Pensacon coverage Page 6
Pensacola State College
“The News The Students Choose.”
March 2016
Category EF-3 tornado leaves Century devastated PSC student’s home destroyed; cleanup efforts underway
Cory King’s house was destroyed in the tornado: “It’s not the end, it’s just a new beginning,” said King.
By Tracey Squaire & Jennifer Tonnaer
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n wake of the recent tornados that tore through Alabama and Florida, multiple local homes and businesses were destroyed. The first tornado resulted in damage for our nearby neighbors in Century, and the second resulted in destruction in Pensacola. At the entrance of the old sawmill town of Century, houses lay devastated on both sides of the road. The damage ranges from houses without roofs, crushed vehicles and totally destroyed buildings. Debris was scattered all over where it had yet to be collected and disposed of, when just the week before it had littered the streets and made travel impossible for some people. The tornado, which passed by quickly and seemed to only last a minute, left no casualties and no one severely injured, but it left a lot of damage that the community is still dealing with. Despite the devastation, the people of Century did not succumb to despair. Instead, in the face of tragedy, the community is coming together to help those whose lives were affected by the tornado. Paula Byrd, director of Pensacola State College’s Century campus, is an active member of the community and is working to help any member of the Century community who was devastated by the storm. “Students were all out of school that day, fortunately, but a lot of kids lost everything, including all the stuff that
they would have to carry back to school. We want to make sure that they have their own backpack and supplies. These are Pre-K up to high school and college students. So we’re going to have a college wide school supply drive, and then, moving forward, there will be opportunities for the college to help with cleanup and repair.” One person that Byrd especially wanted to help is PSC student Cory King, a business administration major who had lived the entire twenty-one years of his life in a home that was completely destroyed in the tornado. “I don’t think we knew that it was going to be that serious. At first, we didn’t take it too seriously,” said King. “Even my dad was kind of brushing it off, saying it wasn’t going to be that bad. And then it was moments later after we got into the hallway and closed all the doors—like as soon as we said that it’s not going to be that bad, that’s when it almost immediately took the roof off.” King said he was in his room only moments before the tornado hit, and it was his mother who had his family move into the hallway for protection. “We didn’t know much about it; she just knew that the weather was going to get bad. Then she told us to go into the hallway. Hurricanes have gone through before, and I’ve thought ‘Oh, this is just a tornado, it’s not going to be as bad as a hurricane,’ And then that ends up doing more than a hurricane ever did.” He described the house violently shaking in a way
he had never experienced before, and how his mother compared the sound of the tornado to a train. “It was pretty scary at first. After the first couple of minutes, after it took the roof off and everything, my general concern was whether there would be something else that would come through and finish the job, like, ‘Am I going to live through this?’” In a matter of minutes, King’s home was transformed from the house he had grown up in into barely recognizable wreckage. “When I went to sleep that night, I almost thought to myself—this is just a bad dream, I’m going to wake up tomorrow, and everything’s going to go back to the way that it was. And then you sort of just wake up and that’s when the realization hits.” Currently, King and his family are staying with his sister, whose home did not sustain any damage from the storm. The family has already made plans to begin rebuilding their home; they will soon demolish the wreckage so they can get started. So far, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has yet to announce whether the tragedy is enough for their help. On this, King talks about how small areas like Century sometimes get overlooked. At the moment, the community only has each other for help. “I think right now, the best thing [people can do] is
While no fatalities occurred in Century, multiple buildings and vehicles were destroyed.
See Century tornado damage Page 3
PHOTOS BY TRACEY SQUAIRE
Columns
Make a difference: Volunteer in your community
School district helps local students with Youth Motivator Program By Brad Andrews
ne of the biggest impacts a person can make in a child’s life is to provide them with positive motivation to take on life’s challenges and accomplish their goals. Unfortunately, a shockingly large number of students in the public school system lack a person to not only help push them towards their goals, but also to provide them with a sympathetic ear to listen to and help them with their problems. Escambia County School District’s Youth Motivator mentoring program has been providing local students with access to positive influences for twenty-two years. The Youth Motivator program pairs volunteers with Escambia County students that need some extra oneon-one attention from a caring adult. Volunteers meet with a K-12 student at their school for one hour each week and help students with a variety of issues. While schoolwork and tutoring are often an important aspect of the program, having someone to talk to about school, life and the future are often just as vital. Students are typically selected for the program based on a lack of encouragement and support being
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provided in other aspects of their lives. The students in the program are selected by an inschool program coordinator with authorization by both the student and the student’s parents. “Selected students tend to be those that are bright and have the capacity to do well in school and life but need a little extra encouragement,” said Program Coordinator Sally Bergosh. Most of these students only need someone to listen to them, help them set goals and offer motivation and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers come from all walks of life, ranging from students to doctors to fighter pilots. The program is not looking for a specific set of skills; they are looking for someone who is willing to provide friendship and encouragement to a student. After a background check is passed, volunteers are assigned a student in the grade range, location and time that they chose. School coordinators use the interests and goals of the both the volunteer and the student to find a good match. Prior to starting the program, volunteers participate in a one hour training session and are encouraged to attend workshops throughout the school year aimed at helping them become better mentors. Activities with students range from playing games such as one on one basketball or chess to simply having a chat in the school’s library. The key emphasis of the
program is to develop a relationship with the student and provide them with a person that can help them stay motivated and finish their education. With some rare exceptions, all program activities take place at the school in order to maintain a focus on the school. The in-school nature of the program is one of the major differences to similar programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of one hour a week for a specific amount of time, typically a school semester. After the semester ends, volunteers are welcome to continue to work with the same student as they progress through their academic career or request a new student to mentor. Volunteers can even mentor multiple students at the same time. The program coordinator will do everything possible to make sure that volunteers can contribute as much as they want to by arranging student schedules. The Youth Motivator program currently has over 800 students paired with mentors, but for every student in the program they have many more on the waiting list. The program is in dire need of volunteers and will work hard to accommodate school and work schedules of mentors. People wishing to provide a positive influence in a child’s life can sign up to volunteer by calling Sally Bergosh at (850)-469-5676 or by e-mailing her at sbergosh@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Healthy, happy students: Tips on staying healthy
Quiet, hidden monster: Excessive GMO use in food causes more harm than good
By Rebecca Peters
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he first time I heard about GMOs I was in high school. I was concerned because I didn’t know if I was eating them or not. Turned out, I was. If you have never heard the term GMO, you are not alone. Most people have never heard of GMOs and that is the way that major food corporations want to keep it. A GMO is a Genetically Modified Organism. Scientists have found a way to manipulate the genes in plants and animals to make them grow bigger and faster, resist pesticides, drought and cold, and prevent other conditions that threaten productivity. Farming has always been a staple industry in America, but in recent years there has been a significant decline. In the 1860’s, farmers made up 58% of the work force, now they make up a mere 2%. The reason this industry has suffered so is largely due to the influx of GMO production. The seeds that these farmers use are primarily from DuPont, Syngenta, and the big bad wolf of GMO seeds, Monsanto. These three companies own 53% of all seeds, and most commercial farms grow them which stomps out smaller farms. Their seeds are resistant to the popular weed killer Roundup, which means that the crops from these seeds will not die when Roundup is sprayed to kill surrounding weeds.
Even if you have never heard of GMOs, chances are you have heard of pesticides. Roundup is a pesticide which can cause harm to humans as well as the species it is meant to target and kill. In order to walk around in a Monsanto GMO corn field, one must wear a hazmat suit and a breathing apparatus due to the abundance of Roundup in the area. The weed killer is so overused that it has been found outside of plants in rain water, ground water and most recently in human urine. Roundup is a chemical poison which in high doses has a negative effect on the human body, and we are literally breathing it in and eating it up. GMO fields, compared to organic fields, lack in almost every area. All of the facts listed below come from a 30-yearlong study done by the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial, which is the most extensive research ever done on GMOs that was not done by a GMO company. GMO seed companies say that GMO crops can help end world hunger by being more abundant and resistant to various growing challenges. In reality, the opposite is true. GMOs can solve temporary problems, but in the long run they are doing much more harm than good. GMO fields produce 40% more greenhouse gasses per pound of crop compared to organic fields. Organic fields produce equal and, in some cases, more crops than GMO farms. Organic fields increase groundwater recharge and reduce run off where GMO fields ruin topsoil after so many growing seasons. Plant variety has decreased dramatically with
93% of crop diversity obliterated by monoculture growing. With the loss of plant diversity, the essential building blocks to agriculture and finding naturally resistant plant species that require no genetic engineering to feed masses of people, are lost. Many countries in the world have been labeling their GMO foods for years. The majority of Europe labels GMO foods. There are many grassroots organizations here in America that are trying to get our food labeled so we can know when we are eating GMOs. Our country is far behind in the international discussion on GMO foods, and there needs to be a shift. If you want to learn more about how you can make a difference, or if you want to know more about GMO foods in general, I highly recommend the documentary, “GMO, OMG.” This documentary, which can be found on Netflix, is about a father who learns about GMOs and is on a quest to find out if they are safe for his kids to eat. What he finds will hopefully inspire you to be more conscientious about what you put in your body. If you are ready to free yourself from GMOs and harmful pesticides there are many ways to start. Everman’s in downtown Pensacola and The Four Winds Market offer many GMO free, organic and imported foods. You can also look for the GMO free product labels on foods in supermarkets. We have the right, as citizens of America to know what we are eating, and the less we know about this quiet monster, the less freedom we have.
Feature
March 2016
Century tornado damage Continued from Page 1
basically acknowledge what happened here. Because a lot of people don’t understand the magnitude. Like me, personally, I didn’t understand until something like this came through. I think people just need to acknowledge that this did happen and reach out in any way.” A week after the storm, Cory looked back on the event. He feels fortunate to be alive, and happy that his family was okay and that everybody got out safely. He said that the destruction has pushed him to be more successful and focused on things he may have neglected before. “You can’t really tell when things like this are going to happen. When it does, don’t panic, don’t freak out. It’s not the end, it’s just a new beginning.” Currently the numbers on the wreckage in Century are 38 homes totally destroyed, 36 with major damage and 35 with minor damage. Byrd said the pictures on the news and in the paper did not represent the true devastation. In her mind, the destruction almost resembles the aftermath of a bomb having gone off. Besides that, the majority of the buildings destroyed were also rentals that had no insurance, which left a lot of people with no place to go. “There are no hotels here or apartment complexes to speak of, There are no places for them to go. We’re hoping FEMA can come and help with that.” Given the devastation, Byrd said that it’s a miracle that no lives were lost. There were only minor injuries, despite the major damage that occurred. “The worst amount of damage happened to the people who had the least amount of resources. There are multiple opportunities for students and staff to do what we do, and that’s help each other. There’s a strong spirit in the community. The government’s not coming to help, so we just take care of it ourselves. It has been neighbors helping
neighbors, and strangers helping strangers, and it’s just been great to see the community come together and help each other out. I’m proud of my community.” Follow the Corsair on our social media accounts and check on our website eCorsair.com for more information on the tornado damage done in both Century and Pensacola and the efforts that are being made to help those who were affected.
Scan this code to donate to the victims of the last two tornados. Century resident Carlton Grissett surveying some of the damage done to the neighborhood.
In the aftermath of the tornado, cleanup efforts are desperately needed to try and regain some normalcy. PHOTOS BY TRACEY SQUAIRE
Don’t go on break from personal safety for spring break Helpful tips to stay safe during spring break vacation By Nicole Durst & Riley Larson
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pring break is just around the corner, and college students all over the country are ready to forget about school for awhile and enjoy a much deserved break. However, because students are on a care-free vacation, that does not mean they should put themselves in danger by taking unnecessary risks. Below are some tips on how to enjoy spring break vacation safely. Don’t drink and drive: Nothing is worth getting a DUI or causing a possible accident with fatalities. If you or your friend(s) have had over the legal limit of alcohol, always call a cab. Some areas, depending on your location may even have taxi discounts (such as the first ride discount courtesy of Uber). Also, if you’re staying in a hotel, check with the registration desk and see if the have a courtesy cab or further transportation coupons. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over 82% of fatal car wrecks occur because of drunk or impaired driving. According to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving website, every day twenty-eight people are killed by drunk drivers. Every year the number of fatalities from drunk and impaired driving grows higher, so we must make it our
prerogative to keep our roads safe by using resources like Uber, taxis, and designated drivers. Cab safety: When ordering a cab or taxi, be safe and get the name of your driver from the agency. When the vehicle arrives, check your driver’s identification to make sure that they are from the agency you ordered from. Water hazards: If you are visiting the beach this spring break, be sure to check and know water hazard signs in your area. Most beaches will have an online app or website that is accessible to check water conditions prior to heading out to the surf and sand. ATM safety: Prior to approaching an ATM machine and entering your pin, do a full 360 degree turn to make sure that there aren’t any strangers lurking around. If you see someone who is acting suspicious, don’t be afraid to walk to another ATM machine. It is better to wait for an ATM machine where you feel safe than it is to withdraw money and become a victim of a mugging. Drinking safety: Spring break is one of the peak seasons of the year
where young alcohol consumers are prone to receive a drugged drink. Never consume a drink that has been handed to you without viewing the drink from mixing to drinking. Know your limits! With spring break being a notorious binge drinking vacation for many college students, know your alcohol intake limit. Alcohol poisoning is not a joke; collegedrinkingprevention.gov reported that on an annual average, 1,400 students pass away due to alcohol poisoning. Don’t let yourself become a victim this spring break, and be responsible with your alcohol consumption. Driving safety: For those of you who are participating in long road trips this year for spring break, be safe and create driving shifts for each member of the car. Rotating drivers and having a passenger who is also awake on long trips helps prevent drowsy drivers on the road. If you find yourself in an emergency, do not be afraid to call 911. Your safety and personal health should always be your top priorities, even while you’re taking a break from some of your responsibilities during spring break. Have a fun and safe vacation! 3
Opinion
Diversity called; Mattel’s Barbie answered New Barbies’ hair, faces, body-type choices reflect refreshing diversity By Rebecca Peters
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all, curvy, black and red-headed are just some of the adjectives never used to describe Barbie, until now. After years of comments about how Barbie has given an unrealistic view of women to young girls, the company Mattel has finally made some changes. Barbie is now synonymous with diversity. The blonde bombshell is not gone, but she is now more realistic. With Barbie’s original body type she would have been unable to lift her head because her neck was 6 inches longer than a real woman, and her 16 inch waist would only have left room for half a liver and a few inches of intestine. With feet that are a child’s size three, she would have been completely incapable of carrying her body, arresting her ability to even walk upright. Currently, Barbie could be a fully functioning woman if she were real. In fact, she could be 33 different women. Recently the company released 33 different types of Barbie with 3 body types to choose from: petite, curvy and tall. There are also seven skin tones, 22 eye colors and 14 different looking faces.
This is not just diversity for diversity’s sake-it is also a smart business move. Mattel has seen declining sales for the past four years, and it finally made them rethink their strategy. This is the first time that a doll like this will have been in the mass market for Mattel, and how it will affect their target market is yet to be determined. Their theory is that if a doll looks more like its potential consumer, then they are much more likely to buy it. This is a huge step forward in the toy industry, and possibly for the future generations of children everywhere. When a group of children at a private school in Pennsylvania were asked a series of questions while comparing a realistic doll called a Lammily doll, the responses were not shocking. The moment the children pulled the Lammily doll out of the box they said it looked like their sister or aunt. When asked which doll looked most like them, they chose the Lammily doll. When asked what the Lammily doll would have as a job, they said a teacher, a swimmer, a computer person,
Reader Responses
and a pilot; the other doll was overwhelmingly a fashionista. When asked which doll they would want, they chose the Lammily doll. Maybe the new Barbie will encounter some initial flack from the public, but in the long run, it will be a healthy, positive step forward.
© MATTEL
Remarks, advice and opinions of Corsair readers The article, “Proposed law could allow guns on campus” primarily reflects the statements and opinions of the Pensacola State College Chief of Police, Hank Shirah. Predictably, he thinks that passage of both HB4001, a bill that would lift current restrictions on openly carrying weapons in public places and SB 68, which allows permitted individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses is a bad idea. I disagree. Both sides of the debate are able to cite studies and statistics which support their arguments, but simply acknowledging when, where and why gun violence has occurred makes it abundantly clear that removing the right of law-abiding citizens to defend their lives and property is an invitation to criminals to take both. In practically every case where mass shootings have occurred, the venue was chosen because it was populated by defenseless people. When we weaken or restrict the Second Amendment’s guaranteed right to bear arms for self defense, we encourage sociopaths, criminals, and extremists to assault innocent, lawabiding citizens. I would feel much safer on any college campus where a significant percentage of my classmates and the faculty carried a firearm they were trained to use. - Alvin Mutuc I thought maybe I was the only one who noticed junk food being sold for a ridiculous cost. Although it’s not really the food I have a problem with, it’s the outrageous prices. I completely agree with your stance on the subject and I also think that these vending machine companies are more concerned with making money rather than supplying healthy foods. I’m glad that this subject is being brought up, maybe now students will be less inclined to buy from the vending machine. I think that food that is this unhealthy should be sold for a much cheaper price, especially since it’s not like students are looking to buy a gourmet meal. Thank you so much for writing about the subject in The Corsair, I’m glad I’m not the only who who recognized the realities of the vending machines for what they are. - Brittany Crouch
I completely agree with PSC’s Chief of Police, Hank Shirah, in regards to the bills that allow those with concealed gun license, to carry their weapons in not only the general public, but onto college and university campuses throughout Florida. I believe that if these bills are passed, the campus will go from a peaceful learning environment to one that will cause students to be more on guard and not able to focus. Who’s to say that if or when an intruder arrive on campus, that these residents with gun licenses would not make the situation worse? Who says that multiple guns are better than one? Do we know if these so called carriers have had proper weapon training? Can we confirm that these gun carriers can aim and shoot at a specific target from afar? No, we cannot. So why risk the lives of thousands because of the few who have decided to take the lives of others. The resolution to gun violence is less weapons not more. Law enforcement cannot prevent every tragedy from occurring but they do their best to keep it at a minimum. I say, if one wants to carry a weapon, then one should join the military or police academy. - Bianca Jackson One day I picked up the Corsair on the way to class and one of your articles caught my eye. The article that got my attention was the Healthy, happy student: Tips on staying healthy. I was very surprised about the information that I found out in a short amount of time from this article. It talks about the Chinese herb Astragalus that I would love to try one day. Rebecca Peters really gave me the information that I would like to know about this herbal remedy that I can probably get from the vitamin store or my local pharmacy. I really want to compliment her or the information that she wrote in this article. I want to thank her for finding out the price for this herb and giving me a scene of help for my healthy life. This gave me hope for my future to keep myself healthy for the long term. Thank you for keeping students healthy for the semester. - Angela Kendrick
I would like to applaud you for the article that ran in the February edition of the Corsair encouraging students to go vote. You emphasized the importance of having your voice heard and how a government “of the people, for the people” can only be successful if “the people” are active in its process. I personally know a man that immigrated to our country as a young adult. For close to 40 years, he has lived here, owns a business here and raised a family here, as a legal permanent resident, not a citizen. He once told me his single biggest regret about not becoming a citizen is, he has never voted. Voting is a right that we tend to take for granted the further time takes us from the struggle to obtain it. Even though we live in the 21st century, there are still countries around the world that do not allow its citizens to vote for their leaders, let women vote, or tolerate its people to express an opinion that differs from the government. So be thankful, and show your appreciation to those that fought for your right to vote by getting informed, and showing up at the polls on election day. - Craig Wyse I strongly agree with the article by Tracey Squaire about the new vending machines in the Pensacola campus. The snacks in these machines are indeed as mentioned in the article a little highly priced, but not only that the variety in the machines is not very healthy. If it had not been for Tracey´s comparison of the new Veggie Straws to Lay´s original potato chips, I would have never realized that the Veggie Straws (which are supposed to be healthier) contained three percent more sodium, because I do not look at the nutritional facts on the back of the package, but not because I do not care it is because as a college student I usually don’t have time to do it. Tracey mentioned that students spend about forty dollars every month for snacks in between classes to me that is a very high price because that is the same price I pay for my phone service. Tracey’s article is very true, and shows that we need healthier and better priced snacks in our campus. - Paulo Leza Responses have been edited due to space.
Opinion
March 2016
Remembering Civil Rights March to Selma 51 years later Students give opinions on importance of voting rights
By Kelli Green
March 25, 2016 marks the fifty-first anniversary
of the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The purpose of the march was to restore and protect voting rights for blacks and other minorities who were being kept away from their rights –originally granted by the fifteenth amendment in 1865- through intimidation and violence. Martin Luther King Jr. and several other leaders led thousands of people from every background, race and religion on a five day march to the capital of Alabama. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act that year, making it against the law to try and keep a citizen from voting. Fifty-one years later we are in the midsts of another election year. Today we see commercials with celebrities like Robert De Niro reminding you that no one can stop you from voting, and there are numbers you can call if you feel like you’re being bullied at the polls and we also have commercials and ads reminding everyone repeatedly how important their voice is. In 1965, no one had to tell those thousands of people how important their vote was. “[Voting] is the people’s chance to stay involved, and elect who they feel can run the country best,” said registered voter and PSC student Silvia Johnson. Her current issue with the election is that she is not
satisfied with the current candidate choices. However, she still feels that voting is important because the lack of representation at the polls is a troubling issue in today’s society. Sarah Lewis, a senior executive assistant at PSC and a registered voter, feels that people who choose not to vote have no right to complain about how the government is handling things. “If you don’t have a say, you can’t have a complaint.” Lewis believes that voting is not only a civic responsibility, but an honor. She believes that proper officials need to be elected, and people need to speak up and choose the individuals they think can get the job done. Registered voter and PSC student Aleigha Alexander feels that it is a waste not to vote. She believes that voting in itself holds a significant amount of power. “Every vote is equal, so with such a little action as checking a box for the candidate of your choosing, that action can reap as much good as evil.” Alexander also thinks that it is important to remember the struggles of the people who fought for the right to vote. “The issues our country has today are just as important as the issues that were going on in 1965.”
Upcoming Events Jan. 19-March 10: Carol Wax Switzer Distinguished Artist Exhibition Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Pensacola Campus
March 12: Pensacola Guitar Orchestra Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm
March 2: PSC Men’s Baseball vs Wallace Dothan Community College Pirate Field, Pensacola Campus 5pm
March 13: Steinway Artist: Teresa Walters Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 2:30pm
March 3: Session D classes begin. March 3-6: Six Degrees of Separation Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm March 5: 28th Annual Lumberjack Festival Milton Campus 8am March 8: PSC Men’s Baseball vs Spring Hill College JV Pirate Field, Pensacola Campus 5pm March 11: Grande Romanza Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm
March 16: Find a Career; Keep Your Aid Student Center Bldg. 5 Pensacola Campus 11am-12pm 12:30pm-1:30pm March 17: St. Patrick’s Day March 21-27: Spring Break March 27: Easter March 28: PSC Men’s Baseball vs Northwest Florida State College Pirate Field, Pensacola Campus 5pm
March 30: Runge Strings Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm March 31: Pensacola West Percussion Ensemble Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7:30pm April 1: PSC Men’s Baseball vs Northwest Florida State College Pirate Field, Pensacola Campus 5pm
However, Alexander also expressed some concern about picking a worthy candidate, and feels that she sometimes has to pick from the lesser of two evils. Nonetheless, she will still exercise her right and cast her vote. She thinks the millennials are really stepping up this election year, and that it may be due to the, ”rampant social injustices, and the global issues that are shown to us by through media platforms.” So with the historical anniversary just around the corner and with the election season coming up, we can not help but take into consideration the importance of casting a vote. Though it may be fifty-one years since the voting rights act was signed, we are still facing some of the same issues we were then, along with new issues that need to be addressed. Everyone has at least one issue they are passionate about if they just sit down and think about it. The consensus seems to be that voting is a necessity that should not be overlooked. No matter whom you are voting for this year, or if you are considering not even voting at all, try to remember that many fought, and some even died to make sure everyone would have the opportunity to have their voices heard. We owe it to them and to ourselves as American citizens to do more than just shove that victory in our back pockets.
Words to Inspire “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.”
- Harper Lee (1926- 2016)
AP PHOTO
April 4: Auditions for The Commons of Pensacola Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7pm April 5: Auditions for The Commons of Pensacola Ashmore Auditorium, Pensacola Campus 7am April 6: PSC Men’s Baseball vs Chipola College Pirate Field, Pensacola Campus 5pm
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Feature
Third annual Pensacon provides ce PSC students: ‘Best Pensacon to date, enjoyed everything’
The large variety of Deadpool cosplayers showcase how popular Deadpool has become. PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
Doctor Matt Johnson discusses humanoid robotics.
PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
Cosplayers Jose Gonzalez (bottom), Bradley Spears (left), Zack Rusnak (middle), and Chelsea Anderson (right) show off their costumes.
Massive crowds of visitors, vendors, and cosplayers pack into the Pensacola Bay Ce
PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
By Brad Andrews & Tracey Squaire
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Locals Christine Van Leeuwen (left) and Chelsea Anderson (right) explore what Pensacon has to offer.
PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
Anna from “Frozen,” is accompanied by her T-Rex sister, Elsa.
PHOTO BY TRACEY SQUAIRE
ome for the comics, stay for the engaging events and fantastic cosplayers. On February 19-21, visitors, artists, vendors and celebrity guests traveled from across the country to Downtown Pensacola to attend the 3rd annual Pensacola Comic Convention, better known as Pensacon. Pensacola State College students Kit and Jeremy Rodriguez say, “This is the best Pensacon to date and we have enjoyed everything about it.” This yearly event offers something for everyone, creating an opportunity for lovers of art, comics and games to revel in their passions with events ranging from panels and workshops, to parties and celebrity photo opportunities. With the rise in popularity of science fiction and fantasy, thanks in no small part to the video gaming and movie industries, comic conventions such as Pensacon have enjoyed a rise in popularity. Thousands of fans that turned out for Pensacola 2016 got to enjoy all the fun events while showing many their creativity in the form of cosplaying as their favorite characters. Costumes ranged from characters such as a blood covered Beth from the television show “The Walking Dead,” to “Frozen’s” Anna and her t-rex companion dressed as Elsa. Starting out solely in the Pensacola Bay Center in 2014, Pensacon has grown to envelop much of Downtown Pensacola. Official locations this year included the Bay Center, the Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, the Saenger Theatre and the Rex Theatre. Additionally, many
local restaurants, clubs and bars hosted various scifi and/or fantasy themed parties and events for Pensacon participants. The central gathering point for the convention this year was the Bay Center. The vender floor which is at the center of the arena, normally used for ice hockey and other sporting events. Over 40 vendors from across the country attended Pensacon, bringing with them a range of goods including clothing, books, comics, handmade leather goods and more. Even non-gamers had something to look forward to, because ringing the top of the arena was a plethora of artists selling both original works and prints. The many artists, including graphic artists and sculptors, had a wide selection of works to choose from, such as gorgeous metal work depicting many popular characters from science fiction and fantasy. Art vendors even sold prints of creative depictions of famous characters, with the more popular items selling out quickly. Great deals were offered for the majority of works, which wouldn’t otherwise be seen outside of conventions. Also within the arena were opportunities to receive autographs and have pictures taken with celebrities from TV and film. Guests this year included cast members from Mallrats, Game of Thrones, Star Trek, Star Wars and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Accompanying the signings and photo opportunities were screenings of films and after parties with the cast members themselves.
Feature
March 2016
elebrities, merchandise, photo ops
enter.
Actor James Leary humorously poses at a meet-and-greet event. PHOTO BY NICOLE DURST
PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
Perhaps one of the most popular activities of Pensacon, like all comic cons, was looking at the costumes of participants. Cosplay or costume play, is an activity in which participants wear costumes that represent a specific character and forms a huge cornerstone of modern comic cons. Cosplayers dressed up as characters from a huge span of characters from comics, movies, books, video games and television. Pensacon offered a multitude of opportunities to view and take pictures of the costumed including a variety of contests and photo events. For participants that wished to start or improve their cosplaying, Pensacon offered a number of workshops focused on costume creation and cosplay acting. Events covered topics such as making realistic looking armor and weapons out of foam, applying makeup via airbrush and making prosthetic facial features such as noses. Accompanying the prop making lessons were historical talks on weaponry and western martial arts by UWF fencing club instructors. The convention held several games for event goers to join in, such as “Munchkin,” “Flames of War” and several different versions of the ever popular “Dungeons and Dragons.” A number of performance themed events took place throughout downtown including theatrical skits by the Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company. Music lovers were treated to renditions of their favorite scores from sci-fi and fantasy by the Emerald Coast Honors Orchestra.
PSC students Kit and Jeremy Rodriguez feel that this is the best Pensacon to date. PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
For those guests that aspired to a more martial activity, the University of West Florida’s fencing club gave both demonstrations and lessons in western martial arts and swordplay. In addition to science fiction and fantasy themed events, Pensacon offered fans an array of science and technology panels and activities across a widespread of topics including robotics, astronomy, underwater archaeology and 3D printing. One of the most popular events in this series was conducted by Dr. Matt Johnson of the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, where he describes his team’s work in humanoid robotics and narrates videos of their robot’s outstanding performance in a recent international robotics competition. His prediction for humanoid robotics in 10 years: “Do not expect to have one in your home.” Event organizers agree with students and plan on making Pensacon 2017 bigger and encompassing even more buildings downtown, including the IHMC’s new robotics lab where demonstrations of some of the most advanced robots in the world will be on hand. What started as a small local event has bloomed into a hugely popular phenomenon that continues to grow, proving that Pensacon is the perfect place for fans of every kind to go out and enjoy themselves along with other like-minded people. For more information on Pensacon, readers can go to http://pensacon.com.
Cosplayer Bret Jacobi gets into character. PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
Both Marvel and DC comic fans come together at this year’s event. PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
The 501st Legion provides some fantastic Star Wars props for guests to enjoy. PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHEN
7
Reviews
Salty superhero, tale of survival, killer aliens Three must-see movies to entertain during spring break
Overall Rating
Deadpool The Merc with a Mouth shows maximum effort with his bang of a debut, bringing the audience just the right amount of explicit language, dirty jokes, gory violence and fourthwall breaking moments to truly embody Marvel’s favorite mercenary. With its not-so-family-friendly content, the film has gone on to break the record of being the first R-rated movie to earn over $100 million in its opening weekend, showing just how successful of a franchise “Deadpool” truly is. From the start, the film wastes no time in showing what direction the movie will be going. Even the introductory credits are done humorously.
The Revenant For years Hollywood has been putting out films featuring epic narrative plots that have not only been hugely successful at the box-office, but have also gone on to become instant classics. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film “The Revenant” can be added to that list. Based on the legendary tale of Hugh Glass, a nineteenth century frontiersman and fur trapper who was brutally mauled by a bear and left for dead by his companions, “The Revenant” raises the bar on Hollywood epics. The film casts three-time Golden Globe winner Leonardo Dicaprio in the title role as Glass, a role that provides Dicaprio with just enough meat to make it one of the best performances of his career. From eating raw liver, sleeping
The audience is then introduced to the snarky anti-hero Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, and we just as soon find out about the man behind the mask. And if there’s anything to learn about Wade Wilson, it’s that he’s not a hero. Wade is simply a man who talks too much and makes a living by roughing up people who are even more douchey than he is. As Deadpool, it becomes even simpler—he’s a man out for revenge. Overall, the movie should satisfy both fans and crude-humored newcomers alike with its fast-paced jokes and dark backstory. The actors truly bring the Marvel
characters to life, and you will more than likely end up having a favorite character or character-moment by the end of the film, whether it’s Wade’s sweet romance with Vanessa, the snarky nature of Negasonic Teenage Warhead or the hilarious and unexpected friendship between “Mr. Pool” and the taxi driver. That being said, it goes without saying that this movie is definitely not kid friendly. Basically, it’s a must-see for Deadpool and Marvel fans and a must-avoid for the easily offended. - Jennifer Tonnaer
inside of a dead horse and the infamous bear attack, Dicaprio does everything he can to put us in Glass’s position, and he succeeds masterfully. Even with such a spectacular performance from Dicaprio, there’s still room for other talented actors to breathe their own life into this film. If there’s one actor who succeeds at doing so, it’s the amazing Tom Hardy. Hardy delivers the real chills of this film through his magnificent Southern accent, spoken with muffled ferocity, and provides Dicaprio with plenty of reasons to be out for revenge. To say that Dicaprio and Hardy are the true stars of the show however would be a drastic overstatement; Iñárritu’s spectacular direction anchors this film and rocked me to my emotional core. His use of prolonged tracking shots, striking close ups and his ability to masterfully
place characters in specific situations makes me wonder why every film isn’t directed by this guy. If there was any way of Iñárritu’s talents being completely overshadowed, it would be from Oscar winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The way that Lubezki uses light as a way to capture our attention and to place emphasis on the tension brought on by the actors is nothing short of remarkable and should be an inspiration for future cinematographers to come. The true driving force of this epic tour de force, however, is the story; its tale of survival, revenge and resilient determination gives each and every one of us the opportunity to ask ourselves how far we would go to defend what is rightfully ours. This film pushes so many boundaries, not only from a technical standpoint, but from an emotional one as well. - Gary Bogers
to survive these waves of attacks, and then one day her little brother is taken by the Others. Now it is all up to Cassie to save him. A seemingly trustworthy stranger has taken it upon himself to help Cassie in the rescue of the little boy. They are up against the clock, and time is running out because the 5th Wave is coming. So what made this movie enjoyable to watch? It was a post apocalyptic chick flick. What’s not to love? You have a little romance, a lot of heartbreak and a bit of suspense. If you are looking to see a good cliffhanger, this might be the movie for you. Now, what made this movie not
enjoyable to watch? It was yet another post apocalyptic movie. In a world flooded with sci-fi world-ending movies, you might ask yourself, “Does it ever end?” This movie was very easy to follow, but very predictable. Even without having read the book, I knew what was going to happen in the end. The build up was very slow, keeping pace with the book, and some parts happened way too fast and others way too slow. That makes this film a wait-until-Redbox kind of movie. - Victoria Palasciano
The 5th Wave “The 5th Wave”, a recently released action film starring Chloe Grace Mortez and Liev Schreiber, is based on the novel of the same name by Rick Yancey. Cassie Sullivan, played by Chloe Grace Mortez, is an everyday high school girl. She goes to parties, crushes on the school’s famous football player, and she even has a curfew. But that all changes when aliens called The Others decide to visit Earth. These aliens destroy Earth from the safety of their ship, sending out waves of attacks to kill the humans that inhabit the planet. Cassie and her family struggle
Reviews
March 2016
David Bowie’s Blackstar: One of the year’s most fascinating listens ‘Look up here I’m in heaven, I’ve got scars that can’t be seen’
I
ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE CHEN
t seems like it was only yesterday that the world lost one of its most brilliant and prolific musical heroes, the great David Bowie. Throughout his nearly five decade career, he was like a chameleon, effortlessly shifting from one diverse musical persona to the next: from Ziggy Stardust, to the Thin White Duke, all the way up to the reserved yet tireless New Yorker that he personified in the last decade of his life on the amazing 2013 comeback album “The Next Day.” It seemed as if Bowie would outlive each and every aging rock star on the planet with his strong work ethic and endless array of brilliant musical releases. That work ethic was used to unleash one of the most austere and shape-shifting albums of his entire career, the atmospherically diverse “Blackstar,” which was officially released on January 8th 2016. Taking inspiration from mainly the jazz and hip hop genres, Bowie assembled an array of New York City Jazz players and teamed up with his long time producer/ collaborator Tony Visconti to work on what would ultimately be his final effort. What most people didn’t know at the time was that Bowie had been diagnosed with liver cancer in November of 2014, but he had only told a select number of people about his devastating diagnosis. In a piece done by “Rolling Stone,” Visconti talked about how Bowie would come into the studio at some points with absolutely no hair and no eyebrows, and it quickly became apparent to his coworkers what was happening. After two long years and much suffering on Bowie’s part, the album was released to rave reviews, with many calling it one of Bowie’s best works in years. However, the celebration was short lived. Bowie succumbed to his
battle with cancer on the evening of January 10th 2016. “Blackstar” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and eventually went platinum in the U.K. Besides the fact that this is Bowie’s final studio album, it is also an album filled to the brim with hidden cues to the ailing artist’s death. I must admit that upon first listen, I was skeptical about the album’s new direction and brooding themes on mortality, but after his death I began to listen to the album in a completely different way. He was leaving clues for his fans about what he had been going through. On the album’s title track, a spacey metaphor on the trappings of a terrorist organization, Bowie sings, “Something happened on the day he died, spirit rose a meter and stepped aside.” In “Lazarus,” a song he wrote for his stage play of the same name, he tells the listener, “Look up here I’m in heaven, I’ve got scars that can’t be seen.” The hidden clues to his untimely death create an album that is so much more than it appears to be. The album features many jazz influences, something that greatly surprised me since I was used to the guitar driven antics of his last album, but that was another reason why the album was such a revelation. Not only did Bowie want to make this his farewell album, he also wanted to change the musical landscape. Instead of making a straight up rock and roll album filled to the brim with nostalgia, he did something that almost no one has ever accomplished—he created a rock album out of Jazz arrangements. He not only made the most unusual album of his career, but also opened the doors for jazz/rock fusion in the 21st century. The arrangements are best heard on the tracks “Sue (or in a Season of Crime)” and the title track. For me, what truly sets this album apart from every other album released this year so far is that it demonstrates how a musical artist can age gracefully. While other rock artists like AC/DC, U2 and Bruce Springsteen continue to release albums that find them comfortably relishing in the winning musical formulas they have been using for their entire careers, Bowie made an album that challenged his listeners with obscure lyricism, the state of his mortality, jazz and even a bit of profanity. He was truly one of the last great musical artists to grace this planet, and he decided to go out not with a bang, but with a slow, burning elegy on the career he had worked so hard to attain. The song “Lazarus” says it best: “This way or no way, you know I’ll be free, just like that bluebird, ain’t that just like me?” - Gary Bogers
App Reviews
Quiz Up Q
uiz Up is an app that anyone can enjoy because of the variety of quiz topics it offers. There is a topic for almost anything you can think of, from basic math, to more detailed topics like 1980’s TV shows. You can expand your knowledge on many topics while having fun with this app. I love using this app because there are so many interesting and fun topics. You can play online with people from all over the world or link to your Facebook and play with friends. What makes this app even more exciting is the ranking you achieve while playing the topics. Competing with your friends to beat each other’s high-scores makes this app a fun and social way to pass time. - Bara’ah Jaraiseh
Stock Market Simulators
Everyone
has heard the stories: someone invests in Apple and make millions of dollars, while someone else loses everything in some stock market crash or scam. Everyone wants to be the millionaire, but doesn’t want to risk the money to do it. The alternative: stock market simulators. Both the “Stock Market Simulator” and “Stock Trainer: Virtual Trading”, use the real world stock market, stock names and their respective prices. But be warned, both of the apps show statistics that are 10 minutes or so old. Don’t worry, that’s normal. Unless someone actually goes to where the transactions are happening, all statistics will be delayed. “Stock Market Simulator” has two advantages over Stock Trainer; it waits for time of purchase price before buying stock, and it pays out dividends. On the other hand, “Stock Trainer” does not just allow trades and payouts, but also helps a user find stocks that should be used. These options to go through can help a newbie investor find companies that they like. The biggest thing to keep in mind with real or fake trades is to research the company’s past as well as their future plans. One important thing to remember is that it is just a simulator. Although these apps can prepare someone for the real thing, they can’t perfectly simulate real life. - Jesse Reitz 9
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Sports
March 2016
Jamir’s Jabs
Pirates have bright future ahead Overview of PSC Pirates’ rebuilding year
By Jamir Sellers
School Spirit? Yes, we...don’t
PSC Pirate Neino Robinson makes a steal and starts a fast break. The PSC Pirates playing against Enterprise (Ala.) State
PHOTOS BY MONICA WILSON
By Jamir Sellers
A
s the basketball regular season comes to a close and the post season begins, let’s take a look at how the Pensacola State College Pirates did in a rebuilding year. The Pirates have basically started from scratch with only a few players returning from last season’s successful team. It was no small feat to replace the legendary big men Rozelle Nix and Shamar Johnson, but the new big men Obi Romero and Kani Coles were up to the task. The Pirates have had an on-and-off season, with an exactly .500 winning percentage (13-13). In the Panhandle conference the play ended up being subpar
with only 4 wins. The Pirates had a late comeback from conference rival Gulf Coast late in the fourth quarter; they ended up defeating them 63-55. The final home game against Chipola ended in an unfortunate defeat for the Pirates with a 90-84 loss, concluding their season with a record below .500. Despite this, the Pirates still have quite a lot to look forward to in the next season, with most of their players returning. With hard work and determination during the offseason, the Pirates can surely begin with the hot streak they left off with during the end of this season.
Spring Break Playlist Spring break is just around the corner, so why not have a chill playlist to go along with your adventures? Here is a list of top 10 tracks for spring break. These tracks are perfect for lounging at the beach or just cruising around town with your friends. Instead of settling for the generic pop hits on your vacation, make some fun spring break memories with some great indie tunes playing in the background.
Track list:
2. I Don’t Know How- Best Coast
6. Daydream- Beach Fossils 7. I Just Want You To Go Away
1. Kaleidoscope- Ringo Deathstarr
- The Lovely Bad Things
3. Pool Boyz- Diet Cig
8. Take On The World- Wavves
4. Sloop Jay D- Twin Peaks
9. Forever Dumb- Surf Curse
5. Above Us- Hibou
10. Salad Days- Mac Demarco
What are some of your favorite spring break songs? Share them with us on our social media accounts. BY IZZY MCGOWAN
S
chool spirit is one of the pride and joys of all college and universities around the country. Whether it is a fight song, mascots, or support from clubs, school spirit is one of the things that makes the college experience more enjoyable and memorable. So, why is it that Pensacola State College does not have the school spirit that many other colleges have? During my time as a student at PSC, I have noticed that at our home basketball games the attendance is usually very low, unless we play our big rival Northwest Florida State College or make it into a tournament. The same goes for softball, baseball and volleyball. Even the clubs that Pensacola State College offers are low in size. Students just don’t seem to care here at PSC as much as students in other colleges do. “This is a community college, where the average student stays for two years,” said Collin Bestor, a journalism major at Pensacola State College. “Unlike UWF, which has plenty of clubs, student activities, and sports programs, PSC doesn’t have that. If they want school spirit to go up, they should invest more in helping to create and plan student activities.” Basil Kuloba, a PSC computer science major said, “I believe it’s the education on the opportunities that the campus has for us. I know for me, as a student, I didn’t realize exactly how many clubs and activities were on campus for us to participate in. Personally, I think the teachers should advocate for student involvement for extra credit and such.” Both these students believe that the main issue is that the students are not aware of the activities because the faculty does not promote them as much as they should. I believe that some students would be interested in these activities if given more information about them during the first week of school semester. College is supposed to be a time to work hard towards earning your degree, but it also should be a fun time where students enjoy all that PSC has to offer. You are paying to be a PSC student, so why not support the school and get your money’s worth by participating in events? 11
March 2016
Humans of Pensacola State College Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Bogers
Staff
Creative Director Bara’ah Jaraiseh
Savannah Galligher Education Major
Jacob Madden EMS Major
Ruth Pabalan Nursing Major
Kawatues Carson General Education Major
Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? Hopefully teaching at an elementary school somewhere in Tennessee. I would like to teach in Memphis. That’s my dream; that’s my goal. Was there a moment in your life where you knew you wanted to become a teacher? Yeah, in fifth grade there was a special education student in my class, and he was a couple years behind in school. So I would help the teacher teach him, help him with homework, and just help him out. As I got older I realized that doing that sort of thing is just what I want to do.” What is an interesting fact about you? I moved over eleven times and went to four different high schools, so I’ve been all over the Eastern part of the country. How did changing high schools so many times affect you? I think it gave me a broader view of diverse cultures. I feel more educated on diversity. I enjoyed moving, but at the same time, it was really weird because at school everyone has their group of friends, and I couldn’t stick with one group.
What made you decide to become an EMS major? I like helping people. It’s not about just doing it; it’s about going out and helping people. That’s just what I always do. I like to help people. When did you know you wanted to have a job in the medical field? Ever since I was little. I just decided it was something I would like to do in life. Do you have any hobbies? I like writing music and singing. That’s pretty much what I like to do in my free time. I do all kinds of music. What is your favorite song at the moment? I’d have to say “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I want to be a paramedic in this area. I was born and raised in Pensacola, and I want to stay here. What do you love most about Pensacola? I’d have to say the people, the different places, and the beaches and such. I’ve always noticed that there are friendly people here, so that’s good.
Where are you from? I’m from Pace. I moved to Pensacola a year ago to study here at PSC. What do you like about PSC? I like how PSC offers online classes, and also the people are friendly here. Do you have a favorite class? My favorite teacher is my nutrition teacher, Beverly Donahue, because she’s always smiling throughout the lesson. Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? Working in a hospital and becoming successful in general. Achieving all my goals. Why did you decide to study nursing? All my aunts and cousins are in the medical field, and that’s what inspired me want to do it as well. Also, I like that I would be able to take care of my family if they get sick. Is there somewhere you want to take a trip to? I want visit Japan because I like anime and I want to experience what it’s like to wear a Yukata and see the pretty sakura trees.
Have you lived in Pensacola your whole life. If so, is there any other place you want to go? Yes I have. I would want to move to California and settle there for a couple years, but then come back here. Have you visited California before? I went there 3-4 years ago on a trip. I enjoyed it. The food was pretty good, and they have some nice beaches. What do you see yourself doing in five to ten years? I want to play basketball. I might join the team here. What’s your favorite hobby? I don’t really have a favorite hobby, I do a lot of different things. If you could go back to a certain moment in time and change something, which moment would you choose? I would probably go back to my 10th grade year and go to the prom night, on account of I didn’t go because I was too nervous.
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
Staff Brad Andrews Gary Bogers Jenni Carpenter Katherine Chen Nicole Durst Cassandra Fanfan Izzy Gardner Kelli Green Paris Harman Sara Herrington Timothy Kast Simran Kaur Riley Larson Izzy McGowen Victoria Palasciano Rebecca Peters Jesse Reitz MaryClaire Robinson Jamir Sellers Julie Shattuck Tracey Squaire Kyle Stamm Jennifer Tonnaer Monica Wilson Adviser Paula Ingram 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.
COMIC BY KATHERINE CHEN