THE VOLUME
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ISSUE
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FEBRUARY
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THE
UNIVERSITY
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TRAVEL BAN SPARKS PROTEST Students gather to protest President Trump’s executive orders p. 14
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MINARET
M EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tess Sheets MANAGING EDITOR Bianca Lopez
NEWS AND FEATURES Arden Igleheart
Liz MacLean ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Regina Gonzalez Ivy Velazquez OPINION Carissa Economos Andrew Foerch SPORTS John Feltman
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. 83
NO. 14
FEBRUARY 2, 2017
NEWS
OPINION
BY SARA CASARETO PAGE 3
BY MADHURA NADARAJAH PAGE 17
Personal experience: sounds of the Sahara
Another Gasparilla gone... and mostly forgotten
Lights, camera, MovieFest
Hollywood is no place for dogs
BY CHRIS PIRRIE PAGE 4-5
Stop bullying Barron Trump and children of politics
On campus housing selection process begins
BY BILL DELEHUNT PAGE 20
BY LEAH FOREMAN PAGE 6
Think before you share: the ugly side of memes
A+E
BY CARISSA ECONOMOS PAGE 21
SPORTS
Dough-nut worry, be happy BY MEGAN MEYERS PAGE 7
Buttermilk banger: UT students venture to Aspen for Winter X Games
BY REGINA GONZALEZ PAGE 8-9
HEAD COPY PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN MULTIMEDIA
Katelyn Massarelli Julia Albini Christian Maldonado Regina Gonzalez
FACULTY ADVISER David Wheeler
COPY EDITING Hannah Farrow Kayla Jacobus
PHOTOGRAPHERS Kate Beeken Allie Crump
ADVERTISE
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ONLINE
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COVER
Photo by Tess Sheets
Superbowl LI: explosive Falcon’s ready for Brady’s Pats BY ANDREW FOERCH PAGE 22-23
Two series, same expectations BY VERONICA SANSUR PAGE 10
Movies of 2017: from superheroes to princesses BY VERONICA GRAY PAGE 11
Hammer nails an SSC Swimmer of the Week award BY KATELYN MASSARELLI PAGE 24-25
De Alfredo continues to dish and swish BY SIMON BRADY PAGE 26-27
COVER
WRITERS
Simon Brady Sara Casareto Bill Delehunt Leah Foreman Veronica Gray Kelly Hauck Megan Meyers Madhura Nadarajah Chris Pirrie Veronica Sansur
BY KELLY HAUCK PAGE 18-19
No wall, no ban protest
BY LEAH FOREMAN PAGE 14-16
THE
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MINARET MEETINGS
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7.30PM/ICB 200 EVERY MONDAY
NEWS
Photo courtesy of Campus MovieFest/Facebook MOVIE NIGHT: Students table last spring for the Campus MovieFest in Vaughn lobby. Students with any major can participate in making or acting in a movie for the event, and films can be any genre.
Lights, camera, MovieFest Campus MovieFest has students create short film in just one week Sara Casareto Contributing Writer sara.casareto@spartans.ut.edu Students have one week to create a five-minute film on any topic of their choice when Campus MovieFest comes to campus on Feb. 8.. The top 16 films will then be shown on Feb. 20 in Falk Theater at a red carpet showcase, and the top four movies will move on to CMF’s national event. “During this week, students can come rent out high quality equipment for free,” said Alex Martin, a junior art major and the film chair of Student Productions. “Anything you need to make a five-minute film, from a camera or the Adobe equipment. Last year it was a huge success and lots of fun; anyone can do it.” The entire festival is organized, held and judged by the national organization Campus MovieFest, in coordination with Student Productions. After submitting the video, candidates get judged and ranked. Much like the Oscars, there are a variety of awards, from Best Actor to overall Best Picture. This initial competition is only between UT students. However, if students rank in the top four, they will be judged on a national level for a cash reward of $150,000, various prizes and the possibility to have their films shown
at the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as other venues. “These Jury Award winners will receive a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud (a $600 value) and will move on to compete nationally at the CMF Grand Finale at TERMINUS, our film & gaming conference/ convention,” said Raghav Ravichandran, the Promotions Manager for Campus MovieFest. “Silver Tripod Awards will be given in many different categories, including directing, editing, and acting, to celebrate the achievements of UT’s most outstanding filmmakers. Campus MovieFest’s mission is to provide the resources and assistance students need to bring their stories to life.” There are no prerequisites to participate other than being a UT student. Filmmakers and actors can be any major and have any type of interest. Non-UT students are allowed to participate in the making of the film; however, the registered group must be led by a UT student. To see last year’s submitted videos, go to the CMF webpage and type “University of Tampa” in the search bar. “I’m considering participating in CMF because I want to increase the exposure my work gets,” said Dylan Avery, a freshman film major. “I’ve been thinking of making some kind of continuation of an experimental film I made last
year, ‘Walk.’ In that film, I took a very abstract view on showing the city of Tampa in a different light.” Some examples of film genres in the competition are comedies, horror or an expose on current social issues. Last year, Anthony Nicolo, a senior exercise science major, alongside Bianca Lopez, a senior journalism major, created a film that discussed bullying and the effect of bystanders. For that film, Nicolo won the Best Actor CMF Golden Tripod Award, and the duo won the Best Film CMF Golden Tripod Award. Nicolo hopes to compete again this semester. “I am trying to get a group together to make a new film that will really resonate with people again,” Nicolo said. “I would love to defend my title and participate in this amazing competition.” There is an information meeting in Reeves Theatre on Feb. 6 from 6-8 p.m. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 8. Anyone who wishes to sign up can do so at campusmoviefest.com/tampa. “I feel that everyone and anyone should participate in this event, whether they are a film major or not,” said Nicolo. “Bianca and I are not film majors and we won; anything is possible if you put your mind to something.”
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Personal experience: sounds of the Sahara Christopher Pirrie Contributing Writer christopher.pirrie@spartans.ut.edu
In December I visited the beautiful country of Morocco. Having spent several months this past summer studying Arabic in Oman, I felt Morocco would be a great place to stretch my linguistic muscles. Arabic and French are the primary languages, along with Darija, the local Moroccan dialect. I don’t speak French, but having honed my basic Arabic skills in the souks of Muscat, I felt reasonably prepared. Au contraire, I soon found things were not quite that simple. Before my arrival, I thought French would be an afterthought, with Arabic or the local dialect serving as the “front runner” language. On the short drive from the airport I felt mildly confident. Most road signs were in Arabic and had either the French or English translation underneath. Arriving in Casablanca after an overnight flight, I decided the best way to start the trip would be with a nice light breakfast at an outdoor café. I know enough Arabic to find things I enjoy to eat, but when the waiter handed me the menu I was taken aback- it was all in French. I suddenly felt completely lost. Trying not to look too much like a tourist, I subtly grabbed the attention of the waiter. “Arabic menu, please” I asked in Arabic. The waiter smiled at me and explained, in English, this did not exist. He said he doubted I would find a single Arabic menu in all of Morocco. Perhaps things were not going to be as easy as I first thought. Maybe listening to Moroccans speak would be a bit easier. From my time in Oman, I knew spoken Arabic was different than Fusha, the formal Arabic taught in universities, but I hoped I could pick out a few helpful phrases. I listened as Rostom, our tour guide from Fes, spoke to people in Darija. As I was straining to find something familiar amid the rapid paced local Arabic, suddenly French-sounding words started to appear. I didn’t know if I was listening to someone speaking Arabic with a French accent or French with an Arabic accent. Sometimes I even heard the odd Spanish word mixed in for fun. I was overwhelmed. Telling Rostom about my lack of ability to understand,
Photo by Christopher Pirrie/The Minaret TRAVEL VIEWS: The author’s tour guide Hashim walking in the town of Rissani. Hashim was a member of the Berber, or Tuareg people.
he reassured me by letting me know that even most native Arabic speakers have a difficult time understanding Moroccans due to their accent. He explained that because of the country’s proximity to both France and Spain, Moroccans speak with a dialect influenced by these languages. Moroccans have become adept at modifying their language to fit the situation. I observed this once during the tour when Rostom was speaking on the phone with a client from Dubai. In mid-sentence, he shifted from Darija to Fusha. Immediately I felt as if a switch had flipped in
my brain and I could once again understand a few phrases. Things weren’t all that bad, I decided; I could get the hang of this. On our tour, I learned about the Amazighs, better known as Berbers. Outnumbering the Arabs in Morocco, the Amazighs are the indigenous people of Northern Africa, and they too have their own language, along with their own alphabet. It was in the town of Rissani, in the Sahara Desert region, where I had the good fortune to meet Hashim, a member of the Berber people known as Tuareg. Our local
CAMPUS CRIMES
4
IN A FLASH
KEY QUESTION
RUN TO THE POLES
IT'S A BONG STORY
On Jan. 23 at 1:07 a.m., a non-student on public property near the campus entrance exposed himself to students. He was subsequently arrested.
On Jan. 23 at 12:15 p.m., a university staff member reported the theft of a university-owned computer and keyboard.
On Jan. 24 at 11:30 a.m., a student hit a pole with his car when trying to move between illegally parked vehicles and the pole.
On Jan 24. At 5:30 p.m., an underage intoxicated guest of a student was found stumbling on a sidewalk.
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NEWS tour guide for morning, Hashim greeted us wearing a long, bright blue robe, his head covered in an orange cloth wrapped like a turban but with a long piece left loose to cover his face if needed. In accented but clear English, he showed us around the weekly market, where local people come to buy and sell everything from camels to wedding dresses. Hashim told us he had no formal schooling, learning other languages by giving tours over the years. He spoke Berber (several dialects), Fusha Arabic, Darija, French, English, along with some Spanish, German, and Italian. As an American, it still amazes me how someone can learn a language simply through interacting with curious visitors in a town at the edge of the desert. And here I was distressed at the lack of Arabic menus. It was much the same in all the places I visited. From the young apprentices chiseling intricate mosaics in Fez, to the elderly men drinking tea in the cafes, and everyone in between- Moroccans seemed to not only tolerate, but revel in, communicating in multiple languages. At the start of my trip, I worried about the unfamiliarity of the languages. However, the people I met in Morocco showed me that despite what my professors might say, it’s OK to make mistakes when trying to speak another language. I also learned that no matter if you greet the day with Bon Jour, Sabahul Khair, Buenos Dios or Good Morning, chances are in Morocco you will be understood.
Photo courtesy of Chris Pirrie MOROCCO: (Above left) The Berber alphabet is displayed. (Above right) Directions in French, Arabic and English are spray-painted on a door in Marrakesh. (Below) Footprints mark the sand of the Sahara.
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Photo by Kate Beeken/The Minaret CHOOSE WISELY: Straz is one of the living options for continuing students to choose in their housing applications. Housing deposits were due on Feb. 1, and students will soon receive their assigned selection times.
On-campus housing selection process begins
Steps to take soon to secure proper living arrangements for next year Leah Foreman Contributing Writer leah.foreman@spartans.ut.edu While it may seem like a while away, the fall semester is fast approaching. In order to secure on-campus housing, the following things must be completed in an orderly fashion. The housing application in Residence by Symplicity is due by Feb. 15 as well as the form used to make groups of any size. If students have a group of three and they select a four-bedroom apartment, a single person has the ability to join their room afterward. Similarly, if a group of two selects a four-bedroom apartment, another group of two can select this room to fill it. From Feb. 20 to March 3, depending on their given selection times, students will be able to select which residence hall they want to live in. The selection time is determined by how many semesters a student has lived on campus. A group selection time is created by taking the average semesters on campus of the group members. “For the fall semester, students who are applying as continuing students will be able to apply to the new Palm Apartments,” said Stefan Cox, a senior math and finance major who works in the Residence Life office. Aside from the Palm Apartments which are set to be entirely complete by August 2017, the other choices include Barrymore Hotel, Brevard, Jenkins, Straz, and Urso. The Boathouse, McKay, Morsani, Vaughn, Austin, and Smiley are exclusively for incoming freshman. Priority will be given to students with the least amount of semesters spent on campus.
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For students wanting to move off of campus, the University can assist in finding a place. “Next year, I plan to live off-campus,” said junior nursing major Chrissy Fabiano. “I have been exploring my options through the off-campus housing fairs the school hosts and also by doing research online.” The school hosts a couple different off-campus housing fairs throughout the year, and different apartments and offcampus housing options table in Vaughn Center as a part of the Off-Campus Housing Spotlight. The Spring Off-Campus Housing Fair will be held in Vaughn Center on April 4 and the Off-Campus Community Spotlight will be held every Wednesday in the Vaughn Center. Students who would like to change their housing selection may put their names on the individual or group room change wait-list, which will be available later in the semester, after March 3. After selecting their hall, June 1 is the last day students can cancel their housing plans and Aug. 28 is the final day students can arrive on campus and claim their room key to move in for the Fall term. For questions about the housing process, visit Residence Life in Vaughn 213 or email reslife@ut.edu.
Photo by Kate Beeken/The Minaret STRAZ: Taylor Ridinger, a sophomore advertising and public relations major, lives in Straz and looks out at West parking garage.
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Dough-nut worry, be happy Megan Meyers Contributing Writer megan.meyers@spartans.ut.edu
Tampa is one city that does not lack great places to wine and dine, indulge and enjoy, and eat your heart out. Whether you’ve had a bad day or the weather is a tad gloomy, a sweet treat is sure to brighten your mood. If you haven’t checked out these four dessert locations, here’s a little motivation to add them to your bucket list. Sprinkles Cupcakes and Ice Cream 717 S Dakota Ave. Those in need of a pick-me-up will find flavors on flavors of freshly made cupcakes at Sprinkles Cupcakes located in Hyde Park Village. Sprinkles has classic cupcake flavors such as vanilla and chocolate as well as some unique options such as banana peanut butter and triple cinnamon. For coffee lovers and tea drinkers, there is a Cuban coffee flavored cupcake as well as chai tea latte. Ice cream and cookies are also served at this spectacular cupcake shop and if someone can’t decide on what sweet treat they want to devour, freshly baked cookies can be combined with ice cream to create an ice cream sandwich. And a scoop of ice cream with a cupcake in a cup is also an option. To add even more fun to the spectacular Sprinkles shop, a cupcake ATM is located right outside. Yes, this works just like a bank ATM, but instead of cash, you end up with a sweet and scrumptious treat. The best part about the cupcake ATM is that it is working 24/7. “I love the cupcake ATM because I don’t have to worry about the shop being open when I want a Sprinkles Cupcake,” said senior public relations major Victoria Mancini. Datz Dough 2602 S MacDill Ave. Ice cream, cookies, brownies, cakes, and more. What’s not to love? Datz has a reputation for leaving a great impression on those who eat their food and even more so for those who indulge in their desserts. Datz’s dessert room is called “Dough” and is located right next to the actual restaurant. “Dough is my all time favorite dessert spot in Tampa,” junior exercise science major Ashley Stanek said. “I highly recommend for any and all doughnut flavors.” Dough’s breakfast options are available until 11 a.m. and include a ‘Dough Dozen” homemade doughnuts for only $10. Perfect for a gathering or for maybe a huge craving (no judgment), Datz’s “Crowd Pleaser” comes with 50 doughnuts for $55. Flavorful cakes are baked to perfection and available to order in small or large sizes in the dessert room. One-of-a-kind cake flavors range from Brownie Cheesecake all the way to Pink Lemonade. One of the popular items on the menu is the infamous doughnut cone. Any flavor ice cream or gelato can be topped onto these freshly made sweet cones. Datz Dough is open MondayThursday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and on the weekends, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Julia Albini/The Minaret YUM: Sprinkles cupcakes is one of the many new sweet treat additions to the Hyde Park area. The shop offers all kinds of creations from cupcakes with ice cream on top to their ATM if you need a cupcake on the go.
Mr. Penguin 1920 W Platt St. 1155 S Dale Mabry Hwy #11. Regular gelato can’t compare to the combination of flavorful icy gelato and creamy soft serve to create Mr. Penguin’s popular “Gelati” treats. The soft serve comes in three options: vanilla, chocolate or swirl. The Italian ice comes in 30 different flavors. “Cookies and Cream gelato with vanilla soft serve is always my go-to order,” junior sports management major Hannah Crowe said. “I get it every two weeks because I can never stay away too long.” A few other flavors are root beer, coconut, cherry, and banana. The nifty ice cream joint is open Monday-Thursday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. There are two separate locations of Mr. Penguin in Tampa but both have the same menu.
turn into a frozen treat right in front of you. After the treat is rolled and made, sauces and tasty toppings are added. To lean a bit on the healthier side, fresh fruit is available as a topping as well. If you want to experience this creation, stop by Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. or stop in on Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Snobachi 2206 E 7th Ave. Snobachi is a new addition to Ybor City. Not only is this rolled ice cream delicious to the tummy, but also the creation of the dessert is quite fantastic to the eyes. “To be honest I didn’t even originally go to Snobachi because of the ice cream, but I went so I could watch the creation process,” said junior marketing major Ann Oneil. ` At Snobachi, the ice cream is prepared in front of you using liquid nitrogen. You can choose a flavor and watch it
Photo Courtesy of Julia Albini/The Minaret SWEET TOOTH: Students don’t have to look far for a sugar fix in Tampa. Treats can be found near campus.
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Buttermilk banger:
UT students venture to Aspen for Winter X Games
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Photo Courtesy of Denver Post/Facebook
A+E Regina Gonzalez A&E Editor regina.gonzalez@theminaretonline.com When you’re used to walking out the door in a tshirt and shorts to head to the beach in St.Pete, walking off a plane in the mountains to five degree weather will make you think, “Dorothy we’re not in Tampa anymore.” That was the case heading to Aspen, Colorado for the 2017 Winter X Games. Flying into Denver and driving three hours up to the Rocky Mountains, the scenic route truly looked straight out of a calendar as snow covered the peaks of mountains and wild deer wandered the sides of the roads. With more than 100,000 people in the area, the games kicked off Thursday Jan. 26 on Buttermilk Mountain. However, what ESPN doesn’t show is how the party really starts after the competitive events. Aspen welcomed some popular artists to headline post games performances. Bassnectar, The Chainsmokers and G-Eazy were the big names that took the main stage next to the X Games Slopes this year, dropping their latest hits for a packed crowd of bundled up fans. “I have lived here my entire life and I have never seen so many people come into town for the games,” said junior marketing major and Aspen native Genevieve Lawry. “The post-game concerts used to be free but now I guess with such popular performers and so many more people they started charging an insane amount for tickets.” Buttermilk Mountain wasn’t the only place these artists were in town to perform at, as many also put on private shows in popular clubs around Aspen all weekend. Deep house legend Kygo came to Colorado solely to perform at nightclub Belly Up in downtown to kick things off Thursday evening. The Chainsmokers hosted their own private show there Friday. Whoever got to see that performance was lucky because Chainsmokers fans were not too pleased with the mainstream duo when they took the main stage at X Games Saturday night, and had to cut their performance short. Just as they had performed popular hit “Roses,” the screens went white and the blasting bass came to a stop before Drew Taggart of the Chainsmokers announced that due to people in the front row of the crowd pushing into the barricade that held up the stage, they would not be able to continue unless everyone took a giant step backwards and calmed down a bit. After a solid fifteen minutes of standing in eight degree weather, the show had still not started back up, many fans decided to leave in disappointment. “I literally paid $440 for tickets to see half of a show,” junior international business major Sam Simon said. “ I didn’t want to leave but it’s not like Ultra Miami where the weather is bearable to stay out in, they didn’t realize we were getting frost bite waiting for them to come back on.” Simon’s luck changed for the better though, as did everyone who left the blizzard temperatures to head to Bootsy Bellows club in downtown Aspen where
people were casually clubbing and dancing before chart topping DJ G-Eazy strolled in towards the VIP section of the club with his entourage. Accompanied by model Sahara Ray, the 6’3” slender performer danced for a while and tossed back some drinks before taking the microphone and jumping from lounge chairs to on top of the bar, spraying the crowd with champagne and singing some of his smash hits including “Bitch you got me Fucked Up” and “Me Myself and I.” “It was crazy, I had never expected to see him at a
club let alone right above me rapping so loud right above me and nearly bursting an eardrum,” Simon said. Although the weekend was coming to an end for many, G-Eazy’s was just getting started as he closed the X Games Sunday afternoon with a final performance at the bottom of the half pipe. With an exciting weekend of Shaun White, EDM, and plenty of skiing and scenery, trading shorts for a North Face for a few days was well worth it.
Photo Courtesy of X Games/Facebook BYE BYE: The Chainsmokers were one of the many to perform at Buttermilk Mountain. However, the duo was forced to cut the show short when the front row of fans started pushing against the barricades of the main stage.
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Two series, same expectations
Photo courtesy of (left) A Series of Unfortunate Events/Facebook & (right) Stranger Things/Facebook SERIES: Netflix brings two anticipated series to viewers. They have finally continued with their popular show, Stranger Things, bringing the wait to an end as well as bringing many viewers’ chidhood to life with their newest series, A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Veronica Sansur Contributing Writer mvsansurzapata@spartans.ut.edu Every student usually has a method to relax and keep calm after a full day of classes. Most methods are probably the same: Netflix. In the last years, Netflix has become the main source of entertainment for young people. In 2016, 10 years after its first appearance, the digital platform gained not only 93.8 million subscribers, but billions of dollars through its films and exclusive series. Stranger Things was one of the series that was a boom with its first season last year. The science fiction show takes place in the ‘80s were a little boy disappears in and Indiana town without a logical reason. The disappearance is followed by eccentric occurrences. In less than two weeks after its first episode, Stranger Things reached the top of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) list of most popular T.V. shows, winning to the highest ranked Game of Thrones. Junior communication major Alexandra Tirado said she wanted to see Stranger Things because everybody was talking about it. “The first three episodes were not as cool, but then the series goes just amazing,” Tirado said. “It is also such a note to Winona Ryder, she is one of the best actresses ever and I think she was like forgotten in Hollywood, but with Stranger Things I was so impressed by her performance.” Season two of Stranger Things will consist of nine episodes, one more than the previous season. Although the launching date is not confirmed yet, it
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is speculated that it could arrive in July or even this spring. Senior and business management major Andrew McDonald said that once he began to watch the series, he could not stop until the end. “I watched the whole season of Stranger Things like twice, it definitely was amazing. I’m starting to like more Netflix’s original series rather than what is normally shows on T.V.,” McDonald said. Stranger Things’ finale episode left the audience hanging. Tirado said that she loved the unexpected ending. Tirado also thinks that the series is going to continue its approval from the audience in 2017. “I really did not expect that final episode. The producers and directors made such a good work with this series, I sense thrill but at the same time excitement,” Tirado said. “I think the most popular of the 2017 is going to be Stranger Things season two because it left such a clear hanger on season one.” The Duffer brothers, who are the creators of the story, revealed that the second season will see the appearance of four new characters. They said that the inspiration for those stories will be the movies of James Cameron, director of Terminator, Abyss, Aliens and others. “I honestly don’t know what to expect. I know that some new characters are coming, but I prefer the series to surprise me,” Tirado said. “The only thing I want to know is the parade of 11 (Millie Bobbie Brown), who disappeared after defending her friends of the creature.” Students are looking forward to another show that might put up some competition against Stranger Things and probably would tie for first place as one of the most anticipated shows of 2017: A Series of
Unfortunate Events. A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the story of three kids who lost their parents during a fire and are adopted by their uncle, Count Olaf, the most unpleasant and evil man on Earth. This show is already familiar, as it is based on the books written by Lemony Snicket between 1999 and 2006. Also, because of the 2004 film by Brad Silberling. “I actually just started A Series of Unfortunate Events a couple days ago,” McDonald said. “I like it because I remember reading the books when I was younger, so I think is going to be a cool series to watch because it takes me back to my childhood.” Junior education major John McMillian said that as a Netflix subscriber, he always look ahead of the new shows that are coming, and the one he is determined to watch next is Netflix’s new mystery. “The one I’m most interested is in is A Series of Unfortunate Events, just because the history behind the title itself,” McMillian said. “Our teachers back in fifth grade used to read those stories to us, so it should be interesting to see how that translates into a show and how in particular they are able to bring it to life.” Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, it premiered on Jan. 13 and consists of 13 episodes. Neil Patrick Harris gives life to Count Olaf, who in an interview said that, although it is a difficult and a tough character to play, he is glad to give him life. “They asked me to read the books, and I read the 13!” said Harris in a Brazilian Comic Con. “Then they told me that I had to watch the film and, although I refused at the beginning, I had to do it, too. It must have been torture for the scriptwriter and
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Movies of 2017: from superheroes to princesses Veronica Gray Contributing Writer veronica.gray@spartans.ut.edu The year 2016 had a lot of mixed reviews, especially in movies. Here’s one example. junior international business and management major, Katie Godwin, found Captain America: Civil War lacking in comparison to other Captain America movies. “This did not live up to that expectation,” she said, “The plot was thin and getting through to the end of the movie felt like torture.” Godwin said. However, freshman Taylor Livingston thought the movie was great. “It was overall a great movie plot-wise and had some good character development,” Livingston said. While there are still mixed reviews on movies like Captain America: Civil War and other movies that were highly anticipated last year, 2017’s line up promises to be another mixed year for superheroes, nostalgia, and more sequels and reboots. Superheroes This year we are getting two DC Comics movies, Wonder Woman and Justice League. Wonder Woman’s stand alone movie has been anticipated since Gal Gadot debuted in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This year, we finally get to see the Amazon heroine in action, backed up by Chris Pine, who has recently starred in the new Star Trek movie series, as Steve Trevor, a U.S. Air Force pilot who is rescued by Diana. The movie is set to release this summer on June 2. Following Wonder Woman is DC Comic’s Justice League. The hero line up for this movie includes Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman, The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher). This will be the first appearance of Aquaman and Cyborg in the DC movie universe. Justice League premiers Nov. 17. This is also a big year for Marvel as they are releasing not only the usual two movies, but a third feature film as well. The first is Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, the sequel to Marvel’s 2014 summer hit. We return to space to join Gamora, Star-lord, Drax, Rocket and Baby Groot on another ride to save the galaxy on May 5. The second is the return/reboot of Spiderman with Spider-man: Homecoming. Tom Holland returns in his role as Peter Parker following his adventures with the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. The movie has been kept under wraps other than what we have seen in trailers, which includes a cameo by Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. We will see Spiderman back in action Jul. 7. The third Marvel film is the third installment in Thor’s solo films. Thor: Ragnarok was teased last year in an end credit of Doctor Strange and has promised to bring in the big names of the Marvel universe including an appearance from Hulk, who hasn’t been seen since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Thor returns in the fall, Nov. 3.
Photos Courtesy of Beauty and the Beast/Facebook MOVIES: 2017 has become a big year for highly anticiapated movies and reboots, such as Beauty and the Beast. Ranging from the realm of DC Comics and Marvel to Disney, these movies will be sure to draw crowds of all ages.
The Year of Sequels & Reboots 2017 is also showing to be another big year for sequels and reboots. Movies like Despicable Me and Cars are seeing a third installment released this year with Despicable Me 3 and Cars 3. We have not seen much other than teaser trailers from either movie, but Disney’s newest Pixar film is looking to take a serious turn in Lightning McQueen’s story in this new movie. We also have heard of War for the Planet of the Apes which is the third installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot coming this summer. Other franchises are also adding third or fourth movies to their list with titles such as Insidious: Chapter 4 and Pitch Perfect 3. “I don’t know if I’m looking forward to this one, or if I’m just interested to see what they spin this time,” Godwin said about Pitch Perfect 3. Also under the Disney umbrella is the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which is set to release in May. Leaving the safe and family friendly zone, a possessed doll makes its way back to the big screen in Annabelle 2 which is set to release this summer. Also making a return is the sequel to 2012’s Prometheus and prequel to the Alien franchise is being released this year as Alien: Covenant on May 19. The director for Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott, also has executive producer credits on another sequel and technically a reboot under the Blade Runner movie series titled Blade Runner 2049, which is set to release this fall. Keanu Reeves (Matrix, 47 Ronin) is reprising his role as assassin John Wick in February under the sequel John Wick: Chapter 2. Also reprising a role is Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in the final installment of the Wolverine movie series. Logan has already generated high interest with trailers and fans knowing that this will be the last time Hugh Jackman will be portraying the mutant hero. Logan is set to release this March.
Childhood Reboots & Animation As in recent years, 2017 is pulling out nostalgia to draw in crowds. Disney is continuing their live action reboots of their classics with the highly anticipated release of Beauty & the Beast. Emma Watson (Harry Potter series) is the newest actress to take on a classic Disney princess with Dan Stevens (Downtown Abbey, A Walk Among the Tombstones) co-starring as Beast/Prince Adam. The movie is set to release this spring, March 17. Following the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the nostalgia trend, Lionsgate is releasing Power Rangers this spring. Also coming out Feb. 10 is the sequel to The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie starring Will Arnett as Batman. Coming this summer is another animated childhood classic. Starring Ed Helms, previous credits include The Hangover and The Office, as Mr. Krupp, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie makes its way to theatres this summer, June 2. These are only a few of the movies yet to be released. Junior criminology major Daniel Driscoll commented on what he was looking forward to this year. “I look forward to the new Scarface movie featuring Leonardo Dicaprio as Tony Montana,” Driscoll said, “I loved the original and hope the new one will be just as good.” Godwin is also looking forward to movies like Thor: Ragnarok and Beauty and the Beast.
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DIVERSIONS ON CAMPUS FEB 3
Docter Strange
Reeves Theater 8:15 p.m. Free
FEB 6
Campus Movie Fest Info Session Reeves Theater 6 p.m. Free
FEB 7
Off Campus Trip: TB Lightning v. L.A. Kings
Amalie Arena 7:30 p.m. $15
SUDOKU
OFF CAMPUS FEB 2
The Lawsuits Curtis Hixon Park 8 p.m. Free
FEB 3
Impractical Jokers Amalie Arena 8 p.m. $72+
FEB 4
Monster Jam
Raymond James Stadium 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free websudoku.com
COLORING CORNER
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS
- Sabrina Weicher, senior criminology major
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COVER
No ban, no wall protest
Photo by Tess Sheets/The Minaret SPEAKING UP: Junior Hagen Treadway (left) and Professor Gary Luter (right) march alongside other students and faculty on Monday, Jan. 30. The protest was against President Trump’s recent executive orders in regard to the Mexican border wall and travel ban of peoples from Muslim-majority countries.
Leah Foreman Contributing Writer leah.foreman@spartans.ut.edu Students, faculty, and a few people from outside UT met on the corner of North Boulevard and Kennedy Boulevard on Jan. 31 to protest in solidarity with those affected by President Donald Trump’s executive order. The order puts a 90-day travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, and suspends the United States’ refugee system for 120 days. The executive order came as a response to acts of terrorism tied to Muslim extremists. It bars individuals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from traveling to the U.S., regardless of visa category. Green-card holders traveling from any of the countries are subject to additional screening at airports, said White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, in an interview with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press. Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely. The protest leader, Casey Bauer, a sophomore political science major, said he was motivated to create the protest by department chair and Associate Professor of Political Science Mary Anderson. Anderson is a child of immigrants; her mother came from Ireland in 1960 and her father came from Italy in 1970.
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“It was through a phone call with my father over the weekend that I was motivated to help organize and participate [with the protest],” Anderson said. “It is tough to reconcile these policies coming out of DC with core American values that I have not only been brought up with, but teach and research about as a scholar of politics.” Anderson then talked with Bauer, who was inspired to start the protest on campus.
“[The travel ban] affected me personally; my mom and dad were coming for spring break and they’re not anymore.”
- Ziyad Ashukri, finance graduate student “She was very upset about the executive order, as was I,” Bauer said. “Just knowing that we go to a school that is so diverse with people that come from over 140 countries, that this executive order might be affecting our community directly; I needed to speak out for those who do not have a voice.” There are seven students currently enrolled at UT who
hold visas from the seven named countries. The university has already reached out to offer them support. “The UT community is enriched by our diversity on campus and values the free exchange of ideas and experiences between members of all backgrounds and nationalities within our community,” said David S. Stern, the Provost, and Ronald L. Vaughn, President of UT in a statement released via email to the school. Ziyad Ashukri, a finance graduate student, is from Libya and has been studying here on a student visa since April 2015. “[The travel ban] affected me personally; my mom and dad were coming for spring break and they’re not anymore,” said Ashukri. Ashukri’s parents are currently living in Egypt, but are still citizens of Libya. When they heard about the executive order, they knew they wouldn’t be able to travel to the U.S. “I haven’t seen them since I came here so it’s been almost two years,” said Ashukri. “[I feel] very sad, actually. People should be banned based on their actions, not based on their religion or where they come from.” Ashukri, like many affected by the ban, is a muslim, and came here to enrich his education by getting his master’s degree here at UT and follow the American dream. “It’s a country built of immigrants; everybody here is an immigrant,” said Ashukri. “We all came from somewhere
COVER — Europe, Africa. And now [Trump] is trying to ban immigrants.” Similar to Ashukri, some UT protesters held the belief that everyone was an immigrant to the United States, at one point or another. “Unless you are a Native American, you are the child of an immigrant or grandchild or descendant in some way,” said Olivia Jean Cann Hamilton, a senior advertising and public relations major who protested. “So for us to turn away immigrants is not the American way, especially right now when refugees are in need.” Cann Hamilton is referencing the ongoing crisis in Syria. Since 2011, the country has been in a Civil War that has displaced its people, especially citizens of Aleppo. Many protesters found Trump’s executive order to be against America’s founding principles. “We were supposed to be a land of hope, the country of dreams,” Cainn Hamilton said. ‘If you could make it here you could make it anywhere’ kind of idea. And if we are closing our doors and turning our backs to other humans who deserve these chances, it’s not the American way.” Protesters like Cameron Moskol, a junior sociology major, felt it was their civic duty to speak up. “Since Trump has been elected, I’ve been seeing more and more people becoming fearful to live in this country and to travel to this country,” Moskol said. “I feel like it is my responsibility to speak up for those who cannot.” The protest received media coverage from Channel 8 and was aired on the five o’clock news. Toward the end of the protest, Trump supporters arrived with a banner to share
their views as well. President of College Republicans Danny Driscoll was unaware of the protest until he saw it when he was walking back from class. “In no way is this an indefinite ban on what has been perpetuated by the media as a ‘Muslim ban,’” Driscoll said. “The executive order is only temporary for the purpose of creating a set of preventative measures to protect the homeland. No immigration or refugee admissions from any of countries are ‘banned indefinitely,’ as many people falsely perceive.” Driscoll said that although he didn’t agree with the protesters, he admired them for their compassion toward the UT students affected by the executive order. “Personally, I do feel for those negatively impacted by the order,” Driscoll said. “But when the expiration of the order comes about, the nation as a whole, including our international student friends, will be safer.” For the 90 days that the executive order remains in place, students in the UT community will continue to feel its effect. Many of the protesters, including Bauer, were impressed by the number of students who attended the protest. “I was blown away by the support we had on the streets and in campus,” Bauer said. “I think it was a big success and the start of something new.”
Liz MacLean and Arden Igleheart contributed to this article.
Photo by Tess Sheets/The Minaret COMING TOGETHER: A student joins the UT community’s protest of Trump’s wall and travel ban. The protest lasted an hour and attracted approximately 30 protesters.
Trump’s first two weeks SO WHAT EXACTLY IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER? Well, for starters, it is not a law. Merriam-Webster defines an executive order as: “an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law.” So what’s the difference between an executive order and a law? “Basically, an executive order is an official statement from the president about how the federal agencies he oversees are to use their resources,” according to the Washington Post. Executive orders fall under the broader term of executive actions, but not all executive actions are executive orders. Executive actions can also include things like presidential memorandums, proclamations and directives. These are the two executive orders that students protested on Monday:
THE WALL
On Jan. 25, President Trump signed an executive order increasing border security, instructing homeland security to: - Begin planning, designing and constructing a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, including identify available federal funds and working with Congress for additional funding - Construct and operate detention facilities near the border to make adjudicate asylum claims, subject to the availability of existing funding, - Hire 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents, subject to the availability of existing funding, - End “catch and release” policy - Quantify all “sources of direct and indirect Federal aid or assistance to the Government of Mexico on an annual basis over the past five years” - Take action to empower state and local law enforcement to act as immigration officers
TRAVEL BAN
On Jan. 27, President Trump signed an executive order to make changes to the U.S. visa and refugee programs, which: - Suspends the entry of all “immigrants and nonimmigrants” from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Syria for 90 days. - Directs the secretary of homeland security, the director of national intelligence and secretary of state to put together a list of countries that do not provide adequate information to vet potential entry of foreign nationals into the United States. Foreign nationals from those countries will be banned from entering the United States. - Directs the secretary of state, the secretary of homeland security, the director of national intelligence, and the director of the FBI to implement uniform screening standards for all immigration programs Information from politico.com THE MINARET FEB.2.2017
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PERSPECTIVES
UT STAFF
FRESHMAN
UT REACTS TO U.S. TRAVEL BAN
“I am always concerned about national security, so for it to be a 90 day rehaul for trying to figure out everything that happened and make it better, maybe not easier, but better – not having everybody coming in might be safer.”
“I think it is unfair and that it was made hastily. Quite inconsiderate.” - Sybil O’Neal, I.T. Department
- Fred Elvingon, freshman psychology major
JUNIOR
SENIOR
“It’s unconstitutional to be banning vast amounts of people. I think it’s really unfortunate that it’s going to affect so many people that work here and go here.” - Julia Reese, junior psychology major
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“I think right now I’m so proud of our students for standing up for what is right. I think it’s important right now to stand together.” - James Scudero, senior digital arts major and Student Government president
Photos by Katelyn Massarelli and Veronica Sansur/The Minaret
OPINION Hollywood is no place for dogs Photo Courtesy of A Dog’s Purpose/Facebook IT’S BEEN A RUFF DAY: A Dog’s Purpose follows a pup named Toby through multiple lifetimes, including one as a golden retriever. Leaked footage from behind the scenes has sparked animal abuse allegations.
Madhura Nadarajah Contributing Writer madhura.nadarajah@spartans.ut.edu In case anyone hasn’t heard, the film A Dog’s Purpose that debuted in theaters on Jan. 27 is circulating buzz around the country. Sadly, the attention is coming for all the wrong reasons. Earlier this month, a leaked video surfaced on the internet that seemed to depict animal abuse during the film’s production. In the video, a german shepherd named Hercules, one of the five dogs used in the film, resisted the commands of his trainer. The trainer wanted to put the german shepherd in a pool for a specific scene, but the dog refused and eventually was forcibly pushed into the water. The german shepard seemed as if it was about to drown and, after struggling to stay afloat, crew members had to retrieve the animal out of the pool to avoid a possible disaster. This video begs the question: should animals be as characters used in films? Anyone who has seen the leaked footage would probably say no. The video created a wave of anger amongst the public, dog lovers or not. In fact, many people announced on social media that, although they were looking forward to watching the film, they will not be viewing it due to the allegations of animal abuse. A Dog’s Purpose, which is based off of a William Bruce Cameron novel, depicts a dog’s multiple lives from birth to death through reincarnation as different breeds to be cared for by different owners. Much of the talk on social media has revolved around individuals not wanting to support a film (financially) when there is evidence that suggests the animal actors were abused. Despite the controversy, a surprising amount of celebrities, most notably Ellen DeGeneres, said they still plan to go to see the film. DeGeneres blames the individual who recorded the inconspicuous video and believes that watching the film will reinstate people’s respect for animals. However, the public backlash from the leaked footage suggests that maybe live animals shouldn’t be used in film production. It’s a question of rights and consent.
On Jan. 21, women’s marches took place in various cities around the world. What was great about these marches was that “walkers” celebrated various civil rights of life — animal rights being one of those groups. However, the animal posters in the crowds usually arose from vegans who rightfully acknowledge that animals should not be slaughtered to satisfy human cravings. The advent of the leaked video and the resurgence of human rights movements opens up room for debate on the use of animals as actors. The most obvious reason is
“The fact that we expect animals to perform dangerous stunts without using green screen or technological enhancement is unfair on the basis that human actors are expected to put their lives in danger for the sake of show; and these actors have the capability to say yes or no.”
-Sarah Ballentine, senior biology major because animals cannot communicate language that is understandable to humans. This lack of communication postulates the argument on animals giving informed consent to be used as actors. “We as a culture find more comfort in using these [domestic] animals because they are in our households and are easy to train more humanely. This actually leads us to taking advantage of them even further,” says Sarah Ballentine, a senior biology major with a concentration in Pre-veterinary sciences. “For the scene for the movie A Dog’s Purpose, where the german shepherd was placed against his will, is one way we as humans suppress and ignore the capabilities of animals to feel fear and anxiety.” People may argue and state that the American Humane Society, which monitors every film that features animals on screen, ensures that animals were safe during production.
The “No Animals Were Harmed,” mark that appears either during the opening or closing credits is issued by the American Humane Society. In fact, the American Humane Society granted the trademark to A Dog’s Purpose and remained supportive of their decision following a private investigation by the Society that prompted no signs of animal abuse. PETA however, determined that the footage was unethical and urged their social media followers to boycott the movie. The problem remains that animals never (and will never be able) to give consent, in the traditional sense, to be used as an actor. Furthermore, the wagging of a tail by a dog or the purring of a cat are not reflective of consent either. On the topic of the dangerous film stunts, Ballentine states, “the fact that we expect animals to perform dangerous stunts without using green screen or technological enhancement is unfair on the basis that human actors are expected to put their lives in danger for the sake of show; and these actors have the capability to say yes or no. With the use of technology and for an increasing push to respect and love animals, entertainment industries should begin to wean out their use of animals in shows and start utilizing other digital forms.” Given the rapid development of technology, especially animatronics, these digital techniques may be even better suited to fully eliminate the need for animal actors. The animatronics might take longer, but they provide more freedom to the film production company, and protect the animals. This is because film production companies can program the animatronics to do various scenes and stunts, for instance jumping in a pool. Economically speaking, while animatronics might be a more expensive option, it prevents any chance of animal abuse backlash — the latter will definitely hinder film sales. Furthermore, and most importantly, eradicating the use of animal actors provides a step forward in the human rights movement.
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OPINION
Another Gasparilla gone...and mostly forgotten
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Photo Courtesy of Carissa Economos/The Minaret
OPINION Kelly Hauck Contributing Writer kelly.hauck@spartans.ut.edu Tampa’s biggest holiday was held last weekend; the stripper convention. Magic Mike came back to his old stomping grounds and… hold on, I’m being told I have some misinformation. It was Gasparilla, the pirate festival. Same diff. The week after Gasparilla could be compared to the end of the holiday season. The hype during the days before is intense. There are decorations all over town. Then the day after comes and your house is a mess, you have to go back to school, you’re out a fat amount of money, and your pants don’t fit anymore. It’s depressing and it should be illegal. Good thing Valentine’s Day is right around the corner to cheer us up again. Just kidding. If anyone wants to see a movie then, hmu. Gasparilla has become nothing more than a marathon of binge drinking all day and all night. The day for most UT students starts off by waking up and pounding shots of alcohol. I want to know who made the rule that if you don’t get up before the sun rises, you’re a loser lame-rod. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that no one’s first thought after waking up at the crack of dawn is to pop that champagne bottle and get so drunk that you can’t control your bowel movements. Therefore, we should switch this rule to waking up at your leisure and getting the party rolling at a reasonable time. Then maybe we can make it past 3 p.m. without a nap and without puking in the McDonald’s bathroom. Anyone who is a student at UT knows that every year Isla, the yellow townhouse complex across from the lacrosse fields, has a huge party on the day of Gasparilla. It’s the major event to be at and everyone who’s anyone is there. Police always seem to shut it down by 11 a.m., but it’s still one hell of a party. In past years, I’ve witnessed people throw themselves out of second story windows and land on tables set up or other people in the crowd. There’s always that one rowdy guy who thinks he can pump up the party by shaking up his beer and spraying it on the crowd. Thank you, Rowdy Man, for the damp, beer-stained clothes and no sign of being “pumped up.”
Being that obliterated with hundreds of thousands of people around is a recipe for disaster. I always hear from friends the next day that they wish they remembered more of what happened, or made it to the parade. It has become a tradition to wake up and get blacked out, without even eating breakfast or hydrating yourself beforehand. I’ve seen crazy fights break out, people doing drugs, and kids passed out on the side of the road by themselves or puking on the sidewalk while people laugh and take videos. The phrase “I died at Gaspy,” is circulated in the days following this piratefilled event, and it’s a cause for the concern at the amount of people that say it. Gasparilla, “Gaspy” if you will, is an annual shit-show, but also the best time of year for Tampa residents and UT students. It seems that every year, we wake up earlier just to consume alcohol and be belligerently drunk before 10 a.m. It’s a time for people to let loose and have fun with their friends, however, some people make this holiday too wild. Going to the hospital because of alcohol poisoning or completely forgetting entire parts of the day because you blacked out is not the purpose of Gasparilla. Countless time, money, and effort is spent shopping for and creating a cool pirate costume, so don’t ruin that by throwing up all over yourself or someone else. Someone told me that her friend wasn’t answering his phone. She finally got the idea to look where he was using Find My Friends on her iPhone, and saw that her friend was at Tampa General Hospital, and was taken in for alcohol poisoning. This is a serious illness that could lead to death. What would have happened if no one found him and brought him to the hospital? Despite these overzealous practices, Gasparilla isn’t totally unsafe. The Tampa Police Department, Traffic Patrol, and cleanup services do a good job of keeping it under control, however everyone does have to be careful and protect themselves. My first Gasparilla freshman year taught me this first hand. After the parade was over and the sun had set, my friends and I decided to go to a party at our friend’s house. We got one of the cabs that was waiting on campus and he decided to make us pay $5 each when it should have only been $3. We didn’t have enough money, so he kicked us out on the side of Kennedy Blvd. before we reached the party. When we exited the cab, we noticed that there was
an older man dressed in a pirate costume peeing behind a bush. I guess he noticed us and started to follow us down the sidewalk. I looked back and he was too close for comfort so I told my friends and we started to walk faster and so did he. Soon he was running after us, so we ran into the McDonald’s that was nearby and called Campus Safety. This man was circling the McDonald’s parking lot trying to find us and Campus Safety finally showed up to take us back to campus. Thankfully nothing happened, but I learned to always be aware of my surroundings from this incident. It’s easy to forget bad things can happen when you’re having so much fun. I’m thankful to say I survived Gaspy this year, but I’m sure there were several people that didn’t. With half a million people in the city of Tampa on the same day, there is opportunity for a lot of crazy stuff to go down, some good and some bad. I’m not saying it should be an alcohol free event, because that’s the fun of it, but it doesn’t need to get to the point where people are hospitalized or put in danger. It hasn’t even been a week, but I already can’t wait for next year (pace yourselves please, no one likes a puker).
Photo Courtesy of Kristin Bashline/Facebook (above) Photo Courtesy of Carissa Economos/The Minaret (below) AHOY MATEYS: Gasparilla is a city wide pirate festival that takes place in Tampa every January. It has evolved into a day comprable to Mardi Gras, with excessive drinking overzealous practices.
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OPINION
Stop bullying Barron Trump and children of politics Minors have no business as targets of angry political discourse Bill Delehunt Contributing Writer william.delehunt@spartans.ut.edu One of the dumbest “ceremonies” over which the U.S. President presides is the pardoning of a turkey just before Thanksgiving. Various tall tales about this tradition include Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman and John Kennedy giving a reprieve to turkeys destined for the dinner table, and somehow, the practice has become a bizarre annual tradition. When President Obama’s daughters were forced in front of cameras in 2014 for this questionable ritual they were 13 and 16 years old. Elizabeth Lauten, then the communications director for a Tennessee congressman, scolded the girls, writing, “Try showing a little class. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.” Lauten was forced to resign her position. These are children. They are not political enemies, nor are they able to defend themselves from vicious attacks from adults. They don’t deserve to be scrutinized under the same microscope as the politicians who happen to be their parents. Katie Rich, a writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL), decided to have fun at the expense of President Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Donald Trump’s youngest child, Barron, who is CHILD’S PLAY: Barron Trump was present at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration to support his father, Donald Trump. He 10 years old. She tweeted a tasteless, humorless didn’t ask to be the son of a controversial politician, and should not be targeted in criticisms of the Trump Administration. “joke” saying “Barron will be this country’s first Barron didn’t ask his father to run for public office, unattractive presidential daughter in the history homeschool shooter,” and then removed it from her nor did he ask to be thrust into the international of the country.” Amy was nine years old when her page a few hours later. Her twitter was shut down spotlight. To attack the president by belittling his father was elected 39th President. and she subsequently was suspended from her job, child is so far out of bounds it’s not even on the At least Katie Rich is out of a job because her although she had already apologized. same planet. Another public figure, Rush Limbaugh, employers at NBC have principles. Rush Limbaugh, She should stay in the penalty box for a good darling of the right wing, has gone out of his way to however, can be as vile as he likes and his audience long while. Maybe that will give her some time insult the children of democratic presidents. During cheers him on. I’m sure he’s not the only one who to reflect on her inexcusable behavior toward President Clinton’s term, Limbaugh said he wanted gets away with it, but the fact that things like that a child. Assuredly, she needs to stay off Twitter to show his audience a picture of the cat in the can be said without repercussions is not ok. until she gains a mature understanding of adult White House, and then held up a photo of Socks, the Those who think children should be targets of responsibilities in a civilized society; maybe she’ll Clinton’s pet cat. He followed it with the line that he political jokes, political gossip, political anything have grown up by the mid-term elections. would show a picture of the dog in the White House, are grotesque bullies, cowards of the worst stripe. Barron is 10 years old, for crying out loud. How and displayed a picture of Chelsea Clinton, who We all acknowledge that today’s political climate is many of you remember what it was like to be 10 overheated and badly out of whack, but let’s at least years old? You were most likely in fourth grade, give had turned 13 just after the Clintons had taken up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Wow, that is so attempt to maintain some basic standards of civility. or take a year. You wiped your nose on your sleeve, funny, Rush, calling a young teenage girl a dog. Kids are out of bounds in the political discourse. tripped over your own feet as you tried to adjust The really disturbing thing is, Rush’s audience Why does something so unbelievably obvious to your constantly changing body, and you were laughed at that unfunny, mean-spirited attack even have to be said out loud? The minor children of incredibly self-conscious and awkward when thrust on a teenage girl. What does that say about the politicians and others in the public eye are simply off into a group of adults. That’s life for most 10-yearintelligence level of Rush’s audience? About their limits. Stop it, you ghouls. olds, who should be running around the ball field, playing video games and waiting school to let out for humanity? But wait, there’s more. Rush Limbaugh also called Amy Carter, “the most summer vacation.
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OPINION
Think before you share: the ugly side of memes Carissa Economos Contributing Writer carissa.economos@spartans.ut.edu A meme, which is typically pronounced me-eam, is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media.” Memes have become a staple of our generation and can fade as quickly as they can go viral. While the point of most memes is to be humorous, many of them stem from public events and poke fun at issues that are not to be taken lightly. They are overused and often times misrepresent the actual event or situation. People simply look at a meme that is captioned with some sort of news headline and think they are actually reading the news. Because of this, hashtags start trending across social media platforms and awareness is brought to issues that aren’t actually real. The most recent meme trend that I’ve noticed is #FreeMelania. Associated with this hashtag are countless videos and pictures of Melania Trump at the Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20. These images and video clips depict her as being upset or sad, but in reality were captured during moments when she simply didn’t have a huge smile on her face. Several public pages on Facebook have been made and titled #FreeMelania. They post pictures of her looking sad next to Donald Trump and express their pity for her. These posts receive several thousand likes and comments from Facebook users saying to “pray for her” and that “no one knows what she’s going through behind closed doors.” Melania Trump is unfairly being presented as a victim, implying that her husband is abusing her and she got sucked into becoming First Lady against her will. While the full truth of the matter is confidential between Mr. and Mrs. Trump, it is inconsiderate and straight up immoral to impose on another’s private relationship in this way. Exposing Melania Trump as some sort of abused, helpless woman all for an internet joke is a little messed up and reflects on us as a society. It brings to light how immature our generation is and how little respect we have for actual victims of domestic abuse. Another recent, less politically-driven meme has emerged from a video clip of a 13-year-old girl named Danielle. She was brought on the Dr. Phil show by her mother due to her unacceptable and violent behavior. In her interview on the show, she is recorded saying to the audience, “Catch me outside, how about that,” otherwise known as “cash me ousside, how bou dat.” Because of the audience’s reaction to stories of her behavior, Danielle threatened that she was ready to fight whomever outside after the show. While the comical side of this is clear, the underlying story is not a laughing matter. This girl has extreme behavioral issues at a young age, and instead of focusing on her mannerisms and her need for help, our society has decided to turn her personal problems into viral
memes with her face all over them and remixes of her saying “cash me ousside, how bou dat.” (The trap remix is personally my favorite, but the EDM one isn’t bad either.) Even The Lodge, a local Tampa restaurant and bar, has exploited this meme, using it to advertise their brunch and happy hour specials. Not only is this exposing a minor, but it in no way aids her journey toward cleaning up her life. She has become the laughing stock of the country when it is obvious from her interview that family members such as her mother are suffering greatly because of her behavior. Not all memes come from public events or figures. Some are derived from cartoons or music videos, and some are just created by everyday people who take a random picture and caption it with something funny that ends up going viral. Memes generate a lot of clicks and views on the internet and can make their way into real, non-virtual life, often becoming part of our vocabulary or daily conversation. If we were to channel this much energy and enthusiasm into creating awareness about real world issues that actually matter and have a tangible
impact on us, there would not be as much ignorance or as many uninformed citizens in the world. Popular meme pages have follower counts in the millions or high hundred thousands, and an equal or even larger number of reposts and comments. The passion is there, it just needs to be directed towards situations that actually matter. I, too, am a sucker for some good memes, but I know if I directed half the time I spend laughing at funny pictures I find online towards educating myself about what is going on in the world, I would be a much more active member in society. The outcome of this year’s presidential election has been the biggest contraversy the country has seen in recent years. Countless people were shocked at how this could have happened. If a little less time was spent scrolling through funny pictures and videos and instead looking into politics and our country’s current social issues in order to make an informed vote, the results might have been different.
Photo Courtesy of Carissa Economos/The Minaret IT’S MEME SEASON: The Lodge, a restaurant and bar located on South Howard Avenue, advertised their brunch and happy hour specials playing off of a popular meme. The everday use of memes has grown into insensitive and unacceptable behavior.
THE MINARET FEB.2.2017
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SPORTS
Super Bowl LI: Explosive Falcons ready for Brady’s Pats Andrew Foerch Opinion Editor andrew.foerch@theminaretonline.com
Photo Courtesy of transamrocker78/Flickr EXCELLENCE: Bill Belichick talks to his quarterback, Tom Brady, on the sideline during a game. Ever since taking over as head coach in 2000, Belichick has changed the dynamic of the Patriots orginization, leading the team to seven Super Bowls during his 17 year tenure.
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Over 111 million Americans tuned in to CBS for last year’s Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Nielsen ratings were even higher the year before, when Super Bowl XLIX drew 114.4 million viewers, the largest audience ever recorded in domestic broadcast television. In fact, Super Bowls hold 19 of the 20 most watched TV broadcasts in American history. According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 43 million Americans plan to host some type of watch party for the game and another 20 million are expected to flock to local bars and pubs on the big day. If history is any indication, chances are you’ll be watching the Atlanta Falcons take on the New England Patriots this Sunday. Here’s everything you need to know. The obvious story is the battle between the two best quarterbacks of the 2016 regular season - Matt Ryan versus Tom Brady; David versus Goliath. This will be Brady’s NFL record seventh Super Bowl appearance (he won MVP in three of them), so even though the Falcons have a technical home field advantage, Brady and his Patriots are right in their comfort zone. Brady thrives on the biggest stages under the brightest lights, and he’s shown time and time again why he deserves to be called the greatest of all time. Super Bowl LI is just another day at the office. This is absolutely not the case for Matt Ryan. He’s been sensational this season; he’s a fan favorite to win the first MVP campaign of his career and he led his team to their second Super Bowl in franchise history at the helm of the seventh-highest scoring offense (33.75 points per game) the NFL has ever seen, yet the guy is still the underdog. After overwhelming victories against two of the NFC’s best teams, the Seahawks and the Packers, Ryan has begun scraping away at his reputation for crumbling during the playoffs. This is the deepest playoff run in his career, and the world is waiting to see whether or not he deserves to be considered a top-tier quarterback. Though it’s an interesting story on paper, the quarterback matchup won’t be the biggest factor come Super Bowl Sunday. Ryan and Brady blew out two of the best teams in football two weekends ago in the Conference Championships and made it look easy – we know how capable they both are. For New England, the asterisk comes with their leagueleading defense. This unit has been wildly successful all season, giving up an NFL-best 15.6 points per game with relative ease. Trouble is, they put up these numbers against the fairly indisputable easiest schedule in the AFC. The most difficult opponent they faced was Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in week 10, a matchup the Pats lost. They dispatched Ben Roethlisberger and the high-powered Steelers in comfortable fashion in the conference round (halfway through the third quarter, the Steelers longest play of the game was 19 yards), but they did it in the absence of Pittsburgh’s superstar running back Le’Veon Bell. This Falcons offense is ranked the best in the NFL and the Pats haven’t been tested by an offense this good all season. Still, there’s no doubt the Pats defense is strong. Head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are famous for taking away the opposition’s biggest weapons
SPORTS
Photo courtesy of Ricky/Flickr DEFEND THE DOME: Matt Ryan goes under center in a regular season game against the Carolina Panthers. Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons will be playing in a very similar environment in Super Bowl LI, as the game will be played in a dome which means their explosive offensive will be firing on all cylinders.
and forcing teams to operate outside of their usual game plan–number one Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown was limited to just 77 yards in the AFC championship, with zero catches longer than 20 yards. The Falcons’ most powerful weapon is Julio Jones, basically an offensive nuclear bomb. The 6-foot-3 receiver hauled in nine receptions for 180 yards and two scores against Green Bay, stiff-arming safeties to the ground and leaving the Packers secondary looking like swiss cheese, and he did it with three separate injuries in his foot. Jones is one of the most feared receivers in the league and a total monster, so expect the pats to cover him with Malcolm Butler, their top corner, plus safety help on any deep routes. On the other side of the gridiron, you’ve got talented cornerback Logan Ryan helping to shut down the pass. The problem is the Pats haven’t faced an offense as dynamic and multifaceted as this before. Atlanta has more weapons than just Julio Jones, and if they want to win their first Lombardi trophy, Matt Ryan had better use them; he’s going to need his supporting cast to carry the weight of the offense. With consistent double coverage on Jones, it will be up to secondary receivers like Mohammed Sanu and speedy Taylor Gabriel to gain big chunks of yardage. The dual threat backfield of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman should offer an additional point of attack, opening up room for screens and swing pass options. Matt Ryan has done a good job spreading the ball around so far,
hitting an astonishing eight different targets in the first half against Green Bay. He’ll need to continue in similar form to compete against New England. The fact that it’s Brady and Belichick makes the Patriots the automatic favorites in this Super Bowl. That’s just the way it goes in this era of football. They’ve brought the Pats to 11 AFC Championships in their 15 seasons together, an unprecedented level of dominance. If they fall into their mechanical rhythm of brilliance, the Falcons defense won’t last and Brady will become the winningest quarterback ever. Instead, Atlanta needs to attack first and keep the Pats on their heels. It’s what they did against Green Bay, and they were able to totally stifle Aaron Rodgers, one of probably two active quarterbacks that can be mentioned in the same breath as Brady (the other being Saints Drew Brees). The Falcons cannot allow the Patriots to control the pace of the game and to keep the ball in Brady’s hands. The pass rush needs to disturb the Pats offensive line and quickly collapse the pocket to put pressure on Brady. This has been a huge area of improvement for Atlanta this season, and this is where outside linebacker Vic Beasley will be a difference maker. He’s had a breakout year and led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in the regular season. If he and his defensive linemen can stuff the Pats long enough for Matt Ryan to make a handful of drives (the Falcons are at eight straight games with opening drive touchdowns), they’ll have a far better shot at lifting the trophy.
New England’s offense cut through the Pittsburgh zone coverage like warm butter, so Atlanta should play man coverage. Houston did in the divisional round, and was able to pick Brady off twice. With man coverage, Brady will be forced to throw riskier passes into tighter seams and the Falcons’ secondary will have a better chance at making it 11 straight games with a takeaway. The Pats don’t make many mistakes, so any lapses whatsoever will have huge implications for Sunday’s outcome. If the Falcons can do all of these things through four quarters of football, and I believe they can, they’ll win their first Super Bowl. I think Matt Ryan and his offense will put up points consistent with what we’ve seen the entire season, and I think the Falcons have a better shot at beating the Patriots than any team in football. The overwhelming perception that one adversary is unbeatable can overshadow the major disadvantages that make the same adversary vulnerable – when adjusted for opponent quality, the Patriot defense is ranked just 16th in the league according to statistical analysis publication Football Outsiders. It’ll be a close game with potential for a dramatic end, but my money’s on the Falcons to ride their momentum to a Super Bowl victory. In the fable, David just strolls up to Goliath and shoots him right between the eyes.
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SPORTS
Hammer nails an SSC Swimmer of the Week award Katelyn Massarelli Head Copy Editor katelyn.massarelli@theminaretonline.com Men’s swimming took over the lanes with a final score of 169-92 against the Florida Tech Panthers, . Senior sprinter Martin Hammer was recognized for his contribution to the team’s win as he was named Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Men’s Swimmer of the Week. The honor was earned for his performances in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle where he took first in each race contributing 18 points to his team’s overall score. Hammer also was recognized for the 200-yard freestyle relay alongside teammates sophomore Marc-Olivier Caron, freshman Aaron James and junior Bryan Mattingly. The relay team dropped 11.98 seconds from their previous time securing it at 1:22.36, a NCAA provisional qualifying time. Being his final season on the team, Hammer recognized the honor as a great accomplishment and a reason to continue to improve leading up to the SSC and NCAA Championships. At nationals, winning the 50-yard freestyle and making the top three in the 100-yard freestyle would be a great way for him to end his collegiate career, according to Hammer. “[Racing at nationals] will still be great, especially representing University of Tampa,” Hammer said. “I want to be able to do good in my races and finish strong.” Last season at nationals, Hammer swam the same 200-yard freestyle relay and became a national champion alongside graduated swimmers Jeremy Parker, Jordan Augier and Runar Borgen. He also claimed first in the 400yard freestyle relay alongside Augier, Parker and Khalid Aldaboos, a graduated swimmer. Their connection is something Hammer reflected on positively. Thinking forward to this season, Hammer believes he and his fellow teammates for this season’s relays have a lot of improvement still left to fit in. “We’re heading in the right direction,” Hammer said. “They are all great guys and have all improved this season.” Hammer’s lengthy swimming career started 16 years ago. He was an inspired swimmer with many family members, including his mom, who were swimmers. Seeing his continued improvement in the pool was what continued to keep him going throughout the years. Being an international student from Norway, Hammer knew he wanted to swim for a college in the U.S. UT’s people, good weather and swim program made the decision much easier. Through his years at UT, Hammer’s overall mindset and dedication has improved, according to men’s head coach Jimi Kiner. Kiner said he has continued to put in the work and has gotten smarter about taking care of himself outside the pool and as team captain continues to push his teammates to become the best athletes they can be. “Martin is a success story,” Kiner said. “He came in as a good swimmer, but he’s on a different level now showing development in and out of the pool. All around, he’s leaving a better man.”
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THE MINARET FEB.2.2017
Photo Courtesy of Allie Crump/The Minaret DETERMINATION: SSC swimmer of the week Martin Hammer waits his turn to race against Saint Leo University. Hammer is currently training in order to become a participant in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
SPORTS Hammer said his growth at UT has come from his change from training harder to making the necessary changes to train right. He was able to find the right formula that made him feel it every lap he swam in practice and every race he competed in. “It could be a bad practice or a bad meet that makes it hard to continue overcoming to reach your goals,” Hammer said. “To me it could be something as small as good sets in practice that make me feel good and continue to love overcoming challenges.” What has continued to help him overcome the challenges he has faced is the constant support of all his coaches, Hammer said. “Thank you to the coaching staff for keeping up with me, tolerating me and pushing me to improve,” Hammer said. Though his college swimming career will come to an end, Hammer was clear that his exit is just the beginning for him as a professional swimmer. After last season, he continued to swim for his home country, Norway, in hopes to obtain a spot on the Olympic team that would be heading to Rio. He came up short that time, but Hammer intends to keep up the hard work, so he has a chance to pursue a trip to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. “The end of this season is just the start for me,” Hammer said. “It’s going to be hours of hard work and a long and challenging process, but I’m motivated to keep swimming after college.” The men’s swimming regular season came to an end with a win over Saint Leo and now the training begins for the start of the SSC Championships that starts Feb. 16.
Photo Courtesy of Allie Krump/The Minaret SPLASH: Martin Hammer dives into the pool during a match against St. Leo University. Hammer finished the regular season strong, and he will look to continue his dominance at the start of the SSC Championships on Feb. 16.
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De Alfredo continues to dish and swish Simon Brady Contributing Writer simon.brady@spartans.ut.edu The road to stardom for the SSC Player of the Week and women’s basketball point guard Elena De Alfredo has certainly been a unique one. As a native of Madrid, Spain, she faced many challenges on and off court that would test her love and passion for the game of basketball. De Alfredo’s ability on the court was never A question, as she played for Spain’s national team for eight years. Her consistent success on this stage drew the attention of college scouts and recruiters who began to attend her games and evaluate her performance. At an early age, De Alfredo was faced with a life changing decision as to where basketball would take her next. “I thought about playing professionally in Europe at age 16,” De Alfredo said. Although that opportunity was enticing, she decided that heading to the United States to attend college was the smarter choice. This was certainly not a basketball decision exclusively. De Alfredo knew that from an educational standpoint, college was the most reasonable choice. “I had a desire to go to school at a university,” De Alfredo said. “My parents and I wanted to avoid having to take online classes in Europe as my education.” The chance to play in the U.S. at a university came from her teammate in Spain that ended up playing for Toledo University in Ohio. Once De Alfredo sent a highlight tape to the coaching staff at Toledo, they were willing to have her fly down for a tryout. Despite all her experiences playing on the court, this tryout at Toledo was an experience like no other for De Alfredo. “I had a friend come with me to the tryout to translate commands from the coaches because I didn’t speak fluent english at the time. At that time, I couldn’t have had this conversation I’m having with you right now,” De Alfredo said. On top of the inability to speak english at the time, she was competing against the men from the Toledo team’s practice squad at her tryout. “Practicing against the guys, there was a new level of physicality and speed I hadn’t seen before,” De Alfredo said. Despite the challenges De Alfredo was faced with, she performed at a high level and was offered a full scholarship to play for Toledo immediately after her tryout. Although she was grateful for the opportunity to play at a Division I university, she wasn’t completely happy in her two years playing there. It began with an arm injury her freshman year that caused a major setback in her game, so much so that she said she couldn’t fully extend her shooting arm properly. De Alfredo decided it was time to move from Toledo her sophomore year because she saw limited play time, and was unhappy playing shooting guard as opposed to point Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe guard, her biggest strength positionally on the court. FROM DOWNTOWN: Spartans point guard Elena De Alfredo pulls up for a three pointer against the Barry Buccaneers. De Alfredo has Times became so tough at Toledo for De Alfredo that been nothing but dominant ever since she transfered here from Toledo University. she even considered quitting basketball altogether and
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she even considered quitting basketball altogether and returning home to Spain. However, one man’s special belief in her not only as a player, but more importantly as an individual, revived her career. This would be UT women’s head basketball coach Tom Jessee. Jessee saw De Alfredo play and contacted her for a tryout at UT. De Alfredo said Jessee “saw things in her he hadn’t seen in awhile.” De Alfredo proceeded to visit Tampa and tryout for Jessee. She said it took a mere three minutes of her scrimmaging in the tryout for Jessee to pull her over to the sideline and say, “you need to come here, you’re going to be our point guard.” De Alfredo knew that nothing would be given to her, even though she was stepping down from DI To DII. She also understood that the level of talent between the two divisions wasn’t much different. Even though De Alfredo quickly realized the level of play for opponents of Toledo and UT were similar, there was a discrepancy between the two she discovered. “The biggest difference between Division I and Division II is the size and toughness. IQ, speed and physicality were all very similar,” De Alfredo said. Currently playing in her senior year, De Alfredo has amazingly already earned a spot on the Sunshine State Conference All-Newcomer team for her performance last year as a junior, recognizing her as one of the top first years players in the SSC. This year, she has followed last season up with an even more impressive campaign, averaging 16.6 points per
game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, including a staggering 47.5 percent from a three point range. She also averages 4.1 rebounds and three assists per game, along with shooting an average of 85.1 percent from the free throw line on the season. Jessee admires De Alfredo’s versatile shooting ability from multiple spots on the court above all her skills on the court. “The best part of her game is her ability to shoot the ball from range as well as her great pull up game,” Jessee said. De Alfredo chose not to discuss her greatest strengths on the court, though she holds UT’s all-time best career threepoint shooting percentage at 45.8 and averages the sixth highest minutes per game average in school history at an astonishing 33.9 minutes. De Alfredo prioritizes and focuses on working as hard as she can to do what’s best for her team. “Elena has matured as a player and in doing so has earned a spot as a captain,” Jessee said. “She leads by example everyday with her work ethic.” As far as team goals that De Alfredo and her Spartan teammates set out to accomplish come season’s end, certainly winning a conference and regional championship comes up in conversation. This is a goal attainable for a squad currently at a 13-5 overall record, including 8-3 in the SSC. However, at this moment, De Alfredo doesn’t want to concern herself with it just yet. “Right now the focus is on one game at a time,” De Alfredo said. “The most important game of the whole season is the next one.”
S
PARTANS
TANDINGS
MEN’S BBALL
14-7 WOMEN’S BBALL
14-5 MEN’S SWIMMING
7-2 WOMEN’S SWIMMING
6-3 Photo Courtesy of Tom Kolbe COMMANDING THE FLOOR: De Alfredo calls out a play during the Spartans home game against the Barry Buccaneers. Not only is De Alfredo a pure scorer, she is a major facilitator of the offense.
Spring sports begin this weekend THE MINARET FEB.2.2017
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