The Minaret

MINARET UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1933

Catch the band live at Party in the Park Sunday, April 25 at 7 p.m.

NEWS 3 P.E.A.C.E. Hosts Carnival for Kids

4 UT STAND ‘Dances for a Cause’

THE

Vol. 76 No. 26

April 16, 2010

ut.minaret@gmail.com

theminaretonline.com

Spreading Peace

After joining the Peace Corps, UT graduate will embark on a 27-month journey to Panama

By Cara Marzilli

A&E

8 20/20 Boulevard Anticipates Spring Concert Performance 7 Copeland Sings Farewell to Sold Out Orlando Audience

COMMENTARY 11 Prospects Seem Dim, But Our Graduates Are Brighter Than Ever

12 Arabs and Muslims Are

Not Necessarily the Same Thing

SPORTS 14 2-13 Season Brings Optimism for 2011

15 UCF Transfer Looks for Fresh Start at UT

Photo courtesy of Laura Olds

Laura Olds (left), graduate of UT in December, spent quality time working with P.E.A.C.E. and now she will fulfill two years of service with the Peace Corps in Panama.

Kiosk Could Close for Being Busted

Students Ready for Annual ‘Relay for Life’ Event

By SARAH WICKHAM News Reporter

TAMPA - This Friday, tents will line the intramural field for UT’s second annual Relay for Life.

Relay for Life is a big event, hosted by the American Cancer Society, in which promotes awareness for those who survived cancer and those currently battling cancer.

It also remembers those who have lost their lives to the disease.

The idea of Relay for Life is to have teams camp out around a track or path. It is encouraged to have someone from each team on the path at all times.

The relay is an overnight event because, “cancer never sleeps”.

The main organizers of this event are Lucy Monette and Samantha Lauf, they are also members of the P.E.A.C.E. organization here on campus.

They have been involved with the organization of the event for two years.

“When I was ten years old, my dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. The doctors had given him three months, and he lived for another year.

“He passed away right after my eleventh birthday. This greatly affected my life, and when I came to college, I had met up with Lucy, and we both really wanted to bring about awareness here at UT. “My older brother has been involved with Relay for Life up in the D.C. area, [See 2]

Visit The Minaret Online Today

After just months on campus, Blockbuster may remove their $1 movie kiosk

By CHARLIE HAMBOS Editor-in-Chief

TAMPA - The Blockbuster Express may find a new home off campus after a slew of vandalisms have repeatedly left the machine out of order.

Student Government vice president Chris McCarthy said that he has called over and over to have servicemen perform maintenance on the self-service DVD rental machine.

According to McCarthy, the bulk of the issues have been caused by students moving the machine, unplugging it and inserting things into the return slot other

Brett Pollack/The Minaret

than movies.

“I want to make students aware of the vandalism and to discourage it,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy who will take over as SG president at the end of the semester has been instrumental in bringing the Blockbuster Express to campus and maintaining its functionality on campus. Thus, he is doing everything he can to keep it on campus.

Plans to install a camera are already in place. The wheels of the machine will also be removed to prevent it from moving around and different ways of locking the electric outlet are being looked into.

Currently, the kiosk is in the middle of its six month trial period and if things keep going in the way they are going, company officials said they may have to remove the kiosk from campus, McCarthy said.

McCarthy also said that officials noted that this location is one of the higher grossing kiosks in the area.

Within five miles there are three other Blockbuster Express kiosks. One located in the Publix at 3838 Britton Plaza, another in the Publix located on 1313 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., and in the Publix located at 3615 W. Gandy Blvd.

According to their website, Blockbuster Express began in 2008 and they say they will have 10,000 locations in 2010. Blockbuster Express has been a joined effort with the NCR Corporation, a world-wide leader in self service devices.

At the time of printing this article, The Minaret was unable to reach the NCR representative for UT. Please check theminaretonline.com for updates on this story and the response from the NCR representative.

TAMPA - Laura Olds has a passion for travel, but the December 2009 University of Tampa graduate will not be taking the cliché “backpack through Europe route” that post-grads often choose.

Instead she will be beginning her 27month stay in Panama as a Community Environmental Conservation Extension agent and Peace Corps volunteer on April 21.

“I really hope to integrate well into my community,” Olds said.

“There’s a good chance there will be no electricity and no running water. So it will be great to integrate into a community where there’s no computers or distractions and just be part of the culture.”

This is not the first time the Spanish major has traveled internationally to volunteer.

While at UT, Olds participated in two international trips through the PEACE Alternative Breaks Program.

She traveled to the Dominican Republic, where she volunteered in an orphanage and Jamaica, where she volunteered at an elementary school.

An experience from Olds’s trip to [See 2]

20/20 Boulevard Anticipates Spring Concert Performance

By DANIEL FEINGOLD

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

TAMPA - The University of Tampa’s student music group 20/20 Boulevard will be opening for the popular reggae band, Slightly Stoopid, as a reward for their victorious night at Battle of the Bands.

With Student Production’s Spring Concert also rapidly approaching, students should prepare to have their brains jumbled and their ears blown off during the next few weeks.

Lead bassist for 20/20 Boulevard Miles Parks remembers having a bit of a rough start at Battle of the Bands. After they got on a roll, though, the night turned out to be a success.

“We had a real big problem with the sound check...” said Parks. “We started to doubt ourselves.

“But in the end, we got everything figured out, got some momentum going, and by the end of it, [we] felt like we had people really enjoying our stuff.”

By the time the winning announcement was made, the audience was cheering for an encore.

Gordon Bonnett, lead vocalist and guitarist for the band, described the win as a huge achievement.

“It felt really, really good to win because we’ve been putting a lot of hard work into the band,” said Bonnett.

“Having won that now...it’s a great sense of accomplishment.”

[See 8]

M

MINARET

2 APRIL 16 2010 | THE MINARET

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + NEWS EDITOR Charlie Hambos

charlie.hambos@gmail.com

ASST. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mel Steiner

mel.c.steiner@gmail.com

A+E EDITOR Mike Trobiano

minaret.arts@gmail.com

COMMENTARY EDITOR Derrick Austin

minaret.commentary@gmail.com

SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Bennett

minaret.sports@gmail.com

ONLINE EDITOR Alex Vera

minaret.online@gmail.com

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Abby Sanford

abbster50@aol.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Zoe LeCain

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ADVISER

Stephanie Tripp, PhD. stripp@ut.edu

COPY EDITORS Heather Gromley Laura Theobald

REPORTERS

Jeffrey Palmer Mandy Erfourth Sarah Gottlieb Coryn Doncaster

STAFF WRITERS

Zach Fraser, A&E Brenton Burkett, Sports Ryan Burkett, Sports Daniel Feingold, Sports

COLUMNISTS

John Jacobs Heather Gromley

CREATIVE/DESIGN

Emilse Alvarado, Layout Max Roberts, Illustrator Austin Daniels, Cartoonist Scott Silvestro, Photographer Kara Wall, Photographer Kenny Quirk, Ad Designer You can reach The Minaret directly at 813.257.3636 The Minaret is a weekly student-run publication of the University of Tampa.

As a student organization, The Minaret invites all students to take part in its production. Inquiries and comments may be sent to ut.minaret@gmail.com Visit theminaretonline.com for up-to-the-minute information on top stories and breaking news.

Your first two copies of The Minaret are free. Each additional copy is $1.00.

NEWS

Tune Out Cancer with P.E.A.C.E. in Relay for Life [From Front] and he really inspired me to make this the way I do my part in finding a cure for cancer,” explains Lauf.

“We’re really excited to be hosting the event here for the second year in a row. We expect a huge turnout this year,” said Monette. “I’m excited to be beside Samantha again in organizing this inspirational event. My mother, too, died of lung cancer about a year ago and I’m grateful to organize and participate in an event with other people who have been greatly affected by this terrible disease directly and indirectly.”

On Friday, UT will have its opening ceremonies at 6 p.m., with the Luminary Ceremony at 9 p.m.

The Luminary Ceremony is the portion of the relay where we honor those who have lost their lives

to cancer and those who have been strongly impacted by the disease.

Luminaries are lit along the path and one silent lap is run in honor of those who grieve and remember.

There will also be a Survivors Lap, where survivors of the disease run an inspirational lap together to celebrate beating the disease.

In between the various ceremonies there will be music, food and games. Each team will have its own booth selling food and other fund-raising items. All the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society, which will fund further research and patient services.

This year’s theme is “tune out cancer” and each team must pick a decade or musical genre. You do not necessarily have to be on a team to enjoy the festivities, but if you would like to be on one the P.E.A.C.E. office is looking for

members.

The P.E.A.C.E. office is excited to rock an ‘80s theme this year.

It is a big event and all are welcome to come out and join.

Last year, several hundred people attended and there is hope that there will be just as much success

this year. The ceremony will end at 10 a.m. on April 17.

Come out and join the ceremony on Friday and if you would like to get more involved and be a member of a team, stop by the P.E.A.C.E. office for more information.

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Relay for Life Participants light candles for their loved ones affected by cancer.

UT Alumna Embarks on Journey to Panama [From Front]

Jamaica has resonated with her since her time there in 2008.

While she was volunteering at the elementary school, a boy about 10 years old pulled her aside to seek some guidance.

“He needed someone to talk to about his tough family life,” Olds remembered. “He had a father in jail and was obviously dealing with a lot.”

Olds said the two walked away from the group and sat in a beautiful field to talk.

“His story was heartbreaking,” she said. “I wanted to just hug him and take him home with me. But that’s when I understood that people who volunteer can be such good influences. I wrote him letters after we’d met in hopes that he would see he didn’t have to follow in the path of some of his family and [would] not fall into peer pressure.”

The experiences with the Alternative Breaks program instilled a passion for travel and volunteer-

Photos courtesy of Laura Olds

Laura Olds enjoys her time helping children during her trip to Jamaica in 2008 with the Alternative Breaks Program.

ism in Olds that led to her decision to apply for the Peace Corps.

“The PEACE office is absolutely what got me thinking about travel and service,” said Olds.

Olds’ contact with the outside world will be minimal during her 27-month trip in Panama, about which she says her family in upstate New York is both anxious and proud.

UT GOLD Hosts Leadership Forum to Prepare for Careers

By JEFFREY PALMER The Minaret

For the first time, The University of Tampa Graduate Organization of Leadership and Development (UT GOLD) is hosting a leadership forum to better equip students for future careers in positions of authority.

Our Mayor Pam Iorio and Carlton Fields CEO Gary Sasso will both speak and present at the event.

The hope of UT vice president of development H.L. Prindle is that the talk will not only enhance student’s experiences by allowing them to interact with outstanding leaders, but also highlight some of the MBA program’s most promising young intellects.

“There is only so much leadership that can be learned through academic courses,” Prindle said.

“Many leaders develop and learn by observing others and that is the opportunity the forum provides.

Our business school has some of the sharpest minds from five different continents and this will allow them to be seen by the community.”

The event will take place in

Reeves Theater at 4:30 p.m. on April 21.

Any UT students wishing to attend this event should contact Mr. Prindle at hoyt.prindle@gmail. com.

Admission to the forum is free, though tax-deductible donations to the GOLD organization are greatly appreciated.

Any student wishing to donate should contact program president Emily Ghosh at ghoshemily@yahoo.com.

Because UT GOLD is currently transitioning from a reliance on university funding to financial self-sufficiency, such donations will help to ensure the future of the program and better the quality of services extended by UT GOLD to the student body.

“UT GOLD strives to enrich the graduate business student’s experience at The University of Tampa and within the community through a variety of events, activities and opportunities that are aimed at fostering relationships both professionally and personally,” Prindle said.

Jeffrey Palmer can be reached at jpalmer@ut.edu.

She is allowed 80 pounds of gear and two suitcases for the more than two-year stay, and there is the chance that she may have to canoe two hours to make it to her final destination in Panama.

“I’m really excited; the nervousness hasn’t hit me yet,” she said. “It will be a culture shock at first, I’m sure, but having traveled to Latin America before it won’t

By Cara Fetzer The Minaret

Compiled from the April 5-April 11 Reports.

Freshman deals At 11:30 a.m. on April 6, security received a call of possible drugs in a room on the first floor of McKay Hall. The case is still open.

Laundry Legends At 8 p.m. on April 6, a student reported that his nylon laundry bag was stolen from the McKay Hall laundry room, but all his clothes were safe. The case is pending further investigation.

Warning: get your *** in gear!

On April 7, a student was warned about his vehicle being subject to impounded form the Sykes Lot.

be completely foreign territory for me.”

Olds embarks on her trip April 20 and is set to return in June of 2012.

“I’ll miss my family and oldfashioned letters might be our only way to communicate,” she said.

“But I’m so ready and grateful for the experience. I know it will be completely life changing.”

The Cass Computer Commuter At 10:40 p.m. at April 7, security responded to the Cass computer lab in reference to a non-student trespassing.

Could have been going East On April 8, a student reported that her vehicle was hit in the West Parking Garage.

Non-regulators removed On April 9th, a vehicle was removed from campus for failure to follow university parking regulations.

Rule #1: No balls in the house At 11 p.m. on April 9, security responded to call about a broken window on the third of Rescom.

Cara Fetzer can be reached at cfetzer@ut.edu.

NEWS

THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

3

Carnival for Kids Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Brittany Kieslor and Sarah Matthews helped kids make bracelets.

Alex Poirier held the bubble wand as some of the youngest kids blew bubbles.

Kids lined up to play games and win prizes.

Dwayne Duke tie-dyed shirts with kids at the event.

Henry Ollingsworth handed out cotton candy to children.

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NEWS

P.E.A.C.E. Trip to the Everglades

Photos: Courtesy of P.E.A.C.E.

A huge thank you to Professor Kevin Fridy, Lucy Monette, Christine Merry, Gianna Porcelli, Courtney Tipton, Sommer Kuhn, Leah Wilkinson, Janak Patel, Roshane Hewitt, Alice Ortlieb, Steven Deering, Lauren Pratt, Shady Gamaleldeen, and Karen Ford for participating in this year’s April Weekend Service Trip to The Everglades Outpost in Homestead, Fla. We appreciate all of their hard work! Great job!

The group at the Everglades National Park; it is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.

Baby alligators at the Everglades Outpost.

Mr. Tortoise at the Everglades Outpost.

The Volunteer Group outside the Everglades Outpost.

Janak, Christing, Lauren, Sommer, Gianna and Courtney relaxing.

The group taking a lunch break.

Professor Fridy, the trip Advisor.

The group at the Everglades Hostel.

U.S. Injustices to be Shown in “Reckoning with Torture”

By JAN-MICHAEL ARCHER The Minaret

The United States’ War on Terror has recently come under fire amidst claims of torture and abuse.

The University of Tampa and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have joined forces to further show America’s injustices with an event in which they will look at real documents and situations that led to the increased use of torture in the “War on Terror.”

The event entitled “Reckoning with Torture: Memos and Testimonies from the ‘War

on Terror’” will be a presentation on America’s abusive actions since Sept. 11.

Christine Merry, a P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Coordinator and organizer of the event spoke passionately on the topic and mission of the event.

“Our goal is to promote awareness of the tortures committed since 9/11 by the U.S.,” Merry said. “People shouldn’t have that ‘all Muslims are bad people’ mindset.”

Merry, a senior finance and management major recalls thinking that this was something that she wanted to bring on campus.

The presentation will be held in the Reeves Theater on April 22 at 6 p.m. and

will feature UT professors James Bachman, Marry Anderson and Chris Gurrie, as well as National ACLU Board member and retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer Col. Mike Phenager.

In addition to this, there will be UT student performances, readings from unclassified documents and panel discussions.

“It’s a controversial topic and I’ll be very interested to see it,” Merry said. “Just come out and prepare to be shocked.”

This event is open to the general public and admission will be on a first-come, firstserved basis according to the ACLU website.

Co-sponsors of the event include: The Mid-Regional Florida ACLU, ACLU of Florida, The Greater Tampa Chapter of the ACLU of Florida and The Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance. For more information, call 813-254-0925 or email tampa-interns@aclufl.org.

‘Dancing For a Cause’ Will Be the Cat’s Meow GINA MOCCIO The Minaret

An interest in dancing, the belief in opportunity for those who deserve it and five bucks is all you need to have a good time at UT Stand and Diversity Fellowship’s‘Dancing For a Cause event.

The theme is “the roaring ‘20s” and all of the ticket sales and donations will be sent to the organization Invisible Children.

The goal is to raise enough money, approximately $420, to send a child in Uganda for school for an entire year.

The staff and volunteers of Invisible Children are documentarians and educators. Their goal is to educate and inspire people to help end the use of child soldiers

in Uganda.

According to UNICEF, about 20,000 children have been forced into the war between the government and the rebel group, the Lord’s Resistant Army.

Invisible Children appeared at UT in the Martinez Gym earlier this semester.

They showed a film about Emmy, a boy who used to be a soldier, said Samantha Hopkins, sophomore and Outreach Coordinator for UT Stand. Emmy’s grandfather was one of the speakers at the event. He spoke about Emmy’s life and the harsh conditions he was living in before he received a scholarship to attend school.

“Obviously they want to tug at your heartstrings,” said Hopkins. The people behind Invisible Children need as much help

as possible in accomplishing their goals of helping to restore schools and communities in Uganda.

The film was successful in doing so and offered its viewers honest and “very powerful images.”

Sophomore and UT Stand member Tian Claire explained that through Emmy’s and his grandfather’s story we saw how important education can be.

“It also showed how much the children enjoy going to school,” said Hopkins. Emmy’s life improved greatly after being given the opportunity to attend school.

Hopkins believes an education is often taken for granted in western countries, but these children have a thirst for knowledge.

“They want to go to school. They want to

learn,” said Hopkins.

“And the Legacy Scholarship provides a means for them to do what they want and improve themselves and their country.”

Invisible Children was the cause chosen

by UT Stand not only because the organization was able to visit campus, but also because students at UT can have a direct effect on a child’s future.

There will be food, mock-tails and a costume contest. The dance will be held on April 23 in the Brevard Community Room from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Also, since this is the roaring ‘20s that we’re talking about, the speakeasy password is “Gatsby.” You won’t be admitted without it!

NEWS

THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

Outstanding First Year of Involvement Gwen Teutsch

Outstanding New Organization of the Year Team 3-Day

Florida Family Business Forum Student of the Year Kayla Lau

Most Improved Organization of the Year Delta Sigma Pi

Alan Weimer Entrepreneurship Students of the Year Edouard Carrie and Jessica English

Outstanding Small Organization of the Year Team CHAOS

Delta Sigma Pi Key Award (Highest GPA in the Sykes COB) Kelsie Huth

Joyce Keller Faculty Volunteer of the Year Dr. Kevin Fridy

Leadership and Academic Achievement Timur Aydin, Stefany Campins, Hannah Duprey, Andrew Forster, Daniella Fusari, Hannah Holmes, Melissa Jiha, Elizabeth Knight-Russell, Christina Link, Jaclyn Maas, Jessican Moran, Miranda Nordell, Loren Piretra, Amy Plewinski, Lierin-Alexi Reinhard, Michael Seitzler, Gwen Teutsch, Tessa Wimberley and Zach Zachariades

Outstanding Large Organization of the Year Beta Alpha Psi

Outstanding Graduate of International Business Andrea F. Gonzalez

Active Citizen Award Brittany Harder

Student Leaders of the Year Jordyn Clark and Daniella Fusari

Outstanding Sorority of the Year Delta Zeta

Greek Volunteer Organization of the Year Theta Chi

Greek Man of the Year Sterling McLean

Outstanding Fraternity of the Year Theta Chi

Ken Jensen Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduate in Marketing Marissa Mumford

Greek Woman of the Year D’Asante Beneby

Spartan Awards Timur Aydin, Andre Burrell, Andrew Forster, Kevin Jagnandan, Kelsie Huth, Mike Seitzler, Kendra Mangano, Charlie Hambos, Randy Tarnowski, Hannah Duprey

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

‘10

Who’s Who Amy Stack

Volunteer of the Year Roshane Hewitt Alternative Breaks Participant of the Year Shahana Ansari Male Intramural Athlete of the Year Fred Woods Female Intramural Athlete of the Year Claudia Valery Ramirez Intramural Sports Official of the Year Kristen Zuchowski Most Spirited Organization of the Year Phi Beta Sigma

Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Beta Alpha Psi

Outstanding Commitment to Customer Service Chris Goodwin Outstanding Commitment to Student Life Dr. Audrey Colombe Unsung Heroes Dr. Brian Garman and Tony Brown

Outstanding Graduate in Accounting Nicholas R. Colarusso The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Scholarship Devon Garcia CPA Scholarship Fund from The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Nicholas R. Colarusso

Student Employee of the Year David Wistocki Faculty/Staff Adviser of the Year Dr. Stephanie Tripp

5

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AWARDS

‘10

Outstanding Graduate in Management Information Systems Andrew Neil Forster Adam Smith Society Award for Outstanding Student in Economics Sofia Inkapool Outstanding Graduate in Finance Lenford Levy

Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award George S. Allendorf

Outstanding Graduate in Management Jessica L. Holder

6 APRIL 16 2010 | THE MINARET

Diversions FOR RELEASE APRIL 26, 2010

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Scott Silvestro / The Minaret

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Life histories, briefly 5 Atkins diet concern 9 Bogus 14 Drub in a game 15 Exploitative type 16 Author Zola 17 Not in favor 18 Italian tower site 19 Corrective eye surgery 20 “What?”

23 Nova __ 24 Gentleman’s offering on a crowded train, perhaps 25 Scratch (out), as a living 27 Reason to grab a tissue 32 “What?”

37 Lost color 38 Watered-down 39 Hangs ten, say 42 Actress Campbell 43 Finished 45 “What?”

47 Back-talking 50 Big bang producer 51 One running in a pusher, for short 53 Circles the Earth 58 “What?”

62 Toothbrush company 63 Metallurgist’s raw materials 64 Choir voice 65 Modeling wood 66 CC ÷ XXV 67 Swerve 68 Shoreline irregularity 69 Hankerings 70 Salinger heroine DOWN 1 Thin nails 2 Architectural order 3 One-up 4 Stretch in the service 5 Hostess offerings

Students tie-dye during Monday’s Peace Rally for Human Trafficking Awareness.

4/26/10

By Jeff Chen

6 Continent crossed by Marco Polo 7 Score silence symbols 8 Sources of teen angst, dentally 9 Sharpie feature 10 Asian nurse 11 Edelstein of “House” 12 Use a letter opener on 13 Scared comics cry 21 Connections 22 Solo of “Star Wars” 26 Cousin of an ostrich 28 Vampire tooth 29 Insect in a circus 30 First name in jeans 31 First family’s home?

32 Rams’ ma’ams 33 TV warrior princess 34 No-goodniks 35 Hawaiian strings 36 Hosp. areas

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

40 Sprat’s taboo 41 Book report, e.g.

44 Edith, to Archie 46 Gillette razor brand 48 Aye’s opposite 49 Old-fashioned “Cool!”

52 Radium co-discoverer 54 Atlanta athlete 55 Dawdles

4/26/10

56 Symbol on a pole 57 Source of spousal angst, nocturnally 58 Persia, nowadays 59 Formal dance 60 Apart from this 61 Jockey strap 62 Kimono sash

Horoscopes

By Linda C Black / Tribune Media Services

Aries (March 21-April 19) Gather associates to identify and pursue a practical objective. Work with ideas presented previously.

Now is the time to take action.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your best strategy is to acknowledge a major change in your career direction, which will allow for more creativity. Professional associates approve.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) If you handle business diligently today, unforeseen and amazing new opportunities become available. An invisible door opens to reveal exciting possibilities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You discover that you’re in the right place at the right time, with the right people. Pool resources to take advantage of this hot opportunity.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Romance walks in the door today. Think about how your partner will love the attention and creativity you put into your plan. Flirt shamelessly.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) It seems as if you’ve gathered all your eggs in one basket. Let the batter fly; your confections will rival those of the greatest chefs.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) When you focus on the big picture, you see the moral implications that escaped you before. Think before you act, and watch for pitfalls.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re torn between work and play. You realize that if you don’t get the work done, you won’t be able to focus on fun. Get friends to help.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Invite your significant other, even if you’re sure the answer will be “no.” Back-room conversations could cause problems if you’re not completely forthcoming.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The quality of your work today depends entirely on the materials you use. An attempt to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear may fail. Use silk.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Personal magnetism carries you a long way toward satisfying your deepest desires. Be sure you really want something before you ask. Then, revel in the possibilities.

Urban t i w T and

by Austin Daniels

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Spend time with family or close friends to resolve a peculiar problem that arises. Everyone wants to put a lid on it quickly.

THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Arts + Entertainment

7

Copeland Sings Farewell to Sold Out Orlando Audience

By ZACH FRASER

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

We all have our favorite bands. They mean a little bit more to us than the others.

The music they make, the times we’ve seen them and the countless amounts of merchandise we’ve bought at their shows reinforce that special connection.

Their songs have the power to move us.

Their melodies carry us and bring us back to certain times in our lives.

Last Sunday I was fortunate enough to see the last show of one of my favorite bands of all time.

Copeland, the alternative-rock group from Lakeland, Fla., played their final American concert in Orlando, wrapping up what has been a magnificent 10 year career.

The show’s setup was as good as I could have imagined. The band played to a small sold out crowd of around 250 people and played nearly every song that I wanted to hear. On top of this, some of the most upand-coming bands opened for Copeland.

Deas Vail, Person L and I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business played their sets flawlessly, all sharing their favorite stories of the first time they heard Copeland.

It truly was an incredible experience.

The crowd was made up of close family, friends and loyal fans all there to see off one of our favorite bands.

I must say, it was a bit surreal and eerie watching Copeland play Sunday night.

I’ve been to my fair share of shows, but none nowhere near this personal.

You could see in the band member’s eyes that they were as vulnerable and emotional as they’d ever been on stage.

Leaving no time for crowd sympathy or remorse, Copeland took the stage opening with “Take Care” from their first album, Beneath Medicine Tree.

As they exchanged their pleasantries between songs they rolled right into “Careful Now” and “I’m A Sucker for That Kind of Word” both from their third album, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

As singer Aaron Marsh made his transition from guitar to piano, the sound of the introductory chord of “The Grey Man” sounded, and the band ran right into their fourth song of the set.

With a set list comprised of old and new material, Copeland showed off the diversity in their musical catalog with songs like “Coffee” and “No One Really Wins,” both crowd favorites.

Quite possibly the most anticipated song of the night came as they closed their set.

“California,” the acoustic ballad that has rarely been played live in the past, carried the band right off the stage as singer Marsh sang, “So come back from California.”

With the adrenaline pumping and emotions soaring, naturally an encore chant ensued. “Copeland, Copeland, Copeland,” the crowd roared.

And as we asked, we sure did receive.

Copeland took the main stage one more time.

Marsh and company came out to perform “Brightest” and “Testing the Strong Ones,” some of their most raw and emotionally attached material.

Copeland performing live in Philadelphia in 2007.

After the two songs concluded, it finally hit he fans.

All the members of the band thanked the crowd sincerely before looking towards each other with a look that rang of sadness and nostalgia.

The band proceeded to shake hands and hug as a sort of informal toast to their career together.

As the crowd hummed, a sad sound of weeping could be heard throughout the venue.

With smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, Copeland started to play “You Have My Attention,” which fittingly concluded their set, and their career.

n

Your guide to the upcoming flicks hitting theatres this weekend.

“Death at a Funeral” Rated: R Time: 92 minutes Genre: Comedy A remake of Frank Oz’s 2007 movie, a family comes together for a death when chaos ensues.

“Kick-Ass” Rated: R Time: 106 minutes Genre: Adventure A teenage boy takes his comic book obsession to the next level by becoming a real life super hero.

“The Perfect Game” Rated: PG Time: 113 minutes Genre: Drama A group of boys living in Mexico in 1957 make it to the Little League World Series with the help of their coach.

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Jalapeño/Flickr.com

When I look back on my earlier years, some of my fondest memories occurred while listening to Copeland.

It’s sad to think that one of my favorite bands has parted ways, but I will always look back and have a special connection with their music.

My dad once told me that music is so great because it brings you back to those certain times in your life--those memories that only a song can evoke.

When I think back on Copeland now and what they meant to me, I would have to say “Dad, you’re right.”

Zach Fraser can be reached at zfraser@ ut.edu.

8 APRIL 16 2010 | THE MINARET

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

20/20 Boulevard Anticipates Spring Concert Performance [From Front] In the down time between the Battle of the Bands and the Spring Concert, the members of 20/20 have been keeping busy.

Between late night rehearsals and weekend performances, the band members are getting themselves prepared for the biggest show of their young careers. “It’s the biggest opportunity we’ve had yet. To be able to be on the same stage as somebody as big as they are...you just have to appreciate that,� said Parks.

Bonnett also felt humbled at the chance to play with a band of such caliber. “[It’s] humbling to open up for Slightly Stoopid because they’re really, really popular and a really good band,� Bonnett said.

In honor of Stoopid’s reggae genre, 20/20 has decided to play a cover of “The Struggle� by Ballyhoo, another reggae band.

Parks said that the decision to play a cover song is not an effort to change the band’s style, just a way to appeal to the crowd. “We have our sound and we’re gonna stick to it, but we figure we might want to throw in something that could really get people into it and [feeling like they] can connect to our music. “Just like they connect to Slightly Stoopid’s,� said Parks.

Since their style and sound are so original, the band members find it difficult to classify themselves.

Lead Guitarist Keith Miller narrowed that category down as best as he could. “Sometimes we have a hard time labeling the specific genre of our songs,� said Miller. “We’re kind of leaning towards

20/20 Boulevard Facebook page

progressive alternative...�

Miller had the following to say concerning their live performances, “I think we try and convey a certain level of bad a--ery, mixed in with a large dose of face melting, [as well as] a strong sense of awesomeness and musicianship.�

With percussionist Victor Quinones about to graduate and planning to move back up north, the other three members agreed that they would like nothing more than to be signed by a record label in order to keep Quinones in Tampa.

Bonnett clarified, though, that they aren’t necessarily looking for a major deal. “Getting signed is definitely a really, really big goal of ours. Not a major record

label, just something indie so we can get our music out there faster,� said Bonnett.

First things first, though. 20/20 Boulevard is just looking to put on a great show for all of the fans at the Spring Concert. “We’d love to put on a good show; that’s first and foremost,� Bonnett said.

You can see 20/20 Boulevard open for Slightly Stoopid on Sunday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in Plant Park. The concert is free to all UT students with a valid ID. Students who no longer attend the university but still have their ID cards will not be admitted into the show as security will be scanning cardsRe-entry into the show will be prohibited.

The band hopes that they will entertain

20/20 Boulevard Facebook page

the crowd as much as Slightly Stoopid. “I just hope people like our stuff as much as people like their stuff,� said Parks.

For more information on 20/20 Boulevard, visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/2020boulevard or search for them on Facebook.

Daniel Feingold can be reached at dfeingold@ut.edu.

O’Brien Gives Up on Fox and Signs Deal with TBS

By RUSS BRITT MarketWatch

MCT CAMPUS — Wayward late-night entertainer Conan O’Brien finally has found a home, and it’s not on Fox television.

Unable to reach a deal to clear an 11 p.m.

EDT time slot with Fox Broadcasting Network’s affiliates, the former host of NBC’s Tonight Show has decided to sign with cable network TBS to act as a lead-in for George Lopez’s Lopez Tonight.

O’Brien’s new hour long show, yet to be titled, will run on TBS Mondays through Thursdays at the 11 p.m. slot, both in the Eastern and Pacific time zones. It ends his search for a programming home nearly three months after he left NBC. “In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable,�

O’Brien joked in a statement. “My plan is working perfectly.�

TBS, also known as Turner Broadcasting System, is Time Warner Inc. company.

The announcement came as somewhat of a surprise, as O’Brien was thought to be hammering out a deal with Fox, the one major broadcast network without a late-night talk show in its lineup.

But Fox affiliates have resisted the idea, preferring instead to show syndicated reruns during that hour — such as its own animated series The Simpsons or products of other networks, like The Office. (Fox, like MarketWatch, is a division of News Corp.)

So O’Brien has turned to another alternative after leaving the Tonight Show on NBC. O’Brien left that show in a much-publicized dispute with the network after it decided to abandon Jay Leno’s prime-time experiment.

Leno moved out of his longtime seat as Tonight Show host to front a 10 p.m. program leading into local newscasts. Leno failed to catch on with viewers, and so was moved back to his traditional 11:30 p.m. time.

NBC wanted to give Leno a half-hour, and offered to keep O’Brien as host of the Tonight Show at midnight. But O’Brien declined, and his tenure as the Tonight Show host ended after less than eight months.

Lopez’s show will be moved back by one hour to make room for O’Brien, TBS said.

DolphinsII /Photobucket.com

O’Brian gives the “thumbs-up� during an opening routine on NBC.

Week ending April 13, 2010

#1 Album

Top tracks

( ) Last week’s ranking in top five

United States

Slash Slash

Hey, Soul Sister s 4RAIN

(1) 1

Nothin’ on You s " O "

(2) 2

Break Your Heart s 4AIO #RUZ

(3) 3

In My Head s *ASON $ERULO Baby ‡ -XVWLQ %LHEHU

4 (4) 5

United Kingdom This Ain’t a Love Song s 3COUTING FOR 'IRLS

(1) 1

OMG s 5SHER

(4) 2

She Said ‡ 3ODQ % Everybody ...

I Need You Tonight ‡ 3URIHVVRU *UHHQ Be on TV 6FRXWLQJ IRU *LUOV Carry Out ‡ 7LPEDODQG

(2) 3 4 5

Spain

Signed Sealed Delivered &UDLJ 'DYLG

Stereo Love s %DWARD -AYA 6IKA *IGULINA

(1) 1

Sick of Love ‡ 5REHUW 5DPLUH]

(3) 2

Release Me s !GNES

3

Meet Me Halfway s "LACK %YED 0EAS

4

El Run Run ‡ (VWRSD Source: iTunes

(4) 5 Š 2010 MCT

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

Glee’s Chris Colfer Quickly Rises to Celebrity Stardom

shialabeouf_2008/Photobucket.com

By RICK BENTLEY

McClatchy Newspapers

MCT CAMPUS — A year ago, Chris Colfer was just a kid from Clovis, Calif., who got his first professional acting break with a role on a new Fox TV show about the trials of a high school glee club.

Now he’s a star thanks to the popularity of Glee, the top-rated, critically acclaimed series that took home this year’s Golden Globe for best comedy and musical.

The response to Glee has been huge, especially for Colfer.

He’s had to hire two publicists to juggle the requests for interviews, photo shoots and public appearances.

That’s what happens when you are part of a show that becomes a phenomenon.

“There has been so much attention for

everyone on the show we have bonded together, sort of like a good hostage situation,” Colfer says at a Fox party at the Villa Sorriso restaurant.

“But when it comes to the attention from the press, I don’t know if you can ever get used to this kind of attention.”

What’s brought Colfer all of the attention is his character Kurt Hummel, who has a flamboyant fashion sense and precarious emotional connection to his father.

Despite the large cast, the show’s writers have developed Kurt’s character, giving Colfer the chance to shine with a wicked performance of “Defying Gravity” and a memorable performance of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.”

That “Single Ladies” performance even caught the attention of Hollywood’s elite.

Sandra Bullock told Colfer at the Golden Globes that she made her husband, Jesse James, watch the episode.

It featured Colfer dancing on a football field before kicking a field goal.

“The image of her making her tatted husband sit down and watch ‘Single Ladies’ kills me,” Colfer says.

Colfer’s Beyonce moves didn’t come easy. Previously he’d only danced in high school productions or community theater.

He’s proud it took him only three days of rehearsals to get the moves down.

Just like his quick grasp of the dance moves, Colfer’s growing more comfortable with the acting and singing parts of the job.

He’s happy that most of his learning curve happened during the the first 13 episodes that were completed before the first episode ever aired.

He and the cast didn’t have to worry

- Go see the “Prime of your Life” screening on Monday at 6 p.m. in Reeves Theater in Vaughn.

- On Saturday at 6:30 p.m. go see “Take Back the Night” in Old Hyde Park Village.

- Support the baseball team when they face Barry on Friday at 6 p.m. on the UT diamond.

- Check out Reckoning with Torture: Memos and Testimonies on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Reeves Theater in Vaughn.

- Attend The Business Network Symposium on Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. in the Vaughn Center.

- Lowry Park Zoo is hosting Earth Day, a 40th Anniversary Celebration, on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.

- Check out 20/20 Boulevard on Facbook or visit their website www.myspace.com/2020boulevard.

about being immediately judged as they grew into their roles.

During that time, which Colfer calls working in a “Glee bubble,” no one knew whether the show would be a hit or be canceled after the initial 13 shows.

Now all he has to do is walk down the street to know the series has touched young and old.

He’s curious about how his role on Glee has been received with a certain group. Smiling, he’s jokes about counting the days until his 10th high school class reunion.

“I can’t wait to say, ‘You remember this whole acting gig you laughed at? I told you so,’” he says.

“Actually, I think there are lots of people in Clovis and Fresno who are just happy to see someone from there on a TV show.”

9

xoxo_00/Photobucket.com

xoxo_00/Photobucket.com

Kurt (Chris Colfer) hugs his crush, McKinley high school quarterback, Finn (Cory Monteith).

10 APRIL 16 2010 | THE MINARET

Commentary Editorial: Become a Leader and Breed Change

Fidelity

Affairs

Procrastinating for Hours

Worrying about Finals

Glee

Melancholy

New Wave Music

Rock Music

Modernism

Postmodernism

Sleeping In

Eating Out

At the end of each spring s e m e s t e r, T h e U n i v e r s i t y of Tampa’s Office of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE) holds its Leadership Awards Night.

The awards ceremony is an evening dedicated to recognizing the outstanding and involved students, educators and administration of the year.

This year brought about several winners ranging from Top Greek Organization to Student Volunteer of the Year to the senior Spartan awards.

Recognizing these leaders, however, is not just about having their name written on a glass plaque. It’s about acknowledging a single person’s persistence, loyalty and dedication to a specific cause, group or program.

The Minaret would like to congratulate all the recipients and nominees for their excellence in leading the UT to greater heights.

Aside from the education and social aspect of going to college,

leadership is a crucial part of the experience, especially here at UT. American scholar Warren Bennis once said, “I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don’t think that’s quite it; it’s more like jazz. There is more improvisation.”

Leaders must learn to act on the spur of the moment in any given situation. They must be flexible, unbiased and witty.

Leadership takes a balanced person who can maintain authority and respect as well as remain humble and graceful.

The most important factor one must remember when considering leadership, is that people aren’t born leaders; they are created.

And when a group of leaders come together working towards a goal, they create change. And as represented from the past school year, these changes breed more leadership.

UT offers a diverse array of leadership opportunities for every and any interest that students and faculty may have.

Whether you like fishing, writing, intramural sports, driving, music, anime or camping, there is a group out there in which every person can make a difference.

As students, we must take charge of our years here at UT by getting involved in campus life.

We should gather up the courage to join an organization of strangers, make a difference in the community and build the foundation for a brighter future.

In recent weeks, new leadership was elected for every organization on campus for the upcoming 20102011 school year.

As former heads step down, fresh faces vow to arise to the challenges that they will face.

And as the semester winds down to its close, it’s time to challenge yourself: How will you make a difference and become one of UT’s top leaders?

Is Cheating the Newest Way Couple’s Settle a Score?

By PHILIPPA HATENDI Columnist

So if you cheat on your partner does that mean that you deserve to be cheated on?

Fergie recently said that she used to be the cheater in her relationships before her relationship with actor Josh Duhamel, and with the way the tabloids make it sound, it seems to legitimize the fact that there was infidelity present in relationships.

Relationships were made to be a lot of things, they were made to be honest, to be enriching, to be inspiring, but they were not made for disloyalty. It is not okay to cheat regardless of whether your relationship is polygamous, monogamous, red, yellow, horizontal or vertical, it is not okay to cheat and no one ever deserves to be cheated on.

Though there are things that cause a partner to cheat, I believe (and I am sure this is standard opinion) that you should be loyal in a relationship.

If you feel like you’re even

close to being unfaithful it is a clear sign that you need to either: 1. Re-think how to rekindle the romance with your partner and figure out how to better fulfill each other’s needs or 2. Leave the relationship.

Everyone knows that when one is cheated on it’s a really painful experience to go through, so why would it ever be okay to do that to someone else? Especially if it’s just a petty, hypocritical act of revenge.

I have seen so many people do this, they seem to believe that it’s better to “get even” than just to rise above the wrongs that another person has done to you. No matter how deeply a person has hurt you, you can never legitimize hurting them back.

Even if you do “manage” to do that, you still end up looking like a bit of a fool at the end of it.

There is so much focus in society on how people should be faithful, and shouldn’t stray from their partners in relationships. The message we are conditioned to receive from childhood by the media is that if a person cheats in a relationship that means it’s automatically over (which shouldn’t always be the case, but that’s another article in itself).

Look at Tiger Woods and what’s-his-face-Jesse James, they

cheated on their wives and society slaughtered them with a slew of insults and condemnation. Not only does society condemn cheating, but they condemn people who choose to stay in the relationship once they have been cheated on the act of infidelity is taken that seriously.

So why would a society which is always harping on about the importance of fidelity ever develop a mentality that infidelity was ever called for in any circumstance?

People need to assess their own personal standards of behavior before they go out pointing the finger at other people. Not to say that you shouldn’t call someone on the fact that they’re doing something wrong, but also you should recognize when you’re doing something wrong.

I don’t tend to use the Bible Hector Casanova / MCTCampus as a reference but it does say in there that love is not vengeful and Could infidelity become a socially acceptable form of getting back at a lover? keeps no record of wrong, therefore it’s a terrible thing for us to ers, that doesn’t mean that you from life it’s that inflicting negbring vengeance and bitterness should cheat on them. The usu- ativity on the world never brings into any relationship and believe al legitimization for this is “I’m positivity back to you, it only that it’s going to make for a better teaching them a lesson,” but ask brings more of the negative. view on the world. There’s a lot of yourself this—why bother teachGandhi once said “An eye for pain that goes with cheating, a lot ing somebody a lesson when it an eye makes the whole world of hurt, anger and betrayal but we doesn’t make you a better person? blind,” so let’s stop poking each must remember this: Even if you do “teach them a les- other’s eyes out for a change Cheating is never legitimate. son” when does this vicious cy- please?

Your partner could have been cle end?

Philippa Hatendi can be the Michael Jordan of cheatIf one should learn anything reached at phatendi@ut.edu.

11

THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

COMMENTARY

Prospects May Seem Dim, but Our Graduates Are Brighter Than Ever

By ROBERT STEPHENSON Staff Writer

The worst words in any college senior’s definition are right around the corner- graduation. For somebody like me (the average collegiate at UT), this means a reality check hitting me like a ton of bricks (excuse the cliché).

I mean literally—we’ve only got like three weeks left and what do we even have to look forward to?

Twenty-two and the job market sucks, getting jobs are competitive and the pay in some cases are way below what college graduates were coming out of school making four years ago (thanks el Busho). The American government is in a terrible time and Gen-Y is the first generation to absorb this impact. And we’re not even ready for it!

Let’s get down to business; with senioritis in full swing, applying for jobs isn’t any easier and a full job in itself. And who wants to sign with a company for a multi-year contract? I’m too busy freaking out about what’s due next week and how I’m getting to the beach Saturday. We’re young and always changing our minds…a permanent job can be intimidating in that respect. After all, we are the short attention spanned, spoiled rotten and the ‘feel-entitled-to everything’ generation.

In retrospect, we do get to officially be done with classes, teachers and homework. But not really. Instead we get ready to enter a world full of meetings, bosses and deadlines. Exchanging lounge wear for suits, and pool time for one hour lunch break.

We’re trading college lifestyle for grownup lifestyle, and now

we find ourselves asking if this is even the time to be entering the work world.

Luckily, there are alternatives.

Along with being a savvy, technologically advanced and open minded generation, we thrive on new challenges and changes of scenery. This isn’t 19—anything!

In the twenty-first century we are multitasking while working, cramming our schedules and constantly running ourselves to exhaustion. We don’t feel the need to conform just because we’re finishing undergraduate degrees, nor are we obligated to follow the footsteps of our parent’s. Again, this is your parent’s last few weeks of college in the ‘70s on crack. We literally have oodles of choices on what to do next with our lives.

Some people will move back home with mom and pop and look for jobs around where their old friends now reside. And that’s great if you’re looking to go home, save up cash and take a bit more time to really refine your passion and dreams. Nothing in this life is certain, and you don’t want to keep making the wrong rash decisions.

Take your time, chill and enjoy being home with the parental units for a while.

Then you’ll have the students who are fascinated by culture and diversity, and ever perfecting their love of a new language. Plenty of young adults want to really branch out and go flip their life upside down by teaching English in a foreign country. It makes sense in most ways; cheap living, enough pay to save gradually and you will still be on your own experimenting with new ideas and discovering chillingly awesome history. You gain the experience of living in a

completely different environment, and will probably open up plenty of doors as you gain appreciation for other people’s outlooks on life.

And of course, if you’re feeling really indifferent towards the job market and moving back home, you might be on your way to graduate school. To me—it makes the most sense. Better paying jobs for the most part require some sort of master’s degree, and furthering your education will always add more qualifications to your resume and career track. The bang for your buck will be high, but well worth it. And if you’re going for a law degree or doctorate, go that extra mile and get into the school you always had high hopes of reaching.

It is more schooling, but you’re all ready in the swing of studying and doing homework right? Jump on the bandwagon and go for it.

The ups of finding a corporate job are that you’ll be making your own money, paving your own success, and letting go of mommy and daddy’s credit. Nothing feels quite as empowering as cutting the cord on your own and paying for your own things; choosing your passions and vices, making it rain on whatever you want it to rain on. And once you make some dough, you can invest, expand, buy companies—again, the opportunities are endless. I don’t have to tell you how business works.

Some may know what they want or where they will go, and some may not. Each of us are destined to our own new path, with the ultimate goal of wanting lifelong happiness. Being twentytwo is hard, and being pulled in multiple directions by multiple

Oxford / MCTCampus

Despite stress and fear, seniors don’t need to fear graduation.

influences doesn’t help. But just remember to focus on where you want to be, what you want out of life and where you’re most comfortable; isn’t that what we all want?

These last two weeks are going to be brutal for most, but may be paradise for others. With the sky as the limit for potential outcomes, we all just have to trust and brace ourselves for the plunge into adulthood and real life.

Whether you’re going to be a ski or beach bum out west, or move to the city and progress through the corporate ladder, each day will slowly lead you to your

state of eternal bliss and peace.

These next ten years are going to be challenging yet beautiful; full of afflictive hardships and untimely temptations.

But we’ll all get through it, in our own ways, beginning our own chapters to our own lives.

And don’t fret about being split from your college buds, we’ll always have Facebook and cell phones to stay in touch. Just think of what crazy technology is in the works. Class of 2010, we did it. I don’t know how, but we somehow did it.

Robert Stephenson can be reached at rstephenson@ut.edu.

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12 APRIL 16 2010 | THE MINARET

COMMENTARY

Arabs and Muslims Are Not Necessarily the Same Thing

By CAROLINA MEDELLIN Columnist

Last Friday before going to the mosque I stopped to buy some groceries. I was wearing a headscarf and talking to a friend on the phone in Spanish. When I hung up, a lady came to me and said, “It’s surprising, I didn’t know they spoke Spanish in Saudi Arabia.”

I didn’t really know what to say. I wasn’t offended by it, because with time I’ve learned to deal with comments like that, I just felt very uncomfortable. I just smiled and walked away.

The thing is, this is a pretty common misunderstanding. Well, I don’t actually think that there are many people who think that Muslims are all from Saudi Arabia, or at least I want to think so.

However, most people do not really differentiate between an Arab and a Muslim.

This is a very important thing to know about, more nowadays, when we hear about it everywhere. This is not a mistake only common to “average” people.

The news coverage sometimes misses the point, too.

Only by understanding the difference between Arab and Muslim, we can understand many of the issues related to Islam.

The biggest mistake usually made, is to see Islam as a uniform

block.

They are all Arab, they all speak Arabic, and they are all terrorists. Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

Although Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula, today only 15 percent of the Muslim population is from Arab ethnicity.

That includes countries in both the Middle East (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, etc.) and in North Africa (i.e. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).

Even more surprising is the fact that people in those regions, people with Arab ethnicity, aren’t always Muslim. So, yeah, not all Muslims are Arabs, but also not all Arabs are Muslims. In Lebanon, for example, there are important Christian communities; those are Christian Arabs, they speak Arabic, do Mass in Arabic and read the Bible in Arabic. In Morocco, there is a Jewish community; Jewish Arabs that speak fluent Arabic, my French teacher in junior year of high school was from that community.

So, if only 15 percent of Muslims are Arab, which ethnicity does the other 85 percent belong to? Well, without going too far from the Arabian Peninsula, we can find other “Muslim” ethnicities.

Turkey, for instance, is a country where almost 95 percent of the population is Muslim. Their ethnicity is Turk not Arab, and even some of them don’t get very happy when they are called “Arab.”

They speak Turkish, not Arabic, and still they are Muslims just like the ones in Syria or Tunisia.

The ethnicity for Iran is Per-

sian. They speak Farsi, but are still Muslim. In Afghanistan the official language is not Arabic but Dari and Pashto, and even though Pakistan is a country with a big Muslim majority, and yet the population is not Arab, but has many different ethnicities.

In Africa, there is also a big Muslim population. Most of them are from African ethnicity, and speak the official language of their country.

And located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, Indonesia is the country with the biggest Muslim population in the world, and they are not Arab nor do they speak Arabic.

Of course, there is also another ethnicity added to Islam, or should I say, many other ethnicities. Those are the ethnicities of those who, like me, convert. I didn’t change my ethnicity when I converted, I don’t think that’s actually possible, and even if it was I wouldn’t.

I am Hispanic and Muslim, not an Arab who speaks fluent Spanish. The same happens with Americans or Europeans that convert to Islam. It is normal for people to get confused and sometimes call us “Arabs,” but this is a mistake that only reveals ignorance.

Islam is very broad, and the main reason we sometimes get it wrong is because we don’t really go in depth with it, and just believe everything the Media says.

This whole explanation narrows down to one thing. Taking into consideration how many different ethnicities, countries and cultures are involved with Islam,

Just because one is a Muslim doesn’t mean one is an Arab.

it would be very shallow to justify everything by blaming it on the religion.

Just as religion helps to shape culture, culture also tends to add or even modify things in religion. The way a Christian practices their Faith here in America is not the same as the way Christians practice it in South America, in Africa or in Asia.

The way religion is practiced doesn’t only depend on religion itself, but also on a cultural and social context.

It is the same with Islam. Different countries practice Islam differently. To take a simple example, when the time for Iftar (breaking the fast after sunset in days of Ramadan) comes in Jor-

Rana Ossama / Flickr

dan, they won’t probably eat the same things that we eat in Colombia for that same event. We break the fast with arepas and papa salada, and that’s how we contribute our culture to the religion.

Now, this is kind of a simple example, but it also applies for other things. Some practices that are attributed to Islam, such as the burqa don’t really come from Islam, but from the particular culture of a country.

It’s only by understanding the diversity that exists within Islam, that we can understand the difference between culture and religion, even if sometimes it seems blurry.

Carolina Medellin can be reached at colaya@ut.edu.

Ninja Assassin: Terrible Tour of Japan

By JOHN JACOBS Columnist

As we all know March 16 was the DVD release of the movie Ninja Assassin, so I decided I would watch it and write a review of how I thought the movie was. I expected to see a good action movie full of ninja’s doing reckless things and an unnecessary amount of violence. “Good” is the last thing I would call Ninja Assassin, because considering the movie “good” would be the understatement of the century.

I think it was only two minutes into the movie when the first random killing of a room full of people took place when I realized this is going to be the best movie ever. I don’t think there’s ever been so much violence in a movie, which was so justified and necessary for the plot to move forward and for the characters to grow.

To sum up the basic plot of the movie, our main character Raizo, grew up as an orphan turned ninja who fell in love with another ninja. But then the ninja Raizo loved was killed by (you’d never guess this) another ninja! After that, Raizo turns on the ninja camp that raised him and sets out to get revenge. With such an original and complicated plot you can see how it would easy to immediately fall in love with this movie.

If you’re thinking that Ninja Assassin is only pointless violence with no deeper meaning or reason at all, you’ll find yourself very mistaken. The ninjas in the movie have no problem with killing rooms full of innocent people whether it be men or women which is clearly bringing up the issue of women being treated equally as men in the workplace.

Obviously the director was trying to portray the message that everyone deserves to be treated equal by not discriminating who the ninjas’ kill (which he shows many, many times).

Not only is the movie extremely entertaining,

but it’s also a great look inside the ancient Japanese art of what it was like being a ninja. Director James Mcteigue, along with screenplay writers Matthew Sand and J. Michael Stracyznski, could have only brought such an accurate representation of a Japanese culture to us. Because when I think of who would be needed to create an authentic representation of a foreign culture, of course white people come to mind. Think about it, if a ninja movie was made by a Japanese director and Japanese writers, it would end up biased because coming from Japan they would want to make ninjas just look as cool as possible! Not like with Ninja Assassin which actually teaches the audience about ninjas and manages to be factually and historically accurate throughout the whole movie! For example, did you know ninjas could heal fatal wounds within a few seconds? Did you know that they could smell people from miles away “like wolves,” and move so quickly that they can’t be scene in broad daylight? (Of course I already knew this, but you probably didn’t.)

This movie truly ranks among the greatest ever. Imagine Citizen Kane mixed with Godfather and Gone With the Wind, except take out all the boring dialogue and fill it with a bunch of ninjas!

The same way the AIDS virus is too bad for the world could be compared to how Ninja Assassin is good for the world. I don’t know when I cried harder; during the movie when I realized it was the happiest I had ever been in my life, or after the movie when I realized I was never going to be that happy again. If I could create a situation that could recreate the feeling of watching Ninja Assassin, I imagine it would feel like losing your virginity to a billionaire supermodel while winning the Nobel Peace Prize, which is being given to you by Barack Obama, and he’s telling you: “You’re the most amazing person in the world. One day I hope to be as awesome as you.”

Overall, Ninja Assassin was a mediocre movie at best full of random over the top murders with a total of about two paragraphs of dialogue throughout the whole movie and no real story line or relatable main characters.

John Jacobs can be reached at jjacobs@ ut.edu

13 Hear Me Roar: The Cougar Widens the Playing Field for Women THE MINARET | APRIL 16 2010

By HEATHER GROMLEY Love Columnist

The idea of being a “cougar” in my last few weeks of school at times seems invigorating to both myself and my sorority sisters, yet I’m not the type of person who would have the “balls” to go after a guy way younger than me.

And by no means am I referring to someone younger than 18.

My friends and I have made a pact that since we were born in the ‘80s, dating or doing someone from the ‘90s just seems weird, as least from our female perspective.

However, I am in complete support of being with someone because you love them, no matter the age. But in today’s society age and image is seen as a crucial part of someone.

For me personally, I think dating a younger guy presents problems of maturity (though I know several wonderful guys who are younger than me). And I’m referring to a freshman boy as opposed to me being a senior.

Our mindsets and where we are in life are extremely different.

I know I’m ready to graduate and

move on with my life, and freshmen are most likely rethinking their fall class schedules and whether their fake ids will allow them to drink like a senior this weekend. There is nothing wrong with this difference, because all seniors were once freshmen. But the maturity levels in a university are varied.

But either way we should all be happy with our partner no matter the age, assuming it’s legal!

Like previously mentioned, ages in relationships have become a prominent issue in the news and in pop culture.

Major couple, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, has broken the “mold” society has placed on age boundaries of couples. Get it Demi!

TV shows have also based their plot lines around the age of relationships. The Real Housewives Series that take place all over the United States and follows socialite women around their “fabulous lives.” These lives are usually based on the drama they can stir up and for the few single women who are on it, their boyfriends.

These relationships have stirred up drama of age, as women are dating younger guys, older guys for either love or money and the women continue to change their physical appearances to look younger.

Whether you’re a fan of the original girls of the OC, the Ramona eyes of New York, the table flipping scandals in Jersey,

or my favorite, the ladies who are never tardy for the party, Atlanta, it is hard to deny that these ladies are prime examples of an age obsessed culture.

Cougar Town, is a sexy new TV show featuring Courtney Cox as a recently divorced woman on the prowl. The show’s setting is in Florida and even close to us.

There is at one point a reference to Cox going to the “Soho” area.

We all enjoy weekends on South Howard and we also know those ladies who are out there trying to be cougars.

But then on the flip side there are several guys dating or making moves on girls much younger than them and some are major creepers. A few weeks ago I was proposed to by a guy who was probably in his mid thirties. Now I don’t have an issue with older guys talking to me, but when a balding man proposes to me on the gross floor of Mangroves I have to question his motives and state of inebriation.

Either way though, age is something that our society thrives on. It produces scandals, shockers, legal situations and love.

For now I don’t think I’ll be a cougar and will keep my eyes open for a guy who treats me well and isn’t balding. Date and be with who you love, and most importantly, get it!

Cougars represent the newest dating trend.

Heather Gromley can be reached at hgroms@gmail.edu.

James White / ABC

False Divisions Among People and Ignorance Propagates Genocide The artificial notion of “us” and “them” “handicaps the need for progression and the concept of “the other” presents unintentional prejudice and segregation. “

By NARISA IMPRASERT Columnist

This semester I have sat through a few events relating to genocide, abuse against women, rape utilized as a weapon, conflict minerals (similar to the blood diamonds of west Africa) and means of survival. All of which was approached in a humorous manner.

At first I thought how can someone write a monologue about their vagina being tortured and laugh about it? I especially couldn’t fathom an Auschwitz survivor cracking jokes about his wife and the years of pain he had to endure.

I guess the key to truly moving on and actually living is to exercise humor as a means of coping. Maintaining a sense of humor about the past, present and future allows us to continue living in a seemingly harsh and corrupt world.

Within all these crimes against humanity, awareness is steadily being spread.

The idea of collective mass graves still haunts me. Having come to a reality with a lack of humanity and placing myself into the temporary mindset of lost loved ones is heartbreaking.

Carl Wilkens, former head of Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda,

states that “surviving is more than just staying alive; surviving is learning how to live again.”

Wi l k e n s e x p r e s s e s h i s perspective on society because he believes “our commonalities are so much greater than our differences.”

This modern day hero is often overlooked by the uninformed and unappreciative.

He was the only American to stay behind in Rwanda when others immediately fled at the entrance of crisis.

Wilkens’ story presents us with a reminder of moral choices interacting with history and forces us to re-evaluate our every day relationships.

Even through the horrendous pains of facing unimaginable slaughter, he was still able to muster up the courage to tell his story, to detail each encounter.

Each description, each scene out of his life, is not completely full of blood, sweat and tears.

No, Wilkens puts forth a fun and witty portrayal of his life overseas. He enjoys talking about the friends he made, the strongwilled neighbors and the witty children.

Having to witness destruction on such a massive level, many would assume him to be mentally insane from post trauma. But, his means of coping comes within a sense of humor that no one can take away.

Unfortunately, the Holocaust among other acts of violence is a myth to the ignorant.

Modern day ignorance still survives and the mere existence of genocide is denied. But of course, regardless of the proof, the stories,

the people and those “fashionable tattoos,” the Holocaust is apparently a myth.

The Holocaust is a story worth telling. It is not like all the survivors got together to fabricate such an elaborate story.

Phil Gans, a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, was a firsthand witness to cruelty on a whole other unfathomable level.

His advice is to not hate and to educate oneself with the power of stories.

As a victim, he believed in never losing hope and maintaining hope.

Nowadays, genocide is a series of myths to the ignorant and it expresses “what it really means to be human,” according to Gans.

Gans is a promoter of breaking barriers and acceptance through tolerance because even though he

had to suffer, he still cherishes his existence.

The problem of society is the continuation of man’s fight against man and the process of making enemies out of each other.

Like history reveals, bullying is the initial step towards brainwashing, power hungry, murderous thoughts.

The concept of “hate” gives way to inhumane train of thoughts because the world being a better place without someone is petrifying. Elimination via hatred is a bias way to lead.

Like Wilkens was trying to convey, it is okay to laugh because you don’t always have to be serious.

This constructive notion of “us” and “them” handicaps the need for progression and the concept of “the other” presents unintentional prejudice and segregation.

Basically, the act of educating and informing can come is various manners. A line between the stereotypical good and evil prevents the uninformed from seeing beneath the surface.

Dehumanizing and creating a false sense of security makes way for genocide, crimes against humanity.

I’m sensing a pattern of destruction that refuses to take a break. Too often history repeats, but throughout this ongoing fight, it is best to keep our heads up and smile.

Wilkens is a strong believer and asserts that hope within pain and defiance still holds strong and allows humanity to “rehumanize” through hope and healthy optimism.

Narisa Imprasert can be reached at nimprasert@ut.edu

14 APRIL 9 2010 | THE MINARET

SPORTS

Sports Disappointing Year Brings About Optimism for 2011 Tennis Season

By ARTURO UZCATEGUI Sports Writer

With an overall record of 2-13, The University of Tampa tennis team may not have accomplished all they were hoping for this year, but in the mind of Coach Al DuFaux, this season is already well behind the team as they look forward to next season.

Coach DuFaux is aware that this season, that just ended after the team lost their final match against Eckerd, thus disabling the team to travel to the SSC tournament, did not go as planned and that changes need to be made.

“We had a tough season primarily because we lost the number 1, 3, and 6 players of our starting line-ups and that is always hard to recover from in one season,” DuFaux said.

“When you have a tough season, the hardest challenge is to stay motivated and I think that was the most difficult thing to do for the girls having the tough season they did.”

This season will not be an exception as the team will bear with the loss of seniors Kourtney Stark, who is considered the team’s star player, and Ally Wooten, who had been playing great tennis with doubles partner Briana Ryan.

However, even though the losses are going to be significant, DuFaux already has a solid amount

of players lined up for next year.

“We’re gonna have a great team next year. There are six returning players and I have six other players signed for next season,” Dufaux said.

“Out of those six new players, four are Americans with two of them being from Florida, one from Virginia and one from California. The other two are International Student-Athletes. One of them is from Canada and the other from England.”

With these new additions to the line-up and with Megan Mancini as the team captain for next season, the team is prepared for any challenge.

Coach DuFaux also said that the selection of Megan Mancini as the team captain was due to the fact that she has all of the qualities that will make her succeed in that position.

Mancini, according to the coach, has displayed a positive attitude that will serve towards being a great role model for those six new players.

“When you have a losing record, you have to turn some things around, so getting those new girls right up to speed as fast as possible is the key to our success for next season,” DuFaux said.

“I think we need to focus on making those changes pay off as quick as possible on the season.”

In order to get the Tennis team

Molly Welsh and Nikol Williams working for Tampa in doubles play.

more competitive as fast as possible for next season, the coach has very high expectations of his returning players who will essentially be three sophomores, two juniors and a senior.

“They will be competing to win a spot on the starting line-up.

There is no such thing as seniority or tenure in sports; whoever plays

the best is in the starting line-up.

So, everybody is gonna be competing for spots in that starting roster.” Coach DuFaux said.

DuFaux also said that he expects great things to happen next season partially because of the two international players who will be joining the squad.

The player from Great Brit-

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

ain is ranked 54 nationally and the 21-year-old transfer from Canada has a lot of competitive experience behind her.

He expects these two girls to have an impact on the team right away.

Arturo Uzcategui can be reached at juzcategui.gomez@ spartans.ut.edu.

Tampa Baseball Stands Atop Sunshine State Conference School Tampa Florida Southern Florida Tech Barry Rollins Nova Southeastern Saint Leo Lynn Eckerd

SSC Record 17-1 12-3 10-8 8-7 8-7 8-7 4-11 1-11 1-14

Overall Record 38-6 34-5 30-11 23-9 25-15 25-17 16-26 11-28-1 16-20

Spartans Remain No. 2 in National Rankings

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1

The Southern Arkansas Muleriders (35-3) stay undefeated in the Gulf South Conference West Division after a series sweep of the Christian Brothers.

2

After The University of Tampa Spartans’ (38-6) school record 25 game win streak was broken against Rollins, they will look to rebound against SSC opponent Barry.

3

A series win against Washburn marked the 17th consecutive season in which the Central Missouri University Mules (30-4) have won 30 games in a season.

4

The Florida Southern College Moccasins (34-5) improved their record after a sweep versus defending national champions and SSC rival Lynn.

5

The UC San DiegoTritons (34-5) averaged 10 runs a game en route to a series sweep of the Cal State Stanislaus Warriors.

Standings according to Ping! Baseball

THE MINARET | APRIL 9 2010

SPORTS

15

ACL Injury Forces Freshman to Make a Fresh Start at Tampa UT because of her knee. She said the injury “took longer than expected” to heal, but it is holding up.

That knee is not affecting Hipple’s skills at the plate. Through April 12, she is batting .283, good for third on the team. Eleven of her 26 hits have gone for extra bases.

“I am always working on my hitting,” Hipple said. “To me it is the hardest part of the game.”

Hipple’s comeback and improvement can be credited in part to the positive attitude she brought to UT. “I am so happy that I transferred to UT,” Hipple said. “It is by far the best decision I have ever made.”

Brenton Burkett can be reached at bburkett@ut.edu.

By BRENTON BURKETT Sports Writer

Kara Wall/The Minaret

Brittany Hipple taking a swing for Tampa. The sophomore tore her ACL as a freshman at UCF.

A college softball player’s career is often turbulent. Many transfer schools, some change positions and escape their comfort zones. An unfortunate few suffer serious injuries.

One University of Tampa player has done it all, and she’s only in her sophomore year.

First baseman Brittany Hipple started out as a shortstop at Venice High School.

For two years she played for UT coach Leslie Kanter’s sister Amy. This experience put UT on her radar.

Hipple won the player of the year award for her area as a senior, an honor she says was her goal throughout high school.

“I achieved so much because of all the hard work I put in,” Hipple said. “I had a personal trainer my junior year and I played or practiced everyday.”

Hipple said she “fell in love” with the University of Central Florida (UCF), which recruited her heavily out of high school.

She liked the proximity to her home, the new medical school and, of course, the softball program.

During her freshman season at UCF, Hipple made only two defensive errors but struggled at the plate, hitting .149 without a home run in 32 games. She tore her ACL mid-season and cast doubt on her athletic future. The injury forced her out of action for 2009.

Hipple sat out that season while rehabbing her knee. It was during this time when she decided to take a fresh look at Tampa.

“I visited UT and I really liked the campus,” Hipple said. “Some students also told me the education is better here than at UCF.” Though she has shown defensive skill Billy Ward/The Minaret at shortstop, Hipple moved to first base at Brittany Hipple standing at first base for Tampa

[From Back]

Dominant Junior Season Forces Opponents to Change Approach ken the school record in walks with 56 total, while being struck out only 17 times.

Coach Urso believes that it was Schwartz’s great performances all last season that has helped him draw so many walks this season.

“The coaches in this league have made it clear that going into a series with Tampa, they’re not gonna let Mike Schwartz beat them, so they’re pitching him very [carefully],” Urso said.

“He’s done a great job of being patient,

taking his walks and letting those guys behind him drive him in.”

Although Schwartz broke the walk record relatively early in the season, he has still remained productive in terms of hitting home runs and driving in base runners.

Coach Urso’s reasoning for Schwartz’s success at the plate was that if opposing pitchers don’t pitch around him carefully enough, he’ll make them regret it.

“When they miss, they know they gotta miss off the plate with him,” Urso said. “If

not, he’ll make them pay.”

Schwartz said that breaking the walk record is special but is not anything he was aiming for.

“It’s not something you really go out and [say] ‘I’m gonna try and get walked today’,” Schwartz said.

“But it’s something that just kind of happens and it’s cool to have.”

While facing Rollins College the weekend of April 9 and 10, Tampa’s recordbreaking 25 game win streak was snapped

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Designated hitter Mike Schwartz sliding into third base. He has 16 doubles and has also wiped two bags from opponents this year.

after a 4-3 loss in the second game of a double-header.

Schwartz said he is proud to be included in Tampa’s history books with such an impressive winning streak.

“To be a part of the longest winning streak [is] saying something because of all the winning tradition that UT has,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz also feels the loss may end up being beneficial for the Spartans in the long run.

“I think it’s good for the team to feel defeat again to make us even hungrier and just know, even if you are dominant, even if you are better than the other team, sometimes little things could happen and you can lose a game,” said Schwartz.

After the season, Schwartz will once again look to be drafted by a professional ball club.

Coach Urso is confident in Schwartz’s chances at playing in the MLB in the near future.

“I believe he’ll get a chance to, after this year, achieve his goals of playing professional baseball,” said Coach Urso.

However, with more business to handle this season, Schwartz is aspiring to win a National Championship.

Schwartz said that he has to keep doing what he’s been doing to help the Spartans continue their title run.

“I just need to keep putting together quality at-bats and keep hitting the ball hard, and if they wanna walk me [and] make someone else behind me get the job done, I’m sure [my teammates] can step up,” Schwartz said.

The Spartans are in action again on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 at home as they take on conference rival Barry University.

Barry will bring with them a 23-9 overall record to Tampa.

Daniel Feingold can be reached at dfeingold@ut.edu.

SPORTS

[14]

4

The Record

Baseball [38-6, 17-1] April 16 vs. Barry [25-14, 8-7] 6 p.m.

Coach Joe Urso on Barry: “They’re gonna bring their best game because they’re fighting for one of those final spots in that regional tournament.”

Mike Schwartz on Barry: “We gave ourselves a pretty good lead on the conference so far right now but we [have to] close it out; we gotta go after Barry.”

History: Tampa leads the all-time series 58-14. The two teams met three times in 2009 with Tampa dropping two of three. Barry was then ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Softball [18-13, 9-6] April 16 at Barry [26-18, 8-6 ] 6 p.m.

Coach Kanter on Barry: “Barry’s really good, so they’re going to be tough.”

Heather Van Landingham on Barry: “I’m excited about it, it’s going to be a good series.”

History: Barry leads alltime series 50-22. The Bucs beat UT three times in 2009.

Tennis [2-15, 0-8] The University of Tampa tennis team’s season ended following a 4-5 loss to SSC foe Eckerd College.

After putting together back-to-back wins against Saint Leo University and Eckered College (both non-conference affairs) in mid February Tampa fell into an 11-game losing streak.

Nine of Tampa’s 17 opponents brought along national rankings of No. 28 or better.

UT will graduate two seniors from the 2010 squad and will look to build for 2011.

Volleyball The University of Tampa beach volleyball team turned in a victory in the overall championship of the 2010 Sunshine State Beach Volleyball Tournmanet.

This was the third annual beach volleyball tournament and marks the second victory for Tampa.

[15]

New Walks Leader Continues Productivity at the Plate

By DANIEL FEINGOLD Asst. Sports Editor

Mike Schwartz has wanted to play ball in the Majors for as long as he can remember, and lately the UT designated hitter has been showing his major league potential.

“I’ve just been playing my whole life,” said Schwartz. “I just caught on real quick and I’ve played ever since.”

Schwartz bats third as UT’s star designated hitter and occasional first baseman, but he did not grow up playing those positions.

“I came up actually my whole life playing mostly middle infield,” Schwartz said.

It was during his time at Montville Township High School in New Jersey that Schwartz found his niche at first base.

“As my high school career went on, I started lifting some weights, getting bigger and stronger, and I moved over to just third base,” Schwartz said. “Then I came into college playing just corners, first and third.”

As a senior at Montville High School, Schwartz set a school record with a .583 batting average, and managed to hit five home runs during that same campaign.

After his high school career, Schwartz played for Hillsborough Community College (HCC), with the hopes of being drafted by a major league team.

After his plans didn’t pan out, Schwartz found himself at UT. “I decided to go to junior college to try to give myself a chance

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Mike Schwartz taking a cut for the Spartans. He leads the team with a .406 batting average and 56 walks, a UT record.

to get drafted out of there,” said Schwartz.

“It didn’t work out, so I ended up going to UT after that and it’s been working out pretty well.”

During his two years at HCC, Schwartz batted .433 and .403, respectively.

In both his freshman and sophomore seasons, he was named a first team all-state player.

Joe Urso, head coach of the Spartans, saw a lot of talent from Schwartz when coming out of

HCC to play for UT. “We felt as a coaching staff that he was one of the best hitters in junior college baseball a couple years ago,” Urso said.

“He’s a kid that offensively could have, and should have, been drafted and [be] playing professional baseball.”

In his junior year, his first as a Spartan, Schwartz had a batting average of .368 while compiling 14 home runs and 58 runs batted in (RBI), both team highs.

So far in his senior campaign, Schwartz has continued his dominance at the plate with a batting average over .400, ten home runs and 44 RBI. The biggest difference between his two seasons at UT has been his strikeout to walk ratio.

In his junior season, he had a strikeout to walk ratio of 30 to 27, but this year, he has already bro[See 15]

Four-Year Starter Balances Athletics with Academics

By RYAN BURKETT Sports Writer

Few college athletes receive the opportunity to start for four years. University of Tampa softball’s Jessica Tejas has earned that honor.

Tejas, born in Oklahoma City and was a self-described “Air Force kid.” Tejas lived in Texas and Virginia before settling in Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Tejas did not play competitive sports until the age of 10 when she signed up for little league softball.

She soon took up volleyball, basketball, track and golf, in addition to softball.

“You rarely ever caught me inside playing with dolls or even video games,” Tejas said.

Tejas attended Land O’ Lakes High School and was the captain of the softball team for two seasons. She still has fond memories of the team’s coach for her last two seasons, Jamie Martin.

“She made softball a way of life,” Tejas said. “It was our drug and we were all addicted.”

Tejas finished her high school career with a .468 batting average, three home runs (two in one game during her senior season), 23 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

After high school Tejas faced the tough decision of which college to attend. She was initially set on attending UT’s Sunshine State Conference rival Rollins College. That changed, how-

ever, when UT head coach Leslie Kanter saw Tejas at a tournament in Clearwater. Kanter says she noticed her batting power and strong throwing arm.

After meeting Kanter and visiting the campus, Tejas reconsidered and chose to call UT home.

“I told Rollins, ‘sorry, I’ll see (you) on the field,’” Tejas said.

Tejas impressed Kanter enough to earn a starting role as a freshman, playing wherever she was needed, and always remaining in the lineup. It was an honor she never took for granted.

“I always felt starting was a privilege and it was something I never took lightly,” Tejas said.

Tejas’s versatility led her to create the team’s motto during her freshman year, “UT, Utility”. The phrase was a reference to each player’s willingness to take on any role in order to contribute to the team’s success.

Although she produced consistent play in her first three seasons, Tejas is hitting a career-best .286 this season and is tied for the team lead in home runs with two. She has gone deep a total of 11 times in her college career.

While Tejas says being coachable is her best asset, Kanter says her strong arm is just as important.

“She has the strongest arm on the team,” Kanter said.

According to Tejas, this season has been successful enough on its own, but after factoring in her de-

manding academic commitments, her numbers look even stronger.

This season she can only practice with the team on Fridays due to her schedule as an international business and finance major.

“Being an IBS and finance major is almost like having two majors,” Tejas said. “It’s a lot of pressure.”

Coach Kanter agrees that Tejas has a lot on her plate.

“It’s been tough for her to be the leader she wants to be this year because of her major,” Kanter said.

As if all this wasn’t enough, Tejas is also proud of anoth-

er off-the-field accomplishment, her charity work. As a junior, she received the UT Unsung Hero Award for her efforts.

“I definitely didn’t think I had done enough to earn a nomination,” Tejas said. “I almost cried...

I was incredibly honored and grateful.”

Through bad times and good, Tejas has learned from her college experience. She says she is proud of her accomplishments at UT and that while she looks forward to life as a professional, she still can’t believe it’s time to move on.

“Nothing post-graduation will top this,” Tejas said.

Kara Wall/The Minaret

Tejas is the only 31-game starter for Tampa with a perfect fielding percentage.