Eagles take on Rio Olympics
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The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS www.eaglenews.org
Volume 15, Issue 4
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Professor brings unique counseling method to Southwest Florida
Photo courtesy of Russell Sabella (Left) Dr. Russell Sabella, a professor of counseling in the College of Health Professions and Social Work, speaks during a previous workshop. Sabella will be partnering with the Office of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs to hold a counseling workshop focusing on a method that he has been sharing for over twenty years. (Right) Sabella speaks at an event hosted by the Arizona School Counselors Association, a non-for-profit organization that represents school counselors residing in Arizona.
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorcrehan When a new semester starts, both students and faculty have to get used to early mornings, long nights, and a significant decrease in free time. For Russell Sabella, a professor of counseling in the College of Health Professions and Social Work, the beginning of a new school year also includes preparing for a workshop targeting professionals in the area. “I’ve actually been doing this workshop for over 20 years,” Sabella said. Sabella also serves as the president of Sabella & Associates, an education management
company focused on consultation and training in counseling, technology and education. “I’ve been giving that workshop throughout the county in different school districts and throughout other agencies as well.” The workshop Solution Focused Brief Counseling and Consultation, will focus on teaching school counselors, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, human services professionals and educators a five-step systematic approach that assist clients, students and parents to focus on solutions rather than problems. The Office of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs is presenting the
workshops. “I learned about the approach back in the ‘90s as it was used in mental health and substance abuse,” Sabella said. “I was one of the original developers that took it into school systems to figure out how it works with kids. I’m also developing the model for how it works with parent teacher conferences.” The model takes a different approach to counseling – instead of focusing on the negative, professionals who work with it help their patients and students focus on the positive. “It’s an innovative and creative approach for helping people to rediscover their strengths and resources as well as
focus on solutions,” Sabella said. “This model actually flips the script as you can actually focus on solutions and implement those solutions. For someone who is depressed, they don’t have to understand why they are depressed, but focus on what it means to be happier. They develop a new way of feeling and thinking.” Along with his work on the model and at FGCU, Sabella has had several articles published in magazines, journals and newsletters. He has also co-written two
>>Continued on A3
Orientation Leaders find inspiration from past OL’s By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorcrehan For an Orientation
Eagle
View Leader,
summer vacation consists of living on campus, waking up early and a whole lot of talking. As an OL, students live, work and even play on campus for the duration of
Photo courtesy of Skyler Silva Skyler Silva (top center) poses with students during Eagle View Orientation. Silva was inspired to apply to become an OL after having a great orientation experience himself.
INSIDE:
Entertainment and Lifestyle.....A6 Sports............................................B1 Opinion..........................................B6 Outreach.......................................B8
summer break. Working under the Office of New Student Programs, OL’s serve as the first bridge between incoming students and the university. Because of this, freshman are often highly impacted by these mentors, who are responsible for teaching their students everything and anything about FGCU, from how to register for classes to where to buy textbooks. For sophomore anthropology major Skyler Silva and junior health science major Victoria Clayton, the impact made by their OL’s was great enough to inspire them to become OL’s themselves. “It was just kind of one of those things,” Silva said. “I really enjoyed my OL and the experience he gave me.” He had served in leadership positions before
Photo courtesy of New Student Programs Eagle View Orientation staff members pose by the library lawn. EVO serves as the bridge between incoming freshman and the university. prior to entering FGCU, in Boy Scouts and his church. After beginning his freshman year, he contacted
his OL about becoming one himself, and realized that he wanted to take on the challenge.
“I college
came knowing
into that
>>Continued on A2
FIRST ISSUE FREE Eagle News McTarnaghan Hall 201 10030 FGCU Blvd. S Fort Myers, Fla. 33967
A2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
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Service-Learning Events & Opportunities
Deliveries: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Contact Jen@communitycooperative. com or call 239-337- 1055.
>> Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties needs your strong hands to help rehabilitate and build homes. Work days are Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Up to 20 volunteers per site needed. Groups must schedule a least three weeks in advance. Please contact Paula Schenz at 239-652-1684 or email her at paulas@ habitat4humanity.org. >> Community Cooperative needs help at the Café (soup kitchen) prepping food. You must be able to commit one full semester, one shift/week. Available shifts: 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.; 7:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.; 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. No training required. No-cost background check provided. Contact Rachell at 239-332-7867, ext 100, or email her at Rachell@communitycooperative.com. >> Meals on Wheels is growing and looking for drivers and food preparers. Multiple routes, convenient pick-up locations. Routes typically completed in two hours. Monday thru Saturday shifts open. Meal prep: 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. Meal packaging: 7:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
>> Charlotte 211 is an easy-to-dial number that provides info about community activities, health and human services and help in times of crisis. After eight hours of training you’ll be able to listen to callers and provide the resources to assist them. Help is needed 10 hours/week weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Email Dr. Andrews at Faezah. andrews@charlottecountyfl.org or call her at 941-833-6533. 1050 Loveland Blvd, Port Charlotte. >> The Audobon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is having a “mechanical burn” on August 27, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The vegetation around the Visitor Center needs to be thinned in order to protect it from wildfire. Help out and learn more about prescribed fire, wildlife and plants in the area. Water and snacks provided. RSVP to Allyson Webb at awebbaudobon.org by Friday, Aug. 26. 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples.
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The world in brief Facebook discovery helps family reunite A Kentucky homemaker Lisa Lumpkins was scrolling through her Facebook timeline and found a photograph of a girl who had a striking resemblance to her daughter, Aubrey, a teenager with cerebral palsy the family adopted from China in 2013. It turns out the girl from the photo also had cerebral palsy and was staying at the same orphanage Aubrey grew up in. After a DNA test paid by the Lumpkins, it was proven that the girl was Aubrey’s long-lost sister. After raising $50,000 in an online fundraising campaign, the Lumpkins traveled back to China to adopt Aubrey’s sister, who they will call Avery.
Man attacks passengers on crowded Swiss train A 34-year-old woman died on Aug. 14 on a crowded Swiss train when a man attacked passengers with a knife and burning liquid. The attacker also died from extreme burn wounds. Another three people remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Police are still not clear on the motive but said there is no clear indication if the 27-year-old Swiss man had any ties to extremist groups.
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Peru earthquake kills at least four people, including a U.S. tourist
33 killed as crowded bus veers off of Nepal Road
On Aug. 15, a shallow magnitude 5.4 earthquake took place in southern Peru’s Colca Valley. The earthquake killed at least four people, including a 65-year-old tourist form the U.S. and left 30 injured. The U.S. man died at the Echo Inn Valle del Colca in Yanque, close to Chivay, when a part of the hotel’s ceiling collapsed on him. The last major earthquake to hit Peru happened nine years ago on Aug. 15 with a magnitude of 7.9 and killed nearly 600 people.
>>Orientation leaders continued from A1 I wanted to make a difference,” Silva said. There were 22 EVO staff members who worked over the summer. Orientation Leaders begin training for the position during the beginning of spring semester, which continues until the first orientation program in June. “The training process is really cool,” Silva said. “We get a lot of hands-on professional development training. You learn how to interact with students. You learn basically everything about the university.” For Silva, the biggest thing that OLs learn
in training is how to communicate with people who have different communication styles. Working with incoming freshmen impacted Silva in several ways as well. “The biggest impact has actually been personal,” Silva said. “I’ve really seen how far I’ve come as a person and a student. That’s been my favorite part, seeing how far I’ve come.” Clayton decided to apply to become an OL after applying last year and not getting the position. She felt inspired to apply after her Orientation Leader made an impact on her. “I applied again because I had such an impact made on me when I attended orientation,” Clayton said. “I wanted to have that same impact
A bus filled with people traveling to their local villages in Nepal to receive the first government payments for victims of a devastating earthquake last year slipped off of a narrow mountain Aug. 15, resulting in 33 people killed and another 28 injured. Officials believe that there might be more people who were killed because the wreckage scattered along the slope below the road and some areas are inaccessible. The accident occurred near Khare Khola, about 50 miles east of the capital.
on students that were coming to the university and get them excited about coming to FGCU as I was in their shoes freshman year.” Clayton hadn’t been in a leadership position prior to becoming an OL. “It definitely set the foundation for the different leadership opportunities for me in the future,” she said. For Clayton, training was a lot, but she appreciated how much it prepared her for the summer. “It was a lot, but they prepare you for anything and everything,” Clayton said. “They do a lot of different scenarios as far as advising goes, you get a lot of training on knowing the education problems inside and out.” The hardest part of
working as an OL for Clayton was assisting incoming students finding classes later in the summer. “The hardest part was toward the end when classes started getting really low,” she said. “The students have to understand that while you probably might not like the classes you’re registered for, right now, you have add/drop week where you can add and drop those classes. It was a little rough because, you know, there were tears. I just had to calm the students and have them understand like ‘look, these classes are important. They’re probably not classes you want to take right now, but you’re gonna need them eventually so just stick it out and you can do
it.” Clayton’s time as an OL has impacted her positively, showing her that she now has a group of students looking up at her. “They’re gonna be looking up at me so I can’t be slacking in that department,” she said. “But it’s made a positive impact, definitely something that I will take with me for my years to come.”
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
Presidential Search Advisory Committee to hold open forum By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorcrehan Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are invited to share feedback to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee’s revised search timeline during the first open forum of the fall semester. “The Presidential Search Advisory Committee wants to receive input from all of the university’s constituent groups,” Vice President and Chief of Staff Susan Evans said, in an email. “Organizing the forums around the four major constituent groups will achieve this goal. The four major constituent groups, as defined by the subject forums, are students, faculty, staff and community.” The PSAC will welcome members of the community to bring up questions that are found on the
>>Continuing Education continued from A1 books, “Confronting Sexual Harassment: Learning Activities for Teens,” and “Counseling in the 21st Century: Using Technology to Improve Practice.”
president search survey, which is available on the committee’s website, during four separate forums – one for faculty members on Monday, Aug. 22 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Cohen Center ballroom, one for students on Monday, Aug. 22 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. also in the Cohen Center ballroom, one for the community on Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. in the ballroom, and one for staff members from noon to 1 p.m. in the ballroom. The survey can be found at https://www. s u r v e y m o n k e y. c o m / r/6P7MZ5W. Responses made through the survey will be accepted through the deadline of Sept. 1. Witt/Kieffer, the executive search firm chosen by the committee to assist the search, will be holding the forums. “We have completed the planning for the forums, and the format is arranged around the questions
found in the online survey,” Evans said. “Some people may wish to participate in person at a forum, and other people may prefer to do the online survey. We may have some people who participate both ways, which would be great.” As a member of the Board of Trustees,
Evans has been staffing the presidential search process, despite not being a member of the committee. “I’m not a member of the committee, however, I’m looking forward to the same kinds of things as the committee, which is feedback from the university’s key
constituents as to what qualifications and traits are important in FGCU’s next president.” Evans said. Results of the survey will be revealed by representatives of Witt/Kieffer during the September 6 PSAC meeting. “We have not yet seen
This is the first event of its kind that is being held by the Office of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs. Sabella wanted to bring it to FGCU to cater to the Southwest Florida community. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and this is an area I’ve been interested
in,” he said. “This approach to counseling is something I’ve been developing throughout the years.” The workshops will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at The Atrium on 8695 College Parkway, Suite 1181 in Fort Myers as well as Saturday Oct. 8 at the same time and
place. Sabella chose The Atrium, an executive center, was chosen as the location rather than on campus at FGCU, to better cater toward the community. While the programs are mostly catered toward professionals in the
Southwest Florida area, Sabella welcomes FGCU students as well. “I certainly welcome any FGCU students that want to attend,” Sabella said. “I’ve also been doing this approach with parents.” To register for the workshops, call 239-425-
EN Photo/ Taylor Crehan The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will be holding four forums, one for FGCU faculty, one for FGCU staff, one for FGCU students and another for the community. The forums will be held by Witt/Kieffer, the executive search firm that was chosen by the committee.
the results of the survey,” Evans said. For more information about the forums, visit www.fgcu.edu/ presidentialsearch/ campusforums.asp.
3270 or visit http://www. fgcu.edu/CEd/professional_ development_programs. html. For more information about the workshops, contact Paul Thorton at 239-425-3274 or pthorton@ fgcu.edu.
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A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Police Beat Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Green leafy substance found in car On Sunday Aug. 14 at approximately 1:58 a.m., a UPD officer pulled over a driver on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway. After running the driver’s license, the officer discovered that the identification didn’t belong to the driver and was then confiscated. The officer conducted a search in the car and found two grinders as well as a pill bottle with a green leafy substance. After waiting for someone to pick up the driver’s vehicle, the officer escorted the subject to the Lee County jail for a DUI at 2:43 a.m. Berry pickers
On Saturday Aug. 13, a UPD officer responded to a call regarding three individuals in a car near the radio tower on campus. After running all three driver’s licenses, the individuals stated that they were picking berries. They were advised that they cannot do so on campus. Male arrested South Bridge Loop
on
On Saturday Aug. 13, a UPD officer pulled over a vehicle containing a driver and two passengers at 7:26 p.m. After running their driver’s licenses, it was revealed that the driver was not a student, but both passengers were. The officer transported one male subject to UPD at
7:46 p.m., then arrested the subject and transported him to Lee County Jail at 8:21 p.m. Traces of marijuana were found in the vehicle. Mysterious scratch
car
On Saturday Aug. 13 at 6:18 p.m. in West Lake Village a complainant called UPD stating that someone had hit her car earlier that day while she was not in the vehicle. What she thought was a scratch was actually just how her car was made. Suspicious incident in SoVi On Saturday Aug. 13 at 2:39 a.m. near Osprey
Hall in South Village UPD officers on foot patrol came across five subjects, two were smoking and two were holding open containers of alcohol. Before the UPD officers arrived three males started to run and dropped the cans in the bushes. Only one of the subjects was an FGCU student and the rest attend FSW. Those who attend FSW stated that they were helping a friend move in and admitted to having an open container of alcohol. An officer also found a cigarillo with a leafy green substance that tested positive for marijuana. The subject didn’t have identification on them but were identified by name and date of birth. All subjects came back
clear, except for one who was wanted in Collier County on three warrants. The suspect was arrested and transported to Lee County Jail for possession of marijuana and warrants. Suicidal North Lake
person
in
On Thursday Aug. 11 at 9:29 p.m., a Resident Assistant of North Lake called UPD stating that a subject was suicidal and had left the building with a knife in hand after handing his keys to his girlfriend stating that he wouldn’t need them anymore. At 9:30 p.m., the subject returned to the building without the knife. No other known weapons were in his possession at the time. The
subject was transported to UPD at 9:56 p.m. and was then transported to SalusCare, a mental heath facility, at 10:31 p.m. News van parked in reserved spot On Friday Aug. 5 at 1:48 p.m., a complainant called UPD stating that Fox News parked a van in his reserved spot in Lot 1. Parking Services was contacted, but did not have anyone available to assist. At 1:56 p.m., Fox News went to UPD and were advised that their van needed to be moved.
Institute for Entrepreneurship program to assist students in business startups By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorcrehan FGCU students interested in entrepreneurship will soon have an opportunity to work with professionals for a chance to win a grant to accelerate their growing businesses. The Institute for Entrepreneurship, a program under the Lutgert College of Business, will launch the Runway Program beginning on Monday, Sept. 12 at the Emerging Technologies Institute located off of Alico Road. “It’s going to be a 12week business incubator program,” Amy Ridgeway, project coordinator at the
Institute, said. “Students will be working with FGCU faculty and staff as well as community mentors and successful entrepreneurs to get their business up and running.” The program will be open to students of all majors – approximately half of the students involved in the Institute are not in LCOB. Those who participate are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours per week working in the incubator and three to five hours per week outside of the incubator. “They have equipment they can use to market their material,” Sandra Kauanui, the director of the Institute said. “We have both engineering- and business-type students. We
also have interns for each semester than can apply for the incubator.” Mentors, volunteers, attorneys as well as representatives from marketing companies will be available for students while working at the incubator. The program will also be equipped with materials needed for students to build their business ideas. “We’ll have all of the supplies that they need,” Kauanui said. “If there’s things that they need that we don’t have we’ll provide that.” The Runway Program will also provide those interested with 15 paid student internships. Those interns will either work in the incubator or within the
LCOB. The IFE will be working with Naples Accelerator, an institution that provides companies with facilities, networking and training to grow businesses. “This incubator program is in conjunction with the Naples Accelerator,” Ridgeway said. “There will be a competition at the end of the program. The winner will get a year of office space there.” After the end of the 12 weeks, students who are participating in the program will have a chance to display the work that they have been developing to an investment committee. The committee will then decide which entrepreneurship is
worthy of a grant that will help them accelerate their business. “We have a certain percentage of the money that is going to go through award winners to get grants,” Kauanui said. “We got an additional $70,000 that will be added to the grant money. We have close to $100,000 in grant money.” Kauanui believes that a program like this one is needed at FGCU because so many students are interested in business, but need an extra boost to get them to their goal. “A lot of students drop out of school to start businesses,” Kauanui said. “We want them to stay in school. The new millennials want to be
more independent of large businesses.” While this is the first year that the program is being implemented, Kauanui wants it to become a permanent addition to the university. “We hope to continue after this year,” she said. “We’re going to raise additional funds for the future.” Students interested in applying for the program can visit https://fgculcob. az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_4ZOMbN7Ph6m1XOl. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, Sept. 5.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A5
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EN Photos/ Melissa Neubek (Left) John Herman, assistant professor of wildlife biology at FGCU, holds an antenna up in the air and a radio up to his left ear to listen to the beeps that will lead him to a nearby snake. (Right) From left to right: Garrett Herman, age 8; Sydney Herman, age 11; Wendy Brosse, and John Herman. On a Saturday morning, the Hermans are at FGCU, equipped and ready to track eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.
Professor tracks more than just grades Wildlife biology professor locates venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnakes on campus By Melissa Neubek Opinion Editor @melissayosephin It’s 9 o’clock on a Saturday morning. Armed with a 3-foot long antenna, a snake hook, GPS, radio, rubber boots and a T-shirt tied around his head, professor John Herman, his wife, Wendy, and his two children, Sydney and Garrett, head out to locate the seven eastern diamondback rattlesnakes that live on the FGCU campus. The tracking process takes around two hours. Herman tracks these snakes six days a week. He has been tracking animals using radio telemetry for 16 years and is the first person to track the native, venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnakes in south Florida. “Here in south Florida, we have some really cool large snakes, but there’s no clear understanding of how they survive,” Herman said. “And, they are large targets, which means there are big conservation concerns. That’s why I’m doing this. What do they do? What do they need?” Herman’s love for snakes started at the age of 4. “I’ve just always been
fascinated by them,” Herman said. “I like the venomous group in general. They came up with a really cool evolutionary solution to deal with prey.” Having grown up on his family’s 400-acre farm in Ohio, Herman didn’t have what might be considered a traditional childhood; he wasn’t exposed to TV and pop culture, as he and his brother spent their days farming and playing outside. “My daily routine didn’t change much at all from when I was 5 to 18 years old,” Herman said. “My brother and I would wake up, go outside, come back in for dinner, go to bed and do it again the next day. School was an afterthought. I probably shouldn’t say that, as an educator, but our public school system wasn’t very academically strong, so I kind of skated through.” After age 18 was a different story though. Herman attended Michigan State University where he got his bachelor’s degree in ecology with a concentration in zoo and aquarium science. “I knew what I wanted to be,” Herman said. “I wanted to be a herpetology zookeeper, and I knew where — at the Toledo Zoo. It’s one of the top five herp-
related zoos in the world, and it’s the zoo I spent my childhood in. That’s where I wanted to be. Positions never open there, but a month after I graduated, I was lucky enough that one of the long-time keepers left. And, I got the job.” After three years at his dream job, Herman realized that he wanted to do more for reptiles and amphibians on a larger scale, so he went on to get his master’s, and then doctorate, in ecology from the University of Toledo. Herman is now an assistant professor of wildlife biology, but when he first came to FGCU five years ago, he was an instructor, which meant his job responsibility was to teach — nothing more. That didn’t stop him from immediately getting involved with hands-on research projects though. Win Everham, a professor of marine and ecological sciences, who has worked at FGCU “forever,” he says, recalls a project they worked on together. “There wasn’t a lot of money, and it was politically charged, but John just stepped in and helped with no support,” Everham said. “Sometimes when you collaborate with people you have to adjust to them. You
don’t have to do that with John.” That passion and willingness to be involved runs in Herman’s blood. He’s the same way with his teaching. Damian Baker, an FGCU alumnus who graduated this past December with his master’s in biology, took a few classes with Herman and found him to be a unique teacher. “He actually takes class outside,” Baker said. “We would learn by doing, not just reading about doing. And, he doesn’t just care about what he’s studying; he cares about his students. He takes the time to learn everyone’s name, and he’s there when you need him.” Sometimes, he even brings the outside in. Right before his 9 a.m. biological science class on a Wednesday morning, he stood in front of his class with a black racer snake in hand, biting him. “It’s a good day already,” he laughed, as he smelled his hands after returning the snake to the wild. “I smell like snake!” He taught this 50-minute course in the largest lecture hall on the FGCU campus. An average of 115 students attended, and they actually participated and laughed
with him. There was a certain energy within the classroom that you don’t always find. “It’s different when you listen to someone who is clearly where they’re supposed to be in the universe,” Everham said. “It’s not just caring deeply about their discipline. It’s their ability to maintain that sense of wonder — and to bring it into the class. John does that.” Matt Metcalf, a second year marine and environmental sciences graduate student, has worked closely with Herman. His first memory of Herman, the first person he met at FGCU, was going out to track snakes and watching Herman capture one. “We got to a burrow, and I didn’t know the snake was in there; but, he just dove head first and pulled the snake out,” Metcalf said. “I was like, ‘How did you know that was in there?’ I thought it was the greatest thing.” Herman does the work that he does outside of the classroom to instill ecological responsibility in students. “Humans are animals,” Herman said. “We do live in the environment. We’re not outside or above it. Doing
projects like the snake tracking helps you to have a sense of self-worth. Where do you fit in in this whole life thing? That’s what I like to demonstrate to students.” Besides being an energetic teacher and colleague who truly enjoys his craft, Herman’s passion and dedication start with his family. No surprise here — they like to spend time outside together. “I like snake tracking with him because we get to be outside,” Sydney said, while Garrett jumped in excitedly to say, “And, we get to see snakes!” He and Wendy also like to spend time outside, but enjoy cooking together too. While they love the outdoors, Garrett admitted that his favorite thing to do with his dad is to play Yahtzee while Sydney enjoys drawing and listening to music with him. “They really represent the reason I do just about everything,” Herman said. “I want to make sure that all of the wonders in the world that I loved so much are still available for them and that I instill in them an environmental ethic that makes them do the same. So, selfishly, we all get to enjoy it.”
UPD officer arrested for stalking
By Emmett Zeller Contributing Writer @Zells_Bells
Early last week an officer for the University Police Department, Mike Harbury, was arrested for stalking and violating a restraining order that was filed against him by a 25-year-old female living in San Carlos Park. The victim saw and photographed Harbury
on his motorcycle outside her apartment complex just two hours after he was served with the restraining order. Harbury is 46 years old and has been working at FGCU since 2003. Harbury’s pay will be held, and he will be on administrative leave until the outcome of the case. He was arrested and released that day on a $5,000 bail. Not too much
information was released on the case, however, Harbury will be back in court Aug. 30 for a trial. At this time, his future with UPD will be determined.
Sexual assault reported in Seidler Hall By Taylor Crehan and Emmett Zeller News Editor, Contributing Writer On Thursday, Aug. 4 FGCU UPD Chief Steven Moore released an email to all students discussing a sexual assault that occurred in Seidler Hall at approximately 10:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, Aug. 2. The victim was attacked in the stairwell but was able to break free from the attacker. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male with a stocky build and short, dark hair, wearing a red shirt, black jeans and boots. He is approximately 40 years of age.
A student has reported a member of the cleaning staff who matches that description. The victim does not plan charges. If students have any information regarding the case, contact detective Anderson at 239-590-1956.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
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Introducing Miss Gulf Coast USA
FGCU’s Sylvie Michel represents Fort Myers in preliminary contest By Julia Browning Staff Writer @juliawritesxo When people think of beauty pageants, mixed images come to mind. Over the years people have adopted a negative stigma towards pageants that they are superficial, trivial or down right problematic. Sylvie Michel, FGCU’s
even compete at the Miss Florida USA competition, she must first win a preliminary title under the Miss USA and Miss Universe network. It began for Michel around a year ago. Having always been a fan of the Miss Universe pageants, she started her excursion through pageantry at Miss Homestead USA where she won first runner-up. Next, she won the Miss Amity Award – similar to Miss Congeniality – at the Miss Naples USA pageant and the Most Photogenic Award at Miss Charlotte County USA. These wins did more than fill her with pride; they secured her spot on the Miss Florida USA stage, getting her closer to her dream. “The director, Grant Gravitt, offered me the opportunity to represent Gulf Coast Florida after I won the most photogenic award at Miss Charlotte County USA,” Michel said. “Becoming Miss Gulf Coast Photo courtesy of Miss Florida USA USA was surreal. It didn’t
Miss Florida USA pageant contestant, is representing a different, truer image. An image of philanthropy, education, and genuine inner beauty. Her journey took her to earning the title of Miss Gulf Coast USA, but it didn’t begin there. Winning Miss Gulf Coast USA is no small feat. In order for a woman to
Sylvie Michel represents an image of philanthropy, education and inner beauty.
hit me until I was on stage at the Parker Playhouse in my opening number dress introducing myself.” Michel talked of how her presence at FGCU helped inspire her to do her best at the competition and gain as much valuable experience as she could, as well as using the experience her major has given her. “A lot of the contestants are college students. Being the only student from FGCU competing, I felt like I was representing the school,” Michel said. “Also I’m a communications major and used to giving presentations, so I felt comfortable in front of the judges during the interview portion of the pageant.” Pageants like Miss USA put a major emphasis on philanthropy, and Michel is no stranger to serving the community. “Prior to winning my title I helped build a home for a family victim to Hurricane Katrina,” Michel said. “I also help
organize an AIDS walk to raise money for members in community living with HIV/AIDS.” Michel’s incredibly grateful for the time she’s invested so far in pageantry and her experience in pageants is far from over. While Michel had the opportunity to represent her city as Miss Gulf Coast, she did not clinch the state title of Miss Florida USA. “Miss Florida USA is the pinnacle of pageants in the state of Florida,” Michel said. “I plan on competing next year. I’m getting an interview coach along with a walking coach so I can be better prepared Photo courtesy of Sylvie Michel for next year. I didn’t get a Michel won Miss Gulf Coast USA, a crowning moment at the preliminary title neccesary to move preliminaries like many of onto Miss Florida USA. the contestants, so I want schooling at FGCU have to win a (preliminary) prepared her. “After I graduate FGCU, title and finally get that I hope to become a radio crowning moment.” And she’s not just host. Miss Florida USA planning ahead for her has really allowed me to get out of my comfort zone. I’m future in pageantry. She’s planning out her a lot more confident now career as well in regards then I was a year ago.” to how pageants and
MTV True Life: We Are Orlando Pulse Orlando shooting survivors tell their stories of self recovery By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @AllieTaylorEN
friend Luis Vielma seems to be one of the hardest obstacles he has to face. In a teaser video on MTV.com, MTV’s “True Life” Marrero visits the Pulse reality show will feature memorial to pay respects the survivors of the for those that died in the Pulse Orlando nightclub tragedy. “I really want to go to shooting – what has now come to be called by the the memorial. I need to New York Times as the see it. I need to be there. ‘Deadliest Mass Shooting I need to pay my respects In U.S. History’ with 49 for everybody that did people dead and at least 53 not make it, and most Photo courtesy of MTV importantly I need to see Parker video called a survivor who was with her cousin at the time of the shootinjured. The documentary Luis’ cross,” Marrero said. ing. While kneeling in front with follows four survivors Parker’s cousin, going to pick her up and Akyra Murray, 18. Murray take her out with me as I was the youngest victim was going out of the wall.” McGill fled from the to die at Pulse. All three woman were trapped in chaos of the shooting and a bathroom by shooter ended up saving another life. Rodney Omar Mateen before a victim’s SWAT team breached Sumter was shot multiple the walls, killing Mateen times, including in both and rescuing those held arms. McGill made a tourniquet out of his shirt, hostage. Parker remembered which ultimately saved the Murray being unconscious life of Sumter, a bartender but still alive when they and father of two children. Photo courtesy of MTV McGill was directed by were separated. Marrero paid his respects in front of friend Luis Vielma’s cross. “And she was going to a police officer to lie on top get out of there. I knew of Sumter on the way to the Tony Marrero, Patience of Vielma’s memorial, for a fact she was gonna hospital in order to restrict Carter and Tiara Parker, Marrero can be heard be fine,” Parker said in blood flow from the third and Joshua McGill on saying, “Not a day is gonna a trailer of the show, wound. their emotional journey to go by without me thinking speaking McGill plans to visit to another recovery as they come to about you… I’m gonna miss survivor through video call. Sumter after putting off terms with the events that you, bro.” “When you (male survivor) the encounter for so long. Carter and Parker told me that she was still unfolded around 2 a.m. “I’m just kind of afraid were visiting Orlando breathing, I just gave it to of how it’s going to be, like June 12. For Marrero, finding from Philadelphia at the God, hoping that they were if I’m going to be overly peace with the death of his time of the shooting, along
emotional or if I’m going to have flashbacks from when I saw him initially that one night covered in blood. I hope it brings out the peace that I kind of need to finally see that he’s okay,” McGill said. A tremendous amount of support from the local community, as well on a national level, has been shown for those suffering loss or hardship after the Pulse shooting. After antiLGBT legislation in Indiana and North Carolina, Apple
Consortium to ensure that popular emoji characters reflect the diversity of people everywhere,” according to Huffington Post. Apple CEO Tim Cook, who came out as gay in 2014 through a Bloomberg Businessweek essay, stated, “For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay… While I have never denied my
Photo courtesy of MTV McGill planned to visit Sumter after the shooting, despite fears of it triggering flashbacks of that night.
has announced their Fall 2016 iOS 10 release of the rainbow flag as a way to celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community. Officials on Apple’s website said that the company is working, “closely with the Unicode
sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
FEED YOUR EARS
A playlist by the Eagle News staff Too Kool 4 School
From Freshman Move-in to Finals: 1. “ABC” - The Jackson 5 2. “Hot For Teacher” - Van Halen 3. “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2” - Pink Floyd 4. “Heathens” - Twenty One Pilots 5. “Too Good” - Drake, Rhianna 6. “Me Too” - Meghan Trainor 7. “Scars to Your Beautiful” - Alessia Cara 8. “Tired of Talking” -LÉON 9. “F*** Apologies” - JoJo, Wiz Khalifa 10. “Make Me... (feat. G-Eazy)” - Britney Spears Follow EagleNews on Spotify for the full playlist
Historic diversity within the Emmy nominations By Emily Ford Editor-in-Chief @152emily It has been eight months since the #OscarsSoWhite controversy rocked Hollywood. But, when the Television Academy announced the nominations for the 2016 Prime Time Emmys, thy proved to be more generous when it comes to diversity. Looking at the nominations, 21 non-white actors received Emmy nods across 16 acting categories, this includes Cuba Gooding Jr. for “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross for “Blackish” and Taraji P. Henson for “Empire,” as opposed to the Oscars nominations for the past two years, where all 20 actors nominated in an acting category were white. This past year’s award show prompted the Academy to increase diversity among the Academy’s membership as well as in the films the organization honors. Although there is still much
Geeking out at Tampa Bay Metrocon
Participants of the Anime Human Chess Match come together for a photo.
By Tammy Falcon Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews People from everywhere came together to celebrate their love of all things nerdy. From anime to comic books, nothing was overlooked at Metrocon—an anime convention in Tampa Bay. Metrocon is a small convention becoming a bigger one through the years. This was my first time attending the con and it will not be my last. These types of conventions are usually hailed as something for only lonely people in their parent’s basements or weird people, but no one ever realizes the huge sense of family and community behind them. The people at the convention were extremely nice. There was fun around every corner of the convention center, and the atmosphere at the con was calm. I have been going to conventions since I was a junior in high school, and this was the first time I had the opportunity to meet a ton of new people. As one of my friends, Kendra Dozier, put it, “it’s a fan-made convention for fans.” There was never a time when you ran into a staff member, volunteer or attendee who made you feel weird because they either
loved the same things you did or understood what you were doing. There were conventions I have been too when staff would look at me weird for cosplaying or whisper amongst themselves, but at Metro, they complimented me and asked questions trying to learn more. Even people who weren’t attending the convention were nice. While I was doing a photoshoot for one of my cosplays Friday morning, a lot of joggers passed by and they all either cheered me on or stopped to watch in amazement. With the release of Pokémon Go, it was expected that everyone in the convention would be playing and that is not an understatement. The convention had its staff place lures on the Pokestops around the convention at all times for the con-goers. Vendors in the hall gave you free things if you had certain hard to get Pokémon, and you can bet all the merchandise for Pokémon Go that you can think of. Metrocon wasn’t only “lit.” In the Pokémon Go section, they are also popular for their rave, fire show and human chess match. The rave happens three out of the four days, while the fire show and human chess match happen each day.
to improve on, the collection of non-white names in the 2016 Emmy acting pool is a reflection of a greater inclusivity happening on the smaller screen. For the first time in the 68-year history of the Emmys, actors of color are nominated in all six leading acting categories. Also, Aziz Ansari’s nomination is groundbreaking, as Ansari is the first South Asian actor nominated for a leading role in a TV series for “Master of None.” Last year, the Emmys also made history because it marked the first year a black woman — in this case, Viola Davis for “How to Get Away With Murder” — took home the honor of best lead actress in a drama. Davis was nominated again this year for her lead role in “How to Get Away With Murder.” Back in 2013, Kerry Washington was the first black actress to get nominated in that category for her role as Olivia Pope in “Scandal.” Though Washington was left out in that category this year, she still picked up a nod for her starring role in the HBO movie “Confirmation.” If Don
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The 2016 Emmys consist of 21 non-white actors, a historic increase in diversity among the Academy’s membership.
Cheadle were nominated for his role on Showtime’s “House of Lies,” he would have tied actor Robert Guillaume as the most nominated black male actor in Emmy history. The Emmys will be broadcasted on Sept. 18 on ABC, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
TGIM showcases indie screenings from local filmmakers
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Metrocon
Each year, Metrocon has a theme for these shows. For example, the one day I went to the rave, they had Steven Universe music and the fire show was based off of the video game Skyrim. Sadly, I didn’t attend the human chess match which I regret, but I could see why the rave is popular. Everyone there was having fun, and it was a family event so people of all ages were attending which made me for some reason feel very safe. If you aren’t a raver like I am, it was fun to look around the group of people and see someone dressed as your favorite character dancing around to the house music. What Metrocon had that a lot of conventions don’t have was a relaxed atmosphere. I didn’t feel like I had to be everywhere at once, or too many people were crowded around me. I joked around with old friends, met new friends who were into completely different things than me, caught a lot of Pokémon, wasted a ton of money on things I just needed to have, and for someone who isn’t much into parties, enjoyed the rave. Will I go again? Yes, I already have a cosplay planned. Till next year, Metrocon.
Photo courtesy of Luke Janke Attendees at Fort Myers Film Festival’s T.G.I.M watch screenings of indie filmmakers pieces throughout the night.
By Luke Janke Staff Writer @jankeleg Fort Myers’ indie film season kicked off Monday night with the inaugural night of TGIM: Thank God for Indie Movie Mondays, a series of public indie movie screenings presented by the Fort Myers Film Festival. Local film buffs and casual moviegoers gathered at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers to watch independent films competing in the festival. This was the first TGIM in a series that will take place throughout the 2016-17 season. The event is one-of-a-kind in Southwest Florida where local film enthusiasts get to participate and experience the vetting process for accepting short films into the festival. Judges Kaycie Lee, Dillon Dailidonis and Justin Verely brought their local
showbiz knowledge into the judging process, offering critiques and praises for each film after they were shown. Along with the panel of three judges, the audience was able to rate and comment on the semifinalists via ballots handed out at the entrance. The audience judged each of the five films that night based on a one to five rating system, one being poor and five being excellent. The master of ceremonies for the night, TV personality Eric Raddatz, filled the space between films with witty commentary and banter. Members of the crowd were also able to share their thoughts on each film. This format for judging indie films in a think tank fashion is unique to Fort Myers Film Fest, and judge Dailidonis said it’s what makes these TGIM events so groundbreaking. “This is the only film fest to ever do this,”
Dailidonis said. “It’s a great way to get the community involved.” Every installment of TGIM will feature a variety of genres and styles of film to judge. The first Monday included animation, drama, experimental, comedy and interpretation entries. Two films that stood out among the crowd were an animated short called “Head,” directed by Stav Levy, and a drama called “Reflection,” directed by Martin Castaneda, which delved into issues with Alzheimer’s. It’s possible that these two will go on to the festival. TGIM happens the first Monday of every month through season. For more information on future TGIM events, visit www. fortmyersfilmfestival.com
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
TV Reviews
Netflix series gives 80’s thrillers a reboot By Madi Spector Assistant E&L Editor @bymadichanning “Stranger Things” is a brand new Netflix thriller series. It stars Winona Ryder playng Joyce Byers, whose 12-year-old son, Will, played by Noah Schnapp, goes missing. The series is set in a small town in Indiana 1983 when the world was captivated with science fiction and the mysteries that surrounded it. The small town of Hawkins gathers to find Will, but his three best friends, Lucas, Mike and Dustin, decide to take matters into their own hands. Venturing out into the woods where Will’s bicycle was found by the police, the three boys stumble upon a young girl
who is the main focus point of the second plot to the series. Though we do not yet know her name, the girl can be identified as Eleven because of the small, minimalistic tattoo on her arm that says “011.” She escapes the high security hospital in which she was being held and finds herself in the kitchen of a restaurant. The owner catches her eating his food, and waits until he closes to finally talk to her. Scared and silent, Eleven reveals her telekinetic powers. With two stories going on at once, this scifi thriller has a Spielberg feel to it, and it is obviously influenced by “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.” Other characters such as Nancy Wheeler, the older sister of Mike, and
Jonathan Byer begin to break off into their own storyline. It revolves around their search for Nancy’s freind Barbara, a girl who is more focused on her schooling and grades, who goes missing in a similar way to Will. “Stranger Things” premiered July 15, and it now has eight episodes ranging from 42 to 55 minutes. Each episode is titled as a chapter of a book, such as the first episode, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers.” IMDb rated the series 9.1 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes has given it a 90%, and it has received a 75% from Metacritic. The dialogue is raw. The scene perfectly captures the 1980s, and according to flickeringmyth.com, “it just gets better.”
“Stranger Things” features actress Winona Rider as Joyce Byers, mother of missing Will Byers.
Movie Review
Photo courtesy of Netflix
HBO’s “The Night Of” opens viewers to the criminal justice system By Jesse Martin Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews On July 10, HBO premiered one of the darkest and gripping TV shows since AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” “The Night Of” is a limited series on HBO that follows a young Pakistani-American college student, named Nasir Khan, living in Queens, New York. While taking his father’s cab one night to go to a party, he ends up getting lost and picking up a young woman, Andrea. They share a special connection, so then ensues a night of romance and drugs. After falling asleep, he wakes up to Andrea brutally stabbed to death, and that begins what will surely go from the best night of his life to his worst. Being that Nasir is American-born Pakistani, the show presents many political and social undertones throughout each episode. The show is engulfed in this extremely dark atmosphere that is presented by the brilliant cinematography and has a stunning musical score that matches the darkness of the show perfectly. How the show is put together definitely keeps viewers on the edge of their seats,
never quite knowing what’s going to happen next. It set the tone in the series premiere. It did a very nice job in the first episode driving the narrative in almost an instrumental way from beginning to end, showing Nasir leaving the scene of the crime and the unexpected events that led to his capture . The director, Steve Zaillian, who has been involved in acclaimed projects such as “Schindler’s List,” “Gangs of New York” and “Moneyball” does a great job making every shot have its own unique perspective that keeps it fresh for the viewer. The plot is fascinating in that the viewer doesn’t really know what happened, making them think to draw up their own conclusions to raise the anticipation level once the series finally reaches its climax. A lot of the show does have to do with the criminal justice system; they give you a very detailed and honest interpretation of what happens when a person gets arrested on a homicide case or even go to prison and await trial. The show is successfully conveying how the judicial system may sometimes
be flawed, and sending a potentially innocent person to prison for months and months may actually turn them into a criminal. The ensemble cast is another thing to be admired on the show. Not knowing who actually committed the murder makes you respect both the defense and the prosecution. Nasir’s defense lawyer, John Stone, played by John Turturro, is an absolute scene stealer. He is not the most welllooked-upon lawyer, but he has the sense of savvy and street smarts about him that make the audience root for him. He also has one of the most interesting subplots I’ve seen in a TV show; having eczema severely around his feet and the remedies that he tries brings in some needed comedic relief to what, otherwise, is a very dark and intense show. “The Night Of” demands to be a TV show that is highly anticipated every week, leaving viewers wondering what will happen next throughout the entire week. The story takes many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing.
“Suicide Squad” stumbles from overhype
Critiquing Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang and wishing for more Joker screentime By Brerly Perez Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews For all the hype and excitement expected from this film, it was not as outstanding as it should have been; although, I did enjoy watching it. The plot is very poor and not what you would have expected from the trailers. The movie is about DC Comics supervillains who are in prison for their crimes. A secret government agency wants these villains to team
up so that the government won’t be helpless in an attack. The supervillains, which included Deadshot and Harley Quinn, fight a supposed terrorist attack to help save the world in exchange for some redemption. Most reviews are just plain negative. The majority of critics are bashing it for the bad plot, amount of supervillains and their tedious backstories as well as the fact that it didn’t live up to its expectations. According to The Guardian, “It’s the latest comic book
wheeze: an all-villain fighting team. But too many crooks spoil the plot.” First of all, who thought of having Captain Boomerang in this film? All he did was punch people and occasionally throw boomerangs. Shocker. I had high hopes for Killer Croc and was disappointed. He should have been at least eight feet tall and should not resemble in any way Thing from the Fantastic Four. I do have to give props to Jared Leto for playing the part of the Joker. After
the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger, I thought no actor could ever become the Joker and still meet the requirements and expectations obligated for the character. This version of Joker was more of a classy gangster who is still very insane yet intellectual. Don’t get me wrong, Ledger is by far the best Joker ever; Leto just did an outstanding job. Too bad Joker isn’t a main character in the film and is not crucial to the main story. He should have had more screen time and more involvement with
the other main characters instead of Harley Quinn. Viola Davis. Remember that name. If she wins an award for this film, we shouldn’t be surprised. She made you think that there is actually an Amanda Weller in this world. She is God in this film. She is the woman who doesn’t care if you’re the worst criminal in the world; she’ll make you fear her. Davis made you believe she could actually be Amanda Weller in real life. Her intimidation was felt by everyone in the theater.
Her ruthlessness and apathy confused the viewer about whether she was a protagonist or one of the bad guys (girl, in this case). So, should you watch this movie and recommend it to others? It depends. If you are a diehard DC fan, then you wouldn’t like it to begin with. If you want a movie that is funny and filled with action, this is the movie for you. This is a movie for you to just enjoy yourself and not be too critical of specific details.
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ATHLETICS Eagles of past and present leave their mark on the 2016 Rio Olympics
(Left) Olympians Lani Cabrera(left) and Evita Leter (right) cheer on former Eagle Brooke Sweat during her beach volleyball match against Brazil. (Right) Cabrera finished 30th in the women’s 400 m freestyle.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois With the 2016 Rio Olympics in full swing, it seems to be the only thing being talked, tweeted, and posted about. Yet, to a select few they can actually experience paradise and some of those select few were once played on FGCU soil.
Former FGCU Volleyball player Brooke Sweat, former swimmer Lani Cabrera, and current swimmer Evita Leter were fortunate enough to compete in their respective events. Sweat, 30, is a Fort Myers native and was apart of FGCU’s original volleyball recruiting class and played for the Eagles from 2004 to 2008.
Brooke and teammate Lauren Fendrick were two of the women’s beach volleyball teams representing the U.S. Going into their pool play, the duo was ranked 15th out of 24 Olympic pairs. Unfortunately, Sweat and Fendrick were eliminated after their third preliminary loss. However, they had the opportunity to compete against teams
such as, Poland, Brazil, and Russia. Recently, graduating in the spring with a degree in public relations, Cabrera was able to fulfill a lifelong goal. Cabrera had the opportunity to swim for her native country of Barbados against the best of the best. Sadly, Cabrera did not make it past the first heat in the 400-meter freestyle,
held Aug. 7, but she was extremely thankful for the experience. Cabrera stated in a interview with Loop – Caribbean Local News, “Today I officially completed my life-long dream of competing in the Olympics… I am truly thankful for all of the kind words via text or social media, from people all over the world.” Leter, who competed
Photos courtesy of Lani Cabrera
in the 100-meter breaststroke, also had the opportunity of representing not only FGCU, but also her native country of Suriname. Unfortunately, Leter did not make it past the first heat, but like Cabrera, was thankful being able to experience the Olympics.
FGCU women’s soccer kicks off the 2016 season with a pair of games in the bay area By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 The FGCU women’s soccer team’s long awaited return to the pitch is finally over. The 2016 campaign kicks off with two games in the Bay Area against San Francisco and UC Davis Aug. 19 and 21. Lead by the two-time Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and 2016 Atlantic Sun preseason player of the year Tabby Tindell, the Eagles will face a Dons side who finished the 2015 Photo by Linwood Ferguson season 13-4-3 and second
The FGCU women’s soccer team will begin the season ranked No.24 in the TopDrawerSoccer preseason poll.
in the WCC behind BYU. After facing off for the first in program history against San Francisco on Friday night, FGCU will face another first time opponent in UC Davis on Sunday. The Aggies enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign finishing 10-7-2 on the year matching their secondhighest win total and second-best record in program history. In search of their seventh-straight Atlantic Sun conference regularseason title, the Eagles will look to start the
season with two W’s in the win column before returning to the nest for their home-opener against ACC heavyweight North Carolina on Aug. 26.
FGCU men’s basketball to face UF to kick off 2016 season By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 After a return to the NCAA tournament last season, the FGCU men’s basketball team will open up the 2016 campaign in Jacksonville where they will face UF at the Veterans Memorial on Friday, Nov. 11. Due to renovations at UF’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the teams will face off for the third time in their respective programs’ history. The Gators, who have a 3-0 all-time record against the Eagles, ended FGCU’s infamous Sweet Sixteen run
in 2013 by defeating them 6250. Crossing paths again last year, the Gators pulled away from the Eagles 70-50 besides being down at the half. With new additions to their battled-tested Atlantic Sun tournament championship roster, the Eagles will look to prove themselves against the nation’s top teams.
Photo by Linwood Ferguson After returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013, the Eagles will look to keep up with an SEC heavyweight.
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Dunk City expands its horizons to the Bahamas
Photo courtesy of FGCU Men’s Basketball twitter
The Eagles went undefeated in the Bahamas, averaging 97 points while shooting 46.5 percent from the field.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 After a year where the Eagles captured an Atlantic Sun tournament title and a win in the NCAA tournament, the FGCU men’s basketball team traveled to the Bahamas for a little team bonding and basketball as they played three exhibition games against professional players overseas and members of the Bahamian national team. During their first exhibition matchup against Caribbean professional
side Providence Storm, head coach Joe Dooley and the Eagles found themselves in an interesting situation in the last two minutes of the contest. With 10 members of the team traveling to the Bahamas and only eight players available to compete, FGCU found itself down to only four players with an 88-83 with just 1:36 remaining. With 40 seconds remaining the Eagles lost another member of the team due to foul trouble leaving Christian Terrell, Maxx Bleecher and Kevin Mickle
to defend an 89-87 lead. The Storm were able to tie the game at 89 with numbers on their side, but the Eagles were able to hang on after Mickle made a free-throw to push the lead back to one before Terrell secured the contest scoring two of his 19 points at the line to give the Eagles a 92-89 victory. After an entertaining end to its first game, FGCU was able to avoid foul trouble cruising to a 113-58 victory against the Mr. Ship Regulators. “It was good to play against man-to-man defense (as opposed to zone
in Game 1 on Saturday), and we were able to move the ball a little bit better,” said Dooley. “Our newcomers did a much better job today. Brandon, RaySean and Christian Carlyle all gave us big lifts.” Behind UCF transfer Brandon Goodwin’s near triple-double performance finishing with 22 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds the Eagles’ offense clicked on all cylinders finishing the first quarter up 28-2. Matching Goodwin’s scoring was newcomer RaySean Scott Jr. as he contributed on both sides off the ball for FGCU
scoring 22 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to add to the team’s 79-33 rebounding advantage. With a perfect 2-0 record going into their final matchup, FGCU never found itself trailing for the second consecutive contest earning an 87-69 win over the Pyramid Food Rockets. The Eagles were once again led by Brandon Goodwin, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to record his second double-double of the trip. Carlyle continued to impress the FGCU coaching staff, finishing in double figures, once
again, scoring 16 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. During their trip, the Eagles averaged 97 points per game shooting 46.5 percent while holding their opponents to shoot 31.3 percent from the field. “Brandon Goodwin gave us great energy and Christian Carlyle continued his great play,” said Dooley. “We weren’t very crisp, but I wasn’t really expecting us to be, and overall the practices and trip were good team bonding experiences for us.”
FGCU women’s soccer foward Tabby Tindell continues to recieve national recognition By Matthew Bell Assistant News Editor @fgcueaglenews Tabby Tindell continues to earn high praise from online college and club scoring site TopDrawerSoccer.com. Tindell was named among the Top 10 forwards in the nation earlier this summer and was just named the site’s “Third Team Preseason Best XI.” “Tabby has been a fantastic player since she stepped foot on campus,” head coach Jim Blankenship said. “This is a well-deserved honor for both her and our program. Not only is
she a great player, but a great person as well. This group is focused on the season-opener Friday and determined to return to the NCAAs in November.” The FGCU senior holds the school record for goals scored and points with 52 and 126 points, respectively. With 22 assists, Tindell is closing in on the current recordholder. Ashley Ciesielcyzk still holds the record with six more assists than Tindell. Last season she added 10 assists and 17 goals to her career record. With seven of them being the match-winning goal, bringing her total to 22.
Tindell’s overall achievements include a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, three-time A-Sun First Team honoree, twotime A-Sun Tournament MVP, an A-Sun best 10-time Player of the Week and a three-time TopDrawerS occer.com National Team of the Week selection.
Photo by Linwood Ferguson When Tindell hangs up her jersey at the end of the season for FGCU, she will go down as one of the most deadly goalscorers in FGCU history.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B3
FGCU cross country bolsters roster with addition of six new members
Photo courtesy of FGCU Athletics
The FGCU cross country team will begin their season Sept. 2 at the FAU invitational
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco Recently the FGCU men’s cross country team has added six new members to its 2016-17 roster. Carlin Berryhill, Kenny Castro, Jan Figuero, Ronny Greenup and Quasan Markowski are all from Florida while the sixth runner, Luka Ndungu is from Nyahururu, Kenya. Head coach Cassandra Goodson seemed very
optimistic about this newly recruited group. “This recruiting class is very special to our program,” Goodson said. “They’re part of an overall plan to set a foundation of continued, long-term improvement and success. These six student athletes will join five returners on the men’s side, and we expect them to contribute immediately and add depth and talent to an already competitive training environment. We’re also
looking forward to their contributions to our overall team-first culture that demands hard work, respect and support.” This group of men consists of three freshmen, two juniors and a graduate student. Berryhill, a freshman from Miami, is joining FGCU after a very successful high school career where his team finished runner-up in the state from 2014 to 2016. Figuero, a freshman
from Casselberry, brings a list of high school achievements with him to FGCU, holding five records and two state qualifications. Markowski, a freshman from Tampa, was on the all-state, all-conference and all-county teams before becoming an Eagle. Castro, a junior from Miami, comes to FGCU after spending the past two years at Iowa Central Community College. He is a two-time FHSAA cross
country individual medalist in 2011 and 2012. Greenup, a junior from Miami, becomes an Eagle after running as a rival FIU Panther in the previous season. He comes with four state qualifications and was also named First Team AllDade County in 2013. Ndungu, a graduate from Kenya, joins the Eagles after spending the two previous seasons at Eastern Kentucky University. He has a personal record of 23:58:50
in the 8K, which is almost a full minute faster than the program record. These new Eagles will be on the team with five holdovers from the 2015 team, which finished third in the A-Sun Championship last season. The new group of runners will make its debut at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 at the FAU Invitational.
FGCU swimming team welcomes Amanda Smith as interim head coach
Photo by Linwood Ferguson
The FGCU swimming team will begin the season without former head coach Neal Studd, who was recently named the FSU head coach.
By Ashley DeBoer Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Former USC AllAmerican and previous assistant coach for the Eagles, Amanda Smith is the season 2016-2017 interim head coach for the women swim and diving program, effective Aug. 12. Smith is now embarking on her third season with the Eagles and was a part of the great success and growth for the team over the last two seasons. She joined the team as an assistant
coach during Green and Blue’s most successful season, 2014-2015. That year, the team finished mid-major best 26th at the NCAA Championship and earned 37.5 points in the championship compared to their previous score in 2014 of 22 points. Smith will be taking over Neal Studd’s previous coaching position. Back in 2014, Studd said in a press release, “I think she will be a great addition to our program as we try to keep our team moving forward. I think her experiences will really
help our ladies realize their goals. She will be integral to our recruiting and cultivating our culture of success here at FGCU.” Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Performance from University of Southern California in 2012. She moved back to Ohio to start building her coach resume where she became an assistant coach for the Mason High School’s swim team and assistant coach to several teams in Cincinnati: Mason Manta Rays age group and National groups.
She had her first head position being a co-head coach while pursuing a Master’s program in Cincinnati. She began working on her Master’s degree in education. Since then, Smith became the volunteer Director of Operations for the Ohio State’s swim team and made her way down to Southwest Florida to join the Eagles as she accepted her first full-time role as a division one coach. Smith’s coaching history is impressive and so is her swim record with the Trojans. During
her own swim career with USC, Smith won 9 All-American awards and she was the anchor of the USC’s fastest 800yard freestyle relay in Trojan’s history placing fourth in the 2012 NCAA championship with 6:59.12. While Smith was a part of the team, the program had great success while claiming back-to-back third place finishes in the NCAA Championship. Adding onto her own swimming ability and her coaching experience, Smith is able to give her FGCU swimmers more
statistical insight into their individual races as she has been published through the “Coach’s Eye” series. In a previous press release on fgcuathletics.com, Smith said, “I’m really excited to be making this move.”
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Jake Noll and Whitney Knight named 2015-16 most outstanding athletes
Jake Noll (left) and Whitney Knight (right) were both drafted into their professional fields with Noll being selected by the Washington Nationals and Knight by the Los Angeles Sparks.
By Luke Janke Staff Writer @jankeleg Former women’s basketball combo guard Whitney Knight and former baseball second baseman Jake Noll were named FGCU’s Most Outstanding Female and Male Athlete respectively for 201516. The titles
culminate exceptional final seasons by both athletes. Knight is the fifth athlete in FGCU Athletics history to receive the award twice, after being awarded co-winner last year, following suit with men’s tennis’ Jordi Vives (2014-15). Women’s basketball’s Sarah Hansen (201213), Kate Schrader (2006-07) and softball’s Kelly Powe
(2004-05) were also awarded twice in the past. “I am honored and happy to have been selected as the Most Outstanding Female Athlete,” Knight said. “There are so many talented athletes at FGCU, and it’s an honor to be recognized among them for my abilities. FGCU helped me grow tremendously as an athlete, and I’m
so grateful for this honor.” Meanwhile, Noll is the third baseball player in the last three years to win the award, including Nick Rivera (2015) and Mike Murray (2014). Noll and Knight bring their respective teams nine wins each — tied for the most in the award’s history. “I grew a lot both as a player and a
person during my time at FGCU, and I’m thankful for every opportunity I was given,” Noll said. “This award is special to me as it comes from the administration and coaches, and it’s a great way to cap off my career.” The award has been handed to the best FGCU male and female athlete of the previous year since
the 2002-03 season. This was the first year FGCU was an NCAA member (Division I since the 2007-08 season). The award is presented annually at the Welcome Back Picnic, a sort of homecoming event for former and current athletes, which will be held this year on Aug. 22. All nominees of this award have either earned all-conference
Photos by Linwood Ferguson
first team honors or better and been named as a league player of the year in their respective sport. The Los Angeles Sparks selected Knight as 15th overall pick in the WNBA Draft in April while the Washington Nationals picked Noll as the seventh-round pick in the MLB Draft in June.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
Former FGCU baseball player Wes Sargent returns to the team as new assistant coach By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU baseball program and head coach Dave Tollett announced former Eagle Wes Sargent as the program’s new assistant coach. During his time at FGCU, Sargent played infield and catcher for the 2011 and 2012 seasons before transitioning to a coaching role and serving as a student assistant and director of baseball operations during his final two years. “It’s an honor to be back at my alma mater,” Sargent said. “The opportunity to
assist in continuing to grow a winning and competitive culture within the FGCU Athletics Department is something many aspire to do.” With this new role, Sargent will assist associate coach Rusty McKee in the program’s recruiting efforts. “We’re excited to have Wes back on board with us,” Tollett said. “He has done some good work for us in the past and is someone who’s familiar with the program and the way we do things around here.” Even though this is a new position for Sargent, this isn’t the first time he has been a part of the
recruitment process. Sargent joined the FAU staff in the fall of 2014 and served as the team’s director of operations in his first season with the Owls. During his time at FGCU, Sargent was also the assistant coach for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2013. There, he coached first base while also serving as the liaison between scouts and players.
Wes Sargent served as the volunteer assistant coach at FAU during the 2015 season.
Photo by Linwood Ferguson
Men’s basketball alumnus Bernard Thompson signs overseas with Germany By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois
Bernard Thompson averaged 13.7 points per game and dished out 246 assists during his four-year career at FGCU.
Former FGCU shooting guard Bernard Thompson, 23, signed with Germany’s MLP Academics Heidelberg and will be considered as a starter on the team. “I thought this was the best place, a good stop for me to continue my career,” Thompson said. “I’m excited to go out there. I think this will be a good place for me to get some exposure. If I play well, I can hopefully move up the following year.” As a rookie, Thompson led his Slovakian team, MBK Rieker Domarno, to the Extraliga Finals, with 16.2 points per game last season. He also had a team-high 2.1 steals. Thomson ended his career as an Eagle as a four-year starter and All-Atlantic Sun selection, scoring a total of 1,835 points. His 636 field goals and 344 free throws made are Photo by Linwood Ferguson the best in FGCU history. Thompson was a main
leader in FGCU’s 2013 Sweet 16 run that led to national attention and the famous Dunk City slogan. Represented by Austin Walton of the Walton Sports Management Group, Thompson is scheduled to fly out on Aug. 16 and will attend a two-week training camp before officially starting the season on Sept. 24. “I’ve been staying in the gym, working out,” said Thompson, who has spent most of the offseason in the Miami area. “I go to LA Fitness to do some cardio. I’m in pretty good shape, so I should be ready when the time comes.” Thompson is excited for his future with Heidelberg and is glad to finally have a job. With training right around the corner, Thompson is hopeful for his new team and expects to offer scoring and leadership.
OPINION
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Welcome to the Nest
Good bye, high school By Sydney Van Dreason Staff Writer @sydney_0815 It’s the day after movein. Your family is gone, and your room is all set up and decorated. As you lay in bed that morning, you are faced with the daunting task of trying to convince yourself to leave your dorm room and go mingle so that you can make some new friends. So far, you know next to no one, the polar opposite of your social life back in high school. Fast forward to the day of the first test in class. Your nerves are wild, partly due to the surrealism of having your first exam in college but mostly due to the fact that you didn’t realize how much material had been covered. Back in high school, the tests usually covered one or two subjects, and you could easily get away with looking over the information the night before. Next thing you know, you go home with a failed test to see that your laundry basket is overflowing and your dorm room is a mess. Between making sure you got yourself to class every day while still maintaining a social life, you seem to have forgotten the simple, but important, matter of chores. It seems amazing that so much could result from one simple move into a dorm room. Not everyone’s beginnings of freshman year will turn out the
exact same way as the above plays out; there are variations, and it all depends on each individual. For most of us freshmen though, I think the hardest part of the year is going to be moving on from our relatively safe and comfortable lives back home. It may get to the point where stress kicks in and affects us negatively. There’s no real warning before we are suddenly burdened with all these great responsibilities like getting to class on time every day, completing assignments according to the syllabus and doing laundry frequently. Mother isn’t here to remind you to do things anymore; it’s up to you now. We’ve been told how it was going to be, but there’s nothing like actually living it. Most of us are being thrust into a world where lectures dominate class time and syllabi dictate the breakdown of each class and its criteria. No one is forcing you to go to class or do homework. Instead of knowing dozens of people by name, you may recognize a couple of faces but not truly know anyone. Some of us may not know how to handle this sharp turn of events, and when confusion and nerves start to combine, stress starts to form. Before I left home to move into my dorm, my friend, who’s a sophomore at another college, began to hurtle tips at me to help me overcome
The Freshman 15
the inevitable stress that accompanies the transition from high school to college: visit the professors during their office hours to ask any and all questions that you may have; instead of studying for a test the night before, start prepping a day or two, maybe even three, before the exam takes place and constantly review the material for the class; manage your time well so that you can balance out social, personal and academic responsibilities so that you’re on top of things. Her last piece of advice was to not be afraid to try new things and put yourself out there but also to be yourself while doing it. College is a fresh start, a new chapter, and some students may want to completely change themselves around so that they fit in more or so that they may seem more appealing to fellow students. But you don’t have to change completely. College is a big place with a diverse range of people; someone here is likely to have the same interests as you. The stress of being in a new environment and away from the shelter of home and the predictable routine of high school can be challenging for some of us freshmen. But, all we need to do is breathe deeply and remember that we’re the ones who write the stories of our lives, including this new chapter called college.
From a freshman to fellow freshmen
By Josh Ballin Staff Writer @joshballinn We’ve been counting down the days until the start of fall classes, and finally, it has arrived. Here are 15 things all incoming students should focus on doing during their first year at FGCU: 1. Remember why we’re here We are at college to learn and to get our degrees. Easier said than done — going to class and studying is important. Balance it with nights out and beach trips and everything will go smoothly. 2. Get involved There are countless clubs and organizations on campus. There is something for everyone, and everyone should be involved in something. Don’t go to college just to study. Get involved in a club that is parallel to your interests; you’ll meet people like you, expanding your friend circle. 3. Show your Eagle pride We are Eagles now, and blue and green runs in our veins. Make a trip to the campus bookstore and support our team. Dunk City is primed for another great season, and Alico Arena needs to be packed every game day. Having said that, make sure to support all our fantastic sports teams. 4. Be a part of, or support, the arts FGCU has an amazing arts department. Whether it’s drama, art class, band, choir or orchestra, every student should participate or support. Even if none of those are your thing, there are some incredibly talented students on our campus, and it is important to at least support them. 5. Get to know your professors Our professors are there for a reason: for us. Take the time to get to know your professors because they are people too. They can share knowledge about the subject they teach or just about life. They can be great for support and could even become a friend after you graduate.
Read the rest of the top 15 at eaglenews.org
The right time to go to college It’s different for everybody By Melissa Neubek Opinion Editor @melissayosephin College is a thing you’re supposed to do right after high school. I remember sitting at the Boston Public Library with one of my best friends, Lisis, when I was 17, applying for scholarships. That was 10 years ago. Lisis got a full ride to a great school in upstate New York, joined a sorority, studied abroad, graduated, got her master’s and started a family all by the time I had finally decided to go back to college. Everyone’s path is different. The truth is that I didn’t get any scholarships because I didn’t put the effort in. I applied to three colleges — none I would consider particularly notable, but colleges all the same. I got accepted to all three and chose to go to the one that would allow me to keep my full-time job as a supervisor at Best Buy. You see, the day I graduated high school, I was offered a promotion and a good raise at Best Buy, where I had been working for two years. Within three months, I had won an allinclusive trip to Orlando, got another promotion and
another raise at another store. I was 18 and making more money than I really knew what to do with. I was enjoying myself doing something I was pretty good at. I was not feeling college. While my friends were settling into dorm rooms and making new friends, I was working close to 50 hours a week learning the ins and outs of running a business and taking a full course load on my two days off. I was so tired. I remember the day I went to see my management professor to ask him something; I have no idea what. It was raining; I was tired, and I didn’t want to be there. Despite that, I politely knocked and smiled and asked him whatever thing I had to ask him. He looked at me and said,“Why are you here?” It was one of those existential questions, you know? Not like, why are you standing in my office right now, but like, why do you exist in this time and place and space? I kind of just stared back at him. He proceeded to tell me it was clear that I was smart but that I didn’t want to be there, and if I really wanted to get the most out of my learning experience, I should return when I wanted
to be there. That man was like my Albus Dumbledore. I wish I remembered his name or even what he looked like. All I remember was how he made me feel and the fact
that his office had barely any natural light coming in because he had so many books stacked up everywhere covering the windows. I feel like that’s an automatic making of a wise person: all of the books. So, I thanked him, walked out of his office,
path set up for me at a job I really enjoyed and I didn’t want to waste his money. That was that. He got over it and continued to love me (hopefully, this is no surprise). Fast forward three years — I realized maybe retail wasn’t all that and a bag of chips, and I was ready for something new. To this day, I still don’t remember how I decided to start researching photography schools, but I did. I joined a program with Boston University. Two years later, I graduated, left retail, started doing photography part-time, worked an office job, hated that, moved to Florida, got my teaching certificate, worked as a teacher for a year with my mom, started school at FGCU, became a nanny for a year, got offered a job with Microsoft in Charlotte, moved there, moved back here and, finally, started my full-time Photo courtesy of Careerguide.com photography business. While all of that stuff combination of long pauses happened, I got diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and angry outbursts. through multiple He was upset and went racked disappointed. While I didn’t hospitalizations, agree and knew I’d be okay, up a ton of medical bills, I understood why he felt that worked multiple second, way. He didn’t understand and sometimes, third jobs, how I could throw away bought a house, learned what such a great opportunity. I heartbreak felt like twice, explained that I had a career met a great guy and got and as I walked through the rain to catch the train home, I called my dad to tell him I’d left school. He thought I meant for the day. I was like, “No, I mean, for good…” that was followed up by a
married. And, through all of that stuff — that stuff we call life — I started to “find myself,” as they say. In case you don’t yet know, “finding yourself” is like comprehending black holes and the current state of American politics — neither easy nor really possible. Even when you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t. There’s a point to this all, and it’s hard to fit it all in to just one article. But, here it goes. You are not defined by when you go to college. It’s okay if college doesn’t end up being the coveted “best four years of your life.” If you’re the 28- or 42-year-old in the sea of 18-22 year olds, embrace it. If you’re the 1822 year olds with the 28- or 42 year olds in your classes, we might just be your next friend — don’t rule us out. Ultimately, we’re all figuring it out as we go — no matter our age. I can attest that college as an almost 30-year-old can be just as intimidating as when you’re an 18-year-old straight out of high school. It’s still a new, different, exciting experience, and as we all shape our journeys, it becomes easier to see that we’re all just people trying to figure it out.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
Bashful, meet college. College, meet bashful Being shy doesn’t have to be debilitating By Sydney Van Staff @sydney_0815
Dreason Writer
Who has ever hidden behind their mother’s leg or hung out near the snack table the entire time at a social function because interacting with other people seemed to be the worst thing to ever exist in the world? Who’s ever had their heart pound for 10 minutes after delivering a presentation or speech in front of a group? And, finally, who has found that one of the questions on their personal list of Top Five Most Annoying Questions is, “Why don’t you talk more?” If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you are most likely dealing with a personality trait known as shyness. Also known as “quiet” and “bashful,” shyness has been around for centuries. You are guaranteed to have crossed paths or even befriended a shy person at least once in your life before college. In some ways, this may not have been a bad thing because shier people tend to be better listeners, lending you a free ear to rant or vent to, and they also are more observational of the world around them, giving you the inside scoop on all things trendy and gossip, if that’s something you’re into. They also tend to be natural supporters for their friends and family. I myself have been shy for the majority of my life so far, and it’s not been easy most of the time. I had to endure harmless teasing of how I would blush whenever
Photo courtesy of Wordpress
A girl sits alone on a swing. I was called on to speak, and in some grades, the school year went by with some of my classmates not even knowing my name. Talking to strangers or people I barely knew was a struggle, and if I had to be the one who initiated the conversation, then you could forget about it altogether. It wasn’t until high school that I really started to break out of
my shell. I had established some friends, and I made some new friends due to similar interests. I was able to join some clubs that interested me and helped me to bond with my classmates, and I got a job that required me to talk to strangers on a daily basis. Breaking out of your shell is a process that comes at different times for different people, but even once you break free, I
still believe that being shy is something one can never truly get over. There are always going to be situations where you feel like crawling into a dark corner to avoid the awkwardness of holding a conversation, but it is something you can work on. Becoming friends with outgoing people is a great way to expand your horizons and force yourself into social situations
with a friend at your side. Lucky for us shy folk, college is full of outgoing people. Finding a group of people with a similar interest to you can also help you make new friends and maybe even brave social functions with your new crew. We’ve been told for quite a while now that college is a time for change, and it’s no secret that you have more freedom. You will, no doubt, discover more about yourself. But, some people may see the transition as a time to completely change who they are in order to fit in more with what they believe the social norms among college kids are like. Not all change is bad, and some students may even see this change as an opportunity to avoid the curse of shyness any longer. But, some may change so drastically that they lose sight of who they were to begin with. In the grand scheme of things, I believe that your past is key to who you become in the future. It’s okay to be shy. Not everybody is born with the ability to jump into a conversation and make friends in the blink of an eye; going into a new environment as a shy person can amplify the feeling of fear. But, that fear doesn’t have to control you, and the label of being bashful does not define who you are and who you will always be. FGCU’s student body is diverse; your people are here somewhere. At the end of the day, just remember to be true to you, shy or not.
Don’t count out third parties Democrat and Republican are not your only options By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion @SamPalmisano
Editor
For the majority of Americans, this year’s election has come to mean choosing between the lesser of two evils. That doesn’t have to be the case, though. If you ask a random person off the street to name the political parties, you’ll probably get “Democrat and Republican” as an answer. What most people fail to realize is that there are more than just two parties. While it’s true that the same two parties have dominated American politics for years, that doesn’t necessarily mean a third party can’t win. A third party is any political party that isn’t Democrat or Republican. In America, we have three major third parties: Libertarian, Green and Constitution. Just like the Democrats and Republicans, each party nominates a candidate to run for president. Before I introduce you to the candidates from each party, I’ll first explain why third parties matter. In a typical election, third parties are essential to guaranteeing that the two dominant parties don’t get too comfortable. This means that Democrats and Republicans still have to work for the American vote, always in fear that a new party will take their place.
A Flow Chart describing how the traditional two-party system. In theory, third parties have always done their job well; however, the American voters have failed them. Voters who have allowed Democrats and Republicans to get comfortable by only focusing on those two parties have halted third parties from doing their job. It’s not entirely the fault of the voters though. The reason voters become so stuck on the two-party system is because the politicians and the media have brainwashed the American people into believing that only two parties matter. Too often, you’ll hear things
like, “A third party vote is a wasted vote” or “voting third party is the same as voting for Trump/Clinton.” These sayings are only a desperate attempt to scare voters away from third parties. Here’s how it works: Donald Trump knows that his voters don’t necessarily like him, but that the only person they dislike more is Hillary Clinton. As long as Trump focuses on being “the lesser of two evils,” voters will choose him over Clinton in November. Naturally, Clinton is using the same strategy with her voters.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Both candidates know that if a decent third party candidate were brought into the public eye, their poll numbers would suffer. So, they attempt to scare voters into choosing between only the top two candidates. As always, the public falls into this trap. If we can sway away from twoparty politics, it’s easy to see that there are much better options in this year’s election. Without further ado, here are those options. Representing the Libertarian party, we have former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. Before starting a career in
politics, Johnson was a successful businessman who started his mechanical contracting business from scratch, eventually turning it into a multi-million dollar company. Johnson is the only candidate, aside from Clinton or Trump, who will be on the ballot in all 50 states this year. From the Green party, Jill Stein is a medical doctor and political activist. Stein’s worries about public health in relation to their environment prompted her to run twice for governor of Massachusetts, though she lost both times. Stein has polled well with former Bernie Sanders supporters. The Constitution party has nominated Darrell Castle. Castle has a military background though he went into law after retiring. He comes from a strong religious background and believes the Constitution should be followed to the letter. In an election dominated by a corrupt, lying politician and an arrogant, ignorant reality star, it’s important that voters are informed of their other options. Third parties may be considered underdogs by most standards, but that doesn’t stop them from being viable candidates. After all, who doesn’t love a good underdog?
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