Florida’s Top College Paper
Vol. 75 No. 19
ut.minaret@gmail.com
www.theminaretonline.com
February 13, 2009
Sophomore Cadet AddeREALity Dies in Bayshore at UT Motorcycle Crash By Mel Steiner A&E Editor
Photo by Tom Galang By Michael Zeolla Journalism II
It can be hard for some students to believe that a tiny pill like Adderall can be so dangerous. Adderall was first introduced in 1996 and has become increasingly popular over the past few years. A study done by the University of Wisconsin found that one in every five college students have used Adderall or Ritalin without a prescription from a doctor. It’s a drug prescribed for individuals with ADD and ADHD, and simply keeps the person focused and concentrated for any task at hand.
Recently, however, Adderall has become the new “it” drug to have. “It’s almost impossible to not hear students talking about it,” said Kelly Lauterborn, a UT junior. “College kids see it as a way to get their work over and done with, regardless of the fact of not sleeping or eating.” Dr. Cindy Parsons is a professor in the nursing department at UT and is doctor at Tampa General Hospital. Parsons treats many patients, whom she prescribes Adderall for. But should those who are not prescribed take it? “Absolutely not,” said Parsons. “What students don’t understand is the severity of this drug. Adderall is a stimulant, not only
does it focus on the dopamine preceptors in the brain, but it will also increase heart rate, blood pressure, decrease appetite and, for some, even cause death due to cardiac arrest.” It’s gotten to the point now where kids have died by taking this drug; it’s now banned in Canada. “I think it’s the most abused drug on campus,” said Gina Firth, the associate dean of students at UT. “It’s very powerful. Even if someone takes it once, they have the memory of it working; what’s going to stop See “Adderall”
[5]
One UT student continues on her way to recovery after a lengthy stay in the hospital from injuries she sustained when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver early on Saturday, Jan. 24. Kelley Havens, a sophomore nursing major from Granville, Ohio was released from Tampa General Hospital last Tuesday, Feb. 3 after being there for 10 days and undergoing three major surgeries. On her way back from a fun night with friends at a downtown pub listening to live music, Havens recalled a large impact and the
next thing she knew, she was on the ground. Tampa Fire Rescue and the Tampa Police Department responded to the scene and transported Havens to the hospital. There she underwent three surgeries that helped repair her shattered knee and fractured tibia. In the first surgery, pins were placed in her legs to stabilize the injury. The second set the leg. The third and final surgery installed plates and screws. Currently, she is undergoing intense physical therapy but was See “Recovery”
“He was a friend”
Students mourn; See page [7]
family, his grandmother. “I honestly thought it was going to be okay,” Mojica said. “We all did.” Strizzi, who had wanted to become a military surgeon, underwent two hours of surgery and was given 135 units of blood before doctors assessed that there was nothing left they could do to See “Last Ride”
By Ellery McCardle News Editor
[2] Photo by Kelley Havens
The second reported sexual assault on campus in the last three Gasparillas was announced Saturday night in an unusual case involving a man from another college and two senior women who are roommates at UT. The incident was reported in Stadium Center at 10:40 p.m. Saturday. There were no injuries or threats of violence reported, security officials said. “I can’t provide all the details because it’s so convoluted,” said Kevin Howell, assistant director of Campus Safety and Security.
The incident involved two women who are roommates in Stadium. A male friend of one of them was invited to their room and reportedly had sex with both women. “It’s an issue of whether it was consensual,” Howell said. Alcohol was involved, but Howell said those involved “weren’t drunk to the point that they were inebriated. They weren’t drunk out of their mind.” The acquaintance of the man, who is a student at another Florida college, said she was the victim of
Cooking in the Dorm [11] Basketball Keeps Rolling [18]
Inside ...
Romantic Black History Month [17] Color Blind Gamer [13]
Studying in Egypt [4]
[7]
Sexual Assault Reported on Campus on Gasparilla Day
Hit & Run Victim Recovering from Serious Injuries By Charlie Hambos Assistant Editor-in-chief
They called him “Pee Wee.” Five of Victor Strizzi’s closest friends gathered Tuesday night to share their memories of a man they respected, trusted and grew to love – from their first time meeting him to the final moments they shared with him in a hospital room just hours before. Strizzi, a University of Tampa sophomore and ROTC cadet, hopped on his recently purchased motorcycle and took a ride along Bayshore Boulevard. He had a green light as an oncoming car ran a red light, authorities said. Strizzi was taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition and rushed to an operating room, friends said. Freshman Jonathan Mojica received a call shortly after the accident from a TGH nurse who informed him of Strizzi’s condition. After texting everyone the news, all five guys made their way to the hospital. “I saw him just last night, alive,” Carlos Colón recalled. “We said goodnight, and that was that. Twelve hours later, I find out he’s in critical condition.” Isaac Moreno, Strizzi’s former roommate and fellow ROTC cadet, was the first to arrive. The rest followed along with members of ROTC and Victor’s only local
Everglades Crisis [16] Gasparilla Recap [3]
A Grand Visit [10]
“A purpose of human life...is to love whoever is around to be loved.”
See “Assault”
[2]
News.................[1-9] Commentary...[14-17] Editorial............[14] A&E..............[10-13] Sports...........[18-20]
[Kurt Vonnegut]
News
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The Minaret | February 13, 2009
UT Interns Reflect on NBC Super Bowl Experience By Ellery McCardle News Editor
Editor-in-Chief Peter Arrabal parrabal@gmail.com
Asst. Editor-in-Chief Charlie Hambos chambos@ut.edu
News Editor Ellery McCardle minaret.news@gmail.com
Commentary Editor Derrick Austin
Working nine to five in an office is generally an accurate description of a college internship. But for UT junior Nichole Ciotti and senior Amy Bohrer an NBC internship during this year’s Super Bowl proved to be a nonstop experience. "Working with NBC Sports was truly incredible," Bohrer said. During their week-long experience with NBC, they sat in on press conferences, listened to press calls, ran errands and spent time in Radio Row, where national radio stations broadcasted their pre-
minaret.commentary@gmail.com
Sports Editor Bobby Winsler minaret.sports@gmail.com
A&E Editor Mel Steiner minaret.arts@gmail.com
Online Editor Alex Vera minaret.online@gmail.com
Head Photographer Mindy Tucker mindy.minaret@gmail.com
Adviser Charles McKenzie charles.mckenzie@ut.edu
Staff-At-Large Josh Kratovil, Staff Assistant Sarah Gottlieb, Staff Writer Jillian Randel, Staff Writer JP Busche, Staff Writer Delaney Spoerl, Staff Writer Thiago Queiroz, Staff Writer Erika Escobar, Staff Writer Megan Smith, Staff Writer Austin Daniels, Cartoonist Max Roberts, Artist John Meacham, Photographer Elizabeth Harm, A&E Kadie Hayward, A&E Kristen Vasquez, A&E Shelby Kuni, Sports Olivia Glynn, Sports Kyle Bennett, Sports Samuel Gerb, Sports Shannon Grippando, Copy Editor
You can reach The Minaret directly at (813) 257-3636
The Minaret is a weekly student-run publication of the University of Tampa. As a student organization, The Minaret invites all students to take part in its production. Inquiries and comments may be sent to ut.minaret@gmail.com
Check out TheMinaretOnline.com for up-to-the-minute information on top stories and breaking news. Your first two copies of The Minaret are free. Each additional copy is $1.00.
Super Bowl coverage. Among the national stations was Sirius satellite radio. During media day, they assisted with press conferences and phone calls with media moguls like John Madden, Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber and Al Michaels. Their job also dealt with advertisements, "We dealt with hundreds of phone calls from agencies and television programs all over the country about superbowl ads," Bohrer said. On game day, they worked for 17 hours. “I met a lot of wonderful people and learned a lot in the short amount of time that I was there. It was most definitely worthwhile,”
Amy Bohrer and Nichole Ciotti (left) at the Tampa Convention Center Photos by Amy Bohrer and Nichole Ciotti
Juicy Campus Closes Site By Ellery McCardle News Editor
It’s not a rumor. Juicycampus. com, known as the home for college campus gossip, is closing its site. The site has been known as a controversial avenue for campus exposure where students post rumors and comments about their campus social setting. However, the site will not close due to its controversial setting. Founder and CEO Matt Ivester wrote in a press release that the site will close because of a lack of revenue. “In these historically difficult economic times, online ad revenue has plummeted and venture capital funding has dissolved,” he wrote.
Some UT students are glad the site is finished. “It’s a life ruiner. I’m happy about it,” senior Casey Cavenaugh said. “I want it shut down. Do it. It causes unnecessary drama,” sophomore Toni Poma said. After a year and a half in operation, the site expanded to over 500 campuses across the U.S. and generated over a million visitors each month.
TPD Still Searching for Driver in Hit & Run From “Recovery”: Front Page on campus picking up some items from her room. “I’m hanging in there,” Havens said. “I can’t wait to get back.” Due to her extensive injuries, Havens said that she had to withdraw for the semester and hopes to return for the fall semester. Havens thanked all of her friends for being with her throughout her recovery. “I want to say Hi and thanks for
From “Assault”: Front Page a sexual assault. Howell said the man had been on campus since that morning. Names have not been released, but Howell said the two women are UT seniors. Due to Gasparilla festivities, Campus Safety and Security had 29 employees, including Howell and Security Director Charles Mascenik working 12-hour shifts that day. At 6 p.m. an officer stationed in each dorm required all people entering to sign in. However, in Stadium, Straz and Austin, officers monitored the lobbies starting at 4 p.m. due to complaints from RA’s about alcohol issues. The students involved in the alleged sexual assault came back to Stadium before an officer was
watching out for me and making sure that everything was okay,” She also wanted to thank visitors that came to the hospital, the cards and for everyone that was thinking about her. TPD has still not found the hit-and-run driver and is still investigating the incident and asks that if anyone has any information to please contact them at 813276-3200. Charlie Hambos can be reached at charlie.hambos@ gmail.com patrolling the lobby at 4 p.m. Howell said that many nonresidents started coming on campus on the Friday morning before the parade, but that security did not have enough staff to start making people sign in at that time. “We don’t have the manpower for it. We’d have to triple the size of the department to prevent all of that,” he explained. Howell said Gasparilla day alone “pushes us to the maximum.” Tampa Police have finished an investigation on the situation. Now the case has been turned over to the State’s Attorney office, which will decide whether to prosecute the case. “It’s up to them now,” Howell added. Ellery McCardle can be reached at emccardle@ut.edu
A new desk limits access to the textbook section.
Photo by Abby Sanford
B&N Blocks Textbook Access off.” Stephanie Tatem, textbook manager, explained that they had put the counter up in the past. “We did it last semester, but didn’t really stick to it,” she said. “We’re sticking to it this time.” Rivas said that the store doesn’t block the floor during the rush at the beginning of each semester because there are too many people that come in. She also said that since the bookstore is doing inventory now, it is easier to not have students walking around the floor.
By Sarah Gottlieb Staff Writer
If you are one of the few UT students still buying books for the semester, you may have noticed the new counter on the second floor of the university bookstore. The counter, put in place a short while ago, blocks students from entering the floor where textbooks are kept. “We did it for loss prevention purposes,” said Monique Rivas, operations supervisor. “There was a lot of theft before we blocked it
BizFact
© 2008 MCT
For their sweeties Top ways Americans plan to show their affection on Valentine’s Day:
ing reet
card
48%
G
dy
Can
ht l nig
57%
48%
out
cia
Spe
ers Flow s card Gift % 12 Graphic: Pat Carr, Paul Trap
36% E: NOT
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Source: National Retail Federation f ey o (U.S.) survmers, su n co 8,447 U.S. 008; margin Jan, 2-8, 2 f error: +/- 1 o e point percentag
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
Gasparilla 2009
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They invaded... took the key to the city... we partied... An we’re ready for more!! Argghhhhh!!!
Bucs Cheerleaders got UT in the Gasparilla spirit last Friday Photo by John Meacham
UT Pirate Fest Kicks off Gasparilla 2009 By Delaney Spoerl Staff Writer
The 2009 Gasparilla Parade marches on Bayshore Boulevard en route to the end on Jackson St. in downtown Tampa.
One of the many pirates and other characters throwing beads to the cheering crowd along Bayshore Boulevard
The Jose Gaspar makes its way down Garrison Channel to invade Tampa for the annual Gasparilla event. Photos by John Meacham
Gasparilla weekend began at the University of Tampa with it's annual Pirate Fest Celebration at Stadium Center's Outdoor Pavilion from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Tables of students filled the eating area outside of Stadium Friday as the atmosphere shifted from the Super Bowl to Gasparilla. Loud music blared as students ate free food, from nachos to baked beans and pulled pork. Treasure chests, pirate flags and pieces of gold covered the sit-
ting area as WUTT, UT's studentoperated radio station, broadcasted live from the event. Buccaneers cheerleaders signed autographs while the first 100 students grabbed free t-shirts, courtesy of sports marketing. The free T-shirt giveaways went quickly as expected. Marc Uribe, a UT freshman said, "the T-shirts were gone quickly, but there’s free food, and it’s cool our school is beginning the celebration a little bit early." The event was hosted by the Wellness Committee, Student Government, WUTT, Dining Services and Team Chaos.
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The Minaret | February 13, 2009
Student Awarded Scholarship to Study in Egypt
By Jillian Randel Reporter
Maria Alexandra Laborde Algarin, a senior at UT, was awarded the Boren Scholarship to study abroad in Egypt for one year. The Boren Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship for which thousands of students apply. Q: What made you want to study in Egypt for a year? A: I have been fascinated with ancient Egyptian culture since I was young. I remember seeing pictures of pharaohs for the first time and getting obsessed with them. Last year, I found out about the Boren Scholarship that grants up to $20,000 a year to study abroad in exchange for learning a unique language. I applied to study Arabic at the American University in Cairo, and several months later I found out that I won the scholarship. Q: Has anything about the Egyptian culture shocked you? A: The main things that shocked me are the different views of Islam, even within the same social class. For instance, some of my teachers do not wear the hijab or cover their hair or head. At first I thought they were all Copts (Egyptian Christians), but then they explained to me they were, in fact, Muslims. When I asked why they didn’t wear the hijab, they said it is not required by Islam! One was frank enough to tell me that the whole hijab idea came from the gulf countries trying to influence the rest of the Arab World. In the words of my teacher’s husband, “They don’t really own land like we Egyptians do, so they treat their women as property. This is one way for them to show that.” Then, I went to one of my best Egyptian friends, who also is from high class, and he told me that the hijab is required by the Islam and was offended that someone said differently. I was so shocked at the different perspectives. Q: What is a typical day like for you? A: I wake up around 7-8 a.m., eat either fuul (slow-cooked fava beans), taameya (Egyptian version of the falafel) or an egg sandwich in pita bread. Then I take the bus to school in the middle of the desert, about 50 minutes away from the center of Cairo. I take Arabic classes from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., then stay around three hours in the library studying.
For dinner, I eat kushari, which is like mom’s left-overs all dumped in the same plate, but actually tastes delicious. I also eat spaghetti with meat or a shawerma sandwich. After dinner, I go to bed. The language program is so intensive that I really don’t have time to do much else during the week. Q: Have you traveled to a lot of interesting places? A: I have been to so many places. I went to the Red Sea, The Saqqara Pyramids in Egypt, a cruise down the Nile River and Aswan (a very cool city in Egypt). I went on a camel safari to the beach in Ras Abu Galum in the Sinai Peninsula, I have toured the oasis of Bahariya, Dakhla, Kharga and the Black and White Deserts. I have been camel riding in the desert, and I attended all kinds of festivals during Ramadan. I also went to Hebron, Israel in the West Bank, the second most violent place in that region. Q: What things were difficult to get used to? A: The pollution! It’s ridiculous! I got sick for the first two months or so. It hits everybody differently. Seeing my apartment with a light layer of dust just two hours after
Happy 21st Birthday CK!
February 17, 2009
Algarin (center) is pictured with her friends.
A: It depends. The general cleaning is frustrating to say the idea about foreigners, especially least. I don’t want to remember how women, is that they are very easy. it looked when I returned after be- Many Europeans are known to ing gone for five weeks this Christ- come here just to have Egyptian lovers, so that has affected the immas! age of all forThe double eign women. standards and GO ONLINE Howevsexual harassHave you been studying er, the higher ment are ridicu- abroad? The Minaret wants the class the lous. To me the to know. Leave a comment more openwhole idea of on our Web site and let us minded, men staring at know! understandyou is not new. www.theminaretonline.com ing and less Puerto Rijudgmental can men are almost the same. Another thing, they are, as you would expect. A lot of my Egyptian friends and probably the scariest one, is will avoid the topic if I ask them traffic. People drive crazy! You fear directly how they feel about Amerfor your life when you attempt to icans. cross the street. I know my mother Q: What attitudes do people would die of a heart attack if she saw a video of me crossing the have about the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict? streets in Cairo. A: Most Egyptians sympaQ: What perceptions do Egyp- thize with the Palestinians, even though most of them, if not all, tians have of Americans?
Photos by Maria Algarin
do not consider themselves Arabs. Many actually dislike Arabs, especially those from the Gulf. Q: Are there any differences between college students in Egypt and those in the United States? A: Some friends and I were talking about how most of our Egyptian friends call us too much. Sometimes, I will have eight missed calls in a row in addition to text messages. They are always asking where you are or who you are with as if they were our boyfriends. My Egyptian friend Moussa said that is normal in Egypt, and that is why foreigners are told that to keep a friendship with an Egyptian is very draining and hard work because they expect a lot of attention. However, at the same time, expect to be getting as much attention from them. It is different, but it is fun!
The Minaret | February 13, 2009 From “Adderall”: Front Page that individual from doing it over and over again?” At this point in time, finding Adderall illegally is as easy as getting a pack of cigarettes from Metro Mart. There are many reasons why Adderall is being abused at such a high rate. The first, being able to get that 25 page paper done overnight. Some students also snort it to get high. “I will always use Adderall to help me get my work done. Why the hell wouldn’t I? It keeps me awake, focused and able to study for however long I need. What is the problem?” an anonymous UT senior said. “It’s similar to cocaine and will absolutely speed someone up,” said Firth. Adderall has also been popular because it causes individuals to lose weight. Because of its side effect of no hunger, people take it to shed pounds. Some students, however, don’t really mind the consequences. Julia, a UT junior, said, “There are risks with everything. This is a pill that simply helps people focus and stay attentive.” The drug is so potent that every patient who’s prescribed must visit with their doctor once a month for an extensive evaluation. “I meet with my patients once a month to monitor them and ask specifically about their sleep cycle, if they get headaches or not, any cardiac issues, if they’re students, how they are doing academically, socially, etc.,” said Parsons. “There’s this misconception that medication is safe,” said Parsons. “Even over-the-counter medication can be dangerous, with Tylenol causing liver failure and Motrin causing severe ulcers.” The drug is also popular among the student body at colleges because it “enables” them to consume more alcohol if taken before a long night of partying. Adderall becomes even more dangerous when mixed with alcohol. “When on Adderall and drinking, students don’t feel as intoxicated as they really are,” said Parsons. “Their blood alcohol content continues to rise, yet they don’t feel it at all and continue drinking.” A lot of these individuals will end up in the emergency room to get their stomachs pumped. According to Parsons, an excessive
Side Effects of Adderall
dose of alcohol and Adderall will put an individual at serious risk for cardiac arrest. When athletes take perforChildren and Adolescents mance enhancers to make them Adults perform better, people call it • Hypertension cheating. It’s a pill that helps stu• Hypertension dents perform better academically. • Slowing of Growth Would this be considered cheat• Loss of Appetite ing? • Loss of Appetite “Absolutely, if someone takes • Diarrhea a pill to help them do their work, • Insomnia they are cheating! I’m not taking • Headache a pill for my work, I’m doing it on • Stomach Ache my own,” said an anonymous UT • Weight Loss junior. • Weight Loss Parsons agreed, “I want to • Dry Mouth know that my work is my work. I • Depression don’t want it impacted negatively • Fatigue or positively by an outside agent. • Fatigue I want to know that I can accom• Accidental Injury plish it, and if I can’t, I need to • Accidental Injury problem solve and figure out what • Nervousness the issue is.” • Nervousness Is society to blame? We are • Dizziness at a point now where prescription • Dizziness drugs are being advertised all over • Agitation television. Both Firth and Parsons • Nausea feel as though society is to blame. • Anxiety “We are now in a society 1/26/09 11:39 AM Page 1 • Vomiting where we are drugging for life-UT_09_p style choices. We want to take a Source: adderallxr.com/assets/pdf/prescribing-information.pdf pill, fix it and get instant gratification. Any discomfort whatsoever, take a pill,” Firth said. Firth concluded by saying “Adderall is starting to become much more aware of by faculty and staff. People are looking for it now. It’s not that we want to be the big brother or want to get people in trouble, but this is a very dangerous pattern to get into. We are here to learn and grow as people. Getting through academics by popping pills is really going to harm you, and that’s not what we are about here at UT.” Parsons summed up her thoughts in a brief statement, “The American population as a whole has this misconception about the safety of medication and, as such, minimize the risk to self-harm by taking medications that aren’t prescribed to them. Why would I risk harm to my body by putting something into it that I have no idea what the outcome is going to be?” The bottom line is that Adderall is a prescription drug for prescribed patients who physically and psychologically need it. This is a drug that can cause an immediate cardiac arrest or seizure and can really be detrimental to one’s health. Just look at the risks. Is it worth it? Is your entire life worth losing over a tiny pill that helps you get your work done?
Sophomores Easily Transfer to UT Jayne Corso Journalism I
Not all fresh faces at UT belong to freshmen. In the spring of 2009, approximately half of the accepted transfer students were sophomores. Adviser Fran Pasetti processes the transfers and says most have between 30 and 50 credit hours. She said the university accepted 186 transfer students, 94 of whom came as sophomores. UT is not doing anything particular to advertise to these sophomore students. The number of applicants is always high. Perhaps the reason for the high number of sophomore transfers is because transferring into UT
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as a rising sophomore is much easier than being accepted as a freshman. “We rely on our incoming transfers to balance out the number of students we have lost during the year.” said Pasetti. She said the university loses a high number of first-year students each year. The standards of the admissions office lower slightly when they are looking at transfer applications. When accepting transfer students, the university is more aware of class numbers. A student who was denied admission to UT in 2008 has a greater chance of being accepted as a transfer in 2009.
When Overdosed •
Restlessness
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Tremors
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Confusion
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Hallucinogens
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Panic States
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High Fever
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The Minaret | February 13, 2009
phone number to file an additional criminal complaint if desired.
Feb. 10 Meeting
What a Wii-diculous Crime
Compiled From Reports Provided By UT Security
Harassment A student reported to security on Feb. 3 that she was having an issue with a fellow student. The incident occurred at a local bar and had escalated to the point that the other student assaulted her. She said that the female is continuing to harass her and she wanted to advise campus security. She did not want to involve the Tampa Police Dept. for a criminal complaint as she only wanted to mediate it through ResLife. Short Season Officers responded to a call of an injured student outside of Sykes College of Business on Feb. 3. Upon responding they located the student at the curb of North B St with his ankle already “iced up.” He advised he had injured his ankle while trying out for the soccer team earlier. He declined any medical attention and was advised to follow up with the campus health center.
Grand Theft Austin (This report reflects a date range from Dec. 11, 2008 to Feb. 4, 2009) A student came to the security office to report the theft of several items of clothing from her Austin Hall room on Feb. 4. She said that on Dec. 11, 2008 she had packed up to return home for the Winter break and noticed a few items of clothing missing from her wardrobe. She returned to campus on Jan. 18 and unpacked her clothes to resume classes. On the days since she has noticed more items of her clothes missing and suspected her roommate of stealing them. She requested a room change and on Feb. 4 was in the process of packing all her belongings to move to her new room. While doing this she saw one of her missing items laying in plain sight with the suspected roommates belongings. She investigated further into her belongings and found the majority of her missing clothes hidden amongst the soon to be ex roommates belongings. The suspected student was referred to the conduct board for action. The student was provided the Tampa Police Dept.
A student responded to the security office on Feb. 5 to report that his Wii system and assorted items and games for the system were stolen from his Brevard Hall room. He advised that between Jan. 11 and Jan. 21 that these items have come up missing from his room and no one has any idea what may have happened to them. The student was given the number to the Tampa Police Dept. to file a stolen property report also if desired.
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The VP of Finance position is still open.
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The Spring Leadership Retreat will be from Feb. 27-28. Sign up in OSLE. It’s $10 non-refundable. Make checks to The University of Tampa. For more information contact Matt Ferrall at mferrall@ut.edu.
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20 C.A.R.E. trained people are needed to monitor the senior class party at the Florida Aquarium. Go to OSLE for more information or contact William Ross at wross@ut.edu.
to
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Relay For Life is coming to UT April 24, 25. For more info rmation stop by the P.E.A.C.E. office to sign up.
Officers were summoned to Austin Hall to meet with RA’s in reference to another student that had assaulted one of the RA’s on Feb. 5. An RA was having difficulty with a fellow suitemate and had attempted to talk to her about the problems. Meeting with resistance she requested the help of a fellow RA. When they tried to speak to the other student she shoved the RA and became verbally belligerent. The student was referred to the conduct board.
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Vote for Fall 2009 elections on blackboard from April 7-9.
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Leadership Awards Night will be April 14.
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No general assembly meeting April 14.
When shove…
push
comes
Congratulations, first alcohol violation of Gasparilla! Officers were summoned to Brevard Hall at request of RA’s on Feb 7.
They were directed to a room in regards to a party. Officers made contact with the 10 students inside the room and found numerous articles of alcohol around the room. All students were determined to be under 21 years of age and were all referred to the conduct board. Busted bigtime – did you really think you’d get away with it? Officers were again summoned
THE STRENGTH TO HEAL
and learn lessons in courage. The pride you’ll feel in being a doctor increases dramatically when you care for our Soldiers and their Families. Courage is contagious. Our Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) helps you reach your goal by providing full tuition, money towards books and lab fees, a $20,000 sign-on bonus, plus a monthly stipend of more than $1,900. To learn more about the U.S. Army Health Care Team, call Maj. Irving Fannell at 877-359-6501, email irving.fannell@usarec.army.mil, or visit healthcare.goarmy.com/info/mchpsp1. ©2008. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.
to Brevard Hall at request of RA’s on Feb 7. They were directed to a room in regards to a party. Officers responded to the room but all occupants had departed. They conducted a room search and located several items of alcohol around the room. All the occupants of the room were under 21 years of age and were referred to the conduct board.
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The Minaret | February 13, 2009
“He was a friend”: Strizzi loved cooking, marathons Pennsylvania sophomore’s “Italian-ness” shined through his personality
Peter Arrabal Editor-in-chief
He loved cooking and cheap haircuts. He was a proud soldier and a loyal friend. Most of all, his friends say, Victor Strizzi was just one of those kids everyone liked. They just saw him in their Foundations of Tactical Leadership class Tuesday morning, and now they can’t understand how he was gone hours later. Strizzi, an ROTC cadet, served in Germany before starting at the University of Tampa as a sophomore in the fall, using credits from online classes to jump past his freshman year. “He was always willing to help,” one friend said. “He was just a plain good kid.” And he was very Italian. Strizzi’s friends said his “Italian-ness” showed. He loved to cook but was frustrated that his Austin room had no kitchen.
So he made routine trips to see his grandmother in St. Petersburg. They weren’t close when he started at UT, friends say, but they grew closer because most of the rest of the Strizzi family was up North. If he didn’t take his friends with him, he would come back from St. Pete with leftovers for his friends. “He had this homemade pasta with cheese tortellini,” a friend said, “with this tomato-basil sauce. It was so good.” In addition to cooking marathons, Strizzi also loved running them. Just a month ago, he finished the Walt Disney World Marathon in 4 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds, good enough for 134th place out of nearly 15,000. At the morning physical training exercises, he was known throughout ROTC for his bright, colored, shoes-that-you-couldnever-miss. Even if he didn’t like you, he’d still give
you a chance. One friend said they didn’t hit it off at first, but they grew to like each other. Strizzi got his motorcycle in September, and would ride it to MacDill Air Force Base to get a cheap haircut. His friends teased him that the haircuts were not just cheap in price, but cheap in quality. But he didn’t mind. They were $7, and everyone else charged about $15. Strizzi passed away in Tampa after a car crashed into his motorcycle on Bayshore Boulevard. His friends are searching for answers about how their nicest friend could just disappear like that. “He was just a good kid, that’s all there is to say,” said a friend, struggling to find the words. Students’ names were withheld, as they were instructed not to talk to any journalists by ROTC commanders. Peter Arrabal can be reached at parrabal@gmail.com
Strizzi was stationed in Germany and traveled much
just about anyone laugh and smile. He always found time for his friends and maintained a balance between school and socializing. “Vic was a clown,” said Waldo Esgusquiza, another friend. “He was serious when he needed to be, but when it came to hanging out, he had fun.” Freshman Auson Edwards recalled how he met Strizzi. “It took awhile for us to get to know each other, actually. But through social events and hanging out, we got really close. He was so brave and he loved to take charge.” Strizzi stood as a big brother to all of his closest friends. “He always had our backs,” Colón said. Strizzi had drive and potential. Entering the Army at only 17, he had to obtain a special waiver to join. He thought the best way to get into medical school would be through the Army. “He always motivated me,” Moreno said. Strizzi was the type of guy any parent felt comfortable having their kids around. He had diverse tastes, being interested in art, science, exercise and even cooking. Most people recognized him by his
tattoo-- a large dragon he sketched from a dream he had. “Twenty-three hours and four grand later, he got his tattoo,” Colón said, chuckling to himself about the artwork on Victor’s arm. Strizzi loved his motorcycle and kept it in a perfect condition. In September, Moreno drove him to buy the Yamaha. “He didn’t know how to drive it at first, so he had me follow him home. He was so nervous. Those were the good times we had,” Moreno said. Students, faculty and friends will
remember Victor Strizzi as a warrior, a jokester and a genuine person. He touched and protected lives, and left a lasting imprint on the hearts of many. Just hours after witnessing the final moments of his life, the five men gathered and each offered a short descriptor of their friend. “Strength.” “Official.” “A class act.” “Courageous.” “A soldier.”
Friends Recall Last Minutes with Cadet Killed in Accident From “Last Ride”: Front Page
keep him alive. The five friends were gathered together with a chaplain when the doctor delivered the news. “He told us that Vic had about 15-20 minutes left to live, and we needed to say our goodbyes,” Colón said. Paramedics later told them that Strizzi, who was thrown from his Yamaha, would have died at the scene if not for his helmet. One of his best friends wasn’t surprised. “No helmet, no ride,” said Carlos Colón. “That was his motto when it came to people and his motorcycle.” The shock set in, but Tuesday night the guys reminisced about their best friend. A military man, who was dedicated to his dreams, Strizzi always had his heart set on joining the military and stayed focused on academics. Other friends described the Pennsylvania man as cautious, intelligent, loyal and logical. He was outspoken and strong, yet he had a sense of humor like no other. He could make
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Strizzi had a dream about a dragon, and turned it into a tattoo that took 23 hours to color
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The Minaret | February 13, 2009
On Fire: Beer Pong Spreads Herpes, Mono, Flu By Chris Centeno The Lantern, Ohio State U.
A buzz might not be the only thing students are catching from beer pong. B e e r P o n g i s a rg u a b l y the most popular drinking game at universities nationwide. It is normally played on a table with 10 cups racked in a triangle at both ends. The basic objective of the game is to shoot a ping pong ball into the opponent’s cups. When one team eliminates all the opposition’s cups, they win. Although many students play the game as a means to drink, they are swallowing more than they bargain for. Sharing cups with a partner can transmit common flu-like viruses, mononucleosis and even herpes simplex virus (commonly known as cold sores). Ryan McFadyen, a senior in exercise science, had mono his junior year at Ohio State. “I felt pretty inexplicably run down for a couple of
months before I found out that I had mono, and I’m certain that I played beer pong during that time frame. I was in a serious relationship at the time, and beer pong was the only place that I could have contracted mono in the first place,” McFadyen said. “I’m pretty confident that I contracted it while playing beer pong, and that I probably spread it to others in the same manner.” Mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease,” is characterized by swollen lymph glands and chronic fatigue. It is spread through infected saliva, which beer pong partners indirectly share in nearly every game. “The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may cause infectious mononucleosis in adolescents and young adults. But even after the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are gone, the EBV will remain dormant in the throat and blood cells of that person their whole life,” said Kurt B. Stevenson, associate professor of internal medicine at OSU. If a player knows he or she is sick or has recently been sick, that player should use a personal cup separate from the game cups. This way, the transmission of
saliva will not affect others. “I started to feel better and was pretty sure that I was not contagious anymore. When it was my turn to drink from the cups that were in play, I would pour the beer from those cups in to my personal cup and drink from that, hoping that this would prevent any infected saliva from touching any of the balls, cups or beer,” Mcfadyen said. Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) is most commonly prevalent above the waist, most often in the form of “cold sores” or “fever blisters,” according to OSU Student Health Services. A person can get HSV-1 by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person. Therefore, the risk may be just as high as getting mono or the common cold. Playing with water in the cups instead of beer, and having a personal beer on the side, is a much safer way to play. This way players won’t take the chance of sharing saliva with their partner, or picking up bacteria from the ball. And while the possibility of disease is a concern to the students, it doesn’t seem to stop them from
Herpes
Photo by rob Smoak/MCT
playing beer pong. “Catching any of those things from beer pong is a definite concern of mine,” McFadyen said. “Cold sores are pretty unsightly. But I’ve always known the risks involved, so that concern isn’t going to
affect my decision to play or not.” Chris Centeno can be reached at centeno.12@osu.edu.
BE A GOOD FRIEND
If a friend is in trouble, don’t be stupid. Get help.
Do you know UT’s amnesty policy? If you or a friend needs help due to overuse of alcohol or other drugs, no student seeking medical attention for intoxication or overdose shall be formally charged with a University policy violation for use or underage possession of alcohol. For the full policy, please see www.ut.edu/deanofstudents/drugfree
Take CARE of yourself. Take CARE of each
The Minaret | February 13, 2009 Arts & Entertainment 10 “Chorus Line”: A Can’t Miss Favorite Four of Barrymore Performance at TBPAC Wedding Singer (1998): handful of films that I can’t watch By Kadie Hayward Staff Writer
By Alan Mehanna Staff Writer
I was a bit hesitant at first to go with my family to watch this Broadway show at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. When the show began, however, I was immediately intrigued. A show with no set but the stage, a white line and a rotating wall may appear boring, but the wide variety of colorful characters made this musical entertaining. The story follows the director, Zach, as he auditions a group of dancers for an upcoming show’s chorus line. One by one, they are eliminated until there are four male dancers and four female dancers. To aid in his decision, the director interviews each dancer. It’s during this process that the characters are really introduced, allowing the audience to learn about their haunted pasts, funny memories, faults and, most importantly, what drives their passion for dance. Out of the many characters, my favorite had to be the director. The director is not on stage throughout the whole show. When he disappears, you simply hear his voice questioning the dancers. A wise tone accompanies the director’s deep voice, mirroring God looking down upon his
subjects. The dancers look up into the white spotlight and tell their stories. This amazing image can be interpreted in many ways, but the most obvious is a religious one. Here the dancers stand, answering questions that will or will not give them permission to be part of this chorus line. In metaphor, God, the director, holds the dancers’ futures in his hands. Filled with moving performances by these actors, “A Chorus Line” is not to be missed by anyone passionate about theater, dance, acting and most of all, life. These actors were believable, relatable, realistic and looked like they were having the time of their life on that stage, making their performance nothing less than inspiring.
With all the buzz on the new film “He’s Just Not That Into You,” it’s hard not to look back on the careers of its many stars. My personal favorite is the always adorable Drew Barrymore. Here are my top four picks of her top four movies:
Photo by Lionel Hahn (MCT Campus)
This priceless 80s inspired film not only features two of my absolute favorite actors, it features my favorite most-played-on-iTunes song, “Wanna Grow Old With You.” I’m not afraid to admit how cheesy this movie is, but that’s what makes this little romance between an engaged waitress and recently (50 unengaged wedding singer so lovable. There is some great decade appropriate music and even a Billy Idol cameo. How can you go wrong? E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): You can’t make a list about Drew Barrymore without mentioning her role in this film. This movie is one that you can watch over and over again, never getting sick of it and still always crying. There is something bittersweet about a movie that is great for kids and even better for adults. It is such a sweet, warm story that makes you appreciate friendship and for me, film making. There are a
without them causing serious inner-thought processes on how I can get into film. Just a note: avoid the restored version. 50 First Dates (2004): Another perfect pairing of Barrymore and Adam Sandler, also backed by a great soundtrack. It isn’t exactly Oscar winning material but it is definitely First Dates) an enjoyable couple of hours. The two protagonists play incredibly well off of each other, with great supporting actors like Sean Astin and Rob Schnieder. If you’re looking for something light and funny, this is definitely a good pick. And Hawaii sure looks beautiful in it! Riding in Cars with Boys (2001): A surprisingly thoughtprovoking and emotional film for Barrymore, who usually takes on more comedic roles. This film is a great look into the lives of a young teen who becomes pregnant at 15 and in 1965, losing sight of her dream to become a writer and being thrown into an abusive, drug-ridden marriage. Watching a young women grow as a mother and as an individual is very moving but definitely not for everyone.
There’s nothing “ like a first kiss. ” -Lucy Whitmore
International Artist Inspires a Unique Tone After making it big in Europe, Morrison comes to the States By Micaela Lydon Staff Writer
Join in the superstition for Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees is back in the latest horror flick, “Friday the 13th.” From the same guy who brought us the newest adaptation of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” comes what is anticipated to be the best Jason feature yet- full of all the blood, guts and gore we’ve become accustomed to. This time around, a group of crazy college kids and a young man searching for his sister stumble upon Camp Crystal Lake, where they soon become the latest victims of Jason’s wrath. Director: Marcus Nispel Running Time: 97 min. Rating: R For all the shopaholics out there comes Confessions of a Shopaholic Isla Fisher, best known for her roles in “Wedding Crashers” and “Definitely, Maybe,” plays a raging shopaholic whose obsession threatens to derail her love life and career. Based on a best-selling novel, “Confessions of Shopaholic” serves as a lighthearted warning to all the girls who just can’t live without that one more pair of shoes. Director: P.J. Hogan Running Time: 120 min. Rating: PG
By Mike Trobiano Staff Writer
With two Platinum records British singer/songwriter James Morrison has ventured to the states to share his unique sound. In just under three years, this aspiring artist has gone from singing in pubs during open mic nights to touring internationally with Corrine Bailey Rae to even singing for the British royal family. In the summer of 2006, Morrison released his first album, “Undiscovered,” which became an overnight success in countries like the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. His first single, “You Give Me Something,” made quite the first impression for him on the charts, taking the number two spot in Holland and number five in Britain. After performing the song on a New Zealand television show, Morrison was to explain his inspiration for his lyrics. He responded by saying that the two lovers do not love each other equally but are willing to see where the relationship goes. By the end of the year, the album sold over a million copies and went platinum in the UK. Morrison soon began working on his second record in addition to
collaborating with other artist’s such as Nelly Furtado and Jason Mraz. On Mraz’s latest album, “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things,” Morrison joined in on the track “Details In the Fabric,” which debuted in May 2008. In September of the same year, Morrison released the first single, “Somebody to Love,” off his own album, “Songs for You, Truths for Me.” While in the recording studio, he also teamed up with Nelly Furtado and recorded the second single off the record, “Broken Stings.” “You can’t play our broken strings, you can’t feel anything that your heart don’t want to feel I can tell you something that ain’t real; oh, the truth hurts and lies worse, how can I give anymore when I love you a little less than before?” Their lyrics struck the airwaves in 2008 and has continued its popularity on the charts. He enjoyed instant gratification with this success as the album took both the number one spot in Ireland and number three spot in the UK where it spent five consecutive weeks in the top ten. In October, he took his show on the road and toured throughout Europe until the end of the year.
If you have never heard his music, Morrison’s voice is quite distinctive amongst the crowd, crediting his battle with whooping cough as an infant for the raspy and unique tone. While his voice can stand alone, he says he often finds inspiration from blues riffs, helping him create a deviant yet attractive mixture of soft rock, soul and blues. By flavoring his tracks with a balance of each of these sounds, he has developed a recipe for success. As a singer/songwriter, Morrison continues to find inspiration in everything he does in addition to crediting several wellknown artists for the impression they left on him as a child. Growing up listening to music sensations like Stevie Wonder and Al Green, Morrison’s free-spirited style and cadence makes many feel as if he has been around much longer. While he is still not as popular in America as he is in Europe, his is beginning to gain more and more press here in the U.S. Making appearances on both the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, be sure to keep an ear out for more performances by this amazing artist. For more information on James Morrison visit www. jamesmorrisonmusic.com. Listen to tracks from his latest album at www.myspace.com/ jamesmorrisonmusic.
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
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Arts & Entertainment
Casino Cashes In Hard During Economic Woes
how much better it will get with all this extra stuff. I think more people from Tampa will start to go, but also people from other areas. This could really put Tampa on the map,” Remmington said. This expansion will create around 46,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, and will add $4.5 billion to the state’s economy when completed. As of right now, the expansion will include more then a thousand rooms, larger music venues, more parking and at least five new restaurants.
By Melissa Daher Journalism I
As the economy continues to get worse, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa is getting better. The expansion of this party powerhouse is set to be finished sometime within the next two years. This addition is said to cost between $600 and $800 million. Liza Remington, who has lived in the Tampa Bay area for almost her whole life is excited. “I thought it was great when they first opened it, I can’t imagine
By Michelle Magner Staff Writer
Whether you have that special someone this Valentines Day, or your hanging with friends here’s two recipes to tickle your taste buds. These chocolate muffins have pumpkin puree in them, which sounds strange, but there is not a hint of pumpkin flavor in them. Chocolate chips or peanut butter chips can be used in the muffins. Nestle offers both in the same bag giving an amazing combination. These muffins don’t require icing but could be added for more flavor and design. If you don’t want to or can’t finish them they can be put in the freezer and defrosted later on. Target is selling heart shaped cupcake molds along with cake pans and other Valentines Day specialties if you want to make something special and cheap for your valentine. The quesadillas are simple to make and are a good way to get rid of extra tortillas lying around. They are good for a mid day chocolate craving or a delicious dessert to share with that special someone one or the roommates.
By Daniella Fusari Staff Writer
Once deemed as workers pants, today jeans are a daily fashion must. Denim is such a versatile part of your wardrobe. Sometimes we question the fashions that show up in the magazines and on the runway, but with denim, you can always make it your own and make it work. Here are four favorites which can be found in any clothing stores. Express, Forever 21, Lucky Brand Jeans, Guess and American Eagle have a wide selection at affordable prices. High-Wasted & Flair Denim jeans that are high wasted can be difficult to pull off, but are a great option when wanting to look fancier than regular jeans. Unfortunately, they can appear to add pounds to any frame. It's best to keep the denim in a dark color, for its slimming effect. Keep your top very simple, such as a plain black tee shirt or simple tank top. Another option is low-wasted flared jeans. Sandals or wedges will pair well with flared jeans, but make sure they are long enough so you don’t look like a 70's knockoff.
UT Professor’s Dreams Become Reality UT Public Information Office
Chocolate-Cinnamon Quesadillas 2 tbsp semisweet chocolate 1 tbsp granulated sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon 2 medium flour tortillas 1 tsp powdered sugar Preparation Sprinkle 1 tbsp of chocolate, ½ tsp of sugar and ¼ tsp of cinnamon over half of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half to cover the ingredients. Set the quesadillas in a skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side until the outside speckles brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve!
Writer and interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Photos by Michelle Magner The University of Tampa, Dr. Don Morrill, will release a new book titled, “Impetuous Sleeper.” Chocolate Muffins Morrill examines the condition 1 box devils food cake mix of wakefulness, beginning with 1 small can of pumpkin purred ½ cup chocolate chips and/or coming out of a dream. He connects shared habits of peanut butter chips the mind, the way in which each 1 cup water of us attempts to make sense of the Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees. world and to understand our part Mix all ingredients together until in it. “Impetuous Sleeper” explores smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes a range of topics, including home and highway, love and friendships, GO ONLINE politics, gossip, privacy and family ALLOY MEDIA & MARKETING Share your thoughts and employs creative non-fiction’s on these recipes! many forms. JSEFYAN Leave a comment on our Morrill is the rc author of two Web site and let us know! collections of poetry, “At the www.theminaretonline.com
Skinny Jeans me on a number of occasions where You would think by now these nothing seemed to work. You need jeans are way past their style life a staple pair of black jeans and time, but in fact skinny jeans are dark jeans to save you when you as popular as ever. I think that the have nothing else to wear. pastels and bright colors are hitting Boyfriend Jeans the back burner, or are on reserve I was curious about these jeans for girls that can successfully pull because it seems that they became them off. But navy, denim and popular overnight.The celebrities black straight legs are adorable as are wearing them out all the time ever, especially paired with a great now, but can average girl can pull sandal or peep toe heel for going them off? Baggy and rolled up only out. a little, they look like Black & Dark you are trying to jump Denim over puddles without B l a c k getting the bottom of should be your your pants wet. They go-to color. No do look comfortable matter what though, and if this style you have trend continues I think on, wearing they could work for a your jeans in pair to hang around in. black or dark Remember to wear a denim will fitted top with them or immediately you'll be swimming in make them too much clothing. more clean There are tons cut and nicer, of styles to choose as well as from and hundreds giving you of washes (colors). a slimmer Different styles look look. My better with certain black boot colors. Whichever cut denim pair you choose Sevens though, don't forget have saved Photos from flickr.com to wear confidence.
Bottom of the Sky” and “With Your Back to Half the Day,” and three previous books of nonfiction, “Sounding for Cool,” “A Stranger’s Neighborhood” and “The Untouched Minutes,” which received the River Teeth Literary Non-fiction Award. “Impetuous Sleeper” will be available at retail booksellers or through www.midlist.org. Morrill will give a reading at Inkwood Books, on Armenia Avenue in Tampa on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m.
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Arts & Entertainment
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
By Linda C Black Tribune Media Services
Top Ten Romantic Flicks
Aries (March 21-April 19) Don’t get all upset if somebody’s rude to you or your mate. Don’t let it keep on happening, but smile when you lay down the law. It’ll drive the big jerk crazy. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Don’t try to explain what you’re doing to a person who won’t understand. Be ready if you’re challenged, though. Make sure you’re being effective. No goofing around. Gemini (May 21-June 21) The caution flag is out for communications regarding money. Don’t get into a fight about finances; it’s not a good time to talk. Reschedule for late next week. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Everybody has an idea, and all of them are different. Can you get them to agree on anything? Probably not. Might as well save your breath and bake a batch of cookies. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) This is not exactly your lucky day, so don’t take risks. Let your competitors do that. You play it close to the chest. Don’t telegraph your next move, either. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You have lots of work, and the worries that go with it. Before you get sucked under again, call out for a little help. Somebody nearby will lend a hand. You’re not alone.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Your place may be a mess, but is it a creative process? Look at what you want to accomplish. Don’t get stuck in the muck you have to go through to get from here to there. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Best to keep your opinions to yourself for a little while. They aren’t firmly founded on solid fact, as you already know. Better to keep your words private than have to eat them later, in public. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You’d love to tell that arrogant pedant exactly what you think. That is not, however, a great idea. So do not go there. Avoid even the nearness to temptation that could cause an outburst of emotion. Stifle. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You can still get your message across, if it’s carefully chosen. Know that will be more difficult now. Don’t get overly chatty. Make every word count for three. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Continue to turn and look both ways before crossing the street. This goes for listening to gossip, too. You’ll do better to stay put, take your phone off the hook and concentrate on business. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) If anything can go wrong, the odds are good that it will. So be very careful with your words and with your actions now. You’ve been warned. Don’t get too far into the gunk.
Valentine’s Day is making its annual appearance, and if staying at home and snuggling up on the couch is more your style, I have compiled a list of my top ten favorite romantic movies. Although they are likely to tug at your heart-strings, a special holiday isn’t needed to get swept away in affectionate words and loving gestures. In my opinion, the best part of these love stories is that you don’t need an excuse to watch them. 1. “Pretty Woman” 2. “While You Were Sleeping” 3. “The Notebook” 4. “Across the Universe” 5. “Love Actually” 6. “Ever After” 7. “When Harry Met Sally” 8. “Moulin Rouge” 9. “City of Angels” 10. “Tristan + Isolde”
by Austin Daniels
Color Blind Gamer: One Man’s Struggle in a Harsh World of Hues By Shannon Grippando Staff Writer
blocks around it. Genius, indeed. What do I do? I grab the closest person for some bipartisan I’m color-blind. I’m not a gaming, a Co-Pilot. They become dog, the world doesn’t appear like my eyes, and they win vicariously an old Charlie Chaplin film. I just through me. can’t tell the difference between Don’t shun the color-blind colors that share similar qualities: gamer in need. The Co-Pilot is his yellows and greens, dark reds and only hope. He’s the Obi-Wan to the dark browns, purples and blues. gamer’s Leia, the phone-a-friend I’m also a gamer. to his “Millionaire,” the copyIt’s a frustrating existence to editor to his newspaper. Without say the least. Games depend on the Co-Pilot, he’s hopeless. split-second decisions, and when And what’s a few moments I have to contemplate whether the of your time? You’re helping a guy in the corner with an M4 is disabled person accomplish a friend or foe, I’m usually the one dream of theirs. You’re the Makethat’s blown to pieces. a-Wish foundation for the nonI’m not alone, either. My terminally ill. cone-deprived brethren understand Free-For-Alls Are Safest my pain. Which team loses in a first When it comes down to it, person shooter? Whichever team color blindness is a disability I’m on, usually. in every sense of the term. It’s a I end up killing all my tough life. teammates. It’s not my fault most In an attempt to inspire first person shooters use a color empathy in the gaming world, system to separate teams. I’ve compiled a list of things you So, the yellow guys are my should know before playing with a team, but the green guys are the color-blind gamer. bad guys? Okay, that’ll be easy Co-Pilots Needed. to keep up with while everyone’s Accepting Applications running around like Godzilla just “Hexic HD” for the Xbox curb-stomped Tokyo. Live Arcade involves Let’s ditch destroying colored the teams for an It’s like I’m all-out free-forbombs in a certain number of turns by Dick Cheney on all. When I can matching blocks on a everyone, a hunting trip: it shoot grid. whether they’re doesn’t matter The developers on my team or included a genius who you are, I’ll not, I’m on a option for color-blind level playing shoot you. gamers which applies field. It’s like symbols to different I’m Dick Cheney colored blocks. on a hunting trip: it doesn’t matter There’s just one problem: who you are, I’ll shoot you. they didn’t put the symbols on The next time you’re online the bombs. So, I can’t tell what and get capped by a teammate, “color” a bomb is, though I can think for a minute before calling clearly tell the “colors” of those him a “noob.” He might have a
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DMC Ra ps W ith Students About New Hip-Hop Beat By Max Roberts Staff Writer
Reeves Theater was the latest stop for hip-hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, who tours the country giving his insight on the past, present and future of hip-hop culture and rap music. McDaniels began by talking about his childhood, growing up in Queens amidst the burgeoning hip-hop culture. He described the impromptu parties DJs had in the city, breaking open streetlights and stealing city electricity to power their amps and turntables in the local parks. “It was always creative, creative progression,” McDaniels said. “That’s why it was exciting.” He then moved on to discuss the way in which hip-hop changed; artists began securing record deals and the medium changed from individuals doing it for the love of music to doing it for money and fame. When McDaniels and his companions in Run-DMC hit it big, they vowed not to go down the same path. “Run-DMC didn’t do nothing. We took the beat from the street and we put it on TV,” McDaniels said. True to their beginnings,
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Arts & Entertainment
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
McDaniels and the others wore their regular clothes and sang about things that mattered to them, not just things that would sell records. McDaniels described the old school music as “inspirational, motivational and educational.” His words for the new school hiphop, of which 50 Cent, Lil’ Wayne and Kayne West are alumni, were somewhat less kind. “You know what hip-hop is today?” McDaniels asked. “Hiphop today is disco. It’s all glitter balls, pool parties, champagne everywhere, Rolls Royces, fur coats, gettin’ high and havin’ sex.” He went on to describe modern rap music as “one long music video and one long record,” citing the small number of producers making all of the records as the problem, creating a monotony and lack of maturity. He closed with some hope for the future of hip-hop, anticipating that it would return to its roots of “inspiration, motivation and education.” That phrase was his mantra, repeated throughout the night. “Inspiration, motivation and education.” His final thoughts were inspirational, speaking out to all the members of the audience in a profound way: “When you stay yourself, you win.”
disability. Would you yell at a Hours of gameplay are lost guy in a wheelchair if he held to the Jerk, and there’s little a you up in a line? Didn’t think color-blind gamer can do about so. it. Either we struggle through the Trust Nothing game as if it were an original Alright, I’ve got one life text of “Gilgamesh” with no left. There’s Rosetta Stone, or we take a a mushroom leap of faith in power-up in the advice front of me. of a fellow Supposedly human, the orange hoping ones heal he’s a CoIllustr me and the red Pilot, not a ation by M ones kill me... damn it. Jerk. Alas, ike Tr obian o Being a color-blind gamer the world is instills paranoia and distrust in full of many Jerks and few an individual. I know the rules Co-Pilots. of the game, but I am physically My Character: The Disaster incapable of following them With each generation of correctly. gaming, character customization Take for instance the mini- is vastly improved. Gamers can map in the “Grand Theft Auto” change the skin color, hair and series. The blue dot is where you clothes of their avatars to whatever need to be, the purple dot is a side their hearts desire. Creating a quest. Huh... those sure looks like likeness of yourself, Dennis a lot of side quests…or are those a Rodman or Homer Simpson is ton of main objectives? You know just a few minutes and a dash of what, forget it. I’ll go run over creativity away. some hookers, instead. Too bad I can’t tell if my This lack of faith in the virtual character has peach or green skin. world is the fuel that drives the I think my character looks fire for the antithesis of the Co- cool, but then I’m informed by the Pilot: the Jerk. Where the Co- time I’m level 20 that his clothes Pilot is pure of heart, the trusty are horribly unmatched, his hair esquire of the noble knight that is a strange shade of teal and his is the gamer, the Jerk is more like skin resembles an orange peel. I’m Snidely Whiplash, a pain-in-the- level 20 already, I’m not starting ass meddler performing evil for over. Looks like I’ll forever be the evil’s sake. screw-up of this game server. The Jerk will convince Customization is one of the the color-blind gamer that the great options we have in this age mushroom up ahead is a healing of gaming. But for color-blind mushroom, when it really spells gamers like me, it’s a gauntlet certain death for the hero. He’ll filled with certain doom. I literally direct a player to dots on the mini- can’t create a character from map that are anywhere but where scratch without a Co-Pilot. I grab the player wants to be, replying a friend and tell him how I want with a smirked, “Oops, my bad. my character, like I’m ordering a It’s really that one.” foot long at Subway.
Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events Spring Dance Concert Come out to watch UT Dance Stars groove to the music! When Feb. 19-21 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. Where David Falk Theatre Cost Free Contact Susan Taylor Lennon (813) 257-3745
TV Producer Seminar: Fabio Arber Producing shows like Miami Ink and CSI: Miami, Fabio Arber just finished his latest production, “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” When Feb. 16 Where Reeves Theater Contact Tom Garrett (813) 257-3425
Campus Movie Fest When Feb. 25 Where Vaughn Courtyard Cost Free Contact Student Productions (813) 257-3104
Cheers
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Commentary
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
Editorial: Insufficient Security Forces
Chocolate
Candy Hearts
Integrity
A-Rod
Atahualpa
Franciso Pizarro
Transitive Verbs
Intransitive Verbs
Betamax
HD-DVD
Bob Dylan
Will.i.am
Zombies
Mummies
“The Adventures of Dr. McNinja”
“Questionable Content”
Leonardo da Vinci
Michaelangelo
Rods
Cones
Leuitenant Worf
Constable Odo
Tampa has been in the spotlight in the last couple weeks, leaving our campus in the shadow of both Gasparilla and the Super Bowl. In preparation for the large crowds gathering in and around campus for both events, Campus Safety and Security sent out two Global Messages to forewarn students about campus road closures and tighter-than-usual security. Entering campus was similar to trying to gain access to a secure military base, which should have made students feel safe. Let’s not forget security’s large responsibility during the “Today Show,” Republican Debate coverage last spring and both visits by Senator John McCain during his campaign. They worked with TPD and Secret Service not only to protect the celebrities and candidates, but also the students. It is distressing, however, to see that the recent alleged sexual assault occurred for a second time on Gasparilla Day in the past three years. Assistant Director of Safety and Security Kevin Howell could only respond by saying that there was not enough manpower. He said it would take triple the size of the current staff to
adequately protect campus during a 24-hour period when nearly half a million people invade downtown Tampa. Howell did not explicitly say that campus security is understaffed or he ever asked administration for more staff members. We m u s t k e e p i n m i n d however that Campus Safety and Security is not responsible for the irresponsibility of students. They can only do so much even if they had an infinite amount of resources. The main issue which may concern the student body is the idea that the Assistant Director of Security knows there was not enough manpower yet could not do anything about it even if he personally felt his staff could not handle the situation properly. Is it possible that the funds necessary to protect the campus community are not there for the disposal of someone who has the experience and knows what is best for the campus? The Minaret can’t say for sure, but what we do know is that security should be left to those who can handle the job properly. Many members of the security force are former members of police departments and have experience
dealing with things like this. UT’s security force is trained to use deadly weapons, which many campuses do not permit. For the most part, this is a safe campus. When half a million drunken pirates invade the surrounding neighborhoods, it becomes nearly impossible to patrol every corner of campus. But the problem is that the assistant director of security, a former high-ranking TPD officer, says that he needs more people on his staff. Would more security guards have a significant impact the other 364 days of the year? Maybe, but probably not. Most days, campus is well patrolled. Crime statistics show UT is a safer place than surrounding neighborhoods, and certainly safer than the entire city of Tampa. Even if it means hiring 20 temporary security guards, just for Gasparilla, it makes perfect sense to expand the security force for high-risk days. The safety of the university’s chief customers -- the students -- is most at risk those days. We entrust the university to protect us. We hope they can. And we hope they will.
On Valentine’s Day, Singles Should Treat Themselves to Some TLC By Anne Napatalung Columnist
There will be happy couples everywhere. Finally, for one blessed day (if they’re lucky), loved ones aren’t fighting. They’re too busy rubbing noses, holding hands and all those other sappy gestures. I hate Valentine’s Day. I’ve been consistently single on Valentine’s Day for at least the past four years. Thank goodness this year Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday, so I can feel lonely all day instead of just after classes. Luckily, as an experienced single girl on this day of love, I’ve got a few wonderful pointers for those who are spending the day without a significant other. Go spend money on yourself. You’re worth it, and if no one else will you should.
Then you can feel independent and assure yourself that you don’t need a man. I find dropping at least $200 at Victoria’s Secret for the holiday always makes me feel better. (Oops, that was my whole paycheck). You should plan a dinner date with some of your single girlfriends, too. Now, you’re here to have intelligent conversations; treat yourselves and let each other know you don’t need men in your lives, just keep in mind that you should probably take a cab. In my experience, girlfriends sometimes manage to drink their loneliness away and accidentally find themselves plastered. Speaking of getting plastered, avoid any alcoholic drink that makes you emotional. You never know when that bottle of red wine might turn into someone crying about their middle school boyfriend, segueing into a painful rendition of “Cupid” by
112 because it was the first song they danced to. I’d suggest tequila or rum— you’ll more likely be dancing to the “Cupid Shuffle” on top of a bar. On that note, stop in bars or clubs. Don’t go anywhere romantic. Don’t go anywhere where you might see happy couples. Surround yourselves with lots of other single, lonely people. There will be plenty of men out who are looking for your type on Valentine’s Day—the single girl who has had a couple beers and could potentially “fall in love “in about an hour.” Buy Ben and Jerry’s ice cream; it’s a must have on this holiday. I would go for anything with the word brownie, peanut butter or fudge—any flavor should do the trick.
Reserve noticed a $550 billion (yes, billion with a b, like half a trillion.) drawdown on money market accounts in the U.S. The Treasury turned around and gave the banks a $105 billion injection, but it wasn’t enough. The run on the banks was on. The government decided to shut down all withdrawals from money market accounts, but guaranteed them up to $250,000. Previously, money markets weren’t insured by the FDIC.
Rep. Kanjorski said they estimate that by 2 p.m. that day, $5.5 trillion (yes, trillion) would have been withdrawn from United States money market accounts. The U.S. economy would have collapsed. The world economy would have collapsed 24 hours later. Our economic system would have ended. And our political entities, like the Fed and the Treasury, would have faded into the distance, now being entirely worthless organizations.
As far as how to end your wild night… well that’s up to you. One more tip ladies: there are great deals on vibrating goods that may come of use. You don’t have to end up lonely. There’s always that guy from the bar. He was kind of cute.
Then again, maybe it’s just time to go home. Yo u h a d a wonderful day with Jose and the Captain and Ben and Jerry. Maybe those are all the men you need in your life. Anne Napatalung may be reached at anapatalung@ut.edu. .
Financial Troubles Nearly Crushed Economy, Rep. Says
By Peter Arrabal Editor-in-chief
You don’t know how far you can fall until you’ve been to the edge, and this nation teetered on the edge just months ago. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pennsylvania) went on CSPAN in late January and described how close the United States economy came to complete collapse. The entire economic and political system of this country was strained on Sept. 18, 2008 as Congress failed to agree on a “bailout” plan for the struggling financial institutions. At 11 a.m. that day, the Federal
There has been much criticism of the trillions of dollars that have flown to banks, car companies, insurance companies and more. Yes, these irresponsible companies should pay for their mistakes. But at the same time, the citizens of this country nearly caused a collapse far worse than we ever could have imagined. People ran from banks in fear, clutching their hard-earned cash close to their chests. As Rep. Kanjorski said that day, without a banking system, we have no economy. People need to trust their banks, and trust that their money is safe. When bank runs nearly
collapsed the economy in the 1930s, the government created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to create confidence in the banks, confidence that deposits were safe, and that the federal government would back it all up with their strength and might. That confidence has been shattered. Now, the pressure is on the government to find a way to solve these massive problems. We came close to being sunk by our own distrust and fear. We saw the edge, and we were perilously close to tipping. But we were rescued, not by a bailout for the rich, or for Wall Street, but for the entire economy.
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Commentary
Republican Party’s New Face is The Same Old Mug
By Chris Brown Columnist
The Republican Party has its work cut out for itself. Their loss to Barack Obama suggests that the party needs to regroup, but the way they lost reveals that they are in desperate need of re-branding. Of course, this is impossible without competent and vigilant leadership. The few Republicans that held the world’s attention at the end of the electoral season hardly represent an image the party can move forward with. John McCain represents an aged and outmoded Republican era, Sarah Palin (whose last name I still refuse to add to my Microsoft Word dictionary) somehow reaches even further back in time. Samuel Wurzelbacher (Joe the Plumber) is busy reporting for Pajamas Media, trying to convince people to purchase digital converter boxes for their televisions.
Image by globegazette.com
Where can the party find a leader who can be omnipresent in the media without the taint of monikers like Caribou Barbie and Septic Tank Ken? Apparently, they found one in the Maryland Lieutenant Governor’s office. Michael Steele is the first African American Chairman of the Republican Party, but once again Republicans are throwing a curve ball down a straight tunnel. Naturally, Steele does come with the standard political baggage. He ended his first political race with a $35 thousand debt, the majority owed to his sister, Monica Turner. He was also twice fined for missing deadlines to file campaign finance reports and faced foreclosure in 2001. Fortunately, the state awarded him a $30 thousand consulting contract to keep him out of hot water. His latest financial irregularity comes from his failed 2006 campaign bid. Apparently, Steele arranged for his Senate campaign to pay a non-operational company run by his sister for services which were never rendered. One of the allegations is that Steele’s Senate campaign paid $37 thousand to Turner’s company, Brown Sugar Unlimited, for catering and web services. However, Turner filed the necessary paperwork to dissolve the company nearly a year earlier. When Turner was asked about the allegations she refused to comment. Steele’s spokesman commented that Turner “did a lot of media stuff” for the Senate campaign and provided invoices for two separate catering events, one of which
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
totaled $15,000. The two events were dated Oct. 2006 and July 2007. The invoice itself was dated Dec. 2006. The spokesman claimed it was a typographical error. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Wi t h P a l i n a n d J o e t h e Plumber’s image losing stock, the Republican Party needs a new mascot. Here’s one: how about Iron Mike Tyson? Yo u m a y r e m e m b e r t h e delightful, average and ear-biting man who used to be the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Well, he happens to be Turner’s former husband, and a huge supporter of his former brotherin-law. Tyson has stated that he would happily return to the ring if it would help his former brother-in-law. “I would box an exhibition for him,” he said. I would even fight again to help Mike. I would do anything.” Tyson met Turner in 1990 at a party held in the home of Eddie Murphy. The two were married eight years later. Steele has not commented publicly about his friendship with the boxer, but spokesman Doug Heye responded through an e-mail. “Mike Tyson is the father of the Lt. Gov’s niece and nephew and therefore a member of his family.” With financial irregularities on both sides of the isle, Steele certainly knows where to go if he needs someone to take a bite out of those pesky congressional earmarks. Chris Brown may be reached at cbrown@ut.edu.
Everglades: Florida’s Natural Heritage May Not Be Inherited land speculators are trying to get the governor to move Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary further west. This would lead to an encroachment into the Everglades and defeat the purpose of over 20 By Amadu Wiltshire Columnist years of protection of this priceless wetland. Over 50 percent of the There are proposals to build a Everglades have reached the point coal plant in that area and an additional of no return due to man’s uncaring 700 houses in the everglades, which activities in the region. would create ecological havoc. The Everglades are an It is so strange that in a volatile important part of housing “It is time Floridians m a r k e t Florida’s natural heritage. stand up against the w h e r e T h i s mass destruction of our foreclosures expansive are occurring natural heritage... ” wetland is e v e r y d a y, home to many more houses endangered animals such as Florida are continuously being built, and panthers, Cape Sable seaside in a endangered habitat like the sparrows, American crocodiles Everglades. and many other species of flora and Even more ironic is that while fauna, which coexist in a unique the world is seeking to develop and ecological web. utilize cleaner sources of energy In addition to its rich ecological these capitalists are attempting to support systems, the region also acts build a coal plant. as a buffer against hurricanes. We must also look at the effects As the area continues to suffer, this would have on the quality of we will continue to lose a valuable life which the residents of Florida natural shield. would have. The erosion and destruction Common sense will tell any of the Everglades compromises logically thinking person that a coal the quality of life for future plant will produce exhaust, waste generations. and carbon emissions because of Many large developers and burning fossil fuels.
As more carbon is released into the air there will be increased cases of respiratory diseases. Thus, asthma, bronchitis and a myriad of other breathing problems would be faced by the people who live in the vicinity of the Everglades.
It is time the people of Florida stand up against the mass destruction of our natural heritage and protect the environment. If we don’t do this then we will be failing future generations. Don’t be afraid pressure your government officials to ensure
that not only the natural heritage of Florida is protected, but also the natural heritage of the world is secured. Amadu Wiltshire may be reached at awiltshire@ut.edu.
Image by awatson04 / sxc.hu
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
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Commentary
Derrick Austin posted a note: 25 Random Commentaries unavailable for comment.
By Derrick Austin Commentary Editor
Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to read this note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about the world. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged and give this paper to them. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you: check out theminaretonline.com. 1. Groundhog sees shadow: eight more weeks of winter. Congress sees shadow: eight more weeks of economic devastation. 2. In response to complaint’s about the usefulness of Black History Month, February and March in talks to merge into Black Women’s History Month. Nine months of White Men’s History
3. Jessica Simpson was trashed by the paparazzi for supposed weight gain, called “fat” among other things. Thus providing further evidence that big girls are sexy. 4. New York Times columnist, J u d i t h Wa r n e r, w r i t e s i n “Sometimes a President Is Just a President:” “Many women—not too surprisingly—were dreaming about sex with the president.” Bill Clinton assumed jealous. 5. Helen Keller remains the best Apples to Apples card. 6. People seem to respond to Facebook’s “25 Random Facts” out of a deep inner-need to communicate. Often the dull facts fill the gaps between quirky and deeply personal stories. Everyone wants to be heard. 7 . “ Tw i l i g h t ” b u m p e r stickers on Facebook are just as unimaginative as the novels.
8. Does anyone actually have a Snuggie? 9. Will Obama ever repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” Despite a shaky start with gay rights activists and gay Americans (Rick Warren, anyone?), Obama proves to be a man who generally listens to others. He seems like the man who will finally get rid of such a useless law. 10. Most Facebook users run out of interesting things to say about themselves by fact 11. 11. ()_Crayola_() 12. Kate Winslet will win Best Actress at the Academy Awards this year. d(^.^)b 13. The Center for Disease Control announced that half of all AIDS victims in the United States are African American, though blacks comprise only 12 percent of the population. An epidemic of silence within the black community
coupled with the lack of ready health care and media exposure exacerbates the problem.
few times); thus making it easier for everyone to spell out.
14. Influential singer Etta James dissed Beyonce for singing “At Last” (the song she made famous) at President Obama’s Inaugural Ball. James later claimed she was only joking. Even if James was really joking, she needn’t worry about Beyonce. No one can ever replace a legend.
tag.
15. Four thousand Iraqi women ran for office in Iraq during a peaceful election, marking positive growth in the country.
22. Social networking has become the confessional of the New Millennium.
16. There are just as many articles about Facebook’s “Random 25 Facts” as there are notes. 17. I just figured out what rofl means! Rofl! 18. Radio stations intend to censor the title of Britney Spears’s next single “If You Seek Amy” to “If You See Amy” because of the suggestive title (say it out loud a
19. I don’t have 25 friends to
20. If you haven’t made a 25 list chances are you don’t have Facebook, have extraordinary willpower or are just lucky! 21. M.I.A. needs to win Record of the Year for “Paper Planes.”
23. Goal: I will not check my Facebook page every 30 seconds. :0) 24. Reality: Epic fail. (*.*) 25. Facebook’s “25 Random Facts” are often tedious and unfunny. Derrick Austin may be reached at daustin@ut.edu.
Popular Media Blinds Society To Other Shades Of Beauty By Alyssa Lum Columnist
Ladies: Taye Diggs or Shemar Moore? Gentlemen: Tyra Banks or Naomi Cambell? All four of these celebrities are gorgeous—no doubt about it. The women are two of the most legendary models in fashion history, and the men are actors that would make any woman swoon. However, do you prefer one over the other? Could it be because one has lighter skin than the other? Or, perhaps, darker than the other? It’s not something that’s easy to talk about considering the history of this country. What has emerged from the legacy of racial discrimination is the culturally-grown ideal that
lighter skin is better and more acceptable. European features have been the “it” features when discussing the perfect body type, which have been used for everything from selling beauty magazines to segregation. Even with the abolishment of slavery and civil rights’ movements for all peoples (not that they are completely successful), there is still a constant pressure to be something other than what we were born as. The images plastered all over the media give us a poor picture of what is attractive. To businesses, beauty is a commodity, which is partially why they peddle one narrow image of beauty. Their first job is to sell you “beauty” and the harder it is to attain the more money they make. It is our duty to end the circus that has become the skin discussion
and to redefine what is beautiful. Skin color is not only tied to race but has historically been tied to social class Have you ever heard of the paper bag test? If I were darker than the color of the paper bag, I would be considered working class. If I were lighter-skinned, then I would be upper class and able to work inside away from the sun. The proliferation of skin color ideals are worsened by images of “beautiful” men and women in the media. Many popular African American, Latino and Asian stars are of mixed heritages. Beyonce, Selma Hayek and Lucy Liu are all lighter-skinned than the average person of those races. Yet, this is the image that is fed to society.
This exposure to what is popular and beautiful has forced people to change their appearance. Some darker-skinned individuals have tried bleaching their skin to conform to what society has deemed worthy. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the infatuation people of European-descent have with being darker or tanned. Both bleaching and tanning procedures are harmful to peoples’ bodies and to their ability to love who they are. It’s ironic to think one side wants what the other has and vice versa. If we, the younger generation, took control of the discussion of what is sociably acceptable, then maybe we could put an end to the body fascism against others and, ultimately, ourselves. We nit-pick against one another
because we aren’t happy with who we are. I say end the social and cultural construct of color. We have to discuss and be open to learn how someone else feels. Who we are has nothing to do with whatever color skin we were born with. We have the power to make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin. From the darkest black to the lightest white and all the browns and tans in between, we have to change the perception of what’s beautiful. So let’s talk about it. Let’s transform beauty.
Nat King Cole, for example, was born in 1919 in Montgomery, Ala., before his family moved to Chicago to follow Cole’s father’s dream of becoming a preacher. Because he belonged to a poor black family, he was born without a birth certificate, which was not uncommon for a black family in the early 1900s. Cole started out as a jazz singer. As a young man, he showed a great talent on the piano, and his brother was a bass guitar p l a y e r. T h e two of them participated in different jazz groups, but as his career advanced, the age of big jazz and swing bands was “ending.”
This was a point of much controversy in his life; many regarded him as a traitor to jazz music because he went into singing what was considered “pop” music at the time (My, how pop has changed). Civil Rights activists also ridiculed him for not doing enough for the cause and did not view him suing hotels that would not permit him and other African Americans to stay because of their color as enough. Although he wasn’t the greatest civil rights activist, he was a musician not to be reckoned with. He became the first African American to sing at many of his venues and also
was the first African American to headline in his own show, “The Nat King Cole Show” that aired on NBC in 1956. He sang for the Inaugural Ball for John F. Kennedy and even sang for Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1960s. Cole became one of the greatest singers of his time, only second to Frank Sinatra. He went on to sing hit romantic songs such as “When I Fall in Love,” “It was Fascination,” “Zing Goes the String,” “Nature Boy” and, of course, “L-O-V-E,” all of which are songs that will most likely be playing this Valentine’s Day. If you’re not necessarily feeling the whole romantic thing, might I suggest a bit of Nina Simone for your V-Day play list? Listening to her soulful rendition of “I Put a Spell On You” might do you a lot more good than “Bustin’ the Windows” out of somebody’s car…maybe. Then maybe pick up your mood with “Ain’t Got No… I Got Life” if you’re feeling extra
self pity because that guy of girl just wasn’t “that into you.” Then top it all off with a positive, “Here Comes the Sunshine” after you finish that gallon of ice cream, and look forward to a better tomorrow. After all, the frolicking happy couples will be done rubbing their happiness in your face by then. But whatever your Valentine’s Day mood is, apply a healthy amount of music and a good dose of Black History. I leave you with Nat King Cole’s “It was Fascination.”
Alyssa Lum may be reached at alum@ut.edu.
The Hidden Romantic Side of Black History Month By Nicole Robinson Columnist
This Valentine’s Day, many of us will be trying to remember why we love our girl/boyfriend enough to write a romantic poem, while others of us are trying to forget that dirty, rotten, cheating no gooder who dumped us right before Valentine’s Day just to get out of buying us a present. Whatever your case may be, I’m pretty sure there will be a soundtrack. Whether your mind is on how to woo that special someone who has you smitten, or smiting that exspecial someone’s belongings, still keep in mind those great voices that will make sense of your feelings through song and music. And also how closely those voices might relate to Black History month. The people who made classic songs popular, such as Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, BB King and Nina Simone, have a lot of history behind them.
It was fascination I know Seeing you alone With the moonlight above Then I touch your hand And next moment I kiss you Fascination turned to love
Sports
18
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
Sullivan, Spartans Plunder Rollins in SSC Play
Long-range shooting cuts opponent short as Tampa wins in a landslide over No. 18 Tars on Gasparilla By Brenton Burkett Sports Writer
Lauren Mason fights for position. By Brenton Burkett Sports Columnist
I covered my first University of Tampa women’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon as the Spartans beat the No. 18 Rollins Tars 71-48. I saw a very good team with diverse skill sets all around, but one player’s court dominance stood out above all others: that of a 5’7” senior guard named Hailee Sullivan. That game turned out to be a career best with 26 points (9-13; 7-10 3-point) alongside five assists. Myself and the others in attendance, including opposing fans, watched in amazement as she drained one long-range shot after another. Across the press table, even the Rollins commentator raved about Sullivan’s talents. In a game in which nobody else on either team scored more than 11 points, she suddenly dropped 26 on a ranked conference rival. Saturday’s game was actually the second consecutive game in which Sullivan topped her career best. She recorded 18 points, each one important, in an overtime victory over Nova Southeastern on Feb. 4. She also hit
Photo by Andy Meng/ Sports Information
The Gasparilla pirates were not the only entertainment attraction in Tampa Saturday afternoon. The University of Tampa women’s basketball team (16-5, 6-4 SSC) trounced No. 18 Rollins (18-3, 8-3 SSC) 71-48 at the Bob Martinez Sports Center, reciprocating their Jan. 10, 61-48 road defeat. It was the Spartans’ second victory over a ranked rival this season. “Every game counts, so it’s a good win for us – certainly does a lot of things for us in the region and in the conference,” coach Tom Jessee said. “We had to avenge ourselves tonight at home.”
The Spartan onslaught was spearheaded by surging senior guard Hailee Sullivan, who set a career high for the second consecutive game with 26 points and tied a game best with five assists. Sullivan shot 9-of-13, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Following her dominant performance, she downplayed her own indiSullivan vidual accolades. “It’s exciting, but it’s a team game, and I know if I didn’t step up then someone else would have,” Sullivan said. “Every game someone else has stepped up. We know
four three-pointers while leading the team with 15 points in a twopoint win over Flagler on January 31. Some casual followers may be asking, “Who is Hailee Sullivan and where could she have come from?” A closer look reveals some answers. Sullivan, an Illinois native, has played for the Spartans for four years. The stat sheets indicate that she was not always at the top of the game plan. She paid her dues on the bench as a freshman, scoring 3.5 points per game and averaging 9.9 minutes. She made one start as a sophomore, jumping to 11.6 minutes per game, but remaining stagnant at 3.4 points. Sullivan finally got her big break as a junior, starting 11 of 31 games. In 19.2 minutes per game, however, she only tallied 4.2 points as her shooting percentage dropped from around .400 to just .317. Refusing to go out on those terms, Sullivan took on a leadership role as a senior and shined brightly. Through 21 team games, Sullivan has only been in the starting lineup three times. But that certainly does not mean she is of no value to the Spartans. She has
averaged 24.3 minutes and spiked up to 7.4 points per game this season on a much-improved .442 shooting percentage, .452 from three point range. She sits just behind Angela Guiu for fourth on the team at 53 assists, already a career best. Topping it off, Sullivan was named the conference’s Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 8. It is easy to see that she has shown solid improvement across the board in her final opportunity to leave her legacy in UT history. What is her worth to the team? Sullivan herself may not be the one to ask. She told me following Saturday’s game that it’s a team game; the team is playing better together; the victory was a boost of confidence for the team. It was all about the team. But this only makes her a better player in my book. Teamwork and its correlation to winning and team morale are lost on a lot of higher-profile athletes. To Sullivan, though, it is the essence of the game, and that is worth more than the stat sheets. Brenton Burkett can be reached at bburkett@ut.edu.
Sullivan sneaks around a defender.
we haven’t had just one person carry us all year. “We had to work together, move the ball, find the hot hands, and there are a few of us that were making shots all the time,” Sullivan added. Jessee and Sullivan agreed the game was “a big boost” to their confidence and capability to play as a team. Sullivan’s prowess was hardly the lone contribution. Junior forward Tiara Cook totaled nine points and seven rebounds, junior guard Angela Guiu tallied nine points and five assists. Sophomore guard Gianna Messina racked up eight points, seven boards and four steals. Brenton Burkett can be reached at bburkett@ut.edu.
Photo by Abby Sanford
Late Run Vaults Spartans over Conference Rival Rollins Team wins three-straight with victory at home By Ryan Burkett Sports Writer
The Spartans (12-7, 5-4 SSC) avenged a January overtime loss to conference rival Rollins by capitalizing on a 16-0 run in the second half to cruise to a 72-56 victory over the Tars Saturday afternoon, handing Rollins (16-6, 8-3 SSC) just its third conference loss of the season. The Spartans took a 32-26 lead to halftime, capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Rashad Callaway at the end of the
first half. Coach Richard Schmidt’s team took that momentum into the second half, where they went on a remarkable 16-0 run that lasted seven minutes and thirty-three seconds. “We need to keep playing hard all the time, and that’s what we’ve really worked hard on this year,” said Coach Schmidt following the game. Both Schmidt
and senior guard Jonathan Ball viewed the victory as vindicating, as the Spartans had lost to Rollins 70-64 in overtime on the road on January 10. “Since I’ve been playing [here], I’d never lost to Rollins so that was a big deal to me,” Ball, who led the Spartan attack with 17 points (15 of which were scored in the second half) while shooting 7 of 12 from the floor, stated after the game. Ball also commented on the team’s chemistry finally reaching the level they have been seeking to attain all season long. “The team is finally really clicking the way that we want. Everybody’s getting along, the energy’s good.” Ryan Burkett can be reached at rburkett@ut.edu.
Anthony LaBruno dunks.
Photos by Andy Meng/ Sports Information
The Minaret | February 13, 2009
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Sports
Major Leaguers Have Major Problems with Steroids and Signings A-Roid Gets Caught By Ryan Burkett Sports Blogger
I got up Saturday morning and turned my TV on to my favorite channel since its Jan. 1 launch, The MLB Network, only to hear the news of yet another tragic story of performance-enhancing drug use by one of baseball’s biggest names. I, however, have been somewhat suspicious of Yankee superstar Alex Rodriguez as it pertains to this issue for quite some time. For one thing, it is visibly clear that he has experienced a change in body type since the early years of his career in the 1990s with the Seattle Mariners. While he didn’t bulk up to the level of say, Barry Bonds, he
was a thin shortstop once upon a time. Then again, the anabolic steroid (besides plain old testosterone) that Alex tested positive for was Primobolan, which does not turn users into virtual dead ringers for the Incredible Hulk but rather builds lean muscle and inner natural body strength. The most disturbing part of this story, however, is that much like Barry Bonds, “A-Rod” (which is another in a long line of pretentious sports nicknames, but I digress) could have been a Hall of Famer without having ever once dabbled in steroid usage. Now, much like the aforementioned Bonds, his career will forever be marred, and if he ever surpasses Bonds on the all-time home run list, it will not be globally celebrated. Just like Bonds. Check out the rest of this post at www.theminaretonline.com/ overtime.
Manny Being Manny...Again By Olivia Glynn Sports Blogger
No one in their right mind would turn down $25 million for a year’s worth of work. Well technically it’s only around eight months…seven not including spring training. No one with half a brain would turn this down, proving that Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras don’t even have that between the both of them. Baseball contracts are absolutely ridiculous. You can look at Alex Rodriguez’s $28 million that he earned in 2008 for, yet again, failing to help his team reach the world series, and the $457,000 that American League MVP Dustin Pedroia made in 2008, and come
to your own conclusions. No one needs that kind of money. Any way that you look at it, the amount of cash that flies around the baseball world is absurd. Ramirez and Boras turned down $25 million seemingly without a second thought. Consider
the game entertaining. Whether it’s his towering home runs to left field or cutting off a Johnny Damon throw, he seems to know exactly how to keep the fans engaged in the game. So a word of advice for the
Manny needs to keep in mind that his time is running out. Most teams are not even slightly interested in the melodramatic left fielder.
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the thousands of men and women that have lost their jobs due to the struggling economy and tell me that that’s okay. Manny needs to keep in mind that his time is running out. Most teams are not even slightly interested in the melodramatic left fielder, who many sometimes wonder if he takes the game seriously. I do admit that he does make
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slugger, quit running your mouth and start appreciating the talent that you have and the teams that want you. No one is going to give you a better deal, so if that’s not enough money for you, go sell another one of your grills on eBay. Comment on this article at www.theminaretonline.com/overtime.
Centerfielder Pays Visit to UT, Talks Ethics with Class MLB star explains to students how life in the spotlight can be mistaken By Bobby Winsler Sports Editor
Detroit Tigers’ centerfielder Curtis Granderson hosted an open question and answer session last Wednesday, Feb. 4 for students of a Sports Ethics course. Granderson arrived at the university after philosophy professor Dave Monroe contacted John Fuller, Granderson’s public relations representitve almost a year and a half ago. “I wrote a short rebuttal or something, chastising the misrepresentation, which was seen by his PR guy. Fuller contacted me about having Curtis do a campus visit,” Monroe said. “So they approached me about it, rather than me getting with them. Of course, I stayed on top of it and didn’t let
Fuller forget the offer.” Though Granderson denied the personal title, he didn’t take long to establish himself as a role model. He is one of a handful of professional ball players to also compliment talent with a college degree, and his well-spoken, clearly annunciated speech coupled with an aura of self-confidence reflects that. Granderson answered every question purposed to him, regardless of subject sensitivity, including the story about how he and Monroe first came into contact. “USA Today interviewed me about athletes and strip clubs. My comment was and I quote, ‘I understand why guys go,’” Granderson said. “You have males and females, you have TVs and
food anything a guy might want to do to enjoy himself… I did not say I go, I did not say I condone people going, but Detroit Press reprinted the story with ‘Granderson, Fan of Strip Clubs.’” This wasn’t the only time the press gave the young ball player trouble Granderson hosted a charity basketball event for his philanthropy Grandkids that supports education. Some of his celebrity guests included Miss America and a former Playboy Playmate of the Year Sarah-Jean Underwood. The media criticized him for the latter. “People called in and said, ‘how are you going to have a Playmate playing in your [charity] game?’” Granderson recalled, “I said, ‘She’s not playing naked.’
To me, I felt that this was their job and their profession. We’re out here to raise money for education. Again, everybody was going to be clothed.” In front of the cameras in the locker room is no different. Pegged by publications as a good interview, Granderson spends much of his post-game time in front of the bright lights. “Not everyone can do it, and I’m slowly learning how to. The difficult things with the ethics side of it is I just played against you, and now I’ve
got to talk about you. I could either say something good or something bad. Both of which could be true… but I would never say anything bad about you,” he said. Granderson took other questions including topics such as steroids and how to pick a sports agent for the full two hours of the class. “I was pretty thrilled by him,” Monroe concluded. “I’d heard all the good stuff about the guy, but I thought he was more impressive in person.” Bobby Winsler can be reached at minaret. sports@gmail.com. Listen to the full interview at www. theminaretonline. com/overtime.
UT Provides Tutoring to All, No Special Treatment For Athletes By Olivia Glynn Asst. Sports Editor
In many Division I colleges across the country, athletic departments provide their studentathletes with tutors in order to help them stay eligible to compete. At the University of Tampa, tutoring is always available for student-athletes, but it is not handed to them on a silver platter. Tutoring services are offered to all UT students through the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), but it’s up to the students
From “JV” Continued From Back Page working out alone, but if there are two or more athletes together they are allowed to be in there. Our facility is open to all athletes, JV or Varsity, starter or non-starter.
and student-athletes to seek the help when they need it. “The ones who want to take advantage of [tutoring] take advantage of it,” said Tom Kolbe, Director of Sports Information. “If it’s forced on them, then they could be doing it for the wrong reasons.” The university does not offer tutoring specifically for athletes, but ACE provides a flexible calendar of tutoring times and tries to be compatible with any studentathletes schedule. Jennifer Del Valle, Associate Director for the Academic Center for Excellence, is looking forward
to this semester as an opportunity to try to figure out how to best accommodate the needs of athletes. “I just want to see how this semester goes first and see if they actually do take advantage of the tutoring when we tell them they should take advantage of it,” said Del Valle. “I’m going to be sending out progress reports to the professors of the athletes at a 2.5 GPA or below just to kind of gauge where they are. If there is a problem, we can catch it early in the semester.” The University of Tampa requires all student athletes to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point aver-
age in order to remain eligible to play. Along with university rules, many coaches set a higher standard for their players. “To tell you the truth, there are not that many athletes that are in that range,” explained Del Valle. “It’s a handful,” The athletic department and coaches stay on top of athletes’ grades as well. Coaches look at grades throughout the semester to make sure that their players are not at risk of becoming ineligible, and team study halls are also held.
If athletes are struggling academically, they are sent to ACE, just as non-athletes are. As for what the future holds for athletic tutors, Del Valle is still deciding what the best method for helping the student athletes will be. “We were talking about actually having required tutoring hours…so we’re going to play with that probably once this semester is over,” she said. “The coaches and I are trying to work together and figure it out.” Olivia Glynn can be reached at oglynn@ut.edu.
As long as I’m the A.D. here, I’ll never shut kids out of there…it sends the wrong message.” Coach Johnson, the head coach for the JV team, helped clarify the situation, saying “This is just a misunderstanding. We always thought that the rule was that the athletes had to be supervised by a
coach to be in there.” Regardless of what the “misunderstanding” was, the JV athletes have continuously been overlooked when it comes to the advantages all the other NCAA teams are receiving at this school. “I think its unfair, and it puts a big strain on us because we
would have more accessibility to more/better equipment if we were allowed in there (since McNiff is so overpopulated). All we do is work out on the track which isn’t very conducive to baseball training,” said Mario Echeverria, starting pitcher for JV. “Any JV player would be willing to stay
later just to use the weight room.” The athletic department agrees. “JV is the same as Varsity,” Marfise said. So can we please start acting like it? Shelby Kuni can be reached at skuni@ut.edu.
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‘n Spartans Sweep, Continue to Impress t u O
Ask Your A.D. Online
The resourceful University of Tampa athletic web site has a section under the Fanzone tab that most won’t find at other schools. Any Spartan can send a question directly to Athletic Director Larry Marfise. The site archives previously asked questions. So far, these archives are empty. Check out the site at www. tampaspartans.com/.
Player of the Week Hailee Sullivan led the University of Tampa’s women’s basketball team to two important conference wins on the week of Feb. 2 to Feb. 8, earning her the Sunshine State Conference honor. In Sullivan the first win over Nova Southeastern on Feb. 4 Sullivan knocked down six threepointers. In the win against Rollins she knocked down a career high seven three-pointers on her way to 26 points.
Diving for Gold Three UT swimmers took home two gold medals from the Scuba Olympics held in Largo, Fla. on Feb. 7. Shane Armbrister, Chris Grace, and Michael Vinci smoked their competition in the tired divers tow and the three legged race, both of course, were under water. Armbrister also won the bronze medal in the underwater bicycle race. The proceeds from the Scuba Olympics benefitted the City of Largo’s Special Olympics Aquatic Program.
By Olivia Glynn Asst. Sports Editor
What started off as a slow, endof-weekend series for the University of Tampa men’s baseball team turned into an exciting three-game sweep of the Georgia College and State University Bobcats. With the first start for lefty transfer Carmine Giardina, he was quickly knocked around for three runs in just the first two innings. “It was Giardina’s first start for us; maybe he was a little nervous,” explained Head Coach Joe Urso. “His command was down, he had too many walks and the energy level, everything was just kind of flat,” Urso said. “But then our bullpen did a really nice job for us.” The Spartan bullpen combined allowed only two runs for eight innings pitched in the first game against the Bobcats. The big game changer came when relief pitcher Danny Keefe came in for UT. “When Keefe came in, the energy level really picked up. You saw the offense come around, and we started doing some things better defensively,” said Urso. The first games of the season have shown a team with a strong core and invaluable role players. With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the extra inning, Nick Nordgren entered the batter’s box for the first time, after having come in as a pinch runner earlier. The running switch made by Urso paid off, as Nordgren hit a solo walk-off home run to left cen-
Josh Bowman started in the third game, collecting five strikeouts in six innings.
ter to win the game for the Spartans. The second game of the day got off to a better start as the Spartans erased an early 1-0 deficit by scoring three runs in the fourth inning, kicked off by a Garrett Maines RBI single. Those three runs were all that they would need as UT held the Bobcats at one run and picked up their second win of the day. At this point in the season, Urso and his coaching staff are working with the players to figure out their role and where they can be used when necessary. “[We are] trying to give these guys roles where they know what to expect and when they’re going to be called on so they’re ready,”
Urso said. The third and final game of the series was mostly the same from a spectator’s standpoint, but much different in the eyes of senior infielder Brenton Cianci. Cianci, a valuable role player for the Spartans, started in his first college game ever on Monday against the Bobcats, but it was not evident through his play. “It was my first start and I really just wanted to do well and do my job, and I did,” said Cianci. “I was pretty excited, it was fun.” The second baseman played solid defense and went two for four with a double and two RBI on the afternoon. “I think now [Urso] has confidence in me, in case late in the
Photo by Abby Sanford
game I have to go in,” Cianci explained. “That’s been my job for a long time, but now he’s got even more confidence, so it’s kind of nice; it’s kind of refreshing” Urso was rightfully impressed by Cianci’s start. “It was his first college start, and he did awesome,” he said. Cianci was grateful for the endless encouragement he has received from his teammates and equally as grateful for his friends that came out to show their support. The Spartans have started the season on a 4-0 run, showing the depth and promise that this team has early in the season. Olivia Glynn can be reached at oglynn@ut.edu.
JV Not Given the Same Treatment as Other Athletes By Shelby Kuni Sports Columnist
“This is the first I’ve heard of this,” said Larry Marfise, UT’s athletic director, when I first mentioned to him the subject of the story I was writing on. When I found out that the JV baseball team wasn’t getting the same benefits that the Varsity athletes were getting, I immediately jumped on the case. I was once put on the “B team” for Volleyball in Middle School (I should have made the “A team” but my coach was obviously a moron). The coaches got new uniforms made for the “A team”
and we got these horrible excuses for “jerseys;” they were raggedy t-shirts that had permanent holes and sweat-stains on them. Nonetheless, the point of my story is to inform- nay, correct- the misinformed baseball coaches. For all those non-athletes out
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Our facility is open to all athletes, JV or Varsity, starter or non-starter. As long as I’m the A.D. here, I’ll never shut kids out of there. -Larry Marfise
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there, allow me to enlighten you on the issue at hand. The student-athletes here at UT are given access to a particular weight room that is located in the back of Bob Martinez Sports Center. It has more (and better)
M. Basketball
W. Basketball
Feb. 14, 4 p.m. at Barry
Feb. 14, 2 p.m. at Barry
>>> The Spartans try to gain ground in the SSC against Barry. The men will also play on Sunday at Nova Southeastern.
equipment than McNiff, and more importantly is only open to collegiate athletes (therefore it isn’t overpopulated, unlike McNiff). It is a special place for studentathletes to go and work on getting better, faster and stronger. The athletic department also
>>> The women take on the Buccaneers in Miami Shores on Saturday with only five regular season games left to play.
employs two very talented and sought-after men, Raphael Ruiz and Eric Hall, who split the teams between them and train them on a weekly basis. “The JV baseball players are not allowed to work out in the weight room designated for the
rest of the student-athletes without coaching supervision,” Varsity head coach Joe Urso said. “We pay for Varsity to work out with Eric, but not JV.” Now, if you’re an athlete, you know that rarely are there ever coaches in the weight room “supervising” their athletes. So, this unfortunately means that for the JV athletes, they do not get the added bonuses of being able to work out in the weight room. Like I mentioned before, Marfise was shocked when I told him about this issue. “No coach has ever told me JV baseball wasn’t allowed in there,” Marfise said. “Every student who participates in our collegiate athletics is allowed to work out in there. Now, we don’t want anybody See
“JV” [19]
No. 1 Baseball Feb. 13-15, at West Alabama
>>>The Spartans travel to Livingston, Ala. for two games against West Alabama and two against Southern Arkansas.
Baseball blunders send signing and steroid talks into the blog. [19]