Issue 1, Volume 8

The Official Student Newspaper of Eckerd College

Volume 8, Issue I Sept. 23, 2016

Men’s soccer stands strong

By Hannah Hamontree Design Manager Men’s soccer has set a high precedent for the 2016 season, winning five consecutive games and one recent lost to Florida Tech (3-2).

On Sept. 3, the Tritons dominated their season opener against regional opponent Union University (Tennessee)

scoring four times in the first half and ending the game 6-0. The game was also the debut of head coach Ian Cameron, who was excited to see preseason practice effective on the field.

“The boys put early chances away, which makes the game easier,” he said.

“There were moments where we were very clean going forward and had good movement of the ball, something that we’ve been working on very heavily.”

Four days later, on Sept. 7, Eckerd played Webber International (Florida) University. Throughout the majority of the game the teams fought for a goal. It wasn’t until 79 minutes when Webber’s Ross Clarke scored. Undeterred, the Tritons came back within minutes with two goals by sophomore midfielder Juan David Tejada.

See page 5 for continued story photo by Hannah Hamontree

NEWS 1-5

FEATURES 6-10

OPINION 11-12

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Page 2

Sept. 23, 2016

Compiled By Brianna Spieldenner

CAMPUS ECOS revives glow party The popular glow party celebrated every year by first-years during Autumn Term was repeated early this Fall Semester on Sept. 9 for the upperclassmen, called Glow Party 2.0.

The party included glow paint and sticks, dancing and fun for everyone at the GO Pavilion.

West Lodge creates new space West Lodge, frequently noted for not having a lounge, created a common area using the activities center of the main building. It includes a television, couches, a microwave, hot plates and a pool table. In addition to this beginning Sept. 11 the CEC Cafe, between Sigma and West Lodge, was made into a study space between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays.

Eckerd fosters cats Pet Life recently started a program to have Eckerd students foster cats from the organizations Pet Pal and Friends of Strays. Only 12 students will be chosen to foster cats during the fall semester. Students interested in any of the 12 spots can apply at Pet Life. This is the first time Eckerd has allowed students to adopt pets on campus, allowing for potential growth of the program in upcoming years.

ECOS improves transparency ECOS, in an effort to improve transparency to the student body, will be holding a town hall meeting on Oct. 6. Within this meeting, the “State of ECOS” will fill in students on what ECOS has been working on in addition to all the new things they have already instituted.

LOCAL Riots at Florida prisons Recently, a prison riot at Holmes Correctional Institution in Bonifay, Florida involved 400 inmates and damaged much of the prison. Prison riots were planned nationwide to protest inhumane and violent treatment.

Florida in particular is home to large, understaffed prisons, causing an expectancy for more riots in the future, reports the Miami Herald.

Pregnant women infected with Zika increase It has recently been reported by ABC 10 News that 84 known pregnant women in Florida have been infected with the Zika virus. When infected with Zika while pregnant, health officials have found that babies born have a high risk of microcephaly, a deformity that affectes brain and head size. Many cases of Zika are travel-related, however there have been some locally contracted cases, as well.

NATIONAL Ferguson activist found dead in burning car Vocal social media activist, Darren Seals, was found dead Sept. 6 with a gunshot wound in a burning car in St. Louis, reports CNN. Seals, 29, became a prominent figure during the start of the riots in Ferguson, spawned by the death of Michael Brown.

Lochte suspended from sport Ryan Lochte, an Olympic swimmer who gained notoriety recently at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics, has been suspended from

swimming for 10 months, according to CNN. This suspension is due to his allegations of a false robbery in the Rio Olympics. Instead, he and a few other swimmers vandalized a gas station and were stopped by an on-duty security guard. As a result of this suspension, he will not be competing in the 2017 World Championship in Hungary.

Clinton faints from pneumonia Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton fainted while attending a 9/11 memorial. It was revealed that two days earlier, her doctor had diagnosed her with pneumonia. This comes after concern of her seen coughing frequently. Later that day she addressed a crowd and said she was “feeling great,” according to Fox News.

INTERNATIONAL Chlorine attack used in Aleppo, Syria Barrels of chlorine gas were dropped on a market in Aleppo on Sept. 6 as a part of their ongoing civil war. There was one reported death while over 100 people were admitted to the hospital in result of this attack. According to CNN, four rockets followed this chlorine attack.

iPhone 7 is released The iPhone 7 design has been released by Apple. The company claims the new phone will be splash and water resistant, have a new home button and a 25 percent brighter screen. An important upgrade is the phone’s additional camera lens, mak-

ing it suited with two 12 megapixel cameras. Apple claims the phone will be two times faster than the iPhone 6 and will have at least an hour longer battery life. The design has gained flack for not including a headphone jack.

New York Times

UK to build wall On Sept. 6, the U.K. declared that they would be building a wall in Calais, France, to hamper immigration from refugees into their country, reports CNN. The city is a common location used for immigrants seeking entrance into the U.K. through the English Channel. This wall, which should be completed by the end of the year, has of late garnered much negative attention due to the cost from taxpayers.

STAFF Editor-in-Chief thecurrent@eckerd.edu

Asst. Culture Editor

Business Manager currentbusiness@eckerd.edu

Gary Furrow Jr.

Rose Keating

Tim Johnston

Managing Editors currentme@eckerd.edu

Fiona Maguire

Andrea Gomez

Sarah Raney

Science Editor currentscience@eckerd.edu Asst. Science Editor

Brianna Spieldenner

Elaine Newbern

Design Manager currentdesign@eckerd.edu

Sports Editor currentsports@eckerd.edu

Hannah Hamontree

Asst. Design Editor

Dorothy-Mae Eldemire

Design Intern

Bobbie Wright

News Editor currentnews@eckerd.edu Cortney Lesovoy

Asst. News Editors

Nicole Ellis

Opinion Editors currentopinion@eckerd.edu Rachel Borch Mereysa Taylor

Asst. Opinion Editor Caroline Courtenay

Photo Editor currentphoto@eckerd.edu

Nicole Decker

Nate Gozlan Cypress Hansen

Culture Editor currentculture@eckerd.edu

James Carter

Dorothy-Mae Eldemire

Asst. Photo Editor

PR Manager currentpublic@eckerd.edu Copy Editor Bobbie Wright

Faculty Adviser Prof. K.C. Wolfe The Current is a free biweekly student newspaper at Eckerd College. Offices are located upstairs in Cobb at 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33711. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of EC students, staff, faculty and administration.

The Current welcomes letters to the editor. Submissions should be typed and cannot exceed 400 words. Writers must include their full name, graduation year and contact number. All submissions are subject to editing for the purposes of clarity, style or length. The Current holds the right to reject any letters deemed inappropriate.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

THE CURRENT

Sept. 23, 2016

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

22

23

29

30

7:30-9:30 p.m.

CPS: The Ethics of Interdependence, Fox Hall 6:30 p.m. ASPEC Film Series: “The Big Short”, Lewis House

4:30 p.m.

Club Fair, Go Pavillion 7 p.m. CPS: “Dheephan”, Miller Aud. 9 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo, Fox Hall

7-8 p.m.

CPS: “Embrace the Serpent”, Miller Aud. 7 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Lynn University, McArthur Gym

SATURDAY

24

7 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Embry Riddle, Turley Field

1

6-8 p.m.

CPS: Embracing the art of filmmaking, Miller Aud. 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs.

Rollins Turley Field

Welcome Back

The deadline for Fall 2016 Writing Portfolio submission is Friday, Oct. 7 before 4:00 p.m. in the Foundations Office, Brown 140.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

SUNDAY

25

1-3 p.m.

Walmart Shuttle, Mailboxes

2

1-3 p.m.

Walmart Shuttle, Mailboxes

Page 3

MONDAY

26

7:30 p.m.

The Current meeting, Upstairs Cobb

3

7-9 p.m.

CPS: Are you SERIOUSLY studying Genesis?, Miller Aud.

TUESDAY

27

TBA Volleyball vs. Saint Leo University, McArthur Gym

4

7:30-8:30 p.m.

CPS: Seeking Community in a Capitalist age, Fox Hall

WEDNES-

28

1:00-2:15 p.m CPS: Learning that stuck, Triton Room

5

7-9 p.m.

CPS: Ethics of Service, Miller Aud. 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs.

Barry Turley Field

Want to join our award-winning team?

We’re looking for writers, photographers, graphic designers, multimedia producers and those interested in marketing, web support and PR. Check out our new website at www.theonlinecurrent.com Meetings held Mondays at 7 p.m. in The Current Media Center upstairs in Cobb.

Send enquiries to thecurrent@eckerd.edu for info

Page 4

Hurricane Hermine drenches campus

By Cortney Lesovoy News Editor On Friday, Sept. 9, Hurricane Hermine made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a category one hurricane. Although it did not hit Eckerd directly, the school still fell victim to its gusty winds, heavy rainfall and increasing tides. Its presence was felt before the storm came ashore.

“My roommate and a friend of mine decided to walk along the sea wall to see the hurricane,” junior Austin Beaven said. “We decided to jump in the water. ... Because how many people can say they swam in a hurricane?”

Due to the unpredictability of the storm’s impact, Autumn Term classes were delayed an hour on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Campus Safety sent out an email during the early evening urging students to move their cars from Beta Lot and along Dorm Drive to the northern side of campus. The following day, all college classes and operations were canceled, and upperclassmen were urged to move in after Friday, Sept. 2.

“We were very prepared for this,” Director of Media and Public Relations Robbyn Hopewell said. “We had the Emergency Management Executive Team meet a full three weeks before Hermine actually came.

Because there were no injuries and no major damages to campus, this was one of the best possible outcomes.”

According to Hopewell, the school had about 38 cubic feet of debris that needed to be cleaned up, including fallen trees, branches, ferns and anything that managed to get into the roadway.

“We count our lucky stars that it didn’t come on shore,” Director of Facilities Management James Becsey said.

The biggest damage done to campus was along the seawall which

stretches from South Beach to the waterfront. Eckerd’s facilities team hired eight temporary workers in the grounds maintenance department to clean up the mess, which is still an ongoing process and expected to continue for another two weeks.

The only personal property damage that facilities had to deal with was removing a tree that fell on top of a car in Kappa Lot on Sept. 2. There were also a lot of roof leaks in various buildings and classrooms, and major flooding that occurred in different places around campus.

“The flooding is always going to be an issue at Eckerd because of our location,” Hopewell said. “I think that we came out really well, especially when you look at our neighbors to the north. No one had to canoe to their dorm rooms, despite popular pictures on Instagram.”

According to Becsey, some of the storm drains on campus are due for a cleaning, which restricted the water flow in the sewer pipes and hindered the process of drainage. Facilities is working on improving the pipe linage to get them to operate as smoothly as they were designed to.

“For the most part, it’s the relationship between sea level and where the drains are at,” Becsey said. “They’re typically in low areas where a lot of water in a really short period of time is going to create flooding. There’s just not a big enough drainage infrastructure to get the water out.”

Buildings across campus may not be hurricane-proof, as each building was constructed at a different point in time. Some were built in the 1960s, while the James Center was built in 2013, so the newer ones can withstand more severe weather.

“As time went on, design standards improved,” Becsey said. “It’s difficult to say that 100 percent of every building on campus is hurricane-proof. They’re not. They are hurricane-proof as what was required

NEWS

Sept. 23, 2016

photo by Cortney Lesovoy Hermine struck the St. Petersburg area near the end of Eckerd’s Autumn Term. Classes were cancelled due to the heavy rain, leaving students to frollic in the storm’s aftermath.

at the time in which they were built.”

Hopewell also encourages students not to jump around in puddles on campus during a major storm, especially when there’s flooding.

“We have a lot of wildlife on campus,” Hopewell said. “Water pushes them out into the open, and we don’t

want students interacting adversely with the wildlife. We want to coexist here.”

The campus urges students to look on the eckerd.edu/tropical website to learn more about Eckerd’s hurricane evacuation policy and what to do to prepare for a hurricane.

“Campus Safety and Housing also do a really good job at communicating the common sense stuff,” Becsey said. “Students should feel very safe and comfortable. The college has a lot of people who watch these storms and look out for the safety of everyone, especially the students.”

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Sept. 23, 2016

THE CURRENT

Page 5

Soccer stands strong (cont.)

Continued from front page Junior midfielder Matheus Assumpcao scored the golden goal against the University of North Georgia on Sept. 9, two minutes and twenty-four seconds into overtime.

Between the two teams, there was a total of 27 attempts at goal. Junior goalkeeper Alex Gott made five saves, making a total of 10 shutouts as a Triton. With another shutout, Gott will tie for fourth place in Triton program history.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match, but we didn’t expect it to go into overtime,” senior defender Jordan Lee said.

“The boys were fantastic,” Cameron said. “Tonight is the first time where I’ve seen our team have an identity. We found who we are tonight and they see what they can be.

We took a big step forward against a really good team.”

With a quick game turnaround, the Tritons continued their winning streak against Clayton State University (4-1) Sept. 11. The game came as the third in five days, yet the men displayed the needed stamina for victory.

The following Wednesday, Sept.

14, the Tritons won 3-0 against Saint Leo University (then No. 9) in their conference opener. This made the second year in a row that the Tritons have defeated a top-10 opponent at a home game. Last year the Tritons won 2-1 against then-No.10 Barry University.

After five consecutive wins, Sept.

17’s game against Florida Tech came with the disappointing loss of 3-2.

Throughout the game, the Tritons trailed the Panthers and were able to equalize the match twice.

At 73 minutes, the Panthers ended the second equalizer and scored the third goal of the match. After the game’s outcome, Cameron looks forward to the opportunity of further improvement and team development.

“We will use these next three days to regroup, to learn from video and to get a couple of training sessions in before we’re back in action. Luckily, college soccer provides no time to sulk and we get an opportunity to get better again in four days when we travel to Florida Southern,” he said. photos by Cortney Lesovoy

TOP LEFT: Assumpcao (10) mock-interviews senior defender Jordan Lee after the win against University of North Georgia. “We need to thank the EC MOB because every time they push us through. They’re our 12th man. Can’t thank them enough for how much they help us get through the game,” Lee said.

TOP RIGHT: Freshman forward Michael Molata (7) fighting for possesion against Clayton State.

BOTTOM: Sophomore midfielder Juan David Tejada (11) has played in five of the six season matches and has made four goals and one assist already this season.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

FEATURES

Page 6

Sept. 23, 2016

Scoreboard Volleyball

9/10 University of Montevallo Win (3-0) 9/16 University of Tampa Loss (1-3) 9/17 Florida Southern College Win (3-2)

Women’s Soccer

EC Goalkeeping Coach Jason Montgomery advises Winn on goalkeeping strategies.

photos by Naomi Fanelli

Tale of a Triton: First year soccer player goes for the win

By Nicole Ellis Sports Editor Already making her mark at Eckerd College, first-year goalkeeper Casey Winn was nominated as the Sunshine State Conference defense player of the week Aug. 29.

Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, Winn chose to attend Eckerd in hopes of playing sports as well as achieving academic success. While Winn remains undecided, she wants to pursue a pre-med track in the future.

Throughout high school, she maintained a 4.0 GPA while playing soccer, tennis and football for her school. With her success in high school still fresh, she has a strong determination to succeed at Eckerd. “[I want to] set a record for

most shutouts in the season and career as well as maybe try to do my best to get defensive player of the year,” Winn said. “[I] definitely want to have over a 3.0.; a 3.5 hopefully, but I know college is different.”

Winn isn’t having any difficulty transitioning into the college life but definitely misses her dog, Khloe. Although Winn hopes that she will be able to bring Khloe in the future, she is too busy during soccer season to have her pet here now. Even so, her peers still can see how much she loves her dog.

Winn has been playing soccer since she was 4. “[Goal keeping] is a lot of adrenaline because you’re the last source. [It’s] a lot of pressure,” Winn said. “I was good at it, so I kind of got thrown back there as a kid, and it kind of stuck.”

Winn’s favorite part of the

sport is getting to know the people she plays with, which shows through her attention to the people around her.

“She’s really interested in everybody as a person,” Head Coach Danielle Fotopoulos said.

The Tritons were only scored on once during the weekend of Sept. 11th, which Winn thinks contributed to why she earned defense player of the week.

“We beat the number 18 team in the nation, and we’re not even ranked.” Winn said.” It was a big deal.”

Fotopoulos thinks Winn’s possibilities are endless if she sets her mind to it.

“She has a great disposition on the ball and a leader role being the goalkeeper,” Fotopoulos said.

“Her commitment to her studies as well as the team are rewarding.”

9/11 Flagler College Win (4-2)

9/14 Saint Leo University Loss (1-4) 9/17 Florida Tech Win (1-0)

Men’s Soccer

9/11 Clayton State University Win (4-1) 9/14 Saint Leo University Win (3-0) 9/17 Florida Tech Loss (2-3) 9/12-9/13 Coastal Georgia Men’s Invitational 9th of 15

Co-ed Sailing

9/10 - 9/11 Harry Anderson Trophy 13th of 17

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THE CURRENT

Sept. 23, 2016

Page 7

A Day in the Life: Victoria Reeves moves up

photo by Tyler Urquhart Victoria Reeves reviews moving dates with senior Tye Petrotta. She answers questions about dorm availability, rooming issues and more.

By Angelique Herring Contributing Writer Tori, Vic but never Vicki, might be better known to us all as Victoria Reeves.

Her name has long been synonymous with all things housing, but these days she’s switching gears and, as it so happens, always has been. With many interests, talents and a desire to keep on moving, there’s a whole lot more than you ever knew to the life of Victoria Reeves.

“Work is great and important, but there’s so much more to life,” Reeves said.

She has found a way to practice what she preaches.

A typical day for Reeves is actually anything but. Meetings seem to be a common occurrence, and roommate conflict seems to be a common theme, but when Reeves walks in on any given morning,

she doesn’t always know what’s in store. On the day that I went in to speak with her, she had already had three meetings with an Residential Advisor (RA) class to go to when I met up with her around noon.

Reeves has not one, but three jobs. The most familiar one is her previous role as the Housing Director. Dealing with facilities requests and a bombardment of emails, she was once the face of Eckerd’s housing department. Recently, she’s begun working more with the residential side of things and is now Associate Director of Student Life, a position previously held by Jamey Handorf.

Under this hat, she’ll be working more frequently with the residents on campus and their RAs. She’s been in a mental transitioning period herself as she gets the hang of her new position.

To help with that transition,

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

she’s been forwarding all the facilities emails over to her colleague and new Assistant Housing Director William Otto.

With all the new changes in her position, she doesn’t plan on leaving housing completely. Instead, she hopes to bridge the gap between housing and residence life, streamlining what was once two entities into one.

Her younger brother, Eckerd junior Mitchell Clark, described his sister’s job as stressful, rewarding and important.

He’s not entirely sure what his big sis does day in and day out, but he seems to know the basics: that she has long days, and dealing with student issues can be very hard.

“Anytime you’re on the front lines, emotions tend to be high,” Clark said.

Although he would never want

to swap places with his sister, he notes that she has always been a helpful person, so maybe she just happens to have what it takes for the job.

One thing is certain, she loves what she does. The Eckerd alumna couldn’t help but express just how happy she is to be back working with Residence Life and with the RAs again.

Along with the love of her position, she enjoys the aid of coffee and slow mornings to get her through those notoriously long days.

Before working at Eckerd, she worked at the Vinoy downtown for three years.

Once she returned to Eckerd, she kept a job there and once a month, on a random Saturday, she headed down to work the phones for a few hours.

In doing so, she not only keeps her tenure, but her discount with the Marriott. Talk about a sweet setup.

After volunteering for the Ronald McDonald house through high school, college and then after, she moved on to become a weekend manager. One weekend a month, you can find Reeves at the Ronald McDonald House from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday.

According to Clark, after the work day is over and done, Reeves enjoys rock climbing, hiking and is very involved with her church.

“She’s super active,” Clark said. “She’s ripped.”

And after hiking through parts of the Grand Canyon, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and 300 miles of the Appalachian trail, to name a few, it’s no surprise that she’s in stellar shape.

Though she aims to go on a larger hiking trip once or twice a year, and her next adventure will

involve another portion of the Appalachian trail over Thanksgiving break, all her activity isn’t done outside of her hometown’s borders.

She enjoys climbing and getting some fresh air right here and as a member at Vertical Ventures, an indoor climbing gym in St. Pete, she enjoys not only climbing but singing.

She and a few fellow climber/ musicians co-founded a Friday open mic night which they host once a month at Vertical Ventures.

She finds time for more musical endeavors by singing at her church on most Sundays as well as Wednesdays for the church youth group.

As a testament to these two recurring interests, Reeves serves as the faculty advisor for both the Eckerd worship ministry group, “Fire By Night,” and the Eckerd Climbing Club.

All of Reeves’ family still lives in St. Pete, and as the oldest of six, she makes ample time to hang out with the people she loves most.

She spends a lot of time with her boyfriend Danny who, by no surprise, likes to play the drums, go to church and -you guessed it go rock climbing.

With such a solid support system and balanced life, it’s no wonder she’s always got such a pleasant smile on her face.

If she could give any words of wisdom to the students of Eckerd college, it would be to keep learning, keep moving and keep moving forward.

Feel free to make a stop to Reeves’ office in Brown Hall, Student Affairs. She’d love to chat.

Page 8

FIRST-YEAR FRENZY

Sept. 23, 2016

Disciplines batten down hatches for rising tide of first-year students

By Sarah Raney Managing Editor In order to accommodate the large first-year class, many campus collegia and disciplines had to open new class sections and increase class sizes.

Affected disciplines include marine science, communication, anthropology, environmental studies and psychology, among others, according to Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs Suzan Harrison.

The Natural Sciences, or NAS, is one collegium that houses many disciplines facing increased sections.

“Right now the most stressors are in Environmental Studies and Marine Science,” NAS Chair and Professor of Marine Science and Geosciences Joel Thompson said. “In the old days, we only used to do six sections of intro [Geological Oceanography and Biological Oceanography] in marine science. This is the first year we have ten sections.”

First-year students also want to begin fulfilling requirements outside of their majors, putting additional stress on all collegia.

“Some of the other [departments] that are stressed are the languages,” Thompson said. “Students want to start their first year of language freshman year, so they’ve added extra sections, particularly in Spanish to accommodate the language need.”

Harrison consulted with collegial

chairs to discuss discipline needs and approve new class sections.

Tactics include opening new sections, hiring adjunct professors and paying faculty members for course overloads for a semester, according to Harrison and Thompson.

“We don’t want to have 50 freshmen who want to study marine science who can’t get into any of the classes,” Harrison said. “That doesn’t work well for them, and it doesn’t work well for us as an institution.”

Although the number of first-year students that were accepted exceeded Eckerd’s original goal, departments have been able to cope with the numbers.

“I think we actually had a very smooth freshmen registration this Autumn Term,” Harrison said. “I think people were able to get into the classes that will serve them well.”

The ultimate goal is to make sure everyone can fulfill their requirements.

“That’s the goal of the college, to make sure that the incoming students can complete their degree program at the end of a four year time frame,” Thompson said.

In the past 15 years, the student population has increased by about 300 students. In additon, application inquiries have increased by 30 percent this year compared to the last one, according to Harrison.

This is a good sign for Eckerd, and administration plans to keep a close eye on the numbers.

West Lodge rooms are now less spacious due to the recent tripling, providing a closer roommate experience.

Photo by Gary Furrow Jr.

Tripling roommates does not cause a ripple

By Brianna Spieldenner and Nicole ellis Managing Editor and Sports Editor Eckerd is home to a large first-year class this academic year, with over 600 new students (100 more than last year), 1,197 returning students and no additional housing, according to Associate Dean of Students Anne Wetmore. all of Sigma and many West Lodge rooms have become triples. While initially this could be seen as something negative, some are looking at it as beneficial.

Kim Kresser, the Assistant Resident Coordinator (ARC) of Sigma, West Lodge, Iota and Epsilon, thinks that the tripling has actually made more of a community within the two dorms and overall the first-year class.

“Actually, what is happening is a lot of people are feeling more together,” Kresser said. “They feel as if it was a good environment to be in.”

According to Wetmore, modifications to the West Lodge and Sigma area are contributing to bringing the community more together.

“I think that space has always lacked a community so we’re trying to create that through some different programs,” Wetmore said.

The programs mentioned include the already completed lounge in West Lodge, opening a study area in the CEC cafeteria and some possible landscaping, according to Wetmore.

“It definitely paints Sigma and West Lodge in a different light, because now it is a majority of freshmen,” Kresser said. “It’s not that Sigma and West Lodge are an island.”

West Lodge Resident Advisor (RA) Reagan Phillips has a similar outlook, and claims to not see any issues relating to the tripling.

“With the triples they were saying how two of them could become closer and leave one out like a third wheel. But I haven’t had that issue,” Phillips said.

Even though there haven’t been official complaints about the tripling, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any.

First-year Yeliz Ozdemir is a resident of Sigma living in a triple and is facing the very issue that was worried about.

“I got there later than my other two roommates so they got to know each other. And that’s how they bonded, and I didn’t really have the chance to bond,” Ozdemir said.

Kresser commented that the RAs of Sigma and West Lodge have been trained specifically to handle the increase in numbers and the tripling.

“It’s always harder to manage any kind of group in the same area,” Kresser said. “When you start adding people you add their problems and of course anyone’s problems are big to them.”

While there are always going to be roommate complaints among firstyears, both Phillips and Kresser think that this solution could work out in the long run.

“I think that if it works out well and we continue to have large incoming classes like this it could be a permanent thing,” Phillips said.

Kresser thinks that everyone should look at this large incoming class as a good thing.

“I think it’s an opportunity that people are going to criticize, but aren’t looking at what it does to Eckerd as a whole,” she said. “We just took in a very large class, and you know that large class brought its own good things about it. We accepted more to make us more.”

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THE CURRENT

Sept. 23, 2016

Page 9

First-year Robin Allen takes flight and leaves the nest

By Nate Gozlan Photo Editor

Eckerd attracts students from at least 40 countries and 48 U.S. states. It’s typical for new students to arrive by plane, but not many can say they flew the plane themselves. First-year Robin Allen can.

“The view is just unbeatable,” Allen said. “You get to see how everything’s laid out. The different neighborhoods and streets, everything … You feel very connected with your surroundings.”

He traveled to Eckerd from Orlando in a four-seat, single-engine Cessna 172, flying from the Executive Airport to Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg. The flight takes a short 35 minutes, according to Allen. That’s much better than the nearly two-hour commute most people have to take.

Allen has been flying for three short months, but he hopes to make a career out of it. Allen plans to attain his private pilot’s license by the end of 2016 and his commercial pilot’s license by the time he graduates in 2020. The private pilot’s license requires a total of 40 hours in the air, along with passing written and practical tests. The commercial license requires 250 hours.

At the moment, Allen has

flown a total of 20 hours, but the 200+ hours ahead don’t scare him, they only inspire him to set goals. Aside from flying in his spare time, Robin is a dedicated pitcher for the Triton baseball team.

“To play college baseball you really have to love the game because it takes up a lot of time and it’s a big commitment,” Allen said. “The love for the game [determines] where you go, what opportunities you have.”

Baseball was one of the primary pulls for Allen when he was looking at schools. He’s been playing baseball since he was 4 years old and started practicing for varsity baseball when he was in middle school, eventually making it to play four years of varsity baseball in high school.

Eckerd alumnus and Allen’s former coach, Adam Whitlow, used to pitch for the Tritons and was the first person to tell Allen about the baseball program at Eckerd.

“I’m confident that we have a good staff and a good group of guys that we’re going to establish a culture of always playing hard, respecting the game and always playing it the way it’s supposed to be played,” Allen said.

Allen expresses a positive attitude about life and through his

photo courtesy of Robin Allen

dents come to Eckerd with a set path, but leave with a completely different degree than they had planned. That appealed to Allen, who applies the concept of flexibility to his studies.

“Baseball is a game of adjustments; life is a game of adjustments … and so is flying,” he said.

“Nothing ever goes according to plan. Being able to adapt is key.”

Allen has experience on his high school yearbook and ex-

First-year fun facts

Matthew Klimek Published his own marketing book called Matt the Intern’s Guide to Digital Marketing over the course of summer break going into senior year.

view of baseball culture.

“Your dugout presence and your locker room presence can really affect the outcome of the game,” he said.

If baseball and flying didn’t take enough time, Allen plans to declare a double major in physics and mathematics.

That’s a full schedule for any college student to maintain, but Allen isn’t worried.

Allen says that keeping up with his schedule is as simple as following a lesson plan. He sets a lesson plan for class the same way he sets a plan for a day of baseball or a lesson plan to fly.

Allen’s technique for staying organized seems simple enough. He breaks down goals for the day, week, month and year, marking his progress as he goes all the way to attaining his commercial pilot’s license before the end of 2020. Allen even quoted from Yogi Berra, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.”

Eckerd seemed attractive to Allen for its flexibility. His tour guide described that most stu-

Lauren Fariss Plays piano, accordion and qualified to compete in the All-Ireland competition in Sligo, Ireland two years in a row. She played for the Prime Minister of Ireland as a member of the band Gael (from the Atlanta Irish Music School) last year while the Prime Minister was visiting Atlanta for St. Patrick’s Day. Fariss also played for several private parties for Irish Consul General Shane Stephens at the Irish Consulate in Atlanta, and led gigs for her band from Georgia to Texas.

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pressed interest in continuing his practice of photography. He hopes soon to photograph Eckerd from the air.

Throughout Allen’s hobbies, one thing remains consistent, an unwavering preparation for the task at hand.

“You’d rather be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground,” Allen said.

Andrieka Burrows Studied at the Island School in the Bahamas and engaged in an intensive 100 day Applied Scientific Research class during that time.

Compiled by Hannah Hamontree

Page 10

FEATURES

Sept. 23, 2016

Marine Science offers new elective courses in coral

By Fiona McGuire Science Editor

The marine science discipline has expanded its elective options with the addition of two new courses: Coral Reefs and Marine Conservation Ecology. Both classes are in their opening semester this fall and are available to all majors. They are 300 level classes which count for three credits.

Assistant Professor of Marine Science and Biology Cory Krediet is teaching the Coral Reefs class, one which Eckerd has not offered in awhile. Krediet completed his postdoctoral research at Stanford University on coral microbiology and coral symbiosis, studying the relationship between the coral host and zooxanthellae under temperature stress. He has also done research on dynamic interactions between coral and beneficial bacteria.

“Eckerd has been wonderful so far,” Krediet said. “The community is super welcoming, and the students have been really excited and engaged. It’s really nice to be back to Florida.”

The upperclassmen course is an introduction and general overview of coral reefs with two prerequisites — Biological Oceanography and Geological Oceanography. Krediet believes the class is an opportunity to explore corals themselves and the reefs they are producing, as well as organisms living in coral reef environments.

The class covers all pillars of marine science in relation to coral reefs including biology, chemistry, physics and geology, and how these aspects influence coral reef organisms. Students will learn about biodiversity, global threats and restoration efforts among other topics. Although the class

does not have a lab portion, there will be optional field trips such as visits to Mote Marine Lab and The Florida Aquarium.

“My background is in coral, so I come at [the class] with a ton of passion and enthusiasm because this is what I get to research every day,” Krediet said. “I hope to extend that passion and excitement to the students and use examples from my own research and active research in the field.”

According to marine science major and senior Lianna Burrows, Professor Krediet is a fresh personality in the Marine Science discipline who is very passionate about coral reefs.

“I think the information from this class will be especially applicable after graduation based on my interests in coral reefs,” Burrows said. and as an aspiring marine biologist, it gives you a feel for research that can benefit the ocean and its conservation.”

Krediet does not want students to be tethered to the textbook, but would rather have them at the forefront of coral reef biology and coral reef research. This allows them to get a firsthand look at the current state of the field and how they might contribute to it.

This idea of applied science is also present in the other new elective, Marine Conservation Ecology, taught by Assistant Professor of Marine Science Amy Siuda. Siuda was previously at Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and worked on collecting biodiversity data in the Sargasso Sea to contribute to local conservation efforts. According to Siuda, the class grows from her own personal experiences, and she believes it is important to be able to apply research to a professional effort.

“It’s applied science, so it’s an opportunity to take your science skills and to think about how to apply them beyond marine science, and how to have societal impact with those skills,” Siuda said.

This course is a study of marine conservation from a scientific perspective, focusing on measurements of biodiversity and biodiversity conservation. Students will work on trying to determine how

best to conserve biodiversity and how to best use that data to design conservation strategies. The major assignment is a case study where students will dive deep into the science behind the design of a Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Students in this class cover a wide variety of Eckerd students, including marine science, biology, coastal management and environmental studies majors. It’s a complement to the conservation

biology class and coastal management course, designed for sophomores and juniors. The only prerequisite is Biological Oceanography.

“This [class] will help broaden how science majors think about what their career could be beyond laboratory experience,” Siuda said, “understanding science to then work in that interface between science and policy.”

photo by Cypress Hansen New professor of Marine Science Cory Krediet is starting off his coral biology course with basic oceanography principles that affect coral reef

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OPINION

Sept. 23, 2016

Page 11

By Samuel Martinez Contributing Writer

Eckerd is liberal towards Trump Eckerd’s campus is a truly unique place, in that every student has their own views, and the sharing and exchanging of these views is frequently encouraged. There is one poignant visual in Epsilon which captures this uniqueness: In the main quad there are two window signs, one is a “Trump for President” sign and another, on the opposite side, proclaims that “small acts change the world.”

These signs might not have a palpable effect on the students who walk by them every day, but there is a beautiful truth hidden within this strange coupling.

There are Republicans on campus. In fact, there are quite a few. And yes, many of them will support presidential candidate Donald Trump in the polls. For some, this might seem a terrible problem on a liberal arts campus, but there is a much bigger problem on campus: disillusionment, detachment and general apathy.

Professor of Political Science and International Relations William Felice pointed out some aspects of the community here that tend to go unnoticed. For instance, he described the “significant conservative and Republican presence” on campus, a presence which is not to be underestimated.

“If there was a student who had a conservative view, he or she would be able to find other students to work with and to join with,” Felice said.

Sophomore and student-athlete Mitch Calandra, a vocal Republican and Trump supporter (donning a Trump sign outside his bedroom window) has been intrigued and rather amused at the reaction of his peers.

“I don’t mind people knowing. Even other athletes have come up to me like ‘You really have a Trump sign in your room?’ and I say yes. If people are going to be negative about it I’ll just brush it off,” Calandra said.

His approach to opposition has been one of good faith and understanding that others may not share his beliefs. But he has also noticed that some students at Eckerd don’t have that outlook.

“They say it without saying it [...] for example when they say something in class about it, they expect everyone to just go along with it, without realizing that some people might not share the same views,” Calandra said.

This balance is crucial in any public forum, and a college campus, even a private one, is still a public forum. A lot of students may not realize this because in general and, in this election cycle in particular, it has become very difficult to talk about politics.

It may seem obvious to blame Trump’s divisive rhetoric for

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photo by Hannah Hamontree Eckerd’s burn for Bernie Sanders is begining to be trumped by opposing candidacy. Visual displays of support for Republican nominee Donald Trump have begun to appear around campus.

this, but if one looks around campus, they are likely to see more Trump signs than Clinton signs, so it cannot be that his supporters are all too afraid to be known. It is both depressing and worrisome that there are no Clinton followers answering this challenge, and contributing to a discussion that needs to be had on this campus and across the country.

We need to have open political discourse here on this campus and at the national level, where issues can be deliberated and discussed in a manner that gives rise to action. Felice has never noticed a problem here between conservative and liberal students, but the “atmosphere of intellectual independence” that Felice described is under threat.

There is certainly more that we as individuals, as college students and as a nation could do to foster more discourse and more communication about the issues our country is facing. Being able to talk about

politics is a necessary piece of the larger conversations we need to have.

For an environment that is supposedly so tolerant, it seems easy to say that Trump and his followers have no place here.

But it would be catastrophic to limit such expression. Indeed, the need for freedom of expression is paramount, but there is an equal need for careful and considerate discussion.

We will never bridge these divides by writing off Trump and his supporters as racist, but likewise his supporters must come to see how some of his rhetoric truly frightens a large number of people.

For that reason, we should unite behind the idea that small acts truly can change the world. Simple acts of kindness, such as trying to listen and understand one another can, and in no small way, influence the world. Whether you hate Trump or not, voting is a small act that we all need to do to change the world.

Page 12

OPINION

Sept. 23, 2016

15 years later: First-year class struggles to remember 9/11

By Phoenix Ridings Contributing Writer

On September 11, 2001, I was three years and four months old. I was in preschool that day and when the news reached my little town in Delaware, we were sent home early. Americans all across the nation were watching the news in horror at the events unfolding in our country’s most recognized cities. I know all of these things happened, but I can’t remember any of it.

In a 2001 study done by a Cornell Professor of Psychology Qi Wang, it was shown that the average American’s earliest childhood memories began at roughly 3.5 years old. Theoretically, about half of the class of 2020 should remember 9/11. But anyone born after April 11, 1998, most likely would not remember this pivotal event in American history.

On 9/11 myself and about half the class of 2020 were less than three and a half years old. We can’t remember the attacks of 9/11.

The class of 2020 is a turning point for remembrance. The memories that some do have are minuscule: leaving school early, maybe watching the news or hearing their parents try to explain the magnitude of what was happening to them. Those who don’t remember only know what has been taught to them. I’m aware that 9/11 was an alarming act of terrorism and

changed the course of American history. But every year when it comes around and there’s a silent moment at the beginning of the school day, I have nothing to reflect on. I am missing the emotion that can only be connected with an event that one directly experiences themselves.

Senior Alex Watkins, a Navy veteran who served before starting school here at Eckerd, remembers the feeling of shock he felt after seeing the event on the news. Associate Professor of Classics Heather Vincent, also a veteran, remembers the sensation of her blood running cold, and her first thought being, “I need to go home and iron my uniforms.”

The further away we get from this tragedy, it seems less and less young people are able to discuss its significance. Watkins feels that 9/11 should not be memorialized around campus because those who didn’t experience it can’t have a real or meaningful conversation about it. And he’s right.

Most of us can talk all about how 9/11 led to tighter security at airports, and Islamophobia became more prominent. Like me, most of my classmates have no memories of the U.S. before 9/11. This makes it difficult to engage in the memorialization of 9/11’s 15 year anniversary without this necessary understanding of how it changed our world.

photo by Cypress Hansen Several flags were placed at the memorial plaque for Eckerd Alumnus Matthew McDermont who was killed in the tragedy of 9/11.

When I am a senior at Eckerd, the majority of the first-year and sophomore class will have been born after 9/11. Most did not exist, let alone remember. Vincent feels that a lot of memorializing is more about getting revenge than remembering the victims and “... that’s at odds with our [American] goal for peace.”

Watkins has similar feelings, recalling the days that followed the attack and how his seventh grade classmates spoke of feeling a need to get back at the “bad guys,” instead of just remembering the victims and their families.

My feelings differ from Watkin’s classmates immeasurably, having not witnessed the attack in real time. Because of this, it’s harder for me to take it personally. When I think of 9/11, my first

thought is of the people directly impacted by the terrorism, not of the terrorists, and definitely not how to seek vengeance for my country.

So what should the class of 2020 know about 9/11? Those at Eckerd who do remember, whether they be students or faculty members, share a similar sentiment. “[You would] do well to remember that the threat we faced on 9/11 is a threat that many countries around the world face on a daily basis.” Vincent said.

The memo-ry of Sept. 11, 2001, should be used as a

way to educate the class of 2020 and beyond. Without the personal experience, my class and others coming after should be taught the reality of terrorism in other countries and the fears they face every day. We should be shown that the U.S. is not invincible and that this day should be spent remembering what our country lost while recognizing the safety we still have.

“It was very devastating to the country, but throughout all of the destruction and mayhem, it brought the country together,” Watkins said.

graphic by freepik

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