Crimson 2/5/13 Issue

The official student newspaper of florida Tech

September 7, 2011 Wednesday

Fall 2011 Issue 2

spring, issue 2

february 5, 2013

SGA appoints two new senators Hershlay Raymond Campus Life Editor

Bike thefts on the rise from last semester Drew Lacy Editor-in-Chief

Nabila Tabassum and Benoy Shah were recently appointed as the newest senators for the Student Government Association.

Tabassum, a senior in pre-medical/biology, and Shah, a transfer in chemical engineering, are the replacements for two senators recently removed from SGA after failing to meet requirements for remaining a senator as stated in the organization’s bylaws.

The SGA senate must kept at full capacity at all times, according to Carla Deras, vice president.

Vacancies are to be filled as soon as possible. Applications open for one to two weeks, then appointments for interviews are set with the executive board and the speaker of the senate present.

“We usually ask them the leadership positions they’ve had on campus, because it’s important for us the make sure the student that we’re picking represents a good portion of the student body,” said Deras.

The executive board and the speaker of the senate selected Tabassum and Shah as candidates.

The senate then unanimously approved both choices.

Shah recently transferred to Florida Tech from Purdue University and became interested in Student Government after helping his roommate run a successful campaign for student body president at Purdue.

“My roommate was my role model,” Shah said. “While he was running, I learned a lot about Student Government. What it does, what it includes.”

Shah held many leadership positions in his two years at Purdue,

photo by hershlay raymond (left) nabila tabassum (right) Benoy Shah (left) and Nabila Tabassum (right). including the Emerging Leaders Program and National Residence Hall Honorary.

Tabassum said she joined SGA to make her opinions heard. When she learned there was a position open for a new senator, she said knew had she had to get out there and do something more.

“If I didn’t get chosen, that’s fine with me,” Tabassum said.

“But as long as I got my ideas and my opinion out there, it’s good enough for me because SGA is for the student body.”

Tabassum has been vocal about her ideas and is always willing to help out.

“She wasn’t even part of the homecoming committee and she helped us with everything,” Deras said.

Currently, the SGA senate consists of 15 students, but there are plans to add five more next semester to lessen the amount of work delegated to each senator.

“Being a senator means you’re actually involved on campus, so we don’t want to load everybody,” Deras said. “While a senator’s term lasts one full school year, collectively it’s more like six months and most projects take the committees over a year.”

While the changes will be made

by the next vice president, Deras hopes that more people will be added each committee.

“The Quality of Life Committee demands a lot of people. Same with the Academic Committee and PR,” Deras said.

Tabassum plans on joining the Public Relations Committee to utilize her marketing skills. “I’m using my own resources. I’m good with researching and getting flyers out. Just getting it all out,” Tabassum said.

Shah plans on joining the Quality of Life Committee. Though he has only been attending Florida Tech for a semester, he has big plans for this campus. He considers himself a “changemaker” and wants to unify the student body.

“I want to see the entire campus come together,” Shah said. “We have a lot of diversity out here.

People from all different countries, different cities, from everywhere and I want to see everyone of us come together and create a strong network.”

“Eventually after a couple of years, we are all going to go out and change the world in different ways,” Shah said, “but for right now, we should be one unified Florida Tech.”

When Mindaugas Beliauskas first returned from class to find his $400 bicycle missing and only a severed lock in its place, he was cautiously optimistic. Having chained the bike to a nearby lamppost instead of a nearby overflowing bike rack, he assumed security had cut the lock and confiscated the bike.

“I thought, maybe it was elsewhere. I didn’t expect it to be stolen,” said Beliauskas, a mechanical engineering major and member of the Florida Tech rowing team.

When he approached security, he soon realized that the missing bike, his primary mode of transportation across campus, had been stolen.

“When I asked if they had cut the lock, they said they never do that,” Beliauskas said. Though the security handbook contains a policy that allows the department to cut the locks on any improperly parked bikes, the rule is seldom enforced, according to chief of security, Kevin Graham.

Beliauskas’ story is not uncommon. Eleven bikes have been reported stolen this semester, compared to eight last semester.

However, this number is so far down from last school year’s total of 44 stolen bikes. Five of eleven the bikes missing this semester have been found and returned according to Graham, but Beliauskas has not yet been so lucky.

“I asked if I could see the security footage, but they said they wouldn’t be able to identify anyone,” Beliauskas said. He said he was frustrated with what he felt was a lack of cooperation from security.

However, catching bike thieves on camera is not as easy as it sounds, according to Graham.

Though there are cameras all over the campus, the cameras are usually pointed at other areas that pose a bigger security concern.

Cameras can be manually moved to point and zoom at certain areas, but it’s nearly impossible for security to anticipate a bike theft before it happens, turn the camera and catch the thief.

The Student Government Association addressed the problem in a recent senate meeting. The organization is currently working on a safety and security plan that they are presenting to the department of security.

Vice president Carla Deras suggested that the department engrave bikes when registering them, instead of using the current registration stickers which can be peeled or scraped off.

Graham said that bicycle engraving, specifically of driver license numbers, is currently available for free to all students, but is not currently a required part of the registration process.

Graham also suggests that students use only solid metal, Ushaped Kryptonite locks, which are nearly impossible to cut without power tools, and to lock bikes only to bike racks rather than to other objects or the bike itself.

He also stressed the importance of registering the bikes and taking advantage of optional engraving.

For now, Beliauskas has taped up flyers across campus, offering rewards for the return of his bike.

He has also filed a report of the theft with the Melbourne police.

“I never expected someone to steal my bike,” he said, “not at Florida Tech.”

Conference championship dreams come closer to reality for women’s basketball

David Barkholz Sports Editor

Defeat a ranked opponent on the road and move into a tie for first place in the conference: check.

That’s what the Florida Tech women’s basketball team was able to accomplish Jan. 23 in a signature 83-73 win over their Sunshine State Conference foe, Nova Southeastern.

“I really think Nova has all the makings of an Elite Eight team,” said John Reynolds, the team’s head coach, “so we knew we’d have to play our best game, especially on the road, to compete with them.”

“I think – at least on that night – we were the better team.”

Although Reynolds and the Panthers can, for now, peer down from atop the mountain that is the SSC, they know there is still work to be done.

“I think every team in this league is capable of winning at least one game in a conference tournament,” Reynolds said, “so that means no matter who you get matched up against, they’re good enough to beat you.”

Rollins College proved this in a matchup earlier in the season when the Tars erased a 20-point Panther lead with only 13 minutes left in

regulation, eventually beating FIT 66-56 in overtime.

“This team could have rolled over right then, but they didn’t,” Reynolds said. “They came back focused, checked their egos at the door, and we moved forward from there.”

Since their loss to Rollins College on Jan. 9, the Panthers have found their stride, winning five of their last six games, the most recent being a 58-54 victory over a University of Tampa team that was ranked No. 10 at one point this season.

“We feed off each other,” said Rita Acevedo, the team’s junior guard. “I think that’s been the key for this winning streak.”

According to Coach Reynolds, Acevedo’s growth as a player has been a huge factor in the team’s recent success.

“I think what we saw with Rita was a maturity level that you didn’t see the first couple years,” Reynolds said. “She plays the point guard for us, controlling the tempo and making the right calls.”

Acevedo’s teammates enjoy her presence on the court as well.

“I love playing with her, she is very special,” said Ida Gustafsson, a junior forward for the Panthers.

“She has stepped up as a leader and takes care of the team.”

“It feels great,” Acevedo said.

gadget corner Gadget guy Joseph Stoltz helps you to learn when your iPhone obsession has gone too far.

See gadget, pg 4

photo courtesy of florida tech athletics/amanda stratford Ida Gustafsson, junior forward for the Panthers, snags the ball.

“It’s my first year having the opportunity to be the starter and also a captain for the team. People look up to me and it makes me work harder because I want to lead with a good example.”

Despite the fact there are only eight games left on the Panther’s regular season schedule and the

possibility of a conference championship appearing more real with each win, Coach Reynolds and his team continues to maintain a gameby-game mindset.

“I think what I look for more than a championship – I mean, of course you want to win one – is I want to see a championship effort

spacex launch Sci/tech editor Kelsey McMullan describes the feeling of watching a launch.

See launch, pg 4

from my team every night, from every player,” Reynolds said. “When you start to see that, you start to win basketball games.”

“I believe in every one of us,” Gustafsson said, “and that we can go all the way, but it’s one game at a time.”

campus life................. 2 sci/tech....................... 4 entertainment............ 7 OPINIONS....................... 9 sports........................ 10

2 -february 5, 2013

CAMPUS LIFE

Library Corner: Aeronautics Research Showcase

SGA sponsors seconds “Ooohlala” challenge Johnny Mazur SGA Press Release

Dean of the College of Aeronautics, Dr. Kenneth Stackpoole, and Dean of Libraries, Dr. Celine Lang, welcomed approximately 70 Florida Tech Board of Trustees members, faculty, students, staff, and community visitors to a reception on Friday, Jan. 25.

The event marked the launch of the library’s College of Aeronautics Research Showcase. The multi-part exhibit, which will continue until August 2013, features Mars human factors research, an Elite flight simulator, faculty and student publications, a historical timeline, and more. All are invited to “fly” the simulator during the following times: Monday Wednesday Friday

the Florida tech crimson

Following the success of last semester’s SGA-sponsored virtual treasure hunt game using the “Ooohlala” mobile app, the organization will be sponsoring a second round from Feb. 14-16.

The game is similar to a “capture the flag” style battle, in which one person tries to take a flag and return it to their base before anyone else can grab it.

However, instead of trying to capture a flag, players must snag a virtual treasure and “hold it” longer than any of their opponents through the use of the mobile app.

The prize for last semester’s game was an Xbox 360. For Febru-

ary’s match, the winner will be rewarded with a new Nexus 7 tablet.

The game will go from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 16. The game will continue on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The player with the longest accumulated time holding the prize over the three days will win.

The winner of last semester’s content held the prize for a total of 6.2 hours.

To be able to participate in the game, players must download the Ooohlala app for iPhone and Android smartphones and create a profile.

For more information on the treasure hunt or the Ooohlala app, contact Student Government at sga@fit.edu.

3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Pi Lambda Phi and Phi Sigma Sigma host “Wall of Prejudice” event Lenny Bernas Press Release Pi Lambda Phi and Phi Sigma Sigma Host The Wall of Prejudice to Support The Elimination of Prejudice.

The brothers of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity and sisters of Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority are partnering to construct a “Wall of Prejudice” to raise awareness of prejudices and their impacts on society. Both organizations were founded on the tenants of non-sectarianism and equality.

“I think the wall could be an amazing experience for Florida Tech,” said Taylor Atkinson, philanthropy chair for Phi Sigma Sigma. “Prejudice is an extremely common thing in our world, and I am very proud to be apart of an organization that has values that everyone should be accepted, regardless of things they cannot control.”

The purpose of the Wall is to set the conditions for delicate societal conversations about stereotypes and prejudices.

The Wall symbolizes the barrier between society and moving forward from the prejudices which shape people’s lives.

By facilitating conversations about the implications of prejudices, the group’s hope is that people will discuss the impacts of prejudices and how they impact lives.

“I believe this is a step in the right direction towards eliminating racism and prejudice in our society, for us and for the generation that follows,” said Jordan Zenga,

president of Pi Lambda Phi. The event supports Pi Lambda Phi’s philanthropy of choice, The Elimination of Prejudice, whose mission is to “create long lasting community change by addressing the underlying differences between people that prevent progress.”

As part of their efforts, the two groups are constructing a Wall of Prejudice, on which students are encouraged to write words and phrases that are considered prejudicial to them.

At the climax of the event, people will be able to pay a small fee to use a hammer to tear down the Wall, symbolizing the breaking down of the barrier preventing conversations about prejudices’ to take place.

The money raised will be donated to the Elimination of Prejudice.

“With this wall, I wish to demonstrate my sorority’s and my own values to our campus in hopes that the students embrace them and join our mission to eliminate prejudice,” Atkinson said.

The event will take place in Panther Plaza, directly in front of Florida Institute of Technology’s Student Union Building, from Feb. 4 to 8, with demolition of the wall being on that Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A diversity panel will immediately follow in the student lounge on the second floor of the Student Union Building at 2:00 p.m., at which students and faculty will discuss what was observed and the positive changes that can be made to the campus to reduce prejudices.

Campus life

3 - february 5, 2013

The Florida tech crimson

Student Government Association vows to keep meetings public following closures

photo by trevor stevenson Student Government senators and student organization representatives at the Jan. 30 meeting.

Drew Lacy Editor-in-Chief Student Government Association says they will no longer close parts of their weekly meetings to students and press, following two consecutive meetings where nonSGA members were asked to leave before the end of the session.

After public meetings, SGA conducts post-meetings with the

executive board and senate. These meetings are traditionally public.

However, the Jan. 16 meeting was closed immediately following the public session, and press in attendance, including members of FITV and The Crimson, were asked to leave.

SGA holds additional senate meetings on “off” weeks between general sessions. Student organization representatives are not

required to attend these meetings, but they also traditionally remain open to the public.

Following an initial open portion of the Jan. 23 meeting, SGA vice president Carla Deras asked attending students and members of the press to leave. Though Deras made a movement to close the meeting in accordance to Robert’s Rules of Order, it was not officially passed by the rest of the members

in attendance.

Deras said on Jan. 23 that she was closing the meeting to create a “team environment” for the senators, without members of the press in attendance. She did not say what would be discussed in the closed portion of the meeting.

There are no separate minutes for senate meetings posted publicly on the Student Government website or OrgSync page, even for public portions of these meetings.

“A few senators approached me and mentioned that they were feeling a little uncomfortable with the media and recent publications,” said SGA president Brian Thai.

“They wanted to speak freely and communicate ideas and brainstorm. They felt that, ‘Oh, if I say something, it might be recorded’ and misconstrued differently than the way he or she might have intended.”

Vice president Carla Deras explained the closed meetings as part of a learning process.

“It was just a trial, and I think we’re learning,” Deras said. “It’s pretty new for all of us to try to do this with media.”

The following general meeting on Jan. 30 remained open for the

entirety of the session, which concluded with a “meet and greet.” No post-meeting followed the event.

Florida’s public government officials must conduct meetings in accordance to the state’s Sunshine Laws.

These laws require that meetings of boards or commissions, formal or informal, must be open to the public and press, and that minutes for the meeting must be taken, according to the Florida Attorney General’s website.

While these laws do not necessarily apply to Florida Tech’s Student Government, they are designed to promote an open government on the state level.

Thai said SGA is modeled after the United States government in its structure.

Neither the SGA constitution nor bylaws include any rules on when or if the organization should close meetings.

“It’s a part of our job now, I’ve realized – being a part of government, you’re acting as role models, in a way,” Thai said. “Now that we’re working closer to the media, it adds a new aspect and we’re embracing it.”

Club Spotlight: Martial Arts Association Hershlay Raymond Campus Life Editor The Martial Arts Association consists of a group of student practicing martial artists who train, practice and learn new techniques to improve and advance their skills.

Working closely with Sensei Mark Laderwarg, the instructor of the Intro to Karate class who teaches the style of Mushinotoryu Jujutsu, the members of the Martial Arts Association train twice a week to perfect their skills.

“A lot of our members have a lot of other experiences in different styles and we encourage them to join the Intro the Karate class if they want to continue training,” said Devona Malone, the secretary for the Martial Arts Association and a senior in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

While the Martial Arts Association’s training tends to be very structured, they occasional hold fight nights amongst the group.

“Fight nights are where members of the club get together and just spar each other for however long, usually like two minutes,” Malone said. “We take turns and someone is proctoring the fights.

When to go, when to stop, when to center up. We’re not trying to

beat each other into the ground.

It’s more of a workout/ learning experience.”

Members of the club also participated in tournaments, where they often excel.

“We went to four last semester and everyone who entered won some sort of medal or award in at least one of the categories,” Malone said.

Last November, they traveled to Fort Lauderdale to participate in the 2012 Annual Martial Arts Foundation Karate and nine trophies were won between members Adam Cofield, Michelle Luce, Perry Bird, Adam Renfroe, Evadne Malone and Devona Malone.

“I’m really proud of our club.

We’ve gone a long way since two years ago when hardly anyone knew about us,” Malone said.

Malone joined her freshman year after her sister discovered the Intro to Karate class.

“I went to one of her classes to see what she’s been doing, I was like, that looks like fun, I’ll join.

So, since then we’ve been going up in the ranks and we’re now both brown belts.”

With hard work and discipline, members of the club are able to advance to higher ranks and if you get high enough in the ranks, you’re given the opportunity to learn how to use weapons bo staffs.

photo by hershlay raymond Members of the club spar during practice.

“A bo staff is a six foot tall rod of wood. Using the bo staff gets you more familiar using weapons as an extension of yourself. We teach practical techniques, not just for fun or looks,” Melone said.

“Martial arts is all about being able to control your body and getting to know how your body moves. Gaining more confidence within yourself. It’s not about picking fights. It’s discipline.”

The Martial Arts Association invites practicing martial artists

from all kinds of styles to contact them for more information.

The Martial Arts Association is run by president Evadne Malone, vice president Tucker Hunter, secretary Devona Malone, treasurer Perry Bird and historian Michelle Luce.

In order to join the club, students can contact one of the officers directly or to come to one of practices and talk to them afterwards.

Prospective members also must join on OrgSync and attend the

general meetings at least once a month.

Students without experience who are interested are advised to enroll in the Intro to Karate class, along with joining the Orgync page with attending the general meetings once a month.

Contact Devona Malone (dmalone2009@my.fit.edu) for any further information about becoming a member.

Psychology professor overcomes hardships to inspire others

photo property of savageperformance.net Dr. Virginia Savage on a hiking trip through John Muir Trail.

Laura Fitzsimmons Campus Life Editor “Everything we do is a choice and that choice comes down to choosing between fear and courage,” said professor and sports psychologist Dr. Virginia Savage.

“It’s about choosing courage.”

This is the philosophy that Savage lives by, and it has guided her

through life’s many ups and downs.

Savage has faced many obstacles throughout her life, yet she views them as gifts rather than hardships.

“The beauty of my life is that I have been faced with so many obstacles and they have given me an opportunity to have huge transformations in the way I thought,” Savage said.

As a young girl, Savage lived in a crippled children’s home due to a severe case of polio.

In 1975, a freeway accident resulting in her grandmother’s death helped Savage realize that she was unhappy with her current situation in life and needed to do something to change it.

Perhaps the most life-changing

obstacle Savage faced occurred in 1977, when she experienced a major rock climbing accident that required two years of recovery.

“From the effort it took to recover, I learned so much about myself, determination and focusing on what I wanted to do rather than what I feared,” Savage said.

“The alternative wasn’t acceptable because I would be crippled for the rest of my life,” Savage added. “That was just not an option.”

Climbing has taught Savage that life involves taking risks and facing one’s fears.

“The metaphors in climbing are huge,” Savage said. “Sometimes all it takes is taking another step. Don’t just stay frozen where you are.”

The climbing accident is what inspired Savage to pursue a career in sports psychology.

“The beauty of sports psychology is that it’s not just sports,” Savage said. “Sports are an avenue to practice the skills that are important for achieving your human potential.”

Along with teaching various psychology classes here at Florida Tech, Savage has a private practice

that involves sports and life coaching with people of all ages here in Brevard County.

Savage believes that the mind is a powerful tool, and that we often get in the way of ourselves by not having a clear vision of what we want.

“If we freed our minds to imagine what’s possible, we would be astounded,” Savage said.

Savage often emphasizes the word “yet,” and believes that when added to the end of a statement, it has the ability to signify hope and possibility.

The common statement “I can’t do it,” for instance, takes on a whole new meaning when the key word “yet” is added to it. “I can’t do it yet” has a more positive tone compared to the original statement.

One thing that life has taught Savage, aside from choosing courage over fear, is the importance of believing in oneself and one’s path.

“If you choose a path without heart, it’s not your own,” Savage said. “Choose a path you feel passionate about and be willing to have some adventures and see what life is all about.”

SCI/TECH

4 -february 5, 2013

the Florida tech crimson

Editorial: The launch experience Kelsey McMullan Sci/Tech Editor Experiencing a launch is an incredible thing. Selecting the perfect spot, waiting, checking the launch status as obsessively as your slow 3G will allow, followed by more waiting are just a fraction of the excitement you will experience.

To me, watching a launch is similar to celebrating New Year’s, except instead of a kiss, hug or burst of loud noise, you are treated to the magical sight of a giant fireball streaking up through the sky.

In my opinion, night launches are the best. The way the rocket lights up the launch pad, and then illuminates the surrounding area makes me feel like I’m seeing the world with new eyes. On a clear night like Wednesday, you can even watch the rocket arc its way through the sky to the very edges of space.

If you haven’t been to a launch yet, I implore you to make plans and go to the next one. It is one of the few magical and remarkable feats of technology that can be seen with the human eye.

Even though the shuttle program has come to a close, there are still plenty of rockets left to launch. Florida Today reported that there are 15 flights schedule at the Cape for 2013. Jan. 30’s launch of the TDRS-K satellite was the first launch of the year from Cape Canaveral.

photo by matt levy The sun sets behind the Vehicle Assembly Building two hours before the launch.

The next scheduled launch will be SpaceX’s second launch with cargo for the International Space Station and is currently scheduled for March 1.

Jetty Park in Port Canaveral

and Cocoa Beach Pier are two popular spots to watch launches from. If the weather is clear, you could see it from just about any beach as well.

I have been fortunate enough

Gadget Corner: iPhone Obsession Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer In some dark corner photo by photojojo of the world, probably in someone’s basement, a lot of people with too much time on their hands developed the iPhone SLR Mount, allowing for you to attach any of your favorite SLR lenses to your beloved iPhone so that it can be turned into a DSLR camera. Developed by Turtle Back, the iPhone SLR Mount includes a lens itself, but as stated by Photojojo, it is able to except “telephoto, wide angle, macro or your fixed-fifty lenses.”

The iPhone SLR Mount may seem handy to some people, but when it comes to the fact that you’re adding a gigantic piece of photography equipment to your tiny little iPhone, you will be getting some major balance and weight issues. Their also appears to be some issues with the product itself, as some customers have complained that “there is no mirror, so you are shooting upside down and backwards. It’s just impossible to focus where you want to focus.”

On Turtle Back’s own website, it is passively stated at the very bottom of the page that “even though it is possible to shoot the picture upside down, we strongly recommend you to purchase/download applications called Turtlehead and Almost DSLR.” If you’re still thinking about buying one, the mounts can be bought in either Nikon or Canon, and in either iPhone 4/4s or iPhone 5 sizes. The mount runs in a range of prices on the internet, seeming to cap at $249. If you just want the jacket for your iPhone, that will still run you about $150 on Amazon. I think the best action to take would be to save your money and put it toward a real camera.

The next item in the Apple Obsession Gone Too Far Series is a very questionable item indeed.

If you’re ready to go to the “next stage” in your relationship with your iPhone, and want start holding hands with it, then you’ll definitely want to buy the Dokkiri Hand Case for iPhone 4.

Shipped directly from Japan, the Dokkiri Hand Case is frankly an actual case that was designed with an opposable and realistic feeling silicone hand attached to its back. For an extra realistic touch, each hand is crafted individually in an assortment of sizes from molds of real human hands, with each hand being unique in its own special way, just like real people are. The sizes of hand are: man’s hand, lady’s hand, and kid’s hand, which is just perfect for the toddler learning social skills from an iPhone. But don’t worry, the kid will turn out perfectly “normal.”

Allowing for the user to feel like he or she is holding a hand every time someone calls, the Dokkiri Hand Case is a must have for anyone who truly loves their iPhone, and only runs for a small price of about $64, a miniscule amount to pay to hold hands with your loving iPhone. Buy another iPhone with the hand case and you can slow dance hand in hand, because this isn’t an obsession whatsoever, and you can totally stop whenever you want to. You just don’t want to right now.

to watch launches from four of the best sites. On Wednesday, Crimson photographer Matt Levy and I prepared for the launch by looking online for settings for his camera.

The advice that he found online

sums up my whole argument: “If this is your first launch, don’t take pictures--just watch.”

Or as Levy eloquently said, “I don’t even care if I get the picture.

I’m so happy to be here!”

sci/tech

6 - february 5, 2013

Chemistry Nobel Laureate to give public lecture on Feb. 5 Kelsey McMullan Sci/Tech Editor Nobel Laureate in chemistry Dr. Robert H. Grubbs will be speaking to students and faculty alike as Florida Tech hosts his visit on Feb. 5.

“Professor Grubbs co-founded five companies,” said Florida Tech organic chemistry professor Nasri Nesnas. “He holds 122 patents, so the discovery he made is not just one discovery. He’s been involved in a lot of discoveries.”

Beyond the Nobel Prize Grubbs has been awarded numerous other honors, including teacher-scholar awards and merits from the American Chemical Society.

“He is extremely nice, humble, approachable and down to earth,” Nesnas said. “We would love to be able to share with him, since he is at another institute of technology… it would be nice to let him know about our growth, our achievements and our engagements in un-

dergraduate and graduate research that we do here.”

You may have seen flyers advertising the event’s topic: “design and applications of selective catalysts for Olefin Metathesis.” For anyone without a background in chemistry, the phrase might seem daunting.

Nesnas describes the catalyst as a swing dance instructor.

“You can have a room full of a hundred dancers, but you only need one instructor and that’s the catalyst,” Nesnas said. The catalyst “instructor” moves from dancing couple to dancing couple, sometimes breaking them up to dance with one person, and in doing so, creating new pairs of dancers.

“It’s a switch of the partners, facilitated by the instructor, ultimately making new couples, which means new molecules,” Nesnas said.

It’s been an event long in the making, according to Nesnas. This will be the first visit from a Nobel

Laureate in at least ten years.

He first sought to bring Grubbs to speak in 2002. He began the process of inviting him two years later, and the plans were confirmed by the end of 2011 for a February 2013 arrival date.

The chemistry department hosts the annual A.H. Blatt Seminar, sponsored by Organic Syntheses, Inc. and by professor Gordon L. Nelson. The Feb. 5 seminar will be the 15th Blatt Seminar.

Nesnas hopes to pack the seats of Gleason auditorium for Grubbs’ presentation.

“People might be interested in understanding what it takes to do these things.” said Nesnas. He is a kind human being who is so accomplished. Many people speak very highly of him.”

The seminar will begin at 5 p.m. in the Gleason Preforming Arts Center. The lecture is open to the public; however no photos or video will be permitted during the lecture.

photo property of california institute of technology Robert H. Grubbs is a chemistry Nobel Prize winner and boasts many other merits in his career.

The Florida tech crimson

Love it or hate it, OrgSync grows as an essential student org. tool Allison McLellan Staff Writer To anyone on the executive board of a student organization, the phrase “OrgSync” will likely have strong connotations. For some, it’s a handy organizing tool, but for others, it’s a frustrating program that lacks usefulness.

OrgSync is an online platform that is used at Florida Tech by all recognized student organizations.

Organizations can use various features of the program to post meeting minutes, photos and contact group members.

Student organizations are required to utilize several of these functions in order to remain a recognized group by Student Life.

Clubs are required to have at least ten members registered on OrgSync, and must upload regular minutes.

Organizations that fail to fullfill these duties risk deactivation, which includes a loss of opportunities for funding through the Student Activities Funding Committee.

Casey Doran, a sophomore software engineering major and the secretary of College Players, classifies himself as someone who doesn’t approve of OrgSync.

“I’m not happy being forced to use a program that is terrible,” Doran said.

“There isn’t a clear need for any of the things that it does,” Doran said. “Most of the other features that we need are already elsewhere.

OrgSync is a solution looking for a problem that we don’t have.”

Joe Bussenger, a senior aerospace engineering major and the president of the Student Rocket Research Society, feels differently.

“Using OrgSync – running, managing and organizing the organization – is awesome,” Bussenger said.

He did not, however, always feel that way.

“I hated OrgSync as a member because I didn’t see it as useful to me,” Bussenger said. “It is really incredible, and I didn’t get a flavor for how beneficial it was until I started running certain things.”

Christopher Compton, a senior aquaculture major and president of the Ultimate Frisbee Club, enjoys using the program to manage his organization.

“It’s one place where you can organize everything: events, emails, and document who’s done what,” Compton said. “I think people don’t have a familiarity with it and that’s the problem.”

Doran’s problem with OrgSync does not appear to be from a lack of familiarity.

“It’s a very big piece of software that has some very bad issues,” Doran said. “OrgSync emails are incredibly unreliable. You’ll send one and it might not show up for four or five days, which isn’t useful when you have an event two hours from now.”

Cat McGuire Carnley, the assistant dean for Student Activities, has been involved with the push to train more organizations on the use of OrgSync and all of its features.

Carnley also understands that the program can be frustrating at times.

“The students that don’t understand it and aren’t taking the time to understand it, those are the ones that just do not like it,” Carnley said. “It’s hard. OrgSync is very difficult when you first log in; it’s very confusing.”

Carnley has big plans for Florida Tech’s utilization of OrgSync.

“Next year is the year of OrgSync,” Carnley said.

Carnley is working with OrgSync to host multiple workshops beginning in the fall 2013 semester.

These workshops will be designed to show students how to edit files and utilize more of the functions that the program has to offer, Carnley said.

While she has heard complaints about the program, feedback about OrgSync has been largely positive.

Carnley acknowledged that some students seem very resistant to using the program.

“I really want to hear what you guys think of things,” Carnley said.

“We can’t fix it if we don’t know it’s broken.”

An introduction to the virtual PC Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer With today’s technology, the specs of new computers are increasing at an astounding rate.

Computers today have several times the processing power of those from just a few years prior, making it no surprise that you can now run emulators for everything from game systems to graphing calculators with almost no effort.

Of course, if we can make virtual copies of such a wide range of hardware, then why not computers themselves? These are what are known as “virtual machines.”

To use a virtual machine you’ll first need to obtain virtualization software.

One of the best freeware applications is the Oracle Virtual Box, which is easy to use and has a wide variety of features such as support for hardware virtualization and shared folders. Other applications are VMware and VMmanager.

Once you’ve install the software you can create your virtual PC by designating the amount of space for your virtual hard drive and RAM. Your virtual hard drive is a hard drive within you hard drive it will contain all the files used by your virtual machine including the Operating System.

You can usually transfer files to and from this using archiving software such as 7-zip, while more experienced users can also clone their physical hard drives into virtual hard drives along with all

of their files.

After everything is setup, you can start your virtual machine via the application. It functions exactly the same as a standard PC: displaying system information, then requesting bootable media.

From here you can install the operating system of your choice.

The easiest would be a Linux distribution, since they can be obtained easily and legally, though some

Windows licenses also allow for second installs on virtual machines.

You can load an .iso or CD and install the OS in the standard manner. Depending on the virtual OS, you may be able to drag you mouse between the virtual machine and your main OS, otherwise you’ll have to use key commands to switch between machines.

Virtual machines are used often

by ITs and provide a wide variety

of advantages.

They allow for installation and testing of software that you may not want weighing down the memory and CPU of your main PC or you may only wish to use on a temporary basis. Another advantage is portability si nce you can easily copy you virtual machine and run it on other computers.

Overall, virtual machines pro-

photo property of mintywhite.com A user runs a Windows XP Pro virtual machine on his Windows Vista desktop.

vide a computer that you can experiment on, without the risk of destroying anything you need.

They provide a good opportunity for programming and OS modification and have a wide variety of other uses.

If you like to tinker with computers and don’t wish to fumble through piles of hardware than virtual machines may be for you.

ENTERTAINMENT

7 -february 5, 2013

the Florida tech crimson

Movie Review: “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters”

photo property of paramount pictures “Hansel and Gretel” is a movie best suited to movie-goers who aren’t looking for Oscar-bait.

Angelina Bonilla Staff Writer Anyone going into “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” and expecting an Oscar-winning film is going to leaving highly disappointed.

This film is not Oscar bait; just by its title, the audience knows very well what they are getting into. No, this is one of those films that has full knowledge of what it is and just goes with it. However, there is a surprising amount of heart in

this film, and that is really what sets it apart from the rest of the “mindless action movies.”

Let’s start out with the premise: is it as dumb as it sounds?

Yeah, it really is. To imagine those adorable little kids from the story growing up into these ultra-cool witch hunters is pretty darn silly.

The story is the same way: pretty predictable and contrived at some points. It doesn’t make the audience groan, but it does occasionally warrant an eye roll or two.

That said, did the audience expect anything else from this sort of movie? It’s the definition of “silly mindless action films” and they even slap on there a “gritty re-imaging of a story everyone loves.” Judging by the other reviews of this, people were thinking way too highly of this film before watching it and really not enjoying the film. But let’s be honest here.

This is one of the most enjoyable action films that have come out in a long time.

It is not just because of how silly it is or how ridiculous the concept is; it is the fact that these actors take themselves 100 percent seriously throughout the entire film.

They knew what they were getting into when they decided on this film, but, by golly, they were going to make the most of it!

This applies particularly our two titular heroes, who just love what they are doing so much.

If there is one thing this film has, it’s a lot of heart. These people, while they knew how silly it was, really put their hearts and souls into this film, which is pretty admirable to say the least. This is most evident during the action scenes, which show the love and care the actors put into this movie to make it look as awesome as humanly possible.

They wanted you to leave this movie talking about its action scenes, not about its story, and they certainly succeeded at that. You just have to suspend a lot of your belief when going into this film

and, considering what sort of film it is, that shouldn’t be too hard in the first place.

“Hansel and Gretel” is one of those movies that, while it does deliver what is expected, there’s something more to it: genuine fun.

It makes you leave the theater with a smile on your face (if you go into it with the right mindset).

However, it is still pretty much a dumb movie that, while it is awesome, you can’t tell someone who is completely serious about film to go see it and expect that they actually enjoy it.

From a critical standing, it gets a three out of five average rating, but as a reviewer and as a moviegoer, I implore you to go see this film. It will be some of the most fun you will have had at the theater in a long time, and don’t forget to bring your group of friends.

This is movie that must be enjoyed with a crowd because, no matter what, you will have fun with a film that is so bad, it is amazing.

The Crimson says: 3 out of 5 paws

Unpopular Opinions: Feminism and video games Angelina Bonilla Staff Writer When people don’t like something, they tend to be very vocal about it to try to get it to change.

While this has worked for some very important events in history, there are some things that certain people might be looking into a little too much.

In both 2012 and 2013, thanks to “Dead Island’s” sequel, a surprisingly large number of women have cried out against what they believe is sexism in current video game trailers and extra game content.

Are they wrong in wanting equal treatment? Women have been viewed as sexual objects for years in video games, but what’s the difference between a woman being treated as a sex object and a woman being treated as just a character?

If you go by some of the extremely negative comments in some recent game trailers, the answer is: not much. But could it be that some feminists are overreacting a little?

“Hitman: Absolution’s” trailer came out with the main protagonist shooting up a bunch of scantily clad nuns, decimating them with every single move that he made, while barely getting a scratch on him. The obvious problem with the trailer was the fact that these women were dressed in clothes that obviously aren’t meant for fighting, but, rather, meant for appealing to the male demographic.

It was obviously a sensationalist stunt that the creative team did to get more people to check out just what in the world spawned this sort of trailer. While these women were dressed in clothes that made no sense, the trailer itself wasn’t all that bad. It showed the Hitman doing what he does best: horribly murdering other people.

Women have always cried out for equal treatment in games and, hilariously enough, this appears to be somewhat of a step in the right direction (with the exception of the horrible clothes and the random crotch shots, of course).

These female characters fight fairly well and last quite a bit lon-

photo property of square enix Lara Croft’s reimagining in the newest installment of the series brings out a more emotional side of the character. ger than some of the other male victims in the “Hitman” games, so that has to be a good sign. When was the last time that we, as a gaming public, have seen women fighting against the seemingly invincible protagonist and actually hold their own?

The “Tomb Raider” remake also fell victim to this sort of reaction, but for different reasons.

In the remake, Lara is in her college years and the first thing that people noticed was the fact that the developers had made her pretty much a pansy in comparison to the previous games.

In the other games, Lara could gain some pretty terrible injuries, but didn’t really react to them the way most normal human beings would. She was portrayed as the cold, stoic hero who ruthlessly slaughtered wildlife for no other reason other than the fact it existed.

In the trailer for the new game, Lara falls from several feet onto

a large piece of metal, piercing her side and, for the remainder of the trailer, struggles with this, as well as various other injuries.

People don’t just shake off a metal bar shoved through their internal organs and the fact that she has more emotions this time around, showing her inexperience, shows us the realistic portrayal the game developers are going for her character.

Emotions don’t make a character weak; if anything it makes them more compelling and interesting.

These reactions Lara has are realistic to the situation she is in and it is absolutely baffling that there is a section of people that seem to think that emotions make her a bad female protagonist.

This isn’t the only thing that “Tomb Raider” caused controversy over. In that same trailer, Lara Croft is grabbed by an obvious bad guy with the intent to kill, except the viewers interpreted what he was doing as something that the creators allegedly didn’t intend for at

all: the molestation and/or rape of the leading character. Many cried foul on this for multiple reasons, the loudest was the fact that Lara, as a “strong independent woman” shouldn’t appear in such a peril.

The funny thing about all of that is that no one seemed to complain when, in “Far Cry 3,” they more or less blatantly showed multiple scenes of male-on-male molestation, had the villain talk about raping the lead character, and threatened to go after the main character.

But I suppose this could be seen as a step in the right direction in showing that, not just women, but men can also be victims of such things.

Yes, sexual assault is a terrible thing and can be a traumatizing thing for women to witness on screen, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be portrayed. That said, the original intent of the creators was not to show that Lara was molested; it was to show the first time Lara killed someone.

That particular scene focuses

not as much on what he did, but what Lara did in order to survive and, in the end, she’s traumatized because she just horribly murdered someone. That is the Lara we are exposed to, a Lara that is forged by fire, not through battle, but through survival, and it looks like the game is going to try to develop Lara’s character as a person rather than just as a woman.

While sexism still exists in video games today, it is not nearly as bad as it used to be, considering the fact that many women used to be just damsels in distress. Representation of women in gaming has come a long way and still has a long way to go.

Both the outfits and the treatment of women in games can be improved to make more female game protagonists more distinctive and developed. Maybe if people stopped pointing out the fact that these characters are female and just viewed them as characters, they might see things a little differently.

have a response to this or any other article in this week’s issue? email us at crimson@fit.edu with your opinion. it might just get published!

8 -february 5, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

the Florida tech crimson

What’s going on in your community: Wild Florida gets a little sandier at the Brevard Zoo Heather Macy Entertainment Editor From Feb. 16 to May 27, the Brevard Zoo (located at 8225 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne) will be hosting a rather unique exhibit that is guaranteed to wow the whole family.

Produced through a partnership between the Brevard Zoo, the Brevard Cultural Alliance and SCB Marketing, Art of Sand will be presenting “Wild Florida: Past, Present, and Future,” which is created by eight international sand sculptors who are noted around the world for their skills.

The display will feature over 12 sand sculptures laid out over a trail that lasts quarter of a mile and features incredible designs from various time periods.

From the prehistoric era to the European arrival on Florida’s shores, to the territorial period and up to modern times, these enriching sculptures are nothing to miss out on.

Just in time to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s exploration of North America, this event opens on President’s Day and runs all the way through Memorial Day, so it is fair to say this is one historical lesson everyone will get to enjoy.

A word to the wise, however: this event has a separate admittance fee from the zoo’s admission, with $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and

$2 for children (ages two to 12; anyone younger than two gets in for free).

photo property of art of sand A serpent sand sculpture from a 2010 Art of Sand festival in California.

Want to see your ad here? email us at crimsonbusiness@gmail.com for advertising rates, student discounts, special packages, and more!

sudoku’s for february 6, 2013

9 -february 5, 2013

OPINIONS

the Florida tech crimson

Editorial: Assault weapons ban offers divisive politics, few benefits Christopher Penta Opinions Editor After several high profile shootings involving so-called “assault weapons,” including the Aurora theater shooting and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, new life has been breathed into the as of late waning pro-gun control crowd in the United States.

A new bill, written and submitted by Dianne Feinstein, based on recommendations from a factfinding task force led by vice president Joe Biden, has galvanized both sides of the gun control debate in ways not seen since the first assault weapons ban (AWB) passed in 1994, only to sunset ten years later in 2004.

The aftermath of tragedy is often that of confusion and misinformation. In this environment, such bad legislation as that proposed by Dianne Feinstein can flourish.

Unfortunately, many of the bills and regulations being proposed in congress are destined to either flounder in committee, or if passed, do little to stem the tide of gun violence in this country.

To outline this, I will address each of the three proposals being bandied about in the Senate currently: the outright assault weapons ban, the magazine capacity limit and enforcing background checks on private firearm sales.

The most popular measure in congress currently is the closing of the “gunshow loophole.” This is, first of all, a misleading phrase.

In most states, save for some northeastern states and California, private sales of firearms are unregulated; if you wish to sell your firearm to a fellow resident of your state, and he/she is of age, you can do so without going to a licensed dealer and undergoing a background check.

Critics maintain this “loophole” (in reality a conscious choice by lawmakers) enables felons and the

like to buy firearms unfettered by the background check system.

Essentially, they are correct.

Felons can always go out and find an unscrupulous buyer on the street, pay in cash and make off with a firearm that is essentially untraceable.

But can’t they do the same thing in a state with universal background checks?

If a criminal were looking to buy a firearm, he likely knows he/ she would fail a background check and would buy from someone who had no interest in driving over to a gun store to pay $50 on a background check.

On the flip side of the coin, universal background checks would not stop spree shooters, who almost universally have limited (nonexclusionary) criminal records or none at all. Aurora, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Tuscon… all of these shooters either had no criminal background that would have excluded them from owning a firearm in the first place.

When viewed from this angle, inconveniencing the only people who would submit to a background check for private sales (law abiding citizens) will have almost no impact on the proliferation of crime guns.

The crown jewel of the gun control package, however, is the assault weapons ban. Similar to the bill signed into law in 1994, then allowed to die a merciful death in 2004, the bill places restrictions on cosmetic features of semiautomatic firearms. he bill is largely a feel-good measure that (in its form most likely to be passed) would regulate such features as pistol grips, collapsible stocks, and flash hiders.

None of these features impact the lethality of a weapons platform, and analysis of the 1994 bill led

by Christopher S. Koper sent to the US Department of Justice concluded that since so-called assault

photo property of cspan Senator Cruz (R-TX) demonstrates that the addition of a pistol grip would make this rifle forbidden under the ban. weapons were used in less than two percent of crimes. Even a modest decline in crime with such weapons would statistically immeasurable.

Finally, a ban on “high capacity magazines,” usually defined as magazines over a 10 round capacity, is being proposed.

This is one law that has seemed to have gained traction nationwide, with a handful of states, again mostly in the northeast and California. New York State, notably, enacted a law that caps magazines at seven rounds, and requires confiscation or forfeiture of magazines not sold out of state by Dec. 31, 2013.

The issue with the high capacity ban nationwide is twofold. First, it is unlikely to impact existing magazines, and secondly, the current wide availability of such magazines makes enforcement a

nightmare.

These two facts make this bill nearly unenforceable from the getgo, as law enforcement would have no way of proving that a magazine was purchased prior to the enaction of a the law, and since these devices never wear out and seldom break, the estimated quarter of a billion devices will continue to pop up nationwide for several decades.

Any forced forfeiture of magazines would certainly be subject to court proceedings and would likely be deemed unconstitutional under the fourth amendment, as it has before on state and city levels in the past.

These topics are not new topics, and were covered about 20 years ago in depth. Today, however, the topics being covered hit home for many, many more Americans.

According to a Freedom Group

study, standard long guns (shotguns, bolt action rifles, etc), experienced 3 percent annual sales growth from 2007 to 2011, but AR15s and similar rifles experienced growth nearly ten times that: 27 percent, compounded annually.

Democrat Senators from red states such as Louisiana, the Dakotas and even Pennsylvania and Nevada, face major backlash from their constituents should they vote for these bills. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is a staunchly pro-gun Democrat, receiving an “A” rating from the NRA, and even various endorsements.

This, coupled with the Republican controlled house, gives these bills a snowball’s chance of passage, but an interesting ride over the next couple months is still certain.

CAPS PSA: Find a date for Valentines Day... safely!

Latasha Nadasdi CAPS On one hand, commercials for online dating websites project an image of happy couples who found the love of their life simply by reading a profile. On the other hand, the news gives us stories about a guy falling in love with a 23-year-old supermodel model online, only to later find out he was talking with a 70-year-old man. Although the Internet can be a helpful tool to meet friends and potential romantic partners, there are many dangers that come along with maintaining an online profile.

The Do’s and Don’ts: DO Protect your Computer Make sure your computer is up to date with its protection (i.e.

Anti-virus, firewalls). Make sure you only access your dating site through a secure wireless network, and make sure your passwords are strong.

DO Choose a Reputable Dating Service A legitimate dating service will provide you with additional safety and make sure your account is secure. If you can afford it, always choose a site that requires you to pay. The free sites tend to have less protection and more predators because they require the anonymity provided by sites that do not require a credit card.

DON’T Use a Flirty Username “Sexykitten69” may be eyecatching, but it is probably going to attract the wrong kind of attention.

Avoid putting identifying information in your username, and keep it appropriate.

DON’T Use Personal Information in Your Profile Do not use your real name (especially your last name!) in your username or in your profile. This makes you a target for scams and ID theft. Details such as where

you work or what clubs you are involved in may seem innocent, but this kind of information will give predators and stalkers useful information to figure out where to find you. Keep it general! For example, you may want to write, “I enjoy dancing” instead of “I’m on the Florida Tech Dance Team.”

This way you still convey your interests without giving them access to where you may be at a certain time.

DON’T Respond to Pictureless Profiles If a profile has no pictures, or only has pictures that make it hard to see a person’s face, do not communicate with them! If they are hiding something online… they probably have something to hide!

DO Stay Anonymous for a While It is important to keep communication restricted to the dating website’s secure mail and instant messaging for a while. This allows you to communicate safely without disclosing personal information until you know the person better.

While it is easy to assume you know someone when you feel that “instant connection,” it is also very important to not let your emotions cloud your better judgment.

DO Verify the Person’s Online Existence Although you should avoid Facebook friending someone without having met them in person, you should always check to make sure that there is some evidence that they exist outside of the dating site.

Try Googling them and searching for them on Facebook.

You can also verify their pictures belong to them: 1) Right click on the picture 2) Click “Copy Link Location” 3) Go to Google and click on images 4) Click on the picture of the little camera in the search bar 5) Paste the link to the picture in the box that pops up.

Google will search for any pic-

tures that look similar to the one on your date’s profile. This helps you verify that the pictures are really them, and not simply stolen from the Internet!

DO Get a Phone Number!

Before you agree to meet someone in person, talk to them on the phone a few times. It’s okay to block your number when you call until you feel comfortable with them having your number. Call at unanticipated times to make sure it’s the same person answering the phone and to make sure there is nothing strange going on.

DON’T Feel Obligated to Reciprocate Just because someone gives you personal information, does not mean you should give away yours.

Stay within your comfort zone, and if someone is pressuring you, stay away!

DO Make Your Intentions Clear Before Meeting It is easy for intentions to get lost in translation online, so make sure you are very clear and straightforward about your boundaries and expectations before meeting.

DON’T Have a Romantic First Meeting!

Make sure the first date is in PUBLIC, and plan a meeting that allows you to leave quickly (like grabbing a cup of coffee). Never drive together, but rather meet in the public place. If you need to travel to another location on the date, make sure to take separate cars.

Although you want to get to know the person on the first date, you also need to be very observant and attuned to their behavior. It’s important not to drink before or during your first meeting, or you may miss some red flags. Keep your cell phone with you at all times and make sure someone you trust knows where you are.

DO Look for Red Flags •If someone avoids answering

direct questions •If someone is demeaning or disrespectful to you or others •If they give you inconsistent information, especially if they tell you one thing when their profile says another •If they seem different than their online profile •If they are pushy about making a first meeting •If they avoid phone contact DON’T Leave your Food or Drink Unattended Although you may not usually think twice about leaving your food or drink at the table when you go to the bathroom during a date, remember that you do not know this person. They could be acting a certain way to gain your trust, but when you leave yourself vulnerable, they may take advantage of you.

DO Be Sexually Responsible Make sure to directly ask your partner’s sexual background (i.e. number of partners, if they’ve always used protection, if they’ve ever had an STD) before you start a sexual relationship.

Want to learn more about finding a date? Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) is hosting

the following student event: “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About: Speed Meet and Greet” on Monday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Hartley Room. Join us at this year’s annual speed dating event to meet new people.

Whether you are looking for a romantic relationship or a friendship, this event will be worth your while! You will also learn about basic dating and communication skills, as well as how to sustain a healthy relationship.

CAPS is here on campus to offer additional support for many personal difficulties faced by college students. Counseling services are free and confidential to all enrolled students of Florida Tech.

Students can call (321) 674-8050 or come into the center to make an appointment.

The CAPS website (www.fit. edu/caps/) also offers screenings for depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, and alcohol use, as well as additional information regarding resources, services, and groups. You are not alone, and CAPS is just one of the many resources at Florida Tech that is here to help!

Correction In last issue’s Club Spotlight on FIT Buddies, we incorrectly stated club president Bekah Borgert’s major as ocean engineering, when it is, in fact, oceanography. We incorrectly listed the club’s meeting time, when the club does not yet have a set meeting time. The club did not lose their chapter, but are simply not part of the national organization. We stated that individuals with intellectual disabilities have trouble forming friendships, when this is not always the case. The Florida Tech Crimson apologizes for these errors.

the Florida tech crimson

SPORTS February 5, 2013

Baseball and softball season previews

Upcoming Florida Tech Home Games Wednesday, Feb. 6 Men’s Basketball vs. Palm Beach Atlantic 7 p.m. at the Clemente Center Friday, Feb. 8 Women’s Tennis vs. Palm Beach Atlantic 3 p.m. on Fee Avenue Baseball vs. Lincoln Memorial 6 p.m. on Fee Avenue

photo courtesy of florida tech athletics/amanda stratford Senior Lindsy Dugan accounted for five of softball’s nine home runs last year.

David Barkholz Sports Editor

panther baseball

panther softball

2012 Season 26-23 (11-12) 6th in SSC

2012 Season 24-27 (10-14) 6th in SSC

2013 SSC Preseason Rank 6th

2013 SSC Preseason Rank 6th

Batting The Panthers enter this spring having lost three of their best bats from last season in Josh Hinkle, Ryan McChesney and K.C. Clabough. All three were seniors. While losing the experience is never a good thing, it does create room for others to step up. Look for players like junior Scott Carcaise, and junior Tyler Doughty and senior Brian Flynn to build upon their success last season and make some noise in 2013.

Pitching The good news is the team did not lose too much on the pitching side of things. Senior relief pitcher and Preseason All-South Region First Teamer James Mannara leads a Panther bullpen that finished third in the SCC for saves last season. Also returning is senior pitcher Jason Boyer. Boyer led the team in innings-pitched last season with 86, posting a 3.14 ERA and a winning record of 7-3.

Coach Perspective “It’s going to be a challenging schedule,” sixthyear head coach Greg Berkemeier said in a press release after the debuting of the team’s 2013 schedule.

“It is every year when you play in our conference.

There are teams that are ranked on a yearly basis.

Teams like Tampa and Florida Southern are always great competition. But we get those teams here at home this year so that’s a great challenge.”

Batting FIT’s softball team enters 2013 hoping to improve offensively from last season where they finished in the bottom half of the SCC in batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored. Watch for senior Lindsy Dugan, who accounted for five of the team’s nine homeruns last year, to add some pop to the lineup and get things going.

Pitching With only one pitcher returning from last season’s team, the Panthers find themselves faced with the challenge of competing with an inexperienced pitching staff.

Sophomore Taylor Smith, the team’s only returning pitcher, looks to lead the Panthers on the mound after coming off her first season in which she pitched 122.2 innings, resulting in an ERA of 2.05 and a 10-11 record.

Player Perspective “It’s different for the other pitchers coming in because they don’t have someone to go off of,” Smith said. “Since I wasn’t able to participate in the fall it was pretty difficult for them, but hopefully we’ll be able to work things out. I think we’re going to do better than we did last year.”

we want you!

The florida tech crimson is looking for new staff writers and photographers. email us at crimson@fit.edu for more info!

Saturday, Feb. 9 Baseball vs. Lincoln Memorial 12 p.m. at Home Sunday, Feb. 10 Women’s Tennis vs. Nova Southeastern 10:30 a.m. on Fee Avenue Monday, Feb. 12 Baseball vs. Flagler 6 p.m. at Home Friday, Feb. 15 Women’s Tennis vs. Tampa 2 p.m. at Fee Avenue Saturday, Feb. 16 Women’s Basketball vs. Saint Leo 2 p.m. at the Clemente Center Men’s Basketball vs. Saint Leo 7 p.m. at the Clemente Center Lacrosse vs. Rollins 7 p.m. at the Clemente Center Saturday, Feb. 19 Baseball vs. Barry 6 p.m. at Home

we want you!

The florida tech crimson is looking for new staff writers and photographers. email us at crimson@fit.edu for more info!

photo by florida tech athletics Coach Billy Mims.

Press Release Florida Tech Athletics