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When Eating in Public, Some Students Feel ‘Food Shame’ By ZOE FOWLER
News Writer
A University of Tampa student walks into the cafeteria daily and feels anxiety when deciding what to eat. Before choosing a dish, she considers
what those around her would think of her choice. This issue, known as “food shame,” causes someone to select food they feel is more appropriate by their peers’ standards. “Sometimes I think about that,”
Food shame affects students as they consider dessert choices in the cafeteria.
said the junior, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I hear that voice in my head ‘don’t eat too much.” A separate anonymous sophomore has similar views on food shame. “I’m naturally skinny, but it’s like I feel people just kind of judge me . . . so it’s like you can’t win,” she said. Assistant professor of psychology Cynthia Gangi said the feelings of food shame are deep-rooted. “This fear stems from the fact that the large portion of food could perhaps be suggestive to others of a deeper character flaw,” she said. “Food and weightrelated stigma is one that has deep character implications. It relates to perceptions of laziness, self-control, selfesteem, respect, health values, motivation and so on. . . . So people might think they are ‘sending a message’ to others about their inner character Jocelyn Doina/The Minaret through their food choices.”
The reason why we may feel others are judging us based on our food choices or the portion of food we eat can best be explained using Charles Cooley’s theory “The Looking Glass.” This theory proposes that our selfimage relies on how we think other people view us. In other words, we define ourselves by how other people react to our behavior. “It may be an accurate depiction of what they’re thinking of us or it might be all in our head, but we then respond to that interpretation,” said Sarah Jirek, an assistant professor of sociology. “We feel feelings perhaps of shame, perhaps of guilt, with regard to food or feeling bad about ourselves, and then we respond accordingly.” Freshman communications major Jasmine Fajardo has gone through a similar situation of being in a public setting and feeling that everyone is judging her. “I’ve gotten amounts of food for dessert, but just to take it to my
See FOOD Page 4
Roommate Conflicts: A Frustrating Part of Dorm Life By PRANAV LOKIN
News Writer
When Sabrina Milroy came home from a night out, she was looking forward to relaxing in her double in Vaughn Center before sleeping the night off. But she said that when she opened her door she was interrogated about her night by her roommate. She was then awakened at 8 a.m. by the sound of grinding coffee. Milroy, now a sophomore, said, “Those little things led to bigger issues and I ended up moving out because of the problems.” According to the office Residence Life, “Approximately 200 students participated in open room change during the third week of classes.” Because this is an open room change period, it is no questions asked. The statement continued, “Approximately 50 students have moved after open room change by meeting with their Area Coordinators. Most of these moves are to be with new friends in other buildings. These numbers are lower than in previous years.” Most schools will randomly assign roommates to incoming freshmen if
In Other News...
requests for pairing aren’t received by a certain date. Universities provide resources to these students so that they can interact with their incoming class and potentially find a roommate. In past years, students spoke or met their roommates for the first time on movein day. With the rise of new technology, incoming freshman create new avenues to interact before coming to school. “I met [my roommate] through the Facebook group and we started talking a lot. We decided we wanted to room together our freshman year and so we made that happen, and from about April of 2011 until we actually moved to Tampa, we Skyped a lot and we were able to develop a friendship,” said Milroy. While incoming freshmen often worry about tackling long papers or not partying too hard, roommates can cause the biggest headaches. According to Reslife Student Conduct Coordinators Ciarra Joyner and Nora Jarmon, avoiding conflict with a roommate is integral to students’ happiness in their first months on campus. Freshman often have a series of surveys that they are required to
4 Sorority Informs Students with Compelling Signs
10 Halloween Make-Up Looks Easily Transition for a Night Out
7 The Clueless Thrifter: Adventuring into the World of Secondhand Fashion
11 Second Presidential Debate ‘Raises Expectations’
Messy public living areas are one cause for roommate conflict.
complete by the university before they are assigned a roommate. “Students should discuss lifestyle preferences and study/social habits with potential roommates. Major lifestyle preferences including: smoking preference, neatness, bedtime, and study with or without background noise should be
Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
considered,” according to the Reslife statement. Surveys are also generated by independent roommate finder websites to help students further whittle down their choices. School administrated surveys are often general and limited
See ROOMMATE Page 3
14 Girls’ vs Boys’ Halloween Costumes: Sexist and ‘Sexified’ 18 No NHL? No Problem With AHL Around
News..................................2 Diversions.........................6 A+E....................................7 Opinion............................ 11
Sports..............................17
M
OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
MINARET
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NEWS + FEATURES
Spartan Of the Week: Junior Negron Entrepreneur, Intern, Student, Artist and Survivor
By Yasaman Sherbaf
Asst. News Editor
Branden Negron, junior business management information systems zmajor with a minor in entrepreneurship, has started getting ready for his future by taking on two internships, creating a mobile application company with partner Jared Shlager, while still songwriting, recording and producing since the age of 11. Negron has performed for UT’s KingsFest, this year’s Midnight Madness and a few other events. One time, he opened for the Cataracts at a club in Tampa and a bunch of venues in Long Island and once in NYC. Negron was born in Staten Island, New York but grew up in Long Island with Puerto Rican roots from his grandparents. The Minaret had the chance to interview Negron to learn about his company, his internships, his music, life threatening experience, his inspirations and his words of wisdom.
genres such as alternative, dub-step or jazz, really just a bunch of musical genres. Sometimes if I go to the studio, I’ll have an engineer produce my stuff but I also do a lot of my own work. I record mostly from home. I learned how to produce in high school; I took a bunch of courses on music engineering, producing and am still taking them now here at UT. Photo courtesy of Branden Negron
M: What kinds of Negron poses with New York in the background, an inspirational city messages do you portray inthat has made its way into his music lyrics. your music? that she has helped me create this identity. I mean, my mom was always one of the people BN: I feel like this is my second lease on life that supported me more with my music and because right before I was two years old, I always pushed me with good criticism. She’s The Minaret (M): What is your company spent my second birthday in the hospital. I had definitely helped mold me in terms of what I contracted the Flesh Eating Disease, also known should be talking about and how I should be about? as Necrotizing Fasciitis, which eats away at your presenting myself. She’s been very supportive Branden Negron (BN): It’s focus is a free organs, your skin, muscles and etc. The doctors overall, while my dad has been more towards mobile application compatible across all didn’t know how to stop the spread of it but the business aspect. He wants me to do well platforms, including tablets, that allows for a eventually they found a way. I wasn’t supposed in school and focus on business, getting a job fast and secure way of transferring funds from to walk or just basically function normally again. and things like that. Also, taking on the name peer to peer instantly while utilizing some I went through rehab and all that. It’s very rare – Branden Chase isn’t considered another ego or newer technologies. It has to do with tipping or not a lot of people get it and not a lot of people something but it’s another side to me that a lot anything regarding any type of money transfers. survive it, which is what’s crazy. So, since then, of people don’t get to see unless they listen to It’s going well; the school has taken interest in I consider everyday as my second chance. I my music. A lot of people just see me and think, it. They’ve asked us to represent the school in should be enjoying life as much as I can now so oh, he’s just another guy, he does well in school an interscholastic business pitch competition. in my music, I just try to portray that and spread and this and that but they don’t see that music We are also competing in the school’s Create that message of appreciation, really just showing aspect. Once they see that, they see another guy people that there’s a lot more to life than what because they don’t expect me to be aware of my Competition with it. We passed the first round. people see. Times get rough here and people get emotions, which is the exact opposite of who I down on themselves but then they don’t see that am. My name brings out that other side in me. M: Where are you currently interning? they’re probably in one of the most beautiful BN: I am interning at two joint companies based places on earth. The fact that you can wake up M: Have you/are you involved in anything else out in Largo, Florida. One is an IT solutions and not be in pain and just go on with your day on campus? consulting firm called, Benjamin Solutions is already a blessing. Group. For them, I just handle new clients and BN: I joined my fraternity, Theta Chi, freshman work with them, getting them set up with all the M: What is your main focus in terms of music year and am still active in it. I am on the public technology that they’ll need for their processes. right now? relations committee for the fraternity. I was Then, I also do marketing for Orange Theory really more into that and the social aspect of Marketing. I’m basically heading guerrilla BN: We’ve been in the process of taking down my meeting people, enjoying life more. I have a marketing projects and just some project old music from the Internet and have been trying couple of littles in it, like little brothers. I serve to put out this new album called “Judgment Day” as a role model for them, helping them out. I management type stuff. so I’ve been focusing a lot on that. It’s really just haven’t been as involved in it because of the a more mature sound, basically me starting to fit amount of work I’ve been doing but I still have M: How did you get into the music industry? into where I believe I fit in. It’s called “Judgment a presence. And then this year, I just wanted to BN: One of my buddies, Pete Nappi, who plays Day” because I feel like even though we don’t turn it up, start getting ready for the future so the almost every instrument, is currently studying notice it, we are living towards the end of times. fact that I’ve taken on this venture, this business music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, I feel like it might not be the end of times but we and the amount of work, has definitely turned had a band when we were younger, around sure are living like it as far as how people treat my life around. I became more mature through sixth grade. He already had all the equipment to each other, what’s going on in the world, with it all. record so he kind of just got me into it. We did all the natural occurrences, there’s just so much a song together and it wasn’t too good but it got going on that many people are sweeping under M: What words do you live by? me into music. I’ve just been going with it ever the rug. I already have a single for this album since. I don’t like to put myself in the genre of and it got a lot of good feedback. It basically just BN: If you want something you’ve never had rap because it limits you but I do more of that showed how greed is ruining the world and how before, you have to do something you’ve never new age, new school type stuff. I mix in a lot of people not noticing those good things is ruining done before. That’s basically saying just how I the world. I already have a said before, I come from an upper-middle class bunch of the songs finished, family but I’ve experienced more lavished it’s just a matter of finalizing things and even though it’s not about that, it’s it and I don’t want to put it always nice to have nice things, but it would out too soon. I want it to be definitely be cool to reach that point in my life perfect. where I could look back and just say that I turned something into something even more. It’s as if M: Do you take on a different half of what I do is what keeps me going so that name for your music? I have a bigger and better future. I want to look back and say that I made it and did something BN: I go by Branden Chase instead of just coasting through life. I don’t want while my real name is to just live. I want to try new things. Branden Fabian Negron. My mom wanted to name For more information about Negron, his me Chase when I was born company, internships and his music, you can and my dad wanted to name contact him at brandennegron@gmail.com, me Branden and I mean, check out his website at bneg.weebly.com and it is what it is, I became follow him on Twitter @WasOnceBNeg. Branden. Basically, the name came from my music and Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at yasaman. Photo courtesy of Branden Negron by me taking on Branden sherbaf@theminaretonline.com. Negron’s stage name is Branden Chase and his music can be found Chase is kind of an honoring on http://bneg.weebly.com/videos.html to my mom, letting her know
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
ResLife offers solutions to roommate issues From ROOMMATE Page 1 so students are encouraged to have more in depth conversations before the roommate process is finalized. “Once you’ve found or been assigned a roommate through your school’s matching service, it’s fine to look them up on Facebook, but don’t judge them based on what you find online or let that be the extent of your pre-college contact ... Give them a call simply to introduce yourself or to divvy up who is bringing the TV and who the minifridge,” according to USNews.com. Even Milroy said that not limiting the interaction to just text or social media helped. “[Video Chat] helped; otherwise I would’ve picked a random roommate. I liked the idea of kind of knowing the person I was going to be living with for a year and we were really close, we would talk almost on a daily basis. I also did stay with her for a little before the beginning of the semester because we knew each other that well,” she said. Many new students feel that there is an expectation to need to interact with their roommates. “Most freshmen feel a pressure to become best friends with their roommates,” writes Debra WallerFrederick, Director of Residence Life at Mount Saint Mary College. “This isn’t necessary nor is it realistic. They merely have to live together. If the end result next May is that they are best friends, well, that’s great.” UT’s own Reslife Coordinators
echoed the notion in a joint statement, “Students often forget that roommates need to be others with whom the student can live compatibly; not necessarily best friends.” Milroy wishes she hadn’t roomed with a friwend at all, “Just because two people are good friends doesn’t mean they should live together. We had gotten really close but living together tore our friendship apart and now we don’t speak or even cross paths.” Students often are quick to dismiss compatibility with a randomly selected roommate. Cristina Valcarcel-Lopez, a Resident Assistant at Stadium Center, says that regardless of whether a roommate is random or not, students who go in with an open mind benefit more. “If you go into a situation negatively, most likely, the end result will be negative. That tends to happen with people that are randomly put into a room where they don’t know someone. Without knowing that person, they will pass immediate judgments. People are more than the pictures they post on social network sites,” Lopez said. “You should expect to learn, grow, and change during your time at school. And the same should happen to your roommate, if all goes well. As the semester progresses, realize things will change for both of you. Be comfortable addressing things that unexpectedly come up, setting new rules, and being flexible to your changing environment,” McGalliard continued. Even with all the surveys and questions, disagreements will occur.
From the Oct. 15 to Oct. 21 reports
There Is No Safehouse On Oct. 16 at 12:36 a.m., a student was punched while walking back to campus from Walmart.
Hit Me BB One More Time On Oct. 17 at 8:18 p.m., AC requested a room search for a possible weapon. A BB gun was found and seized.
What’s The Insurance Policy? On Oct. 16 at 12:00 p.m., a faculty member advised he was struck by a golf cart as it backed up.
“Can I Have Yo Numbuh?” On Oct. 21 at 4:10 p.m., a female student complained that she was harassed by a male student.
Two Wheels Is A Must On Oct. 18 at 2:32 a.m., an officer observed a subject moving a bike from the rack late at night. When questioned, the suspect fled. He was apprehended and arrested.
It’s Getting Hot In Here On Oct. 21 at 4:20 a.m., a smoke detector was activated in a room due to steam.
Reports compiled by Yasi Sherbaf
According to the Office of Student Conduct, “About 12-14 roommate conflicts have been reported to RAs this fall and only 4 have required mediation.” Joyner says, “If a student is having problems with their roommate they can contact their RA, the Residence Life Mediation Coordinator, their Head Resident or their Area Coordinator.” Regardless of whether students pick or are assigned a roommate, they have the chance to make the living situation beneficial for all parties involved. Students, who are honest with themselves while asking the less obvious questions, will save themselves from having another reason to stress out in college. Pranav Lokin can be contacted at pranavlokin@yahoo.com.
3
Tips for Dealing with Roommate Disagreements “Address things when they’re little. Students not talking with each other or sharing concerns often leads to larger problems.”
- UT Reslife.
“Be respectful, listen, and seek out an impartial third party when necessary.”
– UT Reslife
Advice from other colleges: “Be clear from the beginning. Be honest with
Five Questions to Ask a Potential Roommate
your quirks and what bothers you from the beginning.”
1. At what temperature do you like to keep the room?
- Debra Waller-Frederick, Director
of Residence Life at Mount Saint Mary College
2. Are you okay with sharing (food, clothes, and electronics)? 3. What is the minimum level of
“If nothing else, follow the Golden Rule. Treat them like you want to be treated, and
communication between us that you need
regardless how you end up at the end of
to feel comfortable?
the year you can take comfort knowing that
4. Do you drink or do drugs? How often and will it be in the room? 5. How would we deal with disagreements?
you treated your roommate with respect.”
-Donna McGalliard, Dean of Residence
Life and Housing at Wake Forest University
On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Student Government met in Reeves Theater. Show your school spirit! Tampa Tuesdays - win free prizes by wearing UT gear. Kids will be trick-or-treating on campus, Kids at UT, on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. S.E.M.S. is hosting a co-ed sand volleyball tournament with free food and a DJ on Nov. 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is a 6 vs 6 game. This Friday is Halloween Night for UT Athletics. Women’s volleyball game is at 7 p.m. Res Hall 7 will be open August 2013. If you want to pick the furniture and who gets to live there, attend RHA meetings and/or contact RHA President. Nov. 6 is the next GA, which will have an organization showcase. Contact sg@ut.edu to have a 3-5 minute performance in Reeves Theater. Dairy Queen blizzards are now meal exchanges in Stadium Center.
4 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
NEWS + FEATURES
Sorority’s Compelling Cancer Signs Inform Students
By KELLY ST. ONGE
Asst. Arts + Entertainment Editor
“I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, but my insurance doesn’t cover it.” This is the statement sophomore communications major, Ashley James, was wearing on a poster board hanging over her shoulders. UT students are taking a proactive part in Breast Cancer Awareness this month by creating a documentary titled “Stepping in Her Heels,” a project led by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (AKA). Junior business management major Nelka Decius is spearheading the documentary production. She said the various signs students are wearing are “hidden truths behind the breast.” One sign had the words, “I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I feel like I’m only acknowledged during the month of October.” “Today [Oct. 18] we have 15 students helping us who have volunteered to make a difference on this campus [by raising awareness for breast cancer], and we’re really excited to have them,” Decius said. She said the students will wear the signs for 24 hours and will be interviewed to see what kind of feedback they received during that time. “A lot of people aren’t aware of the things that aren’t covered by insurance.” She said the Affordable Care Act will get rid of lifetime caps for insurance coverage and wants to reveal the necessities needed by breast cancer victims, not only insurance, but support as well. “There are a lot of issues that breast cancer victims deal with, that we feel aren’t brought to
light,” she said. Junior English major Alexandra Orcel said she thought the project hosted by AKA was a good idea, but the signs confused her a little. “I wasn’t sure if I should approach the girl wearing the sign or not,” she said. She said one sign had the words, “I have breast cancer, but I’m a teenager” written on it. “I wasn’t sure if these stories were true. Women aren’t supposed to get breast cancer that young,” Orcel said. “But they definitely got me thinking that these things can happen.” She said because she didn’t know if the person wearing the sign was the one affected by the cancer that she didn’t want to walk into a conversation about that topic. “I didn’t know what to say,” she said. “Personally, when I got this sign I wasn’t aware that breast cancer treatment wasn’t covered under some people’s insurance,” James said. “I really think that this is a positive thing that I’m wearing this sign. That way when people walk by and see my sign they can see this [my message]. The fact that mammograms are not covered is wrong, so I am really enjoying wearing my sign today.” James said she learned a lot about the “truths behind the breast” by being a part of this project. Senior communications major Janeesha Youmans said she is helping put the documentary together and getting other students involved in their project. She said they had more than 30 students sign up to go to the Tampa Bay Times Forum to take part in the walk for a cure on this past Saturday.
Kelly St. Onge/The Minaret
From left to right, Ashely James, Claude Exama and Denise Muniz walk around campus, raising awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
Decius said AKA will kick off “Stepping in Her Heels” on Oct. 29, 2012. She hopes this project raises awareness of the problems breast cancer victims face on a daily basis. “If you want to know
more about what we call the ‘truth behind the breast’ you can by being a part of this project,” she said. Kelly St. Onge can be reached at Kelly. St.Onge@theminaretonline.com
Food Shame Not Gender Specific From FOOD Page 1 friends at the table,” she said. “And it looks like I’m the one getting three cookies, two cakes . . . and it’s like ‘Oh, my God, they’re looking at me,’ but honestly I really don’t care. It’s not anyone’s business what I eat.” In addition to the looking glass self-theory, our societal norms also come into play. There is a concern about what may be acceptable to eat in public, depending on whether you identify as male or female. “There are norms in our culture about what groups of people eat and how much is acceptable to eat,” said Jirek. “If you go against that, whether it’s perhaps men eating less or women eating more, then it is considered normative.” Sophomore marine biology major Laura Muniz said she sees the opportunity of being able to get whatever you want in the cafeteria as an investment. “I like to take advantage of actually being able to go into the cafeteria and having the option to serve yourself as much as possible,” said Muniz.
Some question food shame’s gender specificity, including its prevalence in females. “To say that food shame is a female phenomenon would be misrepresentative of both theory and data,” said Gangi. “First of all, foodrelated issues, eating disorders, etc., can occur in men. They do seem to occur at lower rates, but these issues are definitely on the rise.” According to the nonprofit organization Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., 10 percent of people with anorexia and bulimia are men. Most do agree the gender ideals for women and men are different. In our society, men are often pressured to have a muscular body, while women are pressured to be petite and thin. “When it comes to what it means to be beautiful and attractive, women receive messages from so many different sources in our lives, that what matters, in some ways most about our identity is our appearance,” said Jirek. The act of food shame can have negative effects on our eating habits, and how we view food in general. “Food shame can counterproductively lead to an increase in poor eating habits,” said Gangi. “By feeling shameful about your food choices, you are adopting the very stereotype that you are secretly opposed to and you are fulfilling it.” Zoe Fowler can be reached at Zoe.Fowler@ spartans.ut.edu.
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
5
Proposed Bike Rental Program Could Help Students Navigate City By KIRBY JAY
News Writer
Tampa City council members recently discussed the possible use of a bike-sharing program being offered in Tampa next year. The program would let residents and tourists take a rental bike for an easy ride around town. Mayor Bob Buckhorn loves the idea and said to the Tampa Bay Times, “I want this to work here. I want it to happen.” The goal of the program is to have 30 stations with 300 rentable bikes in downtown Tampa, Ybor City and bordering neighborhoods by fall of 2013. John Kozloski, a sophomore sports management major at UT, was thrilled
Leah Beilhart/The Minaret Bike rentals would offer a new form of transportation for many students.
when he first heard of the possibility. “Since this isn’t much of a college town, it’s really hard to get around if you don’t have a car. I have lots of errands to run and can’t get to a lot of places without borrowing a car or catching a ride,” Kozloski said. Kozloski also talked about the lack of available bikes at the McNiff Fitness center and how the hours to rent them are very limited. The bikes are only available from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. These hours are stressful for students, not only because they can only bike during specific hours, but because the late fees are so high. Students are forced to pay 10 dollars for every five minutes they are late. Linley Dunham, a sophomore nursing major at UT, tried to use the bikes at the school gym last semester, but there were never any available. Now that she has a bike of her own, she does not believe she will utilize the upcoming bikesharing program. Alex Lawler, a sophomore allied health major, has many friends that live off campus. “It sounds like a great idea. I would use the bikes to get around everywhere; so much more convenient than walking,” Lawler said. Lawler has been using friends’ bikes to travel long distances and feels it would be easier to rent a cheap bike whenever necessary. As proven in bigger cities, Mayor Buckhorn believes the program will improve the city’s environment. “Virtually every major metropolitan area has a downtown that’s alive and
vibrant has a bike-sharing program. It adds to the urban experience. It makes sense,” Buckhorn said. Having the bikes available will decrease vehicle use and promote transportation that is healthy for both the renters and the Tampa environment. The rentals may even be stretched to the Westshore business district and Busch gardens area by 2015. To keep the bikes organized, renters would hand in their cell phones or credit cards while using the bikes for a 30 minute period without payment. If the occupants want to use the bikes longer, they will be charged with a small price. Residents will also have the option of paying a small monthly or annual fee so
they can easily use the bikes whenever necessary. Tampa tried a similar program in 1997 with only 50 bikes that were free for everyone. Within just a few weeks, the bikes were gone. This new program will enforce strict policies to ensure this does not happen again. Downtown Tampa and the surrounding neighborhoods already have many bicycle lanes and signed bike routes. This includes the four-mile sidewalk along Bay Shore. This program will give students more to do and make use of the possibilities that the city has to offer. Kirby Jay can be reached at Kirby. jay@spartans.ut.edu
Jocelyn Doina/The Minaret If the bike-sharing program were to be passed, UT students could take advantage of biking around the city of Tampa.
6 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
Diversions
Sudoku
The Weekend Update Fall Dance Happening Oct. 24 - 27
Falk Theatre & Plant Hall Verandah 8 p.m. every night Free
13 Ugly Men: Halloween Freak Show Oct. 26
Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel 7 p.m. $20 in advance for women and $30 at the door, $30 in advance for men and $40 at the door
Rascal Flatts with Little Big Town Oct. 26
1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheater 7 p.m. $29.75 - $65.25
Jekyll and Hyde Oct. 26
Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Jr. Center for the PrintableSudokuPuzzles.net
Picture
WEEK of the
Photo by Casey Budd/The Minaret UT students participate in the 2012 Homecoming Parade.
Performing Arts 8 p.m. $44.50
Helloween Oct. 26
Jackson’s Bistro Bar & Sushi 10 p.m. $20 for men, $15 for women
Spartan Challenge 5K Oct. 27
UT Pepin Track and Soccer Stadium 8 a.m. Prices vary
Marine Quest Oct. 27
Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 10 a.m. Free
Guavaween Oct. 27
Downtown Ybor City 2 p.m. $20 in advance, $30 day of event
Capitol Classics Film Series: Ghostbusters Oct. 28
Capitol Theatre 3 p.m. $5
Arts + Entertainment
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
7
The Clueless Thrifter: Adventuring into the World of Secondhand Fashion
By AMANDA SIERADZKI Arts + Entertainment Writer
The first thing to know about thrifting is that you know nothing about thrifting. Walking into a Goodwill and pawing at rack after rack of granny sweaters and oversized t-shirts and selecting the most obscure ones will not make you a fashion icon. You will not suddenly be fashionable if you decide to take some scissors to a tracksuit and call it chic. Personally, I walk into a thrift store and am instantly overwhelmed. What do I choose that will make me seem interesting or knowledgeable about current trends? How can I become hip? How will I know what is vintage or retro, or can I just thrift blindly? I decided that for my questions to be answered I must go on a quest. I would go to three Tampa thrift/vintage stores (Sunshine Thrift Stores Inc., Second Image Thrift Stores and The Salvation Army Family Store) in order to find what’s fashionable in the world of second-hand clothing. Knowing next to nothing about this kind of fashion, I knew I would need a sage. Someone with vast amounts of thrifting knowledge to guide me on my path to the Thrifted Holy Grail. After contacting a few sources I met with a fashion guru in West garage. Wanting to remain anonymous, she kept her face hidden in shadow and referred to herself as Deep Thrift. Deep Thrift revealed some secrets of the trade that I took with me on my journey that I will now impart to readers:
the fitting room so that by the time you have sorted through the store you’re ready to tryon. Sunshine Thrift Store was organized by clothing style, where the Salvation Army Family Store on MacDill and Second Image on Kennedy added color to their sorting dimensions. After hanging around the back of Sunshine near the Halloween section’s zombie masks and angel wings, I decided to go straight to the dresses rack instead of struggling my way towards the fitting room. I tried to find interesting color palettes and unique adornments and soon found a purple evening gown that fit the bill. Emily picked out a beige and black jumpsuit that appeared to have walked its way out of the mod era. With dress and jumper in hand we started on our way to the fitting room, but white tulle and poof distracted me. Protruding from the rack was a giant wedding dress. I convinced Hannah and Emily to try it on with me for
imperfections in the skirt, but, overalll, it was worth the $6 I put out for it. Moving on to the Salvation Army Family Store on MacDill, Hannah experienced what it was like to try anything. “My mom would fight me for this jacket,” she remarked, pulling the hanger off the rack. The jacket was hunter green leather and flowing with fringe. Emily and I begged her to try it on since this jacket was absolutely made for her. A passing shopper noted that the jacket would be priced as high as $250 in a retail store. Hannah snatched it up for $25. “I thought you guys would hate it,” she said.
Always Look at Accessories
You’ll find expensive lookalikes at marked down prices. Emily found a pair of floral Steve Madden wedges in the shoe section of Salvation Army marked for $10 while online they sell for anywhere between
Never Thrift Alone
Deep Thrift explained that going with friends not only makes the experience more fun but gives you more opinions about the clothes you will try on. An adorable jumpsuit may in actuality be a trainwreck that your close friends won’t hesitate to point out. Following this advice, I grabbed friends and UT seniors Emily Cain and Hannah Perkins. We started our trek at the Sunshine Thrift Store on South Dale Mabry. The parking lot was packed and once inside I could see why. There was a huge selection of clothing, furniture and miscellaneous items. Before getting overwhelmed I remembered Deep Thrift’s second piece of advice.
Have an Idea of What You Want in Mind
To avoid being a scatterbrained shopper it is always best to know what you’re looking for beforehand. This advice was reinforced when I chatted with Kerri Barta, co-owner of Hellhound Vintage, an online vintage store specializing in artisan pieces. “With our pieces we’re always looking for high quality,” Barta said. “You want to find really cool statement pieces...it’s not gaudiness that you’re looking for, it’s really beautiful, bold statement pieces.” Looking around Sunshine Thrift and its vast amount of merchandise I found it hard to pick out exactly what I was looking for. Emily pointed out that “browsing is the best part of thrifting because you can find anything and everything.” Even without an exact piece in mind, I remembered Deep Thrift’s encouragement to “get the lay of the land.”
Get the Lay of the Land
Deep Thrift explained that most thrift stores are sectioned off into pants, t-shirts and tank tops. Some even divide those sections by color. She recommended starting at the very front of the store at the end opposite to
kicks. We hauled our finds into the tiny dressing room and took turns changing and judging. We soon found out that what we thought might fit us didn’t, while some clothes surprised us.
Be Size Wise
Emily’s jumper was a little baggy, so I told her to grab a belt from the accessories section. Deep Thrift advised that bringing a belt to thrift stores is a must. That way you can cinch things in so that you have an idea of how it will look when you wear it out. She said to not pay too much attention to tag sizes and to go by eye. When it came to the wedding dress, Hannah was the first to try it on. It looked regal, but the back wouldn’t lace up. I decided to give it a try. I managed to wriggle it over my hips and loved the full skirt; however, the corset must have been made for a thirteenyear-old because my waist was not having it. Emily encountered the same issues. Making sure items fit around the waist is paramount to Deep Thrift because length is the easiest element to change. Anything that can’t be fixed with a belt or a hem isn’t worth the time unless it’s a really standout find. Even though we didn’t say yes to the big, white dress, I did find the purple evening gown to be a perfect fit, proving that you should try everything.
Try Everything
Pick up anything that remotely looks interesting because you never know what it’s going to look like on. Deep Thrift mentioned that there is a thin line between really ugly and really cute in a thrift store, but do not forget the ways one could change the clothes like by cutting or sewing. My purple gown had a few
Photos by Amanda Sieradzki
Top: A sign at Sunshine Thrift Store advertises current deals. Bottom: A wedding dress hangs on the racks.
$99 and $130. Hannah bought Candies boots from Salvation Army for 9.99, regularly priced at $70 online. I fell in love with a mysterious trench coat that looked brand new but lacked a label other than “Made in Korea.” It was marked half off of the regular price, and after shelling out another $6 it was all mine. These accessories were great finds, but getting unique odds and ends is definitely not limited to clothes. Moving on to the Second Image Thrift Store, Hannah and I discovered rare-looking vinyls selling for under $2. A 1964 Disney album caught Hannah’s eye. She summed up this thrifting venture as being “its own little world, listening to old music and looking through old clothes.” Behind her I noticed a shelf of board games, one of them titled Sexual Trivia. It was the tagline that got us to
open the box out of curiosity: Over 1,440 Stimulating Questions That Prove Sexual Facts are Stranger Than Fiction. Made in 1993, it was as vintage as I am (est. 1991) but was still an interesting find that we kindly passed up.
Find the Deals
At each thrift store we visited, most had a white board that outlined the specials that day. Color coded tags denoted half off and quarter off prices, and Second Image even had a calendar posted of all their sales events for the month. Barbara Gawthrop, a Tampa business banker and thirteen year Sunshine Thrift Store patron spoke to me about thrifting. “It’s easy to get addicted,” said Gawthrop as she pulled and tried on different suit jackets from her cart. Deep Thrift warned that going to a mall after adventuring into the world of thrift stores would be jarring and could even be painful for the serial thrifter. Gawthrop advised us to look for thrift stores in nicer areas where the wealthy donate their high-end clothes enabling the smart thrifter to get them for a steal. When I visited vintage clothing store La France in Ybor, I skipped the higher priced vintage inside and browsed outside the storefront. La France sports a bin outside that challenges the thrifter to fill a brown paper bag with miscellaneous, and possibly vintage, items for only $10. At Second Image, Emily ended up with four gorgeous dresses just under $33. Regularly priced each would have cost at least $20. Though we quickly became enamored with these awesome deals, Gawthrop reminded us of the flip-side of only taking the clothes. She said that she likes to donate as many clothes as she buys from Sunshine Thrift Stores. She does this for her sister who is on dialysis and Sunshine Thrift’s history of philanthropy includes giving proceeds to the National Kidney Foundation. After a long day of thrifting, Emily, Hannah and I left with our bags full of clothes and wallets still relatively full as well. I found that this strange world of thrift wasn’t so hard to infiltrate after all. But what are the possibilities of vintage and retro clothing to beef up my Forever 21-laden wardrobe? “At this point pretty much anything that’s twenty years or older is considered vintage and then retro in my mind is more reproduction stuff,” said Barta, “The thrifting really is just second-hand in general. It’s where you go to find vintage.” Once Barta explained the differences between vintage, retro and second-hand, I decided that there is no right or wrong to thrifting fashion. The avant-garde is born out of individual taste in this case, which brings me to Deep Thrift’s last piece of advice.
Don’t Be Afraid
When all is said and done you just have to go for it. You can’t make a mistake in a thrift store. The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll pick something up and it’ll look terrible on you. The best thing? You walk away with an interesting, perhaps even valuable find, or fall in love with a one-of-a-kind piece you can call your own. In the immortal words of Deep Thrift: “Thrifting is like a treasure hunt–– you have to search through a bunch of nos to find that one yes.” Amanda Sieradzki can be reached at asieradzki@spartans.ut.edu.
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OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
Howl-O-Scream Thrills Attendees at This Year’s Event By KELLY ST.ONGE
Asst. Arts + Entertainment Editor
I was 30 minutes away from an experience that I thought was a good idea. I was beginning to wonder if I really wanted to have my pants scared off at Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream event. I can barely handle scary movies, let alone a large theme park filled with scare zones and haunted houses. The gates opened at 7 p.m., and I had my front line fear pass in my hand and my fiancé by my side. What was I thinking? I barely made it in the front gate when a zombie with half of her face falling off turned and locked eyes with me. “Come join us,” she said. “No thanks,” I whispered as I jumped in the opposite direction. Having passed the first scare zone, we decided to circle around the park starting at Blood Asylum, a new haunted house for this year’s event. The suspense was scary enough for me. I was standing in line waiting to be waved into the asylum. There was a movie clip on the wall. It looked old and talked about an escaped patient that was on a killing spree. His laugh was hideous. Do I really have to go in there? I thought to myself. I pushed my fiancé in front of me as we entered so he would get hit with the “scary” first. This was not a very good plan. I should have known better because in a haunted house the ones attacked are almost always the girls. Blood everywhere, guts on random objects and patients sitting in chairs with straight jackets surrounded me. One patient jumped out in front of me and laughed, “He’s going to get you!” I felt relieved when the guts were behind me and I could no longer hear the screams and laughs of the patients. However, the relief didn’t last very long because as soon as I walked out of the haunted house there was a zombie standing before me. Why did I volunteer to go to something I know that I hate? I thought I would be able to handle it since I’m a big girl, but every time I felt my heartbeat going back to normal, someone else would jump out at me from nowhere and my heart would jump back in my throat. There were a couple of good photo opportunities amidst the chaos, however, including a pumpkin patch and werewolf who volunteered to take a picture with me while breathing down my neck. I know none of it is real, but I will admit there is still something freaky about a man-wolf standing right next to you. Of course, I had to go to the Circus of Superstition 3D house, too. It is also a new haunted house this year. It was like stepping into the 1990 miniseries “It” based on the Stephen King novel. There were jokers standing outside the circus tent asking if we were afraid of clowns and a creepy clown with striped pants and a cut face standing on a ladder at the entrance. Neon colors and 3D glasses made the walls and mirrors pop out at us as we made our way through the circus hell. Clowns with blood running down their faces jumped out from random places and banged the walls as we passed by them. “Don’t leave your hat on the bed. If you do you might lose your head!”
yelled one clown as another with fangs popped up from inside the bed at the center of the second room. This sight had me scared for quite a while. Yes, I hate clowns with blood dripping down their face and fangs protruding from their mouths, but I hate chainsaws even more. It was just my luck that the scare zone outside of my first ever circus (if you’d consider that a circus) was filled with bloodthirsty lumberjacks with chainsaws in hand. I weaved to the left and right trying to get through them without peeing my pants only to be chased by two of them and screaming at the top of my lungs as I entered Timbuktu. Would there be no relief from this terror? I questioned to myself. Yes. There was relief to be found and it was inside Desert Grill where the Fiends show took place.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Halloween Horror Nights Treats Gore Enthusiasts By ALYSSA HINGRE
Arts + Entertainment Writer
It never feels quite like Halloween until I visit a haunted house. When I heard about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, home of the so-called scariest haunted houses in the country, I knew I had to go. There is nothing like the adrenaline rush of a haunted house to get your blood pumping for the Halloween season. However, the admission into Universal for the grand Halloween Horror Nights was pretty steep, and as a college student I knew my dream of going to such an amazing Halloween event may be crushed if I couldn’t find a cheap way to get tickets. Although, this year I was in luck. Burger King had a special promo for Halloween Horror Nights and gave out
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Dodge/Howl-O-Scream
People scream in terror as they walk through a haunted house at Howl-O-Scream.
Dr. Freakenstein and his naughty nurses (the fiends) put on a show that eased the rapid beat of my heart. The doctor was having visitors over for a party and we (the audience) were invited too. His sidekick was determined to have his own reality television show and interpreted his versions of Honey Boo Boo, Rihanna, Psy and the Jersey Shore cast. It was a Halloween version of Cinderella with some naughty twists and endless pop culture references. It was super hilarious and engaging. A free dessert to go with my front line fear pass made it that much sweeter. The best part was the end of the show when everyone jumped up and started dancing to “Gangnam Style.” After pretending to ride a horse with a room full of people, I had caught my breath and was ready to face the creatures waiting for me outside the building. All the ghouls and goblins I ran into earlier in the night were at the exit of the show eagerly jumping at us as we walked back into “The Dark Side of the Gardens.” I hate scary movies. I hate blood, guts, zombies and vampires. But I love rollercoasters, music and plays. Howl-O-Scream does a great job of incorporating both of these aspects to appeal to a broader audience. I was shivering in my shoes, but I survived Howl-O-Scream 2012 in one piece. It was a great experience that I hope I get to return to next year. Kelly St. Onge can be reached at kelly.st.onge@theminaretonline.com.
codes that would cut the admission price by 50 percent. I jumped on that deal, bought my tickets and planned to go with my friend who is also named Alyssa on a Thursday, the cheapest and presumably least crowded night to attend. Thursday night arrived and Alyssa and I finally entered Universal. We made a slight miscalculation about the crowds. The streets were packed with hoards of screaming patrons. Once we entered through the gates to Universal there was no safe place for to hide. Zombies eating various body parts roamed the streets, and masked creatures hid amidst the people only to pop out of nowhere and growl, scream or hiss in everyone’s faces. Dead crazies with chainsaws walked around in packs chasing people into stores and down the streets. The actors in the streets were amazing to look at with such detailed makeup and costumes. Some of the masks I wouldn’t even be able to come up with in my worst nightmares. It was thrilling to see how Universal created a true world of horror. After surviving the terrors on the streets of the park, Alyssa and I hunted down the source of real fear in the park: the haunted houses. Halloween Horror Nights has themed haunted houses every year. This year the themed houses included: The Walking Dead, Silent Hill, Penn and Teller and Alice Cooper. Alyssa and I got to the park around 9 p.m. and the place had already been open since 6:30 p.m., but it closed at 2 a.m. so we had limited time to hit as
many houses as possible. Because the park was so crowded and dark, we found it hard to find the entrances to the houses. The lines made it even worse. They stretched as far as we could see and wrapped around in parallel rows. Wait times were around one to two hours, which was one of the most daunting parts. There was nothing to do but stand on your feet and slowly shuffle forward. I was anxious, hoping the houses would be worth the wait. Alyssa and I waited for The Walking Dead house first. After standing in line for almost two hours while watching trailers and clips from the television series on a projected giant screen, we couldn’t wait to experience the maneating zombies. We could hear the screams of those inside before we even got to the entrance. Once inside, it was incredible. Every detail, from the dead bodies to the blood splattered on the walls, felt so real. The masks for the zombies were freaky and terrifying, especially when we had to face them up close. Each actor was quite experienced in their acting abilities and knew exactly when to jump out at people. I couldn’t predict when the next zombie would jump out from behind a hidden door or corner. Besides the long lines, I didn’t like how quickly the haunted houses lasted. I wanted to spend more time hearing more blood-curdling screams, feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up and tasting the bonechilling fear. With our late arrival to the park and the two hour line for The Walking Dead house, Alyssa and I were running out of time to visit the other houses. Once we made it out of The Walking Dead house alive, we ran through the park asking directions to the Silent Hill house. Standing in another line was agitating as both Alyssa and I felt a little like zombies ourselves, but we prevailed and after less than an hour wait our journey into Silent Hill began. It was mortifying. “It’s like we’ve entered another world,” Alyssa said as we walked into Silent Hill. It had its own unique smell that hung in the air and ash fell from the ceiling and clung to our hair. The creatures in this house were terrifying and unimaginable. I consider myself immune to fear when it comes to haunted houses. I’ll jump a little, but I never actually feel fear. However, that all changed in this house. Creatures reached out their clawed hands in front of my face, showing up out of nowhere. As soon as I registered my adrenaline pumping, I laughed in excitement. Alyssa, on the other hand, was doing the opposite of laughing. She held onto my waist and hid behind my back the entire time, using my body to ward off the nightmarish creatures that pawed at her. After making it through that house, I finally felt like the money I spent and the time I wasted standing in line was all well worth it. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios is the best experience for those who really love a good haunted house. They may not terrify some people, but what it lacks in fear it makes up in ambience. I would recommend Halloween enthusiasts to go to Halloween Horror Nights this year. Save money with the Burger King promo (if you are a Florida resident or find one like I did) or with a Coca-Cola can. Also, be sure to get to the park early. Alyssa Hingre can be reached at alyssa.hingre@spartans.ut.edu.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
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Bat for Lashes’ New Album Leaves Chills By ERIC DUFFERT
Arts + Entertainment Writer
Just in time for Halloween comes the latest spine-chilling release from British singer-songwriter Natasha Khan. Aptly entitled The Haunted Man, this third studio effort from Khan, who goes by the stage name Bat for Lashes, features some of her most ominous and unsettling tracks to date.
For those unfamiliar with the indie trailblazer, Khan is one of Britain’s most ambitious and inventive young female artists. Her music is beautiful and daring, intimate and utterly captivating. She is a master at creating
atmospheric dreamscapes that slowly seep into your subconscious and haunt you for days. Khan draws many notable comparisons like Tori Amos, Annie Lennox, Kate Bush and Fiona Apple. What sets her apart from this unquestionably talented bunch is her willingness to explore controversial issues. Taking such topics as racism and sexism head on, Khan forces
the listener to confront their own prejudices and hidden animosity. Of course, just taking one glance at the cover for The Haunted Man gets the message across pretty fast that Miss Khan is not afraid of controversy. On
it, she provocatively stands stark naked with a nude man propped around her shoulders. Not exactly an album you’d want to bring home to your mother. The Haunted Man comes some six years after Khan’s critically acclaimed debut “Fur and Gold” which earned her rock star status in the UK and a modest cult following in the U.S. It becomes clear after only a few listens that the years have been particularly good to Khan. She has not, by any means, lost her musical touch. The Haunted Man pulses with rhythmic life. From the very first note of the mellow and minimalistic title track to the trippedout psychedelic fuzz of “Oh Yeah,” Khan owns the show. The album is also remarkably diverse. Each track has its own unique sound and feel to it. The opening track “Lilies” is a quiet and contemplative piano ballad while “Winter Fields” is an intricate orchestral number driven by melodic strings and resounding percussion. Keeping the album fresh (as if it needed any refreshing), Khan has enlisted the help of fellow indie hipsters Beck and Portishead’s frontwoman Adrian Utley. Though all eleven tracks are well executed and splendidly
entertaining, the standout track has got to be the poignant piano ballad “Laura,” a simple yet powerful composition that tugs at your heartstrings and will have you reaching for the tissues. “Fur and Gold” earned Bat for Lashes abounding praise from her fellow United Kingdom countrymen but only mild applause in the States. It is my hope that The Haunted Man finally awards her the bountiful accolades she deserves and propels her from indie music talent to international superstar. The Haunted Man is hands down Bat for Lashes’ best work. All the tracks blend seamlessly into a unified whole, and nothing seems out of place or illconceived. Will it be a critical hit? It’s likely, but will it be a runaway success? I hope so. It bloody well should be. Eric Duffert can be reached at eduffert@aol.com.
Critic’s Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
T-Swift Dominates Country Scene with ‘Red’ By ALEXANDRA TOWNSEND Arts + Entertainment Writer
The release of Taylor Swift’s third single “Our Song” made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a number one song on the country charts, and she has rarely left that top spot. Her songs about love, relationships and growing up make her relatable to whiny preteens and teens everywhere. Her lyrics come from real life experiences and are memorable enough to stick with people for days after hearing them. Even though Swift has slowly gravitated away from country and more toward pop and folk, her latest album Red is just as respectably popular as the others. Red is comprised of sixteen songs including the anthem “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The peppy lyrics and beat are sure to have girls across the country singing along in their cars with the windows rolled down all the way. This recording has a nice combination of modern country and pop that really showcases her talent for lyricism. The intertwining of genres helps widen Swift’s audience while giving cult fans a reason to love her even more. I enjoyed Red and found her lyrics to be noteworthy and easy to connect with my own life. They also progressed and matured from her past albums. I really felt the meaning behind the songs and could see the stories playing out in my head. My favorite song on the album is
definitely “22,” which is currently on the Top 10 Singles list on iTunes along with several other songs from the album like “Everything Has Changed,” “I Almost Do,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “Red.” “22” is more upbeat than some of the other songs on the album. I instantly got a sensation to jump up and start dancing. There’s no doubt that Swift is having one of the best weeks of her life knowing that she is millions of dollars richer and has millions of little girls yearning to be just like her. “I Knew You Were Trouble” is my second favorite song on the album. This song has stronger transitions and inclinations. Unlike “22,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” expresses extreme anger and regret. Red is sure to secure Swift’s position at the top of country and pop music scene as if she wasn’t already comfortably sitting there. Taylor Swift fans beware. If you already loved her, then you’re about to become obsessed. You’ve been warned. Alexandra Townsend can be reached at staddancer@gmail.com.
Critic’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
10 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Halloween Make-Up Looks Easily Transition for a Night Out
By KATHERINE LAVACCA Arts + Entertainment Writer
It’s Halloween and you’re rushing around campus to go to classes and club meetings and to finish your homework. You finally get everything done and have to rush getting ready for the Halloween party you were invited to. You notice sleep lines under your eyes. There’s no time to apply heavy Halloween makeup. Here are three looks that can easily be used from everyday makeup to Halloween worthy looks. Sophomore history major Jennifer Carpenter is a makeup consultant for Walgreen’s and helped to create these looks. For all of these looks you will need to apply a foundation. Make sure to use a foundation that matches your skin tone. Carpenter said to always use some eye
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1. Apply the darkest color eye shadow on the lid of the eye from your lash-line to about the crease of your eye. Make sure the makeup extends to both corners of the eye. 2. Next take the grey (second lightest) shadow and apply it from the crease of your eye up to the bottom of your brow bone. When applying this layer angle the brush/ applicator with the angle of your eye, this gives a sweeping effect at the outside corner of your eye. Once this stage is complete you should have a two-tone effect on the lid of your eye, darker below the crease and lighter above. 3. Lastly, apply the lightest shadow to your brow and inner corner of the eye. Again, angle the applicator. The effect will be the three shadows meeting at the same spot above the outside corner of the eye. 4. Apply mascara to complete the look
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to the other. 2. Next apply the shimmer/bronze shadow from the crease to the top of the lid. 3. Apply the pencil or liquid liner starting from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner of the eye. To get an even line place a finger an inch to the outside corner of the eye and gently pull the lid towards the outside so that your lash-line forms a straight line. Get as close to the lash-line as possible and apply light pressure drawing a line from one corner to the other. Go over the line until it is as dark as possible. To complete the swoop at the outside corner of the eye follow the line created by the eye shadow so that the angle of the swoop follows the shape of your eye. 4. Use mascara on your lashes to mirror the effect of the swoop you’ve created with the liner. Now you have a clean cat eye that looks
the eyebrows a more natural look. 2. Apply the beige/skin tone shadow to the entire lid. 3. Layer the medium brown shadow from the lash line to the crease of the lid. 4. Next sweep a little of the gold/bronze shadow on the crease of your lid. 5. Use the brown eyeliner of the top and bottom of the inside of the lids. 6. Apply mascara to the lashes. 7. Finish the look off with the red lipstick or gloss and clean the edges of lips to avoid red smudges on your face. This is a clean, polished look that’s good for both internship interviews and a sophisticated costume. The minimal eye makeup brings attention to the lips and is a classy look. “If you want a more natural look that doesn’t take much time and gives full
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Taylor Sanger/The Minaret
Students model Halloween make-up looks that can easily transition for a night out. Sophomore Jennifer Carpenter, a make-up consultant with Walgreen’s, says that a smoky eye, cat eye, and pin-up look with a red lip are three of the best make-up styles to consider trying.
shadow, eyeliner and brow pencil colors that compliment your skin tone. You will need brushes and applicators for some of the makeup and you will need to clean them when you are changing colors. She said to apply one color at a time to be time efficient. You can create the looks below by following a few simple steps. 1) You can create a smokey eye for vampire, goth or rocker looks. You will need dark eye shadow ranging from a charcoal to a dark grey, medium grey or silver eye shadow and light grey or an ivory eye shadow.
and give your lashes a nice pop. The three shadows will blend together to create a smokey eye that’s appropriate for your Halloween party. If time permits, go over the colors before heading out to keep the intensity of the colors. 2) Use a cat eye for hippie, Egyptian, cat or bunny costumes. You will need gold or brown eye shadow, shimmer or bronze eyeshadow and black eyeliner. 1. Apply gold or brown shadow to the lid from the lash-line to the crease of the eye. Be sure to cover from one corner of the eye
very sophisticated during the day and, with the right accessories, can be an asset to any sassy Halloween costume as well. 3) For a pin-up girl, old Hollywood movie star or pop singer, go with a bold, red lip. You will need an eyebrow pencil. Carpenter recommended the Fabu-Brow brand pencil from Walgreen’s, available in skin tones and red lipstick or lipgloss. 1. Go over the natural shape of your eyebrow with the eyebrow pencil filling them in to give a darker look. Lightly apply a similar color over the eyebrow pencil to give
coverage I recommend Bare Minerals,” Carpenter said. For a more airbrushed look I recommend Maybelline or the Fit Me line of base products and blush. I always wear Maybelline mascara and eyeliner. I wouldn’t wear anything else,” she said. If you follow these tips, you are sure to be ready for any occasion from a night out with the girls to a Halloween party. Simplicity is everything. Katherine Lavacca can be reached at katherine.lavacca@spartans.ut.edu.
Homecoming Week Features Blackjack, Beauty Pageants and Bands By SAMANTHA DELLE Arts + Entertainment Writer
Traditionally, Homecoming is an event or series of events meant to both encourage school spirit and welcome back students and alumni. This year’s Homecoming Week at the University of Tampa began on Oct. 17th with a kick-off event in the Vaughn lobby. The main event was a Greek God/Goddess pageant. Sophomore biology major Ebonie Carter was the Homecoming Kick-Off Chairperson. She described the pageant as “basically a take on a beauty pageant.” “There was a costume portion and a talent portion, where the competitors were encouraged to be entertaining,” Carter said. “The conclusion was a question and answer portion, with questions such as ‘What do you like about UT?’ designed to get people thinking.” Those components really enabled the judges to narrow down the competitors. For additional entertainment for the students, there was a photo booth and a henna
artist. Students each received a bright red Homecoming 2012 t-shirt with a Spartan logo on the back. Carter said, “Student Productions ordered more shirts for this year, but still ran out.” Considering they started with about 900 shirts, the event was highly attended. The festivities continued the following evening in the Vaughn Lobby with Casino Night, which drew a large crowd. There were casino games like blackjack, poker and slot machines. What was the incentive to win? About $2000 in prizes including: Beats headphones, a tablet and a Keurig coffee maker just to name a few items. Friday night’s activities began with a homecoming parade. Many student organizations were represented. Students flocked to the Stadium Center for the tailgate which had a BBQ, caricature artist, balloon artist and face painter. While enjoying hamburgers, baked potatoes and corn, students could listen to a live local band. Students walked away with a wide variety of balloon animals. Those who came to the tailgate even received red foam fingers.
The night continued with the Women’s Volleyball Game in the Martinez gym. Saturday, the Spartan Games were held outside of the McNiff Fitness Center. Freshman and juniors could compete against sophomores and seniors in several field events. Participants received bandannas in either red or black depending on their team. Later that evening, the band Green River Ordinance performed for the students in the Vaughn Courtyard. Josh Jacobs, a junior graphic design major and the marketing chair of Student Productions, described the way in which the organization worked to get students involved in this year’s homecoming. Seemingly a majority of the advertising for this year’s homecoming was done through social media. “There were Facebook events for each day of homecoming and about 400-500 people said that they would be attending each individual day,” Jacobs said. “I was responsible for maintaining all the social media aspects, including posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.”
Kayla Roy, a senior marketing major and Special Events Chair on the Student Productions Executive Board, stated that one of the goals of the Spartan Games was getting students involved that were not part of organizations. “We incorporated the Spartan Games and had it with odd versus even graduation years, so anyone could come over and start playing,” Roy said. Jacobs also talked about making this year’s homecoming better than previous years. He said, “The Homecoming Board tried to do a lot of very different and very cool events this semester. Even though last year’s homecoming was successful, this year, we tried to take it to another level here on campus, more of a very wholesome and total experience.” “We wanted to incorporate a few more events and better the events from last year in order to make them into traditions. Traditions are what build to create school spirit over time,” Roy added. Samantha Delle can be reached at samanthadelle@aol.com.
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
Opinion
11
Second Presidential Debate ‘Raises Expectations’ Liberal Perspective
debate, then “binders full Opinion Columnist of women” is definitely the icon for the second debate. The Obama campaign, fresh off During one of the most heated a debate win against Mitt Romney moments of the debate, Romney on Oct. 17, has come back to life accused President Obama of not swinging. calling the attacks on the embassy The debate was a fiery one, in Libya an act of terror. Apparently with both candidates engaging in Romney got a case of “Romnesia” heated exchanges. President Obama again and forgot that President Obama repeatedly stressed the false nature of explicitly called the attack an “act of terror” during his speech the following morning in the Rose Garden at the White House. Crowley jumped in during this exchange and backed up the president saying, “He did in fact call it an ‘act of terror.’” President Obama slyly asked, “Can you Barack Obama/Flickr.com say that a little President Barack Obama made a comeback in the second debate. louder, Candy?” many of Romney’s accusations, often Indeed, Crowley acted as a bit of directly to the governor’s face: “What a fact checker that would not allow you’re saying is just not true.” Despite completely false accusations to fly some instances of the candidates unabated. For me, this is the job a talking over each other, the debate moderator is supposed to do because was overall moderated extremely well. when two candidates are on equal CNN journalist Candy Crowley held footing and one tells a lie, it quickly firm in keeping candidates to their devolves into a “he said, he said” allotted times and did her best to get battle in which no candidate gains the candidates to answer the questions the upper hand. Having an active from the audience rather than pivoting moderator reduces the incentives to to other issues. lie during debates. As a result of the debate, a new Voters weighed in after the political meme has worked its way debate in multiple instant polls that through the Internet. It goes a little showed Obama with a clear win. The something like this: “If you say earlier Reuters/Ipsos poll that was released in the year you’re going to give tax cuts that night showed that 48 percent of for the top one percent, and then in a registered voters felt that Obama had debate you say, ‘I don’t know anything won compared to only 33 percent for about giving tax cuts to rich folks,’ you Romney with the rest saying it was need to get a thermometer, take your a tie. It was a win sorely needed by temperature, because you’ve probably the Obama campaign after the first got Romnesia.” That “Romnesia” line debate shifted a three to four point was coined by Obama at a campaign Obama lead into a virtual tie. stop this week in northern Virginia. This tie in the national polls, The “Romnesia” line has exploded however, still indicates a strong on Twitter over the past few days as probability that President Obama will others are making their own versions win because multiple state polls still much in the style of the ubiquitous show Obama leading in key swing “You might be a redneck” jokes. This states such as Colorado, Nevada new attack line is in response to the and especially Ohio. It seems that breakneck speed in which Romney the swing in the national polls can went from the self-described “severe mostly be attributed to firing up conservative” to the moderate on the base in non-competitive swing display at the recent debates. states. However, this doesn’t help “Romnesia” wasn’t the only when the winner is determined by Romney related meme to go viral over the Electoral College and not just the last week after the debate. A new the popular vote. Ask Al Gore about Romney meme was created based on that. a gaffe in which Governor Romney The president showed up to the described the recruiting effort for second debate and got the decisive women during his gubernatorial win that was needed. While the polls, transition as a women’s group bringing according to the Real Clear Politics him “binders full of women.” Average, are at an exact tie, there are The line in itself isn’t all that funny still two weeks left in this campaign but when taken literally, it can make for for anything to happen. Romney some hilarious pictures. Google image might have hurt himself with the “binders full of women” and you will “binders full of women” comment be in for a treat. This meme strikes and could possibly get hurt by the at Romney’s main vulnerability--his new meme of “Romnesia.” The full complete lack of ability to effectively effects of the debate are yet to be communicate with people when he’s seen but one thing is clear, Obama not speaking from prepared remarks is back. or memorized talking points. Alex Caraballo can be reached If Big Bird was the icon of the first at alex.caraballo@spartans.ut.edu. By ALEX CARABALLO
Conservative Perspective
By RICHARD J WHITAKER Opinion Columnist
an apology of sorts. Whether she was right or wrong in her statement, it was entirely inappropriate for her to make a statement on the behalf of or in defense of either candidate. She even gave up the pretense of neutrality when she did this and Americans understood that this was a set up. Even more, Governor Romney held his ground and fought to a tie or maybe just better than a tie against such stacked odds. Following the debate Obama and other left wing media outlets such as CNN began an onslaught on the Romney campaign for Romney’s comment on his success of getting women into good jobs. Romney stated that he requested “binders full of women,” from his staff in order to select qualified females for jobs. I earnestly wish to one day understand how this can be portrayed poorly. Applications typically go in binders to begin with, and Romney requested binders filled with resumes of qualified female applicants, because he felt women were not properly
On Oct. 16, 2012 at approximately 9 p.m., the second presidential debate began between the incumbent, President Barack Obama, and the challenger, Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Expectations were high after Romney’s decisive victory in the first debate, but they were unfortunately not met. From the start, both candidates were interrupting each other like two children fighting for their mother’s attention. There was, however, no parental presence at this debate. Instead, the American people had to settle for just another whining child and a liberal talking-head Candy Crowley. Crowley repeatedly lobbed softball questions to the incumbent in an obvious attempt to give him the opportunity to speak to his agenda. At the same time, she repeatedly interrupted Governor Romney, cheating him out of equal time to respond to questions and, in some instances, moving on to entirely new questions without providing him a fair opportunity to respond to attacks by his opponent. I observed that commentators from both sides of the political spectrum agreed that it seemed that this debate (as well as the Paul Ryan/Joe Biden debate) were “two against one affairs,” with the moderators serving as teammates to the incumbent team. My first and second thoughts were why would Governor Romney agree to such stacked odds and how had he and Ryan done so well despite these odds? Obama did better in this debate than is his previous debate, but failed to stop the Romney campaign’s increasing momentum roberthuffstutter/Flickr.com that seems to be riding into the Debate moderator Crowley seemed to favor Obama. third and final debate. Why is that? You have to wonder about the answers represented within the binders he had to these questions. The challengers heretofore reviewed, so I don’t know speak to the issues and seem to realize how this is controversial. I am not a the nation is in trouble. They seem woman, so I cannot comment on how to understand that we are looking for a woman interprets a comment like a path out of this mess and that we this, but, as a male, if I was already require leadership to lead us along that holding my UT degree and looking for path. a job in government and Romney said The Obama Administration seems he was looking for binders full of men to believe that it can simply attack applicants, I wouldn’t be complaining. Governor Romney’s and Congressman I would be voting. Ryan’s ideas without announcing any My beliefs lead me to typically favor of their own ideas, and the American conservative politicians, but I do not people will fall for this tactic. Well, it chain myself to the Republican Party. I does not seem to be working, at least would, without delay, vote for a Democrat not very effectively. for president if I believed he or she could In my eyes, the second debate came save this country. Furthermore, many down to who could speak louder than of President Obama’s ideas are concrete their counterpart with the occasional and I agree with a bunch of them, but he inappropriate interjection from the has proven to the American people that moderator, whose assigned job is to ideas are just that: ideas, and they will moderate the event, ask questions, keep remain just that until “someone” can up with time and not force her own turn them into actions. agenda into the fabric of the debate. Obama is a career politician. He Crowley made numerous interruptions has not proven himself a leader. He is supporting Obama, most notably on an excellent public speaker, but he is the issue of whether or not Obama not helping our country where it needs called the Libya attacks an attack of help the most, the economy. We need terror or not. a leader who understands the economy When Governor Romney pointed this and business, and who can put ideas issue out, she unjustly interjected, “He into action. That guy may or may not did, in fact, sir, call it an act of terror,” be Romney, but it certainly is not our according to newsbusters.org. Since current president. the debate, Crowley has found herself Richard J Whitaker can be reached under heavy attack for the inaccuracy at richard.whitaker@spartans.ut.edu. of her so-called correction, and issued
12 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
OPINION
9/11 Suspects’ Pretrials Begin, Severe Punishment is Deserved By DAVID ADAMS Columnist
Pretrial hearings have begun for five men suspected of planning the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 against the United States. Although the hearings were originally scheduled to begin in late August this year, a myriad of problems delayed them nearly two months. With the trial finally underway, military judge James Pohl is prepared to hear arguments from both the prosecution and defense over a wide array of topics. Issues to be heard by Pohl, also an Army colonel, range from the public disclosure of sensitive information to the dress code for the defendants. The pretrial hearings will set all of the guidelines for the trial which, by most estimates, is still nearly a year away. According to The Huffington Post, the pretrial start was first delayed by a cut Internet cable followed by the arrival of Hurricane Isaac. A hazardous rat and mold infestations in the defense counsel’s offices threatened to further delay the trial start. Members of the defense were brought to the hospital with respiratory problems, which resulted in naval hospital officials deeming the building unsafe. According to a letter from one of the defense lawyers to the court, “There were at least six dead large rats found in the ceilings of these spaces. When the workers came to remove the dead rats from the overhead ceiling areas, it is reported to me that rat feces dropped out of the ceiling.” Judge Pohl’s heart strings were not pulled by the letter and a request to further delay the pretrial was denied. Arguments began Monday, Oct. 15 and some very important rulings are supposed to be decided over the pretrial period. One of the main issues being questioned by both the prosecution and the defense is whether the U.S. Constitution applies to the five accused 9/11 plotters in Guantanamo Bay as it would if they were being tried in a court on American soil. The other key point that is set to be decided during the pretrial process is which of the suspects’ testimonies about their treatment during captivity at “black sites” is going to be released to the public, including some of the more unconventional interrogation techniques employed by the C.I.A. “Black sites” are
classified locations used by the C.I.A. and other organizations to interrogate high priority targets. Think of the movie “Safe House.” Reports that the suspects were subject to waterboarding, a painful and potentially deadly torture technique, during their interrogation have been repeatedly brought up before and during the trial. According to The Huffington Post, the American Civil Liberties Union and 14 news organizations are expected to make statements along with the defense team in support of transparency during the trial, arguing that the treatment of the defendants could potentially be “mitigating evidence” when determining their final sentence. The prosecution has argued that some of the evidence is sensitive in nature. According to the Los Angeles Times, Justice Department prosecutor Edward Ryan spoke out about wanting to keep certain aspects of the trial secret, things like, “military operations that are sensitive” and the “names of suspected terrorists and the strategies they used to communicate with one another, their operational nicknames and code words.” This information could potentially affect U.S. operations in the Middle East and around the world. Pohl said that he would issue a final protectiveorderregardingsensitivematerialssoon. Pohl has made a few rulings on other portions of the trial. One of the more controversial issues for which the defense wanted clarification was if the defendants had to attend hearings. The defense argued that forced attendance would be traumatic for their clients if they were forcibly removed from their cells to attend hearings. Although Pohl ruled in favor of the defense, he refused to allow defense attorney Captain Michael Schwartz to make his claim on the record. Pohl only seemed to be interested in the rights of the defendants, not their personal safety or feelings. According to The Huffington Post, Pohl said, “The issue before me is whether or not the accused has a right to voluntarily choose to not come to court for these proceedings. The issue of why is not before me... I don’t think that’s relevant.” Another key decision made by Pohl was permitting the defendants to wear camouflage and other military-style clothing. The prosecution argued that the clothing may
pose a threat to security and that military garb was “volatile and communicative” to other detainees in the facility. Pohl ultimately ruled in favor of the defense but left an open invitation to the base commander should there be any additional security concerns he is not aware of. Although the major decisions regarding admissible evidence and constitutional rights of the defendants have yet to be determined, final rulings will be hammered out during the pretrial and discovery processes. Huffington Post writer Daphne Eviatar believes this is an important trial for all Americans. In her article in August about the upcoming trial, she wrote: “At stake is whether the United States government can whisk terrorism suspects to offshore prisons to avoid giving them basic rights; whether Americans will ever be allowed to know what their government did to suspects arrested after 9/11 and interrogated for years in secret CIA prisons overseas; and whether these five men now, 11 years later, will finally be given a fair trial. It’s no exaggeration to say that this will be a defining moment for the United States.” Although I agree with Eviatar on her assessment of the importance of this trial, I believe her writing is intentionally structured to insinuate that the United States government is using unfavorable techniques on the five 9/11 suspects. I also believe that she takes it a step further, suggesting that the U.S. will use their post9/11 powers to strip U.S. citizens of their rights and hold them for undetermined amounts of time before they receive a fair trial. I believe that before Eviatar makes such bold statements about our government’s manipulation of its citizens’ rights, she needs to take into account the specifics of this particular trial and the men being tried. The most notable of the five 9/11 conspirators is Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who is accused of masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks. In an article published by The Guardian, it is revealed that Mohammed has told military officials that he planned the 9/11 attacks “from A to Z” and has also played a part in roughly 30 other terrorist operations. Mohammed has also been reported saying that he personally beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. This man has shownnoremorseforhisactions,includinghisrole
in the most deadly of foreign attacks on America. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mohammed lashed out at the court saying, “When the government feels sad for the killing of 3,000 people who were killed on Sept. 11, they should also feel sorry that the same government that is represented by Gen. Martins and others has killed thousands, millions of people.” The other defendants allegedly played roles in the 9/11 attacks, although not as large as Mohammed. Ramzi bin al-Shibh was selected as one of the hijackers and was supposed to sacrifice his life on 9/11. When he was denied a U.S. visa, al-Shibh acted as an intermediary for the other hijackers by wiring them funds and relaying key information to Al-Qaeda leaders. Walid bin Attash is charged with selecting and helping to train several of the hijackers. According to prosecutors, in the past he also acted as a personal bodyguard of Osama bin Laden and helped with the planning of both the 1998 East African Embassy bombings and the attack on the USS Cole. Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmad alHawsawi are allegedly two of the major financiers behind the 9/11 attacks. They allegedly assisted all of the hijackers with their training, day-today expenses, plane tickets and flight training. All of these men have committed horrible crimes against the U.S. and facilitated the killing of countless innocent civilians and noncombatants. These men are not traditional criminals and don’t deserve the same treatment that U.S. citizens entangled in the justice system receive. I understand the function of the ACLU and that the organization is based on the fair treatment of all people, but these men are not like the rest of us. The men who are on trial haven’t shown a hint of guilt nor remorse for their actions. Questionable interrogation techniques were the least they deserved for killing thousands of innocent Americans on 9/11. As Eviatar said, this trial is a defining moment for our country. This trial will demonstrate our resolve when it comes to those who terrorize innocent people and use fear as a tool of control. David Adams can be reached at dadams@spartans.ut.edu
US Defense Contractors in Afghanistan Caught Drunk and High on Camera
By AVERY TWIBLE
in a chair with the person behind the camera begging him, “Please, snap out of it!” After An American contracting company the video was released, the medical officer funded by taxpayers’ money is in the news admitted to frequently injecting himself for a revealing video of employees abusing with ketamine, a horse tranquilizer, while on alcohol and illegal narcotics while on the job the job in Afghanistan. According to ABC as defense contractors in Afghanistan. The NEWS, these men were “throwing live employees under investigation were sent to ammunition rounds and fire extinguishers Kabul, Afghanistan with the company to into the flames and watching as they “protect U.S. personnel 24/7 from terrorists exploded, often sounding like a real bomb explosion… every other night.” With the private contracting company’s operation’s manual saying all personnel must be on alert 24/7 for a possible terror attack, these men hardly seem to be following protocol. The private company’s $47 million contract from the Pentagon, which is specifically used to train the Afghan National Police, requires a zero HotLeaksNews/YouTube.com tolerance policy for US taxpayer money is being spent on irresponsible defense contractors. alcohol and drug use, but and the Taliban,” according to ABC there appears to be no one enforcing this. NEWS. On the contrary, Kenny Smith, a previous The video shows a security manager employee, said that senior on-site executive of Jorge Scientific, the private contracting in Kabul, Chris Sullivan, often organized company, throwing back a shot of alcohol, and led the heavy drinking, usually doing staggering over to a fellow employee so with a loaded pistol in his pants. “[He] and then beginning to engage in shirtless pushed people to drink, calling us ‘pussies’ wrestling. Also shown in the video is a if we didn’t,”Smith said. Smith is one of the medical officer with bloodshot eyes swaying two men suing Jorge Scientific for ‘allowing’ Opinion Writer
such behavior in the company. Smith and John Melson are previous employees of Jorge Scientific who quit their jobs at the private contracting company when they observed these actions taking place. According to NY Daily News, the basis for the lawsuit is that the men said “the frat house behavior endangered Jorge employees, the U.S. mission and U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.” Jorge Scientific said they terminated employment of the security manager, medical officer, onsite executive and other individuals before the lawsuit began. In an official statement from Jorge Scientific Corporation, they said the Board of Directors had hired an outside and independent investigation team headed by a former federal prosecutor to conduct a thorough investigation. This is not the first time this behavior has been seen within private security contractors in Afghanistan. According to The Huffington Post, three years ago, whistle-blowers came forward about similar behavior going on in Kabul with the ArmorGroup North America contractor who was overseas to provide security at the U.S. embassy there. They were accused of drinking, sexual hazing, having bonfires and visiting brothels in Kabul. The lawsuit for this scandal was settled last July for $7.5 million. There is a clear lack of oversight going on with these private contracting companies overseas. Luckily, no serious consequences for the innocent people they are sent there to protect have occurred, but it seems to be only a matter of time before it does if this
behavior continues. These two events were only highlighted and revealed because the onlookers happened to have a camera. This makes me wonder how often similar behavior goes on when there is no camera there to capture it. After the first event happened back in 2010, Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, “testified before the Commission on Wartime Contracting, highlighting the dire need for the U.S. government to regain control over the planning and management of security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” according to The Huffington Post. Even so, just two years later, this video is released of a different private contracting company showing some of the very same behaviors in the same place. It appears little progress has been made on overseeing and controlling the behavior of these employees who are apparently paid with American taxpayer money. It is unfair for said taxpayers to see these people being paid with their hard-earned money for this disgusting behavior. It is also unfair to other employees that now have a terribly bad affiliation with the name of the companies when they may be completely innocent. The same goes for Americans in general that look bad because of the behaviors of people that are supposed to be professional representatives of the United States around the world. Serious changes need to be made in these private contractors. Avery Twible can be reached at avery. twible@spartans.ut.edu
13 Lance Armstrong Steps Down as Chief of Livestrong, Had No Choice THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
OPINION
By LAUREN RICHEY Opinion Writer
For years, former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong has been an inspiration and role model to athletes all over the world, as well as a growing number of cancer survivors. He won seven Tour de France titles after overcoming his own battle with testicular cancer, and has founded one of the largest cancer fundraising organizations in the world, Livestrong, while donating $6.5 million out of his own pocket to cancer research, according to CNN. On Oct. 18, a man whom some would call a national hero, having already been stripped of his racing titles, stepped down from his head position at Livestrong, and lost a multi-million dollar contract with Nike. What was the cause of his fall from grace? Years of constant attack and discrimination. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and other similar organizations have been out to get Armstrong since the day he won his first Tour de France title in 1999. The International Cycling Union has repeatedly cleared him of doping charges throughout the years, almost as quickly as these agencies can create them. The Cycling News website has produced an index of the allegations Armstrong has been subjected to over his entire career. He first tested non-negative to the drug cortisone back in 1999, yet he had simply used the cream to get rid of a saddle sore. In 2000, reporters watched a U.S. Postal Service Team vehicle dispose of material including the illegal substance Actovegin. French officials investigated for two years and Armstrong’s team was cleared of
all charges. He was then accused of said it best: “The simplest answer is most taking erythropoietin in 2005, due to an often correct.� Which is more likely, the anonymous research study through UCI in which there was little to no convicting evidence that he had tested positive. That entire battle lasted until 2006 when Armstrong first went into retirement. The overall result from these countless investigations and drug-testing was to prove the cyclist was in fact completely innocent. After all of that time and money spent on fruitless allegations, what is the incentive to continue to push this man even more? A better question would be if this illegal substance abuse was going on since 1999, then how on earth was it not caught before? The drug tests within the Tour de France, as well as the Olympics, have always been among the most advanced medical sports testing programs in the world. How can it be possible that the USADA found something they missed? Armstrong has been charlie llewellin/ Flickr.com publicly attacked by anti-doping Amid doping scandal, Armstrong is forced to resign. agencies for decades. This is clear idea that Armstrong engaged in the most discrimination if I ever saw it. I’m sure if sophisticated doping program in history, these agencies were to go after any of the including dozens of other cyclists, or other athletes with as much force, they someone in the USADA is holding a would be bound to find discrepancies as grudge? well. In fact, if everything the USADA Here is an analogy of this whole is saying is true, then the true winner situation: Let’s say a local prosecutor of many of those Tour de France titles has a nasty grudge against you. They try is unknown. An article in USA Today you on one case after another and you’re states that of the 21 top three finishers in found innocent every time. Yet as one the Tour de France during Armstrong’s trial ends, you’re immediately arrested victory streak, only one has not been tied for a new crime. Not only does this to doping, according to the U.S. Anti- prosecutor want you in prison but they Doping Agency. William of Ockham also want to destroy your reputation
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and you as a person. At what point do you say enough and leave town? Does leaving prove the prosecutor right, that you did do all those crimes? According to a statement from USADA CEO Travis Tight, Armstrong has “exercised his legal right not to contest the evidence and knowingly accepted the imposition of a ban from recognized competition for life.� Armstrong is doing the only thing he can: give up. And what about Nike? It’s not a stretch to say they’re being a little hypocritical by ending Armstrong’s contract due to the scandal. According to CNNMoney, the corporation re-signed Philadelphia Eagles player Michael Vick into an endorsement deal in 2011, even after Vick served 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation. You can endorse a man that has spent time in prison, but instantly drop a charity-founder accused of cheating? Each player has made millions of dollars with Nike’s support, and it’s not right to disown one scandal while accepting another. Regardless of whether the allegations against Armstrong are true or not, the lifelong pain the USADA has caused this man is unforgivable. It’s been a battle of wits and integrity that sadly the former cyclist has now lost. Everything Armstrong has accomplished through his charity Livestrong has potentially been put in jeopardy, as well as his reputation and legacy. There’s only so much one man can take and Armstrong has evidently had enough. Lauren Richey can be reached at lauren.richey@spartans.ut.edu
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14 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
OPINION
Girls’ vs Boys’ Halloween Costumes: Sexist and ‘Sexified’
By ELAINA ZINTL Opinion Writer
Halloween is a great holiday, providing fun opportunities for people to dress up and children to go trick-ortreating. I used to love going out myself for a night full of laughs, not to mention the pillow case full of candy. Costumes differ between genders in both content and characteristics. Girls might dress up as witches, kittens, nurses or Disney princesses, while boys might dress as police officers, firefighters, mobsters and the like. But differences go beyond the ideas behind their costumes. The older a generation gets, the skimpier girls’ costumes become. Subsequently, a question has arisen: are Halloween costumes sexist or “sexified?” Typically the young girls’ section of stores, like Party City, has costumes such as nurses, “Lil’ Patty Cake Baker” and a boxer dressed in all pink, while the boys’ costumes include a doctor, police officer and fire chief. Amy Rubinson, a feminist who created the blog “Appetite for Equal Rights,” wrote that “the main ‘gender differences’ are not innate, but socially constructed from the very beginning. Girls don’t become nurses and bakers because it’s in their genes, but because it is thrust in their faces from birth that girls are nurses, and boys are astronauts, doctors and police officers.” Halloween costumes are a way in which society constructs gender differences among children and then reinforce with the adult costumes. Rubinson and other feminists bloggers agree on this point. The adult occupational section of costume stores offers women’s costumes such as a French maid, sexy police officer and sexy cheerleader. Meanwhile, the male section offers costumes for astronauts, captains, judges, fire fighters and surgeons. Rubinson is not the only person to write about the sexist portrayal of Halloween costumes. Womenkind, a marketing and communications company which focuses on informing
its clients on how to understand and motivate women said, “Put aside the fact that costumes marketed to the female population are becoming more and more skimpier … Instead, let’s
sexy on Halloween, and that is their prerogative, but I am not one of them and I do not appreciate the increasingly risqué selection of costumes each year. This growing problem is gaining a t t e n t i o n . E x e l l e . m o n s t e r. com said,“The widespread appeal of flashing cleavage is hardly breaking news – especially in a forum where there is an ‘excuse’ to do so. What’s new is the incredibly shrinking shelf space for nonsexy costumes.” I know from experience that this is true. There seems to be no women’s costume hanging in Pop Culture Geek/Flickr.com sebastien.barre/Flickr.com the aisle that does Halloween costumes differ by gender: female costumes tend to be more revealing than males’. not have “sexy” in focus on the pure sexism that exists the name or description. in the types of costumes offered to It is easily noticeable that young each gender. Whether you’re male or men’s costumes are often made with female, when you take an inside look more fabric and are meant to be funny at the Halloween costume options or scary while women’s are generally currently available, the answer is clear: revealing and attention grabbing. I am Halloween is simply the most sexist not sure if the fad was made popular by day of the year.” In their post on their Mean Girls, where the main character, website womenkind.net, they focused Cady (played by Lindsay Lohan), noted largely on sexism in the occupational that Halloween is the one night a year sections. when girls have an excuse to dress Rubinson writes that this is provocatively and no other girls can say infuriating and unfair but that it is anything about it, but it has definitely unlikely to change any time soon. I held true for quite a few years. would agree that it can be frustrating, Erin Gagner, a freshman psychology but I grew up being able to brainstorm major, said, “Girls dress like sluts, and my own costume ideas and asking my boys dress to be silly or scary.” She is mother to make it for me (she always proud of her two recent, but slightly obliged). I never had to walk down the risqué Halloween costumes: Ke$ha and aisles filled with costumes in order to a firefighter outfit (where her favorite make my choice. And now that I am an part was the thigh high boots). Gagner adult, it is not the sexism in costume also reported that girls dress to be a selection that I worry about. Instead, I character when they are young, but have difficulty trying to find a costume strive for sexy as they get older. She in stores that is composed of a decent said, “Age 14-16, freshman year, is amount of material. I realize that there when the skimpy and sexy costumes are many women that like to feel take off because they’re with the older
girls that go all out with fishnets and spandex.” I believe that it also has to do with the fact that high school girls purchase or make their own costumes, instead of picking out their outfits alongside mom and dad. Sara Koclowski and Amanda DeMello, a psychology major and allied health major respectively, stated similar conclusions about the characteristics of female Halloween costumes and their occurrence. People have the right to wear what they want to, but I do not feel that sexy costumes are necessary. Skylar Davila, a freshman psychology major, stated, “The differences [in Halloween costumes] are chest size, curves and girls’ Halloween costumes tend to be skimpier.” He said, “It’s awesome, so why not?” This sentiment was shared by other male students, and it is a conclusion that makes sense. I believe that a large part of why girls are “sexifying” their Halloween costumes has to do with attracting attention from the guys, and obviously it works. Nevertheless, other costumes should be available for girls who are not interested in participating in this growing Halloween tradition. Kocklowski said, “I feel that if someone is comfortable enough to dress that way, and they feel that it’s okay, then no one else has the right to judge them based on that.” I agree that people have a right to wear what they want and I do not have anything against the girls that go out on Halloween and wear skimpy costumes, so long as they are choosing to do so. However, as noted by The Huffington Post, some costumes should not be “sexified,” such as Nemo, Spongebob Square Pants and Cookie Monster. As it turns out, Halloween costumes are often both sexist and “sexified.” The real problem though, is that stores do not offer enough alternatives to those kinds of costumes. Elaina Zintl can be reached at elaina.zintl@spartans.ut.edu
Anonymous Inappropriately Involved in Amanda Todd Case By SAMANTHA BLOOM Opinion Writer
The Amanda Todd story has become a popular controversy these past couple of weeks, leading to discussion across the Internet on who is to blame for her suicide. For those unfamiliar with her case, Todd was a 15-year-old Canadian girl who was pressured by a stranger on the Internet to flash her chest during a webcam chat. In a YouTube video Todd made chronicling her journey, she explains with the use of note cards that a year later, she received a Facebook message from that same stranger, threatening her into presenting her body to him via webcam by promising that the images of her chest from their first exchange would be released to everyone that she knew. He knew her name, address, school and the names of her friends and family, and released her photos when she refused. The repercussions of the released photos included the development of anxiety and depression, as well as extreme verbal, physical and cyberbullying by Todd’s peers. Todd moved schools, but the stranger followed her and again shared the pictures
with her new classmates, and the cycle repeated. She moved schools yet again, began experimenting with drugs and alcohol and began cutting herself. She attempted suicide twice before her death in early October of this year, according to abcnews. com. With as much world-wide attention as her story is receiving, it’s not surprising that the vigilante justice group Anonymous picked up the story. Anonymous is a loosely associated group, sometimes referred to as “hacktivists,” that track down information on the web and use it to fight for what they believe to be justice. In Todd’s case, they reportedly tracked down the man responsible for Todd’s bullying, and have released his name and personal information to the world wide web, says huffingtonpost.com. While Anonymous has put out statements that they have evidence against the Vancouver man they’re pointing at, and the man was brought into court on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference with a minor unrelated to Todd, he has not been charged for involvement in Todd’s case, according to huffingtonpost.com.
Regardless of whether this Vancouver man is involved with Todd, is it right for Anonymous to be distributing justice? Vancouver defense lawyer Eric Gottardi told CBC News, “The system isn’t supposedtoconvict someone before charges are laid. It’s not supposed to [!!!] Sweet Peas Photography [!!!]/Flickr.com be judge, jury and Anonymous takes control of the case and plays roles of judge, jury and executioner. executioner, all in because wrongdoers do not deserve the public forum. We have a justice to be brought to justice, but because system. It’s supposed to work, it they do deserve the same rights does work.” every other American is granted. From an American standpoint, I Anonymous and anyone else have to agree with Gottardi on this. who wishes to see the man that It is written in this country’s Bill of made life such a challenge for Todd Rights that every person deserves convicted has every right to bring the right to a fair trial, and it is forth any information they can find impossible for a jury to be impartial to the authorities, but to post it on if a suspect has already been the Internet where everyone can see declared guilty by the media. For and use it for their own purposes is anyone to be able to play “judge, unfair. jury and executioner,” as Gottardi Samantha Bloom can be reached at says, is unconstitutional. Not samantha.bloom@spartans.ut.edu
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
OPINION
15
Overused Political Ads Now Infiltrating Hallmark Cards By JAKE KONISZEWSKI Opinion Writer
weeks away, I had no doubt that if there was an Obama greeting card, the whole Hallmark store would be covered in politically themed cards. Perhaps there would be an entire section devoted to them. I visited the Hallmark store at Westshore Mall and browsed the sections. I was greeted by 50 percent off Halloween decorations
been on hundreds of Hallmark cards, had cards with messages such as, “Spending is down for the fourth year in a row, and I’m just talking about what I spend on presents,” and “For too many years, this country has been like my boobs—headin’ in the wrong direction. Have an uplifting birthday.” There were a few cards in the
The upcoming election has invaded the lives of Americans through several different mediums. I cannot watch TV or a video on Youtube or Hulu without seeing President Obama or Mitt Romney endorsing themselves or discrediting their opponent. Not even greeting cards are safe from political messages. According to Billy Hallowell of The Blaze, the Hallmark greeting card company “is facing calls for a boycott from some frustrated Conservatives.” Lennie Jarrett of Grayslake, Ill. and founder of the Lake County Tea Party was shopping for a graduation card with her kids when they found one with Obama on the cover. On the front, it said, “You’ve graduated! Time to go to a lot of parties!” The inside read, “But avoid those tea parties if you can. Trust me.” According to Halloway’s article, Jarrett is looking for an apology from the Hallmark Company. Jarrett’s reaction is completely ridiculous. He is getting upset over Paola Crespo/ Facebook.com someone voicing a political opinion It’s not enough for political ads to be on TV, YouTube and Facebook, now they are in Hallmark cards. that is different than his. People, whether they are politicians or the average Joe, have been talking and figurines and at least a third of store and on Hallmark.com that had about political views throughout the the store decked out with Christmas Obama, Romney and other famous campaign, before the campaign and merchandise. After searching the rows political figures on them. One card will continue to afterward. Chances of cards, I did not find a “Democrat,” had Obama and Romney shaking are that some of that talk will be “Republican” or even a broad hands and read, “Finally! Something about views the Tea Party does not “Political” card section. I did manage Democrats and Republicans can agree agree with. Hallmark does not need to find a few cards underneath the on! You’re getting pretty damn old.” to give him an apology. Jarrett just “Newest From Shoebox” section that Another had Romney on the front and needs to calm down and move on. had some political messages. Maxine, read, “Another birthday, and you still an PM aged woman with attitude who has look like a million bucks. Trust me. Since the election is less than three 2:51 Minaret Open House Ads_Layout 1 10/4/12 Page 1
I know what a million bucks looks like.” One had Obama and Joe Biden on the front where Obama said, “It’s your birthday! Raise the taxes—I mean, the roof!” Biden replied, “Don’t worry, I don’t think anybody heard.” There were cards that made fun of both sides and some, such as the Maxine cards, just used politics to crack a joke. More importantly, there were fewer cards than I thought there would be. One can assume that either Jarrett scared Hallmark enough for the card company to pull most of the political cards or the political cards are selling well and the ones I found were the only ones left. I am going with option C and saying that these cards were not very popular. I can see why Hallmark has political cards. The election is like a holiday and Hallmark sells cards for all different holidays and occasions. I do not blame them for wanting to make a quick buck on the election. But with political messages on TV, online and on billboards, do you really want to send your loved one another anti-Obama or anti-Romney ad? Plus, Election Day falls in between holiday juggernauts Halloween and Christmas. Political cards probably get buried under the orange of Halloween and the red and green of Christmas. I am glad I could only find a few political cards from Hallmark. The election has voters tense and exhausted, which probably explains Jarrett’s outburst. Frankly, I am looking forward to Election Day so I do not have to be bombarded by political ads furthermore. Jake Koniszewski can be reached at john.koniszewski@spartans.ut.edu
16 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
OPINION
European Union Nobel Peace Prize, Undeserved By SARAH GARRITY Opinion Writer
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the European Union with the Nobel Peace Prize of 2012 on Oct. 12. The Committee gave the award “for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe,” according to the Nobel Prize website. The European Union is now on the award list with Amnesty International, a non-profit organization that protects human rights, and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, a non-partisan federation of medical groups from 62 countries with a common bond to provide nuclear peace. Even if the EU has been in the worst financial crisis in its entire history, this union apparently has brought more peace into the world than these groups or any other person or organization this past year. The European Union was created after World War II, to create interdependence with the economy that would prevent further conflict, according to the European Union website. The Union started with six countries in 1952 and has since grown to 27, with other countries still awaiting entrance into the union. While the establishment of keeping peace between European countries is an award-winning achievement, especially after the bloodshed of World War II, the Nobel Prize Committee has had multiple years to recognize the European Union of their peace treaties and provide the union an award when it did not have vital economic issues to solve as it does now. While last year was the 60th year since the Treaty of Paris, which brought peace between France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, it is not enough to shadow the enormous economic crisis that is currently engulfing the European Union.
In a previous article, I discussed the financial crises in Spain and Greece, the two economies that are members of the Eurozone and the European Union who are currently on the brink of default. I stated that Spain and Greece’s possible default will result in widespread consequences across Europe. According to the Wall Street Journal, Spain is under pressure from Eurozone leaders to leave the euro, while the European Union is currently attempting to give Spain a bail-out option in an effort to keep their economy together. The European Union and the Eurozone are in a huge mess, and while it will not be fixed overnight, no plan that has been released to find stability in Spain and Greece seem to be favorable by either citizens or world leaders alike. As reported by Euronews, Greece will continue its plan to have massive budget costs. Considering when the plan was released back in late September and caused a protest of 50,000 people on Sept. 28, it can be expected that the satisfactory rate of Greece’s government will decline even more. The European debt crisis is causing backlash on the Nobel Prize Committee’s decision on the award. Since 2008, the EU and Eurozone have been under a huge financial crisis, and countries are borrowing too much money and are about to default, according to BBC. Paul De Grauwe, an economist with the London School of Economics, told the Associated Press, “If I were living in Portugal or Spain or Greece, I would be upset about it: They are giving this prize to these people in Brussels, and they are the source of my misery.” While not all countries are in the same crisis as Spain or Greece, these countries are intertwined under the euro. If any of these countries default it will result in the drop of the Euro, which will also affect the U.S. economy. The EU is filled with
debt and its leaders do not know how to own two feet and thus doesn’t deserve this solve the problem. They may have solved prize. peace a long time ago, but they have other While I do believe the prize will uplift matters on their hands now and do not the spirits of the European Union, the need a reward for one issue while they cannot fix another. This is not the first controversy of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Prize Committee was also under speculation when Barack Obama won the same award. As stated by the Nobel Prize website, Obama won the prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen i n t e r n a t i o n a l ereneta/Flickr.com diplomacy and The EU doesn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize during this time of economic turmoil. cooperation between peoples.” Obama was not even in office committee had another 230 nominations for one year when he got the prize, while to choose from, according to CNN. A other presidents including Jimmy Carter favorite for the award this year from the and Theodore Roosevelt did not earn same report was Gene Sharp, a professor theirs until later in office or many years at the University of Massachusetts after their term ended. These issues started Dartmouth and published author, who to cloud the image of the Nobel Peace has promoted nonviolent acts of how to Prize and once again the committee has overthrow a dictatorship and establish returned into the same controversial light. democracy. Sharp is working on solving It baffles me that the EU was actually issues that are affecting multiple countries given this prestigious award. Alfred like Libya and Syria, who are currently in Nobel, the creator of the Nobel Prize civil wars over long dictator reigns. awards, stated that that the peace prize The European Union has been in effect would be given to “…the person who for over 60 years and has established peace shall have done the most or the best work between multiple countries in Europe. for fraternity between nations, for the However, the timing of the prize for these abolition or reduction of standing armies efforts is off. It is nothing more than a and for the holding and promotion of peace confidence booster for the EU right now, congresses…,” according to the Nobel which is not the purpose of the award. Prize website. While I cannot argue that There were other deserving nominees for the European Union did establish peace the Nobel Peace Prize. For the EU, the after one of the most devastating wars prize is too little, too late. in human history, the European Union’s Sarah Garrity can be reached at economy cannot currently stand on its sarah.garrity@spartans.ut.edu
Florida Department of Education Predicts Academic Success Based on Race By ELAINA ZINTL Opinion Writer
Florida’s Department of Education has released a new strategic plan for public schools and Florida colleges for 2012 through 2018. The plan was approved on Tuesday, Oct. 9 and has been met with mountains of criticism from various sources. Why the complaints? This strategic plan will be judging the achievement of public school students partially based on race and ethnicity. I feel that this sort of bias is unacceptable, and it gives the impression that a person’s academic success depends on their race, which I find very insulting. According to the plan, the Florida Board of Education expects 90 percent of Asian students, 88 percent of white students, 81 percent of Hispanic students and 74 percent of black students to be at or above grade level in reading by 2018. The expectations for mathematics are for 92 percent of Asian students, 86 percent of white students, 80 percent of Hispanic students and 74 percent of black students to be scoring at or above grade level in 2018. There may be serious repercussions from these numbers. It is as if educators are telling Hispanic and black students that they are not capable of achieving the same level of success as white or Asian students, which will most likely result in many of those students refusing to strive for anything beyond that bracket. For high-achieving students in those minorities, it may seem like a slap in the face, as if educators are reinforcing the racial gap. It also tells white and Asian students
that they’re are expected to do better, but happy with the signal this sends.” I agree only to such an extent, which may leave that these differences in expectations are those students unwilling to strive above intolerable and send the wrong messagthe state’s goal. es to Florida parHowever, the ents and students. consequence According that scares me to USA Today, the most is the board members way it will afwho supported fect the framethe strategic plan work between argued that the students from numbers they are the different seeking in all catethnic groups. egories would be It may result in an improvement strain between over current levstudents of difels, despite the ferent races fact that, statistiand spark acacally, each racial demic segregagroup is not extion in achievepected to improve ment programs. at the same rate. This disparBoard member ity has already Kathleen Shanasparked arguhan told the Sunments between Sentinel, “We Graphic By Donny Murray/The Minaret board members need to be realisand disappointment from parents. Patrick tic in our ability to impact those [different Franklin, president and CEO of the Urban racial groups] at the same degree.” And League of Palm Beach County, told the the Sun-Sentinel also reported that Cheryl Sun-Sentinel, “All children should be held Etters, spokeswoman for the Florida Deto high standards and for them to say that partment of Education, stated the dispafor African Americans the goal is below rate numbers are not intended to lower exother students is unacceptable.” And ac- pectations but to set “realistic and attaincording to WJXX TV, board member John able” goals, because “of course we want Padget said, “If Asians can have a goal of every student to be successful, but we do 90 percent in reading, why can’t whites have to take into account their starting and other subcategories? So I would just point.” Shanahan and Etters make reasonask my fellow board members if we are able points, but I have to argue that it is
giving the impression of lower standards. I also must state that there is a larger problem presented by this plan than judging improvement based on racial groups. The fact that the expectations are lower for certain minorities is upsetting, but the disparity between the rates at which the groups are to improve is more unsettling. Asian students are expected to increase 10 to 14 percent, white students 18 to 19 percent, Hispanic students 25 to 28 percent, black students 34 to 36 percent, economically disadvantaged students 26 to 30 percent and disabled students 40 to 49 percent. The expectations on this note are opposite of those from before. Lower scoring groups are expected to improve at a rate almost twice that of the other students. I would like to know how the Board of Education plans to explain this. Are there going to be special services provided for students in groups that are expecting higher levels of improvement? I understand that academic success and progress can be a sticky subject, because every student has different abilities and needs but I believe that it is unacceptable to split them into aptitude groups based on a social construct such as race or ethnicity. I also feel that it is unacceptable to expect different groups of students to make larger leaps than others. It may appear necessary in order to close these perceived gaps in education, but it is only going to end up in pushing schools farther and farther behind when they cannot meet the standards. Elaina Zintl can be reached at elaina.zintl@spartans.ut.edu
THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
Sports
17
Spartans Lose, Drop In National Ranks By J.P. HANEY Sports Writer
Casey Budd/ The Minaret
Jessica Wagner spikes the ball in UT’s 3-0 victory over Valdosta State University.
It is common knowledge in the world of sports that there are two seasons within the course of a year: the regular season and the postseason. The regular season is the time where a team hopefully develops, grows and establishes itself as a cohesive unit in order to be fully prepared for the rigorous postseason. The postseason, in every sport, is where teams play like there is no tomorrow because in many cases their season is one loss from being over. For example, it is no coincidence that highly-seeded teams get defeated by much lower seeded teams during NCAA Basketball’s annual March Madness. The University of Tampa women’s volleyball team has consistently been at the top of the national rankings throughout the course of the 2012 season. Thus, the season has mostly focused around the team’s ability to reach its full potential. “We have the potential to play consistently better,” head coach Chris Catanach. “We still have room to grow.” Last Friday, UT was defeated in four sets by its rival West Florida in front of a raucous crowd of UT students. This loss
was particularly tough because it snapped UT’s 35-game home winning streak. For the majority of the season, the Spartans have overpowered their opponents. However, Coach Catanach has stressed to his team that in general they can be playing much more consistently. Two weeks ago, the team defeated SSC foe Barry University 3-1, but Coach Catanach was not pleased. “After an intense game against Eckerd, we were not at our best against Barry,” he stated. The team’s recent struggles with consistency has been tough, but it has not wavered the Spartans’ confidence in the team’s ability to succeed going forward. “We are definitely as good, if not better than our record is,” freshman Marissa Lisenbee said. “The games that we’ve lost, we could’ve won but they were a learning experience that we needed.” If the Spartans can play consistently, their potential expands far beyond a conference championship. The team has the ability to compete for a national championship. With that potential, comes the challenge of opposing teams stepping up their game in order to defeat the Spartans. Thus, playing consistently is of the utmost importance. Recently, the team has been doing all it can to improve and
prepare for the postseason. “There is always room for improvement,” junior Holly Reschke said. “We are always trying to get better.” Last weekend, UT hosted the South Region Crossover and won both of its games in straight sets. The work that the team has been putting in at practice has been paying off, but now it is all about making the final tweaks in their abilities in order to make a postseason run. “We’re just trying to stay healthy and work on the little things that will help us be a better team,” Lisenbee said. “Coach has told us basically every game now to go into each match with the mentality of playing to win, not playing not to lose.” As the regular season draws to an end, the real season is about to begin. The Spartans will have to prove that they are worthy of their high national ranking and that they truly are as good as their record states. For the Spartans, it is not about working hard to make sure they are contenders at the end of the postseason, instead it’s about working hard to make sure they are ones holding up the trophy as champions. The Spartans next game is this Friday, Oct. 26 home against Rollins at 7 p.m. J.P. Haney can be reached at johnpatrick.haney@spartans.ut.edu.
Tampa Women Survive As Streaky Offense Cools By JORDAN LLANES Sports Writer
The women’s soccer team is one of the best in the nation. Ranked No. 16 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll, the Spartans sport a 11-3-3 overall record, and are currently tied with Rollins College at the top of the SSC standings. Led by standouts such as Lauren Moore and Cici Gonzalez, the ladies have enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history thus far. However, Coach Gerry Lucey must turn his squad’s attention to the upcoming SSC Tournament. If the team plays as expected, they will have to face an opponent that has given them fits all year, Rollins. “We really don’t feel any pressure to beat them,” said Lucey. “It’s the same pressure we feel any other game. We pressure ourselves to win each and every game.” Meanwhile, junior midfielder Cina Salemi says it’s more of a personal matchup now between the two schools. “Rollins is a big rival, and they have been in the past,” stated Salemi. “Now it’s like we are competing against ourselves and how we have done in our past games.”
3
And Out
A brief rundown of Spartan sports
That being said, there really isn’t too much room for improvement. Being 113-3 and nearly atop of the SSC standings, these Spartans have done a lot of things right. But the one thing that Lucey and his players stress that they need to work on is their communication both on and off the field. The lack of communication while playing Rollins is one of the main reasons that the Lady Spartans have not yet defeated their main SSC foe. “Our communication has been very poor over the last few games,” Lucey said. “Each individual on the team needs to improve on that, as well as the team as a whole.” Salemi agreed with her coach on that front. “We work on communication every day, and we talk about how we need to improve our communication as a team,” said Salemi. “I think once we perfect that, it’s going to help us in every other aspect on the field.” Freshman defender Beate Jaeckel also agreed with the sentiments of her coach and elder teammate. “We have had a pretty good year so far, but if we can improve on our communication both on and off the field, we will be better because of it,” said Jaeckel.
No. 23 Women’s Soccer [11-3-3, 5-1-2] After a hot start, the UT women have scored three goals in their last four games, a stretch in which the team went 1-0-3. Tampa has maintained its national ranking and is currently second in the SSC. The Spartans will next play Tuesday, Oct. 30 in the SSC Tournament.
Samantha Battersby/ The Minaret Amber Pennybaker moves to kick during last week’s tie with Nova Southeastern. The Spartans have struggled to score over their past four games, totaling just three goals.
If the Spartans can improve on their communication on and off the field, then the goals, and wins, will follow. Tampa has scored just three goals in its last four games, although the team went 10-3 in that span. The defense has been a constant, but the offense will need to pick up if this team plans on playing past
Regionals. The Spartans will need plenty of goals to reach the NCAA Tournament in November, and an SSC title and win over archrival Rollins will only help in the long run. Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@spartans.ut.edu.
No. 23 Men’s Soccer [9-4-1, 6-2]
No. 6 Volleyball [20-3, 9-0]
Despite playing in a very difficult conference, Tampa is in second place, behind just No. 4 Lynn. The Spartans are ahead of No. 14 Rollins in the conference even though they are behind them in the national polls. UT begins SSC Tournament play next Tuesday Oct. 30.
Tampa hit its first speed bump in October when they lost to West Florida 3-1 last Friday night. The team had won 11 straight matches prior to the loss. The women bounced back quickly, however, sweeping their next three matches. UT next hosts Rollins this Friday at 7 p.m.
18 OCTOBER 25 2012 | THE MINARET
SPORTS
Pro Sports
No NHL? No Problem With AHL Around By GRIFFIN GUINTA Contributing Writer
Fear not hockey fans. Though the upcoming NHL season hinges on the verge of collapse due to the lockout, hockey is still very much alive. If you’re searching for some high quality hockey action, look no further than the AHL. I’m sure everyone is just as amped up as I am about the American Hockey League, which recently started on October 12th. Often overshadowed by the megalomaniac NHL, the AHL is really where it’s at. First of all, does the NHL have teams with glorious names such as the Lake Erie Monsters or the Rochester Americans? Come on, nothing says hockey like a team called “the Americans.� Secondly, why would you blow a couple hundred bucks to sit in the nose-bleed seats of an NHL game when you could sit front row at a Milwaukee Admirals game for $20? My fellow sports fans, please appreciate this hidden gem of a league. Sure, there are no elite players like Marty Brodeur or Sid the Kid, but who needs them when you can watch fresh-outof-high-school kids skating around on a team called the “Monsters�? Teams to Watch: Lake Eerie Monsters After failing to qualify for the playoffs last season, look for a bounce back season from the Monsters.
This team is loaded with an unusually high amount of Canadians, which is always a vital component to a good hockey team. The Monsters are looking to bring some glory to the city of Cleveland, a city
in much need of a reputable team. Owned by notorious Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, this team is full of potential. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dan Gilbert has gone on a long twitter
With NHL players out of work, many may turn their attention to other activities.
spcbrass/Flickr.com
rant guaranteeing a championship for the Monsters this year. With LeBron gone, the Monsters can finally garner some welldeserved attention to their team. Toronto Marlies “What is a Marlie anyways?� You may be asking yourself. Sadly, it is not taken from a misspelling of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley. Their namesake is derived from the original title of the team, “Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club.� The Marlies made an appearance in the championship last year, only to lose at the hands of the Norfolk Admirals. However, you can bet that this 2012 Marlies squad is back for vengeance. Hockey gets serious in Toronto, and these fans won’t be satisfied with anything short of a contender. Norfolk Admirals You can tell this team is legit just based off of their logo. A battleship firing hockey pucks from its cannons? That’s pretty intense right there. Not only does this team seem like they would be good, they actually are. The Admirals dominated last year’s campaign and culminated their season as the Calder Cup Champions, defeating Toronto 4-0. With much of their starting lineup returning from last year, (including MVP Alexandre Picard), the Admirals are surely the team to beat in the AHL this year. Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffin. guinta@spartans.ut.edu.
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THE MINARET | OCTOBER 25 2012
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Tigers Head Into Bay Area Recharged
By MICHAEL PAONESSA Sports Writer
For the first time in both team’ long and rich history, the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants will meet in the playoffs, but this time they face each other in the 2012 Major League Baseball World Series. The Tigers, who captured the American League Central Division, winning 88 regular season games, tying with the St. Louis Cardinals for the fewest wins out of this year’s 10 playoff teams, find themselves in their second World Series in the past seven years. This is Detroit’s 11th American League championship and first since 2006. As the Tigers entered the playoffs, they faced a young but feisty Oakland Athletics squad. Detroit split the first four games, but came out victorious in the series-deciding game five to head into the American League Championship Series. The ALCS was all Detroit as they pounced and dominated their New York Yankees opponent, sweeping the best of seven series, 4-0. Detroit allowed a run to New York in only three out of 39 innings in the series while holding the Yankees bats to a dismal .157 batting average in the ALCS. Entering the World Series, the Tigers are fully rested as they have had five days off before Game One of the Series on
Wednesday night. The Tiger pitching staff have been absolutely dominant as of late, led by arguably the best pitcher in baseball Justin Verlander, who will start in the first game of the Fall Classic. We’ll see if the time off effects the pitching staff, as well as the bats. Detroit’s 2012 World Series counterpart, The San Francisco Giants, look to capture their second World Series title in the past three years. The Giants won it all in 2010, but this time, and this year, the journey to the Series has been a rocky road. Their squad lost their best offensive threat over the summer, outfielder Melky Cabrera, to a MLB performance enhancing ban that sat out of the slugger for 50 games. Cabrera was not on the playoff roster but that did not stop the Giants from shining. Down 2-0 to the Cincinnati Reds in the opening series, San Francisco won three straight elimination games on the road to advance to the National League Championship Series to face the defending World Series champion, the St. Louis Cardinals. Finding themselves in a familiar position, the Giants were faced with a 3-1 series deficit, forcing San Francisco to win three straight games, one in St. Louis, and two in San Francisco. As the resilient team captured game five on the road, the Giants headed back home
for game six. Winning game six, the Giants defeated the Cardinals 9-0 in game seven, scoring seven runs in the first three innings to advance to the World Series. The Giants’ game seven victory marked the squad’s sixth elimination game win of the playoffs, tying the all-time MLB playoff record. As the World Series kicked off this Wednesday, some matchups are poised to stand out. San Francisco’s number one pitcher Matt Cain, pitched game seven of the NLCS so he will be unavailable to pitch in game one of the Series. Watch for how the S.F. pitchers will perform facing Detroit’s lethal-threat pitcher, Justin Verlander. Another preview to keep your eyes on is Detroit’s powerful three, four combo hitters of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Cabrera, who is coming off a Triple Crown season has been roping the ball lately, as Fielder serves as deadly cleanup hitter in an ever-so-dangerous Tiger lineup. On the Giants side, pitcher Tim Lincecum who has won MLB’s Cy Young award for best pitcher in the business twice, lakelandlocal/Flickr.com takes the mound in either game one or two Justin Verlander leads the A.L. in strikeouts. of the Fall Classic. Lincecum, who has had back-to-back Series. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the final disappointing seasons, will play a crucial two teams remaining to win the best prize role early in the Series as he hopes to pick in all of baseball; a World Series Title. up a win for the Giants before heading to Prediction: Tigers in 7 Detroit for games three through five. Michael Paonessa can be reached at Fans, welcome to the 2012 World michael.paonessa@spartans.ut.edu.
Eastern Football Squads Seek Redemption By SHAWN FERRIS Sports Writer
Week 8 of the National Football League means trade deadline, contenders will begin to distance themselves, and pretenders will start to get exposed. Here’s a look at a couple interesting matchups this week has to offer. Miami Dolphins (3-3) at New York Jets (3-4) After a 1-3 start and a rough schedule to begin the season, the hapless Dolphins have turned their 2012 season around and came into their week 7 bye strong after two tough defensive battles between the Bengals and Rams they came out on the winning side of. Reggie Bush is having a solid start to his season (on pace for over 1200 yards), and wide receiver Brian Hartline is top 10 in the National Football League in yards per game (85.7). In addition, the Dolphins boast one of the stingiest defenses in the league and if rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill didn’t look the like the second coming of Ryan Leaf in the pocket, I might even give the Dolphins a chance at a wild card playoff spot in the AFC. As for the New York Jets, where do I start? This team is a mess. The Kardashian household is less dysfunctional. Quarterback Mark Sanchez leads the league in passes where his closest receiver is over 10 yards away, the sideshow circus that is Tim Tebow has become a joke, and yet, they stand just one game behind the New England Patriots (4-3) for the division lead. Here’s why: they’ve beaten a terrible Bills team, these Dolphins (in OT no less), and the Colts for their three wins. The combined score of their other four games, all losses: 103-56. They may be able to take advantage of bad teams on their schedule, but when contenders are on tap, the Jets tend to crumble.
As far as this matchup goes, I don’t see the Dolphins creating enough offense to take this one away from the Jets in the Meadowlands. Expect a close, hard fought game till the bitter end. Jets 24, Dolphins 20
New York Giants (5-2) at Dallas Cowboys (3-3) The defending Super Bowl Champion Giants certainly look formidable in 2012. After losing to the Cowboys on opening night the Giants only hiccup in six weeks
TAKE YOUR SHOT
Week 8: Can Bucs Save Their Season? Standings
John [20-10] Shawn [19-11] Jordan [16-14] Miles [16-14] Nathan [15-15] Connor [15-15] Paige [10-20] J.P. [10-20]
@ Buccaneers
Vikings
Jordan J.P.
John Shawn Miles Nathan Connor Paige
@
@
Dolphins
Jets
Redskins
Steelers
Jordan Miles Nathan Paige J.P.
John Shawn Connor
John Miles Connor
Shawn Jordan Nathan Paige J.P.
@ Colts John Shawn Miles Paige
@ Titans Jordan Nathan Connor J.P.
Saints
Broncos
Miles Connor
John Shawn Jordan Nathan Paige J.P.
The Minaret Sports Staff guess the NFL winners each week
was a last minute loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite four missed games from all-pro receiver Hakeem Nicks and injuries to running back Ahmad Bradshaw and tight end Martellus Bennett, the Giants remain an elite team in the NFL. Andre Brown filled in beautifully for Bradshaw, and Victor Cruz (50 receptions) has been salsa dancing all over cornerbacks for the second straight year. Heck, he’s having a fiesta in the secondary. Eli Manning remains one of the best if not the best clutch quarterback in the league bringing the Giants back twice already this season with last minute drives against the Buccaneers and Redskins. The Cowboys are the football equivalent to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One game they look dominant, Romo looks elite, and Dez Bryant looks like he actually cares. Then, inexplicably, Romo’s arm turns into a noodle, Dez looks like he’d rather play XBOX and disappears for an entire half and Rob Ryan just stands there and yells at NFL referees instead of scheming against tough NFL offenses. It’s truly unbelievable. The ability to find a spot in UT’s parking garage is more consistent than what the Cowboys aspire to be. Now with Demarco Murray out with a foot injury, Felix Jones—a career change-of-pace back leads the way—and that doesn’t bode well for any team that needs tough in between the tackles running like the Cowboys do. For the New York Giants, this game is all about sweet revenge. The Cowboys somehow pulled off a 24-17 victory in week 1, but I’ll attribute that to a Super Bowl hangover for the Giants. Although the Cowboys boast a top five pass defense, there is no way Nicks and Cruz don’t get loose for a few big plays after the catch that will likely demoralize Romo enough to the point he forces the ball into coverage and throws an inevitable pick six. Giants 34, Cowboys 20 Shawn Ferris can be reached at sferris@spartans.ut.edu
MINARET
Soccer Survives [17]
UT’S SOURCE SINCE 1933
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NHL Alternative [18]
UT Swimming Dives Into Season By NATHAN KROHN
Women Overcome Financial Woes
Brennan. “We just had trouble recruiting for the women this year.” Despite the lack of recruitment, the team is returning a solid core of juniors that will anchor the team. “The girls’ junior class,” Brannan said hesitating. “That is in the best three or four classes I’ve had in 34 years.” One of the leaders in that junior class is Heather Glenday, an accounting major from Babylon, New York. Swimming runs in the Glenday family and has been apart of Heather’s life for as long as she can remember. “My mom, dad, sister and brother all swim,” said Glenday. “My mom used to say the only job to have in the summer was a lifeguard, so I was always around the water.” Glenday transitioned from casual to competitive swimming in part because of her competitive persona. “I don’t want people to beat me.” Glenday said with a shoulder shrug and smirk. Her competitive spirit was never as visible or needed as it was last spring. Shortly after her stellar performance at the NCAA championships, Glenday was diagnosed with Paget-Shroetter disease, a condition that causes blood clots in the
deep veins in the arms and manifests from vigorous activity, in her case, swimming. Glenday spent 10 days in the hospital after having her right rib removed and vein reconstructed. “Every day people, coaches and teammates came to visit,” Glenday said. “We have a real family team.” As a result of her disease, Glenday spent most of the offseason getting back to athletic condition. “She’s the most intense swimmer on the team,” said Lauren Richey, a sophomore on the team. “She’s a great swimmer, and what she went through. She’s unbelievable.” Richey, an English major from Arlington, Texas, feels the team can make it back to nationals this season. “Some of our captains left last season but our times are getting better,” she said. “It’ll be tough be we can do it.” While Richey feels she and the program as a whole have been improving, the amount of scholarships the swim team has is preventing them from taking the next leap forward. “We have barely any scholarships,” said Richey. “Nova [Southeastern] has great funding and they usually beat us. If we had more funding we would be more
successful.” The team consensus seemed to agree with Richey. “Swimming is objective,” Brennan said looking through his sunglasses at the pool. “It’s obvious who is good by the times. We can’t afford people with sometimes.” Brennan feels with the continued underfunding it will become increasingly difficult to remain competitive in what he says is one of, if not the most competitive division II conference in the nation. “We have to be sort of homegrown,” Brennan said with a smile. “We have to develop talent rather than buy talent.” To counteract the lack of funding, Brennan and his staff recruit honor roll students like Richey and Glenday, which helps them offset the price of tuition with academic scholarships. Glenday acknowledged that the swim team has nearly 60 members, making it expensive to purchase gear and have adequate scholarships for so many athletes but still feels the team gets short changed. “A lot of the swimmers swim because they love the sport, not because of the scholarship,” Glenday said. “Which is cool, but we have to buy sweat pants and other equipment out of pocket.” Despite the funding issue, Brennan wanted to be clear that they don’t let it get to them. “We just keep trying to improve on past performances,” said Brennan. “We don’t try and make that an excuse for ourselves.” They women didn’t need an excuse Friday as they won their season opener against Florida Southern College 138-124. The team next races at home on Sat., Oct. 27 against Lynn University. Nathan Krohn can be reached at nathan. krohn@spartans.ut.edu.
By PAIGE SHALLCROSS
the head coach at UT for over 30 years never has a set of expectations for each season. He goes into each year looking to help the team grow, develop and improve overall. “We always say around here, ‘If you do it the same, expect the same results’ and we are always looking for better results so we are always changing things around,” said Brennan. “A few nights ago, we had a girl inducted into the UT Hall of Fame and she started talking about some of Norbert Kovacs the training we did 25 years ago and I thought to myself ‘Oh we got to try that again!’ So it’s always evolving.” Knowing that this is their last year of swimming for UT, Humphrey and Doran have enjoyed the time they have spent and the atmosphere offered in this program. “The culture of swimming here is really unique,” said Humphrey. “Being this close to so many different people has made it
a stable college experience not just in swimming but also in schoolwork. We all help each other out.” With their success over the years and knowing that there is always room for improvement, it is no surprise that Coach Brennan is doing a few things different this year. “I have four terrific assistants who put a lot of input into the program,” Brennan said. “One thing we are doing a little different this year is we are doing a lot more strength training just to help the swimmers be able to get to where they want to be in the water.” Friday, Oct. 19, the UT swim team season officially kicked off with a meet against Florida Southern. The Spartans won both relays, including the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 free Relay, along with individual winners Jeremy Parker in the 200 Free, Karl Burdis in the 100 back, Khalid Albadoos in the 50 free and Humphrey in the 100 Free. The Spartans eventually lost the match though, 148-114. The Spartan team looks to continue their success on Oct. 27 against Lynn University. Paige Shallcross can be reached at paige.shallcross@spartans.ut.edu.
Sports Writer
The water splashed out of the pool and onto the cement under the palm trees. An endless stream of swimmers took lap after lap with their yellow University of Tampa swim caps sticking out of the water. Swimmers waiting for their turn in the water, relaxed under the constructed white cabanas in the dead heat of the afternoon. Other than the yell of an occasional coach’s instruction, the pool was a calm quiet last Friday afternoon as fans began filing in for the first meet of the season. “I want to hold off on expectations right now,” swim head coach Ed Brennan said with a smile. “We’ve got a great group but I won’t know where we’re at until December.” Brennan remained coy about what he expects from his women’s swim team this season, despite placing fourth in the NCAA championships last season, their best finish in 24 years. “On paper, the men are better and the women will need to improve,” said Brennan. “We didn’t have great recruitment on the women’s side.” The team has only five incoming recruits on the women’s squad, opposed to 14 for the men. “We generally would like
2012 Swimming: At a Glance Who To Watch
to have an even 12 for both sides,” said
Norbert Kovacs Senior
• 2011 Second-team All-SSC • Two-time SSC Swimmer of the Week • 2010 Transfer: University of Tennessee
Heather Glenday Junior • 2011 First-team All-SSC • 2011 MVP SSC Championships • 2011 All-American
In The Distance October 27
UT vs. Lynn Tampa, Fla.
Leah Beilhart/The Minaret Women’s swimming won their first meet of the 2012 campaign, 138-124 over Florida Southern.
Men’s Swimming: A Senior Showcase
Sports Writer
David Humphrey, senior swimmer on the Tampa men’s swim team, will not be relying on any more rain dances before each meet. This year the swim team, along with Humphrey and other senior swimmer Kevin Doran, has high expectations that this season will be a specifically good one, without the use of Humphrey’s formerly used ritual. “I was here over the summer and I was with the coaches a lot and spending a lot of time in the pool so I saw this year coming together before, I would say, the other swimmers saw it,” said Humphrey. “I think this is our best chance to do really well at Nationals and win a couple national titles even. Humphrey is not the only one on the team with high expectations for this year. Fellow senior swimmer Doran also has some pretty high expectations set. “To win of course!”said Doran. “I mean to win the conference at least and then get as many people to NCAAs as possible.” One thing that separates the swim team from any other sport at UT is their philosophy. Coach Brennan who has been