THE VOLUME
83
ISSUE
22
APRIL
13,
2017
THE
UNIVERSITY
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REMEMBERING JOHN P. LOWTH
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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
HEAD COPY PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN MULTIMEDIA
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COVER
Photo courtesy of Public Info/UT
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL.
83
NO.
22
APRIL
13,
2017
NEWS
OPINION
BY JENNA MANTO PAGE 3
BY MADHURA NADARAJAH PAGE 15
Alumni aim to provide sustainable food with fish tank plants
Whitewashing: Hollywood’s social problem
BY LIZ MACLEAN PAGE 4
BY SARA LATTMAN PAGE 16
Suitcase drive will aid kids without guardians
Get involved: Change starts with you
BY IVY VELAZQUEZ PAGE 5
BY BILL DELEHUNT PAGE 17
A+E
SPORTS
Students weigh in as Uber faces harrassment scandals
The plant method: Emma Murphy’s vegan journey BY MEGAN MYERS PAGE 6-7
Authentic Americana comes to Ybor BY ANDREW FOERCH PAGE 8
Oscars 2018: Movies to watch out for this year BY JACOB TRASK PAGE 9
Measuring success: College is more than your GPA
The Amanda Show: Voges and Rom set mileston BY KATELYN MASSARELLI PAGE 19
Rest when you retire: NBA players need to play BY FRANK CALO PAGE 20
Puck drop: NHL Playoffs ready to face-off BY DEVIN CONWAY PAGE 21
UT Cheer shows pride at Nationals
COVER
BY ELENA DE ALFREDO PAGE 22
Baseball snags third game from Pioneers
Remembering John P. Lowth BY BIANCA LOPEZ PAGE 12-13
BY SIMON BRADY PAGE 23
THE MINARET MEETINGS
M
WILL RESUME IN THE FALL
NARET
CONTACT
UT.MINARET@GMAIL.COM
NEWS
Students weigh in as Uber faces harassment scandals
Photo by Julia Albini / The Minaret A WILD RIDE: Senior Joe D’Amelio calls an Uber on his phone. Uber‘s official guidelines state that drivers and passengers should not touch or flirt with each other, but freshman Lindsey Noordsij was harassed by a driver over spring break.
Jenna Manto Contributing Writer jenna.manto@spartans.ut.edu With Uber under fire for sexual harassment complaints at both the corporate and driver levels, some students are wondering if Uber is a reliably safe option for transportation. Sexual harassment by Uber drivers is a problem that has popped up in and around Tampa, according to students, particularly females, some of whom have had uncomfortable experiences in an Uber. Lindsey Noordsij, a freshman biology major, expressed concern with the way young female passengers are treated in Ubers, especially at night. One night during spring break she took an Uber back to UT and was presented with an uncomfortable situation where her driver put a hand on her leg, asked her to come back to his house and use his jacuzzi, and made other remarks that left Noordsij feeling unsettled. At one point she even threatened to take out her phone and call for help. Uber’s official Community Guidelines state that “You shouldn’t touch or flirt with other people in the car. As a reminder, Uber has a no sex rule. That’s no sexual conduct
with drivers or fellow riders, no matter what.” “Maybe the Uber company isn’t regulating their staff very well,” Noordsij said. Noordsij isn’t alone in this situation. Many Uber riders are coming forward with allegations against their Uber drivers, claiming that they were sexually harassed, stalked or had an unpleasant experience during their ride. “I had a guy last week who kept asking oddly personal and random questions and would randomly turn back to talk to me,” said junior public relations major Taylor Hoffman. “But he would lean close to me and just stare. It was very uncomfortable.” Hoffman said she could see her Uber driver looking at her in the rearview mirror. “I thought I was being paranoid, but then he commented on the sunglasses I was wearing. And whenever things would get quiet, he would make really weird grunting noises, almost moaning. It was so weird.” Some incidents have crossed the line from sexual harassment to sexual assault. In Santa Ana, California, 37-year-old Uber driver Angel Sanchez was arrested on April 1 for sexually assaulting a female passenger, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Uber driver may also have had previous victims, according to the article. Uber’s troubles go all the way to the corporate level. Female employees have made accusations of sexual
misconduct similar to those made by Uber riders. One of the many internal scandals Uber has seen lately involved a former Uber engineer, Susan Fowler. She alleged on her personal blog that she was sexually harassed by her manager and that her complaints to human resources were ignored, eventually leading to threats by her manager to fire her because of her reports, according to Business Insider. Uber has initiated an “internal investigation into workplace practices,” according to The New York Times. Another UT female, Caitlin Whetstone, a sophomore management major, also had an unsettling experience with Uber. In her case, the driver might have made an innocent mistake, but the incident still rattled Whetstone. “I had a guy make a wrong turn off the highway and we were in a pretty sketchy area of Tampa. He said he was going to shut off the app so it stopped charging us, so I thought we were getting kidnapped, but then he turned onto Cass [Street] and it was fine,” Whetstone said. Despite multiple reports by students at UT of uncomfortable Uber experiences, including Whetstone’s, many say they will continue using Uber to get around.
THE MINARET APRIL.13.2017
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NEWS
Alumni aim to provide sustainable food with fish tank plants Liz MacLean News Editor liz.maclean@theminaretonline.com
Djimo Serodio, ‘15, is putting his entrepreneurship degree to good use by starting his own company, Just Grow. Along with the company’s chief operating officer, Bekah Vigil, ‘16, Serodio created a product called Malawi that is completely sustainable. Part fish tank and part garden, Malawi is about 1.3 square feet, perfect for a small urban apartment (or even a dorm room). “It’s a technology called aquaponics, and essentially it’s a bacteria process where fish waste is turned into plant food, and in exchange for that food, the plants filter the water back for the fish,” Serodio said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship. That’s how nature does things, so it’s not really artificial, it’s just induced by technology, and smaller.” Just Grow’s sole product, Malawi, is trademarked and soon-to-be patent pending. It is named after Lake Malawi in Southern Africa because it houses more freshwater fish than any other lake in the world, and is also one of the oldest lakes in the world. The fish tank comes in several different Apple Inc.-inspired colors, from black to silver to white. Serodio hopes to have multiple fish tank sizes in the future, along with an app that tells the owner the pH, temperature and nutrients in the water. The fish tank uses no soil and needs watering as little as once a month, depending on what is grown in the tank. All the owner needs to do is plant seeds and harvest the vegetables. For the fish, there is no need to replace the water, as one normally does with a regular fish tank. Malawi produces mostly leafy green vegetables like red leaf lettuce, bok choy and other “gourmet” greens, according to Serodio. Herbs like basil, parsley and cilantro can also be grown on Malawi, along with ornamental plants. “Essentially, the beauty of this product is that it’s super low-maintenance,” Serodio said. “It’s easier to operate this product compared to just operating a fish tank or just operating a garden, so they actually offset a few maintenance problems such as watering and fertilizing, as well as mess and dirt.” Malawi can house many types of freshwater fish, from guppies to goldfish, malis to platies. Crabs, snails, shrimp and other bottom feeders can also be housed in the fish tank. Just Grow is in the soft-launch phase of Malawi and is aiming to sell the 50 prototypes they produced. The team hopes to gain followers and customers in Tampa specifically. “I think this product specifically could make a really strong statement for Tampa as a city that has a ridiculous rate of new residents every single month,” Vigil said. “The increase in development in the city can’t be ignored. By that token, we want to bring a piece of nature back into spaces and specifically a sustainable cycle to help people reconnect with their food and think a little bit differently about how that can work in their space.” The fish tank is already present in five different elementary and middle schools, and Serodio and Vigil hope to get it into at least 20 others.
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THE MINARET APRIL.13.2017
Photo courtesy of Bekah Vigil THINK TANK: Senior James Plummer shows off Malawi, a product created by UT alumni. The product consits of a fish tank with a garden on top, where the fish provide nutrients to the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish.
“We’re testing the ability to implement these systems in classrooms for the purpose of teaching students through engagement and through inquiry and to foster interest and curiosity,” Serodio said. “We are in early talks with professors in the science wing to implement this system in the lab. That’s not confirmed, but it’s definitely one of our objectives: to wrap up this semester with a system in a university classroom.” James Plummer, a senior biology major, is an intern for Just Grow. Plummer is passionate about Just Grow and its Malawi fish tank because he feels that the symbiotic relationship between the fish and the plants are symbolic of the relationship between humans and nature: they both must work together and feed off one another to survive. “As team lead for our academics department, I have been collaborating with a handful of other science majors who have been working feverishly to produce content for teachers to use in the classroom,” Plummer said. “We are producing as much material as possible to make every step of the setup and growing process a learning experience because there are limitless opportunities to learn more about the world around us.” Serodio started Just Grow in May 2015 and comprises a team of about 30 interns, many of whom go to UT and work in the marketing, academic and business departments of the company. The engineers at Just Grow are from USF. Because the company is growing and developing, and because most of the interns are college students, Serodio and Vigil are
always looking for UT students who are interested in joining their team. As for the future, Serodio and Vigil hope their product will make a difference in the way people in urban areas think and function. “Indoor gardening space is a market we want to tap into and hopefully dominate,” said Serodio. “But our core mission is to increase the transition into sustainable food production. Most people are really disconnected from the food supply chain and how food is grown and distributed, and we hope to raise awareness around those problems and inspire change.” Plummer also hopes that Malawi will educate people about their connection to the environment and encourage them to find sustainable ways of living. “The growing global population demands that we take more sustainable routes to feeding ourselves,” Plummer said. “I could go on for days talking about food and the environment and all I want is for people to get curious about what is really going on in the world around us.” Serodio and Vigil will be at the New Venture Expo at UT on Friday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Entrepreneurship Center on the eighth floor of the Innovative Collaboration Building. Other Spartan start-ups will be attending the expo as well. For more information, email jabishop@ut.edu or follow the University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center on Facebook.
NEWS
Suitcase drive will aid kids without guardians Ivy Velazquez Arts & Entertainment Editor ivy.velazquez@theminaretonline.com
Assistant Professor of criminology and criminal justice Carly Hilinski-Rosick and her victimology class will be holding a suitcase drive in Vaughn Center Lobby on Thursday, April 13. Inspired by an article in the Tampa Bay Times about a “bedding” drive conducted for Joshua House, Hilinski-Rosick felt that holding this suitcase drive would be a good choice as a service project for her victimology class. All proceeds from the drive will be donated to Joshua House. Students can donate from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.in Vaughn Lobby on Thursday. In the case that they don’t have a suitcase to donate, the drive will also be accepting monetary donations, as well as other things that are on the Joshua House “wish list.” These items include $10 gift cards to places such as McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, as well as clothing and personal hygiene products, including feminine hygiene products. Joshua House is a “safe haven” for children who have been abused and neglected and removed from their homes, located in Lutz. With five homes on 11 acres of land, Joshua House provides the children with care as the children wait for a new home to be found for them. Preparation for the drive has been in the works since the beginning of the semester. Part of the reason HilinskiRosick chose to donate in April is due to the fact that it is Child Abuse Prevention month. In the victimology class, students study different types of victimization, from children who have been abused to rape victims. HilinskiRosick had her students conduct the drive in order to help them build a more personal connection to what they are studying, as well as to take what they learn and apply it outside of the classroom. The class will be delivering the donations themselves. “This service project gives perspective to what’s going on in our community and gives us a chance to make a difference,” said Sabrina Weicher, a senior criminology major and student in the class. The purpose of the suitcase drive is to provide the residents of Joshua House with something to carry their
Photo by Bianca Lopez/The Minaret JUST KEEP ROLLING: Dr. Carly Hilinski-Rosick’s victimology class is holding a suitcase drive to benefit the children of Joshua House. They will be collecting suitcases, hygiene products and monetary donations through Monday, April 17.
belongings in as they are forced to move from house to house through the foster system. Ranging in ages from six to 17, the children have no say in when or where they move. Often, they are made to move an average of six times in three years. According to Hilinski-Rosick, children who move from foster home to foster home tend to have just a trash bag or pillowcase to carry their belongings in. The drive is meant to collect new and used suitcases (in good working order) so that the children may have a better means to pack and move their belongings.
If students are unable to make it to the tabling, HilinskiRosick will also be accepting donations in her office in Plant Hall, room 349. All items will be delivered to Joshua House through Monday, April 17. “Any small donation would really make these kids happy, as well as make a difference in their lives,” Weicher said. “It will make them feel as though someone really cares about them, because so many tend to give up on them. That should be enough to make anyone want to donate.”
CAMPUS CRIMES FLOWER STRUGGLE
H2-OH NO
A VICIOUS CYCLE
BULL'S EYE
On April 5 at 9:40 a.m., a faculty member reported flower pieces missing from the ROTC building.
On April 5 at 1:35 p.m., a student reported her metal water bottle went missing from Starbucks. However, it was later located.
On April 6 at 2:56 p.m., a bicycle was stolen from the Martinez bike rack.
On April 9 at 7:35 p.m., a student reported that an unknown student punched her in the eye.
THE MINARET APRIL.13.2017
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A+E
The Plant Method: Emma Murphy’s vegan journey
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A+E Megan Myers Contributing writer megan.myers@spartans.ut.edu Emma Murphy first began her vegan journey nearly nine months ago. The University of Tampa junior communications major has found a way to share her story with others of all ages through the popular social media platform Instagram. Murphy’s account is called The Plant Method. “I ended up choosing ‘The Plant Method’ because plants are a staple in the vegan diet, and the word ‘method’ represents accomplishing a healthier lifestyle through eating plants,” said Murphy. The young health enthusiast posts photos of her everyday meals including recipes she makes herself as well as her favorite vegan hot spots around the city of Tampa. “My account is how I express myself as a person and as a vegan,” said Murphy. “It’s something I work really hard to promote and spread the word about veganism through.” For Murphy, being vegan is not simply a diet, but rather a way of living. Her lifestyle change was not dependent upon a whim. Murphy was inspired by one of her good friend’s family members, who was struggling to overcome an ongoing battle with cancer. “My friend’s mom had cancer and nothing seemed to be working. She went to an alternative medicine doctor and her doctor said ‘you need to change your diet and go vegan and start following a plant-based diet,’” Murphy said. “She started doing that right away and she’s now in remission.” Being aware of one’s surroundings and taking care of the environment we live in was a big part of her process to converting to eating a plant based diet. The vegan foodie lives by the motto that food is our body’s fuel and therefore, we should consume food that is best for our bodies. “Veganism is really putting your health first. Its taking care of your body which is your temple which is what you have all your life so you might as well put that first,” said Murphy. The overall goal of The Plant Method is not to push people to go vegan. Murphy hopes to simply inform people of what it is like to eat clean and avoid processed and harmful food additives. One of the recipes that has become a favorite from her account is Murphy’s very own vegan ice cream creation. “All it consists of is however many bananas you want, I usually do four or five for one serving. You freeze them overnight and the next morning, you throw the bananas in a blender and blend for a minute or two. You then add natural sugars,” said Murphy. In addition to her Instagram, Murphy also video blogs on her own person YouTube account. Her posts consist of her usual meal preparations throughout a regular day. A classic organic breakfast for Murphy consists of fruits, oatmeal sweetened with natural sugars, acai bowls, or a green smoothies. Lunch is usually potatoes, a rice dish with beans, or another fruit smoothie. Dinner is usually something spicy with a hint of flavor such as a vegan burger or a pasta dish.
“Dinner is usually the time I go out to eat most because I like to see what other people can create out of vegan options and I kind of find my own inspirations through that,” said Murphy. Her favorite local eateries that have plenty of options when it comes to vegan entrees are Fresh Kitchen, Soho Juice, and SoFresh, all of which are located on South Howard Avenue. Murphy hopes that her followers and viewers will take at least one thing away from her Instagram and blogging: being vegan is not as hard as one may think. Emma’s personal motivation to live a healthy lifestyle is quite contagious those around her as well.
“Emma has really inspired me to not only better myself in what I eat but with working out too, said sophomore communication major Fallon Fischer. She has given me a lot of food ideas I can make on my own that are all organic.” Murphy’s current goal is to show people that going vegan is affordable and creating nutritious yet healthy meals is simple. Her ultimate objective is to turn The Plant Method into a food prep and delivery business. Her desire is to provide those who are vegan or have food sensitivities to have a quick and easy way to get fresh plant based meals delivered directly to their location.
Photos courtesy of Emma Murphy GO GREEN: Murphy hopes to simply inform people of what it is like to eat clean and avoid processed and harmful food additives. Some of those options include a mixed berry smoothie bowl (top right), brown rice topped with sauteed red bell peppers and spinach (top left) and green smoothies with almond milk, spinach, and frozen banana and mango (bottom).
THE MINARET APRIL.13.2017
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A+E
Authentic Americana comes to Ybor
Andrew Foerch Opinion Editor andrew.foerch@theminaretonline.com
Atlanta-based Americana fusion band The Whiskey Gentry will perform live at Ybor’s Crowbar on May 6 in promotion of their new album Dead Ringer, which officially released last Friday. The Whiskey Gentry, formed in 2009 by husband and wife Jason Morrow and Lauren Staley, will soon hit the road on an 18-stop tour beginning in Columbia, SC, and ending six weeks later in Chicago, bringing their new songs to bars and concert halls across the eastern U.S. The band’s name comes from a line written by Hunter S. Thompson – something about a mix of booze, failed dreams, and a terminal identity crisis. Though they aren’t a local band, The Whiskey Gentry are certainly no strangers in Tampa. They’ve been playing in the Bay area since the year they were formed and regularly appear at New World Brewery in Ybor. The band has also performed at Skipper’s Smokehouse in North Tampa and at last year’s fifth annual Gasparilla Music Festival in CurtisHixon Waterfront Park. The Whiskey Gentry’s sound is an up-tempo mosh pit of bluegrass guitar, mandolin and banjo strings with hard, punky drums; it’s country, but it rocks. Dead Ringer especially leans on that guitar – the project is laced with an edgier, grittier, more daring tone than most of The Whiskey Gentry’s past work. In an ocean of new wave country artists, this crew stands out for its authentic, original sound and creative writing. Plus, lead singer Lauren Staley has one hell of a voice – a voice Tampa will be able to hear next month at Crowbar. The Minaret was lucky enough to speak with Staley just days after Dead Ringer’s release. Minaret: Your third album, Dead Ringer, just came out on Friday – tell me about the making of this project. Lauren Staley: We started writing a lot of these songs when we were out on the road touring for our last record. When we got done touring, we were hanging out here at our house. You know when you’re gone for a really a long time and it’s kinda strange to be back home? I knew that I needed to be writing songs, and I couldn’t write any songs. I was having a really bad writer’s block. Jason wrote the song “Following You” for me, to kind of be like, “Hey, don’t give up on this.” Because that’s kind of where it was. I was feeling like I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I wanted to be at home with my dogs and in my house – we just bought a house – and so he was like, “no, snap out of it.” The next song I wrote was “Dead Ringer.” And then “Rock ‘n’ Roll Band,” and then things just started coming after that. Once we got the group of songs together, we knew we wanted to record live, to track everything live together. We heard that Echo Mountain recording studio in Nashville was a really great place and so that’s what we did. We went up there and tracked everything live, in their big room together as a band, and we tracked it to tape, which was great. The sound is a little bit different than the [earlier albums], but there wasn’t a lot of thought put into that, it was just
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APRIL.13.2017 THE MINARET
Photo Courtesy of The Whiskey Gentry/Facebook NO NEW FRIENDS: Though they aren’t a local band, The Whiskey Gentry are certainly no strangers in Tampa. They’ve been playing in the Bay area since the year they were formed and regularly appear at New World Brewery in Ybor.
kinda what happened. We toured as a five piece, like a rock band, so some of the songs are on the more “rock” side of things. M: A lot of the album is about growing up – how have you grown up since you started making music? LS: When I first started writing music, I was living in England. I was studying abroad. I had always written songs in college or whatever but was too scared to play them for anyone. I’d be like, “Hey, I sing, do you wanna hear?” and we’d go in a closet and I’d be like “Okay, don’t tell anybody.” I was very scared to perform. When I moved over there, I played my first show, and I was like, “Hey, people kinda like this, maybe I should do more of it.” I gained the confidence to join another band when I moved back home from England. I guess, you know, when we started The Whiskey Gentry it was eight years ago. So many things have happened since then – I mean Jason & I met, we weren’t married at the time we started the band together. Then we got married, then we got a house, we have dogs and cats and things. I turned 30. There are things that just changed over the course of the years where we take everything a lot more seriously now. This is what we want to do for the rest of our lives, and we want this to be our careers, you know? It’s the most fun job you could have, but at the end of the day it’s still a job too. We work really hard. That’s one major thing we’ve come to realize over the past eight years of doing this: you have to put in the work to get [something] back. It’s not gonna be handed to you. Working hard for that makes you grow up. M: What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a musician?
LS: Probably teaching English, high school English! M: You’ll be performing at Crowbar in Ybor on May 6 – what makes a Whiskey Gentry show different than any other country/rock/Americana show? M: Is there a specific thing or a moment you look forward to when you play shows? LS: It’s just fun to connect with the crowd. Like, especially down in Tampa because we’ve had support from radio stations and from people who enjoy us down there, its fun to watch them sing along. That never gets old – to see people know [your music] and like it enough that they’re gonna come out and see it and buy your merch. We always try to do our best for that reason. People don’t have to come see you play music. You don’t ever want to ever take advantage of that and not put your best foot forward. M: Why should people listen to The Whiskey Gentry? LS: We love country music. I think if anything, we put our hearts and souls into the stuff that we do, and I think that comes across. I think there’s a lot of terrible country music that is fake as shit that’s on the radio right now that gets a lot of attention. And there are so many other bands creating country music that is different but that still has heart and is authentic. If anything, it would be just to support that type of country music and to say “Hey, the shit that’s on the radio doesn’t have to be this way all the time.” [There are] lots of other artists and bands that are deserving of success that are real.
A+E
Oscars 2018: Movies to watch out for this year Jacob Trask Contributing Writer jacob.trask@spartans.ut.edu
The fall of 2016 was an interesting season for film, and capped off a lackluster, somewhat disappointing start to the year. From September to December, we saw all kinds of impressive films, ranging from the most artistic to the most cinematically appealing. Films like Moonlight and La La Land dazzled audiences and broke new ground in the industry. Performances by Denzel Washington in Fences and Casey Affleck in Manchester By The Sea blew away critics. It was an exciting time, with the best movies of the year rolling out every few weeks. The culmination of this season was Oscar night on Feb. 26. In an exciting turn of events, the announcement was botched, and Moonlight won best picture. It was a crazy night for film, and was one of the most exciting Oscar shows ever, which leads some to question: how could next year’s Oscars possibly match up? It’s hard to imagine there could be the same amount of controversy, but the quality of films this year should be an interesting match-up to last year come award season. Assistant Professor of communications Aaron Walker says the Academy Awards revolve around acting performances, and that the Academy likes to award young, popular, up-and-coming actors. “You want to look for films with emerging or credible casts,” Walker says. “You’ll want to see combinations of good performers and Academy Award type directors.” Already, fall 2017 is expected to shake things up. Many talented directors are expected to release films in the second half of the year, such as Christopher Nolan, Kathryn Bigelow and Paul Thomas Anderson. Although it’s only April, and it’s far too early to tell what films will get nominations for Best Picture, here are a handful that are the most likely to make the mark.
relations major Tyler Okkonen. “His last couple movies were crazy, so I don’t know how he’s going to turn this story into something with as many twists and turns.” The cast of the film is exciting. Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy are classic co-workers of Nolan’s, and will star in the film. English actors Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh will also make appearances. The lead singer of One Direction, Harry Styles, will make his acting debut in as a young soldier in the film. It is likely that Hardy and Murphy will take leading roles, as their experience with Nolan could really benefit the film. Established actors like Rylance and Branagh are sure to establish a strong secondary cast, and all eyes will be on Styles in his acting debut. “The cast is going to be solid. Murphy and Hardy are really good,” said Okkonen. When asked about the addition of Styles, Okkonen wasn’t too negative. “I trust Nolan. He won’t cast a guy who’s going to give a bad performance, so I think it’ll be fine.” The trailer that has been released so far is very promising. It’s gripping, it looks beautiful, and it’s making fans incredibly excited to see what Nolan has in store. The film will hit theaters on July 21. Call Me By Your Name Call Me By Your Name is a film that is much more under the radar, but certainly could blow up similar to Moonlight or La La Land toward the end of the year. The Luca Guadagnino film debuted this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and has garnered nothing but positive reviews early on. It currently holds an 8.2/10 rating on imdb.com and an approval rating of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie takes place in 1980, when an Italian-American teen named Elio (Timothee Chalamet) meets a 24-yearold American exchange student named Oliver (Armie Hammer). A relationship builds between them as Elio is living life as a teenager, questioning his sexuality and his
attraction to Oliver. The story is based off of the Andre Aciman novel. This film will be a dire opportunity for Hammer to redeem himself after the lackluster Lone Ranger reboot. This is a serious and dramatic role for Hammer to take on, and if he really outdoes his previous work, he just might be in store for his first Oscar run. “I like Armie Hammer a lot,” said Okkonen. “He’s been in some rough movies, but I liked him in Social Network and Nocturnal Animals. I just think he’s gotten kind of a bad wrap, so it’s nice to see him getting a chance at something bigger.” Call Me By Your Name will be released on Nov. 24, which is prime time for the biggest Oscar contenders of the year. Untitled Detroit Project Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal are teaming up for a very exciting new film, currently labeled as Untitled Detroit Project. The movie is based on the 1967 Detroit riot, in which 43 people were killed. Bigelow has gained most of her directing prowess from her two militiary-centered films Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker, which are easily two of the best war movies of the 2000s. Her style could make this story incredibly interesting and cinematically intense, and could definitely make this film a contender for Best Picture. Mark Boal also wrote and produced her two previous films, so their continued partnership is extremely promising. The cast of this movie is littered with both rising stars and veterans, including John Krasinki, Will Poulter, Tyler James Williams, Anthony Mackie and John Boyega. It has a really solid African American cast and should be a strong representation of black Hollywood for award season. With Star Wars Episode VIII coming in December, John Boyega could make 2017 his year to shine if he breaks out with his role in this film. “The Academy likes to award people who are huge
Dunkirk Dunkirk is easily one of the most anticipated films of 2017, and rightfully so. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan and is his first film since the highly-regarded, mind-blowing space epic Interstellar. The war film is definitely new ground for Nolan, who has spent most of the last two decades doing sci-fi and superhero films. Regardless, they are some of the best movies in their genre, and Nolan has made his mark as one of the best filmmakers of this generation. Dunkirk will tell the true story of the Battle of Dunkirk in World War II, when thousands of British soldiers tried to flee a beach that was surrounded by Nazi forces. A story with this historical background is likely to get more attention from the Academy come Oscar season, which is likely why Nolan is making it his next film. Interstellar did not receive as much attention as it should’ve, possibly due to its science-fiction based drama and challenging story lines, so it makes sense that Nolan would be gunning for the award this year. Many fans are excited about the film, but some are a bit weary. “I think some people are going to like it, but I think a lot of people might not enjoy his style doing a World War II movie,” said Nolan fan and senior advertising and public
Photo Courtesy of Dunkirk/Facebook A DIFFERENT DIRECTION: The lead singer in One Direction, Harry Styles, will make his acting debut in as a young
soldier in the film . Dunkirk is expexted to be a top competitor for the Oscars.
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SUMMER 2017
ADS
2-Week May Term May 8 – 19 6-Week Terms May 22 – June 30 July 3 – Aug. 12 12-Week Term May 22 – Aug. 12 Classes Still Available!
Learn more at www.ut.edu/summer
DIVERSIONS ON CAMPUS APRIL 14
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Reeves Theater 8:15p.m. Free
APRIL 18
Writer’s Series
Readings with UT Alumni
Scarfone Gallery 7 p.m. Free
APRIL 20-23 Blood Guilt: Orestes on Trial Falk Theatre Times Vary Free
OFF CAMPUS
SUDOKU
APRIL 16 Chris Brown Amalie Arena 7:30 p.m. $36
APRIL 16
Easter Sunday
Beach Bar and Restaurant 10 a.m. Prices subject to purchases
APRIL 21
Tampa Spring Jam USF Spring Jam 8 p.m. $71
websudoku.com
COLORING CORNER
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS PEACH GIRL
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-Tyler “TJ” Nauss, senior human performance major
THE MINARET APRIL.13.2017
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COVER
Remembering John P. Lowth
Photos courtesy of Public Info/UT FOREVER A SPARTAN: John P. Lowth, a notable alumnus and donor, passed away on April 9. Lowth graduated from UT in 1982 and he, through his business successes, gave back to the campus community through dedicating his time and resources to budding student companies.
Bianca Lopez Managing Editor bianca.lopez@theminaretonline.com
If you have ever been to the eighth floor of the Innovation and Collaboration Building (ICB) or even just wondered about the mysterious land situated above Starbucks, then you have probably heard of John P. Lowth–or have at least experienced his UT legacy. Lowth, the namesake of the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, passed away on April 9, just 20 days shy of his 57th birthday. The official
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cause of death has yet to be released. Lowth lived in Kings Park, New York, on Long Island. He was an alumnus of UT’s class of 1982, a member of the Board of Trustees, and a parent of a current UT student, Ryan Lowth. Lowth was a generous and longtime donor, according to Eric Cardenas, director of public information at UT. As a major donor, Lowth had a vision for UT, a vision that culminated with the entrepreneurship center. The center, unlike any other space on campus, contains colorful pods and office spaces designed for students to bring their business plans to life. “I think one of the things John wanted was he
wanted a space where students could put into practice what they learned in the classroom, and that’s exactly what this space is,” said Giles Hertz, associate professor of business law and entrepreneurship. “There’s no classroom space up here on the eighth floor, it’s all for experiential education where the students do exactly that.” As a student at UT, Lowth studied criminology. However, after graduating, he helped found and later became president of Arnone, Lowth, Wilson, Leibowitz, Adriano & Greco LLC, a life insurance firm. Rebecca White, the director of the entrepreneurship center, said Lowth embodied the
COVER entrepreneurial spirit and that, as a student, Lowth would have benefitted and enjoyed having this program available to him. “The thing that I recall about [Lowth] that was so powerful, one of the things that really engaged and excited him about this center, was that it could be for any major,” White said. “He was a criminology major, but he was a businessperson, by profession, and very entrepreneurial in the way that he looked at the world and very much epitomized, I think, what this program is all about.” The eighth floor center is available to any student who has an idea for a business. Students from all concentrations, not only entrepreneurship, have made use of Lowth’s center to build companies like LiftSync, Spared and NOMO Nausea. “Everyone has ideas; the real difference is, how do you execute those ideas?” Hertz said. “That’s what this space is about. And because of [Lowth’s] generous
donation, that’s what it’s allowed. I think he really wanted to give back to his alma mater and he did in a big way.” John Publicover, a 2016 graduate who majored in international business and finance, started his company, Storedby, in the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. After graduating, Publicover left the center’s “accelerator” program, which is exclusive to student entrepreneurs, and joined the “incubator,” a lab meant for alumni and community businesses. Publicover owes much of his success to Lowth’s influence, saying that the center and Lowth’s personal guidance helped pave the way for his business to flourish. “[Lowth] was more than willing to chat on the phone when he wasn’t in town, to meet with me for coffee when he was in town,” Publicover said. Lowth offered students his insights and connected
them with professionals he had established relationships with throughout his own work with insurance planning for high net worth estates. Publicover said he was grateful that Lowth put so much of his own efforts into businesses from which he would see no personal financial gain. “[Lowth] benefitted because he knew that it helped a student and a student-run company go on the pathway towards success,” Publicover said. “His insight and his advice and the resources he was able to provide myself, definitely helped grow the company to where it is today. I think what John has done, by allowing the center to exist, and to give his advice and his insight and all his resources, will absolutely not only build his legacy but the legacy of anyone who has been touched by the center.”
Photos courtesy of Public Info/UT NAME ON THE WALL: Lowth’s contributions to UT brought the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center to life on the eighth floor of the ICB. The center offers student business start-ups the opportunity to work together in an incubator setting to exchange ideas and profit from community resources.
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ADS
WE GIVE YOU DIRECTION. YOU LEAD THE WAY. Graduate Programs Information Session Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m. Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge Come learn more about UT’s graduate programs! Get advice from faculty, admissions counselors, academic advisors, current students and alumni. The session will begin with a general overview of graduate studies at UT, followed by separate breakout sessions for each program area of interest. Refreshments will be served.
INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED ABOUT: • 4 +1 MBA and other MBA programs • M.S. in Accounting • M.S. in Cybersecurity • M.S. in Entrepreneurship • M.S. in Finance • M.S. in Marketing
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RSVP AT UT.EDU /GRADVISIT OR CALL (813) 258-7409
OPINION
Measuring success: College is more than your GPA Photo by Julia Albini/The Minaret
SO LONG: Senior Madhura Nadarajah poses with friends in front of Plant Hall before she graduates this May. Through her four years, she learned to be herself and to live in the moment.
Madhura Nadarajah Contributing Writer madhura.nadarajah@spartans.ut.edu 8 a.m. lectures where you show up 15 minutes late because you were up watching The Bachelor; 10 a.m. lectures where you show up 10 minutes late because the line at Starbucks was too long and meal exchanges at the Rathskellar are still not a thing; permanent bags under your eyes from all those late night study sessions, or even the ritual Thursday dollar beers at MacDinton’s. All the stress, laughter, irritation and joy that college brings will come to an end in less than a month. With graduation quickly approaching in the next couple of weeks we, the graduating seniors, are preparing for life after UT. Whether we’re applying for jobs, attending graduate or medical school, or even heading back home for some mental relief, we can attest that college shaped many of the decisions we are making now. In fact, while schooling is very important, an education is also shaped with what you learned past the textbooks. Perhaps the most essential advice college taught us all is to be yourself. Comically, these words have been plastered on bulletin boards since kindergarten, but the idea of being yourself will continue to develop. While we have been accustomed to these words since a tender age, they take on a whole new relevance in college. College is a conflagration of various people with various interests and beliefs that are not mutually exclusive of another. For example, just because you are a hardcore up-and-coming business tycoon does not mean you cannot also be into poetry. College is not about forming singular identities like high school tends to produce, e.g. jock, band geek and student government folks. Rather, college is about helping students embrace and form their multitudes. One of the best ways to figure out your interests is to join clubs and to introduce yourself to people of other backgrounds and other majors. That way,
you not only take a break from your specific academic focus, but you learn things about the other disciplines. On her experience with the leadership program ELITE, senior communications major and advertising and applied dance minor Jennifer McElroy said, “[ELITE] provided me with much hope and excitement for what I could do as a Spartan in my next four years. It equipped me with basic and useful leadership skills and information, [and] provided me lifelong friends that I still spend time with today.” Everyone should keep in mind that while it is great to join groups or clubs because your roommates are in them and you want to know someone, an important thing about growing up is
“Coming to UT was the best risk I ever took. It was more than a university, but a place of pure development and happiness” - Adrien Markus Almonte, senior biology major
doing things on your own. However, doing things on your own does not mean behaving like a loner. That is why the next important thing that college teaches you is the importance of communication. Whether on a professional or social level, proper communication is necessary because it faces matters head on without any blunders. Professionally, proper communication through formal emails or meetings will help students be viewed as novice career individuals and not naïve college students. Socially, issues are bound to arise with roommates, friends, sorority sisters or fraternity brothers because people have various opinions and perspectives, so communication is key. While
confiding in a mutual friend is great and cathartic, do not masquerade trash talk as venting. The former is not only petty and immature, but frankly way too reminiscent of high school behavior. “I have seen firsthand how simple misunderstandings and assumptions can snowball to extremes without communication,” said senior exercise physiology and musical theater major Lauren Biggs. “Be comfortable enough to be uncomfortable and reach out. Step out of your comfort zone.” Most importantly, do not forget to live in the moment. Many of us assume the future will bring us the happiness we dreamt of as a child. For example, a successful career, a nice car, perhaps even a family of our own. While it is important to set future goals and aspirations because they provide ambition, do not forget to exist in the present moment and enjoy the things you have now. It may seem hard to do while constantly being worn down by exams and a low budget, but remember you are in college. Exams are stressful but the classes will provide you with knowledge that will bring you one step closer to your career. Having a good time can take place anywhere. Whether it is having lunch with your friends at the cafeteria or riding bikes on Bayshore, the only thing you need to have a good time are friends. Especially as UT students, it is hard not to be happy when you wake up and are surrounded by palm trees and beautiful weather. “Coming to UT was the best risk I ever took,” said senior biology major Adrien Markus Almonte. “It was more than a university, but a place of pure development and happiness.” If we graduating seniors learned anything outside the textbook, it is to be ourselves, always communicate and enjoy every present moment. What we learned in the classroom is extremely beneficial, but it can only bring success if it is applied with the knowledge we’ve gained through our experience as college students.
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OPINION
Whitewashing: Hollywood’s social problem
Sara Lattman Contributing Writer sara.lattman@spartans.ut.edu
On March 31, the movie Ghost in the Shell was released in theaters throughout the United States. The movie is based off of a Japanese franchise published as manga, a Japanese comic book or graphic novel. Starring Scarlett Johansson, the movie is riddled with the problem of whitewashing—an issue not uncommon in Hollywood. In the movie, minor roles were cast to people of Asian descent while all of the main roles were given to white actors and actresses, despite the fact that those major roles were originally written as Japanese characters. This seemingly inconsequential swap of culture gives the impression that, no matter the quality of acting, casting notable white leads brings more attention to the production. This level of whitewashing may cause people who relate to non-white ethnicities being ignored to feel dismissible. One film in 2015 titled Aloha portrayed Emma Stone as half-Asian, causing the movie to fail in the box office. Casting an Asian actress to portray the lead in these movies would have avoided social backlash and would have promoted diversity and equality within Hollywood. Women are not the only ones affected by Hollywood whitewashing. In the 2010 live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the lead males were all cast as white when they are supposed to be representing characters of Native American and Asian ancestry. Hollywood has been whitewashing casts for decades. In the 20th century, it was a much heavier problem. In a 1965 adaptation of Othello, Laurence Olivier had his face painted black in order to fit into the role of Othello. In addition, a 1988 movie called Short Circuit 2 casted a white man to play an Indian role, even going as far as to have him attempt a stereotypical accent. The industry’s failure to depict diversity culminated in a viral social media campaign last year; #OscarsSoWhite became the unofficial theme of the 2016 Academy Awards. #OscarsSoWhite was the community’s outraged response to the Academy’s nomination of exclusively white actors and actresses in the top four award categories for two straight years, despite tremendous performances by non-white actors in films like Beasts of No Nation, Creed, Straight Outta Compton, Dope, and The Hateful Eight. Seeing how little progress Hollywood has made since the 20th century is shameful. Despite all this, there have been several more recent successes in Hollywood using appropriate castings. In 1993, the novel The Joy Luck Club, which tells the life stories of four Asian women and their daughters, was recreated as a movie appropriately casted with Asian actresses. Another example is the 2016 blockbuster Hidden Figures, which tells the story of the female African-American mathematicians that helped make NASA successful. Hidden Figures has made a total of $223.5 million in the box office so far, and was nominated for multiple Oscars. These successes show
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Photo Courtesy of Fandango MOVIECLIPS/youtube WHITE OUT: Ghost in the Shell is a fantasy/mystery film based off of a Japanese manga. Scarlett Johansson was cast in the role of the originally Japanese main character, which has led to public backlash over Hollywood’s tendency to favor white actors.
that appropriate casting not only authenticates a story, but also can bring financial gain and reputability to the producers and actors/actresses involved. While progress is being made, Hollywood still remains
a white industry. More effort needs to be made in casting diverse actors and actresses as lead roles in films in order to reach the social ideals of acceptance and self-confidence Hollywood tries so hard to preach.
OPINION
Get Involved: Change starts with you Bill Delehunt Contributing Writer william.delehunt@spartans.ut.edu By default, this weekly column became focused on politics. This final installment will be the same. However, instead of focusing on a particular issue, like that the Keystone Pipeline would be built with American steel (it won’t, Donald Trump lied to you on that), or that Trump Towers were being wiretapped (Donald Trump lied about that, too), or that Susan Rice committed a crime while doing her job to protect America (Donald Trump lied about… well, you get the picture). This column will be about the readers. Get involved. Momentous change abounds in the country and around the world. It’s insufficient to say this is the most auspicious moment in history – every period in history is fraught with peril and filled with hope. Today is not Dec. 7, 1941, with the greatest human disaster hours away. Nor is it September 11, 2001, with a nation in shock. Our era is both mundane and vitally important. Get involved. The healthcare industry accounts for one sixth of our economy, and it’s guaranteed to impact your life as you age. The Republicans are trying, so far without success, to erase the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Almost assuredly they will try again later this year, and one way or another, the ACA will be modified. It has to be, though most people like the provisions of this law, particularly the ones that allow people to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 and guarantee health care despite any preexisting conditions. However, some re-writes of the bill try to sweep away those popular parts of the existing law. You need to watch carefully, because everyone will need health insurance sometime in their lives. Pay attention or you might be hurting under any new healthcare legislation. Do you need another reason to get involved? There is an ongoing investigation of the President of the United States by the FBI. That probe by the FBI has been going on Photo by Julia Albini/The Minaret since last summer, because members of Donald Trump’s TAKE ACTION: Today’s world is a chaotic place–stay on top of things by following impartial, unbaised news sources and utilizing political team were in contact with Russian operatives. This is apps like Countable. Make a difference by participating in local politics and making your voice heard by your congressional representatives. extraordinary and could very well lead to both criminal charges for high ranking members of the current presidential administration and a constitutional crisis. All of those are incredibly important issues which require On behalf of The Minaret, I wrote to the federal officials your attention. But so does the larger world around you, representing the UT area, and received responses from both since it will impact you every step of your journey through Senator Bill Nelson and Representative Kathy Castor. They life. Spend five minutes a day listening to the news, or are quite concerned about the apparent Russian connection better yet, reading some news online or gasp picking up a and have promised to continue the investigation of those newspaper. Find a publication that is middle of the road, within the White House. All it took was an email to their or read separate opinions of the same events so you can offices to let them know that citizens are concerned, and judge for yourself where the truth lies. Talk to your friends you could send one in less time than it takes to walk from twice a week about current events. Take a 10 minutes once Vaughn to Sykes. every month and write to an elected official, telling her or Get involved. Donald Trump, without consulting with him what you think and what is important to you. There Congress, fired dozens of missiles into Syria. It was an are plenty of apps, such as Countable, which explains what still to be seen, but it will take the involvement of the entire action Trump himself warned against in tweets from 2013: bills are under consideration and gives you direct access populace to keep the country on an even keel. “Again, to our very foolish leader, do not attack Syria – if to contact your lawmakers and express your opinion on Get involved. These are not the darkest days our country you do many very bad things will happen and from that legislation. has seen, but they are certainly not benign. This is normal, fight the US gets nothing!” “What will we get for bombing These are not the best of times nor the worst of times, but or what will be normal for many years to come. It is easy to Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? they are our time. Get involved. get caught up in your personal narrative – “What will be on Obama needs Congressional approval.” (Be careful what the final?” “Will he call me?” “Am I going to pass?” “Will you send out in 140 characters, because Tweets can come she say yes if I ask her?” “What comes after graduation?” back to haunt you.) The consequences of that act of war are
“Get involved. These are not the darkest days our country has seen, but they are certainly not benign. This is normal, or what will be normal for many years to come.”
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Avoid The Chain Addiction takes three cigarettes. But you only smoke when you’re out with friends? Social or not, you’re a smoker. Don’t be chained by a weekend habit.
SPORTS
The Amanda Show: Voges and Rom set milestones Katelyn Massarelli Head Copy Editor katelyn.massarelli@theminaretonline.com Being teammates is one thing, but developing a friendship along the way makes for a stronger connection on the field. For two attackers on the women’s lacrosse team, their friendship on and off the field brings both the players the bond necessary to thrive on the field. “I would consider Mannie [Amanda Voges] to be one of my best friends,” junior attacker Amanda Rom said. “Over the past two years we have grown very close, this has been very helpful to our chemistry on the field. Most of my points are from assists, and I definitely couldn’t have reached my 100th point without Mannie.” Rom pulled out her 100th point against Queens N.C., a game that resulted in a loss for women’s lacrosse, but a milestone for her. Rom is the second player to gain her 100th point in the four years of the women’s lacrosse program senior attacker Amanda Voges became the first last season. Voges, this season, has continued to put the work in on the field as she scored her 100th goal on March 1 against Young Harris.
“Being the first lacrosse girl to achieve 100 points as a junior and 100 goals as a senior was a huge deal to me and such a great feeling and accomplishment,” Voges said. On top of players scoring goals, in lacrosse, players can earn points by scoring a goal or assisting on a score. With a 19-7 loss against Queens N.C. on April 3, Rom was concentrated on the intensity of the game to notice her accomplishment. She later described as being an exciting moment that meant a lot to her. Rom said the amount of hard work the team puts in everyday at practice and in every game, she could not have achieved 100 points without the entire team. Voges said she’s proud and happy to see her teammate and friend to be the second person to reach 100 points in UT’s women’s lacrosse history. “We play the same position, so we work very well together,” Voges said. “We always see each other on the field and make things happen together for a positive outcome.” Head Coach Kelly Gallagher said both players are fun to coach for their dedication to the team. They both want to see the team succeed, so they put in the work to make it happen, according to Gallagher. “Where Amanda Rom is much more of a great finesse player, Amanda Voges is all about power,” Gallagher said.
“Even as Attackers, they both are incredibly hungry when it comes to getting the ball back in our ride. Each of these young women are incredibly competitive and it is a great part of having them play together.” After scoring her 100th goal, Voges said she didn’t realize her accomplishment until it was announced at the home opener, this season. The team entered the game positive and ready to get the job done. She remembered tearing up and shaking inside as her teammates erupted into screams and cheers. It was an amazing feeling to score that 100th goal, Voges said. Rom was proud to see history being made again by her friend after Voges hit her 100th goal milestone. Voges was a part of the first recruiting class for women’s lacrosse when the program entered its first season during the 2013-2014 school year. With the first recruiting class gearing up for the final few games left of the season, Voges is excited for the future of the program. “I am very happy to leave this program better than when I found it–I can’t wait to keep up with them and see all the great accomplishments to happen in the future,” Voges said.
Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe DOUBLE TROUBLE: Junior attack Amanda Rom (right) and Senior attack Amanda Voges (left) have both made their marks in Spartans history. Rom became the second Spartan to ever earn 100 career points, and Voges became the only Spartan to score 100 goals.
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SPORTS
Rest when you retire: NBA Players need to play Frank Calo Contributing Writer frank.calo@spartans.ut.edu
In any sport, whether it be football, baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. the goal is to win a championship. Teams do whatever they can to make sure they have the best chance of winning. In the NBA, there has been a hot topic of debate on whether or not teams should rest their star players even if they aren’t injured so they stay fresh and healthy for the upcoming NBA playoffs. While most people see this as cheating the fans and the game of basketball, in reality it strengthens the sport and is a good thing in the long run for the NBA. The idea of rest really only became a problem when Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lebron James, the best player in the league, started to rest games and even rested on some
national televised games. He even made this point in an interview after one of the games. He’s right because this idea of rest started a couple years ago when the San Antonio Spurs and head coach Gregg Popovich began resting his older star players, forward Tim Duncan, point guard Tony Parker, and guard Manu Ginobli. Then the Spurs started resting their players periodically during the regular season. Which led them to two straight NBA finals after not making it for five years and won one of those. While some were against the idea of rest, most saw Popovich and the Spurs as geniuses. They were extending the careers of Duncan and others, while also competing at the highest level in the playoffs. Then all the analysts and NBA experts were saying the Spurs were too old and that they couldn’t possibly keep winning, they proved them wrong. Resting those players was a big reason why because they understood that it’s the playoffs that matter most. So what changed? Why did all those people that saw
Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison/Flickr FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: NBA Superstar LeBron James bodies up against Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. LeBron has been criticized the last few years for sitting out games for resting purposes.
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Popovich doing the right thing for his team in the long run all of sudden flip the switch and most are now against it? Like I mentioned before, it’s because Lebron James started doing it. James is arguably the most scrutinized and watched player in any sport in the world. Everything he does is under a microscope and people have an opinion on what he does. So when the Cleveland Cavaliers started resting Lebron, point guard Kyrie Irving, and forward Kevin Love, they were seen as not doing right by the game. People started complaining that they were letting down the fans that paid quite a bit of money to see them play. It’s a valid point, but in the long run with them resting, their careers are extended. Fans will have extra opportunities to see them play as they will be able to play for more years. You might ask does the handful of games that players miss because of rest really extend their careers? and the answer is yes. The NBA is a grueling 82 game season, where teams can play three games in four nights or four games in five nights. That takes a toll on a player’s body to play all 82 games. It’s also proven to extend careers. Look at Tim Duncan who retired at age 40. If he had to play all 82 games, he would have retired a couple years ago. It goes the same for Manu Ginobli who is 39 and still playing. Because of the rest, they were and are able to play longer and at a high level. People might say that it’s ok for them because they started resting when they were older players and that Lebron is only in his younger 30’s, and he’s not old like the other players. True, he is relatively young in terms of age, but in terms of games played, he’s got some mileage on him. Lebron, in his 14-year career so far, has played 1,257 games and 49,492 minutes. To compare that, Michael Jordan in his whole 15 year career played in 1,251 games and 48,485 minutes. Lebron has already played more than Jordan and that doesn’t even count the Olympic basketball Lebron has played over the summers. If you look at Duncan in his 19year career he played in 1392 games. Lebron will probably pass him up in three or four fewer years. So, while Lebron is “young” in reality he has played more than anybody since he began in 2003 and has the most games and minutes played than anybody ever at his age. I want to see James and other star players be at their best when it comes to the most important time: the playoffs. If that means the Warriors sitting Steph Curry or Kevin Durant, the Rockets sitting James Harden, or the Wizards sitting John Wall, so be it. I want to see every team have their best players at their best in the playoffs. A random game against the Brooklyn Nets on a Tuesday night doesn’t matter compared to game seven in the NBA playoffs. These players missing a game here or there in the short term might seem like a problem, but looking at the bigger picture it’s a good thing. Teams could do a better job of picking which games they sit players and avoid doing it on national television. They know the schedule way in advance of the season, so maybe to fix that problem, teams could decide ahead of time when they will sit players and submit it to the league, so the NBA knows in advance when the star players will sit. n general, the problem of sitting is not a problem, it’s a good thing for the NBA. This way, we get the teams at full strength when it really matters and everything is on the table for the playoffs.
SPORTS
Puck Drop: NHL Playoffs ready to face-off Devon Conway Contributing Writer devon.conway@spartans.ut.edu The NHL playoffs are back and began on April 12. Sixteen teams will qualify for the playoffs, the top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 spots while the remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highestplaced finishers in each conference, based on the regular season record regardless of the division. In the first round, the division winner with the best record in each conference plays the wild-card team with the lesser record, whereas the wild-card team with the better record will play the other division winner. The teams that finish second and third in each division meet in the first round. First round winners within each bracket play one another in the second round to determine the four teams to play in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals. In the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division, the top three seeded teams are No.1 Montreal Canadiens, No.2 Ottawa Senators, and No. 3 Boston Bruins, with the wild card team being the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Canadiens are matched up against the Rangers and the Senators are set to take on the Boston Bruins. In the Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division, the top three seeded teams are the No.1 Washington Capitals, No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins, No. 3 Columbus Blue Jackets, with the wild card team being the New York Rangers. In
the first round of the playoffs, the Capitals are set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins are matched up against the Blue Jackets. In the Western Conference Pacific Division, the top three seeded teams are the No.1 Anaheim Ducks, no.2 Edmonton Oilers, No. 3 San Jose Sharks, with the wild card team being the Calgary Flames. In the first round of the playoffs, the Ducks are set to take on the Flames while the Oilers take on the Sharks. In the Western Conference Central Division, the top three seeded teams are the No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks, No.2 Minnesota Wild, No. 3 St. Louis Blues, with the wild card Nashville Predators. In the first round of the playoffs, the Blackhawks take on the Predators and the Wild play the Blues. The playoff bracket from the 2016-2017 NHL season is full of surprises. At the beginning of the season, nobody would have predicted that the Toronto Maple Leafs would make it to the playoffs. With a team full of inexperienced rookies, they clinched a berth by defeating the defending Stanley Cup champs in the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Maple Leafs were able to improve their offense by scoring an average of three goals per game. They are currently ranked fifth in the league in goals scored per game, behind NHL powerhouses such as the Penguins and the Capitals, a big improvement for being ranked 28th in the NHL last season. The Maple Leafs are a dark horse in the 2017 playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup Championship. With heavy
hitters in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they are serious contenders. Despite this, I believe the Washington Capitals will claim the cup this year. The Capitals, first in the Eastern Metropolitan Division and President Trophy winners are hungry for the cup. They haven’t reached the Eastern Conference Final since they made their lone trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. With players like Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby, the Capitals are bound to win the cup this season. With the 2017 NHL playoff season full of positive surprises for the Maple Leafs, the playoffs are also filled with disappointment for teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last season, the Lightning were a powerhouse in the playoffs. Despite losing in the Eastern Conference finals to the Penguins, the Lightning were a force to be reckoned with. This season, they were without their captain Steven Stamkos and their assistant captain Ryan Callahan due to serious injuries. The Lightning had a strong start to the season but injuries caught up to them, which led to a disappointing middle of the season. But, towards the end of the season a storm started to brew and the Lightning went on a run, ultimately keeping their playoff chances barely alive. In the end, they lost the battle for the final wild card spot by just one point. With heavy hitters in Nikita Kucherov, second in the league for goals scored this season with 44, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, forth in the league in assist with 56, and Jonathan Drouin with 21 goals and 32 assists, the Lightning are bound to make a playoff run next season.
Photo Courtesy of Trixy Larue/Flickr KINGS OF THE WEST: Patrick Kane skates up the ice during a regular season road game. The Chicago Blackhawks earned the No.1 seed in the NHL Western Conference, as they look to win their fourth stanley cup of the decade.
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UT Cheer shows pride at Nationals Elena De Alfredo Contributing writer elena.dealfredo@spartans.ut.edu UT’s cheerleading team finished eighth at the National Cheerleading Association championship (NCA) on April 8 at Daytona Beach Bandshell, being the last time for senior side base Alyssa Rodriguez to compete at the collegiate level. Born and raised in Tampa, Rodriguez started as a competitive gymnast before starting her college career as a cheerleader. “When I came to UT, there wasn’t a gymnastics program,” Rodriguez said. “So, I decided to try cheerleading.” Rodriguez came to the University of Tampa attracted by the accounting program offered in the school along with the desire of staying close to her hometown. With her family by her side and being her number one fans, Rodriguez started to find love in something that before was completely unknown to her. “Cheerleading has been a physical and mental challenge for me that I love,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t know much about cheerleading before I started at UT, so every practice was a new learning experience for me.” After her first year at UT, the Spartans cheerleading program changed the coaching staff to the one commanding today, with head coach Mannie Rotella in charge. Along with this new head coach, most of the athletes left, being Rodriguez one of the only ones that stayed as part of UT’s team.
Along with them, Rodriguez helped to build UT’s cheerleading program for the last four years as the team has been only eligible for this last two. Not only that was her motivation through her five years as student at UT, Rodriguez also wanted to help a program who would be able to compete at nationals. “[Rodriguez] actually started one year before I even started coaching at UT–We lost nearly everyone from that first team I started with,” Rotella said. “Over the years we have had so many people that haven’t been able to stick out the tough days–Alyssa not only trusted me as a coach, but she kept teammates positive and encouraged them to trust the process as well.” While cheerleading may not get as much attention as other sports, UT’s team practices just as hard as other varsity teams to compete at their highest level. The team lifts weights two times a week and practices three times a week. Likewise, in the spring semester they meet with the stunt groups outside practice almost every day leading up to nationals to perfect their acrobatics. “Cheerleading is not just another sport,” said her sophomore teammate Marisa Falgiatano. “You have to trust these people with your lives—they throw you 15 feet in the air and you have to trust them to catch you—i t is an amazing feeling.” With hard work as their motor, the Spartans qualified last year to the NCA nationals, where they finished 10th. In March 2016, one month before last year’s competition, Rodriguez suffered a major setback in her cheerleading career facing a knee injury
“I took a fall at a practice and tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus,” Rodriguez said. “The recovery for this injury is roughly nine months to a year.” With her willingness to come back as soon as she could, and her passion about cheerleading as her motivation, Rodriguez recovered by January and she was able to compete this year. Not only she is an example of relentlessness, Rodriguez is also an example of a great leader and a great friend, according to her teammates. “Alyssa is my best friend, and she is the biggest motivator and support that a teammate could ask for,” Falgiatano said. “ [Rodriguez] would give anything for her team—Last year she tore her ACL and yet she was on the sidelines pushing me and my team to be the best.” Rodriguez is the kind of leader that stands out and has something special than other athletes. “Everyone on the team knows that if they need anything, Alyssa will be there,” Rotella said. “She doesn’t miss practices, she’s never late, she’s always ready to work hard, she volunteers for everything, and she has her teammates backs 100 percent of the time-- She’s the type of athlete that you can count on.” Now, Rodriguez could compete for her last time with the Spartans, leading the team to finish up eighth at the national level. “For the last five years, I have made countless memories and friends through this sport—I have always been proud to wear a UT uniform,” Rodriguez said. “My team and coaches are my family and there is no other team I would be glad to take the mat with for the first and last time.”
Photo Courtesy of Mannie Rotella BRING IT ON: The University of Tampa cheerleading squad poses for a team photo at the NCA Championships. The Spartans would come up short in the event and place in eight place overall.
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Baseball snags third game from Pioneers Simon Brady Contributing writer simon.brady@spartans.ut.edu Spartan baseball traveled to Greenville, Tennessee to take on the Tusculum Pioneers in this past weekend’s series. This unique out of conference matchup marks the first time the Spartans traveled outside of Florida for a series this season. The Spartans dropped two of three games to Tusculum, but salvaged the series with a 7-4 victory in game three. Following the series, the Spartans have an impressive 24-10 record, including going 10-2 in conference, good enough to be atop the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) standings with 15 games remaining in the regular season. In game one of the series, Friday night April 7, the Spartans suffered one of their more heartbreaking defeats of the season. Up on the Pioneers 3-2 and heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Spartans blew their lead, giving up four runs in the frame. The explosive eighth inning would make the difference for the Pioneers as a scoreless Spartans’ ninth inning secured the Tusculum victory, 6-3. Junior third baseman Darren Miller highlighted the day for the Tampa offense, in four plate appearances Miller had two hits and two runs batted in. Junior right-handed pitcher David Lebron took the mound for the Spartans in game one, giving up just two earned runs in 6.2 innings. He also totaled eight strikeouts in the outing. In game two, a hard fought defensive battle, the Spartans fell in similar disappointing fashion 3-2. On back to back days the Pioneers got their go ahead and eventual game winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Senior infielders J.D Osborne and Laz Rivera drove in the two runs for the Spartans, Rivera with an RBI single in the top of the first, and Osborne with a solo homerun to left field in the top of the eighth.
Junior left-handed pitcher Christian Calleja had a successful outing on the bump for the Spartans, giving up just one earned run in six innings, and striking out three batters. The Spartans bounced back in game three, taking the final game of the series 7-4. The Spartan offense got out to a fast start, as four of the seven Spartan runs came in the first two innings. Miller had another outstanding day at the plate going 3-5 with a solo and two run home run. Senior shortstop Kevin Santa also had two runs on that day. The bullpen was superb for the Spartans in game 3. Relief pitchers freshman Colton Widdows and juniors Cheyne Bickel and Garrett Cave combined to give up zero earned runs to the Pioneers in the final 5.2 innings. Widdows was the winning pitcher for the Spartans, as he improves to 5-0 in his young career. Bickel totaled a stellar six strikeouts in just 2.2 innings of work, and Cave picked up his first save of the season. Spartan senior catcher Chris Gaffney spoke on the disappointing series, as the team held themselves to far higher standards heading into the series. “We were pretty upset with ourselves knowing we should’ve left with a sweep,” said Gaffney. Having said that, Gaffney and the Spartans understand that dwelling on this tough series won’t do them any favors as they look forward and the focus shifts to finishing the regular season strong. “We all said it’s time to move on, to learn from the weekend and get hot going into playoffs,” said Gaffney. Head coach Joe Urso also reflected on the series, expressing frustration in his team playing out of character in games one and two when it mattered most. “Losing the first two games in the late innings was an even bigger disappointment than usual because this is when we normally play our best,” said Urso. Urso pointed out the missed opportunity in playing a highly regarded regional opponent on the road. “We knew
these were big regional games on the road that would have a big impact on our regional ranking, so it’s a huge disappointment,” said Urso. Following the series, Urso understands his team has a long way to go in order to reach their most important goals. “We learned a lot this weekend about what it takes to win against great teams,” said Urso. “We will need to improve in many areas if we expect to make our normal championship run.” The Spartans are now 3-3 in the all time series with Tusculum. Play resumes tomorrow night for the Spartans as they clash with conference foe Lynn in this weekends home series.
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PARTANS
TANDINGS MEN’S GOLF
1st at Webber Invitational WOMEN’S GOLF
10th at Rollins Invitational MEN’S BASEBALL
24-10 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL
24-8 MEN’S LAX
10-4 WOMEN’S LAX
Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe AVOIDING THE BROOMS: Senior catcher Chris Gaffney rounds the bases against Saint Leo university. The Spartans lost the first two games in their weekend series against Tusculum, but bounced backed and secured a 7-4 win.
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ADS The University of Tampa Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
What is OURI?
Major Touchpoints of OURI
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2 3
OffICe Of UndeRgRadUaTe ReseaRCh and InqUIRy Opened summer 2016 Created out of UT’s qeP Inquiry-based experiential education
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Tier 1: first-year experience
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Tier 2: Major/Course specific Inquiry
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Tier 3: Culminating experiences and Internships
Learning by doing
Contact: Jeffrey s. skowronek, Ph.d.
Associate Professor, Psychology Director, Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
(813) 257-3350 | OURI@ut.edu www.ut.edu/inquiry #UTInquiry