Single copies free The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
“Formation” single offends some, but liberates many
p. 6
Will the Rays stay at the Trop?
p. 2
Rock Climbing Club takes on vertical adventures
By Jason Saab Staff Reporter
Regardless of the lack of natural cliffs, rock climbing has seen a f lourishing fanbase appear in Florida. And at USF St. Petersburg, the new student Rock Climbing Club is trying to make its passion infectious. Brandon Burke, a junior at USFSP, started the club in January to find other passionate rock climbers. He saw the growing student body and the nearby rock climbing facility, Vertical Ventures, as the perfect combination. The club’s meetings are held on Fridays at Vertical Ventures, a stateof-the-art indoor climbing gym. “It’s a lot more fun when you go there with a group of people,” Burke said. “There’s a huge resource with thousands of students, and young people love to climb.” When he first tried to start the
club in the fall, Burke said he had trouble finding officers. But his hopes were restored at the start of the spring semester when Brian Dinsmore, a transfer student from Colorado, contacted wwBurke after he saw the group’s Facebook page. Burke said Dinsmore, who is an experienced climber, has been instrumental in the club’s growth. The pair recruited about 20 people during the college’s Get On Board Day event, and have been adding members since. Vertical Ventures offers several classes for beginners starting with the required “Intro to Belay” class that teaches inexperienced climbers how to safely manage equipment. “One of the first (classes) we took as a group was the intro to movement class,” Burke said. “It’s basically technique and learning how to climb with form, not strength.” A variety of climbs can be found at the facility including a top-roping section, bouldering area and a more
Courtesy of Jeremy Stanton
During one of their meetings, members of USFSP’s Rock Climbing Club display the organization’s flag at Vertical Ventures in St. Petersburg.
Continued on p. 5
PolitiFact on presidential campaigns: Words matter By Samantha Putterman Staff Reporter With a staff of 10 split between St. Petersburg and Washington D.C., PolitiFact has published 11,500 fact checks since it’s founding in 2007 and, according to the organization, stands as the first website to win the Pulitzer Prize. PolitiFact is run by Tampa Bay Times’ editors and reporters along with PunditFact, a website that was established in 2013 to fact check radio and T.V. personalities. To determine accuracy, the organization’s staffers research claims made by elected officials and others who speak out about U.S. politics.
Statements are rated on the TruthO-Meter scale, a 6-point rating system that ranges from True to False, with the most outrageous falsehoods receiving the lowest rating – Pants on Fire. And on March 1, known as Super Tuesday - when presidential candidates fight for delegates in over 10 states - PolitiFact editors held an election forum at the downtown Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College. The event was presented by SPC’s Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions and moderated by Neil Brown, the Times’ executive editor. The forum began with a compi l at ion v ide o t hat fe at u re d
well-known media outlets citing the organization’s fact checks and politicians avoiding pointed questions in fear that their answers would be “Politi-Facted.” “We’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve – we’ve become a verb,” Brown joked after the video ended. T h e Po l it i Fa c t p a n e l w a s comprised of four staff members: Executive Editor Aaaron Sharockman, Editor Erin Holan, Deputy Editor Katie Sanders and Amy Hollyfield, the Times’ deputy managing editor of politics and business. At one point, the audience was able to play the role of fact-checker using their cellphones.
Continued on p. 2
Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
On March 1, PolitiFact editors discussed fact-checking in the Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College. (From left to right) Tampa Bay Times deputy managing editor for politics and business Amy Hollyfield, PolitiFact editor Angie Holan, executive director Aaron Sharockman and deputy editor Katie Sanders.
crowsneststpete.com
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
News Briefs Monday, March 7 - 9 Mental Health Awareness Week Various locations and times: March 7 // 5-7 p.m.: Join Student Government in the kick off to end the stigma surrounding mental health with games and free Chickfil-A. March 8 // noon-2 p.m.: Make use of the P.E.E.R.S.’s free health and wellness screenings and interactive workshops with free food. March 9 // 4-6 p.m.: Take a look inside the new Coquina Club and hear fellow students’ spoken word performances with free coffee and dessert.
Benefit-a-Bull Fashion Show Info session USC Regatta Room // 5 - 5:30 p.m. Interested in strutting your stuff on the runway for a good cause? Then the Benefit-a-Bull fashion show wants you. Stop by the info session in the Regatta Room at the University Student Center for more details.
Tuesday, March 8 Thinking through... Rights Nelson Poynter Memorial Library - Poynter Corner // 4 - 5 p.m. The USFSP community can participate in this free event featuring conversations about “The Freedom Rides: Stories from the Struggle,” hosted by Dr. Raymond Arsenault.
Will the Rays stay in St. Pete?
By Sheena DeRocker Crow’s Nest Contributor
“Wearing the jersey is like my superhero cape,” Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer says proudly. “Children’s ears, eyes and minds open up when they see it.” When athletes perform, they like to perform for a crowd. They get their juice off packed stadiums, screaming fans and obnoxious cardboard signs. Rays players are no exception. So when lack of attendance at the games is consistently a problem, what should the Rays do? The team has a contract with the city of St. Petersburg to play at Tropicana Field for another 12 years, until 2027. The team has promised to honor the contract, but some in Major League Baseball say the Rays should consider breaking the contract and moving elsewhere. Last season, the Rays ranked 30th – dead last – in attendance, according to MLB. The team, which draws an average of 16,000 fans per game, has finished last or next to last in 13 of the 18 years of its existence. Archer said he tries “to find the best in every situation,” but it is “hard to find the best in being the worst in attendance.” At Tropicana Field, “we don’t
get very many people, but the people who come we know love the Rays,” he said. “So it doesn’t get as loud as other places, but you know the people who are there are really investing a lot to be there so there is that element.” St. Petersbu rg Mayor R ick Kriseman said he hopes the Rays choose to stay in St. Petersburg. But he also maintains that the 85-acre Tropicana Field site on the western fringe of a resurgent downtown is a prime location for redevelopment. It would be a win-win for the city if the Rays ultimately decide to stay in St. Petersburg in a new, state-of-the-art stadium amid new development – probably some combination of hotels, retail and condominiums – on the site, he said. In January, the St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-3 to give the Rays three years to search for a new home in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The agreement stipulates that, if the Rays decide to leave, they would have to pay the city $2 million to $3 million a year until their lease expires in 2027 and forfeit any part of the revenue that would be generated by redevelopment on the 85-acre site. If the Rays choose to stay in a new stadium on the site, they would
The Tampa Bay Rays are in a contract with the city of St. Petersburg to play at Tropicana Field for 12 more years, but according to Major League Baseball, the team ranks dead last in game attendance. Some in MLB argue that the Rays should move, but Rick Kriseman, the city’s mayor, hopes the team will choose to stay.
get 50 percent of the development proceeds. “I am not convinced they will go to Tampa.” Kriseman said. “The current location gives them the best long-term success in the Tampa Bay region.” It took more than a year, three attempts and a City Council election – which changed one member on the council – for Kriseman to get the council’s approval on the deal. If the Rays end up in Tampa, Archer said, he hopes the small but loyal fan base in St. Petersburg would come to games there. “I hope our fans would travel to Tampa,” he said. “I feel like if we stretched it and it was in a better
location, people getting off of work would come. “The Lightning get great attenda nce (in Ta mpa) and t his is Florida, it’s not really a hockey state.” At least one St. Petersburg fan hopes the team stays put. “I don’t think that the Rays should move,” said USFSP senior Jessica Leonard. “The Rays games and the spirit of the games alone is one of my favorite things about St Petersburg. It is a part of the culture. “Tampa has the Buccaneers, but the Rays belong at Tropicana field.” Information from the Tampa Bay Times was used in this report.
PolitiFact, continued from front cover The panelists displayed a statement and provided an online link that the crowd could visit to determine the accuracy of the claim using the Truth-O-Meter scale. The PolitiFact website, according to the organization, reached eight million views in February. But not everyone is enthusiastic about the pursuit for truth. “Republicans and Democrats
who are running for office do not want PolitiFact to ex ist,” Sharockman said. “What we’ve seen over seven years, 12,000 times, is that they would be happier if we weren’t fact-checking their claims – it would be the Wild Wild West. “We try not to make this personal, we’re trying to help correct the record.” Brown asked the editors to tell
the audience why fact checking matters when political candidates like Donald Trump seem to only increase their repeated false claims. “Donald Trump, I can honestly say, is unlike anyone we’ve fact checked – saying statements that are just wrong, and he doesn’t back off, he actually seems to double down on them,” Holan said. She continued, explaining the
concern over false statements in previous presidential campaigns that weren’t documented by factchecking journalists the way campaigns are today. Despite Mr. Trump, fact-checking matters.
It’s official: Kardas is elected president Wednesday, March 9 USFSP by the Decades Nelson Poynter Memorial Library Poynter Corner // noon - 1 p.m.
Student Government announced the results of the spring 2016 general election at the annual Miracle Dance Marathon event on March 3.
The library will hold the fifth and final set of conversations hosted by Jim Schnur, Special Collections Librarian and Sudsy Tschiderer, university graduate and longtime staffer, as they discuss forging a new strategic path, (2005-2015).
Only 340 students voted last week, but 77 percent of them said “yes” to the ticket of president Ziya Kardas and vice president Alexis Germaise. Since they were the only team that qualified to run, they needed only to be confirmed by at least 51 percent of the voters. Meanwhile,
Here are the vote totals: Anthony Cook, 81 Elisa Duka, 70 Natalie Guerra, 116 Miranda Latimer, 49 Sebastian Lleras, 117 Scott Mange, 62
Albert Moreno, 91 Emilie Morris, 65 Sasha Rambo, 84 Laraine Ruiz, 124
crowsneststpete.com
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
Student teaches art therapy classes to help people with communication disorders By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter Jennifer Livaudais said she wanted to make a difference before she graduated in May. Livaudais, a USF St. Petersburg graphic design student, said the goal was to apply her studies to art therapy, and learn how they can be used in a curative way. To achieve this, she had to take on a different from her two parttime positions as a graphic design intern. And she did. As a facilitator at the USF Art at the Clinic, Livaudais now works closely with a group of people who have aphasia — a communication disorder caused by brain damage, impacting a person’s ability to form or understand speech. In partnership with the USF Contemporary Art Museum, the clinic explores the junction where art and healthcare meet. Week ly workshops prov ide student interns with interprofessional training in observation, critical thinking and communication, according to the university website. Accompanied by their caregivers and spouses, clients participate in classes that allow them to express themselves through a variety of artistic projects while also meeting people living with similar conditions. “Aphasia usually happens after a stroke and affects the Broca and Wernicke areas of the brain. It
doesn’t affect their intelligence – just their communication,” said Livaudais. “There are different levels of severity. Sometimes they get their words mixed up and you have to talk in short, clear sentences, but I usually just talk normally and allow them to speak at their own pace.” Livaudais developed a viable plan with Dolores Coe, an Art in Health instructor and clinical faculty member of the USF SpeechLanguage Clinic. Coe has worked with several artists and university students to create structured lessons for people who experience some degree of cognitive impairment. Livaudais met the group on Feb. 9, before her first official class. “I wanted to get everyone on the same page. We introduced ourselves, and the clients all showed their paintings that they’d worked on throughout the year,” she said. “It was just a way to get to know one another.” In the next 10 sessions, she will apply art materials and techniques to teach the class basic design exercises. “We got all of the new clients acclimated to drawing,” Livaudais said. “I helped some of them move their hands around on the page with a pencil. We just tried to make sure everyone understood.” W i t h C o e ’s s u p e r v i s i o n , Livaudais developed a project involving personalized aphasia
awareness cards that contain information about the disorder. Each person in the group will transform a photograph of their hand into an abstract portrait using design principles they’ve learned, with their artwork featured on their individual cards. The cards can be handed out to help educate people about aphasia and how to communicate with someone who has the condition. While Livaudais recognizes the challenge of not only maintaining/holding down/managing three internships as a college student, but also facilitating an art therapy class, she said it’s worth it. While Livaudais recognizes the challenge of maintaining three internships while also leading an art therapy class, she said it’s worth it. “It’s not the kind of work I’m used to,” she said. “I don’t like public speaking or anything like that, but so far, this has helped me grow and communicate my ideas.” Livaudais said she’s grateful to find an opportunity that incorporates her creative passions in a unique and valuable way. “When people get it, when they finally understand the concept of it, I feel like that’s the most rewarding part,” she said. “I would love to be able to use design and art in my career to help people some day.”
Courtesy of Jennifer Livaudais
USFSP senior Jennifer Livaudais, 20, helps clients with aphasia learn how to draw still life images as part of her internship with USF’s Art at the Clinic program.
Lightning offers students reasons to ‘rush’ to games By Nikki Sawyer Crow’s Nest Contributor After the Tampa Bay Lightning made the Stanley Cup finals last year, ticket sales for this season surged. But the team has continued its popular “student rush” program, which means financially challenged student can still get tickets starting at $20. “Af ter the long playoff run (last season), we sold nearly 4,000 new season tickets,” said Eric Blankenship, the Lightning’s vice president of marketing. “That combined with overall single game and group demand for tickets led to significantly less inventory per game.” This left two options, he said. Eliminate student rush or make changes. “We have made a commitment to this program for a variety of
reasons and thus decided to keep it,” Blankenship said. As before, student rush is offered to high school and college students who come to Amalie Arena on game day with a valid student ID and Lightning attire. But this season student fans also must be signed up to receive text messages from the team with the code word of the day. These code words, which have ranged from “BIGBEN” to “CHARGE,” are required to get a ticket. A half hour before game time, eligible students in Lightning gear can buy a best available seat or standing room only ticket, according to the team’s website. Fifteen minutes before game time, eligible students not in Lightning gear can get the best available seats (upper or lower level) starting at $20 per ticket. And on days when there is a sellout, the student rush tickets may be
standing room only, according to the website. “The text program was implemented for two primary reasons,” Blankenship said. “It allowed a very simple, user friendly way to communicate with our student rush users. It puts checks and balances into place because we had people using the program who weren’t students.” Another student benefit was the $50 tickets the organization offered during t he Light ning’s series against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last season. Those tickets were limited, but the team could give something back to its loyal student fans, said Blankenship. I like it (student rush) and hope it continues to benefit local students,” said USFSP student Jordan Reyes. “Hopefully the Lightning have another playoff streak.”
Regular ticket pricing for most Lightning home games ranges from $32 to $56 for 3rd level seating, while 2nd, 1st and club level seating starts around $121 Parking at Amalie Arena is typically $6 to $9, but depends on the day and lot For more information on the student rush program visit http://lightning.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=108934
crowsneststpete.com
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
Must see shows on Netflix It’s spring break and some students might just want to “Netflix and Chill.” So we’ve compiled a list of mustwatch Netflix Original series’ for you to binge at the house. House of Cards- This original series stars Kevin Spacey as a machiavellian democrat president Frank Underwood. Now i n it ’s fou r t h sea son, Underwood has fought through incredible odds to become the president of the United States. Now, he may be facing his biggest challenge yet. Marvel’s Daredevil - Season 2 debuts March 18: Hell’s Kitchen has a problem and it’s up to a blind vigilante to save his hometown from corruption. It’s dark. It’s brutal. It’s Daredevil the way Marvel intended it to be. Season 1 is a wild ride, and the follow up hopes to improve on the successful formula by introducing more characters from the Marvel universe. Marvel’s Jessica Jones- Jessica Jones is a former superhero who now runs a private detective agency. Her super strength and limited flight can only get her so far. Now, an influential figure from her past has come to Hell ’s Kitchen with his sights set on revenge. Jessica Jones is a superhero-psychological thriller that doesn’t let go. Orange is the New Black - Season 4 premieres June 17: OiTNB has taken the world by storm. It works as both drama and comedy a nd fol lows P iper Kerman as she survives in an allwomen’s prison. With a cast of loveable characters, this show is addicting, and there are three seasons to pour through. As a bonus, Netf lix recently announced there will be a fifth, sixth and seventh season. Narcos - Set in the late ’70s, this thriller takes you through the true story of Pablo Escobar’s rise to fame, but we all know how the story ends. Nevertheless, it is told in a compelling way. We get to see Pablo’s view, as well as Steve Murphy, the DEA hunting him down to put an end to his infamous drug cartel. Grace and Frankie- Season 2 premieres May 6: What do you do when your husband announces that he is gay, and leaving you for his long-time business partner? Grace and Frankie now have to answer that question after both their husbands’ Robert and Sol announce their divorce and subsequent second marriage. This original comedy stars Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, Lily Tomlin and Sam Waterston.
Ideas for a local spring break
By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter
Students across the country will soon flock to Florida beaches to celebrate spring break season. But that isn’t always easy on a college student budget. So, here are a few ideas that can help you make the most of your time off.
Watch a “whodunit” show (March 11-20)
The St. Petersburg City Theatre will host a production of Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee, the famous author’s first piece written for the stage. The tale, which is a part of an installment in Christie’s stories, features detective Hercule Poirot, a Frenchman with a keen nose for the truth. The plot follows the classic “whodunit” style and is sure to please even reluctant theatergoers. The play runs March 11-20 and offers $10 student tickets with a valid university ID. Go to http://www.spcitytheatre.org for more details.
Go back in time at t he Renaissance Festival (Feb. 6March 20)
T h e B a y A r e a ’s a n n u a l Rena i s s a nc e Fe s t iv a l i s wel l underway. Spend the day dressed up, or go in your 21st century garb, and watch people dance, joust and sword fight while eating massive amounts of delicious food. The festival only operates on weekends. Student tickets can be purchased in advance from Walgreen’s for $11.95. For more information visit http://www.bayarearenfest.com/
Serendipitous with Strawberries (March 3- 13)
Plant City’s Florida Strawberry Festival has one main element of an excellent festival – food. And if you have time in between eating, check out the mechanical rides and daily live music performances.
Advance tickets can be purchased at Publix for $8. Go to http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/ for more information.
Take a Hike
The Weedon Island and Boyd Hill Nature Preserves are available for exploration. On opposite ends of Pinellas County, the parks offer distinct natural features and are perfect for an afternoon stroll. A small fee of $3 is required for the Boyd Hill area, but Weedon Island is free. No pets are allowed in nature preserves.
Moriah Parrish / Crow’s Nest
Festival-goers of all ages prepare to learn the May Pole dance, one of several authentic activities available at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival.
Kiss a Manatee
Or at least blow a kiss from the viewing area located by the TECO power plant on Apollo Beach. Manatees frequent the area during the colder months because of the warm water running out of the plant. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission and parking is free.
Across the Skyway: Sarasota
While the beaches in St. Pete are great, Sarasota is home to Siesta Key – a quaint beach-side mecca for eating and drinking. The sand is even whiter and finer than those in Pinellas County. While you’re there, stop by the Ringling Museum of Art. Tickets are just $5 with a student ID. Go to https://www.ringling.org/ for hours and more information.
The Florida Strawberry Festival offers an assortment of fair-favorites and samples of strawberry shortcake.
Roller Coasters
Busch Gardens is holding its annual sale on “pay for a day, play for a year” cards. For $99, you can gain access to the main park as well as its neighboring water park for an unlimited number of days through the end of 2016. No matter how you celebrate spring break, stay safe, relax and enjoy.
Manatees gather near the output of warm salt walter in Tampa Bay that was used to cool down the operations of the TECHO power plant. With this in mind, the company has established a formal viewing area in Apollo Beach.
SunLit Festival uses the power of art to increase literacy By Ryan Callihan Staff Reporter Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters spent Saturday working to increase literacy at the James Weldon Johnson Branch Library. The library hosted a literacy event as part of St. Petersburg’s SunLit Festival, which runs from March 4-16 with over 40 events. More than 25 tables from various organizations dotted the lawn behind the library. Kids played in the inf latable bounce house, watched a police canine performance, had their faces painted and took pictures with The Cat in The Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. The festival was presented by
a collective group of community sponsors called Friends of the Johnson Library, which donated books for the children. During the event, local artist Ya La’ford painted the art installation “GREENtrance,” which covered the front of the library’s entrance. The artwork features a dark green background overlaid with intertwining, metallic gold lines. La’ford said the lines represent relationships within a community. At the event, Kids were invited to join La’ford and be a part of the artistic process. Many chose a stencil and painted inspirational words like dream, smile and read onto the mural. “When a kid walks through a space like this – they haven’t yet
seen the bigger picture of fine art,” said La’ford. “They get to have it in their own
town, in their own space, in their own library.”
Ryan Callihan / Crow’s Nest
As part of the SunLit Festival, event tables were set up outside the Johnson Branch Library with free books for students to take home.
crowsneststpete.com
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
University dance marathon raises over $10,000 All Children’s Hospital
Tamiracle Williams / Crow’s Nest
Led by USFSP senior Cynthia Wyre, the marathon’s “morale team” prepared and taught students an energizing dance routine that incorporated songs from various decades starting with the 1960s. Courtesy of Casey Frechette
Students Ashley Ramos (left) and Kendel Burke (right) participated in the Miracle Dance Marathon event to raise money for All Children’s Hospital. Their shirts read “Too Legit To Sit” in support of the fundraising event that stands to dance “for those who can’t.”
By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter USF St. Petersburg students, faculty and staff took to the dance floor to raise money for All Children’s Hospital in the school’s second annual Miracle Dance Marathon. From 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on March 3, the fundraising event in the University Student Center ballrooms collected $10,068, surpassing this year’s goal of $10,050. The community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega raised the most money with $3,396, more than doubling the organization’s goal of $1,500. USFSP alumni returned to participate in the festivities along with special guests “Beyoncé” (Melanie
Tamiracle Williams / Crow’s Nest
Rock Climbing, continued from front cover specialized sector for advanced climbers known as “The Pit.” Burke also spoke with the president of USF Tampa’s Rock Climbing Club, hoping to bring the organizations together to climb at one of the two Vertical Ventures locations in Tampa or St. Petersburg. Though still in its infancy, the
club has started planning trips to put their training to the test in authentic, outdoor environments. “Alabama is in May, June is Colorado,” Burke said. “By the end of the year, we’re looking at a couple different spots, like Chimney Rock in North Carolina.” The Rock Climbing Club has
something to offer everyone, from seasoned veterans to aspiring climbers. “I think it could eventually blow up. It’s a great time and a cool, dynamic way for students to get off campus.”
USFSP Rock Climbing Club meetings When: Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Where: Vertical Ventures St. Petersburg, 116 18th St S. Visit the USFSP Rock Climbing Club on Facebook for updates and information on the club’s upcoming activities.
“Meloncé” Bullock, assistant director of Student Life and Engagement) and “Adele” (Shane Farmer, a graduate assistant at the USC). Two families that have received All Children’s Hospital services were in attendance. The parents used the opportunity to share their personal stories and thank the dancers for the money they raised. To help keep the participants energy up during the nine-hour marathon, snacks and food from Chipotle and Westshore Pizza was provided throughout the night. In Dance Marathon tradition, the school’s “morale team,” lead by USFSP senior Cynthia Wyre, kept everyone hype and energized throughout the night as the group
taught dances featuring songs from each decade starting with the ’60s. While online donations made up a majority of the money raised, there were several ways students were able to donate including the fan-favorite activity “jail.” Dancers paid “Sheriff Mama Bear,” aka Angela Wilson, if they wanted to “jail” someone. To get out of jail, participants had to find someone to pay their bail, which would be set at whatever amount was paid to put them in. Throughout the night, people were jailed from anywhere between $1 to $100, even DJ Fresh, the event’s official DJ, was put in jail.
crowsneststpete.com
Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
I am a part of the “Formation”
By Lequina Knox Crow’s Nest Contributor
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
Arts & Life Editor
DEVIN RODRIGUEZ
Arts & Life Assistant
RYAN CALLIHAN
Staff Reporter
MORIAH PARRISH
Photo editor
TAMIRACLE WILLIAMS
Advertising/Web manager
JESSICA JAGODZINSKI
Distribution Manager
DENNIS GEYER
adviser
ROB HOOKER
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
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Beyoncé has gotten a lot of heat since she released her song “Formation.” The song, a long w it h its music video, aired on Feb. 6 – the day before her Super Bowl 50 halftime performance. Though reactions have been mixed, the surprise single has ignited criticism on social media sites and national news broadcasts. Even her most loyal fans spoke out against the singer. But I think critics are being too hard on her. Much of the backlash regarded her creative decision to incorporate images of not only the Black Panthers, a group that fought for revolutionary socialism and practiced militant self-defense against t he government, but a lso t he more recent Black Lives Matter movement. But the song goes deeper than that as it presents important statements about race, gender and politics. To i l lu s t r at e s ome of t he modern-day struggles AfricanAmericans endure, the video, filmed in Los Angeles, opens with Beyoncé on top of a New Orleans police car that’s partially submerged in a flood. The image is said to portray how Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Louisiana city in 2005, has produced long-term damage in black neighborhoods. The video also depicts the culture and lifest yle of AfricanAmericans in the deep south in the early 1900s. Although slavery had
Beyoncé released the single “Formation,” along with its music video, on Feb. 6 – one day before her fiercely political Super Bowl 50 halftime performance. In front of an estimated 112 million viewers, Beyoncé and her dancers wore all black and, at one point, formed an “X” on the field, which is believed to be a tribute to black activist Malcolm X.
The song’s music video opens with Beyoncé on top of a partially-submerged New Orleans police car. The image is said to represent how Hurricane Katrina, which hit the city in 2005, has produced long-term damage in black neighborhoods.
been eradicated at that time, the women’s clothing represents the period, in which black individuals were still pushed to work for the white male majority. The white corsets emphasize the binding nature
of oppression, while the following images of black men dressed in formal suits demonstrates the continuing rise of power among African-Americans. And while the visual imagery
is clear, there are more subtle mess a ge s t h rou g hout t he v ide o. For example, the message “Stop Shooting Us” is spraypainted on a wall, referring to the growing Black Lives Matter movement. The group condemns the high number of black people – especially young men – who are often targeted and killed by police. Beyoncé wants their lives to be acknowledged. In full, the song draws attention to the disproportionate loss of African lives as a result of the deeply-rooted, systemic racism in our society. The video simultaneously celebrates black culture, like natural hair, as seen on Beyonce’s 4-year-old daughter Blue Ivy and the backup dancers. There are some racial stereotypes in the video, but I think they serve a purpose. Instead of avoiding the stereotypes, Beyoncé embraces them. She takes many long-perceived “negatives” of black culture and redefines them as positives, telling fellow African-Americans that not only is it “ok” to be their true selves, but to be proud of it. It really is a shame that in this day and age, she’s criticized for expressing herself when dozens of musicians before her have made bold political statements As a young African-American woman, I feel a strong connection to Beyonce’s message. I can understand her desire to remind people of what African-Americans have gone through, and why we have continued to fight the good fight. Lequina Knox is a senior majoring in English. She can be reached at lequinaknox@mail.usf.edu.
The F-word that matters
By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter
T h e “ F ”-w o r d i s t e r r i b l y misunderstood. Often followed by a cringe, scowl or laugh, it has the power to incite a revolution, just as much as it can irritate your friends and family on Facebook. The word I’m talking about? Feminist. A feminist is “a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes,” as defined by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her popular We Should All Be Feminists TED Talk. But most people have been exposed to images that cast the movement in a negative light, shared by mass media and in particular, women.
Its definition has been debated and dissected so many times, that even supporters seem confused on what the word actually means. Modern descriptions tend to sound a little more like this: A feminist is a bra-burning hippie. She is a maneater who believes women are the superior sex. She feels she is entitled to things simply because she is female, thus promoting a double-standard in society. She is a feminazi warrior who feeds on the tears of men and seeks to ‘smash the patriarchy.’ Although criticisms aren’t usually that extreme, (but I would be remiss if I said they weren’t) I think a lot of people have been taught that feminism is anti-men – which isn’t exactly their fault. The name stands in the way of its own movement. “Why can’t it just be ‘equality’ or ‘egalitarianism?’” I’m glad you asked. The feminist movement began and spread in three separate waves,
each focusing on a specific set of issues relevant to the time. First-wave feminism was centered on political equality for middle and upper-class white women – our suffragettes. The second wave addressed a wider range of issues, like family, domestic violence and reproductive rights. Currently, the third wave, which started in the ’90s, continues to confront the same issues of the previous decades with an emphasis on sexual freedom and balance in the workplace. Feminism got its name because it involved women fighting for rights they didn’t have – yet. The belief that women innately have the same social, political and economic rights as men, just as fellow human beings, is at the core of the movement. This isn’t a radial proposition. It’s important to understand the history behind a term, but
it’s equally important to recognize when its meaning has been stretched, hyperbolized or wrongly interpreted. For one , fe m i n i s m i s not anti-men. Self-proclaimed fems have been known to speak out against the
Continued on pg. 7
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Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
Continued from pg. 6 male persuasion as a whole, which frankly, I can’t support. These are misandrists, or people who hate men. They label all men as abusers and rapists and blame them for centuries of oppressive behavior without taking individuals into account. Yes, it could be argued that a lot of feminists hate men, but that speculation is irrelevant and shouldn’t deter people from associating with the term. These women are not representative of feminism, nor do they exemplify what the movement is about. Just as any radical group should not be used to portray the ideology it follows. Now say it with me: Feminism is not anti-men. A nd it ’s not about women dema nding specia l treat ment based solely on the fact that they’re women, either. Feeling entitled because you have female reproductive organs is not part of the feminist doctrine. And after everything that’s been fought for, this way of thinking only drives the movement into the ground. A true female feminist seeks to debunk this ill-founded concept of sexual entitlement and wants to earn something because she has the credentials and nailed the interview. Another important issue to remember is that, on a global-scale, women are overwhelmingly uneducated, underprivileged and underpaid compared to men. Most of the time, this is because they don’t have the same access to resources compared to their male counterparts. Because this degree of oppression is particular to developing countries, it’s understandable that many western women feel out of touch. But it exists to a very real, detrimental extent. Of course, no belief system is without fault.
Feminism garners some welldeserved criticism, specifically in regard to its inherent whitewashing and tendency to leave out contributions from women of color. This lack of intersectionality is problematic, but in the last few years, the cause has become more inclusive to minorities and even men. In moving forward, it is critical that feminism is regarded as a synonym for equality – because that’s what it means. “So why can’t we change the name to ‘equality’ or ‘egalitarianism’?” Well, I don’t know. I guess it’s just an unfortunate matter of the English language. But it’s disappointing to see so many young, educated men and women focus on a word, just eight insignificant letters, as opposed to the substance and power behind it. And it pains me to see people, especially young American women, denounce the feminist movement because they don’t want to be labeled as victims and man-haters, or because they feel they don’t need it in their individual lives. But let me tell you this: We need feminism to ensure women are no longer viewed as the secondary sex. We need feminism to ensure women have equal access to social, political, economic and educational opportunities.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS...
Want to comment on a story or a campus issue?
Get it off your chest with a letter to the editor. The Crow’s Nest welcomes letters from students, faculty and staff. Send your letter to Ann21@mail.usf.edu. Letters which may be edited for length, clarity and taste, must include the writer’s name and telephone number (though the number will not be published).
This is a multi-national conversation about empowerment versus oppression, human right versus priv i lege a nd equa lit y versus inequality.
Emily Tinti, a senior majoring in psychology, is the managing editor. She can be reached at emilytinti@ gmail.com.
Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Volume 4, Book 3
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.
"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." -- R. Buckminster Fuller
4 2 4 8 3 1 7 3 2 8 9 5 1 2 4 7 2 6 8 2 8 1 4 7 2 3 7 5 9 8 2 9 6 6
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Mar 7- Mar 13, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 24
Student clubs clean up campus butterfly garden
Courtesy of Nicole Carroll
Since it was established two years ago as a certified wildlife habitat, the Butterfly Garden has been neglected, particularly over the summer months. In attempt to revitalize the area, six student organizations have joined together to help with the upkeep.
By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter Students came together on Feb. 29 to help revitalize the neglected campus butterfly garden. The garden project started as a certified wildlife habitat in 2014 and was founded by Daniel McGarigal, alumnus and the Garden Club’s previous president.
But the garden has become overgrown the past two years due to a lack of attention, particularly during the summer semesters. In attempt to turn the project around, six campus clubs have signed on, to not only clean up the area, but hopefully maintain it throughout the year. The organization’s involved: The Garden Club, Environmental
Courtesy of Nicole Carroll
USFSP alumnus Daniel McGarigal (above) helps students clean up the campus Butterfly Garden, which he founded in 2014.
Science and Sustainability Club, Students Environmental Awareness Societ y, Marine Adventurers, Anthropolog y Club, and Rock Climbing Club. A la na Todd , secret a r y for the Department of Sustainable Initiatives, said she was happy with the help she received during the clean up and is enthusiastic about the project’s future.
“Over twenty students showed up to help bring the butterf ly garden back to life,” Todd said. “I’m so proud of all the clubs that have committed to help with the garden’s maintenance. Its success is largely dependent on everyone’s involvement.” Even McGarigal showed up to help and said he was impressed by
the amount of people who participated in the effort. “More students have come out to support the garden today than in the past year,” he said. Interested in helping maintain the campus butterfly garden? Contact Alana Todd for more information: alanatodd@mail.usf. edu
Red carpet award ceremony for CMF finalists By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter Over 275 people attended USF St. Petersburg’s “Oscars.” The award night was dedicated to students who crafted films for the Campus MovieFest on Feb. 29. A University Student Center ballroom was packed with friends and family who came out to support the top 16 finalists. Four films received the Jury Award, which included a 12-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership and an invitation to attend and screen their film at CMF’s annual filmmaking summit in Atlanta, Ga. Their movies will also be screened at the 2016 Cannes International Film Festival. The top four f i lms were “Sur v ived by” by Sha nnon Gazdacka, “Gemini” by Yosbel’s team, “China White Roulette” by Ashworth Crew and “Virgil” by Beard Bros.
“Survived by” was also awarded Best Documentary and the Silver Tripod award, chosen by the CMF staff. Gazdacka created a documentary about teen suicide and interviewed three parents about their experience after the deaths of their children. “I hope this video can help those who are going through the same experience as these parents and just let them know they aren’t alone,” she said. Other honors included the Best Actor award which went to Yosbel Garcia for his role in “Gemini,” Best Actress to Gabriela Mena for her starring role in “China White Roulette.” Garcia was impressed with the CMF event. “I feel that anybody who makes a film through CMF is having an experience of a lifetime,” he said. “Many students have ideas for films that could be award-winners,
but most don’t have the opportunity or the resources. I feel like this really opened my eyes to this kind of stuff.” Students who did not win any awards can still submit movies for a chance to win $15,000 as part of the Elfenworks Social Justice Category. The movies made for this category must convey a social justice issue in the community. CMF is the largest student film festival, and began in 2001 at Emory University. Student films will have a chance to be seen by a wider audience after a deal with Virgin America airlines that will screen films as in-flight entertainment, according to the website. The films can be viewed on CMF’s website: www.campusmoviefest.com
Courtesy of Casey Frechette
Over 275 students came to see the top films at the Campus MovieFest red carpet event.