E AGLE N EWS
September 2019 Volume 18, Issue 3
The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
eaglenews.org
INNOVATORS That’s the FGCU effect
INSIDE • Mic Check • What’s up, SWFL? • Event calendar • Volleyball off to historic start • Pay for parking? • Off the record, vol. 2 EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA
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September 2019
INDEX
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News ............................................................................. 3A-12A Sports ..............................................................................1B-5B Opinion .........................................................................6B-12B
Twitter ............................................................ @fgcueaglenews Facebook ................................................................ Eagle News Instagram .............................................................. @eaglenews
Eagle News Executive Editor ................................................ Sean C. Porter Digital Editor ...................................................... Jordyn Matez Assignment & Features Editor.............................. Leah Sankey Assistant AF Editor .............................................. Brooke Stiles Beat Reporter ...................................................... Nina Mendes News Clerk ......................................................... Lauren Miceli Opinion Editor ............................................ Samantha Roesler Assistant Opinion Editor ..................................... Alana Brooks Sports Editor .............................................Harold Solomon IV Assistant Sports Editor ........................................Jake Henning Photo Editor ........................................................Julia Bonavita Assistant Photo Editor ....................................Raphaella Matta
Graphics Editor ......................................................Kris Locker Assistant Graphics Editor..............................Alexandra Leijon Senior Copy Editor ................................. Gabriella Livingston Social Media Editor ..........................................Kara Gardiner
ONE COPY PER READER One copy of the print edition is free to anyone, but limited one per reader. Newspaper theft is a crime. It is also a terribly effective form of censorship. While most college newspapers are distributed without charge, they certainly are not “free.” Publishing a student newspaper is an expensive undertaking. Like other types of theft, newspaper thieves deprive rightful owners of their valuable property. If you are interested in obtaining more that one issue, please contact the executive editor in writing.
ENTV Director .........................................................Kaela Thompson Assistant Director ............................................. Sommer Senne Head Video Editor ........................................... Hassan Brissett Eagle Radio Station Manager ...................................... Abbey Tomaszewski Programming Director....................................Shelby Hancock
OUR MISSION Eagle News, the official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997, represents the diverse voices on campus with fairness. We select content for our publication and our website that is relevant to the student body, faculty and staff. Members are committed to reporting with accuracy and truth. Our purpose is to encourage conversations about issues that concern the on-campus community. Eagle News views every culture with equal respect and believes every person must be treated with dignity.
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September 2019
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FGCU ranks high in innovation By SEAN C PORTER eXeCutiVe editor
In a report released by U.S. News & World Report, Florida Gulf Coast was named the 12th most innovative university in the south region, tied with the University of Tampa. FGCU is the third-highest school in the state of Florida, falling behind Rollins College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. When compared to the 11 schools that rank above, FGCU has the lowest average in-state tuition, meaning you’re getting your money’s worth by attending. Throughout my time at FGCU, I’ve noticed the innovation this school puts in toward its student body. The school is generally receptive when it comes to student opinion, and change happens pretty quick around here. So, let’s keep being innovative. Let’s push to get more efficiency out of our school, so we can lead the pack when it comes to innovation. The thing I proposed since my freshman year, and is totally not a joke, is a high-speed, aboveground rail shuttle. It would take students instantly to their dorms in SoVi, North Lake, West Lake and even a stop to the Rusty’s in Estero. To me, this is what innovation means. Getting students to class with a bus is just OK, and we shouldn’t be OK with being OK. Complacency kills. Having a renewable resource-using rail system will be beneficial to everyone, so who can say no? It could also be called the Sean C Porter rail, but that part isn’t up to me. To get back to my point, this is a big step in the right direction for FGCU, and it’s something we all can take pride in as a school. For the cost, FGCU students are getting a great deal when it comes to a quality education. The university also ranks No. 28 in the total public school ranking in the same region. FGCU was not immediately able to comment on the rankings.
EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA
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September 2019
MIC DROP: Bargain Bin Heroes By NINA MENDES Beat reporter
Ska-punk is hard to come by in SWFL, but Bargain Bin Heroes (BBH) has made a name for themselves in the local scene since their debut in 2015. Their lineup includes five Fort Myers locals featuring Eric “Big E” Demayo, lead vocals/bass guitar, who writes the band’s originals. “I feel we do the genre justice while adding our own little twist,” said Demayo. “SWFL is interesting [because] having bands cross genre lines with other bands makes for really electric shows.” Rob Deuce, guitar, and Aaron Melcher, trombone/backing vocals, play alongside Demayo in addition to Amanda Brooke, saxophone, and Jimmy James, drums. BBH has played live shows at venues across SWFL from the beginning and even make their way up to Tampa for occasional gigs. They advertise upcoming shows on Facebook and Instagram, which helps draw in the crowd of regulars. “Rack’em Spirits and Times, in Cape Coral, and HOWL, in Fort Myers, have been our biggest supporters, and I feel like we have our best local shows there,” said James. “Playing with other local bands is a blast. So many of them become your friends, and it turns you onto different music that you might not be aware of.” The band recorded their first
PHOTO PROVIDED
full-length album in early December 2018 titled, Droppin’ the Deuce. Stand-out anthems off the eight-track record include “North on 75” and “The Moon.” Both songs showcase the talent of Melcher and Brooke on brass while demonstrating the band’s various sounds mesh together. “Hopeless,” another top track, starts with a bass solo from Demayo and talks about his struggle of feeling isolated within society. “I feel like it’s the songs and musicianship that has gotten
us to this level,” said Demayo. “[The album] definitely helped us reach a larger audience both locally and across the world. The best part after it was released was seeing people at our shows singing along to our songs. Seeing something like that totally makes all the hard work worthwhile.” BBH currently has two shows lined up for this month, Sept 13 at PoorHouse in Fort Lauderdale and Sept 28 at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral. “I think our fun energy really shines at shows,” said James.
“We all do it for the love of music, not for money or fame. If something bigger comes from it, that’s great, but for right now we are having the best time playing music together, and that is what matters most.” The band revealed they are working on a cover EP and plan to release a collection of originals sometime soon. Although there is no official release date, fans can listen to Droppin’ the Deuce on Spotify and catch BBH during their next live performance this month.
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Insert shelter name here Doghouse Rescue Academy
Yako| German Shepherd|8 years old| Male Yako was a shelter staff favorite, & we certainly know why! This 100+ pound gentle giant has the most soulful eyes. Yako is highly intelligent! He already knows many basic commands. He absolutely LOVES cheeseburgers (plain please), car rides & tennis balls!
Ernie| Shiba Inu | 3 years old | Male Ernie is a 3 year old shiba Inu mix who found himself at MDAS shelter with a seriously injured leg. His leg was amputated. He is a sweet and lovable guy, and having 3 legs doesn’t inhibit him at all.
Insertyour information about shelter and other adoption Find furry soulmate at Doghouse Rescue information here. DRA is a foster-based 501c(3) Academy (DRA). rescue that pulls dogs deemed adoptable from predominantly rural areas and high-kill shelters, giving them another chance at life. DRA organizes fundraisers, events and in-depth training sessions for our community and volunteers. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, and full vetting. If you’re interested in adopting and/or fostering, visit doghouserescueacademy.org to fill out an application.
Krandyn| Rottweiler | 6 years old | Male This 120 pound fellow is a sweet & affectionate as they come! He mostly loves to cuddle, give kisses, & lounge in front of his fan! Krandyn gets along with other pets and is just a big love bug.
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September 2019
brunch/tea dance from 12-6 p.m. This family friendly event will include food, drinks, entertainment and tons of information on local businesses that support the LGBTQ community. You can find more information for these events on Pride SWFL’s Facebook page.
By BROOKE STILES assistaNt News & features editor
Maybe you’re a freshman and you’re looking for fun things to do around here. Maybe you’re a senior and you feel like you’ve exhausted everything there is to do here. Or maybe you’re just tired of the same old scene and you’re looking for something new. Either way, we’ve got you covered. From concerts to farmer’s markets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Pick up some local goodies from a farmer’s market
Fort Myers 3rd Annual Oktoberfest
Want to feel like you’re in Munich while still balling on a budget? Head down to Millennial Brewing Co. in Downtown Fort Myers Sept. 12-15th. With over 8,000 people in attendance during each of the first two years, they have decided to add an extra day of fun! There will be food trucks, live music, competitions, local authentic German food and 30 different Millennial beers.
Food Truck Rally Thursday
Every Thursday through October 10th Fort Myers Brewing Co. is hosting a food truck rally starting at 4 p.m. There will be local and independently owned food trucks, and of course beer!
BBQ Pub Crawl
South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Association is hosting a night of trolleys and pubs September 14th. The ticket is $25 and includes your ride on trolleys and party buses to 12 locations, and your drinks/appe-
EN PHOTO BY BROOKE STILES Sunday farmer’s market at Koreshan State Park is open year-round.
tizer sample at each location. It will be from 7-11 p.m. and there will be a grand prize drawing at the end for people who complete the offer at each location.
Interactive Friday the 13th Movie Night Go out to Calusa Nature Center for a one-of-a-kind movie experience. Friday the 13th will be playing on a big screen in the woods September 13th and 14th. There will be a fire pit and many *unique* experiences. This event is free, but donations are appreciated, and you must register online if attending.
Lee Brice Concert
Get your boots on and your dancing feet ready for a night of country music at The Ranch Concert & Saloon September 21st. Tickets are $59 at the door or can be purchased online prior to the event.
SWFL 12th Annual Peace Day
Head out to Alliance for the Arts September 22nd, because we could all use a little peace in our lives! Live music, vendors, yoga, meditation, food trucks and more will be surrounding this day of peace from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grilled Cheese Brunch & Bloody Mary Bar
Millennial Brewing Co. will be pairing up with The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen for the ultimate, cheesy brunch experience. Event will be September 29th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Pride SWFL
Support the LGBTQ community and go out to the 11th Annual Pride SWFL on October 5th. It is hosted by Alliance for the Arts and this year’s theme is “Proud to Be….” On October 6th at Society Restaurant & Lounge there will also be a
Coconut Point Oct. 3 – April 30 Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lakes Park Oct.2 – April 29 Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. River District (Centennial Park) Year-round market Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Koreshan State Park Year-round market Sundays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Catch a beautiful sunset or cruise through nature
Bunche Beach Preserve Sit back and enjoy some of the most beautiful sunsets at this natural beach. Check out the mangrove forests and collect some shells while you’re there!
Dog Beach
Stressed out from school or work, or both? This is the heaven for dog-lovers and it’s the ultimate relaxation experience. Even if you don’t have a pup, you can watch tons of dog’s frolic in the water, an experience guaranteed to relieve stress.
Estero River
Rent a kayak and paddle your way down the river all day! The lush greenery is a sight you shouldn’t miss and if you’re lucky you might even see a manatee.
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Gun-friendly colleges for Florida in 2020? By LAUREN MICELI News desK
Last month a Florida representative filed a bill that would permit firearms and weapons on college campuses for the 2020 legislative session. Anthony Sabatini, a Republican who represents House District 32, proposed to eliminate college and university facilities as gun-free zones. Anyone with a concealed weapon permit would be allowed to carry a firearm onto Florida campuses. “I don’t understand the purpose of it,” FGCU’s Chief of Police Steven Moore said. “We haven’t had problems, so why change it? [This bill] might provide opportunities for things to go wrong.” A 2016 report by the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City showed an increase in college shootings from the 2001-2002 school year through the 2015-2016 school year. More than half of the 190 shooting incidents occurred in southern states. Eleven occurred in Florida. The report stated that this increase in shootings will most likely continue, especially on college campuses with greater access to guns. After the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, guns on campus became a heavily discussed topic. That shooting, along with others, inspired new legislation regarding students and faculty
GRAPHIC BY KRIS LOCKER
members who could be armed on college property. “In the heat of the moment, you never know what someone will do,” FGCU President Mike Martin said. “Let’s not give them a chance to be stupid.” According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida is one of 16 states that have banned carrying a concealed weapon on college campuses as of 2018. To obtain a concealed weapon
license in Florida, the applicant must be at least 21 years old and show competency with a firearm. Having a license to carry doesn’t exempt someone who wants to buy a gun from a background check. “I’m not opposed to people having firearms for various reasons,” Martin said, “but I can’t think of one reason to have one on campus.” During the 2019 legislative session, Sabatini filed for a sim-
ilar bill. Some FGCU students held an “empty holster” demonstration last spring supporting the proposal. The students wore empty holsters to try to raise awareness for the bill, but it eventually died in committee. After filing for the recent version, Sabatini said in a tweet that restricting concealed weapon permit holders from bringing guns onto campuses is “the most irrational law in the Florida Statutes.” There are 14 other places prohibited in the statute Sabatini wants to amend, but his focus is only on universities. Currently, there is no companion bill in the Senate, so Sabatini’s proposal lacks substance. “By statute you’re not allowed to carry a whole list of items on campus,” Moore said. “It’s not that firearms are prohibited; weapons are prohibited on campuses.” According to Moore, University Police Department officers have never fired their firearms on campus during the 13 years he has worked at FGCU. Also, they have only used tasers a handful of times. “I think we’re a pretty safe place, and I’d like to keep it that way,” Martin said. FGCU’s campus only has three ways in and out. Having fewer access points allows the UPD to keep better track of the campus. “If it’s not broken, why try to fix it?” Moore said.
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September 2019
A new alternative to paper straws Pasta straws may give another alternative By BROOKE STILES
assistaNt News & features editor
Reducing plastic has been a huge initiative for a lot of people in Lee County, especially those on the coast. The city of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island have both gone as far as banning the distribution of plastic straws. Eco-pasta, straws made from pasta, was created by Sammy Ramirez as an innovative way to reduce the use of plastic. Ramirez has been trying to sell his straws to restaurants in Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach to offer what he says is a biodegradable, cheaper, and longer lasting option. “Sanibel and the coast of Fort Myers are kind of my niche, because they are so involved with not having plastic,” said Ramirez. Ramirez came up with the idea after being frustrated with trying to drink out of a paper straw. “I hate paper straws, but I also hate plastic,” said Ramirez. “I thought there has to be a different way.” He said he knew everyone’s next resort was the metal straw, but they are expensive and are lost easily. So, he did research and came up with the idea of commercializing pasta straws: a tasteless, edible and biodegradable option. “I didn’t invent the pasta straw, but I feel like I’m the first to commercialize it,” said Ramirez. “It’s eco-friendly and it’s a new way of looking at things.” Eco-pasta has only been in business for two months, but Ramirez has been doing research since February. “The hard part was staying up late at night and doing research on wholesale factories and custom buyers in Italy,” said Ramirez. “It took me weeks and weeks of just going at it to try to find connections to factories in Italy.” Once he got the connections he
EN PHOTO BY BROOKE STILES A pasta straw in a Starbucks latte. Sammy Ramirez hopes to bring his pasta straws to more local restaurants.
needed, he said he custom ordered the pasta straws from Italy and had them shipped to California where there were re-dried with water leaves. He then got an investor and soon had the company running. As of just two weeks ago, Eco-pasta became profitable. Ramirez plans to continue to try to spread the use of his straws commercially. “The future is to dominate this market with these straws,” said Ramirez. “Every restaurant is doing it, even inland restaurants like Mellow Mushroom and the Marriot are going to paper straws. So, the niche is there, the market is there, I’m just trying to commercialize it.” As of right now, you can find these pasta straws at Joey’s Custard in Sanibel. This local restaurant adopted the use of pasta straws back in July, also known as Plastic Free July, a global movement to reduce plastic pollution. Joey Almeida, owner of Joey’s
Custard, told Fox4 it’s his mission to reduce plastic and it helps that the pasta straws are about half the price of paper straws. The Lana Kai in Fort Myers Beach have pasta straws pending. Ramirez said they are testing the pasta straws for just frozen drinks now, because a lot of their sales come from frozen drinks alone. Not only are pasta straws biodegradable, edible and eco-friendly, but Ramirez also says they do not break down (in cold drinks) before 7 hours. “I’m no scientist or anything, but I’ve done testing,” said Ramirez. “The average paper straw will last 4 ½ minutes before it breaks down completely. Pasta straws will break down after 7 hours.” He also says and demonstrated that the paper straw can fit inside of the pasta straw. “The pasta straws have a bigger hole than the paper straws, so essentially it’s what I like to call more gulps per sip,” said Ramirez.
More gulps per sip is a big marketing tool for Ramirez as he says people will finish their drinks faster than with the paper straw, creating more revenue for businesses and more enjoyable drinks for customers. Ramirez is working mostly with Sanibel Island now due to prior experience with businesses there, but he is trying to spread to other areas including inland restaurants. One of his first internships was on Sanibel Island at a hotel. One of his jobs was to pick up shells and he said he hated it because they would stink. So, he developed an eco-friendly shell bag that was sand less and smell proof. He called it Red Shelling. This was Ramirez’s first business experience and it lasted for about two years. “I made a lot of different connections with retailers and restaurants from this already that I knew who to talk to when Eco-Pasta came along,” said Ramirez. With the ban of plastic straws in Sanibel and now residents wanting a ban on plastic bags, businesses are forced to turn to a plastic-free option. Businesses there face fines for the sale or distribution of plastic straws, so, Ramirez uses this to pitch his pasta straw to restaurants in these areas. He said a lot of these businesses are interested in purchasing pasta straws, but because paper straws are expensive and they had to buy them in bulk, eateries want to get rid of those before purchasing the pasta straws. Although this could take a few months, Ramirez is confident these businesses will pursue the pasta straws in the future. “We’re in a huge testing phase right now, but we’re two months in, we came right at dead season and we’re still doing pretty decent,” said Ramirez.
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A purchase for good
The Everglades Bracelet raises awareness about the dying ecosystem By LEAH SANKEY News & features editor
Captains for Clean Water and 4Ocean have collaborated to create 4Ocean’s bracelet, the Everglades Bracelet. Each 4Ocean bracelet is made of post-consumer recycled materials. This month’s bracelet was created to raise awareness about the problems facing Florida’s unique ecosystem and the need to protect, preserve and restore the Everglades. 4Ocean is also donating $25,000 to Captains for Clean water to support their mission. Captains for Clean Water is a grassroots nonprofit organization advocating for clean water and healthy estuaries across Florida. Their mission includes educating and advancing scientifically supported solutions to restore Florida’s most valuable ecosystem, the Everglades. The Everglades restoration project will be the largest ecosystem restoration project in history. The purchase of an Everglades Bracelet funds 4Ocean’s initiative to remove trash from the ocean and coastlines (one pound per bracelet) while raising awareness about Everglades conservation and restoration. In total, 4Ocean has removed over six million pounds of trash through the sale of their bracelets. According to Chris Wittman, the co-founder of Captains for Clean water, Alex Schulze, co-founder of 4Ocean and a native Floridian, reached out to Captains for Clean Water about the collaboration. “They have a really wide reach around the world so we’re really excited to be working with them. They have two million some
EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA The Everglades Bracelet, a collaboration between Captains for Clean Water and 4Ocean. The bracelet was created to raise awareness about the problems facing Florida’s unique ecosystem and the need to protect, preserve and restore the Everglades.
followers on social media,” said Wittman. “Those followers are people who care about conservation efforts and water quality in particular and may not be aware of the Everglades restoration efforts and the water quality issues we’ve faced in Florida. The fact that we’re reaching people that are already concerned about environmental issues is really valuable to us.” The Everglades receive less than one-third of the water that it used to, and less than half of the wetlands that once existed remain. Much of what does remain is polluted by fertilizer, agricultural and industrial runoff.
Wittman said that there has been a plan to restore the Everglades since 2000, when congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. However, this has been put off largely due to corporate interests and politics. Wittman said that there has been more progress towards restoration over the past few years than ever before. “In order to get people involved and paying attention to the actions of our policy makers, they have to understand the problem and the solution,” said Wittman. “The more people we can educate, the more people we have that are likely to put pressure on our politicians
and representatives to do what needs to happen.” Wittman said that the $25,000 donated by 4Ocean will go toward Captains for Clean Water’s educational programs. “It’s really a matter of getting the people in power to act quickly. The way that we ensure these projects are moving along is public pressure,” said Wittman. 4Ocean and Captains for Clean Water both believe in restoring the Everglades back to its natural state so that it can flourish and be enjoyed for generations to come. You can purchase the Everglades Bracelet at https://4ocean.com/everglades-bracelet/.
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CAMPUS CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11 Part-Time Job Fair The Part Time Job Fair event offers students the opportunity to meet employers looking for parttime employment opportunities and/or paid internship positions. This event is offered early in the semester to help students secure employment while attending FGCU. Cohen Ballroom, 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Free STI testing Start your new school year off in good health with FREE STI testing every Wednesday this semester. The CPC Van will be at Student Health Services in the parking lot at 10am and will continue services until 3pm. No appointments necessary. Student Health Services, 10 a.m to 3 p.m. SoVi Italian Night We didn’t make you wait long for it this year.... this Wednesday, Sept. 11th will be Italian Night at SoVi Dining! Pasta, veggies, CHEESE, breadsticks, and MORE!! Come hand out with us from 5-9p SoVi Dining, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Noche de Culture A kick off cultural celebration for the start of the school year. Sugden 114, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT 12 Neighborhood Night: The Legen-Dairy Tournament Come to Eagle’s Landing at 6 PM to celebrate both “National
Video Game Day” and “National Milkshake Day!” We will be serving milkshakes and nondairy options while hosting both a Mario Kart (Switch) and Super Smash Bros (WiiU) tournament. We will also have several boardgames and lawn games setup around Eagle’s Landing. Eagle’s Landing, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT 13 International Reception International services cordially invites you to the twenty third annual International Reception. Presenting international initiatives and welcoming international students, scholars and study abroad participants, faculty, staff & guests. Cohen ballroom, 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT 17 MLD Film Series Join us for our monthly film showing! Our movie for the month is (to be determined) followed by a discussion of the film! Cohen 213, noon to 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 18 FGCU Gaming Hub Bi-Weekly Game Nights Will be gathering in LH1201 from 6-9PM every other Wednesday to play games, listen to music, stream either animes or current gaming events, play board games, and have a good time! Lutgert 1201, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hispanic Heritage Event Join us as we celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month. Our guest speaker for the night is (to be determined). It will be a cultural and educational event. Cohen 214, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT 19 Pit Stop: Snack Break Come find OSI out on the plaza in front of Lutgert Hall. Grab a snack and some information on Commuter Student Engagement at FGCU! We will be conveniently located on your way to and from class. Lutgert Plaza, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, SEPT 15 TO FRIDAY, SEPT 20 South Village Olympics 2019 South Village Olympics is a series of athletic and non-athletic events to determine the South Village Olympics champions! South Village, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT 20
Hispanic Cultural Event with PB FGCU Programming Board is responsible for providing opportunities for students to engage in various programs on weekdays during late hours. It is the hope of this committee to create a healthy alternative to the bar scene, underage drinking, and students leaving on the weekend. The late night committee plans at least one small scale and one large scale late night event per month. Cohen Ballroom, 9 p.m. to midnight
MONDAY, SEPT 23 BSA Intersectionalitea This is BSA’s first event of the semester. We will be focusing on different identities within the black community and discussing how they affect us in our daily lives. Marieb 214, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT 24 Pit Stop: Coffee Break Come find OSI out on the plaza in front of Lutgert Hall. Grab a cup of coffee and some information on Commuter Student Engagement at FGCU! We will be conveniently located on your way to and from class. Lutgert, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. College Survival Secrets FGCU Programming Board’s goal is to provide insight, educate, and entertain by bringing a variety of diverse and engaging speaking, performance, and comedic acts to FGCU. There will be a minimum of one speaking event each semester on a topic relevant to students at FGCU. The live entertainment committee is responsible for providing students with quality, diverse, and unique experiences by putting on a wide variety of events including live bands, comedians, spoken word artists, dance, hypnotists, magicians, live game shows, karaoke, etc. Cohen Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCT 2 LatinX Gala Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by embracing
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and celebrating our rich culture! Attire: traditional Latino clothing or semi-formal Cohen 214, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. FGCU Gaming Hub Bi-Weekly Game Nights Will be gathering in LH1201 from 6-9PM every other Wednesday to play games, listen to music, stream either animes or current gaming events, play board games, and have a good time! Lutgert 1201, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT 4 Downtown Fort Myers
art walk Walk around downtown Fort Myers to see the beautiful art that the artist are showcasing. Downtown Fort Myers, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
MONDAY, OCT 7 Disney University FGCU Programming Board plans a wide-range of activities that vary in size, but ultimately works to build a campus community. The special events committee plans Live on the Lawns, Welcome Back Block Party, and Eagle Movie Nights. Library Lawn, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ARE WE MISSING YOUR EVENT? We pull the calendar entries from EagleLink, which provides a list of events. EagleLink does not include events unless they are provided. If you want to make sure your event is listed in Eagle News, email information to executive@eaglenews.org. If you would like to send a press release to Eagle News, we will figure out if we can cover your event. If you have any questions about the calendar and Eagle News coverage, email executive@eaglenews.org.
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September 2019
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SpORTS
FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS A look at FGCU sports as their season’s get underway and what’s up next for each team. See more on 4B
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
INSIDE • Volleyball starts out 6-0 • Men’s Soccer ranked No. 14 • Cross Country taking strides • Women’s Soccer on come up • Best Performances thus far
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS
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September 2019
Volleyball off to historic start
Snowy Burnam had a match-high 15 kills to lead the Eagles past George Washington, and earn their sixth win of the season. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS
By JORDYN MATEZ Eagle News Editor
As one of just 23 teams in the NCAA with an undefeated record, the 6-0 FGCU volleyball team has certainly proven that their record-breaking finish last year was more than a lucky season. All eyes are on the Eagles to produce a 2019 season with just as much — if not more — action than last year. It may be early, but it’s safe to say that the Eagles are a team to follow this year.
NOTABLE PLAYERS Cortney VanLiew: The reigning ASUN Player of the Year and
ASUN Preseason Player of the Year is off to a much-anticipated strong start. VanLiew leads the team in kills with 96, which is 50 more than the next leading Eagle. Her strongest-performing match thus far into the season came with 22 kills against Akron in FGCU’s season opener. More recently, VanLiew shot .471 against Auburn, earning 18 kills. Daniele Serrano: Serrano, a senior, follows behind VanLiew to place second on the team offensively with 44 total kills. She’s averaging a .314 average for the season, while her eight kills against Auburn earned her a .500 hitting percentage in that match.
Erin Shomaker: Shomaker is one of five true freshmen on Bottsford’s lineup and has already made herself known as a major asset for the Eagles. She leads all Eagles in overall hitting percentage with .375, which highlights her reliability as a player. Her performance last weekend against USF and Auburn earned Shomaker her first (and, predictably, not her last) ASUN Freshman of the Week award. “Erin did a great job for us in a role that was really important, coming off the bench and changing the complexity of the game with her blocking and attacking,” FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said of Shomaker’s performance
last weekend. “She had really good decision making, cutting down on errors. Her hitting efficiency and kill percentage were a big part of our success this weekend.” Snowy Burnam: Burnam’s match-high 15 kill performance against George Washington this past weekend showed her resilience and determination as a player. These account for almost half of her total kills (34). “Snowy was outstanding in every facet of the game, and I loved how tuned in she was to what was happening out on the court,” Botsford said. Continued on page 3B »
September 2019 “Her attacking on the backside started to open things up for everyone else and her passing was a big difference maker.” Dana Axner: As a sophomore, Axner continues to dominate the defensive effort. Her ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition has not gone in vain, as she leads the Eagles in both digs and digs per set. Through six matches, Axner already has over 100 total digs (109) and averages 5.19 digs per set. Her performance in a set against SDSU on FGCU’s opening weekend earned one of her set-saving plays a spot on the NCAA Volleyball Top 5 Plays of the Week. Chelsey Lockey: Lockey, another sophomore, has begun her season with a whopping 237 assists. She currently averages 11.29 assists per set and logged a season-high 54 assists against SDSU
Page 3B in FGCU’s opening weekend. Tori Morris: Morris currently leads the Eagles in blocks with 22, and joins freshman Aja Jones in leading in blocks per set with 1.29. Morris had a spectacular finish against USF, earning nine kills and hitting .571 overall for the match.
THE SEASON SO FAR After coming off a historic 2018 season, the Eagles were placed into the spotlight very early on. Axner and VanLiew highlighted ASUN Preseason awards, while the Eagles were chosen to repeat as regular season champions and redshirt-senior Amanda Carroll earned a spot on the all-conference team. “While we certainly appreciate being named the favorite in the preseason poll, our players recognize that we have a long way to go if we want to find ourselves at the top of the ASUN at the end
of November,” Botsford said. “The talent within the conference continues to grow and there are a number of programs capable of walking away with a championship.” If it’s any comfort to Bottsford, his team has showed up through the first six matches, earning a record-breaking 6-0 undefeated start to the 2019 season. This is the best start for the Eagles in the Division I era. The Eagles also currently hold a 19-game regular season winning streak, a record as well.
WHAT COMES NEXT? The Eagles will be back in action this weekend as they compete against three teams in the Bluegrass Battle in Lexington, Kentucky Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14. Among these teams are Indiana University and No. 15 ranked University of Kentucky, both Friday games.
FGCU will continue to battle against some prominent NCAA teams the following weekend as they head to Orlando for the Sunshine State Challenge, where they’ll compete against University of Miami, UCF and FAU. The Eagles’ matchup against UCF on Friday, Sept. 20 is highly anticipated, as it’s a rematch of round one of the 2018 NCAA volleyball tournament, in which the Eagles defeated the Knights 3-2 on the Knights’ home court. Following the Sunshine State Challenge, FGCU will begin ASUN conference competition with a match against Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Cortney VanLiew is living up to her ASUN preseason player of the year recognition, as she leads the undefeated Eagles in kills with 96. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS
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September 2019
Fall sports highlights
EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA O’vonte Mullings, senior, was one of five Eagles who scored a goal against Georgia Southern University in FGCU’s 5-1 home win on Sunday, Sept. 8th. FGCU was able to count on their depth as the other four scorers, Aiden Jokomba, Thomas Deplace, Jahan Rajaee and Michael Luke came off the bench and each netted their first career goal.
By HAROLD SOLOMON IV Sports Editor
MEN’S SOCCER After starting the season on the road against then ranked opponents #13 Michigan and #7 Michigan State, the Eagles returned to The Nest with a 1-0-1 record as they defeated Michigan (4-3) and ended with a tie against Michigan State (1-1). Ryan Medilah earned a hat trick and ASUN Player of the Week recognition for his perfor-
mance in the matchup against Michigan. In their home opener against Seton Hall, the Eagles showed their stamina as Max Edwards, junior, scored the game-winning goal with five seconds left to play. FGCU would take that same energy into their next game on Sunday and roll Georgia Southern 5-1. The #14 ranked FGCU men’s soccer team will head to the west coast where they will face UC Riverside on Sept. 13th and Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 15th.
WOMEN’S SOCCER After a strong showing at home against FIU (2-0) and playing fierce against Auburn before having the game cancelled due to weather, the women’s soccer team hit a road bump in Ann Arbor. In their matchup against Michigan, FGCU struggled to get shots on net as they produced one for the entire game and lost the match 2-0 on the road. In their return home, the Eagles faced off against La Salle and were able to get on the board early with a goal coming
from freshman Louise Lillback in the 11th minute. Going into the half 1-0, FGCU had kept the pressure on since the early score, but La Salle would respond with two goals in the 2nd half and eventually win the game 2-1. The Eagles would bounce back from the home loss with an elevating 2-0 win against Northeastern. Senior Evdokia Popadinova and sophomore Ashlee Brentlinger would provide the scores in the victory and bring them to 2-2-0 on the season. Women’s soccer looks to improve upon their record as
September 2019 they travel to Gainesville on Sept. 12th to play the Florida Gators.
CROSS COUNTRY In their first 5k meet of the season, Lucas Kiprotich led the men’s team, finishing 9th overall with a time of 16:05.63. Austin Redondo followed close behind, finishing 11th with a time of 16:07.88. The rest of the men’s team would finish under 16:32.00 and earn 52 points for second overall. The women’s team earned a total of 125 points for fifth overall in the meet, led by Emily O’Connor who placed 14th overall with a time of 19:51.52.
Page 5B The Eagles returned home to host the FGCU Invitational in which both the men and women both placed third overall in the event. The men’s team earned 71 points and were once again led by Lucas Kiprotich, who finished 6th overall with a time of 27:06.94. The women’s side earned 68 points and were led by Gianna Citarella, she finished with a time of 20:00.99 earning her 10th overall in just her second collegiate race. FGCU heads to Gainesville next Saturday, Sept.14th to compete in the UF Mountain Dew Invitational.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS The men’s and women’s cross country began their 2019 campaign on the road at the FAU Invitational on August 30th, where the men took home second overall and the women placed fifth in their season-opening meet. Lucas Kiprotich is a runner to watch for as he has led the men’s side for FGCU in both competitions with top ten finishes.
VOLLEYBALL Head coach Matt Botsford’s team has earned a 6-0 record to start their season, the best start the program has had since their arrival in Division I in 2007. The current season has been highlighted by the likes of Cortney VanLiew and Dana Axner, but freshman Aja Jones and Erin
Shomaker have shown that they are more than capable to step in. After big wins over San Diego State and Auburn, the Eagles continue to be tested on the road as they take on Indiana, #12 ranked Kentucky, and Cleveland State in the Bluegrass Battle Tournament starting Friday, Sept. 13th.
EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA Marjorie Boilesen, senior, powered FGCU past the FIU Panthers with her two goals in the season home opener on Aug. 22nd. The Eagles dominated from kick off as the first of Boilesen’s scores came in the 8th minute of the match and FGCU outshot FIU 18-5 for the entire game.
Opinion
HOW TO BEAT THE TEXTBOOK FEES Exploring the alternatives to buying all those textbooks. See more on 8B
Would you pay for a parking spot?
Parking can be a hassle on campus. Is there any sense to pay money for it? By ALANA BROOKS Assistant Opinion Editor
Let’s be honest: trying to park at FGCU is a nightmare. Driving in circles in a parking garage is not the best way to spend time before class. Parking has never been easy, but with the influx of 2019 orange parking tags, the battle to find a place to park feels more difficult than ever.
As students, we have enough to worry about: exams, assignments and homework, not to mention the constant encouragement to be involved on campus. Trying to find a place to park shouldn’t be on the list of those worries. Right now, it feels like there’s not a lot that can be done about it other than continuing to go in endless circles in the garages and hoping to be the first to catch a car
backing out. “I felt like I was trying to fight people for spots,” public relations major Laura Cockrell said. “I had to follow a person to try to find a spot, and someone would take it from me.” At FGCU, we’re lucky. We don’t have to pay to park. What if we did? Would it be enough to pay for another parking garage on campus?
EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA
In short, no. With the cost of materials and labor, building a parking garage could cost upwards of $6 million. With just over 15,000 students, it would add an extra $3,800 to every student’s tuition to pay for another garage in one semester. Even if that were spread across four years of school, that would amount to $475 each semester. Continued on page 7B »
September 2019 Of course, not all students commute to and from school, and many who do wouldn’t be willing to cough up an extra $500 each semester. Instead of a whole new parking garage, what if there was another parking lot? The cost would be significantly lower. If a fraction of commuter students elected to pay for parking in exchange for access to an exclusive area, the parking area would pay for itself. A two-hundred-car parking lot would cost about $100,000. This means that it would be paid for in one semester of two-hundred students paying $500. This would alleviate parking stress for those willing to pay for it, as well as for those not willing to pay for it. Imagine two-hundred fewer cars fighting for a spot on campus. Having another parking ga-
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EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA
rage or lot on campus would be beneficial for everyone. For now, trying to find a spot is no walk in the park.
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September 2019
How to beat the textbook fees By SAMANTHA ROESLER Opinion Editor
Picture it now- it’s a week before the semester starts, you’re eager and motivated to work extra hard in all your classes. You log onto Gulfline and look at which textbooks you need, and you see those hefty textbook fees. If you’re anything like me, you start to freak out a little. According to the National Association of College Stores, students in a 4-year public college will spend on average over $650 a year on textbooks- and this average price is only going to increase. Before you head over to the FGCU library and spend your whole summer savings money on your textbooks, there are a couple things you should do. Just because the syllabus says the textbook is required, does not necessarily mean it actually is. Go to class the first day and see if you actually need the textbook. My first year at FGCU I made the mistake of buying all my books before classes started and I didn’t use half of them. Professors aren’t going to make it required to have your textbook on the first day of class, so it is best to see first if you need it to do well in the course. Compare your prices.
Yes, the FGCU library is a great place to go pick up a textbook if you don’t have any time to spare or if you are limited on transportation, but it also tends to be the most expensive option. My go-to place for textbooks is Amazon Prime. I find that these textbooks are cheapest, and you can get them shipped to you in two days if you already pay for Amazon Prime. Chegg.com also has similar pricing to Amazon and it usually has deals for free shipping. “Personally, I use outside sources like Amazon or Chegg because the bookstore is way too expensive,” FGCU junior Amanda Kent said. “Sometimes I even buy it from my friends if they have taken the class before.” If you’d rather pick up your books in person, check out Textbook Brokers about five minutes from campus. I find that their prices are cheaper than the library’s but slightly more expensive than sites like Amazon or Chegg. As a last resort, see if the textbook you need is available for an online download. Sometimes this is less expensive than getting the physical textbook. Next semester when you are getting ready to buy your textbooks, make sure you scope out all your options so you can get them for the best deal.
EN PHOTO BY SEAN C PORTER While the bookstore can be convenient, there are lots of alternatives when it comes to shopping for textbooks.
September 2019
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September 2019
Off the record S
ampling isn’t stealing. What is created will always be used again, and the inspiration for art will always continue. The difference between sampling beats and hooks in today’s music and stealing can be a blurred line. If you’ve ever listened to the song “Deja Vu,” by J. Cole, you may think you have heard the same backing track. That’s because you did. The same sample, originally from the song “Swing My Way,” by K.P. and Envyi, was used by Bryson Tiller, in his song “Exchange.” Tiller’s song came out in 2015, and was a radio hit. That’s why, in 2016, when J. Cole dropped the album 4 Your Eyez Only, I said “huh?” According to Cole’s producers, the beat originally Cole’s beat. According to the producer of the Bryson Tiller track, he took the inspiration from the beat from J. Cole’s camp. Got that? Good. Sampling of artists goes back for years, and became popluar and heavily used by musicians in the hip-hop industry. Going back to the 1980s, drum machines were just coming into mass production, and as well as making beats and hooks, you could take snippets of other songs. You could also use a cross-fader on the turntables, and mix somgs together to make a new song in and of itself. Hearing a song you know used in a different way can be an amazing experience, and being able to decipher the meanings used by ssampled songs to tell another story entirely.
With Sean Porter
Vol. 2
One of my favorite uses of sampling uses a song by Ronnie Foster, called “Mystic Brew.” The first big song that used the bass and the drums from this song was A Tribe Called Quest’s 1993 hit “Electric Relaxation.” It’s a great vibe that sets up Q-Tip, Phife Dog and Ali to put up some solid flows. The next sample that was really big was J. Cole’s “Forbidden Fruit,” which came out in 2013. This song uses more of the original song in its use of the sample, allowing J. Cole to rap and Kendrick Lamar to take the chorus. Then, in 2016, J. Cole dropped a song called “Neighbors.” This song uses the same sample, but it is pitched down, sowed down and played in reverse. This engineering is insane, and I didn’t realize it until it was made known to me. If you haven’t listened to the song, or the other three, I would definitely make that a priority. Another recommendation of mine would be to watch the Netflix documentary “Sample This.” It talks about the song “Bongo Rock,” by The Incredible Bongo Band. The sample has been used 633 times, and mainly because of the drum break in the song. Let me reiterate: Sampling isn’t stealing. Debate the wall. Off the record is a column based solely on the writer’s opinion. If you wish to share your favorite new music, send recommendations to executive@ eaglenews.org. Sean will also have a show coming to Eagle Radio this fall.
September 2019
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September 2019
WE A R E H I RI NG
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