frosty relationship of two Pennsylvania ice cream truck drivers accused of trying to run each other off the road.The Herald-Standardof Uniontown,Pa.reports police told the rival vendors to chill out after a dispute.Authorities say the wife of one vendor told police the other man tried to run her husband off the road.
Accident
‘SUPER’ FENCE WEAKENED BY
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com • Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The Student Newspaper at UCF since 1968
Dental College fills the gap Board of Trustees votes in favor of college BRANDI BROXSON
of Medicine at Lake Nona. According to Zenaida Kotala of UCF News & UCF students will soon Info, the program and colhave a lot more to smile lege proposal must be about. reviewed by the Florida The Board of Trustees Board of Governors, which voted on Thursday to oversees the state universiapprove a newly proposed ty system before plans can program, Doctor of Dental move forward, later this Medicine, as well as the summer. College of Dental MediKotala says serious discine which would be locat- cussion and planning for ed right next to the College the college began in 2009.
To comment on this story: www.UCFNews.com
News Editor
If approved, the College of Dental Medicine would open in 2014, according to a promotional brochure provided by the College of Medicine. The initial class would consist of 60 students and would eventual-
PLEASE SEE COLLEGE ON A5
REBECCA STRANG / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
The College of Dental Medicine will be housed in a facility to be built adjacent to the College of Medicine at the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona.
The road to Rockefeller
KRYPTONITE
A car has taken out part of a fence paying tribute to Superman around the Cleveland home where two high school kids created the Man of Steel. The picket fence around the childhood home of Joe Shuster is decorated with large metal plates reprinting the first Superman story from a 1938 comic book.The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Tuesday night’s crash damaged seven of the 15 color plates.
Board approves PBS addition UCF keeps public station in Orlando CAMILLE THOMAS Staff Writer
Breaking news on your cell Get UCF news sent to your cell phone. Just text the keyword UCFNEWS to 44636. PHOTOS COURTESY ERIN GORDON
AROUND CAMPUS,A2
RECEPTION TO HONOR DR.LESLIE SUE LIEBERMAN A retirement reception in honor of Dr.Leslie Sue Lieberman,the founding director of UCF’s Women’s Research Center,will be held Tuesday,May 31,from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.,in University Tower.
LOCAL & STATE,A2
HURRICANE CENTER SEEKS FACEBOOK FANS OF STORM PREP Nobody would push the “like” button for a hurricane.But the National Hurricane Center hopes to get some Facebook fans for its storm advisories.
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS BID FAREWELL TO SPACE STATION The astronauts on NASA’s next-tolast shuttle flight floated out of the International Space Station on Sunday and then closed the hatch behind them after one final round of warm wishes and embraces.
INDEX Around Campus Weather Local & State Sports Opinion Classifieds Sudoku Crossword
2 2 2 8 10 11 11 11
TODAY’S WEATHER
ISOLATED T-STORMS
89º 72º HIGH LOW
UCF grad Erin Gordon’s environmentally-friendly designs were displayed at Rockefeller Center as a part of NBC’s “Green is Universal”initiative.
Photography graduate catches the eye of NBC CHRISTY PHILLIPS Contributing Writer
One phone book, a newspaper, 20 shopping bags, 15 paper grocery bags and three thrift-store dresses brought UCF student Erin Gordon to the attention of NBC. Gordon, having graduated only weeks ago with a degree in photography, never imagined a class assignment would end up in the NBC window display at the famous Rockefeller Center in New York City — but it did. Gordon explains that she made and photographed dresses for an assignment on being socially conscious for her Image, Culture and Society class. Her goal was to make something people would actually want to wear, yet be entirely “green” in the process. Gordon purchased the dresses she used as bases from a thrift
shop and revamped them in her unique way, making each one entirely recyclable. “It makes me feel accomplished and validated as an artist, and elated that I’m actually being taken seriously so young,” Gordon said. What caught NBC’s eye was not just the flirty styles and chic designs, but the fact that they fit with the company’s “Green is Universal” initiative. Tricia Conti with NBC explains that their initiative is to bring environmental perspective to everything the company does. Conti said that the theme for
PLEASE SEE ‘GREEN’ ON A4
With the Board of Trustees’ approval, the Central Florida community will be able to watch PBS grow into WUCF-TV. “Overall, I know I was a little bit nervous going to the first advancement meeting,” Anna Eskamani, a senior political science major and co-creator of the “Keep PBS in Orlando” campaign, said. “Everything went the way our campaign wanted it to go. The advancement com— JOSÉ A. FAJARDO mittee had PRESIDENT AND a great CEO OF WMFE PUBLIC MEDIA debate on the issue, but overall I think they saw the pros of the situation.” Eskamani also said that she and co-creator, Ali Kurnaz, enjoyed meeting people who supported the campaign at the BOT meeting, including UCF News & Information Assistant Vice President Grant Heston, former Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and UCF President John Hitt.
“We we’re delighted that UCF was able to step up and expand its current relationship with WMFE.”
PLEASE SEE WUCF-TV ON A5
Help needed at animal sanctuary ANDREA KEATING Contributing Writer
Journey’s End, a fiveacre animal sanctuary, hides among the meandering roads of Glenwood, Fla. Abandoned animals often find themselves on the sides of these roads, but the sanctuary’s founder and director, 81-year-old Florence Thuot, makes sure these creatures have a home. “Sometimes I don’t know what people are
thinking, to desert an animal in that condition,” Thuot said. While finding homeless animals in the middle of this Volusia County town has become commonplace, help has been much tougher to find. UCF students had once helped Thuot, and she would like to see them return in the very near future. “Students would come in the summer months and help us. After the semester
For more photos of Journey’s End: www.UCFNews.com was over, we’d never see them again,” Thuot said. “I have enough volunteers covering the chores; I just need people to interact, play and maybe take the dogs for a car ride. We have a pool here too. It would be nice to see the students again.” Thuot started the sanctuary in 1974 aided by her
PLEASE SEE MEMORY ON A4
ANDREA KEATING / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Florence Thuot,founder and director of Journey’s End,pets Fire,a horse surrendered to the sanctuary 12 years ago by his owners after he became lame.
A2
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
AROUND CAMPUS News and notices for the UCF community
Retirement Reception to honor Dr.Leslie Sue Lieberman A retirement reception in honor of Dr. Leslie Sue Lieberman, the founding director of UCF’s Women’s Research Center, will be held Tuesday, May 31, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in University Tower Room 211. Lieberman, who came to UCF in 2001 as a professor of anthropology, has helped enhance research efforts and the research facilities for UCF women faculty for the past decade.
Cooking demonstration to be held at the Recreation and Wellness Center A cooking demonstration will be held at the RWC in the Wellness Lounge, Room 110, on Tuesday, May 31, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dietician and nutritionist Meghan Murphy Van Camp will prepare a healthy meal and provide tips on leading a healthy lifestyle. The event is worth 500 LINK Loot points.
LOCAL & STATE Keep local with headlines you may have missed
Hurricane center seeks Facebook fans of storm prep MIAMI — Nobody would push the “like” button for a hurricane. But the National Hurricane Center hopes to get some Facebook fans for its storm advisories. The hurricane center joined Facebook in January. Posts so far have focused on preparing for the upcoming storm season, along with behind-the-scenes glimpses of Director Bill Read and hurricane specialists at work. The six-month Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1. That’s when daily updates about the tropics will begin. Hurricane center officials hope social media like Facebook will help combat complacency in coastal residents skeptical of storm warnings and evacuation advisories after five years .
Shuttle astronauts bid farewell to space station CAPE CANAVERAL — The astronauts on NASA’s next-to-last shuttle flight floated out of the International Space Station on Sunday and then closed the hatch behind them after one final round of warm wishes and embraces. All that remained was space shuttle Endeavour’s undocking late last night and its two-day trip home. Shuttle commander Mark Kelly said the weeks of joint flight went well. He was the last to leave the space station, lingering for a few seconds with the three space station residents. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 31, 2011 •
A DAY IN THE LIFE UCF TOUR GUIDE
Guiding future Knights Eble: ‘I like getting to interact with people’ JONI FLETCHER
May 31, 2011 Vol 43, Issue 35 • 12 Pages
Contributing Writer
Every year, thousands of prospective students and their parents from all over the world come to UCF to tour the campus. Many of these students are in high school, hoping to find a university that they can call home in the near future. The tour guide can really make a difference in that decision, as it did for Cathy Eble, a junior nursing major and current UCF tour guide. Tour guides are responsible for more than just showing the campus, their job is also to inform future students on all the resources offered at UCF and to answer any questions that the tourist may have. The Central Florida Future had the opportunity to interview Cathy Eble to see what a day in the life of a UCF tour guide is like. Central Florida Future: What led you to become a UCF tour guide? Cathy Eble: When I did a tour at UCF, really the only thing that made me decide UCF ultimately was the tour. I never really had any interest in coming to UCF until I did a tour, and it really changed my mind about it. So when I saw that there were job opportunities like that, I went ahead and applied and basically got offered a summer job and I really liked it, so I kept going on with it. CFF: How long have you been a UCF tour guide? Eble: The past year. I started last summer. CFF: What is your favorite location to show around UCF? Eble: I think Memory Mall is the best just because a lot of people like to hear about different sports and things that go on at Memory Mall like tailgating, and also there are a lot of classroom buildings around there. So there’s a lot to talk about and a lot of people ask a lot of questions around there. CFF: Who do you usually give tours to? Eble: Prospective students and their parents. They’re usually people that are in high school, but we also have people who are transferring here. It could really be anyone who wants to come and check out the school.
The Central Florida Future is the independent, studentwritten newspaper at the University of Central Florida. Opinions in the Future are those of the individual columnist and not necessarily those of the editorial staff or the University administration. All content is property of the Central Florida Future and may not be reprinted in part or in whole without permission from the publisher.
NEWSROOM 407-447-4558
Editor-in-Chief PHOTOS BY CHELSEA ST. JOHN / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Cathy Eble explains the tradition of Spirit Splash by the Reflecting Pond to prospective students.
nervous while giving a tour? Eble: No, not anymore. My first few walks alone after I was done training were nerve-racking just because I didn’t want to forget anything, but not anymore; it’s kind of like having a regular conversation. CFF: What advice would you give to future tour guides? Eble: I would just say to not be nervous. It’s not a big deal if you forget something or mess up something. You just want to get out as much information as you can and to smile really big because if you’re up there looking all angry, no one’s going to want to come to UCF. They’re just going to remember there was an angry tour guide the whole time. CFF: How do you think your current job as a UCF tour guide will benefit you in the future? Eble: I think it’s definitely helped me with public speaking. I’m not scared to get up in front of a group of people that don’t know me. It’s benefited my confidence in the past year because I used to get kind of nervous in front of people, but now that I have been a tour guide for so long I’m very used to just getting up and speaking in front of people. CFF: Did you attend any special class before becoming a tour guide? Eble: No, I didn’t; it’s all onthe-job training. So for the first few weeks that you work, you do shadowing of people that are already tour guides. So you basically just learn by watching people and reading the manual that my boss gives us. CFF: What is the most memorable tour you have ever given? Eble: I gave a tour to an allboys school one time. It was like 60 high school boys that were just asking funny questions the whole time, and they were just typical high school boys; I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. CFF: How do you prepare yourself for a tour? Eble: When I first start-
CFF: Do you ever get
Got a cool job? Let us know by emailing news.cff@gmail.com
CFF.editor@gmail.com
News Editor Brandi Broxson x213 News.CFF@gmail.com
Online News Editor
ed out, I would just go over stuff in my head when I got to the stop, but now that I’m so used to saying everything, it just comes to me naturally when I get there.
Adrienne Cutway x213
CFF: How do you make each tour different or are they all relatively the same? Eble: Each person (tour guide) has a different style and a few, different, informational facts that we give out, but we generally all do about the same thing. We all go to the same stops and say the same general information, but someone may be a business major so they may know more about the business college than I would as a nursing major.
Sports Editor
CFF: Would you consider being a tour guide for a living? Eble: Probably not as a career, but it’s good while I’m in college because it’s definitely helped me out the past year. Not only jobwise, but public speaking-wise, as well. But as career-wise? I don’t think so.
Online.CFF@gmail.com
Opinions Editor Andy Ceballos x213 Opinions.CFF@gmail.com
Erika Esola x215 Sports.CFF@gmail.com
Variety Editor Ashley Sikand x214 Variety.CFF@gmail.com
Photo Editor Katie Dees x213 Photo.CFF@gmail.com
Staff Writers Camille Thomas, Jessie Kristof, Lacy Papadeas, Jordan Swanson, Tim Freed, Salo Steinvortz, Jessica Gillespie, Steven Ryzewski, Emon Reiser
Staff Photographers Kathryn Page, Michelle Davis, Amy Simpson, Alex Schierholtz, Mandy Georgi, Rebecca Strang, Jonathan Virgilio, Chelsea St. John, Nicole Schoen
Copy Editors CFF: Have you ever given a tour to a famous person that visited UCF? Eble: No, I wish! I wish Michael Jordan would come or something, but nope, no famous people yet.
Abigail Donaldson, Chris Boyle
CFF: If you could give a tour around UCF to one famous person, who would it be and why? Eble: Oh my gosh, one famous person; there’s so many! I mean, I guess the president would be cool to give a tour to. That’s kind of a big deal, right? To have the president come to your school!
BUSINESS
CFF: What do you enjoy most about your job? Eble: I like getting to interact with people, especially the high school students because a lot of students are nervous when applying to college and leaving home. Getting to talk to them like, “Hey I’m a normal person too, let’s talk about what your future is going to be like.” That’s what I really like talking about because my tour guide really helped me when I was going to college, so I like to do the same for other people.
LOCAL WEATHER
Production Joseph Mangabat Mark Thorstenson
407-447-4555
General Manager Raymond G. Bush x220 RayB@KnightNewspapers.com
Advertising Sales Director Adam VerCammen x204 AdamV@KnightNewspapers.com
Distribution Manager Chris Biddulph x211 ChrisB@KnightNewspapers.com
Fax: 407-447-4556 Published by Knight Newspapers 11825 High Tech Ave. Ste. 100 Orlando, FL 32817
One free copy of the Central Florida Future permitted per issue. If available, additional copies may be purchased from our office with prior approval for $1 each. Newspaper theft is a crime. Violators may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or University discipline.
CORRECTION
TODAY IN DETAIL Today Today: Generally sunny ISOLATED despite a few afternoon T-STORMS clouds.Winds WSW at 10
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
to 20 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear skies.Winds W at 10mph.
Ptly Cloudy High: 88º Low: 71º
Ptly Cloudy High: 89º Low: 72º
Ptly Cloudy High: 90º Low: 72º
Ptly Cloudy High: 90º Low: 73º
High: 89º Low: 72º
Katie Kustura x213
In the May 23 issue of the Future, we incorrectly attributed the photo of Officer Gregory Larkin as CFF Archive. The photo was actually taken from the UCF News and Information website.
• May 31, 2011
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
A3
Volusia energetic over new UCF incubator ANDREA KEATING Contributing Writer
The Daytona Beach International Airport will house more than airplanes come the final week of June. In just a few weeks, UCF’s mixed-business incubator at Daytona Beach International Airport will have its grand opening. This $1.4 million renovation project was three years in the making. The 8,000-square-foot building will house 20 companies with two meeting-style consultation rooms, and Volusia County will pay UCF $775,000 to manage the incubator under a threeyear contract. Gordon Hogan, director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, is optimistic that, once launched, more companies will be anxious to apply. “Once things pick up steam and people come in and see for themselves, they will get interested,” Hogan said. “We have a great network system, one-on-one counseling, with lawyers ready to sit down and support our future clients.” To date, one tenant has already signed on: Innovation-Research Engineering & Development, a small firm based in Edgewater. This company, although still growing, is technology-based, pioneering a new type of wind-turbine generator. Currently, there are two other businesses interested in the location and several others considering. UCF has nine other business incubators up and running within the Central Florida region; all have triumphed. Hogan stressed the importance of the location with the neighboring Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, UCF Daytona Beach and nearby Stetson University. Aside from the readymade accessibility of Daytona itself, a solid infra-
structure will guarantee this business incubator longevity. The community is excited about this project and especially the tallying of new jobs. According to the Volusia County Department of Economic Development, the unemployment rate for Volusia County currently stands at 10.9 percent. Hogan is also anxiously awaiting the new signage that will soon direct traffic from the alreadybusy Speedway Boulevard directly into the Daytona International Airport. Phil Ehlinger, the county’s economic development director, has overseen the construction planning of the building from day one. Ehlinger is pleased with the team who brought this business incubator to reality, emphasizing that they were not only on time, but under budget. Potential tenants that are approved will be able continue to flourish in the mechanical and engineering sectors. “Perhaps we may also prospect from a few entrepreneurs? I’m ready to hand this off to UCF, as they are such professionals,” Ehlinger said. “They know what they’re doing. UCF has a great track record and is No. 1 in the county as far as we’re concerned.” Paul Mitchell, a business specialist who also works for the Department of Economic Development, has seen the incubator come to fruition since its first draft. “I’ve watched and cultivated this incubator plan since the drawing board. I am so proud that it is happening here, and especialPHOTOS BY ANDREA KEATING / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE ly with UCF. Everyone, Paul Mitchell,a business specialist for the Volusia County Department of Economic Development,stands in front of the new UCF Business Incubator,which opens June 2011. even the construction workers, have taken a little we’re finally adding the finishing touches,” bit of ownership.” Mitchell likes to Mitchell said. “UCF will describe himself as the be managing the furniman who has handled the ture, office supplies and “nuts and bolts” of the the entire application process. This really is an original blueprint. “The construction is awesome adventure, and I almost complete and think we are ready.”
A4
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
May 31, 2011 •
Memory garden dreams facing harsh reality FROM A1 late husband. Over the years, the sanctuary continued to expand to 200 cats, 68 dogs, four horses, chickens and a few goats. She has maintained a unique philosophy with her animals: no euthanasia, and no cages. Even though some of these animals are blind or were born with defects, Thuot allows each animal to live its final years in a real home. Oscar Walters, from Lake Catherine, Fla., has been a regular worker and volunteer for a year. Walters doesn’t seem to mind working outdoors in the heat and prefers to work with the larger farm animals. “I drive here six days a week, and I do it only for the animals,” Walters said. Erma Long, from DeLand, Fla., is another caregiver who hopes to see students return to Journey’s End. “I remember some of the students from the university; we even had some doing a photography project once. Yes, it would be great to see them again,” Long, a permanent fixture at the sanctuary for more than eight years, said. She starts her daily routine with the morning feedings and then medicating the sick. When asked how can she remember who needs what? And who is who? She smiles and whispers, “It’s on a computer file, but I can do it all from memory.” Journey’s End has always relied on the passion of its volunteers to keep the place going, but there’s one special project on hold for quite some time. Thuot points to a small patch of green grass adjacent to the house. “The animals that lived their final days here are cremated. I’ve wanted a special
“I remember some of the students from the University; we even had some doing a photography project once. Yes, it would be great to see them again.” — ERMA LONG CAREGIVER FROM DELAND
place just for them so I can spread the ashes, a memory garden,” Thuot said. The dreams of a memory garden are forced to wait due to the reality of declining funds. “We have a lot of veterinary bills and, just today, our washing machine broke.” Thuot said. Each animal at Journey’s End has a story, including a pair of dogs who are extra special to Thuot: Skippy, who suffers from bone spurs and muscle deterioration in his hind legs, and Lilo, who has a deformed pelvic bone and is dependent on others for everything. Thuot, always willing to lend a helping hand for these dogs and others, wishes for UCF students to return and lend theirs. To volunteer or visit the sanctuary, go to journeysendsanctuary.org. Donations are gratefully accepted and are taxdeductible. Mailed donations can be sent to Journey’s End at P.O. Box 220163, Glenwood, FL 32722.
PHOTOS BY ANDREA KEATING / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Top,Lilo is confined to her red wagon due to a deformed hip.Above,Skippy is unable to use his legs because he was kept in a small cage as a puppy.
‘Green’ attire fits NBC’s universal initiatives FROM A1 this year’s Earth Week was “reuse.” “We want our viewers and consumers to reimagine uses for everyday objects,” she said. Each fashion Gordon created is unique not only in style, but in material as well. One dress — a highnecked, black and white number with small square and rectangular layers — is made with old newspapers. A short, flared blue skirt with a punch of yellow in the bodice is made from various shopping bags. The third — a strapless, kneelength, pale yellow dress — Gordon created with the pages of a phone book. The final piece displayed at Rockefeller Center was a brown dress made with crumpled paper grocery bags for a crushed texture. The project cost Gordon approximately $30 and about ten hours of labor per dress to create. Once the project ended, Gordon decided to continue her process of recycling by listing the gowns
on Etsy.com, a website for people to market their handmade items. Gordon did not know that NBC partnered with Etsy.com to launch the “Art of ReUSE” contest during this year’s Earth Week. Many weeks after the project’s end, Gordon received an email from NBC. However, she initially thought it was a hoax. It wasn’t until Gordon received an email from Etsy also that she realized that NBC really wanted her designs. “We thought they were fun and cuttingedge — the perfect visual example of reuse,” Conti said. Gordon said she’s grateful for the exposure that she has received and hopes that it will be beneficial when she applies to competitive Master’s programs. Laine Wyatt, professor of Gordon’s Image, Culture and Society class at UCF’s Daytona campus, said Gordon’s dresses and photography were professional-quality and, therefore, helped to catch
the attention of NBC. Wyatt said she hopes Gordon’s success informs incoming students how meaningful classwork can be. “I like the idea that students come in and embrace the learning system and trust that teachers really do want them to succeed,” Wyatt said. She hopes this challenges students to really dedicate themselves and see the work they are assigned has value. Wyatt said that, while other students in the class did similar projects, an opportunity like this was both a mix of luck and Gordon putting herself out there. She also encourages students, as Gordon did, to facilitate their own success. “You just need to put yourself out there and really utilize the Internet to your advantage because you never know who in the world can come across your work in the web,” Gordon said. “And in many cases, it’s free exposure, so you have nothing to lose and you might just get lucky.”
COURTESY ERIN GORDON
Gordon,who recently graduated with a degree in photography,shows off her skills at New York’s Rockefeller Center.
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
• May 31, 2011
A5
College will create affordable dental care FROM A1 ly increase to about 100 students with the annual tuition cost of $50,000 to $60,000. According to the brochure, the college would create at least 110 educational jobs and would contribute $69 million to the Central Florida economy. According to the brochure, the construction of a Dental Education building is valued at $42.8 million. The funding for the building would come from a $10 million anonymous donor and a $40 million start-up loan. Another benefit of the Dental College would be greater access to dental health care for citizens in the community. The Dental College will include a 200-chair Primary Dental Care Clinic where dental
students can develop their skills under the supervision of instructors. The clinic would provide affordable dental care to citizens in the community as well as a hands-on learning environment for students. “I think the College of Dental Medicine is a fantastic program for UCF and for the community,” Assistant Vice President of UCF News & Info Grant Heston said. “It addresses a need for producing more dentists in our state, it’s going to create jobs…and it’s going to address, as part of its curriculum, providing care for the traditionally underserved.” According to the brochure, the Dental College is estimated to graduate about 100 dentists annually with salaries averaging $103,000.
“At the end of the day, you want to produce graduates, who when they go and start their dental practices, have this background of serving this population that’s part of who they are,” Heston said. Senior health sciences major Gardette Hutton said she heard about UCF’s plan to build a dental school shortly after spring finals had commenced. Hutton is hoping to attend dental school in Fall 2012 elsewhere since the UCF Dental College will not be open until 2014. “I would have loved to attend dental school at UCF over anywhere else. It is a pity that it is opening so late,” Hutton said. The proposed Dental College would be one of 62 fully-accredited dental col-
leges in the nation. As of now, there are only two accredited dental colleges in Florida, the University of Florida College of Dentistry and the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. SGA President
Matthew McCann, who sits on the Board of Trustees, sees the Dental College as a great way to make UCF known in the state of Florida. “This is a great way to expand UCF’s influence within the state and really
provide students from UCF another way to further their education within the community and the college that they love. It’s really cool. It’s a neat opportunity and I’m excited to see where it goes,” he said.
REBECCA STRANG / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
The Dental College at Lake Nona will be one of the three dental colleges in Florida,along with UF and Nova Southeastern.
ANNA ESKAMANI/ CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Political science major Aubrey Marks shows her support for the campaign “Keep PBS in Orlando.”
WUCF-TV scheduled to air programs on July 1 FROM A1 “We were delighted that UCF was able to step up and expand its current relationship with WMFE. We feel UCF has the resources at hand in this community to be the provider of PBS programs,” José A. Fajardo, president and CEO of WMFE Public Media, said. The next steps are to make the transition to WUCF happen smoothly. WMFE will cease airing PBS on its Channel-24 station June 30, and WUCF will begin airing programs July 1, tentatively. UCF TV will continue to work with PBS to make this official, according to Heston. Since WMFE-FM 90.7, WMFE’s National Public Radio station, is thriving, there are no plans that would include WUCF–FM 89.9, Orlando’s jazz station, in the transition. Fajardo believes the change will allow for new opportunities for Orlando, PBS, Brevard Community College and UCF alike. “Not just for a robust schedule but also local programs already at UCF that will benefit the community,” he said. Eskamani sees plans for WUCF as an exciting, untraditional way for UCF to grow, “in ways that building garages and buildings can’t do.” “We would also like to help in any way we can to
help support the station,” Eskamani said. She added that a WUCF Facebook fan page has already been created by members of the campaign to help gain support. Heston also emphasized the success of the transition as a community effort, crediting the broad-
casting partnership with WBCC and UCF’s existing relationship with BCC. “Together, we are excited to keep PBS programming in Central Florida and add highquality local programs to the new WUCF,” Heston said.
A6
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
May 31, 2011 •
SC nuclear plant becoming 1st in US to go digital JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press
SENECA, S.C. — The digital revolution is finally reaching America’s nuclear power plants. Sometime in the next few weeks, technicians will finish installing digital controls for the operating and safety systems of a nuclear plant reactor in western South Carolina, a move being closely watched by other nuclear complexes. In a nation where a digital blender can be bought for about $30 at Walmart, the Oconee Nuclear Station reactor will be the first of the 104 reactors in the United States not controlled with the same analog technology that brought the world cassette tapes and slide rules. It has taken nuclear power plants so long to go digital because regulators wanted assurances the new control systems were as reliable as the old ones and could not be compromised by hackers. “The systems in the plants right now, they are doing an excellent job. The plants are very safe — they’ve been doing their jobs for years,” said Joe Naser, technical executive with the Electric Power Research Institute. The goal of going digital is to save money. Most systems in a nuclear power plant are monitors with four sensors. If two of them have out-of-whack readings, engineers often have to “trip” the plant, or shut it down, until the problem is resolved. If a nuclear plant sits idle for a day, it can cost a utility company more than $2 million. That isn’t spare change, even for a company like North Carolina-based plant operator Duke Energy, which earned $1.3 billion in 2010.
Unlike a human engineer, who can only take in one measurement at a time from one instrument, the digital system takes in thousands of readings at any moment. The computer can instantly figure out if a sensor is broken and ignore it. “Those utilities need to keep those plants running. To have unplanned outages as a result of an analog system isn’t doing what we need it to do — that’s a financial risk,” said Jere Jenkins, director of Radiation Labs at Purdue University. While digital control of nuclear plants is widespread in Europe and Asia, the U.S. has been on the sidelines as the digital revolution has brought Americans iPods for their music, movies that stream to their cell phones over the Internet and tiny computers connected to satellites to help them find the store that sells those things. The nuclear plant digital systems will provide operators with much more data about plant operations and a level of precision impossible with an analog system, which often requires the movement of components to get things done. Other utilities are closely watching. The youngest nuclear plant in the U.S. went online with analog controls in 1996, the same year DVDs were introduced in Japan. More than half of the nation’s nuclear power plants are at least 30 years old, and only three have come on since 1990. “It’s to the point where you can’t replace that equipment anymore,” Jenkins said. Other nuclear power plants will likely follow Oconee’s lead as soon as they can afford it if the conversion goes well, said
JEFFREY COLLINS / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nuclear reactor operators Chris Heniz,left,and Roger Patterson respond to an emergency scenario on a simulator of a digital control panel at Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca,S.C.The nuclear plant will be the first in the U.S.to install an all-digital control panel for one of its reactors.
David Lochbaum, director of the Nuclear Safety Project for the Union of Concerned Scientists. “There are a lot of eyes on that. If it goes well, you’ll probably see many people in the queue making it happen. If it doesn’t go well, they are going to wait for Duke Energy to iron out the kinks,” Lochbaum said. The operators at Oconee Nuclear Station will likely encounter a few unexpected glitches as the new system is put in place, but they should all be minor because of extensive testing, Lochbaum said. Also, Duke Energy said it made sure its engineers can manually take over all digital processes in case there are any problems.
One of the biggest concerns of regulators was worries the software used to run the new controls might be hacked from outside the plant. Documents given to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission show Duke Energy’s software provider designed a system with no external network connections. Any communication between the reactor operators and the system is heavily restricted and must be authorities by plant operators. The new control system at Reactor 1 is part of $2 billion in upgrades that Duke Energy is making to keep its three reactors at the station, which opened in the early 1970s, run safely for the next 30 years. The con-
trol panel installation coincides with a planned refueling outage. Reactor 2 will get its new digital panel during next year’s refueling, and an upgrade at Reactor 3 is scheduled for 2013. The new panels alone for all three reactors cost $250 million. Oconee Nuclear Station’s reactor operators have spent months training on an exact replica of what the new control panel will look like. And it looks a lot like the old system. “One of the goals is to make operators’ life, I won’t say easy, but to make operators more focused on the primary aspects of the job. Just like an airline pilot, you want him to focus on flying the airplane — you don’t
want him spending all day trying to get the cabin pressure right,” said Jeff Hekking, a senior reactor operator who helped test the new system. During a recent simulation, Hekking and two other operators dealt with a problem with the water that cools the reactor and keeps the nuclear reaction in check. Dinging bells, similar to what someone would use in old movies to summon a hotel bellhop, mark when things first go off kilter. The engineers stay back and let the situation get worse. Dozens of tiny red rectangle lights turn green as the control rods of nuclear material are removed from reactor core. Warning sirens sound, but they are subdued wails, not shrieking claxons. The engineers then start to control the situation, pushing buttons and pulling levers. Commands are double-checked and repeated to make sure everyone is on the same page. Reactor operators work on 12-hour shifts. At least three are in the control room of each reactor at all times, even eating their lunches at the gray desks behind flat-screen monitors. Others are doing maintenance, checking components or other tasks, but can be brought into the room if needed. Hekking, 40, has been a reactor operator for 19 years and is used to working with components manufactured around the time when he was born alongside some of the latest technology, like the control panels being put into place at Oconee. “Nuclear is a really interesting world,” Hekking said. “We have both the oldest and the newest and coolest.”
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
• May 31, 2011
THE AIRPORT I Stay alert and watch your bags and computer carefully at all times. Don’t let anyone but uniformed airline personnel handle or watch your bags. I Always carry proper identification such as a state issued driver’s license or passport. I Do not bring anything on board for another person unknown to you or not traveling with you, however innocent or small the package or item may appear. I Watch out for staged mishaps, like someone bumping into you or spilling a drink. Often it’s a ploy to divert your attention from your valuables. I Carry your purse close to your body and keep your wallet in an inside front pocket. Better yet, use a money pouch under your clothes. I Keep a separate record of the contents of checked luggage in case your luggage is lost or tampered with. And keep anything of value in a carry-on that stays with you. I To avoid problems when passing through customs or security checkpoints, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country before you travel.
YOUR DESTINATION I Don’t answer the door in a hotel or motel room without first verifying the identity of the person at the door. If the person claims to be an employee, call the front desk. I When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant before entering parking lots. I Lock the door whenever you are in your room. I Don’t display guest room keys in public or leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen. I Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying cash or expensive jewelry. I Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked. Keep all hotel doors and windows locked. I Discretely carry a map and be familiar with the area you are visiting. If driving, keep maps and rental agreement concealed, not lying on the seat or the dashboard.
I Don’t leave purses or pocketbooks on the back of a chair when dining out; keep them in your lap. I Don’t announce room numbers in public. Insist that hotel personnel write down your room number at check-in rather than stating out loud the number of your room. I Before taking a cab, ask the staff about directions and estimated costs to familiarize yourself with the area. I Only take taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs. Compare the face of the driver with the one on his or her posted license. I Keep car doors locked while you are driving.
TRAVELING ABROAD I Check country-specific information and travel warnings and alerts at the State Department’s website (www.state.gov). I Always try to travel light, so you can move quickly and keep a free hand. I Carry the minimum number of valuables, and plan places to conceal them. When you have to carry your cash, passport and credit cards, you may wish to put them in various places rather than all in one wallet or pouch. I Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash. I Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality. I Don’t bring anything you won’t need during your trip. Remove unnecessary credit cards, irreplaceable family photos, your library card and similar items from your wallet. I Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry the originals. Pack an extra set of passport photos to make replacement easier if your passport is stolen. I Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers’ checks with a friend or relative at home. Carry your copy with you in a separate place and, as you cash the checks, cross them off the list.
Summer vacation season is here! And whether you’re flying around the globe or taking PUBLIC a train into the TRANSPORTATION city, here are I Well-organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains some tips along popular tourists routes is a to do it safely. problem in many countries. It is — South Florida Sun-Sentinel I Try to stay in larger hotels that have more elaborate security. Consider booking a room from the second to seventh floors — high enough to deter easy entry from outside, but low enough for fire equipment to reach. I Avoid scam artists by being wary of strangers who approach you and offer to be your guide or sell you something at bargain prices. I Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill. Make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction. I Ask your credit card company how to report the loss of your card from abroad, as 1-800 numbers generally do not work from other countries. I You can register your travel with the State Department so you can be contacted in case of emergency at https://travel registration.state.gov I Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you are going. Try to ask for directions only from individuals in authority. I Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market. I If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight.
more common at night and especially on overnight trains. I If you see your way being blocked by a stranger and another person is very close to you from behind, move away. This can happen in the corridor of the train or on the platform or station. I Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Criminals have been known to drug food or drink offered to passengers. I Where possible, lock your compartment. If it cannot be locked securely, take turns sleeping in shifts with your traveling companions. If that is not possible, stay awake. If you must sleep unprotected, tie down your luggage and secure your valuables to the extent possible. I Do not be afraid to alert authorities if you feel threatened in any way. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes where crime is a serious problem. The same type of criminal activity found on trains can be found on public buses on popular tourist routes. In some countries, whole busloads of passengers have been held up and robbed by gangs of bandits.
RENTING A CAR I Choose a type of car that is commonly available locally. Avoid cars that are marked as rentals. If available, choose a car with universal door locks and power windows, which give the driver better control of access. I Rent a car with air conditioning to allow you to drive with windows closed.
Thieves snatch purses through open windows of moving cars. I Avoid driving at night. I Never pick up hitchhikers. I Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car. I Criminals sometimes pose as good Samaritans, offering help for tires that they claim are flat or that they have made flat. Or they may flag down a motorist, ask for assistance and then steal the rescuer’s luggage or car. They often work in groups, one person carrying on the pretense while the others rob you. I Some criminals try to drive victims off the road, or causing an “accident” by rearending you. I In some urban areas, thieves simply smash car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car and get away.
TRAINS I Always expect a train at railroad crossings. Freight trains do not travel on predictable schedules, and passenger train schedules often change. I Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Observe and obey all warning signs and signals. I Never walk down a train track. It’s illegal and dangerous. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a person or vehicle on the tracks, the train cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision. I An approaching train is often closer and moving faster than you think. I Don’t depend on the “clackety-clack” sound for a warning of approaching trains. Modern trains are quieter than in the past. I A train may extend 3 feet past the width of the rails, making the safety zone for pedestrians well beyond the rails themselves. I Do not cross the tracks immediately after a train passes. A second train might be blocked by the first. Trains can approach from either direction. S O U R C E S : B U R E AU O F C O N S U L A R A F FA I R S, U. S. D E PA RT M E N T O F S TAT E ; N AT I O N A L C R I M E PREVENTION COUNCIL; SOUTH F L O R I DA L AW ENFORCEMENT AG E N C I E S
I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y L AU R I E M C A DA M / T H E M O D E S TO B E E / M C T
A7
Sports Waiting game www.CentralFloridaFuture.com • Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The Student Newspaper at UCF since 1968
NATIONAL
SPORTS
WRAP SOCCER
Baseball
MESSI,BARCELONA EARN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CROWN LONDON - Led by another dominant performance from Lionel Messi, the Catalan club beat Manchester United, 3-1, yesterday to earn its third Champions League title in six seasons and No. 4 overall. “I feel privileged,’’Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. “ “Lionel is the best player I have seen and probably the best I will ever see.’’ Messi put Barcelona ahead to stay with his 53d goal and helped create another score to give the Spanish league champion breathing room. Barcelona dominated play at Wembley Stadium with its trademark one-touch passing, but it needed the Argentine striker to conjure a 54thminute solo strike from the edge of the penalty area to take the lead for the second time. There seemed to be no space as Messi was tracked by fullback Patrice Evra. But the two-time world player of the year spotted a gap between the central defenders and hit a shot down the middle, beating goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Messi added a fake and run that led to David Villa taking possession on the edge of the area. From there, the striker curled a shot into the top corner. “They do mesmerize you with their passing and we never really did control Messi,’’United manager Alex Ferguson said. “But many people have said that. “In my time as manager, it’s the best team I’ve faced.” With Pedro Rodriguez scoring the opening goal midway through the first half on an imaginative through ball from Xavi Hernandez, the win was as comprehensive as Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over United in the final two years ago. Wayne Rooney’s goal in the 34th minute left it tied at 1 at halftime.
UCF makes early exit from C-USA tourney JESSICA GILLESPIE Baseball beat writer
UCF learned its NCAA postseason fate on Monday after an early exit from the Conference USA Championship tournament Friday. The Knights left 11 runners on base and took advantage of only one in 11 scoring opportunities in their 4-2 loss to No. 1 seed Rice Friday in the C-USA Championship tournament. Rice went on to defeat the No. 6 seed Houston 4-3 in extra innings for the C-USA title on Saturday. After winning two straight C-USA postseason games for the first time since joining the conference in 2006, UCF (38-21) fell just short of reaching the title game. “It was a great college baseball game,” head coach Terry Rooney said in a release. “Both pitchers battled back and forth but, at the end of the day, they got a cou-
AUTO RACING
PLEASE SEE RICE ON A9 For more sports: www.UCFNews.com Twitter: @CFFsports
WHELDON WINS INDY 500 INDIANAPOLIS - JR Hildebrand was one turn away from winning the Indianapolis 500 on his very first try. Then, within sight of the checkered flag, the 23-year-old Californian made the ultimate mistake. Hildebrand slammed into the wall on the final turn, and Dan Wheldon drove past to claim an improbable Indy 500 win Sunday in his first race of the year. “It’s a helpless feeling,’’Hildebrand said. Wheldon, the 2005 winner but without a full-time ride this season, appeared headed for his third straight runner-up finish as Hildebrand took the white flag with a comfortable lead and needing only to make it through the last of 200 laps around the 2 1/2-mile speedway. “I just felt a lot of relief. It’s an incredible feeling,’’Wheldon said. “I never gave up.’’ The 100th anniversary of America’s most famous race was dominated much of the day by Chip Ganassi’s top two drivers, defending champ Dario Franchitti and 2008 winner Scott Dixon. “My disappointment is for the team,’’ Hildebrand said. “We should’ve won the race.’’ Not that Wheldon isn’t a deserving champ. Despite plenty of success in his IndyCar career, he lost his ride at Panther Racing - where he was replaced by Hildebrand, no less - and couldn’t find a regular ride this season. He sat out the first four races of the year, then picked up a one-race deal with Bryan Herta Autosport. Surely now Wheldon will be able to find a more regular gig. “It’s more and more depressing when I don’t win the race,’’said Danica Patrick, who finished 10th. “But Dan Wheldon, he’s a great winner. And what a great story. He hasn’t run this year. ... That’s really cool.’’ Not so much for Hildebrand. He’ll always remember that final turn. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
JESSICA GILLESPIE / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
After making an early exit from the C-USA tournament Friday,the Knights are preparing to make a run toward Omaha,Neb.,in the 2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.
UCF’s NCAA fate decided Monday ERIKA ESOLA Sports Editor
With the Conference USA Championship complete, the Knights were left playing the waiting game. Since the Knights did not secure either the CUSA title or a host spot for the NCAA regional round, UCF learned its NCAA postseason path Monday. At press time, the field of 64 championship hopefuls were not finalized. The Future will be providing up-to-date news on UCFnews.com regarding the announcement of the field of 64 and whether or not UCF made the cut. The Knights, who have a No. 18 RPI ranking, if chosen, would have received an at-large bid for the NCAA title. Only one other C-USA team has a higher RPI rank-
Follow @CFFsports for live updates! www.UCFNews.com ing than the Knights, No.11 Rice. Besides Rice and UCF, only one other CUSA team holds a top-20 RPI ranking — Southern Miss (No. 20). The NCAA baseball championships take place throughout June, starting with the regional round from June 3-6. The regional rounds, where UCF had placed a bid to be a host, will take place at 16 different host sites. The 16 host sites were announced Sunday, and although the Knights did not receive a bid to play host during the regional round, two sites in Florida were announced: Florida (Gainesville) and Florida
PLEASE SEE FIELD ON A9
JESSICA GILLESPIE / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
D.J.Hicks was selected to the C-USA All-Tournament team Sunday.Hicks and the Knights learned their NCAA fate Monday.
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com
• May 31, 2011
A9
Rice cooks UCF, Houston in C-USA Championship FROM A8 ple bigger two-out hits than we did. That was the difference in the game.” Knights starter Chase Bradford allowed six hits and four earned runs in 42/3 innings of work. Despite Johnny Sedlock’s 3-1/3 innings of onehit relief, the Knights were not able to come back. UCF opened the scoring in the first inning when Ronnie Richardson and Beau Taylor each reached base on errors and a D.J. Hicks single brought Richardson
home, but the Knights left two on as the next three batters were retired. Rice quickly took the lead in the bottom of the first when Bradford gave up a leadoff double and a walk. With two outs, Craig Manuel singled in both runners. Hicks picked up his second RBI when he grounded out in the third to bring home Richardson, who scored both of UCF’s runs and doubled to start the inning. The tie score didn’t last long after Manuel earned a free pass against Brad-
ford, eventually scoring the Owls a run. J.T. Chargois’ solo shot in the fifth put Rice up by two. Ryan Breen went 3-for4 at the plate with two doubles, but the Knights never capitalized. “We feel very fortunate that although our C-USA tournament is over, that we are on our way to the NCAA postseason,” Rooney said. The Knights now are faced with the daunting task of preparing for the competitive field of 64 teams in the NCAA championship.
Hicks,Griffin earn C-USA tournament accolades Designated hitter D.J. Hicks and first baseman Jonathan Griffin were voted in to the Conference USA All-Tournament team, marking the first time that multiple Knights received the accolade in C-USA postseason history. During the tournament, Hicks averaged .417 with three RBI and two runs scored. Griffin smashed two home runs in the tournament, driving in six runs and scoring five.
Knights prepare for NCAA run FROM A8
RPI RANKINGS
State (Tallahassee). The Knights will likely play their regional games at one of these locations. The Knights swept Florida in their home-andhome series and took one out of three against the Seminoles in Tallahassee. The regional rounds are followed by the super regionals from June 10-13 at eight different sites. Finally, the College World Series will take place from June 18-28/29 in Omaha, Neb., at TD Ameritrade Park.
Ticket & Parking Information (from UCFathletics.com) — Only tournament books are for sale from Monday, May 30, through, Thursday, June 2. — Single game tickets, if available, go on sale Friday, June 3 at 8 a.m. — Tournament books must be picked up at the BHNS West Ticket Office. — NCAA Regional parking will be free in Lots E6, E7 and E8, as well as baseball outfield lot. — Beginning Friday,
ERIKA ESOLA / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Although the Knights made an early exit from the C-USA tourney,they will prepare for the College World Series contingent upon earning an at-large bid.
June 3, all tickets can be picked up the Baseball Ticket Office location starting at 8 a.m. — Ticket Office hours: Tuesday through Thursday (8 a.m. – 7 p.m.). Memorial Day (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
Ticket Prices — Tournament Books: Reserved Seating $60; General Admission $50 — Single Game: Reserved: $12; General Admission: $10; Youth, College Student, Seniors: $7
(As of May 28) 1.North Carolina 2.Virginia 3.Vanderbilt 4.Florida State 5.Florida 6.South Carolina 7.Clemson 8.Georgia Tech 9.Texas A&M 10.Arizona State 11.Rice 12.Texas 13.Cal State Fullerton 14.Arkansas 15.Stanford 16.Georgia 17.Miami 18.UCF 19.TCU 20.Southern Miss 21.Fresno State 22.FIU 23.Oklahoma 24.Stetson 25.Arizona 26.LSU 27.East Carolina 28.Oregon State 29.Baylor 30.Creighton
JONATHAN VIRGILIO / CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Jonathan Griffin,who leads the Knights in home runs and slugging percentage, was selected to the C-USA All-Tournament team Sunday.
Opinions The Student Newspaper at UCF since 1968
www.CentralFloridaFuture.com • Tuesday, May 31, 2011
OUR STANCE
Gays deserve equal rights, too A
new poll released by Gallup shows that for the first time, a majority of Americans are in favor of gay marriage. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe that same-sex marriage should be recognized as valid under law. Supporting same-sex marriages is an important step in ensuring that we are being fair and equal to all Americans. Without taking this step, gay couples are essentially shut out from being eligible for benefits that heterosexual couples have, and we need to ensure fairness in our laws. For many decades, gay Americans have been treated as second-class citizens on many fronts. We have progressed and undone many injustices toward the gay community, such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a federal law which did not allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military. Although this legislation has been repealed, the policy is not expected to be lifted until later this year, according to CNN. In June 2009, the U.S. State Department decided to extend the full range of legal benefits and allowances to same-sex, domestic partners of Foreign Service members sent to serve abroad.
We’ve come a long way in this country when it comes to gay rights. There are still several protections that are denied to same-sex couples because they cannot have their union recognized as a legal marriage under federal law. Same-sex couples cannot file joint tax returns and enjoy income and estate tax benefits. They do not have the automatic ability to make medical decisions for an incapacitated spouse, and they cannot petition for their same-sex partner to immigrate from another country. They also do not have the ability to obtain continued health coverage for a samesex partner after the loss of a job. The most immediate way to provide relief to these couples is to allow them to marry legally under the law. By the looks of this poll, however, this change will have to come from the youth demographic. The poll reports 70 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 support gay marriage. Subsequently, the support drops to 35 percent among those ages 55 and older. This is no longer simply a liberal idea. Next week, former Iowa state Sen. Jeff Angelo, a conservative Republican, will be unveiling
a new advocacy group of conservatives that support same-sex marriage, according to the Des Moines Register. According to the Register, Angelo said that the debate centers around the devaluation of the lives of a select group of people when he spoke at the Iowa legislature in favor of same-sex marriage. “At its worst, we are being asked to believe that our gay friends and neighbors are involved in a nefarious agenda. The outcome of which, supposedly, is the unraveling of society itself,” Angelo said. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is another prominent public official that has been advocating in support of gay marriage. He recently pressed lawmakers to legalize gay marriage in his state, saying that the government has no business deciding who a person will love. Gay couples should have the same range of legal benefits and protections as straight couples. To do otherwise is to leave them as lesser citizens in a country that prides itself in being a bastion of individual liberty and equality. We need to live up to these principles and ensure that we have equal rights for everyone in America.
Has Obama ‘thrown Israel under the bus?’ lines. When President The president Barack Obama gave a received a standing ovaMiddle East policy tion from the bipartisan speech recently, he probAIPAC crowd for these ably didn’t expect such remarks during his strong criticism afteraddress. The president ward from the Republifurther stated that the can Party. Palestinian state must be Listening to their non-militarized, that responses, one might peace cannot be imposed think the president was DAVID MARIUTTO from the outside and that secretly plotting the Guest Columnist it is ultimately up to demise of the Jewish Israel to determine state. Mitt Romney even whether its security needs have went so far as to say Obama had “thrown Israel under the bus.” Con- been met. Additionally, this policy concernservative Wall Street Journal columing the 1967 lines was one shared by nist Bret Stephens wrote a column both the Clinton and Bush adminislast week titled, “An Anti-Israel trations. In 2005, while delivering President.” an address alongside Palestinian That could not be further from President Mahmoud Abbas in the the truth. Rose Garden, President Bush stated Keep in mind that these are the that, “Any final status agreement same Republicans that have must be reached between the two accused even the most staunchly parties, and changes to the 1967 pro-Israel Democrats, including Armistice lines must be mutually Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz agreed to…this is the position of the (D-Fla.), of harboring anti-Israel United States today.” sentiment. I will concede to my critics that As a Jew, it pains me to see such such a position might undermine an important, bipartisan cause be Israel’s ability to negotiate on the abused as a wedge issue by Repubissues of Jerusalem and refugees lican candidates for the scoring of during peace talks; this is a legitipolitical points against their future mate concern. However, the conseopponent, so I’m going to lay out quences of not taking bold action at the facts. this juncture are even greater and Republicans are accusing the would be severe. The Palestinian president of calling on Israel for a Authority is seeking to bypass the full retreat to the borders that were peace process altogether and unilatestablished before the Six-Day War erally declare a state along the 1967 in 1967, which are widely accepted borders this September at the Unitas militarily indefensible. In reality, President Obama stated that he is in ed Nations. If this happens, it would be a favor of using Israel’s 1967 borders diplomatic apocalypse for Israel “with mutually agreed swaps” as a that would subject it to internationbasis for border negotiations al pressure for a full withdrawal to between Israel and Palestine. the indefensible 1967 borders withAs the president stated in an address to the American-Israel Pub- out swaps. Such an outcome would lic Affairs Committee last week, “By not only be bad for Israel, but it could lead to a new war. definition, it means that the parties Obama declared his strong themselves, Israelis and Palestiniopposition to this Palestinian tactic ans, will negotiate a border that is last week, and moves like his recent different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967.” Obama further said one firmly place the ball back in Palestine’s court to make peace and that such an agreed-upon swap avert this nightmarish scenario. must change the borders to accomSuch moves to avoid an outcome modate Israel’s security needs, that would harm Israeli security including the suburbs of Tel Aviv and delegitimize the Jewish state’s and Jerusalem built after 1967 that right to exist are hardly anti-Israel. today are otherwise beyond those
NATE BEELER / THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Sex education should not be a scare tactic ing kids from sex, why not The phrase “Make teach them about it? love, not babies” has Teaching comprehenalways been a common sive sexual education mantra of mine. As a involves educating our woman and as a feminist, students about all options I am very much aware of safe sexual behavior; that people of all ages, include both the teaching genders and orientations of abstinence and other are engaging in sexual methods of birth control. activity. This method of teachWhen talking about ANNA ESKAMANI ing is extremely effective sex, one of the most heatGuest Columnist in both delaying sex and ed debates that often surencouraging safer sex. In faces is the issue of sexual fact, a 2007 study by medical website education within our schools. The WebMD noted that teenage girls who overall goal of teaching our students received sex education were 59 perabout sex is to delay them from havcent less likely to have sexual intering sex. At least, that is how a recent course before the age of 15 compared study in Psychological Science perto those who did not get sex educaceives the situation. The main goal of this study was to tion before their first time having sex. For teenage boys, it was 71 percent. In examine the notion that those who addition, teenage boys who were wait longer to have sex will be safer taught comprehensive sex education lovers. According to the study, the were three times more likely to use overlying assumption is that a delay birth control when they did have sex. in having sex will reduce sexual riskKnowledge is indeed power, and taking and, with it, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted dis- sexual knowledge is no different. I eases. Ergo, if you don’t have sex now, actually attended public schools right you will be a safer lover later. Person- here in Orange County. My high ally, I don’t find this assumption to be school’s sexual education program revolved around us, the students, very accurate. being made scared to have sex. I Neither did the study. remember quite explicitly hearing The study itself involved 1,000 premarital sex compared to used pairs of identical and fraternal twins. bubblegum: “Who would want to These twins, 11 years old at the start chew used bubblegum?” was our of the study, were questioned on bioguest speaker’s main argument. logical, social and psychological facAfter that premarital presentation, tors. Then at age 24, the twins were asked about the risks that they take in the speaker asked each of us to take a commitment mint. If we took a mint, their sex lives. Numerous runs of the data led to the same conclusion: “You we were promising to not have sex take two twins who share 100 percent until marriage. Needless to say, I didn’t take a of their genes. One has sex at age 15 mint. Based on Florida’s sex statistics, and one at 20. You compare them on those who did take a mint, have brorisk-taking at 24, and they don’t difken their promise several times over. fer.” The bottom line is that compreAnd so, the research concludes that abstaining from sex will not nec- hensive sexual education does not encourage sex, much like how comessarily make you a safer lover. In prehensive abstinence programs do contrast, there is no real correlation not guarantee chastity. And in a socibetween sexual risk-taking and the ety where sex is literally plastered time you become sexually active. This means that abstinence-only edu- along our highways and popping up on our computer screens, one would cation is an ineffective method of hope that the conversations we have protecting kids from the risks about sexual activity would be both involved in having sex. We can see more balanced and more open. this in Florida, as well. Here, 51 perTrust me, it’s possible to make cent of high school students report love and not babies. It’s possible to that they have had sex, according to have sex before marriage in a safe amplifyyourvoice.org. Furthermore, Florida has the 11th highest teen-preg- and real way. It’s possible to be a safer lover; that’s what condoms are for. nancy rate in the nation and more We just have to make sure our than 48,000 people living with AIDS. kids know that too. With that said, instead of shelter-
ON UCFNEWS.COM
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
Long-distance relationships: Out of sight out of mind? I really like this article, its alright to chat but its even better to pick up the phone and talk to the person and hear the voice on the other end, the human touch, words are powerful. You go T. McGowan.,
Looks like Orlando may have PBS after July 1 with help from UCF — ANONYMOUS
Republicans Share Common Problem
Are you for real? They had Lionel Richie perform at an event Obama held last year and no one cared. Jay-Z made a visit to the — SHERYL MCGOWAN NICHOLSON White House and again, no one cared. If you're constantly looking for race to be an issue, you can easily find a non-issue and make it one. But in this case you have to be blind not to see that someone There are already 3 different who talks about killing cops and PBS stations broadcasting in Cen- killing a former president will tral Florida. What's the big deal if cause controversy when he comes one of them is sold? to the White House.
Board to Vote on Future of PBS
— ANONYMOUS
— ANONYMOUS