the
eporter Vol. CXXII Issue 10
Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.
On-Campus Pub May Return Inside this issue: Stetson Broadcast Productions Plans are going “full speed ahead” for new Stetson media outlet Page 7 Photo courtesy: duPont-Ball Library Archives
“Stetson students hang out in “Cellar Door,” an on-campus pub and hangout which existed from 1967 to 1975 in the basement of what is now the Office of Marketing, or what was then called “The Brick Palace.”
Caroline Williams Staff Writer If all goes well, Stetson may see a campus pub within the next year. In the 1960s-70s, students were able to socialize and drink at a pub, known as the Cellar Door, located in the basement of what is now the Office of University Marketing. Sadly, that area is no longer accessible to the public since it is now being used as university storage space. However, rumors have been circling around that there is a possibility Stetson will revive this tradition on campus in the near future. While this topic has resurfaced many times throughout the years, the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Campus Life and Student Success Department have been communicating about it consistently in the past year. Vice President of Student Affairs, Chris Kandus-Fisher,
Ed.D., expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of such an establishment and has already been discussing it with members of the SGA. “I am willing to pile it in the coffee shop, transform that space into a pub-like setting, and see if students like it and if it’s something we can pull off,” said Fisher. After the CUB undergoes some renovations, the new pub would most likely be where the coffee shop is. By day, it would still act as a coffee shop, but by night it would serve as a pub. “People could transform the counter where the coffee is served into where beer and wine would be served,” Fisher said. “We wouldn’t have to worry about setting up another structure.” The center of campus seems like an odd place for a pub, but Fisher argues the opposite; as a primarily social establishment, he said it makes sense for a pub to be on
the center of campus. It would also be a safe location. “The thing I like about the coffee shop is that it’s contained,” said Fisher. “There are points of entry that we can control for safety reasons, and we can make sure there’s a check in place for people to be carded, just like you would be if you walked into any other establishment.” Public Safety would most likely do the carding, but their other duties regarding the pub are not yet solidified. “Whatever group wants to put this forward will have to work with Public Safety on it and figure out what their presence will be,” Fisher added. “Are they just going to have someone at the door helping with the carding? I think even Chief Matusick would say he doesn’t want to be going in and feeling like a policing agent.” Constructing a pub on campus certainly has its benefits. Many universities are
trying to normalize drinking and take away much of the red tape that causes students to pregame, binge drink, or “drink in hiding,” as Fisher put it. “The more and more restrictions you put on it for those who can drink, the more problems you have. If we can normalize drinking for those who are of age and those who are in a setting that is appropriate, I think we will actually have a better, more educated community around responsible drinking habits,” said Fisher. The pub could also create a closer knit community since students, faculty, and staff would all be free to use the space. All of the big voices have given their approval for the building of a pub: Public Safety, Dining Services, and the Campus Life & Student Success Center. It is up to the student body now to move forward and make it work.
At left: Students play guitar in Cellar Door in 1973. Top right: The stairway and entrance to Cellar Door, circa 1972. Bottom right: “Students drinking in Cellar Door, which had an atmosphere that reflected its basement location. Photos courtesy: duPont-Ball Library archives
Women’s Basketball Thrives A win for the team and Q&A with guard Jama Sharp Page 10
2
NEWS
ATO Chapter Celebrates Organization’s 150th Birthday With CUB Pit Stop By Sam Votaw Managing Editor
Students outside of the Carlton Student Union last Tuesday were likely surprised to see a colorfully painted Jeep Grand Cherokee parked at the curb. Nicknamed “Rich,” the mid-size SUV arrived on Stetson’s campus last week after visiting several ATO chapters/colonies within the United States since August, in celebration of Alpha Tau Omega’s 150th year as a social fraternity. The scene was a fun one for the frat’s 32 brothers. Chapter President Christian Flynn signed the hood of the Jeep before a photo shoot with all of the brothers and Rich. Flynn said that the event, while very brief, was an honor to experience: “This event, although small in scale, was very important to the brotherhood. This was an opportunity to be a small part of the 150th year celebration along with every other chapter and colony in the nation. The brothers were very excited for this chance to be a part of history.”
The celebration was a punctuating moment for the young Stetson frat, which recolonized in 2012 and hopes to become officially chartered later this semester. “We have demonstrated the ability to recruit quality men, change the stereotype of fraternities in terms of risk management and social service, and develop our brothers into known leaders on this campus,” Flynn said. “ATO prides itself on making a difference in the community, and I have no doubt that our progress over the past three years has proven that we are ready to be a chapter at Stetson.” The colony’s future status will depend on a 200 to 400-page petition documenting the colony’s accomplishments over the past three years, which will be submitted for approval by the National Fraternity. Until then, Stetson’s newest frat is relishing its role in a century-and-a-half celebration, as Flynn put it, “based on eternal and immutable principles, with a bond as strong as right itself and as lasting as humanity.”
Did you know...
You can now recycle glass jars on campus? The recycling bin for glass jars is located in the CUB lobby across from the SGA office.
Photos courtesy: Colin Warner
Top: Members of Alpha Tau Omega gather around “Rich,” the fraternity’s official car, which has been traveling to visit different ATO chapters around the nation on its “Rah Ruh Roadtrip.” Bottom: Stetson ATO Chapter President Christian Flynn signs Rich’s hood. Editor-in-Chief Katie Dezes Managing Editor Samuel Votaw News Editor Sarah Dean Sports Editor Sean McKnight Opinion Editor Michael Van Oppen
A & E Editor Garen Freed Layout Design Editor Sarah Dean Layout Designers Colleen Palmateer Ethan Deal Web Editor Michael Galvez
Business Manager Hallie Smith Circulation Manager Jacob Helwig Faculty Advisor Andy Dehnart Staff Advisor John Sheehy
Staff Writers Amber Cox Caroline Williams Staff Photographers Nicole Frechette Shadee Rios Staff Contributors Kaley Fulton Konner Krieger Mimi Shimkovska
Make sure you rinse and dry your jars before you recyle!
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 honesty, transparency, and growth. We are conscious of our influence, holding ourselves accountable to our readers and to our own standards of journalistic integrity.
January 29, 2015
NEWS
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Events This Week: Thursday, January 29
Community Partner/Study Abroad Fair 10 AM - 3 PM, CUB Circle Winter Blood Drive 10 AM- 7 PM, Behind the Stetson Green Original Sin and Civilization’s Violence 7 PM - 8:30 PM, Stetson Room “On the Pretense of Consent” 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM, duPont-Ball Library, 25 L
www.Facebook. com/ StetsonReporter
Friday, January 30 Deliberating About Things That Matter: “Society is Not a Race” 9 AM - 10 AM, Faculty Lounge, CUB Catching Fire 2 PM - 3 PM, Forest of Arden Faculty Recital: Stetson Celebrates the Music of Sydney Hodkinson 7:30 PM - 9 PM, Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall Saturday, January 31
@S
Uncouth Hour 9 PM - 10:30 PM, Nitelites (above the bookstore)
Faculty Recital: Lynn Musco, clarinet; Michael Rickman, piano 7:30 PM - 9 PM, Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall
U_R
Tuesday, February 3
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French Food Night 7 PM - 8:45 PM, Allen Hall
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Wednesday, February 4 Information Session for M. Ed in Elementary Education: Educating for Social Justice 5 PM - 6 PM, Coffee Shop APAC and STAND: Burma Update 7 PM - 8:30 PM, Flagler Hall, Room 334
Public Safety Report Highlight Reel Case # 20150016: On Jan. 15, an incident of Sexual Harassment was reported to Public Safety. Due to the sensitive nature of the incident and the victim, details are confidential at this time. Case # 20150019: On Jan. 15, an incident of Harassment via Social Media was reported to Public Safety. The incident involved one student harassing another on multiple social media platforms. Deland Police are involved in the open case. No other details are available at this time. Case # 20150020: On Jan. 12, a Missing Car was reported to Public Safety. An intoxicated student living in UVA reported he could not find his car. Public Safety located his vehicle in the UVA parking lot. The student later revealed he forgot he let a friend borrow the car. Case # 20150021: On Jan. 16, a Fire Alarm was reported at Emily Hall. The alarm was set off by a student who burnt toast. Case # 20150022: On Jan. 16, a Theft was reported to Public Safety from Nemec Hall. A student laid their phone down outside the hall, left, and found it missing when they returned. No leads have been discovered yet. Case # 20150023: On Jan. 17, a Fire Alarm was reported at Building 1 of the Stetson Cove Apartments. The alarm allegedly stemmed from the steam of a student’s shower. Case # 20150026: On Jan. 18, a Narcotics Policy Violation was reported to Public Safety from Smith Hall. Deland Police arrested a student with multiple bags of marijuana who admitted they were to be sold. The case with DeLand is still open, but the student will face discipline from the Office of Community Standards. Case # 20150029: On Jan.19, a Disturbance was reported to Public Safety from Conrad Hall. The incident involved two students engaged in a physical altercation in the parking lot. Public Safety intervened and both students are subject to discipline from the Office of Community Standards. Case # 20150030: On Jan. 19, a Theft was reported to Public Safety from Gordis Hall. A student reported that they left their boogie board outside after a day at the beach and found it missing the next morning. No leads have been found. Case # 20150033: On Jan. 20, a Traffic Accident on Campus was reported to Public Safety from the corner of University and Woodland. The incident stemmed from a collision between two vehicles driven by students. One student was rounding the corner onto University off of Woodland and collided with the other student, who was backing out. No injuries were reported. Deland Police is handling the case. Case # 20150034: On Jan.20, a Theft was reported to Public Safety. A student reported that their external hard drive was stolen inside the duPont-Ball Library during the first week of November. No serial number was produced. No leads have been found.
4
OPINION
Yik-Yak Yuk? The problem with anonymous online gossip
Just one example of some of the more unsavory Stetson yaks. Kaley Fulton Staff Contributor Social media can be a powerful tool for sharing information, organizing, and creating social change. However, it can also be used to spread rumors and degrade other people. Yik-Yak, the anonymous gossip site, is an example of social media used negatively. One distinguishing characteristic of Yik-Yak is that it is anonymous. While the app’s slogan, “Share your thoughts, keep your privacy,” makes anonymity seem like a benefit (allowing for full freedom of expression without the fear of repercussions), in actuality, anonymity creates several problems, such as the spread of false information. For instance, there was a Yak published the other day saying, “Stetson is going to be a dry campus in two years, fuck the administration.” There has been no announcement of any change to the Stetson alcohol policy. However, the responses to this Yak varied from angry agreement, to claiming that Stetson is already a dry campus, to countering with rumors that the university will soon be getting a pub. Since the author is
anonymous, there is no way for anyone reading the yak to know if their information is credible. In this case, for example, Stetson is neither a completely dry campus nor has the construction of a pub been confirmed yet. The spreading of assumption or false information can lead to people becoming irrationally angry or simply cause confusion, neither of which is good for the Stetson community. Perhaps a larger concern that the anonymity creates is that users have a sense of false courage to publish ridiculous, crass, and even offensive things that they would likely never say if their identity was revealed. Many students have suggested that posting hurtful comments anonymously is cowardly because the authors do not have to take responsibility for saying such awful things. Following the Ferguson walkout on campus last semester, there were Yaks calling the event “an asinine cause,” “the stupidest thing I’ve heard of,” and similar unkind comments. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, degrading other students and their efforts to organize events on campus is uncalled for and can cre-
ate a less-than-welcoming atmosphere on campus. Despite our varied interests and opinions, I hope that we can all agree that college should be an enjoyable time for everyone, and therefore, a welcoming environment is a must. Some of the prerogative comments on Yik-Yak have escalated to the point that they could be considered cyber bullying. Commenting on the body shape of students on campus in a negative way or being so bold as to liken the size of some students to cows, as a series of Yaks did, is incredibly offensive and can be harmful to the emotional well-being of students. Of course, Yik-Yak is not completely horrible either. Some of the Yaks ask genuine questions about borrowing textbooks for class or report lost and found items. Moreover, humor is a vital part of stress relief for students, and an earnest expression of opinion can lead to dialogue and positive change on campus. Yik-Yak does not need to disappear completely to create a positive campus community. I simply ask that we all try to be kind to one another, on Yik-Yak and beyond.
January 29, 2015
5
Resolution Blues I’m not going to lose weight because of the date
Sarah Dean News and Layout Editor According to usa.gov, the most popular New Year’s resolution in America is the completely guessable “I want to lose weight.” All over the news I’ve been seeing that gym memberships are up, but people’s waistlines aren’t coming down. A friend posted a status on Facebook about the regulars complaining that traffic at the school gym at the University of Florida is annoying, but “they’ll all be gone in a couple weeks.” I am still trying to lose weight, and I have been for years, but I did not make this resolution. I have been trying to go to the gym since my first semester at Stetson, and every time people around me make comments like that, I feel sad because I know how hard it is. I’ve heard about and tried almost every weight loss thing on the planet: Green tea extract, raspberry ketones, increasing B12, decreasing everything from sugar to fat to carbs, something called Garcinia Cambogia, several different diets, and every workout from simply walking briskly every day to the Jillian Michaels’ 30-day shred. Not to mention trying every piece of dieting or exercise advice I get or read about online...
“You should eat every couple hours to avoid overeating, and it’s better for your metabolism,” said my boyfriend, who is incredibly (unfairly) physically fit. “You should fast between meals because that’s what’s REALLY best for your metabolism,” said a study I read about in USA Today. “Weight training is more important than cardio,” said my friend and gym partner. “You can literally walk off the weight,” said popular surgeon and TV personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz. “It’s all just calories in and calories out,” said my doctor. I’m not sure he believed his own advice because he also prescribed me weight loss pills. They helped temporarily, but sadly, that’s often the way those things work: temporarily. I don’t blame people who give up on their goals to go to the gym and eat right because it is damn hard, especially when you set such high expectations for yourself. I think the reason a lot of people struggle with this is because part of them expects the pounds to start coming off as soon as their brand-new gym membership is activated, and sadly, that’s not the case. I know from experience that it just doesn’t happen that way, but gosh, do I ever wish it did. To every American who made a weight loss goal this
new year and stuck with it, I applaud you. To the huge amount of us who give up a few times (or a lot of times, or for what feels like forever), or have to keep working extra hard through all the discouraging snide glances at the gym and the discouraging numbers on the scale, I applaud you all as well, because we truly need the most encouragement. Saying “at least you tried” should not be the negative statement people make it out to be. Trying is the first step to succeeding someday, but when you have to change your whole lifestyle, you’re going to fail a couple of times. Or a dozen times. Or a hundred times. And the thing I think people don’t hear enough is that it’s okay. It’s okay to slip up. It’s okay to miss a few days at the gym or eat too much pizza once in awhile. So if you decide not to renew that membership in February, don’t feel guilty. Someday, you will find something that works for you. The most important thing is to be happy, no matter what you weigh or how you think you look. That’s why my only resolution this year is to try to love myself every day. Who knows, a little self-love could make me feel better inside, and then maybe my outsides will follow up. If not, I hope I still love myself next December, washboard abs or not.
Ask the Wiseass Dear WiseAss, What does the fox say? -Foxy at Stetson Dear Foxy at Stetson, I believe I can shed some light on your question, but first, I’d like to address an issue of growing concern for the WiseAss. Since beginning this advice column, I’ve noticed a strong trend toward animal-related questions from our readers. While this is theoretically fine—I am both willing and qualified—I’m beginning to wonder if our readership believes it is all I am fit to answer. Be assured, this is not so. Although born a barnyard animal, I am capable of handling a wide array of human troubles. Your dorm mate driving you crazy? I audited not one, but two psychology courses! Trouble with your classes? I got a degree from Columbia (with luck, I’ll have one from the U.S. soon, too!). Having trouble landing
the perfect date? Well, I’ve taken more than my share of jennies to the hay, and I know my way around a carrot, if you know what I mean. In other words, give me something juicy to chew on. Now, to get back to your question, Foxy! There is much debate in regards to the topic of an average North American fox’s linguistic talents. Experts generally fall into only a few camps, with occasional sub and fringe camps based on phonetic variations believed to be largely regional in origin. For instance, the Eastern American Red Fox (Vulpes fulves) is known for singing, “Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding,” while its Southern cousin, the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) speaks with more of a drawl, saying, “Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding.” Notice the subtle difference. This is thought to be the
result of Southern recreational habits such as coon hunting, chewing tobacco, and sweet tea. While the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) is shy and moderately independent, known only for occasionally muttering, “Wa-pa-pa-pa-papa-pow,” the Kit Foxes of America’s Southwest (Vulpes macrotis) are staunch Republicans, often heard yelling “Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffotchoff!” in picket lines outside of democratic national conventions. I hope that answers your question. And in case you were wondering, The WiseAss goes “derp.”
—WiseAss
6 A&E
Artist Spotlight: Tony Pizzo
Each issue, the “Artist Spotlight” will acknowledge a student artist and their creative contributions to the Stetson community and beyond By Sarah Dean News and Layout Editor Digital art has never been so tangible. Sophomore Tony Pizzo has been creating a very modern form of art the last few weeks: 3D printed figurines and objects that have become increasingly complex and, frankly, fun to look at. Pizzo's favorite thing to print is Pokemon figurines. The printing started after a friend of Pizzo's showed him the printers in the duPont-Ball Library and taught him the basics of using them. Although his artistic focus has been on audio in the past, he quickly became hooked on 3D modeling. Looking to practice, Pizzo found a community of 3D modelers who uploaded their designs online for anyone to use for free. "They [the Pokemon] started as practice runs," Pizzo
admitted. "I wanted to learn to print basic utilities and items, but first I had to get used to using the printers." However, Pizzo's test subjects turned out much better than expected. Soon, friends were asking him to create different characters left and right. Unfortunately, the printing process is not easy. "You have to do a lot of calibration with the printers, and certain colors will malfunction sometimes. But eventually, it will work," Pizzo laughed. "There's a LOT of trial-and-error. Everything I've made has caused printer failure at least once." Pizzo has succeeded in printing four Pokemon, including the larger-sized Geodude, which took ten failed attempts and extra plastic molding to come into the world. It is the piece he is the most proud of so far. 3D printing is more than
just an art medium. Over the past few years, it has become a very useful tool in the worlds of medicine and architecture. 3D printers can make a cute-looking Pikachu, but they can also print models of proposed buildings, and even artificial organs. Besides Pokemon, Pizzo has designed and printed one Minecraft figure (with a moveable head) and an iPad stand for his roommate. Pizzo hopes to make more functional items, such as keychains and bottle openers, but does not plan to stop making Pokemon. Although he will continue to focus on all aspects of digital arts, especially audio, he is definitely enjoying the artistic outlet that 3D printing has provided. "I can make a poster in Photoshop or make a song on the computer, but with this, I can make a real thing." Pizzo said. "It's real! You can hold it! It's art." Top: Tony Pizzo poses with his favorite 3D printed creation. Bottom: Some of Pizzo’s printed masterpieces. There is a small team of Pokemon, including green Bulbasaur, yellow Pikachu, a blue Totodile, and a gray Geodude, along with a green character from the game Minecraft, which has a head that can swivel 360 degrees. Photo credits: Sarah Dean
Album Review
Fall Out Boy’s Latest Album is a Beauty The band’s sixth album revels in both pleasure and mania Alissa Pagano Staff Contributor I can’t lie; I’m a bit of fanatic when it comes to this band. Fall Out Boy’s music was the soundtrack to my teen years before I even understood half the lyrics. It blows my mind to consider that when their first album Take This to Your Grave was released, they were about the same age as most of us are now, and we were little baby teens with bad haircuts. Now we’re adults in college and they’re fathers in their thirties. We
grew up together. And this certainly is a record showcasing growth. American Beauty/ American Psycho, released Jan. 20, is a hybridization of electro pop and classic rock. There’s plenty of bright synth noises and repetitive lyrics, as well as some darker undertones—offbeat bass progression, heavy layers of driving drums, and erratic guitar riffs. The result will have your body parts bopping along to the music and facing an irrepressible urge to climb on pieces of furniture
and launch a low-key revolution. It’s high-energy and high-stakes. The album opens with “Irresistible” and is followed by the eponymous “American Beauty/American Psycho,” which inspired the record. While both are aggressive in different ways, the latter is also decidedly bouncy and fun, which seems to be the tone of the entire album. That gap—or balance, rather—comes up again in the pleasantly chaotic “Uma Thurman” and the gravelly, slightly threatening “Novo-
caine.” Like any album worth its salt, there are the songs interspersed throughout that aren’t necessarily “slow” or “soft,” but pull at your heartstrings in a sappy pop-punk kind of way; they provide just enough reprieve not to be overwhelmed by the forcefulness of “American Beauty/American Psycho,” without letting up on the gas or sounding boring in comparison. The album closes on a track called “Twin Skeletons (Hotel In NYC),” which tells us
over and over to hold on, and leaves us with a haunting choral, a cappella sound. In the end, American Beauty/American Psycho is a little reminiscent of classic Fall Out Boy. The songs are annoyingly catchy, and the lyrics can catch you off guard at unexpected times; you will rewind and listen
again thinking, “There is no way I could have heard that right.” It’s a good time wrapped up into 40 minutes, which offers enough variety to appease a lot of different musical tastes. So, try the free samples. I give it a solid A- , or 4.5 out of 5 stars.
January 29, 2015 7
A&E
Stetson Broadcast Productions is going ‘Full Speed Ahead’ Director Kevon Wilson catches us up Amber Cox Staff Writer Since the debut of Stetson Broadcast Productions this past November, plans for the new media platform, according to Stetson’s broadcasting director Kevon Wilson, are “full speed ahead.” Not only will the media Stetson that outputs increase; it will also change who is in control of outputting that media. “Stetson University actually has an opportunity where students, faculty, staff, and administration can tell Stetson’s side of the story—a new side of the story we haven’t seen before,” Wilson added. When Stetson Broadcast Productions was first introduced, Wilson’s main objective was getting The Roger Hughes Show, a program providing commentary on Stetson athletics, off the ground. The show is named after Stetson University’s head football coach and former head football coach for Princeton University. The show recently finished it’s inaugural season. “We’ve had ten episodes of The Roger Hughes Show air on Brighthouse Sports Network every Wednesday night and reaired every Friday night,” Wilson said. “The Roger Hughes Show covers 1.6 million households on this side of Florida.” Broadcasting the football team transitioned into the start of the basketball season. “All of our men’s and women’s basketball home games have been aired on Watch ESPN and ESPN3,” Wilson added. This is particularly exciting for Stetson fans or Stetson alumni who cannot attend the games. However, for those folks who are not sports fans, do not be fooled into thinking Stetson Broadcast Productions is not for you. Wilson has plans to expand the platform. “We had to get the foundation first,” Wilson said. “Now we’re going to start building out to this campus and the other campuses, as well as outside of athletics.” Although plans for expansion are still in the works, Stetson Broadcast Productions has already made efforts to impact the campus. “Outside of athletics, even though we do a ton of features for student athletes and the coaches, we’re also doing the same on the academia side for students.” According to Wilson, efforts include events such as The Late Night Breakfast, “where
students have the opportunity to interview students and faculty” and the Breaking Borders initiative, “where the main focus is to eliminate the invisible wall between administration, faculty, staff, students, and future students.” Currently, Stetson Broadcast Productions is also in a partnership with the School of Music to help broadcast and stream performances. Wilson also hopes to partner with student organizations. “I plan to talk with Hatter Productions and get more involved in the student government side of things, as well as the student media processes, and helping to advance those,” Wilson said. One question Wilson has been asking himself is: “How can we garner more interest in Stetson University?” “At this time, Stetson is in a position on YouTube where a lot of the videos aren’t really catered to the youth movement—to students who are making the decision on what college they want to go to,” Wilson said. “The students are the life line, the blood of Stetson University,” Wilson adds. “What better way to get that blood flowing then by starting out before they make their decision?” One of the best parts about Stetson Broadcast Productions is the variety of possibilities it holds for students Wilson and Brian Vandell, the technical director/ engineer train and give students the opportunity to gain “hands-on, immediate access and experience.” For the Roger Hughes Show, students have done a little of everything, from shooting highlights and creating graphics to running the replay system and setting up microphones. “We’re not micro-managing this. We’re giving you tools, we’re giving you opportunities, and then you have the chance to tell that story in your way,” Wilson added. The student involvement has been in place and has been a priority since the production platform’s debut, and Wilson said he was quite impressed with the students he has come into contact with. When asked what’s behind his driving force, Wilson wanted to close with this: “I’m here for the students. If there is any interest or if you have a creative itch, reach out to me and be a part of this great movement for the university.”
Photo credit: Nicole Frechette
Brian Vandell, left, and Kevon Wilson, right, are the men behind the ESPN3 broadcast for the men’s and women’s home basketball games this season.
Tired of Valentine’s Day? Try Galentine’s Day this year by Caroline Williams Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is a holiday met with mixed emotions. Some people dread it, some are enthusiastic, and some are utterly indifferent. For single people, it can be especially frustrating as couples everywhere show their love in mushy, over-the-top ways. Sitting alone in your underwear, eating cereal out of a cup, and watching cat videos on the internet seems like a sad way to spend Valentine’s Day when other people are out on dates and showering each other with gifts and affection. However, Valentine’s Day doesn’t always have to be so gloomy for singles. To combat your misery, why not throw a Galentine’s Day party in the style of Leslie Knope? Galentine’s Day, is the day before Valentine’s Day, which has just as important of a message: celebrating the love of your favorite female pals. “Galentine’s Day is only the best day of the year,” says Knope in season 2, episode 16 of Parks and Recreation. “February 14, Valentine’s Day, is about romance. But February 13, Galentine’s day, is about celebrating lady friends. It should be a national holiday.” In order to throw a perfect Galentine’s Day get-together, follow these simple steps.
1. Gather your best lady friends. 2. Plan a menu (preferably breakfast food—why in the world would anyone eat anything other than that?) 3. Decorate your space accordingly. Whether you have it at your house or the break room at work, make sure your guests are charmed. 4. Once you have your guest list, craft/purchase a special gift (not too elaborate) to let each friend know how special they are. 5. Create a playlist or mixed CD to play in the background. The songs should celebrate friendship and/girl power. 6. Have some fun conversation topics or little party games to entertain your guests. 7. Take plenty of photos! 8.Make a scrapbook, highlighting the best moments of Galentine’s Day. Present that to your lady friends when you’re finished. Remember, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be exclusive to your significant other. Take time to remember the friendships in your life as well.
8 A&E
Looking Forward
What You Can Expect From Uncouth Hour and Touchstone
A Q&A with Uncouth host and Touchstone editor Kyo-Nicole Padgett ple who come sing and play guitar/piano/cello/etc., and it gives a whole different feel to the night. I think people feel like it’s a lighter atmosphere, and it’s easier to take the step onto the stage. Also, myself along with Bianca Hernandez and Savannah Kater [associate editors of Touchstone and co-hosts of Uncouth Hour]—maybe really just myself, make a fool out of ourselves on stage, so it’s not as intimidating for others. We wanted a more casual feel to the night, and hopefully that’s what we’ve come close to. Q: What can people expect from Uncouth Hour this Spring? Any new ideas or upcoming special events?
Photo credit: Katie Dezes
Joey Hempfling performs “Pretty Girl at the Airport” by The Avett Brothers during Uncouth Hour In the following Q&A, junior Kyo-Nicole Padgett, editor of Touchstone Magazine, and host of Uncouth Hour, discusses how the two Stetson organizations have changed over the past couple years and expresses her hopes for the future.
Katie Dezes Editor-in-Chief Q: For those who don’t know, what exactly is Uncouth Hour and Touchstone? A: Touchstoneis the campus arts journal. Really that’s just a fancy way of saying it’s a magazine of student work curated by the editors and a selection committee which is published annually. Uncouth Hour is an extension of that. It’s a weekly event open to everyone where students and people from the community come to socialize and share the pieces—stories, songs, photos, videos— they’ve been working on and producing, as well as things that inspire them.
Q: In recent years, there has been an effort to make Uncouth Hour appear open to much more than just poetry (hence the name change from “Poetry at an Uncouth Hour” to “Uncouth Hour” last year). Why was this change made and how is it beneficial?
Q: I’ve seen a major transformation in Uncouth Hour under your leadership. There is a greater variety of creative work, more participation, and bigger turnouts. Besides being the magical person that you are, how did you manage that? What did you do to get people more interested and engaged?
A: The change was made to liven Uncouth Hour up a little bit and break from the tendency of it becoming, over the course of the year, a small group that’s intimidating to try to break into. It’s supposed to be a fun place to share your artwork—be it writing or whatever—with other people and get feedback, but the title “Poetry at an Uncouth Hour” gave the impression that just writing was welcome. We wanted more variety so the lineup each night was always a little different and always held everyone’s’ attention, and most importantly, excited people and gave a little oomph pick-me-up to their week.
A: I’d really love to take credit for this, but the groundwork was laid last year by Jean Juliano and Annie Moore [previous editors of Touchstone and hosts of Uncouth Hour] when they changed the seating layout to a more open stage, or open mic set-up, rather than an intimate editing/sharing group. It’s still got the feeling of a safe enthusiastic environment, but I think it’s more accessible for new people. On the same note, we don’t just have new people, but also a lot of new types of talent. Uncouth has always welcomed every art form, but now we’re really encouraging it, and the word gets around. In past years, it was hard to get anyone but writer’s interested. Now we have peo-
A: Lots of ideas! Lots of events! Lots of promoting for the book [Touchstone] because the next issue will be put in motion shortly. The annual release party will happen towards the end of the year. I’m talking with another club on campus [Music Minds] about possibly having a student musician concert in the next couple months, as well as working with Hatter Radio for broadcasting a night of Uncouth. We’re also planning an event called AMP with Green Hat Media. Around April 1st, we’ll have the Edible Book Fest again with hopefully lots of cool and gorgeous literary themed food. We want to host a couple Uncouth Hours outside, something in the dorms— really just try to spread out a little over campus. We’re also working on getting a workshop series off the ground that gives students access to the basics of art forms they might not have time to take a full semester intro class on. Q: What are your long-term goals for Uncouth Hour? What is your vision for it down the road...say, in 5 years or so? A: I’d love for Uncouth Hour to become more of a social thing for the community around DeLand, and even reach out to and work with other schools around here—
other groups interested in the arts, museums, local artisans, everything out there. I’d love to see it be a place to make connections and still retain that low-key, laid-back, fun atmosphere. Q: Questions two and three could also apply to Touchstone as well. What are your expectations for the publication this year? What do you hope to see it become in the future? A: I’m obviously biased, but last year’s edition is gorgeous—all of the writing is strong and compelling; the artworks are visually stunning; and the videos and audio are interesting and high quality. I can praise it until I’m blue in the face, and it won’t mean much unless you’re really looking at a copy, but it’s a great product that’s not normally expected from an undergrad program. It’s something we as a student body should be proud of because it’s produced and put together entirely by students (short of the printing). So, I expect that caliber of work to continue and the book to grow further, and hopefully, in the process, reach more people and steal the attention of more students on campus. As far as future hopes, I’d adore seeing it gain a little more recognition nationwide. Obviously, I don’t expect it to rise up to the level or The Sun or The Paris Review, but I’d like the magazine to be a source of envy for other universities—to taunt them a little by showing off how talented our students are. Q: Can you tell us a little about the history of these two organizations? How did Uncouth Hour and Touchstone become connected and how they are linked today? A: I know in the past Touchstone has been run by the editor, and Uncouth has been overseen by the editor, but run by the assistant editor. We’ve veered away from that a little this year. When I was chosen for the position, I split the assistant editor position in two so we’d have a larger staff and could accomplish more.
My main goal was always to grow Uncouth and use that to promote the book, but honestly I’ve never seen Touchstone and Uncouth as two hugely separate entities, so I’ve never treated them as such. If one flourishes, the other will too, and this is where Bianca and Savannah have been instrumental in the success—more people to bounce ideas off of and hear ideas from. And wow, they’ve had some genius ones. Q: What would you say to those who may be afraid to submit their work to Touchstone or present it at Uncouth? A: Hmmmm. Well, for Uncouth Hour: Approach it as something fun, not something stressful. And, honestly, you will never do as badly as you think you’re going to. I can’t tell you how many times people were nervous and terrified to go up and share their work and powered through it and blew away everyone sitting there, myself included. You’re better than you think you are. Scare yourself. For Touchstone: Just submit. If you don’t get in, submit again the next year. Judges change which means the tastes and preferences do as well. The overall flow of the book changes with each piece we say “yes” to, and sometimes, we have a fantastic piece that just really doesn’t fit with the rest, and we have to turn that piece down. Try and try again, because you never know who your piece will resonate with. Uncouth Hour takes place every Thursday at 9 p.m. in Nitelites on the second floor of the Carlton Student Union Building. Submissions in all genres [creative writing, fine art, music, performance art, and digital media] for the 2015 publication of Touchstone will be accepted until February 13. Applications to be on the selection committee are also currently being accepted. Message Touchstone at touchsto@stetson.edu or contact Kyo-Nicole Padgett at npadgett@stetson.edu for more information.
9 A&E
January 22, 2015
The People of Stetson
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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!
Kristal Dior
Desmond King
Trinity Johnson
Senior Major: Communications Hometown: New York City, NY
Senior Major: Integrative Health Science Hometown: Port St.Joe, FL
Freshman Major: Psychology Hometown: Pensacola, FL
What’s most challenging about your senior thesis?: “Starting it, and procrastination.” What are your other goals for the semester?: “Just trying to graduate.” Any plans for after graduation?: “I’m applying to post graduation media internships for the fall of 2015.”
What are you most excited for this semester?: “That I’m almost done. The end is near!” What plans do you have for after graduation?: “I’m going to be going to grad school in Ft. Lauderdale, specifically Nova Southeastern University, to study either public health or occupational therapy. I wanted to do physical therapy, but it was too much chemistry, so nevermind!” What was one highlight of winter break?: “One of my goals in terms of physical fitness: I’ve lost a total of 70 pounds. I’ve been telling people it was 50 pounds, but I found out over break I actually lost 70.”
How’s your time at Stetson so far?: “It’s going well.” What are some of your goals this semester? “Starting a mentorship program in the DeLand community and other stuff with the Tri-C.” What was an exciting moment during winter break?: “I bought a car! A 2008 Honda Fit. I love it so much—holds so many things!”
Photo credits: Katie Dezes
More from Uncouth Hour — Left: Ashley Sullivan reads her original poem, “Arm in Hand.” Right: Nicki Cheslow reads her multipart poem for the crowd.
10 SPORTS
Q&A With Women’s Basketball Guard Jama Sharp Sean McKnight Sports Editor
Q: Where are you from originally and what brought you to Stetson? A: I’m from Indiana, a small town outside of Indianapolis called Mooresville. The warm weather definitely brought me to Stetson, but also the chance to be a part of a great academic university and a great basketball program. Coach Bria has built a strong program here and has brought in some great people. It’s awesome to be a part of that. Q: Last season was one of the best for this squad. What have you all done in the off season and up to this point to carry on the momentum from last season? A: We’ve really been going back at it. As great as our season was last year, our finish wasn’t what we
wanted it to be. We all had to go in and find what our downfalls were, myself included. I wanted to get better at those weaknesses and be a better leader to bring my team along with me. Q: What are some of the team’s biggest weaknesses? Some of the biggest strengths? What have you done all year to combat those weaknesses? A: Our weakness right now is definitely consistency. Part of that has to do with the fact that we’re young. We have some seniors, but we’re still young at heart. Also, we’re still out there finding our identity. We’re different from last year’s team even though we have some of the same players. With that, we really are a great defensive team. We defend other squads really well. We’re still coming along with our offense but, when our offense is really clicking, we are a good offense team as well.
Q: You have been named A-Sun player of the week twice this season. Does that have any bearing on game day? A: It’s definitely a great honor to get any type of award. We have some really great players in our conference, so to even be named something for the week is great. But, you still have to go out and perform every game day. So, I wouldn’t say it really has any bearing on game day. I just know I have to go out and do what I need to do so that my team can prosper. Q: You have had a stellar season thus far. You have scored over 1,000 points in your career among other great things. What does having a legacy and being a leader on this team mean to you? A: It means a lot, I’ve had the opportunity to do some really great things and meet
some really great people. Being at a university like Stetson and now being a part of a great basketball program, it means a lot to leave a legacy for the young kids coming in—to show them that doing your best and working hard can lead to something great. And hopefully that leads them to do better things and be greater and go further than we ever had the chance to do. Q: The team is 13-4 overall and 2-1 in conference. Where do you think you all will be at the end of the season? A: We definitely want a championship. It’s not promised to us; it’s definitely something we have to continue to work towards, and we have to improve if we want to be at that level. So, that’s our main goal and top priority. At the end of this season, we definitely want to have a post season.
Photo courtesy: gohatters.com
Women’s Basketball Holds Strong at Home to Top Kennesaw State, 75-64
Brianti Saunders goes 8-for-9 and drops 19 points in win Sean McKnight Sports Editor This past Thursday, the women’s basketball team won its third game in a row, 75-64 over Kennesaw State. The Hatters are now 14-4 overall and 3-1 in the A-Sun, and have extended their home winning streak to nine. It was a standout night for sophomore guard Brianti Saunders and senior guard Jama Sharp. Saunders went 8-for-9 shooting and scored a team high of 19 points. Sharp trailed just behind her, adding 16 points and five assists in the hard-fought victory. Although the team played strong and rallied at pivotal times in order to get their deserved win, the close game was not characteristic of how they usually play.
Head coach Lynn Bria acknowledged the duality of their win. “I don’t think we played very well in the second half… I didn’t think we had a lot of energy. We were good defensively in the first half, but in the second half we just gave them too many points. It was a little disappointing.” Although it was uncharacteristic of this strong squad to be so lackluster in the second half, their determination and willingness to win was showcased. In the second half, KSU began to close the gap to seven with 14:07 to play. Saunders and Sharp proved to be somewhat of a springboard as they helped push Stetson’s lead back to 17 with 6:06 to play. Yet again, however, the Owls had a late second half comeback, pulling within seven with 1:30 to play. It was at that point,
fortunately for Stetson, that Aisha Turner’s fast break lay-up helped put the game out of reach for Kennesaw. Although this game showcased the Stetson’s squad ability to win games when they matter, hopefully this tight one was just the kick the team needed. Just because you’re sitting up near the top of the division doesn’t mean you can’t be knocked off at anytime. At this point in the year, every game matters, especially if this team wants to make a deep run into the playoffs. It is great to see this team battle back from anything. If they can work on a few consistency issues on offense and their ability to stay aggressive on defense, even when the game appears to be over, it will propel them to greater heights competitively.
Photo courtesy: gohatters.com
The women’s basketball team extended their home court wins this season to 10-0.
SPORTS
January 29, 2015
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Men’s Basketball Falls to Kennesaw in Hard-Fought Battle, 82-88 Kentwan Smith Ties Career High with 27 Points
Sean McKnight Sports Editor
Sitting at 5-15 overall and 0-5 in the A-Sun conference, the men’s basketball team has had a rough stretch of games. When it comes down to it, the team has been having trouble in transition and has not been able to make enough plays down the stretch of close games to seal a victory. This past Thursday was no different when the Hatters fell in a hard-fought battle with Kennesaw, 88-82 on the road. The team played quite well considering the sour loss. They scored 82 points—their highest this season against a Division I foe—and were able to shoot a Stetson-best 55.9 percent from the field. What really downed Stetson in this game was their inability to slow Kennesaw down on defense and get rebounds when they mattered. KSU owned a 4329 advantage on the glass and converted 19 offensive rebounds into 27 second-chance points. It was a deflating loss for a team who has the ability to step out and win big
Photo courtesy: gohatters.com
The men’s basketball team put up a tough fight against Kennesaw State, but ultimately were unable to get the win against the Owls. games. Not by any means is this squad down and out, however. Their ability to score 82 points against a competitive and challenging team in the A-Sun showcases their strength. If Stetson can work on their ability to
take away a team’s second chance points and be more tenacious on the glass and in the paint, they will be able to start turning their season around. There were some standout Hatters in this match who could be the dif-
ference for this squad down the stretch. Senior forward Kentwan Smith tied his career high with 27 points, while going 10-of-13 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. He also added a career-high of four
blocked shots. Freshman guard Divine Myles backed up Smith with 19 points, while redshirt sophomore Brian Pegg came off the bench with 14. Regardless of defense and rebounding issues, this is a team that can score
points and make plays happen. If they are able to find their identity as a team and establish a solid set of goals for the end of the season, we’ll be looking at a completely different squad in a few months.
Women’s Tennis Seal Victory Against Troy in Season Opener, 4-3 Stellar Performance by Carolina Meregalli and Arijana Korac in doubles play
Photo courtesy: gohatters.com
The tennis team opened up their season with a win at home against Troy. Carolina Meregalli helped out with her win in doubles.
Sean McKnight Sports Editor The women’s tennis team opened their 2015 spring season with a tough 4-3 victory
over out-of-conference visitor Troy. The team played strong even though their head coach, Pierre Pilote, was out of town following the passing of his
mother last weekend. In singles, Stetson and Troy split the six matches at 3-3. Stetson was able to seal their victory thanks to an amazing comeback at No. 3
doubles by sophomore Carolina Meregalli and freshman Arijana Korac. The sophomore-freshman duo was down 5-2 to Troy’s Sanae Ohta and Brooke Durden before winning five straight games to take a resounding 7-5 victory, and in the process, clinch the doubles point. This is just another fine example of this team’s resiliency when stuck in a tough spot. In singles play, the Hatters faired well against a challenging Trojans team. Stetson was off to a good start when junior Eveline Lepinay rolled on to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Troy’s Durden at No. 5. Although Stetson was on top at this point, when Isabella Fernandez and Brittany Hill fell at the No. 2 and No. 6 spots, respectively, the match was tied
at 2-2. That was until freshman Alizee Michaud topped Trang Huynh at the No. 1 spot 6-3, 6-3, to push the Hatters to within one game of the match. It was Michaud’s first win since her late fall knee injury, which derailed her outstanding start to her collegiate career. The Hatters were able to clinch the match thanks to the talent of Carolina Meregalli, who defeated Linnea Skymberg 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Assistant coach Christophe Noblet spoke glowingly on Meregalli’s tenacity. “With Carolina, it does not matter if it is pretty; it is all about winning, and she did that again today… She didn’t feel great, but she pulled it out and clinched the match.” At the end of the afternoon, it wasn’t a pretty match for our squad; they scrapped by. But, when you’re winning
matches, it really doesn’t matter if it’s by one or by three. This team’s ability to play at their own pace and control the game is indicative of the maturity and camaraderie they all have as athletes. Winning sets when they matter is what is important to this hyper competitive team who won’t settle for anything less than victory. “Any match that you win is a good win,” Noblet said about his team’s overall performance. “I thought Troy came back very strong in the singles. They are a good team, and we are very glad to come out on top and start with a 1-0 record.” I couldn’t agree more. This type of challenge so early on in the season is important for this team. I am confident they will have a strong and competitive spring that will see them in the A-Sun playoffs, yet again.
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