Volume 17, Issue 16 by Eagle News

E AGLE N E W S The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 16

WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

EST. 1997

Student Government elects University Relations Chair By Alexandra Figares Editor-in-chief @AlexandraNews_ Student Government has elected Senator Ben Yaffe as the new Pro Tempore on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The election comes just a week after former Pro Tempore Justine Cusimano stepped down from her position. Yaffe ran against two other senators, and received a very large majority of the vote. Yaffe took over the position immediately after the election. The position of Pro Tempore reports directly to Senate President Brian Cummings, and is essentially the right-hand man of the Senate President.

STUDENT GOV. NEWS The FGCU Student Government Senate met on Tuesday, Nov. 27 for their weekly Senate meeting. Here’s what was discussed: BOARD OF TRUSTEES The next BOT meeting will on January 8, 2019. ACCOMPLISHED INITIATIVES Veteran’s Day Event New charging stations (next to Jamba Juice and Howard Hall) OPEN POSITIONS Chief Justice APPROPRIATIONS REPORT RSO caps for bill requests OPEN SEATS College of Arts and Sciences: 1 College of Health and Human Services: 1 College of Engineering: 1 College of Education:1 Graduate:1 Undeclared: 1 SENATE BILLS PASSED Senate Bill 1819-038 FBLA FIRST READING Senate Bill 1819-039 Homecoming 2019

The push for legalization By Trinia Oliver Assistant Entertainment Editor @FGCUeaglenews Citizens are working to collect signatures for another petition in favor of legalizing cannabis. Tables have been set around FGCU, as activists gather to collect signatures to put a Florida Cannabis Act on future ballots. This act will allow cannabis to be sold in stores to customers of legal age, akin to the purchasing of tobacco or alcohol. The summary of the Florida Cannabis Act reads: “Regulates marijuana (hereinafter “cannabis”) for limited use and growing by persons twenty-one years of age or older. State shall adopt regulations to issue, renew, suspend, and revoke licenses for cannabis cultivation, product manufacturing, testing and retail facilities. Local governments may regulate facilities’ time, place and manner and, if state fails to timely act, may license facilities. Does not affect compassionate use of low-THC cannabis, nor immunize federal law violations.” The act supports for the legalization for a speciﬁc strain of cannabis that gives users an “intoxicated effect.” Similar to most plants cultivated today, there is more than one strand of cannabis, as explained by Sam Walch, an instructor in the department of Integrated Studies at FGCU and professor of Weed: Impact of Marijuana. Walch says there are two main “parts” to cannabis, which is hemp and marijuana —the ﬁrst which has low THC (the chemical that gets you “stoned”) and the second having high THC. “Hemp also contains high cannabidiol, the chemical

EN Photo/Trinia Oliver Dr. Martha S. Rosenthal, professor of Biological Sciences, with one of the textbooks she wrote titled Drugs: Mind, Body, and Society. which has been proven to have many health benefits including anti-inflammatory, and pain reduction. It lowers anxiety and it does not provide the psychotropic effect. It was even used in WWII for a certain time to make rope.” Some students, like first year finance major August Green, said marijuana should be legalized with a few restrictions. “But selling it [in locations like] grocery stores would be hard,” Green said. “I can’t imagine a lot of people outside of [those] who were already supporting medical marijuana in

general supporting this.” The legalization of marijuana raises ethical concerns that stretches far beyond economics. Walch explained that alcohol— as he describes a “legal drug” — is more dangerous to consume than cannabis. “Alcohol really isn’t safe at any level,” Walch said. “You can tolerate it, but it really isn’t good for you. So, with putting another drug out on the market, when given a choice between the two, from what we know right now cannabis is pretty safe—much safer than alcohol especially.”

Walch says if consumed in high doses, marijuana can cause paranoia, vomiting and some cases of hospitalization when ingesting too many edibles at once. However, according to Walch, there have been no deaths directly linked to the consumption of marijuana. Cannabis is currently labeled as a schedule one drug, which is the lowest level in the rating scale for all drugs used by the federal government, professor of biological sciences, and professor for Impact for

LEGAL > Continued on A3

FGCU Athletics has record-breaking revenue By Emily Kois Managing Editor @emilykois FGCU Athletics announced Monday that with ticketing, Eagle Club memberships, donations, fundraising events and corporate sponsorships, the university has raised a record-high $5.949 million in net external revenues for the 2018 ﬁscal year. “We are extremely proud of the collective work of our hard-working staff and very

thankful for the tremendous generosity of so many wonderful supporters,” FGCU Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh said to FGCU Athletics. “In turn, these external resources play a critical role in our ability to provide the necessary resources to our coaches and studentathletes to continue to produce at high levels academically and athletically.” A breakdown shows that ticket sales had the largest growth with a 10 percent increase from the previous year. With ticket sales

alone, the department raised $1,121,418 during the 2018 ﬁscal year. The Eagles Club also saw a large percentage increase in overall membership. The organization, which is the ofﬁcial booster association that supports all of FGCU’s 15 athletic programs through funding scholarships, recruiting budgets and special projects, saw a percent increase of twenty from 2017. The organization now totals 752 members, creating

$937,286 in revenue from memberships alone this ﬁscal year. Continued growth for this organization came after the men’s basketball team’s run in the Sweet 16 in 2013. The club also created a lot of revenue during fundraising events this ﬁscal year. The events exceeded $650,000 in revenue, largely due to the highly-successful Night at the Nest. Night at the Nest alone

REVENUE > Continued on A3

INSIDE

MAYBE THE LEFT LANE ISN’T FOR YOU

VOLLEYBALL TO HISTORIC NCAA TOURNAMENT

HEAD COACH KARL SMESKO HITS 500 WINS

‘KINDNESS PROJECT’ HELPS THE HOMELESS

It’s almost that time of year. Lines get longer and traffic gets heavier. I’m talking about Snowbird season, baby. See more on A6

For the first time in program history, the FGCU volleyball team will compete in the NCAA Division I volleyball tournament. See more on B1

During his 17 seasons at FGCU alone, Smesko holds an overall record of 43990 and a 307-68 record in the D-I era. See more on B3

Students make “Blessing Bags” that will be given to the homeless in Lee County and Bonita Springs. See more on B5

EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

A2 | NEWS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

EAGLE NEWS

N EWS

eaglenews.org

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Figares

editorinchief@eaglenews.org

MANAGING EDITOR Emily Kois

managing@eaglenews.org

ADVERTISING AND OPERATIONS MANAGER Marlene Dzib

businessmanager@eaglenews.org

NEWS EDITOR NOW HIRING

news@eaglenews.org

GRAPHICS EDITOR Audrey Mobley

graphics@eaglenews.org

ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR Bruno Halpern

entertainment@eaglenews.org

SPORTS EDITOR Jordyn Matez

Police Beat

Eagle News writes this beat from the ofﬁcial UPD weekly summary SUNDAY, NOV. 11

A residential assistant in North Lake Village called UPD about a concern they had for a resident. The resident allegedly sent out a picture will pills in their hand and a text saying “peace out b*tches. Ofﬁcers checked in with the subject who stated he/she was stressed out. The subject was advised to seek out a counselor and will receive a follow up visit.

THURSDAY, NOV. 15 Multiple calls were placed to UPD to report a bicycle verses vehicle incident located at FGCU Lake Parkway west. The bicyclist was hit, receiving an ankle injury. The bicyclist then refused transportation to the hospital and then left the scene. A traffic crash report was completed.

SUNDAY, NOV. 18

A suspicious person’s complaint was made regarding a male roaming around the second floor of South Village Everglades Hall. The subject allegedly smelled like alcohol and was confused. The subject is a resident of Biscayne and was in the wrong building. Officers escorted the subject find his proper residence.

MONDAY, NOV. 19

A called was placed to UPD regarding a single vehicle crash off campus. The complaint drove over an open manhole at the intersection of Alico and Innovation, north of FGCU Campus. The incident caused damage to the driver’s vehicle. UPS advised the Sewer Viewer Inc. to cover the open manhole.

TUESDAY, NOV. 20

A complaint claimed an to be threatened by an ex-partner and asked for officer assistance in West Lake Village. The complaint received threatening texts that read “I’m going to screw your sh*t up”. The complaint was advised to notify the subject that legal actions will be taken if the threats continue.

sports@eaglenews.org

OPINION EDITOR Sam Palmisano

opinion@eaglenews.org

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Bret Munson

photography@eaglenews.org

MEDIA EDITOR Sean Porter

media@eaglenews.org

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.

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 weekly 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.

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 editor-in-chief in writing.

EAGLE NEWS IS HIRING

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

EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 | EAGLE NEWS | NEWS | A3

N EWS LEGAL >> From A1 Marijuana said. The lower the number, posing the most danger, no recognized medical uses, and high potential for abuse and addiction. On this schedule scale, cocaine is rated a two. The difference between cannabis beneﬁts versus other drugs lie in its medical uses— for marijuana, it lies in its CBD. According to Rosenthal, high CBD helps decrease seizures, lower nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. But the U.S. medical ﬁeld still needs to do more research on it, she said. “There’s something called the therapeutic index. It’s ratio of the safety of drugs,” she said. “So, basically, it’s the ratio of the lethal dose over the affective dose. So let’s say if you take one pill and that makes you go to sleep, if you take three pills and you die, that’s a three over one—that’s a ratio

REVENUE >> From A1 raised over $575,000 in revenue. With its membership, along with the fundraising events, the Eagles Club generated nearly $1.6 million. This is a six percent increase for the second straight year. The corporate side of things also produced revenue for the department. The Corporate Sales Ofﬁce was responsible for $573,820 of net revenue to the

of lethal over affective—that’s a therapeutic index of three. That’s a dangerous drug. The lowest therapeutic index, the more danger the drug is. Alcohol is about a six.” Walch said his one worry with the possible legalization of marijuana is that it’s going to cheapen the medical end of it. However, because of its illegal status, not much studying on its beneﬁts has been accomplished—although some of the current knowledge has been accumulated from research outside of the U.S. from places like Canada, Israel and Europe. Rosenthal explained the process of getting a medicinal marijuana in Florida. “You have to go to a physician. [Then] You have to get diagnosed with whatever it is, whether it’s cancer, PTSD—there’s a list of conditions. […] That’s how it is in Florida, but it depends on which state [you live in].”

FGCU Department of Athletics. The 2018 ﬁscal year showed continual growth for FGCU. The succession of revenue for the athletics department has seen a record-breaking 35-percent increase in total revenue since 2014. In just four years, the department has accomplished nearly a $2 million growth in total revenue.

Publish your own work. Collect higher royalties and produce affordable print or e-format books. Update work or create new texts. Call Book-broker • 941-258-4920

book-broker@hotmail.com

WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE MORE The Center of Academic Achievement now includes The Writing Center to help all FGCU students SOAR to Success. Let us help you reach your academic potential with our Academic Coaching, Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, Writing Consultation, and Workshops.

Florida Gulf Coast University

Visit us in Library 103 & 202 or online at fgcu.edu/caa

Center for Academic Achievement Writing Center

Hilton Brand Hotels So Close, FGCU Is In Our Name. Special rates for FGCU visitors, only two miles from campus.

• Complimentary airport and area shuttle service • Complimentary Suite Start® hot breakfast • Complimentary Evening Social featuring fresh, light, healthy “small plate” options with beverages Monday – Thursday evenings

• Spacious, two-room suites with fully equipped kitchens and large screen HDTVs • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel • Heated pool and fitness center

16450 Corporate Commerce Way | Fort Myers, Florida 33913

CALL THE HOTEL DIRECTLY AND MENTION FGCU FOR A $95 RATE: 239-210-7200 Rate subject to availability fortmyersairportfgcu.homewoodsuites.com

• Complimentary airport and area shuttle service • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel • Guest rooms feature large, HDTVs, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee makers • Complimentary 24-hour business center

• Tropical heated pool, whirlpool, fitness center • Garden Grille & Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner • Pavilion Lounge with full bar • Meeting and banquet facilities

16410 Corporate Commerce Way | Fort Myers, Florida 33913

CALL THE HOTEL DIRECTLY AND MENTION FGCU FOR A $89 RATE: 239-210-7300 Rate subject to availability fortmyersairportfgcu.hgi.com

EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES | NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

A4 | NEWS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

N EWS

EDITOR: SAM PALMISANO | OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 | EAGLE NEWS | OPINION | A5

OPIN ION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: A Letter to the Editor can be submitted online at eaglenews.org or by emailing one of the editors to the right. When you submit a Letter to the Editor, you are giving Eagle News the right to publish your submission online and in print. Eagle News reserves the right to edit submissions for clarify,

grammar and style. There is no guarantee that all submissions will be printed. Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Eagle News staff, not necessarily the FGCU student body. The editorial board is managed by the Opinion editor and the Editor-in-Chief.

Submission guidelines: • • • •

Eagle News Editorial Department

300 words or less Must include name, grade and major Letters should focus on issues rather than personalities If your letter is in response to a particular article, please list the title and date of the article

Alexandra Figares editorinchief@eaglenews.org Editor-in-Chief Sam Palmisano opinion@eaglenews.org Opinion Editor

Get with the program, Senator Rubio By Alex Pilkington Contributing Writer @AlexForLiberty No other state in the continental U.S. is more at risk from climate change than Florida. From sea level rise to storms like Hurricane Michael and the devastating red tide spreading up our coastline, the Sunshine State might soon be the Disaster Prone State. While crusaders like Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Rep. Francis Rooney and other delegation members on the House Climate Solutions Caucus get the urgency of coming together to propose climate solutions, you’d hardly know we’re on the front lines if you talked to some lawmakers. Yes, we’re looking at you, Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio has his head stuck in a partisan sand pit. It hasn’t always been so. In 2008, when he was serving as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Rubio helped pass a sweeping bipartisan energy bill containing “bold energy policies” regarding renewable energy, climate change and the environment. “This nation and ultimately the world is headed for an emissions tax and energy diversification,” Rubio told the Florida legislature at the time. “Those changes will

require technological advances that make those measures cost effective. The demand for such advances will create an industry to meet it. Florida should become the Silicon Valley of that industry.” Ten years later, he recites talking points prepared to appeal to a base of voters who don’t reside in Florida, lines he appears to have memorized while running for president. Millennials now make up the largest voting-eligible age group. And I’m certain millennials, both conservative and liberal alike, wish he’d take a good hard look at the state he represents, the issues barreling toward our coasts, and work with his delegation mates to devise an action plan that will benefit our unique conditions. But instead of talking specific climate actions he could support, or even take the lead on, he continues to push the tired excuse he used recently on CNN’s State of the Union: “I can’t tell you what percentage of [climate change] is due to human activity and I think many scientists would debate the percentage of what is attributable to man versus normal fluctuations.” To paraphrase a scientist: scientists do in fact know that our current climate condition is 100 percent attributable to human

Photo via Twitter @mattgaetz A tweet by Congressman Matt Gaetz, representive for Florida’s 1st congressional district, addresses the reality of climate change, displaying a rare stance for a Republican to take on. activity. By way of excuse making, Rubio said in that same interview that “no matter what we do in laws… this trend will still continue.” He’s wrong there. While massive government-growing regulation is not the path most climate-conscious conservatives prefer, there are market-based free enterprise solutions that will drive down carbon emis-

sions. 2017 saw 16 billion-dollar or more disasters in the U.S., the types of events that will happen more frequently if we don’t get a grip on our carbon emissions. Rubio is unwilling to “destroy the economy” over climate change, but aren’t we already paying in a big price? “Why spend all this money on these repetitive loss properties

every time there is a hurricane,” Rep. Rooney told the Washington Examiner. “It’s kind of ridiculous isn’t it? An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Amen. Plus, it’s not a stretch to say inaction impacts the Florida economy, reliant on our tourism industries and fisheries. In the words of former Rep. Curbelo: “If we do not take care of our environment, it’s going to hurt

our economy.” No one has the right to pollute for free, but until we put a price on carbon, that’s exactly what lawmakers like Rubio are allowing to happen. And at a very steep price. FGCU has always prided itself on being a university that promotes environmentalism and sustainability, and it is beyond time that we stop looking at this issue as a partisan issue.

Riding shotgun has never been so boring By Sam Palmisano Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano My roommates and I live simple lives. We pull all-nighters in the library. Our diet consists mostly of frozen pizzas and microwavable dinners. Most importantly, we race to call “shotgun” any time we’re riding in the car. Some may say that I ﬁnd joy in life’s small victories; three straight months of riding shotgun is no small victory, though. Historically, riding shotgun in a stagecoach was an honor bestowed upon the passenger most ready to defend from potential thieves, placing his own life in danger for the protection of the group. These days, I ride shotgun with the same honor. The duties of riding shotgun have evolved over the years; navigation and handling the aux cord are the two most important responsibilities. As of late, though, riding shotgun has become less respectable. Modern technology has taken over. Most drivers have replaced their shotgun rider with a fancy dashboard display for easy navigation and entertainment. Without even glancing down from the road, drivers

can now get step-by-step GPS directions spoken aloud or shufﬂe through Spotify, sports scores, and news stories. If clicking a button on the steering wheel with their thumb is too hard, they just use the voice commands to get what they need. How can we shotgun riding enthusiasts compete with a fully automated dashboard? I rode shotgun for a friend the other day. He just leased a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. We drove for four and a half hours without him asking me to do one thing. No “where’s the nearest gas station” or “can you check the score of the Pats game” or “what’s the weather like when we get there” or “put on Disney’s Greatest Hits”. Anytime he needed something, he just clicked a button on his fancy display, and there it was. I had been replaced by a machine. He had named it Elana. I now sympathize with the taxi drivers, fast food cashiers, and paper boys in that my skills have become futile in a technologically evolving world. The only positive thing left about riding shotgun is the extra leg space, but it’s just not as gratifying. I used to get in and out of the car with

honor. The sad reality is that technology has improved so much that more and more jobs are being replaced by machines. Some see technological advancements as more efficient. I do not. Is the automated customer service that makes me go through 20 prompts before I can speak to a customer service agent that could have fixed the issue in under a minute really more efficient? Last time I went to McDonald’s, it took me way too long to order because the new machine has everything divided up into categories and you have to select options for each item you add to your order. For example, rather than walking up to the counter and ordering a cheeseburger and medium fry, I have to select “value menu, burgers, cheeseburger, add ketchup, add mustard, add pickles” then navigate my way to the sides section – because fries aren’t on the value menu anymore – and select “fries, medium, include ketchup”. If anyone needs an even better example of technology making our lives harder, just go to any grocery store with automatic

checkout. I consider it an accomplishment if I can get through the self-checkout without needing assistant from the employee because it seems like every item needs rescanned or veriﬁed. If you get through the scanning portion correctly, you have to make sure your bagging skills are up to the machine’s standards or else you’ll have to call the employee over again. As technology replaces more human jobs, are we really getting better service or easier lives? I’m not saying that technology isn’t improving our lives greatly, but at what point do we really believe that machines and computers can do a better job than humans? And what will happen when those same machines and computers begin thinking for themselves and believing they can do a better job than humans? I’d like to think that human life is valuable, and I actually enjoy human interaction. If you’d rather live your life through a screen or talking to a robot, then go for it. As for me, I’m only riding shotgun in cars made before 2016. I won’t let my dignity suffer at the hands of this new machine takeover.

EN Graphic / Audrey Mobley The traditional responsibilities of riding shotgun have been overtaken by technological advances.

EDITOR: SAM PALMISANO | OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG

A6 | OPINION | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

OPIN ION

SHARE YOUR VISION! Express your opinion through photos, illustrations, poems and short stories. Submit to opinion@eaglenews.org

Photo submitted by Skye Rodriguez

Maybe the left lane isn’t for you By Sean C Porter Media Editor @lunchtime58 How many times has this happened to you? You’re traveling south on Ben Hill Grifﬁn Pkwy., and you get stuck behind two vehicles that are both going a solid 35 mph. It’s happened one too many times to me. Today, as I was driving back to campus from Corkscrew, I ran into the exact situation. In the left lane, a 1996 Cadillac DeVille. In the right, a beige Buick Enclave. I’ll let your imagination ﬁll in the rest of the details. It was infuriating. I’m a busy person, and I’m trying

to get from point A to point B quickly and safely. The unsafe part of my trip comes when two cars decide to drive the exact same speed and box you in. If the drivers of the Cadillac DeVille and the Buick Enclave describesyou, maybe the left lane isn’t for you. If you are hauling a boat on I-75 and you decide that the right and middle lanes just don’t cut it, you should probably think twice. Maybe the left lane isn’t for you. If you’re scared of every car that passes by your Volkswagen Beetle, maybe the left lane isn’t for you. If you drive an old Monte Carlo that is struggling

to get near the speed limit and whose right blinker only occasionally works, the left lane ain’t it, chief. If you are wondering if the left lane is right for you, please consult others about your driving behaviors. If they hesitate in any way, the left lane isn’t for you. This is not to say, however, that people should speed. I’ve had too many close calls with careless drivers going too fast around parking garages, and this is equally bad. Instead of rushing to get everywhere, leave a little earlier. Remember, you’re not driving a toy. You’re driving a piece of heavy machinery.

AP Photo We’re approaching the time of the year where traffic comes to a halt. Snowbird season.

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 Sam Palmisano | Opinion Editor | @SamPalmisano

“What are you most thankful for?”

“I’m thankful for the opportunities I have been given, the friendships made and strengthened, and my family that always supports me.”

- Katy Johnson, Junior

“I am most thankful for my community. I am from Fort Myers and I am so thankful for how much this city has grown and has poured out. I love being able to serve my community an watch it grow - especially our college part of the town.”

“I’m most thankful for being given the opportunity to come to college and create a future for my self and my future family. I am also thankful for the opportunity to use this opportunity as a catalyst to change the lives of those around me through leadership positions and friendships.”

- Allison Croes, Senior

- Bjorn Atkinson, 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, NOVEMBER 28 | EAGLE NEWS | SPORTS | B1

SPORTS

EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

COACH SMESKO REACHES 500 WINS FGCU women’s basketball head coach Karl Smesko recently reached 500 career wins as a head coach. See more on B3

Volleyball heads to historic NCAA tournament appearance By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez

A.) 4-5 B.) 5-5 C.) 6-5 2. What is women’s basketball record against Houston? A.) 1-0 B.) 0-1 C.) No previous history 3. When did men’s basketball become Division I? A.) 2007 2011 B.) 20 C.) 2005 4. Who has the most points in women’s basketball history? A.) Sarah Hansen B.) Whitney Knight C.) Taylor Gradinjan EN Photo/ Bret Munson

From left, Maggie Rick, Dana Axner, Snowy Burnam and Daniele Serrabo celebrate a match-winning point in a midseason matchup against Kenessaw State University. American Athletic Conference throughout the entirety of their season. FGCU currently holds an impressive winning-streak of their own, however, having defeated 15 teams in a row.

The Eagles have not dropped a match since Oct. 5. This will be the third matchup between the Knights and the Eagles this season alone, with FGCU playing UCF in their ﬁrst tournament of the

season as well as in a midseason tournament. home arena at the Volleyknights Invitational in midSeptember.

>>Continued on B3

5. Who holds the record for most freshman of the week awards for volleyball? A.) Daniele Serrano B.) Cortney Vanliew C.) Dana Axner Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. C

For the ﬁrst time in program history, the FGCU volleyball team will compete in the NCAA Division I volleyball tournament, beginning with a match against the University of Central Florida on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. The Eagles will be entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, while the Knights sit at the No. 13 seed in the tournament. Should the Eagles defeat UCF, they will continue on to the second round in Orlando on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. This will be the team’s ﬁrst match since their ASUN championship match, where they defeated Kennesaw State University 3-2 to win the conference championship. Along with this, the team’s 15-1 conference record also gave them a regular-season conference title. Regardless of their conference success, the Eagles will still be entering the tournament as the underdogs. UCF is currently ranked as the number 10 seed nationally, whereas FGCU sits in the number 47 spot, according to the latest NCAA rankings. UCF has also won each of their last 25 matches and remained undefeated in the

1. What is men’s basketball record against FIU?

THIS WEEK IN ATHLETICS By Alyssa Delia Staff Writer @FGCUEagleNews

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. FIU

The men’s basketball team will be hosting a game against FIU at Alico Arena on Wednesday, Nov.28 at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles are coming in with a 2-6 overall

By Alyssa Delia Staff Writer @FGCUEagleNews

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The women’s basketball team will be hosting a game against the University of Houston at Alico Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.

record along with a four-game losing streak following a loss against FAU. The Panthers are coming in with a 6-1 record after beating Ave Maria 104-84 this past week. The last time these two faced off was during the 2017-18 season, the Panthers beat the Eagles in a close game of 91-88. Next, the Eagles will be playing Colgate at home on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m.

The Eagles are coming in with a 4-2 overall record, most recently winning two of three played games at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown this past weekend. The Cougars are coming in with a 3-4 record after losing to New Mexico 84-89. This will be the first time these two teams ever face off.

VS. HOUSTON

By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez VOLLEYBALL

VS. UCF

The FGCU volleyball team is set to travel to Orlando, Florida to compete in the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament against UCF on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.

By Alyssa Delia Staff Writer @FGCUEagleNews

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. COLGATE

This is the first NCAA tournament appearance for the Eagles, who are currently upholding a 15-game win streak. The Knights have won their last 23 games and are ranked No. 10 nationally. FGCU and UCF met up twice earlier this season, where UCF defeated FGCU both times.

The Eagles are coming in with a 2-6 overall record along with a four-game losing streaj following a loss against FAU. This will be the first time that these two teams face off. The men’s basketball team will be hosting a Next, FGCU will be playing Oral game against Colgate University at Alico Arena Roberts on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m.

Cortney VanLiew 445 kills, 295 digs Snowy Burnam 237 kills, 222 digs Maggie Rick 816 assists, 240 digs Daniele Serrano 222 kills, 157 blocks Sharonda Pickering 211 kills, 123 blocks Dana Axner 578 digs

Hannif Cheatham 13.7 points per game 5 rebounds per game 1.9 assists per game Christian Carlyle 12.3 points per game 4.9 rebounds per game 1.7 assists per game Schadrac Casimir 10.7 points per game 1.7 rebounds per game 1.7 assists per game

Keri Jewett-Giles 14.5 points per game 2.3 rebounds per game 2 assists per game 2 steals per game Nasrin Ulel 10 points per game 2.5 rebounds per game Chandler Ryan 10 points per game 2.5 rebounds per game 2.5 assists per game Lisa Zderadicka 8 points per game 2.8 rebounds per game 2.5 assists per game 1.5 steals per game

EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

B2 | SPORTS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

SPOR TS

EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 | EAGLE NEWS | SPORTS | B3

SPOR TS

Women’s basketball head coach Karl Smesko hits 500 wins By Jordyn Matez Sports Editor @JordynMatez Following a win against American University at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown this past weekend, FGCU women’s basketball head coach Karl Smesko has snagged his 500th career head coaching victory. This includes his time coaching three seasons at Walsh University and IPFW along with his years at FGCU. Smesko achieved this milestone in just 616 games for an overall head coaching record of 500116. During his 17 seasons at FGCU alone, Smesko holds an overall record of 439-90, with a 307-68 record in the Division-I era. Smesko’s current record ranks him as the third winningest active Division-I head coach, only behind EN Photo / Bret Munson Geno Auriemma of the FGCU women’s basketball head coach Karl Smesko addresses the crowd at the annual Dunk City After Dark kickoff event for both basketball teams. SmesUniversity of Connecticut ko recently recorded his 500th win as a head coach this past weekend with a win over American University at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. and Kim Mulkey of Baylor The only other teams Smesko continues become Division-I’s all- Division-I games and seasons, Smesko has University. He also recently time leader in winning is on pace to become coached the Eagles to successful seasons with to achieve this are Duke became the fifth percentage by the end of No. 1 all-time once they 125 wins, which is the FGCU every year, guiding University, the University most among all mid- the Eagles to eight- of Louisville and Saint surpass 350 wins. winningest head coach next season. The only other team major programs and the straight 25-win seasons Mary’s College. The NCAA ranks of all-time, also ranking by percentage that currently holds an seventh-most among any and 14 straight 20-win among the top 20 teams Coach Smesko and the seasons, making FGCU FGCU women’s basketball winningest coaches all- with a minimum of 10 .800 or above percentage Division-1 program. The program is also one of only four schools team will return home years and 350 wins as a is the University of time across all divisions. Tennessee with a .808 one of only six Division-I in the nation to have both to look for another win According to FGCU Division-I school. FGCU currently percentage over 1,344 teams with three 30- basketball teams win at against the University of Athletics, Smesko has win seasons during this least 20 games in six- Houston on Wednesday, the women’s basketball holds an .821 winning wins. straight seasons. Over the past four period of time. over 303 program on track to percentage Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.

>> Continued from B1 FGCU volleyball head coach Matt Botsford told the News-Press that the team was expecting to play UCF, and that they’ve prepared accordingly. Botsford mentioned that the tournament selections are a bit more predictable and that he wasn’t surprised with the outcome of the team’s placement. The Eagles began their season with a bump when senior Amanda Carroll suffered a season-ending knee injury in her fifth match of the season. Carroll currently holds the program’s all-time kill record and was expected to be a key player for the Eagles in her last season. In the absence of Carroll, FGCU sophomore Cortney VanLiew took her place as the team’s lead outside hitter and, by the end of the regular season, was unanimously selected as the ASUN Player of the Year. VanLiew was also named the Sunshine State Challenge MVP in the team’s first tournament of the season, logging a team-high 16 kills in their match against UCF. This was three more than Carroll’s 13 kills in that same match. VanLiew currently holds a .248 overall hitting percentage and averages 4.45 points per set. Freshman Dana Axner has also been a key player in her first season with FGCU, most recently being named the ASUN Freshman of the Week for the sixth time during the week of Nov. 12. This feat gave Axner the all-time record holder for the most Freshman of the Week awards to a player in the ASUN Conference. Axner, a defensive specialist, led the team in digs in most matches all season. Her season-high was against West Virginia University, where she logged 39 digs. Axner currently averages 5.16 digs per set and, as a Freshman, holds the program’s Division-I era program single-match record due to her performance against West Virginia as well as the Division-I era record for most

digs in a three-set match after her 28-dig performance against Stetson University. Other leading players include junior Daniele Serrano, who currently holds a .359 hitting percentage while averaging 2.92 points per set, and senior Maggie Rick, who most recently became the program’s all-time assists leader with 4,467 assists. The FGCU volleyball team will look to add to their 15-game win streak when they take on the UCF Knights in Orlando, Florida on this Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.

EN Photo/ Bret Munson

FGCU volleyball’s Cortney VanLiew sends the ball over the net during a home game in the regular season. VanLiew is one of the volleyball team’s key players, currently averaging 4.45 points per set.

EDITOR: JORDYN MATEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG

B4 | SPORTS | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

A week in review:

SPOR TS

Women’s basketball prevails in Hawaii Women’s basketball On Nov. 23 the Eagles lost to Stanford 88-65. The Eagles shot 36% from the field with 20 rebounds, eight steals and nine assists. Keri Giles-Jewett led the team with 17 points, two rebounds, one steal and one assist. Nasrin Ulel had 13 points and one rebound. On Nov. 24, FGCU won agaisnt Hawaii 73-67. The Eagles shot 43% from the field with 29 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 steals. Nasrin Ulel lead the team with 17 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. Keri Giles-Jewett had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. FGCU won against American University on Nov. 25 90-71. The Eagles shot 50% from the field with 26 rebounds, 17 assists and 13 steals.

Men’s basketball On Nov. 20, the Eagles lost to Colorado State 82-74. FGCU had 30 rebounds, 10 assists, seven steals and two blocks. Haanif Cheatham had 18 points and six rebounds. Christian Carlyle had 10 points and six rebounds. On Nov. 21, FGCU lost to UTSA 76-65. FGCU shot 39.3% from the field. The team had 31 rebounds, 11 assists. Christian Carlyle led the team with 16 points, two steals and three rebounds. Haanif Cheatham 14 points, four rebounds and one block. On Nov. 25, the Eagles lost to FAU 85-68. The Eagles shot 45% from the field with 27 rebounds, 10 assists and eight steals. Haanif Cheatham had 20 points, three rebounds and three steals. Schadrac Casimir had 15 points, two rebounds and one steal.

Christian Carlyle Junior 6 feet 6 inches Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.

Photo courtesy of Brad Young

Alyssa Blair of FGCU women’s basketball looks for the net during a recent home game. The FGCU women’s basketball team won two of three played games this past weekend at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown.

Christian Carlyle has been solid so far this season. He is averaging over 10 points a game after starting the season slow. During the San Diego State University game, Carlyle played almost every minute of the game helping the team get a solid win by scoring 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. During the Dunk City Showcase, he averaged 13 points, 3.6 rebounds, one assist and one steal. He had a season-high 20 points scored against Michigan, nine rebounds against Illinois State and five assists against San Diego State University. As a sophomore, Carlyle played in 27 games and averaged 5.1 points and 2.3 rebounds.

EDITOR: BRUNO HALPERN | ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 | EAGLE NEWS | ENTERTAINMENT | B5

E N TER TA IN M EN T & LIFESTYLE

TOP EVENTS OF THE WEEK THU

7:30 pm - 10 pm

HANUKKAH THEMED MEETING

Merwin Hall 115 Free Food Celebrate Hanukkah with a movie and traditional food!

SAT

6 pm - 7 pm

WINTER SHOWCASE Veterans’ Pavillion Free food

FGCU Dance Company will perform ballet, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and more. The Improv Club will perform as well.

TUE

6:30 am - 7:30 am

SUNRISE YOGA

North Lake Waterfront Free food

De-stress before heading into Finals Week. Coffee and donuts for free. Bring a towel or yoga mat.

‘Kindness Project’ brings essential items to the homeless population in Lee County

EN Photo/Bruno Halpern Students help fill out bags that will be distributed to the homeless of Lee County.

EN Photo/Bruno Halpern Over 215 bags were filled out by the students. The goal is to have 500 of them.

EN Photo/Bruno Halpern Professor Bill O’Dell and his students, and Matthew Wallace, Homeless Outreach Coordinator, stand with the “Blessing Bags” that will be given to the homeless.

By Bruno Halpern E&L Editor @fgcueaglenews The Lee County homeless population is increasing dramatically. According to the Lee County Homeless Coalition (LCHC) website, there was an increase of 103 percent in the chronic homeless population. To help solve, or at least, alleviate this scenario, the LCHC and FGCU have teamed with the Bonita Springs Lions Club and area businesses to distribute “Blessing Bags” for the homeless community of Fort Myers. The project is headed by FGCU Professor Bill O’Dell and Honors Student Kayla Hannibal. Students from four classes have partnered with and received grants from organizations such as the Bonita Springs Lions Club and the FGCU Honors College. They have also received donations from businesses such as Target, Walmart, Eddie Bauer, Costco and Home Depot. “We put together basically es-

sential items for the homeless,” said O’Dell. “That would just simply make them more comfortable in their everyday lives.” Before Thanksgiving, O’Dell invited students from his Colloquium classes to help bag various essential items, such as deodorant, toothpaste, and bug spray. According to the organizers, more than 215 bags were packed, and each with products worth between $15 to $25, the Kindness Project. The goal is to prepare 500 bags by the end of January. “Hurricane Michael hurt us this year as far as getting donations,” O’Dell said. “I’m happy with what we did. It’s going for a good cause. It’s an issue we all need to be interested in.” “That’s why we do the Kindness Project, to make someone’s life a little bit better,” O’Dell said. “We have the means to help. It’s good for you, it’s good for them, and you feel good inside.” Service learning hours are available for any student that wants to

help. Matthew Wallace, the Homeless Outreach Coordinator for the Lee County Human and Veteran Services, was there to support the initiative. He has done non-profit work with Heights Foundation and was two-time Rotary club president for Estero. “My job is to work with people that have been chronically homeless for a year,” Wallace said. “They live in places that are not meant for human habitation, like in a tend or in a car.” Wallace explains that one of the reasons that homelessness is rising in Lee County is because Lee is one of the top growth areas in the whole nation. “Everyone wants to come down to Lee County. We went from being the number one growth county in America in 2000 to the foreclosure capital in 2008, and now we’re back at the top growth areas in the nation again. “There are thousands of people moving into the county every month.

A fair market for a one-bedroom house is $1,160. And most people that get social security and get some sort of income from the government for whatever disabilities or issues get only $750.” According to Wallace, the steps toward homelessness are not so obvious at first and may take people by surprise. “What usually happens is that a person has a job, a boyfriend or girlfriend, and they have a place to live and a car, and then one or two of those things fall apart,” Wallace said. “That’s when people need to reach out for help. I see people that only reach out for help when they already lost everything when they are living in a motel, when they have no money.” According to Wallace, people end up residentially challenged for many different reasons. The main reason, both in Florida and nationwide, is unemployment. The second reason is mental health, and that’s something Lee County is struggling to solve.

According to Wallace, Florida is the last out of all 50 states in mental health funding. The reason is that mental health services in Lee County are overwhelmed. The solution to this problem, besides palliative projects like the Kindness Project, is providing housing. “What the nation is doing now is housing first,” Wallace said. “We believe that if we get people in housing that will help them take care of many issues that are preventing them from moving forward with their lives. It’s tough to get a job if you’re outside. You can’t stay clean and dry.” “The goal of this project is to bring awareness to the underserved in Lee County, and give back to the community,” Professor O’Dell said. “The classes are encouraging people to donate or help out in any way possible. A little bit of kindness can go a long way.” Any questions, concerns or for more information can be directed to Prof. Bill O’Dell at bodell@fgcu.edu or (559) 930-8658.

B6 | ENTERTAINMENT | EAGLE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

EDITOR: BRUNO HALPERN | ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG

E N TER TA IN M EN T & LIFESTYLE

The best ways to enjoy winter in Florida — kind of

EN Photo/Bruno Halpern Decorations illuminate 5th Avenue in Naples.

By Trinia Oliver Assistant E&L Editor @fgcueaglenews The end of the semester is upon us and it brings the welcoming Christmas decorations but also the not-so-welcoming finals’ week stress. Also, winter is almost here, but the chilly winds of the north, barely. After all, Florida’s winter is, luckily or not, still pretty hot. So, it can be difficult for Floridians to get in sync with the “ spirit of the season” when the weather is still pretty hot. Despite the weather differences, there are a few activities to do that can still bring some of the holiday cheer even without the cold and snow. For nature-lovers, wildlife is always an option. With the changing seasons bring a new variety of them, including migrating birds and manatees. Getting tour guides at your favorite local preserve, visiting the zoo, or even going on walks on the beach are safe ways of viewing the animals in their natural habitat. In relation to the beach, while visiting there, a fun twist to try with friends or family is taking the fun tradition of snowman-building and modify it into building a “sandman” -- for its mouth, use a shell while the nose can be a pointing spire seashell, and

ACROSS 1 Depletes, as energy 5 Targeted golf score 8 Packard’s cohort 15 Batman has one 19 Rolled sandwich 20 Truth decay unit 21 Asthma sufferer’s aid 22 Lysol fights it 23 Large, richlycolored floater 26 Kunis of TV and film 27 Decanted 28 Weaponizers 29 Espresso, cappuccino and others 31 Pooch with Lady 32 With blazing eyes 33 French city on the Garonne River 34 ___ fly (RBI scorer) 36 Court barrier 37 Blossom of fall 38 Where your face can peel 41 What to tidy up 44 Connect in space 46 Be a pioneer 50 Snarer in a pantry 52 Noted Brit. ref. source 54 Chow for cows 55 Says, as one’s opinion 56 “I’m c-c-c-cold!” 58 It’s ample in a warehouse 62 Edge provider 63 Estranged 65 Soccer ball stopper 66 Predominately aquatic insect

the eyes made out of stones. Also, kayaking, surfing or even paddleboarding can kind of substitute skiing (hey, we’re doing our best here). Another option is enjoying local festivals. This is a fantastic way to get more into the Christmas spirit even amidst the heat. These include the Cape Coral Arts and Music Festival, the Art Fest in Fort Myers, and Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival in Bonita Springs. Besides, Art Walks occur on every first Friday of each month and Music Walks on third Fridays. Both of them happen in the Downtown Fort Myers River District. More fun activities throughout Southwest Florida include holiday boat parades in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, free Christmas movie viewing in Cape Coral, and the Sunset Celebration at Time Square in Fort Myers. Also, FGCU will be hosting several winter-themed events and performances. These include FGCU’s Winter Wonderland on on Nov. 30 from 8 to 11pm at the Library Lawn. Also, a performance called Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells is being held in FGCU’s Bower School of Music & the Arts, dates starting on Nov. 30 at 7:30pm. If none of these work for you, be sure to join us in prayer for the Christmas banner on Fort Myers Beach. weather to get colder.

69 Canadian city 71 How seaweed moves 72 Blood of mythical gods 76 States of being 78 “7 Faces of Dr. ___” 79 Speak hypnotically 80 Kind of ctr. 81 Road makeup 82 Fly catcher 84 Seeks alternatives, in a way 88 Ruler ruling Tolstoy 91 Relay, as a message 92 Donkey kin 93 Figurative expression 95 Common degrees 97 Turkey serving 99 Invectives 102 Indian guitars 105 Peruvian pack beast 110 Too quickly 111 49-Down piece? 112 Dam constructor 113 Thor’s dad 114 Witnesses’ insect? 117 Ding-a-___ 118 Awakening 119 Din detector 120 Snaky warning 121 Like prudent advice 122 Pitfalls 123 With no use for a towel 124 Cut down, as a dragon DOWN 1 Won all the games 2 Money car’s protector 3 ___ New Guinea 4 Whale with a square snout

5 Tread lightly? No way. 6 Broadcast to the masses 7 Change from plastic to paper 8 Dirty-hands-getter in the mob 9 Came in 10 Cabbie’s query 11 Scandinavian guy’s name 12 Santa’s underling 13 Phone service providers, briefly 14 Wannabe cheerleaders’ events 15 Ease 16 Bye at a French tournament? 17 Ends of the Earth? 18 Eliminate from the board 24 Account execs 25 WWW address 30 Run away 32 Successful server 33 Former linebacker Spikes 35 Pts., tsps., etc. 38 Chimney coat 39 Couple together 40 Confronts aggressively 42 Mink variety 43 Track meet participants 45 Reminder that it’s winter 47 Cuisine type 48 Sneaker feature 49 Peeper 50 Motor homes, for short 51 Cool dude, old-style 53 Orphan calf (var.) 57 Mr. Philbin 58 Wild 59 Putrefy 60 Salty, as tears

61 Stringed instrument pluckers 63 ___-garde 64 Jarrett or Beatty 67 Wowed state 68 Forgo a splashy wedding 69 Clumsy fellows 70 Lyme disease carrier 73 “___ it goin’?” 74 Small bills 75 Civil War participant, briefly 76 Prohibition, historically 77 Actress Phoebe 79 Running without moving 83 Pandora’s release 85 Peculiar 86 Colored 49Down section 87 Dr. Scholl’s offering 89 Cast off or chop off 90 Transport on tracks 94 Lung membrane 96 Shoplifts 98 Watkins ___, N.Y. 99 Early stringed instruments 100 Where rupees are circulated 101 Unspecified object 103 Type of welder 104 Dashed with others 106 Backing strips 107 To no ___ (worthless) 108 Brainy group 109 Like craft expos 111 Slow-moving creature 112 Hide, in a way 115 Jon ___ Jovi 116 Craft blade

EN Photo/Bruno Halpern

UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD CREEP-Y By Timothy E. Parker

*THE FIRST THREE STUDENTS TO BRING THEIR COMPLETED CROSSWORD PUZZLES TO THE EAGLE NEWS ROOM IN MCTARNAGHAN #201 WILL RECEIVE FREE EAGLE NEWS SWAG* TO SEE THE SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE, GO TO EAGLENEWS.ORG

8/12