Winner of florida Tech’s organization of the year award, 2011-2012, 2012-2013
february 18, 2014
sPRING, issue 3
President casts $100 million capital campaign in motion Rebekah Duntz Campus Life Editor President Catanese announced his $100 million capital campaign during the black tie President’s Ball in the Clemente Center a few weeks ago. This campaign is the largest fundraising effort ever made at Florida Tech. One of the goals of this campaign is to raise the endowment fund from the current state of $60 million to $100 million. The endowment is actually weak in comparison to the top 10 schools in the nation—Princeton’s and Stanford’s endowments in 2012 was more than $17 billion, and University of Notre Dame’s was almost $6.5 billion in 2012,
according to a U.S. News report. the interest earned to pay for that The university’s endowment chair. The university currently has has a set goal of $100 million, 10 chairs, and President Catanese which is a record for such a young hopes for the number to grow in school. “You’re still a child at 55,” the future. said President Anthony Catanese. The endowment fund is The endowment fund is left also how some students get their untouched “If you graduate and feel like for a year, and then af- you didn’t have a personal exter a year, a perience, then come talk to me percent of the interest directly and we’ll try to fix it.” -President Catanese will be taken out to pay for certain things. scholarships. At a private school Part of that endowment is with small classes, the tuition can $2 million for the Allen S. Henry get pricey—but Florida Tech is Chair, for example. This is a chair actually moderately priced comgiven to certain engineering pro- pared to others in the same state, fessors at the university. Every University of Miami being the year, five percent is taken out of most expensive and Rollins being
Security, Melbourne Police both deal with campus hit and runs Rebekah Duntz Campus Life Editor Getting out of class or work and finding your parked car damaged is not a good start off to the weekend. Finding the perpetrator might be an even bigger headache. One might want to know what to do and how this situation gets taken care of when the car is parked in a private university lot. The question is whether the Melbourne Police Department often gets involved, or whether Florida Tech Security takes care of it. “It depends on the amount of damage, and it depends on whether the student or the complainant wants the police involved,” said Kevin Graham, the director of security. If there isn’t much damage on the car, then the Melbourne Police may take a report, and that will be the extent of it. “What’s interesting is, we’ve had more luck finding the person who did it than the police do because my officers are here all the time,” said Graham. Security will do a full investigation, noting where the damage is, whether there is any paint transfer, whether there are any witnesses and finding any debris around the scene that may be useful to finding the perpetrator. “We have cameras, and if the cameras are trained on them in that area, then we’ll try to see if we can ascertain the make and model of the vehicle. Then the of-
ficers will go look for that vehicle,” said Graham. If there’s just a minor scratch on the vehicle, then there won’t be many repercussions. If the damage to a vehicle is substantial, then the perpetrator may be fined up to $500 to accommodate the victim. The university has top-ofthe-line “pan, tilt, and zoom” cameras installed throughout many buildings, though they need up to 150 more to cover the growing campus, now occupying 135 acres. “Every time we put a new building in, we put cameras everywhere,” said Graham. This also includes the parking garages, where there are many cameras installed on each floor, and even in the elevator. “I always tell students to be conscious of the fact that there are cameras in the elevator.” The Melbourne Police Department may get involved when there is a hit and run on campus if the damage is severe enough or if the victim wants to press charges. “We’ll typically send a traffic unit out to meet the victim,” said community relations officer Jennifer Amneus, who covers all of South Melbourne. “If we do locate the vehicle, we can try to arrest the suspect for leaving the scene of a crime, but it’s hard because you need a witness.” In a hit-and-run situation on campus, Florida Tech Security may have the upper hand because of the officers’ familiarity with the area and the people, and the growing number of camera coverage on campus.
the second most expensive. “We don’t want it to feel like a factory,” said President Catanese. “If you graduate and feel like you didn’t have a personal experience, then come talk to me directly and we’ll try to fix it.” The secondary goal for the capital campaign is to build a new facility for the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business. The college has gone from being one of the smallest to the largest, with the addition of the extended studies. There has also been discussion about a general classroom building, a conference center including a hotel, and a new performance hall. The Melbourne Harbor will also be transformed into a worldclass rowing facility. The current
house is dilapidating, and the rowing team essentially just uses tarps, Catanese said. The facility will also be used for ongoing environmental research on the Indian River Lagoon. Part of the funds from the campaign will be used to make improvements to the Vero Beach Marine Lab for ocean research. The university would like to see the importance of aquaculture showcased. The majority of the money will come from Florida Tech’s 35 trustees, individuals making a donation, corporations like Harris and Intersil, and over 60,000 alumni. “We’ll do it the old-fashioned way: knocking on doors, face-to-face fundraising,” said Catanese.
Perfect Pence: freshman pitcher throws perfect game
photo by Amanda Stratford Photography Rachel Pence is 4-0 on the season with one save and a 0.47 ERA.
David Barkholz Sports Editor Debuts in college sports don’t get any better any than Rachel Pence’s. Actually, for a softball pitcher, it would be impossible for anybody to have a better first game than she did, because the freshman was perfect – literally.
The right-hander struck out 10 on her way to sitting down every batter she faced over the game’s five innings, not once giving up a hit or walk in Florida Tech’s 10-0, Feb. 1 opening day victory over Fort Valley. Pence has since started four more games – all wins – struck out a total of 32 batters and owns a 0.95 ERA, a stat-line good enough to
earn herself two straight Sunshine State Conference Softball Players of the Week awards in addition to multiple radio appearances. The Crimson sat down with Pence on Feb. 14 to talk about the freshman’s instant success, the perfect game and how just how good her team is this year.
See pence, back page
Soccer fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club raises over $1,200 Sara Torabi Staff Writer Kicking for Kids, hosted by Chi Phi Xi Delta, was held Sunday morning at the Florida Avenue Soccer Fields. The fraternity focused on raising funds for the Boys
and Girls Club of America, whose mission is to facilitate after-school programs for young people while instilling a sense of belonging and worth for the individuals. Throughout the Florida Tech campus, Greek Life is known for its many philanthropic works
Live Free or Eat Free, you can only choose one See free, page 5
and fundraisers. The tradition of service has long been established in these fraternities and sororities. For Chi Phi, Kicking for Kids was the first large event that the chapter had done at Florida Tech. After deciding to host their first big event, Chi Phi pitched the idea of
a soccer tournament. Aral Taser, philanthropy chair of Chi Phi explained the reasoning behind the idea. “A soccer tournament seemed the most feasible idea, considering the amount of interest we have for the sport on the
All the information about the 2014 Oscars that you didn’t ask for See oscars, pg 6
campus.” Overall, fifteen teams participated in the competition on Sunday. The sudden death 8v8 soc-
See chi phi, page 3
OPINIONS....................... 2 campus life................. 3 Entertainment........... 6 sci/tech...................... 7 sports......................... 8
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OPINIONS
CAPS PSA: Spring Break Safety Stephanie L Field CAPS That’s what you might be shouting with glee if you realized it’s finally almost here- the week you have been waiting for all spring semester! Spring Break can be an exciting time to just get away and chill out with your friends, or you may be planning to stick around the Melbourne area. Either way, you can definitely expect to look forward to a fun and restful time away from classes. However, it is also important to make sure that your good time stays that way and some simple preparation can help you do just that! At our upcoming Fun in the Sun! event, you are invited to join us and learn about tips for having an awesome vacation, learn more about what to do around the Melbourne area, and have a chance to win some prizes! In the meantime, let’s take a look at some considerations for a happy and healthy Spring Break: 1) If you’re thinking: “I might be drinking over the break,” you might want to consider... ...Australia’s legal BAC limit is .05 & a DUI requires a medical assessment before release from jail. ...A first time offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution. ...In France, drinking and driving is punishable by a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. ...Finland and Sweden also automatically sentence drunk drivers to one year jail sentences, including hard labor. ...In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses his license for a year. If he does it again, he will lose his license forever. ...In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten year prison sentence or a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both. ...You can get a DUI in Florida for operating a motor vehicle, bicycle, golf cart, etc. after drinking alcohol, after which you will serve jail time and have fees totaling upwards of $10,000 to $20,000. 2) If you are thinking of
traveling abroad or even just going to the beach right around the corner here in Florida, you will want to know... ... The most common places people are taken advantage of (i.e. robbed, assaulted, etc.) are places where they feel safe. Where are your safe spots and how can you make sure you stay safe there? a. Take precautions: request a hotel room on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th floor, because the 1st floor can be easily accessible by external entry points, such as windows and balcony doors. b. Use ALL locks on your door at ALL times no matter how close or far you will be going and no matter who else is in the house or room. c. If someone knocks on your hotel room door (even if expecting a friend to return in a couple minutes), use the peephole to see who it is first or simply ask before opening. ...What happens if you lose your passport, driver’s license, or ID card? a. Prevention: bring extra passport photos & bring copies of driver’s license, passport pages, etc. and store in a different location than originals b. After reporting missing items to the police, report the loss or theft of: -Travelers’ checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company -Credit cards to the issuing company -Airline tickets to the airline or travel agent -Passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate c. If at all possible do not use a fanny pack, backpack, or any other type of bag that goes on your back or sticks out with a zipper. Instead, use inside pockets, ankle wraps, or a shoulder bag that goes across your chest. Be aware of pick pockets (i.e. people who are trying to take your valuables directly from your person without your noticing). Typically these are children or elderly using distraction techniques, such as yelling, approaching you close to your face/body, and asking nonsensical questions. When you are distracted and overwhelmed, the pick pocket will take your money directly from your pocket, bag, etc. without you noticing anything even happened.
3) If you have an experience over Spring Break for which you need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1 if you are in the U.S. If you are traveling abroad, before you depart, write down (and save in your phone) the emergency phone numbers for the location(s) where you will be traveling. You can find these numbers at: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/togo/911list. php. Some cell phone companies also offer temporary international calling contracts so you can use your phone outside of the U.S. without a hefty year-long fee. Upon returning to campus after the break, if you need to talk with a counselor about a personal or mental health issue, CAPS is available to help. We are here on campus to offer assistance for many challenges college students face. To make an appointment with a counselor, you are welcome to call (321) 674-8050 or walk into the center. CAPS is located beside the Health Center, at the corner of Country Club Rd. and University Blvd. The CAPS website (www.fit.edu/caps) offers additional information regarding resources, services, and groups, as well as brief screenings for depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and alcohol use. We realize it can be unnerving to reach out for help for the first time, but we hope you do contact us when you need us. CAPS is just one of many resources at Florida Tech that supports maintaining a happy and healthy you! We’re looking forward to seeing you at our Fun in the Sun! event on Monday, February 24 at 7 p.m. in 202 Evans Hall! Around Spring Break you should be getting your midterm grades, at which time you might start thinking about your study habits, learning style, and perhaps even wonder if you have “ADHD.” To help clarify all of your concerns, we will be holding an event, Why Can’t I Concentrate? on March 13 at 7 p.m. in 202 Evans Hall. In the meantime, have a super safe and splendidly spectacular Spring Break!
Pi Kappa Alpha hosts Austism Hits Home Jonas Fuglas Pi Kappa Alpha The men of the Zeta Sigma chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha hosted the 3rd Annual Autism Hits Home philanthropy event. Autism Hits Home is an allday softball tournament raising money to support children with autism and their families. The proceeds of the event went to Angels Bridging Gaps, a local autism support group based in Palm Bay, FL, which helps parents cope with ASD and gives children opportunities they would normally not have. Some of the activities Angels Bridging Gaps provides for children with special needs include swimming, bowling, horseback riding, summer camps and much more. With a goal set to raise $2000, early preparations were very important to the success of the event.
Representatives of the fraternity were sent out to local businesses collecting donations, such as prizes for a raffle to take place at the tournament. Flyers were set up around campus, and representatives were also sent to The Scott Center for Autism Treatment, Angels Bridging Gaps and each of the fraternities and sororities on campus to raise community and campus awareness of the event. Fundraising in the weeks leading up to the event was done by selling raffle tickets on campus for participants to win
prizes donated by businesses in the community. The softball tournament
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featured two divisions, men’s and coed, with a total of 12 teams (6 of were FIT teams), making for a great turnout. This year’s event was the most successful thus far, as the money raised not only reached but surpassed the set goal of $2000. The highlight of the day, however, was the hour and a half break at noon for a T-ball clinic for children in the community diagnosed with autism. Brothers of the fraternity, and friends, conducted the clinic by playing catch with the kids and teaching them how to hit balls off the tee. This break in the tournament gave everyone present a real idea of what the tournament was really about. Watching the children’s excitement to be involved made the long day on the softball diamond well worth the time and effort.
the Florida tech crimson
Oxford: An Unexpected Journey Shannon E Sullivan Guest Writer If someone were to ask me what my favorite part of time as a Florida Tech student is, I would have no hesitation in my answer: studying abroad at Oxford. Studying at Oxford was something that I had always wanted to do, as was going to England in general, so I knew that I would have an incredible time there in the first place, but my stay there far and away exceeded my expectations. If I had to peg my stay down to one moment; however, it would be nearly impossible. From day trips to places like London and Bath, to deep conversations in class, and getting into all kinds of shenanigans with friends, every second of the trip is something that I’ll always cherish. The trip is six weeks long and by the end, you wind up feeling like a local. Some of the many highlights of the trip for me were the shows we went to see in London. I had never been much of a fan of musical theater, but I must admit that seeing such huge productions really was impressive. I even wound up surprising myself by thoroughly enjoying Wicked! The musicals were fantastic, but I enjoyed the plays even more, particularly The Cripple of Inishmaan, starring Daniel Radcliffe (who I got to meet after the show!), and Book of Mormon.
The classes are challenging yet still very fun and the professors are incredible. I chose to take Marketing Principles and a class on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, both of which I found to be very interesting. I really enjoyed studying the principles of marketing from an international perspective, and the in-class discussions about Tolkien and Lewis never failed to be entertaining. Long weekends are built into your time there and are perfect for travelling in and out of the country. During most of my weekends, I took a few day trips to London for shopping and sightseeing. On one of the four-day weekends, I went on the group trip to Paris, which certainly was an experience I’ll remember forever. As someone who can be fairly shy when first meeting people, I was nervous that making friends with my classmates would be somewhat difficult, but all my worries were washed away by the end of the first dinner together. Even though we all came from different backgrounds with different personalities, we all meshed together well, and it’s safe to say that I’ve made some friends that will last me a lifetime. If you’re someone who is thinking of taking part in the program and have any questions, feel free to leave comment. For other specifics about the program, head on over to this site: http://www.fit.edu/oxford/
we want you! The Florida Tech Crimson is looking for staff writers, pho to g r a p h er s, g r a p h i c designers, cartoonists and more for our growing news staff ! T he Crimson is a g reat opportunity to build a portfolio of your work while also making a difference on campus. Interested in becoming part of our news team next semester? Email us at crimson@fit.edu or email the editor-in-chief at hraymond2011@my.fit. edu. You can also attend one of our weekly meetings every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Crimson office at the back of Grissom Hall on the basement floor. Join us! There is free food!
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CAMPUS LIFE
Chi Phi fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club raises over $1,200
Office of Student Affairs offers Spring Break cruise every year Duke Richardson Guest Writer
Photo BY Efram Goldberg
continued from page 1 cer tournament required a $90 sign up fee with all proceeds going to the national non-profit association. The winning team was rewarded with a trophy and $200. The games themselves began at 10 am and teams played throughout the day on two separate pitches with a final match ending the event. The event functioned as a ‘pilot tournament’ that would help the fraternity test out the idea for future years. “This is our first time hosting the event so it will help us have a better idea for what we need to
do for upcoming and future years.” Taser said. “Hopefully we can make it an annual event that will grow and become more impressive each and every year.” Whether it was to participate in the games or just to watch the tournament, several FIT students attended the event. “I think the event is going really well, especially with the fact that this is the first year. It’s great that so many organizations are participating and supporting the event. Plus it doesn’t hurt that we are doing all of this while playing the world’s sport,” said senior Jashelle Ojeda. With live music and food, spectators watched the thirty
photo by Sara Torabi Members of the Alpha Phi fraternity warm up before the game.
minute matches comfortably with friends and classmates. Many students were very pleased when they first heard about the event. “I heard about it first from Greek Life and I said to myself, I have to go to this. I really hope they keep this going. It will be great to know that we’ve raised a lot of money for the Boys and Girls Club,” said junior Shelby Zielinski. “I’m having an amazing time, both watching and playing. It will be interesting to see who wins.” And at the end of the tournament it was International Football Club (ICF) that took home the trophy and cash. “We played hard!” the players stated as they paraded through the field with their trophy.
The Florida tech crimson
A 10-day Royal Caribbean cruise ship returned to port two days early after 577 passengers and 49 crew members reported symptoms of a suspected gastrointestinal illness. The Explorer of the Seas cruise ship is one of many in the cruise industry that has experienced difficulties over the last year and the list of dissatisfied customers is growing longer. The growth of the cruise industry has been on a steady incline over the past few years but slowed significantly in 2013 because of the increased number of incidents. According to a study released in December by PhoCusWright, cruise bookings went up 28 percent in 2011, 26 percent in 2012 but only increased by 6 percent in 2013. Although there was still an increase last year, it is not the tremendous growth that trends had suggested. If this decline continues, the cruise industry is looking to take a major blow financially.
Florida is a major hub for the cruise ship industry but as the Spring Break season approaches, college students may be adjusting their plans. Each March the Office of Student Affairs at Florida Tech organizes a group cruise for students at a discounted price, usually drawing anywhere from 25 to 30 participants per cruise. With the increase in negative publicity associated with individual cruise lines, a change in company was necessary for the safety of the students. “We have used Royal Caribbean in the past but it’s just too much of a risk now,” said Director of Greek Life and Student Affairs at the Florida Institute of Technology Cassandra McGuireCarnley when asked about the latest incident with Royal Caribbean: “That’s exactly why we pick Norwegian, we feel safe with them.” This strategy to switch cruise lines is also being implemented by students. Florida Tech undergraduate Kristen Brockway said she would not give up on cruises for good but rather “just avoid those companies”.
have an opinion you’d like to share? email us at crimson@fit.edu, and you may see it next issue!
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Campus life
4 - february 18, 2014
Library Corner Death of a Librarian Installment three of a three-part series, by Donald Hill, for Evans Library Think you’ve solved the mystery? Post a photo of yourself with the murder weapon to Evans Library’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ evanslibraryfl) to claim a $20 prize – the winner will be notified on Facebook. Once you’ve taken your photo, please replace the murder weapon, for others to find. My mind shifts back to the present day and age where I am passing the third floor, intent on getting to the fourth floor. Right then and there I hear a loud commotion. A loud thud, and then screaming is taking place. A once quiet and relatively tranquil environment is now torn apart with shockwave producing violent noises. I rush to the fourth floor to try and decipher the problem at hand. What I see next is evidence of a failed system: our prime suspect, holding a gun aimed straight at Officer Hill’s head. I quickly draw my gun and aim it right back at him. He screams, “They are coming back and they are going to get all of you!” I ask who are “they”? The response is, “They are all around, they know what we don’t know, they make me do things I don’t want to do, they will do the same to you.” I try to provide comfort to this delusional man by offering my own protection with the rest of the police force. “You can’t protect me from them! Nobody can! There’s only one escape.” With that I see the gun rising up towards his head. I see no other option; I shoot him once in the chest. It is a powerful blow, and it sends him straight to the floor with heavy breaths. I slowly walk over to him, watching him gasp and hold on to life. I can see his vitals slowly slipping away and I know soon he will pass on. I don’t have a lot of time to think. This is our last link and he is our solution. I tell him that this is the time to come clean on everything he’s done. More importantly, I ask him where he stashed the murder weapon. “I-I’m sorry…BF…77.5…the schizophrenic… patient.” After those last words, I witnessed life passing on again. In an attempt to preserve life, I did the exact opposite. What did he mean by what he said? Looking around me I saw nothing but two dead bodies and one dismayed officer. My head fell dizzy and in a moment’s time, everything went black. I fainted. Opening up my eyes from what seemed to be an endless nightmare, I am back on the first floor in the Evans Library. BF 77.5. What could that mean? In not even a millisecond, it hit me. That is a Call Number! I run to the front desk and ask them to search their catalog for a book with the Call Number BF 77.5 and a partial title of The Schizophrenic Patient. They reply that a few results turned up, and low and behold these are right next to the victim. This is where I must search. I can still finish this.
The Florida tech crimson
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A Church Community with a Heart for the World
We are a growing, energetic, Biblical, Anglican parish with members from more than twenty countries.
Everyone is welcome here.
An interactive map is on our website: www.oursaviorpalmbay.org. Or call us at 321-723-8032 for more information. Sunday Service at 9:30 am
Campus life
5 - february 18, 2014
The Florida tech crimson
Live Free or Eat Free, you can only choose one Daniel Hereau Staff Writer The Crimson will be hosting Live Free or Eat Free on Feb. 26, an event where the community will be offered the chance to trade their First Amendment rights for a free lunch, highlighting just how important the First Amendment is. The event will be begin at 9 a.m. with a keynote speech by Alec Klein, the director of the Northwestern University Medill Justice Project. Following the keynote will be a lunch on the Crawford Green from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The final event of the day is a panel discussion about the First Amendment at 3:30 p.m. in Crawford Science Tower room 112. The discussion of the First Amendment also brings up the topic of free speech on campus. As a private organization, FIT is not legally bound by the First Amendment to allow free speech on campus. Drew Lacy, former editor-
in-chief of the Crimson, said that FIT’s policy regarding free speech and freedom of the press, as stated in the FIT media board governing document, is to not block or interfere with it. Rose Petralia, an instruction librarian at Evans Library, said she knew of no issues or requests to pull or censor books in the library. Terri Wright, general manager of WFIT, said that even though WFIT is part of the NPR network, the NPR does not have any sway over content that WFIT produces itself. Wright also said that there was no censorship that she knew of from either NPR or FIT, and that she hadn’t heard of any attempts at censorship. She said the hands-off approach and honoring of the First Amendment by the FIT administration reflected well on them. Hershlay Raymond, current editor-in chief at the Crimson, said there haven’t been any major incidents while she has been there. She said that while there is the occasional minor dispute with individual faculty members,
the FIT administration has never threatened to pull funding or shut them down over anything they have done. Lacy said that she was looking forward to this year’s Live Free or Eat Free, and that she thought it was going to be interesting to be a participant rather than one of the staff. “We had a couple hundred people show up last year. Some people stayed five minutes, other people stayed over an hour. Some people got really into it. We had rebellions forming. They were making their own constitution. We dragged them off to jail and they went to jail together and came up with more ideas.” Lacy said that while the events and protests were in good fun, they got across the point of how important the First Amendment is. She said she thinks it helped more people understand that point. She said she hopes that there are even more people than last year and that it is as interesting as last year’s event.
Renee Foosaner Education Center presents mini-art workshops Press Release Registration is now available online for the Renee Foosaner Education Center of Florida Institute of Technology’s March Madness Mini-Art workshops. All workshops cost $50.Two workshops cost $80 ($10 off each). Use discount code MARCHMAD when registering for both workshops. Go with the Flow March 13, 6-9 p.m. Let the paint do all of the hard work as you relax and “go with the flow.” Instructor Heather Everett will lead the class on an abstract acrylic painting expedition while emphasizing the basics of design, composition and color. If you need a stress-free creative outlet, this is the class for you. Heads Up Workshop March 16, 1-4 p.m. Create a striking clay portrait from a hollow, wheel-thrown form and open the doors of your imagination.Students will use their hands to gently sculpt facial features by manipulating the clay form from the inside out. Includes clay and bisque firing. Wine + Art Experience March 20, 6 – 9 p.m. The perfect pairing—wine and art! Enjoy a fun, authentic painting experience in a relaxing, fun setting. Students will create
a painting using acrylic paints, guided by instructor Jeanne Diehl Shaffer. A great night out for girlfriends, couples, artists and oenophiles (wine lovers) alike! Tuition covers all materials and 2 glasses of red or white wine. Additional wine is available for a suggested donation of $5 per glass. Brush Stroke Workshop March 27, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This workshop explores underglazing through the use of line and shape using brushes. This includes making your own unique brushes with found objects and materials. Demonstrations will be provided covering layering of color, qualities of lines, basic design principals and composition. Simple approaches to painting fish and leaves will also be shown. A calligraphy brush will be provided for each student to use and take home. Registration and details are available on the Web site, www. foosanerartmuseum.org under “Workshops.” You many also call (321) 674-8923 or email Sara Russo, curator of education, at russos@fit.edu. The Foosaner Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children and students with ID and free on Thursdays and always for Florida Tech faculty, staff and students with their ID.
we want you! Attend one of our weekly meetings every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Crimson office at the back of Grissom Hall on the basement floor. Join us! There is free food!
6 - february 18, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
The Florida tech crimson
All the information about the 2014 Oscars that you didn’t ask for Hershlay Raymond Editor-in-Chief Another year, another Academy Awards. Break out your Oscar pools out because it’s now time to get knowledgeable about some of the major Oscar categories. This year, the films nominated for Best Picture are: “American Hustle”, “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “12 Years a Slave” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Best Original Screenplay Best Original Screenplay is going to Spike Jonze for his film, “Her.” The film is so much more than men with mustaches falling in love with Siri. It’s a beautifully written story about loneliness and love in the modern age. Fun fact: Spike Jonze is involved in three Oscar-nominated films this season. He wrote and directed “Her,” co-starred in “Wolf of Wall Street” and wrote and produced “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” which is nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Seriously.
Best Director Best Director is a bit tricky. The frontrunner is Alfonso Cuarón, the director of “Gravity”. He has won practically every award for directing so far, including the Golden Globe, the Directors Guild
of America Award and the British Academy Film Award. The only thing that would be stopping Cuarón from winning is the fact that Best Picture and Best Director usually go hand-in-hand, and “Gravity” isn’t winning Best Picture. A film can win Best Picture without winning Best Director though; last year “Argo” won Best Picture without Ben Affleck even being nominated for Best Director. Fun Fact: Alfonso Cuarón also directed “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, so if you didn’t like “Gravity”, you can pretend he’s winning for that.
Best Animated Feature/ Best Original Song Let’s kill two ice cold birds with one stone. “Frozen” will dominate in these categories, much like how is has dominated the box office, radio and our hearts. Fun Fact: Co-writer of all the delightful songs, Robert Lopez, also co-wrote the songs for Broadway’s Book of Mormon and Avenue Q. Those songs are equal delightful, but NSFW.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role It’s close, but it looks like Lupita Nyong’o is winning this one for “12 Years a Slave”. “American Hustle’s” Jennifer Lawrence is still a contender though. They have been splitting the awards so far. It will probably be close with
photo property of Summit Entertainment
Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup in “12 Years a Slave,” the film that will win Best Picture. the voters, but Nyong’o deserves it.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role As I’m writing this, 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto and his ombre hair have won 33 awards for his performance as an HIV-positive transgender woman in the film “Dallas Buyers Club.” So, the chances of him winning are high. Fun Fact: Jonah Hill is nominated in this category for his performance in The Wolf of Wall
Street. Hill now has two, well-deserved Oscar nominations under his belt. Who knew the cubby kid from Superbad had an incredible career ahead of him?
Best Actor in a Leading Role Much like his co-star, Matthew McConaughey has been sweeping the awards circuit for his lead performance in the indie “Dallas Buyers Club.” He does have competition though. Chiwetel Ejiofor has been gaining momentum for his heartbreaking role in “12 Years a Slave.” And then there is Leo. We all have made the joke that we have as many Oscars as him, and after March 2 we will probably be making the same jokes. An act of God would have to occur for him to win. And if a miracle happens and he does win, it won’t be for “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Well, it technically will be, but it will be more for his entire body of work. I mean, Martin Scorsese went thirty years without an Oscar, then
he won one for “The Departed.” “The Departed” is a solid film, but we all know that it was really the Academy giving him a “we forgot to give you one of these for Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and Mean Streets” Oscar. That’s what’s going to happen to Leo. Maybe in ten years, but not this year. Fun Fact: Amy Adams has been nominated and lost more Oscars than Leonardo DiCaprio. Her performance in “American Hustle” is her fifth Academy Award nomination. I feel like after the fourth time losing, I’d stop showing up.
Best Picture 12 Years a Slave. That’s all you need to know. It will win, Brad Pitt will get his first Oscar for producing it and it will be great. The Oscars are on March 2 at 8 p.m. on ABC and Ellen DeGeneres will host.
Hershlay Raymond Editor-in-Chief
email Your own Oscar predictions to us at crimson@fit.edu, and you may see it on this page next issue or on the website, crimson.fit.edu.
SCI/TECH
7 - february 18, 2014
The Florida tech crimson
Facts and rumors on new hundred dollar bills Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer If you’ve withdrawn large bills from the bank lately, you’ve likely noticed the hundred’s new look. Released in October of last year the design of the new bills differs drastically from old hundreds. These bills host a variety of new features intended to prevent counterfeiting, particularly from North Korea. The new hundreds were originally scheduled for release back in 2011 but were delayed twice due to production errors such as unintended creases and printing issues. The development of these bills lasted over a decade. At first glance the new bills almost look like play money due to the large gold “100” printed across the back right side covering about a fifth of the bill. While this style is new for US bills it is commonly seen in foreign currency such as
the Euro. This feature is intended to benefit those with visual impairments by making it easier to identify the bill. There are several style changes which may or may not be an improvement. Independence Hall is now viewed from the back instead of the front and the clock time is now 10:30 instead of 4:10. In addition the oval boarders around Benjamin Franklin and the Hall have been removed. The most distinctive part of theses bills however, is the blue holographic security ribbon to the right of Franklin. While it may seem like a piece of plastic glued to the bill, this is actually composed of thousands of microlenses and is woven into the paper itself. To the left of Franklin is another strip that glows pink
when under ultraviolet light. These are expected to be the primary line of defense against counterfeiters since they can’t simply be printed
changing bell, as well as a large quill have been added next to Franklin. Microprinting is used on Franklin’s color as well as in
or taken from other bills. There are also numerous other security features that have been added. The color of the bill has been changed to a pale blue which will be used solely for hundreds to help distinguish them from other bills. A gold inkwell with a color
several other locations. In addition, intaglio printing has been used to give Franklin’s shoulder a rough texture. There have been some rumors going around claiming that the bills contain RFID tags, can be tracked through planes, or can
be counted through airport metal detectors. As of right now there hasn’t been any an official report of this or significant evidence. The claim of bills containing RFID tags has been going around for years and is generally considered a conspiracy theory. The production of an unusual new bill with a reflective strip simply presents an opportunity to raise it again. While there’s no requirement to trade in your old hundreds the Federal Reserve has begun the process of destroying them as they make their way through circulation and replacing them with new bills. So if you have any sentimental attachment to the old bills and can afford it, you may want to keep them while you have them.
Gadget Corner Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer
all gold everything
With St. Valentine’s Day being only few days ago, you might still be annoyed by how cheap your significant other is, especially in the gold category. So here are a couple of gadgets you can keep in mind to ask for next year that have the resounding words “I’m not a cheap loser,” or if you’re the one giving the gift, then it’ll be a gentle reminder that you remember how cheap your gift was last year; rub it in all the way. The company Computer Choppers, who will literally plate almost anything, has done something the average person would never even bother thinking, and that would be dipping a Play Station 3 into 24kt gold. Other than screaming “I have too much money,” or rather simply “I’m crazy,” it also says love for video gaming couples, because there’s nothing more romantic than giving the gift of a gold-plated video game console that will eternally show your love for one other until your records are broken, or the console becomes outdated and thus leaving you with a giant goldplated paper weight; at least it’ll become a conversation piece for people to make fun of you over. Being the perfect gift to give, you really shouldn’t care about the price, but if you must know, there are several options for your PS3. According to Luxury Launches, for $5,000 you get the gold-plated PS3 and two matching gold-plated controllers along with the choice of having the PS3 emblem in “chrome, black chrome, 24kt gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum.” If you would like to go even further and propose next St. Valentine’s Day with the PS3, then you can get the logo encrusted in diamonds for only a supposed extra $3,000. If you would like one, there’s supposed to be only five of these PS3s made, but if you go to Computer Choppers website, they do offer specialty gadget gold-plating along with many other choices of metals; the Xbox 360 is also available to be plated too. If you want to go on to the next generation of gaming consoles, then you may possibly be interested in giving, or receiving, the romantic gift off a gold-plated Xbox One from Harrods, which is located directly across the Atlantic Ocean in London with only a short little ride on an airplane. However, if you’re the one giving the gift and it was not asked for, you may want to think twice about giving it since there are several perfectly good reasons why the Xbox One has the nickname of “SpyBox.” This quote from Mashable should sum it up: “The camera can see a lot more of what is happening in the room; it can sense the number of people, see their skeletons, monitor heartbeats and even recognize faces.” I may not be married, but I’m pretty sure this is a bad gift for a prospective spouse. If your are still interested in buying one, it too is also plated in 24kt gold, but will come with a much steeper price tag, for according to PCMag, it has a price tag of £6,000, which is almost $10,000 in the United States; judging by the fact it’s sold at probably one of the most overpriced stores in the world, you might find it cheaper elsewhere, or you could have Computer Choppers plate it for you.
Have a response to this or any article? email it to us at crimson@fit.edu, and you may see it on this page next issue!
the Florida tech crimson
SPORTS february 18, 2014
Perfect Pence: freshman pitcher throws perfect game continued from page 1 Crimson: You’ve kind of turned into a mini local celebrity these past two weeks – awards, radio shows – what’s life outside off the softball field been like since the perfect game? Pence: I don’t know, it’s been pretty regular apart from all of the attention I’ve gotten. My friends and family still treat me the same. Okay, just because I have a couple of titles and a couple awards – it doesn’t really mean anything. I’m still working as hard as I can. If anything it’s been a little overwhelming. The first week it was kind of hard to stay focused on my school work and stuff because I was so overwhelmed with, “Oh you have to go to this, you have to go to this. This person wants to talk to you, this person wants to talk to you.” Then the next thing I know I got Pitcher of the Week which even more stuff, so it was kind of hard to focus on school. But now that it’s into the second week I’m getting more used to it and learning to put that stuff on the backburner. It’s really cool, but I just have to put it on the backburner and stay focused on what I’m doing and why I’m here. Crimson: What were your first thoughts coming off the mound after striking out that last batter? Pence: Initially on the field I thought, “Oh, that’s cool, a strikeout.” But then coach Val came out and she hugged me and goes, “That was a perfect game!” And everyone was like, “That was a perfect game!” And I was like, “Oh, that was a perfect game?” Crimson: So you hadn’t
photo by Amanda Stratford Photography Rachel Pence was named Panther Student-Athlete of the Week from Feb. 3-9. even realized? Pence: No, no. I just try to go out there and throw and do my job. Crimson: What’s better, throwing a perfect game or beating two top 10 teams in five days? Pence: Beating two top ten teams. A perfect game also comes with team credentials, but beating two teams in the top 10, that is completely a team effort. I know those players are going to hit me hard, and so I really have to rely on my defense to make those plays. Then the offense, we’re going to be facing some of the best pitchers, so I know that the offense is working
hard. Team-wise I think I love beating the top 10 teams because you know that’s your hardest competition. So when you beat those teams, you know all your hard work is paying off. Crimson: You’re obviously off to an amazing start in your college career. Is there anything you’re still working on? Pence: Oh, absolutely! [Laughs] Yeah, lately I’ve been working on hitting spots because most of the time my pitches move pretty well, but making the pitches go exactly where I want them every time is something I’m pretty
sure I’ll always be trying to improve on. Crimson: Last question. You guys are 9-1 now. In your opinion, exactly how good is this team this year? Pence: That’s really hard to say because it’s first time being a part of a college team, so I don’t really know what a team is supposed to be like. This team has got, I think, a great chemistry and we like to define chemistry as unconditional trust in each other. We’ve got great chemistry on and off the field. We work hard and we work really well together. We have really
good communication, which is really special. Like if someone calls someone out for making a mistake, we don’t take it personally. We use it to make us better which, on some teams, you don’t always have that. You have people that take criticism really personally and they cower down. But on this team I think coach Val has done a really good job at recruiting athletes. I think we’ve got a really special team and I think it’s going to be a special year. I’m excited to see where it goes.