Volume 6, Issue 9 by The Current

Vol. 6, Issue 9 March 6, 2015

Eckerd, Bon Appétit expand dining options

VIEWPOINTS

Educate yourself on sex slave trafficking— page 6.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Museum of Fine Arts celebrates their 50 year anniversary — page 11.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY photo courtesy of Michael Aquaro A biscuit Dub box caters to the general public in Seattle.

By Bryan Arnott News Editor Eckerd’s dining environment is being revamped with the expected addition of two new food trucks, formally known as Dub boxes, set to roll onto campus in the near future.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Dub boxes should arrive on campus the second week of April, according to Regional Manager for Bon Appétit Michael Aquaro. One of the Dub boxes will serve as a regular food truck featuring a rolling menu. When holidays like

Cinco de Mayo call for specialized food menus, like burritos or tacos, these Dub boxes will be able to change their menu around to cater to it. The other Dub box is slated to be a picnic box. It will be open for breakfast and lunch, specializing in a menu of biscuits, sandwiches and

other finger foods. These mobile food trucks will be able to travel all around campus without the use of fuel. They are light-weight enough that a golf cart is able to drag them around and place them where they would like it to go.

See Food Trucks, page 3

Winter Term, Spring Break conduct explained

By Chelsea Duca News Editor

Spring Break is approaching and many Eckerd students are preparing for service-learning trips. Eckerd offers many opportunities for students to study abroad, and for those who are able to take advantage of these opportunities, it is important to make the most of them. In order to participate in a spring break trip, students complete a formal application with short essay questions, then the selected student leaders and the faculty leaders for each trip go over the applications and make the final decisions. Americorps Service-Learning Intern Chris Higgins said that if you are not accepted to your first choice trip, your application is then considered by the trip leaders of your second and third choices. Winter Term applications are handled in a similar fashion, though Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students James Annarelli said that the selection process for Winter Term is more formal. According to Director of International Education Diane FerPlease INDEX: Recycle

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ris, when students apply to study abroad, they must sign a certification of conduct that allows the Dean’s office to release certain conduct information. Annarelli said that this information is released directly to the Office of International Education. The Office of International Education and Ferris report directly to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Suzan Harrison. But because issues that might arise abroad are inherently tied to student life issues, Annarelli often works closely with Ferris on Winter Term trips. Since faculty leaders choose the students for their trips, Ferris feels that the conduct report is important for them to see during the application process. That way, if they have any concerns they can speak with the student or check their file. Certain transgressions can prevent a student from being accepted to a trip, but a clean record does not always ensure that a student’s conduct will be exemplary while abroad, and if a behavioral issue occurs on a trip, a student may be sent home.

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Depending on the situation, leaving the trip might only be the first level of discipline. “If an individual is sent home for disciplinary reasons, in some cases the forfeiture of the trip is, in itself, the penalty,” Annarelli said. “If the behavior is egregious and serious, then it would be followed by a separate community standards process. But we would try not to duplicate penalties in fairness to the student.” Because they will not have the benefit of convening a committee, students must sign a statement of responsibility, in which they waive their right to appeal and acknowledge that any decisions and penalties regarding their behavior are entirely within the prerogative of the faculty leader. Ferris believes that alcohol is the number one risk for Eckerd students abroad, and she thinks that they need to be more aware of the cultures surrounding them. “I think our students have an incredible amount of independence and freedom on this campus,” Ferris said. “And I think sometimes they lose sight of the fact that really, this is a little bubble, and when

SCIENCE & TECH. 9-10

A & E 11-12

you get out there you cannot necessarily behave in the same ways.” Not all students who are sent home are penalized, though. “Students could return home for any number of reasons,” Annarelli said. “I don’t want anyone to assume that everyone who was sent home early was being punished.” Students may also come home due to illness. In order to better keep students safe, anyone studying abroad is required to fill out a self-disclosing medical form covering contact information, general health and wellbeing and specific medical history or conditions. “This is so important. This could be life and death if students don’t disclose,” Ferris said. “This is probably one of the most important pieces of paperwork anyone could sign.” According to Ferris, Eckerd also protects students who are studying abroad as part of any of the college’s programs under an insurance policy through Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators, Inc. (EIIA), at no extra cost to the students.

©Komienko/Dollar Photo Club

Learn about the fair labor efforts of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers — page 9. SPORTS

See how the women’s basketball team did on Senior Night — page 16.

See Study Abroad, page 4

HEALTH & FITNESS 13-14

SPORTS 15-16

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

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the current

March 6, 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

Multimedia Manager Gary Furrow Jr. currentvideo@eckerd.edu

Social Media Coordinator Marissa Meleedy

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

Prepare for Springtopia

Have a pint with your professor

Springtopia is approaching fast. A drag show, Spring Ball, National Concert, an ale tasting, Relay for Life, Bulls@*t Ballet, Mr. Triton, EC Carnival and more are all coming up from April 10 through May 8.

The Flush

Come to the pub for an evening of relaxed conversation with professors and alumni. Pitchers with Professors is being held on March 6 at 4:30 p.m. at the Reason about ethics pub. CPS Event

Save the date for Spring Ball The Flush

Spring Ball is on April 11. The theme this year is black and white. Save the date and get ready.

Dance a marathon with Her Campus The Flush

Join Eckerd faculty Anthony Brunello (Political Science), Daniel Spoth (Literature), Liza Conrad (Biology) and Max St. Brown (Economics) to discuss whether ethics are reasonable at a CPS event sponsored by the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College (ASPEC). The event will take place on March 11 at 7 p.m. in the Triton Room.

Online registration for the Eckerd College Dance Meet a famous environmental activist Maraton has begun. Her Campus is planning the CPS Event event on March 28 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day. Registration can be done online on the dance maraSpend an evening with environmental activist Vanthon Facebook page. dana Shiva. Shiva is a prominent Indian author and environmental activist known for writing over 20 Watch a movie with ECQSA books. She will be speaking about making peace with The Flush the earth on March 9 at 7 p.m. in Fox Hall. Eckerd’s Queer-Straight Alliance is screening “(A) sexual,” a documentary about those who do not ex- Submit your art to Every Student An Artist perience sexual attraction, on March 13 at 7 p.m. on The Flush the lawn in front of Fox Hall. Drinks and pizza will be Museum Lab Class is now accepting submissions provided. for the Every Student An Artist show. The theme is Earth. Submissions are due by April 1. Send digital Vote for your ECOS officers copies of art such as photos, paintings and sculptures The Flush to whtucker@eckerd.edu along with an artist stateECOS officer candidates have started campaigning. ment of no more than 100 words. Voting for next year’s ECOS officers begins on March 9 at 9 a.m. and ends on March 13 at 12 p.m. Baseball to play at home Triton Calendar

Annual marine yard sale returns Email from Tom Scherberger

Support Eckerd’s baseball team and spend an evening at a game. The baseball team is playing home The 29th annual Eckerd College marine yard sale games versus Saint Thomas University on March 9 at 5 will be held on March 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the p.m., versus Thomas University on March 10 at 6 p.m. and versus Ave Maria University on March 18 at 6 p.m. Waterfront. All proceeds will support EC-SAR.

FRI

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

Study Abroad applications due. Applications for The Current are due.

SAT

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

SUN

Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Ferris State University, home, 11 a.m.

MON

The Current meeting, upstairs Cobb 7 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Merrimack College, home, 2 p.m.

CPS: Making Peace Women’s Tennis, with the Earth, Fox Baseball, Thomas Ferris State Univer- Hall, 7 p.m. University, home, 6 p.m. sity, home, 11 a.m. Baseball, Saint Thomas University, home, 5 p.m.

Men’s and Men’s Sailing, InThe Current meetWomen’s Tennis, tersectional, all day ing, upstairs Cobb Bentley University, 7 p.m. home, 10 a.m. Men’s Sailing, Intersectional, all day

TUES

Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Southeastern Oklahoma University, home, 11 a.m.

WED

THURS

CPS: Is Ethics Rea- Men’s and Womsonable?, Triton en’s Tennis, West Chester University Room, 7 p.m. of Pennsylvania, Women’s Tenhome, 3 p.m. nis, University of Charleston West Virginia, 3 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Bluefield State College, home, 1 p.m.

Men’s Tennis, Florida Institute of Technology, home, 1:30 p.m.

Baseball, Ave Maria University, home, 6 p.m.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

the current

March 6, 2015

News

News ECOS candidate platforms Jack Layden for President • Believes the most important goal is to continue the communication between students and administration. Has a great relationship with the Student Affairs staff which will help in finding a solution to students’ problems with the administration. • Another goal is to continue the integration of the new software that is taking ECOS paperless. • “My primary project is to do a full renovation of the fire pits. I have a firepit swing set already priced out and ready to launch at South Beach.”

Erik Robinson for President

• Plans to increase pressure on divestment from oil companies. • Plans to increase allocation towards green programs. • Aims for greater information flow between ECOS, faculty and students: “If elected president I am choosing to be accountable for the things I say I am going to do. I would like to have a weekly update through a media outlet source (the current) where students can get up-to-date information regarding progress and new ventures.” • “Brady has been president for multiple terms - I believe he did extremely well and I want to make sure this position is carried forward in a similar manner.”

Spencer Gradley for Vice President • • • • • •

Plans to install Bluetooth EC-public speakers in the GO Pavillion. Plans to mount bells on the yellow bikes to increase local awareness. Plans to continue to grow our reintroduced EC Olympics events. Plans to improve effectiveness of senators on campus and dorm life. Plans to introduce a swing-set on South Beach. “I do hope to increase the performance and presence of ECOS Senate and their influence on the lives of our students. They are the local leaders we see everyday and they have great potential for creating change and making favorable decisions on campus.”

Claire Russell for Vice President of Academic Affairs • “Last year ECOS spent $3,700 to pay a company to create the Eckerd College Discount Cards. This year I did the work myself and with the help of the wildly talented Isabel Arnold we produced the cards for $186, saving ECOS $3,514.” • Wants to build a committee who will be active in helping to choose our speakers and run events. • Has a connection with the Jane Goodall Institute and hopes to be able to get Ms. Goodall to come and speak next year.

By Bryan Arnott News Editor The Feb. 22 ECOS Senate meeting started at 7:02 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. New senators were announced: Isar Wadhwa from Epsilon, Lindsay Desmarais from Gamma and Abby Sanchez from West Lodge. New clubs were approved. The Joe Grimpa club, coffee house club, frolf club, jam sesh club, ECcoed softball club, Latino Unidas club and EC Empty Bowls club were all approved. Sports teams were ranked in

From Food Trucks, page 1

“We can put it out at Galbraith,” President Donald Eastman said, “[we can put it] out on South Beach, we could put it in front of a basketball game, we could put it in front of McArthur.” Both of these trucks will be fitted with equipment that allows Bon Appétit to change and vary the menu. This is a far cry from the current dining experience and is one of the driving forces behind implementing these trucks. Triton’s Pub is the most notable place on campus for their stagnant menu. “Our Dub box being built right now is equipped to do things, not only like the biscuit box concept,” Aquaro said, “but also have different types of sausage and kielbasa, different sandwiches and we would have the flexibility to do kegs of rootbeer and, for certain events, we could do actual beer.” The food will be prepared in Eckerd’s main cafeteria and shipped to the truck before it opens -- much like how the pizza truck currently operates. “One of the biggest drivers, in terms of what we offer, comes from student feedback,” Aquaro said. “We would love to be able to have students help us determine what menus we feature, at what various times during the day, as well as location.” ECOS President Brady O’Donnell hopes that the Center for Campus Solutions can help determine the menus these trucks will feature. “As we get more information in regards to what are the options

order of most attended to least attended. Men’s Rugby and Men’s Basketball came in at one and two, respectively. Senate decided on March 28 as the next date for the Dorm Olympics. The event will be dodgeball. The March 1 ECOS Senate meeting started at 7:05 p.m. and ended at 7:41 p.m. Shirt counts for Dorm Olympics were taken. Rules were created for Dorm Olympic dodgeball game. Up to $20 approved for a universal remote in Zeta common lounge. that Bon Appétit is considering,” O’Donnell said, “ECOS will develop a survey to get students’ input on what’s our top priorities -- whether that’s sushi, pre-made burritos or different types of sandwiches.” O’Donnell also pointed out that students who would like to contribute ideas to these surveys may contact any member in ECOS’ executive council. Dub boxes begin at $20,000 and can cost as much as $35,000, according to Aquaro. Bon Appétit considers the Dub boxes as investments towards the dining service account, and so they are being provided to the collegewithout cost to the college, according to Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students James Annarelli. Students may be able to gain employment through these trucks. There are some students who currently work for the catering department with Bon Appétit and the pizza truck on campus. “I think this would be a great opportunity to provide some parttime employment for students,” Aquaro said. “Especially with the fact that we foresee the hours of operation needing to be flexible.” The stationary pizza truck outside of the cafeteria will stay there until Bon Appétit and Eckerd find a different location from which to serve the wood-fired pizza. “The main drivers for all of this, in terms of Dub box, is to be able to provide students with a dining experience, when they need us to be there, and where they need us to be there, with the right product,” Aquaro said.

Emily Law for Vice President of Financial Affairs

• “I aim to efficiently direct ECOS spending while also effectively representing the student body’s voice for financial transactions.” • “I am excellent at balancing work, school and extra-curricular activities. I have maintained a leadership role in the EC Tritones for the past year. I also feel as though I would bring the female perspective into ECOS, for women have been underrepresented in the executive branch for the past two years.” • “One of my goals as VPFA is holding monthly forums to discuss how we can improve ECOS spending.” • Wants to improve meal-plan spending. This includes possibly working with local restaurants so that students could use meal swipes or flex dollars off campus.

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com

photo courtesy of Michael Aquaro The conceptual design for one of the new Dub boxes.

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March 6, 2015

Families celebrate Chinese New Year Read Staff Writer Riley Huff’s article online at www.theonlinecurrent.com.

A. President Eastman and Dean Annarelli cut the ribbon at the pet park’s grand opening. Photo by Cypress Hansen. B. Students decorate bamboo pots at the Chinese New Year festival. Photo by Cypress Hansen. C. Students participate in a mental demonstration by the “Mentalist Mind Reading Duo” The Evasons. Photo by Cypress Hansen.

D. Family members enjoy a boat tour of Eckerd’s coastline. Photo by Spencer Yaffe.

D From Study Abroad, page 1

Annarelli said that the EIIA provides comprehensive coverage for students abroad, which includes benefits like medical evacuation for students with serious health challenges. “It’s a set of benefits and a level of coverage that really allows the college to feel quite comfortable,” Annarelli said. When an emergency comes up on a trip abroad, Ferris notifies EIIA of the situation, then puts them in contact with the faculty leader on the trip. She mentioned that a couple of years ago, a student was hospitalized on a trip, and EIIA helped fly her home. “If you call and you tell them you’re from Eckerd College and you have a student in ‘x’ country, they don’t wait for you to explain anything, they start asking you questions because they’re so ready,” Ferris said. According to Annarelli, the college has contacts all over the world. If a student gets sick in another country, Annarelli said that he and Ferris contact their agents in that country to get the student access to the best facilites. Before they leave for Winter

Term, Ferris makes sure that faculty leaders are equipped with certain essentials so that they are prepared for an emergency. They carry an international cell phone, and students and their parents are given that number. Faculty also have Ferris’s office, cell and home phone numbers. Additionally, they have recently started carrying an encrypted thumb drive with copies of the students’ passports, emergency contact sheets and medical releases. Faculty also bring hard copies of these documents in case they cannot access the thumb drive. For Spring Break trips, Higgins said that groups that are in remote locations are provided with a satellite phone so that they can contact service-learning staff. No matter how prepared the college and faculty may be, Annarelli believes that it is essential for students to take precautions of their own and exercise good judgement. “I think it’s important for any member of an Eckerd group, student, faculty or staff, to be familiar with local culture and custom and to always bear in mind that we are guests in that country,” Annarelli said. Ferris would also like to see students taking an active role in main-

taining their own safety, noting that students should feel free to contact faculty or staff at any time -- day or night -- with any issues. “For any of us, it is no inconvenience,” Ferris said. “Our main thing is safety and security.”

As long as safety remains the top priority, Annarelli wants all students to have the opportunity to study abroad. “It’s important for students to understand that their citizenship on campus has a direct relation

to their ability to partake in these wonderful experiences,” Annarelli said. “We would love to see 100 percent of our students study abroad, but also to represent themselves and us as a college community in the best possible way.”

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Senior Dom Cuppetilli waters plants on the Southeast Asia Winter Term in January 2015.

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March 6, 2015

Viewpoints 5

Viewpoints

Bon Appétit makes steps towards sustainability By Derek Bedami Contributing Writer On Feb. 17, Eckerd’s food management company, Bon Appétit, and the Office of Sustainability held a College Program Series (CPS) event to champion the company’s sustainable practices. Prior to the event, emails and pamphlets were spread around to the student body, characterizing the company as a “national leader in sustainability.” Along with this notion of environmental stewardship, the pamphlets represented the event with images of free-roaming cows on lush pastures waiting for their nectar to be released from their udders, and a middle-aged white woman peacefully harvesting radishes. Based on company’s pamphlets, I was eager to learn about the commitments and policies that the company had devised to meet their national reputation. Unfortunately, I quickly found myself disappointed. The event was led by Senior Fellow for the Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation Nicole Tocco. She originally studied business but later became more interested in environmental issues, obtaining her Ph. D from Duke University in Environmental Management. “I wanted to work for a company that was large enough to have a big impact, but that was genuine in their efforts to support sustainability,” said Tocco in reference to why she started working for Bon Appetit.

Tocco outlined the company’s “Farm to Fork” program. She stated that the program was established in 1999, the initiative is simple: the company requires that all kitchens must purchase 20 percent of their ingredients from local farms. It’s important to clarify what the company defines as local. For a farm to meet their “local” requirement, it must make less than 5 million in sales annually and be within 150 miles from the kitchen. That’s roughly as far north as Gainesville, and as far south as Naples from Eckerd’s campus. The company claims that this commitment originated as a quest for “fresher” ingredients and later became a political act. “In search for the freshest, besttasting ingredients, Bon Appétit chefs have always purchased produce, meat and artisan-made goods locally,” Bon Appétit’s website said. This is a bold statement considering that only 20 percent of the food purchased is supposedly local, according to their definition. This small percentage brings to light questions about why the amount of local food used by the company has not increased over the past 16 years and where the remaining 80 percent of the food comes from. Tocco also addressed the issue of animal welfare and the company’s response to it. She outlined the company’s policy of 100 percent certified, cage-free shell

photo by Hannah Hamontree Freshman Kyle Mathews opens refrigerator door at the Pub to drinks filled with additives and preservatives.

eggs. What this means in simple terms is that the eggs that come to them in-shell, rather than precracked, are from chickens that are not confined to battery cages (cages that share divider walls and form rows and columns, similar to

a battery’s cells). Tocco explained that these are cages that the chickens are confined to that are hardly larger than the birds themselves. Additionally, the suppliers must be certified by a strict animal welfare organization such as Animal Wel-

fare Approved. As stated in Tocco’s presentation, Bon Appétit has also vowed to purchase all pre-cracked eggs from third-party verified humane sources by the end of 2015. See Bon Appetit, page 7

Drug administration explained through the history of the drug war By Max Curtis Contributing Writer Florida’s proposed Amendment Two, which failed to pass the required 60 percent voter approval by about two percent in November 2014, would have changed Florida’s constitution to decriminalize medical marijuana. Nationally, many states have passed legislation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana. There is a lot of public debate about drug legislation today and many are arguing against drug prohibition altogether. This debate is more than necessary. It is painfully obvious how counterproductive the War on Drugs is. The “War on Drugs,” as it is popularly defined, has been roaring ever since former president Nixon declared drug abuse to be “public enemy number one.” Although drug prohibition has been around since 1914, it became very serious in the 1970s and ‘80s. Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to specifically enforce drug prohibition through executive order in 1973. Many believe that drug prohibition is logical, because drug addictions have the potential to lead to crime and drug use. Using scare tactic rhetoric and militant words, former president Ronald Reagan used his popularity to influence public opinion in his favor. “Drugs are menacing our society. They’re threatening our values and undercutting our institutions. They’re killing our children,” Reagan said in his 1986 Address to the Nation on his campaign against drug abuse, ramping up the war on drugs significantly. Emcee for rap group Public Ene-

courtesy of Hannah Hamontree The failure to pass Amendment Two has brought about a rise in drug awareness.

my and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chuck D gave a lecture in Eckerd’s Fox Hall on Feb. 25. Public Enemy is considered one of the first black political and socially conscious hip hop groups, and has been immensely influential to this day. Chuck D mentioned COINTELPRO, the infamous FBI program that systematically oppressed the civil rights movement though misinformation, intimidation, infiltration and even assassination. He compared this draconian operation to the ‘prison-industrial complex’: the privatization of prisons, profit-driven policy to increase the prison population and its relationship with new school hip hop that promotes lifestyles of crime and greed. He pointed out that the U.S. has the largest incarceration population out of any nation. Chuck D, who grew up in the era he defines as ‘R&B’ (Reagan and Bush), had a lot to

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say about the War on Drugs. “All I know is that the War on Drugs in the 1980s decimated black communities and black cities so bad that we are still trying to figure out two generations later what happened,” he said. “There was a momentum of black thought in the ‘70s, but [the drug war] was probably one of J. Edgar Hoover’s, last closing notes on figuring the beginning design on how to ruin any chance for the so called ‘Black Messiah’ that they feared.” He clearly understands the widespread crippling social impacts on minorities from the War on Drugs, and the motivation the federal government had for this outcome. The ‘deals’ Chuck D is talking about are a part of the theory that the CIA assisted in cocaine trafficking for Reagan’s administration to indirectly and covertly fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua against the governing commu-

nists. He believes that the government did this with the intention of destroying the black community. In 1985-87, Reagan was surrounded by the ‘Iran-Contra’ affair; the military was caught covertly selling weapons to Iran to release hostages and using the money to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua. It was an international embarrassment and it exposed the morally questionable tactics that National Security Council (NSC) members exercised. It is speculated that they also worked with drug traffickers to raise more covert money for the rebels and other black operations. The Reagan administration’s questionable means for ends is what has driven the belief that the CIA helped foster the crack epidemic. No solid evidence exists that makes a direct connection though. It is all circumstantial. Today, we still see the legacy of drug prohibition efforts in low

income neighborhoods across America. Lucrative black market activities will always be a last resort for those who are struggling to make financial ends meet, especially when the profit margin is high. Attacking supply without changing the level of demand for drugs, the government facilitated an incredibly profitable black market. Our policies for reducing demand are laughable, and largely ineffective in my own experience. We need to completely rethink drug prohibition. After many years, trillions of dollars spent and millions incarcerated, we have made little progress in ending drug use and addiction. Drugabuse.gov states that 35 percent of high school seniors used marijuana in 2014. Just glancing at their graph of high school marijuana use in the past 20 years reveals very little change. Today, over 50 percent of inmates are in prison for drug-related charges. Some are serving life sentences for trafficking marijuana. This cannot be seen as justice. While marijuana use might not be inherently deadly, its side effects have the potential to lead to serious medical issues. Alcohol use is proven to be more dangerous. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 88,000 people lose their life to alcohol related activities, making it “the third leading preventable cause of death annually.” We are a nation that boasts a patriotic belief that we are free, yet we cannot even choose what we do with our own bodies, including what drugs we can or cannot ingest. Approaching drug addiction as a medical issue and not a criminal activity is the first step towards progress.

6 Viewpoints

the current

March 6, 2015

Greek prime minister’s economic policies questioned By Ben Goldberg Contributing Writer Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is coming under fire from both the left and the right on both a domestic and international level for his economic policies. Despite this, he is one of the most responsible global leaders today, and his unpopular policies may just save Greece and the Euro altogether. Over just the past few days, Greece has announced a series of policies trying to find a middle ground between two hard-line positions. The BBC has released the following key points of the proposal: combat tax evasion; tackle corruption; introduce collective bargaining, stopping short of raising the minimum wage immediately, tackle Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” with housing guarantees and free medical care for the uninsured unemployed, with no overall public spending increase; reduce the number of ministries from 16 to 10, cutting special advisers and fringe benefits for officials. As far as this plan goes, I think that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) should be

happy with far worse; the fact that Greece’s budget would still be accruing a surplus, compared to the half-trillion dollar deficit the United States runs, is amazing to me. It sounds as if the IMF’s head, Christine Lagarde, still wants to see even higher yields from the country. That demand is reckless. A day after Greece announced its tentative plan, the country erupted into riots proclaiming that the people had been sold out by Tsipras, reports the Financial Times. While this is, by my eyes, a harsh overstatement, he certainly has gone back on his campaign promises. The important thing to note, though, is that he has done so in the most responsible and well meaning way possible: he is trying to balance governmental fiscal workability with citizen benefits. The global recession of 2008 hit Greece especially hard, and the country was nearing bankruptcy. The dominant political power at the time, an overtly conservative group, sought out loans from both the IMF and ECB. Both organizations were happy to loan Greece the money under the condition that Greece implement austerity, a drastic policy directive which aims to bring in higher tax revenue while decreasing spending.

Social benefits were slashed, wages were cut and thousands of businesses permanently closed their doors. Over four years, Foreign Policy reports, unemployment jumped from a mere seven percent all the way up to 25 percent. The public was outraged. It is from this political and economic maelstrom that Tsipras was able to secure the favor of his people. The bailout of the now ousted conservatives that the IMF and the ECB set forth had the stipulation that there was to be a tax surplus of three percent of Greece’s GDP. This surplus was the product of the very policies that Tsipras promised to overturn. Under his new budget, Greece’s surplus was expected to be, at most, half of the previously agreed upon value. Combining that with the fact that the previous bailout is slated to end within the next week or so, a new agreement needs to be struck. Domestically, the U.S. often has budgetary issues as well. We’ve had multiple government shutdowns in the past few years, which, although they cost billions in productivity, didn’t much affect the average citizen. If the U.S. was in Greece’s position, though, not finding a solu-

tion would render every American powerless. The U.S. dollar would have as much use as a flex dollar does off-campus. This is the level of importance surrounding Greece’s financial future. As needlessly controversial as the topic may be for the U.S., the promise of raising the minimum wage in Greece was one of the largest factors that led to the resounding victory of Tsipras in last month’s elections. The Huffington Post, which followed Tsipras’s campaign, said that it focussed on the promise of raising wages and restoring spending in vital social safety nets. Having only come to power one month ago, though, he has been unable to address these problems. Unfortunately, he may not have a chance to do so for many months; Greece is bankrupt, and unlike the United States, it has virtually no credit. This dilemma isn’t one that has taken Greece by surprise. It has been looming on the horizon for the better part of a decade. One of the largest obstacles to Greece’s resolution of this crisis is unequivocally Germany. Reuters explains that as the strongest economy in the eurozone today, Germany wanted to ensure that Greece’s future budgetary plans would be

responsible, so as to protect the value of the euro. The current value of the currency is at its lowest point in over 12 years at just 1.13 euros per dollar, says Bloomberg. Prime Minister Tsipras’s promises and budgetary goals do not align with Germany’s plan for Greece. For the past month, all of the eurozone has been in a tense standoff over the future of Greece’s quartertrillion dollar bailout. Originally, Tsipras and his supporters wanted to stand by his proposed budget and campaign promises, even if it meant driving Greece into fiscal oblivion. The rest of his country and Europe as a whole wanted him to abandon his plans and to honor the fiscal responsibility of his predecessors. Tsipras’s citizen-oriented economic tough love doesn’t go unnoticed by ECOS Vice President of Financial Affairs sophomore Spencer Gradley, who sees a bright future with Tsipras and his new political philosophy. “I think this newly elected party can provide a lot more good for the nation. They should look toward this new group for leadership through and through,” he said. Hopefully when they reach an agreement, the people of Greece will also.

Stop sex trafficking with awareness By Hailey Escobar Online Editor

photo by Hannah Hamontree Red X marks a stop to human trafficking, raising awareness about the issue.

Growing up, I was always warned about being aware of the people I associated with or where I was. This was to ensure that I wouldn’t get into trouble, of course, but also to avoid kidnapping or, at worst, sex slavery. As I got older, the stories faded from my mind until I watched the film “Half the Sky.” The film follows reporters Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn along with different celebrity guests as they investigate different dangers that women face all over the world. The film has actress Meg Ryan traveling to Cambodia with Kristof, visiting victims of sex trafficking, as they try to readjust to normal life. At first, I expected to see girls my age, teenagers and young adults. I have never been so ashamed to be wrong. Littering the facility and the brothels, the film features girls who were 10, 11 and 12 years old with scars, brands and even missing limbs and eyes. The youngest survivor was only three. These horrors aren’t just restricted to distant countries. It also happens here in the U.S. In fact, in a 2014 study by the Polaris Project, the organization that is responsible for the National Human Traf-

ficking Resource Center Hotline, shows that Florida is one of the top areas in the U.S. for human trafficking. “Especially in Florida, dismantling underground human trafficking networks must become a top priority for law enforcement and community organizations,” senior Greg Johnson said. According to the Australian foundation Walk Free, which works to educate about modern slavery, there are approximately 35 million people enslaved around the world. That’s slightly less than the population of California. The victims of sex slavery are seen as nothing more than objects, a commodity to exploit as the demand rises. The low resources for these people, especially young girls in third world countries such as Cambodia, force families sell their daughters to brothels. They become goods for trade instead of human lives. But why should we care? Of those 35 million, only 5,042 cases were reported in the U.S. last year by Polaris and the Hotline. It’s a very small fraction. Eckerd students have the opportunity to travel the world and an atmosphere that encourages service in our community. We also happen to live in a port city where the fight

comes directly to our waters. We are in the position to help stop this crime. The first part of stopping this modern day slavery is raising awareness of both the issue and the situations that put people into these places. Along with putting a halt to the rings and traffickers that are responsible for the sale and distribution of these people around the world, the need for changing the way people think is extremely important. We need to help as a global community to rescue these people out of these situations and to have access to the resources they need. If you see anyone that might be a victim or perpetrator of sex slavery, you can call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Human Trafficking Hotline Resource Center: 1-888-373-7888. SMS: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”) Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST Department of Justice Trafficking and Exploitation 888-428-7581

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March 6, 2015

Florida lacks ban on LGBT discrimination By Timothy Lee Assistant News Editor LGBT people in 29 states, including Florida, can legally be fired from their job, denied rental of a house or apartment, or refused service at restaurants, hotels, retail stores and private hospitals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. In Florida, if an LGBT person accidently reveals in front of their homophobic boss that they have a same-sex partner, their boss can fire them. They have no legal recourse. If a transgender person’s potential landlord thinks having them in the apartment presents a bad image to the public, the landlord can simply refuse to rent to them. These are not just hypothetical examples of what might happen. These are the experiences of thousands of LGBT people throughout our nation’s history. For far too many LGBT people, particularly those who are transgender or intersex, this discrimination is the reality of their lives today. According to a 2011 research review conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute, as many as 43 percent of LGBT workers report some form of harassment or discrimination on the job, while as many as 17 percent report being fired or passed over for a job because they were LGBT. The same survey found that as many as 26 percent of transgender workers report having been fired because of their gender identity. This is not a result of LGBT people being paranoid.

PORTS

That research found that as many as 30 percent of heterosexual workers reported witnessing workplace discrimination against their LGBT coworkers. The existence of LGBT employment discrimination was also verified by a study published in 2011 in the American Journal of Sociology. That researcher sent out pairs of fake résumés in response to 1769 job postings across seven states. The résumé pairs were very similar, except that one gave the fake applicant experience working with an LGBT rights group in college, while the other gave him experience with a more socially-neutral nonprofit. In southern states like Florida and Texas that lack discrimination bans, the controls were two to three times as likely as the LGBT applicants to get a callback. Only in New York were the LGBT applicants as likely to get a callback as the controls. Unfortunately, with the recent Republican takeover of the senate, there is now a smaller chance than there has been for most of the last decade that an LGBT employment discrimination ban will be passed at the national level, particularly one that includes gender identity. Last year, many prominent LGBT rights groups pulled their support from the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act when lawmakers pressed forward a compromised version that banned employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, but not on gender identity. There is currently no federal

law protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing or public accommodations, nor are there any current efforts to introduce such legislation. Some states have been pushing back against recent LGBT rights victories by passing laws intended to reduce legal protections for LGBT people. Arkansas not only offers no state-level protections for its LGBT residents, but the state legislature recently passed a law preventing counties and cities from protecting their own LGBT residents. Closer to home, Florida state Representative Frank Artiles recently proposed a bill that would make using a bathroom designated for a gender other than that a person was assigned to at birth a misdemeanor. If this bill passed, transgender people could be fined up to $1,000 or spend up to a year in jail for using the public bathrooms that match their gender. We must not become complacent with our recent victories in marriage equality. Nor should we let the setbacks and challenges I have described dishearten us. We must continue to strive diligently toward a more just society. We must enact laws everywhere barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodations. Every qualified employee has a right to keep their job. Every respectful tenant has a right to rent any house or apartment they can afford. Every person deserves respect.

the current

photo by Peter Bouveron LGBT discrimination is prevalent despite recent social and legal progress.

SCORE BOARD

other issues that Bon Appetit From bon appétit page 5 has addressed and actions that According to Bon Appétit’s web- the company has taken so, there site, the company began follow- seemed to be an overall consising another animal welfare policy tency. The company realizes and in 2002, when they started using wants its customers to be edumilk and yogurt from cows that are cated about the issues within the not treated with rBGH. rBGH is food industry and I think this is a a growth hormone that causes an critical step if we are to achieve a array of medical issues with dairy truly sustainable and moral food cows. While this step is respectable, system. Additionally, the company there are no other policies indicated has taken honorable steps to lessen by the website that are in place to the system’s negative side effects. guarantee the welfare of dairy cows. “I think it’s impressive that It is important to understand they do care and they do try to the poor living conditions that make a difference,” senior Ginny these animals face without poli- Hamilton said. “Obviously not cies to safeguard their welfare. any company is perfect but they’re The company should take more definitely, I think, making an efactive steps to protect dairy fort to try to implement policies.” 31 vs. cows’ Jan. health and Florida well-being.Institute Regardless, I think there is a sigof Technology This is especially important if nificant gap between the reality of the company is going to portray L 65-72 the situation and the perception itself with pictures of cattle standing in open pastures with the sun that Bon Appetit tries to create. gleaming on their backs. This The company tends to exaggerate its efforts to benefit its reputadeliberate greenwashing ma- Atlantic Jan. 28 @ Palmand Beach nipulation is unacceptable, and the tion. It’s important as consumers W 70-59 company should retract all photos that we applaud their efforts, but and text that don’t correlate to the that we continue to be dissatisfied until the company can truly be actualJan. conditions of the situation. 24 vs. Barry University deemed a “leader in sustainability.” While Tocco discussed many L 44-53

Women’s Basketball

Jan. 21 @ Saint Leo University W, 52-45 Jan. 17 @ vs. Rollins College W 75-63 Jan. 14 @ Florida Southern College W 69-58 Jan. 10 @ Lynn University W 86-64

Viewpoints 7

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

Visit us online at www.theonlinecurrent.com in a row from beyond the arch giv-

From BASKETBALL, page 15

After

game

winning

ing the men’s squad a 31-23 lead. The Tritons were able to hold the lead, ending the first half up 38-34.

team when it was crunch time. Now we just need to work on on executing in those clutch moments

Men’s Basketball

promotional photo

8 Viewpoints

the current

March 6, 2015

Government censorship takes away freedom of expression

By Dan Whitely Columnist With the recent developments in France, and the “Je Suis Charlie” movement spreading, the balance of public safety and freedom of expression has once again come into question. This balance is one that has changed throughout contemporary times, especially in recent years when numerous occurrences of retribution where activists, journalists

and artists have been targeted with violence. Following these incidents, the topic of governments limiting some forms of expression so that public safety can be assured has arisen. It is easy to develop an opinion that there should be some sort of oversight in order to prevent these atrocious attacks, but this sentiment is reactionary. Freedom of expression, as a broad subject that encompasses speech, thought, art and press should only on the rarest of occasions be limited. Many countries, including the United States, have restricted freedom of expression in their past, but now most of the most developed democracies have very limited restrictions on freedom of expression as the world has increasingly become more connected.

While staunchly supporting unrestricted freedom of expression, I am not disillusioned by the idealism within the topic. I am well aware of instances in which governments, on rare occasions, must censor an individual in order to protect the public on an issue that pertains to national security. This has been exercised in the United States with journalists and news outlets, and has been done responsibly and serves as an example of censoring only in rare cases when public safety or national security could be compromised. Over Winter Term this past Jan. I visited Cuba with other classmates and witnessed first-hand government censorship of expression. This was immediately noticeable to our class and became more apparent as the trip continued. The

censorship in Cuba was jarring to many of us, especially upon learning the extent to which it was regular government policy. The insights into the squelched freedom of expression mainly came from the locals that we spoke to — not surprisingly due to the fact that our main source of propaganda and denial of any censorship came from our tour guide over the two-week period. With that experience of two weeks living in a country, where at times our class was wary of what we said to one another or who was around us when we would converse, I can affirmatively state that government censorship creates more harm than it prevents. From this first-hand experience, I am ardently in support of unrestricted freedom of expression. No person should have to live

in a society in which expression is stifled, or where artists live in fear or feel dissuaded to express their creativity. Many governments still to this day censor journalists, artists and the general population, and due to this, we must realize that taking steps to restrict expression can be a slippery slope. After restricting one aspect of expression, it becomes easier with every subsequent measure to ban other aspects. While public safety is of the utmost importance, it must not be built on the foundation of censorship. Freedom of expression, especially of press and speech, keep governments accountable for their actions and contribute to ensuring public safety through presenting the truth and kindling conversations that promote progress.

Government censorship could reduce the rise of cyberbullying

Corelle Rokicki Columnist Government interference is inevitable with a continuously growing population and advancement in technology, which has allowed for greater opportunity for violence and ultimately death. No longer do we fear mainly the government, but also each other just as much.

The constitutional amendments were created in the United States to ensure that the ‘land of the free’ wouldn’t be a continuation of government dictatorship, like it was under the British Monarchy before America’s independence. Yet, here we find ourselves in the 21 century debating whether or not the government should have the authority of censorship; although our first amendment states there’s a restriction on government censorship of speech and press. Whether or not the government should be given the freedom of censorship should be determined through case by case situations when the public’s safety becomes a risk factor. Bullying has always been a problem, and honestly, will probably always be one. We can’t help that there will

be people who think they’re better than others, or who feel better about themselves by putting others down. Cyberbullying in particular has become massive due to an increase in technological networking. Out of a new form of communication comes the governmental desire to control. This desire frustrates the public. Yet, our fear that the government simply wants to control who we are cannot impede the safety of others. Censorship has the ability to have a beneficial impact on bullying through limiting harassment opportunities through technology, but also by further spreading awareness. The press has become increasingly relentless, yet highly biased to the point of being malicious on the subject of censorship.

The press has an enormous influence on the public, which they are well aware of, and they are not above exploiting this influence to further their own prosperity. It’s almost as if we’ve come to a time where the press has lost it’s initial integrity, falling victim to the need to monopolize on everyone’s shortcomings. Nevertheless, Newton’s third law of motion holds as much truth in social situations as it does in physics: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” There needs to be an understanding that consequences will transpire from our negative actions, regardless of whether or not we believe we’re right. Despite that, specific censorship on slanderous works that go beyond normal opposition could

have a beneficial influence on the relationship between the press and the public. There will always be animosity and fear of the government because they’ll always have greater power than the average citizen. Such power can be exploited, and has been countless times through history. But, we’re coming upon an even more egalitarian time period, where we no longer just have animosity and fear of the government but also of each other. This increased hostility towards each other leaves governmental agencies with no choice but to increase restrictions in order to keep national, and global, unity. While there are obvious pros and cons to government censorship, it has its place in respect to the public’s safety.

PerspECtives: What are your Spring Break plans?

“For Spring Break, I’m on the baseball team so we really don’t have much free time for Spring Break. We’re competing against Lynn that weekend so I’m excited about that.” - Gardner Nutter, freshman

“Over Spring Break, hopefully my basketball team is going to be playing in the national tournament in Tennessee.” -Ashley Fyle, sophomore

“For Spring Break my family is coming down. My grandparents live in the area. We’re going to visit them and then I’m going to fly back with my brothers and sisters and going back to the twin cities where I’m from. Hopefully I’ll see some friends and family and bear the cold. I’m kind of homesick right now.” -Alex Burns, junior

“For Spring Break I have friends coming to visit. When they leave I’m heading to my grandparents house in Boca and then we’re going to Miami.” -Mo Marks, freshman

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March 6, 2015

Science & Technology 9

Science & TEchnology Tia Hildebrant investigates primate behavior

photo courtesy of Tia Hildebrant Tia Hildebrant worked with orangutans at the Center for Great Apes.

By Sarah Raney Science & Tech. Editor

Sophomore and Psychology and Anthropology double major Tia Hildebrant has been working with primates for many years. She will be working with Associate Professor of Psychology Lauren Highfill in the future. Although Hildebrant and Highfill are unsure when the research will begin, they will be working with the new baby gorilla at Busch Gardens, according to Hildebrant. With the help of Assistant Professor of Anthropology Ashley Humphries, Hildebrant is also leading a Spring Break Service Trip to The Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, and Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida, which she has worked with in the past. “The Center for Great Apes is a chimp and orangutan sanctuary,” Hildebrant said. “I want to look at their responses to different [environmental enrichment] objects, and that’s something that I did for my independent study over Winter Term with Save the Chimps.” Environmental enrichment is a process which provides stimulating environments for animals in zoos or on reserves to analyze their typical behavior and enhance their well-being, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Introducing objects is just one example of this process. While on the trip, Hildebrant wants to educate other students about the environmental issues that primates are facing, such as the bushmeat trade. In Africa, the forest is often referred to as the bush, and any meat from wildlife inhabiting it is called bushmeat. This term can refer to meat derived from primates to crocodiles, according to the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. Hildebrant is the President of the Comparative Psych Lab. Last year she worked at Myakka City Lemur Reserve in Manatee County. “We tested them with different novel objects, like chimes,” Hildebrant said. “We wanted to note their reaction, how engaged they were. Basically, we just looked to see what type of personality they had.” Hildebrant has also conducted similar studies with the Asian elephants at Busch Gardens. She loves animals and studying their behavior, but her passion is primates. Her favorite are chimpanzees, which has caused her to be nicknamed “Jane Goodall” by some of her friends, after the famous primatologist who studied chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania. “[Chimpanzees] are so similar to us, which is such a generic answer,” she said. “But when you get close to them, you can look in a chimp’s eyes, and you see yourself because you’re so connected to them.”

President Obama vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline bill By Christa Perry Staff Writer On Feb. 24, President Barack Obama vetoed the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, using his veto power for the third time in his presidency. The bill is now in the hands of Congress, who have to muster a twothirds majority vote to override the president’s veto. On Feb. 11, the House of Representatives voted 270 to 152 in favor of the XL Keystone Bill. The XL Keystone Bill passed the Senate in January with a 62-39 vote. Republicans who makeup the majority of both houses in Congress look to use their power to override the president’s veto. “The pipeline would be environmentally destructive and it would signal our continued reliance on fossil fuels,” Professor of Economics Jill Collins said. The Keystone XL Pipeline Project is a proposed crude oil pipeline that will begin in Hardisty, a town in Alberta, Canada, and end in Steele City, Nebraska according to the Keystone XL Pipeline website. The pipeline will extend 1,179 miles and will be 36 inches in diameter. The pipeline is thought to bring energy security to the United States as well as stability to the American economy but also great environ-

mental risk. “The pipeline goes through some of the most ecologically fragile ecosystems in our country,” ECOS Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility and Junior Alexandra Mezentsev said. “Although there are some valid arguments about why the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill should be passed, we have to stand up and now is our chance as environmentalists.” When operating, the pipeline will be able to transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to the Midwest and Gulf Coast Refineries, according to the Keystone XL Pipeline website. This will reduce American dependence on oil from the Middle East and Venezuela by close to 40 percent. Increase in oil supply could also decrease the cost of oil. An estimated 9,000 jobs would open up for men and women to work directly on the pipeline. According to the U.S. State Department’s Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, the project would support over 42,000 direct and indirect jobs across the nation. However, once the construction of the pipeline is completed, many of these jobs will be over. “The economic benefits, like open jobs, will only last as long as the construction lasts,” Sophomore

and Eckerd College Sustainability Board member Olivia Weed said. “Any project that has questionable environmental effects should be weighed very heavily against the economic benefits.” Collins believes that the pipeline’s effect on the economy will be minor. “There will be construction jobs temporarily, but it will really not be that much of an impact,” Collins said. “The pipeline would slightly increase global supplies, but not to the extent that it will keep oil prices low forever.” People who do not support the bill argue that the pipeline could have detrimental environmental impacts. Any spill could directly harm the 1,179 miles of natural resources the Keystone XL Pipeline extends through. The pipeline would run through the Ogallala Aquifer, an underground water resource located beneath the Great Plains. The aquifer is one of the world’s largest and underlies eight states (South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas). Any damage to the Ogallala Aquifer could have disastrous impacts on water collection and fragile ecosystems. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions could rise from oil

sand extraction in Canada as well as through the construction of the pipeline. “If this bill gets passed, we are essentially saying that alternative energy is not important and that it is okay to have fossil fuels,” Mezentsev said. “We need clean energy and if we stop this bill then I think we can start pushing for it.” Environmental damage and economic gain from the pipeline are on politicians’ minds. “Economics and potential monetary gain for the American economy hold a lot of weight in political decisions,” Weed said. “In this case it makes no sense to go through with the project for temporary jobs.” According to Collins, some proponents argue that the oil sands would be extracted and sent by rail instead of the pipeline if it’s not approved. In her opinion this would not happen because that would not be economically feasible. Rail transport is more expensive than pipeline, and the current low prices of oil do not justify the expense. Congress must gather a twothirds majority vote to override the president’s veto and will start this process in March. “This is an opportunity to show that we are serious about moving away from fossil fuels,” Collins said.

Environmental Film Festival highlights farmworker woes courtesy of Coalition of Immokalee Workers The Coalition of Immokalee Workers fights for farmworkers’ rights.

By Beau Maysey Staff Writer The Environmental Film Festival returned to Eckerd for its 17th run from Feb. 21 through 28. One of these films, “The True Cost of Agriculture: Food Chains,” focused on human rights and centers around the lives surrounding South Florida tomato growers and the abuse they receive in terms of payment and conditions. Later in the film, national and historical elements come into play, like Californian vineyard workers and past farmworker protests. Major players in the documentary include large grocery chains, especially Publix Supermarket, the Kennedy family and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). The CIW is a human rights activism organization centered around farmworkers and tackling human trafficking, gender-based violence and fair workplace compensation among other issues. In the past, the Immokalee area of central Florida has held its share of farmworker mistreatment and slavery, as pointed out by the film. They have only gained a small fraction of the profits, despite intense daylong labor in the fields. The suppliers for fast food restaurants, grocery stores and other major U.S. food chains dictate how much money the farmworkers receive. Typically, they get a yearly salary of $12,000, putting them well below the poverty line. Meanwhile, retailers rake in billions of dollars a year. To combat these workplace

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abuses, the CIW has been working on the Fair Food Campaign since 2013, which promises a workerretail partnership to benefit farmworkers, tomato growers and the businesses they supply. To do this, the organization has established educational sessions for workers, a third-party council for compliance and enforcement and adjusted policies at the farm level. In addition, the retailers involved are asked to pay a penny more to workers for each pound of tomatoes, and to refuse business from suppliers violating human rights policies. Some big names who have agreed to the Fair Food Campaign are Walmart, Whole Foods, McDonald’s, Chipotle, Burger King, Subway and Eckerd’s Bon Appétit. However, resistance to the Fair Food Campaign is still coming from specific supermarket chains, most notably Florida favorite Publix. While the coalition has worked tirelessly on agreements, protests and scheduled hunger strikes, Publix refuses to meet with workers. This plot runs through the entirety of the film “Food Chains,” and that may have left many Eckerd students disappointed or riled up. For those who missed the presentation during the film festival, the film is out now on iTunes, Amazon and in select local theaters. The Fair Food Campaign will be hosting a parade and concert on March 21 in downtown St. Petersburg. During the film festival, one of the directors of “Food Chains,” Sanjay Rawal, encouraged every-

courtesy of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers The CIW will be leading a march in St. Pete on March 21 against Publix, who still refuses to join the Fair Food Agreement.

one, including students, to get involved. “More than anything we want students to know they have a role in this, and we want them to join us,” he said. “We’re extending the invitation to each and every student to stand with us farmworkers and send a message to Publix that it’s time to

join the fair food network.” Sophomore Carly Olson agrees that changes need to happen. “I wasn’t previously aware of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, but I would definitely consider it a massive injustice, and perhaps even a form of modern day slavery, that needs to be addressed,” she said.

10 Science and Technology

By Sarah Raney Science & Tech. Editor On March 10 at 5 p.m. in the Office of Service-Learning, ServiceLearning Innovators Freshman Mathieu de Bruin and Senior Maya Carl will be leading an event focusing on the role of policy in enacting environmental change. “We’re trying to make people more aware of what’s going on from a policy standpoint, not just from the hands-on perspective,” de Bruin said.

graphic by Hannah Hamontree

By Ania Szczesniewski Asst. Science & Tech. Editor Got tuna? If you’re lucky enough to answer yes, I can guarantee your grandfather could have caught one that was not only healthier, but many sizes larger. Our inability to juggle commercialism with regard for the environment has been destroying the quality and quantity of this planet’s tuna supply. Maybe the most ridiculous part of our relationship with tuna is that we know we are putting poison in them, and yet we still eat them. Coal plants release smoke that contains mercury. It will condense and rain into the water in an even more toxic form called methylmercury. Iron mines also release methylmercury through the groundwater. Fish will then absorb this polluted water. Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency outlines

This event complements the spring cleaning events, which began on Feb. 25. The primary focus will be what can be done to make environmental changes, not just physically, but also politically. “We want to show that people can make a difference,” de Bruin said. “We also want to make people feel empowered and that what they’re doing is important,” she said. Carl and de Bruin also want to encourage involvement with Citi-

zens’ Climate Lobby, which has a branch here in St. Pete/Tampa. The organization promotes getting in contact with your local congressional representative and other political officials to make changes. “I’ve realized after taking the classes that I have taken that one of the really big ways to get things done and make changes is through policy,” Carl said. “Because those are the people with the most influence, the most affluence, and it’s important for us as college stu-

how the higher on the food chain a fish, the higher their mercury contamination because they ingest the mercury their prey has absorbed. This increase of mercury as one proceeds up the predatory levels is a process known as biomagnification. The more water pollution, the more our fish are polluted. It’s as simple as that. Tuna is at the top of its food chain and with a long lifespan of about 15 to 40 years, it has a lot of time to accumulate toxins from its polluted ecosystem. Organizations such as the Natural Resource Defense Council publish guidelines which recommend the frequency at which it is safe to eat certain fish, depending on your weight. Mercury poisoning can result in death, so it is vital that humans try ingesting minimal amounts. Typical symptoms include impaired vision, speech and hearing as well as lack of coordination. It takes less than a gram of mercury to result in death. Mercury thermometers are no longer used and the felt for top hats is no longer processed with mercuric nitrate for this reason.

The stark reality is that tuna is being fished to extinction. The same way the trapping industry of the 1800s nearly wiped America clean of beavers, history is repeating itself with the overfishing of tuna on a global scale. Bluefin tuna, arguably the most popular on the market, can be up to 1500 lbs and six to 10 feet in length. Japanese chef Jiro Ono of the famous sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten reminisces in the documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” of his days as a young chef going to the fish market to purchase colossal slabs of mature tuna. Nowadays the only options are specimens only a fraction of the size because all of the full grown tuna have been caught, and the ones that remain are being caught and sold at a much younger age. Even if regulations are set in place for established fisheries, there is widespread pirate fishing of the Atlantic bluefish tuna. Even the way in which we catch tuna is wreaking havoc on the environment. Fish aggregating device fishing (FAD) entails the use of man-made objects to attract

dents, as much as [we] as hippies don’t like to talk about politics and policies.” The event will be an hour, unless a hearty discussion causes it to run longer. There will also be food provided. Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP on a signup sheet in the Office of ServiceLearning, but it is not required. “It’s going to be very discussionbased,” Carl said, “so if you feel particularly strongly about an issue, bring that in.” marketable fish. The tuna industry has been known to partake in FAD fishing. The problem is FADs also attract other marine life that will not be sold, or bycatch. Those deaths are for naught. Another problematic fishing technique is bottom trawling, which uses a net to scrape along the seafloor to capture everything in its path. Yes, the target fish will likely be caught, but all other critters will also be caught, and entire communities can be left in shambles. Not to mention, by disturbing the sand, the water gets murky and disorients the lucky survivors who evaded the trawl. There is still much we don’t know about various tuna species and their lifestyles. If they disappear not only will a great reservoir of potential knowledge have been lost, but the ecological repercussions would be widespread. Next time you’re ordering, consider that, as CNN’s Emily Chang reports, China’s growing appetite for sushi alone could wipe out our world’s bluefin tuna population. Will your cravings contribute to this species’ demise?

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Service-learning promotes environmental change

photo by Hannah Hamontree Freshman Madison Frechette-Thibeault picks strawberries outside of Café Bon Appétit.

categories: “Best choice,” “Good alternatives” and “Avoid.” Bon Appétit only purchases green and yellow light quality. There are a variety of vegetarian and vegan options offered which they try to make as appealing as possible. “We have information in the caf about the health and environmental benefits of plant based proteins,” Tocco said. “It’s really tricky to not force that on people, but to make it more available.” Sophomore Sien Van de Wiele thinks there is a good array of vegetarian options, but they can still be improved. “I like the caf, but I feel like there are more unhealthy options than healthy ones,” she said.

drunk on

On Feb. 17, Eckerd held a College Program Series event on the sustainability of Café Bon Appétit called “The Story Behind the Food.” Bon Appétit Senior Fellow Nicole Tocco spoke at the event, which was sponsored by the Office of Sustainability. Since fall semester, there has been a growing response to student suggestions, which can be made online or on the cork board near the entrance of the caf. Bon Appétit General Manager Eric Foster and Campus Executive Chef Wren Forsythe are new this year. Also new this year is the food recovery program run by students to bring leftover food, which would have otherwise gone to waste, to the homeless. In 2009 Café Bon Appétit signed the Fair Food Agreement, a legally binding agreement to buy only Florida tomatoes from Fair Food Program certified growers. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a human rights organization that created the Fair Food Program to educate the public on farm labor exploitation. Agricultural employees are offered little protection under the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to the CIW’s website, the national

campaign “educates consumers on the issue of farm labor exploitation – its causes and solutions – and forges alliances between farmworkers and consumers that enlist the market power of major corporate buyers to help end that exploitation.” They hope to establish more humane labor standards for farm workers as well as fairer

wages. Bon Appétit is one of the companies that signed onto the agreement along with twelve other food service companies including McDonald’s, Whole Foods and Subway. The caf uses food from Eckerd gardens that have a stacked potting arrangement that allows water to be used more efficiently. Additionally, all of the ground beef is certified humane and is often bought from a small local farmer. The caf adheres to the Monterey Bay’s Seafood guidelines to buy more sustainable fish such as Cod (U.S.) which is usually from wellmanaged fisheries. The Monterey Bay Seafood Watch offers a traffic light system which separates seafood options into three color

Bon Appétit enforces sustainable policies

By Fiona Maguire Staff Writer

the current

March 6, 2015

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By Conor Sean McKenna Columnist At times, science may seem like a mysterious code that only the smartest can decipher. We don’t understand and choose to focus on the amazing results that it may provide. High expectations are what gives science value in some communities. Oftentimes these expectations are met, but without an immediate application to human use. We find an amazing scientific discovery on TV or the Internet and then we share it with our friends, family and together we celebrate. Scientists create a hovering skateboard and we may think, “Hooray! We all have hoverboards now!” Or scientists find a cure to a disease, and we might think this means the disease is cured. Sadly, this almost always isn’t the case. Scientists accomplished an impressive task, but this does not mean that it immediately affects the public. I admire published science articles which give realistic goals and dates to when their research can affect the public. There can be a number of reasons why scientific discoveries can’t reach the mass market. It could be from the scarcity of resources needed, the lack of funding or the amounts of approval needed by foundations and government regulations. This doesn’t mean we need to drop our expectations. Science should always bring hope and understanding. On the subject of hope and understanding, researchers led by Michael Farzan, an infectious disease specialist at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida, have created a new compound that has blocked HIV in monkeys well enough to be considered a vaccine against AIDS. I think we can agree: this is an incredible find and certainly meets our high expectations. HIV has proven to be one of the most threatening diseases because it brings our body’s defenses down so effectively. Our bodies use antibodies — white blood cells that neutralize viruses and bacteria — to defend against dangerous invaders. Antibody structure resembles a stem with three lobes. HIV attacks the cell between the lobes, preventing them from protecting our body while the virus multiplies inside. Farzan’s research used a protein, one that blocks all vulnerable lobes from HIV. This protein tricks HIV into thinking that it is attacking the cell, then it prevents the virus from multiplying. It can do this by changing the shape of the antibody so that HIV cannot attach onto the cell. The next step, Farzan said, is to begin trials on humans, but this can cause worry because there may be misinformed people who now think that HIV is not a problem anymore. It certainly is. The Centers for Disease Control and Preservation estimates that in 2011, an estimated 13,834 people had died from AIDS in the U.S., the disease caused by HIV. We need to hold high expectations to science, and this research meets them, but we must keep in mind the role scientific discoveries play in our society and how they will actually affect us. Farzan claims the model is focused on animals, and further study is needed to ensure the protein works in humans. So be excited, but be realistic. Just because scientists accomplish something, it does not mean it is yet possible for the world.

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March 6, 2015

Arts & Entertainment 11

Arts & Entertainment

MFA celebrates 50 years in St. Petersburg

photo courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts

The “Customs House” by Monet is part of the 50th anniversary exhibit.

By Jennifer Lincoln A&E Editor It is only fitting that the Museum of Fine Arts, located on Beach Drive next to Tampa Bay, chose to showcase paintings depicting seascapes, beaches and ports along the French coast. St. Petersburg is located on the water, surrounded by sailboats, beaches and beautiful hotels such as the Vinoy. Because of this, it is easy to connect the paintings in the exhibit to St. Petersburg. “Jean Dufy’s Marseille brings to mind our downtown waterfront, with its sailboats dotting the bay and an expanse of buildings, resembling the Vinoy, in the background,” the Museum of Fine Arts’ press release on the exhibit stated. The paintings varies from depictions of bustling beaches to romantic views of the Mediterranean coast. The overall feelings the collection evoked were those of romanticism and serenity. There were also a number of paintings showing vacations and celebrations at the beach, which ties into the theme of celebrating the Museum of Fine Arts’ 50th anniversary. The French artists featured included Claude Monet, PierreAuguste Renoir, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Paul Signac, Max Beckmann, Raoul and

Jean Dufy. The unique style of every artist was immediately evident when looking at the paintings, and each piece was necessary for the success of the exhibit. The soft colors of the Monet pieces contrasted yet complimented the bold strokes of the Duffy brothers. The varying ways the artists interpreted their surroundings was also fascinating to examine. Many of the artists painted the same towns in very different ways and made certain aspects their focal point. With a film playing video clips of scenes from the French coast and maps of the Riviera set up in the adjacent room to the exhibit, one truly felt the peacefulness of the Mediterranean coast. The entirety of the area was represented as well, from Nice and Cannes to Villefranche and Le Havre. All of the artists shown in the exhibit spent a significant portion of time in the coastal small towns surrounding the Mediterranean coast. Matisse lived and worked in Nice from 1917 to 1954, and during that time painted “Girl by a Window,” which is a breathtaking portrayal of a delicate brunette woman gazing out towards the soft coastline of Nice. “Monet to Matisse—On the French Coast looks at how artists

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have turned to the water, light, and sky to create some of their most striking paintings,” said Public Relations Director David Connelly. “These works were inspired by the

photo courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts

Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France, but it is easy to imagine a number being created in and around the Tampa Bay area.” The Museum of Fine Arts’ 50th

Anniversary exhibit, Monet to Matisse - On the French Coast, will remain open from Feb. 7 until May 31. Admission is $5 after 5 p.m. on Thursdays.

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March 6, 2015

Spring into the season

crossword by Jennifer Lincoln For answers, go to www.theonlinecurrent.com

Across 1 Sticky material that holds things together 5 Type of car 10 What athletes run in gym class 14 Creative whim 15 Creed 16 What to put on sunburns 17 Saturated or unsaturated 18 Perimeter 19 To end the life of something or someone 20 Pre-Civil War state without slavery 22 Name that would typically be associated with elderly gentlemen 23 Morse code dash 24 Common card game 26 Greek goddess of dawn 27 Another word for the internet 30 An added benefit 33 Common sickness that causes nausea, runny nose and a fever 35 Someone who is revered in their field or a computer symbol 37 Shield for eyes in the sunshine 42 Someone originating from a country in Southeast Asia 43 The Old Man and the ____ 44 Adventure story 45 Microwave stuffed sandwiches 49 Break or demolish 50 The only star in our solar system 51 Look in a menacing way 53 Common hallucinogen 54 Rested 57 Supersonic transport 59 Type of farm animal that produces milk and beef 61 Above 63 Arguable 69 Identifying with the pronouns she and her 70 Clear hydrating liquid 71 Small glass bottle 72 Negative prefix 73 Angle less than 90 degrees 74 Bunsen burner 75 Ooze 76 Pig pens 77 Was looked at

the current

Down 1 Squabble 2 The sixth month in the Jewish calendar 3 Short for the name Peter 4 To go gently 5 Harms 6 Writer Bombeck 7 When someone owes money to another person or bank 8 Goodbye 9 Negative 10 Large body of water 11 _____ in Wonderland 12 Childhood disease less common today due to vaccines 13 Offers to customers 21 Sticky stuff that comes out of trees 22 Another word for Coke 25 National Football League 27 Among or together 28 A resonation 29 Vessel that travels on water 31 Hard bread 32 to sit on ones knees 34 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 36 Tiny bottles of liquor 38 Fence opening 39 Paul’s former name in the Bible 40 Aegis 41 Substance covering most beaches 46 Depose 47 Central Nervous System 48 Fastens 52 When something decays 54 Soap operas 55 Tight at the top, flaring at the bottom 56 Type of Italian cake 58 Treatise 60 Activity in the ocean 62 To turn upside down 64 Decorative needle case 65 Lavish party 66 To chomp into 67 Alley 68 Ardor 70 Had been

Vendor spices up Saturday Morning Market

Araesia King Viewpoints Editor

photo courtesy of Bill McCullough Rustic Italiano is a popular destination for many students during the Saturday Morning Market.

By Riley Huff Staff Writer Every Saturday, residents and tourists crowd the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St. Petersburg to sample the best in local food. Toward the back of the market, Bill McCullough stands behind the counter at the Rustic Flavors tent, one of the market’s standouts. From October until the end of May, McCullough sells savory spices, seasonings, olive oils and balsamics that hearken back to authentic Italian cuisine. He based the name of his business off this idea of giving customers a taste of the country’s unparalleled flavors. “Rustic flavor should give the illusion of Italian,” he said. McCullough sources spices from around the country to create his unique blends. However, he prepares his seasonings in Pinellas Park. His products could not get any more local. Around eight years ago, he established his business by its original name, Gourmet Rustic Italiano. Five years ago, he incorporated spices and seasonings after a friend outsourced the goods to him.

“I slowly developed that into my business until it became a prominent part of my business,” he said. Now, he is a Saturday Morning Market mainstay, getting up at 5 a.m. to set up his tent every weekend. He stays through the duration of the Market accompanied by his son Scott. “We’re usually one of the last people to pack up,” he said. While McCullough acknowledges the process of setting up can be arduous, he likes the idea of making money on the weekends instead of spending. He considers Saturday Morning Market to be one of the best local markets in the country and admires the artisan craftsmanship of his fellow vendors. Rustic Italiano is his most popular flavor at the market. He fuses ingredients such as sun-dried tomato, oregano, onion, garlic, parsley and basil for optimal balance of tastes. Other flavors include Chipotle Chive, Asparagus Artichoke and Cucumber Dill. These flavors each cost $4 or $7.50 for two. His seasonings, including the Rustic Italiano, are dehydrated. Thus, the flavors can have a shelf life of up to five years, much lon-

ger than the shelf life of most other seasonings, making it one of their biggest selling points. Still, McCullough recognizes that dehydration alone does not sell seasonings and spices. He recognizes the importance of business strategy in the local marketplace. In his market displays, he tries to capture the unique aspects of his goods through descriptive labels and striking placement. He assumes customers know what they are looking for and tries to stay out of their way. “We don’t try to jump on them. We let them ask us,” he said. His sample dips contain sour cream, mayonnaise and his seasonings. Recently, he put his dips in bowls out front to increase ease of sampling for the customer. Since then, he has sold three times more seasoning than he did before the change. Many Eckerd students enjoy sampling the rich flavors of his seasoned dips on Saturdays. “They go bam in my mouth,” Junior Paige Horwitz said. Along with the Saturday Morning Market, McCullough also sells his products in Tampa’s Hyde Park every first Sunday of the month.

photo by Eileen McGraw Executive Vice President of ECOS Jack Layden says the people here are his favorite thing about Eckerd. If he was president for a day, he would keep the T.V. show Parks and Recreation running, because it is a shame that it is on its last season.

“With three wishes, I would end world hunger, have a pug that could talk and loved me - put that in there, because I have a dog who hates me - and be able to breathe under water, because I love the water, and I wish I could spend more time in it. I’m a swimmer, so it’s not weird.”

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March 6, 2015

Health & Fitness 13

Health & fitness

New apps help keep track of your health By Duncan LeBlond Contributing Writer Full Fitness: Exercise Workout Trainer This app, developed by Health Xperts Inc, is one of the most expansive fitness apps out there, costing $1.99, and proves to be one of the best. The app has hundreds of workouts related to both cardiovascular, strength and agility. These exercises have full descriptions of how to complete them safely as well as visual representations in the form of pictures and videos. In addition, it includes a list of full workouts to complete and a calorie tracker that also includes appropriate foods to eat based on your fitness goals. The app tops all of this off with many useful utilities such as a stopwatch, Body Mass Index calculator and workout result spreadsheet. These many functions add up to create an app that is both versatile and detailed.

Contrary to popular belief, lifting weights will not make women bulky. One of the most common reasons from women for why they will not touch a barbell or step into the squat rack is the idea that lifting heavy weights will make them big and incredibly muscular like a guy. There are two main ways that women will gain mass and look bulky: taking some sort of testosterone booster and eating a caloric surplus. Women simply do not have the testosterone levels to put on muscle mass similar to men. The four main benefits that most women see when they start lifting heavy are improved self confidence, higher metabolic rate, bone strengthening and being able to eat more food. The self confidence part is something many students experience immediately. There is such an em-

powering feeling when you notice positive changes in your body from work that has been put in at the gym.

Many people do not see results from sticking to the same routine and being too nervous to try something different. Weightlifting pro-

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Meals with Midge

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Dani Cleary Staff Writer

graphic by Andrew Friedman

only $0.99, making it a worthwhile app for anyone. “The Sleep Cycle alarm clock app is great for helping me wake up and

feel fresh for my morning training sessions,” Freshman Jason Stromsland said. He is currently training to participate in a triathlon.

vides variety and does not get boring like the treadmill or elliptical. According to a study done by Colorado State University’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, women who engaged in weightlifting had a prolonged period of metabolic rate. This means their body continued to burn fat and calories for a longer period after they were done working out. This is due to the fact that strenuous activity on the muscles causes micro tears. Weightlifting causes much larger and a greater quantity of tears compared to simply running. This results in a faster metabolism, which brings up another great benefit: eating more food. Since women who lift weights have faster metabolisms and burn off fat quicker than other forms of exercise, more food is required to stay healthy. This does not mean eating large quantities of unhealthy food, as this will hinder the workout process.

Exercising more requires a healthier and flexible diet. The final, and arguably most important benefit of women lifting weights is the fact that strength training makes for stronger bones. According to a study done by Tufts University, postmenopausal women lose one to two percent of their bone mass annually. This eventually leads to osteoporosis. Researchers conducted an experiment with women aged 50 to 70years-old and concluded that women who participated in strength training a few times a week had significantly increased bone density and reduced the risk of fracture. Although that seems far down the road, it is always important to take care of one’s body. Weight lifting can be beneficial for women both physically and mentally. It can be scary to try it out and get started, but it is always good to ask for help from an experienced person in the gym.

Lift to get the body you want By Samantha Schepps Staff Writer

Got Mylk?

What do you bring to the gym?

“It is a great app that helps me keep up with my fitness goals, as well as helps me to learn some great new exercises to stay healthy,” Freshman David Reiter said. Sleep Cycle alarm clock Sleep Cycle alarm clock, by Northcube AB, is another app that can be extremely useful and beneficial for your health. As the name suggests, the app tracks your sleep cycle and sets an alarm to correspond with when you will wake up feeling the best that you possibly can. The app monitors your movement during sleep. It sets an optimal time to wake you up within a thirty minute period that you personally set. This allows you to then wake up at a time when you are most rested and feeling your best for the day ahead. The app is one of the top contenders in the health and fitness section of the Apple Store and is

INSIDE H&F

Hey Eckerd students, what is in your gym bag? We took a poll of 20 students at the gym, ten girls and ten boys, to see some of the most common items brought in their workout bags. When I go to the gym I always make sure to have a water bottle, music, headphones, outdoor clothing for traveling to and from the gym, a workout prepared and extra hair ties. Having these accessories may make the gym experience enjoyable. I bring clothing to travel to and from the gym even in warm weather. It starts my warm up before exercising and also allows my body to slowly cool down once I am done. Extra hair ties always come in handy. Lastly, I make sure to have a workout prepared and written down on a notecard or my phone. Having something planned out ensures that I will not just stop once I get tired and helps me remember what I wanted to do. So, what is most common for Eckerd students to bring to the gym? The top five items seem pretty obvious, but if you are not bringing them, try it out and see if it makes your time at the gym better spent.

The results of the survey: 18 Music 16 Headphones 15 Water bottles 6 Change of clothes 5 Planned workouts

The positive effects of sexual activity on the body By Emily Newcomb Contributing Writer

Most people do not realize many of the positive effects that sex can have on your physical and mental health. Here are a few examples of why sex can be beneficial and your body will thank you for it. First, sex can have the added bonus of giving your immune system an extra boost, and help to fend off unwanted illness. Researchers at Wilkes

University found that people who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of a certain antibody compared to those who had sex less often. Another health benefit from sex is that it can lower your blood pressure. Research suggests that sexual intercourse lowers systolic blood pressure. This is because the sex hormone testosterone, which is released during sexual activity, has been linked to lowering blood pressure. Interestingly, the same level of

effect on lowering blood pressure was not found from masturbation, only sexual activity with a partner. Sexual activity often also relieves pain, and is one of the more effective cures for a headache. This is because during sexual activity the brain produces chemicals such as oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, norepinephrine and phenyl ethylamine. In fact, during their careers, famous sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson discovered that during the plateau

stage of the sexual response cycle, there is an elevation of the pain threshold that is on average around 75 percent. During the orgasm stage of the cycle, pain tolerance can even elevate to 100 percent increase or higher. Because of these same hormones, sex also promotes relaxation and better sleep. It is even a documented aid in the treatment and management of insomnia. In addition to all of these health benefits, engaging in sexual activity boosts libido. So the more sex

you have, the more you will want to have it. According to Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Lauren Streicher. this is particularly true for women. She says that consistent or increased sexual activity will promote vaginal lubrication, blood flow and elasticity; this makes sex more enjoyable, which will make it more desirable. This is an exciting little snowball effect that encourages us to keep up our health and have a fun time doing so.

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the current

March 6, 2015

Got Mylk? Student looks at dairy alternatives

Meals with Midge: On-the-go Smoothie

By MJ Harford Staff Writer

graphic by Andrew Friedman Each type of milk comes with its own nutrients and health benefits.

By MJ Harford Staff Writer The world of non-dairy milk is a confusing one. There are a handful of basic options with dozens of subvarieties and brand differentiation, not to mention at-home milking techniques. It seems each diet touts their alternative as best and has consistent research to back their claims. So for the newly vegan, recently allergy diagnosed or those interested in the benefits of nondairy over animal milk, the journey to finding the best match can seem overwhelming. Consuming with a goal in mind, whether that be best taste, best for working out, best for cooking or best all around, will land the best results and experimenting with new varieties and finding the best match can be a healthy, tasty journey. The safest, most natural alternative to raw animal milk would be to soak raw nuts or coconut meat and press or blend them with water to create a simple two-ingredient blend. But for most individuals this is not a high priority endeavor, so it becomes critical to seek out brands with the least amount of artificial additives and preservatives. Here are some of the top ingredients to avoid: Carrageenan, a preservative derived from seaweed that causes inflammation in

the digestive system and is listed as a possible human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO); “Natural Flavors.”; sweeteners, especially artificial sweeteners like sucralose. With all varieties, to find the most natural option go for organic, GMO-free and unsweetened varieties. Soy When most people think of vegan milk they think of soy milk: it has been around the longest and has the most traditional milk like consistency, but, as Vegan Health explains, soy holds a fair amount of controversy due to potential estrogen dominance, poor thyroid health and GMO linkage. Almond Another mainstream alternative and Dr. Oz favorite, almond milk has a similar creamy texture to traditional milk and a wide variety of flavors and brand options. Nutritionally, according to Dr. Oz, it has the lowest amount of protein compared to other nondairy milks but where it lacks in protein it makes up for in high vitamin and mineral content with magnesium, calcium and Vitamin D, particularly in the fortified brands. Rice

Being free from gluten, nuts and soy, this is generally regarded as the most hypoallergenic option of the milks. It has a slightly watery texture, making it best suited for drinking or adding to things like cereals or smoothies, not cooking or baking. Hemp New to market is this seed variety made from hulled hemp seeds and pressed with water to create a creamy, nutrient-dense milk. Self Magazine reviewed the unique benefit of hemp milk, noting that it is rich in omegas three and six, which promote healthy cholesterol and blood pressure along with cell growth. Hemp milk does have the most unique taste of the listed varieties, but its acquired palate makes a tasty alternative for iced coffees and lattes. Coconut Starbucks recently made what many consider a radical announcement that starting this month, each of its locations will be offering coconut milk as a non-dairy alternative in addition to soy milk. The paleo diet skyrocketed coconut milk into popularity in recent years, and with its high healthy fat content, rich consistency and relatively cheap cost it has the most versatile profile of the ‘milks.’

Meals on-the-go can be an alluring option for the hectic schedule of a college student. The time crunches and lack of kitchen space are contributing factors to the draw for students to purchase pub smoothies or meal replacement bars on campus. Relying on processed or artificial-based options does not embody the equivalent benefits of a true meal. This recipe is an example of creating mealtime solutions that match personal needs and time constraints with the essential parts of balanced meal by including plant based proteins, healthy fats, a serving of greens, water and not including high amounts of sugar or grains. Plant based protein blends that are vegan, gluten free and organic or raw are free from the dangerous contaminants, excessive protein content and questionable ingredient sourcing of many of the popular protein brands. Consumer Reports investigated 15 of the top marketplace brands and through testing, reviewing government documents and interviews with health professionals and consumers found that every single sample had at least one of the following: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. These heavy metals have long term effects on the body and the protein content in the recommended protocols on the products exceed even the most intense athlete’s needs. Looking to options like Vega and Garden of Life Raw Protein fulfill many of the primary goals of a rounded on-the-go diet with large varieties of flavors and ingredient blends that can match almost any level of diet and exercise without the toxins. For this smoothie, because of the combination of dark leafy greens, coconut milk and chia seeds, it is just as nutritious and delicious, without protein powder of any kind.

Ingredients: 4 to 5 ice cubes kale (recommended: 50/50 1 cup frozen greens and spinach) ds 1 tablespoon chia see ar 1/2 of a ripe pe in powder 1 scoop vegan prote 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water

photo by MJ Harford Using fresh greens is an alternative to protein powders.

Directions: Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, adding more water as necessary. Each issue I’ll be sharing an allergen-friendly recipe that is easy, nutritious and delicious. If you make one, 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 a particular kind of meal for a particular allergy, email me at mjharfor@eckerd.edu.

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March 6, 2015

Sports

Baseball falls while softball gets first conference victory By Meaghan Kirby & Christina Rosetti Staff Writer & Asst. Sports Editor

tryout, which was held Feb. 15 in Indian River. That number was cut in half after the full day of rugby, with all six Eckerd members making it to the next round. Co-captain Michelle Durr said that she expected the tryout to be pretty intense, but once she got there she felt comfortable during play. She was most excited to be able to meet so many experienced coaches, and to bring back drills to improve her home team. “I felt like all my hard work had paid off,” Durr said. Geibel was happy to see both of his captains represented at the tryout. “It will be big for the captains having this experience to come back for their senior years,” Geibel said. He was also impressed by Gallagher’s participation in the team. “This has put her on the radar for future years. The sky is the limit for her,” Geibel said. Gallagher admitted that she was a little overwhelmed at the start. “I’m 18, I just graduated high

school eight months ago, and there were girls talking about their families,” said Gallagher Despite her fears of being too young at the start, Gallagher ended up really enjoying the tryout. She appreciated the support from everyone there, and being able to get closer to the veteran girls on her team. The second tryout was conducted here at Eckerd’s Kappa Field, following the Sirens 10-0 victory over Florida Atlantic University on Feb. 28. The tryout included a practice and a scrimmage against members from Eckerd and FAU. The six Sirens players will compete in the 23 man team at a tournament held in Atlanta March 14 and 15. The Florida High Performance Team will play against other regional all star teams from the nation. Geibel said he feels a sense of pride being associated with this group of girls. “They are making a name for Eckerd women’s rugby,” Geibel said.

In the opening game of a three game series of conference play, the Eckerd College baseball team fell to Florida Institute of Technology on Friday night, 4-2. Florida Tech was able to get on the scoreboard quickly putting up one run in the first inning. Eckerd’s offense came alive in the fourth inning giving the Tritons a 2-1 lead. Junior Carter Cashman started the rally by singling to center field, bringing Senior Mike Abraham up to the plate. Abraham was able to score Cashman with a single up the middle. An error by the Panther’s defense allowed Abraham to score from third base with the go ahead run. In the top of the sixth, Florida Tech tied up the game 2-2 and by the seventh inning the Panthers added two more runs. The Tritons tried to rally back in the eighth and ninth innings. Junior Jake O’ Rourke led off in the bottom of the eighth with a single but was left on base. In the ninth inning, pinch hitter Sophomore Zach Mitsmenn sent a single through to the left side, proving to be the final hit of the game. The Tritons were defeated by the Panthers 4-2. “We just need to minimize the mistakes we made and do a better job offensively,” Head Coach Juan Ranero said. “The 4-2 game was a good college baseball game. We just gave them too many freebies.” Cashman and Junior Adam Moreau both collected two RBIs in the game as each picked up

from long range just seconds after tip-off and Theo Brunner tipped the ball in on the second possession. Eckerd displayed a superb shootThe men’s basketball team snapped their seven-game losing performance in the opening ing streak with a 90-86-overtime minutes, which helped them to win against Palm Beach Athletics. take a commanding 16-5 lead after On Senior Night at the McAr- five minutes of play. Junior forward thur Center it was the two seniors Jerrick Stevenson converted a fouron the team who put the Tritons on point play and Sophomore guard the board. Altavious Carter scored Kevin Walsh showed remarkable accuracy from 3 - p o i n t- r a n g e as he knocked down four out of five in the first half. Ho w e v e r, after the hot start the Tritons cooled off considerably and with seven minutes left, Palm Beach had caught up, only trailing by a point, 27-26. Eckerd managed to regain focus as they went on a 7-2 scoring run, capped off by another t h r e e - p o i n te r by Walsh. Eckerd shot the photo by Dominick Cuppetilli ball well from

distance, recording seven field goals at the half, heading into the locker room with a 42-34 lead. With the score in their favor and the home crowd cheering loudly, EC played with great confidence and seemed in complete control of the game. Junior and Forward Ray Darnell’s layup with about 14 minutes to play gave the Tritons their largest lead of the night at 53-36. However, this advantage would continuously dwindle as Eckerd struggled on the offensive end but most importantly could not prevent the Sailfish from finding the basket. “We stopped playing defense,” Tritons Head Coach Tom Ryan said. “They made some good shots but we gave them a lot of room.” With the lead slipping away, Eckerd became nervous, committing a series of turnovers forced by Palm Beach’s full-court-pressure. It was Stevenson who stepped up, trying to regain control of the game, but a three pointer as well as two jumpers brought the visitors within one with 21.4 seconds left. Sophomore and Guard Shane Philips made two free throws after the intentional foul, putting Eckerd back up by three but another shot from behind the arc sent the game to overtime, tied at 77. The Tritons started out strongly, establishing a seven-point-lead with less than two minutes to play, but

again they had trouble with the pressure that PBA put on. With 36 seconds left, Palm Beach cut their deficit to two and after Carter missed two free throws they even had the chance to take the lead for the first time. However, it was again Carter who stripped the ball and thus came up with a vital stop for the Tritons. Stevenson, who only had six points at intermission, made the free throws and iced the 9086 win for the Tritons, finishing as the man of the match with 23 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals. “Some players made big plays for us down the stretch,” Ryan said, hinting at Stevenson’s coolness at the line and Carter’s defensive play, but also Senior forward Theo Brunner’s activeness under the basket, collecting six offensive rebounds to keep plays alive.

photo courtesy of Michelle Durr Six members of the Sirens rugby team were nominated to try out for Florida High Performance Select Side Team.

Sirens to play in Florida all-star team By Dominick Cuppetilli Sports Editor

For the first time in the program’s 15 year lifespan, Eckerd’s Women’s Rugby team will be represented in the Florida High Performance Select Side Team. The Sirens had six players nominated to try out for the statewide allstar team, with all six women going through to the tournament. The six Sirens players to be nominated for the team were Juniors Michelle Durr, Danielle Becker, Cory Champer, Liz Yanuskiewicz, Sophomore Pam McCullough and Freshman Ally Gallagher. Nominations came from coaches across all levels of play, ranging from colleges to adult club leagues. Head Coach Mike Geibel said that he wished he could have seen everyone nominated, but he was happy for the players who did get the opportunity. Approximately 80 women were invited to attend the first

Sports 15

one hit apiece. Senior Jimmy Gutowski was counted for the loss, after pitching just over six innings while allowing two earned runs and striking out four batters. Despite a slow offensive start for the Eckerd College Softball team, Senior and pitcher Amber Hay battled against Florida Southern College in Friday night’s dramatic, extra-inning matchup. The Tritons got their first hit of the night when Junior Kaycie Duncan hit an infield single in the bottom of the 5th. Hay went three up, three down on the mound in the next inning giving Eckerd momentum. In the top of the ninth with a runner in scoring position, Junior and Second-Baseman Brittany Martinez snatched a line drive out of the air to keep the shutout. “Amber pitched a great game and our defense was on point,” Martinez said. “We knew as long as we kept playing our game, we would come out on top.” Freshman and Catcher Dana Paul led off the twelfth with a line drive down the left side of the field. Paul advanced to third base when Junior Kirby Parnell singled down the right field side. Freshman hot-hitter, Carrie Shere was next up to bat and sent a walk-off line drive to deep left field, securing Eckerd’s conference opener win. Hay grabbed her ninth win of the year, tallying her fourth shutout. She also broke the school record for assists in a game with 11. Hay only allowed five hits in 12 innings and struck out a career high nine batters. “Our team is playing very well right now,” Head Coach Josh Beauregard said. “I am very proud of what we are doing on the field and in the classroom.”

Losing streak ends on Senior Night

By Simon Scheidegger Asst. Sports Editor

Senior Malcolm Brunner Jr. grabbed nine rebounds in PBA game.

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“It feels good to play well on Senior night,” Stevenson said. However, he also noticed that his team keeps having trouble holding on to big leads. “We have to keep our focus for the whole game.” The matchup will be Friday March 6 when the Tritons head to the Sunshine State Conference Tournament to take on No 1 seed Florida Southern College.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Senior Altavious Carter got his first season start against PBA.

the current

March 6, 2015

SportS Women’s basketball continues hot streak on Senior Night By christina rosetti Asst. Sports Editor Taking the court for the last time in McArthur Center, Seniors Kayla Bowlin, Ivana Grbic and Rana Thomas led the Tritons to their 22nd victory of the season. Eckerd took an early 13-0 lead over Palm Beach Atlantic University on Senior Night. The Tritons played tough defense, keeping the Sailfish to only three points during the first 10 minutes of the game. Eckerd finished the half with a 42-23 lead over PBA. Nine different Tritons put points on the board throughout the game. Thomas led the team with 16 points while Freshman Trine Kasemagi followed with 15. Bowlin finished the day with 10 points and seven assists. Grbic grabbed 12 rebounds and eight points. Eckerd defeated Palm Beach Atlantic 66-50, earning their historic 22nd win and improving their record to 22-6. Prior to the game, three seniors were honored for their careers at Eckerd. Bowlin, Grbic and Thom-

as have 62 wins combined making their four-year span at Eckerd the winningest in program history. “They are special players that have overcome obstacles throughout their careers and have certainly earned their success,” Head Coach Paul Honsinger said. “We lean on them for their leadership and energy and they always deliver.” Bowlin, co-captain and guard from Monticello, Kentucky, has totaled 390 assists throughout her career, ranking third in program history. She leads the Sunshine State Conference and is ranked 12th in the nation for assists per game, averaging 5.5. Throughout her career at Eckerd, Bowlin has been nominated to the SSC Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll the past three years and has played in over 100 games as a Triton. “Finishing out my career at McArthur with a win was an amazing feeling,” Bowlin said. “I was happy to be able to play with such an amazing group and have such great coaches.” Grbic, a guard from Belgrade,

Senior Ivana Grbic grabbed 12 rebounds in the 66-50 win over PBA.

Serbia, transferred from Miles Community College in Montana for the 2013-2014 season. She appeared in all 28 games so far this season. During her junior campaign, Grbic scored in double digits eight times and in her senior season, has tallied four double-doubles thus far. She also leads the team in rebounds with 154, averaging 7.3 a game. Thomas, co-captain and guard from Springfield, Missouri, is a two time SSC Player of the Week. She ranks second in the SSC in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game. Thomas looks to secure a top five spot in Eckerd’s record book for points scored in a single season. She also holds the top spot at Eckerd in free throw percentage in a single season with 87 percent and has knocked down over 100 three pointers throughout her career. “I love this team like family but Rana and Ivana have a special place in my heart,” Bowlin said. “They are amazing people to play with but even better to know off the court. They are lifelong friends and playing with them has been such a blessing.”

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli

C u r r e n t l y, Eckerd sits in fourth place in the latest South Region Rankings. The Tritons head to the SSC Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed, facing No. 6 seed Florida Southern College Thursday, March 5. “The team is very excited and eager to compete in the conference to u r n a m e n t , ” Honsinger said. “We had a terrific regular season and I am very proud of what we have accomplished but we still have goals to accomplish photo by Dominick Cuppetilli on the year.” Senior Rana Thomas led the team with 16 points against PBA.

photo by Dominick Cuppetilli Senior Kayla Bowlin dished seven assists along with her 1o points on Senior Night.

Triton athletic department introduces sand volleyball By Dominick cuppetilli Sports Editor The Eckerd College Athletic Department has added a new NCAA sport to its existing programs. The 2015 season will be the first time that the Tritons will play sand volleyball at the intercollegiate level. Eckerd will be one of only five NCAA Division II schools in the nation to adopt the program, and the only one in the state of Florida. The thought of introducing sand volleyball to Triton athletics has

been around for several years. Head coach of both the indoor and sand volleyball teams, Michelle Piantadosi said that when she was hired for the 2012 season, she expressed an interest in the potential of a sand volleyball program here at Eckerd. Piantadosi said that both Dr. Bob Fortosis, Director of Athletics, and President Donald Eastman were on board to get the program going from the start. At the end of the 2013 indoor volleyball season, the conversation started becoming serious about

photo by Lia Nydes Sophomores Katie Arnette and Emily Carpenter practice sand volleyball.

getting the sport underway, and after freshly renovated sand volleyball courts, a team of 10 women were ready to start practicing. The sand volleyball program will be headed by Piantadosi, who trained with AVP in California from 2007-2012. She will be assisted by Priscilla Lima, an accomplished sand volleyball player from Brazil, and Jules Ridley, who will also assist with indoor volleyball. “I have great people around me to help out with this,” Piantadosi said. Senior Ali McAlvany has been a staple of the indoor volleyball program for the last four years, and will transition to play sand in her last semester as a Triton. According to McAlvany, the team began practicing in February. “We’ve had a lot of conditioning to get our sand legs ready,” McAlvany said. Some might assume that switching from court to sand is easy enough, but the two games are actually very different. “It’s a lot more frustrating,” McAlvany said. “Things you can get away with indoors, you can’t outside.” Aside from the sand volleyball tournament the team has hosted for the past couple of years, McAlvany and other indoor players have not had much time to

get used to the sand. But two of the team’s 10 athletes were pulled from the sand volleyball club to participate at the collegiate level. Senior Jordan Trimble has played on the club sand team all four years at Eckerd, and has moved up to the president of the club her junior and senior years. Trimble was an indoor player in high school, but missed the sport so much she decided to try sand volleyball and fell in love with it. Trimble expressed how thankful she was to be a part of this her senior year. “It’s so cool to be on a team again,” Trimble said. Because she was the president of the club, Trimble was always the one in charge of setting up drills and making sure things went smoothly, but she said it’s nice to be on the other side of that for a change. “It’s a dream come true. I didn’t know collegiate sand volleyball was a thing,” Trimble said. McAlvany had a similar feeling when the 2014 indoor season came to a close. “I wasn’t looking forward to the end of volleyball. I wanted to keep playing,” McAlvany said. She described her preseason training as a relearning process, building off the

basics that she already knows. McAlvany felt that the team is off to a good start, and is excited to see where the team is able to go this season, and if any other schools in the Sunshine State Conference will follow Eckerd’s lead. She also wants to see if playing sand volleyball leads to anything after graduation. Piantadosi is happy with the way things have gone so far on the sand, and is confident that everyone will get to the level they need to be competing at. She thinks the renovated courts have created a great feel, and loves to see an increased interest in sand volleyball throughout the school. “How could you not be pumped to be out there?” Piantadosi said. The sand volleyball season will start March 6 at a Tournament at Stetson University. Because the sport has not caught on to many Division II schools, Eckerd will be competing against many larger Division I schools. The Tritons will host their first home game March 28, and will then host a tournament at Siesta Key the weekend of April 11. Piantadosi has high hopes for this new program. “My hope is that we build a good foundation to spring off of,” said Piantadosi, “I want to be the premier team on the east coast.”

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