University of Tampa
Vol. 75 No. 2
www.theminaretonline.com
Professor Journeys from UT to Ghana
Stars
By Sara Haun Features Writer
This past summer, UT professor Kevin Fridy was on a mission to bring more Africa-related courses to UT. “It’s a big continent with a lot to offer, yet most students know little more than the fact that there are lions, war, and famine there,” said Fridy. Fridy went to Ghana by means of the UT Dana grant. As a GWA Professor, Fridy has a strong interest in African Politics, which motivated him to take the trip abroad. This trip was made to set up local politics. Fridy said, “I was in Ghana setting up a field testing.” Northern Ghana was chosen as the destination point in Kevin Fridy Africa because of the rural constituency in the North. Fridy said a mentor of his recommended the trip to Ghana. Throughout the two-week program, the group saw Dakar, St. Louis, Touba and Toubaba Dialaw, while listening to lectures about cultural issues. Fridy said, “I think most of the faculty was there because they want to incorporate more information on Africa into their curriculum. I was there because I wanted to learn how Senegal is similar/ different from the parts of West Africa that I was already familiar with.” Fridy spent the 2004-05 aca-
See
“Africa” [2]
Inside ...
minaret@ut.edu
By Sarah Gottlieb Asst. News Editor
Over the summer, many construction changes were done to UT’s campus. One of those changes was to include the installation of a light for the flag pole in front of Plant Hall. That project was scheduled to be completed by July 28, but the date has come and gone with no change to the flag pole. Walking through the west side of Plant Hall, UT students usually
&
see the American flag waving from atop the flag pole. This summer, several students noticed the missing flag. Wondering what happened to the stars and stripes, Student Government contacted ROTC, who is usually in charge of the flag. According to ROTC, during the regular school year the American flag is put up in the morning and taken down at night by cadets in the program. Because there are
August 29, 2008
Gripes
no cadets on campus during the summer, the flag remains unused until the fall. After listening to various mentions from students, staff, and prospective students about the flag’s disappearance during the summer, SG contacted the UT facilities department about the ROTC not having sole responsibility for the flag. This included the installation of a light to shine on the flag so it can fly night and day.
Over the summer, The Minaret spoke to Lakshman Lochan, SG Director of Special Events. Lochan said that the facilities department told him it had no money in the budget to buy and install a light. After further discussion with other UT administrators, it was suggested that SG fund the light. “We have no problem doing so,” Lochan said in July. “However See
“Flag Pole” [2]
Commuters Face Parking Changes
Construction on campus forces commuters and faculty into tight spaces By Peter Arrabal Editor-in-chief
Rarely do major losses come with recuperating gains, but under pressure from commuters and Student Government leaders, UT’s senior staff approved a change to the parking system. After losing 211 commuteronly spots over the last two years, commuters gained 206 parking spaces in the first floor of the West garage. The plan includes the ramp to the second floor, and is only active from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. This change was approved by UT’s senior staff in a meeting with SG President Andrew Learned and RHA President Molly Murphy. “I think this is a good solution,” Learned said. “It was a good group effort with a good solution for all.” Since the plan involved surrendering 38 spots on the ramp, Murphy was given a voice in the matter. “It was basically a compromise where commuters and resi-
Michelle Obama Speech re-cap[4]
dents are happy,” she said. “I don’t think the ramp is a huge factor.” UT is expecting 4,800 full time students this year, according to Director of Public Relations Eric Cardenas. He also said that about 70 percent of all full time students are residents, which projects to more than 1,400 commuters. There are another 1,000 students or so that are in the graduate program or study part-time. This translates to roughly one dedicated parking spot for every seven commuter students. Actual enrollment numbers won’t be available for a few weeks, Cardenas said. Residents vs. Commuters After the early-summer announcement that construction would begin on the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, commuters spoke out, saying their parking spaces were being taken away in the name of building a more residential campus. Those comments touched off an argument among residents and
Professor Promoted
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Images of Minorities [15] Re-building Volleyball
[17]
commuters, with residents claiming that the West parking garage was never full. The changes on campus also involved taking away all the commuter spots in front of Plant Hall, and between the Sykes College of Business and the pool. The loss of 211 spots included the 2007 removal of 20 spots between the old fairgrounds buildings and the intramural field. GoogleMaps satellite photos show 76 spots in the old commuter lot, with three handicap-only spaces as well. Commuters also gave up 74 spots when the construction of Stadium Center began in 2006. Murphy thought that it was a solid compromise, with commuters gaining lost spots while residents gave up little. “Commuters are getting what they lost, and commuters are stu-
Writer John Capouya joins faculty [12]
dents too,” she said. “Residents should have no problem parking on the second floor and above.” Commuter’s Outrage The loss of hundreds of parking spots enraged a number of commuters. “I am [a] very frustrated commuter,” said Emily Bendus. “Somebody really needs to organize a revolt of some sort in order to get the Thomas Parking Garage commuter parking only. It really is not fair that the commuters that need access to cars on a daily basis are being forced to park in the West parking garage so that the residential students can park in the Thomas garage. This is not fair! Until the commuters come togethSee
“Parking” [2]
News....................[2-4] Features ...............[8-9] A&E ................[10-12] Commentary....[14-15] Editorial................ [14] Sports ..............[17-20]
“Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy.” [George Bernard Shaw]
News
2 “Flag Pole”: Front
Editor-in-Chief Peter Arrabal parrabal@gmail.com
Asst. Editor-in-Chief Charlie Hambos chambos@ut.edu
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the point is that the university in itself should be responsible for such an important and essential piece. If the university cannot fund this simple [piece] because of the patriotic reasoning behind it, then whose place is it to do so? Should SG fund everything the administration does not want to do?” “I find it hard to believe we can repaint the entire of Plant Hall in the original colors... or lease new golf carts for the facilities department but can’t find money to purchase a light for our flag pole,” Lochan said in an e-mail to administrators. At that point in the summer, SG considered creating a petition if the flag was not flown soon. After contacting Lochan, who is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, The Minaret sent an e-mail to Frank Lidiak, UT Director of Facilities, asking if he could give
“Parking”: Front er and display our dissatisfaction with a church being constructed in the place of our parking lot, we will not get any results.” Other commuters echoed similar sentiments. “As a commuter I must say I really don’t like the parking as of right now,” said Rachel Leamond. “Are there any plans in the works to make commuter parking better? More available? I remember last year even with the more bountiful parking I could hardly find a spot on campus or even in Thomas [parking garage]. I really hope this gets better.” Bendus also questioned what further changes would be made. “Also, I want to know who would help and stand up for the commuters SG? Res life? I really don’t know,” she said. “Commuters feel disconnected enough from the University but taking away parking is just simply annoying and stupid!” Amber Miller was frustrated with the summer announcement of the chapel’s construction. “I have always been frustrated with the amount of commuter parking never even coming close to the amount of commuters on campus,” she said. “The recent construction of the chapel really set back parking even more. Even with the first floor of West becoming commuter parking, it still doesn’t even come close! It would’ve been nice for the administration to keep us in mind before they start building something that takes at least a year.” Sean McChesney, who recently moved off campus, found out the hard way that commuters
a cost estimate of the light. Lidiak responded, saying the light now had funding, and that the installation of the light was scheduled to be completed by July 28. As that date passed and with no changes to the flag pole, The Minaret contacted Lidiak again this week to find out why there was no progress. According to Lidiak, the light is now scheduled for completion after move-in. Lidiak said the light was not installed by the date originally set forth because “other issues on campus took priority.” Though the date of completion is set back until after the summer, Lochan is still enthusiastic about the light. “There will be no ROTC for the winter session or next summer,” he said. “It is important the flag is here. Even if the majority of students are not on campus during these times, the flag should still be on campus for summers to come.” have to struggle for parking. “It is bothering knowing that dorm residents can park their cars in the Thomas garage or in prime spots and not move their cars for a couple of days because they do not rely on their vehicles,” he said. “It would be completely logical if dorm residents could park their cars in the West garage and continue to walk to classes allowing commuters to take advantage of Thomas and the few remaining spots along campus streets. I hope this helps develop a plan to make better use of the available parking.” Future Plans Learned said he discussed with senior staff members some alternative plans which may include restricting the first and second floors of the Thomas parking garage as well. The proposal did not pass, but will be debated in future SG meetings. “It will go to SG,” Learned said. “On campus, 51 percent of cars are registered by residents, and 49 percent are registered to commuters.” Parking Relegated to the Garages All student parking is jammed into Thomas and West parking garages. The streets around campus have been redesigned to allow for two-way flow and visitor parking. A Jan. 27, 2006 Global Message announced some of the first major cuts to commuter parking, as 74 spots were removed from a gravel lot where Stadium Center stands now.
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Kevin Fridy with a group of Africa natives. Photos courtesy of Kevin Fridy.
Two of the natives Fridy encountered on his trip.
“Africa”: Front demic year in Ghana on a dissertation scholarship. “I was studying political parties and trying to figure out what identity markers serve as good predictors of partisanship,” said Fridy. While building up interest for more of these kinds of courses, next summer, Fridy will students the chance to join him on a trip to Africa. The honors program will sanction students, and if there are extra spots after the honors students, anyone can apply. Fridy says seats will be limited, but students who express a real interest in learning more about Africa and have a good track record of following through on their academic enthusiasm will be hard to turn down. Next summer’s trip will include time in: Ghana, Accra,
Cape Coast, Kumasi and Bolgatanga. Students will see cultural sites and the rain forest. With hopes of another successful trip, Fridy warns students that the trip is not for the faint of heart. “[It’s] for someone interested in seeing Africa for the first time and really challenging some of their assumptions about the continent I think it will be a great experience,” he said. Fridy’s final words about his trip were beneficial. It showed what the trip was like and what to forward to as an aspiring student. Fridy said this trip will either make you a patient person or a crazy one. “I think this is something useful students will bring home with them from the UT study abroad trip. After seeing people live off of less than a dollar a day ... they’ll realize that life, as a UT student really is a treat. ”
Come work for The Minaret! We are seeking writers with fresh new ideas. Stop by our office in Vaughn 211, write us an email at ut.minaret@ gmail.com, or write us on Facebook!
In Other News...
One-Membered Sorority
New Sorority Joins University Greek Life By Charlie Hambos Asst. Editor-in-Chief
As the new semester begins, so does the latest sorority addition to the National Pan Hellenic Council and Greek Life at UT. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated will be the fourth African American member of the NPHC, joining Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta. Starting a new sorority isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do. Providing a list of interested people, getting NHPC approval and requesting letters from the national chapters are just a few of the things Felicity Carey did to bring Sigma Gamma Rho to UT. Carey, a senior business major, and also the only member of Sigma Gamma Rho on campus, made all the necessary arrangements to bring the sorority to campus. Why would she do something like this? “To carry out the vision of the sorority by establishing a chapter on every campus,” Carey said. That vision is, “To enhance the quality of life within the community. Public service, leadership, development, and education of youth are the hallmark of the or-
ganization’s programs and activities.” Founded in 1922, on the predominantly white campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sigma Gamma Rho began its journey during the height of Klu Klux Klan activity. Seven schoolteachers from the Indianapolis area started the group to give hope to the African American community. They believed they could do so through education, so each of the seven teachers returned to school to earn degrees in education. Currently, the sorority has over 90,000 members and 500 chapters worldwide. Continuing their belief in education, the sorority has sev-
The Univeristy of Tampa has chosen a UT professor to rise in the ranks in the John H. Sykes College of Business. According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Judith H. Washburn was named the director of the masters in business administration program. Washburn came to UT in 2003 to teach marketing classes for both undergraduate and graduate students, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Frank Ghannadian, Dean of John H. Sykes College of Business along with Bill Rhey, Dean of Graduate Studies appointed Washburn to her new position. “She has had an exemplary record as a good professor, has given the college tremendous service as faculty and college Senator
eral charities that hold the same beliefs. One is the Big Book Bag, where the sorority helps students get the school supplies they need to be successful. Other charities include Project Reassurance, which counsels young, single mothers and Wee Savers, which teaches youth about saving money and balancing their budget. Recruitment will begin at the end of September, but a “Meet and Greet” is scheduled within the next two weeks. You may contact Felicity at 404-563-5236 or email her at pcarey@ut.edu Some information provided by Renaldo Dorsett.
The original Sigma Gamma Rho members.
UT Professor Elected to Lead M.B.A. Program
By Ellery McCardle New Editor
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The Minaret | August 29, 2008
and pushed the envelop in research and published in academic journals,” said Ghannadian. A r e a s Washburn has Judith Washburn researched include: branding, relationships between businesses and nonprofits, and university marketing, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Washburn’s new position was formerly headed by the graduate Dean. Ghannadian expressed his excitement about Washburn’s developing position. I am happy that Dr. Wasburn has accepted this challenging position and look forward to her future contributions,” he said.
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Photo Courtesy of Felicity Carey
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The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Column: Examining experience of McCain, Obama \ By Erald Kolasi Cavalier Daily, U. Virginia About two months out from the presidential election, Obama and McCain are on the verge of hitting full stride with their constant bickering and politicking. From the perspective of the McCain campaign, the election is a referendum on Obama and whether he is trustworthy and experienced enough to lead the nation. The efforts of the Obama campaign are largely focused on linking McCain to Bush, hoping to tarnish the former by association with the latter. The McCain campaign has had great success in turning their talking points, which relate to how Obama is new and unknown, into the standard narrative of the campaign, but few have taken the time to consider the shortfalls of what we do know about McCain, outside his connections to Bush. Despite the façade he has put up, McCain’s record and experience
are nothing to brag about. The McCain campaign’s fundamental presumption throughout this race has been that having lots of experience will be enough to convince voters to go with a known quantity rather than risk their lot on a relative political neophyte like Obama. McCain himself would argue that his experience is quite relevant towards being the president of the United States, although both he and his campaign have focused far more on the mere fact that he has more experience than Obama, rather than the quality of that experience. One of the reasons why they do not emphasize the quality of his experience more is precisely because a thorough analysis indicates the obvious: much of his experience does not qualify McCain to be president any more than Obama. The major undercurrent in McCain’s experience argument -- his involvement in Vietnam --
precedes his service in Congress by two decades. McCain hopes to show that, by surviving the Vietcong’s torture methods, his resulting strength of character makes him a great pick for a president, who often needs to be resolute and decisive. But while McCain’s service is honorable and his resistance under torture beyond spectacular, Gen. Wesley Clark was essentially correct in questioning whether any part of McCain’s Vietnam experience gave him an edge over Obama. Strength of character is great, but strength of character alone does not make a great president. McCain is no grand strategist -- he’s not Napoleon or Alexander the Great. The credit that he claims for the “surge” is misplaced since the idea for it came from military theorists and authors, primarily Frederick Kagan, who themselves learned the basics of modern counterinsurgency strategies from the French in Algeria.
If a crisis were to come up, Obama would know what to do just as much as McCain. The intricacies of diplomacy and grand strategy require both experience and, often more importantly, subtler qualities like tact or downright skill, to say nothing of simple knowledge, which is something that McCain has repeatedly botched in scores of statements about global affairs. So the major underlying aspect behind McCain’s candidacy -- his military service -- does not in and of itself qualify him to be president, or at the very least it does not qualify him to be a good president, which is what we want McCain’s Congressional record is far more indicative and, to some extent, impressive, although both he and Obama fail the “Mitt Romney Test” because they both served in legislative, not executive, posts. Beyond the headline-grabbing legislation that McCain sponsored and helped to pass, he has actually proven to be quite the typical
Republican in the vast majority of his votes, and one should not believe that he has successfully acquired the elusive “maverick” label, which is tough to get in politics. It is undeniable that McCain has been around in politics far longer than Obama, but that is not sufficient by itself to justify him as a better candidate. McCain is now running ads about how Washington is broken while conveniently forgetting that he helped break it. Obama should remind the nation that McCain’s additional experience is not enough. McCain is definitely an experienced politician, but that does not mean that he would be a great leader. Erald Kolasi’s column usually appears Mondays in the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at ekolasi@cavalierdaily.com.
Michelle Obama Speaks of Change in “A Place of Hope”
By Journalism II
Riding the waves of change, Michelle Obama addressed the Democratic National Convention last Monday, promising a new journey for America. By introducing herself not as the wife of a politician, but as a woman every American could relate to, Michelle Obama had a more humanistic quality. Mrs. Obama is more than the wife to an Illinois Senator. Like many others, she is a “mom,” a “sister,” and a “daughter.” The Presidential candidate’s wife painted a picture of “working class folks” just “like her parents,” who understood the day-to-day struggle that the average American encounters, a day-to-day struggle that she believes her husband can eliminate. Now is the time, “where the current of history meets this new tide of hope. Revolution is not only inevitable, but necessary.” Swelling with pride, she quoted her husband from a day when he spoke of “the world as it is” and “the world as it should be.” During her speech, Mrs. Obama reflected upon her and Barack’s values saying, “you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.” Together they want to change the lives of others in order to help children of future generations. She described America as a place of hope, where hardship
can turn into a successful Cinderella s t o r y , reinstating the romanticized American Dream. A nostalgic Mrs. Obama spoke about her and her husband’s not so glamorized past. Even though they were from opposite sides of the continent, both Barack and Michelle came from blue-collar families, w h o s e parents saved everything they had, so their children could succeed. She stressed the future of America for the generations to follow. Mrs. Obama stressed how our children’s dreams and hopes for the future will not be just a fairy tale dream, but reality. Mrs. Obama says that our children will say, “this time, we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming.” Mrs. Obama encouraged Democrats to support her husband and his presumptive vice presidential
A Piece of Michelle Obama’s Speech
candidate, Joe Biden. Mrs. Obama ended her speech by urging voters to embrace her husband and his campaign of hope. “...let us devote ourselves to finishing their work; let us work together to fulfill their hopes; and let us stand together to elect Barack Obama president of the United States of America.” Contributions to this article made by Kadie Hayward, Kristen Dyer, Rory Luoma, Cristobal Eiroa Gomez.
...As our friendship grew, and I learned more about Barack, he introduced me to the work he’d done when he first moved to Chicago after college. You see instead of going to Wall Street, Barack had gone to work in neighborhoods devastated when steel plants shut down, and jobs dried up. And he’d been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to rebuild their community. The people gathered together that day were ordinary folks doing the best they could to build a good life. See they were parents trying to get by paycheck to paycheck; grandparents trying to get by on a fixed income; men frustrated that they couldn’t support their families after their jobs disappeared. Those folks weren’t asking for a handout or a shortcut. See they were ready to work -- they wanted to contribute. They believed -- like you and I believe -- that America should be a place where you can make it if you try. And Barack stood up that day, and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be.” And he said that all too often, we accept the distance between the two, and we settle for the world as it is -- even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspira-
tions. But he reminded us that we also know what our world should look like. He said we know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves -- to find the strength within ourselves to strive for the world as it should be. And isn’t that the great American story? It’s the story of men and women gathered in churches and union halls and high school gyms -people who stood up and marched and risked everything they had -- refusing to settle, determined to mold our future into the shape of our ideals. It is because of their will and determination that this week, we celebrate two anniversaries: the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, and the 45th anniversary of that hot summer day when Dr. King lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for our nation. I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history -- knowing that my piece of the American Dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country...
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Andrew Learned’s big personality and bigger promises brought him victory on the SG campaign trail, but there’s more to this senior than his soap box By Josh Kratovil Features Editor
“It felt like a natural progression,” he Andrew Learned has said. “I realized officially begun his tenure as the best way to Student Government President, help the most taking the helm of the Learned people was Express as it leaves the station. in [the SG] The so-called Express itself P r e s i d e n t ’s is loaded with supporters position.” from last year following his Bennett sweeping campaign promises, feels Learned is and with a long year ahead there is certainly time for others to the right man for the job, especially in terms of crusading for student get on board. But who is Andrew Learned? rights. “He doesn’t stop until he Before his much-publicized, criticized and lauded run for SG physically can’t [continue], or until President, Learned was a relative he finds a solution,” he said. Learned attributes some of his unknown on campus. “My first couple of years here, success to his time in ROTC, saying I was not involved at all,” Learned that the experience has made him into a different said. “ROTC person. was about it.” GO ONLINE “Learning However, What do you think how to speak in t h e about Learned? public, how to controversial Leave a comment on our handle yourself m e a l - p l a n Web site and let us know! … that sort of a n d a l c o h o l www.theminaretonline.com thing,” he said. policy changes ROTC has instituted last year by administrators galled also enjoyed Learned’s presence in the battalion. He was recently sent Learned into action. “I was just so outraged by the to Singapore as part of an exchange entire thing,” he recalled. “I thought program, where he spent part of it was … so horribly handled, and his summer detonating underwater at that point I was determined to mines. Due to Private Information run.” Others quickly rallied behind Privelages, or PIP, commanders of the NROTC program were not him. “I believe in what he’s trying able to discuss the particulars to do,” said Jabari Bennett, a friend of Learned’s experiences, but and supporter. “Even though his Captain Martin P. Smith recognized goals and his aspirations are big, Learned’s name immediately. “He is one of our outstanding I think he understands the system and definitely has the drive to get young Officer Candidates,” said Smith. it accomplished.” Bennett says he thinks the Learned said he started small by spending time in the student discipline instilled in the men and congress, gaining experience and women of ROTC will definitely learning how Student Government show through in Learned, and is worked. By the time elections rolled excited to see how it will benefit around, he felt he was ready for the him in the new position. While ROTC was one of next step. the main factors that motivated Learned to come to UT, he said that ROTC did not specifically gear him for an SG position, especially President. “If anything, doing ROTC is typically the opposite, you typically follow orders and [you’re expected] to be respectful of the people above you,” he explained. “SG is more like you need to be kicking at the door sometimes.” Kicking in the door can get tiring without help though, so selection of a running mate was critical. Interestingly, Learned’s running Learned pauses for reflection in his favorite campus mate, Kelsie Huth, dining spot, the Caf.
Photo by Mindy Tucker
turned out to be right in front of him. The two were already friends after meeting during the fall semester of 2007 through Greek life, and a discussion about campus issues brought them to a realization. “She was looking to run for VP for someone,” Learned said, adding that Huth’s intelligence and personality were also critical factors in his selection of her as his vicepresidential candidate. “It really worked out perfect; she’s fantastic,” he continued. “It seems that so far they work well together and she understands what he’s trying to accomplish,” Learned does his best Luke Skywalker impression. “Stay on target!” Bennett said. “Her own agenda for Photo courtesy of Andrew Learned the betterment of the school … goes hand in hand with his plan.” be slaying their SG President in there’s no better place to do it than H u t h ’s e n t h u s i a s m w a s World of Warcraft, as well. The the Caf. palpable. blockbuster MMORPG, which has Learned claims he’s the only “I am incredibly excited to get about ten million subscribers, is UT student on record to have ever to work with Andrew and the rest another of Learned’s favorites. maxed out the Carte Blanche meal of the SG Exec Board this year,” “I’m a level 61 Rogue,” plan and that he’s swiped his card the vice president said. Huth feels Learned said sheepishly. “I know, nearly 2500 times in three years. Learned has a lot to bring to the you wouldn’t think so, huh? I guess “The Caf really is his second table. I break that stereotype.” home,” Huth confirmed. “I know that Andrew, as our Bennett said he could see “I believe it,” Bennett said. leader, is extremely passionate Learned as a Warcraft player. “I “I’m surprised [his card] hasn’t about UT and every single student’s definitely don’t put that past him.” fallen apart.” concerns,” she said. “Everyone Learned said that one of his Students Hoped For Change needs to know that Andrew is favorite episodes of South Park is of Judging from student response, really personable … he’ll strike course, “Make Love, Not Warcraft,” Learned used his love of the Caf to up a conversation with anyone, an episode based off of the popular his advantage, making his stomping anytime.” game. He also can’t get enough grounds into his soap box. “He’s just a general good guy of Leeroy Jenkins, a YouTube Students were drawn by his to talk to,” Bennett agreed. “You sensation starring what may or may message o f change, and are looking can talk to anyone, but Andrew is not be a staged Warcraft raid. forward to the year, hoping the new one of those guys that’ll just take “ L e e e e r o y y y y J e n k i n s ! ” president will be able to follow the time to listen … he stops to think Learned exclaimed. “That video’s through. of a solution for everything.” hilarious. I love the fact that when “I think he’s a really good Solutions are what Learned and they’re planning it, the guy’s making leader on campus,” said junior Nina Huth are all about. an effort to make eye contact with Franchina. “He’s just got a lot of “When Andrew and I talked [the other players’ characters],” he background with UT, and I think about running, I knew he would be continued. he understands people from every the perfect candidate for President A Government major, Learned different kind of group.” … because I knew that he would said The West Wing was his favorite Junior Steve Cohen had exhaust every possibility in looking show, and makes time to watch it different criteria that led him to to bring about change,” Huth weekly. However, Learned declined vote for Learned. explained. to comment on the current political “I voted for Andrew because “His overall consensus is that climate of the non-fictional United he was more concerned about he wants to find different ways to States, saying he didn’t “think it changing the school and bettering unify the student body,” Bennett was time to throw his hat into the student life for the entire campus said. “People have this sense of ring just yet.” rather than talking about their own apathy on campus, and that’s one “That’s an important step,” he credentials,” he said. of my pet peeves … I can see [he explained. “Especially since I’m a “I voted for Andrew because he dislikes it] as well.” Super Delegate.” was really dedicated and committed “Whatever plan he comes up The incoming President also See “Learned” [9] with [for dealing with apathy], I needs to keep himself fed, and feels support him in it … as long as it’s not off the wall,” he continued. Even the most dedicated leaders need a break, though; Learned’s response as to what he does with his free time was interesting. “It exists?” He replied, grinning. Learned said he likes videogames, hanging out with friends and fraternity brothers … and more video games. What does he play? “Whatever my roommates are playing at the time,” he said. “It depends on the day … I like Wii Tennis, I’m pretty good at that.” Some Spartans might be surprised to know that they could Learned gets ready to lay down some ‘shock and awe’ with a 50mm deck gun. Photo courtesy of Andrew Learned
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Features
Getting Sexiled: Two’s Company, Three’s Just Awkward
By Roberta Wolfson Daily Bruin
For students living away from home for the first time, college is an ideal time to engage in new ac(UWIRE) One day during tivities, meet new people, and exher freshman year, Yesenia Arel- change sexual partners sometimes lano walked into her dorm room to as often as they do new perspecfind her roommate with a guy, just tives. about to have sex. Sexiled on the Hill “He was lying on the bed and Living in a culture without the she was doing something with her restrictions of parent supervision, shirt, taking it off or something. however, does not mean there are I told her, ‘Let me know when no rules. you’re done,’ and left,” said ArelIn fact, when sexiling gets out lano, a second-year biochemistry of hand, the Office of Residential student. Life has a guest policy in place to But this wasn’t anything new minimize the amount of students for her. In fact, she regularly be- left stranded out in the hallways, came a victim of “sexiling,” a ca- waiting until their roommates finsual term that describes kicking a ish up inside the room. roommate out of the room in order This guest policy places limits to hook up. on the number of nights that guests “This definitely happened can stay in the residential halls in more than once, usually during the order to create a more comfortable beginning of the quarter when (my living environment, said Dana roommate) had more time,” Arel- Pysz, the resident director of Rielano said. ber Hall. But students don’t always honor this agreement, and ORL often does not enforce the guest policy unless a serious transgression is brought to the office’s attention. “We usually get complaints when a person has had a boyfriend or girlfriend over for an extended period of time and the roommate wants this to stop,” Pysz said. Of the nearly 1,110 students that live in his building, Pysz said roughly two students per quarter approach Sexiling can tear a room apart. Photo by Mindy Tucker him with a com-
“Learned” : 8 to changing the school and [creating] a … safer environment for our fellow classmates and future generations of UT students,” said junior Erez Lidetzky. Other students were dissatisfied with the trend of leadership in SG. “I voted for him because I didn’t think that the SG President should be a shoe-in like it’s been in previous years,” said senior Tanya Brunner. “He’s [also] involved in so many aspects of extracurricular life that I think he has a good idea of … where a lot of students are coming from. He has a great attitude and … I think he will make a great leader.” Jesse Boodoo, another senior, was drawn in by Learned’s personality. “I sat down with him for lunch with him a couple times … he was campaigning then and I had a couple discussions with him,” he recalled. “He really sold himself, first of all, and his ideas were right in line with what I wanted to see with UT.” “He seems like a great
leader,” Boodoo continued. “Great personality, all-around good person.” While Boodoo said he wasn’t opposed to the other candidate, Stephanie Dutka, he did feel that Learned simply expressed his ideas better. Senior Mollie Taylor said Learned’s green focus and ideas for UT’s sustainability helped win her vote. “Being involved with the EPC and Tri Beta, that’s our goal, so we wanted it in a bigger organization such as SG,” she explained. “So … I voted for him to g et th at moving.” Learned also drew in students with senses of humor similar to his own. “I voted for Andrew Learned because I didn’t know how to pronounce his last name,” said senior David Eller with a chuckle. “[But he] really is a nice guy … he approached us in the cafeteria and had great ideas.” Fellow senior Evan Lubin agreed. “He also had very good people skills. He knew the direction
“He’s the man.” -Paul Lotierzo
plaint about a roommate’s guest staying over, though many are able to work out their issues directly with their roommates. “In my five years here, I’ve never moved someone because of a sanction involving a roommate issue,” Pysz said. “They always switch of their own accord or are able to compromise through mediation.” Over the course of a year, Pysz said he receives 30 to 40 room change requests, not all of which are necessarily related to roommate problems. But less than half of these requests are granted because of the limited spaces available and the difficulty of accommodating specific requests. The Greek Way Some sorority houses attempt to minimize the rate of sexiling by implementing a “no boys allowed” policy on the second floor of the house. One such sorority is Phi Sigma Rho, whose house on Hilgard Avenue has a policy requiring the house director to be informed 48 hours in advance if a boy is going to stay over and all the tenants in the house must approve of the arrangement. “I think (the policy is in place) because ... it’s basically a tradition type thing. In the past, it was inappropriate to have a boy over if you weren’t married,” said Jamie Wong, a second-year chemical engineering student and resident of the Phi Sigma Rho house. Because of the policy, Wong sleeps seven nights a week at her boyfriend’s place, rather than bother with trying to get him authorized to stay with her. “With no boys in the house it’s a lot harder for him to stay over, so I go over there,” Wong said. “It’s easier for me not to have to sneak the school was going and he knew where he wanted to go … he knew what to fix and had good ideas how to fix them.” “He seemed like the right choice,” said senior Ryan Messier simply. Of course, Learned was able to garner votes from friends and classmates as well, such as senior Paul Lotierzo. “He’s the man. Andrew’s so funny, I think he’s awesome,” he said. “I had a ton of classes with him … I didn’t know the other candidate, so that was a factor. If I didn’t like Andrew, I wouldn’t have voted at all.” Opposition Despite the support from so many students, Learned’s campaign and platform have made quite a few ripples on campus, as well. One of the more vocal opponents is former SG Director of Special Events and current Head Resident of ResCom Lakshman Lochan. Lochan is worried that Learned’s “powerful” stance might put SG at a disadvantage. “In our efforts in the past, SG has spent time to build bridges that were eventually beginning to work. Unfortunately, Andrew’s actions and speeches have recently been
9
People We Love Jon Stewart Why:
For ripping the 24-hour cable news networks a new one at this year’s Democratic Convention. Stewart said the networks create a false sense of urgency by looping broadcasts. Stewart’s political savvy continues to go unmatched, except for perhaps Stephen Colbert. When can we expect a Stewart - Colbert ticket, anyway?
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We’re in Vaughn 211. my boyfriend around in my own house.” As a result, she travels back and forth from USC, where her boyfriend lives, to spend her nights with him and her days at UCLA. Wong said she did not mind the hassle of traveling back and forth. In fact, she is not the only Phi Sigma Rho house resident who resorts to such measures despite the inconvenience. But Wong said some residents choose to risk sneaking their male partners upstairs, though she doubts there would be any severe punishment if they were caught. “I really doubt that they would kick us out because the house isn’t filled to capacity and they need as many people as possible.” The Etiquette of Sleeping Over Despite the potential drama and complications of being “sexiled,” many students accept that having roommates invite guests over to spend the night is a regular part of college life. “It’s definitely appropriate to
have a guest over, so long as there are good intentions and he doesn’t come at 2 in the morning just to have sex,” Arellano said. Wong described a variety of different ways that roommates can engage in so as to prevent miscommunication and confusion. “I always texted my roommate. That was the easiest way,” Wong said. “But I’ve heard that some people put a tie on the door. Others stick their key in the slot where the key goes on the door.” For the most part, the rules of the game seem straightforward. Students who want to bring guests over should work out an arrangement with their roommates to make sure both parties are comfortable. “I think it’s between the roommates to decide the number of times a boyfriend or girlfriend can stay over,” Wong said. “As long as the person isn’t having sex under the covers when you’re in the same room, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Learned gets settled in to his new digs in the SG office. Photo by Mindy Tucker.
burning these bridges,” Lochan said in reference to Learned’s recent Convocation speech. “The rest of the SG board is here to support the actions of the [Board of Directors] and not to clean up the mess that some … SG members are being dragged into,” he continued. Lochan said that while Learned’s heart is in the right place, his methods are questionable. “He might be able to get away with some of his actions because of [his] popularity … but many of the ideas that he has for the student body were made by the student body and brought to the table before,” Lochan explained.
“At first, many believed that the new look Andrew brought to SG was good, but as time goes on, there [will be] reservations … about the manner of his governance,” he said. The Year Ahead With the school year having just started, Learned sits poised with plenty of time to follow through on his promises. Most seem to agree that Learned is accessible to anyone who has a concern to voice. He can be found in the SG office (or, failing that, the Caf). Erika Escobar contributed to this article. Josh Kratovil can be reached at jkratovil@ut.edu.
10
Arts & Entertainment
Dorm Designs at Low Prices By Daniella Fusari Staff Writer
Leaving home to move into unfamiliar territory can be terrifying for new college students. Within the past week, our campus has been bustling with eager students getting prepared for the semester a head. For the freshman who are a bit lost and confused when it comes to designing your dorm, here are a few tips that will keep your wallet happy and make your dorm room feel like a home The Dollar Tree (located on N Dale Mabry Hwy) has become a treasure cove of unlimited decorating resources. Stop by this super inexpensive store to purchase do-it-yourself decorations, such as clear vases with precious stones or black 8 by 10 frames, in which you can place personal pictures that bring that special feeling of home into your room. Also, buying fake flowers and putting them around your room will suddenly bring life and warmth to the common area. The Dollar Tree is a great resource to add small touches to the dorm room. Bed Bath & Beyond can be expensive and buying all your dorm room supplies can make the bill rack up quickly. Luckily, they
give out multiple 20% off coupons that will save tons of money. Also, if you already bought all your Bed Bath & Beyond necessities and are just reading this article, you can bring the receipt back to the store accompanied with the coupon and they will reimburse you the amount you would have saved. My favorite decoration for my dorm room freshman year was the mega magazine collage that covered the room from ceiling to floor. Without having to spend any money, my roommate and I transferred the white dull walls of our bedroom into a warm and welcoming humble abode. Whenever anyone walked in, they would exclaim the comfort that the pictures on the walls would bring. For a creative and cheap spin on a new found wallpaper, save your magazine ads and fill those walls up. The first thing I did when I moved in last year was run to target and get two clear plastic frames to
make collages of my high school pictures. Although you are moving on to college, it is nice to have memories of home surrounding you. Order your pictures at Walgreens.com, (easy pick up) and the frames from Target are durable and inexpensive. There are many ideas to decorating your dorm into a comfortable and homey feel without breaking the bank. Think outside the box and check out your friends places for other good ideas. Daniella Fusari can be reached at dfusari@ut.edu.
Photo by Asif Akbar www.sxc.hu
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Runaway Bride
Lebanon Style Press Release UT
“The Kite,” a film about a young woman from Lebanon in an arranged marriage will show in Reeves Theater Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. The screening is free for UT students, faculty and staff, and Gasparilla Film Fest Members. This “fairy tale for troubled times” features 16-year-old Lamia, who must cross a border checkpoint between Lebanon and Israel to marry a man she has never met. Matters are further complicated with Lamia admits she is in love with the Israeli soldier guarding the border. The screening is presented
by The Gasparilla Film Festival, along with the University of Tampa Department of Communication (Film Media Arts). Dr. Andrew McAlister, assistant professor of communication, will lead a film chat following the screening. For more information, e-mail info@ gasparillafilmfestival.com.
What: The Kite (Lebanon) Where: Reeves Theater (Vaughn Center) When: Friday Aug. 29 Time: 8 p.m
The Hottest Summer Movies & A Preview of Fall Flicks President of Film Society previews and reviews 2008 movies By Alan Mehanna Film Reviews
The excitement had already begun about the summer’s most talked about film a while before the summer season. “The Dark Knight” Christopher Nolan’s sequel to “Batman Begins,” the first in a newer and darker Batman film series, became a fan obsession, even more so after the tragic death of Heath Ledger who plays the arch nemesis of Batman (played by Christian Bale), the Joker. Sitting with the audience, I heard many different opinions as well as statements about their excitement, their anxiousness, and for a few female audience members, their sadness for Ledger’s death. The lights then dimmed, within seconds the talkative audience fell silent and the film began. From its opening sequence to the moment it ended, not a sound was made in the theater besides that of awe. Breaking box office records, Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” the first Batman film to not have the word Batman in it, is truly a film of perfection. I was stunned myself at the immense production value, as well as the
phenomenal talent these actors had, namely Ledger (whose been rumored to be snagging an oscar nomination). Transforming the Joker into a mix of demonic and a little Lector, the true identity of the comic book villain came to life. For many, the Joker seemed at times a little too dark and creepy, yet that is the true nature of the character. The mise en scene, a French film term used to express the matter by which a scene is staged (literally translated ‘putting on stage’), was very well executed. Through research I learned that most of the visual effects were actually performed on set using true explosives or even miniatures at times, this also impressed me. There was, however, a disappointing and confusing turn of events within this film. The quick and easy introduction and death of one of Batman’s villains, Two-Face. It was awkward yet it leaves a new curiosity, what villain will wreak havoc in Gotham City next
time around. For that I reward “The Dark Knight” a five out of five film reels. “WALL-E” The post apocalyptic Walt Disney Pixar animated film, “WALL-E,” was also a winner at the box office. Though it dealt with a topic that literally is beyond any child between the ages of five and ten, many children of that age enjoyed the film very much. It could possibly have been due to the fact that “WALL-E” is an adorable robot who has such an expressive face (if you could call two large eyes a face). The first 45 minutes of the film were practically silent. The dialogue went as far as robotic “ WA A A A L L L L E E E E ” and “EEEEEVVVVAAA”. It wasn’t until “WALL-E” was shipped off into space did the dialogue and the true plot line of the film appeared. Criticizing the manner by which many humans live by in this day and age, “WALL-E” has also been rumored to be snagging an oscar nomination, a nomination for Best Picture, and a 5 out of 5 film reels. “The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” The last film I was able to watch, regretfully, was the third and horrific installment of a past masterpiece. “The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” does not by any means deserve to be part of The Mummy film series. A friend of mine and I went and at one point I
recall her asking, “Did the emperor turn into chocolate?”. What was meant to be clay appeared like chocolate fudge, and the fact that he turned into clay dismisses the idea that he is a mummy. The dialogue itself was cornier than usual. The first two films are truly masterpieces compared to this sorry excuse for a third installment. Filled with very cartoon-like special effects and a story line so weak a child would have gotten bored, this film felt like a purely box office, money driven, no effort mockery of what Universal Studios had
released in 1999, and later in 2001. I give this film 2 out of 5 film reels. In the coming months the movie theaters will be welcoming films like “Babylon A.D.,” a futuristic film starring Vin Diesel, “Bangkok Dangerous” starring Nicholas Cage, “The Women” starring Meg Ryan, “Burn After Reading” starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, “Righteous Kill” starring Oscar winners Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, and “The Duchess” starring the beautiful Keira Knightley. Those films are some of the films that will kick start the fall season within the world of the movie theater. I like many am quite anxious to see what Hollywood will be challenging us viewers with this time around.
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
11
Arts & Entertainment Leather (or Pleather)
Kristen Vasquez Fashion/Style Review
This season, bad girl chic is making a come back, but in a more refined way. Think tough leather jackets paired with lacey dresses, or over size plaid button downs with skinny dark wash jeans. While this may sound a bit too mid 1990’s Nirvana, the style was all over runways for fall/winter 2008. We can thank Gucci and Alexander Wang mostly for
spearheading the revolution. Both houses dedicated their entire lines to the vampy looks, sending their models out wearing baggy vests, skinny leather pants, plaid tops, and studded belts. Heavy, layered necklaces and textured tights were also seen from Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent, along with the season’s most desired footwear: the Oxford bootie. Knee high socks and dark, muted colors were also a hit, especially when paired with knee high leather riding boots. While most of us do not shop on a celebrities budget, to keep up with the newest styles may seem difficult and nearly impossible. I know I often lose hope when I realize I won’t be buying the newest Chloe boots unless I compromise my eating habits for the next three years. However, shopping on a college student’s budget is honestly not as hard as it seems. As a self proclaimed queen of cheap & chic, I’ve compiled a list of the season’s must haves, along with where to get it for less. Enjoy!
Quilt’s Corner Nights Like These
My Goddess
By Morgan Tanafon By Morgan Tanafon My eyes were made for this moment Crafted with a single purpose A perfect design, now revealed She is a Goddess, unclothed Full of artless grace Perfection residing in every I did not give it to you limb I did not know it was gone I worship the curve of her hip I just woke up one morning The swell of her breasts is Saw blue skies touched with sacred clouds My soul is tangled in her Heard the birds singing silken hair And died with pain She stoops, smooth as a hawk And my breath is gone Why did you have to leave? Slender and supple she sways Why did I have to change? A birch in summer’s breeze Without you I am hollow Leather on her skin is a prayer Desolate, shivering Living one moment to the next A butter-soft caress on her body Knowing I’ll never feel safe Insufficient to mask the again divinity beneath She looks at me and laughs The world turns, implacable Like the wind on bells And with it, so do I I’ll blink the frozen tears from Brushes back an errant strand As her eyes twinkle into mine my eyes Beauty without peer Draw breath, stand firm Reach once more into the This then, is my Goddess gaping wound For what I’ll never hold again. Go find your own. Its nights like these I walk the adamant floors Cold seeping into my bones Feeling for my heart And finding nothing there You took it away
Undoubetedly this season’s heavy hitter. Leather pants and jackets were everywhere for f/w 08, but when thinking practical, consider a leather or pleather jacket to toughen up any simple dress you may already own in your closet. I often pair my super cheap one with mini dresses and ankle boots when going out for a look that’s more stylish then grunge. If you’ve got the gams, try a pair of pleather leggings-a sure fire attention getter. Target has an adorable leather bomber jacket for under $30 ! .
Oversize Cardigans
Plaid Whether it be in dress or shirt form, plaid is a staple this season. While it can very easily be turned into something close to day at the farm horrific, paired with skinny jeans in a dark wash and flats take the look more city then country. If you’re feeling daring, pair a really oversize button down with the sleeves rolled up with a skinny belt , leggings, and sunglasses. Forever 21 has a cute sleeveless top for under $15, or you can always hit up your local thrift store.
Riding Boots Walking in the rain sucks. However, walking in the rain in a sweet pair of flat boots that not only keep your feet dry but keep your outfit edgy is much better. Paired with tucked in jeans and a v neck, your outfit can be casual yet polished in a matter of minutes. Prices get pretty steep on these, so your best bet is to scour ebay and zappos for a good deal.
Going a long with the grunge revival, loose, cozy cardigans look especially debonair when worn with a fitted tank. Try buying a size up to keep the style baggy but not too sloppy. Old Navy has tons of cute cardigans ranging from $15-20
Studded Belts When studded belts come to mind, most think of the pyramid studded ones we used to don back in our “punk rock” stages. Or at least I do. However, the skinnier the belt the better. Thrown over a baggy cardigan or with looser dress, you’ll look more like you’re channeling Karl Lagerfeld rather then Blink 182. Pacsun has an endless supply of studded belts for under $20.
Lacey prints, flowers, and lines all were seen on catwalks this season. To keep the look wearable, try pairing some with heels and a mini dress for a night out. Keep the rest of your outfit simple to keep from looking like Madonna circa 1985, unless that’s your thing. The website www.footraffic.com has tons of tights available for $15 each. Gap also has cute pairs, ranging from $12-15. Oxford Booties Forget the “It” bag-The newest must haves are all designed to pound the pavement. The Oxford bootie is reminiscent of vintage glam with a touch of new wave chic. With many different heel heights to choose from, you can dress these up or down in a cinch. I personally got mine off ebay, but believe it or not Payless actually has a pretty cute patent leather pair for under $30. Paired with black tights and a knit dress, you’ll have a cute look for a night out. Photos by Marcio Madeira from www.style.com.
Textured Tights/Knee High Socks Leg wear this season was meant to attract some serious attention.
The Dandy Warhols Out of this World Spacey Instrumental lines and deep, dronning voice take listeners far away By Susan Tebben The Post, Ohio U.
(UWIRE) Alternative music has morphed into a subculture of pop/rock in the last few years. But with the newest album from The Dandy Warhols, the music world gets to see what alternative music used to mean when popularity didn’t matter. Reporting from their new independent label, Beat the World Records, The Dandy Warhols redefine the word “eclectic.” “Earth to The Dandy Warhols” takes alternative music back to its roots, when The Talking Heads totally perplexed listeners and blew their minds along the way. With the spacey instrumental lines, a deep, droning voice and a falsetto, frenetic voice over top of it all, The Dandy Warhols take us
to outer space and away from the cookie-cutters. It is truly experimental, not just a terrible blend of poorlyplaced samples. “The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty” melds the laidback bravado of “The Hombres” and a darker version of Johnny Cash’s signature rugged sound. The gravelly vocals that continue through the next few songs channel a world-weary truck driver croaking out his struggles. To add to the effect, there is a little country blended in by way of the pedal steel. This is not just a song, but an atmosphere. The entire album is this way. It is not a jumble of material, but a finely contoured map of the Warhols’ world. I t combines t h e i r influences and their own twisted elements together in a wondrous epiphany of sound, the way any
good concept album does. Songwriter Courtney TaylorTaylor and the rest of the band have created a completely new take on the alien concept brought on by “Ziggy Stardust.” “Welcome to the Third World” goes along with the bewildering “Ziggy” style, with its flamboyance, sunny vocals and R&B riffs. They take another wonderful turn with “Love Song,” a complete surprise with the licks of Jimmy Page à la “Tangerine,” under a dobro and banjo. Any album has at least one down point, and this time it is “Beast of All Saints,” which is just plain boring compared to the cacophony surrounding it. “Earth to The Dandy Warhols” is not nearly as symphonic or seamless as alternative counterparts Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album, but it has all the innovative elements to make this album truly an original. If you’re new to The Dandy Warhols, the jam-packed layers of every song might be a little overwhelming, but it is worth submerging your consciousness in this music. It is the music of planet Mars and it makes this reviewer want a vacation home there.
GO ONLINE Fan of The Dandy Warhols, or want to learn more about them? Visit our website and leave a comment to let us know what you think.
www.theminaretonline.com Cover of the new “Earth to the Dany Warhols” album
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Arts & Entertainment
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Writer John Capouya Joins University of Tampa Faculty
By Adrian Canillo Staff Writer
New York writer John Capouya transitioned from wrestling to teaching this fall when he joined the University of Tampa’s journalism program. Just as Capouya’s teaching career takes off, so does his latest book, which probes the life of professional wrestler Gorgeous George. Capouya said it was time he rechanneled his expertise into the classroom, having taught undergraduate and graduate courses at New York University. His decision was also motivated by the responsive students he met during his campus interview. Born in Manhattan, N.Y., Capouya grew up in Princeton, N.J. He attended Grinnell College and Columbia University. Capouya later pursued his passion in writing for professional basketball by joining Sport magazine, a national monthly. For several years, Capouya worked as an editor for the New York
John Capouya
Who: John Capouya What: Book Signing Where: Inkwood Books When: Sept. 4 @ 7 p.m.
Times, Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal, among many other publications. Capouya also published the book “Real Men Do Yoga.” He and his wife both love the practice and make it part of their lives. “I don’t know if it’s a spiritual thing, but you definitely gain something more than flexibility in practicing yoga,” Capouya said. His newest book, “Gorgeous George- The outrageous bad-boy wrestler who created pop culture,” will be released in September. The book chronicles the wrestler’s rise from a Dust Bowl-era Houston farm boy to a flashy, flamboyant entertainer who inspired some of America’s greatest showmen in this critically acclaimed biography. “Crossing paths with Gorgeous George was all the recognition I ever needed,” said Bob Dylan. Muhammad Ali and the late James Brown also drew from George’s on-camera act to catapult themselves to the forefront of American pop culture. Capouya’s publishing and journalistic experience immediately caught the eye of journalism professor Charles McKenzie. He first recruited Capouya at a journalism conference in Washington, D.C. “Unfortunately, I hadn’t known much about John’s work, but after reading up and talking to him, I knew he had a lot to offer the university,” McKenzie said. Capouya has tremendous experience in print journalism and a good and solid education, McKenzie said. “Having another full-time professional teach our students creates a balance. It promotes education through research,
theory and practice,” McKenzie explained. Journalism professor and creative writer Tracy Crow agreed with McKenzie. “Most of our journalism faculty, including our adjuncts, are either journalists or published writers with roots in journalism. Most of us continue to write and publish in a number of mediums. Mr. Capouya will further strengthen this tradition,” Crow said. Capouya shared his colleagues’ views and added, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to help create a journalism major in the university, to broaden and deepen academic offerings at UT in my field of expertise.” Moreover, Capouya shared his personal view of journalism’s recent technological evolution. “Most people who are in the business are aware of the matter of convergence and that traditional journalism is changing,” he said. “There’s an online news revolution going on. And we must ask ourselves how broad and fragmented our audiences will be. How will technology and electronics change the face of news?” Capouya asked. As for traditional journalism, Capouya said, “There’s always going to be news printed on paper. But it will become more economical for newspapers to not produce print, but rather to do an electronic edition. News via e-mails and phones will be the next revolution in journalism.” Capouya stressed, however, that journalists must not concern themselves with the inevitability of change in the industry. But they must rather ask themselves if they can respond to what people want, where they can add value to what
matters most in society. Reflecting on what’s important in journalism, he said: “Telling the truth, creating something that’s true, that’s meaningful, that your audience responds to, is at the core of journalism. Give people a better understanding of issues, presented in a compelling way. Give them a better understanding of their country and their world.” With several accomplishments as a writer under his belt, Capouya
will bring fresh journalistic light to the University of Tampa. He will also share his personal perspective on the evolving face of journalism. UT students can meet Capouya September 4 at 7 p.m. as Inkwood Books will be hosting a Gorgeous George book signing. Kelley Bumstead and Michael Franz contributed to this report. Adrian can be reached at acanillo@ut.edu.
Top left photo by S. Williamson; Above from www.booknoise.net
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Arts & Entertainment
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
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14
Editorial
Few things rattle the student population like parking. In fact, only changes to food and security seem to raise the fire in the voices around campus more than parking. The impending construction of the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values has impacted the way commuter students plan their days. Three years ago, there were nearly 300 spots dedicated for commuters to park on campus and not in a garage, and a significantly fewer amount of students who lived off campus. Today, there are no commuter lots, no commuter spots, and only a single level of a parking garage for over 1,400 students. This is not a commuter school. This is a residential campus, and unfortunately, that means an uphill battle for those who drive to school every day. There is a commuter student organization, and a representative on the Student Government executive board, but the position is outweighed by a handful of residents on the board. There is a commuter lounge tucked away in the corner of the second floor of Vaughn Center, but it is often filled with residents looking for quiet places to study and get away from their rooms. There are two refrigerators for those brave enough to leave food at the discretion and honor of every other UT student and two microwaves. There are lockers, but you have to bring your own lock and something smaller than a standard textbook to secure. It all contributes to a feeling that commuters are simply not the focus of UT’s attention. Nothing was more symbolic of the trampling of commuter rights than the 2006 destruction of the 74-spot lot next to Cass Building in favor of the enormous Stadium Center residence hall.
The Minaret does not seek to stand in the way of progress and expansion, but we do feel that student input is not fully sought or is totally ignored in these major decisions. We would like to see open, public, well-advertised forums involving UT administrators, SG leaders and a random sampling of students before major decisions are made. Any public construction is prefaced by hearings in municipalities around the globe, but at UT, $19.5 million chapels are unveiled in the summer when students have gone home and can’t protest. The changes to the West parking structure are a small victory for Student Government and absolutely no loss for UT higher-ups. The lower level was almost never utilized, except by staff that worked in the Martinez Sports Center. In the fall of 2005, it is reasonable to assume that there was one parking spot in the center of campus for every three or four commuters. Today, there is one spot on the farthest fringe of campus for every seven commuters. Residents fail to see the commuter’s argument, and rarely sympathize with those who live off campus. The reasons are clear: there are hundreds of empty parking spots every day in the West garage. This isn’t like USF or UF where drivers tote around for hours searching for an open space like a last-minute mall shopper in the week before Christmas. However, this is not USF or UF. This is UT, a school often chosen for its intimacy and small size. Commuters should come here expecting to be treated like residents, who are able to park within feet of their rooms and leave their cars there for weeks. They
Commentary should not expect to be herded into the garage where freshmen are forced to park. Commuter student Jessica Magni put it well on a comment left on The Minaret’s Facebook account. “It is really annoying when you have to leave your house earlier than you already have to so you can make sure that you have enough time to park, fighting traffic getting to campus, then having to hunt for a parking spot that is normally not the first place you look, then having to hall butt to class because it took so long to find parking, getting to class hot and all ready frustrated because of rushing,” she wrote. “Not a good way to start class.” Her comments strike a chord with many commuters, who don’t have the luxury of waking up 15 minutes before class and rolling out of bed and into class. Commuters, many of whom live off campus for financial or personal reasons, have to travel to UT, find parking and carry books to class. There is no room to go to in order to relax and sleep for an hour between classes, and head off to class with only the book for that section. Yes, it is often a commuter’s choice to decline ResLife housing, but that decision should not cause such strife and undue anguish. The choice is clear: close Thomas garage to residents. Open it to commuters and faculty. Install Smart Parking technology, which tells you exactly how many spots are open and precisely which spots are open. UT, make an investment in the commuters, who have made such an investment in this school. Make commuters feel welcome and not shunned to the west end of campus.
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
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Late Night Food Trips
Late Night Stadium Food Shortages
Yang Peiy
Lin Miaoke
Selling Back Textbooks
Long Lines to Sell Back Books
Reading Assigned Novels
Reading Sparknotes
Make your voice heard . . . or at least read. Write for The Minaret. E-mail minaret@ut.edu
Light Reading Hit Me Like a Ton of Bricks Inspirational words from dying professor touches student By Kirsten Campbell Staff Writer
This summer I read a book that changed my life, and it’s okay that I express my gratitude with a cliché because Randy Pausch says I can. Having lost my faith in cliché years ago, I was apprehensive to read Randy’s book The Last Lecture. I felt a bit silly reading a book only because the author was dying, but I was fascinated by his bravery. Walking along the book aisle in a local grocery store, the book cover caught my eye with its childlike imagery: elementary school sketches of a rocket ship and stars. I knew I couldn’t deny the urge to explore my inner child, spend the $11.50, and attempt to read the novel. As an English major, it is truly unfortunate that oftentimes the thought of reading for fun seems a bit tedious, so I figured I’d get to it when I could. But,
knew them. As human beings we tend to drift off into ourselves, we take advantage, and we consume. Yet, sometimes, one person or event can throw us into a complete oneeighty, wake up feeling transformed. In those moments, the simplest ideas seem like huge philosophical achievements; things we thought we knew so well are new again. Randy Pausch forced me to reconsider the simple and understand how complicated simplicity can be. Photo courtesy Carnegie Mellon “Tell the truth,” a phrase so it did not happen that way. I often said, hit me like never before. was immediately hooked. I was I started to think about myself consumed. I immediately felt how and questioned my own honesty, deeply Randy knew me; as I’m sure wondering if those little white lies I the millions of other readers felt he told for purely selfish reasons were
really worth the repercussions they could potentially inspire. Obviously, they aren’t. In fact, they are worthless. Why waste time telling lies when the truth is so easily accessible and so guilt free? I wondered how much easier life would be if we all just told the truth every time. Most importantly, I wondered if we would all fall apart in an honest society, because worse than lying to others we lie to ourselves and ignore the truth, no matter how gentle or harsh it may be. Unfortunately, I can’t blame anyone directly for our dependence on self-deception. The world has influenced us all. No matter where we look there is deception. As humans, we have been conditioned to thrive upon it. For a month or so after reading Randy’s book, I was more conscious of my life; disgusted by how often I complained, and how ignorant I had become to so many things—the important things. So I promised
myself—and silently promised Randy—that I would change: I would love every day of my life and never complain again. However, life doesn’t work that way. Shortly after finishing his book, I heard that Randy had died. This made angered me because the child inside me still hoped he would beat the cancer, even though Randy himself knew he couldn’t. More than ever, I found it really hard to understand how such a terrible thing could happen to such an amazing human being. Still, I find comfort in Randy’s book. I could never claim to know or understand Randy’s intentions behind The Last Lecture, but I know how I was affected. It made me so aware, and for that reason alone I will always consider the book one of the most inspirational things I have ever seen on paper Kirsten Campbell can be reached at kcampbell@ut.edu
15 Commentary Should Hollywood be responsible for their images of minorities? The Minaret | August 29, 2008
By Derrick Austin Commentary Editor
In the ever-shifting worlds of Hollywood and popular culture, one complaint never ceases to vanish: the lack of minority representation. But does pop culture owe it to the American people to be realistic and indicative of contemporary American life? Should film makers actively seek more lead roles for women, to reach beyond one-dimensional ethnic characters? And should those cultures struggling to be represented in television and movies be angry? For the most part, I don’t think so. I’d like to see it change; I’d love for pop culture to get it right and allow the public to ingest something fresh, see some honest portrayals of women and people of color. The reason why I don’t think Hollywood should be realistic is not because I don’t think it can be done (it’s happening at a snail’s pace as we speak, and who knows in some decades we may finally crack the white-male-glass-ceiling) rather
Minority voices lack financial support, even Spike Lee has difficulties. Photo courtesy Hans Reitzema
it’s because I think we should look elsewhere for representation and validation. Ultimately, we gripe about the backward Hollywood machine because American audiences, especially minorities, want to be validated. In the roll of entertainment, minorities would like their names to be heard. They want that confirmative
feeling of: “Look at the screen, someone like me is up there, and now people know that someone like me exists.” It often helps assuage the feeling of ignorance that minorities sometimes feel from the public at large. We’re looking for our stories to be told. I know that I’m looking at the TV screen, watching movies, and buying CDs that express who
I am; I can only assume that other consumers have similar motives. Our issue shouldn’t be: I’m tired of the representation of minorities coming out of pop culture. It should be: I’m tired of minorities needing to be represented by pop culture at all. Hollywood is a fantasy, a dream world. It functions to peddle escapism to the masses. The only people in Hollywood who should be concerned with minority representation are serious artists, which even then should be taken with a grain of salt considering artistic license. Despite the fact that more and more women and people of color influence pop culture, their clout is often eclipsed by Hollywood juggernauts. Plagued by a lack of funds and publicity, their stories are often unable to draw in audiences. Even critically acclaimed directors such as Spike Lee still struggle to obtain funds. Lee’s mentioned in interviews having to turn to friends to help finance his projects, even the popular and critically acclaimed X required financial assistance. Pop culture seeks out the next cash cow, milks it to death, and
moves on. For some odd reason, contemporary popular media is still afraid using minority leads or productions that focus on minority issues to draw in crowds. From an artistic perspective we shouldn’t expect realism, social change may be parcel of an artist’s project, but ultimately they are dedicated to their vision; nor are we going to see the almighty dollar end its reign over Hollywood. Americans shouldn’t have to see representation in make-believe; we should be angry that we’re not represented in arenas that count: like the job market, or universities, or politics. We should be angry that we’re not seeing our artists, scientists, and intellectuals—our real achievements—celebrated in mass media. Not to bash the accomplishments and strides of minority actors and musicians or downplay the influence of the popular media, but at the end of the day I’d like a breadth of representation. Not waiting every year for a breakthrough film or a “brave actor.”
stress rather than alleviate it. Imagine failing a test or forgetting an assignment and then calling who you think could brighten your day, which makes it worse instead. No one wants extra stress. However, if you are fortunate enough to have someone whom you love and care for that does not drive you too crazy, I think that person just might be worth holding on to distance and all! Even if you are not in a relationship there are still other issues to consider when dumping or keeping. Some students will leave a reputation back home that will be quite similar to the reputation they construct as a student at UT. For whatever reasons, some will create an identity
in college drastically different from the one back home. Walking through the doors of college life gives you the opportunity to recycle the good stuff and trash the bad stuff. Allow yourself to think back to your high school days. Pretty much everyone knows that one guy from high school that was quite the looker but developed a reputation of being a “dog.” Or, maybe you could relate to the girl who got her heart broken by some seemingly prince charming, or—my personal favorite—the dear friend who comforted their brokenhearted friend. Perhaps high school was years or decades ago. Possibly you know one or two students last year that you can help but question why they came to college in the fist place. You know, the ones that made it to the clubs more than they made it to class and their grades proved it; or those students who never came to class but still managed to ace everything. Maybe after considering a few things you realize that you could have possibly done better if every paper you wrote last semester were not written at 12:00 am the night before it was due. Whichever role you relate with most, the choice to continue or discontinue in that role is yours. This school year gives you the opportunity to have a fresh start. My question to you is this: is there any habit, issue, or person in your life that you should leave behind in order to help you propel through the doors of this academic school year? Think about it.
Derrick Austin can be reached at daustin@ut.edu
Freshmen: Learning to leave the past behind Balancing love life key to healthy college experience
By Stacy Vieux Staff Writer
As the school doors open for this academic year, other doors are closing. There is that door that locks, and leaving behind the moments that make up last year’s memories. The good times and fun nights, the bad times and dull nights are all shut behind us and can never be relived only remembered. Incoming freshmen they leave their parents and their high school lives, trading them in for meal plans and Blackboard. Many students, as they head off to college, close the door on
their relationships and leave behind boyfriends or girlfriends. Some students take the other route and decide to keep that door open in hopes that a long distance relationship just might work. Of those students some choose to close that door but later wish they could open it again. No matter the class or circumstance, coming to college means closing some kind of door behind you. The question is which doors do we choose to keep open and which ones do we shut behind us? We all know that living the college life teaches us things that a textbook can’t. College forces you to get to know yourself better. What are the differences between a single college student and a college student in a relationship? Is there even a major difference? Some will say that being in a relationship while in college lessens your experience. They argue that during the college experience students should keep their options open and be free of commitment. While being single in college has its advantages, I personally believe that a strong, loving, caring relationship can help carry you
through the stress that college life inevitably brings. I encourage a healthy relationship while in college, and stress the word healthy because an unhealthy relationship can add
Photo courtesy hisks (www.sxc.hu).
The Minaret’s resident comic artist, Austin Daniels will return next week with Urban and Twit. Witty and artistic? Want to have a comic of your own? Contact our commentary editor Derrick Austin at daustin@ut.edu.
Stacy Vieux can be reached at svieux@ut.edu
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
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The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Volleyball Rebuilds after Loss of Graduated Athletes Four All-Americans leave team to rely on incoming freshmen By Shelby Kuni Sports Writer
Neely Thompson is injured this year
File Photo
After weeks of training and preparation for another run at a national title, the women’s volleyball team opens up their season this weekend hosting the Tampa Classic. The tournament includes out of state opponents Ashland, Central Oklahoma and Northern Kentucky. Last year’s departures consisted of Erin Clark, Alisha Green, Katelen Dixon and Margeaux Sinibaldi each honored as All-Americans after their standout performances throughout last season. Neely Thompson, who was expected to come back from an ACL tear last year and have a big impact on the team this year, will
also miss the year due to reinjuring a knee during the preseason. “We’re initially going to miss the middles the most (Clark and Green) because that’s where we are the youngest on the court right now,” said head coach Chris Catanach. The team welcomes nine newcomers. These include Julie Howlett, a defensive specialist and libero, Eva Dupay, outside hitter who Catanach calls a real competitive player, and right side hitter Briane Yates, all girls who Catanach expects to see immediately step up as leaders. Catanach expects the opening match against Ashland Friday night to be a battle to the very end. “I think we lost more key
players than they did, so I’m going to give them the edge, but I think we grind out a win,” Catanach said. “We will find a way to win.” Graduate assistant coach Sara Ellis agrees, adding “it will definitely be a different team, but with the same high expectations.” Of the veterans, Danielle MacDonald, Melissa Vanderhall, Annalea Warren and Gabriela and Camila Saade will all be upper classmen who will be sure to keep the competition at a high level as the Spartans look forward for a run at a National Championship. Shelby Kuni can be reached at skuni@ut.edu.
Two Pairs of Twins Dominate Soccer Scene
By Jesse Yomtov Sports Writer
With two sets of identical twins, and half of another pair on the University of Tampa’s women’s soccer team, every day is a family affair. Courtney and Brittney Evans hail from Deland, just two hours from UT. While the girls played basketball together early on, their focus turned to soccer, and since then, it has been all soccer. While the twins are both technically seniors, Brittney did not play her sophomore year and
was redshirted, thus she has junior eligibility. Both Brittney and Courtney agree that the best part about being on the same team is that there is always someone there for them. “To win itself was awesome,” said Brittney, “but to share it with a family member was cool because she got to experience the same thing.” When asked why they chose UT, Courtney responded: “The choice to come here, was that we were going to go to the same college from the beginning,” while
Brittney added “We liked the size and the soccer program.” Courtney feels that there are really are no disadvantages to playing with her twin sister and feels that the twins “read each other really well cause we’ve been playing together for so long.” The second set of twin sisters on the team, seniors Maria and Marissa Mohammed, have always played together according to Marissa. “We haven’t been on separate teams ever,” she says. The twins’ cousin attended UT and their uncle recommended
the school to them, as well as one of their coaches in Virginia. Marissa agrees with the Evans’ sentiments that there are no real disadvantages to playing with a sibling besides the annoying question of which twin is better? “We don’t ever want to get into that question,” added Marissa. Not to keep the rest of the family out of the loop, Marissa says that she and Maria will go out and kick a ball around with their older brother. Another player on the team, Martha Bromfield, has an identical
twin brother who attends the University of Miami in Coral Gables. Martha says she played sports with her brother from around age six to age eight, when everything was co-ed. “We played all the same sports,” she said. While her brother no longer plays a sport, Bromfield feels that she was better than him in every sport they played together. Jesse Yomtov can be reached at jyomtov@ut.edu.
*$25 off any purchase of $100 or more with valid Student ID. Offer valid from [8/24/08] to [9/7/08] at Lucky Brand & Lucky Kid retail stores in the 50 United States. May not be combined with other coupons or discounts. For every item returned, a percentage of this discount will be deducted. Not valid at outlet stores or online. Cannot be applied towards previous purchases or gift cards.Employees of LCI and its subsidiaries not eligible. May not be applied as payment to any account. Discount not redeemable for cash. Other restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited.
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Sports
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
Women’s Soccer Recovers from Loses, Welcomes Incoming Help
By Sam Gerb Sports Writer
The University of Tampa Lady Spartans soccer team won the Division II National Championship last season and this year expectations are still high. But how can a team like this repeat with star players departing? Coach Gerry Lucey has made it a mission this season to incorporate new freshmen recruits with returning starters. Shelby Kuni is the staple of the team’s mentality and heart. Kuni is a two time All-American that the team will be relying on for game experience and leadership. “There will probably be only three returning starters because the sophomores just haven’t had enough game experience yet,” Lucey said. Some players to look at that will be returning from last year’s team are midfielder Courtney Evans, defender Alicia Wyman and midfielder Martha Bromfield. Bromfield started half of the games last season as a sophomore and Lucey expects her to play
a significant role while starting in the majority of the games this season. These returning players have shown great improvement during practice and in scrimmages and should be star players during the regular season. What is really exciting about this upcoming season is the overwhelming amount of talent from the freshmen class. Lucey had a smile on his face just talking about the potential his new girls have. “I’m very happy with the overall level of our freshmen girls,” he said. “I expect four of them to start right away and the rest provide our team with great depth.” The new players on the team have seemed to have created a good rapport with the returning players. Lucey hopes and expects that the team can gel on the field as much as they do off the field. “I want this year’s team to be a continuation of last season’s team. Last year’s team worked extremely hard in the spring and in preseason and the girls this year have so far
done the same,” said Lucey. One player with a bright future is defender Charlotte White from Seattle, Wash. White was recruited by Lucey when he coached at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Lucey referred to her as, “One of the top players in the country and could not be more happy to have her on the roster this season.” Another face to look out for is forward Brittan Spence. Spence has high expectations for herself and the team this year even though she is just a freshman. “I wanted to come to UT because we won Nationals last year and I hope that my play can help us achieve that accomplishment again,” she said. “I hope that I can start and do well, as well as play with lots of enthusiasm.” Of course it is a daunting task to win Nationals in back-toback years, but this team seems to be more determined than ever. Unlike previous years, more new freshmen will get more playing time. Look for other freshmen players like Samantha Kay and
Shelby Kuni returns to lead offense
Kendall Bourdon to play key roles at the midfielder and goalkeeper positions. This team has a great balance of experience from returning starters and the new potential
File Photo by Peter Arrabal
talent of freshmen. Expect great things from this team this season and watch as they go for another national championship. Sam Gerb can be reached at sgerb@ut.edu
New Track Training Running Well
see
“Running”
Continued
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tool for recruiting and holding meets. The men’s team also has a new game plan for this season. Coach Dror Vaknin wants to strive academically as well as athletically this year. Both the men
and women had extremely high team GPAs last season, and Vaknin is hoping for a repeat this year. Like the women, the men also welcomed new runners this season. There are four freshman and two transfers to help round out the squad. “We have a better team this year,” junior Jeremy Lautzenheiser
said, “which means more competition for spots.” This year, the southern region can only send two men’s teams to Nationals, instead of the three that went last season. Harding University has one of the best teams in the region and is heavily favored to win a spot. That only leaves one more.
There are many competitive teams in the region, including Nova Southeastern, Florida Southern, West Florida and Huntsville. “It will pretty much be between us and Florida Southern for the last spot,” Tony Nicolosi said. “But no matter what happens I am so fortunate to be a part of the teams and made the friends I
have.” Many miles will be put on the new track as both teams prepare for what could be the best season in Tampa history. Both the men and women will hit the track on Sep. 5 for the first home meet, looking to start the season off right. Sara Belsole can be reached at sbelsole@ut.edu
The Minaret | August 29, 2008
And Finally....
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Sports
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The Minaret’s Pick for Sport to Watch: Men’s Soccer Coach Adrian Bush knows his new team is up against a tough schedule. However, last year’s late season surge and this year’s experienced defensive backfield scores my choice for the school’s most successful fall sport. working against them, I pick this goal tie, Thompson was replaced team as the school sport to watch. Head coach Adrian Bush knows what it takes to win a national championship leading UT to the title in 1994 as a player. He comes off the successful last season with a feeling of caution, not allowing the success against USF diminish the challenge his squad faces. While Bush’s concern is understandable, he overlooks the positive advances the team made through the exhibition. The coach’s mantra is a good defense beats a good offense. And Tampa’s defense is impenetrable. Returning defenders Dan Ingvarsson and Lee Inglis as well as goalkeeper Ryan Thompson bring a strong leadership to the field.
by previous starter Kevin St. John when Tampa succumbed to Montevallo on penalty kicks. Look for midfielder Ryan Maxwell and forward Pascal By Bobby Winsler Milien to find the back of the Sports Editor net much more this season. Maxwell didn’t start a game last The University of Tampa year, overshadowed by strong men’s soccer team is ranked 14th midfielders such as Devin Shaw nationally. Recently, the squad and Kevin Sierra. took on the 11th ranked University He still managed to register of South Florida Bulls and tied a pair of goals during the season them in the Rowdies Cup. The and post shots in all of the team’s Bulls then went on to upset eighthNCAA tournament matchups. ranked Maryland. After winning Milien’s first year as a Spartan the Sunshine State Conference was last season but he wasted title last year, Tampa was tabbed no time helping the system. He as a preseason favorite to defend understood his role in setting up the title. the two star forwards and tabbed Unfortunately, all of this a team high six assists in means nothing. just 13 games. Second in The team Look for midfielder Ryan Maxwell and shots and shots on goal, he lost eight starters, forward Pascal Milien to find the back found an occasional hole including its of the net much more this season. and moved to the squad’s two leading goal fourth overall scorer. scorers Ricardo In the Rowdies Cup Cardoso and Clevon George. Defensive star Thompson started his first game exhibition, Maxwell and Milien led Daniel Bergstrand is out with a of last season on Oct. 20 against the shot count with three and two lower body injury. The SSC is Barry University. Averaging only respectively. Division II schools still the toughest conference in the one goal given up a game, he will have a hard time denying the nation. Also five of the first six continued an undefeated streak pair if they keep shooting with this games this season are played on through the next four games until confidence. the NCAA South Regional Finals. At the other end, Thompson the road. Still with all these factors Leading the Spartans to a single saved five from making the
scoreboard. The SSC has some high producing offenses but if they can’t produce, frustration will spread over the field and mistakes will be made. The results will not be instantaneous. This team is largely still getting to know each other’s styles and it’s going to take time. But there is no better way than to
Pascal Milien fields the ball
start against a challenge and that is exactly how Tampa’s schedule reads. Maybe not by Sep. 8 but certainly on UT’s return home Sep. 19 watch for this squad to make a late season surge deep into the postseason. Bobby Winsler can be reached at bwinsler@gmail.com
File Photo
Three X-Country Trains a Step Ahead ‘n Out of Previous Season Volleyball Season Opener
The 2006 National Champions open against Ashland College from Ohio on Friday. Play of the Tampa Classic tournament continues Saturday against Central Oklahoma and Central Kentucky. The lady Spartans remain at home through the week into the Labor Day Classic. They will then be faced with a five game roadtrip.
Soccer Road Warriors The men’s and women’s soccer teams take to the road. Starting with the Christan Brothers, the men take on five of their first six opponents away. The women travel for seven of their first eight match ups. Fortunately, the final three games of the regular season will be played with home field advantage. These three will be against conference rivals. UT will host both men’s and women’s Final Four giving the Spartans an advantage should they get there.
Walk-on Tryouts to be Held On Tuesday, Sep. 2 the women’s soccer program will host open tryouts for anyone enrolled in the university. All students must have a copy of a valid physical taken within the last six months. Tryouts will be only one day located on the practice field.
By Sara Belsole Sports Writer
The end of August means the end of summer and the starting fall semester for most students at the University of Tampa. They spent this past weekend moving back into the dorms and preparing for the start of classes. But what some students do not know is that the dorms were already being occupied way before they got here by the athletes. The fall sports program, which includes volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and cross country, moved on campus to begin preseason training as early as Aug. 10. The teams began their two week training camps before the start of the season the first week of school. Showing promise to be one of the fall’s most successful sports is cross country. The newly
laid track proves to be a strong foundation for both the men’s and women’s teams, who have a good chance of making an appearance at nationals. Both teams are coming off strong seasons from last year, but are also looking to take this year to a whole new level. What will make the difference this year? “Depth,” said women’s coach Jarrett Slaven. “We have a lot of girls trying to make the top seven. Most of the girls ran a lot of miles this summer.” Juniors Paige Williams and Dara Fox agree with Coach Slaven. “All of our front runners will be closer together this year,” Fox said. “There is less of a gap between runners one and two and three and so on.” And a good amount of successful runners will be freshmen.
“We have a good freshman squad this year,” Williams said. “They will contribute a lot and definitely be in the running for top spots.” Coach Slaven is looking toward the freshmen for immediate leadership and competition. He believes freshmen recruits Jess Butler, Katie O’Brien and Maggie Redmond will be immediate contributors, challenging the upper classmen as much as possible. “I am really excited for this year,” Butler said. “I love being in a competitive environment because it really pushes me to run my best everyday.” Slaven is also adding in a stronger training program this year, which started this summer. Many of the runners raised their weekly mileage and trained in the mountains. “We will incorporate more stretching this year,” Slaven said.
“We will also practice more fast strides after a slower distance and run more for speed.” The returning runners all admit to upping their distance over the summer. “Everyone came back in really good shape this year,” Fox said. “We mostly run in packs. There is not one person who is ahead of everyone else.” And who could forget about the new track? Coaches and runners all think it will have a positive influence on the season. “It is nice to know we have our own home field,” sophomore Amber Eisenberg said. “I am really looking forward to this season.” Coach Slaven believes most importantly the track will help prevent injuries, as well as a good see “Running” Continued on Page 18
Mucho Dinero Lures Former UT Athlete South of the Borders By Bobby Winsler Sports Editor
Mark Borders, once a University of Tampa basketball player, has started playing for the Mexico Santos. Last year, Borders earned the top paycheck among the proam league’s point guards. This time around he became the second highest earning player. The migration is becoming common. Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James offers his
services to any overseas team who offers a yearly contract approximating $50 million. Last year’s National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryan asks for around $40 million annually. The idea to globalize NBA all-stars may have started with the world’s best first coming to America. Yao Ming from China made an impact when he became one of the first to start the movements.
Since others such as the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol of Spain and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker from France have followed in Ming’s trail. Top players in Mexico are estimated to make between $80 and $100 thousand per season, which is only six months. Unlike the payment guarantees of the NBA, the Mexican league is paid on play only. Boarders landed the large in-
ternational contract after going on a Mexico tour with the local proam team, the Tampa Bay Sharks. Fernando Rojas, the Sharks coach, also heads the Santos and noticed the former Tampa star. As long as Borders continues to produce though, his career will continue to be successful south of the States. Information gathered by Nick Williams from the Tampa Tribune
Men’s Soccer
Volleyball
Women’s Soccer
Sep. 8 vs. Florida College
Aug. 29, 30 Tampa Classic
Aug. 29 at Grand Valley State
>>> With only two games under their belt, the men will try come together to win the home opener.
>>> The Tampa Classic will mark whether this once successful program is up to the challenge of recapturing a national title.
>>> The defending National Champions look to start strong on the road at the Grand Valley State University Tournament.