Pensacola State College
“The News The Students Choose.”
October 2015
Haunted House Etiquette Needed for Season By Brad Andrews and Katherine Chen
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aunted houses are places of fun and excitement. Places where people can go to get an adrenalin rush that keeps them coming back for more. But sometimes the apparent horror is too real, and the rush is more than they can handle. Humans have a basic fight or flight reflex that can be triggered when situations get too frightening. This reflex causes people to react, often violently, without full awareness of their actions. Their only thought is to survive, and they will do whatever is needed to satisfy that goal. Unfortunately, even when the danger is only simulated and the antagonists are only actors, innocent people can get hurt. Haunted house actors, who are often unpaid volunteers, are frequently slapped, pushed, punched, kicked and even bitten by scared guests. Guests who are overcome by fear and simply forget that the “zombie” is actually a 16-year-old kid react violently to get away from the situation. Amber Kurson, haunted house actor, unfortunately knows firsthand what it is like to be the victim of bad haunted house etiquette. During her time as an actor in a California haunted house, she was assaulted by guests on numerous occasions, including being kicked in the stomach. Despite being the victim of other’s fight or flight reflexes, actors are not supposed to give in to their own reflexes. “We aren’t supposed to touch guests, and when someone hits me, my first response is to hit back, which is clearly a no. You aren’t supposed to break character, so the time I got kicked in the stomach, I had to not show any
anger or surprise because the group that goes though could tell someone higher up who could report on all of us,” Kurson said. Injuries from guests are not the only danger for haunted house actors. The job can be very physical, and like all physical jobs, injuries can occur. Common maladies include “Haunted House Throat” from screaming all night and repetitive stress injuries such as “Cleaver Arm” caused by repeatedly performing the same motion night after night. In order to protect both the actors and guests, haunted houses are starting to implement new safety policies. One such policy is the use of security guards to check guests for weapons before admitting them to the house. Another procedure being implemented at more extreme haunted houses is a safe word. This is a word that will stop the terror and grant a frightened guest a swift exit from the facility. How does one safely enjoy a haunted house? According to Robyn Kimberly, haunted house actress, you should only go through the haunted house if you know you can handle it. “If you are jumpy don’t go alone. Do not come armed, even fake armed. Don’t try to scare the volunteers with realistic props either; the volunteers are there to entertain you and keep you safe.” If you are interested in having some frightening fun this Halloween season, check out some of these local haunted houses.
Just be sure to remember that the actors are there to provide you with some spooky entertainment, not to cause you any harm.
Local Haunted Houses to Visit • Ghastly Ghosts of North Seville Walking Tour:
Pensacola, FL (10/16-10/17, 10/23-10/24, 10/30) • The Dark Woods at Forty South Farms: Robertsdale, AL (10/23-10/24, 10/30-10/31) • Murder and Mayhem Walking Tour: Pensacola, FL (10/16, 10/17, 10/23, 10/24, 10/30) • Redlight Walking Tour: Pensacola, FL (10/17, 10/23, 10/24, 10/30) • Haunted Hayride at Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farm: Milton, FL (10/16-18, 10/23-25, 10/30-10/31) • Tragedy and Terror of South Seville Walking Tour: Pensacola, FL (10/16-10/17, 10/23-10/24, 10/30) • Trolley of the Doomed Tour: Pensacola, FL (10/17, 10/23-10/24, 10/30)
PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHIC BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
In This Issue • New State Board of Education Funding Formula • 3D Printing • Scary Movie Reviews • Bring Back Warrington • Reader Responses • Humans of PSC
Columns
You Can Make a Difference; Volunteer in Your Community Pensacola’s Habitat for Humanity Provides Shelter to Locals By Brad Andrews
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helter is one of the most basic human needs. It provides protection, privacy, comfort and often pride. Yet millions of Americans do not have adequate housing to meet their and their family’s needs. Several organizations have been established to solve this problem, but one of the most well-known is Habitat for Humanity. The Pensacola chapter of Habitat for Humanity was established in 1981 and has helped over 1,000 Pensacola families acquire high quality, affordable housing. While building houses is the most visible aspect of the organization, Habitat provides support in many other ways. The Pensacola chapter has a multitude of programs designed to aid the underhoused
including home construction and renovation, a building supply store and neighborhood revitalization. Pensacola’s Habitat builds an average of 30 new homes and renovates 40 older homes each year. Contrary to popular belief, the houses are not given away; rather they are sold to qualified individuals at a reasonable price and financed with a 0% interest rate mortgage. Applicants are selected based upon need, ability to pay and their willingness to donate 300 hours of their time helping with their house as well as other Habitat projects. The Pensacola chapter’s ReStore is located at 5810 N Palafox Street. ReStore is a home improvement store that sells products donated by local businesses and individuals. Items for sale include appliances, hardware, books, raw materials and furniture. Only clean, working items are sold, and they are priced to be very competitive with commercial hardware stores. Revenue from the store is used to help fund the chapter’s other programs. ReStore is open to the general public. Pensacola’s Habitat for Humanity Neighborhood Revitalization program seeks to improve the image and condition of the local community. Habitat
volunteers clean up public places, repaint homes and buildings and provide general landscaping beautification. Volunteers work with local government agencies and other nonprofits to help ensure that the most pressing projects get the attention they require. The Pensacola chapter also provides donations of both money and labor to the national chapter that are used to help complete overseas projects. Habitat’s tithing program pools funds from chapters around the world to finance housing in developing nations. The Pensacola chapter also sends people on international ventures through the Global Village Program. On these trips volunteers spend 9-14 days in a foreign country working alongside local hosts building affordable housing. The Pensacola chapter has over 4,000 people volunteer their time annually. Volunteers provide the framing, painting and landscaping for new construction and renovation projects. Volunteers are needed to help run the organization’s back office as well as the ReStore operation. Contact Melanie Jacobi at (850) 434-5456 ext. 115 or www.pensacolahabitat.org for more information.
Healthy, Happy Students: Tips on Staying Healthy PSC Employee Shares Tips on Coping with Diabetes
By Rebecca Smith
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early 30 million Americans live with a disease called diabetes. Living with diabetes can be a difficult thing to come to terms with, but one man, whom you may know, is living with it and living well. His name is Henry Bressack. He is head of maintenance over all five Pensacola State Campuses. Living with diabetes can be a very timeconsuming life style. Counting carbs, checking blood sugar levels often and making sure you eat by the clock are just some of the habits associated with a diabetic life. Bressack seems to have this down to a science. He can look at a plate of food and instantly know how many carbs are on the plate. He has been living with the disease for 15 years, so it’s no wonder he knows quite a bit about moderation in his unique diet. “I kept a food log for 10 years,” Bressack said. “Everything that went into my mouth, I wrote it down.” This is just one of the key factors in learning what is healthy to Henry Bressack eat for a diabetic. Photo by Rebecca Smith “I can’t eat carrots and I found that out from logging my food. Carrots may be fine for another diabetic, but for me, nope.” This technique is what led to his amazing ability to identify carbs in food. Bressack said to really
perfect this ability, “It took about two or three years of constantly logging my food for it to become second nature. I have one book that I keep in my car that has the nutrition facts for all fast food places and one that I keep at the house that is for everything else from A-Z.”
“Live. Because diabetes uncontrolled will take your life.”
These books are called “Carb King” and Bressack bought them at Walmart. Another tool that Bressack uses to make life easier is an Insulin pump. “Insulin pumps are the best things since sliced bread to a diabetic.” An insulin pump is a small machine that registers how much insulin your body may need and pumps the proper amount at the proper time for you. The insulin absorbs into the fat of the body and filters into the blood stream, just like natural insulin to help regulate blood sugar levels. The pump is not for everyone though. This is an ideal set-up for a diabetic that is already very
diligent about checking their blood sugars often, and is “mentally knowledgeable” about what they are eating. “Count it twice, check it once,” Bressack said in reference to food carb count and blood sugar levels. Being knowledgable about what you are eating is not just beneficial to diabetics though. We can all benefit from this type of diligence with our eating habits. By limiting the amount of junk food we eat, and exercising at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes or more, we can reduce our own risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, walking briskly for a half hour every day reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30 percent. As far as diet goes, choosing foods that are high in fiber and low in sugars and fats also makes you 30 percent less likely to develop the disease. There are many factors that lead to diabetes. In Bressack’s case, it was a problem with his pancreas, not over-eating. Despite the difficulties he faces, Bressack does not let the disease slow him down. When he had to get his pancreas removed, he saw it as a second chance. As for his advice to other diabetics, “Live. Because diabetes uncontrolled will take your life. When I was sick and got better, it was a second chance for me.”
Feature
October 2015
New Performance-Based Funding Impacts PSC By Nena Gluchacki and Jennifer Tonnaer
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here’s a new college funding formula in the state of Florida, and it’s affecting Pensacola State College in a big way. The State Board of Education has enacted a new performance-based funding formula for all of the 28 state colleges in Florida. The formula is based on retention rates of students, completion rates for students, job placement or continuing education and entry-level wages of graduates. Based on these standards, the schools are given a gold, silver, or bronze rating. Pensacola State College is currently categorized as bronze. President Edward Meadows is looking at this news in a positive light because he believes that if PSC were in another state it would have a much higher ranking. “Since Florida colleges are among the best, we are being compared to the best. Pensacola State College ranks well above the national average on retention and graduation President Meadows as do all other colleges in the Florida College System, which speaks to the quality of the System as a whole and to Pensacola State College in particular.” More than $600,000 has been held back from this year’s PSC budget because of the new funding formula, but President Meadows is confident that the college’s improvement plan will help to regain the lost funding. The college has already developed a revised budget that reduces some travel costs for faculty and staff and implements new energy efficient measures to reduce PSC’s utilities cost. Pensacola State College has also come up with
strategies to help students who may be affected by the new funding formula, particularly full-time students and first-time college students. One strategy will focus on helping those students who are within a semester of graduating to apply for graduation and graduate on time. Another will focus on keeping in contact with students after their first year of college to make sure that they return. The school will also extend hours of operation for various student services across campus to better suit students’ busy schedules. President Meadows is keeping a positive outlook on the changes that will be happening around campus. “Moving forward, I will continue the dialogue with the Council of Presidents, the Department of
“Since Florida colleges are among the best, we are being compared to the best.” Education staff and the Florida Legislature regarding the metrics that can be modified and improved upon to ensure fair and equitable distribution of future performance-based funding dollars.” President Meadows is confident that PSC faculty and staff can help improve the college’s ranking with the help of involved students.
“There are all kinds of support services provided to help students enroll, persist and graduate … Pensacola State College has online tutoring programs; a career center for help with internships, co-op, and resume writing; special advising programs for veterans as well as non-veterans; scholarships offered through student services and the College Foundation; a financial aid office to help students apply for federal and state financial aid as well as college work study.” Students around campus were asked what they think they, as well as the school, could do to raise PSC’s bronze rating. Barrett Gordon suggests that professors find more inventive ideas in the classroom and for homework. “… that alone can make students retain a lot more, and therefore keep some from dropping [out of school].” Eric Tonnaer has similar ideas to President Meadows. “[Pensacola State College] needs to better promote and have easier access to tutoring programs and offer more options and flexibility for students to complete their program, like online classes and night classes. Switch their emphasis to degree programs that lead to employment and delete programs that are not productive in that respect.” Joey Hoffman disagrees with the guidelines of the funding formula. “If we’re following those standards, there isn’t really anything we can do to stop that. People are still going to drop out; people are still going to have their jobs; and I can have no job and go here, and we’ll still have bronze – for what reason? This may start eliminating schools from the system, and people will think they don’t want to go here because of the bronze rating.”
Upcoming Events Oct. 21: Book Talk Series: Dr. Charlie Schuler Chadbourne Library, Pensacola Campus 2 p.m. Oct. 21: PSC Student Recital Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, Pensacola Campus 2:35 p.m. Oct. 23: October Free Movie Night: Minions Baseball Field Pensacola Campus 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23-25, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Young Frankenstein Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, Pensacola Campus 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday Oct. 26-Dec. 15 Annual Art Faculty Exhibition Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Pensacola Campus Oct. 31 Making Strides Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Cordova Mall 8 a.m.
Oct. 31 Halloween Nov. 4 Phi Theta Kappa Honors In Action Fair Delaino Student Center, Pensacola Campus 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5 Art Faculty Exhibition Opening Reception Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Pensacola Campus 6-8 p.m. Nov. 10 Session C Last Day to Withdraw Nov. 20 Session D Last Day to Withdraw
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Feature
PSC Jazz Band Still Going Strong Over Half a Century Later Students Love the Challenge Offered, Camaraderie in PSC’s Jazz Band By Pamela Sandoval
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magine that you travel through time; you are going to Pensacola State College (PSC) in the late 1960s. Everything is in black and white, just like an old movie. You find yourself in the Ashmore Auditorium in Building 8; it’s hot and there is dim lighting. You hear people talking far in the distance. Then, you hear the powerful swinging sound of a trumpet beginning its song, followed by smooth saxophones keeping it company. These instruments fuse together with piano, trombones, guitar, bass and drums. There is rhythm flowing through your body. One question goes through your mind: “What kind of music am I hearing?” The answer: jazz. The jazz band has been active at PSC since the late 1960s. Jim Etherton, who graduated from University of Kentucky, was the founder of PSC’s first jazz band. The band has been active for almost 60 years. Head of the PSC Department of Performing Arts, Don Snowden, said, “[Etherton] liked playing jazz, and we didn’t have a jazz band, so he started one.” When Snowden came to PSC in 1987, he took over the jazz band. Snowden helps the band by making sure they have enough funds to run the band properly. He also recruits students for the band in area counties. The band itself has survived challenges and obstacles to become the PSC jazz band that exists today. “We had activities budget cut,” Snowden said, “because we didn’t have as much enrollment last year, but it is looking good this year. We’re cooking right along.” Snowden looks forward to continued success
for the PSC jazz band; they are “just continuing what they’re doing, continuing to get better. In a group that small you are only as good as the worst player. Everybody encourages everybody.” Shaun Langley, who majors in Music
“ In a group that small
director Roger Villines said. “They like to play, that’s the bigger motivator.” The same thing that makes jazz unique is the thing that makes it difficult. “Improvising is the hardest thing about jazz,” said Katlynn Buchanan, a current pianist in the jazz band. “Music doesn’t have to be serious and [it] is about having fun, like an escape from everything, not always competitive. The people in the band make it special. I love the experience here.” Ethan Millet, recruited by Snowden, plays the trumpet in the jazz band; this is his first semester in the band. “[I want to leave a] good band with a good sound that is well prepared, overall a band that people remember and want to hear.”
you are only as good as the worst player. Everybody encourages everybody. ”
Education, is in his fifth semester in the band as the lead alto saxophone. “My goal, especially as a music education major, is to leave it a stronger program than it was, even at the individual player level setting a higher standard.” Every student’s experience in the band is different. “I love the feeling of performance anxiety,” Langley said with a little grin. “I am very thankful for the level of faculty that we have here. You don’t find such strong faculty members [everywhere].” “I wanted to teach, you know... jazz; that was my main thing,” jazz band Head of the PSC Department of Performing Arts, Don Snowden.
Words to Inspire
“Courage is resistance of fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” -Mark Twain
Feature
October 2015
PSC On The Forefront of 3D Printing Industry PSC Engineering Department Trains Students in 3D Printing
Husband and wife team Jeremy and Kit Rodriquez printing a three dimensional knot. PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
By Brad Andrews
3D
printing is rapidly entering the mainstream as an effective way to manufacture items. Companies such as Makerbot and Ultimaker are producing printers that will fit on a desktop and can create virtually anything the user can design. Additive manufacturing, the term reserved for industrial use of 3D printers, is rapidly changing the worlds of machining, construction, food and even medicine 3D printing was originally developed in the 1980s and was known as rapid prototyping. The capabilities of this era’s printers were limited to making cost efficient and fast prototypes for product development. Since then the technology has matured and printers have shrunk in both cost and size. There are now available to purchase for less than $1,000 and weigh less than 20 pounds. The span of usable materials has grown to include metals, ceramics and even living tissue. Classes at Pensacola State College in 3D modeling, using industry leading software and production with the college’s growing collection of 3D printers, are currently available to students. PSC offers a ‘Rapid Prototyping Specialist’ college credit certificate program to train students specifically on the use of 3D printing technologies. The creation of a 3D printed object starts with a 3D model developed in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program such as Solidworks. 3D models are transferred to a slicer program that slices the model into thin layers and develops instructions for the printer to create each layer of the object. The resulting instructions are then loaded into the printer, and the printer creates the object by depositing the material layer by layer until the object is complete.
Some of the most commonly printed objects are solid and semi-solid objects and parts. For hobbyists they include small items such as jewelry, toys and sculptures. Industrial applications include rapid prototyping, custom eyeware and making production parts for a wide variety of machines including cars, airplanes and spacecraft. Jet engine manufacturer General Electric has even built a working jet engine composed entirely of 3D printed parts. Additive manufacturing is poised to make a big change to the way buildings are built. Using concrete as the building material, large 3D printers have built full scale buildings. Several projects are currently underway to build cheap but sound housing for developing nations as well as large luxury hotels and estates. Production techniques include using large, mobile printers to print buildings on site and smaller factory based printers that print modules that are shipped to the building site to be assembled into a complete building. 3D printed objects are not limited to inedible parts. Food printing is a rapidly developing field of additive manufacturing. Printers currently exist that print candies, pastries and chocolates. While this technology has only been in existence for a few years, it is already capturing the imaginations of chefs, bakers and other culinarista around the world. Perhaps one of the biggest impacts 3D printing is having on humankind is its use in medicine. 3D printed medical implants such as titanium hip joints and replacement ribs are currently in use and only hint at the future possibilities. Low cost 3D printed prosthetic limbs have been created and distributed to amputees in developing nations. The ability to print living tissue or bioprinting is changing many aspects of pharmaceutical research. Currently bioprinted tissues are being developed for use in place of animals for drug trials. Not only will this circumvent ethics issues, it will also greatly speed up drug development cycles. Bioprinting also holds the promise of printing functional human organs such as kidneys that will eliminate organ transplant wait lists.
Removing a freshly printed object from a 3D printer.
PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
3D printing may have the biggest impact on the developing world. Portable and cheap 3D printers can be distributed in mass in developing countries and used to print a variety of items including clothing, shoes, household items and machine parts. These objects can also be sold, generating an income where
“ The ability to print living
tissue or bioprinting is changing many aspects of pharmaceutical research. ”
one previously did not exist. Numerous nonprofit organizations are currently developing low cost open source 3D printers and 3D printed object models for distribution to the developing world. Pensacola State College is on the forefront of providing training for people wishing to become a part of the 3D printing revolution For more information on PSC’s 3D printing education options, contact Michael Cannon at mcannon@pensacolastate.edu.
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Movie Reviews
Movie Reviews: Prepare To Be Scared
= Scare Rating
The Tall Man
Jessica Biel stars in the 2012 film “The Tall Man,” a psychological thriller set in the dreary, former-mining town of Cold Rock, Washington. Nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) has been the sole medical practitioner of the economically bleak town of Cold Rock since her husband, the town doctor, died some years ago. Besides the hardship and lack of resources, Cold Rock must figure out how to deal with a disappearing children epidemic. The abductions are credited to The Tall Man, the local urban legend who draws children into the woods, never to be seen again. Julia doesn’t hold stock in the legend until her own son is snatched from his bedroom. Full of well-timed jump scares and anticipation, “The Tall Man” deconstructs who Julia really is and the long kept secrets of a quickly crumbling small town. The twist ending is sure to bring a good fright to your Halloween night. “The Tall Man” is directed by Pascal Laugier. -Nena Gluchacki
Would You Rather Would You Rather…? This 2012 film’s title is a simple question that probably makes you think about the game where you have to choose between two unpleasant choices. In this movie, the choices are more than just unpleasant; they’re downright deadly. Eight people are invited to a secluded mansion by a sadistic millionaire to compete in a deadly game of Would You Rather. The individuals competing in the game all have the opportunity to win a large sum of money if they can manage to avoid elimination. All they have to do is survive being electrocuted, stabbed, drowned and whatever other form of torture their gracious host has thought up for them. While “scary” is not really the word I would use to describe this film, “Would You Rather” is horrifying and filled with cringe-worthy acts of torture that will leave you wishing you could bleach your eyes to erase the grisly images. “Would You Rather” is currently available on Netflix. “Would You Rather” was directed by David Guy Levy and stars Brittany Snow and Jeffrey Combs. -Tracey Squaire
Troll 2
“Troll 2” was released in 1990, and it is a classic film in a sense because it is labeled the best worst movie ever made. It certainly lives up to this title. It’s a horror film for people who can’t handle horror, and it’s a comedy to its very core, even though it was never actually intended to be funny. It should also be noted that, despite the title, there are no actual trolls in the movie. And although it tried to pass off as a sequel, the movie is not affiliated with the original “Troll” film. The story follows a young boy who is haunted by the ideas of goblins being real and, despite his resistance, he and his family end up traveling to Nilbog where strange and outlandish things begin to happen. The movie is notorious for its terrible acting, writing, audio, special effects; basically it is just well known for how bad it is. But it’s bad in a way that makes it great, which sometimes makes the best movies. In this case, the movie truly takes the cake with terribly funny quality. It’s the kind of movie you’ll want to see with your friends over and over again. Definitely a great watch in the mix of horror films to watch this Halloween because it still fits the horror theme despite it not actually being scary. And for those who are squeamish with gore, don’t worry about that for this movie. There is some blood, but mostly green ooze. “Troll 2” was directed by Claudio Fragasso and stars Michael Stephenson and George Hardy. -Jennifer Tonnaer
The Visit I went to see M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Visit” expecting to discover yet another reason to fear the elderly. In that sense I was not disappointed. What I was not expecting was the large amount of awkwardness that made up the film. The premise is that two teenage siblings are going to meet their grandparents for the first time, and once they arrive the grandparents start to act strangely. I don’t mean strangely as in, “Oh, Grandpa can’t find his glasses and they’re on top his head again, haha.” I mean strangely as in, “Maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s demonic possession.” This is the point when the audience is screaming to the kids, “Run! Forrest, Run!” Big surprise the kids explain the crazy away and keep blindly hoping for the best. I have to admit that the creep factor in this movie doesn’t rely on false jump scares and fake ghouls and goblins. The fear in the film comes from the realistic, cringe-worthy and overall unnatural quality that was given to the grandparents’ behavior. This wouldn’t be a Shyamalan scare without his typical twist ending, so you can count on seeing one of these in “The Visit.” The attempts at comedic relief are excessively redundant and just about as terrifying as the grandparent’s behavior. As you may have guessed by now, I wasn’t a huge fan of this film. With that being said, anything Shyamalan puts together is going to be on my to-see list. I think he is incredibly creative and, more often than not, produces very entertaining films; this one maybe not so much. -Sara Fordyce
Reviews
October 2015
Game Review: Resident Evil: Revelations 2 W
ith many fans disappointed by the latest numbered sequel of the famous survival horror series, “Resident Evil,” Capcom decided to return to their old formula from the game’s previous installments with “Resident Evil: Revelations 2.” This game sees the return of old fan favorites Claire Redfield (Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica) and Barry Burton (Resident Evil), along with some new faces, Barry’s daughter Moira Burton and a strange little girl named Natalia Korda. The game brings back some nostalgic elements of the game series that mix puzzle-solving from the older games along with the much loved action gameplay from “Resident Evil 4.” Claire Redfield and Moira Burton find themselves abducted by a mysterious woman known only as the Overseer and fitted with strange bracelets. Trapped in an unknown location, Claire and Moira are continuously taunted by the Overseer who cryptically quotes famous verses from German writer, Franz Kafka. Unaware of the Overseer’s goals, the two must fight their way through a monster infested map to escape from the facility. After not being seen for several installments, Barry Burton arrives to
rescue his daughter and instead encounters a mysterious girl, Natalia Korda. Unlike “Resident Evil 6” where ammunition and healing items are common, players find themselves trying to conserve what they have while battling through hordes of creatures called the Afflicted. The environment for this game is gory and horrifying with evidence of torture and stories of experimentation read from documents. Puzzles also make a comeback as players must navigate their way around a maze-like map. The game is episodic and features four episodes, each of which features all four of the characters and switches between the perspectives of the Claire/Moira story and the Barry/ Natalia story. “Revelations 2” relies heavily on teamwork, and the player can switch between either character to reveal secrets or to blast some zombie brains. Inventory management is shared between two characters, and weapons can be customized to deliver more punishment. Claire and Barry are the main offensive leads while Moira and Natalia assist with seeking out hidden items. While this game is a stark contrast to “Resident Evil 6,” it doesn’t come without its sins. Some episodes seem choppy and can be frustrating,
Movie Review: Black Mass I
n “Black Mass” Johnny Depp plays the psychopath Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger. Depp’s performance is by far the most standout feature in this movie, which is based on a true story. In 70’s era Boston Whitey is a no-nonsense leader of a gang of men who swear a lot and do gangster stuff. Whitey is a man who takes loyalty (to himself) very seriously and will not think twice about shooting one of his friends in the back of the head after assuring him that their disagreement was water under the bridge. One of his childhood friends, John Connolly (Joel Edgarton), is now an FBI agent. Connolly offers Whitey protection from law enforcement in exchange for being an informant against a rival mafia leader. Whitey accepts the deal and strengthens his career as a gangster. Depp plays the part of a stoic, cold-blooded, calculating psycho perhaps all too well. Even his eyes seem devoid of a
and some enemies seem almost unbeatable and tedious to fight. Players more concerned with the story may also find themselves dissatisfied with certain parts. Despite some of its shortcomings, “Resident Evil: Revelations 2” is a game that many fans of the series may find enjoyable. Scare rating: 3 out of 5. Gameplay rating: 4 out of 5. - Katherine Chen
soul. Yet beneath that is a family man who will help an old lady with her groceries. After his son dies, he becomes even more vicious and his humanity goes from zero to negative numbers. “Black Mass” feels familiar, like a combination of crime dramas we’ve seen before. Yet despite its gloomy title and atmosphere, it is not without its funny moments. The plethora of profanity shouted in feigned Boston accents is humorous even during the more dramatic moments. The plot itself won’t keep anyone on the edge of their seat, but Johnny Depp’s performance is nothing short of amazing. He truly shows his strengths as an actor in this film and reminds us why he is an A-lister. The man can act. One philosophical question the movie leaves us with is how loyal is too loyal? Hopefully most of us will know where to draw the line, unlike Connolly. - Kyle McKean
Book Review: Once Upon a Grind W
hen coffee house manager turned amateur sleuth Clare Cosi starts selling her ex-husband, and partner in business, Matteo Allego’s new “Magic Coffee Beans” a great mystery book follows. “Once Upon a Grind” by Cleo Coyle was released in December 2014. The story begins on a brisk October day in Central Park, New York, where Clare Cosi and her highly qualified staff have set up a coffee cart for the Fairy Tale In the Park Festival. All seems to be going as planned until Clare loses track of her boyfriend’s children. After experiencing a vision caused by a steamy cup of Ethiopian coffee, Clare finds a half-dead pink princess in the forest. These events lead to an innocent man’s arrest, a big bad wolf of Wall Street and a curious gold key that may unlock all of the secrets needed to crack the case of the sleeping beauty. The twists and turns in the story are bound to keep you guessing. The clever wit and word-smithing of Cleo Cloyle are bound to draw you into this light-hearted mystery. The fairy tale theme that is woven into the plot line is delightful and kept me well entertained. AlthoughthisisthefourteenthinstallmentintheCoffeeHouse Mystery Series, this book can definitely stand on its own. With a distinct supernatural aspect and a clearly defined story line, this would be a good book to enjoy reading with a nice cup of coffee in the coming fall days. Make sure to read the prologue to this book as it sets the feel for the whole story. This novel doubles as a cook book, as it includes plenty of mouth-watering recipes for the fall season such as Cinderella pumpkin cake, Clare Cosi’s Dr. Pepper Glazed Chicken and a Snow White Chocolate Mocha. - Rebecca Smith 7
Feature
Theta Chi To Hold Honors In Action Fair to Benefit the Local Community PTK Hopes to Dismiss Tattoo Stereotypes, Raise Awareness About Hepatitis C
By Kimberly Bogers
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he Theta Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Pensacola State College’s honor society, will hold an information fair in November to raise awareness about Hepatitis C and stereotypes regarding tattoos. This fair will be a part of Theta Chi’s Honors in Action program, where the society’s members research a topic of interest chosen by PTK and plan an activity around the topic to benefit the community. PTK’s topic this year is The Frontiers of Exploration, and from the themes provided within this topic, Theta Chi decided to research the theme of Human Expression. “The Honors in Action project is a yearly project that Phi Theta Kappa completes for two purposes,” said Theta Chi president Robin Hill. “The first is to create a stimulating intellectual environment and focus on an honors study topic. Our members explore this topic with a multitude of perspectives that their personal experiences and academic studies provide. The second purpose is to create opportunities for leadership and action.” “This event will consist of a tattoo culture fair. We
will have tables set up with information on [different tattoo] cultures, and we will be tying in a donation drive to our event to raise hepatitis C awareness.” “The project this year looks at how tattoos are used and viewed by several different cultures around the world,” said one of Theta Chi’s advisers Jessica Petersen. “The information we gather about cultures, such as the Maori tribe in New Zealand, Tibetan culture and Japanese culture, will be presented at an information fair in the student center. Our community service is to increase awareness of hepatitis C and how that relates to tattoos will be part of the event as well. Students that visit the fair will have the opportunity to get a temporary tattoo using henna.” “[This] project will benefit the community by increasing awareness of how other cultures express themselves. By learning about other cultures and the meaning behind some of their traditions, we hope students can look at cultural differences they may not be familiar with, and that this might foster acceptance or tolerance of cultural traditions that are different from ours. We also hope to make students aware of some of the risks that come along with self-expression through tattoos, so that they can avoid contracting Hepatitis C if they choose this form of expression for themselves.” Past Theta Chi Honors in Action events include a presentation on trends in stem cell research that was tied into a bone marrow donor drive on the Pensacola campus, research into the benefits of parental involvement in a child’s education, which resulted in an informational flyer being sent home to parents and a teacher appreciation luncheon at Montclair elementary school and a presentation on various healthcare
systems around the world with a fundraiser that raised donations for Samaritan’s Purse to help fund medical expenses in impoverished areas. This year’s Honors in Action event, a body art and Hepatitis C awareness fair, will be held on Wednesday, November 4th from 12:30-2:30pm in the Delano Student Center on the Pensacola PSC campus. This is a free event. For more information contact Theta Chi at ptk@pensacolastate.edu.
Theta Chi Chapter President, Robin Hill shows henna tattoos that will be available for students. PHOTO BY JULIA EMILIE
Bring Back Warrington Works to Increase Warrington’s Popularity Welcome Back to Warrington Event Big Success with Locals By Katherine Chen and Kimberly Bogers
S
aturday, October 3rd was a time of good company, good food and good music at Pensacola State College’s Warrington campus. Vendors pitched tents to sell their wares while food trucks crowded nearby and music from the bands Pelican 212 and Bear With Me entertained visitors. The event also featured a yoga class for early birds and a chili cooking lesson for children. A large number of Warrington’s citizens are working hard to make events like this one a common occurrence to increase the area’s popularity. One of these citizens is Jennifer Ponson, Student and Program Outreach Coordinator on the Warrington PSC campus. “We want to improve Warrington by encouraging economic development and working on local youth and education. Rather than having a professional organization, we are a group of 80 citizens who hold
information and business meetings where we share ideas on how to make Warrington a better place.” When it came to activities at this event, visitors were able to try out different, local foods from the various food trucks on campus. Vendors offered a variety of homemade wares for the interested shopper and the bands introduced a flavor of their own. Visitors sat together at tables and were able to freely interact with other members of the community. “I had just moved to the Pensacola area in May,” said Drema Scanlon, a visitor to the event. “I’m just trying to get out and find things to do.” When asked what stood out the most from the event, visitors easily chose their favorite aspect. “The music,” said John Bailes, a recent graduate from University of West Florida. “The music here is really good,” said Ron Mckinney. His daughter had attended the children’s
chili cooking session earlier in the day. “The kid’s band (Pelican 212) was great.” “[I like] that there’s more than one food truck,” said Scanlon. “You have more than one choice.” Ponson wants to improve Warrington the way that Downtown Pensacola was recently improved. “Just a few years ago Downtown Pensacola did not have a lot going on. People did not visit, there was no shining light. A group of citizens came together with a shared vision to bring the area back to life. Now Downtown Pensacola hosts many events and is really thriving. Our goal is to work together to bring back Warrington in a similar way.” “Our plan is to host an event [like this] once a month. The proceeds made at the event will go to Pensacola State College’s chapter of SkillsUSA. Students from PSC will help to plan and assist with activities for the future events.”
Reader Responses
October 2015
Reader Responses
Remarks, advice and opinions of Corsair readers I
“ n Kimberly Bogers’ article “Are selfies making us too selfish?” she discusses why she believes selfies are the downfall of humanity. The article goes into great detail about the author’s struggle with inconsiderate selfie snappers on her vacation. Of course, it is rude to see people disrespecting memorials with silly or cute pictures of themselves, but is it really such a serious issue? Selfies have become sort of ingrained in our culture; everything from songs about selfies to products that enhance selfie taking have gone mainstream. Sure, there are many people who believe selfies are making the millennials too conceited or too self-involved, and that may be true, but I want you to think about something; how many high quality, focused, clear pictures do you have of your parents or grandparents? Probably not very many because photography was not as simply done as it is now. Imagine this generation’s children will be able to see every instance of their parents’ lives before they were born thanks to our “obsession” with social media. People need to stop being self-righteous about something as simple as taking a selfie. There is nothing wrong with being a little conceited or vain and taking a selfie. Let us all stop shaming each other for simple things and start worrying about ourselves.” -Riley Larson
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“ eople should think about the circumstances before taking a selfie because selfies can diminish others’ vacation experience. Let’s face it, selfies are selfish. When we stop to take selfies, we rarely think of the people around us. Many of the selfies taken are on vacation; so, of course these selfies are taken on others’ vacation also. If someone is trying to enjoy their vacation, they do not want to be bothered with someone who is trying to find their perfect “selfie angle.” People spend a lot of money to go on vacation. Let’s not be selfish by ruining
their vacation with selfies. In addition to all this, some people get captured in other’s selfies. This circumstance is quite awkward for a person who is trying to enjoy their vacation. Selfies have taken off as a trend. They have also taken off as a nuisance. That is because people do not stop and think of the people around them. Let’s stop being so selfish with our selfies and think of the circumstances around us.” -Gavin Grant
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“ oday people take lots of pictures of themselves to post on social media. These pictures are known as selfies, but these selfies in some cases may be inappropriate. Selfies are being posted to social media because the person taking the selfie likes the way they look or is using their location to look cool. Selfies are not a problem when taken at appropriate times and locations. Selfies should be taken when the process of taking the picture doesn’t offend anyone or disrespect the place it is taken … People should always be mindful of their surrounding before taking selfies. As long as people remember to do this, selfies will be just fine, but when they lose sight of the fact and start being rude and disrespectful is when selfies can cause problems.” -Roderick Custer
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“ ince when did it become usual to send and/ or upload thirty pictures a day of yourself? Today’s technology is nothing short of impressive, but are we using it in the wrong way? The answer to that question is yes; just take a look around. As Kimberley Bogers stated in her article “Selfies,” people were at historical monuments snapping selfies just to get that picture everyone would like, not even caring about why they are actually there. There is definitely a time and place for everything, but don’t be that person everyone is staring at twenty selfies later. Granted, it is easy to get taken away by this selfie movement because every phone, laptop and iPad has a camera in it, but that doesn’t mean to fill it up with pictures of yourself. Those items were more designed to be able to take them with you and capture moments of awesome things. People are so busy posing for a selfie that they’re forgetting about their surroundings and the more important things in life.” -Ashley Konieczki
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“ fter reading Bogers’ full article [about selfies], I’ve come to the conclusion that I agree partially. People do tend to take things overboard when it comes to selfies. However, selfishness is a trait that the person carries originally. Selfie or not, a selfish person is a selfish person. There are many people who understand that there is a time and place for everything. There have been plenty of
times when I’ve used the front-facing camera on my phone to take a selfie, but I wouldn’t climb on top of the Lincoln memorial to take a selfie for my own personal pleasures. It is up to that person to decide what’s appropriate or not. There are many people, like myself, who enjoy photography. We take photos for memories of that particular moment in time. Every day, if you go out somewhere, you tend to see people shooting pictures and videos of something interesting. The world we live in can be a very beautiful place, depending on how you look at it. There’s nothing wrong with stopping and capturing the moment. But however, people that take selfish selfies should be held accountable individually. Not everyone who takes a selfie is selfish.” -Savion Goodwin
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“ n Kimberly Bogers’ article, “Are ‘selfies’ making us too selfish?” she expresses her feelings about the selfie fad and how she believes it is making many people become selfish. I, too, believe that people are too consumed with taking selfies. Today’s technology is to blame for the selfie overload. A camera can be found on almost any popular piece of technology today. Not to mention, the effect today’s media and social media has had; if you see someone post an awesome selfie at the beach or amusement park, then you too have to post an awesome selfie about what you’re currently doing. It has become a way of boasting and showing off your status. This selfie fad has grown due to advances in technology and today’s media. We are a selfish society that is too consumed with making our social media posts and taking selfies.” -Lauren Henderson
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“ disagree with Author Kimberly Boger’s article on “Are selfies making us too selfish.” In my opinion, selfies can be enjoyable, beautiful scenes, and sharing to the world. Instead of “looking at your surroundings and trying to tuck them away in your brain” as Kimberly Bogers says, we should be able to capture a photo and keep it as a memory forever. We want to be able to cherish these moments and snap a picture, so we can save them forever and keep them as memories. To me, selfies are caring, and they are memories. I think Author Kimberly Bogers was a little too personal and selfish herself in this article.” -Kayla Kelley Do you have an opinion, remark, or word of advice that you would like to share? Send it to corsair@pensacolastate.edu with The Readers’ Responses as the subject. You just might be featured in the next issue of The Corsair!
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Poll
Poll: Do You Still Celebrate Halloween?
PSC Bookstore Drawing Winners Congratulations to the winners of the $500 drawing sponsored by Follett’s, PSC’s official bookstore. PSC students entered the drawing at the Pensacola, Warrington and Milton campuses, and a happy few walked away with some extra spending money in their pockets. The drawing took place from September 8th-11th, and one lucky student was chosen each of the four days. In addition to the winners shown below, Whitney Vaughn won $500.
“No, I never celebrated it, and I don’t know why I’d start now, I’m too old for it.” –Daniel Haupt
“Yes, I’m going to dress up as a zombie and I’m going to scare people at the fair to be funny.” -Ch’monterrius Garrett Warrington Campus Winner, Donovan Wilkes
“Yes. I normally dress up and go to whatever Halloween party there is.” -Emerald Green
“No, because I work nights now and I’m too busy, maybe one year I will.” –Evan Langdon
PHOTO’S 1, 2 & 3 BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON, PHOTO 4 BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
Milton Campus Winner, Gerald Luebbers
Pensacola Campus Winner, Kevondre Brown
October 2015
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October 2015
Humans of Pensacola State College
Staff
Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Bogers
Creative Director Bara’ah Jaraiseh
Writers
Allen Dillard Computer Engineering
Daphnie Love Ellis Pre-Med
Adrian Brown GED Student
Shey Brown Surgical Tech
Why are you interested in computer engineering? “I like to create things. Once a wise guy told me “a man is a creator.” You can create your own life, and I like to build things and in order to do that you need to know how things work. Engineering gives you a overview on how things work like electrical, software, and hardware. How to program it. That is the perfect first step to my overall goal, building technology to help the world.” What inspires you everyday? “The struggle for life. To make life easier. For example, I see someone in a wheelchair, and say “how can I make his life easier and more comfortable?” It hurts me to see people in a down stage, and I want to learn as much as possible to make everyone’s life easier.”
What motivated you to pursue Pre-Med here at PSC? “I was a dental assistant for four years and really enjoyed it, so, once I got pregnant, I quit my job and started school because I wanted more for myself and my daughter.” What has your daughter taught you since she was born? “She has taught me to have a lot of love. To not hate. Be happy and positive, and life will be better!” Is there anything you learned in a class that has affected you in a way? Professor Todd Newman, has taught me about the basic building blocks of learning, there are 6 different levels, usually people are at level 3, and he has taught me about 4, 5 , and 6 and how to think more deeply about all my classes and the material I have.”
What are you interested in doing for a career? “I’m a GED student here, but I’m interested in making hardware for our soldiers and all of our forces, if our soldiers have better equipment they are more likely to get out alive, because there are people that can’t protect themselves that we have to protect till they get on their feet.” Who is someone that inspired you in your life? “There is more than one person that inspires me. It wasn’t necessarily the person themselves, but their actions. My grandfather, he worked three jobs his entire life so he could send his children to school and live comfortably. He got little to no sleep. He inspires me the most out of everyone.”
What is something you wish you know when you were younger? “I wish I would’ve known not everyone that is in your life has the same heart as you. Sometimes in life you have to learn hard lessons, re-evaluate those around you and decide that you are important enough to release the negativity .” If you could bring one person back from the dead who would it be? “My grandmother. She was always my go-to person when I had exciting news, but more for advice. There are so many times in the past that she has calmed me and opened the Bible to reassure me that this is God’s plan. I wish she could be here now to lead me down the right path.”
INTERVIEWS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARA’AH JARAISEH
Brad Andrews Gary Bogers Sara Fordyce Nena Gluchacki Samantha Johnson Rennie Lindo Victoria Palasciano Paris Harman Jeff Shell Rebecca Smith Tracey Squaire Jennifer Tonnaer
Photographers
Cassandra Fanfan Monica Wilson
Illustrator
Katherine Chen
Adviser
Paula Ingram
Contributors
Kyle McKean Pamela Sandoval
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COMIC BY KATHERINE CHEN
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.