THE VOLUME
83
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13
JANUARY
26, 2017
THE
UNIVERSITY
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PROTECT YAR BOOTY Gasparilla 2017 survival guide
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MINARET
M EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tess Sheets MANAGING EDITOR Bianca Lopez
NEWS AND FEATURES Arden Igleheart
Liz MacLean ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Regina Gonzalez Ivy Velazquez OPINION Carissa Economos Andrew Foerch SPORTS John Feltman
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. 83
NO. 13
NEWS
Sykes College of Business in top 100 schools by Bloomberg Businessweek
BY LEAH FOREMAN PAGE 3
New M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice offered fall 2017 BY ARDEN IGLEHEART PAGE 4
Students from Barrymore move into Palm Apartments Phase II BY CAROLYN PLANTIN PAGE 5
Katelyn Massarelli Julia Albini Christian Maldonado Regina Gonzalez
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WRITERS
COPY EDITING Hannah Farrow Kayla Jacobus
PHOTOGRAPHERS Kate Beeken
BY BILL DELEHUNT PAGE 19
Streep sparks discourse at Golden Globes BY INDIRA MOOSAI PAGE 20
Required materials: are they worth the cost? BY KELLY HAUCK PAGE 21
Men are not meat New year doesn’t require new you
The big reveal: Mike Posner to perform at Party in the Park Lions and tigers and bears! No more! BY JENNA MANTO PAGE 10-11
Farewell to legends, hello to a new sound Get to know Barry; Barrack before POTUS BY REGINA GONZALEZ PAGE 13
Jasmin Andrews Simon Brady Bill Delehunt Leah Foreman Kelly Hauck Jenna Manto Indira Moosai Madhura Nadarajah Carolyn Plantin Veronica Sansur Jacob Trask Lauren Wong
What ‘people are saying’ about President Trump
BY JASMINE ANDREWS PAGE 23
BY VERONICA SANSUR PAGE 12
FACULTY ADVISER David Wheeler
OPINION
BY MADHURA NADARAJAH PAGE 22
BY LAUREN WONG PAGE 8-9
HEAD COPY PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN MULTIMEDIA
JANUARY 26 , 2017
SPORTS
NFL Column: Brady Bunch headed to Houston
BY SIMON BRADY PAGE 24-25
Spartans try to build off impressive upset win BY JACOB TRASK PAGE 26
Four Spartans earn pre-season honor BY KATELYN MASSARELLI PAGE 27
COVER
Gasparilla Survival Guide
BY LIZ MACLEAN PAGE 14-16
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NEWS
Photo by Julia Albini/The Minaret BACK TO BUSINESS: Senior Joseph D’Amelio stands in front of the Sykes College of Business. Enrollment has grown in recent years, but faculty said that the college still maintains the benefits of a small school.
Sykes College of Business in top 100 schools by Bloomberg Businessweek Leah Foreman Contributing Writer leah.foreman@spartans.ut.edu
For the first time in its history, the John H. Sykes College of Business was ranked last month by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of the Top 100 Best Business Schools, and its full-time MBA program ranked as one of the best business graduate programs. “We were ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of the Top 80 Graduate Business schools and our rank was 78, and we are very happy to have achieved that,” said Frank Ghannadian, Dean of the Sykes College of Business and finance professor. The Bloomberg Businessweek ranking was measured by a survey of primarily employers and alumni. The MBA program ranked 12th among colleges and universities in the southeastern United States and sixth among private colleges and universities in the southeastern United States. Aside from this most recent ranking, the College of Business has also been recognized as number seven for Best Value by Business Insider and as one of the 259 Best Business Schools for the tenth year in a row by The Princeton Review. “The fact that The University of Tampa’s College of Business appears on many ranking lists, and outranks not only our local competitors, but also highly reputable universities on a national basis, speaks volumes about the quality of our programs,” said Erika Matulich, professor of marketing. The College of Business has also grown in enrollment. In
2007, the school had roughly 1,800 students, whereas it now enrolls over 3,100, according to Ghannadian. To cater to the growing student body, the College of Business has expanded its programs and opportunities for students. “We have so many opportunities for students to not just learn about business, but really be a part of it,” said Deidre Dixon, Assistant Professor of Management and Associate Director of the TECO Energy Center for Leadership, which provides leadership classes and a minor in leadership.
“We are a smaller school, so our class sizes are smaller and more in depth, so you can actually have a relationship with your professor. It’s more personal.”
-Amelia Herschede, senior marketing major The TECO Energy Center for Leadership is one of the College of Business’ several centers and institutes that provide different skills and hands-on training with real companies in the Tampa Bay area. Aside from the TECO Energy Center for Leadership at UT, there are various other centers offered by the College of Business such as the Center for Ethics, which gives out the Ethicist of the Year award and educates students on business ethics, and the Naimoli Institute for Business and Strategy, which allows students to work with a real company before they graduate.
“Probably the biggest addition in recent years is the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center,” said Ghannadian. “It’s located on the top floor of the Innovation and Collaboration Building and is filled with a lot of new student businesses getting over $1.5 billion funding from venture capitalists.” Despite its growth, the College of Business maintains the benefits of a small school in that its class sizes remain relatively small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The classes are all taught by professors directly, rather than by teaching assistants. “We are a smaller school, so our class sizes are smaller and more in depth, so you can actually have a relationship with your professor. It’s more personal,” said Amelia Herschede, a senior marketing major. By keeping classes small and by providing real-world experience with businesses in the Tampa community, the College of Business still maintains the importance of serving its students. “It’s all about the students here,” said Jim Lee, associate professor of marketing. The College of Business is striving to maintain this student focus as it grows and improves in national rankings. “Being student-focused is the identity of our college and we have done many things to preserve that personal touch; our faculty know students, our students know faculty, class sizes are still relatively small, and faculty work with one another,” said Ghannadian. “With our college getting higher and higher we still are maintaining that part.”
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NEWS
New M.S in criminology and criminal justice offered 2017
Arden Igleheart News Editor arden.igleheart@theminaretonline.com
UT will offer a Master of Science in criminology and criminal justice starting in fall 2017, the school announced in December. UT expects that the program will attract criminology majors as well as other majors at UT, and will also attract people in the Tampa community who are already working in a related field and wish to add to their credentials. The program will offer both a thesis and a non-thesis program. The thesis program is better suited for students who want to continue on to receive a Ph. D. and the non-thesis program is suited for students who just want a master’s, according to Christopher Capsambelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and graduate director for the program. The criminology department will also offer an integrated program for undergraduate students majoring in criminology, in which they can take two courses in their senior year that count for both their undergraduate and graduate degree. Students apply for this program during their junior year. Both the thesis and non-thesis programs require 36 credit hours. The thesis option differs in that it offers one fewer elective. Classes offered include statistics for criminal justice research, victimology, and white collar crime. Capsambelis said that it will be possible for students to graduate from the program in one or one and a half years because required courses will be offered each term.
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The graduate degree further stresses research and statistical analysis beyond what is taught at the undergraduate level. There is a research methods for criminology course for undergraduates, but Capsambelis said that the current degree program just touches on statistics. The graduate degree also has a class on program evaluation, which is particularly valuable for those in management roles in law enforcement, according to Capsambelis. “Say, for instance, you’re working in an area of substance abuse, and you try different things to try to deal with the problem of substance abuse,” Capsambelis said. “Once you have implemented a program you say, ‘Did that program work, or not?’ So if you know how to evaluate a program then you can use that knowledge in your job.” Criminology is one of the largest majors at UT, with about 300 students, according to Capsambelis. The program graduates about 100 students each May, and this number has grown with the growth in enrollment at UT. Capsambelis thinks that the program will attract these majors as well as other majors at UT, especially from the social sciences. It will also attract people already working in law enforcement who wish to be promoted and UT has a particular advantage being in downtown Tampa. There are several law enforcement agencies located downtown, like the Tampa Police Department, so Capsambelis said it’s easy for those people to come to UT for night classes. The university is also in the process of hiring two new full-
time professors to the department, due to the addition of the degree. A master’s degree in criminology or criminal justice is not necessary for a lot of careers, although Capsambelis said some federal law enforcement agencies have begun to require one. What appeals to most people is that a graduate degree makes it much more likely for someone to get promoted in a law enforcement job, according to Capsambelis. Claire-Marie Maillot, a junior criminology major, is applying to the integrated program. She ultimately plans to work as a war crimes investigator and said a master’s degree will help her be more successful. “I think it would give me a better opportunity of getting promoted,” Maillot said. “you don’t want to be a cop for the rest of your life; you want to rise up in the hierarchy.” UT’s program is a new one, but Capsambelis said it has definite advantages due to the school’s small size and the fact that the program has no online courses. Maillot’s other top choice is USF, but she likes that UT’s small class sizes provide opportunities for class discussions. Capsambelis acknowledges that a bigger school or an older program might have some advantages over UT, but believes that the program will be a strong one. “Maybe [students] find that larger schools have more course offerings that ours,” Capsambelis said. “It’s a new program, we’re just starting out, we’ll add courses as they go along. But we have a nice basic curriculum. We studied curricula all over the country to see what a masters in criminology and criminal justice looks like and that’s what we put together.”
Pixabay.com
NEWS
Students from Barrymore moved to Palm Apartments Phase II
Carolyn Plantin Contributing Writer carolyn.plantin@spartans.ut.edu
Palm Apartments Phase II officially opened its doors to students as the Spring 2017 semester commenced. This new addition includes a game room, meeting room and a lobby on the first floor, as well as new sets of elevators and a common room on each floor. A total of 36 new rooms have opened, allowing students to move in. About 120 students moved into the new addition, with most coming from the Barrymore hotel, where they were previously housed. Samuel Maystrovky, a junior chemistry major, was moved from the hotel to the new part of Palm this semester. He was unable to chose his roommates but is still relieved to now officially live on campus. “I found out I was moving into Palm during finals week last semester,” Maystrovky said. “I was pretty excited. Walking back and forth from the Barrymore took time out of my day that I could’ve used in a more productive way. Now, if I forget something in my dorm room, I don’t have to walk off campus to go get it.” Diego Patino, a sophomore biology major, worked as a resident assistant in the Barrymore hotel last semester and moved to the Palm Apartments this spring as an RA there. “Most of the residents in Palm II are residents who moved from the Barrymore, and I can honestly say that they have changed for the better,” Patino said. “In the Barrymore, residents were in a way, aloof; they didn’t really interact with each other or with their RAs, but being on campus they are all much happier with their living arrangements and much more involved in the community.” The new lobby in Palm is modern and allows students to convene in a common area, which Palm Apartments did not have in the past. Lauralee Small, a sophomore sports management major, lived in Palm before the new addition, so she was able to experience the change. “I love the new lobby; it is stylish and convenient,” Small said. “I believe Palm will have more of a sense of community than it had in the past because students now have a place to hang out. The pool tables, television and the foosball make for good entertainment in the game room; hopefully
Photo Kate Beeken/The Minaret PHASING IN: The new lobby in Palm Phase II features a new design. One hundred and twenty students live in the new section of Palm Apartments, which the university said will be finished at the start of fall 2017.
students will be able to socialize more than they did last semester.” Construction on Palm Apartments should officially be completed at the beginning of next school year. This new addition, which just opened, was constructed in just a few months. The new rooms are identical to the Palm rooms that have been constructed about two years ago. “The rooms are for the most part are very nice, although I’ve noticed a few small cracks and holes from the construction workers slamming the fridge into the wall,” Maystrovky said. The Resident Assistants now have a place to sit during their nightly duty hours. In the past, RAs did rounds in Urso, Smiley, and Palm, never being able to stay in Palm
because there was no front desk. Now, the Palm RAs can do their rounds in the building and then sit at the new front desk, where students can find them if they need help. Carlie Austin, a senior majoring in pre-medicine biology and an RA in Palm, enjoys the new construction and finds it convenient not only for the residents, but also for the resident assistants. “Having a lobby, a desk as well as an office, has made it easier for RAs to perform their job,” Austin said. “We now have a place to file paperwork and a place we can sit and work out duty shifts and so it really has just made everything a lot more convenient.”
CAMPUS CRIMES CONCRETE TRUTH
LOCKER ROOM TALK
ELECTRIC SLIDE
BE MY GUEST?
On Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m., a student’s vehicle was damaged in a parking garage due to a piece of concrete falling and striking the vehicle.
On Jan. 17 at 9:37 p.m., two student athletes reported that their items were stolen from a secured locker.
On Jan. 18 at 10:06 p.m., an electrical shocking device was found in an elevator.
On Jan 21. At 7:24 p.m., an underage intoxicated guest of a student was found stumbling on a sidewalk.
THE MINARET JAN.26.2017
5
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SYMBOL OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
DIVERSIONS ON CAMPUS JAN. 26
The Internship
Jenkins, 11th Floor 7-10 p.m. Free
JAN. 27
UT Swimming v. Saint Leo UT Aquatic Center 3-5 p.m. Free
FEB. 1
Comedian Dulce Sloan Falk Theater 8-9 p.m. Free
OFF CAMPUS
SUDOKU
JAN. 25-29
Ringling Bros. Circus Amalie Arena 7:30 p.m. $23+
JAN. 27
Fourth Friday
Downtown Tampa- Riverwalk 4 p.m. Free
JAN. 28
Gasparilla Pirate Festival Tampa Convention Center 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free
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COLORING CORNER
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS
MY LOVE FOR WIENER Hot dogs are so yum, They go into my tum tum, I HECKIN love them - Scott Frye, senior entrepreneurship major
Submit your work (art/pictures/etc.) to ut.minaret@gmail.com
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THE MINARET JAN.26.2017
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A+E
The big reveal:
Mike Posner to perform at Party in the Park
Photo courtesy of Mike Posner/Facebook
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A+E Lauren Wong Contributing Writer lauren.wong@spartans.ut.edu
on campus, however, the pick ended up being someone I haven’t heard about since middle school,” said Stephen Perez, a freshman majoring in marketing.
The countdown is on now that UT students know the Party in the Park Artist for this year is artist Mike Posner. Posner is an American singer, song writer and record producer. His debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff came out in 2010 with the song “Cooler Than Me,” which hit charts on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 top 10. In 2015, Posner released the song “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.” In 2016, a remix of this song hit top 10 charts in 27 countries. - Samantha Mutschler, senior criminology major Besides Posner being known for his own hit songs, he’s also known for co-writing with many other famous artists such as Justin Bieber, Wiz Khalifa, Avicii and Big Sean. This year, the big reveal took place in Falk Theater on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. after Eric Dittelman, a mentalist, performed. It is hard to keep such an anticipated secret from the entire school, but Samantha Mutschler, a senior criminology major and the student productions concert chair, managed. “Everyone seemed very excited. I was pleased with the reactions, especially when the audience started singing ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’ while the video was playing the song,” Mutschler said. With over 8,000 students, it is hard to please everyone, so a lot of thought and discussion goes into this process, according to Mutschler. She explains that their first goal is try to find an artist that has a well known name. Regardless of the genre, they want to make sure that at least the name is known. She then says how they look for the opposite as well, even if someone doesn’t know the name, they’ve at least heard the hit singles that have peaked the charts over the fast few years. “It’s a little mix of both and this year we did a great job doing that,” Mutschler says. The committee of Student Production goes through a long list of artists UT’s agent has contact with and tries to identify the artists that are the best fit for the school. “This different genre of music will appeal to more people since last year it was country and not everyone loves country,” sophomore sports management major Samantha Taskey said. “Last year it was a super cool vibe and atmosphere and overall a really great night so I can’t wait for this year.” Despite Posner’s recent come back into the spotlight this year, not everyone was impressed with Student Productions’ pick. Photo courtesy of Mike Posner/Facebook “Coming into freshman year, I was excited COOLER THAN YOU: Student Productions opted for pop singer Mike Posner through connections and familiarity with to have the opportunity to see a famous artist his hit songs. In the past, big names in different genres such as country star Hunter Hayes and rapper Big Sean have taken
“Everyone seemed very excited. I was pleased with the reactions, especially when the audience started singing ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’ while the video was playing the song.”
the stage.
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Lions and tigers and bears! No more! Ringling Brothers Circus to perform last show in Tampa Jenna Manto Contributing Writer jenna.manto@spartans.ut.edu After 146 years of shows featuring elephants, Bengal tigers, acrobats and more, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will perform shows in Tampa one final time on Jan. 25-29 at the Amalie Arena. Despite being scrutinized by many animal rights activists over the years, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment as well as producer of Ringling Bros. Circus, Kenneth Feld, released in a statement saying that the closing of the show was due in part by declining ticket sales, especially after phasing out elephants in their shows, as well as the high cost of operating their circus. Many animal rights activists groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Florida Voices for Animals (FVA), see the closing of this widely-known circus as a major victory in a long battle against supposed animal cruelty within the circus. FVA will be partnering with One Protest, a non-profit animal advocacy organization, during the times of the Ringling Bros. Circus shows in Tampa to protest circuses and their alleged abuse of animals. “After 36 years of PETA protests, which have awoken the world to the plight of animals in captivity, PETA heralds the end of what has been the saddest show on earth for wild animals, and asks all other animal circuses to follow suit, as this is a sign of changing times,” said Ingrid Newkirk, the President of PETA, in a statement released by their Media Liaison, Catie Cryar. Cryar also restated that part of PETA’s motto says, “animals are not ours to use for entertainment.” Senior marine science and biology major Alana Boyles, founder and president of the Roots and Shoots club at UT, says that this is a huge step for circuses as animals are not meant to be paraded around, rather they belong in the wild. “Hopefully it encourages other circuses to follow suit,” Boyles said. Although Boyles is against including animals in circus acts, she is for circuses solely using human acts to showcase their talents – something she would be interested in seeing herself. Cryar also gave a statement that mentioned supporting animal-free circuses such as the Cirque Du Soleil. “Businesses that cling to this archaic model are doomed, while animal-free circuses such as Cirque du Soleil have experienced skyrocketing popularity,” Cryar said. “Ringling Bros. circus could have ditched the animal acts—as so many Shrine circuses have done—but instead, it allowed its attendance to dwindle and its tickets to lag, while protests were held outside every show, until it finally had to shut down.” Despite these claims, Ringling Bros. Circus performers assure the public that their animals are
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given the best possible care. “I think they should research what they protest. The animals here are given the best care, round the clock,” said Nicole Sanders, a human cannonball performer who has been with the Circus for a little over a year, in an email. Sanders has local connections to the Tampa area as her father lives in Clearwater. Sanders continued to describe the circus as an “all-encompassing art form” with passionate circus performers, especially when it comes to putting on a show for the public. “It is this passion that drives us, this sense of community and love for what we do,” Sanders said. “It is clearly evident in our performances. We give it all to the people. I urge the public: support circus, support the arts. We don’t want shows to keep disappearing- when there is a demand, I know it will
be met by creative, talented artists who are ready to shine.” To many employees of the Ringling Bros. Circus, the closing is crushing as they will be losing their jobs, but also for the public as many have long since enjoyed these shows, Sanders said. “It is devastating news. I would also remind them that the closing of the circus is a devastating loss for hundreds of human employees,” Sanders said. “The circus is home to many and is their entire livelihood. Many children grew up here and some people have worked here for over 30 years.” PETA’s response to the loss of jobs by many employees cited, “Feld Entertainment’s lack of vision and unwillingness to change with the times and public taste.”
Photo courtesy of Ringling Circus media liaison FINAL : After more than 100 years of preforming around the nation,“The Greatest Show on Earth” will have their final curtain call in Tampa at Amalie Arena from Jan. 25- 29. The closing comes as a time for change for PETA.
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Photos courtesy of Rongling Bros. media liaison
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Farewell to legends, hello to a new sound
Photos Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons FAREWELL: (Left to Right) Prince, David Bowie and George Michael were only a handful of the legendary artists the world said goodbye to in 2016. This year listeners look forward to much different up and coming genres of music , some including a compilation of rap and R&B.
Veronica Sansur Contributing Writer veronica.sansur@spartans.ut.edu Thousand sixteen was a fateful year for the music industry. For many, it will be remembered as a year filled with celebrity deaths. But even with so many important artists gone, music has never been as diverse as it is in 2017. In April 2, the Purple Rain singer, Prince, died of an accidental overdose on fentanyl. “The Chameleon of Rock,” better known as David Bowie, also left this world on Jan. 10 due to liver cancer. George Michael passed on Dec. 25 of heart failure. These are just three of 21 musicians that died in 2016. Jillian Rich, a senior vocal performance major, said that she used to listen to David Bowie’s music all the time when she was growing up. “I love his music in The Labyrinth movie and I always wanted to see him in concert, so I was really disappointed when he died,” Rich said. “Such an inspiring artist to music students, definitely his songs are going to be always remembered.” Sophomore major in international business, Omar Lopez, who is also a musician and songwriter, said that both David Bowie and Prince have influence him on his music choices. “In my case, I can relate more with Bowie because most of the current rock I listen to is influenced by his music,” Lopez said. “Nowadays the artists follow a lot Bowie’s music. Bands like Arctic Monkeys and Two Door Cinema Club try to use his songs as inspiration.” Even losing so many important artists could not stop 2016’s musical successes. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Formation by Beyoncé was the Best Song of 2016. Frank Ocean came
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in second with his broken romance, Ivy. In third place, also per Rolling Stone, was Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla for the tropical jam, One Dance. A night to remember in 2016 was in the American Music Awards where Ariana Grande won artist of the year, competing against Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Rihanna and Carrie Underwood. However, she was not the only champion, as Canadian rapper Drake, who started with a record number of nominations (13), took home four trophies. Justin Bieber also won four awards. According to sophomore music major Kevin Alderman, Grande did not deserve the award. To him, 2016 saw more influential and talented artists. “I think her work is a little spoiled,” Alderman said. “Her career path was placed in front of her, she didn’t have hard work to reach the top.” New artists were constantly on the rise, one of the greatest was The Chainsmokers. This duo reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut song “Don’t Let Me Down”, becoming their most successful single in the United States. Likewise, their song “Closer” reached the top spot in Australia and the top 10 in both the UK and US Billboard Hot 100 as well. Comeback artists also made important steps the last year, although some of them seemed to reinvent themselves.. Zayn Malik, ex member of One Direction, made his debut album Mind of Mine. In the album, the single “Pillowtalk” received positive reviews, including one from Huge McIntire in Forbes magazine. An article by ABC News says that Depeche Mode, U2, Gorillaz, Taylor Swift and The XX are groups and artists expected to shine this year with upcoming albums and world tours. Another influential artist who we are sure to see more of is Katy Perry, who has made it clear through social media that her hiatus from
music is over and she has been working in the studio. Although good things are arriving for these honed musicians, many new artists are sounding around as well. The BBC Sound of 2017, which is an annual survey made by critics of the music industry, revealed that this year the diversity of musical genres is again evident, although rap and grime (a cross between Hip Hop and electronic)– is the highlight of the 2017. “Rap is probably [going to] get more popular, this kind of music is getting more and more close [sic] to everybody,” Alderman said. Lopez also said that 2017’s trend is the combination of music genres, which definitely is going to make an impact on the audience in a good way. “This year I think rap and R&B will be present, there are several artists who have been combining these two genres,” Lopez said. “For example, Bell Biv DeVoe [and]Drake will release a new album, which will probably be a hit.” According to the BBC Sound of 2017, the names of AJC Tracey, Dave and Nadia Rose will be the next generation of rap music. Even though these artists only have developed one debut song, this year looks promising for the budding artists. Lopez also said that apart from rap, there are other new influences rising with other genres of music, some of them with the old-school style. “There are also more indie artists who will shine this year like Beck, who a few years ago, won the album of the year beating Beyoncé,” Lopez said. “Also, there are some new bands making good music. For example, Haim, three sisters that their sound revives the 80s and the band Phoenix is returning onstage with electronic style of funk.”
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Get to know Barry; Barrack before POTUS
Photos Courtesy of and Wikimedia Commons and Youtube.com/Barry Trailer BARRY: Before President Barack Obama ran our nation for eight years, he was casually know to his college peers and family as Barry. In the new Netflix documentary taking you through his journey at Columbia University, viewers get a vivid depiction of a young adult POTUS flirting with girls, arguing politics, and struggling to fit in.
Regina Gonzalez Arts & Entertainment Editor jenna.manto@spartans.ut.edu It is a new year, and with it comes anticipated change, something America will endure after recently swearing in 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, to office. However, with President Trump taking the reigns of the @POTUS Twitter handle, we must not yet forget about the man behind @POTUS44, former President Barack Obama. With eight years in office, Obama did quite a job of showing Americans who he was as a leader, friend, father and husband. But, an interesting role we could all be appreciative as college students is seeing the man who had the honor of sitting in the Oval Office in more of a relatable setting– with a small afro and backpack on his shoulders walking the streets of Harlem; as a student just like us. The Netflix original documentary Barry, directed by Vikram Gandhi, does just that, mirroring a young Obama’s journey as he transfers to Columbia University in NYC as a junior studying political science. With actor Devon Terrell completely nailing Obama’s soothing voice and charming attitude, viewers are able to get a glimpse of how the former president
dealt with the same life-altering changes that come with being the new guy at a new school. Although there are plenty of pictures and videos from the past eight years depicting Obama as a down-to-earth guy, it was even more interesting to see a depiction of how Obama could relate to some of us on a spiritual level as a college student. In Barry, we see him reading books for fun, arguing politics with annoying classmates, throwing an occasional “fuck you” into his sentences when he’s angry and sometimes indulging in a joint with his roommate. If this version of the past president seems difficult to picture, it is because this film is not actually meant to be about Obama, but about Barry, a confused young man who can also relate to some in the sense of feeling like an outsider and struggling to find his place socially and within himself. Set in the 1980s, race plays a huge roll in his quest to find a sense of comfort in New York. Attending school with a majority of wealthy, white Ivy-Leaguers and then returning to his apartment and playing street ball in Harlem makes Barry question where he belongs and what his real “scene” is. In the movie, Barry meets the cute Charlotte, a wealthy politician’s daughter who is in one of his classes. They begin to date. It is also interesting seeing a young Barry next to a woman that is not Michelle Obama, eating chinese food and making out on
the couch like a couple of horny college kids. Charlotte and Barry are constantly engaging in political conversation, where, ironically enough, Barry even once blurts out, “Politics is bullshit, the president’s an actor.” But Charlotte falls in love with Barry, and he must battle his own temper to decide if he is brave enough to handle the stares of walking down the streets of Harlem with a white girl on his arm. Despite the film’s 79 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is a good Netflix watch that gives viewers a more empathetic angle on the lives of our leaders. After the past few months of a long election process and the ridicule and pressure that comes with being the president of the United States, it is a solid reminder that, no matter who takes on the job of running our nation, they truly were once just like us: young people who had no idea where they were going in life and leaving frat parties to go hangout with someone they liked. As far as Obama himself, it is truly apparent in the film why Barry’s actions and diligence led him to become President Obama, the first African-American president of the United States.
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Gasparilla Survival Guide
Photo by Bianca Lopez/The Minaret
COVER
Photo by Liz MacLean/The Minaret PARADE TIME: Dozens of floats pass through Tampa’s streets during the Gasparilla parade. In 2016, the Tampa police department made 413 arrests and 23 misdemeanor charges during the festivities.
Liz MacLean News Editor liz.maclean@theminaretonline.com Sweaty men with dreadlocks and hands full of beads beg for kisses from college girls, spitting on the sidewalk when turned away. A woman with an eyepatch howls from the top of a parade float while shaking her large bosom at the people on the sidewalk, who either look up in surprise or are too far gone to notice. The city-wide holiday didn’t previously require police to walk the streets of downtown Tampa or apartment boards to hire extra police officers to keep college students at bay, according to an email from Newport Town Homes Homeowners, Association, Inc. Gasparilla started as a May Day festival in 1904 with a surprise invasion of pirates on horseback, according to Lindsay Huban, museum relations coordinator of the Henry B. Plant Museum. The first Gasparilla party was held in Fletcher Lounge, which was once the library of the Tampa Bay Hotel. The pirate theme is based on the legend of the swash-buckling
pirate named Jose “Gasparilla” Gaspar, who attacked merchant ships in the Tampa area in the late 1700s. Every year since 1904, a Gasparilla Court has been named, and the queen and king are showcased in the parade. The court tradition is still kept today, although few similarities between the first Gasparilla and the modern festivities exist beyond that. The holiday has evolved into a weekend of parties, parades and plastic eyepatches. In 2016, there were 23 misdemeanor charges made on Gasparilla, including boating under the influence and underage drinking, according to patch.com. That’s a huge decline since 2010, when there were 413 arrests, most of which related to alcohol, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “Gasparilla, for the two years that I have gone, was crazy,” said Emily Williams, a junior marine science and biology major. “People are very aggressive at the parade when it comes to getting beads and are not afraid to get physical, so you should definitely decide ahead of time how dedicated you are to getting beads. It is also very crowded, so make a plan with your group to keep in touch when you get separated, because it’s pretty much guaranteed it will happen.”
Between the crowds and the festivities, Gasparilla can get pretty intense if you’ve never celebrated it before. The parade route is about 3.8 miles long and contains floats, marching bands, and pirates throwing beaded necklaces and other giveaways. Gasparilla will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the corner of Bay to Bay Blvd and Bayshore Blvd. Attendees can stand on the sidelines to watch or tickets can be purchased for those who want VIP seating. For Gasparilla first-timers, there are many crucial items that are often left behind in the dorm room and wished for at least five times during the day. Here are some things you should keep handy:
Visit gasparillapiratefest.com for more information about the parade.
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COVER SUNSCREEN Even if it’s just the little sample-sized tube a lady at the mall handed you, tuck it in your back pocket or drawstring bag - you’ll want it later. Weather.com predicts the low to be 53 degrees, but in years past, the temperature has been in the 80s, with that ever-persistent Florida sun we all love refusing to take a break. By the time graduation comes around, many UT students have gotten at least one sunburn during Gasparilla. Plus, consuming alcohol can actually worsen a sunburn because the body metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, which can cause skin to be more sensitive to UV rays, according to prevention.com. Whether it’s chilling like a pirate at the pool or joining the masses at the parade, you’ll want to be able to enjoy your day without feeling the burn. WATER Walking through the streets on Gasparilla is like walking through the streets of Disney –with the addition of alcohol. The day is full of crowds, expensive food stands and lines. If you bring your own water, you’ll be a happy pirate sipping your drink on the sidelines of the parade, instead of waiting in a long line and shelling out $5 for a bottle of water. We all know it’s important to stay hydrated when drinking, so take advantage of the free water bottles the RAs give out. Everyone at the party will be envious when they see you walking around with a clean, cool bottle of water and they’re drinking out of a water fountain on the street. REASONABLE FOOTWEAR “Definitely wear good shoes, because you’ll be walking everywhere,” said Zoe Lorusso, junior advertising and public
relations major. That could mean combat boots or Converse, but high heels are not a good idea. Chances are you’ll be walking a couple miles during the course of the day. GOPRO/CAMERA Gasparilla is the perfect time to capture life in Tampa and make all your friends back home jealous. Plus, you may need to take pictures (and Snapchats, of course) to remember your crazy pirate antics the next day. A lifeproof case is smart for any cell phone, as beer, liquor and unknown liquids are likely to catch some air at any party. SNACKS Most students leave their room early in the morning on Gasparilla and don’t return until the late afternoon, so slipping a granola bar into your drawstring bag can be a lifesaver. If you’re planning on buying something from a vendor, bring a small wad of cash just in case they don’t take cards (you’ll also avoid losing your credit card this way). PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER There are no outlets conveniently built into the Bayshore sidewalk, so either prepare to put your phone on airplane mode for most of the day or bring a portable charger. “I usually bring a water bottle and a portable phone charger and my wallet just with a little cash, and my ID,” Williams said. OPTIONAL: FITBIT
the most steps. “It’s really nice because you get to see how far you walked and it shows you how many calories you’re burning,” said Molly Silverberg, sophomore advertising and public relations major. “You can even do competitions between your friends on the app to see who walks the most.” Silverberg wore a Fitbit last year to Gasparilla and walked 3.3 miles. FANNY PACK What better to hold all your gear in than a nifty fanny pack to secure around your waist? (You know what they say, the ‘90s are coming back.) SUNGLASSES Putting a pair on your head or in your pocket can be a lifesaver, especially if you watch the parade for the full three and a half hours that it takes. Taking an extra pair can pay off in case a friend forgets theirs. When it comes to safety, there are several things to remember: always stick with a buddy, be smart about how much you drink and keep your phone in a secure spot. Live Well UT will hold a Gasparilla Safety Fair on Friday, Jan. 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. outside of Morsani. There are also apps that students can download to help keep in contact with friends Find My Friends and Life360 are both free in the App Store. Some people prefer to stay away from the crowds by watching pirate movies at home or relaxing by the pool with a bottle o’ rum - or, uh, lemonade. Either way, Gasparilla is the perfect opportunity to let out your inner pirate.
Most people walk several miles on Gasparilla, so a Fitbit can come in handy if you’re in a competition for who has
Photo courtesy of Plant Museum (left) Photo by Bianca Lopez/The Minaret (right) UPDATING TRADITIONS: Since its beginning, pirates invade Tampa Bay for Gasparilla. Junior Hagen Treadway (right) displays what can happen to students at the modern Gasparilla. The first party for the event was held in Fletcher Loung we and varied greatly from the drunken debauchery of today’s celebrations.
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OPINION
What ‘people are saying’ about President Trump
Using the same verbal tactics Trump used to cast shade during campaign Bill Delehunt Contributing Writer william.delehunt@spartans.ut.edu Last Friday, Donald J. Trump took the oath of office and became the 45th President of the United States. During the recent presidential campaign, Trump effectively used an old political trick. He introduced topics he wanted his low-information voting base to hear, but did so in a way that would avoid blowback from the press or from his opponents for lying about them. He would cleverly and disingenuously begin sentences with phrases like, “People are saying…,” or “I’m hearing that…,” or “People are telling me…,” and then continue with the most outrageous fake news story of the hour, for example, the father of Senator Ted Cruz (Republican from Texas) being complicit in the assassination of President John Kennedy. Another one of these, “I’m hearing people say” concoctions was that Hillary Clinton killed an aide back in the 1990s. Details were never given to back up these fabrications and Trump would often deny the very story he was referring to. But he was able to lie directly to his base, to give red meat to those whose votes he craved (“I love the poorly educated,” he once proclaimed this past February in Nevada, gleefully). Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has begun using a similar tactic. “It’s not at all clear to me just viewing this from the outside that this hacking into the DNC and the RNC computers was not a false flag operation,” he said. Bolton, for those of you not fluent in Washington insider doublespeak, accused the Obama administration of actually hacking into the Democratic National Committee computers, releasing embarrassing information about their own political party and members of their administration and then claiming it was actually done by the Russian government in order to discredit the Trump campaign. We will ignore for now the utter ludicrousness of this charge, which does not pass the Occam’s Razor test (take a logic class), and instead focus on Bolton’s words. He, like Trump, is able to make an outrageous, nearly unverifiable claim, but couch it in a way that he would not be held accountable if it is later disproved. Using rhetorical tricks that would amaze the Sophists of Ancient Greece (take a philosophy class), Bolton can cast aspersions without suffering consequences or aligning himself with these allegations. In that same spirit, here are a few more things “people are saying.” We cannot confirm or deny any of the following information, but this is what we are hearing people talk about.
Photo Courtesy Andres Castellano/Flickr DEFENDANT IN CHIEF: Baron, Donald and Melania Trump wave to the crowd as they walk to the White House. Trump’s clever speech tactics helped lead him to the Presidency and now, Trump has begun the task of hand-picking his new Cabinet.
Donald Trump will move into the White House at least on a temporary basis. First Lady Melania Trump will remain for the time being in New York City, costing taxpayers roughly $1 million per day in protective services. Evangelical Christians have sent Mrs. Trump to the White House despite the fact that she plagiarized her most important public speech at the Republican National Convention, that she fabricated her university résumé or that she posed nude with her legs spread and simulated sexual activities with another naked woman for GQ Magazine. She is currently involved in a $150 million lawsuit, in which the defendant alleged Mrs. Trump worked as a highly paid escort. Of course, The Minaret and this writer would never allege such a malicious, vile charge, and would vehemently agree with the Trump lawyers who have written, “Plaintiff (Mrs. Trump) was not a sex worker, escort or prostitute in any way, shape or form….” But, like Ted Cruz’s father being involved in the Kennedy assassination or Hillary Clinton being involved in the death of Vincent Foster, this is something people are saying about the First Lady. Newly appointed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos admitted she and her family have donated $200 million to Republican campaigns and candidates, which seems to be a significant reason why she was nominated for a cabinet position. Who knew these jobs would cost so much? Trump chose her for the Education Department because she has been an
outspoken advocate for siphoning tax money from public schools and redirecting it to for-profit schools, effectively taking public dollars and putting them into private hands. In her confirmation hearing, DeVos was asked a fundamental question about student evaluations. Not only did she not have an answer, but she did not even understand the question, which dealt with the differences between the amount of information students learn during a given reporting period, known as growth, and students reaching targeted levels of learning, which is known as proficiency. Despite her bafflement at such a fundamental issue, her defenders jumped up and claimed this topic was too much “inside baseball” and was too detailed. How can that be, when she is going to be Secretary of Education? How can any question regarding basic student learning be too detailed? DeVos was exposed. She understands how to make money in the private business of running schools, but she lacks the essential knowledge of educating students from an elementary to a university level. ill the focus of the next administration be lining the pockets of entrepreneurs hoping to drain off tax dollars, or providing a quality education for all students? If it is the latter, DeVos has already shown herself unqualified. We will continue to look at members of the new Trump Administration next week. THE MINARET JAN.26.2017
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OPINION
Streep sparks discourse at Golden Globes
Meryl Streep both praised and condemned after delivering anti-Trump speech Indira Moosai Contributing Writer indira.moosai@spartans.ut.edu Meryl Streep is an incredible actress, and her reputation is backed up by the number of awards and nominations she’s received from the Academy. From playing the lovely, freespirited Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, to her performance as Miranda Priestly, the authoritative “Queen Bee” in The Devil Wears Prada, no one can doubt that she wears her talent proudly on her sleeve. At the 74th Golden Globes ceremony, Streep won the Cecil B. DeMille award for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”. Accepting her award, she showed that she is a woman with strong political values that she isn’t afraid to share with the world. She exercised her right to free speech at the 2017 Golden Globes by voicing her dissenting opinions towards President Donald Trump’s actions in great detail, all without ever saying his name. As she stood well-prepared on the stage, she said, “There was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good, there was nothing good about it, but it was effective and it did its job. The person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter. Someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back.” Streep was referring to the time when Trump mocked a New York Times reporter, Serge F. Kovaleski, by mimicking his arm movements at a November 2015 campaign event. Many agreed with her commentary, but some said her comments were inappropriate and that the ceremony was not the place to discuss politics. This is understandable, seeing that it was the Golden Globes and not a campaign event. It may seem like it wasn’t the right forum to discuss politics, but with an audience of millions, a voice as strong as Streep’s will certainly spark conversation. And that’s exactly what she wanted. That was the point. Celebrities know that their actions will get a reaction from the public and therefore feel responsible to act as “figureheads” for their beliefs. We’ve seen celebrities do this time and time again. Take, for instance, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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star receiver Mike Evans, who protested Donald Trump’s election by sitting during the national anthem. Is it a good way to get people to react? Yes. Is it the most appropriate action at the time and place? Not really. However, the message is that when something is inherently wrong, you must take a stand (or seat) for what you think is right. Otherwise, injustice will continue. Streep continued, “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners and if we kick them all out, you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts.” While Hollywood has had many outsiders and foreigners contribute greatly to the success of countless franchises, such as Jackie Chan in Rush Hour and the British cast of the Harry Potter series, calling football and mixed martial arts, “not the arts,” was a bit uncalled for. In a speech
aimed to condemn discrimination of any kind, this statement came off as hypocritical. Streep received minor backlash from these sporting communities in the days following her speech. MMA promoter Scott Coker wrote to Streep via twitter, “The global sport of mixed martial art celebrates males and female athletes from around the world who work years tirelessly honing their crafts and – yes – arts.” While the idea of speaking out against a malpractice should be praised, Streep could have been more successful in her choice of words. This was a valiant effort on Streep’s part. It had it’s strengths and weaknesses, but we can learn from it. It doesn’t take being a celebrity to have your voice heard. It doesn’t take putting down another to bring yourself up. As the adage goes, when they go low, you don’t also go low; go high.
Photo Courtesy of Golden Globes/Facebook STREEPING THE NATION: Meryl Streep uses her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes as a platform to share her thoughts on the current socio-political climate. Her contraversial words drew praise from some but generated criticism from others.
OPINION
Required materials: are they worth the cost? Photo Courtesy of Tess Sheets/The Minaret BROKE FOR BOOKS: Freshman Jen Snook treks her bag of class supplies across campus. Pricey textbooks and art supplies are an extra expense for college students, one that many can’t easily afford.
Kelly Hauck Contributing Writer kelly.hauck@spartans.ut.edu Classes have started, syllabi are out, bank accounts are about to plunge. Our bank accounts aren’t empty because we’re finally back to those college bars that make us hand over $200 (and our dignity) for the cover charge... and another $70 for a drink or two… or three… or perhaps seven. No, this is not the reason we are broke. Rather, it is the fact that our professors expect us to buy these expensive textbooks that we never use and to pay lab fees upwards of $200 for “labs” we never see. As a communication major, I have been in several classes that require a mandatory non-refundable lab fee. This “lab fee” is for use of the cage where equipment can be checked out to use for projects. I have had classes where the cage equipment was not required to use or optional. So, why is the lab fee mandatory if the use of it is optional? Furthermore, the times when I have tried to check out a video camera from the cage, the nicest camera I could get was a Flip Camera, which is worse than using a first generation iTouch. I might as well use my phone. Each class has its own designated equipment that you’re allowed to check out, so if your class doesn’t have access to something in the cage, neither do you, even though you pay $150 to use it, which should mean all of it. Textbooks are another required material for class that we
seldom use and could be an optional purchase. Throughout the entire semester, we open the textbook maybe four times, but only when Quizlet isn’t able to answer our questions. Other uses of these textbooks include, but aren’t limited to stepping stools, weapons, tricking your parents into thinking you are studious when they come and visit, a nice toilet read, a blanket for those cold, lonely nights. The basic things, you get it. This isn’t true for everyone, however. My roommate prefers to teach herself the lessons from the book because she doesn’t feel like going to class. If I’m spending $200 to read in bed and teach myself, there better be some massage therapists handy, food on deck and the rain forest playlist on Spotify sounding in the background. I understand that the authors and editors of these textbooks dedicated time and research to produce such knowledgable text, and Dr. Donald Knowitall and the publishers at We’ll-rip-you-off Education have to be paid for their hard work. But, trust me when I say that us college students are by no means rolling in the dough. I have another friend who is an art minor and spent around $300 for her supplies. She’s no Picasso either, so selling her paintings probably isn’t going to pay off her bill for the supplies. “If you’re going for a major in art, then the price for the degree in the end is worth it, but if it’s a one-time thing,it can be difficult to deal with,” freshman digital arts major Jen Snook said. As juniors, my peers and I have learned that when the
syllabus says “textbook required,” that means it is time to call up the parentals, beg and plead for them to fund our educations and to give us the opportunity to learn from those “required” textbooks so someday we can graduate and make them proud. And if our requests for financial help are successful, there is only one thing left to do: buy a keg and invite all our friends over. Then, when midterms and finals roll around, we can panic and ask our classmates for pictures of the pages so we can give ourselves a painful headache trying to read a semester’s worth of material on our measly smartphone screens. Or if you’re smart enough to think this far, get a study group together and choose the one student who actually got the book to be in your group. I’ve learned that this is a power move from experience as the poor and ignorant one without the book. Having over two years of experience with unnecessary lab fees and textbook rentals, I can safely advise others to wait and see how often you truly are going to use the book. If homework assignments and readings don’t come directly from the book, chances are you won’t use it and purchasing it would be a waste of moolah. As for lab fees, if the use of the cage is restricted and optional, why should the price be mandatory? It should be optional for those who want to use it, instead of slipped in with the rest of our tuition. Poor freshmen won’t know about these hidden fees and unnecessary purchases, but they’ll learn in due time.
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OPINION
MEN ARE NOT MEAT
Men aren’t meat
Photo Courtesy of Bianca Lopez/The Minaret NICE TO MEAT YOU: Meat can go on display, but men shouldn’t be showcased in the same way. Buzzfeed’s double standards protect feminist goals but fall short when it comes to objectifying men online.
Madhura Nadarajah Contributing Writer madhura.nadarajah@spartans.ut.edu Millennials are constantly being chewed out by older generations for their lack of interest when it comes to the news, whether it be local, national, or world news. The “older generation” claims that millennials are too focused on themselves due to the growing popularity of social media. Nevertheless, millennials fought back and proved that social media can have a positive impact on society. A prime example of this is the online news-sharing media hit, Buzzfeed. Buzzfeed launched in 2006 (around the same time Facebook and Twitter were hitting the scene) with the hopes of being the top online source of “breaking news,” whether it be related to politics, world affairs or entertainment. Millennials are proud of Buzzfeed because it exemplifies the younger generation using social media to make a positive impact. In this case, Buzzfeed’s attractive media stories make it easy for millennials to share news stories on various social media platforms. The most impactful feature that Buzzfeed has to offer is the authentic and relatable views of the writers. Simply put, most millennials reading a Buzzfeed article agree that the point of view is genuine, unlike many other online news media that have a pseudo-relatable quality to them. But what happens when Buzzfeed — an online news outlet that millennials rely on — continuously commits a heinous crime? What happens when the respect millennials are finally gaining goes out the door? The crime that Buzzfeed continuously commits is hypocrisy in regards to the topic of human rights. Specifically, Buzzfeed rejects sexually objectifying women yet they still sexually objectify men all the time. Webster’s defines objectification as the act of “treating a person as a commodity or an object without regard to their personality
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or dignity.” Understandably, Buzzfeed urges the war against sexual objectification of women, which I am in no shape nor form complaining about. It is a universal understanding that women of any race, creed, and socioeconomic group are the number one targets of sexual objectification and experience it daily. It is not Buzzfeed’s lack of discussion of the sexual objectification towards men that is the problem. In fact, it is Buzzfeed’s direct (and sometimes prideful) sexual objectification of men. From their countdown of the sexiest bulges, butts, or
“While Buzzfeed likes to portray itself as the pinnacle of progressiveness, men are whittled down to their penis size, height, and income.These comments are treated like A+ joke material. Feminism is about seeing everyone as people and equal treatment. Objectification has no place in that.” - Antoinette Jones, senior writing major
overall physical appeal, Buzzfeed sexually objectifies men tirelessly. For example, there are two popular Buzzfeed articles, one from December 2015 and the other from May 2014, that showcase a list of what the Buzzfeed writers deem to be the sexiest bulges. Both articles went out without a hitch. If the Buzzfeed articles were to feature countdown of the “sexiest, NSFW” of celebrity breasts, they would probably be in the gutter immediately. Most recently, Buzzfeed featured a quiz that asked the player to guess
which butt belonged to what actor. The February 2016 quiz did use film stills in which male actors consensually depicted their rear ends, but the artistic meaning behind the naked bum was dispelled when Buzzfeed sexually objectified the butts by featuring them in a quiz. If this quiz were to feature a female’s bust or even their butts in such an objectifying way, Buzzfeed would be under fire. “While Buzzfeed likes to portray itself as the pinnacle of progressiveness, men are whittled down to their penis size, height, and income,” said senior writing major Antoinette Jones. “These comments are treated like A+ joke material. Feminism is about seeing everyone as people and equal treatment. Objectification has no place in that.” Opponents might dare to state that Buzzfeed’s objectification of men is not a serious matter, but rather “girl talk” of men that should not be taken seriously. Buzzfeed put out an article in 2014 listing 15 times that they sexually objectified men during the world soccer championship. The article seemed satirical and carried a tone as if Buzzfeed was doing readers a favor by objectifying men. Others might argue that women, unlike men, are more likely to become victims as a byproduct of sexual objectification. I am here to state that because a specific human rights problem (in this case male sexual objectification) occurs in lower volumes compared to other human right problems, it should not be erased from the discussion. Humans should unify to fight injustice. This lack of morale on Buzzfeed’s part poses two predicaments in relation to millennials. The first is that millennials lose trust in an online media outlet and perhaps start to believe the negative babble the older generations spit at millennials. The second dilemma is that many millennials trust Buzzfeed and might view the sexual objectification of men as girl talk. Hopefully, the Buzzfeed team wakes up and realizes their follies, if they do they will not only be empowering millennials, but also giving a voice to the voiceless.
OPINION
New year doesn’t require new you
A five-step guide on how to be yourself for all 365 days of the year
Photo Courtesy of Carissa Economos/The Minaret BE YOURSELF: A banner celebrates the beginning of a new year; a popular time for resolution and change. But why wait until December 31? Learn how to be yourself all the time and create a rewarding, fulfilling life.
Jasmine Andrews Contributing Writer jasmine.andrews@spartans.ut.edu If you’ve seen Gary (Vee) Vaynerchuck’s 92Y Talk With Stephanie Ruhle or Simon Sinek’s viral Millennials in the Workplace interview, then you know everyone’s got a lot to say about millennials. Baby boomers born in the 1940s grew up in a completely different world than the one we have now. As a result, they don’t understand us, nor do they attempt to, and the Generation X they birthed believes that we are a lost ugly legion of twerking, Instagram-addicted neanderthals who don’t know the value of reality. Admittedly, Generation Y’s are a bit more forgiving, believing that while we are still crazy kids running amuck with our noses glued to our smartphones, we may just have a chance to turn around our shallow ways and focus on a traditional life that includes sacrificing your 20s (the prime years of full joint rotation) just so you can have the job you want when you’re 40, then (hopefully) retire when you’re 65. But hey, most of Generation Y is stuck within the pre-computer age where cassettes and DVD players were a thing, so we’ll take what we can get. But really, can we blame the world for questioning us? Can we blame the world for not understanding a generation of Millennials who really don’t know themselves?
I am being honest when I say we millennials really don’t know who we are. We “know” information that we receive through the media, through free articles, and through blog posts exemplifying all that we think we want, but have never actually tried. We are hungry for the good life. We are thrillseeking adventurers who want the most out of every day, every second, every interaction and every moment. We are looking for fulfillment. We are your morning-yoga coding machines, in search of what it means to live a full life. For us, this means a life outside of what was once the typical American dream, one where you work a cubiclebased nine-to-five for 80 or more hours per week, earn a meager salary, settle for an ok spouse, and have children that will get the “best” education public schools can offer. Then, after it’s all done and you’ve penny-pinched your savings away, you’d live a modest, unsatisfying life of retirement where there’d be just too much life, too many years after your social security checks stopped coming in the mail. No. No, no, no. As a passionate generation, we want to start living our best lives now and forever. We all want to be on Forbes list of 20 under 20, not 30 under 30. We want to take vacations now, not wait until our scheduled two weeks are allotted to us. We want to run our own businesses, control our own lives and have our own relationships with whomever we want, whenever we want, however we want. Unfortunately, no one ever taught us how to do these things. No generation before us has shown what it means to
be authentic and live a true-to-yourself lifestyle. They just told us, “Be yourself.” But how? We are a bright and eager generation with a mass of knowledge and access to unlimited resources at our fingertips, but we have not yet learned true wisdom-that is applied wisdom. Well, allow yourself to be your own guiding light, at least for this article. While I’m not the self-fulfillment guru, I am a millennial who is just as obsessed with living a breathtaking, authentic life as I’m sure you are. Here are a few tips on how to be yourself this year. Ultimately, if you do the things on your bucket list and expand upon the values you’ve set forth for yourself, you will begin to develop into an even more incredible and stunning human being than you are now. The pathway is yours to follow, and you must remember that all those books, motivation pages and activity planners should only be used as tools, not as the defining force in your development. You are your own person, a dynamic being who deserves to live a life that reflects who you are inside. If you have any more tips on living expressively and authentically, email me at jasmine.andrews@spartans.ut.edu. As a self-pronounced adventure seeker, I’m always welcome to meeting new passionate individuals.
STEP 1
STEP 3
STEP 4
Make a list of all the values you hold dear to yourself and one thing you’ve always wanted to do.
STEP 2 Review and plan. Decide to commit. Remember, this isn’t a new year’s resolution (that’s pretty cliché). You are committing to your present self to create the best version of who you are.
Remember that you always have a choice and that you always will. It’s easy to scroll through Pinterest and blindly follow the advice before you, or to do the same with any self-help book or activity log that may just find its way into your fingers. Instead, take back the choice in your life. We seem to have forgotten what it’s like to actually have options as opposed to letting someone provide preset opportunity for you.
Reflect: How do you want to live? No matter what, life is a personal experience and you are the author, narrator, hero and protagonist of your own story. Whatever is being spoon fed to you doesn’t matter - you have to live your life for you in your own way without limitation.
STEP 5 Experience, experience, experience.
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SPORTS
NFL Column: Brady Bunch headed to Houston Simon Brady Contributing Writer simon.brady@spartans.ut.edu
Photo courtesy of Sebastien P/Flickr NEVER SAY NEVER: Patriots Wide Reciever Chris Hogan surprises with nine catches, 180 yards and two touchdowns. Hogan played three years of lacrosse and only one year of football at small college Monmouth University, and is now headed to the Super Bowl.
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The New England Patriots are one step closer to capturing their fifth Super Bowl title after an emphatic victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game Sunday night. New England rode the momentum provided by their home crowd in Gillette Stadium to win 36-17. The Patriots have been almost guaranteed to go home winners when getting out to a fast start in Foxboro. New England improved to an astonishing 101-1 record when leading at halftime in home games. Sunday night was another one of those games, as New England led 17-9 at intermission. They would not let the foot off the gas. The lead could’ve been far more scarce had it not been for a huge defensive goal line stand late in the first half. With Pittsburgh on the one yard line, almost sure to score and make it a 17-13 game, the Matt Patricia’s led Patriot defense stopped them for three consecutive downs. The Steelers were forced to settle for a field goal, and their potent offense’s confidence and productivity faltered from that point on. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a near superb stat line, throwing for 384 yards on 32/42 passing, including three touchdowns passes. Brady continues to defy father time, playing the best football of his career at age 39. Outside of Brady, the star of the game was his favorite receiving target of the night, wide receiver Chris Hogan. With nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns, Hogan torched a weak Steeler secondary. The 180 yards totaled by Hogan marks the most by a Patriot receiver in playoff game history, surpassing Deion Branch who previously held the record with an 153 yard game at Denver in 2006. Hogan has proven to be the best offseason addition for the Patriots. Previously contributing at a minimal level for division foes Miami and Buffalo, Hogan has finally found a home in Foxboro, proving to be a key component to the Patriots’ receiving core this season. Although Hogan’s break out game Sunday may be surprising to some, it certainly wasn’t to the man throwing to him. In his postgame press conference, Brady pointed out that Hogan had the highest yards per reception average in all of the NFL coming into Sunday’s game. The Patriots were fully aware that Hogan had big play capability coming in, and he certainly delivered. Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman complemented Hogan quite nicely as he had a big day of his own. Edelman totaled 118 receiving yards on 8 catches. And although the New England running game was not much of a factor, Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount got it going late piling up 47 yards on 16 carries, including a one yard touchdown run that effectively put the game out of hand for Pittsburgh late in the third quarter. Meanwhile on the other sideline, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense led by a great quarterback in his own right, Ben Roethlisberger, did not have nearly as much success as New England. Roethlisberger totaled 31/47 yards passing for 314 yards, with a touchdown and interception each. He finished with an underwhelming 57.2 quarterback rating, while Brady had a staggering 90.4 QBR. Much of Pittsburgh’s lack of production on offense can be
SPORTS
Photo courtesy of Jack Newton/Flickr DEFLATE THIS: At age 39, Patriots Quaterback Tom Brady will look to estbalish himself as the NFL’s greatest quarterback ever as he goes for his fifth superbowl ring, Brady destroys the Steelers with 384 passing yards and three touchdown passes. A Super Bowl LI will be his seventh appearance in the NFL’s biggest dance.
attributed to the loss of stud running back Le’Veon Bell. Bell went down early in the first quarter with a groin injury that would keep him sidelined the rest of the game. He mustered out a mere 20 yards on six carries before going down. Bell was a huge piece to the Steelers high powered offense these playoffs, combining for 337 yards running in the Steelers’ previous two playoff games. Serviceable veteran backup tailback DeAngelo Williams did all he could to compensate for Bell’s absence, but only registered 34 yards on 14 carries. In an interesting subplot throughout the week leading up to the game Sunday, controversy swirled around the Steelers locker room. Following the 18-16 divisional round victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, star wide receiver Antonio Brown streamed the locker room celebration onto social media via Facebook Live. He continued to broadcast the elated scene in the locker room through head coach Mike Tomlin’s victory speech. His head coach’s’ speech contained some vulgar language toward the Patriots. During his weekly press conference, Tomlin called out Brown saying his actions were selfish and that there would
certainly be repercussions for his foolish behavior. On Wednesday, Tomlin announced in front of the team that he would impose a $10,000 fine on Brown. Given the Steelers’ poor performance, and Brown’s relatively pedestrian day for his standards, making just seven grabs for 77 yards, speculation will ensue as to how much this may have distracted the team leading up to Sunday night. Patriots fans would rather not acknowledge these potential Steeler distractions, or let it deviate from their dominant performance. The focus for the Patriots now shifts to NRG Stadium in Houston, the site of Super Bowl LI, next Sunday Feb. 5. New England has their hands full as they take on Matt Ryan and the explosive Atlanta Falcons. Like New England, Atlanta took care of business Sunday as they claimed the NFC crown with a decisive 44-21 win over the Green Bay Packers, snapping their eight game winning streak. In this upcoming Super Bowl, the ramifications for Brady and head coach Bill Belichick’s legacies are far higher than usual. The two have been the catalysts of the Patriots success since their arrival, and have a chance to put themselves in a
class of their own by adding another Super Bowl victory to their resumes. For Brady, a potential fifth Super Bowl win next Sunday would make him the winningest quarterback in NFL history, surpassing Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw who each had four Super Bowl victories. Given this, one more Super Bowl victory for Brady would secure his status as the greatest quarterback in NFL history in many people’s eyes. On the flip side, Belichick can become the winningest coach in Super Bowl history. He is currently tied with the late Chuck Noll, former Steelers coach, with four Super Bowl victories. This tremendous quarterback-coach tandem can certainly make history like we have never seen in the NFL’s 97 year history in this upcoming Super Bowl. Nothing would satisfy Brady and Patriot fans more than having their 2017 campaign conclude with commissioner Roger Goodell, who imposed a four game suspension on Brady this season for the DeflateGate scandal, hand him and the New England Patriots the Lombardi Trophy following triumph over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
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SPORTS
Spartans attempt to build off impressive win Jacob Trask Contributing Writer jacob.trask@spartans.ut.edu The men’s basketball team had a tough task ahead of them last Wednesday as they squared up against No. 6 Barry University, who currently leads the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). In an 88-80 victory, the Spartans handed Barry their second loss of the season. A somewhat dominant first half for the Spartans was followed by a tightly contested second, with Barry coming back to turn a 14-point deficit to a three-point deficit with just minutes left in the half, but the Spartans’ play makers kept the game under control. Junior forward Marcel Robinson had 22 points and senior forward Austin Rettig had 21. Junior center Duke Shelton dominated in the post, getting 11 rebounds (five more than any Barry player). Freshman point guard Mekhi Biffle also had an impressive performance, shooting three for three from downtown. Barry is a force on offense, averaging 94.6 points per game this season. Their fast pace and full-court press style is one that the Spartans have struggled with this year. “There really is no great way to prepare for it. We try in practice but once you get out there, it seems a lot faster,” said associate head coach, Justin Pecka. “We were really trying to focus on our defense, just getting back and making them take contested shots.” The determining factor in the victory ended up being shot consistency. The Spartans posted a 57.7 percent (3052) field goal percentage to Barry’s 48.4percent. Most other statistics were near tied between the teams. The victory brought the Spartans to 13-5 on the season and 6-3 in the conference. Sitting at No. 2 in the conference, the Spartans look to continue with their momentum as they prepare for one of their toughest stretches of the season. In four straight road games, they face four conference opponents, all of whom they have already played once. “We’ll just go one game at a time,” said Pecka. “It’s a lot harder the second time around. They know us now. It’ll be important to execute our offense, take good shots and play good defense.” On Saturday, the Spartans traveled to Palm Beach to face off against Palm Beach Atlantic. Despite being dominated in the first half 38-22, the Spartans were able to come back and win the second half 40-34, but lost the game 72-62. They shot 36.5 percent from the field and were dominated in the post, outscored 44-18 in points in the paint. The loss brought them to 13-6 on the season and knocked them down to No. 3 in the conference. This week, the Spartans will take on Nova Southeastern and Saint Leo, both of who they beat comfortably in previous matchups. In November, the Spartans beat Nova Southeastern by 20 points, and earlier this month, they beat Saint Leo by 12. They will have their hands full on Saturday with Saint Leo’s star guard, Marcus Dewberry, who averages 20.8 points per game. The Spartans will likely see action out of starting sophomore point guard Pat Bacon, who has been out since early December with a broken foot. Bacon had surgery on the foot on Dec. 13, and is expected to make his return
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Photo courtesy of Tom Kolbe SLAM: Senior Austin Rettig throws down a monsterous jam over Barry Buccaneer defenders. Rettig contributed 21 points, and three rebounds throughout UT’s Jan. 18 upset 88-80 victory over No. 6 Barry University at the Bob Martinez Athletic Center.
against Nova Southeastern on Wednesday. Bacon led the team with 15.1 points per game before his injury. Coaches are unsure to what extent Bacon will play, but the young point guard is feeling positive and was cleared for practice on Jan. 23. “Hopefully I come back fast,” said Bacon. Bacon has been staying in shape on the elliptical since his surgery and just began shooting in practice this week. “If I can still shoot, then everything’ll be good.” With Bacon returning, the Spartans will look to their bench to provide added support on both sides of the court. Guards, senior Matt Johnson, sophomore Freddy Ibrahim and Mekhi Biffle have performed efficiently in place of Bacon, and should add depth to the Spartans’ bench. In just his first collegiate season, Biffle is fifth on the team in points per game (9.8). The Spartans will also look to forward Marcel Robinson, who has taken control of the offense in Bacon’s absence. He is second in points scored with 15.0 per game, and has
averaged 24 points per game in the last five games. “Once [Robinson] starts making a couple shots, he’s gonna make a ton of them,” Pecka said. “He’s been playing great. He’s been assertive. He’s been taking good shots as opposed to just any shot, and he’s been making them.” At 13-6, the Spartans have improved tremendously from last season. Bacon says that the key has been roster depth. “We’re playing more as a team. I’m at 15 (points per game), [Shelton] has 14, [Robinson] at 15, [Rettig] is at 11, and [Biffle] is at nine. We have a lot of scorers. Everybody’s just gelling together.” Bacon says the team’s goal is the team’s goal is to keep winning and make it to the division two NCAA Tournament. “Go as far as we can,” Bacon said. “That’s all we want to do is win. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re all here for.” With numerous offensive weapons and Bacon returning, the Spartans will likely take on the second half of the season full force. All remaining games are within the conference,
SPORTS
Four Spartans earn pre-season honor
S
PARTANS
TANDINGS
MEN’S BBALL
13-6 Photo courtesy of Tom Kolbe
WHIPPLE LEADS THE CHARGE: Senior attacker Conor Whipple storms up the field in NCAA Semifinals against Limestone College. Whipple was one of the four Spartans selected as a pre-season All-American.
Katelyn Massarelli Head Copy Editor katelyn.massarelli@theminaretonline.com
This Friday marks the beginning of the men’s lacrosse season as they take on the Jacksonville Dolphins, a Division I school. The team has high expectations, as they have four players that have been selected as Face Off Yearbook Preseason All-Americans. The four players selected for this pre-season honor were senior attacker Conor Whipple, sophomore defender AJ Ferraro, senior defender Marty Heyn and sophomore attacker Andrew Kew. For Whipple, receiving this award was exciting, but he is more motivated for the potential honors he is hoping to receive at the end of his final season. “I am exciting going into my final season,” Whipple said. “I am striving to be one of the best players I can be, as well as enjoy the process. Personally, I want to be the NCAA player of the year, and as a team goal we want to win a national championship. It is going to be difficult to do, but we are looking forward to the challenge.” Whipple expressed his excitement for his fellow teammates who were also selected, and described how the honor raises the bar of expectations going into this season. The Spartans will look to make a splash like they did this past season. Looking forward to this season, Whipple anticipates their game later on this season against Limestone College to be a challenge on top of getting to the NCAA Tournament. Last Season, Limestone was the final game men’s lacrosse played in the NCAA Semifinals before the Spartans’ dreams were cut short with a close loss of 13-10. “We can’t afford to look over any games this season,” Whipple said. “With only four team from the south that make the NCAA tournament we have to do our best to run the table.” With the team fired up to make it further than before, the improvement and constant work is what they believe will give them the shot they need, according to junior offensive midfielder Sean Herdman. He went on to say that
every practice has to be treated as a game and everyone, no matter if you’re a senior or a freshman, needs to be held accountable. “We are a very fast, athletic team and have a lot of chemistry together,” Herdman said. “We need to keep grinding every practice and we’ll reach our goals.” The team this year is made up of many new recruits but a lot of returning veterans to complement the bunch. The team has come together and made a great atmosphere this offseason, according to Whipple. “It helps having several people on the team with the same maturing level and goals that they have set for themselves and the team,” Whipple said. The beginning of men’s lacrosse regular season is soon to come and the team has an ambitious beginning with redemption on their mind, many goals to accomplish and different surprises up their sleeves. “I am exciting to see what this year has to offer,” Whipple said. “I believe that there will be a lot of surprises within our team. We have a lot of good players, and I believe a few of them will have breakout seasons.” The first home game takes place on Feb. 5 against Tusculum at 12 p.m.
WOMEN’S BBALL
13-4 MEN’S SWIMMING
6-2 WOMEN’S SWIMMING
6-2
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