Volume 50, Issue 30 by The Crow's Nest

Single copies free The student newspaper at USF St. Petersburg

Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

So you got a degree, now what?

R.I.P Prince 1957 - 2016

p. 8

p. 4 & 5

‘Bayboro Blonde’ guide dog illness leads to early retirement By Caitlin Ashworth Staff Reporter Alberta, the yellow Labrador, has become widely known on campus. She is the face of the Bayboro Blonde Ale, a beer 3 Daughters Brewing renamed for the 50th anniversary celebration of USF St. Petersburg. And her blond fur matches the hair of her human partner – USFSP journalism and media studies chairwoman, Dr. Deni Elliott. Elliott is slowly losing her sight, and today her vision is less than 10 percent. Alberta works as her eyes and navigates Elliott around campus. “She keeps me from running into things,” Elliott said. She calls Alberta her “furry GPS.” Dr. Tony Silvia said when the pair approaches the courtyard entrance to the Peter Rudy Wallace building, Alberta rises up on her hind legs and hits the “handicapped” button to automatically open the door. “She always seemed so proud of herself,” said Silvia. “Deni would say she (Alberta) was ‘showing off.’” Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg

Continued on p. 3

Dr. Deni Elliott, chairwoman of USFSP’s journalism and media studies department, sits with her guide dog, Alberta. They were matched through Guiding Eyes for the Blind three years ago. However, Alberta has been diagnosed with iris melanoma and faces early retirement.

First female four-star general gives a lesson in leadership By Laura Mulrooney Crow’s Nest Contributor The journey that led her to become America’s first female fourstar general was more about leadership than gender. That was the message from retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, who addressed more than 50 people

on April 19 in the Universit y Student Center ballroom. Her appearance was part of USFSP Celebrates 50, in conjunction with USF’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy and the Kate Tiedemann College of Business. When she retired, Dunwoody said, she was asked when she would write her story. People wanted to

hear how she scratched her way to the top, but she believed that the real story was the journey that formed her into a leader rather than her struggle up through the ranks. “I don’t believe there’s any magic recipe for good leadership,” she said. “If there was, everyone would buy the recipe and we would all be great leaders and that would be it. “G o o d le a d er s ne ver s top

learning… Good leaders are not invincible… In reality, we’re all just human beings.” According to Militar y OneSource, in 2014 men comprised nearly 85 percent of active duty military, down 5 percent since the 1980s – the time frame Dunwoody started making notable achievements in her career. It’s easy to assume that a woman

who spent 37 years in a male-dominated environment would revel at leaving male egos in her wake while accomplishing amazing feats in the face of adversity, Dunwoody said. Instead of lowering her standards, she said, she tried to remain true to herself, stayed on the moral high ground and turned challenges into opportunity. The Army has a standard for

Continued on p. 2

Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

News Briefs Tuesday, April 26 Compass End of the Year Celebration Davis 130 // 4 - 6 p.m. This end of the year celebration gives first-year Compass students a chance to celebrate their accomplishments with friends and peer coaches. The event will have an award ceremony and provide food, drinks, games and entertainment. RSVP on Orgsync.

Thursday, April 28 2nd Semiannual Food, Friendship, and Feminism Study Break Palm Room // 5 p.m. Join the Women Empowerment Club for a pleasant break from finals. The event will feature complimentary pizza and a giveaway. Late-Night Breakfast The Reef // 10 p.m. The USC and Student Government will host the late-night breakfast, “Go for the Gold.” Enjoy a night of trivia, activities, prizes and of course, breakfast. Free. Pete’s Auction USC Ballroom // 8 p.m. Spend your hard-earned Pete Points at the Office of Leadership and Student Organizations’ annual Pete Auction.

Study smarter By Emily Tinti Staff Reporter

There are some strategies that can’t be taught, like finding balance in school, work and life. And there are habits only formed with age and experience, like time management and getting enough sleep. If you want to ace your exams, you can’t just take B12 supplements and ask your barista for an extra shot of espresso. To enhance your concentration, alertness, memory and intelligence, you don’t have to be awake longer, or study more, you just need to study better.

Outline lecture notes in your own words.

Anybody can read and remember definitions, but “chunking” – that is, arranging information in a unique way – helps the brain process and store information as one fluid concept. Instead of memorizing your professor’s PowerPoint slides and phrases from the textbook, write your own definitions. Translate ideas into your own language. As useful as f lashcards may be for remembering vocabulary and historical dates, they can limit the level of depth you reach on more conceptual subjects, like theories and complex processes.

When you study, use any many senses as possible.

Information is more effectively stored and readily accessible when your body uses more than one sense to learn something,

according to a learning theory developed by Whitman College. Re-writing is good, but take it further. Highlight words and phrases, draw pictures and diagrams. Make it visual. And talk to yourself – it’s finals season, anything goes. Even just mouthing the words as you write helps. Research also shows that chewing gum improves study and test performance, possibly because it increases heart rate and therefore blood flow in the brain. Include your auditory senses, too, by discussing concepts with someone else. In your own words, summarize ideas and listen to your voice while you test your knowledge on a topic.

Take breaks.

Having self-discipline is good, but setting limits is healthy. Don’t hurt your back and strain your eyes hunched over your desk for seven hours straight. Instead, divide your study time into shorter, more manageable sessions and commit to a set amount of reading or writing. Just keep track of the time, stretch every so often and eat a good snack. A nd remember to bl i n k – when staring at a book or computer screen, people tend to blink less than usual, which causes dryness, irritation and ultimately, headaches.

Practice may not always make perfect, but it certainly helps.

At the end of each chapter, most textbooks provide practice

tests, or at least offer thought-provoking questions that summarize the section’s main ideas. If the final is cumulative, review past assignments and quizzes, but remember not to get too attached because professors don’t have to recycle material. And if your instructor gives you a study guide, you do that study guide. That is a gift denied to many students.

Don’t wait until the last minute. I mean it.

During the first few hours of sleep, memories are consolidated, or encoded, as a way of tracing particular memories back to their original source. This is a normal, albeit important, process. However, according to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, in order to establish long-term memories – in this case, gaining knowledge and information – they must be consolidated multiple times. Beyond t hat, t hey must be retrieved through ref lection or recall – like re-reading and re-writing – over a period of time in what’s called “spaced repetition.” Without sufficient consolidation, you’re just creating shortterm, easily forgettable thoughts. That being said: start studying for finals now, get as much sleep as

possible and don’t cram for a test the night before.

Approach studying like it’s an opportunity to learn, not just another ‘thing’ you have to do.

Unless you’re still taking general education classes or outside electives, this is your major, your experience. Yes, it takes up a lot of time. Yes, it can be difficult. No, you probably don’t have time for it. But you signed up for this and you are in this to graduate. When you look down at your notes, ask yourself why the information is important. Even if it’s complicated or disinterests you, will it be useful in your future career, or help you understand concepts in another class? It may sound simplistic, but actually wanting to learn a subject, or even just one theory or definition, impacts how quickly you learn information and how well you retain it. So when people say “mind over matter,” it isn’t just an overused cliché. The brain reacts much better when the search to understand something is sincere, not forced.

Continued from front cover ...everything, said Dunwoody. A standard for conduct, a standard for physical fitness, a standard on how to wear the uniform and even what to do with your hands. A good leader exceeds those standards and

encourages others to do the same, she said. In her speech, she highlighted a few leadership lessons:

** Never walk by mistakes, deal with them.

** Treat others with dignity and respect and value diversity of thought. ** Believe in yourself, never give up, never let others dissuade

Friday, April 29 USFSP Graphic Design Senior Exhibition Harbor Hall // 3 - 7 p.m. Join the seniors in the graphic design program as they showcase the project they have been working on throughout the semester. Free Admission.

Courtesy of Laura Mulrooney

Retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, America’s first female four-star general, visited USF St. Petersburg on April 19 to discuss her journey and the leadership skills that helped her reach a higher standard in a traditionally maledominated field.

you from something you believe in or are passionate about. Good leaders try to make a difference and live to a higher standard, she said. But achieving a higher standard requires more than doing the bare minimum to get by. Yes, earning a C is still passing, Dunwoody said. But if you have a team of C students, then you have an average team, and in the military, the difference between A students and C students can be a matter of life and death. Dunwoody achieved many notable firsts along with her fourth star. She became the first female battalion commander in the 82nd Airborne Division and Fort Bragg’s first female general officer. Since her retirement from the Army in 2012, Dunwoody has written “A Higher Standard,” a book on leadership strategies, and traveled across the country as a public speaker, encouraging men and women to inspire others, dream big and find ways to make a difference.

crowsneststpete.com

Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

Have a better summer semester By Devin Rodriguez Staff Reporter Summer is calling. The beaches, sunshine and relaxation are all reaching out. But for some students, summer is a time to catch up, re-take a class that didn’t go well, or knock out a few more degree requirements. Wa l k t h roug h t he c a mpus during the summer semester and it is clear – there isn’t much going on. With little faculty or staff around, it’s apparent there are fewer classes offered. For students hoping to get a few more green checks on their DegreeWorks page, here are a few tips to get the classes you need.

Check often, check early. This

isn’t a foreign concept, but often the most important tip is the most obvious one. The university emails each student the date they can register for classes in the following semester. Students with higher GPAs are allowed to register earlier.

Know when your date is, and keep on it. Register immediately and if some of the classes you need are full, routinely check for opening seats – students drop classes, more so as the summer semester approaches.

Talk to your adviser and check DegreeWorks. The uni-

versity mandates that students meet with their academic advisers, according to Geoffrey Podeswa, office manager of academic advising. Advisers can help students plan for upcoming semesters. According to the USFSP website, “Advising assists students in evaluating their progress, making decisions based on accurate information, understanding university policies and procedures, and understanding all support services available through the university.” Students can check on their progress with the DegreeWorks page when they login to their USF online account, under OASIS. This tool updates the courses students have taken, which ones they are currently registered for, and how

many remaining credits needed for graduation. Check to see if your department has a faculty adviser, because not all do. Faculty advisers are professors within particular departments who provide information and advice about courses offered in the major. Being instructors themselves, they often have insight into how the course’s content may apply to individual students.

Consider online classes carefully. Online classes are poten-

tially convenient, but are notorious for being overwhelming and difficult to manage. Students have reported finding few options for online courses in their major. Hailee Leonor, an English major, encountered problems when trying to find specific classes she needed for her major. “Online classes were a must, due to a busy summer, said Leonor. “Ideally, I would have liked to have at least two courses pertaining to my major instead of one.”

She said the sparsity of online courses in the summer terms made it difficult to organize an efficient schedule. “To me, if a department is short a professor, or multiple professors are on sabbatical, it makes more sense to offer online courses, since that’s a way students can acquire credits they need without having to bend their schedule too much, or prolong graduation.”

Consider taking courses outside the major. The core classes

required in a major of study are usually the most important to take in a physical classroom. Since the summer terms are condensed into just a few weeks, students often miss out on important information. It’s typically better to take required courses in the fall or spring. Exit requirements and outside elective courses are good alternatives to help students advance toward their degrees without compromising the quality of education received in the classroom.

Know the dates Session A

May 13: last day to register May 16: classes begin June 24: classes end

Session B

June 27: classes begin July 1: final day to add or drop classes August 5: classes end

Session C

May 13: last day to register without late fee May 16: classes begin July 22: classes end

Continued from front cover

Alberta, the yellow Labrador, will have a new home after surgery Elliott calls Alberta her “key to independence” and said she can find the woman’s bathroom by scent. Alberta even guides them in places they both have never been before. “I have absolutely no idea how she finds baggage claim,” she said. Alberta guides Elliott through

the airport and sits quietly as travelers line up and suitcases start to cycle on the metal belt. When Elliott’s luggage comes by, Alberta gets up. And she is never wrong. “She always knows which bag has her food,” Elliott said. But next month, Elliott will travel without Alberta. This time, she will be using a c a ne to loc ate obstacles and find her way. Alberta was recently diagnosed with iris melanoma and will lose her right eye. Elliott is hopeful for her recovery and said this type of cancer rarely spreads quickly. She will no longer work as a Guiding Eyes dog. Elliott and Alberta were matched three years ago through Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York. She kept up with E l l i o t t ’s 4 - m p h pace, but was not as Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg fast as her former g u ide dog Wylie.

Alber ta is featured on the label of 3 Daughters Brewing’s “Bayboro Blonde Ale,” a re-named beer in celebration of the university’s 50th anniversary.

Elliott said she and Alberta are seamless – when they walk, it’s like they’re one person. Shortly after being matched with Alberta, Elliott started Rally, a dog sport based on obedience, at the Dog Training Club of St. Petersburg. During Rally, a dog and handler compete in a course of stations with a sign regarding a skill to be performed. El liott’s sighted g uide, Jan Erickson, reads the signs for Elliott while staying out of the way so the judges can see Elliott and Alberta. Alberta is close to achieving Rally Advanced Excellent, the highest title that can be earned. But on April 20, Elliott and Alberta practiced a rally course for the last time. Although Alberta may have a quick recovery, Elliott cannot keep Alberta. She said it would break Alberta’s heart to see her with another guide dog. “She needs me to give her a good retirement,” Elliott said. A new home for Alberta has not yet been found. For now, Guiding Eyes and Elliott are focused on her recovery. Elliott will have a new partner, after Guiding Eyes finds her the perfect match. “But no one can replace the ‘Bayboro Blonde,’” she said.

Caitlin Ashworth / Crow’s Nest

On April 20, Professor Elliott and Alberta practiced “Rally,” a dog sport based on obedience for the last time together.

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Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

Job market jungle By Jason Saab Staff Reporter On the verge of graduating, seniors know the next few months will be filled with job applications and updates to their LinkedIn profiles. As you prepare to put your newly acquired degree to work, you may be confused about where to start. We overlook a lot of the options available to us, and although your first position may not be the job of your dreams, we all have to begin somewhere.

Talk to your school

USF St. Petersburg has tons of resources to help you in the postgrad job search. The Career Center can offer helpful resume and cover letter adv ice, and joining t he alumni association opens up a wide array of opportunities.

Talk to your parents’ friends

You never know who might need an intern or an assistant, so be sure to talk to your parent’s friends, just in case. Make a point to ask them yourself instead of having your parents talk to them. This shows a level of professionalism that separates you from the child they watched grow up.

Go to networking events

Keep an eye on your social media and local publications for mentions of young professional meetings. These get-togethers often offer plenty of chances to network with people in all kinds of industries, and may give you, at the very least, a better idea on the direction you’d like your career to go.

Tailor your resume to each job

One thing many recent collegegraduate job-seekers ignore: the chance they have to custom tailor their resumes for each job application. It only takes a few extra minutes to add some of the keywords from the job listing, and it could help you stand out from hundreds of cookie-cutter resumes.

Explore different career paths

As a recent graduate embarking on the job-searching journey, there are a lot more choices available than you may be aware of. Don’t be afraid to try new things, take internships and explore jobs you didn’t know existed – the experiences may just end up sparking that passion you’re looking for.

Graduation Guide 2016

Building an online presence

By Tamiracle Williams Staff Reporter

In order to get a job nowadays, you need more than a stellar resume and cover letter. You need a personal brand — the online impression or image that people (most importantly potential employers) will remember you by. Lesa Shouse, director of USF St. Petersburg’s Career Center, says that personal branding is crucial for students planning to get a job or continue their education after graduation. The biggest component that impacts graduates’ personal brand? Online presence. Employers and admission advisers are using social media more than ever to review students. In fact, Shouse says that 94 percent of students are hired based on their LinkedIn accounts and 73 percent based on other social media accounts. You r on l i ne pre s enc e c a n

determine whether you get accepted into your dream grad school or land the job you have always wanted. If you are in the process of revamping your personal brand check out some of these tips. Get a professional headshot. It is recommended that students get a few professional photos taken to be used on social media accounts, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. A professional headshot shows future employers that you are serious. The campus Career Center offers to take free headshot photos for current students and those who have graduated within a year. Review social media. Social media has become a key in our daily lives and it is one of the first places potential employers look when reviewing candidates. With this in mind, students should take one day to look over all of their accounts and delete inappropriate

or offensive posts – even the nonrecent ones. If you find there’s too much to sift through, it’s suggested that you create a new, professional account and delete the old one. Once you’ve cleaned out your online closet, think before you post. Does this ref lect who I am? What would potential employers think about this post? Create a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a professional social networking website used by millions of employers. Shouse says students and recent graduates should try to connect with numerous professional groups and contribute to conversations to appear more visible to others in their industry. It’s the website version of your resume. Your profile serves as a platform where organizations and employers can view details about your education, volunteer and job experience upfront. But one element that makes

LinkedIn standout is its sk ill endorsement feature, which allows a user’s connections to validate their strengths. The tool is a simple and efficient way to engage your network and build your professional brand. Make a game plan. Think about the personal and professional goals you have set for yourself. Where do you want to be in five years? What company do you want to work for in the long run? It’s impor tant to k now t he answers to these questions, that way you can tailor your brand to fit those objectives. Knowing your goals can also help you determine what kind of content you should curate for social media websites and subjects you should stay away from. A fun way to create a game plan is to make a visual – many people use vision boards to help them figure out the look they want for themselves.

Highest paying jobs after graduation

Average Salary: $51,000 to $85,000

By Jeffrey Zanker Staff Reporter

Sales and Marketing Managers

For upcoming graduates, finding work is the next step. Many start in entry-level positions before reaching higher-paying jobs. Degrees in subjects like science, technology, math and business hold more opportunities for higher salaries. For financial stability purposes, here are some of the highestpaying jobs for college graduates.

Biologists work in a spectrum of career fields, utilizing knowledge of chemistry, physiology, genetics and physics. They study humans, animals, plants and other living organisms and push the boundaries in their research. Biotech companies recruit molecular biologists to genetically engineer new crops to improve public health and consumption. Average Salary: $44,000 to $82,000 Communication Specialists

manage a company’s internal and external communications such as memos to job descriptions and designing marketing materials such as press releases. Other duties include coordinating media and marketing events, employee

handle marketing tasks for a business’s needs and help create and proofread ads. They organize events like parties and tournaments, and develop various promotions to keep their organization front and center. Average Salary: $44,000 to $84,000

meetings and online content for the company. Average Salary: $43,000 to $75,000

Political Scientists study the origin, development and operations of political systems, and research policies, trends and political ideas. They conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results and review public documents along with the general structure and operation of governments. Average Salary: $42,000 to $79,000 Chemists hold positions in science, government and engineering fields. They primarily work in

research, process and development of chemical products such as drugs and cosmetics, or in areas that deal with analytical, organic, physical and medical chemistry. Average Salary: $44,000 to $82,000

Financial Accountant prepare records reviewed by others outside of the company, including income and cash flow statements, and balance sheets. Other responsibilities usually involve monitoring financial transactions of employees, checking the account books for accuracy and reviewing accounting systems to find ways to lower costs and increase revenue.

Economists study how resources -such as raw materials and capital- are distributed within societies and markets. Their responsibilities often include data collection, report analyses and forecast evaluations. Economists work in a variety of organizations, including nonprofits, government agencies and large corporations. Average Salary: $51,000 to $98,000 Information Technology (IT) Consultants advise clients on how

to use information technology to identify solutions and meet business goals. IT consultants provide expert technical assistance, and may be involved in sales and business development, as well as user training and feedback. Average Salary: $57,000 to $99,000 Information from collegechoice. net was used for this report.

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Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

Top 10 cities to consider after college By Ryan Callihan Staff Reporter Ever y yea r NerdWa l let, a n online financial evaluation tool, generates a list of the best cities for college graduates to live in. This year, the 100-city list is back with statistics such as job availability, cost of living and demographic type. Don’t let the top 10 list discourage you, though. It’s very possible to find success in St. Petersburg, which ranked #76. Apparently, this year is expected to be the best job market for graduates since the Great Recession, according to a 5,700 survey of employers by Michiga n State University. Fingers crossed.

1. Arlington, Virginia

Arlington tops the list because of its significant population of people over 25 who have bachelor’s degrees with 71 percent, the highest of the list. This is also a great city to work in if you’re interested in business, science and the arts. Though annual salaries for degree-holders is high in Arlington (the median for workers 25 and older is over $70,000), don’t expect living there to be cheap. NerdWallet found that the city’s median rent is one of the highest out of the 100 they surveyed.

Boston, Ma., one of the oldest cities in the United States, is brimming with culture and new businesses that bring people from all over the world.

2. Madison, Wisconsin

The capital of Wisconsin is full of young folks. About a quarter of the city’s population is between 20 and 29 years old. There are tons of apartments right in the heart of downtown Madison, too. So if you want to be surrounded by peers, Madison is for you. Unless you hate cheese.

3. Washington, D.C.

This one’s a no-brainer if you want to work in government; 26 percent of the city’s population does, according to the U.S. Census

Bureau’s American Community Survey. The reason why the nation’s capital has made NerdWallet’s list four years in a row? Jobs. But you don’t have to be interested in politics, 60 percent of <> hold positions in business, science, art or management. If you go, say hey to Obama for me.

city, such as MIT, Harvard and Northeastern, have impacted the area’s younger age average. The academic institutions have also boosted Boston’s economy by serving as both employer and talent source for the city’s booming tech industry. There’s also Fenway Park - and Samuel Adams.

4. Boston, Massachusetts

5. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Similar to Madison, Boston is filled to the brim with 20-somethings. The numerous universities scattered throughout the

Cheap rent is the main reason to pick Minneapolis. While earnings in Minneapolis are lower than most cities in this list ($46,837), the low cost of living makes up for it. On average, rent runs about 22 percent of residents’ income. Pair that with Minneapolis’ super low unemployment rate – barely over 3 percent in December – and you’ll have tons of money to spend in that fancy mall of theirs.

6. Seattle, Washington

For those of you who want to get as far away as possible, be pleased to know that Seattle is a great city for college grads. Residents tend to average a decent salary of about $57,000 a year and over half of the 25-and-older population hold at least a bachelor’s degree. As a bonus, you’ll be able to admire that funky Space Needle every day.

7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

San Francisco, Ca., is a cultural hot spot surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The famous Victorian homes, known as the “Painted Ladies,” are located in the city’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.

You don’t have to have a passion for metal work to find Pittsburgh an attractive place to check out after graduation. The Steel City has the lowest average rent of any city in the list and has a steadily increasing population of college graduates, with young adults making up 24 percent of the population.

8. Austin, Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the amount of available jobs. Well…in Austin, at least. Between 2014 and 2015, Austin’s metropolitan area alone added nearly 35,000 new jobs – a job growth rate of 3.8 percent, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. Need more convincing? Take Austin’s vibrant music and arts scene, the downtown University of Texas campus, and a 2015 unemployment rate of 3.1 percent (below the national average of 5 percent) and you have a pretty amazing post-graduate spot.

9. Atlanta, Georgia

While Atlanta’s residents pay a relatively low price for rent, at 22.9 percent of the median income, the real draw for choosing Georgia’s capital is the opportunity to climb the ladder of a Fortune 500 company. The city has the third-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies –13 in total – including Coca-Cola, UPS and SunTrust Banks.

10. San Francisco, California

If you happen to find yourself working in the other “Bay Area,” you’ll likely be earning a nice paycheck. College grads with a bachelor’s degree average about $68,000 per year. Nice! But don’t get too excited – living in San Francisco is costly, with 28 percent of your paycheck going toward rent. To view NerdWallet’s full top 100 cities for college graduates, visit: http://nerd.me/1XZUeKP

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Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

He was handsome, but looked like trouble Read earlier posts to Marla Korenich’s blog at: https://mkorenichblog.wordpress.com/

By Marla Korenich Crow’s Nest Contributor Editor-in-chief

SAMANTHA PUTTERMAN

Managing Editor

EMILY TINTI

Creative Director

GABRIELA MENA

Copy editor

CAITLIN ASHWORTH

News Editor

JASON SAAB

News Assistant

JEFFREY ZANKER

Arts & Life Editor

DEVIN RODRIGUEZ

Arts & Life Assistant

RYAN CALLIHAN

Staff Reporter

MORIAH PARRISH

Photo editor

TAMIRACLE WILLIAMS

Advertising/Web manager

JESSICA JAGODZINSKI

Distribution Manager

DENNIS GEYER

adviser

ROB HOOKER

Mission Statement: The Crow’s Nest is committed to providing its readers with news relevant to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and its surrounding comm unity. The Crow’s Nest abides by the highest ethical standards and focuses on stories that help readers make informed decisions on current issues. We take seriously the public’s trust in our news reporting and strive to uphold the highest standards of reporting as defined by the Society of Professional Journalists. The views expressed—both written and graphic—in the opinion section of The Crow’s Nest do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit letters to the editor to crowsnesteditor@gmail.com. The Crow’s Nest reserves the right to edit these pieces for style and length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, day time phone number, and e-mail address. The Crow’s Nest is provided free by the Activities & Services Fee, and advertising. The Crow’s Nest neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any claims made by our advertisers. Because of high production costs, members of the USFSP community are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased for 10 cents each by contacting the newspaper’s editor in chief or managing editor. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline. The Crow’s Nest office is located at: Student Life Center 2400, University of South Florida St. Petersburg 140 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 873-4113 Press run: 1,000 Copyright 2014 St. Petersburg, FL

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

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

EARLY 2011 I remember the first time I saw him. My best friend L au ren w a s i n the delayed entry prog r a m to go i nto t he Nav y. She asked me to go to her weekly meeting with her. I had joined her before and she taught me some of the things she was learning, so I enjoyed going. Ethan was in the front row, wearing a long-sleeve black shirt. He had long, curly blond hair. He was so handsome, but he looked like trouble. Lauren told me he seemed like a jerk. He added me on Facebook a few weeks later. The beauty of social media. Jan. 31, 2011, was our first date. And that was it. He was amazing. We had about 60 days together before he left for boot camp, but I didn’t care. I wanted to enjoy every minute. We went on the boat on the weekends. We went to dinner, we went outside, we did everything. He even bought me a promise ring. And then he left.

I wrote him a letter almost every day, and he wrote me back. I waited by the mailbox to see if I could get anything to feel close to him. One day, he mailed me a flower he made out of paper. He always told me he loved me, and that I meant everything to him. I missed him so much. I started to hear rumors about Ethan. He was a junkie, he had problems. No way. He never told me so. I suspected, but he constantly denied, and I believed him. I figured if he did have a problem, going through boot camp would be the perfect detox. Wishful thinking, stupid girl. I flew up to Great Lakes, Illinois, with his mother and brother to watch him graduate at the end of May. I was so excited to see him. We had two days. We loved. We laughed. He told me he wanted to marry me someday, and I wanted that, too. As we walked, linking arms, down the sidewalk of the base, him in his dress-whites and me in a striped dress, I thought, this is my fairy tale. What could go wrong? He s o on w a s s t at ione d to Pensacola for A-School. I don’t remember the exact moment I knew he was doing pills, but I knew something was up. He would attribute it to back pain, and said it wasn’t a big deal. He had gotten into a car accident a few years back. I wonder if that was true. His brother and I made the ninehour drive to Pensacola to see him for a few days.

I remember his brother telling me that Ethan wanted him to bring drugs. Great. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to get there to yell at him. While I was there, I also found out he was talking to his ex-girlfriend on the phone for hours. This broke my heart, but somehow he turned it around on me – that it was somehow my fault – and she was the only person who understood him. This was when the mistrust started. But somehow, I let it go. Being 18 and naïve may have had something to do with it.

One time we got pulled over while he had pills on him, and he ate them all at once. Then he yelled at me for not hiding them for him. It was so infuriating. I don’t know why I stayed. I couldn’t grasp how he could do all of this to me. I didn’t understand that I was dating an addict. I was never going to be his first choice. Little blue pills would always be his true love. I changed my life, I lost my friends. I gave up going to the University of Florida, my dream. You can’t be a faithful wife if you go there. Even though when we first met, he thought it was amazing I had gotten accepted. Is it love, or is it control that people seek?

In bad relationships you get to a point where you lose all of your friends, all of your support and you feel like your significant other is all you have. He was my world because I didn’t have anyone else, so I couldn’t leave. I told myself I had nowhere to go. I don’t know if he loved me, or if he just liked having a puppet. I mailed him presents. I let him tell me what to do. He got to yell at me, and I would always answer the phone. He knew that I would do whatever he wanted. He would call me every name in the book until I put money in his account. Why do you always need money? I was a server making $50 a day, and I would just give it to him. I was completely manipulated. He would yell at me, to the point where I was hysterical, but then tell me all the nice things in the world. He knew how to break me down to nothing, and then he would build me up, so I gained faith again. I wish I could go back and punch myself in the face to snap out of it. It kills me now to see others go through the same things because I know how it ends. It ain’t pretty. It’s OK, I thought. When we get married, things will be different. He will stop doing drugs, and he will be nicer. He will see everything I have done for him. He will choose me. Love conquers all, right? I can’t wait to be Mrs. Cooper. Marla Korenich is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies. She can be reached at korenich. legendyb@yahoo.com

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye By Samantha Putterman Staff Reporter Yes – if you didn’t know – the headline is from a song in the “Sound of Music.” This won’t be long, because plenty have written versions of t h is sent i ment before me. Graduation is a big deal. We all work toward it and talk about “that day” in the distant future when we’ll finally get a little bit of sleep and maybe land a decent job. As much as we discuss and plan for that fateful moment we have always pictured, we’re never really quite prepared. I’m not the most sentimental person; it’s a problem I’ve always

had. I love my family and friends, and can recall countless memories of people and times I truly miss. There’s even little quirky things in college life that I actually like, but probably won’t ever admit. But it’s always been hard for me to “show” these emotions. Call me cold or detached, but it is what it is. I’ll stop stalling and just go ahead and say it: I’m going to miss college. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to stay up all night crying over the lack of assignments and emails while listening to Adele on repeat. Still, there are definitely aspects of college I’ll remember fondly. While the late nights, stressful days, (virtually) no social life and constant fast food royally sucks right now, one day, when we’re all old and gray, we’ll want it back. Everyone wants things they don’t

have. It’s a perplex and incredibly aggravating part of life, but it is a part of it. This school year as Editor-inChief of the Crow’s Nest has been nothing short of annoying. Every time I thought there was no way I could get any busier – I got busier. But in the mess of it all, it was the best rollercoaster ride. Not only did it teach me tons and hopefully help further my career aspirations, it forged a family. There is this subculture within the paper that’s all its own. Whether it’s staff members or contributors, we’re like a little family. And just like any family, we can fight with one another in one moment and then protect and defend one another in the next. It’s pretty damn awesome. I can’t speak for others, but the same goes for our journalism department – it’s a tight knit group

complete with every sort of personality you can imagine, but a group that stands together. There’s no greater feeling than having fellow students, co-workers, faculty and an entire department solely wanting to see everyone succeed and bring the world exemplary and important journalism. I’m incredibly proud to say I graduated with a journalism degree from USFSP and was given the chance to work with so many brilliant and caring people – I couldn’t forget them if I tried. I don’t care how small our journalism department may be. No, we’re not Columbia or Syracuse. We’re better. Samantha Putterman, a senior studying journalism and media studies, is the editor-in-chief. She can be reached at Ann21@mail.usf. edu

crowsneststpete.com

Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

A departmental disconnect By Carly Chaput Crow’s nest Contributor As a second semester senior in the Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) department, I am distraught over pieces of information I have received pertaining to the department I call home. Every conversation I’ve had has been in an “off the record” format or cloaked in hypotheticals, but all point to the same outcome. Some say we will be absorbed by the biology department and some say there will be no place at all, but one thing is clear. Due to outside pressures

and inside conf lict, ESP won’t be standing on its own for much longer, and there’s a few things I’m wondering. As a student with hopes of making an environmental difference in this world, I’ve come to learn a few things. The first is about funding. Being environmentally friendly has a lot to do with paying a little more up front, waiting a little longer for a ROI (return on investment), and in the end, generating a massive impact. When it comes to funding, it is no secret that each department gets its own. With a small consensus

agreeing that ESP will be absorbed into the biology department, which holds the top spot on campus as the largest major with over 700 students, are we actually expected to be able to compete for a piece of the pie? The next thing I’ve learned is the importance of perception. To say students haven’t been aware of the fighting within the department’s faculty is incredibly false, as these conflicts have become a core source of disappointment that’s plagued our experiences. It’s no secret the majority of the campus’ green efforts have been

misc.

almost exclusively driven by students. There has been a substantial lack of support from the ESP faculty, despite the time, energy and funds students have devoted to giving the university the green badge it wears with honor. In Ja nua r y, I was awa rded a n opp or t u n it y t o t r ave l t o Washington D.C. and present the green projects on our campus to the National Council for Science and the Environment. Here, we were able to make a splash on the national stage by presenting our work and creating partnerships. Nationally, we’re a little school doing a lot; on our own campus, were just the crazy environmental hippie kids who have lost our minds and hardly have a couple faculty members behind us. We’ve all heard “perception is reality” and without a department to stand on, I want to know what our reality will be. The last, but arguably most important concept I’ve learned is about cooperation. Cooperation between the private and public sectors, between academic silos, and between people. The very fact that our department’s staff and faculty couldn’t keep it together, both literally and figuratively, speaks more to the issues than I could. C ooperat ion accompl ishes much more than competition, yet when egos, pride and tenure come into play, we all lose. As the students who get up and come to class each day only to be

taught utterly depressing material regarding the conditions of our planet and society, we might be called recklessly optimistic. Willing to do as much as we can with whatever we’re provided seems to be our specialty because in the end, we’re all fighting for the same team. We want to be armed with the best information and the best tools for our fight, yet here we are, standing to lose even that. Some faculty members have given us their all, but many have opted to either board themselves up into another academic silo or in some cases, made plans to leave the university altogether, neither of which fosters a productive atmosphere. As I reflect on my time in the department, I can pinpoint lifechanging moments provided by faculty of this institution, and I couldn’t be more content with my decision to come 1300 miles from Wisconsin for this program. Meanwhile, I can only hope that as plans are made, everyone remembers which team they are on and what they are truly fighting for. That way, students younger than myself are given the same – if not better – tools to change the world.

Carly Chaput is a senior in environmental science & policy and affiliated economics. She can be reached at cchaput@mail.usf.edu

Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Volume 4, Book 8

Sudoku #1

5 1 9 4

1 6 3 4 1 4 6 3 9 6 5 7 4 8 6 2 5

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9. If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork. Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle.

it is a very significant hint to the human creature to remove out of that neighborhood. -- Mayhew

6 7 2 5 9 4 9 7 5 3 2 1 2

crowsneststpete.com

Apr 25 - May 5, 2016 | Volume 50 | Issue 30

What Prince meant to me

The legendary pop star defied both gender and genre By Moriah Parrish Staff Reporter It’s 1:46 a.m., and the sharp tang of old cigarette smoke is clinging to my clothes. My sweatshirt’s a little damp from rain, the humidity and moisture in the air and the nervous sweat. I’m exhausted and giddy after getting home from my first paid musical gig. I love to sing, and up until this point in life, my shower and my car’s interior have been my usual stages. *** “I was dreamin’ when I wrote this / forgive me if it goes astray…” His Purple Majesty has passed from us. Prince Rogers Nelson, known mainly by his first name – but also, for most of the ’90s, as the symbol he created – was found unresponsive in an elevator in his Minneapolis home on Thursday, April 21. At 9:43 a.m., a 911 call came in from his Paisley Park estate, where medics found him unresponsive in his home elevator. He was pronounced dead on arrival about 30 minutes later after attempts to revive him failed. I’m devastated, of course, along with the rest of the world. He was only 57. “You don’t have to be rich to be my girl / you don’t have to be cool to rule my world…” For me, Prince was a liberator. His library of musical work was relatively unknown to me until an old boyfriend encouraged me to listen to a couple of tracks. He was arguably Prince’s biggest fan, and in an effort to bond, I conceded. After listening to “Kiss,” I was hooked for life. Soon, I was humming along and downloading new

songs on my iPod for my own entertainment. It became more than a passing interest for some lover. I fell in love, instead, with Prince. “I’m not a woman / I’m not a man / I am something that you’ll never understand…” Here was this beautiful man, crooning all the romantic words you could ever want to hear. And he dressed in these tight, wild outfits, with eyeliner emphasizing those drop-dead, come-get-yasome looks that could turn on the camera. He was feminine and masculine, out-there but grounded, screaming one second and whispering the next. Unapologetically sumptuous, always, and I couldn’t look away. I finally understood my grandmother’s obsession with Elvis. “If I was your girlfriend / Would U let me dress U” Prince existed outside of the gender binary before it was trendy to do so. And he never made a big speech about it. He simply did, and the world took notice. “Damn you / Baby, you’re so fine…” As a young teenager, my musical scope was extremely limited. When I started listening to Prince, it cracked open a world of sounds and imagery I had yet to encounter. Prince was a profound musician, not just for his songwriting abilities, but because he could play just about every instrument needed to compose a tune. Also astoundingly prolific, he produced over 35 albums of original work, in addition to several live performance recordings. “Thank you for a funky time / Call me up, whenever you want to grind…” By embracing and exploring his sexuality on the national stage, he encouraged everyone else to do the same. I danced with abandon to

Neko Atsume: The Kitty Collector app By Devin Rodriguez and Ryan Callihan Staff Reporters Ever dream of becoming the neighborhood cat lady? Wit h Neko At su me: K it t y Collector, an app for Android and Apple products, you can collect all the cats your heart could ever desire. This week, two reporters for the Crow’s Nest decided to investigate the social phenomenon sweeping smart phones everywhere.

Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector is an app game that tasks players with providing food and toys to neighborhood cats in hopes of photographing them.

his music, relishing the words that expressed sentiments I couldn’t. “I never meant to cause you any sorrow / I never meant to cause you any pain…” It was my dream to meet him one day; to maybe put out a few songs of my own and have him hear me. The terrible coincidence of his passing the day before I ever sang in front of an audience hurts deeply. “Dearly beloved / We are gathered here today / 2 get through this thing called life…” *** The first set did not go well, as I forgot some words and was offpitch after a long delay of waiting for the rain to pass. The microphone was new, awkward and had an unexpected delay. I was offbeat. I saw the blank stares of the audience and my mouth went completely, cotton-gauze-style dry. I sat down for a break. I drank a beer. And I whispered a tiny prayer into the universe, hoping that if we do, in fact, pass into some grand oneness upon death, a little bit of Prince’s soul could be with me. Then, it got better. I could hear the music, feel the beat, and remembered 95 percent of the words. The mic and I made friends, eventually. I was still a nervous wreck, but at least it wasn’t so obvious. After my last song, I stepped away to the bar to watch my much more experienced musician partner finish the act. A man came up to me with a huge smile on his face and an outstretched hand. “You did a really nice job. Lovely voice! Thank you so much for singing tonight,” he said as we shook hands. “Th-thank you!” I stammered back. And there it was. I completely understood the vulnerability it takes to get in front of a crowd and throw your heart on the line. More importantly, I understood

the rush that comes with people enjoying the music you make. *** Prince was reportedly ill with the flu the last two weeks of his life. He canceled a couple of shows in early April, but did a make-up concert just one week before his death. Fans who attended his final performance said that true to his personage, he left everything on the stage. A constant consummate artist, Prince could give a show like no other. Even, apparently, in the midst of battling sickness.

Devin Rodriguez, has a fat, orange tabby named Dib. That’s about all the connection he has with cats

He’s a selfish, pudgy cat who always has a self-satisfied grin on his face. It’s strange. The cat’s don’t have personalities. They just do the same things over and over again with new items you’ve bought for them. But, you’ll start to attach little personality traits to different cats over time. “Oh look, lil’ Sebastion is playing with the ball again, doesn’t he just love that thing?” That’s not insane right? Oh, it is.

Addiction is a serious word, and it would be silly to say I’m addicted to a cat game. But, I think I’m addicted to a cat game. Here’s what it’s like: You get a small yard, you buy toys with little sardines. Then you close the app and check in later to see if any cats are playing in the yard. If they are, you can take a picture of them, name them, and appreciate their little adorable hand drawn faces. That’s about it. No high scores, no difficulty – just cats. That being said, I cannot express the frustration of finding all the food you just put out a few minutes ago having been eaten by Tubbs.

A few have already expressed what I will echo here: perhaps Prince’s lyrics, “I would die 4 u,” were for his fans. The man exhausted himself for his passion, and candles that flame brightly burn out the fastest. So, this is what it sounds like, when doves cry. Moriah Parrish, a junior majoring in psychology, is the staff reporter. She can be reached at parrishm@ mail.usf.edu

In honor of Prince, the Muvico Sundial theater in downtown St. Petersburg is showing his original 1984 film, “Purple Rain” until April 28. Muvico Sundial 19 & IMAX: 151 Second Ave N. “Purple Rain” showtimes: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Singer-songwriter, actor and record producer Prince Rogers Nelson passed away on April 21 at the age of 57 in his Minneapolis estate.

Ryan Callihan, doesn’t like cats I tried to buy into this game. I really did. After the tutorial, I was checking for new cats constantly. It took about 12 hours for my first cat to show up. I won’t say I was feelin’ the love immediately, but it was satisfying to finally have a cat playing in my yard

for the very first time. In fact, there were two cats! I named them Uno and Pebbles. It was like a cat drought after those first two cats. I checked and I checked. No cats. Well, there were cats. I can tell, because they left me tons of gifts after they had visited, but I never got to see them play. I figured I needed more toys, maybe some fancier food to attract cats that actually wanted to stick around a nd play awhi le. So I splurged on a better dish for the kitties and a bunch of new toys. These freeloaders still didn’t stick around. So, I’m not a believer in Neko Atsume. You know what? If I wanted a cat that never wanted to play, and just used me for food and treats, I’d get a real cat.