the
Seminole
SCRiBe Issue 2 | March 2014
THE SEMINOLE SCRIBE
2 | Seminole Scribe
“No words” after Denmark giraffe killing
The Seminole Scribe is the official student newspaper of Seminole State College of Florida EDITOR Melissa B. Merkler
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By Bianca Cacho
STAFF REPORTERS Bianca Cacho Shannen Connor Christina Fleming Matthew Jezak
two-year-old male giraffe named Marius was killed and fed to lions and other carnivorous animals in a Copenhagen, Denmark zoo in front of guests, including children. The killing brings up many questions such as “Could something else have been done?” Some people may believe that the only solution to save the giraffe could have been to simply transfer him to a different zoo. Although the decision to euthanize the giraffe due to genetic reasons seems immorally-just to some humans in the West, the act is completely backed by science and European laws.
Nicole Mueller Domonique Quinn Leyla Rad George Rivera Faculty Adviser Jennifer Sheppard EDITORIAL POLICY Viewpoints expressed in columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Seminole Scribe or Seminole State College. Letters or columns can be emailed or dropped off at the office. Please limit letters to 500 words, and include phone number, name and area of study or affiliation. Letters will not be printed anonymously. We reserve the right to reject letters.
The Central Florida Zoo released a statement: “The Central Florida Zoo works with other accredited AZA institutions to find permanent homes when the situation arises. We participate in Species Survival Plans (SSPs) that are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It’s a great program that allows us to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically stable animal populations.” According to CNN, a second zoo in Copenhagen planned to euthanize another young giraffe by shooting the animal in the head while he ate food to later dismember him and feed him to lions, tigers and leopards in front of guests just as Copenhagen Zoo did. After many death threats to zoo officials and signed petitions, the zoo later decided not to go through with the killing and to transfer the young male giraffe to a wildlife sanctuary instead. “There are no words,” Kendall Costello, a student at Seminole State College of Florida, said. “If they were concerned about inbreeding then they should have sold him to a private owner who wanted him.” Kenneth Montville, a PETA representative, said that zoos are not good environments for animals. “Zoos breed animals to attract visitors,” Montville said. “America has the same problem, but instead of killing the animal American zoos give the surplus animals to circuses.” According to PETA, the Copenhagen Zoo knew that Marius the giraffe had the same genetics as the other giraffes yet the decision was still made to keep the young animal around to attract guests. Wildlife preservations could be a better alternative for animals that need to be kept in captivity.
Photo courtesy of www.mctcampus.com
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MISSION STATEMENT We are a student-run newspaper that aims to construct a publication of professionalism. Through each individual staffer’s utmost potential, we write for the interest of the school and its student body to deliver a quality news and entertainment source that uphold traditional journalistic values. PUBLIC FORUM The Seminole Scribe is a “designated public forum.” Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. COPYRIGHT ©2014 The Seminole Scribe. All rights reserved. All content is property of The Seminole Scribe and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Scribe is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Florida Community College Press Association and College Media Advisers Inc. CONTACT US Room J-107 | Sanford/Lake Mary thescribe@seminolestate.edu
Shining a light on “Take Back the Night” By Leyla Rad
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bout one in five women have been sexually assaulted on college campuses. This is according to President Barack Obama in his recent White House report on January 22.
A few weeks later, on Feb. 12, 2014, Seminole State held the inaugural “Take Back the Night” event to shine a light on what some may consider a very serious “epidemic” that has been increasing rapidly throughout the world. The “Take Back the Night” event is held at numerous campuses around the country in response to gender violence, rape and sexual assault. The nonprofit foundation is called “Take Back the Night” because the event is a time to feel safe as participants use the light to take back the streets while walking around campuses and cities. Scott Freeman, Ph.D., Jason Whitesel, Ph.D., Jan Lloyd, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Student Development and Rebecca Padilla, professor of social sciences, were the minds behind the event at Seminole State. “A lot of it is that they don’t think it’s a big deal,” Dr. Freeman said. “There’s different degrees of offending. The language we use, how we treat people, the way we do things. This is just that introspection to get people to think ‘Huh, that’s something to think about.’ ” Students, teachers and administrators gathered together near the Wayne M. Densch Partnership Center on the Sanford/Lake Mary campus waiting for enough people to start the rally. As people showed up, they signed their names on a paper that read: “Take Back the Night,” pledging to take a stand against gender violence. Multiple students held a piece of paper in their hand with different statistics, facts or slogans that was chanted as everyone marched around.
Dr. Jason Whitesel, professor of social sciences, participates in the Take Back the Night march.
“Break the Silence, Stop the Violence,” “Take Back the Night,” “No means no,” were all screamed and recited through the crowd raising awareness throughout the campus. Some students and professors who weren’t in the rally clapped and smiled as the marchers continued to chant and scream. After the march, participants gathered around the microphone while four volunteers read personal stories about rape, gender violence and assault. All the stories were anonymously sent in. “It took me days to tell people what had happened, which was very difficult because of the noticeable marks he left on my body,” one story said. Another said, “She started drinking and along with the drinking came the physical abuse and the ‘daddies of the week,’ ... that’s when he undressed and got under the covers with me.” After each story, the person reading the story lit a candle symbolizing the “the shining of a light on a tragic event.” NIGHT continued on page 10
Seminole State couple James and Leslie Sears hold signs. Photos by Leyla Rad
4 | Seminole Scribe
Up to now I have had 15 surgeries. First was the closure of my back, next was my shunt insertion for hydrocephalus, and then came the foot reconstruction plus afo’s for walking. By the age of 13, I had two-foot reconstruction, bladder and kidney reconstruction with having to self catheterize which totaled 10 surgeries. When I was 10 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was located in my pituitary gland and was the size for a golf ball. It had caused me to have puberty at 6 and I had to have growth hormone to stop it till I was at the right age for puberty.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR December 17, 1990 - that was the year I was born. My mother went into labor and almost gave birth to me on the side of the road on the highway. She had to have an emergency cesarean section because my heart would stop every time she had a contraction. When I was born they took me for emergency surgery at Arnold Palmer Hospital.
They had taken half of the tumor out and the other half had disappeared. When I was 20 I had foot surgery again only instead of both feet, I only had one foot operated on. It was to fix what they call hind foot; they only operated one because they wanted both feet to be equally constructed. So up to the age of 13, I was raised in and out of the hospital.
I was born with a hole in my back with nerve damage to parts of my legs, called Spinabifida. I was also born with Chairi Malformation, which is where part of my brain is between my skull and spinal cord, there really is not a cure for it, but the shunt has help improve the pressure. It still comes with occasional headaches that I have to deal with. This was just the beginning of my life of challenges, growing up I thought I was going to be cured of this birth defect and be normal. Little did I know that it was for life, no cure nothing but surgery after surgery to make me more normal as possible. Now if you were to meet me you would see a normal 21-year-old college student. I’ve come a long way in this journey and I continue to stay strong and move on with every obstacle I’m given. Today I’m happy with who I am and what I have overcome.
Now I’m glad to say that I have overcome the hardship of having Spinabifida. I still live with it every day but I deal with it because I understand and know what to expect. When I was little I never understood how important knowing what was to come or how it would affect my life. Now I do, I just take it day by day and know that there might always be something to deal with. I know I will always have this disability and I’m ready for anything that comes next whether it’s adapting to something or another physical challenge. - Samantha Glenn Seminole State College of Florida student
Annual Tech Expo Celebrates Fifth Year at Seminole State College of Florida
Voting is T super cool!
he steady rain didn’t stop kids, teenagers and college students from flocking to the Sanford/ Lake Mary campus of Seminole State College of Florida on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014.
18 or older? You can register to vote today 16 or 17? You can pre-register to vote today
www.VoteSeminole.org
An on-site gaming truck allowed students to try different kinds of video games. Classrooms filled with eager parents wanting to learn how to write Android game apps for their children. Meanwhile, The green Ultimate Video Game Party truck purred in the visitor parking lot as the generators ran to keep the mobile gaming trailer running. Parents, kids and college students waited anxiously in line outside of the trailer as they looked on watching others play.
By Melissa B. Merkler
Jose Perez, a S/LM student studying law said he attended the event because he is trying to get more involved in school activities. His favorite video game is Call of Duty, although he admittedly said as he waited in line for his chance to play a video game. “I hate technology but like what they have done with it,” he said. “Time is almost up,” Jeff Chiafone said to kids playing video games in the Ultimate Video Game Party truck. He said he has owned it for more than three years and is the only franchise in Orlando. EXPO continued on page 7
The best party you’ve never heard of Letter to the Editor
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n late February, about an hour west of Orlando and a few miles north of State Road 50 in the Groveland/Mascotte area, an extended weekend party of friends, old and new, took place in a clearing that used to be connected to an orange grove. The Antemesaris Rock n’ Roll People’s Party is one of the best parties of the year featuring live music set in a small, outof-the-way campground. You’ve probably never heard of this party and there’s a good reason for it. The guy who started it all doesn’t want it to get too big and spoiled by lots of people: small and intimate is the vibe. He’s not the kind of guy who has aspirations to build a big-time festival; he likes his parties and knows how to do it well,which is why his reluctance to do this interview is understandable. “I don’t want it in the papers. I don’t want any advertising,” Chris Bell founder and godfather of the party, whose paternal name is Antemesaris, said. My assurance to him was that this is for a humble Seminole County school publication and he immediately changed his mind. Plus, I’ve known Chris for a few years now. The party is known by four names: Antemesaris, Rock n’ Roll People’s Party, Peace Fest and Party in the Woods. “They’re all the same,” Bell said. And what about Peace Fest? “The people named it that.” 2014 ushered in with the twenty-fourth year of, well, let’s just call it the party and it was as fun as any other year I’ve been, this being my sixth in eight years. I look forward to it, it’s on the calendar and my band plays it, so that’s a bonus. Since its inception in 1991, the party has combined the elements of camping, great live music, friends, drinking various beverages and eating smoked meats, if that’s your thing. The very first party had “probably 100 people [attending],” Bell said. “That was the wildest party.” There’s definitely kind of a hippie vibe but a lot of people there are regular 9-to-5’ers who party on the weekends. Yes, there’s a peace and love feeling in the air but there’s also live music that makes a connection with the people. It’s the main attraction by far and everybody there is pretty damn nice and
Contributed M a r c by h 2Joe 014 | 5 Meadows
welcoming. Upon entry after paying the cover, which varies in price depending on how long one stays, you get a spot to camp, non-stop live music, an endless supply of a barley-based beverage and a barbecue on Saturday. The music and lineups have obviously evolved over the past 24 years. The first party had one band and now it’s up to 33. Most of the bands are from Orlando, Tampa and Polk County. One could say it’s the best of the best in local music from a large swath of the Interstate 4 corridor. Bands like Tampa’s Have Gun Will Travel and Orlando’s Thomas Wynn and the Believers are prominently featured at the party, among many others. Genres of music range from an all-out metal and hard rock party on Friday night to Americana in the afternoon and Reggae, Rock and Soul at night. The Saturday evening barbecue is also a hit and you’ll inevitably be drawn to the long, overflowing line to get to the goods. This wasn’t really the case at the original party. Things didn’t go as smooth. At Antemesaris number one, Bell said, they were about “to make pork ‘n beans and I had a hog or somebody had brought meat… [but we] had no can opener for the can, so I used a claw hammer.” And what happened to the ill-fated can of beans? “Never got it open,” Bell said. While roaming about between bands, I bump into one of my band mates whom I consider to be a king of the smoked meats. A row of chicken thighs and legs appeared as Clay Watson opened the fieryhot smoker. He’s a roaming artist, master chef and trombone extraordinaire, who is at his fifteenth straight party. When he opened the smoker a wonderful assault on the senses occurred between the smoker pumping out billow after billow of burning meat and smoky smells, the heat and crackle of the fire, the good conversation with friends while musical sounds filled the breezy, afternoon air. When asked what he loves most about the party, Watson responded, “Just hanging out in nature and playing with everybody and seeing people you never get to see.”
Altogether, it’s known by four names: Antemesaris, Rock n’ Roll People’s Party, Peace Fest and Party in the Woods.
6 | Seminole Scribe
How to thrive as a young student parent 5 tips to help you get your through day
Photo courtesy of MCT campus
Many people ask me, “Do you ever break down when you cannot handle your busy schedule?” The answer is no, I don’t break down because I ask myself, “Where is that going to get me?” Covering up something because you have an issue is not going to help that issue disappear. Crying because I am a young mother, in college with a job does not eliminate the task I still have to complete in the end. The work load is very stressful and sometimes it is hard to balance everything at once. Sometimes I have to stop to breathe in and out and slow down on what I am doing. The more frantic I get, the more things become harder to complete. I have become such a super-parent by conquering more than one goal at a time. Here are five tips that can help with being a young student parent:
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BALANCE YOUR Domonique Quinn SCHEDULE. When I have so many things going on at once I have to organize everything in a timely manner. I keep a planner with me at all times so I can write down important events and also little things I have to do throughout the day. I go to school in the morning and work at night, so in the between time, I find the time to complete homework or chores around the house. Whenever I have appointments I can always go through my planner to make sure I organize my schedule properly and when I do that, I always make sure I get up three hours before, because I never know what could happen in between that time.
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STUDY TIME. It is very hard for me to study when I have so many things to do on my schedule; the best thing for me is to read the material as soon as I get it. Waiting until the last minute can be difficult especially when my daughter is not asleep, or
I have no one to watch her. When I study the material in the beginning, it gives me enough time to spend enough time with my daughter and also for me to get a lot more things done throughout the week. Whenever I have material I need to read, I count the page and divide those pages by how many days until a quiz or test, so I don’t overload myself with information.
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BUDGET. Budgeting has been a big part of my life. When I do not budget, I feel bad about the items I spend my money on. Budgeting saves a lot of money, so if something does come up there is always something I have to fall back on. When I do get my financial aid money, I set a limit to what I would like to spend and save the rest. My goal is to create my own magazine, and I save all the money I can to make sure that goal is fulfilled.
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TALK TO FAMILY. Talking to the family is another difficult task because not many agreed with me getting pregnant at 19. Not being afraid to ask for help was the
best thing I’ve ever done. My family is a huge help, without them I do not know how I would be able to complete my homework and quizzes. I sat down and explained everything to my parents so they also knew my schedule and we were all on the same page.
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GET REST. I have a bad habit of not getting enough rest, and when I do get some rest in between, it makes me feel a lot better. It is hard to go to sleep when the baby is asleep because there is so much more things that can be done. When my daughter is at the babysitter and I have an hour to relax, I take a quick nap before I leave for work. Getting enough rest is also good for your health. When I get enough rest, I am more focused, energized and feel like I can achieve anything that comes my way.
If you are parent in college, please submit your story to The Seminole Scribe via email at thescribe@seminolestate.edu or tweet us @seminolescribe.
CONVERSATION OVER COFFEE
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ot coffee steamed into the cool Saturday morning air as the scent of fresh ground coffee beans entwined in the breeze at the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market one recent weekend. Standing at one of the booths, Judy Wilbur tended to customers who stopped by for coffee, but she never thought she would find herself selling coffee. “I just wanted to get out into the world again,” said Mrs. Wilbur.
Retiring seven years ago, Judy Wilbur said she decided that being home so much was not for her. Mrs. Wilbur, wife of 25 years and mother of seven, said she always knew how to keep herself busy, especially when it came to cheering on her children, including former National Football League Giant’s Linebacker, Kawika Mitchell, but she soon realized she was not ready to escape the work world just yet.
March 2014 | 7 By Nicole Mueller
“’Blessed’ was my password for a lot of my stuff, it isn’t now, but I feel like God planted me here,” Mrs. Wilbur said as she looked around absorbing the view. Venus Allen, Mrs. Wilbur’s daughter, agreed that there is a bigger purpose.
“My mom has always inspired me by living completely in faith,” she said. “Knowing our steps are already counted for us helps and has already helped know that in any event, good or bad, God never leaves our side.” Mrs. Wilbur’s humorous, trusting and conversational nature attracts many loyal customers, weekend after weekend. “People love her!” Mr. Leavitt said. “When she posts on Facebook about which farmer’s market she attends that weekend and what roast she is brewing, the response is tremendous.”
Scrolling through her Facebook news feed one morning, she saw that Blessed Bean Coffee, a local coffee bean roasting company, updated their Facebook page. So she “She is vibrant with a lot of charisma,” Mr. Leavitt said. messaged the owner, Robie Leavitt, asking if a position was available part-time, but little did she know, it was not As passerby’s stroll through the Lake Mary Farmer’s at a coffee shop like she had assumed. Market, the distant melody of a two-man music group is heard above the frequent chatter of market attendees, one “He had a farmer’s market stand on Lake Lily in Maitland playing the violin and the other strumming the guitar. so I bought a bag of coffee and then became friends with Judy Wilbur sells a variety of coffee roasts by Blessed him on Facebook,” Mrs. Wilbur said, “but he returned Some people in Mrs. Wilbur’s life weren’t always so Bean Coffee at the local farmer’s market. Photos by my message and said that he had another opportunity for understanding of her talkative quality. Ryan Adams me.” “I talk so much that a lot of people insult me, asking if I It happened to be a weekend position selling Blessed ever stop,” Mrs. Wilbur said, “but here, I can say it and Bean Coffee at the farmer’s markets across town. Options when you get tired of me you can move on and I’ve got include a cup to enjoy while walking around the market, the next person to talk to.” a sample or a bag of whole or ground coffee beans.
EXPO continued from page 4
“Kids used to go to the arcade for the day with $5 and play video games with their friends,” he said.
Inside the building, students and parents attended classes held offering lessons on several different topics.
“Now they all sit at home on the couch and play games alone,” he said. “This brings kids together,” Chiafone said, pointing to the gaming truck.
One particular topic geared toward children taught parents step-by-step directions how to create Android game applications.
Mobile laser tag is the newest addition to the mobile gaming truck, he said. “I’d like to buy a second truck in the future.”
Krishna Balwalli held the attention of quiet parents as they learned how to convert a child’s simple pencil drawing into an interactive Android application.
The truck is available for rent for $299 which includes 90-minutes of game play. Multiple tables lined the breezeway leading up to the doors of the Wayne Densch Partnership building. It was no surprise to see Game Stop at the technology event. Store manager, Matthew Barrett said he attended Seminole State College in the past and his company has job opportunities and is “looking for talent.”
During the lecture, children drew characters to keep them busy. Later, one little girl stood up and told the story of a girl and her horse she had created in the short lecture time. “It all starts with your imagination,” one presentation slide explained. Balwalli’s two young daughters inspired him to write his book after spending more than 20 years
in the computer science industry. “My goal is to give it justice in a sense,” he said referring to the gaming lectures and the book he published about the topic. “I want to spread awareness and education about game apps,” Balwalli said. The book Make Your Own Game Apps for Kids is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Although the technology event was held on a college campus, it was not just meant for students. “It’s about getting the community excited about technology,” Associate Dean of Information Technology, Lenny Portelli, said, adding “It gets kids exposed to technology in a fun way.” Seminole State College offers several Information Technology degrees both in two and four-year programs.
8 | Seminole Scribe
PSYCH STUDENT MAGICIAN PLAYS MIND GAMES By Matthew Jezak
Standing on stage under the bright hot lights Keith Kong smashed his way through four white Styrofoam cups with his hand avoiding the one that was hiding a three-inch spiked steel nail to roaring applause.
advantage because, according to Professor Scott Freeman, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Seminole State, people want to believe in some things some times.
The trick might seem dangerous but Keith says he’s performed the trick without incident.
“Sometimes what we can’t see, we want to believe,” Professor Freeman said. “It’s how we perceive things. It’s sleight of hand but it’s also sleight of mind.”
“If I’m not one hundred percent sure of where the nail is I won’t do it,” Kong said.
Confidence, Kong said, is his greatest strength and will lead to his success.
Kong, a student of Seminole State College studying psychology and criminal justice, is a magician with dreams of performing all over the world. He’s spent some time in New York City, Central Park and Times Square performing illusions with hopes to spend more time doing just that. At the Why Not Lounge Sunday Feb. 23, Kong’s show “Mind Mystery” included tricks like the cup smash and naming items while being blindfolded. Patrons enjoyed more than just the all-you-can-eat buffet. On stage, Kong combines his love for magic with his knowledge and enthusiasm for psychology, which builds his confidence, and all his hard work pays off. Studying psychology at Seminole State College gives Kong’s magic an
“I feel like it’s just going to happen,” Kong said. “I control my own fate. Confidence is a huge part of performing magic. If I’ve never performed a trick in my life, when I get on stage I’m going to make it look like I’ve performed it a thousand times.” At the show, audience members were asked to draw an image on a piece of paper, hidden from the view of Kong, and then he went through and matched each drawing with its creator using only the power of his mind. Sara Linehan, a student at Seminole State College who attended the magic show, drew a house on the piece of paper and Kong picked hers first. “My first reaction was ‘Wow,’” Linehan said, “You can’t really wrap your mind around it.”
To see a video of Keith Kong’s Mind Mysteries Magic Show, just scan this QR code: From the Editor Welcome to the second edition of The Seminole Scribe’s spring lineup. The reporting staff is made up of some returning students from last semester and a handful of first-timers just learning the journo-ropes. The collaboration of ideas and backgrounds always make for interesting stories and design spreads. March has much to offer college students with Spring Break, Bike Week, MegaCon and St. Patrick’s Day. How did you celebrate March? Send us your stories at thescribe@seminolestate.edu Melissa B. Merkler - EIC
Multi-million dollar project has UCF looking like the next best school for athletes
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March 2014 | 9
By Shannen Connor
fter providing the University of Central Florida with what is known to be the school’s biggest received donation in its history, the Wayne Densch Foundation has paved the way for UCF and its athletes to train and prepare in what has become known as the Center for StudentAthlete Leadership, which will cost four million dollars. Andy Seeley, the Assistant Director of AthleticsCommunications at UCF, said the purpose of the center “will serve as the headquarters for UCF student-athletes’ personal, professional, and academic development, while also providing operations space to serve more than 500 student athletes.” A student here at Seminole State College, who wants to pursue a future as a UCF Knight, Reynaldo Cuevas expressed his opinion about the center by saying “I think that this is a big step towards UCF’s fame and popularity, especially in the athletic community. It’s creating such an amazing opportunity for athletes to have a way to achieve their goals and make dreams come true.” The Wayne Densch Foundation has had an impact on UCF’s Photo courtesy of mctcampus.com athletic programs throughout the years. It has helped to provide students and athletes an equal opportunity for ongoing success after college. The Center for Student-Athlete Leadership could just be the beginning to a promising future for the attendees of UCF. Todd Stansbury, the Vice President and Director of Athletics at UCF, sounded quite excited about the project and said “this gift will make the Center for Student-Athlete Leadership a reality, which is a priority for our program.” One UCF alumni, Danny O’Toole, said “I hope it will provide a place for athletes to keep putting UCF on the national stage.” The project is set to begin construction late this year.
Why not basketball? By Bianca Cacho
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asketball can be looked at as one of the top sports played and watched in America. All across the country both men and women play the sport from the time they are little and can advance to higher levels in high school, college and may potentially have the opportunity to end up in the National Basketball Association. Seminole State College of Florida once had both a men’s and women’s basketball team. The teams had their last season in 2009. The decision to get rid of the program was decided by the president of Seminole State with reasons still unclear according to John Scarpino, athletic director at Seminole State.
A new basketball program may benefit Seminole State tremendously. A basketball team has the potential to bring more students, more activities and more money to the school. More importantly a new basketball program can give students a chance to succeed. That is because with sports like basketball students without a 4.0 grade point average or a scholarship a chance to thrive not only in athletics but also academics. According to Mr. Scarpino, eight out of ten under-privileged students would go through the basketball program and graduate in two years to then transfer to universities and continue the education that would not have been possible without the help of the program.
In fact, Seminole State’s basketball program took a young woman named Anika Henery from innercity Miami that could not get her diploma because she could not pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and gave her a chance to succeed, Mr. Scarpino said. Mr. Scarpino and his basketball staff found out she had dyslexia and helped her through to get her GED. She later played for Seminole State’s two-year team then moved on to the University of Florida where she graduated. “Without basketball, where would she have been?” Mr. Scarpino asked. According to Mr. Scarpino Seminole State’s basketball program produced a 90 percent transfer rate and an 80 percent graduation rate for the women’s team; men’s basketball produced a 60 to 75 percent graduation rate. Women’s basketball was even ranked in the top 20 for both athletics and academics during their last season. BBALL continued on page 10
BBALL continued from page 9
“Student activities and participation would be a lot higher and we would start to see more students motivated” Joshwaun Smith, a student at Seminole State said. Bringing back the program is one thing many students would love to see Seminole State accomplish. “I don’t watch baseball unless it’s the World Series” Bacarri Grayson, a student of Seminole State said. “If we had a basketball team, it would feel more like a school.” Seminole State’s growing community, with more than 30,000 students enrolled, may bring a reason to expand the athletic program. Rebuilding the gym in the health building is just one step. The gym will take two years to build, a basketball program would take about one, according to Mr. Scarpino. “Can we afford athletics?” Mr. Scarpino asked, “Can we afford to not give students an opportunity, answer that.”
The 2009 SCC men’s basketball team. Photo courtesy of Seminole State College Athletic Department
The 2009 SCC women’s basketball team. Photo courtesy of Seminole State College Athletic Department
NIGHT continued from page 3
Lindsay Steadman, a junior at Seminole State, said she believed that the greatest impact of the event was the variety of people raising awareness in the crowd. “I think what moved me more about this event was that it wasn’t just straight women,” she said. “People sometimes forget that these things don’t just happen to women, it happens to every type of person. And seeing that mix at the event just really made me happy. I think it set this concrete idea in to the people that watched or marched that these issue are being swept under the rug, that these issues aren’t getting the attention it needs and it’s happening in their backyard.”
“You never really get rid of the scars but eventually the burning stops enough to move on.”
Sara Linehah, Joshua Hunnel, Danielle Dangelman, Lindsay Steadman at the Take Bake The Night event at Seminole State College. Photo by Leyla Rad.
The event ended with any person who wished to speak out, whether it was a bit of advice or a personal story, to step out and say whatever was on his or her mind.
One participant mentioned that she was a gender violence victim for 13 years and said, “Sometimes all you need is for someone to just ask ‘Are you okay?’ or ‘Is everything alright?’ and that could be the reason they speak out.”
Musician on the move While at the twenty-fourth annual Antemesaris Rock n’ Roll People’s Party, I sat down with local musician Thomas Wynn to talk about his band, the Believers, his musical history and what he’s up to around town. Contributed by Joe Meadows
Q: What [music] was on in the house growing up? A: James Taylor; Paul Simon - Graceland, Rhythm of the Saints; the Beatles, every Beatles album; not much of the Stones.
ours, Uncle Lee, he’s not our uncle but he’s the same age as our Dad, so we call him Uncle Lee….killer guitar player. And that went on for about three or four years. Q: What was your original idea and sounds you wanted for the Believers? A: Well, at the time I was really, really heavily influenced by The Band. So that’s kind of what I wanted to be, but then….I got these great lead [guitar] players to play with me….Tim Turner started playing with me.
Q: Not much Motown or R&B? A: Some Motown, like the Temptations, Commodores, you know, stuff like that? Yeah. But, really, one of my first memories is my brother and I dancing to “You can call me Al” by Paul Simon…off [the album] Graceland. Q: With Ladysmith Black Mambazo? A: That’s right. Chevy Chase in the music video. Q: So when you started played, what [instrument] did you play? A: I started playing drums because my father’s a drummer. Started around [age] nine. I set up the drums and he came home and rearranged the drum set, taught me how to really set it up. Then he set up an egg-timer for five minutes, and [set up] a metronome. He said, “Play this beat: boom, cha, boom, cha, boom, cha….till [the egg timer’s] done. No fills! Just play to the metronome.” And then [he’d] set the timer again, set the metronome again and then play a three-four beat. Boom, cha cha, boom, cha cha. He said, “Three-four, which is the waltz and four-four, which is rock: the only two beats you really need to know in order to play everything else. Everything builds off of it.” And that’s what he showed me. Q: How did your former band, the Wynn Brothers Band, come to be? A: Jordan, my brother left to go to school in Texas and right before he left, we started an acoustic duo band called, “Second Place Wynn.” He came up with that, he’s the witty guy. And we were doing acoustic stuff, [like]….Dashboard Confessional, and then [they] came out. And it was the same [music]. And we were like, “Ah, bummer.” So then he left and I started a full band with Second Place Wynn and then he came back from college and we started the Wynn Brothers Band.
Q: Did that change your approach to guitar? A: It did! It changed my approach to guitar completely. It also changed the music because [my backing band, Shak Nasti] were such an entity of themselves that even though they were playing my songs, it kind of rotated it into a different genre….then over time…I realized that it wasn’t my natural bent….but playing with Tim Turner so long made me a lead player.
Q & A
Q: The old man was on drums, right? A: That’s right, yeah. Our Dad was playing, [my sister] Olivia was singing, Jordan’s wife, Heather, was singing. I was playing guitar. A friend of
Q: I did notice a few weeks ago that you didn’t have a lead guitar player up there? A: I’m doing it. Ah man, I never thought I’d be a lead guitar player. Q: What’s different about being a regional to a nationally touring act? A: Well, we’ve been blessed with a booking agent and when we want to work, he’ll put us to work. We’re recording an album now so we’re home for a while but we’re going out for a few weeks in April because we have to. We feel that if we’ve been somewhere, in six months, we have to go back again. Otherwise, the work that we did is a wash….and we want it continue to build. Q: Where can people see you performing solo acoustic guitar? A: The Imperial at Washburn Imports on Orange Ave in Orlando. We’re doing a trio set 4 Mar, for Fat Tuesday….at Ollie’s. Q: I’ve noticed that you do a mix of solo acoustic and full band gigs, do you do it for a sense of balance or a challenge of some sort? A: I do it for a living (laughs).
12 | Seminole Scribe
GO STATE! GO STUDY! By Melissa B. Merkler
P
ost-it notes, folded corners of book pages and restaurant napkins are just a few tools that may help students study.
Seminole State College of Florida student Alexandria Campbell said she “definitely studies differently for different subjects.” Campbell is a hospitality management student minoring in marketing at the Oviedo campus. She said when it comes to math, “I rarely read the textbooks.” Instead, she said she “typically works out a problem” to learn how to do it. However, when Campbell studies English, she said she goes tries to thoroughly understand the subject. “I read it, analyze it and then look up other supplemental material that coincides with the story such as interviews with the author,” she said. Why the in-depth study research? “I was in AP [advanced placement] classes in high school,” Campbell said. “If you couldn’t understand something you were expected to look it up,” she said. Some students at Seminole State might prefer to take electronic notes instead of using pen and paper. However, “I write everything,” Campbell said. “Everything I type is final draft, ” she said. She also said she doesn’t type rough drafts on the computer, but instead prefers pen to paper. “I feel like if I write something on paper, it gives me time to think about what I’m thinking.” Sales at the Seminole State College bookstore indicate that students are in fact still writing lots of notes on paper. Donna Collins, store manager of the Sanford/Lake Mary campus bookstore for 9 years, said the topselling item, other than the obvious book sales, is spiral notebooks. She said many students even opt to purchase notebooks with the school name imprinted on them.
Not surprisingly, the next top-selling items at the bookstore are pens and pencils. Also, there is a growing need for technology products, Ms. Collins said. “We’re starting to sell more tablets because they are versatile in class with their note taking capabilities,” she said. Almost magically appearing, Ms. Collins plopped down a student Livescribe pen on her desk and said the bookstore is starting to sell more of these devices, which allows students to write and record voice at the same time. Even some professors are using them to teach classes. After raising two children of her own in an evolving digital age, she said the younger generations are more open to using computers and technology in the classroom while past generations still use traditional note-taking techniques such as pen and paper. She also said that Cornell Notes is another big seller to new students taking the College Success class that introduces students to how to be a master student. Another Oviedo campus student, Gregory Kobrick, said even though this is only his second semester, he has already learned many new study habits because of the College Success class. Kobrick said he wants to be a police detective and hopes to go to UCF or UF after graduating from Seminole State. With so many resources on campus and encouraging professors, there is no excuse for students to not produce quality work. “I learned how to organize, study and change my ways,” he said. “Like bad habits, and to write everything out.”
disabilities to help them be the best student they can be and according to the college website insures “equity and excellence in education.” There is one particular professor on the S/LM campus that is known for her classroom study groups. Cheryl Cantwell, a 17-year veteran at Seminole State College, is a professor of mathematics and many years ago implemented a study group system that has been “tweaked over the years,” she said. The study groups are used to encourage students to commingle, as well as learn from and teach each other. “The study groups are optional, not mandatory,” Ms. Cantwell said. “They are instead offered as a means to replace a low test or exam grade and an additional way to learn the material covered in each lesson.” While student are challenged to study together for 10 hours per semester, Ms. Cantwell said her students go beyond the “low bar” of 10 hours, and, “actually study together between 30 and 50 hours per semester,” she said. What is the payoff? The benefits from the study groups are apparent because “the students know each other and feel comfortable asking questions in class,” Ms. Cantwell said. “Even some students that transferred to UCF kept their study groups,” she said with a smile. So, the next time you feel embarrassed to ask a question during class - don’t, because most likely there is another student sitting around you wondering the same thing, Ms. Cantrell said. To learn more about Disability Support Services, visit http://www.seminolestate.edu/dss/.
In addition to the success classes, there are other services available on campus. “I had a free tutor help me learn how to write sentences,” Kobrick said. Kobrick uses several services offered by Seminole State College and said, “I even have an assigned note-taker by a DSS counselor.” DSS is an acronym for Disability Support Services. It’s a program provided by Seminole State and offers resources for students with
Professor Cantwell teaches trigonometry in class recently. Photo by Melissa B. Merkler
March 2014 | 13
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14 | Seminole Scribe
hen in college some students may forget to do what they desire most because they are overwhelmed with school work, extracurricular activities and balancing their time. At Seminole State College of Florida students work toward enhancing their education but also fulfilling their dreams. Students around the Seminole State Oviedo and Sanford/Lake Mary campuses expressed their number one ambition they have before they “kick the bucket.� Photos by Christina Fleming
Before I Die...
March 2014 | 15
opment
el areer Dev Student C ties Opportuni
er do Summ 2014 Ovie rch a M , s. e Job Fair, Tu a.m. to 2 11 25, 2014, pus viedo cam p.m. at O . o ti pa – Outside
Seminole State Volunteers | Heathrow Service Day
Relevant majors: All majors welcome and all students interested in summer jobs/ internships.
Sunday, March 23 Sidewalk Art Festival (12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Park Avenue, Winter Park
Student Engagement Team Events
Altamonte - Tuesday, March 25: March Madness Event from noon to 2 p.m. S/LM - Wednesday, March 26: Coffee House Jam in Student Center from noon to 2 p.m.
Hosting events? Email us! thescribe@ seminolestate.edu
College-wide Service Day Seminole State Volunteers:
Saturday, March 29 Meals On Wheels March for Meals at Sanford Riverwalk 7 a.m. 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 Lake Clean Up at Lake Tuskawilla 9 a.m. to noon Email: volunteers@ seminolestate.edu for more info.
Student Career Development Opportunities Heathrow - Career Fair, Thurs. April 3, 2014, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Relevant majors: Engineering Technology, Construction, Interior Design, Digital Media/ Graphic Design, Business and Information Management, Information Systems Technology
Seminole
Friday, M
Calendar Student
Career D evelopm O ent pport PTA and Respirato unities ry Care C Wed., M arch 19, areer Fa 2014, 9 Altamon a.m. to n ir, te camp oon at u s. Relevant M Respirato ajors: Physical T herapy, ry Care
State Vo
lunteers
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viedo arch 21 - Oviedo Day (11 Service a.m. to 2 Hope He p lps (food .m.) pantry)
Film Club Movie Nights - March 7 "Gravity" 7 p.m. S/LM G-bldg Concert Hall - March 21 (Film to be determined) S/LM 7 p.m. G-bldg Concert Hall - April 18 "Man of Steel" 7 p.m. S/LM G-bldg Concert Hall
Oviedo - Thursday, March 27: Holi Festival (Hindu Festivals of Color) from noon to 2 p.m.
MAKE THE FIRST CLICK. Easy. Worry-Free. Guaranteed. Seminole State students are guaranteed admission to UCF when you sign up for DirectConnect to UCF at directconnecttoucf.com.
1207RGC990 9/20
Questions? Call 407.708.2471.
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