Vol. CXXII Issue 9

the

eporter Vol. CXXII Issue 9

Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.

Get to Know Your New Dean of Students

Inside this issue: ‘Soulful and Untainted’ A look at The Hand Art Center’s newest exhibition, Page 6

Q&A with Lynn Schoenberg

‘A Team with Plenty of Heart’ Men’s Basketball Fall Recap and Spring Preview, Page 10

Photos credit: Shadee Rios

Katie Dezes Editor-in-Chief Dean of Students Bio Education: • B.S. in Psychology, Lynchburg College • Ed.S. and M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling, University of Florida Past Work Experience: • Was the Chapter Development Consultant of Kappa Delta National Sorority • Worked at the Counseling Center at Santa Fe Community College and the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida • Has held five different titles at Stetson University: Began as the Coordinator of Health Education and Wellness and was most recently the Executive Director of Holistic Wellness Fun Facts: • Enjoys exercising and yoga • Would rather be outdoors than indoors • From Long Island, New

York • Favorite colors are green and purple • Loves to read • Was president of her sorority, Kappa Delta • Has a “cat child” named Dobby • Was a member of her college dance team Q: For those who don't already know, what are the responsibilities of the Dean of Students?

A: That’s a really good question. *laughs* I’ve been asked that a lot lately.

The main job responsibility of the Dean of Students is to be the chief student advocate. It’s actually in my job description, which I really love. In addition to that, I provide leadership to five departments at Stetson, which are a little bit different than the departments former Dean, Rosalie Carpenter, worked with. I work with Student Development and Campus Vibrancy (which includes SGA and Greek Life), Wellness and Recreation, The Counseling Center, Health Services, and Community Standards.

I’m also in charge of

the on-call response system for students.

Q: What makes you most excited about your new position? What makes you the most nervous?

A: I’m definitely most excited that I will have more public student contact than I did in my last position, which I also loved, but was mainly behind closed doors. I love going to student events, talking with students, and just hearing what’s going on. I can already feel the difference in the first few days of school, and I just love being part of that energy.

And the thing that I’m most hesitant about...like any student affairs professional, I want all of our students safe and in one piece.

So, my biggest concern is always that something really bad will happen to one of our students or a group of our students. You have to not think about it all of the time to keep going, but, statistically, it will happen at some point, so we have to be prepared. But it’s the thing that none of us want to deal with and none of us want to happen.

Q: As Dean, you are expected to ensure student success. How do you personally define student success?

A: For me, student success is individually defined by different students. For some students, that means straight As, involvement in everything on campus, and community service. For others, it means passing, graduating, and getting through. So, it’s really important when working with a student who is struggling or stressed to figure out what success means to them. I tell students often that my goal is for you to succeed here. I want our students to do well academically, to feel connected to the campus, and to feel like they are growing and developing. No matter what an individual’s goals are, I hope for those three things for all of our students.

“I keep hearing from students that they don’t feel heard.”

Q: What can the Stetson community expect from its new Dean? What are your

Full Q&A on Page 2

Photo courtesy: Lynn Schoenberg

2

NEWS

Get to Know Your Dean New Student Success of Students, continued Center to Open Next Fall goals, both short-term and long-term?

A: I’ve been in the role for a week and a half, and everything happened very quickly. So, right now I am in an “assess-and-gather-information” phase, which is generally how I work about things. I like to find out what’s going on, talk to people, and look at what other schools are doing. I will always be able to give you a rationale for decisions, even if we aren’t on the same page about it.

Right now I’m in assessing mode. I’ve been asking a lot of people what they need from a Dean of Students and really try to listen to the answers. I have an office hour on Tuesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. in the hopes that people will come to share suggestions or just to talk. I’m doing a lot of research and information gathering so that we can set goals moving forward. The departments that I work with—they are all doing really amazing initiatives and are in the swing of things. There are great things to come from all of them and I’m going to do my best to support them in those efforts.

Q: How did your first office hour go yesterday?

A: It was good! I gave out ice cream at the first one, so I assumed it would be different than future ones. *laughs* We might have some snacks in the future, but yesterday, I really just wanted to say “hi,” introduce myself to people, and have them see my face. A lot of people came over.

Some people just got ice cream, which is okay!

Some gave suggestions, two of which I’ve already started doing leg work on to see what we can do. One was already on my radar.

Then, another student came in that was having an issue that’s individual to her, but was in distress and didn’t know where to go. I was at least able to send her to her next stop, and I told her to check in if that didn’t work out. So, I think it was good.

It was just nice to talk to

Editor-in-Chief Katie Dezes Managing Editor Samuel Votaw News Editor Sarah Dean Sports Editor Sean McKnight Opinion Editor Michael Van Oppen

people. We ended up staying for an hour and half, instead of just the hour.

Q: How do you plan to strengthen the working relationship between you and students?

A: One of the main things that sticks out to me that is going on right now at Stetson and that feels a little different–and I’ve been here for eight years–is that I keep hearing from students that they don’t feel heard. That’s one of the things I’m really trying to research. I want to figure out why that is and what the problem actually is, because I know we have a great staff that wants to hear them. There is a disconnect, and I’m trying to figure out where that disconnect is. That’s actually how I came up with the idea of office hours. I also know it’s hard to reach a person in a position like this because we move around a lot, and I don’t want people to have to chase me. They can always e-mail me too, but sometimes people like to have an in-person conversation. So, that’s something I really want to get to the bottom of [students not feeling heard]. I know there are always going to be people that feel that way, but I am hearing it in a different way and more than I have before. But I feel like our staff is more responsive than ever. So, I’ve got to figure that out.

Q: In the eight years you have worked at Stetson, you have always been involved in student life.

What do you find the most rewarding about working with students?

A: Hands down, the most rewarding part about working with students is when they have “ah-hah” or light bulb moments. And those don’t have to be huge; they can be small. But you can see the wheels turning and you can see a change happening. I’ve been lucky to experience that in all of my roles. Then, you see that student months down the

A & E Editor Garen Freed Layout Design Editor Sarah Dean Layout Designers Colleen Palmateer Ethan Deal Web Editor Michael Galvez

road, or at graduation, and the light bulb has taken effect. They say thank you, give you a hug, or even just a head nod. For some of them, that means a lot.

That keeps me going on the hardest, busiest days.

That’s why I do this.

Q: Do you have anything you would like to add or tell the Stetson Community?

A: I think with any new person in a high level position, there are always going to be concerns from students about them. People need to get used to them and see what they’re about.

I think that is totally legitimate and I felt the same way when I was a student.

I probably still feel that way as a member of this community. So, there are two rumors going around that I’ve heard that are almost laughable that I want to address. I would like to preface by saying that I am always going to talk to students about things. I’m not going to hide them. I’d rather put them out there than have the elephant.

One concern was that I might be interested in having an alcohol-free campus, which I’ve never promoted. I’ve never been on a dry campus. The research doesn’t support a dry campus. I’ve always talked to students about responsible alcohol use, and nothing has changed. So, if anyone has concerns about that, please come talk to me. I could actually talk for hours about how research shows that’s not the best for campuses.

Also, in the wellness areas that I used to supervise, we would try to limit how much money we spent on food that’s not healthy.

To be good stewards of the wellness budget, it’s not appropriate to use it all for junk food. So, just to clear things up, there’s no ban on pizza, and that doesn’t apply to things like Hatter Productions or SGA events.

That’s not what the mission is. So, have no fear. No ban on pizza. I like a good slice of pizza now and again. I’m from New York!

Business Manager Hallie Smith Circulation Manager Jacob Helwig Faculty Advisor Andy Dehnart Staff Advisor John Sheehy

Photo credit: Shadee Rios

The second floor of the duPont-Ball Library is undergoing renovations.

Caroline Williams Staff Writer Many students have been wondering why the second floor of the duPont-Ball Library has been looking so barren. The library is not getting new books; instead, it is getting a complete makeover, and will be a Student Success Center by next semester.

The Hollis Family Student Success Center is a new area where students can receive tutoring, attend Stetson Peer Instruction (SPI) sessions, and study quietly. All of the resources of the Academic Success Center will be available to them in one location.

“Right now, we have tutoring that happens all over campus, so it’s very decentralized,” said Stacy Collins, Director of the Academic Success Center.

Many universities across the country are incorporating learning centers in their libraries, getting rid of outdated books, and replacing them with tutoring areas.

“A lot of schools have a centralized location for tutoring that’s easy to get to, so this will enable us to

Staff Writers Amber Cox Caroline Williams Staff Photographers Nicole Frechette Shadee Rios Staff Contributors Kaley Fulton Konner Krieger Mimi Shimkovska

have a much more engaged learning environment versus meeting with somebody in a hallway to tutor on a specific topic,” Collins said.

To make room for this new center, librarians had to remove many books on the mezzanine level of the library—enough to clear a space of about 5000 square feet.

Each book’s value was reviewed by the library staff before it was given away. The books removed were either donated to Better World Books, a company dedicated to global literacy programs and projects, put out on the free book tables throughout campus, or recycled if in poor condition. In place of those, the library will be adding more ebooks to their collection. Since 2009, the duPont-Ball Library has added over 140,000 ebooks.

“The nature of libraries is kind of changing,” Collins says. “Now you go onto databases, you get journals, you loan books from other schools, and the connectedness of libraries across the world is so much greater. There’s not as much need to physically

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have everything here.”

The Hollis Family Student Success Center will operate much like the Writing Center, where students can make appointments with tutors to receive help with homework.

One area will include comfy seating designated for studying, one will be collaborative with tables and whiteboards, and another will hold individual closed-off rooms primarily for SPI sessions and large group tutoring sessions. A glass shield will be added over the balcony of the library’s second floor to cut down on noise, and some office space will be constructed on the back wall near the elevator.

Collins also envisions the space as being more mobile and creative, the focus being to provide an out-of-the-box space for collaborative learning: “When you plant yourself somewhere, you limit what you can do. When you make things moveable, it engages people’s imagination, and they’re excited to move things around and write on whiteboards. It’s going to be a really neat space.”

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NEWS

Going Global

January 22, 2015

3

Stetson's international student enrollment goes up

Sarah Dean News and Layout Editor According to the Institute for International Education (IIE), Stetson is now one of the top schools for international and study abroad students.

The IIE reports that Stetson's international enrollment has increased 65 percent since 2011. As of 2014, there were 157 students from 61 different countries enrolled. Stetson's study abroad programs include 25 different exchange options with more than 400 different programs, Stetson Today reported last November.

Florida as a whole has been experiencing an influx of students from around the world. According to IIE, the number of international students in the state has increased 11 percent since last school year.

Spanish exchange student Andrea Sabio expressed a lot of excitement about the overwhelming increase in international students.

“International students bring new cultures, new life-styles, new ways to communicate and interact… and this enriches the Stetson’s community and Deland. Stetson’s prestige also increase because everybody wants to study in a university in which you can be able to meet people from all around the world and discover new exciting points of view. The best universities in the world are also the ones that have the biggest percentage of cultural diversity, because this is a reflection of the world in which we live, a globalized world,” Sabio said.

Sabio is currently in her last semester at Stetson, but has enjoyed being here

and said that her experience studying in America, specifically at Stetson, has been an amazing one.

“I strongly feel American universities are one of the best in the world.

And I think that is because they directly prepare you for the professional environment, as they have a very practical view. They convey to students the top qualities look for in employees, such as teamwork skills and communication skills,” Sabio said.

“In addition, one of the most amazing aspects of american universities is that here you can combine academic life and sport. I am an athlete and I think this is so important as these two fields are not incompatible. It’s awesome be able to study for your future job and at the same time continue with your dream of being an athlete.”

Photo credit: NicoleFrechette

Izabela Cardozo is one of many international students who have come to study at Stetson over the past three years. Cardozo, a freshman from Brazil, says she is enjoying her first semester at Stetson.

Public Safety Report Highlight Reel Case # 20140946: On Dec. 6, an Information incident was reported from Building 3 of the Stetson Cove Apartments. The incident involved a disagreement between two roommates after one student invited a friend not affiliated with Stetson over to spend the night without informing their roommate. An argument resulted in a call to Public Safety. The non-Stetson student was told to leave.

Case # 20140947: On Dec. 6, an Information incident was reported from the LBC parking lot. The report came from a disgruntled professor who was not able to exit the lot due to barricades.

Case # 20140951: On Dec. 8, a Fire Alarm was reported from Building 1 of the Stetson Cove Apartments. The alarm allegedly resulted from steam caused by a bathroom shower.

Case # 20140956: On Dec. 9, a Trespass incident was reported near the WORLD International Center. A homeowner heard yelling outside of their home and spotted a transient on their lawn. An altercation occurred, and Deland Police were called. The transient was arrested.

Case # 20140957: On Dec.11, an Information incident was reported from Chaudoin Hall. A student reported hearing a woman screaming outside Chaudoin and seeing two men running across the street. A search was initiated; neither the subject nor the runaways were located.

Case # 20140959: On Dec. 13, a Weapons Policy violation was reported from University Hall. During inspections over break, an RA reported a 12-inch dagger found in a room. The blade was confiscated, and the student responsible faced discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case # 20140960: On Dec. 13, a Found Property incident was reported from Lynn Hall. During inspections over break, an RA reported a street sign found in a room. The sign was confiscated, and the student responsible faced discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case # 20140961: On Dec. 13, a Found Property incident was reported from Lynn Hall. During inspections over break, an RA reported a large orange construction barrel found in a room. The barrel was confiscated, and the student responsible faced discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case # 20140962: On Dec. 13, an Alcohol policy violation was reported from Chaudoin Hall. During inspections over break, an RA reported bottles of beer found in a room. The alcohol was confiscated, and the student responsible faced discipline from the Office of Community Standards.

Case # 20140973: On Dec. 29, a Trespass incident was reported from the DuPont-Ball Library. A mentally handicapped man in his mid 30’s, not affiliated with Stetson, was found trespassing in the underground computer lab. Having a previous record of trespassing at Stetson, the man was given another trespassing warning and handed over to the Deland Police Department.

Case # 20140975: On Dec. 30, a Bicycle Theft was reported outside of Carson-Hollis Hall. A man not affiliated with Stetson targeted a single bike rack outside Carson-Hollis, failing to steal two bikes due to flat tires. He later returned for the bike he originally rode to the site. Upon doing so, Public Safety and Deland Police subdued the man who had several pawn slips in his possession. The man was subsequently given a trespassing warning and arrested.

Case # 20150006: On Jan. 9, a Theft was reported from Gordis Hall. Upon returning to campus before withdrawing from Stetson, a student reported that several papers were missing from their dorm room. No leads have been found.

Case # 20150011: On Jan. 12, a Theft was reported from Hatter Hall. Upon returning to campus after break, a student reported several objects moved around their room, such as electrical devices unplugged possibly due to RA inspections or housekeeping. However, they later discovered that a pair of headphones had been stolen. No leads have yet been found.

Case # 20150012: On Jan. 12, a Bicycle Theft was reported outside of the LBC. A professor left their beach cruiser bike outside before stopping into the LBC for a brief IT troubleshoot. After “a minute or so,” they discovered their bicycle was stolen. The bicycle was not locked. No leads have been found as of yet.

4 OPINION

Hazy Values III

Junior seminar discusses administration’s tobacco policies with an environmental perspective Michael Van Oppen Opinion Editor Last semester, Dr. Paul Croce’s Nature and the American Marketplace class took interest in two articles featured in The Reporter that explored the student reactions to Stetson’s Tobacco-Free Plan. Titled “Hazy Values” and “Hazy Values II,” these articles were analyzed by students of the Junior Seminar in relation to smoking’s impact on the environment. Here are some of the students’ findings: --Research shows that smokers litter butts for many reasons, such as the unavailability of ashtrays, the seemingly acceptable behavior of flicking butts on the ground, and false notions that cigarette filters are biodegradable or inconsequential as litter because of their small size. Statistically, one person’s smoking habits do not amount to much environmental damage. However, in the aggregate, every smoker’s habits pile up, and

the environmental damage is substantial.

“Cigarette butts are the most common toxic waste found in cleanups,” states a TobaccoFreeCA report on the environmental implications of smoking. Studies like this show that more than 1.5 billion pounds of cigarette butts end up as waste each year, and contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts do not decompose completely.

It gets worse: the chemicals that leach out of cigarette butts are highly toxic to freshwater microorganisms, becoming one of the most widespread pollutants in the world. For example, when it rains, cigarette butts lying in our streets are washed into our harbors, beaches, and rivers. These butts and the chemicals they contain negatively impact our water quality and can be deadly to our marine life. Cigarette butts can take up to 12 months to partially break down in freshwater and up to five years to break down in seawater, but even as they

do, the leaching of chemicals continues.

Moreover, the production of cigarettes itself is very damaging to the environment. Tree material is not only used to manufacture cigarette wrapping and cartons, but it is also used as fuel to dry tobacco. It is estimated that one tree is destroyed for the production of every 300 cigarettes, amounting to the destruction of nearly 600 million trees a year.

In this respect, smoking poses a direct threat to forests and natural parks, where not only trees are endangered, but discarded cigarette butts have also contributed to the destruction of wildlife, vegetation, and property. For example, in the state of California, “cigarette-induced fires claim hundreds of lives each year,” as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage. Cigarette butts are also found in the stomachs of young birds and other creatures.

Considering smoking’s effect on individual health

as a microecosystem, tobacco products continue to be responsible for an unacceptable level of death, illness, and suffering throughout the world. Not becoming popular until the early 1900s, cigarette smoking peaked in the 1960s in the United States, when about 50 percent of men and 33 percent of women smoked.

Even though the number of smokers has declined, in comparison to major causes of death in the country, smoking kills more people than HIV, alcohol, suicides, and murders combined. For example, smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease by two to four times, stroke by two to four times, lung cancer in men by 23 times and in women by 13 times, and chronic obstructive lung diseases by 12 to 13 times.

--The students of Nature and the American Marketplace agreed that the environmental implications of smoking are generally little-known among the stu-

dent population. In addition, most expressed concern for the way the Tobacco-Free Policy was introduced and the administration’s lack of regard for student opinion in the process. However, now that the policy is in place, perhaps an article of this nature will encourage the Department of Wellness and Recreation to take action.

Instead of quoting Stetson’s values of Wellness and Environmental Responsibility, the administration should make an effort to build up towards the values, without imposing.

Undertaking a "responsible smoking" initiative to increase awareness of both the environmental and health implications of smoking may be the right answer. This idea would parallel with Stetson’s actions to encourage “responsible drinking,” which is done mainly through the Reality Campaign. While the campaign’s website claims it works toward shaping the “social perceptions of health issues impacting our campus” including smoking, it

has not done much to spread awareness of either its environmental or health implications in the months surrounding the ban.

A “responsible smoking” initiative would include the designation of a limited smoking area on campus.

This area would be equipped with the appropriate information to educate smokers in our community. Hatters would not only learn how to properly dispose of cigarettes and become aware of the programs that Stetson offers to stop smoking, but they would also become informed of the consequences to our environment and health.

Besides getting the Reality Campaign back on track, educating about the environment and health liabilities from smoking would be much more effective way of caring for the health of the Stetson community than just imposing bans. After all, as an institution of higher education, it is Stetson’s responsibility to complement policy changes with an appropriate educational component.

Entertainment or Provocation?

Sony’s The Interview and the free speech debate Daniel Ureña Staff Contributor

A little over a month ago, Sony announced that it would cancel its scheduled release of The Interview a comedy film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.

In case you haven’t heard, this decision was made after a massive breach in Sony Pictures Entertainment’s computer systems in late November that temporarily crippled the company and led to the release of thousands of confidential documents. This attack was soon followed by threats of violence in the theaters that showed the movie.

The FBI and White House eventually charged North Korea with carrying out the attacks. This set off a firestorm of criticism from both the general public and the administration, all of whom berated Sony for giving in to cyber-terrorists and demanded that the movie be released on Christmas Day, as scheduled.

Eventually, Sony did release the movie in some

theaters, and even on several popular streaming sites and platforms, clearly as a result of the public outcry.

After watching the movie a few days after it was released, I have to admit that I understood why the North Korean government was angered by the film.

The Interview portrays a fantastical and, quite frankly, impossible plot by the CIA to kill the leader/dictator of North Korea Kim Jong-un.

The CIA’s highly-untrained assassins are two celebrity-gossip show “reporters” to whom Kim Jong-un offers an interview. In short, Rogen and Franco go to North Korea, have a rated-R adventure and end up killing Kim Jongun.

Being a Seth Rogen film, I was expecting a large amount of coarse jokes and sexual innuendos, all of which were definitely present. But I echo what several students told me when I asked them what they thought about the movie: many movies have gone much further in the pursuit of

laughs without receiving any flack for their content.

The only thing special about this movie is that it revolves around the assassination of a sitting head of state, which has never been done before.

While the North Korean government objected to

the fictional assassination of their leader, I believe what finally made this film unacceptable to the North Korean government is the portrayal of their leader as a maniacal fool. There have been comments that say the portrayal of Kim Jong-un was pathetic, and would have been widely

unacceptable if it had portrayed the assassination of another, less infamous world leader.

Furthermore, mixed reviews from critics point out that the movie may actually be an insult to North Korea’s religion. This is because the North Korean government’s “cult of personality” dynamic recognizes Kim Jong-un and his deceased father, Kim Jong-il, as gods. Because of this consideration, there have been arguments around the dinner tables of Americans on whether or not the movie should have been made.

On the other hand, some people thought the movie was funny and entirely in line with Rogen films’ usual style, recognizing that some movies may push the envelope and offend some viewers, but ultimately believe responsibility lies with the studios in determining just how much their films could insult various minority groups.

Personally, I believe that this movie was unwise. Because of the current tension between North Korea and the West, specifically due to the

former’s nuclear weapons program, a film which ridicules Kim Jong-un so directly is bound to further stress diplomatic relations—or at least cultural relations and attitudes towards one another.

However, because we live in a country which highly values the freedom of self-expression, as has been repeatedly demonstrated by the Supreme Court, these types of films should be shown.

Regardless of whether or not anyone watches the film, the content of The Interview is protected by the First Amendment.

The reason this movie gained so much attention is because North Korea protested so vehemently. Even after numerous terrorist threats, the United States symbolically stood up to those who want to restrict free speech through the release of this movie by releasing it anyway.

In the words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

January 22, 2015

OPINION

The Rabbit's Dilemma

A vegan’s perspective on campus food

Photo Credit: Shadee Rios

Students cook delicious veggie burgers—off campus.

Tabea Wanninger Staff Contributor

In the foreign universe that is life outside of the Stetson bubble, the vegan diet has been experiencing a renaissance, with increasing proliferation in recipes and among celebrities who follow this “trend.” However, Stetson is lagging behind, big time.

For those of you who do not know what being a vegan entails, essentially, the vegan diet rejects the consumption of any and all animal products, beginning with meat and cheese all the way to honey and–depending on your personal strictness–food coloring and preservatives that are animal derived.

This last part is the most difficult. Who knows that E920 & E921 is the FDA labelling for L-Cysterine, a common bread additive to help the dough rise, which is gained out of pig hair, goat feathers, and even human hair! Ignorance can be bliss.

Anyhow, this “unnormal” eating habit needs to be satisfied throughout the day. Unfortunately, vegans can’t survive on just coffee.

So what about Stetson? Is there food available on campus that can fulfill a vegan’s diet? The short answer is “yes.” However, if a vegan student is limited to dining on campus, he or she will not be able to uphold a successful or healthy vegan diet due to the severe lack of options.

Let’s begin with the Hatrack. According to Einstein’s bagels ingredient and allergen list, the Asiago Cheese and Cinnamon Sugar bagels are the only ones that include milk.

However, this list does not take into consideration any additives that these or other types of bagels may have.

The truth is, none of Einstein’s signature options are vegan, and ordering them without egg or dairy products would make them ridiculously expensive, not to mention substantially plain and unfulfilling.

Regarding Johnny Rockets, the only thing a vegan can order is fries.

Plain fries. Like, nothing exciting. Nothing fun. No. Just plain fries. Perfect for a late night snack but definitely not nutritious or healthy.

Moving on to the Coffee Shop...Yes, they have salad. And even better, they have a salad dressing that works with our diet.

However, I asked for the veggie wraps they made every once in a while, but they essentially got rid of them. According to the coffee shop’s cashier lady, they cut back on them since they didn't sell very well. Sad day. Sad month.

Sad year. I guess I will just become a rabbit. Life would be so much easier.

But I refuse!

This already paints a grim portrait of vegan options on campus. However, there might be hope; The Commons is just around

the corner.

While the cafeteria has a variety of meat options for students to choose from, they only have a handful that could possible be considered vegan: tofu in wine sauce or garlic, veggies like carrots and black beans, and two types of rice. And, of course, the salad bar is present. But let’s be honest: the quality is lacking and the taste too. Plus, who wants to eat salad every day? It reaches the point where it doesn’t even taste like salad anymore, but instead, cardboard. Please, do note that I am NOT a rabbit.

Dear Food Services, I am not a rabbit. As such, I eat more than salad and veggie sides. While your salad bar is stocked fairly well, it lacks in quality. Did I hear you say tofu? No, I do not only eat tofu. There are some excellent recipes for delicious vegan meals out there, and not everything in the vegan universe centers around salad or tofu.

There is definitely NOT hope for a vegan at Stetson. I do not believe that someone can be a healthy vegan while remaining on Stetson’s meal plan. I sincerely hope the decision-makers behind Stetson’s food services realize this and act on it to improve options for students with alternative dietary needs.

5

What You Hold Dearest College students would rather lose their cars than their computers

Sarah Dean News and Layout Editor 65 percent of millennials/generation Y's say that losing their phone or computer would have a greater impact on their lives than losing their car.

I had a jaw-on-thefloor moment after reading that statistic this week, which came from, of all places, a Huffington Post article written by brand strategist Kim Garst. The article discussed the idea that marketing to millennials is very different than marketing to generations of teenagers and 20-somethings of the past It is perfectly clear already that technology is a huge part of our lives. Before you even read another line, I want you to know that this is not a "those whippersnappers with their new-fangled TimeFace and Tweeters!" type of rant.

I, despite my ongoing push for the continuation of paper books and hard-copy newspapers, am completely pro-technology. I totally support all of the amazing ways we can connect with each other, consume media, and use more devices and platforms that did not

exist even 15 years ago.

However, just how much college students and other young adults hold their smartphones dear was put into perspective for me by that one statistic.

Naturally, I immediately thought of myself.

Without my car, I would be stuck walking to class and work: something I already do. Getting to the store would be tricky sometimes, but I could always catch a ride with friends or even commit to a long bike ride to Publix.

And I can definitely imagine that there are many other college students like myself, who are not totally dependent on a car for transportation. Even living off-campus, my walk to school is easy.

But losing my phone or computer would indeed be devastating in terms of first-world annoyances. A majority of my academic and journalistic work is on my laptop, something I'm sure I have in common with many students, whether they also use their cars often or not.

And my phone isn't just a convenience, it is the only way I stay in touch with my family, most of my friends, and my long-dis-

tance boyfriend. Without my phone, I am extremely cut off from the instant-access, instant-contact world I have become so accustomed to.

I cannot help but wonder how many other Stetson students feel the same way I do. Phones and computers are now such a deeply-integrated aspect of our lives that many of us would be distraught at their absence, especially because they often contain information that can be difficult or impossible to replace, from photos to important essays you did not remember to back up.

If I had to take a guess, if Stetson students were given the same poll, I’d say our results would be very similar, if not even higher, simply because of the small size and walkability of our campus.

Not to say that cars aren’t useful—many commuters would be up a creek if something were to happen to their cars.

Who knows, all of these things may be obsolete soon anyway. We won't need cars because of teleportation and all of our info will be on microchips in our brains. All I'll have to do is keep from losing my head.

Ask the Wiseass Dear WiseAss, Will I ever make the football team?

-Pigskin Patty Dear Pigksin Patty, I’m sorry your Hatter experience has been so marred with disappointment. :( The rejection fatigue you feel comes through in your query.

My first piece of advice? Be careful that this does not hinder your success at this fine, old institution.

But to answer you more directly, Pigskin Patty, we need to know a few things: First, when having no luck getting onto a sports team, many students find that they have forgotten to try out! Have you actually tried out for the team yet?

If that doesn’t seem to be the issue (double check!), then you may need to take a hard look at your qualifications.

Have you trained as hard as other hopefuls?

Are you genetically “cut out” for sports, or have you

inherited your father’s nerd genes? Maybe you have your mother’s abnormally small hands, or facial features that other players would find distracting on the field.

If so, will minor surgery correct the problem?

If this sort of soul-searching yields no results, it may be time to face the possibility that football is not the right fit for you because you, Pigskin Patty, still have a soul.

You may be guided, by forces of the Universe you cannot yet understand, away from the single greatest compromise to Stetson’s academic integrity in our generation.

You cannot, in your heart of hearts, sit idly by and watch as scholarly pursuits are thinned, stretched, and watered down by jock mentality and the millions of dollars spent to support this about-face from the educational ideals of days gone by.

No, my friend. You will not make the football team because it is not your will to make the football team. You will take up a nobler cause. You will read books. You will join the SGA. You will apply for work-study and tutor the social sciences.

My dear Pigskin Patty, it’s time to forget about such nonsense as sports and forsake as much physical activity as possible.

Consider, instead, declaring your major in History, English, or maybe Art. Yours until the football team finds me,

—WiseAss

6 A&E

New Exhibition Debuts at Hand Art Center

‘Just Plain Folk’ is Soulful and Untainted Amber Cox Staff Writer "Just Plain Folk," a new exhibit at the Hand Art Center, opened on Jan. 16.

It includes a selection of work from Michael Murrell, a retired sculpture professor from Georgia State University, who began collecting folk art roughly 25 years ago. The works chosen were created by folk artists largely from the southeast region of the United States.

The artists of these works have not received training, nor have they had much exposure to the contemporary art world. Despite this, each of the works manages to capture a pure and soulful expression—something that professional artists have difficulty achieving.

The diversity of content within the collection is overwhelming at first, but after observing the exhibit a few times, a similarity manifests; each piece is simultaneously modern and archaic.

While most of the charming pieces painted on board or cloth are relatively flat and geometric, they still yield an enchanting interplay of realism and abstraction.

Others, however, hoard hints of psychological struggles. R.A. Miller’s piece, “Devil Hate Man and Woman,” and Lonnie Holly’s piece, “All Seeing Eye,” seem to both depict inner turmoil. The mood of the pieces is tightly wound; the liberal use of red and black coupled with various harsh swirls

and rough lines seem to push forth a rough and disturbing narrative.

Jimmy Lee Suddeth’s echoes the cruel lines found in “Devil Hate Man and Woman” and “All Seeing Eye” to share his perception of a snake in “Early Rattlesnake.”

Other pieces look as if they were created for a child’s toy box. Yet, somehow, their crude and simplistic nature offers indelible talent.

R.A. Miller’s collection of individual pieces, hung about together on the wall, creates an arresting visual of both man and creature. Some of the male figures have “Preacher Man” scrawled on them; this, combined with Miller’s other religious piece, leaves the viewer with no doubt about the influence of religion on the artist.

Another piece that is sure to be a favorite is Jimmy Lee Suddeth’s “Early Toto Dog.” Suddeth seems to be a natural stylist, and has transformed his perception of a dog into a fluid and expressive abstraction while still maintaining a sense of the subject’s liveliness and animation.

The exhibit runs until Feb. 28 and is not one to be missed, especially for those in need of culture credit.

Spring 2015 Gallery hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11-4 p.m. Thursday 11-6 p.m. Saturday 12-4 p.m.

Photo Credits: Shadee Rios

Top: “Painted Bottles 1 & 2” by Howard Finster. Middle: Three “Face Jugs,” each by a different talented artist. From left are “Face Jug 1” by Marie Rogers, “Face Jug 2” by Grace Hewell, and “Face Jug 3” by B.B. Craig.: “Carousel Figures” by Tubby Brown.

January 22, 2015 7

A&E Events This Week: Friday, January 23

Experiencing Greater Joy in Life Despite and Including Life Challenges 7 PM - 9 PM, Stetson Room Saturday, January 24 Science Saturday: Clay Fossils and Other Sedimentary Wonders 10 AM - 1 PM, Gillespie Museum Artists & Lecturers Series: Florida Pro Music Chamber Ensemble 4 PM - 5 PM, Lee Chapel Faculty Recital: Jesus Alfonzo, viola; Michael Rickman, piano 7:30 PM - 9 PM, Lee Chapel Tuesday, January 27 Becoming a New Hatter Group Chat 5 PM - 7 PM Wednesday, January 28 A Contemporary Perspective on Alexander Hamilton 5:30 PM - 7 PM, Faculty Lounge, CUB Thursday, January 29 Community Partner/Study Abroad Fair 10 AM - 3 PM, CUB Circle Original Sin and Civilization’s Violence 7 PM - 8:30 PM, Stetson Room Uncouth Hour 9 PM - 10:30 PM, NiteLites All Week Just Plain Folk Art Exhibition Oscar Bluemner’s Europe: The Mediterranean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 AM - 4 PM, Thursday: 11 AM - 6 PM, Saturday: 12 PM - 4 PM Hand Art Center

Turnstile crashes the frat party with a Nonstop Feeling Maryland hardcore band’s debut album is a genre-defying masterpiece

Sam Votaw Managing Editor Only a few weeks into January and I’m declaring it so: Nonstop Feeling by Baltimore’s Turnstile will decidedly be your album of the year in 2015, even if you don’t listen to heavy music.

And that’s the bottom line because Stone Cold said so.

Known within the hardcore punk scene for their infectious, groovy take on an otherwise aggressive style of music, Turnstile’s debut fulllength builds upon the precedent set by their bite sized tunes featured on their earlier two stellar EP’s. It is not only the most accessible and bound-to-crossover record within the annals of punk music, but also one of the most diverse sounding releases across all genres in decades.

Regardless of tastes or preference, there’s something for everyone to love across Feeling’s twelve fun-loving, dynamic tracks. For a genre that is often decried for being formulaic, the five piece featuring vocalist Brenan Yates, drummer Daniel Fang, guitarists Brady Ebert and Sean Cullen, and hyperactive bass-

ist “Freaky” Franz Lyons stand apart from their peers by being unpredictable.

Tropes of hardcore punk are littered throughout this record: bone-crushing breakdowns, dog-pile inducing chants, and driving two-step beats are present for the faithful, but it’s the frequent departures from such that make Nonstop Feeling good on its namesake.

Opener “Gravity” kicks off with turntable scratches and a bundle of call-andresponse voices commonly found on hip-hop records before setting the tone that anchors the album with a rhythmic bounce.

The sound of the underground-meets-radio rock shine when Yates abandons his trademark yell for soothing clean singing on the choruses of “Can’t Deny It,” “Bring It Back,”and the completely-out-of-placebut-still-awesome “Blue By You.” The band continues to bob and weave between pummeling 90’s New York hardcore, rap-rock stylings a la Rage Against the Machine or Beastie Boys, in addition

to the funky pulses of frat favorites 311 and Sublime.

Other gems include the Delta blues riffage during the closing bars of “Addicted,” as well as the chilling backing organs that lift the mystifying instrumental “Love Lasso” near the end of the album before culminating in the explosive flurry of punches of closer “Stress.”

With such a masterfully executed beast of a record that takes the best from a wide variety of influences, Turnstile not only earns a spot as a front runner of the newest crop of young punk bands; they also set themselves up for a wider audience of casual newcomers to their unique style.

You don’t have to take my word for Turnstile’s impending world domination now because you’re bound to hear from them again one way or another. However, you’d have to admit it it would be pretty cool for you to be a part of the takeover as it happens so you can tell others you were blasting this record during your next workout, angsty interpretative dance routine, or beer pong tourney.

Artist Spotlight: Carley Fockler Each issue, the “Artist Spotlight” will acknowledge a student artist and their creative contributions to the Stetson community and beyond

Garen Knight Freed Arts & Entertainment Editor Carley Fockler is an artist that uses the power of the almighty pen to express her deepest emotions and infinite creativity. A senior studying creative writing, Fockler writes both fiction and nonfiction pieces.

“To me, writing is the place and time to push people out of their comfort zone and to say the things that usually stay locked in a person’s head,” she said.

Fockler said that her talent for writing started developing as a child.

“Growing up in Florida, I spent most of my time as a kid on my own drawing and coming up with stories to act out with my friends,” Fockler said.

“In school, I started out with art as a way to make those stories come alive,

but in 8th grade I really found my voice in the written word.”

Fockler’s love for writing only grew with time: “My teacher telling me I’d never be a good writer only made me work harder to master it and to push myself further and to explore more and more difficult concepts including mental illness and recovery from suicidal ideals.”

Many of Fockler’s stories and poems have been featured in The Reporter throughout the last four years that she has attended Stetson.

For her senior research project, Fockler focused on trauma narrative and the way the author creates a second self.

“I included a creative piece trying to mirror patterns I found in other memoirs to challenge myself in nonfiction and...to convey a specific emotion

rather than a story,” Fockler said.

She is currently working on an academic piece looking at the social commentary of Suzanne Collins’ book trilogy The Hunger Games and their adaptation into film. Specifically, Fockler is focusing on changes between the text and the films and the way in which the films were received.

In order to better her skills and strengthen her portfolio, the soon-to-be Stetson grad is currently enrolled in a non-fiction writing course for the third time. Fockler hopes that her extended efforts will eventually allow her to pursue a career as an editor at a magazine or book publishing company.

“Writing is my way of figuring out the world around me and my way of making small differences in those who read my work,” Fockler said.

Photo courtesy Carley Fockler

8 A&E

Movie Review

Putting American Sniper in the Crosshairs of Analysis

Garen Knight Freed Arts & Entertainment Editor

Last Friday, I decided to catch a matinée showing of Clint Eastwood’s latest film, American Sniper. I walked into the theater unacquainted with the film or its subject matter.

To be completely honest, I did not have high hopes for the movie (I have never been a big fan of Eastwood’s work or his overly conservative politics).

Throughout the film’s two hour and 12 minute runtime, I must admit, I was thoroughly impressed. But, it wasn’t Eastwood’s filmmaking skills that stood out to me. The element that truly carried the film was the story of its main character, Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle.

Based off of Kyle’s autobiography (also titled American Sniper), the film follows Kyle’s ten-year service in the United States Military. Attributed as the most “lethal sniper in American History,” Eastwood depicts Kyle’s four tours of duty in the Middle East spanning from 1999 to 2009.

Before I begin to offer any further commentary, I must admit that as a college student with no past military service, it might appear as though I am unfit to properly comment on the themes of a film so heavily saturated in a military background.

However, like Chris Kyle, my father was a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy for 20 years before retiring in 2008. A Machinist’s Mate aboard various submarines, my father never had to go into a combat situation like Kyle. Nonetheless, as I was watching the film, I found myself connecting to Kyle and his family on a personal level.

I commend Eastwood for capturing the dynamic

emotions of Kyle’s family throughout his military career on film. I was recollecting so many different emotions as I was watching Kyle’s life unfold on the big screen. The Kyle family’s perpetual state of uneasiness while Chris was deployed is a concept that I am all too familiar with. Sienna Miller (Taya Kyle) did an amazing job depicting the rollercoaster-like emotions of a Navy SEAL’s wife.

If I am going to mention Miller’s character, I must discuss Bradley Cooper’s role as Chris Kyle.

One word: breathtaking.

Not only did Cooper do an excellent job of representing the role of SEAL sniper, he also perfectly depicted the emptiness and confusion of a soldier returning home from war.

On the topic of soldiers returning home from war, I arrive at my main topic of analysis regarding the film.

Towards the end of film, Eastwood briefly highlights the treatment process of soldiers returning home from war, depicting wounded soldiers receiving various forms of rehabilitation. After Kyle was discharged from the Navy, he personally (as the film illustrates) assisted dozens of wounded veterans. I was impressed that Eastwood represented this aspect of Kyle’s civilian life.

However, Eastwood thoroughly let me down by the end of the film. Though he is able to bring about such emotion with his depiction of Kyle’s death, I don’t think he did the American hero enough justice.

As is told in the film, Kyle was murdered by a mentally unstable veteran whom Kyle was attempting to rehabilitate. I wish that Eastwood would have used this opportunity to showcase the military’s wide-

spread disregard of veterans with mental illnesses.

Eastwood spent over two hours acquainting film audiences with the saga of a true American hero and then barely touches upon the fact that Kyle lost his life to the hands of a mentally ill American war veteran.

Chris Kyle was in the heart of a warzone for over 1,000 days in total. However, instead of becoming a victim of enemy fire, his life was taken by the hands of an American veteran on American soil. The veteran that killed Kyle should have been under the care and supervision of the United States Military. Had the military followed proper mental health protocol, Kyle might still be alive today. I am saddened by the fact that death of an American hero could have been avoided with proper mental health rehabilitation by the Unites States Military.

Despite my criticisms of the Military’s protocol regarding the treatment of mental illness, I can’t help but be truly entertained by a cast of talented actors and actresses.

It is no surprise that Cooper has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture.

While I think Steve Carrell’s performance in Foxcatcher will certainly give Cooper a run for his money, I certainly congratulate Cooper on a brilliant job well done.

As for Eastwood, the seasoned actor/director has certainly resurrected his directorial career in my eyes.

Though I think Director Kathryn Bigelow did a better job in creating a film regarding war with her 2008 film The Hurt Locker, I still consider American Sniper to be my favorite Eastwood film to date.

I give the film 4 out of 5 stars.

Concert Review

Linkin Park Has Still Got It After 15 Years

Garen Knight Freed Arts and Entertainment Editor 15 years ago, I was a chubby 1st grader at David L. Rainer Elementary School in Kingsland, GA. At the time, I have to admit that I, along with everyone else our age, was obsessed with the Backstreet Boys and N*Sync’s newest albums, Millennium and No Strings Attached.

But then, one day, as I was hanging out after school with a good friend, Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” came on the radio.

To this day, I have never rocked out harder than I did in the back of my friend’s mom’s white 1995 Pontiac Grand Am. Although my parents considered lyrics like “SHUT UP WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU!” too obscene for their eight year old son, Linkin Park had me permanently hooked.

From that point on, play dates and sleepovers always involved my friends and I gathered around my tiny green boom box jamming out to a bootleg copy of Linkin Park’s debut album, Hybrid Theory.

As time progressed, Linkin Park continued to remain relevant. 2003’s Meteora and 2007’s Minutes to Midnight were definitely some of my favorite albums during my early-teens. It was not until I got to high school that Linkin Park started to fade from my life. While I continued to jam out to their classic albums, I found myself completely uninterested in the band’s new work.

Recently, when I discovered that a family friend had purchased my friend and I tickets to see Linkin Park at the Amway Arena in Orlando on Jan. 15, I was eager to see if the band possessed the same power and ability they exhibited when I first heard them 15 years ago.

Taking the stage after opening acts Of Mice & Men and Rise Against, Linkin Park chose to play “Guilty All the Same” from their latest album The Hunting Party. While the song certainly isn’t terrible by any means, personally, it wasn’t the best opening song to get me in right mindset for the rest of the

show.

However, as soon as the band finished their first song, an explosion of energy surged throughout the venue as the band played the opening notes to 2007’s “Given Up.” Lead singer Chester Bennington has certainly proven his skills as a clean vocalist with the last few Linkin Park albums, and the screamed lyrics from “Given Up” were executed with perfection.

One of the most electrifying moments was Bennington screaming out “PUT ME OUT OF MY FUCKING MISERY” to the uproar of thousands of fans.

The band followed “Given Up” with a slew of classic hits, including Hybrid Theory’s “Papercut” and, of course, “One Step Closer,” which immediately brought me back to my childhood. During the breakdown, I felt the same passion for Linkin Park as I did when I was eight.

Through the remainder of the concert, I was thoroughly impressed by some of the new music the band was performing. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Why have I forgot about Linkin Park?”

While I may have lost some interest in the band in recent years, this concert reassured me that Linkin Park is still the same band I fell in love with so many years ago.

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January 22, 2015

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10 SPORTS

Stetson Men and Women’s Basketball

A Young Team With Plenty of Heart Men’s basketball fall recap and spring preview

Sean McKnight Sports Editor

Photo credit: Nicole Frechette

The men's basketball team warms up for their first home game of the spring semester against University of North Florida.

“Ice In Their Veins” Sean McKnight Sports Editor

At this point, if you have not taken notice of the dominating play by our women’s basketball team, I pity you.

Sitting at 12-4 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, this team has been winning games by a margin of 15 points or more, and every position on the court is just as strong as the next. This is one of the most well rounded Hatter teams I’ve ever had the privilege of watching.

From Jama Sharp scoring her 1,000th point, to Amber Porter breaking records as a sophomore, to seniors on the squad, such as C.J. Coddington and Myeshia Hall, push-

ing their game to new heights, this squad is really something. Their oncourt communication and execution is textbook, and they run like a well oiled machine.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this dominant squad is their overbearing sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

Each player is just as selfless as the next, and it’s evident they will do anything to help the team win—not just to make their score sheet look better.

Looking ahead to a tough upcoming spring schedule, I see the Lady Hatters excelling in their athletic pursuits.

Their biggest opponents this year will be FGCU—last years A-Sun

champion—and UNF, who always has a strong basketball program, both men and women’s.

Last year was record breaking for this squad.

However, in the last moments, they were snubbed as FGCU found themselves on top and had a berth in the NCAA championship.

Our squad is hungry for redemption this year, and it’s evident in how aggressive they attack their opponents on the court.

I see them in the A-Sun championship game again this season and hopefully another showdown with heated rival FGCU. This year, I see Stetson finding themselves back in the NCAA tournament as a force to be reckoned with.

The months of November and December were not nearly as fruitful as the men’s basketball team had hoped.

They faced plenty of challenges and encountered a lot of educational and growing moments.

Through November and December, the team went 4-11 against many tough out of conference opponents including FSU, Georgia Southern, and Davidson.

This young squad— comprised of six true freshmen, two sophomores, two redshirt sophomores, and two seniors— has a lot to learn and will be plagued with the growing pains of an expanding program this year.

Going into the spring months and the beginning of in-conference play, Stetson will match up much better against teams the likes of Jacksonville, UNF, and even A-Sun powerhouse, FGCU. Since their first game in January, the men’s squad is 1-2 overall and 0-2 in A-Sun conference play. Their youth and inexperience is glaring at

times, but this is a team that never quits.

Under the guiding hand of second year head coach Corey Williams and his assistants, the team has been impressed with one motto: to never give up. Even in the face of adversity and seemingly insurmountable odds this team keeps battling its way to the top.

Unfortunately, this year, things haven’t entirely been going their way. But that’s okay because the season is young like the team, and as any avid basketball fan knows, anything can happen during these months.

However, the team’s two seniors, Kentwan Smith–starting forward– and Kyle Sikora–starting Center–have the experience and the leadership abilities to guide this young team through the turbulent waters of a rebuilding era. Although it is tough to watch a team with the heart and soul to compete in these big time games fall to in-conference rivals, the future is bright for this youthful squad.

Whenever I have the chance to talk to any of the players on the team,

whether they are a freshman or a senior, they all share the same attitude; their optimism and hardworking attitude is contagious. Not an air of pretentiousness or vanity, but rather a blue collar attitude and the confidence in their abilities to go out and compete every game, surrounds these young athletes.

What is important is that this team goes out and competes, gives it their all, and knows they did everything they could to see the team succeed.

At the end of the day, it’s the attitude of this young and close knit team that will help propel them to success in the short years to come.

Coach Williams and his assistants know what they’re doing; they’ve been there before. This young squad wants nothing more than to bring a championship back to this University. You see it in their attitude, you hear it in the way they talk, and you see it in the way they perform on the court.

Although they’re sloppy now and fans want to lose faith, now is the time they need us more than ever.

Women’s basketball dominates their competition

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

Jama Sharp dribbles her way up the court toward the basket. Sharp was recently named the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 steals against UNF.

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SPORTS

January 22, 2015

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Stetson Men and Women’s Tennis

Strong Recruits and Transfers Builds Powerhouse Team

Women’s tennis looks promising after strong fall season

Photo courtesy: Nicole Frechette

The women’s team opens their ten-game home stretch on Friday, Feb. 6 against Georgia Southern.

Sean McKnight Sports Editor After a successful fall that showcased some of their finest players, Stetson’s women’s tennis squad is poised to have yet another strong spring season. Last year, they were able to make it to the finals where they fell to rival ETSU. A cinderella season

that shocked most—myself included—has helped propel this strong team into an even better one.

With the spring season looming on the horizon, the women’s squad looks stronger and more well-rounded than ever. Although the ladies have lost some of their top guns in Diana Bukajeva, Lindsey Cable, Cari Berry, Andrea Crespo, and MB

StaufferMacDowell, the Hatters made up for it by having one of the best recruiting classes since 2006.

According to the highly revered tennis website TennisRecruiting.net, who released its annual mid-major ranking over the past summer, the Hatters were ranked number 4 overall. That puts Stetson’s recruiting class, as of May 17, 2014, above the

likes of UCF, Boise State, Utah State, and many more respected tennis programs in the nation.

The website, however, does not include transfer students, and transfers is where Stetson picked up a steal.

Back on Aug. 5, Stetson acquired transfer Maja Salibasic from The University of Oregon. Salibasic, orig-

inally from Bosnia & Herzegovina, went 2-3 in singles play for the Ducks and 1-2 in doubles. This past fall, she showcased her top tier talents and played fantastically, much to the applause of head coach Pierre Pilote.

“Maja is a great addition to an already solid recruiting class…The experience she has gained by training and playing at a Pac12 school should help her get off to a great start here at Stetson” said Pilote.

Salibasic is an extremely accomplished young player and will bring years of experience as a top youth in her home country, as well as her experience playing in one of the Power 5 conferences, to Stetson.

Although Stetson has a top recruiting class and picked up some solid transfers, they still have a solid team of players who are Hatters through-and-through.

Top returners for Stetson this year are sophomore and native Venezuelan Isabella Fernandez, who went 9-7 last year. Although she is a young player, she has

plenty of experience with the other ladies on the team, as well as time on the court.

Other returns include Italian ace Carolina Meregalli, who, as a freshman, went 9-3 overall and truly dominated A-Sun play. Another solid returner for Stetson is Eveline Lepinay. The French Canadian went 12-1 overall last season as a sophomore and boasted some impressive stats that will easily bleed over into this upcoming season.

All in all, the Stetson women’s tennis team looks stronger now than they ever have in the past 10 years or so.

Pilote and his coaching staff have spent countless seasons trying to build a powerhouse team, and they are finally on the precipice of seeing those plans come to fruition.

If the ladies can back up what they did last season, and if their top recruiting class and transfers can do what everyone expects them to do, don’t be surprised if Stetson brings home the A-Sun crown this year.

A-Sun Championship in Sight?

Men’s tennis season preview Sean McKnight Sports Editor Stetson men’s tennis opened its spring season on Friday, and the Hatters had a healthy test as they visited No. 22 South Florida in Tampa, where they fell 4-0.

Facing the Bulls was a daunting challenge for the Hatters, especially as the season opener, but Associate Head Coach Christophe Noblet said his squad was up for the task.

“If you are a competitive person it should be exciting to play highly-regarded teams,” said Noblet.

“Don’t shy away from a challenge. It’s how you respond to that challenge that makes you a better athlete and competitor.”

Noblet has the Hatters primed for a run at the A-Sun title. Stetson returns six letterwinners from last season and features a pair of

newcomers as well.

Seniors Nathan Debut and Chester Espie will lead the way for the Hatters.

They will be joined by juniors Laurynas Antropikas, Gonzalo Arroyo, and Simon Julin. Sophomore Graham Ball, who won his flight at the Bedford Cup in September, rounds out the list of returning players.

Overall, the Hatters had a competitive and successful fall. Though they faced tough opponents, they had standouts from every grade level, which should be an indication of the strong recruiting the tennis squad has done over the years.

“It helped us from the standpoint of entering very strong events and facing really strong competition,” said Noblet. “Our guys need to understand that that’s the kind of competition we’ll be facing in the spring. They need to embrace those chal-

Photo courtesy: gohatters.com

This Saturday starts the men’s four-game home stretch starting off with Florida Southern. lenges and look forward to them.”

Freshmen Loic Blanco and Kevin Gonzalez provide the Hatters with depth and a glimpse of the future.

After looking at their level of play in the fall, the men’s team fared well and are set up for success.

“We have a great group of guys who really connect with one another,” said Noblet. “It’s a closer group than we’ve had in the past.

That’s going to help us in tight matches because the guys are very supportive of each other. The leadership from our captain, Ches-

ter Espie, is really helping to bring everybody along and moving us toward our goals… Every year the goal is the same: win in the conference. We don’t aim to finish in the top three. We aim to win the conference.

Any other success or failure won’t be very satisfy-

ing unless we win conference. That will tell us if the season is a success or not.”

I think this year is a year where we can see the men’s squad make a run into the playoffs and get a chance at an A-Sun Championship berth to bring a trophy home to Stetson.

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