Avion Issue 2 Spring 2018

| Issue 2 | Volume 149 | Tuesday, January 30, 2018 | theavion.com |

Photo Courtesy: Bombardier

Boeing Gets Bombarded...

In the Courtroom Henry Neiberlien Editor-in-Chief

What’s Inside

The United States International Trade Commission voted unanimously on Friday to prevent the U.S. Department of Commerce from imposing tariffs on Bombardier aircraft, like their new C series, of up to 300%. These taxes, if imposed, would make the initially affordable price of the C series so overpriced to the point it is uncompetitive. Boeing previously protested the C series claiming that the government subsidies given by the Canadian government towards their development caused significant harm to Boeing in the commercial aircraft marketplace. Delta Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the US, had ordered up to 125 CS100 aircraft to replace its aging fleet of MD-88 jetliners. Boeing claims that Bombardiers Canadian funding help it sell these aircraft to Delta at "absurdly low process." Deliveries were about to begin to Delta, but this dispute between Bombardier and Boeing has stopped those temporarily and created enormous strain between the United States and Canada.

This decision is a decisive win for Bombardier and will ultimately hurt Boeing's reputation in the long run. Boeing currently does not even offer a commercial aircraft in the 125 seats regional market that the CS100 is competing in. Boeing most likely was trying to prevent 160 seat

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CS300 and other planned larger C series variants which could compete against the 737 MAX series. Another huge loss for Boeing is the fact Airbus, Boeing's direct competitor in the narrow body market, now holds a majority stake in the C series and will be marketing it and manufacturing it right here in the United States. Airbus will use the C series to supplement its A320 series and possibly replace the A319neo in its narrow-body lineup.

Both companies share prices were affected by this decision with Bombardier rising 15%. Boeing's shares hardly changed, but they did drop by 0.4%. At least, for now, the market is investing in the Canadian company; however, Boeing seems to be able to shake off these disputes with little loss of investment. Boeing, while not developing a 100 seat regional aircraft of its own, seems to be interested in another lead manufacturer in the market, Embraer.

Boeing and Embraer had been in possible merger talks last month, but as of publication, neither corporation has publicly discussed their intentions.

The Bombardier C series is capitalizing on an aircraft market that hasn't had a new plane since the late 1990's. The 100 seat short-range airliner market suffered the downturn in air travel following Sept.

11, 2001. Today the high-efficiency, short range market is in very high demand in US airlines, and many carriers are trying to

find aircraft to fill this role. Many carriers have purchased Airbus A320's and Embraer E190s to fill this space while others like Delta have looked to "old but gold" aircraft like the McDonnell Douglas MD-90 and Boeing 717(MD-95). Unfortunately, none of these aircraft are a perfect fit for the role airlines are trying to put them in. Bombardier has built a high-tech, high-efficiency airliner that is the ideal plane to fill this gap in the market and set to take over. This decision by the US FTC has paved the ride for Bombardier to finally achieve success with a very long and expensive project like the C series. The Canadian manufacturer is set to see progress it has not seen since the release of the CRJ series. Now, all we can

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do is wait to see Boeing's next move in this new battle for the narrow-body market.

The Bombardier CS100 is already in service in Europe with Swiss Global airlines and the CS300 has started revenue flights with airBaltic, Swiss Global, and Korean Airlines. Other notable airlines that have placed orders for the C series include Air Canada, which has 45 CS300s on order, Republic Airlines, which has 40 CS300s on order, and EgyptAir, which has 12 CS300. The C-series was already having a strong start for a newcomer to the shorthaul sector and the ruling by the Federal Trade Commission will only secure its place in the future of US air travel. Bombardier is here to stay.

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons A Delta Airlines MD-88, Delta plans to replace this aging airliner with Bombardier C series jets.

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The Avion

Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager

Henry Neiberlien Collin Anderson Rajan Khanna Samantha Stirmel Vipul Telang Payton Muglia

Page Editors Front Editor Campus Editors SGA Editor Student Life Editor Feature Editors I&T Editors Sports Editors Entertainment Editors Comics Editor Copy Editors

Henry Neiberlien Sarah Fairchild Jorja Gwaltney Brandon Collins Madeline Eitniear Keenan Thungtrakul K’Andrew France-Beckford Abigail Johnson Andrew Bronshteyn Victoria Jordan Emily Rickel Chaz Pokracki Taylor Candage Jaclyn Wiley Samantha Stirmel Brandon Collins Sarah Fairchild

Staff Contributors Reporters Keenan Thungtrakul Michael Weinhoffer Victoria Jordan Abigail Johnson Brandon Collins

Photographers K’Andrew France-Beckford

Saktiswaran Jeyaganesh Joshua Rosado Samantha Stirmel Nick Hernandez

Correspondents Jorja Gwaltney, Vanessa Burkett, Chris Weil

Staff Advisor Jessica Murphy, Avion Advisor

Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Ad Manager: (386) 226-7697 Fax Number: (386) 226-6016 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager

editor@theavion.com managing@theavion.com news@theavion.com business@theavion.com photo@theavion.com advertising@theavion.com

Website: theavion.com

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 Embry-Riddle 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: John Paul Riddle Student Center, Room 110. Phone: (386) 226-6049. Fax: (386) 226-6727.

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How to Find Your Next Best Friend Abby Johnson Senior Reporter Coming back to Daytona Beach after a long winter break can mean multiple things to different people. Maybe it means finally getting back on a schedule after much deserved lazy days. Perhaps most of the students at Embry-Riddle missed the warm weather after freezing to death in places such as Ohio, New York, or even Iowa. However, there is one thing that students will miss more than everything else: their pets. Pets are not only cute, fun, and exciting, but they are also great companions. Dogs are known to help reduce stress levels, which is probably why Riddle students miss them so much. Living on campus comes with the unfortunate rule of having no pets in the dorm rooms besides tiny fish. Unless, of course, one considers the cats that live under the buildings by the library and across from the gym as “pets,” the closest encounter you are going to get to your beloved furry friends are small swimming vertebrates that “do not do much.”

However, a way exists to end all the suffering of on-campus students who miss their dogs and cats from home. The

Samantha Stirmel/The Avion Newspaper Front Entrance to the Halifax Humane Society, where hundreds of animals are awaiting adoption. Visit today!

Halifax Humane Society is right off of I-95 on the same road of the famous Tanger Outlets.

It is home to around 350 animals until they can be groomed, vaccinated, and adopted out to loving owners in the Daytona Beach area. Something most people do not know is that it is not required to adopt any animals if you decide to visit. Visitors have the treat of saying hello to all the dogs and cats and are even allowed to play with the dogs in a small fenced area behind the building. From Pitbull mixes to terriers and from retrievers to Labradors, so many cute and

friendly animals wait for people and future family members. Anyone who may fear dogs should know that every dog in the humane society is well mannered, if even not a little shy.

The dogs are all taught basic etiquette and those that need a little help go through the Prison Program. The Prison Program is an opportunity for dogs to work with select inmates at a local facility where they will learn and be trained to behave suitably before being sent back to the humane society for adoption. Some exceptional dogs that go through the Prison Pro-

Samantha Stirmel/The Avion Newspaper This is Ana, she’s two years and one month old! She’s looking for a new family and she loved when our photographer gave her some treats. If you’re interested in adopting Ana, or any other animal, contact Halifax Human Society!

gram are even chosen to enter the Paws of Freedom program, an organization that matches up veterans with a loving friend and pet.

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Exceptional dogs that go through the Prison Program are even chosen to enter the Paws of Freedom program.

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The dogs all are overjoyed when potential families and friends visit them. Nothing will make a person happier besides the sight of a grateful dog chasing a tennis ball after being selected to play. Making a trip to humane society will not only brighten your day but will also help the outreach of this organization to find these loving animals new homes.

Volunteer opportunities are available for people who would like to spend even more time with the animals on site. These dogs and cats, who did not receive the love and care they needed before, need a second chance to find new friends and a new home. The smallest show of affection, from a pat on the head to fetching a frisbee, will not only make the animal’s day but yours as well. Who knows, you might find your next best friend as well.

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The Avion

Nick Hernandez Webmaster

Nick Hernandez/The Avion Newspaper Marc Bernier (left) and William C. Taubman (right) have a deep conversation about the intimate details of Mikhail Gorbachev’s life.

After Russian political figures retire they drop off the map, unlike that of U.S. figures. In fact, it was almost unknown when Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut commercial in 1997 and was a public speaker at many more significant events that paid out upwards of six figures. Gorbachev used this money to buy Novaya Gazeta newspaper, a newspaper that "spoke the truth," and still runs today.

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Gorbachev entrusted Putin with keeping things the way they were before until it was genuinely possible to establish a democracy.

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On the evening of Jan. 22, Professor William C. Taubman from Amherst College spoke to the Embry-Riddle Campus in the first SpeakER Series of the 2018 Spring semester. Taubman is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "Gorbachev," a biography of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Taubman had the chance to interview Gorbachev eight times in his life. The first interview almost did not happen; when Taubman asked Russian officials if he could interview Gorbachev, officials told Taubman that Gorbachev would invite him for the interview if he felt like it.

Luckily, Taubman was requested to interview with Gorbachev and was repeatedly asked back four more times before the year was up. While Taubman was scared for his life during the first interview due to Gorbachev's intimidating demeanor, Taubman described Gorbachev as a warm, informal man with a bit of an ego.

This fact is not something you would think to hear from a Soviet Politician.

Gorbachev was involved with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since the 50's and became president of the USSR in 1990. He stepped down as president one year later because he wished to form a democracy in Russia. On Nov. 24, 2001, Gorbachev was elected head of the Social Democratic Party of Russia. Gorbachev was the popular vote in the first democratic election but soon became unfavorable because he was changing too many things during his term. What was happening was Gorbachev was listening to the cry’s of the people and fixing things which led to his downfall in 2004 when the people and government were questioning his leadership and direction of the Democratic Party or Russia.

Taubman got to experience the warmth of Gorbachev's hospitality during the next few interviews over the years following his presidency. Gorbachev was an astounding father and husband as Taubman found out during their Rose Garden interview, where Gorbachev invited Taubman and his wife to his private rose garden. Taubman and his wife were both reasonably well-spoken when it came to Russian, but every so often Gorbachev would stump the couple with slang and let his ego take charge. But in this meeting, Gorbachev told Taubman that he hated bloodshed, so when he resigned as President, he did it with dignity.

Gorbachev and Reagan were close when it came to politics and friendship.

Taubman stated that if you were to try to describe how either man treated their wives, they would both be identical. They both had similar views on politics, which helped lead to signing the Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987, as well as the falling of the Berlin Wall in 1989. While Gorbachev and Reagan were both pretty similar, they also had their differences. Gorbachev would keep a friendly façade and proceed with negotiations, whereas Reagan would use intimidation to negotiate.

While Gorbachev and Reagan might have gotten along, Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin were to be considered enemies.

Taubman compared them to the Montagues and Capulets. The worst plan Gorachev had been a part of was the 500 days plan with Yeltsin. Trying to establish a market economy with the man who instituted shock therapy for the people of Russia.

To bring things into a modern light, Taubman brought up the topic of Vladimir Putin. Gorbachev believes that it would be impossible to establish democracy in Russia within the century, and Taubman regards this as well, stating that Gorbachev entrusted Putin with keeping things the way they were before until it was genuinely possible to establish a democracy.

Putin is the current president of Russia, in fact when he re-elected in 2012, he changed the constitution, allowing him to serve a six-year term; this means Vladimir Putin will have served in politics in Russia for longer than Joseph Stalin.

Taubman also spoke about his relationship with current U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin believes they are in a good relationship, not necessarily friends, but sufficient acquaintances. The reason Putin views Trump more as an ally is while Putin may be calculative and Trump may be "twitter-ative," neither like to for other to betray them.

Factoid • William Taubman wrote the biography of Mikhail Gorbachev • Gorbachev ran for president in 1996 in Russia but didn’t win • Taubman interviewed Gorbachev eight times • Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan were best friends • Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut Commercial • Taubman holds five college degrees • Taubman’s biography of Nikita Khrushchev won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 2004

After Taubman gave his speech, he opened up the floor to questions. One important topic was, "Due to all the political tension, do you believe we are in a Cold War, and if so which one was more dangerous, the past one or the current one." Taubman responded that yes, we are indeed in a new cold war, but Russia is smaller than they were before, but they are also now more anti-American.

Both cold wars were dangerous in their own perspectives with the Cuban Missile crisis in the 1960's, to Russia annexing Crimea and invading Ukraine.

Nick Hernandez/The Avion Newspaper William C. Taubman further contemplates the life of Gorbachev and the relationships he (Gorbachev) had with some of the world’s famous politicians.

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When Comedians Are Seriously Funny Victoria Johnson Staff Reporter

Of all the TNG Seriously Funny Comedy Series events, Friday night’s show featuring the comedic talents of Morgan Jay and Samuel Comroe was by far the best.

The comedians were actually funny. This made the audience more appreciative of their time on stage, rather than shows where only a few of the comedians’ jokes had strong punchlines, and the rest of the jokes felt like they were trying too hard to be funny. However, Morgan Jay, who has acted on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and MTV, led off the lively show by performing a musical comedy routine. It was interesting to hear a routine of real-life stories retold into a song. His solo, titled "Dot Dot Dot," was the evolution of having an argument through text messages, the worst part

being the message dots appearing on your iPhone screen then suddenly disappearing. The crowd favorite "Single Now" is the story where you meet someone at a party, the conversation is going smooth, then they crush your spirits with the statement "My boyfriend/girlfriend and I…". Along with hitting some amazing notes, the end game of the song was depressing. From the moment you both become single, its either twenty years later and you all are getting a divorce, or a couple of months after the honeymoon phase you both want to separate and fight for ownership of the dog.

The second act featured Samuel Comroe, who made his TV debut on TBS' Conan and appeared on BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart, was recently featured on All Def Digital's Comedy Originals and is also the winner of Ricky Gervais' Comedy Competition. Com-

88% “Only the Brave’s impressive veteran cast and affecting fact-based story add up to a no-frills drama that’s just as stolidly powerful as the reallife heroes it honors.”

Rated PG-13 (for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material) Earn Bonus Bucks for watching!

Thursday, Feb. 01 • Only The Brave will be shown by Touch-N-Go Productions.

• It will be shown at the Willie Miller Instructional Center Auditorium • There is no food or drink allowed in the theater.

• The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m.

• Arrive early to get good seating!

roe’s routine discussed his life living with Tourette Syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes uncontrolled sudden, repetitive muscle movements and sounds known as tics. Tourette symptoms will usually appear when kids are between five and nine years old. From being told by a random woman in Target that he has Tourette, his comedic journey involved his experiences at a summer camp for children with Tourette and how he meets his future wife during theater. We also pondered over his dislike of pugs, stating how their faces resemble a child's project created from construction paper and attached with glued-on googly eyes. From an evening with great laughter, the best lesson learned was never to be rude. As Comroe exclaimed, "If I hold the door for you: You better say thank you, or I'll snatch you up from the neck and walk in front of you."

Jorja Gwaltney /The Avion Newspaper Morgan Jay entertauns the audience with a hilarious rendition of Closing Time by Semisonic.

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How Setting Sail on the Leadership Means Bright Futures for Everyone

Jorja Gwaltney Correspondent

Only a few programs on the Embry-Riddle campus require nominations to be a part of it. The evening of Jan. 19, 2018, two Embry-Riddle employees, Dustin Beech and Sean Murphy, corralled 30 nominated Embry-Riddle first-year students into vans for a weekend of uncertainty.

That uncertainty revealed itself as the Emerging Leaders Program. Started in 2007 by Embry-Riddle's Director of Union Operations and Events, Amy Deahl, this program gives students an experience of a lifetime, not only emerging as new leaders but also as friends with deep connections. Deahl said the program was started to "develop and enhance the leadership skills of firstyear students as well as help prepare first-year students to serve as leaders in the future both on and off campus."

It is a program that helps promote the most important aspects of what makes a leader, a leader. Sean Murphy, Assistant Director of Leadership & Civic Engagement and an Emerging Leaders Program Leader, describes the program as “a semester-long program for first-year students filled with leadership experiences, workshops, conversations, service projects, and relationship-building.”

The program begins with professors nominating a few of their students to join the program. Once nominated, each nominee received an email with a link to the program application. After the application process, they narrow down the number of nominees even further. The next step was attending the retreat on Jan. 19.

Murphy made an accurate statement about this weekend: "Many students create long-term friendships and broaden their perspectives, often going on to serve ERAU in leadership positions and excelling in their careers afterward." So the program and what's learned during the retreat goes

far beyond just the 30 of us that went.

Past ELP participants went on to affect the entire campus. Those participants include fraternity & sorority presidents, ROTC commanders, SGA presidents, and many other influential stations.

Murphy gave us the inside scoop on what's next for the program. "Future activities for the Emerging Leaders include participation in mentoring activities, in-depth reflection and calls to action, and the potential opportunity to engage in an upper-class leadership track.

The Emerging Leaders will also serve as a formidable presence of students during the upcoming Student Leadership Conference on Saturday, Feb. 24 and as positive difference-makers during the Campus-Wide Day of Service on Saturday, March 24. We're excited to continue the relationships and growth, and this year's team of amazing participants is one of the best we've ever seen!"

The weekend retreat alone was a game-changer. A participant in the program, Vraj Patel, told The Avion about his views before and after the weekend away. "I believe that this world is cruel and cold. I find the purpose of living is nothing. After sleeping in the cold for two nights with randoms, I began to realize the meaning of life. After getting out of my comfort zone and interacting with humans, I saw the purpose of life is to serve and to reveal compassion and love to others. Take some time out and speak to the person next to you."

Each of us made 29 friends in just 48 hours (31 if you include the outstanding program leaders). Maybe it was because we were all trapped (willingly, of course) on a campsite together for two days, or perhaps it was because we were all open to making new experiences and friends. Whatever the reason, we became incredibly comfortable with each other quite quickly. It was such an astonishing experience seeing how all of us came from different back-

grounds but still ended up in the same place: this program at Embry-Riddle.

“The Emerging Leaders Program inspired me to think differently and focus on improving myself to become the successful leader that [Murphy and Beech] are inspiring us to be,” Owen Theeck, a Business Administration student that attended the retreat, told The Avion.

Dustin Beech, Assistant Director of Student Activities and an Emerging Leaders Program Leader, shared his thoughts on the program: “The Emerging Leaders Program on many campuses is a staple in their leadership development programming. At ERAU, this is no exception. For years our department has played a role in facilitating the Emerging Leaders Program, which begins with a retreat during the spring semester. I believe this is a great opportunity for first-year students following their first semester in college to enhance a variety of soft skills, complementing learning occurring in the classroom. This year's Emerging Leaders were interested in areas of leadership including communication, public speaking, conflict resolution, and teamwork. As a co-facilitator, it was incredible to watch a group

of 30 strangers learn, develop, challenge one another, and even become friends in less than 48 hours. The nightly bonfires probably helped a bit with that. Many attendees are involved both inside and outside of the classroom, holding leadership positions in their respective organizations or discovering other off-campus leadership opportunities. If there had been a program similar to Emerging Leaders at my undergraduate institution, I would have joined. Embry-Riddle students are highly motivated and competent in so many aspects of aviation and aerospace; retreats like these help students to get away from campus and focus on acknowledging what makes each of us different, yet celebrating our similarities.

We all have a story of how we ended up at Riddle. It is clear that this year's Emerging Leaders come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and I am excited about their next steps along their path to graduation. Thanks to all those who joined us this year; you all are good humans!"

To register for the Student Leadership Conference on Saturday, Feb. 24, follow this link: (https://tinyurl.com/ERAULC18).

Dustin Beech/Student Engagement Student Union The 30 Emerging Leaders participants after their “weekend of uncertainty” in the woods.

The Great British Tour Study Abroad Amy Barnhart Correspondent The Great British Tour Summer Abroad program is a MUST DO. Past students have said, "This is the absolute best experience I have had at ERAU," "Every student should go on this (Great British Tour) program."

While traveling the beautiful his-

tory-rich countryside during the first half of the trip, Embry-Riddle study abroad students learned about personal finance and experienced the wonders that England has to offer.

With Professor John Ledgerwood (a born and raised Englishman) as the guide, you will stay in the City of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North East of England. You will visit Newcastle

Photo Courtesy : Office of Global Engagement The Great British Tour Study Abroad group from 2017 posing at the Scotland Welcome Sign.

International Airport and meet their executives for an enjoyable educational in-depth tour of the airport's operations. Students will tour other attractions such as the Angel of the North, St. James’ Park, the beautiful lakeside market town of Keswick, Muncaster Castle, Hadrian’s Wall, the border of Scotland and much more. You will travel around on a Minibus, by high-speed inter-city train, on a miniature train, and experience both lake and river cruises.

The second part of the trip the students spend in London, the Capital city of England. Dr. Tamilla Curtis leads students in an in-depth study of International Business with an emphasis on business in the United Kingdom. While in the trendiest city in the world, students can explore the city through the convenient public transportation on buses and the underground train system. Great business trips include Ultra Electronics, EEF manufacturers association, and possibly more, such as the British Airways headquarters at Heathrow Airport.

During your free time, you will have the opportunity to travel for a few days to other parts of the United Kingdom or Europe. Travel by train, air, ferry or the Chunnel. Past students have visited Spain, France, Holland, and Germany, to name a few countries.

Through the summer abroad experience that the university offers, students get an opportunity not only to learn concepts applicable to their major/ minor but also gain valuable friendships, connections and learn lessons not possible in the traditional university classroom setting. The Great British Tour Study Abroad is indeed a GREAT program. Led by Professor John Ledgerwood and Dr. Tamilla Curtis this summer study abroad program will leave students with a pleasant experience and memories to last a lifetime.

For more information, please contact Professor John Ledgerwood at ledgerwj@erau.edu or Dr. Tamilla Curtis at curtist@erau.edu or fill out the Office of Global Engagements online application.

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Rosie the Riveter’s Final March Sarah Fairchild Copy Editor

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia This iconic poster by J. Howard Miller featuring “Rosie the Riveter” served to raise worker morale during WWII. Naomi Parker, the woman who inspired the image, passed away at age 96 on Jan 20, 2018.

On Jan. 20, 2018, approximately 1.1 million Women’s March protesters flooded the streets of New York, Los Angeles, Washington, and Chicago to rally against the policies of the current presidential administration. And while the government shutdown kept the President from traveling to his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, several protesters gathered north of the mansion despite his absence.

Riding on the undercurrent of revelations about powerful men abusing women (the #MeToo movement), activists are now demanding deeper social and political reform. The Women’s March movement largely protested legislation regarding women’s rights, healthcare reform, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, and immigration reform. Several speakers urged the activists to carry their enthusiasm over to the polls for the upcoming midterm election, and encouraged for more women to run for office.

People touted signs that were both serious and sarcastic in nature, twisting quotes from the Trump administration into rallying cries that proclaimed their woes. One of the most powerful sets of posters included artistically rendered images of African American, Hispanic, and Muslim women in the colors of the American flag with the simple caption “We the people” underneath the image.

Ironically, the Women’s March took place on the same day that Naomi Parker Fraley, the woman who was the inspira-

tion for the famous “Rosie the Riveter” image, passed away at age 96.

At the time, the young Naomi Parker was working at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California. Naomi and her younger sister Ada were assigned to the machine shop, where their duties included drilling, patching airplane wings, and, yes, riveting. It was there that an Acme photographer captured an image of Parker, her hair tied back in a polka-dot bandanna for safety, as she worked at her lathe with the caption: “Pretty Naomi Parker looks like she might catch her nose in the turret lathe she is operating.”

The photo was published in The Pittsburgh Press, a newspaper in artist J. Howard Miller’s hometown. Although the facts are not conclusive, it is generally assumed that the photo of Naomi Parker was the inspiration for Mr. Miller’s poster.

Rendered in popping primary colors with bold graphics, the image depicts a young female in a work shirt with a red and white polka-dot bandanna wrapped around her hair. The woman, shown to be flexing her arm, declares “We Can Do It!” in a dark blue speech bubble. The poster quickly became a feminist symbol in the early 1980’s, and the name “Rosie the Riveter” was applied to the woman it portrayed.

The death of the inspiration behind this iconic image of female empowerment comes at a time when women everywhere are rallying against oppressive politics and legislation. Although “Rosie” is no longer with us, Naomi Parker Fraley’s memory will continue to live on in the images hoisted above the heads of those protesting for women’s rights.

All About Aerospace Medicine Diego Garcia Aerospace Medicine Physician What is Aerospace Medicine anyway?

Man is neither physically nor psychologically a suitable organism for flight, but the advent of powered flight (within and beyond Earth’s atmosphere) imposed new physiologic demands such as extreme altitude and acceleration exposure. These challenges were experimented by the first humans flying aboard Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon, and still being present in leading-edge flight systems nowadays.

Human beings have been taking off their feet from the ground and soaring in the air for more than a century now, and we take as a starting point that we have evolved as land-dwelling beings with primarily diurnal habits.

Thus, aerospace industry poses unique health risks for anybody involved in flight operations. In that scope, Aerospace Medicine is the medical discipline bringing together basic concepts of preventive, occupational and emergency medicine; this multidisciplinary approach deals with health risks, acclimation, safety and performance of people exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as those present in aerospace activities.

Whether civil or military, aerospace operations have seen expedited techno-

logical advances such as flying heavierthan-air machines, moon landings and ultra-long-haul flights in composite materials aircraft. But human beings have not changed (evolved) in the meanwhile, at least not genetically. That is why coping with physical and mental stresses inflicted by 24/7, highly automated, and exceedingly productive aerospace operations is a big deal in order to effectively assure both user safety and well-being for operators. Not to mention that with over four billion passengers flying around the globe, this constitutes no less than a public health issue.

The sole term Aerospace Medicine could appear avant-garde, but clinicians and medical researchers have been around airplanes almost since their starting days. Moreover, the development of manned space flight led to the evolution of Aviation Medicine into Aerospace Medicine; but even today, aeromedical practices still face significant challenges. Although evidence-based practice throughout most fields of medicine has seen noticeable growth and acceptance, aerospace medicine practitioners often find themselves using the lowest level of evidence (expert opinion, unsupported by a systematic review). Some aeromedical assessments and decisions are often not based on the acceptance of any particular level of aeromedical risk. This is due mainly to the sui generis and relatively new environmental

scenario of aerospace enterprises but also is derived from the limited number of subjects and the difficulty in designing and carrying out high-quality medical research of aeronautical populations while on duty.

But anyways, aeromedical examiners (AME’s), flight surgeons, aeromedical retrieval operators, travel health special-

ists or human performance experts; all together practice this multidisciplinary, clinical, unique and fascinating medical specialty advocating for aircrews, travelers, astronauts and aeronautical personnel off and on the ground, helping them to perform effectively in this hostile environment for the sake of air and space exploration.

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The Practice of Meditation

Keenan Thungtrakul Senior Reporter

Life can feel out of control at times.

One class after another. One homework assignment after another. One test after another. One meeting after another. The list goes on. It can feel like there’s no room for rest. No time for relaxing and unwinding. What free time you get might be short or spent contemplating about the next thing to get done. All of this places high amounts of stress on the mind.

What do you do to relieve it?

There are many forms of stress relief, and some are not as effective as others.

A relief strategy often recommended by friends and professionals alike is the idea of being still, and letting the stress-producing thoughts ebb away. Believe it or not, that concept is one of the foundations of a millennia-old practice called meditation. It is thought to be one of the simplest yet effective methods of stress relief that people still practice today.

It’s the idea of taking responsibility for your state of mind, with the goal of changing it for the better.

When you first hear the word “meditation," you might think of the practice that Eastern religions do or some form of mental exercise. Well, meditation is more than a religious practice. In fact, it does not

have to be. This article will give a detailed background of the practice, how and why it’s a useful stress relief technique, and how to get started should one wish to explore.

What is meditation? It is the practice of understanding and transforming the mind. It is a technique used to relax the mind and attain a state of consciousness different from the natural state. In this particular case, the mind is clear, relaxed, and focused inward instead of outward.

The goals of meditation are to develop positivity, calmness, and understand the patterns and habits of the mind. By achieving these goals, one can experience improved concentration abilities and significantly better mindsets. Meditation is a practice that developed in Eastern cultures for thousands of years. Generations have worked to refine the practice to make it so that an everyday person can attain a state of mental peace and tranquility.

Some myths can make one skeptical about or doubt the effectiveness of meditation. Meditation is not concentration, loss of control, an exercise, or something involving mental effort. While the practice helps develop concentration, meditation itself is not the same.

Any random thoughts you experience in meditation have nothing to do with the practice. They are merely losses of awareness of a part of the mind.

Photo Courtesy: Medical News Today Meditating while seated in a posture as shown above can help with focus. However, the practice itself is centered on taking control of the mind and the thoughts that flow through it, releasing those that cause stress.

Meditating in a specific posture can help with balance and focus, but meditation is more than a position. Repeating a mantra may help with releasing negative thoughts, but the mantra itself is not the center of the practice.

How does meditation work? Most theories describe meditation as a sophisticated form of relaxation involving something called the parasympathetic response. Psychological stress causes the activation of the sympathetic component of the nervous system that causes the “fight-orflight” response in its extreme. Meditation or any form of relaxation acts to reduce the frequency of these activations by slowing the release of stress hormones and promoting increased parasympathetic nervous activity, slowing the heart rate and improving blood flow. If regularly practiced, meditation has been shown to help relieve levels of anxiety and depression while improving attention, concentration, and overall well-being.

According to a 2015 Forbes compilation of studies on meditation, one can observe the effects of the practice throughout the brain. It acts to help preserve the brain as it ages. It reduces activity in the brain’s “me center," the part that causes us to have “monkey minds," minds that constantly wander from thought to thought. Such wandering can lead to stress, anxiety, and worry. The quieting effects that meditation has on this “me center” appears to dial down this constant wandering. Meditators that experience this “monkey mind” are better at snapping out of it and telling their minds to calm down.

Meditation's effects rival those of antidepressants for symptoms of depression and anxiety. While it’s not a cure, it does help with managing them.

How can one start to practice? Beginning meditators can find it hard to meditate or keep a regular rhythm. The best advice is to start small and gradually build upon it. Try and start your day with a short morning meditation. The state of peace will help the whole day go better.

One engineering student did this exact thing during his Gauntlet semester, and he felt that was one reason why he kept his GPA after the semester was over.

Allow yourself to be an open system. Let the energy flow through you.

Enable full communication with your mind and spirit. It will be helpful to close your eyes and focus on your breathing, allowing energy to flow through you as you inhale and exhale.

Establish the quality of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not easy, but by forgiving you can let go of a lot of things that can stress you out. Meditation is not about concentrating, focusing, visualizing, daydreaming, fantasizing, or stopping thoughts; it’s about releasing them.

Try using a candle or meditative music to set your mind and attention straight.

Some might use incense.

If you find yourself getting distracted while you meditate, just stop thinking.

If any worrisome thought comes to you, just acknowledge and surrender it. Let it flow out of your mind. Thoughts are like airplanes coming and going. In your meditative state, let time slow down and allow the time between thoughts to expand.

This state is called thoughtless awareness.

In this state, the excessive stress producing activity of the mind stops without reducing one’s alertness. It enables one to focus on the present rather than dwell on the past or the future.

Try and meditate with others. You’ll feel the effects quicker than if you do it alone. There’s a meditation group that meets every Monday at 16:00 hrs in the Chapel at the Center for Faith and Spirituality. Can’t make it? Try forming your group with a few friends.

There are those that will come up with the excuse “I’m super busy, and I can’t make time.” There is a time for anything if you make time for it. Simple, short practices, done regularly, can still provide the benefits described above. It can be as short as five minutes before the day starts and after the day ends. Make it a high priority, like eating, showering, and brushing your teeth. That will help with making the practice a habit.

There is not one precise way to meditate. Everyone has a unique mind. One cannot force meditation. It must happen with a fresh, open, and forgiving mind.

Let go of any preconceived notions and expectations. They will lead to blockages and distractions. Stay neutral and open, realizing that awareness of the busy mind is part of the practice.

Babcock Ranch: The Future is in Florida Nation’s First Solar City is Six Million Square Feet of Commercial Space Think about a city of the future, one run by solar panels, zero-emission autonomous shuttles, bicycles, and residents who live in self-sustainability. Well, it exists, and it is called Babcock Ranch, located in Southwest Florida.

The primary power source consists of 343,000 solar panels over 440 acres, according to CBS News. The community has already obtained enough solar panels to sustain them for decades, as reported

by WINK News. The solar panels power all of the buildings, street lights, and even their autonomous shuttle. Unfortunately, storing all of this surplus solar energy is still too expensive.

Due to the cost of this, when the sun goes down or is hidden by the clouds, the

community is powered by a natural gas plant just a few miles away from the town.

Since a traditional power grid runs the backup system, an abundance of overcast days can have an impact on the efficiency they have worked so hard to achieve.

“

The primary power source consists of 343,000 solar panels over 440 acres... enough solar panels to sustain them for decades.

“

Payton Muglia Advertising Manager

Nonetheless, it is said by Babcock Ranch that their "emissions prevention [is] equivalent to removing 12,000 cars from the road every year.” These solar panels are a vital piece of being friendly to our environ-

ment and reaching towards the future.

Also reaching towards the future in Babcock Ranch is a driver-free shuttle. The solar energy harvested in the town powers shuttle which gives off zero emissions.

In a recent interview conducted by ABC News, the shuttle is run by GPS and is equipped with eight sensors alongside emergency buttons for the safety of its passengers. Currently, there is only one shuttle roaming the ranch. The plan is to slowly implement the use of these vehicles as residents and visitors become more familiar with the concept.

In this beautiful city of the future, there are already many of the amenities needed to keep such a place running and much more to come. An aspiring resident can buy a house beginning at a price of nearly $190,000 with monthly fees averaging $140, reports ABC News.

Since it is built on the foundation of sustainability, the residents can reach any business they may need to by bicycle, or the autonomous shuttle on stormy days, Babcock Ranch boasts.

Babcock Ranch is already home to an elementary school, restaurant, coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and even a clothing store.

Very soon the town will also be celebrating a new Health and Wellness Center which will nearly eliminate any reason to leave the property.

Because of the eco-friendly atmosphere, the community is very focused on nature.

ABC news discusses their outdoor opportunities by stating they have more than fifty miles of hiking trails and beautiful community gardens. Not only is Babcock Ranch a city of the future, but it is also a beautiful outdoor paradise with a welcoming community for all to enjoy.

Photo Courtesy: Rocket Lab

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Opinion: The Zuma Fiasco

Airshow Center WBCA Stars & Stripes Airshow Laredo, TX February 11-12, 2018

• A up-close showcase of paratroopers and precision pilot teams to celebrate the 121st birthday celebration for George Washington . _________

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles Plant City, FL February 24, 2018

• An aerobatic air show including a concert and outdoor movies, aircraft display, vintage aircraft fly-bys, helicopter rides, train rides for kids, an exotic car show and skydivers. _________ Melbourne Air & Space Show Melbourne, FL March 17-18, 2018

• The 5th anniversary edition of the Melbourne Air & Space show. This year will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

This Week in Aviation History January 31st, 1977

First flight of the Cessna Citation II, an American light corporate jet development of the Citation I.

February 4th, 1948

Navy & Air Force transport systems were consolidated to form the Military Air Transport Service (MATS).

February 5th, 1914

Lt. J.C. Morrow became the 24th and last flier to qualify as a Military Aviator.

February 6th, 1941

Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress, crashes near Lovelock, Nevada while en route to Wright Field, Ohio, killing all eight on board.

February 7th, 1934

The first airmail flight between Australia and New Zealand is made by Charles Ulm in an Avro Ten, taking 14 hours 10 min.

February 8th, 1933

The first Boeing 247 takes to the air, opening a new era in air transport and representing the new age of all-metal monoplane designs.

February 8th, 1988

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) retires an aircraft registration number for the first time, that of Amelia Earhart’s airplane that disappeared over the Atlantic in 1937.

February 9th, 1969

First flight of the Boeing 747 “jumbo jet” airliner takes place in Seattle, Washington.

February 10th, 1908

First army airplane contracts and is signed with the Wright Brothers.

Michael Weinhoffer Staff Reporter

What was supposed to be a routine launch for SpaceX on Jan. 8 was anything but that.

SpaceX has a much more significant launch very shortly with the debut of the Falcon Heavy, but the most recent launch overshadowed it for a few weeks. The classified mission did not go off too smoothly, and it provided an opportunity to think about the disadvantages of such missions.

Northrop Grumman, one of the largest defense contractors in the world, manufactured the payload for this launch. The company produced a spacecraft for the U.S. government, and since SpaceX has become authorized to launch military spacecraft and had flawless flights last year, it makes sense that they chose SpaceX as the launch provider. The only thing special about this flight is that virtually no one knows what the payload is. Someone deep inside the caverns of the Pentagon does, but not even the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is responsible for overseeing all classified U.S. satellites, claimed responsibility for the payload, codenamed "Zuma."

Zuma was supposed to launch on a Falcon 9 on Nov. 15 but was delayed almost two months as the SpaceX team analyzed payload fairing data from a previous customer. The launch on Jan. 8 went off without any problems, and SpaceX routinely landed the first-stage booster back at Cape Canaveral. They did not show live video of the second stage or payload deployment, but this was the custom when they launched other national security payloads. There was no confirmation that the payload made it into orbit by either SpaceX or Northrop Grumman, which was not too surprising, as that is the same routine for U.S. spy satellites.

However, the next day, the Wall Street Journal reported that the satellite failed to reach orbit and plummeted into the Indian

Ocean. Congressional staffers and lawmakers informed them of this. Other news outlets concurred with the Wall Street Journal, but SpaceX and Northrop Grumman pushed back.

Northrop Grumman said that they do not comment on classified missions; however, SpaceX's comment was more interesting.

Gwynne Shotwell, Chief Operating Officer and President of SpaceX, responding to calls for an explanation, said, “…Falcon 9 did everything correctly on Sunday night…Information published that is contrary to this statement is categorically false…” That is a reasonably strongly worded statement from SpaceX. If the payload did not reach the proper orbit, they surely are not taking any blame for it! It seems rather unlikely that the second stage of the Falcon 9 failed, but that means that the payload did not separate correctly from the rocket.

Grumman did provide the payload adapter, which connects the payload to the rocket. That is usually something implemented by the launch provider, which tells me that Zuma was not an ordinary satellite or a satellite at all. If it were, the adapter provided by SpaceX would have suited it well. So maybe the payload adapter failed to release Zuma into orbit. That seems more likely. The consensus became the payload failed to reach its orbit one way or another.

Several news outlets reported that the payload crashed into the Indian Ocean, but a lack of evidence questions that conclusion. At this point, it is just pure speculation. Officials could have easily said that the payload failed to stop questions about its mission. What made things worse was at a Pentagon briefing, where someone asked about whether the precious payload was successful in reaching orbit. The government official taking questions responded by referring questions on the mission back to SpaceX! The launch provider, the payload manufacturer, and the U.S. government all have failed to comment on

the status of the mission. I do not recall any space mission that had this level of classification.

So what is Zuma? News channels have called Zuma a "satellite," and that seems likely because that is the most common payload of any launch, but there are other possibilities. As stated previously, the fact that Northrop Grumman provided the payload adapter themselves makes me think that Zuma is not a satellite. If it were, why not use SpaceX's extremely reliable adapter? Let's examine a few possibilities. The Air Force has the X-37B spaceplane, which is not a spy satellite, but rather a mini space shuttle that is conducting scientific experiments while in orbit. Those are classified missions, but it is nothing threatening. Zuma could be an experimental spaceplane like the X-37B, or it could be "something else." The "something else" option is the most concerning. The only option that I can think of besides a satellite or a spaceplane is a weapons system. Zuma could be a laser weapon or a missile defense system that fires physicals projectiles at Earth.

There are no bans on weapons in outer space, but that does not mean that it is a good idea to put them there. Russia and China have pushed for the U.S. to back a U.N resolution that works to prevent a weapons buildup in outer space. The U.S. has refused, citing definition ambiguity and national security interests. Russia, China, and the U.S. all have tested space weapons and even launched missiles from Earth to destroy satellites in space. Outer space has become a strong military environment, and the question of whether to ban space weapons is still up for debate.

Launching highly classified payloads into outer space does not help those in opposition to the proposed resolution. A vital element of appropriate conduct in outer space is data transparency. Not knowing the purpose of a payload circling the Earth every ninety minutes

puts nations on edge, and I am confident that Russia and China are very upset over the Zuma launch. There is no reason for a company such as Grumman to launch payloads with a higher classification than U.S. spy satellites. It is not appropriate conduct, and the U.S. should not repeat it. The United States needs to serve as a model of international cooperation and transparency in outer space, and this mission does not fulfill that standard. Frankly, I hope the payload did fail. I do not want to go to bed at night wondering if the Zuma payload is a threat to international security and the safety of outer space. The Zuma payload is not in the interest of international security and peace that has existed in outer space for more than fifty years and should not have successors.

Photo Courtesy: USAF Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral.

After 16 Years, Ariane 5 Finally Fails Henry Neiberlien Editor in Chief After almost 16 years and over 80 successful launches, the Arianespace Ariane 5 has broken its win streak after failing to place its two payloads into their desired orbits. Ariane 5 flight VA241 which was carrying the SES-14 and Al Yah 3 geostationary satellites lifted off from Ariane launch complex 3 at Guiana Space Center on Jan. 25.

The launch appeared flawless until 9 minutes and 26 seconds into the flight when the rocket stopped sending telemetry data

after the second stage ignition.

Both customers regained contact with their satellites after a day and confirmed that they were in good health, but they were not placed into their correct orbits to begin service.

The spacecraft ended up into orbits of 21 degrees, far higher than the planned low inclination of 3 degrees that is typical of most geostationary satellites.

SES has said that it will take SES-14 an additional four weeks to correct for this anomaly and Yahsat Al Yah 3 will need a "revised flight plan" to have the spacecraft at its destination later

this year. Unfortunately for both companies, the fuel required to correct their orbits will limit the amount of they can use for maintaining their orbit and will shorten their projected useful lifespan.

The Ariane 5 is one of the most reliable launchers currently in use with 92 successful launches under its belt since its introduction in 1996. With its last failure in 2002, the launch vehicle has an unbeaten streak of successes.

Once again commercial space community has learned that even the Ariane is not immune to anomalies. An independent investigation board has been cre-

ated to work with the European Space Agency to find the cause of the anomaly experience on VA241. Ariane 5 launches have been put on temporary hiatus until the issue can be solved.

Hopefully, Arianespace and the ESA resolve this issue promptly as the medium/heavy launch vehicle has some high profile missions on its manifest. The Ariane 5 is scheduled to launch NASA's James Webb space telescope in March of next year.

The Ariane 5 scheduled to continue launches until 2021 when the Ariane 6 will replace it.

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Russian Spy Ship Spotted Off the Coast Again?

Vanessa Burkett Correspondent

Russia and the United States seem to always be at odds, and since the 2016 Presidential Election, Russia never fails to remind the U.S. that they are still around.

The Viktor Leonov, a sophisticated Russian ship, was found 100 miles outside of Wilmington, North Carolina. According to officials, the vessel left Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain on Monday, and their current destination is still undetermined. The suspicious vibes of this occurrence only increased when it was made known that this ship is equipped explicitly for spy operations, specializing in intercepting communication signals.

To tell the population not to be concerned does not sit right, but many are surprised to learn that this is not the first time a Russian ship has been found hanging outside of the United States.

Russian ships are becoming more common in the open seas, and their increase of naval activity is curious but has yet to prove as threatening. The Viktor Leon-

ov has been making these types of deployments since 2014. The U.S. Navy and Pentagon defense officials are carefully monitoring and tracking its movements. "We have seen it off Cape Canaveral [Fla.], Kings Bay, [Ga.], Norfolk, [Va.], and New London, [Conn.]," officials reported.

These specific sightings are particularly alarming for various reasons. According to the Navy Times, Kings Bay, Georgia is home to the Navy Sub Group 10, which contains ten nuclear submarines, as well as those used for special operations. The only reason for this port to be significant is the belief that the Viktor Leonov was hunting for departing ballistic submarines. Right after that, they stopped by the world's largest naval station, Norfolk, Virginia, which is where Navy keeps the majority the East Coast fleet.

A sighting near New London, Connecticut, another significant submarine base near Groton followed the Norfolk incident.

When the enemy is at the gate, many people are left wondering, "what do we do in this situation?"

Because the ship is in interna-

tional waters, there isn't a whole lot we can do besides monitor and shadow it. All we can do is play a teasing game of "I am not touching you." Steffen Watkins, a Canadian security analyst, closely tracks Russian ship movements.

According to Watkins, these deployments are "military-intelligence related, routine, and unrelated to any president." The United States' current action is to have either a U.S. Navy destroyer or Coast Guard vessel to monitor and shadow the Russian ship, to let them know we have our eyes on them.

Why is this not alarming?

James Jeffery, a former deputy national security advisor to George W. Bush, who is now a member of the Washington Institute, told Business Insider, "There have been incidents like this over many years. This is not a serious incident.” The Navy Times covered a recent story of the United States and Russia conducting naval exercises together, the most recent being outside of Hawaii on July 6, 2016.

The United States Navy's primary objective is sea projection

and sea power. This method is so effective it is no wonder Russia has been popping up more frequently. But as any political game goes, showing a military's force capabilities too soon could result in the opposing team knowing what their strategy is, which would give them the upper hand.

Although we do not apprehend their actual intentions, besides showing the United States that they can spook us in international waters, they are not showing any aggressive movements.

Like a poker game, we cannot prove they are going to do anything, and jumping the gun could prove catastrophic, especially without knowing the other player's hand. Jeffery echoes these thoughts stating, "In a time of peace you might say, ‘We are not at war with Russia, so why should we show them how we would jam their equipment’?” The U.S. Navy disclosed that it is entirely capable of jamming their communication monitoring, however, revealing this capability might show them what we are made of but could leave us behind if they find a way to counter it.

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Launch Control Center SES 16/GovSat 1- Falcon 9 Jan. 30 @ 4:25-6:46 p.m.

Cape Canaveral Air Force Stat.

SLC-40

KanopusV 3 & 4 - Soyuz

Jan. 31/ Feb 1 @ 9:07 p.m. EST Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia

CSES - Long March Feb. 1 @ TBD Jiuquan, China

TRICOM 1R - SS-520-5

Feb. 3 @ 12:00-12:30 a.m. EST Uchinoura Space Center, Japan

Tesla Roadster - Falcon Heavy Feb. 6 @ 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Kennedy Space Center LC-39A

Paz - Falcon 9

Feb. 10 @ 9:22 EST Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-4E

ISS Sightings There will be no visible passes within the next week.

Falcon Heavy Cleared for Launch Vipul Telang Photo Editor Falcon Heavy, one of the most-discussed rockets, finally has a launch date. After nearly five years, the long-awaited Falcon Heavy rocket is tentatively scheduled to launch on Feb. 6, 2018 from the famous Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center, which is the same launchpad that the Atlantis Shuttle used. SpaceX fired all twenty-seven Merlin 1-D engines during a static test last week on Jan. 24 to ensure that the rocket would perform nominally during ignition and launch.

Falcon Heavy is comprised of a single strengthened Falcon 9 core with two additional Falcon 9 cores on either side to help boost the nearly 1.5-million-kilogram rocket into orbit. The launch vehicle stands 70-meters tall and is predicted to carry almost 64,000 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In comparison, United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy can only take 22,560 kilograms to LEO. CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, made quite a buzz when he announced that the payload would be none other than his first-generation 2009 midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

The Roadster would be the first consumer car sent into space, but the lunar rovers claimed

the title of the first vehicle in space. This isn’t the first time that Musk has wanted to send something absurd to space. In 2010, the first SpaceX Dragon flight carried a wheel of cheese to orbit, which was “inspired by a friend and Monty Python,” according to Musk’s Twitter.

Originally, Falcon Heavy was supposed to deliver the Tesla Roadster into Mars’ orbit, but due to the alignment of the planets, it will miss the Mars launch window. However, SpaceX just wants to prove that the rocket can make an equivalent distance to Mars, and instead, the payload will orbit in a heliocentric orbit for "at least a billion years" according to an estimate by Elon Musk.

If the launch is successful, the vehicle will be approved for customers. So far, two planned launches are using Falcon Heavy in 2018, but any blemish on the demonstration flight could push back both launches indefinitely.

Saudi Arabia's ARABSAT is tentatively scheduled for the first half of 2018 while the USAF STP-2 payload is expected to launch no earlier than June. But Elon Musk is very hesitant to be optimistic about the launch. In fact, he considers clearing the launch tower to be a win. No matter what happens, Musk promised that anyone who comes down to Cape Canaveral is guaranteed “an exciting experience.”

This Week in Space History January 29, 1976 A Voshkod rocket launches a Soviet Zenit spy satellite.

January 30, 2002 Mars Odyssey completes its orbital corrections in aerocentric burn.

January 30, 2007 A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL fails to launch the NSS-8 communication satellite, exploding on the launch platform due to debris on the first stage engine’s turbopump.

January 31, 1961 Mercury-Redstone 2 launches, carrying the chipanzee Ham, on a suborbital flight with an apogee of 251 kilometers.

Febuary 1, 1958 America launches their first satellite, Explorer 1, on a Juno-I rocket.

Photo Courtesy: SpaceX The Falcon Heavy being tested on Pad 39A, Dec. 28, 2017.

Febuary 2, 2009 Iran launches their first orbital launch, with a Safir launching the Omid Satellite.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

MOTORSPORTS

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Upcoming Races: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Rajan Khanna News Editor Every year, the world's best sports car drivers take to the track to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Each driver requires the support of their team which includes their car engineers, their mechanics, the logistics managers, and most importantly, their pit crews. The

section and is really good on turning." AJ Allmendinger commented on the performance late Sunday morning. He was slated to drive directly after those remarks and brought the car to a high of second place in his stint. He also commented on how the No. 11 Lamborghini was hard to catch due to their advantage in raw speed. The No. 51 Ferrari was also difficult to catch, but they

PowerShares QQQ 300 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash Daytona International Speedway Feb. 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper

Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Sebring International Raceway Mar. 17 at 10:40 p.m.

ARCA Racing Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire Daytona International Speedway Feb. 10 at 4:45 p.m.

FIA Formula 1 World Championship Formula 1 Rolex Austrailian Grand Prix

Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit March 25 TBA

Verizon INDYCAR Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg March 11 at 12:30 p.m.

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Pit Box Paradise

NASCAR XFINITY Series

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

JANUARY

pit crews are at the forefront of the teams’ outcome. Races can be won or lost on pit road; it all depends on how well the crew services the car. At the Rolex 24 at Daytona, The Avion Newspaper had an inside look at what makes renowned IMSA team, Michael Shank Racing, run consistently in their class.

Formed in 1997, Michael Shank Racing began when team owner, Michael Shank, raced himself. He decided to move into an owner position instead of driver and did very well. He won many races as an owner. With this confidence, Shank ventured into sports car racing in 2004. They started out in the Daytona Prototype class and scored the class win. They have since claimed victory at legendary tracks such as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta. In 2017, they changed gears and switched to the GT Daytona (GTD), fielding two Acura NSX GT3 cars. In only their fifth start of 2017, they claimed a class victory at Detroit. This victory would be the first win for the NSX GT3 in its existence. Michael Shank Racing has had plenty of success in the past, and with a star-studded driver lineup, their performance in the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona shows that they are here to stay. Their drivers on the No. 86 team include Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race winner, AJ Allmendinger, Katherine Legge, Alvaro Parente, and Trent Hindman. Their No. 93 team consists of NASCAR Xfinity Series winner, Justin Marks, Lawson Aschenbach, Mario Farnbacher, and CĂ´me Ledogar.

Michael Shank and his crews were commended by their drivers profusely. The cars were phenomenal, "The car handles well in the infield

crashed early Sunday morning. The driver who Allmendinger took over for, Trent Hindman, had nothing but praise for the car, "The conditions on track were greasy and hard to handle, but the car worked well with it.

Michael Shank gave me a great car for the race, and we're doing all we can to keep it up front." He also commented on how hot it was getting in the car due to the humidity. Earlier Sunday morning, the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 was forced off track and through a sign by a prototype who failed to use the right side of the lane to pass. The car was mostly undamaged, but it did have a lot of grass in the radiator. Hindman commented on their strategy changes they made to stay competitive but did not want to go into detail since those changes

were secret. Overall, they believed the car had a solid shot to win.

The most vital part of the team is the pit crew. The pit crew makes sure that everything that needs to be changed or fixed is taken care of midrace. The pit crews of MSR practiced and prepared for the roles perfectly. They perform between 30 and 40 pit stops in a 24-hour race. Unlike the drivers, there are no stints for the crews. The Avion Newspaper visited the pit box many times throughout the race, and all faces were familiar.

The team got no breaks and were completely fine with staying awake for the entire race. Not only is staying awake physically taxing but so is pitting a car. They routinely go over the pit wall onto pit road which is extremely dangerous and slick if it rains. They showed the same intensity and speed in each pit stop whether it was lap one or lap 721. The Avion Newspaper interviewed three pit crew members on how they prepare for the most prestigious sports car race in North America. When asked about any pre-race rituals, Jason Givens, the fuel man for the No. 93 car said he never really thought of having one, but he usually says a little prayer before the green flag drops. When asked about how they mentally prepare for an endurance race, they said they could not, "You can never prepare for a twenty-fourhour race. You never know what will happen, so you must stay focused.

Just understand anything can happen at any time and be ready for it."

This was a pretty average consensus throughout the pit box and kept them ready to pit at a moment notice. Even with the rain shower that caused the humidity to rise, the crews showed no signs of weakness and pulled through the adversity.

When the checkered flag came out, the Michael Shank Racing number 86 car crossed the line in second place with Alvaro Parente at the wheel, claiming yet another podium for Michael Shank and his race team.

The Avion Newspaper would like to congratulate every member of MSR and wishes them the best of luck in the rest of the 2018 season.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

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Rolex 24: Watch and Learn

Christopher Weil Correspondent

The world of motorsports had their eyes focused on the 56thrunning of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona as two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso made his endurance racing rebut for United Autosports. Considered to be the formal start to the entire racing year, the Rolex 24 is one of the most prestigious endurance racing events with drivers from all different racing series looking to capture the checkered flag with their team. The journey to the finish is a long one, with the entire process being far longer than just 24 hours.

Everything for the Rolex 24 officially began in the first week of Jan. with The Roar Before the 24. The Roar is a three day test where teams will bring their cars to Daytona for a shakedown with the goal being for the racers to test out any new parts or upgrades while also trying to figure out the optimal setup for the car.

Mercedes-AMG driver, Jeroen Bleekemolen, said, “We would love to take more wing off of the car, but if we did, we wouldn’t be able to turn in to any of the corners.” With a 4th place class finish for Bleekemolen and team, clearly they knew what they were doing. Trimming all of the downforce out of the car is optimal for Daytona, as it removes drag, but the teams can’t remove it all as there are still many high speed corners that need to be dealt with and thus the car has to be finely balanced, which makes The Roar rather important for success in the 24.

Before the 24 could begin, a few support races had to be run including the BMW Endruance Challenge for the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series.

Some drivers use this race as a practice event for the 24, as it’s a four hour long team endurance race. Austin Cindric, a part time NASCAR Xfinity series driver

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for Roush Fenway Racing, took part in both the BMW Challenge and the Rolex 24. Cindric said, “This race makes a great refresher to really shake off the rust and get used to endurance racing again.”

While Cindric’s team was rear-ended in the race, their sister car driven by another NASCAR Xfinity series driver managed to get a podium finish. Cole Custer, a full time driver for Stewart-Haas Racing said, “Endurance racing is all about patience.

You have to know when the car isn’t fast enough to keep the guy you’re fighting behind you. Our car just didn’t have enough straight-line speed to be in contention for the win.” While Custer didn’t compete in the Rolex 24, he said in the future he would love to, and possibly join Cindric in the future as well.

More than anything, the BMW Challenge race served as an appetizer for the Rolex 24. Guy Cosmo, a Mercedes-AMG driver for Team TGM, has been racing

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in this series since 2003 said, “This race was just wild. It was the best damn racing I’ve had in a long time. Everyone was racing hard and clean, which made it just fun to be in.” It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone, as even in a short endurance race there is trouble to overcome as McLaren driver Matt Plumb had to pit from 5th with one lap left to run due to feeling a vibration in his car. Plumb was quoted saying, “We really need to figure out our motor situation. The guys worked all day and night from Wednesday to now, and I wish we had something more to show for it.” On the other end of the spectrum, BMW Endurance Challenge race winner Spencer Pumpelley said, “Team racing like this is the only way to do it. It helps when you have a teammate as good as Dillon Machavern, and this is just a great way to start the season. I was worried because last year we finished 3rd, the year before that 2nd, and before that 1st, so I thought we might be going the wrong way, but this is just something else.” Something else was a great way to put what lay ahead for the Rolex 24.

The green flag waved at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 for the start of the 56th Rolex 24 as the cars thundered to life heading towards turn one. Arguably the hardest part of any endurance race is the very start. Some drivers don’t understand the concept of endurance racing and will race turn one on lap one like it’s their only chance to win; even while there is still 24 hours left to run. There are different ways to stay in contention for an endurance race, with the best way being to keep the car clean and under control.

This all begins with the first stint, where teams will generally put their top driver in the car to start in order to make sure the car survives the opening hours. Fernando Alonso was among one of the opening drivers in the Rolex 24 and after his stint he said he, “was quite happy with the first three stints, and while it’s a long time until the checkered flag, we didn’t have any problems.” Describing the nerves a little, he said, “I won’t be enjoying it more until the next few hours because it’s very crowded and difficult to breathe, and then going in the car, there’s no room for error, so I think the next couple of hours where I can rest and watch the team, that’s where I will begin to have fun.”

With any endurance racing event comes reliability issues for all, and absolutely no one is safe. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi suffered so many

tire blowouts that they eventually retired the car which prevented Jordan Taylor from getting back-to-back Rolex wins.

Juan Pablo Montoya had to wait for an alternator replacement on his Acura DPi, which took his car out of contention. Fernando Alonso had a master cylinder fail while trying to brake for turn one, which took him out of contention due to the extended repair time. Ricky Taylor, who was with his brother last year in the No. 10 Cadillac, suffered damage and had to wait for massive repairs to his car. The No. 55 Mazda DPi had their engine catch fire which took them out of it entirely. As the sun began to rise, it was clear how much damage had been done. With only one prototype left on the lead lap for the majority of the final hours, it demonstrated just how important it was to have a reliable and safe drive.

When it comes down to it, these drivers didn’t spend the past month practicing, preparing, and planning for this race just to retire the car after one small issue; they all kept pushing to get the best result possible. Even when a team loses five laps early on, the race is anything but over. Everyone else has to suffer the same issues, pass the same traffic, and in the end, Alonso said it best when he said, “It’s the same for everyone.”

At 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28, the checkered flag waved for Felipe Albuquerque in his No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi. They managed to avoid adversity and keep their car from suffering issues by taking it easy. Towards the end of the race their engine began to expire, however with a three lap lead over the next car in class and only two hours left to run, they were able to afford to run a very relaxed pace. Giving up four seconds per lap, they nursed their car to a comfortable win with more than 70 seconds ahead of the 2nd place Cadillac of Felipe Nasr. With the 56th running of the Rolex 24 in the history books, there are drivers who definitely want another chance. Fernando Alonso for sure will be keen to try again, and in his quest for the Triple Crown of Motorsports, we should see him running the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the very near future. Perhaps we’ll even see him again for the 57th Rolex 24. The racing all weekend was intense and some of the most exciting there has ever been.

The longest month of motorsports has concluded, and with it new Rolex champions are born in Felipe Albuquerque, João Barbosa, and Christian Fittipaldi.

Rolex 24 at Daytona

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper The No. 86 Michael Shank Racing Acura NSX-GT3 driven by Katherine Legge brakes hard into Turn One on their way to a second-place finish in the GT Daytona (GTD) class.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R makes a daring pass underneath the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R in the trioval on Saturday afternoon.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper Members of the No. 93 Michael Shank Racing Acura NSX-GT3 team analyze telemetry from the car including tire pressure, speed, oil pressure, and other various data late Saturday night.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso waves to the crowd during driver introductions.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper Crew members of the No. 912 Porsche GT Team pit for tires and fuel while an IMSA official looks on.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper Crew of the No. 33 Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports chat as fans gather in the background for the pre-race grid walk and driver introductions prior to the 56th Rolex 24 at Daytona on Saturday afternoon.

January 27-28, 2018

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper The No. 6 Acura Team Penske Cadillac DPi-V.R battles the No. 55 Mazda Team Joest Mazda RT24-P DPi for seventh place.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper The No. 6 Acura Team Penske driven by Juan Pablo Montoya chases down the Ford GTLM and Ferrari GTLM cars in the International Horseshoe.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque, and Christian Fittipaldi celebrate their first-place finish in Gatorade Victory Lane.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper The No. 11 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 takes the white flag after twenty-four hours of racing en route to a first place finish, which was Lamborghini’s first 24-hour victory.

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper Paul di Resta brings the No. 32 United Autosports Ligier JS P217 in for a scheduled pit stop shortly after the start of the race on Saturday afternoon. The team finished in fourth after a grueling 24 hours.

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Upcoming Games: Tuesday No Games

Wednesday Women’s Basketball vs Rollins 5:30 PM Men’s Basketball vs Rollins 7:30 PM

Thursday Men’s Tennis vs Southeastern 3:30 PM Women’s Tennis vs Southeastern 3:30 PM Baseball vs Tusculum 3:30 PM

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Ryan Mosher ERAU Athletics The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team had a week to mull over one of its worst shooting games of the 2017-18 season last Wednesday against Florida Tech, and the Eagles responded with their best shooting performance of the year against Palm Beach Atlantic, blitzing the visiting Sailfish to the tune of a 58 percent clip from the floor en route to a 94-74 win at the ICI Center. The Eagles (9-10, 3-8 SSC) started the game hot and never cooled down, taking a 12-point lead at halftime and pulling in front by as many as 26 late in the second half as the Sailfish (1013, 4-8) lost their fifth consecutive game.

All five of ERAU's starters scored in double-figures, and one of them, Luka Majstorovic, started the game with a jumper before Elijah Jenkins buried the first of his five threes to give the home team a 5-0 lead just a minute into the contest. The Eagles went up 10-4 on Jenkins' second triple, and the lead grew to double-digits at 16-6 when Majstorovic got a feed from Jenkins and finished with a layup

at the 14:57 mark.

PBA cut the deficit to eight on a Milos Kostic layup with just under 12 minutes left in the first, but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run, seven coming from Rudy Bibb-Boyd as the Eagles enjoyed a 29-12 advantage halfway through the opening period.

The visitors got to within nine at 32-23, but the Eagles outscored the Sailfish by three over the final five minutes to take a 41-29 lead into the halftime break. Bibb-Boyd and Joshua Hawkins led all scorers at halftime with 11 points each, while the Eagle defense held PBA to just 37 percent from the field and only 1-of-10 shooting from outside the arc.

After the teams traded baskets over the first few minutes of the second half, Hawkins was the catalyst for a big Eagle run that put the game away, flushing a dunk down at the 17:16 mark before Nashad Mackey converted a tip-in on the next ERAU possession.

The Blue and Gold would add nine more points to the run, capped by a Mackey layup to make it 62-37 in favor of the hosts. Marshall Riddle hit a three to momentarily stop the bleeding for

Saktiswaran Jeyaganesh/The Avion Newspaper A power shot from Junior Joshua Hawkins, keeping his eleven point lead of all scores at halftime.

PBA, but the Eagles never allowed the Sailfish to get closer than 18 the rest of the night, cruising to the 20-point win.

All nine Eagle players that were available played on the night, with all nine scoring, led by Hawkins' game-high 22. Hawkins also added six rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

Bibb-Boyd and Jenkins each finished with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Blue

and Gold, and Mackey registered his 14th double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, now just one shy of tying Tyler DeBord (2008-09) and Chinwuba Agba (2002-03) for the most double-doubles in a single season in program history. Majstorovic ended the night with 13 points and a careerhigh six assists, while he and Mackey each rejected three PBA shots.

Solidifying the Conference Saturday Men’s Tennis vs East Florida College 11:00 AM Women’s Tennis vs East Florida College 11:00 AM

Sunday Men’s Tennis vs Valdosta State 1:00 PM Women’s Tennis vs Valdosta State 1:00 PM

Allison Smalling ERAU Athletics ERAU’s women's basketball team wrapped up a four-game home stand with a 78-63 defeat of Palm Beach Atlantic, Wednesday at the ICI Center. The Eagles solidified their hold on second place in the Sunshine State Conference standings with an 8-3 record and improved to 14-4 overall.

The Eagles distributed the ball well throughout the course of Wednes-

day's contest, registering 19 assists on their 31 made field goals as 10 players appeared in the scoring column. Lauren Ellenberger led the way with 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Nikki Tucker added 13 points and Ashley McWilliams and Sigrid Sandstrom tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Eagles overcame a slow start after missing their first five attempts, knocking down three consecutive long-range

shots to overtake the Sailfish 9-3. An old-fashioned three-point play from Ciarra Cumbie made it a one-point (9-8) game, but the Eagles responded with a 13-6 run over the next five minutes and led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The Sailfish made it a close game at the start of the second frame closing the gap to three points (26-23) with 6:48 left in the period. However, the Eagles found success down low, besting the

Monday No Games

K’Andrew France-Beckford/The Avion Newspaper A moment of defense for Sophomore Sigrid Sandstrom’s against players of Palm Beach Atlantic

visitors 14-6 in the paint to widen the gap to 11 points (40-29) at the half.

The third quarter saw the Eagles look to their perimeter game for some offense and that strategy paid off as they drilled five of eight treys in that period, compared to just one by PBA, and heading into the fourth, the lead had ballooned to 19 points (65-46).

The final stanza saw the Sailfish outscore the home team 17-13, but the early Eagle advantage proved insurmountable as the visitors fell to 4-14 overall and 3-9 in league play.

"That was a great team win tonight," ERAU Head Coach Lisa Nuxol-Wilson said. "Palm Beach Atlantic has some good players who made some tough shots, but overall we did a solid job defensively and rebounding. We shared the ball well and got each other good shots.

I'm proud of the team for maintaining intensity all four quarters. We took four charges, and I really loved that effort!"

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2018 Winter Olympic Games Samantha Stirmel Business Manager The 2018 Winter Olympic Games are happening in PyeongChang, South Korea after beating out Munich, Germany, and Annecy, France for top bid back in 2011. These will be the 23 Winter Olympics since the Games began in 1924. The event will be commencing from Feb. 9 through the 25, where participants will represent seven sports in 15 disciplines, in 102 games. Interestingly enough, not only are the winter games held in a controversial place, but North Korea and South Korea are uniting under the same flag again; however, this time they are competing together.

South Korea has had what is called the Sunshine Policy of Engagement with the North Koreans for the 2000, 2004, 2006, and now, 2018 Olympic Games where the North and the South walk under a unified Korean flag for the entrance of the games.

For the first time of any games, the two countries will be competing together as well, competing under the unification flag as "COR." More specifically, the two Koreas will have a unified women's ice hockey team. This team will mark the first time that their athletes have played together since they participated in an international table-tennis championship along with a youth soccer tournament in 1991. The two countries have recently agreed, however, that their skiing teams will be training together in a ski resort in North Korea. North Korea has pledged a total of 230 supporters to the Olympic Games to walk under this flag and contribute to the Games. In a joint news release, the two countries have also said that fans of both Koreas will be rooting together for both the North's and South's athletes.

North Korea will also be sending a delegation of at least 550 people, with 150 of

Photo Courtesy: Kyodo News The PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in South Korea will seat 35,000 spectators for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

them going to the Paralympics in March.

The current plan is for North Korea's athletes to enter the South over a land border on Feb. 1. It is important to note that North Korea is walking under this unified flag with the South after they missed an Oct. 31 deadline to accept invitations to join the games. President Moon of South Korea has opened the doors to negotiations and, as in years past, is using athletics to try and foster diplomacy between the two nations.

This is some considerable headway from the last time that the South hosted the games. In 1988, Seoul held the Olympic Games, and after trying to collaborate with North Korea for the Games, negotiations fell apart, leading to the bombing of a South Korean passenger jet.

Concerning the Games themselves as a whole, there are a lot of other firsts present. This will be the first year

that TV viewers in all US time zones will have access to live coverage of the Games, instead of having a delayed feed.

The Olympic Committee added four events for this year’s Games: big air snowboarding, freestyle skiing, mass start speed skating, and mixed doubles curling. However, the essential seven sports- biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating, and skiing- will be represented. The medals themselves will have the signature Olympic rings on their surface but include a three-dimensional touch giving depth and motion to the surface. What is interesting is the box that accompanies the medal. The circular boxes have been crafted to resemble tree trunks and incorporate consonants from the Korean alphabet, also in three-dimensions. The way they fashioned the boxes was made to take time, as that is the point according to the designer of the

medals Lee Suk-woo. He went on further to explain that the boxes were made to look like tree trunks because it symbolizes "the work that has gone into developing Korean culture and the Games themselves." South Korea has not been without its financial burdens, having had early ticket sales already launched with organizers $267 million short of the $2.4 billion mark that they need to hit for them to be able to operate the games adequately. The mascot for this game is a white tiger of the name Soohorang.

The white tiger is associated with Korean mythology and culture, being a symbol of trust, strength, and protection.

Turning towards the United States side of things; the great US of A will be represented by 242 members, 135 being men, and the other 107 women. 31 states will be directly represented by the Olympic athletes participating.

Inaugural Season for Embry-Riddle Men’s Lacrosse

Joshua Rosado/The Avion Newspaper The Embry-Riddle men’s lacrosse team is set to open its inaugural season in the coming weeks, and the Eagles are picked to finish eighth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Head Coach Spencer Wims and his squad open the 2018 season on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. against Chowan (N.C.). The four-time defending SSC champion Tampa Spartans are picked to once again repeat by the league’s coaches as UT received seven first-place votes and 49 total points in the poll. Florida Southern, Florida Tech, and Saint Leo all tied for second in the poll with 33 points, while Rollins (29), Lynn (27) and ERAU’s fellow first-year program Palm Beach Atlantic (12) are fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. ERAU and PBA will meet in both program’s first-ever SSC match on March 17 in West Palm Beach; it will also mark the first league contest of the 2018 season. The SSC Championship will take place on April 27th and April 29th at a non-predetermined site. The NCAA Division II postseason for men’s lacrosse will start at non-predetermined sites Friday, May 11 and concludes Sunday, May 27 in Boston, Mass.

Entertainment

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I, Tonya Skates Under the Radar Collin Anderson Managing Editor I, Tonya is a film that falls under both the comedy and drama genres. It is about the upbringing, personal life, and rise to fame of former Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding.

The film stars Margot Robbie and tracks the development of Harding as, not only a skater, but also as a person. The movie starts with Harding at the age of four in Portland, Ore., and details, not just the physical, but mental abuse Harding endured from her mother while she was growing up.

While gifted with the incredible ability of ice skating, her mother pulled her out of school so Harding could focus on perfecting her skating. Harding fell in love and married Jeff Gillooly, played by Sebastian Stan. Gillooly was the textbook definition of an abusive husband. In one instance, Gillooly shot at Harding, but the shot ricocheted off a car and hit her in the head. Nevertheless, Harding persisted in working her way into the record books.

On Feb. 16, 1991, at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., Harding became the first American woman to land the triple axel successfully. Winning the

championship earned her a slot to participate in the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. It was here that she finished fourth behind teammate and friend Nancy Kerrigan.

When the International Olympic Committee announced they’d be conducting the Winter Olympics in 1994, Harding hit the ice again and got ready to compete in Lillehammer, Norway.

Gillooly and his friend, Shawn Eckhardt, planned to hire Shane Stant to send Kerrigan death threats to scare her into not competing and thus making sure Harding had a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Eckhardt instead had Stant hit Kerrigan with a telescopic baton just above the knee, forcing her to withdraw. This scandal became one of the most infamous incidents of the 1990’s.

Harding was found guilty of conspiring to hinder prosecution of the attackers and was banned from all USFSA events and competitions at the age of 23.

The costume design and makeup alone are fantastic. The way Margot Robbie portrays Tonya Harding in both acting and look is astounding, and at the same time, eerie. Sebastian Stan is made to look exactly like Jeff Gillooly down to the most exquisite detail. The other amazing aspect of the movie is the cinematography. The continuous camera

shots in the skating scenes are some of the best camera work in any film. The movie has been nominated for three Oscars including best performance by an actress in a leading role, best performance by an actress in a supporting role, and best achievement in film editing.

Earning just over 264 thousand dollars in a limited release on opening weekend, and grossing almost 16 million dollars as of Jan. 25, I, Tonya has been one of the most underrated movies of the year thus far. Films like The Post and The Last Jedi have eclipsed it with star-studded casts and legacy plot lines. However, make no mistake, this movie stands strong by itself.

The traditional elegance and grace associated with figure skating has been thrown out the window in this movie and for a good reason; the real world is not elegant or graceful.

I, Tonya

12 Strong Stampedes Box Offices Sarah Fairchild Copy Editor

12 Strong

One of the main standouts of this movie is that it is acutely aware of what it is. This movie was not made to detail the extreme gore and violence of war, nor was it made to shock-and-awe the audience with a never before seen take on the brutality of fighting. No, this movie was made to tell a story, and tell a story it does.

Based on the true narrative of the horse riders, 12 Strong brings you along for the intense, race-against-the-clock scenario that a dozen soldiers volunteered for after the fall of the twin towers. The audience follows Captain Nelson and his eleven teammates as they are sent to Afghanistan as the first retaliatory strike

against the Taliban.

From the heart-pounding action scenes, to the slower character-building moments, this movie is a seamless blend of stunning visuals and great pacing. While it’s nothing groundbreaking, cinematographer Ramesus Videbaek brings the story to life with smartly shot scenes that ground the film in reality, and music director Lorne Balfe assists in capturing the tone of each moment with his originally scored soundtrack.

The other notable factor that truly sets this film apart from other war movies is the incredible realism.

Each character’s reaction, dialogue, and personality feel accurately representative of real life.

In one scene early on, just after the attack on the world trade center, a group of soldiers was out on a field training exercise complaining

about the tardiness of the people who were supposed to pick them up. Having not yet been informed of the national emergency, they had no reason to hold back the sarcastic jesting about the pick-up team stopping at Starbucks on the way over. It is little moments like this- invariably human momentsthat bring a refreshing sense of realism to the entire narrative.

While 12 Strong might not be one of the greats in cinematic media, it does exactly what it set out to accomplish: tell the never-before-told tale of the 12 brave soldiers who volunteered to strike back at those who dared to attack their home. If you’ve got the time and some dollars to spare, head on over to the theater, nab some popcorn, and enjoy the amazing true story of the horse riders.

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Self-titled and self-assured in latest album Brandon Collins Copy Editor Asking Alexandria, an English rock band from York, England formed in 2006, seems to have been on a constant downwards spiral the last six years. From drama and poor releases of albums to original vocalist, Danny Worsnop, leaving the band in 2015 to focus on his other band and solo career, the band has been slowly falling from grace, losing fans left and right.

Following the release of the band’s fourth album, The Black, in 2016 with new lead vocalist Denis Stoff, many fans seemed distressed because they felt that band's essential sound left with Worsnop. Because of this, the band went out and stated that they were now experimenting with the music in an attempt to prevent backlash from the fan base. Although Stoff came from a similar metalcore band, Make Me Famous, that even cited Asking Alexandria as a role model band for them, many of the fans lost interest, and the band continued to fall.

However, all that seemed to change early last year when the band announced that they would be reuniting with Worsnop and working on a new, self-titled album, Asking Alexandria, which departs from their original metalcore work, and now incorporates other musical genre influences such as stadium rock, pop, and even country.

The album, released on Dec. 15 of last year, opens to Worsnop stating “I’ve been away, a little while," which the band follows with their uniquely polished riffs battling with a modicum of synth, with Worsnop's vocals harmonizing with both the highs and lows of the song tempo.

The song is followed on the album by the lead single, "Into the Fire," which is just as grandiose and pompous as the previous song, "Alone in a Room," and is similar to that of the original Asking Alexandria musical style. Many have claimed that it is the track that shows the return of the band as a vital part of music in the rock industry.

“Hopelessly Hopeful” and “Where Did It Go” are both a mix of soothing voices and beats, to their more well known fast paced drums and strums. The two songs are both, in their distinct ways, the perfect combina-

tion of melodies and seductive beats.

Other songs on the album, such as “Rise Up” and “When The Lights Come On,” both seem like a musical compilation of Asking Alexandria meets Slipknot meets Paramore meets Panic! at the Disco. Both songs seem like songs that the band would love to perform live and potentially bring the roof down. "When The Lights Come On" seems to grab much more pop element then most songs on the album, and may even be a preview of what we can expect from Asking Alexandria in the future.

"Under Denver" is the first of two ballad-like songs on the album. It seems like that beyond cheesy song that a metal band puts out once every blue moon, but yet it just works for the band.

They executed the song so well that you cannot help but sing along when you finally learn the words. “Vultures” is the other ballad-like song on the album, but unlike “Under Denver” which still has the use of electric guitar and quick beats, "Vultures" is acoustically driven.

Given Worsnop's solo career in country music, it is not hard to find where the basis for this song originates. This song is one of two songs on the album that includes no screaming in any form on the album and is probably one of their more easy-listening songs on their discography.

“Eve” is easily the most reminiscent of the band’s classic style of heavy riffs, hard beats, and almost constant screaming. "I Am One" seems just like a basic metalcore song, with highs and lows in both vocals and instrumentals. "Empire" is just a question altogether. Seemingly put on the album almost as a mistake, it features Bingx, a Seattle based Hip-Hop artist. For the first half of the song, it seems like a very modern pop meets hip-hop song that we see now and then.

Overall, the record was pretty good.

Although it had a few songs that just seemed randomly there, most songs were distinctly Asking Alexandria, and are something we would like to see more of in the future. From heavy hitters to soft ballads, Asking Alexandria has piqued our interest with this album and are surely back on an upward trend.

Asking Alexandria

The Post

Streep’s The Post Fails to Deliver Samantha Stirmel Business Manager I was really excited about seeing this movie because I thought it was finally going to make me being on the newspaper a little more glamorous. Sadly, I was wrong. From what previews and different things were released online and TV, I expected a great movie that really hit home the need for journalism and freedom of the press to help the protect the governed.

Instead, I had the enjoyment of watching a movie that looked like it was two different stories, cut up along the same timeline and put together. I could never tell exactly where the movie was going. One second, we see Meryl Streep as a struggling female in a male industry and as someone who doesn’t make any decisions. The next, we see Tom Hanks, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, his foot propped on his desk, the hardpressed managing editor of the paper. Two stark opposites are presented side by side throughout the entire film.

It seems like this just makes sense, since there are two different people who wrote the screenplay. The movie is a constant tug of war between these two screenwriter’s visions.

Meryl Streep’s character barely experiences any character development until the last 10 minutes of the movie, upon which she finally starts acting like the head of the

company. However, there is no wind up to this, or a gradual push that she matters and is the head of the paper.

Even into her last decision for the Washington Post, she still seeks for the men in her life to validate what she is doing. Which would be fine, if it weren’t for some of the next scenes picturing her walking through a crowd of woman as if this is a feminist movement. It’s like they couldn’t figure out what they wanted to do with her character and then in the movies realistic timeline span of a few hours she suddenly turns into another person.

The concentration of the movie is on Streep and what she is doing, though all this is, is a whole bunch of dinners and parties with elite government officials of the time with her playing hostess. Small glimpses of the workings of The Washington Post are seen in between these Streep moments. I call this false advertising for the movie. Rather than focusing on what mattered in the movie, the releasing of government papers to the people, we see a difficult to follow movie that is plagued with a feminist undertone which adds nothing to the movie.

If it does nothing productive, if it shows nothing about the characters in the movie, then why is it there? I am totally for there being empowering stories about women coming up in a male industry, but it contributed nothing and frankly distracted from the rest of the important bits that were put in the movie.

Comics and Games Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker February 16, 2018

XKCD

ACROSS 1 Li’l Abner’s dad 6 Artillery necessity 10 Biweekly tide 14 “Nanook of the North” home 15 Neighbor of Vietnam 16 “... ___ I’m told” 17 Frozen clues for a detective? No 20 Giancarlo Stanton, now 21 Type of bliss 22 Petty quarrel 25 Lack-ofmuscle condition 26 Distinctive flair 30 Deep wagon tracks 32 Focuses 35 Republic of China capital 41 Cute hoppers? No 43 Like a ski hill 44 Absurd 45 Purposely avoid 47 Half-off event 48 Surfacerattling voices 53 T.S. with a pen 56 Crook’s accomplice 58 “My kingdom for ___”

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63 Fun winter activities?

No 66 Guam, for one (Abbr.)

67 Miscellaneous collection 68 “Whoa” opposite 69 Gaelic 70 Spinning water 71 Intoxicating, as liquor DOWN 1 Have compassion for 2 Indian city 3 Prepare for 4 Scarred facial pit 5 Farmers’ coupling devices 6 Legendary boxer 7 Woman’s counterpart 8 Relative of a kingfisher 9 Labor Dept. org.

10 Like a 0-0-0 RHE game 11 Muse of verse 12 From China 13 Generic parrot name 18 Visualize 19 Historic time period 23 Foursome minus one 24 Melodic 26 Old Testament book

27 Places for grazing 28 Nutmeg skin 29 Verboten thing 31 Stage celebrity 33 Psychic’s gift 34 “___ Gotta Have It” 36 Kindergarten threesome 37 Long-necked wading bird 38 Type type 39 List-cutting abbr.

40 Ferry destination, sometimes 42 Sari-wearing royal 46 Praise vociferously 48 Moisten in the oven 49 More competent

50 Visitors of tomorrow?

51 Metric volume unit 52 “Addams Family” cousin 54 Big doofus 55 Wing alternative 57 Certain woodwind 59 With a double S-shaped curve 60 Perlman of TV 61 Poker variety 62 Catch sight of 64 Pot’s top 65 Legendary Myrna

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SNOW DAY? NO By Timothy E. Parker