Spring 2015, issue 5

Winner of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence award

Spring Issue 5

March 17, 2015

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The Florida Tech Crimson SAAC member volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Student athletes promote well-being through SAAC Ashley Montion Social Media Coordinator The Florida Tech Student Athlete Advisory Committee serves to endorse the overall welfare of student-athletes, promoting communication between athletes and administration and providing community engagement opportunities to uphold a positive representation of student-athletes on campus and in the community.

“Our mission is to make sure student athletes have a voice and are known on campus and in community for making a positive difference,” said Brooke Smith, president of SAAC. For Florida Tech’s 22 sports, there are representatives for each individual team. Each week, a meeting is held with team representatives where athletes may speak on behalf of their team for any requests or to relay messages to administration or different teams.

“This opportunity gives each team a voice,” said Smith.

“For example, student-athletes on teams with late practices requested for longer dining hall hours. The SAAC representatives for those teams served as their liaison and were able to get that message to administration in a positive manner.”

In an effort to standout in the community, the committee works with local and national nonprofit organizations.

The passing of Florida Tech football kicker No. 92 Alex Brack inspired what Smith calls a successful and philanthropic effort

by SAAC.

“We had bracelets made with the saying 92 strong as a remembrance for him and so the athletes and the community could get together in his memory,” said Smith. “We sell each one for one dollar and all the proceeds go to the memorial foundation family started in his honor.”

Other organizations SAAC is partnered with include, Daily Bread, Make-A-Wish and Habitat for Humanity.

With intent to raise money for Make-A-Wish, SAAC’s latest event was Pie-A-Coach, where students bought tickets at the minimum price of a dollar. The coach with most tickets received the most pies in the end, up to five in the face.

“We always get a ton of student support with Pie-A-Coach,” said SAAC football representative Darrien Walker. “Everyone always wants to see their coach get the most pies, it’s funny and I mean who wouldn’t?”

Overall, there are three parts that make up the philanthropic section of SAAC. Each section focuses specifically on donations, community events and fundraising, or student -athlete activities.

“As a part of the community events section, we set up dates we can volunteer with different organizations,” said SAAC softball representative Hailey Leonard.

The committee sets up events, such an annual studentathlete bonfire, to bring the student-athletes together and meet other athletes outside their sport said Smith.

“The bonfire is always a

chill event, it’s at the beach and it’s cool to talk to everyone and just relax after the season is over.” said SAAC softball representative Nicole Shinsky.

In order to maintain a standard, SAAC members follow a code to fully represent the organization. For some members, it goes beyond the standards of the committee.

“Growing up and playing sports has given so much to me and allowed me to be where I am, so what’s a better way than to give back to all types of people and children,” said Smith. “I love helping others, and this is the perfect way to get further involved in athletics and in the community.

It’s a huge blessing to be in this position.” v

Above: Athletic Trainer Christine Clancy getting a pie in the face at Pie-A-Coach to raise money for make a wish.

Photo Property of Brooke Smith

New 10-year accreditation plan to internationalize campus Rebekah Duntz Editor-in-Chief Every 10 years, the university has to reapply for accreditation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Florida Tech was just under review.

In addition to the review process, universities also need to submit a 10-year quality enhancement plan. The focus for the QEP this year is campus internationalization.

Being regionally accredited

by SACS is what allows Florida Tech students to receive funding, whether that funding is in federal grants or loans, and to be able to

transfer their credits in or out.

“If we’re not regionally accredited, you’re not going to get a student loan to come here,” said Monica Baloga, vice president for institutional effectiveness. “And if you don’t get a student loan to come here, or you don’t get grants, are you going to come here? Probably not.”

Last time the university was under review in 2005, the QEP focused on bringing more research to the university, thus creating the undergraduate research projects that result in senior design showcases and capstone projects.

This time, the university is implementing a new academic minor and optional non-credit certification program. The minor

will be in “global cultural awareness” and the certificate in “crosscultural competence.”

Baloga and her committee spent the last year on a self study for the university, touching on just about every aspect of the campus.

“For any number of years, we’ve been talking about the fact that even though we have this diverse campus, we’re still very segmented aren’t we?” Baloga said.

After researching aspects of the university from alumni donations, athletics, administrative structures and faculty to classrooms, laboratories and policies, Baloga said they decided there was an obvious need for internationalization.

“The more we can learn

about other cultures, traditions and dispositions, it makes us prepared to interact with those people in our daily lives,” Baloga said.

Baloga said that it won’t be so much about trying to bring international students to Florida Tech or sending students to different places, but more about bringing cultural awareness and interaction to the campus community.

Students will be able to count their extra-curricular international involvements, whether it’s in ISSO or any other organization, toward their certificate. The certification program will start freshman year for most students, but Baloga said they could work with students that want to earn one of these before graduating.

Carla Deras, president of Student Government Association, said this will help students to be more well-rounded.

“How we can create global citizens instead of American citizens?” Deras said. She said it’s important to be able to communicate with people with different language barriers.

The minor will be different for each student depending on the major, and Baloga said they’re going to try to make the crosscultural competence certificate go on student transcripts.

“I think it’s very useful,” Deras said. “It’s kind of great to have such an international school and to take advantage of it.” v

Occupying Mars: the world’s second space race, page 5

OPINIONS

2 - March 17, 2015

the Florida tech crimson

CAPS PSA: Filling in the Blanks Kendra Bartel CAPS Contributing Writer Marriage equality is gaining more media attention and more light is being shed on the transgender community.

You may find yourself won-

dering about your own sexual orientation and gender identity.

The question at hand is often: “Is gender truly dichotomous, and is sexuality really just the standard LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or does this mean Questioning?) category you have been told about?”

The answer is, no. This ar-

ticle, and the next CAPS student event, will reflect that sexual orientation and gender identity falls on a spectrum.

Make sure to check out CAPS’ event “Born this Way: Pansexual to Asexual and Everything in Between” on March 19 at 7 p.m. in Evans Hall, room 202.

Come learn more about

sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as other LGBTQIAAP issues, and how to decrease the stigma.

First, we will start with the basics: definitions of sexualities and gender identities.

Then you may wonder what you should call someone who identifies as male when they are

biologically a female.

Or someone who identifies themselves as gender-fluid? The best thing you can do is ask the person. Never assume! Below you will also find some information on how to use the proper pronouns if you are unsure.

Unlike the traditional pronouns, the numerous genderneutral pronouns can be used for anyone!

If you feel that you need someone to talk to about your sexuality or gender identity, or if you have been struggling to accept yourself or feel uncomfortable in your body, don’t be afraid to ask for help by contacting Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).

To make an appointment with a mental health counselor, call 321-674-8050 or walk into the center, which is located next to the Student Health Center, on the corner of Country Club Road and University Boulevard.

Feel free to also visit CAPS’ website at www.fit.edu/caps.

There, you will find anonymous screenings, brochures, and helpful links on a variety of college issues.

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!

we want you!

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

3 - March 17, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

The Florida tech crimson

Photo by Andrew Shipotofsky

Boy Scouts visit campus for Merit Badge Andrew Shipotofsky Staff Writer On March 2, Florida Tech hosted approximately 300 boy scouts for a Merit Badge University on campus, hosted by Alpha Phi Omega. Boy Scouts from across Florida flooded the campus, seeking to gain knowledge about

topics they were interested in earning what are called Merit Badges.

In scouting, Merit Badges allow scouts to learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. There are more than 130 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn a merit badge at any time. You don’t need to have had rank advancement to be eligible. In order to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting,

a scout must earn 21 Merit Badges.

While attending the university, scouts had the opportunity to earn Merit Badges in: weather, automotive maintenance, electronics, personal management, plant science, chemistry, oceanography, aviation, computers, citizenship in the nation, environmental sciences, radio, citizenship in the community, geocaching, medicine, citizenship in the world, plant sci-

ence and chess.

Parents commented on NightLinx.com about their child’s experience.

“Thank you to all the instructors and staff at Merit Badge University,” Susan Grigsby said.

“Everyone was awesome.”

Jim Stokes said, “[It was] an incredibly awesome day! Thank you to all the members of Alpha Phi Omega from Florida Tech and

Embry-Riddle, who drove quite a way to teach our Scouts. I know our boys appreciate it.”

Scouts and instructors alike seemed to enjoy their experiences at the university and some said they looked forward to doing this again next year. v

Campus life

4 -March 17, 2015

Florida Tech’s 10th annual Botanical Fest a success

Photos by Lindsay Isaac

Lindsay Isaac Staff Writer Food? Guided tours? Master gardeners?

On March 7, Florida Tech ushered in its 10th Annual Botanical Fest.

The event, which took place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Crawford Green, showcased some of Florida’s finest plant and garden vendors.

Sue Clark, a Florida Tech employee, marveled at the quality and variety of products offered in prior years.

“There’s everything from Bromeliads to banana plants, from orchids to fruit trees,” said Clark. “I once bought a bamboo fountain that lasted me eight years!”

“I was here since the first, which

was held in the academic quad. It was a hit then, and it has just grown so much,” she said.

Grown it has. The Botanical Fest will be celebrated its 10th anniversary in notable form.

According to an article released

by Florida Tech’s Newsroom, “To commemorate this special 10th anniversary festival, the Botanical Garden Committee has organized a series of free Floridafriendly landscaping seminars from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gleason Performing Arts Center on the Florida Tech campus.”

Funds generated support Florida Tech’s Botanical Garden.

The 15-acre oasis, in the words of the university, “winds through the heart of the campus.” The garden is universitymaintained, but welcomes public use.

A turtle peeks up from underneath the water.

Want to see More?

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SCI/TECH

OCCUPYING MARS The world’s second race to space

5 - MArch 17, 2015

The Florida tech crimson

Niket Ghelani Staff Writer

The world is racing to reach Mars. There are many players and each one is trying to reach Mars before the other.

The biggest of the players are Mars One, SpaceX, and NASA. Mars One has planned to send humans to Mars on a one-way journey by 2025. However, SpaceX and NASA have yet to give any timelines, tentative or otherwise.

Though many people feel that a one-way trip to Mars is nothing short of suicide mission, some believe it’s a way to leave behind a legacy.

To be remembered as the first human to set foot on Mars is surely a way of tipping your hat.

As the famous saying by Neil Armstrong goes, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Even though private players like Mars One seem to be way ahead of the curve, Nasa’s chief scientist, Ellen Stofan, Ph.D., explained Nasa’s position simply: “We want to make sure we get living astronauts to the surface of Mars. For us, that is a non-negotiable position. There is a lot of work to do, that’s why we need all of the space agencies around the world working together.”

She continued: “A lot of work needs to be done before we can ethically ask someone to go and do this. Our primary concern is getting our people there safely and giving them the option of coming home.”

Undeterred by the challenges and possibility of never coming back home to Earth, over 200,000 people signed up for the Mars One astronaut selection program. Mars One has confirmed that after three rounds, there are currently 100 probables left in the pool.

In contrast with Mars One and NASA, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX, plans to send around 80,000 people or explorers to set up a colony on Mars at a price tag of $500,000 a trip. However, the first trip of pioneers, as he put it, would be a group of less than 10 people.

They’d carry large amounts of equipment with them, including machines to produce fertilizer, methane and oxygen from Mars’ atmospheric nitrogen and carbon dioxide and the planet’s subsurface water ice.

The Red Planet pioneers would also take construction materials to build transparent domes, which when pressurized with Mars’ atmospheric CO2, could grow Earth crops in Martian soil. As the Mars colony became more self-sufficient, the big rocket would start to transport more people and fewer supplies and equipment.

Nevertheless, a few people believe that this is just a fairy-tale. Chris Hadfield, former commander of the ISS, said, “There’s a great, I don’t know, self-defeating optimism in the way that this project has been set up. I fear that it’s going to be a little disillusioning for people, because it’s presented as if for sure it’s going to happen.

The Daily Mail website has listed the dangers that early-settlers on Mars will face. Here is a look at them:

An artist’s impression of an astronaut on Martian soil.

Image courtesy: Space.com

RADIATION:

Nathan Schwadron, Ph.D., of the University of New Hampshire, warned that sending people to Mars may be difficult due to an increased risk of radiation, which would boost the chance of diseases such as cancer.

The study found that a 30-year-old astronaut can spend one year in space before cosmic rays raise the radiation-risk beyond safe exposure limits.

AGED IMMUNE SYSTEM:

French scientists believe that space flight may cause accelerated aging of the immune system. So colonists may be more at risk from illness once they arrive on Mars.

DAMAGED BONE DENSITY:

The mission would also need to find ways to counteract muscle and bone density loss, which is associated with lower gravity and space travel. In the long term it is essential that colonists will be strong enough to move around and cultivate crops, for example.

SUFFOCATION:

A bleak study by MIT said: ‘The first crew fatality would occur approximately 68 days into the mission.’

Low air pressure, habitats at risk of explosion and a lack of spare parts for essential ventilation machinery could ultimately spell disaster.

STARVATION:

MIT experts also say that if the Mars One plans were followed, colonists could starve to death. A separate structure would be needed to grow food and store excess oxygen. However, if any breakdown occurred in the mechanics of the structure, the astronauts would be doomed.

RISK OF EXPLOSIONS:

Growing crops on Mars could create large amounts of oxygen and flammable environments if it was not vented.

With the advent of technology, losing hope is the last thing that one can do. It may be sooner rather than later that we may be able to buy a ticket to Mars the same way we buy tickets for Europe or any exotic destinations around the world. v

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6 - March 17, 2015

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FCC votes to approve net neutrality

Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer

Photo Credit: FCC.gov Press Release

On Feb. 26, the FCC held a proceeding to vote on the rules to protect the open Internet, also known as net neutrality.

The result was the FCC choosing in a 3 – 2 vote to adopt the net neutrality rules reclassifying broadband service under Title II of the telecommunications act.

What this means is that under Title II, broadband will be treated as a public utility and Broadband providers will not be able to favor specific groups or individuals. Like Sopa/Pipa, the issue of net neutrality has led to a significant amount of public feedback. According to Jessica Rosenworcel’s statement, the FCC heard

from 4 million Americans via phones, email and online comments.

According to the FCC, the new rules will ban broadband providers from engaging in several practices that could endanger the open Internet. Broadband providers are now prevented from blocking access to legal content, applications, services or non-harmful devices.

Throttling is not allowed, so providers can’t choose to deliberately slow speeds to specific users. Broadband providers are also prevented from Paid Prioritization, which means they can’t favor traffic to specific locations and can’t prioritize content of affiliates.

The FCC’s vote for approval was split along party line between Democrats, including Chairman Tom Wheeler, Mignon Clyburn, and Jessica Rosenworcel against Republicans Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly.

In his statement, Wheeler noted the popular support of net neutrality, stating the public engaged in the decision like never before. He also explained that net neutrality is important because economic opportunity can often cause networks to prioritize their interests over the interests of consumers, despite internet access now being integral to most modern lives.

Commissioner Clyburn cited the Bill of Rights and founding fathers believing that net neutrality embodied the principles that the United States was founded on. He also explained that without net neutrality, there have been cases of service providers blocking ac-

cess to certain applications on mobile devices.

Rosenworcel expressed the importance of the Internet to homes and businesses as a means of creativity and innovation. He explained that this ruling would simply put back in place the Internet policies that had been in place before last year.

Opposing commissioner Pai argued that net neutrality was removing freedom from the Internet by putting it under government control. Pai said the FCC “has let the Internet grow free from utility-style regulation” and felt that they had turned their backs on freedom due to President Obama’s request for support.

Pai stated that consumers should expect higher service bills and that broadband will be slower because fewer companies will be willing to invest in it.

Pai also indicated there would likely be a new tax on broadband service and that states had already begun discussing how to spend the extra money. Commissioner O’Rielly stated that the commission was attempting to use Title II as a means of usurping the power of congress and furthering their political ends.

O’Rielly said that there would still be many unannounced restrictions placed on service providers as a result of this decision.

According to the New York Times, it’s expected that telecommunications companies will still challenge many aspects of the FCC’s decision in court. v

Geospace Physics Lab captures rare lightning footage Rebekah Duntz Editor-in-Chief Members of the Geospace Physics Lab have captured rare footage of lightning and are now, as a result, published in the journal Nature Communications.

“We have a high-speed camera for capturing high-latitude lightning-related phenomena,” said Shahab Arabshahi, a graduate student working in the Geospace Physics Lab. The researchers in the GPL use this camera to record hundreds of hours of footage in hopes they’ll capture different phenomena, kind of like lightning backfiring, called sprites, jets, sprites or gigantic jets.

“So there’s lightning, and you can see the lightning,” said Samaneh Sadighi, another graduate student that works in the GPL. “But above the cloud, there are other discharges.”

These discharges are upward-moving bursts of light and energy, and they change the composition of the atmosphere, which can have many effects on space weather, global weather and satellite communication, according to Sadighi.

Nick Spiva, a senior in physics that was killed in a motorcycle crash last November, played a huge role in helping the Geospace Physics Lab capture this video. His job as a research assistant was to operate this camera.

“He was very patient. It required a lot of patience,’ Arabshahi said. “And actually, lots of science.

Because there are many things that are going on that have nothing to do with the lightning.”

These things can be meteor showers, planes, or even birds, and they can make it tricky to know what to look for, according to Arabshahi. Researchers operating the camera have to make sure it’s pointed in the right direction, and

must know what the phenomena look like in order to spot it on video.

“He was here most of the nights over summer,” Arabshahi said. Florida is one of the top areas for lightning research and observation, and summer nights make for great chances of lightning phenomenon.

And for this particular paper, Spiva and the team focused on one particular phenomenon: gigantic jets, which range from an altitude of 70 to 90 km, according to a Florida Tech press release.

“They’re very rare,” said Burcu Kosar, a graduate student in the Geospace Physics Lab. “And they caught seven of them in one night over one storm, which is very rare.”

By observing these lightning-related phenomena, scientists can try to understand how these effects change our environment.

“The lightning are the batteries of the earth. They charge from the ground all the way to the atmosphere, and we do not know how they do that,” said Arabshahi.

“So, basically, we get to know the global circuit — how the earth is charging up, how these storms are forming and their effects.”

Dean of the College of Science Hamid Rassoul, said in a press release, “This latest observation represents yet another exciting discovery that will help us better understand the properties of lightning in all of its diverse forms.”

Because of this discovery, researchers can now ask what properties the storm had to provoke this cluster of rare lightning phenomena.

Spiva is listed as the second author of the paper, titled “Upward electrical discharges observed above Tropical Depression Dorian,” which can be read on Nature.com. v

Photos courtesy of Samsung Press Release

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Samsung Galaxy s6

Samsung announces Galaxy S6 smartphone Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer Anticipation has been rising for Samsung’s recently announced smartphones: the Galaxy S6 and twin Galaxy S6 edge, which are set for release on April 10.

The Galaxy S6 was voted “Best New Handset, Tablet or Device” by The Mobile World Congress 2015’s Groupe Speciale Mobile Association.

According to Samsung’s press release, there will be two types of S6 available: the standard Galaxy S6 with a normal screen and the Galaxy S6 “edge,” which will feature a screen that is curved along the edge, meaning if you look at the phone from its side you could still see a portion of the screen.

A similar curved screen was already used in Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge, but on only one side.

According to Cnet, the screen of Galaxy S6 Edge doesn’t have as much functionality as the Note Edge and is mostly just there for looks.

The Galaxy S6, according

to Samsung, will have support for wireless charging using either WPC or PMA standards, which are two of the biggest standards for wireless charging. As a result, there should be a wide variety of charging pads already available.

In addition, the Galaxy S6 has support for quick charging via cable, which according to Samsung, should provide 4 hours of usage after 10 minutes of charging.

The Galaxy S6 will run the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system, and according to Cnet, will not have as many preloaded apps in hopes of making things simpler for users. The casing of the S6 is pretty solid, being made of metal and Gorilla Glass 4 rather than plastic like previous Samsung Galaxy phones. The application processor will be a Quad 2.1 GHZ + Quad 1.5 GHZ Octacore processor, while there will be 3GB LPDDR4 RAM. Storage space ranges from 32 to 64 to 128 Gigabytes, depending on the model you buy.

According to Cnet, the Galaxy S6 will make use of an embedded battery to help keep it slim.

While the embedded battery may have a longer lifespan for its size, this also means it’s nearly impos-

crimson.fit.edu

sible to replace, should it ever go bad. Other downsides include that the Galaxy S6 won’t have a microSD card slot, or the waterproofing of the S5.

In another press release on March 1, Samsung announced a new mobile payment service to rival Apple Pay called “Samsung Pay” to go along with their new phone. Samsung claims that their payment service will be available “at more merchant locations than competing offerings.”

Like Apple Pay, users will confirm payment through fingerprint recognition, which has been made more accurate on the Galaxy S6. Samsung Pay will be launched along with the release of the Galaxy S6.

Samsung has not yet announced the cost of either mode, though according to Business Insider, in a Galaxy S6 Giveaway, T-Mobile listed the phone’s value as $699. The success of the Galaxy S6 is likely to be a major factor in determining the future of Samsung, which has recently been losing out to Apple due to the iPhone’s popularity. v

SCI/TECH

7 - MARCH 17, 2015

The Florida tech crimson

Photo Credit: IGN.com

Game Review: Life is Strange Fumiko Shinkawa Staff Writer It’s a story of the typical high school experience: bullying, homicidal kingpins, pregnancy scares, time travel and the end of the world. Life is Strange is a new episodic title developed by Dontnod, creators of the particularly unmemorable Remember Me, and published by Square Enix. It seems particularly inspired by storydriven games like those published

by Quantic Dreams and Telltale Games.

In Life is Strange, you are Maxine Caulfield, a new photography student at Blackwell Academy. Plagued by the typical annoyances of a new school and adjusting to the program and caliber of the school, you witness a shooting and discover, just in time to save the victim’s life, that you can turn back time.

The first episode provides around two hours of gameplay,

but because of the various choices that can be made, it allows for some degree of replayability.

Even encouraging players by showing what choices the player missed and telling which choices were the most popular among other players.

Though not as highly stylized as Telltale Game’s various series, Life is Strange features a very specific art style that, while not so detailed, conveys emotions and attitudes very well. In addition to the characters, a lot of love appears to have gone into the environments — perusing your fellow classmate’s dorm rooms reveals a lot about them.

And throughout the game pervades an excellent sense of cinematography, wherein each scene seems to have been framed with artistry and style in mind.

The mood of the game is well-captured, with a soundtrack featuring artists that exemplify the “hipster” vibe that the game is supposed to convey. This can be both the strongest and weakest

aspect of the game.

The entirety of the experience feels very much like a high school drama, especially at the beginning of the episode, but the game seems a little too liberal with the colloquialisms, to the extent of being cheesy. I struggled not to retch when words like “rawk” and terms like “kool kidz” found their way into the subtitles.

And I’d be more sympathetic to the main character if her bullies weren’t so spot-on. Armed with her Polaroid camera, patched messenger bag and perpetually exasperated eyerolls, Max does seem to be something of a pretentious hipster.

The character feels pushed into some artsy-outsider stereotype that someone thought would be sympathetic and relatable, but it seems like that mark was missed.

While she comes short of actually annoying me, I look at almost all of the other characters and wish I were playing them, instead.

Gameplay seems mostly focused on exploration of environments and manipulating objects

and their positions via time travel in order to solve puzzles. Players will often watch a situation play out and are tasked with changing the outcome more to their liking.

The player also has the option to recant their decisions or redo dialogue sequences using the same time travel device, which can be used at whim — rather than the player having to wait until they are prompted.

One complaint that I do have with this system is in its inconsistency. According to the game’s tutorial, rewinding time does not affect the main character — picking up an object and reversing time should not replace that object in its original position and it should remain in Max’s inventory.

However, when given the choice to interrupt a conflict between two characters or to document it by taking a picture, I seemed to be able to do only one.

When I took the picture, reversed time and then made the decision to step in, I no longer had the image.

This may seem like a minor

complaint, but could have a drastic effect on the future events on the game, when it seems that it should not. And there are, so far, a lot of instances that this logic is not applied, or applied only because it is necessary for the plot to make sense, or continue as the game is intended.

This is a lovely game built on a premise that provides for unique and genuinely interesting gameplay. While some of the missteps are difficult to forgive, I am very interested to see how the story unfolds and how the characters will develop.

But the final question is: is it worth your time? For five dollars, you can experience the first episode (or for 20, you can purchase a season pass and receive the other four episodes as they are released.)

And while I did enjoy this game, the best recommendation I can make is to wait and see if, in an episode or two, Life is Strange has made any strides. v

Gadget Corner Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer

The first gadget I have for you is definitely not for the faint of heart, as you will experience ridicule beyond anything you have probably ever experienced in your life, and then some to top that off too. Now that I’ve warned you, this gadget may or may not, improve your eyesight in the rain, as the gadget is literally a pair of small windshield wipers attached to a pair of goggle-like glasses.

The glasses simply go by the name of iWipers, which right away could lead to someone assuming this gadget is yet another device to add to the arsenal of gadgets for the iPhone, but eventually you’ll get the idea that it’s just a play on words. However, if you did think they were part of the iPhone accessory cesspit; don’t feel bad, for there are plenty of worse devices that are meant for an iPhone.

In the product summary, the retailer claims that the iWipers is for the person doesn’t want to be like everyone else. Whoever wrote the product summary even went so far as to say “think of the looks of admiration you’ll get as you walk down the street with these guys.”

If you’re one of those people that just like being eccentric or giving really bad gifts, then these glasses won’t set you too far back, as they are only $9.95 on BaronBob.com, which so creepily has the slogan “THE FUNNY GIFT CRUSADER.”

The next item on the list is more for people who like being trolls, especially for parents who like to troll their innocent children; you might want some help if you like doing that. This gadget is a pizza cutter with a silicone monkey on top wearing a fez hat; a gadget guaranteed to haunt the dreams of children.

Called the Pizza Peddler, it was designed to simulate a monkey riding a unicycle, as the blade rotates, the monkey’s legs move up and down. It might sound cute at first, but when you actually see the picture and notice the monkey looks like a red elongated beast with soulless eyes and arms flailing in the air, you might think otherwise.

For those of you into this kind of stuff, you’ll be glad to know that the monkey is washable and the pizza cutting wheel is made of stainless steel. The total height is about 9 inches tall, and will cost you a whole $17.95. This is also sold at BaronBod.com, so be weary of his crusade if you buy one. v

Images courtesy of BaronBob.com

SPORTS the Florida tech crimson

MARCH 17, 2015

Men’s LacrosseWins SSC Opener Over Lions 13-11

Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography

Press Release Florida Tech Athletics MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men’s Lacrosse) – Florida Tech (6-1) took down Saint Leo (4-3) to win its Sunshine State Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Saint Leo’s University Turf Stadium. The Panthers came away with the 13-11 victory over the Lions to win their fourth game in a row.

“We’ve had a lot of big wins this year and this win goes right there with them,” said head coach Ryan McAleavey. “We put together a complete game in this one. The guys are buying in and playing well together, it’s really exciting right now. Getting the first win in the conference schedule against Saint Leo, one of the best teams in the conference, at its own place is huge for this team.”

Senior Andrew Conley

paced the Panthers with three goals and three assists.

“Andrew took charge today,” stated McAleavey. “He came out and wanted this game really bad.

Finishing with three goals and three assists, he really played well. He played within himself and definitely had a big game today.”

Senior Zach Wynne and sophomore Daniel Errett registered three goals and one assist apiece.

Junior Nick Wynne and senior Brian Bacarella each scored two goals for the Panthers.

Conley put Florida Tech on the board first less than two minutes into the game, but Saint Leo’s Sean Connolly drew the game even just 17 seconds later. Conley and Bacarella pushed the Panthers back ahead 3-1 with two straight man-up goals. Dylan Yonts scored for the Lions to make it a one goal game.

FIT added two more goals to take a 5-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

Nick Wynne and Bacarella each scored to start the second quarter. The Lions added two consecutive goals by Matt Weller and Yonts to make it 7-4. Errett fired a shot past Saint Leo goalie Dave Moore to increase FIT’s lead to 8-4 going into halftime.

Errett and Nick Wynne registered the first goals of the second half for the Panthers to push the lead to 10-4.

The Lions drew closer with a goal by Freddie Williams to make it 11-9 but Zach Wynne fired in another goal to push the lead back to three. Josh Kaufling answered 50 seconds later to bring Saint Leo back to within two goals but Zach Wynne scored again to make it 13-10 with 3:29 remaining. Jake Gilmour brought the Lions back to within two with 10 seconds left on the clock, but it was too late as the Panthers came away with their sixth win of the season.

Senior Eric Biller recorded 13 saves in the win over Saint Leo and is now 6-0 on the season.

“Biller’s performance the last couple games has been monumental for us,” stated McAleavey.

“He’s been the difference for us this season. He’s clutch, turning great shots away all game long.

We would not be where we are without him.”

Florida Tech returns home for a matchup with Saint Michael’s at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium.

Live video, audio and stats will be available at FloridaTechSports. com/live. V

Streaming online at www.wfit.org MK-862-1114

Raz and Barnea Break 100-Yard FIT Records at NCAA Championship

Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography

Press Release Florida Tech Athletics INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. (Men’s & Women’s Swimming) – Florida Tech sophomores Dar Raz and Nir Barnea each topped their own school record times in the 100-yard freestyle preliminaries Saturday at the NCAA Championship at the IU Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Raz took 41st in her preliminary race, dashing to a 52.45, one and a half tenths of a second faster than her previous school record in the event.

Barnea grabbed 25th with his 45.02, more than a second quicker than the FIT record that he previously held in the 100-yard race.

With the championship coming to a close, Raz and Barnea wrapped up the Panthers’ 2014-15 season, a campaign that saw the pair become the school’s first-ever NCAA Championship qualifiers.