Single copies free The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
The Apple-FBI faceoff
Burger King has hot dogs?
p. 8
p. 5
Biology now top major on campus
Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg
USF St. Petersburg biology students in the honors program conduct research as part of the biological sciences curriculum.
By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter When Lindsey Dornberger was searching for a place to pursue a doctorate in marine science, she considered four graduate schools before choosing USF. It is the “Goldilocks” of institutions, said Dornberger, a fourthyear teaching assistant for biology labs. “They have money to do research, it’s a good program, and it’s a nice place to live.”
Dornberger is enrolled through USF’s Tampa program since there is no graduate biology program on the St. Petersburg campus – at least not yet. But hundreds of undergraduates apparently agree with her about USFSP. There are 711 biology majors here, which makes it the university’s most popular major, well ahead of pre-business administration (586 majors), psychology (428) and education (300). The surge in biology majors
also figures in USFSP’s 10-year master plan, which anticipates only one new academic building in the decade ahead – a second science and technology building. That building, which would be constructed on the north side of the current Science and Technology Building, would house classrooms, labs and offices for science, technology, engineering and math. Meanwhile, the university is remodeling a former Greyhound Bus maintenance building behind
candidacy. If they receive less than that, the process would be reopened for a new round of candidate submissions. Also on this week’s ballot are 10 candidates for 15 positions on the student Senate. Each voter can vote for three candidates. A candidate must receive at least 30 votes to be elected, said Alyssa Winston, student government’s supervisor of elections. If some candidates fall short of that,
it means the Senate will have more vacant seats. Three senators are up for reelection. They are junior Natalie Guerra, sophomore Laraine Ruiz and sophomore Emilie Morris. Newcomers on the Senate ballot are senior Anthony Cook, sophomore Elisa Duka, junior Albert Moreno, junior Sasha Rambo, senior Scott Mange and freshman Miranda Latimer. The winners will be announced March 3 at the annual Miracle
Kardas set to become student body president
By Jason Saab Staff Reporter
Because he drew no opposition, Ziya Kardas is poised to become the next president of the student body. Kardas, a graduate student in business, and running mate Alexis Germaise, a senior in marketing, will be the only names on the ballot when voting begins Feb. 29 and ends at 7 p.m. March 3. They will be elected if 51 percent of the voters say “yes” to their
Continued on p. 3
USFSP’S TOP 10 MAJORS, FALL 2015 Biology 711 Pre-business administration 586 Psychology 428 Education 300 Accounting 183 Criminology 174 Mass communications 154 Health sciences 142 English 133 Environmental science and policy 116 Frustrated English majors call for change in their department. Story, page 2
the Poynter Institute for laboratories. One lab will be for chemistry students, the other three for biology. The labs will be bigger, with more prep room space, than current labs. They should be ready by next spring. D r. Me l a n ie R ie d i n ge rW h it more , t he c h a i r of t he Biological Sciences Department, was a founding member of the department in the fall of 2012. The new program exceeded its five-year growth estimate in the
first semester, a development that Dr. Thomas Whitmore, a research assistant professor attributes to his wife’s skill in creating the backbone of the program and gaining state approval. “She did a great service to the university,” Whitmore said. “It’s really quite an accomplishment. A lot of lives have been changed in three years’ time.”
Continued on p. 3
Courtesy of Kyleigh Cobett
Ziya Kardas (left), a graduate business student and Alexis Germaise (right), a senior marketing major, are running uncontested in USF St. Petersburg’s 2016 student body presidential election.
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue
News Briefs Monday, Feb. 29
Spring Wellness Week Feb. 29 through March 4 The USFSP Wellness Center collaborated with Campus Recreation, P.E.E.R.S. and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to present a week of free trainings, massagers, healthy foods and other beneficial resources. Visit the Wellness Center website for a complete calendar of events. USFSP Campus Moviefest USC Ballroom // 7 p.m. Campus MovieFest, one of the largest student film festivals in the world, has come to USFSP. The films students have worked on over the past week will be shown at the University Student Center. The screenings will be split in categories, including a special “50th Anniversary” category for films that pay tribute to the campus’ accomplishments.
Tuesday, March 1 Wom e n ’s H E R s t ory Mon t h Kickoff Event USC Reef // 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come celebrate the kickoff of women’s history month in the Reef in the University Student Center. The event will include a presentation that recognizes women’s achievements throughout history as well as informational, interactive games where students can win prizes.
Thursday, March 3
USFSP Miracle Dance Marathon 2016 USC // 4 p.m. to 1 a.m // Thurs-Sat: 7:30-10 p.m. Sunday: 4-7 p.m. USFSP will host its second annual Miracle Dance Marathon to “dance for those who can’t.” The event is held to raise money for All Children’s Hospital, with this year’s goal set at $10,050. Food and games will be available throughout the dance.
Correction: Proctorio, the online proctoring service the university began using this semester, makes notations – or flags – when it detects unusual noise or movements while a student is taking a test or exam. But it is the instructor who decides if the student fails. A story in the Feb. 22-28 issue was incorrect on this point.
Frustrated English majors call for changes in their department By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter
In December, 10 English majors grew so frustrated w it h t heir department that they sent a lengthy letter to two university administrators and five English professors. In their protest, the students cited what they called minimal course offerings, faculty turnover, a “senior portfolio” class that duplicates an “intro to the major” class, and a curriculum that does not adequately prepare students for careers after they graduate. “What could be a cutting edge English department at USFSP, in one of the fastest growing cities for young professionals and artists, instead feels like a confused mix of educational ideologies and slightly outdated, out of touch execution of them upon the students,” the letter said. The primary author, senior Phi l ip Belcast ro, sa id he has received no response from the university. But Dr. Lisa Starks-Estes, who became chair of the Verbal and Visual Arts Department in January, said changes are underway that will address most of the students’ concerns. “We met as a program and went through all of the items in that letter, and we talked about every single one,” she said. “We are not a large literature department,” she said. “But we completely agree that we should offer literatures taught in English
by diverse writers with diverse backgrounds; this year we had some instructors on sabbatical, and some professors on leave... so we have done the very best that we could.” The Department of Verbal and Visual Arts offers an English major in two areas of specialization. The first, called literature and cultural studies, is designed to prepare students to be communicators and researchers, whether they move into careers or into graduate and professional schools, according to the department’s website. The second, called writing studies, is designed to prepare students to work as “innovative professional communicators” in government, business, medicine and other fields. In the fall semester, the department had 133 u nderg raduate English majors and 10 English professors. Three of those professors were part-time adjuncts. Belcastro’s letter, which was signed by nine ot her English majors, was sent on Dec. 1 to Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, with copies to Assistant Dean Susan Toler, Starks-Estes and four other English faculty members. It arrived shortly before department chair Thomas Hallock gave way to Starks-Estes. The letter cited issues in both of t he depa r t ment ’s a rea s of specialization. In an interview with the Crow’s Nest, Starks-Estes indicated the department is working to address the students’ concerns.
She said the program has a relatively new process for class scheduling that should help solve the problem of class availability. It is a four-year plan that provides a structured class scheduling that rotates courses so students can consistently get the classes they need to graduate, she said. The academic advising office helps schedule courses with the faculty, and Toler also examines the schedule to make certain all necessary courses are offered. “The more eyes on the class schedule, the better,” said StarksEstes. “We really don’t want to miss anything.” Perhaps the students’ strongest criticism was directed at what they called “applicability of the major.” There is “no sense of cohesion among students wondering what they are going to do after graduation, and not knowing how to pay bills with an English degree,” said the students. They said English majors who intend to pursue teaching careers should be able to take classes in the College of Education. Literature classes “could include some philosophy, advertising, publishing, and screenwriting, while writing classes could include teaching, grant and speech writing, and even rhetoric and law,” they said. “An English program shouldn’t be producing students who have no concept of how to produce a professional publication of any kind.” Hallock is now advising Sigma Tau Delta, the honors society for English majors. The organization
has plans to expand and begin a literary magazine for students’ work. Starks-Estes said that professors have been offering experiential service learning, citing professors in the Writing Studies department, who have provided service learning, work with nonprofits and marginalized communities. She says the English program has a long history of working with the community in different ways. Belcastro also suggested that the English program offer courses in teaching English as a second language, but faculty felt that this aspect of the letter didn’t apply to their course offerings. Starks-Estes said English majors who want training to teach English as a second language can minor in courses in the College of Education. But the department does not have the resources to offer language courses alongside world literature courses. “As a department we are always looking into our curriculum,” said Starks-Estes. “We’ve put some changes forth just recently to ensure that writing studies students and literature and cultural studies students take courses in both tracks.” Belcastro said he is cautiously optimistic about the changes the department is making, but frustrated t hat students were not involved in the discussion. “I was hoping this would help to create a three-way dialogue, a way for the students, faculty and administrators to all discuss the future of our education,” he said.
A declaration of majors at USF St. Petersburg
By Ryan Callihan Staff Reporter
More t h a n 10 0 USF St . Petersburg students signed up for the first Arts and Sciences Declaration of Academic Majors event on Feb. 25 in the University Student Center. The event provided an outlet for students to recognize their selected majors within the College of Arts and Sciences and celebrate the beginning of the academic paths that they’ve chosen. The event was hosted by Dr. Susan Toler, assistant dean of the college of arts and sciences; Dr. Gardiner “Tuck” Tucker, interim regional associate vice chancellor and Dr. Thomas Hallock, an associate professor of literature. Before the official declarations, a dozen tables representing academic majors offered at USFSP provided information students could use to help them decide on a field of study. Some of the academic majors present at t he event included
Anthropolog y, Environmental Science and Psychology. Student representatives and professors manned the tables to answer questions from prospective students. After the opening remarks, Hallock sent undecided students on an exercise to find out more about the major they were most interested in. They were tasked with answering questions like “What does this major do?” “Why major in this subject?” and “Which famous people majored in this subject?” Following the exercise, students from each of the twelve majors were invited to the stage to share their thoughts on what their particular field of study meant to them. Hallock said that no matter what major students end up choosing, he hopes they will apply the skill sets they’ve learned during their time at the university later on in life. “What do we love most about USFSP?” He asked. “The students.”
Devin Rodriguez | Crow’s Nest
USFSP student Edgar Vidalia officially declared his major at the criminology booth in the University Student Center during the campus’ first Arts and Sciences Declaration of Academic Majors event on Feb. 25.
crowsneststpete.com
The Donald Trump Effect By Michael Butler Crow’s Nest Contributor From his comments on immigration to the discrediting of John McCain –a member of his own party –Donald Trump has built a viral reputation during the 2016 presidential race. Since he launched his campaign in June 2015, the businessman’s success in the polls has caused a lot of confusion. “May be t hey don’t wa nt a straight-talker. Maybe they don’t. But I am so tired of this politically correct crap,” Trump said to the Greater Charleston Business Association and the South Carolina African-American Chamber of Commerce in September. Could his refrainment from
being “politically correct” be a potential obstacle for Republican ca nd idates r u nni ng for loca l offices? “I haven’t seen a direct impact on my particular local campaign,” said Eric Seidel, a Republican running for Clerk of Court in Hillsborough County. “But I can tell you, from what folks are coming up and telling me, Trump is making people pay closer attention to the election in general.” Contrary to what some may believe, there is a formula to this madness – and one that’s proving to be effective as Trump still manages to lead in the polls among Republican candidates. Mark Proctor, owner of the consulting firm Mark Proctor & Associates that represents business
clients and political candidates, explained how presidential elections influence local campaigns. “There is no value in fighting against presidential campaigns,” said Proctor. “Many (local) candidates will encounter the down ballot on election day … Voters will determine who they want as president, and then vote for the local candidates in that party.” Considering the “down ballot,” Proctor explains Trump’s method to gain votes. “A candidate should identify likely voters,” he said, referring to individuals who are typically active during elections. “This is determined by looking through voting records.” After finding the likely voters, Proctor says the candidate should
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
target the “super voter” – someone who has a consistently high voting turnout. In this scenario, the goal is to reach the moderate voters who are more likely to be swayed. A strong Democrat or Republican will typically vote within their party lines, so the candidate could waste time focusing on them. Now, this is where Trump’s controversial speeches come into play. According to Proctor, Trump’s sharp tongue has captured a new category of voters who are brought into political awareness by his headlining/polarizing comments. And because of Trump’s polarizing behavior, Proctor says voters are forced to decide whether they are for him or against him - with no in between.
“The more he speaks, the more attention he gets.” But Trump may not be the only candidate using this method. P r o c t o r p o i nt e d o u t t h a t Democratic ca ndidate Bernie Sanders, V-I, also takes a nontraditional approach in his platform, speaking out against the political games politicians play. He said that the two candidates, despite their wide differences, represent “the attitude of change.” “I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct,” he said. “I’ve been challenged by so many people and I don’t, frankly, have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either.”
Student Government election continued from front cover Dance Marathon in the University Student Center. In recent years, student elections have received scant attention on campus. In last year’s presidential election, only 536 students voted in the first round and 660 in the runoff. USFSP enrollment is 6,774, but fewer than 600 students live on campus. K a rd a s , w ho los t to Joz ef Gherman in the runoff last year, expressed disappointment that
he and Germaise did not draw opponents. He said he had hoped for a race like last year, when he was one of four presidential candidates. Ka rdas, who is f rom St. Petersburg, is the vice chairman of appropriations in the Senate. He is active with the Offshore Sailing Team and Student Green Energy Fund and serves as a voting member of the Capital Improvement Trust Fund Committee. Kardas said he recently worked with Kyle Uber, his running mate
last year, to form an American Sign Language club on campus. If students confirm his presidency this week, he said, he and Germaise “would like to expand on the meal plan. This involves us looking into options such as increasing the amount students may spend at venues like The Tavern.” Kardas said they also “want to look further into the renegotiation of, or alternatives to, the Sodexo contract because it will be up during our term.” Kardas and Germaise also
want to help students build toward careers by improving awareness of the Career Center and providing “workshops, networking opportunities and resume building,” he said. Germaise, who is from Tampa, is a member in Delta Sigma Pi, a coed professional fraternity on campus. She has held multiple positions, including senior vice president and marketing chair. She was in charge of the kick off-event as part of her position on the Homecoming Committee on
the Harborside Activities Board. Off campus, she said, she has worked at Metropolitan Ministries, taught English to children in Romania and helped rebuild houses in three states. “I believe that my leadership experience and years on campus will make me the perfect vice president for USFSP,” she said.
The No. 1 major on campus is now biology Continued from front cover
USFSP offers five concentrations within the major: biomedical; ecology and environment; plant biology; marine biology; and general biology. “Students come into the program with a curiosity about life,” Riedinger-Whitmore said. “Some have a strong science background, but may only see careers in medicine or marine science. Then they see other options as freshmen.” Dornberger, the doctoral candidate and biology lab teaching assistant, said she thinks a lot of students choose biology because it is a “gateway science degree.” Mitch DeRosa, a junior biology major with a concentration in marine biology, said he selected his route because “I just like animals. And that’s what I want to do when I get out of here – study animals.” Jon Gu i l ford , a f re s h m a n in the major, has yet to pick a concentration. “But I definitely want to be in pathology, because I like studying things that are too small to see with the naked eye,” Guilford said. Dr. Scott Burghart is the adviser for upper-level biology majors. In his opinion, the rise in interest in
biology coincides with “society placing an increasing emphasis on STEM training and getting a STEM degree.” He added, “The goal (for USFSP) is to grow enrollment to 10,000 in 10 years, making an increase in the biology major good for all.” STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math, four areas that are closely related and critical to many careers. The U.S. Department of Education has predicted more growth in STEMrelated fields over the next five years than all other occupations. While that is encouraging news, Riedinger-Whitmore advises her students to have a solid plan and an alternate plan. “A degree in biology typically requires post-grad work of some kind. You’re usually looking at academic work or at least a certification,” she said. The professors in the department are training students in fieldwork and research to prepare them for post-graduate level endeavors. Sometimes, this happens through substantial personal effort. “There is an emphasis on student access to faculty and research. They make time for the students
and mentoring is ver y important for the program,” RiedingerWhitmore said. The hands-on nature of so many biology offerings may lie at the heart of the major’s success. Whitmore has created a teaching herbarium in his research laboratory. Students help collect specimens of local Florida f lora, which are then pressed, mounted and added to the neatly labeled and arranged cupboards. He has also amassed a myriad of reference books on plants and ecology not available through the school’s library system. Other instructors on campus have collections, too. Dr. Heather Judkins specializes in cephalopod research and has several squid in her research laboratory. “We want the students to have more time to work in the labs outside of class,” said Riedinger-Whitmore. Meanwhile, she is busy with another administrative challenge: In response to high demand, she is working to create a graduate program on campus, too.
Moriah Parrish / Crow’s Nest
Ian Burke, a junior majoring in biology, makes the first incision on his specimen for dissec tion. Lab teaching assistant Brenna Meath helps students with the proper technique.
crowsneststpete.com
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
USFSP Shakespeare Society brings life Must see to century-old tales
shows for March The Alternative Press Tour
Artists: State Champs, Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck, Like Pacific March 5 // 5:30 p.m. The Orpheum
Coheed and Cambria “The Color Before the Sun Tour” with Glassjaw and Silver Snakes March 12 // 6:30 p.m. Jannus Live
Vance Joy “Fire and the Flood Tour” with Blind Pilot and Jamie Lawson March 14 // 7 p.m. Jannus Live
Tides of Man U.S. Tour 2016 with Icarus the Owl, Covet, and Yvette Young March 14 // 6 p.m. The Orpheum
We The Kings
with AJR, She Is We, Elena Coats & Brothers March 18 // 8 p.m. State Theatre
Of Montreal
March 31 // 8 p.m. The Orpheum
By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter The student-led Shakespeare Society celebrated the first of its two-week Shakespeare Festival with an outdoor performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one of the famous playwright’s more celebrated works. From Feb. 25-28, the group performed at the Williams and Snell House courtyard, where a smaller, but similar cast will return to act out “Cymbeline” another renowned Shakespeare play starting March 3. The second annual festival was organized by the Department of Verbal and Visual Arts and the MLA in Liberal Studies program. Written in the late 1500s, “A M id su m mer Nig ht ’s Dre a m” revolves around the marriage of Theseus, Duke of Athens and his wife Hippolyta, while also following the often eccentric adventures of four young Athenian lovers, a small troupe of amateur actors and forest fairies. The stor y features some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters of all time, notably Puck and Nick Bottom, who are portrayed by local actors Chad Jacobs and Betty-Jane Parks, respectively. Dr. Lisa Starks-Estes, dramaturg and faculty adviser to the club, teaches the play in her classroom and many of her students were involved in the production, working behind the scenes on costumes, lighting and sound. Two of her students, Beth Heisel and Damani Harris were part of the acting cast. Heisel also serves as president of the Shakespeare Society. The rest of the cast is comprised of community members, USF St.
Petersburg alumni and local actors, some from the American Stage Theater Company in St. Petersburg. Veronica Matthews, academic program specialist in the History & Politics Department and USFSP alumna, served as the artistic director for the play. Matthews said she and StarksEstes knew last year that they wanted to expand the festival for its second run by adding programming and an additional week to produce another play. “Bet ween Dr. Sta rk s a nd I developing and planning the festival, and bringing her students and people in the community together – this kind of event really just creates an important culture here on campus,” said Matthews. “There are a lot of Shakespeare societies at very prestigious schools in the country… so I’m very excited.” Auditions were held in the beginning of December and because many of the actors have roles in both productions, they organized a rotating rehearsal schedule that began in January. “It shows their love of theatre and for the school in general,” said Matthews. “I think the students in particular have worked so hard and have shown their dedication to Shakespeare.” Even students who weren’t involved in the Shakespeare Festival are still experiencing (Shakespeare in a similar way) As part of StarksEstes class, students are assigned to work roughly five hours with the Shakespeare Festival –even if it’s just helping out backstage – or at a nonprofit organization in the community. “I use a learning through performance approach. In groups, they discuss the play, then carve out a
Tamiracle Williams | Crow’s Nest
Oberon (Thom Jay) instructs his servant Puck (portrayed by Chad Jacobs, seated on his lap) to carry out his plan to alter the Athenians’ love using a magical juice from the “love-in-idleness” flower.
scene to further explore that issue. They perform it for the class and talk about the choices they made in their mini impromptu,” said Starks-Estes. “They still do a lot of writing. They think about the plays when they perform them. The creative writing – I see that as a different kind of performance. I bring the creative and critical together.” Mat t hews was once one of Starks-Estes’ students. “You have this professor that you completely respect and now you’re working together,” said Matthews. “I’m personally interested in the ways we can reinvent Shakespeare. I look at the text in one way, and she (Dr. Starks-Estes) looks at it in another. We balance each other out.” With no formal budget in its
first year, the festival was funded by personal investment, but this year they received a 50th Anniversary grant from the university –allowing the group to afford modifications that included marketing materials, a backdrop and LED lighting. “My students – past, present and future – have been involved,” Starks-Estes said. “It has really blossomed.” The group will recognize the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death by holding a funeral for the late poet and dramatist, where students are invited to dress and act as their favorite character in remembrance.
Student spring break trip benefits communities By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter Parties. Alcohol. Beaches. Three words that sum up the typical college student’s spring break. But for those who want to spend their week off a little more civilized, the Office of Leadership and Student Organizations has offered an alternative – the Un-BULLievable Spring Break. The program began last year and allows USF St. Petersburg students to help communities in need by performing service projects in select locations.
From March 14-19, students involved with USB will split up in three groups that will travel to New Orleans, Atlanta and Boone, N.C. The New Orleans trip will focus on home rebuilding and reconstruction in neighborhoods that are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the area in 2005. Site leader Teri Deardorff said that during the trip, students will volunteer with Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, a nonprofit organization that focuses on engaging local youth to help improve the city. “(The homes) are then sold to teachers for lower than market prices to revitalize the area and the
schools within the city,” she said. Students venturing out to Boone will focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness by working and living on the Woodland Harvest Mountain Farm, a local, off-the-grid farm. “I purposefully chose a location in the Blue Ridge Mountains because I love Appalachian culture and the lessons it provides the soul,” said Paige McDaniel, the site’s leader. “I wanted to introduce other students to this great region and highlight environmental issues in one of the most beautiful environments.” The group traveling to Atlanta will work with Intown Collabora-
tive Ministries Homelessness and Poverty, an organization that seeks to weaken the widespread surge of poverty through community outreach. Atlanta’s site leader Taylor Singleton said she searched for locations in the south with high rates of poverty and homelessness. “Location was a secondary decision, but it does play a huge role in the magnitude of homelessness and poverty,” Singleton said. “Atlanta is number one in the nation for childhood homelessness.”
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Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
After campus garden was demolished, club starts larger project By Caitlin Ashworth Staff Reporter L a s t y e a r, D y l a n C a n a d y approached the Bayboro Garden to prepare for a meeting and found the area had been fenced off for the construction of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business. With the area off limits, no one could access or care for the 19-raised-bed garden and without proper notice, nothing could be transplanted. “All of our plants withered and died,” said Canady a senior and Garden Club secretary. The Bayboro Garden was a project started in 2010 behind the Piano Man building and maintained by students in the Garden Club. They harvested a variety of food such as tomatoes, kale, peppers and herbs. A harvest of green beans was used to help a local church event, dill was added to the Tavern’s salmon dip and other produce was used for a few campus events.
Since the garden was demoli s h e d , t h e c lu b ’s n e w p r oj ect is underway – the Bayboro Food Forest – in collaboration with the Student Environment Awareness Society and the Student G ove r n me nt D e p a r t me nt of Sustainable Initiatives. The forest is expected to produce more food than the traditional garden and will include trees, a pond and a gazebo. Unlike the Bayboro Garden, which harvested different plants depending on the season, Canady said the food forest’s crops will not be removed or replanted, but will remain indefinitely – a technique known as permaculture. “Literally permanent agriculture,” he said. According to Canady, permaculture allows plants and even animals to interact and have an effect on the ecosystem. He said some plants give others necessary shade, others attract pollinators and some may repel predatory insects. As seasons
change, certain plants may lay dormant while others will thrive. The food forest is being developed behind Residence Hall One on a raised section of land where tree roots and a potential pond will not interfere with buried pipes or lines. SEAS and the Garden Club want the forest to be used as a “living” classroom to allow students to get hands-on education about sustainability and the environment. However, much of the project is still in the works as students gather quotes for landscape work and supplies. “A big portion will be done by the end of the semester,” said Alana Todd, secretary for the department of sustainable initiatives. Want to be involved in the Bayboro Food Forest? Garden Club meetings are held every Monday at 3 p.m. in the Coral Room at the University Student Center.
Caitlin Ashworth / Crow’s Nest
The Food Forest project started after the Bayboro Garden was demolished in preparation for the construction of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business. The forest is being developed behind Residence Hall One. Using a technique called permaculture, plants in the Bayboro Food Forest will interact, with some providing necessary shade and others repelling predatory insects.
Burger King’s hot dog review: It was incredible – and awful By Ryan Callihan and Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporters Just like an episode out of the “Twilight Zone,” you can now order a hot dog at Burger King. “They mostly sell during the dinner shift, between 4 and 8 p.m.,” said Carla Coman, a Burger King employee. “They’ve been selling well.” On Feb. 22, two kinds of grilled hot dogs were added to the menu – complete with real grill marks. The “Classic Grilled Dog” comes loaded with ketchup, mustard and sweet relish, while the “Chili Cheese Grilled Dog” is covered in chili and topped with shredded American cheese. Do the King’s new hot dog specialities match the quality of the chain’s famous burgers? Two Crow’s Nest staff members were determined to find out. Devin Rodriguez, 25-year-old hot dog connoisseur, taste tested the “Classic Grilled Dog”
Devin Rodriguez and Ryan Callihan / Crow’s Nest
After Burger King announced its newest menu addition – hot dogs – which debuted on Feb. 22, two Crow’s Nest Arts & Life reporters, Devin Rodriguez (top) and Ryan Callihan (bottom) decided to do some shoe-leather reporting and went out into the field to find out if the King’s dogs would deliver.
Do It comes in it’s own paper bag, handed horizontally on a tray ... almost precious. The hot dog is surrounded by ketchup and mustard atop a layer of sweet relish and chunks of onions – and when I say chunks, I mean chunks.
It was incredible. And awful. The bread was powdery and frail like the end bun inside a mass-produced Costco-sized bag of hot dog buns. I feel like I need to be clear here, sweet relish would not have been my first choice. And if I were to order another dog from the King, I would ask him to cut out the onions. But, for the sake of science, I finished the hot dog. To answer the most important question: The grill marks are real. The hot dog wasn’t incredibly impressive, nor was it unimpressive. It seems the triviality of a 100 percent all-beef hot dog at a burger joint will be its most spectacular feature. That being said, at $1.99 you might be feeling it. Ryan Callihan, 20-year-old professional junk food consumer, goes for the “Chili Cheese Grilled Dog” The presentation def initely wasn’t anything to write home about. It’s a fast food place, not a Japanese steakhouse. My chili cheese dog looked hastily made – in fact, I’m quite sure it was hastily made. The chili spanned most of the hot dog, and I found it to be a generous amount. It was more than I had expected, honestly. The cheese
was sprinkled on top, but wasn’t quite melted. Anxious to see what all the fuss was about, I picked it up and took my first bite of the latest BK creation. I was impressed, actually. Well, I was impressed by the fact that I wasn’t unimpressed. I paid for a chili cheese hot dog and that’s exactly what I got. It wasn’t the best chili dog I’ve ever eaten, but it was far from the worst. If that really says anything. Did I believe that the king of burgers had it in him to make a good hot dog? Not really. Would I eat another? Almost certainly.
Conclusion If you absolutely have to have a grilled hot dog right this second, you could do a lot worse than Burger King’s. While announced with much fanfare, it turns out that a hot dog from a burger joint is still, for better or for worse, just a hot dog. Whether or not a “just fine” hot dog is something you’d be interested in is totally up to you, but it’s a welcome addition to BK’s already extensive menu. One question is stuck in our heads, though: Why did this take so long? Your move, Ronald.
crowsneststpete.com
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
‘Gluten-free’ isn’t always healthier By Caitlin Ashworth Staff reporter
Editor-in-chief
SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN
Managing Editor
EMILY TINTI
Creative Director
GABRIELA MENA
Copy editor
CAITLIN ASHWORTH
News Editor
JASON SAAB
News Assistant
JEFFREY ZANKER
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Deep red pockets of blood raised and blistered the surface of my mother’s skin. It itched profusely. But the rash was just a warning for the illness inside her body. A common ingredient in ever yday food was damaging her small intestine – gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, oats and rye. After numerous tests with negative results, my mom was placed on a gluten-free diet and her rash went away. Although she never tested positive, her doctor diagnosed her with Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where gluten ingestion damages the lining of the small intestine. Today, the disease is estimated to affect one in 100 people, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. And sensitivity to the protein is genetic. A f ter at tend i ng nu merous Gluten Intolerance Group support meetings, my mother was afraid her condition may have passed down to her children. Testing can be done to determine Celiac disease. However, according to the CDF, non-celiac gluten sensitivity is undefined and cannot be properly diagnosed. If tested positive for the gene, patients will undergo an endoscopic
biopsy to determine if the small intestine has been damaged due to gluten intake. My mother decided to test my two brothers, sister and me. In the genetic test, I tested positive. But in the biopsy that followed, the results were negative. My brothers and sister tested negative on the genetic test. However, when they had their stool tested through Enterolab, a company based in Dallas, Texas that analyzes feces to determine food sensitivities – they came out positive. According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, Enterolab has never successfully published anything on the accuracy of stool tests, (or any other stool test manufacturers, for that
I never thought I would have the courage to take scissors and cut my hair. Nor did I imagine t hat with each snip I would feel so
good, and so free. I think that’s one of the benefits of wearing natural, afro or curly hair: To be comfortable with yourself and have the confidence that you’ll look good no matter what. Just a few years ago, the mere idea of cutting off even one inch of my hair made me feel awful and less “feminine.” Today, I don’t feel that way anymore. Taking the step to let my hair grow naturally, just as it is, has not only increased my confidence, but it’s made me a firm believer that “image” doesn’t have the value we tend to give it.
a nd I s p o k e w it h t h e n-U. S . Representative Eric Cantor, R-VA, about labeling allergens on food products. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 – an amendment applied to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requiring the labeling of food that contains an ingredient that is, or a protein from, a “major food allergen.” Today, gluten-free marks an array products on grocery store shelves in bold letters, varying in size and shape. The overdone labeling has contributed to the misconception that these foods are healthier. According to registered dietitian Ashley Crowl, gluten-free substitutes such as crackers or bread may contain added carbohydrates, sugars or fats to enhance flavor or shelf life. Crowl said sometimes a glutenfree diet is viewed as a low-carb diet. However, depending on the kind of food in the diet, Crowl said some people that eliminate gluten from their meals may be missing out on nutrients. People who are able to digest gluten can live a healthy lifestyle with or without it – it just depends on nutrition intake. Howe ver, Crowl s a id “For Celiac’s it (the diet) is a necessity.”
Since the gluten-free diet has grown in popularity, grocery stores often have products lined along the aisles with big, bold labels – gluten-free – which can lead to the misconception that it is healthier.
In love with my afro hair
By Indhira Suero Acosta Crow’s Nest Contributor
matter) making it difficult to confirm the research results. Although the tests left us with inconclusive results, my mom eliminated gluten from the household. The diet made eating a constant struggle. To be on a gluten-free diet, one must remove the protein completely – you can’t eat gluten-free food and then wash it down with a beer. Allergens were often hidden in ingredient labels so my mother would call food companies to ask what products were gluten-free. Restaurants were even worse. Every time my family went out to eat, my mother would talk to the chef. Many had never even heard of gluten. In the early 2000s, my mom
Caitlin Ashworth is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies. She can be reached at cashworth1@mail.usf.edu
I n my ex per ienc e , I’ve learned that beauty is subjective and takes many forms. W hat ot hers deem ae s t he t ic a l ly b e aut if u l, shou ld not apply to t he entire popu lation. Women should not indulge just for the sake of fitting in. Courtesy of Indhira Suero Acosta One of the most important things for any As part of the natural hair movement, USFSP graduate student Indhira Suero Acosta from left) stands with a group of friends in Santo Domingo, Dominican woman, but especially ones (second Republic, to promote the “Yo amo mi Pajón” campaign, which means “I love my like us in college who are afro” in Spanish. striving to become professionals, is to feel sexy and instead of using straighteners and After all, our body and our attractive without having to meet relaxers to alter the style. image belong to each one of us. the “requirements” imposed by In an effort to help eliminate the society, by our partners or by our negative connotations of the word Trying to fit into someone else’s families. “nappy,” many women around the idea of beautiful instead of just We also need to have the con- world now consider it a combina- being ourselves is an unfair race we fidence to be able to express the tion of the words “natural” and can never win. style we want, without fearing what “happy.” people might say. It’s time for Latinas and AfricanThe natural hair movement, American women to accept and Indhira Suero Acosta is an internawhich rose in popularity in the celebrate their African roots and tional graduate student in journalmid-2000s, encourages women of realize that beauty can take on any ism and media studies. She can be reached at indhirasuero@mail.usf. African descent to love and keep color and hairstyle. edu their natural afro-textured hair,
Oscars 2016 SHARE YOUR Highlights from the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Best Picture: “Spotlight” Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” Best Actress: Brie Larson, “Room” Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, “The
Danish Girl”
Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, “The
Danish Girl”
Best Director: Alejandro Iñárritu, “The Revenant” Best Original Screenplay: “Spotlight” by Josh
Singer and Tom McCarthy
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Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Volume 4, Book 2
Sudoku #1
© 2013 KrazyDad.com
Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.
I hold that man is in the right who is most closely in league with the future. -- Henrik Ibsen
1 2 7 6 8 2 9 3 2 9 1 7 7 2 8 4 6 2 5 1 4 8 9 3 2 7 4 5 6 3 1 2 5 6 9 7
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
crowsneststpete.com
Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 23
Apple vs. FBI: Privacy rights and national security meet again By Jason Saab Staff Reporter The terrorist attack in San Bernardino on Dec. 2 undoubtedly shook California, and the rest of the country, to the core. T he shooting was just one ex a mple of t he k i nd of t hreats that can occur on our soil, and at times and places we may never expect. The FBI is in possession of Syed Farook’s iPhone who, along with his wife Tashfeen Malik, orchestrated the shooting that left 14 dead and 22 wounded. Farook’s employer handed over the iPhone 5C to the U.S. government, but the FBI hasn’t been able to break into the device because of Apple’s complex encryption system, particularly its passcode lock. The only way the FBI can access any of the phone’s information is by cracking Farook’s passcode. But after 10 failed attempts, Apple’s system renders the phone “permanently inaccessible” automatically erasing the device’s access key. To work around the security system, Federal Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple to create software that would allow the FBI to bypass the passcode, something the tech company says would create a “backdoor” to all iPhones. If that didn’t terrify you, keep reading.
The FBI claims the software’s use would be a “one time thing” and will be destroyed after the terrorist’s phone is successfully unlocked. But would it be a one time thing? Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in a message to customers that the company opposed the Feb. 16 court order, which he said has “implications far beyond the legal case at hand.” He also stated that the software the FBI requested would be “too dangerous to create,” comparing it to a master key capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks. The FBI wants Apple to construct a new operating system that would remove security precautions and allow unlimited password attempts without deleting any content. “O nc e t he i n for m at ion i s known, or a way to bypass the code is revealed, the encryption can be defeated by anyone with that knowledge,” Cook said. Cook believes that once people know the program exists, it will become the ultimate tool for hackers everywhere. This would give government the power to access private information contained on the nearly 900 million iPhones sold worldwide. With the sof tware, the FBI would be able to see your personal messages, your photos, your videos, your bank accounts, and anything else that you keep on your phone (i.e. everything). Any information they want, whenever they want it.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said he believes the software requested by the FBI would open doors for hackers and give law enforcement agencies an easier way to spy on customers.
Is this something we should let happen? No. Apple is accusing the FBI of seeking a dangerous power through the courts that Congress and the American people have previously denied, something Cook described as, “the ability to force companies like Apple to undermine the basic security and privacy interests of hundreds of millions of individuals around the globe.” While law enforcement has worked w it h Apple to access
iPhones in the past, the tech company’s 2014 debut of its iOS 8 operating system changed that. The creation of iOS 8 came with extensive updates to Apple’s encryption because, according to Cook, “we believe the contents of your iPhone are none of our business.” On March 1, Apple and the FBI will face off in front of the House of Representat ives’ Jud icia r y Committee.
Regardless of the outcome, American citizens can only hope that respect for their privacy rights will continue to be defended by someone – even if it isn’t “our” government.
Jason Saab, a senior in journalism and media studies, is the news editor. He can be reached at jasaab@mail.usf.edu
I wanted forever - but three years later, I just wanted my last name back
By Marla Korenich Crow’s Nest Contributor
Summer 2014 - It was hot, and I was wearing flannel, like I often do. I pulled up to t he C h a mpion Motors in Englewood. I’ve passed it a million times on the way to the beach. This can’t be right. I checked the address, and then I saw him. Who gets divorced at a small car dealership? He would. After yelling at him like I often would, we walked inside and I saw the chalkboard with a list of services. The dealership owner’s wife had
an office in the back where she did all kinds of things. She was a notar y. She f iled paperwork for people and – apparently – she filed divorces, too. It was $50 cheaper than going to the courthouse. And after nearly two years of asking for the divorce, he finally agreed to pay, so I sucked it up. I wasn’t paying because I didn’t cheat, he did. She explained her title and all of the paperwork, but I couldn’t stop looking at her long red hair, thinking .... how did we get here? “Do you have any shared assets?” Does a broken heart count? “ D o y o u w a nt t o a s k f o r anything?” Yeah, three years of my life back. And I’m pretty sure he was high then, too. I could always tell. I couldn’t wait for this day. This was the day I had been cursing at
him over the phone for about four years now. You cheated on me, I want my last name back. But as I was sitting there. I wasn’t so much relieved. I was mad, angry, upset and near tears. I am 21 years old … and I am getting a divorce. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. I’m smart. I go to college. I have never been in trouble. I’m kind. I loved him with everything I had. When I said “I do” nearly three years before this day – I meant it. When I thought of divorce, I always used to associate it with cheaters, liars or people who couldn’t handle it. These people were quitters. Maybe it’s because my parents have been married for 33 years, and though they aren’t the “norm” anymore, I’ve always had these
beautiful goals and standards for relationships. I wanted to be like them. I wanted forever. But once things started getting rocky, I realized it was ok to leave. It’s fine to realize you deserve better. It’s fine to walk away from abuse. It’s fine to stand up for yourself. Walking away doesn’t make you a quitter. In most cases, I see it as strength. If you can look at a situation and realize you need to get out – go, and don’t look back. You tried, and life doesn’t ever go the way you planned. I definitely didn’t plan to sit at the Champion Motors next to the Denny’s on 776, finalizing a divorce. Don’t get me wrong, this is what I wanted all along. I had a new
boyfriend who treated me right, and I was happier than ever. But when you are actually there, signing away that your marriage is irretrievably broken, or something equally as haunting, it’s surreal. We had an apartment, we had the same last name, we had towels with our names on them, we had plans. All of that seems like a million years ago. I said bye, thanks for paying. How do you say goodbye after a divorce? We were both different people now – older, wiser maybe. Who was Marla Cooper anyway? She seems like a dream.
Marla Korenich is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies. She can be reached at korenich. legendyb@yahoo.com