// DAVID THOMPSON STAFF WRITER With eight minutes left to play in the first half, Florida Tech head coach, Steve Englehart, decided to switch out sophomore quarterback, Brandon Ziarno, with fellow sophomore quarterback, Trent Chmelik, after a slow offensive start for the Panthers. Chmelik made an immediate impact, throwing a 59-yard touchdown to wide receiver Romell Guerrier for Florida Tech’s first touchdown of the 2017 season. “It was a pretty euphoric feeling,” Chmelik said. “It was the first college touchdown I had ever had, definitely something for the books.” Chmelik ended the game with 129 passing yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 195.66 after entering the game halfway
through the second quarter. “My mindset was to be as prepared and as focused as I could be, so when they call my number I know everything and just to get out there and execute,” Chmelik said. “I tried to get the guys to follow behind me and tried to show them how to be a leader.” Englehart made the switch after Ziarno was only able put up three points even though he commanded the offense for three possessions. “My plan was to put [Chmelik] in. I just felt like it was time and I wanted to get him in, in the first half just to see,” Englehart said. “[Chemilk] moved us down the field and scored a touchdown and then we just stayed with it. I think he kinda got us kickstarted.” Guerrier was a big part in the Panther’s offensive display, accumulating CONTINUED ON 7
Guerrier (left) and Chmelik (right) cerebrate a TD Photo by www.floridatoday.com
Pilot by Day, Model by Night
Lessard models a two-piece garment in New Mexico // MARY KOZAITIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Megan Lessard, a junior studying aeronautical science with flight, has experienced landing a plane on the runway after a long day of flying; plus she has walked a different kind of runway, after a long day of modeling. The Melbourne native and her younger sister, Shaina Lessard, started modeling together in a local photo shoot in downtown Melbourne while in junior high school. After realizing an enjoyment and talent for being in front of the camera, Lessard started networking and attending castings.
She had a common slow start, until she was 15 years old when she walked in Park Ave Fashion Week, a fashion show in Winter Park, FL. From that point on, her career skyrocketed. She was contacted by several local agencies and traveled around Florida to model. She was sent to Miami once a weekend, flew to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, New Mexico and eventually Korea, after she signed with her agency, New Version. In her last years of high school, Lessard had to chose between modeling and school, as the work caused her to miss classes at times. The glamorous lifestyle of traveling allowed her to go places she’s never
been, occasionally flying on private jets and temporarily residing in mansions. The work turned into a full-time career, requiring her to take a year off from school between graduating high school and beginning college. Lessard explains it as a surreal experience, often times feeling like Cinderella for a night, when being dressed in famous designer clothing and then having it give it back. She had the opportunity to model an outfit from one of her favorite designers, Roberto Cavalli, many of his pieces including hand-sewn beading and luxury fabrics, totaling over $10,000 for a gown. Although a seemingly
Photograph taken by Josue Casillas.
perfect lifestyle and lifechanging experience, Lessard describes some of the major downsides modeling has. “My least favorite thing about the industry is how cutthroat it is,” Lessard said. “A lot of people go into it looking for fame and fortune, but it’s not about them. You are a mannequin. They are not hiring you for you.” At one point, Lessard was worried she would wake up one morning with her ponytail cut off because some models will do anything they can to beat the competition, she explained. CONTINUED ON 9
The Florida Tech Crimson
PANTHER FOOTBALL SWEEPS OPENING GAME 44-0
Issue 2 September 6 Fall 2017
ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
2
OPINION
GradTrack - The Special Treatment Graduate Students Deserve //AUDREY GANGLOFF COPY EDITOR Evans Library implemented a new program this semester designed specifically for graduate students. A survey of graduate students last fall showed that they expressed several common needs and unanswered questions. “Time management is always an issue for any college student nowadays, but [the biggest question] seems to be where do I start,” said Angela Taylor, director of enabling infrastructure at Evans Library. “How do I start to decide on a topic for my thesis? Where do I find resources?” GradTrack is a comprehensive program rolled out this fall that's purpose is to bring the multitude of various resources available to grad students to their attention. “The most important thing to know for grad students is that we have trained librarians assigned to every department on campus,” said Taylor. “They’re called library liaisons. Library liaisons are your friends.” Each library liaison is trained with a master’s degree in library of science and is committed to issues important to their assigned academic department. “They are the ones when you have a question will help you do research, help you with formatting, they are there to help you,” said Taylor.
The GradTrack program will also be holding research support workshops throughout the semester on topics designed to target the specific skills grad students need that they may not have learned in their undergraduate studies. The first of these workshops, on APA formatting, was held on Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the first floor of Evan’s Library. “You don’t have to sign up,” said Taylor. “You just walk in and they take about a half hour. We teach you the basics, we teach you where to go and then when you have more questions, you’re connected to your liaison.” If you would like to find out who the liaison is for your department you can go online to lib.fit.edu or visit the liaison card carousel at the front desk of the library. The cards are organized by department and have
contact information for each liaison, including a photo and some quirky facts. Another need grad students expressed was to have a space specifically designated for graduate students to study. In response, the GradTrack program converted one of the rooms on the fourth “silent” level of the library into a special space for grad study. “We’ve heard from graduate students that they like to have their own area and they also like to study where it’s quiet, so that’s why we’ve designated this room (room 401). It is accessible to any grad student,” said Taylor. If you are a grad student who would like to use the room you need to stop at the library’s front desk to get coded access. A library assistant will swipe your Florida Tech ID card to make sure you are a
graduate student before giving you the access code. The access code opens a lock box next to the door of room 401 where the key to the room is kept. After opening the door, drop the key back in the lockbox and the room is yours for studying. There is no need to reserve the room; it is open to any grad student at any time the library is open. “There’s study desks, there’s a table, whiteboards and also, the glass window that you can use as a whiteboard,” said Taylor. If the graduate student body shows a lot of interest in using the study room, Taylor says that they would consider converting the amenities of the study room into a more “high-tech” atmosphere. The library also has a liaison specifically dedicated to data management, source organization and curating data. “If you happen to
Photo by Duncan Britton
be doing your thesis on something that involves a lot of data, we can help you organize that and show you what kinds of reports you can get out of it,” said Taylor. In addition, the library has access to special computer programs like geospatial and statistical analysis software for analyzing data which has a geographical or spatial aspect. “As the year goes on we’re going to introduce more and more workshops geared specifically towards grad students,” said Taylor. “Because the grad students’ needs are different from undergrad. You do have to do research as an undergrad, but it’s a different kind of research. It’s more focused and more intensive and those are the type of things that we can help you with.” Most of the services offered by the library are open to both graduate and undergraduate students, but the library will be printing the GradTrack logo on promotional materials and event announcements about programs that are specifically relevant to graduate students. “Our goal is to provide the students that come to FIT with the best possible services that we can provide and the best possible place to find the answers to the questions they have so that the students succeed,” said Taylor. “And that’s really what we're all about at the library.”
Mary Kozaitis Editor-In-Chief mkozaitis2014@my.fit.edu
Ted Petersen Advisor tpetersen@fit.edu
Eleanor Mathers Managing Editor lmathers2014@my.fit.edu
Doug Schoeller Copy Editor dschoeller2013@my.fit.edu
Audrey Gangloff Copy Editor agangloff2013@my.fit.edu
Annika Sundquist Sports Editor asundquist2014@my.fit.edu
Abeer Janakat Design Editor ajanakat2013@my.fit.edu
Nathaniel Ashton Photo Editor nashton2015@my.fit.edu
Elin Svensson Business Manager esvensson2013@my.fit.edu
Lindsay Isaac Social Media Coordinator lisaac2015@my.fit.edu
Sean Moroney Distribution Manager smoroney2014@my.fit.edu
The Florida Tech Crimson is a student-run newspaper published every two weeks during the academic year, with the exception of breaks and holidays, by the students of Florida Institute of Technology. General circulation of the paper is approximately 1,000 copies per issue. The Florida Tech Crimson is a service for Florida Tech students, staff, faculty, alumni and the general public. The Florida Tech Crimson strives to inform the public and to use its editorial sections as open forum for debate on campus issues. The Florida Tech Crimson welcomes input and opinion pieces submitted by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Florida Institute of Technology. Published letters may be edited without notification for length, libel, good taste or other reasons at the discretion of our staff. The opinions expressed herein The Florida Tech Crimson and our website do not necessarily represent the student body, staff, faculty, alumni or Florida Institute of Technology or its partners. Images and stories submitter to The Florida Tech Crimson and their derivative works become the intellectual property of the Florida Tech Crimsons. Depicted works of art and or product may be subject to copyright to their respective owners. Advertisers may contact the Florida Tech Crimson for sizes and pricing at crimson@fit.edu. All contents copyright The Florida Tech Crimson unless otherwise notedp. All rights reserved. No part of the Florida Tech Crimson may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-In-Chief. The Florida Tech Crimson is always looking for new writers, columnists, photographers and designers. Contact us at crimson@fit.edu for more information.
ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
Satirical Section:
3
OPINION
Real Fake News Fake News Inspired by Real Events
// DOUG SCHOELLER COPY EDITOR
Student scrambles to pretend working at library computer for five hours A student remained at a library computer from 9:00 a.m. to a little past 2:00 p.m. last Thursday, anxiously anticipating to look hard at work for fellow students who pass by. “I’ve been doing a lot of work here, trying to look as productive as possible,” said student Marvin Jalligan. “You have to constantly be turning pages of the books in front of you so people know you’re making progress,” Jalligan said, as he minimized his Facebook page down to a hidden window on the desktop. When asked if he would
actually read the $300 books that are in front of him, he explained that takes way too much time. “Besides, I think Yahoo answers might have what I need for my homework. But I’ll search for that when I get back to my dorm.” For now, Jalligan insists he is working according to plan, occasionally reading a paragraph of a Wikipedia page every hour and making sure a tab is open for his email. “You never know when somebody you know will swoop in to see if you’re slacking,” he said.
Civilizations 1 notebook finds comfortable place between couch cushions A lone notebook labeled “Civilizations 1” has been reported to have found a comfortable place inbetween the cushions of the living room couch in a dorm common room. “I figured since I’ll be hardly used anyway I’ll make the best of my situation by finding a place to relax,” said the notebook. The notebook went on to say its owner is a mechanical engineering student who doesn’t “have any time for that”, since Civilization 1 is not a course focused on engineering content.
The notebook doesn’t know how long it’ll be in this position, but hopes the owner has a productive semester trying to relate to and impress potential employers with knowledge outside of analytics. Admission studies show that Civilizations 1, a threecredit course, even though it lacks the analytics of fluid mechanics, contributes to cumulative GPA in the same exact manner as a majoraffiliated three-credit course.
Money vs. Pride //TAHIR HUNAID STAFF WRITER In one corner stood Mr. Money. Proud, arrogant, but a seasoned champion. In the other stood an MMA assassin, the underdog but the people’s champion. On August 26 in Paradise, Nevada, the champions entered the ring for one of the biggest fights in combat sports history. McGregor started with great passion and energy. He had Mayweather on the run. You could see Mayweather struggling, afraid of the notorious MMA fighter. What I saw, in Mayweather was a man overcome with arrogance, a man overconfident of his
abilities, a man who didn’t value anything but money. I saw a showoff out of his comfort zone against a man full of life, a man who valued his family, a man ready to turn Mayweather’s 49-0 into 49-1. By the 7th round, however, things had taken a drastic turn. The people had abandoned their champion and now couldn’t wait for him to drop to the ground. Mr. Money was taking advantage of McGregor’s fatigue and had drawn him into his world, lured him into his ring, where he was the ultimate warrior. Mayweather had tired McGregor out and now was moments away from his 50-0 record, moments away from hundreds of millions
Photo by: www.stuff.co.nz
of dollars; and by the 10th round, he had done it. He had beaten the great Irish warrior with a technical knockout. Disappointment spread across the room where I was watching the game, followed by an eerie silence. McGregor shouldn’t have lost. It couldn’t have been rigged, could it? Hundreds of millions of dollars were on the line. Maybe they did it for the money?
Anger, confusion and disappointment spread across my face. This was not how I thoguht it was supposed to go. But what followed was a mood changer. Both champions had mellowed down, greeted and congratulated each other with respect. They were normal people in that moment, they were proud but humble and appreciated each other’s performances. Each fighter knew that
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they had put up one of the best performances in their careers. It was the perfect ending to a great fight. The next day, however, rumors started surfacing. There were whispers that sounded convincing, whispers saying that the fight had been rigged. Mayweather walked out of the battle $400 million dollars richer while McGregor walked away with $100 million. True or not, the rumors had a significant impact. They left me wondering if anything we watch is real, whether all games are rigged, if professional sports are just games designed to make money, by whatever means possible.
STUDENT LIFE
4 Ultimate Frisbee team crushes conference, unable to attend nationals ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
// ELEANOR MATHERS MANAGING EDITOR
been taking strides since starting in 2002. At first the team was struggling Frisbee has grown to gain membership, but tremendously at Florida they’re coming in this Tech as a competitive sport year with not only a full over the years. division three team, but also Ultimate frisbee has enough members to form been upgraded from a a developmental team and playground pastime to a a separate women’s frisbee recognized sport by the team. International Olympic They showed their Committee in 2016, putting it one step closer to strengths this April in becoming an Olympic sport. the DIII Southeast Men's Conference when the Florida Tech’s Ultimate Panthers went undefeated Frisbee club has also in play-all style tournament against four other teams. “It was the best ultimate our team had played and it was also the most synergetic our team had been,” Billy McCormick said, one of the three captains on the team this year. He credited being level-headed and focusing on having fun contributed to helping the team stay focused. Florida Tech won 11-10 Seamus Burns (horizontal) against Barry University, Photo by Bobby Rogulski 10-8 against North Georgia
University, 11-3 against Embry-Riddle and 11-10 against Georgia College, the 2015 national champions. “[Georgia College was] our first game that morning, so being able to come right out and beat them gave our team an emotional high that we rode the rest of that tournament,” McCormick said. Although they came out as the conference champions, there was a problem that prevented the team from moving on to regional competition. “Regionals and Florida Tech’s graduation fell on the same day,” Robert “Bobby” Rogulski said, the president of the Ultimate Frisbee Club. “It was a real heartbreak because we had so many graduates.” But the miss won’t keep the team discouraged. “I think by the time sanctioned tournaments come around next semester, we'll be on track to match
A rush for possession of the frisbee
Photo by Bobby Rogulski
last school year,” Reed Antonich, a second team captain, said, last year being his first year as captain. “The pick up games definitely help increase interest in the team. They’re at Southgate Fields on Fridays at 5 p.m. and people don’t need prior skills,” Antonich said. He said that the fact that
students don’t need previous skills brings out people who are looking for fun and end up staying with the team. The team is hoping that because they won the conference in spring, the USA Ultimate governing organization will work with them during scheduling and try to pay attention to graduation dates as much as possible.
Internships affecting student involvement
Professor Cosentino (left) mentoring a student project. Photo from Florida Tech // ELEANOR MATHERS MANAGING EDITOR With most students at Florida Tech majoring in fields that have highly competitive job markets, an internship based in their field is an important step students feel the need to take before graduating. However, this focus could push students to look past student involvement within their departments and community and could, instead, decrease their school engagement. “Internships are very important for our students.”
Paul Cosentino, a Ph.D. construction management professor, said. He said that internships not only help students realize their strengths in their fields, but could also give them an idea of how others work within their companies. “One student was at an internship at a small business and while he did some engineering work, they had him doing a little bit of everything. He not only focused on working out in the field with this construction company, but he also did paperwork,
answering phones and even sometimes taking out the trash,” Cosentino said. This not only builds responsibility and teamwork, he said, but time management. “These skills are important for students to experience, and I think they definitely bring that back to school rather than taking it for themselves.” Students that had internships over the summer also agreed that while internships encourage them to become more serious, both about school and about their career, they take that seriousness and implement it in their school interaction. “I'm not sure if I relate my interest in campus events and organizations to having internships or if it's more just me becoming older and realizing I don't have too much time left,” Xzavier Flowers said, a junior Astronomy and Astrophysics major, who took an internship at Georgia Tech in the Center for Relativistic Astrophysics. “I am, however, more attracted to going to events that are geared towards my
major or STEM as a whole because that's what I relate to the most.” He said while he still focuses on finding new opportunities outside of school, the interaction within his internship encouraged him to be more interested in his department events.
Students get a wide range of experience within their internships, from focused work within their field, to branching off and going to other cities to meet with clients, but they come back ready to use their skills for school work. CONTINUED ON 9
Emerson Czerwinski on a Kennedy Space Center launchpad during a trip with the Human Factors Ergonomics Society. Photo by: Emerson Czerwinski.
ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
CAMPUS LIFE
5
Harris Commons welcomes three new tortoises
Andy, Cosmos and Starburst ― the new tortoises living at Florida Tech’s Harris Commons ― munch on lettuce and strawberries. Photo by Lindsay Isaac
// LINDSAY ISAAC SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Florida Tech has three new tortoises living on campus ― Andromeda (Andy), Starburst and Cosmos ― named after galaxies. Andy and Starburst are radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata). The smaller tortoise, Cosmos, is a South American Red Footer.
The three tortoises live in Harris Commons ― home of the School of Psychology, the offices of admissions, financial aid, student accounts, the registrar, campus services and the newly established Center for Student Success. “This is the fourth batch we’ve had at commons,” said Aly Keller, coordinator for the Center for Student Success at Florida Tech.
The tortoises’ names were voted on by Florida Tech students, faculty and staff. Keller said the best time to visit Andy, Starburst, and Cosmos is feeding time ― usually between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. ― when the tortoises can be seen munching on lettuce and strawberries. The radiated tortoise is native only to the island of
Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Radiated tortoise are critically endangered in their home range, but the colony associated with Florida Tech's Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory has produced more than forty new hatchlings over the past five years for scientific research and to help save the species from extinction.
Under the direction of Dr. Michael Grace, the Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory investigates sensory systems in a variety of animals with the goals of promoting the conservation of endangered and threatened species, understanding the cellular and molecular basis of health and disease in people and other animals and supporting tortoises and their relatives.
DSL offers free adventures amusement park. Gallagher sees this technology being brought into the classroom. The future has arrived at For example, last year’s Florida Tech. Students can 3-D printed construction experience rollercoasters, management senior design White House tours and projects can be replaced the bottom of the ocean by a completely virtual for free, at the Digital walkthrough of the project. Scholarship Lab. Unity, a virtual reality This fall, DSL manager, development platform, Martin Gallagher introduced can be used to replicate some of the latest virtual chemistry equipment and and augmented reality chemicals, introducing safe technology to our campus. augmented reality learning. Whether you want “It understands the real to be immersed into a world, the real chemistry. whole different world by As long as you program it the Oculus Rift (a virtual correctly it will flow and reality headset), or watch move the same as it would your favorite show on a in the real world,” Gallagher “60 inch screen floating said. in your room” as software Virtual reality can tackle engineering student, Grant more than just safety issues. Fowler, described it, the It can be used to instantly DSL can take you there translate audio and text, As fun as this technology help you get over your fear is, its integration will do of spiders or offer Florida more than just make you Tech classrooms to students clench the arms of a library thousands of miles away. chair thinking you’re at an “If you look at all the // ABEER JANAKAT DESIGN EDITOR
problems now with people traveling and these travel bans it’s a huge issue for education,” Gallagher said. “We’ve got some great education here and we are limited to our physical limitation. With virtual classrooms you can have 100,000 students all over the world.” Outside of the classroom, this technology is currently being used and developed by the members of the Virtual Reality Development club at Florida Tech. “We are a support group that can either nourish or help them [students] achieve what they want to do and their particular goals,” Gallagher said, who is also the club’s faculty advisor. Gallagher said that the goal behind the VR Development Club is to give students an opportunity to develop skills useful in the professional world or pay
Student using the Oculus Rift headset and Touch controllers.
Photo by Martin Gallagher
CONTINUED ON 6
ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
6
CAMPUS LIFE
DSL offers free adventures (Cont.) their way through college by developing Virtual Reality assets. Assets can be laboratory equipment, phones or any kind of machinery developed and brought into the virtual world. Fowler, a member of the VR Development Club, sees the future to be a product of mixed reality. “VR, especially mixed reality, are turning into essentially the next generation computers and everything is switching to it. Movies are switching to
it, games are switching to it, even personal computing.” This new technology is a learning opportunity not just to STEM students, but also business students. “Business students know how to make a program sellable, making assets sellable,” Gallagher said. A trip to the DSL this semester offers an opportunity to experience virtual reality and for information regarding VR Development Club membership.
Student using the Oculus Rift headset and Touch controllers.
Photo by Martin Gallagher
Tips to Adapt to College Like a True Panther // Lisa Stewart, M.S. & Gabriela Gonzalez, M.S. Outreach Coordinators (CAPS) Did you know that just nine months after birth, panther cubs are able to catch small preys and become experts in catching prey twice their size by the time they are two-years-old? Plus, they can adapt to most climatic conditions! Knowing this, it should be no surprise that panthers are considered to be remarkably fast learners and are able to adjust well to changes in their environment. Good news! Florida Tech panthers are not any different. As a Florida Tech panther, you benefit from a wide range of campus-wide resources that facilitate success and adjustment within the ever-changing college environment.
Tips for incoming panthers:
Tips for returning panthers:
1. Being a freshman may sometimes feel like a full-time job. There’s deadlines, increased work-loads, hectic schedules and we may be tempted to eat a frozen, high-sodium meal at lunch time. That is why making self-care a priority is our number one tip. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, physical activity and nutrients in your body, so you are fueled for success. Consider healthy options in our dining facilities, try the Clemente Center to get in some physical activity and think about tracking your sleep using your smartphone. 2. There are so many new policies, rules and social norms to learn. Give yourself some time. You are not expected to know everything on your first week. There are many campus resources available that can help you clarify questions and concerns. Use them! 3. A movie ticket costs what?! Develop budget and keep track of your spending. There are great online resources like free budgeting templates, as well as free phone apps for this. Also, always keep an emergency fund for those unexpected circumstances that may come up...out of sight, out of mind. 4. Although it may be tempting to stay inside with this Florida heat, get out! Explore the Melbourne area and all it has to offer. Some free of charge activities that you and your fellow panthers may consider include: a nice beach stroll or nature hike in the Botanical Gardens. Visit the Foosaner Art Museum or the Liberty Memorial Museums for free or catch a free movie by attending Brevard County’s Movie in the Park.
1. Make sure you are keeping yourself on track for graduation by taking the right courses at the right time. Seek guidance. Consult your academic advisor with questions or concerns regarding your future academic and professional goals. 2. Make connections and push yourself to obtain that awesome internship opportunity. Ask your advisor if they can connect you with any alumni or professionals in the community to get you started. It’ll look great on your resume and even better scratched off your bucket list. For further resources or support contact Florida Tech’s Career Management Services at (321) 674-8102. 3. Having a change of heart when it comes to your major? You’re far from alone. The Education Advisory Board estimates 75-85% of college students switch majors before they graduate. Plus, a survey of 78,000 college students suggested that changing majors is not detrimental to graduation rates. So, don’t settle. Talk with others and seek out info on other majors that might be better for your personal and professional goals. 4. Look how far you’ve come. You are a full grown panther and you need to recognize your accomplishments. Take a step back and list all your accomplishments, then hang them somewhere visible for a quick mood boost.
Tips for ALL panthers: 1. Know your deadlines, stay organized and plan accordingly. Your brain will be full of facts, dates, and formulas, so give your noggin a break by keeping a to-do list or setting reminders on your phone. 2. Find your balance and stay connected. Panthers may be solitary creatures, but Florida Tech panthers are better together. No matter how busy you get, make time with family and friends a priority. 3. Safety first! Whether you’re on your way to a Tinder date or headed to a late night studying session, always let a friend/roommate know your plans. You can never outgrow the buddy system; take your squad with you when going out to guarantee everyone has a good time and gets home safely. In case of urgent matters don’t hesitate to contact Campus Security at (321) 674-8111 and in case of life threatening emergencies ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1. 4. Need some extra support? CAPS is here for you with the best college freebie Florida Tech has to offer: confidential counseling. Call 321-674-8050 or come in Monday-Thursday 8:30AM-12PM and 1:00PM-5:00PM, or Friday 8:30AM-4:00PM to schedule an appointment. While you’re getting settled in, our safety tips are especially important as the majority of sexual assaults on college campuses have been found to occur within the first six weeks of the school year. To learn more, join us at “#PanthersPrevent.” Here you will join forces with other panthers to identify risk factors and identify ways to keep yourself and others safe. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 14th from 7-8:30pm in Evans Hall, Room 202!
SPORTS
7 Panther Football Sweeps Opening Game 44-0 (Cont.) ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
CONTINUED FROM FRONT seven catches for 88 yards. He was also on the receiving end of the first touchdown of the game. “It was a blessing to score that touchdown,” Guerrier said. “Trent [Chmelik] threw me a great ball and I knew I had to make a play for my team. The first game is always somewhat the toughest game because we just play
against our defense all through fall and summer. To come out here and play the first game and knock off some rust is what’s best for us because we have a big game next week.” The Panthers ultimately shut out the Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons 44-0. Along with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, special teams added on two
touchdowns on kick-off returns to the scoreboard. Sophomore defensive back Daniel Welch returned a blocked punt 81 yards nearing the end of the third quarter and the final scoring play of the night happened with about seven minutes left in the game, when sophomore wide receiver, Max Erdman, returned a punt 70 yards to the end zone.
Panther'sTityus Mitchell is tackled by Dale Young Virginia Lynchburg Photo by www.floridatoday.com
Coach Englehart said he thought the team started slow, but special teams played a big role. “Obviously, our special teams played a really good game. They kind of got us kick-started,” Englehart said. “You can’t knock a 44-0 win. We’re going to let them enjoy it and get back to work on Monday.” It is still up for debate who will start as quarterback in next week’s away game against Division I opponent McNeese State University.
However, the uncertainty about his position as quarterback has little effect on Chmelik’s mindset. “I’m just going to put my head down and keep working,” Chmelik said. “Whatever the coaches want, I’m riding with.” The Panthers return to the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 9, in Lake Charles, La. to take on McNeese State University at 7 p.m. Live coverage of the game will be available at floridatechsports.com.
Trent Chmelik, 14, making a pass during the game on September 2.
Photo by Nathaniel Ashton
Daniel Welch's 81-yard run for a touchdown during the game.
Photo by Nathaniel Ashton
ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 6
SPORTS
8
Men's Soccer slide into decisive win in season opener //LEXI BETTERMANN STAFF WRITER Ranked No. 24 in the United Soccer national pre-season poll, the Florida Tech men's soccer team (1-0) kicked off their season with a waterlogged 4-2 win over visiting Francis Marion (1-1) on Saturday night. The game was finally started an hour late, due to a classic Florida thunderstorm. When it stopped raining, the remaining water created huge puddles across the field. With every kick or header fans could see water droplets flying off the ball. The game did not start in favor for the Panthers. The booing fans made it clear that the referees were missing some important calls. Francis Marion scored quickly, within the first minute of the of game. Both teams were playing very hard and aggressive and the Panther’s were able to answer back with a goal by Evan Enders to tie the game. Francis Marion struck again with an impressive header for their second goal of the game to end the first half with the Panthers trailing 1 – 2. Both teams came out aggressive in the second half, as more fans filtered into the stands. Yellow cards were handed out as the action on the field got more psychical between the two teams. The Panthers made their second comeback with a great play by Brandon
Brandon Smalley goal shot during Sept. 2 game. Smalley and Hugo Lopez. A beautifully set up pass and assist by Smalley resulted in a head first slide goal by Lopez to tie the game once again. The slippery field and yellow cards did nothing to prevent either team from letting up on their aggressive play. Late in the second half, Marion got too rough. The result was a penalty kick for Florida Tech's Per Henrik Nag. Marion’s slip up allowed Nag and the Panthers to take the lead for the first time all game, 3 – 2. The final goal was made by Smalley late in the game on a breakaway. The final score was Florida Tech 4 and Marion 2. Florida Tech head soccer coach, Robin Chan, said he was very happy with how his team performed in their first regional game.
Photo by Duncan Britton
Romeo Charron during Sept. 2 game. “The players did a good job getting themselves ready for the game after the long rain delay. I was really happy with the way we dealt with their [Marion] attacking threats. I thought we were really offensive and we were
good for the win tonight,” Chan said. Men’s soccer continues their season Monday, September 4 at 1 p.m. when Shorter University visits Rick Stottler Field.
Photo by Duncan Britton
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Internships affecting student involvement (Cont.) “It’s a similar work environment and routine,” Joey Robison, said, a senior aerospace engineering major, who was an aerospace systems engineer at Rocket Crafters in Titusville, FL. “I don’t think coming back will be much different. I’m the president of the ice hockey club, so I stay busy, but I don’t think it takes away from my student involvement.”
“I learned far more than what I expected,” Emerson Czerwinski said, a junior Human factors and safety major, who interned with UL Wickland, as a shadowing consultant over the summer and who also interns for Harris during the school year. He said his job was exceedingly immersive, covering mostly medical device consultation, that gave him the chance to
travel to places like Chicago and Detroit and interacting with patients and clients. “I think my major takeaway is that I like helping people. I want to have a tangible difference in society as a whole," Czerwinski said, who is also the president of the Human Factors Ergonomic Society. He wants to take that desire of making a difference and influence those within
his club to use it, not only within school and their majors, but also within their colleagues, generating a circulation of positive impacts. “Students definitely start seeing past school when they start their internships, but I think they bring that back to help others get ready for to get past school as well, which isn’t necessarily school events, but it is
student engagement,” Cosentino said, explaining internships help students find where they’d like to be within their fields and help them become empathetic to other areas of involvement, which includes their school community.
Where’s Waldo: Track Coach Edition //ASHLEY LETENDRE STAFF WRITER From attaining AllAcademic Honors to being recognized on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association, the Florida Tech Track & Field program has achieved many accolades. Last spring semester, the team and individuals won many awards. However, the one thing that is different this semester is the team is missing their coach. The head coach, Jason Munsch, left the program this semester, yet there is no news of a replacement at the moment. Former track athlete,
Coach Munsch with 2017 seniors after the PBC championship Andrew Link, sophomore, explained why Munsch decided to leave. “He wanted to be closer to family up north,” Link said. According to Link,
many track & field students are concerned about when the new coach will begin, as well as how the program will be without Munsch. Link left the track
Photo by Florida Tech Track & Field Instagram
the same concerns as Link, yet & field program before school started this semester. they haven’t been specifically addressed. He said, “Since I quit, the whole program seems unorganized.” Other athletes CONTINUED ON 11 within track & field share
Pilot by Day Model by Night (Cont.) The modeling industry is also notorious for the “model diet”- taking HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a drug used for weightless) and no more than 500 calories a day. “It’s hard and it’s not healthy,” Lessard said. “It’s even harder when you’re invited somewhere and can’t eat. You have to bring your packaged unseasoned chicken and broccoli with you places.” Lessard said that without the severe dieting restrictions, models have difficulty booking work. Companies looking to hire healthy models are few and far inbetween. Government bills have been brought up within
the past few years in some countries to make it illegal to use models below an unhealthy BMI (body mass index), but these are not enforced laws yet. Countries such as France, Spain, Israel, India, and the state of California, are making strides toward requiring models to have a medical certificate that confirms their well-being. “It is still a positive period of growth, however,” Lessard said. “I do not know who I would be if I hadn’t done it. It was life changing in good and bad ways and I would probably do it again.” After a total of seven years modeling , she is beginning to slow down and shift her focus to flying
and staying in school. Lessard currently models sporadically on the side, but is unsure if she will ever go full-time again. For those interested in modeling, she recommends doing as much research as possible about the industry before getting into it. “The biggest thing it has taught me is to stay humble,” Lessard said. “Before I knew it, people were coming up to me claiming to be things in person or on social media. There are sugar daddies, there are big egos, but you have to stay true to yourself and realize you are only human.”
Lessard models a gown in Jacksonville, FL.
Photograph taken by Nicholas Iles.
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22 Florida Tech Intramural Sports and Counting //AUDREY GANGLOFF COPY EDITOR Intramural sports at Florida Tech do not get a lot of hype, but they are a thriving part of panther student life. There are 22 different intramural sports on campus and all of them are free to play and participate in. Tom Richard, the interim director of intramurals, said that 22 is not a finite number for the sports that FIT offers. “We think that if there’s something out there that a group of students is interested in doing, it’s not that we don’t offer it, it’s let us know and we will find a way to offer it,” Richard said.
Richard said that intramural sports are a great way for students to relieve stress and stay active to maintain a healthy lifestyle while in school. “Students here have a very very tough curriculum and its just a way to get out and relax, get their mind off of it,” Richard said. “If a student says ‘I only have a certain amount of time for physical activity,’ you know they get a cardio workout in instead of maybe playing a game. I think it is a little bit more relaxing and to do and it’s something that gets people together.” Most of the students who participate in intramurals are from greek life and international segments of the student body.
“We want to do an entire student wide survey to capture the opinions of students who haven’t even looked into intramurals yet to get reasons maybe why they’re not participating and reasons why they would,” Richard said. “Then we're going to try and meet those.” To get involved in intramurals, a student has to visit imleagues.com and use the scroll bar to select "Florida Tech". You do not have to choose a specific sport or already be on a team. Registration will allow you to receive email and text updates about new postings and games being held. Intramural games at Florida Tech are all held within the campus community, so you will
always be playing other FIT students in your games. “Once an intramural sport becomes popular, the numbers of team grow, a group of people maybe want a more competitive outlet,” Richard said. This is the point when a group of players can go to the Student Activities Board and request to become a club. Club sports are able to travel and compete against other schools like the FIT Ice Hockey and Ultimate Frisbee teams. “I’m hoping the trend of intramurals isn’t one that is going away because we’re starting to get into a situation where people are entering college and playing in the street and playing non-organized sports isn’t as common as some of the
other generations.” Richard said that there has been a recent decrease in some of the traditional sports that have had great participation in the past, but that there has been a positive trend he enjoys seeing for newer sports that have been added. “I have heard a number of students who still talk about intramurals and still talk about some of the games they’ve had, and this is after they’ve graduated,” Richard said. “Obviously, if this is something they’re still talking about then it was a good memory of their time at school.”
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Where’s Waldo: Track Coach Edition (Cont.) As of the moment, the track program uses Melbourne High School’s track because they do not have an official one of their own. With the addition of beginning fall semester, athletes like Scott are concerned about the coach and future of the track & field team. During the spring, the program was incredibly successful at their meets and
competitions, giving hope for next semester. Such track & field athletes are frustrated that there is still no head coach at the moment and are curious as to when they will officially know when they have their new coach. Despite the lack of a coach for now, these student-athletes are currently training and working hard in the time being.
Ondrej Rapp NCAA DII National Championships
Photo by Florida Tech Track & Field Instagram
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Photo By: Florida Tech Athletics