Stuck in campus traffic? We have the answer!
Housing problem is “solved” with bunk beds Students have mixed feelings about FGCU’s vaccine incentives
A Letter From
The Editor Welcome to another month of Eagle News! In this issue we discuss a lot of, well, issues that students have been faced with since the beginning of the semester. Parking. Do I even need to go more in depth about this one? If there is one thing that feels the Photo by Julia Bonavita
same since FGCU pre-pandemic times, it’s the frustration of trying to find a spot in Parking Garage 3 every day. Cramped housing. Housing is at 99.6 percent occupancy and there are a few cases of students that are living with three dorm beds to a single room. Another controversial topic of conversation on campus was FGCU’s vaccine incentive program. Do you think our university should encourage a medical procedure through monetary inducement? On a brighter note, therapy dogs are back on campus! Take a look at what we wrote about these furry friends trained to relieve our daily stressors. I hope you are adjusting well to the in-person college experience that some of us used to know and that some of us have never known before. All the best,
Samantha Roesler Executive Editor, Eagle Media
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ON THE COVER: Digital Illustration by Erika Sauer
EAGLE NEWS
Table of Contents September 2021
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VOL 20
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Issue 3
www.eaglenews.org
EAGLE MEDIA EM Advisor Justin Paprocki Executive Editor Samantha Roesler Marketing/Sales Manager Michael Patella
EAGLE NEWS Editor in Chief Sabrina Salovitz Assignment & Features Editor Riley Hazel Opinion Editor Delinah Rosario Sports Editor TBA Photo Editor TBA Graphics Editor Erika Sauer
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Stuck in Campus Traffic? Here's Why
By James Curtis and Taylor Wilson
10
"Unfair, Ridiculous, and Strange!" Students' Opinions on Vaccine Incentives
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Therapy Dogs Return to Campus
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By Taylor Wilson By Riley Hazel
Crowded
By Delinah Rosario & FGCU Students
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On-Campus Housing Leaves Students Cramped
21
The Agony of Online Homework
22
By Delinah Rosario
By Alexandra Porter
September Events By Gracie Burgess
ENTV Director Sarah Mankowitz Assistant Director Tori Pugliese
EAGLE RADIO Station Manager Keyshawn Frazier Programming Director Francesca McMahon SEPTEMBER 2021
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NEWS & FEATURES
Stuck in Campus Traffic?
Here's Why! By James Curtis & Taylor Wilson As FGCU begins a new academic year at full capacity for the first time since COVID-19 swept through the country, there aren’t just more people, but more vehicles as well. Traffic delays, backups and other issues have been plaguing the campus since the start of the semester. Students have been struggling to get to class on time and staff, faculty and students alike have expressed frustration with the parking situation. “With the school year starting, the campus gets very congested and busy around the first two weeks of class,” University Police Department Capt. Anthony Rispoli said. Rispoli has worked at FGCU for 19 years, and he said this isn’t the first start to a school year that has been plagued by overcrowding. PHOTO BY JULIA BONAVITA
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During the heat of COVID restrictions, there were fewer people on campus and in the classroom. “We became accustomed to how traffic was,” Rispoli said. “Prior to school coming back, my commute would take about 2025 minutes and now it’s more like 40-45 minutes.” There are other contributing factors, according to Rispoli. Enrollment has increased which has meant that housing is nearly at capacity this semester. New construction like the Water School and Lucas Hall have also opened up. These new locations have taken away from some of the parking that was previously available. 6
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“Where the Water School is used to be a gravel lot that was a student parking option,” Rispoli said. “With this, 500 parking spots were lost.” Students are still able to park in all of the garages on campus, along with lots 6 and 7, but their options have been reduced. While Rispoli claims the traffic problems will be short-lived, students say that this has been a consistent problem. “The lack of parking on campus has certainly had a negative impact on my experience as a student at FGCU,” senior public relations major Alexandria Kurhajec said. “There have been days where I simply had to miss class because there was no way for me to make it on time.”
Kurhajec suggested that the university to reassess its ticketing policy and build additional parking structures so students can make it on and off campus in a timely manner. Captain Rispoli said that there has not been a visible increase in ticketing on campus and the parking situation will get better with time, especially as students who live in the dorms start to transition to other modes of transport. “Housed students have options like the shuttle, biking and walking that they are encouraged to use,” Rispoli said. “As the semester goes on, we will see housed students taking up parking less and less.” The shuttles are usually a very popular resource for students, but this year they’ve been a source of frustration. There have PHOTO BY ALYSSA ARLERT
been a number of major adjustments to the shuttles including the alteration of travel routes, the addition of more buses and more stops and the retirement of the Double Maps application. The goal of these changes was to help reduce travel time for students, but it’s been a bumpy road. FGCU’s Coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations Pamela McCabe said that the university’s Business Services, and Student Government leadership has helped to redesign shuttle services for this current school year. “We have added a stop near Lutgert, Holmes and Marieb halls, rather than just one stop at McTarnaghan Hall,” McCabe said. “This eliminates additional walking for SEPTEMBER 2021
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"There have been days where I simply had to miss class because there was no way for me to make it on time."
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DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION BY ERIKA SAUER
students with classes in that area of campus. Dunkin’ and The Marketplace at the Link offer dining options for the students as well.” The transition from shuttle tracking service Double Map to the new Passio GO! App has been a source of confusion for many. According to McCabe, FGCU is confident that the new app will help students in their travels from campus housing to classes. The change is meant to usher in a more detailed and user-friendly experience for students who ride the shuttles. McCabe also said that with the new service, more advanced shuttles will be coming to campus that bring even more improvement to campus transportation.
“All of our buses are now equipped with WiFi,” McCabe said. “And in the coming weeks riders will see the addition of monitors on the buses that will share route details, campus information and upcoming events.” Since the start of this semester students have reported long waits and tight quarters on the shuttles, but hopefully these developments will remedy these complaints. As for students who commute to campus, Rispoli suggests that students plan for the longer travel time accordingly in order to lessen traffic and parking frustration during the semester. “Give yourself time,” Rispoli said. “I’m not happy about it either, but it’s a fact of life. You’re more likely to be involved in a traffic accident if you are not patient.”∎
IMAGES RETRIEVED FROM PIXABAY
SEPTEMBER 2021
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"UNFAIR, RIDICULOUS, AND STRANGE!"
Students share their opinions on the FGCU Vaccine Incentives By Taylor Wilson
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FGCU, like many other organizations and institutions, is working to increase the number of students, employees and faculty members who have received their COVID-19 vaccine. As a part of this effort the university has rolled out a vaccine incentive program that aims to encourage more of the campus community to get vaccinated. The university is offering $100 in Eagle Dollars to students in return for the voluntary submission of COVID vaccine records. There is also an ongoing series of ten weekly drawings where these students can win cash prizes. Each week, three prizes are awarded to students based on a random drawing of Eagle ID numbers.
This incentive program has rubbed some people the wrong way; people like sophomore Jessica Kelly, who said that while she doesn’t know all of the details of the program, she’s not a fan. “It’s unfair, ridiculous and strange,” Kelly said, “Money should not be the way to go in rewarding those who received vaccines when others get nothing.” Kelly feels that the incentive program came out of nowhere and she is concerned that it is essentially bribing staff and students to get vaccinated. She believes that the institution should just make adjustments to require masks if they are concerned about COVID-19 outbreaks. Requiring people to wear masks indoors while on campus is a solution Kelly can get behind, more so than offering monetary gain for those who received a vaccine. “Do I want them back?” Kelly said. “No, but if you have to resort to money, I feel it’s unfair and unfortunate.” FGCU expects all students, employees, visitors and vendors to wear face masks at all times while indoors and when attending large, outdoor gatherings,
PHOTO RETRIEVED FROM PEXELS
OPINION
even if they are vaccinated. This language mirrors the expectations set by the State University System of Florida, according to Coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations Pamela McCabe. The university’s policy doesn’t actually have any teeth though. “We have no ability to enforce whether someone wears a mask or not,” McCabe said. “But we do expect individuals who are part of our campus community to help ensure the safety and well-being of themselves and those around them. It is now more crucial than ever to get people vaccinated, as the delta variant continues to spread, and FGCU has completely opened its campus. Vaccine incentives may be one of the only effective ways to protect campus from going back online. Senior Hope Geraghty is a psychology major who is all in for the vaccine incentive program rollout. “I’m super happy that FGCU is doing this because it makes people more inclined to be vaccinated,” Geraghty said. “It makes me nervous walking around school knowing that not everyone is vaccinated, but FGCU is really trying to get their numbers up with this!” Geraghty has been in completely online classes for nearly two years and is now beginning her senior year in person, on a full campus. Geraghty has been vaccinated since April and was awarded her $100 in Eagle Dollars automatically after the program launched. She spent her money at the campus bookstore. “I’m sad that we don’t require vaccinations, but I understand that the school is doing their best in encouraging students,” Geraghty said. The FGCU community is divided about the new incentive program, but the effort the school is making is clear. FGCU continues to encourage students to get vaccinated through these perks, as well as promoting masking up with signs throughout the halls. FGCU cannot require vaccinations or mask-wearing, but the institution is not neutral on the subject.∎ SEPTEMBER 2021 11
NEWS & FEATURES
Therapy Dogs Return to Campus By Riley Hazel
Assignments & Features Editor
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Meet Boomer and Tobin, the therapy dogs partnering with Prevention and Wellness. This past Wednesday Prevention and Wellness hosted their weekly Healthy Hump Day event in front of Howard Hall. The stars of the event were Boomer, 2, and Tobin, 4, a pair of Great Pyrenees. Mikayla Rivera, a Peer Educator for Prevention and Wellness, explained that Tobin and Boomer absorb a person’s negative energy and provide a friendly face to pet. A typical day’s work for Boomer and Tobin is full of hugs and snuggles as the dogs provide comfort and relief to students and faculty who are having a difficult week. Gary Gambrell, the dog’s owner, has had the pair for about six months and has started to transition them to larger events. Boomer loves the attention from students, according to Gambrell. “It’s a fun surprise especially on Wednesdays,” said Megan Foley, a senior at FGCU. “No one really likes Wednesdays.” Tobin and Boomer both received their national therapy dog certification from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, an international registry that provides testing, registration and support for participants. Gambrell said this process took around three months. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PREVENTION & WELLNESS
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Foley was an FGCU student when Samson, a different therapy dog, was on campus. “I’m happy this service is back,” said Foley. “I remember Samson, and he would absolutely make my day.” Samson was a Great Pyrenees like Tobin and Boomer; the breed is characterized by a heavy, white coat and affectionate personality. Great Pyrenees are traditionally working dogs, bred to protect sheep from wolves and other predators throughout the Pyrenees mountains, from which the breed gets its name. While any animal can become a therapy animal if given the correct training, this generosity to look after others is what makes Great Pyrenees such a great match for therapy services. “They can be a little Dachshund and be a therapy dog,” said Gambrell. “They can be a giant Irish Wolfhound and be a therapy dog. Breeds don’t matter. It’s starting off with the correct attitude that matters.” Students and faculty can find Boomer and Tobin on campus every Wednesday from 11-1 pm at the Healthy Hump Day table in front of Howard Hall.∎
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PHOTO BY RILEY HAZEL
Looking forward to meeting you! -Boomer & Tobin
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PREVENTION & WELLNESS
SEPTEMBER 2021 15
C R O W D E D OPINION
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We asked FGCU students about how they're adjusting to campus life after being in quarantine. Here's what they had to say! Freshman Olivia Taylor As a freshman, I don't have much to compare to being on campus. There hasn’t been much overcrowding on the campus itself, but I notice that the buses tend to be pretty crowded. Classrooms are really full too, but it seems like I can always find a place to study. I get a little nervous because of COVID in general, but it's not to an overwhelming amount.
Sophomore Sebastian Mercado It has honestly been a wonderful experience seeing what FGCU is really like. I sometimes feel overcrowded but it’s also nice to see other students come out to events and enjoy FGCU to its fullest. The resources also feel a little cramped but not too much that’s it’s overwhelming.
Junior Jitou Pollock I feel like being on campus has definitely restored that "college feel" to my life. It's good to see that other people are pursuing their goals like I am. I'm a people person, so I've never had a problem being around others, although I do become slightly anxious when I’m in super crowded areas. My dorm does seem a little cramped at times, especially when two of us are trying to cook at the same time.
Senior Taylor Levin As someone who came to FGCU last year when fewer people were attending in person due to COVID, it’s definitely been a change seeing so many people on campus. I think the main campus itself has done a pretty good job of keeping everyone safe and appropriately spaced out. However, the shuttles are absolutely overcrowded. Often people have to stand, and just yesterday I had to stand on the steps of the shuttle because it was so full (after waiting for half an hour for one to arrive). QUOTES COMPILED BY DELINAH ROSARIO
NEWS & FEATURES
On-Campus Housing Leaves Students
CRAMPED By Alexandra Porter
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Moving in to on-campus housing can be a great opportunity for students. Living on campus provides easy access to educational resources, social events and support from a community of people your own age. This year though, some students have said that they are feeling cramped in on-campus housing. Diego Garzaro, an international freshman student who majors in business, said that he had to share a room with two other students. In other words, there were three students to one living space. If given the choice, Diego would not have wanted to room with so many people. “I never have my privacy so I can’t do my own things,” Diego said. He found himself in this situation because he was late in signing up for housing. “We place students in temporary overflow housing when we have demand for housing that surpasses the number of rooms we have available,” Director of Housing and Residence Life Jameson Moschella said. “We do this because, every year, we SEPTEMBER 2021 17
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have a small number of students who do not show up for check-in, while others move in and then decide to leave the university for a variety of reasons and move out of their rooms.” FGCU has three locations available for students looking to live on-campus— South Lake Village, West Lake Village and North Lake Village. The total number of students that can live oncampus is 4,748 and Moschella said that there are around 4,713 students living on campus right now. “We are currently at 99.6% occupancy, which is pretty typical for our program,” Moschella said. There are just 160 beds on campus that are in a shared sleeping space, where two students share one room. The rest of the 4,588 beds are in private
bedrooms. The maximum number of students that can live in one room together is usually two but that is not the case in temporary overflow housing. Moschella said that Housing and Residence Life has used temporary overflow housing many times in the past. He explained that many universities use this form of housing throughout the country. From the time of writing, the number of temporary housing students has fallen from 17 to 15. In past years, students in temporary overflow housing have been placed in their desired rooms around four to six weeks after the start of the semester, according to Moschella. However, there have been some cases where students remained in the temporary overflow housing for an entire Fall semester. “It is impossible to predict exactly when students may leave throughout the semester,” Moschella said. Diego lives at North Lake Village, where the only double occupancy beds are located. One of the beds in Diego’s room was converted into a bunk bed to accommodate all three students.
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION BY ERIKA SAUER
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The North Lake Village double occupancy bedrooms are located in the two-bedroom quad styled apartments. This means that roughly four students usually live in these apartments. When converted to temporary overflow housing, these apartments can hold up to six students. The current 15 students in temporary overflow housing are strung across nine different apartments. “We use this unit type because the bedrooms are large enough to accommodate three beds (two bunked, one not bunked) and there are two full bathrooms in the apartments,” Moschella said. Diego explained that one of his roommates has now left the dorm room.
"I feel the space is too small for two people to live and I never have my privacy."
The room now houses only him and his roommate. However, he still feels like the double occupancy rooms are too small for a pair of students to live in and is trying to get himself moved to a single occupancy room.
“I feel the space is too small for two people to live and I never have my privacy,” Diego said. FGCU Housing’s website says that the university wants students to get the experience of value, convenience, support and services only found with on-campus housing. “If there are concerns about the level of students’ comfort and/or safety in our residence halls, I would welcome a meeting so that we can discuss these concerns,” Moschella said. “Certainly, we want to be sure all of our students have a positive residential experience.”∎
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CARTOON
The Agony of Online Homework By Alexandra Porter
SEPTEMBER 2021 21
By Gracie Burgess
EVENTS
9/24
9/2426
SEPTEMBER
9/23
9/26
Symphonic Band
All-Ages Friday Night Party!
Island Hopper Jazz Songwriting Ensemble Fest
FGCU students and the public are invited to attend and enjoy a performance by the FGCU student Symphonic Band.
The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon is hosting a party for people of all ages! Learn how to line dance and enjoy music from DJ Dougie! This event is open to people of all ages!
Join us for free shows and intimate performances at laidback beach bars, pools, and restaurants all over Fort Myers Beach! Download the Island Hopper App to reserve tickets and learn more!
FGCU students and the public are invited to attend a performance by the FGCU student Jazz Ensemble. The music of this concert will feature classic standards and arrangements by two of Jazz’s most prominent figures and bandleaders, Oliver Nelson, and John Clayton.
More Information
More Information
More Information
Price: $10 for under 21 & $5 for over 21 Date: Friday, September 24, 2021 Time: 7:00 PM Location: The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon
Price: Mostly FREE shows! Download the "Island Hopper" app to reserve tickets. Date: September 24-26, 2021 Time: 3:00-6:00 PM Location: Fort Myers Beach
More Information Price: FREE Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021 Time: 7:30-9:30 PM Location: U. Tobe Recital Hall at FGCU
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Price: FREE Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021 Time: 3:00-6:00 PM Location: U. Tobe Recital Hall at FGCU
PHOTOS (LEFT TO RIGHT) BY KIM SMITH, UNSPLASH, JULIA BONAVITA, & PEXELS.
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Executive Editor Samantha Roesler executive@eaglenews.org
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Eagle News
www.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 the news with accuracy and truth. Our purpose is to encourage conversations about issues that concern the oncampus community. Eagle News views every culture with equal respect and believes every person must be treated with dignity.
BACK COVER: Digital Illustration by Erika Sauer
SEPTEMBER 2021 23
Rainy Season is coming to an end. Enjoy it while you can!