The Reporter: Spring 2023 Issue III

EPORTER THE

Spring 2023 ISSUE III

12 Semester of Self Love The Power of Dating Yourself

36 Staff Who Care Recognizing Stetson’s Humble Heroes

32 Disney’s Take on Body Positivity With Reflect Our Review of This Inspiring Short Film About a Ballet Dancer and Her Struggle with Self-Confidence

Hey Hatters! In this, our rst edition of the spring semester, we focused on one central theme: self love. February marks the season of amore, but a far more underrated (but, arguably, even more essential) form of love is the love we a ord ourselves. Here, we discuss everything from health and wellness, to movies that are so insane they’re hilarious, to how our community is using self advocacy to support each other, and much more.

We talk a lot about these “turbulent, unprecedented times,” but not much about how real people are nding their way through them. ough the challenges this community faces are vast, together, we are overcoming. Good people still exist, and they can be found all around us. e Reporter is eternally dedicated to bringing you the news you need, but we also want to deliver a healthy dose of good vibes as well. So, cheers to the unsung heroes of Stetson! We hope that this break from your regularly scheduled campus rundown succeeds in shedding light on what we feel are the very best parts of our community. Happy reading!

Carmen Cruz, Executive Editor

EHello lovely readers! I am so excited for you to read all about the importance of loving yourself and each other at Stetson and beyond. Within these pages, you’ll discover all sorts of ways to nd exactly what self love means to you. For me, that means practicing creativity. My medium of choice, as you might be able to guess, is photography (and reading a good book, but that’s not what this is about haha). Naturally, as the Photo Editor of Hatter Network, I was tasked in this edition to capture the visual aspect of what self love truly means. Read on for an in-depth look into how I went about achieving this. I hope you see yourselves within the pages. Happy viewing!

Jillian Semmel, Photo Editor

Hey everyone! With this issue’s theme being about self love, there is a lot to think about. What does self love look like for you? How do you t self love into your day to day endeavors? If you’re not already doing it, when and how are you going to start? Self love is essential to taking care of yourself, and allows you the space to love and care for others! It is so o en swept under the rug, and we really wanted to give it a chance to shine with this issue.

When I think about love, for myself and for others, one of the rst things that comes to mind is a quote by Ram Dass, “we are all just walking each other home.” While you’re walking each other home, don’t forget to walk yourself. Happy reading and don’t forget to take care of yourselves!

PackBrown, Editor in Chief

To my fellow Hatters, it’s high time our crew delivered a new, refreshing edition to our repertoire, so here for your reading pleasure is our rst edition of the spring semester! February marks a topical switch from the ordinary to the romantic, but with a twist. With a mission to deliver great stories amidst the season of love, we’ve decided our aim would switch from the typical romance, to an edition wholly dedicated to the encouragement of self-love and self-advocacy. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring you all fresh stories about health and wellness at Stetson, how to treat yourself, and a list of ridiculous movies that will surely have you laughing.

We here at the Reporter believe that the most lasting and important relationship a person can have is with themselves, and that it must be treated as such. Our team vouched for the opportunity to send a message to the Hatter community on the importance of self-love, which we hope each of you will take the time to read and consider. Here’s to our third edition of the school year and the promotion of self-care! Happy reading everyone!

Alexis Diamond, Managing Editor

Xanthippe

s E

EDITORS.

EDITORS. EDITORS

Xanthippe Pack-Brown Editor-in-Chief

Carmen Cruz Executive Editor

Alexis Diamond Managing Editor

Hayden Collins Creative Director

Chase Berger News Editor

Jillian Semmel Photo Editor

Buddy reading

What is your love language?

Reporter The Sta

Xanthippe Pack-Brown, Editor-in-Chief

Hayden Collins, Creative Director

Carmen Cruz, Executive Editor of The Reporter

Alexis Diamond, Managing Editor of The Reporter

Jillian Semmel, Photo Editor

Chase Berger, News Editor of The Reporter

Eleanor King, Sports Editor of The Reporter

Venus Turnbull, Creative Staff

Nadia Papin, Creative Staff

Alexa Hutton, Creative Staff

Sisi Small, Webmaster

Bella Steiert, Staff Writer

Brandy Bennet, Staff Writer

Carla M Rosario, Staff Writer

Carlye Mahler, Staff Writer

Cas Bradley, Creative Staff, Photographer

Ciara Kelley, Staff Writer

Hayle Simone Morgan, Staff Writer

Gift giving

Words of affirmation

When it comes to joining Hatter Network, we are never not excited about someone wanting to join our ranks. If you want to write, e Reporter is the place. If you like to appreciate art, music and writing, Touchstone Literary Arts Journal is where it’s at. If you want to create your own podcast, or learn how to use the tech in our radio station, WHAT Radio is there. Hatter Network is an extacurricular media program run by students, for students, to provide them with the information we think they need to know, or an outlet for their creative endeavors. If you’re interesed in getting involved, please email our Editor-in-Chief, Xanthippe Pack-Brown, at xpackbrown@stetson.edu or apply on Engage.

Kaelyn-Rose Miranda, Staff Writer

Miranda,

Alis Cadena, Staff Writer

Madison Sepiol, Photographer

Natalia Jimenez, Photograper

Nathan Biagianti,Staff Writer

Jackie Maze, Multimedia Editor

JOINING US ABOUT US

e Reporter, as part of Hatter Network, is the oldest collegiate magazine in the state of Florida. We publish four times per year, twice per semester. Florida Sun Printing prins 300 copies per isue on 8.5 x 11 inch, 80# Gloss Test, Most body text is set at 11 poind Adobe Garamond Pro or Times

New Roman with 13 point leading set with a combination of regular, italic and bold. All pages are designed using Adobe Creative Suite Photoshop and Illustrator. For additional information please visit hatternetwork.com. Questions or concerns can be mailed to 421 N Woodland Blvd. Deland, FL 32723 or emailed to hatternetwork@gmail.com.

Semester of Self Love

The Power of Dating Yourself

Model, Melissa Ndiaye

CONTENTS

12 18 20 22 28 32 36 39 41 46

Semester of Self-Love: The Power of Dating Yourself

The Best Bad Movies: For When You Need to Be Reminded That at Least You’ve Never Made Anything Quite So Horrendous

The Well Team: Providing the Tools to Bring out the Best in You!

Self Love Via Fashion: A Look Into Self Expression Over the Years

Students Advocating for Themselves and Others: Stetson Students Protested Controversial Guest Speakers- Our Take, The Bigger Picture, and Why It Matters

Disney’s Take on Body Positivity With Reflect: Our Review of This Inspiring Short Film About a Ballet Dancer and Her Struggle With Self-Confidence

Staff Who Care: Recognizing Stetson’s Humble Heroes

Unpacked: We Sat With President Roellke to Unearth The Secrets of His Daily Driver

Amperand: Stetson’s Own Danielle Hunt Broke Down Her Artistic Process and Award-Winning Pieces

Photo Story PhotoBreakdownStory

Written: Jillian Semmel

Like most creative projects go, this photo story started off a little rocky. In order to fully express all that we desired, we ended up shooting not one, not two, but six models in the span of three days. The first acted as an adjustment period of sorts where we figured out what worked and what didn’t. For starters, I really wanted to use my brand-new studio setup. I was going to use fancy lights and backdrops and clips and everything. While the prospect was exciting, shooting outdoors was also really important because it fit the concept perfectly (plus I find it easier to work with), but with the outdoors comes unpredictability. My precious backdrops kept getting clobbered by the wind, so we had to scrap that unfortunately. So, we worked with what we had: mother nature herself. It ended up working even better though, because the natural setting offered so much freedom, and we’re really proud of how it turned out. The heat exhaustion from the brutal Florida sun was totally worth it.

The heart and soul of this photoshoot are the people featured. It was important for us to capture as many cultures as we possibly could in order to fully express the beauty of our community. A big part of self love is appreciating the skin you’re in. As a white woman, I can’t fully relate to the struggles of feeling seen and appreciated in this country, but I wish for the people of color in my life and in our community to feel seen and heard and every bit as beautiful as they are. Thank you to all the models for gracing us with their beautiful faces, and to Carmen for making this one woman show a duo! Every photoshoot is a learning experience, and having help made me realize that it’s so much easier if I don’t have to do everything alone.

withJillianSemmel

Layout: Venus Turnbull & Hayden Collins

Shooting with Kristine Rodriguez ('25) was like capturing a young Wendy darling. With a big white bow in her hair and her sweet disposition, it was hard not to smile with her. The trick with this particular shoot was keeping up with her bubbly energy. Kristine was an absolute joy to work with, and I feel like this photo really captures her essence.

Rania Harrara ('25) was the most prepared model I've ever worked with. With a suitcase packed to the gills with makeup, out t changes, and accessories, we were able to capture a variety of looks in under an hour. She wanted to take this opportunity to capture the beauty of the hijab, something that she plans on wearing more in the future.

Anas Aly ('26) is an international student from Egypt. His stoic nature really drove the direction of this photoshoot. He was unafraid to voice his posing preferences, which helped us authentically represent him.

e trick with this particular shoot was keeping up with her bubbly energy. Kristine was an absolute joy to work with, Here’s the gorgeous and glowing Kemari Cosby (‘24). While capturing posed photos are always a blast, I love taking candids as well, this being one. I just had to immortalize that dazzling smile! Shoutout to Carmen and her expert use of the reflector.

In our second shoot with Melissa Ndiaye (‘23), we hit our stride with the direction of the story. We settled on the south side of Bill Dreggors Park near the butterfly garden and gazebo due to its variety of backdrops and better lighting conditions. Melissa was super accommodating and let me play around with different setups. Her smile reminded me of a poem by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D., when she smiled the stars came out.

Michael Nguyen (‘23) was a joy to work with. His energy and patience really helped me get my bearings in this— the very first of the shoots. When backdrops fell, he was there to help pick them back up. Michael is unapologetically himself in the best of ways; he came with gems on his eyes and a calm demeanor. He was a trooper through the brutal heat and shedding flowers. He really knew how to hold himself, and his natural movements made for some great photos.

Semester of Self-Love: The Power of Dating Yourself

Writer: Bella Steiert Photographer: Jillian Semmel

Spread Design: Hayden Collins & Cas Bradley

As college students, we have many things that we need to focus on and take care of: classes, grades, jobs, clubs, social lives, and more. One thing that I noticed throughout my time in college is that I would be so busy focusing on all these things that I forgot, and often neglected, to take care of something very important–myself. As the semester started to kick in, I spent most of my days balancing the infinite responsibilities of a student. Most nights I would come back to my dorm late feeling exhausted and just go to sleep instead of taking care of myself and having some alone time. During my sophomore and junior year is when I was struggling with it the most and it started to have markedly negative side effects. I had a bad sleep schedule, I was overly reliant on caffeine, my diet was awful because I just got whatever was “quick and easy,” and as time went on, I sort of lost myself to the chaos.

During the summer between my junior and senior year is when I realized how badly this was affecting me, and that’s when burnout really set in. During this summer I took it easy, spent time with family and friends, and did some reflecting. This is when I realized that when I got back to school, I needed to get in the habit of taking care of myself more and doing little things to make me feel relaxed and happy.

When I started my senior year, I tried to focus on self-care and self-love. In doing so, I eventually picked up some tricks and healthier habits that I feel could really benefit students at-large.

Balance Is The Name Of The Game:

A key thing I started implementing in my self-care journey was balance. I started having a new schedule where I could balance both socializing time and alone time. For example, I like to hang out with friends on Fridays and Saturdays, but I usually spend Sunday alone to plan everything I need for that coming week. This weekend schedule leaves me feeling refreshed and happy. My “self-care Sundays” became a staple of my routine that I look forward to. I usually do my food shopping, catch up on homework, do chores, make dinner, and wind down at night by watching a favorite show or putting on a record. Having this one day dedicated to self-care and time alone led me to implement more positive habits in my college routine, one of them being dates with myself. You may think this sounds a little silly (believe me, I did too), but this has been one of my favorite things to do.

Alone-Time Secretly Rocks:

One thing I realized is that for several semesters prior, I rarely spent time alone. I thought being in college meant that if you didn’t have a friend group and were not socializing often you were not “normal.” I would often worry about being alone and thought maybe spending time in solitude was not time well spent. I would spend so many days socializing all day, and though it was nice, it was also exhausting. I realized that my worries about being alone were not true, that it is perfectly fine to spend periods of time alone, and that it can even be very rewarding.

For years, I would always rely and depend on other people to do something fun. We’d spend all our free time on things like going to dinner, or to the movies, to concerts, going downtown, etc. I’d only ever do these things if I had someone else to go with. But one day, I decided to just go out alone to Daytona. I went to check out a cool record store, and just explore the area. This is how I started “dating myself.”

A Date With Myself – Not As Strange As It Sounds:

I went on a Saturday morning, took a beautiful drive to Daytona while blasting some of my favorite songs, went to the record store, and got myself one album I wanted, then I ended the date at the mall where I walked around with the Starbucks drink I treated myself to. I had such a great time. To my surprise, it didn’t feel silly at all; it felt so nice just to take myself out and do things I enjoy, simply because I wanted to and I could. I did not have to worry about scheduling with someone, whether or not they wanted to do what I wanted or if they were having a good time. I could just enjoy some quiet time and reflect on my week while having some fun.

Students, especially those at Stetson, spend so much time grinding day-to-day that self-care gets put on the back burner. But eventually, it catches up to you. It’s just not sustainable. It can be really easy to overlook, but routine acts of intentional self love can make a world of difference to your mental health. For me, that means the occasional date with myself where I can take a breather and ground myself with some of my favorite things, but maybe for you it might be a regular workout, or crocheting something warm while listening to an audio book, or baking something sweet. Whatever your “treatyo-self” moment is, I implore you to regularly make time to do that. No investment in your well being could ever be wasted time, so be kind to yourself.

...routine acts of intentional self love can make a world of difference to your mental health.

No investment in your well being could ever be wasted time, so be kind to yourself.

BEST

Bad Movies

Story: Carmen Cruz

Graphics: Nadia Papin

Layout: Hayden Collins

Let’s be honest, nothing hits quite like hate watching a bad movie with the gang. Horrible scripts, janky special effects, random creepy puppets, and terrible acting are all food for the soul and fodder for a great laugh. There’s something magical about a movie so bad that it circles around coherency and lands somewhere between camp and iconic. So if you’re looking for a recommendation or a place to start, look no further—I practically have a PhD in this.

Velocipastor

This once TikTok famous film boasts an absolutely absurd plot that is downright hilarious. A priest goes on a quest for justice alongside a hooker who is also a doctor by fighting bad guys after his werewolf-like transformation into a dinosaur. It’s just as unhinged as it sounds. Get ready for a far too ambitious low-budget film that’ll both confuse and delight you. Available on Amazon Prime.

Knights of Badassdom

This questionably star-studded cast delivers a convincing fantasy-esque plot that really works. It centers around a band of misfits and LARP (live-action role-play) enthusiasts who stumble upon a real-life horror scenario. The movie stars Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn, Ryan Kwanten, and quite possibly the most ridiculous-looking monster-man antagonist ever created. The best part? Our hero saves the day with the power of a bad death metal number. Avail-

The Room

This movie’s got everything: terrible acting, random spoons that feature prominently, possibly the worst script ever written, no transitions at all, and more. Experiencing this film will inspire questions such as, “Who let this happen?” and “This can’t be real, can it?” It’ll make you physically uncomfortable to watch at times. It’s terrible and never gets better, which makes it a must-watch. Available on YouTube.

Napoleon Dynamite

This is the story about a strange boy from an equally strange midwestern town where practically nothing happens. The awkward dialogue, pacing, and fashion choices will leave you confused, but its iconic one-liners more than make up for its sub-par production. Half the fun is searching for the plot, and the other half is mimicking the main cast’s hilarious dialogue. Available on Hulu.

Author: Eleanor King

Layout: Hayden Collins & Nadia Papin

The Well Team: Providing the Tools to Bring out the Best in You!

The Well Team serves as a resource of certified peer educators, including both students and a faculty advisor, who organize a series of events and educational tabling opportunities on all topics health and wellness related.

sDylan Anthony, a member of The Well Team, describes the goal of the program as “starting the conversation on topics that may be difficult to discuss.”

As a Valentine’s special, The Well Team will be engaging in “Love your body week.”

The occasion will kick off with a ladies night out on Monday, February 13th, in the Hollis Center, where the gym will be reserved for women to come work out together. During the scheduled time, there will be trainers teaching how to use equipment and a yoga session.

The rest of Valentines week, February 14th-17th, will include a meal prep workshop, a movie night on the green, and free STD/HIV testing at the annual Relationships Fair.

The Well Team is big on collaboration with outside organizations, such as PACT (Peer Advisory Council for Title lX) and the counseling center, to offer a variety of opportunities for students. Once a month, they coordinate with Paws Therapy Dogs to bring furry friends into the library for a chance to decompress alongside some furry friends.

A new series called Produce of the Month launches this semester, where peer educators will take turns choosing a different fruit or vegetable to highlight in a tabling event. Each session will focus on the nutritional aspects of the selected food item and highlight a recipe incorporating the product.

Stress Less Week will wrap up the spring semester, with giveaways and activities to ease the tension of finals week.

Interested in being involved with the Well Team?

Volunteer positions are always open, with team meetings occurring biweekly. Information about Well Team events can be found on both the Stetson events calendar and @thewellteam @thewellteam on Instagram.

Self Love Via Fashion:Through the Decades

Kate Spade, fashion icon best known for her eponymous designer brand, once said “Playing dress-up begins at age 5, and never truly ends.” Throughout history, fashion and accessories have been a way for people to express their individuality and also to reflect the unique aspects of the time period that they lived in.

This article will explore a single fashion accessory in each decade from 1900-2000. By taking time to reflect on how people of the past dressed themselves, perhaps we can be more thoughtful about the ways that fashion can serve as a form of self-love in the modern day.

Story: Carlye Mahler

Graphics: Venus Turnbull

Layout: Hayden Collins

1900: Decorative Parasols

Lavish would have been one of the key words to describe women's fashion in 1900. is opulent form of style makes it no surprise that decorative parasols were popular during this time period. As the word “decorative” implies, the parasols did very little to provide any shade or protection from the elements. Common materials included silk or lace, and the pattern of the parasols o en matched the rest of the wearer's out t. As not everyone was able to a ord such fancy and elaborate parasols, they were certainly a display of wealth and sophistication.

1910: Bowler Hats for Men

Sensible describes the bowler hat in 1910. While the average bowler hat was sti and made of black felt, there were exceptions made with brighter colors. In contrast to the top hat of the time, which symbolized wealth, the bowler hat was closer to symbolizing upward mobility and the middle class.

1920: Long Strands of Pearls

e special aspect of pearls in the 1920s was their incredible level of accessibility. Although genuine pearls can be very expensive, in the 1920s, carefully curated fake pearls became a popular accessory. ere were certainly still many women spending large amounts of money on authentic pearls, but they were hard to tell apart from the long strands of plastic pearls. Real or not, they both looked fabulous.

1930: Hooverette house dress

e Hooverette is a wrap-style house dress designed for women to quickly reverse the dress to cover up the mess of cleaning and other housework. e dress got its name from the popular Hoover vacuum brand. is was a helpful innovation that allowed women to use the same dress for both their household duties along with more festive activities such as hosting dinners in their home.

1940: Gloves for Women

In previous decades, women were primarily adorning themselves with jewelry such as bangles and rings. During the 1940s, however, gloves became one of the most favored forms of accessorizing. Gloves were a useful tool for women to disguise their hands if they were rough or calloused from factory work.

1950: Handbags

Gloves remained in fashion in the 1950s, and could o en be found holding on to a handbag with a short strap. ese handbags could vary wildly in price, with higher-end bags certainly held an air of luxury. On the other hand, these bags did serve a utilitarian purpose in carrying a variety of items.

1960: Miniskirt

As fashion continued to evolve popular styles became more revealing. is is exempli ed by the popularity of shorter and shorter skirts eventually culminating in the wild popularity of the miniskirt, along with much shorter dresses. Miniskirts were considered somewhat shocking at the time, but this didn’t stop their traction in the world of fashion.

1970: Bandeau Tops

e trend towards more experimental and revealing clothing continued in the 1970s, along with the hippie style and social movements. During this era of fashion, the bandeau top rose to popularity. Bandeau tops are sleeveless and usually made from an elastic material or are otherwise secured through ties or pinning.

1980: Spike Heels

e 1980s are known for being gaudy and over the top, but also well known for experiencing a mass amount of women entering the workforce. ese shoes were characterized by a high heel which narrowed down to a smaller tip. In line with 80s fashion, spike heels of this decade were o en bright in color.

1990: Biker Shorts

Brought into the mainstream by style icon Princess Diana, biker shorts were an essential style piece in the 1990s. Biker shorts from the 1990s varied in color. Some were more subdued colors meant to be worn in preppy out ts while others were covered in bold patterns and bright colors. ey were part of a larger trend that included athletic wear as a popular category of clothing, even for non-athletes.

2000: Juicy Couture Velour Jumpsuit

Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, it would be impossible to list all of the 2000s celebrities who were spotted by paparazzi in the recognizable matching Juicy Couture jumpsuit. ere were many ways that a Juicy jumpsuit could stand out, from patterns, colors, and, of course, rhinestones. is leisurewear style was on the front of every tabloid and magazine.

Fashion has evolved a great deal throughout history. It might be easier to relate to the Juicy Jumpsuit wearers of history than the women who carried decorative parasols, but at the heart of both trends are people expressing themselves through fashion. Whether or not your accessories are on trend, they should make you feel happy and confident.

Students Advocating for Themselves and Others

Stetson Students Protest Controversial Guest Speaker: Our Take, The Bigger Picture,and Why It Matters

Sparks fl

ew at a controversial event hosted by a conservative club at Stetson University on November 15th, 2022, causing students to protest in droves.

After years of virtually no activity, Stetson’s chapter of YAF (YoungAmericans for Freedom) caused a stir within the student body for the contentious guest speakers that they’ve brought in this academic year. In November, they invited Zuby (real name Nzube Olisaebuka Udezue), a British rapper/public speaker, to give a talk about the im-portance of free speech. On the surface, it seemed harm-less enough, but students took issue with his history and reputation.

In 2019, he beat Britain’s women’s deadlifting record while claiming to be a woman, and has since made some bold claims at in-person events and online that have caused many to perceive him as transphobic.

Additionally, he’d done controversial interviews with Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan, two figures known for their various forms of harmful rhetoric and intolerance. That didn’t sit well with Stetson’s student body, as they felt that Zuby’s presence would incite more hate speech towards marginalized communities.

The room was charged with tension as protestors, whose numbers exceeded that of the event’s attendees, lined up outside. Trans flags, t-shirts, and pins were worn in mass, 28 the reporter

and many held “trans lives matter” signs. Public Safety officers kept the protestors outside of the hall during the lecture, but that did little to quell the outrage. At the lecture’s end, a question-and-answer segment was offered, and the protesters were finally let in to voice their concerns. When asked about his deadlifting stunt, Zuby asserted, “When I lift weights, I identify as a woman.” He went on to add that he believed it was a humorous way to prove how absurd he felt it was that transgender individuals could compete under their preferred gender.

Concerned students lined up, one after the other, and boldly asked questions in front of an audience of heckling conservatives. Strangely, most of the attendees were unaffiliated community members, though the event was originally advertised as a Stetson-specific lecture. As the night went on, it divulged into an emotionally charged debate between the speaker and the protestors. For each question that they posed, only conflicting claims and deflection were offered in turn until, finally, the crowd became so incensed that they began shouting, chanting, and cursing. Stetson’s officials ultimately called the event short and sent everyone away.

Milo Ornovan (‘26), turned to the crowd of protestors at the event’s end and exclaimed in exasperation, “You have all been trolled!” He attended the event with his friend Connor Jensen (‘23), knowing that the lecture would turn out this way.

“He’s [Zuby] an Oxford graduate. No one was prepared. You see this stuff all the time, especially in politics. Ben Shapiro goads people into thinking emotionally and not rationally, no different than here,” Ornovan said.

Story: Carmen Cruz Graphics and layout: Venus Turnbull

Ornovan and Jensen both have extensive debate experience and spoke about possible careers in politics. Though they didn’t agree with what Zuby was saying, they tried to ask numerous questions that might lead to a healthy debate but found themselves frustrated that they were never offered a straight answer.

“He owns the libs, comes to talk about something that no one would disagree with, incites discourse, and then profits off of the incident, especially online,” Jensen said. He added, “This is making him a lot of money; that was the point.”

Zuby, for his part, made little effort to de-escalate the situation, though he seemed largely content with its outcome. Some students found it strange that YAF hired a professional photographer to document the protest; others believed it was an outright dangerous invasion of their privacy. Zuby himself, among select attendees, posted pictures of the assembled students onto their respective social media accounts alongside degrading captions. One such comment, posted on Twitter by Chrissie Mayr, said, “It's Where’s Waldo but with unhappy feminists.” Anonymous messaging boards like YikYak were flooded that night with hateful rhetoric towards student protestors and the trans community at large, ultimately proving the notion that events such as these foster hate rather than healthy discourse.

As any attendee can attest, there wasn’t anything healthy about what transpired that night, which leads this reporter to wonder why Stetson facilitated it in the first place. The event inadvertently posed some interesting questions. While everyone has the right to say what they wish within legal reason, does that mean that we shouldn’t care about consequences? Do we disregard the delivery of our beliefs to make a point at the expense of others, or do we maintain a certain level of empathy all the while? When does free speech become hate speech? A transgender student, who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns after this contentious event, had this to say about the ordeal: “Many LGBTQ students were uncomfortable and feared this event and what it would cause for our community. We were uncomfortable with this event because Zuby is an open anti-LGBT and anti-BLM activist. We knew bringing a speaker like Zuby onto campus would open a pathway to intolerance and hate towards already struggling minorities. Not only does it make our peers feel like they are allowed to treat us as lesser because we are gay, lesbian, bi, trans, etc, but it also makes us feel like we are unwelcomed and do not belong here at Stetson.”

While Zuby, and YAF by extension, clearly believed that the students that protested were against free speech itself, is that the whole truth? The rhetoric among conservatives is that Gen Z are politically correct “snowflakes,” but I disagree. Concern for how a sentiment will impact others isn’t censorship; it’s empathy. Moreover, many questioned

Zuby’s qualifications surrounding the points of his lecture in general. “It is my understanding that the speaker is a British musician. Being neither a politician nor a resident of the United States, I fail to see how he could have been considered qualified to speak on American politics,” Logan Warren (‘25), a trans student at Stetson, said.

Warren also noted his frustration at the way the university handled the situation at large, adding,

Venus Turnbull (‘24)

“I wanted this piece to emphasize what I felt was the most signi cant part of this event: the anger and fear felt by the students here at Stetson. I speci cally tried to pull in bright, harsh tones to emphasize these feelings.”

“For weeks, I’d seen transgender students voicing the danger of having a transphobic speaker on campus. When the SGA finally addressed the concerns, they only mentioned the importance of having ‘multiple views’ which seemed to focus more on the debate itself than the safety of transgender students.

And on top of all of this, YAF was publicly going after a member of SGA. Stetson should have done everything in their power to protect this student. All around, it was a mess. The speaker was laughably underqualified at best, and the consequences were severely dangerous at worst. Stetson has to do better.”

Yes, Zuby has every right to his opinion, even if it is harmful to a community that gets a lot of unwarranted blows as it is. But that doesn’t mean that his decision to use his platform to incite hate, and potentially violence, towards trans people is a responsible one. For this reason, and given that he has a well-documented history of doing it, it was also irresponsible of Stetson to facilitate his lecture here.

At the event's end, Zuby felt good about how it went, but if you ask me, that’s because he felt like he won against the protestors.

“Given the time constraints and the format, overall, I think it went very well,” Zuby said.

The consensus among students was that he used his Oxford degree to debate a crowd of people twenty years his junior; he baited them and asked leading questions and intentionally worked them into an emotional response. That’s not proof of moral superiority; swinging down isn’t a good look on anyone.

While it may be tempting to jump right into a debate to prove the legitimacy of your own beliefs, that shouldn’t mean that we disregard the very existence of others for the sake of ego. Disagreement and discrimination are very different things; it’s imperative we don’t confuse the two.

who believe in those words will take them to heart; Zuby's words can motivate hate and even violence. I chose this college because I thought it would be one of my safest options as a transgender and gay man. When I took my first tour I asked my tour guide if I would be safe on campus, and I've been told by many staff as well that this campus is LGBTQ friendly, yet they bring an anti-LGBTQ speaker on campus... Make it make sense,” said the aforementioned anonymous trans student.

Free speech shouldn’t be so outlandishly complex, and yet, it is. Providing a platform for all can sometimes enable an emphatic minority to cause harm to marginalized communities. As such, it may be high time that Stetson revisits their policies about guest lecturers.

For an extended version of this story, visit our website at hatternetwork.com

“When students shared their concerns with the school staff and SGA, they were told that YAF and Zuby had the right to free speech. However, there is a difference between free speech and hate. Especially on a school campus. When a speaker can cause intolerance towards students, then they should

not be brought on campus. Speakers have a lot of power, words hold a lot of power, and those

Disney’s Take on Body Positivity with “Re ect”

e world of ballet has been plagued by antiquated notions of what it means to be the ultimate ballerina. Having a lengthy ballet background myself, I’ve witnessed some of these notions rsthand, being told on multiple occasions that I wasn’t good enough due to my size and stature. ough the ballet primas you see onstage come from a multitude of cultural backgrounds, they’re all ordinarily secluded to one region—Europe—and all fall under those aforementioned “antiquated norms.”

It’s unsurprising that the ideal dancer is normally caucasian with long hair, a long neck and legs, and most of all, skinny.

announcing the combinations of steps they’re instructed to perform at the barre. However, before this, the protagonist stares at her re ection in the mirror beside her, gazing uncomfortably at her stomach with an apparent look of sadness upon her face.

is animated Disney short can be found on Disney+ under season 2 of “Short Circuit Experimental Films,” and begins with a young girl in ballet class. She practices her steps in the classroom proudly while occasionally dancing lively to the piano music in the background. She is then interrupted by the onslaught of her classmates ooding into the room and her teacher

It’s apparent that she’s dissatisfied with her body and attempts to suck in and make herself appear smaller. She attempts to continue, but her emotions get the better of her as she continuously looks in disgust at her reflection. This scene lasts but a second before the glass beside her breaks to reveal a monstrous entity—presumably signifying her perception of the mirror as her enemy—beneath the surface that swallows her up, sending her into a gallery of mirrors all displaying her reflection. As she hurriedly runs around the room trying to find an escape, she looks again into the mirrors. She seems reluctant to look at her reflection, still believing that she’s ugly or in some way monstrous—a feeling that I’ve experienced myself. She stares anxiously into the mirror like it’s harming her in some way, although it’s simply reflecting her appearance. She runs around until she looks again but calmly this time, and decides that instead of running, she’ll dance confidently despite the troubling environment she’s found herself in. She leaps and turns around the room to the melody of glass shattering around her, until finally, the room collapses as the protagonist grand jetes through her final obstacle, gliding to the barre with a much more confident demeanor than before. Her insecurities appear at this point to have vanished, and instead of looking at herself with disgust, she smiles happily to herself as she resumes her class, signifying that dance is what brings her happiness and dance will be what pulls her through her struggle.

Story: Alexis Diamond Design and Layout: Venus Turnbull

The initial part with the protagonist dancing then gazing into the mirror, though devastatingly brief, amply displayed her low self-image and how it affects her.

I would’ve loved for this to be longer, though. Through the 6 minute run-time (the fi rst couple being an interview with the short’s creator, Hillary Brad-fi eld) only about a minute of that is an introduction into the character and her struggles. The fi lm would have benefi ted from more time with her in the mirror before the climax.

There were nights where I would run home crying to my mother because I believed I was a monster. I would sob and envision myself in a body much smaller and think all my troubles would go away , so I identify with the protagonist’s struggle.

Many times, the teacher is a perpetuator of ballet stereotypes, and I would’ve loved to see more insight into her method of instructing class. As a teenager in ballet, I would be graded upon my performance, and instead of getting notes on my technique from my instructors in the final half of the season, I was reprimanded for my physique and told that I was “too big to be a professional dancer,” and if I want to be

Venus Turnbull ('24), mirrored the graphic to the narrative arc of the short film featured. As the glass breaks around our protagonist, so too does the societal standards that once caged her in. And what a beautiful sight that is!

successful, I need to lose weight. This is why it’s crucial to identify where and how these norms are created and spread. Establishing this outright would’ve helped build the vibe of a ballet classroom for those who are unfamiliar with it. It’s true that a teacher sets the tone for class, even in fields outside of ballet.

I did enjoy the ensuing climax with her dancing in a room of mirrors. I found this very symbolic and wonderfully executed. A dancer’s life is lived through the mirror, and though it’s exhilarating seeing yourself grow as a performer, it’s equally troublesome as with every correction, we critique ourselves in turn. I would find that with every leap, I’d judge the size of my thighs, and with turns I would critique the size of my shoulders and traps, believing them to be hideous and precisely what was keeping me from success. However, what this film beautifully does is turn the protagonist’s weakness into her strength as she learns to appreciate her reflection through dance. As she pirouettes and leaps through the mirrored room, her confidence returns, and once again, she can dance freely.

Despite the multiple insults hurled at me from my teachers, I found that the one thing helping me continue dancing was my passion for the art. I lived for dance; I breathed it and survived off of it. I wanted nothing more than to do it forever, and I knew that if I focused too much on those comments, I would lose sight of the one thing I loved more than anything.

this. I envision myself as the protagonist now years after I quit dancing, and I feel that I’ve been seen and heard for the first time. I was never comforted by instructors, nor was I told anything positive about my appearance, so seeing that a young girl found solace in her love for dance made me overwhelmed with happiness. I would love to see “Reflect” made into a full-length film. Same protagonist, same setting, and even more emphasis on the struggles of becoming a dancer and learning to appreciate the body you’re in.

Ballet will never be an easy artform to partake in. Dancers have already begun to break the mold of what a traditional ballerina is, such as Misty Copeland and Michaela DePrince: Copeland being the first female, African American principal ballet dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, and DePrince challenging body expectations with her muscular physique and vitiligo. Though these women are contributing greatly to change, I doubt we’ll see a full-scale change anytime soon. It’s a good start, but I would love to see the ballet industry change for the better, and I think films such as “Reflect” are helping create an industry more inclusive for all. Dance should not be an exclusive activity. More than anything, instructors should promote the good parts of dance such as the encouragement of storytelling and self-expression—two elements I fell in love with.

To all dancers out there—past and present—I hope “Reflect” was able to speak to you like it did to me.

Passion ultimately means more than any unrealistic expectations set by any instructors.

Suffice to say I’m satisfied with the short film, though I would like to have seen more emphasis on certain elements before being pulled into the room of mirrors. Dancing from a young age, I knew all too well what it takes to do ballet. I’ve experienced a multitude of snide remarks for my overly muscular body type, which took a significant toll on my self-image as I grew older, and I foolishly began to believe that I never deserved a spot in the front row. I was one amongst many classmates who suffered the same trials, but oftentimes for young dancers, it’s a journey you battle alone. I wish younger me could’ve seen a film like

Though no dancer is perfect, we can always strive to perform to the best of our ability. Let’s strive for a more inclusive classroom and a place for all at the barre.

Staff Who Care: Recognizing Stets ’s Humble Her s

sA smile, a hug, a donut, an encouraging word. Simple acts such as these have the power to uplift one’s spirits amidst even the darkest of times. Stetson University was not left unscathed from the consequences of global catastrophes that have rocked the world over the last several years. Many students have dealt with feelings of isolation and depression that have made college living that much harder. And, while not all sta fulfill their roles to our standards, good people still exist, and they exist all around us. This is why sta who quietly make a di erence in the day-to-day lives of students deserve far more recognition than they’ve previously been a orded.

We’ve polled students across Stetson to see who has made a significant impact on our community. We specifically searched for those who went out of their way to conduct small acts of kindness and consistently invested in the mental health and wellbeing of the Hatters under their purview. The following are the results of our findings: two members of sta came up again and again as unsung heroes and were gracious enough to talk to us about their experiences.

Deana Lowry: Assistant Director of Wellness and Recreation

What motivates you to go above and beyond the call of duty?

Deana is strongly motivated by her desire to see our generation succeed. “I feel like your generation is going to change the world and if I don't help in every way that I can, I'm setting [the world] up for failure,” Lowry said. She is often left frustrated at the state of the world, but believes that students in younger generations have the capacity to make positive change and in some ways, represent her hope for the future.

“I want you guys to leave here ready to take on the next step in your life,” Lowry added, noting how hard it can be for students to be apart from their support systems for the first time. “I want you to feel like that safe space is still available. So you… can come to me, you can sit down, and we don't even have to talk, we can just stare at each other if that's what you need. And if that's what this position does for me in working with students, then I will do that every single day.”

How do you maintain your own mental health while looking after the health of others?

Pondering upon her personal philosophy surrounding mental health, Deana notes that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Her motivation to maintain her own mental health leads right back to her desire to serve.

A key component for her is her support system. “Luckily, I have a really great support system that kind of calls me out – like my wife. If I'm just in a bad headspace, she'll ask what we can do. Like, do we need to go get ice cream?” Lowry said.

This enables her to regain her primary focus, which is always the betterment of students.

“Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others… otherwise you’re going to fail them. It definitely is like a full circle, ” Lowry said.

tCaitlyn Alvarado:

What motivates you to go above and beyond the call of duty?

Caitlyn prioritizes student relationships above all else. Her hope is to always make someone else’s day a little better. In explaining her logic, she states that “a University cannot be without students. So therefore, what is one of the most important parts of my job? My interactions with students.”

She emphasizes the centrality of this mission. Students are the heart and soul of Stetson, so supporting them in any way possible should be commonplace.

“ at's really why we are here, and I think it should be considered more of a standard and less of going above and beyond,” Alvarado said.

Administrative Specialist of the History Department & The Building Coordinator for Elizabeth Hall (Pursuing a Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling)

z“I truly believe that Miss Deana cares for us individually like we are her own. She values our opinions and encourages us to be greater than we set out to be,” Fernando Bryant (‘25) said.

How do you maintain your own mental health while looking after the health of others?

As an aspiring mental health professional, Caitlyn stressed the importance of seeking help o en.

“I believe that the fact that I'm willing to go and see a counselor myself every once in a while, hopefully helps inspire my students to do the same. I don't think that somebody can be a counselor, or tell other people to see a counselor, without having seen one themselves,” Alvarado said.

She also cites speci c tools and techniques that have helped her and that she hopes can help others as well.

“I try to use my own examples to help my students. It's like, you give a man a sh, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to sh, you feed him for the rest of his life. I try to show them how I sh, maybe take them shing for a little bit, and then I let them go and hope that the skills that I've shown them will be helpful,” Alvarado said.

Who else at Stetson do you see as a humble hero?

“Dr. Chesya Burke, she’s fantastic! Also, Colleen Vanderlip. I saw they [students] trusted her. She’s a good leader. Travis Potter has such a mutual respect with the students, and has a really great relationship with his GA’s. Lynn Schoenberg – I've come across a lot of deans who don't take time out of their day to sit on the front porch just waiting for students to come talk to her. I think her approachability is very admirable,” Lowry said.

“Dr. Mayhill Fowler; she's known for sitting with students, and she's just an amazing and kind person. Miss Debbie Tate is absolutely amazing, and she does so much for her work study students. Miss Laura Glander is all about the students. She just does so much for everybody, not just students; she's like a Stetson unicorn. ere are just so many people. I feel bad about saying names because there's so many names that are being unsaid at the same time,” Alvarado said.

Three cheers for the humble heroes of Stetson! These folks are the secret sauce that truly makes Stetson a community, which is why students adore them so. Have another unsung hero in mind? Hit us up at hatternetwork@gmail.com to let us know, or write a Letter to The Editor and have your thoughts showcased in our next issue!

Unpacked:

With President Roellke

As the President of Stetson University, Dr. Christopher Roellke is a busy man who has to juggle many responsibilities. Because of this, he never knows what to expect to find in his backpack on a day-by-day basis. He was just as surprised as us by some of the findings.

Written: Chase Berger

Photos: Jillian Semmel

Layout: Cas Bradley & Hayden Collins

1.“Retro” foam headphones

“I don’t have any earbuds; I don’t have those wireless ones. I am technologically inept, but it’s probably easier, isn’t it?”

2.Two checkbooks among other doubles

“I have two checkbooks, two cellphones, and two computers. That is because even though I’ve been here for three years, I am still weaning myself off of my New York lifestyle. So I have a New York checkbook from my old bank; Florida checkbook for my Insight Credit Union. That’s something, I’m still old school on checks. There’s a technological theme here. I don’t do Venmo or Cash App, although I can now with my credit card tap.”

3.Passport

“There’s a story behind the passport. Why I carry it with me is because my license from Florida actually has my wrong birthday on it. My birthday is on March 12 and it says May 12. Oh, and I have been stopped twice at the airport because my license does not match what I have said. I haven’t had the chance to get to the DMV to get it changed.”

4.All Access Stetson Sports pass

“I use it a lot. Although I’m required to buy tickets for basketball, I actually have to give them my physical ticket for basketball. The other things, like all other sports, I can use it for.”

5.Family portrait holiday card

“That’s my family. Well, it’s not my family. It’s my siblings and my mother. I’m the baby of seven. And that’s my mom. She’s 92. I have to say she’s an extraordinary human being. She’s amazing: still drives and does a New York Times crossword every day with a pen.”

6.Folder of memorabilia

“My sister Beth has been doing some spring cleaning and gave me this little folder. She intentionally made it green because she knows that it’s Stetson. Some of it is just fun pieces of memorabilia. This is the [business card of the] first academic appointment I ever had, which was at the University of Richmond... My wife was graduating from veterinary school, and I created an invitation for people to celebrate my wife’s commencement. This was probably from 1993… She gave me this bookmark, which was a gift from my daughter. My daughter obviously created this as something for Aunt Beth at some point when she was a kid. I suspect this was from when she was 10 or 11… This is my wife and I. This is just to announce our engagement, It was in the New York Times believe it or not.”

7.Old baseball jersey

“This is the exact uniform I wore at Wesleyan University. As a student, I played baseball. The coach had all of these [uniforms]; I think it was a fundraising ploy. In the mail came this package with an outline of their season coming ahead and there was this jersey that I wore. I mean, it’s pretty ugly: double-knit, hot. I can hardly fit into it now but that’s a whole other story. I have not sent my check [yet]. I do try to give back to the places that have impacted my life and Wesleyan was certainly a big one.”

Dr. Roellke’s bag may change a lot, but his jolly candor never does. Catch him running all over campus and you’ll see what we mean. And, as he always says, Go Hatters!

AMPERS&ND

AMPERS&ND

Meet Danielle Hunt

Writer: Kaelyn-Rose Miranda

Photographer: Madison Seipol

Spread Design: Hayden Collins & Cas Bradley

Danielle Hunt (‘25) started drawing at a young age. Her father, who worked for Cartoon Network as a cartoonist, introduced the idea of illustrating characters with bright colors and personified animals. She started tracing characters and pressing hard on the paper as a way to perfect her lines in her dining room. What she considered to be a diversion and hobby soon developed into a much more significant part of her life, something she hopes to turn into a career one day.

Hunt’s work consists of 3D animation, 3D modeling animation, and traditional animation. Although she has taken art classes at Stetson, she revealed that her best work is completed outside of class, doing her “own thing.” Like many who had time to focus on improving hobbies during COVID-19, Hunt created a large collection of works related to animals and the 1980s. Many of her pieces have wild animals playing some sort of instrument.

AMPERS&ND AMPERS&ND

AMPERS&ND

“The type of music I listen to is vaporwave and artists from the 80s,” said Hunt.

“My favorite music artist who inspires me the most is Michael Jackson.”

Vaporwave music is a moderation of 1980s and 1990s music that uses selective R&B, jazz, and elevator music. Hunt says that her work has “that 80s render look to it on purpose,” saying that “if I listen to music, I can kind of make pieces out of it. I just listen to the music and produce what I hear.” Even though it can be quite a challenge to construct artwork inspired by music, Hunt says that during the start of drawing, music helps her “create stuff,” but sometimes her specific process of illustrating can take as long as a year to complete one piece.

During her most recently completed collection of artworks, Hunt explained that she took a year-long break from some of the pieces. She eventually finished the collection in 2022, which is when she first heard about the Hand and Art Center Juried Exhibition, an art show that celebrates students’ artworks.

Every year, artistic students are encouraged to apply for the art show no matter what their major is. Hunt said she was really nervous “because it was [her] first time putting pieces in for a competition,” and she didn’t know how it would go. Eventually, she got an email saying that she had been selected to be a part of the show. The next step was to show up on the day of the juried expedition.

The creative arts faculty gave out about eight awards. According to the Hand and Art Center,

Hunt’s specific piece, titled “Hyperactive Cheetah,” caught the attention of many due to the vibrant neon colors and electric twist on a personified Cheetah.

“if I listen to music, I can kind of make pieces out of it. I just listen to the music and produce what I hear.”

the winners of the show have their artwork added to the Hand Art Center’s permanent collection, which showcases many of the student artworks throughout campus buildings” if they win the Ann West Hall Purchase Award. Other awards like Best in Show, the Hand Art Center Award, Student Choice, and Non-Major Award are also given out.

For Hunt’s first time competing in an art show, she won the Best in Show award, which was selected by an outside juror named Leah Sandler. Hunt’s specific piece, titled “Hyperactive Cheetah,” caught the attention of many due to the vibrant neon colors and electric twist on a personified Cheetah.

“They usually announce the winners online, but this year was a little different. We got to stand next to each other and celebrate,” Hunt said.

Although Hunt is grateful for the recognition and she never imagined herself winning an award at Stetson, she still feels that she has a lot more to accomplish. In time, she hopes to be able to sell her artwork one day; having it shown and displayed on television is also on her bucket list.

“Eventually, I want to make a TV show with my characters and the artwork I do.”

Layout: Hayden Collins

Graphics: Alexa Hutton

Sounds of

Self-love begins with understanding how others love us and how we love others. The reflective idealizations of these loves are intertwined with introspective self-love. Artists have expressed what love means in a subjective way that has resonated with the masses for centuries. In modern times, we have the notion of self-love.

What does it mean to love yourself?

Playlist Curator: Carmen Cruz & Brandy Bennett

Self Love

Lean on Me - Bill Withers

Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks

True Colors - Cyndi Lauper

Hands - Jewel

Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Unstoppable - Sia

Beautiful - Christina Aguilera

About Damn Time - Lizzo

Flowers - Miley Cyrus

Born This Way - Lady Gaga

No Scrubs - TLC

Lose You To Love Me - Selena Gomez

Love Myself - Hailee Steinfeld

Confident - Demi Lovato

Epiphany - BTS

Independent Women Pt1 - Destiny’s Child

thank u, next - Ariana Grande

Good as Hell - Lizzo

Feeling Myself - Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé

Killin’ It - Foxy Shazam

Secrets - Mary Lambert

Be Good to Yourself - Journey

Lettin Go! - Janelle Monáe

Fabulous - Ally Brooke

ME! - Taylor Swift, Brendon Urie

Driving Myself Home - Rose Betts