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The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
New dean named for College of Business
Hulk Hogan wins $115 million in sex-tape lawsuit
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From 220 feet, he oversees the campus By JEFFREY ZANKER Staff Reporter
Courtesy of Ronny Howell
Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
Since December, a 220-foot construction crane has hovered over the Salvador condominium building site at 199 Dali Blvd. Northside residents of USF St. Petersburg’s Resident Hall One have had a clear view of the enormous –and loud– machinery from their dormitory windows. Lenny Ross, a longtime crane operator, sits atop the machine from 9 to 5 throughout the week with a bird’s-eye view of downtown St. Pete, Tampa Bay and the university campus. The seven-story building will tower over neighboring RHO when it opens in January.
From her office in Bayboro Hall, Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska oversees most of the activities on campus. But Lenny Ross has a better view. He’s the guy who sits atop the 220-foot construction crane hovering overhead as the fancy Salvador condominium tower goes up across Fifth Avenue S from Residence Hall One. When he is not lif ting and maneuvering heavy material to workers below, Ross has a bird’s-eye view of downtown St. Petersburg to the north and west, Tampa Bay to the east, and the university campus to the south. Since December, he’s been up there from 9 to 5 on weekdays, sometimes longer and sometimes on weekends. But Ross doesn’t want to talk about it. He declined an interview with the Crow’s Nest. So it fell to Roddy Howell to describe what it’s like to ride the crane high in the sky. It’s “like being on an airplane,” said Howell, who as project superintendent for the builder, Kellogg
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University says goodbye to staff member By Ryan Callihan Staff Reporter The USFSP community bade an emotional farewell to alumna Melanie Bullock. More than 50 people attended Bullock’s going away party in a University Student Center ballroom to celebrate her time with the university. For three years, she served as the assistant director of leadership and student organizations. Bu l lock took a new job at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, her last day at USFSP was March 17. She worked behind the scenes on school events such as homecoming, TEDx discussions and Week of Welcome. Her duties ranged from working with various
programming teams to strategic planning and promoting student involvement. Bullock said working on homecoming was her favorite, but when asked what she would miss the most, it was the people. “I don’t think you all realize how you’ve impacted me and helped me grow as a person,” Bullock said, addressing the room. The party began with a few words from Matthew Morrin, Director of Student Life & Engagement, who praised Bullock, and said that she was the core of the organization. “I think she is the backbone, but I don’t think backbone is the right word. I’m going to go with the heart,” said Morrin. A short video followed that featured Bullock ’s friends and
coworkers saying goodbye and congratulating her on the new position. Those who couldn’t be in the video spoke their heartfelt goodbyes at the party, many pointing out how Bullock changed their lives for the better. “I’m going to miss her positive spirit, and how when she walks into a room, it lights up,” said Iannah Johnson, a student and friend of Bullock. Bullock said that working at USFSP changed her life. “Everyone has been a blessing and has enriched my life the people, the students, my colleagues,” she said. “Having known these people, especially in this space, makes my heart warm.”
Courtesy of Gardiner Tucker
Friends and co-workers of USFSP employee Melanie Bullock (center, second to last row) throw a going away party for the alumna. Bullock accepted a position at Wake Forest University in North Carolina; her last day was March 17.
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
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College of Business gets new dean News Briefs Monday, March 21
Food for Thought Lecture Davis 130 // 7 p.m. The lecture will feature a showing of The Search for General Tso, a documentary that discusses the origins of “Americanized” Chinese food. The film will be followed by a discussion with the award-winning filmmaker, Ian Cheney. Free admission, registration required.
Tuesday, March 22
HAB Karaoke Night USC Ballroom // 8 p.m. Join Harborside Activities Board for free chicken wings and an exciting night of karaoke.
Wednesday, March 23
Women’s EmpowHERment Luncheon USC Ballroom // 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. In celebration of Women’s History Month, The Women’s Empowerment Club w ill host a luncheon followed by a Q&A panel about women’s experiences in leadership. Free admission, registration required.
By Jeffrey Zanker Staff Reporter The Kate Tiedemann College of Business is getting a new dean as well as a new building. Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska announced last week that Sridhar Sundaram, a Michigan educator, will become dean on July 1. He succeeds Gary Patterson, who has served as interim dean since June 2014. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and the leadership skills to develop a clear strategic vision for the college,” Wisniewska said in a news release. “We are excited to welcome him and his family to the USF St. Petersburg community.” Sundaram will arrive just weeks before the college is scheduled to move into its new four-story building at Third Street S and Fourth Avenue. Sundaram has worked at the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich., since 2001. He
Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg
Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska announced last week that Sridhar Sundaram, a Michigan educator, will become dean of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business on July 1.
Thursday, March 24
The Science of Parenting USC Ballroom // 9 a.m. to 3p.m. Join the USFSP Department of Psychology and other contributing organizations for a discussion on the newest research and techniques in parenting. Enjoy free food and drinks during the presentations. Free admission, registration required.
Monday, March 28
Road to the White House Panel Discussion Davis 130 // 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Joi n moderator Jud it ha n ne McLauchlan for a panel discussion featuring Republican and Democratic experts as they discuss the importance of national nominating conventions. A light lunch will be provided while guests sit with students who participated in Professor McLauchlan’s Road to the White House course.
Courtesy of USF Alumni Association
Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska announced last week that Sridhar Sundaram, a Michigan educator, will become dean of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business on July 1.
started as a professor of finance, then became chairman of the Finance Department, associate dea n for graduate programs and centers a nd academic director of the Executive MBA and FullTime Integrated MBA program. He has a doctorate in business administrat ion, ac cou nting and finance
from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a bachelor’s in commerce and accounting from PSG College Arts and Science in India, according to his LinkedIn resume. His research has been published in scholarly journals, and he has won a number of professional and community awards, according to the USFSP release. Patterson ca lled Sundaram an “excellent choice” to lead the College of Business. “He has a track record of developing relationships with community partners that will be critical to our success,” said Patterson in the press release. “And, importantly, he has demonstrated innovation
in developing academic programs that prepare students to meet the demands of a dynamic workforce environment.” Sundaram said he is looking forward to his new post. “ T h i s i s a n e xc it i ng t i me to become a pa r t of USF St . Petersburg,” he said in the release. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead the KTCOB to its next level of excellence in a business community that is so engaged and committed to its success, and to build on these strategic partnerships as impetus to our growth in the future.” The College of Business, which now has faculty offices and classrooms in several campus buildings, has been a focus of much attention in recent years. Kate Tiedemann, an entrepreneur who retired to Pinellas County, gave the college a $10 million gift in September 2014, a month before the college – which was named in her honor – broke ground on its new building. The gift is the largest in the university’s history. I n J a n u a r y, t h e c o l l e g e announced a $1 million gift from philanthropist Ellen Cotton that will go toward scholarships. The atrium in the new building will be named for her. The search for a new dean was protracted. Last summer Wisniewska announced that the university’s first search failed to find a candidate with the combination of skills it was seeking. That prompted a second search, which led to Sundaram. Information from usfsp.edu and the Tampa Bay Times was used in this report.
Cranes-Eye View of Campus continued from front cover and Kimsey Inc., has been up in the crane himself. Most of Ross’ career has been in crane operations, said Howell. “He has done this job for so long it is every day for him.” In recent years, construction cranes have become a fixture in the resurgent city’s downtown skyline. It takes special skills and experience to operate a crane, which can pitch and sway in even calm weather, and there have been few reported mishaps. An exception came in November, when a crane working on the site of the 18-story Bliss condo tower overlooking Beach Drive punched a hole in the parking garage of a new mid-rise condo building next door. Some of the people who live near the Bliss construction site have complained about the crane, clutter, noise and bright lights that burn all night long.
There are similar gripes at Residence Hall One. Residents on the north side of the dormitory can watch – and listen – out their windows as the crane maneuvers overhead and the Salvador slowly climbs skyward across Fifth Avenue S. And some of them don’t like it. “It is pretty intimidating,” said David Cortese, 19, a freshman in political science. “I have found my attention drawn to the big, bad crane in the sky.” Sophomore Antonio Permuy said he sees the crane every day out his third-floor window. He does not like it looking back. “I feel an unconscious, rational impulse to close the blinders,” said Permuy, 19, a political science major. “It is irritating to be under constant exposure.” Other irritants, he said, are the early morning noise and blockedoff sidewalks – complaints shared by some of his neighbors.
A short walk to the Publix a few blocks north has become an obstacle course for Ali Luft, 19, a junior in marketing. “Instead of having to cross the street just once … I now have to cross three times,” said Luft. “If the sidewalks weren’t blocked off, the construction wouldn’t bother me at all.” Cailah Mack, 23, a senior in business management who lives on the fifth floor, said the noise bothers her more than the crane. The noise, she said, has become an early alarm clock. Early in the semester, she was sometimes awakened at 3 a.m. by yelling, f lood lights and cement trucks, she said, and earplugs don’t help. “In all honesty, I don’t mind the site there,” Luft said. “Just wish some days could be quieter.” When it opens in January, the 17-story Salvador will tower over RHO, which has seven stories. On its website, the Salvador’s
marketers promise “artful and innovative living” in 74 “urban luxury condos” that range in price from $355,000 to $2.5 million. Eighty percent of the units are already sold. The tower’s name is a nod to the late artist Salvador Dali, whose work is showcased in a nationally renowned museum a couple of blocks to the east. Residential features will include art touches and design inspired by the artist. Ross the crane operator won’t be around to admire the final touches, however. His role in the project should be over by August, Howell said. That’s when the crane will come down and Ross will move on to the next job. Information from the Tampa Bay Times was used in this report.
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Biology professors for $200
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
USFSP’s Norine Noonan appears on Jeopardy!
By Samantha Putterman Staff Reporter In 1964, 14-year-old Norine Noonan sat down in her parents’ home outside New York City to watch the first episode of a program that would become one of the most popular game shows on American television – Jeopardy! And over 50 years later, the USF St. Petersburg biology professor was chosen to be a contestant on the show. Noonan watched the show in its first 10-year incarnation with thenhost Art Fleming and continued when it returned as a revamped nightly show in 1984. “I have w atche d it pre t t y steadily since the second incarnation of the show debuted in 1984 with Mr. Alex Trebek as the host,” said Noonan, 67. “In 32 years, Jeopardy! hasn’t repeated a question or answer, not once.” A f ter ea rni ng her doc torate from Princeton University in 1976, Noonan taught at the College of Charleston before coming to USFSP in 2008. Months after taking the game show’s online test in January 2015, which doesn’t give applicants feedback on how they scored, Noonan received an email inviting her to Tampa for an in-person contestant audition in July.
“It was sor t of a Jeopardy! cattle call with a couple hundred other contestant-wannabes,” she said. “We took another test, filled out personal profiles, were photographed and then played a brief version of the game. We were told multiple times the audition was not a guarantee of an appearance on the Asked what advice she would you give somebody who wants to audition for the show, Noonan said,
actual show. “I had almost forgotten about the whole thing when, in late December, I got a phone call inviting me to be a contestant. Frankly, I couldn’t believe it.” Noonan went to Los Angeles for the show’s taping in late January but couldn’t talk about it much before its March 10 air date.
“I was told by the studio (Sony Pictures) to be very careful about what I said, so I didn’t actually speak about it until I got additional permission after the taping.” And though she could discuss it more after that point, she wasn’t allowed to reveal too much, including the results. According to Noonan, even Trebek doesn’t know the questions until the morning of each day’s taping. Though contestants can bring one guest with them to the taping, they aren’t allowed contact with anyone, including fellow competitors, once they arrive at the studio. “You’re in a locked room. You can’t talk to any other contestants and your guest stays in the audience,” she said. When the episode aired on March 10, a watch party at the Tavern that included USFSP faculty, staff and some of Noonan’s former students gathered with her to watch the show. The Tavern’s owner, Tom Herzhauser, said Noonan stood and thanked the group during a commercial break. “And every right answer she got, everybody stood and cheered,” said Herzhauser. “She said it was the ‘fastest 23 minutes of her life.’” “As an armchair contestant, you think you have all the time in
Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg
Dr. Norine Noonan, professor of biological studies at USF St. Petersburg, with longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. She has watched the show since the program’s first incarnation in the mid60s. In summer 2015, Noonan was chosen as a contestant and competed on March 10.
the world,” Noonan said. “But it’s rocket...lightning fast. It’s not about what you know – it’s the button.” Learning the timing of the button, which is used to ring in an answer, proved challenging. According to Noonan, contestants who ring it too soon are locked out; too late and they lose their chance to control the board. T hou g h No ona n f i nished in third place with $1800, she said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Now that she’s checked Jeopardy! off her bucket list, Noonan said she would like to travel to Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands. She said she’s also planning to get a utility obedience title, the highest level, on her 4-year-old standard poodle, Paris. Noonan hopes to enter Paris in the competition when it comes to St. Petersburg in May. “I’ve been training her for 18 months to get ready.”
Students petition for community service fraternity on campus By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter Share. Grow. Improve. Invest. Four words used to describe the fellowship and unity of Alpha Phi Omega, a national coeducational service organization. Founded on the principles of friendship and service, the fraternity provides members with the opportunity to develop leadership skills through community service, according to the organization’s website. It all started when USF St. Petersburg students Patrick Davis, Jerry Cano, Lindsey Geiger and Samantha Mann wanted to bring more Greek life to the university. The four were interested in volunteering, and when they learned about Alpha Phi Omega, they discovered a way to incorporate their passion. In August, Mann, a senior, contacted Alpha Phi Omega nationals
to start the process of establishing a USFSP chapter. “Br i ng i ng a f r ater n it y on campus wasn’t an easy process,” said Mann, who now serve as the president and co-founder of the organization at the school. She said it took two months of discussion with national officers before she could bring the fraternity to the campus. A four-step process must be completed before a group can become an active fraternity. Each step is centered on the establishment of a group: an interest, prospective and petitioning group, as well as a fully chartered chapter. The groups are separated by levels, with the interest group being t h e l ow e s t and the f u l l cha rtered chapter being the highest. Though it ty pically takes a university one to two years to advance from the interest to the petitioning group, it only took USFSP three months.
“Depending on our progress, we will be a fully chartered chapter by either fall 2016 or spring 2017,” said Mann. Since reaching pet it ioning status, the group has participated in several community service projects including Toys for Tots, and a 5K in support of St. Jude’s Hospital. The group’s major service project of the year was the school’s annual Miracle Dance Marathon. APO raised a total of $3,396 doubling its goal of $1,500 by working concession stands at Tampa Bay Rowdies games and contributing multiple personal donations.
Alpha Phi Omega is open to all students who have a passion for community service. The organization meets on Monday nights at 8 p.m.
Courtesy of Amanda Swalby
Alpha Phi Omega members took part in the USFSP dance marathon, where the group raised $3,396, the most money from an organization. Front row, from left: Amber Piazza and Samantha Mann. Back row, from left: Michaela Tolbert, Alyssa Federovich, Briana Daviau and Amanda Swalby.
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
What you should be... Reading
Ta-Nahisi Coates “Between the World and Me Coates is a writer, journalist and educator and is currently the national correspondent for The Atlantic. “Between the World and Me” is written as a letter to his 15-year-old son and won the 2015 National Book Award in nonfiction. In the novel, Coates recapitulates the violent history in the United States against African-Americans. Biting and thought-provoking, Coates is one of the leading intellectual voices on race. His atheism produces a unique form of agency and bleakness about the state of racial relations in the U.S. This book is a must read for those looking to get a personal account of what it’s like to grow up in the inner city, and the shortcomings in the relationships between young black males and the Baltimore PD.
Listening to
Kendrick Lamar “untitled unmastered.” Released March 4, “untitled unmastered.” is a follow up compilation record of wellpolished b-rolls from Lamar’s critically acclaimed “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Much of the album’s soundscape lingers on free jazz and afro-funk inspirations. If you are a fan of the Compton rapper’s work, treat yourself with this record as an early Christmas present. In its debut, “untitled unmastered.” was listed as the number 1 album on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
Watching
Daredevil, Season 2 Why? It’s Daredevil. That’s why.
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Tampa Bay performing arts: More than a community
By Kacy Vance Crow’s Nest Contributor
The performing arts community in St Petersburg is thriving. According to actress Katie Berger, the arts community is about growth and development and help people of all ages progress their acting skills. Berger performed in the St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Snell House courtyard on the USF St. Petersburg campus.
“It’s a really cool experience to be part of the company grounding itself,” Berger said. Before performing in Florida, Berger, 25, was a resident member of a theater in Minnesota. “I went in (the theater) as someone who was hired on and I kind of had a place and job already set for me,” Berger said. “In St. Pete, I have more of a family and home – it’s more inclusive –we’re all on the same team.” Aside f rom ac t i ng , Berger wrote a musical called Full, and performed in the play as the lead actress in its September 2015 Tampa Bay debut. She said, “(The process) was very collaborative, which was amazing.” Members of the Tampa Bay arts community from various theaters and organization came together to help fundraise, set up and promote the musical. “The community fed us. Everyone was so willing to help and was so excited to see what happened next,” Berger said. “I don’t think
Courtesy of Katie Berger
Katie Berger, 25, received support from her community to write her musical “Full,” which debuted in Tampa in September 2015.
that I could have gotten it on its feet anywhere else.”
Natalie Cottrill, 15, has had a similar experience and said that being a part of the performing arts community helped her realize her career aspirations. “I would love to continue performing because of this community that I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to know,” Cottrill said. Courtesy of Natalie Cottrill Cot t r i l l sta r ted perNatalie Cottrill began performing in theater forming when she was nine when she was 9 years old. Now 15, she works years old, when her mother to balance her high school assignments and per formances, but says it ’s signed her up for a musical professional worth it. theater class to bring her out of her shell. Since then, she has performed at venues such as Tampa’s Straz Center, the both those who create and those St. Petersburg Opera Company and who appreciate t he ar ts. And freeFall Theatre. because so many contribute, the Cottrill said as a high school stu- community becomes a melting pot dent, she had to find ways to main- of creativity. tain her classes and performing arts schedule. “Ba lancing high school, advanced level classes, while parFor more information on perforticipating in professional shows can mances in Tampa Bay, visit www. be tough at times, but the outcome artstampabay.com. For more inforcouldn’t be more worth it,” she said. mation on Berger’s musical “Full,” Cottrill goes to class during the visit www.fullthemusical.com. day and attends rehearsals at night. Tampa Bay’s performing arts scene provides opportunities for
REVIEW: Fresh Kitchen fails to wow at price point By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter Fresh Kitchen, a Chipotle-style restaurant that focuses on healthy options, opened March 1 at 4447 Fourth St N. It is the first half of a dual-concept eatery by Ciccio Restaurant Group and will share space in a newly renovated building with the modern diner Daily Eats, set to open in late April. Fresh Kitchen offers a variety of ingredients to create custom bowls. Other items like fresh juices and sandwiches are displayed in a small fridge beside the line. Bowls are composed of bases, veggies, proteins and sauce. Bases are largely composed of starchy items, excluding the “green bowl,” which is built on lettuce. After customers choose their bowl’s base and select the protein and veggies, a variety of sauces are offered to add flavor. The f lat-rate for bowls ranges from the $7.95 “Four Bowl,” which contains four items and can go up to the $9.95 “Six Bowl.” However, adding items like cheese, salsa, extra sauce and so on, will drive up the price. The portions are not nearly as generous as other fast-casual concepts, and the prices are steeper.
W hen sa mpled, however, t he taste difference between a Fresh Kitchen bowl and less-pricey meals at Fourth Street competitors – namely, Panera Bread and Chipotle – was negligible. The restaurant claims that it’s “clean eating made simple,” with hormone-free meats and limited added sugar. Items are made and replenished frequently throughout the day, so although it is fast food, everything is intended to have higher quality and fresher taste. After paying, patrons can find a seat at one of the indoor tables or outside, for those looking to dine “al fresco.” Although Fresh Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, Daily Eats will not open until April 20 and plans to offer a casual dining experience where customers are waited on at tables or booths. While Fresh Kitchen opens at 11 a.m. offering a single menu, Daily Eats will open at 7:30 a.m., with a menu that ranges from breakfast to dinner, including alcoholic beverages. Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
The Ciccio Restaurant Group is hiring staff for both restaurants. For those interested in a position, applications can be found at www.cicciorestaurantgroup.com.
Fresh Kitchen, a “healthy, fast food alternative,” opened in St. Petersburg along Fourth Street North on March 1. The restaurant is the first-half of a dual-concept eatery, with modern diner Daily Eats set to open April 20.
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
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Antiquarian book fair brings thousands of rare works to St. Pete By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter As part of St. Petersburg’s SunLit Festival, the 34th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair was held March 10-12 at the Coliseum on Fourth Street North. According to the event’s website, the “literary smorgasbord” featured over 100 exhibitors from around the country, each bringing a unique selection and appreciation for books, art and memorabilia. This year’s theme, “Written Relics: Treasured Tomes from Papyrus to Paperbacks,” was chosen to celebrate the withstanding influence of written works. The event showcased rare, first edition and autographed books that could be purchased from numerous dealers that specialize in vintage book collection. Prices varied, ranging from $15 to $1,000. The booksellers offered novelty works that emphasized specific genres like architecture, Americana, philosophy and science fiction, and discussed) their collections with guests. The fair is the “largest antiquarian book fair south of New York City and the third largest in the country,” according to the website.
Emily Tinti / Crow’s Nest
USFSP student and brother start chocolate company
By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter
Business major Cody Vessa, 28, and his brother Addam, 39, started a chocolate factory. Well, it isn’t the Willy Wonka chocolate factory people may picture –but it is a warehouse where chocolate is made. Disi l lusionment aside, t he brothers spend their time crafting dark chocolate bars for customers. Their father, John Vessa, began Bottom Line Processing (BTP) in 1993, which designs and manufactures small batch candy-making equipment. In 2008, he branched out to chocolate equipment and is licensed under the name Cacao Cocina. “My father designed his first chocolate machine (called a winnower) for a client from Hawaii. Before that, he had to shell Cacao beans by hand and with a blowdryer,” said Cody. “The Hershey Company saw the prototype and came to the shop to ask us to build a smaller one.”
A winnower crushes the Cacao bean and separates the chocolate nib inside from the peanut-like shell. Cody said while he worked with his father, he helped people from around the world test the equipment. And though the brothers decided not to continue in their father’s business, the experience helped them meet the right people in order to buy the products needed to get their chocolate business started. Cody and Addam purchased prototype equipment from their father to start the company, and in late 2014, Pinel las Count y Chocolate was born. “We wanted to strike out on our own,” said Cody. And the company is expanding, moving to a new location next month. “We will have a new storefront, where people can come in, maybe drink a bit of coffee with their chocolate,” said Addam. The space will also have a window that gives customers a glance at where the chocolate is made. “We’re excited to move everything over and set up our operation,” said Addam. “If we can develop the equipment layout for the space, we can really put our own spin on things.” To keep the business fresh, the brothers released two new chocolate ba rs at t he Ta mpa I nd ie Flea on March 20. The market, held at the Rialto Theater,
features over 70 vendors. According to Cody, t he add it ions contain specific Florida ingredients. One bar includes ground coffee from Tampa roaster King State, while the other has sea salt and Datil pepper from St. Augustine. The brothers have forged business relationships around the Tampa Bay area. Their chocolate is used in the Maven Milk C ho c ol ate Stout by Largo-based brewery Barley Mow, and can be purchased at local St. Petersburg businesses l i ke L oca le Ma rket, Bandit Coffee and the Old Southeast Market. Cody said he chose to take pre-business courses at USFSP to get a better theoretical knowledge of how the business world works.
Devin Rodriguez / Crow’s Nest
At Pinellas County Chocolate, milk and peanut ingredients aren’t added in chocolate products. Co-owner and USFSP student Cody Vessa says that the method provides an interesting challenge, and it’s more inclusive for customers.
Though he said he enjoys the classes, he hasn’t needed to use what he’s learned in the chocolate business – yet. Devin Rodriguez / Crow’s Nest
Brothers Addam (left) and Cody Vessa (right) founded Pinellas County Chocolates in October 2014 and are moving to a new location where they plan to sell chocolate directly to customers.
Mar 21 - Mar 27, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue25
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It was going to be a fairy tale… Read earlier posts to Marla Korenich’s blog at: https://mkorenichblog.wordpress.com/
Editor-in-chief
SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN
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EMILY TINTI
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JEFFREY ZANKER
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MORIAH PARRISH
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Distribution Manager
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adviser
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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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By MARLA KORENICH Crow’s Nest Contributor September 2011 T he d ay wa s here. Finally. I really played this down to my parents. I said I was just meeting Ethan in Tallahassee to do some paperwork. You know, we had to get things started. His mother and brother picked me up early that morning, and I was ready. I had all my paperwork filled out. I did an online premarital counseling course so we could just waltz in and get the marriage license and get married at the same time instead of waiting the three-day period that was required by the state of Florida. Maybe there are some things that shouldn’t be done online. I left wearing sweat pants and brought my white sundress in a bag. Love you. See you guys later. We got to Tallahassee and, boy, it was hot. “I can’t be sweating. I am getting married today!” I think I changed into my sundress in the bathroom of the library near the clerk of court’s office. So, we waited. We waited.
I paced back and forth for an hour, at least. He was late, of course. Can’t he do anything right? No, I was going to be positive, I needed to be. This marked the day of a step forward. Soon, we weren’t going to be long-distance anymore. Soon, we were going to be better. Soon, he will start keeping promises. I hope. He finally showed up in his Navy dress blues, with two guys I have never seen before. Where were you? I had to wait for my friends. Of course, the one day I was supposed to be first with him, I wasn’t. Was I ever going to be first? But he did look handsome. We sat together. We signed the papers. His brother, Evan, signed the witness line. We watched a woman walk out in a full wedding gown and veil. It’s just the courthouse, girl. It was our turn. Shaking. I can’t believe I am doing this. Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all other and holding only unto her? My family won’t like this. I do. Does he? Calm down, this is what you’ve wanted all along. I love him. I now declare you to be husband and wife. His mother was so happy. So happy.
OK . T hat w a s it ; we were married. Why is it so easy to get married? We were heading back home to my parents’ house, the four-hour drive. Those guys were with him so he could drop them off in Tampa on the way. How nice of him. He also knew someone else in Tampa, who had something he needed to pick up. I wonder what that is. Even on our wedding day? You have to? I’m stressed, babe; come on. OK. My parents were waiting by the door. They knew. They told us congratulations. They didn’t mean it. My dad started to tear up when I told him Ethan had proposed a few months earlier. That was probably one of maybe two times I had seen him cry in my whole life. We went to Beef O’Bradys in Englewood to meet my sister and her boyfriend. She wasn’t happy with me. She thought it was a mistake. It was too soon. I know it was, but I love him. It will be okay. I remember being shattered that no one supported me. Why can’t you just be happy for me? In retrospect, I understand. They saw the negatives because they never knew the positives that I did. They noticed that his pupils were the size of a pin.
They saw he was always sweating. They saw when he made me cry. Sometimes I was running out of excuses. I don’t know. I just love him. I didn’t want to be 25 one day and regret not marrying him, wondering what could have been. Despite it all, I was happy, I think. It is hard to remember those feelings now, how much I loved him to just forget how my family felt and run away to get married. I would never be so blinded now. I guess sometimes the best lessons come from the hardest experiences. I never thought I would be 18 and married to the guy I had been dating for eight months. Yeah, I know. Eight months. I felt like we had been through a lifetime together in that time. I was there the whole time he was in boot camp. I flew to Illinois to watch him graduate. It was going to be a fairy tale. Soon we will live together, and everyone will see. We will make it. If we love each other, we will get through anything. Right? I can’t wait to live with him.
Marla Korenich is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies. She can be reached at korenich.legendyb@yahoo.com
Courtroom carnival: Jury awards Hulk Hogan $115 million in Gawker sex-tape lawsuit
By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter
In a St. Petersburg courtroom, it took a ju r y s i x hou r s to deliberate whether Gawker Med ia i nv aded former pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan’s privacy when the organization posted a sex tape of the celebrity on its website in 2012. And in a unanimous decision, Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, was awarded $115 million in the suit he brought against the gossip website. Gawker posted a one minute and 41-second edited video of Hogan having sex with Heather Clem, exwife of Tampa-based radio host Todd “Bubba the Love Sponge” Clem. Clem recorded the sex tape of the former wrestler and his then-wife,
but Hogan said he didn’t know he was being filmed. The damages awarded to the exwrestler were for economic harm and emotional distress from the video, which Gawker said was sent to Gawker anonymously. The media organization ran the video with written commentary by the site’s former editor, Albert Daulerio, who was named in the lawsuit as well as Nick Denton, Gawker’s founder. During the proceeding, Denton was asked to read Daulerio’s commentary to the courtroom, which included graphic descriptions of the video. Clem was scheduled to testify as a witness for Gawker but wiggled out, pleading the Fifth Amendment. The radio host had made multiple conf licting statements about the incident and his attorney argued Clem could be sued for perjury if he was made to take the stand.
The jury was not only shown the edited version of the video, but also an old website advertisement that displayed Hogan on a wrecking ball in a “t-back thong,” a parody of a Miley Cyrus music video. Bollea clarified, saying the man on the wrecking ball was Hulk Hogan – his T.V. personality – and that the sex tape showed his private, “real-self,” Terry Bollea. The jur y sympathized with Bollea, awarding him $15 million more than his original $100 million request. Courtroom theatrics aside, this case speaks to a problem we in the Internet Age fall into constantly: Privacy. Everyday citizens have a modicum of protection against public exposure of their private lives. But for a public figure (especially one who has a history of exposing his private and sexual life), to not only win the case, but receive more money than originally sought
Labeled for Reuse
Terr y Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, took gossip website Gawker to court in St. Petersburg for posting a sex tape of him and a former best friend’s ex-wife.
seems like a significant reversal of First Amendment rights. Public figures can not be exempt f rom content t hat t hey deem “defamatory.” Denton said Gawker is already
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planning to appeal the decision in a statement to the press. “Given key evidence and the most important witness were both improperly withheld from this jury, we all knew the appeals court will need to resolve the case,” he said, adding, “we expect to win this case ultimately.” Gawker’s defense claimed the media company was well within its First Amendment rights to post the video, and that penalization would only lead to other celebrities using the court system to limit anything they may find personally offensive. Bollea’s prosecution claimed Gawker was a sla nderous
organization that only cared about financial gain and disregarded his well-being upon posting the material. Remember this, the freedom of the press directly affects the freedom of public knowledge. We must tread carefully. Information from the Tampa Bay Times was used in this report.
Devin Rodriguez, a junior majoring in journalism and media studies, is the Arts and Life editor. He can be reached at drodriguez7@mail.usf.edu
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My alternative spring break “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” -Gandhi
By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter
streets needed the food more than I did.
In the United States, approximately 565,0 0 0 people experience homelessness on any given night. I’ve a lways fou nd w ay s t o indirectly help alleviate homelessness and poverty by contributing to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other organizations – but it wasn’t until recently that I realized I wanted to take it a step further. Yes, donating clothes and money every year is helpful, but I wanted face-to-face interaction. Too many of us, myself included at times, treat the homeless like they aren’t “real people.” That’s why I chose to spend my spring break working with Un-BULL-lievable Spring Break (USB), an annual program that allows students to give back to communities in need by participating in renovation projects. My trip took place in Atlanta, Ga., which has one of the country’s highest homeless populations. Intown Collaborative Ministries connected our group to various churches in the area to work with throughout the week. Intown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to build relationships and find solutions for homelessness in the city. At Mercy Community Church, our goal was to build relationships. Because Mercy is non-denominational, the church’s praise and worship services were a little different. The first day concentrated on Catholic teachings with an emphasis on the Holy Rosary, while the last focused on meditation through prayer and music. Mercy also hosted bible study sessions that used scripture to address various topics – the two I attended discussed homelessness and recovery.
DAY 2
DAY 1
We were exposed to problems the area’s impoverished face on a daily basis, including the difficulty in obtaining basic necessities like food and water. Some communit y members came to Mercy to talk about how they find meals, and discussed some of the places they sleep like parks, bus stops and under bridges. A few even gave us insight on some of the requirements needed to spend the night in shelters, something I found particularly eye opening. For lunch, we visited various downtown street corners to serve soup, sandwiches and snacks to the homeless. We were invited to eat with them, but I politely declined. I felt that the people on the
At Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, we spent the day organizing the food pantry and making hygiene bags for distribution. While we didn’t have much interaction that day, we got to see how volunteers prepared for distributions, held on Fridays and Saturdays, where they hand out items to people in need.
DAY 3
We visited one of Atlanta’s infamous overf low shelters. It was called Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless (Peachtree+ Pine Works). We didn’t get to tour the facility because we didn’t have an appointment, but we didn’t need one – the 30 minutes we were there was enough. Peachtree+ Pine Works was like a neglected shelter in a Lifetime movie: brick wall exterior, broken windows, concrete f loors, dim lighting and no air conditioning. I was shocked. I just couldn’t process the idea that thousands of men, women and children were living in this environment; it made me want to cry. I have complained about living in the Residence Hall, but it was nothing like these people sleeping on toddler nap mats every night. At that moment I felt selfish, but seeing the raw environment made me appreciate what I have and the scene will serve as a constant reminder of those who have it much worse than I do.
DAY 4
Part of the group returned to Mercy, while the rest of us visited Trinity Table. We spent time at a women’s shelter and learned about the application process needed to get into the 90-day facility and some of the reasons why women chose to go there. Later, we worked in the clothing closet, stocking it with comfortable items for the upcoming summer months.
Tamiracle Williams | Crow’s Nest
Students Taylor Singleton (left) and Heidi Colon (right) cleaned and organized the food pantry at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga. – one of the country’s highest homeless populations. The group helped volunteers prepare hygiene bags for distribution to community members in need.
homeless since they have nowhere else to go. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. It taught me valuable life lessons and reminded me that just because someone is homeless, doesn’t mean they are any different from you or me. I hope to take some of the things I learned from this trip and bring them back to St. Petersburg.
Tamiracle Williams, a junior majoring in journalism and media studies, is the photo editor. She can be reached at tamiracle@mail.usf.edu
Tamiracle Williams | Crow’s Nest
On the fourth day of the trip, the Atlanta group visited the Mercy Community Church and worked in its on-site clothing closet, where they stocked updated clothing for the upcoming summer months.
DAY 5
Back at Mercy, we discussed recovery. Many people spoke out about add ic t ions t hat lead t hem to become homeless. While alcohol and substance abuse were the most common addictions mentioned, another problem shocked me – domestic violence. I knew that domestic violence had negative impacts on people, but I didn’t realize that many victims feared returning home after experiencing an abusive relationship. Eventually, these people become
Courtesy of Pamela Johnson
The Un-BULL-ievable Spring Break program brought seven USFSP students to Atlanta for a community service project centered on homelessness and poverty alleviation. (From left to right: Sadandre Jackson, Juan Salazar, Erika Tubens, Taylor Singleton, Heidi Colon, Tamiracle Williams, and Harmony Mckenzie)