Meet the independent candidate running for SG treasurer
Read more on A4
The official student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS Volume 15, Issue 25
www.eaglenews.org
New FGCU president chosen by Board of Trustees
In the know Entertainment
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie
FGCU’s latest ArtLab exhibit “The Art of Typography and Creative Writing” is now on display. Read on A6
Sports
FGCU men’s basketball advances to the ASUN Men’s Basketball Championship Semifinal.
Opinion
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Over a year after the announcement of FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw’s retirement, the Board of Trustees chose his replacement on Tuesday, Feb. 28 after a lengthy search process. Mike Martin, who is currently the chancellor at the Colorado State University System, will serve as the university’s fourth president starting on July 1. “Thank you very much,” Martin said after formally accepting the position. “It’s a great honor.”
During the meeting, BOT members interviewed Mike, along with candidates Sue Martin, Mark McLellan and Mark Rudin for a final time, asking what the candidates would bring to FGCU and why they should be chosen for the position with a focus on performance funding metrics, accountability, university inclusion and collaboration and external relations within the community. “I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two,” Martin said. Martin then went on
>> Continued on A2
EN Photo / Taylor Crehan FGCU President-elect Mike Martin shakes the hands of Board of Trustees members during the Tuesday, Feb. 28 BOT meeting. Martin was selected by the board from a group of four final candidates.
Read on B1
President Trump’s repeal of trans-bathroom usage is a disservice to the community. Read on B6
Outreach
This past weekend, the Make a Wish Foundation hosted the seventh annual Walk for Wishes. Read on B8
EN Photo / Taylor Crehan Audience members and trustees stand and clap for FGCU President-elect Mike Martin. Among those clapping for Martin was university Provost Ronald Toll, who applied for the position in January. Toll currently serves on the BOT.
SG Elections
Eagle Pride and Fusion face off in SG debate By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie
EN Photos / Kim Smith (Left) FGCU Eagle Pride Party student body presidential candidate Emmalyn Green and (right) FGCU Fusion Party student body presidential candidate Jalisa White address the audience during the 2017 Election Executive Candidates Debate.
INSIDE:
Entertainment and Lifestyle.....A6 Sports............................................B1 Opinion..........................................B6 Outreach.......................................B8
FGCU students eager to learn more about the two Student Government Election parties met in Edwards Hall 112 on Monday night to watch the SG 2017 Election Executive Candidates Debate. Student body presidential candidates Jalisa White from the FGCU Fusion Party and Emmalyn Green from FGCU Eagle Pride sat alongside their picks for vice president, Madeline Quinn from Eagle Pride and Antonia Jacobse respectively, and took questions from the audience as well as individual party questions. Before diving into those questions, current
SG Treasurer Ivan Rodriguez took to the podium to introduce the parties and welcome audience members. After cracking a few jokes, Rodriguez welcomed SG advisor and Director of the Office of Student Involvement Julie Gleason to the podium. “That’s a huge honor and also a huge responsibility,” Gleason said about serving in SG. After SG Supervisor of Elections David Worley addressed the crowd, debate moderator Lauren Sigmund took to the front of the room, asking the two parties to introduce themselves and their platform to the audience during three minutes of introductions. Fusion began first, with White explaining what she finds important
in a leader. “I think that it is so important to give back to the students,” White said. Eagle Pride then introduced themselves to the crowd, with Green solidifying the aspects of her party platform. “I really believe in our party and what we stand for,” Green said. Individual party questions were asked to the parties shortly after introductions. When asked about diversity on campus and how she would help increase that at FGCU, White said that she plans on creating a student diversity group on campus. When asked the same thing, Green said that
>> Continued on A3
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>> Gulf Coast Wesley needs gardeners and childcare people. Weekly opportunities gardening at Estero Methodist Church at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Help with the Mothers of Preschool Children program at Cornerstone United Methodist Church of Naples at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every other Wednesday. Please contact Linda Sanchez at lpsanchez0814@eagle. fgcu.edu for information. >> The Royal Palm Academy is holding their Kings Gala Saturday, March 4 at the Vineyards Country Club. From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for training and set up; 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., help with the event, including assisting with the silent auction and raffle. Please contact Jackie at jseobal@gmail.com for more information. >> Sunshine Ambassadors are needed at Golisano Children’s Hospital to help patients and visitors have a healthy and healing experience. Must be a year-round resident committed to one four-
hour shift per week at 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. To apply, please go to the LeeHealth website’s volunteer page. >> Meet Golisano Children’s Hospital’s new mascots. If you’re between 5 feet and 5-feet-2-inches tall and you want to work with children, you’re a good fit. Please contact Katlyn at 239-561-5085 or katlyn.lynch@leehealth.org, or Thomas at 239-561-5071 or thomas. cash@leehealth.org. >> What could be more fun than a beach ball gala? There will be hundreds of people at the gala and concert in support of the Children’s Advocacy Center. Held at the Naples Botanical Gardens on March 18, and volunteers are needed. Help between the hours of 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. with check in, greeting, selling tickets and more. Preevent training on the 17th. Please contact Sonnia Viloria at SViloria@ caccollier.org or 239-263-8383.
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The world in brief German newspaper’s correspondent arrested in Turkey
Hippo dies after brutal attack El Salvador police are investigating a “cowardly and inhumane” attack that killed a hippopotamus named Gustavito at the National Zoological Park. The 15-year-old hippo suffered “multiple blows on different parts of the body” from “blunt sharp objects” in a Feb. 22 attack, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement. The zoo plans to perform a necropsy to determine the exact cause of death.
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Die Welt journalist Deniz Yucel was arrested Monday, Feb. 27 on charges of terror propaganda and inciting hatred and enmity. His arrest sparked protests in Germany, while a number of newspapers in Europe condemned the treatment of Yucel by Turkish authorities. The reason for Yucel’s arrest is because he reported on leaked emails from Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who was hacked by leftist collective RedHack and made available on WikiLeaks.
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Eleven people injured in Rio Carnival float collapse A float in Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival parade collapsed with dancers on board. Eleven people were injured and nine were transported to hospitals. The two-tier float was part of the lineup of the Unidos de Tijuca samba school’s parade. This year’s theme was inspired by American jazz culture. This is the second accident during the parade. On Feb. 26, 20 people were injured when a float crashed into a fence.
>> President continued from A1 to explain that he has over four decades’ worth of experience in public higher education. “I’ve been pretty much everything you can be at a public university,” Martin said. “Through that process, I’ve been through about as many challenges and as many opportunities as you can have.” In his introduction, Martin said that he brings a “deep background” and an “unambiguous commitment to transformational power in higher education.” Martin said that he was a first generation college student from a “blue collar” family in Northern Minnesota that was “transformed” by a
public higher education. Martin said that his experiences dealing with challenges in budgets, performance funding, fundraising, politics and external relations shaped him to become the leader that he is today. “Each of those have taught me a bit more about how to navigate during those challenging times,” Martin said. Martin described FGCU as being in a “unique sweet spot.” While debating on who to move forward to the Board of Governors, trustees almost immediately ruled out candidate Sue Martin, who is the current president emeritus at Eastern Michigan University. Trustee Christian Spilker was the first to
Usain Bolt may lose one of his gold medals Olympian Usian Bolt may lose one of his gold medals after his 2008 4x100 meters relay teammate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance. Bolt says he has “no hard feelings” toward his teammate. Carter has appealed the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision to strip him of their gold medal. Now, Bolt can no longer claim to have completed the “triple” of nine successive Olympic sprint titles.
Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Collegian Martin will be FGCU’s new president.
speak prior to candidate interviews. “I thought when he sat across from us, the energy was impalpable,” Spilker said. Spilker said that while Sue Martin and McLellan did well in their
interviews, he believes that Mike Martin seemed like the candidate who would do the best in social situations in the FGCU community. Spilker then made a motion to choose Martin for the position, which was seconded by trustee Joseph Fogg. The trustees then began debating on whether or not they wanted to move Martin or McLellan forward. “It’s not an easy choice,” Fogg said. “I agree these are all qualified candidates.” After deliberation, trustees invited Martin back to the meeting to shake hands with trustees and discuss contract negotiations. Bradshaw welcomed Martin to the university by giving him an FGCU
pin as well as a hat. “It’s an exciting time in higher ed.,” Martin said. “I think we’re all in an exciting position.” Martin will be brought forward to the BOG on March 29 and 30 during the BOG meeting at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
EN Photos / Kim Smith (Left) Executive candidates of FGCU Fusion Party Jalisa White and Antonia Jacobse and (right) executive candidates of FGCU Eagle Pride Madeline Quinn and Emmalyn Green address the crowd at the Executive Candidates Debate on Feb. 27 in Edwards Hall 112. Those who are interested in voting can do so either online on EagleLink or in person in Cohen Center 247. Polls close on Thursday, March 2 at 5 p.m.
>> SG Debate continued from A1 she would implement a petition page on SG’s website so that every student’s voice is heard. She also said that she and her party plan on hosting a “Flags on the Lawn” event to celebrate diversity on campus if elected. “I truly believe in our party and the representation that it holds,” Green said. When asked about parking on campus, both Eagle Pride and Fusion said that they believe that there isn’t a parking problem on campus, rather a convenience problem. Green suggested implementing a poncho program during rainy season when students walk to class in the rain, and White suggested
implementing a golf cart system that would take students back and forth from garages to main campus. After the closing of individual party questions, a five minute intermission began. During that intermission, attendees were encouraged to write down questions that would be asked to the parties during the audience questions portion of the debate. The first audience question was directed at Fusion in regards to sustainability on campus and how they would help continue to practice and promote sustainable actions. White plans on focusing on sustainability if elected. “Something I do plan to do if elected is to meet with the director of
sustainability, meeting with her and talking to her about ways to be innovative when it comes to sustainability because that’s something that we pride ourselves on as a university,” White said. Jacobse said that Fusion also plans on implementing a 20-day service learning marathon that would incorporate sustainability. The second question was directed toward Eagle Pride in regards to school spirit and how that party would increase it. “Obviously we want to promote and keep students engaged in our tailgates and different events we offer through athletics,” Quinn said. Quinn then went on to explain Eagle Pride’s plan on incorporating school pride in architecture on campus and said that current sculptures around
campus “don’t necessarily represent our school spirit.” “We would like to see more of that incorporated into our main campus so students coming through, even current students, we’d love to see them continue their spirit,” Quinn said. “We want to see that Eagle pride represented throughout campus.” Green said that Eagle Pride also plans on reaching out to students from various colleges and organizations that SG hasn’t reached out to before. The third question was directed toward Fusion in regards to a transparent government and what that means to their party. “Being transparent doesn’t mean going to a Board of Trustees meeting,” White said. “It’s going out to the students
and even if it’s just simple as tabling or creating a survey.” White wants to “put the student back in Student Government” and wants to create open forums if elected. Jacobse said that Fusion also wants students to hold their party accountable if elected to ensure that “SG is doing what we’re promising to do.” The last question was directed toward Eagle Pride in regards to FGCU’s growing population and the party’s stance on whether or not the university should become more selective or build more facilities. “Personally, I would love to see a more selective admissions process,” Quinn said. “Students that are more engaged are doing more to give back to the community, so more
selective admissions would definitely create a more engaged student body.” Quinn said that growing FGCU’s facilities isn’t a possibility in the near future. “They’re working on what they can but in the upcoming years there’s not a whole lot that can be done as far as building more housing without tearing down those trees,” Quinn said. After the audience questions, both parties said closing remarks to the crowd. Students interested in voting in the SG 2017 Election can do so online via EagleLink or on campus in Cohen Center 247 until the polls close on Thursday, March 2 at 5 p.m.
SG vice presidential candidates discuss platforms By Alexandra Figares Assistant News Editor @fgcueaglenews
EN Photos / Kim Smith (Left) Student Body Vice Presidential candidate Antonia Jacobse and (right) VP candidate Madeline Quinn.
Political science and communications major Antonia Jacobse is running against secondary education major Maddie Quinn for the role of student body vice president for the 2017-18 school year. Quinn, who is running under the Eagle Pride Party, introduced her candidacy under the platform PRIDE, which stands for Progression, Representation, Information, Diversity and Empowerment. “I believe that the creative and innovative ideas that are outlined in our platform will ensure we’re utilizing the resources that we have to their maximum capacity,” Quinn said. “We want to benefit the student body without making unrealistic promises or setting vague goals.” Jacobse is running under the Fusion Party and is representing a platform that revolves around enhancing the campus community, giving students a voice, building traditions and improving university life. “What we’re really pushing is giving a voice to the students and empowering them,” said Jacobse. “We want to make sure there are students in SG. So often we focus on the
‘government’ part. I think it’s time to reemphasize the ‘student’ part.” Along with their respective platforms, the candidates emphasize their own passions through personal values and projects. Part of Jacobse’s personal platform is to bridge the gap between the vice president’s administrative role and students as well as the gap between students and administration. According to Jacobse, the role of vice president encompasses a lot of administrative work, particularly in terms of working with the executive cabinet. Interaction with students is limited, and Jacobse plans on innovating that. Developing a campus safety committee is an issue that Jacobse is passionate about. By creating a campus lockdown plan in case of an emergency and adding cameras on campus to combat sexual assaults, Jacobse hopes to create a safe campus environment. Quinn’s personal platform involves authenticity and wants to work transparently between student government, the community and students. “Leadership in any role or setting can be disregarded the moment that a leader’s goal is anything aside from the genuine betterment of his
or her community,” Quinn said. “I value honesty and the importance of admitting a mistake if one has been made.” Although both candidates are running on different platforms, they both agree on two ideas: vote and be informed. Quinn encourages voters to ask questions and stay informed. “My message to voters, whether they are certain or not, is to be informed and take ownership of the voice that the students have in this election,” Quinn said. “Information on every candidate, party and platform can always be found online in minutes. Read about the ideas, get excited about the innovation that has potential to take place with creative and concrete ideas, talk to candidates and ask questions.” Jacobse wants to remind students of the importance of voting and analyzing each party. “Get informed and know what you’re voting for,” Jacobse said. “Analyze platforms and the structure and the mission and the value that each party relationship. You (students) are the reason why there is a student government, so it is important to have direct representation in that process.” Election polls are open now and results will be announced on March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Fish Bowl.
A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
EDITOR: TAYLOR CREHAN NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Police Beat
Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Fourth Floor Drug Deal On Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 12:24 p.m., UPD received an anonymous call in regards to a suspect drug deal taking place on the fourth floor of the library. UPD canvassed the library but was unable to locate the suspects. Elevator Woes On Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 8:28 p.m., two people
were stuck in the Garage B elevator. UPD attempted to contact the individuals through the elevator phone, but it was clear from camera footage that they were unable to hear dispatch. UPD eventually reached the individuals, who were found to be okay. Slashed On Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 2:15 p.m., a complainant came into UPD stating that
the tires on her car had been slashed in Garage 3. UPD was unable to review camera footage, and told the complainant that they would notify her if any information was uncovered. Golf Cart Calamity On Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7:01 p.m., a complainant advised UPD that someone in a black pick up truck with a red stripe threw a water bottle at her while
she was on a golf cart. Animal Control On Thursday, Feb. 23 at 2:59 p.m., UPD received notification of an alligator sitting in the grassy area between the grassy area and the walkway of Garage 1. UPD contacted biology professors to help remove the animal. Code Blue
On Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:53 p.m., a complainant called on the code blue pole to state that someone had stolen his iPhone and that he was going to “bust down someone’s door.” The phone cut off before units arrived.
jumped off his skateboard just before the shuttle ran over the skateboard and broke it. The complainant was advised to contact Dolphin Transport.
Skateboard Blues
On Friday, Feb. 24 at 3:36 p.m., a complainant’s bike was stolen from in front of the Wells Fargo ATM. UPD has not yet located the bike.
On Friday, Feb. 24 at 11:40 a.m., a SOVI shuttle made a right turn while a skateboarder had a right of way. The complainant
Stolen Bike
SG Elections
Former SG senator is sole independent candidate Student Will Buno running for treasurer with own party
Photo courtesy of Will Buno Will Buno, who is currently serving as the president of the fraternity Phi Beta Sigma and served as an SG senator for the Lutgert College of Business during the 201516 school year, is the sole independent candidate in the SG 2017 Election. Buno is running for treasurer with his own party, LETS Party.
By Alexandra Figares Assistant News Editor @fgcueaglenews Three names will appear on the ballot for Student Government treasurer for the 201718 school year. Two of them will claim either the FGCU Eagle Pride Party or the FGCU Fusion Party, and one will remain independent.
Business management major Will Buno will run against candidates Jason Finan from the Eagle Pride Party and Jamar Powell from the Fusion Party for SG treasurer. “I wanted to run for myself with my own platform to switch it up,” Buno said. “It’s almost as if they [student government] are passing the torch. President Thieldens
Elneus’s Vice President, Emmalyn Green, is running for President and Secretary Jalisa White is running for Vice President etc. I wanted to represent something different. I wanted to represent those who felt they didn’t have a voice and those who didn’t agree with either of the two parties.” Buno, who is president of the fraternity Phi Beta
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procedures. Bruno said that RSO treasurers often resign halfway through the semester, requiring a replacement. By the time a replacement is appointed, training on these procedures have long passed, leaving treasurers in the dark and organizations without funding. To prevent a lack of communication between treasurers and SG, part of Buno’s platform includes having RSO executive board members train with their respective treasurers. As elections come to a close, Buno wants to remind students to choose carefully and vote based on what candidates have done in the past as opposed to what they plan on doing. “A lot of people say they’re going to do something for you. Look at their track record. Look at who’s been to your organizations and meetings,” Buno said. “Are they committed? Don’t just look at an individual look at the entire party.” After two weeks of campaigns, elections will close Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Cohen Center Fish Bowl. “It’s just the beginning. I want students to know you don’t have to do this with a party,” said Buno. “If you have a vision or a dream, it can happen. All you have to do is put in the time, effort and believe in your cause.”
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Sigma and has served as an SG senator in the past, introduced his campaign under the platform “LET’S Party.” LET’S is its own acronym that stands for: L for leadership, E for education, T for tradition and S for student success. Building leaders through education, while creating traditions and encouraging student
success is a way Buno intends to improve the university. Hosting more events and creating further opportunities for tabling is a major element in Buno’s campaign. Bruno said that students often complain about the university’s lack of activities on campus and he attributes it to lack of communication and education between SGA and registered student organizations; consequently, affecting students. By hosting frequent events and handing out items such as Frisbees, cups and t-shirts, Buno believes students will feel more engaged and feel like the university cares about them. “A lot of students don’t know about the 200 plus RSO’s we have,” Buno said. “Student organizations on campus are underfunded and can’t use events to attract students. They’re limited to the access they have to students.” In the past, Buno reports he has paid out of pocket to fund organizations who were denied the necessary funding to host events or didn’t know the procedure to approach SG for funding. RSO’s must follow a procedure to request funding from SG. During the fall semester, treasurers of RSO’s undergo training with SG to learn these
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A5
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FGCU student creates new registered student organization
Photo courtesy of Kayla Reiter (Left) Lacey Scotti, the vice president of Breathe, a new RSO on campus, tables in the Cohen Center atrium alongside club president Kayla Reiter (right). Reiter, who is running for SG senate with the College of Arts and Sciences with the FGCU Fusion Party, launched Breathe with the goal of spreading awareness for mental health issues.
By Julia Baruffi Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Breathe is a new organization on campus that’s dedicated to promoting a healthy body image and advocating for the awareness of mental illnesses. Run by President Kayla Reiter and Vice President Lacey Scotti, this organization will spread awareness for issues like mental health, eating disorders and suicide prevention. Reiter, who is running
for SG senate with the College of Arts and Sciences in the 2017 SG elections with the FGCU Fusion Party, said that she would like to make students aware that there are students on campus struggling with mental illness. “Everyone knows someone who is struggling or has struggled with mental illness,” Reiter said. Reiter wants to stop the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Scotti, while not having a personal experience with eating disorders, wants to ensure
that students have a safe space to reach out to on campus. Scotti said that Reiter wanted to start this organization because she has suffered from personal issues, such as anxiety and an eating disorder. “I have my own health conditions --- and being best friends, we are always there for each other,” Scotti said. “So, with this club, we hope to show other students suffering from mental illnesses or other problems that they have a support group at this university.” Reiter started this
organization because she knows what it is like to be in a dark place. She said that every 23 minutes, a person dies from anorexia. Through Breathe, the duo hopes to help students feel safe at our university. Reiter said that while in treatment, there is little to no story of hope and reaching recovery. She wants to change that belief by giving back to those who are struggling with any mental illness. Breathe currently does not have a set meeting time or place. On Feb. 23, Breathe held its first
informational meeting and has plans to hold another one soon. The members hope to be able to hold events that will create awareness once they secure a larger following. One goal is to hold a walk at the end of the semester to show solidarity for their cause. They also would like to bring in speakers who can share their own personal story of hope and recovery. Breathe is also open to all students. As stated in their by-laws, “This club does not restrict against any student.
Breathe, seeks to support students who have, or are currently struggling with mental illnesses, as well as those who want to support friends, family, and community members who live with a mental illness. This organization seeks to be a safe free zone and students who cannot comply will be asked to dissociate with the organization.” Students that are interested in joining Breathe, or have questions, can contact Reiter through Eagle Link.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
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Letter from the editor
Dear readers and writers, My name is Julia Browning and I am the new entertainment & lifestyle editor at Eagle News. Entertainment & lifetsyle encompasses so much of our daily lives. It is art, technology, travel, music, television, movies and so much more. If you’re interested in writing about any of those subjects, as they pertain to our unique lives as FGCU students, please get in contact with me and join our team. FGCU and the surrounding Fort Myers area is teeming with interesting people, ideas and events. If you know of anything going on, or anyone worth being featured, pitch the idea or nominate the person to be included in our weekly paper. I look forward to hearing from each of you! Sincerely, Julia Browning entertainment@eaglenews.org
‘Typography’ highlights a misunderstood art form
Photo courtesy of FGCU professor Sasha Minsky Art viewers gather as professor Sasha Minsky and professor Jesse Millner give their opening statements, presenting FGCU’s ArtLab’s latest exhibit,“Visual Language: The Art of Typography and Creative Writing,” which combines their course topics taught at FGCU, creative writing and typography.
By Charlotte Slabach Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Typography, which is described by professor Sasha Minsky as “the design and creation of type,” is a field of design that is often misunderstood. FGCU’s latest ArtLab exhibit is hoping to change that. On Thursday, Feb. 23, FGCU’s ArtLab introduced “Visual Language: The Art of Typography and Creative Writing.” This exhibit is the result of a collaboration between Minsky’s Special Topics Advanced Typography course and professor Jesse Millner’s Narrative Techniques creative writing course. Minsky chose four short stories from Millner’s students and then allowed her students to choose which story they would like to work with for an
installation typography piece. “The goal was to get people to look at typography in a whole new way,” Minsky said. She encouraged the students to focus on the “environment and experience” when creating their work. The 12 students had eight weeks to complete the project. They used a variety of materials for their work, including glass, wood, resin, vinyl, watercolor, Plexiglas and wire. While some of the students had prior typography backgrounds, others did not. Many of the students also had not had their work shown in a gallery prior to this. Some of the work hangs from the ceiling; one piece covers a window; and one student even built a desk by hand and stenciled words on to it. Marile Franco, one of the student artists,
described her experience as finding “beauty in the pain,” and said that her work required a lot of close attention to detail. “The meaningful interpretations of the written works and craftsmanship was impressive, and the students should be very proud of their accomplishments,” Minsky said. Until the gallery opening, Millner and his four writing students had not seen any of the artwork. “It’s amazing,” said Taylor Sweat, one of the student writers. “It’s really inspiring that they took these works of art that are just on paper and turned them into actual art hanging on the walls. It’s just really cool to see.” For Millner, it was all about the students. “The only thing that I did was have the students write, and what came out of that is just amazing,”
Millner said. “I appreciate how this is really bringing the language to life.” Minsky had the same sentiment. “I am incredibly proud of their dedication, innovation and working together to develop truly impactful pieces of installation typography,” Minsky said. “It was an honor to be part of the process and supporting the
students as they developed unique creative solutions to showcase typography as an art form and bring their work to life.” Minsky often brings up the idea of a creative community, whether it be in an interview, the opening statement for the exhibit or one of her classes. In preparing this exhibit, she had one main goal in mind.
“My hope is for these emerging typographers and all design students to continue to build a creative community, support and inspire one another to push their imagination and skills to the next level,” Minsky said. The exhibit is open until March 30 in the FGCU ArtLab Gallery, located on the first floor of the Library.
Photo courtesy of FGCU professor Sasha Minsky The latest FGCU ArtLab exhibit was meant to celebrate the misunderstod and underrated beauty of the written word, “Visual Language: The Art of Typography and Creative Writing.”
Nashville style comes to Downtown Fort Myers By Julia Browning E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo Nashville style, local music and a fun and rambunctious atmosphere will collide this upcoming Saturday, March 4 with The Hideaway, hosting its “Songwriter Music Jam.” Brandan James, who recently released his debut single, “Four Wheel Drive,” will be joined on stage Saturday by the two friends who have helped Photo courtesy of Brandan James him through out his music Brandan James, an FGCU student who has had a love for music since a young age, recently released his debut single “Four career. Wheel Drive,” which was produced in Nashville. He plans to travel back after graduation to finish recording his first album. Jordan Miller and Keefe
Klugg helped James by cowriting his music. “Jordan Miller is a great songwriter that will be coming down from Tallahassee, Florida. He just released his single, ‘Whiskey,’” James said. “Keefe Klugg is a local Fort Myers favorite and will be joining us as well.” The first hour will be a Nashville-style writers round where each artist takes turns singing original music they have written. Afterward, the group will switch over to play some familiar hits and fan favorites, closing the show.
“We have been known to get a little rowdy when we get together, so it’s definitely going to be something you don’t want to miss,” James said. According to James’ website, his past ventures into music have included jamming amongst some of Nashville’s best songwriters at festivals such as “The Island Hopper Songwriters Festival.” The FGCU student has also opened up for popular country artist Colt Ford at the Flogrown Music Festival in Orlando.
EDITOR: JULIA BROWNING ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
DIY ‘mocktails’ add alcohol free fun
By Deanna Simmons Staff Writer @WondercatDee
Curated this week by Assistant Opinion Editor, Sam Palmisano
Chill out acoustics 1. “Once In a While - Acoustic” - Timeflies 2. “Sour Patch Kids - Acoustic Redux” - Bryce Vine 3. “Woke The F*ck Up - Acoustic” - Jon Bellion 4. “Shape of You - Acoustic” - Ed Sheeran 5. “Starving - Acoustic” - Hailee Steinfeld, Grey, Zedd 6. “I Was Made For Loving You” - Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran 7. “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - Acoustic” - John Mayer 8. “Cherry Wine - Live” - Hozier 9. “Steal My Girl - Acoustic” - One Direction 10. “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” - Adele
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
Mocktails have become a new party trend for people who appreciate unique flavors and want to avoid the next-morning penalties that come from a night of drinking. Try this new trend with the recipes below. The first mocktail is the Dark Invader. Just like the name, it’s a dark purple drink that sounds a lot like Darth Vader. Gather eleven blackberries, one and a half ounces of pineapple juice, one half ounce of vanilla syrup and ice. Then, combine one cup of sugar and one cup of water in a small saucepan and bring it over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Make sure to stir. Bring the mixture to a slow and rolling boil, and reduce the temperature to medium-low and cook for five minutes. Then, transfer the mixture to a glass container. Let it cool to room temperature before use. In the absence of a cocktail shaker, use a sports bottle or travel mug. Combine nine of the blackberries, the juice and the syrup into the shaker
of your choice and shake together. Once that’s done, add the ice and shake it really hard for thirty seconds, then put into the glass of your choosing. You can then use the two remaining blackberries as garnishes. Another fun drink is the Sparkling Cucumber Limeade. What you’ll need for this one is a cup of sugar, one tablespoon of lime zest, a cup of water, one fourth cup of mint leaves, one cup of lime juice, one cucumber and two cups of chilled sparkling water. First, combine the sugar, lime zest and water into a saucepan and bring it to medium heat. Bring it to a simmer and stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Once that happens, remove it from the heat and stir in the mint. You’ll have to wait thirty minutes for this one to be ready,
so, while you wait, make yourself a Dark Invader. Once the thirty minutes goes by, strain in the lime syrup and combine that with the lime juice and cucumber. Refrigerate it for an hour and when it’s ready to serve, add the sparkling water and serve it over a cup of ice. Then there’s always the classic Shirley Temple. This pretty pink drink named after the child star is sure to wet your whistle. What you’ll need is one part grenadine, eight parts ginger ale and maraschino cherries. For effect, you can also add pop rocks to the rim of your glass. Add four tablespoons of grenadine syrup to sixteen ounces of ginger ale. You can then garnish the drink with a maraschino cherry. These mocktails are sure to impress your friends at your next gathering.
Photo courtesy of Flickr via user Robert Parviainen “Mocktails” are a fun way to add a bit of flavor to any party without alcohol.
‘Italian Pianist From Japan!’ impresses audiences By Julia Browning E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo Giuseppe Mariotti, assisted by Michael Baron, gave a skilled piano performance featuring works from acclaimed and challenging composers at “Italian Pianist From Japan!.” The show was presented on Feb. 24 by FGCU’s Bower School of Music and the arts. The program began with works by Franz Schubert (1797-1828), a complicated composer who, according to a biography by Brian Newbould, was so compulsively dedicated to his work that he produced around 1,000 works in only 18 years. Most of his works were celebrated after his death.
The first song the pianists played was “Sonata in A Minor, D784” broken into three parts, “Allegro giusto,” “Andante” and “Allegro vivace.” According to the program notes of Thomas M. Cimarusti, an Associate Professor of Musicology at FGCU, the Sonata didn’t receive its full recognition until after the composer’s death, just like most of the work he did throughout his life. The next work was Schubert’s “Drie Klavierstucke, D946,” which was broken up into “Allegro Assai,” “Allegretto” and “Allegro.” According to Cimarusti, the three collections in this work are often referred to as “impromptus” or a type of song that’s more freeflowing and improvised.
The next song was “Two Elegies from Elegies, BV249” by Ferrucio Busoni (1866-1924), an Italian composer who also worked as a conductor, teacher, writer and editor.
According to Cimarusti, Elegies is a piano set most frequently performed together as a set of six pieces that are each titled like chapters and tell a unique story.
EN Photo / Kim Smith Talented and critically acclaimed pianist, Giuseppe Mariotti, impressed the crowd with his versions of complicated classics.
The next song was “Sonata No. 6, BV284 (Chamber Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen),” another work by Busoni. The title is a reference to the four-act opera “Carmen” by French composer Georges Bizet. According to Cimarusti, Busoni connected with the comedic nature of the opera by requiring the performer to take on the many personalities of all the characters within the play. “Fantasia for a Mechanical Clock, K 608” played next, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Busoni. According to Cimarusti, it was a work Mozart detested but took on at the request of Count Josef Deym because he was in need of the money. However, Busoni’s piano
transcription of the song is one of the composer’s best works. The final work of the evening was another pairing of Mozart and Busoni with “Overture to The Magic Flute” for two pianos. “The Magic Flute” is a two-part opera by Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. According to Cimarusti, it tells the story of the Queen of the Night’s attempts to persuade the rescue of her daughter. Overall, the performances by Mariotti and Baron were entertaining, beautiful and masterly crafted, a fitting ode to the composers who created art that transcends generations.
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EDITOR: JULIA BROWNING ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
Narrative Coffee Roasters to brew coffee that ‘cultivates community and culture’
Photo courtesy of narrativecoffeeroasters Instagram Fort Myers native’s Mason, Clayton and Caleb are turning their love for coffee into a business with Narrative Coffee Roaster’s, a coffee shop coming soon to the Fort Myers area.
By Julia Baruffi Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Narrative Coffee Roasters is an up-andcoming local coffee shop. Created by three friends, this coffee company has big plans for the Fort
Myers area. Mason, the company’s graphic designer, has been living in Fort Myers since 2013. He loves the culture and is excited to see it grow. Clayton, the CFO, has had a passion for the art of coffee and has dived head first into the world of bean
Photo courtesy of narrativecoffeeroasters Instagram According to Narrative Coffee Roaster’s social media accounts, the team pledged to hand deliver coffee to the people who donated to their Kickstarter account.
brewery. Caleb is a selfproclaimed roast master who has been in the business since 2010. He is passionate about the communication that coffee can bring. Eagle News reached out to Narrative Coffee Roasters and they weren’t available to comment. According to their website, their mission is to cultivate community and culture within the city and surrounding areas. They believe that they can reach people by telling the story of coffee. Narrative Coffee Roasters is unique to the area because of its handselected coffee beans and its ability to bring people together over a cup of joe. The shop claims to be a micro-roaster. This is the complex concept of roasting the beans to achieve the desired flavor and richness. Micro-roasting is unique because it roasts the beans in smaller portions. This method is considered to produce the besttasting coffee. Narrative Coffee Roasters uses this technique which puts them at an advantage over larger scale companies. To achieve the perfect coffee, Caleb, a roast master
and self-proclaimed coffee genius, has to oversee each bean. The most popular way to create a good cup of coffee is to roast the beans and then cool them down using a drum machine. The drum machine will shake up the beans while blowing hot air on them. This method can take a significantly larger amount of time rather than submerging the beans in cold water. However, the beans will hold more flavor and body. This ensures that the coffee will be of better quality. Coffee of this caliber can come at a pretty penny, but Narrative Coffee Roasters promises that the consumer is one of the first things in their mind when selecting their coffee, according to their website. The coffee company has big plans for the future. Currently, they are still looking for the perfect location to set up shop. According to their website, the team has decided that Fort Myers is in need of a new culture. They would like to bring good coffee and the growth of diversity back to the city. At this time, they are trying to spread the word about their unique brand.
Photo courtesy of narrativecoffeeroasters Instagram Fort Myers native, Mason, works as the company’s graphic designer creating artistic designs and logos like those seen on their bags.
Photo courtesy of narrativecoffeeroasters Instagram Narrative Coffee Roaster’s hosted their first event on Feb. 14 so the local community can get familiar with their brand.
Narrative Coffee Roasters has created a Kickstarter account which will allow them to start up their company as a brick and mortar. The team had a goal of $15,000 by Feb. 12 and the company only raised $5,854. In the meantime, Narrative Coffee Roasters can be found around downtown Fort Myers
offering samples of their unique coffee. They have walked around Art Walk in Downtown Fort Myers handing out free samples of their coffee. The company is reachable through their website, narrativecoffeeroasters. com, and various social media accounts.
NBC’s ‘This is Us’ will make you wish you were a part of the family
Photo courtesy of Ron Batzdorff of NBC Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia star as the heart-warming parents in NBC’s “This Is Us.” The pair makes you feel like you know them while watching the multiple character stories unfold as the show progresses.
By Jordan Scoggins Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews Chances are, if you have had any form of social interaction within the last three or four months, you’ve heard of NBC’s new hit show “This Is Us.” Just in case you’ve been
living under a rock and have missed out on this, let me fill you in. (Warning: spoilers ahead.) The first episode left some people confused as it followed what seemed to be two separate story lines — Jack (Milo Ventimiglia of “Gilmore Girls”) and Rebecca Pearson (Mandy
Moore of “A Walk to Remember”) during the delivery of their triplets, and that of three random 30-somethings, Kate, Kevin and Randall. How are all these people connected? At first, it would seem only by the fact that they all share a birthday. However, by the end of the first episode, it is clear that Jack and Rebecca’s triplets are, in fact, Kate, Kevin, and Randall, and the two story lines are the past and the present of the Pearson family. It’s nearly impossible not to become attached to Jack and Rebecca as they lose one of their triplets during delivery and, on the same day, adopt Randall, who was left, abandoned, on the front steps of the local fire station.
However, in an emotional roller coaster not unlike that of NBC’s previous, family-based, hit show “Parenthood,” “This Is Us” includes surprises in every episode that will leave you laughing, crying and wishing that your family was a little more like the Pearson’s. “This Is Us” pulls you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the journey, as it follows the Pearson family through their present-day lives while it simultaneously gives glimpses into their past. You’ll swoon at the love shared between Rebecca and Jack and then wonder, just five minutes later, what happened to cause his death when it is revealed that he has passed away and Rebecca has married his
best friend. You’ll cry every week as Randall continues to develop a relationship with his dying birth father, who he has tracked down with the help of a private investigator. Your heart will break each time Kevin realizes how similar to his father he really is. You’ll cheer as Kate’s love interest reminds her that he wants to be with her, regardless of her size. “This Is Us” works so well because there is a piece in every episode that we can all relate to. As it addresses so many issues that are relevant to today in a graceful, goodhumored and emotional manner, it is sure to reel you in and keep you hooked. The show is also
critically acclaimed as it has earned two Golden Globe nominations. One is for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries and Television Movie for Mandy Moore and Best Television Series. The show also earned one Screen Actor Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for Sterling K. Brown. If you’ve missed out on it so far, there’s still hope for you. All 17 episodes are available on nbc.com. Then, once you’re caught up, you can continue tuning in every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC.
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Men’s basketball routs Stetson to advance to ASUN Championship Semifinal
(Left) Demetris Morant (far right) slammed home one of three dunks to propel a 12-0 run by the Eagles. (Right) Brandon Goodwin celebrated Eagles win despite exiting the game with bruised right hip.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Edging out Stetson 80-70 just five days ago, the top-seeded FGCU men’s basketball punched its ticket to the ASUN Championship Semifinal with an 87-57 victory over the eight-seeded Hatters. “I thought our guys had a good energy level to begin the game, and the ball moved a lot better than it did the other night,” FGCU head coach Joe Dooley
said. “Our defense after the first few minutes was much better. We defended the 3-point line and didn’t give up as many easy baskets.” Scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Zach Johnson led a quartet of double-figure scorers with hot shooting in the second half to secure the Eagles’ place in the ASUN Championship Semifinal. “Statistically during the course of the year he’s been a better second-half player,” Dooley said. “He did a really good job of not forcing it in
the first half when he didn’t have looks. In the second half, he got on a little bit of a roll and it was good to see him get going.” In the return of Mr. Double-Double, MarcEddy Norelia paced the Eagles’ offense in the first half, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight boards. After coming up short of a double-double in the first half, Norelia secured his second double-double of the season finishing with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Following his 0-10
performance from long range against the Hatters on Thursday, Feb. 23 Christian Terrell was on the mark from behind the arc in the first half, scoring nine points on 3-6 shooting from long range, before ending the night with 12 points. On the eve of being named ASUN Newcomer of the Year, Brandon Goodwin finished with 13 points before exiting the game in the second half with a bruised hip. After struggling against Stetson’s zone defense in
their previous match up, the Eagles were able to get going early thanks to Terrell’s strong play from behind the arc and Norelia’s strong play in the paint and on the glass. Thriving off of the electric 3,744 fans at Alico Arena, the Eagles rode a 12-0 run to close out the first half thanks to three consecutive dunks by Demetris Morant, Norelia and Rayjon Tucker that had the crowd on their feet. After leading 33-28 with five minutes left to play in
EN Photos / Brad Young
the first half, the Eagles’ 12-0 run propelled them to a 48-30 lead at the half. Coming out of the intermission FGCU’s offense went ice cold, going 4:16 without scoring a bucket during the first eight minutes of the half. Allowing the Hatters to cut the deficit to 12, 5240, Johnson countered Stetson’s 7-0 run
>> Continued on B4
Men’s basketball earns postseason awards
EN Photo / Brad Young Representing FGCU in the ASUN postseason awards, Joe Dooley, Demetris Morant and Brandon Goodwin received accolades.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois
The FGCU men’s basketball team adds to their already successful season with honors for Bradon Goodwin, Demetris Morant and coach Joe Dooley. Goodwin was named the ASUN Newcomer of the Year, Morant as the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and Dooley as ASUN Coach of the Year. Goodwin was also named to the five-player ASUN First Team. The redshirt junior transfer becomes the first player in program history to be named the ASUN Newcomer of the Year. Goodwin leads the team in points (18 per game) and assists (3.8 per game), ranking fourth and fifth in the ASUN. The transfer already has 541 points, which is on track to break the program’s single-season scoring record set last year by Norelia (597). Goodwin was also
named the ASUN Newcomer of the Week six times this season and recently became the first player in ASUN history to be named both the league’s Player of the Week and its Newcomer of the Week. Morant lived up to his ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor as the 6-9 forward led the league in blocks with 1.5 per game en route to becoming the second FGCU player to be named ASUN Defensive Player of the Year. The redshirt senior blocked 46 shots this year — six more than anyone else in the ASUN. He had at least one block in all but four games. Morant was one of just three players in the league to average double-figure points (11.7) and at least nine rebounds (9). The forward is averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, fourth in the ASUN. Totaling 246 rebounds, Morant secured the thirdmost rebounds in DI single-season program history. During games
against Georgia Southern and Jacksonville, Morant grabbed 17 rebounds. Dooley becomes the first of FGCU’s three head coaches in the program’s DI period to be named ASUN Coach of the Year. Dooley guided the team to finish 12-2 in the ASUN for a program-best .857 winning percentage, helping to claim its first outright regular-season title in program history. Since taking over the Eagles in 2013-14, Dooley has guided FGCU to 88 wins and postseason appearances in all four seasons. This year, FGCU is averaging 79.4 points per game, two points better than last year’s record of 77.2. Dooley has the Eagles connecting at a 50.2-percent clip from the floor this year, along with possessing a 5.8 rebound margin. Defensively, the Eagles have led the ASUN in scoring defense in three of Dooley’s four years at FGCU.
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
Women’s basketball falls short of regular season crown in overtime By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 With a chance to claim its seventh consecutive ASUN regular-season title in its regular-season finale, the FGCU women’s basketball team fell short of the regular-season crown with a 67-64 loss to Stetson in overtime. Leading the way on offense in the Eagles loss, Erica Nelson finished with 17 points despite only playing 17 minutes due to foul trouble. Playing a season-high 45 minutes, Jordin Alexander finished with 15 points. Joining Alexander and Nelson in double figures, China Dow and Tytiona Adderly finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. With the game tied at 54 with two seconds remaining in the fourth
quarter, Dow in-bounded the ball to Rosemarie Julien right under the net, but Julien’s effort just missed the basket as both teams headed into overtime to determine the regularseason winner. Despite swapping the first eight points in overtime with the Eagles, Stetson took a 60-58 lead with 1:14 remaining thanks to a jumper by Brittney Chambers. Drawing a foul on the ensuing possession, Adderly went 1-2 from the charity stripe to bring the Eagles within one. After McKenna Beach converted both of her free throws to push the Hatters lead to three, 62-59, Dow converted a lay up in traffic to bring the Eagles within one. With time against them, the Eagles quickly fouled following Dow’s lay-in to
send Stetson to the line with 13.4 seconds on the clock. Brianti Saunders went 2-2 from the line to push the Hatters lead to three, 64-61. After Stetson increased its lead, a turnover by the Eagles put the final nail in the coffin, as they committed an in-bounds infraction that turn the ball back over to Stetson with 12.1 seconds remaining. The Hatters knocked down three more freethrows to push their lead to six with four seconds remaining before Dow knocked down a three to secure the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the ASUN tournament with a 67-64 victory over FGCU. “We just didn’t make the last play,” FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. “We were in a position to win the game, and we just came up a little short. I
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
Marc-Eddy Norelia Position: Forward Redshirt Senior 6 feet 8 inches Hometown: Orlando, Florida In the return of Mr. Double-Double, Marc-Eddy Norelia paced the Eagles’ offense in the first half of the quarterfinals against No. 8 Stetson, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds. After coming up short of a doubledouble in the first half, Norelia secured his second double-double of the season finishing with 12 points and 15 rebounds Monday, Feb. 27 night. Norelia’s 15 rebounds was a seasonhigh rebound total as the team totaled 51 rebounds on the night. This record was three short of matching his career high rebounds of 18. The 6-foot-8-inche forward shot 50 percent from the field on 6-12 shooting from the clip.
thought our kids played hard. There were just a few too many mental mistakes to win the game. I’m sure there are a lot of plays down the stretch that we’ll be reliving. We just needed one more play.” Seeing the Eagles honor their four seniors prior to the last regular-season game of their collegiate careers, Nelson talked about her pursuit of the
ASUN tournament title following their loss. “I want it a lot,” Nelson said. “Just from my year not winning (a championship) at Johnson County and just wanting to experience that with the seniors. Like Jordi (Jordin Alexander), just seeing her face after made me hurt even more because she’s out here playing 45 minutes.” With the second seed in
the ASUN Tournament, the Eagles will take on UNF on Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. After losing to Jacksonville in the final last year, FGCU will look to book a trip to the NCAA tournament with a successful swing in the ASUN tournament.
EN Photo / Brad Young After losing the final regular season game, junior Taylor Gradinjan (left) consoles teammate senior Jordin Alexander (right).
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FGCU softball finishes 3-5 at FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois
EN Photo / Brad Young A walk-off home run from Racquel Fournet allowed FGCU to capture a 3-1 win over ACC-foe Boston College.
The FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational got off to a strong start for the Eagles as they won threestraight games the first two days of the event. The Eagles came out victorious over Boston College 3-1 and earned a 10-2 win over Hofstra to close out the first day. FGCU started off strong Saturday, Feb. 25 against Rutgers, earning a 6-5 win but suffered their first loss later that day against Wisconsin, 0-6. To wrap up their tournament, FGCU suffered a tough 1-6 loss over FIU Sunday, Feb. 26. Boston College scored first, but Riley Randolph limited the visitors, allowing FGCU to begin their comeback coming into the third. Unable to bring in runners, the Eagles caught a break in the seventh when Emily Demurais ran off of Racquel Fournet’s reach, sending Brittany McGuire to score. Fournet drilled a 3-1 pitch to right, giving FGCU a 3-1 win. Randolph ended the day with seven strikeouts over nine innings while allowing just two hits. Fournet and Kelsey Huff each collected two hits, with McGuire and Fournet driving in runs. Concluding day one,
FGCU faced Hofstra and earned a strong 10-2 win over the Pride. FGCU immediately took advantage of two Hofstra errors in the first inning, propelling their dominant performance. With the Eagles leading 3-0, Jeanie Verderese plated both Bri Innamorato and LuLu Newmark to finish off a five-run inning. Taylor Wade continued to shut down the Pride, allowing the Eagles to come out on top 10-2. McGuire and Natalie Lopez led FGCU with three hits while Huff and Fournet each added two. FGCU earned a close 6-5 win over Rutgers in two days, but suffered a 0-6 sweep against Wisconsin. The Eagles took an early lead after Fournet’s RBI to score in Huff. Yet, the lead was short-lived as the Knights responded in the third. As the game reached the final two innings, play was back and forth between the Eagles and the Knights. However, Morgan Sutherland walked to tie the game at 5-5 while Huff delivered a walk-off single to come back and win 6-5. Morgan White threw 0.2 innings with a strikeout, while Gabbee Draney allowed only one run on six hits in the first four innings. Wade pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Huff, Lopez and Fournet
all had multi-hit games and Huff ended the game with two RBIs. In the second game of day two, Wisconsin took an early lead with a home run off Randolph and dominated from there on. FGCU was unable to bring in runners given the opportunities, as the Badgers continued to tack on to their score. A single and a two-run homer increased the deficit to 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth where FGCU put pressure on the Badgers but was unable to comeback. Randolph went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. White pitched the final three innings, allowing three runs on four hits, as both pitchers recorded two strikeouts. Tournament play ended on a low-note for the Eagles as they suffered a tough 1-6 loss against FIU Sunday afternoon. An early 4-0 deficit and three errors was too much to overcome for the team as they fell to their in-state rivals. FGCU had a chance to get back into the game early when Fournet drew a twoout walk in the first but was unable to capitalize. Error after error for the Eagles made the team trail 6-0, until Fournet scored in the sixth, but with two outs, FGCU fell 6-1 to the Panthers.
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
Swim team wraps up regular season at Last Chance Meet By Jesse Martin Staff Writer @JesseMartin247 Four members of the FGCU women’s swim team traveled to Gainesville to compete in the Last Chance Meet at UF on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25. Doris Eichhorn and Katie Latham placed first in their events and turned in NCAA “B” cut times. Unfortunately, those “B” cut times will not be enough to surpass the NCAA Championships qualifying line. Latham finished with her second fastest time of the season in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the pads in 22.49 seconds. Eichhorn also competed in the 50 free. She got seventh place with a time of 23.08 seconds. Her time of 54.08 in the 100yard backstroke was good enough for the first-place finish. FGCU teammates
Racing in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley at the NCAA Championship, Christina Kaas Elmgreen has a 200-yard butterfly that ranks 26th in the country.
Fanny Teijonsalo and Evita Leter were planning to compete, but chose to use a declared false start and not compete in their events. “Getting an opportunity to try and qualify for the NCAAs is unique,” FGCU head coach Dave Rollins said in a recent FGCU
Athletics press release. “It gives these young women one more chance to prove they are one of the fastest in the country. I am proud of how they raced and supported each other. We now refocus on NCAAs and getting Christina (Kaas Elmgreen) and our relay
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
Photo by Linwood Ferguson
ready to take on the best of the best in the country.” FGCU will still be competing at the NCAA Championships for a sixth straight season. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Latham, Gracie Redding, Hannah Burdge and Teijonsalo
finished with a NCAA “A” cut and school record at the CCSA conference championship meet. Sophomore Kaas Elmgreen has a 200-yard butterfly that ranks 26th in the country with a school record time of 1:56.24. Kaas Elmgreen will also
be racing in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley. The NCAA Championships take place in Indianapolis from Wednesday, March 15 to March 18.
>> Men’s basketball continued from B1
Eagles out-rebounded the Hatters 51-24, with their 51 rebounds marking FGCU’s highest rebound total in an ASUN tournament contest. “Coach put emphasis on boxing out and rebounding the ball, and I think we did that very well today,” Morant said. Due in part to the Eagles play on the glass, FGCU scored 16 second-chance points thanks to 16 offensive rebounds With their 87-57 victory over Stetson, marking the Eagles second most points in an ASUN tournament
game and the second largest margin of victory, the Eagles will take on fifthseeded Kennesaw State in the ASUN Men’s Basketball Championship Semifinal on Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. “It’s just a regular game for us,” Terrell said. “We feel really good after this game. Our defense was great. Our rebounding was great, and we made shots. We’re excited to play and excited to get a win and go to the ASUN Championship.”
with back-to-back threes to push the Eagles lead back up to 16. Johnson’s second-half dominance continued as he propelled the Eagles offense to a 25-point lead before the reserves came hit the hardwood to close out FGCU’s Quarterfinal victory. Complementing the Eagles’ 50 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from behind the arc, the
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
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This week in athletics Softball vs. UCF
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois After hosting the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational, the FGCU softball is set to host UCF Wednesday, March 1 at 4:30 p.m. Following this home game, the Eagles will then travel to Orlando to take part in the UCF Spring Fling
Men’s basketball vs. Kennesaw State ASUN Semifinals
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois Following a dominate 87-57 win over No. 8 Stetson in the quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 27, the No. 1 FGCU men’s basketball team will take on No. 5 Kennesaw State Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. The Eagles are coming off one of their
Baseball at UNC Wilmington Series
By Saul Garcia Staff Writer @saul_434 The FGCU baseball team will open the weekend series against UNC Wilmington on Friday, March 3 at 4 p.m. in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Eagles will continue the next day, Saturday, March 4 at 2 p.m. and will wrap up play Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs. This is the first away games for the Eagles, who look to improve on last year’s away record of 11-18. Next, the Eagles will look forward to a midweek clash of a two-game series against the Florida Gators starting Tuesday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Tournament. These two teams met twice last season at the UCF Spring Fling Tournament with the Knights taking both games. The first game was a 0-8 sweep, with the second game having a much closer score of 3-5. This will only be the second time these two Florida teams meet. Last season were the first match ups against these teams.
best games of the season against the Hatters heading into the semifinal matchup against the Owls. Kennesaw State is coming off a close 80-78 victory over No. 4 USC Upstate Monday, Feb. 27. The last time these two teams met was Feb. 11 at Alico Arena, where the Eagles came out on top 75-63.
Women’s basketball vs. UNF ASUN Quarterfinals
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois After suffering a tough 64-67 loss against Stetson to close-out their regular season schedule, the No. 2 FGCU women’s basketball team will take on No. 4 UNF in the quarterfinals Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. UNF is coming off a 59-
69 loss against Jacksonville to end their regular season play. The last time FGCU and UNF met was Feb. 8 at Alico Arena where the Eagles beat the Ospreys 6946. The Eagles went 2-0 against the No. 4 UNF this season.
Softball at UCF Spring Fling Tournament By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois After facing the UCF Knights, the FGCU softball team will head to Orlando to take part in the UCF Spring Fling Tournament. This two-day tournament includes Providence and UCF. Last season was the first time the Eagles took part in this tournament and was the first time playing UCF and only the second time playing Providence, who they played back in 2013, with the score favoring FGCU 10-2. During the tournament last year, the Eagles
played UCF, Indiana State, Lehigh and RV Utah. FGCU came away with two wins over Indiana State 5-1, and Lehigh 2-0. The Eagles will take on Providence Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. They will then continue play on Saturday, March 4 against both Providence and UCF. The game against Providence will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the game against UCF at 5 p.m. FGCU will close out the tournament with one last game against Providence, Sunday, March 5 at 11 a.m.
Men’s golf at Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois Coming off the Legacy Intercollegiate in Longwood, Florida, hosted by Stetson, the men’s golf team will head to Fort Lauderdale to take part in the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate. This two-day event will take place at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club Monday, March 6 with 36 holes and finish up on Tuesday, March 7 with
the final round. This will only be the second tournament for the Eagles so far this semester. Last semester, FGCU went to five tournaments, with the average score being 294.46 at these events. Next, the Eagles will then travel to Leland, North Carolina, to take part in the Cape Fear National Intercollegiate, Sunday, March 19 and Monday, March 20.
OPINION
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Going ‘Beyond the Lines’
Digging deeper into issues of diversity and social justice By Sam Palmisano Assistant Opinion Editor @SamPalmisano We often put things in boxes. We place labels on others and ourselves. We create social boundaries based on these labels. It’s important that we learn to go beyond these things in order to promote unity and equality in our community and on our campus. This past weekend, 50 students — including myself — and faculty members attended the Beyond the Lines: Diversity and Social Justice retreat sponsored by the Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development. At a conference center in Lake Placid we learned all about going deeper into the topics of self-identity and accepting others.
With presentations, activities and discussions on various topics from oppression and privilege to diversity and social justice, we gained a real understanding of each other and ourselves. Ashton Hartley, FGCU’s Coordinator for Student Organization Development, gave a presentation on oppression and microaggressions. Microaggressions, we learned, are indirect, subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group. Some typical microaggressions you may be used to hearing are, “you throw well for a girl” or that all Asians are Chinese. “His lesson on microaggressions made me more aware of how I speak to people and more cautious of how I will speak to people in the future,” said Rori
Photo courtesy of Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development
Attendees of the retreat worked through a challenge course in teams.
Evans, a freshman forensic science major, of Hartley’s presentation. My personal favorite presentation was on privilege. As a straight, white male from a well-off family, I’ve often considered how my privilege affects my day-to-day life. What surprised me, though, was that there are so many privileges I wasn’t aware of. So often we stereotype privileges to mean race, gender or socioeconomic
attended the retreat. When asked about her most important aspect of the trip, she said she appreciated the small group component. “I enjoyed being put into a smaller group of people I didn’t know, connecting with them, and seeing their personal experiences with life issues,” Collazo said. My own small group was a great group of people, led by Coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life Torrie Jackson.
Photo courtesy of Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development
The students and facilitators came together to pose for a group photo.
class. What we don’t realize is that there are many other aspects of privilege. The privilege that surprised me most was education. As college students, we probably don’t consider how fortunate we are to attend college, especially one as amazing as FGCU. Many young adults aren’t privileged enough to receive a college education, or possibly even a high school one. Jay Collazo, a freshman social work major, also
I think the ability to have in-depth discussions with people was also my favorite component, with the large group activities coming at a close second. Beyond being mentally stimulating, the retreat was physically challenging as well. In our small groups, we participated in the challenge course, which were ten team activities designed to promote unity between team members. In addition to the
Photo courtesy of Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development
Torrie Jackson’s (front left) group poses after giving their final presentation on what it means to go “Beyond the Lines.”
challenge course, basketball was a huge extracurricular component of the trip. Hartley really promoted friendly competition — emphasis on competition — between those of us who participated. While it’s always nice to spend the weekend away, it’s even better to get such a valuable experience out of the time spent. The information gained on this retreat is going to be useful in our everyday lives, whether that means at FGCU or after we graduate. Everyone on the trip agreed that this information needs to be more available to our fellow students around campus. Experiences like Beyond the Lines are beneficial to the entire student body. “It would be beneficial for everyone to attend Beyond the Lines because it educates and makes you aware of the world around
you,” said Samantha Wills, a freshman exercise science major. “The point of the retreat is to make you realize that the lines that society draws in the sand to divide all of us are simply social constructs,” Wills said. “When you learn to look past those lines, we are all individuals and we are more alike than we are different.” The retreat was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to create relationships with people I most likely wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’m extremely thankful to the Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development for providing this retreat for students, and I would highly recommend that every student attend. We’ve gone “Beyond the Lines,” and now you should, too.
Transgender rights at stake President Trump rescinds rule on trans bathroom usage By Emily McLean Staff Writer @ebmac97 President Donald Trump revoked the milestone initiative, allowing transgender people to use the bathroom and locker room of their choice in public schools on Wednesday, Feb. 22. This piece of legislature protected transgender Americans in their choice to use the bathroom, which aligns with their gender identity, rather than the gender with which they were born. According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, about 150,000 people between the ages of 13 and 17 identify as
transgender. Former president Barack Obama signed this bill into law in response to the controversy in North Carolina when former Governor Pat McCrory made it illegal for transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. The LGBT community deserves to be treated with the same respect as straight people, hence the reasoning behind Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in education. Prohibiting what bathroom people could use based on what sex someone is born with is a slap in the face to this entire community. I do believe that each
state should be given the right to create their own laws and policies regarding public education, so I think that Obama’s administration overstepped their authority when enacting this as a federal law. However, by requiring people to use certain bathrooms, it is a breach of the individual’s rights in respect to the Title IX law. Since Obama’s instruction of this situation, a federal judge had put on hold, on the grounds that state governments should have the ability to make their own decisions regarding public schools without federal government interference. White House
spokesperson Sean Spicer made a statement about Trump. “The president has made it clear throughout the campaign that he’s a firm believer in states’ rights and that certain issues like this are not best dealt with at the federal level,” Spicer said. After Trump’s removal of the law protecting trans people to choose the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, more than 200 people gathered in front of the White House to protest. When Obama first chartered this law, the administration “warned that schools that defied the recommendation could be at risk of losing federal
funds.” This warning undermines the individual states’ rights. The Supreme Court will most likely have the
representing the student body. Every student on that campus deserves respect, protection and representation. I admire your willingness to provide that. When I was Student Body President, I
supported controversial legislation at the State Capitol that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition instead of out-of-state. That was our way of stating that regardless of status, an education for those students benefits the
entire nation. We never allowed resistance and opposition to stop us from supporting that bill in Tallahassee. Providing an inclusive and safe place is never a wrong thing to do. It is what America is all about. It is what FGCU is all about.
final say over whether Title IX covers transgender students and on whether this is a state issue or a federal one.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
This piece of legislature protected transgender Americans in their choice to use the bathroom, which aligns with their gender identity, rather than the gender with which they were born.
Letter to the editor I want to express my upmost admiration for the work that the current Student Senate is doing. Making FGCU a sanctuary campus sends a strong message to this country that education has no party lines. Education has no
political identity. It is something that every student should earn without fear of political consequences. Every brave act will draw resistance and criticism. Do not allow pressure and judgment to change how well you are
I wish you all the best. I am proud to be an Eagle. Juan Cubillo FGCU Alumni Former Student Body President
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
The analysis of Trump and ‘fake news’ By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @zack_rothman Before the modernization of technology enabled the creation of news outlets tailored to each individual political stance, it seemed the electorate was less sensitive about the information they consumed. People would read each section of the newspaper and whether they disagreed with it or not, that was the news. If there did happen to be a mistake, which humans are prone to making, the paper would run a correction the next print issue. It wasn’t ever interpreted as fake or malicious, just simply an error. However, in today’s America, if you disagree with something that may even be in the opinion section, or find one flaw in a journalist’s work, it is termed “fake news.” This dangerous convolution of terminology is led and emboldened by, none other than, the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Originally, “fake news” articles were on these bogus, unprofessionallooking websites with strange domain names and claimed something along the lines of being able to lose 20 lbs in a week by only eating chocolate — or something just as ridiculous. Now, Trump has not only labeled the New York Times, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and many other long-standing journalistic institutions as “fake news,” but also as “the enemy of the American people.” In an interview on “Meet the Press” regarding Trump’s comments, Sen. John McCain said, “When you look at history, the
first thing that dictators do is shut down the press. And I’m not saying that President Trump is trying to be a dictator. I’m just saying we need to learn the lessons of history. That’s how dictators get started If you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and, many times, adversarial press,” McCain said. “And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time.” In the very first press conference of his presidency, Trump sent Press Secretary Sean Spicer, to the White House Press Room in a jacket that didn’t fit him, nor was even his own, to tell the media, on behalf of the President, something that could be so easily disproven — that the inauguration crowd was the largest one ever. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the Trump administration maintained its stance and continued rhetoric that the crowd was the largest in inaugural history. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump’s former campaign manager turned White House Senior Advisor, Kellyanne Conway, told the host, Chuck Todd, “You’re saying it’s a falsehood. And they’re giving — Sean Spicer, our press secretary — gave alternative facts.” “Alternative facts aren’t facts, they are falsehoods,” Todd said. Trump has mastered the art of dominating an entire news cycle. Following the same pattern almost formalistically: Trump will say something outlandish, the media will react, those that reacted unfavorably toward Trump are then called “fake news,” those
“Fake News” has been the go-to response by conservative politicians and voters to any liberal or unfavorable coverage.
called “fake news” are then personally invested, making it a battle between who to believe — the president or the press. However, if reporting does not challenge the president (e.g. FOX, Brietbart, Infowars and etc.), he may even use the report over the information he receives from his daily intelligence briefings (the Sweden incident). Also, if a journalist reports favorably towards Trump, the president may even praise the reporting on Twitter rather than calling it “fake news.” After the media was critical of Trump’s first lone-press conference since being elected, Trump took to Twitter to blast the “mainstream media” and praise conservative radio host, Rush Limbaugh. Trump’s tweet read, “‘One of the most effective press conferences I’ve ever seen!’ says Rush Limbaugh.
Many agree. Yet FAKE MEDIA calls it differently! Dishonest.” Anyone who reports unfavorably toward Trump is deemed “fake.” The morning of Feb. 6, Trump tweeted out, “Any negative polls are fake news.” In nearly every single one of Trump’s tweets over the past few weeks, there has been a mention of “fake news.” Just the other day, Trump tweeted, “Give the public a break - The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!” And then again just the day before, “Don’t believe the main stream (fake news) media. The White House is running VERY WELL. I inherited a MESS and am in the process of fixing it.” In a letter written to
Richard Price on Jan. 8, 1789, Thomas Jefferson expressed that a wellinformed electorate is a requisite for democracy. With the leader of our country tweeting, “FAKE NEWS media, which makes up stories and ‘sources,’ is far more effective than the discredited Democrats — but they are fading fast!,” how is the electorate supposed to distinguish between what is reality and what is not? Though Congressional Republicans got what they wanted and no longer have anything/anyone obstructing their desired policy, this is not a partisan issue; this is an American issue. While members of the Republican Party idly stand by, the head of their party, arguably the most powerful man in the world, claims to be the only true source of information, shunning (attacking on Twitter)
Photo courtesy of Pixabay anyone who disagrees. This is worse than Nixon. Even Former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean, said “I’ve never seen a more classless president.” Our democracy is simply an idea maintained by ordinary people; people working in hospitals and medical centers; people building roads and bridges for families to safely get from place to place; people in news organizations and government institutions; people educating our youth so that they are — in the words of former President Barack Obama — one day able to put their “hands on the arc of history and bend it toward the hope of a better day.” People are not perfect, they are prone to making mistakes. But that does not mean that they are irrelevant, and that certainly does not make them fake.
The cancer of the alt-right
Milo Yiannopoulos is just the latest of conservative embarrassments By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 The Republicans were OK with the racism. They were OK with the sexism. They were OK with the anti-Semitism. Heck, they were even OK with the homophobia. But, thank god, they drew the line at pedophilia. This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, the GOP’s most prolific political gathering (aside from the RNC), keynote speaker was supposed to be Milo Yiannopoulos, a professional “provocateur” and Breitbart writer. People know Yiannopoulos as the gay, Trump-loving conservative that inflames tension on college campuses and Twitter. He is prolific with young Republicans, the alt-right and Trump supporters. He had a book coming out, “Dangerous,” published with Simon & Schuster. He had booked
appearances on college campuses across the country. His career was taking off indefinitely. But, all of that has come crashing down. Why? Several days before Yiannopoulos was going to take the stage, a video surfaced in which the “provocateur” seemingly defended, and even encouraged, sexual relations between grown men and underage boys, a federal crime. Yiannopoulos argued that 13-year-old boys should be able to consent to having sex with adult men and women. Naturally, outrage ensued, and CPAC cancelled his keynote speaking slot, Simon & Schuster cancelled his book deal and he “resigned” from Breitbart News. His career had flat-lined right before his eyes, and conservatives were left to pick up the pieces of a man they once praised as “brave.” Yiannopoulos now
resides in the same Republican “boat” as the sexually-abusive Donald Trump, the admitted child molester Speaker Dennis Hastert and disgraced former Congressman Bob Packwood. Great track record. But, the point remains: Why was the Republican Party A-OK with Yiannopoulos when he described the “gay lifestyle” as “aberrant”? Why did the Republican Party turn a blind eye when he asked his Twitter followers whether they wanted their kids to adhere to Islam or have cancer? Why didn’t the GOP speak up when he told his followers to attack actress Leslie Jones, who he racially harassed, calling her “illiterate” and a “black dude”? His constant attacks on Muslims, immigrants and the LGBT community was seemingly a non-issue with the most powerful political party in the country. That’s the real scandal.
What Yiannopoulos represents is the emerging cancer that is the alt-right. He is the poster child for a racist, nationalist movement that has ordained Pepe the Frog as its mascot and sends Jewish reporters threats of the gas chamber. What’s even more dangerous is that young Republicans are eating it up because it’s a new “trendy” movement that solidifies their extremism under the guise of freedom of speech. Of course, the vast majority of young Republicans do not adhere to this extremist movement. But, whenever the threat of an uber-nationalist movement takes shape of the discourse, one must speak out and squash it like a dangerous insect. As stated before, the Republicans were perfectly fine with all his egregious comments directed at minorities, but somehow, they thought drawing the line at pedophilia would absolve them of their past
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Milo Yiannopoulos often spoke at college campuses around the country, leading to many protests against his presense.
support. Well, it didn’t Congratulations, GOP, you built this. You nurtured this. You spread this guy far and wide. And guess what? It has blown up in your face. Perhaps college Republicans and Libertarian groups should think twice before
propping up a pedophilicsympathizer as the face of conservative dissent. Stick to Ron Paul instead. The alt-right was exposed for what it was, and Yiannopoulos was just the beginning. The ugly truth of this cancerous movement will continuously be exposed, and it won’t be pretty.
OUTREACH Seventh annual Walk for Wishes
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Granting wishes to children in Southwest Florida
EN Photos / Zack Rothman
Runners cross the finish line after making it all the way around FGCU Boulevard during the Seventh annual Walk for Wishes.
By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman
EN Photos / Zack Rothman (Top) A Make-A-Wish child is accompanied by local boy scouts as she reaches the finish line. (Bottom) The crowd of wish families and volunteers wait at the finish line to cheer on the last wish child as she completes her race.
A place renowned for making the hopes and dreams of its students possible opened its doors this past Saturday, Feb. 25, to help grant wishes for children of Southwest Florida. This past weekend, FGCU hosted the Make-AWish Foundation’s Seventh Annual Walk for Wishes, a 5K walk/run at FGCU’s recreation fields. Walk For Wishes is a nationwide Make-A-Wish fundraiser that has already granted roughly 270,000 wishes. The walk around FGCU Boulevard began at 8:30 a.m. as participants took off from the starting line. UPD was stationed around the campus circle to ensure the safe flow of regular university traffic as well as stations manned by the local Boy Scouts with cups of waters for the runners. Dorothy Blasingim and
Tammy Teece, the chairs of this year’s event, were involved in last year’s event as a small sponsor. Having raised a total of $108,774.36, their goal for this year’s event was to raise to grant 23 local wishes. Teece, who first became involved with the organization two years ago after volunteering and then becoming a wish-grantor, said she has a friend back in Massachusetts whose sister’s wish to meet “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the former WWE champion, inspired her to take action. “We were very, very close friends,” Teece said. “So when this opportunity came up, I thought back to that moment and how that family and my friend were effected, and I just couldn’t say no.” Patrik Kiraly, who was born in Hungary and raised in New York, participated in the walk as a member of team Publix. The employee at the store in Cape Coral said he had only heard
about the event a few days before it was set to take place, but as soon as he did hear, he knew he had to participate. “Everybody got out here,” Kiraly said. “Everybody did it, and everybody did great, even in the heat.” The top-five fundraising teams included Brooks & Freund raising $7,705; the Wish Trekkers with $5,813; Regions Bank with $5,396; the Wish Makers with $4,160; and the Wishketeers with $3,826.00. The top-five fundraising individuals were Jane Farnsworth raising $5,395; Tammy Teece raising $3,510; Toni Morgenstein raising $2,682; Rebecca Moldenhauer raising $2,122; and Barbara Gallo raising $1,772. The top-five fundraising companies were Regions Bank raising $16,198.59; Make-A-Wish’s $5,029; Publix’s $4,654.92; Legacy Education Alliance’s
$1,185.17; and KGT Remodeling’s $85. Sponsors for the walk/ run setup tents on FGCU’s recreation fields to handout prizes and free giveaways. Sponsors included: Publix, Regions, Blue Ocean Press, Family Thrift Center, Feil Inc., FGCU Institute for Entrepreneurship, FGCU Business and Entrepreneurship Club, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, It’s IT, Joey D’s Restaurant, Island Coast Pediatrics, Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL, Boar’s Head, Sky Zone Fort Myers, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Mutual of Omaha Bank, Once Upon a Child, Regions, Scott M. Craven, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, Shoreline Flooring Supplies and Trusted Choice. If you were unable to attend, there will be another walk on Oct. 14 at the same location.
Run 4 The Cause
Proceeds to fight local child sex trafficking By Jordan Scoggins Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews The second annual Run 4 The Cause 5K, held by Christy’s Cause, took place Feb. 25 at Living Waters Church in Estero. This 5K was the inaugural event for Christy’s Cause, a local non-profit focused on eradicating child sex trafficking, just last year. Hundreds of people from around the Southwest Florida community, including several FGCU students, took part in either the run that took place at 7
a.m. or the walk that took place at 8:45 a.m. Grace Talerico, an FGCU student who participated in the run, said, “I wanted to participate in this 5k because human trafficking is much more common in our community than people would think, and so I wanted to help and get involved in any way that I could.” Christy’s Cause was founded in 2015 by Christy Ivie, after returning home from Cambodia. This trip, she says was the “tipping point,” when she says she realized, “I just
couldn’t turn my head… I refuse to be that adult. I can’t put my head in the sand and pretend that this isn’t happening and that I’m not strong enough to do something about it.” Since Christy’s Cause’s start, the non-profit has been able to partner with several others that are fighting human sex trafficking locally, including Wings of Shelter and FGCU’s own Human Trafficking Resource Center. Christy’s Cause is going to be releasing a story of a local human trafficking survivor, called Taylor’s
Story, within the next month. Christy’s Cause received $4,000 from Wells Fargo at this race, which will cover the cost of producing and releasing Taylor’s Story. The remaining proceeds raised from the 5K will go toward producing more PSAs about sex trafficking to be aired on channels like MTV and BET and collaborating with the Student Nurses Association here at FGCU. This collaboration with the SNA will train nurses to better identify and help victims that come through the local hospitals.
Photos courtesy of Josh Sorenson Runners embark on the second Annual Run 4 The Cause.
If you missed the race but still want to get involved, Christy suggests starting by reaching out to the Human Trafficking Resource Center on campus or
with local organizations such as Wings of Shelter and sharing videos that Christy’s Cause puts out on social media.
Agency of the Week The Southwest Florida Model United Nations Conference is coming to FGCU! This is a fantastic opportunity for high school students to learn about politics and debating, and volunteers are requested for the two-day event. In particular, Vice Chairs and Chairs are needed – a two-hour training takes place the day before the conference, on March 8, and the Chairs must commit to working the full two-day event on the FGCU campus, March 9 – 10, earning 20 service-learning hours. For more info, go to www.swflmun.org and apply at https://goo.gl/forms/ApqDkmnpGlNaGv2C2.