Fall 2019 - Issue 9

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CATALYST NOVEMBER 13, 2019 VOLUME XXXIX ISSUE IX

New College of Florida's student-run newspaper

New College commemorates fall of Berlin Wall

BY CHRIS MARIE DE FELIPE On Nov. 8, students took sledgehammers to the on-campus replica of the Berlin Wall that was erected in Koski Plaza as part of Professor of German Studies Lauren Hansen’s Berlin Wall in German Literature and Film course. The destruction of the replica honored the 30-year anniversary of the Iron Curtain splitting East and West Berlin being lifted.

Hansen’s class focused on the media impact of the Berlin Wall; the research manifesting in a 7-week art installation “The Berlin Wall,” to serve as an educational platform for the campus and what it meant to the people it stopped. Throughout the past few weeks, students tagged the wall with a colorful coalescence of public expression, honoring Berlin’s troubles with division, power, and obedience.

The replica was 8 feet tall and 16 feet wide, and was tactfully placed to have the plain gray side face east and the spray-painted side face west. It

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College hires Interim Dean of Student Affairs

d’etat in Turkey left him unemployed and with little choice but to stay in the U.S. Not being one to sit around, Temizer applied for a job at a construction company and worked his way up to the role of supervisor, until eventually in 1971 he landed a job at the International Monetary Fund

Randy Harrell was out of the business. He and his wife bought an RV and were making their way across the United States with their cat and dog.

They went through 19 states in the eight month stretch of his retirement, until he got a call. He was wanted for one last job: to be the interim dean of student affairs for New College.

“I went online, I looked at New College,” Harrell, as he sat in his mostly-empty office in HCL 1, said. “And I thought, ‘This looks like an incredibly interesting place.’”

Harrell grew up in ‘60s California and New College harkened him back to those days-gone-by.

On Oct. 30, he came to campus, taking on the interim position as administration began to search for a permanent hire. Ten days into his term, Harrell already felt at home at the campus, even as he still learned its intricacies.

“I was talking to my younger son,” Harrell said. “And I was telling him about the place. And he said, ‘Dad, you’re really happy, aren’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, Jordan, I’m really happy. I’m really happy to be here.’”

Harrell brings nearly four decades of experience with higher education to New College. At California State University Fullerton, a commuter university that grew from 18,000 to over 26,000 in during his six years there, he worked with traditional student and adult students. In 1987, he moved to California State University San Bernardino. The student population was 7,000 students, which grew to

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Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst Students took turns striking the west side of the wall with sledgehammers.

reflected the heavily-restricted East Berlin suffering from heavy censorship over artistic and intellectual expression and how, in contrast, West Berlin channeled art as a means of protesting the divide.

The theatre and literature scene of East Berlin through the German Democratic Republic’s existence was vibrant, but many creatives had their projects and livelihoods rejected on

the basis of treason.

“That’s why on the west side you could walk right up and graffiti it,” Hansen said. “We’re kind of adhering to cardinal directions.”

In addition to exploring the state of Berlin in the 1950s and 1980s, the Berlin Wall in German Literature and Film course investigates how the continued on p. 10

BY SERGIO SALINAS

WHAT’S INSIDE

ADHD ON CAMPUS

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BY IZAYA GARRET MILES

Honoring education advocate Akgun Temizer Education plays an important role in society. It allows people to expand their knowledge and pursue their dream professions. However, finances can often be a limiting factor for students everywhere and often the privileges of an American education can be overlooked. Akgun Temizer, a Turkish born man, saw the benefits of an American education and took it upon himself to help out students from his home country of Turkey in pursuing higher goals.

Temizer opened a scholarship fund for New College in 2014 to bring in students from his old high school in Ankara, Turkey. The Temizer scholarship has benefitted three students, who otherwise would not have had the same opportunities. Temizer passed away on Thursday, Oct. 31, leaving behind an inspiring legacy of

GREEN NEW DEAL

Photo courtesy of Elba Viruet “His last wish was to see me graduate and I am thankful to God that he was able to do it,” Gokdemir said.

generosity, kindness and hope.

Temizer was born in Konya, Turkey and went on to grow up in the capital city of Ankara. Having not been wealthy in his youth, Temizer valued the free public education he received, a belief he would carry throughout his life. Temizer would go on to work in the Turkish embassy in Washington D.C., until a coup

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Campus Cooks

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BRIEFS BY KALI-RAY SKINNER

Breaking down the late fall election Each semester, two elections are held within the New College Student Alliance (NCSA): the early election and the late election.

“These representatives advocate for the needs of students to the NCSA and the administration,” Supervisor of Elections and thesisstudent Isabella Cibelli Du Terroil said. “[These positions include] everything from academic departments, food service, campus services (gym, CWC) to funding for clubs and activities.”

Emergency NCSA elections are not uncommon to see throughout

the year.

“The reason is typically to fill positions that were left open from past elections or from people leaving the position,” Du Terroil explained.

Students who officially run for positions must turn in signature collections and may advertise their campaign around the school. A name write-in is also possible, however Du Terroil mentioned she sees a slight distinction between the two.

“If their name is already on the ballot, then students will be more apt to vote for them rather than try to find who is advertising their write-

in candidacy over email,” Du Terroil said. “I’m not trying to discourage anyone from running as a write-in, running is good overall, but I definitely notice that official candidates generally have a significantly higher chance of winning.”

With the write-ins, students are allowed to write whatever they want, including jokes. Two standouts from this late fall election are: “Any one who will do something” and “Bill from Metz,” who were tied among other candidates for the Food Service Representative.

CGA plans to throw DIY festival The Zero-Waste DIY Fest on Nov. 16 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nook will give students a chance to learn about how to live a sustainable college lifestyle. Which is not easy, since college life is geared towards styrofoam, ramen noodles and piles of plastic Walmart bags piling under the sink. With the help of the Council of Green Affairs (CGA), students will learn how to make DIY sustainable items, like soap, toothpaste, art, bags and more.

The CGA has been hard at work this semester. Since their first meeting on Sept. 9th, the council has already successfully collaborated on

composting and pollination work and the Climate Teach-In. Some students attended the Students for Zero Waste Conference at the University of Pennsylvania from Oct. 11-13th, run by the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN).

“We attended hands-on workshops and training sessions on topics of waste and environmental justice,” Zero Waste Campus Coordinator and thesis-student Sydney Clingo said in an email interview. “We also had the opportunity to hold our very own workshop on NCF’s Composting Program, which taught students how to implement their own program at

their campuses.”

The Green Team consists of four Eco-Representatives and the Zero Waste Campus Coordinator who works with PLAN throughout the year to reduce New College’s campus waste. PLAN provides step-by-step advising in order for students to implement Zero Waste initiatives. They connect students with sustainable professionals, businesses and nonprofits that support them.

“Challenge the consumption economy,” Clingo said. “You have more power than you think.”

Black Box Theater hosts adaptation of "The Play of Wit and Science" The Play of Wit and Science was written by John Redford in 1540, but has been adapted and directed

by Professor of English and Theater & Performance Studies Nova Myhill. The play, although quite old, still holds weight in relation to the New College thesis process.

“I've always loved this play, but it never gets performed, possibly literally not since 1540, because it survives in only one copy, the first section of which is missing,” Myhill said in an email interview. “I was interested in giving it a new beginning and giving it a chance to live on stage again.”

The play was shown Nov. 7-9 at

7:30 p.m. and Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m.

“John Redford wrote this play for his students to perform at the court of Henry VIII, and you can tell that he had a lot of experience with and affection for real, imperfect students finding their way,” Myhill wrote in the play’s program. “But the story is the experience that students on the path to graduation have had for centuries, and the allegory emphasizes fundamental similarities between attending St. Paul’s in 1540 and New College today.”

The cast and crew include a healthy mix of students, alumni and outside hires. Myhill directed, Tim D. O’Donnell was the Production Man-

"Get clever, not cute." © 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.

ager and Light Designer and Diego Villada was the Fight Director/Intimacy Choreographer.

Myhill also mentioned an upcoming event: “Dance on Campus,” produced by Leymis Bolaños Wilmott and Diego Villada. “Dance on Campus” is a production that celebrates dance genres thriving at New College of Florida offered through the Humanities Division and performed by both aspiring dancers as well as enthusiastic movers with an appreciation for the art form.

"Dance on Campus" will be shown on Nov. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Editor in Chief Copy Editors & Writing Coaches Layout Editors Digital Editor Staff Writers & Photographers

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

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ELECTION RESULTS Thesis SAC Rep Ormond Derrick Humanities Rep Jacob Silverman Natural Sciences Rep Isabella Chandler Diversity Rep Gwen Roberts Fitness Center Rep Barbara Monteiro Accessibility Rep Elizabeth Bates Gender Studies Rep Freddie O’Brien Educational Policy Committee Member Lindsay McElroy Speaker of the Towne Meeting Miles Newmeyer Student Court Justices Alex Bottorff Student Court Counselors Angelica Velosa and Jenna Courtade Student Academic Status Committee Members Annabelle Wilson Correction: Regarding the issue released on Oct. 30, the Catalyst would like to make the following correction.

We apologize for this error.

In the demographics article, five students in the cohort of 2019 are Black or African American, making up the difference in the reported total of 173 students.

Direct submissions, letters, announcements and inquiries to: The Catalyst 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, Florida 34243 catalyst@ncf.edu 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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NEWS PAGE 3

Clambake raises $318,000 for student scholarships

BY VIANEY JARAMILLO The Clambake, a traditional annual fundraising event, held its 41st celebration Thursday, Nov. 7 at the bay. Approximately 390 guests networked among themselves, chatted with invited students and reminisced about when Clambake was held at a beach along Longboat Key. The event raised $318,000, which will be used for student scholarships.

This annual tradition began as a way to celebrate New College’s mission, values and local impact and shifted to become a fundraising event when the Foundation realized its potential as a source of scholarships. Clambake was originally held at the beach, but after some campus renovations, the event organizers decided to host it at the college.

Though Clambake is a major fundraising event, it is also an opportunity for local sponsors and donors to meet the students they are helping.

“The whole purpose is to have people talk to students, hear your story, hear what you think about New College and it’s all really what your experience is,” MaryAnne Young, executive director of the Foundation, said. “Because they want to know who they’re helping.”

Clambake is a semi-casual event with complimentary cocktails and an ample buffet featuring whole

Vianey Jaramillo/Catalyst The Clambake now takes place at the bay, but it was once held at a local beach.

lobsters. Attendees were welcomed to roam free as they networked and dined.

“It’s meant to have a lot of community and conversation,” Young said.

The guests came from different backgrounds. Some are local business leaders, longtime donors and/ or alums. Some of the attendees were first-time goers, while others have participated since it started. A few travelled from out of state, but most live locally.

After the attendees munched on the Boston creme donuts the armada of waiters served for dessert, third-year Jas Marie spoke to the crowd. Marie recalled how she maintained an A-average in high school

after she went into foster care during her senior year. Her story received a standing ovation and shined light on Clambake’s purpose.

Auctions and traditional paddle raises were the main fundraising elements of the event.

“People raise their hands if they want to give scholarships and we start at a $10,000 level and work down to $1,000,” Young said.

Three big events were auctioned off: a three-night stay at the St. Regis in New York City, a four-night stay at a house retreat in Santa Fe and a dinner for 10 at Micheal’s Wine Cellar with Donal O’Shea.

Over the past several years, Clambake has increased its funds due to better scholarship advertising.

“So at the [2015 Clambake] we hadn’t focused as much on scholarships and we didn’t do a good job of advertising that it was for scholarships, so I think in 2015 we raised around $70,000,” Young said.

The following Clambakes placed more focus on students, so guests were better informed about what their money was being used for. As a result, the 2016 Clambake increased to $150,000, the 2017 Clambake to $250,000 and the 2018 Clambake to $350,000. The 2018 event marked the 40th anniversary of the event.

“You usually raise more money on a big anniversary year—people went all out last year and we had some really huge sponsorships that we won’t be able to repeat this year,” Young said. “Partially because [one sponsor] passed away and she gave us $40,000 for the 40th anniversary in scholarships.”

This year’s Clambake raised $318,000, which surpassed the Foundation’s $250,000–$300,000 estimate.

“It’s all about scholarships and just making it clear to guests that that’s what we do with the money because we also let them know who the students are and have students write notes to them.” Young said. “That’s what makes the difference because you know who you’re helping and how you’re helping and want to do it again.”

Professor Mark Paul speaks on the future of economics and the Green New Deal

BY ADRIANA GAVILANES On Oct. 31, the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University hosted a panel of economists to discuss contemporary government challenges, focusing on climate and economic inequality, and Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies Mark Paul was one of three leading economists on the panel.

Paul explained that proposals such as the Green New Deal (GND) eliminate the perception of a trade-off between economic growth and moving towards a carbon-neutral economy.

Due to the rise in popularity of the GND, Paul was invited by the Sarasota County Democratic Party to explain the policies of the proposal on Nov. 12.

Oxford talk about the future of economics Paul was joined by co-Founder and former Director of Rethinking Economics Maeve Cohen, President of Data Intelligence and New Technology for the Development Bank of Latin America Enrique Zapatas and Professor of Public Policy at the

Blavatnik School of Government Eric Beinhocker, who was tasked to be the moderator of the panel.

“I was privileged to be invited to Oxford to participate on a panel to talk about economic challenges that we face and how the old economic paradigms that largely still reign supreme within policy circles unfortunately constrain the possible options that are on the table,” Paul said.

He began by explaining there are two initrixibly-linked crises of our time: climate and economic inequality. When analyzing these problems, Paul applied variables of power dynamics and historical context, an approach that differs from that of the neoclassical model. He explained that as of today, there are many critiques for the economic models in place but no viable alternative models.

“If you ask people if everyone should have health insurance, access to a job at a non-poverty wage and if the United States should be doing more to fight climate change, the answer is yes,” Paul said. “Across partisan lines, the answer is yes. Broadly

people agree with the path forward and I’m less concerned about what you call it and more about how do we start passing legislation to put us on that path. What does that path mean? That path means reducing inequality, improving living standards for low-income Americans and importantly addressing the climate crisis.”

Paul suggested analyzing other schools of thoughts and studying economic models in other countries to help create an alternative model. Additionally, acknowledging the flaws in neoclassical economic thought was factored into the discussion of the future of economics.

Economists have created new branches of economics as a result of recognizing the flaws in neoclassical thought. Under traditional economics, consumer incentive is skewed due to the assumption that all consumers in the market are rational.

This realization that not all consumers are rational actors and make decisions based on an infinite number of variables led to the creation of behavioral economics. Another flaw in neo-

classical thought is the overlooked gender power dynamics which lead to the creation of feminist economic theory. Lastly, to ultimately understand how to live within our planetary boundaries, ecological economics was created, leading to proposals like the GND. Upcoming local discussion of the Green New Deal Paul is a current fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, an economic think-tank where the GND originated. His research is centered around the understanding of what causes inequality and viable solutions to combat it while also addressing the climate crisis.

The GND, also known as House Resolution 109 (HR 109) in Congress, is sponsored by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. The latest action for HR 109 took place on Feb. 7 when it was introduced to the House of Representatives. The resolution itself has five goals: achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, establish continued on p. 11

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NEWS PAGE 4

DeSantis announces proposal to raise teacher salaries

BY SOFIA LOMBARDI When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ran in November 2018, he was not known across the country for wanting to make education a priority, but for telling his two-year-old daughter to “build the wall” out of blocks in a campaign ad. His Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum, was known for supporting a $50,000 starting salary for teachers, a plan deemed radical at the time. Yet the former Republican congressman and Trump-backed governor has become an unexpected proponent of education funding.

This year alone, the governor has signed off on the expansion of school choice, launched an evaluation of academic content standards and approved new funding for computer science, workforce apprenticeship programs and the Gardiner Scholarship, a resource for students with special needs. These initiatives are similar to the education policy efforts of past Florida governors, like Republican John Ellis “Jeb” Bush’s push for the expansion of school choice and establishment of testbased accountability.

In an interview with Education Week, Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida Aubrey Jewett said, “There’s a general sense of surprise about how much attention he has paid to K-12 education.”

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

Governor DeSantis's $603 million proposal would raise starting salaries to $47,500.

Jewett went on to say that Florida politicians in general, “weren’t really sure if he would have a detailed policy agenda on things like education.”

According to the National Education Association (NEA), Florida ranks No. 27 across the nation in starting teacher pay and No. 46 in overall teacher salaries. In addition, the NEA reports there are 3,300 teaching vacancies just this year.

On Monday, Oct. 7, Governor DeSantis publicly announced his $603 million proposal to raise starting teacher salaries from $37,636 to $47,500 statewide. This bumps Florida from No. 27 in the nation to No. 2, putting Florida pay only behind New Jersey.

According to a press release from the Office of Governor DeSantis, he cited an ongoing teacher shortage due to a strong economy and availability of higher-paying jobs in other fields.

“This is long overdue, and I look forward to working with the legislature to make this a reality,” DeSantis said.

With the announcement of this proposal, the Florida Department of Education referred to the governor as “the next ‘education governor.’”

While this initiative may benefit K-12 teachers in Florida, the price tag could lead to problems for the future of the state budget—and potentially New College.

The House of Representatives has the power to reallocate money to and from any sector they would like. According to Vice President of Finance and Administration John Martin, this could be problematic for New College if they choose to take from the higher education budget.

“The House is looking at what they call ‘reallocating’ approximately 300 million dollars,” Martin said.

“Now reallocating out of higher ed budget, higher ed is not only the

state universities including New College, but the State College System.

The legislature is the keeper of the purse. So where are they going to find the money?”

A $300 million budget cut to the State University System could mean a $2.5–3 million cut to New College’s budget.

DeSantis’ proposal has not been completely well-received among the legislature either.

"I am in receipt of the Governor's statement regarding teacher compensation as I am of the over $2 billion of new spending requests from his agencies,” House Speaker José Oliva said in a statement. "My initial thought is one of gratitude for those who came before us and saw it fit to bind us and all future legislatures to a balanced budget."

State Rep. and congressional candidate Margaret Good appreciated the “serious conversation” around increasing salaries, but emphasized that veteran teachers should also be considered.

“We cannot have a discussion about increasing teacher pay without talking about how we compensate and retain our veteran teachers,” Good wrote in an email interview.

“To me, it is a matter of priorities.

Florida should prioritize our students' education, which means providing robust funding for our public schools and increasing teacher salaries to a competitive level.”

Statewide elections bring historic wins for Democrats

BY JACOB WENTZ Last week, the results of multiple statewide elections were announced. While Republican Tate Reeves won the governorship in Mississippi, Democrats saw significant wins in Kentucky and Virginia.

With all precincts reporting in Kentucky, Democrat Andy Beshear beat Republican Gov. Matt Bevin by 5,198 votes—0.36 percent of all votes cast.

In Virginia, Democrats gained control of the State House, State Senate and governorship for the first time since 1994.

Mississippi In Mississippi, current Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves (R) beat State Attorney General Jim Hood (D) by 48,916 votes, or 5.7 percent of all votes cast.

Reeves told Fox News he and Hood engaged in a tight battle to succeed Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who had reached his term limit.

“Four years ago, the Democrats nominated a truck driver who didn't even go to the polls to vote for himself,” Reeves said. “This year they nominated a four-term attorney general that was very popular.”

Reeves also thanked President Trump, who advocated for him at a Nov. 1 campaign rally in Tupelo.

“Whether it’s usual for the president to rally for state candidates, I don’t think so,” third-year and President of Democracy Matters Rory Renzy said. “I mean, I’ve seen instances in the past where Obama would go and advocate for more representatives and Senators in the national legislature, but I think breaking that federalist divide between the national legislatures and the states is not something that is usual. Trump is playing to the fact that a lot of these people are buying into his cult of personality.”

Kentucky While the Associated Press reports that the race is too close to call, Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) declared victory. Gov. Matt Bevin (R) refused to concede.

Beshear drove up turnout in the state’s urban and suburban centers and received stronger-than-expected numbers in some rural areas.

While Kentucky is a GOP stronghold at the federal level, voting for Trump by 30 percentage points in 2016, Beshear’s lead suggests voters

are willing to make a distinction between state and federal races.

“The state itself is not blue by any standard, I don’t think it’s shifting blue by any standard, but I think the more significant thing to look out for is the county and district breakdown when you see suburban areas and areas that Trump won by 65-70 percent shift down to 20-15 percent margins for Republicans,” Renzy said.

“Maybe on the more local level that will be more significant for Democrats to shift, not necessarily for all statewide positions, but if there are some congressional districts that can encompass those areas where there are flips, then I think that’s probably significant for Kentucky and suburban areas nationwide.”

As governor, Bevin made plenty of enemies. According to WKYT, Bevin’s approval rate was the lowest for any governor in the country at 34 percent. He notably offended Kentucky teachers over pension reform, which resulted in major voter backlash. In the race, he focused on national issues, advocating himself as stridently anti-abortion and tough on illegal immigrants.

“I think the main thing with Kentucky is that the incumbent candidate was just so unpopular and he kind of just ruined his chances over the past couple of months and years,” Renzy said. “I don’t think trying to destroy Medicaid and tear down teachers publicly is probably a smart position for a statewide candidate to take.”

Beshear pledged to immediately rescind the state’s Medicaid work requirement, which requires people to have work or job training to gain coverage. Kentucky was the first state to win approval for the work requirement under Bevin.

Virginia The legislative wins in Virginia give Democrats control of the state government, as the now hold the governorship and a majority in the State House and State Senate.

The State Senate is now comprised of 21 Democrats and 19 Republicans. The State House sees a larger Democratic majority, with 54 Democrats and 43 Republicans.

While this is the first time Demcontinued on p. 11

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Hayley Vanstrum/Catalyst

The Activist Newsletter Throughout this week (11/13-11/20), activists have the opportunity to participate in workshops, volunteer events and protests. Read on if you want to get involved in the community regarding sustainability, community organizing and national politics.

BY HAYLEY VANSTRUM Thursday, Nov. 14 Sustainable Communities Workshop @ 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Inc 4780 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota FL Join the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Transition Sarasota, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota Government and the Sarasota County Government for the 14th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop. This event seeks to educate locals on building a better future for the Sarasota community through sustainable means.

Keynote speakers will present on topics including the current climate, sustainable goals, clean energy and responsible growth.

This event is $45 and open to the public.

Saturday, Nov. 16 Thanksgiving Basket Brigade @ 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Tiny Hands Foundation - 8388 South Tamiami Trail #153, Sarasota FL Help members of the Tiny Hands Foundation, a local organization that seeks to improve impoverished children’s lives through charitable initiatives, achieve their goal of providing 1,000 holiday food baskets to families in need in the Sarasota area this Thanksgiving season.

To volunteer and assist in passing out baskets, email info@ tinyhandsfoundation.org to register. Tiny Hands Foundation also takes monetary donations through their website and nonperishable vegetable and side dish donations through the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota. This event is free and open to all registered volunteers.

Sunday, Nov. 17 Sarasota Honk to Impeach Pop Up Protest @ 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Golden Gate Point Intersection Ringling Causeway - Sarasota FL

Peacefully protest with fellow activists by holding up “IMPEACH 45” signs over the Ringling Causeway, encouraging passing cars to honk in support of the motion to impeach President Trump. Event planners Candee Roberts, Joanne McCarthy, Rita Fox and Mary Ann Finkel stress that this gathering is about protecting democracy in America, not party politics, and that all are invited to show their support for impeachment and political change.

This event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Nov. 19 Organizing 101 @ 6:30 p.m-8 pm LBR 156 - New College of Florida 5800 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota FL Get ready for the upcoming 2020 election cycle with the New College Democrats and the Manasota Young Democrats at Organizing 101, an educational training event focusing on the current Democratic candidates, their policies and their abilities to fight for systemic change. Enjoy a free dinner while discussing how to become a community activist, both at New College and beyond.

This event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Nov. 20 Transgender Day of Rememberance @ 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

ALSO Youth - 1470 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota FL Honor Transgender Day of Rememberance at ALSO Youth’s candlelight vigil, joining queer community members and allies in memorializing those who have lost their lives to acts of transphobic violence. This event remembers those who are gone, supports those in mourning and prepares eventgoers to continue fighting against hate in the future. Candles and refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

NEWS PAGE 5

Shining a spotlight on students affected by ADHD

BY ERIN NIEHAUS Courses at New College are known for their academic rigor, but students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have trouble focusing in class, staying organized and completing assignments on time. The new Assistant Director of Student Disability Services (SDS) Joe Mayer, who has ADHD and other learning disabilities, is an advocate for disability awareness and wants to help students connect with campus resources.

The 5th Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which most American mental health professionals consult, defines three kinds of ADHD: inattentive type, hyperactive type and combined type. Inattentive type includes symptoms such as trouble holding attention on tasks, forgetfulness and being easily distracted, whereas hyperactive type includes fidgeting, excessive activity and impulsive behavior. People with combined type show symptoms of both types.

The DSM specifies that several symptoms must be present before people are 12 years old. Mayer recalled that he noticed the onset of symptoms around second grade.

“I had a hard time getting organized growing up,” Mayer said. “As I got older, I had a tougher time writing papers.”

Mayer was not officially diagnosed until his forties, after his oldest son was diagnosed in second grade.

“That's when I began to think I may have it as well,” Mayer recalled.

Unaware of his ADHD, Mayer struggled throughout school and did not use any of the academic accommodations that may have been available.

“I began a graduate program in zoology in the 1990s but later withdrew from the program at the end of the second semester after struggling academically,” Mayer said. “In hindsight, I think that not properly understanding that I had ADHD, or knowing what academic accommodations might have been available to me, likely played a role in my initial graduate school struggles.”

In the fallout of Mayer’s hopes to study zoology, he pursued a master's degree in clinical social work at the University of Missouri. He went on to pursue work in Veteran’s Affairs soon after. Since then, he has remained working in disability services, hoping to eliminate the stigma surrounding disability, whether mental or physical.

New College is home to many

students with ADHD. Some students choose to take advantage of offered accommodations, while some shy away from it, fearing the process is complicated or their problems are too minor. Other students choose to deal with their conditions without additional help.

Second-year Elliot Green from Destin, Fla. came to New College to pursue marine science. He has been diagnosed with ADHD since age six, but chooses not to use any arrangements for his struggles.

“It does affect my academic ability,” Green said. “I find that if I take medication, it’s easier to focus. I’ve used medicine since I was seven, but now I find myself taking it during the harder weeks or when I know I need to focus.”

Green has never personally looked into the offered accommodations, as he feels content with his current state. However, he recognized how they can benefit other students.

ADHD is not the only mental disorder that affects educational performance. First-year Corinna Carroll copes with generalized social anxiety disorder and clinical depression. Additionally, a psychiatrist has suggested that Carroll may have an attention related-condition, but she has not been given an official diagnosis.

“I struggle with finishing things on time, mostly,” Carroll said. “A simple short response question could take me up to four hours to complete at home. I do consider myself a good test taker, multiple choice questions are not often an issue. It’s writing that often throws me off.”

Through the stress of entering college and dealing with her mental obstacles, Carroll has an emotional support animal (ESA) that she can look to as a companion.

“My mental health can often hinder my ability to do things, such as getting out of bed alone,” Carroll said. “My cat might not be the perfect motivator, as sometimes she refuses to sleep with me, but she does the best job she can. Getting my ESA was a bit of a process. It does require an official diagnosis, and a lot of documentation. I made a lot of calls over the summer to make sure I’d be able to bring her along.”

Aside from her ESA, Carroll does not use additional services offered on campus.

“As far as academic accommodations, I’m not entirely sure what would be helpful for me,” Carroll said. “The process would likely be a lengthy one, being that I do not have continued on p. 11

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M e d i e v a l F a i r brings French Renaissance to Sarasota

BY CLAIRE NEWBERG As visitors pull into the parking lot to the Sarasota Medieval Fair, they are greeted by the sound of bagpipes and laughter. Actors and artisans usher awe-stricken passers-by to their stations. This year, the Sarasota Medieval Fair’s theme is Joan of Arc, with four weekends centered around the French Renaissance.

“The year is 1428 AD,” the fair’s website states. “The Hundred Years' War has devastated the once-beautiful landscape and vibrant economy of France. Word has spread that a mere peasant girl has received divine visions of the Archangel Michael instructing her to support the rightful King of France, Charles VII, and to help recover the true lands of France from the scorned English occupiers.”

The fair provides a familyfriendly experience while still having events for an older crowd, such as the pub crawl. The first weekend featured an Irish dancing troupe, jousting matches and a humorous witch trial. The second weekend will feature a fire-eater, pipe musicians and acrobats. The third weekend will feature a dancing show centered around Sirens, a juggling show and a thrill-

ing act called the Wheel of Death.

The final weekend will feature a medieval Father Christmas, a jester and a clown show.

Besides the obligatory jousting tournaments, the main attraction of the Medieval Fair is the Wheel of Death. The mind behind the famous wheel of death is Ichabod Wainwright, a life-long circus performer who specializes in knife-throwing, acrobatics and other circus activities in his wheel. Wainwright has been performing on the Wheel of Death for almost eight years. The wheel stands at an impressive thirty feet tall and Wainwright built it himself.

“When I was about eighteen, I had an idea when I was working at a circus to take the Wheel of Death, which is a circus prop that has been around for about 100 years,” Wainwright shared. “I decided to build it out of wood to bring it to the Renaissance fair so I didn’t take work from any of the people that I know who do it in the circus. No one does it in Renaissance fairs, so I figured if I built it out of wood I could bring it to a themes event like a Renaissance fair and do it here.”

Wainwright comes from a family of circus performers and grew up

working mostly with circus animals, such as horses and elephants, but developed an interest in acrobatics as he grew older.

“When I was about sixteen, I started training myself in hand-balancing because I thought that was really cool and I thought handstands were a great way to stay in shape,” he elaborated. “[Handstands are] a very difficult thing to get good at and it requires a lifetime to become a real hand-balancer. I wasn’t going to dedicate to that.”

Wainwright begins his Wheel of Death act by juggling axes that are on fire and balancing on a chair. He then moves onto the wheel, bringing elements of acrobatics to that part of the show.

“I learned how to do most of the tricks I do for my Wheel of Death show and leveled-off there, so I have a balancing act, but I am not a formally-trained acrobat,” Wainwright explained.

For most of his act, Wainwright remains silent, a bit like a mime, gesturing to the crowd. This adds to the overall comedic effect of the show and distracts from the danger of his act. It is no surprise that the Wheel of Death is one of the bigger attrac-

tions.

The giant jousting field sits just a bit further from Wainwright’s stage. During the tournament, the audience can expect nothing less than excitement and humor as the knights squabble amongst themselves. Each side of the stadium is assigned a knight to cheer for. The jousting match is theatrical in the level of audience participation, with each side cheering the names of their assigned knights and booing the opponent as he rides by.

The tournament on Nov. 9 featured Sir WIlliam and Sir Jacob. The two knights and their squires had a light-hearted row as half of the crowd chanted “Jacob! Jacob!” and the other half chanted “William!” In the end, Sir Jacob won as Sir William collapsed on the ground feigning unconsciousness.

The fair runs through Dec. 1. Student admission is $16.95 with presentation of a valid college ID, and regular admission is $18.95. For more information, go to the fair’s website at sarasotamedievalfair.com or call them at 1 (888) 303-3247. Follow Ichabod Wainwright on Instagram at @thewheelwalker.

All photos Claire Newberg/Catalyst

Sir Jacob (right) lost the initial jousting match, but beat Sir William (left) in the final man-to-man fight.

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Third-year Renee Carpenter enjoyed one of the fair's giant turkey legs.

PAGE 7

Sir Jacob won the jousting tournament.

Circus performer Ichabod Wainwright has been practicing on the Wheel of Death for nearly eight years.

Bagpipe and percussion band Cu Dubh was the first attraction near the entrance of the fair.

Carpenter bantered with the actor in the Tomato Torment booth.

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FEATURES PAGE 8

Striking Gold: getting to know librarian Helene Gold

BY SIERRA LAICO With areas of expertise in web design and development, information literacy instruction and assessment and student engagement, Helene Gold brings an important perspective to the Jane Bancroft Cook Library and the New College community. Her passion for learning is infectious and she brings a positive and calming energy to the often-stressful academic atmosphere.

Gold grew up in Lee, Ma. and is a proud community college graduate. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York’s University at Albany. Before working at New College, she worked at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. as the Electronic and Instructional Services Librarian.

She most recently served as a faculty librarian at Tallahassee Community College for over five years, where she provided guidance for the information literacy program and organized many student-centered library events and programs.

What made you decide to work at New College?

“I’ve always wanted to work here,” Gold began. “It goes way back.

I started my career as a librarian in 1997 at Eckerd College, just over in St. Pete, which is a private liberal arts college. There was a woman who was an adjunct at Eckerd who went to school here and whose husband was a professor here. I became personal friends with her, so I used to hang out with her and her professor-husband and other faculty from New College back in the late 90s. It just seemed like such an extraordinarily antiestablishment kind of alternative, a creative place. Eckerd was amazing but I always had this feeling that New College was a better fit for me in that way, so 23 years later, through all of the different turns and shifts in my career, I finally came here. New College has been on my radar for a very long time and the timing was right and here I am, I’m so thrilled to be here. I feel very much at home.”

Out of all your areas of expertise, which are you most passionate about?

“My professional passions have shifted over my career. I first started at Eckerd as a web design developer and programmer so my title was Electronic Services Librarian. I was in charge of designing and developing their webpage and also programming the public access catalog. I had programming skills, I had web design skills, but it became really clear to me that my real passion was teaching and teaching information literacy and working directly with students. So over the years I moved further away from doing programming—although I still love technology and I’m pretty nerdy in that way—but the more I get to work with students and teach and do outreach, the happier I am and now I focus on that exclusively here. The more teaching, the more

Photo courtesy of Helene Gold

Gold can be found roaming around the library or in her office, LBR 133B.

outreach, the more work I do with students, the better.”

Are you currently planning any events or resources that students can look forward to?

“The next actual event we’re doing for students is final exams stress week, so during final exams we’re going to bring in the therapy dogs again. We had therapy dogs here last year, that was hugely successful and well-attended.

We’ll probably also offer a yoga or relaxation opportunity and the usual sort of crafts and other kinds of fun downtime de-stressors. So look out for those.”

Gold explained that although it is not yet definite, the library staff is thinking of holding another event over the Independent Study Period (ISP) called resource and research café, which is geared toward first-year students. At this event, students will be encouraged to learn about the different departments in the library.

“When I set it up last year—I’m a hobbyist baker—I baked eight different types of cookies and had them available at each of the tables so students went around and ate all the cookies,” Gold said with a laugh. “It was really successful and awesome, but I’m not sure if I’m gonna do all that baking again.”

What are your favorite things about New College?

“Hands down, my favorite thing about New College is the students. You guys are the most interesting, brilliant, quirky students I have ever worked with in my life. I, as a quirky kind of student myself, am infinitely amazed by all of the work that you do, all of the social justice that you do, all of the things that you’re interested in and all of your hobbies. I have never met such interesting students in my life. I am just in awe of you all. I also admire that this college has stayed true to its mission for over sixty years in spite of being a public state institution, we have been able to stay true to our experimental nature despite increasingly bureaucratic overreach into public colleges and universities in the state of Florida. I am so amazed that we have been able to hold on to that tradition, I am just in awe of that.”

Least favorite part of New College?

Gold had trouble trying to think of something that she does not like about the college.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to navigate all of the different acronyms and like the weird language we use to de-

scribe things here, I still—up until maybe even yesterday—am not clear about what a slash AOC is, I think now I’m pretty clear but we had a meeting about this yesterday. There’s a lot of language that is very specific to our academic program. I feel like if it’s difficult for me as a new faculty librarian to navigate, it has to be tricky for students to navigate. I’ve been here a year and a month and there are still things that I’m uncertain about what they mean.”

How is New College different from the other colleges you’ve worked at?

“It’s different from any college I’ve ever attended or worked at in almost every way. The level of freedom and creativity that students have to identify their own academic interests and then create their own academic path is so unique.

“For me, it’s different from the other colleges I’ve worked at because I have an opportunity to create an information literacy program that matches the academic work that’s being done and that aligns with conversations that happen here that I find don’t happen at many other colleges. For example, there is an area in my field called “critical information literacy studies” and this refers to the socioeconomic factors that affect people’s access to information, how we define authority and how a scholarly conversation happens with the corporate publishing model, or ‘who can be part of our community and who can’t.’ These are the conversations that I think students and faculty really want to have here.”

Gold continued to explain that at the last college she worked at, she worked on providing students with more foundational skills required for them to become a part of these scholarly conversations.

How is New College different from the other colleges you’ve attended?

Gold explains that at New College, there are social justice issues that impact how the community engages in research that is relevant and how to move forward with those conversations.

“I’m interested in having [these conversations] with you. It informs more of what I do, and I enjoy it very much. It’s one of the reasons that I came here, is so I could be a part of that conversation in a more effective way.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I’m a hobbyist baker. I am also

a birder, I like to spend a lot of time outside. I’m originally from western Massachusetts and I grew up in a very rural area: two-thirds of the county that I’m from is state forest. And my backyard was basically state forest, so I spent a lot of time in nature and I grew up in a time when there wasn’t a lot of parental supervision. Kids could kind of wander off and do whatever they wanted so I was always in the woods alone or with my friends looking at porcupines, or bears, and all sorts of crazy things.”

Gold hates the cold of winter, which is why she loves Florida so much. She loves to look at migratory birds during this time. She also loves theater.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

“My entire career has kind of been this continuous work in progress where I very much want to make sure that I’m providing support for what students really need,” Gold said. “There has been a rift in my field where there are librarians who approach what I do with ‘students need to know how to do this’ and ‘students should know this’ and there are all these ‘shoulds’ and prescriptive ideas, I don’t approach it that way at all.

“I want you to tell me what you need in how to be a better researcher and how to use the library in a more meaningful way that meets your needs rather than what I think you need to do. I want you to tell me what you need and then I can kind of respond to that, so I think in terms of my greatest achievements it is being that librarian who’s adaptive and works collaboratively with the other librarians. That’s always been true to my career so we can create a library program that is responsive to students’ needs and not prescriptive to student needs. I keep getting older and older and you guys are always 18 to 22 and so as needs change we need to be adaptive to that. I’ve always felt very strongly about being an adaptive, flexible librarian in that way.”

What do you want students to know about you?

“I’m really glad that you’re here.

I’m glad that you’re at New College and I’m really glad that you’re in the library. I want to know who you are and what you need. I don’t want to tell you what to do, I don’t want to tell you how to do your research. I really enjoy doing this and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, anywhere else. I genuinely love what I do and I really love that you’re all here. I’m here to respond to what you need. I don’t want students to be intimidated by the library because the other librarians here are very similar in our mindset, we’re all very responsive and very approachable. This is not a place to be judged on what you do or do not know, or the skills you do or do not have, but just being comfortable with being like ‘this is what I need’ and for me being able to guide you through the process.”

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From flowers to syringes: the story of tattoos on campus

BY CARTER DELEGAL According to a study by the Pew Research Center, approximatelty 38 percent of people ages 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. It is not difficult to find students with tattoos on campus, especially because the college's values and norms often deviate from those of mainstream society.

Second-year Jess Franks has six tattoos, but two stick out in her mind.

She sports an upper-arm piece that connects her with her family.

“A water pot held up by two hands pouring out water onto what I like to call my family garden, consisting of poppies, my favorite flower; snapdragons, my sister’s favorite flower; and then my mom’s favorite is a dandelion so there’s a dandelion, and finally there’s a hummingbird flying around it because my dad loves hummingbirds and doesn’t have a favorite flower,” Franks said.

When asked if she had any other favorites, Franks remarked, “Well, I have my sister’s name tattooed on my ass.”

Third-year transfer Gabriela “Gib” Bell-Nuñez also has a diverse set of tattoos. A small firefly sits just above their left heel.

“This one I got at my first school," Bell-Nuñez said. "At an event, a thirdyear was just like, ‘hey, do you want a stick-and-poke?’ and I said, ‘Yes,’ and

Photo courtesy of Jess Franks

Carter Delegal/Catalyst

Jess Franks' tattoo connects her with family. Bell-Nuñez has a cat on their right ankle.

then the whole night we sat in the lounge as she stabbed my ankle.”

The tattoos on their right ankle came after a little more planning: the first layer, including a black cat in remembrance of their childhood pet Domino, was done at Eternal Art on Bee Ridge Drive. About a year later, they went to Oddity Tattoo in downtown Sarasota, where artist Ambo Hendon added on a layer of towering mushrooms.

For both Franks and Bell-Nuñez, the meaning of their body art differs depending on the tattoo.

“The tattoo I have on my thigh I have because I think it looks cool,” Franks said. “And then for other ones I want something that’s me, since it’s on my body, and my family is a big part of me.”

Similarly, Bell-Nuñez likes all three of their tattoos equally and for different reasons. But they note that their family tattoo has a certain enamoring beauty.

Whether imbued with existential significance or the product of a latenight whim, tattoos at New College can make for meaningful social moments.

“When you have a conversation about tattoos, it can be a point of connection because a lot of people have stories about their tattoos,” thesis student Tirza Morales explained. “Art in general, it's an expression.”

Morales’ most visible piece is a sun with a barbed wire outline.

Tattoo-catalyzed connections are not newfound occurrences at New College. In fact, New College had its own residential stick-and-poke artist up in alumnus Fran Andres, who

graduated in Spring 2017. According to fourth-year Angel Reyes, Andres did stick-and-poke tattoos for people from his first year up until his graduation, and developed a philosophy about his artwork.

“He said that the outcome of each tattoo was a part of the experience of giving the tattoo, which included the other person, the conversation, the way he felt during the experience, the setting, etc.”

While Reyes doesn’t attach a lot of meaning to his tattoo, which Andres gave him during a return to campus in 2018, he explained that the tattoo provided a connection to New College.

“If you go to other colleges and you get a stick-and-poke, people are like, ‘What are you doing?’ It’s not the most common of things.”

Reyes mentioned that many people have New College-specific experiences with stick-and-poke tattoos. He especially remembers a B dorm spectacle from last year, in which one student gave another a stick-and-poke tattoo using nothing but a syringe—most people use an entire kit.

Franks’ assessment of body art on campus rings true.

“I know a lot of people with dope tattoos here, and I’ve also seen some tattoos where I’m like, ‘Oh, you did that?’”

Reader submission: Living and working beyond the nine-to-five at Twin Oaks Intentional Community SUBMITTED BY AMARANTH SANDER At Twin Oaks Intentional Community in Louisa, Virginia, right between Charlottesville and Richmond, around 90 children and adults are living away from the conventional nine-tofive schedule. To conduct my thesis research about foodways at Twin Oaks, I participated in a three week visitor program and lived at the community from May to August this summer. While living there, I was hosted by and formed a deep connection with two New College alumni, who have lived at Twin Oaks for nearly two decades, and their two children. My time there forever changed the way I think about what it means to live and work and the lifestyles that exist outside of a conventional career path.

Here, members work to earn “labor credits” instead of getting paid a wage or salary. One hour of work equals one labor credit and each member is obligated to work at least 42 hours each week on average during the year. That amount of work appears the same as the American average on the surface, but what counts as “work” at Twin Oaks is radically different than at an office job.

At Twin Oaks, one day of work can consist of half a dozen different tasks. One week, I earned my labor credits working

Photo courtesy of Grayson Gigante

Sander and other members pick green beans while working in the garden.

for a few hours in the garden, waking up before 7 a.m. to harvest vegetables, sow seeds, weed and spread compost with other visitors and members. I also made lunch for the entire community, worked at the “Unicorn School” taking care of toddlers, did a kitchen clean up shift after dinner, worked in the community’s tofu factory and more.

These tasks all contributed towards my “labor quota” for the week.

The rest of my time was spent socializing and relaxing on the beautiful land that made up the commune. The community owned over 500 acres of rural land that included sprawling forests with walking trails, access to a river for canoeing, a pond for swimming and dozens of hammocks and hammock chairs, which were crafted and sold by

the community, for relaxing. During my summer at the community, I spent my free hours swinging in shaded hammocks reading novels, a luxury I can’t seem to find time for during the school year, watched the sunset from a roof over the landscape dotted with the community’s herd of cows and played board and card games with new friends.

Each month, members receive an allowance that ranges from about $50 to $100, depending on the year. This allowance is the only cash that most members spend on a daily basis and can be spent on anything from vodka to vacations to video games. Living on only $3 a day seems impossible in the United States, but at Twin Oaks, all essential needs are taken care of by the community. Members do a variety of

work on the farm and in turn, they have their own rooms, meals provided by the community, and healthcare. Members do not have to worry about paying rent, cooking their own dinner each night, commuting to work or paying insurance. Communal living involves tradeoffs, such as not being allowed to own a personal vehicle, sharing common spaces with others and living on a limited allowance.

As well as valuing economic egalitarianism, Twin Oaks centers around feminism and queer culture. A significant portion of members identify as LGBTQ+ and work in the community is chosen by interest instead of dictated by gender roles. Twin Oaks is a place where members can use skills they already have to contribute to the community as well as learn many new skills and gain experience with diverse work they may not have had the opportunity to access in other spaces. At Twin Oaks, one can learn to garden by growing fresh vegetables for the community, process dairy products from the community’s own herd of cows, learn vehicle maintenance, do carpentry and still have time for an afternoon swim in the pond.

Twin Oaks is currently seeking new members. Visit TwinOaks.org or email Valerie at twinoaks@ic.org for more information.

CATALYST Berlin Wall

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 wall divided Berlin in terms of wealth, culture and politics through cinema and literature. Hansen has taken the opportunity to host related events, using the advantageous location of the wall as a physical platform for student presentations, speeches and movie nights.

“A challenge with this project is I want to transfer the knowledge from the class to the wall out there, so that people know what it is,” Hansen said. “At this point, everybody knows that’s the Berlin Wall. But they should know more about it.”

Recap of the programming Initially after the replica was erected, Hansen invited students to graffiti the west side of the wall on Sept. 11. The prompt was a personal interpretation of the statement, “If there were no walls, there would be…” Students responded colorfully, one writing, “No gods, no masters, no borders, no walls.”

Throughout the second week, the theme was “Desperation: The Case of Peter Fechter” in memory of 18-year-old Peter Fechter, who was shot attempting to cross the border. To represent the lives lost to the entrapment of East Berlin, the faces and necrologies of those killed trying to cross the border were shown in a photo gallery.

The week of Sep. 19, thesis student Jay Stewart reenacted John F. Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner," with Hansen and Professor of Political Science Keith Fitzgerald introducing the speech.

During the fourth week, the featured theme was “democracy,” which was decided through a collaboration between the classes of Professors of Chi-

Temizer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 (IMF). Temizer retired from his job at the IMF in 1987 and, while looking for a place to retire in, found himself visiting a cousin in Sarasota. Temizer decided to make Sarasota his home and quickly got involved in the community.

Temizer took a liking to New College and established his scholarship fund in 2014 with a $1.3 million donation. The scholarship focuses on students coming from the Ankara Atatürk Highschool in Ankara, Turkey. The first Temizer scholar, Ozan Gokdemir (‘15), graduated last spring. Temizer wanted to see the payoffs of his contributions first-hand and was grateful in being able to attend Gokdemir’s graduation ceremony.

“His last wish was to see me graduate and I am thankful to God that he was able to do it,” Gokdemir said in an email interview. “He may have passed physically but his memory is always deep in my heart as my third grandfather.”

Because of Temizer’s upbringing, education was one of his central values.

“He believed that equitable providence of these resources to every citizen regardless of their socioeconomic status was the lifeblood of a successful society where each member has opportunities to thrive and break their glass ceilings,”

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nese Language and Culture Fang-Yu Li and Jing Zhang to raise awareness of the recent Hong Kong protests. The situation does not involve a physical wall, but the issues of civil unrest and division are reminiscent of Berlin’s past.

“Even if it doesn’t include a wall, the Berlin Wall encapsulates a lot of these recurring ideas and themes,” Hansen said.

On Sept. 26, students gathered to watch “The Lives of Others,” a movie about a Stasi officer who becomes obsessed with the life of writer Georg Dreyman and his wife. The extent of the extreme surveillance methods and data collection are portrayed through the movie.

During the sixth week, the theme of “migration” expressed that both humans and animals have a right to free movement. This was introduced via Hansen’s email, “Thank you to Professor [of Philosophy and Environmental Studies] Delon's Environmental Ethics class for coming up with this week's theme to highlight how borders, especially a wall, impinge on humans' and animals' rights to mobility and disrupt ecosystems and migration patterns.”

Thursday of the sixth week featured a reenactment of the 1987 Berlin Wall Speech by Ronald Reagan in West Berlin, which pressured Gorbachev to pacen the collapse of the divide. The speech was performed by second-year Noah Opalsky and introduced by Professor of History Brendan Goff on Oct. 3.

“Nunca Mas” was the theme for week seven, in collaboration with one of Professor of Political Science Amanda Fidalgo’s courses, named after the government report on the human rights abuses during the Dirty War in Argentina.

“This dictatorship and others were openly supported by the U.S. in a bid to ensure that Latin America didn't be-

come communist during the height of the Cold War," Fidalgo explained.

During the eighth week of Oct. 24, the theme of “Police State” was brought to the wall, reflecting the psychological impact of surveillance by the Stasi, East Germany’s secret police. Screenings of “Barbara” and “The Lives of Others” were shown at the plaza, reflecting the theme.

For the second-to-last week of the interactive exhibit, the idea of peaceful protest was explored during a collaboration with Professor of Religion Manuel Lopez Zafra’s religion class.

“Having met weekly since 1982 for "peace prayers," as they called them, the [Protestant] congregation finally took their meeting to the streets on Sept. 4, 1989, kicking off the so-called "Monday Demonstrations" that began to spread to other cities in East Germany. In Poland, Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979 inspired the Solidarność (Solidarity) movement in the early 80s.”

After ten weeks, a series of events commemorated the anniversary week of lifting the Iron Curtain in 1987 Berlin.

The final spray-painting session used the theme of unity.

On Nov. 4, third-year Emma Sunderland and Catalyst Copy Editor Anna Lynn Winfrey recited East German author Christa Wolf’s Alexanderplatz speech. The speech caused Wolf to be “viewed as somewhat of a prophet by the East Berliners,” according to Sunderland.

Wolf’s work takes a complex perspective on the politics of East Berlin, the voices against the wall mainly circulated were strictly capitalist or authoritarian.

“She was in favor of socialism, which many citizens were skeptical of, but she also wrote in a way that felt very personal to people which allowed

them to be open to her ideas,” Sunderland said. “When she gave this speech in Alexanderplatz, nobody knew that the wall would fall only five days later. In retrospect, I believe that this made the speech all the more special. It gave the people hope.”

Wednesday morning’s last spraypainting session featured the theme of unity, and featured several people presenting on the topic of East German surveillance. The Stasi had over 200 employees and was heavily associated with the previous Russian secret police, the Cheka.

“64 percent of the people had lasting depression and trauma related to the surveillance, and it really had a psychological impact on Germany as a whole,” third-year Daisy Talbert said, using a poster to accompany the presentation.

“It was considered a threat to individuality and freedom.”

Additionally, a six-minute deliberation of the New College Berlin Wall was featured on WUSF 89.7 on Nov. 4.

In the last Thursday night movie screening, the wall hosted a movie showing of “Goodbye, Lenin!”

On the final day of the wall’s presence on campus, students gathered at 11:30 a.m. for the final presentations.

Koski Plaza was both hot from sunlight and cold from the falling temperature.

“Who’s gonna be David Hasselhoff and get on that wall?” third-year Rigel Clapps asked.

Students were eager to see the demolition, excited by the opportunity to smash the wall, or really, anything, down. After three speeches were made by students and a guest speaker, Professor Hansen thanked all for participating in the installment. Two sledgehammers were passed around as all were encouraged to break down the wall.

Gokdemir said. “Mr. Temizer always viewed this scholarship as a payback to the Turkish government and nation for the opportunities that were provided to him. His legacy encourages me and other recipients of this scholarship to extend this chain of generosity by picking up the flag from where Mr. Temizer has left.”

Currently, there are two additional Temizer Scholars, first-year Nisanur “Nisa” Genc and second-year Atalay Kutlay. Temizer cared immensely about his scholars, often referring to them as his grandchildren, having never had any children of his own.

“At first he was the guy that gave me the scholarship,” Genc said. “After I came here he called me his granddaughter and when I visited him, he told me about our highschool. He was such an elegant person. We the students, are like a family to him. It was more than a student sponsor relationship. He would smile all the time when we were with him. He was so special.”

Temizer’s passing deeply affected his scholars who shared strong relationships with him. Gokdemir and Genc had a long late night conversation over the phone in their native language on Oct. 31, while sitting on a Pei balcony. They shared a sentimental moment to remember a man who had done so much for them. Afterwards, Genc smiled and took a long gaze at the stars before watching Turkish youtube videos with her friend and fellow scholar Kutlay. Being so far

away from home, the connection shared between Temizer and his scholars is one that can remind everyone of the things that make New College feel like home.

“They’re like my brothers,” Genc said. “They pretend they’re my big brothers. I never had an older brother in Turkey, so these people are really important to me.”

The way the people who best knew Temizer describe him, it is easy to tell he was a great man with an immense heart.

His love and passion for public education are reflected not only in his words and actions, but in the legacy he leaves behind with his scholars.

“We knew he wouldn't want us to be sad or cry for him, because he would care about our education so much,” Genc said. “That's my goal, I feel like I took over a flag from him and now it's my turn to give it to the next generation. Education is really important, and he knew that. If something is going to change the world it's gonna be with education and he knew that. Whenever I think of him, I remind myself that I owe him a successful life.”

Temizer’s story is one that offers a reminder of the people in everyone’s lives who have worked hard to ensure the success of those they care about.

Those role models are different for everybody, but they embody the same ideals: compassion, love and friendship.

Temizer’s story can inspire the hope and beauty that is often needed in the draining routine of college living.

“Mr. Temizer had a long, fulfilling life during which he experienced not only financial hardship and political asylum, but also becoming a millionaire who changed the lives of three young people,” Gokdemir said. “He demonstrates the impact of resilience in hardship and generosity in abundance. I believe that his regretless life story poses a motivational model for any young person who aspires to touch the lives of others and make an impact in the world that will outlive themselves.”

catalyst@ncf.edu

CATALYST Interim Dean

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 14,000 while Harrell was there. Despite the size difference, there were some similarities between San Bernardino and New College. The university focused on teaching rather than research and had residence halls, neither of which could be said of Fullerton.

In 2000, Harrell took the position of Vice President of Student Affairs at Chowan University in North Carolina,

Mark Paul

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 high-wage jobs to ensure economic security for all, invest in infrastructure and industry, secure clean air and water in a sustainable environment for the community with healthy food and promote justice and equality.

To attain these goals, the resolution designed a 10-year mobilization plan. The plan entails the construction of smart power grids, renovate and con-

Statewide Elections

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 ocrats have gained control of the state government since 1994, Renzy says it may be preemptive to suggest the commonwealth is moving away from its swing-state status and more firmly into the blue column.

“To say Virginia has transitioned to be blue now, I don’t know if that’s necessarily the case” Renzy said. “I mean, you have the liberal expert type elites who live outside of D.C. who kind of make up the majority of the population, but I think if you can get that spread across

ADHD

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 a pre-existing diagnosis of ADHD.” The Director of Student Success Programs and Case Manager Regina Rodarte can offer advice to students who feel they have an undiagnosed condition, and may need corresponding accommodations.

“We give students options for where they can go to get a diagnosis, with insurance considered,” Rodarte said. “I can call providers and receive quotes of their selected price ranges, whether it be in Sarasota or in their home town.

Joe or I will be happy to walk students through step by step on how to get what they need.”

Finances can be a prominent issues for students looking into not only accommodations but diagnoses. Even if a student is pre-diagnosed with a condition, certain providers will require re-

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

CONT'D

PAGE 11

where he stayed for the next 19 years.

Chowan had just under 700 students when Harrell arrived, which fell further to just above 500 students before growing up to 1,500 over the following decades. Harrell performed much the same duties there as he will be at New College: both are primarily residential with “very seasoned” residence halls. Harrell oversaw the construction of a new community for the residents at Chowan, which will allow him to give advice on New College’s own plans for growth. Chowan is a Christian college, though Harrell did not feel that there was much of a culture shock going from there to New College.

“Chowan is a church-related college,” Harrell said. “But it is not what I

would consider doctrinaire. It did not impose any belief systems; we had students from all beliefs and no beliefs. We had students from all lifestyles, from all life orientations.”

But one lifestyle imposition Chowan placed on its students was a dry campus. Lest students at New College fear that they will be wrenched from their comfortable crapulence, Harrell was clear that he did not consider that a wise policy.

“When a campus is dry, it imposes strictures on the student culture that are unrealistic,” Harrell said. “The choice to drink becomes a counter culture choice, and there is more negative drinking in an environment like that.

Here, students 21 and over can sit down and have a beer together without being surreptitious about it.”

Harrell is responsible for residence life, counseling, wellness, and student success models on campus. He is looking to be a primary advocate for student concerns outside the classroom during his term here and is looking forward to getting to know the students while he is here. Though, Harrell is unsure of how all that will translate into the actual day-to-day tasks he will be practicing.

“I’m still figuring things out,” Harrell said. “I’m only ten days into this gig!”

struct buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors, clean up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites, ensure a fair business in the economy and improve human-well being through providing higher education, high-quality health care and affordable and safe housing to all.

“Florida is one of the most climateprone states in the country,” Paul said.

“The vast majority of people in the state live a couple miles from the coastline.

The major cities in the state are severely

threatened both by increasing intensity of storms as well as the rising of sea levels. We also see [an] increase in heat-related deaths due to global warming.”

Paul expressed that basic economic human rights like employment, healthcare coverage and housing should be provided given the country is a high income society that can afford to do so.

However, Paul thinks the country lacks the political will to provide these measures and that, as a result, there will be catastrophic repercussions.

“If you look here at New College itself, we’re right on the bay,” Paul said.

“College Hall in a 100 years, unfortu-

nately, won’t be usable due to sea-level rise. I don’t think there is much we can do to save [local infrastructure on the coastline] at this point, the question is when will we act and can we act soon to prevent further sea level rise from really affecting our community.”

The Sarasota Democratic Party is hosting a discussion where Paul will explain GND policies to the public at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center for free. The talk was organized

by Peace Education and Action Center and will take place on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. and will go until 8 p.m.

the state, it’s probably shifting in a blue direction rather than just the governorship being won [like in Kentucky].”

The democratic wins in Virginia come despite scandals affecting the three top statewide officials in their party. Attorney General Mark Herring admitted to wearing blackface when he was younger; Gov. Ralph Northam admitted to wearing blackface in 1984 to impersonate Michael Jackson in a dance contest; and two women have accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denies.

With Democrats controlling the state legislature, political commentators speculate reforms being advocated by Democrats in Congress and nationwide may appear in Virginia.

“Whether they’re more ‘liberal’ or

‘moderate’ reforms like gun-control or more ‘progressive’ things like a Green New Deal,” Renzy said.

Virignia’s election results have also reignited conversation about the Equal Rights Amendment. Proposed almost a century ago and passed by Congress in 1972, the constitutional amendment, whose main clause reads, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” was ratified by only 35 of the necessary 38 states before its 1982 deadline. In 2017, Nevada became the 36th. In 2018, Illinois became the 37th.

Virginia’s incoming leaders have promised to take it up immediately when the legislature convenes in January. When the Virginia Senate was un-

der Republican control, it failed by only one vote, meaning passage is almost assured.

“I think it would be huge for that to be the 28th Amendment finally codified into law,” Renzy said. “I mean, protection based on sex, it’s been a long time coming, but the question now is whether the deadline from the original amendment needs to be extended and how easy that is for Congress to do, but I don’t think that will be hard. Whether the Supreme Court upholds that or not is a different story, but I think Virginia is probably in a good place to finally get this thing in the Constitution.”

testing. For example, if a student has autism spectrum disorder, they will need to be retested if their previous diagnosis was before the age of 16. This can prove to be a challenge for some students and some may abandon the effort.

Mayer does admit that SDS has room for improvement on making the accommodation process easier for students and wants to improve the online forms.

“I want to make the online format more clear for students to navigate,” Mayer said. There are several request forms depending on the type of disability at hand. However, getting from point A to point B proves to be a bit confusing without additional guidance. I want students to recognize what steps they need to take in terms of obtaining the necessary documentation and the ability to do this in a more efficient and streamlined manner.”

Thesis student Arianna Rodriguez has worked with SDS since her first year at New College.

“In my first year I was struggling

in all my classes,” Rodriguez said. “I began taking medication and soon realized that I needed additional help. I wasn’t finishing any of my exams on time despite how fast I worked. This helped me recognize that I should try accommodations.”

Rodriguez was diagnosed in first grade and initially received accommodations in elementary school.

“I moved around a lot as a kid, so it was hard to keep up with enforcing these,” Rodriguez said. “Luckily, I still had this paperwork available and was able to use it to get my accommodations in college.”

Her current accommodations allow her to take exams at the SDS testing center with additional time.

“My ability to complete research and do well on assignments are not affected by my ADHD and can not be tested in an exam,” Rodriguez said. “Exam accommodations allow me to be at a fair level with everybody else and not be counted out.”

She said that throughout her first

three complete years, New College has never requested a strict format for diagnosis letters. Her professors have all been very accepting of her needs. Rodriguez does not think any student considering accommodations should be afraid to try it.

“I do not regret it at all, I’d say 100 percent go for it,” Rodriguez said.

Mayer wants each and every student to be looked at as a person, and not a person with a disability. He wants to make campus as comfortable as possible for students who need additional help.

“I’d like students with disabilities to know first and foremost, that they aren’t alone,” Mayer said. “I want to offer them hope that, despite having a disability or disabilities, they can be resilient and successful. I believe in listening to people and providing a validation to their concerns. I want to help them learn skills in self-advocacy related to their disabilities, because they likely will have to use those skills once they graduate from New College and move on to future endeavors in their lives.”

Information for this article was gathered from ballotpedia.org, wsj.com, npr.org, nytimes.com, foxnews.com and wkyt.com.

CATALYST

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 www.ncfcatalyst.com | @ncfcatalyst

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R E F L EC T I O N S F ROM CO O K S O N C A MP US

BY ANNA LYNN WINFREY

Despite mandatory meal plans and grungy communal kitchens, some students choose to forgo meals in Hamilton “Ham” Center and cook for themselves. Hannah Nations, Isaac Denner and Elizabeth Ramsamooj make the most of their busy schedules and dorm kitchen spaces to cook delicious food.

Second-year Hannah Nations, who worked as a baker at Four Winds Cafe in Fall 2018, lives in V Dorm and has been cooking since she could stand in the kitchen. She started cooking full meals for her family in high school, after her mom went back to school. She still cooks for her family when she visits and bakes occasionally at her grandparents’ house nearby.

“My mom is out of school [now], so she cooks more,” Nations said.

“They probably eat out a lot more.

They eat all the foods they couldn’t eat when I was home.”

Nations has some food allergies that prohibit her from eating regularly at Hamilton “Ham” Center. But she enjoys cooking for herself.

“I know what’s going in it, so I don’t have to be worried about the ingredients,” Nations said. “I know it’s going to be healthier and I know it’s something I’m going to like.”

Her least favorite part of cooking in her dorm is the limited space, but she avoids cooking in communal kitchens because of the mess.

“If you accidentally leave something there, you’re not getting it back,” Nations said.

During his first year, someone stole a half-eaten bowl of rice thirdyear Isaac Denner left in Third Court Lounge. But after a couple weeks, he got it back, intact.

“I sent an angry email to my RA because this bowl was part of a set and I used this bowl quite often,” Denner said.

He went on to clarify, “I wasn’t angry at my RA, I was just like, ‘I really want this bowl back!’ A couple weeks later, she emailed me because maintenance had found the bowl in the Caples parking lot, still half full of rice.”

Denner often cooked for himself and others out of his room and Third Court Lounge. His favorite appliance is the Instant Pot, which was invaluable to feed hungry crowds at odd hours.

“The instant pot saved my life, dorm cooking,” Denner said. “Rice [is] so easy to make and convenient at 3:00 a.m. when everyone’s a little buzzed and no one can go and get McDonald’s. So, I would just make these huge pots of rice and then

[pour] canned beans into them and I didn’t even have to leave the dorm or do any work. You can talk to people who probably remember these big pots of rice and beans. It was the late night fare at Pei 338.”

Both of his parents cooked and were precise meal planners, so Denner didn’t learn how to cook until he taught himself his first year.

Looking back at some of his first dishes, he saw a lot of room for improvement.

“I would make really intricate ramen that in retrospect was probably overdone and had too much go-

ing on,” Denner said. “It wasn’t very good, but I liked to pretend that I was a master chef because I could boil an egg in ramen.”

When asked what motivates him to cook even when he’s tired, Denner replied, “Honestly, I really enjoy cooking. I love it all the time.”

Like Nations and Denner, thesis student Elizabeth Ramsamooj holds a deep love for cooking, especially for others.

“Food is family and community and great times,” Ramsamooj said.

“When someone in the moment is not thinking about the stresses in

All photos Anna Lynn Winfrey/Catalyst

Denner made this sourdough bread and cream cheese from scratch.

Nations bakes a variety of baked goods, including these tiramisu macarons.

Ramsamooj prepares her version of eggplant parmesan. “Neither the sauce nor the cheese used is traditional," she said. "It’s a vodka sauce and I put smoked gouda on top, which I get from the c-store. This whole meal is so cheap to make. It’s affordable, accessible fresh food.”

Ramsamooj is proud of how bright, fresh and organized her fridge is.

life but they’re nourishing their body with something that I can make and provide them, my heart is happy. I get so emotional over that. It’s my happiness.”

In addition to researching and writing her interdisciplinary thesis about how food insecurity affects the gut microbiome, Ramsamooj works as the Metz marketing intern. She runs the social media pages, writes blog posts and communicates with Metz’s regional and corporate offices.

Ramsamooj recently applied for the Fulbright Student Program to study world food cultures and mobility at the University of Gastronomic Studies in Pollenzo, Italy. The university was established by the founder of the worldwide Slow Food Movement in 2004 to apply cross-disciplinary research to promote sustainable food practices, which aligns with Ramsamooj’s passions for activism, food and biology.

She encourages any interested students to apply for Fulbright grants.

“Even if you don’t get it, at least you have this experience where you’re really critically thinking about what you want to do,” Ramsamooj said. “Like, what means things to you in your life. Throughout the application process I had to think, ‘How did food come into my life?’ It’s always been there.”

It just so happens that one of Ramsamooj’s favorite types of cuisines is Italian food. Her mom did not learn how to cook from Ramsamooj’s grandmother, because she wanted her daughter to focus on school. But after Ramsamooj’s mom moved to New York City, she was drawn to the delicious simplicity of the ample Italian food and learned to cook some Italian dishes.

Ramsamooj’s parents split up when she was in middle school. Her mom worked hard so Ramsamooj and her sister had good food to eat.

“She would make us breakfast and lunch every day,” Ramsamooj recalled. “She would work all night and then come home in the morning. We’d eat breakfast on the way to school and she’d make us lunch from scratch.”

Ramsamooj worked at the Four Winds Cafe her second year. One of her co-workers suggested making a food Instagram account (@ liz_cooks_) and she regularly posts pictures and recipes of her culinary creations.

“I really thought about, ‘What makes you happy?’ And for me it was food,” Ramsamooj said. “I got the confidence to realize that people will support me. I make food for my community and people enjoy it.”