EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
FGCU DACA recipient shares his story Editor-in-Chief Zack Rothman editorinchief@eaglenews.org Advertising and Operations Manager Yves Firestone businessmanager@eaglenews.org Managing Editor Sarajane Sullivan managing@eaglenews.org News Editor Alexandra Figares news@eaglenews.org Assistant News Editor Caylee Weintraub assistantnews@eaglenews.org Graphics Editor Audrey Mobley graphics@eaglenews.org Entertainment and Lifestyle Editor Nick Michel entertainment@eaglenews.org
Issac a Alonso proves that decisions made in Washington D.C. impact Southwest Florida
By Zack Rothman Editor-in-Chief @zack_rothman If you were to one day wake up in a country that you knew nothing about — didn’t speak the language, didn’t understand the culture, and didn’t know anyone there — what would you do? FGCU freshman, Isaac Alonso, has been asking himself this question over and over again the past couple of years. “To call it scary is an understatement. It’s like trying to think of infinity. You just can’t process it,” Alonso said.
Though for many this may be a farfetched idea, for Alonso, this hypothetical inches closer and closer to reality every day. Since Alonso was brought here from Mexico by his parents when he was 1-year-old, the FGCU freshman is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, otherwise known as DACA. After first immigrating to America, Alonso’s parents stayed in California for about a month, but eventually moved toward family in Southwest Florida.
>> Continued on A3
EN Photo / Zack Rothman Isaac Alonso is a freshman studying bioengineering. Alonso hopes to one day work for Arthrex, a local, yet global, medical device company.
The world in brief Judge rules that immigrant girls can get abortions
Democrats unlikely to move forward with DACA vote
A federal judge ruled to allow two pregnant immigrant teenagers in custody to get abortions. According to U.S. District Jude Tanya Chutkan, the Republican administration cannot interfere with the teenage girl’s right to abortion.
Democrats will not be voting this month over the fate of DACA recipients. In early September, the Trump administration terminated the DACA program and gave Congress until March to create a solution.
Nebraska motel managers allegedly enslave immigrant According to the Omaha World-Herald, two motel Russia denies killing dozens of civilians an managers from western Nebraska enslaved during an immiair strike on Sunday, according to the BBC. Accordgrant for over a year, forcing the man to shovel snow, ingrooms to activists, 53laundry people died airwith strike. clean and do sevenduring days athe week no pay.
Turkey says they will help Rohingyas in Bangladesh
Assistant Entertainment and Lifestyle Editor Deanna Simmons assistantentertainment@eaglenews.org Sports Editor Emily Kois sports@eaglenews.org Assistant Sports Editor Matt Rothman assistantsports@eaglenews.org Opinion Editor Bruno Halpern opinion@eaglenews.org Assistant Opinion Editor Sydney Van Dreason assistantopinion@eaglenews.org Senior Copy Editor Miranda Nagot copydesk@eaglenews.org Photography Editor Javier Moncada photography@eaglenews.org Media Editor Aubrey Westmoreland media@eaglenews.org ENTV Director Shylah Soares entvdirector@eaglenews.org ENTV Assistant Director Matthew Ricci entvassistantdirector@eaglenews.org
Media Advisor Rhema Thompson rhthompson@fgcu.edu
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim expressed his interest in helping Bangladesh in economic relations supporting the Rohingya living in the county. The Rohingya people are said to be the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis, as they are fleeing Myanmar due to persecution.
SERVICE LEARNING Eagle News receives these volunteer opportunities from the FGCU Office of Service Learning every week >> Help create a world where everyone has a decent place to live with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. MUCH help needed Dec. 1 and 2 with a home build and grand re-opening of Restore thrift store. Go to the FGCU Service-Learning Facebook page for details or contact Morgan Henderson at 239-652-1684. >> On-Campus and puppies. Campus Rec & Prevention and Wellness are looking for volunteers to help with Puppypalooza! Dec. 12 and 13. Assist with set up, take down and, of course, monitoring the tents and puppies. Please find the volunteer sign-up on the FGCU Service-Learning Facebook page. >> Naples Botanical Gardens needs help at Night Lights Dec. 8 through 23. Assist with directions, or “way find,” for the Garden visitors, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Volunteers must arrive at 5 p.m. and wear a white shirt with khaki pants. Closed toed shoes required. Please contact Jackie Coppard at jcoppard@naplesgarden.org.
>> Help the Harry Chapin Food Bank fight hunger this holiday season. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to sort food at the Fort Myers and Naples warehouses, as well as set up, hand out food, pack and clean up at mobile pantries. Contact Tanya Phillips at (239) 334-7007, ext.141. >> The Quality Life Center is seeking volunteers for the after-school tutoring, homework and reading room. Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. -5 p.m., wide variety of subjects to tutor! Contact Angela Pena via email at apena@qlcswfl.org. >> Need long-term hours? Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve needs aquarium maintenance, trail guides and maintenance, elementary & middle school program assistants, and special events and visitor services. Please contact Donna Young at volunteer@rookerybay. org.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
EAGLENEWS.ORG >> Continued from Isaac Alonso
in 2012, it gave them “a nice little bit of hope.” Though, when Alonso became eligible and applied for the program around the age of 15, he faced quite a few bumps in the road along the way. Alonso’s family was told that the best way for them go about sending an application to the Department of Homeland Security would be to use an immigration lawyer. Except, “it wasn’t easy nor cheap,” Alonso said. “He was the only immigration lawyer in town and anything else would’ve be far out of our price range. He was literally our best and worst option.” Despite the fact that the first application they sent in actually got sent back because of multiple mistakes made by the lawyer, they wound up being successful at the end of the day..
However, on Sept. 5, 2017, in a statement made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Trump administration rescinded “the program known as DACA that was effectuated under the Obama administration.” “If I were to go back to Mexico I would basically be a tourist,” Alonso said. “I wouldn’t know enough about my own culture — even my Spanish is pretty broken. I wouldn’t know what to do there. I wouldn’t know what to look for.” While framed as a sixmonth phase-out, the new guidelines still allow for certain DACA enrollees to remain in the program and retain work permits well beyond that date. For those whose eligibility is set to expire within the next six months, DHS had been accepting renewal applications until Oct. 5 — creating the potential for enrollees to remain in the program almost two years after the so-called phase-out. Anyone whose permit ends on March 6, 2018, or later will simply see their DACA benefits end at that time — unless they
Eagles, are you ready to
Having planned on only staying in the U.S. for a few years, the Alonsos ultimately ended up not being able to pass up the seemingly endless opportunities, especially compared to the life they left behind in Mexico. Alonso has attended school in Immokalee since pre-K and had been in the gifted program since 2nd grade. Though Isaac was not born in America, his brother, Abiel, who is less than 2 years younger than him, was. “We have the same mom, went to the same schools, and had basically the same extracurriculars, but he technically has more rights than me as an American.” After Alonso and his family first heard about DACA
EN Photos / Rachel Iacavone
eLeVaTe your standard of living? Photo courtesy of Isaac Alonso
Reynerio “Joey” Muradaz (left), Ilce Quezada-Contreras (middle) and Isaac Alonso (right) snack on some food during class.
Protesters hold various signs and banners in support of immigrants after Trump’s proposed travel ban last Spring.
had previously applied for a renewal. Luckily, Alonso was one of the fortunate few who were allowed to remain in the program. This, however, came with more hurdles to jump. Just like the first go-around, the immigration lawyer accidentally left out an entire page of the application. Alonso recalls his mom calling him in early October after she got the envelope from DHS about his renewal application being rejected. “It was now past the deadline and I remember sitting there on my couch with my mom trying to figure out what to do. We thought that was it — we thought I wouldn’t be able to do anything because that would mean my driver’s license was expired, my scholarships were in jeopardy, and I wouldn’t have been
able to work the two jobs I have. Basically, everything would have been over.” Alonso is a first-generation college student and a merit scholar studying bioengineering. He was accepted into each major state university in Florida, but chose to come to FGCU because its sense of unity. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation [at FGCU] where the people around me weren’t automatically friendly, nice or welcoming,” Alonso said. Student Government Senator Reynerio “Joey” Muradaz, whose goal is to better facilitate campus discourse on issues like immigration, met Alonso through a mutual friend in Leadership Through Service. “He’s the nicest guy. After the first or second time I met him, he mentioned in
passing that he was a DACA student, and I think he’s rather brave for being vocal about it.” Alonso admits, though, that his bravery hasn’t come without some trepidation. His mother always raised him to be cautious around the police, but never knew why. It wasn’t until he was about 7-years-old that it all clicked. “There were police officers stationed around an elementary school in my community checking people’s I.D.’s. They ended up deporting a lot of these kids’ parents, and that’s when it sunk in that, that was my reality for the rest of my life. If I were deported, that would mean my life is over. What my parents did for me is over, and the life they left behind would be pointless.”
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A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
EDITOR: ALEXANDRA FIGARES NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
OPINION
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... and will never be. The bottom line is this: every politician, especially Donald Trump himself, knows very well that rhetoric supporting the construction of a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. serves no other purpose but to act as pacifier for which their constituents can remain occupied exud-
The wall that isnt...
ing their racial, ethnic, and nationalistic prejudices. It’s the ultimate red-meat. The notion that members of Congress suddenly forgot that Mexico is our ally and major trading partner is ludicrous. They’re very aware of this, as well as the fact that building a wall along America’s southern border wouldn’t solve one problem regarding immigration. They’re banking
on their voters not knowing that illegal immigration is at a 40 year low, nor that most immigrants here illegally actually come via plane and overstay their legally obtained Visas. In fact, it seems these politicians are even willing to bet their constituents haven’t ever heard the phrase “show me a 10foot wall and I’ll show you an 11-foot ladder.” Hypothetically, in a
world where there was no such thing as eminent domain, economics or modern technology, maybe then a border wall would be a solution to a problem we don’t have. The problem is really that the special interests controlling these politicians don’t want us talking about real issues like climate change. According to The Guardian, tens of millions
of people will be forced from their home in the next decade. In fact, in expectation of what’s to come, the United Nations has even called on governments to agree on new legal framework to protect climate refugees. The UN also argues that climate change played a part in the build up of the Syrian war, with successive droughts causing 1.5 million people to migrate to the country’s
cities. Many of these people had no reliable access to food, water or jobs. Perhaps the reason we’re not talking about these overwhelmingly important issues, and instead talking about a wall, can best be explained by taking as closer look at the President’s financial ties, as well as his cabinet’s, to Russia and Russian oil.
The Law isn’t always right
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Maricruz Abarca, of Baltimore, a DACA recipient from Mexico cries during a prayer outside of the Capitol.
By Betzaira Mayorga Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews “They’re called illegal for a reason” This logic operates under the assumption that laws are always morally right or beneficial and are not to be questioned. This argument doesn’t acknowledge the complexity of calling into question laws and their intent/results, both crucial for support. If it was that simple, we wouldn’t need a judge and a jury to determine and interpret laws on a case-by-case basis. This logic also under-
mines crucial points in American history where law has allowed communities to be discriminated against, damaged, segregated, and murdered. These arguments attempt to wipe the American hands’ clean at the expense of immigrants. Pro-immigrant movements understand the rule of law, but this feature of American government only works if its citizens do their part in keeping their representatives accountable for implementing laws that are both fair and just. However, in order to stand on the right side of his-
tory today, we must look at the entire history. To understand and take responsible action on the issue of immigration, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this didn’t happen overnight. This issue is a result of multiple factors, many of which the United States has been involved in, and many times even orchestrated. Apart from the factors keeping many people “illegal,” such as the broken immigration system, outdated laws and processes, economic barriers, and discrimination. Part of what has caused the displacement of millions of Latin American people for
generations is the result of the United States’ involvement in Latin American affairs since the early years of the western expansion. It is extremely important for both sides to have a basic understanding of the history and result of these actions in order to understand immigration after the Cold War: Dollar diplomacy, Peace of Versailles, the Panama Canal, Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, the Platt Amendment, The Banana Wars. These are just a handful of examples out of the many that have not only contributed to the destabilization of Latin America, but also the reasons why so many
individuals chose to leave their origin countries and lives behind. The reckless actions in Latin America and the resulting genocide of rebel efforts to take back control of Latin American politics without direct influence of American corporations has silenced witnesses and survivors in regards to this part of history and injustice in Latin America. It is the scarred memories of broken economies, broken justice systems, broken families, and corrupt politicians leading heavily militarized police on behalf of a foreign state that has driven these
communities out of their own land. Nevermind that in general, most economic research points to a net gain from immigration for the United States; nevermind that antiimmigration rhetoric and actions like the ones by the current administration hurts both citizens and noncitizens. It is basic human instinct to survive and protect our offspring. So yes, “illegals” are illegal for a reason, but it is not what the argument implies.
‘I’m a Republican, and I support DACA’ By Alex Pilkington Contributing Writer @fgcueaglenews I am a registered, politically active Republican and I support DACA. While many have fallen in line with party leaders to support a repeal of the act implemented by Obama, Republicans desperately need to think about the potential ramifications of a repeal. The Republican Party makes claims to be the party of superior economic policy. Regarding tax policy, they usually get this right. However, the stance against DACA proves contrary to that claim. The Cato Institute, a libertarian thinktank, released an economic and fiscal cost impact analysis on repealing DACA. Its figures estimate that the United States would lose $215 billion in lost economic output and an additional $60 billion in lost tax
revenue over 10 years. Factoring in the estimated cost of $7.5 billion for deporting the nearly 80,000 DACA recipients, that’s a net loss of nearly $270 billion to the United States over 10 years. So, why would the fiscally conservative and economically savvy Republican Party be against that? The argument lies within the economic fallacy that immigrants “steal” jobs from American citizens. It is an opportunity to implement even more protectionism, which stunts economic growth in the long run. So, why do protectionist laws get implemented? Protectionism sounds good to the voters. However, by implementing protectionist policies, businesses large and small will suffer long term losses when they are unable to hire the best available candidates for open positions because they will be required to fill those positions with Amer-
ican citizens who may or may not be the best available. It is absurd to claim that there aren’t enough jobs to go around. According to data from the Department of Labor, as of July this year there were 6.8 million people unemployed, but there were about six million unfilled job openings. There are enough jobs; there aren’t enough qualified candidates. In a recent survey by the Center for Academic Progress, 36 percent of DACA recipients over the age of 25 have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Forty-five percent of DACA recipients polled were in school at the time and 72 percent of those still in school were pursuing a Bachelor’s degree or higher. This means that DACA recipients were working toward a higher education. This group of highly educated DACA recipients will go on and fill job openings, but
economists believe in something called a job multiplier effect. So, while the DACA recipients might take “American citizens’” jobs, they will still create the need for more jobs because of their consumption. The argument for protectionism by repealing DACA is illegitimate. Those here on DACA hold valuable human capital for American-based businesses and are valuable assets in the workforce of this country and its continuous economic growth. It should be immaterial whether they are “American citizens” because most have lived here essentially their entire lives and contribute the same amount of tax revenue as everyone else. That’s important: DACA recipients have lived here essentially their entire lives. The United States of America is the country many of them root for in the Olympics, it is the country many of them
root for in the World Cup and it is the country they all have grown up to love and cherish as their home. They take pride in that. While they may look to their home country with admiration because of familial ties and culture, this is their home and they are fighting to stay here. By all accounts and measures, they are citizens without the documentation. We have dehumanized these DACA recipients in our defense of deporting “illegals.” It is nothing new. The United States historically has been awful to immigrants who come here. We can see it in the country’s treatment of the Irish, the Italians, the Chinese and the Japanese. It is about time that we get away from that mentality. Xenophobia is irrational, illogical and detrimental to this country. The individuals here on DACA are not the “bad hombres” Trump said he would
fight to keep out of our country. Those who receive DACA are educated, hard-working individuals and they love the country they live in. There is no legitimate justification to ending this program, and Trump’s work to repeal everything Obama has ever done, regardless of the economic benefits it brings to the country, is antithetical to what the Republican Party claims to stand for. When many economic institutes such as the Cato Institute, the Center for American Progress, the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute call the repeal of DACA a poor economic decision, we need to listen. Republicans pride themselves on being the party of “superior” economic policy, so it’s time to prove it. It is time to stand in support of DACA.
EDITOR: BRUNO HALPERN OPINION@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A6 OPINION EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
A family tale: from Europe to Brazil to America By Bruno Halpern Opinion Editor @brunowesome
Let’s start from the beginning. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and some of you reading this may be thinking that I must be just another immigrant that came to America looking for a better future, right? In some aspects, yes. But I believe my story is a little bit different than most. First of all, my family came to Brazil in the 1920s -- my mother’s side from Germany and my father’s side from Italy. So, I’m a third generation Brazilian, which I never considered until now, but now it makes sense considering I never truly identified myself that much with Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro. For most of my life, I’ve felt that I didn’t belong. Living in Brazil, I always dreamt of leaving and going somewhere else, particularly America, and I finally did last year. And that was all because of my family’s,
let’s say, special relationship with America. Let me clarify that by family, I mean my whole family: cousins, uncles, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. But why America? Was it because it’s one of the most successful countries to have ever existed? Or because of the aura that films, music and overall culture created around it? Sure, those things played a part, but the main reason is that my family has built, unwittingly, a connection to this country. Right after WWII, my great-grandfather, Oscar, was sent by the Brazilian Army to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. in 1951 to learn more about amputation procedures and prosthetics. He brought that knowledge back to Brazil as well as his fascination with America. This was the first spark. Then, in the early 1980s, the Navy sent my grandfather, Maurício — along with my mom, grandmother, aunt and uncle— to DC also.
He worked in the Brazilian Embassy for two years. I don’t know what he did there because it was classified. After all, this was during the Cold War. My mom, however, was the deeply impacted by the whole experience. She was taken aback by Maryland. One might think it was because of the infrastructure or other amenities, but what caught her attention was the nature, which is an aspect I think not even many Americans consider about this country. The seasons, the gardens, the flowers -- she loved it all. In Rio, nature is exuberant, sure, but the endless green gets old after a while. I grew up hearing their stories, watching old tapes of them in the capitol on VCR. Most of my entertainment growing up was in English (I didn’t really understand it at the time). Imagine all of this with the already strong impact of American culture in the world. So, I always felt a strong connection with
America. However, my family never intended to live here. Only my mom and my aunt realistically considered the possibility, but they all moved on with their lives, visiting America occasionally. My first time here was in January 1996 (I was five years old). In fact, it was the last time I had been here before officially moving in January 2016 — twenty years ago. Back then, I wasn’t truly able to see the ugly side of America. The first thing is the most obvious one. This is a very racist country. Personally, I haven’t experienced anything, and I don’t think I ever will since I’m a straight man that looks European, but it’s nonetheless present. Especially now that a lot of this rhetoric is emboldened by the President. That’s not to say that there’s no racism in Brazil, the country that most imported slaves in the Americas? Of course there is. But, Braziloan society is a true
melting pot. I don’t consider America a melting pot because each race, religion and culture stick to their own, in their own communities. In Brazil, it’s mixed to the core. The second thing is not an ugly side per se, it’s just something I don’t like. To me, it seems that parents and children just want to get rid of each other. The children say, “Ok, mom and dad, now that I’m 18 I’m moving to the other coast and I’ll see you twice a year for the rest of our lives, bye!” And parents respond, “Oh, finally, they’re out! Now we can make their room into an office or gym!” Of course, this is a bit of a caricature, but you get the gist of it. In Brazilian culture, this doesn’t happen at all. Usually, we only leave our parents house when we get married. And even when we do, we live close by. My whole family used to gather twice a week. It was the highlight of the week for
all of us. And the third thing I dislike about America, which is not, again, necessarily ugly, regards religion and spirituality. To me, Brazilians are more in tune with the spiritual side of life. And by spiritual I mean much more than simply going to church. Because of this racial mixing melting pot that I mentioned, religions also did. So I believe, even though I can’t prove it, that Brazilians probably are the most open-minded people regarding religion in the whole world. Those three things don’t make me hate or even dislike America or Americans, by the way. I just recognize that the world isn’t perfect. But those things made me realize that I don’t want to give up some of my Brazilian roots. In this cosmopolitan world, the best thing to do is to hold on to the good things of every culture and examine the bad ones in a wise and peaceful manner.
SHARE YOUR VISION Express your opinion through your photos, illustrations, poems and short stories. Submit to opinion@eaglenews.org “The New Colossus” “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. ‘Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she with silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’” Emma Lazarus, November 2, 1883
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From Baltic seas to FGCU pools
EN Photo / Brad Young Christina Kaas Elmgreen was named the CCSA Women’s Swimmer of the Year and was also named the Most Outstanding Female Swimmer of the CCSA Championships after winning the conference in the 100 fly her sophomore year.
By Matt Rothman Assistant Sports Editor @MattRothman3 Women’s swim From Evita Leter to Christina Kaas Elmgreen, the FGCU swimming and diving team has had a number of swimmers from out of the country who have made a major impact on the team’s success. Elmgreen comes from Denmark and knew right away that if she wanted to pursue a career in swimming while also earning a degree, she needed to come to the United States. “You kind of have to
choose after high school, so I always knew that if I wanted to keep swimming and still go to school I had to move,” Elmgreen said. In her high school, they didn’t have swimming connected to school, so it was even harder for her to pursue her dreams. After finishing high school as a Danish champion, Elmgreen came to Fort Myers and finished her freshman season as a CCSA Conference Champion in the 200 fly as well as a runner-up finish in the 400 IM. Elmgreen’s time in the 400 IM is the second best in FGCU history. She also set
the record for FGCU in the 200 IM and had four wins in that event. As a sophomore, she continued to dominate in the pool, as she became the fourth consecutive Eagle to take home the CCSA Conference Swimmer of the Year award. She became the fourth consecutive Eagle to take home CCSA Women’s Swimmer of the Year honors and was also named the Most Outstanding Female Swimmer of the CCSA Championships after winning the conference in the 100 fly. Her journey to FGCU was different from a lot of others
that came to the university. As a bunch of other Eagles have come from out of state, Elmgreen knew only of a few other Danish swimmers who had competed for FGCU. “I knew two girls that had been here for a year, each Danish girls, who wanted to try the American thing, and they said that FGCU was amazing,” Elmgreen said. “They were only here for a year (and) then went back to school in Denmark.” As a junior, she continues to be a strong member of the team, which has started the season 3-2. “I came in and didn’t really know what to expect
with my swimming, but I’ve only experienced good things so far,” she said. “My swimming keeps improving every single year, and I’ve reached the goals I didn’t think I could, so that’s amazing.” Elmgreen has been a big spark for the Eagles in many of the relays, as she has been a part of the 100yard free style and 400 IM against Rutgers in the opening swim meet of the season. Against No. 15 Florida, Elmgreen finished second in the 100 fly. In a meet at Ohio State, Elmgreen finished in eighth place in the 200-yard
butterfly with a time of 159:06. Her career-best was 156:24 in the CCSA Championship. There, she set three of her four best times during 2017 in the same tournament. In 2016, she set her fastest time in the 400 IM in the 2016 CSCA Championship. Having a 3.5 GPA as well as competing in the NCAA Championship as a sophomore, Elmgreen was tabbed as a CSCAA scholar athlete. She was also the swimmer of the week three times in the CSCA in her sophomore year.
Boilesen picked to Top Drawers Postseason 100
EN Photo / Brad Young The Brazilian native, Majorie Boilesen, was recently picked No. 84 in the Top Drawer’s Postseason 100. Boilesen led the team this season in points (31), goals (11) and game winning goals with four.
By Matt Rothman Assistant Sports Editor @MattRothman3 Women’s soccer The FGCU women’s soccer team is accustomed to having several star players each year. This year it’s number 25, Marjorie Boilesen. Marjorie Boilesen was born in Brazil and played soccer on the biggest stage in the country. As a 13 year old, she played on the 15U national team. In that moment, she knew she was
ready for college soccer. After playing her first season at West Florida, Boilesen transferred to FGCU. The biggest adjustment for her while playing in the United States was the structure under Blankenship. She was extremely impressed with the facilities at FGCU, including the locker room -- she never had one before in Brazil. In her first season, Boilesen led the Eagles with 11 goals and 31 assists.
She was recently named to the Top Drawer’s Postseason 100, finishing at 84. Boilesen was the lone Eagle on the list and helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight season. “Marjorie was a tremendous asset to the program this season and this recognition is welldeserved,” head coach Jim Blankenship said. “We’re very excited to see what she can do over the next two seasons.”
EDITOR: EMILY KOIS SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
Julia Ascúa: A tradeoff turned success By Emily Kois Sports Editor @emilykois
Women’s tennis Doubts can arise from any decision, especially a decision that involves leaving everything you’ve ever known in another county behind. However, for junior tennis player Julia Ascúa, it’s turned out to be one of the best decisions she’s ever made. “A coach recruited me to come here [FGCU] and it was a tough decision because when you play college you don’t get the chance to earn points professionally,” Ascúa said. “It’s a tradeoff between, ‘Do I want to pursue a professional career and earn points for eight years or go to college for four years?’” However, these doubts were soon put to rest when she started to prevail as the Eagles’ top tennis player. Earning ASUN First Team All-Conference honors for the second straight season as well as All-Academic Team recognition in her first year of eligibility as a sophomore, Ascúa Photo courtesy of Linwood Ferguson continued her junior year Julia Ascua earned the ASUN First Team All-Conference honors for the second straight season as well as All-Academic Team recog- with this same success. nition in her first year of eligibility as a sophomore last year. This season, the junior finished her singles play 2-2. This season, the junior finished her singles play 2-2. Ascúa’s back-draw singles title highlighted the Dick Vitale Lakewood Ranch Clay Court Classic this season for the team. Beyond the court, WITH STUDENT ID Ascúa was also named an ITA Scholar-Athlete after
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turning in a GPA of 3.50 or higher as a sophomore. Although she had a successful transition to the States, it was a long process for Ascúa. Despite the culture shock of moving to Florida from Argentina, the junior took a leap of faith to pursue more than just her tennis dream. “For me, from where I’m from [Argentina], going to college was unknown, so I didn’t know if the level was worth it,” Julia Ascúa said. “I didn’t know if it was an opportunity or just a chance for me to stop playing. So when I got recruited I said ‘I’m going to give it a chance,’ and when I came it was absolutely amazing.” Beyond the academics, the game itself was a huge transition for the junior. With completely different rules, but a desire to grow as a player, Ascúa was open to the new game. “The transition was like day and night for me because I was playing in a tournament in July and then I came here to play in the fall,” Ascúa said. “It was kind of similar; we had the main draw and individual matches, but the rules and points are different. It was also my first time playing hard court; I never had played hard court, so it was completely different.” This new system, however, is what has changed Ascúa as a player. It’s not the rules or the court, but the team aspect
that has been the most beneficial. Playing for a college team allowed Ascúa to grow as a player, teammate and overall person. Ascúa acknowledges that she represents FGCU, and that tennis is far more than an individual sport, unlike back home. “Playing for somebody else pushes me further,” Ascúa said. “We train every single day, but you’re not alone – you have nine other people that are pushing you. The blessing of being a student athlete is you’re doing it with someone, you’re not alone, so it is amazing.” Getting the opportunity to further her play as a Division-I athlete, earning her college degree all while representing FGCU, Ascúa continues to thrive going into her senior year as an Eagle. “I don’t regret my decision at all,” Ascúa said. “The level is super good and it gives me the opportunity to study too, so it isn’t just based on tennis – it’s also based on school. I also discovered that I like what I’m studying, which gives me more options.”
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Elizabeth Zeiger Sophomore Free/IM Hometown: Cumberland, Rhode Island Despite a tough 111.5-93.5 loss to NorthWestern, the FGCU women’s swimming team had strong performances from Elizabeth Zeiger. Zeiger had strong individual performances in the 1000-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. In the longest event of the meet, the 1000yard freestyle, Zeiger clocked in with her seasonbest time of 10:10.82. This win earned her nine points. In the last event before the second 20-minute break, the sophomore swam to another season-best finish in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:01.15. At the Ohio State Invitational, Zeiger was the only Eagle to place in the C Final of the 400 Individual Medley with a time of 4:27.23.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B3
Lisa Zderadicka: The journey to the Nest
EN Photo/ Brad Young Lisa Zderadicka has been in double figures three separate times this season, including her season-high of 13 points in the Eagles’ win over No. 20 Kentucky. Zderadicka Is seventh on the team in scoring with 90 points in 13 games off the bench.
By Matt Rothman Assistant Sports Editor @MattRothman3 Women’s basketball Lisa Zderadicka, also known by Eagle fans as Lisa Z, has made an immediate impact with her new team. The 23-year-old gradstudent, who still has a year and a half of eligibility remaining, isn’t your average college basketball player. Born in Austria, Zderadicka has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember. However, the transition to living in the United States and playing basketball has been a challenge. “It has been hard to be away from friends and family,” Zderadicka said. “The language was difficult in the beginning because I speak German at home. We
learned English in school, but it is different when everyone talks fast and uses slang. Everyone thought I was just really shy and didn’t know what to say, but I just had to translate everything in my head first.” She grew up in a basketball family and played with her two older sisters in a women’s league, and she even competed together on the U18 and U20 Austrian National Team. Her father was her coach when she played for BC Vienna 87 where Zderadicka was a six-time MVP and an eight-time Austrian champion. Unlike in the U.S., where players play for their school, it is common for players to play for a club team, as basketball is not connected to schools. Not only is she thankful
her father was able to coach her for some time, she really appreciates her family for letting her move to the states and continue her passion of playing basketball here where she says it is much bigger than where she is from. Though she spent a lot of time winning, she suffered her first major injury while playing high school basketball in Austria when she had the first of three surgeries on her left knee. She’s also had two torn ACLs that took her out of the game for a year each time. After spending all of her life in Austria, Zderadicka made the long trip to the United States after graduating from high school and started her career at Houston Baptist. In her first season there in her third game, she
suffered her second torn ACL and sat out for a year. Following three years in Houston, Zderadicka made her decision to transfer to FGCU with the help of a former Eagle. “I played with the national team at home, and we played against other countries and I got to know Anthi (Chatzigiakoumi) from Greece. She played here before and I got to learn about the school,” Zderadicka said. “When I figured I wanted to transfer, that school came to my mind again.” It has been a major adjustment for Zderadicka while playing at FGCU. The offense is completely different from any other offense she has ever played for, and it was an adjustment for her during the beginning of the year to get used to all the new terminology that Karl
Smesko uses. She believes it is much more physical than it was back home. “I believe we spend a lot more time on conditioning and strength than back at home. Here you get your scholarship for basketball, and it is your main focus next to school, but at home, basketball is a hobby for most people. You can’t get the whole team to do extra conditioning and stuff like that.” Through her first games with the Eagles, Zderadicka has been coming off the bench, but is seventh on the team in scoring with 90 points in 13 games. She has been in double figures three separate times, including her season-high of 13 points in the Eagles’ win over No. 20 Kentucky. She doesn’t have just
the attention of fans, but also from her coach, who has been very happy with her play. “She is a really talented player,” Smesko said. “She is a really smart player and it gives us some options at point guard, which is very important. Even at the end of a game you have to have someone who can handle the ball at the end, so Lisa is in. She has been a big lift for us and she is making a big impact for us.” Zderadicka also works just as hard in the classroom. She studied interdisciplinary studies in undergrad and is now seeking a masters in educational leadership. Zderadicka hopes to continue her strong season while earning her masters.
EDITOR: EMILY KOIS SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
This week in athletics Women’s basketball at FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic By Emily Kois Sports Editor @emilykois FGCU women’s basketball will kick off the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. with a game against Harvard. The Eagles will then face SIU Edwardsville on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. to end the tournament play. Harvard is coming into this tournament with an overall
record of 5-4. The team’s most recent win came over Northeastern 79-69. Harvard is led by sophomore guard Katie Benzan, who averages 14.8 points per game. Harvard will also take on Akron during this tournament Thursday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. FGCU will conclude play on Thursday against SIU Edwardsville. The Cougars will also take on Akron Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m. SIU Edwardsville comes into
this tournament with an overall record of 3-5 and is currently on a four-game losing streak. The Cougars are currently led by Lauren White, who averages 12.3 points per game, and Sydney Bauman, who averages 7.6 rebounds per game. This will be the first time the Eagles and Cougars will compete against each other. Harvard and FGCU have played twice, with the Eagles taking both games in 2015.
Women’s swim vs. Toledo By Emily Kois Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU women’s swim team will continue its home stand, hosting Toledo Thursday, Dec. 21. The meet is set to start at 11 a.m. at the FGCU Aquatic Center. The Eagles will be coming
off another home meet against Northwestern. Toledo will be coming into this meet with an overall record of 3-2. The team’s two losses came against Buffalo and Oakland. The Rockets recently competed in the Zippy Invitational where they finished in fifth place out of nine teams
competing in the event. Next, the Eagles will host their final meet of the threemeet home stand. FGCU will welcome Liberty University Jan. 6.
Men’s basketball at Wichita State By Emily Kois Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU men’s basketball team will head to Wichita, Kan. to take on Wichita State Friday, Dec. 22. Tipoff is set to begin at 7 p.m. This will be the first time these two teams will meet and compete against each other.
Men’s basketball at University of Rhode Island By Emily Kois Sports Editor @emilykois The FGCU men’s basketball team will travel to Rhode Island to take on the University of Rhode Island Wednesday, Dec. 27. The game’s tipoff is set for 7 p.m. This will be the first time
these two teams will meet and compete against each other. Rhode Island comes into this game with an overall record of 5-3 with a home record of 4-0. The team’s most recent loss came against Alabama in a close 68-64 defeat. The Rams are led offensively by senior Jared Terrell, who averages 16.8 points
per game, and E.C. Matthews, who averages 14 points per game. Next, the Eagles will travel back home to begin their fivegame home stand. FGCU will host Florida Memorial Friday, Dec. 29 with tipoff at 5 p.m.
Wichita currently has an overall record of 8-1 with its loss against No. 13 Notre Dame. A big victory came against No. 16 Baylor where Wichita beat the Bears in a close 69-62 victory. FGCU is currently led offensively by Brandon Goodwin, who averages 18.2 points per game. Christian Terrell leads the team in total rebounds with 70 –
11 offensive and 59 defensive. Next, the Eagles will travel to Rhode Island to take on the University of Rhode Island Wednesday, Dec. 27 with tipoff at 7 p.m.
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Apollo Fresh talks about the end of TPS for Haitians
Photo courtest of Austin Tompkins
Apollo Fresh performing “Ghoulish”
Photo courtesy of Justine Decker Apollo Fresh performing with a Haitain flag over his face at the Curate SWFL showcase. Fresh often wears a Haitian flag in support of his heritage during performances.
By Nicholas Michel E&L Editor @NMichelWrites Local artist and FGCU student Apollo Fresh is facing the potential loss of close family members because of the cancellation of the Temporary Protected Status program. Following the catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, 46,000 Haitian immigrants received “Temporary Protected Status,” which allowed them to live in the United States. Among those who fled Haiti to seek refuge in America was an
aunt of Apollo Fresh, who he has chosen not to name. While in America, she moved in with his immediate family in Broward County and gave birth to a son. Although her child is an American citizen, she is not, and the expiration of protected status ends on Jan. 22, 2018. “I don’t see the real reason why I won’t be able to see her anymore.” Apollo Fresh said. “She’s a part of my family, a part of my American family. They’re not just from over there, they’ve been integrated into the lives of many Americans.”
the U.S. is not contrary to the national interest of the United States.” Beyond that, the ambassador also references a cholera outbreak and multiple hurricanes as unforeseen disasters that require more time for the Haitian government to recover. If handled incorrectly, the termination of TPS could place many Hatian people back in an unsafe environment, which is a concern for those HaitianAmericans who will watch loved ones head back to Haiti. “It’s just one world,” Apollo Fresh said. “But we’re so lost in our thoughts that we feel like we can dictate where people should be and whether people should live or not.”
According to a press release by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services, the conditions in Haiti have significantly improved since the 7.0m earthquake struck. Yet, the agnecy doesn’t believe that the island is stable enough to merit the termination of the TPS program. They aren’t alone. Haitian Ambassador Paul G. Altidor wrote a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Elaine Duke, requesting an 18-month extension of protected status to provide people with a safer transition back to Haiti. Altidor cited previous statements by Homeland Security that said “permitting Haitian nationals to continue residing temporarily in
Theme: Immigrant Artists Curated by: Eagle News Staff
1. Rihanna - “Work” ft. Drake 2. Gloria Estefan - “Conga” 3. Wyclef Jean - “Gone Till November” 4. Dave Matthews Band - “Crash Into Me” 5. Van Halen -”Everybody Wants Some” 6. Justin Beiber -”2U” 7. Pitbull - “Hey Ma” 8. Joni Mitchell - “Both Sides Now” 9. Carlos Santana - “Maria Maria” 10. Neil Young - “Old Man”
Photo courtesty of Justine Decker Apollo Fresh performing with XNVIX at Scotty’s Bierworks.
DIY: Scrapbooks Scrapbooks to remember your most cherished memories
By Deanna Simmons Assistant E&L Editor @lvnarvinam The most wonderful thing about telling stories is that you can tell them with pictures and words. Whether moving from one place to another or starting a new portion of your life, anything goes when it comes to commemorating life events. My family is a big supporter of keeping track of memories. My grandmother kept a scrapbook of her life with pictures that dated from her days as a little girl in
Germany to her married life in America. My great grandmother and my grandpa were also big on keeping track of their journeys. My great grandmother’s scrapbook held pictures from Ireland, and my grandpa’s was filled with his time in the Navy. Keeping track of things is definitely in my blood and something I think should be shared throughout cultures and generations. While scrapbooking might seem tedious, it’s actually an exciting way to celebrate memories. It’s also a great way to
remember y o u r movement from one place to another. Yo u ’ l l need either a scrapbook or a few sheets of cardstock (which you can find at any supply store), colored paper, pens, stickers, glue and pictures. The most important pictures are the ones that are going to tell the best story. If you’re using a scrapbook, it’s a bit easier because you can take the paper out of the plastic sleeves to create your masterpiece. Using what you have, you can write letters to yourself or write about your experiences on paper, putting pictures to them and decorating it to your
heart’s content. Even without the usual binding, you can use rings and punch out holes for the rings so that you have a booklet. Paste everything onto the paper, and you have something that you can share as your story. You can give it to a family member or keep it for yourself to show people as years pass. You can even add to it if you want. Stories are the most important way to show that we are united together, no matter where we come from. Take pictures of your scrapbook pages and tag @ EagleNews on Instagram Have a great holiday and a happy Christmas season.
EN illustration / Audrey Mobley The essential elements of creating a homemade scrapbook.
ACROSS 1 Close males 5 It cuts the butter 10 Not quite stereo 14 Londoner’s baby buggy 18 Colonel or general, e.g. 19 Ceremonial acts 20 Slacking lazybones 21 Make over but good 22 Drug reducing high blood pressure 25 ___ Day and the Knights 26 Joe Friday’s famous statement 27 Mantel piece, sometimes 28 ___ out (seriously relax) 29 Costing nothing 30 Hit the road 31 Extra qtrs. 32 Precisely accurate 34 Spotter of goofs 38 Shalt follower 39 Infant mush 42 Past Peruvian 43 Rushing stats 44 Hyundai model 47 Currently winning 49 Camel feature 52 Commercials 54 Emulates a cork on water 56 Cash you want back 57 Sub apparatus 58 First name in the “Roseanne” cast 59 African succulents 60 “___ Pizza” (1988 film) 62 Two-dimensional measurement 64 Girl with dark hair 66 “American ___” 68 A theme of this puzzle 70 It’s got you covered 71 Avoided
75 Nowhere near loquacious 78 NFL starting offense number 82 Russia’s Yeltsin 83 Blabbed 86 Sidewalk edges 88 Clothing tag info 89 Some lingerie items 90 Word with limits or space 91 Last piece in the loaf 92 Peter and several others 93 Lure into danger 95 Blade on a rowboat 97 Neck’s scruff 99 Midback muscle, briefly 100 Northern, short-necked diving bird 101 Feelings of deep hatred 105 Easily ignited 109 Vehicle with sliding doors 110 State-sponsored gambling games 114 Activity centers 115 Nonstick spray brand 116 Flippant 117 House with a point? 118 Shakespeare, Bard of ___ 119 Ex-con’s contact 123 A ___ formality 124 Stalin’s predecessor 125 Eat too quickly (with “down”) 126 Half a doorbell sound 127 “East or “west” endings 128 Starchy taro root 129 Ballyhoos, as a product 130 Quintessential center? DOWN 1 Make pigtails
2 “You almost ___ over!” (cyclist’s lament) 3 Like some bar beer 4 Aspen topper 5 Superman’s home world 6 Tuck’s partner 7 Native Manhattan ending 8 Intense passion 9 Big house, horses and property 10 Hospital VIPs 11 Cromwell or Stone 12 Not even once 13 Spaghetti sauce herbs 14 Part of feasibility studies 15 Like yesteryear’s stuff, today 16 Montpellier goodbye 17 First guy to take two tablets 20 Exam final? 23 Awful or dreadful 24 Longish school assignment 32 Big name in scooters 33 Jailbird 35 Cuatro x dos 36 Animals of a region 37 Tooth-drillers’ degs. 39 Handy part? 40 Greeting at sea 41 Podded legumes 44 Movie ticket movers 45 Palindromic horn noise 46 Be an accomplice 48 Allergy treaters 50 Make blemishes on 51 Make ready for surgery 53 Kingly sphere 55 Wind dir., sometimes 57 Tug at sea
59 Blue dye from plants 61 13th or 15th, monthly 63 Type of welder 65 Hawaiian music makers 67 Gradual reduction 69 Cry of pain 71 Go out, at the beach 72 Thumb condition 73 Berry forename? 74 Web address bit 76 Sincerely regret 77 It helps form the Humber in England 79 Pharmacy bottle 80 A Bible book 81 Home with feathers 84 Sierra ___, Africa 85 “Doggone it!” kin 87 Not within miles of exciting 90 Tree gall caused by wasp larvae 92 Start a golf match 94 Pina colada ingredient 96 Fix firmly with metal 98 Some rice dishes (var.) 101 Oval-shaped nut 102 Vicar’s responsibility 103 “Friends, Romans ...” utterer 104 Big step 105 Candlelight’s flickerer 106 Cupid’s victim, after 107 Thing hidden by a squirrel 108 Revealed, as one’s soul 111 Burritos’ relatives 112 Warning signs 113 Material for some suits 116 Give a bad review 120 Short life story 121 Sleep during the day 122 Vein contents
Universal Crossword For and aGainsT By Timothy e. Parker
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