Issue 5, Fall 2016 by ncfcatalyst

ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

CATALYST

SRQ CRITICAL MASS

OCTOBER 5, 2016 VOLUME XXXIV ISSUE V

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BIDEN IN SARASOTA pg.

BLM PROTEST pg.

A student newspaper of New College of Florida

Water quality in Sarasota: High lead levels pose risk BY JASMINE RESPESS Water quality is an international issue, but as of late, water safety problems have become more prevalent in the United States. In Flint, Michigan, the water is so high in lead that it is not considered safe to drink. Here in Sarasota, similar issues have arisen, so community members and New College students are becoming more concerned with the state of their water. Third-year student Jade Sheinwald got her Sarasota off-campus water tested by the Culligan company. “The test was done in front of me and was very transparent,” Sheinwald said. Cooper, arsenic and lead were also found in the water. Although, most water has some of these chemicals, the actual amount allowed by law varies state to state. “They found a ton of chlorine,” Sheinwald said. “Twice the amount of a swimming pool. [...] Water purifiers like PUR and Brita do not filter out all chemicals, just chlorine. The toxins are still present.” “Sarasota is actually in violation with lead, which is bad for children,” Sheinwald said. Flint has been in the news for

Jasmine Respess/Catalyst

Chlorine levels in Dort water were found to be relatively low, but this does not exclude the possibility of other contaminants being present.

this problem and high lead levels can lead to anemia, kidney disfunction and abdominal pain. Children can experience stunted development physically and behaviorally, as well as potential loss of motor skills. Those with compromised immune systems, such as people who have undergone organ transplants or those who have a chronic illness may also be more sensitive to water contaminants. “Even if the levels are not in violation,” Sheinwald added. “[We’re]

still drinking bad [chemicals].” New College’s efforts to handle the water issue is being spearheaded by the Council for Green Affairs. “We hope to get a filter in Hamilton Canter (Ham),” thesis student Orion Morton said. “We would like to talk to Metz about this and about providing more sustainable water bottles.” There is already a filter in the Four Winds cafe that uses reverse osmosis to purify the water. “[Students] can drink that water

and it is fine,” Morton said. Many times pipes that carry water can be responsible for leaking chemicals. This is especially true of structures that have been around for decades. “The infrastructure [of New College] is old,” Morton said. Morton explained that Sarasota, and a lot of the surrounding region has been affected by phosphate mining. “Something like a 300 gallon reverse osmosis tank could accommodate [New College,]” Culligan Water Service Supervisor Tim Lang said. “This would get you water bottle quality water.” Lang explained that the tank would actually be creating water. “Filters, [such as Brita] are overrated,” Land said. He explained that the store bought filters mostly filter out chlorine, but not other contaminants. After testing the water in Dort residential hall, Lang reported that the water supplied to Dort dorms was not high in chlorine, but could be high in other elements. It would take further, more advanced testing to determine which kinds. In September, a sinkhole developed in Central Florida at a Mosaic New Wales

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NCPD equipped with opioid antagonist Naloxone BY AUDREY WARNE The New College Police Department (NCPD) has been equipped with Evzio, a single-use naloxone auto-injector that can reverse an overdose almost immediately, since December 2015. The rise in drug-related deaths in the United States has become a public health crisis as deadly and widespread as the H.I.V. epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s. An estimated 125 people a day die from a drug overdose in the United States, 78 of those from heroin or prescription pills, according to numbers published in the New York Times. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the symptoms of an opioid overdose within minutes. It works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, reversing the depression of the central nervous and respiratory

WHAT’S INSIDE

systems caused by opiates. Harm reduction, a public health policy that deals with reducing the harms caused by drug use, encourages accessibility to opioid antagonists such as Naloxone. Cost and funding: “Every officer carries two of these [Evizo auto-injectors],” Chief Michael Kessie said, head of the New College and University of South Florida (USF) Campus Police Department. “It’s $495 a pair, it comes with a trainer – which is a fake one to train with – and then two of these for $495. So it’s almost $250 a dose.” The NCPD received its Naloxone for free through a grant from the Kaléo Pharmaceutical Company - the same grant that provided Sarasota County Police Department with their Naloxone supply last December. “There are no other departments

3 FEEDBACK SESSION

that carry this in the area except for us and Sarasota [County Police Department]. We were one of the first colleges in the state to carry it. We were ahead of a lot of other places in the state.” Kaléo Pharmaceuticals devised its “Kaléo Grants Program” to provide their product, “the Evzio (naloxone HCl injection) Auto-injector, at no cost to certain qualifying non-profit organizations and other groups demonstrating need,” according to the Kaléo Pharmaceutical Company website. “The Product Donation Grants Program is intended for first responder organizations for use in the field or for qualifying non-profits, harm reduction groups and health departments who intend to distribute product to patients

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6 GREEN BEAN CAFE

Audrey Warne/Catalyst

Each NCPD officer carries two Evzio Auto-injectors.

JILL STEIN IN SARASOTA

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BRIEFS

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briefs by Caitlyn Ralph

COUP Towne Meeting discusses themes and police staffing at Walls As the temperature falls - maybe like a degree or two - New College gets a hint that fall is on its way. And, with fall, comes the spooky, Halloween-inspired Center Of The Universe Party (COUP). On Oct. 3, a COUP Towne Meeting was held by Speaker of the Towne Meeting and third-year Lara Herzog to discuss this year’s potential themes and important updates on New College Police Department (NCPD) staffing at Walls. Pressingly, New College Student Alliance (NCSA) co-Presidents and third-years Miles Iton and Paul Loriston provided updates on the police staffing issues regarding Walls and the forthcoming COUP. Iton first explained that a Friday COUP would be much more feasible than a Saturday COUP, since this will alleviate pressure on the officers to staff the event. This week, the co-Presidents are meeting to establish a

more sound event policy to allow Walls to resume. Before Iton and Loriston’s announcements, three potential Halloween COUP themes were presented. The first is sponsored by thesis students Amy Bernard and Francesca Tignor and second-year Emily Via and is aptly titled Disney Channel Original COUP, a night to celebrate everyone’s favorite movies from their childhood. “The most important part is to have fun,” Bernard said. Their ideas include a Halloweentown-themed Palm Court, the Black Box Theater (BBT) as a “large spaceship-esque place where you can pretend to gaze out into the stars,” a Smart House-themed Old Mail Room (OMR) and potentially a bounce house on Z-green. Sponsored by Hannah Procell,

Becca Caccavo, Carley Culmo, Ashley Rodrigues and Sadé Holmes, Celestine Halloween is slated to be a magical night for everyone to remember, complete with a Dark Moon Lilith-themed BBT containing “possibly some mythological creatures,” a Spooky Milky Way and an Underwater Utopia chill-out room. Unlike previous COUPs, the Center of the Universe, also known as Palm Court, is planned to host live music. Lastly, Tyler Freeman and Derek Otis presented Wild Wasteland COUP to “prepare for the end of the world” during this election season. Palm Court will be Vault-themed, the BBT will be a “thunderdome,” Hamilton Classroom (HCL) 7 will show calming nature documentaries and the OMR will be a cave. The COUP theme voting survey has been sent to the StudentsList.

Anarchy Deathsticks: Knitting Club strikes back The club with the most dangerous name on campus, Anarchy Deathsticks has taken knitting and community to an entirely new level. Knitting Club transforms a relaxing craft into a low-stress community gathering and an alternate social activity to Walls. Organizers third-years Alex Johnson and Meagan Ash said in an email interview that Knitting Club’s Saturday night meetings start at 8:30 p.m. and run as late as 11:00 p.m., but students aren’t obligated to stay the whole time. “The club is also very informal, so there’s no need to stress over attending every meeting,” Ash said. The club also meets on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. until around 9:00 p.m. Meetings occur in the Gender and Diversity Center (GDC).

“Last year it was pretty dead, but this semester we had over a dozen people at the first few meetings, and now about 7 to 9 regulars on and off, with new people showing up frequently,” Johnson said. Club attendees usually work on their own projects. Experienced Deathstickers, like Ash and Johnson, help newcomers pick up the knitting skill. “Anyone of any skill level is welcome to come! For beginners or people who want to work on small projects during club meeting time we can provide yarn and needles,” Ash said. “Alex [Johnson] and I are also trying to learn how to crochet, and we’d love to have people come who crochet or do any other kind of fabric art!”

“I enjoy the club because I love knitting, teaching people new skills and hanging out with friend,” Johnson said. “Anarchy Deathsticks fills this niche in the New College community.” “I love being able to set aside a portion of my week to just relax and talk with friends while doing something crafty! It’s a very relaxing and very versatile hobby, once you get the hang of it,” Ash said. “Anarchy Deathsticks is an important part of the New College community because of its history and the opportunities it brings for socializing and creativity in a low-stress environment.” Students interested in joining Anarchy Deathsticks should email Johnson or Ash, so they can be added to the club’s mailing list.

Oct. Netflix releases entertain during fall break Fall break - a time to separate from the hustle and bustle of classes, sip some tea and relax over some good ol’ Netflix one-on-one time. Luckily, the streaming platform has a solid schedule for its October releases, set to entertain during the slowest days of next week. Selma director Ava DuVernay teamed up with Netflix for an original documentary called 13th, named after the 13th amendment that banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the

United States. Taking a comprehensive and in-depth look at the amendment’s ties to the country’s massive prison state, 13th arrives on Netflix Oct. 7. Grab a tissue box, set aside at least four hours (45 minutes for bathroom and snack breaks) and call your best friend - because Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s Titanic is hitting Netflix Oct. 1. Afterwards, lighten the mood with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or A Cinderella Story - the latter

“Break down the (emotional) walls you construct between yourself and others.” © 2016, the Catalyst. All rights reserved. The Catalyst is available online at www.ncfcatalyst.com, facebook.com/NCFcatalyst, @ncfcatalyst The Catalyst is an academic tutorial sponsored by Professor Maria Vesperi and taught by visiting instructor Yadira Lopez. It is developed in the New College Publications Lab using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign and printed at Sun Coast Press with funds provided by the New College Student Alliance.

of which features the superstar from our childhood Hilary Duff - both also available as of Oct. 1. Marvel returned to Netflix on Sept. 30 with Luke Cage, 13 episodes of superhero gold that literally broke the platform this past weekend. Also in the TV show realm, Netflix added the fifth season of American Horror Story on Oct. 4 and is adding the eleventh season of Supernatural on Oct. 7 and the seventh season of Vampire Diaries on Oct. 8.

General Editor Managing Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Layout Editor Staff Writers & Photographers

Pariesa Young Giulia Heyward Ryan Paice Caitlyn Ralph Audrey Warne Katelyn Grimmett, Jasmine Respess, Dylan Pryor, Elan Works, Jacob Wentz, Kelly Wilson, Cassandra Manz, Anya María Contreras-García, Magdalene Taylor

Coffeeshops to hit during midterms week Next week is fall break, which means that midterms - and an abundance of studying - are well underway. There’s no better way to power through that last paper than carpooling to a coffee shop near New College for a change of scenery and a burst of caffeine. An easy choice, The Coffee Loft, located just down the road from campus, offers a pleasant variety of teas, coffees, sandwiches and snacks to fuel your studying session, supported by easy-going, approachable and comfy decor upstairs and down. Another locallyowned and student-favorite option over in Bradenton, the Green Bean Coffeehouse has officially re-opened. Kahwa has debuted a new store in Lakewood Ranch, just past the UTC mall, to accompany its Downtown Sarasota location. The Downtown location closes slightly later most days - 8:00 p.m. - than the Lakewood Ranch location, which closes at 7:00 p.m. Also located Downtown, Buddy Brew sports a hip decor within a smaller space. However, there is plenty of seating outside of the shop, which is tucked away on Palm Avenue. A further drive, Perq offers a clean and open space that can sometimes be a bit stark, but will definitely keep you focused working through those assignments. Mama G’s Coffee is a quiet option near University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s campus. Offering a lovely spread of freshlymade baked goods, Mama G’s is open until 4:00 p.m. For those looking for a latenight option, Starbucks on University is open until 11:00 p.m. and provides reliable wi-fi in a nice atmosphere.

Direct submissions, letters, announcements and inquiries to: The Catalyst 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, Florida 34243 ncfcatalyst@gmail.com The Catalyst reserves the right to edit all submissions for grammar, space and style. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. Submissions must be received by 12:00 p.m. Friday for consideration in the next issue.

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Student Feedback Session aims to help New College spend $8 million BY ELAN WORKS If you came back to New College in 20 years and it had been transformatively improved, what would it look like? This is the question posed to students in a vision workshop Sept. 30, when faculty told students a massive funding increase may be in store for the future of New College and asked what students think the school should most put funding towards. At the meeting, Dr. David Brain, professor of sociology and environmental studies, explained that this summer’s new leadership on the board of governors had led to a dramatic shift in political willingness to give more funding to New College of Florida. Similar workshops with faculty and staff have already been held, last friday’s workshop providing another piece of vision for what New College can eventually become. Donal O’Shea, president of New College of Florida, will have to submit a proposal that takes all these visions for New College and condenses them into an explanation of what funding is needed, where and why. The November deadline for this proposal has been rapidly approaching president D-O, who was told of the potential for further funding in July. “I said we needed $8 million, ‘ah’ they said ‘surely it’ll take more than that,’” O’Shea said. “I thought we could take the whole year to think.” O’Shea and Brain asked students to envision another New College - one with 120 professors and faculty and 1,200 students. Most of the growth in student population, Brain said, will hopefully come from an increased retention rate. “Only 57 percent of our students graduate within four years, we lose a big

chunk [of students] each year,” O’Shea said. “Imagine what we can do to make it better. How can we be a better institution?” O’Shea also described several problems associated with students leaving New College, though he stressed the need to recognize that each student leaves for a different combination of reasons. “If they were only leaving for one reason we would have figured it out and tried to stop it,” O’Shea said. “We do interview them, and it would be very hard to be African American on this campus, we can’t hide that.” O’Shea described the aspects of New College’s small size that might hinder people seeking a different college experience. “Even people who stay recognize they’re giving up something.” The students that attended the workshop were encouraged to think outside of the current infrastructure and organizational limits of the current New College, instead they were asked to envision anything. The New College students went to work quickly, jotting things down on sticky notes and sticking them to a large piece of paper. Several themes were recurring, namely the renovation and addition of dorms, the need for more learning facilities, a more well-funded Campus Wellness Center (CWC), the need for more racial diversity and more student support. The workshop also had students use colour-coded stickers to indicate their feelings about the ideas placed on the paper, and were asked later to come up with general plans to ease the problems they had described on campus. Ideas ranged from environmental friendliness to how to make students feel less trapped in meal plans. An idea that got overwhelming approval

Elan Works/Catalyst

Students in a workshop group discuss ideas with Dr David Brain at the Sept. 30 Vision Workshop was scholarships for well-qualified students of colour to visit New College for free, including the cost of lodging, transportation and food. Also brought up often was the CWC’s lack of funding and capacity. Students suggested at the very least a CWC car to take students to off-campus psychiatric, medical and psychological appointments for students who cannot receive longterm care at the CWC. Both groups of students expressed intense interest in more outside congregating spaces for students to study and spend time. “How do we build community on this campus when it feels very sparse?” Dr. Robin Williamson, dean of Student Affairs commented. “I really appreciated that students also care about that students the physical space and how we live together in community.” “I also liked the conversation about diversity and how do we not only increase the numbers of folks who are underrepresented on this campus,” Williams said. “How do we educate individuals to navigate a diverse

environment and to not only be tolerant but be appreciative and celebratory of difference and really try to learn?” As the workshop ended participants left with smiles and new ideas, and the attending faculty stayed to discuss the event. “We don’t want to change the student to faculty ratio,” O’Shea said. “What would be transformative but not change the essential culture of New College?” Both Brain and O’Shea strongly encourage students to email them with any and all suggestions about how to transform New College for the better. “At this point we’re just trying to figure out direction,” Brain said, noting that in 2001 New College became independent and had to create administration ‘from scratch’. “We’ve been stumbling forward for 15 years, let’s stop stumbling and move.” Dr David Brain can be reached at brain@ ncf.edu; Donal O’Shea can be reached at doshea@ncf.edu.

Metz faces dietary restrictions of students BY KELLY WILSON In a survey of New College students on the forum, students expressed over 13 different dietary restrictions that could impact their ability to find food on campus, with the most common dietary restrictions being vegan and vegetarian students with 18.27 and 25.96 percent of the students reporting being vegetarian and or vegan respectively. Other common dietary restrictions included lactose intolerance and allergies. While dietary restrictions often become second nature to impacted students, they are something that many New College students live with and are searching for accommodations for. For students who make lifestyle choices to have a vegan or vegetarian diet, finding food in the Hamilton “Ham” center does not seem to be too difficult. “I find it very easy to be vegetarian here because of the meat-free options such as cheese pizza, tofu burrito bowls,

Kelly Wilson/Catalyst

Survey results from a sample of 85 New College students.

and veggie burgers that are regularly available in Ham,” first-year Aiden Juge said in a survey of New College students. The Convenience Store (C-Store) in Ham also offers vegetarian and vegan

options. “I’ve found lots of vegan snack foods in the C-store which is really cool,” first-year Leah Bender said in an email interview. “Worst case I go and eat a sub

from the c-store which is still amazing,” thesis student and Catalyst staff writer Dylan Pryor said, who keeps Kosher. Being vegetarian or vegan can even sometimes be a fun or new experience for students because these options seem to be readily available to any student who is willing to take a risk and try them. “I think it’s nice because now that I’m a vegetarian I’ve been trying a lot more options that I wouldn’t have tried before,” second-year Angela Duda said. However, some students who have been vegetarian or vegan for longer periods of time often feel bogged down by the lack of variety in the meat free and meat substitute options that Ham provides which often seem repetitive and uninspired. “I think there are plenty of vegetarian options in Ham. Maybe not great ones… Sometimes they’ll just have

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New Hampshire “ballot selfie” ban deemed unconstitutional BY DYLAN PRYOR On Thursday, a statewide ban on “ballot selfies” in New Hampshire culminated in a new ruling by a federal appeals court that that a 2014 law restricting the selfies on election day is unconstitutional. State lawmakers previously argued that digital images of ballots could be used to aid in schemes to coerce or buy votes, but these claims were dismissed due to lack of evidence. According to CNN, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston called the statute an overreaction to an unsubstantiated concern. Judge Sandra Lynch referred to a ruling from a 1957 Supreme Court case when she described the law’s existence as analogous to “burning down the house to roast the pig.” The official ruling dismissed claims that photos could be used to manipulate votes, stating that: “Digital photography, the Internet, and social media are not unknown quantities -they have been ubiquitous for several election cycles, without being shown

to have the effect of furthering vote buying or voter intimidation.” Previously, a suit was brought by the American Civil Liberites Union (ACLU) on behalf of three people who were investigated for violating the law, with the photo sharing app Snapchat filing an amicus brief in support. Snapchat argued that ballot selfies are equivalent to “campaign buttons” that express support for or against something. The legal director for the ACLU, Giles, Bissonnetee called the decision a “victory for the First Amendment” and criticized the state for attempting to “broadly ban innocent political speech with the hope that such a sweeping ban will address underlying criminal conduct.” The statement appears foundationally similar to the court’s statement that “there is a substantial mismatch between New Hampshire’s objectives and the ballot selfie prohibition.” Information for this article was taken from cnn.com.

New College student organizes Critical Mass BY CASSIE MANZ Critical Mass, organized by New College second-year Kaithleen Coñoepan, hit the streets of Sarasota this Friday. More than 20 cyclists attended. The majority of them were New College students but also included several members from the Sarasota community. Coñoepan had participated in Critical Mass events in Miami and wanted to bring the event to Sarasota. Coñoepan advertised for the event by putting up flyers around campus and at several local businesses and posting on the forum. Cyclists met at the parking lot in front of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. From there, Coñoepan led the group down Bayshore Road and crossed onto Dr. Martin Luther King Way. The mass then turned onto Cocoanut Avenue and continued down the road into the downtown area. The ride ended at Five Points Park across from the Selby Public Library. Coñoepan said her favorite part of the ride was hearing people cheer for the bikers as they rode by. She believes the Critical Mass was important because it helped to raise awareness of bicycles on the road and bicycle safety in Sarasota. “I think it went really well,” Coñoepan said in an email interview. “I think we all did really well in sticking to a nice easy-going pace for everyone! I think it was really important for the

photo courtesy of Julia Scully

Students gather on bikes for Critical Mass.

people of Sarasota to see a group of cyclists riding and sticking together.” The Critical Mass saw one flat tire and two falls, but everyone made it back to the starting point safely in the end. “It’s not a Critical Mass unless someone falls off their bike,” Brian Campbell, a barista at Coffee Loft who participated in the Critical Mass, said. Coñoepan is working on planning the route for next month’s Critical Mass and is looking forward to making it a monthly event. She hopes even more people will come to the next Critical Mass as word spreads. The ﬁrst Critical Mass was live streamed and can be accessed on the NCF Catalyst Facebook page.

The Activist Newsletter Katelyn Grimmett/Catalyst

This week (10/5 – 10/13), activists have the opportunity to attend pride rallies, protest marches, educational lectures, and cultural celebration festivals. Read on if you want to get involved in the community regarding racial inequality, international and domestic politics, or human rights.

BY ANYA MARÍA CONTRERAS-GARCÍA Thursday, Oct 6 Black Out #BLM @ 7 a.m. Manatee County Students at schools all across Manatee County will participate in a black-out – wearing all black clothing – in support of Black Lives. For more information, check out the event page on Facebook. Saturday, Oct 8 Orlando Come Out with Pride @ 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Lake Eola Park 512 E Washington St Orlando FL 32801 Members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community in Central Florida will gather for a day of celebration, remembrance, festivities and giving back. The 12th annual festival will feature a colorful parade in Orlando, an entertainment lineup including a nighttime fireworks spectacular, and supportive businesses and organizations. Opportunities to get involved are listed on comeoutwithpride.com. For more information, “like” Orlando Pride on Facebook and check out the event page on Facebook. Wednesday, Oct 12 NoDAPL AntiColumbus Day March @ 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Oglesby Union 75 N Woodward Ave Tallahassee, FL 32304 Students for Justice in Palestine considers Columbus Day (Oct 10) as a major blow to global indigenous resistance movements against imperialism, most notably the current one in North Dakota against the DAPL pipeline. Join the

Tallahassee community at the “Free Speech Zone” between FSU’s Oglesby Union and Classroom Building (HCB) to demand that Florida State University recognizes and honors indigenous peoples’ struggles. For more information, “like” Students for Justice in Palestine at FSU and check out the event page on Facebook. Thursday Oct 13 A Night in Brazil RIAF @ 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. The Ringling 5401 Bay Shore Rd Sarasota, FL 34243 Join the Ringling a celebration of the music and dance of Brazilian culture -- from Bahia to Rio. Move your feet to the irresistible Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Dendê & Band – hailed around the world for their pulsating percussion, and their unique blend of samba, rumba, afrobeat and funk. Follow the fun as Dendê takes you to the “cidade maravilhosa” of Rio. Included with admission is a selection of Brazilian cuisine along with an open beer and wine bar. For more information, check out the event page on Facebook. Friday, Oct 14 U.S.-Israeli Imperialism @ 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. FSU Center for Global Engagement, Room 2600 110 Woodward Ave Tallahassee, FL 32306 The purpose of this workshop lecture taught by Albert Kishek is to open up dialogue about imperial ambitions within U.S. and Israel’s respective colonial scopes and beyond them. The general public is welcome to learn the meaning of intersectional imperialism. For more information, “like” Students for Justice in Palestine at FSU and check out the event page on Facebook.

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NEWS PAGE 5

‘Uncle Joe’ draws huge crowd at local rally for Hillary BY PARIESA YOUNG In Sarasota, Vice President Joe Biden both charmed and inspired his audience with an impassioned speech. He was praised by opening speakers for his hard work, humble beginnings and honesty above all. “No one ever doubts I say what I mean but sometimes I say all that I mean,” Biden laughed. “I ain’t changing now.” A crowd of over 600 joined Biden at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex in Sarasota on Oct. 3, as the vice president campaigned on behalf of Hillary Clinton, in his second stop in Florida. The vice president spent most of his time on stage questioning recent actions and behaviors of Clinton’s opponent. The afternoon’s other speakers took turns incredulously questioning Donald Trump’s temperament, tax record, 3 a.m. Twitter posts and foreign policy acumen. Biden was introduced by opening speeches from Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida, Sarasota Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates, State House Candidate Edward James III and Senator Bill Nelson. A number of New College students were in attendance, representing Planned Parenthood and local candidates such as James and Professor of Political Science and State Representative candidate Frank Alcock “Donald Trump is dangerously uninformed,” Biden said. He went on to describe Trump’s affinity for Vladimir Putin, lack of knowledge about geography and poor reputation abroad. “I got picked in part because I allegedly know something about foreign policy,” Biden said. “I know every major world leader for the last 37 years, I’ve known them personally. I

have never in my career seen as many foreign leaders with such anxiety about the possibility Donald Trump could be elected president.” Biden became particularly passionate when discussing Trump’s recent comments about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, where he said that those with PTSD “can’t handle” what they saw in combat. At times he yelled and pounded the podium in front of him as he stressed the immense physical and mental toll on veterans returning from service. “Every one of those warriors left behind an entire family, a community, for us,” Biden said. Soldiers are coming home from combat with “unseen wounds.” He called caring for soldiers and veterans a “sacred obligation,” and denigrated Trump for saying veterans are not strong. “He is just so thoroughly, completely uninformed,” Biden said. In his 30-minute speech, Biden repeatedly asked the gym full of supporters to “Think about it!” He asked them to think about the gross misinformation and fear-mongering rampant in the Trump campaign. “The words he utters are truly beneath the office of the Presidency,” Biden said. Essential to preventing a Trump presidency, Biden says, is getting everyone out to vote. Citizens were encouraged by all to go out and vote. A swing state, Florida has been an essential player in presidential elections at least as far back as the 2000 GoreBush election. “Florida is the key,” Biden said. “That’s not hyperbole. We win Florida, Hillary wins Florida, there is absolutely zero path for this man to win.” Biden urged voters to make sure they are registered. The last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 11.

Pariesa Young/Catalyst Biden spoke to a large crowd, young and old, in support of Clinton.

Pariesa Young/Catalyst Democrats and representatives from Planned Parenthood attended the rally.

Pariesa Young/Catalyst Biden addressed the crowd of over 600 with his reasons for why Hillary Clinton should be elected.

Pariesa Young/Catalyst A Planned Parenthood employee records CEO Zdravecky.

Discovering the

Green Bean Coffee House BY CASSIE MANZ

The old saying “If you blink you might miss it,” comes to mind when describing the Green Bean Coffee House. Luckily, a small white trailer advertises out front on the sidewalk of Old Bradenton Road. The coffee house blends in with the residential neighborhood, perhaps partly due to the fact that it used to be an actual house before it became a business. The coffee shop has retained its homey atmosphere. One feels comfortable there sitting on the couch in the front of the house or meandering outside to look at the half-pipe, a gift from a retired Ringling College of Art and Design teacher. While outside one might spot the pet pig, Mr. Piggers, or a few chickens or Mocha, the dog. The feeling of a friendly neighborhood joint where everyone knows each other is evident when one walks into the Green Bean. “I started turning my house into a coffee shop about four years ago,” owner Jason Fisher said. He reported that the city of Sarasota is trying to turn Old Bradenton Road into a sort of Burns Court part two. “The city’s trying to have people open up little businesses along this road,” Fisher said. “Art galleries and whatnot...So hopefully it’s going to turn into a little downtown area at some point.” The coffee house is the first of these businesses to pop up along Old Bradenton Road. Despite it being the city’s idea, Fisher and Paris Bean, who runs the Green Bean with Fisher, said the city has actually been somewhat of an obstruction to their business and will not let them put up any signs outside of the house. Fisher got away

Cassie Manz/Catalyst The shop offers free WiFi and a community events board.

with the trailer out front because it is a registered vehicle. Because of the signage issue, recognition is depending on word of mouth and Facebook so far. “Facebook’s been awesome for small businesses. It only costs us $14 to run an ad all week and it gets to thousands and thousands of people,” Fisher said. “This year’s been really busy...so that’s been awesome,” Bean said. “We weren’t this busy last year.” The coffee house is home to numerous community events, including a poetry appreciation workshop every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and a bigger poetry concert held in the backyard on the stage every other month. “We like to support everyone in the community,” Bean said. “We cater to skaters, students, families, we really try and cater to everyone.” With only a mile between the

coffee house and Ringling College of Art and Design and roughly three miles to New College, students make up a significant part of the Green Bean’s clientele. Students get a five percent off discount when they come in and an extra five percent if they check in on Facebook. “What Big E’s used to be for so many is already what I feel in my heart for Green Bean,” thesis student Amy Bernard said. “All I can say is that I can finally go somewhere and feel like I’m spending my money wisely to perpetuate a good establishment, good people and a good atmosphere and I most certainly recommend it.” The delivery services are also very agreeable to the life of a college student. Fisher and Bean deliver from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. One can find their menu at local bars, like Growlers and Memories. The fact that Bean’s cellphone number

Cassie Manz/Catalyst (left) The trailer outside is the only signage for the Coffee House. (right) A cozy outdoor seating area keeps the sun out.

is also the number one calls for delivery adds to the small town, small business feel. A customer will often get a picture of their food before it’s delivered with a friendly ‘It’s on the way!’ text. Fisher and Bean have a new marketing plug for their delivery service: a candy-apple green electric scooter. The idea is that if one sees the scooter delivering food around town one can take a picture, post it on Instagram and tag the Green Bean Coffee House. Then the lucky spotter can go into the coffee house and get a free iced coffee. The Green Bean provides fresh, organic and local food at an affordable price. The menu covers almost everything one could want, including breakfast items, sandwiches, wraps, salads and homemade ice cream. They also have a full coffee menu, including iced and hot coffee and other specialty drinks. Bean handles the kitchen during the day while Fisher says his main job right now is working outside on projects and trying to clean up the mess Hurricane Hermine left. Fisher and Bean are the sole employees of the Green Bean. Fisher and Bean, both from the Northeast, are living out their dream as small-business owners in Sarasota. “We’re really working on making it our dream come true,” Bean said. Bean believes the millennial generation is changing Sarasota for the better into a young and up-and-coming town. She and Fisher are excited that the Green Bean Coffee House can be a part of that, as a place for all kinds of people to hang out and enjoy a good cup of coffee. “Sarasota’s definitely about to take off and no one’s really aware of it but everyone’s living here,” Bean said. “It’s about to take off and we’re excited to be a part of it. It’ll be fun.”

Katelyn Grimmett/Catalyst

Cassie Manz/Catalyst The half-pipe in the backyard was gifted to the Green Bean by a retired RCAD professor.

Cassie Manz/Catalyst “I started turning my house into a coffee shop about four years ago,” owner Jason Fisher said.

Cassie Manz/Catalyst It wouldn’t be a Coffee House without some fresh coffee.

Cassie Manz/Catalyst Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available.

Cassie Manz/Catalyst The Green Bean has become a popular work and study spot for students and young professionals.

Cassie Manz/Catalyst Indoor seating areas are comfortable and resemble a home more than a retail location.

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Ten Questions with Metz employee Laura Testa paper looking for help about a month after they started here with Metz and Bill hired me right off the bat.

BY KELLY WILSON Working with Metz and serving students for about three years, Laura Testa has become a familiar friendly face in the background of the New College community and a staple in one of the most important functions of daily life. Testa moved from New York to Florida three years ago and has been working at Metz for most of that time. She loves working with students, and can be found ringing up meals from breakfast to lunch and reminding them to take a picture of their I.D. on the off chance that they forget to bring it one day.

5. Is there something you’ve always dreamed of doing that you’ve never done?

Yeah, to go to Africa. I’ve always wanted to go to Africa and see Victoria Falls in Uganda.

6. Do you Travel a lot?

I travel a lot in this country, Canada and Mexico, but I’ve never been to Europe or Africa.

Yes. Oh yeah. In New Mexico the seasons are like the far up North Carolina so you had seasons but they were mild, but this is like the eighth or ninth season of summer.

1. What was your college experience like?

I went to two colleges. I went to University of St. Thomas in Houston Texas, that was a blast, I had a very good time and I majored in sociology. I got a degree in sociology, and then I moved to Boston and I went to Essex Technical and Agriculture College. They have a culinary arts department there so I got a degree in culinary arts and that I loved, that was the passion. I was never gonna be a social worker.

What’s your favorite part about working here?

I love the kids. I have so much fun with the kids. I’m not in management anymore so I don’t have major responsibility except making sure that everything runs out here [in the dining room] so it’s a lot of fun. I get to talk to almost everybody, every day. Nobody else can do that here. So I know if they’re sick. I know If they’re tired. So I know what’s going on. The kids are great it’s just great. They’re the best part of the day.

Dietar y CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 a slab of tofu and I’m like ‘well I don’t want just a slab of tofu.’ But usually I’ll just have a veggie burger and one of the vegetarian sides,” Duda continued. Because of the population of vegan students on campus finding lactose-free foods are not hard to find either. “Ham always offers dairy-free milk, and generally offers cheeseless versions of their meals,” first-year Rayne Craig said in a survey of New College students. Students with other dietary restrictions may find it more difficult to find food in Ham. Thesis student Lena Santos has been on a GERD diet which consists of mostly bland things because of bad acid reflux and often struggles to find food in Ham that will not be upsetting to her stomach and enjoyable. “Part of the reason why I don’t go to Ham, because like it’s a lot of money, and I don’t want to gamble if they have something that my stomach will be ok with. Even if they do have something it’s the question of do I want to eat that?” Santos said. Third-year Mel Klenk has a shellfish allergy which can cause a

Do you miss the actual seasons?

Kelly Wilson/Catalyst

Testa is known by Metz-loving students as the friendly cashier who will always remind you to remember your I.D. and have a great day.

Where have you worked in the past?

doing that too, except in the winter - it was pretty cold in Connecticut. Then we moved to New Mexico, my partner and I, we didn’t have jobs so we started a business cleaning new construction because there was a lot of construction going on. We had that business for 17 years until the recession in 2006 and 2007.

I worked in food service for 28 years and then I had an accident where I hurt my feet, so I started my own companies. I’ve had three different companies; the first one was a catering company. I actually moved my business into a factory in Connecticut and we fed a factory of people on a daily basis, like four to six hundred people for breakfast and lunch and that did very well until the factory closed. So then it was find another job so a friend of mine and myself, we got two catering trucks and we did that for four or five years. We made all our own food and drove all over and had a lot of fun

I missed the water so we decided ‘let’s go to Florida,’ so that’s why we ended up here. When we got here I wanted to work back in food service. I started a career in food service, I have a degree in culinary arts and I wanted to end up in food service after I did other things that I liked. I saw an ad in the

severe upset stomach and even has to carry an epipen in case of anaphylactic shock. “Ham, for some reason they put shellfish in everything. The only thing I have counted on for ham is that there is consistently shellfish in one of the dishes they are serving that day,” Klenk said. Allergies and dietary restrictions like these can cause a problem if the food is not properly labeled. While things such as peanuts and shellfish are usually labeled, according to Metz manager Bill Moore, the state only requires Metz to list only particular nutrition facts. “By state regulations you need to include calories, sugar, sodium, and trans fats […] if I start listing everything I’m gonna run out of paper. So what we try to do is get a majority of the major ones,” Moore said. “The main thing for me for Ham is that they post like some of the nutrition facts, but not all of them. Which is kind of inconvenient because usually what I’m looking at on the nutrition fact labels they don’t post. It seems like if they have enough information to post that they would post the rest of it and maybe they could just put it on their website or just on a piece of paper that’s there,” first-year Steven Bressan said. Bressan has a ketogenic diet and is

restricted in the number of carbs that he can eat daily and needs to keep track of things like proteins in foods which are not usually present on labels in Ham. “The thing about being Kosher, is that as long as I don’t mix meat and cheese I’m usually ok to eat what they have in Ham. A common problem that I have though, is sometimes it’s not labeled and you can’t really tell whether or not there’s meat inside,” Pryor said. However, Ham is not the only option for students to get food on campus. There is also Four Winds Café which is a vegetarian or vegan option for students who chose to eat there. However, some students consider it too far away, and often - because of the limited ratio of Ham points that can be spent there - do not consider it to be a viable option to solve this problem completely despite it being a step in the right direction. “Four Winds is so far away, and it’s actual money which I don’t have. I usually just buy a heap ton of groceries and try to make it through the month on that,” Klenk said. First-year Natalia Lanao agreed. “I can’t eat in Four winds every day. I also don’t have money or proper transportation to get consistent food from off campus that is vegan,” Lanao said.

How did you end up at New College?

What’s a day like in the life of Laura?

I get here around 7:30/7:45 a.m., and I’m here usually until about 3:30 p.m.. For Bill I do his paper order, his Coke order, I do a lot of stocking, I manage all of what I can to help him out. I take care of the entire front of the house, take care of the coolers, you know all of the things that the kids need every day. I don’t have to think about it. It’s just automatic to me.

What’s your favorite food?

Well you know, having lived in New Mexico for 22 years, it’s probably New Mexican, Mexican food. But I’m good with everything really.

10. What’s your favorite “Ham” food.

I think my favorite food is Jin’s stir fry. He makes really good stir fry. And he’s a good man to work with, and he makes a very good stir fry, that’s why there’s always a line. But [students] should try everything really. In this situation, some students look to get rid of their meal plan when it becomes no longer useful to them. However, this is a feat of near impossibility for students who have tried this option. “When I still lived in Pei I still had a lot of money left over at the end of the year, so I ended up having to buy out like the entire store just to not waste my money. I wanted to [get off the meal plan] I was not able to though. It’s like notoriously hard to get off of the meal plan so I just opted for the least costly meal plan in the letter dorms,” Santos said. Students in these situations used to be able to sell their Ham points to other students through Sodexo, however, this was stopped because of legality issues when Metz took over. Some students have found that Ham employees are willing to accommodate them, and often Moore has no problem trying to help students who have dietary restrictions. “I’ve had a good experience in Ham with my allergies. The staff never puts nuts on the salad bar and very rarely in the food. When there is nuts in the food, it’s well marked,” first-year Sarah Nosacka said in a survey of New College students.

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Remembering John Roewert: The significance of the Dortstein chess set BY JACOB WENTZ Many New College residents pass by the Dort and Goldstein chess pieces daily, yet few know the somber history associated with them. Though the chessboard has evolved into a quirky symbol of campus community, the game was purchased in memoriam of the late student John Michael Roewert, who was struck and killed by a car on Jan. 18, 2006, during his fourth year at NCF. In addition to being an ambitious scholar with a passion for knowledge, Roewert was known across campus for his lighthearted character and humor. Jeffrey Riggs (’03), friend and former roommate of Roewert, explained that Roewert was interested in French philosophy, postmodern philosophical thought and the French language. “He had a true curiosity about him,” Riggs said. “He had a love for wisdom, and that was sort of fleshed out for him with philosophy.” Roewert was in the process of writing his thesis with a focus on philosophy. His academic goals and heavy workload didn’t restrain his quirky charm, however. “He had a knack for making improvised French dialogue funny,” Kate DeBolt (’05) said. Debolt admired “the bravado it took to be the class clown in a class you were worried you might unsat.” “I always admired how ambitious he was, taking on such a big class load all the time […] he was always so easygoing and casual, despite how hard

of the area. Roewert was also interested in cooking, a skill he developed while acting in New York City. In addition to working in a New York theater, Roewert appeared as an extra in the movie “A Beautiful Mind” and the television show “Dawson’s Creek.” “He didn’t have much money so he couldn’t do anything, so he sat around and watched the Food Network,” Margaret Stanny, Roewert’s girlfriend, said. Stanny explained that Roewert once went on a crepe-making binge, which resulted in the two consuming countless jars of peanut butter and Nutella. Today, the chess set outside of Dort and Goldstein serves as a symbol of the quirky, intelligent campus community. Jacob Wentz/Catalyst It also symbolizes Roewert’s eccentric personality and love of life; he loved corny jokes, unusually appreciated the The chess set between Dort and Goldstein. color brown, called his father “Pops” and could do a great duck impression. he worked,” Shauna Hoar (’04) said. set in his honor. The set was originally These quirks come alive in the spirit Outside of the academic sphere purchased in 2005 by alum Matt associated with the chess pieces. of Roewert’s life, friends remember McCown (‘03) using funds provided “I think he could be able to say that his passions for music, bicycling and by the Student Allocation Committee he didn’t have regrets,” Stanny said. “He cooking. Roewert also spent much of (SAC). Though the set served as an iconic accomplished a lot in a very short time his time strengthening his mind, either symbol of NCF, the poor conditions that … I feel that all he has done adds up to a through deep philosophical thought or it faced once posed questions about beautiful and full life.” an intense chess match. Though his life was cut short, its continued existence. Several pieces “John was always playing chess in were graffitied and the plastic board Roewert’s personality lives on through the crease,” Erica Haas (’02) said. itself had various holes and tears. Also, the symbolic reputation and spirit of Though Haas was not particularly pieces often went missing for several the chess set. close with Roewert, his presence - and days, only to turn up in unexpected interest in chess - was notable. Information for this article was taken places around campus. Despite this sort This passion for thinking explains of neglect, the chess set remained and from heraldtribune.com. why the school funded a large chess resulted in students taking better care

Submission: Whose lives? Black lives! Manatee Students lead Black Lives Matter protest

SUBMITTED BY ORMOND DERRICK Since its founding in July 2013, the Black Lives Matter movement has captured the nation’s attention as one of the most prominent and active social liberation movements of the 21st Century. Their countless calls to action, demonstrations, reform efforts and reaffirmation of “Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression,” have made them a common name in American, and even international societies. Recently, after a racially charged incident at Manatee High School, in which a student brought in a Confederate flag with the words, “Trump 2016” for Spirit Week, other students at Manatee and around the area formed a call to action. The day after the incident, these students organized a “Black-Out” day, in which students wore all black, and gathered peacefully in their school’s court yard protesting the hateful message before the first bell. While this show of anti-racism and solidarity had

a positive reception in the community and captured a large social media presence around the Manatee area, the students who organized it still felt the desire to do more. That drive to call not only their student body, but also their community to the arena of justice is what transpired on Sunday at the Bradenton Riverwalk. With the help of ANSWERS Coalition, the newly founded Sarasota-Bradenton Black Lives Matter Chapter, and community leaders, these Manatee high students organized a protest to bring light to not only the situation at Manatee High, but also to the plights of the Black and other communities of color who face racism and discrimination regularly. “Our role here today is a supportive role,” said Greg Cruz, community organizer and a core member of ANSWERS Coalition and Sarasota Black Lives Matter. “We want to amplify the voices of the youth. They organized it themselves and we’re here to use our knowledge and experience to help guide them and give them a platform” he said quickly before running to meet with other protest leaders. While its

photo courtesy of Ormond Derrick

Black Lives Matter held a demonstration on the Bradenton Riverwalk.

core was organized mainly of Manatee High students and community leaders, people from around the community, from every aspect of life materialized to show solidarity with the cause, including several New College students. Thirdyear Alex Thorton emphasized what compelled him to be there. “Students need to be able to feel safe in school, and right now, that’s not happening.

That needs to change.” “We need more New College students at these events,” said thirdyear Lena Nowak-Laird. “I do know there are midterms coming up, but I hope in the future more students can come out and show solidarity with the movement. As long as students

continued on p. 10

CATALYST Instead of Walls?

BY MAGDALENE TAYLOR Due to police understaffing and Wall cancellations, many New College students may be wondering how to spend their now-free weekend nights. Here are some of the Catalyst’s ideas:

• Count the dead fish on the our local beaches from Red Tide • Break down the (emotional) walls you construct between yourself and others • Go to Ringling Underground on Thursday night (October 6) and see how many times you can get free food before someone says anything • Friday, Oct. 7 at 5:30: Now & New: NOW Ensemble performs music by New College Alums and Students at Sainer Auditorium - wear a turtleneck and pretend to be an intellectual who understands contemporary art music

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Songs you should hear Dad Rock edition

A lot happens in the music world between the Catalyst’s weekly production schedule. While Jasmine and Caitlyn would love to cover it all, they can’t – so, instead, we gave them a category and had them write up bite-sized blurbs on a handful songs from that category. This week is dad (and dad-at-heart) rock songs – take a look at the results below.

BY Caitlyn Ralph and Jasmine Respess photo courtsey of Stefan Drakulich

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“Buddy Holly” - Weezer Did you know that dads everywhere found Weezer’s 1994 classic by originally searching for the artist Buddy Holly? It’s true. Dads everywhere. But, luckily, “Buddy Holly” —the song—and its infectious “ooowee-ooo,” won everyone over, making it the dad rock staple we all know and love today.—CR “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” - Arctic Monkeys Only the cool, leather jacketwearing dads listen to Arctic Monkeys, and “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” is case in point. With a chorus that sings “I said I bet that you

Black lives CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 don’t feel safe in our schools, it’s not ok, and we can’t permit violence in our community.” Lena also previously interned with a social justice education program, ‘Teaching for Change’ which goals are “spreading resources (about social justice education and literature) into the community.” She expressed her desire to build and organize Black History month education programs, and is currently working on such a program for next year. While students, community activist, and cohorts all attended the protest, the Bradenton area was lucky enough to have a vice-presidential contender, Eugene Puryear, of the party for Socialism and Liberation present at the protest. “I’m here in solidarity,” he said, “Those of us who do believe in

look good on the dance floor / Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984,” the lyrics sound like something dads wrote on their desks in high school.— CR “Someday” - The Strokes “Someday” is the record dads and dads-at-heart lazily spin on a Sunday, filling the air with gentle nostalgia of— according to the first verse—“the good old days.” Singer Julian Casablancas’ fuzzy, raw vocals float through effortlessly upbeat instrumentation, making “Someday” the super cool track your dad discovered before you did.— CR “Night That the Lights Went Out in Georgia” - Vicki Lawrence I remember trying to figure out what the song was about, and I never quote, “Black Lives Matter” must come out and show our support no matter where racism might show its head.” For those cohorts unfamiliar with Puryear, they need not but to look upon the Community Bulletins up and around campus. In recent weeks, “Socialism News” has had several info-postings for the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s platform, as well as the party’s candidates. “I am not here as a political figure” he later said to the audience, “I am here as one of you, as a member of the community, and as a member of the movement.” With the sun beating down on us, chants began, songs sang, and calls for justice rang out. As the crowd moved and grooved through the skate park, organizer Greg Cruz wanted to stress the adaptability and efforts of the work he and the coalitions he’s involved with have undertaken. “Even though it’s a national organization, we’re focused

really did. I think the sister killed the cheating wife and the best friend. Listen to find out. “Dancing in the Moonlight” King Harvest This song has been my ringtone off and on for 5 years. I love it. It is very positive. Although, the lyrics are slightly scandalous, I did not notice while listening with my dad. “Kokomo” - Beach Boys I was raised in Cocoa until I was 14 and my dad was born and raised in Central Florida. All Florida dads listen to the Beach Boys.

here on the local level” he said, “We’re trying to change some laws and policies because we’ve noticed a lot of flaws. We hope it’ll lead to better policing.” As we marched down the streets, the crowds seemed unstoppable, as chants of “Whose lives matter?” followed by “Black lives matter” ricocheted off the apartment complexes along the bay. There were affirmative raised fists, as well as nods of solidarity and agreement from patrons as we walked by. Perhaps the most striking of the day’s events were the commemoration of the Manatee High student organizers, the core of the movement by the collation leaders, as “the leaders of tomorrow.” The light that the leaders bestowed on the youth was dazzling to say the least, demonstrating the power of youth activism, and the potential each and every one of us have for change.

Luke Cage is Marvel’s most human hero yet BY DYLAN PRYOR In a cinematic universe of thunder gods, sorcerers and kids with spider powers, the latest Marvel character to star in his own Netflix series feels like their most human hero yet, with a story that is just as grounded in the real world as it is in Marvel’s. Although this series is not the first time we’ve been introduced to Mike Colter’s Luke Cage, his time on previous Netflix series Jessica Jones is only briefly mentioned, with the welcome effect of allowing Luke to develop as his own character separate from Jones. From the outset of the series, he is working multiple jobs, struggling to pay rent and doing everything he can to maintain a normal life despite his powers. However, Cage’s inability to stand down in the face of injustice is ultimately what drives both his character and

the series. Throughout the series, he balances an intense sense of morality and a need to do the right thing with overwhelming guilt and a desire to fade into the background. When the operations of Mahershala Ali’s devious Cottonmouth and his gang threaten the safety of Harlem and its citizens, the right thing wins out over obscurity and Cage leaps into action. Also at the front of the series’ action is Simone Messick’s Detective Misty Knight, who almost seems to be a female counterpart for Cage, with a strong belief system and an inability to be a bystander. Although it is Cage’s series, Knight is far from a sidekick and seems to have her own storyline throughout the series that focuses on her own efforts to combat Harlem’s crime problem. While Ali and Messick’s characters are definitely the two standouts of Luke Cage’s supporting

cast, each character was given an opportunity to shine in their own unique ways, including Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple, who returns to Marvel and continues a unique character arc that has been spread across all three of the Netflix shows so far. In a sense, even Harlem could be considered a character in its own right, with vibrant pop culture references and visuals interspersed throughout the season. The only drawback to the otherwise riveting arc of the season was when it shifted away from Ali’s Cottonmouth as the main villain, to one with considerably less substance and backstory. Otherwise, almost every other character, from the more minor Pops to the crooked councilwoman Dillard, seamlessly ropes in the viewer as if the series actually revolves around them. Conceptually, by focusing on a black man in America who cannot be shot dead, the series also carries a

powerful and brave message in a time of corruption and injustice in the real world. Cage stands strong despite both physical and emotional hardships in the face of power players that appear content to maintain a status quo of corruption and institutional racism. In a sense, even Cage’s refusal to back down from what he believes in represents a more figurative type of bulletproof skin in the modern world he lives in. Overall, Luke Cage proved to be another win for Marvel’s Netflix universe, by taking a character viewers thought they knew from their last series and giving him much more depth. By the end of the series, there is even the sense that we’ve still only seen the tip of the iceberg for Colter’s character. I’ll be looking forward to seeing where Marvel takes the character next when he and the rest of Netflix’s heroes return in The Defenders.

CATALYST Water CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 phosphate plant, where fertilizers are produced in Polk county. This sinkhole lead to 215 million gallons of acidic water being released into Florida’s water supply. It has also been reported that Chromium 6 - a known carcinogen produced by industrial processes and made famous by activist Erin Brockovich and a feature film that depicted her crusades - has been found in local tap water. “Whether it is chromium-6, PFOA or lead, the public is looking down the barrel of a serious water crisis across the country that has been building for decades,” Brockovich said in a written statement she released. Communities affected are calling for action in terms of ensuring their water is clean, but they are also insisting that those responsible, the

Naloxone CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 facing financial hardships who do not have insurance coverage for prescription medicines.” The company has a patent on the auto-injector delivery system which allows first responders to more easily and quickly react to overdose situations. “The nasal method [of administering Naloxone] is cheaper, but I just don’t think we should always be looking for cheaper,” Chief Kessie said. “The nasal method requires that an officer put on gloves – which he or she should also do with the Naloxone – and then actually administer this liquid into each nostril. To me I think we’re asking our officers to almost perform a medical procedure – they’re not doctors.” Use: To administer Naloxone via the Evizo Auto-injector you simply remove the red piece from the injector and push down on the individual’s leg. The Evizo administration system speaks out loud to the first responder, providing simple to understand instructions as soon as the case is removed. The injector will tear through the individual’s clothes, but it is preferable to remove or the tear the garment covering the injection site - Kessie compared the process to administering an EpiPen dose to an individual suffering from anaphylactic shock. “We went to the SSDP Southeast Regional Conference in Charleston two years ago and we got trained [in Naloxone use] by the North Carolina harm reduction coalition and they went around and taught us to administer it with an orange,” Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) member and thesis student Mariana Bonilla said. “They were like ‘Look, it’s this simple,” fellow SSDP member and thirdyear Hannah Procell added. “So they trained us on the proper administration, which is like recognizing the signs of an overdose and then checking for responsiveness in the person who is unresponsive and possibly

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

companies and the government, pay for the expenses that arise from the contaminated water, such as medical care and therapy.

For now, some ways students and community members can combat poor water quality are: • • • •

Eating kelp and seaweed Drinking black or green tea Eating garlic or onions Eating cilantro, wheatgrass and other fresh greens • Eating fermented foods such as miso soup • (These foods have been shown to help reduce radiation poisoning) • Using a water purifier to eliminate at least some toxins • Attending CGA meetings and supporting efforts to make change

overdosing, trying to wake them up if they are unresponsive and then call the authorities. Call 911.” “They showed us how to inject it [single-dose Naloxone liquid which] with a needle and they showed us the self-injector,” Bonilla said. “The cheapest method is just having syringes and having the bottle of Naloxone. They told us thigh, arm, butt – anywhere with muscle as it’s intramuscularly available. It’s completely benign, so if you give it to someone who is not having an overdose nothing will happen to them. When you give someone Naloxone, it basically puts them into immediate withdrawal. They may vomit, they may be incredibly angry and frustrated at you, but you’re saving their life. Never question if you should use it.” Harm reduction on campus Heroin and prescription opiate use has increased dramatically in the U.S. over the past decade. Between 2006 and 2013, a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed that the number of first-time heroin users had doubled from 90,000 to 169,000. “When we had the deaths on campus [in May 2015], everybody was asking ‘Why don’t we have this?’” Chief Kessie said. “Well, at that time it wasn’t legal, it was illegal until July 1 [of 2015]. So what we did was we started looking at getting it, we were working with the sheriff’s department and they said that they found this grant and I applied and we got it. In December we started training everyone, by Dec. 31 everybody had it.” Naloxone must be administered during the onset of an overdose; it is not effective in reversing the effects after they have damaged the body. “This [Naloxone] wouldn’t have saved those two young men because of time, there was too much time, too many hours had passed,” Chief Kessie said. The recent resurgence in the use of heroin has been coupled with an increase in the abuse of prescription and synthetic opiates such as Fentanyl and its derivatives – some of the most

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potent commercially used opiates. Between 2005 and 2007, more than 1,000 U.S. deaths were caused by fentanyl-heroin overdoses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Seizures of drugs containing the painkiller jumped from 942 to 3,334 between 2013 and 2014. Carfentanyl - a fentanyl derivative that is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine - overdoses can require upwards of a dozen doses of Naloxone to reverse the effects. “Each officer carries two Naloxone doses now. We started hearing from Sarasota [County Police Department] that they would have numerous deputies show up [to an overdose situation] carrying two of these each, and they’re having to use five, six, seven of these on a person. The heroin and fentanyl and all these other things people are taking are so strong now that one of these [Evizo Auto-injector] is no longer a lot. So if somebody’s out and it’s an overdose – this isn’t going to hurt them if it isn’t – you give them one you wait three minutes, and, if you don’t get a response, you give them another. For me if I’m alone here, if I have to use my two I’m done – at least until the EMS gets there. So we’re hoping that we have another officer there so we would have up to four doses.” At a cost of $250 a dose, the use of multiple Naloxone doses on a single overdose can quickly escalate into the thousands. “For the students I feel comfortable that our officers are trained and they have this and I think it’s just really a good tool,” Kessie said. “The only thing that is an issue with the Naloxone is it’s cost, but it’s really a non-issue in the sense that we’ve decided to already move forward with this. The worst-case scenario is we may have to go to the other nasal method, but I’m going to try to resist that if I can. I think we should find the money for this. I think we need something quick, easy and foolproof and I feel more confident with this. The cost is a little bit high, but to me ‘how do you put a price on human life?’ So I think we are going to try to stick with

this.”

Preventative obtainment: Naloxone is currently available via injectable or inhalable liquid, under the brand names Evizo and Narcan, respectively. CVS currently has both brands available, although the cost of the Naloxone Auto-injector Evizo is substantially more expensive at CVS (reaching up to $1,000). Naloxone does not require a prescription and can be obtained by anyone after receiving a brief counseling session on how to use it. “You can get them [Naloxone] from people in Florida who are harm reduction coalitions and are trying to start up needle exchange programs and all these sort of harm reduction things in Florida,” Bonilla said. “If someone seriously wants to have it on them it is very do-able.” “There are some organizations online where you can sign up with your family, if you as a family member can [obtain it],” Procell added. “If someone in your family is abusing opiates you can obtain Naloxone, so I personally, as a representative of SSDP, would recommend preventative measures for people who are opiate abusers, because lives can be saved instead of ended with preventative harm reduction.” Drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses can often be overlooked as a normative behavior, the effects of which will not follow students once they leave ‘the bubble’ and enter the ‘real world,’ a view that can minimize the real risks of drug use and the importance of harm reduction methods. “For New College, we know there is a potential for high risk behavior and drinking in your age group. We know that there are decisions that are not always the best, but we just don’t want people to think of this as the ultimate safety net. I think this [Naloxone] is a great tool for us. I think it shows that we are concerned. The administration is concerned. I just want to make sure that the students know the best safety net is the other students.” Information gathered from kaleopharma. com, samhsa.gov and the New York Times

CATALYST

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

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Jill Stein visits Sarasota BY KELLY WILSON Phosphate mining, panthers and Donald Trump’s “Wall” were all topics of discussion at a Jill Stein event held at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center in Sarasota on Sept. 29. The event began at 11:30 a.m. with a meet and greet which required a $26 donation. At 12 the event shifted rooms to be open to the community with guest speakers such as Andy Mele who discussed phosphate mining and how it is driving Florida panthers away. Prior to Stein giving a speech Mark Manning spoke as an ex-Bernie Sanders campaigner. Manning began his speech by saying that shoes were distracting to him, a prospect that seems relatable to New College students. Manning then went on to discuss how he had transitioned from being a Democrat to a huge Green Party supporter. Stein spoke then on topics from education reform to her participation via Facebook and Periscope in the recent Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton debate. “So we say to Donald Trump, ‘We don’t need your wall. Let’s just stop invading other countries in the first place,’” Stein said. Stein also answered questions from supporters on various subjects including the topic of the Green Party’s progress in local, state, and federal elections. “We need to turn congress green just as bad as we need to turn the White House green,” one of Stein’s supporters, Fort Myers resident and rally attendee, Sean Declet commented during the question and answer session. “I’ve known Jill Stein for quite some time, I got involved in her movement back in 2012 and I’ve sort of been following up on her since then and I think she is the right choice,” thirdyear transfer student Cesar Chavez said. Second-year student Nika Sigua agreed. In a discussion on reactions to voting for third parties, Sigua said, “I would get roasted for Jill any day.” Following her appearance in Sarasota, Stein left shortly after the event to head to Orlando where she was part of another event at 5 p.m. and from there she will continue her three day swing of the state of Florida on her presidential campaign trail.

Sarasota County Conservation Chairman Andy Mele discussing phosphate mining

all photos Kelly Wilson/Catalyst In a discussion on reactions to voting for third parties, Sigua, seen above with Jill Stein, said, “I would get roasted for Jill any day.”

Stein also answered questions from supporters on various subjects including the topic of the Green Party’s progress in local, state, and federal elections.

Cesar Chavez, third-year, getting interviewed by Zac Anderson the political editor of the Herald Tribune.