The Minaret

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Volume 77 Number 15 • December 10, 2010 • ut.minaret@gmail.com • minaretblog.com • theminaretonline.com

Sending Off Seniors With Fall Commencement

By ALYSSA MAJOR News Reporter

NEWS + FEATURES Partisan Debate Over Taxes Fuels Grudging Bipartisanship [Page 2] Crossing Enemy Lines: When Showing Team Pride Goes a Bit Too Far [Page 4]

Josh Napier/The Minaret

Sykes Chapel Opens Its Doors Friday

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TAMPA - As the semester comes to a close and students are preparing their final projects, papers, presentations, planning extra-curricular activities and mapping out class schedules, others are preparing for the next step in their lives, working on resumes and portfolios.

On Saturday, Dec. 18, over 400 students will be graduating from the University of Tampa and starting their next chapter.

For seniors this is a pivotal moment.

They will soon be applying for their first “real jobs” and struggling to put everything they have learned during the past four years into action.

While there are still a few days left in the semester and the holidays are right around the corner, seniors remember and reflect upon their time spent on campus.

Vice President of AMA and Senior Marketing major Joshua Dike said, “I am sort of ‘nervous-excited’ about graduating. I am excited for the next chapter in my life, though, and want to see what happens.”

Senior communication major, Charu Bahl, says she has truly enjoyed her time here at UT, but is also looking forward to the future.

“The feeling is so surreal, but I am so excited. Can’t wait until graduation.”

Amadeo Reyes, known among his friends as JR, is a senior biology major. He said his departure from UT seems to have come all too soon and that he will miss the time he spent here.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” he said. “I like it here in Tampa and I had good experience here.”

“The day I was asked to be the commencement speaker for graduation is my most memorable moment,” Bahl said it was just a few weeks ago.

“I felt honored and privileged to have to have that opportunity.”

Reyes said there are so many things he will remember about UT, mainly the people he’s met.

“I met some good friends and good teachers,” said Reyes.

“I will remember all the spontaneous and random moments that we never ever planned. Some were bad and some were good. At least 90 percent of the time they were good times.”

Reyes says he plans to take the next semester off and spend it applying for grad. schools in addition to taking the MCATS. In five years he hopes to be an anesthesiologist in a hospital.

“I will miss the atmosphere, a little bit of the academics, my friends and advisors and just everyone that has left a lasting impact on me,” Bahl said.

Being able to see his friends and attend parties is what Dike will mostly miss as part of the college lifestyle, which he described as, “Waking up a 2 p.m. every day not having anything to really worry about, then being able to go back to sleep when I want to.”

He is eager to see what awaits him after graduation.

When asked if her college years turned out the way she imagined them as a naive freshman, Bahl laughed and said, “No. But, then again, nothing in life goes according to plan, does it? It’s definitely not what I planned, but I would say these four years have been [a] roller-coaster ride.”

“Thank you UT, for an amazing journey. I am truly going to miss you,” Bahl added.

The commencement is scheduled to take place in the Bob Martinez Sports Center.

There will be a few events and receptions for seniors and their families to attend on Thursday and Friday.

[See Commencement, 6]

See Page 13 for Student Commentary ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

• Student Artwork Finds Home in New Gallery • [Page 8] • BFA’s Swan Song for Artistic Seniors [Page 10]

COMMENTARY ‘Average’ Senior Bids Farewell to UT: Alyssa Major Says Goodbye [Page 12]

M

MINARET

2 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alex Vera

avera813@gmail.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Trobiano

mike.trobiano@gmail.com

NEWS + FEATURES

Cara Fetzer, Senior Editor Josh Napier, Asst. Editor minaret.news@gmail.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Mandy Erfourth, Senior Editor Micheal Angelo Rumore, Asst. Editor minaret.arts@gmail.com

COMMENTARY

Philippa Hatendi, Senior Editor John Jacobs, Asst. Editor minaret.commentary@gmail.com

SPORTS

Daniel Feingold, Senior Editor Kyle Bennett, Asst. Editor minaret.sports@gmail.com

ONLINE

Yara Abbas

minaret.online@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Abby Sanford, Head Photographer minaret.photog@gmail.com

ADVERTISING

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ADVISER

Partisan Debate Over Taxes Fuels Grudging Bipartisanship

By MICHEAL ANGELO RUMORE

Asst. A+E Editor

President Obama announced the framework for a bipartisan extension of the Bush tax cuts in his speech Monday night.

The compromise centered on the inclusion of a temporary extension of emergency jobless aid for the longtime unemployed, which Republican leaders have resisted.

“Make no mistake,” Obama said.

“Allowing taxes to go up on all Americans would have raised taxes by $3,000 for a typical American family. And that could cost our economy well over a million jobs.

At the same time, I’m not about to add $700 billion to our deficit by allowing a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

And I won’t allow any extension of these tax cuts for the wealthy, even a temporary one, without also extending unemployment insurance for Americans who have lost their jobs or additional tax cuts for working families and small businesses.”

The gesture comes days after a Senate vote to extend the tax cuts for middle class earners failed.

While the vote on Saturday passed with a majority of 53-46, it was well short of the 60 vote margin needed to prevent a Republican filibuster.

The vote is indicative of the Senate’s filibuster-induced deadlock.

Five Democratic Senators joined Republicans

By ALEXA ERICKSON

dreimold@ut.edu

News Reporter

COPY EDITING

The Henry B. Plant Museum has made it almost impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit when entering their 29th annual Victorian Christmas Stroll.

The museum, which has been transformed into a Christmas-themed historical wonderland, invites visitors to stroll through the various decorated rooms, which highlight momentous and cherished memories related to Plant Hall’s previous Tampa Bay Hotel.

“Each year the stroll offers something new,” said staff member Scott Waltz, who has been working at the museum for three years.

Every stroll offers new themes, including the decorations and the style of the trees.

“One of the new additions, which is also my favorite, is the ‘Where’s Henry?’ game,” said Waltz. “It engages the visitors more and adds a fun addition to the stroll.”

The game consists of a sheet of paper listing the 15 spots throughout the museum where a small picture of Henry is hidden. The “stroller” must write down a description of his placement in each spot in order to receive a prize.

In the evening, a barbershop quartet comes to sing Christmas classics beneath the ceiling-high tree at the end of The Grand Hallway, an inviting aspect all on its own.

Each room is decorated with a Christmas tree by theme. The room titled “Exotic Souvenirs from Plant’s Travels” hosts a pink tree hung with tropical birds and fruit ornaments, while the room titled “Women and their Past Times” displays a tree topped with a large, feathered hat,

REPORTERS Jeffrey Palmer Trinity Morgan Shivani Kanji

STAFF WRITERS Sophie Erber Laurel Sanchez Mike Marciano Miles Parks

COLUMNISTS

Camilla Chebet Nicole Robinson Hannah Webster Dominique C. Barchus Amanda Sieradzki

CREATIVE/DESIGN

Emilse Alvarado, Layout Scott Silvestro, Photographer Kara Wall, Photographer

MORE INFORMATION THE MINARET is a weekly student-run publication at the University of Tampa.

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to vote against the measure.

Democrats largely want an extension of the tax cuts for the middle class, while allowing cuts for those making over $250,000 per year to expire.

However, tough opposition from Republicans and some conservative Democrats has created a necessity for compromise.

If nothing is done to extend the tax cuts, tax rates will return to pre-2001 levels, amounting to a tax hike for all income brackets.

Though Obama ran on a platform that included allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for those making over $250,000 per year, political urgency has made him favor a temporary extension of all the cuts.

An additional compromise, spearheaded

by Senator Chuck Schumer, also failed in the Senate on Saturday. Schumer proposed a tax increase for those making over $1 million per year. This vote also fell short of the 60-vote filibuster-proof margin.

“I’m going to be here for the next year, next two years,” Schumer said, “to remind my colleagues that they were willing to increase the deficit $300 billion to give tax breaks to people who have income over a million dollars.”

Republicans argue that raising any taxes during a recession would be devastating to the economy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday on Meet The Press, “Every Republican and five Democrats

said we’re not raising taxes on anybody in the middle of a recession.”

Some, including economist Paul Krugman, believe that the tax cuts for all incomes should be allowed to expire if Republican leaders are not more willing to work with the White House.

Writing in the New York Times, Krugman said, “Democrats have tried to push a compromise: let tax cuts for the wealthy expire, but extend tax cuts for the middle class.

“Republicans, however, are having none of it. They have been filibustering Democratic attempts to separate cuts that mainly benefit a tiny group of wealthy Americans from those that mainly help the middle class.”

Krugman argues that, while an acrossthe-board increase would be harmful to the economy, the effects of extending the tax cuts for the wealthy would be even more damaging.

MSNBC’s First Read points out that the potential cost of extending the Bush tax cuts for two years (approximately $1 trillion including an extension of unemployment benefits and targeted tax cuts) is more than Obama’s stimulus package, which cost $800 billion.

All signs point towards an extension of the tax cuts. Leaders in Congress from both parties have said that the deal is likely to happen midweek.

Micheal Angelo Rumore can be reached at michealangelorumore@gmail.com.

29th Annual Victorian Christmas Stroll

Daniel Reimold, Ph.D.

Laura Theobald, Head Copy Editor Moriah Parrish, Asst. Copy Editor David Saucedo, Asst. Copy Editor Robin Hudson, Asst. Copy Editor

NEWS + FEATURES

Billy Ward/The Minaret

The museum, which has been transformed into a Christmas-themed historical wonderland, invites visitors to stroll through the various decorated rooms, which highlight momentous and cherished memories related to Plant Hall’s previous Tampa Bay Hotel.

as well as feathered bird ornaments to compliment the Victorian-style hats.

In the “Reading and Writing Room” a rocking chair sits next to a burning fireplace, with a note saying, “Santa’s coming,” in regards to a jolly Santa Claus who will be making an appearance on December 23rd from 10-1 p.m. at the stroll.

The gift shop is also a magnificent site, decorated with large wreaths and its own small Christmas trees throughout.

Many of the gifts are geared towards the holiday season, like the hand crafted poinsettia earrings, cream and red colored stockings, beautiful ornaments, and dinnerware; from plates to napkins and even salt shakers, all embellished with Christmas flavor.

“The stroll is essential to the operation of the museum,” said Waltz.

“We get a lot of support from locals who take the stroll as a tradition each year, as well as new visitors.”

The Victorian Christmas stroll is a fun and lively holiday centered event to take advantage of, whether you want to check out the many types of Christmas trees decorated, buy something from the gift shop or learn some interesting history about the hotel.

Open everyday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., now until December 23rd, the stroll is free for students, $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children.

Alexa Erickson can be reached at alexaerickson16@gmail.com.

NEWS + FEATURES

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

3

Spartan of the Week: Clarine Ovando-Lacroux

Senior Reaches Out to the Homeless

By RICHARD SOLOMON News Reporter

The French-born Clarine OvandoLacroux is your Spartan of the Week.

Ovando-Lacroux is majoring in Applied Sociology and will be graduating soon, but until she does, you can find her feeding the homeless every Tuesday.

The Minaret: (M) How did you get involved with feeding the homeless?

Clarine Ovando-Lacroux: (COL) When I came to Tampa a year and a half ago, I ran across a group of three people who came from Sarasota. Their church was cooking and they would bring it down here and serve the homeless, so I got on board with them. In May, they had to stop and weren’t coming anymore and I felt really bummed out because it was a really great experience and [the homeless] needed it. In June I started again, and I had a few friends who came in different weeks and helped.

M: What supplies did you have to start off with?

COL: I had nothing to start, just some pots and stuff. It was really not organized very well. I just felt like I had to do something. At the end of summer I was more organized, I had the right equipment.

M: And you do this by yourself?

COL: Yeah, but then when school started I had at least two friends who come regularly every Tuesday. They come help prepare or help make last minute foods and other people chip in too. One of my friends always brings a dessert so I know that’s taken care of. Friends from classes help as well.

M: What do you do if you have a big test Wednesday morning?

COL: It’s funny. I have friends who can’t come on a consistent basis and I

don’t expect them to, but I know I have to be there so it doesn’t matter what’s going on the next day. When you have 60 to 70 people who count on you there’s no such thing as no showing up.

M: How long does it take to prepare all the food you make?

COL: It depends. I never really cooked much before. Last week someone gave me ten turkeys and I’ve never even cooked a turkey before in my life! I had no idea how long a turkey would take to cook.

But yeah, it depends. I try to start on the weekends. I’ll start most on the weekends and then we freeze it and sometimes we’ll make last minute things.

M: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever cooked?

COL: This turkey thing was tough. I cooked three turkeys! I have seven more in my fridge, we’re going to have turkey until the end of the year. The difference between what we do and maybe some others is that it’s all homemade, stuff I would want to eat. No cans, we have meat and vegetables. We use ricotta cheese, we use really good food.

M: How long does the whole thing typically last, from start to finish?

COL: It depends on the conversations.

During the summer it could last for hours just talking to people. Right now it’s about an hour and a half.

M: Do you ever worry about running out of food?

COL: All the time, I get so nervous.

Now that it’s getting bigger it costs more.

It’s about $70 a week for me right now.

M: How do you pay for it?

COL: I have a job on campus. I work in the photography lab, it pays exactly $70 a week.

M: So you’re really passionate about this?

From the Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 reports.

Oops, He Did It Again On Nov. 29, a non-student was arrested for violating a repeat violence injunction against a student.

Blazing Saddles On Nov. 29, security responded to the 4th floor of Stadium Center about a call of an odor of marijuana. The students were referred to the judicial board.

UT Leaks On Nov. 30, security conducted a room search for drugs based upon received information.

Not So Slick On Dec. 5, an underage non-student was issued a written trespass warning for possession of alcohol and marijuana.

Two underage students were referred to the judicial board for being in the possession of alcohol.

Under-raged An intoxicated, underage student, caused a disturbance and damaged his room on Dec. 3. He was referred to the judicial board.

Seriously?

On Dec. 3, a student reported that she cut her chin upon falling.

Legacy On Dec. 3, a former student attempted to enter Austin Hall with a previous student I.D. The Final Drift On Dec. 5, a student reported at 3 a.m. that another student intentionally damaged his car which was parked outside McKay Hall. The student was referred to the judicial board.

Cara Fetzer assembled these reports.

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

COL: Yeah, I am. They’re such good people, they’re so nice. I’ve met some amazing people. There are homeless out there who are smart, who have a good education and they just need employment.

Some had a little bump on the road but didn’t have family or the security net that we do to help. They’re just like us.

M: Was there ever a time where you were really nervous or scared by one of the people you were helping?

COL: No. I lived in the [Howard Johnson Hotel] my first semester and met a homeless lady there. I talked to her a lot and one weekend she invited me to stay on the streets with her. So I spent a weekend sleeping by the library. It was in November and freezing and we were sleeping on concrete. I didn’t sleep at all, the night was tough. But I knew that the next day I would go home and have a bed to stay in, so I could get through the night.

But they don’t have that. It’s not fair.

M: How could UT students get involved

with the homeless?

COL: It starts with respect. I’ve had conversations with some people who think homelessness is a choice. A lot of Americans think that, that people are just lazy because this is the Land of Opportunity, but that’s no longer true. We participate in the system so we allow that to happen. It’s our responsibility to do something.

If you’re interested in joining Clarine and her friends to feed the homeless, she encourages students to meet them every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Lykes Gaslight Park located on the corner of N. Tampa St. and Kennedy Boulevard.

Think you or someone you know could be Spartan of the Week? Contact us at minaret.news@gmail.com with their name, contact information and a brief description of what makes them awesome!

Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu

4 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET When Showing Team Pride Goes a Bit Too Far

By CHRIS CAMPO Journalism II

I was naked. Wait. No, I just felt naked.

I was a small blotch of red in a vast sea of green and gold.

Waiting in line at Raymond James Stadium, home of the USF Bulls, I felt eyes on me like the pouring rain of a Tampa Bay lightning storm.

For the next three or four hours I was going to be a Rutgers football fan in a house where 65,000 people only cheered for two teams: the Southern Florida Bulls and the professional home team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As the usher tore the stub off my moistened ticket that I had been holding nervously in my balmy hands, I continued sauntering down the packed hallway of the stadium surrounded by the home fans.

I felt like an enslaved gladiator being forced into the Coliseum to fight to the death against warriors and lions.

The reality was just as bad--drunken college football fans.

For the last couple weeks my goal has been to make myself the person no sports fan ever enjoys being: “The away team fan.”

USF had their big game against Rutgers on Nov. 3. I assumed I would receive a more colorful response from the rowdy college kids than from Buccaneer fans.

I made sure I had a seat within the student section (“the shark tank,” “the lion’s den,” “ground zero,” whichever name you prefer.)

I had taken about ten steps towards my seat when I heard a voice coming from the section to the right of me.

“Get that f---ing red shirt out of my stadium!” I looked behind me and saw the smug grin on a USF male’s face.

I thought to myself, “Ehh, that wasn’t so bad. It could have been worse.”

All of a sudden his crude comment started a chain reaction that gave a handful of the Bulls fans around him the courage to start tossing verbal stones at me.

“You suck!” “Go back to Jersey, you douche bag!” “Your mom even knows Rutgers sucks!”

I sat down in the midst of all the people that would hate me for the next few hours, I wasn’t comfortable with the situation, but I felt I had to embrace what was happening around me.

The insults didn’t stop. It was the same insult just worded differently every time: “You suck,” “Your team sucks,” “Go home.”

I decided to start firing back at them. I started throwing my team’s” successes in their face.

“Oh, yeah. Did you see that catch!?

USF can’t stop sh--!” Back and forth I argued with an entire section of loyal Bulls fans.

The game stayed close the entire way, fueling reactions from both USF fans and myself.

“If USF pulls this out, I get to kick you in the balls, how about that?” said an angry female fan sitting behind me towards the end of the game.

In hindsight, I’m glad I never made that wager because my night would have ended with a 28-27 loss for Rutgers, home fans berating me with insults and food wrappers on my way out, and some sore balls.

For the second part of my experiment, I decided on a high school football doubleheader, where there is twice the action and the kids are half as mature as the college crowd. I wore a cup for this one.

I caught the first half of Hillsborough High vs. King Lions. For the half I was going to be a Hillsborough Terrier.

When I arrived, I noticed that a lot of the girls from Hillsborough were wearing some of the players’ home jerseys.

I approached a few of the girls wearing the jerseys and asked if I could wear her jersey for part of the game.

After a few tries, one girl agreed to let me borrow her jersey.

I headed up to the bleachers to sit in the middle of the Lions students.

“If you don’t get the f--- outta here, I’m gonna rip the shirt off your back and burn it in the parking lot.”

I hadn’t even sat down when I heard this being shouted by a rather large high school male.

Being a little less intimidated by high school kids, I waved the Terrier’s jersey in all of the Lions faces.

In less than five minutes with the jersey on, an assault of empty water bottles began hitting the back of my head and shoulders from the restless Lions fans (who were losing at this point).

I felt I had to cease my battle station only when a concerned parent came over to me.

“Nothing good is going to come from you sitting here.” I decided it was time to return the jersey and get out of dodge.

I socialized myself into the world of what away fans go through on a game-togame basis.

I was insulted, threatened, abused and fired upon, but I came out with all my limbs intact and still able to procreate.

The idea of being at the home field is a comfort in which I don’t take lightly after being in three different away situations in four days.

I have a new-found respect for you, away fans.

Finals Week Calls for New Study Techniques

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

The best way to reduce stress during finals week and do well on exams is to start studying early and maintain good sleeping and eating habits.

By SHIVANI KANJI News Reporter

[ ]

Crossing Enemy Lines

NEWS + FEATURES

As finals week quickly approaches, many students on campus are implementing a vast assortment of study techniques— some logical, others not so much.

While some students cave under the pressure of final exams, others excel through their use of creative and effective study techniques.

“The craziest study technique is the most common: cramming for exams,” said Dr. James Woodson, associate professor of psychology here at the University of Tampa.

“Research consistently shows us that a lastminute approach does not work.”

As a psychologist and a behavioral neuroscientist, Woodson splits his reasoning behind this into two parts and provides four reasons why cramming doesn’t work.

1. Learning takes time. When too much information is compressed into too short a time, less material is processed, understood and retained. If it doesn’t get in, you can’t retrieve it later. It’s not there.

2. Depth of processing (engagement with the material) affects how information is encoded into memory, and the ease with which it is later recalled. Skimming is not engaging. By its definition skimming is surface level, not deep processing.

3. Short-term memory for newly acquired information is impaired by stress — like the stress encountered when taking exams—particularly exams one is not well prepared for. Recently learned information is in a volatile state.

4. Long-term memory is less likely to be impaired by stress, but takes days to consolidate—a process of becoming permanent similar metaphorically to making Jello in a molded form of some kind. If you try to use it too early, before it becomes solid, it loses its form and leaves you with an unidentifiable mess.

Students at UT admit to crazy study techniques aside from cramming. Some include locking themselves in their rooms for days at a time, pulling all nighters with the help of energy drinks or other caffeinated substances, skipping class before exams to study and rereading the textbook in its entirety.

“I have heard some people study around certain smells, so that when they are in the exam and they smell that smell again, they can recollect what they were studying,” said senior Michelle Douglas.

Senior Miguel Velasco said that he tries to “set a schedule and [cram] a little bit more at the end, hoping for the best.”

Fellow senior Ryan Devine adds that he will “wait until the last minute and cram everything in.”

A helpful study tactic is to have your roommate change your Facebook password, so you don’t get distracted.

- Liz Anthony, freshman

Though some of these tactics may work for some students, they prove to be detrimental to others.

Some techniques that have been known to work, according to some students’ experiences, are unplugging cell phones and laptops, looking over notes, going over chapter reviews found in textbooks, reviewing practice problems and making use of the extended hours of library and computer labs.

“A helpful study tactic is to have your roommate change your Facebook password, so you don’t get distracted,” said freshman Liz Anthony.

Freshman, Jessie Luttenschlager said likes “going to the cubicles in the back of the library, so I don’t have any distractions.

I don’t ever bring my computer.”

In addition to those study techniques, Woodson said, “The disciplined student, who is serious about earning an ‘A’ grade keeps up with the assigned reading, engages themselves in the material as best they can and reads to understand in depth, not just memorize the facts and words they’re skimming over.”

“Rather than introducing completely new information, material that’s presented in a professor’s lecture should re-emphasize, explain and elaborate on information that has already been encoded, while doing the assigned reading ahead of time,” said Woodson.

“This way, the student has multiple exposures to the material in different sensory modalities each time—visual while reading, auditory while listening— and each time the material is reviewed memory is strengthened through repetition and recall, and there is time for long-term memory consolidation between learning the material and recalling it during an exam.”

The best way to reduce stress during finals week and do well on exams is to start studying early and maintain good sleeping and eating habits.

Shivani Kanji can be reached at shivani. kanji@spartans.ut.edu.

NEWS + FEATURES

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

5

Blonde Ambition: A Brunette’s Transformation

By MOLLY JACOBSON Journalism II

I am at the wig store, and there are about 100 different wigs scattered throughout the store.

At five foot two with dark brown hair, I decided I would see what it was like to walk in the shoes of a blonde.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being a brunette, but in the back of my mind I had always wondered if blondes seem to have it easier and stand out more than brunettes, so I decided to experience the Tampa nightlife as “Blonde Molly” and find out whether or not blondes really do have more fun.

I try on several wigs at the store, they are either not blonde enough, not long enough or just plain weird.

The Asian woman working behind the counter points across the store to a luxurious long blonde human haired wig with side bangs like my natural hair.

As I walk out the store with my new friend in hand, I am unaware of just how much trouble comes with being blonde.

I don’t usually go out on a Tuesday night, but the Blonde Molly had other plans. I was going to go out and have a drink or two.

I walk right into the bar with my friend Joe and no one checked my ID. “Wow, that was easy,” I say to myself.

Either I look really good blonde or they don’t have door guys on Tuesdays.

Jeans, heels, white tank top and a blonde wig.

Not my usual going out attire, but I needed to keep it simple to try and tone down the drastic change to my appearance.

It’s humid out and the fans on the ceilings are on full blast.

I’m hoping my wig is securely pinned as I walk around with my head held high.

“Oh my god, I love you, just want to tell you, I love you,” slurs some drunk guy at the bar.

“Thanks,” I reply as I walk passed him.

The bartender, who I knew, complimented my hair but said he likes me better as a brunette.

“My friend, he loves you,” said the drunk guy’s friend stumbling towards me.

“He thinks you’re beautiful.”

The bar, MacDintons Irish Pub, was going really well.

The blonde seemed to be a hit, and the attention I was getting was fueling the fire.

Blonde Molly decided it would be a good choice to then go to Hyde Park Café, drink a little bit more and see what other attention I could get as a blonde.

This time my ID was checked at the door. The man looks at me and then my brunette ID and lets me in.

I wonder, when I use my ID here with my natural hair I get rejected, but with blonde hair I’m let in.

Plus one for blondie.

There, I meet this bar back named Eric.

He just got out of the Marines, at 32 years old he looks a mere 23 years old, tall, dark and handsome. Just my type.

We talk for a while and he finally asks me for my number.

Excitedly I give it to him and flirted a little bit more, making sure I would get a phone call or text the next day.

Needless to say, I get a text the next day

Photo courtesy of Molly Jacobson

Junior Molly Jacobson experiences the effects of transforming her appearance from her natural brunette hair color to a blonde wig.

from Eric saying it was really nice to meet you and I hope to see you out again soon. I replied me too, let me know when you go out again.

Eric texted me on a Friday night asking to meet up, I am standing on the pier of Harbour Island waiting for this guy and he’s not around.

I don’t really remember exactly how he looked because of the intoxication when I met him, and finally I see a guy texting and look at my phone it says “where are you I don’t see you.”

I text back assuring him I was standing by the little bar down the steps. I finally realize who he is and go up to him.

“I have been standing down there for a half hour.”

“Molly? I thought you were blonde, I was looking for a blonde girl,” he said.

Then I explained to him my little experiment, and he made it clear I look way better as a brunette.

As exciting and scary it was being blonde, I knew I was a true brunette at heart and would never be able to pull off the bleached blonde LA girl look.

I realized I like who I am and that my hair color does not define who I am.

The blonde may make more people look, but being brunette I seemed to be more approachable.

6 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

NEWS + FEATURES

Graduating Class Reusable Grocery Bags Aren’t as Green as They’re Advertised Remembers Experiences at UT

By SARAH WALTERS

Oregon Daily Emerald (Univ. of Oregon)

[From Front, Commencement] On Thursday, an Education Graduate Awards and Hooding Ceremony will be held in Fletcher Lounge and a Nursing Pinning and Hooding Ceremony will be held in Plant Hall Music Room at 6 p.m.

Business graduate students will have an award and hooding ceremony on Friday in Fletcher Lounge at 6 p.m.

There will also be a reception on Friday to honor the entire graduating class of 2010, both undergraduate and graduate students, and their families on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center between 5 and 7 p.m.

Commencement begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and doors open for seating at 8:30 a.m.

For more information on attire requirements, procession arrangements, hotel accommodations and other important details, students are encouraged to visit ut.edu/commencement/december/.

Graduation is an important and great success for any person.

The Minaret wishes success to all of UT’s graduating seniors and encourages them not to let their legacy end at UT. Alyssa Major can be reached at amhoward@ ut.edu.

UWIRE - The decision between paper and plastic has recently began to include the choice of reusable, a $1 option many people are willing to take in order to reduce their impact on the environment.

But reusable grocery bags, made to be used multiple times for shopping, may not be as healthy or environmentally friendly as people once thought.

“The Tampa Tribune” recently investigated and tested reusable grocery bags sold at Wal-Mart, Target and East Coast grocery chains.

This investigation spurred the Food and Drug Administration to launch its own investigation into reusable bags.

The testers found unsafe levels of lead in reusable grocery bags that were manufactured in China and sold at Wal-Mart, Target and the East Coast grocery chains Winn-Dixie, Publix and Sweetbay. Lead is found in laminated reusable bags with large print or images to make colors more vibrant.

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems in children younger than 6 years old and adults who are regularly exposed to high levels of lead.

Lead poisoning in children can cause behavioral problems, damage to the brain and nervous system, hearing problems, headaches and slowed growth.

Lead poisoning in adults can cause reproductive problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, memory problems, and muscle and joint pain.

While the recent study did not show

any indication of an immediate health threat to the public, lead in reusable bags could possibly contaminate the food products kept inside them and leach into landfills once a consumer disposes of the bag.

The researchers found that in the long-term, the lead from reusable grocery bags could seep into groundwater after disposal and, over time, paint from the bag could flake off and come into contact with food.

Wal-Mart and Target have not recalled their reusable bags and recently released statements to dispel any health concerns.

Wal-Mart tested its bags did not find levels as high as the Tribune’s test and the company plans on selling more basic and plain versions of its bag.

Target also remained confident in its testing methods. In response to the Tribune’s story, Safeway re-tested all its reusable bags and found them to be lead-free.

Reusable grocery bags are a popular alternative to using plastic and paper bags, and some cities are considering outright banning one-use bags.

While the City of Eugene is not considering a ban on plastic bags, the City of Portland is.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., and other U.S. cities, consumers who use plastic bags are charged extra when they don’t bring their reusable grocery bags.

This would be a good option instead of banning plastic bags entirely, University junior Yufei Chen said.

“I think it’s a good idea to pay for it,” she said.

U. Oregon junior Elizabeth Shepard said she uses plastic bags at home as garbage bags.

“You can use those bags at home

Kaustav Bhattacharya/flickr.com

Unsafe levels of lead have been found in reusable grocery bags manufactured in China and sold at Wal-Mart, Target, and East Coast grocery chains.

for other things,” she said. “Banning them isn’t a good idea.”

Other U. Oregon students said they had a hard time remembering to bring their reusable bags with them when grocery shopping.

“I never have them with me to use them,” senior Sarah Kanthack said.

Consumers should also focus on bacteria, which can form on the bottom of reusable grocery bags, when considering their health.

Health experts recommend that consumers regularly wash their reusable grocery bags to prevent the formation of bacteria and E. coli.

However, the catch is that washing reusable grocery bags uses energy and water, making them less environmentally friendly than their original purpose.

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

Diversions

7

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 20, 2010

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Mike Trobiano/ The Minaret

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Things to make notes on 5 Gate clasp 10 Woeful word 14 Home of the Osmonds 15 Impressive display 16 Coke or Pepsi 17 Miniature data storage device 19 Like many a movie twin 20 Faraway friend who likes to write 21 Traditional stories 23 New England hrs.

24 Teen group sleepover 27 Bolivian high points 31 Above-the-street trains 32 Second afterthought, in a ltr.

33 Heckle 34 Writer’s deg.

35 Itzhak Perlman’s instrument 38 With 40-Across, in an advantageous position (and what both words in 17-, 24-, 47- and 60Across can be) 40 See 38-Across 41 Tears to shreds 42 Seaman’s call for assistance 43 Baseball’s Slaughter 44 Not masc.

45 Old Mideast org.

46 Digs for 47 Like an actor who doesn’t miss a line 51 “Toto, __ a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” 52 Encl. with a manuscript 53 Gap 58 Require 60 Bobby Vee hit with the line “I come bouncing back to you” 62 Ricelike pasta 63 Judges hear them 64 Sicilian volcano 65 Wine glass part

Check out Danielle Champagne’s stylish dorm room on The Crescent in Campus Cribs.

12/20/10

By Gary Cee

66 Occupied, as a desk 67 Hurdle (over)

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

DOWN 1 It gives you gas 2 To __: precisely 3 Rhett’s last word 4 Hit the mall 5 1971 Clapton classic 6 Pop-up path 7 Song refrain 8 Pool shots 9 Beast that grew two heads every time it lost one 10 King topper 11 Where romantic couples park 12 Crème de la crème 13 Like the sea 18 Jay-Z performances 22 “Silas Marner” foundling 25 Funny Foxworthy 26 Orbital high point 27 Barely open 28 Pop your pop might have liked 29 Suspended animation 30 Took off the board

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

34 Floor-washing aid 35 Videotape format 36 Response to “You all right?”

37 Storied loch 39 Down in the __ 40 Raced 42 Wager that isn’t risky 45 Bond girl Andress 46 Hullabaloo 47 Indigent imbibers 48 In full view

12/20/10

49 Wild West brothers 50 Where the toys are 54 One slain by Cain 55 Westminster gallery 56 Forearm bone 57 Open-handed blow 59 __ Pérignon 61 Sheep sound

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Aries (March 21-April 19) Today’s challenges may make you nervous, but you’ll manage them with courage (or by using brute force, if necessary). Stretch any sore muscles.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) It’s adventure time! You’re saving for a special experience. Lowering the thermostat saves more than money. Pile on blankets and sweaters.

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By Linda C Black / Tribune Media Services

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Friends want you to take the lead. There’s clear sailing ahead. Take advantage of your spinnaker, and apply some color. Take benefits over cash.

Week ending Dec. 7, 2010

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Horoscopes

(2) 3 5

© 2010 MCT

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) what you love, and love what you do. Be what you love, and love what you are. Enjoy small pleasures, like a child’s laughter, a perfect snowflake or hot cocoa.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Choose deeper or brighter colors. You have the advantage, whether you know it or not. You care for others and they care for you. This matters.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Clear out extra space so something new has room to grow. Challenge yourself to try something unfamiliar to create peace and beauty. Shake up old habits.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Don’t accept spam, virtual or otherwise. Get good antivirus software, and consider trying Paul McCartney’s Meat-Free Monday. This lightens things up.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Accept a promising offer. Listen to the call of the wild and spend time outdoors, preferably with a loved one.

There’s romance and laughter out there.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The mood has shifted, and you feel better. Your optimistic outlook is contagious. Look for harmony, and take advantage of outbursts of energy.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) It’s a time to generate plans for new income. Write down your ideas and brainstorm with your friends.

Ask them to look in your blind spots.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Take advantage of the day to live it like it was the last. You’re powerful, inventive and can heal old wounds. If it were the end, old stuff wouldn’t matter.

8 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

Arts + Entertainment

Student Artwork Finds Home in New Gallery

BY SOPHIE ERBER

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement is the new home to studentproduced art space.

The first three University of Tampa students to display their artwork in the organization’s office are seniors Julia Ponzek and Samantha Burns and junior Cliff Klein. The OSLE gallery opened in late September with the students’ work.

Instead of doing a grand-opening, they decided to do a closing show.

“We had a really good turn-out, for it being the first time,” said Megan Frisque, OSLE’s assistant director of Civic Engagement.

“It’s hard to picture how bare our walls must have been without these paintings,” said Frisque.

The bright and striking pictures give a more upbeat and vibrant feel to the office.

In just two days, Ponzek completed the

[

“The main hold-up was getting the tracking in order to hang the paintings,” explained Frisque.

The tracking was a generous gift from the graduating class of 2009.

Soon after May graduation, the work began and finally, the office was prepped and ready to go, but both Frisque and Valle agreed that the new gallery would be more likely to gain attention if it opened at the start of a school year.

So this September, Burns, Klein and Ponzek were the guinea pigs chosen by Valle to have their work displayed.

“The goal is for students to have a place on campus to do solo shows,” said Burns.

“There’s really nowhere else on campus where you can see student artwork.”

Her work highlights brushing and texture techniques with a strong attention to details in her figures.

Cliff Klein’s art is on the opposite end of the spectrum, broadening the range of styles represented in the OSLE gallery.

]

“It’s hard to picture how bare our walls must have been without these paintings!”

- Megan Frisque, OSLE’s assistant director of Student Engagement

nearly floor-to-ceiling painting of a nun titled Sister Angelica.

The nun appears jaded and slightly disgruntled, with a cigarette dangling from her frowning lips. This colorful, comic piece hangs in the meeting room at the front of the OSLE office.

Frisque has been working in conjunction with assistant professor of art Chris Valle for the past two years to coordinate the unique gallery.

“I focus on the relationships between colors with a childish aesthetic,” said Klein.

Even in the chaos of colors, shapes and lines, definite objects and themes can be interpreted from Klein’s paintings.

In one of them, a blue 3-D box appears in the foreground, with an explosion of bright colors filling the background.

Although this was the first and last time that Ponzak and Burns will have

Sophie Erber/The Minaret

“Sister Angelica,” a painting by Julia Ponzek, is a comic, yet challenging work. Stretching nearly from the floor to the ceiling, the work hangs at the front of the OSLE office.

their artwork on display in OSLE, this new makeshift gallery presents a great opportunity for future art majors.

Preparing their work for any gallery is an invaluable experience for any artist.

The OSLE gallery also gives UT artists and their work some exposure, the only other location that displays student work being the Scarfone-Hartley gallery in Bailey.

“This is a college campus,” said Frisque.

“And student artwork should be shown.”

The next OSLE gallery exhibit is expected to be on display early next semester.

Sophie Erber can be reached at serber@ spartans.ut.edu.

Sophie Erber/The Minaret

Students admire Chris Klein’s artwork at the new OSLE gallery.

Plain White T’s New Release Sounds Colorless

By RICHARD SOLOMON

Arts + Entertainment Writer

It’s evident from the start of Plain White T’s new album, Wonders of the Younger, that the band has evolved, though not necessarily in a good way.

Frontman Tom Higgenson’s vocals show no growth and have lost the emotion we remember from “A Lonely September” and “1, 2, 3, 4.”

The album is supposed to be a dark and whimsical reflection of the differences between adulthood and childhood, but, with every other song being a love song, not enough emphasis was paid on lyrics.

The album quickly slips into something that will be forgotten.

Fortunately for the artist, the album is rife with repetitive choruses that mean nothing, but are guaranteed to be stuck in your head.

Songs worth listening to include “Irrational Anthem,” “Rhythm of Love,” “Killer,” “Body Parts” and “Make It Up As You Go,” but the songs will get old after multiple plays.

The remaining songs guarantee this album won’t be front and center in anyone’s music collection.

PWT now sound like a cross between OneRepublic and Motion City Soundtrack, but without the melodies of the first and the lyrics of the second.

“Irrational Anthem” sets the album’s

Cover Art

Wonders of the Younger lacks the catchiness of Plain White T’s preceding albums.

tone with a somber intro that quickly escalates into the band just having fun.

The lyrics of the verses are nearly lost in the melody, but the chorus comes through.

Right away, the listener is become nostalgic for childhood and the terrible music we listened to as kids.

Hits and misses follow “Irrational Anthem.” “Boomerang” is the exact opposite of “Irrational Anthem,” starting off strong, but then devolving into simplistic lyrics and an annoying poppunk sound.

The vocals are better, but lack any feeling and sound mechanical.

Longtime fans of the band will enjoy “Rhythm of Love,” the first single released for the album.

With a guitar pluck reminiscent of “Hey There, Delilah” and one of the backup singers (Tim Lopez) taking over, this is simply a catchy tune.

While not as strong as some of their previous hits, you’ll still feel relaxed after listening to it.

The best lyrics of the song are “My heart beats like a drum. A guitar string to the strum. A beautiful song to be sung.”

“Killer” was probably my favorite song on the album.

Anyone can write a love song, but PWT takes it to a new level by asking, “How bad would I have to be? If I was the worst man in the world, would you still be my girl?”

Comparing himself to a pirate, outlaw and killer, Higgenson asks the girl if she’ll still be his accomplice. “If I was a vampire roaming the night, would you be my prey and put your neck on the line.”

The dark imagery is sold well.

The simple beat from “Killer” is followed up by the intense violins and harmonizing vocals of “Last Breath.”

Last Breath seems to alternate between stunning vocals and perfect lyrics to flat notes and simple words.

The song begins with, “And with my last breath I surrender to your attack, ‘cause I would sacrifice my spine if that would you get off my back.”

The vocals are amazing and the song seems to hold its promise, deviating from what we’ve heard so far.

Then Higgenson sings alone, “You’re somewhere between the girl of my dreams and the girl of my nightmares,” and disappointment sets back in.

This switch between awesome and letdown happens throughout the song.

“Make It Up As You Go” is the secondto-last song on the album and apparently the point at which the band remembers that they are writing for an audience.

Another catchy song that gets stuck in the head easily, “Make It Up As You Go” is supposed to encourage people to live happily and not fear the future.

However, the target audience are those who already have done some going grow up, so the advice is lost.“Wonders of the Younger” closes the album.

The title track samples ideas from childhood such as playing pirates and being chased by vampires, a not-sosubtle reference to the earlier songs on the album.

This song makes a quick Wizard of Oz allusion (“Click your heels, close your eyes, make a wish and wave goodbye”) and then laments over the wonders of childhood.

My final say is, only serious fans should consider buying Wonders of the Younger.

Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

9

Lights! Camera! Action! Directors Shine at UT Film Fest UT’s Prospective Filmmakers Show Off Their Inner Scorcese

By AMANDA SIERADZKI

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

In Reeves Theatre on Saturday night, waiting for the lights to dim and the screen to light up, there was just one thing missing — popcorn.

At the University of Tampa’s Film and Digital Festival, held on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., communication professor Dana Plays greeted the audience and had each student filmmaker introduce their work.

There were eight films in all, with run times ranging from two to 16 minutes.

Plays described the process that each filmmaker went through.

This truly was the crème de la crème of UT’s future directors and producers.

The first film was The Savage Voyage, by Richard Walker, a student in experimental filmmaking.

The piece featured a girl decked out in beat-up red converse and colorful clothing, twirling a rainbow umbrella.

Juxtaposed items, like as couches on lawns and the image of a girl jumping into

a bright blue pool fully clothed adding to the experimental nature of the film.

Following this summary cinematography was All I Have, by Matt Rossetti, a student in senior seminar in film and digital production.

It opened on a funeral and focused in

[

]

This event was truly the crème de la crème of UT’s future directors and producers.

on the eyes of one man, before panning out onto a soccer field.

The concept of the film was a bit confusing, but imagery was powerful.

Fair Use Blues, by Jean-Pierre Busche, was the only non-fiction film in the bunch.

As a documentary on copyright infringement, it was informative, but I felt it started to gain momentum too close to the end.

Snakes in the Grass, by Kaneesha Heath, and The Lizard, by Kyle Gilbert, involved girls either selling or experimenting with heavy drugs.

While Heath’s had a more complex storyline, I felt that Gilbert’s cinematography and metaphor forwere excellent.

Elizabeth Fisler directed Experimental Nightmare, which could only be described as The Grudge meets The Ring, only less climactic and more artsy.

Kylie Jacob’s Solace had the only romantic overtures in the group and came in close second with my favorite film.

The film also had some of the best acting.

The two main characters simulated a real, broken relationship flawlessly through adorable dialogue. The music choices added to each touching scene.

Hands down, my personal favorite was Privileged, by Aasem Alhajhussein.

Action-packed cinematography, an interesting and complicated storyline and

superb acting had the whole theatre gasping for all eight minutes and 45 seconds.

The running and pursuit scenes that took place between the Vaughn Center’s conference room and Sykes building’s flag area, where the best fight scene of the film occurred.

The hero bludgeoned one of the bad guys over the head with the Canadian flag (“O Canada,” is right).

When the festival ended, audience members were invited to a reception with water and cookies (but, still, no popcorn).

Many of the filmmakers stayed afterwards to hear viewer’s remarks and answer questions.

In the future, I hope to see more advertising for this event, so that students can receive the recognition they deserve for their hard work and amazing films.

Support the Arts.

To stay updated on UT’s events visit ut.edu/campuseventcalendar.

Amanda Sieradzki can be reached at asieradzki@spartans.ut.edu.

Reality Versus Illusion: Jean Genet’s ‘The Balcony’

By CONNER MCDONOUGH Arts + Entertainment Columnist

READ This

Now

In 1957, French dramatist Jean Genet brought existential philosophy and absurdest theatre together in what eventually culminated in one of his most famous plays: The Balcony.

Set in an upscale brothel, the play follows a group of people living out their fantasies while a revolution rages outside in the city streets. The reader is introduced to the madam of the brothel, her assistants, and various clientele of particular tastes.

One of these clientele is a man who dresses like a priest and seeks penitence, another is a man who pretends to be a judge and doles out heavy-handed punishment on a thief, yet another is a man who imagines himself as a general, galloping about on his horse.

Meanwhile, the city begins to fall block by block. The prostitutes and madam wait for the chief of police while these men act out their fantasies.

If you read this at face value, you will probably think the play is funny and presents a good joke or two, but as soon as you begin probing the text, you find the real treat of the play.

Through the three men acting on their fantasies, Genet explores the dynamics of power, using the brothel as a trope for the failed and corrupt government within the play.

The “bishop” comes to represent the church, desperately seeking to stay alive by monopolizing on the sins of the people.

The “judge” represents the law’s attempt to maintain its foothold by punishing even the most trivial of crimes. The “general” represents the military, replete with saberrattling and the yearning for the days of past glory, now trying to relive them in flashy shows of arrogance and might.

The revolution is also seen in the embodiment of the prostitute Chantal, who quits the brothel and joins the revolution with radical fervor, acting as a foil to the trinity of societal power players. It is class conflict that would make Karl Marx swoon.

The play does not, however, bank on the politics and ethos of class consciousness and struggle.

It dives even deeper than that. This work is really no more than a depiction of

Cover Art

Released in 1957, The Balcony was one of Genet’s most famous and daring plays. the struggle between illusion and reality, posing the question to the reader: “What is real and what is not?”

The bishop, judge and general are obviously men in costumes acting out roles, but as representatives of a dying society, they ultimately take on the form of the status quo, vainly attempting to quell the revolution. In their eyes, they live in

reality and the revolution is an illusion.

But, in the case of revolutionary Chantal, they are the illusion and she is reality.

Genet plays with this theme throughout the play, ultimately tricking the reader into falling in and out of states of reality and illusion. This theme partially stems from Genet’s personal feelings on the outcome of the Spanish Civil War (the fascists defeating the Republican government) and the idea that illusion and reality had swapped places in Spain.

As he stated in a 1957 interview in Arts magazine, “My point of departure was situated in Spain, Franco’s Spain, and the revolutionary who castrates himself was all those Republicans when they had admitted their defeat.”

Though this play ran into trouble for its obscenity and was seen as a subversive piece of literature, The Balcony has bested the test of time for a reason.

It is one of the most astoundingly original works of drama ever written and has maintained relevance due to its scathing indictment of societal roles and social norms as well as its questioning of the power structures that exist within every society — a truly great play.

Conner McDonough can be reached at cmcdonough@spartans.ut.edu.

Tampa Theatre Gets Festive with Christmas Classics

By JP BUSCHE

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

Christmas decorations are popping up around town and “Silent Night” is on heavy radio rotation.

Tampa Theatre is sharing the holiday spirit with cinema aficionados.

This weekend, Tampa’s only art-house theater is showing a number of holiday classics, including one free screening.

The theatre weekend starts Saturday at 3 p.m. with the original 1947 film Miracle on 34 Street.

Tickets are $9 each, with discounts for military members and theatre members.

At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Tampa Theatre will open the Sunset Cinema series at the Catachobee Park lawn for a free open-air

screening of Polar Express.

The picture starts at 6 p.m. with limited seating.

Outside food and alcohol-free beverages are permitted.

However, popcorn and sodas are very reasonably priced ($2 and $1, respectively).

Proceeds will go towards the nonprofit theatre organizing the event.

To continue the holiday classic series, on Sunday, Dec. 12, Tampa Theatre will show Irving Berlin’s 1950 Technicolor film White Christmas.

This Holiday Inn remake features an impressive score by the director, as well as music by American legend Bing Crosby.

Doors open at 2 p.m. with a Mighty Wurlitzer show.

The film will commence at 3 p.m.

Tara Schroeder, Tampa Theatre’s director of programming and marketing, highlighted the reasons for watching these holiday classic in the theatre.

“Yes, you watch them at home in your PJs,” she said, “but there’s nothing more festive than seeing them on the big screen at Tampa Theatre with hundreds of people?

“Plus, people love singing along with the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ before the movies. We appreciate the community’s support of historic Tampa Theatre, so it feels good to say ‘thanks’ with free movies in city parks with our Sunset Cinema series.”

JP Busche can be reached at jbusche@ ut.spartans.edu.

Cover Art

Tampa Theatre begins the holiday season with the classic Miracle on 34th Street.

10 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

BFA’s Swan Song for Artistic Seniors

Graduating Seniors’ Say Goodbye with Final Visual Showcase

By LAUREL SANCHEZ

Arts + Entertainment Writer

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exit Show opened on Monday, Dec. 6 in the Scarfone Hartley Art Gallery, showcasing University of Tampa graduating seniors’ work.

These students will be graduating this month. Artworks include ceramics, painting, drawing, computer graphics, photography and mixed media.

Walking into the gallery, many pieces caught my eye.

A yoga mat lying on the ground aroused my curiosity. I walked over to check it out.

I noticed that there were other pieces that accompanied the mat.

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Holiday Recipe

Kaycee Morin portrays the relaxing appeal of yoga in “Yoga: Promotional Material.”

The piece is called, Yoga: Promotional Material.

The various pieces were in cool colors of blue, purple and grays — colors intended to express the artist’s portrayal of how yoga is calming for people.

The artist who created this space is Kaycee Morin.

Morin also did another set called, Imposing Standard.

It is a series of three pieces done with computer graphics.

They are each have by a quote by William Shakespeare, Eleanor Roosevelt or Rita Mae Brown inscribed in the picture.

Each piece presents a question relating to the quote.

They left me asking the question, “Do you give up being you for others?”

Another artist showcased is Marisa Brasile.

Brasile is an advertising and public relations and graphic design doublemajor.

She is also the graphic designer for Student Productions.

If you walk towards her section, you will notice the SP logo on all of the objects in the surrounding area.

“I was the marketing head from fall ‘08 to spring ‘09,” she said.

“SP and I decided their old logo needed to go, so I created the new, modern one and had several pieces printed out to promote our new logo that year.”

Brasile has also designed the logos, business cards, store fronts and promotional material for the store Cait and Reese.

Why advertise these things in the student show?

“I decided our idea of the store would be a perfect project to execute in the student show and it was something I was

Abby Sanford/The Minaret

Marisa Brasile, the graphic designer for Student Productions, features her SP logos on various apparel and objects. She sought to update the old, outdated Student Production graphics.

really passionate about,” she said.

Almost every artist had a self-portrait in the show.

One of the most interesting was by actually a series of six paintings by Julia Ponzek.

The titles bare her name and then a short description.

For example, the first one in the series is Julia Ponzek With the Blue Ring On. Another in the series is With a Sheet to Hide Behind. It has actual human hair in it.

“Yes, that is my hair. It always ends up in my paintings,” Ponzek said.

“I’m constantly shedding into wet paint, although this time I did it purposefully.”

Her other painting, titled With My Studio Clothes, bares her actual studio clothes covered in paint on the canvas.

Pecan Balls PREP TIME: 5-10 minutes

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“I wanted to do something for myself, something that would allow me to work through my past, sort of confronting all the uncomfortable stuff I don’t really like to think about,” she said.

With plans to go to graduate school, Ponzek said she has more projects up her sleeve.

Other artists featured in the exhibit include Lee Snow, Cara Schleper, Maria Moreno, Ryan Hensley, Alex DeGray, Mike Seitzler, Marisa Brasile and Floyd Smith.

The exhibit will be on display until Dec. 17.

On that day, there will be a reception honoring the graduates from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the gallery.

Laurel Sanchez can be reached at laurel.sachez@spartans.ut.edu

By MANDY ERFOURTH Arts + Entertainment Editor

Recipe was given to by a family friend.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 1 Cup of butter

1. Finely chop the pecans 2. Put the butter, sugar, vanila, pecans, flour and salt into a bowl.

3. Mix all ingredients together.

4. Roll into balls as pictured.

5. Back at 275 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes.

6. Remove and let cool.

7. Roll in powdered sugar.

8. If desired also roll in sprinkles.

• 4 tbsp of sugar • 2 tbsp of vanilla • 1 to 2 cups of pecans finely chopped • 2 cups of flour • 1/2 tsp of salt • Powdered sugar (Desired amount)

Serve and Enjoy!

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

11

Sally O’Neal’s Gourmet Pizza is Weak Sauce

The Dish

By MORIAH PARRISH

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

I entered Sally O’Neal’s on South Howard week expecting a great slice of pizza.

Their sign claims, after all, that they have served gourmet pizzas since 1985.

The sign read, “Please sit anywhere.”

I parked myself in a booth by the corner where it was warm.

All of the ten or so tables in the room were covered with a festive holly-printed paper underneath a glass table-top.

Except for one other occupied table, I had the place all to myself.

It was around 10:30 on a Friday night.

I waited a few minutes before my server came to the table.

“What do you want to drink?” she asked without a smile.

I ordered a water.

I perused the menu and found they offered many traditional Italian items besides pizza, like calzones and pasta.

I settled on a 12-inch spinach and tomato pizza, one of their signature pies.

I didn’t think it would take too long, being a medium size, the smallest they offered.

The pizza took about fifteen minutes.

The server certainly wasn’t busy, but perhaps the kitchen had deliveries to do.

Much to my distaste, the pie was not steaming.

The first slice I cut was cool enough to bite right into, not piping hot, as one would expect from a pizza fresh from the oven.

The temperature was warm, but didn’t seem as fresh as it should have been had the pizza couldn’t come straight from the oven to my table.

The kitchen was literally less than four feet away.

And for all the hubbub about the restaurant being “gourmet” — the sign and the menu were printed all over with this fact — the taste was rather average.

The sauce was okay, but it didn’t have much flavor.

The crust was doughy in the center and the amount of cheese was overwhelming; it overshadowed the sparse spinach and tomatoes.

Overall, I simply wasn’t impressed.

Soda: 12” Spinach and Tomato Pizza: Mud Pie:

$1.75 $3.50 $6.00

Atmosphere: Festive and Cozy

Moriah Parrish/ The Minaret

Sally O’Neal’s, located in Tampa’s SoHo District amongst numerous trendy and upscale restaurants, has advertised gourmet pizza since 1985.

Moriah Parrish/ The Minaret

Despite eating on a relatively slow night, The Minaret’s Moriah Parrish found the service to be wanting. Despite the lack of other customers, she reported that the service was slow.

The table next to mine finished their meal immediately after I received mine.

The server handed them their check and, to my chagrin, placed mine on the table without asking if I wanted anything else.

I ate a few more slices and called the server over to my table.

I decided to find out whether a dessert

might be their saving grace.

I had noticed on the menu that they sold homemade brownies.

Because the menus were gone, I asked the server about their sweet selections.

I was offered a choice between chocolate cake or Mississippi mud pie.

In keeping with the theme of the night, I ordered the pie.

Variety:

Pizza, Calzone

Service:

Minimal and apathetic

Wine:

Red and White

and Pasta

My server brought a box, a new check and the chocolate dessert.

It was no homemade brownie, but the pie — a light mousse in between two layers of chocolate cake with a chocolate graham cracker crust — was delightful, nonetheless.

It did not, however, completely redeem the lack of customer service shown by the server.

When I asked the server to split the checks, she said it was too late.

I asked to speak to the manager.

The server, looking irritated, disappeared into an office a few feet away.

I heard low, angry voices and, thought the issue was resolved, the manager never appeared.

The server did, however, and I quickly signed the receipt and exited the dark dining room.

The lights had been shut off as I was finishing my mud pie.

I gave the sign outside a final glance, wondering how Sally O’Neal’s has managed to stay open since 1985.

Moriah Parrish can be reached at mparrish@spartans.ut.edu.

The Most Fashionable Trends of 2010 and Beyond

By MIRIAM WOLF

Arts + Entertainment Columnist

With 2010 quickly coming to an end, I figured it would be appropriate to recap some of the popular fashion trends of the past year.

While I’ll be alright with seeing certain looks disappear from the clothing racks there are some trends that I hope will stick with us through New Year.

Here are the best styles of 2010: 1. Fringe.

This look always reminded me of a mix between western and ‘70s styles.

While frst having ambivalent feelings about tassels at first, I have slowly become a fan.

Fringe was mostly worn casually on boots, bags and shirts, but eventually reached the red carpet when Christian Louboutin debuted his beige fringe booties.

2. Off-the-shoulder.

A trend that began to popularize in the spring has now evolved into the winter goto style.

Since the weather has gotten colder, the off-the-shoulder dress (or shirt) has

lengthened into a full one-sleeve.

3. Army green.

This color has been seen on a lot on garments and can go with almost every outfit.

Since it is a neutral shade, it goes with a lot of different pieces and can instantly make an outfit “military-chic.”

4. Exaggerated shoulders. Our mothers were probably surprised when they saw these on the shelves, but padded shoulders have been huge this year.

We have seen embellished, padded and pointed padded shoulders on coats, dresses and shirts this season.

5. Sequins. Sequins were typically worn minimally as a sort of embellishment on a garment.

This year, they have been covering dresses, pants and everything in-between.

Colors of sequins have include gold, black, silver, navy and multicolored.

6. Boyfriend blazer. Even if an outfit is the simple like jeans and a t-shirt can look really complete with this simple addition.

While black blazers are typical, more colors are appearing that can either dress an outfit up or down, depending on how it’s worn.

7. Stripes.

Out with the polka dots and in with the stripes.

Stripes can be paired with other patterns without making an outfit appear too busy.

Whether the stripes are thin or thick, they can be worn in any color with nearly any outfit.

8. Jean shirts.

Denim is in.

This year I have seen jean shirts everywhere and I love it.

This casual look can be dressed up by pairing it with a short skirt.

Whether worn layered, with the sleeves rolled or alone, this was a super cute, yet unexpected, trend.

9. Nude.

Shoes, jackets, purses, dresses, you name it, I love it in nude!

This neutral color has been a great alternative to white.

While I love the color, it must be worn with caution, because it has the tendency of washing other colors out.

10. Standout jewelry.

The name speaks for itself.

There is nothing like a bold piece of fashion jewelry to complete an outfit.

icelemontea9/photobucket.com

One shoulder dresses and shirts have emerged as a standout trend of 2010.

Standout jewelry pieces are cocktail rings or emerald earrings.

Regardless of what kind of accessory it is, it will be the perfect way to accessorize a plain outfit.

Miriam Wolf can be reached at miriam. wolf@spartans.ut.edu.

12 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

Commentary

‘Average’ Senior Bids Farewell to UT: Alyssa Major Says Goodbye

By ALYSSA MAJOR

Commentary Contributor

So, I am driving on my way to class and suddenly I remember: I graduate from college next Saturday.

Wow. I feel as if I have spent half my life in college, going to class, writing papers, taking exams, acting in plays and participating in social events.

I can hardly remember what life is like not being in school.

Knowing that I will soon be out of college, ejected into the real world in need of a real job is... scary.

As a freshman, a sophomore and, again, as a junior, I could not wait to graduate.

I thought I would feel ready and excited to start my career. But, in reality, I am kind of nervous.

What if I don’t get hired?

What if they think my writing is horrible?

What if I am never successful?

As all of these questions began to run through my brain.

I began to feel hesitant about graduating and entering “the real world.”

Then I thought, “How am I measuring my success? Is my success going to be based on how ‘successful’ I was at UT?” I am an average student at the University of Tampa.

Although I have participated in a few clubs and organizations, I have not had any major effect on campus.

I didn’t do any important research, protest any significant cause and I doubt anyone will remember me.

I just went to class and did my work.

I was shadow of sorts on campus. Never shining, but always present.

Many times we look at the students who held major leadership positions as being more successful than others and we can practically picture their future outside of UT: the next president, future editor-inchief of the New York Times, owner of a multi-billion dollar company...

Surely, since they were president of student government or editor in chief of The Minaret they will do great things outside of UT. But what about the rest of us? All of the “average” students. Where do we fit in? Were we not successful? Did we not do something great?

I may not have starred in a musical or kicked the winning field goal at the soccer game, but I graduated college with over a 3.0 GPA. I did what some can never do and what many said I couldn’t.

I measure my success by doing the best I can and according to the standards of the people who supported me along the way.

Our success in life can be measured from what we do after we graduate, not necessarily how great we were in college.

I say this not to bash or discredit any of our fantastic student leaders on campus, but to provide encouragement for all the students who were just “average.”

Rate your success, as I did, on what you did outside of school that was successful and prepared you to be able to achieve you will do in the near future.

As I quietly analyzed all of these details in my head I began to feel a since of peace and confidence.

The major mark I have made as not been at UT, but upon myself, my family and friends.

I have the support of a crazy group

Alyssa Major/facebook.com

Graduation is often a turning point in one’s life, and should be done with no regrets.

of friends, a wonderful family, a loving husband and most of all a cheerleaderlike mom. I had the kind of mother that supported every dream I had and every decision I made.

When I changed my major from theatre to communication, she was behind me.

When I wanted to join a new club, she was behind me.

When I wanted to study abroad, she was behind me every step of the way.

As a teacher, she instilled in me the importance of education and stressed going to college like it was going out of style.

As the youngest of three kids, I am the only one to go to college and graduate.

If I do nothing else, that alone makes me feel like a success.

I was ambitious with big dreams and detailed plans, but she followed me all the way carrying her purse (I needed the money).

As the summer began to wind down and my final semester began to start, all we

did was make arrangements and bask in the achievement that lay just down the road.

But a few weeks before the semester started, my mother and three year-old niece were tragically killed in a car accident.

She would never see me graduate.

Never see me walk the stage.

Never cheer my name the audience.

Never embarrass me in front of all my friends with kisses and hugs.

I would never hear her say “Alyssa, I am so proud of you.”

So, as I wrap up my last few assignments, turn in my final projects and prepare for graduation, I not only said goodbye to UT, but good-bye to my mom.

I have no regrets for my time spent here at UT and see every mistake as an experience that forced me to grow.

I will not measure my successes on how many items I have on my curriculum vitea or how many votes I didn’t get because I didn’t run for anything.

I will measure my success in the eyes of the one person who meant the most and knew my potential best: my mom.

My only regret is that my best friend and mother will not be here to share in my big day.

I wish she could be here to see me in my cap and gown, to take pictures of me standing in line, to celebrate with me after.

All I can do is wish.

I wish, I wish, I wish... I could have just one more “tomorrow” with my mom.

On Saturday, Dec. 18, when my name is called and I walk across the stage, I won’t think of how scary life might be after or if I ever get a job; I am already a success.

All I will say is, “I did it, mom!”

Alyssa Major can be reached at amhoward@spartans.ut.edu.

Staying Alive: Death Row Inmate Survives 18 Execution Attempts

By RICHARD SOLOMON

Columnist

Athough he never plead guilty and DNA testing was circumstantial, not definitive, Romell Broom was convicted back in the ‘80s for raping and then killing a 14-yearold girl.

The unique thing about Broom, though, is that he survived this execution attempt, becoming the only person in modern times to do so.

Broom said he didn’t do it, but, to be fair, those are the first words out of my mouth every time my parents call me.

My parents have yet threatened to give me a nice dosing of lethal injection, although, if they did, I’d probably be better behaved.

A tech team spent two hours trying to get an IV connection going.

Reportedly, Broom was stuck with a needle 18 times.

Eighteen times.

Just think about that.

You’re all ready for death and some schmuck can’t find your vein and in place of that death you’ve been obsessing over since the date was made, you get stabbed eighteen times in the bone and muscle.

Did everyone on this death squad get their degree online?

It turns out that stabbing someone with a deadly poison will either kill them or cause

them intense pain. Broom had something lethal poured into him for two hours.

He cried and screamed, but they just kept trying, because, hey, 17 is a fluke, but lucky number 18 will do it.

Now, just because he survived an execution attempt doesn’t mean he isn’t guilty.

But do you know what it’s called when instead of killing someone you cause them severe pain, when you ignore their pleas to stop and leave them alive afterwards?

It’s called “torture.” In case you didn’t know, torture has been out of style since 2007, when Guantanamo Bay got Wi-Fi. Some people might argue that Broom deserved it for the crime he’s been convicted of, but torture is illegal, regardless of whether he raped and killed someone.

It’s not like the staff meant to miss his vein for two hours, right?

They probably meant to kill him right away, but incompetence intervened.

Legally, that still doesn’t make it okay.

You might not mean to crash into a car, but you still have to pay for damages.

A restaurant may not mean to serve you a cockroach in your soup, but you can still sue.

The governor of Ohio called for a “timeout” from stabbing Broom, so everyone packed up their execution kits and gave the guy ten more days to think about dying painfully.

Broom’s lawyer is now suing the state over that torture thingy.

He’s arguing that, because of the mental and physical distress Broom suffered from the ordeal, his sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment. According to codes.

taragj420/photobucket.com

An executioner stabbed Broom in the arm 18 times with a needle for two hours attempting to execute him. Broom’s lawyer now pushes for justice.

ohio.gov, Ohio legislature defines the death sentence as a “lethal injection of a drug or combination of drugs of sufficient dosage to quickly and painlessly cause death.

The application of drugs … shall be continued until the person is dead.”

Was the law broken? The “application of drugs” was by no means “quick” or “painless.” Though, I have to say, the execution staff (what a cool title) definitely read the part about repeated dosage.

Should the ordeal he suffered change Broom’s circumstances?

In my opinion, no.

He is no less guilty than he was before.

Execution is not defined as a “lethal

injection,” but as “death from lethal injection.” The guy still needs to pay for his crime and nothing should change.

But that doesn’t make what happened to him okay.

I’m sure some folks will be all “eyefor-an-eye” about it, but keep in mind that child molesters are on the bottom rung in prison and he was sentenced to death.

So that raping and murdering he was convicted of?

He pretty much was guaranteed plenty of the first in prison and then a nice dose of the second as his punishment — or 18.

Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu.

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

COMMENTARY

Editorial: Chapel Opening Leaves Many Puzzled On Student Involvement Two years in production and millions of dollars later, the University of Tampa is set to open the doors of the longawaited Sykes Chapel.

On Friday, UT will unveil its firstever chapel to the community, but what will that mean to students?

Overall, the opening of the chapel has been a very closed production.

It’s still not clear why the chapel was ever approved for construction, except that it would provide many students with a place to worship and meditate.

My question: Why is it named “Sykes Chapel: Center for Faith and Values” and not just “Sykes Center for Faith and Values”?

The possibility of mixed or wrong impressions exists with the inclusion of “chapel,” a word related directly to Christianity. UT, after all, is a nonsecular school.

When the plans for the chapel were first announced, many said it was a “gift” from John Sykes that we’d be foolish or rude to not accept.

But should the sheer offering of a gift be the reason to accept it, especially given its lack of relation toward students on campus, especially in respect to the need for new academic buildings and residence halls?

According to UT officials, there will be no religious services in the chapel.

At least for now, there will also be no wedding ceremonies performed.

Sometimes, I feel the sheer essence of such a building is simply to appease a major donor and subsequently draw in more money.

The opening of the chapel will be at 2 p.m. Friday. Tours will be available to the public.

Event programming will be handled by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement. How do you feel about the chapel? Do you think this is a good or bad investment?

The Editorial Board can be reached at editor@theminaretonline.com or you may submit a Letter to the Editor form online at www.theminaretonline.com

ear

Eric

One Too Many: This Relationship’s For Two Dear Eric, Since the beginning of this year I’ve been dating a guy who has just gotten out of a long-term relationship.

His ex-girlfriend is still “in the picture,” but he claims they are just friends.

He says he wants to “be there for her” like she was there for him over the years.

Should I pursue anything further when he is still his exes beck-and-call-boy?

Sincerely, Girlfriend #2 Dear Girlfriend #2, Before you make any big decisions about the relationship, make sure that you cover all your bases.

Since it sounds like you want a monogamous relationship, he should not be fooling around with other women.

His ex may be just his friend, they may have drifted apart as lovers and decided they were best suited as friends.

Let’s assume he’s not cheating, but keep an eye out for signs that might tell you otherwise.

If you notice the amount of sex you are having increases or decreases dramatically or if you notice awkwardness when she calls, he may be cheating.

Make sure you have enough evidence before you take action to leave the relationship.

If you are feeling too jealous over the

whole thing, think about why you may be jealous. Perhaps you feel that the time they spend together could be spent with you or that it’s unfair that she gets time with him at all.

These are normal thoughts to have.

Express them to your partner, keeping him informed on how you feel about this friendship.

When you talk to your partner, try to reach a healthy medium between the relationships.

You are the girlfriend; she is the friend.

The best way he can be there for his ex is to not always be there.

This will help her move on and allow you two to advance your relationship.

He doesn’t have to completely cut her out of the picture, but you should be his priority over her.

Of course if he is sleeping with her, then dump him.

Keep me updated!

Eric Have Questions? Send your sex, love and relationship questions to Eric Zorn at ezornUT@gmail.com. Make sure your subject box contains the word, “UTampa.”

Make sure that you are always practicing safe sex. For even more information about staying safer between the sheets visit the Planned Parenthood website of FAQ’s about safer sex.

13

Sykes Dedication On Dec. 10: Friend or Foe of Students?

By NICOLE ROBINSON Columnist

Some of us have been walking around this structure situated in the middle of campus for two years and now, finally it is opening it’s doors to the public this week.

Opinions are polarized as some students despise the idea while others have expressed great anticipation to pray or worship in the center but how exactly are students supposed to use this multimillion dollar facility?

Many questions have been floating around campus because of heavy cloak of mystery cast over the Sykes Chapel Center For Faith and Values.

Are there to be services and will all major religions truly be represented?

Will classes be held inside the facility?

Will student events get priority over outside parties like weddings and the like?

What will be the extent of student involvement?

Are students allowed to take solace in the Chapel for extended periods of time?

This could be a great opportunity for students of many faiths to equally express their enthusiasm to share their religions.

However, the hush hush handling of the project especially tight restrictions on things like attaining images for media before the opening is a bit off-putting for some.

Although it seems that students need to be “on the list” in order to enter the opening Chapel Center of Faith and Values, some faculty seem really interested in giving students voice in the project.

It has been said that different religious officials like Imams, Rabbis and others have been consulted with to make the Center truly diverse for students.

Some select students were even consulted during the process and had input in things they wanted to see in the Center which is great in terms of student involvement.

No matter what controversy or mystery surrounds the Center; it’s here and students should use this opportunity to proudly show the diversity of their faiths by coming out for the opening and celebrating together.

It will be wonderful indeed to be hand in hand with students who want to share religious and philosophical beliefs with others.

Any opportunity to spread unity is one worth coming out for.

[

education of religious coexistence can be learned.

The Center is said to offer education on meditation and similar activities although not everything offered is not all the way clear. We are lucky to have Muslim, Hindu, Christian and other students of many other faiths in considerable numbers on campus.

xlyphex/photobucket.com

Everyone should be part of a building that symbolizes unity within our community.

It is great that we will all have a common place to possibly share with each other peacefully and equally.

In a time brimming with so much religious turmoil, it’s a good thing that the University of Tampa is trying to be a place where we are encouraged to discuss and live in peace as a student body regardless of faith or culture.

While many questions are yet to be answered, perhaps it is best to be optimistic that the veil of mystery will be lifted on Friday December 10th at 2:00pm.

Feel free to go check it out and participate in a tour. The architecture involved truly is breathtaking and isn’t something you wouldn’t want to miss.

]

Even those who don’t categorize themselves in any religion or are atheist or agnostic should feel welcome to participate.

Even though the invitation was sent out three weeks ago and didn’t quite meet the weekly announcements this week, don’t forget to be involved in something that effects you and your campus.

It will be great celebrating with fellow students of different faiths and philosophies a place where hopefully

The Sykes Chapel Center for Faith and Values could be a friendly place to those who want to take advantage of what it has to offer.

What the future holds for the center will be intriguing indeed.

Nicole Robinson can be reached at nrobinson@spartans.ut.edu

14 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

COMMENTARY

Society Demands Couples Should Be Desensitized To Wandering Eyes

By HANNAH WEBSTER Love and Sex Columnist

“Are you serious right now? I am sitting right next to you!” I said, my shock quickly turning into outrage.

Only seconds earlier, I looked out the car window to see a prime example of state school party girls, the type that typically fill in the background on the TV show Campus Police. It could hardly be called spring, but the second the temperature went over 80 degrees, these lovely ladies shed their dorm-tattered sweatpants in exchange for bikinis.

Well, if you could call it a whole bikini.

These girls in particular sported fashions made of numerous strings and minimal cloth.

The waistline of their denim daisydukes were rolled down not once, but twice, while the length didn’t leave much of their “lady parts” to the imagination.

And their shirts — oh, wait, they weren’t wearing any.

At first, I thought I was mistaken. I mean, come on, ladies, this is a crowded (and mildly sketchy) downtown street. And you are naked.

But these thoughts were hastily interrupted by my realization that the car was slowing down.

I turned to see the driver — my boyfriend at the time — hunched over the wheel, trying to get a better look at his “surroundings,” even though they didn’t require much of a look. It was all on display.

That’s when my voice began to rise.

“Baby …,” he cooed, trying to kiss my mouth out of its angry state. But I scooted toward the window and started replaying numerous similar incidents in my head.

Oh, yes, “typical jealous girlfriend,”

that’s me. The girls that enamored him when we were together never looked like me. They were always taller, thinner or more exotic. I tried to remain indifferent.

I longed to be one of those girls who could be content with a “you can look, but you can’t touch” mentality. And for a while, I was.

But it wasn’t long before I was comparing myself to the girls he looked at the way he did. “She has better this, more of that, less of this,” and so on, I thought.

The confident woman that loved to strut around in her sweats, the girl he fell in love with, the one I used to be — she began to disappear.

As my lack of confidence came up more in our arguments, so did my tendency to blame him for making me that way, and we soon fell apart.

This cycle isn’t new. Whether we realize it or not, when we commit ourselves to someone, we give them a lot of power.

No one should want to make their significant other feel like crap. And if they do, there is a serious problem.

Guys are not the only ones guilty of doing it. Regardless of the “indestructible” front most men wear, a girlfriend’s comment can go a long way, whether she realizes it or not.

“It’s one of those issues where no matter how easygoing of a partner you are, it can really get annoying,” said freshman, Shane Messmer about these kinds of comparisons. But we all do it. We gossip and swoon over the buff boy downstairs and talk about movie stars with a bit too much excitement.

Admittedly, my own Facebook status a few days ago was “Jake Gyllenhaal can do whatever he wants to me.”

Everyone has that person, the forever unreachable, extremely desirable object of fantasy. But something changed in recent years that makes it seem like women should be okay with listening to their boyfriend talk about the real reason he wants to see Transformers. Or that men should sit next to their girlfriend as she

Hannah Webster/The Minaret

Society has become too adjusted to “wandering-eye-syndrome”, and has forgotten to condemn it. It has gone to such extremes that it is increasing insecurity and arguments between couples.

squeals about Taylor Lautner. I am fully aware that I don’t “smolder” the way that Kim Kardashian, Dianna Argon or Taylor Swift do. I know that my date can’t control his thoughts and, hell, given the chance, I would totally get it on with Megan Fox. But I don’t need to hear my boyfriend panting, let alone talking about the girl on the screen or the girl sitting in front of us when I spent an extra ten minutes doing my hair the way he likes it.

“I think that it is acceptable for a partner to glance; that is natural. But as far as looking, I don’t think there is any need in a healthy relationship,” said Christan Reich.

“In the age of reality TV and stereotypical relationships, society may say that wandering eyes are okay, but as far as I am concerned, they are not.”

Sure, there is something healthy about a relationship that has everything out in the

open and is accepting about these kinds of things. It just shouldn’t become so much of an issue that it effects the affection that two people have for each other.

“It’s okay to an extent,” said freshman Bryanna Payne. “But if he’s almost ‘motorboating’ some girl because he is looking so close....That’s uncalled for.”

Bryanna is talking about boundaries, which could very have something to do with “excessive wandering-eye syndrome.”

Use some control, ladies and gents.

Have a look around (and by that I mean a very quick glance) every now and then, but don’t let your significant other forget the reason why they hold that place in your life.

You don’t want “looking” to become the only thing you do.

Hannah Webster can be reached at hannahkarine31@gmail.com.

Watching Relationships Disintergrate Without Strong Foundations

By DOMINIQUE C. BARCHUS Love and Sex Columnist

“I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

“Okay, I forgive you, but don’t do it again.”

These types of conversations can be seen within any kind of relationship — between friends, personal relationships or in business.

But how far can an “I’m sorry” get you until it doesn’t hold its meaning anymore?

Why is it that couples seem to fight and hold grudges even after an apology is given?

People instill a great amount of trust in the person they are dating, in a relationship with or married to, and they expect that certain lines will not be crossed.

Unfortunately, once those lines are crossed and apologies and forgiveness are exchanged, that incident is still never forgotten.

Thus, as time goes on it becomes harder and harder to trust that person.

Just because someone forgives you for doing something, it doesn’t mean that they will keep forgiving you when you mess up and forget what has happened.

It is really important to watch the things you say and do when you’re in a relationship.

terez07/photobucket.com

Couples in relationships built on wavering foundations often find themselves on the way to seperate very quickly. You must cherish your partner’s trust; once it’s lost, it’s is hard to regain.

It’s easy to forget about the other person’s feelings and that’s where the biggest issue lies. Having someone’s trust is a privilege.

When someone trusts you and you abuse that trust, you can expect that they might not trust you in the future.

I’m not saying that the other person in this relationship is excused if he or she throws something in your face (so to speak) sometimes, but I am saying don’t be

surprised if the next time you mess up it’s hard for them to take some things you say at face value.

They may come to question the things that you do and it is up to you to really put in that extra effort to show that you have changed, or at least are trying to change.

Trust and honesty are probably the biggest components of a relationship, and they need to be taken seriously.

Once trust and honesty in a relationship

decrease, the relationship begins to deteriorate.

It is easy to notice when the important aspects of a relationship are lacking.

Arguments will occur more often and over almost anything.

Any stimulating conversation becomes harder as each party becomes less interested in speaking to the other. People begin wanting to keep themselves busy doing other things with other people.

After that, the matter of ending the relationship is eminent.

Questions arise as to the level of compassion and companionship in the relationship.

Don’t stay where you are not happy.

If the relationship you have with your significant other is going downhill and you feel like it isn’t going to get any better, it may be better to just end it.

Of course it will be hard, because your heart will ache for their comfort, but it is better to take the first step in the healing process and break-up than stay in an unhappy situation.

On the other hand, if both parties are really willing to step up and make an effort to give their relationship a 180-degree turn, then go for it.

Relationships are not always easy and sometimes they really need work, but it is important to make sure that the foundations of relationships (i.e., trust and honesty) are strong.

Dominique C. Barchus can be reached at dominique.barchus@spartans.ut.edu.

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

COMMENTARY

15

iProcrastination: Digital Distractions We Use to Avoid Studying

By JOHN JACOBS

Asst. Commentary Editor

With the semester quickly coming to an end and finals week approaching, it’s once again the time of year for everyone to start procrastinating.

If you tell yourself you’re going to begin studying at 7 p.m., at the very best you’ll probably start at 9.

Whether it’s reading, reviewing or researching something, there’s so many distractions that you just can’t help but give in, especially when a computer is involved.

You use it everyday for Facebook, iTunes, YouTube, Chatroullette (if you’re into that kind of thing) and Google. It gives you the ability to look up anything you could ever imagine. But now you have to use it for work.

You turn on the computer and figure, before you start studying you might as well get any distractions out of the way, which means checking your Facebook and email.

You log on to Facebook to see that an old friend from home liked one of your recent statuses.

You might as well return the favor by writing on their wall: “Yo! Can’t wait to rage with you over winter break. It’s been so long, bro!” (If you’re a girl, it will look more like, “OMG! Hey! I can’t wait to get home for break and see your face!!! P.S. You look gorgeous in your profile pic!!

Miss ya!! XOXO.”)

prgamergraphr/flickr.com

Procrastination is the opium of our generation. Now all the technological gadgets we have at our disposal make it easier to push our studies to the bottom of our priority lists.

Instead of logging off right then like you know you should, you decide to look at all the photos of the friend you haven’t seen in a while, so that the next thing you know you have viewed 545 of their 550 pictures.

You feel weird and uncomfortable for having gone through so many of this person’s pictures, like you’ve just done something wrong.

You promise yourself, “Okay, I’m just going to check my email, then get to studying.” You check your email and find nothing really important.

Except, of course, your reminder that Ultra Fest tickets are now on sale, which prompts you to click on the link to the website.

You tell yourself you’re only going to

check the line up, but once on the Ultra site, you realize you haven’t listened to any of the new albums from these DJs, so you head over to YouTube to listen to a few songs “real quick.”

Of course, this turns into a 45 minute personal rave in your room. It’s now been a solid hour of not studying, but before you leave YouTube, you notice one of the videos on the sidebar called “funny cats” that you can’t help but watch it.

After that, you finally end up studying for about an hour. Even though the ratio of not studying to studying time in that scenario is only 1:1, it still goes down as a successful study session in your opinion.

If your studying doesn’t involve a computer, your distractions have to be more creative.

If you tell yourself you’re going to start reviewing at 4 p.m., when that time comes, you’ll realize it’s still sunny outside and something about sitting indoors reading while the sun is still out bothers you, so you move your start time to 6 p.m.

Eventually six comes around, but at this point you realize you’re pretty hungry, and you know you can’t focus when you’re hungry, so you make a quick run to McDonald’s.

Half an hour later, as you’re getting ready to sit down and start studying, you notice you haven’t done laundry in the last three weeks (or months depending on how cool you are) and you can’t be studying with all these dirty clothes everywhere, so you get everything together and start a load.

Since you’re already doing laundry, you figure you might as well clean your whole room, so you spend the next hour making your room look perfect.

After you’re exhausted from all the cleaning and preparation you’ve been doing, you give up on the idea of studying at all for now.

You know it will be easy to study later, since your room will be perfectly clean and you won’t have any dirty clothes lying around. Plus, you’re not even taking the exam for another few hours anyway, so why rush and do all the studying now?

There were a few more procrastination scenarios I was going to talk about, and a pretty solid conclusion to the story I was going to put in, but I never got around to doing it.

Have a good break everyone!

John Jacobs can be reached at jjacobs@ spartans.ut.edu.

The Romantic Beauty of Hillsborough River Must Be Conserved

By NARISA IMPRASERT Columnist

If you stare deep enough into the Hillsborough River at night, he reflection of downtown Tampa’s city lights will play tricks on your mind: it feels like you are falling down.

The buildings are at an angle, the lights dance with each gust of wind propelling the waves and the night’s coy mistress blows you a passionate kiss.

She’ll tempt you to enter the abyss as you sway your feet over the crookedly cracked seawall, like a siren daring you to let yourself fall in an attempt to physically obtain the beauty of the night.

Your breath will catch as you hold tighter onto the ledge, doubting the whiteness of your ten knuckles to hold your weight.

You start to subconsciously lean in and stare further into the depths of the river.

The discoloration of the water is mysterious.

At times it seems brown or almost black, but I have finally settled on calling it green: a color representing youth and beauty.

This river is eternal and regardless of the seemingly continuous flow of trash and its unique odor that has yet to be named, I still manage to see the beauty in the green.

There is no other place like the Hillsborough River. It’s the perfect escape.

Looking at the river, I feel safe and at ease.

Regardless of where I stand beside the river, I always feel at home.

Sitting on the river’s ledge triggers childhood nostalgia of times when I would sit on my seawall at home in Charlotte County and throw broken branches and

skip weathered rocks into the canal.

I smile at the thought of making mud pies out of weeds and tainted river-mud.

Pieces of mangrove would be my spoons and I’d fish out broken shells and clams for extra decoration.

Beside you, I’ll continue to dangle my shoeless feet over the edge with toes daring to poke the surface.

Each time I break the surface I’m be reminded of home. I flash back to times of making mud pies beside the Charlotte Harbor. It’s like time travel.

I take comfort in the fact that no matter how far I walk, if I can still manage to stay beside the river, I am reminded of home.

It is my northern light. It is the moon that refuses to abandon me as I get lost in the sometimes heartless city of Tampa.

But every man’s ideal may be another’s dystopia. I often joke about how only fools play in such a contaminated flow of water, joerosh1675/flickr.com that the water is radioactive, that it’s a The scenic and astounding beauty of the Hillsborough River has been a source of peace for many place where pink dolphins gather to play students. Hopefully, we will manage to preserve this place for those who come after us. with three-headed fish.

The soul of this river arises from the to the museum as the oblivious locals zip and weathered banks of rock and sandbar Green Swamp; the name itself speaks to by in speed boats filled with half-naked add character to the scene. the pH level of this hazardous body of women nestling twelve ounce cans of Bud I calmly sit beside these modern day water. Its 54 mile extension from Pasco to Light. hippies and mimic their ultimate state of Hillsborough counties provides me with a With Tampa-local pride, I sit beside the relaxation. level of familiarity. “tokers” of UT and watch this notorious Each time I venture over to Plant Park, I often try to walk this hazardous river come to life.

I see a new aspect of the glorious river. For stretch, but always seem to stop when the As they giggle away about how “Batman me, this river represents the beauty in what smell gets unbearable. totally lives in the house above the Regions is seemingly hopeless.

It’s like a unique combination of red Bank,” I simply nod in agreement.

Now if only people would stop using it tide, salt and body odor.

They are completely relaxed. The idea as their trash can.

The plastic bags intertwined with dead of getting caught is not an issue.

It seems like the water gets darker each fish and styrofoam cups doesn’t help the They stare out into the river and time I visit and the romantic qualities are experience. rhapsodize about random topics as they slowly withering away.

But the man standing on the surf board relish in the 100 percent cotton softness of Regardless of its inhospitable reputation, with a single paddle, the random jet skiers their sweaters. this tainted river of green is the foundation and the crew teams paddling at sunrise This is a place where anything goes. of my utopia, my designated “safe zone.” lighten my heart.

The seemingly endless flow of water Let’s hope it’s still here in the future for The traffic on this river is calm, yet encourages peace between people and our grandchildren to enjoy. choppy. nature.

Narisa Impraset can be reached at The pontoon ferries escort eager tourists Its soothing waves, vivid reflections nimprasert@spartans.ut.edu

16 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

COMMENTARY

Freedom Exists Best Within Some Sort of Boundaries; Not Alone

By CAMILLA CHEBET

Columnist

“Tradition” is defined as a belief, custom or practice that is passed on from one generation to the next.

Tradition prescribes certain rules for living.

The simplest of these concern interactions between mother and child.

A mother teaches a child to say “please” and “thank you,” for example. Tradition becomes more complex as it is incorporated into laws and religion.

Where there are rules, there is a need for a certain amount of freedom.

The amount, however, is debatable.

Some say “rules are meant to be broken,” while others maintain that rules are meant to keep order.

No matter where you stand, it is safe to say that rules have their importance in society, meaning that freedom does too.

Social change is necessary for innovation to occur and for a society to grow.

The problem that is emerging, however, is that the importance of tradition in society is downplayed.

It is as if we are reverting to archaic times, moving to an extreme: the extreme where freedom rules.

Tradition is now being affiliated with negative connotations. It has become oldfashioned to follow rules and in some cases even to have them.

With today’s generation, it is all about absolute freedom; freedom to do whatever

you want whenever you want, without caring about who it affects or what the consequences are.

We have taken liberalism and freedom to a whole new level.

This over-indulgence is seeping into our legal, moral and educations systems, our places of work and our homes.

Laws are being interpreted frivolously, depending on the judges’ moral views.

It has become difficult to distinguish between right and wrong.

It doesn’t matter what you do outside the rules, as long as your actions can be justified.

Moral standards are based on how much worse a particular situation could have been.

It is okay for students to disrespect their elders, for example, because it could have been worse. At least they are not killing them, right?

Are we accepting this level of absurdity in our society just to able to say that we are free? Is it really “freedom” anymore or just a lack of rules?

Freedom is just as important as having rules. Freedom provides the “wriggle room” that allows for a different, better way of doing something.

Business folks like to call this idea “efficiency.” It allows for innovations in all areas, allowing a society to grow and advance.

In technology, when Mark Zuckerberg took a different route, inventing Facebook, he steered away from conventional methods of doing things.

I am sure he broke a few technology or software development rules.

It was because of the freedom he had that his and other businesses, organizations

E01/flickr.com

Eagles have traditionally been the birds most associate with freedom, but even they understand the limits of their freedom.

and individuals have benefited. We all enjoy Facebook.

A lack of freedom can be just as bad as a lack of rules. The two work hand in hand, so why would we let go of rules to let freedom run wild without a purpose?

An acquaintance of mine summed it up best, stating that what one generation allows in moderation, the next generation will take to the extreme.

This is exactly what is happening today.

In our parents’ generation, being half-naked on TV was extreme.

Now, being naked is acceptable as long as you don’t show one or two intimate body parts. It is not difficult to figure out to what

level the next generation will take this.

It may seem like the best remedy would be to go back to a time when rules were strict and freedom was a dream. However, once society develops, older solutions can no longer work as well.

The best thing we can do is to hold on to some tradition — the basic ones that are acceptable and uniform despite geographical location, gender, age or race.

By maintaining a benchmark of what is acceptable, we can deal with new problems in light of social change while maintaining order and still being able to grow.

Camilla Chebet can be reached at cchebet@spartans.ut.edu.

Society’s Obsession With Possession Has Turned Into a Nightmare

By PHILIPPA HATENDI Commentary Editor

I have never understood the reason why the human race has a neurotic need to possess, and be possessed.

Perhaps we have always been like this, so desperate to possess, so desperate to belong.

I personally have felt that a need to possess or to belong, but it seems that that need has been elevated to unnatural extremes in modern day society.

People are still fighting over land, the way that the Greeks, Romans, the Persians, Arabs, Egyptians, and Aztecs did in the times before us.

We still have this compelling need to hold command over large areas of land, and the reasoning behind it has little to do with sustaining our population, religion and our culture.

It has more to do with power, with having resources and things that can give one leverage over others, that can give one control.

It’s got to with all the things that breed and manifest selfishness in the minds of men.

We devour resources at astonishing rates, and waste plenty, kill heartlessly, and care less and less for those who suffer for our greed.

We are motivated to practice philanthropy when benefits us in some way, not out of love of giving simply to give.

Our relationship with wealth is the same way. Everyone you know wants to be

lillou merlin/flickr.com

The desire to own things has possessed us. Whether it be wealth, beauty, resources, love, we are all destroying ourselves by trying to have the whole world belong to only.

a billionaire. Wants to possess money and a lifestyle that they believe they are entitled to. Perhaps they do, perhaps they do not.

That is not the issue. What is the issue is that we often want to have more than we actually need to survive, and resent or refuse to understand the innate selfishness within that.

The destructive need to possess. We refuse to recognize the destructive nature of our dreams, and how this nature has turned them into nightmares for others around us.

We even are consumed with the need to possess things that we shouldn’t worry about holding onto so desperately, like the love, approval and envy of the people around us. I have often heard people speak of the “haterz” concept, and to this day it bugs me to no end.

Our need to possess the approval of

others has gone to the point that we even have translated their disdain for us into a form of approval and a source of personal pride. What a senseless thing to covet! Why would you covet hatred as proof of people’s admiration for you? Whatever happened to encouraging love within the relationships that we have, and paying no mind to those who seek to spread negativity?

Instead, we have put those who despise us on a pedestal (one that seems to be above those that love us) because our need to possess the supposed power and motivation that comes from their hatred is so important to us.

Our love lives are saturated with the need to control and possess someone else’s love completely. So consumed are we with this need that we attempt to even control the relationships that person has with other people, and the love that they give out

into the world. We separate them from the friends they have that we don’t like, the hobbies, opinions, and places where we feel that our possession of their love would lessen. I’m sure if we could walk around with our lovers blindfolded, handcuffed, mute, and deaf we would to keep them from finding someone else to give their love to.

Our fear of this loss of possession fuels illogical feelings of inadequacy, rage, and despair within us. Perhaps I am painting society in its extreme, but perhaps society today is at its extreme.

Society is reaching a perilous point, where our need to possess all that is around us will eventually destroy us.

We need to let go.

Let go of this materialistic need that has grown so fiercely within us. We need to learn to be content, to not cloy, and fight, and scratch and kill in order to possess.

It is a beautiful feeling to have when you believe that something belongs to you, but even a butterfly clutched in too tight of a grip will be crushed.

I am not saying we should rid ourselves of our desire to have something belong to us, and to belong to something because it is a vital, natural, part of our identity as a species. Just don’t destroy yourself and everything around you in the process. Let go of all the negative things associated with that desire like the desperation, insecurity, fear, and the selfishness that is part of possessing as brutally as we do.

We have become a waking nightmare suffering from a communal madness. We shall never be at peace so long as grip our lives so desperately. Give, so you do not hold so tightly onto your “possessions”.

Find peace with yourself, so we can all be at peace.

Philippa Hatendi can be reached at phatendi@spartans.ut.edu.

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

Sports

17

It’s Always Sunny in the Sunshine State Conference Breaking Down the Top SSC Basketball Squads

Samantha Battersby/The Minaret

At 9-0, the Spartans are having the best start to their season since 2000-2001. Ashton Graham is tied for second on the team with 4.2 rebounds per game, and has started in all nine contests.

By MILES PARKS Sports Writer

The way University of Tampa Coach Richard Schmidt sees it, there are four men’s basketball squads that have a shot at winning the Sunshine State Conference; Florida Southern, Saint Leo, Rollins, and Eckerd. But in the midst of a 9-0 start, UT is looking more and more like a part of that conversation.

In the spirit of the holidays and the beginning of Conference play, here’s a gift of a little scouting report for Schmidt’s top four predictions.

Florida Southern College Florida Southern comes into the year with high expectations after sharing the conference title with Rollins last year.

They look to win the championship outright this year, and have a great chance to do so, due to their experienced line up filled with sharp shooters.

The Mocs return four of their five co-champion starters from last season, including Rion Rayfield. Rayfield is an All-SSC guard from Wisconsin, who can flat out shoot the ball.

He holds the school’s career record for three pointers, and is in Florida Southern’s top 10 in points, assists, and free throw percentage.

He’s joined by Brandon and Terry Jenkins, brothers who were first 1st and 3rd in the SSC in three point percentage last season.

When you play Florida Southern, you better have guards who play defense.

Saint Leo University Voted last in the SSC Pre-season poll this year, Saint Leo looks to exceed the very low expectations.

Schmidt thinks they can do just that, and that they’ve already proven that they can run with the more hyped teams.

“Saint Leo,” Schmidt said. “Has already gone out and beaten some teams that have beaten Florida Southern.”

The lions have size, and in basketball, sometimes a lack of skill or prowess can be overshadowed by a brute physical difference.

Armed with four players bigger than six foot seven, they look to dominate the low post.

Newcomer Spencer Mitchell is the biggest (literally and figuratively) addition to a team that has an excellent young core.

If you’re looking to beat Saint Leo, bring your stilts.

Eckerd College Eckerd Coach, Tom Ryan, and Coach Schmidt are good friends. But Schmidt remembers a time, when Ryan was the one being coached.

“He’s been in [the conference] for a while,” Coach Schmidt said. “I was coaching against them when he was a player. He’s a good guy.”

Ryan is also a good coach. As usual, Eckerd is in the hunt for an NCAA Division II tournament bid.

Ranked 4th in the SSC preseason poll, the Tritons are one of three teams from the SSC garnering votes in the most recent top 25 Division II Rankings.

If they have nothing else, Eckerd has experience. The team boasts a roster with five seniors, including guard John Harper.

Harper leads the team in most statistical categories, including minutes, three point percentage, and points.

He wasn’t a starter his first two years due to injuries and inconsistencies, but he’s making up for it as an upperclassman.

Last year, he led the team with 70 three pointers, and scored over 20 points in three games.

Eckerd has a complete team, without selfishness. No one averages more than 15 points a game, yet they continue to win. If you look to beat the Tritons, it must be with size and a well executed game plan.

Rollins College Preseason number one in the SSC, ranked 13th in Division II basketball, Rollins is the team to beat this year.

Similar to Florida Southern, the Tars return four of five starters this season, including senior guard Nick Wolf.

Last season, Wolf recorded one of the most complete seasons in Rollins’ history.

He recorded 17.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game. At six foot six, Wolf has a size advantage over most guards in the Conference, and a speed advantage over most forwards. He is a two time All-SSC player, and was the SSC player of the year for the 08-09 campaign.

It would be easier for opponents if Wolf was Rollins’ only weapon, but he is joined

by All-SSC second team player, Myk Brown who averaged almost 16 points a game last year.

Rollins is the best team in the Conference. Their combination of speed and size (only one player under 6 foot 2) is lethal.

They tire out defenses by having stars and role players to compliment each other.

If you look to beat the Tars, you must play a complete game of basketball.

Although the SSC is tough, UT can’t get caught up in the talent of their opponents. Coach Schmidt says winning the conference is about consistency, preparation and maybe a little luck.

“I only take them one game at a time,” Schmidt said. “You’ve gotta win each one, one at a time and hope for the best.”

Miles Parks can be reached at mparks@ spartans.ut.edu.

Women’s Basketball Picks up Conference Win at Barry Florida Southern Tournament in Lakeland up Next for the Spartans

By MAYA TODD Sports Writer

The University of Tampa women’s basketball team got the revenge they strived for last week on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

The squad faced Valdosta State University again in UT’s second home game of the season.

Valdosta State defeated Tampa On Nov. 20 by a one-point margin after a rough 40 minutes. Afterwards, the Spartans were certainly seeking vengeance.

For the first half of the game, UT portrayed impressive offense. In particular, freshman Lindsey Watson set a new school record for most points in a half with 24.

Even after Tampa shot 75 percent in both three pointers and free throws, VSU managed to go on a 6-0 run at the end of the half to take a six point lead. The scoreboard read 40-34 with Valdosta on top at the half.

The Spartans exited the locker room with one thing on their minds – a win.

Holding Valdosta State to only 23 points in the second half, UT was able to tally another 33 points of their own.

While the women only shot 32 percent from the field, they made up for it in free

throws, getting to the line 18 times and hitting 15 of those attempts.

Watson left the game with yet another record. She scored a total of 34 points, securing the spot for second highest single game scoring record in UT history.

Additionally, freshman Greta Bartkute registered a team-high seven rebounds.

More team-highs were recorded as both Catriana Messina and Gianna Messina gathered a total of five steals during the game, contributing to the strong defensive effort.

[

Lindsay Watson leads the team with 114 points and 22 assists.

]

Three days later, the team traveled to Miami Shores to face Barry University in Tampa’s first Sunshine State Conference matchup of the season.

Looking to make a strong statement to the other SSC members, Tampa took their positions on the court.

During the first half, the Spartans showed their power as they went on both a 12-0 run and an 11-0 run at different times.

Barry did not give up, though, as it fought

back to cut Tampa’s lead to only four. The score was 30-26 at the halftime buzzer.

UT came out in the second half clearly showing dominance over their opponent as they shot 75 percent from field goal range as well as 75 percent from the charity stripe. The Spartans scored a total of 41 more points while holding Barry to only 31.

The final score of the game was 7157, and the Spartans collected their first conference win of the young season.

Gianna Messina had her first doubledouble of the year, recording 21 points and 11 rebounds. Also supplying aid to the offense was Taja Green, who registered 20 points while Watson added 16 points of her own. Catriana Messina led the team with six assists.

Tampa’s women’s basketball team will be sacrificing most of its winter break as it is scheduled to play eight games during that time, half of them being crucial SSC battles. UT’s next endeavor will be Dec. 18 and 19 at the Florida Southern Tournament in Lakeland, where it will be facing Saint Augustine’s College as well as the University of Indianapolis.

Samantha Battersby/The Minaret Maya Todd can be reached at mtodd@ Center Jaleesa Harmon going for the layup. She spartans.ut.edu. is averging 7.3 points per game this year.

18 DECEMBER 10 2010 | THE MINARET

SPORTS

Sports Staffers Pick The Best Team in the NFL

By TIM SHANAHAN Sports Writer

The team tied for the finest record in the NFL is arguably the least noticed.

The Atlanta Falcons are eager for a shot at a Championship and are proving it in between the lines.

The entire Atlanta Falcons’ team is meshing together to produce success on the field. They’ve won their last six contests.

Prior to the past week’s game against the Buccaneers, the Falcons had not turned the ball over in four weeks.

Atlanta’s resumé is on the stronger side.

They have beaten the playoff contending Steelers and Packers. The Falcons have also beaten the 7-5 Buccaneers twice.

Quarterback: Matt Ryan has a passer rating of 91.8 for the season. He has discovered ways to win games. Matt Ryan is an established winner at the Falcons’ home stadium, posting a career record of 19-1 there. If the Falcons can achieve home field advantage, all odds point in favor of them reaching their first Super Bowl since the 1998 season.

Running Game: Michael Turner, built like an army tank with tree trunks for legs, is already over 1,000 yards for the season to go along with eight touchdowns.

Backup Jason Snelling has found ways to produce coming off the bench. He has carried the ball 74 times for 300 yards.

Receivers: Roddy White’s quickness and agility have left cornerbacks baffled all year. He is bringing in career numbers with 91 receptions, best in the NFL, for

1,140 yards, second in the NFL, through twelve games, along with seven TDs. Tony Gonzalez has attributed his share to the offense with over 500 yards receiving.

He is also a valuable veteran presence on the team.

Defense: Atlanta’s defense consists of a mix of average players and veteran pro bowlers. Mike Peterson and John Abraham (leads team with nine sacks) help anchor the defensive squad. They rank eighth in the league in stopping the run.

Coaching: Mike Smith served as defensive assistant coach under Brian Billick’s Ravens when they won the Super Bowl in 2000. He won coach of the year in his first season as Falcons head coach in 2008 going 11-5.

Formula for Success: The team is second in the league in turnover differential with at 10 over, trailing only the Eagles in that category. The Falcons rank fifth in the league with 32:01 average time of possession in a game. The last part of the recipe reflects third down offensive efficiency, in which they rank first in achieving first downs at a 48 percent rate.

Looking Ahead: It is realistic to imagine the Falcons will win out. Thus, they would achieve the desperate home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Come January, if Matt Ryan is delivering seeds into the chest of Roddy White for touchdowns, consider the Falcons a lock for the 1.1 billion dollar stadium in Arlington.

Tim Shanahan can be reached at tshanahan@spartans.ut.edu.

TAKE YOUR SHOT Week 14: When the Dust Settles...

Standings

John [32-23] Mike P. [31-24] Kyle [30-25] Mike M. [29-26] Miles [28-27] Daniel [27-28]

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@ Jaguars Daniel Kyle Mike P. Miles John

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Daniel Mike M. Mike P. Miles John

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Daniel Kyle Mike M. Mike P. John

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Patriots

Jets

Kyle Mike M. Mike P. Miles John

Talk of the Town Professional Sporting Events in the Region

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Daniel

Kyle Mike M. Mike P. Miles John

@ The Buccaneers, 7-5, are traveling to Washington at possibly the best time in season, as the Redskins are in complete disarray. Kick-off is set for Sunday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.

By JOE BEAUDOIN Sports Writer

After Monday night’s victory over the Jets, there is no doubt that the New England Patriots are the best team in the NFL. Led by Tom Brady, the Patriots are 10-2, and if they do not collapse in the remaining month, they will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Tom “Terrific” is having another great season. He has only thrown four interceptions and has 27 touchdowns.

He has also thrown for 3,029 yards through 12 games. Brady is the only QB in the league to have had a perfect passer rating in a game this season.

He could have done it for a second time if he had one more yard per completion Monday night against the Jets. Surprisingly, he is putting up these numbers without a standout receiver, a more impressive feat than his record 2007 season. Brady has led a very young team to the best record in the NFL. If he continues pace, Brady should also win the MVP with ease.

Danny Woodhead is turning into a key player for this team and the addition of Deion Branch seems to be the catalyst that separated the Patriots from the rest of the league.

Wes Welker is not putting up numbers that he is accustomed to, but, since opposing teams must focus on him, it allows Woodhead and Branch to have monster games. Interestingly, none of these players are taller than 5-foot-9-inches.

The best team often has the best coach and the Patriots do with Bill Belichick.

Belichick has led the Patriots to four Super Bowls, winning three, and also has one of the best defensive minds in the game.

His defense has forced seven interceptions in the last three games.

Fronted by Jerrod Mayo, who leads the league in tackles and rookie Devin McCourty, who is second in the league in interceptions, New England’s youthful defense has given opposing offenses little chance to win games.

Another reason why the Patriots are so dominant is due to their offensive line. Led

by Matt Light, the line has only allowed 18 sacks and 38 quarterback hits this season, giving Brady all the time in the world to throw.

With the sixth toughest schedule in the NFL, New England is battle-tested. They now have wins against elite teams such as the Jets, Colts, Steelers, Chargers and Ravens. They also have the second best point differential in the league of plus 110.

With two games at home and road trips to Buffalo and Chicago remaining, Tom Brady may be unstoppable. Consider that he is 31-4 in games below 40 degrees and 11-0 when it snows.

Brady has also won 26 consecutive home games.

This Patriots team will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season and into the postseason.

Joe Beaudoin can be reached at jbeaudoin@spartans.ut.edu.

This Time, the BCS Actually Got it Right

By KYLE BENNETT Asst. Sports Editor

The NCAA and Bowl Championship Series has tied down its 35 bowl games.

Most of the bowl games are terrible, i.e. the “Kraft Fight for Hunger Bowl,” so here is a look at the five BCS bowl games.

Rose Bowl: Jan. 1, No. 3 TCU vs.

No. 5 Wisconsin The Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University fell short of their title dreams after posting the third best undefeated record in college football. TCU finished its season routing the talents of the 1-11 New Mexico Lobos. They will square off against the Badgers of Wisconsin whose only shortcoming came by way of the loss to the Michigan State Spartans.

TCU has the nation’s best defense, but they have not faced a rushing attack as stacked as the three-headed monster of Clay, White and Ball, who have accounted for over 2700 yards and 44 touchdowns.

Look for Wisconsin to pound the ball and wear out the overrated Horned Frog front.

Fiesta Bowl: Jan. 1, No. 7 Oklahoma vs. Connecticut Sometimes it’s a shame that the Big East receives an automatic bid to a BCS Bowl Game. They do not stand a chance against OU. Orange Bowl: Jan. 3, No. 4 Stanford vs.

No. 13 Virginia Tech This may very well be the most competitive matchup of all the bowl games.

@ The Orlando Magic are returning to full health after dressing only eight players against the Bucks last weekend. They’ll take on the Utah Jazz this Saturday, Dec. 10. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m.

After stumbling out of the gates and falling to Boise State and FCS’s James Madison in consecutive weeks, the Hokies went on a tear, winning 11 straight and salvaging their season.

They face off against Heisman Trophy finalist Andrew Luck, whose only blemish was a loss to No. 2 Oregon. When the final whistle blows, Luck’s potent offensive attack will be too much for the Hokies and they will win by a slim margin.

Sugar Bowl: Jan. 4, No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Arkansas A very intriguing matchup with a look at two great quarterbacks, as Arkansas’ Ryan Mallet will take on Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor. History will once again repeat itself, however, and the Buckeyes will fall to an SEC school for the 10th consecutive time in bowl games.

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game: Jan. 10, No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 1 Auburn This game really won’t be as close as many experts are predicting. It will be an exciting matchup with tons of fireworks, no doubt, but Heisman finalist Cam Newton will take the game over much like he did against South Carolina and lead the Tigers to its first national championship since 1957.

It will be the first time these two teams meet on the football field, and Oregon will be hoping it’s the last.

Kyle Bennett can be reached at minaret. sports@gmail.com.

@ The Lightning have struggled defensively as its record has slipped to 15-9-3. Tampa Bay is allowing almost four goals per game as they take on the Oilers who are playing well of late. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

THE MINARET | DECEMBER 10 2010

SPORTS

19

Swedish Goaltender Gives UT Ice Hockey a Shot in Net

By APRIL WEINER Sports Writer

Axel Aspeborg hails from Stockholm, Sweden and plays perhaps the most important position on the ice for the University of Tampa hockey team; goaltender.

In Sweden, like most northern European countries, hockey has a large following.

It should come as no surprise then that Aspeborg was on the ice learning to skate when he was two years old, and began playing hockey when he was six.

“I always wanted to be a goalie. My dad brought home a videotape of the World Cup of Hockey ’96. I thought that was cool,” Aspeborg said. “Curtis Joseph was the reason I started playing goalie. In the video, he was playing for Canada. I tried to model my game after him.”

Aspeborg went on to play for a few teams in Sweden before being forced to quit because of his family’s relocation to Spain.

He continued with his experiences in Spain. “[In Spain], there’s no interest for hockey at all; everyone’s playing soccer [and] tennis,” he said.

Aspeborg played tennis while in Spain, but hockey was always his first love.

Due to what were journalistic intentions, Aspeborg started writing about hockey, namely the New York Rangers, for a Swedish website.

When looking for colleges, Aspeborg applied in cities that had an NHL team.

“I applied here and they were the first one to accept me,” Aspeborg said.

Aspeborg then arrived in Tampa and began writing about the Tampa Bay

Lightning as well. Luckily for him, the ice hockey team was forming at UT, giving him an opportunity to pursue his childhood ambition.

“It feels great [to be back on the ice]. I really missed it,” Aspeborg stated. “I didn’t feel like it when I wasn’t playing, but when I got back into it, I feel like I want to practice all the time.”

It wasn’t just an adjustment to being back on the ice after a couple years of not playing. There is also a difference in rink size here in the United States than in Europe.

Here, rink dimensions are built by NHL standards: 200 by 85 feet, with the rounded corners having 28 foot radii. Blue lines are 64 feet from the goal and 50 feet apart.

In Europe, rink dimensions are based off of International Ice Hockey Federation standards: 200 by 98 feet, with the rounded corners having 14 foot radii and 13 feet from the goal.

The difference in dimensions means there is an adjustment when playing here versus in Sweden.

“They always say that when the top prospects come over, they will need time to adjust. You don’t think it’d be that much of a difference but it’s a lot different,” Aspeborg said. “It’s more north-south hockey here, up and down the rink, back home it’s more side to side. People cover the net, block your view a lot more here, try to get deflections. It’s basically nothing like that in Sweden.”

Aspeborg noiticed the tempo of U.S. hockey was much different than that of Sweden.

“I think hockey is faster here. In Sweden, we probably have more room to be really super skilled but I think it’s more offensive

Photo Courtesy of Monica Cook/ Associate Director of Admissions

Men’s hockey goalie Axel Aspeborg in goal for the Spartans. He is adapting to the new style of play in America after growing up with the game in Sweden.

here,” he said. The rink size would have a bigger impact on forwards and defensemen though, rather than goaltenders. “It’s a little bit different but it’s not as big a concern. I haven’t played for awhile, so I wouldn’t know how the rinks would have been if I had played in Sweden,” he explained There are different adjustments for goaltenders to make though. “It’s a lot faster, you have to be more alert, and the guys are closer to the net, trying to deflect, that’s the biggest thing. You have to adjust to them. You can’t be too far away, [but] you can’t be too close or they’ll score,” Aspeborg said.

Head Coach of the UT hockey team, Dr. Kucera, told a story that highlighted another difference between the United States and Sweden’s culture. The players in the U.S. are much larger than the players in

Sweden; this is in large part due to the rink dimensions being much smaller allowing for a more aggressive style of play.

“Axel’s in goal, first game against the men’s team. There’s this gruff Irish guy, old time hockey guy [on my team, sitting next to me on the bench]. He looks at Axel, looks at me, looks at Axel, looks back at me — does this three times before saying ‘He looks like Gumby!’ And he does — Axel’s tall and thin,” Kucera said.

“And here’s the difference, being Swedish. I tell him about this on the drive home and he says ‘What’s Gumby?’ and then pulls out his phone to Google it. He comes up with ‘a tall slender rubber man.’

It was hysterical. And Gumby is now my nickname for him.”

April Weiner can be reached at april. weiner@spartans.ut.edu.

MINARET

4

SPORTS

Bowl Games [18]

The Win

A brief rundown of Spartan sports

M. Basketball [9-0, 1-0] Dec. 19 vs. Tennessee Temple [1-8] at 5 p.m.

The Spartans notched its best start since the 2000-01 season as they defeated Palm Beach Atlantic in overtime 83-79.

UT will be off for almost two weeks before hosting the Crusaders. It will be the first matchup between the two schools.

Rashad Callaway is leading the Spartans, averaging 19.1 points per game. He also leads the team with 50 assists and 15 steals.

Volleyball [21-4, 15-1] Spartans drop 3-1 decision in NCAA National Championship Match Entering the NCAA Championship, UT had turned in a 15-2 match record during the NCAA tournament.

The women defeated Kentucky State, Lynn, West Florida, Grand Valley State and Central Missouri en route to earning a bid to the Finals.

With the win, Concordia, St. Paul has now won the title four consecutive years.

W. Basketball [4-2, 1-0] Dec. 18 vs. Saint Augustine’s [5-2] 5 p.m. Florida Southern Tournament After dropping consecutive games, the Spartans rebounded by stringing together three wins as they hosted Ave Maria on Dec. 8.

UT’S SOURCE SINCE 1933

Volleyball Team Finishes Second in Nation

By JOHN HILSENROTH Sports Writer

The University of Tampa volleyball team came up just short last Saturday, losing in the NCAA National Championship game to four-time defending champs and No. 1 nationally ranked Concordia University.

The Spartans’ 21-game winning streak came to a halt, in a match that was closer than the box score made it appear.

“If a couple of plays went a little differently late, we could have been national champs,” said Head Coach Chris Catanach.

“Immediately after the game, you can imagine how we felt.

We were upset and disappointed, because we were so close to achieving our ultimate goal.”

The team lost three sets to one, with two of those games being decided by a margin of only two points, and the third a blowout of 25-10.

After losing in the NCAA Quarterfinals last year, the team’s effort for this season began Dec. 3, 2009. Intense training last spring, a summer trip to Europe,and more practicing in the fall helped get the team ready for their national championship title run this season.

The trip to Europe, not just for fun, was also great for chemistrybuilding among the team. Many of the girls who felt pressure to perform, such as Danielle

Selkridge, came back more relaxed and ready to persevere through the long season ahead.

After what some would call a slow 4-2 start to the season, the team finished 31-4, peaking at just the right time. An embarrassing loss to Rollins earlier in the year proved to be a wake-up call for the team, as their 21-game winning streak began with their following game against St. Leo. “It’s a long season, and I’m really proud of the way the team performed,” said Catanach.

“We accomplished everything we set forth, and fell just short of our ultimate goal. The most rewarding part of it all is that we spent a full year planning and setting goals and then we actually achieved them.”

As the season ended, so did the collegiate careers of seniors Melissa Vanderhall, Kaleigh Cunningham, Sam Macks and Meghan Sherman.

The seniors compiled an astounding cumulative record of 120-15 in their four year span.

“This was a very unique group,” said Coach Catanach.

“I am honored to have coached them. They are the hardest working group I’ve encountered, and they went way beyond their call of duty. I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments.”

The team will now have about a month and a half off to rest and enjoy the holidays, before they will be back to training again

Billy Ward/The Minaret

The women Spartans fell in four sets to Concordia University, the top ranked team in the nation. With the win, CU took its fourth straight national title.

for next year. Catanach has high expectations for the women Spartans next season.

“We want to get back to the Elite Eight again next year,” said Catanach.

Although they did not win the national championship, the UT volleyball team has nothing to be disappointed about following

what was a very successful 20102011 season.

Once their break is over, they will be back to work again, in efforts to prevent Concordia University from winning their fifth title in a row.

John Hilsenroth can be reached at jhilsenroth@spartans. ut.edu.

Runners Battle Weather Conditions at Championships

By MICHAEL PAONESSA Sports Writer

Last Saturday, the University of Tampa women’s cross country team traveled to Louisville, Ky. for one intention — to win the 2010 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.

What they did not prepare for was the two inches of snow that covered E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, the course of the Championships.

With weather in the 30º F range and snow falling down, the squad battled rigorous weather conditions, finishing in 15th place in the championships.

Grand Valley State won the race to claim their first-ever women’s cross country National Championship.

To lead the Spartans individually was junior Heather Nicolosi who crossed the finish line in 34th place in the field of 187. Nicolosi didn’t

Tampa will meet the Falcons for the first time in program history.

Cross Country UT competed in the NCAA Championships on Dec. 4.

The women’s team turned in a 15th place overall finish, while Tony Nicolosi, the lone men’s competitor, finished 95th as an individual in the 10k.

Heather Nicolosi led the Spartans with a 34th place and became an All-American.

W. Basketball [17]

Andy Meng/Sports Information

Following its fourth straight conference and regional championship, the women’s cross country team placed 15th in the NCAA Championships.

stop there. With a time of 22:14 in the women’s 6K, she became an All-American, adding to her 2010 Sunshine State Conference Female Runner of the Year and first-team All-SSC honors this season.

Challenging weather might have stopped Nicolosi from finishing in the top-five, but success was evident in Louisville.

“Mentally I did not run well, but I am extremely thrilled about the AllAmerican honors,” Nicolosi stated.

With success comes motivation and hard work, and Coach Jarrett Slaven believes Nicolosi does just that when it comes to running, as well as in life.

“She is a driven individual and goes right after her goals on and off the race course,” he said.

Lindsay Edwards (66th, 22:52.1), was the other Spartan runner to finish in the top 100 of the championship.

Additionally, Kelly Hagan (124th, 23:53.6), Kaia Hampton (131st, 23:58.7), Katie O’Brien (139th, 24:14), Iolani Scanlon (169th, 25:08.4) and Chanelle Cox (171st, 25:14.7) were part of Tampa’s National Championship roster.

As the women’s team posted a 15th place finish at Nationals, UT’s Tony Nicolosi raced as an individual

for the men’s championship, ending the 10k race with a time of 32:40.9 to finish 95th.

The Spartan women finished the season with five first-place showings and with top-10 finishes in every race they competed in.

In a season where success was prevalent, team morale and support stayed strong.

“We all learned something from our season and nationals,” Nicolosi said.

“I am proud of the girls’ team as a whole. We ran well together and accomplished a lot this season.”

For the men, they look into next year with high hopes as they complete the 2010 season with one first-place showing and five top-five finishes.

As both teams look ahead, the Spartan women hope to see AllAmerican runner Jess Butler return to the 2011 roster after sitting out all season due to a leg injury. She will be entering her senior year at UT. The men will lose their star runner Tony Nicolosi due to graduation, but runners like Charles Toledo and Lewis Price will try to lead the Spartans to a national appearance in 2011.

Michael Paonessa can be reached at mpaonessa@spartans. ut.edu.