Presidential Search Committee chooses 10 candidates for interviews Read more on A4 The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS Volume 15, Issue 22
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Wednesday, February 8, 2016
BREAKING THE MOLD Students receive little help from management regarding mold at The Reef By Taylor Crehan & Emily Ford News Editor & Editor-in-chief
H
er belongings sit in trash bags in her closet. Her carpet has been torn up, leaving nothing but bare concrete. She’s spent $1,700 in hotel expenses and has been sleeping on the couch. This is sophomore business management major Alex Ciatti’s life in The Reef, and she isn’t the only one. Over a dozen other residents have been bringing up similar complaints — oddly humid rooms, persistent coughs and a musty stench. After further inspection, they all have one thing in common: mold. “I started noticing the mold growing in my room in December,” Ciatti said of her apartment in Building 5. “It was on a bag underneath my desk and a pair of shoes that were in my closet.” According to Ciatti, when she first saw the mold spreading, she went into The Reef’s Clubhouse to fill out a work order, but nothing followed. Ciatti then went to the office again, but this time, the employees filled out the work order. “Then, maintenance came out and didn’t really do anything,” Ciatti said. It wasn’t until she went back to the office for a third time to explain that the mold had spread across the furniture, wall art and even under the bathroom vanity that The Reef took action. “On Friday (Jan. 27), I was told that they were going to begin working on my room, so I needed to move into a hotel by Monday (Jan. 30),” Ciatti said. “I was told that I needed to stay in a hotel until all the work was finished, and the mold test came back positive.” That’s when the Michigan native packed up her room and moved into the Hilton Garden Inn for seven days. “I was told that my room was going to be completed on Monday (Feb. 6), so I checked out of my hotel and packed up my stuff and headed back to The Reef,” Ciatti said. But, to her surprise, she came back to a barren room with no vanity, no carpet and her air conditioning vents covered with plastic wrap. “The funny thing is they told her it was livable,” said Ciatti’s roommate, senior biology major Hailey Golden. “She has no carpet and her vents are covered. She can’t live in here.” Now with no place to officially call “home,” Ciatti’s belongings are just tossed in any open space available. Golden is currently holding some of Ciatti’s items in her bedroom while the rest lay in their living room and packed in her 2012 Ford Focus. “It sucks because now when people come over, I’m like, ‘Welcome to my room and living room,’” Ciatti said. According to Ciatti, the front office told her there were no other cases of mold at The Reef. It wasn’t until she saw sophomore communication major Gabby Pullano’s post on the FGCU Class of 2019 Facebook group page that she realized she wasn’t the only one. Pullano, who lives in Building 13, first discovered mold on a pair of boots in her closet in November 2016. “I was like, ‘What the hell is this stuff growing on my shoes?’” Pullano said. She wiped them down and left them in her closet, but the mold came back. Pullano was having trouble breathing and was “feeling extremely weak the entire week.” She said she ended up at Lee Memorial Health on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 11 p.m. and didn’t leave until 4:30 a.m. the next morning. “The breathing issue was what made me decide to go,” Pullano said. “It was getting worse as time went on.” Pullano’s parents decided to visit when they heard she was in the hospital. “We originally came to visit Gabby simply because she was sick,” Pullano’s mother, Patty Pullano, said. “After I heard about the mold is
>> Continued on page A3
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>> Spring Creek Elementary needs book lovers to help with its book fair from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. February 13 through 17. General shop duties, helping students find books and checkout assistants needed. Please allow 10 to 15 minutes for check-in. Driver’s license required. Please contact Melanie Rasnick at melanierasnick@yahoo.com. >> It’s a carnival at Rayma C. Page Elementary – only minutes from campus – on Saturday, February 25. There are two shifts: 9 to 11 a.m. set up and leading games and selling food 1 to 3 p.m. Twenty-five to 30 carnies needed. Please contact Alison Elgart at raymacpage@ gmail.com for more info. >> It’s gonna be a beautiful day in Bonita, especially after you’ve helped with the city-wide clean-up from 9 to 12 p.m. on Feb. 25. Breakfast and lunch is included! Contact Kendra Gilreath at 239-949-
6237 or kendra.gilreath@cityofbonitasprings.org. >> Looking for service in Venice, Florida? The Wildlife Center of Venice has opportunities for you to care for animals. Its hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. You’ll be working with experienced volunteers who’ll provide on-going training. Please contact Don or Ivy at 941-484-9657 for more info. >> Interested in giving a gift to the next generation of college students? Be a mentor to high schoolers this spring and summer. After attending a two-hour training session on March 15 or 16 and sessions March 18 and 22, you’ll be paired with your mentee, whom you’ll remain in contact with as they transition to college. Please contact Dr. Kiesler at dkiesler@fgcu.edu. Applications accepted until February 24.
The world in brief Former Norwegian Prime Minister held due to travel ban 13,000 people secretly hanged in Syrian prison On January 31, Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former Prime Minister of Norway, was held and interrogated at Washington Dulles International Airport. Bondevik told CNN that there was an issue with an Iranian visa in his diplomatic passport from his time there in 2014. After explaining that he was in Iran speaking at an anti-extremism conference, Bondevik was further questioned for over an hour. He took the time to criticize and voice his concern for Trump’s travel ban.
Thousands of people have been hanged at Saydnaya prison in Syria in a hidden campaign authorized by senior regime figures, a report by Amnesty International alleges. The human rights group claims as many as 13,000 people have been executed. The report by Amnesty International is the result of a year-long investigation that includes interviews with 84 witnesses, including security guards, detainees, judges and lawyers.
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US and Japan conduct successful missile interception Maasai warriors begin saving wild lions A United States and Japanese joint operation successfully shot down a medium-range ballistic missile, a new development for missile defense. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced that the USS John Paul Jones detected, tracked and took out the target ballistic missile test that took place on Friday night off the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Missile defense has been a top priority since North Korea’s missile testing last year.
Fifty percent of the world’s lion population lives in East Africa, causing a problem for the livestock raised by the Maasai tribe of Tanzania. Lion killing has been a long-standing tradition and rite of passage for Maasai warriors. As part of an initiative run by the Tanzania People and Wildlife Fund, the Maasai have begun working as a tribe to protect their old enemies. Nicknamed “Wildlife Warriors,” the group works to find a long-term solution between the local people and the wildlife.
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>> Mold continued from page A1 when I started to realize that is why Gabby was getting sick, so we contacted The Reef immediately so this can be taken care of ASAP.” During her parents’ visit, Pullano showed them the mold that was growing in her room. That weekend Pullano’s father checked her air conditioning unit while they were visiting, and he said that “there’s obviously a problem with either the way the building was insulated because it was built so fast, or they didn’t install the actual AC unit properly.” Pullano, along with her three roommates, soon found mold underneath their drawers in their rooms, in their air conditioning vents, in their closets and in their bathrooms. “I wouldn’t doubt that it’s in the living room,” Pullano said. Pullano decided to take action. Armed with her moldy pair of shoes, she went down to the front desk at The Reef’s Clubhouse on Saturday, Feb. 4 to talk to someone. “I showed them the shoes,” Pullano said. “I obviously have mold in my room, and she’s like, ‘OK, yeah, you do. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to contact the head girl. We want you to email the photos of your shoes to this woman and tell her what’s going on.’ So, I did that and never got a response.” The following day on Sunday, Feb. 5, Pullano sent an email to Meisha Nelson, the assistant general manager of The Reef, and never got a response. “Every time I call, they’re like, ‘She’s on lunch,’” Pullano said. “It’s ten o’clock in the morning, why is she eating lunch right now?” Eagle News reached out to Nelson several times by phone and email and, at the time of publication, did not yet receive a response. Pullano and her roommates finally received an email from the office stating that the women should take photos of what was damaged and to attach a list of prices so that they would get reimbursed on Monday, Feb. 6. That morning, Pullano told those working in the office that if they weren’t going to let all of the residents know about her mold problem, she would make a post on Facebook about it. And, post she did. Pullano posted several photos of her moldy belongings and pieces of furniture on the FGCU Class of 2019 Facebook group with a paragraph warning residents of The Reef to check their apartments for mold and to send photos to Nelson. As of Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5 a.m., Pullano’s post had over 100 reactions as well as over 100 comments – some made by other residents sharing photos of moldy objects and pieces of furniture found in their apartments, including a post made by Ciatti explaining her situation. Following her post, The Reef sent out a mass email to residents titled “Important Precautions Due to Weather Change.” The email suggests different ways to keep
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
mold from growing in one’s apartment. Early Monday morning, according to Pullano, three men from Wet House Dry Out Inc., an outside cleaning company based in Cape Coral, entered Pullano’s apartment to wipe down the mold. The men also took away the dehumidifier that The Reef had provided to help filter the air throughout the apartment and replaced it with a larger one. Pullano and her roommates had a pile of their belongings on the floor that they collected as evidence, and when they came back from class on Monday, it was gone. “I called The Reef up and told them this, and they told us that they cannot help us because they were a third party that came in to do this cleaning, that they could not help us at all, that if we just put in our email
“It’s like an epidemic now” - Phil Dorso that they would reimburse us for it,” Pullano said. Pullano said the office told her that someone would be going to her apartment in the near future to check the air conditioning unit to see if the problem can be solved, but she said she isn’t confident about that happening. “Hearing all these people who have actually spoken up and nothing’s been done for months, I am not confident anymore that something’s going to get done at all,” Pullano said. Pullano provided Eagle News with Wet House Dry Out’s contact information. When a reporter called and asked for the maintenance personnel, the man on the other line identified himself. However, when the reporter explained that she was looking into the mold situation at The Reef, he hung up. Pullano believes that the cause of the mold might stem from how quickly the complex was built. “The day we moved in, they were still coming in and out of here,” Pullano said. “It wasn’t even done on movein day.” Pullano’s mother, Patty, has also been trying to get in contact with the assistant general manager, but like many residents of The Reef, she hasn’t received a response. “I just wish The Reef would do something,” Patty said. “I wish it wasn’t that difficult to get in touch with them.” Due to the frustration and fear that this mold is affecting Pullano and her roommate’s health, Patty has
EN Photos / Taylor Crehan (Top left) Sophomore Sean Laux holds a tent storage bag covered in mold. (Top center) Sophomore exercise science major Karli Thul’s carpet in her room is covered in spots of mold. (Top right) Sophomore business management major Alex Ciatti’s room’s carpet has been ripped up, and some of her belongings sit in trash bags in her closet. (Bottom left) Sophomore communication major Gabby Pullano’s air conditioning unit is covered in spots of mold and moisture. (Bottom right) According to Ciatti, her vanity was ripped out due to a water leak that caused a mold outbreak.
involved an attorney in the hopes that this will get The Reef to start answering some questions. “They’re not answering me, so maybe a letter from my attorney will speed up the process,” she said. Sophomore business management major Zachary Edwards of Building 13 had no idea that The Reef seemed to have a mold problem until Monday. “I checked my room, kind of did a quick check around, and didn’t see anything,” Edwards said. “Then, my roommate came in with one of his items covered in mold, and I started checking more thoroughly and found everything.” Edwards found mold coated underneath his drawers. He plans on taking his situation up to the office as well. “It’s especially ridiculous that it’s very expensive leasing, and it only being, like, five months old,” Edwards said. Edwards is also frustrated because he expected The Reef to be nice because it’s so new. “I understand mistakes happen, but it would have gotten worse if we never even knew about it,” Edwards said. “It’s been going on for awhile, and we should have been made more aware.” Pullano’s boyfriend, sophomore clinical lab science major Keaton Payne, lives in Building 10 in The Reef. He mentioned the mold problem to his roommate, sophomore sports management major Phil Dorso, about a week ago, but he didn’t think anything of it. “Then, I saw my bathroom, and I said, ‘Oh, all right, maybe there is mold,’” Dorso said. “So, then Gabby (Pullano) came over today (Feb. 6) and, then, all hell broke loose. It’s like an epidemic now.” Dorso also contacted The Reef’s office on Feb. 6 and explained that he had found mold on the walls of his bathroom. As other students recalled, they responded by asking him to take pictures of it and to send them to the office. He decided not to, however, because he figured that by now, the office was already taking steps toward fixing the problem. Not all mold found in The Reef is found under dresser drawers, under vanity sinks and on the ceiling. Sophomore special education major Kylen Carmody and her roommates, who reside in Building 3, have mold sprouting from their carpets. “(The Reef) claim they’re dirt or scuffs and stuff,” Carmody said about the round spots on her carpet. According to Carmody, her dad, who is currently visiting from New Jersey, said that the only way that you can truly tell that it’s mold is if you tear the carpet up. “The Reef doesn’t want to pay for that, so they aren’t ripping that up,” Carmody said. Carmody’s roommate, sophomore communication major Carly Bergman, wants to take matters into her own hands. “I really want to cut the carpet,” Bergman said. “I really want to rip it up. Like, what are they going to say? I am sorry. We were scared for our health.”
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EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Police Beat Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Learner’s Permit On Friday, January 27 at 1:27 a.m., a UPD officer pulled over a vehicle for an obstructed tag. The officer then searched the vehicle due to the strong odor of marijuana. The driver was found to only possess a learner’s permit and was issued a citation for driving without a 21 or older passenger. The passengers were found to be in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Advice from UPD On Friday, January 27 at 5:12 p.m., a female student came to UPD to get
advice about a friendship. Her friend’s boyfriend had been texting her all day and accused her of previously ending their relationship. The text history went back and forth between the two, and it seemed to be borderline harassment. The student was advised to stop texting and block the number. Drunk Mama At 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, UPD responded to reports of an elderly woman with blue hair and multi-colored pants wondering around the entrance to West Lake Village. The woman
was visibly intoxicated. Ambulances arrived on scene, but the woman’s son arrived to take her home. False Alarm On Monday, January 30 at 8:58 p.m., two students flagged down staff members at the Alico Arena because they believe someone had a gun and was acting suspicious. The students pointed out the suspicious person. Two UPD officers stopped the individual and did a pat down search, but no weapons were found. Bike Theft
On Tuesday, January 31 at 10:17 a.m., a rec center employee reported that his bike was stolen from the bike rack. A UPD officer filed a bike theft report. The bike was reportedly left unlocked, and it was valued at $150. The employee did not want anyone arrested for the theft but said he did hope to have his bike returned. Burglarized Vehicle On Wednesday, February 1 at 11:42 a.m., UPD arrived at Osprey Hall after a resident assistant stated that a resident believed that someone broke into her vehicle
overnight. An officer was able to lift a partial print from the vehicle. A photo of a possible suspect was taken to the resident assistant to see if the subject would be recognized. An incident report was completed. Girl Drama On Thursday, February 2 at 12:44 a.m., a resident assistant reported to UPD that a group of approximately six girls had verbally and physically assaulted another group of residents. The three residents gave statements and signed that they did not wish to press charges. No
witnesses were present at the scene. Hotboxing On Thursday, February 2 at 11:39 p.m., a UPD foot patrol approached a vehicle in the South Village parking garage with a cabin full of smoke. A green, leafy substance was visible on the lap of the driver as well as in a mason jar inside the car. Two subjects were inside the vehicle, but the driver admitted ownership of the 5.5 grams of marijuana and contraband.
Search committee advances 10 candidates for president position By Alexandra Figares Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews Ten candidates have been selected by FGCU’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee to advance in next week’s interview process in pursuit of President Wilson Bradshaw’s replacement. The PSAC held a meeting Monday, Feb. 6 in the Cohen Center where candidates were selected for on campus interviews. The 10 candidates include Ira Blake, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Kelli McCormack Brown, interim president at Valdosta State University; Michael Martin, chancellor emeritus and senior fellow at Colorado State University System. Susan Martin, president emeritus and professor of accounting at Eastern Michigan University also made the cut; as well as Mark McLellan, vice president of research & Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University; Charles Patterson, interim president at Georgia
Southwestern State University; Mark Rudin, vice president for research and economic development at Boise State University; William Tramontano, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Brooklyn College, CUNY; James Strong, professor of marketing at California State University, Stanislaus and Tom Grady, chief executive officer of Continental Equities Group, Inc. at PureAssets. Grady was met with some vocal criticism by PSAC members. According to PSAC member Sharon Isern, of 137 faculty members 88 percent voted against Grady. “He is probably the most negatively received candidate and some issues and concerns are that he is coming in with very fixed ideas,” said PSAC member Madelyn Isaacs. Both FGCU’s Board of Trustees and the PSAC are responsible for searching and selecting a new president in response to Bradshaw’s retirement in June 2017. The PSAC is tasked with processing and choosing a minimum of 3 qualified candidates to the BOT, which, in turn, will
EN Photo / Kim Smith Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee look down at their laptops during the Monday, Feb. 6 PSAC meeting. During the meeting, members voted on moving forward 10 presidential candidates to participate in on-campus ionterviews.
chose a new president. The process is lengthy involving interviews, meetings and
forums. The PSAC will conduct interviews on Wednesday,
Feb. 15 and Thursday, Feb. 16 and finalists will then participate in a forum on
Feb. 22 to 23. Executive search firm Witt/Keiffer is also assisting in the presidential search. FGCU’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Ron Toll, applied for the FGCU’s presidency back in January and did not receive enough votes to become a top ten finalist despite PSAC support. “Dr. Toll has the best knowledge of FGCU and its inner workings and all of its different moving parts,” Sub-Committee Chair of the PSAC Robert Gregerson said. “Of all of our candidates he understands the institution best of all them.” Daniel Heimmermann, provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, has already advanced to the BOT satisfying the PSAC’s requirements. A schedule for candidate interviews will be released and updated as Witt/Keiffer decides specific interview times for candidates. The new president will be chosen on Feb. 28 at the Board of Trustees meeting.
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Homecoming kicks off with “Make Your Mark Monday” By Alexandra Figares Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews
EN Photos / Matthew Ricci (top) Kim Smith (bottom) (Top) Student body treasurer Ivan Rodriguez (left) and student body president Thieldens Elneus ride around the library lawn during FGCU’s the first homecoming event. (Bottom) two students play cornhole on the library lawn during the event.
“Make Your Mark Monday” kicked off FGCU’s first official homecoming week event in the form of Olympicstyle games and student organization tabling. The event, hosted on the library lawn Monday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., introduced interactive and engaging activities with opportunities for students to take home prizes and memories. The even included a bounce house obstacle course that allowed students to challenge their friends for prizes. Those who defeated their opponent through bouncy tunnels and slides could choose between FGCU Homecoming T-shirts or a mini eagle trophy. Two caricature artists created impressions of students with exaggerated and striking characteristics, allowing students to take a piece of homecoming with them. Kona Ice marked its territory in the hot Florida “winter,” serving students shaved ice with over 10 flavor options. Popcorn was also available for students to enjoy. Student body organizations were also present such as the French Club, Improv Club, the
Minority Association of Pre-Medicine, DROP, Dance Marathon and more. The presence of student organizations encouraged students to find their niche and “make their mark,” inspiring the event’s theme. “I think this event is really cool. It really shows that the school appreciates students when they put on events like this,” (FGCU student?) Huck Figlow said. Emmalyn Green, Student Body vice president and chair of the Student Organization Council, helped organize the event along with Ashton Hartley, Advisor of the Student Organization Council, and six other council members. “Because it was the first homecoming at FGCU we wanted to make it as big and as fun and as exciting as we could for all students,” said Hartley. FGCU’s inaugural homecoming joins alumni weekend and kicks off FGCU’s 20th anniversary celebration. FGCU has hosted alumni weekends in the past, however, this is the first official homecoming in FGCU history. Universities, colleges and high schools often host homecomings in the form of games, events or dances to which alumni are invited, drawing them “back home.”
A large base of alumni is the product of FGCU’s 20 year run as a university. According to Green, this anniversary is the perfect time to host a homecoming because it gathers more support from alumni. “When you think homecoming, it is drawing back previous Eagles and so we really wanted to make the link to make our first homecoming as best as it could be,” Green said. It is uncertain as to why FGCU has not hosted a homecoming in the past. L e a d e r s h i p Development Chair of the Student Organization Council, Gabby Giordano, attributes this year’s homecoming to leadership and timing. FGCU’s inaugural homecoming is the active effort of alumni, faculty and staff as well as other student organizations. “Our inaugural homecoming is a celebration of FGCU and how far it has come,” Green said. “This is a lot of fun. I’ve been here for about three and a half years and we haven’t had a homecoming event before,” Taylor West said. “It’s kind of nice to have an event for alumni to comeback to and have games for the current students.”
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FGCU Symphonic Band and Wind Orchestra perform at Estero High School
EN Photo / Kim Smith Conductor Troy Jones speaks to the audience during the afternoon performance at Estero High School, which was free to the public.
By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @journonajourney FGCU’s Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band performed Feb. 5 at Estero High School, located off of River Ranch Road in Estero. The Symphonic Band, conducted by Assistant Director
of Bands Troy Jones, performed numerous Irishinfluenced works, including “Kirkpatrick Fanfare” (1999) by Andrew Boysen, “Blackwater” (2005) by Timothy Reynish, “Their Blossoms Down” (2002) by Samuel Hazo, “A Longford Legend” (1996) by Robert Sheldon and “The Jig is Up” (1970) by Daniel Kallman.
After a brief intermission, the Wind Orchestra, conducted by Associate Professor of Music Rod Chesnutt, performed “Instinctive Travels” (2009) by Michael Markowski and “Symphony No. 2, Voices” (2016) by James Stepherson. The Bower School of Music is celebrating a decade of music through
all of its events this year, including the Sunday performance at Estero High School. The afternoon concert was free of charge to the local community. “A Longford Legend” was based on Sheldon’s impressions of three poems in a collection of 18th century Irish ballads. It is written as a tribute to the music of Percy Grainger, Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn-Williams. Irish folk tales influenced the piece. Three different melodic parts per each poem, a complex form and colorful texture bring the piece to life. Notes written by Stephenson on his piece explained that “Symphony No. 2, Voices” was influenced largely on the variability of the human voice. “They come in so many forms,” Stephenson wrote. “Some high, some low. Extremely loud, or extremely soft. Some are menacing or angelic. A voice is completely unique to each individual and instantly recognizable to a close friend or relative.”
Symphonic Band principals of the night included FGCU students Kristen Doohan (flute), Jacob Cowley (oboe), Gabrielle Goral (bassoon), Jonattan Declet (clarinet), Zachary Domrase (saxophone), Andrew Heavener (trumpet), Giovanna Wallis (horns), Brandon Grindle (trombone), Matthew Nevarez (euphonium), Max Ricciardi (tuba) and Balsai Braun (percussion). Wind Orchestra principals included Marlina Karimi (Andi and Bill Horowitz Principal Clarinetist scholarship) and Brian
Henry (Marianne and Richard Matties Principal Percussionist scholarship). Future Bower School of Music events in February include Peruvian Pianist on Feb. 9, Love Songs and Duets in Honor of St. Valentine on Feb. 11, Jazz Piano and Guitar on Feb. 16, Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 19 and the Italian pianist from Japan, Giuseppe Mariotti, on Feb. 24. For more information on events, tickets, location and dates of events, visit fgcu.edu/cas/bsma or call 239-745 - 4268.
EN Photo / Kim Smith The wind orchestra performs one of composer James Stephenson’s newest pieces based on the human voice, “Symphony No. 2, Voices.”
Valentine’s Day date ideas under $40 day together baking sweets and cooking a nice meal. If you’re really in the cliché kind of mood, you could even start a food fight with flour.
Ice Cream Hopping
EN Photo / Brad Young A romantic beach day and sunset viewing makes a budget-friendly Valentine’s Day date. Visit local waterside restaurants like those on Fort Myers Beach.
By Sydney Van Dreason Staff Writer @sydney_0815 Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you’re probably realizing that the $20 in your bank account isn’t going to cover an extravagant dinner at a top-notch restaurant or the present of your loved one’s dreams. The good news for financially strained college kids is that there are plenty of low budget Valentine’s Day activities and gifts that will make the day just as good and, dare I say it, even better than it would be if they dropped $100. You’re probably asking yourself what kinds of activities there are out there that are budgetfriendly and still romantic
enough for the holiday. Here are a few ideas that can all be accomplished in less than $50.
Classic Dinner and a Movie It’s not the most original idea, but you can’t really go wrong with a dinner and a movie. There are plenty of affordable restaurants, such as Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Olive Garden, close to campus that will provide a hearty meal for you and your sweetheart. After dinner, you can accompany one another to the theater, where you can catch a wide variety of movies ranging from romance with “The Space Between Us” and “La La Land” to inspirational and
tear-jerker dramas like “Hidden Figures” or “A Dog’s Purpose.” Whatever your niche is, make the date your own and take the time to be together.
Beach Day and Sunset Viewing One of the best perks of living in Southwest Florida is the close proximity to any given beach. From our very own beach in North Lake to the peaceful paradises of Sanibel and Captiva Islands, there are plenty of places to go for a day of relaxation with your loved one. You can pack some food, grab some sunscreen and head on down to the beach, where you can end your day by catching one of the gorgeous Southwest
The only thing better than getting an ice cream cone is getting multiple ice cream cones. Depending on your schedule, you can spread this out over the day or just do it all at once. In Gulf Coast Town Center, there are many places that serve ice cream and custard, like Rita’s, Coldstone Creamery, Culver’s and Kilwin’s. You can make this idea even sweeter by daring one another to try flavors and hosting a competition to see which store is the best.
Florida sunsets.
Late Night Picnic and Stargazing There’s nothing more romantic than sitting and gazing at the stars while enjoying a quality conversation with your significant other. Grab some food and a blanket, and you’ve got yourself a picnic under the stars. Quiet Night In Going out and doing things might not be up your alley, and that’s fine too. Throw in a little bit of music and maybe some Netflix and just enjoy a night in with a romantic home-cooked meal. Baking cookies can add an activity to do together. Spend the
Organize a Scavenger Hunt Unlock your inner child and create a scavenger hunt for your loved one around your dorm, apartment or campus. You can leave little gifts or notes along the way, and when it’s over, you can end the evening with some music, a movie or a nice dinner. Picking out a budgetfriendly gift can be a challenge, but one of these ideas may just be the one or may inspire other gift ideas.
The “Classic” Compilation When in doubt, you
can’t go wrong with a classic Valentine’s gift package: flowers, chocolate, stuffed animals and a homemade card. If you want to make it more personal, replace standard chocolates with your loved one’s favorite candy bar or packets of hot chocolate or heart-shaped donuts. There are a few Valentine basket-stuffers at the Dollar Tree, including bobbleheads, mini heart balloons and Valentine’s Day themed socks.
Gift Cards They may seem impersonal, but a good gift card won’t go unappreciated. You can add an element of personalization by including their favorite candy or a card.
Homemade all the way This could be the toughest, but cheapest, category. There are plenty of ideas for this category, especially on Pinterest. You could make a mixtape of all your sweetheart’s favorite songs. A personalized picture frame with a single picture or a collage of memories is always a cute idea. If you’re artistic, then a poem or a piece of artwork can go a long way. Whatever you decide to do, make it creative and unique, so it’s just the right mixture of romantic and memorable.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
Big Sean earns high marks with senior album ‘I Decided’ Curated this week by special guest Staff Writer, Val Camarillo
Songs of Love 1. “Bump n’ Grind” - R. Kelly 2. “Kiss It Better” - Rihanna Photo courtesy of Big Sean via Instagram (bigsean) Big Sean poses for an Instagram photo promoting his new line of “I Decided” merchandise, only available in select popup shops across the U.S.
3. “Too Deep” - dvsn 4. “Facts” - H.E.R 5. “With You” - Drake feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR 6. “Get You” - Daniel Caesar feat. Kali Uchis 7. “It Seems Like You’re Ready” - R. Kelly 8. “Higher” - Rihanna 9. “If I Ain’t Got You” - Alicia Keys 10. “Drunk In Love” - Beyonce feat. Jay Z
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
By Sean Thompson Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Big Sean’s latest album, “I Decided,” was released Feb. 3, and it exceeds expectations. At 28 years old, Big Sean’s lyrics are filled with emotion. His voice and overall message has matured over the years and has come to a pinnacle in “I Decided.” His latest work is marked by flawless transitions during and between songs, especially in “Intro” and “Light.” I had to check to make sure I wasn’t listening to the
same song, due to their similarities. He flaunts his newfound voice throughout his latest tracks. His rapping has become more lyrical, and the music has been slightly pushed to the background. Out of his 14 songs on the album, three went above and beyond. The album is not just limited to three good songs, but these stood out to me. “Bounce Back” is the first song that stuck out. It keeps you guessing about what sound will come next, surprising the listener at times — just like life keeps you guessing and tends to surprise you. I believe this
was intended. It goes with the message of the song to bounce back when life puts you down. “No Favors” caught my attention with its use of piano. In addition to Big Sean’s rapping, Eminem makes a substantial appearance and kills it. I haven’t heard Shady in a while, and this is exactly how I wanted to hear him again. “Halfway Off The Balcony” is the song to listen to if you want a great beat mixed with a mellow tone. It’s the epitome of easy listening. This is the type of song I want to play on repeat when I am in a winding down kind of mood. In my opinion, “I Decided” is Big Sean’s best album thus far. The messages he communicates are worth listening to. He has hit the age where he is turning into a real man, and it shows in his songs. I could listen to this album over and over and not get bored. Even though Without a bad song on this album, I highly recommend listening to “I Decided.” Overall, I give it high marks, and you will find me listening to it for a while.
Eagles share stories on how they’re celebrating Valentine’s Day By Sigourney Fournier Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Valentine’s Day is upon us at FGCU, and many Eagles have their days already planned out. Diana Sanon, a senior, plans on making the best out of her and her valentine’s time together. “I’m going to make her breakfast and go to dinner later on that evening when she gets out of practice,” Sanon said. “Oh, and exchange gifts, of course.” Sanon and her valentine, FGCU women’s basketball player China Dow, have little time to spend together due to
their conflicting work and practice schedules, but they don’t plan on letting that ruin their day. “My boyfriend’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so I love the holiday,” senior Renata Shrayber said. “I’ll just spend it with him watching movies and cooking. I’ve always loved the holiday because there are more chances to spread the love to everyone, not just your significant other.” Some Eagles are finding themselves without a valentine this year, but many see this day as just any other. “I’m not doing anything this year,” junior Manessa Abraham said. “I have class
then my art group, and then, I’ll be home.” Abraham is a full-time student at the Bower School of Music
give me stuff,” Abraham said. “I always get chocolates from them.” Other Eagles are planning on
as well as a part-time retail associate, so she rarely has time to think about relationships. “I mean, sometimes it’s sad that I don’t have anyone, but my parents
spending the night with themselves, hoping to stay away from couples. “I ordered a box of chocolates online,” junior Nick Michel said. “And, I’m
planning out a long night of Netflix and loneliness.” For those Eagles who are looking for something to do with their valentine, the Dominican Republic Outreach Program (aka D.R.O.P.) is hosting a “Date Night for a Dollar” raffle. Students can buy a $1 ticket for the chance to win a giant teddy bear with candy, two movie tickets and $25 Moe’s bucks or a $25 gift card to BRAVO Cucina Italiana in Naples while also receiving candy. Students can buy tickets during tabling Feb. 9 by Reed Hall, Feb. 12 by Griffin Hall and Feb. 14 on the Library Lawn. Programming Board
will also be hosting a Valentine’s Day themed event, “Love on the Lawn,” which takes place on the Library Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. The first 100 students at the event can make their own stuffed animal, get personalized handcrafted rings and enjoy chocolate fondue, gormet cupcakes and a candy buffet. Students will also have the chance to win free tickets to the PB showing of “50 Shades Darker,” hosted at Gulf Coast Regal Cinema in Gulf Coast Town Center Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
From farmer’s market to storefront Gluten free brick-and-mortar ‘Epiphany Bakery’ to open mid-March in Naples
EN Photo / Alex Newman Epiphany Bakery owner Ruth Wardein shares her love of gluten-free pastries with farmer’s market patrons at the farmer’s market in Downtown Naples on Saturday, Feb. 4.
By Alex Newman Staff Writer @xandrannewman After five years, Epiphany Bakery, a longstanding farmer’s market spot, is aiming to open the doors to its first brick-andmortar store sometime in March in Naples. The 1,200-square-foot space will seat 20 and feature a community table, bar chairs and outdoor dining accommodations. The new location will offer patrons the original
menu, highlighting its famous hot Belgian Paleo waffles, while also hosting newer gluten-free baked items. It also plans on incorporating hot breakfast sandwiches. People can select their choice of protein and roll, whether it be dairy free, nut free or on a tortilla. The gluten-free fare does not stop at breakfast. Epiphany plans on featuring ready-to-eat sandwiches, freshly made calzones, pizzas and a
staple-menu item of the day. Staple items will be offered for breakfast and lunch, featuring a comfort food theme highlighted in options such as meatloaf, mac ‘n’ cheese and a turkey pot pie to name a few. Ruth Wardein, the bakery’s owner and operator, began her glutenfree venture six years ago in her home kitchen and eventually moved to an industrial kitchen off of Mannix Drive in Naples. A year and a half later, Wardein and her team had
to move abruptly to a new location, resulting in their new storefront located off of Immokalee Road. Wardein says one of the most popular items are the Epiphany custom cakes. Other popular selections include almond poppy sweetbreads, paleo brownies and paleo chocolate chip cookies. While the menu items are beloved by all, every item seems to have its own specific following. Some people vie for the sour cream coffee cake on a weekly basis. “I had people asking me for it as I was packing up my trunk,” Wardein said. Java junkies will also be pleased to hear that Epiphany will be selling the locally made coffee, Jimmy’s Java, in its storefront. The beans will be roasted the day prior to retain the upmost freshness upon brewing. Original Epiphany Bakery groupies should not fret, Wardein states it has every intention to continue operating its farmer’s market stand off of Third Street South in Naples, located right behind Jane’s Café.
EN Photos / Alex Newman Epiphany Bakery specializes in gluten-free baking, including Paleo Sandwich Rolls, Almond Poppy Seed Bread and Sour Cream Coffee Cake.
Starbucks closes Teavana Fine Tea and Tea Bars, Coconut Point location closes permanently
Photo courtesy of Starbucks Newsroom Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz at a Teavana Fine Tea and Tea Bar location. Starbucks bought out Teavana in 2012, adding it to its many subsidiaries.
By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @journonajourney After just three years of operation, Starbucks will
close its Teavana Fine Tea and Tea Bars and convert them into Starbucks stores. The premium tea retailer first opened in 1997 at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta,
Georgia and eventually opened the first Fort Myers retail storefront in 2006. Recently, the Teavana location in Coconut Point has permanently closed its doors after a decade of service. Teavana specializes in mixology and global tea culture with hundreds of loose-leaf tea blends, including “blooming” white, rooibos, herbal, green and black teas. In total, Teavana operated nearly 350 retailers across North America, according to World Tea News, an integrated media company for the global tea industry and division of Peyton Media. Starbucks added Teavana as a subsidiary
in 2012 after closing the acquisition for $260 million. New York based tea-drinkers saw the first of three Teavana Tea Bars open in 2013 shortly after the merge, along with two other Tea Bar locations based in Seattle and Beverly Hills. Teavana contributed to the seven percent net revenue increase for Starbucks’ first quarter fiscal reports, generating a $1 billion revenue for the parent company. Now, the parent company has decided that managing the Teavana storefronts may not have been a profitable move in comparison to its coffee shops, according to Forbes. This is not the first time
that Starbucks has added a subsidiary and closed their doors. Along with Teavana, Starbucks also bought La Boulange Bakery in 2012 and then closed its 23 stand-alone locations by 2015 and converted them into Starbucks shops. Simon Property Group, Inc., which owns Coconut
Point Mall, was contacted in regards to the recent closure of the local Teavana storefront but was unable to comment on behalf of a retailer. Starbucks’ media relations was contacted and is currently working on an answer as to why the Coconut Point location closed.
Photo courtesy of Starbucks Newsroom Teavana offers a wide variety of tea blends and recipies for tea drinkers of all kinds — from the casual sipper to even the most pristiged connoisseur.
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Up in flames
MLS team Chicago Fire holds preseason training camp at FGCU
EN Photos / Brad Young (Left) Chicago Fire has trained in the Southwest Florida area on four separate occasions prior to its scheduled camp at the end of January, led by new head coach for the Fire, Veljko Paunovic. (Right) Drew Conner, a midfielder for the Fire, played against FGCU back in 2013 while attending the University of Wisconsin.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois From flurries and 40s to sun and 70s, FGCU will welcome another MLS team for the second consecutive season. The MLS team, Chicago Fire, has ventured its way down to Southwest Florida as part of its 2017 spring preseason training. With better weather conditions and the ability to play on grass versus turf, the Fire has an ample amount of training opportunities at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
“It’s way better than training inside in Chicago on turf,” midfielder Drew Conner said. “It’s definitely a professional level pitch here. I played college soccer for four years, and I’ve been to a lot of fields. And, there’s not many fields that are better than this one.” Aside from the field, the weather also plays a huge role in the training results for the team. “The weather is nice all year-round,” goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland said. “It gets pretty hot in the summer, but it makes for a good training atmosphere throughout the winter
months.” Outside of Florida, FGCU may seem like a small, up-and-coming school; however, with the recent turnaround for the Fire, the team was left with many new faces. Yet, this new and younger team brought more than its skill, it also brought previous memories of FGCU — from reading about our nationally recognized team or even playing against the Eagles at home. “I went to University of Wisconsin, and we had two games down in Florida my sophomore year in 2013.
And, one of our games was against Florida Gulf Coast,” Conner said. “So, I’ve been to the field before – practiced at it once and played a game there.” Whether or not a player has been to FGCU, with the recent acknowledgment of FGCU, specifically the men’s soccer team, it would be hard for someone who plays the sport to not know of the Eagles. “I remember you guys had a very good striker (Albert Ruiz), so I heard about him throughout the season because I was at Louisville this past season,” Cleveland said. “This school
is definitely on the radar.” Those who share the same passion for this sport also have the opportunity to be a part of the Fire, even when the pro-team is off during its regular season. With youth teams all over the country, one being here in Southwest Florida, the Fire hopes to inspire those looking to make it to the major league in their future. “We have headquarters down here in Florida for Chicago Fire Juniors,” Conner said. “The Fire proteam has all of the youth teams set out all over the country, and the goal is to
pick the best kids from each youth team.” If the organization thinks players have propotential, the Fire will bring them into Chicago to play with the team. Conner can relate personally, as that was how he was brought up to the league. From Illinois all the way to FGCU in Southwest Florida, the Chicago Fire is bringing the heat back to the city in preparation for its 2017 MLS season, which starts March 4 against Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus.
Men’s soccer suffers loss against Chicago Fire
EN Photo / Brad Young The first shot for FGCU against the Chicago Fire came in the 29th minute, from Dennis Zapata, but went straight into the arms of Jorge Bava.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois With the MLS team, Chicago Fire, visiting FGCU for its preseason training, the men’s soccer team had the opportunity to face the professional side, nearly producing an incredible win. Coming off its best season in program history, the Eagles fell 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on Feb. 4. The match also marked the first time new head coach Jesse Cormier led the Eagles. After being announced as the new head coach less than two weeks ago, Cormier became the
second men’s soccer head coach in FGCU history. Regardless of the recent change and quick turnaround time, the Eagles still produced impressive results under the new head coach. “We needed to be a little bit more dangerous in the final third, and we struggled connecting a little bit,” Cormier said. “We didn’t have a lot of depth tonight because of some injuries, but there’s a lot to work with here. This was a great chance to learn, and as long as we continue to learn this spring, we’ll be in great shape.” With less players than the Fire, FGCU was forced to
defend more, but the Eagles continued to hold their own throughout the match. Defensively, the Eagles were impressive. With stops from the back line and two early grabs from FGCU goalkeeper Jared Brown, Chicago was kept off the scoreboard for much of the first half. Starting off slightly timid, the Eagles finally got the rhythm of the game and began pressing forward. The first shot for FGCU came from Dennis Zapata; however, the shot went straight into the arms of Chicago’s goalkeeper, Jorge Bava, in the 29th minute. Nine minutes later, Nemanja Nikolic scored in the box to put the Fire up 1-0, heading into halftime. In the second half, the Fire brought out a brand new lineup, but after becoming more comfortable, the Eagles were able to create moments on goal. Brown kept FGCU in the match, allowing Arion Sobers-Assue to test the Fire goalkeeper in the 51st minute. Albert Ruiz also earned a corner late in the half, producing a corner shot that nearly tied the game; however, the ball headed away, ending the game 1-0 in favor of the Fire.
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Women’s basketball suffers first ASUN loss against JU By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois
EN Photo/ Brad Young Stepping up against Jacksonville, China Dow racked up 10 points, all coming in the fourth quarter, with a team-high five rebounds and a career-high seven assists.
The FGCU women’s basketball team suffered a tough loss against the Jacksonville Dolphins Saturday, Feb 4, ending its 12-game win streak. “I thought we got a little more aggressive in the fourth quarter,” head coach Karl Smesko said. “We pushed the ball harder. We had more pace. That will be a good lesson for us; you can’t wait until you’re down by nine in the fourth to play at that speed.” Even with the loss, Jordin Alexander managed to put up an impressive match against the Dolphins. Alexander played all 40 minutes of the game, connecting eight of 11 field goals and seven of eight
free throws for a total of 24 points. She also added five steals, an assist and an offensive rebound, all while committing no turnovers. This was needed, as Rosemarie Julien fouled out of the game after playing just 20 minutes. With the absence of Julien, China Dow also stepped up, adding 10 points, all of which came in the fourth quarter. Dow also had five rebounds and a careerhigh seven assists. By the end of the first quarter, FGCU fought back to a 19-18 lead. The Eagles gained momentum from this lead going into the second quarter. With points from Alexander and another three from Haley Laughter, FGCU extended its lead to seven. However, with only a few
minutes left in the quarter, the Dolphins scored 14 unanswered points. FGCU responded with a 9-2 run, tying the game at 36. But, the Dolphins went into break with a one-point advantage after JU’s Brandi Buie scored a free throw. To start the third quarter, Julien received her fourth foul, sending Jacksonville into an 11-5 run. FGCU never recovered, ending the third at 54-47 in favor of Jacksonville. The fourth quarter started slow for the Eagles, but after a three from Dow, FGCU outscored Jacksonville 11-5, cutting the deficit to one. With Jacksonville leading 62-61 with two minutes left, the Eagles continued to fight but couldn’t finish the game, with the score favoring the Dolphins.
Men’s basketball earns fifth straight win over JU By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois On Saturday, Feb. 4, the FGCU men’s basketball team went on the road to take on the Jacksonville Dolphins. The FGCU men’s basketball team claimed a 67-57 win over the Dolphins, earning its fifth straight victory. Leading by as much as 12 points at halftime, FGCU let it slip away in the third but had a hard-fought comeback on the road. Offensively, Brandon Goodwin led the Eagles again, recording his second double-double of the season with 24 points, a
game-best 10 rebounds and four assists. Marc-Eddy Norelia also had an impressive game, scoring 12 points on 3-4 from the floor and a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. Norelia also grabbed seven rebounds. Zach Johnson was right behind Norelia with 11 points on the night. At the half, FGCU had a 40-28 lead after a 14-1 run midway through the second quarter. However, Jacksonville came out of the locker room strong, beginning the second half with a 19-3 run, bringing the score in favor of the Dolphins, 47-43. As the Eagles put up points, the Dolphins
responded, sending the score back and forth. However, out of a timeout, Norelia converted a layup, giving momentum to a 13-0 run over the next six minutes. Defensively, the team also held JU to just 9-27 from the floor and 3-13 from three-point range. The Eagles trailed in the rebound category, 28-20, but in the last 10 minutes of the game, FGCU secured 14 of the game’s rebounds, tying the Dolphins’ rebounds at 34. Offensively, FGCU outscored JU 28-18 in the paint. The Eagles also connected 18 of 21 free throws compared to the Dolphins’ 9-16.
J.R. Holder led Jacksonville with 17 points while Marcel White put up 12 points on the night to finish as the only doublefigure scorers. FGCU held the Dolphins to 57 points, 20-made field goals and 37-percent shooting, helping secure its seventhstraight victory on the road and keeping its top spot in the ASUN standings.
EN Photo/ Brad Young Brandon Goodwin recorded his second double-double of the season against Jacksonville, with a game-high 24 points, a game-best 10 rebounds and four assists.
Tom Manring Foundation holds Pro Am Tournament
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois
The Tom Manring Foundation will be holding its annual fundraiser at the Naples Bath and Tennis Club this weekend in support of the FGCU men’s tennis team. The event is set to take place Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11 and
Jordin Alexander Position: Guard Redshirt Senior 5 feet 11 inches Hometown: Fishers, Indiana Jordin Alexander gave the best performance against Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon. Alexander, who played all 40 minutes of the game, connected on eight of 11 field goals and seven of 8 free throws for 24 points, marking a new career-high as an Eagle. She also set a career record with five steals and added an assist and an offensive rebound, all while committing no turnovers. The graduate transfer from Brown University averages eight points a game, has a field goal percentage of .770 and a total of 54 assists. The 5-foot-11-inch guard is tied for second in total minutes with 645.
EN Illustrations / Audrey Mobley
will begin at 8:30 a.m. The Tom Manring Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to a member of the FGCU men’s tennis team, funded by the proceeds of the event. The current recipient of this scholarship is FGCU senior Andres Alfonzo. To be eligible for this scholarship, student-
athletes must uphold at least a 3.0 GPA, be active members of the tennis community and have a committed community service presence. “The scholarship has allowed us to take the program to the next level,” FGCU head coach CJ Weber said.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B3
WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
Eagles DII hockey sweeps rival Davenport By Keaton Hanley Staff Writer @ChirpinParaKeat
EN Photo / Kim Smith (Above) Jordan Klotz scored three goals for yet another hat trick in the FGCU DII hockey team’s 7-0 victory on Friday, Feb. 3. (Below) The FGCU DII hockey team scored a total of 13 points, coming from 11 different players, in its wins against Davenport University.
The Eagles were back in action at home last weekend against their rival, Davenport University. The Eagles have come to know Davenport very well this season, already playing it three previous times, all on the road (1-1-1). Davenport was the only team so far this season to defeat the Eagles when they did so on the road last weekend in a closely contested 3-2 game. The Eagles were back and looking for vengeance. And, they did just that at home, taking both wins on the weekend, as they continued to win at home in every game so far this season. With the Eagles picking up a 7-0 win on Friday, Feb. 3 and a 6-1 victory on Saturday, Feb. 4 it was clear the Eagles took the road loss with a grain of salt. Tyler Tracy stood tall on Friday, Feb. 3, saving all 32 shots and picking up a shutout. While Bradley Rambhajan had arguably his best game of his season Saturday, Feb. 4 stopping 40 of the 41 shots fired his way, with his only goal allowed coming on the power play. With 13 goals scored on the weekend, there were plenty of points to go around. On Friday, Feb. 3 11 players
registered a point. Jordan Klotz would score three goals for a hat trick yet again, as he has done numerous times this season. While Michael Chemello and Nathan Pelligra would both dish out three assists. Second-semester pickup Ty Lasker continued to add to his point total as well, picking up two assists on the night. Saturday, Feb. 4 wasn’t much different from Friday, Feb. 3 as the Eagles proved once again how unstoppable their high-scoring offense is at home, scoring six goals. Eight different players tallied a point, with the Eagles also netting two shorthanded goals. Pelligra capped off his impressive weekend with a five-point night, involved in five of the six goals scored. Josh Koerner continued to rack up points on the season, scoring two goals and adding two assists. The Eagles are back in action for their last home series of the weekend, as they take on UMASS-Amherst on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11 at 8:30 p.m., before going to Southeast Regionals two weeks later, from Feb. 24 to 26, as they look to repeat their championship run from last season.
Celebrating students and student athletes past and present with EagleMania By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois After recently announcing Homecoming week at FGCU, Student Government has teamed up with artists and organizations to create a highly anticipated week. The homecoming committee also joined forces with Alumni Weekend, allowing students and student athletes present and past to celebrate. The week also honors the legacy of FGCU’s president, Wilson Bradshaw, who will be retiring after 10 years. From Make Your Mark Monday to Eagle Quarter Mardi Gras on Tuesday, any FGCU student, past or present, can feel like a true Eagle.
However, come Wednesday, FGCU Athletics gets some attention. From 5 to 7 p.m., the ROC will be invaded by students and fans as EagleMania takes place before the 7 p.m. women’s basketball game against in-state rival UNF at Alico Arena. This pre-party before the game will feature musical guest, DJ Talll Tom. The event will provide food and drinks. There will also be athletes from many FGCU athletic teams out on the ROC, mingling with fans. The men’s basketball team will also make a definite appearance. EagleMania allows students and fans to connect to the athletes while also celebrating FGCU and its 20-year anniversary.
EN Photo / Brad Young
DJ Talll Tom performs at the Indigo Room Nightclub in downtown Fort Myers.
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B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Softball welcomes back experienced roster for 2017 season
Photo by / Linwood Ferguson
FGCU softball begins its title defense and search for a fourth ASUN regular season title with a series against Jacksonville, March 25 at the FGCU Softball Complex.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Led by a trio of ASUN preseason All-Conference team members, the FGCU softball team welcomes the 2017 season with games against LIU-Brooklyn and UConn on Friday, Feb. 10. Retuning more than 60 percent of its offense and 77 percent of its pitchers from last season, the Eagles will face off against 19 RPI Top 100 opponents and 16 NCAA tournament teams
during the 2017 campaign. “We are very fortunate that we have perfect weather and great facilities to bring in some of the best teams in the country,” FGCU head coach David Deiros said to FGCU Athletics. “I am confident that our non-conference schedule will prepare our team for the rigors of competing in the gauntlet that is ASUN softball play.” Led by last season’s ASUN Freshmen Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and 2017 Preseason Pitcher
of the Year Riley Randolph, 2017 Preseason Player of the Year Raquel Fournet and Kelsey Huff, the 2017 preseason All-Conference trio will look to help FGCU earn its second-consecutive regular-season title despite being voted to finish second in the conference behind USC Upstate in the ASUN preseason polls. Prior to playing the bulk of their home schedule at the FGCU Softball Complex, FGCU will head to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to compete in
the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge. There, the Eagles will face previously ranked No. 17 Fresno State, Texas Tech, Cal State Fullerton and Mississippi State. Playing 55 games during the season, 47 in the state of Florida and 33 at the FGCU Softball Complex, the Eagles will take on seven NCAA tournament teams from 2016, welcoming four to the FGCU Softball Complex. Opening the season against 2016 NCAA
tournament-tested LIUBrooklyn, facing it and UConn in the FGCU Kickoff Classic, FGCU will host three tournaments, welcoming Power 5 foes Boston College, Rutgers and Wisconsin from Feb. 24 to 26. Facing Women’s College World Series participant Florida State before hosting their final tournament of the season, the Eagles will welcome IUPUI, Iowa State, Canisius, Drexel and Cleveland State from March 16 to 19 before
embarking on their ASUN regular-season title defense. Ending the regular season in May with a three-game series against Lipscomb, FGCU will look to win an NCAA tournament berth and second ASUN tournament title in the 2017 ASUN Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, when it begins on May 10.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
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This week in athletics Women’s basketball at UNF
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU women’s basketball team is set to host the UNF Ospreys on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. The Eagles come into this game coming off their first loss in ASUN play to Jacksonville 7365 Saturday evening. These two teams met less than a week ago when the Eagles went to North Florida and were victorious with a score of 68-51.
The Eagles led by 26 points after just 20 minutes, but the lead shrunk after the Ospreys outscored the Eagles 14-2 in the third quarter. Rosemarie Julien and Jordan Alexander both finished with 13 points. The Eagles led the all-time head-to-head series 19-2 and have yet to lose at home to the Ospreys.
Men’s basketball vs. Lipscomb By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU men’s basketball team returns to Alico Arena where it will take on the Lipscomb Bisons on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. The Bisons come into this game right behind the Eagles, with a second-place standing, in the ASUN conference. These two teams met earlier this year in Nashville where the Eagles came away with
Women’s tennis vs. FAMU
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco Next Friday, the FGCU women’s tennis team will take on the FAMU Rattlers. This matchup will take place Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex. This will be the first time in several seasons the Eagles and Rattlers go up against each other. The last time these two teams met was during the
2010-11 season at FGCU, with the Eagles taking the match 6-1 over the Rattlers. The Eagles look to continue their success in this dual-meet. Next, the Eagles will play the FAU Owls at home, beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Women’s tennis vs. FAU
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco Next Sunday, the FGCU women’s tennis team will be hosting its in-state rival, the FAU Owls. This matchup will take place Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex. The Eagles were victorious with a 7-0 win the last time these two teams met during the 201415 season.
There are only two remaining Eagles left that faced the Owls two seasons ago. Breana Stampfli and Julianna Curtis will hope to repeat history this season. Next, the Eagles go on the road, traveling to Orlando first to face UCF on Friday, Feb. 17 then will travel to Miami to play FIU on Friday, Feb. 24.
an 84-80 win over the Bisons. Zack Johnson led the Eagles in scoring with 23 points on Jan. 14. Josh Williams had 24 points for the Bisons. These teams have played 18 previous times with Lipscomb winning 10 of the 18 games. The Eagles, however, have won five of the last seven times.
Women’s basketball vs. Kennesaw Men’s basketball vs. Kennesaw State State
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU women’s basketball team continues its conference play, as it takes on Kennesaw State for the second time this season. The Eagles will host the Owls on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. at Alico Arena. These two conference teams met earlier this season in Kennesaw, Georgia, with the final
score favoring the Eagles 75-56. Last game, the Eagles and the Owls were tied at 30 going into the third quarter before FGCU went on an impressive 22-7 run in the third quarter to secure the win. The Eagles will then host Lipscomb at Alico Arena on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. to finish up their conference play.
Women’s basketball vs. Lipscomb
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois The women’s basketball team is set to host Lipscomb Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. This will be the second time these two ASUN teams play each other this season, with the first game being played in Nashville. The Eagles were victorious over Lipscomb with a score of 90-63.
Last game, the Eagles forced Lipscomb to turn the ball over 22 times and reached double-digit steals with 10 takeaways from eight different players. With that victory, the Eagles remained undefeated against Lipscomb with a 19-0 alltime record. Next, the Eagles will go on the road to take on USC Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.
By Coby Weinsier Staff Writer @CHEWY_O The men’s basketball team is set to host Kennesaw State on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in Alico Arena. The last time these two teams met was earlier this season, with the Eagles defeating the Owls in an exciting 78-75 victory. During this game, FGCU was able to get the ball out of the hands of
Kennesaw State’s two most lethal three-point threats – Kendrick Ray and Nick Masterson. In Kennesaw State’s last matchup, it took on USC Upstate. It finished with a score of 84-79 in favor of the Owls, with Kendrick Ray leading the pack with 22 points and James Scott with 18. Next, the Eagles will go on the road to Newark, New Jersey to face NJIT on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
Women’s golf vs. Bowling Green
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco The FGCU women’s golf team will be spending its Valentine’s Day playing in the Women’s Mid-American Match Play Challenge. FGCU will face Bowling Green for the first time since beating it in the finals of the Mid- American Match Play Challenge in the 2015-2016 season. This victory gave the Eagles the fifth place spot out of the 12-
team tournament. The Match Play Challenge follows the women’s No. 7 out of 11 placement in the Florida Challenge on Jan. 30. The match will take place Feb. 13 and 14 and will be an all-day tournament in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The Eagles look to bring home another win over Bowling Green to lead them into their next shootout.
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Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to victory Sunday night as the highly-decorated quarterback made a remarkable comeback during Super Bowl 51.
Don’t hate what your team can’t imitate Tom Brady defies the record books, once again By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano Tom Brady has won more Super Bowls than 22 other teams have even played in. He’s played in more of them than 29 individual NFL teams. He’s won more rings than any other quarterback in the league’s history. By all indications, Brady is the greatest of all time. Tom Brady and his New England Patriots have secured yet another Super Bowl victory, historically, overcoming a 28-3 deficit, much to the displeasure of
the rest of the country. With all of the success the Patriots have racked up in the last 15 years, it’s no surprise that the majority of football fans can’t stand them. After all, the Patriots have had a clouded, controversial path to that success. People have such a disdain for the Pats’ quarterback that Sports Illustrated actually ranked the NFL fan bases by how much they hate Tom Brady. The division rivals top the list after being on the losing end of many of Brady’s wins. The Indianapolis Colts are still salty from “Deflategate” —
but how much do you have to deflate a ball to win 45-7 — that cost them a chance at the championship. The New York Giants, well, they just hate Tom Brady. I think the reason everyone hates Brady and his team is obvious: they hate what their teams can’t imitate. No other team in Brady’s time even comes close to the stats that the Patriots have put up. Since 2000, the Patriots have 35 more wins than their nearest competitor. To put that into perspective, that’s more than two undefeated regular seasons. The Patriots have claimed their division title
all but two of the 16 years since Brady took over. They’ve played in 34 playoff games, winning 25 of them. That’s a 73.5 percent win rate with the season on the line. Tom Brady is the man that everyone loves to hate, but no player can match him. Whenever a new guy comes along and makes a run for the history books, people are bound to hate on him. Ironically, the fan bases that hate Brady the least are those who have been here before — teams that have seen this level of greatness before are familiar with what
greatness looks like, so they appreciate it rather than strike it down. The Pittsburg Steelers watched Terry Bradshaw win four Super Bowls as did the San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana. The Dallas Cowboys had Troy Aikman, and the Denver Broncos had John Elway. You won’t hear those fan bases talking trash about the Patriots. Tom Brady has built a career on historical performances. His overall record of 183-52 gives him a win percentage of nearly 78 percent. He’s four wins away from being the winningest quarterback
of all time. The man is a legend. There’s no doubt Brady will wind up in the NFL Hall of Fame when he finally decides to retire. The only mountain he has left to climb is the New York Giants football team that has handed him his two Super Bowl losses. Great players love to win, but the greatest players hate to lose. If the memes of Tom Brady crying at midfield are any evidence, Brady hates losing. That’s why he’s the greatest quarterback of all time.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Former Vice President Joe Biden left the White House as the most meme-worthy govenment official in recent history. His quirky attitude and love for ice cream attributed to this quality.
The meme, the myth, the legend Former Vice President Joe Biden is far from retiring
By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano Long before Joe Biden became the most popular meme in the country, he was one of the most prominent politicians of his time. After nearly five decades dedicating himself to public service, Joe Biden is far from slowing down. Biden, who spent 36 years as a senator for Delaware before serving two terms as vice president, and his wife Jill launched the Biden Foundation
to continue their public efforts. The primary efforts of the foundation will be in ending violence against women and working to further cancer research. Other areas of focus will include protecting children, working toward equality and improving community colleges. Biden, with a law degree and decades of public experience, is in good company. Jill Biden, who earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate degree in education before
teaching as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College, cofounded the initiative. I can think of no two people more qualified to pursue the path the Bidens have set out on. In a video, Biden stated that “as long as he has a breath,” he will continue working on issues that matter to him. “We are at an inflection point in the fight against cancer that didn’t exist four or five years ago,” Biden said. “We can change people’s lives.” The Bidens seem to be
working with issues close to their own hearts, as their son Beau Biden lost his battle to brain cancer in 2015. Jill Biden is president of the Biden Breast Health Initiative, which focuses on providing free educational breast health awareness programs to schools. Joe Biden stated that the effort to end violence against women will focus on college campuses. Luckily, his partner-in-justice has not only been involved with non-profits but has also been teaching at various levels since 1975.
The author of the Violence Against Woman Act of 1994, Joe Biden, has been striving toward this goal for a good part of his career. With equality as a focal point of the charity, the Bidens believe that every American deserves an equal chance to pursue their own happiness. “We look forward to this new chapter where we will continue our work to ensure that everyone — no matter their income level, race, gender, age or sexuality — is treated with dignity and
gets a fair shot at achieving the American Dream,” the power couple said in a statement. Joe and Jill Biden are the heroes America needs. Even while the country faces trying times, the Bidens refuse to lose hope in truly making America great. The Biden Foundation is fully funded by tax-free donations through its website.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
The problem is not Muslims; it’s white men President Trump’s tunnel vision of terrorism shifts blame away from white attackers
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Dylann Roof is most recognized from this photo from social media after murdering nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. His ties to white supremacy ere evident in his 2016 trial.
By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 President Donald Trump has issued over 15 executive orders since taking the oath of office. The most egregious of these was the Muslim ban, in which refugees, visitors, green-card holders and foreign allies of the American government from seven majority-Muslim countries were denied entry into the United States. In all, over 100 refugees were detained and interrogated like common terrorists. Countless more were sent back without interrogation, and many more were told to stay in their home countries. Images of young children, wheelchair-bound elderly and torn-apart families being paraded around as common terrorists in our airports were been splashed across
our television screens. Simply put, this executive order exposed the lowest and ugliest of American bigotry. Its racist foundation, perpetrated by white nationalist Steve Bannon, has stained the integrity of the United States and everything we hold dear. The reason is just as expected: we have to protect the United States from violence and terrorism. If that’s the case, then riddle me this: why does the ban target countries that have never killed American citizens but does not target counties that have — like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt? After all, 15 of the 19 attackers from 9/11 hailed from Saudi Arabia. One of the San Bernardino shooters was from Pakistan. Simply put, this order is red meat for the Trump base, and it’s devoid of any
rationality or fact-based scrutiny. The Cato Institute, a conservative-libertarian think tank, recently went over the numbers, and they are telling: zero Americans have been killed by Syrian refugees in a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, and an American has not been killed by a refugee from any country since the mid1970s. The chances of an American citizen being killed by a refugee is one in 3.6 billion. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than you do being killed by a refugee. If President Trump and the right-wingers were serious about curbing violence and terrorism in the United States, they would be targeting white men and rogue police officers. Nobody wants to talk about or acknowledge the radicalization of white men in American society.
But, it is happening and at an alarming rate. White nationalists, using Reddit, Stormfront, Twitter and other social media outlets and blogs have unleashed an insidious cancer on American society. Research by the New America Foundation shows that right wing, white nationalist extremists have killed more people than Islamic jihadists since September 11. When taking into consideration attacks on Sikhs, Jews, AfricanAmericans and even the police that try to stop it, violent white rage rears its ugly head more so than Muslims. Luckily, law enforcement have been able to curtail much of it before the carnage was really unleashed. In December 2015, California William Celli, a Trump supporter, was arrested after a tip led
police to discover he was stockpiling bombs and guns with the intent on targeting a Muslim community. In April 2016, Oregon resident John Martin Roos, a Trump supporter, was arrested after it was discovered he too was stockpiling weapons with the intent of “cleansing our country of the Muslim disease.” In October 2016, three Kansas City men, also Trump supporters, were arrested after authorities learned of their intention to blow up a local mosque the day after the presidential election. In June 2015, Dylann Roof murdered nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina. He was radicalized on Stormfront, a white-nationalist website. Within nine days of the election, the Southern Poverty Law Center, tasked with monitoring extremists and hate crimes in the
United States, recorded over 700 hate crimes and instances of intimidation hurled at Muslims, AfricanAmericans, Jews and LGBT from right-wing whites. So, why is the conversation solely focused on Islam and people of Middle Eastern descent when white men are literally plotting mass bombings across the country? Why is President Trump’s counter-extremist program now only going to solely focus on Muslims and not all aspects of extremism in the United States? Today, white nationalists like Richard Spencer, Milo Yiannopoulos and Steve Bannon are directing the conversation. They have the president’s ear, and that should scare everyone. Here in the United States, we don’t have a Muslim problem. We have a white man problem.
Yes, we (still) can By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman In 2008, at a time when words actually mattered, Barack Obama, the greatest orator this century has ever heard, engrained the creed, “yes, we can” into the mind
of every American. Regardless of whether or not you were there that cold November night in Chicago, you were sure to have gotten the chills. After defeating Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, thenpresident-elect Obama
delivered what has since become one of the most hailed political speeches in American history. In his very moving acceptance speech, Obama warned the people of the country that despite the victory, what had begun “21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot
end on this autumn night.” Though it didn’t end that night in 2008, it sure came to a screeching halt eight years later with the election of Donald Trump. Trump, the right-winged populist, has proven that the prose and eloquence of political rhetoric no longer matters when trying to win an election as long as a politician speaks directly to “supporters.” According to the Flesch-Kincaid grade-level test, Trump’s responses in the Aug. 6 Republican candidates debate score at the 4th-grade reading level — the lowest of all the candidates with Ted Cruz earning 9th-grade status; Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker earning an 8th-grade level; and John Kasich earning a 5th-grade level. Yet, ironically, Trump goes around saying, “I know words. I have the best words.” Wrapping up his famous, awe-inspiring speech, Obama told a story about a 106-year-old woman named Ann Nixon Cooper. He
went on to say how when Cooper was first born, she didn’t have the right to vote because she was both black and a woman, but because of other Americans saying “yes, we can,” progress was made. He eventually came full circle and added how the creed “yes, we can” was the prevailing force behind the industrial revolution, the Great Depression, WWII, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, the fall of the Berlin Wall and, now,
technology to coming together to allow Ann Nixon Cooper to press her finger to the touch screen and bend the arc of history toward the hope of a better day. Overnight, America’s chief executive went from someone praised for his oratorical abilities to someone linguists have criticized for having “the language of a person with a concentration problem.” Barry O., yes, we can – and will – miss you.
Photos courtesy of Public Domain Artist’s rendition of Barack Obama
OUTREACH
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Letter from the editor
Dear writers, My name is Zack Rothman. I am the new outreach editor here at Eagle News. I’m looking for writers interested in covering community events near and around campus. Regardless of what your major or field of study is, if you enjoy earning service learning hours for just writing, please reach out to me! Each Wednesday, I will be sending out an email with a list of stories that I think would fit well in the week’s issue. Feel free to pick one of them up and write about it. To get on said list, just email me notifying your interest. Even if you want to write something for another section, just email me, and I will put you in contact with the proper section editor. We are always looking for more writers. I look forward to hearing from each you! Sincerely, Zack Rothman outreach@eaglenews.org
Delta House of Pancakes gives proceeds to St. Jude’s Children Hospital Tri Delta donates proceeds from annual pancake dinner
EN Photo / Zack Rothman
The sisters of Tri Delta pass out out pancakes to the guests/donors of DHOP.
By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman The Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) sorority held its annual pancake dinner, Delta House of Pancakes (DHOP), on Friday, Feb. 2 to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Hosting roughly 500 people in only two hours, the Epsilon Alpha chapter at FGCU raised approximately $2,500 for
the philanthropy. Since declaring St. Jude as its official philanthropy in 1999, Tri Delta has raised over $45 million nationwide for the organization. Setup in Sugden Hall, aluminum catering trays stacked twice as high as the table marked the start of the buffet. As you worked your way down the line of pancakes, you reached a toppings table equipped with syrup, sprinkles, chocolate chips,
whip cream and more. Justine Cusimano, who was recently appointed philanthropy chair for the Tri Delta chapter about a month ago, was tasked with organizing the event. “I only had three weeks to figure out all of the logistics,” Cusimano said. “It was quite the roller coaster ride. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a committee in time for DHOP, so a lot of the planning was done by myself and with the help of
random sisters.” Once Cusimano had found the right venue, then came the struggle of finding someone to make 3,000 pancakes. “This was by far the hardest obstacle,” Cusimano said. After visiting over 13 restaurants, Cusimano was able to get in touch with the catering director at Chartwells — the same provider behind all of FGCU Dining’s options on campus.
Chartwells ended up donating 3,000 pancakes, syrup and butter to Tri Delta and St. Jude at no cost. Bombarded with organizing and delegating tasks, Cusimano didn’t have time for pancakes that night. “For the last three weeks, all I thought about were pancakes and how I was going to get 3,000 of them on time,” Cusimano said. “So, at that point, I was ready for a break from
all the pancake talk. They were delicious when I ate them the next day though.” On top of the proceeds being donated to St. Jude’s, letters and instructions were set on the middle of each table for guests to write a motivational message to a child at St. Jude. Pledging in 2014 to raise $60 million for St. Jude over 10 years nationwide, FGCU’s Tri Delta Chapter is doing its part toward the cause.
EN Photos / Zack Rothman (Left) Guests and donors gather around the front of the pancake line at the start of the event. (Right) Board memebers of Tri Delta sit in front Sugden 110 to collect donations from guests before they enter the pancake buffet.
Agency of the Week The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) is Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted to families learning through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree or experiment at the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect or a veterinarian. Throughout the day special activities encourage guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. The museum is holding its annual Night at the Museum – Pirate Ball on Saturday, Feb. 11. If you’re a Resort and Hospitality student and would like to assist with catering, busing tables and serving food from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., please contact Liz Cashman at lcashman@cmon.org or 239-260-1604. Training date TBA. Free food and a T-shirt will be provided. Bring an R&H friend to help, as 10 volunteers are needed.