MINARET UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1933
THE Vo l u m e
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November
7, 2013
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Virtually Undetectable Malware Infecting Students’ Computers By DOHA MADANI News Writer
gnackgnackgnack/Flickr
“When hacker groups put this encrypted malware on your computer, they start looking for Social Security numbers or credit cards,” Tammy Clark said.
In Other News...
Hiding under student computer hardware is malware that steals personal data. It’s lurking somewhere deep, and most anti-virus software cannot find it. The malware then reports to a ring of cybercriminals who might be selling that information on the black market. This may sound like something out of a low-budget movie, but these viruses are real and are affecting students at the University of Tampa. Within two days of the freshmen arrival on campus this past August, over 100 instances of this malware were found, according to the Office of Information Security. “There are a lot of infected systems in the dorms. Students are coming to campus with them, and they are getting infected before they even come here,” said Tammy Clark, chief information security officer at UT. According to Clark, the most dangerous aspect of these new brands of viruses, typically called bots, is that the bots are virtually undetectable by the common user. One of the main targets for hackers are universities, which have networks with high
value information and high volumes of users. “When hacker groups put this encrypted malware on your computer, they start looking for Social Security numbers or credit cards,” said Tammy Clark, chief information security officer at UT. “The virus starts downloading it, putting keystroke loggers on it, collecting it…and they send it back to themselves to sell on the black market.” Three of the leading causes of these infections come from corrupted web pages, emails with tainted links and software that “auto-installs” when you visit a particular site. If one person’s social media or email account is accessed, hackers can send these corrupted links to an entire network of friends to infect other computers. “I think it is really scary,” said Sabrina Milroy, junior and economics major. “People can do things with technology that others do not even think of. I have seen warnings about this threat on Tumblr, and it is definitely real.” The Office of Information Security at UT has taken measures to protect students against See MALWARE Page 4
New Parking Expansion Expected for 2015
3 Class Creates
PhotoVoice Project for Tampa Homeless
7 Black Friday Chaos: Is it Really Worth It?
9 New Consoles to
Unleash Full Power of Eighth Generation Gaming
11 New York City Bill Raises Smoking Age to 21
13 Hyundai Dealer’s
Commercial ‘Erection’ Pun: Get Over It
16 Men’s Basketball Team Reloaded and Ready to Go
News................................. 2 Diversions........................ 6 A+E................................... 7 Opinion........................... 11
Sports............................. 16
Photo courtesy of UT Office of Public Information
The new parking garage will house the Center for Entrepreneurship and Campus Safety and will include a late night cafe for students. By KHADIJAH KHAN News Writer
Across many university newspapers, one issue seems to come up again and again: student parking. There have been constant complaints about UT not having enough parking, although 250 spaces were added last year. However, that will finally change as the university begins the construction of another parking garage. In an email that was sent to the entire student body, the school announced a new building that would be seven stories and “will include classrooms, student meeting rooms, faculty offices, Campus Safety headquarters, parking and unique space for UT’s Entrepreneurship Center.” Zachary Iacovino, a senior and government and world affairs major, was overjoyed with the news of a new parking garage despite graduation being right around the corner.
“I think it’s fantastic. Parking is obviously a huge issue on campus, so it’s reassuring to know that the university recognizes that and is taking steps to remedy it. The new cafe is nice too! It’s a shame I won’t be around to enjoy it since I’m graduating,” Iacovino said. While students don’t seem to be hiding their excitement for the new structure, the new parking garage will not be completed until late 2014 and the academic building will be finished in early 2015. Along with having new academic classrooms and a parking garage the building will also be home to a cafe that will have indoor and outdoor seating as well as being open later at night. “I am in full support of this plan if more parking is involved. It’ll be exciting to see another addition to campus and I hope to get to see the final product before I graduate and another place to eat is always welcome on campus,” Lianne McCarthy, junior allied health major said.
Patrick “PK” Creedon, a senior and marketing and international business major, was very pleased with the action taken by administration to better the lives of the university’s students. Creedon also hopes that the next project to be tackled will be a new and improved gym. “As president, I’m fortunate to have a large amount of influence, but obviously not the power associated with making construction and expansion decisions. I am extremely excited to see administration responding to the students parking concern and taking it a step further with the incredible plans for the bottom have of the new building,” Creedon said. Although the construction will not be finished until 2015, the university seems to be making changes that the students appreciate and find not only important but beneficial. Khadijah Khan can be reached at khadijah.khan@spartans.ut.edu
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NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
MINARET
2
NEWS + FEATURES
Cuban Journalist Speaks to Travel Course Destined for Cuba
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jessica Keesee
jessica.keesee@theminaretonline.com
MANAGING EDITOR Mia Glatter
mia.glatter@theminaretonline.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Natalie Hicks
natalie.hicks@theminaretonline.com
NEWS + FEATURES Lauren Richey, Editor
lauren.richey@theminaretonline.com
Katherine Lavacca, Asst. Editor
katherine.lavacca@theminaretonline.com
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Justine Parks, Editor
SBonardt/Flickr
justine.parks@theminaretonline.com
Two women walk past a wall on a public sidewalk in Cuba with painted words that say, “We will continue to defend the revolution.”
jordan.walsh@theminaretonline.com
By NATALIE HICKS
Jordan Walsh, Asst. Editor
OPINION
Paola Crespo, Editor
Paola.Crespo@theminaretonline.com
Annabella Palopoli, Editor
annabella.palopoli@theminaretonline.com
Richard Whitaker, Asst. Editor
richard.whitaker@theminaretonline.com
SPORTS
Jordan Llanes, Editor
jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com
Griffin Guinta, Asst. Editor
griffin.guinta@theminaretonline.com
ONLINE
Vanessa Righeimer, Web and Social Media Director
vanessa.righeimer@theminaretonline.com
PHOTOGRAPHY Casey Budd, Editor
casey.budd@theminaretonline.com
ADVERTISING
Shivani Kanji, Ad & PR Director Brandon Caples, Asst. Ad & PR minaret.ads@gmail.com
ADVISER
John Capouya
Jcapouya@ut.edu
COPY EDITORS
Zoe Fowler, Head Copy Editor
zoe.fowler@theminaretonline.com
Associate Editor
A Cuban independent journalist, Julio Aleaga Pesant, is risking his life to inform fellow citizens about the realities of the Cuban government, and he was able to share his experiences with UT students Oct. 24. “When you enter the opposition in Cuba, you know you’re going to be arrested, you know you’re going to lose your job and you know your family is going to be affected,” Aleaga Pesant said. “You’re willing to undergo that risk.” Aleaga Pesant was speaking to Dr. James Lopez’s Revolutionary Cuba class about these democratic journalism movements. The students in Revolutionary Cuba, a government and world affairs travel course, will go to Cuba in January to learn more about the country’s transition into democracy after Castro’s reign. Lopez, associate professor of Spanish and a Cuban-American, translated for Aleaga Pesant from Spanish to English. “It was very last minute to have Mr. Aleaga Pesant speak to my class,” Lopez said. Lopez has a friend who is friends with Aleaga Pesant’s cousin, which is the reason Aleaga Pesant was able to visit UT. Jake Loken, a student in the class,
feels more knowledgeable and prepared to travel to Cuba after hearing Aleaga Pesant’s story. “He’s one of the most insightful and inspirational speakers I’ve ever heard,” said Loken, a junior double majoring in government and world affairs and marketing. “It’s interesting to hear from someone who actually lives in Cuba, and I’m excited to see these changes he’s been talking about.” Aleaga Pesant used to be a film professor at the University of Havana before he was expelled for being a member of the democratic movement in Cuba. After Fidel Castro’s death in 2006, Aleaga Pesant became an independent journalist in an attempt to spread democratic awareness, change the opinions of civic society and rid Cuba of communism once and for all. “We were told growing up that family members who left the island were traitors and that they didn’t love us,” Aleaga Pesant said. “But the image of what Cuba is trying to control is beginning to change.” In March 2003, the Cuban regime cracked down on members of the democratic opposition over a period of three days. They arrested 75 people, including many journalists. It was illegal to own a typewriter, a camera and a fax machine.
“It was a terrible moment, and everyone was frightened,” Aleaga Pesant said. “Nobody knew who was going to be arrested next.” Aleaga Pesant explained that Raúl Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, swept in as president after his brother’s death. He is trying to improve Cuba’s economy and international reputation, which involves loosening up on censorship. However, independent publications and journalists like Aleaga Pesant must still be careful for their safety, because the government is always watching. Aleaga Pesant wants to make local publications more mainstream as opposed to having only national news sources. Fortunately, Aleaga Pesant believes Cuba’s situation is improving. Journalists now have access to the Internet, cell phones and private property. Beforehand, the Cuban government owned people’s cars and homes. “I want to continue to live in my country, but I want my country to be different,” Aleaga Pesant said. The problem isn’t Raúl Castro; the problem is the democratic movement that has to be ready and prepared to get people on its side, he continued. Natalie Hicks can be reached at natalie.hicks@theminaretonline.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS Leah Beilhart
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Rebecca Barton Wendy French
STAFF WRITERS Vanessa Righeimer Khadijah Khan Chandler Callahan Doha Madani
COLUMNISTS
Samantha Bloom Avery Twible
MORE INFORMATION THE MINARET is a weekly student-run publication at the University of Tampa. Letters to the Editor may be sent to editor@theminaretonline.com. To reach THE MINARET call 813.257.3636. Your first two copies of THE MINARET are free. Each additional copy is $1.00
Andrew Wragg/Flickr
The national flag of the Republic of Cuba flies proudly over a central part of its capital city Havana on a sunny day in May 2011.
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
3
Class Creates PhotoVoice Project for Tampa Homeless By CHANDLER CALLAHAN News Writer
Dr. Norma Winston, a professor of sociology, and her applied sociology class recently had the opportunity to work with some of the homeless people in Tampa through the Homeless PhotoVoice Project during the last week of October. The Homeless PhotoVoice project allows students to interact with homeless or formerly homeless people by documenting their everyday lives in photographs. While the photos are being taken, students have the task of collecting photo captions and quotes to accompany each picture called the “Photo Capture” process. According to The Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, the state of Florida defines homelessness as persons who lack a fixed regular nighttime residence including those living on the streets, in shelters, places not meant for human habitation, living doubled up with family/friends, in motels and campgrounds due to loss of housing and economic hardship. “Applied sociologists use their skills to enhance the quality of social life,” Dr. Winston said. “The purpose of the PhotoVoice project is to draw public attention to the needs of a disadvantaged group.” For the students, the project is assigned to give them an understanding of working with the homeless of Tampa. It is also designed to give the students experience in drawing public attention to a disadvantaged group with the goal of impacting attitudes and public policy, according to the class syllabus. Though participation is required, many students “find it a very humbling
experience,” said Dr. Winston. “I used to think that all homeless people were somewhat lazy, but I saw through this experience that some homeless people actually walk miles in the early morning hours just to sit and wait for more hours hoping to get work,” senior and public health major Laura Manke said. The students began their lesson on
Hillsborough County, is the current leader of the PhotoVoice Project. “I was doing research on ways to engage the community through the arts and a friend, and fellow VISTA, suggested I look into developing a PhotoVoice project around homelessness. This particular project was developed with college students, specifically Professor Winston’s students, in mind,” Steptoe said.
Adama Jensen/Flickr
A shopping cart and cardboard sign belonging to a homeless person near downtown Tampa.
homelessness by reading a selection of articles on the subject. “For the last week or so, every student in the class has been out on the streets of Tampa with Darren Steptoe and a homeless person,” Dr. Winston said. Darren Steptoe, an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Homeless Coalition of
According to Steptoe, students have a discussion about their perception of homelessness, learn facts about homelessness in their community and meet someone who is formerly homeless and hear their story in preparation for the project. Students divided into two groups.
Each group has a specific goal and action to carry out. One group focuses on garnering media attention, and the other focuses on presenting the end product and to participate in “Photo Capture,” according to Steptoe. “The students then reflect on their experience by discussing the photographs after they have been developed, and then [the students] select 25 photos that stand out,” Steptoe said. The students then celebrate their experience by displaying these 25 photos and their coordinating quotes at the PhotoVoice Showcase, which is set to present on Nov. 14 in the Vaughn center. “Finding out more about the lives of homeless, how they live and what struggles they encounter and then bringing that information to the public so they can be educated is the perfect example of an applied sociology project,” Manke said. According to a 2011 survey, the Homeless Coalition found that there are “17,775 men, women, and children homeless in Hillsborough County on any given night.” Out of that total, 51 percent are said to be homeless for the first time. Winston’s class has also been volunteering their time in other ways to benefit the homeless. Winston and some of her students have been helping to survey the homeless at Hyde Park United Methodist Church and analyzing their research. “This experience showed me all the work that those who are homeless have to do just to fulfill their basic needs,” Manke said. They have to walk miles each day to find food, a shower and work. It also changed my perspective of the homeless.” Chandler Callahan can be reached at chandler.callahan@spartans.ut.edu
From the Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 Reports
The Multi-Cultural Greek Council’s Guess They Got Shmacked! On Nov. 2, the Tampa Police Department responded to an off-campus house party involving university students.
I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up On Oct. 31, a student fainted and fell on the floor in Austin Hall.
Theme Week began on Nov. 4. Sigma Delta Tau hosted a
“Allegedly” On Nov. 2, two students alleged they were battered off campus.
Tau Kappa Epsilon will be
She Doesn’t Even Go Here! On Nov. 3, a non-student with no lawful business on campus was issued a trespass warning and escorted from the campus.
Reports compiled by Katherine Lavacca
If you submit a work order that doesn’t get a solution: go to your RA or email dramsey@ut.edu
participating in the St.Jude’s Give thanks Walk, which is also their
Move B***H! Get Out the Way On Oct. 28, the gate arm located north of Morsani Hall was reported damaged.
The Laser Team is open from 9a.m. - 2p.m.
Panhellenic Sisterhood Event called Keep Calm and Craft On on Nov. 6.
WHO GIVES A SHIZZLE On Nov. 1, a student reported his tablet cover was damaged by an unknown party.
The Ferman Lot is going to open to students with 60 available spots.
biggest fundraiser of the year on
Brevard Elevator 3 is being replaced this week.
Nov. 23.
Dial 253-6277 to report issues with broken facilities
4 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
NEWS + FEATURES
Malicious viruses able to steal personal information From MALWARE Page 1
Casey Budd/The Minaret
Computer malware has the capability of infecting any computer connected with UT’s network.
malware by partnering with a new company called Damballa. Coming out of Georgia Tech, Damballa is a new program that monitors networks for these specific bots. UT is one of several campuses in the U.S. to have integrated it into their computer systems, including Vanderbilt University and Georgia State University. With this new system, screenings that used to take anywhere from four to six hours now take about five to 10 minutes. Not only can Damballa detect bots already installed on a computer, but it lists specific attacks that were unsuccessful and attributes them to the particular hacker group using that malware. “We put this solution in this year, so now we are able to see that invisible malware that comes to students’ computers,” Clark said. “We can see that hackers downloaded it; we can see they’re communicating with computers every day, and we’re sending out notices to tell students, ‘you have one of those bots.’” “When hacker groups put this encrypted malware on your computer, they start looking for Social Security numbers or credit cards,” said Tammy Clark, chief information security officer at UT. “The virus starts downloading it, putting keystroke loggers on it, collecting it… and they send it back to themselves to sell on the black market.” Emails have been sent through the Office of Information Security, but Clark fears that many students are ignoring the warnings or think that the problem will fix itself. While Clark admits that the university does not provide services to remove the software, the office will sit down with students, explain the malware problem and walk students through the process of reformatting their personal computer or finding technicians to remove the problem. Unfortunately, Clark warned, this brand of malware is so new that there is no known protection against them. Even completely
reformatting the computer hard drive is no guarantee of removing these bots. Antivirus companies are currently researching the gaps in security to stop these infections from getting through and possibly lessen the amount of cybercrime. Students may be confusing bots with more common “scareware” viruses that ask to install fake anti-virus software in order to take control of a computer. Victims of viruses on campus sometimes ask student lab assistants like Peter Patriarca, a junior studying management information systems, for help. Patriarca has encountered a few students who have had issues with “scareware” before, but he emphasizes that the threat of bots, a new type of virus, is much different. “Bots are a lot trickier because they are very hard to detect,” Patriarca said. “They hide under the system, so restoring your computer will not get it out like other viruses. Damballa is a great program, and it is saving a lot of students from having passwords and personal information stolen.” According to the Office of Information Security, once this malware has been detected on a computer, only a specialized technician can remove it. The Office of Information Security sends information on how to repair these issues if it has been detected on a student computer. If the product is still under warranty, manufacturers will service or replace the system for free. Without the warranty, a repair to remove the bot averages about $200 at stores like Best Buy. An extended three-year warranty for a laptop computer can average about the same price. “These warranty programs are not going to ask you ‘Why did you get this?’ or ‘Is this your fault?’ They know it is not your fault, because it is nobody’s fault,” Clark said. Doha Madani can be reached at doha. madani@spartans.ut.edu
Mia Glatter/The Minaret The old gatehouse, located at the front entrance of the school across from Urso, used to be an information center.
I was just curious if an article could be written about the little building at the intersection of West Kennedy Blvd and Hyde Park/University Dr by Urso. It looks like it used to be a parking ticket booth, but now I think it is used for storage. I pass by it multiple times each day, and have been curious as to its purpose. -Emily S. Nobody ever pays much attention to the small brick building that stands guard at the entrance to our school. Eric Cardenas, the director of Public Information, helped fill us in on the history of the structure that dates all the way back to the Plant Hotel. “According to the H.B. Plant Museum staff, the gatehouse […] was used as the carriage entrance for the hotel for visitors from the city,” Cardenas said. “Apparently there were large iron gates across the road (now University Drive) at the location of the gatehouse, and personnel in the gatehouse allowed entry.”
According to a 1981 edition of The Minaret, the gatehouse was renovated from just a dormant building into an information center that year. It was equipped with amenities like carpet and air conditioning. An officer from Campus Safety would sit in the information center and welcome visitors to campus, provide information about UT and the city and give directions and parking passes. Officer Maryann Segarra was the first Gatehouse Information Officer and remained so from its opening until 1983 when she left her position to be a TPD
officer. Segarra helped pioneer the gatehouse program. University police at the time talked about installing a drive-up feature so people at the information center wouldn’t have to take up parking spaces, but it is unclear if this feature was ever implemented. It isn’t known when the gatehouse stopped being an information center, but it currently acts as storage for the Plant Museum. Thanks for the question, Emily! Want a question answered by UT FYI? Send your question about anything UT or Tampa
NEWS + FEATURES
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
Master It
Graduate Open House, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. Vaughn Center, ninth floor Join us for a special Graduate Open House event to learn more about UT’s graduate degrees! Talk with faculty, admissions counselors, students and alumni about the following programs: Business • MBA (seven concentrations) • M.S. in Accounting • M.S. in Finance • M.S. in Marketing • Certificate in Nonprofit Management • Certificate in Accounting • Certificate in Business Administration Exercise Science and Nursing • New! M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition Science • M.S. in Nursing Education • M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology • M.A. in Teaching • Master of Education Creative Writing • MFA in Creative Writing
RSVP at www.ut.edu/gradvisit.
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6 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
Diversions
Sudoku
The Weekend Update Women’s Basketball vs. Francis Marion November 8
Martinez Athletics Center 2:30 p.m.
Free with UT ID
Coastline Music Festival November 9
Midflorida Credit Union Ampitheater 12 p.m.
$30 - $55
Women’s Basketball vs. Clayton State November 9
Martinez Athletics Center 2:30 p.m.
Free with UT ID
Volleyball vs. Saint Leo November 9
Martinez Athletics Center PrintableSudokuPuzzles.net
Picture
WEEK of the
Photo by Alex Jackson/The Minaret UT men’s soccer team fights for the ball against Florida Southern.
7 p.m.
Free with UT ID
Men’s Basketball vs. Southeastern November 12
Martinez Athletics Center 7 p.m.
Free with UT ID
SP Unplugged Jon Aanestad November 12
Morsani Hall - Jazzman’s Cafe 8 p.m. Free
The Book Of Mormon
Various dates November 12 - 24
David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts Various times
$69 - $153.50
Volleyball vs. Rollins November 13
Martinez Athletics Center 7 p.m.
Free with UT ID
Beyond Energy Medicine Healing Traditions of Mexico and China November 14
Plant Hall Grand Salon 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Free
Arts + Entertainment
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
Black Friday Chaos: Is It Really Worth It? By XELMARIE MEDINA & MADISON IRWIN Arts + Entertainment Writers
It’s hard to believe Halloween was a week ago, yet here we are, preparing for the hectic Christmas shopping days ahead of us. And yes, I said Christmas, because we all get so worked up with finding the perfect gift that we may as well skip Thanksgiving and go straight to what we really want to do: shop on Black Friday. If you’re one of those people who tries to avoid this Hunger Games of shopping events, then good for you. There are some people out there who would sacrifice delicious food and quality family time in order to shop. With all those ads and commercials out there, one has to think: Are the deals on Black Friday really worth it? Ziona Wright is a sophomore at the University of Tampa who works at Pottery Barn in Hyde Park. She believes that all of the ruckus over Black Friday isn’t worth the deals offered. “We don’t have any door buster deals like most people would think [and hope],” said Wright, an advertisement and public relations major. “We have the offer called the ‘bounce back.’ If you spend a certain amount on Black Friday, Pottery Barn will match 10 percent of what you spent, and you can use it the day after Christmas. The more you spend on Black Friday, the more you get back for Christmas.” So, if the deals aren’t that great, why is there so much hype concerning Black Friday at all? Well, for one thing, Thanksgiving is so late this year (Nov. 28), it actually shortens the holiday shopping season. Companies like Target have added a little twist to their Black Friday sale promotions this year. When you go to their website, you can read their promo: “Be the first to know about Black Friday Deals, exclusive offers and promotions. Sign up now for special orders via email.” That way, you can get your holiday shopping list ready as quickly as possible. Behind-the-scenes preparation, however, is a different story. “Since we do not do much for Black Friday, we prepare like usual: set up the silverware, fluff the pillows, etc. It is just like a regular day for us,” Wright said. Not every store has that luxury. Kelsie Lee Kostakos, a junior marine biology major at UT, works at a Chick-fil-A in her home state of Georgia. According to Kostakos, it’s one of their busiest days. You don’t need to work at the local mall or at the big retail stores to feel the Black Friday frenzy. Small fast food establishments are also heavily affected. “We aren’t located inside North
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Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals By BRIANNA KWASNIK Arts + Entertainment Writer
Mahat Tattva/Flickr
Black Friday follows up a day of food and family with one of discounts and pandemonium.
Point mall, but we still get a lot of customers,” Kostakos said. “Some employees come at 11:30 at night and start their shift. We usually sell the easiest items to prepare from the menu. That way, we can keep up with the rush and volume of people we get.“ Wright feels as though Pottery Barn readily prepares its employees for the crowds of customers. “I’ve only been there [Pottery Barn] since the end of July. I have learned a lot, though, and they always keep us prepared and informed for the holiday season,” Wright said. However, there is a certain dangerous aura to Black Friday shopping. Some people get trampled over while others are trying to enter the store, and others needed medical assistance or, in rare cases, people can even get trampled to death. “Personally, I don’t participate in Black Friday,” junior communication major Katie Reiter said. “There is always something on the news about how someone was injured during the process. I don’t think I can do it.” Most of these tragic events have occurred at stores such as Walmart and Target, which are two of the biggest retailers in the U.S., according to Stores.org. Both stores are known for their incredible discounted products, so you could imagine that their deals would be even lower on Black Friday, which causes more chaos. One of the most tragic Walmart incidents occurred in 2008 when an employee, Jdimytai Damour, was trampled to death. The 34-year-old was working in the Valley Stream, N.Y. location when a mob of shoppers surged through the doors as soon as
the building was let open. Damour was instantly thrown back onto the ground and was trampled in the stampede. Within an hour of him being in the hospital, he was dead. Four other people were injured as well, including an eight-month pregnant woman. “I definitely think that it brings out the worst in people,” said Andrea Papandrew, a sophomore government and world affairs major. “I haven’t gone Black Friday shopping in a while, but I know that people do a lot of pushing and shoving, which just isn’t necessary.” Another major Black Friday incident occurred last year when a man collapsed and died at a South Charleston, W.Va. Target. Shoppers stepped right over Walter Vance’s body as he lay dying on the floor. Despite these incidents, the excitement built up around Black Friday keeps growing. Many stores also do Internet sales on Cyber Monday or even make it an entire Cyber sale week to attract more customers. “I prefer Cyber Monday,” said Nicole Bass, a sophomore criminology major. “It’s a lot easier than getting up super early and going out into the craziness.” Cyber Monday has some good benefits. For one, you don’t have to physically go to the store and deal with hectic crowds. You can easily get really good deals. In fact, you don’t even have to wait until Black Friday to start your shopping. Stores offer sales and deals before then. Xelmarie Medina can be reached at xelmarie.medina@spartans.ut.edu Madison Irwin can be reached at madison.irwin@spartans.ut.edu
Stores continue to open earlier, allowing shoppers to get a jump on their Black Friday savings. This year, stores such as Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s and Gamestop will open as early as 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night. Many people are willing to wait in lines for hours to receive low prices on various electronics. In anticipation of Black Friday, certain stores’ ads have been leaked every day. This year’s door buster deals include:
Macy’s Keurig Coffee Maker - $99.99 (reg. $174.99)
Gamestop PS3 Bundle - (Includes: Game Console, The Last of Us, Batman Arkham Origins and Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller) - $199.99 Savings: $165 Xbox 360 Bundle - (Includes: Game Console, Halo 4, Tomb Raider and Wireless Controller) - $199.99 Savings: $140
Amazon Samsung 32-inch LED HDTV $205.97 (reg. $419.99) Canon PowerShot Digital Camera with 10x Zoom - $149.99 (reg. $229.00) Visual Land Connect 9-inch Tablet with 8GB memory - $80 (reg. $149.99) ASUS 15.6 inch Laptop - $299 (reg. $399.99)
Walmart Vizio 29” Class Edge LED (ultra slim) HDTV - $198 (reg. $238) Ematic 9” Portable DVD Player with color headphones - $69 7” Tablet with 8GB Memory - $69 Apple iPad mini - From $299.99 Laptop Bundles (includes: Laptop, Case, Flash Drive and Printer) from $301
@englishinvader/Flickr
Many people cut into their Thanksgiving celebrations in order to be the first in line to get the best deals at their favorite stores on Black Friday.
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NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Arcade Fire Defends Indie Royalty Status on ‘Reflektor’ By JACKIE BRAJE
Arts + Entertainment Writer
You may find yourself wondering, “What do Spike Jonze, Greek mythology and Caribbean music all have in common?” According to Rolling Stone magazine, inspiration was derived from each of these in the making of Arcade Fire’s new and highly anticipated fourth album, Reflektor, released Oct. 29. The Montreal-based band has worked their way up to indie royalty since their debut album Funeral was released in 2004, and they’ve since received many awards including the 2011 Grammy for Album of the Year, a rare feat for the usual underdogs of the indie genre. Perhaps one of the most unique qualities about Arcade Fire’s past albums is that they took largely thematic approaches from religious falsity in Neon Bible to suburban mundaneness in The Suburbs. And while Reflektor carries on a theme itself, it’s hard to pin it down. Skepticism, maybe? Paranoia? Shiny things? Inspiration for the album was drawn from their time spent in Haiti after performing there on their last tour, and it certainly shows in their deeply rhythmic soundscapes. Greek Mythology was also transfused into the album with songs like “Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)” and “It’s Never Over (Hey Orpheus).” They even released an 85-minute video that cued the entire double-album to visuals from the 1959 film Black Orpheus. “Reflektor,” the opening track, fuses disco noir with deep, reflective lyrics (the unavoidable pun). Win Butler’s voice quavers under the opening lyrics, “Trapped in a prison, in a prism of
light/Alone in the darkness, darkness of white” with sleek glam rock undertones. We’re also greeted with the voices of Regine Chassagne and David Bowie. “We Exist” follows the same disco noir theme and seems to carry an afterglow from the groovy explosion of the first track. However, the proceeding songs begin to retract from that theme. When observing the larger scope of an album, cohesiveness is important. And while no two songs sound necessarily similar on Reflektor, each song mingles effortlessly with the next. Though each song is unique, some songs begin to blur and seem overly lush. But tracks like “Afterlife” and “It’s Never Over (Hey Orpheus)” serve as bright silver linings, waking you up when you find yourself venturing off into a lull. “Here Comes The Night Time” kicks off with a fake out; it threatens cardiac arrest onto its listeners with what sounds like guitars being shredded to pieces but then cools down to a synthetic, Caribbean-esque tempo. While Arcade Fire stays true to their classic eccentricity and obscurity in Reflektor, their obvious attempt at dropping their fear of “selling out” is something to be admired. Instead of looking to hoard indie points, they let themselves freely experiment more than usual with varying sounds and idiosyncratic lyrics. However, I’m guilty of holding a bias. Though Reflektor is admirable and whole in itself, it felt pale in comparison to albums like Neon Bible and Funeral. Neon Bible spawned one giant gem after the next, like “Intervention” and “No Cars Go,” with chill-inducing organ music in the background and a military-
Actor on the Rise: Asa Butterfield
By SAMMI BRENNAN
Arts + Entertainment Writer
To say that Asa Butterfield enjoys taking on complex movie roles would be an understatement. On Nov. 1, the British actor will again display the magnitude of his acting ability in the sci-fi adventure Ender’s Game. Butterfield began acting at the age of eight in his local afterschool drama club, The Young Actors Theatre in Islington, London. He was spotted by a casting
Asa Butterfield/Facebook
Butterfield lands his biggest role yet in Ender’s Game.
director intrigued by his acting talent. His first few roles were in the television movie After Thomas, the film Son of Rambow and a guest spot on the television series Ashes to Ashes. His track record of confounding roles began in the acclaimed film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Butterfield starred as Bruno, the innocent son of a concentration camp commandant, who forms a forbidden bond with a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence. Later on, Butterfield had several small on-screen roles until he stunned audiences once more in the five-time Oscar winner Hugo as the title character. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Hugo is set in 1930s Paris and revolves around an orphan living in the walls of a train station. Now the gifted actor is coming back to theaters, and this time, he is the last hope for survival. Ender’s Game, based on the New York Times best-seller by Orson Scott Card, takes place 70 years after a tragic alien war. Ender Wiggin, played by Butterfield, is noticed for his advanced potential and sent to a superior military school in space to prepare for a future invasion. Alongside Butterfield is a starstudded cast including Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis and Abigail Breslin. It’s up to Butterfield to defend us all. Sammi Brennan can be reached at samantha.brennan@spartans.ut.edu
Arcade Fire/Facebook
Arcade Fire continues to experiment and innovate its sound but fails to overshadow past releases.
style choir. It easily earned its spot as one of my all-time favorite albums. But with biases set aside, I still believe Reflektor succeeds in carrying its weight independently. It’s hard to overlook its boldness, lavishness and sleek lyricism. Even Pitchfork, the pretentious big sister of indie music journalism, gleefully gave it a solid 9.2 out of 10 rating. Ironically, the greatest part of the album is its flippancy. It’s refreshing
to see a band go from literally wearing funeral attire on stage in their early days to finally cutting loose. Jackie Braje can be reached at jacquelyn.braje@spartans.ut.edu
3 out of 5 stars
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
9
Autumn Fashion in the Sunshine State
The weather may still have a high of 80 degrees this week, but don’t underestimate the power of Florida fall breezes. It can drop to 60 degrees at night, and it will only get colder until the end of the year. With fall breezes comes fall fashion, so grab your scarves and boots to add an extra layer of warmth to your clothing staples.
Men’s Sporty Look
Attention, the average college dude: this next look is for you. It’s fitting for the gym. It’s fitting for class. It’s fitting for a date. It’s the ultimate IDon’t-Care-But-I-Know-I-Still-LookHot bro ensemble. Show off your Spartan spirit with a hoodie from the campus bookstore, and top it off with some cool kicks and a snapback.
By NATALIE HICKS Associate Editor
Women’s Classic Look
Audrey Hepburn kept it classy and cozy in the fall, and so can you. Ballet flats are always flattering, but combining flats that have a leopard print with a nautical tee makes for an unexpected take on a classic look. Finish off with a pair of 40s style shades to shield your eyes from the harsh sun.
University of Tampa hoodie, UT Bookstore, $37 Sweatpants, Under Armour, $65 Tennis shoes, Nike, $135 Snapback hat, Pacsun, $30
Striped nautical shirt, J.Crew, $85 Skinny jeans, American Eagle, $35 Leopard print flats, American Eagle, $30 Keyhole sunglasses, Ray-Ban, $110
Women’s Quirky Look
Men’s Grunge Look
Nirvana did it. Kylie and Kendall Jenner do it. Now you can do it too. Grunge is making a solid comeback, so sport your flannel and Dr. Martens with pride. A sleek messenger bag and dark wash jeans will help tone down the grunge and make for a tangible everyday look. You’ll fit in well at Starbucks.
A mini dress with boots is a tad illogical during Florida autumns, but adding tights with a fun print will prevent other girls from subtweeting about your weather challenged outfit. Include an infinity scarf, and congratulations: you’ve become Zooey Deschanel.
Boots, Dr. Martens, $130 Jeans, Gap, $60 Flannel shirt, L.L.Bean, $40 Messenger bag, Fossil, $148
Tank dress, Old Navy, $15 Polka dot tights, Anthropologie, $24 Leather riding boots, Target, $75 Infinity scarf, Nordstrom, $28
‘Respondez!’ Goes Digital, Prepares Special Edition By JORDAN WALSH
Asst. Arts + Entertainment Editor
UT’s peer-reviewed literary journal Respondez! is making big changes to its image and circulation methods while taking submissions for a special auto-ethnography-themed edition. For the first time since the journal’s inception, Respondez! will publish an exclusively online issue via Wordpress blog. The publication has also recently created a Facebook page and official website in an effort to get the word out. Sophomore AD and PR coordinator and marketing major Josiah Kachelmeyer and sophomore marketing major and editor-in-chief Max Davidoff believe that these changes will bring out the best in Respondez! “As far as deciding to take Respondez! online, Max and I felt there was a lot of untapped potential with the publication, and that it had been very stiff in the past,” Kachelmeyer said. The staff of Respondez! is hoping that this move to an online platform will attract more readers. “We are trying to target the readers who don’t want to go out and pick up a copy and flip through page by page,” sophomore marketing major and Respondez! consultant Edward Kerner said. “We ultimately feel that more people will read the issue if it is easily accessible online.” Davidoff said that this online move is just the start of the publication’s pans to increase readership and presence on campus. The staff intends to not only increase their UT following but also to expand their
Doha Madani/The Minaret
The University of Tampa’s Honors student publication, Respondez!, will publish a special online exclusive edition next semester.
reach beyond the campus boundaries. “We have reached a deal with the Tampa Theatre that they will distribute copies of Respondez! in the spring,” Kachelmeyer said. “We are also hoping to get in contact with Oxford Exchange.” The honors-based publication is taking non-fiction submissions from all students for a special edition of the journal, based around the topic of auto-ethnography. Davidoff and Kerner expressed their excitement over the unique topic.
“I view auto-ethnographic research and writing as a unique genre that is very marketable to modern academia,” Davidoff said. “By combining auto (you) and ethno (culture), autoethnographic writing is able to blend two quality ingredients to form a scintillating literary craft where writers articulate how a certain event or topic features culture and them.” Kerner believes that autoethnographies allow students to get in touch with their cultures. “The organization decided to
focus on auto-ethnographic research because auto-ethnographies are a great way for people to express the personal connections they have to their writing,” Kerner said. Respondez! will be taking submissions for its auto-ethnography issue until Dec. 3, and the special edition will go live online in February. More information about submission requirements can be found at www.utrespondez.com. Jordan Walsh can be reached at jordan.walsh@theminaretonline.com
10 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
New Consoles to Unleash Full Power of Eighth Generation Gaming By JORDAN LLANES Sports Editor
We are eight days away from the real beginning of the eighth generation of console gaming. Yes, Xbox, we all know that Nintendo’s Wii U came out a few months back, but who honestly cares? Everyone knows that this era of gaming, as well as this holiday season, will be ruled by Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One. Nov. 15 (eight days from now) the PS4 will drop. A week after that comes the Xbox One. Which one should you buy? Well, let’s take a closer look. Microsoft’s Xbox One couldn’t have started off any worse. It’s original requirements of online connectivity, absolute Kinect integration, a $500 price tag and restrictions on the sale and resale of its games turned off even the most hardcore Xbox lovers. Many fans of the original Xbox and its successor, the Xbox 360, have now jumped ship to the PS4, even after Microsoft retracted and canceled most of these plans. Not to mention the One’s lack of original series outside of the Halo and Gears of War franchises and soon to be limited indie games have really hurt its early sales projections. Plus, many gamers are afraid to go out and purchase the new console because they fear it will suffer many of the problems that plagued its predecessors, such as the “Red Ring of Death” that many 360 owners had to endure. However, the One does have its positives. An expanded Xbox Live service will expand the One’s content outside of gaming to an even further extent than it did on the 360. There is integrated support of live stream gaming online in addition to cloud computing and improved Kinect connectivity. Furthermore, the One is being compared to the next home entertainment system to rival Apple TV and Google TV. Who doesn’t want to say “Xbox on” and have their console turn on without pushing a button?
LEFT TO RIGHT: Xbox One/Facebook, PS4/Facebook
The Playstation 4 and the Xbox One will begin their battle for eighth generation console king later this month, with Xbox launching Nov. 15 and PS4 launching Nov. 22.
Meanwhile, Sony’s newest edition of the PlayStation has come out of the gates like a tsunami waiting to engulf gamers. For everything the Xbox One has messed up, the PS4 has gotten right. Legions of former Xbox fanboys have jumped ship to Sony’s newest installment of the PlayStation franchise, and the console will not disappoint. The biggest difference will be Sony’s partnership with Gaikai, a cloud-based gaming service that will allow its gamers to stream video game content with other services and devices such as cell phones and tablets. Sony’s focus on more social gameplay is also introduced on the new Dual Shock 4 controller, which features
a “Share” button that allows gamers to share their top gaming moments on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as the ability to see in game play that is streamed live from friends. The continuation of big franchises such as Infamous, Killzone and God of War will ensure that Sony will rule the holiday season. Of course, each system has its similarities to one another. After exclusively using the Blu-Ray drive for the seventh generation’s PlayStation 3, Sony has allowed Microsoft to use that technology for the Xbox One. Furthermore, each system has gone back to simpler operating systems to encourage
indie developers to publish their games exclusively on one of the consoles. Plus, all of the major franchise games such as Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed and Madden share the consoles because Activision, Ubisoft and EA want to make money off all of them. Each system has its own pluses and minuses, but the PS4 is leading the way in projected holiday sales. And why shouldn’t it? It didn’t alienate half of its fanbase with ridiculous requirements that gamers neither want nor need. However, once Christmas passes, we will see which console comes out on top. Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
Opinion
11
New York City Bill Raises Smoking Age to 21
By JAKE KONISZEWSKI Opinion Columnist
On our 18th birthday, my twin sister and I went to the local 7-11 and bought a pack of cigarettes. Neither of us smoke, but purchasing cigarettes is one of the many rights we had in our northern Virginia town when we turned 18. However, it appears 18-year-olds in New York City may not be able to legally purchase cigarettes for much longer. According to huffingtonpost.com, on Oct. 30, “The New York City Council voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to raise the age for purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 21 a move that would make the nation’s most populous city among only a handful in the United States to target young smokers by barring them from buying smokes.” The article continues, “Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a strong supporter of the tough smoking restrictions, has 30 days to sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will take effect 180 days after enactment.” While I support having less people smoke, I do not think this bill is a good idea. Even though cigarettes are not the same as alcohol, I feel that cigarettes will have a similar temptation factor as alcohol. The nation’s legal drinking age may be 21, but I know underage drinking goes on. Even though it was illegal, friends and fellow students found a way around the law whether it was purchasing alcohol with a fake ID or having
an older friend or sibling buy the alcohol for them. Those under 21 will probably employ the same tactic to obtain cigarettes. There is also the image lawmakers create by raising the legal age of purchasing cigarettes. Bloomberg said in the huffingtonpost.com article, “We know tobacco dependence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it’s critical that we stop young people from smoking before they ever start.” What happens when you tell someone young and rebellious not to do something? They do it.
By raising the legal age to buy smokes, teens will see that as a challenge and try harder to buy cigarettes. They will wonder why the adults are so adamant about them not smoking and try it to see what all the fuss is about. Also, the bill raises the legal age of purchasing cigarettes, not smoking cigarettes. This bill adds a hurdle in the way for those who want to smoke, but it is an easily surmountable hurdle. According to the article from huffingtonpost. com, the council “also approved a bill that sets a minimum $10.50-a-pack price for tobacco cigarettes and steps up law enforcement on
Those go hand in hand and this new law will only make the problem worse.” I admit Reynolds may have a bias considering where he works, but he brings up a good point. The new law will only be an unnecessary addition to the workload of law enforcement. The bill also creates a conflicting image of maturity. The article says, “some smokers say it’s unfair and patronizing to tell people considered mature enough to vote and serve in the military that they’re not old enough to decide whether to smoke.” Deciding on who gets into office and protecting the country takes a large amount
of maturity. If someone is mature enough to perform those actions, they should be able to have the option to purchase smokes. While I am not a fan of smoking and hope people, especially kids and teens, do not smoke, I am not going to stop someone from doing it. If you are 18 or older and want to smoke, that is your business. I think the minimum $10.50-a-pack price on cigarettes will be successful in stopping people from purchasing smokes. The teenage years are when people begin to form some financial independence. They take jobs cutting grass or babysitting so they can save up for items they want, like movie tickets, a pair of shoes or a video game. Teens will be less likely to take up smoking if the start-up price is too high, especially if they have other items they wish to purchase. Still, this can be avoided by having older friends with spare cash buy them cigarettes, so I admit this is not a perfect strategy, but it is a start. I applaud New York City for wanting to reduce the amount of people who smoke, but they do not have the best strategy thought out just yet. I hope Bloomberg will veto the bill to raise the legal age of purchasing cigarettes so New York City Council can go back to the drawing board and figure out something that will work instead of a plan that would encourage illegal purchasing of smokes. Jake Koniszewski can be reached at john. konizewski@spartans.ut.edu
a person’s reputation whether the accusation is valid or not. The fact that the female in the video went to the police after she became aware of the videos of her posted online tells me that she cried rape in an attempt to save herself from further embarrassment. The young man in the video could have gone to jail for something he did not do all because of a drunken mistake both parties made that night. Chantalle Blundell, a sophomore at UT majoring in business management and entrepreneurship, gave her take on the incident from the perspective of a female college student. “I would feel extremely humiliated,” Blundell said. “I think it was disrespectful of the people passing by to film it and take pictures… The girl and guy were obviously extremely intoxicated, and although it was public indecency, I feel like the people passing by should have been the bigger person and alert authorities to put an end to it.” Because authorities had not released the names of the people in the video, 4chan users decided to take matters into their own hands and identify the female in the video and release her personal information to the public according to The Inquisitr. They ended up misidentifying the female from the video as Ohio University student Rachel Cassidy. Cassidy reacted to the incident in an interview with Ohio University’s campus newspaper, The Post. “My friend called me and said there were pictures posted of me linked to the woman in the video saying I was her, although that’s untrue,” Cassidy said. “I was nowhere near where the incident occurred. I have no idea why I was targeted.” The threats Cassidy received were so bad that her parents had to request school administration to take down her information from the OU website, according to The Post. After receiving threats and being cyber bullied online, Cassidy was left with no choice but to deactivate all of her social media accounts. This story would not have spread throughout the news as much as it did had it not been for the amount of videos and pictures that were tied to it. We live in a society in which we are constantly
being watched. Whether it’s in the form of a security camera or through the lens of a person’s iPhone, it should be obvious that our behavior in public can be recorded in multiple ways. With social media sites with video sharing capabilities being so popular, uploaded videos have the potential to go “viral” and pull in thousands or even millions of views in a matter of days. Viral videos are usually something shocking or funny and serve as a quick and easy form of entertainment. Vine and Instagram videos also allow amateur filmmakers to post their videos and share it to their friends and even the public, depending on their privacy settings. The people walking down the Ohio University homecoming parade route that night most likely found this public sexual act to be something so shocking that it was worthy of being recorded and spread throughout social media. In regards to the people who documented the incident, I don’t find that they were wrong in doing this because of the embarrassment that was brought on to the couple in the video. If you’re going to get that highly intoxicated and
act like a fool on the streets in front of everyone, then you have to be aware of the repercussions and accept them. However, it was wrong that people misidentified the student and an innocent woman was cyber bullied and threatened. The biggest thing to take from this incident is that we must always be aware of our surroundings and understand that with a couple taps on an iPhone screen. Anything embarrassing or perhaps criminalizing can be documented and shared. Following the decision of Athens grand jury to drop the case, Blackburn left the public with a bit of advice to prevent incidents like this from ever happening again in her press release. “Every decision we make now has the potential to be placed on Twitter, Facebook, commented on, shared and embellished, making life today more public than ever before. If a lesson exists from this case, let it be that we should behave as if our family is always watching,” Blackburn said. Vanessa Righeimer can be reached at vanessa.righeimer@spartans.ut.edu
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illegal tobacco sales.” I can also see this law creating more law breaking and therefore more work for the police, who could be spending their time doing more important business instead of stopping underage kids from smoking cigarettes. Bryan D. Hatchell, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the company behind Camel and other cigarette brands, said in the huffingtonpost.com article, “New York City already has the highest cigarette tax rate and the highest cigarette smuggling rate in the country.
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What happens when you tell someone young and rebellious not to do something? They do it.
Woman Caught Engaging in Public Oral Sex Claims Rape By VANESSA RIGHEIMER Opinion Columnist
After Ohio University celebrated its annual homecoming parade Oct. 12, videos and pictures began to circulate online of two people publicly engaging in oral sex during the night’s festivities. A full account of the incident was given by Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn in the form of a press release published on Oct. 28 in which Blackburn described how the female and male had met at a bar, had drinks and then left around 2:30 a.m. They walked together down Court Street, which was where the parade took place, kissing along the way. At one point they were shooed away after they were spotted making out against a car. Things began to escalate quickly between the pair, and the two engaged in oral sex against the exterior of a bank building on Court Street. Soon, a crowd began to form around them, and that is when the camera phones came out. The following morning, the female shown in the video came forward to the authorities and accused the male in the video of rape after her roommate showed her the videos and pictures that were posted online. Though the charges have been dropped, this incident has sparked up further conversation about difference between consensual sex and rape in situations where alcohol is involved. The video, which was posted on Twitter, has been since taken down, but law and court officials have taken notes on the evidence given and presented it to the public. In the report published in The Dispatch, Blackburn explained that when people who were passing by stopped to watch and videotape the incident, the boy in the video asked the girl if he wanted her to stop. She said “no,” so he continued. Furthermore, there was no trace of any type of date rape drug found on the victim, and in the video, the female is seen smiling and even pulling the male’s head closer to her, according to the report released by Blackburn. It is clear that the act was consensual and the only thing that any of those two were guilty of that night was picking an awful public location to hook up with each other. Rape is a serious accusation that can destroy
tomonews US/YouTube
The drunken pair was caught engaging in oral sex against a bank; a video of the incident was posted on Twitter.
12 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
Virgin America Releases Creative Pre-Flight Safety Video
By AVERY TWIBLE Opinion Columnist
Airline Virgin America has released a new safety procedure video to grab passengers’ attention after all these years of the same boring instructions. If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, then you know what I’m talking about. The flight attendant (and sometimes a video) demonstrates how to buckle the seat belt, put on an oxygen mask and exit during an emergency. I, along with many other frequent flyers, am guilty of tuning out the safety instructions despite the fact that they could potentially save my life in an emergency. Sometimes it seems like the flight attendants care even less than the passengers. Well, Virgin America is showing they care about your safety and has created a new instructional video, which is executed more like a music video. NY Daily News reports that this video is a remake of the animated instructional video Virgin America released in 2007, which had less entertainment. The video, directed by John M. Chu (director of “Step Up 2 and “Step Up 3”) features the work of former “American Idol” contestant Todrick Hall; dancers from previous seasons of So You Think you Can Dance; and even a dancing nun played by former Olympian gymnast Tamara Campos, according to NY Daily News. Everything that is either sung or said in the video shows up in subtitles on the bottom, so if you don’t want to listen you can just read along instead. The video mainly consists of attractive flight attendants singing instructions, but it also features a
young girl rapping about oxygen masks, a dance team performing to a “robot rap” about inflatable life vests and contortionists demonstrating how not to sit in your seat. The video is about five minutes long, and there is a lot packed into it, but could it possibly be too much? With all the singing and dancing and rapping, could the details be getting lost? “It kept my attention pretty well, but sometimes it was hard to understand because there was a lot going on,” said Erica Fremming, a junior and fine arts major. “But it is catchy, and it matches
[
In this sense, the video is more effective at delivering the safety information to passengers than the typical, boring demonstration that airlines have used for years. After all, Virgin America isn’t asking people to like the song. The airline is just encouraging everyone to pay attention for five short minutes while crucial safety information is delivered to them before their journey. There is a line in the song about having to completely shut off electronic devices on the plane, but this is already outdated, since the
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The video pairs songs with visuals, which can increase the chances that an individual will recall the information in an emergency situation.
a lot of advertisements today.” Brain World Magazine says that echoic memories (auditory memories of songs, voices and sounds) are powerful, so even though there is a lot going on in the video, delivering the information in a song may help us to recall it if an emergency situation were to happen. Furthermore, iconic (visual) memories, like pictures, are powerful because they tap into the basic instincts of the human brain, since vision preceded reading or writing. The video pairs songs for echoic memory with pictures for iconic memory, which can increase the chances that an individual will recall the information more easily in an emergency situation.
Federal Aviation Administration made an announcement two days after the release of the video that passengers will soon be able to use cell phones “gate-to-gate” as long as the phone is set to airplane mode, said NY Daily News. This portion of the video features Tamara Campos wearing nun attire using her cell phone and ignoring instructions to turn off the phone. Is Virgin America taking a stab at strict Catholic nuns? I don’t think so. They are trying to appeal to many different walks of life, and I hope critics don’t exaggerate this point and use it as a reason to dislike the video. The 2007 safety video, which was hand-drawn with animated characters, was well-received by passengers and the public, according to CNN,
OPINION
but Virgin America felt it needed to be refreshed to keep passengers interested. Another tactic they’re using to appeal to passengers is a promotion (which ended Oct. 29) where customers can get up to 20 percent off their ticket price if they use a promo code referencing the video. The airline is making yet another attempt to reel in fans and passengers by holding an Instagram talent competition. The winner will appear in the next in-flight version of the safety video, according to CNN. Virgin America is the first airline to attempt fun, modern videos and Instagram contests as marketing tactics, and hopefully other airlines will pick this up as well. “I think we’ve successfully taken Virgin America into new, uncharted territory with this safety video, and I really hope to see people doing their own versions of the safety dance soon,” said Jon M. Chu, the director of the video, in a recent press release, according to NY Daily News. The video may be flashy, but hopefully it proves to be effective. As someone who has seen and heard the boring instructions typically used on airplanes many times, I hope to actually remember these instructions after seeing this video. It’s a nice tune to start off your flight, all while giving you important safety information and possibly taking your mind off your fears of flying. Virgin America has gotten a lot of positive feedback, and I predict that other airlines will follow suit. Avery Twible can be reached at avery.twible@spartans.ut.edu
Virgin America/YouTube
Virgin America’s new safety instruction video features Todrick Hall, singing flight attendants, a former Olympian gymnast dressed as a nun and a “robot rap” about inflatable life vests.
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
OPINION
13
Hyundai Dealer’s Commercial ‘Erection’ Pun: Get Over It By TERRY PRESTON Opinion Writer
A Hyundai dealership in Long Island, N.Y., has taken crude humor to the small screen. The local Hyundai dealership’s new commercial involves references to the less-valued side effects of male excitement including long-lasting erections. The dealership’s commercial features a concerned wife and doctor hovering over a man in a hospital bed and uses four or five erection puns to describe the man’s excitement over his recent purchase of a new Hyundai car. They use the tagline “We make good things happen at Long Island City Hyundai,” and the ad has left many viewers appalled by its use of the double entendre. But what is the issue with a little bit of inappropriate humor? The commercial has received backlash from concerned parents on the Internet who worry that the ad is not appropriate for younger viewers, according to huffingtonpost.com. Several students at the University of Tampa find it hard to believe that the advertisement is a source of controversy. “I can see why some adults would get upset about something like this being on TV,” Sam Silver, a junior advertising major, said. “But it’s not likely the kids would understand the humor. There’s no harm.” There are very few people who don’t enjoy a good boner joke, and those who don’t are missing out on all of the fun the rest of us are having. In fact, Europe has been using sex in its everyday ads for years. For example, a German ad for Leo’s Sports Club features an entirely naked woman getting out of the shower, walking to a bowl of walnuts
and cracking one between her buns of steel. Accurate? Not quite. Hilarious? Without a doubt. Another European commercial features a man and a woman in the beginning stages of intercourse. Each individual begins to take off their clothing, and as the man tries to unhook the woman’s bra, a passcode-locked scroll bar appears. This quirky ad for Microsoft XP aired on daytime television. People should not be so easily offended by the presence of sexuality in commercials. Europe continually airs “inappropriate” ads containing partial nudity and sexual content, but the continent has yet to erupt into warfare because of it. Sex is not a forbidden topic. “Commercials in Germany can be very sexual at times,” said David Niepel, a UT finance graduate student from Germany. “I think it’s okay that commercials involve sex, and people in Germany and Europe are very open about it. Here, people think it’s wrong, but I don’t see a reason why.” Germany has one-sixth the amount of HIV/AIDS cases compared to the U.S., according to Advocates for Youth. In a country like Germany where sex is prevalent in the media, they seem to have a better grip on sex education. Sex happens, so there’s no sense in trying to hide it. Why is America so easily offended by the presence of a penis joke? Huffingtonpost.com said it best: “It takes balls to be that funny.” In a culture in which sex sells and advertisements often contain scantily clad women in suggestive poses, there is absolutely no reason as to why the verbal reference to an erection should wildly upset the public. Such a commercial won’t
Leader Auto Group/YouTube
The commercial used erection puns to describe a man’s excitement over his new Hyundai car.
put anyone in any immediate danger. For those worried about the corruption children’s minds, there is nothing to be concerned about. The long-lasting erection references in the Hyundai ad can only be understood by those who have previous knowledge about Viagra and erections. Therefore, only those with horribly dirty-minded children have any reason to plug their ears. Since it is an advertisement for a car dealership, it is marketed to people old enough to purchase a car. As a result, it is acceptable to include adult humor in an ad that is marketed toward adults. This is the purpose of humor in advertising: to get people talking. The most effective method of advertisement is through word of mouth, and this ad has
accomplished that goal. Just think: this ad was covered by multiple news sources. It made national headlines. The attentiongrabbing commercial has marketed this car dealership and set it apart from all of the other Hyundai dealerships in the country. To those suffering panic attacks from this harmless ad, put your fear boners away. Let worries and concerns subside, and take the time to appreciate this ad for what it really is: a witty, hilarious and conversation starting ad. The reality of the situation is sex in advertising is not going anywhere. Sex is everywhere and should not be treated any differently when placed on the small screen. Terry Preston can be reached at terrence.preston@spartans.ut.edu
14 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
OPINION
Pastor Claims Girl Scouts Turn Youth into Lesbian Communists By SAMANTHA BLOOM Opinion Columnist
I live for Girl Scout Cookie season. Crumbled up Thin Mints over vanilla ice cream? Heaven. I can polish off a box of Samoas faster than you can believe (although I’m not proud of it). What can I say, they’re probably the most delicious cookies known to man. I can’t stop myself. Plus, I can feel good knowing that my money supports an organization I used to be a part of, whose mission is to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place,” according to the Girl Scouts of the USA website. I can’t see the downside to that. However, Pastor Kevin Swanson, host of His Generations Radio, is more skeptical. On his radio show the week of Oct. 24, Swanson attacked Girl Scouts, calling them “wicked,” insisting that their “vision of America is antithetical to a biblical vision of womanhood.” He urged listeners to boycott their delicious cookies, claiming that by purchasing a box of Thin Mints, you’re supporting lesbianism, Planned Parenthood and abortion, reports Yahoo! News. For someone who believes that “feminism has been devastating this country,” (NY Daily News), I can see why Pastor Swanson might be a little upset with an organization that fosters girls to become confident and build character. Becoming confident as a woman is a big part of feminism, after all. According to his beliefs, Girl Scouts are taking young girls and turning them into lesbian communists. Swanson said during his show that he “didn’t realize there were this many lesbians leading this country, but they certainly show up in Girl Scout conventions across America… In fact, if you want
a communist in the White House in the year 2020 you have to get more daughters raised with the worldview, the independent mindset, the worldview that is presented by the Girl Scouts of America,” says huffingtonpost.com. The only thing Swanson is technically correct about is that purchasing Girl Scout Cookies really does help fund the Girl Scouts of America’s programs. The rest of the misguided, wrong and downright ridiculous information Swanson is using to base his claims is laughable. First and foremost, the Girl Scouts of America and Planned Parenthood are not affiliated in any way. In February 2012, after Indiana Rep. Bob Morris made similar accusations against the Girl Scouts for being used as a “tactical arm” by Planned Parenthood, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood’s Indiana branch, Betty Cockrum, spoke up. NY Daily News reports that Cockrum explained Planned Parenthood does not have any formal partnership with the Girl Scouts, although they do recognize the contributions that Girl Scouts continue to make to society. The two organizations have about as much to do with each other as Girl Scout cookies and Communism, which is also nothing. Speaking of Communism, some of the most notable Conservative First Ladies have served as honorary leaders of Girl Scouts of America, including Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, according to Yahoo! News. These women don’t strike me as the kind to push a Communist agenda on the young girls of America, nor do I believe that they are lesbians, considering all of them are married to men. My favorite detail, and the most hilarious part of Pastor Kevin Swanson’s tirade against buying Girl Scout Cookies,
mandaroo63/Flickr
Innocent Girl Scout or wicked lesbian communist? Either way, I’m buying the Thin Mints.
might be what he suggested be done if purchasing the cookies is unavoidable. Swanson insisted that, if you can’t resist the urge to buy a box of delicious Girl Scout Cookies (and who can?), at least “take a big black magic marker and cross out every reference to Girl Scouts of America on all the signs and all the boxes, because we don’t wanna promote that organization,” reports jezebel.com. Crossing out the name of the organization is just as effective of a boycotting strategy as crossing out the nutrition facts is as a way to cut calories.
Kevin Swanson’s anti-Girl Scouts campaign is about as ridiculous as it is effective, and I don’t think the Girl Scouts of America have to worry about it bankrupting their programs any time soon. If anything, Swanson’s message will ensure more cookies for the decent human beings who see the importance of teaching girls courage, confidence and character, and young girls have the potential to make a difference in the world. Samantha Bloom can be reached at samantha.bloom@spartans.ut.edu
Don’t Let Grandma See Ya ‘Shmacked’
Comic by Lauren Richey
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
OPINION
15
Sex Sells: Female Celebrities Strip Down to Get Noticed
By IRENE SIDEDE Opinion Writer
Lately I have watched numerous videos where female artists are either halfdressed or just simply not dressed at all. For instance, in the video for “Wrecking Ball,” Miley seductively swings on a wrecking ball in nothing but her birthday suit and a pair of boots. In Rihanna’s “Pour It Up” video, Rihanna sports a pair of cut up shorts that leave very little to the imagination, and the dancers in the videos appear in thongs. Lady Gaga also never fails to show her body. She is often shown dancing in only a bra and panties. Due to famous celebrities constantly showing their bodies, this leads to an expectation that
all females in music videos must be nude in order to achieve similar success in the entertainment industry. A number of women in Hollywood are using their bodies as a weapon to get further recognition. It appears that exposing their bodies to the public is acceptable. According to thehuffingtonpost.com, Katy Perry explained in a recent interview with NPR, “Like females in pop -everybody’s getting naked. I mean, I’ve been naked before but I don’t feel like I have to always get naked to be noticed. But it’s interesting to see ...” Perry doesn’t deny that she likes pulling out the nude card every once in a while, but she continued to say in the interview, “I’m just saying sometimes it’s
nice to play that card, but also it’s nice to play other cards. And I know I have that sexy card in my deck but I don’t always have to use that card.” Not everyone is interested in constantly seeing a woman’s body in little to no clothing. Perry explained, “I’m not talking about anyone in particular. I’m talking about all of them. I mean, it’s like everybody’s so naked. It’s, like, put it away. We know you’ve got it. I got it too.” There should be a limit to how much a lady shows herself to the public. After all, we are defined for how we present ourselves. The NPR article continued, “Perry, who once appeared nude in the music video to her hit song ‘California Gurls,’ has appeared comparatively more
Killsting/Flickr, MileyCyrusVEVO/YouTube
There is nothing wrong with a woman being confident in her own skin, but woman should not have to use their bodies to get acknowledged.
conservative as of late.” Since Perry has shown her body once and not constantly does show that she takes more pride in showing her talent to the world and not just her physical features. Some women have received or enhanced their celebrity status through viral “sex-tapes. Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton have done it. These videos make me question whether it takes having to release a sex tape in order for a woman to garner the media or the public’s attention. And if so, why? There is nothing wrong with a woman being comfortable and confident in her own skin, but for a woman to have to show it to the whole world just to become famous is very degrading. With people allowing women to objectify themselves, the younger generation of girls will start thinking it’s acceptable for them to act that way, too. This, in turn, simply diminishes their value as women and doesn’t allow them to be appreciated for their virtues. Sheneen Monique, a freshman criminology major, believes the media belittles women as lesser humans than men. “Women are precious,” Monique said. “More precious than they could ever imagine, but the media has presented women as merely sex objects.” These words are sad to hear, but when women pose in the nude or constantly show their bodies then it makes it seem like they want to be belittled. Maybe female celebrities or women who want to get recognition are going by “sex sells,” but this should not be the only option. Women should never have to use their bodies to get acknowledged by the world. Irene Sidede can be reached at irene. sidede@spartans.ut.edu
‘Case Against Female Self-Esteem’: Stagnant Views in Changing World By CAITLIN MALONE Opinion Writer
“A woman with excessive confidence is like a man with a vagina. I’d still bang her, of course; a repellant personality doesn’t negate the fact that she has a slamming body,” says Matt Forney in his book The Case Against Female Self-Esteem. A lot of men like Forney have become resistant to the growing feminist movement, which inspires confidence in many women. Forney’s book is centered on an interesting point: men are generally more attracted to insecure women. But the way Forney presents his information makes him come off as an ignorant fool. His idea that men are more attracted to confident women is valid in some scenarios, but statements like the one previously stated are just going to piss off his readers. Unfortunately, a man who is this uncomfortable with female confidence in 2013 is going to have a hard time finding a wife. However, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to marry this prince charming anyway. The stereotypical couple of a working husband and a housewife has dwindled over the decades, and women are contributing a lot more than just taking care of the house and kids. According to finance.townhall. com, a Prudential Financial survey of about 1,400 women showed that 40 percent of women were single or divorced as of June 3, 2013, and 53 percent of these women were the breadwinners in their households. Twenty-five percent of the married women said they made more money than their husbands.
Unfortunately, some men’s acceptance of women’s growing independence seems to remain relatively stagnant. “Whenever a girl I’m talking to brags about how she’s ‘confident’ and ‘strong,’ I can feel my d**k deflate like a punctured tire,” Forney said. He doesn’t want a strong, confident girl because in the past, society has given men all the power. The fact that women are coming closer to equality and standing up for themselves more often is intimidating. Most guys want a girlfriend who needs and praises him. An article on powertochange.com says, “Men would rather have more praise, more acknowledgment of what they do right, more acknowledgment that they are great guys who are loved and appreciated.” Forney even admits to this overwhelming desire to feel appreciated and needed by women. “Part of our identity as men is based in women needing us, if not necessarily in a material sense, than in an emotional one,” he said. Guys like Forney want to feel like women need them and that they are providers. They don’t want women seeking satisfaction for those needs elsewhere. Guys that think this way can be just as insecure as some girls, but they don’t want women to know that. “It makes sense that a guy would chase after an insecure girl because it would make them feel more confident,” said UT junior and graphic design major Jared Lichtenstaedter. “Women want and need that confident man, and men search for insecure women to satisfy their natural pattern. I even go for insecure women, but not for the same b*llsh*t reasons he [Forney] talks about.”
Even I can admit I look for a guy that can take care of me and has great confidence. But sometimes a very confident and strong guy can be too controlling. There should be a balance. It’s possible to have a guy that can and will provide for a girl but is still comfortable with her putting in equal effort. I should not have to feel insecure in any way to get a guy to like me. It upsets me to know guys like Forney want us to feel incapable so that it can boost their own self-confidence. It comes off as selfish and overbearing. Forney describes the girls he has been in love with the most as “the ones who were the most insecure, the most emotionally vulnerable.” First of all, being insecure and being emotionally vulnerable are two completely different, relatively unrelated things. According to Merriam-Webster Online, being insecure is when you’re “not confident about yourself or your ability to do things well.” Being vulnerable is when you’re “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt.” For example, falling in love takes emotional vulnerability. But when a girl is insecure, she may experience a sense of incapability. In other words, she can feel like she’s not good enough. As a woman, I can be independent and still be emotionally vulnerable. And being emotionally vulnerable doesn’t make me an insecure woman. I will never need a man to provide for me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want one to share my life with. I don’t understand why anyone would want someone to be with them purely out of necessity. I always planned on marrying someone out of love, as
did UT senior and criminology major Cassandra Paige. “Love is something that as a little girl is talked up so much,” Paige said. “Everyone looks up to princesses and fairytales, and love is the epic ending. When that’s what we see, that’s what we want.” An ideal marriage for girls is one that is overflowing with love, and we don’t want to settle for anything less, Paige continued. Men that are uncomfortable with independent women are losing their wives everyday because of this. An article on MSN.com reported that 44 percent of marriages end because they lacked a sense of equality. Many men don’t want to share the responsibilities, and when women try to help it’s like men are insulted. It’s as if they think women feel they are inadequate when they are really just trying to be helpful. I’ve even seen it happen within my own family. It’s a bigger issue than people think it is. But since more women are now economically independent, we don’t have to stick around and put up with a man’s nonsense. Stubborn men need to start learning to embrace confident women. Our independence is important to us. It makes us feel good when we accomplish something for ourselves. And any guy that tries to take that away from us is just a selfish a**hole. Unfortunately for you, Forney, insecure women are learning every day that they don’t need guys like you to provide for them or make them feel like they’re good enough. Women know what they’re worth, and they deserve better. Caitlin Malone can be reached at caitlin.malone@spartans.ut.edu
16 THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
Sports
Men’s Basketball Team Reloaded and Ready to Go By TESS SHEETS Sports Writer
With months of rigorous practices and endless thought of game strategy, all that a sports team can really hope for in an upcoming season is a more successful one than the last in terms of records and results. Despite the loss to the Stetson University Hatters in their first preseason game, UT’s men’s basketball team has high hopes to improve as the days wind down for the regular season to begin. In order to achieve success, the team is setting higher standards for themselves and working harder than ever to finish stronger than years before. “As a coach, the goal is to get to the national championship,” head coach Richard Schmidt said. “Right now, we need to focus on winning the league first. We are setting high goals for this season because the league is very good, and we need to improve along with it.” To do this, the coaches are relying on every player to do their jobs, whether they are returning from last year or are new to the program. Schmidt is looking specifically toward junior Jordan Davis to bring success this season. Davis is a transfer student from the College of Central Florida who is bound to make an impact for the Spartans. “Jordan is going to be a differencemaker on this team,” Schmidt said. “He is quick on the floor, and he is the best passer that we have. He is really the key to the whole team.” As for the other new players, Schmidt is expecting improvement above anything. Freshman Matt Johnson is Davis’ backup and a walk-
Nikki Nunzio/The Minaret
The UT men’s basketball team is hoping to get plenty of slam dunks during this season.
on this year. “We will have to see what he has to offer this year,” Schmidt said. “He learns fast and has improved tremendously already this season.” Aside from skill and athleticism, however, there is another key ingredient necessary to winning games that has often been overlooked by this
team in years past: positive energy. It is an aspect that can make or break a team and, until this year, has not remained at the forefront of the players’ minds when it should have been. Instead, the team has based their energy on what they saw on the scoreboard. “Everyone has the same goal this year and really cares about winning,”
senior guard Eric Moraes said. “In the past, we’ve started undefeated for the first 10 games of the season and got overconfident. I think it is important to remain grounded and positive through wins and losses.” A notable change in the roster between last year’s season and the present one is going to need all of the positive energy it can get. With the loss of two prominent players in Anthony Griffis and Stefon Barfield, it seems as though the team is going to have to compensate with everything they have. “Anthony was a big loss for us because we needed him as a shooter, and Stefon would have been a starter,” Schmidt said. “We lost two extremely instrumental players, and are looking to Eric Moraes, Ryan Kidd and Austin Rettig to continue to improve their game in order to pick up the slack for those players.” In the previous two seasons, the team has finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Sunshine State Conference overall standings. While players and coaches will always have their eyes set on a national championship, Moraes stresses the importance of creating more realistic and attainable goals. “I would personally like to see this team just improve in the conference,” Moraes, a graphic design major, said. “We’re always ranked last in the preseason poll, and I think that we should focus on trying to do better in that aspect this year.” Tess Sheets can be reached at tessa. sheets@spartans.ut.edu
MEN’S BASKETBALL Key Addition
2013-2014 Outlook
Key Loss
Schedule
2013
Jordan Davis Jr. Point Guard
Anthony Griffis Graduated
Height 5’10 Weight 200 Hometown Tampa, FL
Height 6’5 Weight 180 Hometown Raleigh, NC
2012-13 Stats College of Central Florida
2012-13 Stats University of Tampa 15.2 PPG 1.3 APG 4.5 RPG
6.3 PPG 7.6 APG 3.3 RPG
2014
Nov. 12 Southeastern
Jan. 4 Rollins
Nov.15 American Int’l
Jan. 8 St. Leo
Nov. 17 Clayton St.
Jan. 11 Florida Tech
Nov. 23 Palm Beach Atl.
Jan. 15 Eckerd
Nov. 29 Armstrong
Jan. 18 Lynn
Dec. 7 Barry
Jan. 22 Florida Southern
Dec. 18 Dominican
Jan. 25 Nova Southeastern
Dec. 21-22 Tampa Classic
Feb. 1 Barry Feb. 5 Rollins Feb. 8 Florida Tech Feb. 12 St. Leo
17
NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
Men’s Soccer Looking to Rebound for Playoff Push By MARCUS MITCHELL Sports Writer
The men’s soccer team concluded their regular season play last Wednesday with a gritty double overtime draw with Florida Southern. The draw summed up a grueling season for the Spartans who finished the season with an overall record of 6-7-3 but with a conference record of just 2-5-1. The Spartans started off the first half of the season 4-2-2, but the season took a turn after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Rollins. The team went 2-5-1 in the second half of the season and hasn’t won a game since Oct. 19 against Eckerd. Head coach Adrian Bush explains the reasoning behind
the team’s struggles. “It’s been tough,” said Bush in regard to the squad’s recent skid. This is Bush’s ninth season at the helm, and he was named SSC Coach of the Year last year with a 10-6-1 record. The team played this season without many strong seniors from last year. Regardless, Bush remains adamant in his players’ ability. “I believe in these players,” Bush said. “The guys are working hard, and we have outplayed nearly every team we have faced. But there is a fine line between winning and losing.” The line couldn’t be any finer for the Spartans this season. The team has had six
Alex Jackson/The Minaret
Jason Steele feels that the team has a lot of potential and has high hopes for the future.
trips to overtime this season but have only escaped with a win once. Tough games have been a constant for the squad, who has six non-wins determined by a goal or less. The Spartans hold a goal difference of +4 over opponents as a whole, but they have struggled in SSC games being outscored by four goals against conference opponents. The Spartans finished the season sixth on the conference table and find themselves in the midst of the SSC tournament with aspirations of further games this November. “Discipline is a huge issue for us,” Bush said about the team moving forward. “We were a man down thanks to red cards for three games this season. We have allowed six penalty kicks this season. I haven’t allowed six penalty kicks over the past nine years as a whole. In order to win these upcoming games, we have to limit the cards and limit the fouls.” The Spartans have indeed struggled with keeping out of the referees’ books this year with 26 yellow cards, five red card ejections and over 180 fouls. Offense hasn’t been too big of an issue with junior Tyler Blackwood netting a team-high 13 goals from 59 shots, while freshman John Bentham’s long throwing ability has helped him tally seven assists for the Spartans. On the other end of the pitch is senior business major and goalkeeper David Niepel. Niepel is a former member of the German U-16 and U-17 national teams and has bounced back from a nearly career-ending broken back at the age of 16 to become a fan
favorite at UT. Niepel has been the starting goalkeeper with the team since his freshman year, and he has tallied 65 saves and only 22 goals allowed from over 200 shots faced. This will be Niepel’s last season with the team. He looks to graduate with a master’s degree in finance by the end of the year. The biggest accomplishment that the team has gained was one off the pitch rather than on it. The team led the conference in selections of Capital One Academic AllDistrict players with three Spartans chosen among the twelve selections. The three are Daniel Barboto, Craig Laird and Niepel, who has been awarded the distinction for the third straight year. This is the second year for Barboto who is a junior and premed/biology major. This is Laird’s first year being selected. “It’s a nice recognition for my accomplishments on and off the field,” Niepel said. UT is surely an underdog going into the tournament games this month, but the team excels in creating chances to score. If the Spartans can just convert a few of these chances, momentum will swing in their favor. “It is good for us as a team to go into the tournament as the underdog because other teams underestimate us,” Niepel said. “I hope we can end the season with a championship despite things not going our way in the last couple of the weeks.” Marcus Mitchell can be reached at marcus.mitchell@spartans.ut.edu
NCAA Lets University of Miami Off Easy Despite Major Violations By NATHAN KROHN Sports Writer
Today, it appears the NCAA handles sanctions in the same way a parent handles their misbehaving child. They just want the whole story, all at once. They don’t like being lied to, and they reward honesty. This seemingly new ideology became evident when the NCAA handed down a punishment equivalent to a slap on the wrist to Miami. The punishment included a loss of nine total scholarships over three years, a self-imposed one-year bowl ban and three years probation. This is quite surprising, considering that Miami players were being given improper benefits, one of the NCAA’s biggest agitations. The NCAA highly stresses the concept of being a “studentathlete,” and receiving benefits defeats the purpose of being a student first and an athlete second. For a program as out of control as Miami to receive a penalty so miniscule is mind-boggling, especially to USC and Penn State fans. USC was given a two-year bowl ban, forfeited 30 scholarships and was put on a four-year probation all because Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo accepted a couple of gifts from USC benefactors. For the Jerry Sandusky situation, Penn State was issued a post-season ban, fined $60 million and forced to vacate 13 years of wins under former coach Joe Paterno. While the NCAA recently gave back several scholarships to Penn State, the sanctions remained harsh for acts that, while they were morally outrageous, didn’t necessarily
break NCAA violations. Then you have Miami. When news first broke back in 2011 about the millions in illicit benefits booster Nevin Shapiro spent on men’s basketball and football players, some were talking about a possible “death penalty” for Miami football, similar to the one issued to SMU in 1987. Instead, Miami was an open book during the entire investigation, cooperating completely with the NCAA, and, in turn, their honesty was rewarded. Interestingly enough, the theme of coming clean, telling the truth and facing the issue head on seems to be the correct course of action in these negative situations. Take Ryan Braun as a perfect example of everything not to do. He had multiple opportunities to come clean, admit his mistake and simply move on. Instead, he decided to hide his transgression and see if he could get away with it. He lied and before he went to bed, he lied some more. For a while, Braun Kristian Golding/Flickr was the most hated athlete in America, Though Miami players received improper benefits, their punishment was rather small. and it’s going to take him years before admitted what they’ve done. They For years now, fans have had he can begin to repair that. faced the issue head on, and the public enough with being lied to; they’ve Roger Clemens is in the same boat. respects them for that. had enough with being treated as if He is refusing to admit what he’s They are quick to put it all in the they were stupid. done and continues to dig himself past and move forward. The fans think Tell the truth and you shall receive into a deeper hole. Countless other higher of them, and the league governing forgiveness but lie and the forgiveness athletes have emulated the behavior bodies impose lesser sanctions. may never come. of Clemens: Lance Armstrong, Barry Once upon a time the ideology Looking at Miami’s sanctions, it Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and the list was to deny, deny, deny until they’ve seems as though the NCAA is sick of just goes on. caught you red-handed, but times have being lied to, as well, and has decided Meanwhile, the likes of David changed. The fans respect a player who to reward the honesty. Ortiz, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi stands up with his hat in his hand and Nathan Krohn can be reached at and The University of Miami all have admits guilt. It takes courage. nathan.krohn@spartans.ut.edu
18 NOVEMBER 7 2013 | THE MINARET
SPORTS
Pro Sports
BOSTON STRONG
Red Sox bring hope to city after tragic bombings
By JAMES BELLUSCIO Sports Writer
For the first time since Babe Ruth’s 1918 Red Sox Championship team, Boston celebrated a victory in front of its home crowd. In 2004 and 2007, the Sox were on the road when clinching their World Series victories. This victory needed to happen in Boston. For sports, for the city and for the story. Not only did the Red Sox go from worst to first, but they managed to come back from turmoil and come together as a city. Just months after their city was bombed and terrorized, Bostonians can celebrate this championship in triumph. “Because of what happened to this city, we wanted to do something special and make everybody happy and proud,” Red Sox All-Star Dustin Pedroia told The New York Times after the World Series win. When it was over, David Ortiz took a microphone on the field and addressed the city, just as he did a week after the Boston Marathon bombings in April. “This is for you, Boston. You guys deserve it,” said Ortiz, who captured the Series MVP. “We’ve been through a lot this year, and this is for all of you and all
those families who struggled.” Shane Victorino, symbolic of these resilient Sox, returned from an injured back with a three-run double off the Monster in Game 6. These three runs proved to be crucial against the Cardinals rookie sensation, Michael Wacha. That one hit would go on to be enough to clinch the series victory. The Cardinals only scraped together one run, that came in the seventh inning off a base hit from Carlos Beltran. Like the majority of this series, the Cardinals did not play their game. Once dubbed “The Cardinal Way,” this was a team that never missed opportunities when having men on base. The Cards made a living being one of the most timely teams in the league, yet even with bases loaded and zero outs they failed to score in Game 6. The Red Sox simply out pitched them and, better yet, outplayed them. John Lackey became the first pitcher to start and win a Series clincher for two different teams, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings 11 years after his Game 7 victory as an Angels rookie in 2002. The only player remaining from the 2004 champs, Ortiz had a ridiculous
Series. He batted .688 (11-for-16) with They joined the 1991 Twins as the two homers, six RBIs and eight walks only team to win the World Series (including four in the finale) in 25 after coming in last the previous plate appearances, the second-highest year. It did not come easy for Boston. in Series history. They hit .211 as a team in the World The 38-year-old proved age is no Series, but somehow managed to win matter and single-handedly put the in six games. With opportune hits offense on his back when they needed from players others passed up on, him the most. and timely plays that others gave up He may have just guaranteed himself on, the Boston Red Sox are World a spot in the Hall of Fame. Ortiz, or “Big Champs once again. Papi,” is one of the most clutch players James Belluscio can be reached at to ever play this game and is simply james.bellucio@spartans.ut.edu unstoppable in the playoffs. “We have a lot of players with heart,” Ortiz said. “We probably don’t have the talent that we had in ‘07 and ‘04, but we have guys that are capable of staying focused and doing the little things.” Take a player like Stephen Drew as an example. Drew went into Game 6 slumping and as one of the weakest offensive players in the Sox lineup. But that did not stop him from sending the first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall to give the Sox a 4-0 lead. Every game it was a different player for the Red Sox. That is what makes them champions. Boston was a 30-1 underdog to Keith Allison/Flickr win the World Series last winter. DH David Ortiz was the named series MVP.
To say I’m surprised wouldn’t be the right word. I think “confused” better describes my attitude toward these putrid pirates. Coming into the season, I thought they’d be at least a .500 team. A younger, more naive version of me once thought, “How can a team with Vincent Jackson, Darrelle Revis and Doug Martin be THAT bad?” After this Sunday’s loss, I now know the answer to that question. Pay Up, Penn State It’s been almost two years since the Joe Paterno/Jerry Sandusky scandal surfaced at Penn State, and the school is still paying compensation to all the victims. According to The Daily Beast, Penn State has been mandated to pay a whopping $60 million (about $2.3 million per victim) to the 26 young men affected. While I agree that PSU should be required to help out these victims,
I don’t think that simply giving them money will even come close to remedying the years of psychological and mental scarring that these boys had to endure. The selfish decisions that Jerry Sandusky made have had massive repercussions on what was once an untarnished, pristine university. Professors, students and other sectors on campus are now losing money because of the massive cover-up that took place in the Penn State football program. “These 26 victims are only the tip of the iceberg of the lives that Sandusky has ruined,” Slade McLaughlin, an attorney for one of the victims, told The Daily Beast in response to the settlement. The NBA is Back! In happier news, the NBA has returned from its long hiatus and hasn’t
The NBA Begins and the Bucs are Historically Bad By GRIFFIN GUINTA Asst. Sports Editor
After the craziness of all four major professional sports playing at once, it was nice to sit back, relax and breathe this weekend. The Red Sox are champions yet again, the NBA has begun in style and our beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers have once again given us a reason to turn off our televisions in rage. Bucs Officially Walk the Plank Minaret writer Marcus Mitchell put it well by saying: “Who needs a girlfriend when you have the Bucs to break your heart?” Mitchell and countless other Tampa Bay Bucs fans across the state were forced to endure a brutally painful loss to the Seahawks in what could have been a statement game for the team. Up 24-7 late in the game, Tampa Bay had a chance to prove that their winless season wasn’t a total waste; instead, they floundered in a very typical Bucs fashion and lost in overtime, 27-24. I apologize for ripping the Bucs on a consistent basis, but it seems every week they find a way to work themselves into the major headlines by all the ridiculous mistakes they make. In many ways, the Buccaneers’ season has been like a house of cards. After the first card fell, the rest followed quickly in succession. In week one, it was Lavonte David’s penalty gaffe that cost the Bucs a valuable victory over the Jets. In week two it was the inability to contain a Saints’ comeback in the fourth quarter, and this week the wheels came off entirely.
Football Schedule/Flickr
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks kept the Bucs winless after beating them 27-24 Sunday.
ceased to impress. I know it’s still early in the season, but who would have predicted that the reigning champion Miami Heat would have already lost two games (once to the 76ers, once to the Nets)? It seems Dwight Howard’s redemption experiment has been working so far with Houston, as he and the Rockets went 3-0 in dominant fashion this week. It may be premature to say, but I believe D12 has finally found his niche in H-town. Sure, he may have to share a good chunk of the limelight with fellow star James Harden, but at least he’s on a team that has solid chemistry and produces wins. If all he wants is to win championships, he’s in the right place. One team to look out for is the reloaded Detroit Pistons. They’re a defense’s worst nightmare in the post with the dynamic trio of Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith. They are also led once more by Pistons great Chauncey Billups. I’m not sure why, but seeing Billups in a Pistons uniform feels right. Maybe this nucleus that Joe Dumars has assembled will go on to become the Pistons of the early 2000s that featured Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Billups as their stars. Well, folks, it wasn’t the most exciting weekend in sports, but there was still plenty of good times to be had––unless you are a Bucs fan, of course. Don’t worry Bucs faithful, Marcus Mariota is looking pretty good this year. Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffin.guinta@theminaretonline.com
SPORTS
THE MINARET | NOVEMBER 7 2013
19
NFL Midseason Award Races Heating Up League’s Top Players Proving Their Worth
By JORDAN LLANES Sports Editor
MVP Peyton Manning
Was there ever any doubt? Manning is off to one of the best starts for a quarterback in NFL history. After shredding the defending champion Ravens in Week 1 to a tune of seven passing touchdowns (which set a new single game record), the veteran signal caller has led the Broncos to a 7-1 start heading into the Broncos’ bye week. For the season, Manning has already thrown for just under 3,000 yards (2,919) and 29 touchdown passes. That’s through EIGHT GAMES.
Without Manning at the helm, the Broncos would just be fighting for a possible playoff spot, not in the race for the AFC’s top seed. If the defense can hold up its end, there should be no reason why Manning can’t lead the team to the conference’s number one seed. Try and make an argument for why he shouldn’t be named the league’s Most Valuable Player for a record fifth time. Bet you can’t make a convincing one. Manning at this point has proven himself as unstoppable.
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Peyton Manning is the unquestionable MVP, throwing for almost 3,000 up to this point.
Coach of the Year Andy Reid
Wikimedia Commons
After being fired in Philadelphia following a 14 season reign, the Chiefs pounced on Reid and new GM John Dorsey, believing they were the duo to jumpstart a talented Kansas City roster that had seven Pro Bowl players last season despite a 2-14 record. Well, owner Clark Hunt got it right. The coach-GM combo, along with new quarterback Alex Smith (stolen from San Francisco for two picks), have led Kansas City to an unbeaten
start. Reid has tailored his West Coast offense perfectly to Smith’s strengths, as the quarterback’s efficiency and decision making has consistently led the Chiefs to wins. Furthermore, Reid learned to abandon his favored 4-3 defense in order to switch to a 3-4 style that the Chiefs’ personnel fits better. That is a style of coaching that could lead Kansas City deep into January.
After being fired by the Eagles, Coach Andy Reid has led his Cheifs to an 8-0 record.
OPOY Calvin Johnson
Simply put, the Lions would not be 5-3 without Johnson. The world’s best wide receiver broke Jerry Rice’s single season receiving yardage record last season and is well on his way to another 1500+ yard season this time around. The 6-foot-5 wide out, nicknamed “Megatron,” has 47 receptions for 821 yards and 7 touchdown receptions at the midway point. When he was out with an injury against the Green Bay Packers in Week 5, Detroit
quarterback Matthew Stafford looked hopelessly lost en route to a 229 loss. The key to beating the Lions is stopping Megatron. Good luck with that. Despite battling double and triple teams as well as nagging injuries, Meagtron has still dominated his opponents. In order for the Lions to reach the postseason after missing out last season, he has to be in top form. Sounds like that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the league’s best receiver.
Wikimedia Commons
Calvin Johnson is on his way to yet another 1,500 yard recieving season with the Lions.
DPOY Richard Sherman
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The tenacious Richard Sherman anchors a powerful Seattle Seahawks secondary defense.
Taylor Noel PICK ‘EM Flagler Invitational
Average score: 76.3 Individual Result: 19 out of 81
Writers Predict Weekly Matchups Week 10
Griff Phil Connor Nathan Jordan Jessica
vs.
Marcus Jimmy Grant
The NFL’s biggest trash talker is also it’s best defender halfway through the 2013 regular season. Go figure. In all seriousness, Sherman is easily the league’s best corner and has thus far been the NFL’s best defensive player. He leads the league in interceptions with four and showed Sunday how he can consistently take the opponent’s best receiver out of the game against Tampa Bay at home. Sherman held the Bucs’ top wideout, Vincent Jackson, to only two receptions for 11 yards. He has consistently done that all season, as well as last
Jessica
vs.
Phil Griff Connor Grant Jimmy Nathan
year. Barring injury, look for Sherman to rule the opponent’s top receiver for the next few seasons. As for this season, Sherman will continue to lead the Seattle secondary loaded with playmakers such as Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor. Sherman’s Stanford education comes to use on Twitter (where he dueled Bucs corner Darrelle Revis about who is the league’s best corner) and when writing for Sports Illustrated’s The MMQB, where he pens a weekly column that read by the NFL faithful.
Josiah Nathan
vs.
Phil Nathan Griff Marcus Jordan Jimmy Jessica
MINARET
Men’s Basketball [16]
UT’S SOURCE SINCE 1933
SPORTS
NFL Midseason [19]
A Comprehensive College Basketball Preview
Adam Glanzman/Flickr, MGoBlue/Flickr,TenneseeJournalist/Flickr
Rick Pitino (LEFT), Mitch McGary (CENTER) and John Calipari (RIGHT) are three major faces to watch in the college basketball landscape this season. Each have majorly mpacted their teams. By PHIL NOVOTNY Sports Writer
This year can be seen as a transition year for college basketball due to the creation of a new conference called the Catholic 7, which consists of the seven non-football members of the Big East who decided to separate. Since those seven teams moved, the Big East added Creighton, Butler and Xavier to fill in the void left by the Catholic 7. These universities also signed a media rights deal with Fox Sports to broadcast their games. Another storyline is the rise of ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) who added former Big East powerhouses Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. These powerhouse teams will not be the only ones showcasing their talent this year. Teams to watch: The University of Louisville will make a strong case to repeat this year. The Cardinals will be trying to defend their national championship and are trying to make their third straight Final Four under head coach Rick Pitino. USA Today Sports has Louisville ranked #1 to start the season, and Russ Smith, who averaged 18.7 points per game last year, will lead them. Even though they lost point guard Peyton Siva, the Cardinals will still be a dominant force in 2013. Many people wonder if Kentucky is going to get back to dominance after their huge let down season last year. The Wildcats are still lead by head coach John Calipari, but they failed to reach the NCAA tournament last year. Kentucky lost in the first round of the NIT. This will not happen again this year because Calipari’s recruiting class won’t let it. Kentucky’s recruiting class is made of five of ESPN’s top 10 high school players in the country:
point guard Andrew Harrison, shooting guard Aaron Harrison, power forward Julius Randle, center Dakari Johnson and small forward James Young. These players are compared to the Fab Five at Michigan in the early 1990s. They will look to prove that last season was a fluke, and it is an abomination that Kentucky is unranked to start the year. The Ohio State Buckeyes will definitely be in the conversation for the national title this year because of their four returning starters, led by senior point guard Aaron Craft, who will be one of the top defenders in the perimeter this year. Their X Factor will be small forward LaQuinton Ross, who averaged 13.4 points per game in the NCAA tournament and will be essential for Ohio State to overtake Michigan State in the Big Ten this year. Players to Watch: The most anticipated player to look for this year is freshman Kansas Jayhawks guard/ forward Andrew Wiggins. Some people call him the next LeBron James, and he is projected to be selected #1 in the 2014 NBA draft. Jayhawks head coach Bill Self calls him a “rock star.” Wiggins is a preseason All-American who is the All-USA boys’ basketball player of the year. College basketball fans should expect great things from Wiggins and the Jayhawks. Michigan’s power forward Mitch McGary will be on the radar for the Wolverines this year after his coming out party during his freshman year. McGary was a huge part of the Michigan team who led the Wolverines to the national title game against Louisville. He passed up on the chance to declare the NBA draft with fellow teammate Trey Burke to stay at Michigan. McGary averaged 14.3 points per
game and 10.7 rebounds per game during the six NCAA tournament games he played in. He should play a vital role in the Wolverines success this year. Another player to watch is Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart, who surprised the basketball community by not declaring the NBA draft to stay during his sophomore season. The All-American averaged 15.4 points a game and 4.2 assists, which led to him being named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. Smart should help led the Cowboys deep into the NCAA tournament after their disappointing loss in the second round last year against Oregon. Teams that will disappoint: The University of Arizona has come off a good season that led them all the way to the Sweet 16, but they are not the same team this year. Arizona lost their two top scorers in Mark Lyons and Solomon Hill (who averaged 28 points per game) in addition to forward Grant Jarrett to the NBA draft. They have voids to fill, but their freshman class will not fill them in. The Wildcats are ranked 14th in the polls, but expect a let down from a team who finished second in the Pac-12 with their top scorers last year. Another team that will not live up to expectation is the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who did finish 32-3 last year, but all of those losses came in conference play. It is hard to see the comparison between the WCC and ACC. The loss of Elias Harris in the frontcourt will be costly on both ends of the court, especially on defense. The Bulldogs will have a hard time replacing him, and this will be more of a transition year for a team who will have another early exit in the NCAA tournament. Cinderella teams/Bracket Busters: Now the moment bracketologists have
been waiting for: the Cinderella teams. If you want to make a bold prediction in your bracket this year, look for teams like Creighton and St. John’s. Some people are probably wondering as they read this if these teams will even make the tournament at all. The answer is “yes, they will” and here is why: Creighton will make the NCAA tournament due to the performance of forward Doug McDermott, who is arguably the best scorer in the country. He averages 23.1 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per. His dynamic performance led him to be a first team All-American for the second straight season. The most dangerous thing about them is the ability to produce on every part of their starting lineup. The St. John’s Red Storm have all of the pieces to make some noise in the tournament this year. They have 90 percent of their scoring back from last season. Head coach Steve Lavin will have something to prove against Big East favorites Georgetown and Marquette. D’angelo Harrison and forward Jakurr Sampson will be the key reason for their success. They also have Chris Obekpa, who averaged four blocks last year and will be a nightmare in the backcourt. The Red Storm have a history of NCAA tournament success with a Final Four appearance in 1985. Expect Lavin’s dynamic team to make a name for themselves this year. These teams may not have the same impact as Florida Gulf Coast’s “Dunk City,” but they have a lot of upside. Overall, this upcoming college basketball season will be an exciting one, and the excitement should set the stage for March Madness. The anticipation for Selection Sunday is knocking at the door. Phil Novotny can be reached at philip.novotny@spartans.ut.edu