Issue 4 | Volume 151 | February 11, 2019
theavion.com | (386) 226-6049
A Campus B Industry & Technolgy C Entertainment
National Air and Space Museum Director Visits ERAU
Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper
On Feb. 4, in the first Embry-Riddle Speaker Series event of the spring semester, Dr. Ellen Stofan, director of the National Air and Space Museum, discussed the extensive renovations that are taking place at the museum and gave her thoughts on the future of space exploration. The museum, located on the National Mall and near Dulles Airport in Washington D.C., is one of the most visited museums in the country with an average of eight million people attending each year. It was a privilege to have a premier planetary scientist on campus to talk about the two most significant student interests at this university: air and space technology. Dr. Stofan became the director of the museum on April 18, 2018, and is the first woman to hold the position since the founding of the museum in 1976. She is a planetary geologist by training and was the Chief Scientist of NASA between 2013 and 2016, under the administration of former astronaut Charles Bolden. Dr. Stofan contributed to both the Cassini mission to Saturn and the European Mars Express orbiter. She has a particular interest in Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, as it is one of the few locations in the
solar system besides the Earth that may harbor some form of life. Dr. Stofan also was the leading investigator of the Titan Mare Explorer concept, which proposed sending a lander to Titan that would float on a lake on the surface and search for life. Although the mission was defeated by what is now the Europa Clipper spacecraft, Dr. Stofan is a scientist on a new Titan mission concept that could be selected for launch by NASA this summer. The National Air and Space Museum tells the story of air and space technology, with artifacts ranging in time from the Wright Flyer to the Apollo lunar lander to the F-35 fighter jet. The Speaker Series event began with a beautiful video announcing the museum’s planned seven-year renovation and its mission to “ignite tomorrow.” Despite the renovations, the museum will never fully close; the west side of the museum will be renovated before the east side. The museum is open every day of the year except Christmas day. Dr. Stofan said the renovations are designed to adapt the existing exhibits to 21st-century audiences and share new stories from the history of air and space technology. The original air conditioning system will also be replaced, which will ensure a more comfortable ex-
perience for guests and the preservation of artifacts such as the Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis for generations to come. Neil Armstrong’s suit that he wore on the surface of the Moon is currently being restored and will be put back on display in July.
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The National Air and Space Museum is preserving air and space exploration history for generations to come, and the renovations are critical to achieving this goal.
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Micheal Weinhoffer Senior Reporter
Dr. Stofan also wants to get an ISS suit for the museum, but NASA frequently repairs and reuses old uniforms, so obtaining a spare suit a challenge. The museum is also in the process of digitizing printed materials that are currently in the archives of the museum. The renovated museum will include a Saturn V F-1 engine retrieved from the ocean floor by Jeff Bezos and an exhibit on innovation in air and space exploration. As Dr. Stofan said, the National Air and Space Museum is preserving air and space exploration history for generations to come, and the renovations are critical to
achieving this goal. In a single lifetime, humankind went from flying a few feet above the ground at Kitty Hawk to landing men on the Moon again and again. The museum tells this story of the past and inspires everyone about the future. The Speaker Series event was a great opportunity to not only learn about the history and future of the museum but also be inspired by the future potential of two dynamic and interconnected fields.
Museum Factoids •• The National Air and Space Museum is the largest of 19 museums included in the Smithsonian Institution. •• The Smithsonian’s aeronautical collection began in 1876 when a group of kites was acquired from the Chinese Imperial Commission. •• In 1966, law was signed that changed the name of the National Air Museum to the National Air and Space Museum to memorialize the development of both aviation and spaceflight. •• Today, the National Air and Space Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world.ht. •• The Museum remains the preeminent American institution for memorializing flight, and for collecting, preserving, and presenting aviation and space technology.
All facts provided by Smithsonian
THE AVION
A2 Campus
Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor
Jaclyn Wiley K’Andrew France-Beckford News Editor Nick Hernandez Business Manager Alex Lee Photo Editor Vipul Telang
Page Editors Cover Editor Victoria Jordan Campus Editors Nick Hernandez Keenan Thungtrakul Rajan Khanna Industry Editors Andy Bronshteyn Jorja Gwaltney Emily Rickel Vipul Telang Entertainment Editor Jaclyn Wiley Comics Editor Alex Lee Copy Editors Sarah Fairchild Jordyn Taylor
Contributors Reporters Photographers
Jaclyn Wiley Korbin Martin Michael Weinhoffer Keenan Thungtrakul Keenan Thungtrakul Connor Strobel Nick Hernandez Rajan Khanna Korbin Martin
Correspondents
Kenneth Warnock, David Keck, Christina Frederick, Brandon Collins, Joshua Smith, James Myers
Staff Advisor Ronnie Mack Asst. Director, Media & Marketing
Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Business Manager: (386) 226-7697 Editor-In-Chief: editor@theavion.com Managing Editor: managing@theavion.com News Editor: news@theavion.com Business Manager: business@theavion.com Photo Editor: photo@theavion.com
Website: theavion.com @theavionnewspaper u/theavionnewspaper @The_Avion @TheAvion
The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion. Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: Student Union, Room 219.
Dear HumanE Factors, I have a great girlfriend, but I hate Valentine’s Day. We’ve been going out for over a year now, and I love our relationship. It’s chill and intense at the same time. I’m a good boyfriend – I give her space when she needs it, I pay for dinner most of the
time, and I’ve never done anything behind her back. But I hate all the expectations of the special day. I never know what the right thing is to buy or do. I want to show her I care, but what’s wrong with flowers, chocolate, and a hug? I feel guilty. There’s also the money factor – her family is
a lot more wealthy than mine. We’re not poor, but I didn’t grow up wandering through jewelry stores, for instance. I’d think about a necklace or something, but whatever I could afford wouldn’t be all that nice compared to what she is used too. Can you help me?
David’s Thoughts:
find words, objects, or experiences that somehow, even vaguely convey just how grateful, lucky, and humble I feel? Everything I think of seems inadequate – and that makes me feel inadequate. My advice is to remember that if such a great person is in a relationship with you, trust his or her judgment. They want to be with YOU. There are reasons for that. S/he could have any number of relationships – s/ he is that wonderful, after all – but s/ he has chosen you. Be yourself – that is what s/he wants most. We recognize when people are giving their best, really trying to show that we care, and we respect that. You are not a poet – but you are you. If you are uncertain what to do for Valentine’s Day, you can always brainstorm with a friend who knows your beloved too. We all want to be natural at showing our affection, but there’s nothing wrong with asking for help if the result is better. That will be appreciated. Finally, money. “For the love of money is the root of all evil” is a verse from the Bible. And although the love of money does not seem to be part of the problem, in this case, this verse is a reminder that money can be a powerful obstacle in relationships. Coming
to college and living together in small dorm spaces can create the illusion that students have more in common financially than they do. Yet when you get to know someone and learn that they live in THAT kind of house, or have that THOSE things, it can create a sense of inferiority. In the long run, these kinds of differences can get in the way of relationships. What will his parents think of my parents? They have x, y, and z, and I’m the first in my family to go to college. We don’t know what the differences are here; we only know that they are a problem for the writer. My advice is to go ahead and think about a necklace or something you think she would enjoy. If it is from the heart, it will be meaningful. If it is less expensive than something she already has but represents a significant investment for you, it will be even more meaningful than you think. If, on the other hand, she looks down on it because it is not a valuable as something else she already has, then, I’d say it she doesn’t have the character to appreciate you and your gift. At that point, what to get for Valentine’s Day is the least of your relationship problems.
Christinas’s Thoughts:
the relationship is strong. Trust that fact. I’m sure after all this time your girlfriend also realizes that your financial means can’t compare with her family’s and since she’s sticking with you, that isn’t why she loves you. You seem like a great boyfriend, and it sounds like your girlfriend appreciates that. If you would like to recognize the awesomeness of your relationship on Valentine’s Day, I’d focus on the things that make it all work for you two. Write a note in your own words about what she and the relationship mean to you. Deliver it in any manner you’d like – sentence by sentence on a pack of kids’ valentines, with candy kisses, at a dinner you cooked for both of you,
with a bunch of her favorite flowers or with you dressed in a cupid outfit. Whatever fits your style. Don’t be afraid to get creative and go a little ‘cutesie crazy.’ Love isn’t always rational, so having a little fun and creating a memory that both of you can share years from now will go much further than an expensive gift. Lighten up on yourself and this holiday. It’s one day in a year of moments, but it is an opportunity to recognize the importance of someone you care deeply for. Remember, all of you out there, it’s not about the gifts, it’s about the sentiment, and that doesn’t have to be big, expensive or solemn. Let the joy of love shine through this year!
So… there are several challenges here – how to demonstrate your feelings, creativity in relationships, and different experiences with money. Sharing how we really feel can be difficult. It means that we actually know how we feel. Sometimes, we can mistake one feeling for another. Am I depressed, sad, bummed, or grumpy? Each is a little different, and one can lead to another. It may just be a matter of expression, but the writer says that he loves the relationship, but he doesn’t say whether he loves his girlfriend. Maybe part of the challenge of Valentine’s Day is that he is not satisfied. He may have said, “I love you,” but he may not know clearly, honestly, and deeply in his heart. How do we know the difference between loving and liking a whole lot? And, as we have discussed in these pages before, love is always increasing or decreasing. How do we know whether the love slope is positive or negative? Creativity in relationships can be one life’s great frustrations – I do know that I love someone, and she is the most amazing, fantastic, incredible, patient, thoughtful, kind, loving person in the universe. Ever. How can I ever Let me start by wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day. What you’ve presented is a real dilemma for a holiday that tends to be one of the most stressful for couples. You aren’t alone. I’ll begin by saying that sometimes we get anxious because we buy into the hype of the holiday. Stores want to sell you cards, flowers, dinners, jewelry - all to express how much you love your partner. The bottom line here though, if you celebrate Valentine’s Day, is that this holiday recognizes love and love doesn’t need fancy displays to be genuine and heartfelt. So, please just take a deep breath and think for a moment that you and your girlfriend have been together for a year and
Call For Questions! Do you have any relationship questions? You can send an email to Christina Frederick or David Keck, or, if you prefer to keep things anonymous, you can drop off notes for HumanE Factor Prof. Christina Frederick, Human Factors, COAS 4th floor or Chaplain David Keck, Center for Faith and Spirituality. To respect your privacy, real names and identifying details will be eliminated in our responses in the Avion. Reverend David Keck keckd2@erau.edu
Christina Frederick frederic@erau.edu
THE AVION
Student Government A3
What Has Your SGA Been Up To? General Announcements
Van Shuttles
• FREE coffee, hot chocolate, and tea are now available in the SGA Office located on the second floor of the Student Union! Feel free to come by and visit! • We held three Treasurer Training sessions which were very well attended! If your Student Organization wants SGA to help cover costs for an event or conference, you can fill out a budget packet on the SGA website and deliver it to our office.
Our Van Shuttle service started on Tuesday, January 22 and operates every Monday-Friday from 7AM-7PM. The route includes stops at Eagle Landing Apartments, The Chanute Complex, & the Student Union Circle on a continuous loop. In just one week our Van Shuttle had 470 passengers! We placed a poll on Facebook for new stop locations, service to Legacy Apartments won and will be added soon!
• Election packets are out! Positions consisting of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Student Representative Board, Student Finance Board will be up for election. Come by the SGA office to fill one out! Please note that each set of President, Vice President, and Treasurer candidates must run on a single ticket.
ERAU
MCO
Upcoming Event:
MCO
ERAU
Airport Shuttles from Tropical Transportation will be available for Spring Break with service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) for only $7 per student each way! Look out for a mass email with a sign-up link!
Work In Progress • The current sound system in the Student Union can’t pick up the signal from our WIKD radio station, SGA is working with the Facilities Department to have WIKD music throughout the whole Union. • All bathrooms in the Student Union will be wheelchair accessible, work has already started, and the third floor is complete!
Contact Us Email us at sgastu@erau.edu or stop by the Student Leadership Suite located on the second floor of the Union (SU 225).
Army ROTC Places in Top 10 in the 6th Annual Brigade Ranger Challenge Kenneth Warnock Correspondent On Jan. 24-26 the Embry-Riddle Ranger Challenge Teams made the 2-hour drive to Camp Blanding to participate in the annual 6th Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition. The team started training early last semester to compete against 40 other schools from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and Florida. The competition began on day 0 when all of the teams were supposed to arrive. After the team arrived and were checked into their barracks, they were tasked with completing a modified physical fitness test. This included a timed two-mile run, one minute of hand release pushups, one minute of sit-ups, 10 minutes of burpees as a team, and 10 minutes of air squats as a team.
Team 1 finished 3rd and Team 2 8th in this event. Day one of the competition started for the ERAU teams at 0500. The teams woke up and ate, conducted hygiene and personal care before gearing up and meeting out in a formation. The teams were then sent to their respective stations to perform the first events. The ERAU teams started with a gear layout and then moved back to the barracks in wait for the land navigation written test. Once the written test was completed, Teams 1 and 2 started their 3-mile movement to the M-4 Range. After the teams finished at the shooting range, they made the 0.6-minute leg movement to the hand grenade assault course. Having completed the assault course, they made the 3.6-mile trek back to the barracks to con-
clude Day 1. Team 1 landed in 3rd place after the first day and Team two wrangled out a spot in 5th. Day two started for the RC Teams at 0530. Teams 1 and 2 fueled up, put all of their equipment into vans and were shuttled out to their start point. ERAU started at the land navigation practical course. The teams had three hours to find 24 points that were anywhere between 50 to 3000 meters from the start point. After the teams located their points, they gathered their gear and conducted a 2-mile foot movement to the obstacle course. After completing the O-Course, the team once again put on their packs and headed to the Call For Fire event. This event simulated the radio transmissions to get artillery called in on a specific location. The teams then rucked up and head-
ed a mile down the road to treat a casualty being affected by various wounds. Then the team made the 4-mile road march back to the land navigation course where they started to conclude the day. Embry-Riddle Teams 1 and 2 patiently waited for the scores to be calculated. Later that evening the awards were given out. Team 1 finished in 2nd and Team 2 finished in 7th overall. This means that Embry-Riddle will be sending a Ranger Challenge team to compete at the Sandhurst competition held at the United States Military Academy in New York. They will compete against the best from the other ROTC Brigades, teams from the other American service academies, as well as several international teams from Greece, Germany, Argentina, and many more.
Aerospace Entrepeneurship
“FIRE IN THE NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE� A fire burns through a field in Toshka, Egypt where corn, grain, and feed crops are produced.
This photograph was taken by a satellite operated by Planet Labs Inc., founded in 2010. This aerospace startup uses satellite imagery to detect anomalies for their agriculture market. You can read more about Planet Labs and other aerospace entrepeneurs on page B3.
Photo Courtesy: Planet Labs Inc.
THE AVION
B2 Industry
Space Entrepreneurship Opportunities Continue to Grow
Embry-Riddle is a hub for space-related education, offering majors like Aerospace Engineering, Spaceflight Operations, and Space Physics. There are many professional options for these students, but one of the fastest areas of growth in the aerospace industry is in entrepreneurial ventures. While there are many entrants into the commercial space startup world, like Planetary Resources, OneWeb, Planet Labs and even SpaceX, there are still plenty of resources for young entrepreneurs in the space realm. These resources range from technology incubators to funding sources, to competitions to garner recognition. Embry-Riddle also offers many resources to space student-entrepreneurs. Many students at Embry-Riddle develop technologies, either through projects or through personal interest, that may be useful for commercial space activities. Technology incubators, a resource to young space entrepreneurs, help those students develop their technologies further. Technology incubators, like AeroInnovate, LightSpeed Innovations, and Boeing HorizonX Ventures, provide students with mentorship, resources, business services, and networking opportunities. A related resource is business accelerators, which offer similar services but are not specifically geared for technology companies. There are also other sources of support for commercial space ventures. For those seeking funding, there are multiple space-focused venture capital firms. Though a relatively new area in venture capital, space funding has snowballed in recent years. CI Research stated that in 2017, there was about $4B in combined financing distributed to space ventures. The Space Angels Network is an excellent resource for interested students since the firm compiles information about commercial space investment opportunities and has invested in over twenty companies.
Another area of growing support for space entrepreneurship is in competitions. Such competitions compare the business plans of fledgling space ventures and help to expose the entrants to both networking and funding opportunities but also the harsh reality of the business world. There are many competitions for space entrepreneurs, including the National Space Society’s Space Business Symposium and Business Plan Competition, the SATELLITE conference Startup Space 2019 Entrepreneur Pitch Contest, and the SpaceCom Entrepreneur Summit. These competitions are not limited to the United States, either. For example, the YSpace in Canada is a business plan competition designed to increase resources for young space entrepreneurs. There was even space entrepreneurial venture competition at the International Astronautical Congress in 2018, the IAF Startup Pitch Session. The contest required ten teams from around the world to present their projects to a panel of judges, as well as a large audience. Both the audience and the panel of judges voted on the best venture.
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One thing I really enjoy about working at WEINTRAUS is the energy and determination I see to get the company off to a solid start. I enjoy being a part of paving a new path in commercial space, enabling us to effectively demonstrate our company’s mission in a way that is both fun and effective.
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Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
Keenan Thungtrakul Embry-Riddle offers many resources for student-entrepreneurs looking to get their start. The Embry-Riddle Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the David B. O’Maley College of Business, was founded in 2015 to “marry technological knowledge in aeronautics, aerospace, engineering & computer science with business acumen to build world-class companies.” Students with an idea are encouraged by the Center for Entrepreneurship to attend their UpStart Hangar program. This
program is the first stage of an entrepreneurial venture, according to the Center for Entrepreneurship, and is open to students, alumni, faculty, and staff, with no reservation or appointment necessary. Another resource for students is the Center for Entrepreneurship’s Test Flight Bootcamp, which is a four-day intensive preparation program for entrepreneurs and their businesses. Participants learn about the value of a company’s value proposition and the customer discovery process.
Center for Entrepreneurship Opportunities • • • •
UpStart Hangar Program Test Flight Bootcamp TREP Entrepreneurship Expo Launch Your Venture Competition
The Center for Entrepreneurship also hosts the semesterly TREP Entrepreneurship Expo, a competition for entrepreneurial ventures held annually at the Daytona Beach Embry-Riddle campus. Entrants compete for cash prizes over the course of a three-day event that also features lectures from business professionals, networking opportunities, and business consultations for contending teams. Another competition that the Center for Entrepreneurship hosts is the Launch Your Venture competition. Presented by Boeing HorizonX Ventures, the Launch Your Venture competition features student-led startups in the aviation, aerospace, and engineering realms. Teams have 10 minutes to pitch their startups and have the chance to win up to $10,000. The Launch Your Venture competition is open to students currently enrolled at an accredited university in Florida. While there are many resources available to space entrepreneurs, there is still a great deal of risk. Like any business, entrepreneurial ventures must contend with a fluctuating market, and competition, which has risen dramatically over the last decade.
During a panel at the SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley, California, panelists stated that over 900 commercial space companies, many of which are start-ups and other small entrepreneurial ventures, plan to launch over 20,000 satellites in the coming decades. The panelists continued to discuss the future “shakeout” of the commercial small satellite industry, which would reduce the overpopulated field of competitors. Entrepreneurs should not lose hope, however; there are many success stories, some of which are close to home for Embry-Riddle students. WEINTRAUS, founded by Embry-Riddle alum Scott Weintraub, is designing a spacecraft that inserts other spacecraft into their desired orbits. WEINTRAUS currently operates out of the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex (MicaPlex) and has utilized many of the resources that Embry-Riddle provides to entrepreneurial ventures. Keenan Thungtrakul is an intern at WEINTRAUS. “One thing I really enjoy about working at WEINTRAUS is the energy and determination I see to get the company off to a solid start. I enjoy being a part of paving a new path in commercial space, enabling us to effectively demonstrate our company’s mission in a way that is both fun and effective.” WEINTRAUS’s stated goals are to “provide more access to space, reverse orbital debris build-up, and make satellite refueling and servicing an affordable reality.” Students interested in the resources offered by the Center for Entrepreneurship should call 386226-7554 or email dbentrec@erau. edu. They can also attend the HappE Hour event in the Incubator Space in the MicaPlex on Feb. 22. Embry-Riddle students have many options when looking for a career after graduation. Entrepreneurship can be a risky path, especially in the already hazardous space industry, but there is a lot of support available as well, and students should consider it as a potential path.
THE AVION
UX Corner
Technology B3
Josh and Ameer are graduate students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students.
Give Me a Sign: Finding Your Way Around Campus Josh Smith and Ameer Hosein Graduate Researchers Have you ever tried to find a location on campus, but couldn't find it because of lousy signage? Has a sign ever mislead you? Was it confusing or just not readable? These are typical examples of issues that can occur when poor signage is implemented. We examined the signage from two buildings on campus: the Student Union (UC) and the College of Arts and Science (COAS).
The User Experience of Signage and Wayfinding
Wayfinding is a term that is used to explain how we navigate in our environment. Have you ever thought about what guides you to your destination when you are in an unfamiliar place? On a college campus, efficient wayfinding is extremely important, especially to new students and visitors. Without proper cues to guide wayfinding, it is difficult to determine where to go whether you are outside or inside of a building. On our campus, signage is used to influence the wayfinding experience. For example, as we drive onto campus from Clyde-Morris Blvd, it is evident where we are because of the sizeable Embry-Riddle sign. Once on campus, what cues do you use to find places you have never been before? Can you recall any classes that you had trouble finding when you first arrived on campus? Poorly designed signage stems from the usability problem of poor visibility. This could be of the sign itself or the sign lettering. Ideally, signage should guide you how to navigate campus intuitively. In other words, when signage is effective, we do not even think about it.
Student Union Signage
Buildings open for the first time with that new-building smell and the feeling of awe-inspiring wonderment when entering. The Student Union was no different; however, it did come with some signage and wayfinding issues. Fortunately, a couple of these problems have already been addressed. First, let’s think about the tray return area located between the Refueling Station and Qdoba. Initially, the only sign for this area was a small, blue plaque with white lettering. The sign is located between the tray return area and Qdoba. The problem? The popularity of Qdoba resulted in a line of students beyond the roped area, which completely blocked this sign. Not knowing where to take their tray, they left them on the tables
or threw their dishes in the trash. To alleviate this problem, a tall portable banner was placed in the dining area reminding students not to throw away plates, but it did not instruct students where to find the tray return. Students then started to leave their dishes at the trash bins on either side of the dining area; above the bins, it clearly stated not to leave them but to take them to the tray return area instead. But where was the tray return? A hanging sign with the text, “Tray Return,” was recently installed from the ceiling inside the tray return area. It alleviates the issue of the blocked signage by Qdoba and allows students to see it from almost the entire dining area. This helps, though it can be difficult to see due to the transparency of the sign background. This could be fixed by giving the sign a solid background color, like white, to contrast with the blue lettering.
College of Arts and Sciences
Photo Courtesy: Josh Smith
When the UC opened, the restroom sign was positioned well above eye level and was only easily readable from the sides (top). Recently, a restroom sign was added that was closer to eye level (bottom). Placing men’s and women’s signs on the back wall would help even more.
Propellers Cafe
Photo Courtesy: Josh Smith
When the UC opened, the only tray return room sign was quickly blocked by a long Qdoba line (top). There was no signage in the room or on the above panel. The banner reminding students not to throw away dishes didn’t say where the place was. Recently, a “Tray Return” sign was hung from the ceiling (bottom) though it can be hard to read.
Next, we examined the signage for the main restrooms on the first floor. Similar to the tray return, the first signage for the restrooms seemed to be inadequate. The sign was small, located higher than eye level above the restroom entrance, and could only be read from the side due to its perpendicular-to-the-wall design. A new sign was recently placed on the left-hand side of the restroom entrance. This additional sign allows students to locate the first-floor restrooms better. This signage could be improved further if it was even bigger. Additionally, adding signs for the men's and women's restroom on the back wall would further enhance the wayfinding experience.
The sign for the Propellers Cafe (Props) blends into the glass paneling on the right-hand side of the entrance. The first portion of the poster shows "Propellers" written vertically in large letters, while the second shows "Propellers Cafe" written horizontally and much smaller than the vertical text. During the day, the reflection of the environment on the glass hinders the visibility of the sign, and when there is no reflection at dusk, the lights inside Propellers obscure the view of the sign. The Props sign could be improved with more foreground/background contrast since the vertical portion has white lettering and the horizontal portion has blue lettering. A blue background behind the vertical lettering would provide better contrast and readability. Adding a white background behind the horizontal lettering further improve this as well.
Photo Courtesy: Josh Smith
When approaching Propellers during the day, the reflection of the environment obscures the visibility of the sign (left). A proposed sign that has more background contrast with lettering color, providing an improvement in readability (right).
Students are accustomed to the campus’ older and more traveled buildings, like the COAS, compared to the newer Student Union. However, they too suffer from some wayfinding challenges. For example, on the first floor of the COAS, finding a specific classroom can be difficult for newcomers. These signs are placed inconsistently depending on the building entrance you choose. Entering from the COAS parking lot shows signage for the various classrooms on the wall to your right for easy identification from that side of the building. Entering from the UC reveals no signage until you reach the hallways or elevator. With congestion between classes, this can be problematic. Perhaps the signs could be hung from the ceiling indicating which side of the building contains certain rooms. These double-sided signs could be useful from both entrance directions. A sign could also be placed in empty wall space for students or visitors entering from the UC.
Photo Courtesy: Josh Smith
When walking into the COAS from the UC, no signage indicating room direction can be seen (top). One sign is on the opposite side of the wall, while another sign isn’t visible until the elevators. Hanging a room location sign from the ceiling or placing one in empty wall space would improve the wayfinding experience when entering from the UC (bottom).
Signing Off
Appropriate signage familiarizes people in a physical space and provides directional assistance to get from point A to point B. Messages presented on wayfinding signage minimizes a person’s natural confusion when navigating a new and unfamiliar environment and improves the overall experience of traversing the university campus. Each of these suggested signage design solutions provides students with greater feedback on how to better navigate the Student Union and the first floor of the COAS. Have you seen another example of poor signage on campus? Let us know! Or, suggest something else for the RUX lab to evaluate by scanning this QR code!
THE AVION
B4 Industry
What’s Inside?
An in-depth look at one of America’s fastest sports
Vipul Telang & Rajan Khanna Photo Editor & Senior Photograper The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR, first began here in Daytona Beach, Florida. Between 1905 and 1930, drivers attempted to set speed records on the hard, compacted sand. This later became a road course which drew drivers from around the world. The drivers would race in the sand for nearly two miles before sharply turning around and heading the other direction on what is now called State Road A1A. Stock Car racing only took off during the Prohibition era, when bootleggers would modify their cars for speed and handling to outrun police while distributing alcohol. Even when Prohibition was repealed, drivers continued to improve their cars and would race them for entertainment. These races took off, particularly in the Southern United States, and soon after stock car racing was formed. Early cars raced under the “strictly stock” rules during the NASCAR Strictly Stock Series. These cars were built to be production vehicles and modifications were not allowed. Drivers would roll down their windows to prevent any glass from breaking, which is a tradition still observed nowadays using window nets to replace traditional windows. The current generation of cars, known as the Generation 6 era of stock car bodies, aims to return to the original stock body that NASCAR first started with. The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) cars are naturally aspirated 5.86 liter V8 engines, capable of producing 550 brake horsepower (bhp), reduced from last season’s
750 bhp, and 720 Newton-meters of torque. Unlike other series such as Formula 1 or the World Endurance Championship, the cars cannot drive in the rain, with the exception of three road-course tracks. NASCAR switched to digital dashboard displays manufactured by McLaren in 2016 in an attempt to keep up with modern production vehicles. The displays are completely customizable, allowing drivers to monitor 24 different elements including lap times and engine diagnostics. This is a large improvement from the analog gauges which only allowed drivers to see a certain amount of data.
NASCAR also has removed the restrictor plate for all superspeedway races except for the Daytona 500, allowing potentially higher speeds. This will be the first time NASCAR has removed the restrictor plate since 1987, when Bobby Allison’s car became airborne at high speeds and destroyed the catch-fencing at Talladega. That crash prompted NASCAR to implement the limiter to slow the cars down. Other changes include a larger spoiler and wider front splitter. Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, believes that fans will love the excitement and close racing that the 2019 rule changes can bring. “We
think that we’ll see the side-to-side racing that we’ve seen in the past,” he says. When the cars travel at nearly 200 miles per hour, safety is extremely important in order to keep all the drivers and spectators safe. NASCAR worked with the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska to design a barrier that would lessen impact forces when hit at high speeds. By “crushing” or deforming to stop cars from impacting solid concrete, the barrier would prevent serious injuries. As a result, the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier was created. Since its inception, the SAFER barrier has been paramount in reducing vehicular damage. The Cup cars, Xfinity cars, and Gander Outdoor Trucks all incorporate roof flaps to prevent the cars from becoming airborne during a crash. These flaps disrupt airflow as the car travels backwards at high speeds, preventing the rear of the car from “unsticking” from the track and lifting off. Penske Racing designed the original roof flaps following Rusty Wallace’s crash at Talladega in 1993. NASCAR team owner Jack Roush improved on Penske’s design in conjunction with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University soon after. Now, the flaps are located on the roof as well as the hood to further prevent cars from flipping. Unfortunately, the popularity of NASCAR has been on the decline in the past decade. Some of racing’s biggest names, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, have hung up their helmets and racing suits and helmets for a new life behind the TV broadcasting booth. Tracks such as Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte
Motor Speedway have demolished grandstands over the last few years that could have housed thousands of fans. But other than the series’ most marquee races, seat sales have dropped. So why has NASCAR lost fans and viewership? Some think that the sport has gotten boring. Ironically, the increased safety of racing has decreased the number of crashes and wrecks. However, others believe that the playoffs, a points-scoring system introduced in 2014 as a way to increase viewership shows that NASCAR is on the right track to recovery. Only time will tell if NASCAR will eventually return to glory days.
Upcoming At The Track Thursday, 14 February
Gander Outdoors Series Duel 1&2 Start Time: 7:00 p.m. / 9.00p.m. TV: FS1 Radio: MRN
Friday, 15 February
Gander Outdoor Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 Start Time: 7:30 p.m. TV: FS1 Radio: MRN
Saturday, 16 February
NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR Racing Experience 300 Start Time: 2:30 p.m. TV: FS1 Radio: MRN
Sunday, 17 February Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona 500
Start Time: 2:30 p.m. TV: FS1 Radio: MRN
Image Courtesy: NASCAR
Image Courtesy: 4A Games
THE AVION
C2 Entertainment Listen, Learn and Laugh
Jaclyn Wiley, Editor-in-Chief
Casefile True Crime "Casefile True Crime," often shortened to just "Casefile," is an outstanding true crime podcast series that helped to define the genre. Originally started by an anonymous host from Australia, "Casefile" is an extremely well-researched podcast that is usually an hour or more in length. While the cases usually vary from week to week, "Casefile" sometimes does multi-part series or follow-up pieces to earlier episodes. "Casefile" covers high-profile cases, like that of the North Hollywood Shoot-Out or the West Mesa Bone Collector, to less well-known cases like that of the Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs or Lindsay Buziak. "Casefile" is very professional and respectful to the victims, and should be on the top of any true crime fan's must-listen list.
Let Me Google That “Let Me Google That,” like the name implies, chronicles the efforts of science writer and published author Abby Norman to learn something new every day, using everyone’s favorite search engine and tool for societal control, Google. This short-form podcast usually lasts five to ten minutes and tackles topics like the Kentucky Meat Shower, Fast Radio Bursts, how chip credit cards work, and the story behind the Cape Canaveral area code, (321). There are hundreds of episodes from which to choose, meaning that anyone can find an episode they would find interesting. Norman is an engaging and interesting host who balances humor, quality content, and personal anecdotes to provide a fun and enjoyable podcast.
How I Built This For those interested in business or entrepreneurship, “How I Built This” is a great choice. Hosted by NPR’s Guy Raz, “How I Built This” explores the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, from people with fresh ideas to titans of industry. With guests like Herbert Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines, and David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue, Embry-Riddle students will definitely be interested. Other interesting guests include Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Bobby Trussell, founder of Tempur-Pedic, and Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran. This podcast has an excellent production value and is a very enjoyable listen for anyone who wants to learn more about the challenges of business and entrepreneurship.
Mother, May I Sleep With Podcast? In this podcast, internet personality and comedy writer Molly McAleer and her guest host of the week search for the best of the worst Lifetime movie. The title, “Mother, May I Sleep With Podcast,” is a reference to one of the most popular - or infamous - Lifetime movies ever made, “Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?” Movies like “Just Ask My Children,” “Death Clique,” and “The Client List” compete for the Tori Spelling Lifetime Lifetime Achievement Award. Please note, each episode can be up to three and a half hours long, like the movies that are discussed therein, and are not a quick listen. But for those who love Lifetime movies and have a lot of time on their hands, “Mother, May I Sleep With Podcast?” is for you.
Comedy Show Brought the Laughs
Photo Courtesy: Billy Nguyen
Orlando Baxter (left) and Chase Anthony (right) both headlined at Touch-N-Go’s Seriously Funny Comedy Show on Feb. 8. The jokes stemmed from stories about Baxter’s experience as a high school teacher to Anthony’s romantic mis-adventures. Check out touchngo.org for more upcoming events!
Games to Look Forward to: Spring 2019 Edition Brandon Collins Correspondent All gamers known of the video game seasons, the two major times in a year when most of the major games for the year are released. The more infamous of the two is most likely the Fall Game Season, which runs from about Mid-September through the end of May.
The Spring Game Season, which runs roughly from Mid-February through early May, is almost upon us. To commemorate the preSpring game season, the Avion is going through their top five most hyped games for the Fall line-up in descending order, with honorable mentions coming before the most hyped game.
Of course, these are not the only games we are hyped for this semester. So before discussing the last game, let us go through some honorable mentions, some of which have already come out this semester and others that come out right after the semester ends. Honorable mentions include SquareEnix’s Kingdom Hearts 3, which is the long-awaited sequel to 2005’s
#5 Pick The Division 2
Kingdom Hearts 2 (came out on Jan. 29), Capcom’s remake of their 1998 game, Resident Evil 2 (came out Jan. 25), Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (came out on Jan. 18), which we believe should be the official game of ERAU, and lastly, Bethesda’s Rage 2 (out May 14).
#4 Pick
First announced in Mar. 2018, Tom Clancy’s
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an upcoming
The Division 2 is an online action role-playing vid-
game from FromSoftware, best known for their
eo game currently set to be released on Mar. 15.
Dark Souls game series. FromSoftware’s new
It is played in a third-person perspective and is
game is an action-adventure video game which
the sequel to 2016’s Tom Clancy’s The Division,
will be played from a third-person perspective.
and it takes place roughly seven months after
Unlike the Souls games, Sekiro: Shadows Die
the events of the original game. The game fol-
Twice has very little to no role-playing elements,
lows a civil war between the survivors of a world-
such as character creation and class types.
wide smallpox epidemic and bands of maraud-
The game is set to take place in a reimagined
ers. Players will be able to cooperate with one
16th century Japan. In the game, players will
another to complete various objectives. The
take control of a shinobi who was left for dead
game will also have a raid feature, which can
following an attack on his lord. The game follows
be completed by groups of up to eight players.
the shinobi as he sets out to rescue his lord and
Sekiro:
Shadows Die Twice
get revenge on the samurai who attacked him. The game is currently set to release on Mar. 22.
(Xbox One, PC, PS4)
#3 Pick Developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, Anthem is set for a worldwide release
Anthem
(Xbox One, PC, PS4)
#2 Pick
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus the third game in the Metro Series, all of which is based off a series of by
on Feb. 22. Anthem combines a third-person
Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky. In Metro Ex-
perspective with action RPG elements in a “con-
odus, players follow the journey of Artyom (the
tiguous open world” that can be shared with up
protagonist from the two previous games), as
to three other players. The game features both
he journeys out into a post-apocalyptic waste-
single-player and co-operative multiplayer ele-
land of the Russian Federation. Metro Exodus is
ments, where the player, or group of players, can
a first-person shooter game with a blend of sur-
fight savage beasts and marauders while explor-
vival horror and stealth elements. Throughout
ing lost ruins and experiencing “massive, world-al-
the game, the player must cope with the new
tering terrain occurrences known as Sharper
hazards and engage in combat against mu-
Storms.”
tated creatures as well as hostile humans. Metro Exodus is currently set to release on Feb. 15.
(Xbox One, PC, PS4)
(Xbox One, PC, PS4)
THE AVION
Entertainment C3
#1 Pick
Days Gone
Days Gone is a survival-horror, action-adventure game currently being developed by SIE Bend Studio, which is probably best known for their Syphon Filter Series and Resistance: Retribution game, plus working with Naughty Dog on their Uncharted Series. Days Gone is set in a post-apocalyptic open world where players will take control of Deacon St. John, who is a former outlaw-turned drifter and bounty hunter. The game takes place roughly two years after a global pandemic wipes out most of humanity, and transforming millions of others into “freakers,” a zombie-creature that is said to be quickly evolving. Sony has said that the player can complete objectives in multiple ways, such as by using stealth or long and short ranged weapons. The game is said to also feature a dynamic weather system and day-night cycle. The game is currently set to be released on Apr. 26.
Comics and Games
There’s one person in Missouri who says “carbo bev” who the entire rest of the country HATES.
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2/10/2019
KenKen Puzzle Official Site - Free Math Puzzles That Make You Smarter!
uzzle No. 174089, 4X4, easy
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6×
2÷
3―
7+
4+
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1―
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Easy 1/5
1/1
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