Vol. CXXIII Issue 7

the

Reporter

Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.

Vol. CXXIII Issue 7

Stetson celebrates National Coming Out Day

Jason Cruz Staff Writer Stetson’s LGBT+ student union, Kaleidoscope, celebrated National Coming Out Day on the Green Monday Oct. 12, inviting students to share their personal identities.

Officially, National Coming Out Day was Sunday Oct. 11, but

the Sunday of Stetson’s Fall Break did not seem like the best time to draw crowds. Set up facing the Welcome Center construction site, Kaleidoscope event coordinator Josh Roman sat at a table next a large sheet hanging from two trees proudly inviting students to join in the occasion. On the other side of the table stood a makeshift “closet” door, complete with purple fabric hanging around its edges.

Roman, who began planning for this event last spring, welcomed students to step through the closet and declare whatever it is they were “coming out” as, which including things not necessarily related to sexual or gender identity.

He told students to use the opportunity to proudly declare their social interests or personality traits, even things like being a nerd. On the table Roman had chalk for students to take and express themselves in writing on the Rock.

Upon inspect, the Rock revealed a host of new messages ranging from the mundane to the incredible. This reporter saw declarations of nerdom and

one tea lover, but most writings were words of encouragement or self-expression. “Asexuality is real! Ace and proud!” adorned one rock while “Love is in the Heart” dominated another.

Perhaps the shortest piece of chalk writing was also the most delightful to see. Its author left only two words: “I survived!”

Coming Out Day means much more than chalk writing to student Reagan Fejfar (pictured at right), a transgender male in his first year at Stetson. Fejfar publicly revealed his gender identity on this occasion last year and now proudly engages in the gay male community. On Coming Out Day, Reagan donned a t-shirt which read “Proud Trans Queen” along with a faceful of makeup and hot pants.

Fejfar explained that he loves

See Coming Out Day, Page 4

Armed ‘BMX bandit’ robs Galaxy Superette

Events postponed after possible threat to campus Lauren Davids News Editor At 7:20 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 14, the DeLand Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Galaxy Superette, 247 N. Amelia Ave., a block from the southern side of the Stetson University campus.

After arriving on scene, DeLand Police

Student playlist: Weekend in Paris

A&E, Page 5

Officer Michael Paez spoke with the store owner Harivadan Jambusaria. According to the police report, a man had entered the convenience store, walked around the cash register and instructed the cashier to open

See Bandit, Page 2

At your fingertips: an app opinion

Opinion, Page 9

Reporter photos/Nichole Frechette

Pride without prejudice — In the top photo, Kaleidoscope event coordinator Josh Romans greet students as they come to his table during Stetson’s celebration of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 12. In the photo above, first-year student Reagan Fejfar poses in the doorway of the “closet” out on the Stetson Green.

Author and sports poet Jeff Parker visits Stetson Story on Page 4

Stetson Bass Fishing Club’s first tournament

Sports, Page 12

2 NEWS the cash register while holding a knife to Jambusaria’s stomach.

According to Jambusarias report, the suspect fled the scene on a BMX bicycle.

Jambusaria then called 911 to report the incident, and he told police about $500 was missing from the cash register.

The police were given the name of Michael R. Huck Jr., and went to a DeLand address, according to the report, where they spoke with Huck’s mother, who told them Huck’s ex-wife lived nearby.

At the ex-wife’s home, the police report states, officers met a man matching the description of the gunman given by Harivadan. There was also a BMX bike in the driveway that matched the description given.

After being identified by Jambusaria, Huck agreed to speak with authorities, the police report states.

Huck was charged with robbery using a firearm or deadly weapon, and was also charged with possession of narcotics. According to the police report, officers found crushed white pills folded in a receipt in Huck’s pants, and found four used syringes and two red straws with white power in his backpack. The powders tested positive for morphine

Jason Cruz Staff Writer Last week’s Student Government Association meeting began in earnest with officer reports.

President of the Senate Aaron Bibbee told the present body that the university is making new plans to expand housing in light of DeLand’s decision not to allow contractors to create a second Athens Commons within the surrounding residential areas. While he had no details to present, Bibbee said there would be a board of trustees meeting very soon to discuss options. He also noted that the university’s traffic court, where students can appeal Public Safety tickets they feel were given unjustly, will meet on Friday nights.

To appeal students must take the ticket to the Public Safety office.

Vice President Daniel Humphrey emphasized the fact that senators can take student needs or desires and push them to draft their own legislation, which can

Bandit, continued from Page 1

(Dilaudid), police said.

Police also said $350 was found in a room with Huck’s backpack, and a knife — allegedly the one used during the robbery — was later found where Huck said he had disposed of it.

After evidence collection and speaking further with Huck, officers transported him to the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Stetson University’s emergency-notification system, “Hatter Alerts,” informed Stetson students of the armed robbery because it was within a block of campus.

Students were asked to stay inside until an all-clear was given.

During the entire ordeal, Stetson University’s emergency notification system, “Hatter Alerts,” informed Stetson students of the armed robbery as it occurred within a block of campus. Students were asked to stay inside until an all-clear was given. Many university events planned that evening had been canceled, such as Take Back the Night, a march against domestic violence sponsored by Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) the National Organization for Women (NOW), Alpha Chi Omega, and the Health and Wellness Center.

Take Back the Night was scheduled to be from 8 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 14, and was beginning just as the first Hatter Alert was sent out. Within two minutes, Public Safety of-

be brought before the senate for discussion. Chief of Staff Veronica Pierce announced the appointment of senator Courtney Young to run SGA’s social media accounts. The secretaries of communications, finance, and involvement were not present.

The senate voted unanimously to confirm President Bibbee’s appointment of Ian Maclean as the Chair of Housing and Residential Life. The position’s former member vacated the spot and Chair of Campus Living Livingston Boulerice was filling in until now.

At this point, Humphrey brought up the one piece of old business on the agenda. Senate Resolution 3, coming from the policy and finance reform committee, would provide a free official transcript to each graduating student. In previous years, students needed to pay $7.25 for each transcript they required for graduate programs or job applications following graduation. Chair Morley noted that the vast majority of Stetson students accept fi-

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

ficers arrived in front of the rocks telling students the event was postponed and to get indoors.

Charlotte Grace, the Multicultural Student Council representative, said she was upset at first and that “it was a major let down,” but acknowledged that the cancellation was necessary for student safety.

She stated that participation should never interfere with safety, but that she hopes to see many more faces when the event is rescheduled.

“We think about things like sexual assault and how bad it is, but we rarely ever take action,” said Grace.

“Take Back the Night is a way to show solidarity with victims.”.

The president of SASA, Christina

SGA Weekly

nancial aid and many other universities provide several free transcripts to graduates. The resolution passed almost unanimously. Transcripts will be paid for by the university.

During the new business portion of the meeting, Senator Christina Lint of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee read her proposal for the purchase of SGA tee shirts. The resolution would take no more than $450 from the executive expenditures portion of the ap-

Web Editor Michael Galvez Web Designer Allegra Henderon Layout Designer Kyo Padgett Staff Writers Jason Cruz Madison Akins Staff Photographers Nicole Frechette Maeve Coughlin

Reporter photo/Lauren Davids

proved budget to purchase shirts for each senator.

Wearing the shirts would ensure that students could recognize senators and discuss concerns with them.

Lint hopes the shirts become “catalysts for day to day interaction and communication students to more efficiently serve constituents.”

When drafting the resolution, Lint found quotes placing the order at $9.75 per shirt, whereas former senate groups paid over $1000 for polo shirts.

Faculty Advisor Andy Dehnart Staff Advisor Kat Thomas Staff Contributors Todd Akin Sarah Coffey Kelly Doss Matthew Jordan Stephanie Kidd Alissa Pagano Ashlee Renich-Malek Dr. Robert Sitler

Canalizo, also feels passionately about the subject, and wants to see some support when the event is rescheduled.

“There's a lot of power in sharing our stories, in reclaiming the night, and I think we can learn a lot from listening to survivors share what they went through — not only in regards to their assault, but also hearing about the victim-blaming they faced, the emotional roller-coaster they experienced, and the barriers to seeking justice that many of us might have never thought of,” she said.

Take Back the Night is being rescheduled for either November or the spring semester. Information on the date will be available on NOW and SASA’s Facebook pages.

Chair of Academic Affairs James Russo proposed amending the bill so that Chief of Staff Pierce could take responsibility to create shirt designs and make the final purchase. Much debate ensued with several senators wanting to make sure they could have input before the design is finalized, leading to a secondary amendment to Russo’s demanding that Pierce bring the designs before the senate prior to purchasing any shirts. This amendment and Russo’s original both passed a contentious floor vote, after which the resolution was tabled.

During chair reports, Diversity and Inclusion chair Bryan Wade defended the tee shirt

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proposal and announced a potential future mixer to be held in the Cross Cultural Center. Russo mentioned that his committee is discussing improvements to the DuPont-Ball Library besides extending operating hours. Morley described efforts to get administrators to remain in Griffith Hall for one extra hour one day of the week to accommodate commuting students who may need to visit the Onestop. Newfound Chair Maclean has already created a survey to be sent to seniors regarding the pre-existing notion of changing graduation gifts to hats. Following these reports, the meeting was adjourned.

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October 22, 2015

NEWS

3

Coming Out Day, Continued from Page 1 to wear drag with other men, and that disclosing his gender, often a harrowing procedure, has become the source of his strength.

“It was a lot easier than I expected it to be. I found it was harder to be in the closet than to deal with the discrimination and all that because I knew I was being true to myself. Before there was a lot of internal conflict.

It’s easy when you’re confident to shut other people down when they’re being negative,” Fejfar said.

Explaining the process he took, Fejfar said “Most of my friends and family knew or strongly suspected.

I wasn’t hiding it anymore.

That was kind of the day I made it Facebook offi-

cial, changed the pronouns, asked everyone to call me he, and came out with my chosen name.”

As for his Stetson experience thus far, Fejfar has mixed feelings.

“It hasn’t been quite as experienced in dealing with trans people as I was led to believe, so I’m hoping that my presence here on campus can improve things for future students,” Fejfar said.

“There’s a lot of good policy in place when it comes to trans people. I just don’t think the school has really had that much experience implementing that. and I just hope I can be one of the people who helps them figure that out.”

Reporter photo/Nichole Frechette

Love is in the heart — One of many heartfelt messages written on the Rocks next to the Carlton Union Building by students participating in National Coming Out Day celebrations on Oct. 12.

Public Safety Report Highlight Reel Case #20150678: On October 2, a Disturbance was reported from House D. The report states that two students were having a disagreement when one refused to leave the other’s room. Public Safety officers were called and escorted the student back to their room.

No disciplinary actions were taken.

Case #20150680: On October 2, a Fire Alarm sounded from Gordis Hall. The alarm was reportedly set off by a student spraying perfume.

Case #20150681: On October 2, Public Safety received Information regarding too many occupants inside House A. The report states that a noise complaint from the house prompted a search that revealed too many students over the building’s occupancy limit. The party was shut down as a result.

Case #20150682: On October 2, a Petty Theft was reported from Gordis Hall. The report states that a student returned to their room and discovered that their wallet was missing. The student reported that they were having difficulty locking the door and that the room was often left open as a result. The door’s locks and have since been replaced, and the student has filed a report with DeLand Police.

Case #20150684: On October 3, Property Damage was reported from Chaudoin Hall. The report states that a student returned to their vehicle to find a business card had been placed between their vehicle’s windshield wiper blades. The card was partially dissolved as a result of heavy rain that day, with the ink from it being stuck to the car’s windshield. The student did not file a report with DeLand Police.

Case #20150688: On October 5, a Grand Theft was reported from the Lynn Business Center. The report states that three pieces of networking equipment were found to be missing, each totaling $4,000 in value each. The report further states that the pieces were waiting to be sent out for repairs but were discovered missing before they could be transferred. DeLand Police was notified and a report was filed.

Case #20150691: On October 6, Lost Property was reported from Elizabeth Hall. The report states that a student left their backpack and laptop inside a classroom and found both missing when they returned. The student wished not to file a report with DeLand Police.

Case #20150696: On October 8, an Intoxicated Person was reported from House 7. The report states that a student called Public Safety reporting symptoms of alcohol poisoning and requested an EVAC to transport them. The student was transferred to a hospital and received medical assistance. The student is subject to discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case #20150700: On October 9, Property Damage was reported from the Athletic Training Center. The report states that a student was driving on East Minnesota Ave when their vehicle was struck by a football. The football was propelled by a field goal kicking drill, resulting in a small chip on the vehicle’s windshield.

Case #20150701: On October 9, a Fire Alarm sounded from Stetson Cove. The alarm was reportedly set off by burning quesadillas.

Case #20150705: On October 10, an Alcohol Policy Violation was reported from Nemec Hall. The report states that as Public Safety officers were clearing the building as part of a fire drill, they found an underage student in the possession of alcohol in plain sight. The alcohol was disposed of, and the student is subject to discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case #20150708: On October 11, a Bicycle Theft was reported from Emily Hall. The report states that a student returned to the bike rack to discover that their bike locked with a cable style chain was missing. The student did not wish to file a report with DeLand Police.

Case #20150710: On October 11, a Petty Theft was reported from Chaudoin Hall. The report states that a student returned to their bicycle to discover that the both of its wheels were removed with the bike still attached to the rack via U-lock. The student did not wish to file a report with DeLand Police.

Case #20150717: On October 7, a Petty Theft was reported from Chaudoin Hall. The report states that a student returned to their bicycle to find that its seat had been stolen. DeLand Police was contacted and filed a report.

4 A&E

Sullivan Reading Series opens with visit from author Jeff Parker

Alissa Pagano Staff Contributor

piece "Erratic Fire, Erratic Passion" used the strangely affecting words of basketball player Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest.

One moment during this poem completely characterizes Parker in my opinion. A small plastic cup clattered to the floor in the front row, mirroring the catalyst in World Peace’s role in instigating the infamous Malice at the Palace brawl in 2004. Parker faltered briefly over a line, then, as if cued, emphatically read "Did you throw that on purpose?" and smiled into the microphone as laughter erupted from the audience consisting of several students and faculty.

A selection of passages from the nonfiction Where Bears Roam the Streets followed. Despite where the book's origins may lie, it ended up as a kind of memoir. The subject: Parker's longtime friend Igor, whom he met one night while traveling in Russia in 1999, swimming in a questionable canal near St. Petersburg.

Shortly after their first meeting, Igor took Parker to a bathhouse, where the former unloaded a small vial of eucalyptus oil, two birch branches, and a package of squid jerky from his backpack.

Long story short, Parker was lying down wearing little more than a sheet and his own sweat when the hulking form of Igor returns, covered in oil and brandishing the birches, to say, "Cover your dick."

Stetson’s English department kicked-off of the 2015 edition of its Sullivan Reading series at the Gillespie Museum on Oct. 14, beginning with a a reading from author Jeff Parker.

A man small in stature, with a well-trimmed beard and a clear, soft voice, he must have a vast soul; it beams out of his writing, and out of his easy disposition as well.

Senior Mara Egan was not wrong in her introduction of him by saying he both "embodies the spirits of things" and is also "pretty freakin' cool."

A pupil of renowned short story writer George Saunders while at Syracuse University’s Masters of Fine Arts program, Parker didn't originally go to school for creative writing. Prior to attending Syracuse, he graduated with a degree in journalism from University of Florida and ended up writing obituaries for a local newspaper. It was, apparently, about as lackluster as it sounds. He soon realized he was destined for something more.

That evening he shared parts of his most recent labors.

Parker opened with a collaborative book of found poetry, those created by appropriating existing texts based in athletics. Sports poems; two words not many would ever think to juxtapose. The title

Summer Innsbruck Program

He proceeded to give Parker a massage.

The novel has its fair share of darker, more serious moments as well.

Parker is expert in his balance of colorful storytelling and sentiment — not only in his writing, but spoken discourse as well.

At the end of the nearly hour long event, Parker clapped his hands together and declared that was all he had for the eager listeners. He confided that it was the first time he recalled having read verbatim from the book, with all other readings he had simply recounted Igor's antics on the spot—a testament to the type of enthralling man Jeff Parker is.

The incredibly friendly, funny, and, above all else talented writer may have left spectators a great impression, but perhaps the most affected by his visit were students in professor Mark Powell’s Fiction Workshop course, which Parker visited an hour before the reading.

Meeting with the class of aspiring writers, Parker earnestly inspired those to exhibit “enormous stocks of empathy” and to never be discouraged in the face of a publication rejection, citing rejection from between 40-50 publishers before his first novel was published.

With such resilience and spirit displayed through his writing and own personal character, Parker truly left a room full of humans striving to keep at it.

Get your laugh on — for free!

July 1 — Aug. 10, 2016 Tentative Schedule Period 1 FINA 311 Business Finance EDUC 374J-JS Educational Systems Around the World POLI 390 Political Parties and Elections in Europe & the U.S. Period 2 STAT 301Q Business Statistics MKTG 315 The Marketplace & Consumers BADM 360J-JS Social Justice and the Bottom Line INTL 450 International Entrepreneurship 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

Innsbruck Information Meeting Tues., Oct. 20th at 6:00 in LBC 108

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

Reporter photo/Allegra Henderson

Quite a scene — One of Stetson’s resident improv troops — For Display Only — performing in Allen Hall last month.

The Reporter recently ran a piece about Wednesday night improv in Allen Hall, and now there’s even more about it to love: From this week forward, regular Wednesday improv shows will be free of charge. If you need a laugh and a break from hump-day woes, head to Allen Hall Wednesday nights at 9 p.m.

October 22, 2015 5

A&E

Student-curated playlist

Weekend in Paris Caroline Williams Copy Editor Over summer break, I stayed in London with some family friends.

While there, I was fortunate enough to meet up with one of my best friends for a weekend in Paris. It was an absolutely beautiful trip, and I constantly wish I could go back. We rented a small apartment via Airbnb in Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, and toured all of the famous sites, including one of Hemingway’s favorite cafés. During that time, I compiled a little playlist to commemorate our trip.

1.“Sympathique” by Pink Martini This one is a light happy tune that easily gets stuck in your head.

It’s the kind of song that plays in the background as you walk along the Seine in the mid-afternoon, simply enjoying the breeze and the little souvenir stands along the way.

2.“La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf One of the most famous songs from one of the most famous French singers. A playlist about Paris would be incomplete with Edith Piaf.

3.“Tous les mêmes” by Stromae During my stay in London, my host family also had foreign exchange students stay with them. Several of them were French, and they got me hooked on this artist. This particular song has a vintage, jazzy undertone to an otherwise more electronic song, and it’s perfect walking tempo. When using the metro in Paris, this was usually my song of choice as I walked from platform to platform.

EVENTS THIS WEEK Thursday, October 22 Powwow Florence Avenue Field (behind the WORLD building) 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

This event also takes place on Friday Oct. 3, same location and times

4.“Sacred Heart” by The Civil Wars With a doleful, lullaby-esque sound to it, this song was perfect for the opening the windows at the end of the day and listening to the rain fall on the roof as we read or finished homework.

ly, so I wouldn’t recommend it for studying — maybe for a study break.

3rd Annual First Pitch Competition Rinker Auditorium

8.“Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy Also a classic song by a French composer. It is beautiful, it is romantic, and it is perfect for Paris.

Uncouth Hour Nightlites 9-10:30 p.m.

5.“Opus 23” by Dustin O’Halloran This is a beautiful, light, simple, soft piano composition from the Marie Antoinette film directed by Sofia Coppola in 2006. Much like “Sacred Heart,” it’s a soft song for a relaxing evening.

9.“Gymnopédie no. 1” by Erik Satie Same as number eight. It is a soft, gorgeous romantic piece. It’s for when you and your significant other walk around the Eiffel Tower in dusk, or wander the empty halls of Versailles in the evening (I totally wish that was allowed but it’s not — plus Versailles is always crowded).

6.“La Foule” by Edith Piaf Again with Edith Piaf. You can never have too much of her on a playlist about Paris. “La foule” is French for “the crowd,” and the song is about a woman lost and swept away in a crowd during a celebration in the city. It’s a lively piece, and makes you feel like twirling about the room.

7.“Le Danseur de Charleston” by Eartha Kitt This one has the traditional Charleston sound, but with a little bit of French flair. It reminds me of something out of Midnight in Paris, a movie starring Owen Wilson, in which he goes back in time and meets all the famous authors of that period. It’s very live-

10.“Aphrodisiac” by Bow Wow Wow This song also made an appearance on the 2006 Marie Antoinette soundtrack (can you tell it’s one of my favorite movies?). It’s different than what I normally listen to, which is to say that it has words and sounds more like something from early 2000’s alternative rock. Either way, it’s fast-paced and catchy, and I listened to it while walking through the creepier stations of the Metro to feel empowered.

11.“Alors On Danse” by Stromae and Kanye West I think everyone knows this song already—it’s usually played at clubs, and a lot of popular songs sample parts of the very beginning. Still, it’s something that you’d hear at a French nightclub. It’s entertaining, catchy, and it makes you want to dance and try to speak French the best you can.

Friday, October 23 Poverty and Homelessness Conference Stetson Room 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sexual assault/harassment, and domestic violence poster campaign Faculty Lounge (inside the CUB) 1:30-4 p.m University Symphony Orchestra Concert Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall 7:30-9 p.m.

Opening night: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Stetson Second Stage Theater (located in the DeLand Museum of Art) 8-10 p.m.

This event also takes place on Saturday Oct. 24, same location and times Sunday, October 25 Brass Ensembles Concert Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall 3-4:30 p.m.

Sunday Dinner: “Denial of Blackness” Cross Cultural Center 9-10:30 a.m.

How to be an Ally Flagler Hall, room 334 7-8 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27 Legends and Lore of Stetson: A Learn Local Series Event Rinker Environmental Learning Center 6-7:30 p.m.

Sounds New VIII: First Glimpse Music by Student Composers Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall 7:30-9 p.m.

Horror Show In front of the Gillespie Musuem 9:30-11 p.m.

Reporter photos/Caroline Williams

6 A&E

Album Review

Sci-fi rockers Coheed & Cambria let their guard down on The Color Before the Sun

Band’s eighth record the first outside of complex conceptual storyline Sam Votaw Arts & Entertainment Editor In the Oct.7 issue of The Reporter, our staff selected a handful of upcoming musical releases that were hotly anticipated both personally and by wider audiences. While some albums are tentatively scheduled to debut near the end of the calendar year, my selection just happened to be a few weeks away, and now it’s finally here.

The Color Before the Sun, the eighth studio release from New York rock band Coheed & Cambria, is a first for the prolific group in that its songs do not follow the long-running conceptual storyline found on previous releases.

Since Coheed’s debut album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, was released in 2002, fans have been captivated by singer-guitarist Claudio Sanchez’s lyrical storytelling of a multifaceted sci-fi saga known as the Amory Wars.

Playing out like a mix between media franchises Game of Thrones and Star Wars in the forms of concept albums, comic book series, and even a full-length novel also written by Sanchez, the Amory Wars as a whole is too complicated to recap in full, although a quick Google search summarizes the story’s plot, which concerns a collection of 78 planets known as

“Heaven's Fence,” held in place by interconnecting beams of energy, known as the Keywork, narrating Coheed Kilgannon and Cambria Kilgannon's demise against Wilhelm Ryan, the Supreme Tri-Mage before focusing on the heroic, vengeful journey of their messianic son, Claudio Kilgannon. Oomph.

The complex narrative has seen its fair share of intergalactic battles, brutal deaths, and longwinded flashbacks set to even more intricate progressive rock stylings across Coheed & Cambria’s previous seven full-lengths, but The Color Before the Sun’s departure from the arc after almost 20 years of being a band doesn’t fully sacrifice the four piece’s musical output.

After granting the music world such anthems as “Welcome Home” (those who have played the Rock Band video game series are sure to remember it) and “A Favor House Atlantic,” longtime fans of Coheed have a plethora of favorite tracks across their back catalogue; even their last three rather underwhelming releases, the double-album The Afterman:

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Ascension/Descension and Year of the Black Rainbow all contain at least two killer tracks for the prog-rock faithful.

The lack of any grand overarching concept on The Color Before the Sun may seem to be a relief for Sanchez, guitarist Travis Stever, drummer Josh Eppard, and bassi s t Zach

Cooper, who for the better part of 13 years have ruthlessly honed their craft as a borderline gimmick

band, but the lack of any mention of interplanetary war unfortunately reveals a directionless band potentially near the twilight of their career.

Album opener “Island” establishes that the band’s former flair for the dramatic has become reserved solely for song intros and outros rather than blanketing a full song. Some channeling of fellow power-pop pals Head Automatica on the chorus is a bright spot, but doesn’t save the marginal first impression.

Such is the tone set throughout the album, whose majority of tracks seems to shine near the beginning and close rather than traditional standard of epic song structures.

Perhaps it's to do with the personal life of Sanchez, who, at 37, married his longtime graphic novel collaborator Chondra Echert, and had a son.

Despite not containing any references to his dearly beloved storyline, Sanchez does succeed in writing music and lyrics that are universally relatable.

Exceptions lie close to the middle of the album, with the trio of devoted love song “Here to Mars,” folk acoustic interlude “Ghost,” and the superbly lay-

ered “Atlas” a touching letter to Sanchez’s young son of the same name concerned with the fears of being absent while on tour.

Such focus on close to heart topics proves that Sanchez is an impactful lyricist, but without the package of a purposeful musical arrangement backing it, the rest of the album in tune fails to make listeners truly care.

Closing out with two tracks clocking in a little over six minutes each, Sun appears to make one final push to reclaim Coheed & Cambria’s heyday of dynamic closers but ultimately falls flat, with the initially menacing, distorted guitar riff of “The Audience” never amounting to much and the sweeping orchestra near the finale of closer “Peace to the Mountain” not fulfilling the intentioned beauty of such.

The Color Before the Sun ultimately is a puzzling release for Coheed & Cambria, whose masterful former releases coinciding with the Amory Wars plotline generated some of modern rock’s indisputable classics and catapulted the group into the same breath as Rush and Pink Floyd.

Normally, an album that deviates from such a complex model as Sanchez’s tale would be seen as a proper introduction for newcomers, but this album would be doing listeners a disservice. I suggest you go back to playing Rock Band and jamming along to “Welcome Home” for starters instead.

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.

Staff Writer

The Reporter is also looking for a writer to add to our talented team.

Candidates must have strong writing ability, with a strong preference to journalistic writing experience. They must be able to be on call throughout the week to cover stories.

Email Editor-in-Chief Sarah Dean (sdean1@stetson.edu) for more information.

October 22, 2015 7

A&E

Small business spotlight

Trilogy Coffee Roasting Co. Coffee a means of storytelling and education at burgeoning storefront

Reporter photos/Nicole Frechette

Sam Votaw Arts & Entertainment Editor Despite its proverbial status as a college town, DeLand seems to be missing a crucial component that many others possess: a Starbucks franchise.

Sure, Stetson’s very own coffee shop may “serve Starbucks coffee,” but anyone can tell you that it falls a little short from the monopoly’s real brand identity. Even more so, the giant chains’ quality isn’t as masterful as some would like to think, with coffee being relegated to a beverage that most students drink just for the sake of staying awake, and not to savor the delectable taste.

Luckily, one homegrown enterprise makes elite coffee its personal mission, reintroducing so-called coffee lovers to what real coffee is supposed to taste like.

Trilogy Coffee Roasting Company, located at 117 W. Howry Ave. in downtown DeLand, is one of the town’s greatest open secrets and an emerging gem in the local economy.

As the brainchild of owner and roaster Clay Cass, Trilogy seeks to and succeeds at roasting some of the world’s finest specialty coffee beans into the most flavorful and masterfully crafted cups one could ever imagine to consume.

Having moved to DeLand with his wife around a decade ago, Cass fell in love with the town’s artisan spirit, with a friend inspiring him to pick up the art of coffee roasting as a simple hobby to serve to friends and family.

It was near the end of 2013 that Cass said he realized he needed “a pretty big change in life,” his growing passion for coffee eventually surmounting into a part time job away from his former occupation for the sheriff’s department as a dispatcher. It was on Valentine’s Day of 2014 that Cass

and his wife first began selling bags of their globally imported coffee beans at the Friday night farmer’s market in Artisan Alley, slowly garnering an eager residential following overtime that resulted in the demand for an in house location inside the halls of the the aesthetically charming Da Vinci Design Studios since May of this year.

The long term set-up allows Cass a space to produce and serve his products to order, a process that is ultimately the most efficient way to garner the best from roasted coffee’s naturally short shelf life.

Equipped with some of the industry’s most innovative pieces of roasting technology after years of persistent research and savings, Cass and his rotating cast of fellow collaborators churn out some of the smoothest and delectable coffee one can find within Central Florida through their hands-on, small-batch roasting.

“You have micro-roasters; I like to call myself a nano-roaster,” says Cass. “Every batch of coffee has an intense amount of attention to detail. I’ve got a laptop that I hook up to my roaster and it has particular software that helps me track all the times and temperatures so I can replicate what I do pretty much every time on a small scale.”

Such an attentive process allows for the maximum level of enjoyment for all types of coffee fanatics, such as espressos, freshly brewed pour overs, and iced to name a few.

“We just try to cater to every particular customer, take

their existing experience and elevate it,” said Cass. “My first goal is just to roast really good coffee. If I can’t make a cup of coffee that I don’t like, then I’m not going to do it.”

Still maintaining a regular presence selling bagged coffee beans at local farmer’s markets and even collaborating on a warmly received coffee porter with the Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company several weeks ago, the roaster-turned-barista Cass’ undying love for the DeLand community and the support given to him drives his devotion in bringing the best coffee possible, either through his shop or aiding newcomers with tips on how to brew in comfort of customers own homes, to the town he and his family call home.

What’s new on Netflix Sarah Dean Editor-in-chief Thanks to streaming services, there’s plenty of creepy and crawly movies and shows to put on during your Halloween party, or just catch up on while lying in bed (and maybe hiding under the covers).

Spooky Edition

er interesting addition from Oct. 16 is the Swedish supernatural fantasy The Circle, which may be about teen witches, but is not your average teen witch flick.

Fun for all ages is a childhood Tim Burton favorite, just in time for halloween: Corpse Bride. And if you want some more creepy fun with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, the

Movies If there’s one thing Netflix is good for, it’s inclusive of all your favorite lessthan-high-budget horror films. One bigger name included this month is yet another Chucky movie, 2013’s Curse of Chucky.

However, lesser-known additions include 2013’s White Rabbit (which isn’t horror but really a thriller; it’s still suspenseful and chilling), and this year’s sci-fi horror flick The Lazarus Effect, which got plenty of hype and has a star-studded cast, but may not exactly meet expectations. Anoth-

live-action 1999 Sleepy Hollow was just added in September.

If you’re looking for a real-life thriller, documentary The Nightmare, which explores the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, may be the pick for And of course, they may not

have been added this month, but there are plenty of classic horror/thriller films to be enjoyed on Netflix, including The Silence of the Lambs, Rosemary’s Baby, and Children of the Corn. Unfortunately and ironically, we lost classics A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist, as well as good ol’ Twilight, on the first of this month. Sorry, Team Edward.

For a more contemporary horror fix, you can check out 2013’s creepy and jump-scare-filled Oculus (which absolutely scared the pants off me and has left me with an ongoing nervousness around mirrors). Or, if you want something gory but still on the funny side, future cult-classics Zombeavers and The Cabin in the Woods are worth a look.

Television you.

TV shows are wear the spook really shines on Netflix this October. New sea-

sons have been added to some of viewer’s creepy faves just in time for Halloween, including season four of American Horror Story, season six of The Vampire Diaries, the third and final season of Netflix original Hemlock Grove, the millionth season (okay, just the tenth — but this show will probably never end for some reason) of Supernatural, and season five of The Walking Dead.

Speaking of zombies: If you’re a zombie-lover (or a fan of unique police procedural-types with a splash of comedy), the first season of new show iZombie may be just what you’re looking for with a surprisingly fresh take on the zombie media trend.

If you’re already up-to-date on all the spooky shows added in October, you can still binge on the classic Twilight Zone, the secretive exploits of crime-fighter-by-day, serial-killer-by-night Dexter Morgan in Dexter, or the dramatic backstory of future Psycho killer Norman Bates in Bates Motel.

8 OPINION

To smoke or not to smoke: Steton’s hookah culture Kelly Doss, Matthew Jordan, & Ashlee Renich-Malek Staff Contributors

On a typical Friday night, college students are active. They are visiting friends they haven’t spoken to during the busy school week, talking with long distance family over the phone, and possibly relieving stress by bingeing a season of their favorite Netflix shows. During these relaxing moments, sometimes a few of these hard-working students come together to purchase some shisha, and spend an hour or two smoking hookah, all the while laughing about whatever ridiculous food the Commons served this week. Some students may not even participate in smoking, but may sit around the circle to indulge in socialization with their peers. The environment is casual and fun, and no one seems aware that the smoke entering their bodies from both firsthand and secondhand smoke is creating long lasting effects on their health. If they are aware, they don’t think it’s a big deal. Hookah culture on college campuses is perceived way more lightly than the medical facts that accompany the toxins helping to socialize a student’s night.

Modern day hookah traces its roots back four centuries ago to ancient Persia and India. In recent years, it has gained traction in Western nations. Where hookah bars used to be only found in communities with a high proportion of Middle Eastern immigrants, they can now be found throughout the U.S., especially around college campuses. Hookah is a water pipe that is used to smoke tobacco through cooled water; the tobacco is heated in the top, and the smoke is filtered through the water in the base. When the smoker inhales, the smoke from the tobacco passes through the water and into the lungs of the smoker via a hose that is shared among all smokers in the circle. The tobacco smoked in a hookah is known as shisha, and it differs from the tobacco found in cigarettes in that it is sweetened, including flavors like apple, strawberry, kiwi, and mint. Hookah is attractive to college students due to its relative inexpensiveness and perceived safety along with the social setting that comes

with a hookah circle.

On Stetson University’s campus, there are three main groups of opinions on hookah. There are people who think hookah is great and smoke hookah almost every day, people who say hookah is unhealthy but do it anyways for the social aspect of it, and people who say it is unhealthy and do not do it themselves, but do not hold it against those who do. The latter two groups are far larger than the first, but are less vocal about their opinion. For example, one freshman student identified as “Sam” said “I love hookah! I think it’s a great relaxant,” while a current sophomore had a different opinion and stated “I really look up to family values and I know my dad disapproves of hookah, so I try to avoid it.” The overall vibe from students seems about the presence of hookah, whether it be themselves smoking or close friends. If one doesn’t partake in hookah oneself, almost everyone knows someone who does.

Students often have defended their hookah use by saying, “at least it’s not cigarettes,” which have a really bad stigma due to strict laws and correlational studies between usage and diseases such as cancers. Some students believe that hookah is significantly less harmful because the water is meant to filter out the toxins. According to the Huffington Post, this assumption is incorrect and “just one evening of hookah smoking could make nicotine urine levels spike by more than 70 times, and also result in the increase of cancer-causing agents, according to the study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.” Tar and nicotine still come with the hookah smoke and the charcoal used to burn it also allows students to inhale carbon monoxide. The American Lung Association stated that one session of smoking hookah could lead to inhaling as much smoke as 100 cigarettes.

Students who don’t personally smoke, but “don’t mind” others who do are also in danger since secondhand hookah smoke has similar effects as secondhand cigarette smoke. The frequency and casual attitude of hookah on campus is a lot more medically daunting than many students take it to be. Though every person can make his or her own decisions, we urge Stetson students to take into account the medical facts when making decisions about hookah use.

Dare to be significantly better Stetson’s tobacco investments Dr. Robert Sitler Faculty Contributor Editorial note: This piece is the third in a series of articles from Dr. Sitler, the Director of the Latin American Studies Program and a faculty member in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. He was also formerly the leader of the Values Commitment Steering Team.

Stetson University has a strong tradition of values-inspired education. While fully recognizing the university’s considerable accomplishments in the realm of its values commitments, this column aims to highlight areas for potential improvement.

This piece concerns Stetson’s tobacco investment policy. The Reporter always welcomes faculty submissions to the opinion section. Please send any submissions to kfulton@stetson.edu Those who know me might be surprised to learn that, until recently, I had been helping to finance a worldwide increase in lung cancer deaths. I did so through my Stetson-sponsored retirement account, which invested in tobacco companies that spend tens of billions of dollars in advertising to spread nicotine addiction, particularly in the expanding markets of south Asia.

In the U.S. alone, nicotine “pushers” spend more than $9 billion annually on tobacco promotions. As a result, if current trends continue, it is estimated that approximately one billion people around the planet will perish from tobacco use during the 21st century. Not wanting to support this mass slaughter, I recently removed all tobacco investments from my TIAA-CREF retirement account and now sleep more peacefully knowing that my savings are not being used to intensify human suffering. The university cannot stop its employees from supporting tobacco-dealing corporations, but the time has come to divest itself from the tobacco stocks in its endowment portfolio.

In keeping with its values commitments, Stetson became a tobacco-free campus just last year, following the lead of most colleges and universities around the nation. Late last fall, Stetson took this commitment one step further by pledging to exclude tobacco stocks from the endowment investments that the university directly controls, a praiseworthy change that was announced by President Libby at this year’s Convocation ceremony. In the words of award-winning Stetson CFO (and all-around great guy) Bob Huth, “By

choosing to restrict investment of certain university funds, we are putting our values into action, which is an important component to the full Stetson experience.”

While sincerely applauding this important shift in investment policy, it must also be pointed out that Stetson still profits from tobacco sales elsewhere, specifically through investments in Vanguard’s Institutional Index Fund, which has holdings of totaling nearly $3 billion in three tobacco giants: Phillip Morris International, the Altria Group and Reynolds American. Our profits from these securities, at the direct expense of smoking addicts around the world, cannot be justified in the context of our values-driven institution.

Fortunately, Vanguard offers an equally profitable investment tool called the FTSE Social Index Fund which does not include tobacco stocks. In fact, according to Vanguard’s website, the Social Index Fund outperformed our current Institutional Index Fund this past year, over the past three years, and over the past five years; and it is outperforming our existing investment fund thus far in 2015 in a highly volatile market. This record of outperformance stands up even when one figures in the Social Index’s higher expense ratio.

So why not simply make the change in funds, stop profiting from death, and make more money for our endowment? The answer is that prudent investors typically like to see a decade-long trend before making such a change and our current investments have outperformed the Social Index by slightly more than ½ of a percentage point over the past 10 years. Even so, given the extraordinary danger and unique nature of tobacco addiction, plus Stetson’s genuine commitments to issues of social responsibility, might we not consider a slightly bolder approach?

The overwhelming majority of colleges and universities in the nation continue to invest their endowments in tobacco just like we do. However, there are notable exceptions such as Harvard University, Stanford, Notre Dame and the University of California. If Stetson divested from tobacco, we would align ourselves with these renowned institutions and move beyond an apparently hypocritical policy of banning tobacco use on our campuses while simultaneously profiting from its sale and ignoring its devastating worldwide consequences. The Investment Committee of Stetson’s Board of Trustees is the only entity that can make this shift. I trust that they will dare to be significantly better.

Is vulnerability an illusion?

Kait Forsythe Staff Contributor

It is pretty clear to me that as an evolving demographic of young, American college students our colloquial understanding of vulnerability is not cohesive. Google defines vulnerability as “susceptible to emotional or physical attack or harm.” More importantly than the definition­what is the function of vulnerability in our lives?

Some friends of mine associate vulnerability with weakness, while others say it may be closer to a “willingness to be tender.” Where is the gray area here?

These varied perspectives reflect different trains of thought in psychological and spiritual trends. In the West, we have the Brene Brown's of the world leading the pack in embracing vulnerability and analyzing its relationship to shame, fear, and guilt.

Conversely, in many Eastern philo-

sophical traditions, vulnerability is a part of “the illusion of the Self.” Is this hippy bullshit or could the other hemisphere be onto something?

What if we took the notion of the East and threw out the idea of vulnerability completely?

I like what American spiritual teacher Ram Dass says about it in Episode 30 of his podcast series, Risk Being Human.

“In truth, you are not vulnerable at all. Who you think you are is vulnerable.” ​This quote blew me away the first time I read it. It didn’t take much more for me to be satisfied with this idea. I accepted it. Things just clicked. He implies that we assign terms like “vulnerable” or “sensitive” to ourselves as if they are apart of our identity, as if they are as definitive characteristics as “tall,” “brunette,” or “Hispanic.”

“We write a script for ourselves,” says my friend that studies psychology.

Writing a script where we are the weak character seems limiting, no? In the

movie of my life, do I end up being the damsel in distress? The person whom you have created through embellishments of character traits and personality is not who you are in essence.

This may be too yogic a thought for a contemporary, collegiate newspaper, but what I infer from the Ram Dass’ quote is that we are infinitely more than our drama. We are more than the titles we assign to ourselves. As a result of this liberating recognition, we become less fixated on personalities. We are more than the “stuff of the universe” that slows us down on our paths to peace.

We are not vulnerable because we are not infinitely harnessing control over something. That would be useless.

There is no space in which we have control, only a healthy maintenance of the illusion of control. Therefore, we are not infinitely susceptible to the lack of overcoming something.

Spiritual teacher Robert Adams summarizes this idea well: “The truth is, you

have nothing to overcome. If you had something to overcome you would never overcome it, for it is the nature of mind to play games with you. It never ends until you begin to realize the ‘I’ has nothing to overcome.”

In his book Journey of Awakening: A Meditator’s Guidebook, Ram Dass talks about why we use the illusion of identity as a crutch in our social interactions.

It’s comfortable, it’s convenient, and it’s familiar! Who doesn’t want that? He discusses the “ego” as a prison, a room that we retreat in order to feel safe if attacked or susceptible to an attack. If I label myself and decide who I am before anyone else gets the chance to, then that means I am in control and I can avoid suffering, according to the ego. The unraveling of the ego has been my most powerful discovery to date.

Dear Reader, what would you accomplish if you chose to look at vulnerability as merely a thought system in which you do not have to participate?

October 22, 2015 9

OPINION

At your fingertips How a built-in app changed a news junkie’s life

Water crises and conservation

Living up to Stetson’s values Sarah Coffey, Stephanie Kidd, & Todd Akin Staff Contributors

“…

But it rains all the time in Florida.”

Reporter photo/Sarah Dean

Sarah Dean Editor-in-Chief The iPhone’s built in apps are a pain in the ass.

My phone is constantly telling me I’m out of storage, and all I can do is sit there and grumble “Well I did not ask for Apple Books, or Stocks, or Health, thank you very much.”

However, there is one exception to this unfavorable opinion: the new built-in News app. For awhile, I ignored it, thinking it would be like the old Newsstand app (which was essentially just a collection of paid-for digital subscriptions to magazines and major papers like the New York Times, which — as someone who doesn’t like paying for things — I never touched), but when I was sitting around twiddling my thumbs between classes I finally decided to check out.

Am I ever glad I did that. The News app is not only the best thing Apple has built into their phones; it is now my favorite app. It seamlessly caters to your every news need, whether you’re interested in politics, finance, health, or just like checking up on the latest celebrity scandals and TV spoilers. The best part is, you can have all of those — and more — in one app! For free! In my opinion, this definitely warrants the amount of exclamation points I have used.

As someone who is a news addict but is also a great lover of traditional newspapers, it is usually quite hard to get me to buy into any sort of online news source that I am completely monogamous with.

Even with physical papers and publications, I read several — from the aforementioned Times to Time magazine. Part of being an informed citizen is getting

your news from several different sources; this provides a better way to paint a whole picture of a story or situation. However, the News app allows this variety — but all in one place. It has nearly every major news outlet, and caters your news feed by both your favorite sources and your general interests, and it takes less than a minute to set up. After just one day of using it, I deleted all my other individual news apps (besides NPR — to me in its audio format it’s irreplaceable), because those publications just showed up inside the built-in one, and why waste precious GB? Last semester I wrote a piece for The Reporter entitled “Stuck between the paper and the screen,” which detailed my personal struggle between my love of traditional print media and the ever-evolving world of online journalism, and I realized then (and am realizing again now) that as a media consumer, you are allowed to like both.

After working for two papers and still consuming most of my news electronically, I realized that these two mediums are not necessarily in competition — they are simply two different animals.

With the integration of easy-to-use (and now literally built right into your smartphone free of charge) news apps, the speed and accessibility of online news continues to excite me. However, there is nothing like picking up a physical paper and feeling the ink on your hands, or reading a magazine and getting that great whiff of paper smell mixed with a Calvin Klein fragrance sample. It’s just like loving chocolate and vanilla, or cats and dogs: They’re wonderful for different reasons. Having both at my fingertips makes my media consumption — and frankly, my whole picture of the world — a lot more complete.

Many United States citizens—and even Floridians—are under the impression that a state that downpours as much as Florida could not possibly be facing a water crisis. We often forget that we have built our lives on top of porous limestone similar to the consistency of Swiss cheese.

This unique geology allows for water filtration and purification via a freshwater aquifer. In this system, water flows through recharge zones and takes many years to return to the surface through cracks in the limestone, forming the beautiful spring systems with which we are all familiar. And while it rains, on average, 50 inches a year in Florida, only 13 of these inches reach the aquifer due to evaporation and runoff into surface water. For millions of years, the natural pace of the water cycle was enough to maintain the biodiversity of this magnificent peninsula.

In the last century, however, we have been pumping out of our aquifer at an unsustainable rate. For every centimeter of freshwater pumped out, nearly 40 centimeters more of saltwater comes in—a phenomenon commonly known as saltwater intrusion. Cities along the coast, such as Daytona Beach, must continue to dig their wells further and further inland to avoid pumping saltwater. Yet despite this trend, we continue to irrigate our agricultural fields, our golf courses, and even our lawns with ever increasing zeal.

Here at Stetson, we value environmental responsibility as global citizens and we should be an example for all as individuals who conserve water resources. The Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, headed by Clay Henderson, J.D., embodies this value and will serve “as a leader in Central Florida and the Southeast United States region for education, research, and policy development that will generate innovative technical, social, and political solutions for the current and future challenges of strained freshwater resources and related environmental concerns.” Campus landscapers have already taken strides to cut water usage by using reclaimed water for irrigation and replanting native fauna which require less water less often to thrive.

While all of this is a step in the right direction, we must, as individuals, live our lives in an environmentally-conscious way. Seemingly insignificant details such as taking shorter showers or only washing full loads of clothes can and will have exponential results. Living mindfully not only benefits the planet, but makes us better people. Encourage your friends to stop leaving the water running when they are brushing their teeth or to stop taking forty-five minute showers. If you live off campus, consider alternatives to the typical American “lawn.” Mulch, rocks, and native plant landscapes lessen the demand for irrigation.

Water is used for other processes that many of us have never even pondered. Do you ever think about the amount of water is being used to raise our livestock, to cool our power plants, and to manufacture our iPhones? It has been estimated that between 4,000 and 18,000 gallons of water are used for producing the meat in just one hamburger. Eating less meat is not just a way to decrease your carbon footprint, but also to decrease your impact on the water cycle. The more we learn about water and energy, the more we learn that the two concepts are intrinsically related. If each of us takes this pledge to conserve water and to spread our knowledge about water resources with others, perhaps the future of Florida— and the world—might not be so dire. twitter

@SU_Reporter

10 OPINION

Interaction with the able-bodied Kaley Fulton Opinion Editor I’ve always said that in the event of a zombie apocalypse, I would most likely survive by pretending to be one of the zombies.

With my slow pace, unusual gait, and my hand that naturally curls into a fist, I would fit right in. I might even be able to use my crutch for self-defense. I should clarify that I am not, in fact, a believer in any oncoming zombie apocalypse. However, I strongly believe in the power of humor to discuss important issues.

As a person with cerebral palsy, I’ve received several hilarious questions about my disability from my peers, professors, and community members over the years. I’ve also been asked about how people should interact with people with disabilities, as if all the disabled people in the world held a meeting and elected me as their official spokesperson — and as if all disabilities are the same. These sorts of questions sometimes make me wonder what it would be like if able-bodied people were in the minority. Here is my satirical “guide to interacting with the able bodied.” *** Despite their unusual strength, balance, coordination, and muscle tone, the world is coming to realize that able-bodied people are people too. With patience and some modifications from the disabled community, the able-bodied can thrive. Here are some tips for the first time you interact with an able-bodied person.

The language that one uses

(A satirical guide)

to describe able-bodied people is essential to any successful interaction with them. The able-bodied seem to have a fixation with labels and adjectives, so in addition to asking what their name is, be sure to ask “ what to call them.” Some appropriate terminology to refer to the able bodied includes “neurologically typical” (affectionately shortened to NT), “person without disabilities”, or “non- disabled”. If you are close to the person, you may be able to get away with calling them “normal,” “healthy,” or “fit.” If they find these terms offensive, you can always claim that you have an able-bodied friend, which obviously means that you can use these terms. Regardless of the term you choose, it’s important to describe them in a way that suggests that their abilities will not prevent them from being welcome in the community.

The able-bodied have a limited capacity to understand that there are multiple ways of greeting someone. Most of them will rely on their balance to stand upright and offer a firm handshake as a means of introduction. If this is not your preferred method of introduction, please be patient with them – they don’t know any better. The presence of all four limbs and the lack of assistive devices may come as a shock to you, but try your best not to stare at them. Similarly, in public spaces, try to conceal your confusion at how they are able to run, jump, and use stairs. Staring at an able-bodied person may make then self-conscious. When feeling embarrassed by their abilities, the able-bodied may feel comforted by the presence of people like them. It’s perfectly acceptable to assume that they know all other able-bodied people. Thus, if you suspect that a stranger on the street is

able-bodied, ask your typical friend; they know everything about being able-bodied and can always recognize other non-disabled people.

As much as they are progressing as a group, the able-bodied have certain limitations that people with disabilities must accommodate.

For example, they tend to think only in terms of ambulation and can only evaluate distance in terms of how long it takes one to walk there. Please adjust your directions to cater to this need as terms like “traversing” or “wheeling” may be unfamiliar to them. Due to their increased endurance, it may be necessary to further take a longer route or omit breaks to compensate for this need. If they happened to drive, be prepared to wait for them to find non-accessible parking. Additionally, the able-bodied are used to using entrances with stairs and may not have the patience to walk the additional distance to a curb cut out. Take the extra time to find the staircases in any new building to make them feel comfortable. Furthermore, their lack of familiarity with the medical and special education worlds make it virtually impossible for them to understand terms like AFOs, PT, OT, LRE, and IEP. Be patient and speak slowly if you must when explaining these key terms to them.

Always offer help to the able-bodied when you see them struggling with something.

Due to the absence of hyperextension in their hands, the able-bodied may be unable to zip up their own dresses while wearing them. Disabled individuals, and especially those with cerebral palsy, can assist them to make their lives easier. If they refuse help, offer it again.

It’s important to remember that the able-bodied live very difficult lives, so they need as much help as possible. Their mere existence and attempt to complete any task independently is inspiring and should be acknowledged as such. Feel free to hug a random able-bodied person on the street, offer them your prayers for healing, or acknowledge their inherent suffering by saying, “ You poor thing! I’m so sorry! I don’t think I could ever live like that!” The able-bodied appreciate any recognition of their misery and are not at all offended by personal questions like if or how they have sex.

Sometimes the able-bodied will experience an identity crisis and attempt to make themselves “fit-in” with their disabled peers. Many female able-bodied people have taken this to such extreme measures that they will wear painful and narrow shoes that impact their ability to balance properly. These shoes, often called “high heels” are supposedly quite fashionable, but more importantly, through the foot pain and wobbly gait the shoes create can provide an opportunity for the able-bodied to mimic some of their disabled colleagues. Be kind to the women embracing this unusual practice and to all able-bodied people by remembering that despite their abilities, they have value.

Recognizing the person behind the ability is the key to all interactions with typical people. *** All jokes and satire aside, the lack of awareness and dialogue about disability in society are very problematic. I can generalize my interactions with strangers in two ways.

Sometimes, people see me and

immediately want to help me even when I politely decline assistance or inform me that I’m inspiring. These sorts of responses reveal, to me at least, that able-bodied society doesn’t expect much of people with disabilities. I really don’t see why going through airport security makes me a “brave woman” or how eating lunch with friends is “inspiring.” Alternatively, people become overly cautious around me or avoid interaction altogether out of fear of saying something “wrong” or offensive. Oftentimes, as I walk around, children will stare out of curiosity or try to ask, “what happened” to my legs. I always love questions, but unfortunately parents become embarrassed and will often tell their children not to say anything. This response only furthers the problems around social acceptance of disabilities and reinforces the idea that disability is “taboo” and inherently negative.

Last week, when I got on the bus, three people got up from their seats and repeatedly apologized to me for sitting. They wanted to “respect my needs.” They did nothing wrong, and while it was kind for them to make sure I had a seat, I don’t expect a salute and royal treatment everywhere I go. I will agree though that respect is a vital component of any interaction. To me, part of genuinely respecting a person, disabled or not, is to recognize and validate their identities – including not being afraid to talk about them.

Moreover, one must also recognize one’s own privilege in the situation and how that shapes one’s views and perceptions.

Genuine respect will make interactions on campus and in life much easier, better, and less awkward.

Locked in the Library A student’s tale of ‘robbery night’

Jason Cruz Staff Writer During armed robbery situation near campus on Oct. 14, several students, including myself, were unwittingly trapped inside the duPont-Ball Library thanks to the potential but extremely unlikely threat that the thief ran onto campus with his weapon. For the 40 minutes I was in the building students expressed frustration, hilarity, and rebellious spirits.

I, and several other students after me, were locked inside accidentally. There was no warning for students entering the library

that they would not be allowed to leave. If anyone tried to exit, the librarians on staff at the time told them they could not leave until public safety gave an all clear.

The library was crowded and noisy because of this, making the chances of any work being done slim to none. Many people flowed through the building looking for alternative ways out or some way to pass the time.

Agitation spread amongst students who could not wait to leave the illuminated fortress. Some people asked others about escape routes. One angry group gathered near the exit to warn people still entering, shouting “you’ve walked

into a trap!” several times. The stone-faced staff members held their positions in front of the exit and rebuked the many students who tried to leave. One women even held her hands out in front of a male Hatter moving towards the glass door. Numerous pleas went unheard. Students complained of hunger, boredom, missing appointments, homework they did not have access to, and the sheer frustration of being controlled.

They complained directly to the women in front of the doors until they were blue in the face before moving far away, muttering angrily to themselves.

One person, a university pro-

fessor, actually opened the door before coming back inside. His arm was fully extended, the interior door ajar, one foot in freedom, and he halted when asked to stop. He turned to the woman who spoke and began to debate her with the door still open. As they conversed, the man closed the door in stages. Little by little he drew his arm in until it rested at his side. He clearly disagreed with the procedures, because he stood talking to his captor for another ten minutes. Yet he stopped cold.

The situation ended as quickly as it began. While the professor continued to argue with the librarian, a female student walked

past them and out of the library.

A silent moment followed, and then the exodus began en masse.

Students who had been inching closer to the exit sped off. The welcoming brigade ran with their supplies in hand, too anxious to secure them.

A few yelps of joy broke the silence as students took control of their evening. I packed up my bag and walked towards the doors, hearing the woman who had guarded them yelling “just go, get out then!” with her arm raised in exasperation. Shortly after our exit, Public Safety sent out an all-clear message for the night.

Itching to share your opinion?

Email the at reporterstaff@gmail.com, or Opinion Editor Kaley Fulton at kfulton@stetson.edu

October 22, 2015

SPORTS

11

Mid-season reviews

Football continues to struggle after four consecutive losses Sean McKnight Sports Editor

Photo by Jim Hogue, courtesy of gohatters.com

Playing their best — Junior #95 Matt Mines plays during the Hatters game against the Jacksonville Dolphins on Oct. 10.

At the halfway point of the season, Stetson’s football team sits at 1-5. They have lost the last four straight games and ever since the offensive explosion that was the first game of the season – against Webber – the team has struggled to find its identity on offense.

It has come down to many of the same problems Stetson football has faced in the past, not excelling in the fundamental parts of the game has made it tough for this team to string together plays on offense. The defense, for the most part, does its job, but when the offense has difficulty producing on their side of the ball, it makes being victorious that much harder.

Let’s look at the stats: This season, Stetson’s offense has scored just 15.5 points on averge per game while their opponents have scored an average of 32.5 points per game. With the exception of Mercer, Stetson hasn’t faced too many high powered offenses. It has been their inability to execute on offense which has really held them back. There have been some bright spots on Stetson’s offense: signal caller Ryan Tentler has thrown for 893 yards, which puts him ahead of many in the pioneer league. In the receiving corps, J. Swinton has 268 yards, Darius McGriff has 245 yards with a touchdown, and Chris Crawford has 114 yards with 2 touchdowns. On the ground, Cole Mazza has been in and out with injuries but has averaged 3.7 yards per rush, which is still impressive.

It’s been tough going for this Stetson offense that is still trying to find itself, especially after they lost some key offensive line players last year. If they stick to short yardage, simple plays and just keep grinding it out regardless of who they’re playing, they

will be able to turn it around in this second half of the season.

On the defensive side of things Stetson has been solid, even though they have at times let up big plays which have turned the tide of many matches. Stetson has allowed 32.5 points this season but have only allowed 1162 on the ground and 1396 in the air. These are average numbers expected of any defense and should be no cause for alarm by Stetson fans. As to be expected, All-American Donald Payne leads the defense with 39 solo tackles, 73 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions. Payne’s ability to limit yards after the play has been an important facet of this team’s defensive prowess. However, Payne isn’t the only standout on defense. Linebacker Dylan Wydronkowski has been a standout in the trenches, especially in the run defense. Wydronkowski has 47 total tackles, 6.5 for loss, and has notched one sack. Junior Ryan Powers, along with Payne in the secondary, has stepped up for this team. Powers has 37 total tackles, 1.5 for loss, and an interception on the season.

All in all, Stetson’s defensive hasn’t been smash mouth but is easily capable of shutting down offenses when it has to.

In head coach Roger Hughes’ third year. his young squad is still growing and adapting to the college game. There have been shining spots here and there, but with 5 games left on the season his squad needs to turn up the intensity – much like they had to last year – to make a push in the pioneer league. There is talent on this squad and they have the promise of being successful, but it’s a matter of the team – especially the offense – finding their rhythm in this second half of the year and doing what we all know they are capable of.

Women’s soccer ‘a force to be recokened with’

Huddle up — The women’s soccer team makes a game plan during their game against the Lipscomb Bisons on Oct. 18.

Sean McKnight Sports Editor This women’s soccer team has to be one of the best I have seen in my four years at Stetson. They sit at 9-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the conference, which puts them in third place just one game behind Lipscomb. This team has been firing on all cylinders this year from offense to defense to goalkeeping. Their communication on the field from the veterans to the freshman is top notch and their ability to slice up defenses and score goals is unparalleled.

This team is chock full of talented players who’ve been pushing hard since the early days of the off-season.

This season, Stetson has scored an av-

erage of 2.07 goals per game while their opponents have only scored an average of 1.47 goals per game. Not only is Stetson outscoring its opponents overall, but their goals by period are even more telling. The Lady Hatters have scored 11 goals in the first period and an astounding 19 in the second while having scored one in over time.

This tells me that Stetson has the ability to play a full 90 minutes, even when they’re down a goal or two, and come back to win when it matters most.

What’s even more telling for this squad is that there isn’t one standout player: every single starter on the squad has contributed thus far this season whether it comes to goal scoring, assists, or just strong team play. The most notable players have been

Sarah Collins, Adrianna Suarez, and Riana Metzger. Between these three starters they’ve scored 18 goals, notched seven assists, and have 43 points thus far on the season. These forwards have been a huge force on this squad and what’s even more impressive is that they are all underclassmen, meaning the future looks bright for Stetson soccer. Sophomore Collins leads the team with 22 points, nine goals, and is in the race for Atlantic Sun offensive player of the year.

Goalkeepers Kahri Smith and Janina Scharnbacher have been stone walls in the net. Smith is the team’s go-to starter and has allowed just 18 goals in 940 minutes this season while Scharnbacher has allowed just four goals in 418 min-

Photo by Jim Hogue, courtesy of gohatters.com

utes. These two have done their job when needed to most and have helped turn the momentum of many matches thanks to their smash mouth play. Scharnbacher’s save percentage is .765 and Smith’s is .710, very respectful for a team that plays at such a high level.

In his third season as head coach, Manoj Khettry has taken this squad from one that was almost always counted out in the A-Sun to a team that has become a force to be reckoned with. This team has found its rhythm early in the season and it seems to me that they’ll be able to keep this momentum going well into the playoffs and hopefully allow them to bring an Atlantic Sun Championship to Stetson for the first time ever.

12 SPORTS

Stetson Bass Fishing shines

On Saturday Oct. 17, Stetson University Club Bass Fishing hosted their first tournament, The Stetson Invitational, at Ed Stone Park.

The event was open to the public and served as a fundraiser event for the club. Some of the clubs sponsors were present including Raytech, Shady Oak Bait Shack, Shady Oak Restaurant, Sea Tow and the Hurley Jeep dealership of DeLand, who brought three jeeps for display and possibly purchase.

The club offered a $500 dollar grand prize, which was taken home by Matt Greenlee and Drew Schmidt, and a $100 prize for the largest fish of the day, which was caught by Kyle Wilson. Though the turnout was small, the club hopes to have more participation during the next tournament, which is currently unscheduled.

— Lauren Davids, News Editor & Bass Fishing Club Secretary

Photos courtesy of Tori Byrd

Something fishy — In the left photo, grand-prize winners Drew Schmidt and Matt Greenelee pose with their winning fish. In the right photo, Bass Fishing Club Vice President Braden Mattingly and Collin Settnick bring in their two bass of the day with a cumulative weight of 4 lbs., 1 oz.

Crew teams captured gold in Chattanooga

Both teams return from race victorious Sean McKnight Sports Editor Just last week, the men and women’s crew teams traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee to compete in the Chattanooga Head Race. Both teams returned to Stetson victorious. The freshman rowers on the men’s team blew away the competition in the Men’s Frosh/Novice 8+ event and finished 38 seconds ahead of the 15 other crews in the race. They completed the 5k course in a time of 16:11 on the Tennessee River.

Head coach Mark Wilson spoke highly of his squad: “The boys rowed a fantastic race and each of them came off the water with heads high but also knowing they can do better. This is a solid group of guys and with more training and working on the rhythm we will get much faster and more controlled, this group has only had a lineup for about 3 days so there is a lot of improvement to achieve.”

Other notable accolades for the men’s squad came in the form of junior rower Andrew Rouse’s 3rd place finish in the open 1x event. The men’s Novice 4+ division – a team that has hardly rowed together – finished third out of 8 teams. Overall, it was a solid outing for a young, determined, and hungry men’s crew team.

The women’s team blew away the competition as they were able to win the Novice Women’s 8+ event and beat some of the region’s best teams.

These women were able to walk away from this event with gold medals around their necks and beat strong teams from the University of Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and Georgia Tech. All were teams much stronger and with much deeper rosters.

The Frosh/Novice 8+ finished 35 seconds ahead of Alabama and well over one minute and 40 seconds ahead of third place Georgia. “Those finish margins

are huge and this is after our boat suffered a broken oar during warm-up,” said Coach Wilson. Another notable finish for the women’s squad was the Novice 4+ team which finished third out of eight boats.

This was an extremely successful day for the crew teams as they were able to overcome a myriad of equipment issues and be wildly successful against some of the best crew teams in the southeast region. If the men and women’s teams can keep this momentum going throughout the season – by continuing to finish in the top three – this squad will see one of the best years in its brief history at Stetson University. They have the talent and the desire to win but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

I think this squad will be extremely successful – under the watchful eye of Coach Wilson – and will be able to compete with teams from every part of the country.

The culmination of hard work A first-person account of a record-breaking moment

Madison Akins Staff Writer

When my senior setter Kayla Weller broke the school’s all-time assist record for volleyball, it caused me to reflect on our relationship as hitter and setter.

Kayla has set me for my entire career at Stetson. My success is intertwined with her ability to perform; yet I tend to receive all the credit.

I do not know how she contributes so much and never complains how it might not get noticed.

The ball that broke the all-time school record was a perfect set right in the middle of the net, and all I had to do was swing. She had run the offense that she called before the play perfectly, despite the fact that she was probably within an inch of running into the net.

Again, because of her ability to perform, I had the attack that everyone cheered for.

Her 46th assist during our first game of the weekend broke the record with 3,333 career assists. On the play that broke a school record from 1996, the only imme-

diate recognition that Kayla received was that I mentioned to her that it was a great set, and perhaps some other teammates saying nice set. She had just achieved something monumental, but it was like nothing amazing had happened. Kayla was just doing her job.

We went 2-0 in our third conference weekend, beating USC Upstate and Kennesaw state both in four sets. Kayla recorded 100 total assists between the two games, while running a completely balanced offense. Evenly involving our outside hitters, middle hitters, and rightside hitters throughout each game was a key to our success. That weekend changed our conference standings drastically, and we could not have done it without Kayla.

She not only had assist after assist, but Kayla also had 11 digs versus Upstate and 10 digs versus Kennesaw. Those last two double-doubles provided Kayla with the 8th double-double of the season. The Atlantic Sun Conference also noticed Kayla’s profound impact

on our team, and awarded her with the Atlantic Sun Co-player of the week honor as well as awarding one of our freshman, Haley Tippett, Atlantic Sun Freshman of the week.

“Having Kayla not only as my setter, but as my teammate, is something I am extremely thankful for,” said Tippett. “She is extremely supportive and is always there when you need her. As a setter, she is always working to get you the set that you need or fixing something she felt was off. I honestly wouldn't have been able to be freshman of the week if it wasn't for Kayla.

She really deserved to break the school record, and I'm so happy I could be a role in it, because Kayla is one of the best setters and teammates I've ever had.”

Kayla has had an immense impact on our program and will continue to do so throughout the rest of this season as we strive advance to the conference tournament. I look forward to seeing Kayla’s assist count to continue to rise as she finishes her career at Stetson.

Snap a great shot at a football game? Is your post-game selfie a winner? Submit your sports photos to The Reporter! Email Sarah Dean at sdean1@stetson.edu for submissions.