Single copies free The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
Do you use the R-word?
Students march in heels to spread awareness
p. 6
p. 5
University receives big gift By Jeffrey Zanker Staff Reporter
Jeffrey Zanker / Crow’s Nest
In recognition of their generosity, the names of three women grace the College of Business. The college is named for Kate Tiedemann (right). Its new building is named for Lynn Pippenger (center) and its atrium for Ellen Cotton (left).
When Lynn Pippenger started as a payroll clerk in 1969, her employer was a small, little-known brokerage firm and the campus of USF St. Petersburg consisted of old military barracks on a tiny finger of land along Bayboro Harbor. Over the years, the brokerage firm grew into a regional giant called Raymond James Financial, and the campus blossomed into a separately accredited university with 6,700 students on 62.4 acres. Last week t he u niversit y
announced that Pippenger, who rose to chief financial officer at Raymond James before retiring in 2012, has donated $5 million to fund scholarships for business majors studying accounting and finance. The university reported that the new building for the Kate Tiedemann College of Business, which is nearing completion at Third Street S and Fourth Avenue, will be named Lynn Pippenger Hall. Pippenger’s gift is the second largest in USFSP history, behind only the $10 million that Tiedemann
donated to the College of Business in September 2014. That gives the university the distinction of being the first business school in America where both the school and the building that houses it are named after women, officials said. “This is yet another momentous day for USF St. Petersburg,” said Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisn iewsk a , who noted t hat women are beginning to emerge as top leaders in the industry. Both Tiedemann and Pippenger are classic American success stories. When Tiedemann arrived in
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Student to launch longboard business
By Jason Saab Staff Reporter
Most people who own a longboard treasure the wood on wheels
and treat it as one of their most prized possessions, and Brianna Enders is no different. Enders, a senior at USF St. Petersburg, said she first discovered skating when she was 10, after
Courtesy of Casey Nelson
USFSP senior Brianna Enders will officially launch her longboard company, Breezy Boards, after she graduates in May. Enders said her goal is to become a key player in the longboard market and give back to the community that’s given her so much.
a family friend let her try out his handmade board. And she immediately fell in love. “Since I always skated (on) boards I was proud to ride, it sparked the idea that I wanted to give that back to people - so they could feel that same sense of pride,” Enders said. Enders said she came up with the concept for her longboard business, Breezy Boards, in middle school. “I bounced the idea around with my mom, she had some ideas, we were going to be business partners,” Enders said. But in 2013, not long af ter Enders’ turned 21, her mother passed away from Ovarian cancer at the age of 43. Since the tragedy, Enders said she has remained determined to make the plans she discussed with her mother a reality. “I feel compelled to make this awesome and do it as successfully as I can.” Enders said the business’s name comes from her nickname “Breezy,” a word she feels perfectly represents skateboarding. The activity, she said, is about “breezing through life” as it helps riders let go of their worries when it’s just them and the pavement.
Courtesy of Casey Nelson
After starting her own longboard company, USFSP student Brianna Enders said she’s received a wave of support from the St. Petersburg community.
At USFSP, she received a fulltuition scholarship and thought the university would give her the strongest skillset. She decided the journalism program would be the best major, but knew she wanted an entrepreneurship minor to build a stronger understanding of the business world. Apar t f rom t he universit y,
Enders said the amount of support she’s gotten from the St. Petersburg community has been monumental. “I moved up here, and ever since I’ve just made connection after connection (and) that really inspired me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to get as far as I have without the support of the community.” She decided to give some of that support back to the community
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crowsneststpete.com
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
News Briefs
Monday, April 4
Fathoming Florida’s Springs: Saving Florida’s Springs USC Ballroom // 6 pm The Saving Florida’s Springs event will feature Dr. Chris Meindl and author John Moran as they explain how springs work, what specifically is hurting the springs, and what actions will be required to protect them. Free admission.
Wednesday, April 6
USFSP’s Got Talent: A Night at the Apollo USC Ballroom // 6:30 pm Join the Office of Multicultural Affairs as the group hosts “A Night at the Apollo” in search of USFSP’s next superstar. Featuring the band Glass House Point, come dressed to impress and enjoy a night of entertainment.
Friday, April 8 Tampa Bay Blues Festival Vinoy Park // noon Come out to the 21st annual Tampa Bay Blues Fest from April 8-10. Tickets start at $30, but varies for each day. Alumni College at USFSP USC Ballroom// 8:30 am This first-time event asks USFSP Alumni to return to campus and enjoy a half-day of classes – without the work. Grads will hear from former and current faculty and catch up with old classmates. A campus tour, along with breakfast, lunch and parking is included in the $25 admission fee.
Sunday, April 10 Campus Rec Fest Harbor Lawn // 3 pm Come out for a day of activities, food and free gear at Campus Recreation’s annual Rec Fest. Held on Harbor Lawn, the event features obstacle courses, kayaking, log rolling, and numerous boat trips throughout the day. The night ends with a Dive In Movie at the pool hosted by the Harborside Activities Board and a chance to win Pete Points. Free admission, registration required.
Environmental club promotes awareness By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter With the rise in small businesses, fresh markets and overall environmental awareness, St. Petersburg is on the path to become a more conscious community. At USF St. Petersburg, March 28-31 marked the university’s Super Environmental Week, leading up to the month of April, otherwise known as “Earth Month.” I n t he Un iversit y St udent B a l l ro om s , e vent orga n i z ers from the Student Environmental Aw a r e n e s s S o c i e t y (S E A S) , E nv i r on m e nt a l S c i e nc e a n d Sustainability Club (ESSC), Peers, and Connection Inc. concluded the week with the Consciousness Film Festival. The event featured the documentaries “Home” and “I Am” in attempt to unify the crowd and encourage constructive dialogue about being env ironmenta l ly conscious. In between showings, students were invited to attend an interactive call-to-action fair with organizations and conservation initiatives in the Tampa Bay area, including the Faith House, Edible Peace Patch Project and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. Dianne Montes, a senior majoring in environmental science and policy, is the treasurer of SEAS and helped organize the festival. She works with Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit that protects and restores local estuaries. The group offered both on-site and behind-the-scenes volunteering opportunities.
“Community groups always want students, and students always want to know if there’s something they can do in the community. So I think it really worked out,” said Montes, 21. “Events like this keep the important conversations going.” The Edible Peace Patch Project cu r rent ly ma i nta i ns seven schoolyard gardens in south St. Petersburg, which are built by community members using local resources. The goal is to eliminate poverty and educate children and families on the importance of wellbeing. “People come together and have important discussions,” said Kelli Harper, a volunteer in the program. “Young children learn early on the importance of being part of a community. We’re planting that seed.” Aside from artistic and entertainment value, the films served as the platform guests used to examine and discuss environmental issues, on both a local and global scale. Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s awardwinning film “Home” travels to 54 countries and illustrates the connection humans share. By exploring diverse populations and environments, Bertrand shows how humanity continues to threaten the planet’s ecological balance, and offers suggestions on how people can help instead of hinder. While “Home” focused on environmental conservation, “I Am” incorporated research in neuroscience, biology, philosophy and human rights around the world. Director Tom Shadyac, known
Emily Tinti / Crow’s Nest
Sharon Joy Kleitsch, a self-described meta-networker, lead a group discussion about environmental movements in St. Petersburg. She uses her 35 years of management and her extensive study of spirituality, to merge local and global initiatives.
for directing a number of Jim Carrey’s comedies/comedy films, created the documentary with two questions in mind: “What is wrong with our world? And what can we do to make it better?” With a four-person film crew, Shadyac interviewed several scholars and influential figures including author Noam Chomsky, activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former psychotherapist Thom Harmann. The interviews were intertwined with a range of historical clips of world events and compelling statistics Throughout the documentary, Shadyac ref lects on his “cancerous” lifestyle of fame, luxury and greed when he became successful in Hollywood, and shares his newfound theory of altruism. The speakers discussed the idea that mankind’s dependence on nature should be honored, and just being alive on Earth is cause for celebration. According to the ESSC, since its release, “I Am” has invoked a massive response and altered the way
many view the natural environment – one of the main reason’s the campus club said it chose the film. In the documentar y’s f ina l sequence, Shadyac had a revelation. “We started by asking what’s wrong with the world, and ended up discovering what’s right with it.” Sharon Joy Kleitsch, Principal of Connection Partners, led a group discussion with David Vasquez, who graduated from USFSP with his bachelor’s in environmental science and policy last fall. Vasquez now works at the university as a sustainability analyst. Guests were instructed to sit with people they didn’t know and share some of the positive movements and transitions they’ve seen come up in the community, instead of focusing on the negatives. The result: a discussion of what’s right in St. Petersburg.
Continued from front cover
Kate Tiedemann College of Business receives $5 million donation New York from Germany in 1955, she was an 18-year-old who spoke no English and had no formal education. All she had was $30 and a lot of determination. According to a portrait in the Tampa Bay Times, she landed a job as a house maid in New York, learned typing and shorthand and gravitated to the surgical instrument industry, where she parlayed increasingly important jobs into her own business in 1975. The business, called Katena P r o d u c t s (f o r “ K a t e N o r t h America”), made instruments for eye surgery. When she sold it years later, she retired to a waterfront home in Pinellas County and decided to donate to USFSP. Her partner, businesswoman Ellen Cotton, donated $1 million to the university in January. The atrium in the new business building will be named for her. Pippenger, 78, was born in 1938 a couple of blocks from today’s campus at Mound Park Hospital,
now called Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. Her f irst job was at St. Petersburg’s legendary Webb’s City, which covered several city blocks and called itself “The World’s Most Unusual Drugstore.” She was a grocery clerk and cashier. After she started at Raymond James in 1969, Pippenger said she grew with the company in a series of “whatever comes my way” positions. She helped create the firm’s human resources and information technology departments and its internal employee education program. When she retired in 2012, she was chief financial officer and Raymond James had grown to 18,000 associates worldwide. Over the years, Pippenger said, she attended St. Petersburg Junior College and both the Tampa and St. Petersburg USF campuses. On the St. Petersburg campus, she majored in business administration. She recalled wading
through floods to reach her classes in barracks that once housed the U.S. Maritime Service on a spit of land where the College of Marine Science is today. In 1988, she graduated with honors from USF’s executive MBA program on the Tampa campus. Pippenger is a “true USF success story,” said university President Judy Genshaft. “She is an extraordinary role model across the university system.” Pippenger, who lives in Largo, has been a financial supporter of both campuses. When she donated $10 million to USF Tampa’s School of Accounting at the Muma College of Business, the school was named in her honor. In October, she attended an event on the St. Petersburg campus and met Tiedemann. That renewed her interest in USFSP, she said, and led to her decision to contribute $5 million toward scholarships. “I spent a lot of time at USFSP
over a period of years while I was working full time,” she said in a university press release. “Scholarships can ease the financial struggle for some students, or provide the funding needed for students to travel abroad or participate in civic learning. In this way, they learn to give back themselves, usually in time or talent.” Michigan educator Sridhar Sundaram, who was named dean of the College of Business last month, attended t he ceremony where Pippenger’s gift was announced. He will succeed interim Dean Gary Patterson on July 1, a few weeks before Lynn Pippenger Hall is scheduled to open. The 68,000-square-foot building will have 16 classrooms, an auditorium, a garden terrace and a palmlined courtyard at the entrance. Information from USFSP and the Tampa Bay Times was used in this report.
crowsneststpete.com
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
USFSP organization packages over 10,000 meals for local children
By Evy Guerra Crow’s Nest Contributor
In just 90 minutes, 36 volunteers packaged 10,368 meals for hungry children in Pinellas County. T he Feed i ng t he Ch i ld ren Everywhere event took place on
March 31 and was hosted by USF St. Petersburg’s Office of Leadership and Student Organizations. Feeding the Children Everywhere is a social charity that travels around the country packaging meals for children in need. S t u d e nt s a n d c om mu n it y
Courtesy of Nicole Carroll
During the university’s Feeding the Children Ever y where event, 36 volunteers packaged 10,368 meals in 90 minutes.
Questions and Answers: A Haiku-A-Palooza with the Crow’s Nest staff By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter For the second year, the USF St. Petersburg’s Student Success Center is holding an engaging contest: Write a three-line haiku that relates to a concept you are currently studying. It’s called Haiku-A-Palooza. Dr. John Osegovic, a chemistry professor, hatched the idea during an Academic Engagement meeting and said he got a kick out of judging the entries last year.
“It was interesting to see the English instructors really pull for ‘the best’ while the scientists (a psychology instructor, bio instructor, and myself) really went for what made us laugh (and was good),” he said. “It was a good back-and-forth that led us to, what I think, were some really great poem’s last year.” SSC assistant director Cece Edwards oversees the contest that runs through April 15. In a Q&A with the Crow’s Nest,
members filled a University Student Center ballroom and formed an assembly line to put together lentil casserole meals. The packages consisted of rice, lentils, Himalayan sea salt and a mix of dehydrated vegetables. “We had to be precise and accurate, but we also had to pick up the pace and be aware of how a system works,” said USFSP student Sadandré Jackson. The meals were sent to Nourish and Flourish, a local program that aims to feed hungry children in St. Petersburg. According to the program’s website there are over 7,000 chronically hungry children in Pinellas County. “The LSO board and I feel that there is a need, plus a want, to do civic engagement and more service opportunities. That’s the whole reason this is happening,” said CJ Vila, interim assistant director of student activities and programs. “The best part is getting to know
Edwards discussed the contest’s background and rules. Crow’s Nest: Whose idea was the contest to begin with?
Cece Edwards: Last semester a group of faculty and myself who were interested in promoting writing-across-the-disciplines began meeting. We wanted to do something that would possibly engage all university students and Dr. Osegovic came up with the idea of a haiku contest. CN: Last year only students could enter the contest, but faculty is eligible this year? CE: Yes, last year the contest was only open to students. We had several faculty show interest in participating, so this year we decided to include a faculty category. CN: Will there be a winner in each category, if so? /What are this year’s categories? (how’s that) CE: This year our contest categories are: one grand prize for the best overall and two prizes (1st and 2nd places) to each of the colleges
Courtesy of Nicole Carroll
USFSP freshman, Christian Medina measures the lentils before passing them down the line.
the people in your assembly line. Time flies because you’re making jokes and it’s a very ‘get to know each other’ event.”
Jackson said he felt good about making a difference locally .
(on campus) and one to the best faculty entry.
sentences using their own words. Much like Einstein’s quote, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,” the haiku encourages students to capture something they’ve learned in just 17 syllables. And in a way, it’s assessing their understanding. Additionally, haiku is fairly straightforward to judge – three lines with correct corresponding syllable counts that encapsulate an entire concept clearly. Limericks and sonnets get more complicated. We wanted something that everyone would feel they could participate in, I don’t think haiku is too intimidating.
CN: How many entries did you have in total last year? How many so far this year? CE: Last year we had approximately 60 entries. This year we are off to a slow start with only five. CN: What can the winners gain besides recognition? CE: This year’s grand prize will be a $75 Amazon gift card. The college-specific prizes are still to be determined. Like last year, some prizes were donated by local businesses like Rollbotto, Locale Market, Tijuana Flats and more. We have a nice bottle of wine for the faculty winner. CN: Why a haiku, as opposed to another form of poetry like a limerick or a sonnet? CE: The Haiku is a focused and concise form of poetry. Proponents of writing-across-the-disciplines recognize the deep learning potential when students condense a concept, theory, or idea into a few
“What a huge impact. My heart is so full.”
Competition standards:
Haikus must be original, suitable for publication and may not contain profanity, disparaging comments or be overtly sexual. For more details visit www.usfsp. edu/success/haiku-a-palooza/
Note to Judges: Please refer to the headline for the Crow’s Nest’s haiku submission.
Continued from front cover
Senior Brianna Enders plans to officially debut Breezy Boards after graduation that helped her and created a local art contest to design Breezy Boards’ first line of boards, “Adjective Dragon.” The project received artwork submissions from artists around Tampa Bay. When the contest ended, Enders chose five designs to make up the collection.
The boards are available for pre-order, and will be distributed on May 13, during Breezy Boards launch party at World of Beer in downtown St. Petersburg. Enders said she also plans to introduce her merchandise line at the launch, which will include/
includes clothes, stickers and koozies. The event, she said, will feature a fire truck serving wood fired pizza and a raffle with prizes from vendors she’s connected with throughout St. Pete. “I’ve got four local bands playing and World of Beer is working
on having only local drafts,” Enders said. “A food vendor called Devout and Devour is going to tailor a menu to fit the drink specials.” Enders said though the next month is going to make her life hectic, she’s excited to get Breezy Boards up and running.
The launch party takes place five days after she graduates, but Enders said she chose May 13 for a reason. It’s her birthday.
crowsneststpete.com
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
Keep St. Pete Lit promotes a local, literary community By Indhira Suero Acosta Crow’s Nest Contributor Do you read? Do you write? Do you live in or around St. Petersburg? With those three questions, Keep St. Pete Lit welcomes visitors to its website. Members of the group say they celebrate and promote the area’s literary community and try to help writers, readers and art lovers sharpen their talents and enjoy literature. With programs such as LitSpace, Bluebird Book Bus, the book club at the Museum of Fine Arts, and City of Writers, this initiative partners with the Morean Arts Center, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and St. Petersburg Audubon. The goal is to teach literature creativity workshops and free lessons in writing poetry and fiction, among other classes. The group also has a book store called BookSpace at the Bloom Art Center at 910 Fifth Ave. N. “We have had this book store since August 2015, and all of the donations have come from the community,” said Maureen McDole, the group’s president. “All the sales go to support our organization. We (also) have free writing classes at the Morean Arts Center every weekend. We usually have classes on Saturday from 10 a.m to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.; on Sundays, from 1 to 3 p.m.” With Mitzi Gordon, Jon Kile, Matthew Jackson, Shelly Wilson and her daughter Kathleen, McDole works to promote literature among St. Petersburg residents.
She also stresses that these aren’t just simple training classes but also visionary, outside-the-box workshops. “The thing about literature is that it can go everywhere, and if you are pairing it with other art forms, it creates an ability to cross-collaborate with other organizations in the city,” McDole said. “We’ve partnered with over 40 organizations, and it also creates a multicenter, multidisciplinary experience.” Apparently the group’s approach has worked. Since June 2015 more than 400 students have ta ken classes at LitSpace. “We say 18 and over, but if a teenage kid wants to come that’s fine. We’re working on the goal of having something in the summer as a kid’s reality,” McDole said. “But the way we gear to kids is through the book bus. We try to do it once a month and take it to the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum and give away books to the community.” Keep St. Pete Lit also invites Pinellas County writers to join its City of Writers database. This listing is open “as a home for local authors of all genres, and a resource for folks to find them.” At 6:30 p.m. on April 14, the group will be reading “Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend” by Michael Dregni. The event will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts at 255 Beach Dr NE. For more information about Keep St. Pete Lit go to www.keepstpetelit.org
Courtesy of Indhira Suero Acosta
Writer Maureen McDole shows off the literature collection at BookSpace, located in the Bloom Arts Center.
Therapy dogs bring comfort to students
By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter
ho s pit a l s , nu r s i n g homes and schools. The goal is to brighten There is something special about spirits and improve opening up your door and being health. The group w i l l greeted by an excited pup. It’s a warmth that students who return during the week live on college campuses often miss. of final exams, making But on March 28 in the Nelson this the fourth year it Courtesy of Ivelliam Ceballo Poynter Memorial Library, stu- has visited the USF St. Delilah, a two-year-old australian shepard, made dents got the chance to unwind Petersburg campus. an on-campus appearance on March 28. Her red Normally, the vol- banadana signifies her status as a therapy dog. and play with 17 dogs brought by their caretakers in Chapter 256 of unteer group doesn’t Therapy Dogs International (TDI). v isit i n t he m idd le vetted by certified evaluators. Their TDI is a volunteer group that of t he s e me s t e r, but organizes therapy dog visits to Associate Librarian Kaya Van TDI tags and red bandanas make Beynen says because the the pups easy to distinguish. “When they put on that bandog owners have enjoyed visiting the campus so dana – their uniform – the dogs much, they’ve asked to stop know they’re about to go to work,” said Linda Jones, who owns Lucy, a by more often. Van Beynen said that TDI therapy dog. “They know how roughly 60 to 150 students they have to behave.” Students appreciate the opporhave come to past events. “So far the visits have tunity to visit with the dogs. “I’ve done my rounds every been a big success,” she said. “It’s even inspired time they’ve come here, ever since some students to research I started at the university,” said Taylor Singleton, an education Courtesy of Ivelliam Ceballo the effects of therapy dogs.” major. The therapy dogs are Alyssa Fedorovich (left) and Madeleine Darowiche (right) hang out with Dora, a four-year- both mi xed and pureold golden retriever “I need my puppy fix.” breeds that are trained and
O F F I C E O F G R A D U AT E S T U D I E S
Open House
Spring 2016
Saturday, April 16 9am to 12pm USF St. Petersburg, Science and Technology Building (STG)
Come learn about USFSP’s MBA and MAcc programs. There will be information sessions by representatives from the colleges of arts and sciences, business, and education, admissions, financial aid, veteran services, and GRE/GMAT prep.
crowsneststpete.com
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
High heels for a highly important cause Students “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to bring awareness to sexual assault By Nikki Sawyer Crow’s Nest Contributor At USF St. Petersburg, seeing men in high heels isn’t an everyday sight. But over 50 students traded in their sneakers and sandals to march in the campus’ first Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes event on March 31. Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop
Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence was founded in 2001 by therapist, activist and clinical counselor Frank Baird. According to the organization’s website, what started out as a small group of men walking around a park has grown to a “worldwide movement with tens of thousands of men raising millions of dollars for local rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and
other sexualized violence education, prevention and remediation programs.” The group reports that a person is raped every two minutes in the United States, and one in every six women are victims of sexual assault. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes has received numerous service and humanitarian awards including the Safe Passage Good Samaritan
Award in 2008 and the David Lawrence Community Ser vice Award in 2010. USFSP’s Women Empowerment Club, a student organization that aims to raise awareness about gender equality issues, sponsored the walk. “The event calls for both men and women to strap on their high heels to aid in bringing awareness,” said Katie Wagner, the club’s president. “I was proud to see the amount of students who came out to bring awareness to rape, sexual assault and gender-based violence.” Student who didn’t bring a pair of heels were able to request their size at sign-in. Once the heels were strapped on, the race began. The mile-long track was lined with sexual violence statistics from the community and cheering onlookers. Spea kers i ncluded Women Empowerment club adviser Dr. Judithanne McLauchlan, Officer Erika Hasson of the USFSP Campus Police, and Crystal C. Coombes, USF’s Title IX Coordinator. The Suncoast Rape Crisis center was also in attendance to speak about sexual assault issues and occurrences in the area.
Tamiracle Williams / Crow’s Nest
The Women Empowerment Club organized the event and gave out 23 pairs of red high heels to male participants. The group placed statistics along the march to provide insight on the frequency of sexual and gender-based violent crimes in the area.
Students interested in learning more about the club can visit the organization’s Facebook page Facebook.Com/USFSPWE
Tamiracle Williams / Crow’s Nest
Dr. Jacob Diaz, USFSP’s dean of students, joined over 50 students to raise awareness about sexual assault and gender violence at the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event on March 31.
Harbor Hall’s long-awaited renovations revealed By Ryan Callihan Staff Reporter After about seven months of construction, USF St. Petersburg’s Harbor Hall renovations have been completed. At Harbor Hall’s reveal party on April 1, attendees observed a digital art exhibition and were able to explore the building and examine its upgrades and additions. Both current graphic design students and alumni submitted work to be displayed in the exhibition, titled “From Here to Where.” A juror chose the winners for categories such as Best Packaging, Best Print, and Best Animation. All of the winning pieces, along with the runner-ups, could be seen in a slideshow on a digital monitor. Most of the renovations are on the first floor, with two new design studios, three classrooms, a community room and an 85-seat lecture auditorium. Jennifer Lucas, an assistant professor of graphic design, said the area where the restorations were
implemented used to be one large, open space. Harbor Hall was originally the home of the Salvador Dalí Museum and shortly after the museum moved to its current location in 2011, the building was purchased by the university and was added as part of the campus. It became known as Harbor Hall, the home of the department of Visual and Verbal Arts, which offers a combination of English and graphic design classes. Lucas said that the upgrades and additions will benefit the entire department. The design studios will be used by the graphic design students, while the classrooms will be used to hold classes like creative writing and composition. “We have a lot more space,” Lucas said. “We hope to expand our graphic design program since we have this space, (and) we hope to have a lot more events in the community room.” There are more changes students and faculty would like to see in Harbor Hall. According to the
graphic design website, conversations are underway to expand the current Print Studio to almost double its size. The graphic design program, limited to roughly 20 students who must go through an application
process to enter, hopes to slowly expand the number of seats in coming years. “The students now have more resources and space (to) spread out,” Lucas said. “They can use the
classrooms outside of class time so they can design as a community.” Graphic design seniors will host the program’s senior exhibition on the first f loor of Harbor Hall on April 29.
Courtesy of Nicole Carroll
Renovations at Harbor Hall include two new design studios, three classrooms, a community room and a 85-seat lecture auditorium. One of the two design studios is pictured above.
crowsneststpete.com
Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
My neighbor Royce
By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter
Editor-in-chief
SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN
Managing Editor
EMILY TINTI
Creative Director
GABRIELA MENA
Copy editor
CAITLIN ASHWORTH
News Editor
JASON SAAB
News Assistant
JEFFREY ZANKER
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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I had never shaved a man’s face before. But there I was, on a gray, early Saturday morning in my neighbor’s condo. He lives d i r e c t l y b e l ow me, and until I saw him wheeling past in the parking lot and smiling at my dog, we had never met. We got along from the start, and he asked shyly if I might have a little bit of time to help him out. His name is Royce, and he is a charming 53-year-old man – with cerebral palsy. The condition limits what he can do for himself, including a lot of actions that require fine motor skills. His sense of humor, however, is perfectly strong and intact. So, I had to ask him for the third time to stop making me laugh as my hand shook a little, clutching the razor. He was trying to relieve my nervousness by cracking a joke. “Now, you just take your time and go slow. I know you can do this. You have a good eye for detail,” he said. Royce knew about my perfectionist tendencies from the week before, when I swept and scrubbed his floor, a chore that hadn’t been done in a while and was desperately needed. I’m working, in increments, on getting his place back into shape. He shakes his head when he looks around, apologizing for the mess he obviously does not enjoy but can’t fix on his own. His family helps when they can, but he doesn’t have regular assistance with the things he cannot do. Okay, deep breath. I had applied an overly generous
amount of shaving cream, granting him a foam white beard over his existing stubble. I had draped a towel around his neck and shoulders, and had a hot towel and sinkful of warm water ready. I used to watch my dad do this daily and he made it look easy, right? Right. But this was someone’s face. Someone was exposing one of their most vulnerable body parts to my wobbly fingers and a razor blade. Yikes. One swipe, down past the ear. Another along the jaw. A little more pressure so the blade would cut the hairs instead of grabbing and pulling. Royce’s patient eye watched me with every move. And before 30 seconds had passed, I picked up a rhythm that seemed to work. The upper lip was difficult, and we both giggled at the faces I made in my intense concentration. But soon it was over, and I had done it: His face was smooth. I dabbed away the remaining globs of shaving cream with the towel, and he instructed me on how much aftershave to use. It felt cool and spicy on my fingers, and the scene with Macauley Culkin in “Home Alone” came to mind as I patted it onto his cheeks. “A l l r ig ht , let me see,” he requested, and I pushed his chair in front of the mirror. “Oooo-eee, girl, you got me lookin’ good!” I smiled. He did look better, much more dignified. And my heart broke a little because really, that was the goal here. My neighbor struggles to live with dignity. He needs much more help at home than his meager budget allows, thanks in large part to Governor Rick Scott’s failure to expand Medicaid. Services Royce used to enjoy, like regular cleaning visits and home health care to help him take showers and assist with basic grooming, are no longer in reach.
Moriah Parrish / Crow’s Nest
Royce, a 53-year-old St. Petersburg resident with Cerebral palsy, can no longer afford the home care assistance he once received after the state refused to expand Medicaid coverage last year. But that doesn’t stop him from smiling.
His social worker told him these were luxuries she just couldn’t find in the budget for him. I don’t know what the answer is, because I am no political or financial whiz, but there is something wrong here. I like spending time with my neighbor, and I have a few spare hours a week to lend him a hand. But he needs – and deserves – more. If t he f ine members of t he Florida Legislature were physically unable to shower and get ready for the day on their own it wouldn’t seem like such a luxury.
I’d put my money on it. Please keep this in mind during the current and future election seasons – tax breaks might sound good in theory, but if those in need of assistance fall through the cracks in the process, can we allow ourselves to sleep at night?
Moriah Parrish, a junior majoring in psychology, is the staff reporter. She can be reached at parrishm@ mail.usf.edu
The R-word: Outdated and offensive By Michelle King Crow’s Nest Contributer
“You look so retarded today.” Are you of fended yet? If you’re not, I’ll go ahead and explain to you why you should be. Self-image is one of the most sensitive issues in the world. One wrongly worded comment about someone’s personal appearance
will send them into a fit of rage. You don’t want that, I don’t want that, so let’s keep our loosely used slang to a minimum. In this day and age, people will get offended by anything and everything. Half of the time, they physically go out of their way to look for something that insults them. So riddle me this: why is it ok for these same people to then mindlessly sling around the R-word? And yes, that stands for retarded. We all know this word is no term of endearment,
we never use it in a complimenting manner and it certainly doesn’t sound very intelligent, unless you’re into that sort of thing. I fully understand that when people use it, they are not intentionally directing any harm toward individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what they are doing. Let me break this down for you. The actual definition of the word retarded is, “less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for
one’s age.” So, yes, in fact when you tell someone they are retarded, or use the term to refer to yourself, you are comparing yours and others’ physical capabilities and intelligence levels to those of someone with a mental or physical disability – which would be deemed offensive. Would you actually be able to look someone with a disability in the eye and call them that to their face? The likely answer would be a big fat no. So why, then, use it on someone else? It just
doesn’t make much sense when you break it down. I dare you to attend an Special Olympics event, where the athletes and families come together with such love and support, the kind that should be exercised within every family and group of friends. I dare you to search videos on the Internet about why this word is so derogatory and not feel shameful for using it. I dare you to make a difference by removing it from your vocabulary.
Continued on p. 8
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Apr 4- Apr 10, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 27
A century of social justice journalism remembered By Samantha Putterman Staff Reporter Journalists get in the way. They get in trouble and risk their security – sometimes their lives – to give a voice to the voiceless, shed light on important issues and hold the powerful accountable. A n d o n March 31 in St. Petersburg’s Palladium Theater, their bravery was recognized. The event, hosted by the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, was part of a nationwide celebration honoring the 100-year anniversary of the
Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
R&B singer Alex Harris lit up the stage with his cover of Sam Cook’s 1963 single “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
Pulitzer Prizes. Awarded through Columbia University, the Pulitzer is widely considered the most notable and prestigious achievement in journalism and literary arts. The night, which kicked off a two-day event that also included programs at Poynter and USFSP, paid tribute to scores of journalists throughout the years. And not just any journalists. No, the ceremony focused on a particularly brave group – a group that unleashed their pens and paper to support the civil rights movement and expose the era’s innumerable social injustices. Community members along with Mayor Rick Kriseman and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists from across the country took part in a commemoration filled with music and emotion. Prominent journa lists who made appearances include Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald, Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, Diana Sugg of the Baltimore Sun and Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press. And that barely skims the surface. The wizard behind the curtain? Roy Peter Clark. Clark, who is Poynter’s vice president and senior scholar and a nationally famous writing coach, spent the last year organizing the nearly three-hour event. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. The key was to bring together talented people from our community: journalists and
Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
At the end of the night, Rep. John Lewis, Roy Peter Clark and many others who brought the production to life, linked arms and sang “We Will Overcome” a song that became an anthem of the civil rights movement.
R-word, continued from page 6 “mentally retarded” since words Let’s play compare and contrast. The “N-word;” is this offensive? Absolutely. Are its origins innocent? Absolutely. Same goes for the “R-word.” The original intent of this word was to describe something as being “hindered or slowed.” Dating all the way back to 1426, the term was ultimately adopted by the English, who used it in a similar context. Eventually, in the 1960s, advocates pushed for the phrase
like moron, imbecile, idiot and so on were considered outdated and offensive. By 1985, the word retard was widely accepted as a description for the mentally handicapped. From that moment on, it quickly gained a negative connotation and became known as pejorative due to individuals interchanging it with words like stupid or idiot. Ultimately, the only difference between the N-word and the Rword are their origins and histories. But both started out with innocent meanings, intended to
artists devoted to social justice,” Clark said. “At the end, I got to hold hands with Congressman John Lewis to sing ‘We Shall Overcome.’ What could be better than that?” Spea kers took t u r ns reading excerpts from Pulitzer Prizewinning pieces rooted in social justice and equality. The timeline ranged from 1919 to 1994, with most falling between 1957 and 1969, the height of the civil rights movement. As an aspiring journalist, to say the night was motivational would be a vast understatement. While I expected greatness, I had no idea what was coming. I don’t think anyone did. Lewis, D-Ga., a legendary civil rights leader, served as the keynote speaker. For me – and for many others, I’m sure – his words marked the first of the evening’s many goosebump moments. In the days leading up to the celebration, Lewis spoke to the Tampa Bay Times about t he da ngers reporters faced when they documented the revolution 50 years ago. “It was very dangerous to be a reporter,” he said. “If you had a pencil and a pads and if you had cameras, they would take the cameras and smash the cameras. And I saw reporters and photographers left lying in the street bleeding. And then they turned on us.” At the beginning of his address, Lewis thanked reporters – something that made me overwhelmingly proud of the profession I’ve chosen, and also cry like a baby. “I came here today to thank the people who get in the way, who get in trouble, necessary trouble,” he said. But as Lewis spoke, he made sure to remind journalists to keep going and continue reporting courageously on issues of race and social justice. “We must not sweep the issue of race under the rug, or put it in the corner; we need to face it head on,” Lewis said. “We need the press to be a headlight, not a taillight. You have a moral obligation to pick up your pens, your pencils ... to use your
describe a person and both transformed into words of hate and of hurt. The N-word refers to skin color and the R-word refers to mental and physical disabilities – two things we have zero control over. I know why we don’t say the Nword, and we shouldn’t. But why is retard ok? It stings just as much. Is it because the group cannot stand up for themselves? The group it so cruelly depicts in every joke it shows up in. If that’s the case, why don’t we,
Samantha Putterman / Crow’s Nest
Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., a renowned civil rights leader, encouraged journalists to continue reporting on social justice issues. Lewis said, “Maybe, just maybe, we can serve as a model for the rest of the world. Tell the truth, report the truth.”
cameras, to tell the story, to make it plain – to make it real.” If that didn’t make every reporter in the room want to sprint out into the world and try to save everyone with their notepads, nothing ever will. His speech set the tone for the rest of the evening. It was gutwrenching and inspirational; it induced laughter and tears; it was frightening and incredible, all rolled into one. On top of all that emotion, musical numbers and drama acts of the civil rights period exploded on the stage. I could write for miles, but let’s just say the night yielded more than one standing ovation. The night was arresting, but even more refreshing. Not to moan and groan, but I don’t hear many positive remarks about journalism nowadays. While some criticism may be merited, it really does get discouraging, not to mention infuriating. There will always be people from a group, a profession or even a country, who stray from the standards and values they once held, but ones their peers still hold. Like race, no one has the right to
make a blanket judgment based on singular examples – you know, the apparent “bad apples.” It’s neither fair nor right to impose judgment on a group based on the color of their skin. It’s neither fair nor right to impose judgment on a group based on the religion they practice. And you know what? It’s neither fair nor right to say that all journalists are sensationalists who bend the truth to advance an agenda or get a bigger headline. It simply isn’t true. And in the spirit of journalism, this event, this wonderful night, you know what it did? It proved it. Samantha Putterman, a senior studying journalism and media studies, is the editor-in-chief. She can be reached at Ann21@mail.usf. edu
as a community, be the voices for those who cannot defend themselves. Spread the Word to End the Word is a national campaign that encourages people to stop using the Rword in everyday speech. On the organization’s website, over 640,000 people have pledged to eliminate the derogatory use of the term. To take the pledge visit http://www.rword.org/ Courtesy of Michelle King
Michelle King is a junior studying graphic design. She can be reached at michellek2@mail.usf.edu
Michelle King’s brother, George, has Down syndrome. Here, he wears one of his favorite T-shirts that reads “Keep Calm world, it’s only an extra chromosome.”