The Minaret Volume 84 Issue 2

THE LEGACY OF p. 12

NUMBER 24

1988-2017

Page 12 THEMINARETONLINE.COM • FACEBOOK: THE MINARET • TWITTER: @THE_MINARET • INSTAGRAM: @THEMINARET

MINARET

M EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR PRODUCTION EDITOR

Katelyn Massarelli Mauricio Rich Andrew Foerch John Feltman

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Jacob Trask

Ivy Velazquez

OPINION Indira Moosai SPORTS HEAD COPY PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN MULTIMEDIA

Simon Brady

Arden Iglehart Harsh Rokad Carissa Economos Regina Gonzalez

FACULTY ADVISER David Wheeler

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL.

84

NO.

Claudia Rivera Devon Conway Liz Maclean Veronica Sansur Veronica Gray Sara Setargew

COPY EDITING

Sara Lattman Alexandra Tirado Ana Mejia Matthew Rolison

Katie Stockdale

PHOTOGRAPHERS Mackenzie Lane

ADVERTISE

Contact: Samir Sherman, Sara Richardson samir.sherman@theminaretonline.com sara.richardson@theminaretonline.com

ADDRESS

401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Box P Tampa, FL 33606

OFFICE

Vaughn 211 Phone - 813.257.3636 Fax - 813.253.6207

ONLINE

The Minaret Online - theminaretonline.com ut.minaret@gmail.com

COVER

Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe

SEPT

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2017

NEWS

OPINION

New Laundry Payment System Infiltrate

BY ANA MEJIA PAGE 14

BY LIZ MACLEAN PAGE 3

The Sunday Night Ritual SUBMISSIONS BY CLAUDIA RIVERA PAGE 4-5

Goodbye to Asian Bistro and Jazzman’s

Google Test Helps Detect Depression

Stay Safe This Hurricane Season

BY SARA LATTMAN PAGE 15

Look What She Made Me Do

BY ALEXANDRA TIRADO PAGE 16-17

BY VERONICA SANSUR PAGE 6

The Distracted States of America

A+E

BY SARA SETARGEW PAGE 18

Capouya Is The Man Who Knows Soul

BY IVY VELAZQUEZ PAGE 7

Marvel’s New TV Epic Gets Theater Release

BY VERONICA GRAY PAGE 8

Here’s what you missed in theaters last Summer

BY JACOB TRASK PAGE 9

The Good, The Evil, and The Ambiguous

BY KATIE STOCKDALE PAGE 10

COVER

The Legacy of Number 24

BY JOHN FELTMAN AND KATELYN MASSARELLI PAGE 12-13

WRITERS

2

SPORTS

Men’s Soccer determined for SSC Title

BY DEVON CONWAY PAGE 20

Spartan’s Volleyball ready to get back on track

BY MATTHEW ROLISON PAGE 21

Pro Football Column: NFL Season Preview

BY JOHN FELTMAN PAGE 22-23

NEWS

Photo by Harsh Rokad/The Minaret LAUNDRY: A student uses one of the new laundry payment systems. The new system has been implemented in all the laundry rooms around campus, causing mixed reactions, with some students upset about the raised prices and others pleased by the new symplicity that the system brings.

New laundry payment system infiltrate Liz MacLean Contributing Writer elizabeth.maclean@spartans.ut.edu

When students moved into their dorms two weeks ago, many noted the new laundry payment systems put in place over the summer. The washers and dryers haven’t changed, but the payment system has –- instead of using a prepaid laundry card, students must now use either a debit or credit card. The prices of washing machines and dryers have also increased, which several students are upset about.

Cynthia Ezell, the director of business services at UT, says the new system was implemented because over the summer the electronics changed for the payment portion of the laundry machines. This means that the school would have to distribute different laundry cards for each laundry room, rather than one card for all machines on campus, which would have been inconvenient for both students and the Spartan Card office.

“I don’t think there’s a huge difference between this and the old system, except I’m mad that they made it a bit more expensive,” said Raouf Abdelfattahiwep, a senior entrepreneurship major. “First semester, it’s going to add up, just doing laundry, so now I’m thinking before I do a load or two.”

In previous years, a laundry and drying load cost $1.85.

Now, a washing machine costs $1.25 and a dryer costs $1.25.

“We were reluctant to raise the prices, but the laundry company informed us that our prices were not in line with other universities and needed to be increased,” Ezell said.

To operate the machines, students insert their credit or debit card into the payment machine and select the washer or dryer number they’d like to use. Abdelfattahiwep says that while the machines are fairly similar to the old ones,

students should make sure they type in the correct washer or dryer number, or they’ll end up paying for someone else’s laundry.

Students can download an app called LaundryView, which UT has used for over 10 years, that communicates with the washers and dryers and says which machines are open and when laundry cycles are finished. Instructions can be found on the walls of all laundry rooms.

Some parents and students have voiced concerns about the new machines, since they malfunctioned during move-in days in Jenkins Hall, according to RA Olivia Garthwaite, a senior psychology major.

“I don’t remember there being as many problems with the old system,” Garthwaite said. “The card system has been broken for the majority of the time we’ve been back, so people have been unable to do their laundry, so that’s definitely been an issue. The company is willing to work with us, but it took three days for them to send someone out to come fix it.”

Now that most of the machines are up and running and students are beginning to experience the new payment system.

“I feel like it takes more time, and I’m not about that,” said Alex Martinos, a junior accounting major. “No one can be happy about [the price increase], especially after paying so much to live on campus, and I think they raised the price of tuition, too. There’s nowhere else I can do my laundry, so I have to do it here.”

While some students may be apprehensive about using their credit card with the machine, CSC Service Works, the company that operates the new payment machines, said that the system is secure and that personal information is encrypted and won’t be saved. Ezell says that other universities that have implemented this credit card system

have been very happy with the change.

Some students, such as sophomore marine biology major Kailyn Schmitz, are pleased with the new systems, which saves time by eliminating the need to go to Morsani or Vaughn and refill a laundry card.

“I like the new system; I just think it’s easier,” Schmitz said.

“It used to be such a pain to find a laundry card machine to refill my card. Now, I’ve only used this new system once, but it worked flawlessly.”

The machines accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. RAs in all dorms are available to help answer questions about the new payment systems.

Photo by Makenzie Lane/The Minaret The new laundry system in dorms is slightly more expensive than the old one. It does away with laundry cards and instead has students use a debit or credit card.

THE MINARET SEPT.7.2017

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NEWS

Personal experience: The Sunday night ritual

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NEWS

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Photo courtesy of Claudia Rivera FAMILY: Claudia Rivera (top tight) poses with her family members during one her many family gatherings. For Rivera and her fmaily, the weekly Sunday night times together are so normal that to go without them is too strange to even imagine.

Claudia Rivera Contributing Writer claudia.rivera@spartans.ut.edu It gets loud, really loud. It is in my house at around 7:30 that my world comes together to talk about Fidel Castro, Puerto Rico’s financial crisis and the latest family gossip.

As my mother rummages through the cabinets, the dishes clatter like wind chimes getting blown by the breeze. She sets up the cutting board, grabs a knife, stacks up the cheese, pulls out the red wine and smoothly reaches for the bottle opener; twist, pull and “pop”. Movements all too familiar to her that she does them with ease, almost like a ritual; the Sunday night ritual.

My kitchen is small, equipped with a modest refrigerator, electric stove, a stainless steel sink and a few cabinets. On Sunday nights my kitchen grows bigger and bigger until it is so big that it holds over a hundred years of life. The drink of tonight sits tall on the kitchen counter, a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. The mouthwatering cheese shimmers of grease and high cholesterol but in this household it is a sin to have wine without nibbling on a cheese platter. Conversation dulls down the Coqui’s song and paves way to a discussion between three generations about politics, history and

religion. My eyes jump to each person as they talk. They focus on their hand gestures, their eye rolls, their grins, the nodding of their head and how their composition changes as we switch from one subject to another. I notice how when talking about Cuba my grandmother’s eyes water as if she could see herself back in the fields with her father and how my grandfather’s stance becomes hostile and firm as he swallows the lump in his throat brought up by nostalgia and frustration.

Through all of this my brother captures the moving figures of whomever he sets on drawing that night. The only downside to that is that no one ever captures him in the act.

In my attempt to sketch an image of him through my words all I can say is how content he looks when he is doing what he loves. His thick black eyebrows furrow in concentration and his tentative gaze goes from the paper to the person as he vacillates between the conversation and his drawing. His hand glides smoothly over the paper like a machete cutting through a sugarcane field. By the middle of the night his sketches are finished and he gives life to what was a dull white piece of paper. I believe this is his way of making sense of things, his way of documenting these moments instead of just leaving them as memories.

When I look at my mom she takes a while to feel my gaze but when she does she sends me a toothy smile and blows a

kiss. When she turns her attention back to the conversation I look at her and see parts of me. For me her whole being exudes love. She listens attentively, meanwhile, maintaining everything in check. Every line, scar or mark, whether in her face, hands or arms has a reason. Her voice fills every inch of our home and it serves as a constant reminder of her nurturing and caring ways. The gold chain that sits around her neck is my mother’s emblem. The “P” on it stands for Pilar, her name, but beyond that it defines her as our protector, provider and above all a powerful woman. I hope that like me, she finds parts of herself in me.

I catch myself smiling through all of this. I am completely and utterly in love with the people sitting in front of me. As they slurp on the last drops of wine and eat the remnants of cheese left on the platter the clock strikes ten thirty.

This is usually the time when my grandmother nudges my grandfather and hurries him to finish up his wine while complaining about how late it has gotten. My grandfather dips back his head and consumes what is left of the velvety liquid. Reluctantly, I bid my goodbyes and help my mom clean up. As I wipe the crumb filled counter, I look over my shoulder and realize how lucky I am.

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NEWS

Goodbye to Asian Bistro and Jazzman’s New spots in Morsani offer pho, orange chicken, sandwiches, and more Veronica Sansur Contributing Writer mvsansurzapata@spartans.ut.edu This semester Dining Services has surprised students with new eating choices. The new Star Ginger and Mindful, located in Morsani Hall, replaced Asian Bistro and Jazzman’s.

Star Ginger is an Asian concept that incorporates Vietnamese and Thai food flavors while also touching on popular options from China, India and Korea. Students can choose between the Asian Grill and Minful.

Asian Grill offers dishes such as the Thai BBQ Chicken or Lemongrass Tofu, with sides like potstickers, egg rolls or fresh vegetables.

There are also bánh mì sandwiches, with thai BBQ chicken or tofu with veggies. Also, students can enjoy noodle bowls, like the Vietnamese pho with tofu and veggies or the spicy Thai pho with beef. There is also the hot wok that includes orange chicken, Thai chicken curry and the special of the day.

Although many students enjoy having a vegan-friendly option, some are not happy with the decision of removing the old restaurants, especially Jazzman’s. Although Greig Roberts, a sophomore marine science major said that he is comfortable with the new changes.

“Star Ginger, it is nice,” Roberts said. “Although I miss Jazzman’s, I feel like the quality of food is better. I just got the orange chicken and it was pretty good.”

Other students expressed sadness after losing the beloved bakery options from Jazzman’s.

“I kind of miss Jazzman’s because of their teas and some of the sweets they had like the cookies and muffins,” Deandra Randall, a senior allied health physical therapy major, said.

Samantha Marcado, a senior biology major, said she does not care about the removal of Jazzman’s, as students still have good coffee and tea from Starbucks. Marcado also said that workers could be more careful while preparing the food.

“I like the new dining choices,” Marcado said. “The Star Ginger place is good, but I just got the chicken pho and the

Photo by Ivy Velazquez/The Minaret DIG IN: Pho (above) is just one of the new food options given by StarGinger and Mindful. Though many students are disappointed by the replacement of Jazzman’s and AsianBistro, others are excited to explore the new choices.

vegetables were a little bit raw.”

At Mindful, students can choose their own sandwich fillings, like vegetables, cheese, sauces and even the type of bread or wrap. Mindful also serves salads and soups.

Students can choose any of these as a Meal Exchange.

Moreover, there are different type of sweets, like lemon and chocolate cakes and oatmeal cookies.

Mindful focuses on “transparency” with ingredients, food, portion sizes and making well thought-out choices in regards to food options to where it becomes second nature.

Rob Roberson, a junior cybersecurity major, said that he liked that the place was clean and he did not have to wait a

long time.

“This tastes good; I commonly do not eat spinach wraps but this is awesome,” Roberson said. “I prefer Mindful over the old places because it is healthier. I saw that they make sandwiches and then I said: ‘Man, is this like Subway?’ So, I decided to give it a chance.”

CAMPUS CRIMES THE ART OF THE STEAL

IDENTITY CRISIS

A RUFF DAY

WEEDING OUT

On Aug. 28 at 10:12 a.m., a faculty member reported that an artwork on loan to the gallery had been stolen. Campus Safety believe that the piece was actually stolen at some point over the summer.

On Aug. 31 at 2:26 p.m., a student parked their unregistered car in a visitor spot in Thomas Parking lot, and lied about being a student, refusing to present an ID.

On Aug. 31 at 6:48 p.m., a nonservice dog was observed on the tennis courts, off-leash, and the owner of the dog was contacted.

On Sept. 1 at 12:47 a.m., a room inspection conducted by an RA in Straz resulted in a alcohol, drug, and weapons violations.

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Capouya is the man who knows soul Journalism professor publishes a book about Florida soul music in the 20th century Ivy Velazquez A&E Editor ivy.velazquez@theminaretonline.com A lover of soul music from a relatively young age, Associate Professor of Journalism John Capouya is a fan of all the classics. And as he grew up listening to them, he thought he knew almost all there was to know about the genre, especially about where all the biggest names came from, from Timmy Thomas to Ben E. King. But upon moving to Tampa eight years ago, he was surprised to find what seemed to be an undiscovered capital of soul: Florida.

When one thinks of Florida, Disney World, beaches, hurricanes and alligators come to mind. What doesn’t cross the mind is that it is one of the birthplaces of soul music. One of the artists considered to be a founder of soul music, Ray Charles, is a “Florida product”, as Capouya put it.

This is what Capouya explores in his book, Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band.

This is his third published book, but his first covering this particular topic. It focuses on exploring the culture of Florida Soul music and the legacies behind it.

The catalyst for the book, Capouya said, was a widely known dance craze called “The Twist” and the no. 1 hit list song of the same name that helped bring it to fame.

“On the 50th anniversary of that song becoming a number one hit, I wrote a piece for the Tampa Bay Times investigating the urban legend that ‘The Twist’ came from Tampa,” Capouya said. “And I concluded that it probably did.”

Not long after writing this piece, an editor from the the University Press of Florida who had read it asked him if he had ever thought of writing a book on the topic of the history of soul music in Florida. And after some further discussion, Capouya wrote a proposal to them and they accepted it.

“The whole thing was completely accidental,” Capouya said. “I was trying to call about something else and this woman got on the phone.”

Once the project was started, it took Capouya a total of about six years to complete it. It involved much research and one-on-one interviews with some of the genre artists who are still alive today, such as blues hall of famer, Latimore, as well as with those who knew them. “It’s almost entirely based on first-hand reporting.

It involved a lot people-finding on the internet,” Capouya said.

Capouya did not do this entirely on his own. He spoke of a great gratitude towards the University of Tampa for grants given to him, as well as a sabbatical, that he feels he could not have finished the book without. His wife, Suzanne Williamson, is an art photographer who took many of the photos featured within the book. He also had some help from former UT journalism student, Katherine Lavacca ‘16, and videographer Jemaine Browne, who works for media services at UT.

Lavacca came to be involved in the project through the UT work study program, where she applied to be his assistant. As a native Floridian, she was interested to learn a bit more history about her home state. Her job largely consisted of transcribing interviews and making footnotes, as well as some researching.

“As a j-school student starting my journalism career, being able to work with someone who has as much experience as Capouya was an amazing opportunity,” Lavacca said. “He taught me a lot about the dedication you need to have when starting a project and to be persistent.”

As Capouya’s videographer, Browne’s role involved filming when Capouya went to do interviews. He feels that a documentary would be perfect to pair with Florida Soul. Unfortunately, because he came a little late into the process, he was unable to get much footage but he is still hopeful for a documentary, as is Capouya, even if it’s just a short 20 minute movie.

“I already knew that he published a few books before Florida Soul, but this time I felt that a documentary was needed for this book. I think he is doing a great thing by writing this book,” Browne said.

Capouya also had some advice to offer for other aspiring writers.

“Persevere and if you’re passionate about something, and you put in the work, you can find an outlet,” Capouya said. “And you never know where it’ll lead.”

Florida Soul will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 12 and can be purchased on Amazon.

“[Capouya] details the indelible mark left by Florida performers on the national pop culture scene between 1945 and 1980. He argues that, during that time, Florida audiences were dancing to their own local sounds. He celebrates huge homegrown talents such as Ray Charles; Sam Moore of Sam and Dave fame; and Hank Ballard, who penned the global hit “The Twist.”

- Publishers Weekly While Capouya had no specific goal when going into this project, other than to write the book, he does hope to add to the scholarship on Florida soul and to help “put Florida on the map” as a capital of soul music. He hopes to reach the audiences of music buffs and lovers of the genre who interested in learning about its history.

After so many years of hard work, Capouya is glad to finally be able to see the result of it all. ‘’It’s really satisfying to hold the physical book and know that all those years of reporting and writing came to something, that there is a tangible result,” Capouya said. “Also, I am beginning to get feedback, in reviews in a couple national magazines, and from music writers I respect, and the feedback has been very positive, so that’s gratifying as well.’’

These reviews, from Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal, have called Capouya’s book “entertaining and colorful” as well as saying that Florida Soul is “a significant entry to the scholarship on soul music.”

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Williamson SOUL MAN: Associate Journalism Professor John Capouya is releasing a new book titled Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band. This is his third published book.

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Photo courtesy of Marvel’s Inhumans/Facebook SUPER HUMAN: Marvel’s newest television series is based off a group of characters called the Inhumans, who live in a city on the moon, and have been a part of the Marvel universe since 1965.

Marvel’s new TV epic gets theater release ABC’s Inhumans makes the first ever television debut in IMAX Veronica Gray Contributing Writer veronica.gray@spartans.ut.edu Marvel’s Inhumans is the newest addition to Marvel Studios primetime TV series on ABC, but for the first time they’ve decided to do something different. Marvel and ABC filmed the first two episodes with IMAX cameras and released them in movie theaters as a special preview of the show.

This twist was revealed over the summer, but was not widely advertised to the public. In fact, if I hadn’t been an avid YouTube watcher, I would have missed the event entirely. I’ve seen the Black Panther trailer hundreds of places, but Inhumans hasn’t seen much publicity since being teased as a TV series during Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D season 4 finale. This lack of publicity might explain why I walked into a practically empty IMAX theater. Well, and the trailer did not exactly spark excitement in anyone but the loyal fans of the Marvel franchise. Personally, I wasn’t sure how Marvel was going to do this. Release Inhumans in IMAX theaters then on TV? The plot to the Inhumans series follows the lives of the Inhumans, a race of superhumans, living in Attilan, a city hidden on Earth’s moon. The main focus is on King Black Bolt, his wife Queen Medusa, trusted allies Gorgan, Karnak and Medusa’s sister, Crystal, as they are faced with a coup

by Black Bolt’s brother Maximus. In attempt to protect her family, Crystal has her super-powered dog transport everyone in danger to Earth, more specifically the islands of Hawaii, before she herself is caught. The series journeys through these characters getting home and fighting back against Maximus.

The show has some potential. While there were some cheesy lines to open the series and an unnecessary fiveminute recap during a jungle chase, the rest of the show gave a foundation that viewers could follow. That is, if they can connect with the characters.

8 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

I was intrigued by Black Bolt (played by Anson Mount, Hell on Wheels), who throughout the episodes never said a word due to his power, which is revealed later in the episode. Instead, Medusa (played by actress Serinda Swan, Graceland) is his voice, translating a version of sign language that the actors based off of ASL. Mount used facial expressions and body language to carry himself as King of the Inhumans and convey emotions, especially when he was robbed of the one person who could communicate for him.

It was fun to watch and I could easily feel the confidence of the king by watching Mount’s performance.

The villain of the show, Maximus, played by Iwan Rheon, immediately calls to mind another Thor versus Loki plotline. To bring in the Loki comparison is a bit much, as Maximus isn’t as scorned by the people his family rules.

Maximus may not have any powers like his brother, but he has his own voice. He has a silver tongue which speaks to the people with a level of comfort they wanted to hear.

He speaks against the caste system of Attilan to those who have been hurt most by it, but we don’t really seem much of this system. We see the rough side of the kingdom, the mines and poor citizens, but we do not see the comparison.

Maximus has his own reasons for being the villain, but they are not explained very well. Is it because he’s treated a little differently from the rest of the Inhumans because he is without powers? Is it fear that humans from Earth really will destroy them? Pride? It’s just not clear, and that could weaken the strength of his role as the series villain.

However, this could be resolved during the actual series.

The TV show premiers on ABC Sept. 29 starting with the episodes they showed in theaters, which gives the IMAX experience a two week run, enough time to draw in some viewers, but in my experience it isn’t worth the $15. Seeing the Marvel show in theaters was fun, but unnecessary. In the production, they used the IMAX cameras sparingly for a few cool shots that were there at the opening and gone for a majority of the film. The idea to put the first two episodes in theaters was not Marvel’s best move. In translating these episodes to TV in a few weeks, it will be interesting to see

if ABC can keep up the budget they put into these IMAX episodes for the rest of the series. Considering what’s happened to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. recently, I don’t have high hopes for the budget to remain this high, especially with the mixed reviews that the show has already received.

Things could have been done differently than shoving the audience into the middle of the unknown. Using characters to usher us into an unknown world would have given a better foundation. Showing these episodes in IMAX as a way to draw people in might have worked for the money game, but not for boosting the series. Here’s hoping that Marvel’s Inhumans can gain better footing once the show airs on ABC in a few weeks.

Photo courtesy of Wikicommons PERFECT VILLAIN: Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton, Game of Thrones) will play the main villain of the show, Maximus.

A+E

Here’s what you missed in theaters this summer Jacob Trask A&E Editor jacob.trask@theminaretonline.com

There’s no question that Hollywood has had a successful year, and this summer has been a memorable time for moviegoers, unlike last year. The summer of 2016 was a three-month dry spell, when blockbusters like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice bored my roommate to sleep in theaters, and The Avengers: Civil War was the highestearning film of the year. It was a dull time, and it seems like the Hollywood producers took note, because this summer has been one for the books.

Marvel and DC were back this year, but in new form.

Spider-Man: Homecoming and WonderWoman kicked off the summer on the right foot, easily showing up last year’s superhero films.

Tom Holland made a perfect young Spider-Man, accompanied by the film’s lifeline to the Marvel universe, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. The film had a ton of heart, along with some pretty fun action scenes and a really dynamic villain played by Michael Keaton. It received a 7.9/10 rating on IMDB after two months, and will like stay there due to it’s initial success. It is currently the fourth highest grossing film of 2017 with $320 million.

Gal Gadot made a perfect Wonder Woman. She owned the role and put up the best and most important performance of her career so far. The film had a supporting

cast led by Chris Pine that was funny, entertaining and just enough to not become annoying. It was lighthearted and fun, but it had an intricate storyline that remained engaging throughout, with some fantasy World War II battles and god fights, and enough dramatic tension to not be hokey. The movie has a 7.8/10 rating on IMDB. It is the second highest grossing film of the year with $407 million.

The superhero films started the summer with a bang, and they were accompanied by some very solid films for so early on in the year. One of the more notable films was Baby Driver, starring Ansel Elgort as a young getaway driver who finds himself in a sticky situation with a crime boss who’s forcing him to work. The film was directed by Scott Pilgrim vs. The World director, Edgar Wright, and has a creative vibe with a distinct cinematic style and some incredible sound editing that matched perfectly with the film’s music. The talented supporting cast included Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm and Jaime Foxx. It currently has an 8.1/10 on IMDB, and could possibly stay above an eight, due to its well executed but simplistic story structure and Wright’s saavy directing skills.

Exciting releases continued into July with War for the Planet of the Apes, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and the Sundance Festival film A Ghost Story, starring last year’s Oscar winner for best actor, Casey Affleck.

On July 21 the most exciting film of the year was released: Dunkirk, the most recent Christopher Nolan film since Interstellar. The movie tells a story of three different sets

of characters in the Battle of Dunkirk in World War II. Although it faces slight historical scrutiny from try-hard Facebook film buffs and complaints from fans who set their expectations on Wolf Edmunds’ planet, Dunkirk is an awesome film, and although Nolan didn’t necessarily outdo himself, it’s the best film of 2017 so far.

Nolan stayed extremely true to his style, and created a plot that connects three stories in a unique and intense way.

Along with a dynamic cast that included several talented unknowns and a few veterans like Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, the movie flexes some serious special effects and sound editing that could likely win it an Oscar. It currently sports a proud 8.4/10 on IMDB and has earned over $180 million dollars.

Even after the peak of the summer, well-regarded movies continued to be released into August. Charlize Theron’s Atomic Blonde released the last weekend of July, and Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit was released the first weekend of August.

The summer is behind us now, and we can only hope that the quality of summer blockbusters will continue after such a successful year. But now the attention will turn to Oscar Season. As the next few months approach, the best directors of the year will start to make their films known, but only time will tell which acclaimed directors will come out swinging or which unknown filmmakers will surprise Hollywood.

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers/Youtube SINK OR SWIM: Dunkirk earned over $180 Million since its release on July 21, making it the eighth highest earning film of the year. It was just one of many successful movies to hit theaters this past summer.

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The good, the evil and the ambiguous A book review of Morgan Rhodes’ new title, “Falling Kingdoms” Kaitlyn Stockdale Copy Editor kaitlyn.stockdale@theminaretonline.com Genre fiction is often regarded as writers simply filling out a formula. Fantasy, for instance, is generally seen as having beautiful and good main characters fighting a dark evil, usually with magic involved. The good characters always triumph in the end. But more and more in fantasy, a change to the formula has arrived, where the main characters are not unquestionably good and who are no longer fighting for humanity’s sake, but for their own.

Falling Kingdoms, the first in a currently six book series

by Morgan Rhodes, is full of flawed characters and an uncertain battle between the forces of good and evil.

Cleo Bellos, Princess of Auranos, is spoiled, self-involved, arrogant and extremely naive about the world past the walls of the crown city where she grew up. Her unexplained inability to act leads to a tragedy in which she attempts to deny her own hand.

Magnus Damora, crown prince of Limeros, is cold, cruel, and holds a questionable moral compass. In the castle of the Blood King, Magnus hides in the shadows, never saying what he thinks and acting only to please his father, despite knowing those actions are wrong.

Lucia Damora, Princess of Limeros, is even more naive than Cleo, willing to pledge her life to anyone who says a kind word to her.

Jonas of Paelsia is a wine seller’s son, a poor boy in a poor country who refuses to believe poverty is his destiny.

Their lives collide after an argument in a market place turns violent and the choices they make set off a thousandyear prophecy, awakening magic none of them believed in and revealing a history no one knew.

The beginning of the book, despite later twists and a plot full of action, is hard to get through. Cleo, from whose perspective the book opens, is incredibly hard to read. Vain to the point of being stupid, and unable to stand up for anything; she becomes a frivolity that is headache inducing.

However, she is only sixteen and as the book progresses, she grows up very quickly. While her actions are still misguided, she learns more about the world and more about her own mistakes.

Another reason the book might be hard to read is Magnus’s character. He is a character of darkness, and the themes surrounding him are strictly adult, whether it be his self-hate or his understandably unrequited love. It doesn’t take much reading to discover why Magnus is such a mess, one only has to reach his father, King Gaius. This is where the book gets interesting, because while Magnus remains central to the plot and intertwined with the action, there is also a psychological look at his relationship with his father.

Rhodes unflinchingly calls into question the ties of family, and how much they demand loyalty, and in a broken family, how much they demand love. Magnus’s struggle with his hate, and yet his love, for his father make for a wonderfully twisted subplot.

Jonas is really the only bright spot in the beginning of the book. Full of righteous rage and shining ideals, it is

10 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

easy to excuse him for the violence he wants to unleash, especially because unlike other characters, he refrains from ever giving in to anger-fueled violence.

However, shining ideals rarely have a place in the real world and Jonas is quickly pulled into a murky plot which reveals that corruption is everywhere, not only in his symbol of hate, the country of Auranos.

Despite the fact that some of the characters start off uncompelling, or honestly, a little revolting, by a fourth of the way into the book, they are tested to the point of change, developments that are worth the read. Not to mention the twists that litter the plot which are calls for surprise. The

first book is a bit of a battle. It’s littered with clichés, and the character descriptions are lacking, as is the world building and the magic system. But the cliffhanger at the end made me read the second book and that is when I started loving the series. It goes from simple to incredibly deep in just three books and I found my favorite characters becoming completely switched around.

And now is the time to start reading it, since the sixth and final book, Immortal Reign, is out February 2018, giving plenty of time to get caught up. Choose a favorite character carefully, because by book five, you’ll probably have replaced them.

Photo by Kaitlyn Stockdale/The Minaret BOOK SERIES: Falling Kingdoms is the first of a six-book series. The book in the series will be coming in February of 2018.

DIVERSIONS ON CAMPUS SEPT 10

Men’s Soccer vs.

Florida National Pepin Stadium 11:00 a.m.

SEPT 11

Ashley Haze/ Entertaining Speaker Reeves Theater 8:00 p.m.

SEPT 12

Student Employment Lunch and Learn

Vaughn Center 212

OFF CAMPUS

SUDOKU

SEPT 9

Off-Campus Trip to Weeki Wachee Kayak Rental $30

SEPT 10

NFL Sunday

Hit your favorite bar to watch this week’s games at 1 p.m.

SEPT 15

2 Chainz Concert

Jannus Live, St. Petersburg 8 p.m. $68/VividSeats websudoku.com

COLORING CORNER

DISNEY WORDSEARCH

Courtesy of Lady Painter/Pinterest

THE MINARET SEPT.7.2017

11

COVER

The legacy of number 24 Katelyn Massarelli & John Feltman Editor-in-Chief & Production Editor katelyn.massarelli@theminaretonline.com john.feltman@theminaretonline.com UT’s women’s volleyball team will wear the same jersey come game time, but this season they won’t just be sporting their number, they’ll be representing no.24 Melissa Vanderhall, former UT student and volleyball player from 2006-2011, wore that number throughout her collegiate career and the number will be retired Sept. 23 at her memorial match.

On Aug. 14, 29-year-old Melissa was one of three women murdered at her Hempstead, New York, residence, according to the New York Daily News. Thirty-four-year-old Bobby Vanderhall, Melissa’s brother, has been charged in the attack. Fifty-eight-year-old Lynn Vanderhall, Melissa’s mother, and Melissa’s friend Janel Simpson were the other two women pronounced dead at the scene.

During her time on the volleyball team, Melissa was named a first-team All-American. Not only was Melissa an All-American athlete on the court, she was a great student in the classroom. She earned multiple SSC-Commissioner’s Honor Roll awards during her time at UT. UT volleyball head coach Chris Catanach said when he first met Melissa, he was immediately impressed. Despite being only 5-foot-6, Catanach described her hands “like 6-foot-2 man.” Right off the bat, he knew that she had the potential to be a special player down the road.

“Melissa was the strongest and most powerful player I have ever had,” Catanach said, “For her to be killed that way meant her brother, who is a big guy, was in a rage that is unimaginable.”

Her strong perspective on life is one of the main reasons she was able to succeed during her time at UT. Melissa was redshirted as a freshman, which means she only practiced with the team and watched on the sidelines as her fellow teammates went on to win the 2006 National Championship. Usually, students are recruited because they shined all throughout high school. But, this didn’t discourage Melissa; it only motivated her.

Being a good teammate is one thing, but establishing a

12 THE MINARET SEPT. 7.2017

COVER perfect representation of exactly that, according to coaches and friends.

“Melissa had the best perspective, which made her one of the best friends to many people,” said Julie Howlett, a former teammate of Melissa’s. “She had your back like you were family and always got the best out of people, which is one reason she is so special.”

Jeremy Monteiro, Melissa’s cousin, noted her big smile that lightened up any room. She was someone who was friendly with everyone and an independent person who wasn’t afraid to face tough roads ahead, according to Monteiro.

“She was most excited for the challenge,’ Monteiro said.

“They were never a problem for her.”

When news first broke out to the family of the three deaths, Monteiro recalled receiving a phone call from his mom and driving straight to the house to make sure what he had heard was true.

“We lost the two stars in our family,” Monteiro said.

“Their home was a go-to spot for the entire family when things went wrong, so when we showed up to the house we all circled and wondered ‘Where do we go now.’”

Though a huge loss, Monteiro said that the support received on social media is what’s getting him through.

Melissa also enjoyed leading by example. During her third year at Tampa, she was a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. The young boy, Michael Baker, looked to Melissa for motivation in school and life.

Melissa on multiple occasions took him to her games at UT, pizza with her friends and teammates and helped contribute to his obsession with shoes.

“Melissa, she understood,” Baker said. “I’m thankful for her and her motivation and I’m keeping my promises to do good in school and keep up with my shoe collection.”

The connections she was able to make with people, let alone strangers, was incredible to see. Catanach described Melissa best with one word: “Giver.”

Melissa was always known to have a big smile across her face. Whether she was having a bad day, or didn’t do as well during her volleyball match as she hoped for, you were never able to tell.

“Melissa had the ability to make you laugh over nothing and smile through anything,” Howlett said. “She will always be missed, and loved forever.”

With the start of the volleyball season, Howlett along with her sister Margeaux Sinibaldi, former volleyball player at UT, along with other alumni organized the volleyball match in honor of Melissa and her mom, Lynn. They have also

organized a scholarship foundation entitled “Live for 24” and helped with getting patches with the no. 24.

Before the season, alumni including Howlett and Sinibaldi made sure the women on the team this season know exactly who they were representing on the court when they visited their practice.

“Twenty-four isn’t just a number,” Sinibaldi said. “Melissa is a three-time All-American; she’s humble, a hard worker, selfless. The team honors her memory by being a good teammate, cheering each other on; play your role and never complain. It’s not about winning, but enjoying the process.”

Photos Courtesy of Julie Howlett REMEMBERING MELISSA VANDERHALL: The former UT volleyball player’s jersey number will be retired in a pre-game ceremony in her honor before the match on Sept. 23.

THE MINARET SEPT. 7. 2017

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OPINION

Photo courtesy of Pixabay GOOGLE IT: According to the World Health Organization, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Google has created a questionnaire that will indicate if a person needs to seek help.

Google develops test for clinical depression Ana Mejia Contributing Writer ana.mejia@spartans.ut.edu It has become common for avid internet users like myself to Google symptoms as soon as we feel something as minor as a headache. Websites like WebMD and Mayo Clinic offer symptom checkers and disease explanations made for the common consumer. Now, Google, in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), has launched an online test for clinical depression. The option to “check if you are clinically depressed” will display on the “Knowledge Panel” when a user types in the word “depression” on Google mobile.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression “causes distressing symptoms that affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating or working … nearly every day for at least 2 weeks.” It is also a very common condition; the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports one in five Americans will experience an episode of depression in their lifetime. Despite its commonality among Americans, only about 50 percent of those affected will seek treatment, according to Mary Giliberti, CEO of NAMI. With questions like “Over the last two weeks, how

14 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

often have you been bothered by trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping too much?” the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) screening tool aims at informing adults about the symptoms of clinical depression so that they will seek treatment if they feel they need it. The test only takes about five minutes to complete and doesn’t provide a definitive diagnosis.

Unlike physical diseases, mental illnesses are usually looked down upon and not given the attention they require. The stigma of mental illness has recently been in the spotlight and people are finally starting to act against it. Members of the Foo Fighters have spoken out to raise awareness of depression and mental illness following the deaths of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. Maryland rapper Logic performed his song “1-800-273-8255”— named after the national suicide prevention hotline — at the MTV Music Video Awards.

The worst outcome of stigmas is when we begin to judge ourselves. The lack of understanding from family and friends can lead to someone not wanting to seek medical help when faced with symptoms of a condition. A test like the one Google provides is a good starting point when deciding to pursue medical help.

Another benefit of the test is that it addresses aspects of depression that not everyone is aware of. Depression is usually associated with being sad or angry or crying, but

there are many other ways it can manifest. Anxiety, restless sleep and loss of interest in daily activities are symptoms of clinical depression. Sometimes we may not even be aware we are experiencing symptoms of the condition. AAP News reports research presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting showed the percentage of children and teens hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or actions has doubled in the U.S. over the past decade. These thoughts or actions could have been prevented if we lived in a more informed society that gave mental illness the respect and relevance it deserves. Google’s new test is a step towards that type of society and could push people to get potentially lifesaving help they would’ve otherwise shied away from.

Google stated that the results of the test are confidential and that the purpose is only to inform the public and to empower people to get help if needed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking help to treat a mental illness, just as there is nothing wrong with seeking help to treat a fever. If there is a symptom checker that can inform you about your runny nose, why shouldn’t there be one that can inform you about a possible mental condition? As with all matters of health, it should be treated with responsibility.

OPINION

Hurricane season in Tampa: what to expect, how to prepare

Photo by Wikimedia Commons STORMY DAYS: Pictured above is Hurricane Harvey as observed from the International Space Station. Hurricane season is upon us. Here is how to get ready for the incoming storms nearing Tampa Bay.

Sara Lattman Contributing Writer sara.lattman@spartans.ut.edu As a Tampa native, I’ve lived through one hurricane season after another. While my experience reduces my stress about the season, it has unfortunately caused me to take approaching Hurricane Irma less seriously than I should. In light of the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the potential of Irma in Florida, it is important to know how to prepare, what to expect and how to evacuate if a major storm makes landfall over Tampa.

Preparation is vital during hurricane season, especially if you’re living off campus and don’t have direct access to the school’s resources during a storm. Extra cases of water, batteries, battery powered electronics and food with long shelf lives are all must-haves during a power outage, especially if flooding prevents you from traveling.

Hurricanes are predictable, but they can also change direction quickly. Make sure you know where local evacuation centers are, such as Lockhart Elementary School, 3719 N 17th St. and Middleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St. Always have a go-bag ready, even if you don’t seem to be in the direct path of the storm.

In 2004, Hurricane Charley was expected to hit Tampa hard, and a lot of people evacuated — including my family.

We traveled to the Orlando area, only to be hit anyway because of Charley’s unexpected path change. This only testifies to the need to be ready, even if you think you’ve dodged the storm. If you’ve never experienced a hurricane before, here are some things to expect if Tampa is affected.

The wind is extremely loud, almost as if a jet plane flew right outside your window. If you choose not to evacuate before the storm, don’t count on going anywhere right before impact. Traffic is terrible and the last place you want to be stuck is a highway. Since these storms are tracked and analyzed, you will know if you need to evacuate plenty of time beforehand. Where it is safe to evacuate to depends on the direction of the hurricane, so it is imperative that you keep up with the news in the days and hours before landfall.

UT also has set evacuation plans that can be found at their website page on “Evacuation Information.”

William H. Gray, the founder of the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University told Tampa Bay Online in 2013 that due to Tampa’s unique location, a cyclone formed in the Atlantic would need to go through the Caribbean Sea and make a sharp turn north in order to make a direct hit on the city. Gray points out that this is a very unusual track for a hurricane to take.

While our city’s location keeps citizens relaxed, it is crucial to take the threat of these storms seriously, as even a hurricane off the coast could cause a storm surge capable of

flooding the entire bay area. It is important to keep this in mind as Irma pushes closer to the United States, promising heavy rains and strong winds for southern and central Florida.

Helpful Terms Hurricane Watch - Conditions may occur within 48 hours Hurricane Warning - Conditions may occur within 36 hours Major Hurricane - Category 3 storm or higher Category 1 - 74 to 95 mph winds Category 2 - 96 to 110 mph winds Category 3 - 111 to 129 mph wind Category 4 - 130 to 156 mph wind Category 5 - 157+ mph winds THE MINARET SEPT.7.2017

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OPINION

Look What She Made Me Do 16 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

OPINION Alexandra Tirado Oropeza Contributing Writer a.tiradooropeza@spartans.ut.edu Calling out Taylor Swift for anything these days is not a wise decision. You can expect encounters with millions of “Swifties” defending her until the very end. You’ll be challenged by a group of feminists claiming that Taylor is a great feminist role model. Swift’s new artistic chapter is focused on embracing any kind of shade thrown her way, so complaining about her is counterproductive. Nevertheless, in a world full of opinionated Swifties, it is important to voice the inconsistencies of their heroine.

In a matter of days, Taylor Swift’s new song “Look What You Made Me Do” from her new album Reputation has broken a lot of records, including most viewed video on Youtube within its first 24 hours of release. The new song gets the unofficial record for the pettiest Taylor Swift single since it has challenged everything she has said she stands for in the past.

The single cannot be described as anything but a wellplanned vendetta with a catchy chorus.

In just the first 20 seconds of the video, the first stab is taken when Swift is depicted crawling out of her own tomb and the song makes a reference to her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris. While she is dancing in the graveyard, a tombstone with the name Nils Sjoberg can be spotted in the background, which is the alias Swift used when she wrote Calvin’s song “This Is What You Came For.” From there, it just snowballs into an extravaganza of gossip and feud references so thick that you can hardly keep up. With wellplaced items and costumes, Swift disses Kim Kardashian,

Kanye West, Katy Perry, Spotify, Tom Hiddleston and even herself in the process. What is masked as a ballsy and standoffish move, and definitely as an Easter egg hunt of gossip for the fans, is actually one of Taylor’s favorite moves to get the ball back in her court after she has dropped it–- and it has been for some time.

One of the most prominent lines of the song is a recording by Swift herself which states “Sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, ‘cause she’s dead.” After that, there is a scene that depicts Taylor rising above versions of herself from past years. Upon reflection, one could conclude that what we “made her do” is metaphorically kill the old naive, sweet version of herself and turn her into a vengeful femme fatale. Did we, though?

“Upon reflection, one could conclude that what we “maid her do” is metaphorically kill the old, naive sweet version of herself and turn her into a vengeful femme fatale.”

This is not the first time that Swift has gone full revenge mode in one of her albums. Every single album has at least one revenge-related song in it. She has been known to be vicious with her ex-boyfriends by publicly shaming them with her songs and making clever attempts to make it obvious who it was intended for. No one could forget the whole Joe Jonas era with her Fearless “Forever & Always” song or her not-so-conspicuous jab at John Mayer with “Dear John” in Sparks Fly. Either by just mentioning it or by

putting out a song to serve as a means of public vengeance on someone who wronged her, Swift is always careful to include an ode to revenge. This trend of hers doesn’t limit itself to men, but also applies to women who have crossed her.

Swift was hailed a feminist heroine for winning a trial over a man who grabbed her butt in an interview. Swift won a total of one dollar for the settlement, and promised she would “make donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims.” This gesture is really grand, which is why it’s such a shame to see that Taylor works so hard to destroy the reputation of women who don’t play to the beat of her drum. Ironic, isn’t it?

Among these ladies are Camilla Belle, who got a nod during Swift’s song “Better than Revenge” from Sparks Fly, Kim Kardashian in “Look What You Made Me Do,” and notably Katy Perry, who is rumored to have been the inspiration behind 1989’s “Bad Blood.” Hardly a feminist move.

So, what we made her do is further the narrative that Swift has been feeding the world for years -- and I personally would really like to be “excluded from it.”

Whether is through the pretense of art, feminism or fan love, Swift seeks to shield herself from the same criticism she keeps putting onto other people. In the end, it is all a controlled show to display an image of herself that doesn’t really align with the things she does. Everybody likes the idea of the victim becoming the saviour, which is why it is so complicated to criticize Taylor Swift nowadays. But, after all of her recent antics, that is exactly what she made me do.

Photo courtesy of TaylorSwiftVEVO/ Youtube RING RING: Taylor Swift is iconically pictured answering the phone in Reputation’s “Look What You Made Me Do” saying “Sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.” Then saying “Oh, ‘cause she’s dead.”

THE MINARET SEPT.7.2017

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OPINION

The Distracted States of America Sara Setargew Contributing Writer jsara.setargew@spartans.ut.edu Back in 2004, Barack Obama stood in front of thousands of people and told us that, “We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states and, yes, we’ve got gay friends in the red states … We are one people.” True or not, it was the idea we wanted to believe.

That is why it was shocking for most of us to process what happened on Friday, Aug. 11 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Late Friday night, several hundred torch-bearing people marched on the main quadrangle of the University of Virginia’s grounds, shouting, “You will not replace us,” and “Jews will not replace us.” They walked around the Rotunda, the university’s signature building, and to a statue of Thomas Jefferson, where a group of counterprotesters was gathered, and a brawl ensued. The police led away at least one person in handcuffs. Things got worse the next day when a car bearing Ohio license plates plowed into a crowd near the city’s downtown mall, killing a 32-year-old woman. Some 34 others were injured, at least 19 in the car crash, according to a spokeswoman for the University of Virginia Medical Center’.

How did we get here? How did we become this divided?

How did we end up with torch-bearing men and women shouting “Jews will not replace us’’ in 2017? How could we have this much hate and anger in the home of the brave and land of the free?

The Washington Post ran in April 2016 a front-page headlined “Political Split Is Pervasive.” It quoted various experts that seem to agree America has never been this divided in our lifetime. We always had our disagreements but now it’s blue states versus red states. It has passed the point when it was just about Democrats and Republicans or when it was just over ideas for what works best for American people; now it’s about us versus them.

How did we get here? How did we become this divided?

No matter which side you support, you may feel that the 2016 presidential election brought out the worst in us. In reality, it exposed the brokenness of the system that we are so comfortable with.

We, liberals and conservatives alike, are afraid. We are uncomfortable with the unhinging of our normality.

We are coming face to face with the country’s unhealed wounds. The 2016 election resparked the constant and troubling issue of race and racism in our country, which in turn caused a culture of blame and hate. As the adage goes, hate is a bodyguard for grief. Instead of facing the pain beneath the hate, we are trying harder to cover it up. We point fingers, we give labels, and worst of it all, we distance ourselves from each other. We pretend we celebrate diversity, but when it comes to diverse ideas, we shut down. As we don’t let opposition speakers on campuses, we also call the facts we don’t agree with “fake news.’’ We watch TV shows and read newspapers that tell us how ignorant the other side is and reinforce our beliefs.

We are so addicted to being right that we are unwilling

18 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

to accept that we are all in this together. We come from unique experiences but we all have the same destination.

We need to shift from a culture of judgment to a culture of empathy. Social media feeds and news headlines should stop being the center of our humanity. Instead, relationships and the human connection should be our focus.

What happened in Charlottesville should be a wakeup call for us. It’s time to stop pretending and deal with the real problems. We should confront injustice, hate and most importantly we should acknowledge that the two exist. Our country does not need to go back, we need to move forward. Like Rosa Luxemburg once said, those who do not move, do not notice their chains. Politics is not a holy war or a team sport, so we should not let it replace our morality.

What happened in Charlottesville should be a wake-up call for us. It’s time to stop pretending and deal with the real problems.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay RED WHITE AND BLUE: Reacting to the events of Charlottesville, one voices her opinion about hateful rhetoric used amgonst the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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SPORTS

Spartan’s team ready to get back on track Matthew Rolison Contributing Writer matthew.rolison@spartans.ut.edu UT’s women’s volleyball team enters this season picked to finish second in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). While being ranked 17th nationally in the Division II preseason poll, UT has their minds set on taking first place this year in the SSC. Finishing in second place last year, this prediction takes a jab at the team growth and development. Can UT prove that they are the best team in the SSC this year?

The Spartans started off the year with two exhibition home games, winning both. Their first win came against Webber International, by a score of 4-0.

The Spartans then went on to take care of business against Warner, by a score of 3-1. Kasey Reynolds, a defensive specialist (DS) and libero (LB) for the team, in year five of her academic and athletic career here at UT, a first-year Graduate student in the Masters of Business Administration (MBA), weighs in on the team’s prediction to finish second and her goals for this season.

“We are not ecstatic about being predicted to finish second in the SSC, as first place is always our goal,” Reynolds said. “We do realize the level of play has majorly increased over the past couple years. Every night on the court is a battle. There is no room to have a bad night in our league because you’ll most likely get beat.”

Reynolds also touched on the rich history of Spartans volleyball.

“Tampa has a long tradition of SSC titles, so we are pushing more than ever to live up to our name and those who have come before us,” Reynolds said.

The Spartans have remained at the top of the standings for most of their history, according to the Tampa Spartans website. The last time the UT volleyball team struggled to put anything together was in 1995, when they went 22-17 on the season.

Last year, the volleyball team finished with a strong 23-9 record. That was good for second, behind new provisional team Palm Beach Atlantic, who went 32-4. Conference wise, UT went 12-4, tying with Saint Leo for best in the conference. With Palm Beach Atlantic a provisional member of the SSC for at least two more seasons, the team will continue to be the biggest threat to UT. The Spartans matched up against Palm Beach Atlantic twice last season and lost both appearances.

The first match finished with a score of 3-1, while the second was not as close, UT falling 3-0. Even though UT had the better record, they still fell in both meetings with Saint Leo. The first loss came with a score of 3-1, the next following suit with a score of 3-1 as well.

Head coach Chris Catanach said on his expectations for the team, “[They need] to give maximum effort and be entertaining to watch.”

Education wise, he said, “I want us to achieve a 3.4 team GPA and be good role models on and off

20 SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

campus.”

The Spartans have a lot of young talent this year on the roster, according to head coach Catanach. While young talent can benefit a team, it can cause some problems early on like chemistry and experience.

When asked if there is any one team in particular that worries the team, Catanach said, “All of the teams worry us. We are starting mostly freshman and sophomores. We are very inexperienced.”

This year’s team has a total of four freshman and six sophomores. The veteran upperclassmen will be

relied on heavily to be mentors to the younger core of players.

Reynolds knows that the team is filled with young, raw talent, she said. But she also knows how much potential they all hold.

“Our team is still fairly young, but we have the drive to be the best,” Reynolds said. “We want to win that title at the end of the season in hopes to host regionals, however we have a lot of work to do to get to that point.”

Photo courtesy of Tom Kolbe SERVES UP: Senior Left Backer Kasey Reynolds serves in a home match vs Warner University. Reynolds is an intrical piece to the Spartans pursuit of a conference title.

SPORTS Men’s Soccer determined for SSC Title

Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe GAME ON: Senior forward Bay Downing dribbles up the field in a match versus University of South Florida. Downing will look to lead the Spartans to an SSC title this season.

Devon Conway Contributing Writer devon.conway@spartans.ut.edu After a strong season last year finishing in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, UT Men’s Soccer is ready to kick it back into action. The team was ranked third in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) preseason poll among the other ten SSC conference teams. Despite this, head coach Adrian Bush could care less about the rankings.

“Preseason polls mean nothing to us; the only thing we are focused on is our next game. Polls and rankings are for the fans and media to debate,” Bush said.

With the major success of last season, the players wanted to come in fit and game ready. Bush said the team performed well over the summer and feel the success of last season to motivate and really commit to each other.

The expectations for the program this season are to be the best, like every year. Bay Downing, a senior forward, has high expectations for himself and his fellow teammates.

“This season is the last chance I get to wear the Spartan

colors,” Downing said. “Overall our team expectations this year are to win the national championship. If everyone believes in the process, I think anything can be possible with the team we have.”

The success of last season is still present in the minds of the players and coaching staff. Although Bush believes the triumph of last season can transfer over to this season.

“Time will tell; we feel we have added the right pieces to make that next step,” Bush said. “We were very specific on who we looked to bring in as we wanted student athletes with the core values that reflect our University, history of our soccer program, and the athletic department. Hard work makes champions.”

With the addition of 13 new players for the Spartans, the team has transformed from last year. With some new transfers and freshman from all over the world, Downing thinks the Spartans can still perform as well as or even better than last season.

“We have been together for three weeks now, so we have settled down really well,” Downing said. “There are a lot of new faces but they are all great lads. Training is going great but we are really eager to get the season started and let the

results do the talking.”

The Spartans have only seven home games this season, all conference play except for their game against Florida National on Sept. 10. The Spartans’ biggest rival is Lynn University, who last season stole the SSC Championship from the Spartans, but the Spartans bounced back in the NCAA tournament and knocked out Lynn to advance in the tournament. Despite this, every game is crucial for the Spartans.

“Every game is important in this league but we always have good matches against Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic,” Downing said. “The main focus right now is take it game by game. If we all do our jobs I think the NCAA tournament will be the focus in November.”

Bush also believes that every game is important for the success as a program going forward. The main focus for the Spartans is to get better every time they step on the field, no matter if it’s a game stiuation or at practice.

In the next few matches, the Spartans are set to take on Florida National on Sept. 10; Auburn Montgomery on Sept.

13 in Montgomery, Alabama; and Nova Southeastern on Sept. 16 at home.

SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

21

SPORTS

Pro Football Column: NFL season preview

Photo courtesy of Brook Ward/Flickr BUSINESS IS BOOMIN: Pittsburgh Steelers star Wide Receiver Antonio Brown lays out for a catch vs the Washington Redskins. The All-Pro is seeking another monster year in 2017.

John Feltman Production Editor john.feltman@theminaretonline.com After one of the greatest Super Bowl comebacks in NFL history, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots enter the 2017 NFL season with one thing in mind: “Repeat.”

Overcoming a 28-3 deficit, Brady has most certainly solidified his stature as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The real question is, will Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons be able to overcome the ghosts of blowing a huge lead in the Super Bowl?

The beautiful part about the NFL is that when the calendar turns to September, each team can forget about their disappointing 2016 seasons and look forward to a brand new season. It’s a clean slate for everyone, and it gives every locker room across the NFL motivation to reach the big dance.

Looking ahead to 2017, there are a lot of teams who will remain elite, along with many teams very much in the playoff mix, and a few teams who should not be slept on.

Not to get any fans dreams crushed, but just remember that Tom Brady is still in the league, and unfortunately many AFC teams can already kiss their Super Bowl dreams goodbye.

The Top Dogs: Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys

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Don’t put your life savings on this, but these will be the best teams in the NFL in 2017. Aaron Rodgers didn’t look his best in the NFC championship game against the Atlanta Falcons, but let me assure the Packers nation, he is preaching to all of you to RE-LAX. No disrespect to Tom Brady, but Rodgers is the best quarterback on the planet right now, and will look to take his team to the next level.

With an 11-touchdown breakout season by wide receiver Davante Adams, Rodgers has a lot of toys to play with on offense. Wide recieivers Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and newly signed tight end Martellus Bennett will provide plenty of explosiveness on offensive side of the ball. If the Green Bay defense can step it up a notch, I guarantee a returning trip to the NFC Championship.

The Dallas Cowboys surprised the entire football world with an incredible 13-3 record in 2016. fourth round draft pick quarterback Dak Prescott took away the throne from Tony Romo and led the Cowboys to a number one seed first round bye in the NFC. With Romo officially retired, it is now Prescott’s team for the foreseeable future. With a tougher schedule this season and running back Ezekiel Elliott facing possible suspension, a lot more weight has been added to Prescott’s shoulders. If he can perform at the level he did this past season, behind that very talented offensive line the sky remains the limit for this Cowboys offense. If wide receiver Dez Bryant returns to his elite form, he will jump back into the discussion as one of the best receivers in the NFL. Barring any traumatic injuries, expect

the Cowboys to make a deep playoff run, and remain one of the most exciting teams to watch in the game.

If Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr didn’t fracture his leg, it was clear as day the Raiders were one of the only threats to the New England Patriots in the AFC. Running back Marshawn Lynch came out of retirement to join the black hole, playing for his hometown. Wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper are coming off 1,000 yard receiving seasons as well. Carr is very talented, and with a disruptive pass-rush on defense this team is poised to make a run to the Super Bowl. Carr is a legit MVP candidate, and expects the Raiders to meet up with the Patriots in the AFC Championship.

As good as the Raiders are, I just don’t see any team coming out of the AFC on top besides the New England Patriots. With wide receiver Brandin Cooks coming over from the New Orleans Saints, Tom Brady now has a legitimate deep threat to throw to. Not that they needed any help on offense, but as long as Brady is under-center, this team will continue to dominate on the offensive side of the ball. Head Coach Bill Belichick always has a bunch of tricks up his sleeves, and always has a very deceiving defensivescheme every single week. Even with the loss of wide receiver Julian Edelman on an ACL tear, the Patriots will remain as one of the highest scoring teams in the NFL. A trip back to the Super Bowl is firmly in Tom Brady’s grasp.

Legitimate Contenders: Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SPORTS The Atlanta Falcons still remain as one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams on offense, despite a heart-breaking colossal loss in Super Bowl LI. Quarterback Matt Ryan is coming off an MVP season in which he threw for almost 5,000 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. With receivers Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu and the speedster Taylor Gabriel, they certainly make a case for scoring the most points in the NFL this upcoming season. Their defense remains questionable at best, but if the offense can control time of possession then the Falcons are primed for another NFC South division title.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be the most interesting storyline entering the 2017 NFL season. A team loaded with young talent on offense and defense, it looks primed to make not only a playoff push, but also potentially a Super Bowl run. Free agent signings of Desean Jackson and T.J. Ward add a lot of swagger to this youthful Bucs team.

This team is coming off a solid 2016 season, despite barely missing out on the playoffs. Quarterback Jameis Winston is entering his third year as a pro, and will continue to look to hook up with Pro-Bowl receiver Mike Evans on passes down the field all season long. Adding Jackson to the receiving core opens up more opportunity for Evans to have an even bigger season than his 2016 campaign. Gerlald McCoy and the ferocious Bucs defense will be giving opposing offenses nightmares all year long, and I gurantee the Bucs make the playoffs in 2017.

The New York Giants will be a huge threat to the Dallas

Cowboys all year long in the NFC East. It could very easily come down the wire on which team wins that division.

With the addition of veteran Wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the Giants receiving core solidifies themselves as one of the best in the NFL. We all know how good their defense was last season lead by Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison. But, are their unsolved offensive line problems going to continue? Even if the offensive line doesn’t improve that much, I still expect the Giants in the postseason as a wildcard team or a division champion.

Now something I would bet on is the Pittsburgh Steelers making the playoffs in 2017. With the return of fully healthy “Big B’s” (Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’veon Bell), the Steelers will continue their great offensive success they had a year ago. Also returning is wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who violated the NFL drug policy and was suspended the entire 2016 season. Bryant adds another weapon to Big Ben’s arsenal, and the Steelers offense will be carving up defenses all season long. The ageless wonder linebacker James Harrison leads this gritty Steelers defense, which is certainly good enough to keep them in games.

Mark it down now, the Steelers will make the playoffs barring any catastrophic injury.

Sleeper Teams: Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens

the team lost it’s edge on the defensive side of the ball, and quarterback Cam Newton certainly wasn’t his best. Now, rookie running back Christian McCaffery out of Stanford University adds a lot of versatility to this Panthers offense.

A team that loves to run the football, not only is McCaffery a tough runner, but he has great open field athleticism and pass-catching ability. Expecting Cam Newton returning to normal form, the Panthers’ offense could be sneaky good this season. A few loose ends on defense from last season should be much tighter this upcoming year, and a healthy linebacker Luke Keuchkly automatically makes the defense much stronger. Do not be surprised if the Panthers once again make the postseason or even give the Atlanta Falcons a run for their money in the NFC South.

The Baltimore Ravens were not that great of a football team last year, leading to a lot of question marks entering the 2017. The Ravens were not quiet this offseason, as they added pieces such as running back Danny Woodhead, and former pro-bowl receiver Jeremy Maclin. People often forget that once upon a time Joe Flacco won this team a Super Bowl, and how gritty of a competitor he could be. The Ravens strong suit was their defense last season, even after being plagued with injuries early. The defense enters the 2017 season fully healthy, and with new weapons on offense for Joe Flacco, this could be a very productive season for the Baltimore Ravens.

Many people forget that the Carolina Panthers made it to Super Bowl 50 after a tremendous 2015 season. Last year,

Photo courtesy of Guy Harbert/Flickr LOOK OUT: Carolina Panthers hard hitting Linebacker Luke Kuechly pursues Seattle Seahwaks Wide Receiver Doug Baldwin. Kuechly is the anchor of the Carolina defense, and a major key for Panthers success this upcoming season.

SEPT.7.2017 THE MINARET

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