Fall 2019 - Issue 5

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CATALYST

LATINX IDENTITIES

OCTOBER 9, 2019 VOLUME XXXIX ISSUE V

New College of Florida's student-run newspaper

Annual Encuentro encourages student awareness of farmworker rights Photo courtesy of Student/Farmworker Alliance

BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM From Thursday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 29, thesis students Lili Benitez, Nora Flower and Amaranth Sander joined farmworkers, their families and over 80 allies from 41 campuses and communities across the country at the 2019 Student/ Farmworker Alliance Encuentro, held annually in Immokalee, Florida.

The Encuentro, as highlighted by the Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) in their program booklet for the gathering, is much more than just a conference. Throughout the weekend, student allies to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) bonded with fellow young activists during workshops, presentations and regional group meetings, cultivating a sense of community around the shared goal of ending injustice against farmworkers.

The Encuentro is hosted by both the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a worker-based organization centered around the human rights of farmworkers and the Student/Farmworker Alliance, a national network

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From walks to the bay to students opting for a 'natural scent,' earthy smells pervade campus. But if one earthy smell has a hint of rotten cheese or wet carpet, it might be from mold and mildew. With student life entrenched in the swamp of Florida, instances of mildew and mold across campus space are inevitable.

Accordingly, the community must work against hurricanes, design and weather conditions to prevent mold and mildew, which can pose health risks and jeopardize the quality of student life.

"Mold, mildew is present everywhere in the environment," Director of Environmental Health and Safety Ron Hubrick said. "[Instances

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NCSA emergency election results

BY SOFIA LOMBARDI

which are microscopic organisms that prosper in moist environments.

Mold and mildew help decay organic matter and contribute to aspects of soil enrichment and can be found growing on soil, foods, plants and other items. Though the presence of mold outside is normal, mold growing indoors can pose the risk of potential health problems.

Mold grows by producing microscopic cells called spores, which are airborne and can land on organic surfaces close to the source. When allowed to grow and settle, mold spores can become allergens, causing sneezing, rashes, dry skin and red eyes. People with severe aller-

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the New College Student Alliance (NCSA) held emergency elections to fill six open positions. This election, held online through NovoConnect, had a turnout of just over 10 percent of the New College student body and included two new positions furthering student representation within the college. The results are in.

The Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC) representatives are second year Ginelle Swan and thesis student Caito Moore, with 61 votes and 41 votes, respectively. This committee is expected to bring a student perspective to discern student needs within the library.

The Student Allocations Committee (SAC), which determines and provides funding to academic activities and clubs, had three open positions this election. The new first-year SAC representatives are Kaylee Snell and Saloni Labh, with 61 votes and 54 votes, respectively. The thesis year SAC representative is thesis student Kyle Dennison with seven votes.

Catalyst co-Copy Editor, SAC Secretary and second-year Izaya Garrett Miles received five votes to be the Speaker of the Towne Meeting, making him the most-voted candidate. However, he turned down the position. Supervisor of Elections and thirdyear Isabella Cibelli du Terroil announced in an email on Oct. 4 that the position will be voted on in the next election.

Typically, NCSA emergency

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Local allies, CIW members and their families joined forces with conference-goers during a Wendy's Boycott protest, held at a nearby Wendy's in Naples, Florida.

of students and other young nonfarmworkers who aim to support the CIW and their actions. Their current joint campaign demands that fast food restaurant Wendy’s signs on to the Fair Food Program (FFP), an initiative created by the CIW in 2011.

The creation of the Fair Food Program has been incredibly successful in creating lasting change, so much

so that the FFP model has been adopted by several other labor organizations across the world.

“The Fair Food Program basically holds [restaurants and grocery stores] accountable for certain working conditions that account for basic human rights that currently continued on p. 6

Mold and mildew pervade campus

BY HALEY BRYAN

PROGRESS REPORTS

Photo courtesy of Maya Greenberg

A student's belongings grew mold after a single year of living in First Court.

of mold and mildew are] a matter of how you control it and how we manage it from a facilities side and how we manage it on the occupant side."

Mold and mildew are fungi,

6 Encuentro

8 Darkroom

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Latinx Culture Fair

CATALYST

BRIEFS

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BRIEFS BY CHRIS MARIE DE FELIPE

Climbers seek to reach new summits with Rock Climbing and Bouldering Club Eager to rekindle the interest in rock climbing on campus, climbers gravitate to a school where big banyans with sprawling limbs and swaying hammocks are scattered across campus. Despite the flat, swampy lands of Florida being bereft of mountains, there is a growing subculture to the adventure sport.

Scaling Moon Boards – the tall walls covered in molds used for indoor climbing – requires a mental combination of bravery, determination, confidence and tact. Physically, upper body strength pulls while lower body strength powerfully pushses

the body from base to summit.

First year Gus Frank intends to start a rock climbing club on campus.

“We could drive up every weekend to Vertical Ventures in St. Pete and have weekly rock climbing specific workouts in the gym.” Frank said.

“There’s an app where people can post custom routes. There’s a whole MoonBoard community with tens of thousands of routes.” Frank explained. If enough people are passionate about climbing and willing to invest, the rock climbing club may be able to build a MoonBoard with custom holds.

Newcomers and those interested in starting to rock climb should not be off put by inexperience. The club would only use the hangboard provided by the gym; the individual gear, such as rock climbing shoes, harnesses, and chalk bags are all optional.

Third year Sam Krell, who grew to love climbing mountains while young, now works at a rock climbing gym in St Petersburg. “I like it because it’s challenging, it pushes your physical and mental boundaries.” Krell said. “It’s satisfying to see places that go unseen by most.”

Spiraling away on silks and swings with the aerial club The billowy ribbons of silk hanging from the trees display the power of the blowing winds of early fall.

Twirling and twisting around in the silks are students who have grown to love the thrill of using the fabric as another instrument of the body in an elaborate dance with gravity.

Third year student Rose Schimmel will be leading the Aerial club in Mod 2; she began learning in her senior year of highschool and has been practicing for about two years.

"I love aerial because it makes me feel stronger and more confident,” she said in an email interview.

“The feeling to just let go in the air is like no other, almost like flying.”

Aerial silk set ups are composed of five components of equipment: the fabric, a rescue 8, 1-2 carabiners, a swivel and a span set. Fabric is wound tightly around the rescue 8, then the rescue 8 is attached to a carabiners and swivel. After the span set is rigged on a tree and connected to the other carabiner, the equipment is ready to take on over 1500 Ibs of weight.

Schimmel is excited to bring aerial to other students through weekly lessons at the Circus Arts Conservatory during module 2. “The ultimate goal is to give NCF students a chance to try the silks for themselves in a safe and fun environment,” Schim-

mel said. “It's a big challenge that takes strength, discipline, and focus.

However, it's worth every second in the air.”

Currently, there is a priority on spending money for the club’s events and practices. “It's definitely been an intense process with establishing the club, getting approved with legal, finding a location and especially figuring out money.” Schimmel said.

She and her aerial partner Hannah Hoogerwoerd have planned upcoming performances, such as the 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Evo Athletics fundraiser Oct. 23rd.

Photo courtesy of Jan Burgos-Greer

"Don't look down," Catalyst Editor in Chief Jacob Wentz reminded himself while looking down.

Chris Marie De Felipe/Catalyst

Schimmel and Hoogerwooed practice aerial silks and swing for 3 hours a week.

Roller skating the pain away at the tennis courts Every Tuesday night after the tennis club leaves the courts, a varying group of students glide onto the smooth concrete floor to practice their roller skating skills. Around 8:30 p.m. the lights illuminate the student skaters, who all come from different experience levels. Some practice new skills patiently while others zoom into speed skating around the court.

There are two kinds of skates:

inline, where the four wheels line up, and quads, where the skate is supported by two wheels in the front and two wheels in the back.

“It’s a good way to take a break because it requires enough concentration that you can’t think about being stressed about things while you do it,” thesis student Aiden Juge said. He first initiated the weekly skate nights through the Forum.

Many people have a first-time

"It's always nice to have extra eyes." © 2019 the Catalyst. All rights reserved.

The Catalyst is available online at www.ncfcatalyst.com, facebook.com/NCFcatalyst instagram.com/NCFcatalyst twitter.com/ncfcatalyst The Catalyst is an academic tutorial sponsored by Professor Maria D. Vesperi.

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 Division of Social Sciences.

skating experience as children, with skates that did not fit or childhood injuries that spark memories of the somewhat absurd sport of strapping wheels to your feet.

The world of rollerblading, however, branches away from the scrapes and bruises of being a kid. By honing technique and trying new tricks, skating can become therapeutic.

“When I was little, my first pair of rollerblades were a size too big so I

Editor in Chief Copy Editors & Writing Coaches Online Editor Layout Editor Social Media Editor Staff Writers & Photographers

Jacob Wentz Izaya Garrett Miles & Anna Lynn Winfrey Haley Bryan Cait Matthews Adriana Gavilanes Chris Marie De Felipe, Vianey Jaramillo, Sierra Laico, Claire Newberg, Sergio Salinas, Kali-Ray Skinner & Hayley Vanstrum

abandoned the sport,” thesis student Arianna Rodriguez said. “When I got into college, I really wanted to skate again because it looked like so much fun. The rollerblading community online and in person are very nice, so it didn’t feel like there was pressure.”

To combat the inevitable bouts of distress, be it from thesising or the mere routine of existence, join the other stressed skaters Tuesday nights at 8:30 on the tennis courts.

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.

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NEWS PAGE 3

Provost Office develops mid-semester progress reports

BY VIANEY JARAMILLO First introduced Spring 2019 by the Provost’s Office, mid-semester progress reports now require faculty to fill out information about students’ academic progress. These reports are compiled to show which students may require extra help to satisfy their contracts. Faculty are required to write reports about enrolled first years, second years and students on probation. However, most students are unaware about the new data collected about them.

Written narrative evaluations at the end of the semester have been the only feedback given to students since the 1960s. Last semester, the Provost office began requiring midsemester progress reports from faculty on students. The reports were initially intended for first-year students only but were expanded to second years and students on probation this fall to continue tracking those who may need more active support.

The reports ask faculty to write about students attendance, completion of homework and ratings of concern for students class performance.

“They are brief surveys with check-boxes for either "no concern" or various concerns and a space if a professor wants to add a comment,” Associate Provost Suzanne Sherman said in a follow-up email interview.

Most students are unaware about the reports themselves but are contacted by their advisors if their professors write a concerning report.

Faculty responses go back to the Provost Office and are then shared with academic advisors. The reports themselves are not shared with students, but Sherman said this is to prevent any unnecessary stress or worry on students.

“The reports aim to engage students to build strong relationships with advisors and faculty in general, since they can offer valuable guidance,” Sherman said. “Some students seldom approach or reach out to advisors due to lack of understanding of how they can help. Students always have access to on-campus support systems, but some students may not know what is available, or may be reluctant to advocate for themselves.”

When the reports are submitted to advisors, they check for any

marks of concern and if a student is perceived to be struggling the advisor meets with them to figure out what’s causing that concern. Advisors help students determine what Area of Concentration (AOC) they may be interested in, how to renegotiate contracts, offer personal tips and strategies and how to look for on campus resources, such as the Writing Resource Center (WRC) and Center of Engagement and Opportunity (CEO) to further assist their learning.

Mid-semester progress reports are also intended to increase New College’s retention rate. For incoming first years in 2018, the overall retention rate was 85 percent, which increased from 2017, when first year retention rate was 76 percent. However, the impact of mid-semester reports is unknown.

Both Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Emily Saarinen and Professor of Theater and Performance Studies Diego Villada are open to the goals of the reports.

“I think the mid-semester reports are a way to help see if students are struggling earlier in the term,

then we can offer additional support if needed,” Saarinen said in an email interview. “Faculty were given a chance to provide feedback on earlier versions of the form (which we use online via the SES) and this version is now quite easy to use.”

Villada also commented on the easy use of reports.

“It takes me very little time [to complete],” Villada said. “Everybody on campus is here to work on student success and [to help] students be successful.”

Villada also thinks the reports are another way administration can check in on the students. “The sooner that the administration orders the support services and identifies someone who is struggling a little bit, the better.”

The Provost Office plans to slowly expand the reports to have information from all students. Although these reports are to initiate help, students should not be afraid to reach out to advisors and professors. Sherman is happy to assist students and holds office hours every Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at her office in Cook Hall.

Meet a Manuscript event allows students to interact with thirteenth-century biblical artifact

BY CLAIRE NEWBERG Sometimes, older history can seem distant and out of reach and it can be difficult to contextualize human existence beyond a few decades.

Historical artifacts can help with the disconnection by allowing historians to bridge the gap between time periods. This fall, Professor of Medieval and Renaissance History Carrie Beneš offered the course Introduction to Manuscripts that allows students to do just that.

“Manuscripts are something that has been a passion of mine for a long time,” Beneš explained. “[Introduction to Manuscripts] is a course that tries to combine the history of writing culture with with more practical considerations of what these objects look like and how we talk about them.”

Beneš explained that New College does not own many manuscripts, so she was able to collaborate with the Paris-based program Manuscripts in the Curriculum that archives valuable manuscripts and loans them to institutions.

Through this program, Beneš was able to borrow ten Medieval manuscripts, one of which is a German copy of the Book of Psalms, which was shown at the first Meet a Manuscript that was held in the library on Friday, Sept. 28. This par-

ticular manuscript was created circa 1240-1260 and remained in Germany through the fifteenth century.

“The main idea [behind the Meet a Manuscript event] was to bring the manuscripts out and let people get their noses right up close to it and turn the pages and feel the parchment,” Beneš stated. “Our other goal was to get people to try calligraphy and book-making.”

Two more events like this one will be held in November and December. Exact dates will be announced.

Medieval history thesis student Emily Lovett is a student in the Introduction to Manuscripts class.

“I was really drawn to the opportunity to work with material history, not just in the general sense of studying books and their production, but having the opportunity to physically handle medieval manuscripts and apply what we learn about historical context and trends to the manuscripts,” Lovett said. “One big reason that I like studying manuscripts is that it humanizes history. You can see where a scribe misspelled a word and had to squeeze the letter in or where a scribe got bored and started doodling in the margins.”

Lovett talked of the personalized aspect of the manuscripts and the physical evidence of human artistic expression in the manuscripts

Photo courtesy of Carrie Beneš This semester, two more Meet a Manuscript events are scheduled for students to get up close and personal with a manuscript such as this one.

as one of the most interesting parts of the class.

“You can still see the ruling on the pages, the prickings along the edges of the parchment, and other things like that which clearly indicate how the manuscript was made,” Lovett said.

Beneš also discussed the humanization of history in the manuscripts course.

“That’s one of the really great things about this class in particular because of its focus on material culture,” Beneš explained. “They’re physical objects and things that you can see and feel. The thing about manuscripts is that every manuscript is different. Every manuscript was a deliberate choice by a person

to commit these resources to write down a specific text.”

The more personal manuscripts were often handed down through generations and listed among luxury possessions or pawned. Each manuscript was unique and sometimes even contained mistakes made by scribes.

“I was showing my students a manuscript a couple weeks ago that had doodles and marginal annotations on a page that was half blank,” Beneš recalled. “These annotations were in such a shaky and ill-formed hand and I said, ‘Look at this. I bet this is a kid.’”

Information for this article was gathered from lesenenluminures.com.

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NEWS PAGE 4

Impeachment proceedings continue within Congress

BY SOFIA LOMBARDI On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the House of Representatives will reconvene and the impeachment inquiry launched by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Sept. 24, 2019 will continue. Until then, however, many updates, including high-profile depositions and subpoenas, await Americans.

Following an anonymous whistleblower complaint regarding a phone call President Donald Trump had in late July with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Pelosi announced the launch of a formal impeachment inquiry.

On the morning of Oct. 3, Pelosi received a letter from House Minority Leader Representative Kevin McCarthy imploring her to suspend this inquiry. Later that day, Pelosi formally responded in a letter.

According to The Washington Post, Pelosi wrote, “Our Founders were specifically intent on ensuring that foreign entities did not undermine the integrity of our elections,” and confirmed that she will continue with the impeachment inquiry.

Later on Oct. 3, Trump spoke to journalists gathered on the South Lawn of the White House. According to The Washington Post, in response to a reporter’s question regarding what Trump hoped President Volodymyr Zelensky [of Ukraine] would

do, Trump answered, “If they were honest about it, they’d start a major investigation into the Bidens. It’s a very simple answer. They should investigate the Bidens.”

He then went on to publicly call on China to investigate the Biden family, saying, “China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened to China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.” This blatant encouragement of a foreign nation to interfere in the democratic elections of the United States has provided House Democrats with plenty of ammunition to use in their ongoing impeachment proceedings. “[Encouraging a foreign investigation] endangers our elections, it endangers our national security, it ought to be condemned by every member of this body, Democrats and Republicans alike,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff said.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, is under fire by House Democrats for potentially pursuing information against 2020 Democratic presidential candidates from the Ukrainian government. He has frequently claimed “attorney-client privilege” in an effort to not be required to divulge information about his conversations with Trump.

However, according to Politico, this reasoning may not be foolproof

due to crime-fraud exceptions: “if there is evidence that a lawyer has been used to advance a crime or fraud, the [attorney-client] privilege vanishes.”

Kurt Volker, former United States special envoy for Ukraine who resigned on Sept. 27 after being named in the whistleblower complaint, testified before Congress behind closed doors on Oct. 3, providing the first of an inside look into Trump’s White House. Volker testified that he warned Giuliani that Ukrainian political figures may have been providing misinformation to Trump on former Vice President Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. After over eight hours of a deposition on Capitol Hill and providing 60 pages of documents and text messages regarding the Ukrainian ordeal, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-California) indicated that House Democrats believe there is “ample evidence” that Trump was working with Ukraine to obtain information about the Biden family.

On Oct. 2, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted to being on the Ukraine phone call that has prompted this impeachment inquiry.

Almost immediately, Representatives Cummings, Engel, and Schiff issued a subpoena deadline of Oct. 4 to Pompeo to produce Ukraine-related documents. Pompeo failed to meet this deadline. According to CNN,

when interviewed during a press conference in Athens, Pompeo said, “We’ll obviously do all the things we are required to do by law,”—with no elaboration on the matter. According to Reuters, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Engel has said, “They’re [Pompeo and the House of Representatives] in discussions that are ongoing and we’re hoping that he will comply,” but there has yet to be cooperation.

On Oct. 6, Andrew Bakaj, an attorney representing the still-anonymous whistleblower, announced that he is now representing “multiple” whistleblowers connected to the Ukrainian situation.

Mark Zaid, another attorney on the legal team representing the whistleblower, said that this second individual is confirmed to work within the intelligence community. The first whistleblower has recently come under fire from Trump, who remarked that they “got [his] phone conversation almost completely wrong,” according to The Hill.

Zaid has reported that the second whistleblower has “first hand knowledge that supported the first whistleblower,” which House Democrats expect to corroborate the original whistleblower complaint.

Information for this article was gathered from Politico, Reuters, The Washington Post, The Hill and CNN.

Constitutional crisis: pulling back the curtain on Peru’s political power struggle

BY SERGIO SALINAS With recent domestic news cycles filling timelines and feeds it can be easy to block out events going on outside the U.S. Most recently, Peru is facing a political power struggle between President Martín Vizcarra and an opposition-led Congress. This power struggle has gone on for a year, as Congress continues to stonewall Vizcarra’s push for harder anticorruption legislation. Vizcarra’s government has now seen the dissolution of the Congressional body and Vice President Mercedes Aráoz was sworn into the presidency: at one point Peru had two active presidents.

Vizcarra has now called for early general elections on Jan. 26 to elect new members of Congress. Until then, Vizcarra plans to govern without a Congressional body.

Brief context Peru finds itself in its present situation as a result of “Operation Car Wash,” a 2014 investigation led by the Federal Police of Brazil into a gas station in Brasilia, Brazil. What was first believed to be simple site for money laundering led to the expo-

sure of one of the largest corruption scandals in Latin American history.

Brazilian police arrested known money launderer Alberto Youssef, who offered to cooperate with the investigation. However, Youssef offered a chilling warning to his lawyers.

“If I speak, the Republic is going to fall.” Youssef forebodingly said when first arrested in March 2014.

Youssef then exposed a cartel of construction companies working to feign competition between each other for construction contracts from the state-owned petroleum company, Petrobras. Companies took turns accepting construction contracts, but would then inflate prices to increase profits. The largest culprit was Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht, which received a fine of $2.6 billion. With their illegal earnings, the companies paid bribes to Petrobras executives and Brazilian politicians in exchange for their silence and cooperation in the enterprise.

Youssef’s cooperation implicated dozens of top executives and politicians across Brazil and extended into other countries like Peru, Vene-

zuela, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador. The extent of corruption Youssef exposed was staggering: then Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was removed from office and presidential candidate and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was imprisoned on corruption charges.

The scandal also implicated three former presidents of Peru and then President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Kucyzynski was eventually pressured to resign after two impeachment attempts by Congress.

His resignation led to Vice President Vizcarra taking office. Vizcarra then pledged to stamp out corruption across Peru’s political system and restore trust in Peru’s public institutions.

Congressional crisis As of Oct. 1, the conservative Popular Force party held a majority in Peru’s Congress. The party’s leader, Keiko Fujimori, is currently in prison while awaiting trial for corruption charges from receiving $1.2 million in illegal funds from Odebrecht during her 2011 presidential campaign. With their congressional majority, Popular Force voted to re-

place six of the seven Judges to the Constitutional Court, Peru’s highest court. President Vizcarra claimed the move was an attempt to instill corrupt judges that would favor Popular Force and help with the release of party leader Keiko Fujimori.

Vizcarra called for a vote of confidence in his government from Congress to check Congress’s trust in him, since he interpreted the installation of new judges as a shift in trust for Vizcarra’s government. Under the Peruvian constitution, if Congress rejects two votes of confidence, the president then has the power to dissolve Congress. Congressional members tried to ignore the second vote: the messenger of the vote was physically prevented from entering Congress. Vizcarra took the move as a rejection of the vote and proceeded to dissolve Congress.

With two votes of no confidence, Vizcarra dissolved Congress on Sept.

30. Peru’s legislative body now has no representatives. Vizcarra then set elections for Jan. 26 to assure the public of his intentions to allow continued on p. 10

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Hayley Vanstrum/Catalyst

The Activist Newsletter Throughout this week (10/9 - 10/16), activists have the opportunity to participate in public meetings, fundraising efforts and LGBTQ+ pride events in Sarasota and other Florida cities. Read on if you want to get involved in the community regarding transgender rights, immigration and national politics.

BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM Wednesday, Oct. 9 Feminism and Transgender Justice: Pinellas NOW Meeting @ 6 - 8 p.m.

Good Samaritan Church Pinellas Park - 6085 Park Blvd N, Pinellas Park, FL Attend Pinellas NOW’s meeting and discussion about the trans experience in relation to politics, athletics, criminal justice, homelessness and youth led by trans woman activist and Legislative Director for Florida NOW Melina Rayna Svanhild Farley-Barratt. In the first half hour of this meeting, attendees will write postcards to Florida Republican legislators regarding ratifications to the Equal Rights Amendment. The remaining time will be devoted to Farley-Barratt’s talk. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Friday, Oct. 11 Ruffs and Fluffs at Raff urty’s @ 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Raff urty’s Bar and Grille - 1888 Main St, Sarasota, FL Start off fall break right with a night of food, drinks and cute pets at the Humane Society of Sarasota County’s Ruffs and Fluffs at Raffurty’s event. This event features live music, prizes and many adoptable dogs and cats ready to be given a new home.

This event is $25 per person, with all proceeds going to the Humane Society of Sarasota County. It is open to the public.

Saturday, Oct. 12 Come Out with Pride 2019 @ 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Lake Eola Park - 512 E Washington St, Orlando, FL Walk in the Most Colorful Pride Parade, shop at the Pride Marketplace and watch performances by iconic drag queens at Orlando’s Come Out with Pride 2019. This year’s theme,

“HEROES,” celebrates both 15 years of Come Out Pride and 50 years since the Stonewall riots and honors LGBTQ+ activists, advocates and allies who have fought for equality and justice throughout history. This event is free and open to the public.

Monday, Oct. 14 Hot Topic Monday: The Immigration Crisis @ 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bradenton Woman's Club - 1705 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL Join the Bradenton Woman’s Club for their weekly Hot Topic Monday event to discuss Central American refugees, their experiences trying to escape poverty and crime and the tragedies that occur when they enter a hostile nation that refuses to provide them with proper care.

Several speakers will share their thoughts, including criminal defense attorney Jim Delgado, Executive Director of Unidos Now Luz Corcuera and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee professor Jody McBrien, all of whom are local experts on the issues currently present at the border. This event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 Demoncratic Presidential Debate Watch Party @ 7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Sarasota County Democratic Party Headquarters - 7358 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL Meet up with Sarasota County Democratic Party (SCDP) members at the SCDP headquarters for a watch party and discussion of the third Presidential Primary, airing Oct. 15. Get to know the SCDP and their policies regarding equal rights, environmental protection, access to affordable healthcare and more while keeping up to date on the 2020 presidential cycle. This event is free and open to the public.

NEWS PAGE 5

Navigating Latinx identities at New College

BY ADRIANA GAVILANES According to the 2018-2019 student demographic statistics, the “Latino or Hispanic” student population is the second largest at New College, representing 20.8 percent of the student body. Those of marginalized identities, however, feel a drastic lack of community among the predominantly white campus. As National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, those impacted share their thoughts on Latinx identity.

Historical context Professor of Sociology and Latin American and Carribbean Studies Sarah Hernandez explained within the countries that make up Latin America and areas within each country, there are people who identify themselves with a single distinct culture that aligns with their nationality.

“However, with immigration into the U.S. there is the imposition of another identity—the panethnic identity—upon these groups of people,” Hernandez said. “I would say the folks end up accepting that panethnic label whether they like it or not.”

Historically, the question of Latinx identity in the United States has been something that that community has constantly struggled with. Before 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau categorized immigrants from different Latin American countries as White. The initial option of “Hispanic” as an ethnic category was introduced in the US Census in 1970 to account for identities of different people that did not identify with existing racial identifiers.

“There was a lot of debate for the people coming from Latin America and how their experiences were lumped together, in a way [Latin American immigrants in the US] never thought of themselves,” Hernandez said. “Not only were they being lumped with the colonial power, but Spain represented a colonial power from which [Latin America] fought very hard for independence and fought very hard to find a distinct identity [separate] from Spanish identity, Spanish culture and Spanish social systems, being imposed as a part of the colonial structure.”

“Latino” appeared as an option in the 2000 US Census. This term was meant to include nonSpanish speaking countries in Latin America and sever the connection with the colonial power.

“It was that push from the population, from the bottom up,” Hernandez said. “[Latin American immigrants] were saying, ‘we are going to build our own identity.’”

The meaning of “Latinx” The term “Latinx” surfaced among the queer community on the internet in 2004. According to Google trends, a noteworthy amount of people searched the term Latinx. It became a widely-used identifier on social media and academia.

Latinx Leadership Club President and second year Diana Quintero defines Latinx as “an umbrella term used in the U.S. to describe communities that come from Latin American descent or countries.”

Quintero explained although the use of "x" was added to be more inclusive, specifically towards nonbinary individuals, there are still flaws with the label in terms of visibility.

“In creating a term that gathers elitist Latin Americans with those who face marginalization due to class, race and sexuality it ignores the experiences of those who face everyday hardships,” Quintero said.

First-generation immigrants on identity The United States is a country that homes many different cultural identities. In contrast, most countries in Latin America are more homogenous and prideful of their respective countries. The similarities and differences between each of these identities gets lost in translation when an individual is being identified in the United States. The United States groups individuals from different parts of Latin America into one community when countries don’t necessarily identify as being united.

Hernandez explained that this contributes to why first-generation immigrants usually see themselves as being immigrants and radiate the identity of their home country over the imposed label which they loosely identify with when they have to check off a box for demographic data.

Third-year Omar Guerrero explained his experience as a first-generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic.

“I think Latinx identity forms when you get here to the United States, but it definitely varies from person to person,” Guerrero said.

“In some cases parents moved here to the US and they don’t have to deal with that type of identity issue, they’re just making a life here, but there are different experiences for people which I feel like gets lost in translation as you move further away from the experience of living in that Latin American country.”

Hernandez supported this idea when asked about how being a firstcontinued on p. 11

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S T U D E N T/ FARMWORKER ALLIANCE

BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM continued from p. 1 the workers are not given,” Flower said. “They have to have the right to complain about their supervisors, because that’s been a big problem where if they complain about the conditions they’ll get fired or they’ll potentially be deported, so they really don’t have a lot of power because a lot of them are undocumented. This gives them some power to complain, to get basic medical help when that’s needed, to report sexual assault. It’s really just an important way of keeping these companies, including Wendy’s, accountable for some basic human rights that all of these workers should be given.”

As the battle to get major fast food restaurants and food retailers to sign on to the Fair Food Program wages on, Encuentro attendees helped further the movement through their Boycott Wendy’s protest on Sept. 28.

“Everyone has roles for the protest,” Sander said. “Some people speak through the loudspeaker and do chants, some hand out water, one person gave a speech, some people hold signs. One of the most important roles is hand delivering a letter to the manager of the Wendy’s we’re protesting at talking about the Fair Food Program, and a group of people does that in a team. The roles are important because at every protest the Student/Farmworker Alliance wants everyone to have a purpose so they feel committed and personally invested in the cause.”

Skill-building workshops, held throughout the weekend, helped student allies feel involved and ready to act as informed activists within their own communities. “All About That Base: Organizing 101,” “@Wendys: Harnessing Social Media for Fair Food” and “Beyond Activism: The Nitty Gritty of Planning a Direct Action” were among the several workshops available for event-goers to attend.

“I went to one about writing resolutions, either to be in solidarity with the movement overall or to boycott Wendy’s and not allow Wendy’s to exist in that space, in a city or on a college campus,” Flower said.

“Then we got a chance to talk in small

groups about some of our potential plans to actually pass resolutions in our area, so that was really helpful.

I also liked the variety of different workshops, they all seemed really strategic as far as going over different important parts of building an action.”

In addition to these workshops put on by the SFA, members of the CIW also gave presentations on their experiences within the movement along with how students can use their voices to amplify those of farmworkers. Benitez, Flower and Sander all emphasized that the point of being involved with the SFA and CIW is not to prioritize one’s own personal opinions and goals, but to share farmworker’s stories and spread awareness of the actions those workers are taking to combat injustice.

“We talked a lot about focusing on solidarity instead of charity,” Sander said. “A big theme of the weekend was how to be in solidarity with farmworkers and do your part, not because it’s charity and not because you’re being a good person, but because it's your obligation to them because they’re the ones putting food on your table. That was a great thing about the conference, it was really about hearing from the farmworkers and helping to get their rights because that’s what they deserve.”

In the spirit of solidarity instead of charity, the SFA and CIW strived to make the Encuentro a space in which all attendees could feel comfortable sharing and learning from each other in whatever ways worked best for them.

“A good way that they put that into practice was that they created a multi-lingual space in the conference, so whoever was presenting presented in the language that they felt most confident speaking, whether it was English or Spanish,” Benitez said. “There was a translator the entire time for those who didn’t speak either language, so [it was about] having people feel comfortable talking and creating that bilingual space.”

Outside of conferences and workshops, the New College student group also enjoyed the casual aspects of the gathering through eating freshly made, authentic Latin American food and watching workers showcase their skills performing

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Photo courtesy of Amaranth Sander

At the protest, Benitez holds up a tomato sign, representing the Fair Food Program's goal to secure rights for tomato harvesters across the nation.

Steering Committee members, joined by SFA employees, give an introductory presentation during one of the weekend's many workshops.

Sander brings up a picture of Twin Oaks, the intentional community they researched at last summer, during the opening activity in which Encuentro attendees shared mementos that connected them to their most important communities.

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PAGE 7

All photos courtesy of Student/Farmworker Alliance

Encuentro attendees show support for the SFA and CIW pre-protest.

Protesters hold up the Wendy's Puppet, a part of the SFA's Brand Busting campaign in which the organization takes iconic images and turns them into symbols of the brand's corruption.

Members of the CIW women's group, who meet on a weekly basis, do a traditional Mexican dance during Café Cultura.

traditional dances and demonstrating how to make the perfect Mexican tortilla during the Café Cultura and fiesta Saturday night. The students were excited about getting the opportunity to live in an activist space for the weekend, surrounded by people who shared a mutual interest in the social issues that are close to their hearts. “[I enjoyed] talking to all of these different people who have different types of activist experience, like some of them had worked with SFA chapters, some of them hadn’t but had other valuable experiences to offer,” Flower said. “It was cool to hear their ideas and talk to people who have a lot of the same goals and also to have a lot of meaningful conversations with people who I didn’t know well.”

Invigorated by their time at the Encuentro, Benitez, Flower and Sander have planned several campus events for the near future and are hoping to get many more New College students engaged with the SFA and the fight for farmworkers’ rights by the end of the upcoming spring semester.

“Basically, our end goal in all of this is to get a SFA chapter restarted at New College, because people have been really involved in the past and there are New College alums that work at the SFA that were there for the Encuentro,” Sander said. “New College has a very important history with this movement and we want to continue that and get as many people involved as possible. Also, we want to get people to be on the Steering Committee because this whole weekend is really organized primarily by students and young people and New College students could be a part of it.”

In addition to reestablishing the SFA at New College, the students have planned to bring a CIW member and SFA translator to a few classes on Oct. 24 to discuss the goals of

the CIW and give students a chance to hear directly from a farmworker about the movement and how to participate. In the upcoming weeks, the group will also be hosting small events in solidarity with the SFA during their National Days of Action, which are Oct. 28 and Nov. 18.

“Next semester, after hopefully developing a foundation for a SFA on campus, we want to work with some local schools from Tampa and St. Pete and potentially Naples, people who we met over the weekend, to organize actions that will be collaborations between students from the different schools,” Flower explained.

“Ultimately, the goal for the SFA chapter would be to pass a resolution in Sarasota to boycott Wendy’s, but that would be a long-term goal and we might not reach that before we graduate. We’re really just focusing on getting first, second and third years involved so that when we graduate, they can keep it moving forward and work towards making a stronger presence on campus.”

As the 2019 Student/Farmworker Alliance Encuentro came to a close, Benitez, Flower and Sander headed home, excited about all of the activist possibilities to come and ready to start turning their plans into reality. “#BoycottWendys!”

Sander cheered, with Flower and Benitez quickly joining in, showcasing how ready the students are to take action, make change and support the movement for farmworkers rights in whatever ways they can.

For more information about the CIW, SFA, Fair Food Program and how to get involved with the movement, visit ciw-online.org, sfalliance. org and boycott-wendys.org.

Information for this article was gathered from ciw-online.org, sfalliance. org and the 2019 Student/Farmworker Alliance Encuentro press release and program booklet.

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Resources for people and pets available at Food Pantry

BY SIERRA LAICO Beginning as a way to combat food insecurity in the community, the New College Food Pantry (NCFP) opened in January 2018. The NCFP provides both nonperishable foods, fruits, vegetables and pet food at no cost to any student, faculty or staff member. The pantry is open 24/7 and is located in X-3150, which can be accessed by swiping an encoded New College ID card. People needing food can simply go in, take what they need and complete an anonymous sign-out sheet. Recent changes include a new AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer, Sarah Lapton, who oversees the pantry and adding pet food.

As more students parade their dogs around campus, Lapton and the food pantry Teaching Assistant, thesis student Cassidy Heaton, noticed that there is not only a need on campus for people food, but for pet food too. Partnering with the Humane Society of Manatee County, the pantry is now providing various pet foods.

“Right now, we offer canned and dry versions of dog and cat foods,” Heaton wrote in an email interview.

“We have several different brands and dietary options to choose from.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Lapton

Pet supplies donated to the Food Pantry include dog and cat foods, with several different brands and dietary options in mind.

We also have a few other items, such as supplements, calming collars and pet wipes, but those options are a little more dependent on what the Humane Society and what others are donating.”

The pantry is working hard to provide fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable items this year.

Emails will be sent out to the community so students, faculty and staff will be able to take the fruits and vegetables before they go bad.

For students with dietary restrictions, food in the pantry is la-

beled as vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. They are coded by colored stickers and color-coded keys are hung up around the pantry to allow students to easily find the food they are looking for.

With additional food options on campus, the food pantry allows students, faculty and staff to feel more at ease about their nutritional intake.

“Being a college student is tough,” Heaton said. “We’re often not financially secure, and it’s very challenging to access grocery stores

without a car. Even then, many students don’t have access to a kitchen to cook. Metz and Boar’s Head are wonderful options, but meal points can run out quickly, and their limited hours make them challenging to rely on for everything.”

According to a study produced by the Hope Center For College, Community and Justice in April 2019, it is estimated that 48% of community college students and 41% of four-year university students continued on p. 11

Shining a spotlight on campus Darkroom resources: analog photography in a digital world

BY ANNA LYNN WINFREY In an era of augmented realityenhanced Snapchat filters and VSCO girls, film cameras may seem like a relic of bygone times. While most students have smartphones outfitted with powerful cameras and instant sharing capabilities, some relish the slow, labor-intensive process of film photography in a corner of Hamilton “Ham” Center that does not see much light.

Second-year Jess Franks is the Darkroom Teaching Assistant (TA) and first got into film photography at the end of high school. One of her friends shot photos on film and taught Franks the basics on her grandpa’s old camera.

“When I got here, I had film and I saw that there was a darkroom and there were hours and I was like, ‘Wait! This is perfect,’” Franks recalled. “I started going to hours and that’s when I started learning how to do things. And then I just kept coming to hours because I thought it was really dope.”

Students can check out cameras and other photography equipment from the darkroom free of charge.

Rolls of black and white film have been ordered and will be available soon. The darkroom is funded by the

Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst

Students can use filters while printing to adjust the contrast levels of the final image.

Yellow filters produce less and magenta filters produce more contrast.

New College Student Alliance (NCSA) and receives $718 per year, according to the most updated budget.

Film cameras function because film is extremely reactive to light.

When a photographer takes a picture, they adjust the settings on the camera so the correct amount of light will be exposed onto the film.

“I understand when I change the settings like aperture or f-stop I know what I’m doing, and I know why I’m doing it,” Franks said.

After assuring the subject is in focus, the photographer opens the shutter for a split second and the

light exposes a specific frame of film, which produces a negative image. The film is then rolled to the next section to be exposed. If the film catches any extraneous light before developing, the picture will be altered and could be ruined.

Franks also teaches students how to process their own film and use enlargers to make their own prints. Only black and white processing is available because color processing requires finicky temperature control and different chemicals.

The first step of film processing entails going into total darkness,

opening the film canister, rolling the film onto a developing spool and placing it into a light-tight developing tank. Once the lid is securely fastened, the tank can be brought into the light. The film bathes in four different chemicals and is thoroughly rinsed with water. After drying in a tall cabinet, the film is ready to be enlarged and printed, which is Franks’ favorite part of the darkroom.

Printing functions similarly to exposing negatives. Light shines through the negatives for a set continued on p. 11

CATALYST

Sex education on campus at RA Loveline and beyond

BY CHRIS MARIE DE FELIPE Although sex education is highly debated nationally, discussion of the relevant topics of self worth, honest communication and myths about the body often fail to reach students during the sexually tumultous times of college. Sex educators on campus refuse to neglect this aspect of the student body’s education and multiple events this semester combat ignorance on health issues.

Robyn Manning-Samuels is the Health Education Coordinator at the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC). They have no preferred pronouns, a passion for discussing human intimacy and distinct sense of style.

“Being an adult to me means wearing overalls,” Manning-Samuels said in their first speech addressing New College students.

Many on campus can see themselves in Manning-Samuels, and relatability is a valuable tool when many students receive advice on intimacy for what can possibly be the first time. In their explanations, Manning-Samuels can shift from playful advice on sex etiquette to tackling serious and painful aspects of sex with ease.

On Sept. 16, Consent and Cookies focused on understanding consent and how to approach sex with respect and safety. In an exercise where one partner asks the other to construct their ideal cookie, the concept of consent was applied to a friendly and tasty setting.

On Sept. 27, a sizable crowd of students flocked to HCL 8 to attend RA Loveline. The annual event is a safe and welcoming place for young adults and sex-perts to discuss a major aspect of life and college campuses that is tragically neglected: sex. The audience and panel talked at length about sex with dysphoria, mental illness and trauma while surrounded by a line up of sex toys and vulva posters.

The varied events provided opportunities for students to increase the chances of winning the sex toys, which was an effective strategy of capturing the audience’s attention.

Only two students put tickets in for a fleshlight, but the war for “Le Wand” was a tangible presence in the room. The raffle cup for the vibrating wand overflowed with tickets.

The drum roll for the coveted sex toy boomed as nearly every soul in the room rythmically slammed the tables.

The event opened with some easy, fun games. In exchange for tickets to increase the raffle chances, students played pin the clit on the

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vulva, a guessing test of lube flavors and pull the condom over a dildo of choice. The assortment ranged from the wood dick “Pinocchio,” a purple silicone dildo and the galaxy themed “Space Cock.” Sex position bingo included the YMCA, the plug n’ play, backdoor planking and the look and learn. Student reactions ranged from laughter to intrigue. Sex jokes filled the auditorium as the liveliness of the event gave comfort to what can be a difficult subject for some. After the games, trivia interspersed questions from the audience to the panelists.

There were four panelists: independent sex educator and New College alumna Cassandra Corrado, Assistant Program Director at the CWC Duane Kahn, New College’s health educator Robyn Manning-Samuels and educator at Planned Parenthood Paola Ferst.

Audience questions prompted valuable discussion.

When asked about navigating sex while dealing with dysphoria, Manning-Samuels said, “You need to talk about sex in a non sexy environment first. Talk about the types of ways that you envision yourself having sex, the things you may call your genitals. If you aren’t able to have this kind of conversation with the person you’re entrusting to give you a pleasurable sexual exchange, then you should reconsider having sex with them.”

Questions frequently confined to Google Searches and Yahoo! Answers were liberated into a concrete discussion.

“Does constant masturbation cause the clitoris to become less sensitive?” Corrado’s answers seemed to relieve the fears of many.

“Constant masturbation, as in you are literally always masturbating, can cause genital discomfort and over stimulation,” Corrado said. “However, masturbating often, which is likely what you’re getting to, doesn’t actually desensitize you, that’s a myth.”

Corrado attributed the difficulty in pleasure experienced by many to laziness. Over time the use of toys sets unrealistic expectations for pleasure, but discussion and patience can offset this.

Some trivia questions lightened the mood such as, “Which group records the most orgasms?” The options were straight men, lesbians or gay men.

Two people answered lesbians and the room erupted in laughter after someone answered straight men.

When the room learned the correct answer (lesbians), a collective queer pride swelled in the room as people

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Been there, done that A column answering real questions based on personal experiences

SUBMITTED BY SYDNEY ROSENTHAL I just started seeing someone and I am really unsure sometimes. I go through these cycles of overthinking and worrying that make me cry and need space from him or want to end it all, but as soon as I let it all out, I am back to being completely into him. How do I stop this cycle? It is very much me and not about any behavior of his.

I think it’s very kind of you to say that it has nothing to do with him, but be gentle on yourself. Uncertainty can come from stress, from a relationship that isn't well defined or from insecurities on both ends.

It’s good that you aren’t blaming your partner. However, there are issues that you both need to overcome in order to have a healthy relationship.

I found myself in a similar situation in a past relationship and I’m going to suggest things you should do and tell you about my mistakes so you don’t make them, too.

If you haven’t already, try to think about what you would want your partner to say or do during these periods of uncertainty. Do you want space? Do you need physical touch? How about words of affirmation? If your partner is unaware that you are going through this, I would recommend letting him know. It’s admittedly a little far fetched to hope that everything can be solved with a conversation but my therapist always pushes for directedness.

I definitely did not have a direct conversation with my partner when I was going through this. I found that journaling with the intent to identify triggers that made me feel insecure helped me the most. For example, I realized that I would feel panicked when my partner talked about his exes, asked about my future, mentioned my mental health or brought up having a family. I then spent time identifying why those triggers made me spiral. To do this, I journaled a lot and talked with my close friends, therapist and mom.

It was helpful to talk to people who had different levels of bias and who viewed the relationship through different lenses. I realized that I felt pressured to be perfect and have my life set out and I was scared that if I faltered, my partner would break up with me. You probably have different triggers and fears but I’m hoping that by sharing mine you can start the process of uncovering yours.

It was hard to come to terms with the fact that my partner was not going to break up with me because I wasn’t perfect. To counteract my fear, I bought him a lot of gifts, wrote cards, and even ended up invading his privacy to read his journal. Crazy, I know, and it was even worse seeing that he truly did care about me.

In hindsight, I wish that I had just sat down and had a conversation with him. There would have been no guarantee that he could reassure or that he would have been open with his emotions but I wish I had given him the chance.

There is nothing wrong with being unsure about a relationship, especially in the beginning. It is safer to ease into things emotionally and maybe your subconscious is holding you back. Take your time to feel things out and make sure you’re processing your emotions along the way.

If in a month you’re still having these feelings maybe take that as a red flag. I used to push on with relationships that I knew weren’t healthy because I viewed changing or ending them as failure. Changing the definition of a relationship is not failing. In my experience, every positive relationship I’ve had is built on a strong friendship, one that consists of honesty, openness and trust. Don’t rush into anything and don’t feel pressured by anyone to follow a timeline.

Have a question? Sumbit it to tinyurl.com/BTDT2019 cheered and laughed.

A more grim question on whether Florida requires STI and HIV education in schools followed.

People overwhelming answered that no, Florida does not require this education. Students were disappointed when they learned they were correct.

The dangers and social stigma around douching were also covered.

“Many people still douche after unprotected sex but are unaware that it pushes bacteria further up and causes irritation and infections,” continued on p. 11

CATALYST Mold

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 gies may have more severe reactions and those with asthma might notice their symptoms worsen around mold, eventually leading to asthma attacks.

Administration has suggested controlling the temperature to mitigate mold growth. Dorms should not be set below 72 degrees to prevent humid air from outside interacting with cold air that causes moisture, which is conducive to mold and mildew growth. However, Director of Facilities and Construction Alan Burr talked about the difficulty of getting students on board with this form of mold mitigation.

"Right now there's not a lot of thermostat controls that we can prevent the students from creating those types of situations because students aren't educated or even understand,” Burr said. “Even if you do tell them, they may not even want to do it."

Moreover, the administration is discussing the possibility of offering cleaning services, where students can file a request with Housing to clean the dorm bathroom. Bathrooms are a hotspot of mold growth, as mold begins to form on damp surfaces

Elections

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 elections are held after the early fall elections. However, this was not the case this year due some shifts in the New College schedule.

“Things are shifted a little later, probably due in part because of the hurricane and also because we had very specific positions to fill,” said Supervisor of Elections and thirdyear Isabella Cibelli du Terroil.

The new position of SLAC representatives will bring a student perspective to students concerns at the library. Third-year Adam Johnson, who worked with Dean of the Library Brian Doherty to create the SLAC, noted that there had been some frustration among the student body in Fall 2018 when new furniture was

Peru

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 the Peruvian people to choose new representatives. Opposition leaders moved to claim Vizcarra’s actions were unconstitutional and started a vote of impeachment on Sept. 30, which failed to reach the required majority. To regain a foothold in the situation, the opposition swore Vice President Mercedes Aráoz into presidential office, claiming Vizcarra’s presidency was void due to his vio-

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as quickly as within 24 to 48 hours and continues to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture.

Many building materials, such as wood and sheetrock, provide food that can support mold growth.

Dust accumulation, debris on the carpet, condensation and leaky pipe also serve as potential food sources.

Along with aspects of design that contribute to mold growth, maintenance problems can also potentiate the occurrence of mold. "[Dort and Goldstein] have a good cooling system, but like any cooling system, it can get clogged," Burr explained. "The pipes can get clogged, which causes issues which can sometimes lead to humidity issues, which can lead to mold issues.

So when you got some residual dirt in the building from people living there for twenty years, and it gets humid from time to time, based on weather or mechanical issues with the building [there can be instances of mold]."

Housing regularly prepares for occurrences of mold and mildew throughout campus, though testing is rarely done because of high expenses. A few air tests were conducted after Hurricane Irma, where a few rooms across campus, including in Palmer D, the Foundation and the Anthropology Lab, were renovated as a result of damage from wind-

blown water.

"We only do [testing] when there's a reason to do it," Burr said.

"It's not something we do on a regular basis. We're always looking for it, but just as a matter of doing our work because it can happen."

The crux of mildew and mold problems comes down to moisture, which is controllable. Still, students are not told anything about mildew with certain habits such as not turning the exhaust fan on after a shower, or reporting a leaky pipe right away.

"I definitely think [the mildew situation] is double-edged," Joey Daniels, third year and Vice President of Student Life, said. "Students can clean more—I've been in some nasty Pei rooms myself—but also I feel like, not that we should be given resources, but we should be given a brief of some sort about mold or something."

Apart from students, administration and staff have a huge hand in determining the quality and maintenance of dorms.

"Students have a lot to worry about," third year and President of New College Student Alliance Steven Keshishian said. "I told the Board of Trustees last meeting that students should worry about making friends, having a good time and studying, and the fact that our students are involved with many aspects that af-

fect their livelihood here shows that we need to work on a lot. They're also invested. I hate asking for more labor from people who are already drained."

Going forward, the mold problem in campus facilities will continue to be a factor influencing student housing, health and overall quality of life at the school. Still, students are hopeful about administrative actions to tackle the smelly fungi-beast and helping students step into a conducive environment for learning.

"I think in a very weird way, us not growing and shrinking has made a lot of people realize that hey, there are fundamental problems that we have to fix before we can grow,” Keshishian said. “We're seeing the school address that slowly, you know, because it's a school, but they're doing it and the only way we can really improve the situation is if we have new dorms. We need better dorms, and no one wants us to have worse dorms, but can we afford better dorms, and when can we afford better dorms?”

Information for this article was gathered from www.fema.gov and www.floridahealth.gov.

unexpectedly brought into the first floor of the library—without student input.

“I don’t think people realize other than coming to me, which a lot of people do, that they can really have an effect on the library and I want that to be a thing,” Johnson said.

So Johnson went to work. He helped create a student committee that frequently meets with Dean Doherty to ensure student voices would be heard. After working with the Great Book of the NCSA to legitimize it, it passed as a permanent committee at a Towne Meeting near the end of the Spring 2019 semester. Made up of Dean Doherty and six students, three elected and three appointed, Johnson has big plans for this semester: besides gaining more consistent student input through surveys, he intends to push for a timeline on when the second floor

will be renovated.

“It doesn’t seem like that’s happening anytime soon because money is an issue, [the administration] had to raise money to get this first floor done,” Johnson said. “But if and when that starts that’s what I really, really want this committee for.

There are going to be students that are there the whole way throughout, hopefully, that can change it a little bit and try to make it more conforming to students demands.”

In order to run for any of these positions as an official candidate, signature sheets and a signed copy of the candidate’s duties were obtained before the end of the petitioning period, which ran from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30. Also starting on Sept. 26, the campaigning period, ending on Oct. 3, prompted candidates to flood the emails of New College students in hopes of winning their respective

election. Finally, on Oct. 3, voting began between 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Votes for this election were cast through NovoConnect, a system accessible view the myNCF portal that is finally starting to become more familiar to upper-years.

“This is the fourth or fifth [election we’ve used it for] so now people are used to the system and there are less and less questions each time,” Cibelli du Terroil said. With over 75 students or just over 10 percent of the New College student body voting, voter turnout was around the level Cibelli du Terroil had expected for an emergency election.

“Typically the largest voter turnout happens during the late spring election when NCSA President is on the ballot,” Cibelli du Terroil said.

“Last year when our enrollment was higher we had probably a fourth of the school vote.”

lation of constitutional procedure.

Aráoz’s presidency did not last more than 24 hours. She resigned the following day on Tuesday Oct. 1.

The Organization of American States (OAS), the contintental organization of the Americas, weighed in on the situation. They stated that only Peru’s Constitutional Court could decide whether Vizcarra acted within procedure.

The Constitutional Court, despite the opposition-appointed judges, proceeded to favor Vizcarra.

They ruled Congress acted unconstitutionally since Congress had acted

after it was dissolved. This ruling carries heavy consequences, as now Aráoz and other Congress members could face up to seven years in jail for attempting to assert political power unconstitutionally.

Many opposition leaders are calling Vizcarra a dictator attempting to throw a coup d’etat. Some are reminded of the 1990s, when the then President Alberto Fujimori suspended Congress and assumed total control of the country. Many of Vizcarra’s supporters point to his calls for early elections to show that he has not assumed dictatorial con-

trol of the country and is only taking drastic action to eradicate corruption.

Vizcarra currently holds the support of many young Peruvians as they have taken to the streets to show their support. Vizcarra is also backed by several city governors and the Peruvian armed forces. Since the dissolution of Congress Vizcarra has seen his approval rating almost double, rising from 40% to 75% according to a poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studies.

Riot police surrounded Congress on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to prevent any

visit ncfcatalyst.com for tips on preventing and cleaning mildew

CATALYST Latinx

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 generation immigrant ties into the understanding of Latinx identity.

“I imagine that some of the research is showing the more distant the generations move from that first experience, the more distant they are from the original culture that the parents came from,” Hernandez said.

“Part of it depends on how much contact the second, third and fourth generation has with the country of origin.”

The Miami experience According to Hernandez, students coming from Miami, a historically vibrant hub for Latin American immigrants, who come to Sarasota go through a culture shock when they realize there is a different and significantly smaller Latinx community in Sarasota.

In Miami, a majority of the population has some link to Latin America or the Carribbean, which unifies the community through food, music, religious practices and lifestyle.

“All of these things get played out more evidently in that [Miami] context and that's a way for people to learn to interact with each other

Food Pantry

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 who responded to the center’s survey are food insecure. The sign-out sheet in the pantry shows what students are most in need of. If there is a food that students would like more of, they can write it in the comments section of the checkout sheet or email Lapton or Heaton directly.

Students looking to volunteer are welcomed. Volunteer forms are located on the back table of the NCFP, where students can fill out their contact information, desired work, availability and any interests or skills they may have that would be helpful in a volunteer position.

Lapton and Heaton both emphasize there will be great local volunteer opportunities, especially during the months of October and November, so students should look for periodic emails from SA[u]CE. Donation boxes located around campus make it easy for the community to donate to the food pantry.

Any unwanted and unopened food can be taken to the donation boxes located near the mailboxes in HAM, Congress members from getting in.

Peru’s political power struggle is an on-going situation that will set precedent not only for the country, but for the South American continent.

Information for this article was gathered from nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, bbc.com, and larepublica.pe.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

CONT'D

PAGE 11

and live with each other within those differences,” Hernandez said. “In Sarasota, the Latin population is something closer to 4 to 5 percent. In that context, there is a lot more pressure from a predominantly White population in categorizing these groups of people as the other, the Latinx and that panethnic label.”

Thesis student Lucy Sanz recalled her upbringing in Miami.

“It’s a special experience that I took for granted,” Sanz said. “Growing up in Miami, everybody was a person of color so now that I’m living in a space that is predominantly White it means more to me than it ever has.”

Sanz explained the transition from Miami to Sarasota sparked an understanding and appreciation of her identity. The lack of community ultimately made her feel even more secure in her identity.

“I think it's important to identify yourself as Latinx because its an identity that hasn’t been spoken about really and a lot of people are made to feel they shouldn’t,” Sanz said.

Latinx students at New College Students feel there is a lack of understanding and unity among the Latinx community that differs from their experience before attending

New College.

“The perceptions of Latinx communities on campus are drastically different than my hometown,” Quintero said. “I grew up in Los Angeles within a heavy Mexican population [and] there was always a sense of community. On campus, the feeling of comunidad can be overshadowed.”

The students are not alone.

Some staff agree that there is a problem with understanding and inclusion on campus. Assistant Director at the Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity (CEO) Lissandra Jiminez is conducting a doctoral study at Northeastern University.

Jiminez explained that Latinx students, especially males, are more likely to not continue with higher education. Her study aims to investigate the trend by interviewing first-generation Latinx students who are currently studying to attain higher education, those who completed higher education and those who did not persist in completing higher education.

She hopes to hear the struggles of this niche community in universities and aims to ultimately lessen the difficulties they face and provide better resources to increase the amount of first-generation Latinx graduates of higher education. After conducting these interviews, Jiminez noted that

New College could improve in some ways to support the Latinx students on campus.

“One thing I think about New College specifically [is that] faculty and staff can do a better job of making themselves more in unison with students,” Jimenez said. “Working [to be] more in unison with students can help make students feel more understood and more included and I don’t feel like there is a huge Latinx present on campus because of that.”

Although there is a lack of community for the Latinx population on campus there are some resources available to unify Latinx students. Apoyo is a Latinx support group hosted by Leonor Canavarros, a counselor at the Counseling and Wellness Center. Many events for National Hispanic Heritage month occured. Additionally, the Latinx Leadership Club meets on a weekly basis in the Gender Diversity Center in HAM but is still formalizing their meeting times.

“I’m not saying there aren’t any resources for the Latinx community at New College,” Quintero said. “But in terms of academic support and financial support—especially for undocumented dreamers and even first-generation students—there is a lot that needs to improve.”

the SA[u]CE office, the library, the social sciences building, Cook Hall and the food pantry itself.

Heaton has some advice for students who might not know what to do with their leftover HAM points.

“If you have extra Ham points, consider using them to buy donations for the pantry!”

For more information about the NCFP, contact slapton@ncf.edu or cassidy.heaton13@ncf.edu.

Darkroom

tedious and longer process to get a photo, it’s extremely satisfying afterwards and there’s so much that you can change along the way,” Franks said. “A picture is so much more than a picture when you have all of these different things you can do to it.”

“I think something about a printed picture is different than one online,” she continued. “Something that’s physically there for you to look at is really cool. And I just love doing it.”

Students looking to dabble in film photography can stop by the darkroom on Wednesday and Friday evenings between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. Franks is also available to set up alternate meeting times for those with conflicting schedules. Her email is To get to the darkroom in Ham Center, walk down the hallway past the double-door exit to the Nook and Black Box Theater costume closet and turn right.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

amount of time onto light-sensitive paper, which reacts to the same chemicals as negative film processing to produce a positive image on the paper. However, since the paper does not react to lower frequencies of light, black and white printing does not require total darkness, so the room is aglow with red light.

While digital photographers depend on electronic components from internal camera sensors to photo-editing computer programs, film photographers control physical variables, such as altering developing times or adding contrast-altering filters. Although the entire process takes more time, Franks finds it more rewarding.

“Even though it is a much more

Corrado said.

The panelists also discussed the importance of open conversation with gynecologists.

“If you’re uncomfortable talking to your medical provider and they cannot say vagina, vagina, vagina, then you need to get a new medical provider,” Kahn said.

One question silenced the room and the panelists received the full attention of the crowd.

“Sex reminds me of a trauma, what can I do? How do you identify triggers before sex happens?” The panelists provided essential information on how to identify triggers

and the typical mindsets that follow sexual trauma.

“The first one is sexual avoidance, often seen more in media, not wanting to interact with sexual parts of yourself,” Corrado said. “The second one is sexual fixation, which is using sex as a coping mechanism.

Both of those are completely valid, sometimes these alternate: if there’s something in your head telling you that you can’t have sex in this way or that you have to have sex in this way, that’s an important conversation to have with your partner and yourself.”

An upcoming event on Oct. 9 entitled Sex Education in the Digital

ID card encoding is possible in the RHD office in Searing “X” hall during normal business hours.

Information for this article was gathered from ncf.edu and insidehighered. com

Sex Ed.

Age will be lead by writer, sex educator and podcast host Cameron Glover in ACE lounge at 6:00 p.m. Glover will discuss the empowerment that comes from understanding identity, social justice and sexual experiences.

Manning-Samuels also leads a Sexuality Education and Healthy Relationships support group at 3:30 p.m. each week, for those who are in need of information, support or have an interest in discussing gender, sexuality, social justice and sex education. For any questions regarding sexual education and health, Manning-Samuels can be reached through email or at the CWC.

BACK PAGE CATALYST latinx culture fair celebrates tradition, food and dance WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

BY KALI-RAY SKINNER On Sunday, Oct. 6, students swayed their hips to Latin beats, filled their bellies with traditional foods and enriched their minds with cultural knowledge at the Latinx Cultural Fair.

The event was a collaboration between Student Activities and Campus Engagement (SA[u]CE) and third-year Marcela Prado Zapata.

Zapata is a Residential Advisor (RA) for the SuccessQuest Living Learning Community (LLC). Instead of planning a culture fair as an RA event, she decided to work with SA[u]CE. Zapata sent an email to the student body encouraging students of Latinx heritage to cook traditional food for the event. The day before the fair, students met in Z kitchen and cooked food for the fair, chatted about their dishes, swapped recipes and talked about their heritage.

“I have never known how to make an enchilada because it’s a Mexican recipe, and last night I was whipping out enchiladas with Ormond, so now I kind of know how to make them,” Zapata said. “It was just for all of us to bond and cook and prepare for today.”

Zapata wore a bright yellow Colombian soccer jersey, repping her heritage with pride.

Students filtered into the Nook, enticed by the free spread from Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine and homemade food students were selling. Many sat side by side, chatting with each other over croquettas, pastelitos, yuca, arroz y frijoles negro and flan. Students from Miami talked with one another about the culture shock of moving to Sarasota and missing the warmth of their culture. Some Miamians emphasized how happy they were to eat Cuban food.

Soon, DK Dance Creations began the dance lessons. DK Dance Creations is a Latin dance studio located in downtown Sarasota, specializing in bachata, salsa, merengue and other styles. “[DK Dance Creations] did this all for free, they’re wonderful,” second-year and Student Event Team (SET) member in charge of the Diversity & Inclusion events at the SA[u]CE office Gabriela Ott said. Ott said that SA[u]CE reached out to local dance studios, asking for them to host a dance lesson for free. DK Dance Creations was the only studio that volunteered.

At first, only a few brave souls hit the dance floor. After a short time, more students let go of their fear and joined the crowd, learning the basics of Latin dance.

Ott also had a booth, display-

ing indigenous Colombian woven art that she picked up when she was visiting her family. Her aunt, Astrid Alvárez, works with the indigenous community in Guajira, Colombia to help them get better housing, utilities and assist with food insecurity.

Their art is a sacred rite of passage into womanhood and they are producing art in conjunction with her aunt’s organization in order to fund these projects.

Thesis student Ormond Derrick’s also had a booth where he shared his Mexican culture by displaying a rosary, a Day of the Dead skull (calavera), a Mexican poncho (serape), a picture of the Virgin de Guadalupe and hand-woven and hand-beaded purses.

“My booth is representing my Mexican heritage. I am Mestizo and my mom is Mexican Native-American, so I am here representing it.”

Derrick explained the significance of the Day of the Dead skulls.

“We use the calaveras—the sugar skulls—as a way to represent the dead and the afterlife,” Derrick said. “Death in Indigenous cultures throughout Mexico is not so much how we think of death in the West as a final ending point: it’s more of life after death. It’s moving from one world to another but their spirits are still around us, so death isn’t viewed in the same way.”

Second-year Leonor Munoz sold salsa from their family recipes. When students came to Munoz’s booth to pick from the three styles of salsa, fresh made chips and agua de limón, they explained the significance of the food.

“Everyone in my family has their own take, and I’m just living for it,” Munoz said. “The green salsa is my dad’s and it’s spicy; a classic.

We make it every month at home, we make a huge batch. The red salsa doesn’t have any cilantro, it’s good and has a bit of a deeper flavor because of the roasted red pepper. My personal favorite is my aunt’s salsa, aguacatera, with avocado so it’s creamy and very fresh.”

Second-year and President of Latinx Leadership Cultural Club Diana Quintero transferred to New College from California. She was accustomed to the community that a Latinx club in high school and college provided and felt the need for a place to come together with fellow Latinx community members at New College. She re-established the club last year and since then, attendance has been at its highest.

“The whole part of the organization is to be able to share something memorable to your childhood,” Quintero said. “So I made quesadillas be-

PAGE 12

cause that was one of the most accessible types of food for us growing up in the suburbs of L.A. as Mexicans.

I am from a family of immigrants and there is nothing to be ashamed about, so I will share my quesadillas with everyone.”

Quintero hopes that this event

will get bigger and be lasting for years to come.

Next semester the Latinx Leadership Cultural Club will throw a larger event, the International Latinx Food Festival. Quintero looks forward to the piñata, a staple in Mexican celebrations.

Gabriela Ott's booth focused on Indigenous Colombian woven art.

Ott's aunt is involved in assisting an Indigenous community in Guajira.

Second-year transfer Diana Quintero and second-year Leonor Munoz share Mexican heritage.

Munoz vibrantly explains what their family's recipes mean to them while speaking with Professor of Sociology Sarah Hernandez.

All photos Kali-Ray Skinner/Catalyst

RA and booth organizer Marcela Prada Zapata proudly sports her Colombian soccer jersey.

Zapata's booth outlines a traditional Colombian outfit, including a pair of shoes.