E AGLE N E W S The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
VOLUME 17, ISSUE 28
WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019
EST. 1997
The regrowth of the FGCU Food Forest By Emily Simpson Gulf Coast News Wire
The Florida Gulf Coast University Food Forest, which is home to several species of tropical and native edible plants, now has a permanent home of its own. In the spring of 2018, the university president, Mike Martin, approved a budget of $32,000 annually and institutionalized the Food Forest under the Integrated Studies Department. “Before, it was just a floating entity of FGCU,” said JulieAna Motkowicz, current president of the Food Foresters club. The Food Forest is a studentinitiated project that formed in the Spring of 2011. Over the years, it relied on the registered student organization (The Food Foresters) for funding through student government. At FGCU, RSOs must make a new request for funding annually. However, the club was non-existent for over a year, so the Food Forest was receiving no money during that period. “There wasn’t a good succession between leaders of the club, so it wasn’t passed on to anybody. It just
Emily Simpson / Gulf Coast News Wire Service
The FGCU Food Forest offers students food and space to grow plants. dwindled,” Motkowicz said. In 2016, there were seven Food Forest coordinators. All but one graduated at the same time, according to Motkowicz. “One of the biggest concerns when student government started the program was who’s going to continue it in the next year and the next year after that,” said Jason Orellana, student government chief of staff. According to FGCU student
government’s annual budgets, the last time the Food Foresters requested money was in 2015 for the 2016-2017 fiscal school year. “It’s not uncommon for something like that to happen,” said Julie Gleason, assistant dean of students. “It just depends on the interest of students at the point. If there’s nobody that wants to take on the responsibility, sometimes clubs just kind of fall under.” Hurricane Irma blew through
Southwest Florida around the same time the club fell into a lull. “It was pretty devastating in terms of all of that just being compiled onto that place at that one time,” said Jessica Drummond, former Food Forester and current administrative specialist for integrated studies. “But I think it provided us with that realization and the opportunity to revitalize that place.” After Hurricane Irma, Motkowicz and a group of other students
planned to fundraise a few hundred dollars to see the Food Forest bloom again. After talking to Jennifer Macbeth, a previous Food Forest advisor, their idea turned into a project for more permanent funding. “We realized we couldn’t do this every year,” Motkowicz said. “We needed something more solid and permanent. It snowballed to let’s
FOOD >> Continued on A3
Does the college admissions scandal matter? By Sean C Porter Media Editor Over the past few weeks, one of the main stories that’s been covered across the country has been the controversy regarding college admissions. From an outsider perspective, it may look like one student here and there doesn’t really affect other students. As a student at Florida Gulf Coast University, it has an effect on me. I was originally not admitted to the university and was put on a waitlist. I was accepted to FGCU just two days before I graduated from Lemon Bay High School, in 2016. I made it in one of the last available spots the university had to offer, and looking back, it was a close one. For admissions into Fall 2018, 13,098 high school seniors applied to the school and 8,181 were admitted, roughly 62 percent. Of those admitted, 2,756 enrolled to begin classes that August, which was 34 percent of admitted students. Is it crazy to think there could have one student, who may have lower test scores but a little more money, get in above me? At some
From a student’s perspective
EN Photo by Sean C Porter Students walk through campus at FGCU. Although the admissions scandal doesn’t have a direct effect on students here, there are still plenty of ripples. elite schools, that answer has some shady answers. At FGCU, the admissions process is pretty straightforward.
Elite vs. elitist FGCU President Michael Martin says that the difference between universities across the country is a difference between elite schools
and elitist schools. “I think elite universities, in my judgement, are those who serve their students based on the students need at the highest possible level,” Martin said. “To me, that’s being elite. Therefore, I think by that definition, we’re an elite university. No one has to bribe to get in here. But the people who do get in here get an education
well above and beyond what they might get at some other places even that are expensive and selective.” While FGCU does strive to become an elite and competitive university in the state, it does have some “little brother” issues. It’s not really fair to compare FGCU to schools like University of Florida and Florida State University.
For a majority of students, this scandal can go over a lot of heads. It’s easy to dismiss this, simply because it’s not happening at FGCU. “I’m indifferent about the scandal,” said Rickedson Alexandre, a junior at FGCU. “I haven’t looked into it because it’s not affecting my life.” But there are students that do feel passionately about the issue, even if it hasn’t been reported at their own school. “It’s kind of annoying, because those kids are born into rich families so they have guaranteed access to an education — financially — so all they need to do is try a little and do well in school and they’re set,” said Gabriela Rivas, a student at FGCU. “So, it’s like damn, just put some effort it and you’ll get into school anyway.” This case has raised some ethical concerns regarding college admissions, especially when it impacts students’ futures. This dilemma has many people
SCANDAL >> Continued on A3
INSIDE
SHOULDN’T HAVE GONE TO CUBA FOR SPRING BREAK
BASKETBALL FINISHES SEASON WITH LOSS
JEWETT-GILES PROBABLE TO LEAVE FGCU ATHLETICS
FGCU GIVES TRANS STUDENTS A VOICE
Students flocked Cuba this spring break, but for what? Cuba isn’t free yet, and Americans should not be visiting. See more on A5
The women’s basketball team finished its season in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Miami. See more on B1
Keri Jewett-Giles announced after the game against Miami that it was probable she would be leaving FGCU. See more on B3
Transgender Day of Visibility 2019 was held at Cohen Center March 19, and was widely attended. See more on B5
EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A2 | NEWS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
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Eagle News writes this beat from the official UPD weekly summary SAT., MAR. 16
MON., MARCH. 18
WED., MARCH. 20
and followed up about the
THU., MARCH. 21
A complainant stated a
A complainant called
situation since she left the
Security advised the keypad
her vehicle was egged
BLK green duffle bag
stating that an older white
scene.
for gate entry at West Lake
last night. UPD reports
was left attended at the
male with blonde hair, khaki
the car’s windshield was
bus loop. UPD checked
pants, and a blue button up A crash occurred in the
hit with one egg and no
the scene and the owner
was following her around
damage was done. There
returned to the location,
asking too many questions. on Thursday. The crash
were no witnesses and the
after leaving to get a
No harm was done, but
involved three vehicles.
and the keypad is still not
complainant stated that
beverage. The complaint
the complainant found the
The crash report was com-
working, but the swipe card is
they have no issues with
was conferred with on
encounter suspicious. UPD pleted, and the area was
anyone.
scene.
spoke to the complainant
businessmanager@eaglenews.org A complainant advised
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village was not working. Multiple residents outside the
South Village Auxiliary lot
gate were not able to gain access. Assistance was sent,
reopened.
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FOOD >> From A1 propose a budget of 32 grand.” They group approached President Martin and proposed a budget of $32,000 annually for the next five years. Martin, who has a background in agriculture, was eager to award the grant, Motkowicz and Macbeth said. This budget includes one part-time garden manager to oversee the Food Forest, an educational structure, and general operating fees. The Food Forest becoming institutionalized was also a part of this proposal. “Now that its housed under a department, it’s incredible and amazing,” Drummond said. “We have so much support, but let’s just make sure the students feel that too. That’s the component of what makes it so impactful and beautiful is the fact that we’re giving the power back to the students.”
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>> FGCU Sustainability
fgcu.edu) to sign up. Come
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With the funding from the budget, the Food Forest will be able to generate its own revenue. The Food Foresters plan on implementing educational workshops, such as a Permaculture Design Certification, that will be open to students and community members. New courses focused on the Food Forest are underway at FGCU. One will incorporate educating younger students from local schools about sustainable food practices. “One of our big efforts is to extend beyond the FGCU community into our neighboring community and be able to offer this as an important resource for them,” Macbeth said. The Food Foresters will be purchasing indicator signs for the species throughout, which will include information about proper harvesting etiquette. The Food Forest will also be getting a new welcome sign and a map of the trail. Drummond has
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begun planning for the educational structure. She plans on working with the Seminole Tribe to develop a Chickee hut. “We’re working towards creating more
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EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 | EAGLE NEWS | NEWS | A3
N EWS SCANDAL >> From A1 worried, simply because admissions offices aren’t fully transparent. “I feel like it’s unfair to students who work hard to get into schools like USC,” said Connor Mason, a senior. “But they don’t get in because their parents don’t bribe the school.”
A brief history of admissions FGCU has a student body of about 15,000, give or take a couple hundred to transfers, which doesn’t even come close to nearby schools like University of South Florida or University of Central Florida. In its 21 years as a public university, FGCU has grown at a fairly constant level. Being a new university comes with both benefits and drawbacks, but it has been an appetizing spot for high schoolers since the 2013 March Madness FGCU had to become “Dunk City,” says Marc Laviolette, senior director of undergraduate admissions at FGCU. Laviolette has been at FGCU since 1998, just the year after the school opened doors. He’s had eight different jobs at FGCU, but has been in his current role for over 14 years. When asked about the situation of circumventing
college admissions requirements through fraudulent athletics categorization that has happened at the University of Southern California, Laviolette thinks this is something he couldn’t see happening at FGCU. “I can see that working at some of the larger, elite institutions, but that would not work here at FGCU,” Laviolette said. “The issues there is coaches in these larger Division I elite schools, they have a lot of control over who gets in. “They’re basically told, ‘you can admit so many students, and you decide who you want to admit,’ and the admissions office may or may not have final say on who gets in.”
How coverage drove this story It’s not a lie to say reporting can dictate how much coverage a certain topic can get. If you read a week’s worth of newspapers, you’d likely see some trends regarding news topics. In the past, stories stayed in the news cycle for a while. In an age where social media is king and 24-hour news exists, stories can unfold faster than ever. With this in mind, it is interesting to think how often this has happened while not being reported on. A major reason this
story received the attention it did is through Twitter, and social media has been a huge indicator on trending topics. “It’s been interesting to see (the admissions scandal) explode, and you can click on it minute-byminute and there’s a whole other blast out there,” Martin said. “It comes with the times.” But just because cases of admission fraud haven’t been publicized doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened in the past. When it comes to higher education, donors are a pivotal part of just about every institution. In most cases, donors get their name on a building. In other cases, donors may want something more. “I think (the admissions scandal has happened before, in one way or another,” Martin said. “I don’t doubt that there’s been cases of this for a long, long time. I happen to have a friend who told me that he was offered $350,000 at what was not a terribly elite college, to get two students in.” It really made me wonder just how many people got away with bypassing college admissions before it was made into national news this past month. It also made me wonder if I wouldn’t have gotten my college education if this had happened at my school.
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EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A4 | NEWS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
N EWS
EDITOR: LEAH SANKEY | OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 | EAGLE NEWS | OPINION | A5
OPIN ION
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The privilege that perpetuated the admissions scam By Karina Cashman Staff Writer @FGCUEagleNews The recent college admissions scandal seems to have shaken many and is often being referred to as the largest college admissions scandal to date. “Operation Varsity Blues” which was investigated by the FBI and Justice Department for over a year featured prominent celebrity figures such as Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin who paid money to get their children into elite universities, and it seems that many were in on the scam. Both Loughlin and Huffman were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud, and according to a Buzzfeed article, among those charged are “three accused of organizing the scheme, two ACT/SAT administrators, an exam proctor, one college administrator, nine coaches from elite schools, and 33 parents.” Cheating was accomplished and facilitated by bribing coaches and administrators to accept students as athletic recruitments when they weren’t athletes, and this was done by Loughlin herself who had fake photos created of her daughter to make it look as if she was on the rowing team when she never played the sport herself. Cheating was also done by either having people take classes or exams for the students, giving the stu-
dents the correct answers for exams, changing the students answers on exams after they submit their own answers, and lying on application submissions. This story has been a trending topic due to both the prominence of who is involved and the magnitude of what was done. While many seem to be surprised at the sheer size of this scandal, the act of what was done seems to be something suspected of flying under the radar. For minority and lower income students this scandal comes less as a shock, and more as an affirmation of what has been happening behind the scenes for far too long. The college admissions system has been letting those with privilege seep in through the cracks despite them being less deserving that other students. For every participant of this scam, whether they knew they were or not, who was able to gain entry to a college by falsified means, there was a more deserving student who got a rejection letter. For every faked photo and bribed coach, there was a more deserving student who trained for their entire life just to find they weren’t accepted. There is a bigger issue at work here in which unearned privilege gets you far more than simply a foot in the door, it gets you a seat at the table at the expense of someone else. It is important to re-
member that for many, the shock of this scandal isn’t necessarily that it happened, we’ve seen this in our television shows, in media. There has always been a suspicion that that privilege and status can get you what may come harder to someone else, this simply proves it. For many the shock is not that this happened, it’s that it was exposed. It’s that the story has come to the light, that people are getting charged and fired, that the entire college admission process is under much closer scrutiny. There is, at least, some form of consequence for what has happened, rejected students are sewing on the basis of “negligence, AP Photo/Rich Fury unfair competition and viIn this April 10, 2016 file photo, actress Lori Loughlin arrives at the TV Land Icon Awards in Santa olations of consumer law,” according to a CNN report. Monica, Calif. Loughlin was charged with fraud and conspiracy Tuesday, March 12, 2019, along with dozens of others. They’re sewing because they feel they were Any bias, unfair treatment, dream only to find a sys- sary steps to ensuring that robbed of a fair college or discrimination happen- tem that has been rigged this doesn’t happen again. admissions process, and ing in this process must and robbed of all dignity We can take the necesthey’re right. be removed, and those and integrity. sary steps to ensure the While there has always involved in the college adThe college admissions fair, honest, and unbiased been suspicion of unfair missions process need process needs to be in- system that all prospective treatment in regards to the to be investigated wheth- vestigated, it needs to be students deserve, and it all wealthy, the sheer mag- er they were a part of the pulled apart and put back starts with charging those together on a basis of an accountable. nitude of what has been scandal or not. We cannot let those The entire college ad- honest and fair system happening in the shadows at these elite schools is missions system needs to open to accepting all types who let this happen get away with a slap on the something out of a YA dys- be cleansed so that stu- of students. wrist, we need to provide Despite many suspecttopia. dents can be provided with The entire college ad- a fair, equal, and unbiased ing this type of behavior genuine consequence to missions process, the en- process based on truthful was happening behind the those involved in this pertire college admissions academic and extracurric- scenes, it is a big deal that petuation of fraud, and we this has all come into the need to ensure that nothteam at these schools, it ular prowess. has all been soiled, it’s I can’t imagine being light, because now some- ing of this caliber happens been degraded. a high school senior at thing can be done about it. again. Until that is done, The college admissions this time, being so full of Now that we know ex- the college admissions process needs to be re-ex- fear and exuberance, this actly what’s been happen- process is and always will amined and re-analyzed. close to the elusive college ing, we can take the neces- be, a failure.
You shouldn’t have gone to Cuba for spring break By Ariana Milian
Assistant Opinion Editor @FGCUEagleNews Dear American tourist, Now that Spring Break is over, you’re uploading a steady stream of pictures of the historic streets and classic cars of Havana to Instagram. You’re basically saying “look at me, I went to Cuba for Spring Break because I can.” You flew into an airport or your cruise ship docked at a port that the government owns. The proceeds that come from that airport go to the military that systematically oppresses, robs, and sometimes kills. You took pictures of your food at restaurants, the bands you listened to in bars, and the drivers of the cars that chauffeured you around. You didn’t notice that while you dined on filet mignon, families are collecting crumbs. The band in scrappy and their instruments are old and worn out. There are holes in your taxi drivers’ shoes.
You are turning a blind eye to the reality of 21st century Cuba. The restaurant you ate at was likely off limits to Cubans. Nobody in Cuba eats that well, ever. In fact, Cubans often take up illegal side- hustles in addition to their “official” jobs just to keep food on their tables. They do things like buy and sell illegal newspapers because their jobs don’t pay more than $25 a month. Can you even imagine living on $25 a week, much less a month? In Cuba, people who are trained as doctors, accountants, and engineers drive taxis because they make more in a single taxi ride than anyone in their trained profession would make in a month. But you didn’t know or notice any of this, did you? Cubans pride themselves on their ability to put on a brave face, but you never bothered to even try to learn the truth. How do I know all of this stuff and why does it
make me so angry? After all, I am just an American, middle- class, college student. I’m also of Cuban descent with family still in Cuba, living in a coastal town. I have grown up watching my Abuela sending all that she can to them to keep them fed. I have lived with the heartache of not having met members of my family.In fact, I may never meet them. Yes, I technically can go to Cuba to meet them and bring them supplies, like fish hooks, money, cleaning supplies, and soap. But I won’t, because I know that by flying or sailing in, I would be doing more harm to them than good. I’m not writing this article to shame you- I’m just writing to educate you in the hopes that you do not continue to turn a blind eye to the desperation and exclusion of the country you visited and its people. Cuba is not yet free, and Americans should not be visiting until it is.
AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
Tourists take a joy ride in a vintage convertible car as they pass the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba
EDITOR: LEAH SANKEY | OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A6 | OPINION | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
OPIN ION
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Photos Submitted by Shania Bogner County Wicklow, Ireland at the Wicklow National Park (Top) Lake at Miromar Outlets (Bottom)
MARKETPULSE
MarketPulse is a section designed to capture the thoughts and opinions of students on FGCU’s campus. To be featured in MarketPulse, be sure to hang around campus and stay up to-date with durrent events. This is your university; so don’t be afraid to lead the discussion about important issues. By Mariana Lamb | Eagle Media Intern | @FGCUEagleNews
What is your favorite thing about FGCU?
“The athletes and the program have helped to shape me, to be the best that I can be in school and sports.”
“My favorite thing about FGCU is the opportunities that have been granted to me through the Runway Program and the ETI Building.”
“Definitely having the beach as my backyard!”
- Shak Adams, Senior
-Tyler Ott, Sophomore
- Scott Hannun, Sophomore
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the Opinion section of Eagle News belong solely to the author, and do not reflect any official position, view or opinion of the paper, website or its editors. All views and opinions of students are respected and encouraged.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 | EAGLE NEWS | SPORTS | B1
SPORTS
EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
JEWETT-GILES PROBABLE TO LEAVE FGCU ATHLETICS Keri Jewett--Giles of FGCU women’s basketball said on Friday night that the loss against Miami would most likely be her last with the Eagles. See more on B3
Women’s basketball finishes season with loss to No. 4 Miami By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez
A.) 9-7 B.) 10-7 C.) 11-6 What is softball’s record against Liberty? A.) 2-0 B.) 1-1 C.) 3-0 How many innings has Riley Randolph pitched in her career? A.) 474 B.) 643 C.) 638 How many commits does men’s basketball have for next season? A.) 4 B.) 7 C.) 5
Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C
The FGCU women’s basketball team finished a conference-winning season and ended their 19-game win streak with a loss against No. 4 Miami in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday night. Keri Jewett-Giles, who said at the post-game press conference that this game was most likely her last as an Eagle, performed like it truly was her last and finished with a gamehigh 24 points over 37 minutes. Graduate player Destiny Washington also finished her career with FGCU on a highnote, scoring 10 points for the Eagles. Junior Tytionia Adderly led the defensive charge with a team-high nine rebounds and a pair of steals. Jewett-Giles contributed seven rebounds as well. Going into the game, Miami seemed to hold a strong advantage on their home court. Two Hurricanes well over six feet tall were listed as starters — a strong contrast to FGCU’s tallest starters at 5’10. Immediately after receiving the tipoff, Miami took their opportunity to begin the game with a 7-0 run, only ending with
>> Continued to B3
What is baseball’s record against FIU?
EN Photo / Julia Bonavita
FGCU women’s basketball team member Nasrin Ulel communicates with a fellow teammate during the NCAA tournament round one game against Miami. Ulel contributed seven points for the Eagles throughout her time in the game.
THIS WEEK IN ATHLETICS By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez
BEACH VOLLEYBALL VS. STETSON
game 14-4 overall. These two teams met in the 2018 season, where Stetson defeated FGCU 2-3 and 0-5. Next, the Eagles will split a two-game series versus Florida Southern beginning with a home The FGCU beach volleyball team will open up game on Tuesday, Apr. 2 at 4 p.m. conference play with a double-header against The second game will be played in Tampa on Stetson at home on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 2 and Saturday, Apr. 6 at 12 p.m. 4 p.m. Kennesaw, Georgia to play Kennesaw State on The Eagles will be entering the game 7-5 Saturday, Mar. 23. overall, while the Hatters will be entering the
Joe Kinker .416 avg. 5 HR 20 RBI Jay Hayes .410 avg. 5 HR 27 RBI Alex Brait .337 avg. 5 doubles 11 RBI
By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez
BASEBALL VS. FIU
FIU will be entering the game with an 11-12 overall record. FGCU and FIU faced off in the 2018 season, where the Eagles defeated the Panthers 13-6. Next, the Eagles will play a three-game series The FGCU baseball team will play the second against Towson from Friday, Mar. 29 through game in a two-game series versus FIU on Sunday, Mar. 31. Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez
MEN’S GOLF
FAU SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP
The FGCU men’s golf team will be participating in the FAU Spring Championship tournament from Friday, Mar. 29 through Sunday, Mar. 31. Most recently, the Eagles competed in the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, where they placed
By Jake Henning Contributing Writer @FGCUEagleNews
BASEBALL VS. TOWSON
The FGCU men’s baseball team will open up a three-game series against Towson beginning on Friday, Mar. 29 and continuing throughout Sunday, Mar. 31. All three games will be played on home turf
ninth of 14 overall. Men’s golf competed in the 2018 FAU Spring Championship tournament, where they placed sixth of 19 overall. Next, the Eagles will close out their regular season with the Ryman Hospitality Intercollegiate, hosted by Lipscomb, beginning on Tuesday, Apr. 9 and continuing throughout Wednesday, Apr. 10.
at Swanson Stadium. Friday’s game will start at 6:30 p.m., Saturday’s game will begin at 2p.m. and the series finale on Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. This will be the first time the Eagles have played Towson since the 2009 season, where they defeated the Tigers 8-4. The Eagles are coming into this series 12-5 at home after wrapping up a two-game series with FIU.
Racquel Fournet .316 avg. 16 RBI Reedy Davenport .301 avg. 4 HR 21 RBI Haley Morrell .274 avg. 3 HR 12 RBI
Marcelo Tebet 7 singles wins 6 doubles wins Juan Montes 6 singles wins 5 doubles wins
EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 | SPORTS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
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A season in review: men’s basketball By Kyle Grosskopf Assistant Sports Editor @Kyle_Grosskopf
The FGCU men’s basketball team came into the season with high expectations. The expectations were that FGCU would finish second in the conference behind Lipscomb, both in the coaches and media polls. The Eagles, however, did not live up to those expectations. The season looked bright with four transfer players and two freshmen added to the roster, but the team couldn’t live up to the hype. One of those transfers, Haanif Cheatham, came from Marquette as a hardship transfer where he was a two year starter. At Marquette, Cheatham was a first-team all-freshman and a two-time best defensive player of the year. He was also part of the Preseason All-Conference team. The other notable transfer, Schadrac Casimir, is a graduate transfer from Iona University. At Iona, Casimir was the MAAC Rookie of the Year where he had a season high of 40 points. He also helped Iona go the NCAA Tournament three years in a row. Incoming freshman Zach Scott came into FGCU as a two time all-state player that scored over 2,700 points in his high school career. Even though first time head coach Michael Fly brought in
these great players, he also had to replace five of the six top scorers. One of those players was the 2017-2018 ASUN Player of the Year Brandon Goodwin. Goodwin recently signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets after averaging 23.4 points per game. Other notable names that were lost were Zach Johnson, who transferred to the University of Miami, and Christian Terrell and Antravious Simmons who both graduated. Even though the Eagles lost key players, they did have other players return to try and help the team. Dinero Mercurius and RaySean Scott returned for the season as the top two scorers. To start the season, FGCU struggled on the road going 0-2 against Illinois State and Michigan State. Michigan State is ranked No. 5 in the AP Top25 and is playing in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed. The Eagles looked good at home having a big win over South Dakota State, who have a player that could be drafted this year. Everything for the Eagles seemed to come crashing down from there. They didn’t have a single win in the Gulf Coast Showcase and lost three straight after that to FAU, FIU and Colgate. Colgate won the Patriot League and made the first round of the NCAA tournament losing to No. 2 seed Tennessee. The win to stop the losing
streak of six total games came against Oral Roberts who finished their season 11-21 and UMBC who finished 21-13. The next game came against Keiser where the Eagles nearly lost. Things weren’t looking good for the Eagles while injuries and suspensions didn’t help the team either. Only six Eagles played in more than 30 games and only one Eagle, Casimir, started in more than 30 games. Cheatham had a seasonending shoulder injury in December while senior Ricky Doyle had a season-injury back injury in January. The lack of depth didn’t stop the Eagles from trying to be the team everyone expected them to be, but they couldn’t collect the wins as they went on a losing streak that stretched from Dec. 20 through Jan. 19. The team lost big against Florida, who is a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Ole Miss and Liberty, who was a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With a win against Kennesaw State to stop the streak, the Eagles turned the season around to go 9-7 in the conference and earning a No. 4 seed and homecourt advantage against NJIT in the first round of the ASUN Tournament. In previous years, the Eagles did well making it to postseason tournaments every season dating back to the 2015-2016 season,
EN Photo // Julia Bonavita
Dinero Mercurius of FGCU men’s basketball releases a shot in the ASUN men’s quarterfinals. The Eagles were defeated by NJIT and eliminated from the ASUN conference championship tournament in early March.
but they couldn’t figure it out losing to NJIT 83-78, ending their season. The Eagles didn’t live up to expectations that everyone had. They didn’t finish second in the conference, Cheatham didn’t end up with All-Conference accolades, but the team did earn eight weekly awards. Zach Scott ended up being the player expected of him, playing in all 32 games, starting 21 of them all near the end of the season, averaging almost nine points and three rebounds a game over 22 minutes. Schadrac Casimir was
reliable enough to lead the Eagles in points (17.4) and assists (2.7) a game starting in all 32 games. Scott and Casimir did end the season on a high note for FGCU with Scott being named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team and Casimir earning ASUN Newcomer of the year and AllASUN Second Team. Overall, the Eagles finished the season with their worst performance on record since 2015, but the team can only go up from here with the Eagles landing five recruits for the 2019-2020 season.
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EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 | EAGLE NEWS | SPORTS | B3
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Jewett-Giles probable to leave FGCU Athletics By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez
FGCU women’s basketball starter Keri Jewett-Giles announced her probable departure out of FGCU Athletics on Friday night, following the team’s NCAA tournament loss against Miami. If Jewett-Giles were to leave, she would not be eligible to play at another school and will end her career as a college athlete. “Coach recruited me out of high school and I didn’t make the decision to come, but I’m glad I returned home,” said Jewett-Giles at Saturday’s post-game press conference. “I learned so many things. I’m just glad coach gave me the opportunity to come back. This was, I’ll say, my last game for FGCU.” Jewett-Giles signed with FGCU in her hometown of Fort Myers following a two-year stunt with Southern Miss. She signed as a junior before the 2017-18 season and utilized a redshirt season to comply with NCAA transfer rules, practicing with the Eagles throughout the season. In her two years with the Golden Eagles, Jewett-Giles made a lasting impact. She
scored 19 points in her 12.8 points per game. Jewett-Giles scored a 28 points over a season- women’s basketball very first collegiate game The one game she game-high 24 points in high 40 minutes against head coach Karl in early Smesko. “She made against Alabama State didn’t play was due to FGCU’s loss to Miami Jacksonville in November of 2015, a mandatory miss after on Saturday. She did so March and saw three a major impact on season-highs our program at both following a game-high 21 separate adding 10 steals and violating ASUN rules. Additionally, Jewett- point performance that against Miami. eight rebounds. ends of the floor. She These three came in really stepped up when She finished the 2015- Giles logged a .422 earned her MVP status 16 season second on the field goal percentage, at the ASUN conference field goals made (nine), Lisa went down and team with a 45.3 shooting a .341 3-point field goal championships on Mar. field goal attempts (20) came up big in the and rebounds (seven). percentage from the percentage and a .702 17. championship game “Keri had a very of The redshirt junior field while averaging 7.1 free-throw percentage. the conference Most recently, earned a season-high good year,” said FGCU tournament.” points per game. She also led Southern Miss in three-pointers, making 39.1 percent of all attempts. As a sophomore in the 2016-17 season, JewettGiles finished third on the team with an average nine points per game. She racked up 100 assists, 84 rebounds (19 offensive), 63 steals and two blocks, shooting 118280 (.421 percent) from the field and 22-61 (.361) from 3-point range. Not only did JewettGiles reach a career-high 23 points for the Golden Eagles in February of 2017, she also concluded her final season with Southern Miss with 10 double-figure scoring performances. Following her redshirt season in 2017-18, Jewett-Giles was a prominent starter and key player throughout the entirety of the 2018-19 season for the Eagles. She finished the season playing 32 of 33 EN Photo // Julia Bonavita games, averaging 26.7 Keri Jewett-Giles of FGCU women’s basketball looks for an open teammate during women’s basketball’s final game against minutes per game and Miami. In this game, Jewett-Giles scored a team-high 24 points.
Player of the Week ANDOLPH R Y E L I R
>> Continued from B1 three-pointers by Washington and Jewett-Giles to put the Eagles on the board. The Hurricanes capitalized on their early lead, scoring 21 on the Eagles’ 15 in the first. While Miami brought the heat, FGCU was also lacking in offensive accuracy. Though entering the game as one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, the Eagles were outshot in the three-point range 66.7 percent to 30.8 percent in the first quarter. The second quarter remained grim for FGCU as they were unable to close the wide margin Miami had created and once again were outshot, this time 46.2 percent to 22.2 percent from the field. In true FGCU fashion, the Eagles came back onto the court in the second half looking for action. Defense was a key factor going into the third and, after a couple nicely-timed steals, handed FGCU the opportunity they needed to climb back from a 12-point deficit. A five-point run and a three-pointer from
Washington closed the gap and brought the score to 45 all to make it an equal ball-game. The final ten minutes began similar to the first, with the score tied up at 48-48. The lead bounced between teams for the first minutes, but three fouls in a row allowed Miami the chance to score five points on FGCU in free-throws alone. This berth was all Miami needed to shift the momentum and secure a win. Miami’s offensive performance was crucial to their win as they outshot FGCU in all aspects of the game, going 44 percent (22-50) from the field overall. FGCU (31.8 percent, 21-66), though remaining vigilant in their effort until the final buzzer, failed to match the constant momentum seen from Miami from the beginning. “I’m proud of the way we fought back in the second half,” FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. “It didn’t work out for us, but I’m proud of the effort our young ladies had. We’ll be back.
EN Photo / Julia Bonavita
SOFTBALL
The FGCU women’s basketball team gathers for a huddle before beginning the final quarter against Miami. Though they went into the fourth quarter tied, the Hurricanes outshot the Eagles 21-14 in the final quarter to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B4 | SPORTS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
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A week in review: Baseball drops first conference series
Randolph earns third weekly honor of season
By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez Senior Riley Randolph has received her third Pitcher of the Week award from the ASUN conference for the week of Monday, Mar. 25. With this, Randolph has nine career Pitcher of the Week awards under her belt and her second consecutive Pitcher of the Week award. Currently, Randolph holds a 13-5 record and a 0.84 ERA, which ranks fifth in the nation. She also sits seventh in the country with 141 strikeouts. The award was given to Randolph following a 3-0 performance this past weekend, with a win over Columbia and the other two coming from wins over Kennesaw State. Randolph pitched five innings against Columbia, allowing not a single run and
just three hits. She also struck out six batters to help the Eagles to a 6-0 win. The first game against Kennesaw Randolph pitch a season-high nine innings, striking out nine batters and allowing three runs. Randolph continued the momentum into Saturday with another complete game, allowing two runs and striking out eight Owls to lead the Eagles to a 5-2 win. With this win, Randolph became FGCU’s all-time leader in most innings pitched. “Riley was at her best when things got really tough for us this past week,” said head coach David Deiros. “She battled through a lot and definitely earned the award.” Randolph will continue her final season with the Eagles with a threegame series against Liberty on Saturday, Mar. 30 and Sunday, Mar. 31.
Photo courtesy of Brad Young
Mason Studstill of FGCU baseball releases a pitch during a home game against Rutgers. Studstill recorded FGCU’s only win of the weekend on Saturday against UNF. Women’s basketball The FGCU women’s basketball team was defeated by University of Miami 6269 on March 22 in the first-round of the NCAA championship. No. 13 FGCU fought hard against No.4 seed Miami by coming back from a 14-point deficit to take the lead in the 4th quarter, but unfortunately falling by 7-points by the final buzzer. Keri Jewitt-Giles led with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Giles made history with the second-most points an FGCU player has scored during the Big Dance. Tytionia Adderly had a team-high nine rebounds and four assists. This has been FGCU’s 12th-straight postseason appearance in Division 1 basketball. With an NCAA record of 2-6, with two of the losses coming from overtime and another coming from a twopoint deficit. Men’s tennis The FGCU men’s tennis team defeated ASUN opponent NJIT 7-0 on March 22 bringing their record to 6-8. In double’s competition, Marcelo Tebet and Juan Montes won their match 6-2, and Feliksas Sakalauskas and Felipe Ramirez earned the doubles point winning 6-2. In single’s competition, won both of his sets 6-0. Sakalauskas won both of his sets 6-0 and 6-1. Ramirez won 6-2 and 6-1. Tebet won 6-2 and 6-3. Montes won 6-3 and 6-1. Felipe Escobar won his two sets after having to go to a tie-breaker for the final point to win 6-4 and 7-6. Women’s tennis The FGCU women’s tennis team defeated ASUN opponent NJIT 6-1 on March 23 bringing their record to an even 7-7. In double’s competition, Sara Kelly and Patricia Villar won the their set 6-4 and Bridget Forster and Sofia won the point after winning their set 6-4. In single’s competition, the Eagles won five out six sets with Maja Ornberg and Kelly winning their sets 6-4. Perez won her sets 6-4 and 6-1. Forster won her sets 6-3 and 6-0. Villar rounds out the wins after going 7-5 and 6-2. Baseball On Friday, Mar. 22 baseball opened ASUN play losing its first series of the
season to UNF losing two out of three games. In the first game, the Eagles lost 7-4 with Joe Kinker, Jay Hayes and Kohl Gilmore each hit a homerun. In the second game, FGCU won 5-2 with Richie Garcia getting two RBIs off a single a sac fly. In the third game, FGCU lost 14-8 after UNF exploded for five runs in the eighth inning. Elijah Eusebio tied the FGCU record for home runs after hitting two. Softball On Saturday, Mar. 23, FGCU softball played Kennesaw State twice winning both games 4-3 and 5-2. In the first game, Haley Morrell and Mikenzie Vaughn hit homeruns with Morell getting two RBI’s. Riley Randolph pitched the full nine innings, after the game was tied, earning the win. In the second game, Reedy Davenport hit a homerun and Marrisa Mesiemore pitched the full game giving up a run in the second inning and sixth inning. On Sunday, FGCU faced Kennesaw State and won 5-2 bringing their record to 3-0 in conference play. Racquel Fournet hit a homerun in the third inning and the Eagles never looked back. Riley Randolph pitched another complete game earning her 13th win of the season and picked up her third ASUN Player of the Week. Beach Volleyball On March 23, the Eagles traveled to North Carolina to compete in the Dig and Dive Beach Bash where they won three out of four games. In the first game against Coastal Carolina, the Eagles won 4-1 with only one set of Eagles losing after going into the third set. In the second game of the day, the Eagles beat UNC Wilmington 5-0 where the pair of Karissa Rhoades and Kirstine Gardner helped Rhoades get her 48th win of her career putting her first in FGCU history. On Sunday, the Eagles faced the College of Charleston and Tusculum. Against the College of Charleston, FGCU lost 4-1 with the pair of Snowy Burnam and Kayla Whetstone earning the only victory in the match. Against Tusculum, the Eagles won 5-0 giving Amanda Carroll fourth place in career wins.
EN Photo / Julia Bonavita
Riley Randolph of FGCU softball winds up a pitch at an early season home game. Randolph was recently awarded her second consecutive and third season ASUN Pitcher of the Week award.
Riley Randolph Senior 5 feet 8 inches Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida This season, Riley Randolph has been an anchor for the Eagles in their impressive run earning 13 of the team’s 17 wins. Randolph has earned three ASUN Player of the Week awards after pitching three complete games last week. She has pitched a total of 116 innings this season and a total of 14 complete games with an ERA of 0.84, which ranks in the top five in that nation. She also has 141 strikeouts this season that also puts her seventh in the country. Most recently, Randolph has been named one of the 30 finalists for the senior CLASS award.
EDITOR: BRUNO HALPERN | ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 | EAGLE NEWS | ENTERTAINMENT | B5
E N TER TA IN M EN T & LIFESTYLE
TOP EVENTS OF THE WEEK THU
28
4:30 am - 5:30 pm
Donut Worry About It: How to get ahead in the finals Library 445
FREE FOOD Learn tips and tricks to help reduce stress before finals.
SAT
30
11:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Human Trafficking Awareness Sugden Hall 110
Organizations that help survivors will share their knowledge and spread awareness.
SAT
30
5:30 am - 7:30 pm
Llamaste
Library Lawn
FREE FOOD It’s an event to help reduce youth violence and support prevention. There will be a aaffle giveaway, a guest speaker and yoga.
FGCU gives transgender students a voice
EN Photos/Nina Mendes
Kasey Fraize speaks in the “FGCU Transgender Day of Visibility”.
“Transgender Day of Visibility 2019” was held at Cohen Center March 19. On the right: Rebecca Skumatz and Christina DeAngelis.
By Nina Mendes Assistant E&L Editor @fgcueaglenews Transgender: a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender Identity: the internalized, personal sense of gender inherent within every person. Non-Binary/Genderqueer: people who have a combination of different gender expressions. These are a few of the definitions that were printed in the educational handout given to audience members of the first Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) at FGCU, which took place on March 19 in the Cohen Center. The Office of Housing & Residence Life, Prevention and Wellness, and the Multicultural & Leadership Development Center partnered with junior Kasey Fraize to bring his vision of inclusivity to life with the TDOV. Fraize, who ran the TDOV, began brainstorming ideas of how to educate students and staff on sensitive topics, such as gender identity and sexuality, last April. He aimed to organize an engaging event that communicat-
ed the thoughts and feelings of LGBTQ+ people in a meaningful way, with an emphasis on transgender lives. Identifying as a transgender man himself, Fraize believed the best way to inform was to present listeners with personal stories from other transgender members of the southwest Florida community. Francis, Alonis, Carrie, and Ray were the four panelists that took the stage that evening. They each shared different stories of the lives they lived during pre-transition versus post-transition, as well as where they planned on heading in the future. Agonizing heartache paired with anxiety-ridden depression were common themes discussed when panelists reflected on the time before their transition. The speakers explained that once they became open with who they are and began to express their own gender identity, they became optimistic and hopeful for a promising future. Feeling comfortable in one’s own skin can be hard enough to manage as a cisgender male or female, and the challenge becomes more difficult when another layer of gender identity crisis is
added on top of all of that. Fraize recognized this problem and decided he needed to do something about it. “The goal of this event is to educate the FGCU and southwest Florida community about diversity in gender identity, while facilitating a space for transgender people to vocalize their experiences and become visible to others,” Fraize said. “I feel like we met this goal and the panelists did a fantastic job explaining concepts while sharing personal stories.” In addition to speaking about topics they wanted to tackle individually, the panelists also answered anonymous questions from the audience using a QR code displayed at the front of the room. Questions ranged from as simple as the meaning behind the colors on the trans flag to the first moment panelists knew something was different about themselves. Francis, the vice president of FGCU’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), reached out to the organizers of the TDOV panel to express his interest in speaking at the event. “It’s both exhausting and liberating to choose to be truly your-
self, especially to an audience. I really hope trans students knew that they’re not alone and that they can and will be able to live their lives genuinely,” Francis said. “I hope that allies are empathetic to the glimpse that they’ve gotten into a few folks’ experiences as trans and walk out with some knowledge that they didn’t have coming in.” He also said that others need to be mindful and aware of the struggles trans people face daily. Often times people are afraid to learn things they do not understand, and LGBTQ+ terminology and language can be tricky to grasp the first time around. An estimated 200 people attended the event that evening, allowing these transgender speakers to have the platform they’ve been fighting for. “The support around this event is overwhelmingly beautiful, and we will definitely host this event again next year,” Fraize said. “Having people come out to listen to what these panelists have to say is ultimately what makes the work I do worth it.” The event’s success has shone a light upon the LGBTQ+ community here at FGCU, but this is only the beginning.
EN Photos/Nina Mendes
Towards the end of the night, the panelists spoke about what the next steps should be towards acceptance. “Being a good ally is more than just using your trans friend’s name and pronouns correctly. It’s about actively helping to fight ignorance and transphobia in our society,” Carrie, a freshman, said. “While there are some really amazing people at this school and on the faculty, I would like to see some strong support from the school as an institution.” This event would not have been possible without the effort and dedication shown by Fraize and his partnership with FGCU. Frazie looks forward to hosting this event again next year, and he is currently searching for an underclassman to shadow him during the planning process to carry on the tradition after he graduates. “The next step from here is expanding our resources at FGCU to better cater to transgender students. I strongly believe we need a centralized LGBTQ+ advocacy center here,” Fraize said. “Progress takes time. I have patience and faith that FGCU will continue to be a leader in social justice initiatives.”
B6 | ENTERTAINMENT | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
EDITOR: BRUNO HALPERN | ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
E N TER TA IN M EN T & LIFESTYLE
Car enthusiats gather at Centennial Park for car show By Katie Loudermilk Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews Cars are a shared interest among almost all age groups. Centennial Park, Ft. Myers, holds a monthly car show. This month, on March 23, a parking lot held 50 vehicles—from sports cars to bikes. The owners shared their car knowledge with one another and visitors. There were SUVs with huge subwoofers that were fully customized. Several cars featured FGCU window decals. Among the participants was a remodeled car dedicated to Paul Walker, like the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R from the Fast and Furious movies. Food options were provided for the community serving BBQ and sandwiches. Local businesses also participated by advertising sound systems and paint jobs. To top off the day, a concert was held with Trina the rapper as the main performer and other local music groups for entertainment. To learn more about upcoming car shows and other events, check out the riverstreet.com.
ACROSS 1 Gasp like a pup 5 Pink-slip 9 Hindi courtesy title 13 Geologic layers 19 Geometry calculation 20 Prefix in the farming industry 21 Party times, often 22 Already selected 23 Person like you 24 Polygraph failer 25 Choice rating 26 Gave a speech 27 The forest during hibernation season? 31 Catches via rope 32 Type of welder 33 Society ball rookie, for short 34 Apt. sections 37 Skip over intentionally 40 Type of pig 44 Work with much effort 45 Unfair hunting weapon? 51 Web-hopper’s landing 52 Come closer to 53 Make shrink, as light 54 Idyllic spring setting 55 Figurative expression 57 TV series genre 60 Daffy Duck, for one 62 Freedom from activity 64 Kinks song 66 Prefix for new 67 Dosage amt., sometimes 70 Military unit formed in a cave? 76 Serious bag checking org. 77 Mr. Eisenhower, informally
Cars are lined-up on Ft. Myers’ Centennial Park for a monthly car show event.
78 Word that returns 79 Swinelike beasts 80 Birds with blue eggs 83 Group convened via pope 86 Sire 87 Moving circularly 90 Golf scoring standard 92 One Great lake 94 Bucks’ mates 95 Ursine bomb droppers? 100 Socked digits 101 Like an 11-yard kick, e.g. 102 75-Down song 103 Be selective 104 Above, for poets 106 Sound heard while getting milk 108 Neighbor of Uganda 113 Fighter using its claws only? 120 “The Blue ___” (1946 flick) 122 Be paid from work 123 Myanmar currency unit 124 Roman love poet 125 “Where’s Eugene?” answer 126 Lose control via brakes 127 Implore 128 A ___ pittance 129 Many four-door cars 130 “Guarding ___” (1994 movie) 131 It requires tidying 132 Pennsylvania school (with 99-Down) DOWN 1 Pontiff-related 2 Sports venue 3 Exigencies 4 Some sweet pastries 5 Non-P.C. stock mover
6 Opposin’ 7 Creature that sidles 8 Divided peninsula 9 Young’un fit for this puzzle 10 Say with confidence 11 “Stand By Me” singer ___ King 12 Manipulative type 13 Biscuitlike cake 14 Hurt rhythmically 15 Horse type 16 Body in a huge belt 17 Simple shirt 18 Word that connects 28 Part of 15-Down 29 Mythical craft of Jason 30 Dutch cheese 35 “The Adventures of ___ and Otis” 36 Large amount 38 Like a windshield needing scraping 39 Drop of sadness 41 Roadside bomb inits. 42 Spad or brad 43 Ferret relative 44 Peter the Great was one 45 Police warners 46 Place of bliss 47 Transplant ferns 48 Start of some music syllables 49 U-turn from export 50 “What did I tell you?” 51 Walk proudly 56 Suffix with Japan 58 Dust speck 59 “Smart” guys 61 Ocean kin 63 Like only some mushrooms 65 Like old fireplaces 67 DC Comics supervillain
68 Speech from a blowhard 69 Bothersome insects, e.g. 71 Enjoy Vail 72 Bowler’s target, sometimes 73 Really stupid mistake 74 ___ Four (the Beatles) 75 Elaborate musical production 80 Spanish rivers 81 Dinner crumb 82 Cul-de-___ (some dead ends) 84 Bo Derek thriller 85 Stylish gown maker 87 Memo beginner, sometimes 88 Come to a halt 89 Despicable 91 Box score stat 93 UAE members 96 Horror film feature 97 Kenny “Babyface” ___ 98 Period of many ages (var.) 99 See 132-Across 104 Gibson garnish 105 “Good Times” surname 107 Caulk kin 109 Heavy explosive device 110 Not even once 111 Type of farm or section 112 Elizabeth of cosmetics 114 Korbut of gymnastics fame 115 Bird’s birthplace 116 Snatch or grab 117 Part of the human eye 118 Stringed instrument of old 119 Pup’s tail movements 120 A couple in Mexico 121 You ___ here
EN Photos/Katie Laudermilk
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