Vol. CXXII Issue 5

the

eporter Vol. CXXII

Issue 5

Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.

Literally Nobody Wanted This

Damn Rock

A rocky contradiction concerning Stetson’s newest monument An Opinion Piece by: Kaley Fulton Staff Contributor Stetson’s newest “monument” has caused a lot of controversy.

For those of you who are unaware, I’m referring to the pile of stones situated adjacent to the CUB, collectively known as “The Rock.”

Yes, I’m talking about those boulders that are supposed to represent our three core values of intellectual development, personal growth, and global citizenship.

In fact, the administration aims to start a new tradition, entitled “Chalk the Rock,” which encourages students to draw, write, and otherwise reflect their thoughts and values on the rocks themselves. This practice has already led to the display of drawings that violate the Code of Community Standards and even an incidence of vandalism. But why?

Let me attempt to provide an easy answer to a complicated question: Literally nobody wanted this damn rock.

Much of the controversy surrounding this “monument” concerns how it was financed and the lack of transparency and student approval of the endeavor.

The administration has set a cap of $30,000 for this project.

The total cost has not been determined yet, as additions, including signage have yet to be considered.

Additionally, the graduating classes of 2013 and 2014 have “donated” approximately $2,900 to the project as part of the Senior Class Gift. The university claims that seniors were fully aware of what they were funding.

And in fact, they were. Seniors were required to donate $50 toward the Senior Class Gift in order to go skydiving at a discounted rate. The news release by Stetson Today read, “We’ve booked a limited number of spots for Stetson

students at a ridiculous rate. Usually the cost is around $150, but all you need to do is donate $50 to the Senior Class Gift.”

But did they really care about building The Rock? Or did they just want to go skydiving? The administration shouldn’t use the donations for the Senior Class Gift as a justification for building The Rock when in fact, the student activity was used as a key incentive.

Contrary to the illusion of transparency that the panel on the SGA forum tried to illustrate, this all looks very murky.

Another area of concern for students is whether The Rock will increase a sense of community, which was a central aim of the administration in developing

the project. As a student with a physical handicap, I speak from personal experience in saying that The Rock is not accessible for all students.

I applaud the university’s efforts to consider accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act when developing this project. Despite their best efforts, The Rock is not pragmatically accessible. I cannot safely balance or sit on the rocks to “chalk the rock” and students who use wheelchairs will also have great difficulty in participating in this new tradition.

The areas surrounding The Rock (grass and uneven gravel) are unsafe and largely inaccessible seating options. The university claims, “The gravel does allow for

wheelchairs to traverse the area and enter the space.”

Traversing gravel in a wheelchair is quite difficult, and for someone like me, walking on uneven gravel poses a fall risk. Thus, while technically accessible, the space is not easily accessible, and therefore is less welcoming for certain students. How can The Rock be meant to be a “space for every member of the Stetson family” when certain students cannot fully access the rock?

Furthermore, the topic of freedom of speech needs to be addressed. Recalling the “Chalk the Rock” initiative, students have been voicing their opinions on the creation of the monument itself, heavily criticizing the adminis-

tration through writing their messages in the stones with the chalk provided by the university.

As a result, The Rock has been pressure washed every morning since the pieces of chalk were sent out, surely eliminating expressions that did not violate the Code of Community Standards in the process.

If the administration was determined to use $30,000 to purchase and install a monument and in addition, heavily encourage students to express their “values” at this new place on campus, it should fully expect some critiques.

The university should under no circumstances wash earnest messages off The Rock.

Perhaps most significantly, The Rock is an example of Stetson attempting to assign meaning to landmarks without student consent or input. The most powerful traditions for students have meaning because students establish their significance, not the other way around.

The abundant use of Stetson’s core values and assigned symbolism to justify the creation of new projects and pursuits like The Rock or the Tobacco-Free Plan by claiming that these endeavors represent or support Stetson’s values, pose a risk that Stetson’s values will become clichéd, rather than a genuine philosophy for the university.

At this pace, our values will have the lifespan of our “dare to be significant” motto, which has been overused to the point where it has lost all its value and has been frequently used for ironic remarks and bad jokes.

With a lack of transparency from the administration and seeming disregard for student opinion concerning The Rock, many contend that this new monument does not reflect Stetson’s values at all.

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2 NEWS

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Praise the Rock, Hail the Values Training Sessions Now Students protest Stetson’s spending during the “Occupy the Rock” event

Protestors raise their fists as a sign of unity.

Photo credit: Caroline Williams Caroline Williams Staff Writer Last Friday, during Friends and Family Weekend, several students attended an event called “Occupy the Rock,” a protest led by students to address Stetson’s perceived misallocation of funds.

Although the protest was designed to speak against the university’s spending in general, the purchase of the new monument, “The Rock” served as further inspiration for the creation of the event.

As everyone has probably heard by now, The Rock is a monument dedicated to Stetson’s core values: intellectual development, personal growth, and global citizenship. The many rocks together as one represent unity.

When construction was finished, students were invited to a dedication ceremony called “Chalk the Rock,” where they could write something meaningful on The Rock, although the event was later cancelled due to inclement weather. Students still received chalk in the mail and have been writing on The Rock anyway.

The Rock has been steadily gaining attention, and it has become a controversial topic. It has even inspired a cult-like following, with leaders satirically referring to themselves as “Grand Poobah Priests.” The leader of the priests is called the Grand

Katie Dezes Editor-in-Chief Samuel Votaw Managing Editor Hallie Smith Business Manager Sarah Dean News Editor Sean McKnight Sports Editor

Poobah Pope. The pope stood on top of the rocks during the protest holding a sign that read “Praise the Rock, Hail the Values.”

Those who outwardly disdain The Rock are called “heretics” by the priests. The Rock has its own Facebook page, where it is personified and refers to humans as “flesh beings.” Students can even print off a certificate to become a Grand Poobah Priest and order t-shirts that say “Praise the Rock, Hail the Values.”

Approximately 100 people attended “Occupy the Rock.” It even caught the attention of several members of Stetson’s faculty (the entire History Department appeared to be present) and staff, as well as high school students visiting campus that day.

Senior Matthew Rafferty organized “Occupy the Rock” because he felt that students need to “hold the administration accountable for their ill-advised spending and actually give the students a voice.”

Rafferty sees this as a big problem on Stetson’s campus.

“We’re constantly told we have opportunities but we don’t, and when we tell the administration what we want, it’s put on the back-burner and they just overstep SGA’s vote anyway,” Rafferty said. “I’m hoping to gain some accountability and transparency on behalf of the administration.”

Half way through the protest, he delivered an eloquent speech

Michael Van Oppen Opinion Editor Garen Freed A & E Editor Valerie Garcia Layout Design Editor Colleen Palmateer Layout Designer Michael Galvez Web Editor

detailing his reasons for discontentment: “Stetson University claims to not have the capital to pay for numerous educational tools, such as instructors and tutors. Yet, Stetson has the millions to invest into a D1 athletic program, thousands into remodeling the president’s mansion, and then, a rock.” This statement is just the tip of the iceberg. The entire speech can be read on The Reporter’s website.

Other students felt the same way as well. Sophomore Gabbie Paredes said, “I think it’s a waste of my money. From what I’ve heard, the seniors gave a gift, but they only gave about $5000. The rest of it came out of the $2,000 bump in my tuition, which I had to take out another student loan for.”

Freshman Brett Whitmore agreed, saying, “I just think it’s ridiculous that we’re losing five of our history professors to a pile of rocks. We can’t afford to pay our professors, but we can afford to pay Wendy Libby, who comes on campus maybe once a month, $600,000 a year. We can’t afford to pay our professors $2,600 to teach a class and educate our students.”

Matt Kurz, Director of Student Development and Campus Vibrancy, and Tanner Vickers, Associate Director for Traditions and Campus Vibrancy, were both present at “Occupy the Rock.”

“It’s absolutely incredible, it’s vibrant, it’s loud, it’s great.

People are sharing their opinions and they’re engaging people,” said Kurz.

Protesters handed out pamphlets at the “Occupy the Rock” event, which detailed administration’s ill-advised spending.

“I can’t verify the first couple of bullet points, but the one that the pile of rocks cost $35,000 is incorrect,” said Vickers. “We’re not sure where people are getting that number. The total cost of the boulders themselves and the delivery was $9,500, and the total project was capped at $30,000.

We haven’t reached that number; we’re still waiting on the finalization of signage. At the end of that we’ll have a better picture of the final installation cost.”

Overall, Vickers did feel positively about the event. “The space is for student expression, and they are doing exactly that, which is fantastic.”

Amber Cox Staff Writer Caroline Williams Staff Writer Jacob Helwig Circulation Manager Andy Dehnart Faculty Advisor John Sheehy Staff Advisor

Staff Contributors Alexandra Shimalla Jay Morales Konner Krieger Kaley Fulton Matthew Weston Staff Photographers Spencer Carnahan Nicole Frechette Shadee Rios

Mandatory for Student Employees Sarah Dean News Editor

In an effort to improve the value of the student employment experience at Stetson, student workers will now be required to attend three training sessions throughout the academic year.

The sessions, which began Sept. 23, are mandatory for all students hired by the university, regardless of their position. These meetings are designed to educate students on a variety of subjects from privacy to professionalism in the workplace.

Associate Director of Career Development Robin Kazmarek and Student Employment Coordinator Nora Huth are leading this new initiative to improve the experience for both the student employees and their supervisors.

In an informational email to students, Nora Huth, Student Employment Coordinator said, “Our goal with these sessions is to provide valuable information to help you grow within your position.”

The official Student Employment Experience (SEE) mission statement is: “To provide an educational on-campus student employment experience for all participating students that is dynamic, efficient, and intentional.”

“This is a joint effort between the Career Development office and Office of Student Financial Planning with direct links to the 2014-2019 Stetson University Strategic Map,” said Kazmarek, who lead the first session. “Our student employees do incredible work, and we want everyone to begin viewing these positions as transformational experiences.”

The methods used in the sessions were adapted directly from those used at the Oregon Institute of Technology and were made to fit the standards of the university’s new strategic map.

The first session offered four opportunities for attendance in an attempt to accommodate the hundreds of students’ busy schedules.

700 students (about 95 percent of

the total number of employees on campus) attended.

This session focused on confidentiality in the workplace, including the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Students were informed about regulations of FERPA and when it is appropriate to share or not to share confidential student information.

Everyone was required to sign a contract stating that they were educated on FERPA policies and would follow them at all times. It was emphasized that even verbal discussion of information considered confidential is a violation.

“Curiosity is never a reason to discuss or share other students’ information,” said Kazmarek.

The other main topic of the session was professional dress in the workplace. According to Kazmarek, Career Development Department had received “several complaints and comments from supervisors” about the way students dressed for their on-campus jobs.

Kazmarek, using a PowerPoint presentation as an aid, emphasized a basic dress code similar to that of many public high schools: no crop tops, short skirts or shorts, strapless or muscle shirts, baggy pants, etc.

However, she did note that dress would be specific to each student’s position. For example, a lifeguard in the Hollis Center would not be expected to wear the same type of clothes as a secretary for the English Department.

There will be two more sessions, also with multiple possible attendance dates, which are scheduled to take place in November and February.

“Overall, we are thrilled with the support and response we’ve received from the university— student employment supervisors and the students,” said Kazmarek.

Student employees are encouraged to send any feedback regarding the sessions to Robin Kazmarek or Nora Huth.

Check out: The People of Stetson this week on page 10 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 will maintain the standards expected of a professional and credible news organization, which includes a serious commitment to honest, transparency, and growth. We are conscious of our influence, holding ourselves accountable to our readers and to our own standards of journalistic integrity.

October 9, 2014

NEWS Public Safety Report Highlight Reel Case #20140678: On Sept. 19, Petty Theft was reported inside Elizabeth Hall. The incident stemmed from a student accessing a university owned laptop. The student left the room and later returned to find the laptop missing. Worries over the laptop being stolen were calmed after it was discovered that an IT worker returned the laptop to its storage space.

Case #20140681: On Sept.19, an Injured Person report was filed. Public Safety assisted a student who injured their ankle in an intramural soccer match. The student refused further medical examination.

Case #20140682: On Sept.19, an Alcohol Policy violation was reported from Emily Hall, prompted by a noise complaint from the RA on duty. The incident involved three undergraduate students playing beer pong and playing loud music. The alcohol was confiscated and those responsible were subject to discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case #20140683: On Sept. 20, damage to a window from Carson/Hollis Hall was reported to Public Safety. The damage stemmed from a student who allegedly broke a small door window by accident when trying to stop it from swinging open.

Case #20140685: On Sept. 20, damage to a fence outside of the Pi Kappa Alpha residence House B was reported to Public Safety. The damage included a broken slack of a white fence separating the other houses, which appeared to be kicked in. No suspects were found.

Case #20140686: On Sept. 20, an Information Policy violation was reported from the CUB Hatrack. The incident involved a student using another student’s ID for a meal swipe. Initially believed to be a case of fraud/identity theft, it was later discovered that the suspect was a student using their friend’s card to bring them food.

Case #20140689: On Sept. 21, a Weapon Policy violation was reported outside the Hollis Wellness Center. The incident concerned a student playing with a pocketknife, which an observing officer noticed. The weapon was confiscated and the student responsible was subject to discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case #20140693: On Sept. 21, an Information Policy violation was reported outside the Hollis Wellness Center. The incident involved a bicycle that was not secured at the bike rack. Public Safety traced the owner of the bike, contacted them informing of the unsecured bike, to which the student responded by properly securing the bicycle.

Case #20140694: On Sept. 21, a Traffic Accident with injuries occurred on the intersection of Arizona and Amelia Avenue. The accident involved two cars containing passengers not affiliated with the university colliding with one another. The passenger of one vehicle sustained injuries. That individual was transported to a local hospital.

Case #20140698: On Sept. 22, a student reported an off-campus incident to Public Safety.

The incident involved texts from the student’s ex-boyfriend who was threatening self-harm.

Law enforcement and professional counseling staff were notified and became involved.

Case #20140704: On Sept. 24, an Information policy violation was reported from Village Apartments 300. Public Safety was informed of a large amount of empty beer bottles lining the gutter systems of the building, which appeared to be a result of a prank. No suspects have been found.

Case #20140710: On Sept. 26, an employee reported a Suspicious Incident to Public Safety.

The report stemmed from an employee finding a photocopy of a suspicious nature inside the Lynn Business Center.

Case #20140712: On Sept. 26, a student reported an incident of Harassment to Public Safety.

The student reported that the harassment was from a non-student outside the Wilson Athletic Center.

Case #20140718: On Sept. 27, a student reported an Attempted Motor Vehicle Theft to Public Safety. The student reported that the handle to their vehicle had been damaged outside the Wilson Athletic Center. The Deland Police Department were notified and filed a report.

Case #20140734: On Sept. 27, a student reported a Suspicious Incident/Petty Theft to Public Safety. The student reported a “suspicious van” parked in the Village Apartments 300 parking lot, as well as a missing peephole on their door.

Case #20140722: On Sept. 29, a Vehicular Accident was reported to Public Safety. The accident occurred in a parking lot on campus. A student and an employee were involved in a minor fender bender with no injuries.

Case #20140729: On Sept. 30, a Fire Alarm was reported at Smith Hall. A student smoking caused the alarm to go off.

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Fending off Car Burglars Public Safety informs students of precautions to prevent car break-ins Sam Votaw Managing Editor If you’ve looked at the Public Safety reports during your time at Stetson, you’re likely aware of the high number of bikes reported stolen each year. While the numbers for this crime have started to decrease, there is another vehicular fear students should be on guard for.

While car break-ins haven’t been particularity common recently (Public Safety has reported that only one has taken place this school year with two other attempts), such a crime is something that students should always look out for.

Luckily, those car burglaries that go reported aren’t the result of students breaking into other students’ cars.

Officer Rick Gaylord elaborated that since the arrest of a local man not affiliated with Stetson on Sept. 2, the number of car break-ins has significantly decreased.

“Most of the time in a small town like Deland, one malicious intentioned person can be a crime wave.”

Car burglaries are typically done during the late night/early morning in a covert effort to minimize being seen by witnesses.

Most of the burglaries in recent past were primarily focused on unlocked cars, but some involve breaking windows with whatever can be found at the scene, such as a rock or upheaved pavement.

Gaylord explained that most break-ins only last between 15 to

30 seconds, as the criminals are rapidly searching for something to steal and possibly pawn.

The most commonly stolen items from car burglaries are electronics such as car stereos, GPS systems, or left behind cellphones and iPods. Other items criminals look to steal are cash and personal items such as backpacks and sunglasses.

Gaylord spoke of Public Safety’s presence on campus at night, a likely deterrent to individuals scoping out resident parking lots.

“Our night guys do a great job of surveying the parking lots, so if anyone suspicious is present, they’re sure to be questioned by us.”

For students parked on campus, these basic tips can lower the risk of your vehicle being broken into.

1. Always lock your car after exiting. Most burglaries occur with vehicles that are unlocked.

2. Keep any valuables out of sight. Either bring them back to your room or, if necessary, keep them in your trunk.

3.

Park in a well-lit lot.

Criminals tend to stay away from illuminated areas to avoid witnesses.

4.

If possible, choose a parking spot with as few rocks or broken chunks of pavement as possible. Criminals typically use these as tools to break in and rarely utilize their own.

These simple precautions can save your car and valuables from being damaged or stolen.

While the threat of burglaries has subsided for now, it never hurts to be a little cautious.

Sorority Recruitment Results Caroline WIlliams Staff Writer From Sept. 11 to Sept. 14 this year, 280 young Stetson women went through formal recruitment. On bid night, 197 ladies accepted bids. Sorority women dressed in white stood outside Lee Chapel, waiting for their new members to run home to their chapters.

The excitement in the air was palpable.

When the new members ran out of the chapel to their new sisters, crying, laughing, and lots of hugging ensued.

Rho gammas (Greek women who disaffiliate for part of the spring semester until recruitment to act as guides for those going through RUSH) then revealed their affiliation and were allowed to join their sisters again. Each chapter went back to their house to celebrate their new sisters.

Statistics for Each House:

Case #20140730: On Sept. 30, a Fire Alarm was reported at Stetson Cove Building One. The alarm was due to a maintenance malfunction.

Alpha Chi Omega—37 new members.

Total chapter members: 82 Alpha Xi Delta—31 new members.

Total chapter members: 78

Case #20140731: On Sept. 30, a student reported a Theft inside the DuPont Library. The incident involved a textbook being stolen while the student was studying.

Delta Delta Delta— 41 new members.

Total chapter members: 101

Case #20140732: On Oct. 1, a student reported a Suspicious Incident to Public Safety. The student reported that their car had been tampered with. No items inside the car were stolen, but there was an empty beer bottle on the floorboard.

Pi Beta Phi—38 new members.

Total chapter members: 110 Zeta Tau Alpha—36 new members.

Total chapter members: 95

4 A & E

‘Refunds’ Not Necessary

Improv group gives dynamic performance Jonathan Montanero Staff Contributor The weekend of Sept. 26-28 was a busy one for No Refunds, as the Stetson Theatre Arts’ Chicago-style improv group performed four shows at the Museum of Art. Directing the show was recent graduate of Northwestern University, Kevin Kearney.

Before the show started, the audience was informed that the material was for mature audiences due to it’s sexual content and coarse language.

Starting off the show was a scene by the new team dubbed The Incubators, poking fun at the groups’ developmental state. This motley crew of seven started by bringing up a member of the audience onto the stage, seating him in a chair, and asking him about his day. They proceeded to use the information they were given to create a nightmare scenario.

Each actor played a specific part of the nightmare, using the sequence of events provided by the audience member as a guide.

The scene built up to a climatic ending, with all elements of the

nightmare occurring simultaneously in one chaotic circle on stage.

Next up was a bit performed by headliners of No Refunds, Stephanie Wattigny, Kevin Serrano, and Dylan Mullins. They asked the audience to shout out a one-word idea to use as the foundation for their scene. They took the suggestion “Cowboys,” and proceeded to act out a 10 minute improvised scene.

However, this was just a prequel to the main scene, which involved all cast members from both teams.

The show’s final scene was set up like a newsroom with a dysfunctional staff. No Refunds performed this beautifully, portraying a female co-anchor with an irrational attachment to her smarmy male co-anchor. Add a drunk weatherman and they created a show worth watching.

Using sentences written by audience members on strips of paper as lines in the show, the actors were completely at the audience’s whim. With the help of the Incubators as their field reporters, they managed to get into many quirky and dangerous situations.

Overall, the actors showed

Photo courtesy: Jonathan Montanero

enough poise and quick-thinking to present an enjoyable show.

Original No Refunds member Kevin Serrano said there are no future events planned by the group as of now.

“There will not be another formal show this semester, but we are working on doing some informal pieces this semester for the new team.”

In case you missed the show, be sure to keep your eyes open for any upcoming improv events around campus.

Acclaimed poet Erica Dawson visits Stetson

Dawson reads “Layover” at the poetry reading.

Amber Cox Staff Writer On Sept. 23, Erica Dawson, author of “Small Blades Hurt” and “Big-Eyed Afraid,” gifted Stetson University with her poetry for the Fall 2014 Sullivan Reading.

Terri Witek, a professor of the English Department and the Sullivan Chair in Creative Writing, introduced Dawson, claiming the poet has “perfect metric” and is both “daunting and flaunting” – both claims that Dawson

did not fail to live up to.

Dawson gave a variety of readings to her audience, including, “If The City Forgets Our Names; When the City Forgets Our Names,” “Layover,” “Iguanas Fall From Trees,” “Speakers and The Devil’s Walking Stick,” “In Black and White,” “Little Black Boy Heads,” “Love Poem After Learning Hair is Just Dead Skin,” and “Florida Funeral.”

Dawson’s poems, though they remain in traditional form and meter, feel remarkably un-traditional, modern, and raw with a blast of a distinctively provocative air.

In “Layover,” Dawson prefaces the reading by warning the audience that it was written about a night in Texas when she went to an artist’s retreat that was full of “shenanigans.”

And full of shenanigans it was. “Layover” has a sort of lusty, breathy air with swerving speech. Dawson unapologetically parades her more carnal desires for a cowboy and a Yankee, describing herself as “high-heeled trouble” and the cowboy who seems to say, “I’ll bed you, hard and hot in jeans.”

“People ask me these ridiculous questions like, ‘Why do you write about being a woman?’ or

‘Why do you write about race and discrimination?’ Well, this is how I experience the world,” Dawson said in between readings.

Race, gender, drunkenness, sexual desires, love, and death are all themes Dawson attacks with reckless, yet controlled ease.

“In Black and White,” Dawson latches onto the connection between three themes: sex, love, and death – showing the three are not quite as separate as one might think. Opening the poem with “Who else is really trying to fuck/ With Hollywood endings.”

Dawson, with her erotic and inflammatory language, grabs the listener/reader and refuses to let them go until she’s finished her reeling ride. With lines such as, “I huff on all my orgasmic last breaths” and “That girl’s going to Hell/ Please, can I hold your scythe?” Dawson’s raw and defiant air further blurs the lines between love, sex, and death.

Dawson continued to tread this delicate balance of confidence and playfulness, as well as humor and heartbreak. Throughout her poems, with breathless wit and metrical control, she switches between styles of speech and delves deeper into the darkness of the modern world, giving her audience a truly worthwhile ride.

The Top 4 Movies You Need to Watch This Fall Garen Knight Freed A&E Editor Although Florida’s continuously uncomfortable weather and non-color changing leaves suggest otherwise, it is officially Fall here in the U.S. of A. And what does that mean? IT’S OSCAR

SEASON AT THE MOVIES! For a film buff such as myself, I wallow in anticipation all year for Hollywood to showcase “the best of the best.” While there will be dozens of quality films released between now and the Academy Award Ceremony in February, these are the upcoming films that I am anticipating the most:

Small Business Spotlight: NEST “A groovy collection of eclectic furniture, gifts, wine and beer”

Luis Garcia (center) and the Incubators(background) performing a nightmare, during the Chicago-style Improv show.

And “Daunting and Flaunting” She Was Photo credit: Amber Cox

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Skeleton Twins (Currently in Theaters) Starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, this dark comedy challenges viewers’ perceptions of the Saturday Night Live veterans. Already winning awards like the highly coveted Waldo Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival, “Skeleton Twins”

Photo credit: Sarah Dean Amber Cox Staff Writer NEST is a super funky, hip boutique located a little off the well-beaten path of Woodland in the Artisan Alley. But they definitely make up for the trek by carrying eclectic, vintage, and earth-friendly furniture and gift items, as well as beer, wine, and sangria to quench your thirst and make your shopping experience that much more enjoyable.

Owner Cindy Sperling, who was not the original owner of NEST, has definitely infused her unique taste, humor, and design preferences into the shop.

“NEST was here when I came. Terry and Rob were the previous owners. When it was up for sale, I was interested but unsure if I could swing it—but it just ended up working out. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It’ll be two years in February,” Sperling said.

Sperling said that her main priority with NEST is to offer “a little bit of everything”.

“The furniture, eclectic or refurbished—whatever you want to call it, is the foundation. But not everybody is in the market or can afford furniture. Some people just want little gifts. So we like to have little things that are useful: soaps, dishes, candles, or hu-

is sure to evoke both laughter and tears out of audiences over the next few months.

Birdman (Release Date: October 17, 2014) Much like leading man Michael Keaton’s actual life, “Birdman” chronicles the dramatic comeback of a washed-up actor that was once made famous for portraying a superhero on the big screen. Also starring Emma Stone, Edward Norton, and Zach Galifianakis, this dram-com will most definitely be a contender at the Academy Awards.

Interstellar (Release Date: November 7, 2014) I first saw the brief trailer for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Sci-Fi film when I went to see “Dallas Buyer’s Club” last December. Since then, I have been anxiously awaiting to see this movie. Starring 2014 Academy

morous things that are good for a laugh,” Sperling explained.

“My hope is that people will think of NEST when they want a little gift,” she added.

Sperling also revealed that she has plans to expand the gift selections available at NEST, hopefully in time for Christmas.

But in the meantime, Sperling has her hands quite full, not only dealing with the workload of owning and managing the shop, but also refurbishing all of the actual furniture she sells.

“It’s what I do when we’re closed,” Sperling said. “We find the furniture, clean it real good, sand it down, and repaint it; it’s what keeps me busy.”

Sperling said she finds most of her furniture pieces at garage and estate sales. “I’m lucky that a lot of people know to keep their eyes open for me, because I can’t always,” she said. “I originally thought I would wake up early every Saturday mornings to search, but that’s unrealistic. My kids are good at it. They will be like, ‘What do you think of this mom?’”

After sharing a recent refurbishing experience of my own and how a piece of furniture from NEST served as the inspiration, Sperling chuckled: “Do it like NEST. That’s what I want to hear!”

Award winner for Best Actor Matthew McConaughey, the film is sure to be an “out of this world” success at the box office!

Foxcatcher (Release Date: November 14, 2014) Steve Carrell. Channing Tatum. Mark Ruffalo. No, this is not a 21 Jump Street/Incredible Hulk/The Office mash-up. This is one of the best (if not the best) films that will be released this year. Like the previously mentioned “Skeleton Twins”, “Foxcatcher” offers up three comedic actors like audiences have never seen them before. With director Bennett Miller having already won the award for Best Director at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, the film is bound to be a masterpiece. If you find yourself short of money this Fall, at least do yourself the favor of seeing this movie.

October 9, 2014

A&E

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Artist Spotlight: Drew Neitzey

Each issue, the “Artist Spotlight” will acknowledge a student artist and their creative contributions to the Stetson community and beyond Katie Dezes Editor-in-Chief During his time at Stetson, Drew Neitzey has certainly made one thing clear: the stage is where he is destined to be.

“I’m naturally craving attention 24/7,” he said. “It’s how I’ve always been.”

Double majoring in Theatre Arts and Communication and Media Studies, the senior has participated in a variety of productions by Stetson’s Theatre Department: “Almost, Maine,” “Dracula,” “Lysistrata,” “Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “The Day They Stole All The Colors,” “The Foreigner,” “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Words, Words, Words,” and “Vinegar Tom.” Although his interest in theatre began with acting, Neitzey has since taken on a variety of roles ranging from painting sets and controlling lights backstage to stage management and directing. “What’s nice about Stetson’s theatre program is that I get such a range of opportunities to try out different roles onstage and offstage,” he said.

Neitzey’s introduction to theatre was in the third grade when he was casted for the “The People Garden,” a play produced by his church about a class of Kindergartners and their overwhelmed substitute teacher.

Ever since this debut performance, Neitzey was hooked. “I realized people laughed when I said things and once I started, I just couldn’t stop,” Neitzey said.

“It’s like an addiction; I’m a junkie,” he joked.

Neitzey went on to act in many more church and school productions in his childhood and continued to do so throughout high school. It wasn’t until Neitzey was beginning his college career that he started to question whether he should continue with theatre.

“After high school, I was like ‘ok, I guess I’m not going to focus on theatre anymore because I need to like get a job,’” Neitzey said. His natural acting tendencies began to show through when he imitated those who drove him toward this conclusion: “Because you’re not going to be able to get a job in theatre!”

Although Neitzey decided to start his freshman year as a discovery major, he quickly gravitated back to theatre. “I needed friends in college,” he said. “I auditioned for a show because I knew I would meet people with similar interests.”

It was his participation in his first show at Stetson, “Almost, Maine,” that inspired him to declare his Theatre Arts major. “I just got reeled back in,” Neitzey

said.

One of Neitzey’s most memorable experiences in Stetson’s Theatre Department was his role as Leaf Coneybear in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” According to Neitzey, the play had a powerful message about proving that you can live up to your expectations while still being light-hearted and fun. “Leaf Coneybear was a big goofball,” Neitzey said. “I related to the character a lot and had so much fun developing it.”

Although Neitzey has always enjoyed acting, he eventually became interested in other opportunities in theatre and decided to give stage management a shot.

“I was reaching a point in acting where I knew I didn’t want to be a full-time actor outside of college, but I still wanted to be involved in theatre,” he said.

During his Stetson career, Neitzey was a stage manager for “Dracula,” “Words, Words, Words,” and “Vinegar Tom.” “It’s a lot of work to stage manage a show and it’s kind of a thankless job but it’s really rewarding to step back after a show has opened and be like, ‘Wow, I stitched this show together,’” Neitzey said.

“And that’s also kind of the same feeling I get with directing,” Neitzey added. “Stage management just deals with the organizational and managerial aspects of theatre but there is no artistic outlet with that job and that was something I was going to miss.”

Due to this desire for more creativity, Neitzey became increasingly interested in directing.

He went on to be the assistant director for “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” and the director of the one-act play, ““Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread.”

“It is really cool to watch an idea in your head get fully realized in an actual production,” he said.

Neitzey was also enthusiastic about the opportunity he received to work as an intern at Endstation Theatre Company in Virginia over the summer. “It was nice to work in a professional environment strictly focused on what I love doing,” he said.

He was hired as a Stage Manager Apprentice for the production of two shows. The first was an outdoor production of “Two Gentleman of Virginia,” which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” The other was “Always, Patsy Cline,” which tells the story and features the music of Virginia-born country singer, Patsy Cline. In addition to his work on stage, Neitzey worked in the administration office, in merchandise, and in the shop painting set pieces.

Today, Neitzey is busy developing his senior project for the spring, which will be a production of Clybourne Park–a response to

“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry.

“I was inspired to direct Clybourne Park after talking to Dr. McCoy,” Neitzey explained.

“He asked if I had an interest in considering directing for my senior research, which I totally did. I knew I wanted to direct a show that would be kind of outside of the norm of shows that we normally do at Stetson. I just wanted to direct a contemporary show that could start a dialogue with the Stetson population. I had read Clybourne Park before I started college and I thought that Bruce Norris had found a great way to synthesis heavy race and gentrification problems as well as comedy to make these issues more accessible for a modern audience. After deciding on doing Clybourne Park, I got approval from the department to stage it and now it’ll go up in April!”

Neitzey is also looking into directing programs to pursue his M.F.A., although he plans to take a year off to gain more work experience in the field.

Whatever Netizey’s plans for the future may be, it seems that theatre will always have a place. ‘“It [theatre] has always been a constant in my life,” Neitzey said. “It’s hard to imagine not doing it.”

“Drew is one of our most advanced students,” said Professor of Theatre Arts Ken McCoy. “Drew is very ‘plugged in’ to the Stetson community through his activity in our theatre honorary Theta Alpha Phi. He has helped establish and maintain a campus presence for the theatre program.

He is also fantastic to work with as a creative, insightful, and dedicated theatre practitioner.”

“Drew Neitzey is a gifted stage manager, actor, and scenic painter,” added Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Krista Franco.

“As an actor in our theatre program he brings so much life to the characters he portrays while examining the choices he makes from rehearsal to performance.

As a technician, Drew is organized, collaborative and a great role model to his peers. He is easy to work with and commands respect from his coworkers. He has a thirst for learning and developing these crafts that I am confident will bring him many future successes.”

Neitzey’s advice to anyone interested in getting involved in theatre, whether it be joining an acting class, auditioning for a show, painting sets, or learning lighting or props, is to commit to the work.

“Just throw yourself into the work and be committed to what you’re doing,” he said. “If you have a passion for the craft and a commitment to the work, then you’re going to enjoy yourself.”

Neitzey stage managing for “Always, Patsy Cline” with Endstation.

Neitzey acting as Leaf Coneybear in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Neitzey performing in “The Day They Stole All The Colors.”

Photo courtesy: Drew Neitzey

6 OPINION

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Whose Spotlight is it Anyway?

Stetson sports in the headlines and play on Stetson’s Women Club Volleyball. In high school, I played four or five different sports. I have friends whom play for Stetson’s Club Soccer. Some run on Stetson’s Cross Country team. There are several points of interests for those who play and watch sports.

This leads me to my main point: Which sport do we, as the student body, pay the most attention to, advertise the most for, and attend the most games for?

Stetson’s student body seems to think football is the best sport ever. I mean, come on guys. We had a skydiver deliver the ball for the first game last year. It doesn’t get more exciting than that…

From what I’ve noticed since I came to Stetson, both University Marketing and The Reporter focus on football, soccer, and basketball. Occasionally they focus on volleyball, lacrosse, baseball/softball, and golf. Where do all of the other sports disappear to? Why don’t we mention rowing, cross country, cheerleading, tennis, or sand volleyball? Cross

Richelle Braswell Staff Contributor People from all over the world love sports. I’m not saying that every person loves sports, but rather that the human race in general loves sports.

Look at how many people became absorbed in the mania of the World Cup in Brazil this past summer. Think of both the Summer and Winter Olympics. People simply love sports.

But not every sports enthusiast enjoys the same sports as the next one. I love volleyball

country had their first home meet in four years! We, the student body, did not spread the word; the cross country team did.

When will these other teams receive the same love and attention as the “popular” sports? Why do we put football on a pedestal to shine in the spotlight? Gohatters. com, the Stetson sports website, appears to be the only source that keeps up with every single sport.

Aside from cross country, other sports would like a little time in the spotlight.

I understand that home games and events do not always work with people’s schedules and that some people do not enjoy watching sports. However, a little more knowledge and advertisement for every sport’s home games could help students remember the games and events.

This is a call for our university’s news media to focus more on those underrepresented sports and give a chance to all teams to shine. Let’s share the spotlight!

Hazy Values II

Smokers share their opinion about Stetson’s Tobacco-Free Plan Michael van Oppen Opinion Editor & Whitney Bradley Staff Contributor This is a continuation of “Hazy Values,” an opinion article in The Reporter’s second issue this semester, authored by Michael van Oppen and Tabea Wanninger. The article questioned the application of Stetson’s core values to the Tobacco-Free Plan. After getting positive feedback from our readers, we decided to interview some smokers on campus to give them the opportunity to voice their opinions. The students interviewed were Aykhan Alibayli, a senior Biology major; Alicia Von Der Werth, a junior Psychology major; and Angelique Gosselin, a senior Finance major.

Aykhan: The Tobacco-Free plan marginalizes us smokers from the rest of the students. It makes them look down at us because of the way the university has justified this plan by relating it to our core values. As a registered student at Stetson with a good standing, I honestly think that my role in the community is questioned because I’m a smoker.

For someone like me that is really involved with the community, this is a huge disconnect.

Alicia: As a new student, I didn’t feel welcomed to our campus because being a “smoker” has been framed as something that is not representative of what being a Stetson student is. During our orientation, we were taught all about the core values of the university and how important this is to stu-

dent inclusion. Under the Tobacco-Free Plan, I suddenly don’t embody the values and am automatically stereotyped as someone who is going out of their way to go against the rules of the institution, which would never be my intention.

Angelique:Recently,I’ve been hearing a lot of departments quoting Stetson’s core values to justify their projects. We just spent $30,000 on rocks to “honor” our values. Well, what about MY values? What about my rights as a student? If I am stressed and want to have a cigarette after class, I should be able to. If the department of Wellness and Recreation has concerns about how second-hand smoke impacts the health of other students, then they should create designated areas where I can smoke without bothering anyone.

Aykhan: Security is a big concern as well. Smokers need to walk off campus to smoke because internal sidewalks are apparently banned as well under the plan. For someone living at the eastern side of campus, it can become pretty dangerous. Also, the policy doesn’t specify where you can smoke in terms of proximity to the road and the sidewalks.

This has led a lot of smokers to think they need to physically be in the middle of a road to smoke.

This is ridiculously dangerous for both the smokers and the drivers.

This becomes a public safety issue. I don’t think Wellness and Recreation had this in mind when they pushed the administration for the introduction of the policy.

Alicia: I don’t think the plan is actually working; the administration is not actually stopping anyone from smoking. Like

Aykhan said, there is a lot of confusion about where you can and cannot smoke, and that is causing issues around campus. One would think that if Wellness and Recreation worked so hard to get this policy approved by the administration, they would at least put effort into explaining it to the students.

In a social situation, I don’t feel comfortable to go out and have a cigarette. I need to interrupt a social situation and go elsewhere. This is very marginalizing.

Angelique: A lot of students who smoke are angry because the ban also includes electronic cigarettes and vaporizers. I know a lot of people that were using these alternative solutions to quit smoking even before the plan was announced. For those students who are addicted to nicotine and tobacco products, this plan is just making things difficult for students who want to gradually stop. Concerning the cessation products provided

by Wellness, no student smoker I know wants to use them. They are just not popular.

I don’t think the administration thought the introduction of the plan through. If it was done properly, over time, the students would have adjusted properly and respected the policy.

Aykhan: Something really important in all of this that hasn’t been considered by Wellness and Recreation, as well as the administration in general, is if the Tobacco-Free Plan is representative of our student population.

Over the past several years, the Student Government Association (SGA) tried to work on the smoking policies on campus. SGA sent

Ask the Wiseass Dear Wise Ass, How can I become as smart and witty as you?

- Not as Smart and Witty as You Dear Not as Smart and Witty as You, Well, Not as Smart, that’s a pretty tall order.

But I’m glad you asked—especially so soon after the recent “Am I high?” debacle of The Reporter’s last issue!

You see, it’s all about the decisions we make. Wit and smarts stem directly from poor life choices, and I’ve made a few. Oscar Wilde once said that experience is simply the name we give our mistakes, and I am very fond of making mistakes. In fact, I’ve become something of an expert on slips, gaffes, and blunders.

The heightened perceptivity gained from continually falling on one’s ass provides insight and direction for the truly important questions life throws our way.

For instance, I am often tasked with providing a penname for the individuals who seek the life-coaching skills of the Wise Ass, as you have wisely done here, Not as Smart. So, when a question comes along asking, “Am I high?” my honed intuition mandates that I name them, “Administration at Stetson.”

The Reporter, however, lacking the giggle-berries to maintain my authorial integrity, may change the nom de plume from the eminently appropriate “Administration at Stetson” to the vague and cowardly, “Possibly High at Stetson.” This would be a terrible idea.

Unless, of course, implying that the “Administration” must be intoxicated is yet another of my inspirational blunders. In that case, Not as Smart, you are well on your way to smartastic wittifulness— for you have already made your first poor life choice by asking my advice.

All best to you and your goldfish, -WiseAss out emails to collect opinions regarding this issue, and just as countless other students did, I participated and voiced my opinion every time.

When all students were notified that the ban was going to go into effect, I feel like the student voice was completely neglected, and that SGA, as the body that represents students on campus, was completely bypassed. None of the students know what the results of the polls were and therefore, I feel like our voices haven’t been represented. This raises questions concerning the executive actions of the administration because regardless of how you frame/justify the ban (i.e. values– which is outrageous), the plan itself could not be representative of what we as students want.

I suggest that a new poll should be done asking people what they think about the policy that was introduced and how it has impacted their lives. I would also ask their opinions about Stetson justifying the policy by referencing our core values.

Alicia: I honestly think that Stetson could have used the time invested in the Tobacco-Free plan to look at other issues we have on campus. For example, they could be looking at providing better quality and healthier food.

Statistics show that obesity will be overtaking smoke as the leading cause of death in the United States in the near future (Medscape).

If Stetson launched a plan to address food-related concerns and they did it the same way as the smoking plan, it would cause an uproar because the changes would be so radical. Imagine if junk food were banned. I don’t

even know what would happen.

With smoking there are fewer students that smoke, which means there are fewer to marginalize.

Maybe this why the administration thinks it is ok to launch the plan without notice. Maybe this is why SGA is being bypassed. It would be nice to have someone representing the administration explain these things here at The Reporter.

Rolling out this plan is not a good starting point to encourage people to quit smoking. It doesn’t come from pressure of other people. It comes from oneself. If Wellness and Recreation really wants to emphasize public health issues, they should provide more information to back up their plan (that is, after clearly explaining what the plan entails in the first place).

In the process of writing this article, a student contacted The Reporter and proposed to organize a debate between her and a student tobacco peer educator that supported the ban. As a result, The Reporter reached out to the department of Wellness and Recreation with the idea. The aim of the proposed article was to allow our readers to understand both sides of the issue and encourage them to become more educated in the process.

In turn, Terrance Harris, Assistant Director of Health and Wellness, wrote: “I encourage not to debate over this topic.

The decision was made from an administrative level, and at this point there is no amending it.”

This reply is yet another representation of how students don’t have a say on campus-wide initiatives that affect them.

OPINION

October 9, 2014 7

Fighting for Student Representation Parking, printing, The Rock, and students’ opinions

Tabea Wanninger Staff Contributor “We want to hear your voices and help make the campus better

for all of our students.” This was a statement the administration repeated several times at the SGA Open Forum on Oct. 2. During the event, the room was filled with excitement and even a bit of tension.

It has not gone unnoticed that the student population has rallied together against the newest addition to the campus, “The Rock.”

The monument has led to the creation of Facebook pages such as “The Rock–Stetson University” and “Occupy The Rock.” With this in addition to the already popular discussion over resurfacing issues of parking and printing,

Faculty Members Object to Local Law Enforcement Display of Military Equipment Written collaboratively by faculty of the Philosophy Department Stetson’s 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance was thoughtfully orchestrated by a number of committed members of our community. As part of those events, first responders in Volusia County and DeLand were invited to campus to be recognized at an Opening Ceremony in the morning and, later, to display their vehicles in front of the Carlton Union Building so that students could meet them and thank them for their service in protecting and serving our campus and larger community. This part of the Day of Service and Remembrance was outlined at the opening ceremony and in a press release.

In response to this invitation, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department chose to bring military equipment to display—an armored vehicle and a table of automatic weapons.

We cannot understand the rationale behind the Sheriff’s Department’s decision to exhibit heavy artillery and an IED and RPG resistant MaxxPro MRAP vehicle.

This choice is distressing in light of the recent mishandling of police action in Ferguson, MO, as well as unresolved questions regarding the vehicular manslaughter of Marlon Brown by DeLand’s local police.

While first responders deserve recognition for their service, it is possible to honor them without incorporating military equipment into the events.

As reported Aug. 23 by CBS News and other outlets, the federal government and Congress plan to review the use of military equipment in civilian policing.

The ACLU’s recent report “War Comes Home: The Excessive Militarization of American Policing” provides powerful data and narratives regarding the problems connected with the use of military surplus among civilian police.

Here is a PDF link to the report: https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/jus14-warcomeshome-report-web-rel1.pdf.

Stetson University has the opportunity to join this national conversation and make a powerful statement of our shared values by creating an explicit policy regarding the display of military equipment by local law enforcement and other first responders at future events.

We, the undersigned faculty, recommend that Stetson University: (1) Create an explicit policy, guideline, or set of expectations that would deny permission for local law enforcement agencies to display militarized equipment on campus.

(2) Demilitarize the uniforms worn by Stetson University Public Safety officers; in particular, we mean the use of BDU-style pants, which are often worn in conjunction with camouflaged hats and other gear. These uniforms may needlessly intimidate rather than comfort the students that Public Safety protects.

Wendy Anderson; Anthony Appleton; Grady Ballenger; Christopher Bell; Michael Branton; Pamela Cappas-Toro; Paul Croce; Stephen Ellis; Ethan Greene; Melinda Hall; Ronald Hall; Eric Kurlander; Phillip Lucas; Emily Mieras; Nicole Mottier; William Nylen; Susan; Peppers-Bates; Jelena Petrovic; Joshua Rust; Gregory Sapp; Rajni Shankar-Brown; Robert Sitler; Ranjini Thaver; Robert Watson

SGA and the administration had a solid amount of issues on their plate.

Before addressing the main points raised at the forum, I find it necessary to express that not everything argued by the administration should be readily discarded.

Despite the known resentment concerning the issues at hand, it means a lot that some members of the administration were present during this event and allowed students’ voices to be heard.

When the time came to ask my question to the panel, I stated that I was going to be very blunt and honest with them, and it is my intention do the same with this article.

The issue of transparency was the overarching point of the forum. By definition, this means that the decision-making process needs to be accessible and open for dialogue.

How can we talk about transparency and support for an issue without knowing the details beforehand?

I have voiced it at the meeting and I will say it here again: the discussion about transparency is hypocritical.

None of the members of the administration that were present during the panel wanted to state who was responsible for the printing fiasco. When asked, Rosalie Carpenter, Dean of Students, said, “That is a really good question.

We really don’t know.”

Moreover, when a student asked about issues of communication within the administration, Carpenter stated, “We don’t have

any problems amongst ourselves in communicating about student issues. We all love working here and we get along very well.”

If there are no issues of communication within the administration, then how is it that the information about The Rock was not distributed before it was built?

A simple e-mail would have sufficed, and an invitation to discuss whatever was announced would have also been well-received.

If there is no disconnect between the administration and the students as the forum speakers want us to believe, then how is it that we, as a student body, do not have an adequate say in many of the changes that are happening around campus?

For example, none of us had a say concerning the Tobacco-Free Plan. It was introduced as a result of an administrative decision even though SGA repeatedly failed to pass a bill to ban smoking on campus for the past ten years.

This is not transparency. Stop calling it such until you have made an adequate move towards informing students about developments on campus and incorporating their opinion as part of the process.

Faculty should have a say as well. Many professors have actively criticized the administration’s decision to build The Rock during class periods and at events organized by student organizations. Many of these faculty members also attended the “Occupy The Rock” event that took place last Friday, Oct. 3rd.

Another important point that was raised by the students at the

forum was the lack of funding for academic programs and the absurd amount of funding for non-academic programs.

Stetson University prides itself for having distinguished faculty with renowned degrees from great universities. Now, why do adjunct professors only get paid $2,400 per class per semester?

This boils down to about $2 per hour, well below Florida’s minimum wage.

It is unacceptable for me and many of my fellow classmates to feel that our amazing professors, some of which are internationally recognized scholars, do not get the respect they deserve from our University.

Furthermore, comparing the $30,000 that was spent to build The Rock to the $900 budget of the Africana Studies program shows where our values really are.

To the administration: simply calling student outrage a product of miscommunication is a copout. For the majority of the matters discussed at the forum, there was no communication at all between the administration and the students.

If you are truly interested in our opinions, do not ask for them after the policies have been implemented.

Allow me to second what a student said towards the end of the forum: “Look around the room and see all of these angry students. We are your future alumni. We are the people from whom you expect future donations.”

By: Leo Dezes

twitter www.Facebook.com/ StetsonReporter

@SU_Reporter

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8 SPORTS

Q&A Carolina Merregalli

R R Sophomore Tennis Player Captures Bedford Cup Graham Ball goes undefeated against top Division I teams in the state of Florida

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

Sean McKnight Sports Editor Where are you from, what is your year and major, and what drew you to Stetson?

I am from Milan, Italy and I am a sophomore International Business major. I came to Stetson because I grew up around this area. My family and I have had a beach house over in New Smyrna since I was a little kid. So, I was always around the university and saw it was ranked really well academically. I also loved the campus, and I loved the tennis team too so it was and is a great fit for me.

What made you want to play tennis at such a young age?

What is one aspect of tennis you love and find unique?

Growing up seeing my family play, especially my mom and brother, made me love the sport from such a young age. Also, being around people who loved it as much as I did when I was so young definitely helped fuel my passion for the game. Not only is tennis extremely competitive, which I love, you also go into each match not really sure who is going to win until the last point.

Even if you’re winning you can lose and vice versa. I truly love that about the sport. Also, the competition here in Florida is challenging so all the matches are really very exciting.

In regards to how you play the game, what’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

People say that I am a good fighter and that means a lot to me.

I always play hard until the match is over.

What was the last thing you saw a teammate do that really impressed you?

Last year, the first match of the year, we played against FIU. Diana Bukajeva, our number one, was losing the second set 5-1 and then mounted this awesome comeback and ended up winning the match 7-5. It was a great start to the season last year for us and we ended up beating FIU 4-3. I’m

hoping for a similar start this year.

Last season, going 18-6 overall and 5-3 in the Atlantic Sun, the team marked one of its best seasons to date. What have you all done in the offseason to recreate last seasons deep run into the playoffs?

Last season was great–one of the best seasons overall in the history of the Stetson women’s program–but this year we’ve been training very hard. We practice three hours a day and then we have conditioning three days a week. We had a lot of strong seniors last year so we’re trying to build up a new team for this season. All of the girls are strong players and work very hard so I think we’re in for a great season this year.

Last season you played very well, going 9-3 in singles play. What have you done mentally and physically to prepare yourself for this upcoming season and produce as well as you did last season?

I practiced very hard at the beginning of the offseason and then all throughout the summer.

When I went back home, I practiced and conditioned very hard so I could stay on the same level I was at the end of last season.

Since we’ve been back at school, I’ve been working hard to stay conditioned and refine my game and have showed up to every practice to make sure that happens. I just want to be sure I can play better than I did last season and help the team make a deep run into the playoffs.

What are your goals and the teams’ goals for this season?

How do you all plan on accomplishing them?

My goals are to play in the lineup and do well and win as much as I can. For the team, we just want to win the conference championship. Last year we were so close, and this year we want to win the ring.

Graham Ball swinging at the ball during the tournament.

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

Sean McKnight Sports Editor Back on Sept. 15, men’s tennis sophomore Graham Ball won the Bedford Cup Singles Title.

A tournament hosted by The University of North Florida and sponsored by the Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida, the Bedford Cup is an annual fall event featuring every men’s Division I program in the state of Florida.

Competing schools include Bethune-Cookman, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida State University, The University of Miami, the University of North Florida, and the University of South Florida.

It is obvious that an event of this caliber not only draws some of the best talent in the state of Florida, but also some of the best talent in the entire nation.

Spanning conferences from our own Atlantic Sun to those the likes of the powerful ACC, this tournament gives players from all walks of the tennis spectrum a chance to compete against one another.

Although one might expect a player from FSU, UF, or Miami to take the title this year, it was Stetson’s own Graham Bell who fought hard and dug in to take the title home, not only for himself, but for the university.

Ball’s victory had some sort of cinderella quality to it. He was able to win all four of his matches and upon his undefeated run, Ball was able to go to the championship and take down UNF’s Zach Goldberg.

The only set Ball lost during the entire tournament was the first one against Goldberg in the championship match. Ball was able to rally and win the championship 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Associated head coach of the men’s team Christophe Noblet

spoke candidly on Ball’s performance.

“He really had to fight for it today... the first set [in the championship], I think Graham was a little bit tight playing a guy on his home court. He became more aggressive and took some chances in the last two sets. Physically, he was very strong and was able to maintain good decision making at the end.”

All in all, Ball’s play is most definitely indicative of what we can expect from the men’s tennis squad this year.

A strong team both mentally and physically who, no matter what team they play, will be able to dig in deep and come away with the win. If Ball and his teammates, under the coaching of Pierre Pilote and Christophe Noblet, can play smart tennis and make the right game time decisions, Stetson fans can expect quite a lot from this men’s team.

Upcoming Home Games Friday, 10/10 Women’s Soccer vs. Lipscomb 7:00 PM

Friday, 10/17 Softball vs. Daytona State College 4:00 PM

Friday, 10/17 Volleyball vs. Northern Kentucky 7:00 PM

Sunday, 10/12 Women’s Soccer vs. Northern Kentucky 1:00 PM

Friday, 10/17 Women’s Soccer vs. North Florida 7:00 PM

Saturday, 10/18 Men’s Soccer vs. USC Upstate 12:00 PM

SPORTS

October 9, 2014

9

Women’s Soccer Edged Out by Jacksonville, 2-1 Hatters stay competitive against potential conference championship team

Sean McKnight Sports Editor Last Friday, Stetson’s women’s soccer team began A-Sun play and although they fell to a strong Jacksonville team, they were able to hang in tough and highlight why they shouldn’t be left out of A-Sun postseason talk.

Kaitlyn Bassett and Sope Akindoju each had a goal and an assist for Jacksonville and helped lead them to a 2-1 victory over Stetson.

Although Stetson was unable to get the victory in this match, they stayed competitive against a talented Jacksonville team.

The Dolphins (7-4-0, 1-0-0) grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Bassett scored in the 14th minute, heading in a long cross from Akindoju. In the 53rd minute of the match, Bassett and Akindoju connected yet again for Jacksonville’s 2nd goal of the match.

This time Bassett facilitated the goal and Akindoju scored on a pass from outside the box.

It was at this point that it

seemed Stetson would be shut out by a team who was strong on both sides of the ball. However, in the 67th minute, Stetson’s Mara Keomanivane, the junior midfielder/ forward, scored on a penalty kick and cut the Dolphin’s lead in half.

Although Keomanivane’s efforts made the contest winnable, in the last 23 minutes of the match, Stetson was only able to get off two shots.

All in all, it was a tough loss for a Stetson team who seems to do it right throughout most of the match, but has trouble sealing the deal when the game is in their hands.

They are, however, a youthful, energetic team who have much to learn over the course of the season. Stetson’s squad is made up of 14 freshman, including all three of their goalkeepers.

Youth and inexperience is both a pro and con for this squad.

Having only five juniors, one senior, and one redshirt senior means the wealth of knowledge and experience the team usually has on the pitch is quite limited.

These seven players just cannot

carry the entire weight of a team on their back.

However, head coach Manoj Khettry said it best himself when commenting on this young squad: “Certainly we are disappointed, but it doesn’t change any of our goals. I saw some young players really step up and grow up before our eyes. They are learning how hard it is to win and how much harder it is to win a conference game, especially one on the road.

We’ll get back at it this week and get on the road and try to get better results against tough opponents.”

Although the Hatters were unable to find the victory this time, every moment and every experience the team has is knowledge gained for their next match.

This young, exciting, and impressionable squad must be able to take these tough road losses and turn them into a lesson learned on what to avoid or do better in the next match.

If these ladies can take it one match at a time, they will have a strong season.

Men’s Soccer Dominates UNF, 6-0 Bostic, Diniz, and Beates all score twice in decisive victory Sean McKnight Sports Editor

Lucas Diniz has control of the ball during the game.

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

If there is one word that can accurately sum up Stetson’s performance at home against UNF last Saturday it is “domination.”

Stetson was able to score twice in the first 10 minutes of the match and four more times in the second half to post a convincing 6-0 victory over the visiting Ospreys of UNF. And it doesn’t stop there. The defense and goalkeeping stepped up in ways they haven’t yet this year and helped seal Stetson’s victory early on.

JJ Bostic, Lucas Diniz, and Eli Beates all got on the board twice to help lead the Hatters to its highest outpouring of goals since scoring 10 times in 2010 in Stetson’s home opener against Johnson & Wales.

At the 4:23 mark, JJ Bostic was able to get the ball to meet the twine. Just six minutes later, Beates added another point to the board to give Stetson it’s first half 2-0 lead. Sebastian Contreras and Diniz had the assists, respectively.

It was not until the 66th minute that the Hatters were able to find the back of the net again. Lucas Diniz, with an assist from Jared Huber, was able to tally on another goal, making the score 3-0

Alexis Trybinski charges at the ball during the A Sun conference.

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

and eight minutes later, scored a beauty of a penalty kick to put the Hatters up on UNF 4-0.

In the 76th minute, Bostic again found the net, putting the Hatters up 5-0. Beates capped the scoring onslaught in the 88th minute, finishing off a pass from Dwight Lodge.

Stetson’s goal scorers were freaks of nature last Saturday.

Going off like it was the last match any of them would play, Stetson’s offense was able to do something no Stetson team had done in years. They came together and executed perfectly, getting past defenders with ease, communicating to the best of their ability, and constantly moved the ball up field. Simply put, Stetson did it all.

They out played UNF, not only in the physical game, but most importantly, in the mental game. They were able to go up twice early and never looked back. This winning mindset is what helped lead the Hatters past UNF easily.

However, the offense wasn’t the only part of the squad producing last Saturday.

Stetson’s defense shut down UNF on every front. The defense outsmarted UNF’s talented offense and held them to only 4 shots in the first period to Stetson’s 7. Although we allowed 10 in the second period, only 5 of UNF’s shots were on goal the whole match, while 8 of Stetson’s were, 6 of them resulting in goals.

A late first half defensive hold is what really helped Stetson persevere against UNF, who seemed poised to tie it late in the

first.

The backbone to Stetson’s defensive strength was goal keeper Paul Ladwig. Ladwig, who had suffered a severe facial injury a few weeks back, showed Stetson how strong and resilient he truly is. Ladwig played all 90 minutes of Stetson’s dominating match and had 3 total saves. His on point play had a lot to do with the momentum being in Stetson’s favor and has most definitely secured his seat as Stetson’s starting keeper.

All in all, this affair was all Stetson and was a joy to watch.

From the high scoring jubile to the defense shutting down heated rival UNF on every offensive front, Stetson showed why they should be considered a premier team in the A-Sun. First year head coach Ernie Yarborough spoke candidly on his team’s outstanding victory.

“I thought [the team] did a really good job of taking advantage of our opportunities early in the match to get ahead of this well coached UNF team,” Yarborough said. “Early in the first half the attackers and forwards came through, and at the end of the first half, the defense and Paul [Ladwig] were strong and had good decision making on individual plays to keep UNF from scoring any goals.”

This was a strong team effort by a talented Stetson squad and if they can keep this momentum for the rest of the season, especially against top dogs the likes of Jacksonville and FGCU, they are poised to make a run into the A-Sun championship.

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R R The People of Stetson Shadee Rios

Staff Photographer

Dear People of Stetson: Stetson may be a small school, but it’s still possible not to know much about the people you walk through campus with everyday. I decided to start this ongoing series to try and capture the essence and diversity of the Stetson community through photography. Hope you enjoy!

Leo Quintero

Kristen Alicea & Jimmy Rainey

Year and Major?: Senior, Guitar Performance Most important thing about music?: “Woah, what a question. I think its probably the community within it. And I’m a very competitive person. I don’t tell anyone. And I really love the challenge. I used to be a science person, and I got into literature at some point and drawing. I think nothing has challenged me and made me feel as welcome as music has.”

Do you think music can change the world?: “Music has always changed the world.”

Kristen: Junior, Jimmy: Sophomore Majors: Kristen: Marine Biology, Jimmy: “Regular Biology” Hometowns: Kristen: Fort Walden Beach, FL, Jimmy: Miami, FL So what are you guys doing?: Kristen: “Bio statistics. We’re measuring the rocks to do t-tests.”

Jimmy: “Fun stuff.”

What’s a T-test for those that don’t know? Kristen: “They’re biological statistical tests to compare two different things.”

Jimmy: “For example, we measure the rocks in the ground versus the ones in the air. Because they’re not going to put them the same way all around.”

What are you trying to find with these tests?: Kristen: “Were trying to find out which one is more variable.”

So how do you guys feel about these rocks you’re testing?: Jimmy: “I love the rocks. The rocks are my friends.”

Kristen: “I think they’re kind of pointless.”

Jimmy: “No I love the rocks. I sleep on the rocks.”

Marvin Dobson Year and Major?: Freshman, Digital Arts Hometown: Jasper, FL What are you working on?: “Oh, just a beat for class.”

What do you want to do in digital arts?: “I want to own a record label eventually.”

What kind of music would you represent?: “Mostly hip hop and R&B.” Have you done this kind of thing before?: “Yeah, I’ve been making music since I was 11.”

Are you apart of anything else on campus?: “Yeah, I just joined Sigma Nu.”

Kyle Jackman Year and Major?: Junior, Psychology with Education minor Hometown: Deltona, FL What do you want to do in psychology?: “Well actually, I’m a transfer from daytona state, and when I came here I changed my mind. I would have majored in education, but it was too late. But I want to work with special needs kids.”

Are you going to get your master’s degree after this?: “Yeah, in special education.”

Any hobbies or other things you’re into?: “I find myself to be rather boring. I don’t do much because I’m always focused on school. I don’t like going out either.

I’m very much a homebody. So, friends never ask me to do anything because I won’t. But hobbies... reading, when I can...I like to go for walks.

So any plans for the weekend?: “Homework. I have a paper to write, one to revise, and have to summarize this [book]. So just homework.”

LaShay Funches Year and Major?: Freshman, Biology Hometown: Chicago, IL How is DeLand different from Chicago?: “The weather. The atmosphere is more quiet. I’m not used to the quietness throughout the day.”

What are some things people don’t know about you yet?: “That I do hair.

And that I like reading a lot. If it’s interesting, I’ll read it.”

October 9, 2014

Summer Innsbruck Program

July 3 — Aug. 7 , 2015 Open to All Majors

Tentative Class Schedule Period 1: - ACCT 211– Intro to Financial Accounting - FINA 311– Business Finance - BADM 205– Professional Communication - EDUC 374J-JS– Educational Systems Around the World Period 2: - FINA 303– Money and Financial Institutions - STAT 301Q– Business Statistics - MKTG 315– The Marketplace & Consumers - BADM 360J— Social Justice and the Bottom Line Period 3: - ACCT 212– Intro to Management Accounting - INTL 350– Special Topics in International Business - MGMT 305– Human Relations, Leadership & Teamwork - HUM 300A–European Sights, Sounds, Artifacts - MGMT 495– Strategic Management

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

8 credits in 5 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 Apply Now — Limited Enrollment For information contact: Nancy Kernan, Room 414 LBC 386-822-7394 nkernan@stetson.edu World.stetson.edu www.stetson.edu/innsbruck

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12 SPORTS

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