Minaret Graduation Magazine

MINARET GRADUATION EDITION

Keratin

Could contain Formaldehyde, linked to cancer

Latisse

Could permanently discolor eyes

Spray Tan

Could cause genetic alterations and DNA damage

Gel Nails

UV Radiation could lead to skin cancer

BEAUTY

BEWARE

Some cosmetic treatments may be harmful to your health

MOLLY ISN’T AS INNOCENT AS SHE SOUNDS MOLLY References to Molly in hip-hop lyrics – such as Kanye West’s in “Mercy” (“Something about Mary, she gone off that Molly”) and those of 2 Chainz in “Beez in the Trap” (“Got your girl on Molly and we smoking loud and drinking”) – leaves listeners wondering who or what she is.

The moniker Molly was intended to refer to capsules of MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

However, a wide range of white powder-filled capsules containing any variety of substances are being marketed with the same name.

“It’s a brand name that doesn’t really mean anything,” says Dr. Susan Smolinske, director of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center.

“You don’t know what you’re taking and it’s probably not what you think it is.” Testing on Molly capsules this year from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Miami and Boston found that Molly did not contain MDMA at all, but methylone — an active ingredient in the recently publicized bath salts. Some capsules contained nothing more than caffeine. Some who use and market Molly claim it’s safer because they believe it is

MDMA a purer form of ecstasy.

However, there is chemically no difference in what both Molly and ecstasy intend to be: pure MDMA. Unfortunately for Molly users, it seems that Molly has developed the same problem ecstasy did – being combined, or even replaced, with other chemicals.

Previously known as a nightclub drug, MDMA heightens one’s senses. It also causes increased feelings of intimacy with others, elation and less anxiety, all with a slight boost in energy, hence the draw. Across the country, older adolescents and collegeaged kids are the most frequent users of Molly. Molly has made its way through different urban and suburban neighborhoods.

*Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), popularly known as ecstasy, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that has similarities to both the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. It produces feelings of increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth and empathy toward others, and distortions in sensory and time perception.

MDMA was initially popular among White adolescents and young adults in the nightclub scene or at “raves” (long dance parties), but the drug now affects a broader range of users and ethnicities. MDMA is taken orally, usually as a capsule or tablet. Its effects last approximately 3 to 6 hours, although it is not uncommon for users to take a second dose of the drug as the effects of the first dose begin to fade. It is commonly taken in combination with other drugs. The surge of serotonin caused by taking MDMA depletes the brain of this important chemical, however, causing negative aftereffects—including confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and anxiety—that may occur soon after taking the drug or during the days or even weeks thereafter. Some heavy MDMA users experience long-lasting confusion, depression, sleep abnormalities, and problems with attention and memory, although it is possible that some of these effects may be due to the use of other drugs in combination with MDMA (especially marijuana).

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MINARET

ISSUE 79.23 | GRADUATION EDITION | MAY 2013 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR FACULTY ADVISER NEWS & FEATURES ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OPINION SPORTS

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR ADVERTISING & PR DIRECTOR WEB DIRECTOR HEAD COPY EDITOR

Joshua Napier Chelsea Daubar Jessica Keesee Dr. Daniel Reimold Mia Glatter Yasaman Sherbaf Natalie Hicks Kelly St.Onge Paola Crespo Annabella Palopoli John Hilsenroth Miles Parks Samantha Battersby Shivani Kanji Jennifer Bedell Nikita Hernandez

OFFICE

Phone - 813.257.3636 Editor - 813.257.3462 Managing Editor - 813. 258.7250

WRITERS

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JOSHUA NAPIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Photo by Samantha Battersby

When I sat down to write this final editorial, I asked myself if I had spent my time at UT wisely working for The Minaret for so long.

Three years in this ill-lit office, an ongoing caffeine immunity and irregular sleeping habits developed over the course of hundreds of late nights made me think twice . . . But having this unique perspective, I realized I was asking the wrong question. So I rephrase: Has UT spent its time wisely?

I’ve had the privilege of watching each sector of this university grow through our coverage, from winning state championships to feeding the homeless in Gaslight Park. I’ve seen students embrace one another during times of tragedy, and celebrate -- to excess at times -- a job well done. I’m truly honored to be a part of UT’s ongoing success, and can confidently say UT is indeed spending its time wisely.

This Graduation Edition of The Minaret Magazine caters to UT’s senior class, including interviews with graduating campus leaders and insightful information regarding common commencement-style cosmetic treatments.

Cheers, to the Spartans who have spent their time well -- congratulations. You’ve made it.

CONTENTS 6 LESSONS LEARNED:

GRADUATING SENIORS PASS ON WORDS OF WISDOM

8 LEAVING A LEGACY:

UT ORGANIZATION LEADERS REFLECT ON THE PAST AND LOOK FORWARD

12 BEAUTY BEWARE -

SOME COSMETIC

TREATMENTS COULD BE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH

15 COMMENCEMENT BEAT 16 SPARTANS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS

18 SENIOR GOODBYES 20 I WISH I WOULD HAVE... -

SENIORS SHARE THEIR REGRETS

22 A LETTER FROM SG VP CHANEL VANZANT

23 ADVICE FROM SENIORS TO FRESHMAN

24 WHAT I WANT TO DO BEFORE I GRADUATE - AN UPCOMING SENIOR’S TO DO LIST

26 SHOULD I STAY? SHOULD I GO?

28 SPARTAN SWAG - A LOOK

BACK AT TAMPA BASEBALL’S FIVE NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Graduating SENiors Pass on words of wisdom Written By Chelsea Daubar

w

e go to college to further

our learning experience. We pick

a major, we go to class, and we learn so we can find a job and use

those skills that we learned in the real world. But what no one ever

told us was that we were going

to learn outside of the classroom too. We have experiences and

we make mistakes and through

those mistakes, we learn about ourselves and about life.

As the

class of 2013 prepares for their walk

across the commencement stage, a few have shared the lessons they have learned in college that

“Sometimes we like to stay in our comfort zone, but you have to get out there and meet new people.”

Alfonso Heredia Biology With Pre-Professional Concentration

weren’t printed in the textbooks.

B

rooke Holland is a senior

and will be graduating in May with

a degree in biology with a preprofessional concentration.

biology

pre-professional

major.

When she got to each class, and it came time to introduce herself, her

response

was

the

same.

“I’d say ‘Hi, I’m Brooke. I moved

Since

here from the Netherlands and

doctor. She was originally interested

day be a doctor,’” Holland said.

the age of 15, Holland wanted to be a

in obstetrics, and when she was

I’m a Biology major who will one

Her introduction stayed the same

15, she got to witness a child birth.

for the remainder of her freshman

I have ever seen,” she said. “[It]

junior year came around the corner,

“It was the most amazing thing

helped to solidify my dream of going to college for biology, heading to med school, and becoming a doctor.”

Holland arrived at UT as a

freshman in August of 2009 as a

“The little things in life, especially the things you do in college, that you may not think have a big impact on your life, do actually in the end.”

Kyle Beausoleil Criminology

year and into her sophomore year. As

Holland found herself meeting and

interacting with her professors and realizing that a biology degree had

a lot to offer, career wise, outside of being a doctor.

Time went on

“Persevere and accept change. If something comes your way, just take it.

You’re in college right now, that is when you are supposed to do all your crazy things and learn your life lessons.”

Jana Huebner Marine Biology

and it became pertinent for Holland

aren’t happy with the way your

wanted

your present looks, sit down and

to decide exactly what it was she

A

to

fter

debating, wouldn’t

it

do

after

a

few

go

was

to

graduation.

months

decided.

medical

of

She

school,

she wouldn’t be a doctor, but she would go into research instead.

“I

felt

relief

having

finally

about

telling

made up my mind, but I also felt extremely

anxious

my parents, relatives, and friends who had all heard and talked

about, for years, how I would one day be a doctor,” Holland said.

She wrote her parents a letter

explaining

her

decision. At

the

time they were living in Singapore and

Much

couldn’t to

just

call

Holland’s

to

chat.

surprise,

future looks, or even with the way

system to remember names. While

figure out what needs to be different.

emotional as other life lessons,

It won’t change within minutes, hours, or even days, but once you

start thinking about change one day you’ll wake up and realize you are

right where you are meant to be.”

“It’s

okay

D

avid

your

Wistocki

is

also

graduating in May and will be earning a degree in Accounting and Entrepreneurship.

When

thinking

back on his college experience, Wistocki

had

three

lessons

to

share with his fellow UT students.

His

first

lasting impression, but also creates an to

impact

“There

their

a

on

is

the

nothing

person’s

own

relationship.

name,”

ears

sweeter

he

than

said.

Wistocki’s final lesson is his

most

personal:

internal

listen

compass.

He

to

your

believes

that everyone owes it to their life’s satisfaction to take the time to listen

to themselves. Wistocki realized that someone who is close to you can have a large impact on your outlook.

“Had

I

taken

the

time

to

undoubtedly be further in the pursuit

believes

to

someone’s name not only leaves a

and creating a likeability factor,

Through

is

Wistocki believes that remembering

understand myself rather than letting

Wistocki

lesson

this may not be as life altering or

listen

Holland realizes that it was the right

Holland will be moving to Scotland

change

the seriousness of the decision.”

intently.

move to make. After graduation,

to

mind,” Holland said. “No matter

they were fine with her choice.

Looking back on her choices,

His second lesson is to create a

networking

that

success

stems from taking the time to

another dictate my thoughts, I would of my life’s ultimate purpose,” he said.

Wistocki believes that everyone

listen intensely and respond fully.

needs to find the point in their life

in Biomedical Sciences. She plans

at UT forgetting to listen,” Wistocki

the most energy with minimal effort.”

and then possibly moving on to

have no doubt I would have been

determine how to attain our own

if I had taken the time to slow down

a life full of long-term happiness,” he

to earn her Masters of Research on working in a lab for some time teaching Her

at

a

message

collegiate to

those

level.

still

wondering what they want to do

after they graduate is this: “If you

“I spent much of my first few years

said. “Had I decided to do so, I further along in my career and life

and listen to not only the voices around me but the voice within me.”

“The world tends to have this mentality where one individual or a small group of people can’t make a difference in the world. The University [of Tampa] that that is not the case and that just one person can really make a difference.”

Angel Chinea Biology With Pre-Professional Concentration

where they notice themselves “with

“Only at that point which we

personal satisfaction will we live out

said. “No one will ever be able to tell

you what you should do with your life.

“You have to find a balance between being self-reliant and depending on others. You have to just break outside of your comfort zone and ask for help when you really truly do need it.”

Joshua D’Amico Accounting THE MINARET | PAGE 7

Leaving a legacy UT Organization leaders reflect on the past and look forward Written by Jessica Keesee

Ryan Day sits in the Student

Productions office with a few other SP

officers. You can hear them laughing all the way down by the PEACE office on the second floor of Vaughn. For Day,

these people are like his extended family.

For four years he has worked with

them, planning events like Casino

Night and Campus MovieFest, hosting

comedians and musicians, and preparing the annual Party in the Park concert.

For two years he’s led them, through

high student praise and harsh criticism, the latter surrounding Party in the Park headliner 3OH!3. But in a matter of

weeks, Day will be stepping down. On

May 11, walking with the senior class at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Day will

graduate from the University of Tampa, leaving SP behind him.

and closer, it’s having to say good bye

to everybody and these people who I’ve gotten to know for the last four years

and not really sure of when our paths are gonna cross again,” Day said.

Day is one of many student leaders

on campus who will graduate in the

next few weeks. Matthew Rutkovitz will leave office as Student Government

inspire career paths.

When Day, 21, was a freshman, he was

introduced to SP by his sister Sophie Day,

who at the time was the stage shows chair.

He was just helping her to begin with. He

didn’t take on a larger role and at the time, wasn’t doing well in his classes.

“It was my freshman year,” Day said. “I

president, with Patrick “PK” Creedon,

was just in college, skipping classes, had

2014 academic year. Jessica McCarron

really have a good time management

a junior, taking his place for the 2013-

is preparing for her departure from the College Democrats after serving three years as president. Spartan Scarlet

changed my major a few times and didn’t system, wasn’t really good at staying on top of tasks. I just wasn’t really organized.”

That all changed when Day became

Team Captain Jordan Maltese looks

the stage shows chair of SP his sophomore

leave a team she danced with for her

“immediate change” in the communications

forward to graduation, but is sad to four years at the university.

For each of these students, their

“I guess the only thing I’ve been

organizations have proved to be more

real issue is now that it’s getting closer

place of comfort among friends and a

avoiding thinking about and the only

stimulus for growth, even helping to

than an extracurricular, but rather a

year. The new responsibility sparked an

major. Soon, he found himself much more

organized and able to stay on top of tasks.

“It seems like the more responsibility

I’ve taken in organizations, the more

organized it’s forced me to become, which

Pictured: Ryan Day

has ultimately led to more success on campus as a whole.”

He credits SP for helping him get

through his four years at the university and

education in a two-year program, “following the Student Production’s route,” as Day put it.

Once he’s done, he hopes to return

for the success he has achieved.

to UT and take on a staff role, eventually

you make have such a large impact but I’ve

moving up in his career.

“It’s also stressful because the decisions

really enjoyed it just cause it has helped

going to get his doctorate with the hopes of “ My ultimate plan is to come back

“I’m bringing a little marine bio to

Missouri,” Maltese laughed.

Her departure from the Spartan

Scarlets won’t be the end of her dance

career, however. She has a second job

lined up to coach dance at her former high school in Missouri, Seckman High.

Maltese won’t just be leaving the

me kind of develop as a leader,” Day said. “

and do something like the people who

Spartan Scarlets; she’s also involved with

Students get mad at some things and

development,” Day said. “But I’d like to

Environment Protection Coalition and

It’s been crazy. We’ve had ups and downs. excited at others. But that’s kind of the fun of it, ... getting to see how that works.”

Day was approached by then SP

work in OSLE, specifically with leadership work on a college campus for the rest of my life.”

The Spartan Scarlets similarly

Alpha Chi Omega, Beta Beta Beta, the PEACE. She works in the admissions department as a tour guide too.

“ I definitely think being well-rounded

advisor Jenn Powell at the end of the

influenced 22-year-old Team Captain

is ... something you need when you come

He was reluctant at first, instead wanting

who has danced since she was two. Before

the University of Tampa because a lot of

school year about applying for president. to test his abilities as vice president. She

convinced him, however, and he’s been SP president for two years. The position has

Jordan Maltese, a marine biology major

becoming team captain, Maltese previously choreographed for the team.

The senior already has a job set up at

to college, especially when you come to people come here and they don’t know anybody,” Maltese said.

Although being involved in so many

even inspired Day’s future goals. He’ll be

home in St. Louis, Missouri, working for

organizations is time consuming for

for grad school where he will study higher

technician.

dance practice with the Spartan Scarlets,

attending the University of South Carolina

Tyson Research Center as an aquatic field

Maltese, who devotes five hours a week for

THE MINARET | PAGE 9

of programming position after losing the election for vice president of the

UT Entrepreneurs. He later went on to

run with Alison “McKay” Ellis for the SG presidential ticket.

“If I didn’t lose the election sophomore

year, I would have never become president,” Rutkovitz said.

Being SG president has been an

integral part of Rutkovitz’s time at UT, who ran for office to “better the campus.”

“I’m a huge fan of constant, never-

ending improvement,” Rutkovitz said. “

And I love helping others and working with other people and dealing with students. ... she wouldn’t have it any other way, calling the experience “incredible.”

“It’s really really sad because... I’ve

seen it really grown,” Maltese said. “It’s sad because this is our first year going to the national competition.”

The Spartan Scarlets placed second in

competitions against college teams but nothing like nationally recognized so I

When there’s issues that arise, I hate when

people just look and complain about an

definitely think having the qualities ...

issue. I’m a big fan of problem-solving.”

second in our division was definitely an

ups and downs throughout the semester

to lead a team to nationals and getting incredible feeling,” Maltese said.

Leading an organization has also

Rutkovitz said the position has had its

but found his involvement made him stronger as a person and a leader.

“It’s been so important and I stress

their division in the National Dance Alliance

been a big part of 21-year-old SG

a success she believes the team will

UT. The entrepreneurship major didn’t

experience,” Rutkovitz said. “You can’t pay

year and eventually ran for the director

outside of the classroom and Student

competition under Maltese’s leadership, continue on with even after she leaves.

“We’ve gone to smaller dance

Pictured: Jessica McCarron (top), Matt Rutkovitz (bottom), Jordan Maltese (right).

President Matthew Rutkovitz’s time at

this a lot, I talk about the out-of-classroom

get involved with SG till his sophomore

for that. You can’t pay for what you learn

Government, the amount I’ve learned

personally from everybody else on this campus, has been tremendous.”

Rutkovitz plans on getting a sales

position with his entrepreneurship major

once he graduates from UT, with the hope of eventually starting his own business in the next two to five years.

Jessica McCarron, 22 and a

government and world affairs major, is also on the SG cabinet as the director of public relations. The senior, who is

also a Pathways mentor, sought out the College Democrats her freshman year.

She was surprised when asked by the organization’s president to apply for

president the following academic year,

McCarron’s sophomore year. She has held the position for three years now.

“It really helped me kind of figure out

who I am and what I want to do with my

life because I came here, I knew I wanted to join the college Dems, I knew I was excited about politics, but I didn’t think it would be such a big part of my life,” McCarron said. Becoming president,

McCarron said, was “one of the greatest decisions [she’s] made.”

With the College Democrats, McCarron

has worked on campaigns and issue work.

The organization supported President Obama’s agenda and helped register

students to vote during election time, with its goal being to “educate students about issues.”

Her time as president has opened up

internship opportunities, one at Mayor

Bob Buckhorn’s office and the other at the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence. In the fall, she even

worked on the Obama campaign at the state headquarters in Tampa.

Although still looking at her options for

after graduation, McCarron is interested

in working in public affairs or government

relations. She’s also eager to work on campaigns.

“Campaigning is very exciting, it’s a

big part of what we do in College Dems,

camaraderie among the board, especially for my two years as president,”

Day said.

“I’ll miss working with all the students

so it’s definitely a possibility for me,”

on campus and taking their opinions and

Though these student leaders are

with them,” Rutkovitz said. “I love dealing

McCarron said.

running with it and trying to do something

excited for life after college, leaving the

with people so I think I’ll miss saying hi to

making their graduation bittersweet.

morning, walking in and out of class.”

seniors have developed bonds with their

these seniors plan on returning to UT

making their departures from UT tough.

“I’m definitely going to come back

organizations they have spent years with is Through each organization, these

fellow officers and members that are

“My favorite part and definitely the

most rewarding aspect has been the

everybody walking to the cafeteria every They may be graduating, but

in the future.

and give both my time and money once I graduate,” Rutkovitz said.

THE MINARET | PAGE 11

Some cosmetic treatments may be harmful to your health Written by Natalie Hicks and Jessica Keesee Girls across the country will hit the tanning beds, nail salons and hair salons for the next month in preparation for their senior proms. Parents cannot capture photos and memories without their daughter having perfectly bronzed skin, a French manicure and a hair blow-out. However, this beauty ritual is not just designated for high school teenagers. Many college students partake in time-consuming and expensive beauty regimens in order to prepare for graduation.

The thought of walking across the stage with unpainted fingernails and pale skin THE MINARET | PAGE 12

sends shivers down their spines, because looking their best on this important day is a symbol of their preparation for moving onto the next big stage in their lives. Not only do these beauty treatments cost a lot of money, but some studies have shown that they can also have harmful effects on the body.

Latisse, a treatment created by Allergan, the same company that created Botox, is a popular eyelash growth treatment among several other similar treatments available on the market. Although, Latisse is the first and only eyelash growth treatment currently

approved by the FDA. In one of Latisse’s commercials, actress Brooke Shields slowly bats her full, thick set of lashes at the camera, bright eyes glowing, in hopes of convincing women that they too can have lashes like Shields’.

However, the advertisement quickly brushes over the medical information Latisse is required to mention. Their website states, “Latisse may cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent. Eyelid skin darkening may occur and may be

reversible.” The keyword is “may.” There is no guarantee that after using this product, your eye color or skin color surrounding your eye will go back to its normal state. This side effect could be especially damaging for consumers with blue, green or hazel eyes.

Back in 2009, Latisse made national newspaper headlines for misleading consumers by minimizing their product’s side effects. The fact that there is a chance it could permanently create more brown pigment in light-colored eyes stirred debates on online beauty forums. NBC News reported, “Doctors, however, say this side effect is associated exclusively with dropping medication directly into the eye as opposed to painting it along the upper lash line. And that’s extremely rare.”

“Knowing that those are the side effects, I don’t think I would ever use [Latisse],” said Lianne McCarthy, a sophomore allied health major. “I can see that some people would buy it to make their eyes more attractive with longer lashes, but it seems counteractive if you are also getting darkened skin, itchy red eyes and changing your eye color as well.”

Many women go through a lot of effort with products like Latisse to enhance their eyes, because, after all, the eyes are the windows to the soul. But hair is also a major part of a woman’s identity.

The keratin hair treatment, otherwise known as the Brazilian hair treatment, has become popular in recent years. According to Total Beauty, the mixture of formaldehyde and keratin chemicals has the ability to straighten, smooth, defrizz and shine hair for about three to six months, depending on individual hair type. It can even withstand

extreme humidity, and it makes it easier to style hair with a curling iron or straightener.

After four hours in the salon and at least $150 later, anyone can have this treatment done to their hair. But at what health cost?

The main ingredient, formaldehyde, has been linked to some types of cancer such as leukemia, but this chemical is what actually makes the hair smooth and shiny and therefore a necessity for the keratin treatment. However, some stylists argue that the treatment is still safe for humans as long as salons use proper protection and ventilation while treating the hair, but there is not really a way to know for sure.

Also, some salons falsely label bottles as “formaldehyde-free” when in fact they do contain traces of the chemical. Just make sure to do some research before heading to the beauty parlor and to stay clear of the keratin treatment if you have an allergy to formaldehyde or formalin.

Niche Salon in Tampa does not use formaldehyde in their keratin hair treatment.

“The formaldehyde is what makes the straightening last a really long time and actually changes the complex of the hair, but our treatment still lasts several months even without it, and there are no longer any risks,” hairstylist Jennifer said.

Customers used to have to wait at least three days before washing their hair or pulling it back with an elastic band or hair clips after getting the keratin treatment, but Jennifer also mentioned that is no longer necessary. Now, you could put your hair up into a ponytail right after getting the treatment done.

If the idea of getting the keratin hair

treatment still makes you nervous, then using a straightening iron is always a more trustworthy alternative if sprayed with a heat protectant beforehand.

Gel manicures have also become popular as an alternative to the standard polish manicure for their lasting wear. On average, gel manicures last two weeks or more, convenient for the woman with little time or money for regular trips to the nail salon.

Despite their appeal, gel manicures may run the risk of cancer according to a statement released by The Skin Cancer Foundation.The gel manicure treatment uses UV radiation-emitting lamps to cure the polish after each coat, sealing it in for the lasting effect. These lights are similar to those used in tanning beds, but weaker with less exposure. Although the risk of cancer is minimal with a gel manicure UV light, “it’s not insignificant,” and “greatest for squamous cell carcinoma (SSC), the second most common skin cancer,” according to The Skin Cancer Association.

“An estimated 700,000 cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the US, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths,” said Elizabeth K. Hale, vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation, in the statement. “SCC is mainly caused by chronic UV exposure and is very common on the hands and around the fingernails.”

According to Susan Taylor, a dermatologist and clinical researcher, UV lights aren’t the only component of gel manicures that make them harmful. In her blog on huffingtonpost.com, some gel manicures contain the chemicals methyl

acrylate and/or butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA). The former can cause the skin to break out in a rash, called dermatitis, while BHA is considered carcinogenic (cancercausing).

To remove a gel manicure, you must soak your nails in acetone, anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, a process that can dry out the nails, leaving them brittle and peely.

To protect your hands under the UV lamp, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 on your hands to protect from UV radiation.

There are alternatives, however. Can’t live without your gel manicure? Go to a salon that uses LED light lamps rather than UV light. LED lights don’t carry the risk of skin cancer and are the safer route to the glossy manicure.

There are also nail strips like Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips, which last up to 10 days. They offer a wide variety of designs and patterns. If used with Seche Vite, a quick-dry high-gloss top coat, nail strips can last a solid two weeks with minor to no chipping, similar to a gel manicure but without the light. Not only are nail strips cheaper, but they are easier and quicker to apply in the comfort your own

home.

Unlike gel nails, tanning beds instantly come to mind when harmful UV radiation comes up. Spray tans have often been considered a safer alternative to sunbathing and tanning beds since they bypass the exposure to UV rays. However, the orangey glow may not be so safe.

Spray tans contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which “has the potential to cause genetic alterations and DNA damage, according to a panel of medical experts who reviewed 10 of the most-current publicly available scientific studies on DHA,” as reported by ABC News.

The studies did not use human test subjects, “but some found DHA altered genes of multiple types of cells and organisms when tested in different labs by different scientists after the chemical was approved for use in the consumer market,” also reported by ABC News.

ABC news interviewed Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, who said, “These compounds, in some cells, could actually promote the development of cancers of malignancies. And if that’s the case then we

need to be wary of them.”

Inhalation of DHA worries experts, who think that lung cancer is a possible risk.

External use of DHA, as used in tanning lotions, is FDA-approved, but as ABC News reported, spray-on tans are not.

Anthony Pettenon, a freshman communication major, regularly tans, switching between tanning beds, spray tans and sunbathing.

“Tanning beds aren’t good for you, but if you want to be tan and look nice, I mean, yeah, there’s a lot of risks with them, which when you go into it you should know that they’re bad for you,” Pettenon said. “Spraying is faster and healthier, as you would say, but I know they’re starting to say that’s even bad for you too because [of the] chemicals you could breathe in.”

To avoid harmful UV rays and inhalation of DHA while still getting a golden glow for graduation, opt for a tanning lotion like Jergens Natural Glow or St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse.

These beauty rituals may be harmful, but there are safer alternatives. It is possible to get a perfect tan and glossy, straight locks for your college graduation without risking your health.

Written by Jordan Walsh The Starting Line “The Best Of Me” Classic early 2000s pop-punk melodies in this song provide the perfect dosage of nostalgia, and the constant refrain of “we got older, but we’re still young” will have you tearing up come commencement.

The Gaslight Anthem “45”

“Turn the record over!” There’s still so much in life that lies ahead of you. Get excited about it!

This energetic track inspired by Springsteen will definitely help.

Fall Out Boy “The Phoenix”

So you’re starting a whole new life with a big boy job, why not take this chance to reinvent yourself just like Fall Out Boy did in this song from their latest album “Save Rock and Roll”?

The Wonder Years “My Last Semester” For those of you who think you might miss your glory days in college, remember that it wasn’t all good. The best years are still to come. Give thanks to your college memories and look toward an even brighter future.

Jimmy Eat World “Futures” “I always believed in futures…” Well, the future starts now. Figure out what you want and don’t be afraid to go for it.

25 YEARS

IMAGINE

YOU

summer

theater

intensives

MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS

• A Straz Musical Revue June 17-28

• Little Shop of Horrors July 1-20 SHAKESPEARE INTENSIVE

• The Tempest July 22 – Aug. 9 Placement is by audition only.

Live auditons are preferred but students can submit an audition via YouTube. Email pateltheater@strazcenter.org for additional placement information.

DORMITORY OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

patelconservatory.org 813.222.1002 THE MINARET | PAGE 15

Mother and Son Attend UT at the Same Time Written by Kelly St.Onge

Heather Stepro, a 38-year-old history major, is a senior.

She has light brown hair that touches the top of her shoulders and she has a full-time job. Her son, 19-year-old English major Joseph [Giuseppe] Stepro, is a freshman. They are both students at the University of Tampa.

Stepro said going to school at the same time as her son and at the same university hasn’t been odd for her. “It’s not weird, but it’s different,” she said. “Having a son that’s [in] college for one and having some of the same circles overlap, not necessarily classes, but people in classes or experiences with classes.” She said they both do their own things on campus and their paths cross when they cross.

Giuseppe had a similar opinion about attending the university at the same time as his mom. He said some people might find that situation awkward, but not him. “That’s silly,

like, I’m not embarrassed to be seen with my parents,” he said.

Stepro said the nice thing about going to school at the same time as her son is having someone to turn to for help.

“Well he’s always been so smart that the ‘helping mom,’ as far as academics, is long gone. He is always well ahead all his peers in school, and [was] doing math in grade school that I can’t do,” she said.

“College algebra was pretty tough only because it had been years since I did college algebra,” Stepro said. She said Giuseppe helped her with that class too. Her classes overall haven’t been hard as far as difficulty, but time consumption.

“The reading loads have made it hard,” she said.

Giuseppe said he’s proud his mom made the decision to go back to school. “It’s kind of a big deal right?” he said.

“Even though she doesn’t know what she’s going to do with her degree when she’s done, good for her for getting one after so long.”

Stepro said she’s glad she waited to go back to school.

“When I graduated from high school in ‘92 [1992] I wasn’t ready for college, but my dad had other ideas,” she explained.

“He decided if I didn’t go to college I would be wasting my life, so he forced me to go to USF,” she said. Stepro said that her father refused to pay for additional classes when she failed her first semester.

Spencer Segalla, assistant professor of history, said it’s clear that Stepro wants to be in the classroom. “[She] not only has capable skills, but [she] does the work and participates actively in class,” he said. Segalla explained there are times he makes references to life experiences as a parent, and younger students can’t relate to those experiences. “It’s nice to have some people in the room who have children, you know, at least they understand where I’m coming from,” he said.

Stepro said she didn’t go back to school sooner because she didn’t have the time and when she did, she didn’t have the money or vice versa. “You know you get married and life happens and Giuseppe was small and I didn’t want to leave him at home while I was at school,” she said.

Stepro goes to class, goes to work and goes home. She doesn’t have a lot of time for campus events. “I don’t join the student activities because I feel like ‘I could be your mom’ when I sit next to all these kids. It makes me feel old.”

Stepro’s son, however, isn’t the only family member on campus. Her husband works here too. Even though her husband is employed on campus and some of her professors know him, it hasn’t impacted her learning experience. She said her instructors don’t treat her any differently if they know him.

Kathryn VanSpanckeren, professor of English and writing, said she noticed Giuseppe’s last name and that’s how she knew his father worked at UT. She said he is seems to be quite smart. “I can tell he likes to be challenged,” she said.

She said Giuseppe is writing about Ezra Pound for his final paper, and Pound can be a bit hard to grasp at times. “He doesn’t talk much in class, but when he does, he is very articulate,” she said.

Stepro also feels sympathy for Giuseppe because both of his parents are on campus with him. “Sometimes I feel bad for him being here at UT because he’s always under somebody else’s shadow,” she said. “I think that’s part of the reason he stays away from the history classes,” she said.

Stepro tries not to cross paths with him when she can.

Terry Parssinen, professor of history, said he has known Stepro for a long time and invited her son to his class’s field trip to the Dali Museum this semester. “Heather always reads the material and often leads the classroom discussion,” Parssinen said. “Her insight into the material is informed, not only by her intellect but also by her ‘real world’ experience, including that of being a mother to a very bright college student. I have known Giuseppe since he was a boy and have followed his development through school by staying in touch with both his mother and his father.”

Stepro said Giuseppe was going to take a history class,

but it ended up being the same class she was enrolled in. She said she was going to drop the course so he could take it, but he decided to let her take it instead. “I’m not taking any sort of literature-based class with him [Giuseppe] whatsoever,” she said. “I don’t want to be compared to him.”

Outside campus Stepro and Giuseppe get together on Sundays. They watch “Walking Dead” together and can’t wait for the next season. “He got me started on it, because normally I’m like ‘zombies, no thank you.’ He sat me down and said ‘watch mom,’” Stepro said. She said that’s one thing they can agree to like without having to read into to it too deep.

22-year-old, Dec. 2012 history alumna, Sara Winter, said Stepro was fun to hang with. “She’s older than the rest of the undergraduate students, but you would never know it because she’s really outgoing and has a very sarcastic sense of humor,” Winter said. She said she used to wait sometimes with Stepro outside her son’s class. She said Giuseppe seemed pretty smart from what Stepro told her and the few times she met him.

Despite all his mother’s bragging, Giuseppe said she is more tech-savvy than he is. “I know she uses a laptop in her classes, but I don’t. I hate typing,” he said. “I handwrite anything that I can.” He hates when professors give assignments that have to be completed online. “Just give me a piece of paper,” he said.

Stepro said she is looking forward to graduation and originally planned to graduate in May, but decided to push it back until December. “I want to take more classes because I like going to school,” she said. She has no clue what she is going to do with her degree when she graduates, so staying an extra semester seems like a good idea. Stepro has thought about teaching, but beyond that she’s not sure where her interests lie.

Stepro doesn’t think her graduation experience will be any different from other students. She said it’s going to be just as fulfilling as it would have been had she gone to college straight out of high school, maybe even more.

THE MINARET | PAGE 17

Four score and seven years ago… nah, I’m just playing. More like three years ago, I stepped onto the UT campus, young and starry-eyed. I’m still young (I’ll only have been 21 for two weeks at graduation), but those stars have long since faded and melted into post-graduation panic. I used to have everything planned out and knew what steps to take next, but now my so meticulously planned out life is an empty page. I have no clue what to do next after college, where I’ll go or what I want to be. Thankfully, my writing major and awesome poetry skills—courtesy of Erica Dawson’s fantastic teaching, will allow me to write what comes next in my life. I am the author of my story. It may take a few revisions, editing and different versions to come up with a suitable next chapter in my life, but figuring out what happens is part of the process of living and writing. It may take a bit of tripping before I find my stride after college, but it’ll come.

I want to thank my family, friends and select professors (you all know who you are!) for dealing with my “mid-life crisis” at 20 years old, and letting me know everything will work out.

THE MINARET | PAGE 18

When I pulled up to the University of Tampa’s gorgeous campus in late August 2009, I couldn’t have been more excited. “How lucky am I,” I thought. 95 percent of my high school friends were stuck in Yonkers and I got to go to school in sunny Tampa Bay. I’m known as the baby in my relatively small family and immediately I started befriending juniors and seniors, which was cool with me. I joined clubs and organizations, got a few campus jobs, and fell even more in love with UT in no time. There was no better feeling than seeing my older friends graduate and know that I still get to stay in college. They all told me how jealous they were that I didn’t have to go out into the terrifying “real world”. I appreciated how lucky I was. But now it’s me that has to move on and the feeling couldn’t be more bittersweet. One day I’m daydreaming about teaching and rushing home after work to play catch with the kids. The next day I realize I haven’t had Friday class in three years. College is a privilege that everyone should appreciate. And being a senior is an uncomfortable in-between state of paradise and the fears of growing up. I couldn’t have been happier with the way the last four years have turned out, so here’s to the real world.

After a drawn out senior year I’m elated to graduate and delve into my new journey. This journey wouldn’t have stood a chance without The Minaret. I am bowing out gracefully after two years of being, what some might consider, a “behind-the-scenes” part of the staff. Through the ups and downs, I can say that I’m blessed to have attained some of the necessary tools for social media and online marketing. In my personal and social life, it would be a shame if I didn’t mention how lucky I am to have gained friends that I consider to be permanent; past and current staff, you know who you are. Thank you to my dad who continues to inspire me, "Don't be afraid of challenges, take them on and you will be happy with yourself.” I’m proud to say that he would be proud of everything I have accomplished thus far.

Thank you to my mother who is ridiculously supportive & full of love, and to my remarkable girls: Agape, Alicia, Katelyn, & Margaux.

To Mike, I love you deeply, thank you for moving to Tampa.

I swear I’m supposed to feel sad. That’s what they told me. From the beginning: you get to school and you rage face, study, rage face, study, do an internship, rage face.

That’s the University of Tampa routine right?

Then, at the end, once the metaphorical keg of college has poured it’s last PBR, you’re supposed to have some sort of epiphany and get scared and sad.

Weird. I’m just kind of stoked.

I’ve worked here at The Minaret for three years now. First as a sports writer, then as Sports Editor, and this year, as John Hilsenroth Jr.’s minion. It’s been a blast. I’ve learned so much about the meaning of journalism, not just the technical stuff any C-student can get

My time at UT has finally come to an end but it’s not the end, it is the start of the next chapter of my life. I gave 4 years of my life to UT. I grew so much as a person here, inside classroom and outside the classroom. I cannot imagine college without the words University of Tampa. Although it is quite sad that I am leaving, I am quite content with my plans for afterwards. As I wanted to, I will be living abroad in Europe. UT helped prepare me for my future and career through

in media writing, but the real nitty gritty gunk.

I’m talking about waking up at 5 a.m. to go out with the crew team, playing video games for 24 straight hours, and going to Cass Bar. I really put my life on the line, as you can tell.

My point is, and my whole point to writing this little piece, is to encourage anyone reading this to give your time and effort to something. If you find the right passion, it’ll give back. And you’ll learn a whole lot about yourself.

Beginning after graduation, I’ll be working as a full-time reporter for a newspaper in central Florida. I’m ecstatic but grateful. I can’t thank this paper and the people involved with it enough for everything they’ve shown me.

its programs, activities and my participation in it all throughout the years. UT will always have a part of me. I will dearly miss all of the many friends I met here but I know will see them again, at some point in my life. I can’t thank the professors and advisors who have helped me through it all as well; without these people, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so grateful for all the people that I met during my time at UT and am proud to call myself a Spartan. Much love, class of 2013.

Tis the season for hugs and kisses, and sadly, for tears and goodbyes. I don’t know what I am going to do with my life, but I do know this: on May 11, the class of 2013 will walk across the Tampa Bay Times Forum stage to receive their degrees. It’s a rite of passage represented by a certification that symbolizes that we are ‘approved for realworld installation.’

What does that even mean!? I have no clue what I am going to with the rest of my life.

Any professor I have had can tell you I am a very indecisive person, but I’m not alone. Most seniors I know are in the same boat. Despite this lack of direction, I know my degree will help me go wherever I decide to go.

Thank you Dr. Daniel Reimold for inviting me to write for The Minaret and encouraging me to apply for an editorial staff position. I did not know how much I loved journalism until I jumped into it headfirst and gave it my all.

I don’t think I have ever written in so many different styles in my life! The nice thing about journalism is the story is never the same. If I continue reporting I know I will never get bored and I will learn something new from every story I write. And thank you to The Minaret staff for teaching me how to lay out a newspaper and giving me a voice on our campus. I will miss you all dearly and I know we will all do great things. This is Kelly St.Onge signing off for the last time.

..

I Wish I Would Have Seniors Share Their Regrets As graduation nears, many seniors are reflecting on their past four years at UT. Now that it’s about time to leave, a lot of them are either dreading to say goodbye, or rejoicing at new opportunities.

They’ve been through it all: drunken nights, bad relationships and stressful classes. After interviewing a few graduating seniors, I can both agree and relate to what they’ve gone through.

avoided Long Distance Relationships Kristine Kassl has been on the university’s swim team for all four years. Today, she is both a good leader and a great friend. Her dedication in the pool has been unwavering, as any person on the swim team can tell you. Yet, as composed and collected as she seems today, she has her own list of regrets that I’m sure every underclassmen, especially freshman, can relate to.

Long distance relationships as a freshman are the worst.

We’ve all seen it happen: the stressful late night calls, the awkward planning of skype dates and the god awful texting that no one can actually interpret the right way. And although there are a few exceptions, the majority of relationships just don’t work out. Kassl was merely another one of the countless victims.

She stated one of the main problems was texting. “I disliked being in a long distance relationship because it was impossible to convey emotions through texting,” Kassl claimed. “We were always fighting which had a negative impact on my athletics, school and social life.” However horrible these kinds of relationships can be, there doesn’t seem to be anything changing with each new class. As seniors in high school, we all think he or she is “the one.” And although the occasional couple is able to pull it together, for the most part it’s just a bad idea. “It was just a bad decision and if I could go back and change it, I would,” Kassl said. I think many can agree.

Written By LAUREN RICHEY

explored Tampa Another athlete, Dominic Goncalves, has played soccer as a Spartan for all of his four years at UT. Coming from Egham in south-east England, he expresses what a lot of foreign students also feel about attending a Florida school. “I regret not getting to see more of Tampa,” he answered simply. Many students coming from different countries do not have the luxury of having a car in the U.S., or even a license for that matter, which means that unless they want to constantly bum rides off of people, it makes it difficult to see much of the city. A beach is 15 to 45 minutes away in nearly every direction, and Busch Gardens is a close attraction everyone should go to at least once.

But it’s sad that a lot of students aren’t really able to experience all of these things that Tampa has to offer.

tAKEN Advantage of On-Campus Programs and Jobs Goncalves reinforced another regret that does not only apply to foreign students, “I wish I made better use of many of the services and programs on campus.”

Although broadly stated, many seniors can relate.

There are countless supplies of clubs, honor societies, on-campus jobs and independent study options that students either don’t have time for or don’t realize exist until it’s too late. The university provides these programs as options for students who want to make a little extra cash, boost their resume or just be a part of something. While many students might not have the time to participate in these things, they are terrific opportunities that people need to be aware of.

taken Classes Outside of Major Blessinger addressed a similarly relatable regret during her four years at UT. “I’d say I regret not taking more classes outside of my major,” she confessed.

Blessinger is among the few English majors at UT, but students with other concentrations would definitely agree. Biology majors, math majors and finance majors alike have to focus entirely on their intended educational paths, without so much as a stray.

Besides the required humanities classes we have to take for our baccalaureate experience, in which many students dabble in beginner’s art and music, we aren’t left with many options. English majors don’t have time to take economics classes, and business majors can’t spare the credits to take a creative writing course. In gateways and pathways, we are told to select a path to graduation, and there is practically no wiggle-room.

The university provides an incredibly wide variety of courses for its students, yet many students don’t have the opportunity to take them. ~ As we say goodbye to the class of 2013, many of us can’t help but think how quickly our own graduation date is approaching. Hopefully, we can avoid a few of these errors by learning from those that came before us. It’s all about the journey. Only time will tell what type of journey each of us will take.

tAKEN LATE CLASSES

The average college student can ultimately relate to one thing: sleeping. Sleeping in until 11 a.m., midday naps or whenever we find a comfy place, we sure do sleep a lot. Yet there is the occasional 8 a.m. class that some of us absolutely have to take for our major and forces us to slump out of bed at 7:45 a.m.

Regan Blessinger was able to get around that. “I definitely don’t regret taking later classes. I was able to spend four years sleeping in regularly,” Blessinger stated.

Who could argue with that? While there are some out there who are early-risers, a good majority of us favor sleep over productivity any day. We should be taking advantage of the time we have now to sleep because when the real world hits us, a 9-5 job will be standing in our way.

THE MINARET | PAGE 21

A Letter from SG Vice President Chanel Vanzant To the magnificent UT Spartan community: PK and I would like to first give each and every one of you who make up the heart and soul of this campus two big rounds of thanks.

The first thank you goes out to those who showed me and my running mate nothing but continuous love and never-ending support before, throughout, and even after our campaign.

The second thank you is a bit premature, but is especially important and is for those of you who have not helped us yet, but will in the approaching academic year. And do not worry. This “help” that we are suggesting is not taxing in the slightest. Rather, we mean the kind of help that should be or will become effortless to UT students, such as attending an event outside of your own organization or stopping by the Student Government office to say hello and make a suggestion or perhaps something larger, like running for an open officer position. Whatever help you can give, PK and I are more than appreciative to

receive it and we want you to believe that.

Furthermore, PK and myself are not naïve to the fact that we both signed up for one of the most demanding and expecting, yet so incredibly rewarding positions offered at our school. However, despite this huge commitment that we are soon beginning, my partner and I are not as nervous or apprehensive as we could be. Instead, we are motivated, anxious, and downright giddy to begin implementing the Creedon/Vanzant Administration next fall.

And the sole reason for this lack of tenseness is because of YOU. Allow me to elaborate.

I speak for both of us when I say that PK and I are wholeheartedly doing this for the betterment of you and this university as an entire whole. We have visions and we have ideas. And although PK and I may have different visions and ideas at times, we can both single-handedly agree on the fact that we love people. They are my passion, just as they are his. All of this great passion was what we based our entire campaign platform around. And as you may remember from our speeches, we truly wish to put the “student” back into Student Government. PK and I want your voice and your thoughts, whether they are positive or negative.

All of this brings me to the three C’s that we, as a team, would like to focus on. The first C is to “construct” a more stable and congruent constitution in order to effectively make changes that will accommodate and enhance our student body. The second C is to first “create” student awareness for various issues concerning the campus and to then “create” focus groups in order to get the job done (this is where that help that I mentioned earlier comes into play). As for the final C, PK and I would like to “craft” a unique blend of exciting and re-energizing Student Government sponsored events in order to increase morale and enthusiasm for the campus as a whole.

If you are reading this and wondering where the concrete and solid plans are, to be perfectly honest, we are still brainstorming and assessing the needs and most crucial concerns that are being voiced to us. And if at any moment you have a concern you would like to voice, please never hesitate to reach out to either of us. We want to extend ourselves. You are what we are here for; always remember that.

I would like to part this message by offering a huge round of snaps and claps to all of those graduating at the end of this semester. It is our hope to wish you the biggest blessings as this chapter of your life comes to a close. We are more than enthusiastic to hear about all of the amazing success stories that are sure to come from the Class of 2013. Know that we are so proud and that you will always have a home here at the University of Tampa.

Spartan Love and Mine, Chanel L. Vanzant Student Government Vice President, 2013-2014

Advice From Seniors To Freshmen

Written By JAKE KONISZEWSKI

“Kee p your focused o wo n can c rk. Drink ome l ater. ing ” -

ll your a d n e p s “Don’t hookah – it n money o ve you back.” lo doesn’t

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a Jedlick s and s -Jana e Busin l a n io r t Interna agement majo Man

-Phillipa Hatendi, Writing major

“Sh Do op on A n boo ’t go t mazo kst n. o ore the .”

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Pub ley ple. o e lic H Sto p f o d e r eal llings a c s s e th m e k o , b j ’t d n a o b “D ajor e k a m as e to Feel fre nable decisions, . stio biding a w la and que in u rema o y s bad.” a is g il a lon j saying, t s u j m I a ,

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THE MINARET | PAGE 23

WhatThings I Want to Do I need to do before I BeforeGRADUATE I Graduate An Upcoming Senior’s To Do List

Written By Hannah Webster

Written by HANNAH WEBSTER

I

’m a panicker. I panic. And as the semester comes to an end, there is no shortage of my inability to control it.

Professionally, I manage to keep it together in the face of potential disasters, probably solely because I know my future career relies on that ability. But emotional distress turns me into one of those crazy people who need to be slapped in

“I must drive to Clearwater Beach in the middle of the night with my best girlfriends so we can strip down to our skivvies and run giggling into the Florida water.” the face by someone yelling “PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!” While most are hopefully not quite as nuts as I am, this type of disorderly terror is not uncommon for this time of year. There are massive finals to study for, summer internships to be organized, and rooms and apartments that need to be transformed from a home into a stack of cardboard boxes. But the biggest transition falls into the laps of the newest class of graduating seniors. They now find themselves shoved out of college and into the real world where a blur new responsibility awaits them—whether they are ready for it or not.

As a junior preparing to enter my senior year, the thought of “those poor bastards,” can only rest in my head for a fleeting moment before I realize that my time is not too far off. Some say “you still have a year, a year is a long time.” When I was seven maybe, yes; a year felt like an eternity. But now I think back to what I was doing exactly a year ago from now and it feels like it could have happened a month ago. Before I know it, I’ll be the one ordering my cap and gown, making the walk to the forum with my friends and family, and trying to figure out which good byes I can’t leave without.

And again, here I am with the panic, thinking about all of the things I need to fit into the next year. Sure, there are the usually responsibilities that have to be taken care of, the endless amount of loose ends that need to be tied. I have to fill out all those applications, plan my final summer, and make certain that I am, in fact, graduating on time.

But then there are the other things to be done, the things on the to-do list that the school doesn’t hand you the instant your standing switches over to “senior.”

I’m the biggest wimp in the world, but I know I have to find a way to get inside one of the minarets in Plant Hall. Will I cry?

Possibly. Run out screaming the second a floor board creeks?

Probably. But in a year’s time, I will be an alumna of UT and I’ll be damned if I walk across that stage without having been inside the structure that our school and our city is known for.

I’m also determined to get drunk enough to put on my environmental beer goggles and jump into the Hillsborough River as it winds around McKay and Riverside. During the day, “Sure, I’d jump in there,” is the farthest option from my mind when I think about all the things that could be done with that river. Especially as a biology major that took a mini field trip down there to look at the microbes (trust me, you don’t want to know). Turning it bright green on St. Patty’s day is probably the best thing that has ever happened to that water. But my sudden realization of where I stand on my timeline has left me with a slightly reckless “why the hell not?” attitude.

I still need to wander over to the amphitheater in Curtis Hixon Park and watch the sunrise over our campus. I have to attend an

event (even if it means sneaking in) at the Rathskeller that serves alcohol so I can pretend to go back in time for just a second to when it was a working bar. I must drive to Clearwater Beach in the middle of the night with my best girlfriends so we can strip down to our skivvies and run giggling into the Florida water for what could be the last time. I need to throw down my books and finally kiss the guy that I’ve been dying to kiss since I was a freshman.

The list keeps getting longer and my time keeps getting shorter.

So even though this year I’ll be attending graduation as an observer and not a matriculate, emotions are bound to be overflowing. There will be people I’ll be happy to see leave, but more importantly many that I’ll struggle to say goodbye to. The event is a reminder of the mortality of our college selves and that we can’t stay here forever, that we all have to grow up and enter the real world with the rest of the big kids.

I’m constantly surrounded by adults that muse over their college days as the “best years of their lives,” and it reminds me that though academic success is important, I shouldn’t forget that this is really the only time I’ll get to still be a little wild before it’s no longer acceptable. While the fact that I have one year left hits me hard, I’ll be sure to make it count so I can remember what will surely feel like a short-lived moment eternally. I better get started on that list.

25 YEARS

IMAGINE

YOU

summer programs

music Ages 3 – Adult

• Vocal Arts Academy • Music Theory • Rock School • Vocal and Instrumental private lessons REGISTER NOW!

patelconservatory.org 813.222.1002 THE MINARET | PAGE 25

Should I

By Griffin Guinta For many NCAA athletes, college is simply a brief stop on their way to a professional career.

Lately, basketball players have jettisoned to the NBA after a year or two of playing college ball. Up until 2004, the NBA willingly accepted players straight out of high school before eventually changing their policy to require at least a one year gap before being allowed into the league.

From the perspective of a highly touted high school player, college may seem like a waste of time. If they know for certain that they are putting every last ambition into becoming a professional athlete of some kind, why bother risking an injury that would hurt their draft stock? Why bother getting settled in a college if they’re only going to stay for one or two years at the most?

Many do not understand that college is not entirely about academics or studying a certain major. College is a place where you transition from adolescence to adulthood, a place where you can make mistakes and learn from them in order to become a better person.

Recent trends show that a growing number of athletes are opting to duck out of college sooner rather than later. For example, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving played a total of 10 games for his college, Duke University, before quickly waltzing his way to the NBA. Former Portland Trail Blazers big man Greg Oden left for the pros after two years at Ohio

Stay?

State. Irving was picked first on draft day in 2011, Oden was picked first overall in 2007.

While Irving and Oden are both phenomenal athletes and dominant when healthy, each have sustained their share of injuries throughout their careers.

Irving missed 23 games this past season, and Oden has played in 82 games throughout the past six years, none since 2009 due to his horrible knees.

Undoubtedly, Irving and Oden will aim to recover and come back stronger, but what if they simply can’t over the course of their careers?

Take Jeremy Lin for example.

Lin made it to the NBA the hard way, going undrafted and working his way through many teams before erupting with a monster season in New York.

Plus, should anything ever cut Lin’s basketball career short, he has a degree from Harvard to fall back on: not too shabby.

Another prime example of this scenario is with Robert Griffin III. Though he shed his final year of eligibility, Griffin graduated with a degree from Baylor University and possesses many other skills beyond just football. He can fall back on his education if he needs to.

Like Lin, Griffin has the option of pursuing other career paths in the event of catastrophe. Unless you’re a superstar that is guaranteed to play immediately following college and are heralded as the next LeBron or Michael Jordan, there’s no need to rush the transition to the professional level.

College Athletes Face a Tough Decision: The

All-Stars

The Best NBA Athletes of the Past Decade Who Finished Their Studies • • • •

Drafted: 15th - 1996 8-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $8.9 M School: Santa Clara

Gu

Steve Nash • • • •

Drafted: 5th - 1998 8-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $3.1 M School: UNC

Gu

Vince Carter • • • •

Drafted: 6th - 2001 0 All-Star Apps 2013 Salary: $3.1 M School: Duke

Forw

Shane Battier • • • •

Drafted: 18th - 2003 2-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $10.0 M School: Xavier

Forw

David West • • • •

Drafted: 1st - 1997 14-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $9.6 M School: Wake Forest

Forw Tim Duncan

By Jordan Llanes

Should I Leave College Early for the Draft, or Graduate?

The

$ All-Stars

“@#$% School” - Eminem, “White America”

uard

uard

ward

ward

ward

• • • •

Drafted: 4th - 2005 6-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $17.8 M School: Wake Forest

• • • •

Drafted: 5th - 2003 9-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $17.2 M School: Marquette

Chris Paul

Dwyane Wade • • • •

Drafted: 3rd - 2003 6-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $19.4 M School: Syracuse

Carmelo Anthony • • • •

Drafted: 2nd - 2007 4-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $16.7 M School: Texas

Kevin Durant • • • •

Kevin Love

Drafted: 5th - 2008 2-time All-Star 2013 Salary: $13.7 M School: UCLA

Go?

The opportunity to play professional sports is one that only a select group of superhuman humans enjoy.

Each year, thousands of amateur athletes turn professional and pursue their dreams.

However, those that turn to the pro game early can often be criticized, even though that decision is one that is carefully thought out and evaluated over a certain period of time. When an athlete decides to turn pro, it is in their best interest, and here are the top reasons why.

Talent: Every year, we see the nation’s top basketball prospects go to schools like Kentucky and UCLA, play one year and then declare for the NBA Draft.

The one and done rule is one of the most controversial verdicts in professional sports today, and it is exercised by tons of players each year.

Projected top-five players such as Kentucky center Nerlens Noel and Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore are coming off excellent freshman seasons, and are ready to take the next step.

The Kentucky squad that won the national title two years ago was dubbed the “one and done squad” because most of their rotation was made up of star freshman that declared for the draft just days afterward.

The group included No.1 overall pick Anthony Davis and No.2 pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, each of which had solid rookie seasons. There was simply nothing left for these players to do at the college level.

Money: Money talks, and

there is no exception to that rule in professional sports.

These athletes, even after showcasing their talents as well as taking time to make the decision to make the jump, will always have green on their minds.

In today’s current climate, more and more underclassmen are declaring for professional drafts, particularly in the NBA and NFL. The reason is simple: they want to be paid for their talents, and there are teams out there willing to shell out the cash to make it happen.

Before the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) instituted a rookie wage scale much like the NBA’s, NFL franchises frequently opened their wallets to pay millions of guaranteed dollars to players who had never played a down in the league.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was the last No.1 overall pick under the old CBA, and he signed the richest rookie contract in league history: a six year, $78 million dollar deal with $50 million guaranteed.

Now that is a payday.

Turning pro is a once in a lifetime chance, and an amateur athlete should seize the opportunity to do so.

As long as the timing is right, they have the skill to make the transition and the money is right, going pro should be a no-brainer.

When is earning millions of dollars for doing something that you are incredibly talented at ever a bad thing?

THE MINARET | PAGE 27

Spartan S w a g

WRITTEN BY

Nathan Krohn

A Look Back at Tampa Baseball’s Five National Championships

Pitching, chemistry and some timely hitting, in that order, are said to be the ingredients needed to make up a championship team. As the calendar flips to May and the college baseball season readies for the postseason, the University of Tampa men’s baseball team is intent on following that recipe to become the sixth national championship baseball team in UT history.

It sounds easy enough, but before we gaze too deeply into our crystal baseball, let’s remember a championship is never guaranteed. In UT’s 33 years of baseball, five national championships have been won. Let’s take a look back and see what made those teams rise above the rest and go down forever in UT and college baseball history.

1992 - 1993 “

Head Coach Lelo Prado said.

“I was concerned the loss would carry over but it didn’t. It made us focus on finishing games off.”

The game against Miami stuck with the team so much that throughout the playoffs they would chant, “remember Miami!” and draw ‘Miami’ in the gravel

outside of their dugout.

“The Miami game was special,” Urso said. “When we went down 4-0 in the championship game, we didn’t panic. We knew anything was possible because of that game.”

Unsatisfied with just one, UT grabbed another to make it backto-back championships in 1993.

“In ‘93 we knew we were good, and knew if we stayed together we could do it again,” Prado said.

“We felt with the new additions plus the guys coming back that we could go back to back.”

UT baseball finally shifted the tide after years of Florida Southern College dominated DII baseball in the 80s.

If you play sports [at UT], any sport, you know you’re going there to win

‘06

2006 was the epitome of a dramatic ending. UT was down to their final strike in two separate atbats in the ninth inning before two hits and a throwing error tied the game sending it to extra innings where UT finished off Chico State 3-2 in the 10th.

“That was the most memorable championship I’ve been a part of,” Urso said. “We tied it up in the ninth, and took the lead in the 10th. Sergio Perez came in on one day of rest and put them away.”

championships.

“

The first ever baseball championship for UT came in 1992. Second baseman, and head coach of this year’s team, Joe Urso took home World Series MVP honors as UT beat Mansfield University 11-8.

“Being a part of the first championship will always be very special to me,” Urso said. “We’d been close in the late 80’s with Tino [Martinez] but this will always be something special to look back on.”

The team had a scare the night before the regionals. UT was up 9-1 in the ninth inning against the University of Miami before blowing the lead and losing the game.

“We didn’t get back to the hotel until about two in the morning,”

- Former UT Coach Lelo Prado

‘96

The ‘96 season came close to slipping away when, during the playoffs, infielder Adrian Merkey suffered a broken hand.

“We had to convert an outfielder into a third baseman in a week,” Head Coach Terry Rupp said.

“Luckily he only had one ball hit to him the whole series.”

The team was dealt a heavy blow at the beginning of the season when they learned Rupp had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“Coach was so high energy, such a high powered guy, we just took his energy,” center fielder Erik Mirza said. “We didn’t have the biggest or strongest team, but we took on his personality.”

Several players agreed that coach Rupp’s inspiration was the extra bump they needed to go all the way.

‘07

Despite a large number of returning players, the ‘07 team was determined to create their own identity.

“We lost a lot of firepower that year,” Urso said. “A lot of people didn’t think we would make a run again.”

But they did, rolling through the playoffs before beating Columbus State 7-2 in the championship game.

“We just had a great team atmosphere that year,” first baseman Nolan Brannon said. “We clicked really well and just kept winning.”

THE MINARET | PAGE 29

SOURCES Lessons Learned - Pg. 6 Graduation caps - dp.otography/flickr.com Beauty Beware - Pg. 13 Latisse - BrittneyBush/flickr.com Nail polish - emerald1st/flickr.com PHOTO CREDITS Samantha Battersby (Cover, pgs. 12, 24) Jessica Keesee (Pgs. 8-11) Casey Budd (Pgs. 12-13, 16-17) Joshua Napier (Pg. 20) Taylor Sanger (Pg. 22) Casey Budd (Pgs. 12-13, 16-17) SPECIAL THANKS Shout out to Mollie Putnam for being our cover model!

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