March 2023

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers,

Welcome back! I hope you all have enjoyed your welldeserved break. I know the team here at Eagle News sure did. However, we are back to it!

This issue we cover the winners of the Student Government election. Turn to page seven to read the full story.

We feature Travell “T.O.” Oakes, a campus leader within the Multicultural Leadership and Development Center.

We do have a lot of news coverage on this issue, so if you need a break, we understand. Our opinion section has got you covered.

And on that note, March is Women’s History Month! In this issue, we honor all women and the multitude of monumental things that they have done for the world.

New Artificial Intelligence seems to be dominating our digital world these days. Although it’s a step forward technologically, it may be a step backward in some people’s eyes.

If you’re looking for sports coverage, sports editor Nick Asselin covers how the women’s basketball team managed to earn their 10th ASUN championship in program history.

Kind Regards,

Tori Fotlz Editor-in-Chief, Eagle News

Photo by Jessica Piland. Tishara Morehouse, ASUN Player of the Year and member of the ASUN

Women's Basketball First-Team, poses with the 2023 ASUN championship trophy.

Photo by Jessica Piland

MARCH 2023

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EAGLE MEDIA

EM Advisor

Justin Paprocki

Executive Editor

Riley Hazel

Business Director

Michael Patella

Graphics Editor

Gabriella Lopez

Sports Editor

Nick Asselin

EAGLE NEWS

Editor-in-Chief

Tori Foltz

Assignment & Features Editor

Hayley Lemery

Opinion Editor

Delinah Rosario

Photo Editor Jessica Piland

ENTV Director

Jakira Bryan

Entertainment Director

Lilah Wilcoxson

EAGLE RADIO

Station Manager

Keyshawn Frazier

Programming Director

Kelly Pingitore

4 6 7 8 10 14 15 16

FGCU Makes Final Push to Become a Hispanic Serving Institution

By Emma Rodriguez

The Future of Creative Careers is at Stake

By Jusolyn Flower

Meet Your Next Student Body President

By Abigail Muth

Be the SHE You Want to Be

By Delinah Rosario

FGCU Women’s Basketball Captures ASUN Conference Championship

By

Nick Asselin

Letters to the Editor

Letters compiled by Dr. Ankit Singh

Rent is Too Damn High

By Tim Belizaire

Travell Oakes Empowers Marginalized Students To Overcome Systemic Barriers

By Abigail Muth

A Small School Yields Limited Opportunites

By Delinah Rosario

Micro-credentials and Digital Badges Influence the Workforce, Giving FGCU Students the Upperhand

By Abigail Muth

FGCU Exceeds Goals Outlined in the Last Strategic Plan

By Hayley Lemery

Back From Break Cartoon

By Alexandra Porter

FGCU Makes Final Push to Become a Hispanic Serving Institution

Emma Rodriguez, Assistant Assignment & Features Editor

FGCU leaders have committed to better serving their student population, acquiring a title that would require the university to develop programs addressing the needs of a growing Hispanic student population.

For an institution to be given the HispanicServing Institution (HSI) distinction, its undergraduate enrollment must be at least 25% Hispanic. There are 29 HSIs in Florida, including UCF and FIU. FGCU is closing the distance to the 25% threshold, with its Hispanic population falling between 22% and 24.5%.

To help achieve and prepare for meeting this goal, FGCU formed the HSI transition committee during the fall 2021 semester. The team consists of student and faculty leaders, and aims to achieve seven key goals. Each goal has a focus area team supporting it.

A few of the most notable goals are developing and enhancing new leadership programs for Hispanic students, developing high-impact practices for Hispanic students to learn outside of the classroom and the university gaining the ability to apply for HSI-specific grants.

The goals are as follows, according to the HSI Transition Committee: Strengthening/Improving Hispanic student retention in STEM disciplines, developing high-impact practices for Hispanic students to interact with faculty in research and experiential learning opportunities, enhancing searches to attract and retain more Hispanic faculty & staff, increasing/enhancing leadership programs for Hispanic students, strengthening/ enhancing existing admissions recruitment efforts to sustain and build upon Hispanic

student enrollment, strengthening/enhancing existing FGCU institutional relationships to the Hispanic Community in SWFL and to FGCU alumni and to begin to prepare various Federal Grant applications.

“Having that 25% population distinction allows us to be eligible to apply for different federal grants that are geared towards supporting Hispanic students, Hispanic faculty, Hispanic staff,” FGCU Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment and HSI Transition Committee member Mitch Cordova said. “And with those focus teams, we really want to ensure that we are really serving our students, not just meeting the requirements for the designation and not following through with it.”

Cordova added that the committee wants the demographic breakdown of the student body to be as similar as possible to that of the student body. For example, if FGCU reaches the 25% threshold to be considered an HSI, 25% of faculty would, ideally, be Hispanic as well. This would promote equity and the idea of students seeing themselves represented in the classroom.

FGCU has organizations with Hispanic majorities, including Latin American Student Organization and Lambda Upsilon Lambda. The initiatives taken on by the HSI transition committee will help support the numbers after achieving the distinction and add to the existing support of Hispanic students. A campus office aware of this change is the Multicultural Leadership and Development Center (MLD).

“We have some initiatives like Hispanic Heritage 365 that encourage celebrating culture

Graphic by Gabriella Lopez

all year round, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October,” MLD coordinator Victor Rios said. “Next year, we are hoping to increase the number of initiatives, and we’re thinking about collaborating more with student organizations, and also celebrating Día de los Muertos.” He could not divulge more specific initiatives.

On Feb. 22, Gina Garcia, a leading scholar on HSIs, visited FGCU. The event aligned with the HSI Transition Committee’s efforts. Garcia delivered a keynote speech, was part of a workshop, and met with students during her visit. A portion of the event had student attendees sharing their suggestions for how the institution can better serve Hispanic students and faculty.

“A great suggestion was making sure that there is Spanish translations and accessibility for people who only speak Spanish on campus, whether it be for families at orientation, or for students who just don't know English,” FGCU senior Jules Bustamante said. “Also, we wanted to see more emphasis on intersectionality, seeing

more Latine and Hispanic representation in positions of power, whether it be in student government, in faculty positions, or otherwise.”

Bustamante added that while FGCU is making efforts to become an HSI, many have not forgotten the treatment of Susana RiveraMills, former university presidential candidate, during her questioning before the Board of Trustees. Some believe that her status as a Hispanic woman impacted the questions she was asked by the panel. Bustamante hopes that FGCU delivers on its promises when making the HSI transition.

“I do hope that FGCU doesn't just use [the Hispanic Serving Institution title] for a way to get students to apply and become enrolled,” Bustamante said. “I hope they do it to make a real impact on the lives of Hispanic students, and to let them know that they can succeed because so many of us come from first-gen backgrounds, so many of us come from low lower income backgrounds. I hope FGCU can acknowledge everything that Hispanic students go through and give them the respect that they deserve.”•

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Creative

The Future of Careers is at Stake

Jusolyn Flower, Staff Writer

With the increasing integration of advanced technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at our fingertips, posing a potential threat to people in creative professions.

AI was introduced to complete repetitive and unimaginative tasks, but over the last decade, it has become progressively more intertwined in our digital lives. It governs social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, and their algorithms. It also drives search engines including Google and Safari.

The use of AI in our day-to-day lives is increasing, but the software’s inherent intelligence is steadily expanding. At the end of Nov., AI and a research company, OpenAI, publicly launched its chatbot, ChatGPT. Its release immediately sparked an uproar of both acclaim and skepticism.

ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool that, when prompted, can automatically generate, written responses through conversational dialogue. It is designed to produce a variety of content. It ranges from writing emails and essays to explaining code and solving complex math problems.

Young adults began experimenting with ChatGPT on TikTok, resulting in its emergence as a viral sensation. Shortly thereafter, students began entering their assignment prompts and noticed that it could produce full-length, coherent essays with minimal error. However, the real kicker is that these responses don’t appear automated or robotic, but rather “eerily human-like.” Only five days after its release, ChatGPT reached one million users, according to a Dec. 5 tweet from OpenAI co-founder, Sam Altman.

ChatGPT has rewritten the narrative of AI and could revolutionize the way we communicate online. My career aspirations have never been motivated by money. My passion for connecting with others and hearing their stories, married with my skills in writing and grammar, inspired my pursuit of communications and journalism.

Storytelling is a powerful tool as so much value lies in the written word. As a college student, who has devoted much of her time, energy and money to the artistry of writing and editing, ChatGPT raises major concerns for my career. Researching, writing, editing and proofreading are coveted skills in the professional arena, but with ChatGPT, these once-human abilities are now being handed off to computers. Artists, musicians, writers, designers, journalists and numerous other creatives are also in jeopardy of obsolescence.

AI is rapidly evolving and bleeding into every area of our lives. ChatGPT is appealing, for sure. It replaces paid human labor with free automated services. It designates more time for “important” tasks. But ultimately, its costs are greater than its benefits.

Language is not only how humans interact with one another, but it is a lens through which we understand ourselves and the world around us. Living at the whim of computer-generated responses moves humanity further away from authenticity and closer to conformity. We lose the richness of learning. We lose the ability to think critically. We lose the passion for creativity and expression. Although its accessibility and potential manipulations are exciting, I fear the impact this new era of AI could have on those in or entering creative professions – myself included•

Graphic by Gabriella Lopez

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Meet Your Next Student Body President

Abigail Muth, Staff Writer

Cheers echoed at The Boardwalk in North Lake Village as it was announced that Emory Cavin would be Student Government’s next student body president. Outlined in his campaign plans, he wants to address the boundaries placed against underserved students.

Vice President-Elect Miniya McNair has since decided to step down from the position. Actions concerning this vacant position are up to the Student Government Supreme Court and will be decided in the coming weeks. Cavin’s term will start April 1.

When Student Body PresidentElect Emory Cavin heard his name announced by Supervisor of Elections Owen Rhoads, he was surrounded by friends who supported him throughout his campaign.

“It felt amazing. I mean, it was incredibly exciting,” Cavin said. “I remember the moment when I was waiting for him to read off the name and I was so nervous. But then when he read it off, I was incredibly happy and excited.”

Cavin has been involved in Student Government in previous years and most recently served as last year's supervisor of elections.

“I don't think that there was like a specific moment that I can point to and say that that's when I decided that I wanted to run,” Cavin said. “But I think it was kind of a culmination of different things that have happened to me throughout my time here at FGCU.”

A few years ago, students held a protest across campus and into a senate meeting due to things posted by a previous member of the Student Government. Cavin attended this protest and found

inspiration in the students around him to make a change.

“One of the things that they were talking about was how there needs to be more representation from people of color in Student Government. And it really inspired me to see that because these were students who were going out there protesting and making their voices heard,” Cavin said. “And they were so passionate. And so caring, and honestly brave. And that just really inspired me to try to help make that change that they were that they were asking for.”

Cavin and McNair supported their campaign on three main pillars: giving student workers a voice, increasing BIPOC representation and drowning hateful rhetoric. They spoke openly in the candidate forum which took place

very important to me in these first few months is creating strong relationships with the other branches,” Cavin said. “I really want everything we do to be a collaborative effort throughout Student Government.”

“And so I completely plan on meeting with the senators, the justices, getting to know them as people and also getting to know what their values are, what kinds of things they'd like to see from Student Government, and hopefully bring them all together so that we can be one united student government and we can have a stronger voice and be able to accomplish things more effectively through that,” he continued.•

Photo by Jessica Piland

omen’s History Month is a celebration throughout the entire month of March that commemorates and encourages the dedication and resilience of women in American history. During the month we celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for a multitude of things. Women who fought for things like opportunity, justice and equality in our nation are recognized this month.

As a woman, I love seeing other women strive. I love being able to see the commitment of others around the world to do things that some only dream of. For young girls, knowing women’s achievements shows them what is possible. Even for someone like me, a college student, seeing what other women have accomplished gives me the motivation to know that I can do anything I set my mind to.

As a double minority, being a Hispanic female, sometimes it seem like I got the short end of the stick. With months like Hispanic Heritage Month and Women’s History Month, I feel the opposite. I currently have the pleasure of serving as the Frosh Mosh Student Director for the Multicultural and Leadership Development Center

Delinah Rosario, Opinion Editor

(MLD) here at FGCU. I am also a worship team leader and an editor for Eagle News. Although that may not seem like a big deal to some, it’s a big deal to me. Being able to hold such high positions, not only gives me room to grow, but it allows others to hopefully see me and think, “if she could do it, so can I.”

There have been inspirational women in my life including people like my aunt. She has taught me that no matter what others think or say, I have to focus on myself and the legacy I’m leaving behind. For all of us, knowing women’s strengths and contributions can help us build a sense of respect toward one another. It is not only crucial for children and adults now, but it can be just as crucial for future generations. We look back at history and the women in history that have made impactful movements. We commemorate the various achievements of women which can help us be that much close to gender equality and allow room for women’s empowerment. Many women have made a difference in their communities and even the world as they have had the bravery and outstanding achievements to thrive. Women like Jane Austen, who is one of the

most famous writers in English Literature, or Marie Curie, who was a physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, are women who changed the world.

Maya Angelou, an activist, journalist, actor, dancer and poet who used her work to empower others is another great example. Learning about the accomplishments of the past can allow the women of the present to act toward the future. A circle of inspiration is prevalent and celebrating Women’s History Month allows room for that.

Even Disney+ has the option to watch “Her Stories,” which is a collection of movies and shows that show women of impact, girl power, leading Latinas, sisterhood and so much more. MLD even emphasizes and promotes Women’s HERstory month as a way to show that their stories are important.

Be the person that you want to be regardless of what anyone else thinks or says. Don’t listen to negativity or hate. Following the dreams that you have can help build your character and selfesteem. Nothing is impossible and looking at those who came before you can show that •

Graphic by Gabriella Lopez

FGCU Women’s Basketball Captures ASUN Conference Championship

Some colleges are lucky to win just one conference championship, but not FGCU. The women’s basketball team earned their 7th straight conference championship with their victory over Liberty University on March 11.

The Eagles earned their 10th ASUN tournament championship in program history after defeating Liberty 84-60 in the ASUN Championship. This victory marked the end of another historic season for women’s basketball at FGCU, finishing with an overall 32-3 record. The Eagles proved they are the team to beat in the ASUN conference once again.

“It makes it really cool being here, seeing all of their success,” sophomore Christina Gonzalez said. “It’s a lot of pride. It gives me bragging rights back home to say, ‘Yeah, I bet your basketball team doesn’t have this.’”

The Eagles were determined to defeat Liberty in the championship game after suffering only their second conference loss in the last three seasons to Liberty on Jan. 21. The Eagles led by five points with 26 seconds remaining, but Liberty forced overtime and won 88-78.

Graduate student Sophia Stiles was ruled out of the game after getting injured in the semifinals against Austin Peay. Stiles scored a personal season high of 24 points against Liberty in the Jan. 21 matchup, so the Eagles needed someone to step up. Redshirt sophomore Maddie

Antenucci filled that role.

Despite averaging only 4.1 points per game this season, Antenucci scored a personal season high of 14 points in the championship game. Antenucci was 3-4 from the 3-point line and led the Eagles with eight rebounds.

The Eagles walked their way through the ASUN tournament, outscoring their opponents 201-142. Much of their success was led by fifth year player Tishara Morehouse. In addition to being named ASUN tournament MVP, Morehouse also earned ASUN Player of the Year honors.

Morehouse was the leading scorer in the championship game with 20 points. Antenucci, Emma List and Sha Carter all earned double digit points, as well. How the Eagles beat Liberty was by doing what they have done all year long, shoot efficiently from three.

The Eagles shot 50% from the 3-point line in the championship, making 14 of their 28 attempts. In the second half, the Eagles made 8 out of their 13 3-point shot attempts. These are both well above their season average of .376.

Junior Zachary Hopps enjoys coming to the women’s basketball games because of the overall energy and how well the team plays.

“It’s a pretty good time,” Hopps said. “It’s very energetic and the teams pretty good so it’s really fun to watch. Their

success plays a pretty big part in coming out to the games.”

Morehouse, List and Carter were all named to the ASUN Conference All-Tournament Team. Morehouse and Carter each earned a spot on the ASUN Women’s Basketball First-Team list and Alyza Winston was named to the ThirdTeam list.

No matter the roster, Head Coach Karl Smesko has been able to find a way to win. In his 21st season with FGCU, Smesko earned his 13th ASUN Conference Coach of the Year award this season.

Sophomore Savannah Carter says she is proud to be an FGCU student after all the success the team has been able to have.

“Their success means a lot to me,” Carter said. “Girl power, they’re killing it out there. It’s pretty cool to see my peers that I go to school with be so successful and earn all these awards with their hard work. I’m just here along the way to support and cheer them on.”

The Eagles earned the #12 seed in the NCAA March Madness Tournament and will face #5 seed Washington State on March 18 in the first round. It is the 9th time in program history that the women’s basketball team will play in the tournament. •

Nick Asselin, Sports Editor

“Their success means a lot to me,” Carter said. “Girl power, they’re killing it out there. It’s pretty cool to see my peers that I go to school with be so successful and earn all these awards with their hard work. I’m just here along the way to support and cheer them on.”

FGCU women's basketball team celebrates their win and finds out they will be playing against Washington State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Maddie Antenucci (left), Emma List (center) and Tishara Morehouse (right) celebrate after Antenucci makes a basket against Liberty during the ASUN Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Photos by Jessica Piland

Photo by Jessica Piland

A sign that was held up by students during the women's basketball ASUN Championship game lies on the floor of Alico Arena after the Eagles beat the Liberty University Flames on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

A Quest for a Greener Campus

Letters to the Editor

Dr. Ankit Singh is a professor at The Water School and teaches environmental philosophy. He asked his class to submit letters to the editor regarding steps FGCU can take to become more environmentally cautious and sustainable.

“The cornerstone of my environmental philosophy class was to allow for engagement in environmental debate through varied perspectives. Only when we appreciate and acknowledge the other side do we begin to form a pathway to a more sustainable solution.” -Dr. Ankit Singh

Dear Editor,

FGCU is known for its waterfront location, 400 acres of preserved land, 15 acre solar energy field and the Food Forest, but just how environmentally friendly is FGCU?

Most FGCU students are commonly found in campus restaurants working on assignments or collaborating with peers. However, for being a sustainable campus, there is a large amount of non-recyclable waste associated with frequent on-campus dining. While there are many positive environmental aspects of campus which could be considered “sustainable,” there are some areas which could be easily improved.

For example, Chick-fil-A utilizes styrofoam cups, The Marketplace packages their snacks with single-use plastics and plastic silverware can be found at each oncampus dining location.

Plastics that are recyclable are often not recycled properly. This is not intentional either— there is no denying that discerning which plastic items from your lunch are recyclable can be confusing. For this reason, FGCU has taken the liberty of displaying infographics above some of the recycling bins in academic buildings to clear up this confusion. Despite this effort, many of these infographics require updating or are faded beyond readability.

However, there are many below-surface happenings on campus that may cause students and staff to question the sustainability level of FGCU, this campus has taken many strides to be environmentally conscious. Einstein Bagel Bros offer biodegradable straws, metal silverware is provided in the SoVi Dining, compost containers for straws can be found in the Cohen Student Union and light switch stickers remind students to turn off lights in on-campus dormitories.

So is FGCU a sustainable campus? If you feel we can do better, jump in and help out!

Thank you,

Sofia Huber

Dear Editor,

As I sit in the newly constructed Water School that costs upwards of $58 million dollars, I consider FGCU’s identity of sustainability. FGCU claims to be one of the most sustainable campuses in Florida, and for this reason many people decide to come to this school, myself included. But how sustainable is FGCU truly?

FGCU was also built on hundreds of acres of wetlands. While some of this land is currently preserved, it is also infested with thousands of invasive species. These species include Melaleuca, or the Australian paper tree, that invades wetlands and is resistant to the natural wildfires that are necessary for this region’s vegetation. You can see this especially along Ben Hill Griffin Parkway where there has been a significant chunk of trees that have been removed exposing the rows upon rows of this invasive species. We preach about the importance of native species but continue to ignore the problem on our doorstep.

With all this being said, I do believe that FGCU is one of, if not the most sustainable, campuses in Florida. We do, however, practice sustainability within the curriculum as we currently teach every student about sustainably in some way, there are education programs in place such as the Panther Posse, as well as we have The Water School which focuses on environmental education. While these are great tools and practices, this does not mean that we could not improve.

Thank you,

Henna Gavem

Dear Editor,

There’s obvious hypocrisy behind a “sustainable” school which offers known major polluters such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts on campus. Starbucks alone uses “more than 8,000 paper cups a minute, which adds up to more than four billion a year. 1.6 million trees are harvested every year”, according to the Clean Water Action. The paper cups Starbucks uses are also lined with plastic, so they will not break down in the environment. Starbucks promised to utilize reusable cups in 2008, and as of today only sees 1.6% of sales in non-disposable containers. If a student doesn’t wish to support Starbucks, they can venture over to Dunkin’ Donuts, where by 2020 they switched from Styrofoam to-go cups for hot beverages to double-lined paper cups. This would be an environmental win, if they weren’t lined with polyethene, a plastic. Actions continue to show that these companies are more concerned with economic gain than environmental impact and their plastic use only scratches the surface of their negligence, so it’s difficult to understand why FGCU offers them on campus.

FGCU should be advocating for companies such as these to reflect on their environmental impacts, not supporting them. These companies continue to fail on promises to switch from single-use plastics which come with deforestation, pollution, and other ecological consequences. I come to you as a concerned student, who urges our school to think about finding other options for a student who just want a cup of coffee. I believe my fellow students and I would love to support a smaller name who is committed to the environment, just as many of us are, rather than a company like Starbucks or Dunkin’.

Thank you, Abigail

Blum

Photo courtesy of submissions

Graphics by Gabriella Lopez

Tim Belizaire, Staff Writer

Rent is too damn high. It’s affecting almost everyone in this country, including students at FGCU.

Almost 20 years ago, Jimmy McMillan founded the Rent is Too Damn High Party. McMillan has had little electoral success, but the American public agrees with his sentiment. In Fort Myers, the average price for a two-bedroom twobath is about $2,270 a month. That is $700 more compared to 2005. In 2023, the number one issue of McMillan’s party could not be felt more, and we see that FGCU students are particularly affected.

Instead of working a part-time job to obtain spending money, students are working one, sometimes two jobs to keep a roof over their heads. This is all while trying to complete their degrees.

Normally, students would be able to find on-campus housing easily, but with record number applications, on-campus housing is hard to come by. And for those students who manage to get oncampus housing, things are still not easy.

Christina Maertens is a freshman living in South Village who doesn’t know if she’ll have a spot next fall.

“More people unable to pay rent, means more people living on campus, which lessens my chances of also being able to live on campus so, it is stressful,” Maertens said.

The median household income for a Fort Myers resident is about $51,682. That income cannot qualify you to rent a home for $2,270. The average student cannot afford to have their parents cover the cost of living when their parents have

expenses as well.

This leaves some students with no option but to use student loans. Student loans, while a good option in the shortterm, could lead to financial hardship in the future. College should be about setting students up for success, but rising rent costs caused by historic inflation will not aid in that.

FGCU students are dealing with the rising cost of rent six months after Hurricane Ian. Floridians are still recovering from the damages done by the hurricane and families are still fighting with insurance companies to pay for damages done to their homes. Workers are still recovering from losing their jobs after the storm.

With so many homes destroyed during the hurricane, people are fighting for those remaining homes. The supply for homes has lowered while the demand rises, resulting in higher rent prices.

All these factors are leading to some Floridians leaving Southwest Florida for a more affordable living situation. Students who specifically want to attend FGCU do not have that luxury, as they will have to live on or near campus until they earn their degree.

Rent is Too Damn

There seems to be no immediate help in sight. There is no rent control in the state of Florida and it is also one of the few states where it’s illegal to impose price control on housing. As of right now, there is no end in sight to this issue.

At least we know what the problem is. Rent is too damn high.•

High

Graphics by Gabriella Lopez

Micro-credentials and Digital Badges Influence the Workforce, Giving FGCU Students the Upperhand

Abigail Muth, Staff Writer

FGCU began offering a micro-credential program during the 2020-21 academic year. Students have been able to take accelerated courses and gain certificates or digital badges to build desirable skills by the workforce.

These programs became available to Lee County residents for free during the fall 2022 semester, in hopes that residents would apply these skills to careers in Southwest Florida.

“For the most part, it’s a lot of Canvas work or in-person work and then you do something at the end to get the badge,” the Coordinator of Marketing and Student Support through Innovative Education and Partnerships I’Riel Williams said. Most classes have just one exam at the end of the course, which students are able to take more than once. Once that exam is passed, the student is awarded the digital certificate or badge.

There are three categories of digital badges students can earn. One is industry specific, which is linked to a credit earned course and is in partnership with a business in our community. Another is transferable skills, which is based on National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies. The third category is continuing education and skills academy, which focuses on professional development. This category offers different competencies that you should know if you want to go into a specific field, but are not necessarily required in the industry.

Some courses, such as badges specific to the medical field, are completed in person with a professor and set schedule. Many of the other courses are done online and are self-paced for students. All courses have an assigned instructor. Professors are available to assist students who may need extra help and to facilitate the class online, even if it is asynchronous.

FGCU is partnered with IBM Skills Academy for this initiative. Programs available include: blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, internet of things, data science, quantum computing, design thinking, construction management, medical device industry, professional sales, senior care partner, certified clinical medical assistant, digital marketing, emergency preparedness and management and turfgrass management.

Dr. Daniel Acheampong is now a micro-credential professor after earning multiple digital badges while attending FSU and earning his second doctorate degree.

“This encourages [students] because it enhances career opportunities,” Dr. Acheampong said.

IBM has many of their own micro-credentials which pertain to the tech field. Some businesses send their employees to the FGCU digital badge program in order to learn these skills and gain certificates.

“It validates your skills and knowledge. You may know how to analyze data, but if you don’t have it on paper, it’s a totally different story,” Dr. Acheampong said. “However, when you go to look for work, all the people you’re up against know how to do the work but only you have the certification.”

Senior Aaron Albright was looking at the curriculum page on the

FGCU website when he came across the IBM Skills Academy Badges. He decided to sign up for micro-credential classes in order to make his resume and LinkedIn look better.

“They go at your own pace and the schedule is convenient. The material is very in depth. It’s almost like the detail of a graduate level course, but it’s not getting graded and it’s not a bunch of tests,” Albright said. “There’s a lot of hands-on work with it. You get a lot of practice using tools that are used by professionals in the field.

Albright has obtained digital badges for Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner, IBM Certified Blockchain Practitioner and Certified CyberSecurity Practitioner. These worked alongside his usual class work, and saw an improvement as a result.

“It was a good supplement to the curriculum in information systems. None of my classes covered cybersecurity in that much detail, or block chain in that much detail,” Albright said.

As of now, anyone with a Lee County drivers license is able to apply for a grant and take the classes for free. Meaning, the working class can take micro-credential courses to reskill and upskill their knowledge, giving them an advantage in their careers.

Williams is also working toward getting more grants so more students are able to go through the program.

Dr. Acheampong said the majority of students in his microcredential courses are already in the workforce. Some of them are sent by employers to learn new skills, and some are looking to get a promotion or better job.

He is also hoping for approval in making the microcredential courses a supplement to some of his FGCU Accounting courses homework. That way, his students will gain credit towards their degree and have a certificate that competitors may not have. He is still working to get the courses free for his students before he can incorporate them into his class.

Many of the courses are geared toward undergraduate students and people already in the workforce who are looking to expand their portfolio.

“There are major differences, but the major idea behind them is to be able to connect your skills and build upon them and teach people that you don’t just need a degree, you should have all these different competencies just to be able to be a productive person in the world,” Williams said.

Most digital badges go hand-in-hand with certain majors.

“It’s not a replacement for your degree but it’s actually an enhancement that helps students to be able to prove one advantage in career opportunities, and gain promotions where you are already working,” Dr. Acheampong said.

Information about the micro-credential programs can be found on FGCU’s website.•

A Small School Yields Limited Opportunites

Delinah Rosario, Opinion Editor

Nowone of the main reasons I came to FGCU is because of how close-knit everything seemed. It wasn’t a super large campus, it was close to home and they had some really strong programs. Not to mention this campus is beautiful. Most people could only dream of having a waterfront right in their backyard. There are a lot of benefits to coming here, but there are also some downfalls to going to a small school.

For one, classes can be difficult to choose. As a journalism major with a theater minor, there are not enough professors to take on all the classes FGCU wants to offer. It’s great when they add a class and when I can take a course for my field like Musical Theater, but it’s not so great when a class gets dropped because they can’t find someone to teach it.

Something that also isn’t the best is when they don’t tell you the classes are dropped. You sometimes have to figure things out on your own and hope it doesn’t interfere with your graduation plans. When it comes to smaller campuses you may have to take a class that only has one professor teaching it and only at one set time. There are not many options as to what classes you can take and when you can take them.

I can’t tell you the number of things I have to miss out on because I have a required class to take and it’s only offered at 9:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. Sometimes even the classes I want to take conflict and then I’m at a crossroads as to what I should do. Being at a small school is nice because you can gain personal connections with your professors which I

love, but when those professors leave then the school has to figure out what to do next.

Another complication with smaller universities is that there may not be as many opportunities available. It can sometimes feel like people are vying for the same thing because of limited resources or positions. Smaller schools' limited resources might often make some subject offerings impossible. It can also mean that there may not be enough students to fill a class, so the course can’t go forward. A lot of times classes are dropped because there aren’t enough students to take them, but sometimes the repercussions it has are worse. If you are a graduating senior and need to take a class that gets dropped, problems may arise.

For some, education isn’t the issue, but the difference in social life is. We may not have the “usual” tailgating events that most schools have before a big football game, and there may also be less variety in social life. You may also see the same people all the time if they have the same major as you. That can be either a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. There are usually fewer sports programs and extracurricular activities. Overall, it can sometimes feel like you have a limited campus experience.

I do love my smaller university, but sometimes I feel a bit lost with the lack of resources available. For some, a small university is the greatest thing in the world and for others, it’s the opposite. Work with what you have and do what’s right for you.•

Photo by Jessica Piland

Life’s Trials and Tribulations Led Travell Oakes to Empower Marginalized Students To Overcome Systemic Barriers

Abigail Muth, Staff Writer

Travell “T.O.” Oakes has changed the game for the Multicultural and Leadership Development Center (MLD) by bringing his expertise in curriculum design, evaluation, assessment and inclusive leadership development to FGCU.

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in economics and management from Albion College in Michigan, Oakes took a gap year followed by working as a cultural admissions counselor at Albion College. He was able to use that time to learn about other cultures and ethnicities while also sharing his own life experiences.

However, Oakes, who now works with MLD at FGCU, saw admissions work as a transactional relationship with students. Once he helped students decide if they wanted to attend the school, he was unable to really connect with them as he wanted. He had to focus on the next group of incoming students.

“I like to see continuous growth. I like to have authentic and genuine relationships so folks can develop those and increase networks. So I knew admissions wasn't my ideal place where I wanted to be,” Oakes said.

After this discovery, he went to Central Michigan University and stayed there for nearly two years. Oakes worked as a graduate assistant within their leadership institute while receiving his master’s degree in higher education administration.

He made his way to FGCU in July 2019 to be the coordinator of leadership development. That’s when he met Sherrelle Findley, the current assistant dean of students and director of MLD.

“I think he personifies transformational leadership,” Findley said. “I think he's the exact

opposite of transactional leadership which is just a give and take or ‘I'm just here to do what I gotta get done’.”

He worked with Findley to start ‘walk and talks’ where students can meet with an advisor or mentor in the center and talk with them somewhere that makes them feel comfortable, rather than sitting in an office. When they were developing this idea, Oakes asked Findley to be his mentor.

“We spent a lot of time, especially through the pandemic, going on ‘walk and talks’ and it allowed me to get to know him better. And for him to better get to know me. Both being individuals of color was also seen as a way to support each other during that time,” Findley said.

In Oct. 2021, Oakes became the assistant director for the MLD center. Findley is now Oakes’ direct supervisor, which does not allow them the same relationship they had before, but she still sees the hard work he puts into his job every day.

As most individuals go to their supervisor with new ideas and go from there, Oakes makes sure he has thought things out beforehand and has a plan of action. He likes to figure out logistics ahead of time to not waste anyone else's time.

He worked on the inaugural Tunnel of Awareness and started the Men About Change program for individuals to study and combat toxic masculinity. He has also aided in many MLD programs which create or re-envision from other universities.

“I would say my proudest moment for T.O. would be navigating FGCU in the community during a time where he thought there wasn't a lot out here for him,” Findley said.

Oakes was born in Muskegon, Michigan, a predominantly black community, and understands the importance of mentoring students through academics. He is a part of multiple initiatives that allows him to foster these relationships.

Oakes is a member of the Xi Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, where he serves on the Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College Committee. He’s able to encourage students from underserved communities to attend college through this program.

He is also the advisor of FGCU’s undergraduate chapter of Upsilon Sigma, where he works with young men to develop leadership skills and conduct community service. He was inducted into the FGCU’s Omicron Delta Kappa circle in the spring of 2020.

He founded and is president of Kickz4Justice, LLC, another outlet for Oakes to inspire people to become the best version of themselves.

Oakes and FGCU graduate Madison Welch met at their first Frosh Mosh event, a multi-day retreat for future student leaders, which is hosted by MLD.

When they first met, Welch says she never would have guessed it was the first time he was meeting everyone in his department because he seemed comfortable and personable. She went on to hold multiple positions in the MLD center.

“We got close, because I happen to be in the center a lot more and connect with a lot more professionals. And he was one of those professionals I got to really connect with,” Welch said.

Welch says that Oakes sees things in students that they may not even see in themselves. He knows how to encourage students to expand their comfort zones and grow to become the best versions of themselves.

“When we first met each other, you couldn't catch me doing any of the things that I'm doing now. And everything that he told me really motivated me to do what I ended up doing throughout my college career,” Welch said.

Welch and Findley both see Oakes as an asset to the program. He works hard to assure each student in the community feels welcomed and included in their activities.

“He's the type of person who could walk into a room and talk to anybody,” Welch said. “He can not only just walk in a room and just get people to talk or talk to people, he also brings the energy into the room.”•

Oakes and Findley spoke at the spring 2023

Omicron Delta Kappa induction ceremony on March 16, 2023.

Photo by Hayley Lemery.

Connecting and working with students is an important aspect of the work Oakes does as assistant director for the MLD center. Photos courtesy of Travell Oakes.

Oakes (left) at the Noche de Culture event hosted by the MLD Center as a part of their Hispanic Heritage month celebration.

Photo courtesy of Travell Oakes.

An in-depth summary of the specific achievements made during the 2017-2022 academic years can be found on FGCU’s website.

FGCU Exceeds Goals Outlined in the Last Strategic Plan

President Martin Announces the Achievements Made in Past Years

Hayley Lemery, Assignment & Features Editor

Graphic by Gabriella Lopez

Strategic plans are used as a guide for long-term and short-term goals that a university hopes to exceed during a duration of time. President Michael Martin announced the accomplishments that have been made due to the 2017-2022 strategic plan.

The five pillars were student success, academic excellence, entrepreneurship, health sciences and community engagement and outreach.

“In 25 years, FGCU has come farther and faster in emerging as a major force in Florida higher education than other institutions in recent history,” read his letter in the executive summary. “The aspirations and expectations of the founders continue to be met."

The student success pillar focused on retaining students and 4-year graduation rates, providing resources to connect students with professionals in their fields, providing affordable education to minimize debt, and providing opportunities for student and staff engagement to build a sense of community and atmosphere for success.

FGCU has since: created the Student Success and Enrollment Management division, expanded summer courses, created new programs to expand options, redesigned recruitment events, launched an intention admissions recruitment strategy to serve the diverse population as an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, support students with financial barriers and increase degree completion, enhanced student programs to ensure academic success and workforce readiness and expanded opportunities for students with faculty and staff to enhance the learning experience.

“Two major hurricanes and a global pandemic didn’t slow our progress in achieving the goals and objectives that were set five years ago,” President Martin said in an email on Feb. 3 to the FGCU community. “We hope this information provides both transparency and accountability, and we should all be proud of the results.”

The academic excellence pillar focused on furthering development in the Honors College, expand internship opportunities and double the number of co-op education and experiences, creating new and redefine programs that lead to high-wage and high-demand jobs, increase collective accountability on the Board of Governors performance metrics, increase sponsored research by 100% and focus on resources and structures to foster faculty research and scholarship and expand those opportunities to students.

Because of this, 137 programs were revised, 27 new programs were created, 62 undergraduate curriculums were revised, 22 graduate curriculums were revised, 40 minors were revised, 13 certificates were revised, 14 programs were added, 6 majors were added, 4 minors were added and 3 new certificates were added.

FGCU has also: transitioned the FGCU Honors Program to the Honors College and enrollment has grown over 49%, students have obtained prestigious scholarships, fellowships and nationally competitive awards, the internship leadership team was formed to increase co-ops campus wide and created new internship programs, created The Water School and the Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship, continued curriculum updates and new program developments to meet the needs of an ever-changing workforce, created FGCU Complete, Return to the Nest and Credit for Prior Learning to increase access to academic programs for all students in any stage of education, campus-wide initiatives were developed for collective accountability, and submitted grant applications for externally sponsored research and programs increased by 537%.

The entrepreneurship pillar focused on growing the Institute for Entrepreneurship, creating an entrepreneurial mindset throughout the FGCU community and focusing on FGCU becoming the catalyst of entrepreneurship within Southwest Florida and the state.

Since, the entrepreneurship program is number one in the state and number 15 in the United States according to The Princeton Review. 374 businesses have been created by students since 206, student enrollment grew 640% from fall 2017 to fall 2022 and $11.2

million of gross revenue has been generated by students since 2016.

FGCU has also: established the School of Entrepreneurship in July 2019, launched the M.S. Entrepreneurship Program in fall 2021, enrolled over 260 participants in the FGCU Runway Program in 2021-22, started 125 businesses through the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program since 2016 and generated $40 million in gross revenue collectively, expanded community programs to spread entrepreneurship through the state, create 80 mentor roles to serve students, have focused micro-credential and digital badge programs available for free to students and have 59 entrepreneurship faculty fellows from 22 departments incorporate skills into their curriculum.

“The point is clear: FGCU plays – and will continue to play – a central role in improving the lives of students and citizens alike. Doing so means listening and then moving boldly,” President Martin said in the executive summary.

The health sciences pillar focused on furthering clinical oriented disciplines within healthcare and establish the Marieb College to prepare students for the workforce with an exception of allopathic and osteopathic medicine, establish on and off campus facultyled practice clinics in primary care, rehabilitation, fitness and behavioral care to generate revenue to support student and faculty success, develop advanced interprofessional graduate programs that are research based, develop other degrees external to the Marieb College to expand commitment to improving health and wellness and interprofessional education, and focus on promoting personal development, physical and mental health, wellness and safety for students and academic success.

FGCU has the top nursing program for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses pass rate, the top BSW and MSW program in Florida based on students' median net monthly income one year after graduating, 98% pass the National Physical Therapy Examination between 2019-2022 during their first attempt and 100% licensures pass rate in National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy since 2015.

FGCU has also: created new programs and enhance programs to expand healthcare programs, established partnerships with Home Base Southwest Florida to address the growing needs of veterans, developing a faculty-run physical therapy clinic for students to learn hands-on, opening the Community Counseling Center, launching the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging to support older generations in Florida and 250 students have been placed in parter sites for clinical and non-clinical preparation.

The community engagement and outreach pillar focused on increasing awareness to FGCU programs, people and impact, strengthening outreach and ties in the region, building partnerships with the five area school districts, local businesses, and organizations, and engaging and building loyalty among alumni and strengthening fundraising efforts.

FGCU has since: created community outreach campaigns to engage the community with FGCU, enhanced digital presence, expand WGCU public service and fact-based news coverage for Southwest Florida, created a media relations strategy positioning FGCU as a resource for the community, obtaining a cumulative service-learning total for 4.4 million hours, create strategic partnerships with regional employers and five-county K-12 school districts for specific workforce development initiatives, support FGCU Athletics through 28 regular season wins and conference tournament championships with 15 NCAA berths and five postseason victories since 2017, attracted 7,000 in-person attendees to Bower events, receive $1.5 million in grant funding for programs geared towards the workforce, expand Alumni Association Chapters to 21 cities, received $200,000 from 784 alumni donors in FY22 and reached a record fundraising amount of $33.6 million in 2022.

FGCU has begun the next strategic plan, which will be implemented when the fifth university president assumes their position.•

By Alexandra Porter

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