Winner of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence award
Spring Issue 6
March , 2015
SGA 2015 ELECTIONS
SGA debate candidates focus on student apathy, image Rebekah Duntz Editor-in-Chief
Current senator Rekisha Pootoon said that even if she isn’t elected Vice President, she’ll still run for senator and contribute ideas to the Student Government Association. “It’s not about who wins,” Pootoon said. “It’s about taking care of the students.” The 2015 Student Government Election Debates turned into a discussion about key issues
they thought the student body was facing, rather than a debate. Candidates stood before over 100 people during the SGA debates on March 25 and spoke about why they deserved to be elected into student government. The topics discussed were about campus sustainability, organization, trolley route improvements and student apathy among the campus. “I want to make sure students feel empowered and enjoy their experiences here at Florida
Tech,” said Justin Blackman, a presidential candidate and graduate student in operations research. The debates lasted an hour during the general meeting time in Skurla Hall, room 110. One student from each organization is required to attend in order to be recognized as an organization and receive funding. Candidates were running for senator, treasurer, vice president and president positions. Over 30 students applied for senator posi-
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The Florida Tech Crimson tions, five for treasurer, nine for vice president and four for president positions. Of the four presidential candidates, three were present: junior in software engineering Ikechukwu Asomugha, junior in biomedical engineering Jessica Cushman, and Blackman. Blackman suggested that having more speakers, events and talks at Florida Tech will get students more excited about campus life, and prepared to enter the “work world.” Cushman said she would like to build on the work she and her senate have already started, such as the upcoming trolley GPS app, international events and service organizations. “I’ve been taking 18 credits a semester so that I’ll only have to take 12 credits my senior year. And I will! I’m almost there,” Cushman said among cheers. “That way, I’ll be able to dedicate time to SGA.” Of the nine candidates running for Vice President, three were present for the debate: junior environmental science major Shelby Stansell, junior forensic psychology major Clara Loose, and and Pootoon, who’s a junior in chemical engineering. One of Stansell’s main goals is “being more of a campus com-
munity, not just a campus,” she said. All the vice presidential candidates agreed that campus unity and involvement should be a priority for Student Government in the upcoming year. In terms of possible parking solutions, Stansell suggested there was plenty of parking near Roberts Hall, while Loose encouraged carpooling among students and adding additional parking sports. Pootoon suggested a more centralized location for parking. Of the five students that applied to be Treasurer, one student was present at the SGA debates: Jonathan Cirillo. Cirillo, a current senator and a sophomore in pre-medical biology, currently holds a position on the Student Activities Funding Committee and helps report funding results during the general meetings. “Behind each funding request is an organization, not just paperwork,” Cirillo said. His mission, if elected Treasurer, is to improve communication between SAFC and organizations requesting funding. Cirillo said there should be a clear and mutual understanding should a funding request be denied. Voting opens on March 30 and closes April 3 at 5 p.m. v
Local businessman claims President Catanese interested in Harbour City ballpark proposal Tyler Richardson Business Manager “I had a telephone conference call this afternoon, 2 o’clock, with the president of F.I.T,” said Mark LaRusso to the Melbourne City Council. “And his comments to me were, ‘Mark please tell the council when you go there this evening that I would be very interested in a dual-purpose stadium that would include both football and baseball.’” On March 24, LaRusso
stood in front of the Melbourne City Council and proposed that discussions begin about the feasibility of constructing a minor league baseball stadium in downtown Melbourne between New Haven Avenue and Promenade Park. The proposal is in its infancy, but if the project gets approval, the 4,000 seat “Harbor City Ballpark” would become the new home of the Brevard County Manatees. It would also be a catalyst for significant economic gains to the surrounding area, LaRusso said. “ We ’ r e t a l k i n g a b o u t $6,000,000 annual economic im-
pact based on similar projects,” he said. “That’s a conservative number.” The stadium would also draw approximately 150,000 people annually over a five to six month period according to LaRusso. The 7-member council was in favor of opening up a dialog to discuss the feasibility of the project. A motion to work with LaRusso and the other entities and then return to the council for a public hearing was passed 6 to 1. “It sounds excellent,” said Councilman Dan Porsi. “I can’t see a better way, other than what you’re doing, for those of us that
would love something else to do downtown other than go to bars.” Mayor Cathy Meehan, although impressed with the presentation, doesn’t feel as if the project is right for historic downtown Melbourne. She has concerns about the project not being in the city’s comprehensive plan and expressed a desire to see a hotel with mixed-use in the proposed location. Meehan also said that local businesses aren’t currently in favor of the proposal. Two businesses in particular, The Nomad Cafe and the Bloom House, would need to be
Election Guide inside
purchased and relocated in order to begin construction, according to LaRusso. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for downtown, even before I found out it would require the destruction of my business,” said Megan Gonzalez, owner-operator of The Nomad Café. “The demographic that it will draw to the area I don’t think matches at all what the progressive plan has been for downtown.
See “Ballpark,” page 4
OPINIONS Grow Home
2 - March 31, 2015
Game
the Florida tech crimson
Review Fumiko Shinkawa Staff Writer Grow Home is an adorable exploration/adventure game wherein you are B.U.D. (Botanical Utility Droid), sent to explore an alien planet crawling with unusual plant life and somewhat mundane-looking fauna that seem surprisingly disinterested in your presence. Grow Home is a surprising little game to have come from Ubisoft Reflections, developer of such huge titles as Watch Dogs and Just Dance. Having begun as an experiment in procedural animation (animation that occurs in real-time,) this title seems more at home beside independent releases like I am Bread and Octodad. Most of the gameplay is spent climbing, with the grip of each hand initiated with the pressing (and holding) of the bumpers and the overall direction of movement controlled by the left control stick. Progression is gained by growing (and riding) offshoots of the star plant toward floating islands, allowing the plant to grow upward to reach new ground. Crystals, sprinkled throughout all of the environments, can be pulled from their settings and used to upgrade B.U.D. and, presumably, his abilities. Additionally, you can scan objects found in the
Photo Credit: Ubisoft Entertainment environment (so far, I haven’t managed to drag any animals into the scanner) to unlock them in the database, though this doesn’t seem to have any obvious benefit. This little game is full of character. Despite his minimal introduction, clumsy movements and indiscernible speech are surprisingly endearing. Guided by what seems to be another robot named M.O.M., B.U.D. seems childlike and dwarfed by his alien surroundings. While there is little story to delve into, B.U.D.’s mission does not seem without purpose and every step forward feels rewarding. That’s why it’s so unfortunate when the game missteps,
mostly in terms of gameplay. While climbing feels fluid and natural, when moving along the offshoots of the plant the camera sometimes shakes frantically, changing the direction of B.U.D.’s climbing – sometimes disastrously. Additionally, the little bit of inertia that gives our protagonist his adorable, clumsy gait also had me constantly toppling off of the edges of floating islands, sometimes forcing me to climb areas three or four times just to reach the machines that serve as checkpoints. When you finally did succeed in reaching the buds, directing them is irritatingly difficult – the system’s only saving
CAPS PSA: Funny Green Leaves? Kendra Bartel CAPS Contributing Writer “Funny green leaves,” often known as pot, weed, grass, marijuana, ganja or even “skunk,” has become more consistently used in the teenage and young adult populations since 2007. You’ve probably read news stories about its legalization in some states or medical uses, and you may have even heard that its safe — but how much do you know about this drug? It turns out you need to know more stuff before you puff. Make sure to check out CAPS’ event “Up In Smoke” on April 9 at 7 p.m. in Evans Hall, room 202 to learn about the effects of various drugs and how to get help for you or a friend! There will also be awesome prizes! According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) on drug abuse, it is the most common illicit drug that is used in the United States, despite its high potential for abuse and lack of safety. In Florida, possession is illegal and less than 20 grams can lead to a year of jail time. So is marijuana addictive? The answer could be yes for a marginal number of people. Researchers suggest that 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana. This percentage is higher in those who started using marijuana at a young age and/or in those who use daily. When a substance is used frequently, the body will get used to those chemicals, and when they are no longer present, the body craves them. Long-term marijuana users experience symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, decreased appetite and drug cravings. Can marijuana affect my physical health? When a person smokes marijuana, it irritates the lungs. Marijuana smokers are likely to have many of the same
problems as those who smoke cigarettes. This includes daily coughing, excess phlegm production, acute chest illness and a heightened risk of lung infections. What about mental health? Marijuana can produce psychotic reactions in some users that are similar to severe mental illnesses. This means individuals may see, feel or hear things that don’t exist and can become extremely paranoid, which can make the person become dangerous to themselves and those around them. One of the most common side effects is difficulty concentrating, even when no longer high, which can significantly impact your academic performance. THC potency has gone up in marijuana in the last 30 years, from 4 percent THC to 15 percent, which may increase the likelihood of an unpredictable reaction. This has led to a rise in emergency visits due to marijuana and a greater risk for addiction. Furthermore, since marijuana isn’t regulated, people have no way of knowing what other drugs or dangerous chemicals are laced with the marijuana. Most often, this includes cocaine, crack, PCP, or even embalming fluid. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug use, don’t be afraid to ask for help by contacting Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). To make an appointment, 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. Visit CAPS’ website at www. fit.edu/caps where you will find anonymous screenings, brochures and helpful links on a variety of college issues. CAPS is just one of the many resources at Florida Tech that supports maintaining a happy and healthy you! v
grace the fact that, even if you completely miss the target, more buds sprout along the plant’s new growth. While finding crystals and pulling them out of the ground feels really satisfying, upgrades don’t seem immediately evident. If they do anything at all, it’s difficult to tell and there’s no way to review them from the pause menu, making any efforts to go out of your way for crystals feel fruitless and unrewarding. What makes the unforgiving nature of the game worthwhile is its exploration. The world feels vast, islands everywhere making you feel as though there’s always
something left unexplored, even when you’re moving on. The presence of the teleportation devices seems to encourage revisiting areas to continue the search, and the varying scenes – complete with caves and waterfalls – egging you on to continue, tempting you with the curiosity of what might be just over the next branch. While Grow Home has its hiccups and its minor missteps, it’s an interesting experiment by an unexpected publisher. It’s a fun experience that, for the most part, feels good and is endearing to boot. For its price, even so soon after release, this is a game that is well worth your time. v
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ELECTION GUIDE
The Florida tech crimson
presidential candidates Justin Blackman
Jessica Cushman
Candidate for President / Senator Graduate, Operations Research
Candidate for President Junior, Biomedical Engineering
I believe I am a great candidate because I am am an experienced leader, and I enjoy working with others to enhance our Florida Tech Community. I am highly motivated, and I want to ensure that every student who attends Florida Tech has not only a great experience but he/she is well equipped to face life challenges!
Over the past two years, I have served the student body as Vice President of Student Government. With my leadership, Student Government has grown tremendously to become a recognized part of campus.
Razaz Banoun
Ike Asomugha
Candidate for President / Senator Graduate, Operations Research Simply, I’m a positive and thoughtful person. My life’s statement mission is; spread love, conscious, peace, and gratitude everyday and everywhere by anything. Yet, I believe that to be appreciated for everything that has made you better academically and personally, you have to be grateful for the opportunities and give back by helping others. This is why I don’t hesitate to join any work on campus when I’m available. However, sometimes we do things even when nobody will see us because we want and love to do it. This idea is what I have applied at the FIT compass in order to be appreciated and grateful for this great environment.
Candidate for President Junior, Software Engineering I believe I can analyze difficult situations and make the right decisions. This is one of the things necessary for being in this position. If I’m elected, I believe I’m in a good position, as a Computer Science major, to make the right arguments to the administration about technical issues, like the Wi-Fi, a trolley GPS system, as well as come up with out-of-the-box technical solutions to existing problems on campus, e.g parking. I’ll also strive to improve on the transparency of the SGA, by making students more involved than they already are.
4 -March 31, 2015
ELECTION GUIDE
The Florida tech crimson
Vice presidential candidates Razaz Banoun
Candidate for President / Senator Graduate, Global Strategic Communication
Rekisha Pootoon
Candidate for Vice President / Senator Junior, Chemical Engineering
Said Saud Von Lippke Candidate for Vice President Freshman, Civil Engineering
Jared Dela Cruz
Candidate for VP / Treasurer / Senator Senior, Computer Engineering
Shelby Stansell
Candidate for Vice President / Senator Junior, Environmental Science
Vihang Shah Candidate for VP / Treasurer / Senator Freshman, Electrical Engineering
Want to see More? Check us out on: twitter.com/ ftcrimson Facebook.com/ ftcrimson crimson.fit.edu
Clara Loose
Candidate for Vice President Junior, Forensic Pyschology
Akhil Talla
Candidate for VP / Treasurer / Senator Graduate, Electrical Engineering
Hetalba Rathod Candidate for VP / Senator Graduate, Information Security & Assurance(Computer Science)
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ELECTION GUIDE
The Florida tech crimson
Treasurer candidates Jonathan Cirillo
Himanshu Modi
Candidate for Treasurer / Senator Sophomore, Pre-medical Biology
Candidate for Treasurer / Senator Freshman, Mechanical
Akhil Talla
Jared Dela Cruz
Candidate for Vice President / Treasurer / Senator Senior, Computer Engineering
Candidate for VP / Treasurer / Senator Graduate, Electrical Engineering
Vihang Shah Candidate for VP / Treasurer / Senator Freshman, Electrical Engineering
Twitter.com/FTCrimson
crimson.fit.edu
facebook.com/FTCrimson
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Florida tech crimson
Ballpark, from page 1 I think we’re becoming kind of an arts, performance and fine dining district and this brings the entire polar opposite beer-drinking, hot-dog eating, sports-fan demographic into the area.” During the meeting, LaRusso made it clear that a private presentation of the “Harbor City Ballpark” proposal had taken place prior to the public presentation, and that he and the other council members shared a congenial acquaintance with Catanese. “We gave a presentation to everybody on the council and city staff, a deeper dive than what you’re going to see this evening, except for you Mayor,” said LaRusso. “The president of F.I.T, Dr. Catanese. We all know Tony.” According to comments made by LaRusso during the meeting, there was discussion, in the closed presentation, of what Florida Institute of Technology could offer the project. Specifically mentioned was the possibility of Florida Tech trolleys ferrying people to and from the stadium. When asked by the council if he had identified any private investors in the project, Larusso said this: “I am not at liberty to open up dialog or negotiate here at
Site location for ballpark in Historic Downtown Melbourne. Image Credit: Tyler Richardson the podium about investments or private investments or alternative financing from other entities. I did mention earlier that Dr. Catanese, the president of Florida Tech, is very interested in how this proceeds. And that means that he would be very interested in see-
ing what opportunities exist for Florida Tech.” No Florida Tech officials spoke during the city council meeting. On March 25, Florida Today ran an article titled, “Melbourne ballpark idea draws FIT interest, proponent says.”
Catanese was quoted as having said he was “very interested” in future plans. “To clarify, the Florida Today article quoted a non-Florida Tech person as saying Dr. Catanese was “very interested.” Dr. Catanese was not in attendance nor
directly quoted in the article,” said Vice President of Marketing and Communications Wesley Sumner. “At the present time, Florida Tech has nothing to add to the Florida Today story other than that we will continue to monitor the evolving details very closely.” v
WFIT to celebrate 40-year anniversary with free event Hershlay Raymond Contributing Writer Middle-age has never looked so good. At 40 years, WFIT is now one of the longest running noncommercial, volunteer supported radio stations in the country. To celebrate the landmark, WFIT 89.5 FM, Public Radio for the Space Coast, is hosting a 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, April 18. The free event will take place on the Florida Tech campus from noon until 6 pm. “I think the most exciting
thing about it is that after 40 years, it’s an opportunity for the station to thank the community for the support during all these decades,” said Rose Mantle, WFIT’s public service announcement director and leader of community outreach for the station. In April 1975, WFIT first began broadcasting as a student-run station in the basement of Roberts Hall on campus. Now, the station operates out of a facility located on University Blvd. “The whole idea is we’re turning 40,” said Todd Kennedy. “And that’s a big moment in our history from our humble beginning
in the basement of Roberts Hall to where we are now.” Kennedy is WFIT’s program director and host of the show Sound Waves. “It’s an amazing adventure and we just wanted to have a big party and thank the community for 40 years of support,” Kennedy said. “We couldn’t be here without listener support and the community embracing us.” This free event will feature live music both at the Panthereum and the WFIT Broadcast Center, tours of the station, and non-profit and retail vendors. Kennedy said he’s excited to
see all the members and the listeners come out to the event, and he’s most excited for the music. “They are all local bands that have supported WFIT in one way or another throughout the years and we just wanted to showcase that great talent that we have on the Space Coast.” Performing bands include, Honey Miller, The Bees, JC and the Knick Knacks, and Lights Out Project playing at the Panthereum Stage. The bands performing outside the WFIT Broadcast Center are Simone and Supercats, Robin and Eddie, Ras Michael and Oran-
gatanga. During the celebration, food will be served from Hazel’s Caribbean Restaurant, Slow and Low BBQ and Steamed Corn. Along with other vendors including Florida Wildlife Hospital, Space Coast Progressive Alliance, Space Coast Pride, Brevard Cultural Alliance, Marine Resources Council, Evans Library University Archives, Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, Surfrider Foundation, Humane Society, Brevard Lure Course , Brevard Recycles, Eau Gallie Arts District and MainStreet Pub. v
Campus Life
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The Florida tech crimson
Student athletes use coping methods for hectic travel schedules Ebube Ubochi Sci/Tech Editor The Florida Tech lifestyle varies from student to student, and can be especially eventful through the eyes of a perpetually sojourning student athlete. Where there is a will, there is a way however, and, many athletes have come up with efficient ways for them to deal with the stress of striking the balance between traveling, keeping up with schoolwork and maintaining a social life. “Our coach tries to make sure we don’t miss a lot of school,” said Rosie Hynes, a senior on the women’s basketball team. “We tend to not go too far. We travel throughout the season, but more so at the beginning. During the second half of the season, we travel within the state of Florida” Hynes said that John Reynolds, the head coach of the women’s basketball team, provides the her and her teammates with a sheet they can turn in to their professors, which details their game schedule
and the dates when they will most likely need to miss classes to any extent. “At times, school can get pretty hard, so with games on Wednesday and Saturday it can be difficult to keep up and it’s easy to fall behind if you don’t do your work on time,” Hynes said. “We do typically get one day off every week.” Freshman Kailyn Ebb of the women’s basketball team enjoys traveling, but expressed the frustration she has with professors that refuse to work with her regarding missed class days, tests and deadlines that result from her team’s travel schedule. “It’s generally straightforward when it comes to working with my professors on this stuff,” she said, “Some professors are very strict though, and aren’t flexible.” Sophomores Ismaldo Matias and Shammah Swaray of the cross country and track teams go through a similar pattern of trying to make sure they have as much schoolwork as possible before they leave for meets.
Image Credit: Ebube Ubochi “We travel every weekend and our journeys tend to last between two hours and 10 hours, depending on where we’re going,” Matias said. “We go as far as Alabama sometimes, and that’s 15 hours away.” Swaray said that one way he balances his schoolwork with all the traveling, in addition to trying to get as much work done before meets, is to take a little bit of it
with him. “It’s best to avoid getting in the habit of procrastination,” Swaray said. “Get your work done early and everything should be fine for the most part; that’s my advice.” Hynes advises making sure a balance is struck and that personal time is observed each day. “Make time for you everyday, even if it’s only 30 minutes,” she said. “It
could be just you in an open space with no phones or distractions.” “Make sure you get adequate sleep and take cat naps,” she continued. “ Do things that make you happy at least 10 times a day.” Hynes and Ebb recommend spending time with friends, bonding with teammates, talking with family and staying well-nourished. v
Junior catcher set to make 2015 MLB draft Andrew Shipotofsky Staff Writer Florida Tech baseball is in the middle it’s best season since 2010. Austin Allen, a junior, has scouts flocking from across America to watch him play. Allen is a strong left-handed bat for Florida Tech and is expected to go as high as the sixth round in the 20l5 MLB first year
player draft that runs from June 8 to 10. Allen plays catcher for the Panthers. So far in 2015, Allen his already reached his home run total from last year, while still batting .434 on the season. Allen credits his improved average and power to being more selective at the plate and better understanding his swing as a whole. “I have been working Coach Berkemeir and Coach Mercurio,” Allen said. “They
really helped me understand when to swing for a double and when to swing for a home run, and helped me under my swing and pitches I need to swing at.” While Austin may be thought of as an offensively-minded catcher, he possesses a strong and accurate arm, despite a below average pop time, according to a scouting report by David Lee of the Augusta Chronicle. Pop time is the time between the ball reaching the catcher and his
Students, staff examine sex, gender issues at campus event Alex Coultrup Campus Life Editor Students gathered on March 19 for an informative lecture regarding LGBTQIAP issues in Evans Hall 202 at 7 p.m. The event, titled “Born This Way: Pansexual to Asexual and everything in between,” was hosted by Counseling and Psychological Services. “I love bringing knowledge, education and information to the student body,” said Megan McElligott, who is both a psychology professor and a student therapist at CAPS. “I think it’s really helpful to give people resources.” During the presentation, McElligott said one of the key ideas to remember about is diversity. “Within the LGBTQIAP community, there are more differences than similarities.” The lengthy acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Androgynous and Pansexual, all of which were explained in the lecture. “Sexuality and gender exist on a fluid spectrum, which is why all of these labels and more exist,” said McElligott. “The variety of gender and sexual identities discussed was really interesting,” said Desmond Mangal, a junior. Mangal said that he thought the event was very informative, and is glad that CAPS is encouraging students to do their own thing, since gender and sex are very personal issues. “This environment is a safe zone,” said Karly Branch at the outset of the lecture. Branch also works at CAPS as a student therapist. “Questions are welcomed, but no racism, sexism, or any other -isms will be allowed here.” About 60 students attended the event, a much larger number than usual, said Branch, joking that they
even had to bring in extra chairs. “The amount of questions that happened throughout the presentations was unusual,” she said. “There was a lot of interest, apparently.” Sophomore Elin Svennson attended the event for extra credit in her psychology class. “At first I asked a question about what LGBT is, like I didn’t really know the whole meaning of it. I just came here to get a better knowledge.” Svennson said she was glad to learn more details about sexual minorities from the lecture. “It’s really helpful, and this is such a relaxed environment,” she said. “You always know about heterosexual, homosexual, but you don’t hear about more than the common ones. It’s good to hear more details.” Both McElligott and Branch are in their fourth year of Florida Tech’s clinical psychology doctoral program. “That’s why we work at CAPS; it’s one of the available practicums we can choose to go to in our program,” said Branch. McElligott and Branch also showed a short video by human rights activist iO Tillett Wright. Titled “A boy, a girl, a gender revolutionary,” the video pointed out several social disconnects that prevent people from understanding their gender and sexuality. A main idea stressed by McElligott was the fact that gender and sex are not necessarily tied to one another. A person’s sex, she said, is biological, while gender is psychological. “Our biology is not totally independent of how we feel psychologically, but our sex does not necessarily govern our gender,” McElligott said. CAPS provides counseling and psychological services to registered Florida Tech students, and is located in building 246 at the intersection of West University Boulevard and Country Club Road. v
throw reaching the player covering second base. Despite the MLB draft being around the corner, Allen isn’t focused on the next step quite yet. “I feel good that I am being recognized for my play, but it’s more about getting our whole team recognized,” Allen said. “Nothing is guaranteed,” Allen said. Despite all the possible distractions of the draft, Allen is talking every game and series one step at a time with the ultimate
goal of winning a national championship. Florida Tech Baseball will next be home March 31 to face off against Palm Beach Atlantic in a single game match starting at 6 p.m. The team has a record of 24 - 4 (.847) with the only losses coming from Saint Leo, Lynn, and Flagler. Next, they will go into a series against conference bottom dweller Florida Southern. v
SPORTS the Florida tech crimson
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MARCH 31, 2015
The Florida tech crimson
Redshirt Freshman qualifies for NCAA Championships Lindsay Isaac Staff Writer Florida Tech record holder, PBC AstroTurf Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, Provisional Qualifier for the NCAA Championships, student, mother — Rachel Tobin is all of these things and she’s just a sophomore. From a young age, people knew Tobin could run. “I was in third grade when I joined the running club. I just signed up. We would have to run 800 meters, or two laps, and my mother would tell me that I had everybody beat in the first lap; there would be nobody near me. But come the second lap, everyone would catch up,” Tobin said. “That is when we knew I was a sprinter.” In sixth grade, Tobin qualified for the Hershey State Track & Field meet and found herself among teams of trained and uniformed runners. “I remember most of the competitors stepping off of coach buses, and there I was in jean shorts with my mom. I was the only one from my team to even come close to qualifying, so everyone was looking at me and whispering ‘Who is that girl?’, ‘What is she doing here?’, ‘What is she wearing?’” Tobin ended up winning the 100-meter dash. High school brought Tobin its own share of victories and disappointments. As a freshman at Heritage High School, Tobin qualified for states and placed ninth in the 200-meter. The following year, Tobin was injured while competing in long jump. As a result,
junior year was a recovery year for Tobin, followed by a loss at regionals during her senior year. Tobin was expected to win both the 100-meter and 200-meter at regionals, but when the runner next to her faulted in the 100-meter, Tobin fell and did not qualify to advance to states in either race. “I had other schools looking at me before that meet, but as soon as that happened, they seemed to disappear off of the face of the earth,” Tobin remembered. “Coach Dodson still expressed interest in me. He said that he could teach me to have tunnel vision so that I could become unaffected by the competitors around me.” Nick Dodson, an accomplished 400-meter hurdler and 11-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) AllAmerican, saw Tobin run at a meet at Palm Bay High School in March of 2013. “She blew me away, watching her run. I saw a lot of potential in Rachel’s aggressive running style and smooth composure. I expressed so much interest in her because she was a local athlete and I wanted to build my team with quality student-athletes. I knew Rachel had the potential to fit into my training program and have instant success with hard work and dedication,” Dodson recalled. Rachel Tobin signed on with Florida Tech’s track and field program in 2014. Shortly after committing to the Panther team, Tobin discovered that she was pregnant. The news triggered critical responses. It looked as though To-
bin would lose her scholarship, a consequence that would result in her being unable to attend Florida Tech. When others were ready to dismiss Tobin, Nick Dodson fought for her to stay. The coach managed to save Tobin’s scholarship and secure redshirt for the athlete during her pregnancy. “Looking back on my college career, Rachel reminded
me so much of myself,” Dodson explained. “I had two beautiful daughters while I was in college, and my coach told us that if we had kids in college we would need to go home and handle our responsibilities. Well my coach went against his word and kept me and it was a blessing. Having the opportunity to do the same for Rachel was the good master saying, ‘I gave you another chance and now you owe someone else this.’” Nick Dodson was not sur-
prised by the disapproval of others. “Lots of people gave up on Rachel, but not me. I always told her, ‘Once people find out that you are pregnant, you will hear many negative comments.” “I wasn’t going to allow that to happen,” Dodson stated firmly. Dodson knew the value of keeping Rachel at Florida Tech. “I fought for Rachel because I knew she needed her education to fall back on so she would be able to provide for her child the way she wants one day. She would need a degree to do this. I knew what type of potential Rachel had on the track as well.” “So I told her, ‘I lead and you follow and watch the major comeback we make,’” Dodson smiled. Fast-forward to Florida Tech’s season opener at the Embry-Riddle Last Chance meet on Feb. 21, less than one year since Tobin’s daughter, Charlotte, was born. Not only was the race Florida Tech’s first in the Peach Belt Conference, this was Tobin’s first meet since she fell at regionals during her senior year. The athlete smashed the school record in the 60-meter and 200-meter. Tobin went on to break the previous record she set in the 200-meter and set new records in the 100-meter and 4x100-meter relay at the USF Invitational on March 13, 2015. Tobin’s performance at the invitational provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter, making her the only PBC athlete with two NCAA provisional times.
Both Florida Tech and the Peach Belt Conference recognized Tobin as athlete of the week after her performance at USF. Tobin is Florida Tech’s first athlete to be celebrated by the PBC. “It was pretty cool. We just got a conference this year. I was the first athlete to get recognized and bring attention to the Florida Tech program,” Tobin said proudly. Tobin’s coach remarked on the athlete’s recent success. “She has definitely turned a lot of heads and I’m proud of her,” Dodson said. “I believe she is the top sprinter in the country, but she will need to prove that at the National Championships in May.” “I can see Rachel qualifying for the Olympic Trials for sure and possibly signing a contract someday with a Nike, Adidas, Asics, and etc. She has that type of potential,” Dodson continued. “What has helped Rachel is she feels she can run with anyone, at any time, in any location. When you have confidence like that you will have success.” Tobin will admit that confidence and Dodson’s coaching have played a huge part in her success, but the athlete says that her daughter is the ultimate driving force. “My daughter is the main reason I am running so hard. I had to sit out a year. Everyone doubted me. The school wanted to take my scholarship. I had to come back hard and prove them wrong. She is my motivation.” “Charlotte just turned one on Wednesday. She has started walking,” Tobin’s tone shifted and she began to laugh. “I will have her sprinting soon.” v
SCI/TECH
9 - MARCH 31, 2015
The Florida tech crimson
Amazon approved by FAA to test drones with restrictions Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer The Federal Aviation Administration granted Amazon an experimental airworthiness certificate to test their Amazon Prime Air delivery drones on March 19. This gives Amazon some progress toward their goal of a network of drones that can deliver packages in 30 minutes or less, though the certificate carries several restrictions that, if left in place, could throw a wrench into Amazon’s plans. According to the FAA website, the certificate is for testing and training purposes, and will help to provide data on whether or not the delivery drones should be granted normal approval. The restrictions on the certificate require all flights be during the day in clear weather and be at altitudes of no more than 400 feet. A pilot with at least a private pilot’s certificate and an observer must remain within line of sight of the drone during test flights. Amazon must provide monthly reports to the FAA, including number of flights, any software/hardware malfunctions, unintended behavior and loss of communications. This provides some hope for Amazon’s drone delivery service to still prove itself after
Image from Amazon Press Release the FAA proposed regulations in February that placed heavy restrictions on drone flights. According to the FAA’s press release, the proposal carried the same flight time restrictions and pilot requirements as the experimental certificate, and additionally the drone could not fly over any people aside from those directly involved in the flight. One of the main concerns has been the drone’s ability to avoid airborne obstacles and obey standard flight protocols. By pro-
posed regulations, it would be the drone operator’s responsibility to see and avoid manned aircraft, in any risk of collision it must be the drone that maneuvers away first. The drone must also be able to stay out of airport flight paths and restricted airspaces. The drone operator must be aware of the locations of people on the ground to lessen the risk if control of the drone is lost. Since these regulations place the responsibility of making decisions on the drone operators it
Intel and Micron reveal new 3D NAND flash memory Christopher Pangalos Staff Writer
Intel and Micron revealed and began shipping samples of their new 3D NAND technology on March 26, which they say will enable the creation of solid state drives the size of a gum stick that could hold over 3.5 terabytes of data. The same day Toshiba also announced it has begun shipping manufacturer samples of its own 3D NAND chip for testing and development. NAND chips were originally named for similarities to NAND gates. In comparison with the 2D chips, the 3D NAND chips are able to provide much larger capacities at small sizes through their 3D design, which allows them to stack layers of memory on top of each other. 3D NAND chips themselves have already been in production by Samsung since last year, according to Cnet. Toshiba’s chip is equivalent to Samsung’s in size, while Intel and Micron will have one that is three times larger. The additional competition added by Intel and Toshiba will likely help to balance prices in the 3D NAND market. Intel’s chip is the most significant development and will likely be useful to mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones to provide greater storage capacities without requiring a lot of space. This chip could also provide PCs and laptops with very high capacity solid state drives compared with current
standards. According to Intel’s news blog, their new design will help to extend Moore’s law, which indicates a consistent exponential increase in capacity of chips developed over time. Intel says their 3D Nand will have “three times the capacity of existing technology,” giving 75 percent of a terabyte in the size of a fingertip. According to Intel, 2.5 inch solid state drives could have over 10 terabytes of capacity. Intel says that one of the advantages of their 3D NAND will be a reduced cost per GB though considering that the chips will be several times larger this doesn’t mean they won’t still be much more expensive than current chips. Intel indicates they will reduce energy consumption by making use of sleep modes that will reduce power to portions of memory not being used. Intel also said they will have increased endurance, better system integration, and fast speeds though their description was vague and didn’t give specific details. According to Toshiba’s press release, their 3D memory chip is 48 layer 2-bit-per-cell 128 Gigabit (16 GigaByte). Intel is working on 2 chips both 32 layers but with higher capacities than Toshiba’s chip. The chip Intel is currently shipping is a 256 Gb (32 GB) multilevel cell while they are still developing a 384 Gb (48 GB) triple level cell version which seems to be the one they’ve been promoting. According to Engadget, it should be about a year before we see Intel or Toshiba’s chips available in solid state drives on the market. v
would be difficult or impossible to reliably meet them with a completely autonomous drone. As of right now these are only proposed regulations and are still subject to debate and change. The FAA may have reason to be concerned though, as aside from Amazon other companies such as Google have been looking into drone delivery programs and large numbers of drones from multiple companies flying through the skies could pose a very real hazard.
The FAA has asked for public commentary on the proposed regulations to assist in making their decision. The public can give their support, argument against, or other comments on the regulations at regulations.gov under operation and certification of small unmanned aircraft systems until April 24. This decision will likely determine the fate of drone delivery services and whether or not drones flying overhead will become common sight in the future. v
Gadget Corner Joseph Stoltz Staff Writer
Image Credit: BurntImpressions.com
If you are paranoid that someone is going to steal your stuff, then this gadget is going to be right up your alley. The company Burnt Impressions brings you a new and egotistical way to eat your toast, for they have developed the almighty Selfie Toaster to burn the beloved image of your face onto your toast; now all who are given your toast will be graced by the image of your face on it for as long as they wish to save the piece of toast. However, I must admit that if someone keeps stealing your sandwiches and the person claims he didn’t know it was yours, a sandwich made in your own image should easily deter a thief. On a more serious note, the toaster works with more than just selfie images. Burnt Impressions allows you to upload digital photos and even logos to burn your business name into people’s toast, which would figuratively burn your business name into people’s brains in turn. If you’re worried about an image you have in mind working, Burnt Impressions clearly states on its homepage that you’re welcome to send in your image through chat or contact and they will check the image for you letting you know if it will work. If you’re interested in your own Selfie Toaster, it’s a bit hard to give you a price, since there are many customization options available. Amazon lists the toaster for almost $70, along with requiring an additional charge of $11 for shipping, but this price does not exactly seem to line up with Burnt Impressions website store. If you’d like the toaster, but not sure what picture to use, Burnt Impressions offers many different toaster inserts made of stainless steel for $12, and currently discontinued inserts are on sale for $3. v
MARCH 31, 2015
University changes name to Harris Institute of Technology
President AJ Cantonese announced today that the university has officially changed its name to Harris Institute of Technology after another $100 million donation from Harris Corporation. “This is a tremendous honor to be able to name our university after such a helpful, generous company,” Cantonese said. As a result, Harris Corp. now owns more than 75 percent of the university. The name change will be effective starting on May 1. “It only seemed right,” the
president added. “I’m just like really concerned because I’m going to have to change my place of education on my Facebook page,” said Ella Vader, a junior in sophomore engineering. “It’s just kind of a hassle, you know?” “I don’t like to have dealings with the Department of Homeland Security,” said Igor Beaver, an international student from Azerbaijan in electrical engineering. “With this name change, I’m going to have to fill out another I-20 and more paperwork.”
Freshman late to class, runs A first year student has been seen running through campus with every shred of energy he could muster, on multiple occasions in the past fortnight. Sustainability major Marcus Absent has startled many a passer-by during school hours, speeding back and forth in various directions throughout the Florida Tech campus. “I saw him with this huge backpack on, running out of the library towards Crawford,” said Marion Haste, sophomore in environmental science. “It knew he was going to his calculus class which had started five minutes before, because he always runs there late at the exact same time every week.”
Absent has a reputation of arriving late to his class sessions, which are reportedly located in rooms in Skurla Hall, the Link Building, the Crawford Science Tower, and the Florida Tech Commons. “I see him running all the time across Babcock,” said Griz Leebeer, senior trolley driver. “Sometimes, he’s even running next to the trolley or past it. I don’t understand why he won’t just get on.” Absent is sometimes seen running even before his classes are scheduled to start. He claims it is part of his master plan to avoid tardiness as much as possible. “I’m usually late, and I’m well aware of that,” Absent said. “So, I figure I might as well run all the time. That way, I know I’ve tried my hardest to be on time no matter what.
If I’m early, I’m early; if I’m late, I’m late.” “Once in a while, I’ll actually end up getting there early,” he continued with a smile. “I probably look funny doing it, since I’m so small and may backpack is so big.” Security Officer Haan Cole expressed visible dismay in Absent’s idea of a solution. “I wish the kid would just set an alarm or something”, he said. “We actually get a little worried when we’re stationed in our golf carts and see him scampering around. He could get seriously hurt.” Absent is registered for 19 credits in seven classes this semester and plans to take 18 in the fall. “I have to keep moving,” he said. “Those classes won’t attend themselves.” v
Photo property of FIT Memes
Student arrives too fucking early for class at Babcock Oaks A business student arrived to his class in Babcock Oaks 20 minutes early yesterday, according to sources. “I just had so much fucking free time, I didn’t even know what to do,” said Horace Cope, a sophomore in global management and finance. “It’s ridiculous, these trolleys get here too early.” Cope has had many experiences with being early to his hostile takeover management class because of the trolley shuttles. “This happens all the time.
They are incredibly efficient, so I’m always way to fucking early for my class,” said Cope. Cope typically spends his extra moments playing Trivia Crack. “I always finish my games because of all my free time,” Cope said. Kenny Duewitt, a junior in entrepreneurship, wishes he could be so early to his business classes. “I drive to Babcock Oaks, so I’m often late. I really should just take the trolleys, so I’d always be on time.” v
Researchers discover Jack Shit, study shows.................................................................................page 12 Sci/Tech Comm team proposes fucking terrible idea for group project, professor says..... page 12 Student attends Holi, complains about paint on her clothes.....................................................page 13
Passive-aggressive YikYak post improves roommates’ relationship “Ugh, my roommate is literally the worst. I can’t stand her loud music and she never ever does dishes I’M SO DONE WITH THIS BITCH!” Was a post recently seen on the anonymous, location-based app, Yik Yak. Sophomores Doris Ajar and Isabell Ringing live together in Harris Village. “I’m so glad Doris posted that Yak,” Ringing said. “When I read it, I knew immediately that it was about us.” The two had a rough relationship over the last few semesters, a result of poor communication, thoughtless behavior, and passive-aggressive post-it notes. The pair, who formerly hated one another and went out of their way to avoid eye contact, are now getting along well, sources say. “I thought the post-it notes would solve our prob-
lems,” said Ajar. “Especially when I left them on the mirror right where Isabell does her excessive makeup every morning with the light shining right into my room.” She said she feels silly for not realizing the power of anonymous complaints much sooner. Ajar described her posts on the app as a last resort. “I didn’t want to use such drastic measures to make her understand what a bad roommate she was being, but there was no other option.” “We totally are on the same page now,” said Ringing. “Her very detailed, descriptive posts about my bad habits, character flaws, and tacky outfits are so helpful.” Both Ajar and Ringing confirm that they had not tried other reconciliation methods such as consulting their RA or simply talking in person, because they sounded “too difficult.” v