Volume V, Issue I
{ Lube, Pump + Ride
{
Be Your Own Bike Mechanic pg.16
www.thefineprintuf.org
FALL 2012 FREE
{
in
this issue The Unfinished Business of Tent City
(pictured right) Gainesville has promised a new shelter for years but continues to fall short on promises.
p. 22
Published with support from Campus Progress/Center for American Progress (online at CampusProgress.org).
Print Editors
Travis Epes Chelsea Hetelson Ashira Morris Lily Wan
Photo Editor
Ashley Crane
Art Director
Susan Bijan
Layout Director
Isabel Branstrom
Creative Writing Editor
Danny Ennis
Copy Editor
Hyesu Kim
Web Editor
Travis Epes
Distribution
Ellen McHugh
Page Designers
Isabel Branstrom Chelsea Hetelson Yatrik Solanki Trisha Tucker
MISSION STATEMENT
Now That You’re Here, Get Out (pictured above)
The week ends, adventure begins -- pack your bag and peace out to physically near, yet aesthetically far lands.
p. 18 Cover art by Susan Bijan.
02 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
columns Monthly Manifesto: Local feminist group, p. 06 National Women’s Liberation of Gainesville thinks women are rad, beautiful and free-thinking. Read Up, Chow Down, p.08 Our favorite recipe from the heart (stomach) of Gainesville and your mini guide to in-season and local eats. From print to plate, we’ve got you covered.
spotlights Presidential Election 2012, p. 12 Don’t worry, there’s no detail whatsoever. Plus we have memes!
features New Kid on the Block, p. 24 Yes, the hip chain is coming, but at what cost to local grocers? A Difficult Thirst to Quench, p. 26 Water demands of Adena Springs Ranch flood the community with concern.
thefineprintuf.org
Our mission is to serve the Gainesville community by providing an independent outlet for political, social and arts coverage through local, in-depth reporting.
CONTACT US
Email us at editors@thefineprintuf.org.
FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS
The Fine Print accepts freelance writing, photography and illustration. Submissions should be sent to editors@thefineprintuf.org.
ADVERTISING
The Fine Print distributes 5,000 copies of each bimonthly issue and is currently looking for advertisers. For more information, email editors@ thefineprintuf.org.
LETTERS
The Fine Print accepts letters from readers. Submit letters via email to editors@thefineprintuf.org or by snail mail to The Fine Print, 200 NE 1st St., Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601. The editorial board will decide which letters will be published, and writers will be notified before publication.
DISCLAIMER
The Fine Print reserves the right to deny or accept the publication of articles or advertisements according to the decisions of its editorial board. The views of our writers do not necessarily express those of The Fine Print.
LETTERS, ETC.
from The fine print’s
THE
E D I T O RI A L D ES K by Lily Wan
MER 2012 SUM FREE
.org
intuf www.thefinepr
ISSUE IV VOLUME IV,
N
Multimedia, more stories, blogs and a community calendar. PLUS! Comment on stories, see photos from the printed issue (and more!) IN COLOR, flip through a digital version of the printed edition and much, much more, all updated throughout the month.
EVER
IGHT
SPOTL
thefineprintuf.org
FINE T PRIN L O S T
}
After a summer of traveling DAN F SU through time (would it be cooler OY O ST B A LO VILLE, D E L S if I just stopped writing here?) and THAT O GAINE T comfort zones, I find myself back in Gainesville, nose back to the to UF d Him grindstone. And as good as it feels to ey Le Journ hose W e e sleep in my own bed again, I kind of Refug anese A Sud + miss packing my 75-liter backpack every FLORIDA, LEAR ENERGY IN REVIVAL OF NUC D I S T A N C E : THE night and the whimsicality of standby REACTORS facebook.com/thefineprintuf travel — clutching my plane ticket and twitter.com/thefineprintuf resorting to prayer for an unclaimed seat and not knowing if I’d spend the night in Seattle or Geneva. So, yes you call my summer of travel simply a vacation — wandering around France, wine + cheese in hand at any given hour, busting ass trying to hike Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. But it was more of an education than the word “vacation� implies. I read books that Rain Araneda had been collecting mental dust over the past year, waiting for my free time. I met characters much, a little and no older than myself and shared with them deep conversations, superficial introductions, opinions, laughter (of both the artificial and bellycramping sorts), advice and more. I’m still existentially digesting this summer, but so far I am certain I have a better sense of the true meaning of “higher education.� Yes, I am here for that document — diploma, it’s called — that proves I have obtained this touted higher education. But I’m not here just to grab it and go. I’d say approximately 74.4 percent of true higher education happens unbound from textbooks and outside classroom walls, and it’s up to you to pursue it. Holding The Fine Print in your hands is one step in the right direction, so snaps for you. It’s your duty to educate yourself, as no institution Rain joined The Fine Print in 2010 when she first has the power to do entirely succeed in doing so. transferred to UF from Tampa. Though an engineering Discover, but don’t force, a passion, for it’s passion major, she devotes much of her efforts to journalism that drives an education. The two are co-dependent upon each other, creating a cycle: education, passion, trying to give voice to the inequalities and injustices further education, deeper passion, and so on, with that plague us. Mainly focusing on environmental, exponential effect. And ultimately, it’s this passion that keeps The energy, and food security issues, she carries her Fine Print’s gears turning. Well, actually it is our knowledge in permaculture and natural construction gears. Operations still require the metaphorical oil techniques to the college and community projects though — you know, the cold cash (also accepting donations in the form of checks, money orders or she’s involved in. She has been writing for TFP mostly crates of coffee). on local and regional water issues since joining the We do what we do simply because we love it. That’s reason enough for anyone to do anything, isn’t it? Gainesville community. “You can’t last more than a So, here we solicit you for a salary of moral few days without water,� Rain says. “We are running support, of your readership. Spread us to your friends out. Something has to change, fast. There needs to and parade around town, wielding us with pride. We don’t want to sound trashy, but...hey, we wanna get be a real sense of urgency.� She hopes her stories around. Surthern il, the No d ch ars old women an dan, t 6 ye Su s abou kidnappinglost boy of e. he wa y Cran and t when ing men with a fellow by Ashle ows tha d, kill on Photo age. t he kn the groun Organizati vill Bu re in his age. ng huts to rates exact alth Ca rni ow his village, bu Sudan He nal mortality ld aninot kn tion, wi does entered his the Southern uce mater rva m sta Ate red facing Jacob Arab militia ob founded t would nd tha camps, thousa se dane 08, Jac e a clinic refugee ry attacks. walking a ob wrote In 20 vid lita foot to dus dren. an, to pro y,� Jac ing fled by mbs and mi man exo drink countr bo Lual Aw codile off hunger, d a hu mals, forme n and cro stave k. “We OYE erban gh lio mud to UL OK und the riv men miles throu te, “eating HF .� by rst IT bsi s shot ked aro his we ench our thi BY FA ited ob loo from AK-47 codiles wa ys on qu s Jac to ld bo know | T H E urine is his story. year-o rained of him, cros of young t he Eight- , bullets This age. Bu front thousand ern Su s. In exact the North ts to d him ir Behin ry uniform open jaws as ow his old, ape the ng hu lita burni and chilnot kn ut 6 years des lo River to esc k with in mi lage, does . Others, the ban Jacob he was abo tered his vil ing women along ard the water into the Gi ile teeth. s to swing napp cod he when militia en at ran tow who dove th by cro bbed branc d Jacob re- that and kid there ab t n Ar no me dea an Those t their were who danese le Riv killing iles, gra them, the Ni er boys e ers me the crocod n shot at water. Those could the ground, pursu s of oth tle camp by , the villag to flee but the me g into the side. Many usand son cat ter dren. er, perate lin and tho d gone to a g the dry sea to find wa the riv bodies fal to the other Jacob ha ats rin ir across e. They nomads. Du cattle and go ers the d to wade ed. t tim mb los the of me th the of the drown struggle stom is one nese Civ- er, a cu uld walk wi escaped , and many vived. ob Jac da sur im t, d boys wo . not sw Jacob Atem ate studen ond Su rth an estock the sec ween No n were for the liv But gradu bet vived llio a UF Now dan who sur 83 to 2005 died, 4 mi e Jacob lik ple of Su t from 19 children boys llion peo gh r, fou About 2 mi orphaned il Wa of Sudan. thousands South d an ced displa SVK
****
18 | T
HE
FIN
IN E PR
I N T | FINE PR
XYJ
ITVMR
Ă R T | XLI
featured staffer
generate this crucial understanding.
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
03
Paper Cuts Ouch! That hurts doesn’t it? Paper Cuts are our short, erratic and slightly painful updates on current local and national events. See our website for more Paper Cuts at thefineprintuf.org
Theft and Tor ture Used to be Criminal - Now It’s the Law Although it only lingers in the minds of many as a stale, political sound-bite, the conflict around construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline has recently taken a violent turn for a group of Texas activists. Because TransCanada has access to private land in Texas (as well as North Dakota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma) due to a loose interpretation of “public good” under the state’s eminent domain laws, construction of the pipeline surges ahead, even without Federal approval for the project as a whole. Eminent domain laws allow state government to take private land — land with buildings and homes and private property — and sell it for the sake of public good. TransCanada bought forest land from the state government in Texas that was deemed “for the public good.” The forest
04 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
Image courtesy of the Government Pr ess Office via Flick was taken by Miln r Commons. The or er Moshe. iginal image
land had been privately owned by Texans living off the grid, to say the least. In protest of this unapproved but technically legal scheme, activists stood their ground this past September on this once-privately held land to halt
TransCanada was not pleased; soon, both plain-clothed and uniformed officers from the local sheriff ’s department were on the scene. The policemen consulted with TransCanada field supervisors and then actually
On September 25th, two young Texans, ages 26 and 34, handcuffed themselves to a TransCanada excavator parked 300 yards outside their “tree village” TransCanada’s construction of the pipeline’s southern leg. On Sept. 25, two young Texans, ages 26 and 34, handcuffed themselves to a TransCanada excavator parked 300 yards outside their “tree village” built 80 feet into the air. Nine blockaders sat in the makeshift tree houses, located atop a forest grove directly in the pipeline’s proposed path.
tortured the two protestors in an attempt to remove them from the machinery. Officers from local counties tried choke holds, stress positions and tasers to intimidate the already-handcuffed protesters. Only after repeated use of tasers and pepper-spray (shot into their open wounds) did the activists remove themselves from the equipment.
COLUMN / PAPER CUTS Reporters have been barred from approaching the construction site, and officers have been instructed to arrest anyone on foot or with a camera. The blockaders remain undaunted and continue to risk their lives and freedom on a daily basis to protect what should rightfully be considered their land.
BY TRAVIS EPES
go
John, Paul, George and Rin
In 1966, it was too dangerous to go outside. Beatlemania was infectious and Tokyo had been hit hard. Local Japanese authorities were unable to handle the crazed infected fans and advised the Beatles to stay indoors, remain hidden, stay away from windows and reflective surfaces and maintain a lockdown code orange status. The Beatles were on their world tour and were in Japan for just 100 hours to play three shows. Unable to tour the city or go out to breakfast, the Beatles remained trapped at the Tokyo Hilton, all dressed up with the whole adoring world at their feet and nowhere to go. But luckily, Beatles band manager Brian Epstein was there to save the day. Like a resourceful babysitter on a rainy day, he brought the foursome some oils and watercolors and a huge 30” by 40” canvas. He placed a lamp in the middle and gathered them around, each taking a corner. “Want to color?” he asked. Over 40 years later this September, the art project sold for $155,250 at auction, $30,000 to $70,000 more than the auction’s ranged estimate. After their delightful homey stay in Japan, the Beatles presented the painting to Tetsuaburo Shimoyama, an entertainment industry executive and chairman of the Japanese Beatles Fan Club. After Mr. Shimoyama died, his wife sold the painting in 1989 for $280,000 ($500,000 in today’s dollars) to a collector who has kept it
in a $5,000 humidity-controlled frame under his bed to preserve quality. The painting, entitled “Images of a Woman,” is a colorful collage of 60s spirit and creativity as seen through the eyes of each Beatle. In the blank circle in the middle, where the lamp had been placed, each signed his name. There’s only one other piece of known artwork that all four Beatles took part in. Entitled “Peace to Monterey” and not the result of safety-induced life-preservation lockdown, this markerand-pencil drawing was offered to the Monterey Pop Festival as a condolence for not being able to play. Drawn in 1967, one year after “Images of a Woman,” “Peace to Monterey” was sold at auction in 2008 to benefit the nonprofit Project Interspeak.
We may not still be in a panic of Beatles-MeltdownCode-OrangeMania, but Beatlemania is still out there. We may not still be in a panic of Beatles-Meltdown-Code-Orange-Mania, but Beatlemania is still out there. So, watch which records you buy — you might still be able to catch it. BY CHELSEA HETELSON
Chipotle Caves, Workers Gain Victory
working conditions overall, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) protests demanding the biggest tomatobuyers in the country participate in the Fair Food Program, and not to mention ongoing Occupy protests and rallies at home and abroad. And just recently, our working brothers and sisters of the CIW had another big victory. This October Chipotle signed on to the Fair Food Program committing to buy tomatoes in Florida that pay minimum wage and meet basic working conditions laid out and monitored by the Fair Foods Standards Council. The CIWapproved farms charge a penny more per pound of tomatoes to guarantee these improvements. This announcement comes right before the 12 weeks in the winter season where Chipotle and many others in the country buy tomatoes almost exclusively from Florida. 95% of the nation’s winter tomatoes are grown in Florida. The rest of the growing season, Florida tomatoes make up 45% of the market. Chipotle is the 11th company to join the Fair Food Program and is in good company alongside Yum Brands, Bon Appetit Management Company, Compass Group, Sodexo, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway, Aramark, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Did you notice who was missing? Publix still refuses to sign onto the Fair Food Program and buy tomatoes from farmworkers who are paid fairly and treated well. From Wal-Mart to teacher’s unions, to every day workers, to every day farm pickers, raise up and stand proud. It’s our time. (Goonies never say die.)
BY CHELSEA HETELSON
As a member of the nation’s working class, it’s been truly exciting to watch the strikes and protests spread. The teacher strike in Chicago for union rights and negotiations, the worker strikes against Wal-Mart for better
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
05
COLUMN/MONTHLY MANIFESTO
BY DIANA MORENO Gainesville Women’s Liberation, a local chapter of National Women’s Liberation, is a feminist group for women who want to organize against male supremacy, bring new fire to the fight for equality and win more freedom for women. Our efforts are independently funded by the dues of women, not corporations or their foundations. We come from an ongoing collaboration between organizers from Redstockings of the Women’s Liberation Movement (a radical feminist think tank and an original group of the 1960s Women’s Liberation Movement in New York City) and Gainesville Women’s Liberation, the first women’s liberation group in the South. We believe that change comes from the collective actions of everyday people — not just politicians, the courts or the media. At a time when UF had curfews and dress codes (no pants or shorts) for women and abortion was illegal in the U.S., Gainesville Women’s Liberation founders protested the Miss America Pageant and started an abortion referral service from a Reid Hall dormitory. One of our co-founders, Judith Brown, was expelled from UF and lost her Ford Fellowship when she was convicted of contempt for defying an injunction against mass picketing to integrate a racially segregated movie theatre. We made history then, and we are ready to continue making history now. The threats to women’s rights and freedoms in this country continue, and the need for a stronger feminist movement is urgent. From the slew of anti-abortion bills attempting to restrict our reproductive rights, to the sexist comments about “legitimate” rape showcasing the level of ignorance some men
have about women’s lives, sometimes we have to check our calendars to make sure we’re in the year 2012. It is time to reclaim our spot in history and rebuild the movement that won basic rights for women in the first place. At the national level, we are part of the Morning-After Pill (MAP) Conspiracy, an organization leading the fight against restrictions on the Morning-After Pill. Our activism led to the 2006 FDA decision that allowed MAP to be sold without a prescription, and some of our members are current plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the FDA charging the agency with discrimination against women and failure to follow medical science. A victory could mean no more age restriction and an end to behind-the-counter status, so this safe form of birth control can finally be where it belongs — next to the condoms and sold at pharmacies and gas stations nation-wide. In Gainesville, we are starting a feminist zine that will reflect the experiences and issues facing local women. We already have plenty of content for the zine from our long-standing history and past women’s liberation articles, but the newer, more current content will come from our new members and from conclusions gathered at our consciousness-raising (CR) meetings. CRs are used to draw conclusions about the political roots of women’s problems by sharing, discussing, and analyzing our own experiences. We are holding our next CR on the topic of beauty standards on UF’s campus (Pugh Hall, 210) on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Join us for good conversation and to find out how you can get involved in NWL. Visit womensliberation.org to read more about our politics, philosophy, past and future events, and newsletters.
THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE
IS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE
AT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE S IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE
NIST LOOKS LIKE AT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE 06 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
F R E E EVENTS on campus
RUB ENTERTAINMENT IS A STUDENTRUN PROGRAM BOARD CONSISTING OF COMMITTEES STAFFED BY OVER 100 VOLUNTEER STUDENTS WHO SELECT, PLAN, COORDINATE, AND PROMOTE A VARIETY OF CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENTS AND THE GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK.
Facebook: FA C E B O O K . C O M / R U B E N T E RTA I N M E N T Twitter: @RUBENTERTAIN Instagram: RUBENTERTAINMENT
READ UP, CHOW DOWN FEATURED RECIPE: PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHESE FILLING TEXT AND PHOTO BY LILY WAN ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA ROULETTE
A BIT FROM BECCA “I was born on the first day of fall and because of that I feel deeply connected to this season. When the air becomes rich with the flavors of autumn, it is near intoxicating. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove combine in a symphony of spice and are always perfected with the addition of pumpkin.”
WHERE’S BECCA BAKING NEXT? Becca will be hosting her second annual PumpkinPalooza at Citizen’s Co-op on Sunday, Oct. 28th from 2 PM - 5 PM.
08 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
From Becca Bakes: a one-woman show, hobby and talent turned into small business. She’s a student at UF and sold her first batch of goodies at the downtown farmers market in 2011 and has since branched out to do custom catering as well. Look for her treats around town at special events, such as the PumpkinPalooza sale she’s hosting at Citizen’s Co-op. Check it out: Oct. 28, 2 - 5 pm.
} } BECCA BAKES INFO www.becca-bakes.com @becca_bakes facebook.com/beccabakesfl info@becca-bakes.com
COLUMN / READ UP, CHOW DOWN THE LIST
THE STEPS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two cookie sheets with cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves; set aside. 3. In another large bowl, whisk together dark brown sugar and oil. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. 4. Add eggs and vanilla to the pumpkin mixture. 5. Add the flour mixture to pumpkin mixture in parts and whisk until fully incorporated. 6. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. 7. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies just start to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean (about 15 minutes). Let cool completely on pan. 8. Make the filling: with an electric mixer on medium speed, combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and continue to mix until smooth and frosting consistency. If frosting is too thick, add tablespoons of milk, one at a time, until frosting is correct. 9. Assemble the whoopie pies with two cookies and a dollop of frosting in the center. Enjoy!
• • • •
Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the frosting Try chocolate ganache frosting Try rolling the whoopie pies in mini chocolate chips You can use 3 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice instead of the individual spices *Serving suggestion: pumpkin ale in hand, hanging out on your stoop
THE JAZZY WAY
(modifications to increase yummy factor)
3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg 1/2 tablespoon ground cloves 2 cups dark-brown sugar, firmly packed 1 cup vegetable oil 3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the Cream Cheese Frosting: 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese 3 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1-3 tablespoons milk, as needed
THE VEGAN WAY • •
Add 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses instead of the eggs For the frosting: - 1/2 cup vegan margarine -1/2 cup vegetable shortening - 3 cups powdered sugar - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon - 1-3 tablespoons non-dairy milk, as needed
eat me! i’m in season & fresh *persimmons chestnuts pumpkins zucchini *squash pears *yams cranberries pomegranates *beets *produced locally around Gainesville
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
09
FOR THE RECORD Reviews of local bands, the next big thing, and all your friends. Shout out to Rain\Outs, Thee Holy Ghosts, The Georges and Ghosts Among Men for playing awesome sets at our last benefit show, Party Like It’s the Great Gatsby! If you’d like to see your band reviewed in For The Record or if you’d like to be considered to play our next benefit show, email editors@thefineprintuf.org and let us know.
heart burglars coming to a website near you THIS CHRISTMAS
wild motown soul Upcoming show// Oct. 27 at Tall Paul’s in Gainesville Favorite part of a show// Seeing people have fun. Inspirations// Tina Turner, The Walkman, Alabama Shakes Facebook// www.facebook. com/HeartBurglars
// Heart Burglars Annie Neimand// vocals Cassandra Polcaro// back-up vocals Chris Hillman// guitar Travis Atria// horn and percussion
If you hear Aretha Franklin covers pulsating from Box #34 of the MiniMaxi Warehouse storage unit, don’t be appalled. It’s just Heart Burglars practicing their garage soul act, which they describe as “fun and doo-woppy.” The band formed this summer when musicians from multiple other Gainesville acts, including Morningbell and Pseudo Kids, started playing together. With seven members, it’s the biggest band that any of them have played with. And they don’t want to stop there. “If there are any girls who can sing and dance and are fearless, they should come to the shows and talk to me,” lead vocalist Annie Neimand said. She envisions a group of backup singers
THE FINE PRINT
WANTS TO SHARE OFFICE SPACE WITH YOU! ONE BLOCK FROM BO DIDDLEY PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE
200 NE 1ST STREET ON THE 2ND FLOOR
ONLY $222 PER MONTH LARGE SPACE | LOTS OF STORAGE | WIFI INCLUDED | PREFURNISHED SCHEDULE A TIME TO SEE THE SPACE
AND GET TO KNOW US
chelseahetelson@thefineprintuf.org
10 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
Scott Kauffmann// drums Fletcher Yancey// bass Ryan Backman// keyboard
in matching costumes dancing behind the band. “This is my dream band to start,” she said. “We’re trying to make a high energy, fun soul band.” She also admits to spending 80 percent of her time studying YouTube videos of Tina Turner, Beyonce and other powerful female performers. Many band members had made music together before forming Heart Burglars. Scott Kauffmann and Fletcher Yancey have been playing music together since their middle school days. Travis Atria and Chris Hillman are members of Morningbell. Neimand and Ryan Backman were bandmates in Annie and the Canyon.
“That’s the fun thing about music,” Neimand said. “It’s so easy to play together and start something.” They collaborate to create original songs and write covers for their ensemble of instruments. All of the band members are either students or working full-time jobs. “It’s my only way to release,” backup vocalist Cassandra Polcaro said. By Christmas, the band will record two songs on 7” vinyl with Morningbell’s Orange Records label. They have played three shows so far, but their Oct. 27 show at Tall Paul’s will be the first to include Atria’s percussion section.
BY ASHIRA MORRIS
COLUMN/FOR THE RECORD
hope
like a light
acoustic jamz Released// July 17 Recorded at// Self-recorded Sounds like// Manchester Orchestra, The Postal Service. Inspiration// The Avett Brothers; Fleet Foxes; Right Away, Great Captain! Key tracks// “If I,” “Promises” and “Hope Like a Light” Where to get it// $7 download at mynameforever.bandcamp.com Upcoming show// Nov. 17 in Tampa
Thee
Holy Ghosts
// My Name Forever Shane Toriscelli// guitar and vocals Devin Lee// guitar and vocals
Although the members of My Name Forever have been playing together for two years, their music is most developed on “Hope Like a Light,” their debut album. “We started as an alternative electric band,” Devin Lee said with a grimace. “Think Taking Back Sunday.” Things changed when they decided to develop an acoustic-based sound, which hits its crescendo on “Hope Like a Light.” Lilting, clean and startlingly playful, My Name Forever sounds like an earnest confession, charged by the vaguely holy images: “Everything, everyone, everywhere/ Can’t see enough to see they’re not alone,” Shane Toriscelli sings in “Promises.” The sound bounces between his high, clear voice and the band’s controlled play. At various points in “Legacy,” Lee and Jacob Nestler’s guitars and Trevor Jackson’s percussion work tightly together to take
ghostly beach punk
unexpected yet natural turns. The instruments move frantically, which contrasts with Toriscelli’s quiet, crisp vocals to create musical complexity. Their cohesion, one of the highlights of the album, is purposefully underscored. “We prefer a clean sound,” Toriscelli said. “Keeping it simple and acoustic makes it more apparent when we’re working together.” In the future the group hopes to add electric guitar. For now, however, they’re focusing on letting the simplicity speak for itself. Their title track, “Hope Like a Light” gives that impression: soft finger picking punctuated by brief shakes of the tambourine, held together by a constant rhythmic downbeat. At one point, all Shane does is hum. The spareness of each component--guitar, tambourine, drum, voice-crescendo to make their music palpably whole.
BY SAMANTHA SCHUYLER
// Thee Holy Ghosts Ian Bernacett// guitar and vocals Matt Brotton// guitar and vocals
Released// March 26 Recorded at// Self-recorded Sounds like// Wavves, Beat Happening, Black Lips, Iggy and the Stooges, a sockhop from hell Inspiration// Bo Diddley, Link Wray, pure boredom Key tracks// I Can’t Take It,” “Gimme Your Love” Where to get it// Free download at theholyghosts.bandcamp. com/album/thee-holy-ghosts-ep Upcoming show// Oct 26 in St. Augustine
Jacob Nestler// bass Trevor Jackson// percussion
Eman// bass Hector Laguna// drums
Awash with lo-fi feedback, full of let’s-gosurfing twang and pulled through by a consistently hypnotizing vocal drone, Thee Holy Ghosts make you want to both dance and lie on a bed somewhere and not move for awhile. Their self-titled EP manages to squeeze 1950s hard-edge guitar between staticky, droning monotone and gritty punk growls. The band plays with loose rhythms, distant vocals and grainy sounds. The EP opens on a crisp, twanging guitar riff followed immediately by a distant, eerie laughing yelp. It’s a haunted call to the beach. “Standing Alone,” a hazy, mournful doo-wop track, gives you the clear sound of a vocal harmony while the bulk of the lyrics are sung in a faraway cry. Above all, they want their listeners to get “a good time” out of their music, guitarist Ian Bernacett said. Shifting between 1950s rock ‘n’ roll
and doo-wop, touching 1960s hazy surf rock and the screaming, atonal shouts of 1970s punk, the band never stays in one place for long. “We all like different stuff,” he said. “I guess it comes out when we’re trying to make songs.” Their music seems to constantly pull between the past and present, yet the image their music creates is very clear: you’re dancing with your sweetheart at the sock hop, but for some reason everyone has a mohawk and the lighting is ghostly.
BY SAMANTHA SCHUYLER
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
11
PRESIDENTIAL SPOTLIGHT
It seems staying positive and telling the truth has gone out of style. It’s pretty hard to tell who is being the most truthful and who is just spinning the story to their benefit. We’re not quite at the point where we can scan your mouth like a breathalyzer to detect truth, but we’re pretty close. Thus, it’s time to put our noses to the books and do some fact checking. But who do you think we are? The New York Times? Get your own facts. In the meantime, here are a few basics, some quotes, some jokes, some memes and an illustrated portrait that says more than we ever could. Go forth, do the homework, and vote.
OBAMA
BarackObama.com/issues breaks down Obama’s policies into just six overall topics including energy, healthcare, taxes and education with specific goals for each. And, if selected, gives side-by-side comparisons of Obama vs. Romney policies. Extra: The Obama design team designed so hard, they’re giving away images to use on Twitter, Facebook, your desktop and iPhone background. They even have free e-cards specifically targeted at winning over grandma, the woman in your life or, like the cards we’ve come to know and love, some for no reason at all, but hey, here’s an Obama quote. Neat feature: BarackObama.com/local shows the impact of Obama’s past four years on a local level via an interactive infographic using statistics from government agency alphabet soups like the HHS (United States Dept. of Health and Human Services), CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), ASPE (The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation), and CPS-ASEC (Current Population Survey and Annual Social and Economic Supplement).
MittRomney.com/issues presents a list of issues providing Romney’s official stance on topics like gun rights, a list of specific countries, Medicare, labor and values. Extra: The Romney team hunted, gathered and edited so hard, they’re hosting over 20 pages of videos ranging from debate clips to political ads, syndicated and web-only, that can be filtered by categories like “Mitt Romney 2012,” “Obama Isn’t Working” and “Espanol.” Neat feature: Going with the Republican convention slogan, “We Built It,” BuiltByUS.MittRomney. com responds to Obama’s infamous sound bite “You didn’t build that” with a free downloadable “Built By Us” sign for you to hold or post at your will, to let all your friends know who really built it. The sub-site also has pages to share your personal success stories and video responses of building your own business to prove all it takes is some bootstraps, elbow grease and good ol’fashioned gumption.
FactCheck.org A non-partisan, non-profit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania offers in-depth reports and articles plus features like Viral Spiral, which dispels political Internet rumors and fanatic chain e-mails your grandma in Virgina won’t stop sending you. Visit FactCheckED.org to access quick links to FactCheck.org’s articles on recent debates and speeches. Politifact.com Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and home of ratings like the infamous “Pants on Fire,” Politifact is an easy-to-use, easy-to-read site managed by Florida’s own Tampa Bay Times. Search by state, politicians, pundits, or use the Obameter and GOP-Pledge-O-Meter to track campaign promises.
12 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
ROMNEY
THE PLATFORMS
TEXT BY CHELSEA HETELSON ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN KADY
THE FACT CHECKERS
Snopes.com/politics A little old-school and simple, but definitely handy to show that Virginian grandma when she tells you Obama is a radical socialist Muslim or when Aunt Patty tells you Romney’s campaign is running on the same slogan used by the Ku Klux Klan in 1922. WashingtonPost.com/blog/fact-checker Though not run by a team of journalists and scholars like the ones above, this fact checker in the form of a blog by WP contributor Glenn Kessler regularly analyzes the plethora of ads of both parties to decipher truth from fiction, as well as offering fact checking for party claims and assertions, debates and sound bites.
ELECTION 2012 SPOTLIGHT
THE LAUGHS & THE GAFFES
Whether it’s admitting the middle class was “buried” under your own administration or washing clean pots for a photo-op, year-long campaign trails are bound to have their lulz. Here are just a few, but trust us, there are many more we wish we could share.
BINDERS FULL OF WOMEN
BIG BIRD INFRINGEMENT
After Mitt Romney’s comment in the first presidential debate on Oct. 3 that he likes Big Bird but he’s going to cut funding to PBS, the meme began. Images of gangsta Big Bird giving “the bird” were rampant on the Interent, along with Obama-approved ads using images of Big Bird in order to demonize Romney and his claim to defund PBS. The Sesame Workshop, a non-profit, non-partisan company, requested the Obama campaign take down the ad due to copyright infringement and a “violation of ethics,” stating the campaign “did not have permission.” The Obama campaign continues to host the video on their Youtube page.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS PLAGIARISM
HEY GIRL IT’S PAUL RYAN
TEXTING HILLARY
While on the campaign trial, Mr. Romney quoted his purportedly favorite TV show in his speeches and used the slogan on posters to emphasize his sympathy with the American people. The creater of the show, Peter Berg did not however seem to see the connection. The show’s football rally cry “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” was not written for Mitt Romney. Berg accused the Romney campaign of plagiarsim, adding Romney’s “politics and campaign are clearly not aligned with the themes we portrayed in our series.” Despite the public plea and accusation, the Romney campaign continues to display the slogan prominently on the cover photo of their official Facebook page along with a photo of a man with his back turned to the viewer walking away in the rain.
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
13
SPOTLIGHT
YOUR WORDS,* NOT OURS
I’m voting for Mitt Romney because the choice couldn’t be any clearer. President Obama wants to grow a state of dependence, taking from some and giving to others. Mitt Romney has a message filled with opportunity, giving power back to the individual and allowing all Americans to prosper and grow wealth, not take wealth from others.
Looking at the two possible candidates, the obvious choice for me is Obama. If other parties had a better chance at winning, then my vote might be for Jill Stein. However, because our country has turned into a two-party system, a vote for any party that isn't Democrat or Republican would just be a wasted vote.
If Obama is re-elected I see the national debt hopefully going down along with unemployment rates. If Romney wins, I don’t see any economic issues changing other than tax breaks for the wealthy which would be digression and not progression. Tax breaks for the middle class are what we need to see.
Obama has always possessed socialist tendencies, which he promotes through approving wealth redistribution and healthcare mandates. Romney believes in building yourself up and becoming your own person, not relying on government.
Mitt Romney has solutions for everything our country faces, including the economy, energy, education, national security, and entitlement reform. His plans can be found on his campaign website. Obama has no plans. The American people aren’t stupid and even if you don’t agree with Romney, at least he is offering plans. – Nicholas Eagle, 20, Economics and Political Science major
* or rather, the very narrowly-defined words of two white males going to college
14 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
I feel that if Romney were to win, it wouldn’t be about economic issues anymore. It would be all about social issues which isn’t what our main focus should be on. With Obama we have seen that social issues aren’t his main concern; creating jobs and working on health care has been his main priorities which is exactly what this country needs. – Cody Thomas, 19, Networking Services and Computer Science major
REPORTING BY KRISTAN WIGGINS ILLUSTRATION BY SAM EGENES
SPOTLIGHT
Adventures of
THE UF SEARCH COMMITTEE: S E T T I N G T H E S TA G E BY BRANDON SHENK Bernie Machen announced this past June that he will be stepping down as UF President at the end of next year with an official date to be determined after his successor has been named. As it now stands, Machen’s replacement process is sure to be drawn out – rightfully so, considering the magnitude of the decision. No deadline has been set for the completion of the search for UF’s 12th President and interviews for the position aren’t expected to begin until late Fall 2012 or early Spring 2013. Fresh out of the gate, UF has made a show of strictly adhering to chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes, which states public, state-sponsored businesses are required to make transparent their records and meetings. For those interested in the play-by-play of all the decisions not being made and meetings that have not reached any conclusions yet, the Presidential Search website at presidentialsearch.ufl.edu, has you covered. Search committee members include UF Board of Trustee members, faculty, students, administration, the Florida Board of Governors and stakeholder groups. C. David Brown II, chair of the UF Board of Trustees and of the Presidential Search Committee qualifies the appointees that he himself hand picked as “distinguished leaders in their fields of expertise who have in common a commitment to the future of the University of Florida.” Janine Sikes, UF Director of Public Affairs, sent an email containing a list of 36 nominees for the UF president.
However, Sikes wrote that just because a name is on the list doesn’t mean the person is interested in the position, or even that UF is seriously considering the person as a potential candidate. The names are merely nominees by alumni, professors, donors, community members and students, among others. For instance, former UF football coach Steve Spurrier has found rank amongst the 36 names. One could wonder what new trademark act of frustration he would adopt as UF President, having to abandon his former ritual of feverishly ripping off his headset and chucking it down a sideline.
So for now, the Gator Nation can sit back, relax and hold tight. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, the same organization UF used to help hire Machen back in 2003, has again been recruited to help head hunt for the new UF president. The Miramar Beach, Fla., Executive Search Service firm boasts a lengthy list of top-name clientele. Still, the lion’s share of the seeking, planning and considering is to fall upon the search committee and its subcommittees. The Presidential Search Committee will ultimately give recommendations to the Board of Trustees, who will make the final decision. The last official meeting to-date the Presidential Search Committee held
Sept. 13 was to brainstorm how best to orchestrate future campus interviews with potential applicants - no specific names were mentioned. Questions revolved around what campus venues to showcase, which prominent programs should be introduced, how to highlight student body interactions and how to best demonstrate the university’s relationship with the community. As well, the Board of Trustee’s agenda for their Sept. 20 convention at Lake Wauburg did not have a scheduled discussion pertaining to the president’s replacement. So for now, the Gator Nation can sit back, relax and hold tight. Bernie Machen will dutifully and patiently serve as UF president until a successor is deemed worthy of leading Florida’s Flagship school. The nine-year span Machen has served thus far remains impressive compared to the length of most university presidents. However, Machen’s retirement begs a question that has yet to receive a substantial response: Why step down now? To answer that question, we may consider some highly probable scenarios. Understandably, he may feel it’s time to let go of the job that, at many times, has proved exhausting. Or, quite possibly, Machen may want to focus more on personal matters. Or, what’s probably most close to the truth, he’s developed a newfound respect for the art of origami and wishes to concentrate fully on mastering his crease-and-fold techniques. We may never know. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH FOR #12.
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
15
SPOTLIGHT
LUBE, PUMP + RIDE Be Your Own Bike Mechanic
The wheels on the bike go ‘round and ‘round. And they go ‘round all day long so you better take proper care of them, and the rest of your bike. Get some basic know-how and save yourself a little money by checking out this easy at-home maintenance guide. Don’t be afraid to get your hands a little greasy. Of course, for more complicated procedures, it’s best to consult the experts at one of the local bike shops.
TEXT BY LILY WAN & ASHIRA MORRIS ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA ROULETTE & SAMANTHA SCHUYLER
anks to Special th h Ave. 8t Musa at ffee for o C Bikes & lp! the he
Figure 1
Hit the Trails Hawthorne Trail
airport, passing the Hawthorne Trail connection on the way.
• One-way distance: 16.5 mi. • Connect at paved path on 2nd Ave. and 6th St. and follow it south to SW Depot Ave. Trail across the street and just keep on riding.
Paynes Prairie
Waldo Road Greenway • One-way distance: 8 mi. • Connect at Old Archer Rd. + SW 28th Pl. and ride to the 16 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
• Cone’s Dike -- 8.4 mi. round-trip • Chacala Trail -- 6.5 mi .round-trip • Bike straight south on 13th St. until you hit the park entrance where you can grab a map to the trailheads. Make sure your bike is suited for the unpaved pathways!
SPOTLIGHT
Toolkit Figure 2.2
$25 • mini bike pump ($10) • WD-40 ($4) • rag ($0, I guarantee you have one at home) • 8/9/10 mm wrenches ($4) • spare tube ($7)
@Home Tune-Up
normal brake pads
Figure 2.1
DIY: Fix a Popped Tire 1. Deflate your tire if it’s not already pretty flat. (Figure 2.1) 2. Pry your tire off the rim, carefully working it around the entire circumference. 3. Separate the tube from the tire and locate the puncture or gash. Pick out anything that may be sliced into your tire. 4. Grab a dollar bill (Figure 2.2), fold it neatly to the contour of the tube and place the tube back inside the tire. 5. Re-inflate, and zip on home. Important: Make sure to properly replace your tire once you are home or at a bike shop.
toed-in brake pads
To those mechanically challenged, fear not — this is just some simple tinkering and it’s worth it. It’ll save you at least $25 on your yearly tune-up. This how-to includes adjusting front and rear brakes, shifting, tightening bolts, a tire check-up and a good over- Figure 2.3 all lube job. near crankset while back-pedaling. B.Lightly hold a rag around the Start by flipping your bike upsidechain and continue back-pedaling. down so that it’s securely balanced on C. Repeat process with lubrithe saddle and handlebars. Depending on your handlebars this may be dif- cant, but be careful not to over-lube! ficult, in which case just prop your Recommended: Clean chain every few bike up on something so that the back months, and re-lube after it rains. 2. Simply re-inflate your tires. wheel isn’t touching anything. 3. Tighten bolts with the 8/9/10 mm wrench. 1. Degrease and lube the chain. 4. Check brake pads to ensure (Recommended degreaser: Simple Green, a biodegradable, citrus-based they’re not “toed-in” (Figure 2.3). If all-purpose cleaner, mixes 1:1 with they are, just adjust them using a heavier tool to knock the pads back water; lube: Tri-Flow.) A. Apply degreaser to chain into alignment.
Know the Law A quick outline of what police look for when ticketing bikers and the policies they abide by. Police pull the most people over for: • Not stopping at stop signs. • Riding with earphones in. • Failing to yield to a pedestrian. • Riding with no lights at night. They do not pull people over for (but technically have the power to): • Riding with one earphone in. • Failing to signal a turn. Police Bike Stop Policy: • First stop — Biker is given a written warning and a pamphlet about bike safety and rules of the road. • Second stop — Officer can choose between a citation or another warning.
Important: Bike citations are the same form and the same cost as citiations given to cars/motor vehicles. Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
17
NOW THAT You are here,
GET OUT
$
MAP KEY = Cost
= Time
= Do = Gear
= Distance
Fun ideas for physically close, but aesthetically far places for a day or weekend trip to break up any Gainesville cabin fever. BY MARISSA GOLDBERG PHOTOS BY MARIA CORREA
ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS When the smell of chlorine and pestering lifeguards make a day at the pool a hassle, throw in the towel and head to the beautiful Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Skip your next meal out and put that money toward a stress-free day in the great outdoors. Trust me, when you’re floating down that immense river, the only things you’ll be thinking about are the cool drink in your hand and the wind in your hair.
CUMBERLAND ISLAND Think that Georgia’s just full of peaches and lawn mowers? Well, it kind of is, but it also has a beautiful 18-mile-long barrier island. Take a breather and visit the gorgeous beaches, or take on your wild side and rough it for a few nights of camping. For the skeptics, the island offers both “developed” and “wilderness” camping. Come on, a few days without your iPhone, iPad, iPod, i-anything will be good for you.
$
Weekend trip 2.5 hour drive from downtown; get your friends to chip in on gas money! (Overnight parking on mainland is available)
per vehicle entry fee; $5 canoeing; $5 $ $6tubing
Camp, hike, hunt, fish, beach, private boating, biking, photography spot
Day trip 45 min. drive from downtown; gas money $15-$20
Walking shoes, light clothing, swimming gear (don’t forget sunscreen)
Canoe, kayak, hike, picnic, scuba, snorkel, swim, tubing, photography spot Bikinis and swimming trunks (don’t forget sunscreen)
$20 round-trip ferry fee; $4 per person island visit fee; camping fee $4 per person per day
GINNIE SPRINGS admission fee, $6 for $ $12 tubing, $10 for 2 hours canoeing Day trip
18 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
45 min. drive from campus; gas money $15-$20
Swim, canoe, kayak, snorkel, tubing, scuba diving, picnic, camp, photography spot Bikinis and swimming trunks (don’t forget sunscreen)
SPOTLIGHT
DEVIL’S MILLHOPPER
Devil’s Millhopper will take you from Gainesville to the far reaches of the Old West – all for less than the price of a six-pack of beer. A visit proves to be a stark contradiction of the photos you’d see online (c’mon, everyone pays a virtual visit to a place before actually going there, right?). Google Images visually prepares you for the 200+ step winding staircase, but physically, you’re on your own. That thing’s steep. Plan your visit after a rainstorm for best viewing. Think of the sinkhole as a giant bathtub – if there’s no rain to fill it up, there won’t be much of a waterscape to enjoy.
$ $4 per vehicle entry fee Half-day trip 15 min. drive downtown; gas money <$5.00 Hike, picnic, photography spot Walking shoes, light clothing
GAINESVILLE-HAWTHORNE STATE TRAIL (Isn’t that incentive $ FREE! enough?) Day trip 15 min. drive from campus; gas money <$5.00
Hike, bike, fish, horse trail, pet-friendly nature trail Light clothing, sturdy walking shoes, lots of water, sunscreen
MEGABUS Gainesville to Atlanta: $10. When you book over a month in advance on www. megabus.com, you can definitely find round-trip tickets this cheap. The buses are equipped with onboard restrooms, power outlets and free Wi-Fi for the seven-hour journey. You can also nab a cheap ride to Orlando. I strongly recommend searching the site in advance to get the best deal.
$ As low as $10 (book early!) Day trip
Your weekend bag, entertainment for the ride To Atlanta: 7 hours; to Orlando: 2 hours
Check out Little Ethiopia for a departure from the culinary norm and while you’re in the neighborhood, take a free tour SweetWater Brewery. And don’t miss the weekend markets and eclectic cafe culture of Little 5 Points area. Atlanta’s a big place – there’s plenty to do! Fall 2012 | T H E F I N E P R I N T | 19
SPOTLIGHT
SAVE the EQUALITY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH
*SPOILER ALERT: We have reason to believe it has been saved. BY CHELSEA HETELSON With all the misinformation, misleading arguments, and out-of-date facts coming from banners on the tops of popular websites, we at The Fine Print thought we’d set the record straight with those monolithic modular boxes on campus. This past summer The Alligator launched a website and petition they called Save the Racks in response to UF’s over-three-years-inthe-making decision to eliminate free-standing private newspaper boxes from campus. The Alligator claims confining them to black modular boxes is a violation of free speech because they can’t have their orange boxes. And with their knee-jerk reaction of a website and petition thrown together just weeks before the deadline to remove all independent racks, the Alligator is reacting as if they’ve just been hit with this news. The truth is all publications who have been distributing on campus since 2009 have been aware of the entire process and have even been given the opportunity to meet with the Business Services Division (BSD), the entity in charge of the newspaper box distribution system, and have their voice heard. The Fine Print has documents and emails from the BSD ranging from 2009 to present notifying us of the 2009 UF 2.003 Distribution of Printed Material, which was the first notice of the new change, their timeline for removal of private racks, notification of the removal of boxes and where they were moved to, the fact that there would be a fee for the use of the modular boxes and inviting us to meetings to make sure our voices are heard and even accepting our input by writing it into the regulation. The most important issue to us as a small publication was the proposed fee to use the modular boxes. So we did meet with the men of BSD on multiple occasions and we did give input that was incorporated as part of the written regulation, which was to ensure that new publications have a window to use the modular boxes for free as they are just getting started to ensure free speech and improve the chance of success of any newly-created student publica20 | T H E F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
tions. This happened in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In August of 2012, the Alligator tried to sue UF for not preserving the free speech distinction between orange boxes and black boxes and began a website and online petition to “Save the Racks.” However, as of Oct. 16 UF has released an updated 2.003 Distribution of Printed Material document which makes concessions for all unhappy parties. Not only does the new 2.003 regulation allow previously existing non-modular boxes to remain as they are, thus letting the Alligator keep their existing orange racks, but it also, and much more importantly, completely gets rid of the original plan to charge $50 to $100, per slot per semester, and will continue to offer the space for free. Publications are currently, and have been for over a year, using the modular boxes for free. That fee would have been a huge portion of The Fine Print’s printing and operating budget and would have severely limited our ability to distribute to UF students on campus. With that fee gone however, The Fine Print fully endorses the new modular boxes. And we’ll tell you why. First, we think the modular boxes will make it easier for UF to maintain the boxes and keep a cleaner campus. Second, getting back our own newspaper boxes in exchange for having to use the seven slots in the modular boxes actually lets us redistribute the boxes we had on campus to other parts of Gainesville. Third, more boxes out and about town means increased reach and distribution, which in turn increases our promotion, ad sales and revenue. Fourth, distributing on campus is now doubly free, by currently not having to pay for the modular boxes or having to use our own racks that we paid for, and getting those paid-for racks back and relocating them elsewhere in Gainesville. Really, the fact that our stickers won’t be the biggest or our color won’t be stand-out is of no concern. All the same content is still there, now just in an equal-sized, equal-recognition box.
WHERE TO FIND US
NEW BOX LOCATIONS! The Jones Eastside on N. Main + NE 23rd Ave Corner of N. Main + NW 1st Ave (Near The Atlantic) Bo Diddley Plaza on University The Midnight on S. Main Citizens Co-op on S. Main Maude’s at Downtown The Jones B-Side on 2nd Ave Gator Bev on University Bagels & Noodles on University The Swamp on University Target Copy on University El Indio on 13th St Starbucks/Urban Thread Plaza on 13th St + 16th Ave Coffee Culture on 13th St Mochi on Archer Road BUSINESSES WE LIKE TO SHOW SOME LOVE • Harvest Thyme • Gelato Company • Hear Again • Volta • Gifthorse • Boca Fiesta
• Flaco’s • Reggae Shack • Gyro Plus • Karma Cream • Video Rodeo • Earth Origins
• Ward’s • Tasty Buddha • Earth Pets • Hyde & Zeke’s • 8th Ave. Bikes & More
A FINE PRINT BOX IN 3 EASY STEPS!
PAINT
TAG
DISTRO
Alligator Valley
Dan Durante, Web Developer at Fracture, listens to music while he works in the Fracture office on 6th Street. In the background, Buckbeack the parrot, perches on her cage. Buckbeack belongs to co-founder Alex Theodore and rarely misses a day of work. Photo by Ashley Crane.
Home to the country’s most unique business incubator as well as fast-growing city and community organizations Gainesville aims to inspire, foster and grow start-up businesses. ogy transfer office as well as service providBY KRISTAN WIGGINS
Despite the swampy weather, moss-ridden trees and glaring orange-and-blue color scheme, Gainesville is becoming a leader in business, technology and start-up development. Between, community-organized groups, city initiatives and University of Florida resources, Gainesville offers invaluable resources and unique tools for businesses to get off the ground, grow and expand. Earlier this year, MindTree Limited, an India-based company that develops software for Fortune 2000 companies, chose to expand and create a development center here in Gainesville. “We found a place that is obsessed with innovation and action,” said Scott Staples, co-founder and president of MindTree, to the Gainesville Sun. The new MindTree center is expected to bring about 400 jobs to Gainesville — 160 in the first 18 months. It will likely draw employees from UF’s IT and computer science graduates. An impressive selling point to MindTree was UF’s Florida Innovation Hub. Founded in 2010 and located less than a mile from UF, the Innovation Hub promises to attract more start-up companies and foster their growth. The Hub, boasting a 48,000-squarefoot facility, is the first and only one in the country that provides a university technol-
ers such as accountants, attorneys, product designers and venture capitalists. The Hub currently hosts about two dozen companies. Prospective start-ups must go through an application process and, once admitted, undergo semi-annual reviews to monitor their progress Even before the existence of the Innovation Hub, UF and Gainesville have seen small businesses and tech companies start up from scratch and continue to grow today. Grooveshark, “the world’s largest ondemand music streaming and discovery service,” got its start using services offered by UF through the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Office of Technology Licensing in 2006. From humble beginnings, founded by three UF undergraduates, Grooveshark now currently employs over 130 people and maintains an office in downtown Gainesville. Also founded by UF students is Gainesville-based Fracture, a company that lets customers print high-quality photos directly onto glass. Co-founders Abhi Lokesh and Alex Theodore were still in school in 2008 when they started working on the idea. Fracture has not received help from UF or the Innovation Hub, but have continued their momentum here in Gainesville and are still growing today.
FEATURE “We’ve been really encouraged by how the Gainesville community has pushed us and encouraged us, supporting our growth,” Lokesh said. Business owners like Lokesh and Theodore, who may not benefit from the Innovation Hub or services provided by UF, can find resources elsewhere in the city of Gainesville. Innovation Gainesville, for example, is a citywide initiative put forth through the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce with goals to attract businesses and create a network for innovators and entrepreneurs. The City of Gainesville was also a recent participant in a global event called Startup Weekend, the weekend of Sept, 28. Throughout the event business enthusiasts pitch their ideas, work with mentors to develop a solid business model and make a final pitch to a panel of judges, one of whom was CEO of Grooveshark, Sam Tarantino. The winners have the potential for their ideas to be turned into tangible business ventures. Events like Startup Weekend are drawn to cities like Gainesville, cities that value ingenuity and are actively setting the stage to be a major player in the business and developing technological world of the future. And it’s working. The city has repeatedly been ranked among the smartest cities, best places to live and launch, and the best place for businesses in Florida. Gainesville may not be Silicon Valley just yet, or even Silicon Alley in New York, but businesses, tech start-ups and the like may find their southern niche here in Gainesville, the Alligator Valley of technology and business.
A fracture in the making; photos are printed directly onto glass. All product development, mounting, and packaging are done in the Gainesville office and shipped worldwide. Photo by Ashley Crane.
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
21
FEATURE
The Unfinished Business of
TENT CITY
For years Gainesville has promised to relocate Tent City residents to a new facility called Grace Marketplace. However, opposition and obstacles continue to clutter the path. BY KYLE HAYES Just beyond the brush of the Hawthorne State Trail, there is the faint outline of a self-enclosed camp. A short walk along an overgrown path will lead to the outskirts of the camp known as Tent City. Gainesville’s Tent City has served as the convergent meeting and living space for the city’s homeless for decades. Nina McNeal is a long-time resident of this space. She’s in her sixties and affectionately known as “Ma” around the camp. McNeal keeps a Bible in her tent along with the clothes and food she brings in from the St. Francis House. McNeal says she likes the community that has formed in the area. “Everybody knows everybody,” said
Commission voted in 2007 to evict all homeless people that had been using public land to set up tents. This decision was intended to help the homeless by forcing them to find proper housing. Instead, it just caused them to move on to Calton’s private property. Jack Donovan, Executive Director of the Alachua County Coalition for the Top: A view of Tent City. Above: A resident of Tent Homeless and Hungry, says City cooking ramen and Vienna sausages atop a that if the city had kept its pile of burning garbage. Photos by Ashley Crane. stake in Tent City, it could have used city funds to imGainesville’s Tent City now illegally reprove the conditions and expand the sides on private land, it can’t be effecsite to offer services and more legitimate tively controlled, and the city has been housing. forced to search for a new location. Unfortunately, this city-wide search has been slowed down by opposition since it began and has gone on much longer than initially expected. The city went through a few cycles of first proposing new locations to transition to, then looking into these locations, and “Pinellas Hope is an example of what then finally shutting down plans after can happen if the city helps improve the facing opposition from neighboring [tent city] it already has,” said Donovan. businesses who were resistant to the Pinellas Hope, a “tent city” in Pinel- idea of an influx of the city’s homeless las County, receives over $1 million in to their area. Progress was slow at best, public funding every year and is able to and meanwhile, Calton was having to effectively regulate who passes through, deal with violence and other issues on which in turn helps keep out illegal his property, including one incident of activity and violence. However, since an alligator attack.
It just doesn’t make sense. [The proposed site for the new shelter is] all wetlands, there are no sidewalks, no bus stops, and it’s nowhere near St. Francis. McNeal, who thinks the residents are mostly content with their makeshift neighborhood. “Some like it, some don’t.” Tent City sits on land that belongs to Larry Calton. Calton allows the tent site for the city’s homeless to stay on his property. His land has been the sole location for Tent City since the City 22 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
FEATURE A significant step was reached in 2008 when the city decided on a publicly-owned site near NW 53rd Ave. for a new “onestop” homeless shelter called the Grace Marketplace. The proposed shelter would include facilities with beds and housing for families and services like job training and medical care. In the four years since its announcement, however, the city hasn’t even broken ground on the site. A major factor in the holdup is the requirement of a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The land under the proposed shelter contains wetlands, and although there is no expected environmental damage, the permit is still required. Without it, the land can’t even be used as a campsite, much less begin to undergo the construction of the shelter. This delay, according to Donovan, won’t defeat the shelter but can definitely prolong its construction. He says the process in issuing the permit is usually much quicker, and thinks there may be some political motivation behind the delay. Another obstacle to the shelter’s progress has been the efforts of Ropen Nalbandian, a local business owner with factories near the proposed site. Nalbandian is attempting to block the project by issuing a series of four different zoning lawsuits. These lawsuits center around the idea that the city can’t use the land for the shelter in an otherwise industrial area. Donovan calls the basis for these suits ridiculous. He believes their intent is to try to defeat the proposed shelter by prolonging it until it dies. The lawsuits remain pending, with one already having been dismissed. Nalbandian has offered to donate land on Waldo Road that is owned by his company, Vital Properties, in a settlement. This site, however, was already considered and dismissed as a location for the shelter before it was bought by Nalbandian in 2011. Nalbandian isn’t the only one who opposes the shelter’s location being set in the area around NW 53rd. Cindy Lacoste works close to the site of the proposed shelter at the offices of Charles Berg Enterprises, Inc. “It just doesn’t make sense,” said Lacoste. “It’s all wetlands, there are no sidewalks, no bus stops, and it’s nowhere near St. Francis or the other places that offer services to the homeless.” Lacoste is in favor of one possible solution being discussed: the former correctional institute out by NW 39th Ave which is currently sitting vacant. This site could easily be transformed into a more cost-effective location for a shelter. However, this idea faces powerful opposition, this time from Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe. Mayor Lowe cites the failure of a previously proposed site near the correctional institute, which faced opposition in part due to its proximity to the Alachua County Fairgrounds, as evidence that the new proposal would suffer the same fate. Many people disagree with the mayor on this issue, including both Donovan and Lacoste. They see the idea as a more practical and cost-effective solution than building completely new facilities out on 53rd Ave. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Lacoste. “It’s already there; it just needs to be improved. And if a jail didn’t affect the surrounding area,” she added, “why would a homeless shelter?” However, the city has remained steadfast in its plan of moving forward with construction on the site on 53rd Ave. once the wetlands permit is issued, regardless of the status of the Nalbandian lawsuits.
Nina McNeal has lived in Tent City for four years and estimates there are 20 families living there with her. Though she says anything will help, McNeal believes the new site is “not going to happen...they’ve tried a bunch of times to open up new places and it never works.” Photo by Ashley Crane.
Though the city cites a waiting period of just six months before the start of any real changes, Donovan thinks a timeline of two years is more realistic. As a result of this frustrating waiting game, residents of Tent City have grown skeptical of the possibility of changing sites or bringing improvements. They’ve heard talk like this before, and have yet to see results. Nina McNeal thinks the transfer to NW 53rd Ave. is not going to happen. She carries on with her daily routine in Tent City where she’s lived for four years — restocking her tent with food, swapping supplies with the neighbors and praying with others at the cross whenever she gets the chance. McNeal plans to continue to live in Tent City until she sees real improvements like the ones being discussed. “Nothing’s changed since I’ve been here,” said McNeal. “But anything will help.”
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
23
FEATURE
new kid
ON THE BLOCK BY YAISSY SOLIS ILLUSTRATION BY KELLI MCADAMS Lovers of cheap wine, pumpkin yogurt and organic produce will soon find all their grocery needs in one place. Specialty grocer Trader Joe’s is set to occupy the former Goody’s location in Butler Plaza Central in Gainesville. Neither Butler Plaza nor Trader Joe’s representatives responded to phone calls and e-mails seeking comments. The store is best known for its low prices, fresh-baked bread and, of course, Two-Buck Chuck wine. A large portion of its products carries the Trader Joe’s label, including vegan, vegetarian and kosher options. “Trader Joe’s will be a great addition to our community,” Richard MacMaster, a volunteer for Gainesville’s Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice, said. “We
24 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
are all very enthusiastic about its arrival.” MacMaster said the national supermarket chain supports small-sized farms and farmworker rights by carrying fair trade products like coffee and, as of recently, tomatoes. After two years of refusing to sign on to the the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program, Trader Joe’s finally joined on Feb. 9, one day before its grand opening in Naples, Fla. The agreement calls for stores to pay a premium of one extra penny per pound for their tomatoes and buy from growers who guarantee fair wages and decent workplace conditions. Nine other corporations have also joined the coalition’s campaign, including McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Whole Foods Market. Jamie Blair, an intern with the Student Farmworker Alliance, said the corporation initially refused to sign the agreement
FEATURE
because it called the problem a labor dispute between the farm owners and the farmworkers. “But after two years of community organizing and support, we were able to convince Trader Joe’s to do the right thing,” she said. Blair said Trader Joe’s is a positive alternative to other supermarket corporations, such as Publix, that continue to turn a blind eye to the injustices occurring in Florida’s fields. And with Trader Joe’s opening less than a mile away from Publix, students and locals will have the option to choose between the two supermarkets. MacMaster said it’s great to be able to shop at a market that is conscious about where its products come from. “If they support fair food we should support them,” he said. Rebekah Foster, a sustainability studies sophomore at the University of Florida, also promotes shopping at Trader Joe’s — but to a certain extent. Although Trader Joe’s may offer a range of organic and vegan options, she said, it is better for the community to shop locally, even if that means spending the extra dollar. “I’m willing to pay more for things that I think are important to buy local, such as fruits, vegetables and honey,” she said.
These items can be bought at local stores like Ward’s Supermarket and Citizen’s Co-op. They can also be bought straight from their producers at the weekly farmers market. Foster said that not all products can be found at reasonable prices locally, though. In that case, she said, Trader
If they support fair food we should support them. Joe’s would be the next best option. However, several local food enthusiasts and shop owners shudder at the idea of yet another national supermarket coming to Gainesville. “Every time people buy from a corporation, money is going out of Gainesville,” said Emily Sparr, one of the coordinators at the Civic Media Center and member of Industrial Workers of the World. “We already struggle enough with money leaving in other ways.” She said local markets are not only circulating money throughout the community. They are also making
efforts to build strong ties to the people living within it, which is something Trader Joe’s has not taken into consideration. “There are many other locations they could have gone into that would have been closer to actual neighborhoods and the community of Gainesville,” Sparr said. “Instead, they chose to be in the corporate blob of Gainesville.” However, Trader Joe’s distant location might be a convenience for these local shops, considering the large amount of small food stores and cooperatives that have gone out of business due to the arrivals of supermarket giants. The Huffington Post reported on Sept. 6 that co-ops across the nation that have been running smoothly for over 30 years are seeing their profits cut in half due to new competition from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Julie Matheney, who shares ownership of the Citizen’s Co-op with 1,400 other members, said the food co-op’s uniqueness and its dedication to the community will keep it afloat once Trader Joe’s opens. “We’re not really worried about going out of business because our members keep us strong,” she said. “It’s the power of community.”
Trader Joe’s Info • They operate 376 stores throughout the nation • Address: 3728 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 • Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. • Will sell alcohol: Beer & Wine • Square footage: 17,000 sqaure feet with a lease of 7 years
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
25
A DIFFICULT THIRST TO QUENCH A local ranch’s hunt for water, and the public’s fight to keep it in the springs BY RAIN ARANEDA PHOTOS BY MARIA CORREA
Central Florida’s springs have been drying up for decades. In December of last year, however, new waves were made when Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach submitted an application to the St. John’s Water Management District (SJWMD, the District) for a Consumptive Use Permit (CUP) allowing him to pump 13.267 million gallons per day (mgd). These 13 mgd were requested on top of the property’s existing CUP for 0.548 mgd, which was approved for the property’s previous use for sod irrigation.
26 | T H E
The water from the new CUP would be used to irrigate the 61,000 square foot Adena Springs Ranch in Fort McCoy, Marion County, as well as provide drinking water for the grass-fed cattle raised there, 150 of which will be slated for slaughtered two days a week at a slaughterhouse on the property. Shortly after the CUP was submitted, several news reports were published, illustrating the magnitude of these daily withdrawals by comparing the quantity to that pumped daily for the entire city of Ocala (12.85 mgd). Prior to preliminary meetings with the District, Stronach intended to apply for 27 mgd. Alarmed and organized, residents, well owners and environmentalists in Marion and Alachua Counties have
holding street-side protests. Given the already visible affect the drought and overpumping of the aquifer have had on above and below ground water levels, residents maintain approving the permit is irresponsible on the part of the District. At a recent public meeting about the CUP, Adena environmental scientist William Dunn was asked how the Adena science team had determined there would not be damage to Orange Lake, considering it was already dry. His response was that they did not consider current hydrological conditions when they did their calculations. In fact, the permit review process ordered a scientific study to determine the minimum flows and levels of (MFLs) one of the water bodies, Silver Springs, that the
sustained their opposition campaign since first word of the ranch’s CUP. Together they fought the permit from state advisory board meetings to public hearings, writing editorials to
approved permit would impact. This study, however, will not be completed until 2013. The MFLs serve as a limit for district-wide water withdrawals, beyond which would bear significant negative impacts on all the water levels.
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
FEATURE H. T. Odum Florida Spring Institute Director Bob Knight, an aquatic and wetland scientist, has determined the sustainable volume of water withdrawal to be 70 gallons per day (gpd) per acre, to ensure the flows in the springs do not drop below 10% of their current average flows. He estimated that the District has approved CUPs for 75-90% of the spring’s watershed flows. Additionally, there are a number of hidden costs, such as remediation of impaired waters, which are not being discussed with the public, despite the permitting process in Florida hinging on any given CPU’s benefit to the public. Two women at the forefront of the opposition, Judy Etlzer and Pat Hawk, couldn’t agree more with Knight’s sentiments. On Sept. 11, Pat attended one of the SJWMD meetings covering the Silver Springs spring shed. She too walked away questioning the “science” behind the discussions. As Pat points out, if residents are restricted to watering their lawns from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., how does the District justify allowing Adena Ranch to use huge irrigation sprinklers that would run for a consistent 24 hours? Pat has heard of several local wells that have dried up, including two across from the Adena Springs Ranch itself. Two by Orange Lake, one on Hwy. 318 in the IrvineOrange Lake area, and another owned by Bruce Seaman, a local minister, have also run dry. Some residents like Pat and Judy have been forced to drill new and deeper wells as a result. In 2001, Pat had to drill a new well due increased development in her area and recently, Judy, who lives on Orange Lake, has had to drill down another 130 feet to reach her water. 12 years ago, Pat had to pay $4,000 outof-pocket to replace her well. In a meeting with The Activist Coalition, a conglom-
eration of regional activists, Pat asked rhetorically, if Stronach pumps the springs dry making his financial living, who would pay for her to have yet another well drilled so that she could have potable water for simply living? Would Stronach? The District? Or would she pay out-of-pocket again? Where was the benefit to her and her neighbors to approve this CUP application? Adena Springs Ranch has projected it will create approximately 150 jobs. 150 at what cost? In today’s market, jobs are scarce, but so is water. The District has again come under attack by citizens and the media who are skeptical of the District’s priorities. They’re also scrutinizing the District for not being entirely transparent in their assessments and public reports, particularly those regarding hidden costs, such as remediation of impaired waters. At an Aug. 23 meeting, Adena Springs Ranch announced it would reduce its water demand from approximately 13 mgd to 5.3 mgd — millions of gallons less, but still
only a small victory for those fought to save the springs throughout summer. It’s hard to put the numbers thrown around in these debates into context or scope. Though the CUP reduction seems large (approximately 7.3 mpd), when those numbers are multiplied out, the effect on water flows is much more significant. In an editorial published on July 28 in the Gainesville Sun, Knight noted that the predicted 0.1 foot drop in water levels at Silver Springs actually translates into a 5 mgd reduction in average flows. That is more water than has ever been recorded flowing at the nearby Green Cove Springs and is equivalent to 4% of the average flows of Silver Springs in drought conditions. This figure also coincides with the ranch’s new CUP request meaning that approving the application for this amount, even though much lower than the original request could still negatively impact the water levels ... ... continued on page 30 and flows in the drought-stricken future.
BEFORE (1999)
AFTER (Sept. 2012)
Images of Orange Lake before and after the drilling.
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
27
PROSE+POETRY
SLEEPING ON COUCHES by Anna Mebel
He hated photographs of people holding photographs and books about books. He thought of himself as a vagabond, as someone who mastered the art of sleeping on strangers’ couches even when the couch was an ugly flower print or was so short that he had to curl his legs toward his chest to fit. To girls he repeated, The secret to being a bore is to tell everything. Learning French made him realize that English nouns were genderless. He wanted to distrust language more, tried to ignore the titles of photographs, and threw out a box of his books. He had to disappear, maybe get a couch in a city where he couldn’t speak the language, then sleep through nights soundly, drill holes somewhere or maybe pour concrete.
THE ART ENTHUSIAST by Anna Mebel Art museums close the day the world ends. If I did sneak into one, museum security would not stop me from placing my hands on the Water Lilies to feel the thick, dried paint under my cold fingers. I could climb up the pedestal and stand between David’s legs, my head below his knees. I reject invitations to the apocalypse parties, and drink coffee cross-legged, thinking about paintings languishing in darkened rooms. Today, I want to feel the roughness of a Sphinx’s nose as it waits for the convulsing earth.
28 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
thefineprintuf.org
PROSE+POETRY
CATION
by Claudia Perlini
A brawl is radiant. Kissing at window slits, A brawl is all Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever wanted.
Illustration by Susie Bijan
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
29
FEATURE SPRINGS CONT’D ... and flows in the drought-stricken future. Mark Roberts, the Adena Springs Ranch manager, announced the reduction would be made possible by raising the cattle elsewhere for the majority of their lives and then bringing them to the ranch only 6 months prior to slaughter, reducing the water consumption in that specific localized area of the watershed. Where the cattle would be taken was not definitive, and no new CUP had been applied for pertaining to the new areas that would experience the additional, though decentralized, pumping. The ranch’s PR Director, Honey Rand, also addressed concerns regarding nutrient loadings to the springs from manure and fertilization, claiming that Adena intended to employ best management practices, though the
30 | T H E
F I N E P R I N T | thefineprintuf.org
exact details on the designs were also not THINKING ABOUT THE MILITARY? MAKE AN available. INFORMED CHOICE. The future of water in Florida is uncertain, ADVICE FROM VETERANS ON MILITARY SERVICE and that is something AND RECRUITING PRACTICES the activists and the A Resource Guide F or Young People District agree on. The Considering Enlistment District had sent the Adena staff a Request for http://www.afn.org/~vetpeace/ Additional Information (RAI) the same month Gainesville Chapter 14 the CUP application was submitted. The Ranch applied for has until Nov. 24, 2012 to respond to the an extension on the RAI deadline and District’s RAI. Until then, both sides are the District granted the request in April, standing their ground in anticipation of an extending the deadline until late August. approval? A rejection? Or perhaps, another The Ranch applied for another extension extension. in August, which again was granted by the District. Adena Springs Ranch now
Fall 2012 | T H E
FINE PRINT|
31
The Fine Print is published with support from Campus Progress. Campus Progress funds, trains, and mentors students running a diverse and growing group of progressive campus media organizations. For more, visit CampusProgress. org/JournalismNetwork.