The Reporter Fall 2017 Issue 2 by Hatter Network

The Reporter Volume CXV Issue 2

The Empathy Issue Stetson spends your money page 31

Remembering Nick Blakely page 10

How Stetson is affected by DACA page 20

CONTENTS

News and Features 4 Letter from the Editor 6 Our People 10 Remembering Nick Blakely 20 How Stetson is Affected by DACA 22 Student Media Takes Dallas 31 $how Me the Money: A Breakdown of Student Activity Fees

Opinions 16 The Problems with Parking 17 How I Found My Home in an Academic Fraternity

The Empathy Issue

Analogue

Campus

24 WHAT Radio Schedule

8 SGA Highlights

25 Year End Music List

9 Public Safety Report

34 Jay-Z Sells Wisdom on 4:44

14 Greek Life: Fall Recruitment 36 Faculty Perspective on Empathy

Ampersand

Columns

27 Student Art

12 2018 Horoscopes 18 Senior Research Spotlight 29 Evaluating Science in a Fake News World

The Reporter

LETTER Editor’s

o answer your question: yes, it is a magazine now. Pardon me, though I feel the need to include that considering I still get the question “When’s the paper coming out?” Now maybe it’s bad marketing, maybe they forgot, maybe that’s what we get for publishing semesterly, or maybe I’m just a tad bit defensive. Either way, we want you, dear reader, to know that we did this for your own good. Last year’s guinea pig features magazine experiment had a good run. Five issues strong, to be exact. We did some things wrong. We did some things right. We learned. We failed. We fixed it.

In print, we remade the table of contents pages, the letters pages, the staff pages, and developed the music section, Analogue. Ampersand is now the title for the creative section, rather than a separate zine. We added 2 columns: one on science literacy, the other on current senior research. Our resident astrologer Kitty writes horoscopes. We revived a fan favorite: the Public Safety Highlights Reel. And we even gave the cover a little love: a new logo that hails from the trendy part of the Internet.

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Photo by Dominique Schmidt

In our second year of the newspaper-tomagazine transition, our editors at Hatter Network reimagined The Reporter magazine, print and digital.

Online, our 28-person staff is cranking out daily content on HatterNetwork.com. We initiated a daily news aggregator called The Daily Briefing. We dissolved WHNN, the student video news network, in favor of more varied multimedia content. We’re delivering staff-curated playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud; student opinions on jazz, parking, and opinion pieces; and investigative stories.

to explore empathy. What is it? How do we do it? Why do we do it? Are we inclined to empathize with certain people and neglect others?

The cover design naturally came to mind when we thought: If empathy were captured in an image, what would it look like? And we came back to this idea of stretching. The idea that when we empathize, we are reaching for something: We changed because we want to be better. We understanding, connectedness, or a hand--simply changed because we want you to search for those dark because sometimes it’s just nice to hold hands. green, distribution bins around campus. We changed because we want you, dear reader, to be excited about In the span of one semester, 3 hurricanes hit our content because it’s sharp, relevant, transparent, the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 11 high-profile men (and and full of personality. If we have done our job, then counting) faced surfacing sexual assault allegations, we’re showcasing your best friend, or teammate, or 800,000 DACA recipients were kicked out of the sorority sister-- something that simply can’t be done American Dream, and 1 tragedy occurred in our own by Buzzfeed, Refinery29, or even *gulp* The New backyard: the sudden death of sophomore footballer York Times. Nick Blakely. We want your dad to sigh or “Hm” over his morning oatmeal as he reads Veronica and Naomi’s DACA story in this issue, which you left on the kitchen counter when you came home for winter break.

Our resilience was tested. As citizens of the world, we felt deeply our duty to perk up, wipe our glasses, and roll up our sleeves. Frankly, we would be doing you a great disservice if we didn’t use this publication as a platform to address the need for The Reporter, an 130-year-old idea, is based empathy in our world. on features journalism, creativity, and verbalizing the inner monologue of our campus community: the issue in your hands no exception. As artists and journalists, we treated this issue as our opportunity

KAIT FORSYTHE

Editor-in-chief

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OUR PEOPLE

Illustrations by Danielle Comeaux Layout by Paige TenBroeck

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LEAD DESIGNER

PHOTO EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Kait Forsythe

Dominique Schmidt

Alexandria Bocco

6 The Empathy Issue

Veronica Faison

Cat Keve

Naomi Thomas

Brianna Lopez

Danielle Palumbo

Sam Hadelman

Maeve Coughlin

Shaylen Vitale

Kitty Geoghan

WEB & PRINT STAFF

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER & DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Aja Williams

Courtney Coleman

Lana Kaczmarek

STAFF WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Colette Cacciola

Hannah Zeller

Sydney Lee

Danielle Comeaux

Conner Sullivan MORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Raisa Bailon

VIDEOGRAPHERS

Allison Tankersley Cassidy Denslow Leslie Diepen Angelo Sarno PHOTOGRAPHER

Stephen May

DESIGNER

Acacia Zack

DESIGNER

Paige TenBroeck The Reporter

SGA Highlights Layout by Maeve Coughlin

Contributing by Alyssa Morley Photo of the Carlton Union Building, Home of SGA’s former meeting location, by Stetson University Flickr

Welcome Back Bash with MSC

Coffee with the Chief

On August 26, SGA and the Multicultural Student Council collaborated on a back-toschool celebration in the Hollis Center.

On October 12, SGA hosted the DeLand Police Department’s Chief Jason Umberger , whom answered questions from students on how the DeLand PD can better serve the Stetson community.

SAFAC/AFAC Finance Night On November 8, SGA dedicated a senate session to the entire breakdown of the Student Activity Fee. This event had one of SGA’s best turnouts in the last three years for a special topics senate meeting.

Traffic Court

Hurricane Irma Forum

Parking Forgiveness Day

On September 28, SGA held an open forum which allowed for feedback on the events that unfolded with Hurricane Irma.

On December 1, students can bring in one full bag of items (non-perishable food, paper towels, toiletries etc) to remove a parking ticket from their account. All donations will go to Hatter Pantry.

The Empathy Issue

On November 15, SGA held the first traffic court, where they reviewed students’ tickets, and gave them the opportunity to fight the ticket.

Public Safety Report Highlight Reel Throwback Edition

On Aug. 21, 2014 a burglar alarm was reported from the Counseling Center. It was later discovered that the alarm was caused by an employee. On Sept. 3, 2014 three students were found to be in possession of marijuana at the Women’s softball complex. The narcotics were confiscated. On Sept. 5, 2014 Public Safety was contacted for assistance with an injured student in Sage Hall. The student was reported to have fallen in their room. On Sept. 10, 2014 an incident was reported from the Stetson Cove apartments, Building 4. A student’s street scooter was forcibly removed from its parking spot and placed onto the grass adjacent to the lot to make room for a car. No suspects were identified. On Sept. 11, 2014 a traffic accident was reported outside the duPont library. Two university employees, each manning golf carts, collided lightly with one another in an accident resulting in no injuries. On Oct. 5, 2014 a Grand Theft was reported. A Public Safety golf cart was stolen around 7:30 a.m. near Flagler Hall. The incident occurred as an officer was checking Flagler Hall after leaving the keys in the cart. The DeLand police department was called. They took a report and are now investigating. The crime is considered a felony. On Jan. 25, 2015 an Injured Person was reported from Rinker Field. A student was fiercely struck by a loose softball during an event. The student received medical assistance from Health Services rather than the ER. On February 11, 2015 an incident of Petty Theft was reported to Public Safety. The incident stemmed from a student reporting a 5 foot tall palm tree used for a senior research project missing after letting it outside Flagler Hall for some sunlight. No leads have been found as of yet. On April 9, 2015 Public Safety received Information regarding a missing panting from Elizabeth Hall. The report states that a portrait was removed from the walls of Elizabeth, at first presumed to be the work of maintenance. However, a search of the area and questioning maintenance workers proved this notion false, thus labeling the painting stolen. The painting has yet to be found. On February 5, 2016 an incident of Property Damage at Health Services was reported to Public Safety. The report states that a student worker driving a university golf cart accidentally damaged a support beam for an awning while backing up during a work order. The awning was described as “only bent a little” and has since been repaired. On February 9th, 2016 a petty theft was reported from the Coffee Shop. The report states that an employee entered the coffee shop around 9 a.m. to find that a clock was removed from the wall and that lewd graffiti had been painted onto the countertop. The vandalism has since been painted over, and the clock replaced. No suspects have been found. On February 13, 2016 Criminal Mischief was reported from the Carlton Union Building. The report states that a 40 oz jar of peanut butter was found lodged inside the dispenser of one of the building’s vending machines. The jar has since been removed with mechanical tools, while no suspects have been found. On March 28th, 2016 Public Safety discovered that a decorated light pole had been hit by a car. The incident appears to be non-Stetson related. On April 9th, 2016 Disorderly Conduct was reported from the Carlton Union Building. The report states that a group of 12 non-students were performing BMX bike stunts on the external steps of the building at around 9 p.m. Public Safety officers arrived and requested that the group leave campus, to which they complied.

The Reporter

Remembering Nick Blakely 10

The Empathy Issue

“True Brother and Motivator” Story by Veronica Faison Layout by Maeve Coughlin, Kait Forsythe The Stetson community gathered in Lee Chapel to support the family members of Nicholas Ada Blakley—both his blood relatives and his brothers on the football team—on August 31, 2017, in a memorial dedicated to celebrating his life. Nick, a sophomore student athlete, suddenly passed away that Monday night, August 28, 2017 during football practice, at 19-years-old. “May we be thankful for the miracle of life and marvel about what it means to be human,” prayed Sensei Morris Sekiyo Sullivan, opening the ceremony. “May we be thankful for the gift of love we all share.” As vocalist Deante Samples sang, “Give me Jesus,” Nick was described a deeply spiritual person, his love of God evident in his love for people.

“I remember last year we got in trouble,” said Nails, describing being late and sprinting to their 6:30am practice. “We tried to slide into the stretch line, trying to be slick, but after coach saw us we were both running laps on the treadmill.” He describes Nick having a smile on his face even when times were difficult. “This year is in dedication to Nick. We have to take care of his family.” Despite suffering from grief, the Stetson Hatters continued the rest of the football season, unrelenting, in Nick Blakley’s honor—number 37. “He will be with us every step of the way and we must rally to finish the job he started,” said McGovern. Reassuring the team, Henderson said, “Nick is looking down on us and smiling.”

“This year is in dedication to Nick. We have to take care of his family.”

Nick’s teammate and friend, Javian “J.J” Henderson characterized Nick as a “true brother and real motivator,” carrying light and humor both on and off the field. “Before practice he would ask, ‘what long sleeve are you all wearing? You know, so we could all match,’” Henderson shared. “This outpour of support speaks to the impact Nick had on the Stetson community,” said Colin McGovern, on behalf of the football team. “On Monday night we lost a member of our football team, but also a member of our family. It’s impossible to forget and we shouldn’t try to. We have to remember him and everything that we do,” said McGovern. Jeremiah Nails, who knew Nick for six years and decided to go to the same college together, described Nick as a supportive brother when Nails went through his own personal family loss, knowing just what to say without having to be told.

Senior Studio Art major Jenna Bolusky was commissioned by the university to complete a portrait of the late Nick Blakely. The university gifted Jenna’s portrait to Nick’s family.

The Reporter

Aries (March 21-April 19) Next year gets off to a great start with your ruler Mars in conjunction with regal Jupiter, giving you an exceptional boost to kickstart 2018. You aren’t likely to slow down, either - the year to come is full of energy, and by the time Mars retrogrades in late June, you’ll need to be careful to pace yourself and take stock of your priorities. Overall, Aries, your astrological influences are strong, and a newfound taste for the extravagant can be easily fulfilled with some hard work and dedication.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your ruler Venus is supercharged next year, beginning with a Sun conjunction on New Year’s Day that gives you the power to achieve your biggest aspirations. A later conjunction in your native Taurus gives Venus additional charge, and the forces of nature are on your side throughout the spring months. Don’t be afraid to make a major change during this time period, Taurus. The status quo is flexible this year, and positive changes can influence your life for the better.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You’re a powerhouse this year, Gemini, and 2018 is full of opportunities to connect with others and explore new horizons. With all three retrogrades of your ruler Mercury occurring in fire signs, they aren’t likely to slow you down. Use these times to reflect and refine your self-presentation, but don’t lose your momentum. You have all the power to accomplish great things.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This year is an open book for you, Cancer. Are you looking to improve your finances? Perhaps you want to find love or strengthen family relationships? Whatever your goals, there’s a planet that can give you a helping hand. With your ruler the Moon starting out the year in your sign, you have a powerful boost to begin 2018 on the right foot. A challenge arises with a lunar eclipse in Leo in late January, pushing you further into the spotlight than you may be comfortable with. But as long as you see this as a learning experience and a chance to grow, it could provide you with additional momentum to carry you through the year.

Leo (July 23-August 22) For every challenge you’ll face in the year ahead, you’ll be provided with twice the opportunity. A lunar eclipse in your sign in late January may stir up some emotional issues at the start, Leo, but by the time summer rolls around, a grand earth trine between Uranus, Saturn, and Virgo will help to ground you and provide a foundation for long-term changes in your life. A second lunar eclipse with the Sun in Leo further reinforces this grounding, and allows you to move ahead with full momentum. Mercury’s retrograde in Leo in late July and early August allows you some time to reflect before pushing ahead toward the end of the year.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This year is sure to be intense for you, Virgo, and that goes for the ups as well as the downs. A Moon-Pluto conjunction in pragmatic Capricorn while the Sun is in your sign sets a tone of go-for-broke energy that powers you throughout the whole year. Your ruler Mercury also retrogrades in three fire signs this year, giving you an opportunity for reflection followed by a renewed passion for life. A Mars retrograde in Capricorn beginning in late June may slow down your work life, but if you take this opportunity to be detailoriented and take your time, even this slow period can be powerful.

The Empathy Issue

2018

Libra (September 23-October 22) You can expect an abundance of respect and admiration this year, Libra. People look to you as an authority, and you can rest assured that you’ll handle it with grace. Your ruler Venus conjoins the Sun on New Year’s Day, starting you off with a strong sense of empowerment. Later in the year, Venus’s retrograde ends in Libra in early November, giving your love life an additional boost. All the admiration you’ve cultivated over the year is sure to pay off on the romantic front.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A conjunction of your ruling planet Mars with Jupiter in your sign kicks off next year with a boost of power. Combine that with a conjunction between the Sun and your modern ruler Pluto, and your intensity borders on frightening. No one will want to stand between you and your goals this year, Scorpio. A later conjunction with the Sun and Venus in Capricorn eases your intensity somewhat, giving you an opportunity for enhanced success and popularity. Keep a level head, and you’ll take 2018 by storm.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your ruling planet is in an especially good place this year, Sagittarius. Starting off with a conjunction with Mars in no-nonsense Scorpio, Jupiter enters 2018 at high speed with no sign of slowing down. A cooperative sextile with Pluto at the same time gives a lasting energy to your ambitions and eventual results. Beginning in March, Jupiter’s retrograde in Scorpio slows things down a bit, giving you time to reflect and observe before picking back up again in July. By the time fall arrives, nothing can stop your momentum.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 2016 may have been Kylie Jenner’s year of realizing stuff, but that time is yet to come for you, Capricorn. Prepare for increased clarity in 2018, starting with Neptune’s sextile with the Sun and Venus in your native sign. Saturn also finds itself at home in Capricorn, giving you a strong sense of empowerment to kickstart the year. A Saturn retrograde beginning in April and lasting throughout the summer months may leave you feeling impatient and anxious, but pushing forward and staying organized can help you surmount any obstacles.

Aquarius (January 20 to February 18) This year will bring lots of changes for you, Aquarius, and most of them will be positive.`While Saturn begins the year securely in its home sign of Capricorn, your ruling planet Uranus is a bit more experimental, moving from Aries to Taurus in May and then retrograde back to Aries in November. This is a time to try new changes to your daily routine and evaluate what works. A Venus retrograde beginning in October gives you the chance to reevaluate relationships and ease some mounting tensions in your love life. By the end of the

Pisces (February 19 to March 20) With your home planet Neptune in your sign throughout the year, you have a powerful boost of intuition and understanding that’s sure to stick with you. The Earth signs will keep you grounded, but Uranus’s entry into Taurus in May will shake things up a little, adding some adventure to the mix. And with the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune all starting the year in water signs, your sensitive and dreamy nature remains strong even under the pressures of the material world. Nothing can stop you from reaching for the stars.

Horoscopes

Art and Horoscopes by Kitty Geoghan Layout by Dominique Schmidt The Reporter

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Campus

Fall Recruitment This October, Greek Life hopefuls participated in sorority and fraternity recruitment.

The Empathy Issue

Photos by Sydney Lee Layout by Paige TenBroeck

The Reporter

How I Found My Home in an Academic Fraternity

Story and Layout by Kitty Geoghan In my junior year of college, I did something I thought I’d never do: I participated in sorority recruitment. My decision to rush was driven by a number of factors, but most of all, I was looking for a family, and I believed that joining a sorority was my ticket to finding that. Unfortunately, the stars weren’t in my favor: I was dropped from recruitment. It was a difficult time, and I spent a long time wondering what had gone wrong. I met with sisters, I had good conversations, I shared my values, I found myself agreeing with nearly every message the houses threw at me. - but somehow, even with all the social progress I’d made in college, I still wasn’t worthy to join their sisterhood. I felt like I was a kid again, that weird, moppy-headed girl in hand-me-down clothes who didn’t understand basic social skills and would never be one of the “cool kids.”

“Although all of us come from different walks of life, every single member has something in common: our love for art.”

For a long time, I was bitter. I read articles (and wrote some blurbs of my own) about how grossly exclusive sororities were, about how they rejected anything that was different and enforced restrictive social norms, about how classist it was to demand girls pay hundreds of dollars a semester to have rules about what color shoes they were allowed to wear. And at that point, I realized that maybe the reason I didn’t get in was because sororities weren’t meant for me. For me, social Greek life (particularly Panhellenic) is an organization where girls pay a ton of money to have friends for the sake of having friends. Sure, Greek orgs do plenty of valuable work in their philanthropies, and I’m certainly not trying to minimize that. And with so many girls in one group, you’re bound to find others with similar interests and form a group that you’re close with. But really, aside from those close groups, what do you have in common with your sisters other than your letters? Wouldn’t it make more sense to meet people through other groups based on a shared interest? Sorority girls may be satisfied with the community that comes with having a common organization and philanthropy, and that’s great

The Empathy Issue

– for them. But it isn’t for me. Later the same year, after my failed recruitment, a small group of students brought back the Stetson chapter of Kappa Pi, a national honor fraternity for art. As a lifelong lover of art in all forms, I was excited. I submitted an application and was soon invited to join Kappa Pi. Kappa Pi had everything I was looking for in a sorority. I have a Big (our Editor in Chief Kait, with whom I’ve worked extensively as we’ve put together Hatter Network, and who bought me Nutella and pretzels at initiation – can you say best big ever?) and a family tree. I have a jersey and a bunch of cute little stickers with my letters on them. I have a group of friends within my organization, all of whom are working with me towards a common goal. Although all of us come from different walks of life, every single member has something in common: our love for art. The truth is, I’m not a sorority girl. I’m not preppy. I don’t wear makeup every day and the day I threw out my last pair of pumps was one of the best days of my life. I don’t make friends easily, I hate small talk, and I don’t have the energy to maintain superficial friendships. I’ve gotten better at hiding it, but the truth is, I am and will always be a weird kid. I will never be able to fit into the mold of a sorority girl. But that’s okay. Through Kappa Pi, I’ve managed to find a family of artists that support and accept me, just like I wanted from a sisterhood. I have a network of people with similar interests who I know I can count on for help, whether with my art or with anything college life may throw at me. I found everything I wanted out of social Greek life and more. I found my home, and even though it wasn’t with a traditional sisterhood, I wouldn’t change anything about it.

The Problems with

PARKING Story by Dennis Lynch Layout by Dominique Schmidt

I remember helping my girlfriend pack for Thanksgiving break my freshman year at Stetson University. It was a hot November day, and the last thing I wanted to do was shuffle around boxes at the Chaudoin residence parking lot. But like any good boyfriend, I did just that. And I totally regret it. Helping Alexa pack took an hour at most, but during that timespan, Public Safety managed to hit my Jeep Patriot with a hefty parking ticket. My car was registered for the Gordis zone, but, for the rare instance I was parked in the lot between Chaudoin and Emily Hall. I thought it would be harmless, but clearly I was wrong. That’s not a rare case here. Plenty of students have faced similar situations, and have been powerless to redact the ticket. If you want to fight the ticket, which I did for this one, you have to schedule a meeting at the public safety office for a committee hearing. I signed up the week after Thanksgiving break; I wasn’t scheduled until late spring. Eventually, I sat before three members of the traffic court and had to explain my reasoning for why my jeep was parked at Chaudoin. Essentially, I was begging for forgiveness to avoid a financial penalty, even though my parents shell out thousands of dollars in tuition for Stetson. Thankfully, despite the ludicrousness, I had two friends on the traffic court, and I was allowed to get my ticket voided. Other students aren’t as lucky. The ticket price for unregistered vehicles is $75. Other offenses vary from $30 onward. Now, I want to make it clear I don’t condone people parking in reserved handicap spots, those reserved for school officials or fire lanes. I believe those measures and penalties should remain in place. However, most parking areas on campus require a permit for common spots. For example, my car was registered for Gordis parking my freshman year, but that was the only lot I was allowed to park my car in. And the current registration cost for a student’s vehicle is a whopping $100. One must wonder how much the university makes in revenue off

tickets and registration every year... The problem is multifold as to why parking permits and punishments should be abandoned. First off, weather conditions sometimes pose a factor with getting around campus. Florida weather is challenging: one minute it’s clear skies and sunshine, and the next it’s an unstoppable downpour of rain and lighting. Having to walk to class in stormy weather isn’t ideal, nor safe. Being able to drive to your class across campus reduces these risks. The parking zones are also limited; the school has no major parking garage or complex. Students are urged to buy permits for parking areas that they sometimes don’t even access to if it’s filled up. There have been countless times at Gordis when I would be driving around looking for a spot and none were available. I would have to wait in my idling car until someone left in their own car, or I would have to park over by Nemec and risk the chance of getting a ticket. For any college student, that’s plenty of unwanted stress and anxiety. Another factor of safety concerns the town of DeLand itself. While Stetson is a top tier campus, DeLand does have a problem of mugging and gunpoint robberies. An example of such an occurrence happened with senior year music student Daniel Del Castillo. Two years ago at the LBC, Del Castillo was approached by a hooded individual, who then held Del Castillo at gunpoint and took his wallet. From then on, Del Castillo drives everywhere on campus. And since then, Del Castillo’s sweet ride has racked up dozens of parking tickets, all of which he keeps on the hood of his car to prove a point. He schedules and fights each parking ticket against the traffic court, citing concerns of personal safety. P-Safe does stop ticketing after 5pm, but a gunpoint mugging can happen at any point of the day, and having a car nearby can make the difference in a lethal situation. Having my car parked at the building my class is is reassuring in the event that I need to quickly leave.

Read the full story on hatternetwork.com.

The Reporter 17

Fake News or Science Fact? With so much “fake news” out there, it can be hard to tell which sources are reliable. Here are a few good places to find quality science news.

Science News Run by Society for Science, this web publication makes science news accessible to the general public. They even have a website specifically for students!

Science Based Medicine This blog-based publication features medical professionals discussing and debunking “quackery” in medicine.

Snopes While not explicitly sciencebased, Snopes is a great fact-checking resource for everything from urban legends to politicians’ tweets.

Skeptical Science Sundays That’s right! Hatter Network’s own science literacy column is dedicated to careful research and fact-checking to make sure you get the most accurate science news out there. New topics are discussed every week!

Find more Skeptical Science on HatterNetwork.com 18

The Empathy Issue

Skeptical Science Evaluating Science in a Fake News World

Story and layout by Kitty Geoghan Science: It’s a major part of all of our lives, and yet often, it can be difficult to understand. For those of us who aren’t scientists, the world of scientific knowledge has historically been completely inaccessible. However, in the age of the Internet, this fact is changing. It seems like every day I come across a post on Facebook boasting a crazy “science fact” or the results of some new study. Sometimes, pop science like this can be helpful: it bridges the gap between scientists and the general public, allowing everyone to understand the discoveries that affect their daily lives. Other times, however, it does more harm than good. When journalists with no science background attempt to understand scientific papers, the results can be gnarly. When these writers have a particular agenda and try to fit the science to prove their point, they can be downright disastrous. While there are plenty of well-meaning science communicators and journalists out there, the sea of nonsense one needs to sort through to uncover the truth is formidable. So how can we fix this? Well, for one thing, legitimate science communicators can publish columns like this: fact-checking the pop scientists and educating the public on real scientific truth. But what would be even more helpful is if more people were able to understand science for themselves. Things to Look Out For 1. Sample size. If you’ve ever taken a statistics course, you’re probably familiar with the concept of a random

sample. Basically, a random sample is one in which every member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen for the sample. This is one way to ensure that your sample is representative of the full population. Use of random sampling is necessary in studies that measure prevalence, e.g. how common a particular cancer is in America. However, in studies that measure correlation, e.g. whether yoga decreases symptoms of depression, random sampling is often too difficult and not always necessary. In these studies, the important factor is sample size. Generally speaking, a study should have at least 100 participants, and often many more than that. Anything that uses a sample of less than 50 is definitely suspect. 2. Source. Did the article you’re reading come from Facebook, or some website like “OMGsciencefacts. com”? There’s a good chance it’s not accurate, or at least you’ll need to do some more digging to find a second opinion. 3. Replicability. Has anyone else studied the same effect and gotten similar results? If other studies have found different results, there’s a good chance the one in question is either invalid, or the science is more complicated than it looks. 4. Does it sound ridiculous? Then it probably is. Sometimes known as Occam’s razor, a common principle in philosophy is “the simplest possible explanation is the correct one.” In science, the concept is amended slightly to refer to an explanation that requires the least rewriting of principles we already understand. Basically, if something sounds ridiculous, it probably is.

Senior Research Spotlight Story by Courtney Coleman Layout and photograph by Acacia Zack

Sarah Hollman

Political Science Sarah Hollman investigated numerous violent conflicts in the late 20th century by interviewing twenty-four individuals; three of them current legislators and government officials, one of them—a terrorist. Hollman has dedicated over a year to researching how a system of ethnic power sharing, or “consociationalism,” has influenced different groups of people. Given the historical context of Northern Ireland, her expertise was valued. The goal of Hollman’s interviews was to collect a portfolio of first person accounts of the crisis and peace agreements during the 1970-80s. Although the crisis in Northern Ireland is not actively violent, another political crisis is becoming more and more possible.

1967 marked the first year since Prohibition, a time when Americans consumed more dry wine than sweet. Dry became synonymous with quality and sweet wine thereafter has a negative stigma. Justin Corriss, with the guidance of the History department, hopes to explore how the pioneers of American winemaking have created longlasting repercussions on the market of sweet wine. This past summer, Justin received the Evan Johnson Research Grant which enabled him to visit the two largest wine regions in the U.S., Willamette Valley and Napa Valley. This trip allowed him to engage with his primary sources in person at the wineries who pioneered American winemaking. Last December, Justin had passed the Certified Sommelier exam and he hopes to become a Master Sommelier in the future and work with the wineries in Willamette Valley, Oregon after graduating.

Justin X. M. Corriss

History

Samantha Arbour

Molecular Biology Samantha Arbour, a molecular biology senior on the pre-med track, chose to focus in on cancer as her senior research topic under the supervision of Roslyn Crowder, PhD. Specifically, the focal point of her research is to investigate how a component in green tea extract can be used as a mechanism to kill lymphoblastic leukemia cells as an alternative to the commonly prescribed chemotherapy, which is not 100 percent effective. For Arbour, her interest in cancer stemmed from both a personal connection with her family and the fact that it is a rising global issue. Arbour proposes a combination of chemotherapy and the use of green tea extract because one of its components, egcg, has the ability to kill cancer cells without causing harm to our bodies.

The Reporter

More Than Papers:

How Stetson is Affected by DACA Story by Veronica Faison and Naomi Thomas

Layout by Dominique Schmidt

Stetson Faculty Pamela Cappas-Toro (middle), and Andrew Eisen (right) sit together in deep discussion after the Stetson DACA Panel Photo by Kitty Geoghan

irst-year political science and English double major John Smith aspires to be a member of Congress. “I feel like it’s the best way I can help people,” he said. “Being an American is important. I care about this country very deeply and I see a lot of problems I want to be able to help with.” However, current policy impedes that dream. The United States does not recognize him as a citizen. He is a recipient of DACA, also politically referred to as a “Dreamer.” Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, allows undocumented individuals who met several requirements to stay in the country for two years without being persecuted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To qualify, applicants must be under 31 years old and have arrived to the United States before turning 16 years old, have no law infractions and actively pursue education. Before the two years have elapsed, the DACA recipient must reapply to receive another two years.

of the country spurred gang activity which often targeted young children by force, Smith described. “My mother always thought of putting me first in all the decisions that she made. If we had stayed I would have likely been forced to join and enter a life of violence,” he said. “There was nothing there for me.” Despite finding safety and refuge in the US, Smith’s single-parent household has faced struggle. Sharing a one-bedroom apartment between Smith, his mother and maternal grandmother, Smith recognized the necessity of helping his family early on.

“We came here for our safety.”

Brought to the United States as 7-years-old, Smith’s mother and grandmother sought to escape violence plaguing their central-American country. “It wasn’t for economic gain,” said Smith. “My mother had a good job as an accountant. We came here for our safety.” The poverty and corruption 20

The Empathy Issue

When Smith was 14-years-old, the Obama administration introduced the DACA in 2012 as an executive order (after the DREAM Act failed in 2010). Smith recalled being skeptical. “If I applied for this I would have to give up my home address, where my family lives as well, and I would be coming out of the shadows.” The policy was also not signed into law by Congress. “It wasn’t for the long run,” said Smith. “As we’ve seen now, it’s a short-term policy that any president could take away.” However, for Smith, the benefits outweighed the costs. Under DACA, Smith would receive a work permit, driver’s aalicense and social security number. This would allow him to

work without fear of being stopped by police, and, eventually, apply to college. DACA is, however, not a path to citizenship. The application also costs approximately $485 each renewal (which had to be filed before the two-year difference period elapsed). Though having a social security number allowed Smith to apply to college, DACA status did not allow him to receive any federal grants. Undocumented people are not able to access any federal aid despite still paying taxes, contrary to popular stereotype. Smith relied on only institutionally funded aid to afford college—which private schools, such as Stetson, offers. With his academic record and dedication to community service, Smith attained a scholarship that allowed him attend. Referencing the “American Dream” symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Smith said, “Getting into college and being able to afford it was my green light across the bay.”

believes that Congress will come up with a bill, and advocates that Dreamers should also have a path toward citizenship. “Congress is made up by people and people see reason,” said Smith. “[Dreamers] have abided by the law and overcome so many challenges that society has placed upon us. We want to be part of this nation.” When asked why he wanted to share his story, Smith hopes that his story can appeal to those who are currently against immigration. By humanizing the immigrant narrative, he hopes to particularly appeal to Stetson donors that may not support DACA students because, ultimately, donations help fund the institutional aid that DACA students rely on.

“I was afraid that being this vulnerable would have repercussions, but I thought maybe some good would come out of it.”

However, DACA was recently given a red light. The Obama administration was almost sued over the constitutionality of the program in 2015, and, on September 5, 2017, President Trump announced his decision to repeal the program entirely; this reversal will affect the lives of nearly 800,000 individuals. The president gave Congress six-months to introduce and pass legislation to help current DACA recipients. Though many fear that Congress will not be able to reach an agreement in time, Smith

“Growing up in the US it was difficult to talk to anyone, teachers, even friends, about my status,” said Smith. “I was afraid that being this vulnerable would have repercussions, but I thought maybe some good would come out of it.” While the Department of Homeland Security is no longer accepting new DACA applications, current recipients whose deferrals expire before or on March 5, 2018 had until October 5, 2017 to reapply.

The Reporter

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2 Staff photographer Raisa Bailon participated in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dallas Photo Shootoutâ&#x20AC;?, a photography contest faciliated by the conference. 22

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Student Media Takes Dallas Layout by Maeve Coughlin Photos by Raisa Bailon, Cat Keve, and Dominique Schmidt

This October, eight Hatter Network staff members took a trip to Dallas, Texas to attend the Associated Collegiate Press National College Media Convention. Hatter Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literary magazine, Touchstone won 5th place in their Best of Show competition. The team is currently working on a presentation for Spring 2018 on the lessons learned from their conference experience.

The Reporter

WHAT RADIO SCHEDULE Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

WHAT Radio Exibition

2:30-3pm

Noah Reed & Dylan Forehand

4-6pm

Are You Not Entertained? Thomas Wasman

6-8pm

Duly Noted

Jazz Culture

Damien Bleus & Carlos Nolla

Are You Not Entertained? Thomas Wasman

Tyler Thomas

Hatter Hour

The Undergrad

Attention Hour

Sam Hadelman & Dennis Lynch

Sam Hadelman

Sydney Lee

8-10pm

Conspiracy Super Highway

The Random Show

Terrestrial Sound

Meghan Moran

Carlos C. Reyes

Gordon Silva

Awkward But Relatable Catie Hessler & Emily Naghdi

10-12am

Godspeed Zak Berkel

Streaming Consciousness Sydney Lee & Gordon Silva

12-2am

Just Jazz Zak Berkel

MUSIC OPINION COMEDY SPORTS 24

The Empathy Issue

Layout by Dominiqe Schmidt

Best Albums of 2017 Analogue writer Sam Hadelman delivers a take on the best music of 2017. Check out the full story at HatterNetwork.com

Alex G is someone who I usually like to keep to myself, but Rocket is definitely worth the recognition. He’s the guitarist who is responsible for the work on Frank Ocean’s masterpiece Blonde. This album is call back to folksy and alternative era of music. Alex G is really good at stripping down his music to a level that communicates his raw feelings to the listener. An awesome, relatable LP from this upcoming indie artist.

See pages 34-35 for full review

Sampha has been making waves in the industry for the last couple years. Process immediately caught my attention. It’s in that wave of layered, emotive R&B. There are no low points on this LP and it was a great blend of different current genres.

Layout by Kait Forsythe

I found The National from a random Pitchfork article back in 2013 and have been addicted since. Their dreary music is right up my alley. Trouble Will Find Me was a breath of fresh air for the rock scene. I thought that was their peak but Sleep Well Beast is a step up.

The Reporter

year in review Sam Hadelman synthesizes the year in music and forecasts the 2018 sound. Layout by Kait Forsythe

1. Lil Uzi Vert 2. Kendrick Lamar 3. Young Thug 4. Post Malone 5. Migos 6. Tyler, The Creator 7. Future 8. Drake 9. 21 Savage 10. Metro Boomin 11. Cardi B

1. “XO Tour Llif3” by Lil Uzi Vert 2. “Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B 3. “Rockstar” by Post Malone & 21 Savage 4. “Magnolia” by Playboi Carti 5. “The Race” by Tay-K

1. 2 Chainz on “Sacrifices” 2. Offset on “Met Gala” 3. Chief Keef on “Blowin’ Minds” 4. Frank Ocean on “RAF” 5. A$AP Rocky on “New Choppa”

Verse of the Year Kendrick Lamar’s 3rd verse on “DNA”

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1. Trippie Redd 2. NBA Youngboy 3. Tee Grizzley 4. Kali Uchis 5. Rex Orange County 6. Rich Chigga 7. Jorja Smith 8. Jaden Smith 9. Pi’erre Bourne

10. Slow Hollows 11. BROCKHAMPTON 12. Big Thief 13. IDK 14. Smokepurpp 15. Brent Faiyaz 16. Daniel Caesar 17. Zack Villere 18. Steve Lacy 19. Noname

AMP&RSAND A collection of student work

Layout by Acacia Zack

papercuts

Layout and photo by Acacia Zack

Veronica Faison i am not his muse for it is in her smile he sees a thousand suns in her eyes he sees blue moons rise in her he finds inspiration but it is in me he writes his hands caress me, promising me everything and nothing at all i wait for him i wait for him to fill my blank lines with the familiar stroke of his pen never pencil he cannot erase me for he makes no mistakes he lays me on his desk with a thud, and i sigh open he thumbs through my ivory pages and frowns over his past work as all men do he finds an unbroken page unwritten yet his eyes rake over me left to right his touch sends shivers through my spine i think of our first night together when he brought his pen to my paper and brought me to life i hold my breath there are days when he writes like his soul is afire his hot ink scorches my pages angry, burning his careful print slurs to indecisive cursive he writes too quickly and does not revise— those are the days he writes essays addressed to important men who will never answer i do not quite understand there are days when he writes

like languid honey and his sweet words glide over me slow, deliberate i think of an autumn i do not know his pensive smile makes my pages flutter— those are the days he writes songs he hums off key and his rhymes are off meter yet his lyrics press into my pages and tattoo upon my leather skins there are nights when he writes like a gypsy has captured his heart his lines wander to a place i cannot follow whimsical, impulsive his letters loop, and his eyes hold a gaze i know is not for me— those are the nights he writes poetry he counts his syllables, loops his letters and writes a name a name i wish were mine those are the nights he writes of her every night when the sun disappears behind the clouds and the lover’s moon rises singing her midnight song those are the nights he defiles each one of my ivory pages and writes her name left to right i cry out and bleed black blood salty ink spills across and over my lines until all his words are illegible his warmth breath stings my wounds and i now know the meaning of papercut those are the nights he writes of her for it is in her he finds inspiration but it is in me he writes left to right.

The Reporter

Sydney Lee

The Empathy Issue

Just for Kicks

Gabby Cassidy

The Seconds Tick By Cleo Koenig

The seconds tick by Through a sleight of hand A chaste kiss A small injustice The seconds tick by. Through calloused hands Roaming hands Blood-coated hands The seconds tick by. Through the sweat on a brow The heat of a room The suffocation of death The seconds tick by. The minutes tick by. The hours. The days. Until the trapped are set free And the seconds tick no more.

You reach

Maeve Coughlin You reach; Fingertips outstretched, hands clutching through the fog You reach for the open roadThere is a beckoning echo from the mountains of far lands, From the jungles and tundra of your childhood dreams, From the postcards and pictures on your bedroom wall, From cities standing solitary, in suspense, From the paradise of explorers pastYou reach, And that traveler inside of you, That dreamer, that seeker, That human- conquers. Dig your fingers into the hot pavement, Seize the road, Wrench it by its reins, And ride it. Your world is waiting. The Reporter 29

2018 Summer Innsbruck Program Don’t miss out! Applicaon deadline is Friday, Dec. 15th! The School of Business Summer Innsbruck Program provides you with the opportunity to study in Europe and offers:

• •

8 credits in 6 weeks

Use of facilities at the University of Innsbruck with classes taught by Stetson faculty and distinguished visitors

•

Afternoons off and extended weekends for traveling in groups or independently

•

Private housing with different room choices

• •

Two meals per class day Limited Enrollment

July 6 - Aug. 15, 2018 Open to All Majors Apply Now — Limited Enrollment For information contact: Nancy Kernan Room 432 LBC 386-822-7394 nkernan@stetson.edu World.stetson.edu www.stetson.edu/ innsbruck

READY TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WORLD? DO THE UNEXPECTED. Apply by January 1 peacecorps.gov/apply

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Tentative Class Schedule Class Period 1 FINA 311 Business Finance FINA 320 Investments EDUC 374J-JS Educational Systems Around the World ENGL 141 Writing About Food & Drink BSAN 351J Technology, Globalization & Social Justice BLAW 407 Business Law I

Class Period 2 STAT 301Q Business Statistics FINA 303 Money & Financial Institutions MKTG 315 The Marketplace & Consumers SOBA 360J Social Justice & the Bottom Line ENTP 301 Creative Problem Solving MUSC 311 Music History [Music majors only] Class Period 3 MGMT 305 Principles of Management RELS 365B Mary, Max & Mozart ENSS 140P Intro to Environmental Studies and Science MGMT 495 Strategic Management BSAN 360 Project Management ECON 333JS Games and Strategic Behavior

Story by Shaylen Vitale Layout by Kait Forsythe In a recent email for staff and faculty eyes only, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Noel Painter and CFO Bob Huth revealed Stetson’s budget is down $450,000 due to “insurance deductibles” and “non-covered items from Hurricane Irma”.

This 35% funds activities and events for the Stetson campus as a whole. The usable funds of $358,369.74 for AFAC to allocate are dispersed into four categories: Homecoming Committee, Multicultural Student Council, Hatter Productions, and Student Media.

However, after combining low revenue growth of the past two years with a campus body smaller than what was budgeted, Stetson found itself short about $1 million total.

“Additional That?

Despite recent rhetoric about transparency, this email was only shared with students when SGA President Alyssa Morley firmly requested so. Students want to know how their money is spent. Stetson undergrads are charged a semesterly Student Activity fee of $175, with a yearly total of $350. When all 2,950 undergraduate students pay this amount; it totals $1,032,500. This money is collected into the Student Activity pool and is distributed into three categories: Student Government Association, AFAC, and Additional Resources. SGA takes 5% right off top, though no records can be found to substantiate why. The remaining 95% goes to the AFAC and Additional Resources categories. Where Does the 35% AFAC Allocated Go?

Resources”?

What

Perhaps the most vaguelynamed, at $604,450.26, the Additional Resources category makes up 60% of AFAC’s total budget. That amount is again distributed amongst five resources: Graduate Interns, Assistant Director for Student Organizations position currently held by Zachary Beaver, CLaSS Operational Allocation, CUB Renovation, and SAFAC. What is SAFAC and Where Does that Money Go? In contrast with AFAC, which funds events and activities for a campus-wide audience, SAFAC funds organizations that are more exclusive. As far as I can tell, “exclusive” means niche. Student organizations that require a special skill, interest, talent, or personal investment (i.e Mock Trial Team and Club Sports; D1 sports are not covered by SAFAC) rely on SAFAC approval.

each club are determined by the SAFAC Board after the organization delivers a budget pitch. Budgets are made for each semester of the fiscal year, which runs from June to June. The Board of SAFAC is under the jurisdiction of SGA. The current SAFAC Director, Brendan White, is also the Finance Secretary of SGA. According to the SGA Constitution, the “Secretary of Finance shall manage all Association and SAFAC funds”. However, the Secretary of Finance can only act as a non-voting facilitator during allocation distribution. The current Board is comprised of six SGA senators and two members from exec; the next hearing for the Spring SAFAC is December 1st, according to White. Re-Allocation Money which is leftover is re-allocated to the SAFAC budget to be redistributed at the end of the semester through the same process as before; just like AFAC, SAFAC organizations request money though a budget hearing are allocated a certain amount.

SAFAC funding is broken down into three categories: Student Organizations, Club Sports, and Greek Organizations.

The allotments of money for

The Reporter

If there is still money leftover at the end of the fiscal year, SGA decides to condense the funds towards a special project - for instance, the Spring 2017 leftover funds were used to create the downstairs library study area. Otherwise, all leftover money is reabsorbed into the overall Stetson budget managed by CFO Bob Huth. Inaccessibility to Students Access to the budget is rife with confusion. It is not an easy task for a student to find where their money goes, since SAFAC and AFAC do not hold a well-known presence on campus. When I searched for AFAC and SAFAC on Orgsync, I ran into a dead-end; nothing came up for AFAC the only mention of SAFAC were out-of-date announcements of budget hearing. It is clear there have been no updates in months. While there is a tab devoted to SAFAC on the SGA website, further exploration revealed that the SAFAC information packet was unavailable, as well as the date schedule for budget hearings. The last time the SAFAC page was updated was likely over two years ago. SGA is aware of the need to update information about SAFAC and student awareness. White acknowledged that updates are sorely needed and are “working to improving the website”. SGA hosted an open meeting on Wednesday, November 8, to reveal this financial structure to students considering some of SGA’s own members were confused about exact budget details. The event was created out of student’s desire to know where their money goes despite the lack of information 32

The Empathy Issue

available to them. Initially, I decided to undertake the investigation to find answers about where my money goes. I was completely unaware of AFAC and SAFAC beforehand, and I know other students feel the same. Though I learned a immense amount about budgets and finances, my investigation barely left me satisfied. There are far more questions I have now and so I would say this exploration is incomplete. If I have gleaned anything from this inquiry, it is that the process of learning where my money goes is too complicated.

The Reporter

Analogue

Failure, Vulnerability, and Redemption: Jay-Z sells wisdom on 4:44

Sam Hadelman, Senior Staff Writer

ince Magna Carta Holy Grail, I have been Jay-Z’s biggest critic. Despite him being the reason I got into rap music in the first place, that aforementioned album was lifeless and uninspired. 4:44 was that exact opposite. There, he finally addressed his own personal and industry struggles. With his flawless flow and lavish lyrics, he epitomizes what a rap icon is and should be. However, as he got older, he struggled with adapting--a symptom of aged fame. Rap belongs to the young, so aging rappers are faced with a decision: to change their whole style or attempt to recreate the same feel from their past. Rap as a genre is still relatively young, so we have not really seen that many rap careers successfully survive “old age.” In a recent GQ interview, André 3000 preaches “For me, hip-hop is about freshness. You can always hop, but you won’t always be hip.” Artists in the second half of their careers usually struggle with matching the output of their 34

The Empathy Issue

past selves. In hip-hop, it’s almost impossible to supersede youth’s productivity. A key component to successful rap music is ambition. Hunger motivates the youth. There is this desire to be noticed while not being hindered by the downsides of success. A common theme in debut rap albums is wanting to get out of their current environment. This is a recurring topic on albums like the Eminem’s Slim Shady LP, Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, and The Notorious B.I.G’s Ready To Die. When rappers finally achieve the success they have always dreamt of, the notion of “escaping” their normal lives leaves them, making it relatively difficult to create that feeling again--just like what plagued Jay-Z’s post-“retirement” career. After the Black Album, Jay said he would be retiring for good. This is something that superstars will in attempt in order to cheat time, thinking that ending their career at its peak is easier than fading away. successfully for anyone in an entertainment field, with the

exception of Rick Moranis. Unless a special situation arises, this approach of quitting while you’re ahead is lazy and, frankly, depressing; failure and age should never scare anyone out of creating art. The issue that Jay has had since his lackluster return LP, Kingdom Come, is an absence of substantive material. Rap is fueled by experience and self-evaluation, and Jay is one of the most financially and commercially successful artists of all-time. I have never really seen this work He has had 13 platinum albums and 21 Grammys. With a constant theme of success in his life--being married to Beyoncé, having three children and being widely respected not only in rap but business alike-there is not much he could rap about that would shock the world. How is Jay-Z expected to thrive in a world of ambition when he’s is now the goal that younger generations are chasing? Being put in this paradoxical predicament is what resulted in Jay-Z’s disappointing recent output.

From tired lyrics on “Mercedes Benz and braces” to rapping about a lifestyle he very obviously is not involved in anymore, Jay has had trouble finding worthy and “young” content to rap about. On the album 4:44, Jay finally finds a way to keep his fans interested while providing a new perspective on his life; speaking on his failures. One of the musical pitfalls of rap music is its inability to let men disregard expectations of masculinity. It is widely accepted to make music about promiscuity from a positive standpoint in hip-hop but we have not seen that many takes on cheating’s negative effects. Beyoncé had given us overt hints about Jay’s adultery on her incredible visual album, LEMONADE, but in 4:44, we hear another perspective. One could wonder how Jay-Z even fathomed cheating on the Queen B and now we have an explanation. As he states on the track “Family Feud,” “Yeah, I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me. Let me alone, Becky. A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich. I’ll watch Godfather, I miss that whole shit.” From interoperation, the first half of that bar makes it seem as though Jay-Z’s own psyche and self-image is what resulted in his infidelity. The latter half of the bar implies that he lost his values in a sea of money and fame, but now realizes that

none of those things matter without his family, hence the Godfather reference. This album is Jay-Z trying to warn a younger generation of what can destroy a person and a career. Jay has been striving for independence his entire career. Whether it was starting his own record label, Roc-A-Fella Records, or creating the streaming service Tidal, he has made it a point to be his own boss. Throughout this entire LP, Jay is drawing us the blueprint to achieve the level of financial freedom he has attained. He does not want the current generation to succumb to the woes of his past. This is apparent on the most polarizing track on the album, “The Story Of O.J.”. First, he speaks on the aspect of fiscal irresponsibility that has plagued the rap community from MC Hammer to DMX. A huge element to hiphop culture is the acquisition of immediate assets, like expensive cars and large chains. Jay references this directly in the bar, “I bought every V12 engine. Wish I could take it back to the beginnin’. I coulda bought a place in Dumbo before it was Dumbo. For like 2 million. That same building today is worth 25 million. Guess how I’m feelin’? Dumbo.” The first half of the sequence is an obvious reference to his susceptibility in his younger days to purchase high-end cars rather than investing. The second half is

speaking on how he wishes he could go back in time and use his capital to invest in profitable land. These mature economic statements are littered all over this song. Financial safety is not a constant theme in most rap music, so to hear Jay say “ you wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit.” was surprising to say the least. He finally goes on to speak on how minorities have thrived in America’s capitalist environment: generational wealth and owning land. “Financial freedom my only hope. Fuck livin’ rich and dyin’ broke I bought some artwork for one million. Two years later, that shit worth two million. Few years later, that shit worth eight million. I can’t wait to give this shit to my children.” His statement is that they way to solidify the success of your lineage is to have tangible things to sell. Regardless of economic time period, land and artwork will always have value. Essentially, 4:44 is a field guide to financial success in so-called “postracial” America. Overall, this LP is a instant classic. There are only a few albums that reach this caliber of critical success in a generation, so the fact that I am alive to experience it in realtime is an honor.

Rating: 10/10

Faculty Spotlight

Empathy Compassion Contemplation and

Jesse Fox, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Under what conditions do healthy relationships exist between people? Looking at scores of studies from empirical psychology to the practical experience of professional people helpers and faith leaders, one condition tends to rise to the top of the list—empathy. Carl Rogers (1980 as cited in Rogers 1959), the psychologist we owe much of our contemporary fascination with empathy, famously defined empathy as being “completely at home in the universe of the patient. It is a moment-to-moment sensitivity that is in the “here and now,” the immediate present. It is a sensing of the client’s inner world of private personal meanings “as if” it were the therapist’s own, but without ever losing the “as if” quality” (pp. 210-211). The crucial moment of that definition is the “as if” part. Some misunderstand empathy as simply “feeling the pain of the other person.” For sure, if you open yourself up to the point of trying to understand the perspective and emotions of another human being, you may find your own pain runs in parallel to their pain. At other times, you may even misread the other person’s pain as your own! But this is not really empathy. Empathy is more about getting out of your own ego long enough to prevent “you” from getting in the way of making a genuine connection to another’s thoughts and emotions, eventually you also begin to understand the shape and form of meaning in their life as well.

The Empathy Issue

Dr. Jesse Fox

How do you cultivate this way of seeing other people? One answer to that question comes from the thousands of years of spiritual discipline spanning time and all parts of the globe and human societies. These time-tested strategies are sometimes referred to as contemplative practices, but they have reemerged in the various meditations movements in western society from transcendental, to mindfulness, to loving kindness meditations. Sometimes these contemporary movements are firmly grounded in their spiritual heritage (centering prayer) or they are re-contextualized from their original tradition to western secular society (mindfulness).

In this way, empathy, much like forgiveness, can be a kind of social lubricant that prevents a potentially never ending cycle of conflict based on one-upmanship and tit-for tat relationship dynamics from spinning out of control. That’s why contemplative practices are almost always paired with contemplative communities to help foster such predispositions towards others— what Jesuits call “contemplatives in action.” One final word. You may have read this and thought, “Sure, that sounds easy. Meditate, empathize, and empathy will flourish.” Now if you also thought, “Real life is just much more complicated than that!” I wholeheartedly agree with you.

Regardless, one common finding across meditation practices is that they appear to help people to varying degrees become more empathic and compassionate toward others by helping them become less determined by the whim of their personal desires and agendas (what Buddhists call emptiness).

And the reason it is more complicated than that is because people are autonomous and no single person can complete a network of empathy and compassion by themselves. Everyone must eventually recognize that offering a gift of empathy and compassion for others is not always reciprocated.

This is consistent with a teaching in my personal tradition (centering prayer) where we say that the fruit of the prayer is not found on the meditation mat, but the time outside of our meditation. It is also similar to the way that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. understood the concept of church, not so much as a place you “go to” but the place you “come out from.”

However, in some cases it could create the conditions whereby the other person may experience the warmth of your non-defensive presence and reciprocate in kind. Some traditions hold that the outcome isn’t really the point, but the offer of genuine empathy and compassion is an end it itself. When all of human society is capable of offering that gift is ultimately a mystery, but one worth pursuing with commitment.

Contemplative practices, much like church, are no panacea; when you get up from the meditation mat you still must go out and live with people who are sometimes frustrating, sometimes loving, sometimes easy to understand, and sometimes distressingly opaque. People, when you really get to know them, are almost always a mixed bag!

A contemplative practice, paired with a caring community, often helps to make that happen—at least in part.

The Reporter

WORK FOR US Hatter Network is hiring the 2018-19 Editorial Board! Positions Available Editor-in-Chief Creative Director 2 Managing Editors Managing Editor of Creative Content Executive Producer WHAT Radio Station Manager Business Manager

Contact Hatter Network on Facebook or email Editor-in-Chief Kait Forsythe (kforsyth@stetson.edu) for more information.

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The Reporter magazine is a product of Hatter Network. With love and empathy, The Reporter Staff 2017