FGCU women’s basketball moves to 11-0 at Alico Arena Read more on B1
The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS www.eaglenews.org
Volume 15, Issue 20
Homecoming and alumni weekend to combine
SG attends historic inauguration
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie FGCU students new and old will have the opportunity to take part in numerous activities on campus from Feb. 6 through 11, when Alumni Weekend and Homecoming collide. According to a press release, the FGCU Alumni Association will be holding its 10th annual Alumni Weekend from Thursday, Feb. 9 through Saturday, Feb. 11, while FGCU’s first ever homecoming celebration will take place during that same week, starting Monday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, Feb. 11. Director of Alumni Relations Kimberly Wallace said that before planning for Alumni Weekend began, the Alumni Association contacted Athletics for help. “We actually contacted Athletics to see what game they suggested doing Alumni Weekend around,” Wallace said. Wallace and her team planned the weekend around the Saturday, Feb. 11 men’s basketball game against Kennesaw State University. “Athletics suggested that this would be a good game for us to bring our alumni and students out to,” Wallace said. Homecoming will begin with “Make Your Mark Monday,” which will consist of games modeled after the Olympics on the Library Lawn, sponsored by the Student Organizational Council, on Monday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Eagle Quarter” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Resident Housing Association will be hosting a Mardi Gras-inspired celebration with stilted characters and string beads. Wednesday, Feb. 8 will include two Student Government run events — a “Block-Out Day Party” from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the SoVi pool, and “EagleMania” at the Recreation Outdoor Complex from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where FGCU men’s basketball players are expected to attend as special guests. The Alumni Association has been working closely with SG throughout the planning process. “It was their initiative
>> Continued on A2
INSIDE:
Wednesday, January 25, 2016
By Rachel Iacovone Managing Editor @totesrachel
EN Photos / Rachel Iacovone (Above) Members of Student Government pose in front of the Supreme Court during their trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. (Below) A crowd gathered in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. in anticipation of the inauguration.
A group of 14 FGCU students were selected for the opportunity to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C. thanks to sponsorship from the Brunson Foundation and Rep. Byron Donalds from Naples. The students boarded the bus at FGCU at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, and after picking up students from Florida SouthWestern College and Ave Maria as well as waiting for the two high school students selected from each public school in Collier and Lee County, the students arrived in D.C. the following day at 10 a.m. “If I could summarize the trip in two words, it would be exhilarating and exhausting,” said Emmalyn Green. Green is the vice president of SG on campus. She, along with many of her colleagues on the trip, expressed sentiments that they, in particular, appreciated the opportunity to see the federal government up close. “I’ve never experienced
history to that degree,” Green said, “and as someone who studies history and the political process, it was absolutely incredible to live through it and experience it firsthand.” The students were all openly appreciative, though each noted the lack of communication between the trip organizers and their group to be harshly lacking. That is why, on the night before the inauguration, SG Treasurer Ivan Rodriguez called in a favor to his cousin who worked in the House of Representatives. The group had just been informed they were without tickets and were expected to go in as the general public at the back of the National Mall. Rodriguez was having none of that, and within a half hour, his cousin arrived with tickets for the standing area in front of the Capitol Building, courtesy of Rep. Derek
>> Continued on A4
FGCU students and faculty attend Women’s March on Washington By Rachel Iacovone Managing Editor @totesrachel An estimated 2.9 million people gathered for 168 marches in 81 countries on Saturday, Jan. 21. The marches began through the Women’s March on Washington movement, which drew in 500,000 people to the National Mall following President Donald Trump’s inauguration the day before. That crowd included three FGCU students and three faculty members who traveled up for the march. Two of the students flew up to D.C. on the money they raised through the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. “It really is unifying,” said Brittany Rincon — her bright purple ends matching the vibrant feminine colors in the crowd around her. “That’s what it’s doing. It’s bringing people together. The election definitely separated a lot of us, and this is trying to bring the people back together behind
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a common cause.” Rincon was the latter addition to the duo, as it was her friend Jacqueline Burgos who first planned on attending and asked her to join. “I heard about it through Dr. Anne Hartley from FGCU,” Burgos said. “She posted it in the FGCU Enlighten Us page, and I was like, ‘Oh, this sounds interesting.’ And, I started doing more research. I private messaged her, and that was it.” Burgos and Rincon met Hartley and her daughter for the first time at the airport the day before the march. Rincon said the flight to D.C., which they took from Southwest Florida International Airport, was filled at least halfway with people going up for the women’s march. Though comforting, Burgos said the small
>> Continued on A3 EN Photos / Rachel Iacovone (Above) FGCU student Jacqueline Burgos looks up during the Women’s March on Washington that occured on Saturday, Jan. 21. (Below) A crowd of protesters walk through Washington, D.C. during the march.
FIRST ISSUE FREE Eagle News McTarnaghan Hall 201 10030 FGCU Blvd. S Fort Myers, Fla. 33967
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 The official student produced newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997.
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AGLE NEWS
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Editor-in-Chief Emily Ford
editorinchief@eaglenews.org Advertising and Operations Manager Nikki Henkell
businessmanager@eaglenews.org Managing Editor Rachel Iacovone
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>> Eagle Marathon Day of Service! Join the fun on Tuesday, Feb. 7, on the library lawn and earn service learning hours. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., two-hour opportunities throughout the day. There will be dance and crafts, birthday card creation and T-shirt quilt making. Games! Social activism — learn to contact your representatives. Got a green thumb? Plant veggies. Bring a friend and double the fun. For information, contact service learning@fgcu.edu. >> The Cape Coral Historical Museum is holding its second annual Bluegrass Jamboree Jan. 28. Volunteers who love live music, BBQ and helping a good cause needed. Help set up, clean, park cars, work security and man booths, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact Breanne Hastings, Museum Coordinator - capecoralmuseum@gmail.com or call 239-772-7037 for more information. >> Become a tutor — Change a life! One out of every five families in Lee County speaks a language other than English. The Literacy Council Gulf Coast holds tutoring classes in 50 locations in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh. You do not have to speak another
language to tutor, and programs are available to morning, afternoon and evenings. Please contact Bob Sorenson at 239-676-5202 or bobvsorenson@gmail.com for more information. >> Play ball! Saturday, Jan. 7 through March 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., the Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled Baseball League needs you to play baseball with the adults with disabilities. Cheer them on and assist the teams. This is located at 5770 Osceola Trail, Naples. For more information, please contact Lauren Morimanno at lamorimanno0809@eagle.fgcu.edu >> PACE Center for Girls has wonderful opportunities coming up. Helpers are needed at the Grande Dame Tea on Friday, Jan. 27, setting up and serving, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and helping create Fascinators, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. From Feb. 6 through Feb. 8, help is needed with the Love That Dress Boutique. For information, contact Carol Wonderly at carol.wonderly@pacecenter.org.
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The world in brief ‘El Chapo’ pleads not guilty to charges
Chinese policy leads to increase in births
Drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who was recently extradited to the U.S., entered a plea of not guilty on the morning of Friday, Jan. 20. Guzman is named in a 17-count indictment alleging that from 1989 to 2014 he led a criminal enterprise centered on drugs and violence. The charges carry a minimum sentence of life in prison, though prosecutors are seeking a $14 billion criminal forfeiture.
China saw its birth rate increase almost 8 percent from 2015 to 2016. A total of 17.86 million babies were born last year, which can be attributed to a new two-child policy. The previous one-child policy, introduced in 1979, was replaced at the start of 2016. The decision was made to increase the birth rate after the total fertility rate was becoming too low over 30 years, causing a shortage of working-age
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Six dead in rescue helicopter crash
Designers making jewelry out of recycled
An emergency helicopter crashed in the mountains of Central Italy early Tuesday, Jan. 24. The crash occurred during a mission to rescue an injured skier near the Campo Felice ski resort. Two members of the Guardia di Finanzia police, three medical personnel and the injured skier were killed. The crash has been attributed to bad weather, but is under pending investigation.
A design company in Swaziland has found a way to create jewelry out of recycled newspapers. Their mission is to crush the stereotype that recycled items mean ugly items. The project started when a local magazine had a goal of seeing all its wasted paper products to use. The company employs only women to design and craft the jewelry.
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>> Homecoming continued from A1 to start homecoming and to start that tradition,” Wallace said. “They contacted our office to see how we would collaborate and join forces.” “Night Flight,” FGCU’s first Homecoming concert, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 9 on the Library Lawn at 8 p.m. Programming Board, who is hosting the event, will be announcing the performer(s) at the end of January, according to a press release. On Friday, Feb. 10, “An
Evening Under the Stars” will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Library Lawn, hosted by Greek Programming Council. Homecoming Week will end on Saturday, Feb. 11 with an “Alumni Avenue Tailgate” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the ROC before the men’s basketball game. Alumni Weekend will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in Sugden Hall, where alumni are invited to take part in “A Walking Wine Tour.” Participants will be given a guided stroll around campus with stops including
appetizers and samples from the Alumni Association Wine Collection. “Dinner with the Deans” will take place at noon on Friday, Feb. 10 in various spots on campus. The luncheon is aimed at connecting alumni with the deans from their respective colleges. “Alumni Awards” will take place later that day at 6 p.m. in the Cohen Center ballroom. The ceremony will honor this year’s inductees to the Alumni of Distinction and Soaring Eagle societies, FGCU’s highest tributes to alumni that have
made an impact since graduating. Alumni Weekend will come to a close on Saturday, Feb. 11 with “Yoga on the Lawn” at the ROC beginning at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., former resident assistants will have the opportunity to attend the “Housing Resident Assistant Reunion Brunch” at the Grandezza Country Club. At 12:30 p.m., Alico Arena will host a basketball scrimmage featuring former players and cheerleaders. At 5 p.m. a “Tailgate Party” will take place at Alico Arena before
the men’s basketball game, and at 7 p.m., members of “Forever an Eagle” can enjoy an exclusive reception in the hospitality suite. Wallace said that she is most looking forward to seeing FGCU alumni and students interact. “Our alums love to talk to the students and see how their organization has grown from when they were a student here,” Wallace said, “It really does come full circle.”
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WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG >> Women’s march continued from A1 crowd of fellow marchers on the plane did not prepare her for the feeling of being among half a million like-minded individuals the following day. “There is nothing else I’ve ever experienced that has been like this,” Burgos said, standing off to the side of Independence Avenue. “This is welcoming. This is a true definition of intersectionality. I have an overwhelming sense of emotion. I’m feeling everything at once. I’m going to look back at this in 10, 15, 20 years and be like, ‘I was a part of this. This is a movement.’” It was speculated that due to its timing and message, the march was, in large part, a direct response to the 2016 presidential race. Burgos said, for her, it very much was, particularly after breaking down
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3 watching Hillary Clinton’s concession speech. “A piece of me died with her that day, and if anything, I think that mobilized me and other students to want to actually do something because they realize now it’s a problem,” Burgos said. Anne Hartley, the associate professor of marine and ecological sciences at FGCU, was, in part, motivated to attend to give her 15-year-old daughter a sense of political activism. Up until that point, her daughter had only attended rallies for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which Hartley said she got involved with after teaching Foundations of Civic Engagement and realizing she wasn’t doing the amount of service she was preaching to her students. “It occurred to me that it would be a great way for women to come together and kind of redefine and reconfirm our identities
as a women’s movement,” Hartley said. “It gave me a better idea of all the issues women care about, as our movement has diversified so much over the years.” Hartley marched with a sign that said “#WhyIMarch Community” with the “unity” part of the word highlighted in different colors. “I really marched for unity within the community because everyone deserves the right to life, liberty and love,” Hartley said. “It really did create a unified community — this huge surge of positivity, this huge sense of love. People are still smiling at each other. It was cathartic to be amongst like-minded people and so many of them. After the presidential race, which was so negative, we needed this.” Another FGCU student, Danielle Quina, went up to march after hearing about it through Hartley’s post to
Enlighten Us, which Quina is the president of. Through Hartley’s help, she received sponsorship to ride a charter bus up from Fort Myers. “It was amazing being there,” Quina said. “I have participated in small activist groups locally but never in the center of the movement so far from home. It was empowering and uplifting to know I was a part of it.” Quina said she hopes the widespread concept of intersectionality present at the march will extend to the rest of society since the march. “It’s the idea that we all become advocates for each other as one cohesive group rather than dividing among labels or stereotypes,” Quina said. “I hope to see empowerment grow in those who have previously felt disempowered. No one is alone, and we can shake the system that attempts to shake us.” Maria Roca, the
associate professor of communication and philosophy at FGCU, went up to march with another FGCU staff member, Karyn Everham. They stayed with Roca’s friend, who was the organizer behind the Americans with Disabilities Act tent. The ADA home base was a hotspot during the march considering there were 45,000 people with disabilities in attendance, historically the largest gathering of people with disabilities to date. “I just couldn’t be silent,” Roca said. “I’m a mother. I’m an environmentalist. I always care about disenfranchised populations. So, I didn’t see a choice.” The biggest surprise for Roca was the diversity of the crowd. “What was really heartening was the amount of men that were there and the number of much older woman, like 80 and above,” Roca said. “I’m personally
in my 60s, so I can tell you it must be hard for people that age to have gotten around in the crowds. It says a lot about how worried people are heading into the next four years.” Everham seconded Roca’s feelings about the pleasant surprise of the crowd’s diversity. “My first thought seeing the huge numbers of young people marching was, ‘This gives me hope,’” Everham said. “But, what was most inspiring was the remarkable diversity of people, all together, peacefully and passionately making our voices and many concerns known.” Everham said she hopes to see that extended out to the general public, whether they marched or not. “Hopefully, bridges will be built,” Everham said. “The march was for all of us, not just those who participated.”
Alumni Association accepting board of directors applications FGCU graduates invited to join board and assist fellow alumni By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie FGCU graduates seeking to assist the Alumni Association’s goals and continue their work on campus are invited to apply to become a member of the association’s board of directors. The board’s nominating committee will be accepting applications for the 2017-19 term now through Friday,
March 17. Director of Alumni Relations Kimberly Wallace said that the board is accepting applications because some current members’ terms are up. “We actually look for new members every year,” Wallace said. “Our board of governors is a two-year term.” On average, the board receives about 20 applications during every application cycle.
“It depends on how many spots are available that year,” Wallace said. According to a press release, preferred candidates are graduates who are actively involved with the university, members of “Forever an Eagle,” the Alumni Association’s lifetime membership option, individuals who are “distinguished in their personal and professional lives,” and those who are
committed to advancing the university’s and the association’s goals. Wallace said that her and her staff are also looking for individuals who will help get alumni to continue to stay connected to their alma mater. “They really are our advocates for the university at a community level,” Wallace said. For more information, contact Wallace at 239-5901087.
Photo courtesy of James Greco An Alumni Association table at an event. Members of the class of 2011 were invited to sign the poster on the table.
A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Police Beat Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Lover’s Quarrel
Suspicious Person
On Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2:10 a.m., a complainant notified UPD that there was a shirtless man banging on a car window with a woman inside. The male subject reported to UPD that he and the woman had a verbal argument about who should drive. After finding the female subject in possession of marijuana and issued her a Notice To Appear, UPD advised the couple to drive home separately.
On Monday, Jan. 16 at 9:58 p.m., a call came in from an RA in reference to a report of a man running and yelling at cars near South Village. UPD officers canvassed the area, but were unable to locate the subject.
On Monday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 p.m., UPD officers were on a routine patrol when they noticed several
On Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 9:28 p.m., an anonymous complainant called to
On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 2:10 a.m., UPD responded to a report that students in South Village buildings were complaining of smelling smoke. Lee Control was contacted and
>> SG continued from A1
that surprised me at the inauguration was the type of people that were there surrounding the capitol,” Sambrun said. “The minute they would see a Democrat, they would just throw out a disrespectful remark. I mean, I understand they don’t have the same political views but, at least, show some amount of respect.” Sambrun’s colleague, Rodriguez, instead seemed surprised it had only been some comments at the inauguration. “The environment was a lot different than what I expected,” Rodriguez said. “Media shows you one thing. I don’t know if it’s because of all the rallying is done and he’s finally been elected or what, but for a majority of it, it was quite peaceful.” Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican, did note
that he felt some took it too far, in particular, about immigration from Latin America. “I heard some chanting from the Mall,” Rodriguez said. “I heard them chanting back there, ‘Build that wall,’ which is, I feel, a little inconsiderate, you know? I have a lot of friends that are here with visas that are from Mexico.” Despite those moments, Green said attending the ceremony was an overall positive experience. “The inauguration solidified my support of the quote ‘I hope Donald Trump is a good president. Wanting him to fail is like wanting the pilot to crash the plane that we are all on,’” Green said. In his first address as commander-in-chief, Trump left off on a note of unity for the nation, which resonated with many of the
students in attendance. “As long as he has his head on right and follows through with his promises he mentioned — you know, helping people get off welfare by creating new jobs for them so that way they can actually make a living on their own, all that — I’m all for it,” Rodriguez said. “So, I really hope he can help unite us rather than divide us further.” The following day, the students were given an agenda to tour the national monuments without specific times or places and though many were still blocked off or obstructed due to the inauguration or the Women’s March on Washington, which was occurring as the students arrived in the city. “We are not here for the women’s march,” event coordinator Anthony Thomas told the bus full
Kilmer (D-WA). At 3 a.m. the next morning, the group woke up an hour and a half outside of the city in Fredericksburg, Virginia where they took cramped Ubers to the nearest Metro station and headed to Capitol Hill. There they stood for seven hours in the 40-degree weather, huddled together under the gray, drizzling sky above. Throughout the inauguration ceremony, Ashley Sambrun, the chief justice of SG, vocalized her concerns — and more importantly, her love for the Obamas — despite the confused or even disgusted looks it got her from those around her. “The main thing
Four
Marijuana Musketeers
individuals behind Garage B at the picnic table. Upon approaching the group, four males took off running. Two individuals crossed the barbed wire fence into the adjacent property, while one tried to conceal himself in the woods. The fourth individual injured himself and was lying on the ground. All admitted to smoking marijuana. Man on the Move
report an old man walking around the area of Alico Arena and Pelican in North Lake Village. The complainant hung up before any further questions could be asked. The area was canvassed but no one was found. Smoke in South Village
informed UPD that there was a controlled burn on Corkscrew Road. Raccoon on the Run On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 12:06 p.m., there was a report of a raccoon in a tree. The complainant was unsure whether the raccoon was rabid or not. An officer arrived on scene, but was unable to locate the animal.
Vehicle Tampering of college students before they were allowed off. “It is a liability.” The FGCU students at the back of the bus all exchanged glances — one whispering loud enough for the others to hear, “We’re adults.” And, just like that, the group was off and walking along Independence Avenue with the mass of half a million others who had come to the capital for the march. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was being in the women’s march,” Sambrun said. “It really made me realize my role as a woman and that I deserve the choice to do what I want with my life. It was very liberating in my perspective.” Student Body President Thieldens Elneus said, for him, the women’s march was the highlight of the trip.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 4:58 p.m., a complainant reported to UPD stating he believed the lug nuts on his rim were loosened. UPD plans to review the camera reports to determine the cause. Tour Bus Tribulations On Thursday, Jan. 19 at 11:59 a.m., a tour bus ran over a waterline, damaging the plastic protective covering, and inflicting minor damage to a traffic sign. “Being able to join our nation to stand up for women was priceless,” Elneus said. “I did not expect that so many people would be in attendance.” Though not every FGCU student on the trip was in support of Trump, Elneus said the experience of being there in person was worth it, partisanship aside. “Regardless of political leaning, this trip was a once in a lifetime type of experience,” Elneus said. “If anyone is able to attend an inauguration, they definitely should. Experiencing the transition of power with people from all over the nation and witnessing several previous presidents on the same stage was well worth being there in person.”
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A5
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Dali makes an appearance on campus
EN Photo / Matt Ricci “Dali Interprets” is the name of the library’s newest exhibit, which features works of art from Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. The exhibit, the first one of the year, includes 12 lithographs, a few of which are on loan from The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Several lithographs had to be restored due to acid burns that caused the pieces to appear in poor condition.
By Alexandra Figares Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews
EN Photos / (Above) Alexandra Figares (Below) Matt Ricci (Above) Graduate student Matt Losey observes text describing the works of art on display in the “Dali Interprets” exhibit on the third floor of the library. The exhibit includes works from “Changes in Great Masterpieces” from The Salavador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. (Below) A framed sign stating that Dali lithographs are on sale hangs in the exhibit surrounded by hand-painted embellishments around the exhibit in the form of Dali inspired crowns, “frames” and ants.
FGCU’s library is home to more than just computers and textbooks — nestled on the third floor in Library Archives is a space where works of art and items of historical significance come to rest. The FGCU Library hosted a reception for “Dali Interprets” a new exhibit in the Library’s Archives and Special Collections on Thursday, Jan. 19. “Dali Interprets” marks the first exhibit of the year featuring 12 lithographs created by renowned Spanish surrealist, Salvador Dali. On loan from The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg “Changes in Great Masterpieces” and FGCU’s own “Currier & Ives as Interpreted by Salvador Dali,” serve as the exhibition’s theme, showcasing six pieces each. Head of Archives, Special Collections, & Digital Initiatives, Melissa VandeBurgt, conceived the idea to include exhibits in the library in 2012 with nothing more than a vision and an empty space. Since its conception, anthropology collections, rare books and musical instruments have been on display providing
countless opportunities for students, faculty and the public to learn and enjoy the university’s extensive collections. In 2009, the Dali lithographs became part of the libraries permanent collection as part of a donation from the Evelyn Davis trust. According to VandeBurgt, the lithographs were in poor condition due to acid burns. Determined to salvage the lithographs, VandeBurgt and her team sent them to get cleaned, sent them to a professional conserver and stowed them away for a few years to neutralize the acid. Eight years later, the lithographs are unveiled for the first time exposing their original burns in efforts to educate the public on the importance of conservation. “We could’ve chosen to frame them and make them look perfect and museum quality, and cover up the flaws, but our job here is to educate,” VandeBurgt said. “By framing them the way that they did, that shows the acid burn, that shows the way that the UV has faded them, we can educate on that.” In addition to education, hosting exhibits allows students to access primary sources, research tools, familiarize with
library resources and communicate with staff. Dali was not the only artistic presence at the reception, as Senior Library Technical Assistant, Kaleena Rivera, added hand-painted embellishments around the exhibit in the form of Dali inspired crowns, “frames” and ants. President Wilson G. Bradshaw was also present at the reception. “This is something in the university we fully support,” said Bradshaw. “You hear a lot about STEM and that’s important but the arts and the humanities are also very important in the education that we provide.” Exhibits are open twice a year; once in the spring and again in the summer. Exhibits require a tremendous amount of planning with up to six months of research going into each exhibit. “These exhibits give people the opportunity to walk in and get acquainted with us,” said Rivera, “I’m very excited about having more people come and talk to us and know who we are so that we can help them.” “Dali Interprets” is open to the public through April 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Department of Language and Literature to hold international film festival By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie FGCU’s Sugden Welcome Center, usually the meeting place for campus tours, will be serving a new purpose starting Monday, Feb. 6. The Seidler International Film Festival, hosted in part by the Department of Language and Literature, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Seidler Fund, will showcase six international films free to the public. The films will be held in room SWC 108 and will be shown in their original languages with English subtitles. Opening night of the festival will take place on Monday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m., with a reception featuring food and drinks for attendees. The first film
that will be shown, “Dans la Cour” will begin at 6 p.m. “Dans la Cour,” a 2014 French film that translates to “In the Courtyard,” directed by Pierre Salvadori, centers around a 40-year-old musician who suddenly decides to end his career and begin working as a caretaker at an old building in Paris. On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. the 2013 Venezuelan film “Pelo Malo,” directed by Mariana Rondón, will be shown. The film, which translates to “Bad Hair,” focuses on a nine-yearold boy’s obsession with straightening his hair, much to his mother’s dismay – she begins to panic that he is gay. The third film in the festival, “Die Fremde,” will be shown on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. The 2010
German film directed by Feo Aladag, which translates to “When We Leave,” is about a young Turkish woman who is fighting for an independent life in Germany against the resistance of her family. On Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., the 2012 French film “Monsieur Lazhar” will be shown. The film, directed by Philippe Falardeau, which translates to “Mister Lazhar,” tells the story of an Algerian immigrant who is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom at an elementary school in Montreal, Canada. The fourth film that will be shown is the 2015 Cuban film “Todos se van.” It will be showcased in the festival on Monday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. The film, directed by Sergio Cabrera, which translates
to “Everybody Leaves,” is set in 1980s Cuba and focuses on eight-year-old Nieve and the struggle her parents go through to get custody of her after their divorce. The final film that will be shown during the festival will be showcased on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. The 2006 German film “Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot,” directed by Marcus H. Rosenmüller, translates to “Grave Decisions.” It tells the story of 11-year-old Sebastian and how he feels responsible for his mother’s death. For more information on the festival, contact associate professor Delphine Gras at dgras@ fgcu.edu or 239-590-1511.
EN Photo / Jack Lowenstein Seidler Hall, which is home to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Language and Literature, will be hosting an international film festival starting in February.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE ‘Telementary’ fuses art and engineering
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Shlian’s art mixes engineering and art to create aesthetically pleasing geometric shapes. Through folding paper, each action creates another “transfer of energy,” resulting in three-dimensional works of art.
By Luke Janke Opinion Editor @jankeleg Artist and paper engineer Matthew Shlian will present his installation, “Telemetry” Thursday, Jan. 26 – March 2 at the FGCU Arts Complex main gallery.
There will be an artist talk by Shlian Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in U. Tobe Hall located inside the music building, followed by a reception in the main gallery until 8 p.m. As a paper engineer, Shlian says his work is rooted in print media,
book arts and commercial design. His artwork revolves around folded paper and complex geometric structures. “Beginning with an initial fold, a single action causes a transfer of energy to subsequent folds, which
ultimately manifests in drawings and threedimensional forms,” Shlian says on his official website. Shlian’s work is used by companies and organizations like Apple, Google and NASA among a slue of other names big and small.
He has also used his engineering skills to create kinetic sculptures, which have led to collaborations with scientists at the University of Michigan. The exhibit includes new work and a collaborative project involving FGCU faculty
Photo courtesy of Matt Shlian
member Andy Owen, and the students of Alternative Printmaking. This free event is open to the public. For more information on this and other events, visit artgallery.fgcu.edu or call 239-590-7199.
FGCU’s 24-Hour Festival moves to downtown By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @journonajourney Local theater group Ghostbird Theatre Company has taken the FGCU-based 24-Hour Festival under its wing after a decade of poems, musical scores, feature films and short plays. The festival brings content creators of all genres to one location, where participants wait to receive the prompts in which their work will be based off of. Then, over the next 24 hours, participants race against the clock to complete their final pieces with hopes of winning one of the four categories they can enter. In 2015, two years prior, the event hosted nearly 70 participants in the confines of Parking Garage 2 near the Arts Complex. This year, the event expanded its venue to downtown Fort Myers at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, drawing in over 30 individual artists and teams in the race against the clock. This year’s prompt — which included the phrase “… it isn’t safe,” the theme of opposable realities and the following required objects; broken vine, charred brick, sail and iron — was created by FGCU director and professor of theater, Barry Cavin. The festival was partially supported this year by grants from the City of Fort Myers, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the Lee County Tourist Development Council. At 5 p.m. Jan. 21, participants were given a full 24 hours to complete their pieces. Ghostbird set up an online registration for all participants, requiring that those interested could not participate without having pre-registered, a
unique and new aspect to this year’s festival. Failure to attend the prompt session on the night of Saturday, Jan. 21 resulted in an automatic disqualification. Works of art, video, scripts, performances and other pieces had to be submitted the following day at 5 p.m. or teams risked being ejected from the event. Each work was judged on effectiveness, creativity, accuracy following of the prompts and quality. Judges at the festival included Jessica Todd of the Rauschenberg Residency Program, Anica Sturdivant of the FGCU Art Gallery, Jim Griffith of the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, and Amanda Plummer of Artis-Naples. Doors to the festival opened at 6:30 p.m. and performances began at 7 p.m. The winners of each category were Dana Lynn Raulerson for “Live Performance,” Barbara Fischer for “Music,” Ashley Bott for “Visual Art,” and Holly Wilson and Annalisha Howard for “Video.” All winners earned their share of the $500 prize awarded per each category.
Photo courtesy of Ghostbird Theatre Company Works of art lined the inside of Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center during the 24-Hour Festival, all of which were required to follow a specific prompt. The pieces had to include the phrase “...it isn’t safe,” the theme of opposable realities and various objects, such as broken vine, charred brick, sail and iron.
Photo courtesy of Ghostbird Theatre Company FGCU director and professor of theater Barry Cavin helps participants check in before the performances begin. Artists were required to submit their work 24 hours after their initial prompt meeting.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is franchise’s next film By Emily Ford Editor-in-chief @152emily
Curated this week by special guest E&L Staff Writer, Alex Newman
Get Nostalgic 1. “Perfect” - Smashing Pumpkins 2. “Semi Charmed Life” - Third Eye Blind 3. “Save Tonight” - Eagle Eye Cherry 4. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” - Tom Petty 5. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Nirvana 6. “Wonderwall” - Oasis 7. “What I Got” - Sublime 8. “Bittersweet Symphony” - The Verve 9. “What’s My Age Again ” - Blink-182 10. “Ants Marching” - Dave Matthews Band
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
It should be no surprise that another “Star Wars” movie is in the works, but what’s not so clear is the name. On Monday, Jan. 23, Disney and Lucasfilm finally announced the next chapter in the space-opera saga will be named “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The film, written and directed by Rian Johnson, picks up immediately after the events of 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which concluded with Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) finding Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill), who had been living in seclusion. The film also stars Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Lupita Nyong’o. Franchise newcomers Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran will join the cast. Included in the cast is also the late Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa, who had died Dec. 27. Fisher has already completed her work for the film, but had also been scheduled to appear in
“Episode IX.” Lucasfilm released a statement Jan. 13 stating it “has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa.” However, for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Fisher was digitally recreated. In a recent interview
with USA Today, Johnson said the film will explore the motivations of the hero trio — Rey, Finn and Poe — and Rey’s connection with Luke. “Stars Wars: The Last Jedi” is set to hit theaters Dec. 15.
Photo courtesy of Rodwey2004 via Flickr The late actress Carrie Fisher, famously known for her role as Leia Organa in the “Star Wars” series, will not be digitally recreated for future films.
New and noteworthy restaurants in SWFL By Alex Newman Staff Writer @xandrannewman Just in time for Southwest Florida’s tourist season, numerous restaurants are coming to local market. Pleasing taco aficionados and hot dog junkies alike, the areas spanning from Fort Myers to North Naples are beginning to feature a refreshing twist on inexpensive spots to fill your stomachs.
Fine Folk Pizza Address: 11300 Lindbergh Boulevard #114 | Fort Myers, Florida 33913 New Jersey transplants serving up some seriously phenomenal pizza even the most critical pizza advocates can appreciate. From a bruschetta style pizza to a more daring buffalo style sauced pizza, Fine Folk Pizza has something for everyone. If the restaurant’s crafted specialty pizzas don’t suite your taste pallet, feel free to create your own topped with a selection of locally grown and purchased toppings.
Blackjack Pizza & Salads Address: 28245 S. Tamiami Trail| Bonita Springs, Florida 34134 Blackjack Pizza has been in business for almost 25 years and originating in the Rocky Mountain area. The restaurant offers patrons dine in, as well as delivery, handcrafted pizzas and salads.
EN Photo / Alex Newman
Bonita Brunch Address: 26381 S Tamiami Trail #140 | Bonita Springs, Florida 34134 Taking home of the previously located First Watch, Bonita Brunch delivers similar breakfast style selections with a little extra punch. Brunching options range from the beloved classic eggs and bacon, to a whopping burger topped with a fried egg.
Tipsy Cow Address: 25261 Chamber of Commerce Drive | Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
EN Photo / Alex Newman
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Ice cream isn’t only for children, and this local shop knows it. Offering all of the typical favorite flavors, ranging from pistachio to honey vanilla, The Tipsy Cow also has something up its sleeves for the adventurous: one of a kind “All Grown Up” ice creams. You’ve got that right; all of the ice creams on this adult only menu are infused with a variety of liquors and wines. Flavors include pecan butter shot, dirty banana and a chocolate blackberry cabernet to name a few.
Address: 2405 Tarpon Bay Boulevard | Naples, Florida 34119 Fort Myers franchisee is deciding to open its third location, placed on the south side of Immokalee Road. Unlike numerous other inexpensive Tex-Mex options in the area, Fuzzy’s presents to patrons two different styled soups, shrimp filled entrees and an array of breakfast options for early risers. Fuzzy’s doors should be open by late January.
Motor City Coney Island Grill Address: 1514 Immokalee Road | Naples, Florida 34110 Hot dogs on the mind? Unless attending a baseball game or shuffling through the flea market, good hot dogs are hard to come by. Motor City serves up the truest of Coney Island style dogs with stellar service. Dog prices start at $4.75 and can be accompanied by french fries, onion rings or cheese sticks. Top of the cake? Motor City offers delivery.
EN Photo / Alex Newman
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
Life In Color celebrates a decade of paint
Photo courtesy of Life In Color Participants of Life In Color Miami can expect a full night of music, food and the much anticipated paint. LIC’s new paint formula is light on the skin, odorless and more vibrant than that used in previous years. The 10th celebration of LIC will feature big names like Diplo, Carnage, Marshmello and Desiigner.
By Julia Browning Assistant E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo
Life in Color is celebrating their 10th anniversary in a city that shares the festivals love of eccentricity, culture and, of course, paint: Wynwood, Miami. Since LIC Miami changed from a smallbut-savage paint party
experience to a full on EDM festival, they’ve upgraded to multiple large stages, worldrenowned DJ’s, special effects elements, like light shows and fireworks and the infamous paint that erupts from the stages, completely soaking the crowd in a sea of neon. Now that all of those factors have established
LIC as a staple EDM event in Florida, as well as in the country and in the world, the production team is moving the festival into a more interactive and immersive dimension for LIC Miami, their flagship event. Moving the event from the Hard Rock Stadium, formerly known as Sun Life
Stadium, to Wynwood venues, Mana and the RC Cola Plant, was only the first of many additions made to the festival to give the oneday extravagant festival a more interactive vibe. “There’s lots of cool stuff going on, everything from a beauty bar, wishing tree,” the marketing manager for LIC Paul Reed said. “We have food trucks on site, live painting from sponsors. So it’s going to be really cool just to walk around, different from previous years.” Reed took his love for EDM music festivals and turned it into a career when he joined the LIC team in 2013 as Director of Promotions. Now he’s in charge of social media and digital marketing, managing a total marketing budget of over $250,000 for the domestic U.S. tour and LIC Festival Miami. He helped grow LIC social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter by over 20 percent to 35k and 88.8k, while growing Facebook Likes over 50 percent to nearly 1 million, achievements that have labeled him a
marketing guru. So what sets LIC Miami apart in a state that hosts some of the most famous EDM festivals in the U.S. like Ultra Music Festival, Sunset Music Festival and Electric Daisy Concert? “Obviously at the end of the day, it boils down to the paint,” Reed said. “It’s an element that we have that no other festival is really doing. The crowd gets excited about. It sets us apart; it’s unique.” Another factor that sets festivals apart from one another, and can even make or break a festival, is the choice of lineup. LIC Miami has its share of EDM heavyweights including Miami favorites Diplo, Carnage and Marshmello, as well as Seven Lions, Young Thug, Ookay and Desiigner. LIC likes to filter in rap artists among its DJ’s, a unique choice for an EDM festival that Reed feels fits the current musical market. In the past, they’ve had 2 Chainz, Big Sean
and Juicy J, so having Desiigner and Young Thug is a continuation. “I think a number of festivals, and even ourselves a little bit, are moving towards the multi-genre thing,” Reed said. “Integrating elements of hip-hop and pop and rock into electronic music. You’re seeing more crossover collaborations between artists, Carnage is getting ready to drop an album with Young Thug; Skrillex and Bieber, the list goes on and on.” Though EDM is an ever-changing, fluid market, the genre has continued to grow and is no longer seen as a musical underdog. According to Reed, electronic music is here to stay. “Genres will change, they always do, they shift back and forth from trap to dubstep, heavy tied into the pop stuff,” Reed said. “What will be hot a year or two from now? The person who predicts that is going to make a lot of money.”
Create Lush Cosmetic product dupes for cheap By Deanna Simmons Staff Writer @WondercatDee Being stressed with schoolwork isn’t fun. The constant aches and pains sometimes call for a time to relax. The nearest Lush Cosmetics may be a little far away, and it’s sometimes too expensive to even ship. However, you can create some of the products that are offered at Lush Cosmetics yourself. It may take a little time, but when you’re relaxing in the pleasant aromas, the DIY time will have been worth it. Lush Bath Jelly is one of those products you can use as a soap to help soothe your muscles. You can add soap glitter if you want, but, for the most part, the product is easy to make. All you need is water, body wash, and unflavored
gelatin. Be sure to also have something to use for a mold, like you would to make jello. Boil the water and then sprinkle the packet of unflavored gelatin into the mixture. After the gelatin is in, stir vigorously until the gelatin mix is fully dissolved. It’s important to make sure it dissolves, otherwise the contents will coagulate and form a ball of sticky gelatin mix. Once the gelatin is all stirred in, add the body wash and stir that in as well. You can add soap dye or soap glitter, which you can buy at Jo-Ann’s. Put the mixture in the mold and place it in your fridge for three hours. After that, the jellies should be done and ready to use. You can keep them in the fridge or place them in another container. For a Lush-style mask, it’s also very easy to do. All you need is a handful of
almonds, half an avocado, two tablespoons of honey and a cup of Greek yogurt. After making sure that the Greek yogurt isn’t flavored, put the Greek yogurt in a bowl. Then add the honey. After combining the two, add in the almonds and mix it in a blender before adding half of avocado. Once it’s done, apply to your face for twenty minutes and feel its effects. Of course, the main thing that Lush is known for is its bath bombs. These are a little more expensive but are absolutely worth it. What you’ll need is a half a cup of baking soda, a fourth cup of citric acid, a fourth cup of cornstarch, a fourth cup of Epsom salt, three teaspoons of vegetable oil, essential oils, soap or food coloring and water. For the molds, you can use soap molds found at
any craft store, a plastic ornament mold or a plastic Easter egg. Make sure to combine the wet and dry ingredients separately in each and then combine. Combine the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and Epsom salt together and separately combine the castor oil and water. Start with one tablespoon of water, then go from there. With your citric acid, make sure that the acid doesn’t have an anti-caking agent or the bomb won’t dry and stick together. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, get in with your hands and mix. From there, you can add essential oils and food coloring. Combinations like cinnamon and citrus smell great. Make sure that you can make a ball out of the batter that’s stable, and that’s when you know it’s ready to be put in the mold.
Once placed in the molds, leave the bath bombs in the molds and dry for a few hours to overnight. After that, you’ll have a few wonderful
smelling bath bombs that you made yourself. It’s affordable, and you never have to leave your house and trek to Lush.
Photo courtesy of Miran Rajivec via Flickr Lush Cosmetics uses citric acid in their bath bombs, a commonly found fizzing agent that makes bath bombs dissolve in water.
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FGCU tennis club aims to compete while building life long relationships
Junior Cody Crivello has been apart of the tennis club for three years and plans to succeed Laura Dempsey as the club president.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois Whether novices or a veterans, the FGCU tennis club allows people to get out on the court and improve upon their play, while in a casual, fun atmosphere. Established in 2007,
the club fluctuates in numbers throughout the entire year. However, despite this fluctuation, the club remains extremely structured. “We have practice four days a week, Monday through Thursday, just so kids can come out when they’re free,” FGCU tennis
club president Laura Dempsey said. With all of this practice, the club also has the opportunity to travel instate to compete in top tournaments. “We have tournaments that we travel to all around the state to each major university,” Dempsey said.
EN Photo / Brad Young
“At the end of last semester we hosted a tournament at home and had UM, FSU, UCF come, so we play tournaments all day Saturday and Sunday.” The structure of club tennis is also very unconventional compared to conventional tennis. With the rules stemming from
the World Team Tennis rules, the tournaments are set up in a way to make them quicker because of the three rounds of play each day. “We bring as many people as we can to every tournament,” Dempsey said. “I always try to include everyone because it’s a great experience and a lot of fun. It’s about having fun; it’s not being the best tennis player out there.” With the flexibility of a club and the comfort of a team, this organization has formed a tight-knit group of players, who strive to help one another regardless of experience. “One tournament, a player wanted to bring a friend with him who had never played tennis, but at the tournament we were giving him tips on how to hit a forehand and how to hit a serve,” club member Cody Crivello said. “You want to get better, but it’s also about having fun, so at the tournaments too we have a team dinner night after the first day of play.” However, at the end of the day, the club is as much commitment and time you want to put into it. One can create bonds, while also improving on their skills, all at their convenience. Over the weekends, the tournaments typically take up Friday through Sunday night, which leaves the club with a low numbers of players come tournament time.
“Each team consists of a minimum of two girls and two guys, but one of the problems we always run into is that we don’t have enough of one, usually girls,” Crivello said. Fortunately though, when the team does have the opportunity to travel and compete in tournaments, they are able to share similar experiences with those who share the same interest. “It’s a really casual environment, you make friends with other teams, so every tournament you go to, you get to hang out with different people,” Dempsey said. After ten years of being a team, the club has positively grown over the years. This growth comes from the program itself as well as from the players who have been a part of it throughout the years. “I would definitely say that since my freshmen year, it has definitely grown,” Crivello said. “Over the years we’ve been able to keep more freshmen involved and get them excited about tennis and interested in club tennis.” With an incentive program for all club sports, the university is able to promote community service and fundraising, while also enjoying a club’s specific sport. “We’re apart of club tennis, but we’re all a part of the sports club community,” Crivello said.
Women’s basketball routes USC Upstate for 10th straight victory
EN Photo / Brad Young Finishing with 10 points against USC Upstate, Jordin Alexander grabbed a season-high seven rebounds in the Eagles 93-43 victory over the Spartans.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Following a 20-point victory over NJIT, the FGCU women’s basketball team defeated USC Upstate 93-43, earning its 10th straight victory while moving to 11-0 at Alico Arena this season. Erica Nelson came out of the gate knocking down shots early, leading a quintet of FGCU double-
figure scorers with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Complementing Nelson’s 18-point finish, Jordin Alexander, Jessica Cattani and Haley Laughter each finished with 10 points while Taylor Gradinjan scored 11 in the Eagles’ 150th conference victory since becoming a member of the ASUN in 2007. “In the first quarter, I thought USC Upstate came out really strong,” head
coach Karl Smesko said. “They were getting some easy baskets on us. They were running their offense really well. Fortunately, we were scoring as well. Erica (Nelson) had a really big first quarter for us when we were trading baskets. She was hitting some threes and getting to the rim, getting some and ones, and really she was
>> Continued on B3
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
Endless opportunities Men’s club soccer provides players with the chance to extend their soccer careers
Finishing 1-2-2 in the Coastal division, the FGCU men’s soccer club welcomes the spring season with a chance to make a run at the club’s first ever regional championship.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Promoting a competitive atmosphere with the goal to compete against other club teams in Florida, the FGCU men’s soccer club offers players the opportunity to continue their soccer careers. Established in 2009, the club welcomes players who love to kick the ball around, as well as players who want to continue after playing soccer in high school. “Anyone can join the team,” club president Emmanuel Dones said, “if players keep coming out
and they seem to be very involved in the club, that’s the players we’re looking for and we keep on the team for the season.” While collegiate soccer gives players the ability to make a name for themselves on the national level and make it to the next level, some players may find it challenging to balance being a full-time studentathlete. “When I was a high school senior I had opportunities to play college soccer at different universities,” freshmen club member Brent Sharp said. “I chose to play club at FGCU so I can focus
more on my studies. By playing club it is a great opportunity for students who want to focus on their schooling and the club is a great path for students who want to continue playing.” Playing a total of six games in the season, the club competes in the Coastal division of the Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance, where college club teams across the nation compete for the chance to compete in the NIRSA National Soccer Championships in Foley, Alabama. “We didn’t do as well as we hoped,” Dones said. “There were some
chemistry issues with a lot of new players. Overall in terms of coming into the season with new players and a new coach, I think we handled it pretty well.” Competing against division foes FIU, Palm Beach College, Palm Beach Atlantic, FAU, Lynn and Miami, the club went 1-2-2 in 2016, failing to qualify for the regional tournament. To make it to the national tournament, the club has to win the regional tournament, which the club has never done in the its existence, or finish in the top-three RPI rankings to receive a chance to compete in the national
championships. Featuring 20-35 players, members of the club provide a competitive atmosphere for the 20 members that travel to compete against other teams. “It creates competition on the team for spots,” Dones said. “With the younger guys and the older guys, it’s a good mix and they learn from the older guys and the older guys learn from the younger guys. They scrimmage each other, and with a larger group of 30 guys it’s really easy to create big scrimmages and big drills. That way, everyone gets
Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Dones
the same profit out of the practice.” With their main season starting in the fall, the club competes in one major tournament in the spring. “In the spring season we usually compete in a major tournament,” Dones said. “We usually do just one big tournament to get the guys together, get some bonding and get ready for the next season.” Welcoming new members every semester, the club looks to continue to grow and compete on a national level by winning their division and competing in the National Soccer Championship.
Jesse Cormier named men’s soccer head coach By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914
Ashley Wright Position: Diver Senior Hometown: Port St. Lucie, Florida After an impressive victory against Miami last Saturday, Jan. 21 Ashley Wright earned CCSA Diver of the Week honors. Wright has received this award six times this season and 12 times in her two-year career. Over the weekend, Wright finished with a second-place finish in the three-meter dive and third-place in the one-meter event. Wright recently passed the NCAA Zone Diving Standard in the one-meter dive for the third time this season, turning in a score of 271.72. A transfer from Indian River, Wright now holds five of the Eagles’ top-10-all-time records in the one-meter dive and four marks in the three-meter event.
EN Illustrations / Audrey Mobley
Following the departure of program founder Bob Butehorn, FGCU Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh announced that Jesse Cormier will be the new head coach of the FGCU men’s soccer team. Succeeding Butehorn, who resigned to take the head-coaching job at USF, Cormier joins the Eagles after spending 13 seasons as the head coach at the University of Vermont. “I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to Athletic Director Ken Kavanagh and the search committee for giving me this great opportunity to take over and lead a program which has achieved great success,” Cormier said to FGCU Athletics. “Bob (Butehorn) built a great program that is extremely dynamic with so many great young men. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with them.” Joining an FGCU side that is fresh off of its best season in program history,
Cormier made back-toback NCAA tournament in 2015 and 2016 with the Catamounts leading them to the second round of the 2016 College Cup, where they fell to No. 12 Virginia 2-1 in the second period of overtime. A graduate of Vermont in 1995, Cormier led Vermont to the America East Tournament in 12 of his 13 seasons, winning two American East Tournament titles in five title game appearances, winning a regular-season championship and advanced to three NCAA tournaments. Before leading Vermont to a program best of 14 wins in his final season with the Catamounts, Cormier spent three seasons as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Oregon State from 200103, one season as the top assistant coach at West Virginia in 2000 and was an assistant coach at Bradley from 1997-99. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Jesse, his wife Amy and the rest of the Cormier family into FGCU, Southwest Florida
and our Eagles’ athletics family,” Kavanagh said to FGCU athletics. “A quality
Photo courtesy of UVM athletics
individual, Jesse is a proven winner and brings a tremendous wealth of experience and coaching success to The Nest. In turn, we look forward to him providing energized daily leadership to our wonderful group of studentathletes, quickly getting engaged with our growing fan base and maintaining the tremendous tradition of overall excellence, on and off the pitch, that has been established by FGCU men’s soccer since our inception a decade ago.”
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Swimming and Diving defeats Miami for 10th dual-meet victory
EN Photo / Kim Smith
Christina Kaas Elmgreen won the 200 fly for the fifth time this season in the FGCU swimming and diving team’s 183-117 victory.
By Jesse Martin Staff Writer @JesseMartin247 The FGCU women’s swim team defeated instate rival Miami in a dual-meet score of 183-117 Saturday, Jan. 21 at the FGCU Aquatics Complex. The victory over Miami was the Eagles’ 10th dualmeet win of the season, bringing their dual-meet record to 10-3. FGCU has now defeated Miami for six straight seasons in dual-
meet competition. “Any time you can compete with and get a win against a Power Five program, it’s a good day,” FGCU head coach Dave Rollins said to FGCU athletics press release. “The team did very well. The divers did a good job on the boards and the girls competed hard in the pool. There are some things from a technical standpoint we need to correct, but overall we did a very good job supporting one another
EN Photo / Brad Young Jessica Cattani scored 10 points in the Eagles 150th ASUN victory.
and getting up to compete hard.” Miami had a good start, leading FGCU in the first three events. Miami won the 100 and 200 free while the Eagles won the 200 Medley relay. Once event four, the 100yard backstroke, started, FGCU began pulling away, winning 10 of the final 11 events. After the 100-yard backstroke, FGCU would then go on to take first, second and third in the 100-
yard breaststroke. Evita Leter went a season-best time of 1:03.22 on her way to a first place victory. The Eagles would also sweep the podium in the 50-yard freestyle. Katie Latham edged out her teammates Gracie Redding and Fanny Teijonsalo by less the three tenths of a second to receive a first place time of 23.21 seconds. The wins kept coming for FGCU, as they would get first place finishes
in the 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke and 200-breaststroke. After the 200-breaststroke, the Eagles won seven races in a row. Miami would snap the Eagles’ streak in the 500-yard freestyle, taking the top three places in the event. FGCU would bounce back in the 100-yard butterfly, with Yee Ching Wong going a season-best time of 55.00 as she touched the pads in first place. FGCU finished strong,
winning the final two events of the meet. Barbara Caraballo won the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:05.76. FGCU won the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:24.81. The Eagles will have their final two dual meets of the season before preparing for conference championships. Hosting FAU Friday, Jan. 27 for their senior night at the FGCU Aquatics Complex, and then travel to FIU Saturday, Jan. 28.
>> Women’s basketball continued from B1
point for nine plus minutes, starting toward the end of the first quarter. Ending their offensive drought with baskets on back-to-back possessions, the Eagles continued to ride Nelson’s hot hand as she finished with 17 of her 18 points in the first half. Gradinjan knocked down a floater in the dying moments of the second quarter to give the Eagles an 18-point, 45-27, lead heading into the break. Coming out of the intermission, FGCU started to pull even further away from the Spartans, with Alexander’s three sparking a 12-2 run. Shooting 45.5 percent from the clip and 40 percent from behind the arc
in the third, the Eagles held a 68-32 lead heading into the final quarter of play. Knocking down seven of their 13 shots from longrange in the second half, Tayler Goodall proved an instant spark off the bench for the Eagles, coming into the game draining three straight triples in the first minutes of the fourth quarter. Allowing 18 points in the first seven minutes of the contest, the Eagle gave up only 19 points in the remaining 28 minutes, defeating the Spartans 93-43 to move to 5-0 in conference play. FGCU will now face JU on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. at Alico Arena in a rematch of the 2016 ASUN
tournament championship game where the Dolphins defeated the Eagles 56-54. The preseason favorites to win the conference, the Dolphins come into the match up against the Eagles sharing the top spot in the ASUN with a 5-0 record in conference play. “I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily a rival now, but they did beat us and take away our chances at the NCAA (tournament),” Gradinjan said. “We want revenge in a way, but we are going to treat every game the same and try to win them all.”
kind of what separated us in the first quarter.” Scoring 10 points in the first five minutes of play, Nelson knocked down back-to-back threes before driving to the point with ease and finishing highpercentage buckets. The Spartans came out of the gate with aggression, trading buckets with the Eagles before FGCU held USC Upstate without a basket in the final 3:15 of the quarter while sparking a 13-0 run. Starting the second quarter with a 12-point, 3018 lead, the Eagles’ defense held the Spartans without a
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B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Eagles DII hockey unbeaten streak snapped during weekend road trip
EN Photo / Kim Smith
Over the weekend the FGCU DII hockey team lost its unbeaten streak, losing to Davenport 3-2 after tying Grand Valley University 3-3 in their previous contest.
By Keaton Hanley Staff Writer @ChirpinParaKeat The Eagles’ last road trip of the regular season is one they would likely want to put in the rear view. The Eagles went 0-12 on the trip, taking their first loss of the season in a close-fought battle with Davenport University. The Eagles would pick up two ties on the trip in their first (Grand Valley State) and last (Lindenwood UniversityBelleville) game on the weekend, both by the score of 3-3.
The Eagles started off their weekend against Grand Valley University, with the score ending in a 3-3 tie. Tyler Tracy got the start, putting away 26 of 29 shots of the night. Two of the Eagles’ goals would come on the power play which has been on fire as of late. The Eagles struck first with a goal from Nathan Pelligra, about halfway through the period while on the power play. The Eagles would add on two more goals in the second period, with David Wong and Josh Koerner finding the back of the net. Wong (1G 2A) would pick up
points on every Eagles ‘goal Friday night. Although the Eagles entered the third period with a three-goal lead, they couldn’t hang on as Grand Valley scored three times in the last five minutes with two of the three goals being scored on the shorthanded Eagles. The game would go to OT but nobody on either side could find the back of the net, ending the game in a 3-3 tie. The Eagles were looking to put the late comeback behind them when they took on a team they had met earlier in the season
on the road, Davenport University. Bradley Rambhajan got the start for the Eagles, stopping 22 of 25 shots, but picking up his first loss on the season in a 3-2 decision. The Eagles went into the first intermission down 2-0 but the Eagles were able to rally in the third, with goals coming a minute apart from Ty Lasker and Koerner. Just like that, the game was a tie game and the teams were set to play for the final seven, looking like the next to score would be the winner. Davenport would do just that, scoring
the final goal and giving them a 3-2 lead late and eventually a win. The Eagles would play Lindenwood University (Belleville) in their final contest on the road before Regionals in February. Tracy would get the nod in net, starting in his second game on the trip. Looking to rebound off their first loss of the season, the Eagles got on the board first with an even-strength goal from Pelligra, but Lindenwood answered right back getting on by Tracy on the power play. The teams headed into the intermission tied, but
Lindenwood would come out in the second and score two more goals before Koerner would answer with a late goal. The Eagles entered the third period down a goal and it wouldn’t be until 4:31 remaining that Koerner would tally his second of the night. This goal would take the two teams to overtime and for the second time on the road trip the Eagles would end a game in a tie. The Eagles return home this Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. to take on DI talent from Towson University.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
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This week in athletics Men’s basketball vs UNF
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU men’s basketball team heads to UNF to play the Ospreys on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. This will be the first of two meetings between these two schools as the Eagles will play at home six days later vs. UNF. Both these teams come in with a record of 4-1 and share a spot at the top of the ASUN with USC Upstate. The last time these two teams met was in
the ASUN semifinals, where the Eagles took down the top seed in a 89-56 win which led the Eagles to the NCAA tournament. Prior to that, the two teams split two regular-season matchups with the home team winning both times. The Ospreys are led in scoring by senior Dallas Moore who is currently in the top ten in the NCAA in scoring, averaging over 20 points per game. The Eagles look to continue their strong start and hope to remain in first place in the conference.
Women’s swim at FIU By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco After dominating their cross-state rival, University of Miami, in their own pools, the FGCU women’s swim team will face another cross-state foe. This weekend the Eagles will meet against the FIU Panthers. The last time the Eagles and Panthers swam in the same pool, the Eagles stood their
Men’s basketball vs Jacksonville
Women’s basketball vs Jacksonville
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois To kick off a double-header at home, the women’s basketball team is slated to host Jacksonville Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. at Alico Arena. These two conference teams met several times last season, with the Eagles taking two of the three games. On Feb. 4, FGCU hosted the Dolphins, taking the game 58-39. Jacksonville then hosted the Eagles on Feb. 10, with a much closer 59-55
score that favored FGCU. The teams met again at Alico Arena on March 13, in the final match of the ASUN women’s basketball championship. where the Eagles fell to the Dolphins 56-54. Next, the Eagles will travel to Jacksonville to face UNF and Jacksonville. The team will face UNF on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and Jacksonville on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs UNF
By Coby Weinsier Staff Writer @CHEWY_0 On Saturday, Jan. 28, the FGCU Eagles host the Jacksonville University Dolphins at 7 p.m. In FGCU’s last outing, they struggled to pull out their first home win of 2017 when they played USC Upstate ending in a tight 6062 finish. In the Dolphin’s previous matchup before facing Stetson on Jan. 30, the Dolphins took on Lipscomb, falling to the Bisons 11295.
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU men will return home to play the UNF Ospreys for the second time in less than a week on Monday Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. These teams met twice in the regular season with both teams picking up a win at home. However, the Eagles went into the postseason and upset the number one seed with a 33 point win en route to winning the
Women’s golf at Florida Challenge
ground and used the home-pool advantage to come out victorious with the final score of 141 to 64. The Eagles will be swimming in opponent waters this weekend, hoping to grab another win from the Panthers. The match up will be following the Eagles’ senior day against the FAU Owls, so the girls are fighting for a successful weekend. The meet against the FIU Panthers will take place at 12 p.m. in Miami.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois After finishing up their fall season, the FGCU women’s golf team will start play for the 2017 spring season with the Florida Challenge — 36 holes. This all-day tournament is set to be played at the Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida on Monday, Jan. 30. The Eagles finished up their fall season
Facing the Ospreys on Jan. 30, the Eagles share the top spot in the ASUN with the same 4-1 record as the Ospreys and USC Upstate. On game day, these two ASUN conference contenders will battle it out at Alico Arena for a chance to move up the ASUN standings.
ASUN tournament after defeating Stetson in OT. The Eagles will look to continue to their strong start to conference play and hope to win in front of their home crowd.
with a 10th-place finish through the final round of play at the Pat Bradley Invitational hosted by FIU, Oct. 23-25. FGCU will play in four tournaments this spring season, leading up to the ASUN Women’s Golf Championship, with hopes of making it to the NCAA tournament. Next, the Eagles will compete in the twoday Women’s Mid-American Match Play Challenge in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Monday, Feb. 13 and Tuesday, Feb. 14.
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Republicans betray Americans with first step toward repealing ACA
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons President Barack Obama signs the official Affordable Care Act document in 2010, decreeing the Affordable Care Act. Now under President Donald Trump, Congress is setting in motion to repeal this act.
By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 On Jan. 12, the United States Senate, in the dead of night, took the first steps to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — commonly known as Obamacare. In a partisan 51-48 vote, the Senate allowed Obamacare to enter into budget reconciliation, which means when the actual repeal vote comes to the floor, it cannot be filibustered. All day before, Democrats introduced
a series of amendments aimed at protecting many of the fundamental laws that make up Obamacare: protecting kids, women and seniors from undue burdens, discrimination, and uncertainty in the healthcare marketplace. Every amendment failed to pass, never reaching the 60 vote threshold. In other words, Republicans (minus Susan Collins of Maine) voted to pull the rug out from underneath America’s most vulnerable. Struggling college kids making ends meet on a minimum wage job will
not be able to stay on their parents’s plans until they’re 26. Women will not be protected from discriminatory insurance plans that charge them more just for being a woman. Nor will they be protected from denial due to a preexisting condition, which can include needing birth control or pregnancy. Insurance companies will now be able to charge whatever they want for whatever reason they want, and will be able to drop anyone they want just because that someone becomes sick.
Senior citizens will see a cut to their Medicare and Medicaid, entitlements they have paid into for their entire lives. Rural communities will see a major loss of funding for their hospitals, causing some people the burden of having to drive hours just to see a doctor. All of this, of course, will only happen if the GOP controlled Congress votes to repeal Obamacare in its entirety. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, repealing Obamacare would result in 32 million people losing
health insurance, many of whom have it for the first time, and would double the price of insurance premiums within a decade. Republicans are going through with this without a concrete replacement. For seven years, the GOP has been promising a repeal-and-replace, but the truth is, they have no replacement. In fact, they have just now begun to craft one, and they can’t even agree on it — will it be “insurance for all” as Trump promises? Will it be back to square one? Will it keep Obamacare’s most popular provisions in place?
Who knows. All these uncertainties might have something to do with why the law is the most popular it’s ever been. The American public is on edge, and they have every right to be. The future of American healthcare is on the brink of a total death spiral. Republicans are about to release the biggest Kraken in American politics, and they seem completely oblivious to it. While they collect their government subsidized healthcare, they prepare to take ours away.
Washington’s last wish Why we’re failing our first president By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano George Washington set some great precedents during his time as our nation’s first president, but it took only a few years for his successors to let him down. In his farewell address, Washington warned the country about the dangers of political factions and foreign involvement. In his final State of the Union, he proposed the ideas of a national university and a military academy. It took our war-hungry country only six years to establish the United States Military Academy at West Point. In over 210 years, his other wishes have yet to come true. In fact, we went so far against his wishes that Washington was probably rolling over in his grave within a year of his death. In the election of 1796, Federalist John Adams defeated DemocraticRepublican Thomas
Jefferson 71 to 68 electoral votes, respectively. Four years later, Jefferson beat Adams 73 to 65. The back-and-forth battle between rival political parties hasn’t stopped since. Washington spoke of such an occurrence in his farewell address: “The alternate domination of one faction over another … is itself a frightful despotism.” Since 1853, Republicans and Democrats have gone back and forth, holding the office for a few terms before the other party takes control. Another section of the address that has been abandoned by politicians is when Washington advises against forming permanent alliances with foreign countries. “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world,” Washington said. He claimed that temporary alliances might be necessary in extraordinary emergencies,
but that it would be unnecessary and unwise to remain involved in foreign affairs. While it took a while longer for the country to turn its back on this policy, the USA has since sought alliances with anyone who will take up the offer. Between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization consisting of 28 countries, the Organization of American States having 35 member countries and individual countries, the U.S. has alliance treaties with 69 countries. These countries make up over two billion people, more than a quarter of the world’s population. Both major treaties have been in effect since the end of World War II. With no likelihood of ending anytime soon, it seems we’ve formed some pretty permanent alliances. Perhaps the coolest concept that Washington dreamed up was the idea of a national university. Located in Washington D.C., the University of The
United States of America, with a soaring bald eagle as a mascot, would be the educational capital of the world. While the concept is idealistic, it’s interesting to think about what the possibility would look like. A public university designed for only the top minds in the world could bring about some of the top innovations in modern history. Instead of seeing Washington’s dream for education through, our country spends billions of dollars on divisive political parties and trillions on wars it can’t afford. Washington was our first, and perhaps greatest, president. The man who played a crucial role in the foundation of this country must know a little bit about how it should be run. Shouldn’t we listen?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Landsdowne portrait of President George Washington, 1796.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
Facebook live is a cesspool of graphic images Should the public be exposed to violence?
Photo courtesy of Flickr via Blogtrepreneur Terrorist groups like ISIS are taking advantage of Facebook’s live feature to portray violence through torture and murder.
By Emily McLean Staff Writer @ebmac97 It is now becoming common for crimes to be live-streamed, especially
with the recent launch of Facebook’s new livestreaming feature: Facebook Live. Recent events involving graphic videos going viral are causing some people to
question whether content like this should be allowed to be posted. One recent event involving a group of people recording as they bound and tortured a mentally
disabled man was seen by thousands across the world live as it was happening, and Facebook did not remove the video for several hours after the incident. A Facebook spokesperson said of the video, “We do not allow people to celebrate or glorify crimes on Facebook and have removed the original video for this reason.” Terrorist groups, like ISIS, are also taking advantage of social media in order to share their messages, which sometimes include violent videos of torture and murder. Over the past decade, the way people share media has evolved. In the 90s, all posts had to be approved by a moderator before others could see them, but because websites like Twitter and Facebook have billions of users, this method is no longer viable.
Social media now relies on other users to report inappropriate content instead. The controversy surrounding this issue is whether or not this kind of content should be available for the public to see, or if it is too graphic and should not be allowed online. Some believe that social media sites should be more responsible in censoring what their users are allowed to see, especially considering that the required age to make a Facebook account is 13, so teens are able to watch these videos as well. Others argue that the public has a right to see what is happening, despite how graphic the content can be. “In many instances... when people share this type of content, they are doing so to condemn violence or raise awareness about it,” Facebook answered The
Washington Post in a recent email interview. “In that case, the video would be allowed.” The evolution of the way people share posts and media online calls for social media sites to review their policies to make sure they remain ethical, while also avoiding the censorship of important news. I believe that the public should have access to this kind of content and media, no matter how graphic it is. The public has a right to see what is happening because it can affect everyday lives and bring awareness to global and national issues that otherwise may not have even made the news. However, social media and news sites should be changing their policies to require a person to be at least 18 years old before being able to view certain content.
#NotYourSnowflake The oxymoron of the conservative refrain
By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 I love it when liberals are called “snowflakes.” Now that the right understands how utterly stupid and offensive the word “libtard” has become, they’ve moved onto a new one: snowflake. The definition: an overly sensitive person, incapable of dealing with any opinions that differ from their own. You may know this word due to the incessant use by the Blaze’s Tomi Lahren, professional complainer and full-time millennial hater (even though she herself is a millennial). The irony in all this is that conservatives, since the rise of Donald Trump, have shown to be the most easily offended group in the nation. Even though science,
gay rights, porn, books and different religions have been offending conservatives for decades, the injection of Trumpism in our discourse has escalated these sensitive sentiments from mere outrage to now outright meltdowns. No two people have so easily proven my point than Lahren and President Trump. Lahren, when faced with mounting criticism for her overactive and downright childish plights, launches into a hyper-emotional tirade, so intense that she withers on the verge of tears and her veins bulge from her neck. Her RBF and finger pointing has now become subject to countless memes and mockery. Never has a “commentator” been so easily triggered and offended than Tomi Lahren.
If you’re black, a moderate Republican, a young person who wants access to a secure future or just someone that enjoys the happiness of life, trust me, she’s shook. And, since being elected, Donald Trump has taken aim at every single source of criticism directed his way, much like Lahren. According to Trump, he alone can defeat ISIS and unite the country. But, at the same time, he can’t seem to shake off the cast of Hamilton, Meryl Streep, John Lewis, CNN’s Jim Acosta, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the New York Times, Saturday Night Live, a union president, Vanity Fair, Hollywood and Toyota. As Hillary Clinton said, a man who can be baited with a tweet should not be trusted with the nuclear codes.
Trump’s thin skin has become so withered that he and his minions now demand the press, politicians and social justice advocates apologize whenever they hurt his feelings. When Meryl Streep gave her lifetime achievement speech, in which she asked her future president to respect the arts and the press, conservatives on social media went into a frenzy. It was snowing in the Republican Party. Calls for boycotts, protests, apologies and blacklistings galore. The “tell it like it is” crowd all of sudden didn’t like it when someone told it like it was. And, the most ironic part was their contention that Hollywood celebrities should stay out of politics - even though they literally just elected a Hollywood
celebrity to the most powerful office in the land. Yes, conservatives love it when Ted Nugent, Kid Rock and Clint Eastwood talk politics. But, god forbid if Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda or Ben Affleck should do it, they run to their safe spaces and cry foul. When Scott Baio calls Hillary Clinton the c-word, they laugh. When Meryl Streep asks Trump to support the press, they clutch their pearls. And, let’s talk about those “safe spaces” on college campuses. Conservatives fear that the “liberal bastions of pussyfooting,” universities, are ruining future generations from different points of view. But, there is only one party that’s seeking to silence dissent on campuses, and that’s the GOP.
In Wisconsin, classes that educate students on white privilege are on the verge of banishment. In Arizona, classes that promote social justice in any form are on the chopping block, and schools risk losing their funding. Republicans are literally trying to ban classes they don’t agree with. I guess conservatives need a safe space from the realities of racism, social inequality, dissent and patriotism. Millennial progressives are up in arms over the oppressions and inequalities facing the nation. Conservatives are upset when their messiah is called out. Trust me, progressives are not the snowflakes.
Florida, the underwater state
If left unchecked, climate change could leave Florida in the depths By Josh Ballin Staff Writer @joshballinn The Sunshine State is one of the most visited states in our country because of its sandy beaches and tropical climate. I moved here for college, and I have enjoyed every minute of living here. I was originally born on the East Coast of Florida, where there are endless amounts of people. The lifestyle there is fast-paced, and it can be hard to relax and enjoy nature there. The West Coast is completely the opposite. So many people enjoy this beautiful place is enjoyed by so many people during the course of the year, whether they are residents, tourists or college students. However,
people may only be able to enjoy South Florida for a little while longer, because it will soon be gone. Global warming has already played a huge impact on our world, and people are starting to feel the effects of it. Climate change affects the way that crops, like bananas, grow. Bananas, and other foods, will one day stop growing because the climate is not right for them. The Earth is warming up, and what was once cold and frozen ice in the arctic is now just water that has entered our oceans. This excess water is causing some major problems in the world. Italy is experiencing this first hand. The magnificent city of Venice will soon be underwater, and people will not have the opportunity
to see it because it will be gone. This same problem is going to happen to Florida. It’s not a myth, and it’s not something that needs to be talked about at a later time. It needs to be addressed now. Gov. Rick Scott, has made it known that he does not believe in global warming, and therefore does not believe cities like Naples, Miami and West Palm Beach will be underwater. There are many things that can be done to help delay this process — and yet, nothing is being done. This is a state full of sunshine and people. A lot of energy is needed to support the amount of people in Florida, and a lot of coal is burned to supply all that power. Using solar panels could
be a simpler and cleaner way to supply everyone with energy. There are also plenty of places to put them. Covering shopping mall parking lots with them would not only shade the spaces, but would also be a useful place to make energy. Using less coal means helping the atmosphere, which means that Florida could reduce its carbon footprint. Imagine not having an electricity bill at the end of every month. Sunshine is free and clean, so we should take advantage of it. Wind turbines would be another clean way to make energy. Power lines are everywhere in Florida, and making them a little taller and putting turbines on top of them, or just placing them in windy areas around the state. The wind is free, and the
energy is clean. Laws and legislation to make Florida a green state should be passed because these laws would be good for the environment and the economy. This could create a new field and a plethora of jobs. The benefits are tremendous, and although the initial cost would be a lot, the long term effects are positive, and the cost would be less. Coal costs money, while sunshine and wind are free. In contrast, fracking is something that should not be passed. For those who don’t know, fracking is when air is pumped into rocks to pump out oil that is inside of them. Although it is a great source of oil, it destroys the environment by polluting the water the rocks are in. We need to focus on being a greener society by moving away from
oil-dependent machines. Fracking just holds us back from moving forward in efficient energy use. Florida is an amazing state, and to see it go would be detrimental. The beaches, the hotels, the parks, everything would be gone. No more Miami. No more Fort Myers. People need to understand that this is real and scientists estimate that within the next 50 years, part of Florida will begin to go underwater. It’s up to Floridians to take action, and to vote for laws that will help progress the environmentally friendly movement. It can be done, and should be done for the sake of not only saving people’s homes, but also saving the sunshine state from disappearing forever
B8 OPINION EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
EDITOR: LUKE JANKE OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG
‘Where is ours?’
How it felt among the Trump supporters who waited for this day for eight years
Eagle News managing editor Rachel Iacovone poses with an FGCU banner outside of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. during President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
By Rachel Iacovone Managing Editor @totesrachel I knew I should be on the Metro as soon as it opened — early, given the occasion — but pressed snooze twice as always, as though it was any other day, as though I wasn’t in a hotel more than an hour outside of the city because of the mass of visitors spilling out into the tristate area and as though I wasn’t about to “witness history,” a phrase which was repeatedly offered up to me throughout the day as a description of what was happening to me on Jan. 20, 2017. When I finally woke up at 3:34 a.m., I took a scalding shower in an attempt to burn off my two hours of sleep and then grabbed a seat on the empty train car when I finally got to the station — my hair still wet and stiff with cold. On the ride to Capitol Hill, I thought a lot about covering the 2016 presidential race. I thought about Hillary Clinton’s
campaign — not once, not twice, but thrice — allowing me in as press with only a day or two (or once, an hour) of warning. Of course, that fact may add to the narrative that media clearly supported her, but in my defense, I wrote an entire article about how I didn’t support her in the primaries. Meanwhile, I was denied credentials when Donald Trump came to Germain Arena a few feet from our campus, even after he claimed that very week that it was the press who was the one refusing to cover him. I, of course, got into his rally regardless because I’d made it my mission from the start to cover any and everything about the election equally — an attitude which eventually got me onto the D.C. Metro train I began yesterday’s journey on. My prior experience with a Trumpcentered event left me uncomfortable I admit — one rally goer going as far as to shout “kill media!” at one point. Personally, I was
also uncomfortable with the woman who stopped me to remark with evident disgust that my curls looked “ethnic almost.” “Ethnic actually,” I almost corrected, but I was there as press, even without credentials. I reminded myself of that again when a man in the concession line called the girl behind the counter, who refused to serve him beer at 2 p.m. by arena policy, the n-word, with a hard “r” — the first time I’d witnessed such an incident in my life. But, a couple bad eggs did not outweigh the thousands of others in the arena or the man they supported. Trump hadn’t told them to say or do those things. They likely would have with or without the guy. So, I entered his inauguration four months later as the general public once more, not bothering with requesting press access this time. And, then, I stood in 40-degree weather for seven hours on Capitol Hill — numb for many reasons but mainly in fear.
Trump didn’t scare me. In fact, Trump is the one who looked scared when he took the stage, exactly on time. What scared me was the crowd’s response to Sen. Chuck Schumer’s speech. There were groans and jeers the second the Democrat took the stage, which came as no surprise following the aggressive booing of Clinton when she joined her husband, Bill, amongst other former presidents and first ladies on stage, but it only continued when Schumer opened speaking on the “rapidly changing economy that benefits too few.” “Whatever our race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, whether we are immigrant or native born, whether we live with disabilities or do not, in wealth or poverty, we are all exceptional in our commonly-held yet fierce devotion to our country,” Schumer said, though no one would be able to hear it over my section’s booing or singing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” alone, which got the strongest
when Schumer mentioned sexual orientation. The same went for the portion of Trump’s speech that mentioned “radical Islam,” though, in this case, it drew enthusiastic cheering about its impending abolition. “We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth,” Trump said. Trump has spoken a lot about unifying the nation’s obvious divide since becoming the presidentelect, and his first speech as president talked a lot about that. But, to me, I was disheartened that some of his initial good sentiments toward the beginning of his address would be forgotten because of his bold statements of unifying the country in hatred and fear. Some would remember this as the no-nonsense gogetter Washington outsider they voted for while others would use this to confirm their beliefs that Trump won’t be changing and
EN Photo / Molly O’Donnell
meeting in the middle as they’d hoped. Now, some of those in the crowd with me clearly felt oppressed, which was evident by the cheering during Trump’s promises to rid of the past governing style and the boos during Schumer’s mention of groups he considered oppressed. “Why do they get a mention? Why do they get a pity party when our struggles were ignored for so long?” was the evident feeling of the crowd. I was offended the first time I was amongst such a feeling, since I had written it off as brushing others’ struggles aside selfishly. But, I think it’s in desperation, in exhaustion, for similarly not having a voice for their grievances when they felt President Obama had been a significant voice for the other groups for the past eight years. “But where is ours?” They have asked since Obama’s reelection, and Trump evidently answered the call to action.
EN Photos / Rachel Iacovone The gates opened to the orange section of the inauguration ceremony at 6 a.m., as the sun rose behind the Capitol Building. Later, the crowd became so packed into the space that those in the crowd were shoulder to shoulder and, often, chest to back.