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Volume 15, Issue 21
Students play judge and jury in ‘Defamation’ play By Rachel Iacovone Managing Editor @totesrachel Nearly 100 FGCU students filled the Cohen Center ballroom Monday night to watch Defamation The Play, which was hosted by the Office of Multicultural and Leadership Development. Unlike other productions students may have attended in the past, this one asked them to play a critical role in the play’s ending — as the acting jury in the courtroom drama. “I do a lot of trainings on campus about oppression, privilege and microagressions, and Defamation came about because I was trying to figure out how to have another voice, another forum, to talk about these things,” said Dyonne Bergeron, the director of MLD. Defamation The Play has been seen by more than 50,000 people in more than 300 performances nationwide over the last seven years. Bergeron saw the play two years prior, and not too far into her move to FGCU soon after, she said she realized Defamation would perfectly fit the FGCU climate. The case the audience was tasked with judging was centered on Regina Wade, a black woman who was suing Arthur Golden, a white Jewish man, for alleged defamation. To win her case, she would have to convince the jury that a false statement was made to a third party about her as well as prove that she was directly damaged financially as a result. Golden, the defendant, alleged that Wade had stolen his watch, a family heirloom, while he took a phone call in the other room during their initial inperson meeting. Wade, who owned a graphic design company, was at Golden’s home after being asked by the attorney on her largest account to do some pro bono work for a friend of the attorney — Golden. The crowd, which was made up of mainly minority students, took in a sharp breath each time Wade called herself the n-word to assert her point that Golden’s claims were racist. They also collectively sighed at the line, “Just because Obama
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INSIDE:
Wednesday, February 1, 2016
Friends remember fallen Eagle who ‘poured heart’ into everything
Photo courtesy of Nadia Anderson’s Facebook page (Left) Nadia Anderson poses with her mother Cashawna Anderson (left center), a friend (right center) and her brother Austin Anderson (right) at a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game. According to several of her friends, Anderson enjoyed singing, performing in theatre and watching movies like Star Wars and Disney’s Big Hero 6. Her friends remembered her caring nature and her general selflessness.
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie A chain-reaction car crash caused by a tractortrailer that slammed into still traffic on northbound I-75 involved multiple cars and killed one on Thursday, Jan. 19, according to an article published by the Tampa Bay Times. FGCU sophomore Nadia Anderson, a native of Spring Hill, was killed in the crash. Pedro MartinezFernandez, 39, was driving in the outside lane when he didn’t stop after approaching the still vehicles in front of him. He then slammed into the back of Anderson’s 2006 Saturn, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The truck then continued to drive across every northbound lane, coming to a stop inside the median. The impact affected three more vehicles. Anderson died at the scene, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The individuals in the other vehicles suffered minor to no injuries, and according to the Tampa Bay Times, alcohol wasn’t a factor in the crash. Anderson’s friends and family attended her service on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Hope Methodist Church in Trinity, Florida.
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Sydney Sizemore, a junior at UCF who was close friends with Anderson and attended her service, had been friends with her since her freshman year of high school. “We were in theatre together and did the school musicals,” Sizemore said. “She loved theatre and was very talented.” According to Sizemore, Anderson was compassionate and cared about her friends and family deeply. “Every time I’d leave her house, she’d call me to just make sure I got home OK,” she said. “She put so much passion into everything she did, every audition, every theatre performance.” Sizemore said that Anderson would “pour her whole heart” into everything she did and she was a great friend to her. “She would never give up on you unless you really gave her a reason to,” Sizemore said. Kristen Fairley, another friend of Anderson who attended the service, said that Anderson was “beyond talented.” “She sang a lot and played her ukulele,” Fairley said. Fairley said that Anderson was a big fan of Star Wars, the Disney film Big Hero 6 and that “her faith in God was admirable.” “She adored her best friends,” Fairley said.
Photo courtesy of Nadia Anderson’s Facebook page Nadia Anderson, a sophomore at FGCU, was killed in a car crash on I-75 on Thursday, Jan. 19. A service was held for her on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Hope Methodist Church in Trinity, FL.
Brittany Kerr, Anderson’s cousin and best friend, has several fond memories with Anderson. “There are too many to
count,” Kerr said. They loved singing out loud in the car together; after all, music was Anderson’s passion,
according to Kerr. “We would always blast
>> Continued on A2
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>> Join the fun on Tuesday, February 7, on the library lawn and earn service-learning hours for Eagle Marathon Day of Service. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., there will be two-hour opportunities throughout the day. There will be dancing and crafts, birthday card creation and T-shirt quilt making as well as games. In the social activism section, learn to contact your representatives. Got a green thumb? Plant veggies. Bring a friend and double the fun. For info, contact servicelearning@fgcu.edu.
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>> Ay, Matey! Golisano Children’s Museum is holding their Night at the Museum – Pirate Ball on Saturday, February 11. If you’re a Resort and Hospitality student and would like to assist 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. with catering, busing tables and serving food, please contact Liz Cashman at lcashman@cmon.org or 239-260-1604. Training date TBA. Free food and T-shirt will be provided. Ten volunteers are needed, so bring an R&H friend.
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buddy make crafts, dance and play games. Contact FGCU Service Ambassador Lauren Morimanno at lamorimanno0809@eagle.fgcu. edu for more info. >> Is it possible to understand the experience of dementia without having the disease? That’s the aim of the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT), created by the non-profit Second Wind Dreams. Here in Lee and Collier counties, once a month, the VDT travels to assisted living and memory care facilities. If you’d like to help with the VDT, assistance is needed 4-6 hours/month. For more information, please contact Tim Evankovich at tim@oasissenioradvisors.com or 1-866677-6243. >> There are on-campus opportunities for students to earn service-learning hours with the Recycle Mania Tournament, including data collection and promotion. The tournament is January 22 through April 1, so plenty of hours may be earned. Please email Sarah Stauring at sestauring9590@eagle.fgcu.edu for specific information -- soon -- as recycling waits for no one.
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The world in brief Hackers hold hotel keys hostage
India to give free Wi-Fi to over 1,000 villages
A luxury hotel, Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt, in Austria has made the switch from electronic key cards to old-fashioned lock and keys. The change comes after a series of cyber attacks held the hotel hostage for ransom. In one particular attack, hackers locked the hotel’s entire system – including the hotel’s reservation and front desk system – until 1,500 euros of bitcoin currency were paid as ransom.
A new project known as Digital Village intends to provide free Wi-Fi to 1,050 villages across India. The Indian government is stepping up efforts to connect its citizens to the Internet. The initial phase will cost $62 million with plans to expand across the entire country. The goal is to provide basic development services, as well as interactive education and medical services citizens.
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Six dead in Quebec mosque shooting Lone wolf terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette opened fire at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center, leaving six people dead. Witnesses report that he opened fire into a crowd of worshippers that included men, women, and children. The gunman was a student at Laval University, and he formerly participated in the Cadet Program, a youth program affiliated with the Canadian Armed Forces. Bissonnette faces six counts of firstdegree murder and five attempted murder charges.
>> Fallen student continued from A1 the music and sing our hearts out without a care in the world,” Kerr said. Kerr’s favorite thing about her cousin was her selflessness. “She would always go out of her way to make someone else happy,” she said. For her 21st birthday, Anderson planned a sleepover with her closest friends, Anderson included. When everyone but Anderson ditched Kerr to attend Halloween Horror Nights, Kerr was devastated. Anderson then invited Kerr to her house and threw a party for her last minute. “She didn’t have to do that, but she went out of her way to make sure I had a good day,” Kerr said. “And, it was honestly the best birthday I’ve ever had.” Kerr also attended Anderson’s service, which she described as beautiful.
Miss France claims Miss Universe 24-year-old dental surgery student Iris Mittenaere has claimed the crown of Miss Universe, beating out 12 other candidates. As Miss Universe, Mittenaere will campaign for dental care and oral hygiene around the world. The votes were tallied, including online votes from the Miss Universe app and Twitter. First and second runner-ups were Raquel Pelissier from Haiti and Andrea Tovar from Columbia, respectively.
Anderson’s boyfriend put together a slideshow of over 300 pictures, performed her favorite song for her and proposed to her during the service. “There were close to 400 of her closest family and friends,” she said. “There were people having to stand outside because there were so many people.” UCF junior Colin Brooks, another friend of Anderson, discussed his favorite aspects of Anderson during the service. “She always was such a ray of light, and I loved that about her,” Brooks said. “She was always positive and never really talked negatively about anyone, and I admired that about her.” Brooks’ favorite memory with Anderson were ones from his senior year of high school. After growing closer, Brooks came out as gay to her and their other friends, and Anderson was very accepting. “I just always remember having the best time with her,” Brooks said.
Photo courtesy of Nadia Anderson’s Facebook page FGCU sophomore Nadia Anderson, a native of Spring Hill, FL, liked to spend time with her friends.
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South African wildlife veterinarian speaks at FGCU
Photo courtesy of James Roxburgh Wildlife veterinarian James Roxburgh poses with a gazelle in his native South Africa. Roxburgh travelled to FGCU to speak during the Pre-Vet Society’s speaking event on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Roxburgh travels by helicopter, locating injured animals in need.
By Alexandra Figares Staff Writer @fgcueaglenews South Africa is home to some of the world’s most endangered animals suffering in silence. President of the PreVet Society, Amber Elalem, organized a guest lecture with renowned wildlife veterinarian and zoologist, Dr. James Roxburgh, on Tuesday, Jan. 31 with the purpose of educating the public on wildlife conservation and providing insight on the life of a wildlife veterinarian. Roxburgh, a native from South Africa, specializes in the veterinary care of all wildlife species from squirrels to elephants and focuses on the re-location
and conservation of wildlife in Africa. South Africa is the forefront of wildlife conservation in the world, revolutionizing game capture techniques and possessing the necessary equipment to treat larger animals such as elephants and rhinos, according to Roxburgh. Roxburgh and his team travel by helicopter to locate injured animals in distress. When located, they tranquilize the animal, analyze the severity of the situation, try to determine if there was human involvement and treat the animal when possible. “Our biggest hardship is having to euthanize animals that have been affected by poaching or any kind of
human intervention. That’s our biggest hardship,” Roxburgh said. Poaching is illegal in South Africa; however, this has not deterred poachers as they continue to target wildlife with little to no consequences. In 2016, 900 rhinos lost their lives at the hands of poachers. Between two to three rhinos are killed every day with only 10,000 rhinos left in the world, according to Roxburgh. The white rhino is the closest animal to extinction due to its abundance and peaceful nature. According to Roxburgh, white rhinos are easier to approach for shooting purposes as opposed to the aggressive black rhino that is rarer. Rhinos are shot and
mutilated for their horns because they are status symbols, dagger handles and serve as traditional medicines in some continents such as Asia. According to Roxburgh, contrary to popular belief, rhino horns are not aphrodisiacs and serve no medicinal purpose. When a rhino is injured, wildlife veterinarians tend to the wounds and keep them clean to prevent infection. When possible, rhinos go under facial reconstruction surgery by replacing the wound with elephant skin. Every time a rhino is shot or injured, wildlife veterinarians perform a forensic investigation. Unfortunately, not all rhinos receive a happy
ending. Baby rhinos are often orphaned and relocated to rhino orphanages while others are euthanized due to irreparable injuries. “When we euthanize a rhino, just before we euthanize them, they scream. It’s really hard for us to go through. They don’t teach you beforehand the horrible side of being a vet. They teach you the wonderful side of treating animals but it’s a very rewarding career,” Roxburgh said. Roxburgh attributes poaching to lack of education, poverty and government corruption. South Africa has an abundant hunting industry where people travel to hunt “excess” animals with a
special permit. Despite certain animals being protected under the law, paying the right person enough money allows the hunting of protected animals while the government remains silent. “The main thing is lack of education in Africa; it’s what blocks the people knowing about conservation but the rest of the world is also uneducated,” Roxburgh said. “Especially like the rhino poaching where the rest of the world doesn’t know what’s going on, clearly, because they haven’t been educated in knowing what’s going on in wildlife.”
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Police Beat Eagle News writes this beat every week from the official UPD weekly summary Catching Some Rays On Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3:56 p.m., there was a report of an alligator in front of Sugden Hall, sunbathing on the walkway. The area was canvassed by UPD, but no alligator was found. Uber Adventures On Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2:21 a.m., a driver made an illegal u-turn in the middle of the road and then drove up over a curb onto the
sidewalk. The driver was an Uber driver who stated he had a fare on board. When asked to present his license, the Uber driver stated that he had no idea he needed one to drive. Bagpipe Tunes On Sunday, Jan. 22 at 1:59 p.m., there was a complaint about a person playing bagpipes in the library courtyard area. Elevator Mystery
On Monday, Jan. 23 at 2:13 p.m., a subject called into UPD to report that they were stuck in the elevator of Garage 1. When the elevator was opened, no one was inside. Drunk Driving On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 9:48 p.m., a complainant called to report there was a possible drunk driver, after he had witnessed a car swerve onto the sidewalk and almost hit several students. UPD searched
the area, but found nothing. Birthday Bash On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10:09 p.m., a complainant advised UPD of a loud party. UPD arrived on scene to find it was the resident’s birthday party. Job Fraud On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 3:28 p.m., a complainant stated to UPD that she had applied for a job through the FGCU website but
believed the job to be fraudulent. Her primary contact for employment requested she cash an enclosed check and keep ten percent for herself, while sending the rest to an address in the Philippines.
room so that they would be on time for an early morning practice.
Soccer Room Slumber Party On Friday, Jan. 27 at 1:19 a.m., a UPD officer found four individuals sleeping in the soccer locker room. Individuals stated they had permission to be in the
Environmental author coming to FGCU after being disinvited 12 years ago
EN Photo / Katie Hopkins Environmental author Terry Tempest Williams (left) speaking to students during a climate change event that took place in November 2015. Williams, who came to FGCU in 2004 to give her “The Open Space of Democracy” lecture, found herself in the midst of controversy due to her criticisms of then-president George Bush. Due to her beliefs, she was disinvited from the university. Williams will return to FGCU on Thursday, Feb. 2 to speak during the annual Rachel Carson distinguished lecture, “The Open Space of Democracy Revisited.”
By Rachel Iacovone Managing Editor @totesrachel Once again in a tumultuous political climate, environmental author and activist Terry Tempest Williams has been invited to come to FGCU — this time by the university. Williams came to FGCU in 2004 to give her lecture, “The Open Space of Democracy,” after controversy surrounding her visit. “Prior to her arrival, either (university) president Merwin or someone on his staff had noted that she was critical of then-president Bush, and so, he was very concerned to have her come to campus right before the election because she was due to come here late October,” said Mary Walch, who works with the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education on campus. “So, she was invited, and then, she was disinvited.” Soon after, vice president Dick Cheney spoke at Alico Arena, which Walch called “a little bit ironic.” The difference she said was that Williams’ lecture would have been required as part of the first year experience while outside parties can rent Alico Arena for a fee. Then-president
William Merwin took it a step further by writing an editorial in the Fort Myers News-Press titled “FGCU did everything to work with the author,” which explained his reasoning for disinviting Williams. Walch said, according to the newspaper clipping she’s held onto for the past 12 years, Merwin argued that the university was happy to have her, so long as she didn’t talk politics. When Williams would not agree to the conditions, Merwin disinvited her for being noncompliant. Interdisciplinary studies professor Brandon Hollingshead, who was an undergraduate student working for the center at the time, went to communication professor Maria Roca upset about the news. “I told him, ‘Well, we may not be able to bring her here officially because of the complications, but that doesn’t mean the students can’t bring her,’” Roca said. “And, the students got together, and they pulled quite a few student organizations together that came from all kinds of points of view, including the College Republicans and College Democrats. Just this huge collection of organizations came together and said, ‘Let’s bring her here.’” Because of what the
students did, Williams decided to waive her fee, making her lecture truly free to anyone who wanted to attend, and plenty did. The lecture took place in what is now the Cohen Center ballroom — then, just the largest space of the recently opened student union. Roca estimates at least 500 students were in attendance, as it was standing room only. At the time, the campus boasted a little more than 3,000 students, meaning the lecture was attended by one-sixth of campus population — equivalent today to nearly 2,500 students or the initial enrollment of the university. “We were so proud of the students, who wrote editorials and sought funding for her travel,” Walch said. Roca remembers fondly what she called the healing nature of the lecture, which saw organizations from all backgrounds come together to a finale that had Merwin introduce Williams himself. “If you had turned the page in her book from the page when she had made the comment about Bush, you would have read, on the next page, she said, I realize I can’t feel this way because, then, I’m part of the problem,” Roca said, “and I need to reach across, what she called, the open space of democracy in order for us
to have a real dialogue.” Since her visit, the university has hosted the Terry Tempest Williams student dialogue every fall, but Williams will be coming to speak for the annual Rachel Carson distinguished lecture. According to the center’s website, the talk, “The Open Space of Democracy Revisited,” will be directly political. “Now, with the Trump era before us, Mrs.
Williams will speak to the importance of resistance in American civic life as climate change and public lands are under siege by Congress and the fossil fuel industry,” it reads. “Students will be encouraged to think about the history of civil disobedience and direct action in American history and what might be required of us today if we care about climate justice and the protection of America’s
public lands.” The lecture is free and open to the public. It will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 in Cohen Center room 247. “We are at a place where people on different sides of the aisle can’t even talk to each other at this point,” Roca said, “so this is a very important time for a talk like this here.”
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Michigan artist brings paper folding to FGCU
EN Photos / Taylor Crehan (Left) Paper engineer and artist Matthew Shlian talks to an attendee during the opening of his exhibit, “Matthew Shlian: Telemetry” on Thursday, Jan. 26. (Right) Attendees inspect Shlian’s pieces during the opening reception. Shlian, who currently serves as FGCU’s Artist-in-Residence, found out about the opportunity to work with students while working with the Thomas Riley Studio in Naples.
By Taylor Crehan News Editor @taylorjeangenie FGCU’s ever-changing Main Gallery is currently filled with paper. The pieces have been folded over and over again and placed on various walls around the room. No, it isn’t an elaborate prank or an act of vandalism — this is the Arts Complex’s newest exhibit. “Matthew Shlian: Telemetry” explores the unfamiliar art of paper folding. Matthew Shlian, who works as a paper engineer in Michigan, unveiled his
latest exhibit on Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Arts Complex. Shlian was showing pieces of his work at the Thomas Riley Studio in Naples when he was approached to work with FGCU. He then began serving as an Artist-in-Residence, where the university pairs artists with scientists who then work with students. “I started working with folks here and then started working with students here,” Shlian said. “This is a natural fit.” The evening began with an Artist’s Talk in the U. Tobe Recital Hall of the Bower School of Music
building. There, Shlian explained the beginnings of his work, and those who inspire him, from movie set designers to pop-up book creators. During the talk, Shlian passed around a few of his portable sculptures for the audience to touch. One was an accordionlike piece with intricate cuts on the sides, which was stretched and examined by a full audience. After the talk, attendees filed into the Arts Complex’s Main Gallery to view Shlian’s pieces — a collection of monochromatic sculptures,
both folded and cut from paper. “I don’t know, it’s like choosing a favorite child,” Shlian said when asked what his favorite piece in the exhibit is. “I’m happy with in general how it all came together, this is seven or eight years worth of work kind of cumulated and curated.” FGCU students, faculty and local community members attended the opening. Emily Gonzalez, a junior art major, went because it was required for her environmental art class. “I think it’s amazing,” Gonzalez said. “I saw the talk and it was really inspiring.” Gonzalez enjoyed the layering and the depth of Shlian’s work. Babette and Marc Weksler, a couple who live in Bonita Springs for a portion of the year and have attended other FGCU art gallery events in the past. They enjoyed the
>> Defamation continued from A1
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is president doesn’t mean racism doesn’t exist now!” “Ain’t that the truth,” a girl toward the front said to her friend. “Especially now,” her friend responded — everyone in hearing range shaking their heads about the dated line. There was no solid proof offered during the play that Wade did steal the watch. Golden did not see the crime occur. The watch was never found. Based on the testimonies of both parties as well as that of the aforementioned attorney, those in attendance were left with the task of convicting or exonerating Golden for the crime of defamation. Due to the racial, religious and gender undertones throughout the play, Defamation, which calls itself an “experience” on its website, that aims to pull the audience into “sometimes tense” but — as managing producer and actor Kimm Beavers asserted — “necessary”
exhibits because to them, it represented the opposite of what they do for a living. “It’s sort of backwards with regard to what we do,” Marc said. “We’re in medicine, so we sort of say ‘what’s your problem, we’ll get the solution,’ he makes a problem and says ‘you find something that we can do with it.’ It’s really quite interesting.” At one point in the night, Marc spoke to Shlian, and found his personality different from other artists. “His personality is just wonderful,” Marc said. “He’s not snooty, he’s not too withdrawn, he’s a pretty unusual person.” Babette enjoyed Shlian and his work because “he’s gotten into so many different wonderful areas.” “He’s open to all kinds of things, which is very refreshing,” Babette said. For Shlian, inspiration is found all over. “I think artists walk around all the time with their eyes open,” Shlian
said. “I might hear a song or I might see something in nature, it’s everything, science, architecture.” As for the future, Shlian’s work won’t stop at FGCU. “I am working with the head of Alzheimer’s research, Dr. Henry Paulson in March on a project,” Shlian said. Shlian will also be doing a series of prints with the Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For those who want more out of “Matthew Shlian: Telemetry,” they will have an opportunity to attend “Reflections on Telemetry,” a live performance piece in response to the exhibit composed of students from professor Dan Bacalzo’s devising performance course, on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Main Gallery.
discussions by the end of the production. “I think it gives people a different perspective on how individuals are feeling and what roles they play in the world, and hopefully, it opened everyone’s eyes about the space people are living in,” Bergeron said, “and you know, not to change your view on how you live or to be manipulated but just to understand and empathize with individuals and their perceptions and their reality but not to feel guilty because we’re all guilty of something.” The students were led by two jury forepersons to speed up the tallying of the large audience’s votes. The initial vote saw Golden with 10 votes and Wade with 45 while the remaining 38 were undecided. Beavers led the following discussion, in which students opened up about why they voted the way they had. By the end, the votes came back in with 9 for Golden and 84 for Wade, who thus won the case. One white man in the audience got the most
snaps and “mhmms” from the crowd when he countered another white audience member’s statement that the issue of social justice can be solved if humans just learned to love each other better. “It’s not that simple,” he began — the microphone bouncing in his shaking hand. “We can’t solve it in one generation. Like, there we go. Racism’s over. Everybody, go home. That’s not how we’re going to be make meaningful change.” Beavers asked the students how then they would suggest going about solving the issue. “By having more talks like this,” multiple members of the audience cried out at once.
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Lush Cosmetics launches LGBT-inclusive Valentine’s Day campaign By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @journonajourney Lush Cosmetics has been the leading brand of innovation from its vegan, cruelty-free products to its famous “Fighting Animal Testing” live demonstration, featuring performance artist Jaqueline Traide at the Lush Regent Street London shop. This year, it has crushed heteronormativity with its newest Valentine’s Day line of bath products. A photograph of two women sharing a bubble bath and laughing on Lush’s Valentine’s Day products page is the newest movement toward the LGBT-inclusive campaign. Another photo showcases grinning men soaking in swirling whiteand-pink waters — a strong statement that has created a slew of supportive remarks and comments.
A heterosexual couple relaxing in milky white water with little red hearts floating about is the finishing touch on the trifecta of inclusive photos in the Valentine’s set. In a behind-the-scenes look into the photo shoot, comments have turned a photograph of a gay couple blowing frothy bubbles into the air into an ongoing joke. “Yeah go ahead and keep throwing this bulls--- at us. Just because you guys have a tub that big doesn’t mean you can show it off any time you want” was one of the many quick-witted comments that made fun of those in opposition of the inclusive advertisements. The Lots Of Love wrapped gift box features six bath bombs — Cupid, Twilight, Tisty Tosty, Sex Bomb, Butterball and Pink. The products feature ethically sourced ingredients, naked packaging and vibrant colors from natural
pigments. Featured on Lush’s website, the Lovestruck bubble bar gives the faces of Lush’s LGBT campaign a plethora of bubbles to play with as a part of its Valentine’s Day products. Among others are the Two Hearts Beating As One — a new luxury bath melt — Unicorn Horn bubble bar, Love Spell massage bar and Kiss Me Quick business wash card for quick, on-thego washes. Bath bombs and bubble bars range between $5 to $12 and are currently on sale. Lush’s director of brand communications Brandi Halls told Refinery29, “At Lush, we believe that love transcends gender. We set out to do one thing when creating our Valentine’s Day visuals. We wanted to capture love between two people and we believe that’s what we have done here.” In addition to its new campaign, Lush partnered
with the International Rescue Committee in February 2016. It since has sent out a press release this year in response to President Donald Trump’s recent immigration ban, in which Lush praised America for being a place of freedom, free from oppression and blind of skin color and religious affiliation. “A country is not defined by its government, but by its people,” the release read. “When faced with fear and prejudice, individual acts of compassion and kindness will prove that one executive order cannot define us as Americans.”
Photo courtesy of Lush Cosmetics North America The fresh faces of Lush’s newest LGBT-inclusive campaign for Valentine’s Day share same-sex couples enjoying sweet, romantic moments.
Haute highlights: Couture Fashion Week in review
Photo courtesy of Vogue via Yannis Vlamos of Indigital.tv Extravagant patterns and pale pinks were the pinnacle of the runway looks during Couture Fashion Week. (From left to right) Lida Freu in Elie Saab, Kirin Dejonckheere in Valentino, Blanca Padilla in Dior and Maddie Dawn in Chanel.
By Julia Browning Assistant E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo This January, designers and models gathered to showcase the world’s most extravagant designs down the Paris runways for Haute Couture Fashion Week. “Haute couture” describes the epitome of style. The words are protected by law in France and defined by the Paris Chamber of Commerce, allowing only the most elite names in fashion to call themselves a couture house. Notable among those designers are Dior, Valentino, Elie Saab and Chanel, whose collections did more than meet expectations; they left highheel footprints in them. Each fashion house produced works that suggest art and fashion aren’t just interconnected but one in the same.
With handcrafted pieces and thousands of hours logged into making the collection happen, each dress is a moving, wearable work of art. As Haute Couture Fashion Week came to a close on Friday, Jan. 27, here’s an overview of the most astounding Haute Houses and what they brought to the runway this year.
Dior: Maria Grazia Chiuri, who is the newest head designer in the Dior couture house, created a reservoir of looks that are straight out of a fairy tale, with models who looked like woodland nymphs in flowing, mystical gowns. The runway was transformed into a garden with overgrown hedges and moss strewn about. Models wore black ensembles with tailored
jackets and ankle-length skirts. Their mesh eye covers — in the shape of butterflies, moths and other flying insects — gave them a dark-fairies-from-thecolonial-era look. Many models wore headdresses as well as dark jewels around their eyes. In the show, Chiuri emphasized designs inspired by gypsy fortune tellers and astrological superstition, depicting suns, moons and symbols like the Taurus. Overall, the look was wooded and whimsical, a standout amongst the shining opulence featured in other collections.
intricate, innate human feelings. The Greek goddess vibe was prevalent in many looks, as models donned flat sandals and long, sweeping pleated gowns in pure white. These loose, high-neck, floor length garments were a contrast to sheer outfits worn with only jackets over exposed chests. The fresh, baby-faced models wore flowing floorlength dresses, many with shimmery lace and neutral or pastel colors with the exception of the occasional deep red and one standout dress in a shining magenta.
Elegance exuded from each look, many of which featured silky headwraps and large gem-encrusted sunglasses. Diamond accessories were a staple for the silk garments. The rest of the gowns were shimmering in their own regard, using jewels over sheer, flowing floor-length dresses. The dresses and the models were magical to look at, and the collection will likely be the most popular amongst starlets and socialites for the upcoming awards season and many fashionable events to come.
Elie Saab:
Chanel:
Lebanese designer Elie Saab displayed gowns fit for a princess. Models glided down the runway in silk material in decadent colors with beige and royal blue dominantly displayed.
You can’t begin to daydream about Paris couture without Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel coming to mind. He certainly knows his niche, making tweed skirt suits that your affluent
Valentino: According to Vogue, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut solo Valentino show looks were inspired by Greek mythology, as mythology was the beginning of placing names to our
grandmother might own. Matching hats, pussy bows, collared shirts and shiny classic heels accompanied the tailored pastel skirt suits. The models walked in a room full of mirrors in garments that were classic and clean-cut. The line transitioned from skirt suits to ball gowns and incorporated peplums, ruffles and kneehigh diamond-encrusted boots. The line reached its climax when models began entering the runway in outfits bursting with pale pink and white feathers adorning their shoulders, hips, arms and ankles. Each sequined feathery dress was the epitome of Chanel.
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
R. City to headline Night Flight concert during Homecoming Curated this week by special guest from Eagle Radio, Mark Pierre
“It’s Lit” 1. “Kelly Price” - Migos 2. “Goin’ For Ten” - Famous Dex Photo courtesy of FGCU Programming Board R. City the rap duo that’s written music for pop sensations Usher, The Pussycat Dolls, Sean Kingston and many more is coming to FGCU’s Homecoming.
3. “Ounces Back” - 2 Chainz 4. “T-Shirt” - Migos
By Emily Ford Editor-in-chief @152emily
5. “Spend It” - Dae Dae 6. “Weatherman” - Yo Gotti 7. “Today!!” - Gucci Mane & Lil Uzi Vert 8. “Both” - Gucci Mane & Drake 9. “Ordinary Life” - The Weeknd 10. “Congratulations” - Post Malone
EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
R. City, the rap duo behind the hit song “Locked Away,” will be headlining the inaugural FGCU Homecoming concert Night Flight. Night Flight will be on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. on the Library Lawn. Programming Board will be announcing the artist for Nest Fest prior to the concert starting. Hailing from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, two brothers, Theron and Timothy Thomas, make up the
duo R. City. The two use the stage names A.I. and Uptown AP, respectively. R. City got their start writing music for other musicians such as Usher, Sean Kingston, Ashlee Simpson and Mary J. Blige. The pair wrote songs like Kingston’s “Take You There,” the Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up” and Iyaz’s “Replay” — all of the songs landed on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Many albums the brothers have contributed to have won or been nominated for Grammy Awards. The duo wrote “If This Isn’t Love” for Jennifer Hudson’s Grammy
Award-winning self-titled album. R. City released their debut studio album “What Dreams Are Made Of” in 2014. The album included hits “I’m That…” (featuring 2 Chainz) and “Locked Away” (featuring Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine). “Locked Away” saw lots of success as it peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and made it to the top on Mainstream Top 40 in 2015. It wasn’t always easy for the duo to release music, however. The brothers signed a recording contract with Geffen Records and Akon’s KonLive Distribution in 2007. R. City self-released 15 mixtapes between 2008 and 2012, many containing the acronym “PTFAO,” which stands for “Put the F----n Album Out,” as a way to get the label’s attention. In 2011, the duo parted ways with KonLive. Despite the road bumps with KonLive Distribution, R. City went on to sign with RCA Records and Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records.
‘Our First 100 Days’ gathers indie artists for a cause By Luke Janke Opinion Editor @jankeleg Entertainment news is very seldom known for getting too politically charged or involved in the democratic process, but as we’ve seen just this week, the two worlds are no longer mutually exclusive. President Donald Trump’s rise to power caught many entertainers first off guard then infuriated, as heavyweights and
Photo courtesy of Ourfirst100days.us
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“Christ would be ashamed of us all.” – Sufjan Stevens, singer/ songwriter underdogs alike from the cinema, arts, television and music communities used their platforms to speak out against Trump’s initial decisions in office. Most notably, Meryl Streep shamed him for mocking a disabled reporter during his campaign, and more recently, speakers and winners spoke out at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 29. Now, indie music creators are stepping up to stick it to the man in their own way; they’re putting their musical
efforts toward a first 100 days collective of songs that portray unrest and unity to provide the perfect soundtrack for any protest. This project, aptly named “Our First 100 Days” releases a song once a day for the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency. The first 100 days are often when presidents are the most heavily scrutinized, and so, “Our First 100 Days” says action must be taken to protect the causes that will come under threat from this administration. For a minimum contribution of $30, supporters will be able to access all 100 songs to be released, which are rare, unreleased or exclusive tracks artists will contribute. The collaboration features more artists than Trump’s inauguration concert; the list includes new music from Angel Olsen, Toro Y Moi, The Range, Pwr Bttm and many more. The project teams up with organizations that
encourage and promote social change. They have groups for almost every social issue, including The People’s Climate movement for environmental issues, Cosecha for immigration issues, Southerners on New Ground for LGBT issues and Revolutions per Minute, an organization that provides strategy and support for artists making change. What makes the project unique is these are indie bands speaking out; they continue to spread a message of acceptance and peace with the crowds they most vibe with — a Neolithic interpretation of “it takes a village” to raise a country. You can find “Our First 100 Days” online at ourfirst100days.us, or search for it on Bandcamp to download the tracks so far.
Photo courtesy of Jagjaguwar Ashley Olson is one of the many artists participating in “Our First 100 Days.”
EDITOR: ALLIE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
Rain drop, drop top, Migos new album on the top-top By Julia Browning Assistant E&L Editor @juliabrowningxo
Photo courtesy of HotNewHipHop Migos dropped “Culture” Jan. 27, giving fans more of what’s taken them to the top of the charts: infectious energy, fast rapping and extravagent style.
If you haven’t heard “Pipe It Up,” “Versace” or “Bad and Boujee,” you have to get out more. Migos’ album “Culture” dropped on Jan. 27, to much anticipation after “Bad and Boujee” reached No. 1 on U.S. Billboard charts. Which may have prompted Donald Glover to refer to Migos as this generation’s “Beatles” after accepting a Golden Globe for hit series “Atlanta” — named after the city Migos hails from. “Culture” is exactly what you’d expect if you’re familiar with high-energy
beats and hard-hitting, fast lyrics about money, fame and utter extravagance — and it delights. Though the crew is new to Top Charts success, they’ve proven to be bosses in their element, coining phrases like “pipe it up” and spreading “The Dab” around, proceedings that are likely just the tip of the iceberg for their internet presence and popularity. What sets the album apart from their past works, and what’s likely to contribute to its inevitable success, are its impressive features including Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled and producer of the moment Metro Boomin.
The album’s energy is uncontainable, like the audio equivalent of an incredibly long victory lap. Like many others in the current scene, they rap about lifestyles of the rich and famous, however they frequently allude to where they started. As Quavo raps in “Call Casting,” he “came from Cup O’ Noodles.” Migos’ philosophy seems to be “if it works, keep doing it,” with repetitive beats and their infectious and highly imitated rap style that, though it seems flow-less, actually meticulously follows a triplet-heavy rhythm. The result? An album that hits you with
one banger after another. “All Ass,” “Get Right Witcha” and “Kelly Price” all have the ability to reach the top of Billboard charts. DJ Khaled sums it up in his intro of the albumnamed song “Culture,” shouting in traditional Khaled fashion: “For all you f---boys that ever doubted the Migos, you played yourself!”
If you feel like partying for a straight hour, stop and listen to “Culture” right now.
Pea-based milk is more than just a trend By Alex Newman Staff Writer @xandrannewman Health-conscious consumers have started loading up on milks of every variety, including macadamia, almond and coconut milks. With developing technology and the consumer’s growing desire for plant-based foods and dairy alternatives, one does wonder: what will milk be made out of next? The latest milk product comes from the yellow pea. Ripple, the leading company of this new trend, has found a way to extract the nutrients from yellow peas and make it creamy and tasty enough for human consumption.
Here are a few things this small-but-mighty vegetable-based milk has in store for your organs. Free of any allergens Gluten-free, lactosefree and nut-free, peabased milks are the way to go if you suffer from celiac disease or other food intolerances. Fifty percent more calcium than regular milk Generally speaking, most nut milks contain a considerable less amount of calcium compared to cow milk, causing many nut milk drinkers to supplement their day with calcium vitamins. However, pea-based milks contain 50 percent more calcium than regular milk. High in DHA Omega-3s The Harvard School of
Public Health notes that these essential fatty acids cannot be created by your body alone and must be consumed daily. While this substance is usually taken in the form of vitamins or by consuming fish, Ripple’s pea milk could be a good substitute as it contains high amounts of this super-fat. Consuming DHA Omega-3s has been noted to benefit a wide variety of human functions for all age ranges, including reducing inflammation, improving brain function, preventing heart disease and supporting eye health. More protein Many other nut milks contain comparable amounts of micronutrients. Pea milk boasts an
exuberant amount of protein. According to Ripple’s website, pea-based milk has up eight time more protein
per serving than almond milk, and eight grams compared to coconut milk. For more information on how Ripple is benefiting
your body and our environment, visit their website at ripplefoods.com.
Photo courtesy of Ripple Ripple, a pea-plant based milk is lactose-free, with eight grams of protein per each serving. Ripple extracts the nutrients from yellow pea plants, turning it into a beverage similar to milk, without the side effects.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with PB’s ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ showing By Allie Taylor E&L Editor @journonajourney Valentine’s Day will bring about a different kind of romance with a showing of “Fifty Shades Darker” by the FGCU Programming Board. The event will take place Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Regal Cinemas Gulf Coast
16 & IMAX theater. Movie tickets are free for the first 120 students in line by 7:30 p.m. with their student ID. In the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a new level of character development is brought to the dark and mysterious Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). While he struggles to find himself and fight the
skeletons in his closet, Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) realizes that she was not the only woman in the life of Mr. Grey. A trailer for the new movie, which will premiere in theaters Feb. 10, shows Anastasia and Christian in a quiet, dim lit restaurant. Christian asks a risque favor of Anastasia, and — well, you can expect
that things got very promiscuous, very quickly. The audience is treated to more elevator steaminess, leaving on a cliffhanger of what more mischief the two will get into. “Fifty Shades Darker” is expected to bring in anywhere from $30 to $42 million in box office sales, according to Deadline
Hollywood. The series, both films and novels, has surfaced issues involving domestic abuse because of what the S&M and BDSM community says is an inaccurate portrayal of their relationships. Despite the criticisms, “Fifty Shades of Grey” made $571 million — $85 million of which stemmed
from its opening weekend showings. FGCU’s PB has previously put on group showings at Gulf Coast’s Regal Cinema, including Mockingjay (Part One and Two), and monthly “Movie on the Lawn” events throughout the academic year on the Library Lawn.
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Alumni match brings together past and current members to celebrate program’s growth By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Welcoming former and current Eagles to the FGCU Tennis Complex, the FGCU men’s tennis team held its annual alumni match on Saturday, Jan. 30. “It’s something that coach J Webb Horton started when we were players, and he would always bring alumni back for a match,” said FGCU Hall of Fame member Steve Binniger. “When we participated, it was a lot of fun to grow with the FGCU family. It’s great to come here and see the guys working hard and competing.” Holding the alumni match open to the public for the first time in the program’s existence, the Eagles put on a show in doubles matches, featuring current players against past players. “Everybody who touches this program is a part of this family,” said FGCU head coach CJ Weber. “Our fans are a big part of that, and our fans have been coming out here for years. And, we have several alumni that are fan favorites, and I thought it would be a really nice treat for them to come out and see some of the alumni as well as the current players.” The match featured alumni Mitchell Lvovsky (2011), Binninger (2012), Matt Rock (2012), Colin Brown (2013), Lance Lvovsky (2014), Dean Tsamas (2014), Tianyu Bao (2015), Eduardo Alfonzo (2016), EN Photos / Miguel Rodriguez Lucas Vaz (2016) and Chris (Top) Steve Binniger (left) and Tianyu Bao (right) share a laugh after talking about why they never competed as a doubles team. (Bottom) Ezequel Cerrini Perrigan (2016).
The current Eagles said they were very grateful to have the alumni present and share stories from past seasons. “It’s amazing to see the old faces, especially the teammates that I used to play with,” said current tennis player Andres Alfonzo. “It’s a very special event, and I really support the idea of bringing as many alumni to this event as possible. They bring a lot of stories and a lot of culture from past years. It’s very nice to know how they see this program changing and just to listen to their experience here, what we can do to improve their records and everything they have done here at the program.” Creating new memories to go along with the memories they made on the court, the alumni joked about playing doubles together for the first time, and shared many laughs as they sometimes struggled to shake off the rust. “We don’t always get to talk, so to be back on the courts, reliving the memories and watching the program grow is special,” Lvovsky said. “You remember where you slept, your classes, and obviously the school has changed. It’s been six years since I graduated, and it just brings back a lot of memories — good times, bad losses — but that’s all a part of the game.” The Eagles will be back in action at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 when they take on BethuneCookman at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
(left) and Javier Fernandez (right) laugh off a point scored by their opponents Binniger and Bao.
Men’s basketball moves to 7-1 in ASUN play with win over UNF
EN Photo / Brad Young Following its victory, the FGCU men’s basketball team is 64-3 when leading at the half under head coach Joe Dooley (center).
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Facing this team just a week ago on the road where they defeated UNF 86-82 thanks to Brandon Goodwin’s game-winner, the FGCU men’s basketball team rode another hot performance from Goodwin en route to its 74-59 victory over UNF. Moving to 7-1 in ASUN play sitting atop the standings, the Goodwin and Demetris Morant show was in full affect in front of the 4,107 fans at Alico Arena, as the duo combined for 43 points. Scoring 21 of his 29 points in the first half, Goodwin put the team on his back in the first,
knocking down three shots from behind the arc while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. “He’s a pro,” UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll said. “He’s got a pro’s mentality because he’s not afraid of the moment and he’s not afraid of what’s in front of him. I’ve coached lotteries; I’ve coached NBA guys like Joe (Dooley) and I’ve been at the high-major, so he’s a pro.” Coming off of his dunkfest against JU, Morant notched his second straight double-double and his sixth of the season with his 14-point, 13-rebound performance. Following a 0-7 start from the clip in the first half, Zach Johnson erupted in the second half to propel the Eagles past the
Ospreys, scoring 16 points on 4-9 shooting while going a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. Playing a career-high 30 minutes, Kevin Mickle’s defensive expertise was a huge benefactor in the Eagles’ victory, locking down the perimeter while helping limit UNF’s leading scorer, Dallas Moore, to 17 points. “I thought that we had some stretches where we played really well,” Dooley said. “Brandon obviously in the first half kept us in there scoring, and then Zach had some downhill drives in the second half and those got us going. Once again I thought Kevin Mickle gave us some great minutes, especially defensively.” Flying out the gate, the Eagles went on a 9-0 run before the Ospreys went on an 8-0 run of their own. Battling back and forth with Moore’s hot start on offense, Morant and Goodwin combined for all 18 of the Eagles points as they lead 1811 with 11:32 to go. Having its lead cut to one, 23-22, FGCU went on a major cold spell during a 6:13 span following a short-lived UNF lead. Closing out
>> Continued on B3 EN Illustration / Audrey Mobley
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ | SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Scoring beyond the field Women’s club soccer continues to broaden their support for FGCU
Photo courtesy of Dominique Deluca
FGCU women’s club soccer team president Dominique Deluca (left) and former club member Emily Metz (right) table on campus to spread awareness for the club.
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois With constant growth, the FGCU women’s club soccer team continues to bring in female athletes who share a passion for soccer every semester. However, players put forward more than just passion. The team also looks for those willing to give back to the school and the community. As the fall semester approaches, those interested in the club start flooding in. With tournament play beginning in the fall and practice starting up in the spring, the organization consistently stays in action.
“As a group we get about 30 girls who show up for the fall semester and a little less during the spring,” said FGCU women’s club soccer president Dominique Deluca. “All of our league games happen during the fall so we get to travel all over the state to play.” Commitment can be an issue for many students who also have a desire for sports. However, with the women’s soccer club, one can get the freedom of a college student, while also being a part of an organization they are enthusiastic about. “We have usually different groups each year, but just tend to lose some girls in the spring time due to work and school,” Deluca
said. Yet, one can still take part in scrimmages and tournaments in the spring in preparation for play in the fall. Eventually, when the fall season rolls around, the organization focuses more on their play and time spent on the field, rather than off. With league games starting in September, the club is off to a quick start to begin their school semester. “We’re top three in our league and plan on traveling to two tournaments this semester — one to UF and the other to UNC,” said FGCU women’s club soccer treasurer Dana Jones. As members go, anyone can join, with a lot to no experience. With veterans
leaving and rookies coming in, the team frequently has to adjust to a new team, however, this task has yet to present any problems. “We only have two seniors on the team so they’ll be in good standing for the coming year,” Deluca said. Like many other sports and club sports, the team also has set practices leading up to fall season play time. With practice two nights a week, a team member can easily manage being an athlete and a student. Yet, traveling to these league games is determined by who shows to practice, who is dedicated and how well they perform. “To prepare for the fall
>> Basketball continued from B1 the half with 21 points, Goodwin and Moore seemed to be engaged in a shootout following Moore’s 15-point first half as the Eagles lead at the intermission 34-32. Coming into the second half 11-0 this season while leading at the half, Goodwin, Morant and Johnson sparked a 19-3 run in the second half to start pulling away from the Ospreys. After allowing Moore to
Demetris Morant Position: Forward Redshirt Senior 6 feet 9 inches Hometown: Miami, Florida Over the course of two wins for FGCU last week, Demetris Morant averaged 18.5 points and 12 rebounds, including a career-high 25 points and career-hightying 17 rebounds against Jacksonville on Saturday, Jan. 28. The redshirt senior was named the ASUN Player of the Week for the first time in his career after his outstanding performance last week. Morant leads the team defensively and offensively in rebounds, with 69 offensive rebounds and 129 defensive rebounds. Overall, Morant has a total of 198 rebounds, averaging 8.3 per game. The 6-foot-9-inch forward also leads the team with 42 blocks, averaging 1.8 blocks per game.
EN Illustrations / Audrey Mobley
season, we work on fitness, touches on the ball and set drills for game situations at practice,” Deluca said. Also, off-the-field conditioning is a major part of pre and post season training. The team has attended Crossfit Lawless to take a break from the field and work more on the strength aspect of the game. The FGCU women’s club soccer team also tries to be involved off the field. From fundraisers to supporting other FGCU teams, the organization works to show their support. “Not only are we dedicated to the sport of soccer, we make it a point to fundraise and do
community service,” Jones said. “We love to support other sports clubs on campus and look forward to the success of our upcoming fundraisers.” Showing support not only to club sports, but also to most FGCU sports, the women’s club soccer team looks to interest those who have dedication not only to the sport, but to FGCU as a whole. “We make sure to have some of our members at other club events and events in general so our support is noticed in hopes others will support us too,” Jones said.
score 15 in the first half, the Eagles limited him to just two in the second. Shooting 51.9 percent from the clip in the first half behind a strong second half from Johnson, the Eagles moved to 12-0 this season when leading at the half and 62-4 when leading at the half under Dooley, sweeping the regular-season series against UNF for the first time since 2014. FGCU will now hit the road to face JU for the second time in the last week,
after defeating them 7856 on Saturday, Jan. 28, on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in Jacksonville. “We got them the first time, and I know they’re gonna [sic] game plan and be ready to play,” Goodwin said. “We gotta [sic] tighten up on a few things and be ready to guard. That’s our main focus is defense and getting on the glass and definitely keeping our turnovers down.”
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Eagles bounce back from road trip, pick up two wins over DI Towson
EN Photo / Kim Smith
Brett Yochum scored a goal against D1 side Towson in the FGCU DII hockey team’s 7-1 victory on Saturday, Jan. 28.
By Keaton Hanley Staff Writer @ChirpinParaKeat The Eagles were looking to put their recent road trip in the rear view mirror as they began their six-game home stand against Towson University (DI). The Eagles would do just that, picking up backto-back wins over the Towson Tigers. The Eagles were able to take their first win of the weekend on Friday, Jan. 27 by a score of 4-2. Tyler Tracy would start
off the weekend in net for the Eagles, picking up 23 saves on 25 shots. The Eagles were able to spread out their offense with four different players picking up a goal. Jordan Klotz would continue his dominance on the ice, picking up three points on the night. The scoring didn’t start until the second period when Jake Leonard was able to find the back of the net with 1:20 left in the period. Towson would tie it up a little over four minutes into the third, but
the Eagles’ David Wong was having none of it, as he would score 49 seconds later to give the Eagles back the lead. Towson would make one more push two minutes later, tying the game again at 2-2. The Eagles would answer back with a goal of their own from Trevor Mullaly. Klotz would add another to extend the lead to 4-2 and cap off the win for the Eagles. The Eagles exploded for seven goals on Saturday, Jan. 28 on a 7-1 win that they made look like a clinic.
Six of the goals were even-strength, with one lone power play goal. Again the Eagles were able to spread out their offense with six players scoring a goal. Bradley Rambhajan picked up the win, saving 21 of the 22 shots he faced. The Tigers would get on the board first with 5:27 left in the first and would take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. That’s all they would get, as Rambhajan shut the door for the rest of the night. The Eagles burst into the second period, picking
up four goals with the first coming from assistant Captain Mike Chemello, just 1:39 into the second period. There was no looking back for the Eagles after that, with goals coming from Ty Lasker, Brett Yochum and Wong. That would do it for the second as the Eagles took a 4-1 lead into the third period. Wong would pick up right where he left off in the second period, picking up his second goal of the night six minutes into the third. The Eagles weren’t done
yet as they were relentless in third despite their fourgoal lead. Klotz would pick up a goal with 5:43 left in the period, before Nate Pelligra would score the Eagles’ final goal of the night just 33 seconds later. The Eagles are back in action at home Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8:30 p.m., as they continue their home stand against Davenport University and look to avenge their only loss of the season.
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
EDITOR: MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
FGCU swimming and diving wraps up the regular season on a high note By Jesse Martin Staff Writer @JesseMartin247
EN Photo / Kim Smith In a dramatic finish against FIU, Barbara Caraballo out-touched FIU’s Megan Bowen by 0.13 seconds in the 200 IM, cutting FIU’s lead to five.
The FGCU women’s swim and dive team defeated FAU in their final home meet of the regular season Friday, Jan. 27, at the FGCU Aquatics Complex. The Eagles took the match with a dominate 177-63 victory over the Owls. The Eagles led in the first event and didn’t relinquished its dominance the rest of the match, winning all 11 swimming events. “Finishing our home schedule with a win was an excellent way to send off our seniors,” said FGCU head coach Dave Rollins in an FGCU Athletics press release. “With this incredible group of young women moving into the next phase of their lives, having these moments and memories will be something they can look back on forever.” After controlling the first event, the 200yard medley relay, senior Melissa Marinheiro, won the long 1650-yard freestyle. The race took over 17 minutes, but at the end Marinheiro only edged out FAU’s Danielle Zacharias by .26 seconds. Seniors Barbara Caraballo and Evita Leter took the top two spots in the 50-yard freestyle. Madeline Clark won her
first event of the season in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.06 seconds. The Eagles would continue to keep the pressure the rest of the day. Sweeping two of the next three events, with Katie Latham winning the 100-yard backstroke and Elizabeth White winning her first event of the season in the 100-yard breastroke with a time of 1:06.31. Georgiana Gardner had a big win in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the pads more than four seconds faster than the next finisher. FGCU ended their home races by winning the 200-yard freestyle relay. The following day, Saturday, Jan. 28, FGCU traveled to Miami to take on FIU in a much closer 152148 win for the Eagles. The win for the Eagles was their 12th dual meet win of the season, matching a program record. “We knew coming into today that this would be a challenging meet,” said FGCU head coach Dave Rollins in a recent FGCU Athletics press release. “Coming off the high of Senior Day, traveling and racing a very tough team, it was going to be challenging from the start. These young women showed so much pride, grit and determination, and it was an incredible experience.” FGCU got off to a good start, winning the opening race, the 200-
yard medley, with a time of 1:43.64. However, FIU responded by winning the next three events – 1000yard freestyle, 200- yard freestyle, and the 100yard backstroke – taking a 14-point lead. In the final dual meet of her career, senior Evita Leter got the Eagles on the winning side, claiming a victory in the 100-yard breaststroke. FGCU would take back the lead as the team finished in the top two places in the 200-yard butterfly. After an FIU win in the 50-yard freestyle and a win for FGCU diver, Ashley Wright, in the three-meter event, the meet was tied at 75-75. Then, FGCU won the 100-yard freestyle, with Hannah Burdge touching the pads first with a time of 51.38. FIU would win the next three events to force the fifth lead change of the day. With an eight-point advantage to overcome, the Eagles had to win the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. FGCU finished their final race of the regular season, winning the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:25.14. The Eagles will now prepare for the CCSA Championship meet, taking place from Feb. 15 to 18, in Athens, Georgia. FGCU will look for its eighth conference championship in the last nine years.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B5
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This week in athletics Women’s basketball at UNF
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU women’s basketball travels to UNF where they will take on the Ospreys Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. This is the first of two meetings between these two teams as they will face off again on Feb. 8 at Alico Arena. These two teams met twice last season, where the Eagles came away with a 75-50 victory at home.
The Eagles also beat the Ospreys 65-38 in Jacksonville earlier in last year’s season. The Eagles hold an all-time record of 18-2 against the Ospreys, winning the last 14 headto-head matchups. The Eagles will look for another win on the road as head coach Karl Smesko looks to get closer to his 400th win in his coaching career.
Women’s tennis at FSU By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois With a dominate 5-2 win at home last week against USF, the FGCU women’s tennis team will travel to Tallahassee to face the Seminoles, Friday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. The Eagles go into this match with one invite under their belt and a 1-0 record in dual-meets thus far.
Men’s tennis vs Bethune-Cookman Women’s basketball at Jacksonville
By Jessy Sammarco Staff Writer @Jessy_Sammarco The FGCU men’s tennis team has had many ups and downs so far this season. With a loss to FSU, but a strong win against Florida A&M, the Eagles look to improve their record. After this weekend’s Alumni Match, the Eagles will welcome the BethuneCookman Wildcats.
The last time the Eagles and the Wildcats went head to head was in the 2015-16 season. FGCU used their home-court advantage to gain a 5-2 win over the Wildcats and will be looking to do the same in the upcoming match. The match will take place at the FGCU Tennis Complex Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m.
By Matt Rothman Staff Writer @MattRothman3 The FGCU women’s basketball team will go on the road to face off against the reigning ASUN tournament champions, Jacksonville Dolphins, on Saturday Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. This is the second meeting between these two conference teams, as the Eagles took the first matchup 60-57 on Jan. 28 at Alico Arena, giving the
Women’s tennis vs Southern Miss
Dolphins their first loss in conference play. The Eagles won the two regular-season matchups last year, but fell in the ASUN championship game 56-54, sending the Dolphins into the NCAA tournament where they lost to No. 1 seeded South Carolina 77-41. FGCU currently holds an all-time record of 19-2 against the Dolphins. The Eagles will look to remain in first place in the ASUN.
Men’s basketball at Jacksonville
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Facing this team just a week ago, the FGCU men’s basketball team will hit the road to take on JU on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. at Historic Swisher Gym. Defeating the Dolphins 78-56 on Saturday, Jan. 28, the Eagles rode a career performance from Demetris Morant, as he finished with a careerhigh 25 points while tying
By Emily Kois Assistant Sports Editor @emilykois Coming off of a 5-2 win over USF at home last weekend, the FGCU women’s tennis team will go on the road to face FSU in Tallahassee then Southern Miss in Tampa. The match against the Golden Eagles is set to be played in Tampa on Saturday, Feb. 4. Southern Miss will also be traveling from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, facing FGCU on Feb. 4, then USF the following day.
Men’s tennis vs FAU
The last time these two teams met was Feb. 14 during the 2014-15 season in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles came out with a 0-4 sweep over the Eagles. FGCU looks for its first win over FSU before heading to Tampa to face Southern Miss Saturday, Feb. 4.
By Saul Garcia and Emily Kois Contributing Writer and Assistant Sports Editor @ saul_434 and @emilykois The Eagles are set to take on FAU in what will be the fourth competitive duals match of the season. The match will take place Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex. The last time these two in-state teams met was last season in Boca Raton on Jan. 29, with
his career-high rebound total of 17 en route to his fifth double-double of the season. JU comes into its matchup with the Eagles fresh of its three-point victory over Stetson on Jan. 30 to improve on 3-5 in ASUN play. The Dolphins will look to climb in the ASUN standings with a victory over the Eagles who sit atop of the ASUN standings at 7-1 following their victory over UNF.
This will be the first time these two teams will meet. Last season, the Golden Eagles went 17-4 in overall play and 8-1-1 for away games. FGCU went 12-9 overall last season, with a 4-3 record for away games. Next, the Eagles will head back home to face Florida A&M at the FGCU Tennis Complex Friday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m.
the Eagles taking the match with a score of 4-3. Next, the Eagles will have a two-week long break before starting up play again at home against Charlotte, Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
OPINION
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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Record-setting crowds showed up to march on Washington the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. This was in response to Trump’s alleged and reported sexual assaults and his stance on women’s rights.
Centuries of fighting for equality lead to this More people marched in protest to the inauguration than attended it
By Emily McLean Staff Writer @ebmac97 The day after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, more than three million people around the world took to the streets to show their opposition. It is estimated that in Washington, D.C. alone, more than 500,000 people attended the rallies, which was three times more than the amount of people who attended the inauguration. More than one million rail trips were taken on the Metro, which is the second highest in history, next to
Barack Obama’s second inauguration. People from all walks of life attended the marches. The crowds of protesters included veterans, celebrities, college students, children, scientists and more. Each person that attended the Women’s March on Washington, or any march for that matter, came for a reason and came with a passion for change. Some came in place of relatives; some came to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and some came to fight back Protestors donned signs
with phrases like “Grab America Back,” “Nasty Women Keep Fighting” and “Love Not Hate Keeps America Great.” Trump denied the reports that more people attended the Women’s March on Washington than attended his inauguration, and on Sunday, Jan. 22 he tweeted, “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.” Two hours later, he responded more cordially by tweeting, “Peaceful protests are a hallmark
of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.” However, some of the protests did escalate, such as the one that took place in Franklin Square where marchers smashed the windows of both a Starbucks and a limo outside the cafe. No arrests were made in Washington, D.C. as a direct result of the marches, according to a capital official. Division in our country is only growing as these protests occur and as the media continues to elevate
the situation. While I do think everybody’s voices need to be heard, at this point we must come together as a country and make compromises, rather than each party further polarizing its followers even more. If Trump refused to make changes to his platform in the year and a half since he announced his candidacy, it seems unlikely that he would be willing to make those changes now. To me, the Women’s March stood for everything feminism and gender equality has accomplished in the past two hundred
years. It stood for our voting rights, equal pay and our ability to access reproductive health care. This march was incredibly important in reigniting the feminist movement. Unfortunately, I do not think that Trump and the Republican party will take these marches seriously, despite the fact that one in a hundred Americans attended a march.
The F-word that’s been begging to be heard Women should be more comfortable identifying as feminists By Kate Bett Contributing Writer @cupcakeb I say the F-word too much, but not in the way that you would think. The F-word I drop on a daily basis lacks vulgarity, but is still completely misunderstood. The word is “feminist,” and, seriously, everybody needs to start categorizing themselves as one. Contrary to popular belief, feminism did not rise from the election of Donald Trump. It did not rise from his inauguration. It did not rise from his infamous grab-‘em-by-thepussy remark. In fact, the controversial Women’s March that sparked an angry and passionate flame inside of thousands of feminists — also was not really about Trump. It was a demand for equality. It was a protest against sexism, disrespect and the objectification that women face every single day. It was an objection to unequal pay and unfair treatment in the work environment. It was an opposition to oppression from patriarchy. For those who do not recognize this as a problem: open your eyes.
Yes, discrimination has declined, but it has not been eliminated. This is exactly why everyone — men and women alike — should identify as feminists. Feminism is a lot of things, but here is exactly what it is not: it is not demanding that men should be disrespected — at any level — as payback to women. It is not the Free the Nipple Movement. It is not a man-hating movement driven by spite and abhorrence. It is not advocating for women to be less feminine. It is not a defiant act toward Trump. In fact, it is not even truly about men. Feminism, by definition, is simply an ideology with one common goal: to establish and attain equal rights. That’s it. With all the controversy in the world, it is easy to lose sight of what the feminist movement is actually about. But, simply put, it is just advocating for the rights of women and minorities. Frankly, American women know we are lucky to be in a country with as much opportunity. However, since the beginning of society, we have always had to fight for our rights. Why, after all these years, is our pay still less than that of a man’s work?
Why do we still have to pay taxes for essential female products while male Viagra and Rogaine remains tax free? And why — in a country that absolutely banks on equality — do women still feel unequal? In Trump’s America, we, as women, do not know what is to come. But we, as feminists, do know that we have a lot to fight for, regardless of Trump. It is our job to push ourselves and prove that we, too, can take on maledominated careers and environments. It is our job to stand together instead of putting each other down. It is our job to be proud and peaceful feminists and never lose sight of the real goal: equality. If you still do not identify as a feminist, do it for your mother. Do it for your sister, your girlfriend, any important woman in your life. I’m talking to you, boys. There have been many times that you have needed us — but now, we really need you.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons (Top) Over one million protesters gather Saturday, Jan. 21 to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump. (Bottom) Protesters were encouraged to knit their own “pussy hats” as a symbol of unity during the march.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
Trump kicks off presidency with authoritarian zeal The man who once criticized executive orders seems to love signing them
Photo courtesy of Pixabay Illustration by John Haim hylights Donald Trump’s least desirable traits.
By Ryan Denson Staff Writer @RD3001 It’s been almost two weeks since Donald Trump took the oath of office. After a bleak day with a depressed inauguration turnout, President Trump and his newly formed alliance of Washington outsiders stormed the halls of the White House, ready to get down to business. Taking unilateral action, President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders into law in the first five days.
Some of them were cheered by the public — pulling out of the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership — and some were downright weird. President Trump arrogantly proclaimed Jan. 20, his Inauguration Day, the National Day of Patriotic Devotion. Nothing says “authoritarian” like proclaiming a day in honor of people ogling over you. But it was his latenight rendezvous with the presidential pen that drew sharp criticism from the
media and the American public. Ignoring any detail to his decisions, President Trump ordered: all government agencies (except military) to freeze hiring; the immediate construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines (which he has financially invested in); a ban on refugees and immigration from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Libya; a freeze on all federal regulations; a formal waiver for Obamacare; construction on the wall between the
U.S. and Mexico; allowing the use of torture; and a ban on federal funding for international organizations that practice or promote abortion. President Trump has also ordered for an investigation into the routinely debunked lie that three to five million illegal immigrants voted, which would explain his loss of the popular vote to Sec. Hillary Clinton. While all of these executive orders may please those who lie squarely in his base, the Trump Administration has simultaneously declared war on anything and everything related to science, which affects everyone. Trump has issued a broad gag-order against federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture and the National Park Services. The gag-order states that scientists working in these federal agencies — with particular emphasis on climate change — may not share any scientific information or data to the press, the media or on social media outlets that monitor the changing
climate. They also may not publish any internal blog entries detailing their studies or findings, effectively putting in place a scientific blackout. When the National Park Service’s twitter defied the order and posted statistics regarding climate change, the White House ordered the Interior Secretary to remove their official Twitter accounts, thus blocking their factual data from reaching the public. And to make matters worse in this Orwellian nightmare, Trump is back to tweeting on his personal account. He referred to CNN as “fake news” while lauding Fox for their inauguration coverage. Then he turned his attention to Chicago, where he threatened to “send in the feds” if the city did not bring its high levels of gun violence back down to historically low levels. That’s right, the President of the United States threatened to impose martial law on a city unless it magically fixed a problem overnight it’s had for decades. Rest assured, Trump’s little “send in the feds” threat would be illegal and thus an impeachable
offense. Then there was the debacle at the CIA headquarters, where President Trump quipped that the agency will “have another chance” to invade Iraq and take their oil. And last but not least, everything decent and human that was featured on the White House website is gone. Any and all references to LGBT rights, voting rights, climate change and so forth has been expunged and replaced with promotional ads for Melania Trump’s jewelry (which has since been deleted). The White House operating system’s comment section, in which the people may call to voice their concerns, has been disbanded. So aside from unconstitutional executive actions, scientific blackouts, threats of martial law, an impending war in Iraq over oil (again), Melania’s jewelry line and an advisor who cites “alternative facts,” I’d say the first few days of the Trump Administration are going quite well. Heck, give it two more weeks and we’ll be at war with China in no time and Fox News will become staterun media.
‘Alternative Facts’ is an alternate name for lies By Bruno Halpern Staff Writer @brunowesome The war of facts has begun. The Trump administration is picking a dangerous fight, because, even though facts can be made alternative, they are still facts. Just like Karma, eventually lies will come back to get you. Trump can censor climate change, but that won’t stop the climate from changing. The only places where you can create an alternative reality, other than in videogames, are in countries run by dictators. I’m not exaggerating when I say this war on facts can end up in a quasidictatorship. Just because it’s never happened in America, doesn’t mean it’s
impossible. The two main ingredients for a quasi-dictatorship are misinformation and people devoted enough to believe them. Trump doesn’t simply make use of misinformation, he breathes it. If his devoted base grows, his lies will become more powerful than even easy-to-debunk facts. The inauguration crowd could be just the beginning. The media might not be silenced during the Trump years, but its attempt to tell the truth won’t have the desired effect. This has been happening since before he was even considered a serious candidate. Tell facts to devoted Trump supporters and see what happens. This war began with
statements by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, strategist Stephen Bannon and Trump himself. Bannon told the media to “keep its mouth shut.” Spicer declared a “running war” against it, and Trump said reporters were “among the most dishonest people on Earth.” They said Sec. Hillary Clinton would be worse. I say she probably would have been worse if compared to Obama, but not when compared with Trump. For one thing, a war on facts wouldn’t be happening and sanity would be preserved. A couple days ago, I found a Twitter account that collected the Tweets of repentant Trump voters, and I have to say that I don’t forgive them, mostly because Trump
hasn’t changed. He didn’t suddenly flip his stances. Repentant Trump voters can’t be disappointed because Trump never even tried too hard to hide what kind of person he was, so if they still voted for him despite all that, they have only themselves to blame. M i s i n fo r m at i o n? Kim Jong-Un does that. Labelling the media as villains? Fidel used to do that. Every empire falls, right? This could be the beginning of the end. I personally don’t think so, but it’s unbelievable to witness the foundations of America tremble under the weight of politicians so power hungry that they abandoned reason and sacrificed their conscience as well as Trump’s blatant lies and fragile, immature ego. We must double our
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer delivers “alternative facts.”
watch in order to not be suffocated by the sea of alternative facts. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe all will be swell, and America and the world will be fine after the Trump years. But when truth is being thrown into the mud and the people responsible
aren’t penalized, I have the right to be worried. At least, the smaller crowd at the inauguration kind of proves that the Trump administration will have a hard time squashing out facts. Long live the facts.
Trump’s ban is the beginning of silencing Rogue Twitter accounts fire back with scientific facts By Abby Gruner Contributing Writer @abbycg91 Within the first few days of his presidency, Trump has already signed several executive orders and passed new regulations. Among these orders is a social media blackout on the Environmental Protection Agency. This blackout bans the EPA and the National Parks System from posting press releases, updates on the environment. This blackout also enforces a strict suspension from signing new contracts and awarding grants. Trump has repeatedly
spoken about his belief that climate change does not exist. However, Americans must realize climate change is very real and dangerous. Climate change is not a scheme but rather nature’s call to help. Trump must realize the environment is desperate need of attention and we cannot turn our backs on this issue. Our environment is quickly deteriorating and sooner rather than later, our beaches, snow-capped mountains and endless grass prairies are going to be gone. Beaches are receding and disappearing while the snow is melting faster and faster and our
fields are going to be turned into industrial parks. Not only is climate change affecting the natural beauty of America, it will seriously affect our economy. Businesses and companies that rely on tourism from beaches, mountains and National Parks will face a loss of visitors. This loss of business will damage our economy immensely. Americans must realize this blackout will keep citizens from knowing how climate change is affecting our land. If citizens are not informed, we will not be able to help preserve and
lessen our carbon footprint. Climate change is present in today’s society and we can’t ignore this. By ignoring climate change, Trump is setting America behind other countries in terms of cleaner energy. By the end of his term, America will be so far behind, we may never catch up and this is disheartening as millions of jobs can be created and we will see a boost in our economy if America invests in clean energy. Badlands National Park has taken to Twitter to fight Trump’s blackout. The National Park has been tweeting climate facts
since Trump’s blackout despite the ban. The Park tweeted recently, “Today, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than at any time in the last 650,000 years. #climate.” The environment is calling for our attention. Americans cannot let Trump ignore the facts; Trump must realize climate change is a very real thing and deserves his attention. Trump’s duty as President is to do what is best for the American people and he must soon realize calling attention toward climate change will help the American people.
Nature does not have a voice, we, as Americans, must realize climate change is nature’s way of calling for help. Over hundreds of years, we have destroyed what was here first and it is time we push to preserve our land. If we don’t, our children and grandchildren won’t have the beautiful beaches and forests we have. We must use our voices and fight against Trump’s actions and fight for the environment, or soon, our environment is going to be damaged beyond repair.
OUTREACH Laces of Love returns to FGCU
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In its third annual shoe drive, Laces of Love and the Sale family team up at Alico Arena
Chris Sale (left), Rylan Sale (middle) and Jeanne Nealon (right) stress the importance of donating shoes. The three announce the charity’s shoe drive, Laces of Love is underway in the front of Alico Arena.
By Miguel Rodriguez Sports Editor @Miguel_Rod0914 Whether it was the loop-de-loop, bunny ears or circle method, learning how to tie your shoes was a part of childhood. Though often overlooked, shoes are, arguably, the most essential piece of material we wear. Unfortunately, not every child is lucky enough to be able to own a pair of shoes. Joined by alumnus Chris Sale and the rest of the Sale family, Laces of Love held its third annual shoe drive at Alico Arena during the men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 30 to collect shoes for kids in Lee and Collier County. Since 2015, Chris and Brianne Sale have teamed up with the organization to host an annual shoe drive at Alico Arena. A nonprofit organization that began in 2005, Laces of Love has given over 100,000 pairs of shoes to kids in Lee and Collier County. “We’ve been doing this
for three years at FGCU,” Sale said. “This year, we beat last year, and we’re still growing. It’s great to see the community coming together for us and just helping people within the community.” With fans donating multiple pairs of shoes at a time en route to the organization surpassing last year’s shoe total, Laces of Love co-founder Jeanne Nealon and her team, which included family members like her sister, Mary Myrmo, collected a surfeit amount of shoes. “This is a wonderful turnout — a lot of fans of Chris Sale,” Myrmo said. “He went to school here. He wanted to latch onto a local charity, and this is the one him and his wife picked. I think it’s excellent we got a lot of shoes tonight.” Returning to get her degree from FGCU after leaving in 2010, Brianne Sale was required to partner with a nonprofit organization for a class project and started off helping Laces of Love with its website. Soon enough, her project developed into
EN Photo / Zack Rothman
something much more. “It started with my wife,” Chris said. “We both left school in 2010, and a couple of years ago, she came back to get her degree. And, in one of her classes, she had to get involved with a nonprofit. It started as a class project, and it turned into a passion for us.” Based in Collier County, Laces of Love stresses the importance of giving a kid a pair of shoes because not only does it put shoes on their feet, it also gives them a huge confidence boost. EN Photo / Brad Young “It’s something that’s still very important and still Chris Sale (left) and son Rylan Sale (right) sitting in the clubhouse of Alico Arena during the Men’s Basketball game to promote Laces of Love. maybe overlooked,” Chris said. “Kids get a confidence boost when they get a new pair shoes. Bringing a smile to a kid’s face is important, and the more that we can do that, it’s important to do.” If you would like to volunteer or donate to Laces of Love, visit its website, lacesoflove.org, to see how you can make an impact and help out the community.
Laces of Love collects shoes in the entrance of Alico Arena for Lee County children in need.
EN Photo / Zack Rothman
Eagle Marathon Day Earn service learning hours on the Library Lawn By Zack Rothman Outreach Editor @Zack_Rothman On Tuesday, Feb. 7, FGCU will host the Eagle Marathon Day of Service on the Library Lawn. There will be two-hour
opportunities throughout the day, beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will be dance and crafts, birthday card creation and t-shirt quilt making. The Office of Service Learning hopes the endless
array of service to be done will help you discover your passion. Their service ambassadors have opportunities prepped and awaiting student participation — the ambassadors will lead the
marathon and also provide info about upcoming events they’re leading. For info, contact servicelearning@fgcu.edu.
EN Illustration / Zack Rothman
Agency of the Week The New Horizons of Southwest Florida Super Kids Club addresses the academic and social needs of at-risk elementary aged children living in Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples and Fort Myers by providing after-school tutoring and mentoring, Monday through Thursday, throughout the school year. Over 270 children eagerly come to receive the help and encouragement they so desperately need to succeed in school and life. Each year over 50,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring are received by these children. Five minutes from campus, at the Estero Methodist Church, you can work one-on-one with children in the Super Kids Club. No experience needed. Tutoring takes places 3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m., but if you can also help with set up and break down, hours are 2:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. For more information, contact Dort Baer at 239-948-4146 or 239-948-2813.