Spring 2015 Issue 2
Editor’s note
Retractions, apologies and learning experiences
Hello, Seminole State! We have a great issue this month! Editing The Scribe has been a new experience for me and while it is a bit more responsibility than just writing for the paper, it is also more rewarding. Unfortunately, it is one of those responsibilities I need to address before we get to this issue’s stories. In Issue 1 we printed a story named “Students search for mental illness help.” In that story, the reporter stated that Seminole State Psychology professor Nelson Lucca was a licensed clinician when in reality he is not. It has also come to our attention that the student who interviewed Mr. Lucca did not represent himself as a journalist with The Scribe. For that I must apologize, personally and behalf of The Scribe’s staff, not only to Mr. Lucca but also all of Seminole State. As journalists, nothing is more important to us than the truth and the ethical reporting of that truth to the community we serve. The staff of The Scribe, however, are students, and Issue 1 of this semester contained a lot of firsts for them: first time being published, first time investigating a story and first time interviewing - the first time being journalists. As much as we strive to give this school the paper it deserves, mistakes can happen. Still, incidents like this are not acceptable and we will use this as a learning experience to help ensure it never happens again, both while working for The Scribe and in our journalism careers beyond. On behalf of The Scribe, I once again apologize and also say thank you. Thanks for picking up this paper and being part of our journey to become the journalists of tomorrow.
Carl Barrett, Editor-in-Chief
CORRECTION: In a previous issue of The Scribe, Nelson Lucca was misidentified as a licensed clinician. Lucca is a counselor at Seminole State College and is a registered intern working toward his licensure.
There is no Crisis Counseling Department at Seminole State. The Academic Advising and Counseling Department has counselors who can provide crisis counseling. The Seminole State Crisis Hotline is encouraged after hours on evenings and weekend. Counselors are available on campus during business hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
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The Seminole Scibe staff regrets this error.
THE SEMINOLE SCRIBE The Seminole Scribe is the official student newspaper of Seminole State College of Florida. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carl Barrett STAFF REPORTERS Kimberly Burns, Tiffany Castro, Keyla Exclusa, Ian Finnerty, Tia Gautreaux, Elliot Lee, Joseph Meadows, Lauren Seay, Alex Sylvia 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. 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. 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 ©2015 The Seminole Scribe. All rights reserved. All content is property of The Seminole Scribe and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. CONTACT US thescribe@seminolestate.edu Twitter @seminolescribe
On the cover:
The Seminole State Raiders pitcher #20 at a recent game. Photo by Ian Finnerty
ERA OF WEARABLE TECH
By Alex Sylvia
T
he era of wearable technology is here and it’s possible that soon it may be hard not to jump on the bandwagon.
When the World Wide Web first arrived in 1989, many people did not even know what to do with it. “I remember thinking...What are they going to do? Put their ingredients on the webpage?” Eileen Olender said about the Heinz
company announcing that it would have a website. Now almost 40 years later, access to the Internet is possibly just as important as having a car to drive.
customizable bands, an array of luxurious faceplates, and Watch OS as featured on Apple’s webpage.
Enthusiasts like Taylor boasted the simplicity and convenience of the devices but the hefty price tag may deter some buyers. If manufacturers somehow lower the cost then it may be possible that wearable tech becomes the next “must-have.”
As far as functionality, people may believe that a smart watch would just be an expensive extension of their phone. At In the past decade, there has been a anywhere from $200 to $300, it may be hard Regardless, if his smart watch somehow transition from cell phones that make calls to justify spending that much money for broke today, Taylor said he would and send text messages to button-less devices mere convenience. Motorola smart watch “absolutely” go buy another right away. that in some cases could be just as powerful Moto 360 user Terrell Taylor had nothing but as a home computer. Smart watches, which praise for the little devices. may have seemed like a gimmick at first, now have their own dedicated stands at various “They [manufacturers] sold me on it because consumer electronic stores. they went for the classic look of the watch… it still looks good because it doesn’t look like Francisco Neri, a sales associate at Best a box on my arm,” he said. Buy, said smart watches are “surprisingly popular.” Taylor’s favorite feature is the ability to discretely check his phone notifications and “Samsung and Motorola watches are very keep in touch with his wife. well integrated [with their associated handheld device], but you can still use “With the watch I can be unassuming and them on any Android phone,” he said. stay on task without being unreachable to her,” he added. Samsung and Motorola are not the only ones making smart watches, however. Apple Watch faces (from left to right) are the Motorola Moto360 and the is set to release its version for the iPhone early this year. The Apple Watch will feature Apple Watch.
REDUCE MILEAGE. INCREASE MOBILITY. Move on to a bachelor’s degree while staying close to home. ucfseminole.com | 407.708.2471
Guns could be coming to a campus near you
Homeless in college
By: Kimberly Burns
N
ahir Solis toured the
shelter and it
Rescue Outreach
takes even more
Mission in Sanford,
courage to live
a local shelter that provides
By: Lauren Seay
Carry on Campus (SCCC) organization strongly protests that students have the right to protect themselves.
in a shelter and
immediate relief from the danger, continue to earn hunger, fear and suffering
a college degree.”
associated with homelessness,
she said. “You
and all of a sudden my hands
never know who
The campus shooting at Florida State University in 2014 involved a member of the SCCC. The victim argued that because no guns were allowed on campus, he was unable to defend himself.
start to sweat and I had butterflies is going through in my stomach. The building was what situation,” so cold and the lighting was dim. she added that a I could only imagine how the
male resident at Living conditions at the Rescue
people who lived there felt. Then, the mission that
Outreach Mission in Sanford. Photo by Kimberly Burns
a few of the residents smiled at
is an auditor at a
me and the place seemed a lot
hotel, has a bachelor’s degree and the stories, the end result is a
warmer and brighter.
was accepted into the Stetsons’
blessing. Pagan enjoys organizing
master program.
the fundraisers because she
“Even though they’re homeless,
knows that she is helping save
they still managed to smile at
“It’s just that he didn’t have
me.,” I said.
enough money to go to school
a life.
full time and maintain his bills,
“These are not your typical
USA Today reported that the
we are not kicking him out
homeless people, the new
Free Application for Federal
because he is great,” she said.
generation of homeless people are
Student Aid estimates that there
educated,” Pagan said.
are 58,000 homeless students
According to Solis, a lot of the
on campuses nationwide. Since
staff at the Rescue Outreach
Pagan said she will continue
colleges are not required to keep Mission are very educated. So
to help raise funds so that the
track of their homeless students, they encourage their residents
residents can have access to bus
the FASFA form is the only
to attend college so that they
passes because she wants them
significant data available.
can raise their chances of being
“to have what they need so that
successful when they leave the
they will succeed,” she said.
With a look of sadness and
mission.
hope in her eyes, Solis the
“Suffering well,” Arie Childs,
Administrative Assistant at
“We need volunteers to help us
Resident’s Manager of the Rescue
the Rescue Outreach Mission
with childcare and tutoring for
Outreach Mission, said.
of Sanford, FL explained that
the children that are in school,”
when people arrive at the Rescue Solis said. “We never have enough According to Childs, even though Outreach Mission, they are at
men’s shoes...please donate your
some of these college students
their lowest point in life. No one used men’s shoes to us.”
have ended up at a shelter, it’s
wants to live in these types of
not the end of their journey.
places but it is better than living
Ana Pagan, Fundraising Specialist The Mission has resources but
on the street.
at the Rescue Outreach Mission, they always accept used clothing
“It takes courage to come to a
loves her job. Even though
and time from volunteers and
it is hard to listen to some of
donations.
C
A glock 21 .45 caliber handgun in a students backpack. Local resident Chip Rupe
igarette smoking is banned from Seminole State College but guns may soon be allowed.
State student, said.
who works at a local gun shop, A&N Sports Inc in Sanford, said “it’s foolish” not to allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus.
“You are allowed to carry concealed weapons now and keep them in your car, so I don’t think this would “The Second Amendment change anything except allow “Schools, movie theatres and should apply wherever you more access and that is what other places where guns are banned are just a target for go,” Seminole State student worries me.” crazy people to go shoot up,” Raffaele Sorrentino said. he said. “These places are Florida along with nine There have been 94 school easy targets.” other states could be the next shootings since December to allow college students 15, 2012, according to the the right to bear arms on organization Everytown For A poll of the Seminole Scribe staff showed more against campus. Four states have Gun Safety that works to already passed a law in favor end gun violence and build carrying guns on campus. of students carrying guns. safer communities. That is Florida may be next. one shooting every week for Licenses to Carry two years. Gun advocates argue that Concealed Weapons students who carry guns Seminole State students like or Firearms: Deletes will feel safer and be able Matt Soloway said carrying provision prohibiting to defend themselves if a gun on campus should be attacked. The opposing side, allowed. concealed carry with organizations such as licensees from Keep Guns Off Campus, “If you have a permit, you openly carrying argue that guns increase should be able to carry,” he the chances of innocent by said. “If we were able to carry handgun or carrying standers being injured. on campus, we would be able concealed weapon or to respond to a threat. You “Individuals who are not shouldn’t be allowed to open firearm into college properly trained to handle a carry, only concealed.” or university facility. gun are more likely to cause harm and lethal mistakes,” With over 43,000 members, Monica Rivera, a Seminole the Students for Concealed
Background image: Seminole State College - Sanford Lake Mary Campus - The Partnership Center Center at Seminole State
-HB 4005
While you’re on campus...
Seminole County announces surprises in State of County By Carl Barrett address
Monday, March 23
SGA College-wide Elections, All Day
Tuesday, March 24
SGA College-wide Elections, All Day
Wednesday, March 25
SGA Diversity Rocks, ALT room 349 from 12 to 2 p.m. Lunch provided. Magic Game, 7 p.m. (Orlando Magic Night Tickets for Orlando Magic Night start at $15 and are available for purchase by calling (407) 916-2523. Mention “Seminole State” when calling. Transportation provided. SLM Campus stop: 4:45, Altamonte stop 5:30)
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he State of the County Address of Seminole County was presented as an award show. Despite the guest list being mostly composed of prominent citizens of Seminole County, there was no risk of celebrity citings of a more disruptive variety.
Thursday, March 26
Strong Women, Mama Lou from Noon to 2 p.m. OVI Student Center
Monday, March 30
“Unlike the Grammys or Oscars, you don’t have to worry about Kayne showing up.” Mike Ertel said. Mike Ertel, the Seminole County Supervisor or Elections, was the MC of the event which was held at the Westin in Lake Mary on February 19, 2015. The event was a luncheon. As people crowded into the ballroom at the Westin, a five star hotel in Lake Mary, they were greeted with plates of salad and decorative desserts. Later chicken would be served. The attendees were mainly people involved in running the county, as well as several prominent figures in Seminole County and prominent corporations such as Duck Energy and Florida Hospital Altamonte. “What we do here in Seminole county, why we’re so much, frankly, better than our cohorts throughout the nation,” Ertel said, “Is that Seminole County folks, we all stick together. We band together.... We are one county, and one community.” After Ertel opened the event and the Pledge of Allegiance, Seminole State College President Dr. E. Ann McGee addressed the room. “Fifty years of changing lives..... in those fifty years we have awarded 86,000 credentials from bachelor’s degrees to high school diplomas. That’s a number that surprises even me.” Dr. McGee said before sharing a video Seminole State prepared to celebrate it’s 50-year anniversary in 2015. According to the video, the school was chartered on July 1, 1965 and opened with about 750 students and consisted of 10 portable buildings located in what was a orange grove. Dr. McGee’s predecessor, Dr. Earl Weldon was President and at the time the school was named Seminole Junior College. Seminole County Board of County Commission Chairman Brenda Carey presented the awards. “Whether you live in a city or in unincorporated Seminole County,
County Commission Chairman Brenda Carey presents a sceptor made from the remains of “The Senator” a 3500-year-old cypress destroyed in 2012. The scepter will be used in graduations and other events. everybody thinks of Seminole County as one community. Nobody really knows where the lines are drawn and I think we would all agree that government closest to the people, best represents the people,” Carey said. The awards were used to showcase things which were achieved within the county in 2014, such as the One Cent Sales Tax and the fly-overs at Red Bug Lake Road and almost completed one at 17-92 and SR 436. The awards were also to “spotlight” plans for things which will be completed in the future, such as the upcoming Oxford Road Revitalization project, that will give the old Jai Alai building and the surrounding area a facelift. Another upcoming addition to the county will be the new Seminole County Sports Complex. With about 100 acres, and is to be located just east of the Sanford-Orlando International Airport. It will feature 15 baseball fields as well as general purpose fields, stands, batting cages and concessions. The winners of these “awards” weren’t individuals, but groups of people who both were the causes of, or the beneficiaries of these county achievements. “The People of Seminole County” was one winner, another was “The businesses of Seminole County.” For more photos, visit theseminolescribe.wordpress.com
Pictured in header from right: Dr. E. Ann McGee, President of Seminole State College; Mike Ertel, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections.
Mayor and City Manager of Sanford speaking at the SGA Meeting at Sanford Campus from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided.
Tuesday, March 31
Student Government Association Student Voice Forum 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. OVF 104
Friday, April 3
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. SGA-hosted Leadership Retreat SLM Campus Room C-110. Food provided. RSVP by emailing joshalan@live. seminolestate.edu by Monday March 30. SGA Talent Show, SLM Fine Arts building, Reception starting at 6 p.m. followed by the talent show at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7
Earth Day Event, OVI Patio from Noon to 2 p.m. Earth Day Event, ALT outside grass area from Noon to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15
Earth Day Event, SLM Student Center Green from Noon to 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 16
Transfer Fair event from noon to 2 p.m. Student Center Green. Different Universities will be attending. Seminole State Volunteers and Campus Activities Team now accepting applications for all campuses! Contact the Office of Student Life Oviedo-OVF 108 Altamonte-ALT 102 Sanford-C-102
For more events, visit: seminolestate.edu/newsroom/events/
A look at Seminole State’s future in Altamonte Springs
By: Elliot Lee
S
tarting soon there will be a heavy amount of construction going on around the Altamonte Springs campus. Currently the entire Altamonte Springs campus is a single four-story building with a limited selection of classes. But Seminole State has been investing in an expansion project for the Altamonte Springs campus with the addition of so 1.4 million square feet. Seminole State student Christina Daniels said she “honestly didn’t even know they were planning on [expanding the campus].” Well, for students who didn’t know about it should know, in early 2012 Seminole State College purchased about 23 acres from the old Audi dealership leaving a total of 25.4 acres of blank space for new buildings. This extensive construction project is being led
Artist’s rendering of campus building
by the HuntonBrady Architecture firm. Of the four campuses the school owns, the Sanford/Lake Mary campus is the largest, but according the HuntonBrady report, the finished project will make the Altamonte Springs campus larger than all of the current campuses combined. A good portion of the courses the school offers at Sanford are not available at most of the other locations. However the expansion will provide much more variety and opportunity for students who live in the Altamonte Springs and Maitland area, the school’s website has stated the expanded campus will have more than enough to accommodate some 9,000 students. A student at the Altamonte campus, Norris Davis, said, “Yeah, it would be good if they had an expansion of the classes, because I can’t really get to Sanford, so if they had more classes and professors over here it would a lot better for all of us.” Luckily, many people with similar concerns won’t have to worry for much longer. The construction project officially started in January 2013 and though the school hasn’t issued any official time table for the project’s construction, but it has stated there will be nine phases to the project. Some of the things that new students can expect to see by its’ completion will include numerous buildings averaging around seven stories tall, with some even being as tall as fifteen floors. There will also be a lot of mixed use buildings being constructed that will have more than enough space to fit academic purposes as well as public-private partnerships, and there will even be a campus mall on the property. The plan also calls for
the parking lots in Altamonte Springs campus to be reorganized. The outside parking will be rearranged and it will also be building two rather large parking garages, with enough room to house around 5,700 cars. Norris Davis also said, “I was always thinking about them doing that over there, instead of having to park on the other side of campus or [having] to get here really early.” There will be no shortage of student recreational areas on the new campus, there will be ample space for retail stores and lounge areas and there will be a sky garden on the roof of the south parking garage which will also serve as a student recreational area. What do you think of the expansion? Send us your thoughts to thescribe@seminolestate.edu. We want to hear from you!
Artist’s rendering of campus buildings in Altamonte Springs.
Photos provided by HuntonBrady Architects. For more visit www.seminolestate.edu
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Titans shutout Raiders: 7-0
By Ian Finnerty
lankets and shivers filled the bleachers on a gloomy Friday afternoon as the Seminole State College Raiders hosted the St. Petersburg Titans at Seminole State’s own Jack Pantelias baseball field. With a small attendance, there was plenty of seats to begin huddling for warmth. The cold breeze wafted the smell of the groomed clay into the stands then sent chills down the spines of the parents and siblings. “The weather affects both teams, so I don’t think it should be a factor today,” Phillip Reeves, father of third baseman, Mitch Reeves, said. Head Coach Mike Nicholson said, “It’s not 50 degrees in our dugout and 70 in their’s, the weather is no excuse.” Wesley Molden started the game off with only two hits allowed in the first two innings but slowly started to walk more and more players, and was replaced in the sixth inning. Kirvin Moesquit started the lineup with a hit in his first at bat of the game but soon got tagged out.
“We hit the ball fairly well, but didn’t capitalize on being in scoring positions,” Mitch Reeves said
“We came out flat,” Coach Nicholson said after the game. “It was the poorest game we’ve played all year.” The Titans were off to a solid start and had a double play in the second inning to kill any hope of the Raiders scoring that inning. Then, in the top of the third inning, Titans outfielder Alex Hanson scored the first run of the game followed by two more Titans in the same inning to gain a 3-0 lead. Raiders pitcher D’andre Knight number 26 replaced Wesley Molden in the top of the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, he walked the Titans around the bases and they ended up scoring three runs that inning. Later in the eighth inning, Titan outfielder Alex Hanson had an incredible at bat and hit a home run. With the Titans up 7-0 in the eighth inning, Phillip Reeves said, “They are giving it to us pretty good, but we will come back in the end.” The Raiders did not make a comeback, but Michael Savas made an incredible over-the-wall catch to stop the last efforts of the Titans scoring more runs. Coach Nicholson said the opponents “beat us with fastballs,” adding, “They threw nine breaking balls in nine innings.” With the Raiders conference play coming up, the coaching staff and the players said they are excited to get their losing streak out of the way. “Winning steam rolls and so does losing, and unfortunately we are on a losing steam roll,” Nicholson said. “We can’t play flat and unenergized like we did today.” Third baseman Reeves agreed that the team needed to pick up the slack. “Maybe we need a pump up song,” Reeves said.
Bears to be hunted for sport
By Joseph Meadows
Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission willing to harvest around 20 percent of bear population per year
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ne hot night last July, local resident Robby Copeland and his girlfriend, Jennifer Spalding, wanted to explore their new neighborhood, the Springs, just off Interstate 4 and State Road 434 in Longwood. “We saw a huge black bear,” Copeland said. “It was crossing the road in front of us….it turned around to look at us, then kept moving.” Long praised for its diverse animal population and natural springs, the couple drove around to catch a late-night glimpse of local nature. Copeland estimates the bear was 400-500 lbs. and in all, he has had four encounters with bears over a seven month span. Seminole County has been no stranger to news of bears. Over the past few years, much press has been given to stories pertaining to bears and bear attacks. Longwood, in particular, has been a hotbed of local bear-related activity. But these types of meetings might not be the norm anymore if the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) get its way. The FWC want to lift a 20-year ban on bear hunting, starting this autumn. It will last one week, for now. That’s according to the most recent update to the Bear Management Plan, penned by Dr. Thomas Eason, Director, Division of Habitat and Species. The update suggests that hunting is another practical option to keep the bear population in check.
“We need to put this behind us. We build on the positives and we learn from the negatives,” Coach Nicholson said after the game. Photos by Ian Finnerty. For more photos visit www.theseminolescribe.wordpress.com
The update also provides information about 6,312 statewide calls and complaints by the public in 2014, to the FWC about bears on their property and in their trees and trash. The previous year’s figures are slightly higher. Though complaints have been up over the past few BEARS continued on next page
at preventing “urban/suburban sprawl within black bear habitats.”
BEARS continued from page 7
years, the data does not mean that all bear activity is inherently dangerous to humans. Actually, 32 percent of all calls were from bears in someone’s trash and 38 percent stemmed from bears being present in a yard, tree or general vicinity to private property. Compared to just 1 percent of calls because a bear was threatening to humans. It is an average of just over 1.2 per week for the state.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Copeland said. The real issue, he contends, is “with people being educated about how to be around bears rather than going for the ignorant way of, ‘Oh let’s just kill them.’”
The FWC estimates that around 20 percent of the bear population can be harvested each year to keep a healthy distance between bears and humans. This figure is representative of the potential bear hunting season, combined with bears killed in traffic accidents and individual bears removed and euthanized from neighborhoods throughout the year. In 1994, the Florida Black Bear’s existence on the planet was in question. The legislature passed a law banning the hunting of the bear and 20 years on, the bear population have made a steady recovery to an estimated 3,000 individuals. According to Florida State Statute 68A-4.009, it’s illegal to feed, hunt or trade bear parts for personal gain. A person caught feeding a bear on their fourth offense will face a third degree felony and up to five years in prison. Recent cases of bear feedings have convicted three Seminole county residents. Conservation groups such as the Sierra Club have taken notice of the proposed changes and want to stop the hunting season and re-impose the moratorium on hunting bears. “The Sierra Club opposes hunting of Florida Black Bears,” as stated in the Sierra Club of Florida Black Bear Conservation Policy from 2015. The policy states that there are several other ways to “reduce bear-human conflicts without the need for opening Florida to hunting black bears.” Other ways of reducing this conflict is requiring bear-proof waste receptacles, keeping up enforcement on feeding and being proactive about educating the public about living with bears. Also, the policy states, the conservation group does support linking habitat corridors for bears to roam and what they’re calling, “bear smart communities,” that are aimed
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Photos courtesy of Robby Copeland and Jennifer Spalding
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY, “THE AMERICAN HOLIDAY”
here is an actual reason people drink on St. Patrick’s Day.
“St. Patrick’s day was not even an Irish Holiday” Lynne Newsom, an advanced placement history teacher at Cypress Creek High school, said. The first St. Patrick’s day celebration was held in New York by Irish immigrants, it was not celebrated in Ireland until the 1990’s, Newsom added. “St. Patrick’s day is mostly celebrated in bars these days” Newsom said. The reason many Irish would drink, and drink a lot on St. Patrick’s Day is because it mostly falls during lent, where many
Irish/Catholics would give up something during this time. On St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the Patron Saint, feasting in his honor was tradition, this day would be an exception to the rules. In which case having not had a drink for a week or two being intoxicated was not unusual, Newsom added.
Patrick was known for preaching and converting all of Ireland from Druids and Pagans to Christianity over a forty year period. The color green comes from the shamrock Patrick would use to describe the trinity, and has been associated with Patrick and Ireland since, according to Catholic.org. “I go to the bar with my friends and do what I normally do… I don’t usually wear green, and that’s a good conversation starter for me,” Mike Miessler, a student at Seminole State College with an Irish heritage, said.
“It is very similar to Cinco de Mayo, another excuse to go out and party… especially for the young adults,” Miessler said. His celebration of the day consists of spending time with his family and eating a traditional meal such as corned beef and cabbage. According to Catholic.org, St. Patrick’s Day is a day to feast in honor of a Saint. The day has become known as a day of drinking according to Miessler. The color green, shamrock’s and beer lots and lots of beer. “I feel like people just get sold into something it’s not,” Miessler said.