Happy New Year?
Social Justice FGCU values diversity. Learn about what theyʼre doing to be more inclusive!
New Year, Same Pandemic Weʼre ringing in 2021, but has anything really changed from last year?
Talented Transfers This seasonʼs heating up as new FGCU athletes come to protect the Nest!
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Opinion 14-17, 21-22 @eaglenews
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Sports 12-13, 18-20 Eagle News
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 the news 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.
Cover photo by Julia Bonavita Cover design by Erika Sauer
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New Congress Act Looks Promising for Live Entertainment Industry By Nina Mendes, News & Features Editor
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he live entertainment industry has faced great adversity since the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19. In March of last year, venues across the country were forced to close their doors with no idea of when they would open again. This uphill battle continues ten months later for some small and independently-owned businesses. Although states have begun to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, the status of when large-scale, live music will return remains clouded by uncertainty. According to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), nearly 90% of US independent venues face a permanent shutdown and are estimated to lose almost $9 billion in revenue following COVID-19. NIVA is a group of 3,000 independent venues across the country that petitioned Congress for targeted
legislation to help these businesses stay afloat. “This is the lifeline our industry [that] so desperately needs to emerge from a devastating year,” Dayna Frank, Board President of NIVA, said in a public statement. “Without independent venues and promoters across the country working to engage their communities, staff and artists, our voices would not have been heard.” NIVA, along with the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), created the Save Our Stages Act and asked the government to provide critical funding to help independent venue operators survive. NIVA had great success with sharing its mission on social media using #SaveOurStages. The tag racked up over 76K posts on Instagram since its debut in July 2020. According to an article by Forbes, Lady Gaga, Dave Grohl, Billie Eilish, Graphics By Clayton Petro
4 Neil Young, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson and Coldplay are among 600 artists who signed the official letter to Congress written by NIVA. NIVA also reported that supporters sent 2.1 million emails to elected officials expressing their support for the Save Our Stages Act. The Act was sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the Senate, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) in the House and championed by Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The Save Our Stages Act passed with 230 bipartisan cosponsors in Congress on Dec. 21, 2020. “We are thankful for those tireless efforts,” Frank said in a public statement. “Careers came to a standstill overnight, and people continue to face personal hardships, which is why legislation like this is essential.” With the funding for the Save Our Stages Act secured, NIVA launched an Emergency Relief fund earlier this month. The organization is awarding grants to the most distressed independent venues until the funds begin to flow from Congress. The Orpheum in Tampa is one
venue that voiced its excitement on Instagram about the passing of the Save Our Stages Act. “Many venues, The Orpheum included, had to consider shutting down and saying goodbye,” the post read. “It is with some relief that we see a possible light at the end of the tunnel for The Orpheum and other small, independent live music venues.” This great advancement looks promising for the live entertainment industry, but the question remains of when venues will return to a sense of normalcy. Many concerts in 2020 were postponed to 2021 in hopes that COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted. However, mask-wearing and social distancing are still very much present at this time. “It is [our] sincere hope that [the Save Our Stages Act] will help The Orpheum, and our peers, stay afloat until this pandemic comes to a close,” The Orpheum wrote on social media. “[We’re waiting for when] our fans can return to rooms, halls, theaters and stages for the one thing that we loved together: live music.”∎ Graphics By Clayton Petro
Painful But Steady: FGCU Works to Become More Diverse and Inclusive
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By Sabrina Salovitz, Assistant Editor
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his past November, signs promoting a Nazi group were posted across the campus at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The stickers, which read Hitler is Right and Smash White Guilt, were taken down immediately. The FGCU Police Department held an investigation, and the individual who posted the stickers was issued a trespass warning. The person was not a student or university employee and had no other affiliation with the school, so that was the end of it. For many at FGCU, this incident was just a reminder that this was not the first time the school has been impacted by bigotry. In 2016, a message that read KILL (N-word) and a drawing of a stick figure hanging from a tree appeared on a whiteboard in Seidler Hall. Soon after,
Photo By Reid Banish
Noose Tying 101 was written on a library whiteboard. “Please know that we hear you,” Susan Evans said in a 2016 email sent to staff and students in response to a protest about the school’s response to the incident. “We will work with you to do all we can together to make everyone who studies, works and visits here feel safe, respected and valued.” For some, that promise has not been enough. Students have begun organizing and coming together to push for change. Yvedlie Dauphin is one of those students. Dauphin is the secretary for the FGCU branch of the NAACP and a part of one of the student groups who formed the Coalition for Racial Justice (CRJ). The CRJ was founded in May of 2020, as protests erupted across the world following the death of George Floyd. The student founders were members of other
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campus activist groups, and they aimed over 8% Black and/or African American, to create greater cooperation between those Dauphin said there is a community here, groups. and she praises the organizations that “The reason why we wanted it to be a helped her find it. mixture of Rose Charles different is the treasurer “I think they’re really starting to organizations of the Black was so that it understand the importance of the Student didn’t have Alliance Black students on this campus.” to rely on and is also individuals,” involved with Dauphin said. “But [instead], on different several other Black and minority-based organizations.” organizations on campus. She believes CRJ meets biweekly and has 37 members. that FGCU has made great strides toward The group’s purpose is to work with the fostering a more diverse and inclusive university’s administration, and Dauphin environment. praised the school’s leadership for its “I think they’re really starting to willingness to listen to students of color. understand the importance of the Black “I think the fact that [FGCU] has been students on this campus,” Charles said. “I willing to hear us out is a step in the right think FGCU is doing a much better job than direction,” Dauphin said. they originally were at just making sure we CRJ has spoken to the administration feel more included.” about a variety of issues. They held a In the last year, FGCU Athletics appointed meeting after the Nazi stickers were posted Jeremy Boreland as Chief Diversity and across campus to voice their concerns, and Inclusion Officer and launched their Eagles they have discussed diversifying FGCU’s against Injustice initiative. social media. Charles said that there is a great Dauphin said that when she first started at community for Black students at FGCU. the university, she struggled with a sense of She believes that it is essential for them to isolation at our majority-white school. She have a place to go to feel heard. continued to feel alone until she attended “I think more Black students are starting a Black Student Alliance event, where she to realize that there are spaces where they met other students of color. can come and feel welcome,” Charles said. “It was an amazing feeling,” Dauphin “We do all that we can to make the black said. “I come from a diverse area. So, when students on campus feel like they can talk to I came here and it was mostly white, I felt us.” the need to find groups that had people who A pivotal event in FGCU’s history was look like me and shared my culture.” the introduction of a course called White Although the population of FGCU is just Racism in 2018 by Ted Thornhill. The
class caused backlash in the Southwest Florida community. Thornhill even received death threats. Campus police officers were stationed near the classroom, which made national headlines. The course, and the attention it drew, started a larger conversation at FGCU. For Black students, this conversation was vital. Certain departments at the school are more open than others, Dauphin noted, saying that the University Police Department has not been receptive to input from Black students and organizations. Dauphin criticized UPD for disabling comments on most of its social media posts since April of this year. “Every instance of power should be held accountable,” Dauphin said. “I feel like disabling the comments was a way to decrease accountability.” Dauphin believes that a lack of communication between the UPD and the student body has meant that students of color are less likely to call when they need help. She also stressed that the CRJ is not anti-cop and believes that the UPD can still work to improve its relationship with students of color. “I think that they will have to work hard to restore that trust in
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the future,” Dauphin said. She also said that one of the biggest issues that students of color have with the UPD is the department’s unwillingness to say black lives matter. “Their excuse was that it was a political statement,” Dauphin said, referencing an email that she received in June from UPD Officer Myles Kittleson. Officer Kittleson addressed questions about the UPD’s accountability and its support for Black students in the email. “BLM is a political activist group that, in its beginning, was extremely anti-police [with] one of the platforms to defund police,” Officer Kittleson wrote. “We want to be inclusive, not exclusive. So black, Hispanic, Asian, white, gay, lesbian, trans… it doesn’t matter. All people need to be treated equally with respect and dignity.” Charles also questioned the sincerity of the UPD’s claim to nonpartisanship, explaining that the group’s Instagram follows several conservative pages, including the group Students for Trump. Dauphin also referenced a now-deleted 2018 post from the h s i n Ba UPD’s y Reid Photo B Instagram that included an image of the Thin
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Blue Line flag. The flag, a black and white American flag with a single blue stripe, represents all law enforcement but has been used as a symbol for the Blue Lives Matter movement since 2016. UPD Chief Steven Moore said that he has met with the NAACP of Lee County, and he has sent out emails stating that the UPD was willing to speak with any student group on any topic. He said that he had not received any requests. “Concerning BLM, it is not a slogan; it is an organization,” Moore said. “Like most organizations, there will be some parts I agree with and some I don’t. I don’t agree with the general across-theboard statement ‘defund the police.’” On the other hand, President Martin has been very clear in his support for the BLM movement. Martin said, “Yes, black lives matter.” President Martin, an NAACP member for 40 years, has stated that diversity, equity and inclusion
are central to FGCU’s commitment to excellence. “One thing I noticed about President Martin is that he has done a good job at acknowledging the Black Lives Matter movement,” Charles said. “I know how passionate he is about making minorities on this campus feel safer and more included.” Charles said that she believes that the school has done better at reaching out to minority students. Dauphin and Charles both said they were pleased with the direction that most of FGCU’s leadership has taken toward creating a more diverse and inclusive environment. They also said there is hard work to come, not only at FGCU but nationally. “We are much better off now than we were 50 years ago in terms of racial equality, but we’re still not truly equal,” Dauphin said. “It’s up to us now to take action and create change.”∎ Photo by Cla
y Banks
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SWFL Hotspot of the Month:
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Conscious Space
By Patience Cole, Contributing Writer
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ucked away on the side of South Tamiami Trail is a zero-waste shop called Conscious Space. During the past year, despite the challenges of COVID-19, Conscious Space has kept its business earth-friendly and community-oriented. Guests can shop for everyday items that are ethically made and better for the environment. With two-thirds of the store’s product made by locals and independent businesses, Conscious Space curates a wide variety of items. “One of the store’s main goals is to support people over profit,” said Cathy Shepardson, owner of Conscious Space. “We’re all about helping support the community.” Working with small businesses allows the shop to ensure that products are ethically produced. Instead of focusing on pushing out large amounts of items and creating waste, Conscious Space focuses on quality over quantity. “There’s almost this idea that natural products are simply less effective when that is not the case,” Shepardson said. Shepardson hopes that the shop can educate people on effective, eco-friendly multi-use alternatives to everyday items and make them more accessible to the general population. Conscious Space also markets its products to all demographics. The store’s diverse selection has options for all ages, genders, and races. For example, its array of skin and hair care products accounts for all colors and textures. One of the shop’s best-sellers is its African black soap, which is imported from Ghana. According to Shepardson, the soap is made at a woman-owned African business where proceeds go towards building an
Photo By Patience Cole
Photo by Patience Cole education center for their community. Conscious Space enjoys finding ways to support various groups of people. They are vocal about the social issues they support. In 2020, the shop had a donation jar for the Black Lives Matter movement. The money was given to The Bail Project and the Minnesota Freedom Fund. Today, the store collects donations to support Black Earth Farms, an organization pushing to help underprivileged communities build better, cleaner food systems. Conscious Space is happy to announce they purchased the location next door and is looking to host zero-waste education workshops soon. The shop frequently posts to their social media channels to update their following about recent progress. Stay tuned for what’s to come!∎
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Tishara Morehouse
Coming into her first year of eligibility at FGCU, Morehouse was looking to fill some pretty big shoes with 90 percent of the Eagles’ scoring having graduated. And she has done that on more than one occasion. In only her second game of the season, Morehouse dropped a season-high and teamhigh 35 points in their Nov. 28 matchup against Arkansas. She followed that up by putting up 19 and 25 points in her next two games. Morehouse has shown that she is more than reliable when on the court, and that is why Head Coach Karl Smesko has continued to keep her in games. Tishara has played under 30 min in only one game this season, a game where she had 18 points and 6 assists. She leads the team in minutes, averaging 32.9 minutes on the season. And while she has scored the most points on the team, Morehouse is averaging 17.4 points on the season, which is second under FGCU standout Kierstan Bell. Morehouse is also second on the team in assists, right behind teammate Emma List.
Photo by Julia Bonavita
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By Jake Henning Sports Editor
Cyrus Largie
Cyrus Largie has been nothing short of impressive for the Eagles this season, and has continued to improve throughout every single game. Coming into the year, Largie was not a part of the starting lineup for the Green and Blue, but for the last four games, he has earned a spot in that five with his play. Over the course of those four games, Largie has averaged 13.5 points for the Eagles. Largie tallied a career-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Georgia Southern, while adding a team-high eight rebounds on the night. He has now earned the second spot on FGCU’s leading scorers list, behind Caleb Catto. Largie is showing why he earned that scholarship given to him at the end of his freshman season. He has continued to play valuable minutes for the Eagles and come up with some extremely impressive hustle plays that have turned into clutch points for FGCU. Largie is only improving and will continue to showcase his talents when the Eagles begin their conference play.∎
Photo by Julia Bonavita
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What’s the Deal with Resolutions? By Erica Fish, Staff Writer
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h. New year and new goals. Sounds all good, but do you actually stick to them? Resolutions are a firm decision and the goal is to get to your desired result, well eventually that is… Or maybe not at all. It’s more appealing to think of a resolution as a goalsomething you have effort for and not just another decision you hope to stick to. From my own experience and that of my friends and family, eventually succeeding at a resolution has never happened. Pity. I actually have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions and probably because I’ve never stuck to them. I can’t be the only one who’s tried to stick to a resolution that hopefully changes your exterior self or something you’re not happy with. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there’s plenty of people who have stuck to their resolutions and been able to say ‘Yeah. I did that!’. Self-care is important and improving your health and well-being is a part of this; but vowing to completely change your routines and behaviors once the new year begins creates a false sense of reality for your resolution to completely come true. Once the first firework is lit or the last kiss takes place as the clock hits midnight, a
newfound motivation does not just come out of nowhere to seal the deal for your next wish upon happiness. My problem with resolutions is that expectations are set too high and drastic changes do not just happen overnight. People tend to have the mindset that it’s all-or-nothing when it comes to their desires but gaining discouragement does not lead someone to their wanted results since they approach their resolutions wrong and too hastily. How a resolution is approached is different to achieving them. Focusing on your mindset is not the only thing to get you to your goal by the end of the new year. A new year does not always mean a whole new you. It’s easier to remember that setbacks are inevitable and to not beat yourself up if the scale goes up a number than down or the money you were saving up had to go to a recent bill. If there’s any advice I can give, try to visualize what outcome you want to have. Try to immerse yourself into that end result. Feel it? Did you reach it? Is there success? What’s the process looking like from now to then? Mentally and sometimes physically preparing yourself does additionally help with getting closer to your goal, but then again, holding yourself
accountable for the hiccups and moving on from them to get to the finish line enables an honest accomplishment, especially when you’re heading in the right direction. Resolutions get us focused and sometimes asking the question is, What’s motivating you? Helps us get from Point A to Point B. Savoring your progress and ignoring any self-criticism prepares any person to reach solid grounding when proving to yourself and others that you are capable. If an optimistic attitude and ability to remain proud of yourself, no matter how small of a feat your accomplishments progress towards, it is you who chooses how you want to live your life, regardless of what makes you feel otherwise. Do what hasn’t been done by me- stick to your resolutions. Who knows, maybe you’ll motivate me!∎
Photo retrieved from Unsplash
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COVID Is Home For The HOLIDAYS: The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Changing The Way People Celebrated This Year
By Delinah Rosario, Staff Writer
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ue to COVID-19, people have been forced to celebrate events a little differently this year. From virtually blowing out candles to staying socially distanced, FGCU students have adapted to this “new way” of living. Some students have even celebrated six feet apart. The holidays are a joyous time for celebrating and spending time with friends and family. This year, however, the world has had to take a step back and change some of its yearly traditions. “We usually have large family gatherings,” said FGCU freshman Jakira Bryan. “This year, however, we had to decrease the number of guests and implement social distancing and masks. Everyone was safe.” Throughout this time of year, there is a lot of stress and with the pandemic, things have only seemed to get harder. Not only has COVID-19 impacted the holidays emotionally, but it also affected families financially. Some families were fortunate enough to have holidays this year, whereas others struggled to make ends meet. “My family was financially and emotionally impacted,” said FGCU senior Rebecca Paul. “My father
Photo retrieved from Unsplash lost his job and a close friend of mine lost their home. She and her two babies were, fortunately, able to stay with me. But this still had a financial impact on my family.” With things rapidly changing, students have had no choice but to adjust. Some students were able to go home, while others stayed on campus scared of the risk. Countless students even ordered take-home tests in order to ensure a safe trip. Families may not have been able to gather due to high-risk family members or even just out of fear. “This year I would have spent Christmas with my mom, but since she worked we didn’t really have a Christmas,” said FGCU freshman Katie Fogarty. “My father is 78 and more prone to getting COVID-19, so me and my younger sisters weren’t able to see him either.” There are many different Holidays for people to celebrate. From Christmas to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, students and families all over the world are taking advantage of this joyous time. Even in the midst of change, people are doing their best to enjoy themselves.
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“I celebrate Hanukkah,” said FGCU senior Kierstynn Stanbury. “Me and my mom have usually always lit the candles together most nights, but usually now we just FaceTime when we can. I still like to cook the traditional foods, that’s my favorite part.” Although the holiday’s this year looked a bit different, students still tried to make the most of every situation. Zoom seemed to be the best platform this year to keep the connections alive. “I went home and had a zoom thanksgiving,” said FGCU freshman Alex Webster.. “For New Year’s we celebrated it a little early because my dad worked at one.” This pandemic has already been around for some time and there is no answer as to when it will die down and go away. As a society, we just have to continue to be patient and do what we need to adjust. When asking students for their hopes for future holidays most of them said the same thing. They hope for things to go back to normal and that
they can spend time with the people they care for. Some students expressed how they believe COVID is going to affect future holiday seasons. “Oh yes, COVID has been added to the list of things to always look out for when it comes to flu season, so I believe these kinds of holiday get-togethers will be affected for a few more years,” said FGCU sophomore Jitu Pollock. As these wintertime holidays and events come and go, many others are also finding ways to celebrate virtually. In order to stay connected people are reaching friends, family, and community members through video conferencing and social media. People are adapting to new traditions and celebrations to life during a pandemic. Religious services and even family gatherings are now taking place through live streaming or zoom. Regardless of the circumstances, people are getting creative and focusing on the heart of the holiday spirit.∎
“Oh yes, COVID has been added to the list of things to always look out for when it comes to flu season.”
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very month I have a slew of new products I’ve personally tested that I’ve fallen in love with. These products include everything from health and beauty products and home décor to even some accessories. Here is what I am hyped about this January;
Lego, International Space Station, $69
My son introduced me into the world of building. But it wasn’t until the last year that I started purchasing sets for myself. This set is one of my favorites. The repetitive motions of building help to relax me on challenging days. If you look closely, Lego has many different levels of building. This set is for experts but one any beginner adult can master.
Maybelline, Lash Sensational Sky-High Mascara, $8.98
I am a huge beauty lover and somewhat a collector of mascaras. Yet, for a while I really turned away from drug store products. This mascara holds up against many of my top shelf favorites. The plastic brush is packed with bristles, so it grabs every lash, and the cone shape makes it easy to coat your inner and outer corners. While it isn’t the most dramatic formula, it really fans out and defines my sparse, stubby lashes, and the length it gives lives up to the name.
Ouai, Thick Hair Treatment, $38
Quai’s hair care products are legendary. This treatment is for people with straight, wavy, and curly hair types whose hair texture is thick. The mask restores hydration, repairs damage,
and adds shine to thick hair. Since using this product, I have gotten more compliments on my hair than I have ever noticed.
Sharpie, S Gel, Gel Pens, Medium point (0.7nm), $11.99
I am a big lover of pens. Some may say my collection is obsessive. Sharpie’s new S-Gel Gel Pens have renewed my interest in their brand. With no smear, no bleed technology and bold, best-in-class ink, this Sharpie pen delivers always-vivid writing. It’s a high-performance gel pen with a sleek, professional look that makes it a writing instrument you won’t want to loan out. And the contoured rubber grip makes for comfortable writing during any task. What truly makes this pen different from other sharpies, is the ability to click the gel away making the pen much more convenient for writing.
ORORO, 2021 Women’s Slim Fit Heated Jacket with Battery Pack and Detachable Hood, $139.99
This was my biggest splurge of the month. It has been so cold in Florida lately! The jacket has helped me keep warm on the first day of classes, but I have gotten even more use out of it wearing it to my son’s sport practices. The jacket is truly remarkable. It kept me warm on a dark windy night. Now, I no longer have to cart blankets on the cold nights or freeze while walking from the parking garage to my class’s building. It definingly is worth the splurge.∎
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By Jake Henning, Sports Editor
Eli Abaev:
After transferring from Austin Peay this past season, Abaev has made an instant impact on this FGCU team. Rebounding, rim protection and energy are just some of the most prominent things he has brought. His best game of the season came when he put up a 10 point - 10 rebound double against Florida National, shooting 4-6 from the field and also adding three assists. Abaev has played some very important minutes for the Eagles over their first seven games, which gives him time to make an impact playing more than 30 minutes a game. He averages 7.9 points and 8.6 rebounds, but his contributions extend way past the box score.
Franco Miller Jr.:
Miller came to FGCU from Ole Miss and has been a great player for the Eagles during his first seven games. He’s provided a lot of energy on and off the bench, while also being a reliable player for Coach Michael Fly. Miller had his best game of the season when he was three rebounds off from a triple-double against Webber International, posting a 12 point, 10 assist and 7 rebound game. He has also been very consistent from the free throw line, where he is shooting an impressive 72 percent. Miller looks to step up his play when the Eagles begin their conference action this month. Photo by Julia Bonavita
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Kierstan Bell:
Arguably one of the most impactful transfers in the country, Bell has flashed superstar potential from the minute she hit Alico Arena’s hardwood floor. Her first game in the Green and Blue gave FGCU fans something to be excited about, as she dropped 24 points and 20 rebounds. Bell was recently named the ASUN's player and newcomer of the week on Dec. 28 for the second time this year. She was also awarded with a selection to the NCAA's Starting Five on Dec. 30, which honors the top women's basketball players in the country each week. She has put up double digits points in every game for FGCU this season, with her highest of the year on Dec. 17, when she had 32 points on 13-18 from the field and 6-10 from three. Bell shows that she is one of the most explosive players in the country and hopes to continue into conference play.
Aaliyah Stanley:
Stanley has gone under the radar as one of FGCU’s best players this season, providing a huge scoring push off the bench. She averages 10.1 points and 2.4 rebounds, after transferring from Eastern Michigan where she averaged 12.4 points as a freshman. Her best game of the season came when the Eagles went down to FIU on Dec. 20, on a night where she scored 14 points. Stanley has been very consistent throughout the whole season, only scoring in single digits twice throughout seven games. And while she comes off the bench, she is one of FGCU’s best shooters from the free throw line.∎
Photo by Julia Bonavita
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FGCU Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games Postponed to Begin January By Jake Henning, Sports Editor
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oth the FGCU men’s and women’s basketball teams had a rough start to the new year, as several games have been postponed or cancelled due to positive COVID results. The men’s squad was scheduled to have their ASUN opening home series against North Alabama on Friday and Saturday, Jan.1-2. But because of the positive result and contract tracing, those games have been postponed. And while the men were supposed to have a two-games series at Liberty the next weekend, that has been postponed because of the 14-day quarantine period. “While we are disappointed not to be playing this
week, this is an unfortunate scenario that has played out through all of college sports this year,” said head coach Michael Fly. “I appreciate all the work our Athletics Sports Medicine unit, the University medical staff, and the Florida Department of Health have done to keep our student-athletes and staff safe. As the men had their games postponed, so have the women’s games as well. The women’s team were scheduled to have games at North Alabama on Jan. 2-3. And because of the 14-day quarantine period, this also includes FGCU’s Jan. 10 game vs Liberty. “I feel bad for our
student-athletes that we won’t be able to compete over the next two weekends, including the opportunity to showcase our program on ESPNU, but we will take all the precautions and necessary steps to recover and stay safe over the next couple weeks in order to get back to action as soon as we’re able,” FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. No rescheduled dates have been announced at this time. The official ASUN opener for the women’s team will now be Jan. 16-17 at Bellarmine University. They will then have their game opener at Alico Arena against Lipscomb on Jan. 23-24.∎
Photo By: Julia Bonavita
New Year, Same Restrictions
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By Katie Loudermilk, Staff Writer Did 2020 really end? Although the calendar says it is 2021, the world does not seem that much different. After COVID-19 led to millions of deaths, unemployment rates skyrocketing and forcing students to learn from home, we begin to wonder when this will all end? The vaccine has finally arrived in the state of Florida but there is a limit on who can get it first. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the Executive Order 20-315 which outlines that providers can only administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the following groups: – Long-term care facility residents and staff. – Persons 65 years of age and older. – Health care personnel with direct patient contact. – Persons deemed to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by hospital providers. As of Jan 6, 2021, Florida Gulf Coast University’s Vice President and Chief of Staff Susan Evans shared they are current discussing with the Florida Department of Health the possibility of providing oncampus vaccinations to FGCU employees
and students who are 65 years of age and older, but this is not confirmed at this time. Additionally, Lee county offers the vaccine at 16000 Chamberlin Parkway. Reservations are required before arriving to the site. There are only two dates- Jan. 12th and 13th, but new information will be posted on their county website. leegov. com/covid-19/vaccine Collier and Charlotte county also offers it to the same age and job requirements. They are filling up quickly due to the high demand. To schedule an appointment, you must follow the directions on the Eventbrite links located on their websites. Information is being updated weekly so be sure to confirm dates and times on their websites. Collier.floridahealth.gov and charlotte.floridahealth.gov The school will continue to encourage social distancing and the face mask mandate until further notice. Evans announced on Jan 11 that they established a new Protect the Nest (PTN) student team to provide students with COVID-related information and answer questions to keep everyone safe. The school also encourages students, faculty and staff to complete the daily required Veoci app (Daily Health Screening app). Not only is FGCU focusing on the well-
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to the blood drive to begin the screening being of the nest, but there is still work process. Most students will be taking their to be done for the whole community. courses from Zoom opposed to attending Lee Health is in urgent need for blood in person classes. The decision is based on donations. the professor’s preference for the layout of A blood drive will be held here on campus starting January 12 from 10 a.m. each course. COVID-19 campus requirements from to 4 p.m. in the Student Health Services the Fall semester remain in effect until parking lot. Appointments are not necessary, and walk-ups are encouraged, further notice. There is uncertainty of how and all donors will receive a free t-shirt. long this will last and could possibly occur through the Summer semester of 2021. The blood drive especially needs Like the Fall 2020 semester, Mia Vital, donations from those who have had FGCU Junior, will be staying home in COVID-19 and recovered. Naples for the Spring. She chooses to look The donation can be turned into at the bright side. convalescent plasma which is used “I don’t really mind it,” said Vital. to treat others with advanced COVID “Staying home will help me save money illness. on rent and food while also reducing the If this applies to you, and you have spread of it.” been symptom free for 14 days, a preBe sure to follow announcements from screening is required. Please email Protect the Nest tab on FGCU’s website.∎ COVID.plasma@LeeHealth.org prior Photo By Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash
A Letter from
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the Editor By Nathan Wilson, Executive Editor
H
ere we go, a start to a new year and a new semester. Things have already gotten crazy. We have jumped living through the first two Hunger Games movies and gone straight to Mockingjay. Which one of you did not scream Jumanji at the start of the new year? I am not mad, I just want to know because I want to graduate without living through a dystopian science fiction movie. Now, let me talk to the seniors for second. We have finally made it to the end! With all the masks, quarantine pounds and lack of toilet paper, we survived. It's time to take our victory lap this semester and finish strong. If you are like me, you want to finish the semester with a bang showing by off your school spirit. Unfortunately, rounding the
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curve during a pandemic is hard, so I have some helpful tips to feel the school spirit while being safe. For the adventurous ones, I recommend going on our many nature trails on campus. If you don't think that's enough spirit and want to be safe, you can always wear an eagle costume with an eagle head. *Warning* showing up in an eagle costume may scare both students and small children. Another fun FGCU tradition could be finding that missing UV bench; rest in peace. All jokes aside, with a start to the new semester, it's the start of new traditions and memories. Everyone, make sure you make those lifelong memories safely. And I swear if I see another one of you get engaged on a major holiday like this past Christmas, I am getting a tub of ice cream and binge-watching New Girl.∎
half off shakes
everyday 3pm-5pm
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