Vol CXXIII Issue 13

the

Reporter

Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.

Vol. CXXIII Issue 13

Grimacing over graduation Students react with outrage, some sign petition against outdoor commencement Sarah Dean Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Stetson University

Students pack the Edmunds Center during last year’s indoor commencement.

SGA WEEKLY

‘Graduation frustration’ dominates senate meeting Jason Cruz Staff Writer Graduation frustration took control of last week’s Student Government Association senate meeting. Senators and passionate seniors questioned administrative representatives about commencement until everyone in the room, this reporter included, felt the heat.

Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bruce Chong and Director of Events Julie Hunter fielded an hour’s worth of student questions regarding the recently announced plans to hold this year’s Commencement ceremony at the outdoor Spec Martin Stadium in Downtown DeLand, where Stetson Football hosts opponents.

The venue marks a drastic shift from recent commencement ceremonies which took place inside the Edmonds Center on campus.

Chong and Hunter explained that the decision to move away from campus originated after reaching the Edmunds Center’s capacity last during last year’s ceremonies.

The DeLand fire marshall threatened to shut the events down and forced the administrators to bar further entry. Hunter herself turned away entire families who never witnessed their graduates walk across the stage. Size and immediacy to Stetson took primacy as factors for the process of selecting a new location.

The students’ questions involved understanding that process, but the representatives were surprisingly low on specifics.

Chong revealed he has only been at Stetson since November, at which point the decision to move to Spec Martin had already been made. Hunter has been at Stetson since the end of Spring 2015, but was not involved in the selection process until its later stages. Both made frequent mention to choices made based on “their” preferences, things “they” did not do such as seek out student and faculty input. When pressed for names, Chong told students to address their grievances to the university president, provost, and the president’s cabinet.

Hunter and Chong had more to say about protecting students and their families from the challenges of a long outdoors ceremony. Many asked about accommodations for physically or mentally disabled individuals who cannot sit alone in the May heat for long. Chong announced that tents will be set up for those family members to sit in the shade, and that all attendees will have complimentary access to water. Hunter wants students to email events@stetson. edu to arrange for the accommodations they will need, enabling her office to provide them. Unfortunately, merely being outdoors for the length of Commencement will almost certainly mean some family members See SGA, Page 3

Since the announcment that 2016 commencement ceremony would be held at Spec Martin Stadium rather than indoors at the Edmunds Center, reactions from the Stetson community — specifically seniors planning to walk in May — have been mixed to negative.

While safety surrounding the capacity limits of the previously used Edmunds Center is an important concern, many students have expressed outrage over the decision, which has sparked comments not only directly regarding the issue at hand, but also many other perceived issues with how the school is run and communication between administration and students.

On January 27, Director of University Events Julie Hunter and Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bruce Chong attended an SGA forum about graduation to help clear the air about certain problems and address student concerns. (Details on the forum are covered in-depth in this

week’s SGA Weekly column.)

While this meeting clarified several issues, such as the availablilty of shade and water for students and their guests who may be sensitive to the temperature, students continued to express concern.

The Reporter spoke to students who had varying opinions on the issue at hand, including Alex Rafferty, who authored a petition on change.org entitled “Remove Outdoor Graduation” that went viral on students’ social media over the past week. As of February 2, the petition has 349 signatures, and the comment section is covered in the opinions of students who are graduating this spring, in future years, and even some comments from alumni who graduated in the recent past and disagree with the changes being made. Rafferty himself has many strong opinions regarding graduation and other administrative proceedings: “I have been a student activist for quite some time. Having lead a movement against the termination of eight adjuncts in the See Graduation, Page 2

#ThrowbackThursday is back!

Read the story behind this week’s #Throwback Thursday A&E, Page 4

Q&A with sand volleyball player Madison Tormey + Sports Editor Sean McKnight’s indepth Super Bowl predictions Sports, Pages 7-8

2 NEWS Gradutation, continued from Page 1 school of Arts & Sciences, to organizing the protest of the infamous ‘Rock,’ I feel like standing up for what is right is a liberty we are fortunate to have here in this country, and I don’t plan on wasting it,” Rafferty said.

He continued: “Many of us (students) have spent $100,000200,000 on our education.

Most of us are extremely proud to be just three months away from graduating, and we have worked very hard to earn a ceremony which is all about us and the faculty, who after all are the reason we as students are here. However, as this administration has shown over its six years, they do not care about the opinion of the student body or the faculty, and blatantly disregard our wishes and desires.

Instead of enhancing the learning environment, the administration pumps copious amount of money into athletics (which no one is concerned with), marketing, and so on. They continued to make decisions and then look in hindsight and say, ‘Maybe we should have consulted the students and faculty.’ Yet, that’s always a little too late, and our voice is rarely heard.

“So by starting this petition, I am hoping to have our voices heard in both the Faculty Senate, local news, and show the administration that our efforts are not fruitless, and that an astonishing 340, parents, students, and faculty, have all signed a petition to overturn the administration’s decision for an outdoor commencement. Rather than running the school like a top down business such as IBM, why doesn’t the administration strive to be different, and focus on inclusion of all faculty and students? “....My 85 year old grandmother from Massachusetts does not want to boil in the sun. I do not want to be removed from my classmates, which is part of the atmosphere and excitement of graduation, in the

name of pseudo accommodation, so that my service dog does not overheat and struggle. We know that this commencement will exceed two and a half hours.

Individual commencements last year lasted over three hours. Furthermore, Dr. Libby and her fellow bureaucrats likes to boast about being masters of the universe, and there are far too many irrelevant speakers and awards to avoid the temperature becoming an issue as commencement will inevitably run longer than anticipated. It is time that we students stand up, and demand our opinions, thoughts and desires be heard by this elitist, bureaucratic administration we are trapped under.”

Hannah Fageeh, a senior graduating this May, expressed discontent with not only the outdoor ceremony, but also the lack of communication within the university, which, in her opinion, seems to be growing faster than its space can handle.

“I signed the petition [regarding graduation] because I'm fed up with Stetson's approach to to the expansion and growth of our university. Even though Stetson is a technically a non-profit entity, they seem to be approaching everything with a capitalist lens on. Their efforts to change things on campus are all centered around making us look like other big state schools. It's impossible for us to be or look like that, possibly because we're meant to be small, closeknit, and personal. I know that's why I chose to come here four years ago. It's disappointing to see so much money placed into buildings that will attract new students rather than putting money into the academic departments that current students and professors are already a part of. There is a huge lack of funding in many liberal arts majors and minors — the Gender

“On a basic level, the only people coming to my graduation are my grandparents, who like most grandparents are old and cannot bear the heat. I still haven’t figured out a way to un-invite them to graduation because I am most definitely not going to be sitting outside for hours.”

— Hannah Fageeh, senior Editor-in-Chief Sarah Dean News Editor Lauren Davids Sports Editor Sean McKnight Opinion Editor Kaley Fulton A & E Editor Sam Votaw Copy & Content Editor Caroline Williams

Studies and Africana Studies departments receive less funding than some of the organizations on campus — that's sad. All of this is related to why they're making graduation outside: Because we have so many students that they're unable to hold it inside.

“Instead of welcoming literally every student's family member and best friends, why don't we place a cap on invited members and hold it inside? Also, the number of students in my class (class of 2016) is not as large as the current freshman class, so they seem to be using us as a test trial sugar-coated with the word "tradition." On top of that, it's disappointing that the graduation will be hosted on the football field, another element of Stetson that has been falsely labeled with "tradition" and another aspect of Stetson's efforts to look like a big school. With all due respect to the football players and coaches, it seems to be another way to wrongly distribute money for profit — ignoring the needs of the academic departments that need it.

“On a basic level, the only people coming to my graduation are my grandparents, who like most grandparents are old and cannot bear the heat. I still haven't figured out a way to un-invite them to graduation because I am most definitely not going to be sitting outside for hours.

“As much as Stetson has tried to cover it up with "accommodations" I doubt that a couple of booths with free water bottles is going to help much, it's difficult to escape the heat. In the end, I will not be attending graduation as a protest to the ideas of expansion at Stetson- I encourage others to let Stetson know that they need to consider our academic departments when deciding where to put their next bundle of money.

Hopefully it won't be into a pile of rocks or a parking garage.”

While some students are outraged over the ceremony, others are impartial to or even agree with the change. Senior Alyssa Bajek, also graduating in May, voiced her lack of concern, and also spoke about the main issue surrounding the graduation problem itself: If graduation does not take place at Spec Martin, where would it be instead?

Web Editor Michael Galvez Web Designer Allegra Henderon Staff Writers Jason Cruz Madison Akins Kait Forsythe Staff Photographers Nicole Frechette Maeve Coughlin

Graphic courtesy Alex Rafferty

A screenshot of the “Remove Outdoor Commencement” petition’s statistics.

Since this image was taken, the petition’s signatures have risen to 349 out of its goal of 500.

"Graduation outside is not that big of a deal. I'll admit I was worried about the weather and ceremony length when I first heard about it, but there seems to be some miscommunication floating around. The school is willing to work with guests who need accommodations such as first row or covered seating — it seems as if people have jumped the gun and decided this was not case without reading the graduation website (this information was up for weeks before the issue started blowing up).

The longer ceremony has it ups and downs. While sitting through three hours of graduation may be tiring, on the other hand, I get to share the experience with my roommate in the school of business, which otherwise wouldn't have been the case. She's been one of my best friends since freshman year, and finishing our college experience together on the same day seems a bit more poetic than my other roommate in the school of arts and sciences and I completing our college journey

Staff Contributors Nathan Bodger Kyle Maley Chelsea Probus Alexandra Shimalla Faculty Advisor Andy Dehnart Staff Advisor Kat Thomas

“I think my biggest issue, though, is no one has offered a viable alternative.

Where are going to go? If we can’t safely fit everyone into the Edmunds Center and everyone is opposed to an outdoor graduation what do we do?”

— Alyssa Bajek, senior a whole day before her,” Bajek said.

“I think my biggest issue, though, is no one has offered a viable alternative.

Where are going to go? If we can't safely fit everyone into the Edmunds Center and everyone is opposed to an outdoor graduation what do we do? There is no other large space on campus. Believe me , as someone who has had to endure the onerous task of book rooms for student org events no such place exists. It speaks to the larger problem of Stetson needing to curb its growth, but I'd rather people protest specifically that issue.”

After the spark of comments on social media, SGA has created an anonymous

Mission Statement We are committed to you.

We will deliver content that’s fair-minded and respectful of the diverse opinions and viewpoints of our readers.

We are responsible for covering the Stetson community and providing our readers with consistent, accurate, and factual information in new and creative ways. We

online survey in regards to commencement, which can be taken by students here http://goo.gl/forms/yVaEacCUQG. Editor’s note: The Reporter will continue to cover the issues surrounding the 2016 commencement in upcoming issues. If you would like your voice heard about this or anything on campus, email Editor-in-Chief Sarah Dean at sdean1@stetson.edu, or Opinion Editor Kaley Fulton at kfulton@ stetson.edu. A reminder to readers that opinions printed in The Reporter expressed by students, faculty members, or other members of the Stetson community do not represent those of The Reporter, its staff, or advisors.

will maintain the standards expected of a professional and credible news organization, which includes a serious commitment to honesty, transparency, and growth. We are conscious of our influence, holding ourselves accountable to our readers and to our own standards of journalistic integrity.

February 4, 2016 3

NEWS SGA, continued from Page 1 cannot attend. One student described the cancers and other illnesses which she believes will force her to graduate without any family present.

The administrative duo could not provide details regarding contingency plans for inclement weather, with Chong expressing frustration that his team has not yet progressed further in developing such plans.

In length, Chong reassured students that the administration is working ardently to keep things manageable. The ceremony will include every 2016 graduate at once, a change from previous years when students from different colleges graduated separately.

Hunter says they will be cutting down on the length of staff speeches to ensure that the entire commencement lasts no more than two and a half hours, the length of the College of Arts and Sciences’ procedures last spring.

After Chong and Hunter left, the senators took up the question of direct action regarding Commencement. They

spoke on forming a task force to rally seniors, collect quantitative data, and propose solutions to move the ceremony back indoors.

The most popular solution offered up was ticketing students in order to limit occupancy in the Edmunds Center.

During committee reports, Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Brian Wade urged senators to push students to fill out the now active Campus Climate survey, which the administration will use at the end of the year to determine concrete steps for the promotion of inclusion at Stetson. The survey will be open throughout February. Chair of Finance and Policy Alyssa Morley announced her committee will be drafting legislation regarding the controversial “in the presence” alcohol policy. She also clarified that next year while construction on the CUB begins, meals will be served in the Coffee Shop but can still be taken to eat in the Commons dining areas. No food will be served out of the Commons itself.

Looking to improve your essays?

Writing Series coming soon to the Writing Center Alexandra Shimalla Staff Contributor Tucked away in the far corner of the second floor of the library is the Writing Center. This hidden gem houses tutors who work with students to enhance papers and help them learn the methods and tricks of writing. Although the Writing Center has a variety of handouts as well as the tutors’ knowledge on subjects like crafting introductions, integrating sources, and using proper citation methods, a group of tutors, under the guidance of Writing Center Director Leigh Ann Dunning, recently decided to expand these resources.

That’s where the Writing Series comes into play. For the next seven Wednesdays, at 7 p.m. in the East Room computer lab, various tutors will host 40-minute workshops on stages of the writing process. The inspiration for these interactive presentations stemmed from “trying to think of ways to support student writers struggling with different aspects of the writing process” explains Dunning, “These workshops will present in-depth explanations and practice that we don’t always get a chance to provide in a 30-minute tutoring session.” When a tutor suggested creating presentations to address the questions that they receive on a regular basis, the workshop series was created.

This thought morphed into something that students at all levels in all majors could benefit from. For example, one of the workshops is based on academic writing.

According to Dunning, this workshop will focus on “audience, purpose, tone, word choice, and sentence structure; basically, how they all tie together when writing an academic essay.” Cameron Black, a lead tutor at the Writing Center, is looking forward to the presentations because “It’s a good opportunity to branch out into other disci-

plines, and I’m excited to convey information that I think are commonly asked questions. It’s like an extended FAQ session for students.”

By the fall semester, Dunning hopes that these presentations will be available for professors to request tutors to come and workshop with their classes. “This [series] is testing the waters,” she explains.

If you can’t make it to the workshops, but still want the help, the Writing Center offers 30-40 minute appointments Monday-Friday and Sunday. Simply head to their website (http://www.stetson.edu/other/writing-center/) to make an appointment. Contrary to popular belief, the tutors at the Writing Center aren’t all English majors. They have a variety of majors (like chemistry, history, music, psychology) to help a variety of students at all stages of the writing process.

Dates: 2/10 Pre-Writing Strategies 2/17 Introductions 2/24 Integrating Sources 3/16 Academic Writing 3/23 Conclusions 3/30 Citations 4/6 Proofreading Contact Writing Center Director, Leigh Ann Dunning with any questions. ldunning@stetson.edu

Public Safety Report Highlight Reel

Case #20160036: On January 22, Public Safety responded to a Disturbance from Emily Hall. The report states that a call was placed notifying Public Safety of a loud argument between two students. Officers arrived at the scene to handle the situation.

The two students complied to the request, with one sent to the Counseling Center.

Case #20160037: On January 22, Public Safety received Information regarding a student feeling threatened. The report states that a student called Public Safety to inform them of a non-student’s presence on campus that made them feel uncomfortable.

The individual in question was approached by officers and was escorted off campus with a trespassing warning.

Case #20160038: On January 23, a Fire Alarm sounded from Stetson Cove. The alarm was reportedly set off by burned bacon.

Case #20160039: On January 23, an Alcohol Policy violation was reported from Hatter Hall. The report states that four containers of hard liquor were found in a student’s room during a routine walk through. The alcohol was confiscated, and the students living in the room are subject to Discipline from the Office of Community Standard.

Case #20160040: On January 24, a Residential Burglary was reported from Gordis Hall. The report states that a student called Public Safety and informed them that cash had been found missing from their drawer. Officers arrived and found that the student’s door was unlocked at the time of the burglary. No suspects have been found.

Case #20160041: On January 22, a Suspicious Incident was reported from the Colonial Oaks apartment complex. The report states that a student called Public Safety after walking past the building and seeing a screen door separated from a room’s sliding patio door, informing them that it was not in that condition before. Officers questioned the residents of the apartment and determined that nothing was stolen, and that the door was likely blown over due to heavy winds that occurred that day.

Case #20160044: On January 24, a Fire Alarm sounded from Stetson Cove. The alarm was reportedly sett off by steam from a shower.

Case #20160045: On January 24, a Fire Alarm sounded from House C. The alarm was reportedly set off by burned steak.

Case #20160047: On January 25, a Fire Alarm sounded from House C. The alarm was reportedly set off by burned chicken in an oven.

Case #20160049: On January 26, a Traffic Accident with Injuries occurred outside Elizabeth Hall. The report states that a delivery truck skidded through the intersection between Woodland and Minnesota while pedestrians were walking across it during a red light. The truck’s mirror grazed a professor’s arm, resulting in minor bruising. DeLand police were called to the scene, where officers took a report.

4 A&E

Album Review

Rihanna’s long awaited eighth album rather Anticlimactic Pop queen falls just short on reinventive promise

Sam Votaw Arts & Entertainment editor While it might not have generated the mysterious allure of the decades long delayed and ultimately shelved Detox by Dr. Dre or the more recent and arguably more frustrating interval of modern alt R&B auteur Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry (#WheresTheAlbumFrank!?), there were millions of fans across the globe were led to believe Rihanna’s Anti was a project that would never see the light of day.

Now, after the 27-yearold singer teased that the album was “coming soon” in November, the follow up to 2012’s Unapologetic is finally here after a premature leak on premium music streaming site Tidal last Wednesday.

While fellow musicians Beyoncé and Drake have succeeded fiscally, critically, and artistically in their out-of-nowhere surprise albums over the past few years, Rihanna’s effort appears to be a minor exception to this new phenomena, seeking to flip the script on former perceptions of the Barbadian pop queen’s artistry to somewhat lackluster results.

Opening number “Consideration” features the thick, lo-fi crunch of an

808 drum machine beneath a rolling bass line while Rihanna reflects on how the almost four year gap between albums has ushered a bleak outlook on her music career while upcoming experimental crooner SZA hauntingly chimes on a hook that further evokes the sentiment.

It’s apparent on the immediate following track, the hazy minute and a half interlude “James Joint,” that Rihanna is no longer prescribing to the idea that she is purely a cog in the pop music industry conveyer belt.

Confidently claiming that she has ultimately risen to the ranks of a true artist, Anti features Rihanna downplaying many of the upbeat tropes audiences have come to expect from her across 13 tracks, choosing to make a body of work that sonically and lyrically reflects alienation and heartbreak more head on than the one oft bland ballad featured on her back catalog.

While her efforts are well intentioned, the result falls just a little short.

Single “Work” featuring a verse from the aforementioned Canadian rapper Drake is the most radio ready song of the collection, with Rihanna’s tastefully slurred vocal whines rhythmically anchoring Drake’s phoned-in contri-

bution, a shocker considering his industry dominance last year.

“Desperado” follows with RiRi working a metaphor equating an emotionally distant relationship with a titular gunslinger while “Woo” features her rumored lover and Kanye West protégée Travi$ Scott crooning through layers of distortion while she gives herself a stern pep talk about refusing a physically abusive one.

It’s clear Rihanna is attempting to exorcise some personal demons here, making herself more vulnerable than ever before, but the album’s monotonous production limits the effect that Rihanna promised she would achieve through further delaying the release.

Even the notable standouts only lend themselves to fleeting moments of genius rather than stretching them out across the run of an entire track. “Kiss It Better” showcases Rihanna’s still vibrant sense of sexuality over a juicy guitar lick that fades in and out of the chorus just as fast as it arrived, the shocking Tame Impala rework “Same Ole Mistakes” places sitar flourishes beneath an atmospheric synth line, while doo wop tribute “Love On the Brain” allows Rihanna’s stunning vocals to build into a phenomenal conclusion, but

would have benefitted from coming at the gates in the same manner.

Anti is unfortunately an effort that fails to fully measure up to its immense potential that was no doubt heightened expectations due to numerous delays.

While Rihanna no doubt wished to make a statement in her shedding of commercial gloss, the album, for the most part, comes across as dull and uninspired despite the singer tackling topics she never had been

so forthright about.

Perhaps most puzzling is that proven hits such as “FourFive Seconds” with Kanye West and the triumphant banger “Bitch Better Have My Money” are nowhere to be found on the track list, a move that would have most likely given the album more variation as a whole.

Instead, Anti is content with riding a particularly somber wave virtually the whole way through, akin to something to be played as

Photo Courtesy of Roc Nation

background music at an intimate after party on a rooftop martini bar, and that’s not as glorious as it might sound.

Rihanna should definitely be praised for eschewing the standard beat and rhythm that made her a star at this point in her career, wishing to make a record that is deeply personal and a masterful display at versatility, but ultimately fails to reach the mark of pop excellence set by some of her peers.

(Re)Mixing: Changing my life’s soundtrack Jason Cruz Staff Writer

I listen to music often. I almost never leave the house without my headphones, and when I do, it’s to get in my car where I have speakers. My ears chronically hurt after hours of tunes blasting at volumes I, and often the people around me, know is too loud.

Of course that hardly stops me from playing the next track. As I write this in relative silence, I wish I had something on.

Actually… there we go.

Now playing Jay-Z’s “Encore.”

I grew up with Jay-Z playing around me for years, and rediscovering his work last weekend has led to the addition of another 23 songs on my iPod. By the time they arrived my iTunes library held nearly 2,000 pieces of music. My iPod resembled a digital cornucopia and cuts needed to be made.

But where?

Obviously I have run into this issue in the past and always found room by slicing off songs I usually ignore. However, each refinement means less and less of those ig-

nored songs remain, and cuts become harder and harder.

I am starting to develop a philosophy for making these tough decisions, which can take more time than I want to admit. The difficulty comes as I try to convince myself I will not miss the music I have come to love.

I start with the obvious stuff, checking which songs I’ve listened to the least and those which I know I hardly like. Even these remain tough to delete, as my mind starts listing off their best qualities. “But this one has a great bassline, it’ll be fun to walk to!”

“What about that time a year ago when this came on while I was sad?” “This completes an album!” After gathering some resolve, the axe falls for these tracks, weak links and stuff I heard once and added out of impulse.

At this point of course, I am describing approximately eight songs.

So the bigger slashes need to be made.

I think about both angles of the problem: too many songs I do not want to hear, and too many I play exclusively. Should I really punish music for my own listening habits?

At the same time, should I punish myself

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for the sake of artists I will never meet and their material productions?

Compromise leaves all parties with a bitter taste in their mouths; I compromise with the mouthless songs. Gone is half of The Weeknd’s The Beauty and the Madness, while all of The Strokes’ Room on Fire remains, a debt owed to them for Is this It, one of my all-time favorites.

Questions of loyalty come up.

I currently have every Coldplay album ready to go, taking up more space than any other artist. I do not love all of these songs, downright dislike some, and rarely listen to most of them. Coldplay got me through depression in high school, was the first concert I ever went to, and I own three of those LPs on vinyl record. Can I really turn my back on them?

So far I have stripped them of their EPs and live performances, but I know a day will come where Mylo Xyloto’s later efforts will make way for more St. Vincent, my new favorite musician. And still her debut Marry Me loses out in favor of an album I deleted years ago, David Bowie’s Heroes. Death calls for retrospection, ret-

rospection new old music.

My iPod features a playlist I named “Studying,” and it houses almost all of the instrumental music I listen to during the act. Currently that means 507 of my 1814 songs do not feature voices, and I only listen to them when busy.

Can I justify cutting down on hits from Bruce Springsteen when the entire, far-toolong Final Fantasy VII soundtrack remains preserved? Both take hits, but I still need to tune into the “Fun” smart playlist (only criteria: song is not in “Studying” playlist) to avoid video games and silky smooth jazz.

Shouldn’t this be easy? I am just trading some vibration patterns for others, my whole life does not depend on this, right?

Wrong.

Music surrounds my every move, shapes the way I think, connects me with people around the globe, and drives me to run around my apartment shouting in silence with passion so many so rarely feel.

The least I can do is make sure only worthy songs have the privilege to touch my soul.

As Daft Punk sings, “If music gives you life, / give life back to music.”

Layout Designer

The Reporter is looking for an underclassman print designer!

Candidates must have comprehensive knowledge of Adobe InDesign, basic Photoshop skills, and some availability on Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays. Email Editor-in-chief Sarah Dean (sdean1@ stetson.edu) for more information.

February 4, 2016

A&E

#ThrowbackThursday This week’s throwback: Chaudoin Hall, Fall of 1953

Behind the scenes of student filmmaking A sneak peek into the Campus MovieFest process

Kyle Maley and Chelsea Probus Staff Contributors

Dianne Ratteree Dixon, Stetson class of 1959 (and Editor-in-chief Sarah Dean’s grandmother): “When a young lady was ‘pinned’ by a fraternity member, the entire fraternity came to her dorm window to serenade her. At the end, the ‘pinner’ (or a member of his choice) sang, ‘Pi Kappa Phi Girl, I Love You’ ( a mushy love song). Your Grandfather, John, was brilliant enough to select Ernest Murphy, the very best tenor, to sing to me. Thus, after 63 years, I'm still proclaiming that Ernie Murphy was my first date at Stetson and sang to me at the fraternity serenade.”

“I shall always remember that he was my first ‘date’ at Stetson. Freshmen girls always wonder if they'll be asked out and he invited me to the Athens to a movie during orientation week. Later — fortunately after I was pinned to John — I learned that Ernie was actually ‘rushing’ me for the Pi Phi’s, because rush rules didn't allow them [sorority members] to invite me. He just told me all the reasons I'd be happy as a Pi Phi. I have to say he was quite impressive! I don't remember the movie, but we did walk from the campus to the Athens.”

Do you have a #ThrowbackThursday from Stetson history to share? Email sdean1@ stetson.edu with a photo and/or story and see it in a future throwback!

How to throw a Super Bowl party when you don’t know anything about football (or sports in general) Sarah Dean Editor-in-Chief 1. Get this brilliant idea in the middle of the night, as per your usual brilliant ideas.

2. Text one friend who you know is probably awake and might know something about the Super Bowl to ask them when it is.

3. When they don’t know the answer, exchange “lols” about how little you both know nothing about football in general, and how you are great at making 7-layer dip, and how said friend loves 7-layer dip.

4. Invite this friend to the party (on date you still don’t know yet).

5. Google date of Super Bowl (and find out this year it’s on Feburary 7).

6. Make a funny Facebook event for the party (memes not necessary but highly encouraged).

7. Invite circle of friends that has a nice balance between people who know and care about the game, people who are just there for food and to laugh at the commercials, and your closest friends for backup (and so you can hide in one corner with them and avoid football-related smalltalk at your own party).

8. Spend an hour on Pinterest looking at dip and punch recipes.

9. Forget about party for a week until you realize what day it is.

10. Panic.

11. Start buying supplies: According to the Internet, chicken wings, dip, and pizzas are a must.

12. Realize it’s Sunday at 2 p.m., panic again, and frantically try to clean your house and start on the food.

13. While getting ready for the party, eat all the pizza yourself.

14. Have food set up when guests arrive! Decorations are definitely on the optional side. Perhaps draw a picture of a football or write “Go Giants” on a piece of paper, regardless of who’s actually playing).

15. Pregame by watching the true main event of the day: The Puppy Bowl.

16. Watch friends enjoy dip and wings, and never speak about the pizza. Hope nobody asks.

17. Feign enthusiasm when things seem to be happening. Then when Beyonce comes onstage at halftime, you no longer have to fake it for a few minutes.

18. Make sure you’re posting fun updates on social media to cover up the fact that in real life, you’re a sports-disliking recluse!

19. When it’s all over, clean up the chicken bones and go back to not giving a shit about football again for another 11 months and two weeks.

5

Stetson University campus life often provides an abundance of exhilarating opportunities for students to explore new interests and innovate. The annual Campus MovieFest competition hosted each spring is a prime example of this outlet, and is a prospect that our team has been fortunate enough to participate in for the past three years.

Campus MovieFest (CMF) is the world’s largest student film festival, traveling across the country to numerous universities to provide college students with the equipment and support needed to produce a film. This opportunity is completely free, and for one week each year, our campus is able to transform into a community of creativity and inspiration.

Dreams of seeing our wildest ideas come to life onscreen suddenly became possible, with our only limitation being the five-minute runtime and the unfortunate reality of college academics. However, the final product of the CMF

week is only the precipice of the filmmaking journey.

Our production team has fluctuated over the years, with new people consistently coming into the fold with unique ideas and skills to contribute to the extensive filmmaking process. As our team changes, so has our approach to filmmaking.

When we first began in 2014, most of our filming took place on campus, and all of our props, lighting, makeup and audio were scrapped together carelessly. We had no idea how to put together a cohesive film, nor the foresight to script or rehearse.

Yet those shortcomings were vastly overshadowed by the sheer joy of making a short film that would be screened to our peers.

Since then, we have been expanding our network of teammates and resources to add greater production value to our films.

This has allowed us to foster a clearer connection between the vision in our heads and our on-screen results. We have learned the benefits of focus groups and script analysis, and have researched storytelling methods to ensure the best use of our limited

screen-time. We search for intriguing locations to film as well as engaging ways to create hype for our finished project. But no matter how our production process has changed, we have always prioritized our team’s enjoyment.

While the competitive aspect of CMF is certainly sensational, our team has always focused on making a product that brings us each happiness and pride. Recognition at the premiere event means little when compared to the memories and camaraderie built during the filming week. There are not many ventures in life that can build strong, lasting relationships in just a week, but a project like Campus MovieFest has consistently given us that potential.

Participating in Campus MovieFest is not simply an option for aspiring filmmakers; it is an opportunity for members of the Stetson community to interact and invent in ways that were never before possible. It is the one week each year in which we can all pretend to be Hollywood stars, and we should all strive to live each moment of that stardom to its fullest.

Students are invited to attend this year’s edition of the Campus Moviefest screening on February 6 at 7 p.m.

The fest will close with a red carpet finale/movie premiere event inside the Rinker Field House.

Billed as “the largest student film festival,” CMF enters its 15th year traveling to participating universities across America and giving students the opportunity to write, direct, and produce professional grade short films with top industry equipment all for free.

With access to an Apple Macbook Pro loaded with Adobe Creative Cloud, a Panasonic/Lumix HD camera, Sennheiser sound equipment, 500 GB portable hard drive, and 24/7 training and technical support from organization leaders, teams of students have exactly one week to create a five minute short film to enter into a contest, with 16 films selected by a panel of judges comprised of select Stetson students, staff, and faculty to showcased at Stetson's red carpet finale.

The four winning films of the campus Jury awards will move on to the national CMF Grand Finale in Los Angeles to compete with other school’s winning films nationwide for $100,000 in cash and prizes, including an opportunity to screen their film at the Cannes Film Festival.

Stay tuned for coverage of the screenings and information on the winning films in next week’s Reporter.

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6 OPINION

Outdoor graduation ceremony plans spark student outrage Kaley Fulton Opinion Editor On January 22, 2016, it was announced that the 2016 commencement ceremony would “follow outdoor tradition” and be held at Spec Martin Stadium rather than indoors at the Edmunds Center, where the ceremony has been held for recent years in order to accommodate the increased number of graduating students “without violating fire codes or having to limit the attendance of family and friends,” according to an article posted on Stetson Today. While safety is an obvious and important concern, students and faculty are incredibly angered by this decision.

On Wednesday, January 27, Director of University Events , Julie Hunter and Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Bruce Chong attended an SGA forum about graduation to address these concerns.

For the purposes of clarification, here are some basic details about ceremony logistics. The ceremony will include all graduating students in one ceremony that will last approximately three hours. The ceremony will begin at 8:30 am and will end between 11 and 11: 30 a.m. Free water will be provided to all attendees, including students.

There will also be a covered area with seats available for guests who are the most sensitive to heat. Seats under this area as well as accommodation needs for students or other attendees with disabilities can be arranged by contacting Julie Hunter at events@stetson.edu. Documentation of disability or accommodation needs is not required.

While this meeting clarified several issues, students and faculty are still concerned

for several reasons.

Since Stetson is located in Florida (surprise, surprise), weather will present issues for all attendees of this outdoor ceremony.

With an average temperature of 88.2 degrees in May, sitting outside for a three-hour ceremony while wearing black gowns and academic regalia will be uncomfortably warm.

Moreover, for anyone that is sensitive to the heat, an outdoor ceremony could be detrimental to their health. Even with provisions to provide a tented area with seats for guests “most sensitive to the heat”, for some individuals, these accommodations may not be sufficient to meet their needs and therefore may force those individuals to stay home.

For me and many of my fellow graduates, graduation day is as much of a celebration of my accomplishments as it is a recognition and celebration of my family and friends who have supported me and helped me reach this milestone. Bailey Berman, President of Students Educating and Advocating for Disabilities say, “Separating families to put some under a tent due to sun sensitivity or to put them on the field is not fair.

Commencement is a time for families to celebrate as one.” While Hunter , explained that moving the ceremony outdoors would allow the number of family and friends in attendance to be unrestricted, the fact is that some people’s family members will likely not be able to attend due to the outdoor venue. This is a sad and unfair consequence of this decision and directly counters one of the primary goals of changing the location.

Berman also commented that the choice to “maintain tradition” by holding the ceremony in DeLand did not seem practical.

She says, “Putting graduation inside at the Ocean Center could solve all problems;

handicap seating is available the rooms have air conditioning and no one will be burning up in black robes and heels won’t be sinking in the disgusting uneven field.”

The other weather issue that could present itself on graduation day is rain. As I’m sure you’ve discovered, Florida weather can be highly unpredictable and rain can come from out of nowhere. Having rain would pose several problems for attendees.

Beyond the increased humidity that would make being outdoors even more uncomfortable, Hunter and Chong are still formulating contingency plans for inclement weather in case the ceremony needs to be delayed. Plans could include finding a shelter to house the estimated 6,000 attendees in the event of a weather delay. Even if that obstacle is figured out, as you know, sometimes fields remain flooded long after the rain has ended. Rain of any amount, but especially flooding will make the pathway to the stage slippery, which poses a fall risk for all students and especially those with mobility disabilities.

Speaking of disabilities, having the ceremony at Spec Martin is an accessibility nightmare. As a student who walks with a crutch, walking on uneven surfaces (like grass and especially wet grass) presents a fall risk. Propelling a wheelchair on uneven surfaces is difficult at best and may be even more so if the field floods from rain. While it has been ensured that accommodations will be given for anyone that needs them, certain accommodations may be harder, or even impossible to fulfill in an outdoor setting. For example, attendees who have service animals must contend will the fact that many animals (dogs especially) don’t do well in the heat. Further-

SoCal Gas Disaster: Bad news for the atmosphere Nathan Bodger Staff Contributing Columnist “The worst environmental disaster since the BP oil spill”. That’s what many are calling the ongoing methane leak in southern California.

The leak is coming from a broken pipe in the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Field, which is the largest underground methane storage facility in the western United States and is operated by SoCalGas. Since starting on the October 23 of last year, it has released over 200 million pounds of methane into the atmosphere.

One would think that the broken pipe, which is leaking the gas, could be easily mended or replaced.

However, finding and fixing a 7-inch diameter pipe, surrounded by rock and other delicate piping, 3000 feet under ground, is a bit like trying to find and then thread a needle — while still in a haystack.

Unfortunately, this means that stopping the leak will take months, bad news for those who live in the nearby suburb of Los Angeles called Porter Ranch. A methane leak of this scale is very dangerous for those in the immediate vicinity, as testified by the more than 11,000 people from the suburb who have been displaced by the disaster. Of those displaced, about 2,000 had to be evacuated and relocated at the expense of SoCal Gas, because of its fault in not properly maintaining its facility.

Not only does the release of natural gas create the risk of an explosion, it can have severe health impacts.

Methane, the main component of natural gas, is able to be carried in the blood stream, replacing oxygen if its concentration in the air is high enough. According to the National Institute of Health, nosebleeds, vomiting, nausea and blacking out are all symptoms of methane exposure and death is even possible, if one is exposed for too long. In addition, the odorants added to natural gas to make it easily detectable, are not only rancid, but can be similarly dangerous in high concentrations.

Although it can be deadly, and is clearly disrupting the livelihoods of those immediately affected, the real impact of the gas leak in California is much more than local. The methane being released by the leak is a potent greenhouse gas, with about 23 times the warm-

ing capacity of carbon dioxide in the long term. According to the California Air Resources Board, the leak is releasing around 30,300 kg of Methane into the air per hour. This means that the environmental damage caused by this leak in one hour is equivalent to driving the average American car 1.84 million miles.

To put the leak in perspective, according to the California Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory, in 2013 the total greenhouse gas emission of all activities in California was 459.3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. So far the environmental impact of this one leak alone is equal to the emission of over 8 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.

At this point you may be asking yourself “if this is such an environmental disaster, why haven’t I heard about it sooner?” Good question, but the answer is simple. It doesn’t make for good viewing. A clear gas coming out of the ground in a quiet, affluent town isn’t very exciting and lacks the imagery of a disaster such as an oil spill. There are no birds or other sea life suffocating in oil, there are no angry fishermen explaining how their lives have been ruined and there are no health professionals telling us how we will die a horrible death if we eat contaminated food.

Another reason this event isn’t well publicized is that the California methane leak isn’t causing a new problem, it’s simply adding to one that is well known.

An oil spill in the gulf was a new problem, there was no oil in the gulf and then suddenly there was. On the other hand, the methane leak in California is extenuating a problem that is ongoing, the emission of greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gas emissions are known to be the driving force behind global warming and climate change, the foremost issues of our time, yet strangely they are ignored.

If we really want make the world a better place than it is now, or at least save the planet as we know it for our children, we are going to have to get a lot more serious about our commitment to ending greenhouse gas emissions. Not only should large scale disasters like this one be one publicized and amended as quickly as possible, we as a community should do our upmost to limit and eventually terminate our own fossil fuel consumption.

Do you have an idea for an ongoing column? Email sdean1@stetson.edu to find out how to write for us.

more, for students with anxiety or other mental health issues, being outdoors for long amounts of time may cause stress or panic attacks. From a logistics standpoint, the parking lots at Spec Martin are made of uneven material and ensuring that there are enough accessible spots on paved areas will be another difficulty.

Even if all of these issues can be solved, there is one essential issue that cannot be fixed in this situation: no student input was sought in making this decision.

This is a huge problem! Students are the primary focus of graduation day and yet none of us were asked for our opinions about moving the location of the ceremony. Worse still, at Wednesday’s meeting, neither Hunter nor Chong could offer an explanation as to why students weren’t asked for their thoughts. Considering that the student population is the largest part of the Stetson community, this seems to be a gross oversight. Moreover, throughout Hunter and Chong’s presentation, when asked who made this decision, both speakers kept referring to a “they” figure.

This “infamous they” also frequently referred to as “the administration” seems to make multiple decisions without much if any student input. The lack of transparency regarding the decision making process is frustrating to say the least because it’s difficult to know to whom to address one’s concerns and students feel disrespected when their input isn’t sought.

If the university continues to increase in population without creating more buildings and housing on campus, graduation venues could become a topic of concern every year.

Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable provides opportunity to discuss race Kaley Fulton Opinion Editor On Wednesday, January 27, the Multicultural Student Council and Cross Cultural Center hosted a roundtable discussion about diversity and inclusion issues at Stetson as part of an ongoing effort to fulfill the foundational goal of “creating a diverse and inclusive community” as mentioned in the strategic plan.

Indeed, one cannot deny that the university has made progress in creawting opportunities for dialogue about inclusion.

In November 2015, President Libby met with members of the Black Student Association to discuss race and ethnicity issues on campus with similar events like the Flash Forum on Race held on November 11, 2015 or the recent discussion, “Let’s Talk about Race” on January 26.

Of course, diversity and inclusion issues expand beyond those of race and ethnicity. There was also a Flash Forum event discussing terrorism and prayer in the wake of the Paris attacks.

These events are part of a growing effort to provide opportunities for students and the community to learn about and respond to issues affecting our campus, nation, and world.

Wednesday’s event was another productive session in which students, faculty, and administration (including President Libby) sat together to discuss ways to improve diversity on campus, to support students, faculty, and staff from diverse

backgrounds through their experiences here and ways to engage the entire student body in discussions surrounding inclusion.

While there are still glaring issues, including a lack transparency to students and between departments about which departments have the ability and responsibility to create changes and a notable absence of gender neutral bathrooms in every building on campus, for example, the fact that these issues are being discussed is an important step to reaching solutions and to creating awareness of these issues. It was proposed for example (although not yet in effect) that it might be possible to replace the signs outside all single stall bathrooms on campus to make them gender neutral.

Moreover, on the issue of generating more awareness and attendance of MSC events, a common calendar listing every event happening that day in a centralized location on campus could help attract more participation in events that address diversity and inclusion. Other, potentially more controversial measures like clarifying the requirements for cultural credit approval or making Values Day mandatory were also suggested.

While none of these proposals are in place at the moment, the most important outcome of this event was an honest dialogue about diversity and inclusion. For all the problems that Stetson faces in these areas, the efforts toward improvement and marked progress are certainly seen too.

February 4, 2016 7

SPORTS

Q&A with sand volleyball player Madison Tormey Madison Akins Staff Writer

What attracted you to Beach volleyball and this program?

Beach volleyball in general basically encompasses my " perfect day;" Ocean view, sun shining, playing a sport I love. The beach is my favorite place in the world and when I was offered the opportunity to play during my college career, it was a no- brainer for me!

What are you looking forward to most in your last season on the team?

Just to give my best effort, physically and mentally to this program. I've grown a lot as a person and a player over this past year and I can't wait to challenge myself to test my maximum capacity. Also, with such a young, new group this year, I feel privilege with the opportunity to teach them through actions what this program is about and how it has shaped me as a player over the past 4 years. I want to give them the confidence to uphold the integrity and prestige of this program after Kendale and I leave.

Which with the little I have seen, I know they are all more than capable.

Since you have been with this program basically since the beginning, what changes have you seen as the years have gone by and what do you expect for the Stetson Beach team in the future?

There has been [sic] quite a bit of administrative changes, and we do lose players every year, but I must say that the team’s ability to not only adapt to the changes but to thrive and continue to improve as a group regardless of the circumstance was very impressive.

But overall, the pro-

gram has evolved tremendously over the past couple of years and I truly cannot wait to see what the future holds for everyone involved.

Now that Beach Volleyball is a NCAA sport, how does that impact the team?

This provides great opportunity, the opportunity to compete at a higher level with a greater number of teams. It also provides increasing exposure to the sport in general. Which results in more supporters and more participants for example, recruits.

Our program will only benefit from this change.

We have had the rewarding experience to compete at nationals last year and I can only hope that with the hard work we dedicate this season and the future seasons of Stetson Beach Volleyball, this program will have a place at the championships again.

With the previous team winning back-toback conference championships and finishing in the top 10 in the nation, how do you think this young team will uphold the successes set before them?

Honestly, it cannot be emphasized enough how talented and committed the previous group of girls were to the enormous standards we had set for ourselves as a team. The new, young girls do have big shoes to fill, but I am not being bias when I say I think they are absolutely capable of greatness. They are so eager to push themselves at whatever is being asked of them. Everyone seems to be truly committed to continue and even improve the standards of this program, because that's what it takes to be great, every single player must believe.

Photo by Conor Goulding

Contributors wanted!

Dear readers, As part of our continuing effort to promote dialogue on campus, The Reporter encourages any member of the Stetson community who has an opinion about an issue that affects the Stetson campus or the broader community to submit articles for publication. Contributors to the opinion section are welcome to submit articles on controversial and political issues, provided that they are well versed on the topic. All submissions will be considered.

The Reporter is also looking for regular contributors for the opinion section.

The Reporter is always looking for article contributions for

any sections, including news, arts, and sports. You can write regularly, once a month, just once — whatever suits your fancy. If you are interested, please submit articles or inquiries to opinion editor kfulton@stetson.edu, or Editor-in-chief Sarah Dean at sdean1@stetson.edu.

We hope to continue the momentum we gained last year in using the opinion section as a place for discussion and interaction within the Stetson community.

Cheers, Kaley Fulton Opinion Editor & Sarah Dean Editor-in-Chief

8 SPORTS

Super Bowl 50: Carolina’s dominance and Manning’s last shot Sean McKnight Sports Editor

It’s no coincidence that Super Bowl 50 is being held in the Bay Area this year. The Bay Area is home to some of the NFL’s most legendary players, coaches and teams. From the arms of Steve Young and Joe Montana to the hands of Jerry Rice on the San Francisco side, to Howie Long, John Madden, and the recently retired Charles Woodson on the Oakland side.

The Bay Area has seen its fair share of football titans and champions.

Although the lowly Raiders and 49ers have no stake in this year’s contest for the title of Super Bowl champion, two powerhouses – one hailing from Denver the other from Charlotte – will face off in what may turn out to be the game that defines two similar but unique generations.

On one side is one of the most fearsome, efficient, and dominating defenses in the NFL while the other consists of its own Superman in Cam Newton. This matchup goes well beyond just some simple game as it will ultimately become the stamp on the legacies of two of the finest players in the sport, Cam Newton and Peyton Manning.

Manning is arguably one of the best players to ever take the field. He’s broken numerous passing and touchdown records as well as being the only player to take two different teams to multiple Super Bowls. Manning is, without a doubt, a player who helped defined a generation of football fans – my generation - and will soon be immortalized in Canton, Ohio. But, this isn’t 2006 and Manning’s counterpart isn’t Rex Grossman.

Manning has an amazing pedigree but let’s face it: he’s old, slow, and inaccurate and he’s still fighting many serious injuries, most frequent the plantar fasciitis in his foot that has limited his mobility significantly. As much as a lot of us would love to see Manning win the big dance one last time and cement his already unfathomable legacy; I just don’t see it happening.

On the opposite side of the ball is the energetic, talented, and damn near superhuman Cam Newton. Newton has taken the game to new heights this season after leading his team to a 16-1 record. Every week Cam had a top 10 play and every week it seemed like Cam was having the most fun on the field. Newton is the voice of a new generation of football fans, and this is his moment to help begin the transition of the old guard to the new and begin his legacy as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Even more than that is Newton’s stats, Cam threw for a respectable 3,837 yards this season along with 35 touchdowns and a mere 10 interceptions amassing a passer rating of 99.4. Manning, on the other hand, had an abysmal regular season in which he only threw for 9 touchdowns – 10 less than Sam Bradford to put it in perspective – and 17 interceptions.

Easily one of the worst regular seasons a Manning has ever had. Even though Manning has played better in the playoffs this year, he’s going to have to pull some extra special New Orleans voodoo to help him and his Broncos overcome Carolina’s dominate defense while keeping it close on the scoreboard with Cam and his offensive weapons. All in all, when it

comes down to quarterbacks Carolina easily has the edge in this matchup.

Newton has been astounding this year, but if it wasn’t for his vast arsenal of weapons at the tight-end and receiver positions Cam wouldn’t nearly be as good as he is. The tandem of Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn Jr. amassed 17 receiving touchdowns this regular season along with 1,843 yards. While the backbone of this offense is Cam Newton, it's true versatility comes in the form of Olsen and Ginn Jr. If the Bronco’s defense cannot stop these two on the 7th, they will be in for a long night.

Carolina is not only dangerous in the air but also on the ground. Running back Jonathan Stewart had a strong regular season with 989 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns and was immensely efficient on third down.

Although he is questionable as of now, if he plays Denver’s defense will be spread thin trying to contain the threats of Newton, Olsen, Ginn Jr. and Stewart.

Denver’s offense did not have a strong regular season. They faced a tumultuous few weeks when Brock Osweiler came in for the ailing Manning and although Osweiler played well enough to win, he is not a Super Bowl starting caliber quarterback.

With the obvious exceptions of Demaryius Thomas - who amassed 1,304 total yards with 6 touchdowns - and Emmanuel Sanders - who had 1,135 total yards and 6 touchdowns - almost no other player on the Broncos offense is in the top 15 of any category.

They’ve struggled at the QB position all year, have no running game and an offensive line that is exceptionally average.

At the end of the day, the offensive edge has to go to the Carolina Panthers. They’ve dominated all season up until this point thanks to their threats in the air, on the ground, and behind the unpredictability and seemingly endless talent of Cam Newton.

The true story of this matchup is Cam Newton versus the Denver Broncos defense. If this defense – the best in the league – can contain Newtown and keep him from pulling his typical Superman antics, Denver will have a good chance of coming home with the Lombardi Trophy. During the regular season the Broncos defense allowed only 18.5 points per game and only 283.1 yards per game while also being extremely efficient on preventing offenses from gaining first downs.

Carolina’s offense averaged 385.5 yards per game and 40 points per game, simply put, Denver will have its hands full.

Defenders like Aqib Talib, Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, and Malik Jackson – among many other outstanding players – have truly been not only the backbone of this defense but as well as the team. Notching countless interceptions, tackles, and sacks these pro-bowl level players have shut down Tom Brady – twice – and definitely have the ability to disrupt normal operations for the explosive Panthers offense. That’s not to be said that Carolina has a bad defense, quite the contrary, and their own stars in Luke Keuchly, Josh Norman, Kawann Short, and Jared Allen have played phenomenally not only in the regular season but as well as the playoffs.

But, the Broncos have more depth – especially in the secondary – and will be more likely to disrupt a lot of pass-

ing opportunities for Cam Newton.

Although these defenses are closely matched, I have to give the edge to Denver.

They’ve shown all season – including the playoffs – how strong they are at shutting down powerful offenses and I think in this bout they do exactly that.

At the end of the day, Super Bowl 50 has the potential to go down in history as one of the greatest games ever played. The powerful

defenses, Cam’s outstanding season, and Manning’s legacy make this matchup go well beyond the game and pull on our heart strings, reminding us why we love football in the first place.

I see Manning and his men hanging tough for a while, but Cam and his offense are just too overpowering. Carolina wins this game and will be crowned Super Bowl 50 champions with a final score of 31-17.

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Summer Innsbruck Program

July 1 — Aug. 10, 2016 Tentative Schedule

Final Application Deadline:

Period 1 FINA 311 Business Finance EDUC 374J-JS Educational Systems Around the World Period 2 STAT 301Q Business Statistics MKTG 315 The Marketplace & Consumers BADM 360J-JS Social Justice and the Bottom Line Period 3 MGMT 305 Human Relations, Leadership & Teamwork RELS 390 Mary, Max and Mozart MGMT 495 Strategic Management

Apply Now — Limited Enrollment For information contact: Nancy Kernan Room 432 LBC 386-822-7394 nkernan@stetson.edu World.stetson.edu www.stetson.edu/innsbruck

Friday, February 12th 10 spaces open! Apply now!

The School of Business Summer Innsbruck Program provides you with the opportunity to study in Europe and offers: 

8 credits in 6 weeks

 Use of facilities at the University of Innsbruck with classes taught by Stetson faculty and distinguished visitors  Afternoons off and extended weekends for traveling in groups or independently  Private housing with different room choices 

Two meals per class day

● Limited enrollment

Open to All Majors