Volume 6, Issue 10

VIEWPOINTS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Break out your ravishing Learn how cannabis reds to protest against lights up the brain. sexual abuse. page 5 page 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Tampa Museum of Fine Arts presents Norman Rockwell exhibit. page 11

HEALTH & FITNESS

Make the healthy decision between wine, beer and liquor page 13

SPORTS

Beach volleyball team aces their first tournament. page 16

Vol. 6, Issue 10 April 3, 2015

Winter Term photo competition winners announced

photo by Taylor Hedge

Grand Prize Winner: Junior Taylor Hedge

While on the Winter Term trip The Culture of Coffee & Chocolate, Hedge took this panorama inside of an old church located in a small village outside of Salzburg, Austria. “The wedding scene in “The Sound Of Music” was modeled after this church,” Hedge wrote in the image description.

For the rest of the winners, see page 4

EC-ERT program aims to prevent hospital trips

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor

When the Eckerd College Emergency Response Team (EC-ERT) gets a call about an emergency involving alcohol or drug use, they sometimes respond only to find someone who is stable and just needs to be monitored while sobering up. In the past, such situations at Eckerd have often resulted in expensive trips to the hospital.

A new EC-ERT initiative called the Continued Care Program allows intoxicated students who are not in critical condition to avoid trips to the hospital. EC-ERT’s services are

free and entirely confidential. This program enables students to avoid an expensive trip to the hospital, to maintain their privacy, and to bypass school sanctions while being monitored by a trained EC-ERT Emergency Medical Responder as they sober up.

The program was developed

by EC-ERT Coordinator Hayley Musial and Junior Haven Allard in November 2014 and began its operation this semester. In that time, the program has already benefited at least one Eckerd student.

The development of the Continued Care Program is part of ECERT’s broader mission.

photo by Spencer Yaffe EC-ERT members run drills outside of Omega.

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INDEX: NEWS

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VIEWPOINTS

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“One of the main goals of our association is that we try to eliminate the amount of Eckerd College students going to the hospital,” EC-ERT Training Coordinator and Junior Henry Ashworth said. “We understand that going to a hospital and being transported in an ambulance can be very costly and it can also be very traumatic, so one of our goals is to try to keep the students at Eckerd College safe, and from having to experience that ordeal.”

According to Musial and Ashworth, when an EC-ERT team responds to a call about an intoxicated student, a certain amount of judgement goes into deciding if they are a candidate for Continued Care.

If there is evidence that the student’s life is in danger, such as complete lack of consciousness, erratic or extremely slow breathing or signs the student might have taken drugs that compound the negative effects of alcohol, the team calls an ambulance right away.

But if the student’s breathing and other vital signs are stable and they are conscious and relatively responsive, that student might benefit from being monitored by EC-ERT more than from a trip to the hospital.

In order to determine just how sober a patient is, emergency responders employ an objective test.

“As a standard operating procedure on our team, whenever someone is intoxicated and [has an] altered mental status, we have them take a cognitive evaluation,” Ashworth said. “It is the same cognitive evaluation the county uses, so

SCIENCE & TECH. 9-10

A & E 11-12

if we called an ambulance and they arrived at Eckerd College’s campus they would use the same exact evaluation.”

The evaluation involves a variety of simple tests of a person’s ability to speak, move and think clearly.

According to Musial, these tests include things such as repeating a simple sentence, raising a particular hand and repeating a short list of objects. The evaluation is scored out of 29 points and a person needs at least 23 points to pass the test and be considered capable of refusing care.

“Someone with a score of 18, if they had a good otherwise mental status, they were lacking in maybe one area like motor skills for example, they would probably be a good candidate because they have an airway, they have breathing and they know generally what happened, they know what is going on,” Musial said.

According to Musial, these students are likely just to need time to get better, rather than intravenous fluid or a stomach pump, invasive procedures that EC-ERT responders, even those who are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), cannot perform.

According to Ashworth, when an EC-ERT team, consisting of at least two people and at least one EMT, finds a patient who is a likely candidate for continued care, they call in a secondary EC-ERT continued care team with at least one additional EMT.

photo by Nate Gozlan

EC professor raises funds to receive stem cell treatment

By Marlene Heyning Staff Writer

A cyclist-motor vehicle accident completely altered Professor of Human Development Nancy Janus’ life in March 2012. The accident crushed her spinal cord, partially paralyzing her right leg and limiting the movement of her hands.

Janus has no recollection of the day she was hit, nor does she remember the three months that followed.

“I was in four hospitals over seven months, but I don’t remember the first two hospital stays at all,” she said.

During the three months of her first hospital stint, Janus received a tracheotomy to help her breathe, as well as a laminectomy -- a procedure performed on patients to remove pieces of vertebrae from the spinal cord so that the cord has room to swell.

See EC-ERT, page 3

HEALTH & FITNESS 13-14

SPORTS 15-16

See JANUS, page 3 The Current is a free, biweekly student newspaper produced at Eckerd College. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers.

2 News

the current

April 3, 2015

Editor-in-Chief

Sydney Cavero thecurrent@eckerd.edu

Managing Editors Teresa Young Gary Furrow Jr. currentme@eckerd.edu

News Editors Chelsea Duca Bryan Arnott

Assistant Editor

Timothy Lee currentnews@eckerd.edu

Viewpoints Editors Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Araesia King currentviews@eckerd.edu

Science & Technology Editor Sarah Raney

Assistant Editor

Ania Szczesniewski currentscience@eckerd.edu

Arts & Entertainment Editor Jennifer Lincoln currentae@eckerd.edu

Health & Fitness Editor Blaide Woodburn currenthealth@eckerd.edu

Sports Editor

Dominick Cuppetilli

Assistant Editors

Christina Rosetti Simon Sheidegger currentsports@eckerd.edu

Photo Editors

Nate Gozlan Lia Nydes currentphoto@eckerd.edu

Online Editor Hailey Escobar

Assistant Editor

Cassie Madden currentonline@eckerd.edu

Layout Editor

Andrew Friedman currentlayout@eckerd.edu

Graphics & Design Editor Hannah Hamontree hmhamont@eckerd.edu

Multimedia Manager Gary Furrow Jr. currentvideo@eckerd.edu

Social Media Coordinator Marissa Meleedy mjmeleed@eckerd.edu

Business Managers Gary Furrow Jr. Teresa Young currentads@eckerd.edu

Faculty Adviser 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 not exceed 400 words.

Writers must include their full name, graduation year and contact number. Faculty and staff should include their title, department 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. Letters can be sent via email to thecurrent@eckerd.edu with subject “Letter to the editor.” _______________________________ The Current will run full-length articles covering any arrests that present a clear danger to the community. Charges that would be investigated under this policy include robberies, assaults, weapons charges or illicit drug manufacturing, such as methamphetamine.

The Current will continue publishing a small police blotter for felony arrests, and misdemeanor charges against student government leaders, Residential Advisors and staff members of The Current. We learn of arrests through searching the police arrest database by entering Eckerd’s address, as well as from tips. Questions and comments can be emailed to thecurrent@ eckerd.edu.

LET’S BE BRIEF

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor

Go to the (Spring) Ball, Cinderella

Practice etiquette with Career Services

Spring Ball will be on the evening of April 11. Tickets are already available from Campus Activities and Palmetto Productions for $25 for one and $40 for a pair. That price includes transportation, dinner and a full beverage service. Music will be provided by EMEFE and DJ Skip.

Career Services is hosting an etiquette and professional development dinner on April 8 at 6 p.m. Come learn how to network and dine with your professional peers. Sign up in Career Services. Space is limited.

The Flush

The Flush

Prepare for Springtopia

Challenge yourself for better health Email announcement

Coordinator of Fitness & Wellness Henry Palmer is hosting the Wellness Challenge throughout the Springtopia is approaching fast. A drag show, Spring month of April. Participating students will compete Ball, National Concert, an ale tasting, Relay for Life, to improve their health and win prizes by performBulls@*t Ballet, Mr. Triton, EC Carnival and more ing activities such as attending a fitness class, eating healthy or drinking more water. Students wishing to are all coming up from April 10 through May 8. join should contact Henry Palmer at (727) 864-8590 or palmerh@eckerd.edu.

Room draw dates draw near Email announcement The Flush

Students to perform Eurydice

Room Draw 2015 will begin on April 8 when appli- CPS event cations become available for themed and traditional Come see a performace of the Eckerd student prohousing. Check out the full Room Draw calendar at duction of “Eurydice.” Sarah Ruhl’s modern interprewww.eckerd.edu/housing/roomdraw/. tation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and his descent into the underworld in pursuit of his wife Eurydice CPS to teach holistic education is a comedic and surreal retelling of the classic myth The Flush from the perspective of his wife. Performances will Paul Hernandez will be speaking at a CPS event be on the evenings of April 15 through 18 and April sponsored by the Office of Service-Learning and the 22 through 23 at 8 p.m. and on the afternoon of April Office of Multicultural Affairs on April 9 at 7 p.m. 19 at 2 p.m. Admission will be $1 for students, $5 for He will be discussing how our educational system is other members of the Eckerd community and $10 for shaped by issues of class, race, gender and sexuality all others. This is a CPS event. and how we can create holistic educational spaces.

The event is titled “Real Talk! Towards a holistic edu- Discover stories of women’s leadership cational pedagogy empowering students, educators, CPS event and communities.”

The Women’s Resources Center will host a dinner event titled “Stories of Women’s Leadership: A Dine Walk to cure cancer at Relay and Discuss Event” on April 8 at 6:15 p.m. at Wrenn Email announcement Hall in the lobby of the James Center. Featured speakEckerd’s Relay for Life will start on April 17 at 6 ers will include Eckerd faculty, local alumni and memp.m. Go to relay.acsevents.org to join or create a bers of the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd team. There is a $10 suggested donation.

College (ASPEC).

FRI

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CPS film: “Force Majeure” (2014), Miller Auditorium, 7 p.m.

SAT

4

Saturday Morning Market, Downtown St. Petersburg, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Softball, University of Tampa, 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

SUN

5

MON

TUES

6

Campus Activities The Current meetWal-Mart Shopping ing, upstairs Cobb, Shuttle, Mailboxes, 7 p.m.

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sand Volleyball, Carson-Newman College, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.

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WED

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CPS: Bystander Most housing apIntervention-Sexu- plications become al Assault, Fox Hall, available 7 p.m.

CPS: Stories of Baseball, ClearWomen’s Leaderwater Christian ship, James Center College, 7 p.m.

Lobby, 6:15 p.m.

Baseball, Webber International University, 6 p.m.

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CPS film: “Cinema is Nicholas Ray Retrospective: Rebel Without a Cause (1955),” Miller Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Baseball, Barry University, 6 p.m.

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Spring Ball, Jannus Live, 200 1st Ave N St Petersburg, FL 33701, 7 p.m.

Baseball, Barry University, 12 p.m., 3 p.m.

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CPS: Organ Recit- The Current meetal, Leon Couch III, ing, upstairs Cobb, Wireman Chapel, 7 p.m.

3 p.m.

Baseball, Saint Men’s and Women’s Thomas University, Tennis, Palm Beach 6 p.m.

Atlantic University, 2 p.m.

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Baseball, Northwood University, 6 p.m.

Softball, Warner University, 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

CPS: Bystander InterventionMental Health, Fox Hall, 7 p.m.

CPS play: Eurydice,

by Sarah Ruhl, Bininger Theatre, 8 p.m.

THURS

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CPS: Real Talk!

Towards a holistic educational pedagogy, Miller Auditorium, 7 p.m.

CPS film: “Who is Dayani Crystal” (2013), Miller Auditorium, 7 p.m.

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CPS play: Eurydice,

by Sarah Ruhl, Bininger Theatre, 8 p.m.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

April 3, 2015

News 3

News From JANUS, page 1

photo by Nate Gozlan Junior Cameron Davis ponders which books he will store in his cubby.

LSDP introduces cubbies to store research materials

By Riley Huff Staff Writer

On March 3, the Armacost Library at Eckerd officially implemented a library cubby rental system.

Now, students can use these cubbies to store books, notebooks and other research materials for school research projects and papers, according to Access Services Librarian Kim Copenhaver.

Students can rent a cubby for three weeks at the circulation desk in the front of the library. Library staff can extend deadlines in order to better accommodate longer-term student projects, such as theses or independent study projects, according to Freshman Charlie Feldt.

Feldt came up with the idea during Leadership and Self-Discovery Practicum (LSDP) this Winter Term.

“The purpose is to give students a convenient place to store tangible items in order to better produce student scholarship,” Feldt said.

A similar locker rental system at the Reed College library in Portland, Oregon, where every student must write a thesis in order to graduate, inspired the idea.

Feldt’s own academic pursuits led him to pitch it to his project group.

“I would always hate to go back and forth for my research materials,” Feldt said.

The students brought the idea to ECOS, who then directed them to the library staff. They have been working on it ever since the first week of LSDP, according to Freshman Genevieve Galligan, another member of the group.

Galligan is glad the group spent

ample time on the implementation of the cubby system to ensure its success.

“It’s a good thing it’s taken a while because now it’s actually getting done,” Galligan said.

As part of the Winter Term class, the group was allotted $100 to spend on the library cubby system.

The students bought six milk crates and three packs of zip ties for a total cost of $62.06.

The group then teamed up with the library staff to create policies for the rental system. Together they came up with the return policy and the three-book minimum needed to rent a cubby.

In addition, they decided they would return all library books from expired cubbies to the shelves and send other items to the Campus Safety Lost & Found, according to Feldt.

“I’m not sure that I will really use them because I prefer to bring any books I can back to my room,” Junior Alexa Iorillo said. “But it seems like it would be really convenient for projects that would require the research materials to stay at the library, or people who do their work there.”

The project group and the library staff worked together on more than just protocol. They have also worked together on advertising by creating posters for the library and posting about the cubbies in The Flush and on Facebook, according to Library Director Jamie Gill.

Despite all of the work that has gone into this project, members of the group still see their endeavor as a work in progress.

“I’m probably going to be working on this idea for my entire time here at Eckerd,” Feldt said.

Even though her spinal cord was not severed — just crushed — Janus still faces certain difficulties.

“When you have an injury like that, the scar that forms causes cells to die and then the signals can’t get out. I can still feel everything, but I cannot move the way I would like to,” Janus said.

Because of these disabilities, Janus is now dependent on her husband and daughter. She has trouble moving her arms above a certain height and she can’t put weight on her right leg. She cannot drive anywhere, and she has to read books electronically because it is too hard to turn pages. Even small things, like eating bagels, can be difficult.

“I have to grab them just the right way, otherwise they will fall out of my hands. It is the most frustrating thing,” Janus said. “I can’t make the muscles work the way they’re supposed to work.”

But, with the help of constant physical and occupational therapy, Janus has made some big strides.

“And it’s funny, because there are other things that I don’t notice, but my friends do,” Janus said. “Someone told me the other day that since she’s seen me, I use my hands a lot more when talking.”

Despite all that has happened to her, Janus succeeds in coming to work. While she is no longer a fulltime faculty member, Janus teaches two classes each semester.

“I love teaching my students and watching them grow,” Janus said. “I love that I can help them change the world. I’ve been at Eckerd for 20 years, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Since her accident, Janus has been looking into stem cell injections to improve her condition. She has searched the Internet for places all over the world that offer this therapy, including Thailand. She eventually stumbled upon a doctor in New York who was working with doctors in Panama and highly recommended the program.

“I began researching the Stem Cell Institute in Panama and I collected information from them and they have shown great advancements,” Janus said. “It is also close by, so if I have to go back and get more treatments it is easier. It was really well-recommended.”

While in Panama, Janus will be getting injections — either intravenously or at the damaged site in the neck — of stem cells from donated umbilical cords and part of her own bone marrow.

According to the Stem Cell Institute of Panama’s website, a patient’s bone marrow is tested for its “quality, any bacterial contamination (aerobic and anaerobic) and endotoxin.” The donated umbilical cords are tested heavily as well, and about only one in ten pass.

Stem cell research, which is currently illegal in the United States, is

a newer way to help patients with spinal cord injuries to regain mobility in their paralyzed limbs. Stem cells can transform into different types of cells depending on where they are placed throughout the body. In Janus’ case, the cells would be injected in her cervical spine (neck area) so that she could regain nerve pathways that would increase the mobility in her hands and legs.

“I just got accepted [to the institute] a couple of weeks ago,” Janus said. “Now, because of extra costs, I am trying to raise money to go to the institute.”

With only a month of fundraising under her belt, and about a month of fundraising left, Janus has raised over $31,000 through YouCaring. com. Her goal is $37,000.

Former students, parents of students, professors, friends, family and even high school peers have donated to Janus’ fund to make it to Panama.

She will be traveling with her husband to the country on June 1 for a month to get stem cell injections with the hopes of increasing mobility in her arms and legs.

“It has been such an honor to get so much support from my friends and [former] students,” Janus said.

“I don’t care about how much anyone donated, but when you read the supporters section, it just warms my heart.”

Comments range from “good luck” to paragraphs of how much donors admire Nancy in her struggle and fight to get better.

“Nancy, I so admire your courage and tenacity,” donor Betty Kasson wrote. “I hope the stem cells will bring you more mobility and flexibility. It is an honor to get to help you a little.”

Sophomore Kate Seader, who took the Winter Term class Issues of Adoption with Janus, recently wrote a paper for Genetics on the ethics of stem cell research.

“I knew Nancy was getting stem cell treatment, so when I had to write a paper on ethics in genetics, I thought it would be interesting to learn more,” Seader said.

photo courtesy of Nancy Janus’ fundraising page Janus was a passionate bicyclist before her accident in 2012.

From EC-ERT, page 1

By Bryan Arnott News Editor On March 8, the ECOS Senate meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. and ended at 7:22 p.m.

Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness Henry Palmer and ECOS

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Intern Mike Geibel assisted the Senate in creating rules and picking the Dorm Olympics venue.

The rules included the time limit for each match. The double elimination tournament style was decided on as well. No funds for projects were approved.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

On March 15, the ECOS Senate meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. and ended at 7:30 p.m.

Dorm Olympics was discussed further. No funds were approved.

On March 22, the ECOS Senate assisted in Explore Eckerd instead of having a meeting.

Seader started researching stem cells and clinical trials around the world to learn more about Janus’ treatment. Seader found out that the trials have been showing improvement for patients, and also why they cannot be done in the United States.

“The fact is, the clinical trials do work. The type of treatment that Janus needs isn’t being done in the U.S. because the FDA started considering stem cells a drug,” Seader said. “The cells are modified with certain chemicals outside of the body for too long of a time, and because of this, before any human testing can be done, the stem cells would have to go through all the drug testing.”

These guidelines made it so that about 90 percent of the research done in the United States had to be stopped until it could go through extensive drug testing, which takes years.

“I’m feeling a lot of things right now. Part of me wants it to be a miracle, for the injections to work and I can walk out of there and not look back,” Janus said. “But I know that’s not really what is going to happen. I just am hoping for more mobility in my hands and legs over time.”

Still, after she returns, she will continue to teach at Eckerd.

“I really love this community. I know that I am doing right here and I know that my students are learning a lot,” Janus said. “That is what is pushing me. I love Eckerd.”

Seader said that Janus would tell her students of all the things she used to do and love.

“She was always telling stories of how she used to go cycling and teaching abroad. Despite not being able to do those things anymore, she was always positive in the classroom,” Seader said of Janus’ outlook.

The community can still donate to Janus at http://www.youcaring. com/medical-fundraiser/hope-fornancy-janus/310796. Supporters can also write a comment to let Janus know they care.

The members of both teams together examine the patient’s physical and mental condition and medical history and watch for any sharp changes in their condition that might indicate the patient is quickly getting worse.

If the two teams together determine the patient just needs some time to sober up, the patient is transported to EC-ERT’s office on the second floor of Omega and placed in a hospital bed. There they can sleep, watch Netflix or talk to sober friends, who EC-ERT encourages to come along, while sobering up in a safe and comfortable environment.

According to Ashworth, this program has the potential to eliminate unnecessary ambulance and hospital bills that can easily run into thousands of dollars while also protecting student privacy. When a student is transported to the hospital, their family is usually notified, but when dealing with students 18 years and older in the Continued Care Program, EC-ERT is not required to contact anyone, including parents, Resident Advisors or Campus Safety.

The Continued Care Program is available every weekend night. If you or another student needs medical assistance, EC-ERT encourages you to contact them at any time at (727) 772-3760.

4 News

the current

April 3, 2015

Winter Term photo contest presents winning shots Winter Term may be long gone, but these photos keep the memories alive and capture the spirit of traveling abroad.

All of the winning photographs and second place images can be found at www. theonlinecurrent.com.

Students Category Winner: Junior Julia Sparks, Environmental Issues & Conservation Efforts in China Sparks and her class lit candles in a Buddhist temple to honor Senior Melanie Beaton when they heard of her death. “This photo shows the heavy-hearted stillness we all felt as we said our own prayers in Melanie’s name,” Sparks said. “[Junior] Allison Devine gazed up at the great golden Buddha in perfect silence, radiating an energy of sacred communication that is impossible to describe in words.”

Places Category Winner: Sophomore Caitlin D’Angelo, Spanish Language Immersion - Costa Rica D’Angelo captured this image at Poas Volcano in Costa Rica.

Gratitude Category Winner: Junior Briana Green, Culinary Science of Northern Italy Green’s Winter Term classmates pose for a gratitude photo in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Nature Category Winner: Junior Frank Mutterer, Natural History of Galapagos & Ecuador After a generator failed on the boat in the Galapagos, Mutterer and his class had to travel back to port in a storm.

“Out of nowhere a Frigate bird joins our journey back to port flying next to the boat,” Mutterer said. “As the storm cleared up on one side of the volcano we were driving past, a beautiful rainbow had formed. This was an incredible part of the journey back to port to bring up everyone’s emotions and appreciate nature.”

People Category Winner: Senior Lia Nydes, Environmental Issues & Conservation Efforts in China While in Lijiang, Nydes took this photo of women who work outside a silk factory embroidering images with silk.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

April 3, 2015

Viewpoints 5

Viewpoints

Red My Lips campaign unites women against sexual assault

By Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Viewpoints Editor

On April 28, 2011, Danielle Tansino went out with some friends.

Later that night she was taken aside and raped by a friend of her housemate. When she filed a report and took it to court she was told by a female attorney that the court would not prosecute because “jurors don’t like female drinkers.”

When she spoke about it to friends and family, they classified the rape as “a misunderstanding,” while others told her it was a consequence of her not being careful enough. It was when she realized that no one would take a stand for her that she decided to take a stand herself and created “Red My Lips” in December 2012, according to RedMyLips.com.

Red My Lips is a non-profit organization that allows survivors of sexual assault to see and feel support from others. Throughout the entire month of April, supporters wear red lipstick everyday to raise awareness about sexual violence while silencing victim-blaming.

“My most basic hope for the campaign is that it will allow survivors to feel and see support on faces around them,” Tansino said to Creative Campaigns. “Many survivors suffer for years in silence, which can be incredibly isolating. Those who do speak often experience a different kind of isolation because so many people don’t know how to show support or talk about these issues. I want to see that change.”

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 44 percent of victims are under the

it until much later. Bringing awareness to our campus before something serious happens is key.

“I think it’s a really awesome way for girls to show their support towards sexual assault victims,” Sophomore Tess DeSerisy said.

The Red My Lips campaign is a bold step towards awareness as red is often seen as purely sexual. Many in our society see the color red on women in clubs wearing scanty outfits and consider it an invitation. This idea was also perpetuated when a Toronto police officer said that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.

This controversial statement started the “Slutwalk” campaign where women dressed however they wanted to protest that the way they dress should not be a reason to victimize them.

Red My Lips is a synthesis of the Slutwalk in that it supports the idea that what you wear or not being aware of your surroundings is not the reason for victimization. It is a problem with the person who chose to violate you. Wearing red lipstick, while a simple gesture, is a small step towards addressing the reality of sexual assault. graphic by Hannah Hamontree The Red My Lips campaign asks women to wear red lipstick for the month of April to show support for victims of sexual abuse.

age of 18, while 98 percent of these offenders will never see a jail cell.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only females who are rape victims, but males as well. While the percentage is much lower at three percent, about 2.7 million men in the U.S have been raped.

What’s worse is that two-thirds

of rapes and sexual offenses are committed by someone the victim knows. One can empathize with students who decide to stay quiet.

It’s hard to tell family and friends that someone raped you. Rape and assault are not the only forms of sexual abuse. Stalking and hate crimes are also considered abuse,

they are just the most common.

During Autumn Term, freshmen took courses called AlcoholEdu and Haven, which brought awareness to sexual assault on college campuses.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women experience attempted or completed rape but don’t realize

Sexual Assault Contact Info

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.4673

Womens’ Resource Center:

1.888.373.7888

Counseling Center 727.864.8248

Eckerd’s plans for expansion invite questions about future upgrades

By Corelle Rokicki Columnist Budgeting for the future is never easy. It also only gets harder when working on a large scale.

Eckerd College prides itself on giving students the opportunity to have a voice in how they hope to see the school progress.

This is a unique opportunity that allows students to bring forth innovative ideas.

Yet, as more new ideas are developed and pursued, the already established parts of campus seem to be forgotten, rarely being upgraded.

At almost 60 years old, Eckerd College is a young school in the grand scheme of colleges and universities throughout America.

In being so young, there aren’t firmly ingrained traditions that stand in the way of pursuing new ideas. This school is continuously growing and changing with each new wave of students flowing through.

“The campus has a master plan that was developed originally in 2002-2003 and approved by the Board of Trustees,” Associate Vice President of the Division of Business and Finance Luz Arcilla said in an e-mail. “The plan, which is updated as conditions change, incorporates new buildings or additions to the campus. The recommendations to the Trustees to move for-

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ward with new buildings or major projects are made by the President in concert with the Executive Staff.”

The school’s master plan is a long term view of where the Board of Trustees generally desires the direction of the school to go.

At almost 14-years-old, the plan isn’t specifically tailored to aspects of campus that need to be addressed currently.

As time goes on, a building that was in prime condition when the plan was made could currently be in need of some major updates.

Presently, there are parts of campus that could use some attention in the near future.

The fitness center that’s a part of the Cobb building is an example of a space on campus that’s in need of immediate remodeling.

Sophomore Caelen Donovan expressed his concerns about the lack of space and equipment in the fitness center.

“There needs to be significantly more treadmills and ellipticals, because everyone always uses those.

We could use at least another weight rack and the mat area needs to be expanded, especially for clubs and activities,” Donovan said. “It’s so hard to go in there and do anything because everyones using all the equipment.”

ECOS recently sent a survey to students asking them to vote on what the school should spend

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

$5,000 dollars on from a designated list of innovative ideas.

The winning idea was to build a cabana and instal a new grill at the pool.

“The pool cabanas — while they will be nice — I really don’t see them actually benefiting anybody at all,” Sophomore Melyssa Millett said. “It could have been used to improve the gym or to improve sidewalks around campus so longboarders don’t have issues. Something that would have actually benefitted students rather than just being an extra perk.”

When it comes to being influential in determining how we hope to see Eckerd progress in the future, students have a prominent voice, though many may not know they do.

The idea to bring forward comments or concerns we have regarding the campus is easily pushed to the back of our minds, unless it’s an immediate safety concern.

As popular as the leadership organizations on campus may be, students may not know, or even fully understand, who they can share their concerns with regarding the campus.

“The students have a voice through the Vice President of Student Affairs and through their direct participation in various college committees,” Arcilla said in

an email. “Student forums, such as those held when planning the original design of the renovated complex lounges, and surveys, also are important in gathering student input.”

Informing students where to go to share their commentary regarding the progression of this campus is the first part to solving campus problems.

Everyday students interact with different parts of this college, noting what needs to be refurbished,

but rarely share this information.

Those with the power to actually make changes don’t spend a decent amount of time searching the campus for outdated components and focus more of their time thinking ahead.

Speaking up for the aspects of campus that need to be upgraded is just as important as sharing innovative ideas; this is the way to accomplish a much needed balance between expanding and upgrading on campus.

photo by Peter Bouveron Business and VP Finance Offices is found in the Franklin Templeton building

6 Viewpoints

the current

April 3, 2015

The effect of comics transition from print to media

By Ben Goldberg Contributing Writer

To those who read them, comics can be a lasting part of one’s memory or even just a happy moment on an otherwise dreary day. For decades, adults and children alike have read and laughed at a large variety of comic strips, from “Dick Tracy” to “Big Nate” to “Doonesbury.”

Despite their entertainment value, fewer and fewer comic strips are surviving as long as they used to, if at all.

The New York Times is among the only group to have researched this issue. Almost a decade ago, they reported that as newspaper circulation continues to decrease, so too does the likelihood of any existing comic strip succeeding. With less space for even established comics, the likelihood of a new strip appearing and succeeding is slim.

As the newspaper has transitioned to cyberspace, so have comics.

Many have become independent of their printed origins. One of my favorite online cartoonists, for example, is Matthew Inman, better known as “The Oatmeal.”

With over 3 million followers on Facebook, it’s safe to say that Inman has found the Internet to be a nurturing enough environment.

His work encompasses everything from praise for his Tesla car to sacrilegious shellfish. His page’s cover photo is of “Jibbers Crabst,” a parody of Jesus.

It could be argued, though, that cartoons are just a new form of comics for a new generation. Cartoons are just comics at 30 frames per second with sound instead of

photo by Dorothy-Mae Eldemire Comics are starting to publish exclusively online due to the media transition this generation faces.

speech bubbles. Shows such as Adventure Time take just as much, if not more, creative freedom with their art styles. The extended format allows for more complex story lines in shorter periods of time.

With Marvel’s billion dollar “Age

of Ultron” premiering in less than two months, it’s impossible to deny that comic books have grown into a behemoth industry. Even as newspapers are dying out, comic books have maintained loyal followings for decades, and TV is even prov-

ing to be an area in which new comics may be born and reborn; ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has led to a new incarnation of the classic comic storyline by the same name.

Finally, it’s also important to consider the seemingly invincible

political cartoon, a more adult form of the comic. From their famous takedowns of Boss Tweed in the 1800s to their modern depiction of a shirtless Vladimir Putin riding a unicycling bear into Ukraine, political cartoons serve a purpose beyond entertainment, says Eckerd Professor Donna Oglesby.

“What I’m seeing right now is that there is less space for political cartoons in mainstream media, because they’re unwilling to take the risk of offending their audiences. It’s something that concerns me, because I do see (political cartoons) as the watchdog function of democracies, and I think that they need it.”

Freshman Jessy Breckenridge sees less cause for the concern of the apparent disappearance and migration of comics and cartoons from print to the internet.

“Why would you go through a publisher when you could just put it up on your website? The only problem there is that it’s harder to find an audience. Webcomics are the easier, cheaper, and quicker option for a content producer, but you’re reaching a different, initially smaller audience,” said Breckenridge.

Cartoons may be vanishing from their original medium - printed newspapers - but they’re definitely not going away.

In an ever more digital world, cartoonists are largely turning from ink to pixels, with many cartoonists receiving larger audiences than print would allow them, while other artists are simply happy to share their work with the public.

Whatever their future form, comics will be around to entertain for years to come.

cartoon by Hunter Howie

By Timothy Lee Asst. News Editor Youth homelessness is a major problem in the United States.

A 2013 Department of Justice report estimated that there are over 1.6 million homeless youth in the U.S. Homelessness is especially common among LGBT youth, due largely to family rejection of children and teenagers over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

A 2012 survey conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute of shelters serving homeless youth found that about 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT and that 43 percent of those youth said they had been forced out by their parents because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

If you extrapolate those Wil-

LGBT youth homelessness: Out of the closet and onto the streets liams Institute statistics out to the general population of homeless youth, that would mean there are over 250,000 young people in the United States who do not have a home because of who they are or who they are attracted to.

Imagine that you are an LGBT student at Eckerd.

You live in a relatively accepting community. For the most part, your life is pretty good.

Your have not told your family about your identity.

You know they would not take it well.

Last Thanksgiving, your uncle asked if you were gay. You lied and denied who you are, indicating that you are everything that he considers normal.

That was a nasty thing to have to do, but it was certainly a white lie committed for personal safety.

So you are home for Spring Break, and after breakfast on Saturday your parents call you into the living room and announce that they have discovered your secret.

They tell you that unless you renounce your LGBT identity, they can no longer support you.

The message is clear: “change who you are or don’t bother coming home for the summer.”

What would you do?

You might not be able to continue at Eckerd.

You might not have much money saved.

Perhaps you would plan on living on a friend’s couch over the summer and getting a job at Publix.

If people can tell by looking at you that you are LGBT, your chances of getting an unskilled job are not that good.

Florida does not offer LGBT workers any protection from discrimination in employment.

Believe it or not, you are lucky that this has happened to you while attending school at a place like Eckerd.

You probably do have caring and supportive friends here.

If this happened to you in high school, the message might have been not “don’t come home for the summer,” but “be out of the house by the end of the week.”

If you were a high school student in, for example, my home state of Alabama, you might not have supportive friends at school.

You might not have a friend whose couch is open.

You might end up sleeping on the street.

There are certain things

each of us can do to combat the problem of homelessness among LGBT young people.

First, we can donate money to an LGBT or explicitly LGBTinclusive youth shelter. Though many cities do not have such shelters, we can at least give to one in a major city such as the Ali Forney Center in New York City or the recently-opened Thrive Center in San Antonio, Texas.

If it becomes clear that funding is available for these shelters, they will continue to become more common in response to the large need.

Second, we must advocate for increasing the part of the federal budget allocated to helping homeless youth specifically.

Organizations that target See LGBT page 7

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

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the current

April 3, 2015

Viewpoints 7

Empowerment enables confidence

By Hailey Escobar Online Editor For a long time, I felt like I had to be perfect for the people around me. I had to get good grades, be a perfect daughter and be friendly to everyone. It’s a feeling that I share with many women all over the world who are told to grin and bear their lives.

We are forced to fit into certain roles in order to please the rest of the society. Whether we fit those roles or not, we’re still criticized at every turn: be prettier, but not too much; you have to be skinny, but not unhealthy; smart, but not smarter than the guys in your class; strong, but not muscular. The list goes on and on from every source.

Even in certain areas of feminism you can see it. If you decide you want to be a housewife instead of going to college then you’re looked at as a threat to the cause.

If you’re too feminine, it might be seen as giving into society’s desires.

From LGBT page 6 the specific needs of homeless young people cannot exist without guaranteed funding.

The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found that youth 24 years and younger make up about one-third of all people who lack permanent shelter on any given night.

Yet according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, in fiscal year 2014 only just over two percent of federal spending to combat homelessness was allocated specifically to homeless youth through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Third, we must enact a law barring discrimination against LGBT people in all forms of housing and mandating that the federal government avoid funding housing programs that discriminate against LGBT people.

According to the founder of the Ali Forney Center, Carl Siciliano, LGBT youth even face discrimination at some major homeless youth shelters and hous-

photo by Peter Bouveron Self-Empowerment among women is a necessity in our male dominant society.

ing programs, particularly those that have a religious mission.

Almost one-third of transgender homeless people report having been turned away from a shelter due to their gender identity, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

The Fair Housing Act currently bans discrimination by sex in providing housing, including emergency shelter, and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and some courts have recently begun interpreting such bans to include protection for transgender people.

That interpretation of the law is not universal. LGBT people who are already vulnerable to discrimination because they live in a conservative state are also more likely to find themselves before a judge who will not accept that the Fair Housing Act outlaws housing discrimination against transgender people.

A law barring housing discrimination against LGBT people is the only way for us to ensure that these protections are always avail-

PerspECtives:

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what Kappa Carnival is all about. I’ve heard a lot of good things and I’m excited to see what it’s actually about. I’m also pretty excited for splash bash this year and the spring concert.” -Ian Besse, freshman

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able to everyone, regardless what judge is assigned to a case or who is elected president in 2016.

Fourth, we must open our hearts and homes to young people in need of love and care. Of these four directives, I believe this is most important, but it also requires the greatest sacrifice.

We must put our own lives on the line to protect and care for the most vulnerable members of the LGBT community.

When we reach the point in our lives where we are able to do so, we should seriously consider either becoming foster parents or simply opening up a room and a place at our dinner table to an LGBT young adult who needs some help getting on their feet.

With that decision comes the power to change the course of a young person’s life forever.

If we open our wallets and purses, our courts and laws and our hearts and homes to the needs of these young people, then together we can begin to bring healing in the face of the terrible ongoing injustice of LGBT youth homelessness.

It’s all too confusing, being stretched in so many different directions.

So, I have decided to ignore society and empower myself.

What does empowerment mean, anyway?

“Empowerment is having a power within you that you didn’t know you had and owning up to it and becoming the person you are today,” Senior Caitlin Harding said.

If you look up the word on dictionary.com, it would define empower as “to give power or authority to.” This could mean anything from fighting for a job, or standing up for a friend or even just taking back power over your life.

“Empowerment is really about you, yourself, having that strength and making those decisions all for yourself, not for anybody else,” Junior Andrea Petrucelli said.

For too long, women and men have been waiting for someone to finally make the changes we need, but we have always had

the power to set the example.

What do you want to be? Who do you want to be? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.

In other parts of the world, women don’t even have the opportunity to become empowered.

According to the United Nation, 67 million children were out of school as of 2009 and 53 percent of them were girls. They are instead forced to work or, in some cases, to marry young and have children of their own before they’re done being children themselves.

In order to better our lives, we have to accept one another and support each other in bettering our lives, whether it’s getting an education in order to get a better job, leading a healthier life both physically and mentally, or just allowing that person to be heard.

“Empowerment is not words, but actions,” Junior Abby Walter said.

Go out and do what makes you empowered and support anyone else that wants to take the leap too.

photo by Connor Kenworthy LGBT homelessness is prevalent despite recent social and legal progress.

What are you looking forward to for Springtopia?

“I am jazzed up to see Dirty Heads for Springtopia. Nothing appeals to me more than raging with fellow Tritons to good alternative rap.” - John Burdette, freshman

“I look forward to Kappa Carnival because it’s really fun and you get to do alot of exciting event and activities. The school also provides a lot of school gear and accessories there too, so that’s always cool.” -Christian Willis, senior

I’m just excited to be on campus and help out. It’s a tough week for RAs. I won’t be on rounds thank goodness but it’ll be interesting.” -Tommy Wright, sophomore

I’m really looking forward to around the world just to see if it’s as amazing as everyone says it is and to see all the different rooms.

-Jonathan Romine, freshman

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8 Viewpoints

the current

April 3, 2015

Eckerd Bubble instills isolation, stagnation

By Dan Whitely Columnist It is a common utterance one hears on Eckerd’s campus: “I have a car.” Yet at Eckerd, even after living here for over a year and a half, it still surprises me every time I hear that someone has a car.

Not that I get shocked by every person that has a car — I do have a car myself — but at Eckerd, the reality of the “Eckerd Bubble is so prevalent that most other students and I, get excited about leaving campus.

On a small campus, the condensed, inclusive nature can be redeeming in certain aspects, but it is unhealthy and, in the long run, detrimental to the college experience.

While the Eckerd Bubble” is usually comedic or the butt of a bad joke, the question is whether it is good or bad.

The relationships I have built here due to the inclusiveness of campus and the feeling that we are, in a sense, stuck here together for

better or worse are relationships that would not have been able to build on any other campus.

The part that Eckerd prospective students don’t hear on the tour, the part that no one can understand, is the fact that this small campus — for lack of a better word — forces every student to come together and to have, at least to a certain extent, a fair amount of friendship with almost every person you see on the way to class, the caf or pub.

Despite this wonderful aspect of the Eckerd Bubble, it does have considerable drawbacks. Constantly staying on campus can lead to a feeling of isolation on numerous fronts.

I feel especially isolated from

the world and even St. Petersburg, this can be frustrating at times.

Despite the positive aspects of campus life, the monotony of everyday life at Eckerd and the lack of exposure to what is happening outside our campus bars us from meaningful experiences.

The Eckerd Bubble could potentially become over-romanticized by nostalgic students, but their sentiments are often formulated while ignoring the frustrating times. The bubble could be both enriching by fostering relationships between students, but it treads more on the negative.

College years should be filled with adventures and stepping outside of your comfort zone, and

Eckerd, at times, can be a place where that can be difficult. I love it here, but there are only a handful of adventures to be had on this small campus and a limited number of new people to meet.

This time in our lives calls us to experience as much as we possibly can while we have the freedom to do so. These formative years are influential to the rest of our lives, and living in a bubble simply is not conducive to this mentality.

Making memories that will last a lifetime with friends by your side is a guarantee here at Eckerd, but there is something to be said about exploring the world instead of simply living day in and day out in the Eckerd Bubble.”

In a continuously globalizing world there’s a growing debate about whether community bubbles are advantageous or detrimental.

Although there are drawbacks to every situation, the positive components of community bubbles counterbalance the negative points.

One of the biggest advantages of the Eckerd Bubble is the opportunity to know everyone on campus.

With only about 1,800 students, 86 percent residing in campus housing, you’re bound to run into everyone at least once throughout the school year.

There’s also more unity throughout the student body. We rally behind our sport teams together, we endure Western Heritage and Human Experience freshman year together, we party collectively on

weekends and we struggle through the writing portfolio junior year.

Knowing a great deal of people on campus stimulates collective support, especially during rough times on campus.

Another advantage to the Eckerd Bubble is the protection it provides the student body. Other colleges, especially public state universities, that have massive campuses and large student bodies, don’t have as much control on what happens on their campuses -- it’s like running a town in some cases.

At Eckerd we’re all constantly updated when there are public disturbances around the area, and campus is closed until it’s safe.

Many students tend to feel safer on this capus any time of the day than

they do when they’re out exploring the adjacent cities. Campus Security’s officers even monitor parties to ensure safety of the students and the property. Safety wouldn’t be such a high priority at larger universities.

The Eckerd Bubble also provides many opportunities for students if they wish to actively pursue them.

Students have a strong voice at this college, greatly influencing the direction in which they hope to see Eckerd progress; for instance events like Pizza with the Presithe current dent and Center for Campus Solutions. Eckerd’s unique clubs set this school apart from others — ECSAR, EC-ERT, Pet Life — as do the unique events — Pitchers with Professors and Paddles and Paws at

the Waterfront.

Some people can’t get enough of the Eckerd Bubble and some people can’t stand it. Regardless, everyone can recognize at least one advantage.

We’re a small school where the majority of people know each other, the administration is really big on keeping us safe but still allowing us to have fun and we’re an extremely creative student body involved in array of clubs and organizations.

Many of these aspects of campus wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the bubble students tend to think they’re trapped in.

While the Eckerd Bubble may not be perfect, there’s at least one special part for everyone to love.

Eckerd Bubble provides safety, comfort in small numbers

Corelle Rokicki Columnist Bubbles are safe, comforting and provide immense entertainment for all ages -- the “Eckerd Bubble” included. Small schools and communities tend to find themselves encompassed by a bubble that separates them from the rest of the world, and vice versa.

SPORTS

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SCORE BOARD Women’s Basketball

State

arris

Jan. 31 vs. Florida Institute of Technology L 65-72 Jan. 28 @ Palm Beach Atlantic W 70-59

sity

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Jan. 24 vs. Barry University L 44-53

sity

Jan. 21 @ Saint Leo University W, 52-45

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Jan. 17 @ vs. Rollins College W 75-63

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Jan. 14 @ Florida Southern College W 69-58 Jan. 10 @ Lynn University W 86-64

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Jan. 7 vs. University of Tampa W 55-44

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From BASKETBALL, page 15 After a game winning jumper from Stevenson, Rollins could not get a shot up in

in a row from beyond the arch giving the men’s squad a 31-23 lead.

The Tritons were able to hold the lead, ending the first half up 38-34.

The Tritons tried to keep the momentum going, but the Bucs

team when it was crunch time. Now we just need to work on on executing in those clutch moments for the rest of the season.”

The women’s squad

Men’s Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.

Basketball

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the current

April 3, 2015

Science & Technology 9

Science & TEchnology Cannabis research offers insight into the brain

By Sarah Raney Science & Tech. Editor

There are many different names for cannabis: pot, weed, shemshemet, marijuana – the list goes on and on. This plant has captured human attention, for better or for worse, for millennia. On March 25, Assistant Professor of Biology Gregory Gerdeman discussed the journey of cannabis as medicine from antiquity to modern day during a CPS event. Cannabis has been used in various forms, such as extracts, powders, pills etc. throughout these thousands of years. In modern day in our country, however, these uses have been brought to a halt due to social stigma and federal policies.

While cannabis remains a hot button issue today, its effects on the brain are worth investigating. Neuroscientists such as Gerdeman have sought a greater understanding of the science behind cannabis, and research surrounding this psychoactive plant has skyrocketed within the last couple of decades.

The science behind cannabis begins with the endocannabinoid system. It is a system by which brain cells regulate themselves and maintain homeostasis, according to Gerdeman. Endocannabinoids are the natural molecules that we produce in our bodies that bind and regulate the endocannabinoid system.

“Endocannabinoids are used by neurons to fine tune their own syn-

aptic inputs,” Gerdeman said.

The endocannabinoids act as an “on-demand signal,” according to Gerdeman.

“They are derived from the cell membrane and can be synthesized on demand,” he said. “They aren’t like neurotransmitters, which are bound in vesicles, waiting to be released in response to excitation.”

Instead, endocannabinoids can be synthesized as a signal or excitation is received by the neuron, or brain cell. According to Gerdeman, our endocannabinoids are important for regulation of mood, emotion and resilience to stress.

Our knowledge of the endocannabinoid system stems from the discovery of cannabinoids, the molecules in cannabis that mimic the endocannabinoids. They are part of the same family of molecules.

The difference is that the endocannabinoids are naturally synthesized in our bodies, whereas the cannabinoids can be derived from plants or made synthetically in the lab.

“Interestingly enough, we’ve learned a lot about the brain because of cannabis,” Sophomore Jessie Green said. “The only reason we discovered cannabinoid receptors in the brain is because of our history of using marijuana.”

Furthermore, the medicinal use of cannabis can aid those suffering from some kinds of chronic pain, like neuropathic pain, PTSD and other stressors. Cannabis can be

useful to those with illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis and ALS. In other cases, cannabis has been useful in helping those suffering from migraines, Gerdeman said.

THC, the main psychoactive element of cannabis, mimics the endocannabinoids, which allows cannabis to interact with the brain. Both cannabinoids (e.g. THC) and endocannabinoids belong to the same family of molecules. Based on their structure, both are able to bind to the endocannabinoid receptors.

These receptors exist in almost every area of the brain. One exception is in the respiratory control system located in the brainstem.

The brainstem controls our involuntary functions, such as breathing and heartbeat.

“It is not really possible to ‘overdose’ on cannabis in the way that people can overdose on other drugs, such as alcohol,” Gerdeman said. “No deaths have been directly linked to cannabis in this way.

However, you can still consume too much and feel discomfort, such as through the overconsumption of edibles.”

Because THC cannot bind to receptors along the brainstem that control respiratory function, it cannot cause decreased breathing rate, which is typically related overdoses using other drugs. The acute use of cannabis can cause an elevated heart rate, while chronic use can lead to a diminished heart rate over

graphic by Hannah Hamontree Almost every part of the brain contains receptors that react with cannabis.

time, Gerdeman said in an email.

Even though cannabis will not cause an “overdose” in the sense of a fatality, a state of discomfort can arise from overconsumption.

Even with all of these benefits and increasing research, cannabis remains a Schedule One drug, as categorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a Schedule One drug qualifies as the most dangerous class of drugs with the highest potential for abuse, dependence

and severe psychological impacts.

This has prevented greater research on cannabis because it prohibits medical use and researcher access to the drug. Other Schedule One drugs include LSD and ecstasy.

“In the current political sphere, cannabis is considered a last resort drug,” Gerdeman said. “I think that these medicinal uses are promising enough that if doctors and their patients want to have a conversation about it, they should not be stigmatized or risk potentially losing their license to practice medicine.”

Bimini’s Shark Lab hosts Eckerd students for eighth year

By Ania Szczesniewski Asst. Science & Tech. Editor

Eckerd students got up close and personal with sharks during the Spring Break trip to Bimini led by Associate Professor of Marine Science and Biology William Szelistowski. The group of 17 left on March 14 for Bimini Biological Field Station: Shark Lab, located in the Bahamas.

Shark Lab is run by Shark Biologist Samuel Gruber. He is a retired professor from the University of Miami and has been featured on various shows, many of which appear on Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week. Shark Lab is a nonprofit organization whose objectives, according to their website, are to conduct research about sharks and rays, educate future scientists and make advances in conservation biology.

“You never know what’s on the agenda until you get there because a lot of things are weather-dependent or tide-dependent or wave-dependent or how-murky-the-water-is dependent,” Szelistowski said.

That being said, Eckerd has had a relationship with Shark Lab for eight years now, and there are certain activities the students always do. There are usually two shark dives on each trip. Upon arrival students are assigned to boats and taken out to a reef location where Caribbean reef sharks can be easily enticed with chum to approach the students.

“Most of them are biology or marine science or environmental studies students, and a lot of them have been dreaming all their life to swim with sharks,” Szelistowski said, “and some of them have never seen a shark, so it’s pretty exciting.”

The main focus of Shark Lab’s research are lemon sharks. Bimini is

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composed of two islands with mangroves where female lemon sharks come to give birth. These juvenile sharks will spend three years living there until they are big enough to fend for themselves in the deep ocean. Students can observe the young sharks with ease as the water is crystal clear and less than knee deep.

“We were taught how to properly hold a shark and so we were all passing around this juvenile lemon shark,” Sophomore Brittany Evans said. “It was like, ‘I’m holding a shark!’”

Shark Lab has been putting acoustic tags on lemon sharks for decades. Szelistowski explained that acoustic tags are devices put in sharks and powered by a battery to emit a noise called a “ping.” Each tag is unique, so when the shark is released, researchers can identify different sharks by the different sound emitted by the tag. These sounds are read by hydrophones attached to boats. By orienting this cone-like instrument in different directions sharks can be located.

Students also help with the longline research technique. This involves a main long line running horizontally across the top of the water and has lines hanging vertically from it. These lines are marked at regular intervals by buoys and have hooks with bait at the ends.

Sharks can be caught in this way to study the abundances of different species over time. After a quick lecture, students are taken to look for sunken buoys on the main long line because this means a shark is there. It will be retrieved for additional studies, like measurements or tagging, before being released.

Besides acoustic tagging, Szelistowski explained two types of satellite tagging. One kind of satellite tag has an antenna that sends a GPS

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

Students got up close and personal with sharks in Bimini.

coordinate to a satellite through radio waves every time the shark comes up to the surface. A different kind is attached to the side of the shark and records the temperature, pressure and light every two minutes. This tag is timed to release off the shark after a given period, for example six months, and float up to the surface, sending researchers an alert that it is ready for retrieval.

Only so much can be done in a week, but students have been known to return to Shark Lab as volunteers. Sometimes graduates become staff members.

Szelistowski began running the Bimini trip after meeting Gruber at a conference in Miami. Szelistowski had heard of Shark Lab from

graduates and after talking with Gruber, he began to organize a Winter Term trip. January turned out not to be prime time for shark research, so it was soon transformed to a Spring Break trip.

Safety never seems to have been an issue as the Shark Lab staff has always been cautious and consistent in explaining safety measures.

Caribbean reef sharks are docile, but bull sharks should be watched out for because according to Szelistowski they have been known to attack. The staff always makes sure everyone exits the water until the bull shark passes.

“They’ve got a really neat research program,” Szelistowski said.

Shark Lab published a paper a year

photo by Kristina Kontos

ago with findings indicating that lemon sharks are prone to leave the mangroves after three years, mature sexually and then return to the mangroves of their childhood to give birth to their own young.

Such behavior has been observed in salmon, but is new in the field of shark research. By pit-tagging every lemon shark for the past 20 years, Shark Lab was able to make these observations.

“I did things I never thought I would do, and it introduced me to this whole different science field that I didn’t even think was possible,” Evans said. “People work out there for months just capturing sharks. That’s cool.”

10 Science and Technology

the current

April 3, 2015

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learn responsibly

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By Conor Sean McKenna Columnist

By Fiona Maguire Columnist In February 2008, the world’s first sustainable sushi bar opened in San Francisco, California. This restaurant, Tataki Sushi Bar, was founded by Casson Trenor, M.A., an environmental activist who began his career as a member of Greenpeace USA. In 2009 Trenor published his book “Sustainable Sushi: A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at a Time” to inform the public about the sustainable seafood industry. He has also been named “Save Our Shores’ Ocean Protection Hero” and Time Magazine’s “Hero of the Environment.”

After feeling hypocritical while eating sushi one afternoon, Trenor had the idea of creating a sushi bar that served sustainable seafood.

Trenor had three types of sustain-

ability in mind: environmental, economic and social. Environmental sustainability means being able to harvest a species indefinitely so that their population is never permanently damaged or depleted.

Important questions to ask when determining environmental sustainability include how the fish was caught or raised, its vulnerability (lifespan, reproductive capability, maturation rate) and the effects of harvesting on the environment.

Economic sustainability focuses on the financial ability of economic support for the population, and social sustainability takes history and culture into consideration.

In an interview with blogger Allison Day, Trenor said, “Sustainability is a way of life. It’s a mantra, for business and just… if we are to continue to exist and be happy in this changing planet, we have to learn how to live with our eyes

photo by Fiona Maguire Junior Katharina Kronsteiner enjoys sushi at Bento Cafe in Gainesville, Florida.

open and balance our resources.”

Trenor created the four-S rule to help people easily remember which fish are sustainable: small, seasonal, silver and shellfish. There are exceptions to the rule, but Trenor believes it is a good starting point.

Trenor’s hope is for people to enjoy eating fish while also acknowledging our health and that of our oceans. Trenor met with several sushi chefs who helped him make his idea a reality. The bar had a rocky start, but eventually the idea caught on. There are now about a dozen sustainable sushi restaurants in the U.S. KELP

Sushi Joint in Tampa is the closest sustainable sushi restaurant to Eckerd. KELP has promised to stay away from any seafood on the Monterey Bay guidelines “Avoid” list. These are all fish obtained in a way that excessively damages ocean health, such as Bluefin tuna.

Sophomore and Marine Science major Erich Schrader would be willing to go to one of these restaurants.

“I think eating sustainable seafood is the way to go,” he said.

“Although I think it will be a challenge because tuna is so beloved in Asia for sushi.”

Eckerd students benefit from caf produce

By Christa Perry Staff Writer It is not uncommon to see students lurking in the strawberry plants outside the main cafeteria and picking the fruit. During the academic year, students have the opportunity to enjoy fresh strawberries that grow outside the main cafeteria that are tended to by Bon Appétit.

According to Director of Bon Appétit Eric Foster, Bon Appétit employee Jim Seger planted the strawberries sometime in October 2014.

“They’ll be here until the end of commencement because they have a harder time growing in the hot season,” Foster said.

In warmer climates like Florida, strawberry plants thrive when planted in fall and can be grown and harvested until late spring.

graphic by Hannah Hamontree

By Ania Szczesniewski Asst. Science & Tech. Editor From the jar of dark broth in his hands, Montezuma sipped his 50th hot chocolate of the day as the sun set on his Aztec home. To the south, his Mayan neighbors are credited with the earliest signs of cacao farms and coined the term xocolatl for their chocolate drink, literally translated as “bitter water.”

Chocolate has come a long way to become the treat we enjoy as Cadbury eggs and Lindt bunnies. Humans and Oompa Loompas have been under the spell of chocolate for centuries, but what some call magic, others call science.

The ability to have chocolate in beverage form, as bars or an assortment of other treats is thanks to its chemical properties. Not only that but we’ve got different varieties ranging from milk to dark to white, though many argue that this is hardly chocolate.

Cocoa butter gives chocolate

Once planted, it takes two to three months for fruit to grow.

The heat and storms in the summer are too intense for strawberries to continue growing in Florida. It rarely reaches freezing temperature here in St. Petersburg, so the only limiting factor is heat.

The strawberries grown by Bon Appétit are open to students, as well as the lettuce, rosemary, basil, kale and wasabi mustard greens.

“Everything we grow is open to students,” Foster said. “We harvest whatever is left over. Sometimes we go out there, and the students have picked everything completely clean.”

Sophomore Clara Suarez-Nugent points out that some students abuse their right to eat the fruits and vegetables that grow outside the cafeteria.

“Sometimes when I’m sitting in the caf, I see one person outside

picking all the ripe strawberries from all the plants,” Suarez-Nugent said. “I think it’s an abuse of that resource because it’s a public good.

Everyone should be allowed to benefit from those strawberries.”

Allowing students to access the freshly grown fruits and vegetables certainly is a test of Eckerd’s ability to share a common resource. Some students may take more than their share, but according to Foster no plants are harmed by the students in the process of picking.

Growing and buying foods locally is something that Bon Appétit strives for and shows in their strawberry harvest. Foster points out that buying and growing locally is good for local business and small farmers. It helps Eckerd move away from factory farming. It also yields, arguably, more trustworthy food.

“We know what goes into it, we can see how it’s grown and it’s easily

the power to melt into decadent goop. Chocolate’s universally acknowledged melting point of 86 degrees Fahrenheit is below that of body temperature so we can enjoy this property with every bite.

Sometimes the opposite is desired: what if you want a crisp chocolate coating, but it keeps melting? The solution is adding coconut oil, a trick Wired magazine recognized Dairy Queen uses for the shell of their chocolate dipped soft serve. The coconut oil has a relatively high solidifying temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit, so the chocolate will harden in a matter of seconds as it approaches the temperature of its destination in this case, ice cream.

Easy to consume doesn’t always mean easy to work with as anyone who has tried placing pure cocoa in milk has witnessed. The clumps of powder refuse to dissolve, instead stubbornly sticking together until heated. This is because the starch in the cocoa powder expands on contact with the liquid and forms a capsule around the parts of the powder that haven’t been exposed to it.

Try shaking up a flask of milk and cocoa, and it still won’t mix

evenly due to the hydrophobic (dislikes water) cocoa butter. The cocoa is hydrophilic (likes water).

Harvard professors Amy Rowat, Kathryn Hollar, Howard Stone and Daniel Rosenberg describe in a lecture plan that by adding a third component that is amphiphilic (liking water and oil), it will act as a glue for the cocoa mass and cocoa butter. This allows for a stable mixture and produces smooth chocolate bars. This mix is called an emulsion, and the amphiphilic component is the emulsifier. In chocolate bars soy lecithin is the most common emulsifier.

Cocoa powder itself is a concentrated version of the cocoa bean. It is a bitter, strong powder in which the majority of the cocoa butter has been removed. This natural powder can result in flavorful chocolates of fruity complexity, but with lesser quality powder this will come off as harsh acidic flavor. A way to combat the cocoa bean’s acidity is to put the powder through the Dutch process. By alkalizing the powder (a chemical process for lowering its acidity), the product achieves a darker hue, more along the lines of Oreo color.

The flavor changes a bit, also tast-

photo by Hannah Hamontree Strawberries grow outside Café Bon Appétit.

accessible,” Foster said. ing more like the Oreo cookies.

So not only can it be a creative medium, but a chocolate a day can potentially keep the doctor away.

After time spent working for Nestle Stephen T. Beckett wrote in his textbook “The Science of Chocolate” that it is riddled with antioxidants from the flavonoid category, one of which is called catechin. It is one of the most powerful antioxidants, of which dark chocolate possesses 100 grams — about four times that of tea. If eaten in reasonable quantities, issues such as obesity and tooth decay should not arise from chocolate consumption.

Rather, heart disease risk may be lowered as things such as healthy cholesterol could be promoted.

This is because the flavonoids have anti-blood clotting and antiinflammatory effects.

People who eat chocolate may experience happiness due to feelgood endorphins released in the brain. It also contains compounds that could trigger cravings later on, but it is generally agreed upon that addiction to chocolate from a chemical standpoint is unlikely.

At the end of the day, Montezuma would probably say he just really likes it.

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Eat your sushi to help the environment

drunk on

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At times, we may come to doubt all that we had previously known.

Sometimes this can be an over-exaggerated reaction to something we don’t quite understand yet. I have certainly made this mistake many times. Over Spring Break, I had the fortune of scuba diving in Hawaii where I saw a rock structure formed from something called columnar jointing. This specific type of jointing forms as hexagonal columns. It doesn’t look natural. You may recognize this formation if you’ve seen the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

It was difficult to communicate my excitement over rocks and why my world felt upside down at the time, being underwater and all.

I didn’t know what this was and couldn’t understand how flowing lava could harden to form the geometrically impressive structures. It was pretty weird. Lava morphology generally consists of Pāhoehoe or ‘A‘ā forms, both given Hawaiian names. Pāhoehoe is smooth, ropeyshaped lava, while ‘A‘ā is sharp, jagged and is properly named because it will make you say “AH AH” if you step on it.

This recent discovery left me baffled, and it wasn’t until a recent class that I could understand how columnar jointing could occur. The formation is caused by cooling on two sides of the flowing lava, creating joints in the newly formed rock that take this beautiful shape.

The point is that science helped me comprehend something that seemed controversial to my understanding, giving some clarity after an unnecessary panic.

This eureka moment is one of the perks to being a scientist. Inconsistencies and fallacies breaking previous established rules are found in every genre of science. In an article published by the magazine The Conversation and written by Erez Ribak, a recent mystery of how the human eye works was resolved.

When we see, we process images with neurons, or brain cells, which lay in front of cones and rods of the eye, which are the parts that identify color.

So the problem is, why exactly are the image-processing cells in front of the parts of our eye that determine color? Ribak explains that our eyes are programmed this way to process color secondary to the images we see. In this way we can process depending on the time and enhance our color vision during the day while demoting it at night.

This research brought to light an understanding of how something we couldn’t see fitting in ended up working within our scientific world.

Sometimes these inconsistencies can occur within an individual’s perception. I am reminded of the dress controversy that happened a few weeks ago. A photograph of a blue dress with black lace was seen by many as a white dress with gold lace, bringing panic and despair to the Internet community. I recommend researching this dress, as this occurrence is one of the biggest individual differences our society has seen. People see different colors because of the way their brain reacts to the shading of light reflected on the dress. When looking at the dress your brain will either discount the blue side of the color spectrum or the gold side; either way, the dress is actually blue.

In the hopes of avoiding panic, next time you see something you don’t understand or something defies all that you once knew to be true, avoid throwing holy water and take a few deep breaths. Keep yourself together, Eckerd.

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April 3, 2015

Arts & Entertainment 11

Arts & Entertainment

Norman Rockwell on exhibit at the TMA

photo by Jennifer Lincoln

Many of Norman Rockwell’s pieces are on display at the Tampa Museum of Art.

Rockwell’s works were originally published in the Saturday Evening Post.

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By Jennifer Lincoln A&E Editor

photo by Jennifer Lincoln

When one considers idealistic American life throughout the past century, the work of Norman Rockwell comes to mind. Famous for his iconic Saturday Evening Post covers, Norman Rockwell has morphed optimism and realism into his works for nearly seven decades. The time span of Rockwell painting covers everything from 1914 Daniel Boone through both World Wars and the Civil Rights Movement.

Rockwell focused on the youth of America, specifically the idyllic coming of age stories of children and young adults, ignoring the harsh realities of war and the Great Depression.

Walking through the exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art, one is surrounded by walls with framed covers from the Saturday Evening Post. The exhibit features each of the 323 covers Rockwell created during his lifetime, and it is especially profound to view them all side by side. The Saturday Evening Post was a culturally influential magazine throughout the 20th century, impacting most Americans before the age of Internet.

Larger pieces of original artwork, including his groundbreaking “The Problem We All Live With” paint-

ing from 1964 are also on display.

“The Problem We All Live With” depicts a young African American girl being led by four U.S. marshals to an all-white school for the first time. This marks a break from the optimistic portrayal of American life and an entry into depictions of social issues concerning Americans at the time.

Previously inhibited by The Saturday Evening Post from showing minorities, America’s attitude towards equality was taking a forward step.

Life Magazine commissioned Rockwell to create “Murder in Mississippi,” which is also showcased in the exhibit, a powerful painting of the murder of a civil rights activist.

The Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art shows a comprehensive view of his artwork from start to finish.

In 1943, a Time reporter said, “He constantly achieves that compromise between a love of realism and the tendency to idealize, which is one of the most deeply ingrained characteristics of the American people.”

The show will run until May 31, and the cost for students is $5 to enter the exhibit.

“His works are so captivating because they are more than color and form; they tell a story,” junior Lea Ritson said.

12 Arts & Entertainment

April 3, 2015

Spring into crossword-topia

Across 1 Sports channel 5 Plans and aspirations in life 10 Popular American brand of peanut butter 13 Cookie suitable to dunk in milk 14 Group of eight 15 Pitch of voice or instrument 16 Cuts off “in the bud” 17 Rock 18 Excitement or anticipation 19 To own 21 To have a lot of control over a situation or group of people 23 Expression of annoyment 26 To take a break from standing 28 Spells 29 Lefty 32 A deep plate suitable for soup or salad 33 Popular meme of a dog 34 A person lacking common sense 36 A cozy family room 37 Small bunch of flowers 38 Burn 42 To punch the numbers on a telephone 43 Article for sale 44 Abbreviation for proximo 46 Lamented 49 Color of Saint Patrick’s Day 51 Tampa Bay _____’s 52 Old-fashioned fathers 53 Someone who rides horses 57 The color of fire trucks, strawberries and roses 59 Accent mark 60 Dorm on campus made up of predominantly seniors 62 Tactic 66 The home a bird makes for itself 67 Promised 68 Soon 69 To be 70 Sugar-free brand 71 Valuable material jewelry is made out of

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Down 1 A very long period of time 2 _____ Lanka 3 Excitement usually shown by a cheerleading team 4 Eat lightly 5 Rumors and other frivolous information spread about people 6 Abbreviation for a month in the fall where Halloween occurs 7 I stood _____ the mountain 8 Comedian who has his own television program 9 A thick soup 10 Cheerful or happy 11 Data 12 Senses 15 Toss to another person 20 Dust left in the fireplace 22 Black 23 United States Department of Agriculture 24 ___ luck 25 Enormous 27 City thirty minutes away from campus 30 Length of time for a decade 31 Planet 32 Swamp 35 Bleacher 37 Half a dozen 38 Cash With Order 39 Beautiful string instrument often played at weddings 40 Location 41 Cincinnati baseball team 42 Terminated 44 Read thoroughly 45 Set again 47 A giant celebration where people march through the streets 48 Caustic substance 49 African country 50 Radio talk for “I hear you” 54 Dance 55 Famous cookies 56 Salamander 58 When someone dresses up as the opposite gender 61 ___ Wilikers

crossword by Jennifer Lincoln

Araesia King Viewpoints Editor

photo by Eileen McGraw Freshman Niki Bigda is from Enfield, Connecticut. Her favorite class so far is Environmental Biology.

“My dad inspires me. He had a rough childhood, but he got his s*** together and moved up in the world. Now, he’s doing really good. He’s just the best dad ever. He gives us anything we want if he can help us out. He gives us really good advice.

He’s like my best friend. He has told me a lot, but one thing I always remember is he always tells me to bite my tongue in situations when I’m mad, so I don’t say anything I regret.”

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Health & Fitness 13

April 3, 2015

Health & fitness Pick your pleasure: liquor, wine or beer?

INSIDE H&F

The right way to punch

page 14

Meals with Midge

page 14

Spotlight on the spin instructor

By Danielle Cleary Staff Writer

photo by Peter Bouveron The wine vs. beer debate has strong opinions on both sides.

By Samantha Schepps Staff Writer There are three types of alcohol: wine, beer and liquor. Many adults of legal drinking age drink a glass of red or white wine before going to sleep, which leads people to believe that wine might not only be less harmful to one’s health, but even beneficial in overall healthiness.

This is true, according to a study done by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, in that individuals who consumed one glass of wine every day were less likely to have cardiovascular health issues in the future.

However it was also concluded that overconsumption or binge drinking wine is not any less harmful to one’s health than binge drinking beer or liquor. If

wine is your choice of alcoholic beverage, it should be consumed in moderation over time. Many students believe wine contains more sugar compared to liquor or beer, but this is not the case.

The sugar from the grapes in wine is converted into alcohol.

According to Fox News Magazine, one glass of wine has 100 calories.

Beer is a popular beverage for Eckerd students due to its cheap cost when comparing the three types of alcohol.

However, calorie count for beer can be high when looking at how much a student will be drinking. One can of beer has 150 calories on average according to Fox News Magazine. This might not seem like a large number, but most students will drink a greater quantity of beer as compared to liquor or mixed drinks.

Whereas one student may only consume two or three mixed drinks, another might drink four or five beers. In reference to the amount of calories in each drink as stated earlier, this would mean that the person drinking beer will be consuming more calories than a student drinking liquor.

For liquor and mixed drinks, most students do not have to consume a large amount of alcohol to reach a certain level of intoxication due to the higher concentration of alcohol in liquor.

Liquor and mixed drinks contain on average 150 to 200 calories, according to Fox News Magazine.

There is also the problem, however, that when drinking liquor or mixed drinks, many students lose track quickly of how much they are drinking and get sick from alcohol poisoning.

When deciding which type

of alcohol is the best, one must also look at how much they will be drinking. Concerning calorie count, it is up to the consumer to decide how many drinks one will actually have. This might be beneficial in encouraging students to count how many drinks and limit themselves so as not to drink too much.

It is important to keep in mind what one’s limits are. Wine might be the best option if a student is concerned with how many calories they are consuming when they choose to drink.

Sophomore Karen Caycho was a little shocked to hear the caloric intake with the different types of alcohol.

“It’s crazy to think that mixed drinks have more calories than a glass of wine considering serving size. A shot doesn’t seem as big as a glass of wine,” she said.

urges.

Chocolate is the number one craving in North America. Surprisingly though, only one percent of Egyptian men and six percent of Egyptian women report having the urge to eat chocolate. While sweets are consistently at the top of the list for cravings in our society, a recent study indicates that Japanese women are more likely to crave sushi.

This report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that food cravings are not merely about individual preferences, but also encompass a mix of social, cultural and psychological factors, heavily influenced by environmental cues.

In addition to chocolate, cravings such as salty snacks and other types of sweets consume the eating lifestyle of many people across the United States. But why exactly do foods like chocolate, potato chips or soda cause such an uproar for our taste buds? What can we do to stay healthy, while still eating foods that satisfy?

Chocolate: According to

Livestrong.com, dark chocolate is full of magnesium, a mineral that contributes to more than 300 chemical reactions in our body.

Magnesium is necessary for our muscles and nerves to function correctly.

Other good sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Sweets: Nutrients found in sweets include chromium, carbon, phosphorus and sulfur.

Other good sources of these nutrients include grapes, chicken and beef, eggs, cranberries and other fruits. In addition to eating in moderation, it is important to be mindful about how much natural sugar is in each serving of fruit.

Salty snacks: According to a 2007 article in the journal Brain Research, low levels of sodium in your body can increase your appetite for salty foods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults consume between 1,500 and 2,400 mg of sodium daily.

Chloride, the nutrient found in many salt substances, is also found in seaweed, rye, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, olives and many vegetables.

Salt cravings may also be satisfied by raw goat milk, fish or unrefined sea salt.

Soda: A carbonated drink craving may be quenched with a calcium-rich alternative.

Other good sources of calcium include mustard, turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese and sesame. For healthy beverage options, people who crave soda may opt for flavored water, milk or a milk substitute, green tea or a lowsodium vegetable juice.

Healthy alternatives for unhealthy cravings

By Christie Schafer Staff Writer

According to the Wall Street Journal, food cravings activate the same reward circuits in the brain as cravings for drugs or alcohol. This discovery was uncovered in a series of functional MRI scans, tests that measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Brain researchers have documented that when people continually bombard their reward circuits with drugs, alcohol or high-fat, high-sugar foods, many of the dopamine receptors in the system shut down to prevent overload. With fewer dopamine receptors at work, the system craves more and more.

“Pretty soon, one cupcake doesn’t do it anymore. You have to overstuff yourself and you still don’t get that reward,” Physician and Author of “The Hunger Fix” Pam Peeke said. She notes that food addiction creates changes in the prefrontal cortex, which normally override impulsivity and addictive

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Freshman Paige Wood is Eckerd’s new spin instructor. She teaches classes that any student or faculty member can attend. After taking spin classes for about a year, Wood got her teaching certification this fall and began teaching classes at Eckerd fitness center right away.

Wood understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle which is what drives her in motivating her students to work hard. At the end of a spin class she hopes for students to feel happier, healthier and stronger.

She also enjoys providing different types of spin classes depending on the day of the week.

There are three classes a week taught by Wood and each class starts at 7 p.m. and lasts about 45 minutes.

“The classes are great cardio and fat burning exercises,” Wood said.

Each day of the week has a different theme and concentrates on different exercise goals. On Mondays, Wood starts off the week hard with a strength-styled spin class.

This class focuses on muscular endurance and is mainly high resistance training. On Wednesdays, she teaches an interval class which concentrates on increasing and decreasing heart rates. This consists of acceleration drills such as, sprints, jumps and hills. On Fridays, Wood slows down the pace and leads a recovery spin class where she shows the class how to focus on timing, speed and rhythm. She likes to call it “moving meditation.”

Students who have gone to the classes have positive reviews.

Sophomore Zachary Chupak said the class “was a good introduction, stimulating and really showed me how to use the bikes.”

For new students who have never gone to a spin class before, Wood offers some advice.

“Don’t be afraid,” she said. “It is all about cardio so people get out of breath, you just have to pace yourself.”

It is also good to keep in mind that this workout is all about the individual and is not a competition, so it is perfectly okay to turn down the resistance or take a break if needed. Along with the confidence booster Wood wants to let new students know it is important to bring water and a sweat towel.

Wood also reminds Eckerd students that all workout classes provided at the Fitness Center are free and should be taken advantage of.

She mentioned that some days a class can be completely full, but it is not consistent. If students come to a class and it is full, come back the next day -- there is sure to be an open bike.

Join Spin Class:

graphic by Andrew Friedman

Mondays at 7 p.m.: Strength Wednesdays at 7 p.m.: Interval Fridays at 7 p.m.: Recovery

14 Health & Fitness

the current

April 3, 2015

The best way to pack a punch

By Duncan LeBlond Staff Writer In almost every gym, there is usually a bag or some other apparatus that is specifically for punching and other forms of hand-to-hand combat. Whether trained in some fighting sport or not, many students enjoy using this equipment. It can be useful for a plethora of reasons, from practicing self defense skills to just letting off some steam.

However, if untrained in some of the basic skills needed, as in most physical exercises, there is a good chance of getting hurt. One of the most prevalent injuries one could receive is the “boxer’s fracture,” which is a fracture of the metacarpal that runs across the top of the knuckle of the little finger and sometimes the ring finger too, according to assistant physician Everett Miller, PA-C. There are two types of punches that are seemingly thrown incorrectly, these being the cross and uppercut.

Kathy Marlor is a fourth degree black belt and former kickboxing world champion who visits the Eckerd twice a month for self defense classes. In an interview she stated, “If your wrist bends while you punch the bag, you can damage your wrist and forearm. Also, if your arm is straight and the bag comes back around, you can injure your joints during hyper-extension.”

The Straight Punch or Cross Though this may seem obvious, this punch is actually thrown incorrectly by many who are just starting out with bag work. The secret to carrying out the basic straight punch, or cross, correctly is predominantly based around the proper alignment of different parts of the arm and hand. The first and foremost of these alignment issues has to do with the hand’s alignment with the surface of the bag.

Most people do not do this properly and contact the surface around the pinky finger knuckle of the hand. However, contact should actually be made at the knuckles of the index and middle fingers, where the bones are the strongest.

It is also extremely important to remember that for any punch, the thumb must be resting outside the fingers. Further, other alignment factors have to do with the wrist and elbow when punching straight.

The wrist is the weakest part of the arm and is therefore most susceptible to taking recoil damage.

It is imperative to keep the wrist completely straight, because wrist bending can cause many major injuries. Keeping this in mind, the elbow should be focused on as well and be kept close to the body. If it is not, the recoil force essentially stops at the elbow instead of being absorbed by the whole body, potentially causing long term injuries.

The Uppercut The uppercut is an extremely useful punch in close quarters situations and is also, by far, the punch thrown the most incorrectly. An uppercut is a punch aimed upwards into the bag. To complete an uppercut correctly, one’s fist should begin at the waist with the side of the fist in which the thumb is resting facing upwards. From here the fist should be launched up into the bag in a half-arcing manner.

It is important that the hand makes contact with the surface at the same knuckles described in the cross. Further, to prevent all of the shock being absorbed by the arm, the hips and body should rotate with the punch in an effort to absorb the impact, as well as increase power. A problem that is often present and has to do with this essential rotation of the hips is that the punch is overextended. This means that the punch continues after the hips have reached maximum rotation, which can cause the same negative impact in the arm, and cause a much less effective punch to occur.

TThe last and most important tip to remember when completing the uppercut is to make sure that the wrist is tense enough that it will not bend on impact and cause major injury. If the wrist is kept too relaxed this is incredibly easy to do, and can cause anything from tendon tears to fractures.

Where is your meditation station?

By Christie Schafer Staff Writer With all the deadlines, study sessions and papers to write, it is no wonder Eckerd is offering more and more meditation services for students to relax and refocus. From yoga classes at the Fitness Center to weekly meditation at Wireman Chapel, the practice continues to benefit a diverse population. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness and enhancing overall health and well-being.

Results from a 2012 NCCIHfunded study suggest that meditation can affect a part of the brain involved in processing emotions, called the amygdala. The study also found that different types of meditation can affect the amygdala differently even when the person is not meditating.

All types of meditation have intention, but the way someone incorporates the practice into his or her life may vary. After discuss-

ing the subject with some students on campus, it seemed there is a misconception that meditation is only for the religious who desire to connect spiritually with the divine.

However, according to Maureen Connors, member of the Spiritual Life Committee at Eckerd College and a Spiritual Director of retreats and workshops related to deepening one’s spirituality, transcendental meditation has no religious ties. In fact, meditation can be practiced by any group of people who wish to build peace and stillness into their ever-busy lives. No matter what the intention may be, meditative practice requires discipline in order to become a meaningful, transformative way of life.

Mindful meditation asks the meditator to focus on a certain aspect, such as the breath, and let other thoughts pass away. However, the practice encourages observance over judgment. If the meditator loses their focus, this practice instructs them to simply notice the thoughts and refocus their attention on the breath.

The Relaxation Response, outlined by Herbert Benson, a Mind/ Body Medicine Professor at Harvard Medical School, is the oppo-

site of the fight-or-flight response and embodies four necessary elements for meditators.

Relaxation response has four elements: 1. Quiet place or environment 2. Mental device (mantra, word, prayer, sound, etc. to get the mind back on track) 3. Passive attitude (The Buddhists call moments of distraction “monkey mind” and promote observation over judgment of these thoughts) 4. Comfortable position According to Connors, relaxation response should not be done while lying down because it is easy to fall asleep. By practicing meditation correctly, a deeper sense of consciousness will be opened.

Currently, a 30-minute meditation class is offered on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. in the Wireman Chapel, as well as a Buddhist meditation class on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students who would like more meditation or other styles of the practice may want to visit St. Petersburg Yoga, a studio that offers multiple types of meditation on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m., Fridays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Meals with Midge: Crispy Brussels Sprouts

By MJ Harford Staff Writer As temperatures rise, the farmer’s market selection begins to change, which means saying goodbye to some winter favorites.

One I will be sad to see go is brussels sprouts. This recipe aims to transform the little green leafy spheres’ bad reputation with a crispy salty outer shell and sweet and savory glaze.

Brussels sprouts are tiny, but mighty. For a vegetable they contain a high amount of protein per serving and essential vitamins. According to Medical News Today, an average a cup of them (what is used in this recipe) has about 38 calories, eight grams of carbohydrates (including three grams sugar and two grams fiber) and three grams of protein while also providing all of the day’s needs for vitamins K and C. Brussels sprouts also contain high levels of vitamins A, B-6, potassium and manganese. Due to heightened sun exposure and its adverse health effects, Eckerd students could benefit from dietary vitamin C through fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients:

ied brussels sprouts 1 cup washed and dr oil 1 to 2 teaspoons olive Sea salt 1 teaspoon honey taste) mic vinegar (more to 1 1/2 teaspoons balsa

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet.

2. On the baking sheet, drizzle the brussels sprouts with the olive oil and a few good dashes of sea salt, tossing to cover evenly.

Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until the outer leaves have browned and are crispy and the entire sprout is slightly golden.

3. In a mixing bowl combine the roasted brussels sprouts, honey and vinegar.

4. Makes a tasty vegan meal when served with quinoa and dressed greens.

photo by MJ Harford Brussels sprouts are a cold weather favorite for many students.

Each issue I’ll be sharing an allergen friendly recipe that is easy, nutritious and delicious. If you make any of them tag me in your Instagram photos (@midgesmoments) with the hashtag #mealswithmidge. If you have any requests, like converting a classic recipe to its healthier version or particular kind of meal for a particular allergy, send me an email (mjharfor@eckerd.edu).

courtesy of Eckerd College website The tranquil environment of South Beach is perfect for meditation and relaxation.

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April 3. 2015

Sports 15

Sports Historic season comes to an end for Women’s Basketball

By Dominick Cuppetilli Sports Editor

The 2014-15 season has come to a close for the women’s basketball team, but it has been one for the record books. The Tritons made it to the NCAA Division II national tournament for the first time in program history, following a regular season record of 22-6, the most wins in any one season the team has ever had.

Head Coach Paul Honsinger said that from the start of this season, the team’s goal was to finish top three in the conference, and to make it to the national tournament. “[The goals] were lofty, but attainable,” Honsinger said.

The team would in fact reach both of these goals, going into both the conference and the national tournament seeded in the No. 3 position.

The Triton’s noteworthy season did not get going right from the start, however. The team was coming off a losing season of 1116, and dropped its first two conference games. Transfer Junior Maggie Sundberg said that this was the wake up call they needed.

Following the two conference losses, Eckerd went on a five game win streak, all against conference teams.

“The seniors took control of the team, on and off the court,” Honsinger said.

Senior Kayla Bowlin has been a driving force in all four years of her time with the Tritons, but said that she felt like she really broke out this year as a leader.

“I wanted to lead this team. I knew I could handle it,” Bowlin said.

After the team dropped another set of back to back conference games, the Tritons went on their longest winning streak of the year, winning seven consecutive games to

close out the year and secure their spot in the conference tournament.

Coach Honsinger said that this stretch really answered any questions the team had about itself, and vaulted the team from No. 6 to No. 3 in the region.

“We were fighting to prove something for our team,” Bowlin said.

The Tritons entered the tournament matched up to play Florida Southern College in the first round. Eckerd’s win streak would be pushed to eight, as they bested the Mocs 73-59. This was the first conference tournament win for the Tritons since the 2010-11 season.

Senior Ivana Grbic led the Tritons with 17 points, followed closely by Senior Rana Thomas with 16 points. As a team, the Tritons shot 100 percent from the free-throw line. Eckerd also dominated down low, outscoring the Mocs 40-28 in the paint.

After just one day to rest before the next game, the Tritons were defeated in an upset overtime loss to No. 7 Barry University, 59-61.

The team struggled to find its rhythm, shooting 37.9 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from the arc. The game held six lead changes and seven ties, most of which came in the final minutes of regulation and in overtime.

After Barry tied up the game with just over a minute left in regulation, Eckerd failed to convert on the other end of the floor and went to extra time. The Buccaneers were up with time winding down, but Grbic sunk a shot to tie it up again.

Despite a solid defensive effort by the Tritons, Barry was able to get up one last shot that found its way to the bucket off the backboard, sending Eckerd home to prepare for the national tournament.

As conference play came to an end, the Tritons were finally able

to focus on the goal they had been playing for all season. For the first time ever, the women’s basketball team was off to the Big Dance.

“It’s special to make the national tournament,” Honsinger said, “It’s been a nineyear-in-the-making project.”

Honsinger added that he really wanted to make it to the tournament for the group of seniors this year more than he actually wanted it for himself as a coach.

“It’s not something to be taken for granted,” Bowlin said.

Coming in at the number three seed, the Tritons would be matched up against SSC rival Rollins College for the first round. Eckerd had completed a sweep over Rollins in the regular season, making this the third time the Tritons would have to beat the Tars.

The first half was a game of runs. The Tritons and the Tars each had periods of scoring, combating each other evenly to head into the half with Eckerd up 41-39.

Rollins was the first to pull away in the second half, but the Tritons recovered to get back within a possession.

The final minute was a fastpaced battle between the two teams. Thomas, who led the team with 22 points, nailed a threepointer with 18 seconds left to put her team within two points.

The Tritons fouled a Tars freshman, who missed both free-throws, giving the Tritons the ball with no time outs and seven seconds winding down on the clock. Eckerd was unable to convert on the play and failed to get a shot up in time, falling to the Tars 71-73.

Eckerd’s record-breaking season would stop at 23 wins, but the team had successfully met their goal of making it to the national tournament.

“It was exciting to do it

scoring affair, the Fighting Knights got on the board in the third inning of the first game after a bunt enabled two players to score runs and give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Eckerd struggled to hit, only recording five throughout the contest. However, three of them were collected in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Dana Paul ad-

vanced to third base while Freshman Chelsea Armstrong ran to second base, putting Eckerd in a promising scoring position. Senior Brittany Mitchell hit the third consecutive pitch and singled, bringing in Armstrong to cut the deficit.

In the seventh inning, the Tritons’ defense shut out Lynn putting them in position to tie the game.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Senior Kayla Bowlin ties record for most career games played with 110.

with a team I enjoyed being around,” Sundberg said.

Looking back on the year, Bowlin felt similarly about the team.

“I’ve never had a more fun year

playing basketball,” Bowlin said.

“We are part of something that has never been done. No one can take that from us. It’s pretty special to start that trend for this program.”

Senior Pitcher Erin Dixson struck out a season high five batters while scattering five hits and allowing only one earned run. However, Eckerd continued to struggle batting and failed to score any more runs.

For the second matchup of the double header Senior Amber Hay stepped onto the pitcher’s mound.

Lynn started off quickly on offense and scored in the bottom of the first inning. Multiple times the Tritons put themselves in position to equalize, but it was not until the bottom of the fifth that they finally broke through the Fighting Knight’s defense. Hay scored after a sacrifice bunt by Paul and a hit by Mitchell.

The score didn’t remain tied for long though, as Lynn displayed impressive batting accuracy in the final inning, converting four hits into three runs and taking a 4-1 lead.

However, the Tritons kept fighting, and Sophomore Kiana Sadlicki as well as Hay brought the home team back to 4-3 right away after hits

by Paul and Mitchell. That would be as close as Eckerd would get.

“It was a winnable series,” Head Coach Josh Beauregard said. “But we did not hit as well as we normally do and we also had some key mistakes that hurt us.”

Despite the sixth loss in a row, there were no sad faces at Turley Athletic Complex. Since it was Senior Day, many parents came to support their daughters. Before the first pitch Seniors Carolyn Griffin, Sydney Dinelli as well as Mitchell, Dixson and Hay were honored.

While Mitchell was a member of the Tritons for four years, the others transferred to Eckerd as juniors.

Beauregard knows how important they are for his team. The last two seasons have been the most successful in program history, in part thanks to the contributions of the oldest team members. During that stretch, the Tritons went 27-25 last season and currently they stand at 27-9.

“They [the seniors] helped turn the softball program around,” Beauregard said.

For the better part of the thirty years in which Eckerd has been competing in softball, they were far away from posting a positive record.

There are 16 games left in the season and the Tritons want to continue to build on their remarkable season. Eckerd will next host University of Tampa on April 2 at 6 p.m. at the Turley Athletic Complex.

Softball drops series to Lynn University on Senior Day

By Simon Scheidegger Asst. Sports Editor

The Eckerd Softball team dropped all three games in the series against Lynn University. On Senior Day on Saturday the Tritons failed to bounce back from the 4-7 defeat they suffered on Friday.

In what turned out to be a low-

photo by Connor Kenworthy Senior Sydney Dinelli connects with the ball at bat on Senior Day.

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the current

April 3, 2015

Sports

Sand Volleyball gets first win of season at home

By Dominick Cuppetilli Sports Editor

The newly formed Sand Volleyball team hosted its first home competition of the 2015 inaugural season. The Tritons took on Webber International University in a doubleheader, winning the first duel 3-2 and losing the second 1-4.

The format of sand volleyball is similar to tennis. The team is made up of five pairs of players. Each pair plays a set of three matches.

The pair must win two of the three matches to win that single game.

The set of the five pair games is called a flight. Whichever team wins the best of five flight wins the duel.

In the first duel, the pair to get the first win was Senior Jordan Trimble and Freshman Savanna Cary.

They won back to back matches, 21-11 and 21-12. The pair’s chemistry held on through the second set of the doubleheader, as they were the only pair to go undefeated all day.

“I absolutely love playing with Savanna, we work well together and our game really clicked on Saturday.

I am really proud of my whole team

and am excited for the remainder of the season,” Trimble said.

Freshman Mackenzie Redner and Sophomore Morgan Jones were the second pair to win a set of matches. The pair came out strong in the first match, winning it 21-12.

Webber came back fighting though, stealing the second match 14-21.

The third match was back and forth, but the Tritons managed to come through to win the set 15-13.

Sophomores Katie Arnette and Emily Carpenter had the flightclinching win to secure the Triton’s first win of the season. The pair worked very efficiently together, winning their matches 21-13 and 21-15.

Arnette said that the team has worked hard to learn the game, and getting the first win of the season was a nice way to see the payoff.

“It’s fun to show our classmates what we’ve been working on,” Arnette said.

Assistant Coach Pri Lima echoed what Arnette had to say about the team’s success. The assistant coach has been impressed with how quickly the team has caught onto the game, and looks forward to

seeing the progress of the athletes.

“What gives us the most satisfaction is seeing the girls using what they have learned,” said Lima.

The final two sets of the game went Webber’s way. Freshmen Gabriella Reis Guimaraes and Madison Whiting fought back to win the second match 21-13 after losing the first 11-21. Webber rallied to come back and win the third 9-15.

The pair of Senior Ali McAlvany and Junior Tjasa Kotnik looked unsure of themselves in the first match, dropping it 10-21. Once the pair found their rhythm, they were able to recover and force a third match with a 21-18 win in the second. The final match was tight until Webber pulled away at the very end to win 12-15.

The second duel of the doubleheader was handily taken by Webber, with Eckerd going 1-4 in the flight.

Even with the overall split on the day, the Tritons were pleased with the day as a whole. The team was excited to see such a warm reception from the students on the first home competition in program history.

Head Coach Michelle Piantadosi said that she was so excited for the

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Sophomore Emily Carpenter hits off a pass from fellow Sophomore Katie Arnette in their two match win.

day, she could hardly sleep the night before.

“I’m happy with the support and encouragement from the students,” Piantadosi said.

Coach Lima added that the students truly made the team feel at home.

“Nobody can beat our background,” Lima said as she gestured out to the blue skies and palm trees lining South Beach and Kappa Field.

Eckerd’s next home duels will be a double header on Mondaay April 6 at 2 photo by Dominick Cuppetilli p.m. and 4 p.m. Junior Tjasa Kotnik attacks the ball in her first match of the day.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Senior Jordan Trimble and Freshman Savanna Cary remained the only pair to go undefeated in both duels.

Senior Theo Brunner leaves legacy for basketball program

By Christina Rosetti Asst. Sports Editor

Senior Malcolm Brunner Jr., more commonly known as Theo around campus, has been the face of the men’s basketball team for the last four years. His leadership on the court and resilience off the court has made him a model student-athlete.

The Georgia native began playing basketball in seventh grade but did not become a star overnight. Brunner was cut from his middle school basketball team.

Instead of giving photo by Dominick Cuppetilli up on the sport Senior Theo Brunner ranks second in points this season. he loved, Brun-

ner practiced everyday to improve his skills until he made the team.

“I promised myself I would never get cut from any team again,” Brunner said. “I worked hard everyday to make sure that I would make every team.”

It wasn’t until his sophomore year in high school that Brunner set a goal of playing college basketball. For him, the recruiting process was simple. Brunner was looking at several Division I schools but all it took was a visit to Eckerd College for him to make up his mind.

“I’m from a small town so I wanted to be a part of a school where I felt it was a family,” Brunner said. “I fell in love with Coach Ryan and the team and the atmosphere of the school.”

Upon arrival at Eckerd in 2011, the 6-6 forward made an early impact on the basketball program. Following 29 appearances his freshman year, Brunner became a regular starter during his sophomore campaign as a Triton.

He finished his sophomore season leading the team in blocks and ranking second in rebounds.

In his junior year, Brunner was named to the 2014 Spring Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll while posting

four double-doubles. He also finished top 10 in the SSC in rebounds with 204, averaging 6.6 per game.

Despite suffering an injury during spring training last year, Brunner battled back to get healthy for his senior season. This year he ranked first on the team in threepoint percentage, rebounds and blocked shots. Brunner would go on to finish his career ranking second all-time in blocks for the men’s basketball program.

“Being a Triton means honor, respect, family, and love,” Brunner said. “Not everyone has the opportunity to put on an Eckerd College jersey but for the selected athletes that do, they should take pride in wearing it.”

Though the Tritons did not have their most successful season this year, Brunner was a key player during three winning seasons and two NCAA Division II South Regional Championship appearances throughout his career.

“He was not only a leader on the court but he has always tried to set an example off the court as well,” Junior Jerrick Stevenson said. “His hard work and intensity sometimes spoke for itself.”

During his four years at Eckerd, Brunner was named Mr. Tri-

ton in 2013 and has been active in the sports community. But his biggest feat has been continually overcoming adversity.

“Theo has had to deal with more than any student athlete or coach for that matter should have to deal with,” Head Coach Tom Ryan said.

“The way he has handled it has been amazing and the support he has received from his teammates as well as the entire Eckerd community has been tremendous.”

After suffering several losses of those close to him, Brunner redirected his focus on playing in honor of his loved ones.

“My faith in God is what really helped me maintain a positive attitude,” Brunner said. “Also my family, coaches, teammates and friends helped out a lot. Knowing you have support like that is very important.”

Following in the footsteps of two former players on the team, Darrien Mack and Lance Kearse, Brunner looks to continue his basketball career overseas after graduation.

“He has a tremendous desire to succeed,” Head Coach Tom Ryan said. “Once he gets his plan together I believe he can accomplish anything because he will do whatever it take to reach his goals.”

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