Volume 53 Issue 2 by The Crow's Nest

NEWS, page 2 NUTRITION MISSION

FEATURES, page 4 FROM MUSIC TO METAL

OPINION, page 6 EXPLORING EMPATHY

After months of planning, USF St. Petersburg’s “Support-A-Bull Market” has finally come to fruition. Read more about how you can help it reach new heights.

A junior graphic design major got the opportunity of a lifetime when he was invited to work with an accomplished sculptor this summer. Their work is now featured in the lobby of Harbor Hall.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Online Editor Katlynn Mullins shares her experience with personal loss. Read her thoughts on how the media can help shed light on the issue.

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Volume 53, Issue 2 - September 9, 2019 | Online at crowsneststpete.com

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BANDING TOGETHER Local relief efforts for Hurricane Dorian exceed expectations.

@USFSPCrowsNest

$5.5 million for mental health

By James Bennett III jamesbennett@mail.usf.edu

COURTESY OF SOL RELIEF

Sol Relief has collected over 36,000 pounds of supplies, sent 18 relief flights and is still assisting in evacuations.

By Katlynn Mullins katlynnm@mail.usf

fter Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas for days as a Category 5 storm, a local nonprofit stepped in to help. Sol Relief began sending planes filled with supplies out of Albert Whitted Airport on Sept. 3. By Sept. 8, the organization had so many donations that it temporarily suspended acceptance. USF St. Petersburg’s Student Government partnered with the organization to help raise money and supplies to aid in relief. “We here in the Bay area were lucky to have only been marginally impacted, but that is not true for all of the communities USFSP represents,” said Vice President, Hannah Rose Wanless in a written statement. Sol Relief has collected over 36,000 pounds of supplies, sent 18 relief flights and is still assisting in evacuations, according to the organization’s website and Facebook page. As a nonprofit, 100 percent of proceeds go toward the cause, and because the

organization is based in St. Petersburg, donation centers are easily accessible. This was important to SG when searching for a partner because they “wanted to make sure all donations were sent directly to the Bahamian Islands,” Wanless said. She feels the organization “hit the ground running” with their efforts. “This (was) a universitywide initiative,” said Student Body President Jadzia “Jazzy” Duarte. According to Duarte, the University Student Center, the Wellness Center and Dean of Students, Jacob Diaz, were partners in the drive. “Most of our response has been in support for the effort started by SG, and we’re thankful that they have taken up the charge,” said Anthony Carinci, associate director of the USC. “We are thankful that the hurricane didn’t have a more devastating impact on the St. Pete community and hope the supplies that (were) gathered can be useful to those that have experienced hardships in the Bahamas,” Carinci said. With all the donations received, Sol Relief stopped

accepting items on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 3 p.m. “At this time, we anticipate that we have enough donated supplies to transport,” Sol Relief said in a Facebook post early Saturday afternoon. The organization will continue to focus on “airlifting deliveries, evacuations, specific need requests,” and encouraging volunteers to sign up and assist with packing for deliveries. They advised in a Facebook comment that people should keep donations if they can, as the drive could open back up if supplies are

still needed. “We just need to make sure that the Bahamians have the infrastructure” for the contributions, the comment said. SG will be taking the remaining of donations from the drive to Pinellas County’s Habitat for Humanity, Wanless said in a written statement. If students are still looking for ways to help, Sol Relief and the American Red Cross are accepting monetary donations. BloodOne is also hosting blood drives to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian. Locations can be found here.

COURTESY OF SOL RELIEF

Donations to Sol Relief were suspended Sept. 8.

he USF St. Petersburg College of Education will continue spreading mental health awareness across the state thanks to a hefty grant from the Florida Department of Education. Through the Youth Mental Health Awareness Training Administration Project, which was established by the university last year with the help of a $2.2 million grant from the Florida Department of Education, K-12 personnel are trained to recognize when students are struggling with emotional or mental health. The recently awarded $5.5 million grant will be allocated for things like training materials, travel expenses and hiring substitutes when teachers are out of the classroom. The program doesn’t just focus on teachers, though. School personnel like principals, cafeteria workers, custodians and bus drivers are also trained to identify the warning signs and help distressed students find professional help. Everybody who is employed by the school district is trained because “people see different things in a classroom that they might not see on a bus, or vice versa,” said Jordan Knab, the university’s principal investigator. There are a few steps to the training. First, there’s a “train the trainer” component, where personnel from the National Council for Behavioral Health meet with up to 16 people at a time and teach a three-day course on “mental health first aid.” Next, those 16 people go back to their school district and train school employees. >> SEE HEALTH on P3

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Pantry addresses needs of struggling students

Story and Photos By Dylan Hart dhart4@mail.usf.edu

ast semester, it was a rough draft sketched by Student Government members. Now, just months later, the campus food pantry is a reality — and it’s aiming even higher. Located in Room 1702 of the Student Life Center, which is the Leadership and Student Organizations office, the pantry has just a few shelves for now, but all of them are fully stocked, and staff are ready to provide resources to students. Students who are in need of support can call the office of Student Outreach and Support at 727-873-4278. Once a staff member is reached, the student will then fill out an intake request form and provide their U-number. From there, students are given a receipt to take a number of items from the shelves. Although initially envisioned as a food pantry, like Feed-A-Bull at USF Tampa, it has been rebranded as the Support-A-Bull Market and has fallen under the care of the Student Outreach and Support office. The market held a “soft open”on Aug. 19. SOS plans to invite local politicians and community donors to an official grand opening on Sept. 23. The office is still hiring student workers through Federal Work Study, but the market has already seen use by students. Plans to expand Joseph Contes, assistant director of SOS, already has big plans for the market. But expansion is going to rely on the campus community. The program has no assigned budget. Instead, it relies entirely on donations and

awards. “We’re trying to use our limited resources wisely,” Contes said. Less than a month after opening, Support-A-Bull Market is already a finalist in a competition called Block By Block, which would give the program a grant if it wins. “I think that one of the reasons we’re a finalist for that competition is because of our unique model,” Contes said. Unlike many other food pantries, where staff make the decisions and give recipients their food, the Support-ABull Market is a “grocery store” model, where students are given options for what to pick. They are bound by a “receipt,” which aims to guide them toward a balanced and The market allows students to choose between different food items but guides them towards nutritious options. nutritious diet, but students still have some choices to make — all of which are food insecurity impacts the SOS is still determining or call the office at 727-873free of charge. The aim with student body at USF St. the best hours for students 4278. The office accepts all this model, Contes said, is to Petersburg, Contes said. and plans to establish a more donations, but lists several foster independence, dignity Basic data, such as gender routine schedule once more items as “needed” on its and nutritional education in and race, are collected from data is collected, but the office page at usfsp.edu/studentstudents. every participant via their is prepared to change its hours outreach-and-support/foodFood insecurity is a U-number. per semester if the student pantry under “donations serious problem on college “56 percent of students body demands it. information.” campuses in America, and who face food insecurity Despite the program’s Food items must be nonSOS is no stranger to the work, too, so we have to be reliance on outside funding, perishable, cannot be expired statistics. flexible to that,” Contes said. Contes hopes to start a or opened, and must be in Contes said that 75 percent The office also plans to competitive food drive later their original packaging or of students on Financial Aid use the data to offer help this semester and offer an label. Canned items should be faced food insecurity within to struggling students, incentive to the winning free of “major dents.” the past 30 days of answering as repeated visits may organization. He also wants Contes said that tampons a survey, and 55 percent indicate deeper problems to mirror the Feed-A-Bull and pads are some of the either skipped meals or had like economic, domestic or program in Tampa by rarest and most needed to choose between food and relationship issues. Contes partnering with Sodexo to products in any community some other essential, like a said that there will be no limit help students in need. outreach program, and the doctor’s visit or a textbook for on how many times a student “I see the program going Support-A-Bull Market is no class. can visit the market, even if a lot further,” Contes said. exception. Some females who Even students with prepaid they decline services offered But for now, they’re “here to struggle with food insecurity meal plans can struggle, with to them by SOS. help.” may forgo feminine hygiene 43 percent still facing food The only requirement Donations in favor of meals, or vice insecurity. This is especially to visit the food pantry is versa. common when options for active student status. This If you would like to make Cash donations can also food have limited hours. doesn’t necessarily mean that a donation, visit the SOS be made through the USF Part of the purpose of the student has to be taking office in the Piano Man Foundation at giving.usf.edu. the market is to gauge how classes this semester. Building, 701 Third St. S,

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Talk nerdy to me: Professors featured at monthly ‘nerd nite’

Photo and Story by Carrie Pinkard clarice2@mail.usf.edu

“

Turn to the person next to you. Their head is the size of a giant squid’s eyeball.” This sentence was uttered by Heather Judkins, a USF St. Petersburg biology professor, at Iberian Rooster last week. Judkins has become a celebrity scientist over the past month, since she and her research team captured the second ever film footage of a giant squid in June. The footage was captured in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 250 miles from Tampa. Judkins shared many facts about cephalopods with the audience, including that most of them “grow fast, have sex, and then die,” which got a “woohoo” from the inebriated crowd. She said there are over 700 species of cephalopods,

including one whose scientific name translates to “vampire squid from hell.” Judkins was speaking as part of St. Petersburg’s “Nerd Nite” series. Once a month, “nerds” from around the city gather in the basement of Iberian Rooster to hear experts speak on a variety of topics. The venue features couches and comfortable lounge chairs, giving people the feeling that they never left their living rooms. St. Petersburg is one of over 100 cities globally that hosts a “Nerd Nite.” The founders of the event describe it as the Discovery Channel – but with cocktails. August’s “Nerd Nite” featured Judkins’ talk about cephalopods and Ricardo Williams dissecting the

Marvel Universe. “You can be a nerd about anything,” Williams said at the beginning of his talk. The next “Nerd Nite” will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. It will also feature a USF St. Petersburg professor, Gary Mormino from the history department, who will speak on the future of Florida. Tickets for Nerd Nite cost $5 and usually St. Petersburg is one of over 100 cities globally that hosts a “Nerd Nite.” The founders of the event sell out in describe it as the Discovery Channel — but with advance.

CARRIE PINKARD | THE CROW’S NEST

cocktails.

HEALTH, continued from P1 Since the in-person training will likely take a few years to reach every school district, YMHAT has also contracted with a New Yorkbased online training course called Kognito. “Some people in the training say, ‘The only thing I knew about mental illness is something I saw in a movie, or read in a book.’” Knab said. “So it’s really a kind of rudimentary understanding of mental health as a whole.” According to Knab, 1,116 instructors have been certified in youth mental health first aid. Additionally, 72,000 people have completed the online Kognito training. Knab added that, at this point, the strongest indicators of YMHAT’s success have been subjective comments from individuals who have identified students with issues. In some cases, the students who recieved help reported they were thinking about committing suicide or had intended to commit suicide that day. “When we first initiated the training, we saw a number of those coming forward. Folks were saying, ‘Wow, this really is making a difference. This really is working.’” he said. The funding for YMHAT was allocated through state legislature under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The bill was passed less than one month after the school shooting and is summarized as “critical public safety legislation (to) establish safeguards designed to enhance safety in schools.”

The College of Education was awarded a $5.5 million grant to continue training K-12 personnel on how to spot students with emotional and mental health

The College of Education was given the $2.2 million and the following $5.5 million because of the university’s connection with the Multiagency Service Network for Students with Severe Emotional Disturbance Administration Project, also known as SEDNET, which is hosted at USF St. Petersburg. SEDNET is a statewide network of 19 regional projects that provide intensive services for students with

severe emotional or mental health problems. “Recognizing the warning signs of mental health distress is a vital part of keeping our schools safe and our students healthy,” Brenda L. Walker, Associate Dean of the College of Education said in a university press release. “We’re pleased to continue to raise awareness and understanding on this important issue,” she said.

THOMAS IACOBUCCI | THE CROW’S NEST

“Recognizing the warning signs of mental health distress is a vital part of keeping our schools safe and our students healthy.” - Brenda L. Walker

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Student’s sculpture finds home in Harbor Hall Story and photos by Jonah Hinebaugh jonahh@mail.usf.edu

ver the summer, 20-year-old Darnell Henderson stumbled his way into an internship – literally. Henderson and his peers were having dinner at the studio of USF St. Petersburg adjunct professor Erika Greenberg-Schnieder and her husband Dominique Labauvie when he knocked over a sculpture and broke it. Instead of reacting with anger, Labauvie offered to mentor him in welding and sculpture building. For a month, Henderson worked alongside Labauvie to create a mass of manipulated

steel that, while lying flat, may seem nothing more than that. But prop it up on the wall, and music notes form in the shadow of the steel. Henderson said it serves as a visual representation for a lyric from a Thomas Moore song. Labauvie was born in France but relocated to Tampa after marrying GreenbergSchneider. He’s had his work featured across Europe and the U.S., and in 1997, he was commissioned by the City of Paris to create a large cast iron sculpture at the entrance of the Park of the Villette. “Most days, I began by

showing him any work I did prior,” said Henderson, a junior graphic design major. “We go through the process, receive his critiques, and work through those. “In the afternoon, I’ll begin to actually work in the studio, welding, putting the pieces together, kind of taking what I did in the morning – the conceptual piece – and then beginning to actualize that.” The artwork went through three phases: deconstruction, reconstruction, and simplification. With the help of Greenberg-Schneider, Henderson found out the day before classes started that it

Dominique Labauvie (right) explains the meaning behind the sculpture he and Darnell Henderson created.

Henderson uses a power drill to install the piece in Harbor Hall.

would be installed in Harbor Hall – replacing the decadesold Dalí portrait that once stood on the wall facing the entrance. On Sept. 5, Labauvie, Henderson and others gathered in the lobby as the duo assembled the piece and drilled it into the wall. “It was a good time working with Dominique,” Henderson said. “He respects your space and your process. He’ll be there to support and instruct me if I need it, but most of the time, it’s me working independently, which I really appreciate.” While USF St. Petersburg has plenty of public art projects featured on campus, none have been done by a student. Labauvie said the piece is a dedication to teaching and creating art, and

something to exhibit in the building that houses the visual and verbal arts programs. “The sculpture is more strange and mysterious than what you see on the street,” Labauvie said. “You feel the strength and resistance of the material fight against gravity. It’s more important to perceive than to understand.” Henderson said his internship is ongoing and the two will continue to create together, but the fact his first welded piece will be seen by all who walk through the building brings a smile to his face. “It’s quite nerve-racking, I know people will see it,” he said. “But I think for me on a personal level, I’m really happy about it. It makes me smile looking at it, just knowing that I created that.”

For this artist, change is a constant comfort

Story and Photos by Katlynn Mullins katlynnm@mail.usf.edu

ometimes, catharsis – an act of purging pentup emotion – is found without trying. Billy Mays III, a local musician, believes this relief can be found in music. At the beginning of 2019, he challenged himself: three songs, 3 minutes and 33 seconds each, released on the 3rd, 13th and 23rd day of each month. For six months, this continued — until he realized he’d created an album. The 13-track record, “Imprints,” was released Aug. 12, his 33rd birthday. The ambient tracks guide the listener through his mind, much like his live shows. The experience is meant to be “immersive, but also passive.” Mays believes the music doesn’t have to be focused on to be felt. “If I’m making music, and someone is listening, the energy goes to them,” Mays said. Before adopting the moniker “Infinite Third,” Mays created heavy metal under different names. He marks the beginning of

Infinite Third performs at Grassroots Kava House on Friday, Aug. 30., his first stop on a two-week southeastern tour.

his career after an apartment fire in 2009. With that, and the death of his father — famed television pitchman Billy Mays, in June of that year — he had to start from scratch. Armed with grief and a guitar, he dove into his first album as Infinite Third, “Gently.” “It’s more connected to what I was going through at

the time,” Mays said. Because the two albums were released 10 years apart, “Gently” and “Imprints” are often compared in his mind. “Gently” was “all over the place, but there was a certain vibe to it,” Mays said. “Imprints,” however, is

“clearer, and the songs are more accessible and present,” Mays said.

The biggest accomplishment, he feels, is the progression he’s shown in all the albums released between the first and last. “I feel like it keeps getting... not better, but more and more what I want it to sound like,” Mays said. According to Mays, the music is more accessible now.

Rather than resting, he experiments with new styles to find what suits him best. Infinite Third, Mays feels, is something bigger than him. “I feel like I’m on a good path in life,” Mays said. “The music is also sort of evolving in that direction, too. I always just want it to be a good reflection.”

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New Dalí Exhibit puts the ‘AR’ in art

Story and Photos By Thomas Iacobucci tiacobucci@mail.usf.edu

here is a sharp contrast between the Dalí museum’s white walls and the dark hues of blue and black that hide the mysteries of what lie beyond the newest exhibit’s doors. The few lights amidst the darkness spin shadows and reflections onto the walls and the adjacent floor. Etched on the wall outside, parallel to the permanent collection are The Dalí museum, sit the words “Visual Magic: Dalí’s Masterworks in Augmented Reality.” Inside, an island — erected in the middle of the room and spanning across most of the exhibit — sits two feet above everything else, allowing guests to have a full visceral, surreal experience. The exhibit is unlike any endeavor The Dalí museum

has tackled since opening its new doors in 2011. Allowing guests to fully immerse themselves, “Visual Magic: Dalí’s Masterworks in Augmented Reality” highlights The Dalí’s collection of its most popular masterworks – paintings that exceed over five feet in height or width and that took over a year to paint – by the Spanish painter. “The masterworks that we have in the exhibit are the actual, authentic Dalí masterworks he painted and not copied images,” said Maxwell Hague, a membership and services coordinator at the museum. With the exhibit housing eight original masterworks, the most of any collection within the world, the augmented reality technology gives each visitor a new way

Visitors who wish to immerse themselves in the augmented reality simply download The Dalí Museum app and point their camera at one of the eight masterworks on display.

The silhouette of a museumgoer melts away into Dalí’s “Galacidalacidesoxiribunucleicacid,” blurring the lines of reality for all in the exhibit.

to engage with the real images Salvador Dalí painted. Using a mobile device or tablet, visitors can download The Dalí Museum app and simply point their cameras at one of the masterworks. From there, each painting explodes to life through your screen, highlighting the intricacies and surreal imagery that are prevalent in Dalí’s work. Each of the eight pieces begins with an animated short, giving the feeling that the viewer is stepping through a portal and entering the painting. When experiencing the AR of “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus,” one of Dalí’s eight masterpieces, the sights and sounds emitting from your phone transport you directly into the painting. A ship appears through the mist when the sequence begins. A banner that bares a

depiction of Gala, Dalí’s wife and muse, in a Madonna-like state flutters in the virtual wind as the moving mist over the sea in the background floats to the left. As each animation concludes, distinct pieces within the image become highlighted, offering the viewer a chance to further explore the deep imagery that might have been originally lost when first looking at the painting. After clicking on the highlighted pieces, a voice erupts from the device and further explains the complexities behind each of the small details Dalí worked in. Museumgoers will become lost as they navigate from one masterwork to the next. “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus,” stands at 14 feet tall and 9 feet wide, though it’s hardly noticeable, as each visitor will

be engrossed in their small screens that display so much more. This exhibit essentially allows museumgoers the chance to revisit Dalí’s most cherished paintings, exploring the life and work of the surreal artist through this emerging technology. As one of the few museums in the country that offers an augmented reality experience, The Dalí museum adds to an already extensive list of technological advancements that include virtual reality and artificial intelligence experiences. For more information on the exhibit, visit thedali.org or download The Dalí Museum app. Admission is free for USF St. Petersburg students with a valid student I.D. The exhibit will run until Nov. 3.

Residents create their own homes away from home Story and photos by Savannah Carr savannahc4@mail.usf.edu

he start of a new academic year brings the excitement of new experiences, people and — most importantly — a new dorm room. If you’re struggling with tips for decor, here are some ideas by students for students. If you’re looking for a cute, chic look, freshman Natalia Belive’s dorm is a great example. Sticking with a minimal pink and grey theme, Belive’s dorm room gives off a relaxing atmosphere that’s perfect for studying. “I had a blue and white design in my bedroom back at home, so I wanted to change it up. I really like grey, and I know pink is a color that is typically paired with it,” she said. “Pink isn’t my color, but I wanted to step outside of my

Grosse opted for a purple color scheme on her side of the room.

comfort zone.” For all the music lovers out there, junior Jonah Johnson’s room has the total set up. Johnson brought his record player, CD player and speakers. His collection of obscure — but equally cool— music is kept on the ledge behind his desk. “I had to put my speakers on top of the closet, which I

did not want to do, but that way the music flows toward my bed and engulfs the whole room with sound,” he said. Freshman Casey Standriff has a rather minimalistic dorm room with some pictures and high school mementos, including a poster with quotes such as “Live your life” on his wall. “My high school coach

Momentos take center stage in Standriff’s minimalistic dorm.

gave me the quotes as a way to remember her by when I left for college,” Standriff said. If having to share a room is a new experience for you, freshman Madison Grosse is an excellent example of how to keep your style in a room with two other students. Grosse’s corner is packed with everything purple,

her favorite color. She also optimized the storage space under her bed by adding extra shelving and her own shoe rack. “With the lack of storage space in the room, I had to create my own,” Grosse said. “With the storage I have now, cleaning up is super easy.”

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An honest conversation about suicide

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

Staff Editor-in-Chief Emily Wunderlich

Editorial Staff

Managing Editor Dylan Hart Online Editor Katlynn Mullins News Editor James Bennett III Arts & Life Editor Carrie Pinkard Op-Ed & Feature Editor Jonah Hinebaugh Staff Reporter Savannah Carr

By Katlynn Mullins Senior journalism and digital communication major katlynnm@mail.usf.edu

y best friend died by suicide when we were 17. We met in sixth grade, our birthdays were three days apart and she was going to go to veterinary school after high school. Her name was Sarah. She was always an impulsive person — do it now, think about the consequences later. But what happens when there is no later? September is Suicide Prevention Month. Candor, when it comes to trauma, has become a trend recently. Why not take my turn in the limelight? Prevention starts with how it’s covered in the media. Initially, there isn’t anything wrong with coverage itself. However, shows like “Thirteen Reasons Why”

Operations Staff

Marketing Manager Brianna Rodriguez Adviser Rob Hooker

Letters to The Editor The Crow’s Nest accepts letters to the editor. All submissions should be no more than 500 words. Writers must include their full name. In addition, USF faculty should include their title, department and extension. All letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Letters can be sent to ewunderlich@mail.usf.edu with subject title “Letter to the Editor.” 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-inchief 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 university discipline.

element in these examples, the way it reads became less drama and more fact. Notice none of them said “committed suicide.” A dead person can’t commit anything; they’re dead. While sensitivity is shown, none of them tiptoe around the truth. News affects people, and it should be delivered candidly. How it happened, however, isn’t a passing question. Often, the person being asked is reliving a traumatic experience while the other person is waiting for an answer. Instead, the focus should be: What have they taught you? What was one thing that always made them smile? Why did you love them so much? As a reporter, I’m expected to be impartial. I’ve always told myself that I’d take the opportunity to cover a suicide story if it arose because I’d know to handle it. But the truth is, I couldn’t and wouldn’t be expected to. I can leave advice though, whether it’s taken or not. Take your time if you feel it’s necessary. Don’t get caught up in the speed of chasing a story and pull the trigger too early. This news, like any news, affects people. Be gentle. Suicide isn’t a disease, the

illness evoking the feeling is. Suicide is the breaking point, the part that’s preventable. Prevention, however, starts with making it comfortable to talk about — providing an environment that acknowledges suicide as a problem instead of an escape. This comes from talking about what happens after death: grief. Gut-wrenching, dropto-your-knees and scream grief. Therapy sessions, using substances to cope, staying up all night and wondering where the hell it all went wrong. There is no sceneswitching to my best friend’s last days when I think about her. There are no tapes in a box for my friends and me to pass around. Answers aren’t clear cut in real life like they are on “Thirteen Reasons Why.” I don’t know where it went wrong for her. I remember a recovering girl who knew how to love others unconditionally, but never herself. Suicide isn’t scandalous. It’s heartbreaking. I do believe it’s romanticized, but I also believe the media has made a conscious effort in recent years to bring it to light. Prevention is an ongoing battle that we’ve only just begun. But I have hope.

A fresh coat of paint on a sinking ship

Design Staff

Creative Director Mary Kate “MK” Brittain Photography Editor Thomas Iacobucci

make it wrong. It’s dramatized, and though people die like the character Hannah Baker did, that shouldn’t be the focal point of the show. Sure, her grieving parents are shown seeking answers about their daughter’s death, and Clay’s character is constantly wondering where he went wrong, but the overriding presence of that show is a teenage girl dying in a bathtub. It’s everything wrong with approaching suicide and its prevention. Whenever The New York Times writes an obituary, the word “dead” is found in the lede. The second paragraph in each of the following examples contains a statement from law enforcement. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s 1994 obituary reads, “killed himself with a single gunshot blast to the head.” Actor Robin Williams’ 2014 obituary reads, “suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia.” Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington’s 2017 obituary reads his death was “being investigated as a possible suicide” after law enforcement officials responded to a call. Though the cause of death was never the most important

By Bryce Lawson Junior journalism and digital communication major Bryce11@mail.usf.edu

ith new coach Bruce Arians at the helm and quarterback Jameis Winston in the last year of his deal, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to rebound after a 5-11 season. The Bucs were able to get Arians out of retirement, with the hopes of making the team one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. Although Arians struggled in the playoffs as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, he was able to take a Ben Roethlisberger-led offense to two Super Bowl victories as offensive coordinator. As the so called “QB Whisperer,” Arians’ biggest task this year is to help Winston grow up and really take this Bucs team to the next level. With underrated Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans as his main target, there should be no reason for

Winston to have a mediocre season entering the prime of his career. The Bucs selected the former Florida State Heisman winner with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but various off-the-field issues have affected his playing career. Last season, after facing suspension, Ryan Fitzpatrick took his position as starter. Coming into his fifth NFL season with a new contract approaching, it’s now or never for Winston. Former New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles has been brought in to run the defense. In the offseason, the Bucs released one of the team’s longest standing players, Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy, in favor of the NFL’s version of a mercenary,

Ndamukong Suh. Since being drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions, Suh has been on three teams in the last three years, including last year’s NFC Championship-winning Los Angeles Rams. The Bucs also lost a former Pro Bowler and fan favorite, Kwon Alexander, to the 49ers in the preseason, but this year’s fifth overall pick from LSU, Devin White, will hopefully boost the linebacking core. The Bucs have a storied history with defensive prowess.The team has been known for its defense from its very first pick — the legendary Lee Roy Selmon — all the way to the Hall of Fame defense that won Tampa Bay its first ever Super Bowl in 2003.

Quarterback Jameis Winston pitches the football to Doug Martin during a game against the Washington Redskins on Oct. 25, 2015.

I would like to see the organization take a turn back in that direction, because when you compare Winston with the other quarterbacks in the NFC South, he comes in fourth every time. Which isn’t to say that I want Winston to fail; I just hope he can prove himself this season as the team’s leader and not a bust. The NFC South is pretty stacked this year, so I see them winning about six or seven games. If I’m correct, the Bucs wouldn’t have a playoff run this year, but they could finally figure out what they have on the team so Tampa Bay can have a Super Bowl contending team once again in the future.

Courtesy of Keith Allison/Flickr

7 September 9, 2019

THE C ROW ’S NE ST

Five favorite restaurants within walking distance

By Dylan Hart dhart4@mail.usf.edu

e have no shortage of dining — fine and otherwise — here in downtown St. Petersburg. We have greasy 2 a.m. pizza from Joey Brooklyn’s, fine Italian food at Gratzi and everything in between. I’ve walked that “in between” stretch quite a bit in the past few years because I’m not rich enough for the latter and never drunk enough for the former. I’ve only recently uncovered the joys that are driving in St. Petersburg, so I have quite a bit of pedestrian experience going back and forth from the dorms. So, here’s a few spots for meals without wheels. First, a personal favorite: 2nd and Second, located unforgettably at the corner of 2nd Ave. S and 2nd Street, is a good spot for comfort food. It has burgers, sandwiches and breakfast food, but the real benefit of this spot is that it’s open all night. Many a night was spent last year working through the darkness, trying to finish

a newspaper. By the time we were ready to send off to the presses, everything was closed except 2nd and Second, which was just a few blocks away. Because of that, I’ve had far too much late night French toast. It’s reminiscent of a place like IHOP, but without corporate mediocrity. Instead, you get a friendly staff, an inviting atmosphere and a good meal. If I had one recommendation for the business, it would be a bigger menu. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but Datz, at 180 Central Ave., is a nearby gastropub with a wide variety of food. Originally a Tampa staple, the restaurant added a St. Petersburg location in June. The menu is as expansive as it is weird — and it is incredibly weird. Everything has strange names, from “Waffles and Tweet” to the “Biggity Big Big Burger.” The menus have a hipstery, tabloid-style design that shows off the restaurant’s

2nd and 2nd, a 24 hour diner, offers a wide varitey of both breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

DYLAN HART | THE CROW’S NEST

Poppo’s is located off of Central Ave. and offers burritos, tacos and gourmet sodas.

THOMAS IACOBUCCI | THE CROW’S NEST

legion of Tampa fans on the inside. That being said, everything I’ve had there has been fantastic, and it’s easy to keep coming back to try new things. Datz has plenty of oddities, like a burger with donuts instead of buns. If you like it the first time, there’s a good chance it will drag you deeper down the rabbit hole. Just across the street is Oak & Stone, my favorite walking-distance pizza joint. I’m normally the kind of guy who only eats pizza at a pizzeria, as a bonafide pizza

fanatic, but Oak & Stone has some very solid pasta and burgers as well. The pizzas are individual, but the restaurant has a good amount of variety, too. Oak & Stone also has a beer wall with 48 beers on tap, if you’re into that sort of thing. A lot of it is local beer, too, and it’s a great opportunity to try new drinks. All you need is an ID and a credit card and you can pour away. Poppo’s Taqueria was a weekly visit for me during

my summer internship in Sarasota. During my last week, I was ecstatic to learn that the company was expanding to St. Petersburg at 1033 Central Ave. It’s definitely a bit of a hike, but if you ever head down Central Avenue to check out shows at the State Theatre, peruse antique stores or mourn the departure of Daddy Kool Records, Poppo’s might be worth checking out. Poppo’s is a family-run Mexican food chain based in Bradenton, and the Central Avenue location is its first restaurant north of the Skyway Bridge. The family likes to follow a similar model to California-based fast food chain In-N-Out, which expands at a snail’s pace but keeps its quality consistent. It’s worked so far for me. It averages about $8, but the meat is high-quality, the service is fast and the food is good — a one-up on Chipotle in my book. If it were a bit closer and had existed in my freshman year, I would probably be going to this branch once a week, too. Not far from Poppo’s is Buya Ramen, 911 Central Ave. It’s an industrial black building, and it’s easy to miss, but it’s definitely worth checking out. I’m hardly an Asian food aficionado, but Buya hits the spot for me. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but you get a full, nutritious meal with meat, noodles, broth, an egg and a side, all in a very authentic Japanese style that strays from the usual Florida fare of Asian fusion that’s more American than it is Asian. Just make sure you have a good grasp of your chopstick chops.

W h at to do t his we e k : Se pt . 9 -1 5 By Bryce Lawson Bryce11@mail.usf.edu Contributor MONDAY Sacred Lands Preservation and Education, 1700 Park St. N, will have an “Introduction To Vegetable Gardening in Florida” class looking at the steps you need to get your garden started. Tickets for the class are $15, and you can register online at theurbanharvest. com. The classes will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Interested in learning about the one of the sea’s smartest cephalopods? Other Minds: An Evening with Peter Godfrey-Smith will compare the various species. The talk will be held at Eckerd College from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., will showcase Eggs & Skulls clothing art and trends from the ‘60s to present, created by George Stovall. The free event is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., will host a $10 live music event from 4 to 7:30 p.m. This week, Rebekah Pulley will bring some bluesy vibes to the museum. WEDNESDAY Ali Shaheed Muhammad, from legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, will be joined by producer Adrian Younge to present The Midnight Hour

at The Palladium Theatre, 253 Fifth Ave. N, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 with a student ID. The Hideaway Cafe, 1756 Central Ave., will host a Blues Night featuring Best of the Bay award winner Betty Fox Band from 6 p.m. to midnight. The show is free, but food and drinks will be available for purchase. THURSDAY Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, 1111 Central Ave., will host The Royal Palm Market from 6 p.m. to midnight. It will be a free event featuring local artists and vendors. The Cat’s Meow Swing Dancing group will give free swing dancing lessons

in the Sundial courtyard, 153 Second Ave. N, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. COMPASS will host Lunch & Learn from noon to 1 p.m. in HWH 101. This free session will teach you to be more organized using tools from the Google Suite, like Gmail and Google Calendar. FRIDAY Celebrate the seventh anniversary of The Bends, 919 First Ave. N, with great music and an outdoor market including Nah Dogs Vegan Hot Dog Cart. The party will be from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. This will be a free event with food and drinks available to purchase.

Test your knowledge of sexual assault awareness and prevention at Sexual Assault Trivia Night from 6 to 7 p.m. in Davis 130. This free event will be hosted by Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group. SATURDAY Daddy Kool Records, 2430 Terminal Drive S, Side B, will host the Marianne Wysocki Art Show from 5 to 9 p.m., featuring music from Rocky Wilcox & The Moonsnakes. This will be a free event. SUNDAY The Hollander Hotel will host the Deep Splash House Music Pool Party from 1 to 5 p.m. Soak up the sun and enjoy some house music at this free event.

8 September 9, 2019

THE C ROW ’S NE ST

How to navigate St. Pete like a local

By Kyla Fields Contributor

o you’re new to St. Petersburg.

There’s the heavy hitter landmarks that will be in any typical welcoming pamphlet, like the Dalí Museum, St. Pete Beach, Vinoy Park and the classic window-shopping stroll downtown – even when you don’t have any money to actually buy anything. But here are eight spots that will help you delve into the history and culture of this multifaceted, perpetually growing city. I’m not from here, but places like these have helped me love and understand the city like a native.

has over 80 years of history behind its doors. Haslam’s expansive interior sells books and magazines — new and old — about every topic one can fathom. It’s another one of those typical, must-see places of St. Pete, but for a good reason. As the selfproclaimed “Largest new and used bookstore in Florida,” it’s a place to easily get lost in as you mindlessly browse the endless shelves of books you’ve never heard of. There’s also a local rumor that it’s haunted –– how alluring. Favorite memory: I went to Haslam’s a lot when I had more time to explore St. Pete but couldn’t afford anything. I should add that I mainly browsed and then camped in a corner to do homework. I would also bring treats for the resident Haslam’s cat every time I went, and it would often make my day.

KYLA FIELDS | THE CROW’S NEST

The Blueberry Patch 4923 20th Ave. S The Blueberry Patch in Gulfport is a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ hippie wonderland that will welcome you with open arms regardless of who you are, what you look like, and whether it’s your first time there or you’re a Patch veteran. Operated by the nonprofit organization Sharevival, The Blueberry Patch is an outdoor music venue and gathering space covered in decades’ worth of murals, repurposed decor and communal art. It’s an inclusive space for all types of creativity, supporting artistic endeavours such as music, painting, dancing, artisanship and poetry. They have shows on the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 22nd days of each month, and following the performances, there’s a peaceful Ohm circle. Favorite memory: I wrote a story about the Patch for one of my classes, so I went to one of their shows for some field reporting. I interviewed three children, ages 8 to 10, and they all gushed about how much they loved the Blueberry Patch and how much they loved creating art and sharing it with everyone. It’s a place truly dedicated to art, community and expression — despite being lodged directly behind a Wells Fargo bank. Kind of ironic, right?

KYLA FIELDS | THE CROW’S NEST

Haslam’s Book Store 2025 Central Ave. Haslam’s Bookstore, with its peeling beige paint, fading red letters and large posters

Courtesy of ArtsXchange

Second Saturday Art Walk St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s Second Saturday Art Walk deserves a complete afternoon dedicated to its multi-venue arts showcase. Twice a month, the working artists of our city keep their studios and galleries open late to create an easily accessible art walk through the city, connecting must-visit art destinations throughout five districts of St. Petersburg (yeah, there’s a lot). The city also offers free trolley lines connecting the featured galleries and studios, so you don’t have to worry about the pains of downtown parking on a Saturday night. There’s no better way to start understanding the artistic culture of a city than to literally walk into an artist’s personal studio and strike up a conversation with them. Galleries usually reserve openings for new exhibits during a Second Saturday Art Walk, so you can get a first glance of the city’s newest art. Favorite memory: I love walking into an artist’s studio because it’s a casual, yet intimate glimpse into that person’s life, work and passion. They’ll sometimes take you around their studio and explain their pieces a little, even when they know you don’t have the money to buy a piece (aka me).

boyfriend and I went to Munch’s for breakfast. I assume our waitress didn’t appreciate her boyfriend’s hangover-induced lack of etiquette, because she smacked him lightly on the side of the head and told him to “say please next time.” So yeah, you better have your old school please-and-thank-you’s handy when you eat here. Courtesy of Wagon Wheel Flea Market

Sawgrass Lake Park 7400 25th St. N Sawgrass Lake Park is an escape from the bustle of downtown St. Pete: a 400acre, swampy escape, to be exact. Featuring a mile-long boardwalk trail, half-mile dirt trail, picnic tables and outlook towers, this park is an ideal way to explore Florida’s natural habitat. It’s only 12 minutes north of campus, and a must-visit outdoor destination that isn’t the beach – if sand isn’t your thing – and allows more privacy than Vinoy Park. Sawgrass Lake Park was established in 1972 to provide flood protection to the Pinellas Park Area. It has since evolved into a relaxing getaway while still naturally enhancing the quality of water drainage throughout the Tampa Bay area. Favorite memory: It’s my favorite spot for strolling in the sun and journaling in the grass, with Maximo Park on the southside being an honorable mention. I have yet to see a gator, but there’s still time.

KYLA FIELDS | THE CROW’S NEST

Munch’s Diner 3920 Sixth St. S This diner has not changed since the ‘50s, and it has the character to prove it. Its walls are adorned with old Lakewood Elementary School class photos (yes, before integration), fading metal signs, vintage posters with old-timey catch phrases, and even a giant poster of Guy Fieri from when Munch’s was featured on “Diners, DriveIns, and Dives.” This diner serves up all of the comfort breakfast foods and American favorites, including homemade milkshakes handspun by a tie-dye-wearing waitress who is most likely calling you “baby.” It’s a diner that is utterly old-fashioned and predictable in the most comforting way possible. Favorite memory: One time, my roommate, her

Sunshine Thrift store is where your St. Petersburg thrifting journey should begin. This secondhand store spans about 13,000 square feet, and its seemingly endless racks can lure you in for hours, especially with their low prices and consistent sales. All of the clothes are coordinated by colored tags, and at any given time there are two colors that are halfoff, with one Thursday of every month bringing the craziness that is half-off all clothes. If you plan to shop on a half-off day, be prepared to throw some elbows, because it gets cutthroat. Favorite memory: I’ve gotten more compliments on clothes that I’ve purchased from Sunshine than any other store, brand new or secondhand. Prized knickknacks I’ve also found here include my favorite movies on VHS tapes and my prized Scooby-Doo

Courtesy of Aaron Arbo Photography

Fresh Start Drag Showcase 475 Central Ave. N, Unit 100 Every Wednesday night, around midnight in the basement of Iberian Rooster, is an eclectic portrayal of some of Tampa Bay’s hardest working performers — drag queens. Hosted by the most powerful – and most bearded – best friend duo, Aquariius and Adriana Sparkle, Fresh Start Drag Showcase is an open-mic style drag showcase, where queens and performers can do (almost) whatever they want, including lip syncing, live singing, dancing, skits, improv and absolute debauchery. You name it, and you’ll probably see it happen in this dark basement, where the heels are high and morale is even higher. It’s free to attend, but you better bring those dollar bills to tip the performers. What else are you doing Wednesday night? Favorite memory: I spent my 21st birthday at Fresh Start Drag Showcase after taking exams all day. I danced and sang all night like I was a performer myself, and the hosts invited me on the stage for a free drink. I felt 2-feettall next to them.

Courtesy of Sunshine Thrift Store

Sunshine Thrift Store 2808 34th St. N Thrifting is cool again, perhaps because of the pro-sustainability wave and changes in fashion trends, and

KYLA FIELDS | THE CROW’S NEST

bobblehead. Community Cafe 2444 Central Ave. Community Cafe, just west of campus, is a vegetarianand vegan-friendly restaurant, coffee shop, board game destination, and most importantly, a gathering place for community events. With a weekly drag queen story hour, game nights, screenings of educational films, art shows, swap meets and LGBTQ+ coming out parties, Community Cafe is much more than a restaurant. Its eclectic, mix-matched decor contradicts the sleek coffee shops it shares with Central Avenue. It’s also open until midnight on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on weekends, so it’s a place for night owls to work late. It’s truly a collaborative, welcoming space that’s here to serve the community and fill their stomachs with homey, vegetarian food. Favorite memory: Community Cafe is where I have spent every finals week of college thus far. I’d get off of work at 10pm, change into sweatpants in the bathroom, and head directly to Community Cafe to grind until they closed, fueled by a $3 refillable hot coffee.