Volume 18 Issue 4 by Eagle News

EAGLE NEWS

E D I R P

The oﬃcial student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997

October 2019 Volume 18, Issue 4 eaglenews.org

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Eagles everywhere

INSIDE • Pride events at FGCU • Mic Check • FGCU’s new major • Fall sports highlights • The fate of feminine products • Oﬀ the record, vol. 3 EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA

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October 2019

INDEX

News ............................................................................. 3A-12A Sports ..............................................................................1B-5B Opinion .........................................................................6B-12B

Twitter ............................................................ @fgcueaglenews Facebook ................................................................ Eagle News Instagram .............................................................. @eaglenews

Eagle News Executive Editor ................................................ Sean C. Porter Eagle News 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 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.

EAGLE NEWS IS HIRING

ABOUT US Eagle News, founded in 1997, is the student newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University. The newspaper is the only student produced publication on campus and is entirely student run. Eagle News is published monthly during the fall and spring semesters and monthly in the summer, with the exception of holiday breaks and examination periods. Eagle News can be found on campus and in the community and online daily at eaglenews.org.

We are looking for ENTV broadcast reporters to cover sports, news, entertainment and opinion. If interested, email join@eaglenews.org

FIRST ISSUE FREE Eagle News McTarnaghan Hall 201 10501 FGCU Blvd. S Fort Myers, Fla 33965

October 2019

Editor’s Note with Sean C. Porter

FGCU celebrates pride It’s that time of year again! Pride week is back at FGCU, and we are ready to celebrate. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, a parade and block party will be hosted by the FGCU Pride Committee. In this issue — as well as next month’s — there will be some stories about members of the LBGTQ+ community. To celebrate this week and the rest of the month, we plan on doing something special. If you would like to share your story with Eagle Media, we are looking to showcase and share stories of people from the LGBTQ+ community. We would also like to hear your opinions on how reponsive FGCU is regarding LGBTQ+ students. If you would like your voice heard, feel free to send a letter to our opinion editor Sam, opinion@eaglenews.org. We will be out covering different events to celebrate, so make sure to follow us on Instagram @eaglenews and @fgcu_em.

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October 2019

MIC CHECK: Roxx Revolts and The Velvets

PHOTO PROVIDED Band members from left to right: Jake Shockley, Roxx Barrios, Dan Heath. Drummer is not pictured.

By NINA MENDES BeAt rePorter

Roxx Revolt didn’t meet The Velvets until 2018 when the two projects united in the underground music scene in Southwest Florida. Roxette “Roxx” Barrios, vocals and rhythm guitar, scouted three other Fort Myers locals to form the only glam-punk band in the area. Each member has an extensive musical background from playing in various projects. “All of our past experiences have an inﬂuence on the ways we write and styles we have developed,” said Jake Shockley, lead guitar and backing vocals. “We are continuing to incorporate the sounds we have in our heads into our music.”

Barrios met Shockley after watching him play a live show with another local band last year. Barrios, a Venezuelan-born singer and guitarist, believes her own culture inspires her to write and has an impact on the music she workshops with the band. She said Venezuelan culture is very vibrant and warm, and she allows it to shape her musical style. Bassist and backing vocalist, Dan Heath came into the picture through a mutual friend. He has been jamming with Barrios since 2016 around the beginning of her solo project, Roxx Revolt. “SWFL has such an amazingly talented scene for female-fronted groups,” Heath said. “Talent and the integrity of the music are what count, and everyone here delivers. There is only one Roxx, and it’s euphoric having her at the helm.”

Artists in the rock/metal scene are predominantly male. SWFL is no exception. “I’m not one to be defined or feel limited because of my gender,” Barrios said. “There’s definitely an attitude when people, especially guys in the music scene, underestimate you at the beginning. It is always rewarding to watch stigmas [get] demolished, especially when you play a little part in it.” Roxx Revolt and the Velvets (RRTV) recently debuted their new single titled, “King Revolt” on Sept. 17. It is the first track released by the band and includes Jordan Favazza, the band’s new drummer. “King Revolt” is a celebration of one’s spirit. The members’ described it to be about feeling like a black sheep but accepting it, rather than being ashamed of the fact. The single is available

on Spotify and Youtube. Barrios and the others began RRTV with a clear vision in mind. They wanted to shape the current local scene into something energetic and positive. “We were tired of seeing what I call ‘dead kids shows’ where nobody seemed to be enjoying it,” Barrios said. “Revolt is in our name because we are in a protest against these shows and want people to celebrate their humanity, happiness and love.” A full-length album has been confirmed and will be released sometime during the beginning of 2020. RRTV’s next show is on Oct. 12 at Rack’em Spirits & Times in Cape Coral. The band will play “King Revolt” live and possibly tease some of their newest tracks.

October 2019

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Find furry soulmate at Doghouse Rescue Academy Insertyour information about shelter and other adoption (DRA). DRA here. is a foster-based 501c(3) rescue that pulls dogs information 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.

Luna | Terrier mix | 8 months old| Female Meet little Luna with the big ears! Luna is great with other dogs with energy, and would make a great pup for an active family. She is in Drool School and is learning all her basic commands.

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October 2019

SWFL Pride at Alliance for the Arts By BROOKE STILES Assistant News & Features Editor

Pride-SWFL hosted its 11th annual event to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies on Saturday at the Alliance for the Arts. With over 130 vendors, 50 volunteers, a list of entertainers and performers, and an estimate of over 7,000 people in attendance, Pride-SWFL reported having its biggest and best event yet. This year’s theme was “Proud to be” in efforts to encourage the SWFL community to live openly and be proud of who they are. One of the vendors in attendance represented Visuality Florida, a nonprofit organization in Fort Myers specializing in providing youth support groups and services to the LGBTQ+ community. Christian Nunez, who is on the Board of Directors for Visuality, represented Visuality and the LGBTQ+ community at Saturday’s event. “I am proud to be an FGCU alumnus. I am proud to be an openly gay, queer man. I am proud to be a drag queen, and I am proud to live as authentic as I can,” Nunez said. Visuality Florida has the vision to enhance the well-being of LGBTQ+ communities and to end discrimination and violence towards them. “We are gearing towards students who are committed to social change in any way,” Nunez said. “We are all about social change.” Saturday’s SWFL Pride festival included live music, vendors, food, and tons of special

EN PHOTO BY BROOKE STILES SWFL Pride 2019 had more attendees than ever before.

drag queen performances. On Sunday, Society Restaurant & Lounge hosted a Pride brunch and tea dance. Pepper Mashay, an International Dance Diva, and Farrah Moan, who appeared on

RuPaul’s Drag Race headlined this year’s SWFL Pride. There was also music by Grammy-nominated DJ Chris Cox and a contestant on NBC’s The Voice, Sheena Brooke. SWFL Pride started in 2009,

with only a few hundred people in attendance. With 6,000 people attending in 2018 and about 1,000 more this year, PrideSWFL is excited to continue to grow for next year’s event.

October 2019

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Cannabis studies at FGCU By BROOKE STILES Assistant News & Features Editor

In August of 2018, FGCU offered its first of many cannabis classes. Since then, FGCU has created a Cannabis Studies focus under the Integrated Studies major, which currently offers six classes and will include three more in the next year. According to FGCU’s website, “The Cannabis Studies focus at FGCU provides an integrated and multidisciplinary exploration of the impact that cannabis has on the mind, body, and society.” The program is said to be designed to allow students to enter this growing industry from a variety of angles. “It’s not a narrow focus,” said Dr. Martha Rosenthal, who teaches multiple subjects at FGCU. “I have students in my class who want to go into business, who want to be doctors, who want to study the law and understand how [cannabis] all integrates.” Rosenthal teaches neuroscience, which is what her Ph.D. is in, physiology, human sexuality, drugs and society, and now in the cannabis program. “Drugs are interesting, and they have not only the pharmacological effects but the societal effects and the laws and the history,” Rosenthal said. “It’s just such a rich field of study. So, when Sam Walch put forth the idea of a cannabis class, I found out about it and said, ‘I’m in, I’m in!’” Sam Walch, a professor at FGCU, coined the idea for cannabis education on campus. “I was sitting on my lanai one morning, and I saw a story about medical marijuana passing by 72%, and I thought, ‘holy crap we

EN PHOTO BY BROOKE STILES The books used in the marijuana concentration courses at FGCU.

should do a class on this then,’” Walch said. “The next morning, Dr. Rosenthal called me and then the weed class took off from there.” The first class offered in this program was called Weed: Impact of Marijuana (now called Cannabis and its Impact) and was taught by Dr. Rosenthal and Professor Walch together. Currently, classes in the focus include a wide range of topics, such as pharmacology and physiology, chemistry, horticulture and botany, business and culture, and law. “You can’t just teach physiology, which is fascinating, you’ve got to teach the law, which changes every day,” Rosenthal said. “You’ve got to teach history. You’ve got to teach the culture and religion. To really understand it, you’ve got to look at the plant and its chemistry. You’ve got to look at all of it.” The news found out FGCU was offering a class about cannabis before it was even taught. From that, Rosenthal and Walch said local dispensaries and other companies

had started going to them asking for interns and workers. “Just from it being in the news, companies started coming to us, and we realized this was bigger than just one class,” said Rosenthal. “So, we put together the idea for CREW, the Cannabis Research, Education and Workforce Initiative. I did the education and research part, and Sam is working on the workforce.” Along with the classes offered, there is also a weekly cannabis career club led by Sam Walch and a five-day Cannabis Professional Certificate Program. “We saw the interest when starting the Cannabis Focus and realized we need things not just for integrated students, but for all students, so we set up the club,” Walch said. Michelle Hilmes, a student of the Cannabis Studies program and a member of the club, signed up for the program the day after hearing about it on the news. But she says it’s not enough to just take the

classes. “Just the classes are half of the puzzle,” Hilmes said. “You need the classes, and you need the experience of going to the cannabis career club, for instance, and mixing with those types of people. You are always going to learn something from somebody else, and I don’t want to miss that opportunity.” Rosenthal says the certificate program is an intense, five-day program offering multi-disciplinaries and workshops from experts. All of the opportunities FGCU has to offer in cannabis are part of the plan to educate students and provide them with opportunities in the multidimensional world of cannabis. “My goal is to establish the best program for producing leaders,” Walch said. “My job is to establish and keep good relationships with dispensaries and Florida companies and get students jobs.” While Walch teaches the class Weed Culture, his passion lies in the industry itself: watching it grow and helping students be a part of that growth. Rosenthal also wants to work with the industry, but her heart is in educating the students about cannabis to prepare them for the workforce. “My love is education,” Ronsenthal said. “I want an educated world. I want to work with dispensaries and make sure this workforce is educated.” With the efforts of both professors and students’ growing interest, the cannabis focus has hopes of future growth. “It’s been a really wonderful experience, and I can’t wait for the next semester,” Hilmes said. “I can’t wait to continue, and I’m not looking forward to ending it.”

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October 2019

Constructing FGCU’s newest major FGCU continues promoting sustainability with the construction management major By LAUREN MICELI News Desk

Florida Gulf Coast University launched its newest program, a bachelor’s degree in construction management this semester. The degree program has been in development for about four years, but it wasn’t until July 2019 that it was ratified, which means students could be officially accepted. “There are no other schools of construction management in this area,” said Dr. Craig Capano, the founding department chair of the construction management program. “We will be the only accredited program in southwest Florida.” According to Capano, 15 to 20 students were expected to enroll in the new major. Instead, the first class has double that number with 41 students. “Construction is booming right now,” he said. “There’s just not enough workers or trained people to help fill the need here.” Companies around the region noticed the demand for a construction management program in SWFL and encouraged FGCU to create one. When students travel to other colleges, like the University of Florida, they tend to relocate and find work in that area. “We need young people to stay in southern Florida and make their careers here,” said Gary Griffin, the president of B&I Contractors. “FGCU is an important piece of the puzzle that offers more young people the chance to stay here.” B&I Contractors already contributed $50,000 toward scholarships for students. Another company, the Wright Construction Group, donated laboratory space to the university so students could have hands-on building experience.

EN PHOTO BY LAUREN MICELI A hard hat provided by the new construction management school at FGCU.

“This is a very well-supported program by the industry,” Capano said. “They’d hire our students tomorrow if we had any graduates.” “As a business that wants to help this community have great success, we want to do everything we can to make FGCU successful,” Griffin said. Griffin is also the chair of the Construction Industry Advisory Board, which includes around 30 businesses from SWFL that offer guidance and resources for the newly established program. Along with encouraging students to grow their careers locally, the program also promotes eco-friendly building methods. Environmental sustainability is one of FGCU’s core values, so the professors have been pushing students to approach

construction with a greener mindset. “Our focus is on building more buildings that are sustainable, solar-powered and eco-friendly,” said Elaina Cooke, a freshman in the construction management program. She originally was pursuing a degree in civil engineering but switched into construction management because of its higher demand. “I think the whole goal in construction now is building the most while using the least amount of energy,” Cooke said. “I want to make cool buildings that don’t cause damage.” According to Griffin, sustainable building has been a growing trend in the construction industry for decades. His company has helped make FGCU and other institutional

buildings more eco-friendly. The most notable would be Seidler Hall, which received the highest certification available by the U.S. Green Building Council. This nonprofit organization developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system. Buildings are ranked by how sustainable they are, ranging from “certified” to “platinum.” Achieving a platinum ranking is difficult and expensive, but Seidler became platinum certified in 2010. “FGCU’s buildings all incorporate sustainable building practices in them,” Griffin said. Capano said he believes FGCU’s sustainable approach is one of the things that will make the university a leader among construction schools. Another will be the utilization of technology throughout the program. Students will have access to a laboratory that allows them to create 3D models of building projects. This technology lets them see a building before it’s even built, and it saves time, effort and resources. Regarding the future of the degree, Capano doesn’t want the program to become too large. “It’s not all about the numbers,” he said. “It’s about keeping the quality.” Graduates should leave FGCU with a well-rounded understanding of how to manage a construction project. Because of this, their classes include a variety of subjects, such as engineering, business, law and finance. “You always need construction. That’s one thing I didn’t even know,” Cooke said. “Even to take the class for your major, you’re building in something that was built by a construction company.”

October 2019

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Real-life best buddies

FGCU student nominated for Best Buddies Champion of the Year By NINA MENDES BeAt rePorter

The founder of the FGCU Best Buddies chapter has been selected to compete in an annual, nationwide fundraising competition called, Champion of the Year. Jenna Maringione, a senior at FGCU, has been president of the campus organization for two years and is responsible for introducing Best Buddies to the university. Best Buddies is a nonprofit, global organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Volunteers are paired with a buddy, and together the two promote leadership development and one-on-one friendships. Maringione is the only college student chosen to represent Southwest Florida, out of ten other competitors, during the SWFL Champion of the Year Gala on Nov. 15. “It feels really amazing to be Jenna Maringione and her buddy, Chris. the only college student to be chosen to represent our region in her outstanding leadership with community with the Best Buddies Champion of the Year [because] the organization at FGCU. She organization.” no one from FGCU has ever been also demonstrated her strong Maringione began her journey a part of the gala before,” Marinwork ethic during her summer with Best Buddies in her junior gione said. internship at the Best Buddies year of high school. Her current Thirty-five cities across the Headquarters in Miami. buddy is Chris, a thoughtful and country are hosting Champion of Diane Kratt is Maringione’s adkindhearted partner who is quick the Year galas. visor and the Director of Clinical to crack jokes and is said to have Champions are chosen, like Experiences and Partnerships at a special talent at making people Maringione, to fundraise money FGCU. smile. and encourage their community “Jenna has been a determined “People join Best Buddies to to donate. The person who colleader since the day I fi rst met change the life of someone with lects the most donations in their her,” Kratt said. “I am very proud an intellectual disability, but don’t name becomes Champion of the of her and happy that she is being realize that the person will change Year in their region. recognized for her contributions theirs,” Maringione said. “My life SWFL’s Champion of the Year to both the university and the has become more positive since I selected Maringione because of

PHOTO PROVIDED

have joined Best Buddies, and my passions have changed. It is [something] someone can only understand when they become a part of it.” The proceeds raised during the gala will help fund Best Buddies and the million people the organization impacts across 53 countries and six continents. “I hope to see Jenna become part of the Best Buddies organization at the national level and continue to promote inclusion all around the world,” Kratt said.

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The evolution of a queen

October 2019

How one’s drag journey led to self-love and acceptance of one’s complete identity By LEAH SANKEY News & Features Editor

Be My Lover by La Bouche blares, and Karma Sutara Monroe struts out from behind the curtains wearing a leopard print leotard, a faux fur coat, latex boots and a devilish grin. The lighting illuminates her perfectly contoured face, while the sparkles from the disco ball give her an ethereal glow. She works the crowd, eliciting squeals from the audience. A line of men has formed in front of the stage, each waiting for their turn to give Karma cash in the hopes that she dances with them. Karma’s real name is Tyler. Tyler isn’t stringent about which pronouns people use with him but says that people should generally refer to others by whichever gender they are dressed as. If Tyler is working at Hertz as a man, he expects people to call him a “he.” Tyler says that the majority of his coworkers are aware of his drag career and have been supportive. “Things are definitely not how they used to be,” Tyler says. If Tyler is out and about as Karma, she is generally referred to with a female pronoun. I shadowed Tyler while he was Karma, so I will be referring to her as Karma or with a female pronoun throughout this piece. Karma refers to herself as being “A little over a year old,” although Tyler is 28. This is because she started doing drag in February of 2018. She says that

PHOTO PROVIDED Karma Sutara Monroe performing at Rascal’s, the only gay bar in Fort Myers.

the Karma we see today is an entirely different queen than the one who existed when she first came to be, enthusiastically adding that she looks far better now. Karma had just gone through a breakup and was battling depression when she began doing drag. She had been drinking in excess to numb the pain and says that she had suicidal thoughts. “Drag saved me from myself,” Karma says. “I felt empowered and praised for being me. It brought me out of that intense negativity and into a whole new world of creativity, love, and

acceptance.” She became a prominent drag queen in the Southwest Florida community after she won Drag Search 2018, a drag race that Rascals holds every year. Rascals is Fort Myers’ only gay bar. Israel Pena, a Florida Gulf Coast University student and a regular at Rascals, saw Karma’s glow up firsthand. “Her look has definitely evolved over the last year,” Pena says. “During drag search, she took every criticism so gracefully and I think she really took them each to heart and learned from

them.” She gives her drag mother all of the credit for showing her the ropes. Karma met her drag mother, Kiki Monroe, at a gay bar and was captivated by her beauty and creativity. They became close and Kiki convinced Karma to do drag. Karma has an entire drag family consisting of a mother, grandmother, sisters and even nieces. None of them are actually related, but they rely on one another for support and advice. Each member of the family has helped another family member

October 2019 become the fabulous queen that they are today. In Karma’s family, they all share the same drag last name: Monroe. “We all respect each other and will help each other, family member or not. We have a really good community here,” Karma says. Asia Monroe, one of Karma’s drag sisters, was also taken under Kiki Monroe’s wing at the beginning of her drag career. Asia and Karma have known each other for about two years. “Karma was unsure about performing initially,” Asia says. “I saw her perform for the first time, and I couldn’t believe she had any doubts. She’s a natural.” In addition to her drag family, Karma has a supportive biological family. Her mom often brings her friends and comes to see her perform. Karma describes her immediate family as being very liberal and accepting of her drag identity. Karma says it can be difficult juggling a drag life and a love life — she says a lot of gay men are put off by the thought of dating a queen and have the misconception that it’s like being with a woman. She also stressed that this craft takes a lot of time to perfect. If you’re serious about performing, the schedule can be jam packed, leaving little time for dating. Karma said she initially struggled with dating while also being a drag queen, but now has a man who loves and accepts her for who she is. “When I first started doing drag, it took me a really long time to get ready, without fail” Karma says. “Now I’d say that the quickest I can do… is about an hour and a half.” Karma says that although she can trim it down to an hour and a half, she

Page 11A prefers to give herself at least two and a half hours to get ready. She starts what drag queens refer to as “painting” by making her face a clean slate. For many, a clean slate means removing all existing makeup. For drag queens, this means covering up the eyebrows with glue and plastering their face with powder and foundation. “It’s kind of like erasing your face,” Karma says. She firmly believes in the more the merrier when it comes to painting her face. She contours, highlights, bronzes, sparkles, and will generally wear about 3–4 pairs of fake lashes. Then comes the padding, the tucking, and the tights. She pads her chest, her legs and her booty. She wears at least three pairs of tights and a shimmery pair on top. She describes her style as being a bit over the top. She is a modern queen. She doesn’t want to be like many queens, who oftentimes try to present themselves as pageant girls. Her drag wardrobe includes a lot of colorful wigs and bodysuits galore. Blending in is not her style. Drag is how she expresses herself. She was a fine arts major in college, and this has become her art. She loves that it gives her the chance to be creative and a little bit wacky. She’s excited about the growth of the LGBTQ+ community in Southwest Florida and is optimistic that it will continue growing. SWFL Pride used to be the only pride event that this area had — we now have Naples Pride, Fort Myers Pride and Cape Coral Pride. “We’ve always been here… we just haven’t always been recognized,” Karma says.

PHOTO PROVIDED Tyler, left, transforms into Karma Sutara Monroe, on the right.

FGCU's 30 credit-hour Master's Degree in Engineering (MSE) offers two exciting emphasis areas in Environmental Engineering and Renewable Energy. Program faculty are experienced teachers who guide and mentor your post-baccalaureate education. The program schedule is designed for full-time working students—classes are held 2 days a week from 4:30 pm to about 7:15 pm. Degree completion is possible within 2 years, and tuition support is available in the form of waivers, assistantships and scholarships! The application deadline for Spring 2020 is November 15, 2019 and for Fall 2020 is July 1, 2020. To learn more about the program visit www.fgcu.edu/eng/mse. For assistance, please contact Dr. Danvers Johnston (djohnston@fgcu.edu) or Melinda Morra (mmorra@fgcu.edu).

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October 2019

SpORTS

FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS With basketball just around the corner and fall sports in full swing, FGCU Athletics has been busy. See how each FGCU sports team is doing at the midpoint of the season. See more on 4B

Race to the ASUN title

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS

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October 2019

Women’s soccer on the rise

EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA Evdokia Popadinova had a two goal performance in the team’s most recent victory against Jacksonville at home, shutting them out 3-0. Popadinova now leads the team with seven scores on the season, and pushes her career total to 21 which is tied for sixth with Marjorie Boilesen in the FGCU record books.

By HAROLD SOLOMON IV Sports Editor

After a few tough road losses to Michigan and Florida, the FGCU women’s soccer team has hit a stride since starting inter-conference competition as they sit atop the ASUN standings. At 7-3-1 for the season, the Eagles are looking to make a stronger ASUN championship run following a second-round exit a year ago and perhaps even an NCAA tournament berth after missing the opportunity in 2018.

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: Evdokia Popadinova: Voted

ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, the second-year Eagle looks to repeat on her 2018 ASUN First Team All-Conference campaign as she leads FGCU in scoring with seven goals, which is on track to surpass her record 14 goals from last season. Popadinova’s senior season is highlighted by her two-game stretch in which she recorded three goals and an assist in back-to-back wins over Creighton (Sept. 20) and Marshall (Sept. 22), netting her ASUN Player of the Week recognition. Marjorie Boilesen: Boilesen, a senior, is third on the team

in scoring with five goals but leads FGCU in shot efficiency, notching .773 shot-on-goal percentage, despite only playing in 10 of 11 games. With two game-winning goals so far this season, Boilesen has proved she can be a scoring presence when the Eagles need her most. Louise Lillback: Lillback is one of seven true freshmen on Blankenship’s squad but has made herself known as a scoring option coming off the bench. Tied with Boilesen for five goals on the season so far, Lillback has shown she is an all-around teammate as she’s tied for first on the team in assists with three.

Her three goals in the Eagles’ opening contests of league play against North Alabama (Sept. 26) and Lipscomb (Sept. 29) earned her ASUN Player of the Week honors, making her the first freshman to earn the weekly honor since 2013. “We’re really excited for Loui and the great start that she’s had in conference play,” said head coach Jim Blankenship. “She was a difference-maker in our matches this weekend and we can’t wait to see what else she does as we progress.” Ashlee Brentlinger: Even though she only has one goal thus far into the season, Bren-

October 2019 tlinger still makes her presence known from midfield as she has assists under her belt this season and provides consistent pressure on the opposition’s net for the Eagles with a .727 shot-on-goal percentage. Melissa Weck: Voted ASUN Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, the senior is averaging three saves a matchup and has only allowed 10 goals throughout the season thus far. Against ASUN competition, Weck has allowed two goals in three contests while also recording a shutout against Jacksonville. With six more matchups ahead, Weck has an opportunity to take first place in the FGCU record books for career shutouts as she

Page 3B sits at 31.4, six behind the top spot (37.1).

MINOR SETBACKS, MAJOR COMEBACKS: After a 1-0 loss to Lipscomb a year ago in the ASUN Championship semifinals, the Eagles were motivated to come into this season and bounce back in a big way. FGCU was picked to finish second in the ASUN Preseason Poll while returning seniors, Weck and Popadinova, received ASUN Preseason awards in early August. “There’s definitely a fire under this team after last season. Right now … we just have to focus on staying consistent and finishing strong.” said head

coach Jim Blankenship. After suffering two losses on the road to powerhouse teams Michigan (Aug. 30) and Florida (Sept. 12) and an upset at home by LaSalle (Sept. 5), FGCU has since been on a six-game winning streak. With two wins over ASUN competition and a tie with the reigning champion Lipscomb Bisons, the Green and Blue are looking primed to make a run at the league title.

WHAT LIES AHEAD? FGCU women’s soccer looks to continue their home dominance as they welcome in Kennesaw State on Thursday, Oct. 10 and NJIT on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Following the weekend, the Eagles will round out their regular season and with two more home games against UNF and ASA College (Miami) and two road games against Liberty and the season closer against Stetson. If the Eagles stay atop the ASUN standings over the course of the next few weeks, they could earn a bye week in the first round of the ASUN Championship and better their chances as FGCU is 13-1 in the playoffs when entering on a bye. If all plays out for head coach Jim Blankenship and the Eagles, they could see themselves in the NCAA tournament on Nov. 15.

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October 2019

Fall sports highlights By JAKE HENNING Assistant Sports Editor

VOLLEYBALL: FGCU volleyball continues their streak of dominance as they’ve begun their slate of ASUN competition and sit atop the standings. After a close loss on the road against Liberty to open up league play, the Eagles have won four straight including a 3-1 road victory over rival Stetson. Cortney VanLiew continues her impressive play, eclipsing 1,000 career kills in the Eagles’ 3-0 sweep of Lipscomb on Sept. 29 and is averaging 5.47 kills per set since starting inter-conference play. Freshman Erin Shomaker has continued to be a force in her debut season with the Eagles. Earning her first ASUN Freshman of the Week award for her 15-kill performance in the Hurricane Invitational, Shomaker is now second on the team in kills with 130. Dana Axner and Chelsey Lockey continue to shine in their second go-around with the Eagles. Axner is averaging an ASUN best 6.00 digs per set in league play while Lockey leads the conference in assists with 188. The Eagles look to continue their winning streak as they face both Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 11 and Kennesaw State on Sunday, Oct. 13 at home.

MEN’S SOCCER: FGCU men’s soccer was on a five-game losing streak with the

EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA O’Vonte Mullings, sophomore, scored a pair of goals in the Eagles 3-2 victory over Lipscomb to break their five game losing streak.

exception of a 1-1 tie against UNF which lasted two overtime periods, but the Eagles were able to break their streak with a 3-2 victory against ASUN preseason favorite Lipscomb, a game highlighted by co-scoring leader sophomore O’Vonte Mullings as he scored two goals in the matchup. Freshman Aiden Jokomba came off the bench for the Eagles and scored the third goal of the matchup, tallying his second career goal. FGCU looks to ride this momentum as they face FIU on Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Jacksonville on Saturday, Oct. 12 at home.

CROSS COUNTRY: In the UF Mountain Dew

Invitational, Lucas Kiprotich finished fourth overall with a time of 25:37.8, a best time for the men’s side as they finished 7th in the event. The women’s squad finished 16th in the event but saw a season-best finish from freshman Gianna Citarella who finished 67th overall. The Eagles then traveled to Kentucky to compete in the Live in Lou Country Classic meet in which Kiprotich and sophomore Austin Redondo left new marks in the FGCU record books. Kiprotich finished 46th overall with a 24:51:92, breaking a six-year 8k record and Redondo set a new sophomore 8k record while finishing in 90th with a 24:85:9 time. The women’s side

was led by sophomore Emily O’Connor, who finished 81st overall with a time of 19:32:3 and seven spots behind her came sophomore Jillian Felton with a 19:35:5. The Eagles now prepare for the ASUN Championship meet, which they’ll be hosting at the FGCU Buckingham Complex on Saturday, Nov. 2.

WOMEN’S TENNIS: The FGCU women’s tennis team racked up a victory in each of their matches, including a doubles championship to end the Bedford Cup over the weekend. “Overall we had a very good weekend of competition,” said

October 2019 head coach Courtney Vernon. “The ladies are fighting so hard for each other and it’s neat to see the growth. Today we won all of our six matches and walked away with a doubles title.” On the first day of the tournament, FGCU grabbed six singles victories, which included wins from Ida Ferding in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Lourdes Ramalle and Alba Retortillo would bring home a doubles championship Sunday morning as they beat USF’s Lucia Garrigues-Melendez and Selin Yaylali 6-1. FGCU then went on to play three more matches Sunday afternoon, all of which were won to close out the weekend. Next, the Eagles will be at the Florida State campus on Oct.17 through 20 to compete in the ITA Regionals.

MEN’S GOLF: Newly-hired head coach Andrew Danna came into the season looking to improve upon last year’s numbers. Previously, Danna was the most accomplished coach in program history at Lynn University. The FGCU men’s golf team got off to a solid start when they placed 13th in their first tournament of the year in the Golfweek Program Challenge. Junior Tyler Carson led the way for the Eagles, shooting a 214 (-2) over the course of the tournament. He also shot a teambest 69 on the third day, earning himself a 27th place finish. Sophomore Chase Bingham tied for 36th in the tournament as he racked up four birdies and shot a third-round score of 73 (+1). Throughout the three rounds, the Eagles would earn 13 birdies to finish out the day. The Eagles then went on to

Page 5B North Carolina to play in the J.T. Poston Invitational, where they placed 14th in the two-day event. J.T. Barker, Tyler Carlson and Doug Smith all went on to shoot third-round 69s (-2), giving each player his best round of the tournament. Carlson placed the highest out of all three, securing himself a 34th place finish. The FGCU men’s golf team has time off until they jump back into action on Oct. 28-29, when they play in the Innisbrook Invitational in Tampa, FL.

WOMEN’S GOLF: Laura Edmonds collected her third ASUN golfer of the week honor as the Eagles took sixth at the Imes invite on Oct. 2. Edmonds shot a second consecutive 68 (-4) to finPHOTO PROVIDED BY FGCU ATHLETICS ish in a tie for sixth and lead Laura Edmounds, sophomore, is just the third player in program FGCU. history to be a three-time ASUN golfer of the week for her 2nd place finish, 74-68-68---210 (-6) in the Johnie Imes Invitational. Edmonds, who became the program’s new record holder test as senior Elizabeth White for lowest 36 hole score with The Eagles will be back in claimed a first-place finish in a 136 (-8), topped her own action on Oct. 14, when they a competitive 100-yard Breast record that she set last year at compete in the Jupiter Invitaand junior Petra Halmai finthe Johnie Imes Invitational. tional in Boca Raton. ished first in both the 200-yard “I cannot say enough about Fly and the 200-yard Breast. SWIMMING & DIVING: Laura and her play,” FGCU The Eagles went on to win the head coach Sarah Trew said. After their first weekend of contest on Oct. 4 and won their “She is so solid and to finish competition, the FGCU swimmeet the following day on Oct. second in this tournament for ming & diving team has started 5 against Georgia Southern and the second year in a row is 4-0 for the first time since Campbell. quite a feat.” 2015. “It’s no secret that we have She joins Briana Carlson as In their debut against Campa young team, but that’s what the only two players in probell and UNF, freshmen Hanmakes it so exciting,” said head gram history with multiple nah Vandress and Kaja Reincoach Dave Rollins. “Bringing 36-hole totals under par in her hardt proved to be valuable these girls together for a road career. Edmonds also finished assets for the birds. Vandress trip against CCSA competition one stroke shy of Sarah Bell took first place in the 1000was the perfect way for us to from Oral Roberts (209,-7) for yard freestyle by a margin of start the year. Plus, getting to the championship. seven seconds and Reinhardt see some first-time Eagle wins Edmonds would go on to also took first in the 500is always special.” rack up a tournament-high yard freestyle in her first time After their hot start, the Easix birdies, whom she shared swimming the event. gles will have a few weeks bethe lead with Fresno State’s Upperclassmen also had a fore their home opener against Jinyoung Yun. strong showing in the conVanderbilt on Friday, Oct. 25.

Opinion

THE DEBATE OVER THE LEGAL AGE OF VAPING Should the legal age for vaping be raised to 21? The vaping epidemic is creating controversy among Americans. See more on 7B

Feminine products should be more accessible, period. By ARIANA LEBLANC BESSETTE Contributing Writer

Throughout FGCU’s many bathrooms there do not seem to be enough “feminine” products at our reach. In times of an emergency, it can create a panic if we do not have anything available to use for the time being. Some women may find it embarrassing to ask someone else for the product they need, or others may not have anyone around when the time comes. FGCU should make feminine products more accessible on campus. When we use the bathroom, toilet paper is always accessible, and free. We also have free condoms and other forms of protection available for free on campus. There is no difference for women when we need a feminine product for our time each month. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, “79 percent of women over the age of 18 have started their period unexpectedly in public without the needed supplies”. “FGCU should work towards making feminine hygiene products more available to our female students, especially since we have more women than men on campus, it needs to be more normalized,” health science major Tiazua Lucas said. When on campus, if there are not any products at reach, the student may choose to just go home or even to the store instead of

EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA According to Adelphi contributer Jennifer Healy, a woman will spend approximately $2,000 dollars on feminine products in her lifetime.

going to the class. This then puts the student a day behind in class or arriving late and missing attendance points if available. However, if feminine products have been available, such events could be avoided in the future. Furthermore, if possible, it would be helpful to have feminine products available for free in the bathrooms, but also sold in bulk in other places around the university.

Adelphi contributor Jennifer Healy found that during the course of their lives a woman will spend approximately $2,000 on feminine products. As college students, we are already struggling to come up with the funds for food, let alone pads and tampons. The university can work to solve these problems by promoting awareness on the topic and doing what is necessary to have the funds to offer feminine products for free.

October 2019

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Should the legal age for vaping be raised? By KATIE LOUDERMILK Contributing WritEr

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 530 cases of lung injuries and seven deaths spanning six states have been reported because of vaping. The vaping epidemic is creating controversy. The Trump Administration wants to act in order to address the issue by banning ﬂavored vape juices to decrease the use of vaping. “I think Trump’s idea to ban vaping is the best thing he has decided to do in his entire presidency,” FGCU senior Elizabeth Zucker said. “We were learning in my nursing class that vaping is causing fungus to grow in lungs of the

people who smoke them.” National Public Radio announced that the mixtures of THC, nicotine and CBD in the ﬂavor substance can lead to symptoms such as coughing, weight loss, breathing problems and lipid pneumonia. NPR recommends people quit vaping altogether while the Food and Drug Administration just informs people to withstand from using THC vape products and Vitamin E acetate. Many young adults are petitioning to create a ban on vapes through social media posts. Massachusetts recently banned vape sales for four months, according to reports by NBC News. The questioning of the products is spreading from state to state.

However, there is an argument that vaping can be beneficial to individuals. “I think that there should at least be an age limit placed on them, such as bumping up the age limit to 21,” sophomore Sarah Mankowitz said. “I do believe that there are a lot of people who use it to quit smoking, such as my aunt. However, there are certain brands such as Juul that have way too much nicotine and are geared to the younger generations that do not use them to quit smoking.” Another side is that there should not be any regulations. “I think the ban is going to force teenagers to find other things to smoke,” said Michaela Maxwell, a junior at FGCU. “The ban on

e-cigarettes ﬂavors will cause teenagers to possibly smoke more cigarettes or other things. We know what happens when people smoke cigarettes. Vaping is still newer technology and can be altered. It is also more environmentally friendly than cigarettes, but banning ﬂavors is forcing people to smoke other things to find that buzz. This could be more dangerous.” “Why age restrict vaping to 21 if buying cigarettes is still allowed at 18?” FGCU student Max Benjamin added. With numerous conversations going back and forth, and the FDA still trying to discover the cause of these illnesses, time will tell the future of the vape industry in the United States.

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October 2019

Dear FGCU, make the garage 3 boardwalk safer By ALANA BROOKS Assistant Opinion Editor

Frequently, I hear students wishing that their pets would be allowed at their dorms on FGCU’s campus. It is proven that pets help with stress, anxiety and loneliness- emotions that students feel when away from family. However, FGCU prohibits pets on campus unless they are a registered emotional support animal or a service animal that assists students with both mental and physical disabilities. According to CNBC, about 4% of colleges allow all cats and dogs on campus. Personally, I don’t believe that allowing all pets on campus would be a good idea. Students tend to overlook the potential expensive of having a cat or dog, and it would make living in campus housing much messier. When responsible for a pet, the overall cost of essentials such as vaccines, food, and toys can cost a lot more than you expect. According to the ASPCA, the annual cost of a cat is just over $800 a year and almost $900 a year for a medium-sized dog. You also need to make sure you have sufficient funds if your pet gets sick unexpectedly- visits to animal hospitals aren’t cheap! If FGCU allowed all pets on campus, students may go out and buy pets that they may not be able to afford, and the pet could end up back in the shelter. Campus housing will become much more messy and dirty if student had their pets with them. Are

you willing to constantly vacuum up your dog’s hair off the couch or scoop your cat’s litter box every day? If you struggle to do your own dishes and laundry more than once a week, you probably won’t be very happy about having to clean up your pet’s mess daily. Your roommates won’t be very happy with you either if your pet keeps making messes inside the dorm. So how do you combat this emotional toll of missing your pet at home? I recommend you find some time during your week to go volunteer at one of the local animal shelters. I have met students that volunteer at Gulf Coast Humane Society, and I personally volunteer at the Animal Refuge Center. “Volunteering in shelters with animals that are in need of love and socialization is simply heartwarming,” FGCU alum Tyler Cooper said. “When I was in college, going to the Animal Refuge Center helped me get my mind off the stress of all my assignments. I think volunteering with animals would especially help students who are missing their pets back home, and of course the animals are happy to receive that attention too.” If FGCU decided to allow all pets on campus, students may make the mistake of buying a cat or dog they can’t afford and care for properly. Not only that, but living on campus would become messier. By keeping your furry friend at home, you are doing both you and your pet a favor.

EN PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA The boardwalk that connects from parking garage 3 to main campus is too dark at night.

October 2019

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October 2019

Off the record P

lease tell me you’ve heard of the Neighbourhood. No, the indie alternative rock band. You haven’t? Well, I’m glad you picked up a copy of Eagle News today. The Neighbourhood is one of my favorite bands, and they have been since I was in high school. Their song “Sweater Weather” is a great song that always fits the mood. It reminds me of a simpler time, but it is a great escape from today’s pop music and rap. It’s great driving music and it’s perfect for just vibing to. The Neighbourhood began to domino into more and more indie music, and I like to think I have a pretty eclectic music taste now. Why am I writing this column? Well, I’ll be seeing them in concert on Halloween. Alternative music is alternative for a reason, and that’s why I love it. Sure, I like Drake as much as the next person and I like Nicki Minaj probably a little too much. So what? But when I listen to alternative music, it just puts me in a different headspace. Sometimes that headspace can be more negative, but it usually provides more clarity. One of my favorite genres within alternative is something I call “blank the blank.” Blank the blank is an orchestration of different bands that have similar names. Think of Cage the Elephant, Walk the Moon, Young the Giant and Foster the People. All great bands, and they all went through the same naming process. Cage the Elephant is another one of my favorite bands, because of how personal

With Sean Porter

Vol. 3

the music is. The 2019 album “Social Cues” really set them apart for me. The backstory behind the album is really sadbecause the lead singer was going through a divorce and was going through some tough times. I felt it, because, like, I go through tough times too. Speaking of tough times, sometimes there’s no better way to deal with stuff than just blasting Lana Del Rey. Lana is one of my favorite artists, and I’d love to go see her in concert. I just feel like I’d be out of place because there would be quite a few angsty teenage girls. Sometimes my best medication is to just put on Lana and drive late at night. Also, don’t laugh at me for listening to Lana. Just because her music is soft and sad and written for girls doesn’t make it not gangster. You know what is gangster? Dealing with your emotions in a way you feel comfortable. Additionally, she does have songs that feature different rappers. Take her 2017 song “Summer Bummer” for example. On that song is Playboi Carti (just doing ad-libs, obviously) and A$AP Rocky. The Neighbourhood’s latest album “Hard to Believe the Neighbourhood Ever Changing” has songs featuring Nipsey Hussle, Denzel Curry and Ghostface Killah. Pretty crazy, huh? Artists branching out into different genres. Who would’ve thought (Maybe Run D.M.C.). 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.

October 2019

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October 2019

WE A R E H I RI NG

Join Eagle Media! Do you want a career in journalism and are passionate about your school? Right now, we are hiring an executive editor for Eagle Media and an editor-in-chief for Eagle News. All interested applicants should visit jobs.fgcu.edu.