Volume 49 Issue 28

Single copies free Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg

Making accounting majors more career-ready. p. 2

You know you want to work for The Crow’s Nest.

Find out how. p.5

New Mr. Sun pioneered USF College of Marine Science

By Duncan Rodman Crow’s Nest Contributor Former dean and pioneer of USF’s College of Marine Science, Dr. Peter Betzer, was honored with the esteemed title of “Mr. Sun” last month.

Behind the decision, the selection

committee cited Betzer’s unwavering dedication to science education for Pinellas youth, and his efforts that helped St. Petersburg become a renowned name in marine science and oceanography.

The committee comprises previous Mr. and Ms. Suns who evaluate

USF scientists crack down on fish fraud

By Emily Wehunt Staff Reporter When delivered a plate of fresh, pricey grouper are you really getting what you paid for?

Once a fish is filleted, it’s hard to tell the difference between a piece of farm-raised tilapia and a freshly caught grouper.

Oceana conducted a two-year study in 2010 to discover the true identities of 1,200 seafood samples from 674 retailers across 21 states.

The results showed that 33 percent of the seafood sampled was mislabeled nationwide.

A new technology was developed by scientists at USF’s College of Marine Science in February to help tackle this fraudulent fish epidemic. The handheld device, GrouperChek, also referred to as the QuadPyre RT-NASBA, is capable of detecting fish fraud within 45 minutes. Tests with similar technology used to take days to deliver the same results.

The test can be done anywhere as long as a laptop is available. It’s portability is ideal because it allows for detection to be done on a ship or dock, or in a restaurant or grocery store.

The small black box hooks up to a laptop and, with just a pinch of grouper tissue, it begins going to work. Simply put, the results will either show a rising fluorescent light means the grouper is legit, or a flat, dull line meaning it is something

and discuss recommendations, and then vote on who will carry on the 61-year old Pinellas tradition and become the new face of the Sunshine City.

“I don’t know who nominated me,” said Betzer. “It’s not a

self-nomination. For me it was a complete surprise.”

St. Petersburg is home to the only college of marine science in the USF system, and Dr. Betzer helped make it the most respected program of its kind in the Southeastern U.S. “Although the college of marine

science is administered in Tampa, it is located in St. Petersburg and we have always felt like we are a part of St. Petersburg,” said Betzer. “When I was a faculty member at USF, and not on an oceanographic research

Continued on p. 2

Let’s toast to the Rowdies

else. The sample of fish can be raw or cooked.

Lead scientist of GrouperCheck and distinguished USF marine science professor Dr. John Paul told The Crow’s Nest that the creation of GrouperChek took roughly twoand-a-half years to come to life.

“It is a new technology for a new market,” Dr. Paul said.

Grouper was chosen as the first fish for testing due to its popularity and typically high price tag.

However, it is already working on expanding testing for other fish like tuna, red snapper and shrimp.

The device has received a great deal of attention the last three months. Many news outlets have reported on the technology, and a number of calls have come in with an interest to buy the GrouperChek.

According to Paul, calls have been coming in worldwide from countries such as Indonesia, Spain and Alustria. Also, the Discovery Channel has expressed interest in running a special about the new creation.

GrouperChek is not yet on the market, but Paul said he is ready to start taking orders. He hopes the device will be ready to send out to consumers next month.

“Now we are in the fast lane,” Dr. Paul said.

The device will sell for roughly

Continued on p. 3

Mark Wolfenbarger | The Crow’s Nest

Beer is a game day staple and, for a sports bar, the Rowdies Den offers a diverse list of draft and bottled beer, including local favorite 3 Daughters Beach Blonde Ale.

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Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Accounting program gets a boost News Briefs Monday, April 13

Come to the library tonight from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for Laughter Yo g a ! K a r i n e L e s p i n a s s e Sabourault, a certified Laughter Yoga teacher, will blend “laughter exercises” with yoga-style deep breathing to bring positive effects on the body, mind, and spirit. It is a great way to destress. This event will also take place from noon to 12:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 28.

Tuesday, April 14

The Rocky’s will be held at 6 p.m. in the University Student Center ballroom. Come out and celebrate your fellow accomplished student leaders, organizations and offices. RSVP on PeteSync through the Leadership and Student Organizations (LSO) portal. Semi-formal wear is recommended.

Wednesday, April 15

P.E.E.R.S. will provide a safe, open and fun space for students to take time out of their busy schedules to focus on themselves and get in touch with their bodies through yoga. They will have simple, healthy snacks and refreshments for students to enjoy! Free kombucha samples from Mother Kombucha will also be available.

The last Screen on the Green showing of the semester will be at 8 p.m. on Harborlawn. This time, Harborside Activities Board will be screening the Academy Award-nominated film American Sniper.

Thursday, April 16

USF St. Petersburg’s PreDental Society will be holding a fundraiser raffle and faculty pageant at 5:30 p.m. Prizes include a free whitening, longboards and much more. All proceeds go to America’s ToothFairy, an organization that helps educate, prevent and treat children’s dental disease.

Saturday, April 18

The USF St. Petersburg’s Florida Food Conference will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. in the USC. There will be breakfast sponsored by Locale Market with limited seating from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m., a keynote and conference from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and an after party with limited seating from 4-5:30 p.m. The event will celebrate and discuss community and culture.

A grant awarded by the Florida Board of Governors aims to grow enrollment in accounting programs and help students graduate with better chances at landing a job.

By Jeffrey Zanker Crow’s Nest Contributor The Kate Tiedemann College of Business is encouraging more students to enroll in the university’s accountancy program.

Fa c u lt y me m b e r s s u c h a s accountancy assistant professor Debra Sinclair said that there is a workforce shortage of accounting graduates in Florida.

“One of the main reasons is that not many accounting graduates find and get jobs,” she said.

Lack of experience often prevents recent graduates from getting hired. There is often a gap between the skills accountancy majors have upon graduation and what employers expect from them. Employers

often look to hire people with at least two years of experience.

“We have students who are graduating, but have no experience,” said Alison Watkins, a professor of information systems management.

Ac c ou nt i n g i s one of t he campus’ most popular undergraduate majors. The Kate Tiedemann college of business currently has an estimated 1,200 students and just under 300 are accounting majors.

The College of Business has been developing its programs to find ways to increase the enrollment rate, and provide more opportunities to get internships and experience.

Along with USF Tampa and the University of Central Florida, USF St. Petersburg was awarded with the TEAm (Targeted Educational

Attainment) grant by the state last March.

The TEAm grant was created by the Florida Board of Governors to increase undergraduate enrollment in accounting, create more internship opportunities for students, and get graduates full-time jobs in the business field.

Another strateg y is getting accounting majors to take the MIS (Management Information System) program. The courses intersect business skills with information technology systems, so graduates can enter into local corporations with the knowledge to use the technology programs in their jobs.

“There is a rise in need for technical graduates in data analytics to manage information technologies for large businesses,” Watkins said.

Mr. Sun encouraged women and minorities to become scientists The newly-appointed Mr. Sun helped put St. Petersburg on the map as a leader in marine science.

Continued from p.1 mission, I spent almost 100 percent of my time in St. Pete.”

The St. Petersburg community and its legislators joined with Betzer to help transform a modest marine science program into a major marine science complex. The USF College of Marine Science has also attracted outside investments from both the private sector and federal government to St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is now home to the largest Marine Science research facility in the Southeastern U.S. “I don’t think there’s any question that we rank ahead of everybody (in Florida),” said Betzer. “Part of the reason for that are the many productive partnerships that exist.

Between the U.S. Geological Survey, National Marine Fisheries laboratory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and SRI International…nobody else has all that—including the University of Miami!”

O n e of B e t z e r ’s pr ou d e s t achievements was his work with

two teachers that resulted in the creation of the Oceanography Camp for Girls in 1991.

“Before 1991, the graduate student body from the College of Marine Science was dominated by men,” said Betzer. “Two-thirds of the people in our program were men. Of course there’s no shortage of bright women, yet we had a very small participation of women in science.”

As an educator, scientist and proud father of two daughters, Betzer saw that as a problem. So, he established a program for eighthgrade girls to help foster their intellectual curiosity for science.

“Since 1991, there has been a three-week program called the Oceanography Camp for Girls that the USF College of Marine Science runs,” said Betzer. “It connects 33 young women from Pinellas County with graduate students in marine science.”

For the last 24 years, the program has been a success. Students who attend the camp are tracked t h rou g hout t he re st of t hei r

educational careers, and many end up taking more science courses in high school and college. The program has also produced a number of Ph.D. scientists.

Betzer was instrumental in establishing an endowment for that program, which would have otherwise been terminated due to lack of funding.

“I would say it’s one of the most important things I ever did in my career,” said Betzer. “This program became so well known that I even had phone calls when I was the dean from people who lived in England begging me to have their child in the program.”

Betzer also helped build a program to increase the enrollment of minority students in the College of Marine Science, which in the last decade has graduated more African-American Ph.D.s than any other institution of marine science or oceanography in the U.S. “Many people told me, that you can’t change the culture, and that African-Americans specifically were just not interested in marine

She hopes that students in other majors can look into information technology.

“There has been a growth … for these skills,” she said. “We all will be working with technology sooner or later.”

The university is also looking for other ways to get students interested in information systems.

Training boot camps are sessions for high school students to look into the IS programs in Florida’s universities. The next boot camps will take place during the summer and fall semesters.

Events such as Innovation Night and Tampa Bay Technology Forum: Student Chapter are helping students to actively think about solving real-world business problems. news@crowsneststpete.com science,” said Betzer. “So I said, I’m a scientist, and until we experiment and get the data, I’m not willing to make a judgment. How can you know if you don’t try?”

It turns out that they did not fail. USF’s college of marine science is now recognized in the oceanographic world and by the Sloan Foundation for the transformation that is attracting and developing minority scientists.

Betzer retired from USF in 2008, but he hasn’t taken a break from his endeavors in the education of aspiring young scientists in Pinellas County.

“We’re currently working on creating a marine discovery center in the heart of St. Petersburg,” said Betzer. “We’re also working to expand St. Petersburg’s marine science complex.”

Most recently, Betzer helped bring the Blue Ocean Film Festival to St. Petersburg, placing the city among the likes of other worldclass film festival destinations like Monaco.

“St. Petersburg has become the permanent home for the Blue Ocean Film Festival,” said Betzer.

“That’s an incredible thing. That’s a major crown and I worked very hard on that.”

Mr. Sun is not just a title, but also a responsibility.

“The responsibility is to show off St. Petersburg at its best,” said Betzer. “That’s one thing that I’ve always tried to do. I’m very proud of the city and all of the wonderful things it has and the reasons people ought to visit.”

news@crowsneststpete.com

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Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Technology distinguishes Multi-billionaire shares life lessons with USFSP students grouper from farmraised tilapia

By Jeffrey Zanker Crow’s Nest Contributor

The College of Marine Science developed technology to help distinguish grouper from tilapia disguised as grouper.

Continued from p.1 $1,999. Their target market i ncludes t he Food a nd Dr ug Administration, U.S Department of Agriculture, U.S Border Patrol, and fisheries and restaurants.

“We listen to the end user,” Paul said. “I think we’ve incorporated everything they need.”

GrouperChek ’s cutting edge technologically and capabilities

will help consumers know what they are buying and eating.

The short-term plan for the technology is to keep making it cheaper, quicker and better for consumers.

Dr. Paul said his long-term goal is to use this technology to help detect certain types of diseases and cancers within people through bloodwork. news@crowsneststpete.com

USF St. Petersburg held a special conversation with multi-billionaire Miguel “Mike” Fernandez on Friday morning at the USC. Fernandez was promoting his new book Humbled by the Journey: Life Lessons For My Family… And Yours.

The event was hosted by USFSP student organizations such as Delta Sigma Pi, with Sen. Jack Latvala and former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence giving the introductory speeches. There were around 300 guests in attendance, including students, professors and entrepreneurs. The first 250 guests received a free copy of the book, with a book signing afterwards.

Fer na nde z , who wa s bor n in Cuba and raised in Miami, addressed the audience with charismatic energy as he discussed his childhood, high school experiences and early business ventures. He emphasized his failures in life, from

bad business investments to wrecking his first car within a week.

“I use my past failings to motivate me to make a better future plan,” he said in his speech. “If you have no failures … or have it easy, then what is the point? Life is about taking risks and learning to manage risks.”

He talked briefly about his book, which covers his 32-day, 508-mile pilgrimage in 2013 from France to Spain. He said that the purpose was to raise money for the Miami Children Hospital and the MiamiDade Early Childhood Initiative Foundation. The book parallels that journey with his life journey, from a poor child in Cuba to a wealthy businessman in the U.S. Sen. Latvala and Lawrence discussed their admiration for Mr. Fernandez in their introductory speeches.

“He is an extraordinary student of people,” Lawrence said. “He had 23 successful businesses. Yet, he would still talk more about his

failings more than what he learned from his successes.”

“It’s great to hear a successful business story like this.” said sophomore Emily Harris, who is also chair coordinator for professional banks in Delta Sigma Pi. “His persistence even in times of strains and stresses I can’t even imagine, and how he just kept going is quite amazing.”

He a lso t a l ked about how he deals with customer service, making good business deals and the necessary steps to achieve those goals. “The execution of the details every day will make a difference,” was one piece of advice.

Other highlights were his experiences with celebrities such as “Magic” Johnson and James Earl Jones, whom he has made deals with to promote his business.

Fernandez has previously taken three pilgrimages and plans to retrace his steps in May.

news@crowsneststpete.com

The Crow’s Nest

Now hiring for the 2015 -2016 school year MANAGING EDITOR

• Directs staff, content and coverage • Proofs design, photography and content • Must be available weekends, especially Sundays • Writes content and assists staff and correspondents

PHOTO EDITOR

• Collaborates with staff to produce photographs for stories each week • Edits and proofs photographs for placement • Works with writers to develop photo captions and subject names

SECTION EDITORS AND ASSISTANTS COPY EDITOR (5 positions) • Proofs all content and writes headlines • News, Arts and Life, or Sports • Develops story ideas for staff and correspondents • Localizes national and international news • Edits section stories and works closely with the managing editor and the editor in chief • Assistants work alongside editors by writing stories and working on projects

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

• Oversees newspaper layout and design • Works with graphic designer to develop visual content • Must be available Sundays • Knowledge of basic design skills and Adobe InDesign is recommended • Produces graphics and illustration for stories • Creates advertising content when required

• Works with managing editor and editor in chief in proofing of content and design ADVERTISING MANAGER • Weekend availability and knowledge of AP Style is • Reaches out to potential advertisers and maintains relationships with past customers recommended • Communicates with creative staff regarding ad conMARKETING MANAGER tent and placement • Develops strategies to increase readership • Advertises and promotes the Most positions include a small stipend WEB MANAGER newspaper Email usfcrowsnest@gmail.com to request an application, • Oversees content on The Crow’s Nest website • Collaborates with staff on proj- or find the application under files on The Crow’s Nest page.

• Creates innovative ideas to reach more viewers ects to increase readership News writers, photographers, cartoonists and opinthrough multimedia ion writers are always welcome at our weekly meet• Posts stories to the website as they break ings. Stop by The Crow’s Nest office (SLC 2400) at 5 p.m. on Knowledge of HTML a plus Wednesdays.

Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Mr. and Miss USFSP crowned

By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter

by Caitlin Ashworth I am not a techy person. I try to keep up with modern technology—the latest gadgets, apps, whatever, but I feel like a prisoner to my computer, trapped in the portal of doom I call Windows 8.

There’s always something new, something to make life more convenient or social media more accessible. I’m still amazed by my “that’s so last year” iPhone 5s and my iPad mini from the Stone Age of 2013. I literally have no idea what will be invented next.

I tried on a pair of Google Glass, and all I could think about was mankind turning into the Borg from Star Trek Next Generation, a superior cyborg alien race that functions as drones to a single mind, the hive. Known as the Collective, the drones are basically half human, half machine, but are part of one entity.

This past Thursday, USF St. Petersburg hosted its inaugural Mr. and Miss USFSP pageant.

There were 11 contestants. The Mr. USFSP contestants were Jordan Palavra, Alan Mansour, Victor Sims, Jonah King and William Harris.

The Miss USFSP contestants were Justice Thornton, Ashlyn Bigley, Catherine Kouretsos, Arin Hurd, Taylor Singleton, Iannah Johnson and Miriam Jeanlys.

The night opened with a dance number that introduced the contestants to the audience. The audience was also introduced to hosts Solange Gorleku and Thomas Boyd.

The first competition of the night was Lifestyle and Fitness.

This was when contestants showed off their daily life with their attire and told the audience about some of their hobbies.

One outfit that stood out during this round belonged to Justice Thornton. She wore a Lakers dress with sneakers and complemented the ensemble with gold pom poms.

She told the audience that her hobbies include cheerleading, dancing and watching basketball.

Next up was talent; contestants

Tamiracle Williams | The Crow’s Nest

Iannah Johnson and Victor Sims were crowned at the Mr. and Miss USFSP pageant based on a lifestyle and fitness, talent, and formal wear with a final Q&A about their impact on USFSP.

had 90 seconds to show off their skills. Some of the talents included pop animation, singing, dancing, spoken word and a piano medley.

Johnson, who per formed a spoken word piece about power and faith, was a highlight of the talent round. A powerful line from her piece was “Faith is believing in something that you can’t see, but you can feel. Something that you know exists, but can’t prove.”

The last round of the night was formal wear and Q&A. Most of

the questions were related to the contestants’ potential impact on USFSP. Then t he moment ca me to announce Mr. and Miss USFSP. Mr. and Miss Congeniality: Jordan Palavra and Arin Hurd.

First Runner-up: Jonah King and Justice Thornton.

The first Mr. USFSP is Victor Sims and Miss USFSP is Iannah Johnson. life@crowsneststpete.com

I made a joke that once you buy a pair of Google Glass you are now part of the Collective—the Goog, but it freaked me out the more I thought about it.

Students steal the show at USFSP’s Got Talent

You can take a photo with a wink of your eye. If someone wears Google Glass all the time, you will never know if that person is taking a picture or video of you.

I heard a rumor that the next version of Google Glass will look like regular glasses. The Google Glass brings up ethical questions.

Think about the privacy laws that will arise from all the sketchy pictures taken.

Four singers, t wo da ncers, musicians and spoken word -- the USFSP’s Got Talent illustrated the remarkable diversity and talent of 10 skilled students who brought their abilities to the University Student Center ballroom stage Wednesday night.

As a part of the USFSP Week event lineup, the show was dedicated to showcasing the excellence among students at the university.

The event was put on by the USF St. Petersburg Multicultural Activities Council, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Harborside Activities Board.

Judges Kay Riggins from student affairs, Vaishali Gakhar, employee relations coordinator of the career center, and Dr. Gardiner “Tuck” Tucker assessed each performance based on specific criteria like showmanship and technical ability.

Eduardo Lozada won third place with an original, intimate spoken word performance about his personal experiences, hardships and outlook on life. Every few verses were met with applause.

Jordan Palavra and Donique Dillon came in second place as the only contestants to pair up and perform as a duo. Dressed in dapper suits, Palavra and Dillon seated themselves at the keyboard and

We a r a b l e t e c h n o l o g y i s extremely awesome, yet incredibly freaky. It seems like we are getting closer and closer to having technology embedded in our bodies.

It seems farfetched, but not too far off. Google has already invented smart lenses that monitor bloodsugar levels for people with diabetes. We are slowly becoming the Collective.

If we channeled our innovation towards exploration, we cou ld go to Mars. We cou ld become the voyagers on the starship Enterprise and go where no one has gone before.

By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter

Courtesy of Ashlyn Bigley

Ashlyn Bigley celebrated her first place prize and certificate at USFSP’s Got Talent show.

drum kit respectively, and worked out an upbeat, jazzy song with ease.

Ashlyn Bigley closed the show with her rendition of a broadway tune, completely winning the judges over, coming in first place.

Her stage presence was brilliant as she moved about the room and connected with the audience, especially during the spoken parts of the song. She appeared to be a natural performer and her singing abilities were on par with the Disney princesses.

The other contestants were welcomed with equal praise from the audience, some even getting on their feet to cheer and applaud.

Alan Mansour opened up the show with a seamless electronic

dance. Arin Hurd sang a beautiful cover of Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.” Jonah King shared an original rap song about how the best of his career is ahead of him.

Choya Randolph sang “Stay” by Rihanna and played the keyboard to accompany her vocals. The audience clapped to the rhythm of Selena Gomez while Aby Search stole the show with a fun dance routine. Keonna Gilmore brought out every emotion in her cover of John Legend’s “All of Me” as the third vocal performance of the night. life@crowsneststpete.com

Enter Dali’s world with the Avida Dollars contest The Salvador Dali museum is giving USF St. Petersburg students a chance to show off their creativity and have their work featured at the museum.

By Caitlin Ashworth Staff Reporter Greed, power, fortune: Money.

A dollar bill is just a piece of paper.

Easily torn, yet it remains strong and in control.

A r t becomes t he new cu rrency for the Dali Museum’s Avida Dollars design contest.

Avida Dollars is a nickname given to Salvador Dali as an insult

by Andre Breton, the founder of Surrealism. The nickname is an anagram for Salvador Dali, translating to “Greedy Dollars.”

Dali embraced the nickname, often referring to himself as Avida Dollars and using the money metaphor in his artwork. He twisted the taunt by turning it into a term for creativity.

W hat do you t h i n k Av id a Dollars would look like?

Avida Dollars designs will be judged to see which would most likely be currency in the surreal world.

The winner of the contest will also receive $500 from the Dali Education Department and reproductions of the winner’s Avida Dollars design will be used as tickets to a lecture by Andrei Codrescu, an art and politics commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered, and an author and founder of Exquisite Corpse.

Codrescu’s lecture will be held on Sept. 24 to celebrate the official launch of the Dali Museum’s online magazine En Garde! as well as discussing the value of creativity.

If you enter: The contest is only open to USF St. Petersburg students. Entries will be exhibited in the Student Gallery at the Dali Museum.

-All artwork must fit a standard 8”x10” frame -3D works cannot be accepted -Physical submissions only Deadline: August 10, 2015 For submission form, email Education Coordinator Bethany Mead: bmead@ thedali.org arts@crowsneststpete.com

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Innovation Overnight a success

By Cory Santero Crow’s Nest Contributor This past weekend, t he University Student Center was filled with students from across the Tampa Bay area for a 20-hour overnight innovation gauntlet.

Students from USF Tampa, Eckerd College and the University of Tampa were all in attendance.

The event was the first of its kind at USFSP and attracted three prominent organizations based in the Tampa Bay area: Jabil, Valpak and the Rowdies. Each company had a specific problem to solve.

Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams.

The teams, usually four to five members large, were paired with a specific problem to work on through the evening.

The room became a blur of activity. Large brown sheets of paper for mental maps were placed on the wall, and the room was covered in sticky notes.

At the start of the competition, a tool-kit crafted by the Royal Innovation Design Company, the keynote sponsor for the event, was

released, containing more than 50 slides of problem solving strategies.

The main strategy implemented was the “Design Thinking Process,” which was a chart intended to help teams think ing through their problem.

It entails empathy for consumers, defining the problem, ideas for solutions, constructing a prototype and the final testing stages.

The second most important design process was the Triple Bottom Line: people, profit, planet.

This design method had students not only focus on the prosperity of the company but also the welfare of the community and the Earth.

A panel of seven judges with a representative from Jabil and Valpak came the second day. Each team had three minutes to pitch, and a two-minute question and answer session.

Nineteen teams entered the gauntlet. Nineteen teams presented in morning. Nineteen teams took the task of craft the distance.

One team, Friends with Ideas from Tampa, won. life@crowsneststpete.com

Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

The companies and the problems: Jabil

Based in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jabil is an international manufacturing and design company with a global supply chain comprised of 23 plants in over ninety countries.

The Problem: Today, electronics have become a necessity. The tide of electronic waste is rapidly engulfing landfills and poisoning our environment with heavy metals while simultaneously wasting precious metals. How might we incentivize the reversal of the wave of e-waste? Jabil asks how to get college students involved in expanding the recycling process in opposition to exporting our waste to third world countries.

Valpak

Valpak is a coupon distribution giant. The gist of their service is to connect customers to local businesses in their markets by mailing coupon books with an array of coupons pertinent to that persons surrounding market. The company then makes money when the coupons are redeemed by the businesses that are attracting new wealth.

The Problem: Valpak struggles to connect to a younger market place, specifically the millennials.

It was up to the innovators to design a prototype or system that could activate this marketplace.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

The St. Petersburg based Tampa Bay Rowdies are members of the North American Soccer League and are becoming larger by the day. Since their 2010 debut after a long hiatus the team has been striving to perpetuate their presence in the Tampa Bay Area. The stadium recently underwent $1.5 million of repairs.

The Problem: The Rowdies don’t only want to be a successful sports club, they also wish become bastions for social improvement. Their main focus is impoverished children. Over 200,000 kids in the Tampa Bay area live in poverty and in 2012 nearly 25 percent of children in America lived below the poverty line. They asked innovators to create a method by which direct interaction and enrichment of unfortunate youth might be achieved.

Graduate Open House April 24 at 6 p.m., The University of Tampa, Vaughn Center Thinking about graduate school? Join us for a special open house event to learn more about UT’s top-ranked master’s degree programs! Tour campus and talk with faculty, admissions counselors, current students and academic advisers.

Ready to learn more? RSVP today at www.ut.edu/gradvisit!

MBA | Executive MBA | M.S. in Accounting | M.S. in Finance | M.S. in Marketing | Certificate in Nonprofit Management M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology | Master of Education | MFA in Creative Writing M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition Science | M.S. in Nursing

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Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Editorial

Our thoughts: Show initiative

Note: As the year winds down -- and graduation approaches -the editors at The Crow’s Nest want to offer their insight on life at USF St. Petersburg. This is the second in a three-part series.

The student newspaper at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Editor-in-chief

Jennifer Nesslar

Managing Editor

Mark Wolfenbarger

Creative Director

Josh Fuller

News editor

Emily Wehunt

News assistant

Jack Moscone

Arts & Life Editor

Emily Tinti

Arts & Life assistant Editor

Caitlin Ashworth

Sports editor

Andrew Caplan

Photo editor

Kalima Haneef

Advertising manager

Jess Aldrich

Marketing representatives

Liz Howard

Distribution Manager

Damani Harris

Mission Statement: The Crow’s Nest is committed to providing its readers with news relevant to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and its surrounding comm unity. The Crow’s Nest abides by the highest ethical standards and focuses on stories that help readers make informed decisions on current issues. We take seriously the public’s trust in our news reporting and strive to uphold the highest standards of reporting as defined by the Society of Professional Journalists.

The views expressed—both written and graphic—in the opinion section of The Crow’s Nest do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.

Submit letters to the editor to crowsnesteditor@gmail.com. The Crow’s Nest reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, day time phone number, and e-mail address. The Crow’s Nest is provided free by the Activities & Services Fee, and advertising. The Crow’s Nest neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims made by our advertisers.

Because of high production costs, members of the USFSP community are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased for 10 cents each by contacting the newspaper’s editor in chief or managing editor.

Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline.

The Crow’s Nest office is located at: Student Life Center 2400, University of South Florida St. Petersburg 140 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 873-4113 Press run: 1,000 Copyright 2014 St. Petersburg, FL

The Crow’s Nest is printed by: Web Offset Printing 12198 44th Street North Clearwater, Florida 33762

Facebook: The Crow’s Nest at USF St. Petersburg Twitter: @USFcrowsnest crowsneststpete.com

By Andrew Caplan Sports Editor We all have to start somewhere.

For me, it was when I transfered into USF St. Petersburg as a junior.

It ’s l i ke I wa sted t he f i rst 20-something years and I got a fresh start. I knew what I wanted to do, or I at least had an idea, but I always found trouble in getting the right guidance from people I respected.

I wanted to be a sports writer. I knew I had the passion and knowledge for it. But how could I get there?

I dreaded attending classes. So, for my entire first year at USFSP I took mostly online courses. What a mistake. One of my first in-person classes was with Professor Mary Shedden. That’s where I began to listen. I accepted the fact that I was nowhere near where I needed to be and took all the advice she would offer.

After learning the basic form of writing news stories and how to rid excessive details, I told her I was eager for experience, but didn’t know where to look.

She pointed me in the direction of The Crow’s Nest.

She told me to show initiative and start writing as much as possible.

I learned that The Crow’s Nest sports editor position was opening up after the semester. I decided to start attending the meetings in hopes of getting a story or two pitched my way.

My first assignment was covering a baseball club game. I emailed the club president and informed him I would be attending the game and he told me that after the game his team would be open to interviews. I tracked stats throughout the game and snagged my interviews after. I wrote the story that night.

Then, for the following issue, I wrote a small piece about the basketball team’s new coach. Nothing special; just thought it was worth a story, considering his background.

My third and final story of the semester was a profile on another student who pa r ta kes in taekwondo competitions. It was my first attempt at a profile story. None of the three articles were close to my best work, but they all provided something different.

The following semester I was hired as the sports editor.

I began covering as many sporting events as possible that were related to USF and USFSP. First, the football team. Then, I kept up with the baseball club.

Concealed carry on campus is a danger to us all

By Duncan Rodman Contributing Columnist

Have we learned nothing?

Is it so hard to conceive that allowing more f irearms in an environment will not reduce gun violence, but instead do just the opposite?

I lived in Littleton, Colo. in the aftermath of one of the most tragic school shootings in the history of this country—the massacre at Columbine High School. The community was devastated. I recall seeing cars with bumper stickers that adorned Colorado’s beautiful, violet state flower—The Rocky Mountain Columbine—reminding us to “never forget.”

But it seems like America easily forgets—or at least we are getting the wrong message out of the numerous tragic lessons that our kids are exposed to every year.

Legislators across the country seem to think that allowing students to carry concealed weapons is the solution.

If that seems counterintuitive, it’s because it is.

The Columbine High School Massacre, which led to the premature deaths of 13 innocent students, sparked an era of unprecedented gun violence amongst youth in this country. School shootings became the new normal—and we let it get

this way. Our country’s increasing acceptance of guns as part of our mainstream culture is turning a beautiful, civilized nation into a modern Wild West.

If it continues this way, and it looks like Tallahassee is going in that direction, we will all soon be living on the edge of battle, awaiting the next hot-head or mentally ill person to threaten our lives.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, who introduced the bill that would allow college students to carry concealed weapons on campus, believes that arming the potential victims of a school shooting is the best way to prevent those deaths. I ask him this: Is a fire-fight between two or more students really ideal?

The pro-gun side of the debate will say, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” If the good students are all armed, this will deter would-be

Basketball and sailing followed.

The first semester was not easy. The second was better. I started thinking outside the box for story ideas, as insisted by my faculty adviser, Professor Rob Hooker.

I started aiming higher. I started applying for credentials to every major sporting event in the Tampa Bay area. I interviewed several household names, like Joe Flacco, Drew Brees, Mike Singletary, Geno Auriemma and Larry Brown, for the student paper.

While at these events, I studied the more experienced reporters; the ones who do this for a living.

I watched how they asked questions, why they asked that question and noticed the little things they’d pick up on. Then I’d read their final piece in the paper or online and let them know when I enjoyed something they wrote. I watched the entire process.

I’d often tell them how jealous I was of their jobs. They’d be modest about it, but they know they love what they do. And I can’t wait for the day that I dread covering a major sporting event, because that’s when I know I made it.

I guess you can say I got all the experience I could while at USFSP and then some. I wanted to be better -- now I am. I accept that I’m still not perfect. I’ve only been writing for about two years. I want to spend the next 30 doing it, so there’s no time to be stubborn.

If you put forth an honest effort and can handle constructive criticism without arguing back, you

can go far. A lot of people say they can, but how many of those people have trashed articles they’ve spent hours on? How many actually go back and rewrite their old stories?

You should try it sometime. I am my worst critic.

Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable. Some journalists don’t mind moving to other towns or states because of the challenge. It doesn’t matter what you degree is in. Find what you like and do whatever it takes to pursue it. Follow your bliss.

I have a job, an internship and I live over an hour away. I have four classes just like anyone else, and I live in a house by myself. I’ve learned that “I don’t have time” is not a good excuse, because you will never have enough time.

If you’re a young journalism student, you should write and write and write. You won’t notice the change right away, but when you’re at the point of graduation, you’ll wish you could go back and rewrite your stories to reprint them. It is the evolution of writing and reporting.

A lt hough t he professors at USFSP are much better suited for the role, I try to help those who come to me with questions and want advice on something. No one told me who to contact when covering these events. So, I’m going to tell you what I was told.

Show some initiative, make some calls and send some emails.

Your resources are there, and even if I am one of them, use them.

shooters from carrying out their own nefarious intentions. I for one think that there are more effective ways of preventing gun violence than the idea of mutually assured destruction. I believe that an eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind.

T here is a lso t he i l log ic a l assumption that everyone who has a concealed carry permit is in their right mind. By tolerating guns in our schools, we only increase the chances of a mentally unstable person bringing one to class.

College is stressful enough without the constant threat of dying.

Imagine a learning environment where students are constantly looking over their shoulders, sizing up their peers, hoping that nobody in their classroom will snap and go on a shooting spree that day.

Imagine a troubled student who fails a critical exam and decides to retaliate. They are already armed, so there is no cooling down period

in which to quell his or her violent inclinations.

Allowing guns to be a part of campus and classroom life is a huge gamble—and there are no winners.

If Tallahassee lawmakers are truly concerned about security in schools, why not vote on funding for an increased presence of law enforcement on campuses?

Allowing students to police themselves is a recipe for disaster. A vigilante system of justice does not belong in a civilized society, let alone in our schools.

I urge the students and faculty of USF to reject this dangerous law. Do not allow our classrooms to become battlegrounds waiting to happen. I ask the student body of this great nation: What kind of world do you want to live in?

Duncan Rodman is a senior majoring in mass communications. He can be reached at duncanrodman@mail.usf.edu or on Twitter @ DuncanRodman.

editor@crowsneststpete.com

Throwback

Many animals existed in the United States before April 13, 1796, but none of them had a massive trunk.

That was until Salem, Mass.-born Capt. Jacob Crowninshield arrived on a trade ship called America in New York Harbor with a two-year-old female elephant.

Crowninshield purchased the elephant in India for $450. Halfway through the return voyage, according to stories, the understaffed ship ran out of clean drinking water. So the crew quenched the elephant’s thirst with porter, a dark ale made from brown malt. Crowninshield allegedly used his elephant’s love of alcohol to make a profit, charging spectators 25 cents to watch the elephant uncork and gulp a bottle of the ale.

Some believe that Crowninshield’s elephant later became known as Old Bet, America’s first circus elephant. That theory, however, has not been confirmed.

Capt. Jacob Crowninshield, owner of the drunken elephant.

crowsneststpete.com

Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Your personal Bull-o-Scope Your horoscope at your service.

Created by a fellow, and comprised of complete, Bull.

By Diamond-Joelle Cunningham Contributing Columnist Aries March 21- April 19 How’s that New Year’s resolution coming along? I guess that “NewYear-New-Me” fit-spirational post on Instagram that you made on Jan. 1 promising to go to the gym for 25 hours a day, 8 days a week didn’t exactly work out, huh? Don’t sweat it (because you clearly haven’t been sweating at all, especially at the gym) and relax. You have been putting more time into your personal life and studies, which is commendable and should not go unnoticed. Self-improvement is not limited solely to physical appearance.

There will be a big decision for you to make in the near future.

Before you get overwhelmed, consider your resources--speak to an advisor, an RA or even a friend.

Your tendency of being super independent is fantastic and all, but just remember that you have a great support system right here at USFSP. Keep on running through the six with your woes.

Taurus April 20- May 20 The semester ends in a few weeks, the sun is out, and you have been spending almost every bit of your free time sleeping, tweeting, instagramming, netf lixing and lurking on your ex. While personal time is great and all, there may be a deeper issue at root. Your reluctance to socialize with others, and your reputation of being the person to cancel last minute, indicates that you, Taurus, may have a few social butterflies in your stomach. One day, instead of locking yourself in your dorm, get lost in St. Petersburg … well, not too lost. With your student ID in hand, take a bus (for FREE) and see what this beautiful city has to offer. Rent a bike from the school and take a smooth ride to Vinoy Park. Have a photoshoot at the Pier with a friend. Just do something. We miss you.

Gemini May 21-June 21 Impressive. You’ve got your money up. You’ve brought your grades up. Everything seems to be going just great for you, Gemini.

It’s almost as if you were born this successful--but guess what?

You weren’t. It does not have to be Thanksgiving for you to give thanks to those who have helped you. Forget the gifts; you do not need to f lex and buy things for people to show your appreciation.

Call your parents and thank them for being supportive. Email an old high school teacher, and tell him about your college experience so far and ask how he is doing. Material things are great, but do not get too caught up with that. Remember where you came from, playa’.

Cancer June 22- July 22 It’s really hard for you to be as kind-hearted as you once were because of a bad experience. Don’t let bad people change your perspective on life. You’re awesome, even though, unfortunately, your ability to care for those you love might be compromised if your good intentions turn cold with anger or suspicion. Overreacting isn’t useful, but neither is retreating into your shell.

Take a deep breath and just be cool with expressing how you truly feel to those around you. If they don’t like it, that’s just too bad. As our friend Taylor Swift says: “The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.”

Leo July 23- Aug. 22 You want to take time off to play today but you might have too many responsibilities to just get up and go. Remember: no pain, no gain.

Try to work a bit harder in your field, so that when the time comes, you can relax without feeling too guilty. But, time for relaxation is definitely near, because romance is still very much on your personal agenda. Of course, you’ll need to finish up your chores, but once that’s over, you’ll be free to fully commit yourself to the concept of

nothing but recreation. You being the romantic, it won’t be difficult to entice that certain companion to join you. Leo, you are on fire.

Aside from the hot and steamy romance, and your desire for fun, take a few moments to fully address your personal feelings. Don’t lose yourself trying while trying to find someone else.

Virgo Aug. 23- Sept. 22 There has been a noticeable pattern of you acting on impulse, Virgo. You have an ongoing thirst for adventure, thrill and pleasure, but spending recklessly will not give you what you need. However, some exciting phone calls at midday might perk you up, perhaps good news from a friend or colleague.

Try to do something different these next weekends. You may feel like there’s nothing you feel passionate about today, or that what you do feel passionate about is just out of reach. Give yourself the benefit of physical satisfaction. While this can mean almost anything, try to focus on getting rest and fulfilling your dietary needs--not only wants.

Libra Sept. 23- Oct. 22 Your long-term objectives are not too secured, especially if others are relying on you more than you expected. Unfortunately, you could be so enthusiastic about your awesome skills that you over-commit every which way you turn today. It will hurt, but when someone asks for your time and know -- genuinely know -- that you cannot commit, try to immediately say “no” without any room for negotiation.

It hinders many problems from occurring later on. Nevertheless, you’re now being guided by a sensible inner voice that reminds you to slow down and be methodical in your approach, which is pretty sick.

Scorpio Oct. 23- Nov. 21 You may keep having the same thoughts over and over in your head, Scorpio. Each day you may

work out a different scenario for the way it comes to an end. Dreaming is great, but there needs to be a bit more pump in your step. Try putting more actions with your dreams instead of solely dreaming, and your thoughts will turn into a reality. Write down your most reoccurring thoughts on a piece of paper, and look at it once a day for motivation and as a reminder. In the meantime, stay calm and turn to others when you get into a bind along the way. An unexpected (well, I guess it is a little expected now) shift in power awaits you, but it is not anything you cannot handle.

You got it, dude.

Sagittarius Nov. 22- Dec. 21 Such a HUGE ego! Your confidence levels have increased and this is indicative in your recent successes. By you stepping out on a strong and sturdy foot, things seem to have been going your way as of lately. Friendship issues can come to a head this week with a Lunar Eclipse occurring, soon bringing unresolved issues to the surface, Sagittarius. Take advantage of this powerful energy by channeling it into setting new goals. With these new goals, and your confidence, there is no telling what you can do!

You were probably quite irritated with someone who has betrayed you recently, and remnants of those feelings could be hanging over your heart right now. Get over it.

Capricorn Dec. 22- Jan. 19 Each day that passes is a new chance for you to start off clean, dearest Capricorn. There seems to be a lot of regret in your heart as of late, and that is not good. Try to work on repairing some of the unintentionally burned bridges and a deeper sense of satisfaction will follow. Try waking up in the mornings with a very positive and refreshing outlook. Look at the sky, grass and people around you, and find pleasure in the smaller things. Your nice personality and

easy-going attitude has caused some minute issues; staying “onthe-fence” as a way to maintain peace has gotten a bit played out.

Get off the fence and be clear when communicating with a group. You have only your self-respect to gain by speaking up for what you believe in -- and any friendships that may end, well, the universe promises that it will ultimately be for your benefit. Don’t worry, mon.

Aquarius Jn. 20-Feb. 18 Your love life has been a bit flippity-floppity for the past few weeks.

To decrease this level of uncertainty and imbalance, focus on establishing what you want out of whatever you’re doing. You’re apt to move in and out of sync with people in general, Aquarius. At first it may seem quite natural and easy to be in your situation, and then the next minute you feel alone and uncomfortable.

Once again, finding exactly what you want out of whatever you’re doing, regardless of it being romantic or not, is crucial. Understand that it’s fine to have two conflicting feelings at the same time. You’re normal. Everyone goes through it!

Pisces Feb. 19-March 20 Keep out the outstanding work.

Do not feel hesitant when it comes along to pleasing yourself or doing something that you want to do.

You were once thinking about an idea, which turned into a goal; now you’re chasing it. There’s a point at which the chase is exciting and another point at which it’s exhausting. Pace yourself. It’s going to be so worth it in the long run! Do not let your strength and goals intimidate you!

Diamond Joelle-Cunningham can be reached at cunningham4@mail. usf.edu.

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crowsneststpete.com

Apr 13-19, 2015 | Volume 49 | Issue 28

Hockey The Tampa Bay Lightning (50-24-8) capped off their regular season with a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. The Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division and will face off against the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs in a seven-game series starting April 16. The lightning’s general manager, Steve Yzerman, won three championships with the Red Wings as their captain and had his jersey retired by the organization in 2007.

Follow us on Twitter!

Find us on Twitter @CNSports for local sports news and for Crow’s Nest articles.

Rowdies Den: Sports bar with a kick

Mark Wolfenbarger | The Crow’s Nest

In honor of his soccer club, Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards opened the Rowdies Den sports bar. The Den features wall-to-wall flat-panel TVs and games, including pool tables, electronic and traditional beer pong, and an Xbox One connected to a 65-inch TV. It also has a full liquor bar.

At a new sports bar celebrating the Rowdies, a rotating group of players will interact with fans after each home game

By Andrew Caplan Staff Reporter It started as a normal workday.

Like the day before, waitress Jessica Armor arrived at Midtown Sundries for her shift.

But when she arrived, a closed for business sign hanging on the door told her and the restaurant’s other employees that they were out of a job.

Not long a f ter, Ta mpa Bay Rowd ies ow ner Bi l l Edwa rds bought the building and transformed it into the Rowdies Den sports bar.

The Den at 200 First Ave. S in downtown recently held its grand opening party on April 4 in hopes of attracting locals before, during and after Rowdies home games.

Armor, 19, said Edwards offered

to let all the servers keep their jobs, but only her and one other waitress accepted the proposal.

Like the million dollar renovations to his soccer club’s Al Lang Stadium, Edwards spared no expense with the Den. Throughout the bar, there are 32 flat-screen televisions, including a 65-inch TV where customers take control of their favorite soccer players with Fifa on Xbox One. There are beer pong tables and an electronic version of the drinking-game favorite, electronic dart boards, and pool and foosball tables. But the biggest addition is the 120-inch projector, where fans can watch Rowdies soccer games during the season from almost any seat in the house.

Ma nager Mi ke Mauro sa id

business has been “slamming” since its opening. Located a couple of blocks from Al Lang Stadium, fans flooded the Den after the sold out home opener on April 11.

Mauro said Ralph’s Mob, the team’s official independent supporters group, is expected to show up often throughout the season with at least 100 people at a time.

“The business here is just better,” said Armor, comparing the Den to her previous workplace. “It’s just more upbeat.”

To keep fans coming back, the Den features live music every Friday and Saturday night. And after every home game, a rotating group of four Rowdies players is expected to show up to interact with fans.

Mauro also said the kitchen and menu are completely new and that Edwards invested more than $100,00 in the kitchen alone.

The menu offers alcoholic beverages like “Ralph’s Mob juice” and the “World Cup margarita”.

On Mondays, the restaurant offers students with a school I.D. select

buckets of beer and “kick in the glass” pitchers for $10. Customers can also take advantage of specials throughout the rest of the week on days like “Taco Tuesday” and “Wine-Down Wednesday”.

The Rowdies Den menu contains “game-day food” like burgers, fries, pizza and chicken wings.

Several staff members said that the “fifty-fifty balls” were one of the top sellers and worth the $8. The order comes with six bacon-wrapped tater-tots stuffed with blue cheese and served with a side of fra diavolo ketchup.

And if customers are feeling extra “rowdie,” they can throw down $10 on the “Rowdie Reaper” wing challenge for a chance to win an authentic Nike team jersey and get their picture on the “Wall of Fame.”

Customers have 10 minutes to chow down on six boneless or regular wings drenched in the Rowdie Reaper sauce, which Mauro said contains ghost peppers.

To increase the heat, there is a five-minute cool-off period where

The Den is open 11 a.m.-3 a.m Monday through Friday, and opens an hour earlier on the weekend. If customers are unable to find parking in front of the building, they can park in the Rowdies Den garage for $5. the customer must sit and endure the burn without any thing to drink. Only two people have completed the challenge, according to Mauro.

“We had one guy do it; his whole neck turned red,” Mauro said.

“Don’t do it.”

Every night before 7 p.m., the Den offers a $5 burger on its menu.

USF St. Petersburg graduate Adrian Arabitg believes students should take advantage of the deal.

“If I was a college student, I’d come here for sure,” Arabitg said.

“Good deals, fun environment, good place to bring some friends.” sports@crowsneststpete.com