FEATURES, page 5
FEATURES, page 7
ARTS, page 8
GET WOKE
ACT YOUR AGE
In just over a year, the Shangri-La has established itself as a student-organized backyard arts and music venue in St. Petersburg. Time is running out to catch one of its shows before it closes this May.
The school-to-prison pipeline is a systemic structure in America’s school system. The play “Pipeline” explores the complicated issues of race in education in a way that brings to life those who are usually dehumanized by the media.
The Glazer Children’s Museum gives adults the chance to live out their childhood memories with Grown Up night. Amy Diaz describes her bizarre experience.
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THE CROW ’S NEST T H E C A M P U S N E W S PA P E R AT U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A S T. P E T E R S B U R G
Volume 52, Issue 5 - February 11, 2019 | Online at crowsneststpete.com
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Future of USFSP now up to trustees By Nancy McCann Contributor
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MARTHA RHINE | THE CROW’S NEST
The lights of the merry-go-round blur as it spins visitors around Feb. 9 during a busy Saturday night at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The annual fair, which runs through Feb. 18, offers amenities such as game booths, petting zoos and rides. See story, page 4.
Are bike thefts on the rise at USFSP? By Cory Cole Contributor
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n January, four students at USF St. Petersburg were left facing the reality that their bikes were stolen. Tiffany Nicholson, a secondyear graduate student studying conservation biology, spends most of her time in the Marine Science Laboratory. Nicholson never expected that one day she would find her bike missing. She always remembered to lock it. “I was just in there for two hours just to finish things up, came back out and it was gone, the whole thing, no lock, no nothing,” Nicholson said. The incident happened on Jan. 4, the Friday before spring classes started. Nicholson used the cable lock that was recommended to her by the shop she bought her bike from. For four years, Nicholson had no issues with her bike or lock. Now, she is using a longboard to travel to and from campus. Recovering from a sprained ankle, Nicholson said she misses how much easier biking made her commute. Nicholson said she will never know for certain who
THE CROW’S NEST Since 1969
stole her bike because of a lack of surveillance footage around the area. But she recalls an individual loitering around the day her bike was stolen. The person even spoke with her, telling her he was not from the area, and even asking her questions about the marine science building. USF St. Petersburg is an open campus, which permits the general public to pass through it freely. This also means that unwelcomed individuals can easily find their way onto school grounds. Rebecca Sauchuk, a junior biology major, was shocked after watching the surveillance footage of her bike being stolen from the Lowell E. Davis
Memorial Hall. According to Sauchuk, the footage showed multiple individuals walking around as the theft occurred. However, no one reported any suspicious activity. “If this guy was dangerous, and these people were not paying attention, something a lot worse could have possibly happened,” Sauchuk said. She hopes that in the future, students will be more proactive in reporting and stopping crime on campus. The University Police Department has been confronting the issue of bike thefts on campus for years. In 2017, only five bike thefts were reported. In 2018, that number rose to nine. This year, there have already been four reported
CORY COLE | THE CROW’S NEST
Rebecca Sauchuk, a junior biology major, stands in front of the location she last locked her bike before it was stolen.
thefts. “Bikes are very important to people, and we take them very seriously,” said David Hendry, chief of UPD. Hendry explained that in previous years, most thefts happened overnight. Bike corrals were installed at both residence halls for an added level of protection. Should students be concerned with the increase in bike thefts at the start of the 2019 spring semester? Hendry suspects this is nothing more than a random spike in criminal activity, which is common from time to time. In regard to the thefts on campus, all four were committed by people with different descriptions. Three happened during the day, and one occurred at night with an unlocked bike. Jonathan Guerrier, a freshman economics major, was taken by surprise to learn that his bike was stolen. Guerrier left his bike unlocked outside of the University Student Center, something he did many times before if he did not plan on staying long. >> SEE THEFTS on P2
key piece of the complex puzzle called consolidation planning will click into place this week. On Feb. 12, the Consolidation Task Force will present its recommendations to the Board of Trustees on how to merge the three campuses of the USF system into one university with a single accreditation. For seven months, the highprofile, 13-member task force held a series of public meetings and town halls on the campuses to listen to faculty, students, staff and members of the community describe their visions of a consolidated USF. The often heartfelt input about USF St. Petersburg was consistent and clear: Please preserve our unique campus with strong ties to the community, quality research and instruction, and individual attention to students. The task force echoes what it heard from the campus and community in its 120-page report, which will be presented by chairman Mike Griffin to two committees of the Board of Trustees at 8 a.m. on Feb. 12 in the Marshall Center on the Tampa campus. The report recommends that USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee be designated branch campuses with their “own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization” and their own “budgetary and hiring authority.”
But these are recommendations, not decisions, and there are concerns in St. Petersburg that high-level Tampa administrators have something else in mind. That could result in the two smaller campuses becoming more like instructional sites with little authority and control. >> SEE TRUSTEES on P2
THE CROW’S NEST IS THE WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ST. PETERSBURG. ALL CONTENT IN THE PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY USFSP STUDENTS. SINGLE COPIES FREE.
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February 11, 2019
Stories can save the oceans, Go loco over coco says biologist and author at this week’s festival
By Dylan Hart dhart4@mail.usf.edu SF St. Petersburg overlooks the harbor. But in our day-to-day existence on the ground, do we really consider the life below the surface of the water? Helen Scales, who spoke in the University Student Center ballroom Feb. 6, thinks that many people can’t answer the question of why oceans matter. “We’ve reached this point now where it’s important for as many people as possible to know — and I mean really know — why the oceans matter,” she said. “The oceans face greater threats than they ever have before.” Scales is a marine biologist, author and broadcaster from the U.K. She grew up in a southwest London suburb, a place she describes as “a long way from the sea,” but spent family holidays in the rocky coastal region of Cornwall, England. “As a kid, I was very used to spending time on beaches, rock pooling, hunting for seashells and generally just being by the sea,” Scales said. “Over those holidays, the ocean really flooded into my mind and it stayed there.” Her connection to the ocean led her to seek a degree in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge. She followed it with a master’s degree in tropical coastal management from Newcastle University, and then a doctoral degree at Cambridge, where she now teaches marine biology and science writing. And for Scales, writing is an incredibly important part of her work, not only as an author, but also as a scientist and conservationist. “There are lots of facts that I can give you about what the oceans give us,” she said. “The
oceans produce half of the oxygen we breathe. But I think that those sorts of facts can only take us so far. Until our oxygen runs out, we don’t really think about it.” Instead of providing facts and figures, Scales thinks that the right way to draw attention to the threatened oceans is to share stories that will “give people a new view of what’s going on down there.” For one, Scales wants to show people that fish are often more complex creatures than they seem. “Fish have a reputation as animals that have no feelings — that can’t remember things for more than a few seconds,” she said. “This assumption really does affect the way we view fish, and it affects the way we treat them. But now, science is starting to chip away at this assumption.” The cleaner wrasse is a small fish that plays the role of the “chief cleaner” in a reef. It feeds on parasites that attach themselves to bigger fish. She explained the story of the cleaner wrasse from an excerpt of her new book, “Eye of the Shoal.” Their behavior around fish that could easily eat them is complex. It involves the right amount of bargaining and trickery to get what they want. Fish queue for cleanings, and wrasses select their clients carefully, seeking mucus and maybe even bits of flesh from the right targets. Scales says that studies have shown wrasses to be self-aware. They remember every fish they encounter and tailor their services accordingly. They even recognize themselves in mirrors. “Smart creatures like the cleaner wrasse living complex, evolved lives give proof that the
In a Crow’s Nest interview on Jan. 24, USF system President Judy Genshaft said the St. Petersburg campus could end up having “a mixture of elements” that would not fall clearly within the definitions of branch campus or instructional site. Adam Freeman, Genshaft’s spokesman, said in an email on Jan. 25 that the status of the two small campuses was one of the key issues left unresolved in the draft report of the Consolidation Implementation Committee. The CIC is another consolidation planning group. Its 86 members – administrators, faculty and staff – worked internally and on a parallel track with the task force. The CIC included copies of the task force recommendations in its Dec. 19 draft report, which it presented to Genshaft and the trustees on Jan. 14. But the CIC did not make its own recommendation about the structure of the two smaller campuses. The CIC’s report
acknowledges that one of the guiding principles of the consolidation plan is “celebrating the diversity and unique identities of all three campuses by building on existing strengths … across the consolidated university.” It proposes that a detailed plan would establish “academic and administrative structures consistent with the requirements of a preeminent research university in the state.” Anxiety about the fate of the St. Petersburg campus has simmered since last September, when a draft report by Huron Consulting Group, an outside consultant retained by the USF system, seemed to favor the large Tampa campus at the expense of St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Now time is short. The trustees must propose a consolidation plan to the state board that oversees Florida’s public universities by March 15. There are countless issues that must be resolved before
U
TRUSTEES, continued from P1
By James Bennett III jamesbennett@mail.usf.edu hocolate lovers will find themselves in “a land of pure imagination” at the fourth annual Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival on Feb. 16. Attendees can feast on chocolate-based desserts and entrees from over 30 food trucks at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, from 2 to 9 p.m. Vendors will serve a wide variety of dishes, ranging from cupcakes and donuts to beef tenderloin sandwiches
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Helen Scales spoke about the importance of oceans on Feb. 6 at the USC.
oceans really do matter,” she said. She also discussed the complexity of mollusks, which are capable of organically creating three-dimensional spiral shells, and the mysterious lives of argonauts. Scales thinks that, while people can enact individual solutions, pushing for largescale change is what we need to prevent overfishing, carbon dioxide buildup and ocean acidification from destroying marine ecosystems. “There’s lots of things we can do in our daily lives — recycling, cycling, walking, eating sustainable fish,” she said. “But we also need bigger change. Use your votes and support the people who also believe that we need radical change to protect the oceans. It’s not about carrying on as we are — that’s like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.” Her second request, however, links back to her roots as an author. “Pass on your stories of the sea,” she said. “Go and tell your friends about the wrasse that remembered every fish it met, or whatever story it is that convinces you that the oceans matter so that other people can really understand that the oceans do, indeed, matter.” consolidation takes effect in July 2020. But to some in St. Petersburg, no issue seems more important than the status of their city’s campus (4,812 students) and the even smaller campus in Sarasota-Manatee (2,077 students). The task force’s report – and its call for branch campuses – has been endorsed by three key state legislators: Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Sens. Bill Galvano. R-Bradenton, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. Sprowls, the chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, is in line to be House speaker in 2021-2022. Galvano is president of the Senate, and Brandes is one of the Senate’s most influential members. As leaders and members of the Legislature’s dominant party, the three lawmakers have considerable influence on higher education and the state budget. The task force report and the endorsements from legislative leaders were welcomed last week in an editorial in the Tampa Bay Times, which called on Genshaft and the trustees to “build the
with chocolate chipotle sauce. Other merchants will be at the event to sell nonedible goods, like jewelry and chocolate-scented candles. While you put yourself into a sugar-induced coma, a screening of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” will show, live wrestling will take place and the five-piece cover band, Electric Woodshed, will play a few songs. Admission and parking are free. There is no age restriction, and the event will be handicap accessible.
COURTESY OF GENERATION ENTERTAINMENT FLORIDA
From the usual desserts like donuts and cake, to more unusual choices like arepas and tenderloin, the fourth annual Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival will serve up all things chocolate.
THEFTS, continued from P1 “I recommend that everyone lock their bike up,” Guerrier said, hoping that his words would keep others from making the same mistake. Hendry is adamant that students must lock their bikes. Those without a lock or who are unsure of how to lock their bike can visit UPD. He explained that St. Petersburg has an ordinance in place that requires bikes to be registered with the city, and
that UPD is willing to help students through the process. For more information on bike safety and protection, visit the UPD website at https:// www.usfsp.edu/universitypolice-department/bike-safetyand-protection/. To register a bike with the city of St. Petersburg, visit http://police. stpete.org/solve-crime/bicycleregistration.html.
consolidation on this solid foundation (branch campuses) and avoid any appearance of a hostile takeover.” As a branch campus – not an instructional site – “the (St. Petersburg) campus chancellor and faculty leaders can continue to tailor spending and programs JONAH HINEBAUGH | THE CROW’S NEST to meet the needs of students USF System President Judy who sought a smaller academic Genshaft environment,” the Times and peer review proved unfair to faculty on both sides of the bay.” editorial said. When USF St. Petersburg “They can ensure individual became a campus “that attention remains a priority and controlled its own internal that USFSP remains closely affairs,” he wrote, it was aligned to the community. transformed “into a dynamic, They also will have a better student/community institution, shot at attracting and keeping a lovely, modern campus on quality professors.” the bay. The branch campus approach “Turning it now into anything was also endorsed by a history but a branch campus will reverse professor who worked on both the progress that has been made the St. Petersburg and Tampa over the past 25 years and create campuses from 1972 to 1992. the academic, administrative In a letter to the editor of nightmare that existed before the Times, Steven F. Lawson, then. We mustn’t let history now a professor emeritus at repeat itself.” Rutgers University, recalled James Bennett III contributed that the two campuses “had to this report. different missions and resources, and trying to impose a single standard of decision-making
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February 11, 2019
New sculpture encourages students to rethink consumption By Emily Wunderlich ewunderlich@mail.usf.edu
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fter the leaf miner — a species of insect larva on campus — hatches on a leaf, it eats the leaf and leaves behind a trail. Those trails are exaggerated in a vibrant new sculpture mounted on Lowell E. Davis Memorial Hall, on the wall opposite The Campus Grind.
“It’s really about how the artist transforms natural facts and phenomena into an artistic statement,” said Ann Wykell, the university’s public arts consultant. “Paths to Consumption: USFSP” is the latest in a series by Kenny Jensen, a multidisciplinary artist based in St. Petersburg. A native landscape gardener, Jensen is fascinated by the
ANNA BRYSON | THE CROW’S NEST
The $30,000 installation was funded by the university’s Places, Spaces, and Art program.
natural world and seeks to explore it through his work. “Through these explorations, I hope to open up a dialogue toward reconstructing new ways of seeing ourselves and our collective place in the world,” his website says. The sculpture was a project between the artists and several environmental studies classes last semester. Funded by the university’s Places, Spaces, and Art program, the installation cost about $30,000. “When we developed this project, it came out of trying to be relevant to what is important on our campus,” Wykell said. “Issues of sustainability and environmental studies are important themes.” Wykell said she tries to bring at least one artist to campus every year in an “in-depth way,” either by allowing them to interact with students or simply leave their creative mark. Last spring, South
ANNA BRYSON | THE CROW’S NEST
“Paths to Consumption: USFSP” by Kenny Jensen was an ongoing project between the artist and students on campus. Its design was inspired by the behavior of leaf miner insects.
Florida-based muralist Elio Mercado painted four murals exploring sustainability in the Student Life Center. And in March, combat photographer Stacy Pearsall photographed veterans on campus, who were highlighted with their stories in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library for Veterans Day.
Jensen will reveal his sculpture from 4 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 across from The Campus Grind. Free refreshments will be provided. More of his exhibits will be on display in the Poynter Library through the end of March. To send feedback to Places, Spaces, and Art, email Ann Wykell at awykell@mail.usf.edu.
These drag queens teach love and acceptance
By Decker Lavely Contributor
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hildren and parents cheered as Georgia Moore walked through the doors of the Community Cafe, 2444 Central Ave., for Drag Queen Story Hour on Jan. 26. Moore wore a glimmering necklace with two bracelets and a bejeweled pink evening gown. Her eyeshadow and lipstick were a matching shade. The children crowded around her as she welcomed them and began to read “Will You Be My Friend?” by Nancy Tafuri. Drag Queen Story Hour is
a program made up of drag queens who read to children in communities nationwide while educating them about the value of diversity and the appreciation of differences. Some children were dressed up with colorful headbands as they cuddled with stuffed animals while Moore read them a second story. Her choice was “Where’s Peter Rabbit?” by Beatrix Potter. Both stories she read involved topics of friendship and love. After the reading, Moore colored pictures of rabbits with the kids as they called her a princess. “I believe (story hour)
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Children and parents line up to take pictures with Moore, who chose to read stories based on friendship and love.
teaches children the power of togetherness and acknowledging the differences that each human has,” she said. Moore has only been involved with Drag Queen Story Hour for a short time, but she said she has already recognized its impact in the St. Petersburg community. As a teacher, Moore is passionate about working with children and sharing the value of diversity, multiculturalism and acceptance. “This program is special because it allows kids to tap into something new and different,” Moore said. “It really goes back to the community idea that the stronger we are, the better we are.” Drag queen Samaya Sinsation is the organizer of story hour at the Community Cafe. She was asked by two previous coordinators to take on the organization’s duties in St. Petersburg. Throughout her experience with the program, Sinsation said she has seen the turnout of children grow.
COURTESY OF SAMAYA SINSATION
Some children cuddled with stuffed animals as they listened to Moore read. Afterward, Moore colored pictures with them.
“I have been at every single (story hour), and they all had a couple of kids, but when I was coming here today, my mouth dropped open because there were so many kids here,” she said. “I was not expecting it, but I am so grateful for it.” The library was the site of two previous Drag Queen Story Hours in St. Petersburg. However, since it is a public space, religious protestors were able to demonstrate in the room of the event, Sinsation said. Sinsation decided to move the story hour to the Community Cafe because it is a welcoming and
comfortable spot for kids and their parents, she said. This was the third time the event took place at the cafe. Protesters have been at every story hour event in St. Petersburg, but at the Community Cafe, volunteers danced to music in front of them to help spread love and positivity. “I don’t worry about what is out there … because that is all on them,” Moore said. “But we can fix this by sharing with kids that love will win overall.” The next Drag Queen Story Hour St. Petersburg will be at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Community Cafe.
Corrections, Feb. 4 The USF men’s basketball coach is Brian Gregory, not Randy Gregory. The multi-purpose facility is now the Yuengling Center, not the USF Sun Dome. The photo of Alexis Yetna was courtesy of GOUSFBULLS, not The Oracle.
February 11, 2019
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Tradition lives on at annual state fair By Martha Rhine martharhine@mail.usf.edu
I MARTHA RHINE | THE CROW’S NEST
Plush prizes hang at one of the many game booths at the fair.
t’s February, so you know what that means: The Florida State Fair has arrived in Tampa with lights, games, kitschy charm and all the fried food you could ever imagine. Don’t think it can be fried? Think again. According to its website, the fair opened at the Florida State Fairgrounds in 1977. Crowds have flocked to the fair for all its campy pleasures ever since, but the old-fashioned fun comes at a price. It gets expensive, quick. College students on a budget will have to be prepared for price inflation on food, from hot dogs to pretzels and everything in between. Parking is free, but there is an $11 entrance fee for adults Monday through Thursday and $13 Friday through Sunday. Armbands are $25 for unlimited rides Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday. Visitors who wish to skip the lines can purchase an upgraded band for an additional $15.
MARTHA RHINE | THE CROW’S NEST
One of the biggest draws of the fair is the most expensive: the food. A corndog costs between $8 and $12 at some stands, a pretzel $5, and one sugary churro is $4. It adds up. Don’t go on an empty stomach, and limit your spending to a few treats. Be careful with the most inventive ones, like the fried Oreos — no sense in throwing away $7 if you don’t like it. If you picture yourself walking out of the fair clutching an oversized plush toy, and you’re up for the challenge of winning one, there’s no shortage of games on the midway. Drop a ring around a glass bottle, pop a balloon with a dart, test your strength at the high striker or win at the water gun races. All these can get pricey, at around $5 for a few tries at some booths, but the game operators can be persuasive. The fair is magical at night when the lights on the midway seem to twinkle, flash and sparkle all at once, and the many smells of frying foods, cotton candy and kettle corn cloud the air and the senses. The rides are fun, and the
Ferris wheel is still a favorite for sappy couples, giggling girlfriends and anyone needing a pop of color on their Instagram feed. For some, the fair is a tradition. Best friends Madison Hampton and Chyann Zolna, both 15, have been coming to the fair together for years since they met in kindergarten. “I get matching henna (tattoos) with all of my friends and we go on the skyride,” Hampton said. “The haunted house; that’s an every year thing too,” Zolna added. That’s one of the most unique things about the fair: the sense of community you find in an event that draws thousands of people throughout 11 days in February. So, if you can spare some extra cash, carpool with some friends, share some fried craziness, try your luck at games, challenge your fears in some spinning contraption and “Discover the Fun.” If you go: The Florida State Fair: Florida State Fairgrounds Physical Address: 4800 US Hwy. 301 North, Tampa.
Candied apples sit on display for sale.
THOMAS IACOBUCCI | THE CROW’S NEST
Jimmy Thompson, 72, poses for a portrait as he works his 49th year traveling with the fair since he was 15 years old.
THOMAS IACOBUCCI | THE CROW’S NEST
Jimmy Fashner, 40, poses in front of the ferris wheel as the vibrant lights of the fair blend away in the distance.
Behind the booth: A glimpse into one vendor’s nightly fair interactions By Thomas Iacobucci Contributor
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immy Thompson stood leaning against his cane under the lights of one of the many booths that lined the narrow corridors at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Clad in a bright orange collared shirt with a pencil behind his ear, Thompson was
hardly noticeable, blending in with the copious amounts of stuffed animals hanging above and around him. Beckoning to anyone who glanced in his direction, Thompson had the right amount of goofiness and authority to man a post at a fair booth. His closecropped white hair could be seen from afar as he moved
slowly in a circle around his small enclosure. At times, his voice was all that could be heard, slicing through the screams emitting from rides elsewhere on the grounds. At other times, it got lost among the sounds of the fair, blending in, just like him. “How much?” someone asked.
“Three dollars!” Thompson said, waving the patrons over to the booth where they could try their luck in the Whack-AWand game. Thompson, 72, of Lumberton, North Carolina, has been working the traveling fair for 49 years. He joined when he was 15 and hasn’t looked back. “Well, you get addicted to
it,” Thompson said. “You get to travel all around.” Sticking his tongue out at the lens of the camera, Thompson snickered and turned his back toward the hoard of people walking by, gesturing to anyone that might glance in his direction.
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February 11, 2019
Their home became a backyard nirvana By Emily Wunderlich ewunderlich@mail.usf.edu
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hen English author James Hilton wrote his 1933 novel “Lost Horizon,” he envisioned a land of peace and perpetual youth. The Shangri-La, he called it: an imaginary, beautiful place. At 6287 21st Way S., the Shangri-La comes to life. Fairy lights are strung around the yard. Old vinyl records hang from tree branches. Tie-dyed tapestries drape the wooden fence. And twice a month, local musicians take the homemade stage in the middle of the yard. The student-made arts and music venue celebrated its first birthday in January. But after May, it will be no more. The setup is the brainchild of roommates Kyla Fields, Ty Battle and Alivia Lynch. “All of our furniture is either found in the trash or bought from a thrift store,” said Fields, 21, a senior mass communications major. The roommates met at USF St. Petersburg and moved into their current house with two other people in August 2017. Right
away, Fields knew that the spacious backyard — as well as its location on the end of her street — would make the perfect venue for local musicians and vendors. “For small bands that are trying to tour, there’s not really that many venues in St. Pete and Tampa because New World Brewery shut down, Local 662 shut down, Fubar shut down,” Fields said. “The places for small bands to play are dwindling, really.” Fields said the venue was an idea at the back of her mind until a band from San Marco, Texas, The Cold Tony’s, said they wanted to tour in Tampa. Through a mutual friend, she was able to book them for the ShangriLa’s first show Jan. 5, 2018. “We were just like, ‘Now’s the time. If they want to do a house show, let’s do a house show,’” Fields said. In just over a year, the venue has already established itself in the community. Its Instagram, @shangri_la_ gardens, has almost 700 followers. Fields said most musicians and vendors reach out to her first when they want to come to a show. However, Fields noted
COURTESY OF KYLA FIELDS
The Jackettes, a four-piece band from St. Petersburg, perform at the Shangri-La on Dec. 7. Jeremy Treviño, the band’s percussionist, is also known for his work as a local artist.
that the venue isn’t actually called the “Shangri-La Gardens,” as its social media suggests. She chose the name because all other variations of “Shangri-La” were taken. Between the roommates’ work and class schedules, the Shangri-La only hosts two shows per month, which usually attract anywhere between 25 and 50 people, depending on the night’s lineup. Its first birthday show on Jan. 12 saw a crowd of at least 150, Fields said. Although admission is free, Fields keeps a donation bucket at the entrance of her yard. In between sets, she makes her rounds through the crowd, asking for $5 or $10. All proceeds are divided among the bands, and, if it’s a slow night, Fields pays them out-of-pocket. “A lot of bands are surprised when I give them the amount of money, and they’re like, ‘This is more than we get at a bar,’” she said. Even though Fields admits she doesn’t always like the music in her backyard, she said the Shangri-La has allowed her to watch every band grow and evolve over time. “It’s not about me liking the music all the time, or my friends liking the music,” Fields said. “It’s about giving different bands of different genres an equal opportunity to play.” Under the city’s noise ordinances, which were updated last spring, Fields sometimes worries about the music getting too loud. For residential buildings, noise cannot exceed 55 decibels after 11 p.m. “We definitely go over the decibel limit,” she said. “I
EMILY WUNDERLICH | THE CROW’S NEST
All of the furniture and decor at the Shangri-La is either found in the trash or bought from a thrift store, Fields said. The Shangri-La’s logo, which is still being designed, will be modeled after a mannequin with a plant on top.
don’t know how to measure decibels… But there’s definitely been times where I’m like, ‘This is way too loud, for sure.’” However, Fields said that police have only responded to one noise complaint at the Shangri-La, and that was because a song ended at 11:04 p.m. “If our neighbors had a problem with it, we would definitely be shut down by now because we’ve been doing it for a year,” Fields said. “I just think they’ve kind of accepted it.” In fact, some neighbors even come to the shows. Others donate their sofas. And one even peered over the fence during a set, Fields said. But after May, those neighbors won’t hear any more music. That’s because the roommates’ lease will expire, and they don’t plan on renewing it. But for Fields, ShangriLa is just the beginning. “I would definitely like to continue doing what I do,” she said. “Maybe just not in my backyard.” Fields is considering
starting her own booking company after the ShangriLa closes. Although she doesn’t know what she’ll do with all of the furniture, she hopes she can re-gift it to someone who wants to start a venue of their own. Ty Battle, 21, helps Fields with most of the venue’s planning. Even though it was challenging, she enjoyed the work so much that she plans to continue working with Fields in the future. “I guess it’s really made me feel like St. Pete is more of a home,” Battle said. “It’s helped me meet a lot of local artists and musicians… It’s given me the opportunity to learn from them and support them at the same time.” The Shangri-La’s next show is Feb. 16, with a “Galentine’s Day” theme of female musicians and vendors. Its final show will be sometime in May, Fields said, with a two-day schedule packed with bigname artists. For more details about upcoming events, follow @shangri_la_gardens on Instagram.
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February 11, 2019
Revitalize public education THE CROW’S NEST The Crow’s Nest is committed to providing its readers with news relevant to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and its surrounding community. 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. Opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty or student body.
Reach Us USFSP Student Life Center Office 2400 140 Seventh Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL, 33701 (727) 873-4113 usfcrowsnest@gmail.com
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By Jonah Hinebaugh Junior journalism and digital media major jonahh@mail.usf.edu
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he number of independently run schools, namely charter schools, has continually risen over the years while public schools suffer as budgets are cut more and more. In December 2018, a vote from the Orleans Parish School Board positioned New Orleans to become one of the nation’s first major cities with an allcharter school district. It’s a complex issue and hard to capture in a small oped, but it’s important to note the further muddying of the rights which should be provided to citizens, even in a country where democracy is threatened. The education system is like a microcosm of the continual commodification of resources that should be available to every citizen – it should go without saying that it further separates the proletariat from the bourgeois ruling class that dominates everything, thus contributing to a growing, and already large, poverty cycle. Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, said her mission was to expand
Brianna Rodriguez Creative Director Martha Rhine Photography Editor
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run by nonprofit charter management organizations, allowing them to cut into funds from the state and federal levels. According to the Education Commission of the States, Florida uses “federal, state, local, discretionary lottery and discretionary millage levy funds” for charters that are allocated according to the same formula as funds allocated to other public schools. It makes sense they are treated similar to public schools, until the unsurprising caveat in which these organizations can contract for-profit companies to manage some or all of the school, including employment, school policies and curricula. Public funding can also be diverted through school voucher programs, where education tax dollars instead go toward subsidizing tuition for private schools. Why should federal and state funds be funneled into charter and private schools that are able to pick and choose which students are allowed to enter? It creates the possibility of exclusionary policies. It leaves students across the U.S. who can’t get into — or can’t afford to attend — private and charter schools predisposed to not receiving an up-to-par education because of the deteriorating status of public schools. I fail to see what is gained from selective admissions susceptible to something like neo-segregation, tearing down all that was gained through efforts like Brown v. Board of Education. This can be sustained further by nepotism, which essentially grandfathers
in students. It doesn’t only affect students, though. According to a Los Angeles Times article, these schools are exempt from providing union contracts. This is, again, another important issue that needs to be addressed, because unions are fundamental in protecting educators from exploitation and giving them leverage to demand livable wages. Thousands of educators, both from charter and public schools, in the LA Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school system, have aggressively protested – fighting against the charter schools they believe are draining public funds. Between exclusionary practices, the syphoning of public funds, and fighting against educator representation, it’s incredibly absurd to justify charter schools. These schools, in particular, actively work in undermining democracy — something the U.S. shoves down our throats constantly. Advocates can’t spout about how great and free our country is when they turn around and to donate or support these supposed “better options” to public schools instead of trying to help decommodify something vital – something that is a pillar for success of all. It seems we’ve lost New Orleans to charter schools, but we can only hope the educators in LA continue to fight against a devil in the form of privatized education.
me enlighten you. Tinder is a free dating app. Once downloaded, you make a profile with your first name, age, a brief biography and photos. Tinder then shows you potential matches in your area. You can see the pictures people put on their profile and a short bio. If you both swipe right on each other’s profiles, it opens up a chat where you can send your match a message. If you swipe left, it simply means you aren’t interested, and more profiles appear for you to swipe through. While all that sounds good in theory, navigating through the many profiles is vastly impersonal yet strangely addicting. I confess I have only hung out with one match from Tinder. Let’s just say it didn’t go so well. The only time I use Tinder is when work is slow and I’ve lost interest in every other app on my phone. That being said, I have experienced some
rather hilarious and vulgar remarks from men on Tinder. Without further ado, here are some of the most ridiculous pick-up lines I’ve received on Tinder. “Are you the SAT? Because I would do you for three hours and fortyfive minutes… with a ten minute break in the middle for snacks.” (No… Just no.) “Wow you have gorgeous eyes. Mind if I get lost in them right up until I kiss you?” (Cringe.) “How do you like your eggs in the morning? Scrambled? Or fertilized?” (Don’t think I need to explain this one.) “If you found a bag full of money and the amount was the exact same as your phone number, how much money would you have?” (Clever, but not falling for it.) “HELLO PLEASE COME RUIN MY LIFE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.” (Wow, um, alrighty then.) I’ve concluded that Tinder might be an easy way to meet
a one-night stand, but for anyone trying to make a real connection, the chances are pretty low. Meeting people ‘the oldfashioned way’ is probably the best bet for forming new relationships. Plus, who wants to say they met their spouse on Tinder? I think online dating gives young adults an excuse to be lazy and not improve social skills in person. Of course, I am guilty of wanting dating to be convenient, but that opens the door to making everything convenient. Eventually, I’d never have to leave my house and I’d get fat and lose all of my social skills. Then, who would want me as their Valentine? If anyone is curious this year, I’ll spend my Valentine’s Day taking a walk with my dog, eating some good food, watching 007, and deleting my stupid Tinder. So, to Tinder, I say adios. Thanks for the laughs and good riddance.
Please don’t be my Tinder Valentine
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Brenden DelaRua Business Manager Rob Hooker Adviser
alternatives to traditional public schools. It seems she’s given up on trying to maintain and fix public schools that desperately need it to allow all children the chance to receive a proper education. It’s baffling that schools and programs that habitually cut into funds for public schools, by running under the guise of nonprofit schools, can have staunch supporters – supporters like wealthy individuals, including Netflix founder Reed Hastings, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates – who all contribute heavily to the expansion of charter schools through private donations. Advocates argue that it creates a free market environment by pitting schools against each other to provide the best education so more students attend. What isn’t considered is the possibility of these schools to not “teach,” but hammer cheap tricks and memorization into student’s minds so they know how to pass exams. It isn’t education or learning; it’s finding ways to mimic that idea. The benchmarks that these schools try to achieve through those tactics do not accomplish anything beside proving that a public, universal education system is ideal in finding the best solutions for students to prosper as opposed to independent or private education. Financial issues include forprofit companies and contractors involved even in charter schools touted as nonprofit. Charter schools are typically
By Emma Lathrop Junior English Major elathrop@mail.usf.edu
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alentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you don’t have a bae like me, I have good news for you. We no longer need to make romantic connections by going out into the world and meeting new people. Tinder is here to rescue you from the inconvenience that is dating. If you are between the ages of 18 and 30, you probably know of or have Tinder. In case you still have no clue what I am talking about, let
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February 11, 2019
‘Pipeline’ depicts race in education By Anna Bryson annabryson@mail.usf.edu
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ebuting at the American Stage Theater, just in time for Black History Month, is “Pipeline,” a heartfelt play by Dominique Morisseau, directed by L. Peter Callender. When you watch “Pipeline” at American Stage, you’ll feel as if you’re in a high school classroom. Whether being back in high school evokes positive memories is up for debate. Your teacher, Nya, is reading a poem to the class: “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. This selected poem from Bean Eaters by Brooks may sound familiar if you paid attention in English class. We real cool. We Left school. We Lurk late. We Strike straight. We Sing sin. We Thin gin. We Jazz June. We Die soon.
Nya’s son, Omari, appears onstage in a dream-like way –– not literally in the classroom but somehow strangely connected, in the way a memory is connected to a dream. Omari hauntingly reads the words aloud and suddenly, in a moment of terror, Nya can’t breathe and runs out of the classroom. The poem is symbolic of her worst fear about her son –– that he is going to die. Omari is the typical mugshot you see in the news. He is the face of young, black rage. He is dangerous. Criminal. You’re conditioned to be afraid of him. He’s in the hotly debated school-to-prison pipeline. We know this pipeline; we see it in our news feeds every day. He attacked his teacher in class as other students took videos that went viral. He’ll likely go to jail. In 90 minutes, playwright Dominique Morisseau explores the complicated issues of race in education. But for once, the story isn’t dehumanizing. You will cry with Omari and his mother. You’ll shake
COURTESY OF AMERICAN STAGE THEATER
The poem “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks repeats in different ways throughout the play as a symbol of Nya’s fear for her son.
COURTESY OF AMERICAN STAGE THEATER
The production ends in a heartfelt moment where Omari finally does what Nya has been asking –– to give her instructions on how to take care of him.
when you watch Nya have a panic attack. You will feel the humanity, and it will haunt you. You will realize that every story you’ve been fed about young, black male criminals is far more complicated than a mugshot and an arrest report. The story isn’t just one story –– it’s many people’s. It’s a reflection of the school-to-prison pipeline, which throughout the play, we learn is systemic. It’s not solely about the student, the teacher or the parents. It’s about the structure that has created and allowed so many students go down — the entire community of children, parents, leaders, police officers and teachers. Morisseau said her play was inspired by the murder of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson five years ago. “Pipeline” run throughs Feb. 24 at American Stage, 163 Third St. N. in downtown St. Petersburg. The play is part of American Stage’s “LIFE. OUT. LOUD.” theme of the 2018-2019 season. American Stage has committed itself to telling stories that honor diversity and celebrate shared human experience.
Nya is played by Gillian Glasco, who is known for her roles in “Going in Style” (2017), “Young Gods of the New City” and “Jessica Jones” (2015). Throughout the play, Nya is portrayed as a guiltstricken mother trying to find a way to keep her only son safe from the world. Omari is skillfully played by Andrew Montgomery Coleman, making his American Stage debut. A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, this young talent will be one to watch. Playwright Dominique Morisseau has many accomplished plays under her belt. She is a busy woman, not only as a playwright, but also as the bookwriter for the new musical “AIN’T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS.” Morisseau’s work has been commissioned by Steppenwolf Theater, Women’s Project and other entities, and has been the recipient of numerous awards. Callender relates to “Pipeline” on a personal level, he said in the playbill. He knows just how Omari felt. Growing up in the Bronx with a single mother who worked multiple jobs and did her best
keep Callender out of the aforementioned “school-toprison-pipeline,” Callender feels for his childhood friends who fell victim to it. Black youth are the demographic most often targeted by the “school-toprison-pipeline,” some being targeted as early as third grade, according to the playbill. Callender directed this play with a personal feeling; the characters in this play tug on the heartstrings of both the young and old. Fear not, college students. Enjoying a night at the theatre is not as expensive as you might think. Anybody under 20 can receive free tickets to American Stage’s full mainstage season. For those under 30, American Stage offers a “Netflix-style” subscription, offering unlimited theater for $15 a month. This includes productions at the mainstage, in the park, improvisation, cabaret and more. Call the box office at 727-823-7529 or visit americanstage.org for more information.
W h at to do t hi s we e k : Feb. 11- 18
By Bryce Lawson Contributor
MONDAY The Listen Up! Film Series will showcase The Best Short Films of 2018 at The Hideaway Cafe, 1756 Central Ave. From comedies to thrillers, all genres of films will be represented. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for this free event. Start the week off with some classical music at Iberian Rooster, 475 Central Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Percussionist Cameron Leach will perform Ceci n’est pas une balle, along with other classical works, as part of his Florida tour. The event is free, and drinks are available for purchase.
TUESDAY Artist Kenny Jensen will reveal his environmentally inspired sculpture on the south wall of Davis Hall. Based on patterns created by insects found on leaves, the installation is called “Paths of Consumption: USFSP.” A reception for the piece will be held at 4 p.m. outside of Davis Hall. Kicking off the St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs, ambassador Chas Freeman will give a keynote address called “After the trade war, a real war with China?” An expert on China and Saudi Arabia, Freeman has worked on the highest levels of foreign policy. The free talk will start at 5 p.m. at the Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave. N.
WEDNESDAY The St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs will be on campus through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring over 30-panel discussions on critical issues on an international level.
Celebrate Black History Month with some poetry by Beautiful Disaster at The Studio @620, 620 First Ave. S. Theme readings will be inspired by black poets from Maya Angelo to Langston Hughes. The readings start at 7 p.m. with a $5 admission fee. THURSDAY In honor of Valentine’s Day, The Salvador Dalí Museum, 1 Dali Blvd., will host an Erotic Poetry reading from Enid Shomer’s new anthology
“All We Know Of Pleasure.” The event is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free with a student ID.
For those who don’t have a Valentine, Dog Bar St. Pete, 2300 Central Ave., will host a Dinner For Two With Your Pup from 5 to 10 p.m. Turkey bowls or sushi rolls for dogs will be available for $8. FRIDAY The St. Pete French Fry Fest will be at North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Drive NE, from 6 to 11 p.m. All food trucks will offer special french fry-inspired dishes. Admission is free. Freaklove: An AntiValentine’s Day Party will be at Paper Crane, 9108 Fifth Ave. N., from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Featured bands include Pleasures, Reality
Asylum and CHEW. This is a free event with drinks available for purchase.
SATURDAY Center your energy after a long week with From The Heart Free Yoga at The Sundial, 153 Second Ave. N., from 9 to 10 a.m. Caddy’s on Central, 217 Central Ave., will host a Silent Disco from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Guests can choose between three DJ’s on each set of headphones. Tickets for the disco are $10. SUNDAY Spend the day on the artsy side with Mimosas & Masterpieces: Brunch at The Dali from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mimosas and sangria will be available for $6.50 each. Admission is free with a student ID.
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February 11, 2019
Glazer’s Grown Up Night: Where adults can be kids By Amy Diaz amydiaz@mail.usf.edu
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or my seventh birthday, I asked my parents for a set of encyclopedias. Hanging out with my best friend as a kid meant reenacting scenes from books, and my favorite game to play with my younger sister was “library.” I think I had a fun childhood, but when I went to the Glazer Children’s Museum on Feb. 8 for Grown Up Night, I felt less like I was reliving my childhood and more like I was living someone else’s. A $25 ticket at the door got me kid-friendly snacks like chips and pretzels, and not-sokid-friendly beer from Florida Avenue Brewing. With a neon pink wristband confirming my adult status, I made my way in.
“Yeah!” by Usher was the first song to play as I walked in, which took me back to my elementary school days of field trips to Astro Skate. It’s my go-to throwback song. Over 300 adults in the threestory children’s museum were dancing, drinking, laughing and most importantly –– playing. One group of grown-up friends kicked off their shoes and opted for lounging in a big sandbox with all the necessary tools for castle construction. A couple of musicallyinclined adults played the childhood classic, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” on a rainbow light-up keyboard. One adventurous man took to the rock-climbing wall. A few rebellious women crawled through climber exhibits, despite the 55-inch height limit. Some adults ventured to
AMY DIAZ | THE CROW’S NEST
Valerie Karpenko, 23, and Tyler Sheffield, 26, read notes left by children visiting the museum.
the exhibits meant for kids to pretend to be adults, like the laundromat and Publix. I got a beer right away to blend in with the other inebriated adults and try to loosen up. “Being a kid is totally easy,” I told myself. “Just stick a Lego on another Lego or something!” I found the Lego art wall and moved a couple around before becoming self-conscious about my vision for the piece. I put a pink Lego next to a brown Lego. I mean, what was I even doing? I also realized I had been working next to somebody else’s design, which was undeniably phallic, and decided to try something else. I wandered into the Twinkle Stars Theater and witnessed two grown men wearing reptilian costumes, writhing on stage and releasing high-pitched squeals. The few members of the audience gave standing ovations. I’m sure if I had gotten there sooner, I would have been able to appreciate the performance a bit more. I downed the rest of my beer and braved myself for the third floor. To my horror, I watched adults willingly plop down on those treacherous scooters we were all forced to play on in physical education. I winced imagining the number of times I ran over my fingers while kicking for my life on those death traps. On the other side of the room, people were hula-
hooping, which is a much more approachable activity. I made my way over to participate because, not to brag or anything but, I’m like, really good at hula-hooping. Unfortunately, one man decided to push the envelope and use multiple hoops, so there weren’t any left. I retreated. I found solace in a glowing box of sand with an ocean floor projected onto it. I swept one finger through the sand and watched the holographic fish swim around it. I was a shy kid, so I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I found myself away from the climbers, actors and Legoartists. But just being there,
spending an hour away from work, school, chores, and other adult responsibilities, felt like I was reliving my childhood. A woman in a toga walked past me and asked if I wanted to join in on the parade that was about to begin. I channeled my inner child, and just as young Amy would have, I passed. If you go: The Glazer Children’s Museum puts on the Grown Up Night, 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, every few months. Presale tickets are $20 and tickets at the door are $25. Snacks and beer are free as long as they are available, and they also have a cash bar. The event is 21 and up.
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Ana Vargas, 34, and Grace de La Paz, 43, say they’ve been to Grown Up Night at the museum once before.
Art show focuses on ‘black future,’ not black history By Dinorah Prevost dprevost1@mail.usf.edu
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uring the first two hours at MIZE Gallery’s opening for its latest show, she was the biggest draw. Lyrik Shikany posed for photo after photo next to a spaceinspired portrait of herself. She looks off in the distance while an astronaut in full gear frames her in the background. Local artist Perry DeVick painted the portrait for the gallery’s February show. The only other portrait in the room was of a starry-eyed James Baldwin, the well-known author
and activist. This month, MIZE, 689 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St. N, is hosting the monthlong show, titled “dreams deferred,” to coincide with Black History Month. The name comes from the opening line of AfricanAmerican poet Langston Hughes’s work “Harlem.” The show features portraits, photography, collage and mixed media pieces from 20 artists interpreting their idea of the theme “dream deferred.” Gallery owner Chad Mize reached out to co-curator Erin Hughes, who helped choose the theme and book the artists. Hughes said her choice
DINORAH PREVOST | THE CROW’S NEST
Artist Perry DeVick (right) met her model Lyrik Shikany last Thanksgiving at a mutual friend’s house. She began painting the portrait two weeks later.
stemmed from a love of Langston Hughes. She did her final research project in graduate school at USF Tampa on his poem, “The Sweet Flypaper of Life.” She attended USF St. Petersburg for a year to study civil rights history. DeVick, an art teacher at Lealman Avenue Elementary, and Shikany, a St. Petersburg High School student, met at a friend’s house last Thanksgiving. At the time, DeVick was two weeks away from starting the painting and needed a live model. “I wanted a youth, I wanted something very specific,” DeVick said. She chose Shikany, 15, at the suggestion of their mutual friend. “It was just really cool to be a part of it,” Shikany said. “Especially having meaning behind Black History Month, which I connect very deeply with. I’ve done art myself (but) I’ve never done realistic work, which is something I’ve always admired.” DeVick said she was initially hesitant to do the show. “When I was invited to do the show, I thought about it and I was a little bit afraid. ‘I’m just a white lady with privilege, I don’t need to be participating in this Black History Month show.
DINORAH PREVOST | THE CROW’S NEST
Co-curator Erin Hughes helped choose the theme for the show. She did a graduate school project on Langston Hughes’s poem “The Sweet Flypaper of Life.”
What gives me the right to be stepping out of my lane to do this?’” she said. “I’m a teacher, so when I think of anything about civil rights and that struggle, I go, ‘My students, my children.’” She said the idea was to show a black child “spacing out, dreaming of something big.” Rather than black history, she wanted to show “black future.” The piece’s title names the six black female astronauts in NASA’s 60-year history: Mae Jemison, Stephanie Wilson,
Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, Jeanette Epps and Jessica Watkins. DeVick said students at her school often say they want to be rappers, football players or Beyonce when they grow up. “I would love to hear one of my students say ‘astronaut.’ One said ‘president’ the other day,” DeVick said. “Dreams deferred” runs through Feb. 24. The gallery will host an artists’ talk on Feb. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm.