Stress Less Week Page 6
Pensacola State College
“The News The Students Choose.”
January 2016
Local food truck expands student food choice
Owner Randy Russell says Nomadic Eats here to stay
another fast food option near the college besides the Subway restaurant in the Delanio Student Center. “I’m a regular here now. I come here every day I have class. I’m so glad we have something within walking distance other than Subway.” Russell has been working in the restaurant industry since he was in high school. “I started as a part-time dishwasher and eventually worked my way up to management. Now I run my own business.” Open Monday through Friday from 11am-3pm, Nomadic Eats is always ready to serve hungry students and nearby businesses on their lunch breaks. For more information you can call (850) 375-5696 or visit nomadiceats.com.
Nomadic Eats food truck owner Randy Russell.
ALL PHOTOS BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
By Kyle McKean
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he increasingly popular food truck Nomadic Eats, which is conveniently located across the street from the Delanio Student Center on Pensacola State College’s Pensacola campus, is here to stay. This might come as a pleasant surprise to some people, since food trucks are now allowed to be stationed throughout Escambia county but not within Pensacola city limits due to a recent ordinance passed by the city. “The city’s recent decision [on food trucks] has not affected my business in any way. However, it did shut down the industry I depend on,” said owner and manager of Nomadic Eats, Randy Russell. Other than being a food truck, one of the things that sets Nomadic Eats apart from other eateries in Pensacola is the unique blend of Latino and Asian flavors that they offer in their various foods and beverages. According to Nomadic Eat’s website, “All dishes and recipes [are made] from scratch, homemade from the base ingredients, and comprised of the freshest produce, proteins, and spices that can be sourced. This means produce is bought daily, spices are ground from seeds instead of prepackaged shelf products, ingredients are handpicked and handled with the utmost care.” The food truck offers delicious chorizo tacos, green chili chicken tacos and adobo pork tacos at very reasonable prices, which is convenient for college students on a budget. They also offer rice bowls that feature a little bit of everything from their menu. Every day that they are open, the truck offers a variety of specials, which they inform fans about via their Facebook and Instagram pages. PSC student Keller McAlpin is a big fan of Nomadic Eat’s and appreciates that there is
Nomadic Eats is located across from the Student Center on the PSC Pensacola campus.
Nomadic Eats food truck owner Randy Russell and employee Steven Chang.
Columns
Make a difference: Volunteer in your community Pensacola Humane Society helps stray cats, dogs find homes
By Tracey Squaire
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ith winter in full swing, people are bundling up tight against the cold and making sure their pets are warm and cozy inside of their homes. Unfortunately, the thousands of stray animals all over Pensacola don’t have the ability to put on more layers. To combat the cold, they will seek whatever shelter they can. That can range from under porches and bushes to inside the engines of cars, which they will crawl into for warmth. According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there are an estimated 70 million stray cats and dogs in the U.S., and only 7.6 million of them enter shelters each year. With numbers like that, it’s a good thing that the Humane Society is working so hard to make sure cats and dogs have homes here in Pensacola. The Pensacola Humane Society is an organization of animal lovers and advocates. Their goal is to improve the lives of animals in the community, and they work to achieve this goal in many ways, such as with their discounted spay and neuter clinic and the adoption events they hold throughout Pensacola and surrounding areas. The Pensacola Humane Society was started in 1943, and at the time it had only one employee. Today, the shelter boasts a wide variety of employees and volunteers from all walks of life. Everyone involved with the Humane Society shares a love for animals and a strong desire to help them. Since the staff at the Pensacola Humane Society is so small, volunteers are always needed and welcome. To become a volunteer, one must be 18 or older, attend a 30-45 minute orientation and sign a release form. Once the orientation process is complete, volunteers are free to work with the animals and around the shelter. Volunteers at the Humane Society get to socialize with the cats and dogs on a daily
basis. Their tasks, depending on how comfortable they are with the animals, include but are not limited to grooming the cats and dogs, feeding the animals, processing adoptions and walking dogs. Volunteers are rewarded with the love and appreciation of the animals they are helping every day. Nothing says “Thank you” like a big slobbery kiss from a loving animal companion. If you would like to volunteer with the Pensacola Humane Society contact Stefanie Snyder by e-mail at volunteer@pensacolahumane.org or by phone at (850) 432-4260.
One of the furry friends at the Pensacola Humane Society who needs a home.
PHOTO BY TRACEY SQUAIRE
Healthy, happy students: Tips on staying healthy How to keep your New Year’s resolution of losing weight
By Rebecca Peters
After
the clock strikes twelve midnight and all the kissing, hoopla and pelican dropping are over, the New Year has officially begun, and so have the New Year’s resolutions. If you are like most Americans your resolution, spoken or not, will be to lose some weight. This was the number one resolution in 2015 according to the website Statistic Brain. University of Scranton research found that only 8% of those Americans actually met their goal. Many people don’t see results as quickly as they would hope and abandon their resolutions, along with the expensive gym memberships that accompanied them. Discouraged yet? Well, let me give you some hope. It is very possible to meet your weight loss goal for the New Year, but the trick to sticking with it is to start with something realistic. You heard me; slow and steady will truly win you the race. I want to give you some advice that might help you to lose some of the weight you picked up during the holiday festivities.
Firstly, begin with a realistic goal of losing 5 or 10 pounds. If you start out with a reachable number, you will have a better chance of not only meeting the goal but surpassing it. Starting with a goal of 50 or more pounds is going to get discouraging when the recommended weight loss rate is 1-2 pounds a week. Secondly, begin cutting 500 calories from your daily routine. That means taking 250 away from food and burning 250 through exercise. However, you should not cut any calories from food if you are not consuming at least 1300 calories a day. Your body needs at least that amount to perform basic body functions. The brain alone uses 1/3 of the 1300 calories we are recommended to consume. A healthy amount is 1500. The key word here is healthy. You are not going to meet your goal through a fad diet or miracle pill. In fact, those two methods can have severe side effects. When your calorie intake is lower than 1300 a day, you reset your metabolism rate to run slower in order to conserve fat and calories. That means that once you have stopped your fad diet, you will gain all the weight that you lost back, if not gain even more. Your body needs food; don’t neglect try and starve yourself. Thirdly, you can start losing weight by including
healthier options into your diet. Start eating less meat, and eat lower fat dairy products. Add more fiber into your diet, and your heart and waistline will thank you. Losing a few pounds can be as simple as eating more veggies and fruits or buying whole grain bread instead of white or wheat. As always, stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, not sugary sodas or juices. Drinking primarily water is essential to losing weight. In order to keep on track and not lose hope, it helps to reward yourself now and again. Start a personal tip jar, and every workout you complete, put in a dollar. At the end of the year, use that money to treat yourself. You can do this. It is very possible to improve your health in 2016. Just remember that slow and steady wins the race, and think of how you will feel at this time next year when you are healthy, fit and happy. New Years
Resolutions 1.
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Feature
January 2016
New, healthy vending machines ahead for PSC By Tracey Squaire
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ood plays an important part in keeping a person’s body and mind healthy. Many people have breakfast early in the morning, usually when the sun is still rising. These same people are unlikely to eat again until lunch and the time between breakfast and lunch can feel like forever, especially when hunger begins to make itself known. When students have back-to-back classes, they usually do not have the chance to eat more than a few bites of food in the fifteen minute they are allotted between classes. This food usually comes from the vending machines that dot the halls of our Pensacola State College campuses. Students grab a snack or two, maybe a soda as well, and head to their next class. After a day of nothing but chips, sodas and snack cakes, students usually feel terrible. Fortunately for PSC students and teachers, there will soon be new vending machines on campus. Starting in early 2016, vending machines on our campus will display healthier alternatives to the typical vending machine snacks. Not only that, but there will be a way for students to indicate a preference for what items go inside the vending machines. On each vending machines, there will be an email address where students can contact the vending supplier. These new vending machines will put the power in the hands of students. Now students will have the chance to decide what will be available for them to eat. While people often get a shot of energy after having snacks like candy and chips, it doesn’t last. In fact, they
often end up crashing and feeling more tired than they did before eating the “junk food.” When students are in the middle of a school day this can be a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately for students, sugary and salty foods send our brains almost instant feelings of reward which, like a drug, keeps them wanting more once those feelings wear off which can lead to a vicious cycle of energy highs and crashes. Since the vending machines on campus are mostly stocked only with junk food, there isn’t really much choice for students about what they eat unless they decide to carry snacks with them from home. When students are in a hurry, food from home can sometimes be forgotten, in which case the vending machines are the best option. Even though most adults know better, it’s still hard to resist the call of junk food, especially when there aren’t any healthy choices to turn to. With no other easy options to students besides the Subway restaurant in the Delanio Student Center, which is inconvenient when you have only fifteen minutes to eat, students are stuck with the junk that comes from the vending machines. Though everyone likes to indulge in a snack once in awhile, it seems that many PSC students will prefer the healthier options that will be provided in the machines this semester. “I think [the vending machine options] are all unhealthy. It’s all just processed foods. There’s nothing nutritional about anything,” said PSC student Jessica Decaprio. “[I would like to see] some healthier options. Maybe some fruit, maybe some vegetables. Like, packages of vegetables and dips. I really like those protein
packs that Oscar Meyer has. Just healthier stuff that isn’t just sugar.” PSC student Sam Robbins had a slightly different view on the subject. “It’s alright. It’s just the same old junk food that you see in any vending machine, I guess. To a degree, I wish there were more healthier options. Maybe less chocolate-y things and more things like granola bars. What I would like to see change about the vending machines is the price. Make things cheaper!” Even some of PSC’s teachers dislike the vending machines, including nutrition teacher Beverly Donahue. “I hate them. There are not enough healthy options there.” Donahue thinks that students and faculty could work together to fix this problem. “I think it would take students not purchasing [the unhealthy snacks], because that sends a message that we don’t want those options. We can also write a letter to the administration asking for healthier options, or bring our own snacks. The strength of the economy is what can change the selection that companies give us. So, buying or choosing not to buy.” She went on to say how she’s tried multiple times to get healthier options, but her voice alone isn’t enough to be heard. Donahue also talked about how she feels that healthier options in the vending machine would actually be a big hit because more and more students are becoming more health conscious. If you would like to request an item in the vending machines, drop an e-mail to contact@rrvendinginc.com and let them know.
An inside look at Pensacola campus dorms By Julie Shattuck
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ucked away in a corner of the Pensacola campus, hidden behind the College Center ( building 96), the student dormitories of Pensacola State College could be called the school’s best kept secret. Most students aren’t aware that the dorms exist, and the few that are know almost nothing about them other than the fact they strongly resemble a 60s-esque motel. Currently only occupied by student athletes on scholarships, the dorms of PSC are provided at no outof-pocket cost to players from all areas of the United States, and from other countries including Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. “[We] like living here, mostly because it’s free,” joked Anastasia Lewis, 18, a basketball player from Arizona for the Lady Pirates. “All of the people who live here play sports on scholarships, and everyone [in the dorms] kind of hangs out together.” With nearly 40 occupants, some dorms only house one student, although most players share with one roommate. “There’s a bedroom and a another room in the front, so usually one person gets the front room and the other gets the back,” said Willie Carter, an 18-year-old baseball player from Gainesville, Florida who graciously opened his door for a quick tour.
The dormitories themselves are not to be judged by their cover (or front doors). Inside they are larger than one would expect, and they even have a kitchen equipped with a two-burner stove and small oven. There is a small hallway leading to a separate bedroom, and a living area that is commonly used as a second bedroom. “The safety of students in their dorms is constantly a major concern for any college or university that offers such amenities. PSC ensures the safety of its temporarily permanent residents by housing two assistant coaches (one for a men’s team and one for a women’s team) along with the players. The assistant coaches are responsible for performing room checks and making sure the students are in their dorms before curfew,” said Carter. The college police department is in charge of patrolling and verifying the safety of the residents. “We used to have a 2 A.M. curfew on the weekends, but now it’s midnight every night,” said Leah Rand, 18, a volleyball player originally from Birmingham, Alabama. Although the dorms are seemingly an ongoing mystery to the students of PSC, they’re a valuable amenity offered to players from all around the world who otherwise may not have the means to live in the area and have the opportunity to play for the school.
The outside of one of the PSC Pensacola campus dorms.
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Feature
Pensacola’s hidden gem: IHMC blazes trail for future Pensacola’s Institute for Human and Machine Cognition creates technological miracles
IHMC designed Space Exploration Vehicle undergoes field tests.
By Brad Andrews
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he city of Pensacola has a secret. Nestled near the historic museums and waterfront areas of Downtown is a developer of some of the most advanced technology on the planet. The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition is a research organization that conducts research into technologies that leverage and extend the cognitive and physical abilities of humans. Projects range from humanoid robots, to space vehicles, to helping the blind see and the paralyzed walk. The IHMC leads the way in making profound changes in people’s lives. The IHMC originated as a research organization at the University of West Florida in 1990 and was incorporated as an independent not-for-profit research organization by the Florida state legislature in 2003. The organization’s goal is to conduct cutting edge research in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, computer science, cybersecurity, cognitive psychology, human-machine interaction, and more. To accomplish this goal the IHMC employes worldclass scientists and engineers and partners with some of the most accomplished research and development organizations in the world including NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Department of Defence. The IHMC has recently been in the news after it took second place in a DARPA sponsored humanoid robotics competition to develop robots capable of performing complex tasks in dangerous, degraded, human-engineered environments such as the core of a damaged nuclear reactor. In this competition the IHMC team beat out giants of technological development such as MIT, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, and Lockheed Martin. The IHMC Robotics group is also a leader in developing some of the fastest legged robots in the world. A commercial spinoff of IHMC, Robotics Unlimited, built Outrunner, the world record holder for a legged robot that has reached speeds up to 45 miles per hours.
IHMC robotics research is not limited to humanoids and sprinters. IHMC has teamed up with NASA’s Johnson Space Center to develop a powered lower extremity exoskeleton that will allow paralyzed people to walk again. Not only will the X1 Mina exoskeleton help the disabled, but uses of the device in the fields of rehabilitation and exercise are being pursued as well. NASA is especially interested in its use to help astronauts in outer space maintain their muscle mass in a reduced gravity environment. The IHMC has also collaborated with NASA to design and build the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV). The SEV is a vehicle designed to support and shelter two astronauts for up to 14 days at a time. This capability allows astronaut teams to explore far past their lander’s periphery in ways only dreamed of by the Apollo era astronauts when they went to the moon. The SEV (then Lunar Electric Rover) was even featured on the hit automotive television show Top Gear. Perhaps one of the most fascinating areas of research is in developing systems that allow the blind to see using a video camera and electrical currents to the tongue. Working with Wicab Systems, scientists at IHMC have explored the field of “neuroplasticity,” the concept that the brain can reorganize itself and that senses can substitute for one another. In this case researchers are using the tactile or touch sensing ability of the tongue to receive information transmitted to it from a camera via small electrical impulses. With training, the user’s brains learns to
interpret these signals as visual information and allows the blind to perceive the world around them. Currently the images appear to the user as black and white but researchers are looking into how to transmit images in color as well as increasing the resolution of the images. In addition to performing world class research, the IHMC also works to spread the wonder of science to the local community. Through it’s I Love Science program, the IHMC develops science experiments for middle school classrooms and then partners volunteers with the classes to help the teachers and students perform the experiment and learn from the results. IHMC also hosts Science Saturdays where the Institute opens its doors to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and holds hands on science enrichment activities. Topics range from physics to robotics. IHMC does not leave adults out of its educational activities. Every month the Institute hosts a guest lecturer that is a leader in his or her field. Lecture topics cover a wide range of topics in science, medicine, and engineering. Being born from a university, it’s only natural that the IHMC works closely with universities. In addition to local schools such as PSC and UWF, the Institute also works with UF, FSU and FIT. The IHMC employes a large number of interns, both paid and volunteer in its research activities. Students interested in helping IHMC change the world should visit IHMC’s website for more information: www.ihmc.us All story photos provided by IHMC.
IHMC’s X1 Mina exoskeleton helps the disabled walk.
IHMC’s second place winning Atlas robot negotiates rough terrain.
Feature
January 2016
Spanish teacher of 40 years reminisces on childhood and teaching ¡Adiós a la profesora Zeida Ward! By Lindsey Stevens
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earning a new language can be a difficult process, especially when you have to attend school without knowing the teachers’ and students’ native tongue. This was the case for Pensacola State College’s recently retired Spanish professor, Zeida Ward. Thankfully for all of Ward’s students she worked hard to learn English and was inspired to become a language teacher after her experiences as a child. Ward, a Spanish teacher of 40 years, shared some memories about her teaching experiences. While she didn’t spend all 40 years at PSC, Ward did spend a considerable 25 years of her teaching career with us. In her years before PSC, her time was spent teaching at University of California, Berkeley and San Diego State University. Ward’s enormous heart for her students and her passion for teaching is very apparent. Born in Cuba, Ward’s family immigrated to the United States and arrived here when she was 12. At the time she did not know any English. Ward had to attend an all English speaking school, and since she didn’t know any English, it was difficult for her to learn. She had to work extra hard to learn English so that she could keep up with her classmates. “I’m able to have empathy for my students,” said Ward. She knows how hard it is to learn a new language, but, she also knows that it is possible. It was Ward’s 6th grade teacher that taught her everything she knows about grammar. In fact, this same teacher inspired Ward to become a teacher herself. When asked what her favorite part of her career had
been, and what of it she regrets, Ward’s response was very telling of where her heart has been all these years. “The best thing has been the interaction with students … I don’t really regret anything.” Ward says she will miss the interaction with the students the most, but she most definitely will not miss all that paperwork. Ward’s future plans entail a cruise, traveling to Europe and Machu Picchu, Peru. She is looking forward to indulging her hobbies such as cooking, reading and photography. During her free time, she will also be compiling a book of all of her lessons for future use by other Spanish teachers.
Zeida Ward, Spanish professor of 40 years. PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
“My mother, who never liked the rebels, was reluctant to buy me the “uniform”, but I nagged her so much, that she finally gave in.” -Zeida Ward
Journey to freedom: PSC student Micah Hohney needs your help
PSC student Micah Hohney.
PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
By Jennifer Tonnaer and Tracey Squaire
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icah Hohney, one of Pensacola State College’s very own students, is currently trying to raise money so that he can purchase a handicap-accessible car. People with handicaps and disabilities are, in many ways, just like those without them. They go to school, have jobs, hang out with friends and like to go out and
have fun. For Hohney getting around can be difficult for them because of their disability, and handicapaccessible cars can be incredibly expensive. Hohney has started a campaign which he hopes will help him to raise twenty-thousand dollars so that he can purchase handicap accessible car for himself so that he does not have to rely on others to get around. When he was only 6 months old Hohney was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, which is a muscular disorder that can prevent the movement of muscles. Hohney has trouble walking, standing and using his legs over long periods of time. “I am unable to walk without assistance from either a chair or a walker,” said Hohney. Hohney’s disorder makes it challenging for him to travel without getting help from friends. Having a handicap accessible car would enable him to be much more mobile. Right now he relies on the bus and other people for him to get around to different places. However, even with public transportation and friends, it is still difficult for him because is uncommon for most people to own a wheelchair accessible vehicle. “As a college student who suffers from a physical disability, this type of expense is nearly impossible
without the help of others.” By donating to Hohney’s cause, you will help aid him on his journey to independence. “I will be able to attend school without the help of public transportation. I will be able to visit friends and maintain a healthy social life without the obstacles that come along with my disability. I will be able to prove to those who have told me I can’t, that I can. In my eyes, the only disability is a bad attitude.” Hohney is currently pursuing a degree in Information Technology and hopes to work in computer repair once he is finished with school. If you want to help support Hohney’s journey to freedom, you can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/r55jys7k.
Scan this QR code to go help Micah now.
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Feature
Students relieve finals stress, have fu
Active Minds, Student Activities work to provide games, activitie
Students Jeremy Le (left), LeeAnn Berryman (middle) and Jonathan Arnold (right) relax before finals. PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
Students participate in KnockerBall, one of Stress Less Week’s most pop
By Kimberly Bogers
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Therapy dogs at the Milton PSC campus. PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE SWEENEY
Students relieve stress with the KnockerBall activity. PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
he week of November 30th to December 4th was a hectic one for most Pensacola State College students. Final exams were quickly approaching, with some occurring that very week, and many students were spending every spare minute that they had available studying, memorizing and generally stressing out. Thankfully the faculty and staff of Pensacola State College care about their students’ wellbeing, and they tried to reduce students’ worries and concerns with Stress Less Week. This weeklong event took place on all three PSC campuses and at the South Santa Rosa Center. Stress Less Week officially began at PSC during the spring, 2014 semester as a joint venture with Student Activities and the PSC C.A.R.E.S. program. Since then the event has grown in both size and popularity. The fall 2015 semester’s event was a partnership between Student Activities and the PSC Pensacola campus chapter of Active Minds. Mike Listau, the Coordinator of Student Leadership and Activities, said that partnering with Active Minds worked out wonderfully because by making the event a group effort, the two organizations were able to work together and provide more activities than there had been at any previous Stress Less Week. “This semester’s Stress Less Week was bigger; a
January 2016
n at bi-annual Stress Less Week event
es, food, support before fall semester finals week
pular activities.
PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
Students Megan Barasy and Melodie Sioldall have fun with the photo booth. PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
lot more stuff, a lot more to do, a lot more students attended. By partnering [with Active Minds] we were able to bring in bigger events, like KnockerBall.” The KnockerBall activity was so popular that future dates have already been set for more activities with them on the PSC Pensacola campus. “Knockerball was a huge hit-figuratively and literally,” said Listau. Another popular event was the make your own stress ball station on the Pensacola PSC campus. Enough supplies were provided for students to make 150 stress balls, and after one day, the supplies had all been used. Throughout the week there were various activities on the PSC campuses and at the SSR Center, including a nap zone, a photo booth, games, puzzles, free massages for students, therapy dogs, coloring stations and free Chick-fil-A sandwiches for students. “Free food from Chick-fil-A has been clinically proven to reduce stress,” joked Listau. Listau’s favorite part of the event was handing out free sandwiches to students, especially evening students. “I’ve been in their shoes, working full time and not getting the chance to eat before heading to evening classes. It was so nice to see their faces light up when they were given free food. It was a rewarding experience.” PSC student Jeremy Le was thankful for the welcome
A student relaxes with a free massage at the Milton PSC campus. PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE SWEENEY
distraction that Stress Less Week provided. “I enjoyed the event because it helped me forget about my finals.” Listau emphasized that most all of the PSC events that are sponsored by Student Activities utilize ideas for activities and games that are provided to them by the student body. If you have an idea or a suggestion for something that you would like to see at a future PSC event on your campus, contact Student Activities and let them know. Le is hoping that the spring semester’s Stress Less Week will have events that are not spaced out so far apart. “The activities were enjoyable but there was a big gap in between each one.” He also would like to see some type of music provided at the next Stress Less Week that students can listen to. If you would like to contact Student Activities with ideas, suggestions, or questions e-mail them at studentactivities@pensacolastate.edu or call them at the numbers provided below. Student Activities Pensacola campus: (850) 484-1503 Student Activities Warrington campus: (850) 484-2293 Student Activities Milton campus: (850) 484-4436
A student enjoys one of Active Mind’s coloring stations at the Pensacola PSC campus. PHOTO BY JESSE REITZ
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Upcoming Events / Feature
Upcoming Events Jan. 6: Session A & B classes begin Jan. 10: Kamerman Piano Series: Dmitry Rachhmanov Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 2:30pm Jan. 16: PSC Women’s Basketball vs Chipola College Hartsell Arena, Pensacola Campus 5:30pm Jan. 16: PSC Men’s Basketball vs Chipola College Hartsell Arena, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm Jan 18: Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19-March 10: Switzer Distinguished Artist: Carol Wax Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Pensacola Campus Jan. 19: Turtle Island Quartet Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm Jan. 20: PSC Student Recital Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 2:35pm Jan. 23: SWERVE/dance Company Modern Dance Concert Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm Jan. 23: PSC Men’s Basketball vs Tallahassee Community College Hartsell Arena, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm Jan. 25-26: Auditions: Six Degrees of Separation Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7pm Jan. 30: PSC Men’s Basketball vs Gulf Coast State College Hartsell Arena, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm
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Class drop date: an inconvenience for students? Students, professors provide different opinions By Tracey Squaire
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ith the new semester just starting, many students are trying to get used to their new classes and teachers. Considering that students will be working with these teachers for the next four months, it’s pretty important that these teachers have a teaching style that a student understands and can learn from. Students only have the first week of each semester to add or drop a class, and during that first week of class there is little to no actual teaching going on in most classrooms. Teachers generally use the first week of school as an introduction and a way to let students know the goals of the class. It’s not smart to force students to stay in a classroom for four months with a teacher they are incompatible with. It has been proven that everyone has a specific learning style and that it is more difficult for students to learn from a teacher who teaches in a way that’s different than the way they learn. Websites like ratemyprofessor.com can give a small indication of how a teacher lectures, but often the reviews are dated and don’t give a good indication of how a teacher conducts their lessons. Instead of being stuck in a classroom struggling with a certain teacher, students should be allowed to switch to a different classroom with a more compatible teacher. After the add/drop period, there’s no reason why students shouldn’t have a slightly longer period of time where they are allowed to switch teachers. The class has been paid for and the student is still intending to take the same class, only taught by a different teacher who might teach in a way that better suits a student’s needs. PSC students seem to have strong opinions on this subject, and PSC teachers seem far more relaxed about it than students. “Yeah, sure people should be able to switch teachers, especially if they want to take the same class with just a different teacher. You’re not really getting anything different; you’re getting the same information and the same education. You wouldn’t have to pay for it again because you’re still doing the same thing, just a different teacher,” said PSC student Tauris Shingler.
Words to Inspire
PSC student Elizabeth Wallace has similar thoughts. “Students should be able to switch. I think they should be able to do it because the way that a teacher teaches might not work for them, and they might be able to learn better from someone else.” English professor Kay Mitchell tries to involve a lot of different techniques while teaching so that students with a variety of learning styles can understand the material and assignments. “I know a little bit about learning styles, and I try to to mix up my lessons, so I can reach all the students that have different learning styles. I think that if someone has a documented learning problem and they find that they are incompatible with the teacher, [switching classes] would be fine.” Music Appreciation professor Richard Jerigan does not feel that switching professors is as difficult as some students think. “We do let students switch teachers. It’s not an issue; I’ve seen it happen with a domestic issue, though I haven’t seen it done because of incompatible learning styles.” There are issues that are likely to occur with the process of switching to a new teacher. After the first week of school, teachers immediately start their lesson plans. This means that if they have new students coming in the first few weeks after they have already gone over the rules, there will likely be confusion and students are likely to be behind. Switching teachers is also not always a good idea for every class. Sometimes it might not even be possible, especially if there is only one person that teaches that subject or if all other classes are full. For most students, some classes are more important to switch than others. After all, what students do and don’t learn in one class will affect other parts of their schooling. Doing well in a math, science or English class would obviously make switching to a different teacher more important than switching a lab or elective class would. This especially holds true for core courses. What students learn in core courses will be the basis of how well they do while completing their degree and, later, how well they do in their career.
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Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory. – G.S. Patton
Feature
January 2016
Arc Gateway offers PALS program for students with disabilities PALS program provides opportunities, friendship, exciting possibilities to students
PALS students Nick Delgado (left) and Tabitha Levi (right). PHOTO BY MONICA WILSON
By Jennifer Tonnaer
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ensacola State College is home to the Arc Gateway Program for Adult Learning and Support (PALS), a unique program that offers customized training for adults 18 and over who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. PALS allows these students to attend college in order to achieve various skills, as well as prepare them for employment opportunity. “PALS is a special program that gives students the tools and training they need to become more independent, gain and maintain competitive employment and reach their goals. It is my goal to help guide students along their chosen path,” said Dondie Roper, the program’s current director. Some of the courses that PALS students may take include career exploration, vocational training, independent living skills and workplaces readiness academics, customized career exploration and technical training. PALS also offers an opportunity for PSC students to get involved and help out by becoming a Mentor Assisting Through Exploration and Support (M.A.T.E.S). M.A.T.E.S jobs are to be peer mentors that support PALS students through campus club participation, exercise, study sessions, being lunch time buddies and helping attend special events. A current mentor, Mohamad Amer, has a passion for helping others, and being a mentor for PALS is a job that truly called out to him. “I know that this program is important because it gives the students a chance to turn what would have been impossible without the program into something
possible. If it was not for this program, many of these students would have remained as only high school graduates. By being part of the PALS program the students are put into classes that fit the fields that they want to have careers in. The best thing about this program is that the classroom is not the boundary. Instead, the students go out on field trips to workshops, become interns and even find jobs that they get paid for! The PALS program doesn’t look at the disabilities; it looks at the abilities.” As a M.A.T.E, Amer tries his best to be a good role model for the PALS students. “It is not about what the activity is as much as it is about being a role model in that activity. Whether it is something as simple as using the crosswalk when crossing the street or as complex as learning how to make friends out of strangers, my job is to help them do it the right way.” Any student at PSC can help out, even without actually being a part of the PALS program. Amer believes that it’s as simple as starting a conversation and being courteous and respectful. “Even if it does not seem like a big deal, actions as simple as starting a conversation with a PALS student will go a long way in his or her life. If I can request one thing from the PSC students, it is that they never bully, make fun of, or laugh at any person with mental or developmental disabilities because it will scar that person for the rest of his or her life.” “The main thing I have learned [through PALS] is that people with developmental disabilities should not be viewed as anything other than a normal human being that is capable of the same things that you and I do, if not more. An extra chromosome or a severe brain injury from a car accident should never be a reason for a person to have the right of equal opportunity be taken away. If given a chance, all these students will blow you away with their passion, dreams, and most importantly, capabilities.” Jeff Shell is currently a student enrolled in the PALS program, and he says that he has learned a variety of things from the program. “PALS, to me, is a great opportunity to experience college like my brother and sister and to meet new
people and learn new skills. It helped me make new friends and get out of the house.” If a person is interested in becoming a part of the PALS program as a student, Shell advises that they act fast. “Get your name in there quick and be prepared to get up early.” Shell wants the student body to know that PALS students want to be treated with respect. “We are students just like everybody else. We want the same things and to be respected.” For more information on PALS and how to get involved, visit their website at: www.arc-gateway.org/ PALS or go to Building 1, Room 3, on the Pensacola PSC campus.
PALS students Jerrell Bloyson (left) Jeff Shell (right). PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
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Feature
Student Government Association works to unite campuses
New district-based SGA has reformed to strengthen student body By Jennifer Tonnaer
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ensacola State College’s Student Government Association (SGA) has gone through major reform this year in hopes of bringing the various PSC campuses together. Instead of being campus-based, SGA has become district-based, which means that there is one SGA overall rather than one on each campus. SGA president, Kaitlin Santiago, believes that the changes will ensure communication and progression between campuses. “We found that many times an event or activity would be scheduled for the same day or same time causing a student to have to choose which event or campus they were going to go to…The benefits of this restructure within the SGA are solely for the betterment of the school and to extend outreach to the student body. Now a student may choose any committee or event they wish to participate in at PSC and not have to worry about a time, date, or campus collision. This will enhance a student’s ability to participate as much as possible in as many campus events as they wish.” The changes include a new executive board, new committee chairs and new senators. Instead of having individual executive boards planning events for each separate campus, SGA has decided to bring everybody together and have one student body that oversees everything. Brittany Hockey, SGA’s Volunteer Committee cochair, has enjoyed the changes. “The [SGA] has gone from unspecialized to all specialized. There are specific goals for each committee so that we can get more accomplished and get more students involved.”
Hockey understands that every student has their own interests and feels that SGA can find a committee that best suits each person’s niche. SGA’s Campus Activities Committee co-chair, Dominic Seale, hopes that the changes will get more students involved. “We do want more student involvement... Based on their interests, students can get involved in any of the different committees. We’re not limiting members. Even if they just want to attend monthly meetings and not participate in all of the activities, that’s still involvement. We want to encourage input. Whether they want to be part of a committee or not, we still encourage their input. We want people to come and tell us what ideas they want so we can pursue that and try to achieve everybody’s goals and interests.” The SGA committee meetings are held on a weekly basis, and there are monthly meetings where everybody gets together, including the executive board. The monthly meetings are open for any students to come and voice their ideas on what they want to see done. Santiago encourages students of PSC to partake in sharing their thoughts on what they can do to influence the college and its future events. “If any student has an idea for a committee, whether it’s a new event, new club, enhancement to existing clubs or events, this is the time to share it! Students are highly encouraged to stop by the SGA Room 512 in Building 5 and fill out a form. If they would like to speak with anyone pertaining to SGA, they are more than welcome to stop by the SGA room.” The monthly SGA meetings are held on the Pensacola campus on the first Wednesday of every month, in the Student Center at 2 p.m.
(Left to right) Elaina Taylor, Simran Kaur, Blaine Richardson, Brittany Hockey, Zackary Bruley, Daniel Jenkins, Kaitlin Santiago, Donald Redhead, Devin Patrick, Dominic Seale and Basil Kuloba. PHOTO BY MIKE LISTAU
SGA vice president Donald Redhead speaks at the December SGA meeting. PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
SGA Committees The Education/Diversity/Leadership committee informs students on all issues pertaining to educating the student body and community. Committee Campus Senator: Nicholas Lett (nvl1004@students.pensacolastate.edu) Co-Chair: Donald Redhead (dbr1039@students.pensacolastate.edu) The Volunteer committee is dedicated to serving the school and community in any area that shows a need. Committee Campus Senator: Simran Kaur (s_k1126@students.pensacolastate.edu) Co-Chair: Brittany Hockey (bah1191@students.pensacolastate.edu) The Athletic and Recreation committee encourages healthy living through recreational activities. Committee Campus Senator: Devin Patrick (dmp1195@students.pensacolastate.edu) Co-Chair: Elaina Taylor (fet1021@students.pensacolastate.edu) The Campus Activities committee deals with all things campus related and is able to assist in any of the other committees’ events. Committee Campus Senator: Dominic Seale (das1298@ students.pensacolastate.edu) Co-Chair: Blaine Richardson (bar1103@students.pensacolastate.edu) SGA President: Kaitlin Santiago (kis1011@students.pensacolastate.edu) Vice President: Donald Redhead (dbr1039@students.pensacolastate.edu)
SGA officers and members make plans for the spring at the December meeting.
PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
Sports
January 2016
PSC head basketball coach Pete Pena reaches 100th win of career
Pena uses basketball to try and encourage growth and strength
Pena watches the game as he is interviewed by WSRE.
By Jack Wolfe
T
he evening of December 10th, 2015 was an important one for Pensacola State College’s head basketball coach Pete Pena. The Pirates won 77-65 against Enterprise State Community College in the Hartsell Arena on the Pensacola PSC campus. This win was not an ordinary one-it was Pena’s 100th win of his career. Watching Pena and his team celebrate together
after the game demonstrated how much the Pirates care for and respect their coach. Pena believes that the coach sets the pace and example for the overall program and it then becomes the responsibility of the team to step up. “[My philosophy is] to get young people to come together and grow together. Basketball helps that.” Pena also strongly believes that the experience, for the team and the coach, is primarily about the relationships coaches form with their players that are lifelong. He feels it is his responsibility to learn who each of the players are and what they are about. He encourages them to stand up and become leaders. “Initially it’s the coach; and, then in time, the players. This is the stand we build in our program and this is how we run our business.” When Pena is scouting players he looks for individuals that are committed to working hard and being part of a team. Of course he looks for talent, but it doesn’t bother him when he sees players struggling, because he believes it is part of the journey for growth as a player and a person of worth. The struggles help him as a coach and a mentor to see how players react when they struggle. “It helps me understand who they are and what kind of person they are.” When he was questioned about how he would he handle a situation if a player was accused of a serious criminal offense? He was somewhat philosophical. “In today’s society it affects us all. They all get treated
the same here, all my twelve sons. If it’s true, there are consequences for everyone’s actions. Our judicial system will deal with it and then we will deal with it.” When questioned about his strategy for winning, he emphasized that winning is great but he sees winning and losing as part of his strategy. “I would rather teach with a win instead of a loss. A loss is a setback, and we treat the loss as an example of how we must do better.”
Pena calls in the team after a great strategy in time out. PHOTOS BY MONICA WILSON
Coach Bill Hamilton foresees winning opportunities for athletes
Hamilton as he throws first pitch at a Blue Wahoos game.
By Katherine Chen
A
PHOTO BY BEN TINGSLEY
new semester at Pensacola State College promises new students and possible additions to the college’s sports department. That’s what Coach Bill Hamilton, the sports director on PSC’s Pensacola Campus, is hoping for. “We have five teams. On the women’s side we have basketball, volleyball and softball. We also have a men’s basketball and baseball,” said Hamilton.
Like all admissions, there are academic requirements that need to be fulfilled before being accepted into the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) or division 1 schools. Students are required to complete their core classes, have at least a 2.5 GPA and certain ACT/SAT score. Some students are given a leeway; if the ACT/SAT scores are higher, the GPA can be lower, and vice versa. “We can predict [the student’s] relative success in the academic world.” said Hamilton. “That’s what we call a predictor. If you exit high school as a predictor but come to [PSC], then you don’t have to graduate [from PSC] to move on to a four-year school.” Though PSC is a mere stepping stone to some students’ college careers, the students that join the sports teams are commonly people that fall short of the requirements in universities. “Not everybody exits high school as a predictor. Some kids have a 2.0 [GPA] or make a 17 on the ACT. The kids that we get are usually lacking in something; athletically, socially, financially, or they are not quite ready to leave home.” Students can come to PSC as a non-predictor and graduate, then transfer to any division 1 or NCAA school. “That’s the lovely thing about a 2 year institution,” explained Hamilton.
PSC’s sports department offers a number of scholarships for eligible students. Softball offers 20 scholarships, men’s basketball offers 12, women’s basketball offers 14, baseball offers 18 and volleyball offers 14. Students attending PSC are required to have a 2.0 GPA, full-time enrollment status and proof of receiving a physical. According to Hamilton, about 80% of the department’s students graduate from the two-year program. Even students that don’t graduate from PSC still go to a four year program. “My hat is hung on how many kids we get through the first two years that can successfully complete the next two years. They can become an active member of the community. I think that’s the best thing we can do for the [Pensacola] community.” Though Hamilton is focused mainly on the students in his department, he also seeks help from students outside of the department. “What we’re missing are students to come to our games. If each student on campus were to come to four games, we would have full stands.” Admission to the games is always free to students. If you would like more information on the upcoming games, or on how to become involved with PSC sports, visit http://athletics.pensacolastate.edu/. 11
January 2016
Humans of Pensacola State College Staff Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Bogers Creative Director Bara’ah Jaraiseh
Christy Scroggins Business Major
Nickolas Gibbon Graphic Design Major
Jacob Webb History Major
Melissa Churill Psychology Major
What are your plans for 2016? “I plan to finish my Associate’s Degree in Business, hopefully test out of a couple classes this summer and move out of my grandparents’ house.” What are your plans for when you move out? “I’m moving out with my boyfriend, we’re going to rent a room and we’re both just going to try and get through school and hopefully move out of Florida in a couple years.” Do you have a New Year’s resolution? “No, not generally speaking. I’ll strive to do the best I can every day, but I don’t see any need to set a specific goal other than to just do the best I can.” Do you have something you want to do with your Business degree? “I want to start out working as probably being an accountant for a company and work my way up and eventually retire. Hopefully by then I’ll have a nice enough nest egg that I can start my own business and hopefully run a bakery one day.”
Do you a New Year’s resolutions? “No, I haven’t really thought of a New Year’s resolution just yet with finals going on. It’s kind of been pushed to the side.” What is the most exciting thing you did in 2015? “I started taking photography, and that’s become quite a new hobby of mine, and now I’m going to pursue that personally on my own, like doing film. So I’ve opened up a new hobby, found a new nitch in life. It’s inspiration for all kinds of creative possibilities that I didn’t have before.” Do you have a favorite type of photography? “Black and white, film, 35 millimeter. I just like the classic look of it. [I like] everything. So far it’s just been candid’s and stuff like that, but I like all of it. I like film and processing it and the stages of it. It’s a lot more involved than just shooting and being in front of a computer.”
What is something that attracts you to history? “I like the overall concepts of what motivates humans to do certain things instead…I don’t like the whole factual side of it, I like the theoretical side of it. Really it’s like a study of human nature.” Is there something that you’re looking forward to in 2016? “I do plan on transferring to either FSU or possibly somewhere out west to continue [with] History.” What is something that you won’t ever forget about 2015? “I went to Costa Rica, and that was the first time I ever left the country. I rented a car and did Air B&B and traveled all over the country. That was an unforgettable experience.” What was your favorite part about it? “The mountains. It’s quiet, it’s cool, there are no bugs…it’s beautiful. You just hear sloths and monkeys all the time and the villagers are super nice.”
What is something that you won’t ever forget about 2015? “I moved to Florida. I lived in Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, with like 2,000 people in the town… not a lot of people. First time out on my own, so it’s been really exciting and nice to get out and…warm weather, not cold, that’s nice.” What do you like about Pensacola? “It’s nice, I mean there’s a lot more people, a lot more things to do. Living in a small town’s kind of… meh. I do miss the winter though. It’s nice not to have the snow but it’s so pretty. But Florida’s nice, and going to college is great.” What is something that you like about Pensacola State College? “I like how small the campus is, it’s nice. I don’t have to go very far. A lot of the teachers have been really great, I’ve been really happy with that.”
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
Writers Brad Andrews Gary Bogers Jennifer Carpenter Sara Fordyce Paris Harman Samantha Johnson Rennie Lindo Victoria Palasciano Rebecca Peters Jeff Shell Tracey Squaire Lindsey Stevens Jennifer Tonnaer Photographers Cassandra Fanfan Monica Wilson Videographers Lanale Johnson Jesse Reitz Kyle Stamm Illustrator Katherine Chen Nicole Durst Adviser Paula Ingram Contributors Kyle McKean Julie Shattuck Jack Wolfe
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Pensacola State College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or genetic information in its educational programs, activities or employment. For inquires regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity at (850) 484-1759, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL.