The student newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997
AGLE NEWS Wednesday, September 10, 2014
www.eaglenews.org
Volume 13, Issue 7 @fgcueaglenews
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@eaglenews
Eagle News App
Budget season New rules for RSOs to receive funding
By Tia Brown @tiabiaboo
Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Dowis
NEWS
A4
Dollars for Scholars
EN Photo/Allie Taylor Freshman Matthew Walzer has been receiving specialty shoes from Nike since the summer of 2012. Nike would not allow Walzer’s shoes to be photographed for this story.
#NIKELETTER
Student with cerebral palsy receives special shoes
By Allie Taylor @AllieTaylorEN
EN Photo/Tessa Mortensen
SPORTS
Men draw twice
B1
Many high-school graduates experience obstacles that can keep them from going off to college. For some, it might be the cost. For others, it might be where they live. For Matthew Walzer, it was his shoelaces. “I was born two months premature with cerebral palsy,” said Walzer, a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University. “Usually CP affects a lot of people … more severely than I am physically, or mentally. I was fortunate enough to be the way I am: mobile and active. One of the big challenges is I really only have the use of one good hand, my left hand. So one of the things I couldn’t do because of that was tying my shoes,” Walzer said. Since Walzer’s freshman year of high school, the thought of writing a letter to Nike about his shoe problem stuck in the back of his mind. Yet, whenever he would begin to write, he would get halfway down the page before drawing a blank. He wanted the letter to be genuine, not just fan mail that was tossed to the side. One summer afternoon in 2012 proved to be the turning point.
After a swim at the beach, five friends had to help Walzer put on his shoes just so they could go to grab something to eat. “Everyone at the beach was staring, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is so embarrassing,’” Walzer said. On Aug. 3, Walzer and his mother were looking online for a new pair of Nikes. Frustrated, he wanted to give up and figured that since he couldn’t put the shoes on himself, what was the point? His mother suggested that he go through with writing to his favorite shoe company. At midnight, Walzer pulled out his iPhone and typed away at what would become a letter to Nike CEO Mark Parker. Starting with simply putting the letter on his blog Against All Odds, then sending the link to friends over Twitter with the hashtag #NIKELETTER, Walzer’s letter began getting more attention than he thought possible. Matt Halfhill, founder of the sneaker blog Nice Kicks, got the viral letter and reached out to Walzer through a YouTube video in which Halfhill encouraged
>> Continued on A4
Photo courtesy of Barry Cavin
E & L
24 Hour Festival
A6
EN Photo/Nina Barbero The term Dunk City is all over campus, from the front of Alico Arena to the banner outside the South Village pool.
Dunk City, pending
By Nina Barbero News editor @EN_Barbero
EN Graphic/Bobbi Gonzalez
OPINION
Social media
B7
The nickname is on t-shirts at the bookstore, the windows of Alico Arena, the brick wall in front of the South Village pool and even engraved on Athletic Director Ken Kavanagh’s Sweet Sixteen ring. But the trademark papers for “Dunk City” are still sitting on a desk for review. According to Florida Gulf Coast University Vice President Susan Evans, it could be several years before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office actually grants FGCU the sole rights to use “Dunk City.” “Our application to trademark ‘Dunk City’ was filed in April 2013, and it currently is in the review stage,” Evans said. “The process for trademarking from start to finish can take between one and
several years.” Christopher Simoneau, vice president for university advancement, said FGCU uses the Dunk City moniker a lot in admissions materials, signage, athletics and on Twitter. “When we own the trademark, we will have official ownership of it. No other entity will be able to use it without our permission,” Simoneau said. This could be helpful, especially in the case of Twitter. In April 2013, after the University of Southern California hired former FGCU basketball coach Andy Enfield, the University used the hashtag “DunkCityUSC” on Twitter. This caused upset within the FGCU community, and eventually elicited an apology from USC athletic director Pat Haden. A trademark would keep these upsets from
>> Continued on A4
It is budget-request season once again at Florida Gulf Coast University, a messy process that just months ago brought much frustration to the greater student population. Fortunately for all Registered Student Organizations, Student Government leaders have said that the 2015-16 fiscal year is projected to run more smoothly. But before students meet with the SG Appropriations Committee, they need to be aware of the new budgeting process in order to be considered for funding. Thanks to the Paper Use Reduction Bill that was recently put into effect by SG, many parts of the budget process can be completed online. This will be a change from previous years when budget forms had to be printed out and handed in. Senate President Lisa Ray is optimistic that the improved processes and paperless initiative will make many people a lot happier. “I think everything that we’re doing really supports FGCU’s sustainability focus,” Ray said. “We’re listening to what the students want and need while at the same time eliminating all of the mess. I think it really makes a statement that we’re making an effort to change. We’re all learning, but it is an easy transition.” Appropriations Chair Thieldens Elneus has already kicked off the beginning steps for the budgeting process this past week. “The first step for RSOs is to attend one of the budget forums,” Elneus said, “which will give students the information on what they need to do in order to be considered for funding. They’ll need to apply online and RSVP. They will also have to read and have a copy of the Statement of Understanding signed by all required members of the organizations in order to proceed with the process.” The mandatory budget forums are approximately an hour long. Club leaders are required to attend for their budget request to be considered. Signing up for a forum can be done on the SG website, www.fgcusg.org. Students can also access information through the Office of Student Involvement. After RSO officers attend a forum, they will need to print and sign a hard copy of the budget request application, which can also be found on the SG website. The application needs to be submitted to the Multicultural Leadership and Development Office in the Cohen Center, room 255 by noon on Oct. 14. Budget meetings will be scheduled after all requests have been submitted. Similar to last year’s process, a rubric has been created for the committee members to consider before granting any funding requests. “We will be looking at the number of events put on throughout the year,” Elneus said. “We’ll be looking at the number of collaborations that they have with other organizations, fundraising records, their community outreach and service-learning initiatives and the overall membership of the organization. One thing that is different this year than from previous years is that we are looking at their rollback history, so how much money did they have left over from previous years that went unused?” The appropriations committee, which is comprised of just six members, will also be looking at the overall effect that a club has on the campus. They intend to discuss each event and project that an organization completed in the past and determine how it benefited the overall
>> Continued on A4
EDITOR: NINA BARBERO NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
A2 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 The official student produced newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997.
SERVICE LEARNING
SAVE THE DATE
AGLE NEWS
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Events
Omega Youth and Community Development Foundation is looking for approximately 5 students to assist with their Annual Omega Family Health Forum on Saturday, August 27th from 8:30am – 12:30pm. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Cecil Carter at ccarter@fgcu.edu. Rookery Bay Reserve is looking for Communication and Hospitality Management students to assist their Friends of Rookery Bay Event Planner. You would be attending events with her to secure donors; preparing flyers and other advertisements, as well as assisting during events. Depending on your interest and level of commitment, additional opportunities may be considered. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Donna Young at volunteer@rookerybay.org or 239-530-5974. WGCU (on campus) presents family literacy workshops at 14 area Title I schools. The station provides single-page handouts to parents who attend the workshops. Currently, all handouts are printed in English and WGCU seeks to provide Spanish versions. This project requires a student who is fluent in Spanish and can translate in writing from English to Spanish. WGCU anticipates this project to start late August or early September. For more details please contact Paula Sklodowski at 239-590-2510 or email psklodow@wgcu.org. Autism Speaks is looking for students to assist with their annual walk. This year, the walk will be on October 11th at Estero Community Park. Assistance is needed with registration (beginning at 9am), set-up, clean-up, and other assigned tasks. Shifts are available. For more information, please contact Haley S. at hshuras@ gmail.com.
Main Office
Eagle News McTarnaghan Hall 217 10030 FGCU Blvd. S Fort Myers, Fla. 33967 MISSION STATEMENT: Eagle News, the student media group at Florida Gulf Coast University, represents the diverse voices on campus with fairness. We select content for our publication and our website that is relevant to the student body, faculty and staff. Members are committed to reporting with accuracy and truth. Our purpose is to encourage conversations about issues that concern the on-campus community.
Colloquium Rookery Bay Reserve is looking for students to help in many areas; assisting their Biologist with aquarium maintenance and fish feeding, assisting with the Butterfly Garden planting, trail maintenance, elementary school programs, and special events be-
ginning with Estuary Day on Saturday, September 27th For more information, please contact Donna Young at donna.young@dep.state. fl.us or (239) 530-5974. Florida DEP is looking for volunteers to help build a new oyster reef for the Peace River in Punta Gorda. Kate Aug, Florida DEP Community Outreach Coordinator, is looking for individuals & groups. You must be able to lift 30 lbs. to make oyster bags. Most bagging events are scheduled Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:30 am to 10:30 am or so. Some Saturday dates are available. Please contact Kate by phone or email. Katherine.Aug@dep.state.fl.us or call: (941)-575-5861 Charlotte Harbor Preserve is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to launch an oyster reef restoration project adjacent to the City of Punta Gorda’s Trabue Harborwalk. Volunteers are needed to: prepare mat material, make oyster mats and fill bags with shells, and deploy the materials in the water. If you are interested in participating, please contact Katherine Aug at (941) 575-5861 ext. 117 or via email Katherine.Aug@dep.state. fl.us. FGCU Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples is accepting additional student volunteers to assist with our beach survey and beach counts which take place 7 days a week. Contact Michael Odom at michael.odom@dep.state.fl.us or call 239-597-6196. Barefoot Beach is looking for volunteers to come out and help with removal of invasive species. Interested students should contact Jan at jjbchrch@comcast.net. ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) Help out with agricultural development. Fill out a volunteer application at www.echonet.org. For questions, contact Ruth at rmay@echonet. org. Koreshan State Park Historic Site is ALWAYS looking for students to help around the park! If you are interested in partnering with Koreshan, please email Mike Heare at michale.heare@dep.state.fl.us.
Naples Botanical Garden Horticulture gardening starts at 8:00 am Monday thru Friday and includes weeding, potting, moving plants, digging, raking, sweeping, clearing debris, etc. Wear closed toe shoes. No shorts or tank tops. Bring water. Wear sunscreen. Bring work gloves if you have them. Looking especially for groups of students on Fridays. No last minute requests. Give 4-5 day lead time. If you commit, then can’t make it, give notice. Be on time. Email Sally Richardson at srichardson@ naplesgarden.org.
Committee & Long Term Collier-Seminole State Park is offering an amazing opportunity for an interested student as Park Promotions Specialist. If you want to gain real world experience doing special event planning, public relations, learning about park operations & more, this could be the opportunity for you. Don’t miss out! Email Darren Flickinger at Darren.Flickinger@dep.state. fl.us or call (239) 394-3397. Lee County Homeless Coalition needs assistance with their social media and online presence. There is a three month commitment for 4-5 hours per week. You will help develop strategy, post various information to different media outlets, help with research, and assist Executive Director in creating online updates. If you are interested please contact Janet Bartos at (239) 322-6600 or email her at leehomeless@gmail.com.
Ongoing Do you have spare time between 2pm and 6pm? If so, please help support the “Q” Children at Quality Life Center. Help is needed with reading to children and assisting them with homework and special projects. You can volunteer one day a week or one hour a day! For more information, please contact Angela Pena at apena@qlcswfl.org or stop by the office.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Numerous opportunities! Contact info@calusanature.org or call 239-275-3435.
Eagle News views every culture with equal respect and believes every person must be treated with dignity.
ABOUT US: Eagle News, founded in 1997, is the student newspaper at Florida Gulf Coast University. The newspaper is the only student produced publication on campus and is entirely student run. Eagle News is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters and monthly in the summer, with the exception of holiday breaks and examination periods. The print edition is free to students and can be found on campus and in the community at Gulf Coast Town Center, Germain Arena and Miromar Outlets.
CORRECTION: This photo of student Ryan Lynn in the Sept. 3 issue of Eagle News was taken by Tim Gutsche.
EN Photo/ Tim Gutsche
WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A3
Photo courtesy of International Services
Students at last year’s International Reception represented many countries and gave several presentations. This year’s reception will take place Sept. 12.
Welcoming other cultures to campus By Madison Hampton @fgcueaglenews Florida Gulf Coast University prides itself on its own flourishing International Student and Scholars program. To date, the school has had students represent more than 80 different countries within this program. In addition to international students studying on our campus, FGCU students have found themselves traveling
to places such as Australia, Argentina, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Guyana and Spain in order to pursue their own academic interests. On Friday, Sept. 12, in the Cohen Center on FGCU’s campus, FGCU invites the community to attend its 18th annual International Reception. This reception is a showcase of of international enterprise
and a formal welcoming to all the school’s abroad students and scholars. There will be a sampling of foods and flags representing the students’ homelands. In a recent press release, International Services Director Elaine Hozdik said, “Through our international and study abroad programs, we continue to add to our understanding of world cultures and perspectives through the diversity of our university community. We encourage
Members of Eagles for Liberty, which at an event. Eagles for Liberty is an RSO looking for new, interested members to discuss economics and individual rights.
members of our community who have an interest in international experiences to join us.” Timothy W. Gini said that “this is a great opportunity for international and domestic students, staff and faculty to fellowship together with community members to develop a deeper interest and understanding of various international education opportunities at FGCU.”
Photo courtesy of Bradley Hobbs
Economics club Eagles for Liberty looking to recruit members By Rebecca VanEtten @fgcueaglenews Florida Gulf Coast University’s registered student organization, Eagles for Liberty, aims to provide students interested in topics on liberty and freedom an opportunity to discuss their viewpoints with other students at the university. For the president of Eagles for Liberty, Chris LongfieldSmith, the organization not only allowed him to discuss topics that intrigued him, but also helped him get more involved with the community. “Like many people, I was just sucking down these ideas by myself,” said Longfield-Smith, a fifth-year senior majoring in economics. “I thought that it would be better to do that in a group, for an exchange of ideas. There was a huge amount that I didn’t fully understand but the amount of connections the club has with the local community and national organizations provides lots of opportunities for careers and lots of growth.” The organization has guest speakers, presentations, and
group discussions. They have meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month and in October, they will be going to the Students for Liberty regional conference in Gainesville. “I think that students should do a number of things in college,” said Bradley Hobbs, advisor of Eagles for Liberty. “One is learn and be subjected to intellectual rigor, but the other thing that they should do is question what they already believe and question what they hear.” According to Hobbs, Eagles for Liberty focuses most of its discussions on liberty and freedom ideas. Last year, they covered topics ranging from property rights and children to economic freedom and action. “In an economic sense, you are kind of supplying a demand,” Longfield-Smith said. “There is a high demand for people to voluntarily get together and talk about these things.” The organization wants the ideas they discuss to reach as many people as possible. The only way to do that is to make people aware of how important these topics are. “It is really easy to take the elements in which we are
interested in for granted,” Longfield-Smith said. “It is really easy to not even know about or intuitively understand but discount and forget the importance of the underlying principles we are interested in, philosophic and economic ideas. You need a club to get that across to people.” Along with raising awareness of these issues, Emily Reynolds, a junior majoring in economics and vice president of the organization, wants more students to join their organization. “We want to expand membership in numbers but also want to increase variety,” Reynolds said. “We want to see people come out from very different majors to increase membership.” The organization’s meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays each month in Lutgert Hall, Room 1205 at 6:30 p.m. Students can email the officers at eagles4liberty@ gmail.com or find Eagles for Liberty (E4L) on Facebook to learn more about the group.
A4 NEWS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
EDITOR: NINA BARBERO NEWS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
We’re not No. 1 U.S. News reports student debt, and FGCU mistakenly tops list By Nina Barbero News editor @EN_Barbero
(Front row, from left) Eagle Ambassadors Christina Garcia, Emmalyn Green, Karen Muhl and Megan Schindler. (Middle) Anne Ford, Kelly Howard, Trisha Hitchings and Molly Honecker. (Back) Danielle Visone, Jason Hoop, Leigh White, Jessica Baker and Hailey Amundson.
Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Dowis
Dollars for Scholars event raises money for student financial aid By Nina Barbero News editor @EN_Barbero What do President Bradshaw, Vice President of University Advancement Christopher Simoneau and more than 100 of Florida Gulf Coast University’s top donors and alumni do on Saturday nights? They go bowling. The annual “Dollars for Scholars” event put on by the alumni associaton’s Eagle Ambassadors took place this past Saturday night. Attendees bowled on teams, bought raffle tickets, won awards for most spirited team outfits and participated in a silent auction. Anne Ford, graduate assistant for Alumni Relations, said that the event raised $15,000. This money will go directly to the FGCU Foundation, which will use it to pay for student scholarships. “The event was put on by several sponsors, and all of the auction items were donated,” Ford said. Auction items included a variety of items from a necklace from Dunkin Diamonds, to a trip to the Everglades, to a collectible Mr. Potatohead figure. Attendees were able to buy mulligans to give them the chance to re-bowl a bad frame. Junior Eagle Ambassador Christina Garcia’s favorite part of the night occurred when she was selling mulligans to the bowlers. “I ran into Mrs. Bradshaw (Jo Anna), and she said she wasn’t playing because she gets too competitive. But she looked around at everyone bowling and bought ten mulligans to hand out to the people who she thought were doing the worst,” Garcia said. “It was so funny.” There was also a raffle at the event for specially made bowling pins. Local artist Dave Andersen, FGCU students Kendall Futch and Stephanie Smith, along with FGCU alumni Jennifer Bibb and Scott Guelcher decorated one bowling pin each in an FGCU theme to be given as raffle prizes. Junior Eagle Ambassador Karen Muhl enjoyed watching the raffle. “There was a really cute little girl who won the glittery pin made by Dave
Andersen, and she was so excited.” Muhl hopes to attend this event after she graduates. “It was a night for the alumni to get together and reminisce about their time at FGCU,” she said. According to Ford, last year 4,000 FGCU students applied for a Foundation Scholarship. One thousand students received a scholarship. Foundation donors often have a specific set of requirements for individual scholarships, so there are scholarships available for a variety of students. For example, the Community Health Association scholarship goes specifically to students from Lehigh Acres pursuing a career in the health field. The next event to raise money for foundation scholarships will be the Founder’s Cup Golf Tournament, on Oct. 10.
>> #NIKELETTER continued
>> Budget continued
viewers to tweet about the letter. People began to tweet their Twitter handle on an individual orange postcard that said #NIKELETTER on the front, and directed Parker to read Walzer’s letter online. Nike was well aware of Walzer’s letter. On Aug. 10, Nike’s Public Relations coordinator Heidi Burgett contacted Walzer to talk about the letter. By Oct. 28, right after Walzer’s birthday, the first pair of his custom Nike Hyperdunk basketball shoes came in; red, white and blue. They had a Velcro strap and a zipper that had “WALZER” printed on the tag. No shoe laces necessary. Three weeks later, two pairs of Lebron James’ sneakers, also with a Velcro strap and a zipper, were sent to Walzer. For the first time, Walzer could put his shoes on his feet all on his own, “It was such an unbelievable feeling,” Walzer said.“It truly changed my life.” Now a freshman at FGCU, Walzer rides down the walkways to class on his scooter. He is able to walk comfortably to his seat in the classroom with the help of his custom-made Nikes. The avid sneaker fan has kept in contact with his favorite brand, and receives a new pair of shoes whenever he needs one.
campus community. Elneus is confident that the committee will be able to come to an agreement with each club. “That’s why we have the budget hearings,” Elneus said. “So that clubs can come in and talk to us to tell us what their overall mission is. If a club is just trying to have a small scale program, then we’re going to know that they’re not trying to do something grand, and they’re not going to need $10,000 toward a small scale program. We are going to try and listen to what their intention is and what their goals are and give them what suits their needs.” There are nine more forums scheduled to take place throughout the next month. If students have any questions about the procedures or what they must complete on their own, they may stop by the SG offices in the Cohen Center or email sgappropriations@fgcu. edu. “Have an open mind,” Ray said. “Let’s all share a positive outlook on the upcoming budget season.”
The U.S. News and World Report, famous for its college rankings, has recently put Florida Gulf Coast University at the top of the debt list — accidentally. One of the media outlet’s lists shows colleges whose students graduate with the most debt. An FGCU employee who filled out the survey to send to U.S. News mistakenly typed $56,208, instead of the correct number, $21,394. The News-Press noticed the error Monday, Sept. 8 and pointed it out to FGCU, according to a News-Press story by Dave Breitenstein. The higher, inaccurate number was published in U.S. News guidebooks, and at this point cannot be corrected in print. It puts FGCU as No. 1 in the nation for the amount of debt that students graduate with. The actual university with the highest graduate debt is St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, at $50,275. Susan Evans, the university’s vice president and chief of staff, said that when FGCU
realized the error, it was too late to correct the information in the printed U.S. News lists. However, the outlet has changed its information on the U.S. News website. “As you know, potential students and their families typically utilize the Internet and online resources for their research about colleges and universities,” Evans said. “Fortunately our information online at U.S. News and World Report is correct.” In reality, FGCU has a low amount of graduate debt in relation to other universities in the nation. The number is calculated using students who graduate with bachelor’s degrees according to Evans. The number takes the average debt of only the 49 percent of students who graduate with debt. The 51 percent of FGCU students who graduate with no debt to banks or the government is not included in that average. If the average were taken to include the students who graduate $0 in debt, the $21,394 would be an even lower amount. According to Evans, “The U.S. News and World Report situation has been resolved.”
>> Trademark continued happening. But there are other entities that have applied for a Dunk City trademark. Between March 25 and April 30, 2013, eight separate groups sent an application to the Trademark Office, including a brewery in Massachusetts, three restaurants in the Fort Myers area and a sports camp in Naples. Five of these applications have been withdrawn, while the other three are still under review. “The office’s assigned examining attorney considers any and all trademark applications made for the same thing — in this case Dunk City — as part of the review process,” Evans said. Because FGCU was the first applicant to start selling items with the label “Dunk City” on them, the odds are good that the university will win rights to the trademark. In fact, sales of FGCU apparel increased by 315 percent from January-March 2012 to January-March 2013. In the first quarter of 2012, the bookstore sold $70,639 worth of clothing. The bookstore made $293,119.32 in that same amount of time in 2013, mainly due to apparel labeled Dunk City. The other two groups vying for the phrase are a clothing manufacturer in Nevada and a restaurant in Cape Coral. It has been more than a year since FGCU Men’s Basketball made its famous run in the Sweet Sixteen and earned the nickname Dunk City. Simoneau believes the nickname is important because it represents the underdog story of FGCU. “We care about telling that story,” he said. In just a few years, the story could belong to FGCU alone.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS NEWS A5
WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
Campus unites in reading program By Rachel Iacovone @TotesRachel In the past, simply mentioning the first-year reading requirements garnered an automatic groan from all those present at orientation — accompanied by the upperclassmen who were all too thrilled to share their wartime stories of how they survived Composition I without ever opening the dreaded book. So, with all the new freshmen this fall, where is the usual chorus of complaints? This is the program’s first year as “One Book, One Campus,” but those who have been here for longer may recognize it simply as the First Year Reading Project, which was first initiated back in 2003. Given the fact that the initial program year helped raise first-year EN Photo/Rachel Iacavone retention rate from 70 percent to 80 Senior Madeline Heath is the outreach coordinator for One Book, One percent, some may argue, “Why fix Campus. This year’s program will focus on Warren St. John’s book “Outsomething that isn’t broken?” However, it casts United.” was that tolerant attitude from students that convinced the staff it was time for a change.
Though catchier, the new title did not do nearly as much for the program as increased social media and campus involvement had. So, it was neither the book choice nor the class of 2018’s love of reading that calmed the masses, but the hard work of the program’s staff during its revamping period. “It’s not about freshmen anymore. We want to have a common intellectual experience for all FGCU students,” said Madeline Heath, OBOC outreach coordinator. Heath is currently working to expand the traditional program foundation through campus awareness, which she seems to be doing a great job of so far. Some professors are even requiring this year’s book, “Outcasts United,” in their upper level courses. OBOC is based strongly in the unifying quality of education in the local community — even more so than its predecessor — and as such, students can expect to see events and prizes, such as OBOC’s Week of Welcome raffle, available to them in the near future. So
students, especially upperclassmen, are not keeping quiet about this curriculum change because they have accepted their fates, but because they have accepted this compromise: fun. With the transition off to a good start, Jim Wohlpart, Ph.D, the man behind the scenes of the whole program, had this to say of the road ahead: “I hope that in the future we continue to expand the programming associated with the book so that more students get involved, engaged, and find success here at FGCU.” Following that ideal, Heath has also been participating in outreach workshops with local high schools which have read the book as well in an effort to promote not only the program, but also FGCU as a whole and its unique, inclusive community that you can seldom find elsewhere. Heath is also working on starting an RSO for OBOC in the near future, so be sure to stay updated in the meantime through their Twitter (@FGCU_OBOC) and Facebook accounts.
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Photo courtesy of Barry Cavin
The test of time and performance By Isaac Espinosa @IsaacMEspinosa Prepare for an all-nighter The Florida Gulf Coast University’s 24Hour Festival is returning for its eighth year Sept. 12. Produced by Professor Barry Cavin, the event puts creativity in a pressure cooker and brings students together. “The 24-Hour Festival does just that,” Cavin said. “It may be for one night and it may be that they’re working on separate projects, but they are all engaged in a collective activity that will be shared cooperatively corporately at a moment when everyone is together for a shared experience.” A list of items, ideas and themes included in each piece will be handed out in the Arts Complex at 6 p.m. the evening of the event. Work must be submitted by 6 p.m. the following day. Viewing of visual art pieces will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Arts Complex lobby, while theater, music and film submissions will be shown in the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. What do students struggle with the
Panel of Judges
- Glenn Basham, University of Miami Frost School of Music faculty member and concertmaster of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra - Jim Griffith, chief executive of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center - Chris Silk, Theatre and Cultural Critic for the Naples Daily News - Gisela Carbonell, curator of special collections at The Baker Museum, Artis—Naples
Award Categories ($500 scholarship to each) - Outstanding achievement in visual art - Outstanding achievement in moving image - Outstanding achievement in music composition - Outstanding achievement in live performance
Festival Procedure
- 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: required elements disclosed and the clock begins. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: participants submit works. - Art submissions displayed in and around the lobby of the Arts Complex for viewing. - All live and video performances open for viewing beginning at 8 p.m. in the theater. - After the final presentation in the theater, judges retire to deliberate. - During the deliberation, the audience is invited to view the submission of special guest professional artist Juan Diaz. - Winners announced in the theater. - Following the announcement from the judges, the winners take a celebratory walk to the Art Lab with works in hand to prepare for work to be installed for a special showing of “After 24-Hours”: winning works of the eighth annual 24-Hour Festival.
most? “Trying to wrap their minds around the weird stuff I throw at them,” Cavin said. “Once they free themselves and allow the elements to inspire their own thinking, they get really excited and are able to push right through the sleep deprivation.” Entries are split into four categories: film, theater, music and visual art. Each entry will go before a panel of judges and a winner will be chosen for each category. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to each winner, and their work will be displayed in the Art Lab for “After 24 Hours”: winning works of the eighth annual 24-Hour Festival. Even if you don’t plan to participate in the festival, you can still enjoy it. For Cavin, each year brings an increasing variety of styles and approaches. “(I love) all of it: the good, the great, the unexpected, the confusing, the strange. All of it happens under a common pressure, and what we see is rough and real and immediate. It’s good theater, and it’s good community.”
A day in the life of dual-enrollment students By Kaylee Livingstone @EagleNewsEnt The average Florida Gulf Coast University student might not even know that they’re sharing a classroom with 16-year-old high school students, but the Accelerated Collegiate Experience (ACE) Program has only grown since it was first announced. The goal of the program is to allow high school students to earn free college credit while also obtaining the classes they need to graduate from high school. They want students to blend in and get the full college experience, meaning they get no special treatment. They can do part time or full time when they’re a part of the ACE Program. Baylee Wolfendale, registered at Riverdale High School, is a part of the ACE Program so she doesn’t have to attend high school. “I wanted to have a few college credits under my belt when I get my high school diploma and also to be somewhat prepared for what college is like,” Wolfendale said “I would highly recommend dual enrollment to other students as it will save them (and) their parents a lot of time and money,” said Erin McQueary is also an ACE Program student. The district pays for the classes and textbooks for students in the dualenrollment program. Along with the financial perks, the programs don’t take away any extracurricular activities such as playing on a sports team. If the student wants to make the commitment and his or her class schedules allow it, they can play for their high school teams. Joining clubs or being involved on the college campus is encouraged because it’s just another way to make the transition between high school and college easier.
Photo courtesy of Baylee Wolfendale Baylee Wolfendale, an FGCU dual-enrollment student, says the program is better than taking Advanced Placement classes.
Many high-school students argue that AP classes seem like a more logical route, but Wolfendale disagrees. “It’s a lot better than taking AP classes because in dual enrollment you are guaranteed a college credit and you don’t have to shape your entire class around a single big test at the end of the year,” she said. Whether you’re entering college after graduation or you’re a junior in high school, it’s a big change. Just as with normal incoming freshmen, there are mixed emotions for the dual-enrollment students. Wolfendale said she was terrified of the workload and what college had to offer. “Eventually, I learned how to manage my time and I really started to enjoy FGCU,” Wolfendale said. “By the end of the semester I was absolutely in love with college and didn’t want to go back to high school.” On the other hand, McQueary felt completely comfortable from the start. FGCU offers a special scholarship to ACE students who decide to finish off their academic career as an Eagle. The college will grant $2,000 per year for three years upon completion of the ACE Program. This means that all ACE requirements had to be met including a cumulative FGCU GPA of 3.0 or more, and the student must be recommended by the ACE director. Neither student plans to attend FGCU after they graduate because they simply want to leave Fort Myers. McQueary plans to go out of state while Wolfendale is aiming for the University of Florida or Florida State. They both had no complaints about their time spent at FGCU. Dual enrollment is offered at FGCU as well as Florida SouthWestern State College, but the ACE Program is only offered to students here at FGCU. As long as FGCUy continues to grow, the programs should follow the growing trend.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS E & L A7
EDITOR: AUBRIE GERBER ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
Photo courtesy of Edward Bate
Jared Ecklin scuba dives with the FGCU Scuba Diving Club, which is in its second year at the university.
Campus clubs
FGCU’s Scuba Club equips divers for underwater fun By Samantha Bowyer @EagleNewsEnt Have you ever wondered what it would be like to explore the depths of places such as Key Largo, West Palm Beach or the Inland Springs? Do you wish to swim with sharks or reach out and touch coral reefs? Well now you can. Simply by joining Florida Gulf Coast University’s Scuba Diving Club, you will have access to opportunities you’ve only dreamed about. Last fall, Edward Bate decided he wanted to bring a new and thrilling club to FGCU. With the help of Rachel Margalus, the two created the Scuba Diving Club. The club has become a place where experienced
divers and curious beginners can meet and enjoy the underwater world. In just one year on campus, the club has reached 180 members. They are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The Scuba Diving Club is always looking to expand. There are no limitations to one’s experience. Whether you’re certified to dive or not, you are still able to sign up. One of the club’s main goals is to get new and interested members certified for the lowest possible cost. For just $150, you can become a certified scuba diver and be on your way to exploring all that the ocean has to offer. The Scuba Diving Club bases all of its events and training sessions in Cape Coral
at Cape Coral Scuba Quest dive center. There are no outside costs to join the club, as long as you cover your certification and equipment fees. Potential members can expect to learn an entirely new culture. You will learn about plants and animals not just through pictures, but by plunging down and checking them out with your own eyes. The club is looking for new ways to earn service-learning hours. Members currently conduct local cleanups that provide service hours. They’re working with the CaptivaSanibel Marine Lab to help students who have an interest in diving get hands-on experience to earn hours. The club believes in bringing divers
together and opening them up to new experiences. Through events and excursions, scuba club members get to travel and develop friendships with people who share the same interests as themselves. They take the time to educate new members about scuba diving and will help each member reach their scuba goals. The club provides students with a safe and friendly environment to learn how to dive and get familiar with the underwater world. For more information on the club, its members and when and where they will be meeting this semester, go to www.facebook. com/fgcuscubaclub.
Morris in Motion
This week’s fitness class reviews: Yoga and Ab Attack By Joel Morris @joelelmorris Every week, the Florida Gulf Coast University Fitness Center offers 14 diverse exercise classes in its group fitness room. The classes appeal to a variety of students with interests that range from self-defense to cycling. Each week, I’ll participate in one or two group exercise classes and then report on my experiences. Below is a reflection of the time I have spent in two of the classes.
Yoga
Taught by three-year instructor and former cheerleader Emily Hawkins, yoga was very refreshing. Having done yoga
in the past, I was pretty familiar with the poses, like most of the other students there. However, I’ve been out of serious practice for a few years. I was pleased to find that it started out pretty basic and was a nice reintroduction to the art. There’s a large emphasis on technique and breathing, with a range of modified and advanced poses demonstrated for newbies and veterans alike, so no matter your skill level, you’re in good hands. The breathing is an often-neglected part of yoga, as a lot of practitioners worry more about their flexibility and strength than the centering, meditative purposes behind the poses. That said, I still had a difficult time with some of the leg stretches, mostly because of my tight hip flexors, so that won’t be a
problem for everyone. Just remember to keep your back straight and chest open. The second day, I made the mistake of doing a pull-up regimen just before the class, so the shoulder-intensive outing starting killing me after. Verdict: Yoga is a great way to decompress after a busy schedule or to perk you up to start the day.
Ab Attack
OK, I do core work three times a week, including one day that’s devoted entirely to it, and I’m in the middle of training for a 10k race. That said, I underestimated this class big time. Three exercises in and my stomach was on fire. Another thing that took me by surprise was the fact that I was the only guy
in the room. “There’s some guys, sometimes, but normally all the girls come in,” said firstsemester instructor Raphael Oladejo, who also teaches “Boot Camp.” The weirdness/creepiness of me being there notwithstanding, it was actually kind of fun. There was some stuff like mountain climbers, which I knocked out with no problem, and exercises like single leg holds that made me think I’d rather just be stabbed. For sure it’s an effective workout, but maybe bring an extra towel to put under your tailbone. Verdict: Get ready for some pretty intense core work. “Ab Attack” is an assault on your midsection. I’ve never been indoors and sweaty so quickly.
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EDITOR: AUBRIE GERBER ENTERTAINMENT@EAGLENEWS.ORG
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS E & L A8
Roland Balogh, junior; Tony Pascarella, senior and Max Waldi, FGCU alumni, are making the most out of a Saturday afternoon. They know that working out is much more exciting with friends.
EN photo/ Klaudia Balogh
How to stay fit and motivated By Klaudia Balogh @KlaudiaBaloghPR Motivation is the key to successfully achieving your fitness goals. But when Murphy’s Law is hitting you down and your plans just don’t seem to work out, then it’s indeed not an easy task to stay on track and keep going. However, giving up cannot be the option because it would defeat the purpose of getting started in the first place. The good news is there are ways to keep you pushing forward. As students, making lifestyle changes could be a challenge because distractions might be coming at you from all directions. Stephen Black, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Performance at Florida Gulf Coast University, said that making lifestyle changes is an overwhelming decision for students. “They don’t know where to start,
and are frustrated with their lack of motivation to change,” he said. He also added that unhealthy peer pressure could be a “huge obstacle.” Have you ever started making changes in your fitness routines and diet and then quit? If you answered yes, you are not alone. What were your reasons for giving up? Were you getting bored of certain foods and exercises? Or were you not seeing results fast enough? Black has five tips for you that will help you reach the finish line. Are you ready to set your goals, dream big and get going? “Dream big to go big,” Black said. Set mini goals along the way and as you reach them make sure to celebrate. David Scheck, senior exercise science student and personal trainer at the FGCU Fitness Center, said he keeps his clients motivated with lots of positive reinforcement. He is also helping them shape bigger goals into smaller achievable ones.
“If they put in consistent effort, results will steadily come,” Scheck said. “Typically a person starts to burn out by the fourth week — right when results would start showing.” “It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t easy,” said Tony Pascarella, a resort and hospitality management senior. “It took me three years to be where I am right now, but it was 100 percent worth it. The best part is seeing the results show and feeling more and more confident in my body.” Remember — where you are right now is a reflection of what you have done in the past 18 to 20 years, so where you want to be is not a couple of weeks or months away. You have to be consistent and persistent. “Reflect on how far you have come and vary your program to keep it fresh,” Black said. Switching up your program will make it more exciting, so you won’t lose the fire inside that keeps you going.
1. SET GOALS. Both short and long-term goals are important. Make nutrition and exercise your daily commitment. In other words, “schedule it like you would any other obligation You are obligated to yourself,” Stephen Black said. 2. DOWNLOAD ONE OF THE APPS available for smart phones such as “My Fitness Pal,” which is easy to use and tracks daily food intake, activity and results on your progress. “Misfit Bit” is another product Black likes when it comes to tracking the progress of physical activity. 3. HAVE A GYM BUDDY. Having a friend who can go to the gym with you is always a plus. Socializing with people who have common goals can lead you to success and can help you stay on track. 4. GET YOUR EXERCISE DONE EARLY before your day starts. Going to the gym in the morning before school or work will not only make you feel satisfied, but will also help you stay focused throughout the day. It is also “less likely to be pushed aside by other commitments,” Black said. 5. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE toward motivational quotes and videos. Those can help you keep you from hitting the snooze button over and over again. Have a video ready to start on YouTube when your alarm goes off, and instead of hitting snooze, hit play and in no time you’ll be up and ready to get your day going.
Programming Board
First open mic night of the semester
By Arianna DeCecco @Adececco1 The Programming Board at Florida Gulf Coast University will host the first Open Mic Night of the semester in the Cohen Center Ballroom 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 29. All faculty and students are encouraged to be a part of this campus activity — not just singers and musicians. “I want open mic night to be an open forum for students to express themselves in any way they see fit,” said Emily Goldstein, director of live entertainment for the Programing Board. “They can even tap dance if they want.” Nick Hagelin, a singer, songwriter and dancer, will host the evening as well as give a special performance. “I’ve seen him myself and he is an amazing performer,” Goldstein said. “He gives off a feel-good vibe like Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake.” The Programming Board’s office is located upstairs in the Cohen Center inside the Office of Student Involvement. Sign-ups for Open Mic Night performers are open until 5 p.m. Sept. 22. You can send your information to Goldstein at pbliveentertainment@fgcu.edu.
OPEN MIC NIGHT
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 7PM COHEN CENTER BALLROOM INTERESTED IN PERFORMING? EMAIL PBLIVEENTERTAINMENT@FGCU.EDU
SEE WHAT’S APP’ENING DOWNLOAD US AT FGCU PB Photo courtesy of FGCU Programming Board
Programming Board events What: Wacky Wednesday (piratethemed) When: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sept. 17 Where: Cohen Center lawn What: Movie on the Lawn, showing “Neighbors” When: 9 p.m. Sept. 25 Where: Cohen Center ballroom What: Open Mic Night When: 7-11 p.m. Sept. 29 Where: Cohen Center ballroom
ATHLETICS
www.eaglenews.org
EN Photo/Joseph Albano
Steven Oliveri dribbles down the pitch toward Akron’s goal.
FGCU men’s soccer ties two games; now ranked 24th in the nation By Kelli Krebs Opinon editor @thereal_kkrebs and Rebecca VanEtten @rebeccavanetten The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s soccer team heads to California this Friday to play the University of San Francisco. According to FGCU athletics, it is the first time the two schools will play. The Dons are 2-1 for the season and have a new coaching staff this year that is proving to be effective. “I think San Fran is a very good team,” FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn said. “They just beat Northridge and they have done very well so far. They got a good coach that has done well and I think our preparation will start once we have looked at the tape and get a look at them.” The Eagles are coming off of a 1-1 double
overtime tie against the University of Akron on Saturday. The Eagles played in front of a record-setting crowd of 1,574 but were not able to get an outright win. FGCU led the first half in shots, with five to Akron’s three, but in the 27th minute, Akron’s Adam Najem scored a goal off an assist from Saad AbdulSalaam to give them the lead. Junior Felipe DeSousa came in for the second half and tied the score with a goal off a free kick in the 53rd minute. “It was a decision between me and Madrid,” DeSousa said. “I told him to leave it and make a run because if he made a run, the other defender would follow and that would open a big gap and that is exactly what happened.” The Eagles didn’t score in the rest of the second half and as result, went into double-overtime. The closest FGCU came to securing a win was when sophomore Isaiah Madrid made a shot in the last minute of
the second overtime. However, the shot was saved by Akron’s goalie, Jake Fenlason. “It is still early and we really did let his one go,” Butehorn said. “I respect the team and I like the way we played, but we let one go.” The Eagles are 1-0-2 for the season and will stay in California to play Saint Mary’s College on Sunday, Sept. 14 after their game with the University of San Francisco.
Portland
The FGCU men’s soccer team and Portland University finished in a draw Thursday night after going into double overtime in a battle for a spot in the NSCAA poll. With seconds dwindling down on the clock, FGCU freshman Miguel Jaime launched himself into the air toward the ball as a last-ditch effort for a winning goal. The ball went sailing overhead.
“It was an unfortunate that there was no score in the end,” Jaime said. “We knew that if we got the ball up there, we’ve got some talented players that we could get something out of it.” After shutting out the University of South Florida last week, FGCU went from going without any votes in the preseason to being the first team outside the Top 25 in the NSCAA poll. Saturday’s foe, Akron (38 votes) sits right behind FGCU (48) two teams out. “With this part of the year, we’re still trying to find out the right chemistry, the right lineups and the right formations,” Butehorn said. “Rankings don’t really do anything for you. They’re senseless. The most important thing for us is to get into a spot where in November, we have a chance.” “(The rankings) are nice, but it really doesn’t matter,” Jaime said. “We try not to focus on that.”
The week ahead in FGCU Athletics
9/11 W Soccer at Texas A&M 8 p.m. (SEC Network)
9/12-15 M Tennis Bedford Cup (Jacksonville)
9/12 Volleyball at UT Arlington 8 p.m.
9/12 Volleyball Houston Baptist (Arlington, Texas) Noon
9/13 Volleyball Texas Southern (Arlington, Texas) Noon
9/14 W Soccer South Carolina (Tampa) 2 p.m.
9/14 M Soccer at Saint Mary’s 3 p.m.
9/12 M Soccer at San Francisco 10 p.m.
9/15-16 M Golf Saint Mary’s Invitational
EDITOR: JILL HIMMELFARB SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B2 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Women’s soccer
Eagles face Aggies after earning two shutouts By Desiree Jean-Jacques @BoldlyMagnifique The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s soccer team will face the Texas A&M Aggies at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The Aggies are currently 4-1-1, going undefeated for the first four games of the season before ending their fifth game in a draw and losing Sept. 7 to Arizona State. Aggies goalkeeper Renee McDermott has earned two shutouts this season. The Eagles defenders need to keep a close watch on Aggies senior forward Kelley Monogue. Last week Monogue was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. She has 16 shots on goal for the Aggies, along with six goals scored and four assists. The FGCU women’s soccer team earned its second shutout against the Murray State Racers 4-0 on Sept. 7. The first shutout happened in Miami against Florida International University on Sept. 3. It was a rough start for the Eagles, but they were able to stay in the lead the entire game. FGCU forward Tabby Tindell scored the first and only goal in the first half of the game putting FGCU in the lead. Tindell scored two goals in the game, followed by midfielder Paulina Speckmaier and defender Melissa Arnold, who each scored one goal. “The first half was kind of difficult. We didn’t really have our momentum, but once we got to the second half and settled down, we realized we were the better team,” Speckmaier said. The FGCU goalkeeper, Brittany Brown, had a total of five saves in the game while Murray State goalkeeper Shelby Haworth had four. The Eagles committed 10 fouls during the game while Murray State acquired half that. This has been an all-around successful season for the Eagles, who have defeated Miami, FIU and Arizona for a 4-1 record.
EN Photo/ Tessa Mortensen Paulina Speckmaier beats a Racers’ defender .
Coach Jim Blankenship only hopes that they continue to grow as a team and continue on as successfully as they have in their previous games. “There is no endpoint to development and we want
to grow as a team and as individuals and get better,” Blankenship said.
Cross country
FGCU men and women will do the Dew at University of Florida By Rebecaa VanEtten @rebeccavanetten The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the Mountain Dew Invitational hosted by the University of Florida on Sept. 20. Both teams are coming off successful finishes at the South Florida Invite on Friday. The men’s team finished first with
28 points followed by Miami in second place with 42 points, according to the FGCU Athletics website. Freshman Troy Clark led the men’s team with a seventh-place finish. He finished the 8K with a time of 26:16:71, followed by sophomore Courtland Bernard, who finished 13th with a time of 26:42:36. Junior Cody Adkinson and sophomore Jose Cartagena also helped the team by finishing in the top 30.
On the women’s end, senior Brooke Sill led the team to a third-place finish with 69 points. The University of South Florida won the race with 44 points, followed by the University of Central Florida in second place with 58 points. Sill finished in fifth place with a time of 18:42.37. Juniors Courtney Corradetti and Lauren Tarovisky also led the team with 14th and 16th place finishes, respectively, according to the FGCU Athletics website.
“I was happy with the performance from both teams tonight,” coach Cassandra Goodson told FGCU Athletics. “The men executed the plan perfectly and it was a great showing from them this early in the season. The women stuck to the strategy and looked strong throughout. We now have a week off from competition to prepare for a big meet at Florida in two weeks.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL WEEK 3 LOUISVILLE 2-0
FLORIDA STATE 2-0
1
GEORGIA 1-0
NOTRE DAME 2-0
OREGON 2-0
2 3
TEXAS A&M 2-0
11
ARIZONA ST. 2-0
7 8
UCLA 2-0
12 13
VIRGINIA TECH 2-0 OHIO ST. 1-1
17 18
22 23
4 5
9 10
19 20
24 25
ALABAMA 2-0
OKLAHOMA 2-0
AUBURN 2-0
6
BAYLOR 2-0
USC 2-0
LSU 2-0
MICHIGAN ST. 1-1
OLE MISS 2-0
14 15
STANFORD 1-1
16
WISCONSIN 1-1
KANSAS STATE 2-0
MISSOURI 2-0
21
CLEMSON 1-1
SOUTH CAROLINA 1-1
BYU 2-0
Photo courtesy of Huffington Post
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS SPORTS B3
WWW.EAGLENEWS.ORG
Volleyball
Club sports
Eagles heading to Texas after going 1-2 in Ohio State’s Koehl Classic By Michael Flynn @flynndarealest This weekend the Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team will head to the University of Texas Arlington Hilton Maverick Invitational. The Eagles will be looking to improve on their 2-3-1 record for the season. The Eagles will play the Houston Baptist Huskies at noon Friday, Sept. 12 and also will matchup against the host UT Arlington Mavericks that evening at 8 p.m. The next day the Eagles will finish the tournament facing off against the Texas Southern Tigers at noon Saturday, Sept. 13. The tournament will be hosted in Arlington, Texas at the College Park Center and will be hosted by UT Arlington.
Eagles finish 1-2 at Ohio State’s Koehl Classic, beating Salukis
The FGCU volleyball team defeated the Southern Illinois University Salukis in a 3-2 victory and lost to Ohio State and Auburn in the Ohio State Annual D.C. Koehl Classic. The Eagles defeated Southern Illinois in a five set victory (25-21, 12-25, 12-25, 2512, 16-14). Eleonora Kazarian set a career high with 23 kills, which led all players. Coach Matt Botsford told FGCU Athletics that he was extremely pleased with the way Kazarian played. “She is just scratching at the surface of what she can do and we certainly caught a glimpse of that this morning,” Botsford said. Olivia Mesner and Jessica Barnes also chipped in for the Eagles with 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Gigi Meyer led the Eagles’ attack with 51 assists according to
FGCU’s Powerlifting Club: Meet some of the strongest athletes on campus
the website. With the game tied at 2-2 and deadlocked again at 14, Kazarian ended the Salukis’ hopes with multiple kills to preserve an Eagles’ victory according to the website. In the Eagles’ matchup later that evening, FGCU started strong but ultimately fell to the host Ohio State Buckeyes in a 3-1 loss. Although the Eagles won the first set 25-22 behind strong play from Barnes and Kazarian, the Buckeyes then won the next three sets to put the Eagles away. Despite the loss coach Botsford was happy with the Eagles’ effort, as he told FGCU Athletics. “I was pleased with our ability to create point-scoring opportunities even when things weren’t perfect,” Botsford said. The Eagles finished the Classic on Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Auburn Tigers. The Eagles were edged in set one (30-28) but roared back with a 2517 victory in set two. The Eagles then dropped the next two sets to give Auburn the victory, according to FGCU Athletics. Kazarian again led the Eagles’ attack with 15 kills, while also being named to the All-Tournament Team. Vanessa Benke collected her third double-double as an Eagle with 11 kills and 12 digs according to FGCU Athletics. Barnes also chimed in with 10 kills and Meyer again facilitated the offense by assisting for 38 of the team’s kills. “There were several shortcomings for the team this weekend, but overall I’m pleased with our progress,” Botsford told FGCU Athletics. “We have continued to make strides in our play, while facing extremely strong competition and I am confident that we will continue to do so.”
By Joel Morris @joelelMorris While sports such as basketball, soccer and baseball pretty much own the popularity index, none of those teams are going to be wreaking the brute force that powerlifters have to exert every training session. Powerlifting is differentiated from Olympic lifting by the types of exercises. Whereas Olympic consists of the snatch and clean and jerk, powerlifting features the more familiar bench press, squat and deadlift. Lifters are allowed three attempts at each of the exercises, trying to maximize the weight moved. Although the movements are not as complicated as in Olympic lifting, proper technique is still enforced to both qualify an attempt and reduce injury. The sport club has been around for 10 years, but now welcomes junior Spencer Grubbs as its new president, and he brings a vision for the year. “We expect to win nationals in several weight classes, 198 and 242 (pounds),” Grubbs said. “Really, we just want to grow. About three years ago, there were 40 active members, last year we brought about 20.” Even though weight classes of 242 pounds evoke enormous muscle mountains, the club (and competitive powerlifting in general) allow for a range of body types. In fact, most of the lifters just look like they work out a lot. “There are a lot of girls in [the 123-pound] weight class,” said lifter Megan Kupser. “The majority competes in [the 130s].” Right now it is training season for the athletes, with their first meet in November, in Boca Raton. If you’ve ever considered yourself competent at moving heavy stuff, now’s the time to join up and take your training to the next level.
Megan Kupser Sophomore Business Management 19 Goal: 200l pounds squat and 250 pounds deadlift
Eric Wilcox Senior Exercise Science 21 Goal: Attend practices and stay active
Celina Romera Senior Communication 21 Goal: Gain more support and medal at nationals
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EDITOR: JILL HIMMELFARB SPORTS@EAGLENEWS.ORG
B4 SPORTS EAGLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Manny being Manny
FedEx Cup winners 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Tiger Woods Vijay Singh Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Bill Haas Brandt Snedeker Henrik Stenson
Photo courtesy of Associated Press/ David Zalubowski Rory McIlroy reacts on the 12th hole in the third round of the BMW Championship in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., on Sept. 6.
Photo courtesy of Forbes Custom
Five players to watch at this week’s Tour Championship PGA Tour season culminates with top-30 in FedEx Cup standing vying for the $10 million prize By Manuel Navarro Managing editor @mnavarroFGCU One putt for $10 million. That’s what the FedEx Cup was based on when it began in 2007, and starting Thursday at the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, the top 30 in the season-long standings will be going for that $10 million. This year, golf has had everything it can handle with Tiger Woods leaving the game due to back surgery and repeated back injuries, and Rory McIlroy having a summer to remember winning the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship in succession. Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer took the season’s first two majors
quite easily, and Kaymer even added the Players Championship in early May to make this a career year for the German. Under the current format, the top five players in the FedEx Cup standings (Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel, Watson, McIlroy and Hunter Mahan) would take home the $10 million prize with a win. With all that being said, here are my five players to watch at East Lake Golf Club and to take home the FedEx Cup.
Rickie Fowler
The 25-year-old has finally seemed to add substance to his style, finishing in the top five in each this year’s majors. Yes, this is only Fowler’s second appearance at East Lake, but with his recent work with swing coach Butch Harmon it seems his game translates to good play anywhere.
Bubba Watson
The two-time Masters champion seems to have Georgia on his mind. This is the first year that we’ve seen Bubba Watson play to his full potential with eight top 10s and two wins, and not just be the long-ball hitter that he is. With a 314.2-yard average driving distance, the Florida native should have no problem with the 7,300-yard layout.
Justin Rose
The Englishman had a hot summer and his play just continues to translate after winning his first major at the 2013 US Open. Rose played in the final group of the 2012 Tour Championship and looked on track for the victory before the charging Brandt Snedeker took home the title.
Adam Scott
Scott overtook Tiger Woods as world No. 1 in May, only to be trumped by McIlroy’s magical summer, and hasn’t played that bad of late with a tie for 16th at the Deutsche Bank Championship being his worst finish since late May. Scott won at East Lake in 2006 and if not for a flu bug last year, the Aussie might’ve taken home the FedEx Cup at the season’s final event.
Rory McIlroy
It’s hard not to pick Rory at this point. He’s the best we’ve seen since Tiger and it seems like everywhere he goes he’s a top 10 machine. With 16 top-25 finishes, McIlroy has been the most consistent golfer this year and even with only one appearance at East Lake, he is the favorite to win and take home the FedEx Cup.
Eagles team with Wounded Warriors by supporting softball camp By Dylan Schmittler @dylansfgcu The Wounded Warrior Project is a veterans’ service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following the events of 9/11. This allowed them to connect with children who are amputees. According to USA Today, people are learning to do normal tasks without the use of their arms, hands or legs. Instead they use prosthesis. These people are overcoming the loss of a limb and resuming their normal lives. Twelve-year-old Jace Ethridge is one of those kids who has been touched by Wounded Warrior events. He used to try to do everything without his hands. Since he was fitted for prosthesis, he can now attach a hook or the head of his lacrosse stick to the end of it. “Any 9-year-old is going to want to throw a football,” said Jace’s mother, Kaci Ethridge. “So if he wanted to do it, we weren’t going to worry about the fact that he didn’t have hands.” According to NBCNews.com, in addition to the daily practices and scrimmages at the ballpark, campers go on field trips to local sites such as Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger factory. On the last day of the camp, the children got to put their new skills to the test on a real minor league field. They got the chance to stand at home plate and run the bases usually reserved for the pros. Justin Feagin is another person involved in spending time with the kids. Feagin lost his leg in 2010 to an explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. He and the other Wounded Warriors left the children with a few simple words to
remember from their time at the camp. “Our team motto is, ‘Life without a limb is limitless,’ and so I hope they take that back with them,” Feagin said. Journalist Frank Deford introduced the world to the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball team in 2011. According to CraveOnline, Deford made a report about the camp for “Real Sports,” which debuted July 22 on HBO. According to its website, the national Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team represents some of the nation’s bravest and most determined heroes, soldiers and veterans. These young men have sustained major injuries resulting in amputation while serving in the military. Through extensive rehabilitation, they have become competitive athletes once again. So far, Florida Gulf Coast University has had involvement with the Wounded Warriors. According to FGCU Athletics, the department hosted the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team from Feb. 6-9. The team got the chance to meet FGCU student athletes before heading to Marco Island on Saturday for a game with the Marco Island All Stars. Later on, the Wounded Warriors played an exhibition game against the FGCU Celebrity Team at Swanson Stadium. The Wounded Warriors also got a chance to display their athletic talents in the sport they love to play. Despite the fact that the Wounded Warriors wear prosthetic legs and arms, their extreme perseverance, character and attitude never changes. These people also feel like they are a part of the FGCU Dunk City Family. The WWAST threw out the ceremonial first pitch at an FGCU softball game during the weekend that FGCU hosted the foundation.
Photo courtesy of Scott Utterback/The Louisville Courier-Journal Jace Ethridge, 12, connects during batting practice while attending the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team’s Kids Clinic in June. Veterans who are amputees work with children who have missing limbs.
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Kane’s Korner
A look at opening week in the National Football League
The NFL is cowardly
By Matt Shipley Assistant sports editor @matthshipley After a long four weeks of exhibition games, the wait is over and football season is here. The first week of the NFL season was eventful as we saw teams begin their long road to the Super Bowl. The week began Thursday night when the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks began the year with a bang against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks picked up right where they left off last season, winning the game 36-16. Rodgers took his up-tempo offense downfield, taking the first lead of the game with just over a minute to go in the first quarter. Following the Seahawks’ slow, threepoint first quarter, Marshawn Lynch and the rest of the offense returned to last year’s form. Lynch rushed for 110 yards and added two touchdowns on the night alongside Russell Wilson’s two touchdowns and 191 passing yards. Looking to return from a very disappointing last season, the Houston Texans had a great start to the new season with a 17-6 win over the Washington Redskins. The Texans were lead by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who passed for 206 yards with one touchdown and took the lead after a 76-yard touchdown reception by DeAndre Hopkins in the second quarter. The victory snaps a 14game losing streak for Houston. An exciting week one for football fans saw two games head into overtime and six games end with deficits less than 10 points. Among those overtime thrillers were games involving the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears. Despite Jay Cutler’s 349 yards and two touchdowns, the Bears faltered after a failed series to open the extra quarter of play. Fred Jackson took over for the Bills, bringing them to the 1-yard line with a 38-yard run and putting them into perfect position for a gamewinning field goal. According to NFL.com, Seattle currently sits at the top of the power rankings following its week-one domination over the Packers. The
Seahawks look to become the first team to successfully defend their Super Bowl title since the Patriots in 2004. New England sits seventh in the power rankings following its week-one loss to the Miami Dolphins. Tom Brady had a poor day throwing the ball, and it looks like his days are coming to an end slowly. Ryan Tannehill of the Dolphins looked to be coming into his own this past weekend as he led his team to the 33-20 victory. A Week One filled with upsets and nailbiters shook up the league to begin the new season. The top two teams, according to ESPN.com, Seattle and Denver, held on to the top of the rankings while five of the top 10 teams lost their footing heading into week two. The Patriots look to rebound against Minnesota to avoid the worst start to a season for them in more than 10 years while Atlanta looks to stay hot heading into No. 5-ranked Cincinnati. Will the second week of the season shake up the league or will the powerhouses continue to dominate?
Watch Week One’s Top Plays
By Justin Kane Editor-in-chief @ByJustinKane By now, everybody knows what happened with Ray Rice and the woman who is now his wife. If you don’t, I’ll give you the short rundown: Rice was caught on video in February dragging his then-fianceé out of a casino elevator in Atlantic City, where he was arrested. In May, Rice pleaded not guilty and entered a diversion program to avoid prosecution. On July 27, the NFL suspended Rice two games, and then this past week, the full video was released of Rice hitting his fianceé, he was suspended indefinitely, and the Baltimore Ravens cut him. This is a move that should’ve been done in July. The NFL really dropped the ball on the situation, and when the league announced that he was only going to be suspended two games, the outcry was tremendous. Nobody, and I mean nobody, thought that was a reasonable punishment. Well, loudmouth ESPN clown Stephen A. Smith thought it was reasonable as he blamed Rice’s fianceé and said she could’ve prevented it. A few weeks after the laughing stock of a punishment was handed down, the NFL changed its stance on domestic violence. The league made it where the first offense would result in a six-game suspension and the second would be a removal from the league forever. But the real question here is why did the NFL suddenly change its punishment? The league claims it was in the dark on not seeing the video until this week. The NFL claims it was in the dark on not seeing the video, but celebrity gossip website TMZ had it. Come on. That sounds like some classic BS. What it sounds like is that the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens (who are worse than the NFL) played dumb and said they didn’t see the video, hoping that everybody else wouldn’t so they wouldn’t have to suspend one of their prized running backs. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been slowly backpedaling since the announcement, so when this video came out he had to make up for the bad image he
has had for the past month. I have no problem with Rice not being in the league. I actually embrace it. I’m glad that he’s finally getting what he deserves. What I have a problem with is the fact that this took so long. The fact is Rice beats his wife and would’ve been suspended just two games, but Josh Gordon gets a year suspension for smoking a joint. I’m no legal expert, but I’m pretty sure domestic abuse is a little bit more extreme than smoking a joint. The NFL had to make a decision that would take the heat off its PR team that was getting flak. The NFL messed up. League officials were cowards and didn’t have the guts to suspend someone who makes them money. I hope the NFL has learned from this and won’t continue to be less lenient on star players, and that regardless of how much money you make, if you do something as stupid as beating your fianceé, then you should be punished.
Watch Graphic Ray Rice Video
Dunne’s Doghouse
Courtesy wire photo
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) hands off the ball to running back Jamaal Charles (25) in the first half against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Running backs highlight the NFL’s Week One duds By Ryan Dunne @ryandunne81 With the first week of the regular season in the books in the NFL, there were plenty of big-name players who did not live up to expectations in their season openers.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles
Charles probably had the most disappointing outing in the league against the Tennessee Titans. Charles had only seven carries for a total of 19 yards and added four receptions as well for only 15 yards. With Charles being the centerpiece to that offense, the Titans’ game plan to neutralize Charles worked to perfection as they were able to contain the Pro Bowl running back and win the game 26-10 at Arrowhead Stadium. For a guy with the talent that Charles has, this was a disappointing showing as he was unable to get anything going, his longest carry only going for six yards. It won’t get any easier for Charles this week as the Chiefs hit the road to South Florida to play the Miami Dolphins, who put on an impressive show defensively this weekend against the New England Patriots.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
Before you think, “Well, he should always be in the Doghouse,” Romo is still an above-average quarterback in the game today. But he didn’t look that way against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. After already having running back DeMarco Murray fumble the ball on the opening possession that the 49ers returned for a touchdown, the last thing Romo could do is turn over the ball some more. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, he did. The arm strength of Romo may not be there coming off of back surgery, but that shouldn’t have affected his eyesight as well as he made poor decisions throwing the football. Romo threw three interceptions in the first half that were all terrible decisions on his part, each thrown into double or triple coverage. Romo better hope his back can get better as the Cowboys head to St. Louis to face a Rams team that is notorious for rushing the quarterback.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin
Martin turned in a horrible debut after playing in only six games last year due to injury. Now I do get it that the Carolina Panthers have an impressive defense and probably the best front seven in all of football, but to only have nine yards on nine carries? No excuse, especially when your
backup is able to come in and have 12 yards on just four carries, even though he did fumble away an opportunity for Tampa Bay to take the lead toward the end of the game. Martin was expected to be a huge piece in that offense and unfortunately did not live up to the task Sunday. Things should get easier for Martin this weekend as he and the team take on the Atlanta Falcons, whose defense allowed 139 yards on the ground to the New Orleans Saints.
Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew
Due to his age, don’t be surprised if you see MJD in the doghouse as the season goes on. With Jones-Drew being 29 years old, which is about the age running backs usually start to decline, and his production failing since 2011, the running back tandem of he and Darren McFadden is one that could be ineffective this season. Jones-Drew had only 11 yards on nine carries against the New York Jets. With rookie quarterback Derek Carr being named the starter in Oakland, his best friend would be his running attack, and he won’t have much success if Jones-Drew continues to play like that. Due to his experience, though, Jones-Drew could easily bounce back, especially this week as the Raiders host a Houston Texans team that allowed 131 yards rushing to the Washington Redskins.
OPINION Eagle News Editorial Department Justin Kane editorinchief@eaglenews.org Editor-in-Chief Kelli Krebs opinion@eaglenews.org Opinion editor
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Christmas in September
‘The biggest advancement in the history of iPhone’
Photos courtesy of Apple Apple released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
By Justin Kane Editor-in-chief @B yJustinKane For Apple techies such as myself, September is always like Christmas. Each September, Apple unveils new products, usually the newest iPhone and iPad, to the world and everyone, including myself, drools in awe. Yesterday was no different. Apple was speculated to release a new iPhone and some sort of wearable device, but nobody really knew what to expect. Tim Cook wasted no time during his speech at the September event conference in Cupertino, Calif., to announce the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. He was on stage just eight minutes before he started to unveil what he called “the best iPhone yet.” The amount of time he spent before getting into products was unusual because usually they spend a good 10 to 15 minutes going over numbers on just how well they are doing before they launch new products. In the midst of iCloud’s biggest hack ever, I’m sure Cook didn’t want to stall before he got the ball rolling on announcing the new awesomeness. Now to the products. An iPhone is expected every fall. That’s been the normality since the iPhone 4s was released in fall of 2011. The consensus on what was going to happen was that Apple was going to release a bigger screen version of the iPhone and possibly a second, even larger, version. They nailed the prediction right on the head. The iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch screen and the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch screen
(compared to the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5s) and it looks like they’ve gone back to the style of the first iPhone. The edges are now rounded, and believe it or not, it’s even thinner than the 5s, which at the time was the thinnest iPhone yet. Though it’s not much different that its predecessor, the iPhone 6 has a new A8 chip that is about 25 percent faster than the A7 in the 5s and upped the battery life, something that was greatly needed. In the massive new iPhone 6 Plus, the only difference is the screen size. If you like huge screens, then the iPhone 6 Plus is your best bet, but if you already have an iPhone 5s, then I would suggest to just wait a while to upgrade your phone. The changes aren’t massive enough to pay a boatload of money to upgrade. The second product that Apple revealed will be a game-changer, in my opinion. There was wild speculation going around that Apple would release some sort of wearable device, similar to the Samsung Gear, and they did with the Apple Watch. And boy, oh boy, was it a release. Cook gave it a brief introduction then let his senior vice president of design, Sir Jonathan Ive, narrate a 10-minute video about how awesome the new Apple Watch is. It’s basically like an iPhone that you can wear on your wrist. You can answer calls, texts and emails and even use third-party apps that will set it apart from the competition. The Apple Watch will come in three models: a regular one, a sport version and a fancy one coated in gold. The apps will set the watch apart from all the other competitors, and the health-kit function will revolutionize the way that people work out and focus on their health. Prices start at $349 and the product will be available in early 2015.
EN Illustration / Bobbi Gonzalez
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 EAGLE NEWS OPINION B7
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Social media applications are displayed on an iPhone.
Social media is awesome
It’s not all just photos of sandwiches and cat videos Kelli Krebs Opinion Editor @TheReal_KKrebs We’re not all zombies. Not all of us emerge from the dark corners of our rooms after a long day of sitting huddled over our laptops and iPhones, cringing at the first sign of light. Not everyone with a social-media account lacks basic interpersonal skills in the physical world. Not all of us stop what we’re doing to take a selfie. OK, maybe some of us do. Despite the trend of teenagers gluing themselves to the cyber world, social media is actually pretty awesome. I’m not just talking about the mindless task of scrolling through selfies on our Instagram feeds or the viral six-second videos of cats and racist teenagers that clutter our Twitter timelines. We now literally have access to the world’s information with just a few clicks and a couple swipes — that is what’s awesome. I don’t think a lot of people actually realize the power that sits at their fingertips. People have the opportunity to learn things about other areas that they may never have a chance of traveling to or
learning about otherwise. Details about an event that happens across the globe can be at your fingertips within seconds of it happening. Sometimes it can actually bring you access to information that mainstream media wouldn’t report. Remember that guy who accidentally live-tweeted the Osama bin Laden raid? Social media has the power to beat science. Back in 2012, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Philippines. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed Twitter for tweets containing the word “earthquake.” Those on Twitter learned of the earthquake a minute before the underground sensors did — sensors our government relies on. They created a program that watches twitter for the trending word “earthquake.” So now, the USGS Tweet Earthquake Dispatch is actually a thing. Let’s say you don’t care about news and information around the world. Maybe you also believe everything FOX News reports. Besides all of the information from around the world, it’s an awesome way for young artists and professionals to promote themselves. Aside from the superfluous amount of people’s lunches, Instagram can help young artists such as photographers
share their work and market themselves. Blogging and sites such as Tumblr give young writers the opportunity to demonstrate their witty writing. Oh yeah, it also, you know, allows you to socialize. Social media still allows you to interact with people across the globe. Your family members have basically flooded your Facebook “friends” lists, giving you no possible excuse not to know what your grandma had for lunch. As someone who has moved around a lot, keeping up with friends and family across the country is great. I get the chance to catch up and occasionally creep up on friends who I haven’t seen in years. Sure, sometimes the information on social media isn’t always true, and I don’t always want to see a photo of my grandma’s turkey sandwich, but we should educate ourselves enough to be able to identify the fact from the fiction. I know social media isn’t perfect, but hey, as Chuck Palahniuk once said, “Even the Mona Lisa is falling apart.” There’s no reason to resent it. Without a doubt, things are changing. Things have changed. The way we interact with each other, and how we get our information on a day-to-day basis, has revolutionized beyond what we ever anticipated. Change is scary, but change isn’t always Armageddon.
Put down the phone
What were you missing while refreshing your newsfeeds? By Alex Boyer @alboyer I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t almost 100 percent dependent on technology. I’m an avid tweeter, obsessed with Spotify and I’m almost always on my phone. Whether I’m texting a friend, using my bank app to check what little amount of money I have in my bank account or sending embarrassingly hideous snapchats to my entire contact list, I’m always relying on technology. Though I’m extremely thankful to live in an era where so much is available at the simple push of a button, I can’t help but wonder what things would be like in the world if we weren’t so reliant on technology. Nowadays, people hide behind their cellphones and computers. Texting and various forms of messaging on social networks have become an acceptable way to interact with people. It is no longer necessary to physically go up to someone and speak. Instead,
we communicate like robots, using abbreviations and words like some sort of code. People say things they would be too terrified to say in person. Now, not sending a text back can be
“
We communicate like robots, using abbreviations and words like some sort of code.
”
just as powerful as actually sending one. It’s even easier to avoid your problems today because you’re not being physically confronted in the first place. The amount of information that is
available at the fingertips of anyone who you accept a friend request from is also a problem. Every person you allow to be your friend has access to photos and statuses and can even see your other “friends.” People pass judgment when they see what you post, and people can recreate themselves with edited photos and statuses in order to make themselves appear a certain way. I know I’m guilty of assuming things about a person after viewing what they post on the Internet, so I can only wonder how the people I let view my social media judge me. Shows such as MTV’s “Catfish” shed a little bit of light on the situation and let viewers see that there are dangers that come with only communicating via technology. I just hope that our generation learns a lesson from these people who make fools of themselves on national television. The worst of all is that there is no mystery to anyone anymore.
Most people my age, girls especially, post everything they do on the Internet no matter how uninteresting it is, leaving no sense of privacy for themselves. Why do people have to post tweets, statuses and photos of every little thing they do? I love technology, and to be honest, my social-media accounts are my guilty pleasure. I feel that sometimes it’s necessary to put down our cellphones, close our laptops, turn of the television, and just be aware of our surroundings and actually live our lives. So maybe next time you want to make plans with some friends, physically approach them instead of starting a group message, and leave the phones at home. You never know what you could be missing while you’re looking down and refreshing your newsfeed.
OPINION
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Modern dating
Swiping right won’t find you Prince Charming
Photo courtesy of Buzzfeed
Snapshot of the Buzzfeed video, “If Disney Princes Were Real, They Would Make Terrible Boyfriends.”
By Cait Schall @CaitlinSchall If you were to ask me at this time last year to express my opinion on true love and dating, my explanation would have ended with me proclaiming that I would rather catch swine flu than feelings because it is probably easier to get rid of and at least I would know it was real. We are born into this idealistic view that one day our Prince Charming will come and sweep us off our feet, and all will be right with the world. We are so sorely mistaken. We are misled by the belief that one day this person will come into our lives and suddenly everything will make sense and we will be complete. We keep going through the motions of our days and keep moving toward this delusional fantasy that we have engraved into our minds from the start. Instead of living life in hopes of another person coming along and fixing all of your problems, be your own hero. Fix your life. Start doing things that make your life have meaning. Step away from the comfort zone of your phone and quit obsessing over such trivial things such as the amount of matches you have received on Tinder. With social media’s impact on dating,
it has given many people a lack of depth or basic skills that a person would need in order to carry on a meaningful conversation with someone of the opposite sex. We have the capability to set up multiple dates, sometimes even within the same day. It’s just as simple as sliding our index finger toward the right of our screen on our phones. We have a person’s entire background information readily available to us, yet we are totally incapable of stringing words together to convey significant meaning when talking face to face with a person. Give yourself more credit; you are more than capable of leading a happy life on your own. I promise the sun will still come up tomorrow morning even if you didn’t match with that hot guy on Tinder. Before you find yourself in a happy relationship, you need to have a happy life that you can be proud of whether a significant other is in it or not. When you solidify a happy life, you ensure a brighter future for yourself. I have seen so many friends find themselves in relationships that fully consume their lives, but I believe if you want a healthy relationship, you absolutely need to have a life outside of your relationship. Have your own interests. Go out with
your friends instead of reserving every night for your love interest. It is OK to be selfish and do things that make you enjoy life, because if you don’t put yourself first occasionally, then who will? These days, if you were to ask me my opinion of true love and dating, it would not end in me comparing love to a fatal disease. When I came to the realization that it is myself and my life that I need to love, I realized that I am not as opposed to the idea of falling head over heels. I urge everyone to fall in love, to fall in love with today. Fall in love with your life right now. Instead of swiping right on Tinder in hopes of love (or lust), fall in love with your life and what you do with it. Be passionate in your actions and you will attract people who are likeminded. Then maybe, just maybe, you’ll fall in mutual love with another human being. No, they will not be the perfect Prince Charming that you have envisioned. They will be flawed, they will piss you off and they will do and say things that drive you completely insane, and you know what? It will be undeniably perfect. Perfection in love is not with Prince Charming because that would be too easy. Life is a little more exciting when you have someone to keep you on your toes.
VIDEO: “If Disney Princes Were Real, They Would Make Terrible Boyfriends” via Buzzfeed.
Facebook: User discretion advised Things you don’t want the Internet to know By Jack Lowenstein @lowspenj
FGCU student Paul McDade logs into Facebook.
Correction:
Michael Acton wrote the article in the Opinion section of the Sept. 3 issue of Eagle News titled, “Are your classmates really your peers?”
EN Photo / Emily Ford
Social media is the fabric of our social lives. Now, almost a decade since Facebook’s swallowing up of the once-popular MySpace, everyone has an account with some type of social-sharing website. One would assume, as college students, we’d be less eager to give up valuable personal information to the public. We’d like to think that. Unfortunately, some people could use a friendly reminder of the things we as a global society of social-media users should avoid posting, tweeting or snapping. Let’s start with the basics: Don’t make personal information such as your home address, phone number and e-mail public. Why have a private life if everyone who desires to can take a gander at your page and see where you live, or other personal info? Don’t post about your dinner date for two at the Olive Garden near Gulf Coast Town Center on your public newsfeeds. That date you’ve been planning for you and your significant other may become a dinner date for three. Avoid sharing your passwords and stop leaving your social media page open 24/7 on your computer. I understand that someone else posted on your page, however, I would rather not read that you like smelling your own farts. Stop posting pictures of all your drunken weekend antics on the Internet. This is simply distasteful, unprofessional and sometimes illegal. No one wants to see that. Try not to post on your newsfeed the dates and times when you will be on your European vacation for a month. Remember “Home Alone?” From a friend to a friend, here’s my tip to you: There’s no such thing as a delete button on the Internet. Privacy settings exist for a reason. Not all information should be public. Be cautious of what you post.
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