Winner of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence award
September 16, 2014
Fall, issue 3
Lockdown raises questions among students Rebekah Duntz Editor-in-Chief Alex Salter Staff Writer Tyler Richardson Staff Writer Two weeks ago today, a threatening phone call was made to Florida Tech, and as a result, campus security issued a code red lockdown. The following events prompted confusion among students and possible policy changes.
what happened On September 2, a man called Florida Tech Security and told them he was two miles away and was going to bring a high-powered rifle onto campus, according to a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) call report obtained from the Melbourne Police Department. According to the CAD call report, there was background noise that sounded like the suspect was driving. Security called MPD for assistance and issued a lockdown of the campus. A notification was sent out at about 3:30 p.m. to students,
faculty and staff, telling everyone to stay where they were inside the buildings. According to a comment on the CAD call, an officer on scene said the suspect told security he wanted “to die a martyr on campus,” and to “call MPD so we can make that happen for him.” The name given over the phone to security was a generic name, according to Melbourne Police. No gun was found by police during a search of the premises and no arrest was made. “From law enforcement perspective, there was no gun on campus,” said Kevin Graham, director of security. The lockdown lasted until about 4:30 p.m. Details behind the lockdown remain scarce. Florida Tech Communications has not officially commented to the campus community and security and Melbourne Police have declined to give any details. “As far as I know, the case is still under investigation,” said Vince Pryce, public information officer for MPD.
The Student Perspective What happened during the lockdown raised many questions among the students, and these questions were brought forth in the Student Government Association meetings on September 3 and September 10.
Some students expressed concern that they were not told more information about the lockdown. “Security has a policy where students will not know until after, specifically for press releases and so students can’t talk to media,” said Carla Deras, President of SGA, during the senate meeting on September 3. During the SGA meeting, a poll was taken as to how many students felt safe during the lockdown, and how many did not. Nine out of 25 students felt safe, while 16 out of 25 students did not feel safe. Freshman Aaliyah Thomas said, “I heard the red alert was for swatting, and I really wish the school would keep us [students] informed. I did feel safe, but I still wish I knew what was going on.” Many students said during the general meeting on September 10 that they did not get the notification from campus security, whether it was a phone call or email. Deras has requested that students update their emergency contact information online. During the general meeting, there was confusion as to whether the emergency contact meant someone to contact in the student’s family if there was an emergency, or the number a student gives in the event of an emergency on campus. Because of this, some students have said that they put down their parents’ numbers rather than their own.
“I felt relatively safe, but I didn’t take it serious at first because my roommates and I were walking back to the dorm and were passed by security officers who said nothing to us about finding a safe place. I feel that security could’ve shown more concern on behalf of the students,” said student Harley Dungee. The doors of the buildings were all locked, and rumors have circulated around campus that a group of students were locked out of the library and the Commons. Freshman Aaron Martes was in the library during the lockdown, and he said he felt safe, “The librarians tried to keep everyone upstairs, but people left anyway,” said Martes. “The school should have incident reports instead of pretending that nothing happened.” Rumors that were discussed at the SGA meeting have said that the library locked its doors, not letting students into the building. “The lockdown procedures call for a complete lockdown of all doors. This make a great deal of sense as you don’t know if any of the people you let in could be someone with a gun. People who commit acts of violence don’t always look crazy like the ones you see in the movies; many will look like you and I,” said the dean of libraries, Sohair Wastawy, in an emailed statement. This is the dilemma: what if you’re letting a possible shooter in?
SGA stated in a general meeting on September 10 that they are working with security to put together a plan for when there are students outside of the buildings during a lockdown. An emergency plan listed in a manual is available in the security office to faculty and staff. Currently, training procedures for faculty and staff are not mandatory. A faculty training program is in the works, according to Graham. Rodney Bowers, Dean of Students, said we all have a responsibility to keep each other safe in the event of a lockdown. “Each summer, the University Emergency Plan is updated by Campus Security and all departments are reminded to review and update their emergency plans for their area,” he said. “The key is not to panic but simply follow the alert’s directives and don’t worry about wanting to know more about the emergency situation before we act.” During a lockdown, every building that has a swipe system will be locked. Students can go into buildings that do not have a swipe system. Security is putting together a plan where students can go into a “sanctuary” and will be accompanied by two security guards, according to Deras during the general SGA meeting on September 10. v
Can nail polish help prevent sexual assault on college campuses?
photos Courtesy of undercover colors
Nichole Stone Guest Contributor Four students at the University of North Carolina have combined chemistry and fashion to help combat the prevalence of sexual crimes against women. The students released a plan for the production of a new, daterape-drug-detecting nail polish that is intended to reduce the rate of sexual assaults on college campuses. In an interview for Higher Education Works, the Undercover Colors team wrote, “With our
SAFC Funding results See page 5
nail polish, any woman will be empowered to discreetly ensure her safety by simply stirring her drink with her finger. If her nail polish changes color, she’ll know that something is wrong.” “I think the nail polish is a brilliant idea because in today’s society women can never be too safe,” said Melissa Chapman, President of Phi Sigma Sigma Iota Eta Chapter. “Having one more method of preventing sexual assault is never a bad thing. The nail polish isn’t going to stop the rape epidemic, but it can help, and even if one girl is protected, isn’t it worth it?” “It is my hope that a viable product will be developed and made easily accessible to
consumers,” said Sara Howze, Human Sexuality Professor for the Florida Tech School of Psychology and Liberal Arts. “Protection, consent and safety are necessary components to any healthy sexual encounter.” Howze was excited to broach the topic in class. While polling the Human Sexuality class, a lot of opinions were shared that created quite a debate. Of the males in the classroom, six out of nine thought the nail polish was an excellent idea that could “get the creeps off of campus.” They were all fervently for the protection and empowerment of women at Florida Tech and considered this product to be a great aide to college aged women.
iCarta speaker dock See gadget corner, page 7
However, the females displayed a mixture of opinions. Quite a few were disappointed that women on the Florida Tech campus need protection from rape drugs and felt this product promoted rape culture instead of diminishing it. To these ladies, this product places the responsibility back on the females of campus to protect themselves against rape instead of educating males on sexual violence. Others felt like the company just wants to make money off a product that is only partially protective. Still others were concerned about the chemical makeup of the nail polish and the possibility of contamination of the drinks. A few were excited at the prospect of being able to protect themselves from potential danger. One of the questions resoundingly raised by the ladies of the Human Sexuality class was the desire to know how many date rape drugs will be detected by the nail polish. According to Sophia Kerby, State Policy and Partnerships Coordinator for Advocates for Youth and columnist for Huffington Post, the nail polish is only designed to detect Rohypnol and GHB, which, while helpful, can lead to a false sense of security among women
wearing the product. Further research is needed to expand the types of chemicals detected by the product. Another issue brought up by the class was the statistical inferences of sexual assault on campus. According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, out of five women in an undergraduate program, one will be sexually assaulted. Additionally the Sentinel reported that a U.S. Senate subcommittee researched sexual violence investigations and found that 40 percent of the national sample of colleges conducted zero investigations over the past five years. This fact reinforces the idea of perpetuating rape culture on college campuses. Even with all of this in mind, Howze is still hopeful. “If the nail polish does work as an indicator of ‘date rape’ drugs that have been slipped into the drinks of unsuspecting victims, it should reduce the number of unwanted sexual attention and assaults, not only on the Florida Tech campus, but throughout the world,” said Howze. v
Football: Comment from key players CAto and Milton
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sci/tech...................... 7
OPINIONS....................... 2
2 - September 16, 2014
OPINIONS
the Florida tech crimson
CAPS PSA: Beyond the Hangover Kendra Bartel CAPS Outreach Columnist
I’d be lying if I said that alcohol consumption is not often a part of college life. Going to parties is the “thing to do” when you get to college, and you may have even started in high school. This article is not here to tell you to stop drinking. However, as a student pursuing a higher education and future, it is important that you realize the dangers of drinking, and the consequences drinking can have, so you can make a well-informed decision when it comes to alcohol consumption. In addition to the information provided in this article, be sure to come to the student event, “Blame it on the A-ah-ah-Alcohol (And Drugs)” on Thursday, September 18, at 7p.m. in Evans Hall, room 202. Here you will learn more about the dangerous effects of alcohol and drug use on your personal, social and academic life. There will also be fun giveaways and tips on how to party safely! Now, let’s get started! It is important to take note that there is a difference between binge drinking and responsible drinking. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for men, and four or more drinks for women. Binge drinking is often what will lead to a “crazy night out” or a killer hangover the next day. Drinking is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if handled incorrectly. Unfortunately, many students are not told of the dangers of drinking too much or the effects it can have. Here are just a few areas of the body that even drinking too much in one night can affect. Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication
pathways. It even affects how the brain looks and works over time. Heart: Alcohol can cause problems to the heart, such as cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart muscle) and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). It can also lead to stroke and high blood pressure. Liver: Liver inflammation can be caused by heavy drinking, as well as steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis (excess fibrosis tissue), and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), all of which cause serious complications. Pancreas: Drinking too much can lead to pancreatitis (inflammation and swelling of blood vessels that prevent proper digestion). Cancer: Drinking excess amounts of alcohol can lead to cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast. Did you also know that excessive drinking can weaken your immune system? On a single occasion of heavy drinking, alcohol slows your body’s ability to fight off infections for 24 hours. Yikes! So not only will you be hungover all day, but you could also more easily catch the flu and remain sick! That definitely does not sound appealing. Especially since, in college, you just don’t have time to be sick. Now that we’ve covered a few of the areas alcohol can negatively affect you, let’s talk about responsible drinking. It seems that often times students are simply told not to drink and how horrible the effects are and that’s that. But let’s be honest, this tactic rarely influences college students not to drink. So, it’s important we cover what responsible drinking is. Low-risk drinking (limits set for safe responsible drinking) are: no more than four drinks a day or 14 drinks a week for men, and no more than three drinks a day or seven drinks per week for women. Remember, it is not three or four drinks in a sitting, but PER DAY.
A standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. This means 12 fluid ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol), 8-9 fluid ounces of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol), five fluid ounces of table wine (12 percent alcohol), and 1.5 fluid ounces of hard liquor (40 percent alcohol). It is also important to keep in mind that alcohol affects everyone differently. So it’s important that you set and know your own boundaries on responsible drinking. What if you or a friend might think they have a drinking problem? What are some criteria you can look over to see if you need to reach out for help? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism lists a few questions on their website you can ask yourself. Or you can look over these questions if you think a friend or family member may be struggling with alcohol abuse. You can also take this 10-minute guided assessment to learn more about your alcohol consumption http://www.echeckuptogo.com/ usa/research/. CAPS also offers an anonymous screener on their website www.fit.edu/caps you can utilize as well. The most important thing you can do is reach out for help! Reach out to a friend, close family member, or even an advisor if you think you are struggling with alcohol abuse. Don’t forget CAPS is here for you too! We are here on campus to offer assistance for many challenges college students face. To make an appointment with a mental health counselor, call CAPS (321) 674-8050, or walk into the center. We are located beside the Health Center, at the corner of Country Club Road. and University Boulevard. We realize it can be uncomfortable to reach out for help, 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! v
Guest opinions Is the ALS ice bucket challenge a distraction to police brutality? Amaria McMiller Guest Contributor “I was nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! I nominate Sabrina, Claire and Kim. You have 24 hours to complete this challenge, or you must donate $100.00 to the ALS Association.” It’s no secret that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been the most popular awareness campaign that has ever hit social media. However, how many of us really know what ALS is? The answer is, not many. ALS is actually a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Being that not many individuals are actually taking the time to research the purpose of this ice dumping method, leads me to believe that this phenomenon has actually become a
distraction to very important issues in today’s society, such as police brutality, and the controversial shooting death of Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO. I’m not saying that ALS is not worth raising awareness for, but it seems to be more of a distraction than an effective tool to help find a cure for the disease itself. These videos on social media in no way honor those who are survivors of ALS or even give information on where to donate the $100.00 if you choose not to participate in the challenge. This activity seems to be another way for the government to take the light off of what’s really happening in the world around us. Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO was unarmed on August 9, 2014 when he was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson. This is a serious issue, not just for the African-American community, but for our society as a whole. Five unarmed African-American
In the past year have you… • • • • • • • •
• • •
Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer than you intended? More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t? Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the after-effects? Experienced craving — a strong need, or urge, to drink? Found that drinking — or being sick from drinking — often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems? Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends? Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink? More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area or having unsafe sex)? Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout? Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before? Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea or sweating? Or sensed things that were not there?
If you answered yes to a significant amount of those questions or you simply want to become better educated on alcohol use and abuse here are some resources you can access for help: • • • • • • •
Counseling and Psychological Services: www.fit.edu/caps Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous. org The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: http://www.health.org National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: http:// www.niaaa.nih.gov Al-Anon Family Groups: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ About Health: http://alcoholism.about.com/ College Drinking-Changing the Culture: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/default.aspx
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men including Michael Brown have been killed in the United States by police officers in the last month (Ezell Ford of Los Angeles, California, John Crawford of Beavercreek, Ohio, Dante Parker of Victorville, California, and Eric Garner of Staten Island, New York), and I have yet to see a campaign to support the Organization for Black Struggle. The fact that only one of these men have been publicized, and the effect the ice bucket challenge has had on social media within the past few weeks, hardly seems like a coincidence. It doesn’t seem as though this ice bucket challenge will be leaving our news feeds and timelines in the near future, but now would be a good time to raise awareness on more than one issue at hand, which includes the unlawful harshness of our society’s “heroes.” v
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CAMPUS LIFE
3 - September 16, 2014
The Florida tech crimson
Party in Pink Zumbathon fundraiser set for Oct. 5 Third Annual Event at Clemente Center Benefits Breast Cancer Prevention Press Release MELBOURNE, FLA. — The 3rd Annual Party in Pink Zumbathon charity event will bounce into the Clemente Center on the campus of Florida Institute of Technology from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 5, bringing a good workout for a great cause. All proceeds from the event will go to the Zumba Global Research Grant for Breast Cancer Prevention administered by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Last year’s event raised more than $5,600. Open to the public, the Zumbathon will start with 16 area Zumba instructors leading songs. That will be the first hour. For the remaining 30 or 40 minutes, headliner Fabio Barros will lead
the party. A native of Brazil, Barros is a dancer and entertainer as well as a Zumba instructor. Members of the Florida Tech football team are expected to attend, as they did last year. The event is organized by Florida Tech Zumba Fitness instructor Susan Vallette, who is dedicating it to the memory and honor of friend Noni Edwards. The wife of Melbourne Central Catholic High School football coach Eddie Edwards, who coached Vallette’s son, Noni Edwards passed away in May after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 42. “Together, we are making moves in the fight against breast cancer,” Vallette said.
Tickets to the Zumbathon are $15 and are available through Vallette by emailing netgal3@ aol.com or by calling (321) 5442907, and also at the door. Other locations may be found by visiting Vallette’s Facebook page and looking under event name “3rd Annual Party in Pink ZumbathonMelbourne, FL.” Participants should wear workout clothes and rubber-soled athletic shoes. It is suggested they wear something pink. Official Party in Pink and regular Zumbawear will be available for purchase. The Zumbathon will also Photo Property of Florida Tech Newsroom include a raffle.
SOJA to headline FIT Homecoming Fest Oct. 24 in downtown Melbourne Free Concert One of Many Exciting Events For Homecoming Week Press Release Street vendors, food, drink and music from national recording artist SOJA will mark Florida Institute of Technology’s 3rd annual FIT Homecoming Fest from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24 in downtown Melbourne. The Florida Tech Alumni Association has joined forces with Mainstreet Partners to bring together this free community event, anchored by the unique sounds of the Washington, D.C.- based band that blends reggae, go-go, D.C. hardcore, Latin, rock and hip-hop into a sound all its own. Originally formed by a
group of friends in middle school, SOJA has recorded five albums – and sold 200,000 – while building a massive international fan base. The group has headlined shows in over 20 countries around the world, generated over three million Facebook fans, and 65 million YouTube views. It has toured with Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, 311 and appeared at major festivals, including Bonnaroo. SOJA’s latest album, “Amid the Noise and Haste,” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard reggae chart. For band members, their music is about more than notes and melodies.
“I want to speak for people who don’t have microphones,” said lead singer and guitarist Jacob Hemphill, who writes the lyrics, chords and melodies of SOJA’s songs. “Our goal as a band is to stick up for the human race. We see the world and we try to make it better in the limited time we have here.” Homecoming Fest is just one part of Florida Tech’s weeklong homecoming celebration, which offers something for everyone, from sporting events and a formal gala to a parade, art exhibits and a dance. For example, Oct. 23 is the FIT Homecoming 5K Run/Walk
presented by Meg O’Malley’s in downtown Melbourne. It starts at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a party at Meg O’Malley’s. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Homecoming Parade will march across the Florida Tech campus from 10-11 a.m., followed by a tailgate party. Then starting at 1 p.m., the Florida Tech Panthers play Mississippi College at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium. Saturday from 6:30-10 p.m. is the Homecoming Awards Gala at the Clemente Center. The event will showcase and honor alumni with a celebration including drinks, food, dancing and live music. Each college within Florida Tech will present their Out-
standing Alumni Awards for 2014 and the Florida Tech Alumni Association will present the Jerome P. Keuper Distinguished Alumni Award. This year’s recipient is Ann Dunwoody, ’88 M.S., the U.S. Army’s first female four-star general. “Homecoming 2014 promises to be our biggest and best ever,” said Bino Campanini, vice president of alumni affairs. “We are especially excited to have secured SOJA as our headline artist for FIT Homecoming Fest and expect once again to pack the streets of downtown Melbourne.” v
START THINKING AHEAD.
START uSing youR expeRience.
START PLANNING YOUR FUTURE.
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START TAKING ON CHALLENGES. START CLIMBING HIGHER.
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There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Visit your career counselor or contact the Department of Military Science at Florida Tech and get the training, experience and skills needed to make you a leader. Army ROTC also offers full-tuition scholarships. And when you graduate, you’ll be an Army Officer. Start by enrolling in MSL101.
To learn more about scholarship opportunities, visit us online at goarmy.com/rotc/e346 or contact Florida Tech Army ROTC at 321-674-7438 / 8094 or by email at armyrotc@fit.edu. ©2008. paid for by the united States Army. All rights reserved.
campus life
5 -September 16, 2014
The Florida tech crimson
SAFC Funding Results Pending............ 1
approved........14
denied..............1
deferred.........0
we want you! The Florida Tech Crimson is looking for staff writers, photographers, graphic designers, cartoonists and more to join our staff ! The Crimson is a great opportunity to build a portfolio of your work, while also making a difference on campus. Interested? Email us at crimson@fit.edu or email the editor-inchief at rduntz2012@my.fit.edu. Our meetings are every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Crimson office at the back of Grissom Hall. Join us! There is free food!
6 -September 16, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
The Florida tech crimson
Music greats release surprise new album Alex Coultrup Staff Writer It’s been five years since “No Line on the Horizon,” the most recent album release by veteran rock band U2. The most recent album until now, that is. On Tuesday, U2 members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. took the world of music by storm when “Songs of Innocence” appeared quietly, unannounced, and free of charge in the iTunes library of over half a billion people worldwide. Heralded as an autobiographical work of art exploring the band’s roots, “Songs of Innocence” will be available at no charge until Oct. 13. “Part of the DNA of this
band has always been the desire to get our music to as many people as possible,” Bono said, in a letter published on the band’s official website on Tuesday. “To celebrate the ten=year anniversary of our iPod commercial, [Apple] bought it as a gift to give to all their music customers. Free, but paid for,” he said, explaining the details. In a recent poll, 62 percent of Florida Tech students surveyed were unaware of the release, while 18 percent knew about the album but had not listened to it, and 20 percent had listened to all or part of the album. Several students said they simply did not have time, while others were uninterested. “I liked the classic U2; their sound has changed,” said one student, while another said, “U2 is U2, you’re going to have quality music either way.” v
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7 -September 16, 2014
SCI/TECH
The art of programming the basics for a beginner
Ogbonnaya Ngwu Staff Writer I’m a writer and a programmer. To some people, programming is all about computers and code. But to me, programming is an art that helps me make a computer do in minutes what I would have probably done in hours. At the onset, I didn’t consider myself a good programmer. I rate my coding skills average, since I feel like I have a long way to go before I’m pleased with my programming skills. Most people do not succeed in this art because they are lazy and sit idly all day and never bother about programming.Sometimes, their horrible skills make my less horrible skills look perfect. To start programming as a beginner, you will need a computer. A laptop or a desktop computer, whatever it is, but make sure a computer it is. However, getting a computer is not usually the first thing you have to do. Actually, deciding why you want to become a programmer —not just a programmer, but a good programmer — is the first task. Is it because you want a job in a high-paying software firm or a company involved in development of significant information systems? Awesome. Is it because you want something to keep you busy? Great. Or is it because you want to do more than just playing games and document typesetting
with your computer? Perfect. Whatever it is, all you need to do is have an answer to the question, why do I want to be a programmer? Having the answer to this question, then you are set to reach NOWHERE. All good programmers I know have good skills because they loved what they did. Hence, you need to develop a huge interest in programming. As a beginner developing interest in programming, having the answer to the big question and having a computer is not the only thing you need to consider. Just like human languages used in communication, lots of programming languages exists. Sometimes it could be hard making the choice of which programming language to begin with. You will certainly want to choose the best out of all. However, none of the languages is better than the other in anyway. You will certainly say, “I want the programming language that does all things.” Well, I’m sorry to tell you this, but there is none. Each programming language is unique and has a different purpose. You will certainly come to learn most of them and you will love each one. I started programming with a programming language called Python, but I prefer writing codes now with Java. I have seen programmers who started with Java or another language and now like Haskell, like my discrete math teacher, William Shoaff. The good thing is that you are not restricted to the language you started with. So, you can start with anything and end up with another.
Software: China vs. mainstream Ebube Ubochi Staff Writer China’s Xinhua News Agency reported last month that the People’s Republic of China would be releasing a new homegrown operating system in October of this year. The Chinese government controls the country’s software market totally and this new domestication of personal computing solutions is due at least in part to concerns raised by US surveillance. The OS is intended for competition with Windows, Microsoft’s desktop operating system and Android, Google’s mobile operating system. Ni Guangnan of The Chinese Academy of Engineering,
who leads an OS development program that was established in March, said that the OS will first be seen on desktop devices and later expanded to smartphones and other mobile devices, as quoted by the People’s Post and Telecommunication News. Guangnan co-founded Lenovo in 1984. This is not China’s first attempt at a feat of this nature. A program called Kylin was launched in 2001 by one of the country’s top military engineering universities. More recently, in January of this year, The Chinese Academy of Science released China Operating System; however, it is not as widespread as Windows. The new operating system is expected to spread quickly on desktops within China before the expansion to mobile devices begins at a later date. v
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To be a good programmer, you will need a great sense of design pattern and be ready to learn by emulation. Any art is learned by emulating. Therefore, you must emulate the best. You will also need to practice coding often. I would have been a good user of the French language if I used it everyday when I was learning it. Programming languages are just like that; they get rusty if you don’t practice them almost everyday. Don’t learn a single code in java today and return to your computer to use it after a week or more. I bet you will even remember the code line. Finally, as Larry Wall says in Programming Perl: “We will encourage you to develop the three great virtues of a programmer: laziness, impatience and hubris.” Laziness: it makes you write laborsaving programs that other people will find useful. Impatience: this makes you write programs that don’t just react to your needs but actually anticipates them. Hubris: excessive pride that makes you write and maintain programs that other people won’t want to say bad things about. Most importantly, you will need to be in an environment that lets you think critically on what you want your program to do or the new codes you want to learn. As you get set on your way to become a great programmer, all you need is the answer to the big question, a programming language of your choice, a computer, sense of design pattern, ability to emulate and willingness to practice coding often. v
The Florida tech crimson
A look at the darkest part of the Internet Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer If you’ve spent much time on the Internet, you’ve probably wondered how people get away with some of the things they do — whether it be copyright violations, scams or death threats. While it may seem like people can do whatever they want, such activities carry possible consequences and once in a while, these individuals will be tracked down and receive a visit from the authorities. Now imagine if there was a part of the web where everyone was anonymous and only certain people could get in a sort of wild west of the Internet. This is the deep web — the dark side of the Internet. While the surface web can be accessed through search engines such as Google, the deep web is much larger and is composed of sites that can’t be found by search engines. Generally, the only way to access this content is with specific web addresses and/or specialized browsers. In most cases, those who travel the deep web use dark-nets, which are private networks that use specialized protocol and heavily emphasize anonymity. Some examples of dark-nets are Freenet, I2P, and Tor. Tor is the most well known dark-net and is sometimes mistaken for a representation of the entire deep web. Tor sites use a “.onion” extension and preserve anonymity by utilizing several layers of encryption similar to the layers of an onion. These sites can only be accessed by using the Tor Browser and retrieving links from sites like the Hidden Wiki. The ones who use these dark-nets include hobbyists, activ-
ists, conspiracy theorists, criminals, hackers and people who really don’t like to share. While not used exclusively by criminals, their anonymous nature often makes dark-nets havens for criminal activity. Such activities can include: underground fighting, human trafficking, child pornography and hired assassinations. The deep web also contains numerous black markets selling drugs, weapons and other illegal paraphernalia. The black market equivalent of Ebay known as Silk Road was shutdown in 2013, according to Wired News, after its alleged owner Ross Ulbricht was tracked down by the FBI by using the same username to advertise Silk Road and post forums, which he linked to his Gmail address. Ulbricht was also accused of requesting a hit on another user after a dispute. Monetary transactions on the deep web are performed through the use of bitcoin, a virtual currency that uses peer-to-peer payments without a central repository and lacks consumer protection. While the value of bitcoin has fluctuated dramatically in the last year, the current rate is 1 bitcoin to 469 dollars. Due to the anonymity and potentially already illegal nature, any purchases or services on the deep web are of questionable legitimacy. While the dark-nets often host many criminal activities and most people should stay away from them, it’s important to note that they’re not all bad. There are also many websites dedicated to free speech, exposure of corruption and anonymous tips, as well as ordinary forums and chat-rooms. While the deep web isn’t a place to casually surf, most illegal activities can be avoided if you aren’t looking for them. v
Gadget Corner Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer
photo property of lumobodytech.com photo property of Atechflash.com Have you ever felt like you’re missing some musical experience while sitting on the john? Do you feel like sitting on the john is no longer what it used to be and your toilet paper holder has become boring and mundane all of a sudden? Are you ready for change to happen? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then the AFT iCarta speaker dock for iPhone and iPod will likely improve your life for the better. The iCarta is a specially designed iPod speaker dock that not only plays music while you’re sitting on the john, but provides the functional use of holding your toilet paper at the same time. This modern marvel will turn any ordinary visit to the restroom into a musical phenomena guaranteed to make using the john a joyous event. While the device has a built in dock for Apple products, it also utilizes Bluetooth technology so Android users may also feel the joy of the singing toilet
paper dispenser. The original iCarta is powered by four AA batteries and lasts for up to 20 hours of use; however, the newer iCarta 2 requires AC power according to its home website, but also supposedly has improved sound. If you would like to improve your experience of sitting on the john, the iCarta 2 is available from AFT’s home store for a small price of $59.99; a small price to pay for improving your life. If your problems in life do not involve sitting on the john, but instead involve an obsession with not having perfect posture while also having a desire to shock yourself for doing so, then Lumo BodyTech’s Lumo Lift is probably the perfect and only gadget anywhere that even encompasses this description. When clipped to your clothing with its magnets, Lumo Lift monitors and tracks the alignment of your spine. Whenever
it senses your spine moving to a slouching position, Lumo Lift will immediately shock you until you return back to a proper posture where your shoulders are held back and your head is held high. Don’t worry, Lumo BodyTech says it’s “gentle.” In addition to shocking you over Lumo Lift’s lengthy five-day battery life, Lumo Lift also records how many steps you’ve taken, and how many calories you have burnt throughout the day. But, most importantly, you have the ability to see how much time you’ve spent with perfect posture, or in other words for some, how much time you have spent failing in life for not having perfect posture. If you feel the need to have perfect posture and shock yourself into doing so, then you can pre-order your very own Lumo Lift to fill that void in your life. You can pre-order the gadget at Lumo BodyTech’s website in multiple variations starting at $99.99. v
SPORTS the Florida tech crimson
September 16, 2014
‘The rest will follow’ Key players cato and milton lead with optimism
Ashley Montion Sports Writer For Florida Tech Football, year number two begins with impact and determination to continuously improve. Key players Mark Cato and Xavier Milton can undoubtedly answer to the optimism surrounding the 2014 – 2015 season. “I would say it’s a mixture of everything that makes this year different. We have a lot more confidence, being it’s the second year. I think the team is comfortable together, and we’ve really worked hard. Practice and camp are tougher, and Coach Englehart made it that way to improve our mental game,” said redshirt senior wide receiver Xavier Milton. However, Milton does have one major season end goal: to continue a tradition. “When I look back after the end of the season, I want to say that I really gave it my all not just for me or my career, but for the young guys coming up. I know they’re looking up to the seniors, and we want to help by showing
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them the ropes… so the tradition can continue.” Until then, the team aspires to improve daily, both on and off the field. “We watch film with the team and on our own every day. We get to see our mistakes and fix them, and I think that makes us a lot better,” said Milton. “Coach E’s speeches after practice are really powerful, and it really motivates us deeply to want to do better.” Quarterback Mark Cato took the role of a true freshman in his first collegiate appearance. Yet, the redshirt freshman was quick to acknowledge his entire team for the powerful start to the season with a 54 – 12 win over Stetson. “I credit this win to the whole team. The team had my back, and I just wanted to go out there and show them I had their back too,” said Cato. “With so much support from the team, I was able to stay focused on the game and not the end result. The rest will follow.” Cato defines the team’s preparation as a concentrated, day-to-day endeavor. “We’re preparing for our next game by watching film, coming up with a game plan, practice all week at it, and go out and execute on game day,” said Cato. v
Award-winning student athlete shares secrets to success Alex Coultrup Staff Writer Florida Tech is home to many excellent athletes, and last month, one of our own had what some would call the experience of a lifetime. But for him, it’s just a day in the life. José Gómez-Feria Ferreiro, a senior on the men’s rowing team, made a name for himself as the 14th fastest single sculler in the lightweight category at the World Rowing Championships, held from Aug. 24-31 in Amsterdam. In addition to rowing for Florida Tech, Gomez-Feria represents Spain’s national team, which he trains with over summer break. While in Amsterdam, the 22-year-old advanced through heats and quarterfinals to place second in his semi-final race. “The experience was good, of course,” he said. “It could have been better.” Due to unpredictable winds, lane selection by lottery placed
him in an unfavorable position for his first race. Gómez-Feria beat out competitors from Russia, France, Slovenia and Argentina, losing only to a rower from the USA. His rowing experience began in 2005 at 13 years old, early by American standards, but considered a late start in his club, Real Circulo de Labradores de Sevilla, where he is still a member. Since athletic teams are not connected with the public schools in Spain, he and a group of eight friends picked up rowing “because we wanted to do something fun.” Though still friends, many of his original teammates are no longer with the sport. Representing teams from two different continents results in logistical problems, since his training overseas makes it difficult for Spain’s coaches to justify placing him in their most prestigious boats. “That’s actually why I row the single,” Gómez-Feria said. “No matter how good you are, if you’re not there for the year, you’re not getting in the Olympic boat.” His time of 6:12.8 for the two-kilometer test makes Gómez
-Feria the fastest lightweight rower on his team. Gómez-Feria is a biomedical engineering major, currently taking 19 academic credits, and he holds a 3.33 GPA. He stated “You just don’t waste your time,” as the main theme of his philosophy toward success, both in academics and athletics. As any student-athlete knows, it’s not easy to balance these two aspects of life. The training program of an endurance athlete is very demanding, and this oarsman is no different. An average week of training typically includes Monday-Wednesday-Friday workouts of 3.5 hours of steady rowing in the mornings, followed by an afternoon workout: 100 minutes of lifting and 60 minutes on the bike. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the routine includes eight rounds of two-kilometer simulated races on the ergometer (indoor rower), with two hours of biking in the afternoon. Gómez-Feria is excited that the Florida Tech team plans to invest in four new rowing
machines from RowPerfect this season, as well as several bikes for their training. RowPerfect is known for their machines that almost perfectly mimic an oarsman’s experience while training on the water. “The RowPerfect kind of saved my training system, since rowing in the afternoons is difficult here with the choppy water,” he said. While describing his training, he said, “the only difference is that in Spain, I don’t have school, and the extra time I can use for rowing.” After first transferring to Florida Tech, it was difficult to for him combine the work of rowing with the work of school. After a rough first semester, GómezFeria improved his study habits and took charge of his academic performance. “Organization,” was his one-word answer to a question about what made the difference. “I would recommend that everyone get into some sports, because it will help you to organize better. That’s what companies want, someone who knows how to organize their time.”
Citing it as a skill that he learned at Florida Tech, GómezFeria said that being organized is what enables him to perform to his potential. As a person who places high value on daily naps, he says time-management has been his most valuable asset. “Think about getting the full value out of your classes,” he says. “Think about getting the full value out of your workout.” He says that living with other like-minded student athletes makes a difference too. GómezFeria’s roommates Mindaugas Belaskaus, Ernestas Zarskis, and Martynas Mickus are also oarsmen for Florida Tech. “They also have to organize sport and studies,” Gomez-Feria said of the three Lithuanians, “and they do it really well, actually.” His commentary is motivating. “You need to want to make it happen. You need to have a clear idea of what you need to do. I sit on the erg, and I know I have two hours. So if I don’t use that time, I don’t have my workout.”