How two freshmen started a dorm cleaning business
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The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS www.eaglenews.org
Volume 15, Issue 23
In the know Entertainment
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Breaking the mold
The Reef: Mold isn’t something we’re taking lightly
Featured films like “Pelo Malo” bring cultural themes to campus. Read on A6
Sports
FGCU women’s basketball remains perfect at home. Read on B1
Opinion Betsy DeVos could spell doom for American public schools. Read on B7
Outreach
Chi Omega hosts first philanthropy basketball tournament at FGCU. Read on B8
(Left) Photo courtesy of Morgan Stevens (Right) EN Photo / Taylor Crehan (Left) FGCU sophomore Morgan Stevens holds a moldy sandal found in her room. (Right) A moldy cap sits in front of an apartment building at The Reef. Over a dozen residents have noticed mold in their apartments -- on their personal belongings, under dresser drawers and in their closets.
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie Several apartment buildings at The Reef, Estero’s newest student housing complex, are currently infested with mold. The fungus was found on student’s drawers, walls and their personal belongings. After reaching out to Meisha Nelson, the assistant general manager
of The Reef, and not getting a response, an Eagle News reporter was contacted by Mark Evans, who handles public relations for The Reef. Evans, who works for Threshold Agency — a residential marketing company that works closely with Asset Campus Housing, The Reef’s parent company – said in an email on Wednesday, Feb. 8 that the situation “is not something we are taking
lightly.” “As soon as we were made aware of the situation, the property’s maintenance team checked out the affected units,” Evans said in the email. Several students began to notice mold growing in their apartments as early as December 2016. After back and forth between herself and The Reef’s front desk, sophomore communication major Gabby Pullano was
notified that Wet House Dry Out Inc., an outside cleaning company based in Cape Coral, would be sent to wipe down the mold found in her room. In an email, Evans said that The Reef has hired engineers to identify the cause of the mold problem. “As a precaution, we have personnel evaluating the entire property to make
Garage B burglars arrested By Emily Ford Editor-in-chief @152emily FGCU students Jordan Burkes and basketball player Courtney “C.J.” Williamsonbey were arrested and charged with one count of burglary of conveyance and one count of grand theft on Thursday, Feb. 9 in connection to the Garage B burglaries that were reported on Feb. 2. According to the arrest report released on Saturday, Feb. 11, Burkes and Williamsonbey were seen on surveillance cameras walking around the second floor of Garage B on Jan. 31 at approximately 2:45 p.m. The two were seen walking in between cars, pulling on the handles to check for unlocked doors. At approximately 2:56 p.m., Burkes opened the front driver’s side door of the victim’s car, which he entered for a short time. The report states Burkes and Williamsonbey walked away with a yellow metal neck chain with a J-shaped charm with a single stone inserted in the letter. According to the victim, the charm and chain are 24-karat gold, and the stone is
>> Continued on A4
>> Continued on A4
FGCU at 20
Pioneering faculty reflect on FGCU’s changes
By Caylee Weintraub Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews FGCU first opened its doors on Aug. 25, 1997, led by a group of pioneering faculty who laid the foundation for what FGCU would become. These first professors and staff members came from all different places but were united in an effort to build the university from the ground up. Twenty years later, some of those professors are continuing to have an impact on FGCU today and can attest to how much the university has grown in its two decades of existence. “FGCU was 750 acres of mostly wild land -- for example, a family of wild pigs hung out sometimes off FGCU Boulevard. There were only a few scattered
INSIDE:
buildings,” said Myra Mendible, cofounder of the FGCU English Program. FGCU’s geography has grown significantly since 1997, now encompassing 39 residential buildings and just under 15,000 students, a tremendous increase from the 81 students in FGCU’s first graduating class. Arthur Rubens, founding chair of the FGCU Public Administration Department, also noted the differences between FGCU now and FGCU twenty years ago. “In the early years, there was an intense sense of camaraderie among the faculty and staff that we were all part of something new … it appeared that anything was possible,” Rubens said. Founding professors spoke of the costs and benefits that have
Entertainment and Lifestyle.....A6 Sports............................................B1 Opinion..........................................B6 Outreach.......................................B8
accompanied FGCU’s advancements. With such an increase in student enrollment, the university has had to adjust to a larger student body with different dynamics than the group that established FGCU. “Everything is changed,” said Madelyn Isaacs, founder of the FGCU School and Mental Health Counseling Program. “Twenty years ago, we were long on hope and vision and very short on time, resources and infrastructure. Our growth has been a gift, but we have lost the momentum of closeness.” In an email, Rubens said that the FGCU community has changed vastly over the years. “The changes we have
>> Continued on A2
Screenshot courtesy of FGCU at 20 A still of a video found on FGCU at 20’s website. In the video, Rubens discussed memories that he made when the university first opened, along with memories he has made over the years.
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>> It’s a carnival at Rayma C. Page Elementary — only minutes from campus — on Saturday, Fe. 25. Two shifts: 9 - 11 a.m. set up; 1 - 3 p.m., leading games and selling food. We need 25 - 30 carnies! Please contact Alison Elgart at raymacpage@gmail.com for more information. >> It’s gonna be a beautiful day in Bonita, especially after you’ve helped with the city-wide clean-up. Breakfast and lunch included. Feb. 25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Please contact Kendra Gilreath with questions at 239-949-6237 or kendra.gilreath@cityofbonitasprings.org. >> On-campus opportunity: 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, 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 are accepted until Feb. 24.
>> Stretch It Out Enterprise needs your help to make the largest impact on our community. Friday, March 3rd is BINGO for Healing (benefits local families coping with stage 4 cancer). From 6 9 p.m. at the Araba Shrine Temple in Fort Myers. They are looking for seven volunteers to help with event set-up, assisting at the registration table, selling raffle tickets, assisting vendors and runners for BINGO winners. Please contact Melissa Benson at 239-634-9476 for information. >> The New Horizons of Southwest Florida Super Kids Club needs tutors. Five minutes from campus, at the Estero Methodist Church, you can work one-on-one with elementary school children in the Super Kids Club. No experience needed. Tutoring takes places 3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m., but if you can also help with set up and break down, hours are 2:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. For more information, contact Dort Baer at 239-948-4146 or 239-948-2813.
Allie Taylor
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The world in brief Women-only gyms to open in Saudi Arabia
Avalanche kills four people in France Four people were killed by an avalanche on Monday, Feb. 13 at the French Alps ski resort of Tignes. The four men weren’t on the ski trail when the avalanche buried them. All the skiers were equipped with avalanche detectors, which helped the rescuers find them. The Tignes resort website had the risk of an avalanche at a significant three out of five on Monday.
Saudi Arabia plans to open women-only gyms in every neighborhood. The catch is these gyms are to be used as a motivation for these women to get fit. The kingdom won’t grant licenses for competitive sports, like soccer, volleyball, basketball or tennis. Princess Rima bint Bander, the vice president for women’s affairs at the General Authority of Sports, told local daily Okaz that Saudi Arabia will begin granting licenses for women’s gyms by the end of February.
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Seven officers arrested for assaulting a protestor
Pedro Hernandez found guilty of murder A New York state court jury found Pedro Hernandez guilty in the 1979 kidnapping and murder of Etan Patz. Patz, a 6-year-old boy whose disappearance sparked an era of heightened awareness of crimes against children, was the first case in which photos on milk cartons were used as a method to help locate missing children. The conviction brought to a close what Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. called one of New York’s “oldest and most painful unsolved crimes.”
>> Faculty continued from A1 seen over the years are natural changes that are part of the evolution of FGCU,” Ruben said. “One can miss the smallness and sense of community … but it is replaced with a stimulating environment whose borders and influence have gone well beyond the five-county area.” In addition to reflecting on FGCU’s past for the university’s upcoming 20th anniversary, founding faculty looked toward the future and spoke of what they would like to see on
FGCU’s horizon. “I would like to see FGCU commit to its strategic plan and vision and move into the next decade from its current adolescent stage to a more mature university that continues its tradition of diversity and service … to develop new programs that are intellectually stimulating and responsive to the needs of our region and the nation,” Isaacs said. Mendible expressed a similar hope for FGCU moving forward, specifically on how she wants the university to improve.
Seven Hong Kong police officers face charges for assaulting protestor Ken Tsang during pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014. All the defendants faced on joint count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. According to the Hong Kong law, the convicted officers face a maximum three years in prison. One of the policemen, Chan Siu-tan, was also found guilty of common assault for slapping Tsang during an interview at the police station. He could face an additional year in prison.
“I love that FGCU is now a vibrant, lively, more diverse place … I’d like to see us become even more diverse -attracting international students and building our foreign language program,” Mendible said. “I hope that FGCU will continue to honor its founding commitment and recognize the critical importance of the humanities in the development of student citizens.” FGCU freshman admission profiles positively reflect the future these founding professors envision for
the university. In three years, freshman SAT admission scores have risen 55 points while the average GPA has increased from 3.37 to 3.78. The founding professors have noted the changes in academic caliber as well. “FGCU is no longer the small, local university that students look at as a default choice but a preferred, desired location,” Rubens said. “I believe with leadership and vision this growth EN Photo / Taylor Crehan will continue.” An “FGCU at 20” banner hangs from the Cohen Center clocktower.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
How two FGCU freshman turned an idea into a business By Alexandra Figares Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews When someone posted “Five bucks, who wants to do my laundry?” on a student Facebook group, two FGCU freshmen got the idea to start a cleaning business. Scrub-a-dub Dorm is the brainchild of freshmen Courtney Vijil and Brooke VanderVere, who, like many college students, wanted to make a little extra money. Together, Viijl and VanderVere created a cleaning service aimed toward college students, catering to their notoriously busy schedules, seven days a week. “A lot of people post things on the FGCU’s Class of 2020 Facebook group like, ‘Five bucks, who wants to do my laundry?’ so we decided to expand on that,” VanderVere said. According to Vijil, students often post on the group’s page selling goods and services such as dorm cookie delivery, microwaves and bikes. On Monday, Feb. 6, Vijil posted on the Facebook group to see if there was a demand for cleaning services. Ten likes and over a dozen comments later, an idea developed into a
business. A week has gone by since the initial Facebook post, and the duo have already tackled their first project, which included folding laundry and organizing. “Our first client was very nice and very welcoming; she was really open to having someone in her room and touching her stuff, so it went really well,” VanderVere said. “In the future, I’m not sure if everyone will be that friendly and chatty. We’re pretty open with what we do, and I think that makes people feel comfortable.” Viijil and VanderVere share tasks, offering various services from folding laundry, cleaning refrigerators and ironing clothes to several package options such as detailing three-bedroom dorms. Prices for services vary from $4 for smaller tasks, like ironing pants, to $125 for cleaning an apartmentstyle dorm for four. The business has its own website featuring 16 different cleaning services as well as a social media presence through Instagram and Facebook in effort to create a comfortable experience for clients. Thorough planning has gone into creating Scrub-
a-dub Dorm; however, the young entrepreneurs kept one specific goal in mind. “We wanted to keep prices low for college students to be able to afford it,” Vijil said. “I got some ideas for pricing from some of my family members who have backgrounds in accounting.” Vijil and VanderVere offer cleaning services to college students off campus as well, though off campus prices are determined through an estimate. While cleaning is the driving force behind Scrub-a-dub Dorm, there is one thing that Vijil and VanderVere want to avoid at all costs. “Cleaning extensive amounts of mold would be a deal breaker for us just because of health issues and safety precautions,” Vijil said. The young entrepreneurs plan on evolving Scrub-a-dub Dorm into a long-term business but are “taking it one step at a time” for now.
EN Photo / Kim Smith (Left) Brooke VanderVere and Courtney Vijil pose in an Eagle Hall living room. VanderVere and Vijil started a cleaning business after noticing a demand from freshmen.
Photo courtesy of Scrub-a-dub Dorm Scrub-a-dub Dorm’s home page of its website. On the site, students can view prices of cleaning services ranging from a la carte to packages. A la carte services include ironing, laundry, folding, dishes, refridgerator and microwave cleaning and closet organizing. Cleaning packages range from $20 to $125.
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A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Police Beat Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Oil Spill On Friday, Feb. 3 at 9:21 a.m., UPD officers found that, after a vehicle had broken down, approximately two gallons of oil spilled across the floor of Garage 3. Officers referred this incident to FGCU Physical Plant as a hazardous material. Soaking up the Sun On Friday, Feb. 3 at 3:07 p.m., a complainant called stating there was a shirtless fifty-year-old male
in the middle of the bus loop shrubbery. The man was reported to be walking back and forth between the plants wearing only cargo pants. The subject reported to UPD that he is from out of state and was just taking in the sun. Hammocks in North Lake On Friday, Feb. 3 at 8:18 p.m., an RA advised UPD officers that he had seen two people go behind the North Lake Village Housing Waterfront construction area. When UPD officers
canvassed the area, the subjects reported they were simply looking for a suitable place to hang their hammock. Locked Up On Monday, Feb. 6 at 4:04 p.m., UPD officers found a child locked inside a silver car parked outside the Family Resource Center. The child had the car keys in hand, and unlocked the doors upon seeing officers approaching. The child was reported to be safe and
healthy. Sweet Dreams On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 4:03 a.m., UPD officers identified a suspicious person inside a vehicle on the top floor of Garage 2. An officer approached the car to find the subject sleeping soundly. Conversations with the Preacher On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 2:17 p.m., a complainant called stating a group of
students out on the library lawn had surrounded “the preacher” in a heated debate about life after death. UPD reported that they would monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the group. Two
Preachers, Bullhorn
One
On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 10:39 a.m., UPD officers were notified that there were two preachers near the AB Core Buildings. One preacher was reported to be using a bullhorn, while
A close-up look at spots of white mold growing underneath a dresser drawer of a resident of The Reef. Over a dozen residents living in The Reef have found mold growing in their apartments.
>> The Reef continued from A1 sure similar issues do not exist elsewhere,” Evans said in the email. Sophomore business management major Alex Ciatti, who found mold in her bathroom, her closet,
>> Burglary continued from A1 a diamond, valued at $2,000. The victim stated in the report other items that were taken were a Garmin Portable Global Positioning System (GPS), value and model are unknown; a metal neck chain with a Libra zodiac sign charm, valued at $40; and a Vans jacket, valued at $50. However, according to the police, the two men state that the Libra zodiac sign charm necklace was the only thing they took from the car.
still doesn’t have a vanity in her bathroom. “There has been no communication on when I am getting one,” Ciatti said. In the email, Evans stressed the importance of the health and well being of The Reef’s residents. “We are acting promptly
the other had a sign. Mayhem at McDonald’s On Friday, Feb. 10 at 2:19 a.m., UPD officers received a call from individuals reporting that several men in a white Chrysler were drunk driving and had repeatedly bumped into the car in front of them while waiting in line for McDonald’s. UPD officers arrived on the scene but could not identify the vehicle.
EN Photo / Taylor Crehan
her personal belongings and on her walls, hasn’t noticed any “personnel” inspecting The Reef other than a man who came into her apartment and conducted an air test on Thursday, Feb. 9. Evans also stated in the email that they are
“working with affected residents to provide them with alternative accommodations until they can return to their units.” Ciatti had to move out of her apartment and into the Hilton Garden Inn for a week, from Monday, Jan. 30 to Monday, Feb. 6, due
to the excessive amount of mold in her apartment. Ciatti had to pay the hotel expenses up front herself and was later reimbursed on the week of Feb. 6. Ciatti’s room was torn apart following her move to the hotel. Her carpet was later replaced; however, she
UPD Chief Steven Moore sent an email to students, faculty and staff on Thursday, Feb. 2 regarding the auto burglary, including photos of the two suspects. Several anonymous tips came in identifying the two men in the pictures, according to the report. On that same day, Detective Joseph Anderson from UPD was notified that Williamsonbey, a Texas Tech transfer, wished to speak with him. In a digitally recorded audio statement, Williamsonbey admitted that he and Burkes were the two males
from the auto burglary. He then went on to identify himself and Burkes in the still photos. Director of Athletics Communication, Jason MacBain, stated in an email that, on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m., he sent out an email explaining that Williamsonbey had been indefinitely suspended from the FGCU men’s basketball team. “That action was taken by head coach Joe Dooley immediately after learning that C.J. (Williamsonbey) was a suspect in the burglaries,” MacBain said. Burkes and Williamsonbey met with
Anderson again on Monday, Feb. 6 to turn over the necklace they stole, which was later confirmed to be the victim’s necklace. Moore sent out an email to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 10 stating that “some of the stolen property was recovered and the subjects were arrested.” Williamsonbey was released on bond on Feb. 10 while Burkes is still in custody at the time of publication. The two men are Photos courtesy of Lee County Sheriff ’s Office scheduled for trial on (Left) Jordan Burkes and (right) Courtney “C.J.” Williamsonbey were arrested for March 15. the burglary that occurred in Garage B in South Village.
and decisively to bring in the experts to address this matter and to fully evaluate the property to make sure all of our residents can enjoy their homes without worry,” Evans said.
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FGCU at 20
Naples company gifts scholarship for new program in honor of 20th anniversary
EN Photo / Rachel Iacovone Marieb Hall, home to the College of Health Professions and Social Work, will become the home of a new program at FGCU come fall 2017. FGCU’s Master of Physicians Assistant Studies program will be housed in the college alongside the School of Nursing, the Department of Counseling, the Department of Health Sciences, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences as well as the Department of Social Work.
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie Students interested in becoming a physician’s assistant will soon have the opportunity to apply to a new scholarship. Self Insured Plans, a Naples business that specializes in employee benefits administration, pledged $20,000 to FGCU’s
new Master of Physicians Assistant Studies Program. The money pledged by Self Insured Plans will go toward the “Self Insured Restricted Scholarship,” which will award $5,000 to a student enrolled in the program over the next four years. The company decided to pledge the money to the university in honor of FGCU’s 20th anniversary,
which happens to coincide with Self Insured Plans’ anniversary. “All of us at Self Insured Plans are very proud to celebrate this milestone,” Company President Steve Rasnick said in a press release. “We have much to be thankful for and enjoy being involved in and supporting the community we serve.” The Masters of
Physicians Assistant Studies program, which will launch in fall 2017, is now accepting applications. Rasnick, along with his son, Brian, who serves as the executive vice president, is involved with FGCU in several ways. Brian Rasnick is a member of the Foundation Board as well as the chairman of the Eagles Club Advisory Club. “We are also pleased
to be celebrating our 20th anniversary at the same time as this great university to which we have been so attached,” Steve Rasnick said in a press release. In a press release, Vice President for University Advancement Chris Simoneau said that the program will operate under the College of Health Professions and Social Work and will benefit
greatly from a partnership with Self Insured Plans. “Partnering with a well-respected company such as Self Insured Plans, which understands the dynamics of health care, is ideal,” Simoneau said. “It’s especially meaningful as both the university and the company celebrate two decades in Southwest Florida.”
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
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‘Pelo Malo’ screening explores worldwide homophobic taboos
By Alex Newman Staff Writer @xandrannewman FGCU’s Seidler International Film Festival had an impressive turnout on Tuesday’s showing of “Pelo Malo,” the first Spanish movie to be featured in this month’s event. Students of varying majors and professors of diverse subjects gathered to view this cinematic display. Pelo Malo, which directly translates to “Bad Hair,” tells the story of Junior, a young boy in Caracas, Venezuela.
Junior, who has only known the poverty-stricken area of Caracas, has a keen obsession with two things: singing and trying to straighten his overly coiled hair. His single mother attempts to cure him of his obsessions through doctor’s visits, trips to his grandmother’s home and inappropriate sexual displays. After numerous attempts, she finally presents him with an ultimatum he can not refuse, leaving him seemingly lifeless at the movie’s end. While the film takes us on a journey of Junior’s
humorous attempts to pursue his hopes and dreams – whether that be dancing down a hallway or dousing his hair with mayonnaise – a clear and concise message becomes clear only moments in: homophobia and racism strikes more than just the American population, and is very much alive in Central and South America. “Pelo Malo,” has won over 43 awards since its debut in 2013. Today, it continues to win hearts, as it did on Tuesday evening’s showing in FGCU’s Sugden Welcoming Center.
Photo courtesy of Pelo Malo Films Junior plays at a make-shift park in his neighborhood in a still from the film “Pelo Malo.”
Photo courtesy of Pelo Malo Films “Pelo Malo” follows the story of Junior in the slums of Caracas, Venezuela. Juniors obsessions as a young boy worry his mother, who fears that her son is exhibiting “homosexual traits.” Through many different methods, his mother tries to cure him through extreme measures, which prove to harm Junior more than help him. “Pelo Malo” is a part of the FGCU Seidler International Film Festival, continuing throughout the month of February.
Seidler International Film Festival brings culture to campus Film festival synopses are provided by The Department of Language and Literature in collaboration with The College of Arts and Sciences and the Seidler Fund for Florida Gulf Coast University:
Feb. 15: Monsieur Lazhar (Mister Lazhar) by Philippe Falardeau (2012) - 94 minutes Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar, based on a one-person play by Evelyne de la Chenelière, explores the intricate process by which M. Lazhar earns the respect and trust of his pupils; some, the children of immigrants or, like this devoted instructor, recent arrivals to Quebec. Monsieur Lazhar is that rarest of movies about education, one that avoids clichés and sentimentality, favoring instead honesty and clear-eyed compassion.
EN Photo / Rachel Iacovone The FGCU “Seidler International Film Festival” will continue throughout the month of February into March with many culturally explorative films, like “Pelo Malo,” “Todos Se Van,” “Grave Decisions,” and “Mister Lazhar.”
By Julia Browning Assistant E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo For the Department of Language and Literature, bringing liberal arts education to FGCU’s campus and preparing students to be global citizens of the world is their mission. The Department of Language and Literature has been organizing film festivals for the past six years. This year, it’s announced the first Seidler International Film Festival. “Organizing film festivals screening movies in French, Spanish and German takes learning out of the classroom and thus encourages intercultural knowledge through experiential learning,” said Delphine Gras, of FGCU’s Department of Language
and Literature. “A free event open to all, this event also seeks to foster global learning communities in Southwest Florida, and we have been lucky each year to welcome FGCU students, staff and faculty as well as participants from the area.” Through the Seidler Fund, the department is able to create a film festival that is intentionally international. Gras said this is in order to enhance students’ cultural knowledge. “All the movies will be in their original version with subtitles, allowing students to get a taste for languages other than English,” Gras said. “Students can expect a wide range of topics — from immigration, racism and homophobia to personal growth and education.”
The festival, which the department hopes will become annual, began on Feb. 6 and will continue until March 1. Movies will be showing in the Sugden Welcome Center Theater every Monday and Wednesday throughout the month of February. In order to bring in as much culture as possible, all of the movies will be shown in their original language with subtitles. “This is an event designed to impact both students and the community as a whole,” Gras said. “Now, more than ever, events like the Seidler International Film Festival bring us together to celebrate our differences.”
Feb. 27: Todos Se Van (Everybody Leaves), by Sergio Cabrera (2015) - 107 minutes Sergio Cabrera’s movie brings to life the autobiographical novel of the same name by Cuban writer Wendy Guerra. Nieve, an 8-year-old Cuban girl, is involved in the struggle of her parents to get her custody. This story is a celebration of freedom and a confrontation to authority that takes place in the '80s, in the midst of one of the worst economic crisis in Cuba.
March 1: Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot (Grave Decisions) by Marcus H. Rosenmüller (2006) - 104 minutes Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot (Grave Decisions) is a story about a boy who thinks that he is responsible for his mother's death. Yet, this movie is not a tragedy. Instead, Marcus H. Rosenmüller achieves the feat to address death in a heartwarming way as we follow young Sebastian’s journey to find immortality.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
Lupe Fiasco shows inconsistency in new album ‘DROGAS Light’ Curated this week by special guest Staff Writer, Luke Janke
Singles Awareness Day
1. “Drunk Text Romance” - Cyberbully Mom Club 2. “Rapt” - Karen O 3. “Buses Splash With Rain” - Frankie Cosmos
Photo courtesy of Scott Sandars via Wikimedia Commons Lupe Fiasco performing in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 26, 2009.
By Jesse Martin Staff Writer @JesseMartin247
4. “Another One” - Mac Demarco 5. “Famine Affair” - of Montreal 6. “A Loverless Bed” - Sufjan Stevens 7. “My Backwards Walk” - Frightened Rabbit 8. “If you ever need a stranger” - Jens Lekman 9. “Re: Stacks” - Bon Iver 10. “Woke Up New” - the Mountain Goats
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
Lupe Fiasco dropped his sixth studio album “DROGAS Light” on Friday, Feb. 10. At 34 years old, Lupe has been in the rap game for well over a decade. He is one of the best mainstream rappers and is not only talking about important topics, but also has a catchy sound that allows him to have a lot of radio play. “DROGAS Light” is his first project since he’s dropped since “Tetsuo & Youth” in 2015. “Tetsuo &
Youth” is possibly one of the best rap albums of the decade so far and one of Lupe’s best projects. Unfortunately for Lupe, “DROGAS Light” is a poor, lazy follow up to the classic “Tetsuo & Youth.” The album is filled with typical radio, unoriginal beats. Lupe’s rapping is meant to satirically mock the popular rap flows of today, but he overdoes it on the album with bad song after bad song. Lupe fans come to his music for his smooth vocals and riveting content; neither of those were delivered on this album. A lot of the tracks
seemed forced with poor hooks that were drawn out and lacked creativity. “Made in the U.S.A.,” for example has a repetitive hook, in which Lupe shouts the title of the track over and over again. The shouting transfers into the verses, which makes it difficult to hear what he’s saying. This has to be Lupe’s worst album. Almost every track is weak, which means the album never has a chance of gaining any momentum. There isn’t a single song on this album worth adding into a musical rotation, and the replay value is low. However, Lupe fans shouldn’t give up on him. He has come back from bad albums before. The 2011 album “Lasers” was widely considered his worst album and shared problems that I still see in “DROGAS Light.” Lupe bounced back from “Lasers,” so it isn’t likely that he will stay in the creative slump that “Drogas Light” has made apparent. Once he brings back smoother production and flows, Lupe has the ability to continue what has already been an incredible career.
FDA stamps seal of approval for Costa Rica growing genetically modified ‘pink pineapples’ By Alex Newman Staff Writer @xandrannewman Pineapples with a hot pink and outstandingly sweet interior will soon be stocked in almost every produce aisle across the United States. Since the genetic modification of yellow pineapples in 2005, Del Monte Fresh Produce (DMFP) r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d approval from the Food and
Drug Administration, to sell the genetically modified pink pineapple in U.S. grocery stores. While no official statement has been released from Del Monte as to what motive was behind the engineering of a pink pineapple, numerous people could speculate that the color pink is seemingly more pleasing to the eye which, in turn, could boost produce sales for DMFP. The company used genetic modification to suppress the internal gene that causes a pineapple to be yellow.
In turn, they used the pigment-related phytochemical, lycopene, to attain the bright pink hue. The phytochemical lycopene, commonly found in tomatoes and watermelon, is best known for its antioxidant components, which the FDA concludes is commonly and safely consumed by the public. It is unclear if any nutritional values will be compromised in this new pink pineapple. This is not the first time that the world has tested the limits of the foods we
consume. In 2007, Japan shared its modified square watermelons with the world. By confining the fruits to the parameters of a box, Japan was able to turn a familiar fruit into an unnatural shape. In December, the United States Department of Agriculture released that the pink pineapple is safe for consumer consumption. However, with the lack of sufficient evidence to support long-term use of genetically modified organisms, its level of safety is still under speculation.
To prevent consumer confusion, DMFP vouches to include the wording “extra sweet pink flesh pineapple” on the attached produce tags. This is to distinguish the “pink pineapple” from DMFP’s golden “extra sweet pineapple, which was introduced to markets in 1990s. The new “Pink pineapples” will be grown in Costa Rica, known for its tropical climate and major exportation of the fruit.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
‘David Brent’ character revival boils down to ‘offensive and cringeworthy’ By Tatum Swann & Allie Taylor Contributing Writer & E&L Editor @fgcueaglenews @journonjourney
Ricky Gervais at Comedy Central’s “Night of Too Many Stars” in 2010.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Atilla Lewisvia Flickr
Netflix’s ‘Abstract’ shows unique perspective on creativity
Fans of the British mockumentary series “The Office” shouldn’t get too excited about the revival of Ricky Gervais’ character, David Brent. Gervais, an English comedian, actor, writer and producer (among other titles) began his foray into comedy with his appearance on “The 11 O’Clock Show” between 1998 and 2000. Gervais’ talk show “Meet Ricky Gervais” launched his career in television when he became the mainstream comedy face for BBC’s series “The Office,” followed by the
2005 show “Extras.” “Life on the Road” catches up with Gervais’ character David Brent as he follows his dream of being a rock star. The audience finds that David Brent has not made much progress in the 15year hiatus with his new job as a feminine hygiene product salesman. Between a general mid-life crisis, existential breakdown, failed suicide attempt and the use of semi-stabilizing Prozac, David Brent is at the lowest point in his career. Gervais brings the insufferable David Brent back to life, but he probably should have stayed retired. “Life on the Road” mocks the tiresome lifestyle of a musician while showcasing Brent’s pathetic attempt at
making it as a rock star. It is a carbon copy of the transferable cringiness of “The Office,” now focused on the king of cringe himself. Brent quits his office job and goes on a threeweek tour with a hired band in hopes that he’ll land a record deal. The entire movie is an attempt at tasteful satire but, only comes out as offensive and cringeworthy. After one particularly unfortunate scene, one band member says, “I didn’t really know whether to laugh or to cry. There’s been quite a few moments like that, I think.” That quote perfectly sums up “David Brent: Life on the Road.” If you’re curious enough to brave this train wreck, I have two words for you: good luck.
‘Fifty Shades’ sequel stumbles from underdeveloped characters By Ashley Silva Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews
Screenshot courtesy of Netflix via YouTube “Abstract: The Art of Design” features many different artists skilled in various mediums, such as Tinker Hatfield with Nike.
By Jesse Martin Staff Writer @JesseMartin247 Netflix’s newest original documentary series “Abstract” was released Feb. 10. “Abstract” is an eightepisode series that focuses on the human elements of creativity, including illustrators, shoe designers, architects and many more forms of art. The show follows these visionaries through their creative processes and takes a look at how they unleash the inner-workings of their mind and how they bring them into the tangible world. “Abstract” aims to increase the appreciation people have for the everyday objects around them — showing the viewer the intent behind the
objects and the interesting decision-making that goes into the development of the objects. This documentary is giving a human face to the objects that are used every day, such as shoes, websites, buildings and television. One of the creators featured in “Abstract” is Tinker Hatfield, the creative mind behind the design of Nike’s shoes. Hatfield has been working on designing shoes for Nike since 1985 and worked with FGCU student Matthew Walzer on the Nike Flyease, designed specifically for those that can’t tie their shoes on their own. Bringing a human component heavily into the show, it collects the beauty that’s behind the making of such things. It breaks down interesting concepts, such
as why objects are shaped or designed in a certain way, from buildings to art pieces in museums. Explaining the process of how people find things attractive contributes to the makers’ decisionmaking significantly. Being a show about creativity, it goes without saying that the videography needs to be in line with the main themes of the show — being original, unique and captivating. “Abstract” is successful in all those things — giving a very artistic perspective, using unique camera angles and filming techniques throughout the series. All eight episodes are available now on Netflix. Anyone interested in how things are made or work should definitely give “Abstract” a try.
“Fifty Shades Darker,” the film thousands of women have been waiting for, released just in time for Valentine’s Day. “Fifty Shades Darker” is the sequel to last year’s “Fifty Shades of Grey.” In this film, Christian Grey (played by Jamie Dornan) renegotiates his relationship with Anastasia Steele (played by Dakota Johnson) while revealing his past and showing her his more vulnerable and loving side. Their relationship is tested by women from Grey’s past and unexpected circumstances that keep popping up. “We are expecting it to be more romantic, more sophisticated and more hot,” FGCU student and movie viewer Ariana Valladares said before viewing the film. This film’s choppy editing, unorganized plot and weak supportingcharacter development made it one that, as a whole, wasn’t fully captivating and complete. “I think, for those who
Screenshot courtesy of Universal Pictures via YouTube Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey attend a masquarade ball in the trailer for the new “Fifty Shades” film, released Feb. 10. “Fifty Shades Darker” delves into Christian’s dark past and the women that have preceeded Anastasia.
didn’t read the book, the plot was very unorganized and unclear,” FGCU student Chelsea Green said. “You would get random characters, and the way the story was written was like it was assumed that we would know their background and importance.” On opening weekend the film brought in $46.5 million dollars, making it director James Foley’s highest-
grossing title. All in all, the film is worth seeing if you have read the series or just want to find out what happens next. Despite its flaws, audiences will embrace it because of their love for the characters and the series. It was at times funny, sweet, romantic and – above all – steamy.
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Women’s basketball blows past Lipscomb to remain atop the ASUN
Contributing to the FGCU women’s basketball team’s 20 three pointers against Lipscomb, Nasrin Ulel came off the bench and scored 13 points on 4-8 shooting from long range.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Coming off its 69-35 victory against Kennesaw State, the FGCU women’s basketball team closed out its two-game home stand with a 98-50 rout of Lipscomb. Knocking down 20 shots from behind the arc to propel them to their 15th victory at Alico Arena, the Eagles remained tied with Stetson atop the ASUN with a record of 10-1. Falling just two threes short of the program record for threes made in a single game (22), the Eagles had five players finish in double figures, led by a
combined 42 points from Haley Laughter and Jessica Cattani. “I thought it was a really good game for us in terms of getting the ball to shooters and knocking down shots,” FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. “Obviously, they played zone for 95 percent of the game, and we were able to move the ball on them and get it to open people. A lot of people were knocking down shots. Haley (Laughter) and Jessica (Cattani), in particular, did a great job from behind the arc. I thought we played good defense for most of the game, and it was a good win.” Firing four shots from long range in the
first quarter of play, all of Laughter’s 21 points came from behind the arc, as she finished one three away from the program record for threes in a game and two threes away from the ASUN all-time record. Playing just 21 minutes off the bench in the Eagles’ 76th consecutive ASUN home regular-season win, Cattani went 4-5 from long range and 7-7 from the charity stripe en route to her first 20-plus point performance of the season. Adding to FGCU’s three-point barrage, Taylor Gradinjan and Nasrin Ulel each knocked down four shots from long range, scoring 12 points and 13 points each.
Notching her second consecutive double-double following her 11-point and 14-rebound performance against Kennesaw State, Tytiona Adderly scored 12 points and snatched 13 rebounds to round out the Eagles’ double-figure scorers. Matching their strong play on the offensive end with strong play on defense, FGCU forced the Bisons to throw the ball away 20 times, scoring 27 points off turnovers. The Bisons came out of the gate showing a 2-3 zone to the Eagles’ offense, and they capitalized on Lipscomb’s game plan, scorching the Bisons with six shots from long range in
the first quarter. Fueled by Laughter’s 12 points in the first quarter, FGCU led 24-8 at the end of one. Following Laughter’s strong performance in the first, it was the Adderly show in the second, as she came within just two points of her double-double, snatching 11 rebounds and scoring eight points and propelling the Eagles to a 51-19 lead at the half. After just knocking down three shots from behind the arc in the second quarter, the three ball came alive again in the third. Laughter hit three of the Eagles’ five threes in the third, as they took a commanding 74-35 lead.
EN Photos / Brad Young
As the Eagles entered the final quarter with 15 makes from downtown, Nasrin Ulel’s spark off the bench in the third transitioned into the fourth, as she knocked down three of her four triples in the final quarter of action. Reaching 20 makes from long range before the final buzzer, FGCU moved to 21-7 on the season in its second to last home game of the regular season. The Eagles will now hit the road to face USC Upstate on Saturday, Feb. 18 and NJIT on Monday, Feb. 20 before returning home to face Stetson on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Women’s tennis dominates Florida A&M and FAU
Photo by Linwood Ferguson In the FGCU women’s tennis team’s match against FAU, Maja Ornberg (above) and Breana Stampfli secured a 6-2 victory.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU women’s tennis team dominated their first game of the weekend against Florida A&M Friday, Feb. 10 at the FGCU Tennis Complex, with a 7-0 shutout win. “The girls did a good job of taking care of business today,” said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. “They were focused and played with good intent. We’re looking forward to Sunday when we get to compete again.” The Eagles got off to an early lead in doubles action with impressive performances on all three courts. The top-duo of Julia Ascua and Julianna Curtis
claimed a 6-0 win against the Rattlers, Dominique Henry and Olivia Rolle. Laura Falceto Font and Sara Kelly secured the doubles point on court three following Ascua and Curtis’ performance. In a tough deciding match, Maja Ornberg and Breana Stampfli edged out Arrice Robinson and Sophia Osabouhien, pulling away to take the match, 6-2. Turning to singles play, FGCU remained just as dominant, winning all six matches in straight sets. Kelly kicked off singles play, defeating No. 5 Osabouhien and from there the Eagles didn’t let up. Falceto Font, the reigning ASUN Player of the Week, defeated No. 4 Clayton in singles, making it her 13th straight dual-match
win. Stampfli also added points, as she defeated No. 2 Robinson in back-to-back sets of 6-1. Ornberg took Rolle to a 6-2, 6-0 defeat on court one, while Sophia Perez earned her first win with the team, defeating Karen Machisa of 6-3, 6-2 on court six. To close off the day, Ascua pulled away late in the match to take FAMU’s No. 3 Henry 6-4, 6-2. The Eagles were back in action Sunday, Feb. 12 as they took on FAU. FGCU finished with a strong 5-2 win over the Owls, marking the Eagles fourth straight win over FAU. After dropping the
>>Continued on B3
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Baseball returns postseason-tested roster for 2017 campaign By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914
Photo by Linwood Ferguson Returning to the diamond for the first time since March 15, 2016, Nick Rivera rejoins FGCU baseball with hopes to lead the team to its first-ever ASUN Tournament Championship title.
Kelsey Huff Position: Outfield Junior 5 feet 7 inches Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Opening their 2017 season, the FGCU softball had four dominate wins over LIU Brooklyn, with an impressive performance from Kelsey Huff. The outfielder stepped up to the plate 14 times over the weekend, going a combined 9-14 from the plate. Huff also knocked down six RBI’s, nine hits, two doubles, and one triple, along with stealing two bases. This dominant performance from Huff helped the Eagles move to 4-0 on the season. Last season, Huff earned Second Team All-Atlantic Sun honors after leading the Eagles with 25 stolen bases. Huff finished the 2016 season with a hitting percentage of .366, with an ASUN leading 46 runs scored and 75 hits.
EN Illustrations / Audrey Mobley
Entering the 2017 season following its first ever ASUN Championship game appearance last season, the FGCU baseball team kicks off the new campaign with a four-game weekend series against Sacred Heart from Feb. 17 to 19 at Swanson Stadium. Returning all but three seniors from last season, the Eagles will face off against eight 2016 NCAA Tournament teams 22 times throughout the campaign. Six of the eight 2016 NCAA Tournament teams were either the No. 1 or No. 2 seeds in their respective NCAA Tournament Regional fields. While Ohio State, UNC Wilmington and FAU entered the Big Dance as No. 2 seeds, Florida, Miami and FSU hosted and were the top seed in their regional tournaments. “We’ve, once again, put together one of the tougher schedules in the region, if not the country,” FGCU head coach Dave Tollett said. “These are the caliber of teams we are going to be playing if where we set out to be at the end of the season. It’s a challenging schedule, particularly during March, but it also
presents us with a great deal of opportunity. I know the guys are especially excited to get the season started in front of our home fans this year.” Twenty-six of FGCU’s first 30 games will be played in Southwest Florida, with 24 games scheduled to be played at Swanson Stadium and two games slated to be played against Florida and FSU at JetBlue Park. Opposed to the first half of the season, the Eagles will spend the bulk of the final half of the season on the road with 19 of its 26 final games at away venues, kicking off with a two-game set at FSU on Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5. Selected to finish fourth in this season’s ASUN Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Eagles went 27-32 last season, finishing fifth in the 2016 ASUN regular-season standings. Playing half the season without 2015 All-American Jake Rivera, the Eagles welcome Rivera back to an experienced roster that reached the ASUN Tournament for the first time in program history last season. Tabbed an ASUN Baseball Preseason AllConference team member for the third straight
season, Rivera played all but 17 games due to an injured wrist. Before missing the second half of the season, the Cape Coral native was locked in at the plate, going 13-35 from the plate and hitting two home runs and six RBIs in a tengame span. “Nick has probably been through more in his career than any player I’ve ever coached, but he hasn’t let those obstacles deter him whatsoever,” Tollett said. “He’s an invaluable leader of our team both on and off the field, and I know he’s itching to get back out there after missing most of last season.” Entering his final season at FGCU, Rivera has the program record for career doubles with 63 and ranks in the top 10 in program history in games played (187), games started (182), hits (215), home runs (26), RBIs (160), runs scored (126), total bases (360) and walks (120). With the hopes to finish in the top-six of the conference regular season standings, the Eagles look to compete in the ASUN Championship hosted by Stetson from Wednesday, May 24 through Saturday, May 27 and win the program’s first-ever ASUN Tournament Championship.
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Softball heads to Mexico to participate in Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU women’s softball team will head to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to face several top teams in the country in the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge. This pre-season tournament brings together several of the most accomplished teams in softball. The games are set to be played at the newly redone Nancy Almaraz Stadium. For the Eagles, play starts Thursday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. against Fresno State. This will be the first time these two teams will face each other. Last season, Fresno State ended its season with an impressive 4212-1 overall record and 22-1 in its conference play. The Bulldogs took on top-ranked schools from around the country – No. 8 Tennessee, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 7 Oregon – among several others. FGCU will close off its
>> Women’s tennis continued from B1 doubles point, FGCU went on to win five of the six singles matches to secure the match victory. Trailing 5-2 in the final doubles match, Falceto Font and Sara Kelly fought back, cutting the deficit to
day against Texas Tech at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. This will be the first time these two teams will meet. Texas Tech ended its 2016 season with an overall record of 23-32 and 6-12 for conference play. The Red Raiders had a tough end of their season, losing sixstraight games. Next, the Eagles will resume play at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 against California State University, Fullerton. Last season, Cal State Fullerton ended its season with an overall record of 45-16 and 17-4 in conference play. The Titans also faced big-name schools such as, Florida State, Alabama, and No. 12 Oklahoma. FGCU will take on Freson State again later that day at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. To conclude their trip, the Eagles will face Mississippi State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. This will be the second time these two teams will meet. The Eagles and Bulldogs took each other on in Honolulu, Hawaii during
their 2009 season, with the score favoring FGCU 8-3. However, since then, the teams have changed completely. Mississippi State ended its 2016 season 26-31 overall and 3-21 in conference play. Being in the Southeastern Conference, the Bulldogs had tough competitors for their conference play. Some of these teams include Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Auburn, among many others. With this, the Bulldogs ended their conference play with a winning percentage of .125. In 2016, the Eagles ended their season 3227 overall and 13-5 in conference play. The team will then return to Fort Myers to host its own tournament – The FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational. This two-day event will begin Friday, Feb. 24 and will go through Sunday, Feb. 26. The teams taking part in this tournament will be Rutgers, Wisconsin, Boston College, FIU and EN Photo / Brad Young Hofstra. Following her six RBI performance over the weekend, Raquel Fournet and the FGCU softball team will head to Mexico
just one. Yet, FAU’s duo of Marisa Ruiz and Lyndsey Boos prevailed, winning the match 6-4. The first two doubles matches between FGCU and FAU were split. Stampfli and Ornberg took home a 6-3 victory, while FGCU’s top duo of Ascua and Julianna Curtis
dropped their match 6-4 to Laura Fabrizi and Ana Gutierrez. However, the Eagles dominated in singles play, taking the first set in four of six matches. No. 5 Kelly and No. 2 Stampfli won each of their matches, with Kelly taking an early lead in the first set,
to participate in the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge.
7-5, before earning a 6-2 win in the second. Play was back and forth in Stampfli’s match, yet she managed to pull out with a 7-5 win in the first set and a 6-4 win in the second. After Ascua dropped her match, FAU had evened out the match 2-2. However, Perez stepped up after
losing her first set, to take the match against Alisa Rudenko 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Ornberg also dropped her opening set, 5-7, but ended up earning a pair of 6-1 wins in the second and third sets. Falceto Font finished the day off with a threeset win against Bianca
Biglione. “The girls are competing well,” Vernon said. “They are learning to trust the plan, and they are embracing adversity and recognizing the gift of the challenges. We’re looking forward to getting back to work next week to prepare for UCF.”
Strong second half propels men’s basketball past KSU By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914
EN Photo / Brad Young Brandon Goodwin scored a game-high 24 points in the FGCU men’s basketball team’s 75-63 victory over Kennesaw State.
Following its 6560 loss to Lipscomb on Thursday night, the FGCU men’s basketball team rode a strong second half performance to defeat Kennesaw State 75-63. Utilizing a 14-2 run in the early minutes of the second half to propel them to their 20th win of the season, the Eagles remain tied atop the ASUN with Lipscomb with a record of 9-2. “We had a decent start to the game and then came out very lethargic to start the second half,” FGCU head coach Joe Dooley said. “We got back on track by driving and kicking the ball. I though we took much better shots today, especially in transition. Brandon made some tremendous play, Zach (Johnson) made some big shots and Meech (Morant) was definitely a factor again at both ends of the floor. Sitting at 20-7 with three games remaining in the regular season, FGCU secured its fifth consecutive 20-win season, becoming the first team in the ASUN to accomplish that feat since former conference member College of Charleston in 1998.
In another scheduled program of the Brandon Goodwin and Demetris Morant show, the duo combined for 41 points in front of the 4,670 fans at Alico Arena. Finishing with 20 or more points for the 10th time this season, Goodwin lead the way on offense scoring a game-high 24 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists Playing off of Goodwin’s 24-point performance, Morant added 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Eagles moved two games clear of third place side USC Upstate in the ASUN standings. Making a guest appearance on the Goodwin and Morant show, Zach Johnson rounded out the Eagles’ double-figure scorers with 10 points, scoring six of his 10 in the second half. In a game filled with runs on both sides, FGCU opened the contest, scoring the first nine points of the contest before the Owls stormed back to earn their first lead of the night, 21-20, with five minutes remaining in the half. Following Kennesaw state’s run, the Eagles sparked a 10-2 in the last 2:40 of play to lead at the half 36-29.
Al Skinner’s halftime speech seemed to light a fire under his team, as the Owls came out of the locker room and erased their half time deficit to just one, 37-36, with an 8-0 run to open the second half. Seeing their lead erased to just one, the Eagles sparked a 14-2 run to gain a 50-39 lead and never looked back fueled by strong play on both sides of the ball. Holding the nation’s second best three point percentage team in the country to 30 percent from long range, FGCU has now won 13 straight games over Kennesaw State, tying the longest active streak by an ASUN team over another conference foe. The Eagles will now hit the road for their final two-game road trip of the regular-season, facing NJIT on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. before heading to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to face USC Upstate on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
FGCU DII hockey ends regular season undefeated at home
EN Photo / Kim Smith
Ending the season with a record of 21-0-1, the FGCU DII men’s hockey team received an automatic bid to the ACHA DII National Championships, where they will look to repeat as national champions.
By Keaton Hanley Staff Writer @ChirpinParaKeat The FGCU DII men’s hockey team finished up the regular season against UMASS Amherst on Friday, picking up a 5-1 win on Friday night, and a 2-2 tie on Saturday. The Eagles finished the regular season with 21 wins, no losses and a tie at home. Overall, the Eagles
only lost one game on the road to DI side Davenport University by a 3-2 score. With the regular season in the books, the Eagles boast an impressive 22-1-0-5 record overall headed into Southeast Regionals. Three players surpassed the fifty point mark over the course of the season: Josh Koerner (32 G 31A), Mike Chemello (18G 34A) and Jordan Klotz (27G 25A). Both Nathan Pelligra (14G
34A) and David Wong (24G 20A) passed the forty point mark for the Eagles. Both Tyler Tracy and Bradley Rambhajan collected ten or more wins during the regular season while averaging under two goals allowed a game. Friday night, the Eagles were able to cruise to a 5-1 victory thanks to a well-balanced offense that had five different players netting a goal. The Eagles
surrendered their one goal on the penalty kill, which has given them trouble as of late. Tyler Tracy held down the nest for the Eagles, turning away 41 of 42 shots on net in one of his best performances on the season. The following night the Eagles were unable to win their first game at home all season; tying with UMASS Amherst 2-2. Bradley Rambhajan got the start
and was able to stand in the way of 32 of the 34 shots fired his way. UMASS Amherst goalie, Ryan Lacroix, was able to do something no goalie has done at home yet this season: stop their potent offense, as he denied 57 of the 59 shots amassed toward him. Captain Logan Garst and Trevor Mullaly were the only ones to solve the goaltending puzzle of Lacroix.
The Eagles were unable to finish their season at home with a perfect record, with the game ending in a tie after overtime. The Eagles have one week off before going the following weekend to Southeast Regionals as they look to continue on their path to repeating their 2015-16 National Championship.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
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This week in athletics Men’s basketball at NJIT
By Coby Weinsier Staff Writer @CHEWY_O
the match 84-71. Next, the Eagles will then head to USC Upstate to take on the Spartans, then close up its conference play at home against Stetson.
The FGCU men’s basketball team will travel to NJIT face the Highlanders Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. NJIT faced Jacksonville in their last game and was handed their ninth straight loss. Tim Coleman and Anthony Tarke led the Highlanders with 23 and 19 points respectively. The last time these two conference teams met was at Alico Arena, with the Eagles taking
Women’s tennis at UCF By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Following their victories against Florida A&M and FAU, the FGCU women’s tennis team will head to Orlando to face UCF on Friday, Feb 17. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles beat the Knights during the 2015-2016 season, avenging their lost to them during the 2014-2015.
Men’s tennis vs. Charlotte
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco After falling to the FAU Owls 4-0, ending their winning streak, the FGCU men’s tennis team will now welcome the Charlotte 49ers Friday, Feb. 17 to the FGCU Tennis Complex. The matchup between these two teams is set to begin at 6 p.m. The last time these teams met was last season at the FGCU Tennis
Complex, where the Eagles took home a 5-2 victory over the Golden Eagles. Next, FGCU will head to Coral Gables, to take on the University of Miami, Saturday Feb. 25 beginning at 3 p.m.
Men’s basketball at USC Upstate
By Coby Weinsier Staff Writer @CHEWY_O The FGCU men’s basketball team will travel to USC Upstate to take on the Spartans Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. In the Eagles’ previous game against Kennesaw State, FGCU took the game 75-63. Brandon Goodwin and Demetrius Morant led FGCU in total points with 24 and 17, respectively.
In the Spartans’ last outing, they took on UNF, finishing with an 84-71 win over the Ospreys. The team was led by Mike Cunningham with 28 points and Michael Buchanan with 22. The last time FGCU and USC Upstate met was earlier this season at Alico Arena, where the Eagles suffered a tough 60-62 loss.
Taking on fellow ASUN member UNF before facing the Eagles, UCF defeated Georgia Southern 5-2 on Feb. 5. The Eagles come into their matchup against the Knights fresh off of their 7-0 win against FAMU and 5-2 victory over FAU. FGCU will look to defeat UCF before hitting the road again to face FIU on Friday, Feb. 24.
Women’s basketball at USC Upstate
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU women’s basketball team will head back out on the road to face off against USC Upstate for the second time this season on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 p.m. The last time these two teams met was in Fort Myers where the Eagles won 93-43. The Eagles had five different players in double figures that game,
led by Erica Nelson’s 18 points. Leading the way on offense in their loss, Raven Jefferson scored 22 of the Spartans’ 43 points. As the ASUN regularseason winds down, the Eagles will look for a big road win and hope to get closer to locking down the number one seed in the A-Sun tournament.
Men’s tennis vs Tennessee Tech By Saul Garcia Contributing Writer @saul_434 The FGCU men’s tennis team will take on Tennessee Tech in what will be the sixth competitive duals match for this season on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex. The Eagles come into this matchup sporting a 2-2 record, after wins over Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman while losing to FSU and FAU. The last matchup between FGCU and
Women’s basketball at NJIT
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU women’s basketball team heads to Newark, New Jersey, to face NJIT in its final conference road game of the regular season on Monday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. The Eagles were winners back in January when they faced NJIT, defeating the Highlanders 73-53. Despite shooting below 35 percent from the floor as a team, Haley Laughter led the team with 20 points coming off
Tennessee Tech happened last season when the Eagle earned a 5-2 victory at home. Before this, the Eagles look to face Charlotte one day before taking on Tennessee Tech. All this is in preparation to take on the UM on Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. in Coral Gables, Florida.
the bench for the Eagles. Leading the Highlanders in their loss against the Eagles, Alana Dudley finished with 17 points. The Eagles have won all four of their matchups against the Highlanders since they joined the ASUN in 2015. The Eagles will look for another win before it returns home for senior night, taking on Stetson in the team’s final home game of the regular-season.
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EN Photo / Molly McGunnigle First Year Advising in Eagle Hall works to make sure students are on track to graduate on time.
We’re a four-year university for a reason New incentives aim to help students graduate on time
By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano We’re lucky to attend a university like FGCU where the faculty and professors actually care about students as individuals. They’re happy that we chose to attend this school, but that doesn’t mean they want us here forever. Up in Tallahassee, politicians and university administrators are working to make sure that students aren’t here any longer than they need to be. This past Wednesday, the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act passed through a subcommittee of the state senate. The all-that-glittersisn’t-gold sounding name is the latest attempt to push students to graduate within four years. The bill would require all public Florida universities to adopt a flat tuition rate by 2018. Essentially, students would pay tuition based on a set
credit schedule, regardless of how many credits they actually enrolled in. For some students, this proposal could mean savings. Sophomore legal studies major Victoria SanFilippo is currently enrolled in 17 credit hours. “I believe the idea is a great initiative because it may provide greater incentives to students to graduate on time, lessening the burden of credit expenses. On-time or even accelerated graduation rates allow for young people to start their careers as soon as possible, which will ultimately benefit both students and the state,” SanFilippo stated. For others, the proposal represents a financial burden. “I think people enrolled in less credit hours aren’t going to like it,” freshman health science major Vanessa Knoch told me. “I do think it would make students take more credits per semester to graduate on time.”
This semester, I took 18 credits worth of courses. Based on FGCU’s cost per credit hour of $203.94, my tuition cost was $3,670.92. In a 15-credit rate tuition system, I would have saved over $600, a nearly 17 percent decrease. For students only taking 12 credits, that could mean a $600 penalty. The proposed plans leaves some finer details up to the schools. Such details include the cost of summer terms, rates for part-time students, price differences for out-of-state students and whether or not to include the fees in the pricing. “My main concern would be whether or not it would affect the financial aid that I receive,” freshman political science major Lambrit Johnson said. Whether or not students will be incentivized to graduate faster is yet to be seen; however, this isn’t the only incentive that our university is giving students to speed up graduation.
FGCU’s new “Soar In 4” initiative is offering a tuition rebate to students who meet a number of requirements. The goal is to have students graduate with their baccalaureate degrees in four years or less. Students starting summer 2015 or later who meet the requirements will be eligible to receive up to 30 credits of out-of-pocket tuition in rebate money. “I really like the incentive because it rewards students for doing what they’re here to do,” freshman bioengineering major Billy Glenn said. “The fact that students are getting jobs in Florida is cool too, because the local and state economies benefit from their students.” Money talks, especially to college students. I’m sure we’re all used to hearing students complain about how expensive college is and how broke they are. This financial motivation to graduate on time is definitely a step towards making college more
affordable. Another of FGCU’s recent incentives, the 3/2 Withdrawal Limit Rule, isn’t as happily received around campus. The rule, which was approved very quietly, holds that students can now only withdraw from three lower level and two upper level courses without penalty. Any further withdrawals will result in a “WF” on the students’ transcripts, also penalizing their GPA’s. While the rule shouldn’t affect too many students, the possibility of being academically punished for withdrawing after one week of a course doesn’t sit well. “It gives students the incentive to only take classes they actually plan on completing, which is important for classes with limited seating. It also encourages students to finish what they start and work hard rather than giving up on a course,” junior psychology major Katie Moran explained. “However, it’s not
fair to fail students for withdrawing from a course when switching majors. It may hurt them financially if they are kept from withdrawing from a class they no longer need, then go over the credit limit,” Moran continued. FGCU’s six-year graduation rate for 2015 was 42.9 percent. Whether positive or negative, the incentives being put in place by the university and state officials aren’t unwarranted. The whole purpose behind four-year universities is to get students their degrees in four years. It’s easy to see why those in charge are working on possible options to get students out on time. We love our school, but we shouldn’t be here any longer than we need to be. As much as our school loves us, it surely doesn’t want us hanging around forever. Sometimes the best way to get an eagle to soar is simply to give it a little push out of the nest.
The man behind Trump’s moves Steve Bannon made the alt-right movement feel welcome By Bruno Halpern Staff Writer @brunowesome There is growing suspicion that Steve Bannon, President Trump’s Chief Strategist, is the one behind many policies that the president is trying to enact. People are concerned that Bannon’s influence over these policies hold him in a higher position, virtually making him the actual president of the country I’ve read many opinions based both on hard facts and on pure, irrational fear. However, despite having formed my own opinion, I couldn’t write a satisfactory article on Bannon because I felt a bit overwhelmed by the notion of a man like Bannon in a position of power. This uncomfortable sensation of being overwhelmed changed when I came across this
quote from Bannon. “I’m a Leninist,” Bannon said to the Daily Beast. “Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down and destroy all of today’s establishment.” For those unaware, Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and one of the founders of the USSR. As The Guardian explained, “Two days after Lenin seized power in Russia almost exactly a century ago, he began an assault on the press.” “Lenin depended on constant conflict and drama,” The Guardian added. “He deliberately used shock tactics. He was nearly always domineering, abusive and combative and often downright vicious. He battered opponents into submission with the deliberate use of violent
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Steve Bannon looks on as Trump signs an executive order authorizing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
language, not because he was personally vicious – he wasn’t – but as a technique ‘calculated to evoke hatred, aversion, contempt … not to convince, not to correct the mistakes of the opponent but to destroy him, to wipe him and his organization off the face of the earth.’”
So, a strategy of using abusive and vicious language to create constant conflict, drama and shock… Sounds familiar, right? This is a strategy commonly used by the altright movement. The alt-right movement has found a haven in
Breitbart, a website Bannon managed before joining Trump’s cabinet. The website caters to people who are not satisfied with the current state of the world. Translation: people who are unhappy with the inevitable rise of multiculturalism. They claim to be disgusted by the political correctness that journalists, entertainers and politicians are consumed with. That idea is an easy and safe banner to hold because most people, in varying degrees, dislike the excesses of the PC police. So, alt-right sympathizers aren’t really racist, homophobic, antisemitic and xenophobic, right? They’re simply against the political correctness that has plagued society. By using the excuse of simply being against
PC culture, the alt-right tries to deviate themselves from unpopular titles like white supremacy and neo-Nazi. Such phrases prove inconvenient to their purposes. This insidious approach reminds me of a quote Heath Legder’s, “Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos.” Bannon was true to his words. He proved to be a Leninist when he told the New York Times that, “The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen. I want you to quote this. The media here is the opposition party.” In your case, Mr. Bannon, we will be. Proudly.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
All children left behind Betsy DeVos could spell doom for America’s public schools By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 In honor of Betsy DeVos becoming Education Secretary, here’s a problem for the math majors: If you have $200 million and need 51 votes in the Senate to get a job you aren’t qualified for, how much money will you have to give each senator to buy their vote? I the case of Betsy DeVos, she could only get 50 votes. That’s why Vice President Mike Pence had to make history and be the magical 51st vote to get DeVos over the threshold. Never before has a vice president been a tiebreaking vote for a cabinet nominee. DeVos was simply that god-awful. The controversy surrounding the confirmation of DeVos is not without merit. During a contentious hearing, the billionaire political donor showed herself to be utterly incompetent of the position she was seeking. She didn’t know about the existence of federal civil rights laws that protect students with disabilities. She didn’t know the difference between the measures of proficiency vs. growth. She thought teachers should have guns in the classroom to protect against grizzly bear attacks. She couldn’t promise that public school funds would not be diverted to private and charter schools. She greatly inflated the rate of student loan debt by almost ten-fold. What Mrs. DeVos lacked in knowledge,
she didn’t make up for in experience. Betsy DeVos never attended public school. Her children did not attend public school. She has never taught in a public school, nor has she ever been on a governing board or sat on a PTA board. What DeVos has done is mount a tireless campaign to redirect public school money into private and charter schools. She called for the abolition of the Detroit public school system, and her longterm activism has ranked Michigan at the bottom of the barrel for charter school systems. Her work in Michigan was so shoddy that fellow charter advocate Tom Watkins said, “People are making a boatload of money, and the kids aren’t getting educated.” Guess who was making the money? So with all this going against her, one might be wondering why on earth would the Senate vote to confirm this ill-equipped ideologue? As the old saying goes, money talks. Mrs. DeVos and her husband, Dick, are multi-billionaires, and they are what we like to refer to as mega donors. Since the 1970s, they have given over $200 million to various Republican campaigns and causes. DeVos personally gave $818,000 to 20 current Republican senators, all of whom voted in favor of her confirmation. Florida Senator Marco Rubio was the biggest recipient. As Bernie Sanders pointed out, DeVos would not have been
considered for the position had she not bought her way to the table. And if you don’t think DeVos bought her way to the table, hear her in her own words: “I know a little something about soft money, as my family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican Party … I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect some things in return.” Betsy DeVos and her family doled out hundreds of thousands to members of the GOP in the Senate. During her confirmation battle, over 5 million Americans, Republican and Democrat, Trump supporting and not, called their senators to demand they vote no. That’s not even taking into consideration emails and letters sent. Her confirmation set records for the amount of constituent outreach, but it was to no avail The Senate Republicans (minus Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski) put money and special interests over their constituents. President Trump promised to drain the swamp. Instead, he appointed a billionaire mega-donor with no public school experience to the most crucial educational position in America. If the success of her charter schools in Michigan
Photo courtesy of Howard University Betsy DeVos was confirmed Feb. 7 after Mike Pence cast a vote in her favor to break the Senate tie.
Twitter screenshot from @gidglick DeVos’ confirmation has sparked a wave of outrage on social media.
is any reflection of what her record in the Education Department will be,
America’s kids are screwed. Countless neighborhoods and rural communities will
suffer greatly, and we will be pushed further down the list in proficiency.
The rant no one wants to accept America’s problems are far deeper than its government By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano Donald Trump is a genius. Despite how much everyone hates him, he managed to manipulate the electoral system in a way that demonstrates just how smart he is. If you think the above opinion goes against the grain, you’re not prepared for what I’m about to say. Americans aren’t very smart. Aside from the average American not knowing details about politics beyond the position of the president, Americans
spend billions of dollars on junk food, garbage entertainment and terrible outfits. Our education system is ranked No. 25 in the world, according to the Program International Student Assessment, and will likely receive no boost from newly appointed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Maybe the schools have caused the downfall of our society, but a few other factors have contributed as well. Americans have managed to ruin every major culture’s food through food chains. So-
called Mexican restaurants like Chipotle, Moe’s and Taco Bell are not really Mexican. They aren’t even good. The constant fear of another E. coli outbreak combined with the repeated trips to the bathroom proves that much. When we say Chinese food, what we really mean is Chinese-themed food. Italians would not eat what is served at your local Italian restaurant. Even traditional American food is loaded with calories, fat and carbs. Fast Food Nutrition reports that the average meal of a burger, fries, and soda has 48 grams of fat,
EN Illustrations / Audrey Mobley American culture consits of recylced entertainment, repetitive music and repulsive fast food.
and the average American is eating fast food 159 times a year. Why do we steal food from other cultures? Because American culture sucks. Take, for example, our entertainment. We glorify shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and that terrible show about the zombie apocalypse. The same repeated plot every episode of every season of every show somehow convinces Americans to come back for more. We’ve got three “NCIS” shows, four “CSI” shows and five “Law & Order” shows. Then, there’s “The Bachelor”, “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise”. Don’t even get me started on the nine different “Real Housewives” or the countless imitations of “American Idol”. Then, there are the movies. Whatever DC Comics is trying to do, it’s not working. Marvel movies are flashy with an all-star lineup, but do we really need another superhero movie? PG-13 comedies have gotten so vulgar that the average 13-year-old knows more profanity than was even around 50 years ago. Everything’s a sequel these days. No one is coming up with new content
anymore. I love Star Wars as much as the next guy, but Episode VII was just a repeat of Episode VI, which was already a repeat of Episode IV. Speaking of Disney movies, the company has found a way to profit off of redoing all the old fairytales without animated characters. The most American media of all has always been the music. From jazz to rock and roll to hip-hop, the world could always count on America to produce great music. Until now. Current American music needs to take a step back by about 30 years. Every 15-year-old with a laptop is a DJ these days, producing some kind of electronic alien communication. Pop music has exchanged lyrics for catchy beats. Hip-hop has abandoned its original purpose. Rap used to stand for rhythm and poetry; nowadays, mainstream rap is just whining gibberish. We must protect Chance the Rapper from going mainstream at all costs, but they all sellout eventually. American celebrities seem to get more famous the more they sit around doing nothing. The Kardashians have no talent whatsoever, yet they
somehow have an enormous following. Everyone would much rather read Kanye’s Twitter rants than do something useful with their time. I don’t want to hear another word about what Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Kanye West said on social media. Informate Mobile Intelligence, a data company specializing in mobile technology, reports that the average American checks social media 17 times per day. That’s at least once every waking hour. Twitter and other social media outlets have made every Facebook user a social activist. This would be okay if any of them ever took the time to read beyond the headlines or fact check anything. Tumblr is the guiltiest of all and has allowed teenagers to be brainwashed by stories that don’t have a shred of credibility. The average young adult believes whatever is trending on Twitter these days. That’s the scariest part. In a country full of such educated people, Americans aren’t very smart. Think of how unintelligent the average American is. Now, realize that half of the population is even worse.
OUTREACH Swishes for Wishes comes to FGCU
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Chi Omega hosts the first philanthropic basketball tournament at the university
EN Photo / Zack Rothman
Members of the Chi Omega sorority hang up a Swishes for Wishes banner with the help of a couple of participants.
By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman Raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, FGCU’s Chi Omega sorority hosted its first philanthropic basketball tournament on Friday, Feb. 3, at the North Lake
basketball courts, joining the sorority’s nationwide effort . With the help of Campus Activities Director Jamie Mandie, each round of the tournament followed intramural rules. There was both a women’s bracket and a men’s bracket where there was
each one winning team. On top of the points each team scored during the games, there were donation jars designated for each team; for every dollar donated, one point was added to their score. Each team was required to pay $60 and was comprised of five players
and two substitutes. The winning team from each bracket won $100 for the philanthropy of its choice, as well as a trophy. Underneath two tents draped with banners for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, set up just outof-bounds, sisters of the Chi Omega sorority handed
out water and snacks to participants. With three teams in the women’s bracket and 13 teams in the men’s bracket, the Pi Mu chapter of Chi Omega raised approximately $1,000. The winner of the women’s bracket was “The Breast Ballers” and the
winner of the men’s bracket was “Team Buckets.” The winning teams donated to Breast Cancer Education and Awareness and the MakeA-Wish Southern Florida Foundation, respectively.
EN Photos / Zack Rothman
(Left) Spectators watch as the competition in the women’s bracket gets fierce. (Right) A wood cutout of Chi Omega’s greek letters sit just beyond the sidelines of the basketball court.
Suicide Prevention Walk FGCU hosts Out of the Darkness Campus Walk
By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman In the hopes of shining a light on suicide prevention, FGCU will host the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) “Out of the Darkness Campus Walk.” Students and community members will come together to walk
throughout campus to raise awareness. The event will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is the 10th highest cause of death in the United States; through education and advocacy programs, the AFSP aims to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025. To participate in the
walk, you can either sign up with a team or by yourself. Once you’ve established who you are going to be walking with, you can then set a fundraising goal; all money raised goes to AFSP to fund the continuing education on the prevention of suicide. Along with music and food, there will be mental health tables and booths to wander through after the
Courtesy of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
walk is completed. To sign up, visit www.afsp.org/fgcu.
For any further questions, email Dr. Julie
Rego at jrego@fgcu.edu.
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.