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Student Conduct Board Seeks Alternatives for Conflict Resolution By CHANNING HAILEY News Reporter
Next year, more options will be offered for students seeking resolution of conflicts through the Office of Student Conduct. Judicial Coordinator Michael Gilmer has been working with others in the Office of Student Conduct to provide the “Power of Choice” for students, which will vastly redefine the current process of student conduct. Basing the new procedures on ideas presented in the book Reframing Campus Conflict: Student Conduct Practice Through a Social Justice Lens, the goal is to provide new pathways beyond the traditional disciplinary process to resolve conflicts between students. “There have been students who violated the letter of a pol-
icy, but not the spirit of what it means to be a Spartan,” said Gilmer. “I believe that all students are deserving of the time needed . . . to listen to their story and to help them find resolution that will maximize their educational experience and marginalize the punitive effect of the process.” What these changes come down to is reminding students to ask themselves what it means to be a Spartan. “My hope is that they are proud enough of their education and degree to want to make it better,” Gilmer said. “My belief is that students of this university are good people that sometimes make mistakes. . . . In essence, what I want is more of a menu of action for the students.
Illustration by Mike Trobiano
Judicial Coordinator Michael Gilmer has been working with employees in the Office of Student Conduct to create alternative solutions to solve cases regarding student misconduct.
When it is appropriate, the students can have options [regarding] how the . . . process will work for them,” Gilmer explained. Gilmer described a case that would be better handled by processes other than what the University of Tampa currently has to offer. “Let’s say two students are in an argument regarding personal abuse,” he said. “One student (Student 1) slapped another student (Student
2) on the leg. Student 2 punches Student 1 in the face in retaliation. Student 1 files a complaint with safety and security describing the incident in detail. Both students are charged and held responsible for violations of Article 7: Personal Abuse. The record of their behavior and outcomes are kept as part of their educational records for seven years after the incident. What was left out was that Student 1 was laughing and lightly slapped Student 2
without realizing Student 2 was sitting next to Student 1. Moreover, Student 2’s legs were sore from participating in dance happenings.” Gilmer’s problem with the current procedure to resolve student conflict is that students do not have the opportunity to explain their reasoning or justification for their actions.
See Top Story , Page 3
Breaking News: Journalism Major to Debut in Fall New Program to Prepare Students for an Industry in Transition By SHIVANI KANJI News Reporter
Starting in Fall 2011, University of Tampa students will be able to major in journalism. The new major meshes existing classes in basic and advanced news reporting and editing with new classes focused on multimedia skills and an increased exploration of journalism’s history and its role and function within society. Student involvement in campus media, internships and real-world publishing opportunities will be a core component of the program. The existing journalism minor is also being revamped. “Our faculty are the folks responsible for curriculum and it has only been in the last few years that we have had journalism faculty members appointed in the two departments closest to the major,” said Haig Mardirosian,
In Other News...
dean of the College of Arts and Letters. Faculty from the Department of English & Writing and the Department of Communication participated in the major formation process. “Everyone was in agreement that we should have it, as most liberal arts colleges do,” said John Capouya, an assistant professor of journalism. “With new faculty like Dan Reimold and myself, it seemed like the right time. The university decided to hire us and let us launch this.” According to Dan Reimold, also an assistant professor of journalism and The Minaret faculty adviser, “The journalism major is focused on providing students with a wide array of news writing, reporting, editing and multimedia skills and an understanding of journalism history, ethics and legal principles.” Both Capouya and Reimold
have been working on developing the curriculum and creating lesson plans and syllabi for four new courses that will be introduced in the university catalog. “The major is not set up simply as a factory farm for the journalism industry,” said Reimold. “We are excited to provide students with a skill-set and knowledge base that will enable them to enter the news media, law school, the education sector, politics, the PR and advertising realms and many other arenas.” In Capouya’s words, “It is kind of an exciting, and somewhat scary, time in journalism. The whole economics of it is in transition.” A major part of the transition relates to the decline of the print media industry and the rise of online and multimedia outlets and options. Both Capouya and Reimold said they wanted the new journalism major to
“Everyone was in agreement that we should have it, as most liberal arts colleges do.” -John Capouya, assistant journalism professor
prepare students for the ongoing technological revolution and the new tools it is providing newsgatherers. Prospective journalism major Laurel Sanchez wants to go into broadcast journalism and is planning on double-majoring in communication and journalism. “I think it’s great that UT is finally instituting a journalism major here,” said Sanchez “I was kind of bummed they didn’t have one before and [it] was one of the reasons I was thinking of transferring. I think it will bring more students to campus. A new major always does.” Junior Sophie Erber is considering taking on journalism as a major during her last year at UT. She is currently a
News..................................2
8 Campus Film Makers Take to the Screen 2 Diet Trends That May Do More Harm Than Good
10 Guys, Take Some Fashion Advice
communications major and a journalism minor. “I’m hoping that this new major will offer new, innovative courses that can add to what I’ve already learned in the minor,” said Erber. “I also think it will help make the university become a more well-rounded school. Financially, I think it can only help UT to finally offer a major in such a popular field.” According to Reimold, “In a time of transition within the industry, enrollment at journalism schools and within journalism programs at colleges and universities nationwide continues to rise. Students are excited about becoming leaders of Journalism 2.0. We are here to help.” Shivani Kanji can be reached at shivani.kanji@spartans.ut.edu.
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Commentary...................12 12 Police Pepper-Spray 8-Year-Old After Rant
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MINARET
2 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alex Vera
avera813@gmail.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Trobiano
mike.trobiano@gmail.com
NEWS + FEATURES
Cara Fetzer, Senior Editor Joshua Napier, Asst. Editor minaret.news@gmail.com
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Mandy Erfourth, Senior Editor Micheal Angelo Rumore, Asst. Editor minaret.arts@gmail.com
COMMENTARY
Philippa Hatendi, Senior Editor John Jacobs, Asst. Editor minaret.commentary@gmail.com
SPORTS
Daniel Feingold, Senior Editor Kyle Bennett, Asst. Editor minaret.sports@gmail.com
ONLINE
Yara Abbas
minaret.online@gmail.com
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Abby Sanford, Head Photographer minaret.photog@gmail.com
ADVERTISING
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ADVISER
Daniel Reimold, Ph.D. dreimold@ut.edu
COPY EDITORS
Laura Theobald, Head Copy Editor Moriah Parrish, Asst. Copy Editor David Saucedo, Asst. Copy Editor
REPORTERS
Jeffrey Palmer Channing Hailey Yasaman Sherbaf Shivani Kanji
STAFF WRITERS
Sophie Erber Conner McDonough Mike Paonessa Miles Parks
COLUMNISTS
Richard Solomon Camilla Chebet Nicole Robinson Hannah Webster Amanda Sieradzki
CREATIVE/DESIGN Kyle Bennett, Layout
MORE INFORMATION THE MINARET is a weekly student-run publication at the University of Tampa. Letters to the Editor may be sent to editor@theminaretonline.com. To reach THE MINARET call 813.257.3636. THE MINARET or THE CRESCENT Apply at theminaretonline.com/jobs Your first two copies of THE MINARET are free. Each additional copy is $1.00
NEWS + FEATURES
Diet Trends That May Do More Harm Than Good By CAROLYN HATCH Health and Fitness Writer
Several current dieting trends here at UT have been proven detrimental, not helpful, to one’s health. The “all fruit diet” does nothing but deprive your body of the many crucial nutrients that it deserves, and taking laxatives after a meal increases water retention, making you feel more bloated than before without eliminating fat. The Master Cleanse, a detox diet consisting of drinking a lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water concoction 6-12 times a day and following it with a laxative, is known for causing fatigue due to vitamin deficiencies, blood-sugar problems and muscle breakdown. Frequent liquid bowel movements and a slower metabolism number among this fad’s dangerous side effects. The Master Cleanse is considered a “natural” program, but natural does not always mean safe. Crash dieting may increase weight loss in the short term, but it is likely that you will get tired of the routine and regain any lost weight after a short amount of time. Claire MacEvilly, a nutritionist at the MRC Human Nutrition Research Centre, explained “Losing weight over the long term burns off fat. Crash dieting or fasting not only removes fat but also lean muscle and tissue.” This loss of lean muscle leads to a slower basal metabolic rate, causing your body to need fewer calories than before and weight gain to increase when the diet is over. These fad diets often lack the nutrients that your body needs and may increase your risk for developing gallstones. MacEvilly stated that “Fasting can also make you feel dizzy or weak so it’s much better to try long-term weight loss.” Exercise is crucial to any weight loss plan as building muscles allows your body to maintain a steady metabolic rate. Sufficient amounts of exercise are difficult to achieve when the body is at a level of such fatigue. In addition, diets that permit for less than 800 calories per day also put you at risk for heart rhythm abnormalities, which can be fatal. High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins or South Beach Diet are not a healthy way to lose weight either.
Casey Serin/flickr.com
Popular detox diets like the Master Cleanse (shown above) promise to flush poisons from the body and purge pounds of excess fat, but has been proven to have several negative effects such as fatigue and muscle breakdown due to vitamin deficiencies.
Focusing on high-protein foods often includes too much fat and cholesterol, which increases risk of heart disease. Lack of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains often leads to constipation, nausea and fatigue. Also, consuming less than 130 grams of carbohydrates per day can cause a buildup of ketones, partially broken-down fats, in your blood. This buildup, called ketosis, raises levels of uric acid putting you at risk for gout and kidney stones. Once again, the balanced diet prevails. The idea that starches are fattening is a total myth, so go ahead and fulfill your daily requirements. High-fat topping such as butter and sour cream are what make these choices unhealthy, so try using organic or Greek yogurts as a substitute for sour cream. Starches provide much-needed energy to the body and can also be found in cereals, fruits and some vegetables such as potatoes and yams. Choosing whole grain starches such as brown rice, peas and bran cereal can provide a little extra fiber, allowing for effective weight loss. Many are under the impression that caffeine will speed up your metabolism. It will for a short amount of time, but it does not assist in weight loss.
Coffee does temporarily satisfy your appetite, but only drinking a couple cups will not have a great enough effect to cause weight loss. In addition, drinking more than just a couple cups of coffee leads to anxiety and sleeplessness, resulting in an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Not only do added cream and sugar add calories but also lack of sleep produces the hormone Ghrelin, which is an appetite stimulant. So next time you go for that third cup of coffee, consider a nap and a light snack. Studies at the Dunn Nutrition Centre in Cambridge show that it’s not when you eat that is important, but the total amount that is consumed throughout the day. Yes, those that skip meals during the day and eat loads in the evening are more likely to be overweight. However, this is due to loss of appetite control and binging rather than the inability to burn off extra calories. And the new fad diet is: keeping it balanced. The main point is that all foods, in moderation, are used for different functions of the body. Depriving your body of its essential fuels can not only be risky, but can lead to weight gain. Carolyn Hatch can be reached at cvhatch@spartans.ut.edu.
Obama Discusses Budget-Cut Strategies By MICHEAL ANGELO RUMORE Asst. A + E Editor
President Obama will reportedly call for a new deficit reduction plan that outlines a long-term strategy for raising federal revenues and reducing the budget deficit. The plan will include reforming Medicare and Medicaid. The announcement comes after Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown of the federal government on Friday. An hour before midnight—literally the eleventh hour—Majority Leader John Boehner announced that an agreement on a compromise bill had been reached. Obama responded from the White House, saying, “Today Americans of different beliefs came together again.” The Environmental Protection Agency faces $1.6 billion in cuts, and agricultural programs will be cut by $3 billion. Obama suffered a minor defeat on his high speed rail funding, which will be cut by $1.5 billion. The Department of Homeland Security will be cut for the first time in its history, amounting to a two percent reduction. The amount of cuts totals $39 billion. Some programs, notably
the FDA and Head Start, received budget increases. A portion of the budget debate centered on federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Congressman John Kyl, R-Arizona, characterized the opposition to Planned Parenthood, saying that abortions account for “well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.” Kyl was later forced to back down on this statistic since it was incorrect.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, responded, saying, “We are not—we are not—bending on women’s health.” Planned Parenthood avoided facing cuts in the final compromise bill. Congress will have also have to debate whether to raise the federal debt ceiling. Failure to do so, some say, could cause the United States to default on its debt, which has not happened in US history. Defaulting would call into question the value of US Treasury Bonds, which are considered safe worldwide. Economic chaos would inevitably ensue. “Congress has to [raise the debt ceiling],” said Treasury Secretary Timothy Giethner. “There’s no alternative.” The other option to raising the debt ceiling is to balance the federal budget.
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Achieving a balanced budget would require cutting the budget by 40 percent, considerably raising taxes or a combination of the two. Indications are that allowing the Bush Tax Cuts for top earners to expire, which were recently temporarily extended, will be back on President Obama’s agenda. Interestingly, Patriotic Americans for Fiscal Strength—a group of rich Americans that favor raising taxes on their own income bracket—expressed frustration, reported by ABC News, in the President’s unwillingness to do so. Micheal Angelo Rumore can be reached at michealangelorumore@gmail.com.
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
3
New Outlook for Conduct
From Front, Top Story
Gilmer’s concern is that “as the students graduate and apply to graduate programs, they will be asked if there were any previously documented incidents at their undergraduate institution. Both students would answer this question, ‘Yes, I violated Article 7: Personal Abuse.’ Beyond applying for graduate programs, these documented misconducts can also affect students’ applications to the study abroad program as well as applications to various jobs.” Two pathways of resolution that Gilmer said will go into practice in the Office of Student Conduct in the fall are mediation and restorative justice. The goal of restorative justice is to allow a student to ask himself, “How has my behavior affected the community? What can be done to restore the community back to where it was before I did this?” “The people involved get to talk and share the community impact that was made by those actions,” Gilmer said. According to Gilmer, when a student is willing to admit the responsibility of his or her own actions, and those involved are able to share how they were affected, a resolution can come about — not simply a punishment. Another alternative pathway to resolve conflict among students will be mediation. Gilmer cited incidents in which conflicts arise between roommates about something as small as a belt. As she asked, “Do you really need a decision of responsibility through the current student conduct process for that?” Alisa Smith, an associate professor of criminology at UT, is one of six individuals currently in training to provide mediation services next fall. “Mediation will better resolve long and short term conflicts between and among students,” she said. “It’s a more productive and less destructive method of
resolving student disagreements.” At the end of the training for the six faculty and staff, they will be certified by the Florida Supreme Court, which will give mediation among students more integrity for privacy issues. “For a true mediation to take place, the information has to remain confidential,” Gilmer said. With mediators coming from a variety of areas within UT, students will be provided with a mediator best suited to their interests. “It’s impossible for me to completely remove the fact that I’m a judicial coordinator,” Gilmer said. “Are students coming to me going to be as forthcoming when it comes to a conflict issue that might violate one of UT’s policies? Probably not.” Mediation is not appropriate for all student conflicts. Crimes of violence and sexual assault will never be resolved through mediation. Also, in Gilmer’s words, “Mediation has to be bought into. If it has more of a buy-in, if it’s more voluntary, it will be more successful.” For this reason, all students involved must agree to mediation for it to take place. Restorative justice and mediation are just two pathways of resolution that the Office of Student Conduct is working toward. Others in the works include shuttle diplomacy (where students are separated and the conflict is resolved by a judicial coordinator going between them to create a form of dialogue), conflict coaching, facilitated dialogue, and restorative practices. “Worst case scenario,” Gilmer said, “we’ll still have a conduct process as a fallback.” The new changes are meant to provide supplements to the current conduct process. As Gilmer said, “The principle is built on education and learning. . . . If
From the April 4 - April 10 reports. Drive by paint job On April 4, security responded to ResCom for a report of vehicles hit by paint balls on Brevard Street. The students were referred to judicial. Cheater vs. Looser On April 5, there was a silent witness report made involving academic integrity. The case is still open. Have a Nice Trip On April 5, a student reported that they slipped in a stairway in Urso Hall. I’m Just Holding it For a Friend On April 5, security received a report of a possible drug possession and sale from a student living on the 6th floor of Brevard Hall. The student was referred to judicial. Nosey People On April 5, a student injured his nose while playing soccer on the intramural field.
you make a violation part of a record, it becomes punitive. Students should be given an opportunity to face their behavior and learn from it.” Smith agreed. “Students at the University of Tampa are typically traditional-aged
college students, who are in the process of growing,” she said. “I believe this will be more effective in resolving less-serious disagreements and disputes.” Channing Hailey can be reached at channing.hailey@spartans.ut.edu.
This Week’s Student Government Meeting...
Falk Theater Gets Steamy On April 6, an alarm in the Falk Theatre was activated due to steam from a hot iron during costume maintenance.
* There was no SG meeting this week due to the OSLE Leadership Awards that took place at 7 p.m. on the 9th floor of Vaughn Center
It’s smart to wait! On April 6, a student reported that between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. on April 4 her Spartan ID and laundry card was stolen. The case is still open.
* PEACE will be hosting the fundraiser “Volleyball 4 Japan” on Wednesday, April 27 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The volleyball tournament is open to all UT students. Participants must form a team of six and register in Vaughn 206. The cost is $5 per person and all proceeds go to the Red Cross in Japan!
No More Camping Trips On April 7, a student reported that a sleeping bag was stolen from her room on the 5th floor of Brevard Hall. Horny Cabbies Strike Again At 4:05 a.m. on April 9 a report was made about an off campus incident involving a cab.
Reports compiled by Cara Fetzer
* Forms to request permission to add a closed class for the Fall 2011 semester will be available in the Music Room, on the first floor of Plant Hall next week. The times are Monday, April 18 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, April 19 from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Have any questions or concerns? Contact Student Government at SG@ut.edu. Student Government is your voice. Join us at our meeting every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Reeves Theater. All students are welcome.
4 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
NEWS + FEATURES
Wilkens Shares Stories of Rwandan Genocide UT STAND brings awareness to community with genocide survivor News Reporter
[ ]
By YASAMAN SHERBAF
On Monday, April 11, Carl Wilkens, the former head of Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) in Rwanda, came to speak about his experiences with genocide. The event was hosted by UT STAND, a student-run anti-genocide coalition. Members of the coalition are devoted to aiding those who are victims of genocide and dedicated to creating a more peaceful international community through education, avocation and donation. Wilkens was the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda in 1994 after the genocide began. Many foreigners left, but Wilkens decided to stay and help others. His choice resulted in the prevention of a massacre. In 1996, he came back to the United States. The night was full of many stories told by Wilkens. Wilkens stated that, “stories and service are the two most powerful tools we have to build peace. Without these two elements, there will be no peace.” Wilkens went back to Rwanda in January of 2011 for a fundraising mission. Wilkens stated that one of the men arrested for the genocide actually helped him find a place to hide from the dangers of the Hutus. “We all have this potential to do good or bad things,” Wilkens said. Wilkens’ accounts of genocide put a human face on genocide. His accounts show
“We all have this potential to do good or bad things.” -Carl Wilkens
us that the perpetrators, the victims and the resistors of genocide, are not forgotten. By doing so, he teaches audiences how merely one person can make an impact. He and his wife first moved to Zimbabwe and then, eventually, to Rwanda. He, his wife and two kids lived there for four years before the genocide began. Seventeen years ago, all of his family left except for him. In 2008, Wilkens started speaking around the world about genocide, but starting in 2011, Wilkens embarked on a tour of the United States to share his story with students, teachers and community members. He focuses on the day-to-day life in Rwanda during the genocide as well as the courage and the optimism that he observed by the people facing “horrendous choices in the middle of unimaginable
Photo Courtesy of Sebastian Jadot
Left to right: Colleen Itani, Emily Lucero, Carl Wilkens and Gwen Teutsch
slaughter.” Wilkens was featured in 2004 in the PBS Frontline documentary Ghosts of Rwanda, and also in an American Radio Works documentary, The Few Who Stayed: Defying Genocide,” which aired on NPR. Wilkens has been recognized for his humanitarian work, by attaining several awards such as the Dignitas Humana Award from Saint John’s School of Theology Seminary. He’s also received a 2005 Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center In the question and answer session following his talk, Wilkens was asked if
there was anything he regretted not doing during his time spent in Rwanda. He responded by stating that he wished he learned the local language in Rwanda and built closer relationships with those around him, neighbors and friends. Wilkens stated that power of relationships is what matters most. To learn more about Carl Wilkens and his non-profit educational and professional development organization which he created in 2008, you can visit his website, worldoutsidemyshoes.org. Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at ysherbaf@spartans.ut.edu.
The University of Tampa 2011 Off Campus Housing Fair When: April 19, 2011
Time:
Where: Vaughn Center Lobby
11:00am to 1:00pm
Brought to you by the Office of Residence Life. Come see what Tampa has to offer! Food—Prizes—Fun
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
5
Surviving School in the Face of Sickness By ERIN BREEDLOVE HackCollege
There are days where you wake up and you’ve got a scratchy throat and a stuffy nose. “I’m getting sick, and I want to just lie here and sleep” goes through your head. Truthfully, though, you’ve got four classes that you can’t miss because of strict attendance policies. You feel like death, but you understand that you need to be in class. The picture of the syllabus that says you have a test in two days haunts the back of your mind. Students with disabilities and chronic health conditions go to class when they’re sick quite often. So, for those of you who aren’t (and who are!) affected in this way, a few tips to get you through the sickness during class feeling might do the trick. Line up a friend/classmate to take notes for you on the day you’re sick. Many times, students with disabilities take advantage of note-taker services provided to them which often identifies a student in the same class who is willing to take notes so that a student may have an extra copy if he or she falls behind in class while taking notes or something of the like. If you’re a student without a disability, though, those services may not be extended to you, so just having that mutual agreement that you’ll be able to copy a friend’s notes at the end of class is a good thing, especially in cases where the DayQuil might get a little too strong. Tape recorders also work well in these situations, too, but if your professor or school has policies against
flickr.com/effekt!
them, a copy of notes taken in class can serve the same purpose. Bring something to class to keep you busy. Often, for me, it’s hard candy. Moving around a peppermint in your mouth helps to stay focused, and the soothing taste helps to keep your sick feelings at bay. You might also want to bring highlighters of different colors (if you don’t normally) to highlight important points made from handouts or lectures in class to keep your “eye on the ball” and to divert your attention from that nasty cough or
throbbing headache. You don’t want your “something” to be the clicking of your pen, so make sure it’s constructive! Pack a little snack for the long days. Often, the days we tend to “drag” are those in which we have classes all day long, meetings interspersed, etc., so a pack of peanut butter crackers in the front compartment of the bookbag might be a nice surprise when you feel like the energy supply is running a little low. When you eat lunch, take something from your lunch to save for later.
The energy, the nice treat, and the pickme-up that it offers will be welcomed later on in the day, later on in the week, and maybe even as far stretched as later on in the semester. Be mindful, though, of what kind of energy you’re giving yourself. Caffeine might sound good at the time, but when you “crash” about three hours later, you’ll think a little harder about making the same choice again. Rest for a short time after your obligations have ended for the day. This might be a good time to check your Facebook and Twitter accounts, respond to e-mail, approve blog comments, and of course, catch up on the latest posts on HackCollege. Keep the time down to about 30 minutes, and then fix yourself some dinner, study for Wednesday’s quiz, tidy up your room, or otherwise stay busy. Even though you might not feel your best, keeping your mind going helps the body to understand its limits and your expectations for it as a college student who wants to succeed.
Poll:
Do you think professors should accept makeup work on days you’re sick? Give us your response on The Crescent at minaretblog.com
You heard right! Shorter session. Longer vacation.
2-Week MayTerm May 9-20 6-Week Sessions May 23 – June 30 July 5 – Aug. 11 12-Week Session May 23 – Aug. 11
More courses, flexible sessions and smaller classes let you earn credits your way in our summer sessions.
OFFICE OF GRADUATE AND CONTINUING STUDIES
(813) 253-6249 | scs@ut.edu
Registration is now available in SpartanWeb!
Visit www.ut.edu/summer
6 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
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THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
Diversions
7
FOR RELEASE APRIL 18, 2011
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Justin Davis/The Minaret
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Key in 6 The thing over there 10 Stalactite site 14 Sticky 15 Get a new mortgage for, briefly 16 Opinion piece, for short 17 Mott’s product 19 Tear up, as a check 20 __ Moines 21 Transvaal settler 22 With all one’s heart 24 What daredevils seem to lack 25 Place to fish from 26 Wore an upsidedown frown 29 Rail chemical carriers 33 Burgundy, for one 34 Pitched shelter 35 Dickens’s Uriah 36 State purposefully 37 Latin ballroom dance 38 Mythological ship 39 Hop out of bed 40 Whizzes 41 Monastery member 42 Fix 44 University officer 45 Greenhouse containers 46 Constructed 47 It starts after the overture 50 Newspaper unit 51 Captain’s “I need help ASAP!” 54 Extinguish, with “out” 55 Gust of wind, e.g. 58 Hamster’s home 59 Drop anchor 60 Counters with beads 61 Train for a bout 62 Japanese wrestling 63 Water bottle capacity
Last Friday, the Sykes Chapel held the TBNATS Spring Concert: Love in the Springtime with singers and teachers from around the Tampa Bay area.
4/18/11
By Gail Grabowski
DOWN 1 Antiquated exclamation 2 “Don’t think so” 3 Does better than 4 Sinuous swimmer 5 Microbrewery offering 6 More loyal 7 Estate beneficiary 8 Org. with Raiders and Steelers 9 Was linked with 10 Nightclub minimum 11 Each 12 Bridal accessory 13 Rapids phenomenon 18 “The Grapes of Wrath” family name 23 “A spider!” 24 ’60s-’70s passive resistance slogan 25 Dieter’s feelings of distress 26 Marks for life 27 Studio production 28 Gambler’s words of lament 29 Church belief
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
30 High-altitude nest 31 Cordelia’s sister 32 Golf or tennis 34 RPM gauges 37 Wrestling duos 41 Part of FBI 43 Physics particle 44 Old World Style pasta sauce brand 46 Computer user’s shortcut
4/18/11
47 Elementary lessons 48 Applaud 49 Old Roman wrap 50 Seniors often take limos to it 51 Bench, for one 52 It’s often enough 53 Instigate, with “up” 56 Debtor’s letters 57 Hitter’s stat
Week ending April 12, 2011
#1 Album
Top tracks
( ) Last week’s ranking in top five
United States E.T. .DW\ 3HUU\
(1) 1
S&M 5LKDQQD
(3) 3
Just Can’t Get Enough %ODFN (\HG 3HDV Songs for Japan Various Artists
Rolling in the Deep $GHOH
Till the World Ends %ULWQH\ 6SHDUV
(2) 2 (5) 4 5
United Kingdom Party Rock Anthem /0)$2 On the Floor Jennifer Lopez Wasting Light Foo Fighters
E.T. .DW\ 3HUU\
Just Can’t Get Enough %ODFN (\HG 3HDV
Sweat 6QRRS 'RJJ 'DYLG *XHWWD
(2) 1 (1) 2 3
(4) 4 5
Spain On the Floor Jennifer Lopez
Mr. Saxobeat $OH[DQGUD 6WDQ Songs for Japan Various Artists
Facil 0DOGLWD 1HUHD
Lead the Way ... RMX &DUORV -HDQ Lead the Way &DUORV -HDQ Source: iTunes
THAT MONKEY TUNE by
Michael A. Kandalaft
(1) 1 (2) 2 3
(3) 4 (4) 5
© 2011 MCT
Horoscopes By Linda C Black / Tribune Media Services
Aries (March 21-April 19) Coast to victory, even if you no longer covet the goal. Doubts may limit even as ambitions leave you dissatisfied with the current accomplishment. Climb a mountain one step at a time. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You can learn whatever you need now. Avoid impetuous spending. Be careful to minimize error. It’s not time to launch a new endeavor yet. Accommodate another’s demands. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Studying seems easier now. Dive into your favorite subject, and dig deep. Ask a sibling’s opinion. Find out what your friends know about it. Discover a delicious reward. Cancer (June 22-July 22) New data disrupts old routines. Still, knowing the rules provides a successful fallback position. Be patient, and be prepared to defend your position. Relax at home later. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You’re smarter when you’re happy. Stick to the old rules, with self-discipline, but bail on the guilt. Don’t gamble or flash your money around. You get good news through the grapevine. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It’s easy to get lost in your thoughts and spend too much time in the dark side of your mind now. Contact a friend who’s been there, done
that. Loose lips sink ships. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Don’t believe everything you think, and don’t be too attached to the results. Don’t forget to take good care of your friends, especially now. Fact and fantasy clash. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Your dreams are coming true. There’s more work coming, whether you want it or not. Make sure to share your experiences with your close friends. Be patient. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Keep to the rules, and you’ll be proud of a game well played. Don’t throw money at a problem. You can solve it inexpensively with a creative approach. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) It’s adventure time. Travel to where you’ve always wanted to go. Don’t listen to the negative voices. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Let your partner drive. Sit back for the next few days, so you can relax with new friends. Trust your imagination. Create new partnerships or recreate old ones. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Start by learning the rules. This foundation makes you stronger. Take in more work and focus on making money. Be patient and thrifty. This will allow for upcoming relief.
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Arts + Entertainment APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
Campus Filmmakers Take to the Screen Short films and musical performances shine at Reeves
By SOPHIE ERBER
Arts + Entertainment Writer
The University of Tampa film and media arts students had another opportunity to show their finest films in Reeves Theater on Saturday night at the Festival of Film and Music presented by Something Collective Productions. The presentation started with the film screenings, and, after an intermission, ended with live music played by some of the student filmmakers. Which Way, LA? by Rob Zavala started strong with its upbeat music and fun shots of local break dancers, known as “b-boys.”
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret The festival closed off with live performances from student filmmakers.
The footage was captivating — there were dancers rapidly spinning on their heads and holding gravity-defying freezes, intermingled with interview segments from the b-boys themselves. Nocturne Eternal by Carlos Ramos displayed great digital effects coupled with a moving story of an astronaut trapped in the silent, cold limbo of outer space. The lone astronaut contemplates what he will be leaving behind on earth as he drifts in and out of consciousness and hallucinations, slowly accepting the devastating fact that he will not be rescued. The lack of the typical Hollywood happy ending made this film more powerful than it would have been had the astronaut been rescued. NSA, by Max Simon, was off to a great start until technical difficulties struck right in the middle of the action. The audience still enjoyed what it saw of the film and applauded even after the second failed attempt to get the movie going again. “The event was a lot of fun, and all the films shown were great,” says Keith Piesco, who played the main character in NSA. “It was a bummer to see Max’s [film] get cut short due to some mechanical error with the file. But everyone worked hard and it was a fun night.” When asked about his controversial role in NSA, Piesco responded, “It was real funny actually. I didn’t know how people were going to react to it and especially to me, since I was sitting right there watching with everyone.” Piesco’s character responds to a Craigslist “casual encounter” ad and goes to meet the girl anonymously in front of her
apartment building, wearing what she told him to wear: a blue polo and gym shorts. He soon realizes that there are multiple other men in the same outfit, all waiting for the same girl. “I personally loved the story, but I don’t get offended easily, so I found it funny,” Piesco says. “I had never done anything like it before,” he continues, “but I thought the script was hilarious. The nights were pretty cold, since we shot in December and January, and there was a lot of makeup put on my arm to conceal a tattoo. That was real hard to get off. But it was all well worth it. I had a blast on the set and worked with some real cool people I had never worked with before.” Other films included Six Point Five and Random Milk, by Clint Hanaway; In Dying Days, by Kyle Franzak,; Star Children, by Zachary Joyne; and Spin Cycle, by Fawn Testa. Monsters that Smile was another intense, highly professional psychological thriller by Dennis Hooten — his other film One Way Howard was also screened on Saturday, in addition to a screening a few weeks ago at the Blackbox Film Festival. In Monsters, the effects were strikingly realistic and very gory. Jaws were actually being ripped out of faces, and all the blood seemed very real — definitely no ketchup in this film. 3 Day, by Clint Hanaway, was a comical short about three roommates. Two of them are lazy and don’t want to contribute to the utilities bill, even though they use the TV for all their hours of video games. The third is the “responsible one” and before he leaves for a “three-day” trip, he
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret Dennis Hooten rattled Reeves Theater with his bass guitar. Hooten featured the films Monsters that Smile and One Way Howard.
warns his room-mates to stay away from his car. Of course, they take the beautiful, classic car for a joy ride. The effective musical cues and clever camera angles gave this short an eccentric, comical flair — the audience responded with outbursts of laughter. “I felt honored to be a part of such an amazing student-run event,” said Hanaway. “I think the blending of film and music amplified the crowd’s enjoyment and made for an all around spectacular evening.” Sophie Erber can be reached at serber@ spartans.ut.edu.
‘Just Like You:’ Comedians Appeal to Campus Funnybone By LAUREN ROSSI
Arts + Entertainment Writer
Last Friday night, students and faculty gathered together in Reeves theater for some comic relief at The Just Like You Comedy Show. University of Tampa alumnus J.B. Ball and fellow comedians and friends Greg Kashmanian, Matt Fernandez and UT’s own John Jacobs (host of the evening), a junior, kept the crowd laughing during each of their individual skits, referencing sexual behavior, their mothers and aggressive squirrels. The event was promoted by UT’s radio station, WUTT. UT junior and member of WUTT, Gaby Rosado, was pleased with the turn out. “It’s great to see UT students coming together to support one another,” she said. Almost all of the seats in Reeves theater were filled with members of the UT community. Audience members had to sign talent release forms, as UT staff filmed the four hour show to help promote and showcase
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the talent. Kashmanian joked that the DVD will be for sale on e-bay and in an infomercial voice said, “Buy it now for $3,000.” All jokes aside, Ball hopes the DVD will help them get more gigs at other college campuses. As each of the four comedians have a different stylistic approach on stage, Fernandez found that the crowd responded well, and that, between the four of them, they “tickled everybody’s funny bone.” According to Fernandez, the comedians’ friendship began when he met J.B. at an open mic night. UT senior Anthony Rodriquez’s favorite comedian of the night was “Greg Oreo. For a fat dude who loves fat jokes, Greg had some funny fat jokes.” For those of you who were not at the show, Kashmanian opened his skit by introducing himself as Gregorio, his name in Spanish and, coincidentally, his two favorite things: Greg and Oreos. With only seven months of performing under his belt, Ball ended the show with an hour long performance — his longest skit
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Coming back to perform in front of his peers was the “scariest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. Nobody I know has ever seen me perform.”
- J.B. Ball
on stage to date. After the show, Ball was ecstatic and radiating with the confidence of a job well done. Ball graduated from UT with a degree in film and communications. He said that coming back to perform in front of his peers was the scariest thing he’s ever done in his whole life. Nobody I know has seen me perform; it’s a lot easier to make an impression on someone who doesn’t know you.” After a response from the audience,
he said they reassured him he was “doing the right thing.” Before ending the show, the audience had the chance to talk to the comedians and ask questions. The guys ended the show in a group hug, proud of a successful evening. Catch the next performance at Side Splitters Comedy Club on April 20 at 8 p.m. Lauren Rossi can be reached at lrossi@ spartans.ut.edu.
Abby Sandord/The Minaret
Left to right: John Jacobs, Greg Kashmanian, Matt Fernandez and J.B. Ball. These four men put on a stand-up comedy show for UT students to unwind during the last weeks of the semester.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
9
Hollywood Undead Rises Above the Sophomore Slump By RICHARD SOLOMON
Arts and Entertainment Columnist
Rap-rock band Hollywood Undead released their sophomore album American Tragedy on April 5. While their first album Swan Songs focused more on partying and producing catchy choruses, American Tragedy is a much darker and heavier work. Swan Songs introduced Hollywood Undead as a rap-rock group that wore hockey masks and used rap names rather than real ones. One of the members would do the singing, while the others rapped over him (think a more techno version of Linkin Park minus Chester Bennington’s screaming). If you’re a Hollywood Undead fan, you’ll love American Tragedy. As for people who didn’t care for Swan Songs, you’ll probably still love American Tragedy. The normal version is made up of fourteen songs and runs over fifty minutes. If you choose to get the deluxe version, there are four more songs, and the iTunes bonus versions add even more to that. American Tragedy starts out with “Been to Hell,” a forceful and at times abrasive song that seems more negative than anything else. I was a bit concerned that the rest of the album would be along these lines. Swan Songs had been hilarious in lyrical content and “Been to Hell” was a little too cynical for that. But while American Tragedy isn’t a repeat of their first album (a good thing), it is an extremely strong sophomore release. The next track is “Apologize.” With it comes the clever wordplay with which I associate Hollywood Undead. “Apologize” is a direct “f--- you” to critics. “We don’t apologize. That’s just the way it is. But we can harmonize. Even if we sound like s---.” The melody, meanwhile is probably the most synthesized of any on the album, with heavy techno influences. This just
makes it seem funny. I have to admit, it’s entirely too catchy. The next track is even stronger. “Comin’ in Hot” is one of my favorite songs on the album and the token party tune. It sounds like the spiritual successor to “No. 5” from Swan Songs. It’s even catchier than “Apologize,” and I predict will be on many a “drinking playlist” in the future. After that, the album stays strong and continues to please. At times, the synthesizer seems a little too heavy handed, but it succeeds more often than not. “Coming Back Down” keeps the pace fast and the energy high, with a sadder song that features rapped verses and sung choruses – standard Hollywood Undead – over the melody. This is followed by “Bullet,” an intense song about suicide. The lyrics are probably more depressing than most. The twist? It has a melody happier than many songs, an upbeat and almost peppy tempo that’s completely at odds with lyrics like, “I never bought a suit before in my life. But when you go to meet God, you know you wanna look nice,” and, “A stomach full of pills didn’t work again. I’ll put a bullet in my head and I’m gone, gone, gone, gone.” The final verse is different and is sung by what sounds like a little girl and adds to the “happy” melody, but with the previous lyrics it just makes it even sadder. “I wish that I could fly way up in the sky, like a bird so high. Oh, I might just try.” If “Comin’ in Hot” is a successor to “No. 5,” then this song is the successor to “My Black Dahlia.” “Levitate” comes next and ends the depressing turn the album took. This song is about sex — plain and simple — and is another catchy song that seems a little techno heavy. The sung chorus sticks in one’s head, but don’t forget to check out the rapped verses. They change “Levitate” from a sex song to something a little darker and deeper (much like everything else on American Tragedy). “Pour Me” is another strong song that is
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Hollywood Undead’s second album, American Tragedy, is darker than their past works such as the song “Been to Hell”.
catchy on the surface, but lyrically sad. If “Comin’ in Hot” seems like a typical party song, then “Pour Me” is the lament of an alcoholic recognizing how far they’ve fallen. If you got the deluxe version, you’ll enjoy “Lump Your Head.” Simply, this is about fighting and partying. It’ll be stuck in your head after one listen. The last song on the deluxe version is “S.C.A.V.A.” and it’s as strong as they come. The rapping starts off and gradually builds in intensity. The chorus is catchy as ever, but the rapping steals the track. If you purchased the deluxe version, you
won’t be disappointed; this is a chilling end to the album as a whole. As it stands, American Tragedy is one of the best albums to hit the rock genre. Go for broke and get the deluxe version. You won’t regret it and it’s well worth the cash for the extra four songs. The only problem you may have with the album is choosing which catchy song to listen to on repeat. 4.5/5 Stars If you liked this album, check out other Hollywood Undead works, as well as Linkin Park. Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu.
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10 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Configuring the ‘Source Code’
By CORY EMERSON
Arts + Entertainment Writer
Photo courtesy of UT Office of Public Information
OPUS Live! Gala Concert Next Thursday
OPUS, The University of Tampa's elite musical ensemble, will perform Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Falk Theatre. Free parking is available on the UT campus behind Plant Hall. OPUS sings primarily broadway repertoire, and this performance includes audience favorites such as medleys from "Les Miserables" and "Ragtime". Other features are duets and a quartet from familiar musical theater works. This is a Gala Concert celebrating David Clark Isele's last performance with OPUS. A special feature of this free program is an appearance by the world known a cappella male ensemble, ROCKAPELLA. For more information contact 253-6212 or 257-3344. You can also visit UT's web site at ut.edu.
The Scoop Writers at the University present Dennis Hinrichsen
When: Thursday, April 14, 7 p.m. Where: Scarfone Gallery What: Dennis Hinrichsen is the winner of the 2010 Tampa Review Prize for poetry for “Rip-tooth”, which will be released in later this year. He will be coming to campus for a reading just in time for National Poetry Month. Admission: Free
Our Town
When: April 14-16, 8 p.m., April 17, 2 p.m. Where: Falk Theatre What: Student production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize American drama. Admission: Free for UT students with student I.D., $ 10 general admission and $5 for non-UT students and seniors.
Source Code is not your typical scifi thriller. Its brilliant plot, acting and directing make it one of the best films to debut in 2011 so far. Director Duncan Jones, probably best known for being the son of David Bowie, manipulates the time frame of the movie as well as anyone since Christopher Nolan in Memento. In Source Code, Captain Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhall is an army helicopter pilot that wakes up on a train headed for Chicago. When he looks at his reflection in the window, he sees that he is another man, Sean Fentress. Naturally, he freaks out— his last memory being of him flying in Afghanistan—and nearly causes a riot on the train. All of a sudden, a bomb explodes on the train and Stevens wakes up chained in a dark chamber. He learns from Captain Goodwin, a woman on a flickering monitor, that he is in the “source code”. At first, Stevens believes that the whole thing is part of his training, but he eventually realizes that he is on a mission, not in a simulation. He has been sent back in time, not to change the past, but to discover who bombed the train, so that further terrorist attacks can be prevented. Stevens is sent back in to the source code countless times, against his will, and his only way to get out is to discover the bomber. Jones’ ability to keep the film from becoming repetitive, although the audience is subjected to the same scene over and over again, was magnificent. Gyllenhaal’s character is able to
influence the scene each time. In doing so, Jones gradually reveals shocking details in the plot, and the audience is slowly able to figure out what is actually going on. The film does lag a bit in the middle, though, as Stevens’ inability to comprehend what the audience already knows becomes frustrating. This is the film’s only true weakness, but its rapid beginning and unpredictable conclusion more than make up for it. Source Code finds Jake Gyllenhaal at his finest. This is the Gyllenhaal that we have seen in Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead, not the flat character actor we saw in Prince of Persia. It is good to see him back in peak form because he has gotten a chance to be a significant player in Hollywood. Michelle Monaghan stars alongside Gyllenhaal as Christina Warren, Captain Stevens’ love interest. Monaghan was perfect in this role. While it was not exactly the most challenging of performances—she played the same scene several times with a few minor changes—her interactions with her suddenly strange friend are very believable. While on the surface Source Code appears to just be another pulse-thumping thriller, it is also a commentary on human life. Is it worth exploiting one soldier if, by using him, you could potentially save millions of people? Source Code asks the audience this question, and during the film, it is hard not to side with Stevens. Does that make Dr. Rutledge (played by Jeffrey Wright), the genius inventor of the source code, a villain or a hero? The film seems to side with Captain Stevens, but it also gives the viewers a chance to make their own
Source Code, directed by Duncan Jones stars Jake Gyllenhall.
decision. Source Code explores so many science fiction topics in this film: time travel, parallel universes, the power of the brain, the extent of memories and the limits of death. Source Code was a hell of a ride, a combination of Avatar’s mental link, allowing one person’s mind to inhabit another’s, and Groundhog Day’s time repetition. While its visual effects were not anything out of this world, Source Code’s smart plot, its crisp directing and its excellent acting make it a must-see flick. Besides, its mindblowing ending alone makes it worth seeing. Source Code grades out as an A-. Cory Emerson can be reached at cory.emerson@spartans.ut.edu.
Guys, Take Some Fashion Advice By CAROLYN HATCH
Arts + Entertainment Columnist
There are so many men out there that just cannot seem to get comfortable in a clothing store. Well, if you are one of these guys who simply don’t know where to begin, I can help lead you to the right place. Here are eight staple articles of clothing that every guy should have in his closet: 1. Polos 2. Button-downs 3. White v-necks 4. Casual tees without graphic design 5. Sweaters 6. Dark jeans 7. Khaki pants 8. Khaki shorts This is a very basic list, and it is one that all men should be able to check off according to personal taste and style. Only you can define where you will buy your clothes and exactly how you will put a unique twist on wearing them. Don’t be afraid to show some character. Believe it or not, pink is okay if worn with confidence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a self-assured man who is willing to put pastels to the test. Button-downs and Polos can be found at a variety of stores, including J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters. Ask a sales associate to assist you in finding the appropriate color and style that will suit your needs. They are usually happy to help. Whether you are a “lax bro” who wants to rep his sporty style or any other athlete that is proud of his jersey, you will come to see that many girls adore your athleticism. “Wife-beaters” and tees with the sleeves cut off, on the
other hand, are not “sporty,” and should be worn only during your “GTL” (gym, tanning, laundry) session. Sweat stains are never acceptable, and you will have plenty of time at the gym and the beach to show off those muscles. This is where those white v-necks come in handy. They can be worn as an undershirt or even as a casual look to pair with your favorite denim, though sweat stains are still in no way permissible. This is a great way to look clean and cut if you have put in some extra hours at the gym. Having a few tees that are free of graphic designs is great when pairing with a jacket or going for a more classic look. Have no fear; I am not asking you to wear the orange sweater that your grandma bought as a Christmas present. Though sweater vests can look great, they too are not suitable for every man. However, a classic shawl collar or vneck is an essential piece of clothing for the holiday season. Zip-ups and half-button sweaters are also a great choice for those who find sweaters to be uncomfortably warm. For the brighter days, a cardigan can be a great look when paired with a clean tee. There are a few rules when shopping for clothing, and the most important is that you avoid “jorts” at all cost. Yes, this is a term used to describe jean shorts. Unless you have cut an old pair of jeans to do mechanical work under the shelter of your car, these “jorts” need to be disposed of. Some basics to stick with when choosing shorts are khaki, navy blue and even preppy colors such as red or green. When it comes to shopping for denim, acid-washed jeans are pretty much out of the picture. I suggest
Daydream_the_day_Away/photobucket.com
White v-necks are a good option because they go with nearly every outfit.
kellie72577/photobucket.com
Acid wash is so eighties! Update your look with a darker denim.
you focus on medium-to-dark washes that can be slimming, in addition to creating the look of longer legs. Khaki pants or even brown corduroys are less casual and can be paired with a variety of tops. Now that you have a little help, head on over to International Plaza and ask a stylist to assist you in achieving the look that you need. Carolyn Hatch can be reached at cvhatch@spartans.ut.edu.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
11
Students Compete in Public Speaking for $150 By LAUREL SANCHEZ
Arts + Entertainment Writer
dallco_photo/photobucket.com
Make sure to pay attention to URL’s and be sure you know where they are taking you when you click on them.
Protect Yourself on the Web Web-based attacks have increased By TODD SANBORN
Arts + Entertainment Columnist
According to an article on Tech News World, web-based attacks have increased 93 percent from 2009 to 2010. Companies around the world are scrambling to try to find a solution to our crippling Internet security solutions, as even major U.S. corporations have announced that they have faced attacks from viruses over the past year. Symantec, a popular computer malware software application, has conducted a report highlighting the latest issues that are plaguing users. Google has said that Hydraq (a Trojan that allows hackers remote access to a target computer), has attempted to steal their intellectual property in the past. Where Symantec really wants users to take notice is while they are installing applications on social media sites like YouTube, Facebook and smaller URLs, like http://tinyurl.com/3zz2oc5. A site like Facebook is actually teeming with unsuspecting links to viruses and trojans that will let the hacker sitting in their parent’s basement gain access to your most important files. With many of the games on these social media sites, a download is required, which allows the game access to your hard drive and allows it to operate a lot more smoothly. But nine times out of 10, a user will just press “Next,” without actually reading what they’re agreeing to. Once these kinds of fake programs are installed, the hacker has almost unblocked access to your entire hard drive and, in a matter of minutes, your bank account, passwords and photos. The popularity of the “tiny URL” phenomena is adding insult to injury. Unlike a normal URL like, www.theminaretonline.com, where it is easy to tell what you’ll be navigating to, the latest craze, which shortens the URL. It has made it almost impossible to
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see where your browser will be taking you to. The URL, http://tinyurl. com/3zz2oc5, is actually The Minaret Online’s website, but there is no sign of that in the address. It could just as easily be a virus waiting to take over your computer. I would consider myself a pretty avid computer user, but even I have fallen victim to the scheme of the “tiny URL.” I once received a link on my Facebook wall (“Justin Bieber: DEAD!”) that I knew was a lie, but I clicked it anyway and within seconds there were windows popping up all over my screen. It took restarting my computer to combat the issue. Thankfully it turned out not to be a virus, but the possibility is out there and most of us probably don’t secure our information as well as we should. UT junior Frank Powers had this to say about his surfing habits: “I hardly watch what I download on my computer; I’m sometimes wary about the links on Facebook, but that’s probably it.” “Honestly, the reason I got a Mac was because I thought they were like “virus proof,” so I haven’t thought about online security since... well, never,” said Bradley Wank, UT sophomore. Kristine Bowers had a few more thoughts about security on her PC: “It seems like when I had one of those virus fighter applications on my computer, that it just made it slower and never caught anything, or, when it did, it would take hours for a full scan to be done and it’s not like my computer got any faster.” As it stands, the fate of Internet security seems to be lying in our actions. Avoid clicking those “tiny URL’s,” unless you’re almost 100 percent positive of their source, and never download a random application, especially to play something as unexciting as a Facebook game. Todd Sanborn can be reached at todd.sanborn@spartans.ut.edu.
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I once received a link on my Facebook wall (“Justin Bieber: DEAD!”) that I knew was a lie, but I clicked it anyway and within seconds there were windows popping all over my screen.
When attempting to communicate with toddlers, younger children or even some adults, the phrase “Use your words!” comes in handy. Fourteen students used their words and took a chance at winning $150 on Friday, April 8 at the University of Tampa’s 10th Bi-annual Speech Contest. The event was co-hosted by the College of Arts and Letters and the Department of Speech, Theater and Dance. Dr. Ann Marie Coats, the supervisor of this event, said that the contest takes place every semester and is publicized through flyers, OSLE’s weekly notices and global messages. The topics of each speech included identity theft, atheism and monetary benefits for collegiate football players. Many of the students had previous experience with public speaking. Contestant Allyson Cosgrove, a sophomore criminology major, said that she has liked public speaking since high school, and thought it would be fun to enter the contest. Cosgrove’s speech was titled “Can You Be a Crime Scene Investigator,” and dealt with how shows such as COPS and CSI do not portray “reality” as realistically as some viewers may think. While some contestants had previous experience on debate teams in high school Marelise Javier, a sophomore exercise science and sports major, said that although she has never had any serious problems with public speaking, she is not a very experienced speaker. Her speech was titled “Aphrodisiacs.” The competition consists of two rounds, in which the original 14 contestants are narrowed down to six finalists, and then one winner. Out of the 14 contestants, Tim Bourn, Cogley, Chris Laganas, Matt Saintsing, Marco Tarantino and Michael Vertie battled it out for the win. The three top speakers were Laganas, Saintsing and Bourn. Bourn claimed the win. Bourn is a freshman and theater major who gave an informative speech titled “More Than Mr. Rogers.” The iconic childhood hero had many great qualities about him, but the one that Bourn talked about was this: his sweaters. Yes, Bourn did a speech not only about Mr. Rogers’ sweater collection, but also about sweaters as a whole, including the
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret Freshman theater major, Tim Bourn, claimed the win with “More than Mr. Rogers.”
history of his sweaters, specific childhood references and the qualities of cashmere. When asked if his theater background aided his victory, Bourn said, “I have gotten a lot of wonderful training in the fields of acting and public speaking.” Jenna Labadie, one of the judges, said that judges are not only looking for, but are impressed by, memorized speeches. The other judges were Carman Tarantino, instructor of language and linguistics; Dr. Robert Gonzalez, assistant professor of speech, theater and dance; and Virginia Wester, CFO of Highway Safety Devices and judge for the competition since it’s beginning. Labadie said that every year there are more and more speeches, which makes the judging a challenging process. Cogley’s speech was titled “The Moral High Ground.” He said it only took him two hours to memorize. “Memorization just comes naturally for me,” Cogley said. “I suppose, like anything, it just takes practice. Also, I constantly use memorization tricks.” For those of us who do not have such great memory skills, Tarantino suggests students use the resources that are available to them, like the new UT Center for Public Speaking, located in the Macdonald–Kelce Library in AV1. The center is a place where you can go and get help with any assignment that is speech related. For more information, contact Coats at acoats@ut.edu or go to www.ut.edu/ speakingcenter. Laurel Sanchez can be reached at laurel.sanchez1@gmail.com.
12 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
Commentary
Is Snooping Through Your Hubby’s Facebook Justifiable?
By HANNAH WEBSTER Love and Sex Columnist
Not long after things between my ex and I fizzled out, I found myself staring at the blank space of the Facebook login screen. We hadn’t spoken for a while. I had moved a country away, and we weren’t even friends on Facebook anymore. Though it was the last thing I ever wanted him to know, remaining oblivious to what was going on in his life kept me up at night. What left me staring at the blinking cursor in the “username” space was the realization that I not only knew my ex’s username, but I also remembered his password. I was convinced that the dirty details of his personal life were hiding behind private messages and personal chats. “Remember this password, Baby,” he said to me one day when I had asked the code to get on his computer for the millionth time. We were both too ridiculously infatuated with each other at the time to even dream that I would ever use his information to conduct an invasion of privacy. The hesitation only lasted an instant. Then I typed the password as quickly as I could, pretending it wasn’t actually happening or like I could have done it by accident.
The instant I was in and his home page popped up, I realized that I couldn’t do it. Several realizations hit me at once (the idea that maybe I didn’t want to know amongst the strongest). I signed out with a racing pulse and sweaty palms, deciding to pretend it didn’t happen. Afterward, I admitted my poor judgement to a close friend. She laughed it off, saying that everyone does it. I thought about that, and realized that I had surely been a part of numerous conversations in
which someone admitted to creeping on their loved one’s Facebook page. Or, if not Facebook, their text messages or emails. Some couples I know give each other their passwords to just about everything, completely giving up their privacy for what they call “trust.” But the last time I put my trust fully into a partner, it did not mean giving them full access to all my accounts. Is that what trust is supposed to mean? To me, it means having faith in someone without needing that information. With my relationship
Mackenzie Crowley/The Minaret
Whether checking the texts of your significant other, or digging through their facebook messages, you may encounter things you may not like. Always make sure to get both sides to every story.
with my ex, a considerable amount of trust was lacking. That was what mainly led me to snoop. I wanted to know if anything was kept from me in the past. Though I couldn’t go through with it, I felt certain I had gotten away with it. I was not so lucky. My little stint with amateur Facebook hacking came back to bite me in the bum in the form of a phone call from my ex. He informed me of an interesting email he received, notifying him that someone logged into his account from a new computer… in Tampa, Florida. Updates in Facebook privacy protection blew my cover. Thanks a lot, guys. I was driven by the suspicion that often follows a relationship. But many are driven by the suspicion that accompanies one. It’s almost like some people want to find something out — at least I know that was the case with me. Many people justify looking where they ought not to look by what they find, not the invasion of privacy. Freshman Kathryn Geddes said, “My best friend went through her ex’s email and that’s how she found out he was cheating on her.” But there are two sides to every story. It isn’t likely you’ll have a huge onesided opinion on this. A girl who has been cheated on might say, “Yes, it’s onehundred percent justified,” while a man in love would think there is no need for such treachery. So snoop if you must, but keep in mind, you might not find what you like. Hannah Webster can be reached at hannahkarine31@gmail.com.
Colorado Police Pepper-Spray 8-Year-Old Child After Rant
By RICHARD SOLOMON Columnist
Aidan Elliot is an eight-year-old boy, who, on February 22, was pepper-sprayed by police officers outside of his Colorado elementary school. At first glance this sounds absolutely horrible. An 8-year-old boy? How on earth did this happen? But then the truth comes out, and it’s revealed that Aidan Elliot is a little monster. Aidan had been upset on the bus and when breakfast at school rolled around, his frustration had reached a climax. He was screaming by the time the meal was over and threw chairs and a TV at a teacher. His tantrum got so bad that teachers locked a number of younger children into a room to keep them safe. How did Aidan react to this? He tried to break down the door, of course. Police were called and arrived to find little Aidan holding a piece of wood trim with a blade sticking out of it. Upon seeing the police, Aidan did what any normal eight-year-old boy would do and dropped the wood. Oh, wait, no. Actually he screamed, “Come get me, f------.” And then tried to stab them. The officers pepper-sprayed him and get him to drop the weapon. They could have tazed him, but that probably would have killed the child. They could have used physical force and risked seriously hurting
him. Instead, they used pepper-spray and no lasting damage was done. When Aidan’s mother arrived and was told about the pepper spray, she said, “Well, you (he?) probably deserved it.” But now she’s saying that it wasn’t okay. Police had been called on Aidan before (twice before, actually) and both times were able to use words to calm the monster, I mean, child. She felt police should have been able to talk him down again, and has suggested that police need to get training on how to handle unruly children. That’s certainly the way to go: fix the police officers’ behavior instead of your child’s. Miss Elliot, let me break it down for
you: your son is extraordinary in that, at the ripe age of eight, he is already a horrible human being. He has been quoted saying that he wanted to kill the officers who apprehended him, and even agrees he “kind of deserved [being pepper-sprayed].” How on earth, Miss Elliot, could you possibly believe that the solution lies in training police more and not in raising your son well? I’m sorry that you follow a fairly typical pattern in placing responsibility elsewhere, instead of admitting that you’ve completely failed at being a parent. While better training for police officers might be necessary, your son will always
bradleygee/flickr.com
It’s rare to see police taking such severe action toward a child. Elliot was presenting a danger to himself and the other children around him, creating a prime example of parenting gone awry.
be a detriment to the world unless you actually start doing some better parenting. I know, Miss Elliot, it’s very hard to be a mom when you’re busy trying to make an extra buck on the Today show. You should absolutely be outraged that your son was pacified without any lasting damage or excessive force despite threatening other students, teachers and the police. The only tragedy here is that Aidan walked away from this with nothing but an irritated face and the punishment of having to transfer to a new school. Instead of seeing this as a wake-up call to the fact that you’re an awful parent and that, ultimately, society is going to pay for it, you’ve decided to try and capitalize on the publicity. What did they offer you, Miss Elliot? Money? Fifteen minutes of fame? A way to pin the responsibility on someone else? Your son thought it would be acceptable to greet police with profanities and threats of physical force. Let me reiterate: your eight-yearold son thought it was totally okay to curse at police and try to hit them. That’s what you’ve accomplished as a parent. Congratulations. Someday, when your son is a juvenile delinquent or has been convicted of some form of assault or domestic violence, you’ll blame television or say that the school system failed him. I just hope that he doesn’t hurt anyone in the process. For everyone else out there, consider this an example of how not to raise monsters, I mean children. Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu.
Editorial:
Journalism Major Introduced This Fall In the fall, the university will add a journalism major to its list of programs and degrees. During my four years at UT, I have seen a growth in interest surrounding communications, film, public relations, and advertising. Students have also shown greater interest in journalism. It is a common misconception that journalism is the same as communications. Even while working for the newspaper people have assumed that journalism and public relations are the same thing. Launching a major to help dispel this assumption, and many others, has been a venture for three professors in particular, Charles McKenzie, John Capouya and Daniel Reimold. I have learned through my own writing that journalism is not about being nice, making someone look good or trying not to hurt someone’s reputation. Instead, it is about sticking to the facts. I think that with this new major in place, there will be a greater sense of understanding for what journalists
EDITOR THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
COMMENTARY
contribute, as well as the obstacles they must overcome while writing a credible news piece. Unlike the current communications curriculum, the journalism major will not require students to take courses in PR or advertising. My biggest concern is its introduction this late in the academic year, during a period in which many students have already selected a college or decided on a major. There might be a struggle at first to bring in new students, but I think once the first batch begin enrolling the major should take off fairly quickly. What does this new major mean for UT? It could open the door for more classes on different parts of journalism, within areas such as broadcast, online, radio, and print. My hope is that UT can one day boast a journalism program similar to the one at the University of South Florida. Just a reminder: The Minaret is currently accepting applications from aspiring journalists. The Editorial Board can be reached at editor@theminaretonline.com or you may submit a Letter to the Editor form online at www.theminaretonline.com.
LETTER
In Response to “Smart”
As a member of the University’s Emergency Operations Team, I appreciated the editorial focus on campus safety and wanted to respond about decision-making during the weather event of March 31. We have multiple methods of communicating to students, faculty, and staff during an emergency situation, and SMART text messaging is one of those methods. In the event of threatening weather, we monitor many sources to determine if, when and how to communicate. Last week’s weather event was powerful and unusual, lasting over an extended period of time and affecting a large part of the State. I made the final determination that global e-mail messages, with an accompanying website message, was the better way to communicate that high winds, heavy rains, large hail, and tornadic activity were possible over a relatively long time period rather than text messaging. A bit of history: When we first employed text messaging, we worked with SG and mutually agreed we would only use SMART if immediate action was needed on the part of those receiving the message. The student leaders at that time impressed upon us the need to use SMART only in those instances. I would
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TO THE
be delighted to review these protocols with the new student leadership. The safety of this campus community is important to all of us, and I urge everyone to sign up for SMART at www.ut.edu/safety. -Linda Devine. The Benefits of a Vegan Diet Dear Editor, In response to your article “How to Guide for Vegetarian Diet” (31 Mar. 2011), I would like to compliment Carolyn Hatch for speaking out about the benefits of a vegan diet. Thankfully, with so many delicious and cruelty-free dishes, such as veggie burgers and vegan pizza, available at most grocery stores and with chain restaurants like Denny’s and Ruby Tuesday adding delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes to their menus, it’s never been easier to boycott cruelty to animals. Even the United Nations is urging people to go vegan, as doing so is the single most effective way that you can improve your health, help the environment, and stand up for animal rights each and every day. For more information, visit peta2.com, where you can order a free vegetarian/ vegan starter kit. -Amelia Jensen, College Campaigns Assistant, peta2.com.
WTF: Colloquialisms Have Now Been Added to the OED By ALYSIA SAWCHYN Columnist
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is, according to its website, “widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language.” It contains over 600,000 words and includes their definitions, pronunciations and etymology. The OED is over 150 years old, and is now in the process of its first major revision. New words and expanded definitions are updated in its online edition every three months. The most recent updates, published on March 24, included several disturbing initialisms (found most commonly in “electronic communications”), a new definition to an already existing word and some surprising colloquialisms. With so many people bemoaning the deterioration of the English language, it seems that the OED has, with open arms, embraced change. I’d like to make it clear, though, that just because the OED has made the following phrases and words “real,” does not mean it’s okay to use them in an English essay. or on the GRE or during a job interview. LOL and OMG are now included in the OED’s list of initialisms. According to their statement, LOL and OMG were included because they are now used both in non-electronic print and spoken in conversations. Furthermore, the OED has “revealed some unexpected historical perspectives” on the origin of said abbreviations. As it turns out, OMG dates back to 1917 and LOL once stood for “little old lady.” A BBC article provides the following alternatives for those of us who would rather not type “LOL” online, and how these choices define us. :D (smileys) — Simple and clear, but may appear childish. Are you a Comic Sans fan? ROFL, LMAO, BWL — Even more annoying than LOL. !!! — One is fine,
three reeks of desperation: “Look!!! I made a joke!!!” Yes, we noticed. Haha, Hehehe, Arf arf — The safe option. Effective but not very imaginative. Were you really laughing? Hilarious! How funny! — You are living in the dark ages. Another irritating addition to the dictionary is an expanded definition of the word “heart.” It is now, officially, both a noun and a verb, which means that the clothes which have, “I heart PINK,” printed on them are now more annoying than before. This expanded definition of “heart” originated in the t-shirts and bumper stickers which substitute a heart symbol for the word “love.” Thank you, New York. Muffin top is now considered to be a “real expression” in the English language. The OED first defines muffin top as literally, the top half of a muffin or a muffin that is cooked so that only the top part exists. They also, of course, make the necessary distinction between the English muffin and the “traditional American type.” The second definition refers to, “a protuberance of flesh around the waistband of a tight pair of trousers . . . which may sometimes be attributed to an excessive appreciation for muffin tops in the literal sense.” Thank you, overweight America, for making this a common expression. Another new phrase (which to OED defines as an interjection) is “wassup.” Why was “what’s up” not enough? Why has the phonetic spelling of the two words mashed into each other become a “real” free-standing expression? That can’t be right. My computer wholeheartedly agrees with me, putting a dashed red line underneath the “word,” and suggests that I’m trying to write “wasp” instead. But the OED says that it’s real, so it must be, right? Thank you, Budweiser. The last addition that I find is of note is
the word “hentai.” The OED, intelligently, did not highlight, comment or define it on their “Latest Update” page. Instead, it’s placed unobtrusively in a “List of new words” between “headlining” and “heteronormative.” If you don’t know what hentai is, type the word into Google, preferably while you’re sitting with your parents, in class or around strangers. Also, this is the one word that I’d suggest using in job interviews. In fact, you should also use the new definition of “heart” in the same phrase, saying something like, “I heart hentai.” You’ll totally get the job. The English language doesn’t need to be static, and, unfortunately, the OED is
adding these words because of their usage. According to its website, inclusion of a new word “requires several independent examples of the word being used, and also evidence that the word has been in use for a reasonable amount of time. We also look for the word to reach a level of general currency where it is unselfconsciously used with the expectation of being understood.” Just please remember, even though these phrases and words are in the OED, web-speak is called web-speak because it’s supposed to be used on the Internet and that context is important. Alysia Sawchyn can be reached at asawchyn@spartans.ut.edu.
Alysia Sawchyn/ The Minaret
Colloquial language and text speak is now sitting in the same ranks as legitimate language since it’s addition to the OED.
14 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
COMMENTARY
Administration Should Reconsider Relations With Sodexo By ALEX CARABALLO Columnist
One of my favorite places to eat on campus in the morning is Einstein’s. Let’s face it, their bagels are delicious. As a commuter, I pay for it straight up, but I can’t help but wonder why anyone would pay $9.84 for a bagel and a coffee that, at most, costs $4. I divided the total number of possible meals for the semester, which is 210, into the total cost of $2,065.00 and got a total of $9.84 cents per meal. That figure is only if you use every single meal; if even one meal a week goes unused the cost per meal jumps to $10.52. While Einstein’s is the most egregious example, many of the other meal exchanges are still rip-offs. Any meal exchange that is not really worth $9.84 is just money being skimmed from students to feed Sodexo’s bottom line. If you live off-campus, you can probably feed a family of four for a semester with the $2,000 spent on a meal plan. What pushes things over the top is the fact that all students living on campus are forced to buy these meal plans. If they weren’t, students might realize that meal plans are a rip-off and just pay the amount for meals upfront.
The average student will have paid close to $16,000 for four years of meal plans by the time they graduate. Think about it: at 7 percent interest you could be paying that morning bagel off well into your thirties. As a student government senator for the past two years, I have seen dozens of requests for funding from student organizations that run well into the hundreds or thousands of dollars for catering costs. Student government funded organizations are obligated to use Sodexo to cater events. Florida Southern College, a small private school in Lakeland, charges $1,913.00 per semester for their meal plan. The difference is that they get 20 meals per week while the 15 meal-per-week plan is only $1,563.00. This breaks down to a much more reasonable $6.84 a meal. So how is it that our similarly-sized school only 30 miles away can provide their students with a meal plan that is significantly cheaper than UT’s? The answer is that the university runs all of the student dining facilities on campus with no third party caterer. That means that the extra $3 a meal that students pay is going straight towards Sodexo overhead and profits.
Philippa Hatendi/ The Minaret
The meal exchanges that we receive from the university system tend to be worth less than we pay for them. This is as a result of underlying problems between UT and Sodexo.
The problem isn’t better meal exchanges or more options, the problem is Sodexo. Any supposed cost savings they may bring by specializing in catering is all taken up in profit. Students are not an ATM and the
administration should seriously consider moving away from third party companies that only force a financial burden on students. Alex Caraballo can be reached at acaraballo21@gmail.com.
High-Five to France For Military Intervention In the Ivory Coast
Campaign Aims to Break Link of Subsidized Farming With Obesity
By KENNETH JAMES
By TABISH TALIB
Daily Mississippian, U. Mississippi
UWIRE - Before sitting down to write this column, I went online to check the latest news from Africa. I was going to write a column arguing passionately, and, I hope, convincingly, about the need for Western intervention in the African country of Cote d’Ivoire. So, you can rightly assume that I was both surprised and delighted to read on the New York Times website that the United Nations and France have begun military strikes against the forces of former president Laurent Gbagbo. Former president Gbagbo lost his campaign to remain president of Cote d’Ivoire, a former French colony, last November. The election, certified by several international agencies as fair and honest, awarded the presidency of this cocoa-rich nation to Alassane Ouattara. Unfortunately, Gbagbo refused to accept his loss, and held on to power. Since then, the situation in Cote d’Ivoire has only deteriorated. Negotiations floundered, Ouattara set up his own government in his U.N.protected hotel room, and, eventually, armed fighting began between forces loyal to each side. Cote d’Ivoire descended into violence between pro-Ouattara supporters in the largely Muslim north and pro-Gbagbo supporters in the largely Christian south. This violence culminated recently in the massacre of 1000 civilians in the town of Duekoue, a dangerous step towards genocide. (Both sides deny responsibility for this massacre, though it does look like the blame falls on Ouattara’s forces.) So I am pleased that France and the United Nations have stepped in to do something about it. France and the United Nations have commenced air strikes against military and political targets in Cote d’Ivoire. I am
glad that someone in the Western world realized they had a duty to do so.Yes, I said a duty. You see, I advocate Western intervention to prevent genocides not just because I believe those who can prevent genocide have a responsibility to do so, and not because I am some naive bleeding heart who does not understand the so-called “real world.” My insistence on aid and intervention for Cote d’Ivoire comes from my belief that the United States and Western Europe have a duty to help places like South America and Africa because our ability to do so, our wealth and all it buys for us, has been made at the expense of these places. As a society, we often try to forget about the misdeeds of our past, to pretend things were not as bad as they truly were or to try to distance ourselves from what we claim to be the mistakes of our ancestors and therefore not our responsibility. This is a fallacious argument. Much of the wealth and power on which this country sits and uses to mold so much of the world into the shapes we find most pleasing has come to us because of what we and European imperial powers were able to take from places like Africa. The Western world robbed Africa of its people and its resources, yet we assume that having given African countries their independence — a gift that we did not give but which we gave back — somehow absolves us of responsibility for the repercussions that African nations continue to suffer through. By initiating military strikes against the despotic and violent forces of Laurent Gbagbo, France has made a bold step toward repaying the debt it owes its former colony and might just save a lot of lives in the process. I hope, but do not expect, that we might see a greater response from the Western world toward the prevention of genocide and violence around the world, especially toward countries to which we owe so very much.
Daily Targum, Rutgers U.
UWIRE - With its goal to end the negative impact of federally assisted farming, New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) launched yesterday its “Stop Subsidizing Obesity” campaign at Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus. NJPIRG’s campaign focuses on ending federal subsidies of corn and soy to large factory farms. As NJPIRG campus organizer Katryn Fraher said this causes production of cheap unhealthy foods consumers choose over healthy choices. “This amount of consumption has contributed a lot to the obesity epidemic, which has quadrupled in the last 40 years,” said Gideon Weissman, program associate for NJPIRG. The abundant production of corn leads to a greater production of corn syrup, allowing unhealthy food to be sold cheaper than healthy alternatives, he said. “[Subsidies] make it cheaper to sell Twinkies instead of carrots,” Fraher said. Ankur Chauhan, event organizer, said consuming these products could lead not just to obesity but also to other health issues. “When these children grow up, they won’t have a lot of nutrition in their body, which means that they will have a lot of deficiencies,” said Chauhan, School of Arts and Sciences junior. “Deficiencies in their eyes, liver and other organs will cause problems for them in the future.” Chauhan cited the danger of having too much sugar, like high fructose corn syrup, in a diet. “Too much sugar can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes,” he said. During NJPIRG’s launch, people played a version of the game “The Price is Right,” and members collected signatures to garner more public support and raise awareness on the issue, Fraher said.
“I plan on going to med school and if I can help control this issue now, then it won’t proceed any further when I become a doctor,” Chauhan said. Weissman said he did not believe there were any strong arguments supporting subsidies on agriculture. “Subsidies had a use when they were first implemented 30 to 40 years ago, but now they’re just overused,” he said. Weissman said the argument supporting how subsidies help small farmers was incorrect. “Ninety percent of agricultural subsidies go to big factory farms and not to local farmers,” he said. Fraher said she recognizes buying food is a personal choice but believes many people do not have that option. “If somebody cannot afford healthier food, of course they’ll buy the cheaper food, which unfortunately is unhealthy,” she said. Chauhan said people should understand where their money is going. For instance, Fraher cited wasteful subsidies given in past years, like when Domino’s Pizza received $12 million to advertise their cheesier pizza. “These subsidies are federal subsidies, it’s basically taxpayer money,” Chauhan said. “It’s being used to allow Oreos to be cheaper than bananas.” Weissman said he believes cutting subsidies would be more beneficial than cutting spending on what people need like federal Pell grants and food and water inspections. “The recent budget compromise, H.R. [House Bill] 1 included some cuts, but it’s not enough for us to be happy,” he said. Weissman said the timeliness of discussion in Congress about reducing government spending benefited NJPIRG’s cause. “The campaign makes sense right now because we want to cut spending,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to cut these unhealthy subsidies right now.”
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
COMMENTARY
Fashion as the Accessory Not Key to Your Individuality By PHILIPPA HATENDI Commentary Editor
I always found it interesting to observe people here in the States, you all certainly are the most beguiling nation of people I have ever encountered. Since I was a little girl I was always told that America was the place where you could choose to look however you wanted to. If you wanted to be taller, shorter, have pink hair and 300 piercings, you could do it. If you wanted to dress like a superhero everyday, wear leather dog collars, or have a hundreds of flowers tattooed on your back to go with your hairstyle you could do it. You could be a caricature, you could be every dream you ever had of yourself. Yet now, having been here for about two years I see that perhaps individualism is something that they save for the tourist brochures. Not to say that Americans aren’t individuals, they certainly have strong personalities. But I think the emphasis on determining what made one an individual is now based solely on appearance. Every time I open up a magazine (lets not name names) I tend to find them marketing one “fashionable” look for the masses, and the masses seem to be following it. As soon as fashion turns the corner of a street, we all go running after her. Irregardless of the fact that no one can tell the difference between you and the other twenty people they’ve seen that day.
the cherry blossom girl/flickr.com
Fashion changes every season and is a constantly evolving force. It’s easy to get caught up with the progression of fashion and the masses, yet not progress as an individual person.
I always had mixed feelings about using one’s appearance as the sole expression of one’s individuality. It always seemed like such a vapid, shallow way of proving yourself to be a unique individual. Clothing should be the accessory to your personality, not the definition of your character. Which is why I am astonished to find that in the land where everything is about the individual, individuals recognize and legitimise themselves by the ability to conform to the definitions of beauty that society has set for them. It has come to the point that even rebellion itself as become a form of conformity.
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Coming from a collective culture, like I do, where being part of the group is a symbol of unification and fulfilment I shouldn’t find conforming to be such a strange thing. It is, after all, the evidence of a healthy society that rejoices in displaying the unification behind the things that make them the same. Especially in terms of clothing. I guess, the only reason it sticks out to me here is because it is the ideology that had been ingrained into me about America since childhood. I guess, I am disappointed. I had expected to come into a society where no one looked anything alike, and I aim to correct that disillusion in my own mind.
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I have come to the conclusion that whenever you define yourself by what other people have stipulated, you always end up being a disappointment. Both to yourself and others. You recognize that you are not living your life the way that you envisioned, but merely following a definition. A definition of what you have been told will make you more attractive, healthier, richer, more fulfilled. Yet at the end of its just a dress, they are just the same pair of shoes that 50 other girls are wearing. You have not come any closer to manifesting your true self. Now, don’t send the fashion police after me. The last thing I want is some high class police officers knocking my dorm door down wearing the latest fashions. I am not opposed to fashion. Its a beautiful thing. I love to have fun with my clothes, and mix and match different things. One of the perks of being in the States is being able to wake up everyday, and be able to find a store where I can find clothes that match up to the way I feel like looking that day. My only opposition comes when your clothes are the only thing about you that is beautiful. They always say “Wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you,” and to this day I believe those are wise words. If you like something, wear it even after its gone out of fashion. I’m still wearing the same pair of dungarees that I had when I was 12, and I will always love motorcycle boots cause I recognise its not the clothes that make me. Its not about conformity or individuality, its about staying true to you. Philippa Hatendi can be reached at phatendi@spartans.ut.edu.
16 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
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THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
Sports
Sports Information Director: “Working in Sports is All I’ve Ever Wanted”
information director (SID) at the University of Tampa, Kolbe enjoys the daily challenges the job throws at him, the biggest being managing his time when there are 18 sports teams on campus of which he must keep track; not to mention keeping www. tampaspartans.com, UT’s athletic website Abby Sanford/The Minaret that he was instrumental Tom Kolbe (left) in the press box at the baseball field. in developing when he came to Tampa, up to By SHAWN FERRIS date. Sports Writer “Rosters, stats, scheduling, stories, social networking (a la Facebook and Twitter); just managing the website Tom Kolbe really likes sports. is a full-time job,” Kolbe said. Wait, No, I mean he really likes sports. “Working in sports is all I’ve ever there’s more. “I always have to stay on top of wanted,” Kolbe said. The 32-year-old Indiana native things such as deadlines for award grew up rooting for the Cubs and the nominations, press releases and even Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and submitting statistics, schedule changes basketball teams, the latter of which is and other similar things to not only the the university where he served in the conference, but the NCAA as well,” sports information department from Kolbe said. Fortunately for him, he doesn’t 1998-2002 as a student assistant. He worked at Notre Dame during time have to do all that alone. Working off from school at the University of under Kolbe are 12 SID assistants and Tampa. While at Notre Dame, he one intern. Carli Todd, the main contact for helped write media guides for football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s UT’s baseball and soccer teams, has and women’s soccer, hockey and been working for Kolbe as a SID baseball. He also assisted with three assistant for four years now. She football media days and an NCAA knows better than anyone the passion and time Kolbe puts into his job. It’s Baseball Regional. Now in his fifth year as sports that passion that earned Kolbe the
honor of being named the 2005 AVCA South Region’s Top SID in 2005, as well as having his men’s soccer media guide being ranked third in the nation in 2006. “Tom is very good at what he does,” Todd said. “He makes it a very fun environment to work in.” Kolbe, who received a bachelor’s degree in sports management from UT and also spent four years as a student assistant in the Sports Information Department while attending the university, has always been loyal to the sports the school has to offer, citing the passion of the teams as one of the main reasons he came to Tampa, as well as going to a smaller school in a big city setting. “The school’s athletic philosophy is similar to my beliefs,” Kolbe said. Since becoming SID after receiving his MBA from Regis (Colo.) University in 2004 and spending one year as assistant SID, Kolbe has been active in CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America), where he is a member of the Committee on Committees. He also attended two workshops in Nashville and in San Diego for the group. In addition, he was selected as the vice-chair of the social committee for the 2008 CoSIDA convention in Tampa. So what’s left to be done? “I just want to move up further in college athletics,” Kolbe said. “I love what I’m doing.” Shawn Ferris can be reached at sferris@spartans.ut.edu.
Spartan Golf Team Prepares to Swing Into SSC Tournament
By JOHN HILSENROTH Sports Writer
Kris Shane and Nicolas Jutigny have been golfing together for four years. They both started playing golf around age nine, are both marketing majors, were born in the same year and both live on golf courses. However, their games are very different. “I hardly ever lose golf balls,” said Shane. “My accuracy is definitely the strongest part of my game.” “I’m the complete opposite,” said Jutigny. “If I had to say I had a strength, I’d say it would be my long iron game. I think it’s a European thing.” Jutigny resides in Bossey, France. The University of Tampa golf team has certainly had its ups and downs this season, placing in the top-two in three of ten events, but placing in the bottom half of the remaining seven tournaments. Most recently, the team placed second of 17 teams in the North Alabama Invitational March 28-29. Then, a week later they placed 9th of 12 in the Barry Invitational. “The North Alabama Invitational was probably our best performance
Andy Meng/Sports Information
Senior Kris Shane has individually finished in the top-15 this year in three different tournaments, including one top-5 showing.
since I’ve been here,” said Shane. Shane’s teammate also had some thoughts on how the golf team was able to succeed in Alabama. “Sometimes the whole team is able to click,” said Jutigny. “We played great as a team, except for the last few holes. The course can be hard, if you make it hard for yourselves.” UT was able to beat many northern schools, including several ranked universities such as Northern Kentucky. The only team ahead of UT was the host and winner, North Alabama. The Barry Invitational didn’t go as smoothly for the Spartans.
Putting it simply, “No one finished well,” said Shane, who shot a seven over par at the invitational. As a team, UT shot a 901; 49 over par and 47 over Barry University’s winning score. The Spartans will have to shake that performance off as they look toward the SSC Championships in Boca Raton April 18-19. “As seniors, we’re excited to play well and compete in our last major tournament of our college careers,” said Jutigny. The team hopes to finish the 2011 season on a good note next week at the SSC Championships. John Hilsenroth can be reached at jhilsenroth@spartans.ut.edu.
17
UT Softball Takes Two of Three From Barry Bucs By APRIL WEINER Sports Writer
The University of Tampa softball team took two out of three games in their series against Sunshine State Conference rival Barry University this past weekend after posting two shutouts, one from each of their star pitchers. The team beat the Buccaneers 4-0 on Saturday night, giving Tampa ace Deanna Henriott her 20th win of the season. The teams split the doubleheader on Sunday. Tampa took the first game 3-0 as Kari Walsh earned 12th win of the season. The Spartans fell in the second game in 12 innings. The game was strange territory for the Spartans, falling behind quickly by two runs in the first. However, the Spartans battled back, tying the game at two in the bottom of the sixth. After a scoreless seventh, the game went into extra innings. Another four scoreless innings would pass before the Buccaneers won the game after scoring three runs in the top of the 12th inning. The Spartans couldn’t battle back again in the bottom half of the inning to steal the victory. The two wins this past weekend bring the Spartans to an overall record of 32-7 and a record of 13-5 in SSC play. They are currently ranked third in the conference and number 16 nationally. The Spartans look to keep playing strong and continue winning in their final two series of the season, both against conference opponents. “We need to keep winning,” said junior first baseman Brittany Hipple, who is tied for the team lead in RBIs this season. “We need to take it in our own hands for our postseason play. We need to keep up the good work and keep playing hard. It really doesn’t mean anything until you get to postseason. That’s what we play for. Obviously our record is great right now, but if we lay down now, we’re not going to go anywhere.” Her teammate, junior catcher Becky Vyzas, concurs. “It doesn’t really mean too much because if we don’t win the next couple games, it means nothing,” Vyzas said. To continue the team’s success heading into postseason, the team just needs to keep doing what they have been doing all year long: working hard. “Nothing different: same play, same defense. We just trust in our defense, our pitching [and] our offense and we’ll do great,” Vyzas said. The Spartans will take on SSC rival Florida Southern College in their home finale this weekend. The first game will be Friday night at 7 p.m. at Leslie Kanter Field. Then, the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1 p.m. The Spartans will close out the season the following weekend at Eckerd College. April Weiner can be reached at april.weiner@ spartans.ut.edu.
18 APRIL 14 2011 | THE MINARET
SPORTS
Ramirez Calls it Quits, Leaves Behind Tarnished Legacy Some fans see the slugger as a cheater, others stand by him
By JOE BEAUDOIN Sports Writer
With Manny Ramirez’s abrupt retirement from Major League Baseball, many questions have come about, with the main one being whether or not he is a Hall of Famer. In his 19-year career, Ramirez batted .312, hit 555 homeruns, which is 14th all time, had 1,831 runs batted in and an on base percentage of .411. He also hit 21 grand slams, which puts him second on the all-time list in that category. Ramirez made the playoffs in 11 seasons and was one of the best postseason hitters of all time. In his postseason career, he batted .285, tallied 78 RBIs and had 29 homeruns,the most by any player. My only problem with Ramirez is that he “supposedly” (I have to use supposedly because it is not proven and the sad part is that it most likely never will be an absolute fact) got caught for using performance enhancing drugs (PHDs) twice. He should have learned from his first suspension and been much more careful. Even with that, the circumstances surrounding Ramirez’s first suspension are still unclear to this day. He tested positive for a drug that had been used in the past to hide the use of PEDs and was illegal to use in baseball. He had said that a doctor had prescribed it to him not knowing that it was not allowed by MLB. I know I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, but prove to me that he knew that it was banned in baseball. Now for the current violation. It could have been a violation for a narcotic for all anyone knows (not that it is better than
steroids). No one may ever know and it will lead to speculations that will forever define Ramirez’s career. Nothing can take away from Ramirez’s stats before 2003, even if he was on the juice. The main reasons being that we do not know if he was actually on PEDs, since there was no testing in baseball and also because there could have been hundreds of players doing the same thing. That was the era that Ramirez played baseball in. I cannot honestly sit here and tell you that if someone sat me down and told me to put a cream on my body and it would make me millions of dollars, that I would have been able to say no. I would like to think that I would have made the right decision, but it would have been a hard choice. Even if we take out those years where there was no testing and focus on the years that there was, Ramirez was still an elite player. His stats from 2003 to 2008, before his first violation of the MLB’s drug policy, were among the top in the majors. During this period, he batted .312, hit 217 homeruns and had 689 RBIs. In these six years, he hit nearly 40 percent of his total career homeruns. During this time frame, he was also an All-Star every season, won the Silver Slugger award four times, won a Hank Aaron Award and was a major part of two World Series Championships, one in which he was named MVP. These statistics are legitimate because he had abided by all of baseball’s rules regarding PEDs during this time frame and was never suspended by the MLB. This is the Manny that the writers should think about when deciding whether or not Ramirez is deserving of their vote. While
Keith Allison/flickr.com
Though Manny’s antics may have gotten the best of his career, his statistics through 19 MLB seasons are impressive. He hit .312 with 555 homeruns and 1,831 RBIs in the majors.
it was dumb of him to be caught basically twice for using a banned substance, he shouldn’t necessarily be kept out of the Hall of Fame because of it. They need to realize that even if he was on the juice, every other player had the opportunity to do the same. It will never be known how many players were actually on steroids, and as soon as everyone stops speculating on whether one player may or may not have been, the steroid era in baseball will finally come to an end. I will always remember Ramirez as the player who hit monstrous home runs,
caught pop flies while high-fiving fans, got lost in the Green Monster during a pitching change, was the most feared right-handed hitter of his time and most importantly, as the player who brought me to love baseball. Manny will always be my favorite baseball player and deserves a spot in Cooperstown. I just wish that his career did not end this way. My question to you is, how will you remember Manny? Joe Beaudoin can be reached at jbeaudoin@spartans.ut.edu.
Tampa Bay Seeking First Stanley Cup Title Since 2004 By KYLE BENNETT Asst. Sports Editor
clydorama/flickr.com
Veteran forward Marty St. Louis has had one of his best seasons yet, compiling 99 total points.
Talk of the Town Professional Sporting Events in the Region
@ The Rays return home to begin a seven game homestand against the reigning A.L. Central Champions, the Minnesota Twins. The first game of the series is on Thursday, April 14 at 6:40 p.m.
I hate April baseball, but April hockey is once again relevant for the first time in four years. Having won the Stanley Cup in 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning has since missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. Tampa is taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With game one already in the books, the Stamkos-led Lightning will try to take game two from the Pens on Friday at 7 p.m. The Lighting have been a very exciting yet inconsistent team to watch this year, as they have spent time dominating their division as well as slumping. The team came into a late season drought and had many fans worry as to their playoff potential, but they started playing lights out as the season came to a close, winning seven of their last eight. The two biggest keys that will push the Lightning past the Penguins are the power play and clutch goaltending.
Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis have all excelled with a man- advantage, and should the Penguins make a mistake, the Lighting will make them pay while they are taking a break in the sin bin. While the netminding has been a problem for the Lightning for the majority of the season, they acquired Dwayne Roloson, who must be salivating at getting another shot at the cup, and Mike Smith (yes, this Mike Smith) has been playing like a new player since he was recalled from Norfolk. Roloson led the Edmonton Oilers to the cup before a knee injury forced him out in game one of the finals, so don’t think for one second that he is going to allow another opportunity to slip away. Overall, it should be a very exciting series to watch. One thing is for sure, the Lightning will move on to the next round of the postseason. Editor’s Note: This article was printed prior to game one of the series. Kyle Bennett can be reached at minaret. sports@gmail.com.
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Separated by several games at the number four spot in their conference, the Orlando Magic will begin the postseason at home. They’ll host the number five seed Atlanta Hawks.
Tampa Bay, with the number five seed in the Eastern Conference, will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the fourth seeded Penguins. Game two is set to take place on Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m.
THE MINARET | APRIL 14 2011
SPORTS
19
Lefty Reliever Works His Way Up Through the System Krueter contributes to team with timely bullpen help
By MICHAEL PAONESSA Sports Writer
Working your way up in any field can be challenging, but the reward is what one strives for.University of Tampa pitcher Max Krueter came here as a freshman to take his baseball talents to the next level. The junior not only worked his way up through the system to his current pitching status, but he has also learned lessons during his time at UT.
Krueter, a 6’1’’ left-hander from Dunedin, Fla. was a standout pitcher at Dunedin High School. In his senior season he went 13-0 as a starter, putting up impressive statistics that not only surprised him, but colleges too. Since Krueter was a starting pitcher and also started in center field in high school, his talents were being noticed. “I always thought I was going to be playing at the college level, but it was a matter of where,” said Krueter.
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
In his third year at UT, Max Krueter is 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 innings of relief work.
With success coming at a fast pace, Krueter decided to enroll at UT and play baseball for Coach Joe Urso and the Spartans. The decision process for Krueter to play and study at UT came easy. “Senior year, I did a lot of research on different schools, but since UT was close to my house and the program has been so successful in the past, UT just felt like the right fit,” said Krueter. The change from high school sports to the college level is never easy, but the Spartan coaching staff has helped Krueter make a smooth transition. “They’ve been great,” he said. “They helped me excel at the next level and make the switch from high school to college very easy. They keep things relaxed and simple and coach the right way, even with a challenging professional baseball curriculum.” Krueter has been on the varsity squad since his freshman year and has stayed on the team since, but his role as a player has fluctuated. Although he entered UT as a starting pitcher, he has accepted his new role as a reliever coming out of the bullpen late in games Some players may find the change in assignments challenging, but Krueter believes taking one pitch at a time is what it takes to be a successful set-up man. “As a bullpen specialist, you just have to throw strikes and take things out-by-out and minimize mistakes. You never know when you’re going to pitch but you have to be ready at all times for your name to be called and enter the game,” said Krueter.
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Things were not always smooth sailing for Krueter, however. Last July, he suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder while playing in the Valley League. The injury required surgery. The recovery process took six months, but Krueter’s arm is now back to full strength. “It was a long fall for me with all the physical therapy, but I feel strong again and glad to be back on the mound.” Although dealing with that injury during his time in the Valley League, Krueter pitched out of the bullpen and credits his experience in the league that has made him more comfortable in his current role with the Spartan squad. With a strong arm back on the bump, the UT baseball team looks for another successful and title-winning season; expectations for the season stay positive and within sight for the Spartans. “I think every year we go out as a team to win a national title and we are going to try our best to make that happen,” Krueter said. “We lost a lot of great players last year, but we’re not missing any steps this season to achieve our goals.” With success on the field evident for the team and Krueter, he is also a student just as much as he is an athlete. Krueter is majoring in exercise science and has enjoyed his major for his three years at UT. “The teachers within the major are great and the small classes here make sure you get the most attention a student can receive,” stated Krueter. Michael Paonessa can be reached at mpaonessa@spartans.ut.edu.
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Baseball Team Not Intimidated by National Rankings By MAYA TODD Sports Writer
The University of Tampa baseball team is once again at the top of the national polls. After starting off this season at No. 5, and falling to No. 14, it has climbed back up the ranks to claim its current spot at No. 8. The poll created by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has seen a lot of traffic over the years by competing schools, fans, scouts, and teams. It is an accurate ranking of baseball programs and how they are playing as the season progresses. This poll, however useful it may be to the general onlooker, could have major effects on the teams that are featured in it. While it may be a morale booster to some, it may be a morale spoiler to others. The UT baseball team has seen a lot of fluctuation in the poll this year, but many will wonder if this poll actually has any effect on the team itself. When starting pitcher Frank DeJiulio, who currently has a team-high five wins on the season, was asked about the ranking system, he responded by saying, “As a player, it’s nice to see your team ranked as Tampa had been the past years, but it’s really not something we pay attention to when the season starts to get going.” When the polls came out in the beginning of the season and Tampa saw
a No. 5 next to its name, a few different emotions came of it. “It’s the same for the coaches, at the start of the season they like to see Tampa ranked high,” DeJuilio continued. “It makes our team feel well-respected and it motivates us to get to a higher position but it’s not something the players and coaches pay attention to. We pay more attention on how we are going to win weekend after weekend.” To open the season, the No. 5 Spartans faced the No. 4 Georgia College Bobcats. Any battle between nationally ranked teams, especially teams of this caliber, is bound to gain the attention of D-II baseball followers. Surprisingly, among those who did not pay much attention to the competing teams’ rankings were the UT players themselves. Third basemen and power hitter for the Spartans, Eric Grabe, who was recently placed on the Tino Martinez Award watch list (an award set aside for the best D-II player of the year), was asked about the feelings of the team before a game against another ranked opponent. “Knowing that a team is ranked really doesn’t affect the team - we will know if a team is decent or not just by what our coach tells us. Whether the team is ranked number one or not ranked at all we need to show up with the right mental attitude and ready to play.”
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
Transfer third baseman Eric Grabe has helped propel the Spartans to the top-10 in the national rankings. Through 37 games, he leads the team with a .428 average and three homeruns.
While many would assume there is some sort of intimidation factor associated with a ranking, DeJiulio ensured that there is nothing of the sort. “There is no intimidation factor,” DeJiulio said. “There’s no room for it out on the playing field. Tampa loves when we get challenged by other ranked teams. It brings out the best in our players and the entire team. Just knowing the other team is ranked gives you so much motivation to go out there, perform your best and to show that Tampa is the better team.” Although games against nationally ranked teams seem vital, games against unranked teams are just as important. Tampa has faced many opponents so far this season and with one month of the regular season remaining, there is plenty of time to see their current spot in the polls change. Grabe speaks for himself and the rest of the team about the current ranking. “I really don’t think anyone is thinking much about our rank. As of now, we are mainly focusing on this weekend’s series. I feel that’s the way it should be and I’m confident that that’s how the rest of the team feels, as well.” While hyped up and deemed significant by those in the NCAA D-II community, the national ranking goes – for good reason – mostly overlooked by the players of the UT Spartans, a team that is featured in it week-in and week-out. According to the players, each game is as important as the last game, despite the rankings or the rumors. All that seems to matter to the Spartans right now is focusing on their next opponent – unranked Barry University – who, in their opinion, poses the same threat as the No. 4 Bobcats did during that opening weekend two months ago. DeJiulio’s final comments can arguably be used to sum up the team’s ideology on the matter. “We just want the best for each other and to win a national championship. In order for that [to happen], we have to pay attention to the things that we can control, like playing good baseball.” The Spartans will travel to Miami this weekend to face off against Sunshine State Conference foe Barry. Maya Todd can be reached at mtodd@ spartans.ut.edu.
Division II National Rankings (as of April 11, 2011)
1. University of West Florida Argonauts 2011 Record: 34-4
2. UniversityMules of Central Missouri 2011 Record: 27-5
3. MountTrojans Olive College 2011 Record: 30-6
T-4. Grand Valley State Lakers 2011 Record: 23-3
T-4. Emporia State University Hornets 2011 Record: 27-4
6. Southern Connecticut State University Owls 2011 Record: 27-1
7. University of North Carolina at Pembroke Braves 2011 Record: 32-7
8. University of Tampa Spartans 2011 Record: 28-8
Rankings according to NCAA.com
Club Paintball Team Heads To National Championships By TIM SHANAHAN Sports Writer
In its second full season, the University of Tampa paintball team is advancing to nationals in the National Collegiate Paintball Association. This eight-member club sport will be playing a round-robin best two out of three tournament with each of the five teams in its bracket. The national championships are taking place on April 16-17 in Lakeland, Fla. “It’s the best field in central Florida for tournaments,” stated captain and president of the squad Brock Mangus. The team competed at the championships last year, but as Mangus explained, the group of UT paintball players did not do so well.
“We didn’t play very well in nationals last season. Most of the players were playing in their first big tournament and we didn’t get much practice. With the competition from around the country being superior, we only won a few games,” said Mangus. The senior is impressed with the team’s improvement over the course of this season. UT hopes for a better showing at nationals since it has been scrimmaging against the most talented teams in the state. “I can tell the team is getting better,” Magnus said. “The communication and technical skills have improved tremendously.” In the national championships, the top two teams in each bracket advance to play
on Sunday, where the tournament becomes single elimination. Leading up to nationals, the October through March season is composed of a bunch of scrimmages against local and top teams in the state of Florida. “Florida is a hotspot for tournament paintball, and a majority of the organized teams here win on the national level consistently,” Mangus explained. “We scrimmage against a mix of other colleges and local teams.” Mangus said that the local colleges the teams plays include the University of South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida. UT paintball is partially funded through
the department of recreation here on campus. The team formed out of the UT Paintball Club, which Mangus said he established back in the fall semester of 2008. After doing some interest meetings, Mangus attracted enough tournament-level players to field teams for local and national tournaments. On April 17, UT paintball hopes to secure the trophy and come out on top in Lakeland. To find out more information about the team, search on Facebook for their page titled “University of Tampa Paintball Club”. Tim Shanahan can be reached at tshanahan@spartans.ut.edu.