The Minaret 2/9/2012

MINARET UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1933

THE

Volume 78 Number 16

•

February 9, 2012

Convention to Conflict with Start of Fall Semester

•

ut.minaret@gmail.com

•

theminaretonline.com

•

blog.theminaretonline.com

A Suite Groundbreaking

By STEF CROCCO News Reporter

Photo courtesy of 2012tampabay.com, Graphic illustration by Chelsea Daubar

In Other News...

4 U.S. Correspondents Discuss Workplace Minorities 5 CSSME Dean Gormly to Step Down in May

Construction begins on Residence Hall VII

By MIA GLATTER

the Health and Wellness Center and the Science Annex, another LEED certification would be beneficial for the school.

“Having a third LEED certified building would reaffirm UT’s commitment to constructing buildings

a laundry room and a common kitchen, but uniquely the 11th floor of the new hall will include two University of Tampa students large community rooms. The main returning from winter break were entrance of the hall will face North greeted with campus construction Brevard Avenue and will have an and road closure. The construction adjacent park and courtyard. is the first stage of building a new With the residence hall, which is construction of currently being referred the new residence to as Residence Hall VII. “This new construction represents our hall, UT will It will be 11 stories tall continued effort to provide an exemplary be undergoing and will add 523 beds academic and co-curricular experience for construction for to house undergraduate them.” quite some time, students. The land was

-President Ronald Vaghn but junior marine

once the site of the biology major Brit 82-year-old Valencia that both are environmentally Foster doesn’t mind the dust.

Garden restaurant, property which sustainable and achieve our students’ “I think it is a positive thing,” UT bought two years ago. The entire co-curricular needs,” he said.

Foster said.

“It will bring more project will cost approximately Freshman marine science people to UT, which can only benefit $38 million and is projected to be major Shanna Gebo appreciates the school and community in a complete in August of 2013.

The building is being specially the school’s continuing energy positive way.”

Freshman Julia Egbe, business designed in hopes of earning conservation efforts.

“The school is making this new and marketing major agrees.

Leadership in Energy and residence hall more eco-friendly, so “I think the new residence hall Environmental Design certification it is nice to see that they are making will have a great impact,” she said.

(LEED) from the U.S. Green an attempt at making the school “Our school is expanding fast and Building Council. The residence greener,” Gebo said. this new addition will attract even hall’s roof will be equipped with a The new residence hall will more students.” solar array that will supply hot water While students are excited about to the building. Other likely fixtures be suite-style, with four single bedrooms connected by a common the new addition, there are those who include high performance windows, living room and two bathrooms per are also wary about the consequences central air conditioning and low-flow suite.

Similar to the other residence plumbing fixtures. UT spokesman Eric Cardenas said that along with halls on campus, there will be See DORM, Page 5 News Reporter

]

See RNC, Page 2

Photo by Samantha Battersby, Photo illustration courtsey of Eric Cardenas, Graphic illustration by Chelsea Daubar and Mike Trobiano.

The new residence hall is set to be completed by August 2013, and will house over 500 students. The top floor will have two community rooms .

7 2012 Academy’s Oscar Nominations Shock, Please Student Critic 10 Star Wars: Episode I and its Two-Sided Lightsaber

[

The University of Tampa is preparing for the expected and the unexpected for when the Republican National Convention comes to downtown Tampa from Aug. 27-30, 2012.

According to the UT Director of Public Information Eric Cardenas, “We’re doing everything possible to provide students a typical UT educational experience when they return to campus - or start as new students - in August.”

However, students are already experiencing complications with the timing of the convention. One student, Josh Jacobs, the marketing chair for Student Productions and a graphic design major, has to come back to school two weeks before classes start in order to prepare SP events for freshmen orientation. As the event planner, Jacobs is not allowed to plan any events around the same time of the RNC. “It sucks,” he said. “Travel is also going to be a huge pain.”

The convention indeed already has the university moving its Fall 2012 schedule up. New Student Orientation has been moved to Monday, Aug. 20 and will run through Aug. 24.

Drop off day for returning students will start Saturday, Aug. 25, a day earlier than planned, so students can avoid the arrival of the majority of the RNC visitors.

The school does advise students to start planning ahead to avoid travel complications. Vice President of Operations and Planning Dr. Linda Devine, believes “now is not too early.”

Additionally, as Cardenas explained, the university is training “faculty to teach classes virtually in case they physically cannot make it to campus.”

Other students are worried about the RNC for security reasons. Cassie Weber, a freshman and advertisement and public relations major, believes “Vaughn (Center) should be locked up [from the outside] because anyone could come in and scan themselves into the elevators.”

Weber also mentioned how feels that security on other campuses is a lot stricter. “You would think we would have more security because we are a private university,” she said.

Dani Sopchak, a freshman music performance and English major, hopes more blue light security systems will be installed throughout the entire UT campus due to the vast increase of visitors for the convention and the openness of the campus. “Every other university has the blue light system running through their campuses and yet ours are only set up in the parking garages,” Sopchak stated.

13 California’s 9th Circuit Court Overturns Prop. 8

News..................................2

18 Super Bowl Ads Range From Good to Awful

Opinion............................13

Diversions.........................6 A+E....................................7 Sports..............................17

M

FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

MINARET

2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Trobiano

mike.trobiano@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR Joshua Napier

joshua.napier90@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Daniel Feingold

dfeingold91@gmail.com

NEWS + FEATURES

Shivani Kanji, Editor Chelsea Daubar, Asst. Editor minaret.news@gmail.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Amanda Sieradzki, Editor Natalie Hicks, Asst. Editor minaret.arts@gmail.com

OPINION

Richard Solomon, Editor Jessica Keesee, Asst. Editor Mikey Angelo Rumore, Asst. Editor minaret.commentary@gmail.com

SPORTS

Miles Parks, Editor John Hilsenroth Jr., Asst. Editor

NEWS + FEATURES

C-SPAN Campaign Bus Visits UT Campus

By KIRBY JAY News Reporter

The C-SPAN Campaign 2012 Bus opened the opportunity for students to get involved in the politics of this year’s election when it stopped by UT on Tuesday, Jan. 31 on its “Road to the White House” tour.

C-SPAN, an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American television network that provides coverage of candidates, federal government proceedings and public affairs. Three television channels, many websites and a radio station offer this information through C-SPAN The Campaign 2012 Bus promotes and enhances CSPAN’s many resources and political coverage by traveling around the country. It attends major political events, meeting with anyone interested in voting. The bus also visits state capitals, community events and universities.

“C-SPAN offers a variety of public affairs programming and resources for educators, students, first-time voters and the general public.We hope they

come on board and check out or interactive Campaign 2012 Bus,” C-SPAN’s community relations representative, Doug Hemming stated in a recent article posted on the University of Tampa website before the bus made its visit to the school.

Rachel Katz, C-SPAN’s Marketing Specialist stated her opinion on why she believes C-SPAN is so unique.

“We get to show the events as they are happening so people can make the decisions for themselves. Instead of us analyzing it for you, you are able to see what you are interested in and watch it in its entirety.”

Dr. David Krahl, a professor at UT teaching the course Social Issues and Social Movements, brought one of his classes to pay the bus a visit last Tuesday. He believes his students need to “create a political conscious” and “understand the dynamic nature of politics.” After his students exited the bus, he explained how it is the job of a U.S. citizen to get engaged

minaret.sports@gmail.com

ONLINE

Kyle Bennett, Social Media Director kbennett.ut@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Samantha Battersby, Head Photographer minaret.photog@gmail.com

ADVERTISING

Katelyn Goodwin, Ad & PR Coordinator Jill Rosenblum, Assistant Ad & PR Coordinator minaret.ads@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of the UT Facebook Page

The C-SPAN Campaign Bus visited UT on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.

Photo courtesy of the UT Facebook Page

A student learns the importance of political involvement

in political issues. While explaining the importance of student voters, Dr. Krahl said, “So now, it’s your age cohort that has a ‘chip in the game.’

And it’s great to see people expand their horizons and deal with the social issues on a broader, more global basis.

Whether they have voted in the past or not, students can often show a lack of interest in the time before the elections.

The C-SPAN Bus’s many touch-screen computers, TVs and headphones showed the importance of political involvement ahead of time to help make that executive decision. “They are finding their way,” Dr. Krahl said following his lecturing to students after the tour.

Katz believes that the only major difference between student voters and the general public is that many students are first time voters. “We like to come to college campuses because now we’re getting a lot of first time voters, we want to see people getting engaged at a young age,” she said. “It is important to pay attention to what is happening in DC,

see how they’re spending your tax dollars if you want to see how they’re spending them, what they are doing, what laws they are passing and what the representatives are doing.

That is why we have C-SPAN so that you are able to follow everything that is going long form and to make decisions for yourself.”

Students have a strong voice in the elections. It is important for UT students to understand the political process, political issues and what is at stake. “It was the experience in the bus that hopefully led to a greater appreciation of the American political process, and just how important the right to vote actually is,” Dr. Krahl stated. “I urge my students to take their right to vote seriously, and to exercise it when they have the opportunity to do so.”

The visit of the C-SPAN Campaign Bus provided a great opportunity for college students to learn the importance of political involvement and inspired the ones who toured it to take action.

Kirby Jay can be reached at kirby.jay@spartans.ut.edu.

ADVISER

COPY EDITORS

Jennifer Bedell, Head Copy Editor 1jennifer.bedell@gmail.com

REPORTERS

Trinity Morgan Yasaman Sherbaf Laurel Sanchez Kelly St.Onge Stephane Crocco

STAFF WRITERS Tim Shanahan Shawn Ferris April Weiner Greg Spracklin Tara Temkar Katelyn Edwards

COLUMNISTS

Alex Caraballo Dominique Barchus Annabella Palopoli Hannah Webster

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

UT prepares for fall convention craziness From RNC, Page 1 UT has been working on enhancing the campus security and securing the campus entrances and borders.

According to the UT website, “Faculty, staff, and students will need to be ready to present their Spartan ID cards at any time during RNC.” Every member of the UT community will be provided with a bright green and bright orange lanyards and an ID holder so that they can be identified instantly.

Unfortunately, in a worstcase scenario “there is a possibility that some rioting and violent behavior could spill west of the river and on to Plant Park.

This could mean a number of possibilities from a campus lock down to tear gas in the air to random vandalism on campus,” according to a report sent out to the faculty in November of 2011. The report also said that there is a possibility that “the RNC event could cause major disruptions in traffic flow which

would prevent faculty, staff and commuter students from getting to campus.” Due to this specific issue, the report from the RNC committees shows that they would like to set a rule in place: “By 6 pm the night before each faculty member will send

]

dreimold@ut.edu

staying on top of the upcoming event. Last year, UT formed two committees that have been meeting regularly to plan for how the RNC may impact the school.

They’ve been working closely with City of Tampa officials and the Tampa Police Department and

“UT has been working on enhancing the campus security and securing the campus entrances and borders. According to the UT website, “Faculty, staff, and students will need to be ready to present their Spartan ID cards at any time during RNC.”

a class e-mail and post to the course Bb site that class will or will not physically meet.

Students will be directed to Bb for course work.” Nothing has been finalized so far.

Of course, the school is hoping for a best-case scenario, in which this case the disruption stays east of the river and there are limited traffic problems.

Cardenas doesn’t really expect the RNC to substantially affect UT’s educational mission, especially because the university has been

[

Daniel Reimold, Ph.D.

plan on communicating with the campus community on a regular basis to keep them updated on potential RNC impacts.

Although, the university has some “concerns that students without work will resort to behaviors that may get them hurt or arrested. This especially impacts FY [first year] students,” according to the report from November.

In an email sent out to students when the spring semester began, Devine wrote, “It will be critical

that all UT community members actively take part in making campus a secure and safe area.”

One student is really excited for the convention and believes that the university will not have any issues. “It’s a really good thing for Tampa. It’s an awesome opportunity for UT students between getting involved, internships and other endless possibilities” said Bayleigh Benner, a sophomore marine science biology major.

“There will be extra security and training to making it easy enough for students to get to and from campus, as well as providing enough safety information.”

For further information, visit www.ut.edu/rnc. The website will be the main information source for all UT matters impacted by the RNC and it will be updated frequently. If you have any questions or comments about the convention, you can contact the RNC committee at RNC2012@ ut.edu.

Stef Crocco can be reached at stefcrocs@yahoo.com.

NEWS + FEATURES

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

3

Raul Rios Works With Diplomats Through UN Internship

By YASAMAN SHERBAF News Reporter

Raul Alfonso Rios, senior government and world affairs major, interned this past fall with the Department of State’s United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City.

Rios got this once in a lifetime opportunity to intern with the U.S. Mission to the U.N. through a friend, purely by chance.

Rios applied in January via the Department of State website, and was then informed in May that he was a primary candidate and his spot was confirmed in August. Rios then spent 10 weeks at his internship, from the end of September to mid-November. The application process for his internship was very difficult.

“It was a lot of work and planning I can say that much, there were several forms I had to fill out and I even had to go through a thorough background check,” Rios said.

Rios described the application process as “very competitive.” Many students apply year round and only a very select few are chosen to work for the two or three dozen departments and bureaus under the Department of State.

“My primary choice which I got was the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City and my second choice was the Foreign Service Institute in Washington D.C.,” Rios said.

Rios has always had an interest in foreign affairs and international law. In high school, he was a part of the model United Nations team. He believed that his internship could be the perfect opportunity for his future career would help him carry out his future academic goals.

As an intern for the U.S. Mission to the

U.N., Rios performed a number of tasks. He assisted the research unit with any questions they had for the U.S. mission staff such as dealing with U.N. Resolutions and creating memorandums. Rios attended meetings in the United Nations headquarters as part of the U.S. delegation or merely just meetings that he was interested in attending dealing with specific subjects.

“I also got the chance to attend bilateral meetings with former Ambassadors/Area Advisors as a note take and observer, which were really eye opening and really interesting and had a tremendous impact on my views on how U.S. foreign policy was conducted,” Rios said.

Another positive aspect of the internship was the relationship Rios had with the people he worked with.

“They really treated interns as assets, instead of the more stereotypical approach people have in mind, thanks to this experience I know what I would like to do with my life and my career,” he said.

While working with the internship, Rios took two independent study courses during the course of his internship, under Dr. Liv Coleman an Assistant Professor for Government and World Affairs, and Dr. Bruce K. Friesen an Associate Professor for Sociology. It was these classes that rounded out Rios’ overall experience.

“I am extremely grateful for the support they showed me throughout my experience,” Rios said.

Rios was also able to enjoy his first time in New York City when he wasn’t working.

“I would spend every other week in Central Park relaxing with friends, or just walking around,” he said.

Rios met a lot of political figures and diplomatic officers through his internship.

From the Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 reports

For the 50th Time This Semester On Jan. 30 at 2:10 a.m., two students were found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and one of the students was also found in possession of a fraudulent driver’s license.

Caught Red Handed On Feb. 2 at 3:50 p.m., two students entered the Barnes and Noble bookstore on campus and removed a book without paying for the item. Students were also charged with the criminal offense and arrested by TPD. The students were referred to the judicial board.

I Swear to Drunk, I’m Not God On Feb. 3 at 1:30 a.m., a student was found intoxicated, became disorderly and was found to have warrants. TPD then effected an arrest of student.

Rock Em’ Sock Em’ Roommates On Feb. 3 at 3:15 a.m., two roommates were found to have pushed each other during a disagreement.

It’s Been Stolen...I Think On Feb. 4 at 11:15 a.m., a student reported his backpack stolen. Inside of the back pack was a MacBook, gold necklace and text books. Later, student located backpack and contents and discovered no theft had occurred.

Just a Quick Dip On Feb. 5 at 2:15 p.m., security responded to call of an individual jumping into the Hillsborough River east of the Riverside building.

Not So Suite Life On Feb. 5 at 11:47 p.m., a resident student was referred to the Office of Student Conduct for violating the university’s limited access hours guest policy.

Photo courtesy of Raul Rios

Raul Rios spent ten weeks in New York City working an internship for the UN.

For example, he met with the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Susan Rice. Rios also got the chance to attend some side events at the United Nations on human rights and a couple of U.S. Receptions.

When asked if he has any tips for students looking or wanted to get internships in the future, he said, “If you are interested in applying for an internship than don’t hesitate, you have nothing to lose.”

After graduating, Rios plans on going to Law School for International Law. He hopes to get his law degree and Masters degree at the same time in a dual program and then move on to his Doctor of Science of Law. Rios is also considering joining the Foreign Service for a few years to gain more work experience.

“I met a lot of long time career Foreign Service Officers during my internship, which had a significant impact on my views

and perspectives on serving as a Foreign Service Officer,” he said.

Rios also encourages UT students to apply for the U.N. internship.

“I think more students here at UT should apply for this internship if they want to serve their country, grow as individuals and if they would like to experience something new, interesting and exciting,” he said.

While the experience was definitely a learning experience, Rios did not get any credits towards his major for the internship.

“It is something that the school should seriously reconsider or look into if they are to promote their students taking the initiative on their own worthwhile internships in the future,” Rios said.

For more information about his internship, you can contact him at raul. rios@spartans.ut.edu.

Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at ysherbaf@spartans.ut.edu.

Tuesday Feb. 7, the different committees of Student Government met in Vaughn Center for general assembly.

During the Presidential Address, Nick Chmura talked to the assembly about passion and talked about some of the achievements of the Drive UT club, Entrenprenership Club Ambitious Group and the P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Center.

The Drive UT club had a car show on the top of the West Parking Garage.

The Entrenprenership Club Ambitious group sent almost 25 students to a national conference.

The P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Center is planning in sending 12 students to Thailand as part of their Alternative Break Program.

Nichole Hurt gave the Student Commuter Association Update and the Head of Campus Security, Kevin Howell talked about the Emergency Communication Systems. Information about specific emergency plans can be found at www.ut.edu/emergency.

General assembly meets the first Tuesday of every month.

Elections for Student Government begin at the end of March.

Reports compiled by Chelsea Daubar

4 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

NEWS + FEATURES

U.S. Correspondents Discuss Workplace Minorities

By TRINITY MORGAN News Reporter

Last week, UT hosted The White House Hispanic Community Action Summit featuring representatives from the Obama Administration.

The Summit, which targeted Hispanic communities, addressed issues like education and the economy.

Francisco Sanchez, Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade was eager to mention the newly announced decline in the nation’s unemployment rate to 8.3 percent.

This is good news for students who are nearing graduation and are anxious about entering an increasingly competitive job market, and for those who put off college and are considering getting a degree.

The economic downturn discouraged

many potential students who couldn’t afford it from applying for loans in order to attend a university. Sanchez said those students who are finding ways to achieve some sort of secondary education, regardless of their financial situation, are not doing so in vain.

Sanchez cited the addition of more than 3.5 million jobs to the market, many of which require some sort of secondary education.

“President Obama is focused on investing in student development as well as work force development for 21st century jobs,” he said, “Those jobs include advanced manufacturing included both college level and non college required skills science and engineering is in huge demand.”

Sanchez also addressed concerns about access to education in an economy that increasingly demands at least some college

Samantha BattersbyThe Minaret

Students heard from different speakers from the White House Initiative.

Samantha Battersby/The Minaret

Franscico Sanchez spoke with UT students about Hispanic minorities in the work place.

education. “ The administration is committed to making college generally more affordable,” he said, “So that every young person who wants to and has done the work to get into college can do so.”

Gabriel Sandoval, Senior Advisor for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics was also in support of students obtaining a secondary education, even encouraging those planning to work in the civil services after graduation.

“The White House is focused on ensuring that students don’t feel indebted for public service,” he said, citing policies that would forgive student loans after an established number of years of service in jobs like teaching.

Sanchez stressed that a college education is not necessary to get the higher paying jobs. College offers students

many opportunities for growth and selfimprovement. “ I still believe that making an investment in yourself is the best investment that you can make,” he said. “The president is committed to building an economy that’s built to last that will create jobs across the border, so that we can hire the many talented students that are coming out of our universities.”

Sanchez’s job not only focuses on increasing Hispanic citizen’s access to a higher education, he is an advocate for anyone interested in obtaining a degree.

“You are showing your patriotism by deciding to go to college, by deciding to stay in college and by graduating,” he said, “ When we have a more informed electorate, we have a more perfect union.”

Trinity Morgan can be reached at tmorgan@spartans.ut.edu.

2-Week MayTerm May 7 – 18

Shorter session.

Longer vacation.

6-Week Terms May 21 – June 28 July 2 – August 11 12-Week Term May 21 – August 11

Registration opens Monday, Feb. 27 REGISTER ONLINE :

www.ut.edu/summer

NEWS + FEATURES

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

5

CSSME Dean Gormly to Step Down in May

By SHIVANI KANJI News Editor

After working in higher education for more than 34 years, Dr. Anne Gormly announced that she will be stepping down as Dean of the College of Social Science, Math, and Education.

In an announcement sent out on Tuesday Jan 31, Gormly says, “Today I informed the Provost of my intention to step down as Dean of CSSME effective May 15 of this year.

This will allow me to spend time in support of my family and friends who have been so important and supportive to

me over the years.”

Gormly began working at the University of Tampa on July 1, 2008 when she was appointed as the Dean of the College of Social Science, Math, and Education.

According to the University’s directory, “she is the author of a textbook on lifespan human development and worked for 17 years as a therapist.”

In her announcement, Gormly explains, “As it happened, I lost a dear friend to cancer just after the new year; this was the second friend of mine to die this year.

On a happier note, some of you know that my husband and

I are anticipating the birth of our third grandchild. Some of you also know that it was the birth of our first grandchild that brought me to The University of Tampa. Now it will be my family again that will take me away.”

Shivani Kanji can be reached at shivani.kanji@ spartans.ut.edu.

Photo courtesy of ut.edu

Student reactions mixed on what new dorm means for UT From DORM, Page 1 of expanding. Out of the 6,738 students that attend UT, 65 percent live in on-campus housing. The occupancy in the Howard Johnson for Fall 2011 was 499 students. Though the addition of the new residence hall may seem to end the need to house students in the hotel near campus, according to Cardenas, this may not be the case.

“On-campus housing demand varies from year to year and is dependent on the preferences of the full-time undergraduate student body,” Cardenas said. “It is likely that by the opening of Fall 2013 the University may see sufficient growth that there may be a need for some additional beds and we may utilize the Howard Johnson again for supplemental housing, at least initially before vacancies can be confirmed within the other on-campus residence halls.”

Freshman Alexandria Tinsley worries how expanding will effect the school. “Nothing good’s coming out of UT growing,” Tinsley said. “The idea of a small private university will be lost once we hit 10,000 students.”

UT has always been known for its campus appeal and smaller class sizes. Sophomore Michelle Boretti believes that the new hall could change UT’s cherished ideals.

“What’s annoying is that if they keep increasing the size of the student body, classes are going to have a greater teacher to student ratio.”

The last apparent concern on student minds was intensified when freshman were asked to move their cars higher in the West Parking Garage to make room for commuters. The commuter lot next to the Health and Wellness center was closed as part of the residence hall construction, making finding parking a larger issue for everyone. Junior elementary education major Devyn Leigh Millyard worries this will ruin the excitement of a new dorm.

“I’m excited to see the finished result, but I’m not excited for the parking problems,” Millyard said. “More students means more cars, and parking is already limited as it is. Hopefully parking will be treated as a privilege.

Maybe freshman shouldn’t have cars.”

The idea of taking parking away from freshman worries student Olivia Fernandez the most.

“If more students were admitted, I am sure that freshman would probably be banned from bringing their cars,” Fernandez said. “As a freshman currently, I rely on my car heavily and so I am hoping a larger student body will not ban freshman from using cars.”

Though opinions on consequences vary, Ronald L.

Samantha Battersby/The Minaret The current construction site for the new residence hall.

Vaughn, president of UT, is confident in the decision to build the new residence hall, as found in an article on UT’s website.

“More and more students want to attend UT and live on our dynamic downtown campus,” Vaughn said. “This new construction represents our continued effort to provide an exemplary academic and co-curricular experience for them.”

Mia Glatter can be reached at mia.glatter@spartans.ut.edu.

6 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

Diversions

Picture

Crossword

Patrick Merrell / Will Shortz ©New York Times Across

1

1. Part of Miss America's attire

14

15

17

18

5. Syrian president Bashar al-___

2

3

4

14. 4:00 socials

6

7

8

9

10

23

33

32

34

28

35

37

38

39

18. 34-Down for a politician?

41

42

43

20. "Spare the ___, spoil ..."

44

30

52

53

40

47

46

48 55

29

36

17. "That ___ hay!"

54

Singer, Stephen Ellrod, and guitarist, Bryan Ellrod, of A View From The East Coast, jam at Battle Auditions.

27

31

22. Visionaries

Victoria DeLone/The Minaret

25

16. Gutter locale

21. Fabricate, as a signature

49

50

51

57

56

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

64. Suspenseful

13. His's partner

40. Sailor's rum drink

65. VCR insert

19. Govt. cultural org.

45. Cherry red

66. Wanting

21. Angry, and not going to take it anymore

46. Downsizer

23. 34-Down for a bookkeeper?

26. Put on board 27. "As my final point ..."

13

22

26

45

12

19

24

15. Hobbits' home, with "the"

11

16

21

20

10. When tripled, et cetera

5

Week of the

31. Japanese beer named for a city 33. Farm-related: Prefix 36. ___ de Janeiro 37. 34-Down for a stenographer?

41. Bank acct. amt.

42. 10 million of them equal a joule

67. Card above a deuce

24. Theda of the silents

Down

25. Roman 152

1. Lennon bandmate

28. Like sides of pyramids

2. "Wheel of Fortune" buys

29. Jacket buildup

3. Removes paint, in a way

30. Oxen holder

4. D.D.E.'s predecessor

31. Norse war god

48. 34-Down for a dentist?

5. On land

54. San Diego baseballer

6. Knifelike

32. ___ Louise of "Gilligan's Island"

57. Together

7. Burn slightly

58. Prefix with sex

8. Shakespeare's Forest of ___

43. Speechify 44. Dale Earnhardt org.

47. When shadows are short

59. 34-Down for a florist?

61. Cutlass or Delta 88 62. Additions 63. Shoelace end

9. Girl at a ball 10. Watch rims 11. Loll 12. Claim

33. ___ Lingus 34. Pre-April 1 purchase 35. Monopoly quartet: Abbr.

47. Nonagenarian's age 49. Not quite jumbo 50. "___ Mio" 51. Gave, as an Rx 52. Excessive 53. Moist, as the air 54. "Hey there!"

55. Color of water 56. Hauler's destination 60. Color of sand 61. Baseball's Mel

38. Cop's collar 39. Who preceded Adam and Eve on earth

Quote of the Week “Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.”

Joan Crawford, actress

Horoscopes

By Linda C Black / Tribune Media Services

The Weekend Update Florida State Fair 2012

When: Tuesday Feb. 9 - 20, 2012, 9 a.m. - Closing Time Varies.

Where: The Fairgrounds What: The annual Florida State Fair is a salute to the state’s best in the agriculture and equestrian industry including an abundance of shows, music, rides, food and shopping for 12 consecutive days. Check www.floridastatefair.com for more information.

Admission: $10 on Weekdays, $12 on Weekends. Parking is Free.

2012 Hours to Graduation

When: Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Vaughn Center, 9th Floor What: If you are graduating this spring, on Sunday, Feb. 12, there will be approximately 2,012 hours until you graduate! This special program will have workshops and a panel of recent UT alumni who will talk about their experiences in the transition from student to professional.

Admission: Free, Bring I.D.

Random Acts of Kindness Celebration When: Wed., Feb., 15 2012 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where: Vaughn Center Lobby What: Stop by the Vaughn Center Lobby to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week! There will be free giveaways and fun!

Admission: Free

Peter Boie

When: Wed., Feb., 15 2012 8 p.m.

Where: Reeves Theater What: Peter Boie, the self-proclaimed Magician for Non-Believers, had humble beginnings at the age of eleven when he stumbled across a magic book at his local library. Since that time, he has been practicing, creating and honing his craft over thousands of performances developing his unique style of magic.

Admission: Free

Aries (March 21-April 19) Money comes in. It could be easy to spend it all on food, comfort or other sensual treats.

Have some of that. Pay down a debt, and save some, too. Have it all.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Home vies with career for your attention.

Consider your options carefully, including an unreasonable request. Don’t worry about status.

Set priorities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Hermit crabbing sounds appealing. Taking care of business close to home rejoices your social batteries while handling chores. Get in the spotlight later.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re on top of your business game. Create new partnerships and complete negotiations. You have many reasons to be happy. Your friends are there for you.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) It’s getting easier to step forward. It seems so comfortable to hide out, but there are costs. Your creativity wants to escape. Cook something up.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Entering a very busy two-day phase. Focus on the difference you can make. Expect changes in your career, and glitches in communication. Relax.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) The conversation is rich: the revelation you’d been looking for gets discovered by the group. You begin to understand.

Defer gratification.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Tap into abundance, without spending more. Get the word out, and it goes farther than expected. Remember, love’s the most important part… be patient with someone.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Plan a fabulous adventure. A new assignment baffles. Slow down and puzzle it out. Organize for efficiency. There’s fun ahead. Make a change for the better.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You’d rather play for the next few days.

Balance finances and romance. With some creativity, you can make it all work. Hold that carrot out on a stick.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Build abundance with a foundation of love. Avoid going out on spending sprees.

Things go smoother at home. Keep your promises, and be respectful.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You’re even smarter than usual for the next few days. You can find the solution to that old problem. The assignment changes. Stand up for what’s right.

Arts + Entertainment

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

7

2012 Oscar Nominations Shock, Please Student Critic

Left: Hugo Cabret, played by Asa Butterfield, and Ben Kingsley co-star in Hugo. Right: An espionage group discusses Cold War issues in the Oscar-nominated film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

By ERIC DUFFERT

Arts + Entertainment Writer

It’s that time of year again. Oscar season is among us. A time when all of Hollywood’s finest get together for a night of unimaginable pretentiousness.

Where else could one find repetitious back patting, feigned flattery and mindless selfcongratulations all rolled into one lavishly extravagant party?

Despite my above sarcasm, I don’t actually loathe the Oscars; in fact, I secretly relish them. Ever since I was just a little kid, the Oscars telecast has been a highly anticipated event in my household—well, for the most of the household that is. My dad, for one, was not the least bit interested in such “foolery.”

He was more preoccupied with more manly things, like football or Nascar. Where as he awaited the hoisting of the Super Bowl trophy, I awaited the announcement of best picture winner…if my mom let me stay up to see it.

The years have zipped by and the esteemed event has only gotten older (and longer), but my keen interest has stayed intact. So when on Tuesday, Feb. 24th, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially released their nominations for this year’s show, I bet you can guess what was the first thing typed into my Google search that day.

After feverishly skimming the picks, one thing became clear: you can always count on the Academy to make some genuinely great choices, but also to royalty screw it up. I’m here to tell you all about it.

According to analysts, the nominations went largely as expected. Heavy favorite The Artist, the silent film set in the 1920s, garnered an impressive 10 nominations, including best picture. What’s not so expected is The Artist not leading the pack in total nominations.

That prestigious honor went to Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, which collected a whopping 11 nominations. The film did well among audiences and critics alike, but nobody expected just how sumptuously the Academy would reward the film. As Roger Ebert put it in his editorial for The ChicagoSun Times, “Scorsese’s triumph was not unexpected, but the scope of it was.”

Hugo marks Scorsese’s first attempt at a family film. A year ago the phrase “Martin Scorsese family film” was a definite oxymoron and welcomed with riotous laughter and vile retorts, but today that laughter has turned into applause and the retorts into genuine complements.

With Hugo, Scorsese has proven once again why he is considered one of the best

in the business, an Auteur in the purest sense of the word. The Academy got it right with Hugo, a film that provided the most fun I’ve had at the movies in a long time and is quite possibly my favorite film of 2011.

Predictably, most of the surprise (and outrage) this year came from the coveted best picture category. The nominees in no particular order are as follows: The Artist, Hugo, The Descendants, Moneyball, The Help, Midnight In Paris, The Tree of Life, War Horse and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which is a sure-fire bet to take home the “Most Unnecessarily Long Film Title” award. This selection would have been an outstanding one if it not for those last two blunders. It is the Academy’s honoring of these films which keep critics up at night and are a pestering thorn in the side of Oscar enthusiasts everywhere. What was the Academy thinking?

War Horse had the sentimentality slathered on so thick you’d need wiper blades to see past it. I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t watching a Hallmark channel sappy movie marathon. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is even more of a gaffe. Granted I have not seen it, but you don’t need to take my word for it, just listen to the experts. In his review, critic Jackie Cooper showed his sheer distaste for the film by renaming it “Extremely long and Incredibly Bland,” and Detroit News critic Tom Long called it “the kind of movie you want to punch in the nose.”

This is a film that couldn’t even climb above a measly 50 percent on film review site RottenTomatoes, a feat even Real Steel managed. Now that’s just sad.

The Academy did something else peculiar in the best picture category. They only picked nine. Why nine? You might as well pick one more and make it an even 10.

I bet you’d even find one that’s a thousand times better than War Horse or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

They certainly can’t blame it on a slim selection. Last year, a copious 598 commercial films hit theaters. With that kind of figure, it surely isn’t saying much for the quality of work coming out of Hollywood if the Academy could only come up with a meager nine films out of possible 598.

Through these 598 films, a common and reoccurring theme is established.

Moviegoers have embraced films evoking a sense of long-forgotten nostalgia and have flocked to theaters to see films conjuring life from yester year. A few among them: The Artist and Hugo, which elicited a genuine nostalgia for the dawn of cinema. Midnight In Paris gave audiences a glimpse of Paris in the golden era, and J. Edgar transported

viewers back to the days when John Dillinger ruled the crime syndicate and Charles Lindbergh ruled the skies.

A few surprises arouse from the best actor and supporting actor selections, as well. Demian Bichir, for one, received a best actor nomination for his work in A Better Life. This didn’t surprise Oscar watchers as much as it bewildered them.

Has anybody actually seen A Better Life?

I rest my case. Jonah Hill also caused a stir with his supporting actor nomination for Moneyball.

Jonah Hill is a great actor and seems like a great guy but calling his performance Oscar worthy is a bit much. He was, for the most part, just being himself, which can’t really be called acting—or at least not award-winning acting.

The nomination of Gary Oldman for his performance in the British spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy caused a stir not among Oscar enthusiasts but with me. It is not the fact that he was nominated that irks me, but rather the untimely nature in which it occurred. A little backstory will help. Film aficionados will be the first to tell you just how downright important of a man Gary Oldman is to the world of cinema.

This is a guy who has been in the business for 30 years and counting, an acting veteran with versatility that is often mimicked, but never duplicated. He has played the likes of Sid Vicious, Lee Harvey Oswald, Ludwig Van Beethoven and even Dracula himself. Brad Pitt describes him as his acting “God” and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy co-star Colin Firth described him as “a candidate for the title of ‘greatest living actor’.”

Despite the numerous accolades and endless flattery, I am appalled to write that Gary Oldman, the Gary Oldman has never won a single Academy award.

He’s never even been nominated, so for the Academy to finally nominate him, three decades later and for an acting performance that is miles—no light years away—from being his best work is more of an insult than an honor. Shame on you, Academy, shame on you.

If after putting up with my ramblings and outbursts you still for some reason want to watch the Oscars, then be sure to tune in Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. It should be a good show. I just hope James Franco and Anne Hathaway aren’t there to screw it up.

Eric Duffert can be reached at eduffert@aol.com.

8 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Films and Actresses Get Snubbed for 2012 Oscar Nominations

By EVAN BIRSIC

Arts + Entertainment Writer

Every year the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences nominates movies, actors, directors, writers and just about every job in the movie industry to receive the prestigious Academy Award. Like most award shows, no one really cares about the behind-the-scenes stuff. The talk-of-the-town are the actors nominated for outstanding achievement. But perhaps most talked about are those who didn’t receive a nomination but sure as hell deserved one. While everyone has an opinion on who on what should or shouldn’t have been nominated, here are some performances I feel truly deserved to be recognized.

The Best Actress category is (disputably) the most talked about category after the Best Picture. Which actress deserved the nomination? Which one was only nominated for her looks? Who is she? Just some of the questions asked during the months between the release of the nominations and the award show itself. Traditionally the Academy is rather fond of nominating actresses from movies that were hits with the general public.

Marion Cotillard’s win for portraying Édith Piaf in the 2007 French film La Vie En Rose marks the only time in the last 15 years an actress has come out of left field to win Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Unfortunately, this means that every year a lot of actresses from “indie” films get overlooked. And 2012 is no different. First, let’s talk about Tilda Swinton. The general public would probably best know her as the weird looking pale lady who always wears bizarre dresses on the red carpet or as the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia movies. But she’s also an incredible actress.

Her turn in Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk About Kevin as the mother of a teenage boy who massacred his high school classmates was absolutely harrowing. Her face remains emotionless throughout the film, yet still someone portrays that turmoil inside.

Admittedly, the reason for this next actress’ snub is a little more apparent. While being interviewed at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, director Lars von Tier make a few distasteful Nazi jokes that he related to Hitler and that he himself was a Nazi. Unfortunately, those remarks created a monstrous black cloud around his movie, which probably killed Kirsten Dunst’s chances at what could have been a well-deserved Academy Award

nomination. In Melancholia, Dunst plays a low functioning, clinically depressed woman at the end of the world. Beautiful, calm and painfully real, Dunst gave the performance of her career and earned the Best Actress award at Cannes. The general consensus among critics is that even if the movie itself were utter crap, it would be worth seeing due to Dunst’s performance.

Next there’s Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I know what you’re thinking: there is no way an Olsen could ever be nominated for an acting award, but it’s true. In Martha Marcy May Marlene, Elizabeth Olsen plays a young woman who’s recently run away from a cult.

Her performance is impressive for a few reasons. First, she effortlessly portrays the emotional stages of her character, from the

]

do nominate a handful of comedic excellence every year, it’s rare that a comedy receives an Oscar and when they do, they’re more dramedy’s rather than straight up comedic films. Though if Melissa McCartney could be nominated for her antics in Bridesmaids, Theron should most certainly have been nominated as well.

For whatever reason, it seems that there are less actors than actresses in Hollywood.

Of course that’s not true, but it sure does feel like it. Perhaps it’s because the media are so fixated with famous women and don’t profile the men as much? Whatever the case, it seems like the same crop of actors are up for an Oscar every year. It’s like they all gather in a room one night and decide the five who’ll be nominated for Lead Actor and the five for Supporting Actor. Thankfully, that

]

Gosling is the current girl and man crush of America. We just can’t get enough of that special snowflake.

“seduction” into the cult, the questioning of the cult and the strain of reconnecting with her estranged sister while adjusting to life outside of a cult. Second, she handles the material like a seasoned actress. Though it’s her first film, she commands the role with a raw confidence not seen in many new actresses. And lastly, it’s a pretty ballsy part to successfully tackle for your first go at acting. Usually these types of psychologically damaged roles appeal to established actresses who want to push themselves, not newbies.

It’s a shame that the Academy failed to recognize such a breakout role.

The last actress snubbed played another emotionally damaged female. Chalize Theron played the conniving prom queen psycho variety in Young Adult. While the pretty blonde lunatic isn’t exactly a novel character concept, nor are there a lack of actresses to play the part, very few performances come off as natural. However, Theron was everything and more: narcissistic, cruel, full of self-pity and superficial beyond comprehension. What sets her apart is her ability to take what should be a supporting character role and carry the entire movie on her shoulders. Traditionally, the Academy is reluctant to acknowledge comedies as legitimate movies. Though they

cycle was broken this year. In both the Lead and Supporting Actor categories there are lots of fresh faces. Yes, Clooney is nominated again, but I’ve accepted the fact that the Academy will always nominate their best friend. Anyway, I feel that the Academy did overlook a few exceptional performances.

If you went to the movies in 2011, there’s a strong possibility that Michael Fassbender was one of the actors. It felt like he was in literally every single movie to premiere this year. But his performance in Shame was by far a career highlight and one of the best performances given by a male actor in 2011.

Fassbender completely stripped himself both emotionally and physically to play an obsessive-compulsive sex addict.

Expertly portraying an insatiable need for sexual gratification, the shame brought on by his liasons and the torment of being emotionally emotionless, Fassbender was thought to be a sure thing for a Best Actor nom and was even heralded as a front--runner to take home the Oscar. His unfortunate omission from the nominee list has led many to joke that the many full frontal scenes in Shame gave the Academy’s male voters an inferiority complex.

The everyman is America’s favorite hero:

a faithful husband, doting father, loyal friend and hard worker. But what happens when the everyman is plagued by violent nightmares of an apocalyptic storm? In Take Shelter, Michael Shannon portrays an average Joe who can’t decide if he’s slowly losing his mind or receiving visions of impending doom. His determination to get treatment is only matched by his determination to expand the storm shelter in his backyard.

Expertly displaying a decent into obsessive behavior while keeping a calm façade makes, Shannon’s heartbreaking performance is probably the most grounded portrayal of a mental illness in a film. It’s not glamorous or exaggerated; it’s real and subdued. You can’t help but feel bad for the guy while wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

The film’s limited release leads me to think that much of the Academy didn’t see the film, because Michael Shannon is absolute gold in it. I know most people went to see Drive because of Ryan Gosling and there’s no shame in that. Gosling is the current girl and man crush of America. We just can’t get enough of that special snowflake. But I can’t bring myself to say that he deserved a nomination for his role.

He did a good job with it, but it wasn’t anything fantastic. However, I due think he should have been nominated for Blue Valentine, but that was a 2010 film and therefore not relevant. On the other hand, his costar Albert Brooks deserved a Support Actor nom. Brooks’ voice is more recognizable than his face. He’s a voice actor for The Simpsons and provided the vocals for Marlin in Pixar’s Finding Nemo, which makes his turn as a mobster surprisingly impressive.

Delightfully ruthless and unpredictably psychotic, Brooks scared the crap out of moviegoers everywhere.

I can’t really think of a reason for why he wasn’t nominated, but Brooks did tweet, “You don’t like me. You really don’t like me,” to the Academy. So there’s that.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

Since I’m not a member of the Academy, my thoughts on the matter don’t mean squat and if they did, there’s nothing I can do about it now. Thankfully these thespians aren’t fading into obscurity yet and will have a chance at getting a prestigious Academy Award nomination in the 2012 season for one of the projects they have lined up.

Evan Birsic can be reached at evanbirsic@gmail.com.

Lights, Camera, Action: Student-Directed Campus MovieFest Kicks off

By SEANNON NICHOLS Arts + Entertainment Writer

Starting Feb. 14, University of Tampa filmmakers will race to get their equipment for the up-and-coming 8th annual Campus MovieFest.

Campus MovieFest is the world’s largest student film festival that allows students, faculty and staff members to create five minute short films of any genre and topic in one week. This year CMF has partnered with The Elfenworks Foundation to present a special category for the filmmakers, called The Elfenworks Social Justice, if interested. Films in this category would be ones relating to inequalities and injustices in the U.S., and those which look at how fear or hope might be contributing to these issues.

Once a participant has decided on a subject, it’s time to get the equipment.

When the filmmakers go to get their supplied equipment, they will receive an Apple laptop or iPad with the latest versions of iLife and/or Final Cut Pro, a Panasonic HD camera and support, all completely free, in order to create their films to the best of their ability. Student Productions

is proud to bring this event back to the school and says that registration for this event will begin Feb. 2 through Feb. 15 online at www.campusmoviefest.com.

This is where you can create a profile, register your team and for equipment.

William Sandoval, Film Chair and Student Productions Chair, said he “encourages everyone who wants to be involved to do it, not just for the awesome prizes but for the experience of a lifetime.” Non-film majors are welcome for the festival.

Following online registration, SP is holding an information session on Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the Grand Salon at 7 p.m.

Events and consequent information will kick off in the Vaughn Lobby on Feb. 14 from noon to 5 p.m.

Once the week is up for the filmmakers, they are required to turn in their equipment and completed film on Feb. 20 in order for judging to begin. The judging will take place the following, by a group of faculty, staff and students.

The judges will vote to narrow the films down to the top 16. Those films will show at the CMF finale on Thursday, Feb. 23 at the red carpet premiere, which

will be in the Vaughn Center courtyard.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

DJ Dayve, a Student Productions member, will be MC for the red carpet.

There will be free catered food by Sodexo.

Prizes for those in attendance include an iPod Nano and Kindle Fire, and all these prizes are attainable through the SP raffle they will be holding.

The greatest prizes, however, are reserved for the filmmakers. The filmmakers who win in the categories of Best Comedy, Best Drama and Best Picture, all get a trip to Hollywood in June to showcase their films.

Filmmakers in the Elfenworks Social Justice category have the chance to win $20,000 in cash grants and the opportunity to have their films screened around the world. The winner of Best Picture receives the chance to also show their work at the Cannes Film Festival, which is held in France in May. Previous winners are big supporters of the event. Senior Jose Reyes is very happy to be part of that group. Last year he and his team won first place in Best Comedy for his film La Salchicha. Reyes also won

Final Cut Pro editing software, an iPod Nano and a trophy, which he claims he sleeps next to.

Reyes wanted to comment, “Don’t let Campus MovieFest slip by because you may be scared that you don’t know what to do or how to do it. You’ll find a way.

Hey, you never know, you may discover you want to be the next Steven Spielberg!

Sign up! Sign up!”

Another winner from the previous year holds the same idealistic nature towards Campus MovieFest. Kaneesha Heath has been participating since her freshman year, and is very excited to continue in 2012.

“To me, CMF is a chance for the school to see what film majors are all about,” she said. “The only people who attend our showcases are other film students, [but] for CMF we get a real audience, where other people see our stories, what we are capable of. That to me is an amazing gift, an audience of true peers.”

So come one come all to the Campus MovieFest, whether you sign up to make a movie, or just want to watch the works of the next Martin Scorsese.

Seannon Nichols can be reached at snichols12392@yahoo.com.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

By KATELYN EDWARDS

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

Spring Into the Sweetness of Pastels This Season

cardigans, to tees. The soft nature of a pastel yellow sweater is checked by sporty riding boots or ripped jeans. A blush-colored raincoat The Easter Bunny came early this year: this brings a cheery pop of color to a dismal rainy spring’s 2012 RTW runways were ladened with day. Taking a cue from Jacobs’ floral prints, the sugary pastels found in Candyland. Cotton leggings blooming in pastel floral prints look candy pinks and blues found their complement precious. Pastel jeans are also a youthful way in minty greens and lemon drop yellows. Such to reinvent the classic- but some days boringconfections are noted across the entire sartorial blue jean. And as temperatures continue to rise scale as traditionalists like Chanel and Louis so will hem lines: high-wasted pastel shorts are Vuitton and revolutionaries like Alexander ideal for a beach day or a boring day in class.

McQueen both indulged their sweeter side.

Juxtapose a dark color like navy or black with “After the hardness of Fall, we wanted a light pastel to create contrast. Or exaggerate something gentle and kind, fragile but strong, the pastel color towards neon, as many gymtoo,” said designer Marc Jacobs in regards to goers do, with their colorful yoga pants and his unabashedly feminine designs for Louis racer-backs. Pastels can be effortless or fussy Vuitton this spring. Jacobs employed a pastel depending how one wears them. color palette, incorporating a variety of stripes The overwhelming lace and embroidery of and patterns that could easily sway from Valentino’s spring collection offered us a more business to play. feminine, if fussy, way to interpret pastels.

“What lingers about the collection is Head designers Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria just how sweet it was—everything candy- Grazia Chiuri offered the sartorial world models colored and much of it trimmed with big lacy confectioned in sweet and flowing frocks, collars or oversize white buttons. Broderie “many of them walking out on flat sandals or anglaise dresses came veiled in pastel shades lace espadrilles that helped give the outing its of organza; laser-cut lace tops and skirts were fresh feel.” sealed in silk cellophane… After an interlude Offsetting the pastel color palette, the of matte crocodile motorcycle jackets… designers inset lace into leather for a halter in their icy pastel colors, Jacobs affixed 3- dress and also a trench. Valentino’s collection D plastic paillettes to dresses with crystals also used a cotton lace fabric that made the and embellished tweed skirtsuits with ombré designs into everyday sort of propositions, feathers,” writes blogger Nicole Phelps of Style. ones that could be similarly found among the com. Organza and cellophane aside, Jacob’s racks of Forever 21 or Urban Outfitters. The exhibition of soft femininity has relevance in the fashion house’s pieces were adorned with most unglamorous of places, college campuses “hand-painted floral prints and velvet flower being one of them. appliqués,” adding an almost folkloric, rather Like spring flowers, pastels continue than prim, feel to the collection. to appear across campus as the season’s Conversely, Sarah Burton for Alexander outerwear progress lightens from coats, to McQueen 12 Minaret OpenHouse 2_Layout 1 2/7/12 9:40 AM decided Page 1to play devil’s advocate Arts + Entertainment Writer

to this spring’s sense of uncompromising girlishness: Burton disrupted such soft prettiness with glossy, sharp black leather, producing an even more arresting compilation. Ikat prints and sporty motifs are also another way to scatter some of the sweetness of a pastel composition.

No sweet tooth? Opt for some SweetnLow -incorporate spring’s pastels in more discrete ways. Nail polish is one option: OPI’s Beyond Chic collection of iridescent pastels offer a drop of sweetness that’s neither sickening or costly. Another cheap application of pastels is through makeup.

Mind you, do not plaster your eyelids baby blue like we did in middle school and expect to look fashionable or attractive. But rather, a faint blush of pink swiped across the cheeks or lips looks undeniably sweet and begs to be kissed. Hair bows in assortments of pastels and polka dots are also precious. Or look downpastel Keds blooming in floral or Ikat prints add dynamism to a casual jeans and t-shirt ensemble.

Pastel shoe laces can be bought online through Etsy.com for less than $5, a relatively cheap way to rejuvenate a scuffed pair of Vans or tennis shoes.

Whether the interpretation is flowery, folkloric, or edgy, the relevance of pastels in the dreary winter months that precede the spring are indisputable. This season’s designers have embraced pastels with open arms, as they conjure to mind a softer, more comfortable feeling than Fall 2011’s strict edginess. After all, “fashion is a dream, and in this moment, we need dreams,” says Valentino head designer Piccioli. With this season’s sugary pastels, there will be sweet dreams indeed.

Katelyn Edwards can be reached at katelyn. edwards@spartans.ut.edu.

Above: A Target backpack highlighted in pink emphasizes the new season’s trend.

Below: A flowy pastel dress rings in the spring semester. Photos by Victoria DeLone/The Minaret

Cooley Open Houses In March

cooley.edu

Now Five Campus Locations!

Join us in March, from 4-7 p.m.

DAYANA, COOLEY STUDENT

knowledge. skills. ethics.

Friday, March 2 | TAMPA BAY, FL New Campus!

Attend a Cooley Law School Open House in March and talk to Cooley administrators, department representatives, students, and faculty members from our newest campus in Tampa Bay. They will be available to answer your questions about Cooley Law School, applying to and attending law school, and entering the legal profession.

Register online for the Cooley Tampa Bay Open House on March 2 at cooley.edu or register onsite the day of the open house.

Learn about Cooley Law School at cooley.edu Thomas M. Cooley Law School is committed to a fair and objective admissions policy. Subject to space limitations, Cooley offers the opportunity for legal education to all qualified applicants. Cooley abides by all federal and state laws against discrimination. In addition, Cooley abides by American Bar Association Standard 211(a), which provides that “a law school shall foster and maintain equality of opportunity in legal education, including employment of faculty and staff, without discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.”

ICG.0112.006.AD

9

Scan here to learn more about Cooley Open Houses and register online to attend

10 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

Pimp My Residence Hall, Please

By NATALIE HICKS

Asst. Arts + Entertainment Editor

With the construction of the new residence hall already breaking ground, currently under the name Residence Hall VII, I cannot help but consider the amount of possibilities this building has in making it über spectacular.

According to the Office of the President, the residence hall will be 11 stories high, and the 11th floor will serve as a community space for students. Also, a handful of lucky ducks will get to live in the only two suites on the top floor.

Not to mention, the building will be quite energy efficient with its solar roof panels. It sounds like this new residence hall, which will situate right next to the recently renamed MacKechnie Building, defines the qualities of top-notch college residence halls. While these features are contemporary and worthy of a five-star hotel, there are a number of suggested amenities that the Global Message sent to all students failed to mention.

First, every room needs a disco ball.

This should be the number one priority of UT. If everyone else has sporadic dance parties in their rooms like my friends and I do, then this is a very pressing issue.

While on the subject of dance parties, at least one of the community rooms should be a rave room (sans acid and other illegal substances, of course.)

In an attempt to uncover some other stellar ideas that this new residence hall should incorporate, I talked to a few students to weigh in on the topic.

“An aquarium would be pretty sweet.

Also, we should maybe even have a small habitat with a Zen garden, sun roof, and a monkey. Eventually, we could get a

female monkey so they could make cute little monkey babies,” said freshman Premed Biology major Max Ganz.

I also may expect some couches with loud graphic patterns on them, like the ones you see in doctors’ offices, and an arcade game or two, but this certainly does not impress me. Perhaps what Residence Hall VII will be missing is a mini amusement park, or even a stripper pole. The latter is fairly practical.

Junior Global and World Affairs major Jose Nieves believes that, for the most part, UT’s residence halls are adequate, but there is always room for improvement.

“We have Reeves Theater in Vaughn, but it would be cool to have a 24-7 movie theater for student use, equipped with a popcorn machine,” said Nieves.

The plans for the new residence hall seem really amazing, and it’ll help improve UT’s campus even more.”

I spoke with a few of my friends about what they think Residence Hall VII should include, and they mentioned several brilliant ideas including a gourmet kitchen and a puppy center. Granted, our reasoning for wanting stripper poles, puppy centers and rave rooms are a tad far-fetched, but it is all for the betterment of the school.

Knowing that none of these dreams will ever come true (understandably), Residence Hall VII will be a lovely and much-needed addition to UT’s oncampus family. It seems as though it is mainly aimed toward what is best for the student body, with the hopes of allowing some disgruntled HoJo residents the opportunity to finally live on campus.

Natalie Hicks can be reached at minaret.arts@gmail.com.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Puppies, strippers and disco balls for rave parties are just a few of the amenities that one dreams will be incorporated into the currently under construction residence hall.

Star Wars: Episode I and its Two-Sided Lightsaber

By MILES PARKS Sports Editor

So I admit it, when I was assigned to write a review of Star Wars: Episode I, I did a half-cringe half-giggle. I was anxious to relive a bit of my childhood, while also realizing just how stupid this money machine really is and was. I sat at my computer, turned down my fluorescent dorm-room lights, made a bag of popcorn

and prepared myself for a feast of poorly conceived creatures and even more poorly conceived plot twists.

Five minutes in, there was some exposition about taxing and federations that actually kind of made sense. Thirty minutes in, I’ve been introduced to some sort of silly swamp creature with an endearing oneliner (“How rude!”), a couple Jedis played by some action movie studs (Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor) and a princess who

Star Wars: Episode I is to be re-released in 3D, giving sports editor Miles Parks the opportunity to relive his childhood.

wears just enough weird looking make-up to almost hide how hot Natalie Portman is.

Here’s the kicker. Almost two hours into The Phantom Menace, and I was legitimately struggling to find a reason people hate this movie. I understand the Godfather 3 effect, but come on. I hate to break it to you 30-somethings who’ve made your livings in high-brow coffee shops talking about which is drawn out more; the pod-racer scene in Episode I or Jake Lloyd’s entire career (little Anakin managed to make enough money to quit acting before puberty, starring in Jingle All The Way as well as a few episodes of ER to go along with his Star Wars fame.) But guess what? This movie isn’t that bad.

In fact, there is at least a 68 percent chance I’ll go see it in 3-D when it’s released on Feb. 10. Call me nostalgic or stupid or even someone with poor taste in movies.

(Side note: I have great taste in movies.) I don’t care. This film takes me back to a day when I was eight-years-old and the world was still buzzing in anticipation for George Lucas’ next masterpiece. That’s what this movie really represented – a buzz. People focus too much on how that buzz maybe didn’t live up to any of the expectations, but I was too young to realize the flaws.

Pod-racers looked so damn cool. And is that a TWO-SIDED LIGHTSABER?!

This movie brought me back to a time when my parents had me watch Episodes IV, V and VI to prepare for a couple hours in a movie theatre crowded with Skywalker lookalikes.

Let’s not focus on how stupid Darth Maul looks or the fact that they chose to base the title and movie’s poster around a character that speaks less than 10 words.

Normally, I hate money machines. Really, I do. And I tried my hardest not to love this movie, but it did something for me.

There is a scientific formula for Star Wars movies that just makes it all click.

It looks something like this: When L= Lightsaber fight, Eb = Epic Battle, SwY = Scenes with Yoda, D= Droid humor, P= poignant moments (4SwY + L)(15D+2P)= a solid Lucas flick. (All values are approximate.)

There’s a funny mixture of mind and heart that comes into play here too.

Although I love the brute force and battle scenes, the logic and critical accuracy that every piece of a successful prequel must fulfill is satisfying. There are plenty of “ohhhh, so that’s why he/she does that in the next movie” moments, my favorite being the entire senate sequence that results in Senator Palpatine becoming Chancellor Palpatine which will eventually result in his role as Emperor Palpatine. His scheming is under the radar for most of the film, but Ian McDiarmid does an admirable job showing us flashes of evil.

There are plenty of negatives to focus on in this movie. Do any of the creatures shown to us in Episode I really compare to the Ewoks? The answer is no. There was a bit of magic lost in the 20 years between the trilogies, but it’s a moot point to zero in on this, especially 11 years after the release of Episode I. Why can’t we just be content with what this movie is, go see it in 3D, fatten George Lucas’ pockets a bit and relive our childhoods as the “Second Star Wars” generation?

Save your insults for Episode II, people.

No matter how you look at this installment, it’s undeniable: THERE IS A TWO-SIDED LIGHT-SABER. And what could be wrong with that?

Miles Parks can be reached at minaret. sports@gmail.com.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

11

A Bambino Bamboozle: Mob Wives Peddles Italian-American Stereotypes

By MIKEY ANGELO RUMORE Asst. Opinion Editor

I remember watching the season finale of the first series of Mob Wives, VH1’s hit reality show featuring four Staten Island women with husbands or fathers connected to the mob, most of which are imprisoned.

As the title sequence played, depicting the women strutting in unison along the New York Harbor clad in long, expensive furs, I turned to my girlfriend and said, “I know how this will end.” Just like the rest of the episodes: an ill-conceived get-together will degenerate into a hairpulling, nail-scratching brawl. The only aspect that even felt remotely like suspense was the question of who would be coming to blows this time. The episode did finish with a fight, which turned out to be between Drita D’Avanzo and Karen Gravano, the daughter of Sammy “The Bull” Gravanzo, the mobster and informant that brought down John Gotti.

Yawn. And then the season ended, with no further resolution. Well, that’s the last I’d be seeing of the Mob Wives, I thought. Certainly this thing won’t be back for another season!

Not so. The series returned for a second season on Jan. 1, promising “New Year. New War.” Two new cast members were added, including Ramona Rizzo, whose Grandfather “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero was depicted by Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco. However, far from presenting viewers with a new war, the latest season continues the tried-andtrue formula of the previous one—trivial political alliances between the mob wives degenerate into fights, with few exceptions. (One such plot twist occurred at the end of a recent episode where— gasp!—the women got together and worked out their differences—get this— without fighting!)

With Mob Wives’ growing success, I finally realized that the show had amassed some sort of palpable cultural capital. But, like shows such as Jersey Shore before it, Mob Wives accumulates its popularity by exploiting Italian-American stereotypes.

It’s perhaps the main one: that Italians are

Godfather’s Michael Corleone. Not every mob movie is stereotypical in and of itself.

The problem is that very few alternative depictions of an entire American ethnic group exist, and that absence represents a form of ethnic marginalization.

Sure, the underworld that the mob wives represent is a real one. Recently, in late-January, the father of Mob Wives’ Renee Graziano was charged in connection with four arrests of alleged members of the Bonanno crime family.

Or, as shown in a recent episode, Karen Gravano appears increasingly worried over her daughter’s safety in New York given their family connection to the mob (which also begs the question: Why put her on TV, then?)

The legacy of the mob undoubtedly includes many Italian-American figures.

But it’s a legacy that does not define the entire Italian-American culture— a culture decimated by World War IIera prejudice. During the war, 600,000 Italian-Americans were considered “enemy aliens.”

Afamous World War II-era propaganda poster discouraging the study of Italian, German or Japanese languages read: Karen Gravano, Drita D’avanzo, Carla Facciolo, and Renee Graziano make up the hardcore group of “Don’t speak the enemy’s language! mobster daughters and wives in VH1’s hit show ‘Mob Wives.’

Speak American!” Is it any wonder, of criminals. At least being an idiot isn’t or Guidos. The Italic Institute of America, then, that the Italian language is all but a crime. But, alas! With Mob Wives, it in a study conducted between 1996-2002, gone as a minority language in the United seems that we’re criminals again. found that since 1928, 69 percent of States, despite a significant minority of I resist the notion that a show like Italian-related Hollywood films “portray Americans claiming Italian ancestry: Mob Wives doesn’t represent Italian- Italians in a negative light.” The study nearly 18 million people?

Americans, because the show seems also added that in mob movies released Mob Wives is the latest heir of this to go out of its way to seem “Italian.” during the same time period, “only 12% history of prejudice and stereotyping.

In one of the latest episodes, Ramona are based on real-life criminals.” That Unless this history is recognized, I fear Rizzo bashes Drita D’Avanzo, who is of means stereotypical “Italian” archetypes Mob Wives won’t be the last show to slur Albanian ancestry, for “marrying into” the account for the rest.

Italian-Americans. mob lifestyle. In other words, the show Don’t get me wrong. The Sopranos was Mikey Angelo Rumore can be reached at explicitly equates the “mob lifestyle” a quality show. Hell, I was named after The michaelangelorumore@gmail.com. with Italian ancestry. Camera shots of Staten Island between scenes often focus in on streets with Italian names, and the characters themselves recycle the old stereotypical “Omerta” ethics in nonMafia-related contexts.

“You gonna go to war with me, and you don’t want to go to war with me,” On Wednesday, Feb. 15, beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m., a number Karen Gravano sneers over and over via recent Mob Wives promos. Indeed, the of University emergency communications systems will be tested. This is mob wives “go to war” so often that it’s only a test, and no immediate action will be required on your part. In all mobsters, and that successful ItalianAmericans must have mob connections.

As offensive as I found Jersey Shore to Italian-Americans (as well as braincells everywhere), it at least advanced the Italian-American image meagerly when compared to what came before: we were vain, brain-dead morons instead

Chocolate Aphrodisiac Myth Busted

By DANIE SOPCHAK

Arts + Entertainment Writer

Chocolate is said to be the most popular Valentine’s Day gift, but not one UT student knew why they picked it as their favorite gift to give their loved one. “It tastes good and is sweet” was just about everyone’s answer. “Sweets for my sweet” as some would say.

Giving chocolate as a gift on Valentine’s Day is a classic symbol of love and appreciation that’s been occurring since the beginning of the holiday. What most don’t know is that giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day indirectly comes from the Aztec culture.

“Aztec Emperor Montezuma II reputedly drank 50 cups of spiced chocolate a day to sustain his virility, increase fertility… and also drank chocolate before cavorting with the ladies” said Goncalves, student wellness intern at FOODS. Chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac, but that is a myth.

There is no direct connection between increased sexual arousal and chocolate. But when a person eats chocolate an amphetamine-like chemical is released and “mimics the brain chemistry of a person in love temporarily,” states Goncolves.

Love and lust are actively overlapping emotions and that makes it easy for chocolate eaters to confuse the feeling of love with sexual arousal. A study of 163 women in Italy found that there were no significant differences between the rates of arousal or distress between those who ate chocolate and those who did not.

Chocolate is romance, not sex. But once often leads to the other. Keep that in mind when choosing between getting your date flowers or chocolate.

Danie Sopchak can be reached at danielle.sopchak@spartans. ut.edu.

easy to forget they’re not the heads of the Five Families.

It could be argued that shows like Mob Wives don’t represent Italian-Americans if there existed other kinds of depictions of Italian-American characters in American pop culture. Instead, Italian-Americans are overwhelmingly depicted as Goombas

UT Emergency Communications Systems Test — Wed., Feb. 15

some cases, a second message will be sent indicating the test has been completed. Some of the systems scheduled for testing are listed below.

Please review this list to determine how you will be affected.

• www.ut.edu • SMART Text Message • Desktop Alert • Classroom Voice Message • Global Email

• Global Voicemail • Blackboard • Electronic Display Boards • SpartanWeb • Facebook

If you have questions or comments, please e-mail them to emergencytest@ut.edu.

12 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

ADVERTISEMENT

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

OPINION

Opinion

13

International Internet Regulators Need to Clean Up Their ACTA

other international regulatory bodies. As such, ACTA is not subject to any existing international law.

It is not just New World Order conspiracy theorists who should be worried.

Internationally-binding agreements should not be negotiated behind closed doors. On the international stage, it is absolutely vital that as many members of the public as possible have access to the content of such agreements, because it is not only individuals who are affected.

Entire countries can be punished by the international community, who can impose sanctions or even kick certain countries out of future negotiations.

So it is not the liberty of individuals that can be targeted with ACTA; the sovereignty and international clout of states can be jeopardized, as well.

Recently, the website Megaupload was closed down and its leaders arrested for allegedly allowing known links to pirated materials to remain on their website. At the request of the FBI, New Zealand police arrested four men in connection with pirating on Megaupload, including the site’s founder, Kim Dotcom. This shutdown occurred without even the passing of SOPA. So remind me again why we need regulations like SOPA or ACTA to target pirating websites when international law is

already working?

Obviously, pirating remains a major drain on the coffers of the entertainment industries. But there are plenty of underutilized methods of dealing with copyright infringement.

Although most people don’t know this, most of Flickr’s uploaded photos are copyrighted, as well, using the non-profit Creative Commons. Creative Commons provides legally-binding and legallyenforceable copyright licenses for free, with six types of licenses varying from “public domain” to “attribution required, no commercial use or derivatives allowed.”

A cursory search of Flickr will prove that most users have not put their work in the public domain.

I suppose that is one way to solve unemployment: have teams of thousands of anti-pirating goons comb the Internet to make sure that the cat picture Joe Schmo uploaded from his iPhone is not being used without Joe Schmo’s permission. Then they can inform Joe Schmo about copyrighting his cat pictures (sponsored in part by the U.S. Copyright Office) and shutting down icanhazcutepixofkittenswithwords.com.

In short, sites like Flickr that offer copyrights to its members do not contribute to the growing problem of piracy as much as some would have us think. If users were more aware of these copyright measures and policed their communities more thoroughly, Flickr could not be used as a free alternative to paid photographers.

I know it may be asking a bit much of Americans to exert a bit of awareness, but one can dream.

The shutdown of Megaupload shows how dangerous all-encompassing pirating laws can be. Certainly illegally-downloaded materials should be taken down, and the website’s owners arrested for knowingly allowing such downloads.

But while Megaupload was a known source for pirating copyrighted material, it was also a file-sharing service. There

were, believe it or not, users who uploaded their own personal videos and music files to Megaupload to share them easily with friends and family. All of those files are now lost.

It is time for international leaders to learn how the Internet works. We should be beyond “the Internet is a series of tubes” levels of ignorance at this point.

ACTA even goes so far as to allow a party claiming copyright infringement to name the price of its “losses.” It is extremely difficult to put a price tag on losses due to piracy, because every pirated copy of an album does not equal one lost sale. There is no way of knowing that a person would have bought that album had he not been able to pirate it; perhaps the pirated album introduced the listener to an artist that he or she may never have heard of before. It is impossible to know one way or another, which is why parties claiming infringement should not be allowed to claim one pirated copy as one loss.

ACTA has yet to be put into global effect, but of the 31 signatories, only six need to ratify ACTA for it to become an internationally binding agreement. This makes SOPA and PIPA look like models of legally-upstanding documents. At least the contents of SOPA and PIPA were available to the general public, and created a robust debate among members of Congress and members of the public alike. ACTA is unable to be debated because its contents have just gradually leaked from behind the negotiators’ doors.

All global citizens should be educated as to what pirating means for the wellbeing of artists, and how simple it is to legally use copyrighted materials.

If there needs to be more concentrated focus on pirating, then allow the International Trade Commission to adopt the OPEN Act, which specifically targets websites that are “dedicated to infringing activity.” Shutting down half the Internet is not the answer.

Kelsey Allagood can be reached at kelsey.allagood@spartans.ut.edu

purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their California’s 9th Circuit Court made a relationships and families as inferior to those of monumental ruling on Tuesday, Feb. 7th in opposite-sex couples.” a 2-1 decision to strike down Proposition 8.

The main problem here is that same-sex California voters passed Prop. 8 in 2008, marriage was allowed for several months banning gay marriage after thousands of before Prop. 8 was passed. By allowing same-sex couples had exercised their brief gay marriage and then banning it, the bill legal right to marry, effectively stripping stripped away a group’s civil liberties. away a minority group’s civil rights.

The ruling went on to state that, “There But in 2010 District Judge was no such reason that Proposition 8 could Vaughn Walker ruled that the ban was have been enacted.” unconstitutional and a violation of gay and While this is only applicable to California, lesbian rights. The ruling was huge, and it’s still a huge move for gay rights, especially Walker declared that California given the step had no “rational basis” to backward that take away a minority’s civil Prop. 8 caused. rights. Proponents of Prop. 8 Only California appealed Walker’s decision on will be affected by the grounds that Walker is gay the Circuit Court’s and has a same-sex partner. decision, and not Perhaps Walker is biased, the entire nation, but with issues of civil where other states liberties and gay rights it’s never allowed difficult to find someone who gay marriage in isn’t partisan. Prop. 8 voters the first place. felt the need to appeal though, Regardless, Prop. and the case went to the 9th 8 went on for far Circuit Court. too long. The ban Judge Stephen Reinhardt itself was past due Jayski11/Photobucket.com to be overturned. announced the Circuit Court’s decision. “Proposition 8 serves no Prop. 8 has been momentarily overturned.

Unfortunately,

it’s impossible to say how long this will last; the group fighting for Prop. 8 has already promised to appeal the decision. Instead of the panel of three who voted against it, eleven members of the 9th Circuit will then meet to hear the case.

It’s wonderful that Prop. 8 has been struck down, a decision itself that is long overdue. Marriage should not be defined by gender or sexual orientation, but rather, by love and commitment. To limit gay rights and same-sex marriage with a different name, as if it were somehow less than straight marriage, is not only discriminatory, but also immoral. The truth is that same-sex marriage is just looking to provide gays and lesbians with the same opportunities that straight people enjoy; the joy of being bound to someone we love for the rest of our lives, knowing that we have found the right person, the person we want to grow old with. To deny gay people that right is to imply that they are somehow less than straight people, unworthy of the same liberties we are inherently born with.

It’s likely that once the appeal to the Circuit Court is over the case will go on to the Supreme Court. John Eastman, chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, stated on the group’s website in support of the ban that, “The ninth circuit court of appeals is the most overturned circuit in the country, and Stephen Reinhardt, the author of today’s absurd ruling, is the most

overturned federal judge in America.”

Yes, the case will probably continue to be appealed until it reaches the Supreme Court and America’s highest court puts the issue to rest. But until then, Eastman had better accept that he will soon be chairman of an organization that will need to recognize same-sex marriage.

To take away a group’s civil liberties and remove a right already granted to them is the worst kind of dismissal— what the 9th Circuit Court decided is the leap forward in the right direction, but one that should have never been necessary. I’m thrilled that Prop. 8 is overturned (at least, for now) but the decision to restore samesex marriage in California is simply a correction of a wrong. Gay rights should be always improving until they are affording the same opportunities and liberties that heterosexual people have. This reversal is merely a correction of a mistake.

People like Eastman can fight samesex marriage all they want, but that won’t change what’s unconstitutional and what isn’t. Appeal to our nation’s highest court, please. Someday gay rights will be equal to Eastman’s rights, whether he likes it or not.

There’s a limit to how long you can deny a group its rightful civil liberties, and our nation is quickly reaching it.

Rich Solomon can be reached at richard. solomon@spartans.ut.edu.

By KELSEY ALLAGOOD Opinion Writer

SOPA is dead, but the fight against Internet censorship just went global.

ACTA, or the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is SOPA on steroids.

It was developed in 2006, first by Japan and the United States, and many of the world’s most developed countries have since jumped on board. In addition to targeting copyright infringement on the Internet, ACTA also attempts to establish international standards for dealing with counterfeit goods and generic medicines.

A new global institution presently called the “ACTA Committee” would also be formed if ACTA is ratified, even though a World Intellectual Property Organization already exists.

What is worse is that the United States has already signed on to ACTA, and hardly anyone noticed.

Protecting intellectual property rights, of course, is not the issue here. No one is arguing that artists and copyright-holders should remain unpaid for their work. But shutting down entire websites simply because one user uploaded a copyrighted image or video without due credit is not the way to solve piracy.

ACTA, much like SOPA and PIPA, is a terribly-worded agreement that grossly misrepresents and misunderstands the Internet as a whole. The very nature of ACTA is undemocratic, negotiated behind closed doors rather than being debated openly by international parliaments and organizations.

ACTA was negotiated by a select group of highly-industrialized and wealthy states: the U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Morocco and New Zealand. Twenty-two of the European Union’s 27 member states signed on in January.

Unlike the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is an offshoot of the United Nations, the ACTA negotiators met privately and without consultation with

Kwesi Ampofo/The Minaret

SOPA is finished, but the debate over internet censorship isn’t.

California’s 9th Circuit Court Overturns Prop. 8

By RICH SOLOMON Opinion Editor

14 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

OPINION

Obama College Affordability Plan Elicits Mixed Reviews

By PAOLA CRESPO Opinion Writer

On Friday, Jan. 27 at the University of Michigan, President Barack Obama gave a speech about his new plan for college affordability. According to a CNN article, he threatened to stop giving colleges and universities federal aid if they continue to “jack up tuition” every year, saying that he would give that money instead to schools “showing restraint and value.”

“We should push colleges to do better,” he said. “We should hold them accountable if they don’t.” He also announced plans to push Congress to keep interest rates low for current student loan borrowers, while doubling the number of work-study jobs over the next five years.

During his speech, Obama continued to say that “higher education has become an imperative for success in America, but the cost has grown unrealistic for too many families and the debt burden unbearable.”

According to the College Board, the average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges rose 8.3 percent this year, and the average for private non-profit four-year colleges rose 5.6 percent. Consequently, it is becoming more difficult for students to afford higher education. So much so, that student debt, due to students taking out loans in order to pay for college, is now at $1 trillion, exceeding credit card debt for the first time ever. This doesn’t come as a surprise to me, as I can count many people I know right off the bat who are dependent on loans, after taking what they can from financial aid, in order to afford to pay for their education. Thus, Obama’s threat to strip colleges of federal aid is a bit worrying.

If accepted by Congress, Obama’s plan will target a small portion of financial aid, the $3 billion aid known as campus-

based aid that college administrators give to students. He is proposing to increase that amount to $10 billion and change how it is distributed to reward schools that hold down costs and ensure that more underprivileged students complete their education. This objective, however, will not affect the federal grants and loans that go directly to students, which amount to more than $140 billion.

Effectively, Obama’s idea is to get universities and colleges to become more efficient in order to prevent the need to raise tuition. This idea may sound great on paper, but in reality it is much harder to accomplish.

In a Yahoo! News article, Illinois State University’s President Al Bowman commented that the undergraduate experience can be made cheaper, but there are trade-offs. “You could hire mostly part-time, adjunct faculty. You could teach in much larger lecture halls, but the things that would allow you to achieve the greatest levels of efficiency would dilute the product and would make it something I wouldn’t be willing to be part of,” he said.

I agree with Bowman’s argument; even though it would be great if tuition was lowered, I would not necessarily desire it if it meant that the quality of the education I would be receiving would diminish.

Some are skeptical about the initiative behind Obama’s plan and even question if it is going to take into effect at all. The University of Washington’s President Mike Young said in a CNN article that Obama showed he “did not understand how the budgets of public universities work.”

He said that the total cost to educate college students in his state, which is paid for by both tuition and state government dollars, has gone down because of efficiencies on campus. While universities are tightening costs, the state is cutting

their subsidies and authorizing tuition increases to make up for the loss.

Thus, according to Young, Obama’s plan is redundant as costs are already being lowered and that it is the state, not the schools that is making tuition costs increase. He also goes on to say Screenshot from YouTube.com that Obama’s plan Obama threatened to cut federal aid if schools kept raising tuition. is really just “political theater of the worst sort,” and that we the government pays for everything that their public “should know better,” i.e. Obama tuition does not cover. Since UT is not a is just talking fluff and the plan won’t be public school, we would not necessarily carried out. be in danger. According to UT’s website, There are others who criticize the plan 92 percent of students receive aid, and as well. Senator Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., according to Tierra Smith, associate a former education secretary, questioned Ddrector in the office of financial aid, UT whether Obama can enforce any plan that received approximately $48 million in shifts federal aid away from colleges and federal financial aid, including grants and universities without hurting the students it loans, for the year 2010-2011. Therefore, is meant to help. “The federal government we do receive a lot of federal aid from the has no business doing this,” he said. government, but as previously stated, the However, the response to Obama’s aid that goes directly to students will not plan wasn’t all negative. Many university be affected by Obama’s proposal. This presidents said they welcome a conversation is a relief because, as Smith said, “If UT about making college more affordable and stopped receiving aid, it would have a efficient. negative impact on families, especially Some college students are also happy those who wouldn’t be able to afford to about Obama’s proposal and about send their children to school without the colleges being told they need to stop help of federal aid.” raising tuition every year. Michelle Kerr, In reality, this plan will not substantially a junior government and world affairs affect UT. It will be state schools that will major, said, “I’d like students to have more face the consequences if they do not comply opportunities to further their education with the proposed regulations. Only time without them being indebted to pay back will tell if this plan goes through and the college loans for decades afterwards.” results it would have on those schools in Nevertheless, if this plan were to go danger. through, it would primarily affect public Paola Crespo can be reached at universities the most, seeing as the pollycrespo@hotmail.com.

Digital Love: Keats’ Poems and Kissing Pigs

By JESSICA KEESEE Asst. Opinion Editor

Texting “I love you” has a lot less passion than saying it face to face. Currently, relationships seem to only gain validity when they become Facebook official. Fate has even been thrown out when love can be pursued through various dating websites like eHarmony or Match.com. Technology is quickly taking hold of how we go about dating, and I have to ask myself, where did the romance go?

I remember the first time a boyfriend said “I love you” to me. I was a junior in high school and we had only been dating for about a month (granted, that might seem premature to some). I was ecstatic to hear those words for the first time and completely overwhelmed with the feeling of love. Too bad that I did not actually hear those words; I read them through a text message. Not so surprisingly, my first love fell short and we broke up before we even made it two months.

I made sure that the next time I would utter that phrase, I would say it in person.

I confess, I’m a bit of a romantic. Maybe I read too many of Keats’s love poems and I adore Romeo and Juliet. Part of me wishes that we still lived in a time where love letters were valued and where we left relationships to fate. What I am quickly learning, however, is that technology is rapidly altering traditional courtship altogether. Forget Byron and Keats.

Professing love through tweets or sending kisses by robots is the future.

Welcome Kissenger (or kiss messenger), a small robot that simulates the feeling of a real kiss. For couples suffering from distance, the strangely adorable pig or cow-shaped robot can accompany you and your significant

other on Skype. Kissing minus perfumes and the Kissenger will deodorants), stuff them have your partner’s bot in plastic bags and simulate your actions, exchange them with creating the feeling other guests. Men and that the two of you are women smell each tactually receiving a shirt, choosing each real kiss. Strange? Yes, other based off their but Hooman Samani, scent. As gross and artificial intelligence odd as this may sound, researcher at the Prays’s parties have National University of actually proven quite Singapore, has made a successful. At her first science around this new party, 40 men and technology, which he women exchanged tcalls Lovotics. shirts, 12 of the 40 If the Kissenger “hooked up,” as Prays isn’t enough, couples told the Huffington could purchase Pillow Post, and half of those Samantha Battersby/The Minaret hookups turned into Talk, a pillow released in November 2011 that She thinks that’s Ryan Gosling’s shirt. relationships.

Prays mimics the heartbeat of told The Daily her your partner, creating the reasoning behind the feeling that your partner is actually sleeping parties resulted from a past relationship. right there with you.

“The first time I dated someone for purely Purchasing either one of these two new physical reasons, it was amazing how well it technologies would be a low point for me went. I was so into his smell even when it personally. Maybe they will work for some was objectively nasty. So then I just thought, couples, but I can’t imagine that a pig shaped what if I could choose people by smell?” robot could replace my lover’s lips or that a Prays enthused. pulsing pillow would feel like I’m sleeping All these new dating techniques and with them. The concept is all too new and technologies may seem a bit far-fetched when strange, and the thought that this could be the discussing the future of dating, but looking future of dating is rather terrifying. at the many that exist, dating has already There are new dating methods even for drastically changed. Take communication for singles out there. Artist Judith Prays has example. It used to be that receiving a letter developed a new way of meeting people from a lover was one’s entire world. There that verges on the absurd. Since 2010, Prays was something so personal and romantic has been having Pheromone Parties where about those letters, but unfortunately, they’ve guests bring their own t-shirts (which they become a thing of the past. Communication were instructed to sleep in for three days then progressed to the telephone. I remember

the days of anticipating phone calls, that is until I got a cell phone and could text.

Texting provides a quick means for couples to communicate, but the cell phone also acts like a wall, cutting off the personal, romantic and passionate aspects that love letters and even those anticipated telephone calls had before it.

Even before communication, there is the process of meeting someone. Sites like eHarmony and Match.com allow people to create their own specifically tailored profiles and be set up with their perfect mate. I remember a time when people were embarrassed to use dating sites. Admitting such a thing could warrant peculiar stares with people thinking, “You can’t just meet someone on your own?” That judgment has seemingly vanished though, as more and more people are finding success on these websites. My cousin even met her husband on Match.com (now I’m starting to sound like one of those commercials).

There are even dating apps out there that let people find singles in their area. Nothing to do on a Friday night? Use an app like AreYouInterested? and meet up with another local single instantly.

The process of dating is an evolving thing and, unfortunately, it seems we have lost a bit of the romance along the way with all of these new technological innovations. And although I may never kiss a Kissenger, sleep with a Pillow Talk, frequent Pheromone Parties or share a lot of my feelings by text message, the rise of dating sites has proved a positive in this technological takeover.

I’m still getting used to digital love and all of these new techniques, but I have a feeling they’re here to stay. Sorry, Keats.

Jessica Keesee can be reached at jessica.keesee@spartans.ut.edu.

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

OPINION

15

Masters of Our ‘Temple’: Tattoos Don’t Degrade the Body

By HANNAH WEBSTER Columnist

Lisa Khoury of the University at Buffalo’s student publication The Spectrum recently wrote an article entitled “Why Put a Bumper Sticker on a Ferrari?” She explains that when a woman gets a tattoo, she is “vandaliz[ing] the temple she has been blessed with as her body” and that getting one is the opposite of being “classy.” Instead, she suggests you do things like get your nails done and go to the gym.

My initial reaction to this was something along the lines of “WHAT THE HELL?” after I got over the fact that she said women get tattoos to attract men. And compared the feminine physique to a car. But I took a step back and tried to view it from this girl’s perspective. Tattoos are hugely popular these days with shows like LA Ink on television and women like Kat Von D becoming idols.

They’re quickly becoming more socially accepted and, as a result, more and more people are choosing to get “ink’d.”

It’s starting to look trendy. And as with most trends, people could start to write off the motive for getting a tattoo as just following a fad. But for many, it is so much more than that. It is a means of expression that lasts forever. And yes, while it is permanent, that is often a crucial part behind wanting one.

When I decided to get a tattoo, it wasn’t

a spur of the moment decision. I wasn’t copying my friends, I didn’t see a TV show that made me think I had to have one to fit in. I carried the quote I wanted with me for years before I decided to have it etched on the back of my neck. Whether it is hidden or not, I always know that it’s there. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of it or whether or not they understand. The words give me daily comfort for what it means to me. And for that, permanence is quite appropriate.

I understand Khoury’s point that women are “naturally beautiful creatures.” But to say a female is ruining her beauty by putting something on her body that has meaning to her is an incredibly warped perspective. If you don’t like tattoos, that’s fine. Don’t get one.

Sure, I’ve seen some tattoos on people that I would never get. Some where my thought has been “what were you thinking?”

But who am I to judge? Their body, their meaning, their drunken night, their mantra, whatever. It belongs to them.

“I don’t see how a colorful work of art on my skin is any different than a lady who gets her highlights, lowlights, and roots touched up on a monthly basis,” said sophomore marine biology major Leanne Ballering. “I don’t have a tattoo to be rebellious or cutting edge. I have it so that I can show off not only my God given, naturally beautiful, ‘temple’ of a body, but also my creativity and appreciation for art.”

But the biggest problem I have with this besides attacking tattoos in general is the fact that it is focused on just women—tattoos for men are not addresses in the slightest.

Lisa Khoury’s description of an elegant woman includes someone that “does not vandalize the temple she has been blessed with as her body. She appreciates it. She flaunts it. She’s not happy with it? She goes to the gym. She dresses it up in lavish, fun, trendy clothes, enjoying trips to the mall with her girlfriends. She accentuates her legs with high heels. She gets her nails done.”

But don’t worry; she goes on to contradict herself by saying “I’m not here to say a girl should walk around flaunting her body like it’s her job – that’s just degrading.”

I’m sorry, but didn’t you just tell me to flaunt my body along with my freshly manicured nails and trendy clothes? I’ll stop “degrading” my body when you stop degrading your own gender.

Maybe I don’t want to wear heels. Maybe going to the mall is not my idea of “fun.”

Maybe I hate going to the gym because there are others ways to stay healthy. Does that make me an unrespectable woman? No, it makes me someone else’s idea of perfection.

If we can stop the stereotype of what the “perfect” woman is supposed to look and act like, it would be easy to see that the world is filled with amazing women that look and

act nothing alike each other. Maybe one is covered with piercings and tattoos; maybe one is a soccer mom that drives a minivan; or maybe one is a soccer mom covered with piercings and tattoos. What makes any of these women better than the other?

Khoury’s description might be someone’s idea of a classy woman (like those who lived in the time when women were still the property of their husbands) but it’s far from my own. It’s a stereotype, an image.

A classy woman is one who is true to herself.

And if that means getting a tattoo-- whether it’s a deep meaningful quote or an owl because hell, she likes owls—then she should get one.

If it’s not, then she shouldn’t. Getting a tattoo is a personal choice, not something anyone is forced into.

I understand that not all tattoos happen this way. Sometimes people consider them mistakes or something they should have thought about more before getting. But to say that a woman is degrading herself by making a personal and possibly deeply meaningful decision for what to do with her own body is sending her back to the dark ages. Even if we’re not talking about tattoos, we are all the masters of our own bodies. And anyone telling us otherwise is an insult to the individual we were born to become.

Hannah Webster can be reached at hannahkarine31@gmail.com.

goods. His foreign policy seems to be equally balanced between U.S. imports of foreign goods and exports of domestic ones.

I believe this will be crucial to the longterm financial security of our country, and hope that an end to foreign tax breaks will be the first shift in foreign goods consumption.

Although I feel that the SOTU speech prepared by President Obama and his administration was strong, laying out in detail his plans for the future, there were a few items discussed that I believe deserve further explanation.

FactCheck. org stated that employment in the private s e c t o r shifted from 106,772,000 in February 2010 to Screenshot from YouTube.com 109,928,000 Obama’s State of the Union addressed a number of key issues. in December of 2011, as well as jobs and improve our country, he also an additional gain in 2011 of 1.9 million announced his plans to funnel money into more new jobs last year. According to the American development, improving roads, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national bridges, dams, power plants and other unemployment rate is still at 8.3 percent as critical infrastructure. of this January.

Internationally, the president addressed But, as the website further explains, the need for businesses to open up new there are still 1.7 million fewer jobs than markets around the world to sell U.S. there were the month President Obama goods. took office.

The Trade Enforcement Unit was also January’s unemployment rate is almost said to be opening up an investigation in double what it was in May 2007 during China on unfair trading practices. This will our latest economic peak, when it was 4.4 ensure that other countries will not have percent. advantages on the U.S. in the international Job creation is a very important piece trading community. of the U.S. economic pie, and I believe Obama also stated that keeping Iran that if the Obama administration wants from becoming a nuclear power was still to have a successful FY 2012, they need a national priority. When discussing the to aggressively attempt to create jobs. economy, President Obama referred several Even more important, President Obama times to the United States need to establish needs to strategize how his administration itself further in the international economic can create higher demand jobs, not just community while simultaneously slowing minimum wage, minimum advancement the purchase and dependence on foreign employment.

In regards to the president’s international economic aspirations, I am all for the U.S. attempting to become a bigger producer in the community, but I feel that more steps will need to be taken to successfully do this.

In order to boost our economy, Americans, who consume more than anyone in the world, will need to start purchasing more goods that are manufactured domestically.

For instance, during his speech, Obama stated, “Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires.” The president was eluding to the tax on Chinese tires that was enacted in September 2009, and at the time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 50,800 registered jobs in the tire manufacturing industry in the U.S. By October 2011, the number had jumped to 51,900. While there is a notable increase in jobs, The Wall Street Journal recently published an article stating that although the tax did slow the importing of Chinese-made tires, they were replaced by imports from other foreign suppliers. I believe that the president has taken steps in the right direction by imposing higher taxes on imported goods, but I believe that to successfully encourage U.S. purchase of U.S. goods, the president will need to pass a “blanket” tax for all foreign goods purchased. Although there will undoubtedly be a price increase for the purchase of American made items, by giving money back to American workers we will be pumping money directly back into ourselves, and that, in my opinion, is the best investment.

Overall, I feel that Obama’s SOTU address was very good. I believe that many of the economic blueprints that were laid out by him have a high potential to succeed in boosting the U.S. economy, but I hope that his 2012 agenda is only the beginning of new domestically-friendly taxing practices.

If the president and his administration were sincere in their stated agenda, I feel that they have the well-being of the majority of the American public in mind, and are trying to get our country back to where it was five years ago, as a strong, independent, world superpower.

David Adams can be reached at dadams@spartans.ut.edu.

New Agendas: Obama Lays Out State of the Union

By DAVID ADAMS Opinion Writer

On Jan. 24, President Barack Obama addressed the nation’s most serious issues in his State of the Union speech.

During the hour long oration, the president covered the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, many facets of our domestic economic state, as well as immigration, diplomatic stances and our position in the international economic and political communities.

His speech was very detailed, and I believe that he laid out a positive and concrete plan for the United States in the upcoming year.

President Obama opened up his speech by congratulating the U.S. military on a job well done during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and gave support for the troops still fighting in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He commented on the focus of our men and women in the armed forces, and declared that we as a nation should use them as an example for working internally on our domestic hardships.

Shifting to domestic issues, the president pointed out that the American economy has been rebounding for several months, and stated that more new jobs are being created in the U.S. since the late 1990s. Obama also pointed out that the Big Three auto manufacturers are thriving, telling viewers that GM and Chrysler are on serious upswings and that Ford Motor Company invested billions in domestic worksites during the fiscal year of 2011.

On domestic job creation and business stimulation, the president proposed new plans for tax breaks. These proposed breaks would assist small businesses in their growth, as well as reward all U.S. companies for keeping jobs on American soil.

The latter proposal is a reversal from previous policy, which was providing tax cuts and exemptions for businesses that transferred jobs overseas.

Staying domestically-minded, the president stated that he plans to crack down on insider trading in Congress and other political forums. In addition to trading crack downs, the president stated that the

Financial Crime Unit will protect investors, and will be slamming the gavel down on those who commit large scale fraud. The harsher penalties are planned in an effort to prevent economic catastrophes, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008.

The president also discussed plans to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans, citing the Buffett Rule. In addition to tax increases, Obama said that he plans to consolidate the government, making it more efficient. In order to both create

16 FEBRUARY 9 2011 | THE MINARET

OPINION

An ‘Exercise in Deception’: UT Prof Calls Out Conservatives

By BOSTON ROSS Opinion Contributor

Dr. Marcus Arvan, University of Tampa professor of philosophy, published a study on Oct. 25, 2011 that claimed that those who identify themselves as conservatives are likely to exhibit components of the Dark Triad of personality traits. The Dark Triad is a group of three aversive personality traits; Machiavellianism (i.e. deception), narcissism and psychopathy. The study further claimed that because of the “dark and antisocial/socially destructive” personality traits more commonly attributed to conservatives, there is reason to worry about the origins of moral judgments of conservatives.

As a conservative myself, it is hard to hear these claims and take the study’s findings as fact. The most important thing to do is to analyze the validity and reliability of the claims established within the study and determine if they have any merit.

Arvan claimed that the study was performed in order to find an answer to the age old feud between Democrats and Republicans, where each party calls the other immoral, evil, liars, etc. Arvan then proceeded to choose the three most negative traits he could in order to evaluate this argument. Dr. Sean Maddan, a professor of criminology and one of the University of Tampa’s most prominent researchers, reviewed the study and found a few flaws in both the methodology and the results of the study ranging from the sampling procedures to the questions posed to the participants. Arvan, however, said the flaws weren’t large enough to have effected the outcome of the study. Maddan further identified that the method of choosing the participants was flawed from the start, when Arvan used the Yale MechanicalTurk website to find participants. Even one of the questionnaires used by Arvan was untested, although Arvan responded by saying that, “Every questionnaire must begin somewhere.”

There is the possibility that the individuals who participated in the study are innately anti-social and thus would

identify more closely with Dark Triad annual income, than liberals. traits from the start. Arvan, however, Google conducted a similar felt that this possibility was negligible study and found that annual as evidenced by the numbers. He also average contributions to charity emphasized the fact that the results of by conservatives was twice that his study only found a real correlation of liberals. If giving to charity is between social conservatives and the narcissistic (aka, selfish) then I must Dark Triad, not necessarily economic misunderstand the entire premise conservatives. behind charitable donations as well The study claims to be non-biased; as the definition of selfish. Giving however, numerous biases occur. Arvan’s to others is, in fact, the opposite study doesn’t even contain the word of being narcissistic. Charitable “liberal” while examining individuals giving also reveals traits contrary who adhere to utilitarianism and have to another component of the both Machiavellian and psychopathic Dark Triad, psychopathy, through traits. showing empathy and compassion According to Dr. Scott Sumner, for those less fortunate. a professor of economics at Bentley It is a huge mistake to address University, liberal views are more likely an entire socio-political group with to adhere to utilitarianism. This is much such labels. Even if one is merely more realistic, as liberals have a greater trying to show tendencies, one may Courtesy of ut.edu sense of entitlement, such as the “right” UT Professor Marcus Arvan, professor of philosophy. want to solidify their research a to work or the “right” to health care, etc., little better. than conservatives. Arvan conveniently This is reinforced by the fact fails to mention this fact.

Arvan also states his study is the only that Arvan has already performed a “part Liberals therefore, because they are one of its kind to research this topic. This, 2” of his work, finding more correlations more likely to follow utilitarianism, exhibit again, is simply not true. Honesty has been between conservatives and negative both Machiavellian and psychopathic traits- addressed in numerous studies, including traits but also finding more correlations -either both liberals and conservatives the World Values Survey and the National between liberals and negative traits. This exhibit these traits or neither groups do, Cultural Values Survey and in studies by suggests either the results of his first study not solely one group or the other. groups such as the Pew Research Center, were flawed or the entire concept behind Arvan published this study as empirical, and the American Tax Journal’s Journal of the research is one that simply cannot meaning it is purely based on observation Legal Tax Research. be evaluated empirically. Conservatives and experiment. And it’s just as easy to Each of these studies found that liberals are, as numerous other studies show, not refute his findings with other empirical are more likely to view illegal or deceptive narcissistic, not psychopathic and not research. actions such as tax evasion or academic Machiavellian. There was obvious bias The first claim made by the study is dishonesty, as acceptable. These studies going on here. As such, the results are that “conservatives are more likely to are much less biased in their methods and questionable. exhibit aspects of Machiavellianism (i.e. they fly directly in the face of Arvan’s With this in mind, however, it is the deception)” than liberals. This is not true- results. nature of politics to try and damage the -in fact Arvan’s study is an exercise in Another issue here is the statement that reputation or thought process of the other deception. The study claims to be valid, “conservatives are narcissistic.” While side and Dr. Arvan seemingly attempted but how can it be when its sample was allegedly backed by empirical evidence, to do so with elections just around the pulled from random Internet users (who, this too is not true.This is in direct corner. by default, have been found to display at contrast to other research done on political Conservatives and liberals will keep least antisocial tendencies, if not those of individuals. on bickering about what is right and what narcissism and psychopathy)? Further, the For example, a study published in is wrong for years to come, but claiming sample was taken from an indeterminable 2006, by Arthur Brooks (a self-proclaimed that one section of the political spectrum is population. The only details given about independent) found that conservatives essentially marred by the labels under the the sample was the participants’ gender, are over 30 percent more likely to give to Dark Triad is a claim that I believe few will which leaves much to the imagination. charity than their liberal counterparts. In actually grant any merit.

We don’t know ages, location or any other addition, they are likely to give more money Boston Ross can be reached at bross@ details. [or goods] per donation, in relation to their spartans.ut.edu

Wild Night? Stop at the Vending Machine for Some Plan B

By ANNABELLA PALOPOLI Columnist

Now that seeing condoms in vending machines isn’t a novel thing, it might not seem like that big of a deal if any other sort of contraceptive were to appear alongside it. Now, there’s ‘Plan B,’ a “morning-after” pill available in a school vending machine.

However, this new arrival has brought up some controversy.

At Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, a student can put $25 into a vending machine and receive a pack containing an emergency contraceptive pill.

Plan B is available without a prescription to anyone 17 or older, but it is still held behind the counter at the pharmacy. One might think that selling Plan B through a vending machine would risk people under 17 buying the product, but Shippensburg works to prevent that.

The vending machine is located in the school’s health center, which is only accessible to the university’s students and employees. Shippensburg has checked their school records and made sure that no current student is under 17. This seems to be an appropriate and safe way to provide Plan B for students, as a spokeswoman for the company that makes Plan B (Teva Pharmaceuticals) claims that they only sell to “licensed pharmacies or other licensed healthcare clinics, which are required to follow federal guidelines for the distribution

of pharmaceutical products.”

However, there are people, including students, against this. If one takes medicine without first checking with a health care professional, there is a risk factor. There is also a pro-life standpoint on it, where Anna Franzonello, counsel to American United For Life criticizes the university’s administration for presenting this “lifeending potentional as no more harmful than any other machine item.”

On the one hand, I think the fact that Plan B is very accessible to students is great. In any case of rape, condom failure or forgetting any other contraception, Plan B can decrease the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent, as long as it’s taken with 72 hours after the act. I have a friend that needed the pill at one point but was embarrassed to go out and purchase it in public, so having it available without the publicity might encourage more students to buy and use it.

From condoms to pregnancy tests and now “morning-after” pills, there are plenty of things that could be considered worse that may take their place alongside the vended, sex-based items. Maybe there would be more uproar if bottles of personal lubricant or sex toys were on display. There could be a whole row filled with dildos (vibrating or non-vibrating), masturbators and strap-ons.

We could be one step behind Japan, where one could buy panties purposely worn by schoolgirls.

Sex-based vending machines might be successful at a university, if students were only bold enough to step up and be seen carrying a vibrator on campus. It’s one thing if someone finds a small pack of pills in your purse, but finding a penis plaster (a cast sculpted after a celebrity’s private parts) is on a whole other dickster1961/Photobucket.com level. I challenge Now you can get some Plan B with your Mountain Dew. you to think of a plausible excuse who would start being less cautious about for that one. using condoms and birth control if they There are definitely much worse things can just ‘fix it in the morning.’ This is that could come out of a vending machine one of the risks. However, there are many than Plan B. I’d even argue that half of the students that would be very fortunate to machines’ calorie-packed, sugary snacks have Plan B as an option, and this benefit contributing to diabetes in children are might outweigh the risks. much worse than a contraceptive.

One out of four college women report If the federal regulators who are looking surviving rape (oneinfourusa.org). With this into this case decide that it’s legal, then I’m statistic, there is definitely an opportunity all for it. for vending machines offering emergency If it’s safe enough to trust that it contraceptives to be beneficiary. would by unlikely to seriously harm any Annabella Palopoli can be reached at consumer, it seems like a good thing to annabella.palopoli@spartans.ut.edu. have on a campus. There might be people

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

Sports

17

Women’s Basketball Fighting for Final SSC Spot Harmon, a senior from St. Louis, MI plays center and leads the team in pointsper-game and offensive rebounds.

With only nine playable players Captain and point guard Illyssa Vivo and a season full of injuries, Jaleesa also mentions how much more tactful Harmon said, “we don’t make excuses for the team has to be on the court due to the ourselves and we still hold ourselves to injuries to their players. “Foul trouble high expectations.” can’t happen,” Vivo explains.

The team can’t afford to lose a player, especially not because of risky plays. It makes the focus on the court that much more intense because the breathing room that a lot of other teams have, UT’s women’s team does not enjoy.

Neither of the two players feels that they have underplayed the expectations set before the team at the beginning of the season and both think that they have a shot at making the Sunshine State Conference tournament. “We just need to focus on one game at a time and fix mistakes,” Harmon said.

“We can definitely get in (to the tournament),” Vivo said, “We have to turn it around and beat the teams we lost to the first time.”

Jake Patterson/The Minaret Coach Tom Jessee Senior Jaleesa Harmon leads the Spartans in field-goal percentage at is in agreement with 53 percent and points with 279.

By REBECCA CASEY Sports Writer

his players.

“We are in eighth place and the top eight teams make it into the tournament,” Coach Jessee explained.

On Wednesday the women play the ninthseeded team, St. Leo, and if they come out with a win they will then be three games up on St. Leo. With six more games to play, Coach Jessee says the highest his team can be seated in the tournament is seventh, but he is confident that they will make it in.

When asked what their strongest play is, both Harmon and Vivo said the basic motion plays like the 4 out 1 in. Many times, Jake Patterson/The Minaret this isolates Harmon Spartan captain Illyssa Vivo has emerged as a scoring force in her downlow and puts her first year with the Spartans. She played last season for Indiana State. in position to get a high-percentage look. don’t play all year, they just play for the Coach Jessee gives his team a lot of next game.” plays to choose from, about seven or eight With the tournament fast approaching times the number of plays many other both Harmon and Vivo hope to avoid their teams have to choose from. least favorite thing that can happen when When asked how his team has kept playing basketball - losing. up the high moral throughout such a A team that’s won three games in a challenging season off the court, Coach row and four games in a row at different Jessee said his player’s mental game points in the season, has a shot to do some hasn’t really been affected. damage in the SSC tournament.

“It’s not hard to keep morals up with First, though, they need to get in. athletes. They are playing because they Rebecca Casey can be reached at love the sport. The team knows that they rcasey@spartans.ut.edu.

Pitcher Takes the Long Road to UT

By KYLE BENNETT Social Media Director

The career of Ben O’Shea has brought many stops and constant change. Born and raised in Reading, Mass., O’Shea attended Reading Memorial High School.

He would graduate and enroll at Roger Williams where he spent his freshman year, and would later transfer to Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla. A year at Santa Fe led O’Shea a touch further south where he is now, at the University of Tampa, a junior.

In the midst of his rollercoaster career, O’Shea was selected in the 10th round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox after the conclusion of his sophomore season at SFC. “I turned it down because there wasn’t enough money and I wanted to go to school for another year,” O’Shea said of his reasoning for remaining in college.

Although electing to fulfill another year of college eligibility, O’Shea admits that his goal is be drafted, again, and not to necessarily earn a college degree.

“I’m trying to go [pro] this year,” he said.

His career took another turn before he enrolled at UT. O’Shea was set to enroll at Maryland before his application stalled due to a lack of credits.

“I was like three credits short,” O’Shea said about his application process. He was set to enroll in the Fall, but due to the mixup was forced to look elsewhere.

“I just try to overpower kids,” O’Shea explained. “My curveball is not very good, but I can spot my fastball however I want so I just mainly use that.”

The junior says his number two pitch is his changeup, which registers in the mid 80s on the radar gun and is continuing to get better as he gains more control over it.

The Spartans kicked off their 2012 season as they hosted Bentley College in a three-game set. O’Shea made his debut on Feb. 5 where he tossed four innings, allowing no earned runs and struck out four. The lefty didn’t factor into the decision, but the Spartans went on to win Jake Patterson/The Minaret 2-1 to improve to 3-0.

Ben O’Shea makes UT his third school in as many years. “[After this season], hopefully I get drafted,” O’Shea The Spartans’ winning tradition, in said. “It would be nice to finish up this year a roundabout way, led O’Shea to UT. and hopefully win a championship; the Although he didn’t know much about the team is definitely good enough to do that.” program, a former coach suggested Coach O’Shea says that his statistical goals Urso and the Spartans. remain pretty much the same from year to “My coach suggested UT because they year. have a good coaching staff and a good all “I always try to have 1.5-to-2 strikeouts around team,” he explained. per inning; I’m the kind of guy that just The Massachusetts native commands goes for the strikeout,” O’Shea further respect as he toes the rubber. At 6- foot- explained. “I’m not really a pitch-to6 inches tall and over 250 pounds, O’Shea contact guy and as far as ERA – it’s always features a fastball in the mid to low 90s and nice to have a low ERA.” says that he tries to overpower opposing Kyle Bennett can be reached at kbennett. hitters with a simple repertoire. ut@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY BASEBALL --February 10-11 @ Georgia College --February 17-19 @ Stillman College --February 24 vs. West Florida (@ Valdosta, Ga.) --February 25 vs. Delta State (@ Valdosta, Ga.) --February 26 @ Valdosta State ---

18 FEBRUARY 9 2012 | THE MINARET

SPORTS

Super Bowl Ads Range From Good to Awful

By MILES PARKS Sports Editor

I’m not sure exactly what’s happening.

I think it might be a mixture of my growing love for football and my curiosity in middleage sex symbols (Mick Jagger, Madonna, etc.) The point is, not only do I no longer find Super Bowl commercials funny or entertaining, but I don’t even care.

I watched every single one this year and I was so unimpressed that I might just use the mute button next year.

I was pretty bored.

Either way, some of The Minaret staff loved them and some of us hated them.

Here are a couple opinions of this year’s $3 million attempts at selling stuff.

--The Best of the Best - By John Hilsenroth Jr., Asst. Sports Editor Although I thought it was a down year for commercials, there were still some gems. No one was able to match the aforementioned Volkswagen Darth Vader kid, not even Volkswagen them self.

Their rendition of the dog losing weight was pretty awesome, if they had cut it right there. The next 30 seconds were beyond ridiculous. John Stamos getting head-butted and the stripping M & M get honorable mentions, but this years top commercial was from one of the most unlikeliest of brands.

That’s right, Sketchers’ moon-walking dog was the best commercial of Super Bowl XLVI. Mr. Quiggly sure could run!

His bright red sneakers and glamorous smile stole my heart away.

What capped it off was Mark Cuban negotiating a contract with him.

I’ll still never be caught dead in a pair of Sketchers, but that was one creative commercial.

--The Worst of the Worst - By Miles Parks, Sports Editor

Wow. Matthew Broderick is getting a little chunky, huh? Honda’s attempt at remaking one of the greatest high school flicks of all-time failed miserably. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is centered on the concept of seizing the day. What would you do if you had a beautiful girlfriend, a gorgeous car and 12 hours to roam the city?

This CRV commercial features a 50something Broderick hitting the town BY HIMSELF. This is my biggest issue with the ad. When advertising an SUV, why wouldn’t you play up the enjoyment you can have with others?

Broderick goes to the fair, jumps into an Asian festival performance and heads out to dinner alone. I just don’t get it and it doesn’t make me laugh. It just makes me uncomfortable.

If I were a Honda exec, I would go back to the drawing board.

Think back to the Darth Vader kid.

Polishing up a concept from 30 years ago doesn’t make for a great commercial; an original creative idea does.

--The Weirdest of the Weird - By Jennifer Bedell, Head Copy Editor The silent and sexy ad for Dannon Oikos had some of the men in the Minaret

Screenshot from YouTube.com Matthew Broderick’s performance in this Super Bowl commerical wasn’t awful, it was just the concept that stunk. Why revive a classic film in a way that eliminates the movie’s true allure?

office considering this as the funniest, while I argue that it is just strange. Dannon, if you want a woman to attack John Stamos in that head-butting manner, it should have been a chocolate delectable.

I felt awkward just watching this. I don’t mind any sort of tease action, especially involving Stamos, but it was more creepy than anything. I felt my forearm shatter as she grabbed onto his arm in desperation for a bite of their new product.

Watching a modest looking woman assault one of America’s sex-symbols just angered me. I felt awkward throughout, because let’s be honest, no one gets that physical over yogurt. It’s as if the woman suddenly transformed into a head-butting dinosaur, terrifying actually. Of course, Dannon had to keep their commercial

appropriate so I wouldn’t expect them to head in any other direction with this ad.

I know Super Bowl viewers would appreciate a little violence, and Stamos has to get paid somehow, but I think the creative team at Dannon relied too heavily on the actor’s looks.

The 30 seconds of attempted sexual tension ends with the female character yet again threatening his safety, and teasing nothing further between them besides a presumed death.

I can’t imagine any of Dannon’s yogurt causing me or any females I associate with to act in that manner, and certainly not around John Stamos.

Miles Parks, John Hilsenroth and Jennifer Bedell can be reached at minaret. sports@gmail.com.

SPORTS

THE MINARET | FEBRUARY 9 2012

Pro Sports

19

High Schoolers Ink Big Decisions on Feb. 1

By SHAWN FERRIS Sports Writer

National Signing Day. Put yourself in their shoes. There are so many factors a college football recruit has to consider before signing his future away.

“Do I like the coaches? Do I like the school? How much scholarship money am I getting? Am I going to play right away?

Do I like the uniforms? (And if you’re going to the University of Oregon, then the answer is yes.) Is this really what’s best for me?”

There’s no way this can be an easy decision to make for a 17 or 18-year-old high school senior. It becomes difficult to say no, and difficult to tell other coaches you don’t want to be a part of their future plans the further along you go through the recruiting process.

This year, more than ever the indecisiveness of young athletes has affected the state of college football in a way never before seen. The saga that is Jordan Payton could not exemplify further. Payton, the 15th best wide receiver according to Scouts.com in the class of 2012, changed his commitment not once, not twice, not three but FOUR times, breaking the hearts of USC, Cal and Washington fans before ultimately deciding to play for UCLA.

What’s even worse, the obviously misguided young man switched his commitment from Cal to Washington the day before signing day and ended up not signing with either one of those schools.

Verbal commitments carry little weight anymore. Notre Dame lost four-star wide receiver and verbal commit since last spring Deontay Greenberry, who was Mr. Football in California, on a last minute decision to play for the University of Houston.

In perhaps the most shocking turn of events of the day, Dante Fowler Jr., a five-star defensive end that was supposed to lead Florida State’s already impressive class, dropped the Noles last second for the rival Gators, after leading Jimbo Fisher on for over a year and a half. It just goes to show that until you get a signature on that letter of intent, it doesn’t matter what comes out of a recruit’s mouth.

Despite the roller-coaster ride that some recruits took to their final decision, there were a few teams that had tremendous success this recruiting season. The defending national champion Crimson Tide were looking to add more talent on the defensive side after losing Courtney Upshaw and Dre Kirkpatrick.

Coach Nick Saban did just that, finishing with seven players ranked in the

top 10 at their respective positions on the defensive side and signing twelve ESPN top 150 recruits. Alabama finished as the top recruiting class of 2012. This was to be expected, however, as Saban traditionally has great success along the recruiting trail.

What was unexpected was Stanford’s recruiting class coming in at number seven in 2012.

Despite losing likely number one overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, Andrew Luck, and a year ago losing coach Jim Harbaugh, the Cardinal and now second year head coach David Shaw had great success luring in top high school talent, receiving commits from three of the top offensive lineman in the country, top linebacker recruit Noor Davis, top defensive lineman talent Aziz Shittu and even snagging highly-touted running back Barry Sanders Jr. away from other enticing powerhouses.

The University of California Golden Bears had the toughest day, losing at least five four-star or better players to other schools after the departure of head coach Tosh Lupoi. The Golden Bears aimed to land more than 25 commitments, and somehow managed to receive only 17.

Mike Pettigano/Flickr.com Shawn Ferris can be reached at Nick Saban is famous in Alabama not just for his coaching, but also for his recruiting chops. sferris@spartans.ut.edu.

Winners, Losers Emerge During MLB Offseason a role player to enhance an already potent combo of Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. I love the Reds to take the The 2012 Major League Baseball central division. offseason has been perhaps the most #3 - New York: The Yankees addressed impressive to date. Big name guys like their weakness of starting pitching by Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose adding the young, scorching phenom Reyes will be dressing in different locker Michael Pineda and successful righty rooms come the end of February. Here Hiroki Kuroda to give them a top of the are my top five winners and losers of this league starting rotation. Derek Jeter and winter.

Alex Rodriguez have just Winners: enough gas left in the tank #5 - Tampa Bay: The to enrich the top of the Rays added a much desired powerful offense. power bat and fan favorite #2 - Miami: The Marlins in Carlos Pena. They also added one of the most re-signed two of their stud electric guys on the field starters, David Price and in Jose Reyes. If Hanley Matt Moore, to efficient Ramirez figures out his deals. The Rays have a consistent swing of past youthful and explosive years, the right side of the group that is equipped to be infield will be deadly. Heath relevant to everyone in the Bell is an animal of a closer. country. Come September, Mark Buehrle has a few Tony Lastoria/Photobucket.com the Rays will be in the talks Prince Fielder joins the Tigers more effective seasons left concerning a first place on a nine year contract. with the switch to the NL. division finish.

The main component of #4 - Cincinnati: The Reds Miami Marlin success will didn’t get excessive mainstream attention ride on health. Can Josh Johnson’s elbow this offseason. However, they made some stay healthy? Can Jose Reyes stay off the above average moves. Mat Latos is a DL? If health is good, expect the Marlins to young stud pitcher making $460,000 this be in the running to pull a wild card spot. year. He wants a plump contract, so expect #1 - Anaheim: The Angels have added big things out of him. Latos will be the the top hitter in the game. Albert Pujols guy starting game 1 of the NLDS for the will have plenty of protection in a lineup Reds. Dominant Ryan Madsen was added full of power threats. Additionally, the to close games. Ryan Ludwick can serve as halos added top lefty starter C.J. Wilson

By TIM SHANAHAN Sports Writer

Talk of the Town Professional Sporting News in the Region

Pat Burrell, regarded as one of the worst signings in franchise history, has decided to retire. The 35-year-old was signed in 2009 but managed just 16 homers in two seasons with the Rays.

to an already lethal #3 - New York: The rotation including Mets did nothing to get Jered Weaver and Dan a relevant player this Haren.

Promising winter. In fact, the only young outfielder positive change they Mike Trout is ready made this offseason to make an impact at was moving the the top of lineup. He outfield walls closer. may be the fastest And technically, this man in baseball. move favors the hitters Losers: for both the home and #5 - Texas: The away team. The Mets Rangers overpaid with lost their most exciting their $100 million player, Jose Reyes. plus fee to acquire Overall, it will be a Yu Darvish. The dude tough season for what uenomama/Photobucket.com is currently the worst is an absolute flamethrowing freak. The Rangers paid $51.7 million just to run organization in negotiate with Yu Darvish.

However, it doesn’t professional baseball. always pan out when #2 - Milwaukee: Japanese pitchers transfer to an MLB team. The Brewers lost their two best hitters.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was supposed to be the Prince Fielder is putting on Tigers gear greatest. It turns out he’s spent the greatest and Ryan Braun is sitting next to the water time on the DL. The jump from pitching cooler in the dugout for the first 50 games. every six days to every five is significant, However, their starting rotation stands in and is likely to result in injuries for Japanese tact and sturdy. pitchers. I question the effectiveness of the #1 - St. Louis: The Cardinals lost one money Texas invested in Darvish, not to of the top ten hitters of all time and a mention they lost their top starter in CJ Hall of Fame caliber coach. But they did Wilson to a division foe. make a convincing attempt to fill these #4 - Oakland: The A’s lost arguably the holes with the signing of Carlos Beltran. best pieces of their pitching staff. Trevor Questions surround Adam Wainwright’s Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey health coming off Tommy John Surgery. I have said goodbye to the west coast. They believe the team has the potential to finish also lost their most productive hitter in only third in the central division.

Josh Willingham. The summer afternoons Tim Shanahan can be reached at will be long in The Coliseum. tshanahan@spartans.ut.edu.

The Magic remain unbeaten within their division but still sit in third place in the Southeast. Led by an unhappy Dwight Howard, they host the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Buccaneers hired Greg Schiano as their new head coach at the end of January.

The former Rutgers head coach takes over a team that finished the 2011-2012 season with 10 straight losses.

MINARET

UT’S SOURCE SINCE 1933

SPORTS

MLB Offseason [19]

W. Basketball [17]

Baseball Sweeps Opening Weekend With Arms

By JOHN HILSENROTH JR.

Asst. Sports Editor

The University of Tampa baseball team kicked off its season by sweeping Bentley University last weekend. The firstranked Spartans displayed dominance on the mound, allowing just one run in three games.

The first two games were blowouts, won by a combined score of 15-0. Sunday was different, however.

Transfer Ben O’Shea made his first appearance for the Spartans, allowing the first run of the season in four innings of work. The Spartans were shut out through seven, and mustered only four hits in the entire game. In this case, quality ousted quantity.

Senior Andrew Jones singled home Raiko Alfonso to tie the game in the eighth. Then in the ninth, transfer Anthony Caronia, who led Tampa with six hits over the weekend, ended the game by driving in the second run with a walk-off single.

“It all started with our pitching this weekend,” said Head Coach Joe Urso.

“That’s our strength this year. Our guys did a great job of pounding the strike zone and limiting walks. Caronia had a big weekend in the lead-off spot too. Our base-

[

[

“It all started with our pitching this weekend.”

- Joe Urso UT Baseball Head Coach

stealers were aggressive and we seemed to be going from first to third nicely. It was a good first weekend overall, but we didn’t execute certain situations that we will be working on in practice.”

Tampa was the preseason favorite to win the SSC, and is currently tied for first with four other teams. Florida Tech, Nova Southeastern, Rollins and Saint Leo all matched Tampa’s 3-0 start.

The entire SSC is currently 23-6.

“I haven’t seen any of the other teams yet,” said Urso. “This is a tremendous conference and we look forward to playing our rivals like Florida Southern when conference play opens in March.”

The Spartans are undefeated at home, and will be for a while as the team begins a grueling 13-game road trip at Georgia College in a double-header on Friday.

After their Feb. 5 win at home, they won’t play another game at UT until March 4.

“We’re gonna have to hit the books hard because we’ll be gone for a lot of weekends and we have road games the next three Fridays,” Urso said.

“We’re excited for Georgia College, as we play them every year. They beat us in the World Series two years ago, so we’re Jake Patterson/ The Minaret not too happy about that.”

Sean Bierman, coming off of Tommy John surgery, opened the season for the Spartans and earned In addition to pitching, Urso added a win. He struck out six, walked none and gave up zero runs in three innings of work. that another one of the teams’ strengths is experience.

36-man roster, 22 players joining UT means to put on a University of Tampa Fifth-year seniors Evan Stobbs and Sean after having played at other colleges or jersey. “The experienced guys on the team Bierman will lead the talented pitching universities. In addition, there are only will show the transfers what it means to be staff, and veterans like Andrew Jones and five freshmen on the team. a Spartan.”

Raiko Alfonso should anchor the lineup.

Urso is confident, however, that they John Hilsenroth Jr. can be reached at The team is full of transfers; of the will learn from their teammates what it minaret.sports@gmail.com.

Second-Ranked Spartans Begin Season Friday

By ANALISA TRSTENSKY Sports Writer

Even with just five starters returning, the University of Tampa’s softball team is still poised to be one of the best in the Sunshine State Conference.

In a recent SSC preseason poll voted for by the conference’s softball coaches and sports information directors, Tampa was ranked second behind Rollins College.

Both the Spartans and the Tars received nine first place votes apiece, but the Tars edged out the Spartans by just four overall

Samantha Battersby/ The Minaret Senior Susan Jallo is coming off a 2011 season that resulted in a first-team all-SSC selection.

points. Barry rounded out the top three teams. UT concluded the 2011 season in second place, coming in behind Rollins again.

The Spartans were also included in the 2012 NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Division II Preseason Poll coming in at No. 19. This poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.

This is only the second time in UT softball history that the Spartans have earned a preseason ranking. The only other time occurred in 2009 when the team was ranked No. 10.

The Spartans wrapped up last season with a No. 23 ranking after making 12 consecutive appearances in the weekly poll throughout the season.

Rollins is the only other team representing the SSC in the NFCA poll, nabbing the No. 10 rank.

“Rollins is our rival. No matter where they are ranked, we want to beat them,” said head coach Leslie Kanter.

Of the five starters returning this season, three were named to the All-SSC team last season. Senior Deanna Henriott, named the first-team all-conference pitcher, led the league last season with 281 strikeouts.

She also pitched two no-hitters and a perfect game.

She finished her record-breaking season third in the nation in ERA (0.71) and fourth in lowest hits allowed (101). She also had 13 shutouts and had a career-high 16 strikeouts against Florida Tech.

Even with her record setting season,

Henriott doesn’t feel there’s any pressure to duplicate her performance.

“I’m just going to go out there and doing my thing.”

Third baseman Susan Jallo was also named to the first-team All-SSC after batting .320 with 28 RBI and 40 runs.

“She’s a great leader,” Kanter said of the senior. “She plays with a lot of heart.”

Also returning is Becky Vyzas, who was second-team All-SSC last season. She led the Spartans with a .353 batting average and set a program record with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 2011. Kanter believes that 2012 will be an even bigger year for the catcher.

Joining the Spartans is pitcher Kayla Cox. The sophomore transferred from North Carolina State University where she appeared in 34 games.

“Pitching is definitely our strength this season,” Vyzas said.

Kanter added, “Our pitching staff is the strongest it’s ever been.”

As for the team’s goals, they are quite simple. “We went far last year, but not far enough,” the coach explained. “We want to win regions and then go on to win the national title.”

Vyzas joked, “I want a nice ring on my bony fingers.”

The Spartans’ season starts on Feb. 10 against Lindenwood University as part of the Eckerd College Spring Invitational.

The Spartans’ first home appearance will be a set of back-to-back games against Lindenwood on Feb. 15. starting at 6 p.m.

Analisa Trstensky can be reached at atrstensky@spartans.ut.edu.